#that would have been painstakingly obnoxious

[spidercatweb]

Book Return ★ Spencer Reid x reader

Warnings: none! fem!reader, r wears glasses, r is wearing a skirt, no y/n, fluff!! GLASSES REID!!! Great Gatsby mention because it was the first book I could think of...

Request: "Hello, can I request spencer reid x nerdy-girly reader whos work in museum or library and they are smitten with each other? thanks x"

Description: r works at a library, Spencer comes to get his usual absurd amount of books, they have some very cute interactions, Spencer gathers the courage to ask r out on a date :)

Word Count: 1393

A/n: had a sudden burst of inspiration and wrote this all in one night! I hope you enjoy!! Thank you for the request! <3

It’s a lovely Tuesday morning, and you’re working at your local library. It’s been a quiet, peaceful morning. You’d just handed a pile of picture books to the mother of a cheery little girl.

“Enjoy your books!” You wave goodbye to the little girl, who excitedly waves back. Her mother gives you a warm smile. The girl is already reaching for the stack of books in her mother's hands as she walks, asking for a specific one, eager to read it. You smile to yourself. She'll definitely grow up to be an avid reader, she reminds me of myself.

As you sit back down in your chair behind the checkout desk, you spot your favourite visitor entering through the glass doors of the library. Your heart flutters at the sight of him, you hadn’t seen him in nearly two weeks.

You watch the tall, brown haired man painstakingly slot an obnoxiously tall stack of books into the book return. You grin when you notice how your outfit almost matches his, a dark brown cardigan with an off-white top underneath, and a long brown skirt, which matches the cardigan. He wears a checkered brown sweater vest with a white button up underneath. His pants are a shade of dark brown, almost the same as your skirt. Maybe you should stop staring and go help him, that pile of books doesn't seem to be getting any smaller.

“I haven't seen you in a while, where have you been? And would you like some help with those?” 

“Oh! Hi! Um- yes I'd like some help please, that would be great.” He nods and smiles at you, he must be embarrassed by the amount of books he's returning because his face gains a slight red tint. 

You take half of his pile of books into your hands and begin slotting them into the return one by one. “So.. why haven't I seen you in like, two weeks?” You repeat your first question, stealing a glance at his focused expression. He's wearing his glasses… He looks so pretty with his glasses. 

“Um- I've been- I was away for work, we had a case in Oregon that went on for way longer than expected.” He had told you previously about his tiring work at the BAU, and how he and his team would go away for days at a time to catch serial killers. You thought it was impressive that he had the time to read so many books while still keeping up with his job. 

“Well, I- we missed you here-” I missed him? Why did I say that? I barely know the man. “You're much more entertaining than the crabby students who study here for hours.” This was true, just last week you'd had to ask a group of students to leave for being too disruptive. They certainly did not appreciate that.

Spencer huffs out a laugh at your remark, “I’d hope so.” 

You both finish putting the last of the books into the slot, then turn to face each other,. Sstanding there awkwardly for a moment. “Are you just here to return books today, or will you be checking out some more?” You tilt your head at him with a smile, waiting for a response.

“I was wondering if the copy of The Great Gatsby had been returned? I couldn't find it last time, I've been wanting to re-read it for a while.” 

“Yes! I actually saved it for you, it's at my desk!” You grin as you step happily to your desk, pleased with yourself that you had remembered to save the book for him. He follows, fidgeting with his hands and mirroring your grin. She remembered to save the book just for me. Does she do that for anyone else? 

“Here you go!” You hand him the book and hope your cheeks don't look as warm as they feel. Maybe that doesn't matter though, because his seem much pinker than usual. He gently takes the book from you, then quickly inspects it, flipping through a few pages and looking at the cover. 

“Thank you.” He smiles. For some reason, he seems more nervous than usual today. He's more fidgety, and can't seem to form a sentence without stumbling through it. Interesting. It's not like you're any better, though. You've been avoiding eye contact with him as much as possible since you'd developed your little crush on him about five months ago. Every time you were around him, your hands felt clammy and your heart felt like it was racing. Maybe the crush wasn't so little.

★ ★ ★

You leave him alone to gather his comically large pile of books. It takes him about half an hour to finally finish. He's clearly carefully selected each one and taken his time to decide. 

You're doodling mindlessly on a sticky note when he comes up to the checkout counter, setting the heavy pile in front of you. He grabs your attention with a meek “Hi”.

“Sorry! Got distracted!” A nervous laugh escapes you as you adjust your glasses. Grabbing the book scanner, you wait for him to place his library card on your desk. Clearly distracted by something - you - his mind goes blank for a moment.

“Oh, card, yeah, sorry.” He searches his pockets and eventually finds it, placing it in front of you. 

“No need to be sorry.” You shake your head, disregarding his apology. 

As you scan his books, he waits patiently, tapping his fingers on your desk in a quiet rhythm. Usually, he would talk to you. He'd even stay for a while if the library wasn't too busy. But clearly, there was something on his mind. He looks around at the various items on your desk. Many sticky notes filled with reminders and quotes, a small pile of books that you read while you aren't busy, a hand painted mug that holds bright colored pens. All of it was just so you. Or at least, what he perceived you to be. And he would be lying to himself if he said he didn't love the idea of you, if he said he didn't want to get to know you more.

“Alright, enjoy your reading!” You nudge the pile of books towards him and set his library card on top. He slides the card off of the pile and puts it back into his pocket, then carefully takes the towering pile of books. 

“Thank you! Have a nice day!” He turns to leave.

“You too!” You wave, even though his back is facing you.

Just before he reaches the doors, he spins on his heel and walks right back over to you, a nervous look on his face. He bites the inside of his lip, like he's hesitating to say something. You quirk an eyebrow at him. 

“Forget something?” 

“No, actually. Well- yes, but.” He stammers, books still in hand. “I was wondering if you'd maybe like to go out for coffee sometime? With me?” He squints his eyes slightly, mentally preparing himself for rejection. 

You smile, feeling your face heat up once again. 

“Like, on a date?” You hold back a stupid grin.

“Well- only- only if that's what you'd like. Yeah.” He nods, his face turning a deep shade of pink.

“I'd love that, yeah.” You nod back.

“Really?” He smiles wider.

“Mhm” 

He huffs out a nervous laugh, “Okay, how does Saturday sound?”

“Saturday is perfect, just tell me the time and place and I'll be there.” Do I sound too eager? I don't care.

“9:30am? At the café just across the street?” This was clearly what he'd been thinking about all morning.

“That sounds wonderful, I'll see you there.” You nod excitedly, failing to suppress a giddy smile.

“Great.”

“Great.” He stands there for a moment, beaming at the thought of getting to spend more time with you. “So… I'll see you then?” Just one more confirmation to prove it was real.

“See you then.” You nod, he nods back.

He turns to exit once again, making his way out of the building. Once he's no longer in sight, you look around the empty library before giggling to yourself and spinning around in your chair.

You have a big, dorky grin on your face for the rest of the day. You can't wait for your date with Spencer.

Thank you for reading! Feedback is very much appreciated! <3 Perhaps I'll write a part 2 of their date if that's what people would like?

[transformers-spike]

hey! been reading all your stuff and absolutely love what you do. i got an idea regarding team prime having their first christmas party at the base (june insisted), and they’re each introduced to the concept of kissing under mistletoe

I'm going for something where the reader is already in a relationship with the bot of choice. It's mostly just cute interactions with a hint of spice mid post.

Optimus takes it rather well considering… everything. He’s got a team to lead, a dead planet on his conscience and a homoerotic rivalry with his ex-best friend/murderous dictator who’s obsessed with him. Life could be a lot better right now. But it also could be a lot worse. He’s content watching from the sidelines as his fellow Autobots enjoy a new part of Earth culture. Don’t mind him, he’ll join in once his work is done. For now the best he can do is flash you an encouraging smile as you fail to string out the Christmas lights for the fifth time in a row – you can do it, he believes in you. He tries his best to seem oblivious when you climb the ladder June is holding still (the ultimate wingwoman), keeping a close optic behind the terminal just in case things go south and he has to catch you. When you call his name with the goofiest smile on your face, he beams at you, equal parts pride and cute aggression. “Hey,” you drawl, doing your best to seem as charming as possible while holding on for dear life on the only thing stopping you from plummeting to the ground. “So there’s this Christmas tradition you may not have heard about…” He attentively listens to the explanation, nodding his helm and faking surprise when he hears what mistletoes entail. His spark stutters in his chassis when you ask him, sheepishly averting your gaze, if he’d like to partake in this human tradition. He graciously accepts, hovering a servo over your frame (in case you stumble back in shock) and leans in for you to initiate the kiss. Yes, Miko told him. Yes, she ruined the surprise. No, he won’t tell you because he’s never seen you happier getting to kiss him.

Ratchet is unimpressed. At least that’s what he wants you to believe. He’s so invested in decorating he spends every minute off work painstakingly stringing obnoxiously bright garlands around the railings and holding the kids in his servos to reach the highest branches of the gigantic and possibly illegally uprooted Christmas tree. He’s complaining about the time he will waste taking down the decorations, but everyone in the base knows damn well he’s going to keep them on as long as he can. You don’t even have to bring up the mistletoe, he’s overheard enough from the crappy Holiday-themed movies the kids have been watching to secretly crank up the charm while scoffing on the outside. You’re watching the kids place the final touches on the tree, a mug of eggnog in one hand while helping yourself to some Santa-shaped sugar cookies. You barely notice Ratchet leaning in with a minuscule strand of mistletoe between his massive digits. It takes a moment for you to understand, what with the plant being nigh invisible in his servo. Finally, you swallow thickly and stand on your tippy toes (on the couch no less) to reach his intake. The kiss is the longest he’s ever experienced up until now, and while he has the kissing abilities of a dying fish, he melts into it while you forget how to breathe.

Bulkhead is clearly enjoying himself, watching bad Christmas dramas with the kids, trying to figure out how to remix old carols with Miko adding a rock (and occasionally death metal) twist. It’s simultaneously the funniest and most mind-boggling Holiday celebration anyone has ever experienced, add Wheeljack into the mix and now Ratchet is watching these two like a hawk in case they roughhouse too much and crush the Christmas tree. Miko would actually love to see that, and you and Bulkhead both have to be the responsible adults of the situation and try to keep the damage at a minimum while Wheeljack acts like the world’s worst influence on a teenager. By Primus, Bulkhead is actually tempted to join it, and now you have to reel in two grown adult mechs eons your senior and one 15 year old girl. Primus save you. And yet, beyond all expectations, said 15 year old girl is your wingwoman for the evening, which is simultaneously humiliating and a godsend. When she pulls out the plastic mistletoe from her pocket and holds it over you and Bulkhead’s heads from her vantage point on his neck, a move she’s been planning months in advance, your soul exits your body. The staring contest between you and her robot dad breaks only when Miko urges you to do something at least. The kiss is short and sweet, Bulkhead is screaming inside during the whole ordeal no matter how brief, hoping to Primus he didn’t somehow kiss you so badly during a five second interval you’re willing to break up with him. Nah, you’re blushing so intensely June thinks you’re about to have an aneurysm.

Wheeljack is a menace, and it’s entirely your fault. Mentioning the tradition wasn’t supposed to end up like this, but alas, horny dumbassery always leads to worst case scenarios. Bulkhead told you to go for it, meaning well with his encouragement but sealing your fate for the next 24 hours. Ratchet asked you if you were out of your mind, the voice of reason and simultaneously the bitchiest best friend you could ask for, telling you loud and clear if anything happened it would be on your conscience alone. June put a hand on your shoulder and (half) jokingly said she would ask to be assigned to your hospital room. Truly, you have the will to live of a hamster doing its hardest to die a horribly gruesome death and reach hamsterhallah. What a genius you are. Wheeljack wasted no time getting you under the mistletoe Bulkhead helped string up, and maybe you envisioned it differently when he narrowly bruised your lips going in for the kiss. You tried to keep the sloppy makeout session brief, but from the way Bulkhead was shielding the kids behind not one but two giant servos, you might have overdone it. What you especially did not expect, however, was waking up in the Jackhammer’s passenger seat with the worst migraine of your life and dry transfluid slathered all over your crotch. Now, trying to recall the events of last night with the worst eggnog hangover you’ve ever experienced, you can only wait for Wheeljack to awaken from recharge in the pilot’s seat. You note the traces of transfluid on his lips, and your eyes trail down to your suspiciously bluish hand. Did you fist Wheeljack on Christmas Eve?

Bumblebee is having the time of his life. You got Raf (and his Autobot guardian) some discount Christmas-themed games from the only offbrand Gamestop in all of Jasper as an early present. You watch with rapt amusement as they laugh at the frankly abysmal coding and game design, enjoying themselves to the fullest despite the sub-optimal gameplay, but you almost choke on your spit when Raf actually starts analyzing the code for the game and applying level-breaking cheats in a matter of minutes. Cheesus Christ, that kid can hack into the Pentagon at this point. You move in front of Agent Fowler’s line of sight to stop him from seeing just what kind of threat to national security Raf can become. As the day nearly comes to an end and you’re half sure Jack is scrutinizing Ratchet who’s flirting with his mom who’s tucking her hair behind her ear in the single mom sign for “I will fuck this alien robot”; you beckon Bumblebee closer and hold out the mistletoe over your head and his uh… forehead. You kiss him slowly, holding onto the railing as he leans his face into your lips, beeping happily. Little do you know, Miko saw it and now she’s going to hold out a mistletoe over your heads for the next 5 hours until your mouth grows numb from kissing him. He looks so damn happy whenever he notices the mistletoe, you can’t say no to him, not when Dadimus Prime is watching from the other corner of the room.

Arcee is ahead of schedule. She knows what you’re going to do, and she’s already planning to one up you. Yes, she’s been especially busy giving the kids a lift to put up the final ornaments on the tree in spite of her initial protests, but now you’re fiddling with your fingers stealing occasional glances like you’re desperately hyping yourself up for what’s to come. You have no idea what you’re doing to her looking so shy and cute. She could just eat you up. You’re unsure when you go up to her, Christmas fun fact on your lips and sweating bullets just thinking about what you’re going to do - and your jaw drops down to the Earth’s core when she gingerly holds a strand of mistletoe over your heads. She wishes she could capture your expression and lock it inside her spark. When you kiss, it’s deep and longing, filled with a need to give yourself up completely in spite of being so finite next to her. And she welcomes it, all of it, taking your eagerness and savoring every minute with you. When you pull away heaving for breath, your hair’s a mess and you’re redder than Cliffjumper’s plating. Your eyes twinkle when you look at her, equal parts love and desperation to surrender yourself to her with all the trust in the world. She will protect you until the day she offlines.

[mosaickiwi]

your angle... or yuor devil

Emo has some business to take care of... but you're going to a Halloween party together later wahoo!!! [REDACTED] is he/him only for this since there's some other loser in the scene 🙄

cw: torture in the beginning, implied murder

proceed with caution

💜🖤💜🖤💜🖤

As if contemplating what to watch on TV, [REDACTED] glanced down at the sight in front of him.

Bound in an old, wooden chair, somebody's agonized cries for help went unanswered, muffled by the torn, bloodied knot of fabric tied over their mouth. They'd been nothing but incomprehensible since the first nail was painstakingly pried from their finger.

The bigger piece of torn cloth was bundled in their lap. Its folds held a steadily growing pile of teeth and fingernails. Some were whole, but most were in pieces from the messier extractions.

Normally, the dark haired man would have more satisfying tools at his disposal for the victim. But he didn't have the chance to run home, especially when a Halloween date with you was right around the corner. After a quick stop at a hardware store, today's (un)lucky winner got dragged into the nearest abandoned building.

Only a couple hours ago, hardly ten minutes after the time you normally took your lunch break, this piece of work had approached you. 

Of course, nothing came of it. And you told your beloved partner about the unwelcome interaction right away. Between the usual chatter and flirting once you video called him for lunch, you mentioned it in an offhand comment, a wrinkle in your forehead to boot.

Then you'd gone right back to talking about the holiday, and how excited you were for the party that night. [REDACTED] didn't move on so quickly.

Just as he leaned down, a metal nail poised over the shitstain's knee and a hammer in hand, his phone rang. The items clattered against the floor as he stood and hurried to yank it from his pocket.

The bound and gagged, soon-to-be-done-for stranger looked surprised, but oddly grateful for the brief escape from further torment.

Before he could even offer a greeting, you spoke.

"Hiii! I'm already finished making treat bags at the library. Do you wanna meet me at your apartment for a little while before the party? I'm headed there now."

"I'd love to, but M'not exactly free," [REDACTED] managed to answer calmly despite the whirlwind you lured his heart into. He kept his gaze on the wide eyed stranger in front of him, wondering if they'd test their luck. 

Surprisingly, they did their best to stay quiet, the over-dramatic, obnoxious sobs from earlier slowly subsiding into sniffles. He smugly smiled and turned, walking a few steps away. Even with their impending demise, he didn't want to share your voice with anyone.

"Oh," you said. "That's okay." The notable disappointment to your words pained him, and he had to throw a glare over his shoulder at his victim. 

It was their fault that he would be missing out on extra time with you. Why didn't they just mind their business, instead of trying to chat you up while waiting in line?

But, [REDACTED] shared some of the blame. He'd begrudgingly skipped the usual lunch break visit at your insistence, since you wanted to surprise him with the matching costumes you were picking up.

"So what are you doing then?" you asked, then passed right over the topic. "Never mind. It's probably work, right?"

"... Yeah. Work," he answered. Admittedly, he was thankful you decided to stop asking questions on your own. And that you didn't remember he normally worked from home. "M'sorry, love."

You hummed in thought. "No worries. Programming hours sure are all over the place. I guess they kinda have to be, with the kind of money you make though." There was a sudden, loud commotion in the background and you softly cursed.

"Angel?" your boyfriend worriedly called out.

"I'm fine! My stupid tail just got caught in the — I mean… I'm fine!!"

The hacker smiled in relief, already excited for the costumes you bought. He didn't trail you or sneak a peek at the store's cameras for once, but he did notice the bright red horns poking out of the shopping bag behind you while you ate. You must've changed into yours before you left. An angel and a demon — only you wanted him to be the angel. 

[REDACTED] laughed, almost forgetting the person tied up behind him until they weakly groaned in agony. His smile immediately turned to a frown; he had to hang up too soon for his liking.

He was apologetic as could be. "I won't be able to leave for a while, but I'll make sure to call you the second I'm done."

"You always do," you teased him. "I can't wait to see the look on your face once I give you your costume."

He instantly took the bait, as if he didn't already know. "Really? Why don't y'give me a hint?"

"Hmm… It's… uhh, your favorite thing in the world?"

Ah, that one was too obvious. Still, he wanted to pretend a little longer. The delighted look on your face was sure to be worth the wait. "I'll work hard t'figure it out before I get home."

Your almost impish laughter made his heart skip a beat. "See you soon, Ren."

The phone beeped and the screen went black, taking his good mood away.

With a faint sigh and a roll of his eyes, the dark haired man reached for the sledgehammer leaning against an upturned table. It weighed lighter in his hands than the one he was used to, but it'd do the job just fine. 

He turned back towards the stranger, bruised, battered and much too weak to do anything but stare up at their tormentor. 

All the joy in [REDACTED]'s demeanor was gone, replaced with commonplace boredom as he slung the hammer over one shoulder. "Guess y'kept quiet enough, so I'll make this quick."

[redflagshipwriter]

Red Hot Ghouls 14 part 2/2

Masterpost 

Danny had kind of ignored the most important part of that initial message. Crud. Of course the poor bastard wanted to know about the progress on their spiritual separation. Danny cringed. He typed fast to send a new message before Jason could ask again.

It did not come out easily. He wrote and deleted two drafts before he groaned aloud. “I am not prepared to tell him that the options so far are either to marry and divorce me or to get his ass banished from the ghost dimension.” Danny spent a moment pitying himself. “I just have to say the truth.”

Cringe. Cringe so hard. 

I have two possible solutions but they both suck really hard. :/ Suck so hard you’d be shook. The suckage would change your life.

Jason sent back ellipses. It belatedly occurred to Danny that it might have looked like he was making a blowjob joke. He put the phone back on his chest and stared at the ceiling for a while, wondering why he was this way.

“Jason didn’t see that,” Danny told himself. “Jason is a professional. A professional something. I don't know what.” 

He wanted to believe it so badly that he just decided not to be mortified. Danny lifted the burner phone back up and painstakingly assembled a shrug emoji from symbols. 

Honestly they’re such bad options that I don’t even wanna tell you. Can we change the subject? : (

Jason sent back a series of laughing and crying emojis and then, Fine. Let’s talk about all the other stuff we have in common.

Danny pursed his lips. “...Do we have anything in common?” It wasn’t like he knew much about the guy, but he presumed Jason kept himself busy with some boring adult job, building muscle, and biking around looking hot. Danny crossed his legs at the knee and tried not to think of what a twig he looked like in comparison to Jason. He didn’t feel bad about it, honestly. Danny was too busy to make fitness a part of his personality and he had nothing to prove.

I’m illiterate, he settled on as a response. They definitely did not have a love of literature in common. What else did people do? I uh…. Watched a movie two years back.

Any good?

T’was shit, Danny admitted. Hm. He frowned. “I’m not sure where to take this conversation,” he said aloud.

I’m so hungry. Just got off work and I’m trying to decide what to do.

“Oh, I can do something with that.” Danny felt better. Yeah me too, I would kill for an enchilada. He tried to send a ghost emoji and groaned when he remembered that this was a shitty burner phone with no keyboard downloaded and apparently no access to the app store. Jason had already responded by the time that he gave up.

Ghosts eat Mexican food?

They would if they have human zone money, Danny sent back morosely. Oh no, it wasn’t fun anymore. Ya boy can’t pay in the tears of the damned anywhere on this plane of existence smh. His stomach growled with obnoxious timing. He groaned. The last thing he’d eaten had been that sandwich with Jazz. He could cook… He really should cook. 

Ugh. Effort. 

Danny tried to motivate himself up to the kitchen. “It’s four steps,” he said aloud, trying to be encouraging. “I can make it.”

Ah. No. That was actually kind of depressing. He lived in a shoebox with a monthly grocery budget that was just pitiful.

Haha ur broke, Jason sent, because he was a massive bitch. Danny felt a lot better about flipping him off. But then Jason followed it up with an obviously insincere, I’d get you enchiladas if you were in Gotham. Sucks to suck.

Danny sensed weakness to exploit.

“You’re going to regret that,” Danny grimly promised, and hit the call button.

Jason picked up on the second ring, sounding confused and electronic. “Hey?”

“I can be in Gotham for enchiladas,” Danny threatened. His stomach growled again. “You feeling brave? Huh? Huh?” He punched a finger at the air in accusation. “I’m not scared of you or your dank gargoyles, leatherboy.”

There was a weird mechanical sound. Maybe a snort? A laugh? “I’ll send you a GPS point, if you’re there in ten I’ll buy you all you can eat.”

Danny went still like the predator he was. “Bring your life savings.” He hit the end call button and launched himself off the couch to go stuff his feet into his shoes. He let his apartment door slam shut behind him carelessly. He’d made it to the ground level before the pin point landed.

“Fuck, it’s even in my neighborhood.” Danny laughed, flush with petty victory. He looked left, right, and went invisible before he went ghost. There was no one around at this late hour to see him drop off the visible spectrum.

[sidus-noctifer]

Together (we fall)

Repost, Fluff, Pining

Xiao gazed the estuary below him, his watchful gaze overseeing the golden plains of Liyue. His molten eyes contemplated the picturesque scenery from atop the Inn, with eyes clouded by wonder. When did he start being like this? His gaze fled, looking at the amber tiles of the roof and staring at them with shame, as if seeking refuge from the eyes of the gods.

A warm breeze from the south blew, as gingko leaves fell from the ancient tree. He couldn't help but ponder. Would your touch feel as warm and delicate? When did he start feeling so weak, almost human?

At these questions, Xiao could not find an answer. Instead he could only pray his master, Rex Lapis, and ask to keep away from him you, the bane of his existence.

It started with an unfamiliar feeling, imperceptible and evasive: akin to the flutter of a butterfly's wings.

And before he knew it, that innocent was solicitude something he never knew before: a tender affection like no other, one that kept plaguing him. Did you even knew the effect you had on him? Were you aware about the way his mind kept running back to you, wondering about your wellbeing and whereabouts? Did you know how much he loathed you for the curse you laid upon him?

That was your sin, afterall: to make him, an illuminated adeptus,human.

A soft voice, akin to a whisper, spoke his name. One, two, three minutes passed, yet the adeptus did not know if he should've fuel with your presence the curse you bestowed upon him.

You really were cruel.

Then, he acknowledged your call.

You smiled and- archons, Xiao could swear that your smile was so resplendent like none. "You're here" you whispered, as if making sure that the one before you was the Adeptus of Wangshu Inn himself and not a naive reverie.

"Why did you call me? Is something the matter?" he spoke, blaming once again your curse for making him utter those words more softly than he had intended. However, you didn't notice it, he comforted himself. Or maybe you pretended to not have heard.

You bit your cheek, trying to suppress a mischievous grin. "Well... I wanted to ask you a favour" the way you spoke those words did not foretell anything good.

.

Ages could've changed yet human's foolishness would never know boundaries. Xiao let out something between a sigh and a groan, uncaring about your hurted gaze. And after all, it wasn't worth it for an adeptus to deal with their stupidity. Few Qingxins laid forgotten on the balcony's wooden floor while others had been haphazardly placed inside a porcelain vase.

"What is that long face? It suits you well, you know" your pout did not take long to morph into one of those adorable smiles of yours.

The adeptus did not reply as he gazed at the faraway mountains, hidden by the veil of mist while begging the gods to not let you see the burning flush of his cheecks. You fell silent, observing the flowers you oh-so painstakingly intertwined in a flower crown. "Seriously, it suits you" you gazed away, eyes seeking a refuge from him "It makes you look... cute" you muttered that word softly as if trying to not be heard.

He blinked- once, twice, thrice- at you features still immersed in your own thoughts not cognizant of the feeling wholly taking over Xiao. "Stop spitting out nonsense" his words sounded more like a pitiful groan than the growl he intended.

Your angelic smile was now turned into a devilish grin. This side of you was rather... pleasing, he found himself shamelessly thinking much to his own dismay and chagrin. "But alas, I'm afraid that no flower could ever compare with your beauty"

Those candid guise of yours truly hid an imp. The words he spoke next were unforeseeable even to himself "....are you trying to woo me?"

Astonishment painted over your features and he eftsoons found himself enjoying the sight in front of him. Then, you reminded Xiao how obnoxious you could be. "Who knows" a lopsided grin adorned your features.

A sigh left his lips. "You truly are reckless". Archons above, please, do not let them hear this fondness in his voice. A giggle escaped from you as the mellifluous sound resonated through the air. He felt his heart flutter and, for the first time after aeons, Xiao cursed his human vassal.

He stared at you as he felt your eyes linger on his figure. "What's wrong?"

"You have a petal in your hair" you spoke, eyes still not leaving his features.

"You're the one that made me wear it" he huffed.

"You look adorable with it, however" you grinned teasingly. He abruptly turned his head, directing his gaze elsewhere "... Just how many times are you going to repeat that?"

You didn't reply as you grinned triumphantly at the Adeptus' reaction. A chortle left your lips "There, there, let me remove it"

"Do not give it much relevance" despise his words, your hand did not cease its path.

You gently took the minute petal, which hid itself in a teal lock of his hair. You were close- oh, so close that he almost melted under your touch. You didn't make any sense, how could you treat a creature that only knew the blood of the battlefield with such carefreeness? How could you touch him so delicately as if he could've break like glass?

You withdrawed your hand violently, feeling a sharp pain as if you've been hit by an electric shock. You groaned in pain, feeling your arm becoming numb. It hurts. If this anguish continued you were sure that you would've exhale your last breath.

"... Xiao?" you weakly called his name, your voice was now hoarse.

Your words were met by thin air.

.

You didn't know how much time passed before you managed to see him once again. No matter how many times you tried to approach him, every time you attempted to talk to him, he always disappeared right before your eyes. It hurted, for some reason.

"What are you trying to do?" you tried to ask one day. You didn't need to say anything else.

"I'm harmful to mortals, even my presence alone is enough to hurt you" his Gaza moved on you, his eyes finally indulging on you instead on the Liyue's landscape illuminated by the golden rays of eventide. "You should be well aware of it"

"Stop avoiding me, please" you begged, on the verge of falling into despair. The look in your eyes was enough to make his heart ache.

His mind was filled with sorrow. "It's for your own good" speaking those words felt like being stabbed. "I'm sorry" he murmured to the wind. It hurted, too much. Ages of endless slaughter made him used to endure sufferings unknown to this world. But he was defenseless like a newborn in front of regret.

"I'll endure it, we'll find a way but please..." You letted only the voices from afar of the other travellers fill that silence. You smiled melancholically, his heart fluttered both for the pain and something else. "Unfortunately for you I like being with you

You were a paradox to him, something that he couldn't understand even in ages-no, millenia. He loathed you completely for your nativity even if you were the only one that taught him the meaning of human emotions, even if you could put at ease for an ephemeral time his tormented soul.

He hated you for your curse, even if he knew that it wasn't by no means a fruit of witchcraft. "I am bound to protect this land by a contract that has been forgotten by many if not immortals. My duty is simply to protect Liyue from evil, yet... yet I would hate to see you hurt because of me" he paused, his Amber eyes gazing at you. You swore you saw the ghost of a smile on his lips "Besides, you are deserving of all the happiness of this world"

[carmillascrusade]

Shrouded affection finale | Emily Prentiss x f!reader

Summary: Good things don’t always last forever and Emily has a habit of self destructing.

Word count: 4,801

A/N: This is super late because my teachers hate me and keep assigning tests… and dialogue heavy maybe. Has anybody seen the new mean girls yet? I watched it on Sunday. @jellysaidshit @emilxprentiss @poorwritingandstalecoffee

The case was located in San Francisco. When Garcia had presented the case four women had been brutally murdered; each of their limbs broken and twisted in an inhumane way. Just looking at those poor women made you feel sick to your stomach.

How could someone do something like this? So evil. So deranged.

The case itself was long and gruelling. Restless nights made better due to you not having Emily to share your burdens with. You were currently getting ready for drinks at the bar with the team and the police department, a small but well needed celebration for cracking such a tough case.

You and Emily had both decided to just go in your work clothes. After all, you hadn’t packed for celebratory drinks.

Strobing lights obscured your vision as you pushed your way into the bar. Obnoxiously loud music blasted from speakers as you pushed your way through a sea of sweaty, half drunk bodies in hopes of finding your team. Emily’s hand was in yours as you guided her through the crowd, slightly shoving people out of the way in order to make enough room for you to squeeze past.

Emily had given you the rest of her gifts before you had left for the bar. The cool caress of the metal curled around your wrist a welcome reminder of Emily’s love for you. She had bought a gorgeous charm bracelet for you; each charm painstakingly hand crafted by a jeweller to represent significant moments shared between the two of you. You didn’t know how to react when you had opened it, instead you bursted into tears and hung onto Emily for dear life.

She was so thoughtful. So eager to show her love for you.

So perfect.

You couldn’t help but imagine a future with her and what that would entail. The familiar laughing of your teammates notified you of their whereabouts. Penelope’s incoherent spiels drowned out any other conversation in the immediate area, like a fog horn would any other siren. Her bubbly nature despite what you faced regularly would never fail to amaze you. You admired her, truly, for she continued to shine in a world full of darkness; undimmed by the many people wielding instruments meant to snuff her very light.

Emily chuckled beside you, ever amused at Penelope’s antics. The small collection of empty glasses reminded you or Emily’s numerous half full water bottles strewn around the side of her bed. She had told you that they were there for when she got thirsty throughout the night but they never seemed to decrease in number.

It had made you giggle when you had first saw them, Emily’s antics never failing to surprise you. Her quirks made her the person she is and you wouldn’t have it any other way; even if it meant that you were subject to her playing with your hair as she tried to stay awake.

Penelope’s ramblings came to a halt as she seen you approach with Emily trailing behind. A loud squeal pierced the air, causing multiple heads to turn to the direction it came from, searching for the source in mere curiosity. The source being Penelope.

“Hi! I’m so glad you’re here.” She slurred out at you, the consonants in her words drawled out ever so slightly.

“Hi, Penelope.” You greeted cheerily, dropping Emily’s hand in favour of supporting your conversation partner as she began to sway.

Just as you managed to get her back into her seat, the sheriff approached you, sheepishly asking you for a dance. Looking over her shoulder for Emily in the hopes of getting away from an unwanted dance, you were surprised to see her already dancing with someone else.

A beautiful woman at that. The blond woman was whispering in Emily’s ear, something salacious you assumed based on Emily’s vibrant blush and embarrassed chuckle. Your world seemed to slow down as you only seemed to be able to focus on them, heart stuttering in your chest, stomach dropping.

You felt sick. Clearly your little tryst had been just that and nothing more. Once cool metal, a gentle reminder of Emily’s affection for you, burned your skin. You wanted it off. You wanted to leave and never show your face again.

A gentle hand on your arm was the final straw. The tears you had so desperately been holding back finally broke free, pouring out of your tear ducts as water would a burst dam. Your heart was aching, throbbing in anguish, relentlessly beating against your ribcage in an effort to escape the damage associated with heart break.

“Are you okay?” A distant voice called out. Muffled and far away, as a voice would sound if speaking to you through a barrier of water.

Glossy eyes flicked up and met the piercing blue gaze of the sheriff, flooded with concern at your current state. Your response, if you could call it that, came out in a jumble of words. Your eyes flicked back to Emily and the blond to see the woman leading your lover away. No. Emily wasn’t yours.

Seemingly following your pitiful gaze, Sheriff Lister pieced the information together.

“How about we go outside. Get some air, hmm?” She was speaking to you as you would an injured child, gentle and nurturing.

You gripped onto her arm as she led you outside. The tears clouding your vision made leaving the bar far more difficult than it would have been under normal circumstances. Sweet whispers from Lister were occasionally granted to you, grounding you to the present, keeping you out of your head and focussed on the task at hand. Leaving the building.

The night air was cold, borrowing body heat as a neighbour would a cup of sugar. Frost covered the window panes of nearby shops, frigid and distance in the think cover of night. You focussed on your breaths rising as white puffed clouds, willing yourself to calm down.

You knew that Emily had commitment issues You knew that she was unlikely to return your affections. Yet you still pined after her anyways.

A fool.

The telltale click of a lighter sparking to life alerted you once more of the sheriff stood beside you. Her eyes were on you, hawklike in nature as she studied you from underneath her lashes.

“So,” she drawled out the word. “You and your dark haired coworker?”

You nodded feebly, the cold catching up to you now that you had calmed down, subconsciously causing you to draw your body closer to Lister’s. Ever perceptive, she noticed your state and offered you her coat.

“Won’t you be cold?” You asked, not wanting her to freeze because of you.

“I’ll be alright, darling.”

She cheekily grinned at you; the type of grin that would be charming if you weren’t recently subject to such heartache, the type of grin that sent girls like you reeling. You muttered a small thank you. For her jacket or for the kindness she was showing you, you weren’t sure.

“How about we go get some food, hmm? I’m sure some takeout place will still be open.”

Your stomach growling was answer enough.

Emily watched the interaction between you and that sheriff from across the street. Her stomach twisted uncomfortable as she watched her dry your tears, as she watched you wear her jacket and link arms with her. You should have been linking arms with Emily, not some random woman.

But, she couldn’t really blame you for seeking comfort elsewhere. After all, she had been the one to fall back into old habits. She had been the one flirting with another woman, with the full intention of destroying the very new, the very fragile relationship the two of you shared.

Emily Prentiss did not deserve nice things. She didn’t deserve you and your lovely smiles. She didn’t deserve your affection; especially after the stunt she pulled today.

Everything had happened so fast. One moment she was holding your hand, marvelling in your beauty and the next she was leaving the bar with a woman. A woman that wasn’t you.

She had seen you spot her with the blond, had seen your face fall and the tears you had not been able to hold back. And still, she followed the woman all the way until her hotel room.

It wasn’t until she got there that she had realised her mistake. The lips pressing against her were rough and sloppy. Inconsiderate of her feelings. All they sought was pleasure and a fast release.

She had pulled away then, leaving the hotel room with a flimsy excuse thrown over her soldier. What had she done? She yearned for your lips to be the ones on her, for your hands to be the ones touching her. She wanted your soft smiles and saccharine sweet kisses.

She needed them.

But, her self destructive tendencies had won again and she had lost the one thing in her life she wanted the most. You.

You who had to seek comfort in the arms of another woman because she had been the one to deal you pain. You who had been nothing but patient and caring towards her, never pushing her away when you had every right to do so. You who shone brighter then the sun and stars combined, brightening her once dark world until she could no longer feel the deathly grip of her past.

Emily didn’t deserve you. You were too good. Too pure to be corrupted by the likes of her. Yet you had always stayed.

Emily Prentiss had pushed away the only thing she held dear and she was the only person to blame. Her heart seemed to fracture with every step you took away from her, shattering completely as she heard your laugh- the one reserved for her alone- directed at somebody else.

But, she reasoned with herself, she deserved this.

Lister, or Kate as you had quickly learned, had taken you to get pizza, buying a large for the two of you to share. The two of you were currently sat on a park bench, with you giggling at Kate dropping pizza on her shirt and Kate furiously trying to get the stain off.

“You know, rubbing it super hard isn’t going to make the grease stain go away.” You teased before taking another bite of your pizza slice.

Kate narrowed her eyes at you in faux anger. Her rubbing soon stopped as she decided, finally, that it wasn’t doing any help.

“So, you gonna tell me what’s going on between you and what’s she called?”

“Emily?” You supplied.

“Yeah, her.”

“It’s a long story.” You sighed wearily.

“Ehh, I’ve got the time to spare.” She shrugged as she said it before resting her hand on your knee. “But don’t feel pressured into sharing if you don’t want to.”

You smiled at her, sneakily taking the last slice of pizza out of the box while she was distracted.

“ I’m in love with her.”

She laughed at that. “Yeah, anyone with a pair of eyes can see that, sweetheart.”

She received a soft slap to the side in response but you carried on with the story. It seemed that once you started, you couldn’t stop. Everything you had been holding in, keeping secret from your friends, tumbled out of your mouth.

You were crying again. The events of the day being so emotionally overwhelming that you couldn’t help yourself. Kate tutted in sympathy as she drew you into a hug.

“You didn’t deserve any of that.” She assured.

“I know. I know that, I truly do but I can’t help but feel like part of me deserves it.”

“How come?”

“Well, look at her. Emily is amazing. So amazing that she outshines everybody in the room despite just standing there.”

“Hey, you’re not too bad yourself, y’know.” She joked, trying to lighten the sullen and serious atmosphere that had built up.

“I guess.”

Your somber mood was only heightened by the cold chill beginning to set in your bones. Kate walked you back to your hotel room and you thanked her for the night. However, you knew it was getting late and you didn’t want her walking home alone, especially after the gruelling case you had just finished, so you asked if she wanted to stay.

It was the least you could do.

Surprise briefly coloured the faces of your team members before they schooled their features into a more neutral expression. What were you doing with the sheriff?

Emily was seething from where she stood beside JJ. Not only had to went on a late night rendezvous, but you had invited that woman back to your room and she was still here. Laughing and touching your knee without a care in the world.

That was Emily’s job. She was supposed to touch you and make you laugh. You were supposed to look at her like that, not the sheriff.

“What’s going on with those two?” JJ asked, nudging Emily with her elbow.

“I don’t know.” She spat back.

“You know,” she started carefully, not wanting to irritate her friend any further. “I saw you and that blond last night.”

She had said it as a statement rather than an accusation, but the way her eyes narrowed slightly and her gaze pierced through Emily’s suggested otherwise.

“Yeah, what about it?” Emily was getting defensive.

“Well, I don’t think you have the right to be jealous when you were all over that woman last night. We all saw you together.”

Emily huffed in aggravation because she truly had no right to be jealous, but she was. She had shot herself in the foot with her rash decisions last night and it stung. It stung so much that she couldn’t even look in your direction; fearful of your disappointed eyes or, even worse, you looking at another woman the way you once did her.

“They’re all staring you know?” Kate observed with a slight gesture towards your team.

You turned your head to look over at your team, their faces unreadable as they looked at you. Emily, however, was the only one refusing to look in your direction, instead biting her nails. You had always hated that habit of hers, how it brought her so much pain but seemed to be the only thing that soothed her.

The only thing but you.

She wouldn’t even look at you? Your sadness soon turned into anger, however, as you realised that you did not deserve to be strung along like you had been. If she didn’t want to look at you, fine, you wouldn’t bother with her either.

JJ started walking toward you, her curiosity getting the best of her as she drew closer to you and Kate. Did you not have feelings for Emily?

“Hey,”

“Hi Jayje,” you greeted her with a smile.

“Who’s your friend?”

“You know… Kate?” You shot her a questioning look. “We’ve worked with her and her officers the entire case.”

“Well yeah, I know that she’s Sheriff Lister but..”

“What’s she doing here?” You supplied.

JJ nodded, albeit a bit shamefully. Her cheeks and neck tinting red made you smile slightly. You wondered briefly if she had came on behalf of Emily, they were best friends after all, but Emily didn’t care about you.

“Kate took me to get pizza last night and by the time we came back it was too late for her to walk home alone.”

“Oh…” she trailed off before looking back at Emily who was staring off into space. “like a date?”

You and Kate both burst out in to laughter, stomachs tensing almost uncomfortably as you leaned on one another for support. JJ stared at you perplexed. Why were you laughing at her?

“If you’re just going to laugh at me,” she muttered, brows furrowed and lips downturned. “I’ll just go.”

You quickly composed yourself at her upset tone and reached out for her. “JJ, no don’t go. I’m sorry for laughing. It’s just, Kate and I are friends that’s all, I was pretty upset last night and she helped me. That’s all.”

“Upset? What? Why didn’t you tell any of us you were upset?” She questioned. Weren’t you friends?

“Perhaps you should ask your best friend why I was upset.”

Kate and you had shared numbers before parting with each other as neither of you wished to lose the friendship you had quickly formed. The flight back to Quantico was silent, a tense silence at that. None of that mattered now though as you finally back in the comforts of your own home. Your bed a necessary comfort after the tough week you had, it welcomed you as a lover would, warm and comforting.

Sleep evaded your grasp for the majority of the night causing optic to toss and turn in discomfort. What you were not expecting, especially at 4 a.m, was the abrupt knock at your door. You weren’t expecting visitors. Another three knocks rapped against your door. Your heart rate picked up and you reached for the gun in your bedside table before slipping out of the duvet.

It was better to be safe than sorry.

You barely registered the rain beating against the panes of your windows or the wind whistling a familiar tune. Instead you were focussed on the doorframe that loomed in the dimness of your foyer, daring you to get closer to it. Challenging you to a battle of wills.

You weren’t sure who you expected to be behind the door. Perhaps a rage filled criminal looking for vengeance or a renowned serial killer looking to make a reappearance. What, or should you say who, you weren’t expecting to be stood on the other side of the door was Emily.

…

Emily?

You went to slam the door shut, on,y to be stopped by the toe of a doc marten wedged between your dorm and its frame. How dare she knock on your door at this god awful hour. How dare she stop you from closing it. You did not owe her anything and you certainly would not entertain whatever pitiful display this was.

Furiously flinging the door back open, unconcerned with the bang it made against the wall, you jabbed your finger into her chest, effectively shoving her out of the doorway and back into the hallway. “What on earth are you doing here?” You hissed.

“Please,” she begged, eyes downcast shamefully. “please hear me out.”

“No. I don’t think I will.”

A sudden move almost toppled you over. Emily was on her knees, clinging you like her life depended on it, head nestled against your legs.

“Please!” She cried. “Please, please, please…”

Her sobs were muffled by your pyjama bottoms. You were in a state of shock. First of all, what was she doing here? Second of all, what had made her so upset that she was here, in front of you, down on her knees. Her shoulders were shaking alongside her sobs and you couldn’t help but feel slightly sorry for her.

After all, feelings don’t just disintegrate over night and, as ashamed as you were to admit it, you are still in love with her.

You unintentionally let out a frustrated sigh, which seemed to make Emily even more upset. You weren’t really sure how to deal with the situation you had so carelessly been thrown into, so against your better judgement you pulled Emily inside. She wasn’t making it easy though. It is very difficult to move with an adult holding onto your legs.

“Emily!” You admonished. “I cannot move with you clinging on to me as you are!”

Her form shrunk at your tone and you realised that you needed to go about this a different way.

“I’m sorry for shouting at you.” You whispered gently, free hand reaching out the toy with her hair. “Please, can you let go of me so we can go inside? I’m not going anywhere.”

That seemed to get her attention as her head raised to look at you. Your heart shattered at the broken ‘promise?’ she whispered. How could someone make you feel everything and nothing all at once? Emily Prentiss was an enigma. Five minutes ago you were so certain that you hated her. But now? Now, you weren’t sure of how you felt. You weren’t really sure of anything.

It was difficult but you had managed to get her settled on the couch before placing your gun down. She was lied down with your blanket draped over her slumped form. Her tears had subsided for the time being, not that you could see much of her face with your small salt lamp being the only source of illumination.

You were in the kitchen making hot chocolate for the both of you. You had a feeling that it would be a long night. A long, emotional night. Emily’s cup was almost overflowing with the generous amount of marshmallows and whipped cream you had applied to the top of her drink. Yours was less severe.

Plopping down next to her on the couch, careful not to spill the drinks, you handed hers over. You were grateful for the lack of light as it allowed you to study her face without consequence. She was staring at your fireplace, eyes lingering on the framed photo of you and her on the mantle piece, seemingly lost in thought.

Your apartment groaned in discomfort due to the oncoming assault from the storm outside. Emily’s coat had been hung to dry as you ushered her in, thankfully your legs hadn’t gotten wet. The air was chilly from the wind seeping through the cracks of your windows. Emily was currently covered with the only blanket in the living room. If only you weren’t so considerate.

Your subtle shivers seemed to rouse Emily from whatever daydream she had found herself in.

“We can share the blanket if you want.” Her voice was so quiet that you barely heard it over the storm. She lifted her arm, allowing you to get under the blanket but you declined.

You couldn’t stand being that close to her. Not now. Not after that night.

“I’m alright.” You hadn’t mean to sound so cold.

Emily deflated at your disinterest in being close to her and you were starting to get antsy. Your fingers drummed against your leg in short, consecutive movements- a self soothing gesture you find yourself doing during times of high stress.

“Why are you here?” Blurted out of your mouth before you could stop it. It may have been blunt but you want, no need, answers.

“I wanted to talk.”

“We have nothing to talk about.” You scoffed.

“Please,” she begged, reaching out for your hands. Silently grateful that you didn’t pull away when she put her hands in yours.

“Make it quick.”

“What is she to you?” She asked, sliding onto her knees so she could sit in front of you.

You laughed. Full belly laughed in her face at the audacity she had to ask you that question. “Excuse me? You do not get to ask me that. Not after you had your tongue down another woman’s throat.”

You were beyond angry. How dare she ruin what you have and then come to your apartment in the middle of the night begging to talk. Snatching your hands out of hers, you pushed her away from you and moved through the dark halls of your apartment, wanting nothing more than the comfort of your bed and Emily gone.

“You can leave now, Emily.”

She scrambled up from the ground and ran after you. You wanted to cry as you heard the her crash into your furniture. Not only did she have to break your heart but she had to break your furniture too. One minute you were in your bed alone and the next Emily was on top of you. Clutching onto your shirt, head hurried in your neck as she started crying again.

“Please don’t leave me.”

“We were never together.” You couldn’t help but want to be mean back but there was also a question on the tip of your tongue, itching to be released. “Why’d you do it, Emily? Why’d you go home with her.”

“I didn’t!” Her voice rose exponentially before she controlled her outburst and lowered her tone. “Well, I did but we didn’t do anything. I promise! You have to believe me. She wasn’t you.”

“Why did you do it?” You repeated.

“I was scared. Everything I had ever wanted had finally fallen into my hands and I didn’t know what to do with it. You’re so perfect and I knew that I didn’t, no I don’t, deserve you. I’m sorry.” Her words were kind of officiating to hear through her stutters but you could make them out.

“Sorry isn’t good enough.” You were being petty and you knew it but you wanted her to feel the same gut wrenching feeling that you had. Attempting to sit up, you pushed her off slightly, only for her to clutch onto you even harder. “Perhaps you should go find another woman to entertain yourself with. I’m not sure if a relationship with you is worth pursuing.”

“Don’t say that. Please don’t say that.”

“I can’t trust you, Emily. How do I know you’re not going to run off into another woman’s arms as soon as things get tough?”

“Please, I’ve realised my mistake. You know I’ll never do anything if the sort ever again.”

“I don’t.” You whispered, heart feeling like it was been torn from your chest with every word you spoke.

Your eyes refused to meet hers and she couldn’t stand it. She reached up and cupped your face with both of your hands, gently turning your head so that you would be looking into her eyes. You were shutting her out but she needed you to listen. She needed you to know how much you meant to her.

“You don’t know how much you mean to me. I would defy the laws of the universe if it meant, however selfish that may be, that I got to spend eternity with you. One lifetime is not enough. I will always crave, no need; I will always need that moment more, that second longer, because I am utterly and hopelessly devoted to you.”

“Oh, please.” You scoff. “You were all over her!”

“And you weren’t all over that sheriff?!”

“Kate,” you fumed, jabbing her in the chest with your pouter finger. “Was there for me because you made me cry. You do not get to bring her into this argument when she’s been nothing but kind to me.”

The reminder of the misfortune she had caused you made her look like a wounded puppy, ashamed and guilt ridden. “I love you.” Her confession was accompanied with tear filled eyes and a wobbly voice.

“I’m not sure you do.” You felt as if the world had stopped as you muttered the words. Was this the end for you and Emily? Had your relationship stopped before it truly started?

“Don’t you love me?” She cried, desperate to hear you say it, just once.

“I do.”

“Then why are you pushing me away?!”

“ I don’t want you to hurt me again.” You confessed.

“I won’t.” Was repeated over and over. Soft promised whispered into your ear and lips as you finally accepted her embrace.

Chapped lips met yours, moving against you so softly and slowly as if they were afraid you would bolt away at any sudden movement. Two tear stained faces met each other in the middle, seeking out the comfort only achievable from being close to the other person. Tentative smiles played on your lips as you briefly pulled away, reflecting a mixture of relief and apprehension.

Emily’s hand found the back of your head ands yours the small of her back, the gestures being both reassuring and vulnerable at the same time. Your eyes locked with hers as you both silently acknowledged the mistake she made and, Jody importantly, the lesson she had learned from it.

Your heart felt like it was about to leap into the unknown. The air between you was charged with the whispers of forgiveness and the feeling of heartache beginning to lift. Your touch became Emily’s lifeline, grounding her to the present. You were here and you weren’t leaving.

As your lips met once more, you knew that you and Emily would share a future; one tinged with the promise of redemption and no more heartbreak. The kiss mended broken threads and bridged the gaps that had seemed to have been too vast to fill.

Yes. The two of you were going to be okay.

Chapter one, chapter two, chapter three

[animentality]

Sorry people are being a bunch of weenies. I do not have the same interpolations of Whoretash however I do very much like yours and I think your incorrect quotes are immaculate

But I do think that if people are being rude then you don't need to feed them, so I don't blame you for putting BG3 in the corner.

You know what really annoys me, anon?

For MONTHS. these people have been reblogging my posts. chattering to me about Gortash and Durgetash.

And all this time... I have CAREFULLY. gone out of my way. painstakingly. meticulously.

referred to the dark urge as they/them. why???

because I never wanted people with female Durges to feel like my dark urge head canons didn't include them. I didn't want people with male Durges to feel like I wasn't including them.

I wanted enby and trans and g/n durges to be included in my silly ramblings.

and I might've joked about Gortash being gay or bi or whatever, but mostly I have been the most pro, whatever your Durge is, he is into that specifically. he could even be ace and he's still into Durge.

that's the beauty of the queer label. I never said he had to fuck men to be queer. he could be with a female Durge and still be queer.

and even though my durges are trans male or nonbinary, and gay as hell, I still liked anyone who liked Durge as an origin, AND who saw the beauty of durgetash.

but NOW.

these same people are bitching at me because... I said Gortash is bisexual. they're insisting I AM PROJECTING my sexuality on him and acting like I'm the non-inclusive one.

and it makes me really feel like...

your brain couldn't power a potato clock.

Gortash being bisexual is literally the MORE inclusive option. it's NOT saying he's gay, he's not into women, or he's straight, he's not into men.

it's saying no matter what your Durge is, he'd be into them. no matter who your tav is, he's into them.

and the fact that I'm bi- it's such a fucking joke that they're using that against me.

I say I'm bi because I don't care to explain that I'm asexual, but biromantic.

I hate extra labels, and bisexual is way easier for most people to understand.

so these people accusing me of forcing my sexuality on a character are baffling because if I was doing that, I would NOT be talking about the dark urge and gortash fucking nasty every night. I'd be talking about how they sit at home reading books together. I'd be talking about how they hug at night and don't let go, and don't even play grab ass once.

It's also further obnoxious because these fucking people.

They have... every single... video game, movie, TV show, goddamn cereal ad... dedicated to straight people.

Baldur's Gate... is like the most bisexual game in all of existence.

the tavs can be trans, they can be cis, they can be gay, bi, straight, ace. whatever you want.

there are gay gnomes and lesbian aasimars and all the companions are bisexual.

it's the most queer friendly game of this century.

but they can't let this one character go. they get confirmation that this one character "might be straight" and now they're using that same fucking language of "ew why does everyone have to be gay with you people?"

and it's a joke.

Anyway, though. Thanks for sticking around.

I'm glad someone's enjoying my nonsense.

[superheroesofbothuniverses]

December 3 Holiday Prompt Fic: Shieldshock

Prompts: Shieldshock, enemies to lovers, mistletoe

“How long have they been at it?” whispered Clint Barton to Natasha Romanoff.

Steve and Darcy had been verbally sniping at each other for an impressive amount of time and both of them were too stubborn to just walk away, which made an entertaining spectacle for onlookers.

“Way too long,” Nat sighed. “They’re worse than Steve and Tony at this point. I almost feel like spraying them with a hose like misbehaving cats.”

Clint giggled. “I’d love to see that. I feel like it’s the sort of thing that only gets resolved by counseling or a good ole romp in the hay.”

“I vote for the latter,” Bucky agreed. “She makes him crazy, but he can’t take his eyes off of her even when they’re not hissing and spitting at each other. It’s love, he just doesn’t know it yet.”

Darcy tossed her head and stalked away, firing what looked like a cutting ultimatum over her shoulder as she left. Steve stared after her, flushed in annoyance, but clearly mesmerized.

“Woo boy,” Bucky shook his head. “I think a little intervention is needed before they blow up like a nuclear bomb.”

“Amen!” Clint exclaimed fervently.

Natasha said nothing, but was already deep in plotting.

Darcy was grumbling to Jane about what a stubborn, annoying asshole Captain Jerkface was in between bites of sweet and sour chicken. They’d taken a break from science to get some Christmas shopping done, but much to Darcy’s annoyance, Steve Rogers still lived rent free in her head and she was not happy about it.

“I just want to punch his obscenely pretty face,” she grumbled. “He’s so smug and self righteous, I hate his guts.”

“Strong words,” Jane commented, eyebrows raised. “Have you tried NOT letting him provoke you? You know he’s a huge troll, right?”

“Yes, but I just can’t help myself and I don’t know why,” sighed Darcy. “I wish he would move to Outer Mongolia or something.”

Jane hid her smile, but made a note to talk to a certain spy friend.

Steve was lifting weights in the gym, totally zoned out, when Sam and Bucky hit the treadmills. He tuned them out at first, but his enhanced hearing picked up a very interesting conversation.

“Yeah, it’s such a shame,” Bucky was saying. “She’s crazy about him and he’s such a jerk to her. I don’t get it.”

“Me neither,” Sam agreed. “Darcy deserves better. Pining after him is just gonna get her hurt. I’ve thought about stepping in, but she wouldn’t hear a word against him.”

“Ah, blinded by love,” Bucky sighed sadly. “I guess we’ll just have to keep an eye on them in case things go south. But if he does break her heart, I’ll break something of his. And I can do it, too.”

“You gonna rip the steering wheel out of his car?” Sam asked slyly. “You’ve been known to do that a time or two.”

“Ha, ha, very funny,” Bucky grumbled and soon the conversation had returned to their usual playful bickering.

Steve set down the weights with a thunk, stunned by what he’d just heard.

Darcy’s in love with me? Is that why she picks a fight every time we see each other? Huh.

He could instantly picture her bright blue eyes boring into his as they argued, and the cute way she stomped her foot as she got riled up.

Steve left the gym in deep self reflection.

Darcy muttered to herself as she worked on an extremely thorough inventory of the lab supplies. She hated it, but their last intern had quit after Jane’s latest portal debacle, so unfortunately it fell to Darcy.

As she painstakingly went through the chemicals, she heard Jane talking to Natasha in the next room.

Maybe if I wasn’t so broke I could hire her to disappear Steve, she thought grumpily. Why do the pretty ones have to be so obnoxious?

“………and that’s why she can never know,” Jane was saying. “She’d portal his ass into outer space if he ever told her his feelings.”

“Why such a strong reaction?” Natasha wondered. “She told me at one point she liked guys who could pin her against a wall one-handed.”

Jane snorted. “Not this one, apparently. I feel sorry for Steve though. He may be a troll and a smartass, but he’s got a good heart. I wouldn’t like to see it get broken.”

WHAT? Darcy’s eyes widened and she sat down quickly on a stool, clipboard forgotten.

“Bucky told me he hasn’t seen Steve this smitten since Peggy Carter,” Natasha continued. “Unfortunately, Steve is still no good at talking to women. Hence the many fights.”

She heard Jane sigh deeply.

“It’s too bad,” her friend said. “Maybe in some other universe they’re going at it like me and Thor: happily and frequently.”

“TMI, Dr. Foster,” Natasha said dryly. Darcy could practically see the smirk she was giving Jane. “But I am happy for you. That is one match that was clearly meant to be.”

The voices faded as they walked away from the lab and Darcy struggled to collect her whirling thoughts.

Steve? In Love? With Me? He sure has a funny way of showing it. But……

Darcy’s traitorous mind immediately flooded her with little moments where Steve had been very chivalrous and thoughtful, even in the middle of their worst fights. Doubt about her preconceived notions about him began to creep in the more she thought about it. Could it all be pulling pigtails?

Christmas Eve arrived and The party was just getting started at the grand ballroom Tony had rented out for the occasion. Darcy and Jane let out a whistle as they entered the room and saw the elaborate decor and dressed up Avengers.

“Welcome, Science Minions!” Tony greeted. “Revel in the holiday delights.”

“Impressive, Tony, but someone got very carried away with the mistletoe,” Darcy commented, counting all the different sprigs.

“One can never have too much mistletoe,” he scoffed. “Some of you will thank me later.”

With a wink, he wandered off to bother Bruce, leaving Darcy to slowly explore the perimeter.

She stopped short at the sight of a very well dressed Steve, who was staring at her like she’d grown two heads.

There was a long pause.

“Um……Hi, Steve,” she greeted awkwardly. “You clean up nice.”

“Was that a complement, Dr. Lewis?” Steve returned with a grin, his usual sass recovering.

“It was, but don’t get used to it,” she shot back. “I still have plenty of zingers in the tank if needed.”

Her usual venom was lacking and she swallowed nervously as he looked her over again. It sure looked like maybe Jane was right, which was both thrilling and terrifying.

“You look beautiful, Darcy,” Steve for once, sounded completely sincere.

Darcy didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t used to this Steve.

“Thanks, but are you sure you’re really Steve? You’re acting kind of sus.”

Steve looked almost bashful for a second.

“I guess it’s the Christmas spirit, you know. Burying the hatchet and all.”

“So you’re finally admitting I’m always right?” she answered cheekily. “Got tired of being verbally wrecked every week?”

“First of all, I’ll do no such thing,” Steve retorted, blue eyes twinkling. “Second of all, I have way more fun arguing with you than agreeing with anyone else.”

“Oh,” Darcy replied. “So the rumors are true then.”

“What rumors?”

“That you’re madly in love with me.”

Steve’s eyebrows practically hit the roof and Darcy hoped she hadn’t really stepped in it, but before she could plot an escape route, he’d smiled at her again.

“Oh? I heard that you’re pining desperately for me,” he replied, stepping closer to her. “Bucky swore he would end me if I broke your heart.”

“Aww, Bucky’s such a good bro,” Darcy exclaimed, heart rate jumping as Steve moved closer.

“Do I have something on my face?” she asked, feigning innocence.

“No, but you’re standing right underneath a sprig of mistletoe,” Steve answered, pointing upwards.. “Better move or we’ll be obliged to honor tradition.”

Darcy crossed her arms and gave Steve her most inviting smile.

“And if I don’t wanna move?” she asked.

“That’s fine with me,” Steve whispered, tilting up her chin gently. She rose up on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck as their lips met.

[caliburn-the-sword]

winter chapters 25-33

figured out how to include and vaguely format photos which i'm including for my favourite passages. tumblr butchered the photos tho so rip it's blurry lol

OMGGGG I COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT THE WHOLE HUNTSMAN PLOT FSKDJFHSDFH THIS IS THE EXACT KIND OF DRAMA AND ANGST I LOVE

jacin's low key a gentleman for just wordlessly giving cress the cot and taking the floor instead in his OWN home

HELP THE THOUGHT OF THE RAMPION CREW BEING THE "SEVEN DWARFS" FSFHSDKFJSDHFS (i haven't reread the original fairy tale for a time so forgive me if that's actually just a disneywashed thing)

omg cress is stepping up into her role and being the hero she always wished she was <3 i love her development so much. zero to hero type beat

love to see jacin overcoming being a selfish bitch and promising to protect cress <3 positive development for him too

FINALLY CHAPTER 27 SCARLET I MISSED HER AND HER POV everything scarlet does is literally so slayed. yes girl!! break that bitch's nose!!!

HELP WHY DID I NEVER REGISTER WITH GENETIC ENGINEERING THAT WOLF WOULD ACTUALLY. BE RELATED TO A LITERAL FLESH AND BLOOD WOLF. this is in fact wilder than anything the ouat family tree was ever capable of (and i would know, because i studied that damn thing like the bible)

marissa meyer DON'T DO THIS TO ME. i will always go apeshit over a character being nicknamed "sunshine" ESPECIALLY when he's the furthest thing from a ray of sunshine ever LMAO

love how winter seems to think that the menagerie in front of scarlet's cage is the most romantic spot for jacin to admit his feelings for her. a bit silly goofy

ngl it's literally HEARTBREAKING that winter could think, even for a moment, that jacin would actually follow levana's orders and kill her (note: it was in fact a LOT of moments which makes it more painful)

NO NOT RYU. OMG I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT RYU WAS THE DEER

damn cress is like a guardian angel <3 she's always been the rampion's guardian angel

"the docks. With the mushrooms" ik that this is just winter's delulu ramblings and trust me i have been painstakingly restraining myself from going "omg alice in wonderland reference" because there's nothing more obnoxious than picking a mentally ill character and defining them by alice in wonderland but in this case,,,,

"Down, down, down we go" look i KNOW i'm reaching here because ANYONE can repeat the word down three times but direct word for word lewis caroll's alice in wonderland "Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end?"

jacin clay is so incredibly fucked. the paper trail leading back to him helping the princess in her escape is such a mountable pile of evidence (note: he is in fact not fucked and the queen fell for it)

OMG THE MAN IS WOLF YAYAYAY SCARLET AND WOLF ARE REUNITING I'M SO HAPPY I'M GONNA THROW UP

living for the "Devoured her." metaphor/pun. like yes. that's so little red riding hood fksdfsdkf

wolflet are cancelled for being instalove (jk it says STARTED TO for a reason)

WHAT DID I SAY CRESS???? LITERALLY THE PEAK OF ALL ROMANCE (i used to be hesitant to ship scarlet and winter because of how their relationship started but honestly with the confirmation THAT scene was when she started falling for wolf. i think scarlet is just INTO all that life or death shit. a bit of a masochist in my opinion)

"Are we running a boardinghouse for misplaced royalty around here, or what?" thorne that is SO real LMAO. someone reunite them all with kai asap

speaking of kai he literally CAN'T go ONE damn book without being SEPARATED from everyone. someone stop this before my heart explodes and breaks into a million tiny little pieces

girls girl scarlet makes a comeback

CINDER AND WINTER REUNITED CINDER AND WINTER REUNITED. am going apeshit. what a great note to end tonight's read on (note: was 11pm when i finished chapter 3)

@eddisfargo @francforever @winterrhayle @winterpinetrees @shellyseashell @luna-maximoff-22

[rrain-writes]

Rain's LU Febuwhump: Day 9

Bees: Wind

Warnings: Bee stings, self-hatred

Art

Wind was bored. Wild and Hyrule had run off without him, Four and Time were busy, Twilight had disappeared, Sky and Warriors were resting after their injuries in the most recent monster fight, and Legend was snapping at anyone who tried to talk to him.

So Wind decided to go for a walk.

The youngest Link trampled through the forest, swinging his sword and singing sea shanties obnoxiously. If some dumb monsters heard him, at least they’d give him something to do.

“What will we do with a drunken sailor, what will we do with a drunken sailor.” 

He his voice hit high and low notes, like he was trying to win an award for the worst musical performance.

“What will we do with a drunken sailor, early in the morning!”

Wind wasn’t sure how far away camp was now, but he didn’t really feel like going back yet.

“Way hay and up she rises, way hay and up she rises, way hay and up she rises- ooh.”

The boy stopped and looked up the tree. Hanging off one of the branches was a strange kind circular thing, and lots of bugs buzzed around it.

Curious, Wind picked up a small rock and aimed high. He hit the thing straight in the middle and cheered.

Wind quieted down. The buzzing was louder. He yelped as the bugs surrounded him, sounding angry.

One flew down and landed on his arm, the spot stinging. Wind flicked it off and inspected the sting. He was distracted by a similar feeling on his another arm.

The bugs began to attack.

Wind yelled out as he ran, calling for help from the weird little creatures. They continued to sting him, his arms legs and face, until he finally seemed to have run far enough away from their nest thing.

Once Wind was sure they had stopped pursuing him, he looked down at his arms and legs and the sting began to kick in.

“Ow, ow, ow.” He whimpered. Most of the bugs had left little pricks in his arms and legs, so he began to painstakingly pull them out. 

There wasn’t very many, maybe ten or so, but they still hurt. Wind suddenly thought to look around, and he realised he didn’t know where he was.

“Well shit.” The boy voiced out loud. He’d also managed to loose his sword, so the other heroes wouldn’t be very happy with him.

Still out of breath from running, the sailor decided to rest for a moment before going to look for his brothers. Unfortunately when he went to get up, he was struck by a sudden wave of nausea that made him sink right back down.

Wind groaned. The bugs must of been venomous. Or poisonous. He couldn’t really remember the difference. All that mattered was he was sore, his head hurt, he felt ready to be sick, and he didn’t know where the others were.

Wind mentally scolded himself. No wonder the others thought of him as a burden. To them he was a kid who got lost and injured all the time. His Gran would call him an albatross, slowing them all down.

Wind hated those damn bugs.

[starry-eyed-psychopomp]

No hate to cql or anything but every time I read a fic that has Lan Wangji be the Chief Cultivator I die inside. Because like. NO. That’s a TERRIBLE IDEA for everyone involved. First of all, Lan Zhan cannot communicate properly enough to be a politician, and his main priority is his husband. He is not suited for that role. Second of all, the novels’ implication that the next Chief Cultivator (if there even is one) would be Nie Huaisang is actually very important for Wei Wuxian’s character development?? Like, Wei Wuxian knows that Nie Huaisang is a lil conniving bitch who painstakingly arranged for the downfall of the most powerful man in the cultivation world, manipulating multiple people to their deaths (or at least emotional ruins) all for his own revenge. He knows that Nie Huaisang is capable of as much damage as Jin Guangyao, and that he’s poised to take over his seat of power. Wei Wuxian knows all of that and, very deliberately, decides not to give a fuck.

Wei Wuxian, who spent his entire life picking up the messes of other people, destroying himself in the process, only to have those same people spit in his face and make him a pariah, sees this potential Problem for the cultivation world and goes, “You know what? That’s none of my business.” and runs off to elope with his boyfriend. Like, Nie Huaisang probably won’t be as bad as Jin Guangyao. He’s been shown to have more human decency, at the very least. But he also spent the entire series expertly lying to everyone, so much so that we really don’t know what he plans to do now that he’s gotten his revenge. And you know what? That’s fine. He can fuck over all the four great sects if he’d like, because the cultivation world’s politics have been a corrupt shitshow for decades, and it’s their job to sort that shit out. It’s certainly not Wei Wuxian’s job. He’s done enough, and he deserves this one moment of selfishness. He deserves to get his own happy ending and settle down with the family he’s always wanted and not have to worry about saving all those ungrateful assholes. Wei Wuxian is at least on good terms with Nie Huaisang (it was awfully convenient that his old friend’s revenge scheme coincidentally involved resurrecting him and setting him up with his crush) and he trusts that he won’t fuck with him or his family.

And that’s good enough for him! Lan Wangji is similarly happy to spend the rest of his life with Wei Wuxian, and after 13 years of mourning he’s sure as fuck not gonna ruin his second chance to go play politics with the most obnoxious people in the world. The ideal ending for both of them is a happy marriage that mainly involves doing their own thing, night hunting together, fucking every day, and teaching the kids. Their calling, where other people are concerned, is absolutely as teachers, and nothing more.

[arsynnotarson]

Do you have any source-related thoughts/opinions you’d be willing to share? I’m particularly curious about your thoughts on people from your source, but anything you’re willing to share is fine

thanks for asking!!!

i assume you mean on the fellows in the festival, or on the festival as a whole? ill be covering both. its a long read, so prepare yourself, hah.

personally, concerning the festival, it was a bloodbath, as expected. i was used to seeing blood used for religious purposes like face engraving and ritualistic cutting, but since i grew up in prehevil-- while not great better than nothing--i wasnt used to murder being everywhere and expecting to be murdered. prehevil was a chore to be in, people being gloomy, not much going on besides religion and school, but killings werent on your front doorstep... atleast daily, that is.

back to termina, it was terribly stressful. if my hair wasnt already white when i arrived, it surely would have been that way if when i left (actually, there were white streaks in my hair, not entirely white, so thats a half-lie, haha.) you didn't know who to trust, what was around you, and what your enemy was capable of. its a miracle i survived it all, even against perkele. fog was oppressive, it was a labyrinth through the very few buildings that were still able to be entered, and puzzles that made me feel more miniscule than i already was.

about the others, id love to anecdote.

pav: pervy, obviously. obnoxious in many ways you can probably point out if you play my source material. loud often, and his favorite place to bark orders at us was in closed spaces. we didnt get to know eachother well, since i avoided him when i could for the aforementioned reasons. he was a hot-headed looney toon with abiut 4 good jokes, to summarize. used his looks to advantage, too.

osaa: we didnt speak much, and when we interacted or i had the audacity to approach him, itd be in small, surface-level conversation with unmistakable judgemental glares sent my way. i think there was a reason sometimes. although he was very smart, he was painstakingly independent. whether or not the headaches were from him or nashrah, i know he had something to do with it.

abella: very nice when she wasnt hiding the solutions to ciphers; thats my primary gripe with her, but besides that very kind. loved to pick flowers with olivia, and especially liked the red hues of nature, from the deep sunset to the maroon herbs. did not like the blood, though.

olivia: also a pleasure to be around. tried to help whenever she could, but is like a bit osaa in terms of being a lone wolf. she was reluctant to accept help, but a little awkward buttering up from marcoh, logic from me, and passive pressure from daan, she eventually took it. i think she may have gifted more herbs to certain people she favored, but the ones who got less didnt realize. also made very rare comments about others that sounded rude, but they were so cryptic no one could say what her intention was.

tanaka: didnt get to know him much. the fandom is pretty accurate with the unlucky streak, it was the little comedy we had in the hellscape, even if it did come from the same man falling over the same root in the ground for the 5th time. he was respectful to others as i expected from a man in a suit, but there were times where his anger would peek through when frustrated, like clenching his fists or tugging on the hem of his jacket while clenching his teeth. traded glasses with olivia when his inevitably broke with much hesitance.

marcoh: such a sweetie. a little stiff when it came to social interaction, but once the urgency picked up he stepped out of his comfort zone. caligura thought him and tanaka were dating and i think he prayed for them; not out of the kindness of his heart, though. didnt like fighting others, yes, but when it came down to protecting the only sane people he had arrived with, he did enough to keep them out of our hair.

levi: surprisingly entertaining if he liked you. he was very coy during withdrawal, running, and while it went down after he got it fix, it took a few hours for him to fully grasp the fact we werent there to kill him. maybe its because we grew up in the same area, but his sense of humor really appealed to me. nearly had me crying in the cabin when we hung out while others were out. i had to clear up that i dont know samarie too since he was subtly but very obvious he didnt like being stared at by a mysterious stranger any time he wants to talk to me at all.

samarie: really, really made me feel watched. i never knew her, except for the few times i saw her while on my way to schooland break hour. devotion was really creepy and didnt know at all on how to talk to anything. the fact she was dying was sad and made me pity her, yes, but... she still, you know, killed my dad. i hated him, but now i dont know what happened to my mom and will never find out verifiably. wasnt the conventional yandere type actually, just really, really obsessed, but had her moments of hating those i spoke to.

karin: talkative and didnt shut up. shes like that one person who you agree with, but they present it in such an unnecessarily hostile tone that you cant reblog it. she was tolerable sometimes when she wasnt going on about her feats on her newspaper and actually contributing, but those only lasted for so long. very literate and clever, despite all. i prefer daan more.

daan: has his flaws, like always needing to have the last word, which is smooth as velcro when it comes to arguing with karin. a lifesaver for the team, quite literally, even if he was talking down on you very transparently while making you a tourniquet that made you want to just bleed out there. i think he wanted to be a bartender when he was younger, or atleast was at some point, given his sudden skills on it. at the very least, he made listening to another argument in the middle of a murder game funny.

caligura: we didnt speak much. prefers to be alone, again. from what i gathered, if we ignore the homocide, he seemed to have more underlying issues. had a listless look on his face while he wandered when not angry. very paranoid, too, always looking over his shoulder in a way he tried to play off as casual. hates being startled, too, and wont hesitate to cuss at you (as if he would hold back anyway).

august: acted as if he knew more than we did; not in a superior, egotistical way, just knew his way around well for someone out of town. levi and i both shared the impression he was suspicious too, but he never caused issues with us and helped when he could. tanaka didnt take a liking to him though for a reason he only explained to marcoh, and i think august knew this. never talked but two times.

henryk: weird but not as weird as pav is. off his rocker, not only because of the manor incident, but he also mumbled to himself while he cooked. some little words were im understandable english, some in french, and the rest just vowels jumbled together. when i tried to read his mind, instead of hearing words, there were diagrams detailing topics i didnt have context of any kind to. also yelled to "get out of my head" when i was listening in on him. if that was a coincidence, or him being aware of my confused eavesdropping, are both mysteries that keep me up at night to this day.

congrats on getting to the end,,, thank you so much for the ask! i loved writing this!!! any further questions are welcomed and encouraged.

[plugrick]

It was indeed a long night in the best of ways, the culmination of years of yearning giving way to the fulfillment of deepest desires. Mandibles wrapping around sensitive mandibles in an erotic dance of sensuality, raised ridges on chitinous exoskeleton hooking together in just the right places, words becoming unneeded as blissful chittering and insectizoid purrs took over…

But while the two long lost lovers were busy rekindling old flames between the sheets, Rick on the other hand… Well, he was having quite the opposite experience.

Shaky hands lit cigarette after cigarette as the human anxiously paced, the red cherry on the end serving as the only pop of color in the otherwise featureless room. He should probably try to relax and recouperate for a while, but Rick found it impossible to stay still. The sad steel box that he was locked in against his will was frankly oppressive, and it served as a constant reminder of their former imprisonment. It made him feel more paranoid than he did that one time he tripped balls on way too many hits of Gorgon acid and became convinced there were giant bats trying to eat him. At least Amy was still around to passively rant to about how fucked up everything was—

Until she started complaining about how “obnoxious” his chain smoking was and excused herself on account of the thick cloud of harsh tar irritating her lungs and making her cough. Hmph. Being alone was the very last thing Rick wanted to be right now, but he wouldn’t be caught dead asking her to hang out with him or something. So…

Here he was, by himself. Waiting.

A rapidly growing pile of cigarette butts haphazardly tossed on the floor served as a testament to his state of restlessness and worry. They burned away one after the other, turning to ash between his fingertips as the time ticked by with agonizing lethargy. When was Mike coming back, anyway?

RRRRRRUMBLE

Oh, sweet glob. The vibrations rocking through the ship were noticably worsening as time went on, and definitely becoming more frequent. At times it felt as if the Outpost itself were bellowing like some great deep space whale, the shaking underfoot threatening to throw him off balance as he wore a rut into the small space he was allotted. Or maybe it was the intermittent weakness in his knees that was making his footsteps occasionally falter. There was only one thing that could be making that much noise, after all. And it was hungry.

Fuck! It felt like it had been hours now. Where the hell was Mike?! It was painstakingly lonely without the assassin around, even if he had tried to kill him bare handed. Rick shuddered just thinking about it, but quickly pushed aside the mental image of Mike’s features twisted up in full Berserk rage. He said his absence wouldn’t be long, but that obviously wasn’t the case and the ship kept rattling like a flimsy tin can. What was even happening out there?!

He was practically helpless here, at a severe power disadvantage under Federation rule, all while danger and death stalked around every corner. Damn it all! The unsureness of what was to come was a fucking mental torture—!

Rick finally got sick of wearing a path into the floor like a zoo animal suffering psychosis from being trapped in a too-small enclosure and bit clean through the end of his smoke in frustration. He curled his hand into a fist and banged on the door, ready to rip into the guards outside and demand answers.

The guards didn’t seem to think much of him, given their vague responses and eye rolls that Rick received as response. That stupid video of him suffering at his lowest had left an impression, and it wasn’t one that made him respectable in their eyes. No matter how much he barked demands for an explanation or raised his voice as he fought tooth and nail to be let out, they brushed his concerns aside like it was nothing. Eventually, they began to ignore him entirely no matter how hard he tried. They would tell him what was going on, they wouldn’t tell him where Mike went, they wouldn’t let him out - UGH!

Fine. Fine! Fuck it! He would just figure it out by himself!

In his irritated state, Rick found a swell of determination and set about to the task of attempting to repair his broken portal device with the extremely limited materials available to him. Something must’ve happened to Mike. He was sure of it, and doubly sure that he needed to fix his tech and rescue him before it was too late. It wasn’t like his ex-boyfriend, someone he knew like the back of his hand, would just up and disappear on him all night with their unfinished argument and associated feelings still on the table unless something happened… Right?!

To his frustration, the device was nearly irreparably damaged, crushed and bent and glass cracked from being roughed up by Federation goons. Even with the help of internal machinery in his hands that allowed fingertips to be switched out with screwdriver heads and various other small tools, it was nigh impossible to perform necessary repairs. He was able to get it apart, sure, but finding the entire extent of the damage and putting it back together in a way that fully worked? Without portal fluid?! That was a different thing entirely. Was it even possible?!

Damn his stupid hole-ridden brain! What good was a Rick if he couldn’t pull a rabbit out of his hat and portal away?!

Soon enough, the place was scattered with pieces and parts much in the same way it was littered with cigarette butts and empty flasks, and Rick was thoroughly enraged.

“S-stupid fucking thing! UuuuUUUUGH!”

He sat on the edge of the bed and rested his head in his hands for a while after that, despair leeching into his worried thoughts. Lizardperson was closing in, he didn’t have enough brain cells alive to put together a portal gun on the fly, and Mike was going to get hurt again. And it would be HIS fault. Fuck fuck fuck.

Maybe… maybe some Galax would help clear his mind and calm his nerves. Maybe it would help him focus, or give him just enough of an edge to figure something out.

….Or maybe it would at least numb the yawning chasm of hurt inside of him.

It was like a ritual. He drew up a vial of the dark pseudo poison - one of the precious few directly on his person - found a vein and…

In truth, it didn’t make him feel any better. But then again, it didn’t really make him feel much of anything at all. The worlds edges were smoothened out, his thoughts subdued. Comfortable, but in the same way that liquor was comfortable to an alcoholic. It made everything feel alright.

And that’s when it came to him.

Rick frowned. He honestly didn’t want it to come down to this, but it just might work. There was a chance that he might be able to use a portal fluid powered component from his cellphone to power the portal device for a precious use or two, although it would be unstable and therefore risky. A risk that he was willing to take.

He reached into a pocket and pulled out the device, of which had seen better days. The front of it had been thoroughly smashed in the process of being captured by Federation soldiers just the same as the portal gun, but it was somehow still functional.

There was just one problem.

Rick chewed his bottom lip, his brow furrowing as he swept a thumb over the spiderweb cracked screen. He had owned this thing for a long time, faithfully upgrading and maintaining security measures to protect its contents. He was an intergalactic drug dealer at the end of the day, and it was important to keep his personal business ventures under close wraps.

But it wasn’t the clientele list that could take out universal leaders or the detailings of extremely illegal deals that could send him away for several lifetimes that he was concerned about losing once he scrapped the device for parts. No, what he prized was far more important than all of that…

He opened the photo album and swept to a very special file. One that contained all the special pictures, the ones of him and Mike.

Bright smiles from better times illuminated the stress-roughened and Galax-ridden features of Rick’s face. They both looked so happy here, arms thrown over each others shoulders and laughing drunkenly with beers in hand, a bar setting with a game of darts in the background. Mike had looked good in his charcoal colored power suit that he had picked out for him. They’d had such high hopes for the success of their mission…

He swept a thumb again and again and again, sifting through oh so many stills from wild nights and assassination missions wherein they had combined the best of debaucheries - killing people and partying. It was funny how well the two activities paired, on par with fine wine and cheese or sex and chocolate. It had been their thing, their lifestyles easily going hand in hand.

Things had been simpler then.

Dramatic poses and coy kisses and candid shots; in night clubs and dizzyingly bizarre dimensional scenery and and beaches and more than a couple raunchy photos of them in bed that made Rick blush. A sweet snapshot or two that Mike didn’t know he took, when he was just doing something in a lighting that made him look particularly handsome. Or, in the case of a couple photos, that he was probably too high at the time to remember being taken. Even he didn’t remember taking a good chunk of these…

And then. There it was. A play button.

The video to end all videos, downloaded on his phone. He nearly forgot that he still had it on here.

The Xandia tape.

Rick felt a pang of guilt. He probably shouldn’t watch it. Mike had been awful touchy on the subject of the love pills - erm, orgasm enhancers when they had been brought up. And they were in the middle of a fight. A huge, ugly fight.

But there was no telling if they would make it out of this. There was no telling if Mike was even alive right now.

Why shouldn’t he reminisce on better days? It might be the last time he ever did.

Rick laid down on the bottom bunk and curled up in the thin military issued blanket with a heavy heart and pressed play. The inappropriate sounds coming from the crackly speakers just loud enough that he wouldn’t hear the door opening…

“Uhn~! Fuck, Rick~!”

“Ahn~! Ah~! Oh, M-MIKE!”

X

[wtf-igo]

Cry Me A River

(CW: Dacryphilia, Choking, Unsafe Sex, Angry Sex, Orgasm Denial, Arguing, Degradation Kink, Vaginal Fingering, Dom!Bo)

NSFW 18+, Minors DNI

Word Count - 4.5k

The press tour for Eighth Grade has been taking its toll on both of you. Jumping from one state to another, interviews with Jimmy Kimmel, Good Morning America, and various other big-shot television studios from all over the country – sometimes even outside of the country seeing as in a few weeks you’ll be traveling all the way over to Japan – has left the two of you impossibly tired and irritated, and your relationship is put right in the firing line of that disastrous blend of emotions. Not to mention the awful jetlag that you’ve been experiencing ever since you left Los Angeles.

Popping your fourth aspirin of the day into your mouth, you down it with a gulp of cool water from your bottle and sigh. The dull ache in your head feels less painful than before, but it’s still present — like a dark cloud looming overhead, following you. Usually, you would have accompanied Bo to his interview, watching from afar as he navigates through the interviewer's questions in his rehearsed, talk-show-friendly persona. But not today. You’d awoke early this morning with an intense headache — most likely brought on by the jetlag and lack of sleep. Bo had insisted that you stay up in the hotel room for the day, ran a hot bath for you, and handed you some painkillers before settling you down in your shared bed and getting himself ready for the day ahead. 

Those simple acts of kindness feel so foreign to the both of you, seeing as now, the majority of your time spent around one another is filled with heated arguments, mind-blowing hate sex, the awkward, deafening silence afterward, and finally the comforting blanket of sleep.

Rinse and repeat. 

The throbbing in your head is now beginning to steadily clear up after hours of suffering, and a relieved sigh climbs from your throat. You crack a smile, finally crawling out of the little cavern of blankets and pillows that you’ve created and leaning over to grab your phone from the side table. Bo had suggested that you stay off of any and all devices, which proved to be an incredibly challenging task seeing as you were just alone with your thoughts for most of the day – but you managed to painstakingly follow his advice.

About half an hour has passed, and your weary eyes are hardly focused on the screen as you watch a cheery woman with dark hair and obnoxiously heavy makeup do ASMR whilst eating multiple raw eggs.

Raw eggs.

Your face contorts with disgust as she slurps another into her mouth. Scrolling down the list of recommended videos, you’re met with various topics that could most likely put you to sleep—

Your hearing perks up like a cat’s as those familiar, heavy footfalls storming down the hallway register in your mind. The robotic beep of the keycard, followed by the faint clicking of the door handle as the door swings open, revealing Bo dressed in a plain white tee with an uncharacteristic, thin gold chain loosely hanging from his neck, and dark, smokey grey jeans covering his long legs. 

His expression is unreadable, yet you can practically feel the anger seeping out of him.  

Smiling coyly, you shut off your phone and set it down somewhere beside you. “Hey, honey. How was your day?”

He dismisses you, making a beeline for the white mini-fridge filled with various mini liquor bottles sitting in the corner of the hotel room. 

“I’m guessing not great?” You prompt sadly, sitting up on the bed and resting your hands on your lap.

He huffs a humorless laugh as he leans down, picking out a tiny mystery drink and downing it in it’s entirety. You cringe.

“Ohmygod, take it easy?” 

He shoots a fleeting glance your way, ignoring your warning as he plucks another from the refrigerator. You sigh, tossing the comforter off of yourself and clambering to your feet as he pops off the cap, avoiding eye contact. You rush toward him, “Bo!” You snap, yanking the bottle from his hands and slamming the mini-fridge shut.

He exhales deeply and rolls his eyes, returning back to his usual towering stature as he runs an errant hand through his messy blonde locks. “ Jesus Christ… Give it back,” He sighs, the child-like petulance evident in his tone.

It annoys you. Hell, everything he’s been doing recently has been annoying you.

“No,” You say simply, straightening yourself up. “We’ve got a flight to New York to catch at three in the morning tomorrow, Bo. I don’t want you hungover,”

His eyes narrow. “I’ll take an aspirin then. C’mon, I haven’t had a single drink in, like, a whole month because of this stupid fucking tour,” He lets out an exasperated sigh, reaching over to take back the bottle, but you pull it away.

“Don’t act like this right now, Bo,” You frown in concern, the beginnings of that beast named anger nipping feebly at your flesh. “I know you’ve had a bad day, but we’ve still got things to do. Life still goes on. Drinking will just make everything so much worse.”

He huffs, shaking his head as he turns away and heads toward the nearby desk, snatching up the book that he’s been reading over the past month. “Whatever,” He mumbles.

The anger gnaws deeper.

“Christ! Why are you being so childish right now, Bo?” You snap at him, throwing your arms out to the sides in exasperation. “Hell, you’ve been acting like this for weeks !”

He whips back around, his expression disbelieving. “Childish?”

Nodding, you fold your arms defensively. “Yes, childish ! You’ve been throwing fucking temper tantrums every. single. time something doesn’t go your way, and I’m sick half to death of it, Bo!” 

He raises his eyebrows and huffs. “Jesus Christ.. Here we fucking go, again! You really do have this INSANE ability to start a fucking fight about any little thing, you know that babe !?” He spits, heavy coats of sarcasm lacing the once-familiar pet name. 

You can feel your blood simmering and spitting beneath your skin as you let out a short, stunned laugh. “Of course, just blame it all on me! Because, apparently, it’s my fault that you’ve been such an asshole these past few weeks!”

“Name-calling? Really? We’re name-calling now?” He grimaces, condescension dripping from every syllable. “ Real mature of you, ”

You’ve reached your boiling point. 

“Ohmy– You are fucking unbelievable, FUCK you, Bo!” You shout, your voice wavering a little as you swallow a lump. Although, he seems entirely unphased by your display – only adding fuel to your firey rage. You scoff. “You know what? This is fucking stupid! I’m going on a walk.”

You turn away and head for the hotel room door, hearing Bo rumble a dark laugh, his heavy footsteps trailing closely behind you.

“Don’t fucking follow m–” 

You’re rudely cut off as Bo’s fingers wrap tightly around one of your wrists, spinning you back toward him with enough force to make you wince. You attempt to push him away with your free hand but he snatches that one in a firm grip as well. “Let me go! You ASSHOLE!” You snap, struggling to break free from him. He remains stoic and silent, just watching you with an indescribable look in his stare, his chest heaving.

You swear that you see his eyes dart fleetingly to your lips. 

A trick of the light, you tell yourself.

With a few more feeble attempts at freeing yourself mingled with a variety of curse words and playground insults, you finally give in. “Fine, Bo. You win, okay? Whatever,” You sigh shakily, furrowing your brows as you lock eyes with him. His grip on your wrists tightens and you grimace. “Ow! what the fuck..?”

He sighs impatiently. “Just shut up, would you?”

You part your lips, prepared to protest against his continued insolence – maybe call him a dick this time – but his own lips crashing against yours beats you to it. You let out a yelp, and much to your surprise, it doesn’t take long for you to lean into the kiss. Your mouths work feverishly against each other’s, and you feel your back hit the cool stucco wall of the hotel room, your wrists pinned beside your head. Bo presses his hips into you wantonly, his growing erection prodding at your lower stomach, hot and needy. The obscene feeling makes your mind spin, a chaotic medley of wanting to both punch his lights out and let him fuck you right into tomorrow thrashing in your mind.

He grunts against your lips, kissing messily across your cheek and the curve of your jaw, releasing his grip on your wrists to snake one of his hands up your skirt. A weak gasp climbs up your throat as he runs the pad of his thumb along the surprisingly soaked fabric of your underwear, and you fight off a whimper. 

His hot breath ghosts the shell of your ear. “ Slut, ” He growls.

It only takes that one simple word for you to become like putty in his hands, heat pooling low in your abdomen, slowly trickling out of you and ruining that brand-new pair of black lace underwear.

“I—I hate you so much right now,” You grit, trying to keep composed as you feel his fingers dance along the plain of your stomach.

He laughs darkly, the muffled thump of his knees hitting the floor ruminating throughout the hotel room. “The feeling’s mutual, honey,” He sneers, his deep voice ruminating low in your chest. 

Electric sparks of pleasure flit around your body as he plants a wet, open-mouthed kiss on the soaked fabric of your panties. He continues, his voice hushed. “And what better to do than to put some of that hatred to good use, huh?”

His fingers wrap around the waistband of your underwear and you positively squirm with anticipation. “Would you like that? You wanna come all over daddy’s face?” He coos, and you nod hurriedly.

“Just, fucking hurry up–” You whimper as you avert your gaze, biting down harshly on your lip out of sheer desperation.

His face contorts into a frown as he yanks down your panties so hard you can hear the stitches pop. “Someone’s bossy,”

Before you can even fully digest his words, he hikes your leg up and over his shoulder, and with one last quiet huff, he buries his face in your cunt. You cry out, involuntarily closing your legs around his head. Calmly, he wrenches your thighs back apart as his devilish tongue probes at your entrance, teasing you. Lapping you up as though you’re his only life source, his tongue licks two more long stripes up your folds, before deftly circling your clit. You gasp, arching your back as pleasure spreads from your core, setting your nerves alight. Your hands fly down to bury themselves in his hair, using him as leverage to ride his face.

“ Ssshhhiiittt –” You groan, legs twitching as his mouth works its magic on your cunt. 

He hums against you, shifting on his knees a little to get comfortable and wrapping a hand around your thigh for more support. Tightening your grip on his already disheveled hair, he moans approvingly against you, his skilled tongue tipping you closer and closer to completion.

You cry out as Bo slips two fingers into you with ease, your mouth going dry as those fiery blue eyes glare up at you from between your legs. He thrusts his fingers inside of you with devastating precision, obviously reveling in the lewd noises spilling from your mouth. 

The pressure inside of you threatens to burst, and you whimper uselessly.

Just..

Right...

There–

But then, both his mouth and his fingers withdraw from you, and you barely manage to restrain yourself from screaming out in frustration, bucking your hips in protest.

“ No, no, no.. Please, Robert—” You pant, your eyes following him as he rises from his knees so that he’s towering above you once again, his lips shiny with your arousal.

“What?” He dismisses your plea, feigning pity as he glowers at you. “You think you can get off that easily, slut? Daddy still has to blow off some fucking steam from that little fight earlier – so open wide, baby.”

He raises two fingers to your lips, and you uncharacteristically obey without further protest, slackening your jaw as he pushes them inside your mouth. You’re a little embarrassed by your own willingness, but you don’t have time to dwell on the feeling as his fingers graze the back of your throat, making you gag. His expression darkens impossibly as tears sting the corners of your eyes. However, you quickly blink them away before they escape. He eyes you up heatedly, before hastily wrenching his fingers from your mouth without another word. 

Before you have the chance to question him about his reaction, those same fingers wet themselves in your arousal, prodding teasingly at your entrance. You gasp quietly, looking him dead in the eyes. “Please,”

He doesn’t move. “Please what?”

“Jus– just fucking do something, you asshole!” You snap, brows tightly knit as you glare at him.

Bo frowns at your impudence, tired eyes glazed over with a deadly mixture of anger and lust. “You’re gonna fucking regret that,” His lips meet yours in an aggressive kiss, all teeth and tongue. Any resemblance of cautiousness or tenderness has been thrown out of the window. Your hands reach up, threading your fingers through his already messy hair and tugging. He hisses against your lips, before finally slipping his fingers into your cunt, curling them inside of you with torturous precision. 

You stifle a moan, refusing to give him the satisfaction. “Are you–gonna, apologize for being such a– dick?” You pant between fervent kisses.

“No,” He snarls, hot embers of pleasure searing your skin as he picks up his pace, your peak steadily edging nearer. “Are you gonna say sorry for being such a bitch?”

Anger foams and bubbles within you. “Hell no.”

As soon as the words leave your mouth, he stops his movements completely and you groan, back arching from the wall as you tug on his hair harder. Your chests heave, and you lock eyes.

“Say sorry,” He spits.

You refuse, shaking your head. “You first,”

“Say sorry, or I swear to god I’m leaving this fucking hotel room.” He warns.

You both know that he wouldn’t. He wants to get off just as much as you do. “Go ahead then, I won’t stop you. Then I’ll finally get a break from all your bul–”

He silences you with another furious kiss, his fingers starting up their feverish movements inside of you once again. Your mouth forms a victorious grin as it works against his, your arms loosely draped around his neck. It doesn’t take long for that all too familiar feeling to well up inside of you, and as the pad of his thumb makes contact with your aching clit you let out a guttural moan, parting from the kiss. You're teetering on the edge, breathing rapidly as he works his frustratingly clever fingers deftly in and out of you, hitting just the right spot inside of you. “Fuck, Bo! Right there, right there– so close, please–” You whine, fingernails digging into the nape of his neck–

You cry out in frustration, so loud that the people in the rooms next to you can most definitely hear as he withdraws his digits wordlessly and wipes them clean on his pants. You attempt to keep the tears welling up at bay, swallowing the unwelcome emotion down. Yet even through your lusty, rage-filled haze, you can’t help the dizzying jolt of arousal that pangs low in your stomach as your eyes drift from his fingers to the prominent bulge straining against his jeans, screaming for attention.

He declines his head slowly, pressing a wet kiss to the sensitive skin just below your earlobe, and you shiver. “Told you that you’d regret that,” He snarls, kissing his way along your cheek as he pulls his shirt over his head and discards it on the floor behind him.

“And to think that I thought you were a gentleman,” You spit.

He huffs a dark laugh as he captures your lips with his again, immediately desperate and filthy. Bo moans into your mouth as you stumble toward the solitary wooden desk beside the massive hotel window. He places a hand on your waist for support as he roughly bends you over with the heel of his palm pressed between your shoulder blades. You let out a weak gasp as the cool surface stings your cheek, your hands splaying out beside your head. 

His lips graze the tip of your ear, hands moving down to grab at your hips, pulling you against him. “There’s nothing gentlemanly about what I’m going to do to you, sweetheart.”

Heat fizzles between your thighs as you greedily swallow down his words, sharp and tangy as they slip down your throat. You whimper, wiggling your hips against his hardness – making him hiss against your skin.

“ Fuck– Look at you, just fucking begging for it,” He huffs, the sound of a buckle clinking on the floorboards registering in your brain, like music to your ears. “ Needy little whore, ”

You squirm, moaning unabashedly against the surface of the desk. All signs of dignity have left your body at this point, and Bo lets out a quiet sigh as you hear the sound of fabric swishing against skin. Peering over your shoulder, you watch as he hurriedly shimmies out of his confines – cock standing to attention, pressed flush against his stomach.

He grabs your hips in a vice-like grip, surely leaving bruises as the head of his cock nudges at your entrance teasingly. After all of that build-up, you’re so beyond desperate you could scream. “Please, Bo – I need..”

“No, no, no, shh..” He shushes, patronizing as ever. “Daddy knows what you need.”

He lines himself up with one large hand, roughly palming your ass with the other. Your back arches obscenely as you whine, feeling the lump of tears from earlier return.

“Just the tip for now,” He purrs into your neck as he bites down on the tendons there, making you wince. There’s no struggle as he pushes the head of his cock inside of you with a quiet sigh, your body oh so ready for him, for all of him. You whine, tears springing to your eyes as you try to push your hips back – but his tight grip holds you in place as he remains torturously still inside of you.

“Move another inch and I swear to god you won’t be coming tonight,” He warns, and you clench involuntarily around him – a subtle feeling of dread mingled with arousal flurrying in your stomach. Much to your embarrassment, your eyes fill with tears, and your skin prickles with heat as they trickle down your cheeks.

“P-please– Bo, I can’t take it anymore, just–” You sniffle, embarrassment licking up the back of your neck as you attempt to wipe away the tears – trying to restore some amount of your dignity, surely looking obscene as you flail. You’ve never, in all of your many years spent together, genuinely cried during sex before.

But Bo seems to be enjoying the sight quite a lot, by the looks of it.

“Fucking hell,” You feel him twitch inside of you as he watches you squirm underneath him. It’s almost as if a lightbulb has gone off somewhere in the primal part of his brain. He exhales shakily as his cheeks color, and you feel his hips flinch slightly as he attempts to hold himself back. “Keep crying like that, please,”

Oh.

Well then.

You’re sure to pocket that away for later.

A grin tugs at the corners of your mouth, but you push it away, allowing more tears to spill down your face to tease him a little. He responds with a wobbly sigh, fingers digging into your skin.

Watching as his composure slips right in front of your eyes feels like the ultimate victory. “Fucking, please! Daddy —”

He huffs, eyes darkening. “Fuck—can’t say no to this pussy,” He groans, before finally , he snaps his hips, bottoming out inside of you with a breathy grunt. You wince at the delicious stretch, even after all of these years, you still haven’t fully gotten used to his size. “Fucking.. magic ,” 

“Feels so good.” He exhales through his nose as he drags himself out, before quickly plunging back inside – causing more tears to sting your cheeks at the sharp, pleasurable pain.

It doesn’t take long for him to set a pace, hungry and desperate as his hips thrust in and out of you at a devastating speed. You can feel his hot, panting breaths lick up the back of your neck as he furrows his brows in concentration.

“Arms up,” He husks, and you do as he says without a moment's hesitation, his large hands roughly tugging the fabric over your head. 

Your eyes are tightly screwed shut as you melt into the rhythm. You know that your core will hurt in the morning, but right now, you don’t give a rat’s ass — chasing that blissful high.

His hands sneak around you, fingertips brushing against your pebbled nipples and giving your breasts one gentle squeeze before one travels upwards to wrap tightly around your throat. A strangled whimper escapes you as his fingers press down on the blood supply on either side, making your brain go hazy.  

You suck in a shallow breath through your teeth as his freezing cold chain necklace teases the skin between your shoulder blades. You clench involuntarily. You have to admit, the unconventional accessory does look rather tasteful on him.

White spots start to litter your vision and you gasp weakly, that familiar feeling pulling and tugging at your insides, daring to snap at any moment. But you have one last request. “Wanna see you—please,” You just barely manage to say, the words coming out strained and strangled

Bo lets his hold on your neck go, and you gulp down oxygen hungrily like a drowning man gasping for air. He wastes no time in pulling out of you, swiftly turning you around and dragging you over to the disheveled bed. Bo pushes you onto the plush mattress and you grin breathlessly as he maunders closer. He crawls onto the foot of the bed, sitting up on his knees as he shuffles you over and pulls your hips toward him.

“There you go..” He husks, reaching down to grab your ankles before hoisting your legs onto his shoulders, your hips lifting off of the bed. You suppress a moan as he pushes back inside of you to the hilt, a soft gasp climbing up his throat, large hands groping your thighs for better purchase. He’s impossibly deep inside of you thanks to this new position, and as he starts to move, a twinge of pain nips at your insides and you wince.

“ Yes—fuck, ” He moans, fingers bruising your thighs as his thrusts become frenzied — both of you eagerly chasing your release.

You’re unable to focus on anything but him in this moment, hips snapping into you with reckless abandon, the smell of sweat and sex in the air. You let out a sob as his thumb comes to your over-sensitive clit, rubbing in tight circular motions. 

“Go on,” He pants, his pace unrelenting. “Come for me, you little pervert. You can fucking do it, I know you can,”

His filthy mouth sends another wave of arousal south of the border, and you’re done — nerves set alight in a dramatic firework show of all-encompassing bliss as your orgasm finally overtakes you. Bo rides you through it, your name both a prayer and a curse on his lips as he follows you over the edge with a strained whimper, hips stuttering as he empties himself into you.

With a sigh, he pulls himself out, crawling up beside you and collapsing into the warm comforter with an exhausted huff. Out of the corner of your eye, you see his eyes flutter closed as the silence that you have grown so accustomed to recently envelops the two of you in its vice grip.

Rinse and repeat.

You sigh, rubbing your eyes with exhaustion as you stare up at the grooves and bumps in the stucco ceiling. You’re so tired, too tired to deal with the aftermath of this hellish cycle you’ve trapped yourselves in—

“I’m sorry,” Everything around you seems to still as Bo’s sleepy voice cuts through the silence like a hot knife to butter.

“What?” You ask, incredulously raising your eyebrows as you peer sideways at him.

He furrows his brows, propping himself up on his forearms. “I’m sorry for being such an asshole lately, you don’t deserve all that.”

A small smile tugs at your lips, but you will it away. “You don’t have to apologize, Bo, it’s fine.”

He sits up. “No, it’s not – and I do have to apologize because you were right, I’ve been acting childish and I’ve been pushing you away, and it’s not okay. I just– I’ve been stressed the fuck out and I’ve been taking it all out on you, so I’m sorry.” He reaches for your hand and lifts it to his lips, kissing your palm so tenderly that it sets loose a flight of butterflies in your belly. He smiles softly at you as his voice lowers to a hushed whisper. “You’re too good to me.”

It’s like a weight has just been lifted from your chest and you crack a smile, the foreseeable future suddenly seeming far less gloomy and anger-fueled. You avert your eyes shyly as your cheeks color. “Thank you, Bo, you have no idea how much I needed to hear that. And I’m sorry for yelling at you earlier,” You say, watching as his eyes soften.

He chuckles lightly as he shuffles toward you, leaning down on all fours and kissing you sweetly. You giggle against his lips as he crawls back on top of you, your legs wrapping around his waist with your arms draping over the back of his neck. “Round two?” You offer enticingly.

“Ohh, you little freak.” He chuckles lightly, kissing down the length of your neck as the two of you sink into the mattress, limbs tangled and sweaty as you melt into each other; as one, together.

[deniigi]

18- the grand count (or if someone else has picked that one already) 15- what it feels like

Please and Thank you 😘

what it feels like:

(Mace buys the whole jedi command a group therapy session in the middle of the clone wars because he's finally sick of their shit.)

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

Obi-Wan scanned the table around him with half-lidded eyes and ended up back to the datapad in front of him. Its face mocked him with its gleaming teal light. Anakin leaned over into his space obnoxiously so that Obi-Wan could watch as he painstakingly spelled out ‘annoying’ with only one ‘n.’

Obi-Wan could strike him dead there and then. Doing so, however would only prove his point. Ignoring him was the only option. Obi-Wan leaned the other way to peer over Ahsoka’s shoulder.

‘Weird.’

‘Nerdy.’

‘Tech-head.’

‘tall’

‘Grumpy ☹’

She was making the best progress of any of them. And only a child yet. Man, what was he doing with his life.

Anakin’s datapad invaded his vision yet again, this time with the word ‘preposterous’ in the process of being mangled on it. Obi-Wan shoved it back to gloating snickers. He raised his hand and waited patiently until the woman leading this exercise turned her bright smile onto him.

“Oh! Did you have a question, Obi-Wan?” she asked.

Obi-Wan elected to ignore the casual address along with the fact that they were not friends, had never been friends, and never would be friends.

“May I move?” he asked. “The person next to me is distracting.”

Ahsoka turned to him with a face like he’d stabbed her kitten in front of her face.

“Not you,” he said.

Anakin’s hand shot up next.

“Miss, he’s saying mean things,” he said.

Obi-Wan rotated his head back that way with what he hoped was an expression that would remind Anakin that among the present company, he was a child. Not a general. A young man sitting in the danger zone.

“If it would make you more comfortable, you’re welcome to sit wherever you like,” the woman said.

“Thank you,” Obi-Wan said pointedly at Anakin.

“You can’t escape,” Anakin mouthed at him.

“You can’t either,” Obi-Wan mouthed back.

He parked himself on the other side of the table, between Masters Koon and Fisto, the latter of whom tapped the bridge of his nose repeatedly in thought. His datapad read only ‘😐 ‘

It wasn’t overly useful in making Obi-Wan remember any of the words that had tumbled right out of his head the moment he was asked to describe his master. If asked yesterday, he was sure he could have produced a string of expletives to describe Qui-Gon Jinn, but now, all he could think of was ‘fuckface’ and he surely couldn’t put that down in front of all these people, now could he?

‘Two-faced’ was hardly much better. He needed something more precise. Sometimes that incapsulated his poor, late master, who had stroked tears from Obi-Wan’s cheeks as he lay dying in his arms.

There was one word that stood out among the graveyard of letters in Obi-Wan’s mind.

He started typing it out just as the woman guiding this miserable exercise clapped her hands together and asked if anyone wanted to share their answers with the group.

Anakin’s hand shot up.

“Thank you for volunteering,” she told him.

“Patient,” he said.

All eyes went to Obi-Wan.

“Endlessly,” he fired back.

Anakin beamed. The moderator finally realized her mistake. Perhaps in future she would ask before starting such an exercise among an already-hostile population if there were any master-padawan pairs in the audience.

“Tall,” Ahsoka piped up.

“Aw,” Anakin said down to her. She grinned wide back up.

The moderator began to flush. She cleared her throat.

“Look like we’ve got whole generations in the house,” she said indulgently. “Remind me to separate you three so you don’t cheat.”

“Tech-head,” Ahsoka said.

“I’m gonna cry,” Anakin creaked.

“Cyberbully.”

“You little punk. C’mere.”

Obi-Wan’s eyes were going to roll back into his head. Master Fisto snickered at him.

“Anyone else?” the moderator asked. “Has anyone here ever felt, perhaps, frustrated with their master?”

Anakin and Ahsoka put their hands up at the same time. The moderator winced.

“That was rhetorical,” she said.

Both hands went down.

[just-another-blog-of-fluff]

Intriguing

Word count: 9,500

Pairing: Loki x f!reader (platonic or pre-romantic, interpret as you'd like)

Warnings: A touch of angst, but a fluffy ending as always!

I'm back to prompts! This combines three: two similar ones (Prompt - Loki x shy reader/Prompt Loki tries to get to know shy reader better) as well as another prompt where Loki sneakily uses magic to tickle reader from across the room. That part was a challenge - I hope it worked out! 😊

Nothing interesting ever happened around here.

Sure, Loki lived with a horde of heroes from various walks of life, most of whom had superhuman abilities or genius intellect (by Midgardian standards, of course). But Loki was accustomed to being around enhanced beings - that was hardly anything to sneeze at. And most of them made every effort to ignore his presence anyhow.

He preferred this way, of course; he had no desire to really get to know any of them on a more personal level than the occasional passing nod of greeting, or the painstakingly brief conversations in the kitchen while awaiting the coffee maker to finish brewing in the morning. Their personality quirks drove him quite mad - for example, Rogers was insufferably righteous, Parker oppressively upbeat, and Stark was simply unbearably obnoxious.

Thor was the only member of the team whom Loki was required to interact with in some way. If he had it his way, he wouldn't even have to do that much. He much preferred to observe from afar, to listen to their conversations from his secluded corner of the room and not have to speak to anyone. But Thor was Hel-bent on encouraging Loki to socialize with the intolerable inhabitants of the tower, dragging him to their game nights and ice cream outings and other frivolous nonsense of the like. And every time it was more of the same - Loki had to sit and pretend to be engaged in the group conversation or activity, despite how dreadfully boring their conversations had become.

Back home on Asgard, Loki socialized with all sorts of fascinating beings from across the Nine Realms. As a member of the royal family, he participated in diplomatic discussions and attended magnificent banquets and celebrations. With perhaps the exception of his time in the dungeons, there was never a dull moment. But here, living in this same godforsaken tower with these dull benevolent heroes, the God of Mischief was excruciatingly bored. If only something... anything new would come along and stir things up in the mind numbingly monotonous tower.

And then you came along.

Loki likely wouldn't have learned of you for quite some time had he not been forced to visit Stark's lab to complain to him that once again the heat would not turn off in his quarters. He was beginning to think this was an act of sabotage rather than an unfortunate malfunction. This was the third time this had occurred, and he hadn't heard even a whisper of anyone else in the tower experiencing a similar problem.

Stark was attempting to brush Loki off once again, insisting he'd have FRIDAY 'get right on it' (which was code for 'I'll get to it when I get to it') when Pepper suddenly appeared in the lab, her heels clicking on the tile floor with every brisk step. She whispered something in the billionaire's ear, then took him by the elbow and led him out, calling over her shoulder that she'd personally see to Loki's heat problem.

He’d believe that when he saw it.

Overcome with curiosity as to what she could possibly have needed to whisk Stark out of the lab so swiftly, Loki followed at enough of a distance that his presence would not be intrusive, but close enough to keep an eye on the hurried couple. He'd anticipated she would lead him to her office, which is typically where she would drag the billionaire off to when she needed to speak to him in private. Loki was therefore surprised when Pepper instead led him to the lounge directly outside of the lab and pointed to the television mounted on the wall.

"We have a problem," she stated ominously. On the screen, the news station was displaying a fiery-looking view of the city of Chicago, where a flurry of small mechanical drones were whizzing through the streets. These drones were apparently equipped with rather advanced weaponry - they were making quick work of blasting through walls of buildings as they went, explosions of brick and mortar bursting all around them.

"You gotta admit - these guys are getting pretty creative," Stark jested sarcastically.

"That's because they had help."

A close-up image of one of the drones flashed on the screen, one that had been brought down by military personnel flocking to the city. Pepper pointed to a small mark on the surface of the drone, just as the screen flashed to another scene.

"Woah-woah-woah, hey FRIDAY - show me a close-up of that image from five seconds ago," Stark demanded. Obediently, FRIDAY sent the requested image to Stark's handheld holographic device, where it hovered with a blue shimmering border over his palm. He zoomed in further with two fingers, inspecting the mark on the surface of the drone, which Loki could now see from where he stood was a logo or a name of some sort.

"Do you think she would have..."

"Shit. No, you know as well as I do she wouldn't do it willingly. They've got her somewhere."

Suddenly developing a sense of urgency, Stark pressed a button on his holographic device to close the screen, and another to activate one of his metal suits. The red and gold metal pieces whizzed past Loki's head on their way through the door to the lab toward their target, encapsulating the spectacled scientist in the familiar iron armor.

"If I'm not back in two hours, tell Capsicle to send in reinforcements," he instructed Pepper before blasting off the ground and out the open window he'd designed specifically for a rapid take-off from the lab. The blonde sighed exasperatedly, looking anxious as she hurried over to the elevator and stepped inside, not even registering Loki's presence as the doors shut behind her.

What was that all about? he thought to himself with his brow furrowed. Stark rarely found anything to be urgent enough to just take off without first informing the star-spangled captain. Clearly that logo must have meant something to the two of them.

Stark didn't return for a few hours. Not that it made any difference - Pepper had gone straight to Rogers to inform him of the billionaire's whereabouts the moment Stark left. A small team, including Thor, headed out on the quinjet to catch up to him and provide assistance. Although Loki was not emotionally invested in... whatever this was, he couldn't deny that he was intrigued by this sudden flurry of activity. After months of hearing about nothing but trivial nonsense from his brother and company - bank robberies, assaults, money laundering... nothing of any substance - this was an interesting turn of events. Who could blame him for listening for the quinjet's return to the tower while he went about his usual business?

The moment he heard the whir of the engines drawing nearer, Loki made his way to the landing pad, which just so happened to be on the same floor of the tower as the lab. He sauntered casually back to the lab, plotting to pretend he had returned to have words with Stark about his heat should anyone decide to ask questions.

He needn't have worried about that. The heroes were far too consumed with an extra passenger that they'd apparently picked up along the way. Stark, ever the impatient one, scooped the extra person up in his arms and sprinted inside, headed straight for the lab. As he rushed by, Loki caught his first sight of you up close, dangling limp in his hold.

You were obviously Midgardian, appearing to be of an age similar to Romanoff or Wilson. There were no external signs that you'd been injured, so it was unclear why exactly you were unconscious. Stark was obviously concerned about your wellbeing, which led Loki to believe he must know you from somewhere. He rarely saw Stark so worried about anything, with the exception of his coffee, and perhaps Pepper.

Banner was standing in a far corner of the lab, glancing up the moment he heard the door open as if he were expecting the company. Too curious not to listen in, Loki entered the lab along with the other few team members who had attended what apparently had been a reconnaissance mission to rescue you. Rogers and Barnes passed by him without a second glance, but Thor paused to look at Loki with a somber expression.

"I see you've heard about Lady Potts' niece," he stated, though it was more of a question.

"I... might have heard a bit of the conversation, yes." Loki watched from a distance as Stark laid you down on an examination table, where Banner got to work assessing you. "What did she do?"

"She was mind-controlled. Assisted the enemy with the development of a dangerous fleet of weapons."

Loki felt the slightest pang of guilt for being so insensitively invested in your story after hearing that. He, unfortunately, could relate to the experience of having your mind taken over by a tyrant. Probably better than anyone else in the tower was capable of doing, with the exception of Barton, perhaps.

"Stark and Banner are attempting to break through to her, but they aren't certain how the enemy inflicted their control."

"They don't know how to reverse it?"

"Not yet. But I'm certain they shall determine a solution!"

Thor stepped away to join Stark and Banner at your side. Feeling out of place, Loki decided to leave the scientists to their work, heading down to his own quarters.

Loki didn't hear anything more about you until the following morning, when he decided he could no longer tolerate the blazing temperature in his room. He stormed back to Stark's lab, prepared to have a sharp word with the infuriating scientist. He could see the man standing at one of his work benches through the glass doors to the lab, growing even more furious at the fact that he appeared to be bobbing his head to whatever music was playing in his earbuds.

"Stark! If you don't fix the damned heat in my quarters in the next hour, I swear to you I will turn you into a frog and I'll-"

He stopped dead in his tracks as he heard a small giggle from across the room. Whipping his head around, his eyes landed on you, seated at another workbench with your hands poised over the keyboard of a laptop, your gaze fixed on him and a smile on your face. The moment he locked eyes with you, your cheeks brightened, and you returned your focus immediately to your work with a swift swiveling of your head.

"Sorry, what was that, Jack Frost? Couldn't hear you over the Rolling Stones."

Loki looked back at Stark, who had removed an earbud and was staring at him with an innocent, yet sly expression. Suddenly, he'd lost the bite to his anger that had him storming in here in the first place. He pinched his fingers to the bridge of his nose, shaking his head in frustration.

"Just... fix the damned heat in my room. Please. It's hotter than Muspelheim in there."

"What's the matter, Frosty? Can't take the heat?"

Loki narrowed his eyes, muttering under his breath as he turned to leave. He allowed his gaze to land on you once more, catching you glancing at him for a second before returning your attention to your computer screen. Despite his piquing curiosity, he chose not to address you directly, leaving the room without another word.

It was strange to him, how his thoughts kept returning to you after that brief interaction. Loki prided himself on being able to read people with ease, but you were a mystery. He barely knew a thing about you, and yet he felt unexplainably drawn to you. Perhaps it was your shared experience of having had someone take control of your mind that had him so curious.

He wasn't about to ask Stark about you, so Loki went to the only inhabitant of the tower who wouldn't be suspicious of malicious intent if he suddenly decided to strike up a conversation.

Thor was where he always spent his afternoons - in the common room, watching some ridiculous Midgardian cooking show. Loki never could understand the concept. Why were humans so fixated on trying to outdo one another at literally any skill they could come up with?

"Brother! Have you finally decided to watch the food channel with me?" Thor bellowed brightly. Loki rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"No, of course not. You know my feelings on this ridiculous television program."

"Then why have you decided to grace me with your presence, dear brother?"

Loki sat down on the armchair across from Thor, folding his arms across his chest. "I was wondering what happened to the girl you all rescued yesterday."

"Ah... have you taken a fancy to her?" Thor asked with a teasing wiggle of his eyebrows. Loki scoffed at the suggestion.

"Of course not! I merely saw her working in Stark's laboratory this morning. I assume this means Stark and Banner determined a way to break the mind control over her, but I want to be certain, lest she become a threat."

"A threat? Are you beginning to actually care about us, brother?"

"Not one bit. I meant a threat to myself. She is clearly a skilled inventor. I need to know if I should be on my guard, with this unstable weapon-builder living in the same building."

Thor nodded slowly, a slight smirk still tugging at his lips. He clearly didn't believe Loki, but he didn't push the issue.

"Yes, Stark and Banner broke through to her. However..." he winced, "... she does not recall any of what happened whilst she was under the enemy's control."

"Oh, is that right?" Part of Loki felt you were lucky to have no memory of what you'd done under someone else's control. He'd have appreciated such a courtesy after his treachery under the mad Titan's influence. Although, another part of him felt it was unfair to you not to know what you'd done. It would only hurt you that much more if you found out through an outside source. "Are they planning to tell her what happened?"

"Stark feels strongly that he doesn't want her to know. He wants to shelter her from the pain it will inevitably cause."

"And what right does Stark have to decide such matters? Does she not have a say in this?"

The sudden outburst surprised even Loki. He couldn't understand why he felt so strongly about protecting your wellbeing. He barely knew you - in fact, he really didn't know you. He hadn't even learned your name, he hadn't formally introduced himself, he hadn't said a word directly to you.

Thor appeared surprised as well, and that infuriatingly snarky smirk returned to his face. "He is her uncle. And are you certain you haven't taken a fancy to her?"

"Yes, I'm certain, Thor." Rising abruptly to his feet, he glared down at his annoyingly self-assured-looking sibling. "Forgive me for questioning the crazed, sleep-deprived scientist's decisions."

Without another word, he strode out of the room, leaving Thor to watch his juvenile television show. Perhaps it was a mistake to ask so many questions about you. Clearly even his dim-witted brother became suspicious. Loki would simply need to find a way to learn more about you on his own.

Unwilling to return to the Hel that was his bedroom, Loki decided to take a walk in the small courtyard behind the compound and find a place to read in peace. Best that he cleared his head and stopped thinking about this strange Midgardian so much.

As dinnertime approached, the sun set, and it grew too dark to see the pages of his novel. He reluctantly returned to his room, hoping to get through a few more chapters before his insufferably upbeat brother inevitably came pounding on his door requesting his presence at the dinner table.

Anticipating being hit with a heat wave the moment he opened the door, Loki was pleasantly surprised to find it was actually mildly cool in his room. He glanced at the thermostat, finding it was set to the temperature he usually had it set to. Curiously, he turned it up a few degrees, hearing the telltale click of the heat turning on.

Well. It was about damned time Stark fixed the heat.

Rather than awaiting his brother's arrival, Loki decided to head to the dining room for dinner on his own accord. He took his seat beside Thor, who looked rather shocked that Loki had come without his usual fuss. Before he could comment about it, Stark wandered into the room with you trailing behind him.

"Everyone! I'd like you to meet Pepper's niece," he announced, gesturing toward you with a flourish. As he told the group your name, you seemed to shrink into yourself a bit under everyone's gaze, a shy smile on your face as you lifted one hand to wave sheepishly. "She talks, I swear - it just takes a while for her to warm up to people. Believe me, once she starts talking, she doesn't stop."

"Uncle Tony!"

It was the first time Loki had heard you say anything. Your voice was pleasant, not at all overbearing or exceedingly sweet. You said nothing more than those two words as you shot your uncle a teasingly irritated look and took a seat in one of the empty chairs across the table. Stark took the chair beside yours, offering you a cheeky grin and a wink before turning to the rest of the group.

"I see you've finally found some time in your busy schedule to fix the heat in my quarters," Loki quipped sarcastically. Stark sighed exasperatedly.

“Look, I told you I’ll get FRIDAY right on it, I’m still running diagnostics. Stop being so impatient!”

Loki cocked an eyebrow in confusion. “I was being serious. It is fixed.”

Stark clapped his hands together in excitement. “Excellent! Problem solved! Maybe now you can stop breathing down my neck with your ice breath, hmm?”

“You didn’t fix it?”

“Nope. But I owe a drink to whoever did! Go on - who was it? Claim your reward,” he jested as he gesticulated around the table at the others. No one said a word.

Who had finally fixed it, then, if not Stark? Perhaps Pepper hadn’t been simply trying to pacify him when she said she’d get it repaired? Though he’d have expected she would simply get on Stark’s case about it.

Then he saw it. He glanced across the table and found you to be staring at him intently. Your cheeks brightened the moment he locked eyes with you, and you tilted your head down to focus on the food on your plate. The conversation around the table had since moved on to other subjects, but Loki had a suspicious feeling you were still thinking about his predicament.

Your eyes flitted up to look at Loki again through your eyelashes, and he tilted his head expectantly, mouthing the word:

You?

You didn’t say anything, turning your attention back to your plate. But the tiniest of smiles formed on your lips, and that was all he needed.

Why had you gone out of your way to help him? Loki - former would-be tyrant of New York, least liked in the tower - and yet, you decided to take it upon yourself to finally do what he'd been asking Stark to do for weeks without a second thought. You were quite possibly the only member of this tower who had ever done something kind for him. It only served to increase his desire to learn more about you.

Fortunately, Stark began dragging you along to join the group gatherings in an attempt to get you to open up more. Unfortunately, that meant Loki would need to attend as well if he wanted to use it as an opportunity to observe you. So, much to Thor's pleasant surprise, Loki began to do just that.

You were painfully shy, sticking close to your uncle whenever you joined the team for a movie or a card game. It was rare to hear you speak more than a few words at a time. But you were clearly engaged in the conversations around you, despite not contributing much to them. You would smile and nod, or gasp, or frown in response to what was being said. It was obvious you wanted to participate, but you seemed to recede into your shell the moment you considered speaking up.

Occasionally, the others would ask you a direct question about yourself, and you were forced to say a bit more than your usual few words. Even then, you provided the minimum information necessary to answer the question before ending your response with a shy smile. Loki learned you were an engineer by trade, which is why you formed such a strong mentor-like connection with Stark after he and Pepper got together. You'd be staying in the tower for a while to help Stark with a few projects at his request (likely an excuse to keep you here without telling you the truth about what happened, Loki thought). You responded vaguely to questions about personal facts - a simple shrug in response to your favorite movie genre or a chuckle and an 'I don't know' when asked about your favorite kind of music.

Quite possibly the strangest part about you was how you seemed to start to gravitate toward Loki as well. As you grew more comfortable, you began to stray from Stark's side and find a seat nearby Loki's, offering him that shy smile of yours but never saying more than a quick 'hello.' Once or twice, it seemed as though you might actually say something more to him, but the moment you took in a breath to speak, your cheeks would brighten and you'd look away as you let it out slowly through your nose.

Clearly you weren't going to be the one to initiate conversation. If he was going to get you to talk to him, he'd have to put forth the effort.

Worried that he might scare you off if he tried to point blank strike up a conversation with you, Loki instead aimed to be more subtle. One evening, while the team watched a film together, he whispered some sarcastic comment about the scene on the screen just loud enough for you to hear beside him. He was pleased to hear a breathy laugh puff out of your nose in response. It encouraged him to do it again, randomly whispering little jokes or quips throughout the film in an attempt to get you to laugh out loud. Whenever you came close to an audible laugh, you'd throw your hands over your mouth and nose to muffle the noise and turn to look at him with wide eyes, a telltale crinkling at the bridge of your nose to prove you were grinning under your palms.

He slowly began attempting to ask you questions in an effort to get you to say a bit more. A simple 'how are you' or 'how has your day been' would at least draw a one- or two-word response from you. Whenever he asked you to tell him something specific about yourself, however, your cheeks would change color and that shy smile would spread across your face as you shrugged or gave a non-specific response. So, Loki went with a different tactic and began asking about your work.

And suddenly, you began to speak up.

You were obviously passionate about your projects. At first, you'd give Loki a one-line description of what you were currently working on. As he began to probe for more details, you became more open about providing them. You still shied away from telling Loki anything about yourself, but you were more than willing to tell him exactly where you were stuck in your programming, or how excited you were to test out the plasma shield you were building.

Loki still didn't fully understand it, but he was so intrigued by you. Perhaps he saw it as a challenge - it was normally so easy for him to get people talking with his silver tongue talent, but you seemed immune to his influence. He wished you'd open up to tell him about yourself, beyond your skills with electronics. Perhaps if he stopped by while you were working, you'd be in more of a mood to chat.

He began to swing by the lab every once in a while at times he knew Stark wouldn't be present. The first time he stopped by, you appeared surprised but excited, that same trademark smile spreading across your lips as you waved him inside to show him what you were working on. After the first few times, you began leaving an empty stool by your workstation in case Loki decided to stop by. He slowly started slipping in more personal questions about you into your conversations, and you were distracted enough by your work to start providing responses without shying away as you usually did. In this way, he learned simple things about you. Things like:

Did you choose that color because it's your favorite?

I'm going to get some coffee - would you prefer milk or cream?

One afternoon, Loki sat on the stool you'd provided him as you gushed about the glasses you'd been developing that could snap a photo of what the wearer was looking at with a press of a small button. The eyewear was intended for undercover operations, to subtly obtain photographs of persons of interest or of evidence of a crime.

"Here - give them a try!" you insisted, carefully placing the glasses on Loki's face. You handed him the activation button, which was small enough to fit in the palm of his hand without anyone the wiser that he was holding something. With a smirk, he turned to look at you.

"Alright - smile, then."

You blushed furiously, throwing your hands up over your face as you shook your head. "No, not me! Something else!"

"Why not? Do you not like having your photo taken?"

You peered through your fingers warily, hiding your eyes once again as he held up the button teasingly in his hand. Loki chuckled at your reaction, turning and looking at the door to the lab instead before snapping a photo with the button you'd handed him.

"Alright, alright. I'm taking them off," he assured, watching as you slowly lowered your hands while he carefully placed the glasses on the workbench. You breathed a visible sigh of relief, pulling out your phone and showing him the photo he'd just taken with an excited sparkle in your eyes.

"See? High-resolution photograph of exactly what you were looking at when you pressed the button!" You zoomed in with two fingers, pointing to the sign next to the door to the lab. "You can even read the words from far away if you zoom in enough! No need to get close and put yourself in danger if you need a close-up of a document or something."

"Impressive." Loki looked up at you as you slipped your phone back in your lab coat pocket, a proud grin on your face. "You didn't answer my question."

You narrowed your eyes suspiciously, a smile still plastered to your face. "I know what you're doing, Loki."

"Whatever do you mean?" he asked innocently.

"Asking me questions all the time, thinking I don't notice - I know you're trying to get me to tell you more about myself."

"Well, you could just tell me instead. Then I wouldn't have to ask questions."

You covered your face with your hands as your cheeks brightened. "It's hard to talk about myself."

"I've gathered that, darling. Which is why I've started asking you instead."

You lowered your hands, that shy smile gracing your lips. "Why do you want to know about me?"

"Is it so shocking to you that someone might want to get to know you?"

"That wasn't an answer to my question."

Loki clicked his tongue, a grin tugging at his lips. "Touché." He rose to his feet, gazing at you inquisitively. "I'm going to get some water, would you like me to get you some?"

"Sure." You grinned slyly. "But you're avoiding my question."

"And you've avoided many of mine," he retorted as he backed out of the lab, watching as you grinned sheepishly. He knew he had you there.

When Loki returned to the lab, he paused at the door when he saw that Stark had since entered. He had managed to avoid the billionaire thus far in his trips to visit you in the lab, so he wasn't quite certain how to proceed. He suspected Stark would find it unusual that his niece was spending time with a former villain - while the men were no longer enemies, they weren't exactly friendly either. And although Loki didn't much care about what Stark thought, he knew you would. If Stark had reservations about Loki hanging around, he feared it would ruin his little visits with you going forward.

Fortunately, neither of you seemed to have noticed Loki standing outside the door. He watched from a distance, hoping that Stark's visit would be brief. The doors weren't soundproof, at least not to someone with Loki's advanced hearing, so he could hear the two of you talking from where he stood.

"Hey Uncle Tony - smile!" you instructed, a teasing edge to your voice as you placed the glasses on your face and looked him head on. Startled, his face contorted into a confused expression as you pressed the button in your hand. Loki heard you giggle as you pulled out your phone, your hand rising to cover your mouth as you presumably observed the photo you'd just taken. "Oho my god, I'm so showing this to Aunt Pepper!"

"Hang on, let me see that." Stark leaned over your shoulder to peek at the screen, grimacing when he saw himself. "Hell no! Give me that - I'm deleting it."

"No way! You've taken plenty of bad pictures of Aunt Pepper - I'm keeping this as revenge on her behalf." You held the phone out at a distance when Stark swiped for it, sticking out your tongue at the scientist, which Loki couldn't help but think was rather adorable.

"If Pepper wants revenge, she'll have to take her own bad photo. I've never taken a single bad picture of you." He darted around to the other side of you swiftly, reaching for the device in your hand once again and grunting in frustration as you passed it to your opposite hand to keep it out of reach. "Oh-ho, kiddo, you're asking for it."

"I'm not a kid, Uncle Tony! You know I hate it when you call me that."

"Well you're sure acting like one."

"So are you!"

"Oh yeah?" He suddenly grabbed hold of your outstretched arm above your elbow, reaching for the phone as you laughed and struggled to keep it out of his reach. Your laughter increased as he slipped his fingers under your arm and tickled you, holding your arm up out of his way. "Who's acting like a kid now?"

"STILL YOHOU!" you shot back, grabbing his hand under your arm with your free hand. He released your arm, digging his fingers into your other side and causing you to fold into yourself on instinct. It provided him the perfect opportunity to swipe the phone from your grasp, relenting in his attack in favor of putting a few feet of distance between you while he poked the screen a few times and shouted triumphantly.

"Ah-ha! Deleted it!" Stark handed the phone back to you with a victorious smirk, chuckling as you glowered at him with a grin still spread across your face.

"That's so unfair!"

"It's not my fault you're ticklish, Giggles," he countered, pinching your side for good measure and smirking wider as you yelped and squirmed away. "You got everything under control in here? Pepper and I are going out to dinner, I'll be back in a bit."

"I've got it. Go on - out with you," you shooed him, waving your hand dismissively.

"Oh, stop pretending you're mad at me, kiddo. I'll see you later."

Loki ducked out of sight around a corner as Stark exited the lab, waiting a few moments before stepping back out and entering himself. You still had a dusting of color on your cheeks and a small smile on your face, which increased in size when you saw Loki returning.

"You just missed Tony!" you informed him, none the wiser that he'd been standing outside the lab.

"Perhaps that's for the best."

"Don't tell me you're scared of him," you teased. Loki rolled his eyes, wondering if he should use this newfound fact he'd learned about you and dig his fingers into your side. You'd most certainly know he'd been observing your interaction with Stark if he did, so he decided against it.

But after all the teasing you'd been doing today, he was not about to let you get away with it without getting back at you. Especially not now that he'd finally gotten you to start coming out of your shell.

That evening, the team gathered for a game of poker in the lounge. Stark had set up a large table with cushioned chairs just for this sort of occasion. It had taken some time to learn the rules of the game, but Loki had become rather skilled at it. A game of deceit was perfect for the God of Mischief.

You had become his most formidable opponent, not because you had a good poker face, but because you had a terrible one. In that way, you actually excelled at deceiving people, because you were constantly wearing a shy smile no matter how good or bad your hand might be. It was only recently that you'd begun to realize how competitive Loki was, and you reveled in the fact that he simply couldn't read you the way he did the others.

After a few rounds, you had taken a clear lead over everyone, and you knew it was getting to Loki. He knew you knew by the way your eyes flitted up to meet his across the table each time you won a round, that infuriatingly adorable shy smile on your face.

It was your turn to deal next. Loki watched as you carefully shuffled the cards in your delicate hands while everyone around the table fell into their own casual conversations. It seemed as good a time as any to stir up a bit of mischief.

With a wave of his hand under the table out of sight, Loki called on his seidr, manipulating the air by your head and causing your hair to rustle a bit. You barely seemed to notice, brushing your hand over your ear subconsciously in response. Fighting back a smirk, he repeated the gesture, this time sending a thin tendril of a breeze grazing across the soft skin of your neck just below your ear. This time, you flinched, your hand rising to block your neck instinctively as you looked around you in confusion.

Now this was adorable.

You started to deal the cards, so he relented for a moment, watching as your face fell neutral and the confusion wore off. Loki waited until it was your turn to bet before flicking another stream of air to ghost along the other side of your neck this time.

"I ra-hee-haise!" you squeaked, shrugging your shoulder to protect your neck and glancing around wildly to see who was poking at you. Stark tilted his head in confusion, brow furrowed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that."

"Uncle Tony!" you muttered through gritted teeth, yet still with a smile on your face.

"What? What did I do??"

Loki watched as you leaned over and whispered in his ear, amused at the color blossoming in your cheeks. Stark laughed as you sat back in your seat, shaking his head.

"You must be imagining things, kiddo. I didn't do anything this time."

"Tony! I know when you're lying!" you insisted, folding your arms haughtily across your chest as you tried to bite back your grin.

He held his hands up to prove his innocence. "I swear to you, I'm not!"

This was getting better and better. You were none the wiser that it was Loki using his magic to tickle you, and you were blaming Stark for it. How wonderful.

Loki waited a while to attack again to lull you into a false sense of security. As the group was wrapping up the last round for the evening, he called on his seidr once again just as you were placing your chips in front of you to place your bet. This time, he sent a gentle tendril of air dancing along both sides of your neck, up around your ears. You squealed and knocked over the stack of chips as you flinched to shrug your shoulders protectively, then whipped your head around to glare playfully at Stark.

"Ok, I know you're messing with me, Uncle Tony!"

"Kiddo, I'm really not sure what you're talking about," he responded, genuine confusion written across his face. You opened your mouth to speak, then thought the better of it and leaned over to whisper in his ear once again. He raised his brows, gazing at you with amusement. "You sure you didn't get into Banner's stash of hallucinogenic sedative drugs?"

"Tony!!"

"Relax, I'm kidding!" He shook his head, placing his own chips out in front of him. "I promise you, I'm not messing with you. Maybe you should interrogate Thor instead." He tilted his head toward the elder Asgardian sitting on the other side of you, who perked up when he heard his name.

"Interrogate me? What for?" he queried loudly. Your face brightened from your neck to your ears.

"N-nothing," you muttered, turning your attention to the game with that shy smile tugging at your lips.

Your eyes roamed around the table warily as everyone continued placing their bets, pausing as they landed on Loki. He hadn't realized he had an involuntary grin on his face until you began squinting at him thoughtfully. The moment realization dawned on you, Loki watched your eyes widen slowly, the color in your face intensifying as your jaw slackened slightly. Feigning confusion, Loki cocked his head and furrowed his brow. You mouthed the word:

You?

Damn. He'd been caught. Still, he didn't say anything as it came time to place his own bet, merely winking at you as he pushed his chips out in front of him.

He finally managed to defeat you that game. Although, in some sense, he felt as if he may have cheated.

Vision suggested a movie as Stark put away the poker set. Normally, Loki would complain about having to spend additional time with the team that evening, but he found he didn't mind so much, knowing you would be joining as well.

Loki entered the common room, making a beeline for his usual seat when suddenly a hand clasped around his wrist and tugged him down to sit on the sofa he was standing beside.

"How?" you whispered low in his ear.

"How what darling? You'll need to be a bit more specific."

You let out a flustered whine, glancing around as others began filtering into the common room and finding their seats. Your hand held fast to Loki's wrist to keep him in place. Not that he had any intentions of moving now that you'd parked him beside you.

"How did you know?"

"That's your question? Not 'how did I do it?'"

"That too."

Loki chuckled. "I saw you and Stark in the lab earlier." You groaned. "And as for how I did it - allow me to show you." He raised his hand from his side only slightly so as not to draw attention from the others. A faint green glow emanated from his fingertips as he demonstrated his ability to manipulate the air, sending a faint breeze fluttering against your ear. You let out the tiniest of squeaks, raising your shoulder to your ear protectively. "I'm not certain I've known anyone with ticklish ears before. It's rather charming."

You began to blush furiously, hidden by the dimming of the lights as Rogers started the film. "They're not - you just startled me."

"Oh really?" Loki took advantage of the fact that you'd released his wrist in your efforts to shrug away from his magic, raising his hand to trace one finger along the outside of the shell of your ear swiftly. You let out a tiny stream of squeaky giggles in response, swatting at his hand.

"Ok, fine. Happy?" you admitted in a whisper, trying to sound grumpy but unable to hide your smile.

"Quite, actually. You've finally told me something about yourself."

You gasped almost inaudibly. "I did not!"

"Yes, you did."

Loki was entertained by the huff of air that escaped your nose as you folded your arms and leaned back against the couch, not saying another word. He leaned closer to whisper in your ear.

"Are you giving me the silent treatment now, darling?"

You tightened your arms across your chest, pursing your lips in an attempt to appear annoyed. Loki could see the involuntary grin tugging at the corner of your mouth in the flickering light of the television screen. You wouldn't admit it, but you were enjoying this teasing banter just as much as he was.

"It makes no difference to me," he whispered. "I know I can get you talking. I've done it many times before."

Silence.

Loki waited a few moments without saying anything more, hoping to catch you off guard. The moment he saw you begin to relax a bit more into the sofa cushions, he subtly lifted his hand toward your side, suddenly latching his fingertips onto the soft skin just above your hip and gently kneading into the spot. You jolted at his ticklish touch, clapping a hand to your mouth to prevent any giggles from slipping out while the other arm lowered to your side protectively.

"Ah - ticklish here as well?" he teased in a whisper, snorting out a laugh as you shook your head no. "No? It's rather difficult to believe that when you're crushing my fingers with your arm."

You shot him a playful glare out of the corner of your eye, slowly lifting your arm away from your side in an effort to prove your obvious lie to be true. Loki allowed his fingers to crawl up your side, grinning fondly as your arm clamped right back down and you folded away from his hand. With limited range of motion, Loki simply wriggled his fingertips rapidly into your side.

Suddenly, you stood up and began walking out of the room, throwing that same playful glare his way as you walked past him with an involuntary grin on your face. Feeling particularly mischievous, Loki created a double image of himself to remain on the sofa while he carefully followed you out of the room at a distance, ensuring you didn't see him.

You paused when you'd gotten out of the room into the hallway, and Loki managed to side-step around behind you undetected as you turned to see if you'd been followed. He watched as you let out a breath when your eyes landed on the back of his projection's head. Intriguingly, from the small sliver of your facial expression Loki could see without stepping into your field of vision, it actually appeared as though you were disappointed he hadn't followed you. A small frown formed at the very corner of your lips, one that he found he didn't like one bit.

Well - if it was mischief you wanted, it was mischief you'd get.

Loki leaned in toward your ear from behind, getting as close as possible without actually touching you before speaking in an ominously low rumble.

"Hoping I would follow you, hmm?"

You shrieked in surprise, moving to whirl around to face Loki, but he'd anticipated your move. Before you could turn around, he threw his arms around your waist and pulled you to his chest, digging his fingers into your sides. A restrained gasp left your lips as your hands clamped down over Loki's.

"Lohoki!! They'll hehear me!!" you whispered.

"Oh, is that all you're afraid of?" He stooped to scoop your legs up from behind your knees, carrying you away from the doorway down the hall as you squirmed and giggled in his grasp. "Quite frankly, I'm insulted you aren't afraid of me. I like to think I'm quite intimidating."

"Whyhy would I be afraid of you?" you asked. Loki had to consciously remind himself to keep walking and not stop dead in his tracks at your question.

"You certainly seem afraid to tell me about yourself," he countered, rounding the corner and whisking you into the empty kitchen.

"I'm not afraid, I'm just shy."

"Mm, no, you were shy. You've told me quite a bit about your work." He set your feet down on the floor, swiftly wrapping his arms around you to keep you from trying to run off. "Now, if you aren't afraid to tell me about yourself, I have to believe you've just been taunting me. Is that what you're up to?"

"Whahat?? Noo!"

"Darling, that was the least convincing lie I've ever heard."

You squealed as his fingertips found purchase on the sides of your belly, wriggling maddeningly gently against the soft skin through your shirt. "Ohokay!" you exclaimed, prompting Loki to pause in his attack to allow you to speak. "I wasn't taunting you! I... I like that you find me to be sort of... mysterious. And... I wasn't lying when I said I find it hard to talk about myself either."

"Ah, so you simply wanted me to work at it to learn more about you, is that right?"

"I... well..."

"Because I think you'll find I can be rather convincing when I want to be." He tightened his grip around your waist, shifting to dig his fingers into your lower ribs with renewed vigor. You burst into the most charming stream of giggles, knees buckling beneath you as your muscles weakened from your laughter. "Is this convincing enough for you? Or should I seek out a weaker spot?"

"Nohoho!!" You began to slide down in Loki's grip toward the floor, your legs no longer supporting your weight. Loki simply followed you, working his fingertips in between your ribs as he let his hands travel upward. The moment his fingers met the middle of your ribcage, your squirming suddenly became desperate, giggles evolving to belly laughter. "WAHAHAIT!! LOHOKI! PLEHEASE!!"

"Have I discovered a weak spot?" he teased in your ear, lightening his touch to allow you to speak, but instead finding your laughter became even more desperate as you nodded frantically. "Oh, dear. Have I found the weak spot?" Again, a wild nodding of your head. Feeling somewhat merciful, he let his hands drift back down to your lower ribs, where it seemed at least to be more bearable for you. "This appears to be a rather effective method of getting you to tell me things about yourself. Perhaps I should try this more often."

"NOHO! Nohot FAHAIR!" You curled your knees up to your chest as his fingers traveled back to your belly, clawing at the spot just above your waistband. Curiously, Loki shifted one hand to latch onto the muscle above your kneecap and pinch rapidly, laughing when your leg kicked out in reaction to his touch and opened up more space for him to torment your belly.

"You seem conflicted, darling," he chuckled, repeating the motion each time you brought your knees protectively to your torso and scratching more rapidly at your belly when your legs kicked out in protest.

"Ihit's YOHOUR fault - AHAH NOHO!!" you whined, batting weakly at his hands as he slotted them behind your knees the next time you curled in on yourself. He paused in his torment to let you catch your breath, grinning fondly as you slowly relaxed a bit more with each breath. "Ahare you done torturing mehe?"

"Torturing you?" He released your knees in favor of latching his hands onto those trigger spots on your ribs he'd discovered earlier, chuckling as you squeaked and began thrashing in his arms even before he'd started tickling you. "As I recall, you were disappointed when you thought I hadn't followed you out of the common room. You're an intelligent mortal - you had to know this was coming if I were to come after you."

"I... shut up," you grumbled, squealing when he began scratching ever so gently with just two fingers at your ribs.

"Do you enjoy this?" he asked teasingly. You huffed out your nose, refusing to respond verbally. "Sorry, I didn't catch that." He dug all ten fingers into your ribs all at once, laughing along with you as you screeched before dissolving into hysterics. "You're not answering my question."

"LO-HAHA... LOHOKI! I-hi... LOKIHIHI!!" You couldn't seem to muster any words besides his name, clearly overcome by the ticklish sensation. He lessened the weight in his touch to gently scratch at the spot for a moment, then relented entirely when your laughter became breathless.

After taking a moment to catch your breath, you sat up in an effort to turn to face Loki. He allowed it this time, releasing his hold on you. Once you'd turned around, he could see the bright color in your face and the broad smile on your lips. He tilted his head toward you expectantly, waiting still for you to answer his question. You sighed, averting your gaze with a flustered laugh.

"I-hi like the playfulness," you stated finally. Teasingly, you added, "That's all you're getting out of me, so don't bother asking for more!"

"I'll take what I can get, I suppose."

You both sat in silence for a moment as your breathing slowed to a normal rate. Loki rose to his feet and offered you a hand up, which you accepted. There was a shadow of a question in your eyes as you gazed at him.

"You never did tell me why you were so interested in learning more about me."

Ah, there it was. The question that even Loki himself didn't have a complete answer to.

He pondered for a moment, trying to determine how best to put it into words. You stood patiently, awaiting his answer. Finally, he spoke.

"I suppose a large part of it is because I felt an unspoken connection to you. Because we shared a similar experience."

"A similar experience?" You tilted your head in confusion. "What do you mean?"

That's right. They hadn't told you.

Loki grimaced, turning his gaze away from you. "I simply mean... being the newest here in the tower. I went through the same situation quite recently."

"Loki."

The sharpness of your tone startled him, causing him to look at you once more. You had a resolute look on your face, a firmness he'd never seen on your features.

"You're lying to me. Tell me the truth."

"I... I apologize. I shouldn't have said anything."

"You know something about what happened to me, don't you?" You gazed at him hopefully, urging him to tell you. "I-I have this void in my memory, and no matter how hard I try I can't remember a thing. Please. I need to know."

Loki let out a slow breath, his eyes filling with sadness as he pondered the best way to break this to you. "Your uncle doesn't want you to know."

"Tony treats me like I'm a kid. I can handle the truth. Just... please."

"He'll kill me, you know."

"I promise I won't tell him."

Loki nodded slowly. He never agreed with Stark's decision to hide it from you in the first place. He knew very well, if he were in your shoes, he'd feel the same way you did. Sheltering you from the truth would only hurt you in the long run.

With a steadying breath, he explained to you everything he knew. The capture, the mind control, the use of your inventions for mass destruction. He tried to gloss over some of the more harrowing details, but you were persistent in your questioning, leaving no room for him to leave out a single detail. His chest began to ache as he watched a hollowness form in your eyes, the shy smile he'd come to adore fading from your face.

When he'd finished, you were silent. You stared blankly at a random spot across the room, motionless. Loki was patient, giving you the space to process everything without asking you to say anything.

Finally, you spoke. Your voice was wavery, as though trying to hold back tears.

"H-how do you it?"

"Beg pardon?"

"You remember the time that you were influenced by the mind stone. H-how do you manage to cope so well? I-I don't even remember any of what I did, a-and I... Please. Just... how do I move forward from this?"

The tears you'd been fighting back began rolling down your face, and you threw yourself into Loki's arms. He was startled for only a moment before wrapping his arms around you, holding you tightly to his chest as your shoulders shook with silent sobs.

He let you cry into his shirt for a few moments, trying to come up with the best words to console you. He decided, perhaps, you simply needed a caring embrace right now. So, he held you, his fingers running gently through your hair as your sobs gradually lessened and faded.

Only when you'd gone still, the tears finally ceasing, did Loki finally speak.

"You are far more pure of heart than I. Rest assured - I don't believe a single person thinks you intended to hurt anyone."

"And I don't believe you did either." You leaned back slightly, gazing up at him with tear-stained cheeks.

"You've not seen the malicious side of me."

"No. But I have seen the kind, gentle side of you that you keep hidden from everyone." Your eyes had regained some of their color as you fought with him about himself. "I don't need someone who's perfectly benevolent right now. I need someone who understands, someone t-to walk me through this. I need you. Please. Tell me what to do."

"If I'd known how to cope with it, perhaps I wouldn't have been so desperate to get to know you." He smiled sadly. "But in all honesty, the closest I've come to forgiving myself was when I heard you say you don't believe that I meant to hurt anyone."

"I don't," you whispered.

"Everyone else does. I've come to believe it myself." He sighed, rubbing a firm hand up and down your back in an effort to comfort you. "Perhaps if I remind you of all the benevolent things you've done each day, it will eventually chase away the guilt you're feeling."

"Alright... but only if I get to do the same for you," you bartered, that small, shy smile finally breaking through your pained expression. It made Loki smile too, simply seeing the heartache fading from your face.

"You'll have a much more difficult challenge than I, but I'll allow you to try, if you so insist." He released you from his embrace as you began to step back, wiping your tears from your eyes with the back of your hand.

"Oh, I'm sure there's more good in you than you think. I'll just have to learn more about you," you insisted. Loki's brows shot up his forehead, and he chuckled at the suggestion.

"Oh, I don't think so. Not until you tell me about yourself. I've been trying so desperately to learn more about you."

You grinned, that lovely color blossoming on your cheeks. "Alright. I'll allow it."

"You'll answer anything I ask?"

You shrugged. "You've been trying so hard, I guess I can gratify you with a few facts about myself."

"A few?" Loki chuckled, advancing suddenly toward you. You backed up on instinct, that charming giggle of yours spilling from your lips. He scooped you up by the waist, lifting you effortlessly to sit on the kitchen counter so you were more at eye level. "As you stated, I've been trying so hard to get to know you... I should think I get to ask you as many questions as I like."

"Alright... and what is it you'd like to know about me?"

Loki grinned and shot you a wink, leaning forward with his palms resting on the countertop on either side of you.

"Everything."