#the original female character is sarah

[mika-no-sekai-blog]

Two hearts for one

Azriel X OC

Word count: +9100

Summary: Longing for what everyone around him seems to have, Azriel wanders the night streets of Velaris until a young female bumps into him and changes his life

Warnings: none I think, but let me know if you find something that should be mentioned

@azrielappreciationweek Day 3: Belonging Dividers by @tsunami-of-tears

Night slowly spread its dark cloak over the city, stars sadly shone in the autumn sky. Lights came to live as most of the shops closed and people were hurrying to get home to their loved ones, tugging their coats closer to protect themselves from biting cold of evening breeze.

As every Friday, Inner Circle had a family dinner followed by a game night. After eating delicious meal, everyone moved to the sitting room, merry cacophony of voices and laughter filled the room. Azriel took his usual place in the alcove near the entrance, half hidden in the shadows, soft small smile on his face.

He loved his family. Watching their smiling faces made him feel at peace and very lonely at the same time. He knew he belonged here, that they all loved him and cared for him, yet something was always missing.

Even now.

He watched Mor gently tuck strand of hair behind Emerie's ear, gleam of affection in her eyes.

Elain sat pressed into Lucien's side, hands hugging her growing belly while he had his arm around her shoulders, keeping her warm undoubtedly. His other hand was caressing her belly and the babe who was already responding to their touches, soft smiles on their faces as they whispered the words of love.

Cassian was vividly discussing his ideas for new training for Valkyries with his mate who sipped wine from the glass, pretending to be bored, but Azriel knew she was listening carefully, committing each word to memory.

Amren was seated on floor in front of the fireplace with crackling fire, small flames slowly licking the logs. Varian sat next to her, leaning closer while he whispered something to her. His eyes never left her face, the enormous amount love, devotion and admiration palpable.

And then there was his brother and High Lord, Rhys. He brought a warm blanket to wrap it around his mate and almost sleeping baby boy in her arms. Nyx babbled sleepily as his father gently placed kiss on his forehead. Rhys chuckled in answer and sat down, pulling Feyre closer to kiss her too. She rested head on his shoulder and together they watched their child, eyes shining with joy.

This room was a perfect picture of warmth, peace and love. Azriel knew that he was part of it, that this was his family he belonged to, yet he felt like uninvited intruder spying on them through thick glass. He was really trying to be happy for them, but more he watched them, more his heart hurt.

Why? Why they liked him? Why was he here? Why he felt so lonely? Why there wasn't anyone who would love him? All he longed for was a person, a single person who would love him dearly. A person he could give his whole heart to, unveil his darkest thoughts without being judged. Was it so impossible for him to be loved and accepted?

His fingers in the pockets twitched, searching for someone to touch and hold onto. Suddenly the air thickened and he felt like he was choking on it. He couldn't take it anymore.

Looking up at the picture of happiness laid in front of him, he made a step to the doors. When nobody noticed it, he made another one. On the threshold he looked back one more time, his heart squeezed in pain. Taking the scarf from hanger he wrapped it around his neck and quietly left.

White clouds rose from his mouth as he walked down the street, hands tucked in pockets. It was quite cold, but he didn't mind it. The place he grew up at, used to be much colder than this city, yet he had never owned a coat. Of course, he could dash to the night sky and be back in his room in no time, but he needed time to think. Maybe if he tired himself, he would immediately fall asleep instead of drowning in loneliness until the dawn. Letting his legs carry him wherever they wanted, he got lost in his thoughts.

The city was silent, most of its residents already retired to the welcoming warmth of their beds - beds they shared with someone dear. Azriel had no idea where he was, not that he cared anyway. More he thought about his situation, more lonely and hurt he felt. His chest felt heavy, every breath was getting harder. Before he could stop it, a quiet sob escaped between his lips, tears stinging his eyes. Tugging the shadows even closer, he looked like a ghost, a dark cloud wandering through empty streets of the sleeping city.

He was about turn the corner when someone came running from the opposite direction and bumped into him. He didn't expect it and the impact made him take a few steps back. The other person yelped and fell down. Quickly, he wiped his eyes and looked at the person.

It was a young female. Dressed in warm looking long coat, she was gaping at him, pale and visibly scared. He immediately dropped on his knees and started to collect things that spilled out from her handbag when she fell down.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice husky. "I didn't pay attention to my surrounding.. Are you okay?"

She just nodded and looked somewhere into the dark behind her, her eyes wide with fear. He followed her gaze and noticed two males lurking in the darkness, waiting. He didn't need more to understand the situation.

He immediately stood up again. Baring his teeth, he spread his wings wide behind him. The blood was boiling in his veins. He didn't even want to imagine what could have happened, if she didn't bump into him. His hand instinctively reached for a dagger he hadn't on him right now. He took step toward those cowards and then reminded himself that the female was still there on the ground. Meanwhile, males pivoted and disappeared in the alley.

Azriel turned back to the female and offered her hand. She gaped at him with the same amount of fear, heaving. Just then he realized that he didn't have gloves, his scars on full display. He hesitated.

"I'm not going to hurt you.." He handed her the handbag that he still clutched in his other hand. She took it from him, shivering like a leaf in cold wind. "Do you.. do you think you can stand up? Aren't you injured?"

"I- I think I'm fine," she finally accepted his hand and he pulled her up. Her voice was shaky, but so gentle and sweet that it pushed tears back into his eyes. As the dim light of street lamp banished shadows from his face, she curiously eyed him. "Are you okay?"

He just chuckled humourlessly. "I'm perfectly fine.." he cleared his throat, looking down at tips of his shoes. "If you don't mind, I'd escort you home. Just in case those two change their mind. It's way too late for females to be outside on their own."

"That's kind of you," she smiled shyly.

They started to walk down the street Azriel came from. Azriel let the female lead the way and walked beside her in silence. Curiosity took better of him and he peeked at her out of the corner of eye.

She was quite beautiful. It wasn't the eyes-striking kind of beauty, but something more softer and subtle that was hard to explain. Her face was ordinary, almost plain without makeup, yet nice as faces of all young females. Big round eyes of colour of summer sky, small nose, full plush-looking lips, cheeks red from the cold wind. Her waist long hair seemed to be dark in dim light of streets. He couldn't put a finger on it, but he felt better in her presence.

She led him to the one of the nice but cheap neighbourhoods. Small houses with even smaller gardens stood one next to each other, the street was clean and somehow cozy though. And dark. At this hour there wasn't a single lit window. People in this part of the city had to work hard to feed their families and pay bills, so naturally they were tired and already asleep. Azriel had hardly ever passed place like this, but he could imagine children laughing and playing on the street during the day while mothers did laundry talking with each other. Maybe they weren't rich, but they definitely had something much better. Something he'd love to have too.

Female stopped in front of the smallest house on the street and nervously brushed her hair back. His eyes roamed over the well maintained house with white curtains before they looked down at her. She craned her neck with determination in her eyes, hardly reaching to his chest.

"I'm so sorry for running into you before.. and also for making you walk all the way to the outskirts of the city. I guess that you had much better plan for tonight.."

"No, don't apologize, please. I was just aimlessly wandering around, so.. I'm glad I could be to your service."

She nervously played with her handbag. "I'd like to thank you for.. you know.." With worry she looked at a certain window of her home. "If it wasn't for you, I might not return home. So.. I want to thank you properly. If you don't mind, I'd like to invite you to dinner."

Azriel's wings rustled and he gaped at her, astonished. "That isn't necessary. I didn't do it to get something back from you."

"Please," she insisted. "I don't have enough to thank you in any other way, but.. I'd be happy if you could come for dinner tomorrow." Her cheeks were burning with embarrassment. "It won't be anything amazing nor big, but.. Please. What you did for me tonight, to me it means more than you can imagine."

Azriel hesitantly nodded. "I'll come." He nervously shifted his weight, pulling his scarf a bit higher. "Can I know your name?"

Her eyes widened. "Oh, I'm sorry.. I'm Ivy."

"Ivy," he repeated to himself. "I'm Azriel."

"Nice to meet you, Azriel." Her bright smile was so genuine that the corners of his lips lifted into a smile of his own.

"Nice to meet you too," he murmured into the night. "You should go in. I'll wait until you lock the door and then I'll check surroundings. You don't need to worry tonight."

She thanked him again and left him alone on the road. However, before closing the door, her eyes searched for him one more time and she waved him goodbye. Gentle breeze brought her silent 'good night' to his ears. He waited for few minutes until he saw dim light in one of the windows and then he dashed to the sky. He made several rounds above the whole neighbourhood and only when he was sure that there was no danger, he headed to the House of Wind.

He felt strangely weightless as he went through his night routine, all the previous sadness and loneliness long forgotten. Before sleep snatched him away he repeated her name several times. He liked the way the word rolled off the tongue. So light, refreshing and soft as her. The shadows he left behind, returned and whispered to his ear. They assured him that she safely got to the bed, omitting any details. Repeating her name like a prayer one more time, he nestled in his bed and tired, instantly fell asleep.

Azriel smoothly landed on the road in front of the smallest house on the street. Even though it was just last night that he stood on the same spot, it felt like long time ago.

Despite the fact that he went to the bed so late, he woke up at sunrise, nervous and excited at the same time. Training with Cassian helped him to get rid of some excessive energy, but it still wasn't enough. He couldn't focus on work, so he spent most of the day outside, window shopping.

He didn't want to show up empty handed to the dinner Ivy invited him to. He knew little to nothing about her, so it was hard to decide what to bring. At first, he considered buying some good wine, but it could easily turn into embarrassing situation if she was abstinent. Then he spent some time eyeing flowers. He gave up the idea, too, because giving flowers to female felt too intimate for the basically first meeting. After all, she invited him to thank him, not to date him.

He wandered all around the market place, dismissing one idea after another until he found a small shop with vegetable. That's where it hit him and no matter how he approached the idea, it seemed to be the safest option. Basket of fruit as a gift was polite enough, it didn't give the vibes of any expectations and everyone liked the fruit. He picked up the most deliciously looking fruit, then he found a lovely basket. After purchasing everything he could possibly need, he returned to his room and spent several hours rearranging his creation.

Azriel sighed heavily. He was more nervous than before a real date. He held out the basket that he carried so carefully, and straightened the ribbon. Everything seemed to be on its place. He ran hand through his dark hair that got messy during the flight, brushing them back.

Suddenly he noticed the tense silence. He could swear that he saw children playing outside as he flew above the roofs, but the street was empty now. They had to hide away when he landed. He could only imagine what they thought about him. Feeling unsure of what to do, he approached the door and knocked.

The sounds of cutting were replaced by fast steps and the door flew open. Surprised Ivy stood on threshold, pink apron with frills hanging on her hips.

"Oh, hi.." She looked back into the room and sighed in relief. "For a second I thought I lost the track of time," she smiled.

Azriel looked behind her at the clock hanging on the opposite wall. It was hardly four. Cold sweat washed over him. He was so excited that he came way too soon. "I apologize. I didn't mean to-.. I can wait outside-.."

"Nonsense! It's okay," she moved to the side. "Come in."

He had mixed feelings as he stepped in and looked around. The house seemed to be even smaller than from outside, he hardly fit in. He was standing in a narrow corridor with a hanger and a shoes rack, his broad shoulders almost taking all the space between the walls, tips of wing touching ceiling. The door on the right led to a tiny kitchen squeezed together with a dinning room. Another door led to a sitting room and then there was a staircase to the second floor. Used to the airy and large rooms he felt strange in the house where he needed only to reach up to touch the ceiling.

"I'm sorry," Ivy noticed his discomfort. "You are probably used to something better.."

"Don't apologize," he smiled, "I like it. It's cozy."

Then he remembered the gift he brought. The heart hammered in his chest as he took it out from behind his back.

"I wasn't sure what you like, so.."

Ivy clasped hands to her cheeks. "Aww, you shouldn't have worried. I invited you to thank you."

"I know. I just wanted to bring you something to thank you for having me today."

"Mommy? Who's that?" A small, tiny voice came somewhere from the sitting room.

Azriel froze on the spot. It didn't even occur to him that Ivy could actually be married and have family. Now he felt really bad for intruding her home.

Ivy looked up at him apologetic. "It's a friend I told you about, honey. Come out to greet him properly."

A golden-brown head peeked from behind the door frame, followed by big, bright eyes of the same colour as her mum's.

"This is my daughter, Adelina. Lina, this is Azriel, friend who helped mommy last night."

Little girl timidly took a step to the corridor.

"Hello," she spoke in small voice and ran back to the room.

"I'm so sorry. She isn't used to the strangers. We don't have guests here often."

Azriel shook his head, still too stunned.

"No, it's fine. I mean.." He cleared his throat, rubbing on the nape of his neck. "Where is her father?"

Ivy inhaled sharply, her voice low. "That male ran away as soon as he learned I'm pregnant."

Dread washed over him. "I-I'm sorry I-.." He wasn't sure what to say anymore. He was making one mistake after another. That's not like him.

Ivy closed her eyes and inhaled deeply to get over the feeling that the memory brought up. "You couldn't know. It's just.. so hard," she said whispering. "That male.. he was one big red flag, but I was too in love and naive to see it before it was late. I'm not sorry though. Having Lina is the best thing that happened to me in my entire life. No matter how hard it is, I'm happy to have her."

She looked up at him, smiling kindly with tears shining in her eyes. "Thank you so much for yesterday. I don't want to even imagine what would happen with her, if I wouldn't make it home. You saved both of us." She gently took his hand and squeezed it as she spoke, not minding his scars at all.

Azriel emptied his lungs with relief. He wasn't sure why he was holding his breath whole the time. "I'm glad I could help you," he murmured, heat settling in his cheeks.

"I-I think I should go finish the dinner if we want to eat on time," Ivy looked over to the kitchen and the spread out ingredients and pots, tucking a strand of long hair behind ear. She seemed to be just as flustered as Azriel. "Do you want to sit down in the sitting room? Lina is shy and quite quiet kid, she won't bother you. You can take rest there until meal is ready."

He just nodded, handing her basket of fruit and headed to the mentioned room. He had to duck to pass through the door, lowering his wings as much as he could. Sighing he straightened up and took a look around. The room was small but clean and bright with a smaller sofa, bookcase, few shelves and some flowers. Through the window with lace curtain he saw backyards between the houses.

One corner of the room was dedicated to a few toys nicely lined up on shelf and in doll house made out of box. When he compared it to the amount of toys little Nyx already owned, he felt sorry he didn't know about the girl before. At that moment he decided that next time he would bring her some nice doll to play with. However, then he awkwardly remembered that there might be no next time and he felt sad.

Small noise in the corner behind the sofa drew his attention. Ever curious shadows peeked there and returned to whisper in his ear. He didn't need them to know that Adelina was hidden there. There wasn't better place to hide at for child of her size anyway. He rubbed nape of his neck, troubled. Little girl was apparently scared of him. No wonder - he was huge, winged male she had never seen before. His appearance was intimidating even for adults at times.

Sending his shadows behind his back, he lowered to his knees. He knew that he didn't need to do this, yet he wanted to get to know little girl.

"Hey, there," he peeked behind the sofa. He imagined he was speaking to Nyx to get over the nervousness. With little babe whom he saw born, his soft side came out naturally. The corners of his mouth lifted in a gentle smile, but girl just watched him with wide eyes, shy and scared.

"I'm Azriel. You are Adelina, right?" She just nodded once. "Nice to meet you, Adelina. Thank you for having me for the dinner today." He was just rambling, not sure what to say. "I brought some fruit. Do you like fruit?" She again only nodded, crushing dirty rag doll in her small hands.

"I'm so glad to hear that," he smiled. "Is that your doll?" Another nod. "She's so lovely. What is her name?"

Confused, little girl looked down at doll and then back up at him. "She doesn't have one," her tiny voice was hardly audible.

"It's pity. You should give her some, otherwise she will be sad."

Little girl thought about it for a while. "Feyre," she said after few minutes of silence.

Azriel blinked in surprise. "That's nice name and it suits her very much. Tell me, where did you hear such name?"

"It's name of my teacher in the painting club. She is very kind and beautiful. Do you know that she is also our High Lady?"

"Oh, I do," Azriel laughed. "She will be very pleased to hear that you like her when I return home."

Adelina gaped at him on awe, her wide open blue eyes shining. "You know her?"

"Yes, she is wife of my brother. We are good friends."

Girl came out from her hiding place and stepped closer. "Really?"

"Really," Azriel seriously nodded.

"So you live with her?"

"Sometimes. I'm mostly staying in my room in the House of Wind, but sometimes I stay overnight at her house."

Girl moved even closer, shyly peeking behind him.

"Are they real?" Her small finger pointed to his wings.

Azriel stretched them out as much as he could without knocking off something and waved with them slightly.

"What do you think?" he winked at her. Girl chuckled in answer.

"And what's that?" One tendril of shadows crawled around his feet, reaching out to her.

"Oh, that's just shadow. You don't need to be scared. It won't hurt you, it's just curious," he smiled shyly, tugging the shadow back behind his back, but it ignored him and peeked out again.

"Is it your friend?"

"It's with me since I was as little as you, taking care of me."

"So it's like Lana," girl rejoiced, poking the shadow with finger. The shadow swirled around her hand flying up to her face. It poked her into chubby cheek and Adelina started to laugh. The rest followed the suit and soon she was surrounded by curious shadows that swirled around her, caressing and tickling her.

Azriel watched it fondly. It took just a few minutes and this little girl had him already wrapped around tiny finger. She was so gorgeous that he wished he could have daughter like her someday. "Who is Lana?"

"She's mommy's friend. Sometimes she stays with me when mommy has to work," girl answered giggling and started to chase shadows around the room.

Azriel sat down on the floor with his back against the sofa and pulled knees to his chest to leave enough space for their game, laughing with them. That's how Ivy found them.

"Dinner is ready," she called into the room, stopping once she saw them having good time. Giggling Adelina ran to her mum, squeezed her legs and then ran to the kitchen.

Azriel stood up, pulling wings to his back. "I apologise. We are probably too loud."

"No, not at all. I've never seen her so happy. It takes her quite long to open up to someone new. You must be really good with children."

"Not really," he shoved hands into the pockets, trying to stop the blush spreading on his face, "but I have a little nephew."

"Come," she smiled shyly. "Everything is ready."

Azriel managed to get through door and squeezed in to the small dinning table that was nicely set and full of deliciously looking meals. The pleasant conversation in trio over the meal gave Azriel peace he hadn't felt for ages. When meal was over, he helped to clean up and even stayed until the night fell.

As time to return home was getting closer, he started to feel sadness weighting his chest as a heavy stone. He wished he could freeze the time and just stay in this tiny house, surrounded by these two girls. But he couldn't. They weren't his family and he had to leave at some point.

No one was forcing him to go, yet at nine he assumed it was time to bid them good night and let them rest. He made several rounds above the street and flew home only once all the lights in their windows turned off. That night he felt even more lonely than ever, dreaming about family he didn't have. Seconds before he finally fell asleep, the empty faces of his wife and child mixed with faces of Ivy and Adelina, their merry voices following him to the realm of dreams.

Several days after the dinner he still thought about those two girls living alone in small house on the outskirts of the city. They didn't make any promise of meeting again, yet he wanted to see them. He wasn't sure what led him to such urge. Maybe it was the warmth he felt in their presence. Or maybe it was the happy face of little girl playing with his shadows. It got to the point when he went to the market to buy some fruit and pastries, stopping at toy shop along the way to choose a lovely doll.

Before he could change his mind, he landed in front of the small house with bags in hands and knocked on the door. The house was completely silent. Out of the corner of the eye he noticed that curtain of the window next to door moved slightly. He took a step back, searching the window. The door opened in less than second, smiling Adelina standing on threshold.

"Azriel, you came," she jumped in the place.

"I missed you," he smiled, relieved to see that she was well. "Is your mommy home?"

Girl just shook her head. "Mommy is at work."

Azriel peeked into the house behind her, concerned. "Is anyone with you? Looking after you?"

"No, I'm alone. Lana couldn't stay today."

Azriel dreaded to hear that answer. Squaring his shoulders, he ushered little girl back inside. Velaris was considerably safe city, but it wasn't completely without crimes. "So return inside, angel. If you want, I can stay with you until mommy returns."

Adelina smiled happily and taking his hand she led him in. Azriel closed the door behind him, locking it and headed to the kitchen. Little girl eyed with interest the bags he brought. Azriel gave her a smile and handed her one of them.

"This one is for you. Open it."

Bags and papers rustled while he took out fruit and pastries and put them on counter where he notice a slice of dry bread on a plate. "Angel, what is this?"

"Lana brought me a dinner when she came to tell me that she can't stay," girl frowned as she was trying to get through the paper on her gift.

Azriel wrinkled his nose and opened the fridge. "How about I make you a proper dinner?" There was so little in the fridge, just some basics.

Girl behind him squealed with joy as she finally opened the box and found her new doll. "Is this for me? Really?"

"It's all yours," he turned to her in time to see that adorable face of hers. She was beaming. For four years old she was too mature most of the time and very cleaver girl. Another child that had to skip a childhood phase because of the hardship of life. Azriel felt sorry for her. Getting new toy, she once again behaved like a child of her age, jumping and running around, admiring new doll and clinging to Azriel's leg. He even earned a sweet kiss on cheek. He let her joy settle before he again drew her attention to him.

"Now tell me, sweet girl, what would you like to eat? I can prepare almost everything, I swear," Azriel held her tiny elbows, gently rubbing her arms with thumbs.

Lina pressed finger to her lips, thinking. "I'd like pasta."

"What pasta?"

"Just pasta," she shrugged.

"And what about a sauce?" Girl gave him questioning look. "Okay, so different way.. Do you like tomato, chicken and spinach?"

Adelina nodded hesitantly. "I think I do."

"Fine, so let's go to the market to buy ingredients. Would you go with me?"

"But mommy told me that I have to stay in and wait until she returns.."

"It's okay, I will explain it to her. We will just buy ingredients we need and immediately return home. It won't take too long. We can fly if you want."

"Yay! Yes, please," girl squealed in excitement. "And will we make pasta for mommy, too?"

"Of course, we will."

The shopping experience went even smoother than Azriel imagined. Little Adelina held his hand whole the time or held on to his pants when he needed both hands. She was curiously looking around and as a child had a lot of questions, but she didn't as much as took a step from him. During her first flight she seemed to be tense, but on way back she was more relaxed and even dared to look down on the streets of city below. When they landed at front door of her home, she looked up at him with pure adoration.

Azriel grinned with male's satisfaction and opened door for her.

"Ladies first."

Lina couldn't look happier than at that moment. She ran inside to play with her new doll while Azriel occupied the kitchen. With help of the shadows that peeked into each cabinet and drawer, he easily navigated in the small space. The simple meal was ready in no time. As a dessert, he prepared apple bunnies from the fruit he brought. Adelina called it the best meal in her life and even asked for one more portion.

Azriel's ego basked in so many praises he earned that evening. He prepared plate for Ivy and cleaned all the mess he made. Then he walked over to the sitting room and played with Adelina until it was time for her to go to the bed. He hoped that Ivy would return by the time, but Adelina told him that she usually had to stay and work until late night. Little girl on her own took shower without any protest and went to bed together with her new doll. She was fast asleep before Azriel tucked the blanket around her.

He was crawling down the narrow space of the stairs when front door opened, Ivy stood frozen with hand on handle. They gaped at each other in a shock for a while.

Ivy came to her senses as the first. "Hey.. What are you doing here?" she asked stunned. She didn't seemed to be angry at slightest, only surprised.

Azriel rubbed on the nape of his neck, awkwardly stepping into the corridor. "I'm sorry for intruding your home again and without invitation. I-I.. I brought some fruit and pastries for you and Adelina this afternoon and found her home alone, so I decided to look after her until you return."

"Oh," Ivy recoiled. "So Lana couldn't today, too. I'm so sorry for bothering you. You certainly had something more important to do-"

She started to apologize, but Azriel cut her off. "It's fine. I gladly stayed with her. She's very good kid and we had a lot of fun.. By the way, I hope you won't be angry, but I took her to the market and.. we flew. I swear I was flying slowly and not too high. She was safe whole the time."

Ivy chuckled. "I believe you. Thank you so much."

Azriel noticed big bag with groceries in her hand. "Let me help you. You must be tired. I have used your kitchen and prepared something to eat. We left a portion for you too, if you'd like."

"It's so kind of you. I don't know how to repay you for that." She looked really tired, hardly standing on her feet, so Azriel navigated her to the table and served her the meal he made.

"You don't have to. Take it as a repay for the delicious meal you prepared the last time."

She smiled sadly and picked up one of the apple bunnies. "This is cute."

While she ate, Azriel summarized events of whole afternoon for her. She didn't say much, just smiled sadly. Azriel was cleaning the plates when his shadows tapped on his shoulder. He stopped the water as quiet sobs reached his ears. He swiftly wiped his hands and returned to Ivy. She sat there with face in her hands, crying.

"I'm so sorry for everything, Azriel.. I just met you and you already did so much for us.. I don't know how to repay you for your kindness.." she sobbed, her shoulders trembling.

"As I said before, you don't have to," he assured her, rubbing on her back. "I'd gladly help you more, if you don't mind. Anytime, you have to leave Adelina alone, I can look after her. It's no problem for me. Really."

Before he left that night, they came to a silent agreement. It was quite challenge to persuade Ivy to not feel bad for it, but he was glad he did. He felt at peace to be able to check on them from time to time.

What had started just as a visit once or twice a week, soon turned into every second day and before the Solstice came, Azriel began to visit them daily. He couldn't go a day without them, not only helping to look after Adelina, but also taking them out, doing small repairs at house or just staying with them in, enjoying a peaceful moments. More time he spent with those two lovely girls, more he liked them and soon enough he wished they were his. He fell in love with both of them and his feelings grew with every minute in their presence. However, Ivy seemed to see him only as a friend, so he kept quiet about his feelings, not wanting to break the fragile relationship they built together.

The day before the Solstice he surprised them by decorating their house while they slept. He even brought in a tree that took a good quarter of their sitting room. He tried to convince himself that the joy and tears in their eyes when they saw it, were enough, that it was all he needed to be completely happy. His heart hurt at the thought that this was all he could steal for himself. No matter how he tried, it never could be enough.

As every year, he was invited to the River House to spent holidays with his family. He wanted to celebrate with them as usual, but on the other hand, he wanted to spend the holidays with Ivy and Adelina, too. He even bought them presents a month in advance - that's how much he was looking forward the holidays in their small house. He felt torn. He considered the idea to invite the two of them to the River House, so they could be together. There was only one problem - he didn't want his family to find out about them yet. They were his most guarded and the most treasured secret that he wanted to keep for only himself just a bit longer. But he couldn't decline invitation from his family either without telling them truth.

And so he ended up at the full table of decorated River House. All couples and families sat together, laughing and having a great time, while he felt left out. Of course they were talking with him, asking about his whereabouts in last couple of months, yet he didn't really felt like a part of this chaos. He was missing something. He missed his girls, Ivy and Adelina.

Whole the time he thought only about them - what they were doing, how they were celebrating, what meals Ivy prepared for the dinner. He wished the family dinner and presents exchange was already over, so he could run to give them his presents and to spend with them at least hour or two before it would be time to go to the bed.

The only thing that kept him sitting and smiling at everyone was wine. After the first bottle that he managed to drink while the appetizer was served, he stopped counting. When his family stood up as one man to move to the tree and presents, his cheeks were already burning, his vision was blurry. Cassian noticed his drunken state and chuckling he came to help him.

"What's going on? You usually don't drink so much," he was picking on him.

"You wouldn't understand that," Azriel hiccuped.

"Maybe if you explained it to me, I would understand. Have you found some nice female you are keeping secret from us? Hm?"

Azriel stopped and narrowed eyes on him. He tried to guess him, but then gave up and waved his hand over him. Cassian didn't know anything, he was just trying his luck.

"As mysterious as usual, brother," Cassian laughed and helped him to sit into the armchair by the fire.

The following events merged together. Azriel only registered a few thanks when his family opened his gifts and someone pushed in small box into his hands. The fire crackled in the hearth, sending waves of soothing warmth into the room, all the voices created a pleasant cacophony in his ears.

Azriel's eyelids grew unbearably heavy until he couldn't take it anymore and he needed to close his eyes for a moment. Next time he opened them, clocks in the house were striking eleven. Everyone already went to the bed, the house was silent.

Azriel was still quite drunken as he scrambled to his feet, the pain throbbed in his temples. He didn't mean to fall asleep, he still had presents for the girls to deliver. He stumbled to the front doors, knocking off some vase with flowers on his way. The shadows were trying to tell him something, but he just waved them away, tired.

The cold air bit his face as he dashed to the sky, dangerously swaying from side to side in the air. It was a miracle that he managed to get to Ivy's house without any serious accident. Stumbling to the front door he needed three tries to actually get to them and knock. All the windows were already dark, inside was completely silent. Unhappy that he didn't make it in time, Azriel collapsed on the threshold with shoulder pressed against the cold wood. A puff of steam left his mouth as he sobbed. The most important time of the year and he missed it out.

Suddenly the door opened and he almost fell inside. Ivy stood there in a nightgown, her scared expression replaced by relieve when she saw him.

"You scared me. I heard knock and then some strange sounds and-" she noticed his state as he struggled to get on his feet, traces of tears half frozen on his face. "Oh, Mother! Azriel, are you okay?" She hurried to help him, steadying his swaying form.

"I'm so sorry," he sobbed. "I wanted to be here for Solstice. I have even presents." He reached into a pocket between the worlds to take them out while slurring in between hiccups.

Ivy helped him get to the sitting room and sit on the sofa. She gently took wrapped boxes from him and placed them under the tree.

"You are freezing cold. I'll make you tea." She caressed him, making sure he would be fine while she would make him cup of tea to warm him up.

Azriel's heavy hand landed on her arm, his long fingers locked around her wrist, pulling her closer. With half-lidded, glossy eyes he looked up at her, dreamy smile tugging on the corners of his mouth.

"You are so beautiful and kind and perfect," he slurred in a deep voice, every second word followed by hiccups. "And I love you so much.. Really love you.. Both of you.. You are my everything.. I don't want to live without you two.."

Ivy blinked in surprise, her bottom lip trembling as her blue eyes filled with tears. "Oh, Azriel," she caressed his cold cheek, blushing. "I feel the same way for some time now. I didn't even dare to dream that someone like you could-.. But I-..I love you, too.."

Her voice was so quiet that he wasn't sure he really heard it. He convinced himself that it was just some drunken hallucination and sobbed. "I don't want to destroy our relationship.. I need you.."

"You aren't destroying anything. Quite otherwise."

"I love you," she said more clearly when he gave her a questioning look. In his current state he was kind of cute and definitely more opened than usual.

The sweetest smile spread on his face as her words reached him and he pulled her even closer. His body warmed up within seconds, the usual heat radiating from him. Heart in his chest picked up on speed.

"Angel," he murmured, cupping her face. "I want to kiss you, but I'm too drunken."

"So maybe you could do so in the morning after sleeping it out. What do you think?" she chuckled shyly.

He nodded, scrambling to his feet. Swaying and trying to find balance, he headed to the front door. However, Ivy stopped him, pulling on the back of his sweater.

"I'd prefer you to stay here tonight. I can't possibly let you go out in this state. You could get hurt or freeze to death somewhere."

He looked down at her, blinking to focus and then drew hand down his face when it failed. "I-.. Fine.."

He let Ivy lead him up the stairs. He had a hard time to get to the second floor sober, so in drunken state it was even harder, but with great help of small female and his shadows he finally climbed the last step. Ivy ushered him to her bedroom where he collapsed face down on the bed as long as wide. She carefully tucked him in the blankets.

"I'll stay down on the sofa, so you get good rest, okay?"

He hummed, long sigh of relief leaving him, his eyes already closed. The soft sheets smelled like her, like a meadow of wild flowers and a summer sun, luring him into a deep slumber. He couldn't resist it.

"I'll get you a bigger bed," he murmured seconds before falling asleep.

Ivy smiled gently as she brushed dark strands from his face. "Good night."

She took one warm blanket, checked on her daughter who miraculously slept through all the fuss, and returned to the sitting room. Settling on the sofa she felt something cold swirl around her, gently touching her and tucking blanket around her. Azriel's shadows followed her to make sure she had as much comfort as possible.

"Thank you," she whispered into the dark and fell asleep with smile on lips.

At the dawn Ivy woke up, hearing small noise from the second floor. Sighing she rolled to the her side. Her gaze fell to the nicely wrapped boxes under the tree and she smiled. So after all it wasn't a dream. Azriel really came.

Whole house smelled of pine, small decorations shone in the first rays of winter sun. Now, when Azriel was there too, everything felt festive. Last evening, with Lina they waited for him. He didn't promise to come, yet they expected him to appear at least for few minutes. They both knew very well that he had family to spend this time of year with. Nevertheless, they hoped.

They waited with dinner and opening of presents until last moment, but when it was eight and there was no sign of him, Ivy put food on the plates and they ate alone. Adelina was sad whole the time. Not even new clothes for the Azriel's doll made her smile. Gazing at the gift they prepared for him, they waited until ten in silence. Then Ivy shoved the present into the drawer and they went to the bed. Ivy read a story to her daughter and when girl fell asleep, she retired to her bedroom, but for a world she couldn't fall asleep. She was tossing, worried that maybe something happened to him and he couldn't come.

How surprised she was when all scared she went to search for the source of strange noises and found drunken and crying Azriel curled up at her door. He didn't forget nor ignored them after all. And when he confessed.. Even in his drunken state it was the sweetest thing ever. She couldn't be more happier than at that moment.

Smiling, she got up and walked over to the bookcase. She took out the present for Azriel from the drawer and careful placed it under the tree next to the ones from him. It looked so tiny compared to his gifts that she felt ashamed. She sat there thinking about all kinds of things when the realisation hit her.

Adelina had a habit of climbing into her bed in the morning. Fearing what her daughter could feel finding Azriel sleeping in the bed instead of her mum in her half-asleep state, Ivy rushed up the stairs. The door of Lina's room were opened, the little girl nowhere to be found. Ivy swore under her breath and tiptoed to the door of her bedroom. She silently pushed them open and froze on the spot.

Azriel was lying on his side, softly snoring, curled around the small form of her daughter. The little girl was pressed against his chest with head rested on his biceps. His other arm and one wing were wrapped around her, keeping her warm and protecting her from the fall from bed. They both were fast asleep, smiling softly.

Ivy couldn't believe her eyes. It was the most adorable thing she had ever seen, her chest swelled with warmth and love. Wiping tears, she quietly backed from the room and closed the door. Changing from her nightgown, she set off to the bakery to buy freshly baked bread for the breakfast, dark tendrils of shadows at her heels. The little things followed her since the last evening and she couldn't help but smile at them.

Azriel woke up, his head throbbing. He reached to his temples, realizing where he was and that little Adelina slept next to him. The pain immediately forgotten, he smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. The little girl sighed contentedly but her eyes remained closed.

He vaguely remembered how half-asleep she tugged on his arm to let her into the bed. When he made a space for her, she climbed up without a word and wrapping her small arms around his bigger one, she fell again asleep.

Carefully untangling from the blankets he got up and headed to the bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face and looked in the mirror. He looked as shitty as he felt. He shouldn't have drunk so much wine. Realising what he said in a drunken state, he headed down to look for Ivy. He didn't mean to take back any of the things he said because he meant them, but he needed to apologise for scaring her so late at the night and bothering her.

He squeezed down the narrow staircase at the same moment as front door opened.

"Good morning," Ivy greeted him merrily with steaming paper bag in hands. When she closed the door, the smell of freshly baked bread filled the air. She didn't seem to be angry at all. She gave him a shy smile and hurried to the kitchen. Azriel followed her, getting few pokes from his shadows that returned together with her. He had such hungover that he didn't even notice they were missing.

"I know," he whispered to them quietly.

"Good morning," he rasped, his voice still hoarse from sleep.

Ivy shivered at the sound, masking it by taking down her cloak and cap. "It's so cold outside," she shyly hurried out from the kitchen to hang them.

Azriel waited until she returned, thinking where to start.

"Ivy?" he said hesitantly. She turned to him, giving him all her attention. "I want to apologise for causing you troubles last night. I shouldn't have come in such state. I'm really sorry."

"No, it's fine," she smiled, uncertain.

Azriel was so nervous. His feelings were never accepted for some reason. It was hard to believe that in this case it could be any different, but he couldn't loose them. Looking down at his feet, he continued.

"Also.. I'd like to assure you that I remember everything I said and that I meant every single word. It wasn't just some drunken bullshit. I really.. love you and your daughter. I'm serious. Even if you don't feel the same way, I'd like to.. stay close to you both.. I won't bother you with my feelings anymore, just-.. Allow me to be your friend, please.."

"..silly.."

"Excuse me?" Azriel's gaze shot up.

Ivy stood in front of him, hiding smile in her palm while tears trailed down her cheeks. "If you remember everything you told me last night, then you have to also remember what I told you."

Azriel fished in his memory. He clearly remembered his words, however, everything else was blurred.

"To be honest, I'm not sure what of that was real and what was a dream," he admitted at last.

"Silly.. I told you that I love you. Don't you remember?"

Azriel's eyes widened. He thought that he imagined it all, that his drunken brain played tricks on him. He bridged the distance between them with one long step, sweeping her into his arms. Nuzzling to her hair, he inhaled deeply. Not even the smell of winter could cover her calming scent.

"I do.. I remember, but I thought that it was a dream," he murmured, squeezing her tightly. Her trembling hands fisted his sweater, holding him close.

They stayed like that for a while, then Azriel pulled away slightly. His hazel eyes searched hers. "Is the thing about the kiss true too?"

She nodded without hesitation and he didn't need more. Their lips hardly touched when light steps sounded on the stairs. They immediately jumped from each other and moved to the counter, pretending they were in the middle of preparing the breakfast. They both were fiercely blushing.

"Azriel!" Adelina squealed when she saw him. "You are here!"

She apparently didn't have any recollection of climbing to his bed earlier. Azriel smiled at her and picking her up, squeezed her in tight embrace.

"Good morning, sunshine. Of course I came. I'm sorry I didn't make it last night."

Little girl held him just as firmly. "I missed you."

"Okay, little lady," Ivy interrupted them, emotions swirling in her eyes. "Let's change and wash first. You can't eat like this."

Leading her to the door, Ivy turned and smiled sheepishly at Azriel, her cheeks still bright red. They almost got caught. Azriel could hardly believe this all. His heart hammered in his chest, all the emotions were overwhelming. He needed to busy his hands while his head was processing it all.

Before girls returned, he set the table, cut bread and prepared everything they could possibly need, not forgetting even hot cocoa. Adelina squealed happily as soon as she saw full table and ran to her seat. Azriel pulled out chair for Ivy, gently touching her as he squeezed in, too. They talked about plans for the day while eating when little girl surprised them both.

"Papa, could I get more cocoa?" She pleaded, her big blue eyes on Azriel.

His hand with bread froze on a halfway to his mouth, his breath hitched. His heart squeezed in the sweetest pain, stopping for a second, tears stinging his eyes.

"What..?" Even his voice was strangely hoarse.

Lina's eyes hesitantly skipped between two adults in front of her. "I'd like more cocoa," she repeated in small voice.

Azriel looked at Ivy, silently asking for permission and she nodded encouragingly. Wetting his dry lips, he cleared his throat.

"Sure, you can get more cocoa, but.. How did you call me?" He asked her softly, his voice slightly shaking.

He had to shove his hands under the table to hide the tremor, wiping the sweat into his pants. He hung his gaze on her small mouth, hoping she would repeat the word, dreading the impact it would have on his life. Because if she said it again, there would be no way back. He would selfishly claim this family as his own and he wouldn't let them go, cherishing them until he breathed out for the last time.

"Papa," she said in a small voice.

Azriel groaned, tears rolling down his cheeks. It was the most beautiful word he had ever heard in his long life. Clasping hands over his face he sobbed. His heart was about to explode with the happiness. After years of longing, he finally found family of his own. Finally he had someone to give his whole heart to, but instead of one, he got two hearts back. His shoulders trembled as he sobbed uncontrollably.

"Did I say something bad?" Adelina turned to her mother who cried too.

"No, sweetheart, you did nothing wrong. You just made us very happy," she explained softly and took her mug to refill it.

Adelina slipped down from her chair and stepped to Azriel.

"Pain, pain, go away," she chanted, diligently rubbing his shoulder. He swept her into his arms and sitting her on his lap, he hugged her.

"Thank you, angel," he kissed the crown of her head and nuzzled to her doll-like long hair.

Ivy joined them shortly and put the mug on the table. Azriel pulled her down to his lap and kissed her. There was no better feeling than holding both of his girls, his most precious treasures, in his arms, safely wrapped by his wings. Now they were his to care for and to protect and he swore to Gods that he would make sure they had the best life he could offer them.

[bambisworlds]

there's a man in the woods (4)

rhysand prequel, part one, part two, part three

azriel doesn't cope well with his mate getting taken from him (3,249 word count).

content warnings, mdni 18+

f!reader, bambi!oc, established relationship, poly!batboys x oc, caregiver!batboys, possessive!batboys, loving!batboys, possessive!azriel, oral (f. receiving), p in v, unprotected sex, brief use of "daddy", use of "good girl", azriel's just obsessed with bambi's scent, let me know if i forgot anything x

my masterlist

Bambi’s agitation with Rhysand faded during her bath, the combination of the comforting warm bubbly water and the scalp massage from scrubbing shampoo made her feel relaxed. Being pampered by three large, muscly, beautiful men never ceased to make her feel warm and fuzzy inside and it eased the lingering anxiety and discomfort from the day. Bambi had a satisfied smile on her face as she laid back in the tub, Cassian watched her with a fond smile as his fingers dipped slightly into the bathwater to graze against her legs. Her peace was disrupted when Azriel abruptly stood from his seat on a stool beside the tub and hastily walked into their joined bedroom.

Bambi sat up in the tub, her expression one of concern, “Az?” She calls after him, preparing to stand in the tub to follow after him but Rhysand stops her with a hand on her shoulder. He had been sitting on the edge of the tub.

“He just needs a moment sweetheart,” Rhysand says gently, his hand massaging her shoulder slightly.

“Why?” Bambi asks with furrowed eyebrows, glancing back at the bathroom doorway, “Is he okay?”

Rhysand’s eyes flicker down to the ends of her wet hair as his fingers begin to twirl one of the strands, “There was a chance he could’ve lost you today. As your mate even the idea of you being hurt is enough to drive him, or either of us mad,” Rhysand says, motioning to Cassian, “Today you were taken from us and hurt. That’s no easy thing for him to cope with, even if you are safe now.”

“He just worries about you. Sometimes too much,” Cassian smiled softly as his fingers danced on the surface of the bath water, but Bambi noticed his eyes didn’t light up like they would for his genuine smiles. It was clear Cassian struggled with worrying too much as well.

“But why would that lead him to leaving the room so quickly?” Bambi asks, still not fully understanding.

Rhysand chuckles slightly and glances over at Cassian briefly before clearing his throat and focusing back on Bambi, “Darling, you’ve been through a lot today. Why don’t we table this discussion for a later day?”

“Why can’t you just tell me now? I feel fine.” she shrugs, too worried about Azriel to drop the subject.

Rhysand grins and leans down to kiss Bambi on the forehead before straightening up again, “Well… when a male feels threatened, or they feel…” Rhysand pauses, trying to find the words.

“Worried,” Cassian answers for him.

“Yes, when a male feels worried about their mate, especially in terms of other males staking any sort of claim on their mate they get… moody. Like today for example, a male had taken you from him.” Rhysand explains.

“This feels different than just moodiness,” Bambi says, her eyebrows furrowed to the point there was a crinkle between them. Rhysand nodded slowly and his mouth twitched.

“In this particular case Azriel’s ‘moodiness’ is fixed by a method you may not be in the headspace for today, especially after everything that happened. That’s why he left. Being near you makes his moodiness worse,” Rhysand tries to explain, a grin tugging at his lips each time he says ‘moodiness’. 

“Can you just speak in plain terms? I don’t get why I would put him in a bad mood,” Bambi says exasperatedly. 

“I don’t know if it’s so much as a bad mood, as it is a possessive one,” Rhysand concludes with a grin.

“Oh,” is all Bambi mutters, realizing where he was going with this. 

“Even though we’ve been mated to you for a while now, it’s still a struggle to handle our baser instincts sometimes,” Cassian smirks and Bambi smiles slightly with her cheeks tinted pink.

“So he’s not moody, he’s horny?” she asks with a suppressed giggle.

“That’s one way of putting it,” Cassian grins, looking at Rhysand with a knowing smile. 

“In what way would you put it?” Bambi asks, resting her forearms on the edge of the tub and leaning closer to Cassian. Cassian subconsciously licks his lips as she leans closer to him.

Cassian opens and closes his mouth for a moment, “Do you remember what it was like when you first came here?” Cassian asks and Bambi nods, “For the first month or so it was mainly just you and Mor here, right?” Bambi nods again, “And why do you think that is?”

Bambi furrows her eyebrows slightly, “I don’t know, I guess so you didn’t overwhelm me.”

“That’s partially why,” Cassian nods, “But the main reason was because we nearly lost our heads when we were around you. Staying in the same house as you where your scent was all over made it even worse. Azriel’s having a relapse of sorts with that problem. That overwhelming desire to claim, protect, and possess is going crazy for him again.” 

“But… Why now? I know I was taken but it’s not like I slept with Tamlin or anything,” Bambi says. Rhysand’s jaw clenched and his grip tightened on the edge of the tub, making the porcelain crack slightly at the mention of her having sex with Tamlin. 

Cassian cleared his throat, “No, no you didn’t. But Tamlin did put his hands on you. And he knows you and Tamlin had a…” Cassian’s body stiffens and he swallows roughly, “Personal relationship before we met you,” he says through gritted teeth, “That can stir up those instincts in us, knowing someone you…” Cassian couldn’t get the words out this time, “Knowing someone like that was touching you and keeping you from us.”

Bambi nods, understanding better this time, “I didn’t realize you still struggled with those sorts of things.”

“Darling those ‘things’ never go away when you’re mated, they may calm from time to time but those instincts never go away.” Rhysand says with an amused smile.

“Why do you think I train at least 3 hours a day?” Cassian chuckles dryly, “If I don’t get that energy out somehow I’ll pummel every male who talks to you.”

Bambi can’t help but smile softly, “I thought all those instincts went away after a few months. Like after we left the House of Wind.” she shrugs. The Bat Boys had practically kept Bambi locked away in the House of Wind for three months after they mated. 

“No, they did not,” Rhysand smirks and brushes a few locks of her hair over her shoulder to get a better view of her body as she lounged in the tub, “And seeing you like this, all bare and vulnerable in the tub, it makes those instincts flare up.” Rhysand inhales deeply, his eyes fluttering shut for a moment, “Not to mention this room is practically drenched in your scent.”

“Should I go check on him?” Bambi asks gently, glancing at the bathroom door.

“That depends on what you’re in the mood for tonight. If you’d rather just take a bath then go to bed I’d leave him be, he’ll come back when he’s ready,” Rhysand says. Bambi nibbles on her bottom lip for a moment before rising to her feet in the tub, both Rhysand and Cassian’s hand instinctively move out to steady her in case she loses balance. 

“Careful baby,” Cassian mumbles as he helps Bambi out of the tub while Rhysand grabbed a heated towel and wrapped it around her.

“I’m gonna check on him,” Bambi says firmly and Rhysand grins.

“Okay baby, go check on him,” he encourages with a chuckle, placing a pat on her butt as she leaves the bathroom. Bambi could faintly hear Cassian snickering as she walked into the bedroom but didn’t pay it any mind. She glanced around for Azriel but he wasn’t there. Her feet padded on the wood floors as she peeked into the hall.

“Az?” she called for him, holding the oversized bath towel around her body. She stopped in front of the open doorway to one of the guest rooms that used to be Azriel’s bedroom. Now they all shared a bedroom. Azriel was standing on the balcony in the dark room. Bambi quietly walked over to him, “Are you okay?” she asks gently as she stands beside him. Azriel’s eyes immediately flicker down to her and the towel wrapped around her. 

“I’m fine,” he says, his wings bristling slightly as he catches a whiff of her natural scent, “You’re going to catch a chill,” Azriel murmurs, ushering her back into the bedroom and closing the balcony door behind them. 

“Why are you in here?” Becca asks, glancing around the dark bedroom. 

Azriel follows her gaze, “It holds fond memories. It brings me peace I suppose.” he says before looking back down at her with a grin, “Why are you in here? I thought you were taking a bath.”

“Because you’re in here,” she says with a soft smile.

Azriel hums in acknowledgement and his eyes slowly scanned her partially covered body from head to toe. “Do you know what my favorite memory of this room is?” he asks huskily.

“No,” Bambi mutters and Azriel takes a step closer to her, he leaned down until his nose brushed against the top of her head before trailing it down and inhaling deeply against her neck.

“It was when I fucked you for the first time,” he says with a low rumble in his chest, stepping even closer until their bodies were pressed firmly together and his breath was hot against her neck, “Right over there on that bed.” he mumbles, tilting his head just enough to glance at the four poster bed in the room, “My sheets smelled like you for days after. I wanted to drown in your scent.” His wings bristled slightly as he spoke. Bambi shivered slightly, not expecting him to be so blunt, “I still do, even after all this time.” he says breathily, nibbling on her neck slightly, “You smell so. Fucking. Good.” he sighs, emphasizing each word he spoke, “But you know what’s even better?” Azriel smirks.

“What?” Bambi whispers, almost forgetting how to form words for a moment.

“You smell like me now too,” Azriel purrs, nipping at her neck again but a little harder this time. “Because you're my mate. And right over there in that bed is where I made you mine.” Bambi’s eyes flutter closed and her hands absentmindedly lifted to grip his shirt. Azriel’s large hands gripped onto Bambi’s sides just above the flare of her hips, “You’re mine now, aren’t you baby?”

“Mhm,” Bambi hums with a nod and Azriel’s grip on her tightens.

“Mhm,” Azriel echoes with a grin as he begins to kiss and nip at her jawline, “You’re mine forever. Which means there’s always gonna be a bit of my scent on you. In your hair, on your clothes, on your neck…” Azriel mumbles against her skin, “In between your legs.” Bambi couldn’t help the shaky breath of air that left her from his words, her grip on his shirt tightening, “That’s my favorite place to leave my scent. And that’s where you smell the best too, baby.” he grumbles as he begins to place open mouthed kisses on her neck. 

“Az,” Bambi breathes, instinctively leaning closer to him. Azriel moans lowly at the sound of his name on her tongue and his grip on her grows near painful. 

“What baby? What do you need?” Azriel rumbles. Bambi could only whimper slightly, nuzzling her face against his chest, “My baby needs me, doesn’t she?” he asks and Bambi nods in response with another needy sound, “I know. I know you do, baby.” he murmurs as his hands sneak down to grip onto the underside of her thighs. He lifted her up and carried her over to the bed. Bambi couldn’t help but smile as he carried her over to the bed and laid her down. Azriel leaned over the bed, still remaining on his feet but bracing his hands on either side of her head as he loomed over her, “What’s the smile for, hm?” he asks with a grin, “You like being treated like a princess?” he teases, “You like being treated like your feet are too precious to touch the ground?” he smiles as he leans down to kiss her. The kiss was languid and unhurried, but their heavy breathing made it clear how much they desired each other. 

Azriel’s hand slipped down to teasingly tug on one of her toes, earning a yelp from Bambi and a chuckle from Azriel. He dipped his head down to suck a mark onto her neck as he gently massaged her foot. Azriel’s lips made their way down Bambi’s collarbone and to the swell of her breasts as his hands skimmed up her body until they rested on her thighs below where the towel sat on her body. His assault of kisses stopped as he bunched up the bottom of the towel to her belly button.

Azriel moaned unabashedly as her cunt came into view. His hand immediately moved, rubbing her clit with his thumb. Bambi moaned sweetly, her legs instinctively spreading wider, “That’s it,” Azriel encourages, “Let me see that pretty little pussy,” he murmurs, his breathing growing heavier as he looked back and forth between her face and where his thumb was busy between her thighs.

Unable to take it any longer, Azriel dropped to his knees between her spread thighs and licked up her cunt with a flattened tongue. His wings twitched rapidly, a physical representation of how turned on he got by tasting her. Azriel’s hands gripped Bambi’s thighs, tugging her further down the bed so her ass dangled off the end while he worked her cunt with his mouth. Azriel moaned in satisfaction, one of his arms sneaking beneath her lower back to lift her hips off the bed so her pussy was more level with his mouth. He pulled away for a moment, his eyes scanning over her intimate areas like one would admire a painting. 

Bambi looked down at him, her own breathing growing ragged. She wanted him to keep going, but she knew Azriel had a fascination with her cunt. He was borderline obsessed with it and often just stared at it when he had the chance. Bambi pouts with a slight wiggle and Azriel finally looks up at her face, “I know baby, I’ll take care of it,” he says as he begins his ministrations again with a groan. His hand that wasn’t against her back haphazardly reached up to tug the towel open all the way and he immediately groped and squeezed at her breasts. His fingers tweaked and pinched one of her nipples, enjoying Bambi’s gasps and slight jerk of her body against his mouth. As Bambi began to squirm too much his hand moved down to press against her pelvis so she stayed where he wanted her.

The sound of Bambi’s shaky whines and mewls spurred him on. Only when she tensed and came with a keening cry did his efforts gentle. He moaned contentedly, sucking on her clit as she spasmed and twitched while his hand rubbed her lower belly soothingly. As her legs fell limp on the bed he rose to his feet and tugged the towel out from under her and tossed it on the floor. Azriel began to strip off his clothes while Bambi basked in her afterglow. Her legs instinctively began to close but Azriel pushed them back open as he stripped off his last piece of clothing, “C’mere baby,” he mumbled as he settled behind her on the bed so he was spooning her. Azriel wrapped his arms around her and nudged one of her legs over his meaty thighs so he had better access to her.

“Guide me inside you sweetheart.” Azriel pants, holding her firmly against his chest. Bambi reaches down to position the head of his cock against her opening and Azriel rolls his hips to inch the head of his cock into her, “Mmh, fuck,” Azriel moans as he eased his cock into her. He dropped his face into the crook of her neck. Bambi whimpered and her leg slipped off of his, “Keep your leg there baby, you want Daddy to get nice and deep in this pussy don’t you?” he asks breathily against her ear and she nods, lifting her leg back over his, “Good girl,” Azriel encourages as he begins to rock his hips. He choked out a moan, holding onto her even tighter. 

Bambi’s eyes fluttered shut and her body melted against his with little moans and mewls. “That’s it, let me do all the work,” Azriel whispered into her ear. “You feel so good,” Azriel practically whimpered as he began to pick up the pace of his thrusts. Bambi’s toes curled with a high pitched cry as he picked up speed.

Bambi nods mindlessly in agreement to his words, her head laying limp against the pillows while she begins to drool slightly onto the pillowcase. Azriel’s cock was hitting every special spot inside her and she didn’t think she could speak if she tried. Azriel’s hand snaked up to cup one of her breasts, using it as leverage as he snapped his hips with increasing urgency. His other hand gripped onto her thigh, lifting her leg higher so he could reach deeper inside her. 

“My perfect mate, my beautiful little girl,” Azriel mumbled and moaned praises into her ear, his thrusts unrelenting, “I love you so fucking much,” Azriel chokes out as her walls began to squeeze around him. Bambi blindly reached behind her to grip onto his hip, her other hand white knuckling the sheets. While keeping her leg lifted, Azriel reached down to rub her clit with his other hand, “C’mon angel, I can feel how close you are.” 

Bambi babbles nonsense slurred with moans, trying to rock her hips in time with his for even more friction. Azriel’s grip tightened on Bambi’s thigh as she neared her peak and began to squirm in his hold. His eyes rolled back with a shaky moan as Bambi came, her body convulsing as she cried out in ecstasy. Azriel’s forehead fell to the back of her head, his mouth falling open with ragged moans as he continued to fuck her through her high. He was near drooling as well as he came, his wings flaring slightly behind him. Azriel’s hand that was gripping her thigh quickly flew down to press against her lower belly as he buried himself to the hilt inside her, his hips jerking as he filled her with his cum. 

After a few moments of nothing but Azriel’s quiet moans and Bambi’s heavy breathing, she reached down to intertwine her fingers with his. Azriel held her hand tightly, his nose nuzzling against the back of her head as he remained inside her. He slipped his other arm beneath her neck to serve as a pillow for her and kept Bambi firmly against him.

“I would do anything for you,” Azriel murmurs in her ear. Bambi was nearly brought to tears from the sincerity in his voice, she could feel his love for her through the bond and it crashed over her like a wave. 

“I love you,” Bambi says with a slight tremor in her voice as she tilted her head to the side. Azriel nuzzled his nose against hers before pouring all of his love for her into a kiss. 

if you have any requests including the people on my masterlist please comment them below any of my posts or in my submissions!! (check here: about my blog  to see what things i'm not comfortable with in regards to requests <3)

[msmorningstaarr]

guy next door | joel miller x oc (angie reed) | chapter I

ao3 | masterlist

summary: During the summer of 2003, Angie had recently moved into her parent’s new home in Austin at their guest house to have a fresh start after a nasty break up with her fiancé. Her new neighbor, Joel Miller, is more than happy to make her feel welcome to the neighborhood. pairing: joel miller x female oc (angie reed) tags: fluff, long fic, romance, slight angst eventually, oc has no physical description, oc is early 20s joel is late 20s, eventual smut, slow burn, mentions of infidelity, no outbreak au!, 2003 au!, soft joel, good daddy joel, sarah going into her teenage dirtbag phase, trust issues, domestic fluff, protective joel, eventual sex, w.c: 5.6k a.n.: so i’ve post it before but somethings were really shitty and i figured i needed to change somethings in my writing. i really hope you guys like it as much as i liked writing it. likes, comments and reblogs are not mandatory but very appreciated! 💖

“Shit…” Sarah stared at herself in the mirror, eyes wide with shock. It had happened. She bit her lip, trying desperately to think of a plan, but her mind was blank. There, on the back of her white shorts, was a red stain, impossible to ignore, especially as she was getting ready for a neighbor’s pool party. She was alone, with her dad and uncle likely out grabbing beers somewhere before the evening feast they were all supposed to attend. But even if they’d been there, Joel and Tommy would have been of no help in this situation at all.

Sarah sank onto the bathroom floor, clutching her stomach as she started to cry in confusion and a certain desperation. She had no mother to explain exactly what periods were, which pads to wear or simply comfort her in this experience. The cramps twisted hard in her abdomen, and waves of panic surged over her. Glancing back at the mirror, she put her hands over her face, already feeling defeated as she looked for some practical way to cover the growing stain. In a flash of impulse, she grabbed an old sweater from her laundry basket, tying it around her waist.

Peeking out the window, Sarah spotted a young woman across the street, carrying some boxes in front of the guest house inside the property, next to the main house. The woman looked alone and with luck, she might be kind enough to help. Sarah took a shaky breath and headed out, trying to stomp confidently but having her body allowing her no more than a slow walk outside of the house, while the girl carried the last box upstairs to her home, closing the door without seeing Sarah.

Across the street, Angie wiped the sweat from her forehead, her messy bun barely containing her damp hair as she moved the last of the boxes inside. Her parents had bought this property in Austin to be closer to her during a rough patch and to settle into a quieter life in the suburbs. Today’s scorching Texas heat seemed almost punishing, making her feel as if this exhausting day would never end. Inside, hills of boxes and scattered bubble wrap covered every corner of her new home. All she wanted was a cold shower before unwinding and unpacking in peace.

This move to Austin was supposed to be a fresh start. Angie’s engagement had ended bitterly, shattering her dreams of a future with Trey. She’d pictured marriage, a family, a life together — until he drifted away, leaving her for someone else under the cheap excuse he had to focus on his engineering career. Her parents had been nothing but supportive, and when she finally agreed to their plan to move closer, they wasted no time making it happen, but still threw some words along the line of ‘he’ll fall in line soon and will ask you back’, Angie, however, seemed determined to let Trey go once and for all. Now, standing amid all these boxes, Angie reminded herself that maybe, just maybe, this change would be good.

She let the cool water from the shower wash over her, sighing as the day’s stress melted away. The sweat and grime were replaced with the soft, clean scent of soap. She was drying off and feeling lighter when a sudden, persistent knock sounded at her door. Wrapping herself in a towel, she walked to the door, slightly annoyed.

“Mom, I said I don’t–” she began, opening the door, but paused when she saw a young girl standing there. The girl’s face was flushed, her fingers fidgeting nervously over her belly. She looked no older than thirteen. Angie raised her eyebrows, slightly concerned.

“Oh, hi sweetie,” she said gently, leaning against the doorframe.

“H-hi… I’m Sarah,” the girl stammered as she looked down, clearly embarrassed.

“How can I help you, kiddo?” Angie asked, folding her arms, her voice softening.

“I… I’m having… issues,” Sarah muttered, glancing down, her dark skinned cheeks turning pink. Angie paused, sensing what the problem might be but waiting for Sarah to say it herself.

“Issues?” Angie asked, tilting her head with a gentle smile.

“Yeah…” Sarah bit her lip, hesitating. “Girl issues?”

“You got your period, huh?” Angie asked, her voice warm with understanding. She smiled and rolled her eyes in sympathy. “Come on in, honey. I’m Angie, by the way.”

Sarah’s face lit up with relief, though her eyes still held a trace of sadness and uncertainty. “Thank you,” she whispered, grateful for the kindness of this stranger who had quickly become her lifeline.

“Don’t mind the mess, ‘just moved in,” Angie walked towards her bedroom as she loudly spoke, finding some tanktop and shorts to wear after showering herself.

“No troubles.” Sarah replied, standing still, once she was scared she would leave some stain in Angie’s couch. As soon as Angie returned, Sarah peeked at the older girl carrying a bag and having a towel wrapped around her head.

“Did your mom ever talk to you about periods?” She asked, placing the pink small bag over the table. Sarah narrowed her eyes, feeling an involuntary urge to cry as she heard the word “mom”. She never gave much thought to her mom or the fact she left her and Joel to live a dutiless life, but this new change in her body brought her new emotions that Sarah couldn’t fathom of where it came from. Her eyes teared up, triggered by that simple sentence and Angie looked at the child, concerned she said something she wasn’t supposed to.

“Oh, honey,” Angie murmured, realizing she had touched a nerve. She placed a comforting hand on Sarah’s shoulder, guiding her to the couch, where they sat together. “I’m so sorry if I said something that hurt you,” she said softly. “Look, why don’t we start by going through a few basics? I brought some things that might help. This little guy,” she said, pointing to a pad. “is going to be your new best friend for a few days each month. It might seem strange at first, but everyone’s been through it. I’ll walk you through how to use it. And, just so you know, cramps and weird feelings can come with the territory, too. That’s what these tablets are for, they’ll help with the stomach aches.”

Sarah’s eyes flickered to the chocolate bar, and Angie chuckled, nudging it towards her. “Chocolate helps too. I promise.”

A faint smile crossed Sarah’s lips, and she reached for the bar, unwrapping it slowly. “Thanks,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

“No problem,” Angie replied, her tone light. “Periods can be damn bad, especially the first time. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll see it’s just a part of life.”

Sarah took a deep breath, her gaze focused on the pad as she tried to ignore the ache in her stomach. Angie handed it to her, explaining how it would attach to her underwear, going through the steps carefully but casually to keep things light. Once Sarah seemed to understand, Angie gently squeezed her shoulder. Sarah took a bite of chocolate, letting the sweetness calm her. She looked down at the pads on the table, still feeling a bit lost. “It’s just… I don’t know anything about this stuff,” she admitted, twisting the wrapper nervously. “I didn’t even know it would… hurt like this.”

“Y’know,” Angie added, showing her Texan accent. “it’s perfectly okay to feel whatever you’re feeling right now. Sad, scared, or even mad. ‘S a big change, and it can be a lot to take in. But I promise, it gets easier.”

“Does it? My belly hurts real bad now.” Sarah replied, pouting her lips as she pressed some heat from her hands over her abdomen. Angie laughed faintly and caressed the girl’s long curls.

“It does, sweetie,” Angie said, still patting her hair. “But there’ll be times you’ll be dying for your period to come.”

Sarah looked at Angie puzzled at face and then, Angie realized she was talking to a thirteen year old who had no idea of what she was talking about. “In a few years you’ll understand, kiddo.” She completed, grabbing her chin and Sarah shrugged.

“What about these?” Sarah asked, getting a long tampon in her hands, horrified by its size. “Do you put this like… right there?”

Angie crossed her arms after scratching her eyebrows and smiling briefly amongst the mess in her living room. “Yeah… this one might be too much for you now, kiddo. Let’s keep on the tampons for now, ‘kay?”

“Thanks,” Sarah said, her face relaxing a little. She glanced again at the tampon on the table, her curiosity lingering, but it was comforting to know she didn’t have to figure it all out right away.

“Anytime,” Angie replied, giving her a reassuring smile. “Y’can lay down in my bedroom. ‘S the only place is not full of boxes, I’ll get the heating pad warm for you.”

Meanwhile, Joel and Tommy strolled home beneath the relentless sun, the cold coming from the beer packs offering a welcome chill against their chests. The day was blazing, and they were more than ready to kick back and enjoy the afternoon ahead. “I was talkin’ with Herschel at the liquor store and he talked about this cute lil’ thing living right across the street,” Tommy said, waiting for Joel to open the front door. Joel remained silent, not giving too much thought about it. He had dated a few ladies in the past, but none worked out for him. For now, he was solely focused on raising Sarah.

“Tell me ‘bout that,” he replied, pretending to be interested in his brother’s typical womanizing chatter as he turned the key in the lock.

As they stepped inside, Joel paused, immediately noticing the unusual quiet that filled the house. The TV was off, and there was no trace of Sarah bustling around or playing music like she often did. Joel’s eyes drifted up the stairs, figuring she was probably in her room, getting ready for the neighbor’s pool party. He shrugged it off, glancing at Tommy, who raised an eyebrow in silent question.

“I saw her carrying loads of boxes into that house that belonged to that Thomas family who moved away to Arizona,” Tommy continued, getting into Joel’s home as he opened the door. “Guess that means she’s new to the neighborhood. What an eye-candy, all sweaty, beautiful legs, cute smile.”

Joel shrugged as he dropped his keys onto the table. “New neighbors, huh? That’s nice, I guess.” He walked into the living room, his mind still half-focused on Sarah and her quiet absence.

“C’mon, man! You should at least check her out!” Tommy urged, following Joel into the room. “Could be a good distraction for you.”

Joel shot him a look, half-amused and half-annoyed. “Not interested, Tommy. I’ve got enough on my plate right now.”

“Yeah, but it wouldn’t hurt to make some friends,” Tommy countered, a smirk spreading across his face. “Especially if they have those pretty legs like the new neighbor.”

Joel shook his head, unable to suppress a smile despite himself. “You’re an asshole.” He couldn’t help but appreciate Tommy’s enthusiasm, even if he had no intention of pursuing anything beyond his responsibilities. “Let’s just focus on getting ready for the party.” He said, trying to redirect the conversation. He called out for Sarah, raising his voice slightly. “Sarah!”

There was no response. He frowned and glanced toward the stairs, hearing only silence echoing back at him. “Hey, Sarah! You up there?” he tried again, a hint of concern creeping into his voice as he made his way toward the stairs.

Tommy followed him, still grinning. “She’s probably just taking her sweet time,” he said, crossing his arms. “You know how girls can be. Maybe she’s trying on every outfit she has.”

Joel roamed the second floor of his house, checking for his daughter. Looked inside his and her bedroom, the bathroom, nothing. A pang of worry fell upon Joel. “Tommy, check if Sarah’s downstairs!” Joel asked, yelling from the second floor as he went down the stairs. Tommy nodded, a hint of seriousness now creeping into his playful demeanor. He sprinted to the bottom of the stairs and looked around the living room. “Sarah! You down here?” he shouted, but only silence responded.

Joel reached the last step, his heart racing a little faster as he glanced around. “Sarah!” he called again, his voice laced with concern. “Where are you?”

He walked into the living room, scanning every corner, and then turned toward the kitchen, thinking she might be grabbing a snack. The kitchen was empty, too. Joel felt a knot tighten in his chest.

“Maybe she’s outside?” Tommy suggested, moving toward the back door. “You know how kids like to hang out in the yard when they think no one’s watching.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Joel replied, trying to push away the worry gnawing at him. As Tommy opened the door and stepped outside, Joel followed close behind. The bright sun hit him, and he squinted, scanning the backyard for any sign of his daughter.

“Sarah!” Tommy called out again, his voice carrying over the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze. Still no answer. Joel stepped further onto the patio, a sinking feeling settling deeper in his gut.

“Let’s check the front,” Joel suggested, feeling the need to cover all bases. As they moved around the house to the front yard, he felt an unsettling sense of urgency. “If she’s not in the backyard, she could have gone to the Adler’s or something.”

“Sarah!” Joel called out, stepping onto the porch and peering inside. “Are you in there?”

Just as he was about to knock, a voice floated back to him, a familiar voice, but tinged with uncertainty. “I’m here!” Sarah replied, her tone brightening with relief.

Joel exchanged a quick glance with Tommy, both of them relaxing slightly. They saw Sarah coming downstairs from the neighbor’s home with a girl next to her, stepping slowly as she carried a heating pad over her belly. “What’s going on, kiddo?” Joel asked, breathing relieved as he saw his daughter safe and sound, but puzzled as to why his daughter had brought a heating pad on the hottest day of June.

“Uh… hey,” Angie said, extending her hand at Joel, who shook hands with her briefly and mainly focusing on Sarah’s well-being. “My name’s Angie, I’m your new neighbor livin’ ‘cross the street. I’d take it easy on her, uh… she’s gone through a bit too much this last hour.”

“Um… hi Angie, thanks for watching her, I’m Joel.” Joel said, trying to be as polite as possible. “As for you, going out without my permission and disturbing the new neighbors Sarah, c’mon…” he finished, rolling his eyes.

“No, dad, you don’t get it…” Sarah said, trying to reason with Joel.

“Yeah, good luck with that, miss,” Tommy chimed in, his hands shoved into his pockets as he tried to disguise a laugh at the father-daughter exchange.

“She was actually looking for help,” Angie interjected, sensing the tension. “Sarah needed someone to talk to about… well, girl stuff. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.” Joel raised an eyebrow, momentarily confused. He exchanged a glance with Tommy, who seemed just as puzzled.

Angie approached them, holding out a bag filled with toiletries. “Hate to be the messenger, but your daughter went through, um… the change,” she said, her tone gentle but matter-of-fact.

Joel’s heart sank, and he felt like being hit like a ton of bricks as his cheeks grew red of embarrassment. He looked from Angie to Sarah, who stood there with a mixture of shame and vulnerability. “Oh,” he said slowly, his voice barely above a whisper. “You mean…”

“Yeah, I got my period,” Sarah admitted, her voice annoyed. “I didn’t know what to do, and Angie helped me.”

Tommy, realizing the gravity of the moment, stopped his teasing and looked at Sarah with an unexpected seriousness. “Hey kiddo, don’t feel bad” he said, trying to lighten the mood, but his tone was respectful. “You’re not alone in this.”

Sarah rolled her eyes, annoyance flooding her cheeks as she hid her face in her hands. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she muttered, wishing she could just disappear.

Joel took a deep breath, processing everything. “I’m glad you had someone to talk to, Sarah,” he said, his protective instincts kicking in. “But you should have come to me. I can help too.”

“No, Dad, you can’t! Ugh!” Sarah exclaimed, exasperation lacing her words. “You don’t understand! It’s just... embarrassing. Ugh! Nobody gets me!”

Angie watched the exchange, sensing the emotional intensity of the moment. She looked at Joel, unsure of how to proceed from there. This was clearly a delicate situation, and she wanted to offer support without overstepping. Tommy, sensing the need for space, quietly stepped back inside the house, leaving Sarah and Joel alone and closed the door behind him, allowing the father and daughter to have their moment without distraction.

“Sarah, honey, I think that you shouldn’ talk to your dad like this.” Angie said, with a soft voice as her heavy southern accent was shown. “I tell you that, go home and rest, take these with you.” Angie completed her sentence, giving Joel the sack of feminine products.

“Go home and rest. Sometimes just lying down for a bit can help. And if you need to talk, ’m right across the street,” she added, her tone reassuring.

Sarah hesitated, glancing at the items in Angie’s hand. “Thanks, I guess. But it’s just… weird.”

Angie chuckled lightly. “‘S part of life sweetie, in time things will settle.”

Joel nodded in agreement. “Angie’s right, kiddo. And I promise, it’s not as scary as it seems. Just remember, it’s a normal part of life.”

“You know nothing, dad,” Sarah hit back, rolling her eyes. Feeling the weight of their words, the girl took a deep breath. “Okay, okay. I’ll take them.” She reached out and accepted the items, a small smile breaking through her earlier frustration. “Thanks, Angie.”

“Anytime, sweet pea,” Angie replied, her voice filled with sincerity. “And if you need anything else, just knock on my door. Seriously.”

With a final glance between them, Sarah felt a little more at ease. “Alright, I’m heading home. I guess I can rest and NO PARTY for us!”

Sarah turned to walk away, speaking in a loud, grumpy and bossy tone. Joel grinned and scratched his eyes before looking at Angie more carefully. The girl was indeed a cute little thing with her hair humid and wavy, her features so delicate and feminine that it became almost impossible to not notice her. Her lips were also perfectly shaped. He couldn’t deny, she really was an eye-candy just like Tommy said, but he was quick to send these thoughts away.

“Uh… I had no chance to say thank you. You’re probably full of stuff to do and-...” Joel said, strangely clumsy around the girl before she interrupted him. Angie, on the other hand, found Joel really attractive with his broad shoulders and messy curls, covered in sweat. However, she was also quick to shoo these thoughts away, once she didn’t want to suffer from another bad relationship. For now, Angie wanted to take care of herself. “How much all the… uh, lady products,” he scoffed, oddly timid. “Costed?”

She chuckled gently, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Hey, don’t worry ‘bout that. I’ve been in her place back in the day, it’s tough. Besides, she’s a peach so don’t worry about a thing ‘kay? Face this as a gift from a new neighbor.”

Joel beamed, proud from the education he gave to his daughter. “Yeah but, uh… will she always be this cranky? She was this sweet little girl just yesterday and now looks like a monster swallowed my daughter.”

Angie raised her eyebrows, laughing. “You’ll learn how to handle it just in time. My old man took a while to get used to it too.”

Joel laughed faintly, ignoring the sun towering them. “Y’know what? Why don’t you join us for dinner? The party I’d go to is ruined now so I have loads of beer untouched. I’m no chef but I could cook somethin’ nice. Just a way to say thank you for taking care of my baby girl.”

“I don’t wanna bother anyone, Joel. Really…” Angie said, with a sincere expression.

“C’mon, I insist. You went out of your way to take care of a kid you barely knew.” Joel beamed, crossing his arms.

Angie sighed and smiled as she scratched her eyebrows, nodding her head reluctantly. “Alright, fine. Thanks for the invitation.”

“Not at all, sweetheart.” Joel said, leaving a thrill down Angie’s spine as soon as he called her by a term of endearment. “See ya.”

“See ya.” Angie said, going back to her house.

—

Angie closed the door behind her, biting her lips as her mind recollected the last moments with Sarah’s dad. He was a nice guy, your regular guy next door: talk, muscular, kind, handsome, charming and seemingly a good father. Joel seemed to be a perfect guy for Angie on paper and she couldn’t deny the instant attraction she felt for him as soon as she laid her eyes on him. Although, at the same time, Angie was still mourning the end of her relationship with Trey and everything he could be with her, it ached her heart knowing he was already engaged to a girl who apparently wanted the same things as him. Angie needed to learn how to be alone and get back on her feet first and then, she would think about dating someone else.

Later that evening, Angie started prepping for the dinner Joel had invited her to. She didn’t want to overdress, but she also didn’t want to show up looking like she hadn’t given it any thought. She opted for a simple, casual dress, something comfortable but flattering. As she checked herself in the mirror one last time, Angie took a deep breath.

As she walked to Joel’s home across the street, she felt a slight shame since she couldn’t prepare any meal for the dinner, since her kitchen wasn’t set up yet. The fresh evening air helped to settle her nerves, though, and by the time she reached his door, she felt more at ease. She rang the bell and a few seconds later, Joel opened the door. His expression softened as he saw her, a warm smile spreading across his face.

“Glad you came,” he said, stepping aside to let her in.

“Thanks again for inviting me,” Angie replied, stepping over the threshold. “Sorry for not bringing anything, my kitchen isn’t set up yet.”

“Don’t you worry ‘bout a thing, sweetie, you’re our guest,” Joel’s place was cozy and welcoming, a blend of his laid-back personality and something subtly protective. The aroma of a home-cooked meal lingered in the air, and Angie felt an unexpected pang of nostalgia for moments like this.

“Oh it smells good for sure,” Angie said, laughing as she walked inside his house. “Your house is beautiful, by the way.”

“Thank you darlin’, I made ‘few pieces from the furniture,” he said, placing his hand over the thick wood on the counter.”

Angie widened her eyes, surprised as she looked at the fine wooden mobilia. “How talented. Are you a carpenter?”

“Contractor. Me and my brother, Tommy. The one you saw earlier.” He said, sitting on the couch alongside Angie, who adjusted the skirt of her dress as she sat comfortably on.

“Well, my parents will definitely need your services one of these days,” she said, glancing upstairs with a subtle curiosity for any sign of Sarah.

"Oh, really?" Joel arched a brow in surprise, a soft smile pulling at his lips. "Thinking about renovations already, darlin'?"

"Well, sorta," she chuckled. "They’re letting me stay in the guest house for a while. ‘S temporary, just until they settle into the main place and decide what to do with it. It’s… a nice way for me to get back on my feet too.”

Joel nodded thoughtfully. “That’s great. It’s hard to find good places that feel like home right away, you know? Sounds like they’re lookin’ out for you.”

“Yeah, I think so,” she replied, smiling softly as she glanced around his house again. “Funny enough, this neighborhood already feels a little like home.”

"'S a nice neighborhood to live in," Joel agreed, his voice soft. "Very peaceful, just good folks all around. Just a shame I’ll have to get used to not seeing you here eventually."

Angie’s cheeks flushed, and she felt a flutter in her chest at his words. "Well, thank you, but I wouldn’t worry too much. I’ll stick around a while." She chuckled. "Had to leave my ol’ job in Dalla to make this move.”

Joel’s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Dallas, huh? That’s a big shift."

“Yeah,” she replied with a shrug. "My folks thought it’d be a good time for me to slow down a bit… and I think they’re right. But it’s a whole new chapter."

Joel nodded. "Big change, but you’ll fit in just fine here. And who knows, maybe we can convince you to stay longer than you’re planning." He shot her a warm, playful look, letting the words hang with a hint of invitation. “I know for a fact that Sarah was already talking ‘bout how cool you are.”

Angie laughed, letting the ease of his company make her feel even more at home. "Well, don’t go making offers like that. I just might take you up on it." She met his gaze, feeling a spark pass between them that was both comforting and scary.

“Dad!” Sarah’s voice echoed as she bounded down the stairs, breaking the quiet warmth that had settled between Joel and Angie.

Joel straightened, glancing over at Angie with a quick, sheepish smile before turning to Sarah. "Hey, kiddo, what’s up?”

“Hey Angie, you came.” Sarah said, greeting the older girl with a tight embrace, which Angie accepted just fine.

“I see you got better, my dear.” Angie said, releasing the girl from her arms.

Sarah nodded. “Yeah, I think I’m good now,” she said, flashing a shy smile toward Angie. “Thanks for... you know, helping me out.”

Angie smiled warmly. “Anytime, Sarah. You’ve got this.”

“We were just waitin’ for you, baby. Let’s go before the dinner gets cold,” Joel said, guiding the girls towards the kitchen. Angie felt a quiet warmth settle over her as she realized how rare and precious connections like this could be. It was something she hadn't felt in a long time. As the evening wore on, a gentle silence settled between them, one that didn’t feel the least bit awkward or demanding.

“So, Angie,” Joel began after swallowing a bite of his steak. “You were tellin’ me you had to find a new job in the city. What d’you work with, darlin’?”

“I’m a hairdresser.” Angie replied as she had a sip of her beer, watching Sarah’s eyes widening as she spoke.

“That’s so cool! You could do my hair like Janet Jackson’s sometime!” The girl said, excitedly.

“Kiddo, let’s not abuse from the good will of Angie,” Joel scratched his beard, slightly shy for her behavior. Either way, he had to admit it was cute to see his girl so excited over someone, he figured that Angie could be a good influence on her just for the short amount of time they spent together.

"Relax, we can arrange that, honey," Angie reassured, giving Sarah a warm smile. "But, between us? I think your natural curls are way prettier. Had a friend in beauty school, she had these beautiful curls, all big and curly like yours," Angie said, eating a piece of vegetable quickly. “She taught me ‘few things. I can show you how to make your hair even prettier.”

“Thanks, Angie,” Sarah replied, with a soft smile.

Joel nodded, watching Sarah’s confidence grow under their attention. "Don’t you have a friend whose mom works at that hair salon downtown, darlin’?” he asked, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

Sarah nodded as she took a sip of her juice. “Yeah, Ellie’s mom,” she replied, glancing up curiously.

Joel raised an eyebrow, casting a quick look at Angie. “Well, maybe next time you’re over there, you can mention Angie to her mom. She’s lookin’ for a job.”

Angie’s eyes widened, her surprise quickly melting into a smile. “Oh, Joel, you don’t have to do that,” she said, though she was clearly touched by his thoughtfulness.

"Sure I do,” he replied warmly. "Good folks ought to help each other out. Besides, Sarah’s got the inside track on the best stylist in town now.”

Sarah grinned, clearly pleased to be involved in a conversation that felt almost grown-up, as though she were part of some small conspiracy between them. She looked from Joel to Angie, excitement dancing in her eyes. “I can do that!”

Angie laughed softly. "Guess I better thank you both then,” she said, her gaze meeting Joel’s with appreciation.

Joel shrugged, his voice warm. “Like I said, just lookin' out for good people.” Angie smiled tenderly at Joel, nodding at him in a silent gratefulness.

As the evening went on, laughter and conversation flowed easily, but eventually a comfortable silence settled around them, a stillness that didn’t need to be filled. They shared small smiles across the table, each appreciating the peace that came with the evening. Sarah eventually fell asleep as they watched a random movie on the TV. Joel glanced at Angie, his gaze steady and kind, as though he, too, was almost surrendering himself to sleep.

“Oh, guess someone fell asleep,” Angie murmured with a soft smile as she noticed Sarah’s eyelids drooping. Joel smiled silently, reaching to lift his daughter in his arms.

“She’s always like that,” he whispered, his voice warm as he carried Sarah upstairs, cradling her gently. Angie followed quietly, watching as Joel carefully tucked Sarah into bed, smoothing the duvet around her with a tenderness that softened his rough edges. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before turning back to Angie, who stood by the doorway, watching the scene with a softened gaze.

Once they stepped into the hallway, Angie took a breath, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Well… I guess I should get going,” she said, gathering her things with a polite smile.

But as she stood there, a small pang of sadness flickered in her chest, remembering memories of promises that once meant the world to her. Trey had once promised he’d be there to tuck their future kids into bed every night, and for a moment, Angie felt the ache of his absence more sharply than usual. She missed the life she had once imagined, even if she couldn’t quite say it out loud.

Joel’s voice broke her reverie, low and inviting. “You should stay. Have a beer with me,” he murmured, his gaze lingering on hers as he gently closed Sarah’s bedroom door behind him.

Angie smiled, her heart lifting despite herself. “Thank you, Joel. But maybe we could both use a good rest tonight,” she replied softly, her southern accent wrapping around the words in a way that felt warm, even comforting.

Joel tilted his head, his own accent thickening as he spoke. “Fair enough,” he said, a hint of warmth in his voice. “Feels like we’ve known each other longer than just a day,” he said softly, a faint smile touching his lips.

Angie met his gaze, her own smile forming. “Yeah, it does. Funny how that happens sometimes, isn’t it?”

Joel nodded, his eyes warm. “Guess it’s not every day you find someone who just… fits.” He looked down, almost shy, before adding, “Or who’s willing to help out a clueless dad in the middle of all this.”

Angie laughed softly. “You’re not clueless at all, Joel. And besides, I don’t mind bein’ around to help, if you’ll let me.”

Joel’s smile deepened, a look of quiet gratitude passing over his face. “I’d like that,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Angie’s gaze lingered on Joel, her heart fluttering with an unexpected warmth. Just one day into her new life in the suburbs of Austin, and here she was, falling for a man’s charm with the same ease that had always led her to trouble. She felt like that naive girl once more, melting under his sweet talk, the magnetic pull between them undeniable yet unsettling. But she shook her head slightly, a small frown creasing her brow. Angie knew she had to exercise some discipline in her thoughts, because she knew well that right there, she was being the same needy girl that she was trying to leave behind. It was easy to get swept up in the moment, but she couldn’t forget the reasons she had moved away from Dallas. This new beginning was about rebuilding herself away from her past and the disappointment of Trey.

“I should probably get going,” she said, though her voice lacked conviction as they stood by the door. “You know, get some rest and all.”

Joel nodded, a hint of reluctance in his expression. “Sure, but you’re welcome here anytime. I mean it. Sarah could use a friend like you, and so could I.” His sincerity made her heart ache with possibility. ‘Friendship, Angie. That’s all he wants from you.’, that’s what Angie tried to repeat in her mind like a mantra.

Angie took a deep breath, grounding herself. “G’night, Joel.” She said, walking away from the Miller’s door, walking towards hers across the street.

[hedwig394]

I'm Not Yours

Derek Hale x Sarah McCall

Timeline: In S2E4, when Derek is training his betas, one of them tries to kiss him.

Derek's POV -

Isaac barrels towards me with a vicious look on his face. I stare at him, unfazed. Like that can scare me. He leaps at me but I push him out of the way effortlessly. Sure, the momentum makes it difficult, but not difficult enough.

Erica jumps at me from above and I toss her to the ground. She's no better. In fact, she's worse. Isaac at least has the mind to know that he isn't the best, but Erica is full of overconfidence. It's going to get her in trouble someday.

Boyd looks at from above, and cringes as both the betas fall to the ground. I know their bones are broken, they must be. Guilt creeps up my spine, but I shove it down. If I'm to teach them how to protect themselves, then they must sustain a few injuries.

"Does anyone wanna try not being completely predictable?" I ask with a frown.

It is then that Erica jumps at me. But she doesn't try to attack. Instead, she wraps her legs around my waist and presses her lips to mine. Eyes widening in shock, I push her away immediately.

"Don't ever do that again," I say, fury churning through my body. My eyes flash red and I see fear in hers, but I don't care.

I don't want to be kissed by anyone who isn't Sarah.

"Why?" She asks, scared, "Because I'm a Beta?"

"No." I say, "Because I'm Not Yours." I make sure to wipe my lips, just in case her lipstick has left a mark.

Isaac groans from beside her, uninterested in what just happened. "Are we done? I got about a hundred bones that need a few hours to heal."

I bend down in front of him and break his finger, "A hundred and one."

Isaac looks at me in shock and pain, and I hiss at him. "You think I'm teaching you to fight? Huh? Look at me! I'm teaching you how to survive! So if you don't wanna die, I suggest you take this seriously."

I stalk away from them and rush to my loft after putting my jacket on. I had promised to meet Sarah there, and I don't wanna be late. I don't want to miss even a single minute I have with her. Her brother thinks that it's just him who has to do a lot just to see his girlfriend, but he's wrong.

I have to do twice as much just to catch a glimpse of Sarah.

She waits at me at the loft, her long hair flowing behind her because of the wind.

"Angel..." I say. It's one of the few nicknames I have for her, another main one being 'honey'. She turns around and looks at me. Joy fills her eyes and she rushes towards me, throwing her arms around me. She doesn't care that I smell like tar and dirt, doesn't care that the dirt is all over my clothes and face.

I wrap my arms around her, breathing in the scent of her sweet-smelling hair. I kiss her cheek and all the emotions I've bottled down almost spill out. No, I can't let that happen. I have to stay strong for her.

She steps back and looks at me with tearful eyes. I pull her towards me and kiss her deeply, savouring the flavour and taste of her soft lips. She opens her mouth and I slip my tongue inside, exploring her mouth. She tastes like the sweet fruit at the end of countless hardships.

Sarah tastes like mine. There's not a lot I can call mine, but Sarah is mine. And I'll be damned to let anyone hurt her or take her away from me.

And the moan she gives makes me wanna carry her inside and show her just that.

But I have to keep the lust in control since I'd rather talk to her and hold her in my arms in those few stolen moments we have together than have sex with her.

I draw my head to let her catch her breath. I can go on for longer, werewolf lungs and all. But she's human. My human.

I caress her cheek gently and press a kiss to her forehead. "I've missed you, my Angel."

"I've missed you too, Sourwolf." She sniffs.

"Come on," I say, "Let's go inside."

She slips her hand in mine and we walk inside the loft. Sarah beams at the simple arrangement of the place and looks at me. "I've missed coming here."

"I know, I'm sorry," I say ruefully. The loft has not been the same without her. After we got together officially, Sarah used to hang out at the loft frequently. At one point, she was living with me. Those were the best days of my life. Just being with her, inside her and spending time in her presence gave me more happiness than anything else.

But then Gerard Argent showed up along with his pack of Hunters. I turned Isaac and Erica, and Sarah's brother started to hate me. I don't care, Scott's a child. He'll understand the ways of the world after growing up.

But unknowingly, that caused a rift between me and Sarah. It was too unsafe for her to be with me, with hunters prowling around and an unknown beast to add to the list. I know how low Gerard can sink, he can threaten and hurt Sarah just to get to me.

I once had a thought of breaking up with her for her own safety, but she had said to me "I'll carve your heart out with a scalpel and keep it as a prized possession if you ever do that." And that had led to a passionate make-out session.

"Derek..." Sarah's voice makes me look at her. But she isn't looking at me, she's staring at my jacket. "Why do you smell like women's perfume?"

Aah, that is Erica's fault. "Oh, it's nothing. I was going to tell you." I begin casually, but she looks anything but casual. Sarah's glaring at me like she never has before, and I gulp. "Angel, believe me, it's not what you think."

"Then what is it?" She hisses viciously, and at that moment, I can't help but admire how strong and confident she looks.

Right, back to the point.

I explain everything to her, starting from training to the point where Erica kissed me, and at the end, Sarah looks like she could commit first-degree murder. "I pushed her away immediately," I say, desperation clawing at my insides. Will she believe me?

Sarah glares at me. Then, she looks at her feet with a sigh. "Do you like her, Derek?"

"No!" I exclaim, aghast. "Honey, she's my beta, and she's also underage. I don't like her. I don't like anyone but you."

She doesn't look at me. "It's fine, Derek. If you don't like me anymore. I get it. It's been a hard couple of months. And I understand if you wanna be with me. Maybe a werewolf will be better for you."

"Sarah," I ball my hand into a fist. "Look at me."

She doesn't budge, and I gently lift her chin up. Her warm, chocolate eyes meet my werewolf red. She looks a bit frightened, and I wrap my arm around her, pulling her hard against me.

"Look at me, Angel." I growl, "You're the only one I like, the only one I want. So don't even think for a second that I'll look at anyone else the way I look at you."

"I'm sorry," She says and my eyes go back to the usual green. "It's been so hard recently, so I thought that you'd give up and...." She looks at me worriedly, "Start looking for someone else."

"Sarah," I say calmly, "It's been very hard, yes. But I'm not giving up on you. On us. It's you for me, Angel."

Sarah gives me a shaky smile, and I continue, "And as for Erica, I pushed her away immediately and warned her to not do that again. You know why?"

She looks at me expectantly and I kiss her softly. "Because I'm not hers, Angel. I'm yours."

Masterlist

[jackiequick]

[Tracker] — Hattie Cortez-Shaw

“You’re All Very Unusual People.”

~~~

Face claim: Inde Navarrette

—

Full name: Francesca Harriet Cortez—Shaw

Nicknames: Hattie, Frankie, Frankie, Dia, Indi, Sonny

Code Name: Wildflower

Age: 15-22

Birthday: February 21th

Height: 4’9–5’0

———

Personality:

Strong-Willed: Francesca is determined and resilient, never backing down from a challenge. She has a fierce sense of justice and is not afraid to confront authority when necessary.

Resourceful: Quick-thinking and adaptable, she can find solutions in tight spots. Her background makes her skilled at using her environment to her advantage during missions.

Witty and Charismatic: Francesca has a sharp sense of humor, using sarcasm and wit to lighten tense situations. Her charisma makes her approachable and relatable, drawing people to her.

Protective: She has a strong sense of loyalty to her friends and family, willing to put herself at risk to keep them safe. This protective instinct sometimes leads her into dangerous situations.

Empathetic: While she can be tough, she deeply understands others’ feelings and struggles, often using this empathy to connect with people and help them.

~~~

—Family

- Father: Colter Shaw (FC: Justin Hartley)

- Mother: Nicole Cortez (FC: Juliana Harkavy)

- Uncle: Russel Shaw (FC: Jensen Ackles)

- Aunt: Dory Shaw (FC: Melissa Roxburgh)

~~~

—Hattie’s Skills:

1. Reading People and Situations: Hattie is highly perceptive, able to quickly read people’s emotions and motivations. This helps her stay one step ahead of potential danger or conflict.

2. Research and Investigation: She’s skilled at digging for information, whether online or through contacts, and connecting the dots to uncover key details in a case.

3. Basic Self-Defense: While not a pro, Hattie knows some basic self-defense techniques, thanks to her dad’s teachings, and can handle herself in tight situations.

4. Tech Savvy: Comfortable with gadgets and digital tools, Hattie uses her tech skills for research, communication, and solving problems.

5. Observation and Memory: Hattie has a sharp memory for details, able to recall faces, conversations, and small clues that others might overlook.

6. Creative Problem-Solving: Quick on her feet, Hattie excels at coming up with solutions, whether it's in dangerous situations or tricky social scenarios.

7. Communication and Persuasion: Charismatic and persuasive, she can connect with people and get them to cooperate or open up, using the right approach for each person.

8. Basic Survival Skills: Hattie knows the basics of outdoor survival—setting up camp, navigating, and handling simple tools. She’s not as experienced as her dad but can hold her own in the wilderness.

~~~~

~~~~~~~

—Colter and Nicole’s Relationship: The Backstory

A Relationship Born from Brief Connection, Lasting Years:

* Colter and Nicole's relationship, born out of a spontaneous and passionate connection, evolved over time. Though their bond started intensely, it quickly became clear that they were from two very different worlds—Colter's dangerous, nomadic existence as a reward-seeker and Nicole’s steady, law-abiding life as a cop. The relationship was one of love, but also of tension. Nicole respected Colter’s work but couldn’t reconcile it with her own sense of order and justice. Their time together was punctuated by frequent breakups and reconciliations as Colter struggled to balance his dangerous career with Nicole's need for stability.

Mutual Separation:

* In the end, they both agreed to part ways—not out of animosity but because they knew their lifestyles were incompatible. Colter wanted a family, but he couldn’t afford to settle down in one place. Nicole, on the other hand, wanted a life that allowed her to stay connected to her work while keeping her child safe. It was a hard decision, but one made out of respect for each other’s futures.

Nicole's Pregnancy and Colter's Commitment:

* The pregnancy came as a surprise to both of them, especially since they had already agreed to separate. Nicole had initially wanted to raise the child on her own, feeling confident that she could provide a stable life, but Colter, deeply in love with her and now determined to be there for his child, wasn’t having it. Colter knew that his daughter would be something special, and he couldn’t bear the thought of not being part of her life, even if his job kept him on the move. His love for Nicole, though it had been complicated, remained strong.

* Colter pushed back hard against the idea of raising his daughter from a distance. He wasn't about to make the same mistake twice—he wanted to be there for every milestone, even if it meant compromising his own lifestyle. Nicole, while hesitant and wanting to maintain her independence, ultimately agreed, understanding that Colter’s involvement would be crucial.

~~~~

~~~~~~~~

—Hattie's Early Years: Life with Nicole

Raised by Nicole, with Occasional Visits from Colter:

* From birth until a young age, Hattie was primarily raised by Nicole. As a single mother, Nicole put in long hours as a cop, working cases and gradually rising through the ranks. While her work was demanding, Nicole made sure to carve out quality time with Hattie—teaching her the value of resilience, discipline, and how to navigate the world with an unwavering sense of justice.

* Colter, always a nomad at heart, took every opportunity to be with his daughter when he could. He wasn’t a constant presence, but the moments he was around were memorable for both of them. He’d take her out for short trips, teach her how to track, or just share stories of the world he lived in, which fascinated Hattie. Even when Colter was on the road, he always made time to FaceTime his “princess,” making sure she knew she was loved and always in his thoughts.

Nicole's Balancing Act:

* While Nicole was deeply invested in her work, she was always careful to shield Hattie from the darker side of her job, just as Colter shielded her from the dangers of his work as a tracker. Nicole taught Hattie that the world was full of both light and dark, but she made sure to raise her with a strong moral compass—something that would be crucial as Hattie grew older and began to understand her father’s world.

* Despite her mother’s best efforts to protect her, Hattie, being sharp and resourceful, began to piece things together. She understood that her father’s life was risky, even if Nicole tried to downplay it. She was a curious, perceptive child who picked up on subtle details—the way her mother’s eyes would darken when Colter’s name was brought up, or the hushed phone conversations when Colter was on the line. It wasn’t long before she began asking tough questions.

———

————

— Hattie’s Growing Awareness & Independence

—|—

By the time Hattie was a teenager, the innocence of her younger years had faded. No longer content to simply be the excited daughter on FaceTime, she began noticing the cracks in her parents' lives. She saw how often Colter was absent, and how Nicole sometimes seemed distant or distracted when his name came up.

As her mind sharpened, Hattie started connecting the dots between her mother’s work as a cop and Colter’s dangerous life as a reward-seeker. She noticed the subtle signs—the way Nicole’s eyes narrowed when discussing certain cases, or the tense conversations they had about Colter’s trips.

Her curiosity grew, and so did her desire to understand the risks and realities of their world. Nicole and Colter, each in their own way, gradually began revealing more. Nicole explained her work in broad strokes, careful not to overwhelm her, but making sure Hattie understood the dangers.

Colter, ever protective, was less open, but Hattie’s sharp mind and resourcefulness—skills honed by growing up in a constantly shifting world—allowed her to put the pieces together. By now, she was no longer just a passive observer; she wanted to be involved.

—|—|—

=====

— The Decision to Join Colter on the Road

At some point, Hattie started to crave more than just stories and FaceTime calls. She wanted to be a part of her father's world. She’d heard enough about his "Tracker Trips" and was fascinated by the idea of traveling with him, seeing the world from his perspective.

No more staying behind or watching from the sidelines—she was ready. She argued that she was old enough, resourceful enough, and capable of handling whatever came her way. It wasn’t just about wanting adventure; it was about understanding her father, his work, and maybe even finding a place for herself in it.

Colter knew his daughter was strong-willed and resourceful, but he also knew how dangerous his world was. His mind screamed to keep her out of this dangerous world, to shield her from the risks that came with his job. But he saw so much of himself in her—the same determination, the same need for independence. As much as he wanted to protect her, he knew she wouldn’t let it go. The more she pushed, the more he realized that, despite his best efforts, Hattie was already part of his world in ways he couldn’t ignore.

Colter had always trusted Nicole's judgment, and this was no different. He brought it up with her, knowing that this would be a hard conversation. Would they let Hattie join him on the road, despite the dangers? After much deliberation, and a long, emotional discussion, they finally came to a decision: depending on the trip, Hattie could come along.

The decision was one of compromise. Colter would still be protective, giving Hattie clear instructions on what she could and couldn’t do on these trips. He’d keep her out of harm’s way whenever possible, ensuring that she stayed in a safe position while he worked. But it would give Hattie the experience she so desperately wanted.

Nicole, always the skeptic, wasn’t thrilled with the decision. She worried endlessly about Hattie’s safety, knowing firsthand the dangers both her job and Colter’s brought. But she also knew that Hattie had grown up in a world where danger was part of the backdrop, and she couldn’t shelter her forever. She gave her reluctant blessing, trusting Colter to keep their daughter safe.

When Hattie heard the decision, she couldn’t hide the smirk of victory. She had won this round, and she made sure her bag was packed, ready to go the moment Colter called.

====

=======

—Hattie’s First "Tracker Trip" with Colter

Their first trip together took them to a small town that seemed quiet and safe at first glance—perfect for a missing person case. The kind of town where everyone knew everyone, but secrets lingered in corners, just waiting to be uncovered. Colter had gotten the case from his trusted contact, Teddi, who’d sent over everything she could find. Colter didn’t waste time. As soon as they arrived, he briefed Hattie on the basics.

“Observe, ask questions, stay in the background,” Colter repeated, giving her a stern look. He wanted her to understand how to approach his world. “Got it, sweetie?”

Hattie nodded, though a part of her couldn’t help but smile. She was finally here, right beside him, a step closer to seeing what her dad did for a living. Colter tried to hide his grin. He was happy to have her with him, though he’d never admit it out loud. His princess had grown up so fast.

They started by talking to the locals—quiet conversations in diners, at the general store, and outside the post office. Colter’s way of connecting with people was always smooth. He asked just enough to get the answers he needed, and people seemed to open up to him despite his seemingly cold exterior. Hattie watched, fascinated by how he navigated these small-town dynamics, his calm demeanor allowing him to pull information from people who would have shut down if anyone else had asked.

At one point, Colter got a lead and had to confront a suspect—someone who wasn’t answering questions the right way. He told Hattie to stay put in the van while he handled it.

“Do some research, princess. I’ll be back soon,” he said, already stepping out.

Hattie sat in the van with the laptop, talking to Teddi and Bobby, helping out with anything she could. It wasn’t as thrilling as being out there with her dad, but there was something satisfying about piecing things together herself. She put on some music, typed away, and felt like she was contributing in her own way. For a while, that was enough.

But then the curiosity kicked in. Boredom crept in, and the need to see what was happening outside the van was too strong. Quietly, Hattie grabbed her jacket and slipped out of the van, staying in the shadows as she followed Colter from a distance. She kept low, staying far enough away to remain unseen, but close enough to see the confrontation unfold.

Colter, of course, noticed right away. When the situation was over, and they were back in the van, he gave her a pointed look. Hattie knew she was caught, once she saw his expression.

“Next time, Hattie,” Colter said, his voice low but firm, “You stay put.”

Hattie’s sheepish look dropped, she didn’t argue. She knew she’d pushed it, and now, seeing the seriousness in her father’s eyes, she understood the risk.

“I got it, Dad,” she said, though her voice was tinged with the tiniest bit of defiance. There was a flicker of respect in her eyes, though, for her dad’s ability to see through her. He was always two steps ahead.

====

======

A Few Hours Later...

As the sun began to set, Colter parked the van in a secluded area, far enough off the main road to keep a low profile. They set up camp—nothing fancy, just a few quick essentials: food, water, and some rest before they continued the next leg of the trip. Colter cooked up some simple burgers on the small camp stove, and Hattie, happy to have a moment to sit back, eagerly dug in.

As they ate, Colter began to talk about the confrontation with the suspect, filling in the details. Hattie listened intently, though part of her mind still buzzed with the things she’d seen earlier. When she turned her attention back to her laptop, she realized that she’d made some progress of her own. Between chatting with Teddi and Bobby, she had managed to dig up a few useful bits of information. Colter noticed her working as he spoke, his eyes catching the focused way she was typing, the small pile of notes beside her.

He paused mid-sentence, a surprised smile tugging at his lips. “Impressive,” he said, the praise slipping out before he could stop it. “I didn’t realize my little princess had such a sharp mind.”

Hattie glanced up, smiling softly. “Thanks. I’ve been working on it before I went out.”

Colter chuckled, then became more serious, his expression softening as he leaned against the van, looking at her with a fatherly tenderness. “I know you’re eager, sweetheart. But you need to understand something.” He wiped his hands on a rag, then looked her in the eye. “There’s a time and a place for getting in the field. And when it’s not that time, your job is here. In the van. Research, staying safe, helping out from a distance. You got it?”

Hattie sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Yeah, yeah, I get it,” she huffed. But her defiance was already waning, replaced by the understanding that this wasn’t just about following her curiosity—it was about the bigger picture, the real stakes behind what they were doing.

She took another bite of her burger, thinking it over. After a pause, she shrugged and looked up at her dad. “I’m just so ready to help, Dad. I want to be out there with you.”

Colter softened, his tone turning gentler. “I know you do, sweetheart. And you will. Just... let me teach you the ropes first. It’ll be a hell of a lot safer that way.”

They ate in a comfortable silence for a moment, the fire crackling nearby. Then Colter cracked a light grin, breaking the tension. “You know, for a first trip, you’re doing pretty damn good.”

Hattie grinned, a charming glint in her eye. “I told you, I can handle it.”

Colter shook his head, laughing. “Yeah, you’re definitely my kid.”

As they finished their meal, the bond between them felt deeper than before. The day had been a mix of tension and learning, but there was also something new—a kind of unspoken understanding between them. It wasn’t just about the work; it was about them, together. Father and daughter. And for the first time, Hattie felt like she really belonged in this world.

——————————

==========

—————————————

— Likes & Dislikes

Hattie’s Likes:

1. White Chocolate Chip Cookies – Her ultimate comfort food, sweet and simple. A little indulgence she always keeps in mind for moments when she needs a pick-me-up.

2. Pressed Flower Necklaces – A small but meaningful hobby. Hattie loves collecting wildflowers and turning them into necklaces as a way to capture memories of places and moments.

3. Books with Poems or Short Stories – She enjoys the simplicity of short forms, where emotions and stories can be condensed into just a few pages, especially if they’re thought-provoking or full of beautiful imagery.

4. Painting Her Nails – It’s her way of expressing herself. Whether it’s bright colors or something more subtle, it’s a small act of self-care that makes her feel good.

5. The Color Olive Green – Earthy, calming, and versatile. She’s always loved how it blends into nature and gives her a sense of peace.

6. Meaningful Music – Lyrics that touch her, whether it’s a sad ballad or an anthem of empowerment. Music is something that resonates with her deeply.

7. Singing – Hattie loves to sing, whether she’s belting out in the van during their trips or just humming to herself while working. It’s a way for her to express emotions she might not always put into words.

Hattie’s Dislikes:

1. Snakes – A fear that goes back to a childhood incident. No matter how much she tries to be brave, the sight of one makes her freeze up.

2. Very Tight Spaces – Claustrophobia. She gets an overwhelming sense of panic in cramped spaces and will do anything to avoid them.

3. Clowns – Something about their painted faces and exaggerated expressions just creeps her out. She avoids circus-type events when she can.

4. Sad Movies – She’s emotional enough without adding fuel to the fire. Watching sad movies makes her feel overwhelmed and restless.

5. Overly Complicated Explanations – She likes things straightforward and to the point. If someone starts over-explaining something unnecessarily, her patience runs thin quickly.

6. Disrespectful People – Hattie has zero tolerance for people who treat others poorly. She can spot arrogance or rudeness from a mile away and it makes her blood boil.

7. Black Coffee – She finds it too bitter. If she’s having coffee, she needs a little sweetness in it, or she just skips it altogether.

8. Rap Music That Doesn’t Make Any Sense – Hattie appreciates lyrics with depth or meaning. She can’t stand rap music that feels like it's all flash and no substance—it just grates on her nerves.

~~~~

======

— Hobbies & Habits

Hattie's Habits:

1. Sensitive Skin (Itching) – Hattie has a slight sensitivity to her skin, especially when stressed or nervous. Sometimes she’ll absentmindedly scratch at her arms or neck, which can be a bit uncomfortable. Her dad, Colter, often notices when she's doing it and will gently stop her, reminding her to be mindful of it. It’s one of those little habits that drives him a little crazy, but he doesn’t say much about it.

2. Biting Her Inner Cheek – When Hattie’s deep in thought, concentrating, or frustrated, she tends to bite the inside of her cheek. It’s a nervous habit she’s never really tried to break, and sometimes Colter notices it during tense situations.

3. Staying Up Late to Finish a Movie – Hattie is known to binge-watch shows or movies on Netflix late into the night, even when she knows she should be sleeping. Her mom, Nicole, is often the one to get annoyed by this, as it messes with her routine. Hattie usually justifies it by saying she’s “almost done,” but it’s a habit that doesn’t sit well with her mom.

4. Picking Her Nails – A nervous habit that Hattie’s had for years. She tends to pick at the edges of her nails, especially when she’s anxious or distracted. It’s not something she’s overly self-conscious about, but Colter has caught her doing it more than once and will gently remind her to stop.

5. Making Snarky Comments Under Her Breath – Hattie is quick-witted and often can’t help but make a snarky remark under her breath when something irritates her, especially when people aren’t being straightforward or are being rude. It's one of her more rebellious traits, and while she tries to hold her tongue, it slips out sometimes.

Hattie's Hobbies:

1. Journaling in Her Notebook – Hattie keeps a notebook where she writes down her thoughts, reflections, and sometimes venting about the things that bother her. It's a safe space for her to sort through her emotions or to capture a moment, especially when she's on the road with her dad.

2. Singing Softly in the Van – A quiet way to pass the time while on long trips with Colter. Whether it’s a song she heard on the radio or one that’s been stuck in her head, Hattie hums or sings softly while looking out the window, lost in the rhythm of the road.

3. Doodling in Her Notebook – Another creative outlet. Hattie loves to doodle designs, little sketches, or random thoughts in the margins of her notebook. It's a way for her to unwind and tap into her artistic side when she’s not focused on her more analytical interests.

4. Reading Theories Online About Current Series – Whether it’s a show she’s currently binge-watching or one she’s obsessed with, Hattie loves digging into fan theories and speculations online. She gets lost in the details and enjoys the thrill of discovering new insights into the shows and characters she follows.

5. Making Playlists – Hattie is very particular about the music she listens to. She loves creating playlists for different moods or for specific moments, whether it’s a playlist for a long trip with her dad or one for a rainy day. Music is an important part of her life, and curating playlists helps her express how she’s feeling.

=====

Hattie’s Playlist

"Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + The Machine An uplifting anthem of letting go and embracing freedom.

"Youth" by Daughter Reflecting Hattie’s introspective side and her growth as she navigates independence.

"Brave" by Sara Bareilles Embodying Hattie’s courage and determination to speak up and face challenges head-on.

"Natural" by Imagine Dragons A song of empowerment and embracing one’s true self.

"Believer" by Imagine Dragons About turning pain into strength, reflecting Hattie’s resilience.

"Dream On" by Aerosmith A hopeful anthem for chasing dreams and never giving up.

"Bird Set Free" by Sia About breaking free and finding one’s voice—perfect for Hattie’s journey toward independence.

"Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol A soft, introspective moment—Hattie reflecting on the important connections in her life.

"Waiting for Superman" by Daughtry The feeling of wanting to escape, seeking something more—whether it’s adventure or clarity in her life.

"Brutal" by Olivia Rodrigo The frustration and chaos Hattie feels while navigating the brutal realities of growing up and finding her place in the world.

====

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Ahh I hope you like her!! I am still very much new to watching the series, but I am enjoying it so far

Let me know what you think 💭

Tags: @gaminggirlsstuff @gcthvile @missstrawbs2001 @djs8891 @starkleila @aidanxsophxoxo @yetanotherwells @rickb-chaos @topgun-imagines @hardballoonlove @buckysteveloki-me @sherloquestea @ximehs @savemewattpad @rowinablx @terry-perry @triptuckers @daughter-of-melpomene @superspookyjanelle @mandylove1000

[galway-girlatwork]

Airwaves

Fandom: The Last of Us-AU-No outbreak.

Rating: Mature-There is SO much fluff. It's a love story wrapped in music. I don't care how cheesy anyone thinks it is. I needed fluff after all the angst I write. Every song in the story has a link to Spotify.

Central Characters: Joel, Tommy, Sarah, Ellie and Maggie (Original Female Character)

Central Relationship: Joel and Maggie

Word Count: 4,301

AO3

Please do not copy my work. If you liked it, please re-blog and tag me. Please do not steal the mood board, it was a gift and stealing is just WRONG. I do not give permission to copy, translate, or post my work to any other platform.

This was inspired by the brain rot I constantly have and an awesome mood board by Aly, @iamasaddie, who prayed for me and the enormous amount of WIP’s I have. Thanks Aly.

Music Inspiration:

Silent Lucidity- Queensrÿche

Airwaves

The radio crackled to life as Joel turned the dial in his truck, the familiar voice of Maggie, the local DJ, filled the cab, smooth, warm, and full of energy, a hint of mischief that always made him smile, even after the longest of days.

“Alright, folks, this next one’s a request from Joel for his two little rock stars, Sarah and Ellie. Here’s Dancing in the Moonlight by King Harvest. Keep dancing, girls!”

Chuckling, shaking his head wondering how Maggie had a way of making every request sound like it came straight from her heart. Sarah, his ten-year-old, loved dancing in the living room, twirling Ellie along until they both collapsed on the couch in giggles and Maggie played the perfect soundtrack to their evenings, even if she didn’t know it.

Pulling into the driveway, he parked next to Tommy’s old truck, waiting for a commercial before getting out. When he opened the front door, the scent of fresh pizza wafted out, the girls running to greet him.

“Dad! Did you hear? Maggie played our song!” Sarah beamed, dark curls bouncing.

“I heard. Y’all thank Uncle Tommy for bringing dinner?” Joel asked, setting his stuff on the kitchen counter.

Ellie, only eight, grinned wide. “Thanks, Uncle Tommy!”

Giving his brother a nod of gratitude before the girls pulled him to the couch, pizza boxes were opened and plates handed out, the radio played softly in the background when Maggie’s voice returned after the song, this time with a track she had picked.

“This one’s for Joel. He said to surprise him, so I went with one of my all-time favorites, Crazy on You by Heart. Enjoy!”

Joel froze for a moment, before leaning back, a crooked smile tugging at his lips. “She’s got good taste.” Later that night, the girls tucked into bed, house quiet, Joel sat on the worn recliner in the living room. The faint hum of the radio was his only companion as he sipped on a cold beer. Maggie’s voice came through again, and this time it was softer, more personal.

“Alright, night owls, I’ve got a couple more songs before we wrap things up. But first, I wanna give a shout-out to one of my regulars. Joel, I know you’re listening. Thanks for trusting me to pick a song for you tonight. Here’s hoping it hit the mark.”

His heart did a funny little flip, something that hadn’t happened in a long time. He shook his head, muttering to himself. “You’re ridiculous, Miller.” Still, he couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his face.

The next day at work, Tommy caught him humming Crazy on You while laying down beams for a new deck.

“You got somethin’ stuck in your head, or you finally thinkin’ about joining a band?” Tommy teased, leaning on a post.

Joel rolled his eyes. “Not joinin’ a band, just... Maggie played it last night. She’s got good taste.”

Tommy smirked. “Ah, Maggie. Ya know ya talk about her more than ya talk about anyone else. When you gonna do somethin’ about it?”

He shot him a warning look. “Do what? She doesn’t even know me.”

“She knows your voice,” Tommy pointed out. “And from what you’ve said, sounds like she likes hearin’ it.”

“Whatever.” But he didn’t argue. By now, his nightly calls to the station were as much a part of his routine as putting the girls to bed.

That evening, after finishing dinner and a board game with Sarah and Ellie, Joel sat down with the phone in hand, the girls in their pajamas, curled up on the couch, waiting for him to make the call.

“Hi, Maggie. It’s Joel,” he said when she picked up. Her voice was just as warm off the air as it was on.

“Hey Joel! What can I do for you tonight? Got another request for the girls?”

“Actually, yeah. Sarah’s been hummin’ Brown Eyed Girl all week. Think you can fit it in?”

“For you? Always,” Maggie replied, and he swore he could hear the smile in her voice. “And what about you, Joel? What’s your request?”

He hesitated, eyes closing for a second, “Surprise me again. You’ve got good taste.”

Laughing softly. “You’re giving me a lot of trust here. Alright, Joel. Tune in. This one’s just for you.”

After hanging up, Joel sat back with the girls, waiting for the song. When Maggie came on, her words carried a little extra something tonight.

“This next one is a classic, but it’s also got a bit of soul. Joel, I think you’ll like it. Here’s Bad Company.”

Joel closed his eyes again as the first chords played, letting the music wash over him. He knew that it was probably all for show, she was a DJ and that is what she did, right? Make everyone feel like she was talking to just them. Yea he was losin it.

Over the following weeks, his nightly calls became a cherished ritual for her. She found herself looking forward to hearing his voice, intrigued by the man who clearly adored his daughters and had a deep appreciation for music. She began teasing him on-air, voice playful as she introduced his requests.

“Alright, everyone, you know the drill. This goes out to my regular caller, Joel. He called earlier for his girls and asked for another surprise song so here’s Silent Lucidity by Queensryche.”

Joel listened with a faint smile, not noticing the looks he was getting from the girls.

“She likes you, Dad,” Sarah declared as they listened together.

Shaking his head as Sarah climbed up on the couch, settling down next to him. “She’s just doin her job and bein friendly.”

Ellie, who’d always been the more serious of the two, shook her head. “Dad she always sounds happy when she talks about you.”

He couldn’t deny how Maggie’s attention made him feel. Her laughter, her playful comments, and the music she chose—it all felt personal, like she’d found a way to reach into his life and he knew it was the craziest thought he could have had as he got the girls ready for bed.

For Maggie, Joel was becoming more than just a regular caller. She’d started to wonder about the man behind the voice. Was he as ruggedly kind as he sounded? What did he look like when he smiled? The mystery only made their nightly interactions more interesting, knowing the single dad with two girls who loved music just as much as he did.

One evening, Joel called the station as usual but this time, she had a surprise for him. “Hey, Joel,” she said warmly. “I’ve got something different for you tonight.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?” he asked, curious.

“Well,” she began, a hint of shyness in her tone, “the station’s hosting a live event this Saturday at Grady’s Bar downtown. I’m doing a set, and chatting with folks. If you’re around, maybe you can swing by.”

He froze, phone pressed tightly to his ear, not expecting this. “Uh... yeah, maybe. Um I can see if I can get someone to watch the girls.”

Smiling on the other end of the line she doodled on a notepad, wondering what the fuck she was thinking. She’d never asked any listener, personally, to come to an event. “No pressure. But if you do come, it’d be nice to finally meet you. Gotta go but the last song of the night, it’s for you. Night Joel.”

Hanging up, sliding the headphones back on, she took a deep breath. “All right everyone, my times up tonight, you’ve got Crystal coming up to get you through the witching hour but this last song for tonight goes out to Joel and his girls. Be safe out there. Here’s a little Patty Griffin to get you through.”

When Saturday rolled around, Joel found himself nervously adjusting his shirt in the mirror. Tommy had offered to babysit, smirking as he shoved Joel out the door with a teasing smile. Grady’s Bar was lively, the music loud but not overwhelming. When he walked in, he noticed Maggie’s booth was set up in the corner, records spread out in neat stacks, noticing she wore a vintage Doors t-shirt and jeans, hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. She was not what he was expecting, realizing that it was her voice that captivated him, not what she could look like. He hesitated for a moment before walking over. “Maggie?”

He wasn’t what she’d expected but in the best way. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a quiet confidence and beautiful brown eyes. When he smiled, it was lopsided and a little shy, feeling her heart skip a beat, possibly two. “Joel?”

He chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. “Yea. You seem busy.”

“Never too busy for my favorite caller,” Maggie teased, motioning for him to sit. “Order anything you want to drink, it’s on me.”

Joel shook his head, smiling. “Naw you ain’t gotta do that.” When the waitress came by, he let Maggie order first, before letting the server know he’d have a Shiner Bock. They talked for hours, Maggie occasionally ducking away to adjust a track or chat with other attendees, but always returning to him. They shared stories about work, favorite songs, and by the end of the night, he felt like he’d known her forever. As he stood to leave, Maggie slipped a CD into his hands, a copy of Queensryche.

“For your collection,” she said softly. “And maybe... a reason to call me tomorrow.”

Grinning, tucking the CD into his jacket pocket. “You don’t need to give me a reason. I’ll be callin in tomorrow.” Leaving the bar that night with the CD now on the seat next to him, what got him the most was the way Maggie had smiled at him—as if she’d been waiting for him all along. He couldn’t shake the warmth he felt just sitting with her, her laughter, and the way her eyes lit up when they talked about music.

Back home, Tommy smirked as Joel walked in, his good mood evident.

“So? How’d it go?”

Setting the CD on the counter, avoiding his brother’s gaze. “Went fine. We talked. She’s nice.”

Tommy barked a laugh. “Nice? That’s all you’ve got? Come on, Joel, don’t play dumb. You like her.”

Joel shrugged, his lips twitching into a reluctant smile. “Yeah, I do.”

Over the next few weeks, their nightly calls became something more. Maggie would stay on the line a little longer before playing his requests, asking about his day or teasing him about the girls. He found himself opening up in a way he hadn’t in years, telling her stories about Sarah’s fierce independence or Ellie’s knack for making him laugh.

“Sounds like they keep you on your toes. You’re a good dad, Joel,” Maggie said one night, voice soft over the line. “Girls are lucky to have you.”

Feeling a lump in his throat, not expecting to get compliments like that but hearing it from Maggie meant more than he could explain. “Thanks,” he murmured. “That means a lot.”

Meanwhile, Maggie found herself looking forward to Joel’s calls more than anything else in her day. There was something grounding about him, the way he spoke, steady and calm, with just enough humor to make her laugh. She could picture him easily now, the rough edges of his hands, the warmth in his eyes, the way his smile crinkled at the corners, the scruff of his beard.

“Evening listeners, that last song was a request from April and I hope it got her and her friends in the mood for her birthday dinner. Happy Birthday April. Alright, everyone, it’s time for another live event. This Sunday, we’re doing an outdoor set at Centennial Park. There’ll be music, food trucks, and lots of great company. Bring the family, and come say hi!”

“Dad, we have to go!” Sarah said, practically bouncing. “Maggie’s gonna be there!”

“Yeah! We wanna meet her!” Ellie chimed in; her eyes bright.

He hesitated when he heard the broadcast. Taking the girls to a public event wasn’t something he did often. But Sarah and Ellie, having overheard the announcement, were already buzzing with excitement. Sighing, knowing he couldn’t say no. “Alright, alright. We’ll go.”

That Sunday, the park was bustling with activity, her booth set up near the stage, where live music would happen throughout the day, she’d just started a song, the oversized headphones slung around her neck. Looking up, she spotted Joel almost immediately, grin widening when she saw Sarah and Ellie at his side. “You made it!” she called, waving them over.

The girls ran ahead, their excitement bubbling over, he hung back just a little, watching as she crouched down to their level, introducing herself, asking them about their favorite songs, before handing them huge bubble wands, a soft smile tugging at his lips. Maggie was even better with the kids than he’d imagined—patient, funny, and genuinely interested in what they had to say.

When she stood, he rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly not sure what to think of the whole situation. “Thanks for inviting us. The girls were real excited.”

“I’m glad you came. It’s nice to finally meet the girls who have such a large love for music. You know they’re just like you described.” She knew in that instant that it was all over for her. She was falling so hard for him, she didn’t know what the next step was, having been out of the dating scene for years.

For the rest of the afternoon, they lingered near her booth, the girls dancing to the music while they talked, stuffing themselves with corn dogs, funnel cake and lemonade. By the time the event wound down, she realized she didn’t want the day to end.

As they were leaving, she slipped a small piece of paper into his hand. “Call me,” she said with a smile. “Outside the station.”

Joel looked down at the number scribbled in Maggie’s neat handwriting, heart thudding in his chest. “I will,” he promised.

As sat on the back porch, the girls passed out on the couch after crashing from adrenaline and sugar levels bottoming out, he thumbed the piece of paper before he called her. It would be just them, no music in the background, no audience listening in.

“I wasn’t sure you’d actually call,” she teased when she picked up.

Chuckling softly. “Thought about waitin’ a day, but found I couldn’t.”

“Glad you couldn’t,” almost sure her smile was audible. “So, how are Sarah and Ellie? They seemed like they had a blast today.”

“Talked about you the whole way home,” Joel said. “Already askin if we can listen to your show tomorrow night but today caught up the minute we hit the road. Both sleepin now.”

“They’re sweet kids, Joel. You’ve done a good job with them.”

“Thanks. Been hard bein a single dad.”

The conversation stretched long into the night, covering everything from childhood memories to favorite concerts. By the time they hung up, he realized he hadn’t felt this comfortable or this hopeful in years.

A week later, he finally worked up the nerve to ask her out during one of their late-night conversations. “Hey I was wonderin if you wanted to have dinner this Friday, say 6? I know this diner, they got good food, good music.”

“Love to. Meet you there?”

“Alright. See you then.”

When Friday rolled around, he was more nervous than he wanted to admit to anyone including Tommy, who agreed to watch the girls again but making sure he gave Joel a teasing pat on the back as he left.

“Don’t mess up, big brother.”

The diner was cozy, not yet packed with other couples doing the Friday night date thing, a jukebox in the corner and a menu full of comfort food. She was already there, leg bouncing when he arrived. It took her an hour to decide what to wear, going with a faded jean jacket over a simple dress, smiling when she saw him.

“You clean up nice,” she said, standing to greet him.

Joel grinned. “You look great, too.” Sliding back into the booth, the conversation began flowing as she teased him about his preference for older music, while he learned she loved not only the older music but the newer, more eclectic stuff she played.

When the jukebox came to life, Maggie raised an eyebrow, small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, “Silent Lucidity?”

“Recently become a favorite.”

By the end of the night, she couldn’t stop smiling. As they walked to their cars, she leaned against hers, hands tucked into her pockets, night air a little heavy with humidity. She couldn’t help but replay the moments over dinner and the way her chest felt tight every time he smiled at her. “This was fun, Joel. I’d like to do it again.”

“Yeah,” he said, his voice soft. “I’d like that too.” Moving towards her, rough callused hands cupped both of her cheeks, tilting her head back, a beat of silence, a moment between them, noticing her eyes briefly dropping to his mouth, the action giving him unspoken permission as hands moved to gently rest on the swell of her hips. Leaning in, lips capturing hers, tender at first, cautious as though he would wake up and it was all just a figment of imagination.

She responded instantly, lips moving against his as she pulled her hands free, fingers now curling into his jacket to pull him even closer, deepening the kiss, confidence growing as she leaned into him, feeling a hand slide up to cradle the back of her head while his thumb brushed over her hip bone. When they finally broke apart, breaths mingling in the night air, cheeks flushed, she looked up at him, noticing the way he stared into her eyes, his name a breathless whisper.

Resting his forehead lightly against hers, he closed his eyes, wanting to remember how sweet she tasted. His hand was still at her neck, as if he wasn’t quite ready to let her go. "I’d like to do that again."

Leaning up to press a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. "Then you better call me tomorrow."

“I will.”

Over the next few months, the connection between them deepened, finding small ways to fit into each other’s lives. She joined Joel and the girls for dinner, bringing all different kinds of CD’s for music nights, while he sometimes surprised her at the station with coffee during late shifts. She adored Sarah and Ellie, who often dragged her into vicious games of Monopoly, Go Fish and Uno, in which they were absolutely lethal. The trio was quickly becoming a fixture in her life.

They were sitting on her couch after having a movie date at her place, sharing a bowl of popcorn while the credits played in the background. Glancing up at him, before resting her head resting on his shoulder.

“You ever think about what’s next?” she asked.

Joel tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

She hesitated, then said, “This. Us. I know it’s still new, but... I care about you, Joel and the girls.”

Setting the bowl down, he turned to face her. “Maggie, don’t you know how special you are to me? To all of us? I, we, care about you too, more than I’ve been good at sayin’.”

Breath came out in a deep sigh, relief settling in, “I just needed to know.”

Leaning in, he kissed her, slow and deliberate and when he ended it, her forehead against his. “I can’t imagine anyone else I’d want in my life right now but you.”

Her presence in his life quickly became something he couldn’t imagine going without. She blended seamlessly into his little family, not just as someone he cared about but as a meaningful person in the girls’ lives.

He came home from work one Saturday, finding the three of them in the kitchen baking. Flour was everywhere, Ellie’s lips held chocolate at the corners while Sarah was methodically measuring sugar under Maggie’s supervision. Leaning against the counter, arms crossed, he watched chaos unfold.

“You’re really brave takin’ this on,” he said, smirking as Ellie tried to sneak a spoonful of dough.

Laughing, cheeks slightly pink from the warmth of the oven, she shrugged her shoulders. “Figured it was time to show the girls I can do more than play music.”

Stepping close, brushing a streak of flour off her cheek. “I think you’re doin’ just fine.”

Smiling up at him, is when it slammed full force into her body and soul. She was in love with Joel Miller. She wasn’t sure what to do with this feeling that blossomed deep within the confines of her chest, the words never spoken by either of them. Distracted by thoughts, she wasn’t paying attention to the surroundings until Ellie screamed cookies, that she swore out loud pulling a burnt tray of cookies from the oven. “Sorry girls. Good thing I brought enough stuff for us to make up for it.”

He knew in that instant that something wasn’t right. She never swore in front of the girls, even though he knew she had the mouth of a truck driver, hearing her road rage more than once while they were on the phone. She looked distracted, defeated, shoulders slumping just a little, like her heart was no longer in the moment. He didn’t say anything until later that night, after the girls were in bed. “Hey, you okay? You’ve been off since this afternoon.”

“Yea, I’m fine. Just tired I guess. I gotta head to the station. Got the graveyard tonight.” Kissing his cheek, she grabbed her purse and practically ran out the door. It wasn’t until she was sitting at the station, queuing up the next five tracks that she felt like she could breathe normally. “All right all you night owls, I am taking us all the way back to 1961 with a classic by Elvis. So, grab that special someone, hold them close in silent lucidity and tell em how you feel.” As the first few notes of “Can’t Help Falling In Love” came through her headphones, she slipped them off, biting her nails, wondering if Joel was listening since it was past midnight.

Sitting up in bed, back against the headboard, he listened to her, voice lower than normal, sounding almost wounded as she went through her set. It was just after midnight when her voice filled his room, talking about Elvis and the song from the CD she’d given him. That’s when it clicked for him. Grabbing his phone from the nightstand, he dialed her number, not the station, waiting for her to pick up.

“Hey, didn’t think you’d be awake.”

“Wanted to listen for a little while before I went to sleep. Maggie, the song you’re playin and the reference…”

“I love you Joel. I don’t know when or how but it just…I realized it this afternoon at the house. I love you. Been in love with you and…”

“Maggie take a breath…I love you too. Think I have been since you played that first song for the girls. Look I know you’re busy at work but I want to talk. Can you come by the house tomorrow?”

“Yea.”

“Play our song?”

“Of course.”

“Wait how do you know what song I’m talking about?”

“Trust me, I just do. Night Joel.” Hanging up, she knew she had to have had the stupidest grin on her face and she didn’t give a flying fuck. She didn’t care if their relationship was cliché and cheesy. She fell in love with him, he fell in love with her and maybe, just maybe there could be a future there. “Well thanks to all my listeners for letting me go down memory lane with that one. Next up is Silent Lucidity by Queensrÿche and then I’ve got a little classic rock comin your way with Boston, The Stones, Aerosmith and Black Sabbath. Stay safe out there.”

A year later, he surprised her with a somewhat quiet dinner at the house. He’d cooked, which involved grilling, all of them sitting at the table, the girls going a mile a minute. Chaos ensued afterwards, with a movie, popcorn scattered everywhere, Maggie offering to clean up while he put the girls to bed. When he came down the stairs, he took her hand in his, leading her out into the backyard, where the record player was set up in the backyard under strands of lights Tommy had helped him hang.

“Joel this is beautiful.”

“Thought I’d do somethin nice.”

Swaying to the music, laughter filling the space between them as they talked, fingers laced together, she kissed the span of skin showing at the base of his throat. “I love you.”

“Maggie,” he began, voice steady but full of emotion, “you walked into my life when I didn’t even know how much I needed you. You’ve made me and the girls so happy. I can’t imagine any of this without you. Marry me?”

Whoa. Wait. What? Pulling away from him, she looked up at him, eyes searching his. “Are you serious?” Watching as he fumbled to pull a ring from the pocket of his jeans.

“Yes, I’m serious Maggie May, marry me.”

“Yes, Joel, yes and yes.”

Just then both girls burst out from behind the sliding door, giggling as they tackled both of them in a hug, all of them now laying in the grass, laughing, both of them knowing it was going to be a chaotic mess until their dying days.

[cyramountain]

Mother and daughter fancast: Sarah Jessica Parker & Perry Mattfeld

[randomshipping101]

OBX FanFiction

I’m looking for Outerbanks Fanfics, where either an original character or John B and JJ, take all the money or most of the money in the safe of the motel room.

I got this idea from Golden Pogues by mellowenglishgal. I always thought they should’ve taken more money, but seeing it written just made me want to read more of these. I have read many original character OBX stories, but they have all followed the plot in terms of taking the money. It’s just always JJ takes a stack and the gun.

Please let me know if anyone else has read stories like Golden Pogues!

[queenerdloser]

i have such a visceral reaction to using "female" when referring to women in fiction that it actually draws me way out of the narrative when it's done. like. stop that.

[alienheartattack]

I've really revolutionized my reading habits by sticking to the following rules:

If a new book has over a 4.5 rating on Goodreads, it's probably bad.

If Booktok is going insane over it, it's probably bad.

[mika-no-sekai-blog]

Tear of salt

Azriel x Mermaid OC

Word count: +6300

Summary: He sneaks into enemy territory to spy/assassinate someone and while sneaking through that person's manor he finds a large tank holding a sad mermaid.

Warnings: Azriel doing his job - killing; mentions of blood, wounds, torturing, starvation

Based on this prompt by @ghostedgrim @azrielappreciationweek Day 7: Free Dividers by @tsunami-of-tears

Azriel crossed his room, attaching last daggers he had prepared, to his gear. He got a mission, a very easy one. There was nothing that could go wrong and he even didn't feel sorry for what he was about to do. Sneaking into manor of some bastard who was kidnapping lesser faeries and human children all around Prythian and selling them as slaves on continent, was way too easy for him. Azriel could have sent some of his spies to handle this, but after witnessing what was left of one of the victims, he wanted to do it personally. He wanted to see that bastard suffering as much as those children suffered before he would allow him to die.

The shadows swirled around his arms and wings, gathering at his ear. "It's time," they whispered in their silent soothing voices.

Azriel closed his honeyed hazel eyes, releasing a deep sigh through nose while shadows swallowed him. When he again opened them, he stood on a hill at the edge of the forest.

It was night, a valley bellow was plunged in impenetrable darkness as heavy dark clouds swimming across the firmament, hid all the stars and moon. Air was filled with a smell of rain and static energy of coming storm. Azriel didn't mind it though. He was used to the darkness and saw his destination almost as clearly as during the day.

At the bottom of the shallow valley stood a manor surrounded by garden and high fence. Only certain people knew about its existence or how to get there. It took him just a few hours to find the right people and follow them to this place and next several days he spent spying around, counting coming and leaving wagons. That bastard was so arrogant that he kept only a small unit of guards to secure such big estate. Killing him couldn't be more easier. Even from afar Azriel could say that whoever cast the wards around the estate, did a very poor job. He cracked through them the second he came without any problem and not a single soul noticed it.

Azriel waited for an hour after the last of the lights turned off in the manor. The wind was getting stronger, playing with his dark hair as he stretched out his wings. The guards were so negligent that they rather hid from the coming storm than guarded the place. This really couldn't be easier.

Azriel quietly slid on the wind down to the garden close to the servants entrance, but then he changed his mind and with smirk he landed on a driveway. There was no need to hide in the shadows, the darkness of the night covered his tall figure dressed in black perfectly fine. Rhys would certainly call him a show-off for this later. His noiseless steps led him up the staircase straight to the main entrance, hand casually resting on a hilt of his favourite dagger on his hip.

The shadows swam out from beneath the massive doors, climbing up his body to whisper into his ear. Azriel huffed when they told him that nobody was keeping an eye in the main hall nor anywhere nearby. How convenient. His blue siphons gleamed in the darkness as he reached for handle. It wasn't even locked. How could such amateurs manage to kidnap so many people and even had an audacity to think that nobody would notice and come for them?

Tugging his wings closer, Azriel stepped in and closed the doors behind. The main hall was literary made of white marble that covered not only floor but also walls and ceiling. Great portals on the both sides of the doors led deeper into the house. However, Azriel's attention was trained on the two staircases winding around an enormous tank. The bedroom he was looking for, was certainly up on the second floor. Though that didn't bother him so much at the moment.

A soft greenish light was coming out of the tank full of dirty water, the only source of light here. As far as he could say, Azriel didn't see any fish swimming in it. He couldn't explain it, but something was drawing him to that tank. With hammering heart he stalked closer, trying to get a better look of what was within the glass walls covered with slime. It took him awhile to recognize the shape of a great rock in its middle. At first he thought that the tank was empty except of the rock and kelps swaying in the dirt. He was about to return back to the purpose of his visit when he noticed a faint gleam of something metallic. Not metallic, he realized. A fish scale. Now when he knew where to look, he could see it. A long fish tail attached to a human-looking torso. He hadn't seen any of this creatures with his own eyes, yet he immediately recognized it.

A mermaid.

The only known mermaids lived in the ocean near the shores of Summer court, occasionally ranging water lines of Spring. They lived in well guarded communities, but once every few centuries there was a curious mermaid who came out from the water looking for an adventure on land. Their rare offspring with fae or human, however, were excluded from their community and had to stay on land. They usually had just little if anything of their mermaid ancestors anyway and they could be easily mistaken for high fae.

The mermaid was lying on her side, limp. Her eyes were closed, dark shadows loomed under sharp bones of her cheeks. Her skin had a sickly greyish tone, by the state of her starved body, she could be already dead.

Azriel clenched teeth and pressed his palm to the thick glass, its surface cold like ice. No wonder this room was so cold compared to the stuffy night air of late summer outside. His stomach hollowed, the pain wrapped around his heart like hand around tiny bird and squeezed. He felt sorrow for the poor creature who ended up imprisoned in this tank, starved to the death. That wasn't fate he would wish even for his worst enemy.

As leather of gear on his hand touched the tank, it caused the small thud echoed through the water. Mermaid's long eyelashes flickered and she so slowly opened eyes. Her gaze was empty, dulled with suffer and tiredness, sliding down the glass to the place he stood at.

When their gazes collided, Azriel gasped and took a half-step back. The jade like eyes struk him straight to the heart, sending waves of the sweetest pain to his veins. His heart expanded to create space for a golden thread that bounded him to the female in front of him.

Her lips parted, soft moan slipped from between them. She felt it, too.

However, the thread was weak, disappearing as the life gradually drained from her. It took some time until it fully formed and he got a straight link to her. Enormous hunger and pain flooded his system and he needed a moment to separate her feelings from his own. He couldn't do anything right now to help her, except of sending his strength and assurance to her.

Her hand, bones and tendons wrapped in skin, slightly moved toward him.

Azriel's jaw tightened as his gaze flickered to the second floor for a brief moment.

"I'll return for you, I swear. Just give me a second to finish that bastard. I'll make him suffer on your behalf." He only whispered the words, but water carried them to her and she weakly nodded.

Not wasting another second, Azriel ran up the steps, taking three at time. The game was over. There was no need to hide in the shadows, sneaking around. The rage was tearing through him, seeping from his pores like a toxic cloud. He was the Death and the Death was him. Nothing could stop him now. Every person who took part of enslaving and torturing of his mate deserved nothing better that slow death. Those who saw her and decided to do nothing weren't any better.

As if they felt it, several residents of the manor appeared in the hallway, blocking his way. Azriel didn't even as much as blink when his scarred fingers closed around hilts of daggers. He moved smoothly as a dancer, cutting a path through bodies. Once he got them, he didn't glance their way anymore. There was no need. He was trained killer, with every blow he delivered fatal injury. Some died immediately, some shrieked on the floor, blood flowing from the cuts like unstoppable river, others were drowning in it.

Azriel swiftly followed the lead of his shadows showing him the shortest way to the bed chambers of the head of this group. He didn't count the number of bodies he left behind. Spattered with dark crimson liquid, he smashed the door open - the real demon looking for his next victim.

The bastard was hidden behind his bed, trembling like a little girl with small knife in hand. Azriel wrinkled his nose as an odour of urine hit him. He snorted. That bastard pissed himself. If Azriel had time, he'd love to play with him to make him pay for all ruined lives, but his mate was weakening with every second he spent here. He needed to hurry up. He moved toward the hiding male who shrieking threw the knife at his head and tried to run away. A big mistake! No one could outran the Death.

Azriel caught the flying knife mid air and tossed it aside. The tendril of shadows wrapped around males neck, yanking him back. Careful not to break his neck, they lifted him into the air. The male was making choking noises, kicking feet around in attempt to find something, anything to stand on. Shadows squeezed his neck more firmly until his eyes rolled back in his head.

Azriel waited. The shadows loosened their hold before the male could die. It was their master's turn to strike the final blow. Azriel promised that he would make him suffer and so he did. He made a tiny cut to the artery on male's arms and watched as his life dripped out of him, drop after drop. When male in agony shuddered for the last time, shadows tossed him into the puddle of his own blood and swam to their master.

Spymaster turned on heel and ran back down to the entrance hall. He searched whole tank on his way down the stairs, but there was no hole, no opening. It was built only for one purpose and that enraged him even more.

Azriel put both palms on the thick glass, gathered all the power from his siphons and released it at once. The glass turned into fine dust, the mass of dirty and stinky water spilled on Azriel and all around the room. He shook himself dry like a dog, wiping the disgusting slime from his face and climbed inside. He waded in knee-deep dirty water to the rock in its middle, slippery algae binding his legs and making the progress harder. The mermaid just lay there helplessly, her chest heaved with difficulty, gasping for air.

Without hesitation, Azriel opened the upper part of leathers and stripped the T-shirt beneath it. He jumped up on the rock and started carefully wiping off the dirt from her face and especially from her nose, mouth and gills on her neck.

As soon as he was done, she took a deep breath, savouring fresh air. She tried to lift her head, but she was too weak.

"It's over now," he spoke lowly to her, his voice soft. "I know that you felt it, too. I won't let anything bad ever happen to you again."

He brushed her long wet hair from her face. Even with a thick layer of dirt on, she was the most beautiful female he'd ever seen. As the wild creature of depths of the ocean she was, she undoubtedly wanted to return home, but Azriel already knew he wouldn't be able to let her go. He would gladly follow her even to the bottom of the ocean. She was his mate after all, the missing half of his soul. They were made for each other. That had to mean something.

"Let's get you out of here."

He so carefully scooped her in his arms, but her tail was so long that it dragged behind. Shadows wrapped around the scales and lifted it up, helping to their master. Her head with still closed eyes fell on his naked chest. His body shivered in answer and he groaned. Only thanks to the years of discipline and restrains he didn't crush her in his arms. Right now she needed healer, food, care and love. He had to wait until she would be healthy and then they would talk about the bond.

Azriel released a deep breath and called in the shadows that obediently swallowed them. When Azriel opened eyes again, he was standing in the middle of Madja's office at healers center, the dirty water was dripping from their bodies on perfectly clean floor. Old healer was leaning over the table, her hands swiftly taking one pouch after another, mixing medicine with precision of many years of practice.

The shadows immediately flew to greet her. The healer didn't even as much as sigh in surprise when they touched her hands, helping with the pouches.

"Good evening, Azriel," she spoke in a tired voice. "I hope that you know what time it is and that the injury you have, is really serious."

She slowly turned to him, her moves sluggish after a long, hard day. She gasped when she noticed mermaid in his arms.

"I know it's late and believe me, if it wasn't a matter of life and death, I wouldn't bother you. But.. she needs immediate help and you are the only one I can entrust her to."

"At last you found the one," she smiled at him knowingly, her hands already picking up everything she would need. "Put her on the bed."

Azriel did as she asked and carefully set the mermaid down on simple bed for patients. When he made sure she is comfortable, he moved to the tail that hung from bed and gently scooped it into his arms, holding it off of the cold floor. Looking closely at it, he noticed quite big areas with only reddish skin without scales and his heart clenched. Even now he felt unbearable pain and hunger seeping from her end of the bond and he wished he could kill that bastard again.

Madja got to work, swiftly looking the pacient over. Azriel watched her while his shadows assisted to her. When Madja was done, she sighed and wiped her hands clean.

"She is heavily malnourished. That's the cause of the other issues like loosing the scales and tiredness. Looking at you two, I assume that the numerous inflammations are caused by too long stay in stagnant dirty water. The very first thing she needs, is a bath. I think it's something you can deal with. Just treat her carefully. Right now she is very sensitive, more sensitive to touch than your wings."

Azriel nodded. "Got it."

Madja put together all the medicines and ointments while explaining him how and when to apply them and what to expect in the following days. At last she told him to call for her, if her state worsened.

Azriel listened carefully, thanked to the old healer and winnowed with the mermaid to his apartment in the center of the city that he kept secret from his family. It was his place to retreat to when things started to be too much and he needed silence, peace and time to recharge.

The apartment was enough big to accommodate him and his wings, equipped only with a necessary basics like bed, closet with some spare clothes, bathroom, sofa near the hearth, small kitchen area where he could prepare a simple meal, and few shelves with books. It wasn't much, but it suited his needs. The whole building was located next to the park, with Sidra flowing behind it. That was the main reason why he decided for this apartment. None of the windows was directed to the street so it was a very quiet place, exactly what he was looking for.

His steps immediately led to the bathroom with bathtub enough big for giant Illyrian warrior. Some of his shadows return as soon as they heard about the bath to prepare it. Bathtub was full of warm water, the steam was rising from its surface.

Azriel hesitated for a moment unsure whether mermaids were fine with warm baths. He sat down on the edge of the tub, placing his mate on his lap. He gently took her hand and let it slowly inch after inch slip into the water. Mermaid groaned softly, but she didn't seem to be in pain. He lifted small hand up, inspecting it closely. The colour of her skin seemed to be normal, there were no blisters or redness, so he assumed it should be fine and carefully dipped her whole body. After that he took off his dirty leathers and shadows took care of them. It was so dirty that it was better to throw it away than to try to clean it. Shadowsinger dipped to the water, sighing with relief as warm liquid worked its wonders on his tired body. He made sure to wash himself properly before touching female opposite him. Then he moved to her, gently washing off the dirt from her body and hair.

The water turned muddy after the first wash, so he refilled the tub again and again until it stayed clear. Then it was finally a time for the most hardest and delicate work - to wash her tail. Shadows brought him a new soft toothbrush from cabinet under the sink and he started to gently brush one scale after the other. It took him hours to get from the top to the bottom, but he didn't mind it at slightest. For his mate he would do it even thousand times and gladly. When he looked at her clean tail from afar, it had a light sea green colour with metallic accent. However, looking closely at the scales, each one had a pearly iridescent colour. It was fascinating.

Mermaid was whole time unconscious, but the bond between them was growing stronger and steadier which was a good sign. Azriel checked on her every now and then to make sure he wasn't hurting her.

She was calm, her expression relaxed as he pulled her out of the tub, wrapped her in towel and carried her to the bed. Her hair was so tangled that he decided to just wrap it in another towel and deal with it later. Gently wiping her body he moved to her tail. As soon as the towel touched it, it started to melt beneath his hands like ice. Azriel's eyes widened in shock, panic gripping his heart. That wasn't suppose to happen, was it?

He quickly ran back to the bathroom to run another bath. When he returned, he stiffened on threshold. Instead of mermaid, a Fae-like female was lying on the bed, her long pale legs riddled with red wounds.

Azriel dropped to his knees, wiping tears away as he drew hands down his face. He stayed like that, watching her chest rise with every steady breath until he calmed down. She was fine. He cursed under his breath. Madja certainly knew this would happen, she should have warned him.

Sitting on the edge of mattress, he took out the ointments the healer gave him. Mermaid, now female, was completely naked in this form and it took everything in him to ignore the fact. He quickly finished this tormenting activity, bandaged the wounds and dressed her in one of his spare T-shirts. Once she was safely tucked under the blanket, all tempting parts covered, he released the breath he held entire time.

He needed a minute to cool down, so he dressed and went to clean the mess they made in the apartment. When he was done, he took comb, climbed on the bed and began untangling her long hair. Free from dirt and slime it was the deep shade of auburn, slightly wavy and soft to touch. By the time he braided her hair, gave her medicine from the healer and exhausted fell asleep next to her, it was already a lunch time.

The next few days he hadn't left his apartment. As Madja warned him, mermaid got a fever caused by infection in numerous wounds. Even the most shallow ones took twice the time to heal than it normally would. Azriel patiently replaced the bandages several times a day, applying the ointments on wounded skin of legs. He was worried, yet he couldn't but appreciate this opportunity. It gave him enough time to think everything over.

She was still unconscious, so she wasn't able to eat solid food, which left Azriel with only one option - soups.

When he tried to feed her the very first meal, he hit an obstacle. He tried every possible method of getting liquid into unconscious person he knew of, failing terribly. The soup simply spilled from her mouth or she started choking on it.

He was sitting helplessly on the edge of mattress, watching her. According to all the stories and little information his kind had, it was well known that mermaids were beautiful. Their physical appearance was hard to resist to and where their beauty failed, their voice managed to break even the strongest individual. Singing of mermaids was legendary. Depending on what the mermaid wanted, the effect of their song could differ. Azriel hadn't heard her voice yet he was already lost. Whether she wanted or not, she had him wrapped around her finger. Sleeping peacefully her features were soft, she looked quite young and like a good person. He assumed that she liked to smile a lot because corners of her mouth were permanently turned upward. He really hoped to see her smile someday.

However, her sunken cheeks were causing him a pain. When he was changing her bandages after waking up, he noticed a lot of details that early in the morning he missed out in agitation. Every time he touched her and felt no muscles, only bones and thin tissue under the skin, it hurt him like a stab straight into the heart. Desperately wanting to get the food to her belly, he was just sitting there, gazing at her, his eyes clouded with sorrow. There had to be some way how to do this.

Brooding over it, he didn't hear his shadows when they spoke to him at first. The darkness swirled around him, gathering near his ear, whispering. When he didn't answer, they tried to get his attention by cool gentle touches. It didn't work either, so they moved to master's mate, creating wall between them.

"What is it?" Azriel frowned, pushing them away.

"We are trying to talk to you. Why don't you listen to us?"

"She needs food," he stirred the cooling soup with spoon. "I'm trying to come up with some way to feed her."

"We might know about something you haven't tried yet."

"I tried everything," he shook head. "Maybe I need to ask Madja. I should write her a message. Will you deliver it?"

"Nope," they collectively dismissed. "First, try our method."

"Are you sure that it will work?" he raised a brow at them.

"For 100%! But if not, we will deliver the message."

"Fine, so what do I need to do?"

The shadows explained him their idea in detail. Azriel's eyes grew wider with every their word and he blushed fiercely.

"I can't do that!" He covered his mouth with hand, stuttering. "It's.. it's disrespectful to her.. I need her permission to do something so.. naughty."

"In this state, she will hardly give you permission. It's your only chance, boy. She doesn't have to know about it. Think about it!"

He hated to admit it, but they were once again right.

"It's going to be just feeding.. Only feeding.. nothing else," he grunted giving up and shoved spoonful of soup into his mouth.

His cheeks burnt with bright red colour as he leaned over sleeping mermaid. He gently opened her mouth and sealed his lips over hers. The jolt of energy surged through his body at that simple touch and he groaned, closing his eyes. He needed a moment, unable to move. He wanted to taste her, but thankfully his mouth were full of soup.

Come to your senses! It's feeding.. It isn't a real kiss, he scolded himself, taking a deep, steadying breath.

"That's it, boy! And now slooooowly," shadows were encouraging him, floating so close they were almost touching them. A growl rumbled in his chest and they recoiled.

"Fine!" If they had eyes, they would roll them now. "Just don't drown her." They flew back behind his shoulders and observed the situation from there.

Azriel sighed through nose. He let a few drops of soup slip from between his lips into her mouth and waited. Nothing happened at first and he was about to call it off when her throat worked under his tender touch and she swallowed. Female moaned and her brows knitted together as her lips moved slightly, looking for more. Happy, Azriel caressed her hair and let another small amount flow into her mouth.

Gradually, he fed her half of the soup in the bowl. It was quite a slow process, but how could he mind? Being so close to his mate, the bond between them awoke, pulsing in unison with their heartbeats. It came in handy in this situation. As her belly filled, the bond shone with satisfaction and Azriel knew it was time to stop. She had to start carefully to keep the food in. He put the bowl aside and pulled warm blanket higher, tucking her in. Mermaid frowned, her lips looking for more food.

"Soon. I'll give you more very soon," he murmured, caressing her cheek lovingly. "You are safe here. I'll give you as much food as you need. I'll give you anything you want, just.. give me a chance."

He hoped his prayer would somehow reach her and she wouldn't refuse the bond as soon as she opened eyes.

Azriel decided to feed her with small amount of soup every two hours and see how her body would react to that. And in between he gave her tea from herbs Madja gave him. It took him only a half day to turn this into a routine. His body got used to the repeating motions. Cleaning of wounds and applying ointments, changing bandages, little bit of tea with medicine, few mouthfuls of soup.

All of that required a lot of time and the short breaks between the individual actions, he spent gazing at his mate, committing details of her face to his memory or cooking some food for himself and soup for his patient.

At beginning, he always tried to feed her with spoon, but when it failed, he gladly pressed his lips to hers. It was like a remedy and while he was balancing between keeping it professional, detached, and giving in to his needs, he hardly noticed anything else. Two days later he didn't even bother with trying spoon anymore. The fever was finally gone and she seemed to be getting better, her starved body was healing, too. Yet she didn't awoke even once. As his mouth sealed over hers, he closed eyes, fighting his usual battle and imagining what could be.

Azriel didn't notice the startled move of hand nor felt the body under him tensed. He let small amount of soup slip into mermaids mouth and she swallowed. Suddenly pair of hands pushed him away. It surprised him and he started choking on the soup, coughing violently.

"W-what are you doing?" Her voice was still weak and full of fear, but she was definitely awake.

Azriel finally stopped coughing and took a deep breath, wiping away tears. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do anything bad," he put his hands up. "While you were unconscious, you couldn't eat and this was the only way how to get food into you.. I swear I tried everything else before.. you know.." The blush climbed up his neck, burning his cheeks. He watched her with plea.

"I-.. You are that male, the one who saved me.."

"Yes, it's me," Azriel nodded eagerly, biting on his bottom lip and waiting whether she would mention the bond.

"I have to thank you for saving my life. I was sure that I will die there and I really would die, if it wasn't for you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Her voice was the sweetest melody Azriel ever heard. He was trying to stay focussed, but with every word that left her lips it was harder and harder.

The bond in his chest stirred and flexed with expectation. He knew that she felt it, it snapped for both of them at the same time after all, yet he wanted to wait until she mentioned it. While he was waiting, they introduced to each other, sharing some basic information. She even told him about how they captured her and confined her in that gigant tank.

Several days later, Mer was enough strong to stand up on her own. She didn't need Azriel to help her anymore. Her wounds healed without leaving any marks and she was able to eat solid food. Not even once she mentioned the bond and Azriel had a bad feeling about it.

With each passing day she was getting restless. She often watched Sidra flowing under the window of sitting room, her gaze vacant.

"Where does the river flow?" she asked him for the third time that day.

"It flows into the sea beyond the city," he answered her patiently, his voice sad. "Why?"

"I want to go home," she murmured under her breath, but he heard it. It was the first time she mentioned it and his heart clenched in pain.

Azriel swallowed hard, preparing to hear something that would break him into pieces. "Do you want to return home, Mer?"

"Yes," she replied simply and finally looked at him. "When will you let me go?"

That hurt more than he expected. Balling hands into fists, he turned his back to her.

"I can't.."

He was hardly keeping it together. Shadows swirled around his shoulders as if trying to comfort him. His wings rustled as he abruptly marched to the bedroom. He sat on the edge of bed, putting head into his hands. Mother had a very strange sense of humour, punishing him by giving him a mate who didn't want him. The only person who was supposed to love him and stay by his side, wanted to leave him.

He felt unwanted his entire life, first by his own father, then in the camp by his own people and later even by the first love of his life. He was scared to love because people who really mattered to him, didn't want him in their lives. Five centuries later, it was still hard for him to comprehend that Cassian and Rhysand liked him, that they called him their brother and he dreaded the day they would stop.

Mer quietly followed him, watching him with puzzled expression.

"Did you save me only to imprison me again?" Her voice was calm, there was no trace of hatred or accusation in it.

He took a shaky breath and shook his head. He hadn't seriously cried since he was thrown into dungeons as a small boy. He didn't cry even when his hands were burnt and it hurt badly, but now he felt like doing so.

"I can't possibly let my mate leave me just like that.."

She sighed and walked over to him, crouching in front of him and pulled his hands away from his face. He looked at her in surprise. It was the first time she touched him. Ever since she woke up, she was refusing his toich. Now she was searching his face, her expression unreadable, her small but strong hands holding his.

"You know that we belong to different worlds. I can't stay on land for too long and you can't survive under the water. That's just how things are. We can't change it."

She was so calm that it was killing him. Was he really so unworthy? Was he really not good enough even for his mate, the one he was made for? Azriel was never pushy with people he cared for. He was always putting others, their wishes and needs before himself. He could count on fingers of one hands the times when he revolted and stood his ground. In this case, he didn't want to give up easily. He wanted to give it a try and fight with everything he had to change her mind, to prove her that this could work.

He closed fingers around her hands, holding them firmly and looked straight into her eyes with determination. Small sparkles whirled in them as he opened his mouth to speak.

"I always believed that the real love can overcome anything. That once I find my mate, she could love me despite of looking like this," he nodded to his scarred hands. "That she will see me, the real me under all the darkness and blood staining my hands and yet choose to stay by my side.." He searched her eyes, looking for a hint of agreement, a hint of longing, anything. "There's nothing I wouldn't be willing to do for you. Nothing. I would even try to learn to live under the water, if you asked me for that. Please, don't shove me away.. Don't refuse the bond.. Give me at least one chance to prove myself as worthy of you.. I believe that this relationship can work and I will do anything for that.. Please.. Just one chance.."

She listened closely. When he stayed quiet, waiting for her respond, she narrowed eyes on him, thinking about it. It felt like forever until she gave him an answer, his heart treating to explode with emotions that were wrestling with him.

"Fine," she sighed and nodded, squeezing his hands back. "Let's try it. But what if it won't work? What then?"

"I'm sure it will work, but if not, we will talk about it then. I won't give up though."

She smiled at him gently. "I think that you are good male. So don't take it personally, but I really need to go home. I mean to the water. The time I can spend on land is still quite limited because I am young. The longer mermaids live, the longer they can stay without water."

Azriel's brows raised. "Oh.. I didn't know that. I'm so sorry. Your kind lives in depths of ocean, secluded and we have a little to nothing information about mermaids. You are more like a legend from fairytale. I don't like to admit it, but my knowledge is limited. However, I will learn it all, I swear. Just give me time and guidance, please."

He helped her to sit on the bed and headed to the bathroom to prepare bath. When they visited Madja last day, the healer said that she should be okay from now on, but she needed to take it slowly and especially to avoid dirty water because infection could still return. She also had to keep taking the medication healer gave them.

When bath was ready he returned to bedroom and scooped her in his arms.

"I can walk," she protested weakly.

"And I know it, but as I told you before, I want to prove myself. Carrying my mate when she is sick and needs to take it easy, is my responsibility that I'll gladly do," he smiled at her. "I want to be a good mate. And not just now, it's forever."

She didn't protest at slightest when he offered to help her strip from his T-shirt that looked like dress on her and carefully lowered her into the bath. As soon as her skin touched the surface of water, the tail reappeared and she sighed in relief, diving in. Azriel watched her to swim in small circle, glad his bathtub was enough big, but he was already thinking about getting a bigger one. She emerged and watching him, she swam closer.

"Azriel?" she called at him and his attention immediately was fully on her. "Uhm, you know I'm not water spirit, right?"

He blinked, confused. "Sure. I couldn't possibly mistake you for one."

"I see," she pouted her lips, playing with water. "So you remember when I told you about my home. In ocean."

"Of course, I remember everything you told me," he laughed and then tensed as the realisation hit him.

"Salt water," he breathed out, blushing fiercely. How could it not occur to him sooner? "You need salt water."

Her head tilted to the side as she observed his embarrassed form. Azriel dashed from the bathroom and returned within seconds with small container of kitchen salt.

"Would this do?" he hesitated.

Mer burst in genuine laugher and the thread connecting them sang. Soon Azriel joined her, sitting down next to the bathtub. She swam to the edge and he took her hand, placing kiss on its back. When they calmed down, he locked his gaze with hers, serious.

"I'll learn it, I swear. I meant it when I said that I want this to work and I'll do everything I can for that. Please, trust me. Can you forgive me for the mistakes I'll do at start? I promise that I will get better."

Mer bit on her bottom lip and leaned closer. Her lips gently brushed over the corner of his lips in lovingly kiss. Flushed, she smiled.

"I want this to work too. Let's try it! Together."

[bambisworlds]

there's man in the woods (3)

rhysand prequel, part one, part two, part four

rhysand, azriel, and cassian bring bambi back to the night court (2,221 word count).

content warnings, mdni 18+

f!reader, bambi!oc, slight reader age regression, slight ddlg dynamics, established relationship, poly!batboys x oc, caregiver!batboys, protective!batboys, loving!batboys, some morally gray rhysand, some angst, brief use of "Daddy", typical bat boy banter, cassian is beefy and tall, let me know if i forgot anything x (also if i misrepresent age regression or common aspects of ddlg relationships pls let me know, i'm still learning)

my masterlist

Bambi tries to turn her head in Azriel’s grip from Rhysand’s declaration of finding an ornament for Amren, but Azriel quickly stops her, “Don’t look, baby.” he mumbles, keeping her face against his chest.

“Why?” she asks, her voice muffled against his leathers.

“Daddy’s handling business that you don’t need to see,” Azriel answers over the sound of Tamlin’s wailing. Rhysand turned the dagger in his grip, inspecting Tamlin’s eyeball with a slight grimace before haphazardly tossing it on the ground beside Tamlin where he was sobbing in pain. Cassian lifted his hand to gently comb his fingers through Bambi’s hair in a soothing manner from his position beside Azriel. Cassian couldn’t hide the smirk on his face as he watched Tamlin roll around on the ground in pain.

Rhysand walked over to the three of them, placing a kiss on the top of Bambi’s head before mumbling, “Let’s go home.”

Azriel nodded in acknowledgement and scooped Bambi into his arms bridal style, keeping her face turned against his chest so she wouldn’t catch a glimpse of Tamlin or the bloody mess Rhysand had made of him, “Ready, baby?” he asks quietly as his wings flare behind him and Bambi nods in response against his chest. Her hand instinctively snaked up his chest to grip onto his leathers, she had a decent fear of heights and holding onto him made her feel better. Azriel’s wings propelled him up into the sky alongside Cassian and Rhysand. Mor had winnowed back to The Night Court, but the Bat Boys had decided to all fly back together with Bambi. None of them wanted to be away from her yet.

Bambi’s grip on Azriel’s leathers tightened the higher into the air they got and she kept her eyes squeezed shut against his chest, “Don’t worry babygirl, I’ve got you,” Azriel reassures her. 

“Maybe we should buy one of those baby harness things but make one for adults we can strap her to us when we go flying,” Cassian suggests with a grin and Rhysand rolls his eyes.

“You’d look like a lunatic,” Rhysand scoffs.

“Oh c’mon! It’d be fun, right baby?” Cassian calls to Bambi over the blowing wind with a smile. Bambi mumbles something against Azriel’s chest, her words barely audible over the wind. She was clinging to him like a wet blanket. 

Azriel chuckles, “I don’t think she’s too fond of the idea.” he calls back to Cassian, his thumb rubbing soothing circled on Bambi’s back as he holds her firmly against him.

“Maybe you’d like to give it a whirl Rhys, I could strap you in,” Cassian winks at Rhysand, who looks at Cassian with a flat expression as he flies higher so Cassian was out of earshot.

~

When the four arrived back at the townhouse Azriel gently set Bambi back on her feet, reaching a scarred hand up to tuck her windswept hair behind her ears, “You okay?” he asks and she nods.

Cassian landed after Azriel, immediately walking over to Bambi with long strides and scooping her up into his arms. Since Cassian was the tallest of the bunch, he had the biggest size difference with Bambi. Bambi’s legs tried to wrap around his hips as he picked her up but it was an awkward position so she let her legs dangle. Cassian didn’t seem to pay it any mind, he had one arm wrapped firmly around her waist with a large hand cradling the back of her head. He nuzzled into the crook of her neck, nuzzling his nose against her to breathe in her scent. The tension in his body that had been present since she was taken finally faded and he moaned slightly from her scent, rocking back and forth as he held her, almost to soothe himself as opposed to Bambi. 

“Oh, babygirl,” Cassian sighs in relief as he finally pulls his head back to look at Bambi. His hand that was on the back of her head moved to rest on the side of her face, “Are you okay? 100% and completely okay?” he asks firmly and Bambi nods, “No other cuts besides this?” his hand moves down to hover over the knicks on her neck and Bambi shakes her head, “Let’s get this cleaned up then.” he says, not bothering to put her down as he enters the townhouse. He was so tall he had to duck slightly to enter. 

Majda was already waiting for them in the living area when they got there in case any of them returned injured, Rhysand had called for her before they left to get Bambi. Cassian positioned Bambi on his lap as Majda gently cleaned the cuts and made sure they weren’t infected. Azriel had gone on a long spiel about how people sometimes poisoned blades and had to be reassured 8 times by Majda that Bambi wasn’t poisoned. 

With every slight wince that came with Majda dabbing the cuts with antiseptics, Cassian gently rubbed her stomach with his large hand to comfort her. He glanced over at Azriel and Rhysand who were watching closely from their seats. Azriel’s wings twitched every time she winced or made any expression of discomfort while Rhysand’s hand flexed, a subconscious desire to intervene and stop anything that could be harming her. But, Rhysand knew if he didn’t let Majda clean the cuts thoroughly, Azriel would keep bothering her to check Bambi for infections every five minutes.

“There,” Majda muttered once she was finished, offering Bambi a slight smile.

“Good job, baby,” Cassian murmured in her ear and kissed the side of her head. Cassian patted her belly lightly before letting her off his lap. As suspected, Azriel stepped closer and tilted Bambi’s chin up to inspect the cuts one last time.

“She’s perfectly well, Shadowsinger,” Majda says exasperatedly as she gathers her medical supplies. Rhysand thanked her kindly as she left. 

“You may be physically well, but how do you feel up here?” Rhysand asks Bambi, gently tapping her forehead, “Do you need to talk? Or need anything from us in particular?”

“I don’t think so,” she says with a soft sigh, “I just wasn’t expecting for any of that to happen.” She lifts her hand to softly touch the slices on her throat but Rhysand stops her.

“Don’t agitate it darling,” he mutters, gently holding her wrist in his large hand. After feeling satisfied she wouldn't poke and prod at the cuts Rhysand released his hold on her wrist and rested his hand on the side of her face instead, “I know today was frightening for you, but there’s something I need to discuss with you.”

“Okay,” Bambi says, shifting on her feet nervously. 

Rhysand notices the nervous fidgeting and sits down on the sofa, pulling her to stand between his legs with a gentle smile, “Nothing’s wrong, sweetheart. I just need you to understand something,” he begins, resting his hands on her thighs as she stood between his spread legs, “If something like this is ever to happen again, or you think you might be in any danger at all, don’t wait for me to reach out to you in here.” Rhysand says, releasing one of her thighs to gently tap her forehead, “You reach out to me the second anything is amiss. I don’t care how small the danger is, or if you’re struggling to use your daemati abilities, from now on you keep trying to reach me over and over until it works. I need to know if you’re in danger. Especially if someone like Tamlin is the cause of it.”

“Okay, I’m sorry,” she mumbles timidly. 

Rhysand sighs softly and pulls her even closer to him, “You don’t have to apologize, sweetheart. This was your first time being in a scary situation like this, it’s natural to make mistakes or not be fast on your feet. I just wanted to make sure to speak with you about this in case anything ever happened again.” he explains and Bambi nods in acknowledgement, “The quicker I know something’s wrong, the quicker we can get to you.” Rhysand says, Cassian and Azriel nod in agreement from their spots in the living area. 

“I know. I tried to do it but I was frazzled and scared and I–” she begins to answer and Rhysand shushes her gently.

“Like I said, there’s no need to apologize or explain yourself. You’re not in trouble and I’m not mad. I just want you safe,” he assures her, gently nudging her closer to sit on his lap. Bambi sighs softly and settles on his thighs, “You were brave today and I’m proud of you. Okay?”

“Okay,” Bambi nods in agreement and Rhysand smiles tenderly. 

“Come here, sweet girl,” he murmurs, pulling her even closer until she is pressed firmly against him with her face against his neck, “You did great today.” he says, pressing a kiss on the top of her head as his hand rubbed her back. Rhysand’s eyes closed briefly, savoring the comforting sensation of her weight on him. Every second she was away from him he nearly lost what was left of his sanity. When he opened his eyes again he looked over at Cassian and Azriel who were hovering like mother hens, waiting to offer comfort if needed. Rhysand nodded his head slightly towards the stairs, silently asking them to prepare Bambi’s thing she would need for bed. The three males could communicate without words after knowing each other so long and having grown accustomed to Bambi’s habits and the things she liked.

As Cassian and Azriel headed upstairs Rhysand continued to rub Bambi’s back, his free hand snaking up to gently massage her scalp. “Are you sure there’s nothing you want to talk about?”

“No…” Becca mutters but Rhysand didn’t buy it. 

“Darling, if something’s bothering you I want you to tell me,” Rhysand encourages her.

Bambi sighs and pulls back on his lap to look at him, Rhysand’s hands instinctively fall down to rest on her hips. His gaze was alert and interested as he looked at her, “I feel guilty.” she mumbles and Rhysand’s eyebrows furrow.

“Why do you feel guilty baby?” he asks gently, his thumbs rubbing soothing patterns on her hips.

“Tamlin already lost his mate…” she begins and Rhysand’s gaze hardens slightly. Bambi knew everything that happened with Rhysand’s sister and Tamlin, but they haven’t talked about it since the one time Rhysand explained it to her. Rhysand very rarely talked about what happened to his sister, it was too painful for him, “And now he’s missing an eye. Because of me.”

Rhysand immediately shook his head, “That wasn’t because of you, that was because of me. I did that. Not you.”

Bambi sighs and stammers for a minute, “I know I didn’t physically do it, but I’m why you did it. And now he’ll struggle the rest of his life. I can’t help but feel bad.”

Rhysand releases an exasperated breath, his hands flexed on her hips slightly as he took a moment to reign in his emotions before focusing back on Bambi, “First of all, it's not because of you. It's because Tamlin chose to take you. So it was due to his decisions, not because of you. And darling… You didn’t ask me to do it, so you can't be at fault. What you need to remember is he was planning on harming you, potentially killing you. He didn’t feel guilty when it came to doing those things to you, so you shouldn’t feel guilty about what happened to him. I certainly don’t and he wouldn’t if it had been you who lost an eye,” Rhysand says firmly, his voice holding no argument, “And what you also need to remember is that you are my mate.” he says, his voice dropping an octave as the lights began to flicker ominously in the living area, “It wouldn’t matter to me if all he had done was pluck a hair from your head when he took you, I still would’ve done what I did because you felt afraid. He made you feel afraid and he made you bleed. No one is to make you feel afraid or hurt you. If they do…” Rhysand trails off, a menacing smirk tugging at his lips,

“Tamlin got off easy. If you hadn’t been there I would’ve done far worse than take his eye because you’re my mate. Mine. And if my mate is ever afraid or in pain… that requires correction. Bloodshed.” Rhysand emphasized with a dark glint in his eye, “The only thing you should be afraid of is Cassian, Azriel, and I bickering over who gets what spot in our bed.” Rhysand’s dark expression softens with a smile, the flickering of the lights ceasing. Bambi looks up at the lights as they stop flickering. Rhysand’s emotions often caused odd things to happen, even earthquakes if he was especially distressed or… aroused, “Don’t mind the lights, I’ve got ahold of myself now,” Rhysand grins.

“I don’t want you to hurt anyone because of me,” Bambi says plainly and Rhysand’s jaw clenches briefly.

“Let’s agree to disagree,” he mumbles, pulling Bambi up into his arms as he rises from the sofa and heads toward the stairs, “Your other brutes have a bath waiting for you.”

if you have any requests including the people on my masterlist please comment them below any of my posts or in my submissions!! (check here: about my blog  to see what things i'm not comfortable with in regards to requests <3)

[writtenbyvirginiabelle]

Life & Death Master List

Summary: After losing her family, her high school sweetheart, and her best friend, Emily Cole packs up and moves to Austin for a new beginning. Of all the things she had expected from the move, having a hot and grouchy single dad with a drop of sunshine for a kid living next door was not one of them. Nor was the impending doom that was brewing, unbeknownst to them, that would soon take a toll on the world they know.

Series CWs: Loss of loved ones, mentions of cheating, canon level violence, death and mentions of death, brief mentions of ED, language, sex and mentions of sex, miscarriages and mentions of miscarriages, angst, guilt. {If you think there is more that need to be added, feel free to message me and lmk:)}

──────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ────────

Life

Chapter One

Chapter Two [Coming Soon]

After Life

Chapter One [Coming Soon]

Death

Chapter One [Coming Soon]

After Death

Chapter One [Coming Soon]

[hedwig394]

Derek Hale x Sarah McCall Masterlist

Summary - These are one shots of Derek Hale/Original Female Character(Sarah McCall, who's Scott's older sister)

NOTE - These don't need to be read in any order. Choose any one you want, it does not follow the chronological order of the Teen Wolf series. I'll add a summary wherever it's required. Thanks!

The First Meet

Rescuing Him

Are You Still Here?

The Piece That Doesn't Fit

Headcanons

I'm Not Yours

The Big Sister

[cyramountain]

Mother and daughter fancast: Sarah Michelle Gellar & Sophie Simnett

[syms-things-5]

Alive & Well - Chapter Two

Part Three of ‘Fractured’

Part One can be found here and Part Two here

Synopsis: Continuing on a few months after the move to Maine, and starting with fresh eyes, Sarah and Chris are certainly making the most of their newfound freedom.

Warnings: Language, angsty, mildly NSFW, horny lol

Tags: Just following on from Part Two - thank you for the support :) @ppal3 @bookwormchick91 @redhairedfeistynerd @memoriesat30 @patzammit @before-we-get-started​

CHAPTER TWO

Lately, Chris had developed something of a bad habit for hanging about in doorways. 

Actually, let’s rephrase that: Chris had developed a bad habit for hanging about in doorways and staring. More specifically, staring at Sarah and more so than usual since he was already pretty well-versed in that custom. She had caught him and told him off on multiple occasions. He wasn’t sorry in the slightest

There was nothing he liked more than catching Sarah unawares while she was deep in her own little world and completely oblivious to her surroundings. Not while she was sleeping, mind, because he knew that freaked her out and truthfully, she didn’t believe him when he told her that she looked beautiful when she was asleep and not, as she eloquently put it, a dribbling mess. But rather he liked watching her when she was engrossed in reading a book, or super focussed watching the news on television, or finishing some menial house chore. Or simply just existing nearby. It really didn’t take much to bring out this side of him it would seem. He just loved being in the same vicinity as her.

Another thing that apparently worked for him, although admittedly this was more of a recent discovery of his, was when she wore her old pair of dungarees. These were dungarees he had managed to go several years without witnessing her in, it turned out. How had he managed to never be around when she had worn them before? In all the years he had known her? He’d seen her in sweatpants, a whole manner of hoodies, scrubs, smart, casual…but never these. Clearly, God had been punishing him for something along the way; what, he wasn’t sure, but he had decided he would be definitely making up for lost time.

He couldn’t quite put into words what the sight of her in her slightly distressed-looking black dungarees did to him exactly but stood where he was now, in the doorway of what was going to become an office or a library of some sort, watching her as she stretched up onto her tip-toes to reach the corner of the window with her paint-roller in hand, he was feeling practically feral.

She was humming a tune unrecognisable to him but he wasn’t paying particular attention to that part. It was more about the way the dungarees subtly pulled up around her waist to show off the perfect curve of her thighs and ass whenever she stretched just a little bit too hard.

Maybe it was a combination of all of the above; the stretching, the painting, and the humming along to something in her brain. It was probably all of the above. He couldn’t deny it; it was all undeniably working for him.

“Are you going to keep staring or are you going to come and help me with this?” She asked, rousing him from his new favourite hobby. He thought he had been subtle but evidently not.

“Is that a trick question? ‘Cos if you’ve giving me the option, I’m gonna keep staring, thanks.”

“Ha ha. C’mere, I need your long legs to reach this awkward bit.” She moved back from the window bay and held the small roller out towards him, not quite meeting his eyeline.

“I love it when you boss me around.” He playfully nudged her with his elbow but she didn’t bite. He pretended to pout at her, childishly, and again, she didn’t notice.

He rolled his eyes to himself and grudgingly took the roller from her hands. He asked her which spot she meant before trying to play the hero in vain hope she might start staring at his ass instead. It didn’t happen unfortunately and he sort of knew it wouldn’t.

She had been mithering about this final spare bedroom for days now and set about roughly figuring out a layout on her iPad the evening before, telling him the sooner they got it done, the sooner they could both get some valuable use out of the space. If Chris was going to get his way this afternoon, he would have to work much harder than this.

“You know, we don’t need to do this right now, yeh?” He suggested. “It’s not like we’ve got any visitors coming this week and even if we had, no one is gonna think any less of us just because one bedroom isn’t properly decorated.”

“It’s a mess, Chris. We’ve just dumped everything in here that doesn’t go anywhere else.” She scratched at the side of her head, unknowingly leaving a thin streak of white paint behind. He decided he wasn’t going to tell her about that just now.

“You know what I think about this space?” He paused his painting and backed up from the window to stand beside Sarah. He pretended to give it some serious thought but there wasn’t much else going on in his brain at this precise moment, dungerees be damned.

“We are not having some weird sex room…”

“I didn’t say anything about a sex room! Also, let’s not be hasty and rule anything out just yet, OK? I mean, we have plenty of space. One bedroom could easily be kept under secure lock and key and that people whisper about when they come to visit us.”

He winked at her but pulled back the brashness a little when he saw her expression grow increasingly unimpressed.

“Why are you stressing about this room anyway?” He sighed in defeat. “You’ve been thinking about it constantly these last few days and it’s really no big deal, honey. We have lots of time and I can think of a hundred better ways of spending it today.”

“I’m not stressing about it.” She protested and, yet again, completely glossed over his mild flirting. “And it’s not stress exactly. It’s just annoying me is all. When it’s done, it’s done and we can forget all about it. I promise.”

He placed the roller down in the paint tray placed precariously on the end of a chair she had carried up the stairs from the dining room.

“Then tell me why this is annoying you so much?” He placed his hands on her shoulders, more serious this time in the hope she might feel like letting him in to whatever was going on inside her brain today. She had been far too quiet and short with him and it was starting to unnerve him a little bit.

He could tell she was trying to find the right words but likely, she didn’t particularly want to have this conversation with him right at this moment. She herself wasn’t actually sure why she was getting worked up over a random space that, he was right, they didn’t need to worry about right this second. She had hoped he might drop the conversation if she could gear him up into helping her finish the first layer of painting, though. It was approaching 5pm and if they finished it soon, they could figure out dinner and then he would likely forget all mentions of stress if a big bowl of pasta was placed in front of him.

“It’s all good.” She shrugged as casually as she could manage and made a move to take the roller back from his grasp. “I just want to get it done so it’s done.”

She should probably have known that Chris would do what he did next.

Just as her fingers were about to reconnect with the handle, and quicker than she could react to, Chris grabbed the end of the roller and twisted it in his hand. Before Sarah had even registered what had happened, she saw it held up high behind his head, just out of her reach. A couple of drops of paint had splattered the wall behind him.

“Ah!” Chris exclaimed, yanking the brush even further away from her hands as she made a lame attempt to reach for it. “If you want it back, you know what you have to do.”

He spoke defiantly, confidently, so sure was he that a playful wind-up was in order. It might make her react more towards him than whatever this current behaviour was, he thought. Maybe she could take it out on him instead. The prospect of that thought alone was mouth-watering.

“What the f…?! Chris!” She cried out, trying hard to mask the giggle threatening to leave her mouth. “C’mon, just gimme the roller.”

“No.”

“You’re being a dick.”

“I know. You’ve always known I’ve been like this and you’ve found it cute up ‘til now.” He retorted, yet more swagger coming to the fore. He was getting on her nerves now, he could tell, but he was also distracting her and that was the aim of the game.

“I wouldn’t say ‘cute’ exactly.” She responded, her hands finding her hips.

“Well, I am extremely cute, you’ve said so yourself, and what’s more is that you love me for it.”

She rolled her eyes and gently pointed a finger against his chest in a more playful move. Two could play at this game, she thought.

He took a further step backwards, the roller still stretched out behind him in anticipation of her next move, his eyes as wide as she had ever seen them before.

“Stop trying to make me laugh, OK? I’m in a mood.” She conceded.

“I know you are and I’m sorry, honey. One kiss and then I promise I’ll be quiet and help you finish painting.” He dropped his arm down to his side and pretended to zip his lips closed. He felt relieved when she chuckled at him again. Honestly, he thought his joking around could have gone either way at this point. “How does that sound? You have to admit, that’s a fair swap.”

“I’m not sure I want you helping me now.” She said, playfully.

“That’s also fair but have I at least succeeded in making you less in a mood with this room?”

“And more in a mood with you? Yes, one hundred per cent.” She rolled her eyes at him again.

“Cool.” He seemed remarkably proud of himself all things considered. “Do you wanna, maybe, be in a mood with me in the shower instead?”

“I don’t need a shower.”

“Yeh, you might wanna go check the mirror about that.” He pointed the roller towards the side of her head.

Helping her through her confusion, he pulled out a loose piece of hair from her ponytail and watched as she tried her best to focus her eyes on where she could see the paint-stained ends.

“Oh shit, is it everywhere?!”

She grabbed for the scrunchie and let the rest of her ponytail out. Long hair fanned over her shoulders and face and quite honestly, this addition to her look wasn’t exactly helping to alleviate his feelings of horniness. It all seemed to be happening in slow motion in his mind. He watched as she grabbed at the rest of her hair, fanning several strands apart between her fingers as she tried to assess the damage.

“No, it’s not that bad.” He spoke lowly, inching a little towards her. “But you are probably going to need a second pair of hands. Just to make sure you get it all out.”

Any other time when she was feeling less anxious, she likely would have fallen for this flirtation quite willingly but she felt less than sexy in this specific moment. She felt tired and grumpy and probably hormonal. And she didn’t much fancy a shower either. She hadn’t even clocked the fault of her dungarees yet.

She kept separating bits of her hair between her fingers, growing more and more disappointed in her clumsiness. She didn’t notice Chris lifting up the paint roller again until it was almost too late.

“What are you doing?!” She yelled out as she spied him in her peripheral vision, posing the roller just by the side of his face.

“Stop me. You know what to do.” He asserts, his eyes wider than she had seen before. “I know what you’re doing. You’re turning a small thing into a big thing and it’s not gonna get you anywhere. Believe me, I know. So, we’re gonna work through this together ‘cos we’re grown-ups and I love you so you either let me help you wind down whatever this is or I’m rolling this all over my face and then I’ll have to shave the beard off.”

If Chris only knew how much she loved his beard, how she would do almost anything to make sure he never shaved ever again, he could make life a hell of a lot easier for himself when he was trying it on with her. She was genuinely surprised he hadn’t worked it out yet unless he had and he was saving that nugget of information for another time. It wouldn’t surprise her at this point in their relationship. He was full of surprises and she was only approximately half glad about that “skill”.

“I don’t know what getting me in the shower is going to accomplish.”

He smirked at her as though he was hiding a secret he wasn’t going to let her in on just yet.

“Well, let’s try it and see.” 

 * 

 “I still blame you for that.”

“How is that my fault? I was merely working out and you couldn’t help yourself.”

Chris massaged the back of her head, her soapy hair wrapped between his fingers. He’d been at this for about fifteen minutes now and while it wasn’t doing much to save the environment, Sarah was grateful for the pleasant and comforting distraction. He had always been unfairly good with his hands.

“Well…” She started, sighing again at the feeling. “How was I gonna reject you? You had the puppy eyes and everything.”

He pulled his fingers from her hair and the brief loss of pleasant contact was soon replaced by his warm arms wrapping around her waist. She leaned her head to one side as he placed a feather-like kiss to her shoulder.

“I have the puppy eyes now, Bernette, but you’re not taking the bait.”

“You got me in the shower, didn’t you?”

“That was only, like, the first part of my plan.”

She wasn’t sure if it was the effect of the steam inside their shower enclosure, or the sweet smell of coconut from her shampoo, or a combination of both but her skin suddenly felt ten degrees hotter. His soft kisses moved slowly up the side of her neck until she felt his lips linger behind her ear, a well-known place he knew never failed to turn her on.

He felt her breath hitch as his hands moved lower and lower across the soft skin of her tummy, until his fingers slowly met the red-hot skin between her thighs. She shuddered a little in his grasp as she felt his long fingers work her over, running them softly between her wet lips, his middle finger occasionally mounting the pressure just so so he could feel her tense a little more in his arms, hear her sigh a little more through the spray of hot water and steam, and relax her just right so she could forget whatever shit had been going on inside her brain today.

It never failed to work and he was proud of that fact. He was proud that he knew her better than anyone else, knew her body better than anyone else, and knew just what to do to calm her down and bring her back to him again.

Her back pushed firmly against his chest as he kept going, deliberate with each stroke of his fingers as he waited for the tell-tale sign that she was getting closer, when her hand reached out to grip his and hold it still.

She steadied her breathing and, briefly confused, he eased off his touch. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen next as, by his understanding, she felt pretty close to her end but he waited for her to calm some more and possibly move his hand again, taking control. Instead, his heart dropped a bit when he felt her try to turn in his arms. He reluctantly loosened his grip and allowed her to move so she was facing him again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly.

“Mmm…” she sighed contently.

He opened his eyes to find hers still closed as their lips slowly parted just millimeters from each other.

“Why did you stop me?” he whispered, the heat from his breath fanning over her face.

Her eyes opened and he watched them slowly focus on him. He pressed a kiss to her forehead so she didn’t think he was pushing for an answer, but he felt a bit weird. Weird? No, that seemed too far-fetched. But something was wrong.

“I’m good.” She replied, still apparently blissful.

“But you didn’t…” 

“I know. It’s OK.”

She kissed him again and he let her but he would be lying to himself if he thought he was anything other than convinced by her sudden about-turn. It didn’t help that he could now feel the creeping but mild dissatisfaction in his chest.

“Do you wanna maybe try something else?” He asked, again trying to mask any sense of concern from his voice or his face.

She still had a slightly blissed-out look on her cheeks as evidenced by the blush covering her skin. It felt hot to the touch as he spread his fingers over her lower back, crossing his arms to avoid her moving away from him.

“No, I’m good. Honest.”

That’s a maybe, but he wasn’t.

“I just don’t think it’s gonna happen right now. Sorry.” She continued as patiently as she could, trying to sound like it wasn’t a big deal when she knew it likely would be for him.

When has he ever not made her cum? It’s like a given at this point, he knows her that well. He knows when something isn’t working and he knows when to change it up. It’s just how he is, so proud is he of knowing her in the most intimate of ways. But she desperately didn’t want him to worry about it or question her about it. It just wasn’t to be at this time. She was probably just a little too tightly wound from earlier in the day and that was on her, not him.

She moved her hands away from his shoulders and ran them over her wet hair to remove the last remnants of her shampoo. He watched her as she leaned her head back under the spray and smoothed her hair out to their ends, then make eye contact with him again, her sweet smile making a welcome appearance.

“Why don’t I start dinner, hmm?” She rubbed her hands over his shoulder again in a soothing motion, and was grateful for his returning smile.

“Sure.” He lied. “I’ll just finish up in here.”

“Oh, sorry, do you want me to…?”

“No, no, not that. I just mean, I need to get rid of the coconut smell.” He chuckled. “I love it on you but I have a manly reputation to maintain and sweet tropical smells might not cut it.”

She was thankful for the out as she stepped to his side and vacated the stall. A fluffy white towel lay on the wicker basket just in front of her and she quickly wrapped it around her body, securing it with a small fold at the top.

She could just about make him out in the shower as she made to leave the bathroom. The steam gave tempting glimpses of his sculpted form and not for the first time that day did she feel like an absolute idiot. 

 *