#the couple that gets extorted together

[collateral-joy]

[queenshelby]

Sweet Possession (Part 5)

Pairing: Very Dark! Thomas Shelby (32) x Innocent! Reader (19)

Warning: Age Gap, Smut

Two days later, when you were working at the orphanage again, it came as a surprise to you that Michael Grosvenor, the man who had invaded your personal space in Thomas' eyes, was no longer there. According to another staff member, Michael had resigned and his abrupt departure surprised you.

"He resigned? Really?"  you asked the staff member, surprised by this sudden turn of events. You wondered if Thomas had anything to do with Michael's departure, but you quickly dismissed the thought. 

"Yes, he came in and gave his resignation this morning without any prior notice," the staff member explained to you. "He just said that he received a better offer elsewhere and couldn't pass it up."

You nodded, trying to process this information.  Something didn't quite add up, but you couldn't put your finger on it. You had never seen Thomas act out of anger, but there was something in the way he had reacted to hearing about Michael two nights ago that made you think twice. Your husband was an influential man, and you knew he had connections all over town. But still, to get an employee fired just for touching your arm seemed extreme, even for a man of his standing. 

But you quickly pushed the thought out of your mind as you turned back to your work at the orphanage. The children needed your attention and, as an employee there, you did not want to let them down.

Eventually, days turned into weeks and soon a month had passed since your wedding day. You had settled well into your new life with Thomas. He was attentive and kind, always making sure that you were well taken care of. Twice a week, you worked at the orphanage with Isiah by your side and twice a week, you cooked, for your husband and the staff of the house, which was something you truly enjoyed. 

In your time off, Thomas and you would spend it together in his house which became more of a home with each day that passed. You also enjoyed the stables, riding horses and even having days in bed with your new husband, exploring each other's bodies and learning new things about one another. It was during those moments that you truly felt like a married couple, in love and content.

But, despite the love that Thomas had for you, there were moments where he would disappear for hours, sometimes entire days and nights on end. You never asked where he went or what he did but his absence would leave you feeling empty and anxious. He would always come back to you eventually, hands clean of any negative deeds, simply telling you that "he had business to attend to" before pulling you into a tight embrace.

You knew better than to ask questions, knowing that he would never reveal the truth behind his absence and that his world was one you had only scratched the surface of.

Still, despite the unknown aspects about your husband, you trusted him while, unbeknownst to you, Thomas Shelby was one of the most ruthless men in Birmingham. But, when it came to you, his wife, he was as gentle as a lamb. Your innocence seemed to calm him down and make him a better man. 

Little did you know, that beneath his charming exterior and seemingly kind demeanor was a man capable of murder, extortion, and other heinous crimes. This side of him he reserved for his business dealings with other gang members and none of them revealed anything about your husband's crimes to you until the day you were shocked when you read the morning paper. 

"Man found murdered by the docks," the headlines  screamed at you, as you sat down on the comfortable armchair with a cup of tea in your hands. The photo accompanying the article was a gruesome one, showing a man's lifeless body lying crumpled and twisted next to the water.

Your heart skipped a beat when you recognized the victim as Michael Grosvenor, your colleague from the orphanage. The name registered in your mind immediately and with it came the memories of his sudden departure from the children's home just weeks ago. 

"Isiah, did you see this?" you asked , your voice trembling as you held up the paper for him to see.

Isiah, who had been standing by the window, watching the morning rain, turned to look at you. His expression was one of surprise and concern as he took in the headline.

"Hmm," he muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the article while he shook his head, sighing deeply in disbelief as if he already knew that Michael Grosvenor was dead.

"You don't seem to be surprised, Isiah. Why is that?" you asked, your eyes narrowing as you studied his face.

"I can't say, Miss," Isiah replied, his tone carefully neutral. "It'sjust, I had a feeling, you know." 

You nodded, although you couldn't shake an uneasy feeling growing in your stomach. "Who would do such a thing?" you asked , your voice barely above a whisper as you struggled to process the information. You were shocked and horrified to find out that Michael had been murdered.

"I couldn't say, Miss," Isiah replied, his expression somber. "It could be anyone. Birmingham is a dangerous place, after all, that's why your husband has me looking after you when he isn't around." 

You nodded slowly, still trying to make sense of it all. Your mind kept drifting back to Thomas and the possessiveness he had shown towards you. You wondered if there was a connection between his behavior and Michael's murder.

But the thought of Thomas being capable of such a thing was impossible for you to comprehend. He had never shown any violent tendencies towards you and had always been kind and gentle. Yet, you couldn't ignore the feeling that something wasn't quite right.

Later that day, when your husband returned home, you couldn't help but observe him closely. He was charming and polite as always, his eyes softening when they met yours. But there was a tension in his shoulders that hadn't been there before.

"Is everything okay, Thomas?" you asked, your voice hesitant as you stepped closer to him.

"Of course, Love," Thomas replied, his voice soothing as he pulled you into his embrace. "Why do you ask?"

"I just...I read about Michael Grosvenor today," you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. "It said that he was found dead by the docks," you told him and Tommy simply nodded before running his fingers over your cheek. 

"I'm sorry to hear that," he then said, but there was no emotion in his voice. It was as if he were discussing the weather instead of a man's untimely death.

"Me too. He was a nice man," you replied, your voice distant as you tried to keep your emotions in check. You pulled back from Thomas and looked up at him, your eyes searching for any hint of what he might be feeling.

Thomas looked down at you, his expression unreadable. There was a moment of silence between you as you both waited for the other to say something. Finally, Thomas spoke up.

"I missed you today , Love," Thomas' voice was low and husky, his eyes darkening with desire a he ought to change the topic. 

"I missed you too, Tommy," you whispered, your voice trembling. You knew better than to bring Michael's name up again , knowing full well how jealous Thomas could become. So, you pushed the thought out of your mind and focused on the present moment with your husband.

Thomas' hands moved to your waist, pulling you closer as he pressed a kiss to your neck. "I'm glad," Thomas replied, his lips brushing against your skin in a way that sent shivers down your spine. "Because I had a really long day today and all I want to do right now is fuck my wife." 

"Tommy, stop," you gasped. "I have dinner in the oven," you protested, your voice weak as he trailed kisses down your neck. "It's almost ready."

But Thomas didn't seem to care about dinner. His hands were already undoing the buttons of your blouse, his fingers deft and quick as he exposed your bare skin.

"Fuck dinner, eh," Thomas growled, his mouth finding the curve of your breast as he tugged your blouse off and let it fall to the floor.  "I need you. Right fucking now."

You gasped as he took your nipple into his mouth, his tongue swirling around the sensitive peak until you were writhing against him, desperate for more. He reached down between your legs, tearing your panties aside as he stroked your wet folds with his fingers.

"You're so fucking wet for me," Thomas murmured, his voice dripping with desire as he pressed a finger inside of you. "Always so ready for me."

You moaned softly, your hips bucking upward as he added a second finger, stretching you in the most delicious way. He rubbed his thumb over your clit, making you gasp as pleasure shot through your body.

"Thomas," you breathed, your fingers digging into his shoulders as you held on for dear life. 

"Bend over my desk ," Thomas growled, his eyes blazing with a raw, primal hunger.

Your legs trembled as you obeyed his commands, turning around and bending over.

"Perfect," Thomas growled, his hands moving to your hips as he positioned himself behind you and unbuckled his belt.

He then unzipped his pants, pulled them down with his boxers and pushed aside your panties. 

You gasped as you felt him press the tip of his cock against your entrance, teasing you with what was to come.

Thomas' grip on your hips tightened as he thrust inside of you with one swift motion. You cried out at the sudden invasion, your walls stretching around him as he buried himself deep within you.

Thomas set a relentless pace, the sound of his hips slapping against your ass echoing through the room as he moved in and out of you.

"You feel so fucking good," Thomas grunted, his hands gripping your hips tightly as he powered into you. "So tight and warm around my cock."

You moaned as he hit your sweet spot, your walls clenching around him as pleasure spiked through your body.

"Fuck, Y/N, you're going to make me cum like this," Thomas growled, his thrusts becoming erratic.

You could tell he was close, but you weren't quite there yet. You needed something more...something extra to push you over the edge.

As if reading your mind, Thomas reached around and pressed his thumb against your clit. You moaned as he strummed the sensitive bundle of nerves, each stroke sending lances of sensation straight to your core.

"Yes, just like that," you whimpered, your voice barely above a whisper. "Please don't stop."

Thomas grunted in response, his hips moving faster as he fucked you harder. You could feel yourself getting close, the familiar heat coiling low in your belly. It wouldn't be long now...until suddenly it hit you.  Your orgasm tore through your body like a tidal wave, leaving you trembling with pleasure.

"Fuck, Love..." he groaned. "Please let me come inside you," Thomas' voice was husky and raw with desire.

"No, you can't cum inside me," you said, your own voice breathless with pleasure.

"Please Y/N. Let me fill you up. Let me claim you as mine in every possible way," Thomas pleaded, his voice hoarse with desire, as he continued to pump in and out of your slick heat.

You bit your lip, unsure what to do. Part of you wanted to let him, wanted to feel him cum inside of you, but there was another part of you that knew it was a terrible idea.

"I can't Tommy. I am not ready," you moaned, your hips bucking as he grazed your g-spot with each thrust. Falling pregnant wasn't an option for you, not yet at least and Tommy knew that all too well. 

Groaning in frustration, he pulled out of you at the last possible second, spilling his seed upon your lower back in hot, white streams. The combination of your orgasm and his release left him feeling weak at the knees, but he still managed to reach for his handkerchief and clean you up.

You watched him as he worked, your chest heaving with exertion and pleasure. Your muscles felt like jelly and you could barely muster up enough energy to stand on your own two feet.

Thomas helped you straighten up and pulled up your panties before he righted his own clothing and fastened his belt.

He turned you around and pulled you into an embrace. You wrapped your arms around his neck as he placed a soft kiss on your lips.

"I'm sorry, Love," Thomas whispered, his voice low and rough. "I couldn't help myself. I had to ask." 

You smiled up at him, your fingertips tracing the line of his jaw. "It's okay Tommy," you replied softly.  "One day soon, I'll be ready."

Thomas nodded, his chin resting on top of your head as he held you close. He didn't want to pressure you, but the thought of filling you up with his seed, marking you as his own in the most primal way possible, was driving him wild with desire. 

"I know, Love," Thomas murmured. "You are still young."  Thomas said, his voice barely above a whisper against your ear as he held you close. "And sometimes I seem to forget that," your husband added, a hint of regret in his tone.

Thomas' hands trailed down your body, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. He pulled back from you just enough to look into your eyes.

"You know I love you, right?" Thomas asked, his voice soft and sincere and, of course, you nodded.

"I love you too, Tommy," you replied, your voice just as sincere.

You believed in the truth of those words with every fiber of your being. You loved Thomas Shelby more than anything or anyone in this world and he knew it. But what he didn't know is that there were times when you felt like something was missing between the two of you. Something fundamental that should hold a marriage together but seemed to be absent in yours. You couldn't put your finger on it and that was probably why you never brought it up.�� It wasn't anything tangible, just a feeling that lingered in the pit of your stomach. It only made itself known when Thomas was away on business and even then, it wasn't always present.

There was something about him and his life you did not know or understand, but you were too afraid to ask.

And even if you did ask, Thomas would never tell you.

It was one of those things that people kept to themselves.

One of those taboos only whispered about behind closed doors.

There were many rumors, but you never gave them much thought, always writing them off as malicious gossip meant to bring down a great man.

But still, the feeling remained and you couldn't shake it off no matter how hard you tried.

There was a darkness within him that you had only caught glimpses of, but it made you wonder what truly went on in his mind.

That night, after the intense love-making session and dinner, your husband had some more business matters to attend to and, again, you didn't question him.

"When will you be back?" you asked , your voice soft as you watched Thomas gather his things.

"I don't know, Love," Thomas replied, his expression apologetic. "I wish I could tell you more, but I can't. Not yet. It's just...it's complicated."

You nodded, understanding that this was part of the territory when you married a man like Thomas Shelby. You were used to the uncertainty by now, but that didn't mean it was easy. You swallowed past the lump in your throat and forced a smile on your face.

"It's okay, Tommy," you assured him. "I understand. I'll be here when you get back."

That was all you could do, really. Wait for him to return and hope that everything would be alright. Sometimes, the uncertainty was almost too much to bear, but you loved Thomas too much to let it come between you.

He leaned down and gave you a gentle kiss on the lips before heading out the door. You watched him leave, your heart heavy as you closed the door behind him.

The house felt empty without him, and you couldn't help but feel a sense of loneliness settling in. You walked around the house, touching the ornate furniture and fine artwork that filled the space, each piece a reflection of Thomas' wealth and power.

As you moved through the rooms, taking in the beauty of your surroundings, you couldn't help but feel a sense of disconnect from it all. The opulence and luxury were overwhelming, and you wondered if this was truly the life you wanted to live.

In the end, you retreated to your husband's office in the search for some good whiskey and a pen and paper.  You knew you wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, not until Thomas was home safe and sound. You poured yourself a generous glass of whiskey and settled down in the comfortable leather chair behind Thomas's desk.

The amber liquid burned pleasantly in your throat as you took a deep sip, warming your body as it coursed through your veins. Your eyes landed on the pen and paper that lay next to the decanter, and on a whim, you decided to write down your feelings, something you hadn't done in a long time.

It was a simple task, writing down your thoughts and emotions, but it felt good to get everything out of your system and onto the page. As you wrote, the words flowed freely from your mind to your hand and before long, you had filled up the entire page with ink.

As you read through what you had written, you felt a sense of relief wash over you. It was as if a weight had been lifted off of your shoulders, and you felt lighter than you had in a long time.

You continued to write for hours, pouring your heart and soul onto the page until there was nothing left to say.

When you got the last piece of paper however, you noticed something strange. There was a key hidden beneath the pile of  sheets. Frowning, you picked it up, turning it over between your fingers. It was small and made of brass, the keychain a simple ring with the letters 'BP' engraved into it.

Calling for one of the maids, you enquired about the key but even Frances did not know what it was meant to open.

You thanked her nonetheless before curiosity got the better of you , and you decided to embark on your own little investigation.

You started with doors, then cabinets, even trying it in some of the antique jewelry boxes belonging to Tommy's late first wife, Grace. 

But it seemed that the key was made for neither of those things.

As you made your way through the mansion, you continued to search for any possible place it could fit. It wasn't until you reached the cellar that you found the answer.

The cellar was dimly lit, with rows upon rows of wine bottles lining the walls. It felt like a completely different world compared to the luxurious and bright atmosphere of the mansion above and after looking around for a while, you came across an old desk in the corner of the cellar, cluttered with old papers and knick-knacks. It looked untouched for years, gathering dust and cobwebs.

You approached it, drawn to it for some reason. You ran your fingers over the dusty surface, feeling the history of the mansion seep into your skin.

Then you saw it - a large, old looking lockbox nestled in between two old books.

Your heart raced as you pulled out the brass key from your pocket and inserted it into the lock.

You held your breath as you turned the key, listening for the sound of the tumblers falling into place. With a soft click, the lock disengaged and you slowly lifted the lid, revealing the box's contents which comprised of sheets of paper and photographs.

You had not expected to find anything particularly interesting in the lockbox, but as you sifted through the contents, you discovered that the papers and photographs all related to you and the past life that you had lived.

There were photographs of you and the respective men you had been with in the past. There were employment records, family records and even health records . It was like staring into a mirror that reflected the life you had lived before Thomas Shelby came along, dating back to when you were much younger than you are now.

Then there were photographs and records for each of your past boyfriends too and if this wasn't enough already, accompanied with them were police reports relating to their deaths.  Everything was organized and compiled in a neat manner, almost like a journal, but the sheer gravity of it all left you feeling cold and numb.

Your parents and brother had a file as well , each bearing details of their lives and deaths and whilst it was clear that your parents had passed by accident, the disappearance of your brother and ex-lovers didn't seem to be such a random occurrence anymore.

Unbeknownst to you, all of them were dead . Vanished into thin air, or rather, killed and disposed of methodically.

You felt a chill run down your spine as you came across the stack of obituaries, the names and faces staring back at you, only further confirming what was once unthinkable.

"Oh my god!"  you gasped, your hands shaking as you dropped the obituaries and stumbled back, your heart pounding in your chest. "What is this? What does it mean?"

You knew the answer before the question even left your lips. The evidence was right in front of you, impossible to ignore.

Your now husband had been spying on you for a while , keeping a detailed record of your past relationships and ultimately ensuring that each one of those men met an untimely end so that he could claim you one day.

"No, it can't be," you whispered to yourself, your voice shaking with fear and confusion. 

But as you continued to sift through the contents of the lockbox, the truth became increasingly apparent. Thomas Shelby wasn't the man you thought he was. He was controlling, manipulative, and dangerous in ways you could never have imagined and when, eventually, you heard his voice ringing out from the top of the stairs, you couldn't help but feel your stomach drop.

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[norrizzandpia]

Used (Part 2) (LN4)

Summary: Even in times of pain, they’ll find their way back to each other.

Warnings: very emotional, but happy happy ending, lando’s actually depressed its so sad, cisca norris to the rescue, oscar and lando are enemies for a while

Note: HII ITS HEREEE I REALLY HOPE YOU LIKE IT I THINK ITS PRETTY SLAY? 🤞🏻

In the wake of Lando’s actions, Y/n was left with a broken heart and a hole in her stomach. Constant emptiness plagued her, contradicting the love that had once filled her for a boy who used her and took every inch of her.

She was quiet, once more. Lonely, once more. Oscar couldn’t do anything to remedy the pain she felt, neither could her parents or friends. Simply, she sat within herself, retracing all the memories they shared together.

On the other hand, Lando was faced with the consequences of his actions. While the public didn’t know what happened, they were aware something had gone down with Oscar’s hostile driving toward his teammate every time they found themselves together on a track. If it wasn’t because of that, it was because of the angry fights accidentally had between the two men fans consistently caught on their cameras. And if it wasn’t because of the fights, it was because of the disappearance of interviews. Both drivers not being seen in a room together for a good 4 weeks straight after a particularly aggressive video sourced online of Lando and Oscar shoving each other behind the McLaren Garage. Yelling at each other about something the camera couldn’t pick up on, but angry faces and hands flew about for minutes before Lando’s dad rounded the corner and split them up.

Nonetheless, when Lando went to bed at night, he didn’t think about the fights with Oscar or the negative press he was getting online. He thought of Y/n and only her. His mind replayed moments of her bright smile, a warm feeling lingering in his stomach before his hand drifted to the cold, empty side of his bed and reminded him of his loss. It was almost as if he mourned her. She no longer showed up to races and if she did, her appearances were strategically planned so as to not have the couple run into each other. He had pleaded with Charlotte, McLaren’s PR manager, to “somehow” slip up on their schedules, but she wouldn’t budge. What he didn’t know was that Charlotte had gotten an ear full from Oscar and his parents about how Y/n was not to see Lando. The poor girl had been utterly ruined by him and his extortion of her.

Whether he liked to admit it or not, Lando knew that.

He knew she would never be the same because he had been reckless, and he knew the chances of her ever even looking at him again were slim to none. Still, he allowed his soul and heart to continue being tied to her. If he was being honest with himself, his whole being would always be tied to her, whether she loved him or not.

He tried convincing Oscar of this, of his love for her, but the Australian just continued screaming.

“YOU’RE A DICK, YOU KNOW THAT?” His blonde hair tangled after tugging on it so much as Lando stood in the corner of the room, taking the punches because he deserved them.

“I know. I’m sorry.” Lando whispered, his hands curling in his pockets as his tears threatened to fall.

“SORRY? SORRY WILL NEVER CUT IT FOR WHAT YOU’VE DONE!” His arms flailed around. Oscar’s own tears gracefully fell to the ground as his rage consumed him.

There was a moment as the two boys looked at each other, both broken to the core for 2 completely different reasons, yet over the same girl.

Sighing, Oscar stepped back before plopping onto the couch, “Why’d you do it?” He whispered, his head falling into his hands.

Lando came to sit beside him, “There’s no good reason, but the only thing I can tell you is that I have always loved her, since the moment I saw her. Martin’s bet gave me an excuse to fall back on if she rejected me like I thought she would. When she didn’t and we started going out, I tried to push it away. But, Martin kept calling me and texting me, taunting me with how me and her had actually started. Throughout it all, though, I love her. I continue to love her even though she refuses to see me and I still love her even though she’s blocked my number. I’m starting to think I always will. Love her, I mean.”

Oscar turned his head to the side, capturing the blue eyes of his teammate and the ones that were so clearly defeated, “Really? It wasn’t a joke to you?”

Lando shook his head immediately, “No, of course not. It never was. I tried to explain that to her when everything came out, but she wouldn’t listen. After she shut the door on me when she found out, I tried to knock and ask her to let me in, but I don’t think she heard me because all I heard on the other side was crying. Oscar, I’m so sorry for what I did. If I could take back how it started, I would, but I won’t, and will never, wish to take back the moments we shared together. Even now, when communication between us has stopped, the memories keep me going. Just the memories of her are enough for me. I’ll always be grateful to even have them with her, having been able to experience that kind of love with someone who reciprocated it is something I never expected to feel ever in my life.”

“I wish you wouldn’t have done it. I wish you would have just gotten with her naturally. I really thought you two would get married.” Oscar said slowly, trying to let Lando down easily.

However, Oscar’s attempts failed as the sorrow hit Lando all over again. Flashes of the night when she opened up to him under the sky bounced around in his mind as he wondered what it would have been like to marry her, spend a lifetime with her.

Wiping a hand over his face to conceal the physical signs of his despair, Lando averted his eyes from the boy that reminded him too much of her, “Yeah, me too.”

—

“Y/n?” Her mother’s voice filtered through the door.

She shifted under the blankets, groaning quietly at the disturbance, but her mother’s next words made her falter.

“Mrs. Norris is here to see you if you’re up for it.” The door creaked open before soft footsteps made their way to her bed, the mattress dipping before a hand came to rest on her side.

In the time she and Lando spent together, Cisca became like a second mother to Y/n. Whether the woman intended for it or not, her soft-spoken voice and gentle, motherly touch had filled Y/n with comfort during times of self-confliction or arguments with Lando or the other men in her life.

“Hi, darling.” Her hand rubbed slowly up and down her torso as Y/n untangled herself from her blankets, sitting up to meet the older woman’s eye.

“Mrs. Norris, it’s so nice to see you.” Her smile wasn’t as big as it used to be, Cisca noted.

Giggling, she smoothed a hand down Y/n’s cheek, “Even after all this time, you still call me ‘Mrs. Norris’”.

They laughed together for a second before silence overtook the moment and Cisca was watching Y/n retreat back into her heartbreak.

Her small voice cut through the stillness, “I’ve never seen him like this before.”

Y/n’s head tilted to the side as she pleaded with Lando’s mother to not begin this conversation, for the sake of her healing process. However, Cisca knew, deep down, that this conversation would do more good than bad.

So, she continued.

“He won’t talk about you. He shuts down the moment we mention your name.” Cisca took Y/n’s hands in hers, cradling them as she had cradled her son the night Y/n had blocked his number. Lando had shown up unannounced at his parents’ home, clutching his phone in his hands as if it was the only thing anchoring him. The moment she had opened the door, his eyes told every bit of pain he had tried to force down as he convinced himself he wasn’t allowed to feel grief if he was the one having screwed it all up. His legs gave out and he had fallen into the safe embrace of his mother, clutching onto her as he rambled about losing Y/n. Cisca had brought him into the house and sat with him on the couch all night as he poured his heart out to her, tears and all.

He didn’t leave their house for a week after that.

Now, she sat with the girl who had destroyed her son, just as he had destroyed her. Prepared to try and reconcile something so beautiful.

“If he loved me, he wouldn’t have done it.”

Cisca nodded, completely agreeing with Y/n’s logic, “I understand, but Y/n, we both know this is much more complicated. You two have loved each other for a long time. I would even say from the moment you first met, but I won’t speak for you. When he said he loved you, he meant it. From the start. Yes, he messed up and did something I did not raise him to do. However, Y/n,” Cisca’s hand moved to turn Y/n’s face, forcing her to look his mother in her eyes, “I know my son and I know when he’s gone for someone. He’s utterly gone for you. Hell, he’s so lost without you, the boy can’t even tie his own shoes.”

Cisca wiped away the tears Y/n didn’t even know were falling before the girl in bed whispered, “But, what if he hurts me again?”

Sighing, Lando’s mother scooched to squeeze on the bed beside Y/n, putting her arm around the girl and hugging her into her side, “I know it’s hard, but just give him a chance, yeah? He betrayed your trust and a lot of other things, so it will be difficult to let him in again. But, and this is hard to understand because he was your first everything, what you two had was unlike anything I have ever seen in my entire life and I’ve been married to his father for years. The way you two understood each other was on a level that I think would be a shame to not fight for. You were good for him, really good, and I wouldn’t be a good mother if I didn’t do everything I could to make my child happy again. It just so happens that, in this case, it would also benefit the person he was in love with too.”

Nodding, Y/n hugged the woman tighter, “I’ll think about it. Thank you.”

Seeing as her job was done, Cisca got up and made her move toward the door, but not before she stopped to turn around and look Y/n in the eye once more, “When you talk to him, be gentle, okay? I know it sounds stupid because he should be being gentle with you after everything he pulled, but you don’t know how hard he’s beaten himself up over this. There are only a handful of times in motherhood where you will see your child grieve so hard over someone, they vomit. It’s hard to watch your son destroy who he is because he loved so hard. If you won’t do it for him, do it for me. There’s only so much a mother can take when it comes to seeing her child in pain.”

Y/n smiled lightly as she promised the woman she would be soft with the man she loved.

The man she loves.

—

“Can you at least shower?” Max asked softly as Lando curled further into his bed.

Sniffling, Lando mumbled, “There’s no one to smell good for. Don’t see the point.”

Max rubbed a hand over his face, hating how his best friend had become the shell of a human, “Lando, it’s for your own health. Please, it’ll be good for you. You haven’t gotten out of bed for a week. I’m worried about you, mate.”

“I don’t ca-” Lando started, but was interrupted by a knock on their front door.

Max’s gaze shifted between his best friend and the slab of wood, not wanting to let Lando leave his sight, yet knowing he needed to open it. He exhaled a breath as he stole a quick glance at the body under all the lumps of blankets before making his way to the door.

Opening it, he sighed in relief at the sight of Y/n, the remedy for his best friend’s turmoil.

“I don’t know why you’re here, but I think it’s for a good reason. I hope it’s for a good reason.” He said as he let her in.

She smiled at him, still a bit nervous to see Lando, but relieved she had finally gone through with it this time.

“Is he here?” She asked quietly.

Max laughed, “Is he here? Yeah, he has been for the last eternity.”

She cringed before making her way toward his room, inhaling a breath before opening the door.

“Max, I’m serious. Leave me alone.” He said, annoyed, from under his pillow. She couldn’t help the smile that took over her face at his voice and common stubbornness. She had missed him like the ocean missed the sun when it disappeared in the night. Missing his soft touches, hushed kisses of warmth, and the light he continually exuded on both good and bad days.

“Lando, it’s me.” She said as she rounded his bed, sitting down on the side of it.

He froze. His brain tried to convince him he was going clinically insane, no longer seeing her in his head but hearing her in his room. However, his heart contradicted the argument when he felt the bed dip and he just knew. He knew it was really her by the way his skin lit up at the close proximity and his breath stopped for a moment before filling his lungs once more like life was returning to his body.

He lowered the blankets. Her face coming into view almost had him breaking down, but this newfound chance at redemption had his brain short-circuiting, and crying so hard he couldn’t speak didn’t seem like a good plan.

“Y/n…” His tone was subdued as if she was an angel, completely struck by her and her existence.

Her hand reached out to caress his cheek. The igniting touch had color pumping through his body again as he leaned into her touch, seemingly reconnecting with his lifeline.

“I thought we could talk.” She said as his eyes fluttered closed, her thumb rubbing circles over his cheekbone.

“Of course,” He said breathlessly, enamored by her and the way she made him feel.

She giggled, a sound that Lando was etching into his brain as if he was going to lose it again, “Okay, but you’ll have to open your eyes for that to happen, Lan.”

He blushed at the nickname. The last time she had called him the shortened name was when she was confronting him over what he had done. The reminder of the moment when she walked out on him hit him hard. He stared at her, scared she had only come back to him to give him a taste of what he could’ve had only to take it away once more.

She must have realized his agony because she was grabbing his hand with hers, coaxing him away from the dark place to come back to her, in the now. The funny part was that she didn’t need to physically bring him back, he would always return to her just by the comforting presence of the person he fell in love with.

“Dating me because of a bet hurt like hell. I thought I would never come back from that kind of pain, but as I rotted away in my room, I realized that, even though you had hurt me so deeply, I still loved you. It took me time to understand what that meant seeing as you have been my first love, my first everything, but I think I’ve got it down, now.” She squeezed his hand as their eyes welled together, “Even though those times we spent together had been created under such a gross circumstance, I wouldn’t want to forget them. Ever. Because I love you, Lan. I was talking to my mom and she explained to me that giving people second chances isn’t always a bad choice, if they’re good for you. That’s when it clicked for me. Giving you a second chance is a no-brainer because you’ve never wronged me before. I fell in love with you and when you fell in love with me, you always showed up. Even when I found out about the bet, you still showed up. You stayed on the other side of Oscar’s Driver’s Room door, asking me to come in before he showed up and forced you away. You’ve always been there for me, always secretly supported me, and wished the best for me even when I rejected you completely. Over this time by myself, I came to the conclusion that I don’t want anyone else to root for me on the sidelines other than you.”

His arms had found their way to her, loosely circling around her waist as he tested the waters. When she didn’t push him away, when her arms twisted around his neck, he leaned in. What she thought would be a kiss was actually a bone-crushing hug that was, surprisingly, way more intimate than any kiss he could have planted on her at that moment. His tears wetted her shirt and hers did the same to him as he whispered how much he loved her in her ear. Softly, he explained to her just how much she made his heart stop, “There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t wish I could go back in time and treat you with respect. I’m so sorry for what I did and for what I put you through, my love. The thing that was so scary for me when I realized how much I loved you was that you had always been in front of me. Like, you’d been standing right in front of me for years before I understood who I needed you to be to me. I never thought that one singular person could change the course of my life and how I lived it let alone someone I had known for so long, but it’s always been you. I’m not sure if you always felt that same way about me, but I have. Once I began looking to you when shit in my life hit the fan, I knew I wouldn’t be able to love anyone the way I love you. It would always have to be you because, if it wasn’t, there’d be no one else to fulfill me the way you have. You came into my life and flipped it right side up, not upside down.”

When his hushed words ended in her ear, she pulled away. Tears tracing the outside of her lips, she scratched at the hair at his nape, something she knew he always loved.

Realizing that he had never fully lost her, Lando whispered an “I love you” before smoothing the hair out of her face.

When he was finally able to see his favorite face, only then did he kiss her.

End.

Tags (thank you for the sweet comments): @tpwkstiles @lqvesoph @hearts4joao @flwr-stella @formula1mount @405rry @msliz @gaslysainz @summerslike11

[grandlinedreams]

|| this man is an exposed live wire in my brain ok

|| notes: uhh prequel to [this] and [this], semi Canon compliant, pre-s1 but mentions of pre-war Cooper, I love the dynamic 😔👌✨️

|| warnings: hopefully IC Cooper, asshole x asshole dynamic we love to see it, weapons/supply dealer!reader, Canon typical violence, mention of blood/reader is injured kinda, spoilers? Abt Cooper's backstory, kinda enemies to friends/lovers

He doesn't know why he's here.

No, that's a lie ㅡ he does know why he's here, he just doesn't want to admit it. To himself, or to anyone else, for that matter. That he needs help.

Those fancy little bullets for his gun are hard to come by, few and far between when he can't get them by looting and places like Ma June's enjoy extorting as much as they can for so very little.

There's a difference between business transactions and highway robbery, even now. Which is why he's here ㅡ he'd gotten talk about a place that sold weapons and weapon-related supplies at a fair rate, and necessity had made him swallow his pride to go and find out for himself.

Which is why he's not just turning around and fuckin' leaving.

The building is crammed between two others, as ramshackle as the rest being made of recycled tin and wood that's rotted by time and rain in places, but still suggests a stability that won't crumble if somebody breathes too hard on it.

Cooper's spurs jingle as he walks, lost momentarily to the chime of something over his head when he pushes the door open. He looks up, forehead creasing.

Is that a bell?

Rusted but still in working order, it clatters again when he shuts the door, looking around. It's about as put together as any other kind of shop, an eclectic organization to it ㅡ a couple of rifles, a pistol or two, along with an admittedly impressive assortment of knives ㅡ but it's the shine of something on the floor that makes Cooper stop.

His head cocks as he studies the stain, the still-slick shimmer to it that makes him crouch and drag two gloved fingers against it, studying the residue. Coppery, with a hefty dose of some kind of chem to clean it, but still unmistakable ㅡ blood.

Well damn. He doesn't know what's happened here and he's pretty sure he doesn't care to, much beyond the fact that if the runner of this place is dead, that puts a damper on things. Or maybe not ㅡ if nobody's here, what's to stop him from taking what he wants?

"If you're thinkin' of stealing," comes a call that snaps his head up as it echoes from further back in the building, "I'd advise you not to. Less you wanna meet your maker, then I'd be happy to assist."

It's a flat bravado that both amuses him and piques his interest, and he leans against the counter to rap his knuckles. "Not stealin'," he drawls, "just wonderin' what kind of business model you've got if you make customers wait."

"The kind where patience is still a virtue, that's what." Foosteps, unhurried ㅡ and then Cooper is staring at you as you round the corner. You've got a jumpsuit of some indistinguishable color opened to rest around your hips, dingy tank-top underneath ㅡ and a stimpak in your hand. No doubt for the mess of your other arm, bicep wrapped with gauze that's already seeped into a bloom of bright red.

Well now. Cooper wasn't sure what he'd been expecting, but you still manage to surprise him. Enough that he's staring, which makes you scowl.

"I know that look," you challenge, "if you think I'm easy picking, you'll get a new place to breathe from, courtesy of the hole I'll put in your head."

Cooper's head cocks. "Well now sugar," he says, "that's not very nice now, is it? Wasn't even thinkin' of that." He turns, jerks a thumb at the half-assed cleaning of the mess on the floor. "That's your doin', I reckon."

You nod. "Don't get trouble much," you say, "but when I do, I make sure to prove a point." You jam the stimpak into your arm, and he watches the tension melt from your shoulders. "Now, what can I do for you besides point out the exit?"

Well damn, Cooper thinks again. You've got a pretty face, but it's at odds with the attitude coming from that nice little mouth of yours. About as welcoming as a rattlesnake and probably just as quick to anger, from the way you bristle as he eyes you.

"Need supplies," he says, and you snort.

"What a wellspring of information you are. What kind of supplies?" You eye him, brow furrowing. "You're a bounty hunter, aren't you? Get your kind in here all the time." You tap a worn boot against the floor, hands now on your hips. "Hope you got means to pay for shit, because I don't do tab and I sure as fuck don't do charity work."

Cooper isn't sure if he likes you or he hates you. Bit of both, he guesses. The like is tentative and the hate is more solid ground, because he hates just about everybody. Makes it easier to do what needs to be done.

"Well, sweetheart," he leans into the counter, tips his hat, "depends on what you got to show me that's worth buyin'."

You stare, unimpressed by whatever angle he's going for. He's handsome, you'll give him that ㅡ but not much else. He also reminds you of somebody, with that hat of his and the way he talks ㅡ the low, drawn out drawl that you've only seen in those movies you manage to scrounge up here and there for your amusement.

Rolling your eyes, you hold up a finger and shrug your arms back into the jumpsuit, though you don't bother to zip it up. "Gimme a sec."

You don't know why you're doing this. Entertaining the notion that if you show him good enough product, he'll become a regular. You like regulars, but most of what you get seem to run on about six months worth of visits and then vanish.

Probably dead. Such is the way of the world, and it's still enough to get by. But you like new faces.

To his credit, he doesn't flinch when you slap the first pack onto the counter, followed by a second, and then a third.

"This is baseline stuff," you explain. "Your usual grade of bullet. Black powder, the standard kick." You shove the first pack at him, let him inspect the bullets. "Then you've got these."

The second pack shoved over, thin fabric parted so he can eye the neat little row of what would be hollow-point bullets if they didn't end with a tiny, pointed bulb of red glass.

"Explosive rounds." Your expression is unreadable. "They do the job, but they need special packing. Unless you wanna be blown up before the damn things even get loaded into the gun."

Cooper hums, eyes the bullet he holds up, the barely there shift of powder in the glass. He watches as you push the third over. "And these?"

"Same, but they pack even more of a punch. I'd recommend only shooting them at shit you want up in smoke." You shrug. "Or people, deathclaws, whatever the fuck you do out there."

Cooper studies you. "Where did you get this stuff? Thought bullets were hard to come by."

You give him a flat look of annoyance. "I make 'em myself."

Cooper stares, then smirks. Another little tip to his head. "Really now," he says, watches you bristle like a viper, ready to strike. Wonders if those fangs of yours pack a punch, what he'd need to do to get you to spit at him. "How 'bout you show me, darlin'? Wanna make sure what I buy is good quality."

You should tell him to shove it. Tell him to get the absolute fuck out of your shop, take his fuckin' yeehaw personality to someone else in the mood to deal with it ㅡ but you don't.

Instead, you sigh and tug the packages back, moving away from the counter. "Well c'mon then," you prompt, irritated. "Don't have all goddamn day."

The back of your shop is half a home and half a workshop, sprawled mess of equipment rusted with time but otherwise well maintained, smell of grease and hot metal and gunpowder that clings to everything.

You don't have to look back to know he's followed you, the jingle of his spurs as he takes his time, eyes missing nothing. The boxes of empty casings and empty glass bulbs ㅡ and the Mister Handy that's slumped in the corner, sparks spitting from it.

"Poor thing got shot first with that...situation earlier." Your voice is quiet. "Gotta fix 'im if I can."

Kind of funny, you sound sadder about the damn machine than the fact you'd killed someone over it. Then again, they'd been trying to kill you, so...eh. Justified, in your book.

The rest of the room is a haphazard attempt at something like a house ㅡ a couch with blankets on it, a short stack of books gone yellow at the edges, a coffee table ㅡ and sitting on it is a shitty little television, staticy and without color ㅡ but that doesn't matter. What matters to Cooper is that he knows what it's playing.

Your flitting around fades a little as he watches himself on screen ㅡ forever ago, a lifetime ago. Before the bombs, before vault-tec ㅡ when he'd been happy.

He'd loved his life, his family ㅡ and they'd loved him too.

"I've got enough stuff to make another round of flash-baㅡ" You stop, blinking at the way he's staring at the television. "Somethin' wrong? I know this isn't much, but it's my way of living, soㅡ"

"Stop your yappin'," Cooper rasps, and you glare as he shakes himself out of whatever reverie he was lost in. You scowl.

"Look, I know this doesn't seem like much of anything, but this is my business, and my shop." Your eyes narrow. "So try to be a little fuckin' nicer if you want me to sell you anything."

Whatever patience he'd had left promptly snaps like a bowstring as he snatches your arm, grips it tighter than he should. "Listen, sweetheart," he hisses, "what exactly is stopping me from just takin' what I want and leaving?"

Something whirrs behind him, distracts him just enough for the cool, sharp kiss of metal at his throat.

"Do it," you taunt, expression unreadable, grip tight on the blade you hold to his neck. "You're not the first one to try, and you won't be the last."

And there, Cooper notes, are your fangs, ready to sink into his skin. The two of you stare at each other for a good, long minute while the Mister Handy spits and sputters. And then Cooper huffs something like a laugh. "Glad to see you've got some bite to you, darlin', but I still think I could handle you."

A threat and something a little less hostile all in one, even as you yank your arm out of his grasp. "You couldn't handle me even if I came with a fuckin' manual," you snap back, but there's a playful gleam to your eyes. "You gonna buy anything or just lookin' to be a pain in my ass?"

A crooked grin tugs at Cooper's mouth. "Both."

ㅡ

The truce between the two of you is tentative. An understanding in the barest sense, because neither of you are dumb enough to pass up a lucrative, beneficial deal. He gets his supplies, you get caps. Simple.

You won't go as far as to say you're even friends, up until the point that you greet him on a visit with, "You know, you remind me of somebody."

He eyes you. "Really now. And who would that be, sweetheart? You workin' with more ghouls than just me?"

You snort. "Careful," you tease, "you almost sound jealous." Your tone quiets as you drum your fingers on the counter. "Nah, you remind me of that one actor, Cooper Howard."

Cooper stills. Watches you warily, turning a spent bullet casing over and over between gloved fingers.

"He played a cowboy," you say, nodding to yourself. "Talked like you do, too. Good movies, at least the ones I've gotten my hands on." You eye him, playful light to your eyes. "Wouldn't happen to be a fan of him too, would you?"

Cooper debates. He's not sure if you've put the pieces together and if you have, you're polite enough not to say it. He appreciates that, makes that fleeting temptation of putting a bullet in your head all the more temporary. He likes you. Be a shame if he had to cut ties.

"No," he answers. "I can safely say he and I are nothin' alike." Not anymore. He lets himself lean over the counter, too close to your face. Intimidation, maybe, or perhaps just because he likes being able to look at you like this. "Got anythin' else to tell me?"

Your eyes flick over his face, down to his lips as you lean a little closer, the suggestion of your mouth just shy of his. "Yeah," you murmur, quiet. "Next time you come by, work on your fuckin' manners."

[misstycloud]

Yandere superhero! HC

Imagine just running about your ordinary day life and suddenly everything is turned upside down, what you believed to be fiction and nothing more than child dreams became your new reality. Now you had duties and that was to protect the city and its residents from those who wish to harm them. It’s a tough job, one that no one would be able to handle all by themselves.

Luckily you got your trustworthy companion by your side at all times! You two fit together like pieces of a puzzle; managing to save the day hundereds of times. There was nothing you couldn’t do as long as you had each other. You knew each other well-or how good you can know each other without learning the other’s identity.

Secret identities is one of the top rules of being a superhero. It could be dangerous for your loved ones if your enemies got their hands on that sort of information. They would use your family and friends to blackmail and extort you. That couldn’t happen or all hell would break lose if the city’s heroes were captured and defeated.

In the beginning when you and your partner had first been assigned the role of heroes, he seemed fine with the rule of no knowing who the other person were behind the mask, and you were too. There wasn’t any reason for you to want to find out who his civilian identity was.

But then things began to slowly change.

It started with him wanting to stay together a little longer after missions and you agreed, thinking he wanted to discuss things regarding your work. Which is what you talked about originally until the subjects switched to different topics like hobbies, favourite movies, best book you’ve ever read. Just normal easy stuff, not so hard to answer right? There were millions with the same reply as you so there was no chance he’d be able to guess who you were.

He’d only thought of you as a partner and maybe even a friend up till this point, but new feelings has began brewing and he didn’t know what to do with them. Brushing it off as a silly crush he didn’t do anything else than initiate spending more time together to satisfy him. It didn’t last forever and he eventually needed more.

Needles to say, it wasn’t simple to balance the heroic deeds while exploring these foreign emotions, it made things complicated to focus during dangerous events. That wasn’t good, obviously. What if he messed up and the villain got away? Or even worse, someone could get hurt. Someone that could be you. No, he can’t that happen, he must stay concentrated.

Yandere hero, who wanted to respect your secret identity pact but is dying to know who is behind that mask. He understood it was important, however he couldn’t help it. Convincing you to break that promise is impossible, that he saw. Perhaps he can trick you into revealing yourself? You’d probably see through his trick though.

Because of your good relationship and media, it became common for people to ship the two of you as a couple. Which he honestly didn’t mind one bit, especially now that he realises just how deep his love for you goes. It’s almost as if he’d do anything for you. He wanted the citizens to know who you belonged with and that was made sure when those news articles were posted.

You couldn’t believe it. So much stress all because of a single photo. A picture an anonymous individual has secretly snapped has spread like wildfire under a scorching summer day. You and your partner’s relationship status was the city’s top subject; discussed by so many and apparently very interesting to the old as well.

And what the hell was your colleague doing basically enforcing those rumours? If he kept standing so close to you and swinging his arms around you, everyone would think you’re a pair. Which you were not. You already had someone you were interested in, though you’d not had the courage to make any move since a relationship would be near impossible for you right now. Having to run around and help civilians and defeat bad guys, a romance would not be befitting.

So how are you gonna deal with your friend’s recent antics? He’s trying to hold you at the site even after your work is done, ask more regarding personal life, and you actually caught him attempting to follow you when you were leaving to go home. You couldn’t believe it. Why was he suddenly doing all this? You thought you two were on the same side of things, so how come he is breaking all those promises?

Did he not understand why it was dangerous to reveal your civilian identities and people could actually get hurt if the wrong person got their hands on that information. But all he said was that no one would find out. That it would be fine if you two knew each other for real. It would be good for you to be closer, your work would be easier if you trusted each other more, or something along those lines was what he told you.

You did not agree in the slightest. It was a stupid idea and one you would not comply with. He frowned and hissed, “fine!” and disappeared into the night, leaving you alone on the rooftop with the cold winds hitting you in the face. You thought that was the end of it and life would return to normal.

It didn’t. The next mission he was acting coldly towards you, almost getting himself sliced up as he refused to listen and give you any of his time, claiming he’d do it without your help. Like you predicted it didn’t go as planned for him and you were forced to step in many times before he finally accepted he couldn’t do things alone. You were happy that he returned to himself and stopped ignoring you, until he started his shenanigans again and they were worse than anything he did previously.

After missions your partner lured you away to a secluded rooftop were he’d prepared a table for the two of you. On the white table cloth stood a tall candle, a flame dancing atop it. In the vase next to it was a red rose, fresh with life. Apparently he wanted you to enjoy a nice dinner after a hard day, you deserved it. While you agreed on deserving a little rest, it wasn’t with him you wanted to relax and it certainly wasn’t on some date he’d set up.

Feeling somewhat bad for him as you had to turn him down once more, you talked softly to him and explained to your best abilities that you couldn’t. You wondered if you should’ve made up and excuse first but changed your mind as it would be mean to do and you needed to be perfectly clear with him that you weren’t interested in him in that way.

The horrible sensation of regret filled you when his eyes welled up in tears. You expected him to scream at you, maybe even physically confront you. But bawl? No, that was not what you envisioned. Like before he ran away from the scene and you stood there silent in the dark.

When he reached his home, he ripped his mask off and threw it in the floor, punching the wall with every emotion whirling in his mind. He was sad, so terribly sad. What, you didn’t feel anything for him as he did for you? Not even a bit, an inch? Apparently not, as you had stated to him without uncertainty in your voice. He wanted to scream, hit something. Anything to forget his heartbreak. He’d fucked up. What if you wanted nothing to do with him anymore. What if you replaced him with someone new. A new and better partner.

He couldn’t let that happen. Why can’t you understand how much he loves you, the lengths he’s willing to go in your name. He was a bit ashamed to admit it but he was sure that if things stood between you and being a righteous hero, he’d chose you no questions asked. You were just so much more important than those random people he was forced to save on a daily basis.

Despite the rough conversation you two had the day before, he pushed himself to act completely normal; like it never happened. Although you were a bit worried about him since your rejection seemed to have hit him pretty hard, you let it go as he appeared like himself and you couldn’t let that distract you forever. You had a city to protect and you could not slack off.

You just had to hope his sad rejected state wouldn’t eventually turn into something else. Something like anger. Or worse, madness.

[effloradox]

musical!beetlejuice + sfw alphabet

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

so physically affectionate, will not leave you alone (if you're okay with that!!), he's so obviously touch starved that once you're in a (tentatively named) relationship it becomes free game that he can and will be touching you at all times

cuddles are a must, will ask you any time you are alone together (and it can and sometimes does lead to more)

he also really likes giving gifts but he is terrible at it (the maitlands have told him on numerous occasions that he can’t give you body parts as gifts, it’s not really sunk in yet) but he’s trying his best!! and he’s so endearing when he gives you anything!

if you gift him anything he will boast to literally everyone he haunts for like a fortnight afterwards

he loves when you initiate the affection though!! like wow this person is choosing to do this, he didn't have extort, torture, or lie for this!! please get him some therapy

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

post-canon, lydia ends up with a chaos demon best friend and lucky you, you're going to be dragged into all the chaos that takes place! (and potentially be damage control / the voice of reason)

the deetz-maitland household has barely known peace since the two of them became best friends, and now you’re included with that, good luck!!

both of them will listen to you (sometimes) so you'll be invited to join in with scaring the shit out of the pizza delivery guy :) it's a good couples bonding activity don't question it

you're always very willing to help if it's aimed at someone who was being creepy with lydia, that's when you have to convince the two of them that they can't murder the guy that did it (even if you agree with them)

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

as mentioned before, he’s literally obsessed, can and will take every single opportunity to cuddle you

the first time you initiate it, he will turn bright pink and vanish from the room, he can’t believe someone actually wants to be near him like that

he'll get used to it quickly though!!!

will force you to sit down so he can rest his head in your lap sometimes, he absolutely loves it

he purrs if you mess with his hair!! please do it, he'll love you forever (and lydia thinks it's hilarious)

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

do not let him cook for you unsupervised!!!! he will use bleach thinking it'll enhance the flavor profile and you will end up with an early ticket to the netherworld!! please do not consume anything he made without consulting the maitlands beforehand!!!

he likes to say he's your house spouse because he stays at home most of the time <3 (you've tried pointing out that he has a job and he does nothing around the house but he always pulls you into a kiss and that always ends the conversation)

he's pretty well set up where he is right now, living between your place and the deetz-maitland house, he considers himself to be settled down right now

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

lol he would just not do that

boy has major abandonment issues and would overlook any and all red flags any parter presented (also y'know he's a demon, for him some red flags are green flags)

I think it would be intervention from someone in the Deetz-Maitland family that would actually have to initiate any kind of break up because I just don't see him doing so

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

his green card marriage to lydia does not get brought up a lot in the house (unsurprisingly) now he's been summoned and welcomed into the house, he's less set on life via marriage because hey he has a pretty good set up going on right now without being alive, why mess with a good thing and potentially ruin it y’know

would still want to marry you eventually, but isn't going to push it too much until you start bringing it up too (doesn't wanna scare you off before he can put a ring on it y'know?)

if it leads to him being alive again then that's just a bonus

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

he does try to keep in mind that you're a living being and do not have the limits of a dead person but he forgets sometimes ):

will forget that you need to breathe when he's kissing you and wonder why you're trying to push him away

he can be gentle though!! when he remembers that you're flesh and bone

if you're in a bad mood he will proceed to dote on you in the same way that you dote on him

he's not all chaos, he can he soft when the situation arises for it (and only around people he trusts, he's got a reputation to maintain y'know?)

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

I keep talking about hugs but the ghost with the most just loves them so much 😭

all the physical affection all the time please babes <3

he hugs everyone in the house quite a lot (this was less endearing when he stank of rot and death but now he showers occasionally it’s a more welcome method of affection)

an easy solution initially was to spray him with room spray so at least he stank of flowers or pine

he does all kinds of hugs but the most common type is bear hugs that squeeze all the air out of your lungs

I = I Love You (How quickly would they say it? Would they say it a lot or rarely?)

he would say it pretty quickly, whether he means it initially is sort of up for debate, many members of the household think he only said it so quickly in the hope that you’d summon him (that did not work out if that was his intention)

it's a sweet moment and he will pull you into a kiss and no one will see the two of you for a few days <3

you’ll be able to tell the first time he says it and means it because his hair will turn magenta and he’ll try and laugh it off

if you say it back he will lose his ability to speak for a good few minutes (it’s one of the only times he’s ever been speechless in front of you)

he will say it constantly after that!! every person that meets him will know that you're in love after that :) very proud demon <3

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

he’s a demon and he’s quite territorial, jealousy is a big sticking point in anyone’s relationship with him

it’s not just with you, he gets jealous of people who get close to lydia and 'threaten' his position as best friend, he gets jealous of any work friends of charles’ who come round to view the house, it comes from his fear of being abandoned and you’re all working on ways to healthily navigate those feelings with him

he’s not perfect, and neither is anyone else, and it does sometimes feel like he’s not making any progress, but then you remember when he almost ripped someone’s heart out their chest because they winked at you a few months ago and how now he’d just growl loudly at them, and you realise that he is making progress with it, just slowly

he thinks it's absolutely hilarious if you got jealous over someone flirting with him though (do not let him know, you'll never hear the end of it)

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

messy af. that's it, that's how he kisses.

he will take any opportunity to dip you and kiss you in front of others, especially anyone who made the mistake of trying to make a move on you in front of the bug man

will kiss you anywhere and everywhere, he's a demon, he's not afraid to get messy

loves if you kiss his forehead or nose or somewhere more platonic, it makes him feel loved in a way that he isn't used to

cheesy kisses like on the back of your hand are a must <3

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

do not let him around children unsupervised!!!! do not do that!!!!

he will traumatise them and then no one's happy!!!!

if he says he's going to do a puppet show, do not let him proceed, it will not be a fun puppet show and it may end with your favourite book in the fire and the child in question crying

he likes being around kids cause he can fuck with them and no one believes them, just don't leave him on his own because then it will end with a kid having nightmares for the next few years...

is the kind of person to start a conversation with “hey kid, do you want to see something gross?” before pulling a severed finger from one of his many coat pockets (you search his pockets every time and never find any loose body parts, you’re not sure where he pulls them from)

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

he is absolutely not a morning person in any sense of the word

absolutely hates being woken up before noon

good luck getting out of bed to go to work, he will wrap an arm around you and will not let go until you threaten to banish him back to the netherworld

likes to lie on you when you are asleep so enjoy the human-shaped ice block resting on you (which is great in summer when it's hot but less good in winter when it's already cold)

slow and quiet mornings are needed because he will be groggy when he wakes up

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

depends if he's working or not!

if he’s not working then it’s horror movie night!

don't like horror films? you will by force if he has anything to do with it!! let's watch the Exorcist again babes, it won't be as scary now you've seen it 20 times!!

if he's at work he's all pouty before he has to go, like he's clingier than usual with all of you, whilst the puppy dog eyes are out in full force

he loves scaring people for a living, but he hates leaving you guys )): but you can't go with him to the netherworld so he just has to suck it up and gothe sooner he goes, the sooner he comes back right <3

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

he doesn’t think he’s revealed a lot about himself for the time he’s been around you but he has, it’s just been made through jokes about his trauma (I’m serious, get him a therapist)

it blows his mind when you casually say something he doesn’t think you know like how do you know that??? you actually listen to him???

he’s been so used to being invisible that he talks aloud to himself a lot so if you actually listen, you’ll probably have learned more about him then he’ll have meant for you to

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

by you and the Maitland-Deetz’s? not very easily

it’s something he’s worked on a lot since lydia summoned him back to their house, he didn’t want to risk being banished back to the netherworld again

by other people, it depends on what they do

people flirting with you or someone being mean to lydia is the quickest way to get his hair flushing red and his self-control straining

he does try, but he’s a demon, there’s only so much he can do that doesn’t go against his very nature

he’s made progress though, you’re all very proud of him

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

he’s bad with dates of events, it comes with how old he is

he will try his best but he just doesn’t have the head for it

he remembers a lot of what you and lydia say to him, less so for the others

you’ve learned if you want him to do something it’s better to leave notes somewhere he’ll see them rather than just saying it cause there’s a better chance that he’ll do it (but it’s still not guaranteed)

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

first ‘I love you’s probably

it really cemented that you actually like him and wanted to be around him, it was a very emotional experience for him

he speaks about it fondly to the others (and then he goes into graphic detail about what happened afterwards and that’s when the others have to cover their ears)

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

extremely protective of the whole family and the house, all of you know if anyone ever tried to break in, he'd probably kill them

the clones are helpful for that, he can always have a clone keeping an eye on things if he's away or otherwise occupied (plus adam and barbara can't leave so there's always someone there)

he likes to spend most of his time with either you or lydia, but sometimes he does have to go to netherworld for business and that's when he starts getting antsy

his hair'll be a mix of purple and yellow before he goes and no amount of reassurance can get it to change back to green

he tries to come home as quickly as possible, and if he’s going to be away from a while he will try and insist that you stay with the Deetz-Maitlands so you’re all together

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

he tries his best but dates are not gonna sink in for him, he'll try for special occasions but small things like the first time you kissed or something are just not gonna stick in his head

mentioned before but he does love giving gifts (of varying quality and safety)

he gave you a baby sandworm once, it destroyed one of the walls in your house and he wasn't allowed in your apartment until the wall was fixed

you’ve tried to get him to get approval of any gifts from Adam and Barbara since then

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

he’s not clean. at all.

even when he’s washed (which is done rarely) he still smells like he’s just been buried

you’ve taken to filling your house with scented candles and incense sticks to try and offset the smell but it doesn’t cover it completely

air freshener spray downs when he first appears are pretty common for you, you go through at least a bottle a week

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

lol have you seen this man, he’s absolutely not (apart from his hair)

it’s taken time but he will shower now!! he hates it but will do it (also if you say you’ll wash his hair he’ll only grumble rather than full-on complain about it)

is very picky about who touches his hair, says it takes him forever to get it to look like that (you've watched him stick his fingers into a plug socket to shock himself so it'll stand up so you doubt that)

you know he can wear different clothes to his suit but it's very rare that he actually does so (when you first got him to shower he did so in the suit, it was...an experience)

he likes it if you wear his suit though 👀👀😉

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

yes but also no? he's a demon, he was alive way before you were born and will be alive long after your natural death, so in that way he wouldn't because he's already been him

on the otherhand yes, he would feel incomplete, you're the first breather to ever make him feel more than lust, it does worry him what will happen when you die (but also y'know when you die you can be together forever!! won't that be fun!!)

he doesn't worry too much about what you dying will mean for your relationship, right now he's just keeping it at the back of his mind

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

animals seem to really like him oddly enough

he prefers animals on the creepier side but it’s funny watching random animals just approach him when he’s outside

he says he can understand them, though none of you know if he’s serious or if he’s joking about it

you have overheard him speaking to a pigeon as though he was mid-conversation with it when he thought no one was there but the jury’s out on it

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

the deetz-maitland household are very important to him, if you don't get on with them on a serious level it would be an issue for him

there’s accommodation of any disagreements but if either party had a serious issue with the other it would make him very anxious about a future with the partner, especially if the relationship is still fairly new

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

he sometimes starts floating when he falls asleep, so good luck if you were cuddling him!

you have woken up in the night several times to find yourself on the ceiling, no it never gets any less terrifying, yes he finds it hilarious when you frantically wake him up cause you’re terrified of falling back to the ground

can and does sleep like a dead man, he’s grumpy if he’s woken up before he’s actually done sleeping (charles once tried to get him out of bed for a house meeting on etiquette, it didn’t go well and charles won’t talk about the incident)

he falls asleep in the weirdest places sometimes, lydia has a growing collection of photos of him in increasingly weird places

[thesamoanqueen]

Blackwater XVI

Raiting: 18+

Warnings: drama cause this story would be nothing without it

A/N: first chapter of the year and we're getting close to the end, so I've left a few little hints here and there

A couple of years ago him and Jey had bought a house by pooling their savings. It was one of those semi-detached houses sell for a few bucks, with few rooms and zero comforts, covered in faded wood slats, paper-thin walls and a single walled backyard without green. For them it had been a victory, they had a party too, one of those goals that their parents had dreamed of achieving for years when they were in their place. Jey had already started a family, Roman was trying to do the same with different results, but he had thought to be happy at that time. Struggling night and day to fill the fridge, he sold himself to the highest bidder, aiming to move forward at any cost, with his head down, without asking questions, open ears, so they had taught him and his cousin did the same. When they weren't working outside the city, they sat in the backyard together, on too small chairs ruined by the sun, telling how it was going and how long it took to reach the top.

They had carried on like dogs, for years, until Roman had realized that the pats on the head he kept down weren't enough to fill a wolf. Their paths had not always been side by side beyond the backyard of that house, life had pushed him with other challenges, other trials, disappointments, pain, lessons. What had happened next, what had led them to bite each other's throats and then be together and separate again, had been the result of all of that.

That warmth in the bottom of his stomach Roman had felt it again, months and months before, the illusion of being happy with little things in another backyard - his - in another house - his - and just as it had happened then, it was gone. He was not meant to live like that.

We eat first. It's all ours. The beginning and the end.

Sitting at the head of the table, with Y/N beside him finishing her breakfast, he stared at the plates still full, enough to feed an entire family, at the padded chairs just waiting to be occupied by someone of their blood, the well-kept backyard where not a single blade of grass grew out of place.

- How you feelin- sitting to his left, the wiseman asked in an attempt at conversation, but it was enough for Roman to put down the coffee he was holding in his hand to silence him.

He was fine, he had recovered his strength, there was nothing wrong. It had been enough sleep next to his mate to restore order in his life and home, to regain full control. He had lost yes, but it hadn't depended on him, it hadn't been a weakness of his and whoever was no longer sitting at his table was a loss he could afford. He had everything needed and more, he was still the undisputed alpha. The attack he had suffered had not left a scratch on him and would have been forgotten. He still had everything he needed to avoid falling back into that misery.

Y/N on his right, took a sip of her smoothie, her sharp eyes focused on Heyman who was already arranging his tie to give himself a tone.

- While you were taking your well-deserved break, my tribal chief, I figured you still wanted to know how business is going and I checked on our members personally for you. A couple of them had heard some silly rumours, some really bad ideas that sleep or a heart attack should have taken out of their heads if you ask me – bad ideas, rumours, opinions, just hearing those words was ruining his breakfast.

Impatient, he dropped the fork onto his plate of eggs and the wise man fell silent for a second, his eyes scanning him as the smell of anxiety increased.

- I made it clear... that they cannot change partners if they don't want to pay for the exit, as per the initial stable agreements. Someone has persisted in starting some… incorrect practices, they are finding allies, but we can appeal, extort what is owed. They're playing a game beyond their capabilities, they don't know how it works – he tried again, making his lip twitch.

Allies, partners, power games. He knew his opponents, men who pretended to be alphas and who he had kicked one after the other, exposing them for the nobodies they were. Now they were running their mouths, they plotted, raising their heads again and showing their dog teeth trying to scare him. He knew what they had in mind, he knew who would try to step forward and who was working to ruin what he had built to take his place or presume justice. The previous night had been a gift for them, the moment they had been waiting for to step forward.

- And even though the border has been temporarily moved a little further south, I have already made it clear that we officially have the right to-

My packland.

- How far south? – he stopped him, his attention suddenly high and focused on him.

He heard the wiseman swallow, trying to take time now that it was too late to take back his words, his eyes fixed on his figure like a prey that feels is being hunted. A moment of silence and then the voice that came out already in pain.

- The border state – he admitted with a grimace and Roman couldn't help the tic that made his head bob – we-we can negotiate though, I'll point out that there has been some interference and that it's clearly not done, they won't take real calls if-

Cutting out whatever the wiseman was raving about, he clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, his lip curling in annoyance, a growl in his throat growing menacing.

Our home. They are close.

He still had his land, the one he had conquered, but the stain with which they had soiled him was spreading, threatening even what he could not afford to lose. He could do without some north land that he wouldn't have taken advantage of in any case, remote areas that he had never visited, that had never interested him. It was a loss he shouldn't have suffered, but he could bear it. What he couldn't tolerate was everything else, because the state border was south, too south for his liking and there were only two people, out of all the dogs that would be around his neck, who deserved to be blamed for that public execution.

- My cousins. Where are them? – he asked in a low growl and felt Y/N's eyes immediately on him, in silence.

- My Tribal chief -

- I asked you where are em, answer me – he snapped and so did her hand, invisible, under the table, resting on his thigh as if wanting to keep him anchored to the ground, blocked from smashing everything and exploding.

Heyman swallowed heavily, his attention now for a second on Y/N as if looking for an ally and Roman physically felt his eyes on her, immediately lifting his head to glare at him and make him press against the chair in a futile attempt to escape his fury.

- They came back with us yesterday morning, someone saw them on secondary roads to the west. I don't know where they are now, I've tried to contact them several times, still no answer... I'm sorry... - he said and Roman smelled what he too had felt in the bottom of his stomach the entire night, turning over in Y/N's arms: grief.

They had hit him from behind once more, using informations he had given them with trust, to get around him and go around his territory undisturbed. They knew everything, they had access to everything, there were only a few things that Roman had cut them off from in those years of success, the rest had always been there, served on a silver platter at their disposal. In the last period he had closed some doors, not given too many privileges, but there was no inch of that land where they had not spoken for him at least once or acted in his name. They could do anything, go where no other enemy could without attracting attention and this put him on the defensive more than he could tolerate. They were a danger on the loose and Roman couldn't allow them to keep doing what they wanted, how and when they wanted if he didn't want to find himself in an even worse situation than now.

They're our shadows.

He wasn't dumb to hope to physically block them from doing more or wandering around, he had once again shared the backyard and his land had been their home for too long, but he could find a way to remind them who owned the empire on which them and their families walked.

- Stop looking for them – he ordered seriously, his hand tightened around Y/N's now.

- My Tribal chief? – the wiseman whispered uncertainly, his expression at least as confused as Y/N’s.

His wiseman was right, anyone who tried to go against him made the same mistake: they were playing a game beyond their capabilities. For Roman it had never been just a game, everything for him had always been personal, inevitable, necessary. Those two, Jey especially as his right-hand man – and brother – knew everything about him, but he also knew everything about them and it wasn't what they knew about each other that would make the difference in the war they had threatened to wage against him. It was how they would use it and he had always been better at hitting to make his mark.

- Cut them out. From everything. All of em. The Bloodline is no longer their business – he announced without regrets, intending to finish his breakfast in peace.

They had decided to stab him and leave him after his attempt to fix the mess they had made. Now they would have to deal with it on their own, them and their families, filling the empty tables and starting to pay again for the air they breathed, everyone, from first to last without exception.

Starve them.

***

Y/N had seen him arrive from afar after hours, with his hands hidden in his pockets and that typical heavy gait. She had had the impression of watching a kid coming back home after a bad day and had stayed on the threshold of the entrance, waiting for him. Solo was not a kid, Roman and Paul called him the enforcer for good reasons, but the omega part of her, empathetic and protective, that sometimes couldn't stay in its place, had taken control of her that time. By tenaciously refusing, she ended up occupying that role within the new family, as if it had always been hers, as if she had always had it in her blood. She wasn't so sure if there was still a family anymore, but whatever shape it had now or how many people it was made up of, Y/N couldn't move from the entrance.

Solo opened and closed the door in silence, his head low, eyes resting on her only for a moment to acknowledge she was there, before walking straight on, slouching with his shoulders down. His round face, usually threatening, was swollen and his forehead marked by the thoughts that crowded his mind.

- Solo – she called him and even if he gave no sign of having heard, Y/N knew that it wasn't like that – it wasn't necessary for you to come – she pointed out, trying to say more, to make him understand and his voice came out quick, refusing.

-It's up to me – he announced seriously, heavy, time necessary to allow Roman to call him from outside after smelling him.

Y/N saw him staying there just for a minute before disappearing outside without further explanation and joining the empty table where Roman insisted on planning in Paul's company. From afar, she observed them together, in that new strange rigid balance and let herself breathe heavily.

Roman was ready to move on and Y/N knew that he would do everything in his power – and it was a lot – to regain control, but she wasn't so sure that that kind of approach was right. After what had happened to her as a child, she too had left everything behind able to move forward, until he made her understand that no matter what she thought, something would always be missing without a family with her.

That thought made her suddenly turn to go upstairs and try to do something, even if Roman didn't want to, even if he made her promise to let it go. She had avoided talking to Naomi after those messages, but it was time to do so, because she was perhaps the only one who in some way could understand and maybe help her. She could make Roman reason, she had already done it once, but if she needed to do it one more time she would have needed something more on her pocket and having someone willing to help ease the tension on the other side would have been useful. When she finally called her, she waited a couple of minute, but the chaos that reached her after waiting left no doubt. She knew that chaos.

- Y/N! How you doing? Ya good? – she asked immediately and as soon as she did so there was silence.

Her voice was a little too loud, a sign that she was probably joining that chaos before, but the apprehension inside made her realize that she wasn't the only one in that state of mind.

- I've had better days, it doesn't matter, im good.

- I'm sorry Y/N… believe me, im so sorry – she heard her admit too seriously and Y/N nodded even though she couldn't see it.

Naomi was the friend and sister she never had growing up, as were the twins. The bond they had made was a kind of connection that Y/N had discovered without looking for it, it had been natural, simple and now she had the impression of feeling it tremble for a stupid piece of land that had no value for her.

- I know, but it will be better when things calm down. That's why I called Nao - she said, hoping to hear from the other side the same intentions she had.

Naomi didn't answer, not right away, at least not to her, because Y/N clearly heard someone else making noise and her moving to silence him, before talking in a completely different tone.

- Listen... the boys want me to talk you, they say I have to make you reason about things before it's too late, explain to you how things are rightnow... - Did they want to make her reason about things? – I won't do it though, it's not on me. I just want you to know that even though it may seem that way there, it doesn't have to be like this, you don't have to end up in the middle. You don't deserve this, not after what you've already been through.

She hadn't expected to hear that when she decided to call Nao. They wanted to make her reason? What did they mean by not wanting her to end up in the middle with everything?! They were all in the middle, it was a family business, they had told her to the point of exhaustion what they were, for months, when she was still struggling to get used to Roman and now they wanted to keep her out? She was the only one who would listen to them, the only one who would defend them despite what had happened, but suddenly they kept their guard up, they didn't even try to explain to her why they acted the way they did and Naomi refused too. Did they just want her out or what?

- And what im suppose to do? Should I sit back and watch how will it end? – she asked in disbelief, confusion slowly turning into tension along her spine.

How could they have thought of suggesting something like that to her?

- It's this reaction that I worry about. None of us are asking you to choose and act, I'm just saying that we don't want this kind of pressure on you. Me, Jimmy and Jey, Im sure that no matter what, Roman also doesn't want to put you in such a bad position.

A noise, loud, like a sarcastic laugh, from the other side reached her despite everything and Y/N imperceptibly tightened her grip on her phone, trying to ignore that just mentioning him was enough to provoke them.

- A good way would be to resolve and make things the way they were, for everyone. It's not late if the guys- she tried, but Naomi stopped her before she could even try.

- We all hoped it would go differently Y/N. We all wanted things to change. It didn't happen and I'm not going to start talking about what has to be done or what will happen like Jimmy wants too, sorry, that's out of the question, I'm worrying about you and that you're there alone with him hearing all those stories.

Mate!

- What? – she snapped, her gaze suddenly directed at the wall as if she was in front of her.

Her she-wolf reacted even before her head, high attention, tense body.

Naomi wasn't the kind of person who ran her mouth about anything, she always said what she meant and what she was saying at that moment Y/N didn't like it at all. She herself had told Y/N almost a year earlier that she had to see beyond, that she had to give Roman an opportunity and she had seen beyond, she had tried hard and was doing so even at that moment. She was trying hard to understand and sort things out for everyone despite everything, but as things were at that moment, it seemed like she was really the only one who wanted it and she wasn't willing to hear unhappy hypotheses about what she was being told when just the day before she was kneeling to wipe blood from her mate’s body.

- I just want to make sure you're okay and you don't get any bad ideas, I love you – she listened to her add after a few moments, as if she had given her time to cool down knowing and Y/N closed her eyes, inhaling deeply.

She believed in Naomi's good intentions, however she didn't want to upset her, they didn't want her to end up in the middle, but it was her who put Roman back on his feet after they had knocked him down, her who listened to him struggle to fall asleep with his arms almost crushing her, her who tried to keep them together despite their hard heads refused.

- I love you too, but I'm good like this. I’ll be okay. Thanks for checking on me. Give a kiss to the guys.

She hung up before hearing her answer, putting the phone away with the real intention of not using it again for who knows how long. With her head resting against the wall, hands frozen and an unpleasant shiver down her spine, she realized that it was becoming too much, too quickly and her eyes instinctively shot towards the walk-in closet where, lost in a corner, she had hidden the suitcase she had arrived with there in Florida. Roman hated seeing it and would have hated it twice as much if he had known she still had the suppressants inside, but she needed to be clear-headed, now more than ever.

***

Someone else in his place would have stayed in their own home, safe, away from prying eyes and the dangers that rumors can create. In other circumstances he would have done it too, because now he had a very valid reason to stay within the walls of his house. It had no longer attracted him for a while to be always on the road, to grace people's gazes, the desire, envy, admiration that he read in their faces, he had distanced himself more and more. Their attentions didn't even interest him, he didn’t care, but he needed them, because once he had them they would reach the right ears and it was necessary for others to know that he was on his feet, back in strength after just a day. They had hit him, but not knocked him down and him leaving his personal reserve must have been a statement, together with the agreement he had planned that afternoon, for the future of his legacy. A statement that he had hoped would also improve Y/N's mood, at his side since the previous day and with a face that Roman had learned to know and avoid.

- I thought you would agree – he reflected, interrupting the silence inside the big black suv speeding along the coastal road that would take them to the city.

Perfect and composed in her red dress, Y/N turned to look at him, leaving the intensive study of the road, her hand clasped in his, her look confused for a moment. However, he knew what was buzzing in her beautiful head even if she hadn't said it, even if she had avoided any scene with a coldblood that would have made anyone envious, she wasn't the kind of woman you could tell a story and move on. And he wasn't willing to play that game, not with her, not after what had happened, not at risk of losing her too after what they had been through to be together. He had learned from the trial, he knew what to do now.

- I made that decision thinking about you too and you're not happy – he added, already feeling words weighing in his throat.

- Me? How would I have influenced your choice? – he heard her ask and slightly tightened his grip on her fingers, his tongue sliding over teeth to banish the tic that threatened to make his lip curl.

Mate must be on our side. Mine mate.

- I should go and get’em inside their homes, make em beg. I'm controlling myself, you don't like arguments. I'm doing it for you, it's what you wanted. No fights.

What his cousins had done deserved more than a lesson, but going against them, smashing, punishing them as they deserved, leaving them floundering in their misery would have been a dangerous move. The family balance was built on strength, however it was not only with that Roman had managed to obtain what he had now, what others before him had failed to secure. He knew that he had to beat them with the head they lacked first and then with strength, if he wanted to keep everything and re-establish order, jumping to the last step was too high a risk. Y/N also wouldn't have taken it well, she had already tried to keep them together once and even if she hadn't said anything yet, if she didn’t asked it again, Roman knew that it would be difficult for her to leave everything behind. He had promised to keep her out of business, away from that kind of thing, his cousins had ruined every plan and it was enough having to drag her around with him so as not to lose sight of her, making the wrong move could ruin everything .

Her hand moved without force in his grip, but enough to allow her to free her thumb and rub it over the back of Roman’s hand, one of her many ways to calm him when anger began to rise.

- What I wanted was to see yall together – she clarified and Roman nodded, without thinking twice.

- We will do it again, when they will come and apologize. Door is always open for those who are family – he added raw, the skyline of the city now running beyond the window.

His dynasty was made up of men and women with thick blood and hot heads. He had to have an iron fist to prove himself worthy of the title he had, of the ulafala that the Elders had put around his neck, weaknesses were not welcomed and mercy even less so. He hadn't forgotten who Jey and Jimmy were, their blood would remain like his even in the grave, but Roman wasn't willing to pretend nothing had happened just because of that, not after yet another attempt, not after losing. He demanded something in exchange for his forgiveness, he wanted them to remember why he was on top, they had to pay. Only then would he hold out his hand again, not a second sooner.

- And do you think that will happen? That they will apologize?! You can't really think that – Y/N replied with a short sarcastic laugh, a curl swinging next to her gorgeous face.

- No, not now. Their stupid heads will think they can do it, that they can teach me a lesson, they will try to prove that they don't need me.

They would have accomplished nothing without him, just as they had never accomplished anything before he lifted them out of the ground where they were eating and took them with him to the top. The only advantage they had was that there were two of them and even that was worth little since both of them didn't make a full thought. They would carry on stubbornly, trying to challenge his influence, trying to move with the knowledge they had and when they realized that they were in hot water, that they could not do a damn without his approval, they would start to growl. And even then it would only be a growl because he was already two steps ahead.

With an annoyed grin, he turned just in time to see her frowning, lips pouting slightly in that little grimace she always made before talking back.

- And maybe they'll try to get you on their side. Somehow, at some point – he stopped her, running his gaze over her figure, feeling her freeze.

Mark her. We need to mark her.

That one was more than a possibility, much more than a possibility.

Y/N was his future, his legacy, as much as the land he defended. Before her he had done the impossible to secure as much as he could, trying to please everyone, without knowing what would happen after, but with her everything had changed. She was his centerpoint, she was made to be next to him and build a new bloodline with him and for this reason she was also his weak point. His cousins would never dare to hurt her, none of them were savages, but they would try to convince her to side with them somehow and he couldn't let her hear a single word.

-Ro – she called him as if trying to bring him back from wherever his head was going.

-I know Jey... he'll try. He’ll do anything to be the good guy, to justify himself, he can't handle the pressure, he never has. He needs an excuse to look himself in the mirror at night and say he's not doing this to take my place. He'll try it with you and Jimmy will try with Solo.

Jey was an hothead, looking at him from the outside he seemed a rabid animal, he had always struggled to open up to those who weren't family, but he had a soft heart, more than anyone else. Roman had seen him do unthinkable things, many times he himself had ordered them and Jey had never backed down, but he needed a reason, a trigger that meant something to him. He wouldn’t have come forward without seeking support, without he was just a kid watching something he was scared of. Jimmy on the other hand didn't have those problems, he was the other side of the coin, the trigger without reasons. It didn't take much for him to sprint and was used to truly believing himself the big brother of the litter, he wouldn't have let go of the chance to keep that title knowing in his heart that he couldn't have any others.

- Well, maybe it's not a bad idea to convince each other and find a common point - Y/N tried to suggest next to him and just the idea that it could happen or her even thinking about it again, made him snap.

- Like me going to the border to help em, finding myself with ma head half open?! This kind of common point?! I didn't start this, I won't let them finish it until I say so now! – he growled, voice too loud in the limited space of the suv.

He saw Y/N eyes widen and reflexively free his hand, to pass it over the face, torturing his beard, gaze going quickly somewhere else, outside, to the window and to the driver who, beyond the divider, was tenaciously looking ahead at the streets to not get involved. He inhaled deeply, pushing away the anger and then looking back at her, fingers reaching for contact again.

It wasn't her he was mad with, was them. They were ruining everything even now, even when they weren't around. He wouldn’t have let them be near her.

- I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…- he apologized immediately, placing a kiss on her temple with caution – I know what you think… but it was you who cleaned the blood off me, you saw what they tried to do. It's not a game babygirl, it's not an argument. Ima doing this for us, I have to do it, that's what I meant when I told you it's just me and you

Y/N didn't move, but seeing her staying silent kept him with his gaze trained on her, fingers stroking her face now, trying to urge her to say something, react, nod, her hot spot on her neck still free from his mark, calling him louder and louder until it creeps into his head.

- ... have you thought about it again? You don’t want to be by my side? – he asked, unable to hold back the thought, atmosphere suddenly heavy and he saw her lower her tense shoulders. Walls down again.

One breath, her eyes closing before a hand found him, reassuring him, letting him keep his fingers where his scent should have been, the imprint of his teeth to make her forever untouchable to anyone other than him. She was made for him. The call, the impulse, became stronger with each passing day, after what had happened even more than before and Roman rested his forehead against hers, inhaling deeply to control the need to mark her there without no more waiting.

-If I had I wouldn't be here – Y/N whispered and he pulled her against him, burying his nose in her curls, grip becoming more possessive on her.

- I gave you my word I would take care of everything, I will do it – he stammered, looking distractedly through the window, while the Y/N nodded and the suv finally stopped in the building's parking lot.

Mine.

His, it was all his and would remain his forever. Y/N, the Bloodline, its territory and title. He wasn't a player like his cousins, he cleared the way when he went onto the field and made sure no one set foot there again without first asking permission. He was the alpha and would remain so until his last days.

***

Shaking his head, he went out into the backyard to see what had happened to his brother, who had disappeared into thin air as soon as Naomi had threatened a scene at Jimmy’s umpteenth attempt to convince her to talk some sense to Y/N.

Their call hadn't gone as they'd hoped, she'd refused to try and Y/N had hung up not in the best way. The last one hadn't been said, they could still make an attempt, Y/N was less unapproachable than she seemed at first glance, in a right way she would have listened and deep down Jimmy really wanted her to understand what she had ended up in. Naomi said they couldn't do it, that it was unfair and they should leave her alone living her life, he saw it another way.

Big uce wouldn't have put her in danger, him who didn't even look people in their faces when them spoke to him had lost his mind the first second he saw her, man was fucked, but he would have used her. He was already doing it, as he did with everyone, as he had been used to do all his life just for that place at the head of the table and she would realize it too late for her heart. It was up to them to make her understand how Roman’s head worked, what levels of manipulation he could reach to get what he wanted and it would be better for everyone.

Jimmy joined him as he paced back and forth along one side of the fence, like a caged animal, his face turned towards the neighbors house, his shoulders tense.

He didn't like that story, Jimmy wasn't even sure Jey could handle the stress. Roman had gotten inside his head so much that he changed his way of seeing things, taking advantage of the affection he felt for him, of his dedication to his family to keep him where he wanted, Roman had managed to manipulate him for years. He kept saying that they had to figure it out how to make peace, that he couldn't do it without all of them and Jimmy knew, he could already feel it through the bond, he was on the verge of exploding.

- Nao will try to talk her again, but not about this, she doesn't feel it right, she says is not good for Y/N and doesn't want to know about it, that we should stop... at this point we should try with Solo, he's eating trash from Uce’s hand and... hey? What’s wrong? – he stopped suddenly, when he was close enough watching Jey shake the fence in rage and immediately march towards the street.

- School called– he said in a hurry and Jimmy stiffened, going after him.

- Are the kids okay?

-They wants to throw them out. They say that they are not in order with documents, some checks, now they say that regulations have changed, we have to adapt or move them from there. They were rushing them, they tried to call him, Kecia is going to get them.

Documents, regulation changes, checks?! Without warning, from one day to the next and threatening to kick them out?! They were kids good God!

- Hey, hey, slow down, was it him? Do you think- he tried to ask and his brother snapped.

- Who do you think it was?! OG blocking everything, he wants to cut us off, he’s coming for our throats! Kids have nothing to do with this! – he growled mad, head down, teeth clenched.

It was unthinkable that he had actually done it, but more he remembered what kind of man his cousin had become over the years, more he knew that he had done it with a specific reason. The boys loved him, he was the uncle who solved their family problems, the one who spoiled them and who they could ask anything, they trusted that bastard, they were kids and he had used them as leverage to hit Jey again. Just as he had used him and Jey for years to take care of his business, Y/N to get out of the trial and as he would have done with anyone else at his disposal. He knew he couldn't go against both of them and tried to push things like this, with low blows and no morals, but he had gone too far that time.

He's coming for him. Get him.

Somewhere behind him he heard Naomi calling them, while Jey reached the car and he pulled his arm, trying to slow down what was now a hunt.

- Uce! Uce where-

- I have to talk to the elders, move.

It wasn't a request, it wasn't even an invitation. Jimmy knew that face and he also knew how it would go from here on out.

***

She had heard of a couple of those men names while listening to some conversation, one or two were faces she recognized, like that Pearce she had met some time ago with Solo during a tour of the city. They discussed balances, that silly border that started the war and Roman wasn't thrilled, even though his expression hadn't changed at all, even though he was sitting there with his back leaning against the chair like he was in full control. But he wasn't the one she was focused on, not now, not after seeing Paul reluctantly pull his phone out of his pocket to check on whoever was persistently calling.

His face had gone paler than usual and his eyes had rushed to Roman, as if seeking reassurance or terrified of his reaction. Y/N knew that face, it smelled of fear.

Something wrong, again.

Tag squad: @sunnyfleur23 @racerchix21 @alyyaanna @reignsangel444 @romanreignsdefencesquad @romanstheory @claymorexpunisher @keybladeofsteel @msbigredmachine @nayys-world @gobbersworld @utika151209 @cumxxslutt @civildawn @romanmydaddy @triscillal @papireigns-05 @helensanders92 @love-islike-abomb @darqchilddaydreamz @meggylynnloves @unfriendly--blvck--hottie @nicolewoo @reignsx @reigns-central-blog @kianaleani @daguenoire @extra-11 @thedonsfactory @snowpanda18 @brattyfics @mzv11 @romanreignseater @tribalchiefdaily @2baddies2furious @vebner37 @depressedneedingrevenge @cyberdejos2 @usosthetics @mahi-wayy @jxtina-86 @harmshake @harlem11680 @southerngirl41 @blkbutterfly816 @spritelucozade @smile1318 @joannasteez

[jerzwriter]

A Bronx Valentine

Book: Crimes of Passion Pairing: Trystan Thorne x Carolina Rose (F!MC) Words: 900 Rating: Teen Summary: It's their first Valentine's Day as a couple, and Trystan and Carolina have plans to spend it in a very traditional manner... until they don't. A/N: I have a few notes at the end, but I will be participating in @choicesfebruary2024 Eros/Philia

Dinner had been delightful. Ruby’s recommendation was exactly what Trystan and Carolina had desired. Cozy. Candle-lit. Off-the-beaten path and not too crowded, even on Valentine’s Day. It was BYOB, so Trystan saw to it that the wine game was top-tier, and the food rivaled any place Michelin would quickly grant three stars.

The only thing that could rival the restaurant was the company, which was quite evident as Trystan stared at Carolina in rapt attention. Lovingly caressing her hand as she regaled him with stories of her past. He wanted to know absolutely everything about this vision who was foolish enough to love him, and he would have gladly listened to her all night.   

Just before the coffee was served, Carolina kicked off a shoe. With the floral brocade tablecloth providing cover, Trystan visibly shuddered as his girlfriend's stockinged foot trailed up and down his calf. They seemed to know exactly where the night was headed, but Carolina had one more story to tell. With his interest more than piqued, Trystan had enough, all but jumping from his seat to wave down the waiter for the check.

Their anticipation was palpable on the taxi ride home, and they all but hopped out of the car the moment it came to a stop. Bolting up the stairs, their laughter filled the air as they stumbled into her room, Carolina knocking things over as she clumsily felt around for the light.

"I can't believe we're going to do this," she chuckled. "I only meant it as a joke."

"Are you kidding?" Trystan beamed so brightly that there was almost no need for that light. He grabbed two glittery pens and some paper from Carolina's stash and rushed to take a seat at her side. "This is inspired! It's brilliant! I'm distraught that I haven’t heard of it before!"

"Yeah," she winked seductively, caressing his cheek with a smile. "But if you had, you wouldn't be doing it for the first time with me."

"Yes, and while this is a very unique of losing our virginity together, and I, for one, cannot wait! Now! Let's get to it!"

Carolina grabbed a sheet of paper from Trystan’s hand with a raised brow. “Do you think this is enough?”

“Hardly!” He gasped, pulling an entire memo cube from beside him. “We are going to be here a long time."

Carolina scooted down to the floor to write atop her coffee table, and Trystan quickly followed.

“Raul!” Carolina hollered as she wrote the name down. “Definitely, Raul!”

Trystan knit his brows. “I don’t think you ever told me about him?”

“Of course I did!” Carolina insisted. “He was the jerk who insisted being demiro was not a thing and just kept pushing and pushing no matter how uncomfortable I became.”

“Asshole,” Trystan mumbled.

“Precisely! Granted, I happily dumped a pitcher of Sangria over his head on our last date... quite satisfying, but... this adds a certain... je n’est ce quoi. Who is your first victim?”

“Augustine, for starters. He was the jackass that went to the tabloids about our relationship before I had even come out at bi."

“Prick!” Carolina exclaimed.

“... and then there was Alicia....”

Carolina looked up from her writing, “I don’t think I remember her story?”

“Fake pregnancy extortion scheme.”

“Dear God!” Carolina laughed. “You have a much more storied dating history than I do!”

Trystan looked up at her with a playful smirk. “I was simply the bigger whore, dear.”

Carolina burst into giggles. “This is entirely too much fun!”

“Inspired!!! Oh," he said, grabbing a sheet of glittery red heart stickers. "Do you think we should put some of these on?"

"I can't see why not! I think it would be a lovely touch and in the spirit of the occasion!"

"Ah!" Trystan grinned. "The Bronx is the best place in the world.”

“In fairness, I don’t think the Bronx Zoo is the only place that lets you name a giant cockroach after an ex for Valentine’s Day, but they really do make a big deal of it.”

Trystan shook his head in amazement as he pulled out his phone. “I can’t believe this tradition hasn’t made its way to Drakovia!” Then, after a few clicks, he let out a gasp. “OH...MY... GOD!”

“What is it?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his waist and peering over his shoulder.

“The San Antonio Zoo lets you name a giant roach after an ex... then they feed it to another animal in the zoo!”

“No!” Carolina said with a gentle laugh. “Absolutely not. Even if it is a giant roach, I’m not supporting animal cruelty.”

“But it’s a ROACH Carolina, and it’s going to be dinner for the other animals anyway.”

“Perhaps,” she shrugged. “But it’s not going to be at my suggestion. I’ll stick with just naming a roach that's a Bronx native, just like me!"

“You’re no fun,” he pouted.

“Really?” She teased. “We'll see what you have to say about that after this little activity is over.”

Trystan’s eyes lit up as a lightbulb went on in his head. With another gasp and a quick clap of his hands, he reached for a stack of paper. Carolina tried to remember if she had ever seen the man this enthusiastic.

“Are you that excited about our post-Roach naming activities?”

“Always,” he winked. “But I just thought of something! I can name roaches after my siblings, too!”

“Oh, God!"

“And parents... I can name them after my parents! Not to mention, you've never even met my cousins.”

Carolina put her tiny stack of names to the side and grabbed her pen.

“Babe, do you want to tell me some of their names so I can help you? This looks like it might take a while, and as much fun as this is... I really have other things I’d like to get to.”

Trystan leaned over and gave Carolina a long, lingering kiss. "Of course, my love, but it must be said... this is the best foreplay I’ve ever had.”

A/N2: When I saw this, I knew exactly what I had to do! I could absolutely see these two doing this - and having entirely too much fun doing so! I'd like to thank The Bronx Zoo for the inspiration!

@choicesficwriterscreations Tagging others separately.

[sehodreams]

character version, not irl riize boys. MTL to post revenge porn of you after a breakup

TW and tags: smut, cheating, p in v, oral sex (male receiving), nudes, extortion, noncon, dark!Riize, if you don't like it just scroll.

Hehehehe this is what I'm talking about

Most

Wonbin

Sohee

Seunghan

Anton

Eunseok

Sungchan

Shotaro

Least

Wonbin is a son of a bitch, he would upload videos he took of you without noticing, too drunk on his cock, wearing costumes, everything. He had a little folder on his computer, and you trusted him, he was your precious boyfriend, how could you not?

Well, after he cheated on you you decided to break up with him, and after two days of him begging, without a warning, he had uploaded all the material to a porn site and sent the link to everyone you knew through a different phone number.

"Please help me get more followers!" He had wrote in every text, as if you were the one sending them.

Sohee is also a resentful bitch, he begged you with tears on his eyes to go back together, but you had enough of his lies, he had a problem, and you didn't have the time or energy to keep forgiving him. So, after much begging, he told you he had pictures of you, and you didn't believe him, thinking it was another of his numerous lies.

Well, it wasn't.

Your parents received photos of you naked, showing your boobs to the mirror with the captions saying "send money and I'll show you more", getting completely disappointed of you.

You told them it was a fake, that you had never done something like that, but they didn't believe you, your mother recognized your little mole next to your ribcage, and when they told you to leave them a moment alone, you received a text, "it feels bad when no one believes you uh?"

Seunghan texted you everyday after you broke up, and after many days, when he was drunk, he told you to meet and have a quick fuck. You told him he was crazy and that you were going to block his number, but when you were about to he sent you a short video, only 15 seconds, and when you opened you couldn't help but tremble. There were you, on his bed, with your open legs, begging him to fuck you.

"There's more from where that came from, you were such a good bitch, what happened to you?" He asked you.

You had no option but to go and meet him to have the quick fuck he wanted, and many more after that, until one day after threatening so much and you got exhausted of his game, he really did upload them.

Anton was so disappointed of you after you left him to live and study in another city, he had tried to talk to you, telling you how much he loved you and that you could try to be a long distance couple, but you didn't want to, you had to give your all to your career, just like you did to him when you were together.

How could he not recognize that? You always gave the best of you, when you sucked his cock you'd always maintain eye contact and let him cum on your mouth, or when you rode him you'd let him grab your gorgeous boobs, moving with you and your determination.

He couldn't stop you, he knew how much you gave to what you loved, and now everyone would see it too!

He had to share those memories, because maybe like that, with proof, you'd realize how much you both loved each other and you'd go back to him!

Eunseok would never share your pictures, they, and you, were his property, only for him. But maybe, if others paid for it, he could share them. He had told you before you broke up that all that would be useful one day, and you had just laughed thinking it was a joke, but was it really?

Sungchan is bad with pictures and it wouldn't cross his mind to share the little material he had.

Shotaro is always a good guy, sorry 🥴

[ersetu-gazette]

Celestial Warlock Zorian

My mind keeps on wandering to an idea of an au I had, not sure if this would be during specifically the time loop in MoL, or other time loops, but I love the idea of Zorian being recruited (read: extorted) by the angels to forever be an assistant to the time loops. A template is permanently created for the Sovereign gate that is created at the beginning of each loop. This is to give the main controller a friend across all loops, an advisor, and a resource to do the ethically ambiguous things that they can't do due to the contract. I'm not exactly sure how it would out, but I just really like the idea of a Zorian after being a loop copy escaping to the real world instead of circumventing punishment is forced into service by the angels, and this cynical, curious, and otherwise normal boy is forced to be the angel's lapdog. Basically a dynamic not too dissimilar from Celestial warlocks in d&d but the patrons are much more involved and controlling. In each loop Zorian is created whole cloth, with the angels visiting the real world before hand to set up ways for him to integrate into society like they prepared the Sulrothum in the book. He primarily spends a few loops getting used to the cover story and the new culture & time period he finds himself in and then approaches the main controller once they've properly adjusted to the loop. he's been giving orders to help them with everything but he has his own spite, reservations, and rebellions to this, exercising his free will whenever possible.

Zorian and the new controller getting closer together is never a question of if but how long, since they're the only two that will never lose awareness of the loops. It also is a point of tension if the controller empathizes with Zorian's permanent servitude or not. No matter what the controller will hide some of the joy and gratitude they have they'll have a permanent friend (Zorian's empathy powers make the attempts to hide useless) A couple of thoughts on how this could work: 1) Zorian is recruited after the events of Mother of Learning and is forced to be the advisor/guide/confidant of the next controller, but somehow the time loop is fucked up even more and he and the new protagonist have to scramble to fix/ survive this mess. This is with a new cast of characters in the future focusing on how the world modernizes and changes to cultural norms. 2) Zorian actually was recruited and existed before the events of MoL and inverses the dynamic of Zach and Zorian, where Zorian is the more experience time traveler of the two. Zach almost definitely harbors a puppy crush at the cool nerdy archmage in his corner and Zorian appreciates a controller that is more on his side than others. Zorian is initially suspicious of Jornak and Zach dissmisses it as jealousy. When Zorian thwarts Jornak's scheme Zach embarrassingly sits through an "I told you so lecture" (and maybe the two talk about why Zach assumed jealousy was the key motivator from Zorian). 3) Zorian's service is timeless and he's forced to be there for all loops, even in the ancient past. He has to be the assistant to Shutur-Tanara as a young person, and deals with the crisis of being there for so much ancient history. (Also in this version Shutur-Tanara is a trans woman. No reason specifically why but I think it'd be great if Zorian's main concern is trying to stop imperialism and colonization and his modern cultural norms meanwhile Shutur-Tanara's main thought's are "man I wish I was born a woman." Eventually when Zorian is educating her on modern concepts he mentions trans people and that catches Shutur's attention. ST: "Wait, that's a thing? What magic is needed to change my body?" ZK: "I will cover that later once you agree that conquering continents and colonizing other cultures are bad." ST: ". . . make me a woman and I'll try to listen with a more open mind.") Zorian also meets some of the eleven immortals and a young Quatch-Ichl who he ends up taking a partially mentor/parental role within the time loop. Idk, there's a lot in this idea that I'm really interested in and would be curious to hear everyone else's thoughts.

[ofsmokenandgold]

Land of Women - Episode 3

So episode 3 and we're still on the "Amat and Gala have chemistry even though she's annoying as fuck" train.

We get a nice little flashback that outlines Amat's arrival in La Muga and how he came to be involved with the house and the co-operative and Golfo and Montse. The women are great, doting on him. It does give us a couple of Amat mysteries - the child in the photo and the fact that he bought the house with several large bundles of €50 notes - which suggests that he knows that Gala can't really complain to the authorities about him appropriating her cash - because there would be too many questions. This scene also reminds us that you can't convincingly dye a beard. It just looks too uniform, no beard is a single color. I know they did it to telegraph the time shift, but it's just distracting.

I do like the village tradition of useless men - that's a very European rural thing - we have something of the same tradition in my family.

This episode certainly shows us where Gala got her tendency towards entitlement from, Julia trying to extort money from Andreu based on the fact that he "might" be Gala's father is decidedly sketchy. She's causing chaos in these people's lives and isn't even very nice to them. And, talking of entitlement - I can forgive Kate for thinking she can just walk into a doctor's office in Spain and get a prescription, no questions asked, because she's 17 and doesn't know any better. But did Gala actually think through what it would mean to bring a child that needs medical support to a foreign country where she has no legal right to access ongoing care? Xavi (the doctor) is a twat, but he's not wrong that he can't just write her a prescription without her medical history and proof of legal residence.

So Amat and Gala - this episode is interesting because she yells less, is less generally annoying, and we see real chemistry developing between them. It's interesting to watch how often Amat is looking at her mouth and not her eyes when they are talking. It’s such a subtle tell for attraction and he just nails it. And then we get the whole getting drunk together and being cute. And then Gala finds out that Fred is cheating on her, so he's a rat and she doesn't have to feel any loyalty to him. Which brings us to the "almost-kiss" on the patio. At that moment I was sold, even though it seemed a little fast (she was happily married to Fred less than a week before), and then Montse shows up and the writers throw that massive curve ball at us.

And for me, everything falls apart at that point. If they'd chosen to have Amat talk to Montse that night, even just to make an excuse for the evening and talk to her later; he's still hungover, he's not feeling great, he's tired - ANYTHING other than going off upstairs and fucking like bunnies five minutes after he'd almost kissed Gala.

It's unfathomable to me why the writers chose to make him look like SUCH a dick. Even if it's just a friends-with-benefits thing he owes Montse an honest conversation about developing feelings for another woman. It just makes him look like he doesn't want to blow up his no-strings sex on the side deal in case he doesn't actually have a shot with Gala. Again, it makes him look like a dick. Even if he's a still pretty dick in another fine selection of slightly ratty henleys (and that one lovely sweater in the flashback scene).

I have pretty much come to terms with it. but it's jarring, especially as I know it's only going to get worse over the next three episodes.

I have decided to work through it with a little writing-therapy. I am taking a great deal of delight in the fact that the entire opus of Land of Woman fiction on AO3 is going to be Amat/Montse for the near future (one story up there, more to come).

[championofnyx]

Olympics in Young Justice... It Escalated

I got bored while watching and started designing uniforms for the made-up countries in the YJ universe along with headcannons on their performance. And of course I started with Vlatavia and Markovia because I'm predictable and they are my personality right now.

Markovia

Warm greens with gold accents

When countries are met with crisis folkish-traditional trends start popping up in different sectors of life, including fashion. I like to think that during the political instability traditional embroidery has seen a resurgence, and that was picked up by the uniform designers with the faux-embroidery motifs

I do think that there was controversy surrounding the Markovian team leading up to the Olympics with people demanding that they were tested for active genes and making conspiracy theories about sneaking metas into the competitions but they still showed up

I have a feeling that historically they have shown up with a "we're just happy to be here" attitude, proceeded to get their asses handed to them, but still were cool about it

Not this year though, oh man, this year it's personal cause now other athletes are questioning their integrity due to the actions of their government, and no matter what the individual athletes' thoughts on that whole mess, they've got something to prove this year

And like, they kind of do?? I feel like they would get gold in some teams even but not really any in individuals and are lucky to manage a bronze but it's better than they ever have done and Markovia made that one gold their whole entire national personality for a couple of decades

I also feel like Tara and Gregor get super into watching the games but are kind of awkward about it given their recent exiles. They still watch all the events they can but stay in their rooms on computers to do it so the other Hub residents will just wake up to excited screaming at the early hours in the morning (time difference), knowing it is coming from the Markov's room, go in to check on them only to find the siblings faking asleep like kids that got caught up too late past their bedtimes.

Vlatavia

Cool Greens with silver and grey accents

The show doesn't tell a lot about Vlatavian culture but from the few pictures we've seen of the country it's been a dark academic wet dream so I figured any opening ceremony outfit that would be accepted by that aesthetic community would fit

Rationally I understand that heads of state don't really concern themselves personally with making the Olympic outfits but I feel like Perdita sent a single, short memo to Vlatavia's planning committee and was like "Give them arrow motifs now, don't ask why" and the poor intern that stumbled upon the email was not gonna question it

They do average in the games again, I feel like they are more winter Olympic powerhouses than summer but they show up and have a good attitude about it

Though they rock pistol shooting. Just have a shit ton of people who are concerning good at handling guns

Perdita is definitely one of the heads of state that sends a delegation to the games and stays the whole time. And since she's younger and most of the athletes are in their twenties I feel like she takes the two weeks to just like, hang out??? There's a video somewhere of her after the closing ceremony doing shots with the Vlatavian soccer team at the Olympic Village that she will use extortion to make sure the press never gets their hands on

I have a feeling that Vlatavia and Markovia had traditionally lived next to each other in the Olympic Village cause they get along, with similar cultures and limited political discourse that could start something, and so they get put together this year, and nothing changes. All of the returning athletes know each other and just hang out. So people have made YJTikTok edits with that one popular audio that goes "*inaudible screaming and chaos* Tone shift, grateful I'm grateful all the time" But it's just a video of the two countries's ambassadors screaming at each other over the refugee crisis-cut to the athletes practically sitting in each others laps at the cafeteria laughing and joking around. Very much giving siblings that are chill with each other while parents are going through a divorce in the room over vibes.

This was fun I think I'm gonna make more I just need to find more fake counties.

[taggedmemes]

SENTENCE MEME BALDUR'S GATE 3 / PART THREE

i heard what happened.

thank you for protecting the child.

we can risk violence here or face it for certain on the road.

a low thought, but i'd be lying if i said i hadn't considered it.

i'm not some murderer for hire.

to get these people to safety, there's nothing i won't do.

if your people survived that, they'll survive anything.

it's unusual for them to organize so cleverly.

you're equal to the task.

try not to keel over with the first blade drawn.

might not look it, but we're tough.

there's optimism and then there's stupid.

how are you going to take my gold if you're dead?

just leave the gold on my corpse.

i wish we could at least give them a proper burial.

gold ain't any use if you're too cold to spend it.

you're giving up?

you should leave it, or destroy it.

at best it's worthless. at worst, who knows.

do not trifle with that moon witch or her trinkets.

only trouble will follow.

we've enough troubles and burdens as it is.

perhaps you can sell that for a couple of coins.

i should pluck your eyes out.

a cursed book? how obvious.

this quarrel sours our feast.

be you friend or food?

am i not astonishing?

i am by all accounts a student of higher commerce and extortion.

it's not what it looks like, i swear.

i wasn't going to hurt you.

i can't believe i didn't see it.

i'm not some monster.

why didn't you tell me?

i needed you to trust me.

you can trust me.

do you think you could trust me just a little further?

let's make ourselves comfortable, shall we?

i was just swept up in the moment.

i'm looking forward to seeing you fight.

you're invigorating, but i need something more filling.

this is a gift, you know. i won't forget it.

good morning. how do you feel?

i just feel a little woozy.

i thought you'd be more powerful.

someone, or something, wants me alive.

as for my other quirks — well, we can figure those out in time.

i'm just glad you're being sensible about these revelations.

i was worried people might turn up with torches and pitchforks.

that explains the pallor.

we're each monsters in the making.

i taste absolutely awful.

we need him, like it or not.

we're bound together, no matter what comes.

you say all the right words, but i'm not so sure you mean the right things.

i will respect the decision that was made.

we're all friends again.

there's a long day ahead of us.

what a manner of place is this?

is this a path to redemption or a road to damnation?

your journey is just beginning.

what would suit the occasion?

i am [name], very much at your service.

if you want to threaten me, don't disguise it.

you're paranoid, aren't you.

must be the surroundings.

rather bleak and lonesome, one feels so exposed.

this quaint little scene is decidedly too middle-of-nowhere for me.

enjoy your supper. after all, i might be your last.

are these theatrics leading somewhere?

are you not entertained?

far be it from me to disappoint.

how dear is one's soul?

you're made if you think i'll make a deal with a devil.

what is madness but a denial of reality?

exhaust every possibility until none are left.

when hope has been whittled down to the very marrow of despair, that's when you'll come knocking on my door.

i'll have the last laugh in the end.

one might say you're a paragon of luck.

i've something important to discuss with you.

we've been travelling together for a while now and it's just about time that i shared something with you.

are you telling me you're addicted to magic?

i would not burden anyone other than myself with this were the stakes not so high.

if not out of the simple goodness of your heart, then perhaps your own self-interest might be sufficient motivation.

please, trust me.

your help could be the difference between life and death.

i'm afraid that's not going to work on me.

let us agree on actions first and explanations later.

i didn't come seeking battle.

you're different than the others, i can tell.

i'm afraid proper thanks must wait.

your boldness is a blessing.

it takes more than mere fire to break me.

i must ask again for your aid.

why entrust this to me?

i know him better than most.

i'm not interested in your lineage.

you shouldn't keep secrets like this from me.

he named me friend, and that meant the world.

they're a powerful friend with a keen interest in privacy.

i'm sworn to say no more.

i spent more time dueling than rubbing elbows with lords.

not to say i didn't develop a taste for good win and a talent for courtly dance.

it's been a badger's age since i've twinkled my toes.

a drunk ogre could put on a better show.

we can learn a lot from fairytales, don't you think?

he'll require of you only what you're least ready to part with, and then require more still.

the devil won't take just anything, he'll take everything.

that is a story reserved for lifetime friends and calmer days.

i question the wisdom in that decision but so be it.

there's no way you could have known.

i doubt a fight against them would go your way.

seems you have good survival instincts.

i go my own way — alone.

[jjellysoo]

what are your headcanons for xs? im starving for content too sksld so i wanna know your thoughts/headcanons on them!

Hi, thank you for the ask!! >:)

Not many general headcanons make it into my work because I tend to write about specific concepts, so this was fun!

I love all interpretations of the XS timeline, but I don't think they were together during the story's canon. Post-canon and I can see an argument for the TYL arc. Extremely dubious on anything pre-cradle affair.

Xanxus is absolutely the jealous type, but he won't address it in a practical way. He's known to cling to his possessions, right?

On that note - Dino, count your days.

Xanxus is very much into Squalo's hair. If he can touch it, he will, whether that's a pleasant touch or not.

Besta likes Squalo the most after Xanxus himself, and will try to smother him and kiss him, which Xanxus ignores like he's getting paid for it.

It's a private relationship, for several reasons. Not many people know about it, and if they do, they're not going to comment on it lest they want to part ways with their face.

Except for Luss, of course, who bombards Squalo with dumb questions when they have downtime, none of which are answered. That 101 battles was ROUGH.

No pet names other than the usual insults that probablyyy count as pet names. But don't tell them I said that.

Xanxus runs warm because of his flame (why he can run around half shirtless), and Squalo runs cold (why he wears fur and coats and earmuffs all the time!) The ideal temperature equilibrium for cuddling.

This is canon, but Xanxus is overall calmer when Squalo is around HQ.

Squalo finds Xanxus' scars attractive as they relate to his rage, but he wouldn't mention it because of the sore topic. If Xanxus ever lost control over his scars in a sexual context, well....

Squalo has had feelings for Xanxus since the beginning. He must've been pretty convinced things were going to work out, huh? When you know you know etc. etc.

Xanxus has some Avengers level threat internalized homophobia. His whole complex is over being heir to the Vongola, and part of that role is having a family and children, so being with a man would be really hard for him to comes to terms with. Also, the stereotypes of gay men that he'd be acquainted with go against the persona he's made for himself.

In effect, it's really hard for him to be openly affectionate. Queue glass throwing and hair pulling.

SAME TANGENT because I see this way too much but these two could not be a casual FWB situation given Xanxus' complex.

Okay so this is based on the inheritance ceremony where Timoteo is a little bitch to Squalo for no reason. THOSE TWO BEEF LIKE CRAZY IN THE MOST PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE "IN LAWS" WAY POSSIBLE. Squalo obviously dislikes him because he ruined Xanxus' life and is dismissive of the Varia as a whole, Timoteo dislikes him because he thinks he's trying to get with his son and go against what a right hand man is supposed to be.

If there's one thing that's going to fluster (fluster!?) Varia Captain and Sword Emperor Superbia Squalo, it's going to be Xanxus. Squalo never expected to get this far, so when he spends his life in respectful admiration and is suddenly getting bombarded with what would otherwise be normal couple behavior, he doesn't know what to do.

Xanxus pretends to be unaware of the effect he has, but definitely knows and extorts it because it's cute

I'm not kidding when I say I have more than this, but that's where I'm cutting it off for today. Hope this feeds you well enough, for now, anon! :D

[myuiis]

(same anon who asked for sinu analysis) well first off let me ask your thoughts on YeonhuixSinu

Despite my undying love for this man- I'll admit they're cute n all BUT I always felt it was undeveloped.

I don't know if it's just me but when Jason (I think) said he'd snitch about him being with neko to her I was confused back when he was still under the influence of those pills at workers. Like, Did I miss something? Did I forget something from the gaps between the arcs? Idk. But even if she was shown to be worried over Sinu, it didn't seem romantic at all especially that all the big deal girls cared too. PTJ also made it seem like an already established relationship and I'm still questioning when?? She seemed to know him well and all but no hinting of any romantic attraction was there, just your average big deal romanticism and admiration lol.

I understand that PTJ has to leave some details away for the sake of the pacing but I think he could've at least thrown some hints here and there.

ok yeah. so this won't be a super long post because i am tired but good lord i am very... lukewarm about sinu and yeonhui. im with you on the "who?" when yeonhui was mentioned again in 2a. now im glad that sinu is with someone he's happy with but man... sinu and yeonhui is just such a mid ship compared to literally anyone else he could've been shipped with. let me explain.

yeonhui's lack of presence in the story. now this is probably the main reason i find this ship so lackluster. how am i supposed to root for a ship when the female love interest is literally like npc #125? while she did have more presence than the other girls on the street, this isn't really a high bar considering ptj's track record writing female characters. and this isn't to say she was boring or had a bland personality either (even though she KINDA did...). she was strong and independent, stood up to samuel when he tried to extort them for money (iirc), bore the burden of sinu's sacrifice and stayed strong for big deal, and was there to comfort jake when he learned of the news. she could've been a REALLY interesting character because she was so strong and also stuck to her ideals in the same way sinu did, so they could've been such a power couple, had yeonhui been developed more. it would've been nice to see yeonhui and sinu strategize about how to protect big deal together, or see more of yeonhui bandaging and caring for sinu after he gets hurt, or seeing sinu bring yeonhui gifts and money... or anything, really. the two have barely have any substantial interactions over the entire arc besides the last part where sinu's about to sacrifice himself, so much so that it makes me wonder... who is this yeonhui person? why are they important again.

chemistry. this mainly comes up to personal preference but yeonhui and sinu feel more like an older sister-younger brother dynamic to me. yeonhui took sinu in as a child, fed, clothed, and cared for him, and then continues to take care of him as an adult, which comes off as big sis behavior. again, some people may like this dynamic romantically, but i personally find it super platonic and sibling-leaning.

other sinu ships. idk. just find it a LITTLE heteronormative that any man and woman who share a little bit of screentime together are instantly a couple while sinu and jake can be out here pulling "you are my everything" and "i came back to big deal for you and you alone, jake" moments, and they'll still be just "good bros". again, kind of up to personal preference, but if you compare yeonhui x sinu to jake x sinu or even samuel x sinu, there's a clear lack of interactions and chemistry for yeonhui x sinu

so yeah. thats kinda it. this ended up being way longer than i expected so im not gonna write a conclusion paragraph but those are my thoughts around yeonhui and sinu together romantically.

[tomtenadia]

Detours to You - Ch 12

Good weekend everyone!!! Ready for an another chapter?

MASTERLIST

Two days had passed from the fire and Rowan’s house had been transformed quickly in a chaos of toys. Although Maya was good at tidying up at night before bed, during the day his house was mayhem. And he was happy. His two girls were still recovering from the shock. Aelin had taken a couple of days off work after Elide and Lysandra had forced her to. Maya had been quieter than usual and that worried him. Both of them were struggling to sleep and in the past two nights he had found himself sandwiched between them. Maya would climb at his front and just cling to him, while Aelin played big spoon and rested against his back. He knew they were both struggling. He would have loved to stay at home with them but there was so much to do and he was helping the police with the investigation on the building fire. The previous day he had gone and collected the last few belonging boxed in the flat and finally closed that chapter of their lives. Rowan hated not being with them but he knew that Aelin was going back to work and would take Maya with her. They had called the school and explained the situation and Rowan had gone to the school to get Maya’s homework and the last lessons she had missed. Being in primary school it was still basic stuff but he felt that it was important and he and Aelin had been helping her at night.

That morning he was standing outside the tall block of flats and waiting for Captain Falliq and the chief of OFI. They were meant to go inside the building and try to find more proof of what caused the fire. They had the mechanics but now they had to discover the why and Nersys was positive it was arson.

Connall Moonbeam was the first one who met him. He was Fenrys brother. They had all done the academy together. Fenrys was still on active duty at station 3 but Connall had to retire from active duty after an accident during a fire that left him with bad lung problems and a problematic leg so he found a permanent position in the office for fire investigations and slowly made his way up the ladder.

“Morning Con,”

“You really are back, I thought Fen was taking the piss.”

Rowan laughed “Yes, I am.”

“And Chief nonetheless. Good, we did need a change of leadership.”

The both remained in silence while they waited for Nersyn to arrive.

“Do you really think it’s arson?”

“Nes thinks so.”

Connall sighed “You know how hard it is to prove and from what you told me this building was badly managed anyway. I need to make sure that the actual cause is human intervention and intentionally caused.”

“I know, I did try and explain to her but she believes Hamel was trying to get rid of this residential building to transform it into a business one,” he added with restrained fury “Apparently flats are not profitable. No matter that the monster charges an extortions for rent.”

Not long after, the captain emerged from her car and Rowan smiled at her wearing safety shoes and a hard hat. He had explained her the risks of entering a building after afire.

“Good morning guys, Sorry I am late but I was checking an anonymous tip we got about this fire. The person believes this was intentional. Apparently someone else had eyes on this building to make it commercial.”

Rowan was furious. Where were people meant to live if every rich bastard decided that buildings in the city centre were only good for business?

The three of them entered the building and slowly made their way to where overhaul had identified the origin point. 

Rowan walked to the main switchboard and with his torch illuminated the panel “It originated here,” he showed them the scorch marks of the origin point. Slowly he removed the panel and showed them the mess of the cables.

“That is not safe.” Added Connall, staring at the mess of badly tangled cables, they all looked ruined by years of bad maintenance but there was nothing pointing to arson.

Rowan would definitely jail the bastard just for negligence.

“Rowan, go back there, please?”

He pointed the light back to where Connall had indicated and they spotted a cable with a clean cut “This has been snapped with tools. And see the protective plastic around? It’s peeled back to expose the cables but it’s far too perfect and neat. This was deliberate.”

“Do you think they keep maintenance logs? Any trace of who was the last person to come down here? Only technicians have access keys to this panel.”

Nesryn took some notes “I am sure I will be able to find that for you.”

Rowan walked around the ruins of the place until his feet ended up in a puddle “Water, the guy had mentioned water too.” With his torch he followed the trail and noticed that the wall had all the marks of an internal water leak. With his axe he hit a specific point and water burst out with force, beneath it the electrical wiring was fried. Connall helped him to open the hole a bit more and with their torches they inspected the inside “If I remember the blueprint correctly, this is just below the flat that was the epicentre.”

“Shall we go upstairs?” Prompted Rowan, while already moving. The other two followed suite. As per protocol the flat had been boarded up but Connall and Rowan were two people who had the authority to go in so they slowly took down the boards and stepped in. The flat was a mess of burnt items. He could still see the signs of a family living there. A mother and her eighteen years old daughter. Their dreams, their hopes. All destroyed because of one man’s greed.

According to the report from his men, the fire in that room had been brutal. The kitchen had gone up in seconds and for the two women there had been no escaping. Rowan and Connall moved the appliances and found traces of sparks too and then water. They inspected the building for a good hour while Nesryn followed them in silence and took notes of their theories. The cut cable was a definite proof of a deliberate act, but the rest seemed like gross misconduct. Now it was her turn to piece all the details together and build up a case strong enough to jail Hamel forever.

When they finally exited the building the cop took a deep breath of fresh air, while Connall removed his white face mask to prevent him breathing dust particles that would cause him issues.

“This was very interesting and I have collected a lot of images and notes to help with my investigation. I have the copies of your reports as well so hopefully I will have something more solid soon.”

They thanked the cop and both men remained alone “This was sick.” Added Connall.

Rowan’s stare was on the top floor where Aelin and Maya lived. A barrage of what ifs crossed his mind. They had been quite far from the fire but still… If… If… If… Now that flat lay empty and his two women were safe at his house, he had to concentrate on that, for the sake of his sanity.

“I will send you and Nes any updates as soon as we analyse the samples I took.”

“Keep me posted, please.”

The two men said goodbye and Rowan jumped back in his pickup and drove to the bookstore.

*

Working helped. Aelin felt much better after a whole morning surrounded once again by books and her two friends. Maya had been in a better mood too and spent the morning in the children section or helping her mum shelve books.

She was busy helping a customer when she spotted the white shirt and dark jacket of the chief of the TFD entering the premises and Maya’s scream of joy at seeing her father.

“Dad!!” She ran to him and Rowan lifted her up effortlessly.

“Hi munchkin, how are you?”

She lifted Elf “we have been helping mum with all the books.”

With Maya still in his arms, he walked to the counter to greet Elide and Lysandra.

“We kept an eye on them, being busy helps a lot.”

“Dad, I fixed the kids section.”

“You did?” He kissed her “Show me.”

Father and daughter walked towards the back of the shop and Aelin joined her two friends.

“He is so adorable with her.”

Aelin stared at Rowan listening to what Maya was saying and agreed. Rowan was amazing with her.

“Lorcan asked me if I want one too.”

Both women squealed “What did you tell him?”

“Yes, of course as long as they are not a grumpy little thing like their father.”

“Now we have to convince my cousin Aedion to pop the question and make Lys a married woman.”

Lys rolled her eyes “If he doesn’t get a move on I am going to propose.”

Elide clapped her hands happily “Look at us responsible women.”

“Rowan needs to pop the question too.”

Aelin stopped “Rowan and I… it’s complicated.”

“In what universe? You already have a daughter and now live together too. You are basically married without the paperwork.”

“And didn’t you kiss the other night?” Added Elide.

“It was just to comfort me. It was sweet but it had nothing sexual about it.”

“Sure, but it moved something, eh?”

It did. Old feelings had started to come back quickly and being in the same house with him was not helping. She was torn between the version of five years before who was madly in love with him and the new version who was still struggling with his return and was scared of trying again.

“Maya is the most important thing just now. My needs can wait.”

“Until you two are alone in that big house of his and he can finally have your way with you and make you scream so hard you scare the squirrels.”

Aelin burst out laughing “Lys, you definitely read too many romance books.”

“No such thing.” She added quickly.

“We are just saying that the sexual tension between you is thick and we are expecting fireworks when you finally decide to stop being stubborn.”

Rowan came back with Maya half holding three books in her hands “dada bought me some books.”

“You are a bad influence,” joked Aelin, while taking the books from her daughter.

“As long as she is asking me to buy her books, I am happy to indulge her.”

“Also, I come here with an invitation,” he started “The annual hockey game between TFD and PD is on the 22nd. I know you are closed like all the shops for a couple of days and you are invited.” He turned to Lys “Aedion is welcome too if his job at the academy allows him to.” Aedion had been in the army for a very long time and when he retired he was offered a job as trainer for the recruits.

“It’s a good thing that you are back. We have been loosing for the past few years and Westfall has been a dick about it and brags to no end.”

Aelin glared at Elide for the D word and the young woman froze.

“Mama what is a dick?”

The adults froze “Maya, auntie Elide meant a stick.”

The girl seemed to accept the answer and went back browsing her books in silence.

“I will let you know all the details and give the tickets to Aelin.”

Rowan then kneeled beside Maya “I have to go back to work, but you keep company to mum and I will see you tonight.”

Maya wound her arms around his neck “Thank you for the books,” a kiss on his cheek.

Rowan kissed her back then stood and then pulled Aelin to him depositing a soft kiss on the crown of her head “I should be home by six.”

In response she leaned against his chest and nodded “be careful.”

“Always.” He pulled back, saluted the women and disappeared.

“Sure, no feelings.” Added Elide.

“He is totally disgusted by you.” Continued Lysandra.

Elide lifted Maya on the high chair “What do you think, little one? Your mum and dad like each other?”

The girl nodded energetically “Yes. Mum is happy.”

Aelin stared at the door where Rowan had disappeared and thought about her daughter words. Yes, since he came back she had felt happier. She had found herself craving his presence.

Maybe she was too afraid for nothing.

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