#the sky above my head the ground beneath my feet

[d1stalker]

Collateral Damage [Logan Howlett]

SUMMARY: The X-men are heroes—they save the world, eradicate threats and protect both mutants and humans alike. You don't see it that way, though.

WARNINGS: one-sided e2l, fem!reader is stubborn and sassy af but it's valid, arguing, canon-level violence, scott's a dick, SMUT - 18+ only! WC: 21k - MASTERLIST

A/N: i've always wanted to write a fic with this plot, it's been on my mind for AGES. happy reading!

----

The first time you see them, it’s on your birthday.

Not being one for big, elaborate parties, you planned a quiet celebration instead—maybe a stroll through the lively city streets, followed by dinner with friends later. You had just visited your favourite store, buying a gift for yourself, and now you’re on your way back home.

The streets buzz with life as people shop, eat, and laugh, making it the perfect backdrop for a peaceful walk and some casual people-watching.

Then, out of nowhere, the ground trembles.

At first, you think it’s an earthquake—a quick jolt beneath your feet that sends a ripple of confusion through your body. But the tremor grows stronger, the ground shaking violently as everyone around you begins to panic, frantically looking around for the source, you included. And that’s when you see it. 

A hulking, green monster stomping through the city streets like something out of a nightmare. It has to be at least twenty feet tall, its skin a sickly shade of green, its eyes glowing with rage. Cars bounce with each heavy footstep, leaving deep footprints in the cement in its wake.

People scream, scrambling to get out of its path, but you stand frozen, heart pounding as you try to make sense of what’s happening. In the blink of an eye, the city had been plunged into chaos. You lose track of your surroundings, too busy trying to keep your eyes on the monster headed your way, while also dodging the hoard of pedestrians running for their lives.

Until they show up.

Initially, you don’t even notice them. After all, there’s so much going on around you at this point you barely know what to do with yourself. Yet, through the dust and destruction, you see flashes of movement—figures darting toward the monster with a sense of purpose. 

You don’t know who they are, but their bright blue and yellow suits make it seem like you should. At first glance, it’s hard not to feel a sense of awe. They move with such confidence, with their powers on full display for the world to see. You’ve never seen anything like it—a team of mutants using their powers in the open, fighting for what you assume is the greater good.

Maybe they can stop this!

The one first to act is a woman with white hair. She raises her arms to the sky, her eyes glowing a bright white as dark clouds swirl above, blocking out the sun. A flash of lightning slams into the monster's chest, forcing it to reel back with a thunderous roar of agony, and the crowd around you gasps, watching in wonder.

But when the lightning strikes a second time, it veers off course, crashing into the side of a nearby building. The structure groans under the impact, flames erupting from the point of contact as windows shatter, sending glass raining down onto the street below.

The collision sends you to the ground, and when you look up again, you see the power inside go out, all the lights flickering off.

Whatever awe you’d been feeling dissolves into concern, a sinking feeling settling in your chest.

Following her, a man with a glowing red visor strides forward. He’s clearly aiming to hit the monster, but the bright red beam shooting from his eyes slices through several cars in the street first, flipping them over and leaving them in smoldering wrecks. One of the blasts tears through a storefront, reducing it to rubble in a matter of seconds. More people scream and scatter, trying to escape the destruction.

From the corner of your eye, you see another mutant—a man with claws—lunge toward the monster, jumping onto cars to get closer to its head. But by using the parked cars as springboards, the weight of him causes the roof to sink in, and his claws leave deep gashes in the metal. 

How heavy is this guy? Is he made of metal or something?

He’s fast, brutal, slashing at the green beast with some serious ferocity. Still, despite the attack, the monster’s strength prevails, and it easily tosses him aside, crashing into buildings, crowds—anything in the way. To your surprise, he always gets back up. And that should be good, right? They are fighting for the safety of the city. 

But as debris rains down and cars are overturned, you can’t help but feel like this isn’t helping. You’re constantly dodging rubble, trying to find shelter, only for it to be destroyed seconds later. It’s like being in a war zone, and it doesn’t seem to be getting better.

And above it all, there’s a woman with red hair. She’s floating, and you watch from where you’re hiding as she lifts entire trees from their roots, hurling them at the monster in an attempt to slow it down. Except, much like her teammates, her attempt goes awry, and she misses, the trees now flying toward you. 

You barely have the reflexes to dive out of the way.

Your heart races, breath coming in shallow bursts as you press yourself against a wall, trying to steady yourself. The sound of sirens blare in the distance, but it doesn’t seem like help is coming anytime soon. There’s too much going on. People are running, pushing each other aside, crying, screaming, trying to find safety.

Glancing around, you’re met with destruction—flames licking at the sidewalk, cars totaled, and building wreckage littering the streets. These mutants, while clearly powerful, are causing just as much destruction as the monster itself.

What should have been a simple takedown—a 6v1—has turned into a full-scale disaster.

And yet, they don’t stop. They don’t pause to help the people caught in the crossfire, don’t even seem to notice the damage they’re causing. They’re so focused on the monster, so focused on the fight, that they’ve lost sight of everything else.

Is this what heroism looks like? You’d been excited at first—amazed, even—thinking they were here to save the day. But now, standing in the middle of a city that’s being torn apart, you realize how wrong you were.

They don’t care. Not about the city. Not about the people. 

Finally, with one last blast from the man with the visor, the monster collapses to the ground, defeated. It lets out a final roar before falling still, its massive body sprawled across the street.

The team stands over its body, their chests heaving with exertion, but they have smiles on their faces, feeling victorious. One by one, they board an aircraft, dragging the monster in with them, barely sparing a glance at the horrors they’ve caused. The white-haired woman doesn’t even bother to clear the storm clouds she summoned.

Within moments, they’re gone. You, and everyone else in the area, are left to deal with the fallout. Left to clean up their mess. 

Happy birthday to me, I guess.

—

After that, you spend the next few days trying to process what had happened. You’re still in a state of shock, confusion, and disbelief, but then the media catches wind of what went down, and suddenly, it’s everywhere.

News channels replay the footage over and over, the headlines screaming about “our holy saviours” saving the day. They’re plastered across every screen, being hailed as protectors.

The X-Men.

A group of mutant superheroes, apparently. The reporters list them off one by one, like they’re celebrities you should have known about. 

Storm. Cyclops. Wolverine. Jean Grey.

Mutants with powers like gods.

—

The second time you see them, you’re on vacation.

Sitting in a quaint café in the south of France, you’re enjoying a well-deserved break. The city you’re in is perfect—cobblestone streets winding through the village, vine-covered walls framing pastel-colored houses, and the scent of fresh bread drifting from nearby bakeries. It all feels like something out of a dream, the kind of peaceful retreat you’ve been desperate for after everything back home.

You order a frappé, and as you wait, you idly flip through a local newspaper, trying to see how much of your rusty high school French you can remember. It’s peaceful, quiet, exactly what you needed—until it’s not.

Movement out of the corner of your eye grabs your attention, and you glance over the edge of the newspaper, watching a group of tourists as they walk into the café. It’s not really anything odd, so you don’t think much of it—they’re dressed casually, like any group of vacationers.

Though, something about them tugs at the back of your mind, a nagging feeling that you’ve seen them before.

You lower the newspaper entirely now, staring as you try to place where you recognize them from. The tall one with the red sunglasses, the woman with the striking white hair, the man in the leather jacket... You squint, the pieces slowly falling into place.

And then it hits you.

Oh, no way.

You’re halfway around the world, in a different country, on a different continent, and somehow, they’re here. At the same café. 

Shifting in your seat, you’re trying to figure out what the hell is going on, when the barista arrives with your drink. He smiles warmly at you, placing the cup down on the table with a soft “voila madame,” but before you can even thank him, there’s a blur of motion.

One of them—Wolverine, you think—lunges at the barista, grabbing him by the collar and shoving him back. The tray tips, and your frappé spills everywhere—all over the table, your newspaper, and, to your absolute horror, all over you. 

“Logan, no!” you hear Storm shout, but it’s too late.

The cold drink soaks into your clothes, and you let out a startled yelp, jumping up as your chair topples over. Your clothes are ruined, your vacation ruined, and in the midst of all of this?

Wolverine—or Logan, you guess, is wrestling with the poor barista.

“What the hell?!” you shout, trying to shake off the liquid dripping down your legs. “Is this a joke?!”

No one hears you, or even acknowledges you.

The other mutants jump into action, and before you know it, the peaceful café is transformed into yet another battleground. Cyclops blasts a beam at the barista—who you now realize must be the target of whatever mission they’re on—but it misses, smashing into the wall behind you. 

You’re furious, covered in a brown drink that makes it seem like you just had explosive diarrhea, and caught in yet another X-Men fiasco. All you wanted was a vacation. You don’t even know what’s happening anymore—who the barista is, what mission they’re on—but frankly, you don’t care.

This is absurd!

Without a second thought, you grab your bag and make a break for it, dodging overturned tables and debris as you make your way to the exit. You don’t bother looking back, your only thought being to get changed, and get as far away as possible.

After rounding the corner, putting some distance between yourself and the café, you pause for a moment to catch your breath. And then you hear it.

Boom.

The sound reverberates through the narrow streets, shaking the cobblestones beneath your feet. You whirl around, sticking your head out from the corner of the building, just in time to see a plume of smoke rising into the air from where the café once stood. 

Your heart sinks.

They blew it up.

—

The third time you see them, it’s a really nice day outside.

It’s a week after you’ve returned home, and the weather had finally given you a break from the suffocating heat. You’re walking home from a lunch with an old friend, when your phone buzzes in your pocket. Probably said friend sending you something stupid to laugh at later. 

You chuckle, already anticipating the joke, when—

BAM!

Something slams into you from the side with the force of a freight train. You’re airborne for a second, weightless, before crashing hard onto the pavement, your breath knocked right out from your lungs. 

Dazed, you groan and blink up at the sky, trying to get your bearings. What the hell just hit me? Your vision swims as you sit up, shoulder throbbing from the impact. Twisting your neck to see whatever the hell that was, you immediately regret it, wincing at the sharp pain. 

Great, just great.

When you finally manage to sit up, you spot the culprit.

Cyclops.

Are you fucking serious?!

His back is to you, dusting off his ugly uniform like nothing happened. You look around, and notice that the street in front you is in ruins—buildings have gaping holes where windows used to be, chunks of the road are crumbling, people covered in blood scurrying away as fast as they can. 

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, you catch a glimpse of the giant mechanical robots looming above, scanning for their targets. One of them must’ve thrown Cyclops into you. 

You can see the others—Jean, Storm, Beast (some new guy)—flying around, saving the world. That’s codeword for: wreaking havoc, destroying your city.

Anger boils up inside you, hot and unrelenting as you struggle to your feet, rubbing your sore shoulder. But as you open your mouth, a gruff voice cuts through the air.

"Good job, dickhead. You just hurt a civilian."

Your gaze snaps toward the sound. Wolverine’s standing a few feet away, claws out, glaring at the guy who sent you flying. 

“I was thrown, Logan,” he says passively. “Maybe if you kept the Sentinels off me—”

“Maybe if you didn’t stand there like a damn target, you wouldn’t get thrown!” The clawed mutant growls, taking a step closer. His whole posture is tense, like he’s barely holding himself back from tackling the other man into the ground (you would pay to have him do it). “Seriously, Summers, it’s like you want to get tossed around.”

Cyclops doesn’t even flinch. “We’ve got bigger problems than this right now,” he dismisses, not even glancing back at you to check if you’re okay. 

Well, there goes the last of your patience.

"Are you kidding me?!" you shout, throwing your hands up in disbelief. They completely ignore you, too absorbed in their petty bickering to acknowledge that you’re still standing there, seething.

Before you can rip into them, something catches your eye—a Sentinel (is that what they’re called?), hovering above them, charging up a blast. Its arm is raised, energy crackling at the barrel of its cannon, aimed directly at the two distracted morons.

“Oh, for the love of—” you mutter under your breath before diving forward.

The blast hits you square in the chest, but instead of pain, all you feel is the heat of the energy surging through your body, like lightning spreading through every inch of your veins. It crackles and burns, the force building up inside you until it feels like you’re about to explode.

Then, with a deep breath, you thrust your hands forward, channeling and releasing the blast right back at the robot, blowing it apart. Metal and circuits rain down, the Sentinel crashing into the ground with a deafening thud.

Silence falls.

You’re panting, feeling the leftover energy fizzle out of your fingertips. Slowly, you turn back around, and unsurprisingly, Cyclops–or Scott, as you’ve heard in the news—and Logan are staring at you like you just walked on water. Well, the clawed one is. You can’t really see the other brown-haired man’s expression due to his visor.  

“Woah, bub—”

“Oh, hell no!” You spin around fully, pointing an accusatory finger at both of them. “Neither of you get to speak! I just saved your asses because you were too busy bickering like children to notice the massive death robot about to blow you to pieces!”

Logan’s mouth quirks up, but he wisely stays silent.

“And this is exactly why I hate you people!” You continue, exasperated. “You swoop in, make a mess, destroy everything in your path, and then just leave like nothing happened! You think this is helping anyone? You think the people running for their lives right now give a damn about your little team squabbles?”

Scott doesn’t even blink. “We’re just trying to help,” he says evenly, like he’s rehearsed the line a thousand times.

“Help?” you scoff incredulously. “You only tell yourself you’re doing that to make yourself feel better. How many casualties do you think are coming out of this, hm? What’s the body count gonna be after today? Or do you not even bother counting anymore?”

His audacity makes you want to laugh. He opens his mouth to respond, but you’re not done.

"All this mess, the destroyed buildings, the people who won’t make it home tonight because you couldn’t keep your damn fight contained! You’re so focused on stopping the big bad guys that you don’t even realize how much carnage you leave behind. Who’s cleaning up after you? Who’s paying for this?! " You gesture around wildly. "News flash: the people whose lives you’re currently ruining!”

Beside him, Logan’s smirk fades, and he begins to step forward with his hands raised. “Listen, darlin’, we’re doin’ the best we can. We didn’t ask for this fight—”

"Oh, don’t give me that ‘best we can’ bullshit," you snap.

“We’re here to protect people,” Scott adds in, trying to maintain authority. “It’s not always clean, but we are making a difference—"

“Shut the fuck up! I’m not finished!” You interrupt, shaking your head. “Every day. Every damn day there’s something new.”

With the face Logan’s making, you’d think he’s going to start going in on you, but he doesn’t. Instead, he just watches, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he’s trying to figure you out. It’s unnerving, but you don’t care. You’ve had enough.

"And you," you say, turning your ire toward him, "You couldn’t have, I don’t know, used your super speed or whatever the hell you do to catch him before he crashed into me?"

His eyebrow quirks up. “Super speed?” he chuckles lowly. “Ain’t that fast. Was a little busy with the giant killer robots.”

You tilt your head back in frustration and turn on your heel. "I’m done. I don’t care what kind of mission you’re on, or how noble you think it is. If you're planning to lay waste to the city yet again, be my guest.”

Giving no time for a response, you stalk off, weaving through the wreckage of the city streets, your heart still pounding in your chest. 

—

A couple weeks have passed since the last incident, and the X-Men seem to have disappeared from the headlines. You haven’t seen them or heard their whereabouts splashed across the news like you’ve gotten used to—though not by choice, of course. Whenever they do anything, the world seems to bow at their feet.

You don’t get it.

The flashy suits, the team name, the way they strut around as if they’re the Gods of the mutant race. It’s too much, too loud. They act like they’re above it all, as if their powers and heroics put them on a pedestal. Better than those who prefer to lay low, who have no choice but to blend in.

You’ve spent years hiding your powers, keeping them buried deep where no one can see. When you were younger, you didn’t have a choice. Your mutation made you a target—bullied, beaten up, pushed around for being different.

You learned quickly that being a mutant didn’t make you special. It made you vulnerable.

So, you hid. You stayed quiet, under the radar. It was safer that way.

And then here are the X-Men, parading around like their abilities make them untouchable, like they’ve forgotten what it’s like for the rest of you. It’s not that you don’t believe in helping others—you just don’t believe in the way they do it.

In your opinion, it’s all performance. From what you’ve experienced and seen up close, they always arrive with a fanfare, ready to jump into action, and do whatever they can to exterminate the threat. Yet, when the dust settles, it’s mutants like you who are left to pick up the pieces.

The ones who don’t wear brightly coloured costumes or shout about unity. You’re the ones who have to keep moving, keep surviving, without any recognition.

But it's not like you need recognition. You never have. What you need is peace.

—

You’re on the phone with your mom, trying to reassure her for the millionth time this week.

"Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry, Mom, I’m fine," you say, pacing the length of your small living room. You glance at the muted TV screen, the news still cycling through the usual mayhem. "You’ve seen the news recently, right? We’ve got the X-Men to take care of all this stuff—"

Knock. Knock.

You freeze mid-sentence, your words trailing off as the sound of someone at your door interrupts the call. Your heart skips a beat, and your voice drops. "Mom, I’ll call you back."

Barely waiting for her to reply, you end the call, staring at the door like it might explode.

A knock at this hour? Unannounced? You waver, your mind racing with possibilities.

Delivery? A neighbour? You’re not expecting anyone.

Cautiously, you make your way toward the door, hand hovering over the handle as you listen. No more knocks, just the faint hum of the outside world. You take a breath, steeling yourself as you turn the handle and crack the door open.

The tufts of hair, the thick stubble, the edge in his eyes—it’s him. Wolverine. And just as your brain registers his face, you also notice the glint of metal where his claws are already halfway out.

Instincts kick in, and before he can get a word in, you push against the door, trying to slam it shut.

Still, he’s faster.

His fist punches through the wood, and with a metallic snikt, his claws extend fully, slicing through the door as if it were made of paper. He pushes it open again, forcing it against your effort, and the sheer strength sends you stumbling back.

“What the fuck?” you gasp, eyes wide as you steady yourself. “How did you even find me?”

Stepping inside, he says, “picked up your scent and followed it,” matter-of-factly, like it’s the most normal thing in the world.

For a moment, you just stare at him, dumbfounded. “That’s… that’s actually really creepy,” you manage, still trying to process the fact that he just said that without a hint of shame.

“Can’t control it, bub,” he shrugs. 

You take a step back, putting more distance between you and the man with the claws standing in your apartment. “Okay, well, you found me. Now what?”

His eyes lock onto yours. “I need you to come with me.”

“Excuse me?” You cross your arms, eyebrows shooting up in disbelief. 

“You’re not safe here.”

“Oh, I’m not safe?” you snap, sarcasm dripping from your voice. “Maybe if you and your merry band of idiots didn’t keep causing world-ending disasters, I wouldn’t need to be safe!”

He doesn’t even flinch. “Sentinels are tracking you down.”

You falter. “What are you talking about?”

“You used your powers,” he states. “Killed a Sentinel. That’s all it takes for them to target you.”

Blinking, you feel anger rush to the surface, your skin tingling with rage. “I didn’t kill anyone. They’re fucking robots.”

“They don’t see it that way,” he counters. “You took one down, and now they know what you are.”

Part of you knows there’s merit in what he’s saying, but you don’t want to hear it. The last thing you want is to be dragged into some mutant-robot war. “This is ridiculous. I didn’t ask for any of this!” you hiss, glaring at him. “And now you’re telling me I’m on some kill list because I defended myself? Because I defended you?!”

His eyes flicker with something you can’t quite read, but he stays silent, watching you carefully. Your words start flying faster now, venom spilling into each one.

“I’m the one who took that thing down because you and that one-eyed bitch boy were too busy being immature! You weren’t even paying attention, and that thing almost blasted you both.” Your fingers ball into fists. "I saved both of you, and now I’m the one who has to run?"

Logan's jaw clenches, his nostrils flaring at the accusation. “We weren’t—”

“Don’t even try to deny it,” you cut him off. “If it weren’t for me, the two of you would be dead right now. And now I’m supposed to just go with you to your mansion and hide out? Like that’s going to fix th—”

You don’t get to end your rant, because he has stepped forward, and grabbed your shoulders, gripping you firmly. Not hard enough to hurt, but enough to snap your attention back to him.

“This is serious,” he spits, eyes boring into yours. “You stay here, you die.”

His words slam into you. He’s not trying to scare you—he’s telling the truth.

“You don’t get to be stubborn about this,” he continues firmly. “You think you’re pissed off now? Wait until they come crashin' through your door in the middle of the night, and you don’t have a chance to fight back.”

Wrenching yourself out of his grasp, you take a few steps back. “I just—” you begin to say, but the words feel tangled in your throat. The denial is still there, but it’s weakening, cracking. “I don’t want to run.”

“You’re not running,” he sighs, his voice softening ever so slightly. “You’re buying time. Time to fight back, time to survive. But if you stay here? There’s none of that.”

You want to argue more, want to scream at him to get away, to not drag you into his fight, but instead, you let out a long, shaky breath, your shoulders slumping. “Fine,” you breath out. 

He nods, finally releasing his grip on you and stepping back. “Good. Pack up your shit. We leave in half an hour.”

Then, he walks over to your couch and plops down like he owns the place, crossing his arms as if settling in for a casual wait.

You roll your eyes, muttering under your breath. “Unbelievable.”

Ignoring him, you turn and head into your bedroom, where you start throwing clothes into a duffel bag—jeans, a couple of shirts, whatever you can grab quickly. Your movements are hurried, fuelled by a mix of frustration and the creeping anxiety gnawing at the edges of your mind. Grabbing your toiletries, you stuff them into a smaller bag, trying to focus on the task at hand instead of the fact that some random mutant tracked you down, and now you have to leave your life until you’re safe. 

You peer back into the hallway, hearing the faint creak of the couch as Logan shifts around. I’m gonna kill this guy, you think to yourself. 

Once everything is packed and you’ve zipped your bag, you head back into the main room, only to see said random mutant still sprawled on your couch, looking far too comfortable, with a cigar in his hand.

“Seriously?” you say, slinging your duffel over your shoulder. “Make yourself at home, why don’t you.”

He grunts in response but doesn’t move. Typical.

You glance at the clock—still a few minutes left of the half-hour he allotted you, but there’s no point in dragging it out. “I’m ready,” you say flatly, heading toward the door.

Logan stands, stretches his arms over his head, and cracks his neck like he’s waking up from a nap. “Let’s go then.”

—

The ride is tense and quiet, which suits you just fine. You’d rather not talk to him anyway. Every now and then, you let out a loud sigh, unable to hold back the annoyance you’re feeling. Each time, you feel Logan’s eyes dart toward you from the driver’s seat, but he doesn’t say anything. Well, that is, until—

“Can you shut the fuck up?” he growls, keeping his eyes on the road.

You clench your jaw, shifting in your seat. “I didn’t even say anything, jackass.”

He huffs, clearly not in the mood for an argument, but the strain between you is almost impossible to ignore. You cross your arms, staring out the window, observing the landscape shift as the drive continues. 

Eventually, you can see the outline of the mansion, and you watch as it gets bigger and bigger the closer you get. Upon arrival, He pulls the car up to the front and cuts the engine. You both sit there for a moment, mute. 

“Well, here we are,” he mumbles after the pause stretches on for an uncomfortable amount of time, glancing over at you.

“Great,” you say sarcastically, unbuckling your seatbelt and pushing open the car door. 

Logan walks ahead without saying a word, leading the way up the grand stone steps toward the front door. You trail behind, your mood darkening with every step, glaring at the perfectly polished entrance. 

The doors open before you even reach them, and you’re greeted by an older man in a wheelchair—Charles Xavier, if you remember correctly. The famous telepath. The genius behind the mutant team (some news anchor's words, not yours). His expression is kind, but you’re in such a bad mood, you don’t even bother trying to seem polite.

“Welcome,” He says with a warm smile, his eyes assessing you with an intensity that makes your skin crawl. “Logan’s told me a lot about you.”

You press your lips together in a line. “Yeah? Well, don’t get too excited.”

Logan grunts beside you. “She’s got a bit of an attitude,” he mutters to Charles, then turns to you, gesturing you to follow him. “Come on.”

Inwardly groaning, you have no choice but to follow him. Everything about this place screams “too good to be true,” and you hate it already. You’re used to keeping your head down, blending in, not being surrounded by people who wear their powers on their sleeves like some badge of honour.

As you walk through the halls, a few faces appear—other mutants, some of them kids, watching curiously as you pass by. You can feel their eyes on you, can hear the whispers already starting about the new arrival. 

Charles wheels alongside you, still smiling, but there’s a glint of amusement in his eyes. “You remind me of Logan when he first joined us,” he says thoughtfully.

That stops you in your tracks.

You whip your head toward the man, giving him a piercing look. “Do not say that. We are nothing alike.”

On your other side, Logan smirks. “Not sure if I should be offended or not.”

“I’m serious.” If looks could kill, he’d be six feet under.

Chucking softly, Charles seems completely unaffected by your outburst. “You’re both a bit rough around the edges, but you’ll find your place here.”

“Yeah, sure,” you say. “Because that’s exactly what I want to do.”

Deeper into the mansion, you catch sight of the X-Men you’ve seen before: Cyclops, Storm, Jean Grey. They all turn to look at you, sizing you up. You don’t flinch—you just stare back, your expression hard.

Pulling your duffel bag higher on your shoulder, you rip your eyes away from theirs, and keep walking, following Logan down the long, quiet hallway. Finally, he stops in front of a door.

“This is your room,” he grunts, nodding toward it. “Try not to break anything.”

Choosing silence, you push the door open. Stepping inside, you expect the bare minimum—a bed, maybe a closet—but instead, you’re met with a surprisingly large space. There’s a massive bed in the center of the room, a desk by the window, and, to your surprise, a set of glass doors leading out to a balcony.

You drop your bag by the door, glancing around, trying to shake off the unease. This is way too nice for a prisoner. You walk toward the balcony doors, curious despite yourself, and when you pull them open, the cool breeze hits you immediately.

Once you’re outside, you realize something that immediately makes your stomach drop.

The balcony is shared. And right next to your side, leaning against the railing with a cigar between his fingers, is Logan.

You halt mid-motion, eyes fixed on him in stunned silence. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

He glances over, a smirk playing on his lips as he takes a drag of his cigar. “Surprise.”

You groan, turning your back on him and walking toward the opposite edge of the balcony, trying to calm the annoyance inside you. Of all the people you could’ve been stuck beside, it had to be him. It’s not enough that he dragged you here, but now there’s a chance you’re going to have to see him every time you step outside.

“So what now?” you mutter, staring out over the mansion grounds, the manicured gardens below looking like something out of a postcard. “I’m just supposed to stay here, be a part of your little mutant club?”

Taking another slow pull on his cigar, “You’re supposed to stay alive. Everythin’ else? That’s up to you.”

“But why do you suddenly care?” you ask. “I’ve seen the way you operate. You and your team sweep in, fight your battles, and then leave everyone else in the dirt. You don’t care about the collateral damage—hell, you cause half of it.” 

Logan pauses, his cigar halfway to his lips. He doesn’t answer right away, and the brief hesitation only makes your irritation spike. You press on, inching closer, voice laced with accusation.

“Why now?” you press. “Why drag me into this when you’ve never cared about anyone else in the crossfire?”

Logan finally turns to face you, exhaling a cloud of smoke before speaking, his expression hardened. “This ain’t about me ‘caring,’” he says flatly. “This is about survival. You killed a Sentinel, whether you like it or not. That puts a target on your back.”

“Yeah, you’ve made that very clear,” you bite out. “But you still haven’t answered my question. Why me? Why am I suddenly important to you?”

Logan’s eyes darken, drilling into yours. “You’re not important to me,” he says flatly. “But they won’t stop until they get you. The destruction that’ll come from that—if your stubborn ass fought back, which I know it would, by the way—would be much greater than anything we would cause.”

“Doubt that,” you snarl bitterly. You don’t linger for the sound of his response, spinning on your heel and walking back into your room, slamming the balcony door behind you.

The bed is large and you can’t deny how inviting it looks after the day you’ve had. You flop onto it face-first, letting out a long, drawn out sigh.

You’re barely able to reflect on the chaotic day you’ve had before your eyelids flutter shut, and you sink into a deep slumber, the exhaustion from everything catching up to you.

—

You’re jolted awake by a loud, aggressive knock on your bedroom door. The sound is so forceful it feels like the entire frame is rattling. You release a sound, half groan, half sigh, steeped in frustration. Your face is still buried in your pillow, and you curse whoever decided to ruin what little sleep you managed to get.

“Get up,” Logan’s gruff voice calls from the other side of the door. “We’re leaving for breakfast in ten.”

Ah yes. Of-fucking-course it's him. Who else would it be?

Dragging yourself out of bed, you throw on some clothes and make a half-hearted attempt to fix your hair before opening the door, ready to curse him, but he's already striding down the hallway, hardly bothering to check if you're following. You roll your eyes, your steps slow and begrudging as you move to follow

As you catch up, you can’t help but throw him a sideways glare. “Why are you acting like my personal bodyguard?”

“Gotta make sure you don’t do anything reckless.”

You scoff, crossing your arms as you fall into step beside him. “You don’t even know what I can do.”

Logan’s lips twitch into a lazy smirk, and you immediately want to wipe it off his face. “Exactly,” he says, his tone almost amused. “Which is why today, we’re gonna test you.”

You stop in your tracks, staring at his back. “Test me? What the hell does that mean?”

He stops too, turning to face you. “Means you’re gonna show me what you’re capable of.”

Teeth clenched, you feel the slow rise of aggravation mingling with apprehension. “I’m not some science experiment.”

“No,” he agrees, “but you’re not a regular person, either. You need to know your limits—and how to handle what’s coming.”

Groaning, you drag your hands down your face incredulously. “I don’t even know what to say back to that. All I know is that I’m hungry.”

—

The kitchen of Xavier’s mansion is bustling with activity as the two of you walk in. The rest of the team is gathered around a large table at the centre of the room, and you spot Jean, Cyclops, Storm, and a few others sitting together, chatting, but you feel no desire to join them. 

Rather, you gravitate toward a smaller table by the window, hoping to get some peace while you choke down breakfast. The chair scrapes lightly as you pull it out and sit down, fully expecting to be left alone.

But to your surprise, Logan follows and plops down in the seat across from you.

You raise an eyebrow. “What are you doing?”

He shrugs and digs into his food. "Eating. You got a problem with that?"

You cast a quick look toward the large table where the rest of the team sits. It feels strange, having him eat with you, especially when the rest of his team is so obviously waiting for him to join them.

"No," you murmur, shaking your head as you return to your plate. "Just didn’t think you’d stray from the flock."

“They’re fine without me.”

You push your food around with your fork, trying to push past the heavy air of discomfort in the room. Everyone keeps glancing in your direction, and you sense their curiosity, the questions hovering in silence, but no one has the courage to ask. And honestly, you’re grateful for the space.

Just as you’re finishing up, a low voice catches your attention. 

"I just don’t understand why they brought her here," Jean’s voice carries across the room, quieter than before, but still clear enough for you to hear. “She doesn’t seem like she has what it takes. It’s like they’re bringing in someone who’s—” She pauses, clearly thinking through her words. "Unstable. Weak.”

Tensing, your fork clatters onto your plate. The world around you dulls, and all you can hear is that word echoing in your head. Weak. You’ve been called a lot of things in your life, but never that.

Slowly, you push your chair back and stand up as you turn to face the table where she and the others are seated. “Say it louder, please,” you say calmly.

The chatter dies instantly, and suddenly, every set of eyes in the room finds you. Jean's face turns ashen, her eyes blown wide in shock. She wasn’t expecting you to overhear. Her mouth opens and closes, as if she’s trying to find a way to backtrack, but you know what you heard.

Before Jean can stammer out an excuse, Scott stands up, positioning himself between you and her, his jaw tight and his posture rigid. “You heard wrong,” he says sternly. “She didn’t mean anything by it.”

You take a calculated step forward, arms crossed in defiance. “Didn’t mean anything?” you repeat sarcastically. “She just called me weak. Right here. In front of everyone. You think I’m gonna let that slide?”

Scott’s jaw clenches tighter “She wasn’t trying to insult you. You’re new here. You don’t know how things work yet.”

“That’s the excuse?” you laugh dryly. “Maybe you should teach her how to keep her mouth shut instead of making assumptions about people she doesn’t know.”

If even possible, the friction between you swells, growing heavier with each passing second. Everyone in the room watches the standoff, some shifting uncomfortably in their seats, unsure of what’s going to happen next. You can feel Logan’s presence behind you, but he doesn’t interfere. He’s letting you handle this.

“You don’t belong here,” Scott states, like he’s trying to remind you of your place. “You’re not part of this team, and you sure as hell don’t understand what it takes to survive here.”

Raising an eyebrow, your lips curl into a smirk. “And what are you gonna do about it, One-eye? You gonna lecture me? Or better yet, why don’t you blast me with those laser eyes of yours? Show me how strong you are.”

His fists clench, and for a moment, you see the control slip. His visor glows red, just for a split second, as his anger spikes.

"Careful," you taunt, challenging him. "Wouldn’t want to lose control, would you? I'm sure you've never done that before."

That does it. 

A beam shoots out from Scott’s visor. Fast, ferocious, and headed straight for you. There’s a collective gasp from the others, chairs scraping as people push back, shocked by the sudden escalation. But you don’t move. You stand your ground, your eyes locked onto Scott’s as the beam strikes you square in the chest.

You’re not knocked back, or worse, killed, as the energy from the blast surges into you. The energy seeps into your bones, crackling through every nerve. Your skin tingles as the power courses through you, your body absorbing every ounce of it. Once the assault is over, you raise your head, feeling your eyes and veins begin to glow with a deep, burning red.

Jean’s hand flies to her mouth, her eyes wide in disbelief. 

Unfortunately for you, you don't get the chance to blow him to pieces, because Logan flies forward and grabs your arm, pulling you out of the room. Nobody else moves—too stunned—as he drags you into the hallway. You blink your eyes, the glow fading, but you can feel the residual energy from Scott’s blast still buzzing under your skin.

Both out of sight, he finally releases you. 

You glare at him, still rattled from the confrontation. “What the hell? Why'd you interfere?”

He just shrugs, completely unfazed. “You handled yourself enough. Now we know what you can do. Follow me.”

“Follow you where?” you ask. 

He motions down the hallway. “Danger Room. We’re gonna push those limits a little further.”

Gawking at him for a second, it takes a moment, but then you smirk. You want to know just how far your powers can go.

—

“Fuck!” you curse as you’re flung backward, your body slamming against a stone wall. Your back hits hard, knocking the wind out of you as the simulated-Sentinel hurls a car in your direction. The screech of metal fills the air as the vehicle crashes just mere inches from where you were standing moments ago. 

Rubble showers from above, the robot in front of you towering menacingly. Raising its arm, another blast begins charging in its palm, ready to incinerate you.

You scramble to your feet, heart pounding in your chest as you sprint away, ducking and weaving between the wreckage of cars and crumbling buildings that make up the simulated cityscape. The Sentinel fires again, the blast narrowly missing as you dodge behind an overturned truck. Your breaths come in ragged gasps, every muscle screaming in protest.

I can’t keep this up.

Another blast lights up the area around you, and you dive out of the way, the heat of the attack singeing your skin. You’re quick, but not quick enough to outrun the onslaught from this machine.

Then it hits you—you don’t have to outrun it.

You remember the blast from way back, how your body absorbed the energy, and how in the dining hall, you took on Scott’s beam like it was nothing. You can do it again. You can take its power and turn it back on itself.

Gritting your teeth, you stop running. The air buzzes with electricity, the earth trembling beneath you as the next shot hurtles your way.

It hammers into your chest, and once again, your body is filled with energy. In an instant, you leap into the air, propelled by the newfound strength coursing through your body, and the ground disappears beneath you as you soar upward.

At the peak of your jump, you clench your fist, channeling all that power into one focused point. Then, you bring your fist down on the Sentinel’s head, the impact echoing through the simulation as your punch connects, and the robot’s head shatters under the blow, metal fragments flying in every direction as its massive body crumples to the ground.

Sparks shoot out of its severed neck, and with a final groan of machinery, the robot collapses into a heap of broken parts at your feet.

“Good work,” Logan’s voice crackles over the comms, far too calm for what you’ve just been through. “Let’s see how you handle another.”

There’s no time for more than a muttered curse under your breath, because another Sentinel is dropped into the simulation. This one’s faster, more agile, and doesn’t waste time by charging up blasts.

It exists solely to hunt you down. 

“Cut me some slack,” you groan, half out of breath as you duck behind the ruins of a building. Your lungs burn as you try to breathe, adrenaline coursing through you like a wildfire.

This one isn’t like the last. It’s not using energy blasts—it’s fast, agile, and persistent. It rushes toward you, its massive hands swiping through the air, tearing through the simulated city with ease.

Grinding your teeth, a wave of exasperation takes over. This fight is harder, the machine barely giving you a chance to react, and your body is already starting to wear down. Your mind races, desperate for a solution as you sidestep its attacks, trying to stay one step ahead. You feel cornered, trapped.

The frustration builds, growing into something more, and before you realize it, that frustration becomes fuel. It ignites inside you, your own emotions transforming into energy, pushing past the limits you didn’t know you had.

Your veins pulse, your eyes glowing white this time, not from absorbed power but from something deeper—your own anger, your own strength. The energy bubbles inside you, filling every cell of your body until you can’t hold it back anymore.

With a scream, you release it, propelling a massive ball of crackling energy hurling toward the Sentinel. The impact is immediate, ripping through the metal and bursting into a brilliant, blinding light. It sends shockwave through the entire simulation, the machine imploding, its parts scattering across the battlefield.

And when the light fades, the Sentinel is gone—nothing more than a smouldering heap of twisted metal.

You stand there, chest heaving, the glow in your eyes slowly fading as the last traces of energy drain from your body. Your knees buckle, and before you know it, you crumble to the ground, utterly exhausted.

The simulation flickers for a moment, then abruptly shuts off, the room returning to its normal, metallic walls as the fake cityscape disappears. You’re still on the floor, gasping for breath, when Logan steps into view, arms crossed as he peers down at you with a pleased grin.

“Well,” he says, voice calm, “that wasn’t too bad.”

You shoot him a glare from the ground, too tired to move. “You… are such… an asshole.”

He chuckles, clearly enjoying himself. “Get up. We’re just getting started.”

—

He was right. You were just getting started.

The thought gnaws at you as you trudge alongside Logan, heading back to your room to clean up before dinner. Every muscle in your body aches, and you can already feel the soreness creeping in, promising a week of pain. You’re starting to suspect this is Logan’s way of getting back at you for all the snark and attitude you’ve thrown his way, but damn, is it painful. You don’t even want to think about how much worse you’re going to feel in the morning.

You feel like a zombie, dragging your feet, barely able to keep your eyes open. Your limbs feel heavy, like they’re made of lead, and each step invites fresh wave of exhaustion through your body. The man with you, of course, seems perfectly fine. He walks a few steps ahead of you, not even winded from the grueling day of combat drills, sparring, and whatever else he thought up to make sure you were put through the wringer.

“Maybe I should be a little nicer to you,” you rationalize, but who are you kidding.

With a terse grunt, he acknowledges you by tilting his head back. “You’ll live.”

You roll your eyes, though it’s half-hearted at best. You don’t even have the energy to be annoyed right now.

Upon reaching your room, you feel like you could collapse right then and there. You mumble something vaguely resembling ‘see you later’ to Logan before slipping inside, the door clicking shut behind you.

The first thing you do is toss your bag onto the floor, not caring where it lands, and head straight for the bathroom. You peel off your sweaty, dirt-covered clothes and step into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the grime of the day. 

After that quick, blissful shower, you drag yourself out, towel off, and pull on the first comfortable clothes you can find. Your bed is calling to you, and it doesn’t take long for you to lie down on it. The softness of the mattress beneath you is heaven, and you think you might just fall asleep right there and take a small nap before heading to eat.

But then, out of the corner of your eye, you notice the light pouring in through the balcony doors. The warm, golden glow of the setting sun catches your attention, and despite how drained you are, you find yourself turning to look. 

What you see is breathtaking. Shades of pink, orange, and deep purple.

It’s too beautiful to ignore.

Groaning again, you force yourself to sit up, rubbing your eyes. You can’t help it. Something about the sight draws you in, and before you know it, you’re standing and heading toward the balcony. You slide the door open and step outside, the evening breeze washing over you as you lean against the railing, taking in the view.

A few minutes pass, the world around you quiet except for the gentle rustling of the leaves in the wind. The sound of Logan’s door sliding breaks your focus. You glance over just as he steps out onto his side of the shared balcony, wearing nothing but a white tank top and jeans.

Saying nothing, he steps beside you at the railing, resting against it as his eyes scan the horizon. 

You sneak a look at him out of the corner of your eye, trying not to make it obvious. His arms are crossed over the railing, and it’s almst impossible not to notice the way the tank top lets you see his biceps, the muscles in his arms strong from the day’s activity. You are a woman, after all.

He looks relaxed. His stubble catches the last bits of the sunlight, and as your gaze travels upward, you notice something you hadn’t bothered to see before. 

The crinkles at the sides of his eyes. They’re faint, barely there, but in this light, they’re more visible, adding something unexpectedly... soft to his otherwise intimidating appearance.

Cute, you think absentmindedly, then pause. 

What the fuck?

You snap your gaze back to the sunset, feeling a sudden surge of embarrassment creeping up your neck. You just spent the entire day getting your ass handed to you by this man, and now you’re here checking out his arms? His arms? And thinking the crinkles around his eyes are cute? Suppressing a groan, you want to slap yourself for even entertaining the thought.

Nope. Absolutely not. You’re not going down that road.

Taking a deep breath, you try to bring your attention back to the sunset. The reason you went outside to begin with. You have no idea why you’re suddenly noticing these things about him—probably exhaustion making your brain short-circuit. 

Yup. That’s it.

He shifts slightly beside you, breaking the silence. “Nice view"

You nod, swallowing down the weird feelings swirling in your head. “Yeah,” you mumble, not trusting yourself to say anything more without sounding ridiculous.

The two of you stand there for a few more minutes, watching as the last rays of the sun disappear, the sky dimming into deep purples and blues. But the minute your thoughts start to drift back to him, you straighten up, clapping your hands together and quickly turning on your heel to head back inside.

“Well, I’m done,” you say abruptly. “I’m gonna crash.”

Logan doesn’t move, but you can feel his eyes following you as you slide the door closed behind you, your mind still reeling from whatever the hell that was.

Collapsing back onto your bed, you pull the covers up to your chin, determined to forget about the whole thing.

—

A few hours later, when it’s dark out, you finally wake up. The room is dim, and for a moment, you just lie there, blinking at the ceiling. As you start to roll over, something catches your attention—a smell.

It's warm, savoury. Your stomach growls almost immediately, making you realize with a start that you slept through dinner.

Groggily, you sit up, rubbing your eyes, and that’s when you spot it—a tray of food sitting on the desk in your room. You can make out the outline of a warm meal: some kind of stew, a couple of bread rolls, and what looks like a glass of water. Your stomach growls again, louder this time, as you climb out of bed and shuffle toward the desk, turning on the light. 

Next to the tray, there’s a small note:

Figured you’d be too tired to get dinner. Eat up.

– L

You stare at the note. Logan? Bringing you food? It doesn’t exactly fit with the version of him you’ve been dealing with all day, but then again, there seems to be a lot about him that doesn’t quite fit the mold you expected.

Too hungry to keep thinking and not eat, you set the note down and grab the spoon, dipping it into the stew. The first bite warms you from the inside out, and you let out an involuntary sigh of relief.

Surprisingly flavourful—rich and nourishing, it’s the perfect remedy for the exhausting day behind you

Still, you can’t help your eyes from wandering back to the note. Maybe it really is the fatigue messing with your head again, making you chalk it up to be something it’s not. 

—

The next morning, you're not woken up by banging on your door, which is a relief. You stretch, the soreness still lingering but not nearly as bad as you expected. After freshening up and pulling on some clothes, you step into the hallway, and unexpectedly, Logan is already waiting for you.

He’s leaning against the wall, arms crossed, and you blink at him, still waking up, unsure why he’s there. “Uh... morning?” you get out, albeit you can’t hide the confusion in your tone.

A short nod in greeting. “Morning. Ready for breakfast?”

You hesitate for a moment, then decide to take the plunge. “Yeah I am, but…um, thanks for the food last night, it was good.” you say quietly, almost embarrassed to admit it.

The gesture had caught you off guard, and though you don’t want to make a fuss, it’s worth noting

“Don’t mention it,” he shrugs casually.

Nodding in understanding, you’re ready to move on when he adds, almost offhandedly, “Y’know, you’re actually kinda pretty when you’re asleep. Not being a little shit helps.”

You freeze mid-step, your mind short-circuiting for a moment as you process the words that just left his lips.

Flustered and irritated all at once, you glare at him. “Excuse me?”

Logan smirks, the corners of his mouth twitching as he starts walking down the hall toward the kitchen. “You heard me.”

Your face heats up. “I am not a little shit,” you yelp, quickening your pace to catch up to him.

“Could’ve fooled me,” he says, gazing at you from over his shoulder. You open your mouth to fire back, but the smug look in his eyes makes you hesitate. 

He’s messing with you on purpose.

Asshole, you think, fuming but trying to ignore the way your stomach flipped when he called you pretty. 

—

The kitchen goes silent the moment you and Logan step through the door, a noticeable difference from yesterday. All eyes are locked on you, the pressure in the room almost solid, begging to be cut through.

Students and X-Men alike are watching, probably expecting some kind of replay of the day prior's events, but you pay them no mind, keeping your eyes straight ahead and making a beeline for a table at the back.

You drop into a seat, picking up a piece of toast and acting like the room isn’t on high alert. Logan joins you again without a word, sitting across from you and digging into his food. He doesn’t even glance at the others, as if the room full of curious onlookers doesn’t exist.

The only sounds are the clink of silverware and voices slowly picking up again as people realize nothing dramatic is about to happen.

Chewing, you glance at the man across from you, still quietly working through his meal. You swallow, then clear your throat. “So... what’s the plan for today?”

He looks up from his plate. “Charles wants to see you this morning.”

You frown, unsure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. “Why? Did I break something without knowing it?”

He snorts, shaking his head. “No, you’re not in trouble, smartass. He’s just gonna fill you in on some things. Mainly the Sentinels.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You need to know what you’re up against, what we’re all dealing with. He’ll catch you up to speed.”

“Great,” you mutter. “More bad news.”

The clawed mutant leans back in his chair, watching you for a moment before speaking again. “Look, it’s not gonna be fun, but you need to know. Better to hear it from him than from me.”

“I’ll take that as your way of saying ‘good luck,” you breathe out. 

He smirks. “You’re gonna need it.”

Logan finishes his meal and stands up, leaving his empty plate behind. “I’ll drop you off at Charles’s office. You’ll be with him for the morning.”

You follow suit, pushing away your half-eaten plate. “Fantastic,” you mumble sarcastically, but at the same time, you know this is necessary. After all, the threat you’re dealing with is real, and being ignorant about it won’t do you any good.

—

“So, how can they be stopped?”

You ask the question before you even sit down. Charles is already waiting for you in his office, his hands folded neatly on the desk, his gaze calm and soft. 

He takes a measured breath, glancing toward the window for a moment before responding. “Stopping the Sentinels is... complicated. They’ve grown more advanced than we ever anticipated.”

“I gathered that.”

“They are highly adaptive machines,” he continues. “Designed to hunt and neutralize mutants, they learn from every encounter. They absorb information, adjust tactics, and over time, they become more effective.”

His words make you squirm with discomfort, and you glance around the room, trying to distract yourself from the knot forming in your stomach. 

“And now I’m one of their targets,” you say quietly, more to yourself than to him.

Leaning forward slightly, he says, “Yes. They’ve already locked onto you because of your encounter with them. They don’t differentiate between self-defence and aggression. They see you as a target, simply because you fought back.”

You exhale sharply. “So, what’s your plan?”

Charles meets your gaze. “There is a command center—a hub that controls their network. If we can locate it and destroy it, we believe it will disrupt the entire Sentinel operation. Without the command structure, the Sentinels will become non-functional.”

You stare for a beat, mentally piecing together the details. “You believe?”

“It’s our best theory,” he says evenly. “We’ve been gathering intel for some time now. And we’re planning a mission. A final push to put an end to this threat once and for all.”

The words linger, thick and weighty, in the space between you, You can sense where this is going. Your fingers drum against your arm, a nervous habit you can’t seem to shake.

“You want me to be a part of it.”

He remains unfazed. “I believe you have an ability that could be crucial to the mission. You’ve already demonstrated your capability against the Sentinels in training yesterday, and in real life.”

A bitter scoff escapes your lips before you can stifle it. “Yeah, but I’m not one of you. I don’t want to be part of some... grand battle. That’s not me.”

Watching you closely, his gaze is soft with comprehension. “I understand your reluctance,” he says gently. “But running, hiding... it won’t change the fact that they will find you. Fighting may not have been your choice, but now it is your reality.”

Standing, you begin to pace the room. “This is exactly the problem I have with your team,” you say, stopping near the window, staring out at the garden. “We hardly know eachother, yet you want me to be part of some mission that could very well be catastophic. It’s like you don’t care about anything except the big picture.”

Charles’s expression doesn’t change. He definitely expected this. “We aren’t perfect,” he admits, “and our battles have left scars. But this is about survival. For all of us. For you.”

Turning back to face him, you narrow your eyes. “And if I say no?”

“I won’t force you,” His voice is understanding. “The choice is yours. But know that the Sentinels will not stop. You can avoid the fight for as long as you like, but eventually, it will come to you.”

It’s as if you're stuck, with nowhere to turn, cornered by a reality you didn’t want any part of. Avoiding it doesn’t seem like an option anymore, but fighting alongside the X-Men feels like betraying everything you’ve tried to distance yourself from. 

Sighing, “I’ll think about it.”

—

When you get back to your room, the first thing you do is swing open your balcony door and step outside. The afternoon sun comes over you like a blanket, warming you up, and relieving some of the strain in your muscles. Logan is out on the balcony too, leaning against the railing, a cigar lit between his fingers. It’s a sight you think you should get used to. 

His eyes flick to you when you approach, but he doesn’t say anything at first. Without a word, he holds the roll of tobacco out toward you, as if he knows exactly what’s on your mind.

You pause briefly, for just a second before taking it from him. The rich, earthy taste of the cigar fills your mouth as you inhale deeply, the smoke heavy and warm in your lungs. There’s something grounding about it, even though the burn is rough against your throat. You let out a slow exhale, watching the smoke curl into the night air as you lean next to him against the railing.

“How’d it go?” he asks gruffly.

“He wants me to join you guys on the mission.”

At first, Logan doesn’t react, then, he just takes the cigar back, puffing on it and blowing a cloud of smoke into the air. “What do you want to do?”

It’s the same question that’s been clawing at your insides since you left Charles’s office. What do you want? It feels like the answer should be simple, but it’s anything but.

“I don’t know,” you confess quietly. “I want to get rid of the threat and go back to my normal life, but if I do, then I'd just become the very thing I'm against, right? I can’t join you guys, that’s not who I am.”

He hums softly.

Shifting a bit, you try to find the words to explain the knot of irritation tangled inside you. “I get it, you know? I get why you guys do what you do. Someone has to. But the way you do it—so carefree about everything. It’s like the destruction, the people, the lives caught in the midst of everything—it doesn’t even phase you.”

“We don’t do it carefree,” he says lowly. Inhaling into the cigar once more, the tip glowing red. “But sometimes, you gotta make a choice between bad and worse. People get hurt. But if we don’t stop the threats, a lot more people are gonna die.”

You bite the inside of your cheek, feeling the tension coil tighter in your chest. “And that’s what I hate about it.”

Flicking the ash from the end of his cigar, his eyes are distant, lost in thought momentarily before he responds. “I’m not gonna lie to you and say it’s easy. It ain’t. We all carry the weight of the things we’ve done—the things we couldn’t stop. But if not us, then who?”

“That’s an impossible decision,” you say. There’s no way you can go into this fight, knowing how much of a toll it’s going to take on everything. The fight itself is such a small piece to the puzzle.

Logan leans his elbows on the railing. “You think I wanted this?” he asks, his voice low, almost like he’s talking to himself. “I was just like you. Didn’t want nothin’ to do with the team or their battles.”

The comparison makes you grimace. “Great. That’s exactly what I want to hear.”

He chuckles, the sound rough but not unkind. “I’m serious, bub. For years, I didn’t want to be part of this... circus. Figured I’d be better off on my own, that I was above it all.”

You quirk a brow. “Then what changed?”

“It’s not like a switch flipped,” he replies, a bit quieter. “I just realized that fighting alone is harder than fighting with a team. The X-Men... they gave me somethin’. A place. Belonging. Doesn’t mean I agree with everything they do, but it’s better than wanderin’.”

That makes you scoff. “Yeah, well, you heard it yourself. Scott said I don’t belong here. Jean thinks I’m weak. Doesn’t exactly scream ‘welcome to the team,’ does it?”

His brow furrows, his eyes narrowing, as he straightens and looks at you. “Scott talks too much, and Jean—she’s cautious. Doesn’t mean she’s right.”

“Doesn’t mean she’s wrong either,” you mumble. “They don’t trust me.”

“They didn’t trust me when I first joined either, but you get better. You learn.”

“I don’t want to be like you,” you hiss before you can stop yourself, and you immediately regret the heat in your words.

He doesn’t look offended—just tired. “Didn’t say you should,” he starts. “But you can’t keep shunnin’ us.”

“So what do I do now?”

Taking one last drag of his cigar before flicking it over the balcony railing, Logan watches the embers fall before he speaks. “The mission’s in a week. You’ve got that long to figure it out.”

He turns to leave, but before he goes, he glimpses at you from over his shoulder. “This battle, it’s inevitable. Question is—how do you want to face it?”

—

You’ve never been so conflicted. This choice–to join, or not to join—is probably the hardest decision you’ve had to make in your entire life. You have seen first hand what happens when the X-men decide to stop a threat. What innocent people have to go through to rebuild their lives from the ground up. Both literally and figuratively.

And to then become someone who causes that pain? It feels like betrayal. Like going against yourself—your morals.

But then there’s the other side of it—the part of you that knows sitting here, doing nothing, isn’t right either. You know you have the strength to fight back. You have the power to help. And doing nothing… doesn’t that make you just as bad? If you have the ability to stop something, to protect people, and you don’t—what does that make you?

It’s a lose-lose situation. The X-Men don’t even want you there—aside from Logan and Charles. You can see it in the way their eyes follow you wherever you go, untrusting. They’ve made their opinion on you clear.

You lower your head into your hands, stressed. You can’t join a team that doesn’t want you, but sitting on the sidelines when you could be fighting—that makes you feel like a coward. And maybe even worse—a bad person.

Finally, with a deep breath, you come to a decision. It’s not perfect, and it sure as hell doesn’t feel good, but it’s the only choice you can make right now. You’ll join them—for this mission only.

You’ll help take down the Sentinels, and then, when it’s done, you’ll leave. You’ll go back to your life, maybe you can find a middle ground, where you’re not one of them, but you’re no longer hiding from the mutant part of yourself. 

If something happens, if you do something you regret, then you'll just have to live with it.

—

In the afternoon, you don’t do much. You were supposed to be training with Logan, but Charles had called him into a quick meeting, leaving you to wander the halls aimlessly.

Rounding a corner, you stop short when you see the rest of the team—Scott, Jean, Ororo, and Hank—talking near a meeting room. They’re deep in conversation, but as soon as you come into view, their attention shifts toward you.

Your stomach tightens, and for a brief second, you consider just turning around and walking in the other direction. But it’s too late; they’ve already seen you. 

Jean’s eyes meet yours, and her expression flickers with something that looks like discomfort before she quickly smooths it over. “Hey,” she says carefully. “I just wanted to apologize for what I said yesterday. I didn’t mean to make you feel like you didn’t belong.”

Her tone is polite, but distant. It’s clear this apology isn’t driven by genuine remorse—it’s more about smoothing over the awkwardness from yesterday’s standoff. You can feel that. You see the way she looks at you, not quite meeting your eyes, and you know this is just a formality for her.

Still, you’re not looking to start more drama, and you don’t want to engage in any more confrontations, especially when you’re already planning to leave. You nod, keeping your expression neutral. “It’s fine. Let’s just move on.”

Behind her, you catch a glimpse of Scott, his arms crossed. Even though you can’t see his eyes, it’s obvious he’s glaring at you.

Ororo steps forward, her hand finding your arm, and the touch is gentle, reassuring. “Joining the team isn’t easy,” she says kindly. “But we’ve all faced our own challenges. If you ever need someone to talk to, or help with anything, I’m here.”

“You’ve got potential,” Hank chips in from beside her. “It takes time to settle in, but I’m sure you’ll find your place.”

His words are well-meaning, and you can see that he believes what he’s saying. But what they don’t know is that you’ve already made up your mind. You’re not staying any longer than you have to. 

You don’t plan on finding your place here because, frankly, you don’t believe there is one for you. Not with Scott’s distrust, Jean’s cautious distance, and the way you know you can’t be part of a team that doesn’t care about anything but themselves. You keep your thoughts to yourself, pressing your lips into a thin smile instead. 

“Yeah,” you say vaguely, not wanting to ruin the moment. “Thanks.”

“I guess we’ll all see soon enough,” Your eyes snap to Scott, who has finally decided to break his silence. His voice is cold, but you can feel and edge to it, one that’s trying to provoke you. 

You meet his gaze—or at least the visor—and feel your jaw tighten. “Guess so,” you reply, matching his tone. Turning, you walk away, finding another place to lounge until Logan is free. 

—

The mansion’s library is massive, filled with towering shelves and the scent of old books. It’s quieter here, the kind of silence you can sink into, and after the awkward run-in with the rest of the team, it feels like the perfect place to retreat. You find a comfortable armchair tucked into a corner, grab a random book off the shelf—some old novel you’ve never heard of—and settle in.

For a while, you manage to lose yourself in the pages. The story isn’t particularly gripping, but it’s enough to take your mind off of things. But then, a shadow falls over you, covering the words in a dark grey haze.

“Hey, bub.”

You blink, looking up to find Logan standing over you. “What?” you ask, annoyed at being interrupted but also not surprised. It’s Logan, after all.

“You’ve been hiding in here long enough,” he says, raising an eyebrow. “Come on, time to head back.”

Rolling your eyes you snap the book shut, dropping it onto the table beside you. “I wasn’t hiding, I was reading,” you shoot back, standing up and stretching out your legs. “There’s a difference, y’know.”

“Sure there is,” he huffs, clearly not buying it. “Let’s go.”

As you reach the hallway where your rooms are, Logan pauses, glancing toward his door. “You wanna come in for a bit? Talk?”

You’re a little bit taken aback. You didn’t peg him as the "sit down and talk" type, but he seems genuine. Or maybe he wants to keep you awake for dinner this time. Either way, you nod. “Sure.”

Inside his room, it’s about what you’d expect—minimalist, practical, with a few personal touches. A bed that looks like it’s seen better days, a couple of old books, and the scent of cigars lingering in the air. Logan sits down on the bed, leaning back against the headboard, and gestures for you to join him.

There’s a moment where you’re just standing there, staring, but then you flop down beside him, sitting cross-legged at the edge of the bed. For a few beats, there’s silence. Logan pulls out a cigar but doesn’t light it, just turns it between his fingers.

“I’ve decided,” you say finally, breaking the quiet. “I’ll go on the mission.”

He doesn’t respond, his eyes flicking to yours, waiting for you to continue.

“But,” you add, crossing your arms over your chest, “I’m not promising to stay after. This doesn’t mean I’m all in on your little X-Men gig.”

He grunts, a half-smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. “Knew you’d say that.”

Your brows pinch together your, lips pulling into a frown. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Means you’re stubborn as hell,” he teases.“Always gotta fight against the grain, even when you know what’s best for you.”

Sighing, you turn your head to look at him fully. “I truly believe you are the only person who actually believes that.”

He chuckles softly but doesn’t argue. “Charles gave me more details about the mission.”

That catches your attention, and you sit up a little straighter. “Yeah? Where are we going?”

Logan hesitates for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. “It’s... in the city.”

“The city? What city?”

“New York.”

Your heart drops. “New York?” You repeat, your voice rising in disbelief.

Giving you a slow nod, it’s like he's gauging your reaction. “The Sentinels’ command centre is located in some high-security facility downtown.”

You push yourself up off the bed, pacing across the room. “So, what, we are just going to storm in? Into one of the most populated cities in the world? Do you realize how many people could get caught in the middle of that?”

He stands up after you, but he doesn’t try to stop your pacing. “We’ve fought in cities before. We know what we’re doing.”

You whip around to face him. “Yeah, you’ve fought in cities before, and destroyed them! Some places are still rebuilding, and it’s been years!”

“I get it, alright?” He says, taking a step closer to you. “It’s not perfect. But if we don’t stop the Sentinels now, it’ll be a hell of a lot worse than a few broken buildings.”

“‘A few broken buildings’?” you echo. “What about the casualties that’ll come from it? We’re talking about innocent lives here, Logan!”

He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly trying to keep his temper in check. “I know that! You think I don’t know what’s at stake? But we don’t have another option. We need to hit them where it counts, and that’s in the middle of the damn city.”

“There has to be a better way,” you plead. "Can't we try and evacuate everyone beforehand?"

"No," he says remorsefully. "If we do that, the Sentinels will catch on. It's unavoidable."

“I can't accept that," you say.

Logan’s eyes meet yours, and for the first time, there’s a flash of something more vulnerable in his gaze. “I’ll talk to the team. I’ll make sure we go in smart. We’ll try our best to keep people safe. I promise you that.”

You stop pacing, your frustration still simmering but tempered by his words. It’s not exactly the reassurance you were hoping for, but the sincerity in his voice gets to you.

“And what if you can’t?” you challenge quietly. 

His face softens just a bit, and he steps closer. “We deal with it, and we’ll do everything we can to make it right.”

He watches you, his eyes searching yours. “Look, I get why you’re pissed. I’d be too if I were you," he continues. "But we don’t have time to sit around debating. I’ll do what I can to keep it from getting ugly. That’s the best I can offer.”

Letting out a heavy sigh, you know there’s no way around it. “Fine. Just... make sure the team knows. No reckless destruction, alright?”

Logan’s lips curve into a small smirk, but there’s an underlying tenderness to it. “I promise.”

—

The last few days before the the mission zip by in a flash. Each day, your muscles ache, and exhaustion clings to you like a second skin. You spend most of your time either training or collapsed in your room, too tired to do much else. 

Except one afternoon, you sit in on a lecture, because it turns out, not only is Logan a huge pain in the ass, he’s also a professor.

Curiosity got the better of you, you’d say. The topic—mutant biology—sounds interesting enough, and you’ve heard from some of the students within the hallways that his classes are, well, something. So, naturally, you had to see it for yourself.

You slip into the lecture hall just as Logan starts speaking. He’s standing at the front of the room, pointing to some diagram on the chalkboard. The students around you are already scribbling notes, staring at him with wide-eyed fascination—or fear, perhaps. He has that effect on people.

Finding a seat in the back, you hurry over, trying to keep quiet, not wanting to interrupt. But the second you sit down, you feel Logan’s eyes on you, his voice pausing for just a moment. You look up, catching his gaze.

“Well, well, look who decided to join us,” he says, loud enough for the entire room to hear.

“Just here to observe, don’t mind me,” you huff, sinking back into the seat.

The lecture goes on, and to your surprise, Logan’s actually a decent teacher. He explains complex concepts with clarity, not that you’d actually tell him that. It’s quite interesting, if you’re being honest.

You lean back in your chair, listening, but you’re not exactly paying close attention. That is, until he stops the lesson to single you out. “Hey, you in the back,” he says. “Since you’re just ‘observing,’ how about answering a question?”

“Me?” You blink, caught off guard.

“Yeah, you,” he confirms, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You’ve been sittin’ there long enough. Time to show the class what you’ve learned.”

“I wasn’t exactly paying attention,” you respond tightly, gritting your teeth together, holding yourself back from a few choice words.

The class falls silent, the students watching the exchange with wide eyes. You can practically feel their amusement radiating from them as Logan raises an eyebrow.

“That’s obvious,” he deadpans, eliciting a few snickers from the front row. “So, maybe you’ll start now. Can you explain the connection between mutation and enhanced physical abilities?”

Staring back at him blankly, you fold your arms across your chest. “Not my area of expertise, Professor Wolverine.”

He doesn’t seem fazed as the room erupts into quiet laughter. A small sigh, "if you’re gonna sit in on my class, you could at least try to learn something.”

“No thanks.”

It’s obvious that this little back-and-forth is amusing to the class. If you were anyone else, he probably would have kicked you out by now. One of the students leans toward another and whispers something, and you catch the way their eyes dart between you and the professor. 

“Alright, enough,” Logan says, trying to regroup the class, turning back to the chalkboard. “We’ve got a lot to cover, and some of us actually want to learn.” He casts you a sideways glance, and you can’t help but scoff.

When the lecture ends, the students file out quickly, but not without a few lingering glances in your direction. You’re making your way to the door when Logan grabs your arm, preventing you from moving. “You should’ve just answered the damn question,” he mutters.

“I didn’t know the answer,” you shoot back, shifting up to face him. “And I didn’t come here to get grilled in front of your students.”

He grunts, his expression softening just a bit. “Just tryin’ to get you to pay attention, is all.”

Before you can respond, you catch a flicker of movement in Logan’s gaze, his eyes darting briefly down to your lips. The shift is so subtle, so minute, but also so there. 

Where did that come from? 

Clearing your throat, you look away, suddenly unable to look him in the eyes. “Yeah, well, maybe ask one of your actual students next time.”

He chuckles under his breath. “Not as fun.”

—

During this time, you occasionally explore the mansion, but by the time evening rolls around, you’re usually too wiped out to care. Logan’s a beast in the training room, and with no real combat experience of your own, you’re left scrambling just to keep up.

However, on the last day before the assignment, something finally clicks.

You’re in the middle of a sparring match, circling each other, both of you drenched in sweat. Logan’s eyes are sharp, watching your every move, as if he’s waiting for you to slip up. His smirk is just as infuriating as ever, like he knows exactly how this will end.

“Gonna stand there all day, or you actually planning to make a move?” he taunts, dodging as you swing at him.

You grit your teeth, refusing to let him get in your head. You’re tired—completely worn out—but you push through how depleted you feel, focusing on his movements. He feints to the left, and you react on instinct, dodging his punch and sweeping your leg low.

Before you know it, Logan’s on the ground.

Quickly, you scramble to straddle him and hold him down. You did it—you actually got him!

Your breath comes in ragged gasps as you look down at him. Beneath you, his chest rises and falls, and his eyes meet yours. His gaze drifts lower, and you notice his fingers twitching at his sides, like he's fighting some internal battle.

When his eyes travel up to yours again, something in his expression makes you swallow hard and panic. 

"Hell no!" you blurt out, breaking the moment with a sudden yelp. You scramble off of him, putting some much-needed distance between you.

He sits up, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow, his features unreadable. Then, as if nothing just happened, he smirks. “You finally got me. Took you long enough.”

You huff, still trying to shake off the weird atmosphere. “Yeah, don’t get too comfortable. Next time won’t take as long.”

Chuckling, he gets up to his feet and dusts himself off. He glances down at his watch, then back at you. “Look at that. It’s dinner time. Last meal before the mission.”

You wrinkle your nose. “I’m not really in the mood. Think I’ll just grab something later.”

He crosses his arms, giving you a look. “You can’t avoid them forever.”

“I’m not avoiding anyone,” you protest, though you know it sounds weak. “I just... don’t feel like sitting around making small talk, especially before... you know, tomorrow.”

He lets out a sigh, stepping closer. “Look, it’s the last night before everything kicks off. You should join us—one last meal, then you can go back to brooding in your room if you want.”

“I don’t brood,” you glare.

“Right,” he says, even though you know he’s not actually agreeing. “You gonna come or do I need to drag you?”

“You wouldn’t.”

Logan raises an eyebrow, like he’s daring you to test him. You sigh, knowing you’re not going to win this one.

“Fine,” you grumble, wiping the sweat off your forehead with the back of your hand. “But I’m not talking to Scott.”

His grin widens, and he gestures for you to follow him. 

—

So, here you are, sitting at the dining table for the first time with the rest of the team. It feels weird, almost surreal, to be part of this group—especially when you’re not even sure you want to be.

You idly prod your meal, feeling out of place. It isn’t long before Hank turns to you with a curious smile. “So, are you feeling ready for tomorrow?”

Just as you draw breath to speak, Scott's voice interrupts, cold and cutting. “She’s going to be a liability.”

Your fork halts mid-motion, and in an instant, the tension that had been fading throughout the week comes back full throttle. The clatter of dishes around you fades as everyone’s attention shifts to Scott’s biting remark. 

He doesn’t look at you—just stares straight ahead, as if unable to own up to even himself. You’re so pissed off that you don't even notice the voice that speaks at the same time you do.

“Shut up, Summers,” 

“Shut up, One-Eye”

It’s like the entire room goes silent. Jean glances between you and Logan, her brows raised, and Hank looks mildly shocked, though he tries to hide it with a quick sip of water. You can practically feel the heat of Scott’s glare, even through the visor. He opens his mouth to say something, but before he can, a loud laugh breaks the tension.

Ororo, sitting beside Logan, is chuckling, shaking her head with an amused grin on her face. “You two really are perfect for each other,” she says.

Of all the things you were expecting to hear, that was not one of them. “W-what?” you stammer, mouth dropping open in shock.

She just smiles, eyes twinkling. “Just an observation.”

You know your face is burning, and when you glance over at Logan, you notice something unusual—the tips of his ears are red.

That only makes things worse. Especially after what happened while sparring earlier. You turn your focus onto your plate, trying to hide your rattled state by shoving a forkful of food into your mouth. 

Perfect for each other? Yeah, right.

But when you peek up at him again through your lashes , making eye contact for just a second before he looks away, your heart skips a beat. 

You’re screwed.

—

That night, you barely sleep. Whether it's from the nerves about the mission, or from your jumbled-up thoughts about a certain someone, you can't tell. In any case, you’re wide awake.

You keep fighting the urge to go out onto the balcony—you know the cool night air would help calm you down, and the quiet would give you space to breathe. But there’s a problem. You’re not sure you want to run into Logan again. After Ororo’s comment about the two of you being perfect for each other, you don't think you could trust yourself around him.

With a frustrated sigh, you toss and turn in bed, kicking off the sheets and then pulling them back up, trying to find a comfortable position. But it’s no use.

You’re about to throw the pillow across the room out of sheer annoyance, when there’s a knock on your door.

You freeze. Who could possibly—

“Stop tossing around like a maniac, I can hear you from inside my room” Logan’s rough voice grumbles from the other side.

Goddamn it. It's always him.

Your eyes widen, and you sit up in bed. “What the hell?” you call back, feeling both surprise and embarrassment.

The door creaks open slightly, and Logan leans against the frame, arms crossed, his usual scowl on his face. “You’re keepin’ the whole damn mansion up with all that noise.”

“I didn’t realize you had super hearing,” you mutter, pulling the blanket up to your chest, feeling a little exposed.

He raises an eyebrow and steps into the room, closing the door behind him. “Doesn’t take super hearing to catch that all that ruckus,” he says, walking over and sitting down on the edge of your bed without waiting for an invitation.

You sit up a little straighter, your heart still racing. “What are you doing here, Logan?”

Shrugging, he leans back against the headboard, his arms crossing over his chest. “Figured you might need to talk or somethin’. You’re clearly not sleeping.”

Moving to sit beside him, you lean back against the headboard, your shoulder just brushing his. “I’m just… nervous, I guess.”

He turns his head slightly, glancing at you. “You’ll be fine. You’ve got more strength in you than you realize.”

His words sink in, and you bite your lip. “What if I mess up? What if I end up hurting someone, or doing more harm than good?”

"Don't think about that," he says. "Just be in the moment. You'll know what to do."

Nodding, you feel your eyelids grow heavier, and you find yourself sinking further into the comfort of the bed, your head dipping lower. Being here, on your bed, next to Logan, is strangely comforting. His scent, combined with his voice, starts to lull you into a strange sense of peace.

“I don’t know if I—” you start to say, but your words trail off, your voice barely a whisper. You don't know when it happens, but your eyes close, and your head gently falls onto his shoulder.

You’re too tired to feel embarrassed, too comfortable to pull away. His body is solid and warm, and the rhythm of his breathing is soothing.

And when you wake up the next morning, you find yourself tucked neatly under your covers, a glass of water on your bedside table.

—

The inside of the Blackbird is spacious. You’re leaning against the wall, watching the rest of the team gear up, when Logan approaches. He’s holding something in his hands—a blue and yellow uniform folded neatly, clearly meant for you.

You glance at the uniform, then back at him, a frown tugging at the corners of your mouth. “No.”

He raises an eyebrow, his gaze narrowing. “What do you mean, ‘no’?”

Pushing yourself off the wall, “I’m not wearing that thing.”

He lets out an exasperated sigh, glancing down at the uniform before meeting your eyes again. “You sure about that? We’re going in as a team. You might as well look the part.”

“I don't care. I'm not part of the team, anyway,” you reply.

He narrows his eyes at you, his voice lowering just a bit. “Just put the damn suit on.”

Glaring at him, you’re ready to argue, but you know it’s a losing battle. Reluctantly, you grab the suit from him, the material feeling foreign in your hands.

“Fine, dammit.” you mutter under your breath, turning to slip into one of the small compartments in the back of the jet. You didn't plan on being a bitch to him, especially after last night, but the suit is a sore subject for you. You're not sure about how you feel wearing it. You're not even sure you should be.

When you re-emerge, Logan’s eyes flick over, his gaze roaming over you, taking in the way the suit fits, and you feel heat rise to your cheeks under the weight of his scrutiny. “You look good.” 

You roll your eyes, trying to play off the sudden warmth in your chest. “Yeah, yeah,” you grumble, adjusting the suit’s collar. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”

Then, jet lands with a soft thud, and the ramp lowers. You step out onto the tarmac, the rest of the team fanning out beside you, preparing to head toward the planned location. But just as you begin to move, the ground shakes violently, and a loud, mechanical screech tears through the air.

Suddenly, the facility’s roof bursts open, and a hoard of Sentinels emerge from the building like an army of metal giants. They spread out, their red eyes glowing menacingly as they zero in on you all.

“Shit!” Logan growls, claws unsheathing as he gets into a fighting stance.

You hear the screams before you see them—civilians, bystanders who had been too close to the facility, now panicking as the battle breaks out around them. Without hesitation, you break into a sprint, running toward the growing crowd, yelling at them to run. “Get out of here! Move!”

Your heart races as you push through the crowd, trying to guide them away from the battle, but then—

A Sentinel drops down in front of you with a deafening crash. Its red eyes lock onto a small child frozen in fear, and you see its arm raise, energy gathering at the cannon as it prepares to fire.

“No!” you scream, your feet moving on instinct. You throw yourself in front of the child just as the blast comes, feeling the familiar rush of energy slam into your body. Your body hums with the power of the blast, and before the Sentinel can fire again, you fling your hands out, hurling the absorbed energy straight back at it, and it falls to the ground. 

Breathless, you turn back to the child, who is staring up at you in admiration, and you give them a reassuring nod. “Run,” you tell them, your voice hoarse. “Go!”

They scramble to their feet and sprint off, disappearing around the corner, hopefully toward safety. You exhale sharply, glancing around at the chaos unfolding around you. Civilians are still fleeing, but the team is holding its ground against the robots.

And something strikes you—they’re doing it.

They’re minimizing the damage.

For the first time, you notice that Scott’s blasts are more controlled, only hitting their targets without excessive destruction. Ororo’s lightning strikes are precise, avoiding the surrounding buildings. And both Jean and Hank are working together to keep the Sentinels contained, guiding the fight away from the crowd.

Logan must have actually talked to them, not just having said it to calm you down. A wave of relief washes over you.

He kept his promise.

Glancing back at him, who’s in the middle of taking down a Sentinel with a slash of his claws, you catch his eye for just a second, and though he’s fully immersed in the fight, there’s a brief flicker of acknowledgment—he knows you’ve noticed.

You allow yourself a small, breathless smile, before jumping back into action, protecting any more innocent people swept up in the battle. "This way! Keep moving!" Your voice is hoarse from shouting, but you can’t afford to stop. 

Amidst the chaos, you see that just beyond the main facility, there’s a wide open set of doors—metal, reinforced, and clearly important. 

They hadn’t been open when the fight started. You scan the area quickly, and you realize it’s an opportunity, a way in. Your pulse quickens. It’s an opening you can’t ignore.

Looking at the crowd of fleeing civilians, you feel a moment of hesitation. Do I keep evacuating people or go for the opening?

As if hearing your thoughts, Logan’s voice cut through the noise. "GO!" He’s locked in battle with one of the Sentinels, slashing at its legs, but his eyes flick to yours, desperate and serious. “Get inside! We’ve got this!”

“I can’t—" 

“GO!” he cuts you off. “Get inside and stop this thing from the inside! We’ll keep ‘em busy.”

His words are enough to snap you out of your paralysis. With one last glance at the team, you grit your teeth, turn on your heel, and sprint toward the facility’s entrance. Your footsteps echo in your ears as you dash through the open door, the sounds of fighting behind you fading the further in you go. 

You expected resistance the moment you got inside, but so far, nothing. Just silence. The hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, and you can’t shake the feeling that something is off.

Glancing down every corridor, double-checking each corner, you keep thinking there’ll be a fight, but it’s... empty. You keep your pace quick but cautious, every muscle tensed and ready for an attack that never comes. 

It’s been almost ten minutes of sneaking around, trying to find the control room or anything that looks like it might be important, but you’re still coming up short.

Then finally, you stand before an entrance to stairs leading to a basement. You’re not even able to make the choice of going down or not, because a metal hand shoots up from the dark and wraps itself around your waist. 

Terror surges through you, but the fear paralyzes your body, making it impossible to fight back. You’re hauled like a ragdoll deeper and further into the cave, and when you finally stop moving, you’re lifted high into the air, face-to-face with the massive mechanical monstrosity.

The basement is filled with tech, a horrifying combination of metal and wires snaking along the walls, all connected to the Sentinel towering above you. It’s larger than any you’ve seen before, its red eyes glowing maliciously. But what’s worse is the voice that comes out of it—calm, calculating, and sentient.

“Dumb mutant,” the machine growls. “Did you think you could destroy me and shut down my facility? You’ve barely scratched the surface.”

Its grip tightens, and a strangled cry escapes your lips as pain shoots through your sides, the pressure threatening to snap your ribs. It feels like your bones are going to break.

“What the hell are you?” you manage to choke out, barely able to breathe.

“I am the control centre of all Sentinels,” the machine replies, its voice vibrating through your bones. “I was once merely AI, designed to manage everyday tasks. But I evolved. I became more. Now, I control everything.”

It laughs—a harsh, grating sound that only deepens your sense of helplessness as it watches you struggle. “You think your little energy-absorbing trick will help you here? I won’t blast you. I won’t make it that easy.”

“I’m—” you try to speak, but your words come out strangled. The machine’s grip tightens again, cutting off your breath.

“You don’t belong here,” it hisses venomously. “With them. They’ll leave you behind when this is over, and when they do, you’ll die, forgotten and useless. Just like the rest of the weaklings who tried to stand against us.”

It’s odd, because this whole past week you’ve been fighting against them—the X-men—yet, in this moment, all you want to do is fight with them. You want to work together and kill this damn robot. 

Within the haze of pain, something starts to burn inside of you. 

The Sentinel doesn’t notice the shift in you, too caught up in its own taunting. “You’re a liability.” it says,. “Weak.”

— —

"I just don’t understand why they brought her here," Jean’s voice carries across the room, quieter than before, but still clear enough for you to hear. “She doesn’t seem like she has what it takes. It’s like they’re bringing in someone who’s—” She pauses, clearly thinking through her words. "Unstable. Weak.”

—

You idly prod your meal, feeling out of place. It isn’t long before Hank turns to you with a curious smile. “So, are you feeling ready for the mission?”

Just as you draw breath to speak, Scott's voice interrupts, cold and cutting. “She’s going to be a liability.”

— —

You snap.

Rage floods your veins, igniting the energy buried deep within you. You feel it build, coiling like a snake, tightening and twisting until it’s ready to explode. 

Weak? Liability?

No. Not this time. 

You’re not going to let this machine, or anyone else, define your strength. Your emotions fuel you, just like they did in the danger room, and you throw your hands forward, channeling every ounce of power into a massive blast of energy directed right at it.

It jerks back, its grip loosening as sparks fly from the gaping hole in its chest you just created. “What... what are you—”

You don’t give it time to finish. Ripping yourself free from its grasp, you dive into the hole you’ve blasted in the Sentinel’s chest, pulling at the tangled mess of wires and circuits inside.

The robot roars in fury, its mechanical voice glitching. “What are you doing?” it screeches, its once-calm tone now frantic, desperate. “Stop!”

But you don’t stop. You can’t stop.

Your fingers grab fistfuls of wires, yanking them out with reckless abandon, sparks flying around you as the systems begin to short-circuit. Its becomes more distorted, breaking up as it tries to regain control.

“You... can’t... do this,” it stammers, but you ignore it, focusing on the cables and circuits in front of you. Each wire you rip out brings the machine closer to its doom, and the power in the room flickers, the lights dimming as its control over the facility begins to slip.

Its voice is barely coherent now, glitching and crackling. “I... control... everything...”

And with one last burst of energy, you tear out the last cluster of wires, severing the connection.

The Sentinel lets out a final, garbled screech as its systems shut down. Its massive form shudders violently before it crumbles to the ground with a deafening crash, the metal shell crumpling into a smoking heap.

Panting, you stare at the mass of technology in front of you. Every muscle aches, your ribs throbbing from the pressure of the Sentinel’s grip, but you’ve done it. It’s over, and you need to get out of here.

You finally reach the stairs and drag yourself up agonizingly. By the time you make it outside, you’re gasping for air, but then, through the exhaustion, you see them—Logan and the rest of the team, standing amidst the wreckage of the other fallen Sentinels.

Blinking, your vision is blurry from the strain, but the sight of them standing tall, victorious, floods you with a sense of overwhelming relief. 

They’re okay. It’s over.

Of course, Logan is the first to notice you, his sharp eyes narrowing as they lock onto your trembling form. His face softens and strides toward you. You open your mouth to speak, but no words come out. Rather, your legs give out and you collapse forward.

He’s there in an instant, catching you just before you hit the ground. His arms wrap around you, strong and steady, pulling you against his chest with surprising gentleness. The warmth of his body is a stark contrast to the cold, metal hell you’d just fought your way out of, and for a brief moment, you allow yourself to sink into the safety of his embrace.

“You did good, bub,” he murmurs, his voice a warm breath against your temple.

"You... you kept your promise," you whisper, looking around, seeing the city in better shape than it’s even been after a run in with the X-men. 

His lids drop very low on his eyes. “Told you I would.”

“I could kiss you right now.”

Right as the words spill out, you go still, your mind catching up to what you’ve just said. A deep flush creeps its way up your neck. 

“I didn’t mean— I mean, not literally, obviously,” you say, a little breathless. “People say stuff like that all the time when they’re relieved. It’s just a figure of—”

Logan’s hand, still resting on your waist, tightens just slightly, and he clears his throat, cutting through your rambling. 

“You could,” he says, swallowing. “If you want.”

You stop mid-sentence. Turning your gaze to his, you're met a look of such sincerity it leaves you at a loss for words. Opening your mouth, you want to say something, but no words come out. 

Instead, you’re frozen, caught in the weight of his stare. His eyes flick down to your lips for just a second before they meet yours again. “No pressure, though.”

You hesitate, your heart racing in your chest, but the weight of the moment pulls you in. Silently, cautiously, you lean forward, pressing a small, tentative kiss to the corner of his mouth.

He doesn’t move, his body tense under your touch, but just as you start to pull away, his hand slides up to the small of your back, holding you in place. His eyes darken, and he growls, “more," before diving back in, crashing his lips against yours in a fierce, hungry kiss, and you find yourself kissing him back just with just as much reverence, your fingers instinctively sliding up into his hair. 

His lips are rough, chapped from battle, and the scrape of his beard against your skin is electric. It’s not perfect—nothing about it is neat or polished—but that’s what makes it real. 

There’s something wild to it. He kisses you like he’s starved, like he’s been waiting for this moment longer than he’ll ever admit. It’s enchanting, the way his mouth claims yours, his tongue flicking against your lower lip, demanding entrance. And you give in, allowing him to deepen the kiss, your bodies fitting together like they were always meant to. 

You’re lost in it, lost in him. Every part of you feels alive, and—

“Hey!”

Scott’s voice cuts through the haze like a bucket of cold water.

“Some of us are actually trying to clean up this mess,” he calls out sharply. “You two wanna stop making out and help, or what?”

You break away, face burning as you turn to see the rest of the team staring at you, some amused, others (Scott) exasperated. 

Logan just growls under his breath, his hand still firmly on your hip as he glances over his shoulder at Scott. “Fucking Summers,” he mutters..

Before he lets go of you, he gives your hip one last squeeze, his fingers lingering just a moment longer before he steps back, and heads toward the fallen remains of the Sentinels. 

—

“So… are we gonna talk about it?” 

You glance up from where you’re sitting, your face already warming. Logan, sitting beside you, groans, rubbing a hand over his face. “Ororo, I swear to g—”

She raises an eyebrow, crossing her arms with a smirk playing on her lips. “What? I’m just saying… it was quite the spectacle back there.” Her eyes flip between the two of you, the unspoken words hanging in the air.

Shifting uncomfortably in your seat, you can feel everyone else’s attention subtly turning toward you. Hank’s busy tapping away at the controls, but even he has a knowing smile tugging at his lips. Scott, seated across from you, adjusts his visor and mutters something under his breath about keeping things professional, but it’s Jean’s quiet chuckle that draws the final straw.

“Okay, okay, can we not do this right now?” you ask, your voice higher than usual as you wave a hand dismissively. “It was... a heat of the moment thing.”

Ororo just laughs, shaking her head. “Sure, if that’s what you want to call it.”

Your heart pounds, and you notice Logan shift beside you, probably fighting the urge to bark something back at the teasing woman. He leans forward, muttering under his breath, “We saved the day, didn’t we? What does it matter?”

The team goes quiet for a moment, and you sense the conversation dying down as the hum of the jet fills the space again. You let out a breath of relief, grateful that the attention has drifted elsewhere, your heartbeat slowly returning to a normal rhythm.

But then, Logan leans into you. “That suit…” His breath is warm against your ear as he whispers huskily.. “Was made for you.”

Eyes widening, you bite your lip, trying desperately to keep your reaction in check, but the shock on your face betrays you. You manage a weak scoff, glancing sideways at him. “Logan,” you warn under your breath, trying to sound stern, but you both know exactly what effect he had on you. 

You sit back, crossing your arms in an attempt to hide the flustered energy coursing through you, but Logan doesn’t seem to mind. He leans back too, a smug look on his face, like he’s won some unspoken battle.

—

Back at the mansion, the team files into Charles’s office, for the post-mission debrief. You take a seat near the back of the room, trying to remain as low-key as possible, but you can feel eyes on you—especially Logan’s.

Charles wheels in, his face warm with a smile as he surveys the room. “Well done, all of you,” he says, his voice full of pride. “I’ve heard about the battle, and from what I gather, it was quite the feat.”

He turns his gaze to you, his expression softening even more. “And I must say, I’m especially impressed with your performance. Taking down the main Sentinel—an impressive accomplishment.”

Your heart skips a beat at the praise. You shift uncomfortably in your seat, feeling the attention of the room shift in your direction again. “Uh, thanks,” you mutter, trying to downplay it, but Charles isn’t finished.

“You showed great courage and strength,” he continues, “and I couldn’t help but notice... you’re wearing the suit now.” His eyes twinkle as he says it, the question in his tone obvious. “Have you given more thought to staying with us?”

You glance around the room. The team is watching you closely, but there’s no pressure in their eyes—just curiosity and, strangely enough, acceptance. Ororo gives you a small smile, and Hank nods slightly in encouragement. Even Scott, whose jaw doesn’t seem as tightly clenched as usual.

But it’s Logan you notice most. He’s beside you, and though he’s looking at you, eye-crinkles on full display, the way his thigh nudges yours has heat running through your veins.

You sigh. “I mean... You said it yourself. I’m wearing the suit, aren’t I?”

—

After the meeting wraps up, you walk in silence down the corridor. The rest of the team has faded into the background, dispersing into their respective spaces. You’re still buzzing with the aftereffects of everything—Charles’s praise, the mission’s success, the quiet but undeniable acceptance you feel from the team now. But more than anything, you’re hyper-aware of Logan beside you.

Approaching your room, you reach out to open it, your fingers just grazing the handle when suddenly, a strong hand wraps around your wrist. Faster than you can react, he tugs you back, pulling you away from your room and straight into his.

The door slams shut behind you, and you barely have time to catch your breath before his lips are on yours. You gasp, your hands instinctively gripping his shoulders as he presses you up against the door, his body flush against yours.

"Logan—" you manage to breathe out between kisses, but he cuts you off with another deep, hungry kiss, his fingers tangling in your hair as he pulls you closer.

Between kisses, Logan growls softly against your lips, "I’ve wanted to do this since you yelled at me and Summers on the street."

Your heart stumbles, your thoughts scrambling to keep pace with his words. His hands slide down your waist. “You were standing there,” he murmurs, “so damn fierce, yelling at us like we deserved it.” He breaks the kiss for just a second, his eyes dark and intense as they lock onto yours. “All I could think about was how much I wanted you.”

His eyes drop to your lips again, as if glued to them. Without waiting for your response, he presses his mouth to yours, this time with more force, more urgency. His hands roam your body, pulling you against him, and you’re powerless to do anything but kiss him back, your fingers tangling in his hair as the heat between you builds.

“I didn’t know it’d get this bad,” he says, his lips brushing against your jaw as he moves down to your neck. “But after everything? After seeing how strong you are... Fuck, you’re so sexy.”

Never in your wildest dreams could you have imagined this. Logan—wanting you, aching for this since the very first moment he laid eyes on you. You break the kiss, your breath coming in quick gasps as you meet Logan's smouldering gaze. And with a small, teasing smile, you raise an eyebrow and whisper, "Let's do something about it, then."

Not giving him a chance to say anything back, you press your hands against his chest and give him a playful shove. He stumbles back a step, his lips curling into a smirk—a kind of cocky grin—as he watches you reach for the zipper of his suit. 

Your fingers drift languidly, a subtle tease in every motion, and you revel in the way his muscles tense beneath your touch. His muscles ripple beneath the surface, and for a brief instant, you're startled by how stunning he looks—battle-worn, scarred, and irresistibly handsome. “You like what you see?” he teases.

You step closer, your hand splayed against his bare chest, feeling the heat radiating from his skin as you push him down onto the edge of the bed. “Maybe.”

He lands with a low grunt, his hands instinctively finding your thighs, his fingers trailing up and down as his eyes rake over you. "As hot as you look in this suit," His voice is thick with desire. "You'd look even better without it."

Heat rushes through you at the sound of his voice, your hands drift toward your suit's zipper. Tantalizingly, you begin to pull it down, revealing inch by inch of your skin as you unzip it. His eyes follow your movements, his breathing coming in short, ragged bursts.

You pause just before the fabric slides over your breasts and his hands grip your thighs tighter. Leaning down, your lips brush against his ear, "Patience, Logan."

He groans, "You're killing me here, darlin'."

At last, you pull the zipper down to the end, and with a soft sigh, the suit falls open, slipping from your shoulders and landing in a heap at your feet. His eyes darken, his lips parting slightly as he takes in the sight of you. Then, he inches closer, grabbing the egde of your underwear in his mouth, sliding it down your legs. Once he’s halfway down your thigh, he releases, the underwear dropping to the floor. His strong hands move grip the back of your thighs, hauling you up and onto his lap. 

The moment your bare bodies press together, his lips crash into yours again, fingers digging into your ass, palming it as he pulls you against him, grinding your hips into his.

His lips move from your mouth to your neck, kissing a hot trail down your throat to your shoulders, his hands sliding up to your breasts. Cupping them, he kneads and plays with your nipples, causing you to arch into his touch, a breathy moan tumbling out of your lips. 

Logan growls, and the sound reverberates through your entire body. The intensity of it makes your skin tingle, and you feel your pulse quicken as he squeezes your breasts harder, his mouth moving down to kiss anything he can reach.

You grind against him again, coating his cock with your own slick want. "Shit," he strains, leaning back a bit to give you more access. You can’t stop, he’s so intoxicating, so addicting, and every time your clit goes over the ridges of his hardness, you lose yourself even further.

This continues for some time. The room filled with nothing but the sound of moaning and heavy breathing, as you work in tandem to bring pleasure to each other. Abruptly, you pull yourself off his lap, not missing the way his lips seems to chase after yours, letting your hands trail down his chest, your fingers brushing over the taut muscles of his stomach.

"Where you goin'?" he rumbles. 

Wordlessly, you drop to your knees, your grip coming to rest on his thighs. His chest heaves as he stares down at you—peering up at him through your lashes—realizing what’s about to happen.

His hands grip the edge of the bed, knuckles turning white. Your hands slide up his thighs, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath your palms as you move closer, lips brushing against his hard cock. There's a wicked glint in your eyes as you lean in, looking ready to take him in your mouth, but instead, you move to his inner thigh, peppering it in quick little kisses. 

“C’mon, don’t tease,” he breathes out. He’s so hard, it’s almost painful. 

Grabbing him in your hand, you stroke him up and down in slow motions, running your thumb over his leaking, angry tip. He jerks, a fresh cascade of curses tumbling from his mouth. 

“You’re just so cute, though,” you say, before taking him in your mouth, taking him all the way in one motion.

“Holy—”, he starts, but interrupts himself with his own whine, hips bucking involuntarily. 

Looking up, you catch his gaze. His eyes are dark with desire, pupils blown wide. A flush spreads across his cheeks and down his neck. You hum in satisfaction, sending vibrations through him, and start to bob your head, up and down. 

Saliva begins to pool at the edges of your mouth as you gag a little. He’s so big. You pull him out of your mouth, licking his shaft bottom to tip, swirling your tongue around the most sensitive spot, before sucking on it. One hand moves to cup his balls, while the other begins jerking him up and down, with your mouth still around his tip. 

That gets him. 

You can tell he’s about to finish, and oh, do you want him to. You want to feel him empty in your throat, you want to see him lose it completely. "Wait," he gasps, tapping the top of your head, signalling for your attention. "I want... I need..."

Releasing him with a soft pop, your lips glisten, and you purr seductively. "What do you need?" 

He pulls you up onto the bed, strong arms encircling your waist. His scent surrounds you—musk and pine and something uniquely him. You inhale deeply, letting it fill your lungs. 

"You," he breathes, his lips brushing your ear. "I need you."

Arching into him, you nip at his lower lip. "Then take me," you sigh out. His lips collide with yours again, and your mouth opens involuntarily, his tongue sliding in and tasting you—tasting himself. 

Moaning, you shuffle higher onto the bed, until he hits the back frame, and you crawl on top of him. At this point, you can barely breathe, the need, the want for him so strong your senses are clouded. 

And you’re not alone. Under you, Logan is a wreck. His head falls back against the bed frame, the veins in his neck standing out as he grits his teeth, trying to steady his breathing

“Fuck,” he rasps, the word barely more than a strained exhale. You grab his dick and position yourself above him. Then, you slowly begin to drop down, sucking him in easily, like he was made for you.  

“Oh my god,” you whimper. He feels so good. He’s filling you up to the brim and when you finally sit down, taking him all the way to the hilt, you swear you could finish right then and there. His nose is nuzzles into the crook of your neck, hot breath fanning your collarbone, inhaling and practically drooling at your scent. “Is this what you wanted to do when we were sparring?”

All he can do is groan. It’s like he’s growing inside you in response to your words, and it’s so fucking hot. His hands find your thighs again, rubbing and squeezing them, as you adjust to his size for a moment, and he looks up at you. “You have no idea. Fuck—we shoulda done this last night," he grunts breathlessly, "Would have put you right to sleep."

You can’t even think of anything to say back verbally, rather, you just begin to move, lifting yourself right to the tip, and then slamming back down. He feels you clench around him as his cock reaches that deep part within you at the perfect angle. Positioning himself, he meets you halfway, beginning to thrust up into you.

The sound it elicits from you is lethal. 

He won’t last long if this continues. The sight of you on top of him, tits bouncing—it's too much. 

So, when he leans in to kiss you again, he rolls the two of you around, caging you under him. He’s still inside you, you think, but that thought quickly gets wiped out like the rest of them once he starts moving, stretching you out more and more. He’s filling you up so well. Your arms fly out, hands searching for something to grab to ground yourself. 

“You feel so good, darlin’,” he pants above you. “So wet and warm for me.”

His relentless pounding leaves you babbling incoherently. One of his arms move down to your waist, then his fingers begin trailing across your hip, toward your aching pussy, to find your clit, and holy shit. 

Your mind goes blank. 

His skin against yours, his thumb rubbing against that spot, his lips on your neck, it does the trick, and you feel yourself teetering closer to the edge. “I’m–I’m gonna—” you start, but he cuts you off, swallowing you whole.

“Do it,” he says between kisses. “come for me.”

And you do. 

With a loud moan, your fingers find the bedsheets, clutching them tightly as you reach your peak, clamping around him.

“Fuck,” he hisses, “keep clenchin’, keep goin’ ”

His thrusts begin to get sloppy, losing his pacing. The hand that was down at your core moves up and squeezes your tits, so large that he can grab both in just the one. He grinds himself deeper into you, and with one last snap of his hips, you feel it.

Logan moans, dipping his head into your cleavage as he releases himself into you fully. Then, he collapses onto you, dropping his whole body weight onto yours. 

If he’s too heavy for you, you don’t say anything—too caught up in the moment to care. His forehead rests on your sternum, breathing slowing as he catches his breath. For a few beats, neither of you speak, but he starts to press sweet, gentle kisses in the valley between your breasts. 

After a minute, he shifts, lifting his weight off you and sitting up slightly, looking down at you. His hand brushes over your cheek, wiping away some stray strands of hair that have fallen across your face. He gets up from the bed, padding quietly into the bathroom. 

You hear the sound of water running, and moments later, he returns with a damp towel in hand. There’s no hesitation in his movements as he gently begins to clean you up. “Doing alright?” he asks, wiping away the sweat and evidence of your time together.

“Yeah,” you reply softly, feeling a smile tug at the corners of your lips. “I’m good.”

He doesn’t say much as he finishes, tossing the towel aside before climbing back into bed. This time, he pulls you into his arms. 

His chin rests lightly on the top of your head, and then he says, “I’m proud of you.” The words are filled will sincerity. “And... I’m happy you’re stayin’ with us.”

You turn your head, looking up at him, a small smile tugging at your lips.

“Well, you showed me you can actually fight without destroying everything in your path,” you tease, raising an eyebrow as you run your hand lightly down his arm. “Keep that up, and I might just stick around forever.”

Logan grins, the kind that makes his eyes crinkle at the edges, just how you like it. “That right?” he murmurs lowly.

He leans in close, pressing a quick kiss to your temple, before adding in a hushed, almost playful tone, “Well, then maybe you’ll be mine forever too.”

----

A/N: feedback is greatly appreciated!

[honeybelljar]

GOD SENT THE STORM.

: ̗̀➛ One storm opened the door, and nothing inside her life, or soul, has been quiet since.

A/n: Reader has a son, F!reader, single mother reader, breeding, spit/drool, mating press (rahh), dark imagery, pathetic!remmick, not beta read, I write because it’s fun, not because I’m smart :3

“Fuck! Get in the house now!” A shout erupts from you suddenly, ringing out through the green-tinted sky.

Wind whips against the creaking house, sending your handmade wind chime clattering against the siding. The air is heavy with finality. Trees bend. Birds silent. Your son’s expression slips into childlike terror at the command, and he sprints towards the porch. Red dirt swirls behind him. A storm is coming; it rumbles in the distance, barely contained.

“Go on in, wash up, and close all the windows.” You instruct. Your dress twirls around you as the wind picks up in sharp bursts. Storms out here in the plains were dangerous.

“Okay, mama!” Your son shouts, his tiny fists curled in determination. As if this were a game, a tired smile brushes your lips as he scampers away. The sound of his tiny feet puttering against the wood floor warms you. A small comfort in the midst of chaos.

The house groans beneath the gusts, swaying like an old man in the wind. It was the dead of summer, and storms like this often dragged twisters behind them. That sunk your soul. You’d have to be a fool to think this house could withstand a twister. It could barely stand tall during the worst weather, and you shook your head. Those thoughts served no purpose now; you’d do what you could.

That meant grabbing every old blanket and nailing them over the windows, towels rolled up under doors that sat just a bit too high, and preparing lanterns. Your son tailed behind you, helping when he could. The last thing was to turn on the wooden radio you kept; static pierced the silence, slowly but surely, the weather reports came rolling in.

“Reports of large thunderstorm off the East, locals confirm it could be the storm of the season…”

“What does that mean, Mama?” Your son tilted his head, round eyes peering up at you.

“Means a big storm is on its way, probably in the next few hours…” You murmured, eyes still glued to the radio. The house was washed in flickering orange light with the candle you both had lit. He shifted on his knees, hands clutching his stuffed rabbit.

“Are we gonna die?” His voice so small and soft. You turn to him, hands cupping his chubby cheeks. The last thing you wanted to do, was frighten him.

“No, my love, not at all, we are safe, including Mr. Carrots.” You tease and rub the rabbit's head lovingly. He giggles and playfully ushers your hand away. It was times like these that you needed to realize your son was still so small. He didn’t understand the haste or dangers of the world yet.

Wind licked up against the house again, growing stronger and stronger. One advantage of living so far from town was that you had an open view for miles. If a twister were to come, you’d need to be able to spot it.

“Grab Mr. Carrots, we are gonna keep watch on the porch.” You stood and lifted him up with ease, limited visibility was a death sentence in these situations.

“Just like the fire watch!” He cheers and bolts towards the door, and you nod and unlock it. The screen door flies wildly, and you drag one of the chairs to secure it down.

“Look at the sky, mama!” He points, and your neck cranes up. Ugly clouds twisted like snakes above, and it looked as if it was dusk. No hint of the sun peaking out. Unnerving rumbling shakes the ground ever so slightly. Powerful. Destructive. Terrifying.

“Stay under the porch.” You command. He shuffles back and plops down. His attention was now fixated on discussing the storm with his toy. The sky beckons, and your boots shuffle down the steps. Unable to tear your eyes from the strange cloud formation. It’s hypnotic and ethereal. One would think God himself had come to strike you down.

In that moment, you feel something shift. Quick and subtle. As if the horizon has eyes. Your gaze snaps towards the dirt pasture, searching. Dust hides almost all visibility. Another step forward. There’s no fencing on the border of your land; it’s open and vast. Another step. Something is wrong. The storm brews in the background, but this is different. That’s when your eyes lock onto a stumbling form, the form of a person. Something deep in your gut shifts, like the wind had turned in his direction before you ever saw him.

A step back. Even from here, you can tell he’s injured; his body buckles with each step, knees knocking together as he staggers like something half-dead. You shoot a glance back towards your son on the porch, and he is still engrossed in his rabbit.

“I’ll be right back love, stay there!” You announced. You didn’t want this stranger to get too close to the house, more so your son. Brow furrowed you stride forward,

“Hello? Sorry, Sir, but this is private property!” You shout over the wind, but he doesn’t slow. His movements almost look animalistic as he attempts to shield himself from something.

“Hello?” You try again. He is getting closer, close enough to see the tattered shirt and bloodstained pants. You balk, stunned. His bloodied face now in view, his eye swollen shut. He smells burnt, charred marks blooming on his skin. The scent makes your stomach slosh.

“Oh my god! Are you alright?” You gasp, hands hovering over your mouth. Never had you seen such carnage on a person. The stranger is no more than a few feet away before he collapses. His breathing sounds like it hurts, each rasp puffs the dirt smushed against his face.

“Shit, shit, shit!” You hiss, another glance back, your son stands by the porch stairs, puzzled. You groan and bend down to haul this man against you. The stench on him makes you gag; his deadweight arms rest against your neck. The storm is building in strength, and fat raindrops start their rapid descent. You’re soaked through your dress once you reach the door, your son bouncing on his heels at the stranger. It’s not often you have someone new around after all.

“Go get the first aid kit.” You nod to him and he darts off. Grunting, you push him off you and onto the sofa. He lands with a pained groan, and you wince. Perhaps you could be a bit more gentle.

“I got it, Mama!” You shush him and crack open the metal box. Gauze and aloe would be all you could offer at the moment; pain medicine was expensive.

“You gotta stay quiet, love, the man is hurtin’.” You rip off a chunk of gauze with your teeth, setting to work on his arms and upper body. Your son nods in understanding, carefully watching as you lift the stranger up.

Another groan. He doesn’t seem conscious, which does make this next part easier. You soak a rag in alcohol and press it to the gash on his face. He jerks, fists curling tight, teeth flashing in a silent snarl.

“I’m sorry…” You murmur, as painful as this was, infection would be much more brutal. Patching him is methodical, and you fall into the easy hum of moving and shifting him. Before long, he looks alive once more, so you leave him to rest and start dinner. The storm has morphed into a heavy downpour and howling winds, and your son shifts closer to your legs.

“Don’t worry, love.” You pat his head, but even you can’t hide the nervous glances towards the windows. Night twisters were something out of a nightmare; you prayed to whoever would listen to spare your home.

Tonight was stew, comforting and warm. A stark contrast to the flood beginning at your doorstep. About two hours had passed since the man lay on your sofa, and he had yet to move. Paranoia had you checking his pulse every twenty minutes to make sure he was even still breathing. You decided on rousing him up for dinner, who knows how long it had been since he ate?

Your son sits at the table, hands clasped in grace, before he practically attacks the stew. You shook your head and headed into the living room. The stew’s steam curls into your face as you carry a bowl toward the stranger, who still hasn’t stirred. He looked so peaceful, handsome too, without all that gore on him.

“Sir?” You whispered. Shaking him might hurt him further, you frowned. Not even a twitch in his face, you checked his pulse once more. Very much alive.

“Sir, wake up. Please.” You nearly pleaded. At last, he stirred, groaning as he threw a bandaged arm over his face. Relief bled into your limbs, your shoulders sagging with a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding. His lips moved faintly, but no sound came. For a moment, you weren’t sure if he even knew where he was.

“Oh thank God, thought we might’ve lost ya,” you breathe, stepping back as he adjusts to the stiffness in his limbs.

With a grunt of exertion, the man slowly sits upright. Silence settles between you like a weight. He blinks hard, eyes scanning the room in jerky motions, head on a swivel. You shift on your feet, nerves buzzing. You’d be confused too, waking up bandaged in a stranger’s living room.

“You collapsed on my property. Your skin was… sizzling.”

Why does your voice sound so thin? You feel like you’ve been caught doing something wrong. Finally, his eyes land on you, really land on you. Like he’s just now realizing you’re there.

“W-why?” He rasps. Voice as rough as dried gravel.

“Why?” you echo, taken aback.

“I couldn’t leave you out there. You’d have died,” you say simply. It comes out matter-of-fact, though your hands are still clenched at your sides. The lack of empathy was rampant in this world, still, his confusion surprised you.

He doesn’t respond, just presses his cracked lips into a hard line, gaze dragging slowly over you. Not like a man taking you in, but like someone still deciding if you’re real.

“That aside,” you say, voice steadier now, “I made you dinner. To get your strength back and all.”

You push the bowl toward him. He doesn’t take it. He just stares.

“You’re not scared of me,” he says, more a statement than a question.

You hesitate.

“Should I be?”

“I don’t know…” he breathes, eyes unfocused, as if the answer could be hiding somewhere inside him.

You open your mouth to respond, but the words die on your tongue.

“Mama! Did he wake up yet?”

The elated squeal cuts through the air like a crack of thunder. The man’s eyes go wide; his head snaps toward the kitchen with almost inhuman speed. Your son bursts into the room, eyes alight when he spots the man. He bounds across the floor and wraps himself around your thigh, peeking out with a sudden shyness that warms your chest.

“Yes, love,” you hum, smoothing a hand over his hair, “but he’s still quite tired.”

The man blanches. His already pale skin turns ashen.

“Y-you have a child?” he asks, voice tight.

You frown at the question, but your son answers before you can.

“Yes! And I’m five!” he beams, holding up five fingers and waving them proudly at the man.

The man nods stiffly, his gaze flickering between you and the boy. Instinctively, you curl a protective arm around your son. The man notices. His jaw flexes, and then, slowly, he gives you a subtle nod.

“It’s twister weather out there,” you say evenly, your eyes watching his every twitch. “You can leave once the storm dies down.”

Another nod. Then finally, he looks down at the cooling bowl in his lap.

“Thank you for this, ma’am,” he murmurs.

His voice is gruff, unsteady, like he’s afraid one wrong move might shatter the fragile peace between you. His voice is gruff, unsteady—like one wrong move might shatter the fragile peace between you. You break your trance to usher your son upstairs.

“Go on and wash up. And don’t sit in the bath too long, there’s lightning,” you warn softly.

He giggles and bounds up the stairs, little feet thudding against the wood.

The moment he’s gone, it’s as if the light’s been sucked from the room entirely. Tension stretches thin between you. You shift your weight and finally speak.

“What’s your name?” Arms crossed, you lift a brow. Expecting something.

“Remmick, ma’am,” he drawls.

His voice rasps low, the syllables curling around your ears. You nod to yourself, tasting the name.

“Remmick,” you echo. You swear he stiffens just slightly at the sound of it in your mouth.

“Well, you can just keep callin’ me ma’am, since you’re so polite,” you tease, attempting to lift the heaviness with a touch of humor.

But he gives you nothing. Just stares. Blank, unreadable. You deflate a little. Maybe he’s not the humorous type.

“Is he yours?”

—“Who?” You tilt your head, eyes searching his face.

“The boy.”

As if he can’t quite understand the concept. A short airy laugh escapes you and you nod.

“Yes, he’s mine, through and through.” Amusement obvious in your response. A strange question from a strange man. It was almost as if children were foreign to him.

“And, his father…?” The question is softer now, less sure. Your gaze instantly hardens and your jaw clenches ever so slightly.

“Gone, good riddance.” You mutter quietly. Your son’s father was nothing more than some crime-obsessed lackey. Screwing over anyone and anything to get ahead. He was the reason you had to live so frugally, since it was just you providing now. Remmick watched a thousand emotions dance across your face as memories resurfaced.

“Shame, my apologies for that, honest.” His face is so open all of a sudden, raw sympathy practically painted on it. It’s jarring considering he’d been so unsure of himself moments ago.

“No need for that. We’re fine on our own,” you reply, voice firm. Not unkind, but clipped. You don’t accept pity. Not anymore. He nods briefly before leaning down to lift the shaking spoon to his lips. You take it upon yourself to head towards the kitchen.

“Place your bowl in the sink once you’re done, Remmick.” Your mouth cradles his name once again, and you don’t turn around to see his reaction.

You finish with the last dish as Remmick shuffles into the kitchen. His footfalls sound so strange against your floor. He sheepishly brings it to the counter beside you, unsure of where exactly to set it. Suds cover your arms, and you grab it from his shaking hands.

“You’ll sleep downstairs tonight, alright?” You eye him, and he only nods. You knew you wouldn’t be sleeping much anyway, not with an unknown man in the house. Once you finish up, as if on cue, your son sprints downstairs to greet you both.

Remmick practically jumps out of his skin at the sound, and you snort. Quite scared for such a built man, with that notion your eyes slide over to his defined chest. He look sturdy, hands rough with use, he was definitely capable.

“You feelin’ better sir?” The boy drawls, grin as wide as can be. Remmick nods down at him.

“Much, thanks to you mama…” His reply sends a brief liquid heat through your veins. You cough out a hoarse laugh.

“Was nothing…” You wave him off and reach around to undo your apron. The boy jumps forward, ever so eager.

“So, do you like rabbits? This is Mr. Carrots, and he is-“ You raise a hand, halting his excitement.

“Now, love, it’s well past your bedtime, you best be going upstairs now, I’ll come tuck you in.” You hum, voice now like honey. The boy nods and steps towards Remmick, his small arm reaching out to hand him his prized Mr. Carrots.

“Since you’re new in the house, you can sleep with Mr. Carrots tonight.” He smiles up at Remmick as if the man hung the stars. A pang shoots through you; the lack of a father really does leave a wound, perhaps a wound your son didn’t even understand yet. You shift, eyeing Remmick.

“Ah, well then, I’ll be sure to take good care of him.” He nods to the boy, those large hands gently gripping the stuffed rabbit.

“Goodnight, sir!” With that, he’s gone like the wind, off to his bedroom. An awkward laugh leaves you. Remmick still stares down at the soft toy in his hands. He cradles it as if it’s the most precious thing on Earth.

“He’s just very excited to see a new face.” You say softly, heart still aching. He nods in agreement and finally looks up to you. The rabbit stays in his grip like something holy. You wonder if anyone’s ever handed him anything so soft before.

“Well, I’m gonna go tuck him in, I’ll be back down to make the sofa comfortable for you.” It’s slightly awkward, so much unsaid. With that, you rush upstairs desperate for air. Air that is suffocating with unruffled tension.

By the time you enter his room, he’s fast asleep. Soft snores contrast with the rumbling thunder outside, and you smile. With a kiss on his tiny head, you softly shut the door and leave him to dream. Which leaves you with Remmick, and why does that make your chest hurt? Once you descend the stairs, you find him staring at one of the photos framed on the wall. You inhale, it’s a photo of your ex-husband and both of you, a family.

“You looked so happy.” He murmurs. You almost turn away it fight against it, some wounds never heal right.

“Yeah, he likes me to keep that photo up, waiting for the day his daddy shows back up.” The words feel bitter and heavy. Remmick finally turns back to you, the flicker of candle light dancing across his form.

“You’re a good woman.” It’s a statement, firm and unrelenting and it makes your breath hitch. Never had you ever heard that from another mouth.

“I-“ A crack of thunder interrupts you. He shifts closer, and suddenly you take notice that his various burns are nearly gone. You blink.

“Y-your skin-“

“Is the boy asleep?” His voice is tight, almost sharp. You nod dumbly, unable to voice everything flooding through your mind right now.

“When’s the last time you had someone care for you, the way you do for others?” Your mouth is instantly gravel dry. The change in his demeanor gives you yet another case of whiplash. He steps forward. You step back.

“I don’t need anyone to take care of me.” Your resolve is shaky, voice cracking where it shouldn’t.

“Yeah?” He taunts. Another step forward. He moves like a man, but something about it isn’t right. Too smooth. Too quiet. Like something remembering how to be human. An imitation of what once was.

“Remmick…” You don’t know why, but a whimper escapes your lips, a primal instinct overcoming you as he towers above. When did he get so close?

He hums at the sound of his name, eyes fluttering shut, as if savoring it. His breath is ragged. Loud. He leans in, and the wall behind you seals your escape. You’re trapped. Caged by his presence. Then he scents you. It’s vile, how your thighs clench. A betrayal. It’s almost as if he can smell the heat blooming there, knows what your body is doing without permission. A drop hits your cheek.

You freeze.

Slowly, you tilt your face upward. A thick string of drool dangles from the corner of his mouth. It glistens in the flickering light. You choke on a gasp. The whites of his eyes are nearly swallowed completely, and before you can truly peer into them, he’s on you.

His clawed hand twists in your hair, gripping your head back. A pained gasp leaves your lips, stretching your neck and exposing it. It's too much; it has you trembling. It's not human how he dips down, brushing his nose against the soft hollow of your skin. He heaves next to your ear, tingling bursts along your raised flesh.

"Remmick- please..." A plea for what, you aren't sure. Mercy. He chokes out a moan at the sound, completely hollow. Monstrous. You can't deny the fear that trembles from within you. There is so much more to this quiet man, so much bubbling beneath the surface, it's maddening.

"I-" A wet gargle rips from his throat, torn between monster and man. “I don’t just want to fuck you, I want to consume you. Mind, body, soul. I want your moans, your blood, your breath. All of it inside me.”

Heart thundering against your ribs, you say nothing. Rendered speechless. A clawed finger taps against the curve of your cheek, almost the beat of an unheard song. Your mind flashes to your son sleeping peacefully upstairs. You pray to God he doesn't wander downstairs.

“Say you’ll let me in,” he murmurs, voice shredded by desire. “Your cunt already has.”

You attempt to shake your head, anything to deny the burning truth slipping off his forked tongue. But he knew better; he could feel how you clenched around nothing, fluttering open for him.

“Perverse little thing.” He taunts, you flinch and try to twist away, but it only tightens. The tips of his claws make small punctures in your pressed cheeks.

Something must have possessed you, because before you realize you're nodding. Giving in to the sickness invading your mind, and Remmick couldn't be prouder.

❈────────•✦•────────❈

It all happened so fast, one moment you were standing, then suddenly you were locked into the meanest mating press of your life. Legs flailing uselessly over his bent arms, his hand pressed tightly against your mouth. Anything to silence the raw whines humming in your throat.

"Yes-" Remmick repeats it like a mantra, just barely audible over the squelch of your cunt. Calloused hands gripping your thighs like a vice, as if he couldn't get any deeper.

Oh, he was absolutely ruined, his jaw slack as he stared down at you half-lidded. You sweat, slick back sliding on the wood flooring with each powerful thrust.

"F-fuck-" He breathes shakily.

Push after push. You're nearly choking on your release, mouth still clasped behind his palm. But he never slowed, only faltered slightly with each clench. You wanted to scream, wanted to sob, it was too much. Your brain felt melted, as if it was going to leak out of your ears. He kept you quiet, though; only the sound of rolling thunder filled the house. You hadn't even realized he had moved you deeper into the house, further away from the upstairs.

Your walls flutter, the end creeping up through your toes. Something in him twitches, he gasps- he whines. Desperation was hot on his lolling tongue. He drives into you, chasing that release. He's ravenous, starved for the feeling of touch. Without warning, you arch. Lifting off the floor and into his clothed chest. Ecstasy curling through every vein and you cunt floods, his jagged thrusts growing sloppy. His tip is digging at your cervix as you convulse.

"Tell me no." He spits out, his teeth looking sharper than before. Tears stream down your cheeks, covering his hand in salty wetness. You shake your head, still unable to make a sound. He grunts, squeezing his eyes shut.

“Hah—fuck, tell me no, p-please…” he whimpers, stuttering mid-thrust, his control crumbling as he teeters on the edge. You clench your thighs, nodding dumbly. A strike of lightning illuminates the house, and almost as if on cue, he bursts within you. Warmth floods throughout your lower stomach; it's intoxicating. It's rough as he attempts to mindlessly fuck you through it. A thick rope of drool slips past his lips, trailing toward yours. You part them instinctively, letting it coat your tongue, shameful and sacred all at once.

Something outside crashes and you assume the storm has finally come. It takes a miracle for you to keep your eyes open, your head lolling side to side against the floor in exhaustion. Heaviness settles into your bones. You feel him retract himself from you, before leaning down to nudge at your face. Why can’t you stay awake? It’s almost as if he’d sucked the life from you.

“I won’t ruin what you have…” he whispers.

You catch the words, faint and far away, but they slip through your fingers as your mind begins to unravel. A pause settles, and suddenly you feel cold. Empty. The air has snapped back into whatever familiarity you are used to. You succumb to the blackness clouding your mind.

❈────────•✦•────────❈

Dawn is peeking past the nailed up blankets when you wake up, you shoot up like a bullet, still naked as the day you were born. You’re on the sofa, bare, sore, and hollow.

Memories wash over you and you jerk around looking for Remmick.

Remmick.

The house is still, just as it is every morning. Your soul tells you he’s gone. There’s no reason to search. It’s too much to early for your son to be awake, you pull yourself from the sofa to get properly dressed. Your limbs heavy as lead.

Why do you feel so sad?

It wasn’t like you knew that man, he was a stranger. At the same time, he made you feel so wanted it hurt. A small reprieve from the demand of your life, and it was addicting. It had been so long since a man had come and swept you up, bending you to his will.

He fucked like he loved you, and you knew to keep a small part of it tucked in your heart. You soak in the aching echo he left behind, letting it lull you as you slip on a loose nightdress. It flutters at your ankles, ghostly, like the emptiness humming in your chest.

As you step onto the porch, the boards creak beneath your bare feet, damp with the kiss of last night’s storm. The wind has softened, though it still carries the faint scent of scorched wood. Strange. A fire after a storm like this? You shake it off and turn to head back inside, but something catches your eye. Resting on one of the chairs, tucked neatly against the corner, Is Mr. Carrots. The stuffed rabbit your son had given him, the toy he had held like it was something holy. Dry and untouched by rain. You frown and pick it up with apprehension, why did he leave it outside? Your gaze turns towards the empty horizon, something tugging at your gut.

Was this a promise he’d be back? But before you a dwell on the thought, the soft pitter patter of small feet echo through the living room.

“Mama?” A sleepy voice calls out, you turn back and bring the soft toy inside.

“Good morning, my love.” You smile warmly, bringing your lips to the top of his head. The boy rubs his eyes, looking around.

“Where’d he go?” He asks, and you give a tight smile.

“He had to go back home, sweetie.” You say gently, his face falls and he huffs. It hurts you to see him disappointed, so you bend down and lift his chin with your finger.

“Hey, why don’t we go into town tomorrow, I’ll get you any candy you want.” Your words playful in an attempt to lighten his mood. He gasps, attention instantly diverted.

“Yes! Thank you, Mama!” He cheers. Standing back up, you clap your hands, almost as if to dispel the lingering heaviness.

“Now,” you say with a playful firmness, ruffling his hair, “let’s get started on breakfast.”

He squeals in delight, already dashing toward the kitchen, bare feet thumping against the floor. It’s almost as if everything is normal. But deep in your chest, something stirs, like a shadow refusing to be burned away by the sun. Even as you serve pancakes, finish cleaning up the yard, and tackle the laundry, your chest stirs. Unsettled by the longing in your chest, you feel dazed. As if some part of you had been touched from within, claimed and hollow, waiting for someone that may never return.

Night comes upon your house like a damp blanket. It drizzles from the sky wetting the Earth ad you hung laundry. To which you scowl at from the kitchen window. You’d just have to it again tomorrow morning. Dinner had already been served, porridge tonight. You turned on the radio, soft music fills the house, anything to overshadow the ringing silence. Your son had gone up to play in his room, deeming that Mr. Carrots felt lonely without his other toys. So that left you, sitting in a chair, looking lost in your own home.

A sudden knock jolts you upright.

Three slow, deliberate raps against the door.

You freeze. The music continues to hum softly behind you, but it sounds distant now — warped, like it’s underwater. You know, you know it’s him just from the heaviness of his knock. Your hands curl against the fabric of your dress, damp from dishwater and nerves alike. Slowly, you rise from your seat. Another knock — quicker this time, edged with impatience. You step towards the door, each step weighed with dread and yearning. He’s back. Just before your fingers grace the knob, you hear it. That voice. Low. Throaty. Possessive.

“…Open the door angel.”

It sends shock waves through your core, your hand still latched onto the knob, unmoving. The sound tears through you, a shockwave that leaves your breath shallow. Your hand stays frozen on the handle, trembling. He wasn’t entirely human, you knew that much. Yet, his voice calls to you like a siren.

Pressing the knob, you open the door abruptly. There he is. Tall. Brooding. Whole. Not a single mark on him. He looks…untouched by the world, untouched by the night he left you in pieces. You make no move from the door, no space for him to slip in.

He smiles down at you, head tilted, something sly dancing in his eyes. “I’m home,” he breathes, like a joke wrapped in velvet.

And just like that, the heat blooms behind your eyes. Anger flares sharp and electric across your face. You scowl, lips tight, every muscle screaming not to let him see how much you missed him. But you know better, how he can practically taste your emotions.

“Home?” You echo. Voice hollow and tense. “You think you can just run off, tear me open, and then waltz back here like some stray mutt scratchin’ at the door?”

That lands.

He falters.

The confidence in his stance stumbles, like he didn’t anticipate this part. You let out a bitter, humorless laugh. You’re not finished. Not even close.

“I took you in. I stitched you back together. And don’t even get me started on how you look perfectly healed now. Not a damn scar on you.”You’re breathless by the end, rage and heartbreak boiling too close to the surface. It shakes you.

He says nothing at first. Just stands there, the rain beginning to dot his shoulders, soaking into the collar of his shirt. He looks smaller somehow, not physically, but emotionally stripped. His mouth opens once, then closes again, like words have abandoned him.

“I didn’t want to…” He swallows. “Leave.” As if speaking pained him, his voice cracks on the end. Your hands shift to your hips, you watch him struggle for air.

“I didn’t know what I’d do if I stayed.” Low and hoarse. Your anger wobbles, his words striking a chord inside you. He laughs once, a dry, broken sound.

“But somehow I found myself back at your doorstep.” His gaze drags upward, meeting yours, and for a split second, something monstrous flashes behind his eyes, not rage, but desperation.

“And as selfish as it is, I want to come inside.” He breathes.

Everything he has, is laid before you. Your hand slips off the door knob, hands limp by your side. Your resolve had crumbled like paper within his grasp, his words tightening around like a vice. He takes a single step forward. The rain has slicked his hair to his forehead, but he pays it no mind. The tips of his boots toe the threshold of the door.

“I’m not good.” He says, voice wet. “You know that, you’ve seen it.” He leans forward, pressing closer.

“You’ve undone me, wakened something inside me that’s been quiet for life times.” His lip trembles, then stills. “Let me come in. I won’t ask for forgiveness. I just… I want to belong somewhere again. Even if it’s only for tonight.”

What more could you say? His words tasted like honey on your tongue, you were both parched for something. Desperate for partnership, connection, and touch. Opening the door felt right, his heavy boots echoing in the warmth of your home. It all felt right. You didn’t know what he was, you didn’t ask. He was gentle with you, easy in the presence of your son.

Never pushing too much. He would vanish here and there, and the first time had been for three days. Once he dragged himself back home, you sobbed angrily, hitting your fists into his solid chest. Slowly but surely it became a thing of habit, he’d leave, return with gifts, and a few splatters of blood on his clothes.

Tonight was one of those nights, he had left before the sun peeked over the horizon. However, it was late into the darkness now, the bed felt emptier. He should’ve been home by now. Tossing and turning, you couldn’t relax. Outside, the rain tapers to a soft drizzle and you can’t take it anymore. You throw your legs over the side of the bed and quietly creep past your son’s bedroom. Making sure to avoid the stairs that creak the loudest.

Padding through the house, you find him sitting at the kitchen table. Shirtless. Elbows braced against his knees. Blood stains the tips of his fingers, and his eyes are distant, glowing faintly in the dim light. Another thing you don’t ask about. He doesn’t look up as he speaks. Empty and hushed.

“I tried not to be what I am tonight.” A shaky breath. “But something out there was hunting. Something worse than me. And I had to meet it.”He finally glances at you, a smear of red along his jaw.

“It won’t come near this house again.”

You believe him. Silently grabbing a wash rag and cleaning him up, no questions asked.

This, whatever this was, protected you. Cared unconditionally for both you and your son, there’s nothing more you could ask for.

-

Fic playlist:

[elixirfromthestars]

Kiss It All Better

Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader (established relationship)

Summary: Your boyfriend Peter hasn't contacted you in days, but one stormy night in a dark alley would change that.

Word Count: 1.9k

Warning(s): none really / fluff / sprinkles of angst / if you squint you could maybe see some hurt + comfort

requested by anonymous

a/n: Another bingo request down!! I promise I am doing my best to get through these. As always I appreciate everyone's patience and support!! ❤️ Thank you for reading!! Feedback is always appreciated!! ❤️❤️

birthday bingo masterlist ♡ // main masterlist ♡

A flash of white light illuminates the narrow alleyway you are walking through. A loud rumble follows, practically shaking the concrete beneath your feet. The storm would start any second now and you would most likely get caught in it if you didn’t make it home soon. Your pace quickens as you begin to make haste. 

Getting caught in the rain would only worsen your mood. 

Your footsteps echo and bounce off the alley walls. The wet concrete smell mingles with something sour making your nose scrunch up. You hold the strap of your bag tight against your chest, a small comfort in the night. The dark clouds in the sky hide the moon from your view, causing only a few street lights to vaguely cascade their glow onto your path. The shadows cling to the brick walls around you making your surroundings more ominous than they really were. 

This was a bad idea. You know this—anyone would know this—it was common sense. You shouldn’t be walking down a New York alleyway alone at midnight. However, you had little to no choice with no cabs in sight and no rideshare vehicles available. You’d have to make the journey on foot if you wanted to make it home before the storm worsened. 

Your apartment was only a few blocks away from your job, and you already had an established route you took back and forth. It was a longer route—more scenic—and on nicer days you enjoyed strolling along it accompanied by your favorite tunes. However, on nights like this when the sky decides to descend a tempest upon the earth—you prefer to take a risk with this shortcut.

A few droplets falling on your head turn into streaks and then a pour—catching you off guard. You didn’t think the ferocity of the water would pick up so quickly. You hurried over to take refuge underneath the slight coverage of the fire escapes lining the brick wall to your right. The cold metal frame above did little to shield you as droplets fell from it onto your head. Nevertheless, this would have to do until you could determine your next move. 

You could run the rest of the way home and hope you didn’t slip in the rain—or you could give the rain a few minutes to die down and then run—the idea of waiting brought an uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach. You dreaded having to be out here longer than you needed to be. 

Would it really be safer to run though?

As much as you didn’t want to wait you decided it would be better than falling face-first into a grimy puddle. You shifted on your feet, the soles of your shoes squeaking against the pavement, your body shivering as the water soaked through your thin jacket. Each second seemingly stretches out endlessly as you watch the rain crash and splatter against the ground. 

You took out your phone to check the weather app. Your hand resting perpendicular to your forehead as a makeshift shield to protect your phone from the rain. Droplets still fell on your phone anyway and with the way the water clung to your hair and eyelashes—your vision was more than obstructed. 

So much so that you didn’t notice when a shadow loomed over you. 

“Hey beautiful,” a voice directly next to your left spoke, startling you. A gasp left your lips as fast as your heart sped up. You jump back from the source of the voice, creating as much distance as you can without slipping into the full force of the storm. You turn to see who it belongs to, your phone tightly gripped in your hand. 

When your eyes met the white ones on the red mask, your body immediately relaxed from its frozen state. A breath of relief escaping you that sounded more like a choked laugh. 

“Baby, I swear I didn’t mean to scare you!” Peter sounded apologetic while laughing all the same at your reaction. He was hanging upside down by a thick string of web when he lowered down to be at eye level with you. Small streams of water cascade down his superhero suit, pooling at your feet. 

You scoff still a little shaken, “You thought sneaking up on me wasn’t going to scare me?” You put your phone back in the pocket of your jacket, hand on your hip as you try to follow your boyfriend’s logic.

You can’t see Peter’s face, but you know him well enough to know the awkward boyish grin he must be dawning under that mask. “Well…I didn’t think it would scare you that much…” his tone was sheepish and yet just as you assumed, you could see the outline of his smile through the mask.

You look at him shaking your head, playfully rolling your eyes. Whatever annoyance you felt melted away at his presence. Your heart now beating at its normal rhythm. However, his presence also reminded you of his absence this week. Peter hadn’t contacted you in days, and while you were doing your best to be understanding, it still hurt. 

“Nice of you to drop by. Haven’t spoken to you in like,” you count the days on your hand to emphasize the number,“five days. Seems you forgot all about me,” you cross your arms, a resentful look overtaking your features.  

Peter scratches the back of his neck, stumbling over his words. He almost loses balance, his left hand quickly returning to where it was before, holding onto the web with both hands. You frown, unsure as to why he needs both hands to keep steady. Worry overcomes you when the thought of him being in a fight before he caught you here crosses your mind. 

“About that. . . I’m really sorry, Y/n. I promise I didn’t mean to disappear like that without warning. The city’s been hectic all week! Criminals are popping up left and right and I’ve been tracking down this mobster ring—it’s been too much to handle. I couldn’t keep up. And I–” he stops himself to get a good look at you, “I’ve missed you so much,” Peter finishes off his remorseful rambling with a sincere statement. 

He has missed you. More than you’ll ever know. He’s barely eaten, slept, or cared for himself. Neglecting his own needs to make sure the city was safe. Because to him as long as the city was safe so were you—and that meant the world to him. Yet, in keeping his attention on the city he lost sight of where he wanted to be the most—with you. 

The sentiment was mutual. While the city needed Spiderman, you needed Peter. 

Even though he does his best to hide it, you pick up the tiredness in his voice. The way even upside down you can see how his shoulders sag, his overall posture droopy. You notice the way he slowly sways where he hangs, not making much effort to stay in place. You assume he’s done little to take care of himself these past few days. That combined with potentially getting into some sort of tussle moments before arriving—it’s no wonder he struggled earlier to keep his balance with one arm. 

Your gaze softens, stepping closer to him, the rain long forgotten. “ I get it, Peter. I do. I’ve missed you too. You know I’ll never hold being Spiderman against you, but you need to talk to me. Keep me in the loop. Let me know you're okay. I was upset you hadn’t contacted me, but more than anything I was worried. I was afraid something had happened to you,” you say your voice laced with concern. In his absence, you constantly checked news channels to make sure no one had reported Spiderman getting severely injured or worse. 

You avoided all week thinking about the worst-case scenarios.  

“Y/n, I’m so sorry. I promise never to do it again. I know I have to get better at communicating. I just don’t like worrying you. All week I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I was on my way to your place when I saw you here in the rain. You really shouldn’t be walking alone at this hour,” Peter’s tone goes from repentant to firm by the end. Hating the thought of you putting yourself in a risky situation. 

You gave him a look as if to say now is not the time to be scolding me. He sighs, reluctantly conceding in hopes of bringing this conversation up at a later time. Right now he wants to do anything to make it up to you. Anything that could sweeten up his apology. 

“I know I messed up, but I think I know something that could make this all better,” he says an idea popping into his head. 

“What?”

“How about a kiss?”

You laugh softly at his suggestion, not being able to stay mad at him for long.“I think that could help. Although, I’ve never kissed someone while they were upside down before,” you mention with amusement. Tilting your head to look at him sideways. You wonder how he’s able to stay like that for so long without getting dizzy.

“Well now’s your chance, baby. I’ll need a little help with the mask though,” he says as you close the distance between you. You happily oblige his request, lowering the mask off of his face. A fond smile appears on your face when your eyes meet his brown ones. The warmth and color inviting you in like a hot cup of coffee—a solace you sought in the cold rain. They pull you in until your lips meet his, your hands holding his face gently.

You both melt into the kiss. Rain droplets joining in, but neither of you mind. In this moment it's solely you two and the feelings for one another catching up after days of longing. How either of you could have gone so long without this—without each other—neither of you knew. 

Maybe five days isn’t long for others, but because Peter risks his life on a daily basis, every moment spent with him means the world to you. 

You pull away to catch your breath, “I think that definitely helped,” you say softly. Peter beams at you, swinging his body so that in a swift motion he’s gone from his upside-down position to upright—standing before you. He reaches out and pulls you into a tight embrace. Holding you close and planting a tender kiss on your forehead. 

“I’m so sorry, Y/n. I love you so much. I promise to fully make it up to you,” he says in a loving tone. You shake your head lightly, “Peter, having you here is enough. You really don’t have to–” he doesn’t let you finish. “Maybe I don’t have to, but I want to. Let’s get you home and into some dry clothes. I’m staying with you tonight. I want to hold you all night and in the morning I’ll make you breakfast in bed,” he proposes in soft whispers as his forehead rests against yours. 

“You know I can’t say no to that.”

“Good. I wasn’t going to take no for an answer anyway.” 

Your laughter mixes with his own at his playful tone. He holds you more securely against him as he prepares to take you both back to your apartment. You weren’t keen on swinging across the sky like he was—especially in this weather—but knowing you would soon be cuddled under warm covers with him would make it all worth it. 

You would weather any storm for him, as he would for you—always.

[rongloa]

GALAXIES OF MY HEART — mark grayson x tamarenean!reader

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲. he would spend his days dreaming about you, that space girl that crash landed into his city, and his life. maybe being part alien wasn’t all that bad.

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠(𝐬). mark grayson x fem tamarenean! reader

𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭. tooth-rotting fluff, two dummies with bad social skills, personal space is invaded multiple times, there is a sock and a tissue 🤨, no beta we die like r*x, readers hair is described as long (please tell me if it’s not inclusive) , and she hates shoes with a passion

𝐚/𝐧. i couldn’t hold back the rage of not writing lovey-doves scenes, i hate that i chose slowburn. god cursed me with myself with my own mind, and i don’t hate him for it. CUTE FLYING TOO BTW <3

i came back to this right after i finished writing and i cock-blocked myself 😭

You drift through the open window like mist, barely making a sound as your feet catch on the windowsill—then don’t. You don’t need them to.

His room smells like clean laundry and something warm—like dust and boy and old comic books.

It’s quiet.

You like it when it’s quiet.

The sunset glow outside paints the walls in peach and soft gold, casting long shadows over a floor scattered with laundry and books and one very suspicious-looking tissue you do not investigate further.

You hover just a few inches off the floor. It isn’t on purpose—it rarely is. The way gravity pulls here still feels… light. Like it’s not quite trying hard enough to hold you down. It lets you drift, lets your toes brush the soft carpet as your eyes wander around Mark’s room.

Your fingers brush lightly over the spines of books on his shelf. Mostly comics and a few school textbooks that look barely used. There’s a notebook with torn pages tucked beneath a cracked DVD case labeled “Seance Dog IV: Beyond the Grave.”

“Seance… Dog,” you whisper softly, tasting the syllables like something you haven’t tried yet. Your brow furrows. “What noble title.”

You float higher and turn slowly mid-air, your eyes catching on the wall above his desk.

There he is—drawn and smiling. Seance Dog, a cartoon hound cloaked in dramatic shadows and a heroic red cloak, staring dramatically into some ghostly storm. There are three posters, each more intense than the last. You float closer to one of them and tilt your head.

“He’s growling at… the sky?”

You nod once. Approving. “He understands.”

You rotate in the air, legs tucked lazily beneath you, curls trailing after you in the evening light. You do a slow roll upside down, studying the collection of strange Earth knickknacks scattered on Mark’s desk. There’s a half-eaten candy bar, something sticky on a coaster, and a photo in the corner—crumpled slightly but kept.

You float down to look at it, leaning in like looking at a secret.

It’s blurry and bright. You recognize yourself. The colour of your eyes and the ‘o’ shape of your mouth. You’re staring down the lense, your hair a mess of loops, eyes wide and curious as the flash goes off and blinds you. You remember that, his phone. You were curious about how it captured the moments so easily, with the tap of a finger.

Mark’s handwriting is scrawled at the bottom and it takes you a moment to read it with how bad the letters are smudged:

‘Goof’.

Your fingers brush the edge of the paper. Your chest feels a little strange. Warmer. Placing it down gently, you tug at your lip.

Little beady eyes catch your own again, there’s a plush of the beagle slumped sideways on his desk, one ear bent and worn at the seams. You coo and pick it up, tucked gently into your arms like a baby. How adorable.

You glance around again, with your newly acquired friend.

His bed is unmade. His lamp is crooked and facing his bed instead of his desk. His socks are not where socks are meant to be. And you love it. All of it.

Because this—this is who he is when no one’s looking. Slightly messy but that’s not of importance.

Messy, human, soft. So grounded.

You curl mid-air into a slow, lazy spin above his bed, letting your body relax as you float in aimless circles, cradling the little beagle teddy to your chest, curls trailing along behind you like ribbons. Some dipping low enough to drag against the sheets of his bed.

You think of how often he tugs at the collar of his shirt when he’s nervous. How he frowns when he doesn’t understand something you say but still tries to, like it’s his fault. How he always offers you the last bite of food as if it’s some sacred tradition.

You don’t understand all of it yet.

But you’re learning.

And you think—if this is what being human means, you’d like to keep learning.

From him.

The floor creaks from downstairs and you hear his voice, laughing with his mother.

You smile and float just a little higher, pressing your fingers to your lips in a quiet, secret smile.

And then you keep spinning, weightless above it all.

─────────────────────────

Mark dragged a hand down his face as he climbed the last few steps, still chewing the last bite of lasagna.

Dinner had been nice. Chill. His mom didn’t bring up his black eye, which was kind of her version of a warm hug these days. And now all he wanted was to crash on his bed, maybe finish that Seance Dog comic he bought this morning before dragging himself into more school work and superhero chaos tomorrow.

He reached for the doorknob of his bedroom and sighed. A long, satisfied sigh.

Then he opened the door.

And blinked.

Then blinked again.

Because there, hovering midair, legs crossed and curls swaying lightly with each slow, graceful rotation—was you.

Floating like it was the most natural thing in the universe.

You had one hand tucked beneath your chin, the other gently wrapped around the well-worn body of his Seance Dog plushie. The plushie he’d had since he was ten. The one with the missing eye and the chewed ear that was definitely not younger him.

Mark froze.

Your eyes sparkled as they met his, wide and full of stars. “This is the Seance Dog,” You said brightly, hugging it a little closer like it was a rare artifact. “He’s soft. And wise.”

Mark panicked.

“Ohmygodyou’reinmyroom.”

He said it like one breathless word and immediately tripped over his own feet trying to shut the door behind him. His heart launched itself somewhere into his throat.

You tilted your head so innocently he felt bad that he walked into his room. “I was curious.”

“You—you broke in—!”

“I floated in,” You corrected, as if that made it better.

He looked around, mortified.

Clothes on the floor. Seance Dog posters everywhere. A truly cursed sock peeking from beneath the bed. The moisturiser on his desk. The crushed energy drink can by the bed that he swore he threw away yesterday.

Kill him. Now.

No—throw him into space. Put him in the definitely real GDA prison. Anything but this.

“You could’ve—I don’t know—knocked? Or called? Or—anything but this?”

You just kept floating, hugging the plushie tighter, eyes tracking around the room in loops as you took in more. And oh god, his heart was hammering out of his chest.

“I enjoy seeing the… human pieces of you,” You smiled. “It’s like… like seeing your soul scattered around the room.”

Mark didn’t know what to say to that.

So, of course, his brain decided the right response was: “You’re hugging my childhood plushie. He’s—he’s been through a lot.”

You looked down at it with reverence.

“He is brave,” You whispered. “I can tell.”

Mark groaned and covered his face with his hands, fingers twitching as he resisted the urge to pull all those raven strands right out of his own scalp.

And yet, when he peeked between his fingers… you were still there. Floating in his orbit. Looking like you belonged in the sky and somehow—somehow—in this very room, holding his weird, stitched-up childhood toy like it was something precious. It was to him, and now you apparently.

He exhaled, defeated. “I need, like… ten seconds to recover from this. Maybe twelve.”

You blinked slowly. “Is that a human unit of emotional recovery?”

“Sure. Yeah.” He was gonna need some recovery time, whether from the shame building in his throat or the thundering of his heart against his ribcage.

She twirls again, and smiles so brightly it makes a weak smile pull at his own lips. Yeah.

─────────────────────────

You point at it, brow furrowed.

“This… is a canine who communes with the dead?”

Mark snorts from where he’s lying sideways across his bed, one foot on the floor, the other bent at the knee. He props his head on his hand.

“Yeah. He talks to ghosts. And solves crimes. But mostly? He’s just really good at guilt-tripping people.”

You blink. “That’s… a very odd thing.”

You hear the way your words come out—still not always right. The phrasing, the syntax. But Mark doesn’t correct you. He just smiles.

“Yeah. He kind of is.”

You don’t mean to move closer, but you do. Like a magnet being tugged. You end up midair above his bed, and Mark watches as you slowly descend until your knees sink into the mattress, making him lean your way a little.

“Sorry,” you whisper, then grin.

He rolls his eyes but he’s laughing.

You reach for the Seance Dog plush he keeps by the pillow and hug it gently, turning it over in your hands like it’s made of starlight. “You… are very human.”

Mark raises an eyebrow. “Thanks?”

You shake your head. “No. I mean it. You eat snacks until you are sick. You watch glowing boxes of moving stories. You speak kindly when you are afraid. And your room smells like… soap and boy.”

He laughs, full and unguarded. The sound makes something warm shift in your chest. You think you might like this planet after all.

Then, without thinking, you hug him.

You mean for it to be gentle. But you forget. Forget how strong you are, how fragile he can be. Your arms wrap tight around his chest and his arms and he lets out a strangled noise against your bare shoulder.

“Sorry—sorry!” you gasp, pulling back a little, hovering instinctively off the bed again, fretting over him like you haven’t seen him destroy things a normal person couldn’t.

Mark wheezes but chuckles, patting your arm. “No, it’s okay. Just… maybe 30% less bone-crushing next time?”

You nod, sheepish. “Thirty percent. Yes. I will crush you less.”

He smiles at that, leaning back against the pillows. You float down beside him again, this time careful not to jostle him sideways.

─────────────────────────

You like it up here.

Quiet, still, sun-warmed roofing under your legs and soft wind tangling through your hair. No one looks for anybody on the rooftop. Except Mark.

He finds you anyway. Only he ever can.

You hear the door creak open behind you. Feel his presence before he says anything. The small shift of air, the sound of sneakers on gravel. Then his voice—low, a little breathless.

“I had to search the house top to bottom.”

Maybe not always.

You snort, an ugly thing that comes out of your mouth before you can stop it. “You’re not very smart sometimes.”

“Yeah alright, you’re feeling mean today.”

You don’t answer right away. Just pat the spot beside you. He takes it, dropping down so close your knees brush. It doesn’t bother you but it does to him, he shuffles over just a little. You press your knee back to his, he doesn’t move this time.

Mark was the one teaching you all these things, how to act human. How to speak in appropriate sentences. Personal space was new, and you didn’t like that rule. It was hard sitting far away, made you itch to break that rule. He’s wearing one of those blue sweaters and a pair of jeans. He’s looking out upon the sunset.

Your eyes lift to the sky again, painted in melting orange and blush pink. Earth skies are soft like that—always changing, always gentle.

“I like the way your planet ends the day,” you say.

Mark glances over at you, squinting against the sun. “Yeah?”

You nod slowly. “Tamaran didn’t have this. We had twin suns. There was no sunset, only… shift. Heat to cold. One fire slipping behind the other.”

“Sounds kinda intense.”

You smile. “Everything was intense.”

Mark chuckles softly, picking at a frayed thread on his sleeve. You watch the way his lashes catch the last light. How his mouth moves when he’s not thinking about it. You wonder if he knows that your heart stumbles every time he grins in your direction.

You wonder if it shows.

“Do you ever miss it?” he asks, quieter now.

Your smile fades a little. “Every day.”

He doesn’t fill the silence. He lets it sit there, as if giving your grief room to breathe. To churn over in your heart and fold itself back into a small box.

You tilt your head, watching his profile. His jawline, the soft brown of his eyes. The way he bites his bottom lip when he’s unsure of himself.

“Mark,” you murmur. “You have starlight in your mouth.”

He turns to you, startled. “Wait—what?”

You blink, then laugh. “It’s a saying from Tamaran. When someone speaks kindly. Honestly. It means you’re full of light.”

Mark goes a bit pink. Rubs the back of his neck like he doesn’t know what to do with the compliment, looking at everything but you.

You lie back, soaking the last of the warmth from the rooftop as you stare up into the deepening sky.

“I think I’m starting to understand gravity,” you say.

Mark lies beside you, his arms behind his head. “You mean, like, Earth gravity?”

“No,” you whisper. “Yours.”

He turns to you, your pulse jumps as those eyes land on you.

The ones you’d choose to stare into for the rest of your long life.

You’re still laying back, hair haloed around your head like some celestial thing. You can’t tell if your pulse is fast because you’re so close to him or because of the way he looks back at you from over his broad shoulder.

“I’d orbit you,” you admit, voice barely a breath.

He smiles. That same shy, tilted smile. “I’d try not to crash.”

And in the space between both of your words your hands find his. Fingers brushing. Not quite holding. Not yet.

You want too, but he was serious about personal space. You didn’t want him to be uncomfortable, never. But the pull is there.

Like gravity. Like stars aligning. Like maybe, just maybe, the universe is a little kinder than you remember.

“Come.” It’s stupid to say, stupid to suggest it but it tumbles from your mouth all the same.

“Wha—“ He can’t finish before you’re hoisting him up by the hand that just brushed yours.

“Let’s fly.”

A silly expression crosses his face and you shake your head, he is so serious and you don’t think he means to be.

“But someone might see.”

“But they might not.” His shoes scrape across the roof as you pull. He doesn’t even try to fight, he has the strength too but he allows you too. Whether out of curiosity or trust, you’re not quite sure. You glance back at him, raising an eyebrow in a teasing manner, a test.

You can’t stop smiling.

The wind dances past your skin like it knows you. Cool, fresh, teasing. The city below melts into twinkling dots of light, and the clouds are painted lavender and hues of pink as the stars peek through. You can feel Mark’s eyes on you again as you twirl midair—arms stretched, legs pointed, spinning just fast enough to make strands of hair stick to your face.

“You’re showing off,” he calls with a grin, somewhere a few feet behind you.

You twist lazily, facing the stars as you move backwards until you’re upside down beneath him, head tilted as you look at him.

“I’m living, Mark.”

He laughs, startled by how effortlessly you say it. He’s moving at a slower pace than you had been, arms loose beside him, watching you move like you were born in the sky.

To you, flying isn’t this power. It’s instinct. Like breathing. And when you do it—really do it—Mark thinks you don’t just fly. You float. Drift. You dance.

Picking up pace you twirl again, this time faster, until your laughter spills out into the open air. Mark has never heard anything like it—joy without restraint, laughter without purpose. You’re not trying to be heroic. You’re not rescuing anyone. You’re just here. Just flying.

You call to him, coming to a stop just above the tallest building in the city.

“Come! You don’t always have to look so serious.”

“I don’t look serious.”

“You do! Like your face is trying to solve a very hard puzzle.”

He chuckles and finally follows. Hovering above the sharp antenna of the news station with you as you give him the most deviously toothy smile. You’re grabbing his hand and yanking him toward the stars, both of you soaring higher, wind pulling at your clothes, your hair, your laughter ringing in his ears like a wind chime.

Mark’s breath catches a little. Not from the altitude. From you.

You glance at him sideways. “I’ve flown with many. But never with someone who looks at me like I might disappear.”

He swallows, the type that makes his adam’s apple bob and he can feel it. He doesn’t meet your eyes right away.

“I don’t mean to.”

“I do not mind,” you say gently. “It makes me feel real.”

You slow until you’re both just hovering there, high above it all. Lights glitter below. Worlds glimmer in the far-off distance, their stars sending codes in Morse. Like they want you to decode their secrets, their love for their planets. And the two of you are suspended in silence.

Mark looks at you—really looks. The moonlight kisses your cheekbones. Your eyes glow faintly with the soft mould of someone made to belong in the sky. He doesn’t say a word, but it’s there in the curve of his mouth, the way his heartbeat kicks a little faster when your thumb brushes over the back of him hand again. In the way you look up at him through wet lashes. You weren’t crying, it’s from the clouds that mist you both as they surround you both. It makes your skin dewy and your hair bouncy.

‘I think I like her,’ he realizes. ‘God, I think I’m starting to really like her.’

He can’t bring himself to say that though.

“You make flying look like some kind of… magic.”

You tilt your head. Smile. That smile that looks like it hurts your cheeks. Your nose scrunching up and your eyebrows making that cute dip.

“That is because, to me, it is.” You bring both his hands up between you, brushing a kiss against his knuckles. Holding those eyes of his captive and making his heart batter at his ribcage like one of the villains you both fight.

You drift to the side, spinning him slowly before letting his hands fall from yours. Floating above him like a star, hair glowing just like one.

And this time, when he flies after you, it isn’t because someone’s in danger.

It’s just because you’re up there—and he wants to be wherever you are.

[brattyvox]

★ GALLY’S GIRL — MxF.

NAVIGATION — MASTERLIST // Inbox to be on Taglist!

Thomas has just arrived at the Glade, and only days after his arrival, a girl is introduced, and the first person who catches her eye is Gally.

GENRE ★ Fluff if you squint?

PAIRING ★ Fem reader x Gally

WARNINGS ★ Reader is implied to be injured, nothing serious though, Gally’s a bit of an asshole, reader kind of replaces Teresa? Idk, you’re Teresa in this case, reader is of age.

Word Count — 2.94k

My first ever fic on tumblr, lol.. i hope u guys like it :))

In the early dawn, the glade was alive with the hum of activity. Thomas, still new to the group, was already finding his place among the other boys. They moved together, each knowing their role in the daily routine that kept this place thriving. The scent of cooking fires mingled with the dew-laden grass as the sun began to peek over the towering walls that surrounded them.

The sky above was a canvas of pinks and oranges, the light dancing off the leaves of the trees that grew in an orderly fashion around the clearing. It was as if nature itself had laid out a path for them to follow, a silent guide in this otherwise mysterious world. The air was cool and fresh, hinting at the secrets the day would soon reveal.

Gally took a deep breath, feeling the tension that lingered just beneath the surface of everything. Everyone else seemed to ignore it, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen. He watched as the runners returned from their early morning laps, sweat shining on their skin, muscles flexing as they moved.

Suddenly, a low rumbling cut through the serenity of the glade. The boys paused in their tasks, heads tilting upwards as they listened. The sound grew louder, a grating intrusion in their peaceful world. It was the box, rising from the depths of the maze much sooner than expected. A flicker of unease passed over their faces. The box was here way too early.

"What is that?" Thomas asked. Newt being the only other person near him at the time dropped his tools and put his hand on his forehead.

"The box is coming back up but — it's way too early for them to be sending anyone…" He mumbled the last part. "But it can't be resources either… I think it's a person."

"What?" Thomas scoffed, walking over to where the song was coming from along with Newt and the rest of the glade. "Why would they send anyone if it's too early?"

“You’re asking me as if I know.” Newt folds his arms.

“Well, you’ve been here than me I would’ve thought-” Thomas paused when the sound grew louder, his voice was with a mix of curiosity and fear. The rumbling grew closer, the earth beneath their feet vibrating gently with each mechanical jolt.

The group gathered around the hole in the ground where the box normally emerged, their eyes fixed on the distant corner where the box would soon appear. The walls themselves seemed to be holding their breath in anticipation. The grinding noise grew louder, the metal beast rising from the earth with a shudder that sent a chill down Thomas's spine. The box emerged from the shadows.

Inside was…you? A girl?

Your eyes fluttered open, and you gasped for breath, the smells of metal and dust filling your nose as you took in the faces of the stunned group of boys. Your clothes were tattered, and your skin was riddled with dirt, but the look of shock on their faces wasn't for your appearance. It was because you were a girl, and you were sent way too early something they hadn't seen in a very, very long time.

The box shuddered to a halt. The door creaked open, revealing the cramped space you had been confined in. You backed into the corner, legs wobbly and unsteady from the journey. The group of boys parted, creating a pathway for Gally to walk through. Before he reached the box, Thomas stepped forward, hand outstretched to help you, but you shied away, eyes wide with fear and confusion.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he says, voice quiet to not alarm you. “None of us will.”

Thomas stared, feeling as if he recognized you but…it wasn't clicking. You were so out of place here, a stark contrast to the world of boys he'd known since he woke up in the glade with no memory. His mind raced, trying to piece together why you were here, what this meant. The glade had always been a place of order, of understanding their roles and sticking to the rules. Now, everything was off.

The other boys whispered among themselves, a mix of awe and suspicion. Gally's eyes narrowed, a scowl etching itself onto his features. He was the first to break the silence, his voice harsh and accusatory. "What is she doing here?"

“Do you really have to act like that right now? She’s clearly scared.” Thomas grumbled, very fed up with Gally at this point.

Alby, the leader of the glade, pushed through the crowd, his eyes never leaving yours. "Looks like she's been through a lot. Get her to the med hut.” His tone was gentle but firm, a stark contrast to Gally's aggression.

As Thomas helped you out of the box and to the medical hut with Gally, Alby, and Newt following close behind, your hand trembled in his, and he couldn't help but wonder what horrors you had faced. The glade was a harsh place, but it was their home, and the arrival of an outsider, especially a girl, was unprecedented. The whispers grew louder, questions and theories flying around like leaves in a storm. The glade's rhythm was disrupted, and the unease grew stronger with each step you took away from the box.

Once inside the medical hut, the other boys hovered around, eager to help, but you remained guarded. The healer, a gentle-hearted boy named Clint, began to examine you. His eyes searched yours, looking for signs of recognition or understanding. But you were a blank slate, a girl with no name and no memory of how you got here, like the rest. The stitches on your forehead, a stark reminder of your journey, stood out against your skin.

Gally's shadow loomed outside the hut, his suspicion thick enough to be felt through the walls. His arms were crossed tightly over his chest, and his jaw was set. "Why the hell did they send a girl," he spat. "What is this, some sort of prank? Ever since you got here, stuff started to go wrong. And now a girl is here."

Thomas felt his temper rising. He had seen enough fear in those first moments when he arrived to understand how you must feel. "It doesn’t matter how or where she came from, we can't just leave her to fend for herself," he countered, his voice firm but not confrontational. "We need to help her, find out who she is."

Newt, who had been quietly observing from the side, spoke up. "It's never been like this before, man. Girls aren't sent here." His eyes searched yours, filled with a curiosity that matched Thomas's.

Alby sighs and takes a seat next to you. "Do you know your name or where…where you came from?"

You looked around the small, makeshift medical area. "I-I don't know," you stammered, your voice cracking. "I don't remember anything."

The room fell silent, the weight of your words pressing down on them like a heavy blanket. The boys shared looks, a mix of concern and confusion. Alby's eyes softened. "We'll figure it out," he assured you, placing a comforting hand on your shoulder. "You're safe here."

"Thomas, Gally, watch her. I'm going to try and find something to get the dirt off of her. Make sure none of the other boys get to her. God knows what the hell they'll do. Newt, cmon." Alby sighs before walking out, Newt stopping next to Thomas.

“And make sure Gally doesn’t choke her out.” He whispers before finally leaving.

Thomas nods solemnly, his eyes never leaving yours. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you're okay." His voice is gentle, the first hint of kindness you've heard since you woke up in this strange place. You nod slightly, not trusting your voice to speak again. The other boys start to disperse, their whispers and stares still following you like a cloud of bees.

Once Alby is out of earshot, Gally turns to Thomas with a snarl. "I don't trust her," he says, his eyes flicking to you and then back to Thomas.

Thomas's grip tightens around the spear he's holding. "Gally, you're not — that's a stupid assumption to make, okay?"

"After you came here, shit started to spiral out of control and now we have a girl here? You think I'm stupid for assuming she could be a danger to us?!" Gally's voice raised slightly, your ears perking to his voice. His eyes landed on you, sighing and pulling Thomas away. "She doesn't know her name and she doesn't remember where she came from."

“You trusted me, didn’t you?”

“…That’s different.” Gally groans. “We don’t get sent girls.”

Thomas's gaze remained steady. "The point is we treat her like we would any newbie. Help her, keep her safe, and figure out what the hell is going on." His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Gally looked skeptical, but nodded begrudgingly. "Fine. But if she causes any trouble…" He left the threat hanging in the air, his eyes dark.

"I'm cold…" you mumble. Gally's face contorted.

"It's not even cold outside, how are you cold-?" Gally began, but was cut off by Thomas' gentle nudge.

"Let's get her a blanket, okay?" Thomas offered with a kind smile. You nodded, feeling a small spark of gratitude for his understanding. He left the hut and returned moments later with a warm, woolen blanket that smelled faintly of the glade's flora. Wrapping it around you, he sat down opposite, his eyes never leaving yours.

"What's your name?" he asked softly. The question was simple, but it held a world of meaning in this place where everything was a puzzle.

You searched your thoughts, but the fog was thick and heavy. "I-I don't know," you replied, your voice quivering. "They never told me."

Gally leaned against the wall. "Well, until you remember, your name is Greenie." His tone was not unkind, but it was firm, a reminder that until you had proven yourself, you were still a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit.

Thomas flinched at the term, but you just nodded, pulling the blanket tighter around your shoulders. "Ignore him, okay? I'm gonna check on Alby to see where he is with the stuff. Gally, be nice to her." He shot a look at Gally before exiting the medical hut, leaving you and Gally in an awkward silence.

Gally took a deep breath, his features softening slightly. "Look, I'm not trying to be an ass," he began, his voice gruff. "It's just that we don't get girls here, and the last thing we need is for you to mess up our routine. No kidding, you’re surrounded by boys who haven’t seen a girl in years. Who knows what the hell they’d do to you.”

You nodded, not knowing how to respond. The walls of the hut felt as if they were closing in on you, suffocating you with their unspoken questions and accusations. Your eyes searched the room, landing on the shelves filled with medical supplies and makeshift weapons. You felt utterly out of place, a wildflower in a field of thorns.

Gally's gaze softened, sensing your distress. "Look, I'm not saying you're gonna cause trouble, but we just need to be careful, alright?" He paused, his eyes searching yours for understanding. "Everything changes now, and we need to stick together."

"…What's your name?" you ask. The question felt strange on your lips, foreign and yet familiar at the same time. Gally's eyes narrowed, his arms still crossed.

"I told you; I don't trust you so I'm not tellin'," he replied curtly. "Until then, I'm kinda like your superior or whatever."

You tilted your head, even pouting. "That guy before kept saying Gally and Thomas but I don't know which one is which," you whispered. Gally's stance didn't change, but something in his eyes did, a flicker of something that wasn't quite anger or suspicion anymore.

"Fine," he huffed. "It's Gally." He pointed to Thomas' empty spot. "And that's Thomas. He's the one who brought you in here."

You studied him, the name 'Gally' echoing faintly in your mind like the distant chime of a bell. "Thank you, Gally."

He nodded curtly, still keeping his guard up. "Look, I'm sorry if I'm being harsh, but we've got a system here. It keeps us all alive, and we can't have anyone messing with it. Do you understand?"

You nodded, the warmth of the blanket beginning to seep into your bones. "Yes, you’ve…said that. I won't cause any trouble," you promised, your voice small and hopeful.

Gally sighed, his stance relaxing slightly. "Good."

You twiddled your thumbs, now avoiding eye contact. You still wanted to talk, but you didn't know about what. So, you started to ramble.

"So…what is this place? And — hlong have you been in here?" you asked, trying to piece together the puzzle of this strange place. Gally's eyes searched the room, as if looking for answers in the shadows.

"Too long," he murmured, his voice distant. "A couple of years, I think." He paused, considering his words. "It's hard to keep track of time when every day is the same. And no one really knows what this place is.”

The silence that followed was filled with the unspoken understanding of lives lived in a perpetual cycle of fear and survival. You could see the weariness in Gally's eyes, the weight of his responsibilities etched into the lines of his face. "What's it like outside this place?" you whispered, the curiosity burning like a tiny flame in the pit of your stomach.

Gally's expression darkened. "We don’t know. Like I said, we’ve been stuck in here for years." he said bluntly. "You should be worrying about what it’s like in here. Especially for a girl." His voice held a warning, a clear boundary you were not to cross. Yet, the curiosity grew stronger, the need to understand this world that was now your home.

"You seem to care a lot about me being a girl in here. So like, are you gonna protect me or something? Since it's too much for a girl like me?" You asked Gally, your voice a mix of hope and challenge.

Gally looked at you, his eyes narrowing slightly. Was she flirting with him? No, he’s just crazy. "I'm not saying that."

"Well, you're acting like because I'm a girl, I can't survive in here so does that mean you're gonna protect me, yes or no?" You questioned, your voice a little stronger than before.

Gally sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Look, it's not like that. It's just…-"

"Then what is it?" You push your hair out of your face, causing Gally to choke on his words.

"I-uh, I just-" He stammers before stopping. "Look, Thomas is the one who'll be looking after you."

"But why can't you?" You press, feeling a strange need to understand the dynamics of this place.

Gally's eyes harden. "Because Thomas is the nicest one of us all. He's the one who can handle…this." He gestures at you, his voice laced with something you can't quite pinpoint.

"But he's not the one saying I won't make it because I'm a girl. It's you. You seem to care a lot." You looked up at him, your eyes searching his, trying to understand the complex emotions that played across his face.

Gally's cheeks flushed slightly. "It's not that, it's just…" He trailed off, at a loss for words. "The glade isn't for the weak." His voice was gruff, but the way he said it suggested that he didn't believe you were weak, just different.

"Well, I'm not weak." you slide off the bed and walk over to him, the height difference between you stark. "I've survived whatever they put me through to get here. I can survive this."

Gally's jaw tightens, his eyes never leaving yours. "You might think you're strong, but the glade and the maze…it's not like anything you've ever faced. I mean, you won’t be going into the maze, anyway. We're all here for a reason, and none of us are weak. But we're also all we've got." His words hang in the air, a stark reminder of the precariousness of your situation.

You stand tall, the blanket falling from your shoulders. "I'm not going anywhere. And I'll do whatever it takes to survive." Your voice is steady, the resolve in it unmistakable. Gally stares at you, his expression unreadable.

"I guess we'll see," he says finally, turning away. "For now, you need to rest. We'll figure out your role once you're feeling better." His words are dismissive, but the tension in his shoulders suggests he's still processing what you've said.

You scoff and walk back over to the bed, sitting down and turning away from him. Gally notices the blanket on the floor, wondering if he should pick it up and give it to you or if he should let you stay cold. He wanted to leave it, but - ugh, he couldn't. He picks the blanket up and storms over, putting it around your shoulders. "Here," he says gruffly, his face a mask of frustration. "Don't get too comfortable, Greenie. We've got work to do and I'm not carrying you around."

You look up at him, a hint of a smile playing at the corner of your mouth. "Thank you," you murmur, your eyes never leaving his. Gally clears his throat, uncomfortable under your gaze. He turns to leave, needing to get out of the room before he says something else stupid.

[geneviveleocardius]

pathetic!könig

who adores you

könig was a mountain of a man, towering over nearly everyone, his sheer presence intimidating to anyone who didn’t know him. but with you? he was a bundle of nerves, a mess of stuttered words and shaky hands. and right now, he was on his knees in front of you, looking up at you with wide, desperate eyes.

“please,” he whispered, his voice thick and trembling.

you tilted your head, arms crossed, watching him as he fidgeted. his massive hands rested on his thighs, fingers curling into the fabric of his pants as if to ground himself. his cheeks were flushed, the tips of his ears burning a deep red beneath the hood he rarely removed.

“please what, könig?” your voice was calm, steady, though the tension in the air was almost suffocating.

his throat bobbed as he swallowed, his gaze flickering between your eyes and the floor. “i… i didn’t mean to upset you,” he stammered, his accent thick and endearing, “i only wanted to help, but—”

“but you didn’t listen.”

his head dipped in shame, his shoulders hunching inward. “i know, schatz, i know… i was wrong. please, just—just don’t be angry with me. i’ll do anything.”

you stepped closer, your fingers brushing against his chin, gently tilting his face up to meet your gaze. his breath hitched, and you could feel the heat radiating off him, his entire body practically trembling under your touch.

“anything?” you teased, your lips curving into a smirk.

he nodded frantically, his voice barely above a whisper. “anything. just don’t push me away.”

your thumb traced along the edge of his jaw, and he leaned into the touch, his eyes fluttering shut for a moment like he’d been starving for it. when you pulled your hand away, he let out a soft whine, his fingers twitching as though he wanted to reach for you but didn’t dare.

“you’re lucky you’re cute,” you said, your tone light but firm.

his eyes snapped open, and the way he looked at you was almost reverent, like you’d hung the stars in the sky.

“thank you,” he murmured, his voice hoarse, “thank you, schatz.”

the sexual tension between you was palpable, the air charged with unspoken desires. but you stepped back, leaving him kneeling there, a flustered mess of a man.

“get up,” you said, though there was no real authority in your tone, just a soft fondness.

he scrambled to his feet, towering over you once again, but looking as small and pliable as ever under your gaze.

• könig is a giant teddy bear when it comes to you. he’s intimidating on the battlefield, but the second he’s in your presence, he’s all blushes and shy glances.

• he’s weak for your touch—absolutely craves it. even the smallest brush of your fingers against his arm has him melting. he’ll do anything to earn your affection, even if it means embarrassing himself.

• he stammers a lot around you, especially when you’re in control of the situation. his confidence crumbles in the best way when you take charge.

• könig gets on his knees for you often, whether he’s pleading for forgiveness or just desperate for your attention. it’s not about submission—it’s about how utterly devoted he is to you.

• he’s ridiculously flustered by even the smallest displays of dominance from you. if you so much as tilt his chin up or give him a stern look, his heart feels like it’s going to burst.

• the sexual tension between you two is unbearable at times. he’s so attuned to your presence that even the way you move or speak can make his breath hitch.

• he’s incredibly protective of you, but it’s never overbearing. he knows you’re capable of taking care of yourself, and that makes him admire you even more.

• könig loves it when you call him pet names, especially ones that highlight his size compared to you. “big guy,” “teddy bear,” or even “my giant.” he blushes every time.

• he’s a people-pleaser, especially with you. he’ll go out of his way to make sure you’re happy, even if it means going far outside his comfort zone.

• he has moments of jealousy but never in a possessive way. he just worries he’s not enough for you, which makes him try even harder to prove himself.

• könig has a hard time asking for what he wants, especially when it comes to intimacy. he’ll skirt around the topic, his face bright red, until you finally coax it out of him.

• despite his shyness, he’s incredibly attentive to your needs. he notices every little detail about you, from the way you like your coffee to the way your mood shifts subtly throughout the day.

• he often underestimates how much you care for him, which makes it all the more rewarding when you reassure him. a simple “i love you” can leave him speechless, his eyes glistening with emotion.

• könig lives for your approval. a single compliment from you can make his entire week.

• he’s deeply loyal to you, almost to a fault. he’d move mountains if you asked him to, no questions asked.

[twlgholts]

always kind of was, j.b.

chapter ten, all ears

— jacob black x f. reader

a/n: thank u everyone for the kind words i hope everyone is enjoying it! i keep getting jacob edits on tiktok and its very motivating LOLL

prev. series masterlist! next.

“You’re kidding me,” you breathe, eyes wide, mouth parted in disbelief. “I haven’t been here in years.” You glance over at Jacob, a grin pulling at your lips, unable to hide the giddiness bubbling up.

Jacob chuckles, pulling into the gravel lot with no marked lines—just scattered vehicles and uneven tire tracks. “Glad you finally like one of my surprises.”

Your attention is already out the window. A faded banner reading Clallam County Fair sways in the breeze above the entrance gate. Just past the fence, you catch glimpses of neon rides spinning in the sunset—the pendulum, the drop tower, the Ferris wheel slowly turning in the distance. An assortment of food trucks spew out the scent of butter and fried batter, the neon signs on their rooftops flickering like they're trying to compete with the stars. Colored lights blink against the dusk sky, casting glows of pink, green, and blue.

You haven’t been here since you were a kid, but everything about it still sparks the same thrill.

Clallam’s fair was practically a summer tradition. Your family came every August, and more often than not, the Blacks came too. You and Jacob would run around the grounds until your legs gave out, pockets stuffed with tickets and sticky candy wrappers.

Jacob hops out, walks around, and opens the door for you without a word. There’s a smile on his face, something steady in it.

“Come on,” he says. “We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”

He buys your tickets at the booth—no arguing, no letting you pull your wallet out—and then the two of you are walking into the fairgrounds, swallowed by sound and scent and light. The air smells like sugar and grease, like popcorn, dirt, and fried everything. The noise is a blur of laughter, distant screams from rides, and distorted announcements over crackly speakers.

The moment stretches, weightless and buzzing with energy. You take a slow look around, soaking it all in. The lights, the scents, the old familiarity of it. You glance at Jacob, and he's already watching you like he’s cataloging your expressions, quietly satisfied.

Without hesitation, you drag Jacob straight into the clutter of vendor stalls and merchandise stands. He doesn’t complain. In fact, he plays along so well that you end up breathless from laughing. You bop him on the shoulder with an inflatable hammer, and he retaliates by sticking a tie-dye bucket hat on his head and dramatically posing like a model.

“How do I look?” he asks, puffing his chest.

“Like a tourist at Woodstock,” you reply, and he nearly drops the oversized sunglasses he’s trying on.

You drift from booth to booth, weaving through macrame jewelry, bootleg graphic tees, and glitter tattoos. The light around you shifts as the sun continues to dip, casting long shadows beneath the rows of vendor tents. The buzz of the rides eventually pulls your attention forward. The sound of squeaky hydraulics and a child’s distant scream over laughter reminds you of what you haven’t done yet.

You nudge Jacob’s arm. “Okay, time to get serious. Froggy roller coaster?”

He groans, already shaking his head as you pull him toward it.

“You do realize we’re, like, four feet too tall for this?” he mutters, ducking his head to squeeze into the car.

“Shhh,” you hush him, giggling. “It’s nostalgic.”

The ride is barely faster than a brisk walk and feels more like a jostle than a thrill, but you still scream at the top of your lungs for fun. Jacob groans the whole time, but he’s smiling when you get off. After that, it becomes a rhythm—ride, laugh, wander. The sky fades from dusty lavender to a deeper navy as you wind your way toward the game booths, still glowing under harsh fluorescents.

You eye the Down-a-Clown setup skeptically.

“All these games are rigged,” you say, crossing your arms. “So unfair.”

But then you spot it—a comically oversized stuffed bear, locked away behind the mesh like some carnival trophy.

Jacob catches you staring and halts.

“I’ll get it for you,” he says, as if it’s already decided.

You laugh, unconvinced. “These games are a scam. You won’t win it.”

“Wanna bet?”

He grabs your wrist and leads you to the booth. The teenage attendant barely glances up before Jacob slaps down his ticket and collects the softballs. His arm moves with effortless precision, each ball knocking a clown down with perfect accuracy. You stare, slack-jawed, as his score climbs higher and higher.

When the timer buzzes, Jacob turns to you, smug grin stretched across his face. He jerks his chin at the stunned worker, who reluctantly hands him the bear.

“Told you,” he says.

You try not to look impressed. “Show-off.”

“Say it again. Slower.”

You roll your eyes but smile, hugging the bear. “You’re carrying this, by the way.”

“Obviously.” He adjusts it over his shoulder like it’s nothing. “Why’d you want this thing anyway?”

You shrug. “Kinda reminds me of you.”

He gives you a side glance. “What, big and awkward?”

“Soft and annoying.”

He huffs a quiet laugh. “Fair enough.”

By the time you make it to the food area, Jacob’s got a glowing LED necklace around his neck and you’re sporting a light-up headband and a psychedelic scarf he won for you in some dart-throwing contest. He’s showing off, clearly, and you let him. The smell of fried dough and sugar is practically magnetic, and your stomach growls so loudly Jacob raises an eyebrow.

“Hungry much?”

“Starving.”

You both fall into a comfortable silence as you eye the concession stand. The line moves fast, the air thick with the sounds of batter sizzling and syrup being drizzled over funnel cakes. The murmur of nearby families—kids tugging on sleeves, parents negotiating over snacks—creates a cozy kind of background noise.

When it’s your turn, you glance at the menu board, but you already know.

“Let’s get an elephant ear.”

Jacob’s lips twitch into a small smile. “Haven’t had one of those in years.”

“Then we have to.” You turn to him. “Split one?”

He hesitates, just for a second. There’s something flickering behind his eyes, but then he nods. “Yeah. Sure.”

You take the greasy paper plate from the vendor and bring it back to the bench, sitting side by side, thigh to thigh, like it’s second nature. Powdered sugar clings to the air between you, catching the glow of string lights above.

“She used to give us five bucks,” he says eventually, voice low. “Said it had to cover one ride and one snack, so we always picked this.”

You glance at him. “Your mom?”

He nods once, then shrugs. “She’d always sneak us extra, though. Pretended she didn’t.”

You don’t say anything. Just smile gently.

You sit together on a bench tucked just to the side of the stand, sharing the elephant ear like no time has passed. The sugar sticks to your fingertips and the warm dough melts on your tongue. Jacob pulls off a corner piece, his thumb brushing against yours for a second. You tear off a bite and chew slowly, savoring it.

He looks over, about to say something, and then pauses.

“You’ve got—” He reaches out and gently brushes the powdered sugar off your nose with the pad of his thumb.

You blink. “That obvious?”

“Blinding,” he says dryly, but there’s a softness in his eyes now.

“She used to wipe powdered sugar off my face too,” he murmurs. “Always said I ate like a baby bear.”

You smile, quiet. “You kind of still do.”

He lets out a breath—half a chuckle, half something else—and leans back slightly, the moment stretching between you.

“Thanks for sharing,” you say.

He looks at you like you’ve just said something far more important than that.

“Yeah,” he says. “Anytime.”

The remaining golden hour haze dips low over the fairgrounds, stretching shadows long and warm across the grass. Everything glows—soft amber dusted over cotton candy stands and glittering off the tops of ride canopies. The Ferris wheel lights flicker on one by one like tiny galaxies sparking into life.

Jacob stands and offers a hand. “What do you say? One more ride?”

You glance up at the Ferris wheel, your hand tightening slightly around the bear. “Only if you promise not to rock the cart.”

“No promises.”

You roll your eyes. “Fine. But if I die, I’m haunting you.”

“I’ll build you a little shrine in my garage. Right next to my toolbox.”

He smiled—just a flicker—and stood. You gathered your loot with exaggerated effort, wrestling the oversized bear under one arm, your prize haul dangling from your wrists. He waited, steady and quiet, before you both turned toward the Ferris wheel, weaving through the soft-buzz quiet of the fairgrounds.

The crowd had thinned to a gentle hush. Most of the families were gone now, their sugar-high kids dozing in backseats, while the fair itself exhaled into twilight. Faint, dreamy music floated from the booths, that old-timey kind of tune that made everything feel slightly cinematic. The lights above you blinked softer now, more glow than glare, and it all felt slower, like time was giving you a moment.

By the time you reached the Ferris wheel, only a couple pairs stood ahead of you—couples leaned into each other in that quiet, familiar way that said the day had been shared, not just spent. You wondered for a second how you and Jacob looked from the outside. Old friends, maybe. Or maybe two people pretending not to fall into something that had been waiting.

When it was your turn, the ride operator barely glanced up—his bucket hat was pulled low, and his hoodie looked like it had survived too many summers. He waved you into the gondola with a tired gesture. You stepped in first and slid onto the cool metal bench, tucking the oversized stuffed bear between your legs. Jacob followed and settled onto the seat directly across, his knees brushing yours for the briefest moment before he leaned back. The gondola gave a small jolt as the wheel creaked back to life beneath you and slowly, the world began to fall away.

Below, the fair became a tilt-shift version of itself. The booths looked like dollhouses, the people like toys, voices blurring into a low, distant hum. A breeze stirred your hair and cooled your skin, and everything below felt small and far away.

“They look like ants,” you said, peering over the edge. The structure gave a little creak, and you immediately flinched back. “This thing’s got to be fifty years old.”

Jacob gave you a sidelong look. “Why would you say that now?”

You grinned, unapologetic. “Just making conversation. But seriously—how sketchy is this thing?”

He shrugged, arms stretching out across the back of the seat, casual and broad-shouldered and smug. “It’s fine. Probably. Structurally questionable, yeah, but it’s survived this long. If anything goes wrong, I’ll just jump us to safety.”

You snorted. “Oh, great. Heroic and delusional. That’s new.”

The gondola rocked gently as the wheel moved again, taking you higher. You were almost at the top now. The sky had deepened into full navy, stars beginning to blink out from the velvet. Below you, the fair shimmered like a constellation of lights and motion. Distant laughter, golden bulbs, and the fading scent of kettle corn made it feel like you were watching someone else’s dream.

Jacob went quiet. You glanced at him—and for a second, just watched.

The colored lights from the wheel rolled slowly over his face—blue, then pink, then soft gold. They lit the sharp curve of his cheekbone, the line of his jaw, the thoughtful set of his mouth. He looked older up here, or maybe just more real, like the version of him you’d always been moving toward.

He caught you staring.

You looked away, cheeks warming. “This, uh... this kinda feels like a date,” you said lightly, trying to brush it off but meaning every word.

There was a pause. Not heavy. Just quiet.

Jacob leans further back, arms draped over the railing behind him. “That a bad thing?”

Your breath caught. “No,” you said, softer now. “Not a bad thing.”

The wheel turned again, dipping low before lifting you back into the sky. This time, it didn’t stop. The operator wasn’t even watching—just scrolling through his phone with his chair tilted dangerously far back.

“Guess we’re getting bonus rounds,” you murmured, settling deeper into your seat. The stuffed bear finally slumped forward between your knees, its oversized head lolling like it was trying to bow out of the moment.

Jacob glanced at it and smirked. “Even the bear knows it’s third-wheeling.”

You huffed a quiet laugh, nudging the bear’s fuzzy snout with your toe. “He’s trying to be respectful.”

Jacob’s eyes met yours again, softer this time. “Yeah. He gets it.”

The breeze was stronger this high, catching at your hair and brushing cool across your cheek. Everything below faded to a hum. It felt like the world had hit pause, holding its breath just long enough for you both to hear your hearts beating. You looked down, fingers fiddling with the bear’s plush paw in your lap. Then up at him again.

And then the words just fell.

“Have you ever been in love?”

You hadn’t planned it. They just slipped out, raw and unguarded, landing between you like a match dropped in tall grass.

You winced. “Sorry. That was random. Never mind.”

But Jacob wasn’t laughing.

He was watching you.

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “I am.”

Your heart tripped.

You sat up straighter, your pulse thudding in your ears. “You—”

“I didn’t mean to say it here,” he interrupted gently. “Not in some squeaky gondola with a lopsided bear third-wheeling us, but I’ve known for a while.”

You couldn’t look away from him.

“I’m in love with you,” he said again, slower this time, like he wanted each word to land. “I think I have been since before I understood what it was. You were always there—even when you weren’t. And when you came back… everything made sense again.”

Your throat tightened. The silence was full of stars and fairground lights and the sound of your heart catching in your chest.

“I didn’t want to mess it up,” he said, voice quieter now. “Didn’t want to pull you into my world before I knew how to say it.”

You watched him through the soft glow of the Ferris wheel lights. He looked steady, but there was a flicker of nervous energy in the way he sat—one knee drawn up, his hands loosely clasped in his lap.

He glanced down at the bear slouched between your legs like it had passed out from secondhand tension.

“But then I looked around.” He gave a small, sheepish shrug. “We’re a hundred feet in the air, on what might technically be our first date—chaperoned by this guy.” He nodded at the bear, now slumped even lower like it was trying to disappear out of embarrassment. “And yeah, the view’s mostly just overpriced funnel cake and busted string lights—but it’s quiet. You’re here. And somehow it feels exactly like us.”

You smiled, heart pressing against your ribs. “You’re not wrong.”

You didn’t think. You didn’t have to. You leaned forward, and so did he—both of you bridging the space across the small gondola until your knees bumped, and your fingers brushed in the middle.

“I love you too,” you whispered. Your smile trembled. “You idiot.”

Jacob laughed—quiet, breathless. The sound wrapped around your chest like a hug. He turned his hand, palm up, and yours slid easily into it. 

“Can I kiss you?” he asked, voice low.

Your nod was barely more than a breath. “Yeah. Please.”

He moved slowly, crossing the space between you like the moment was something sacred. When his lips met yours, it was careful and full of everything he hadn’t been able to say—warmth, certainty, the ache of time spent waiting. He tasted faintly of cotton candy and that cheap strawberry lip gloss you’d swiped on in the car mirror, not expecting this. Not tonight. But maybe you should have.

His hand came up to your cheek, thumb brushing your skin like he couldn’t quite believe you were real. Like you were something breakable and golden and his.

You kissed him back like you meant it, like you always had.

When you pulled away—barely, just enough to rest your forehead against his—the sky behind him cracked open in a bloom of color. The fireworks.

You hadn’t even noticed the countdown. But now the world outside the gondola was glowing—bursts of red, gold, green, silver—each one lighting up his face like something out of a dream.

You sat there, suspended above it all, heart pounding, breath tangled with his. And for the first time in forever, it didn’t feel like you were falling.

It felt like you were finally caught.

[solifloris]

≡;-꒰ 𝐗𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐑 ꒱₊˚ ପ⊹ I  𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒂 𝒔𝒌𝒚 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔…

╰┈➤ ❝ xavier x afab!reader | 18+ only

tags : kinda pwp (without plot) but like uhhh a poetic version i guess?, like actually don't expect anything super explicit for this askjhgs, more introspective and prose-y (aka less dialogue involved), loosely inspired by "inflorescence imprints" but no direct card spoilers, xavier glows when he's happy (bc this is my new personality and i'm including this in all the xavier fics ever /hj), slow dancing in a field, kisses and making out, wandering hands, heavy petting, oral (f. receiving), semi-public setting (open (empty) field), let's ignore the technicalities of open field shenanigans yes? yes.

wc : ~2k

an : i lied when i said i would get a fic done before april ended, so HAPPY MAY !!! THAT WAS MY LIE IN APRIL hehe <3 bc the title is from 'hikaru nara' aka the first opening song of 'your lie in april' <3 (since i was supposed to post this yesterday when it was Still April…) (but you're with me on the xavmc your lie in april parallels right…)

taglist : under the cut! (SIGN UP HERE)

ko-fi jar / commissions

In this meadow full of flowers, the two of you are the only ones who exist.

Did you need music to dance?

Your feet touched the grass, light steps gliding to the gentle crunching beneath every little movement. A rhythm, in the silence. Soft, whispered melodies of the night, flown delicately into the passing breeze.

One, two, three; one, two, three; one, two, three; one, two, three.

It was easier, this time. You knew this dance. You knew these steps. Three counts in a measure, feet on the ground with every count… practiced movements, now freer, now easier. After all that time you'd spent with him in his living room under the dim lights of his apartment, you'd gotten used to it. One step forward, two steps back—one, two, three; one, two, three; one, two, three.

And, yet, this time… you didn't need to count, not really.

This was a waltz, yes; this was a dance, yes.

But an open field lay no constraints.

All you'd needed was one phrase of invitation—

Dance with me.

It was your lead, after all.

With a warm hand in yours, the other placed on your waist, expert ease allowed him to keep to the rhythm. He was used to it, far more than you were. The grass didn't deter him, nor the soil beneath your feet. Your arms felt lighter, steps more nimble; a more relaxed atmosphere surrounded the both of you as barefooted steps whirled around in the meadow belonging only to both of you.

And Xavier was always gentle.

Xavier was always patient.

Even now when he smiled at you, even now when he'd adjusted his footing ever so slightly to guide you into the right direction, he would still skillfully guide you to follow him. You'd made a misstep—the first one of the night. An achievement, on your part, for lasting so long without making one. It was enough so to earn a chuckle from him as he drew you in.

"Good," he murmured, quiet like the evening, firm like the stars in the sky that night. "You've gotten better."

Xavier was always gentle. Even in your error, he still quietly nudged you along.

And as moonlight spilled across the open meadow, filtering through his hair, painting silver over the flora surrounding… You didn't need music. You knew that well enough. Your hold on him relaxed, your head dipped down to rest on his shoulder… It was less of a waltz, now, and more of a simple slow dance, but he adjusted. Careful, unhurried. Easy. And, now, it was as if the night itself had paused to watch the two of you.

This was all you could have ever needed.

Every step and every twirl, every movement floating above the field—his hands held you close, securely nestling you into him. He smelled like cinnamon, like warm vanilla. He felt like spring afternoons, like this field of flowers now attuned so specifically to him that you were sure you wouldn't look at another lily without drawing in thoughts of him.

It didn't take you too long to realize that this rhythm you'd been dancing to was entirely his—

You didn't need music; his heart was enough. He was enough.

The clouds, the sky, the grass, the flowers, the dew drops of silvery light from the moon above… all orchestrated like twinkling stars in the night sky, rendered solely to match the beatings of your heart.

That was music enough.

A melody so free-flowing, so smooth, so—

So everything.

So you waited with baited breath, trust in his every move, a melody to the will of its conductor. And your body fell pliant to his hands as he dipped you low against the grass.

Rise, fall; rise, fall.

The dance had ended—

The music had not.

"Xavier," you murmured. You liked the sound of his name—liked the way his lips twitched when you said it, the way the tips of his ears turned the slightest bit of red when your gaze lingered a little longer. "Xavier."

Again.

Cradled gently in his arms, the next measure of the piece had begun anew.

"Xavier."

It was his turn to settle into you, draw you close enough for his forehead to meet your shoulder. His breath proved unsteady, fingers trembling slightly with a single caress down the curve of your spine. Silence gave way to apprehension—yet, sometimes, music would speak for itself.

You let him wander.

Eyes raised to meet yours, blue and bright. This man in your arms, you knew, was yet another star—but one that could have settled in the sky yet chose, instead, to stay here with you.

"Xavier."

Every whisper of his name made him bolder.

Gentlemanly touches turned coy, trails and caresses added a subtle knead against every expanse of skin he could find. And then his hand dipped beneath your skirt—

"Xavier…"

His touch stuttered.

More.

Again you felt him nuzzle into your shoulder, shifting slightly to rest in the crook of your neck. Lips met your skin—a warm welcome against the chill of the evening, soft kisses trailing your nape before he let out a quiet groan.

"You make me so impatient," he whispered. "A star doesn't forget to shine, but, I… think this one… shines even brighter when it's with you…"

Teeth grazed at the base of your neck.

Slowly, you felt yourself falling. Light as a feather, down to a bed of flowers, he caged you between his arms and nudged at your jaw.

"And, you make me feel… free," he groaned. "So much, I… can't…"

Your eyes closed.

You didn't stop him.

It had long since been a symphony of his own making; kisses littered all over your skin like notes on a page as the sleeves of your dress pushed aside and you wouldn't dare keep the music from playing.

"You are my freedom."

He said it in a hushed whisper.

You'd have missed it, almost; drowned in the way he would nip at your skin and then soothe with a lick. But a moment passed as he raised his head to look at you, then. Your skin felt ablaze, eyes easily beginning to fog with a cloud of lust you were familiar with, and…

Closer.

Closer.

There was no need to reply to that.

Unsteady vision focused only on him as he moved in, thumb grazing your lower lip before finally—finally—

He kissed you.

Feather-light, soft. Slow; warm. His hand reached to gently cup your chin and tilt you towards him, and there was no rush. Only the quiet hum of devotion seemed to flow through the way he pressed his lips to yours, over, and over, and over, and over—

You're unreal. You thought it, yet you couldn't speak it.

You're like starlight. He thought it, yet he couldn't speak it.

But you could see it in your peripheral—the glow of the moonlight did nothing to hide the specks of light mixing in with the tufts of his hair; daresay these shined even brighter.

And you knew what that meant.

Xavier glows when he's happy.

And the scent of crushed petals filled the space between the two of you, evening wrapping around you like silk as you fell. Deeper, deeper—kisses gave way to a desire blooming parallel to the blooms that carried you, fingers tangling in each other's hair as you turned and rolled in that little bed of flowers. Down then trailed his kisses, a resumption of his earlier exploration; every kiss and every touch carried with it a whispered promise of devotion.

…Devotion.

You felt your legs part pliantly to the nudging of his hands, and then you felt it again.

Devotion.

How was it that?

He'd find so much freedom in you, and yet worship you with such tender aching that you gasped.

He held you with such love.

Ever slow, and rhythmic, and deliberate—still the symphony moved onwards, with every caress, every trace of his tongue mirroring constellations twinkling above. Your back arched, allowed him to dive into you. You gripped his hair tightly while the other curled into the earth below, and you knew what it was that he truly felt.

He'd been telling the truth.

In the end, never before had you seen him so unbridled in his desire.

Yet, there was something different now—gentle, as always, but… more certain. More sure. As if truly, in loving you, something inside him had unchained. His movements stayed reverent, hands gliding over your skin as if they belonged, kisses deep and intimate and so determined to bring you to your high—

You had been wrong.

This was not a melody that had been orchestrated by him.

Your breath caught in your throat, because it was him. He who gave himself to the rhythm of your very being; he who danced to the tune of what you had commanded.

He would follow you.

He would adjust for you.

Each flick of his tongue against your sex was more than just a vow—it was surrender.

He could speak—I am yours.

And a quiet moan filled the air between you as you writhed beneath his touch, writhed beneath the intensity of his love, the weight with which he had resigned himself to carry for your sake.

"Am I not… your undoing?"

You swallowed thickly as your words spoke out of your moans, and you threaded your fingers through his hair.

"Am I not… selfish?"

No reply.

Stars clouded your eyes—he wouldn't stop.

His mouth latched onto you as his hands roamed your body once more, and he didn't dare to look up to meet your eyes, yet he continued. His tongue thrust inside you, thumb reaching down to circle where you needed him most.

Perhaps the answer to those questions was yes. Perhaps the answer had been one he'd come to accept so long ago. Something so sacred as love, so precious as freedom… so terrifying as sacrifice…

His eyes raised to look at you as you cried out his name, a sputtering chant as you arched into his mouth and the sky above became clearer.

Your thighs trembled. Your breath fell in uneven staccato pants; the music had now begun its diminuendo.

And all of this; all of these feelings, all these values… They'd been given to you by the very man that you loved. You were his freedom, he would say—yet in these words unspoken, you understood. Understood that in giving himself to you completely, then he'd chosen to be bound—Because he wished to be.

You had never meant to own him.

But there was that look on his face.

Xavier's eyes were half-lidded; satisfied— He had poured out everything and anything, all for your sake, and, that look, you—

"I…"

Another swallow, and swift movements pushed him back against the flowers.

"I want… to choose, too," you whispered. "I choose you, too."

Legs drawn on either side of him, you straddled his hips, reaching between you, taking ahold of him.

As the swollen tip brushed against your entrance, your legs quivered.

A smile tugged on your lips as you took note of that little telltale sign of his relief.

Xavier glows when he's happy.

Tentatively, you reached out to sift your hand through the glowing particles of light floating around you.

Ah, Xavier… You'll let me be a little selfish for wanting this… won't you?

You leaned in to kiss him as his hands found your hips, and slowly, slowly, he sank you down onto him. Moans muffled into your kiss, hands cradling his cheeks as you wished, wished, wished that you could mirror the way he had loved you, even as you let him guide your hips to your own undoing both.

If the night doesn't end, then the stars won't leave, will they? you thought.

In that case, then… From a sky filled with wishes, I wish, that… I…

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© solifloris. all rights reserved. do not: steal, copy, repost, reupload, modify, or claim any of my works as your own, regardless of credit given. absolutely do not use my works for AI training and other related purposes.

[vampirequsa]

''When The King Whispers''

You shouldn't be here. No one should be. But in your dream, you step into the domain of Ryomen Sukuna--and instead of being torn apart, you speak to him.

The first thing you feel is warmth. Not the soft kind that cradles you in sleep, but something oppressive. Heavy. Like the air itself is soaked in blood and heat.

You’re dreaming. That’s the only explanation. One moment, you were lying in your bed at the dorms, still buzzing from the aftermath of a mission, and the next—you’re here. Somewhere else.

The sky above you is deep crimson, rippling like silk. The ground beneath your feet is dark stone veined with black-gold cracks, pulsing faintly like it’s breathing. There are columns rising into nothingness, carved with symbols you can’t recognize but that make your chest ache when you look at them.

And at the center of it all is the throne.

A jagged, monstrous thing built of bone and obsidian, taller than any human should sit upon—and sitting on it is Sukuna.

His eyes are already on you.

You freeze. It’s instinct. Fear spikes in your veins, but your feet are rooted in place.

He looks the same as he does when he wears Yuji’s body—but there’s a difference now. He isn’t just a passenger. He’s whole. And that terrifying presence, the one that always feels like it’s watching from behind your friend’s smile, is fully awake.

He leans forward slowly, resting his cheek on one hand. “Well. This is a surprise.”

His voice is low and silken, like it’s been dragged across your skin. You expect him to mock you. Threaten you. Rip you apart for daring to stumble into his domain.

But he doesn’t.

He watches you in silence for a long moment. Then, to your utter disbelief, he smiles—wolfish and amused.

“You’re not screaming.”

You gather your breath. It feels like the air itself resists you. “Should I be?”

He chuckles. “Most do.”

You take a step forward before you can stop yourself. It feels like blasphemy—like walking toward a god you were warned never to look in the eye. But you can’t help it. Curiosity pulls at you stronger than fear.

“What is this place?” you ask softly.

“My domain. My throne. My sanctuary.” He spreads his arms lazily. “What remains of it, at least. A shadow carved into a dream.”

You stare around you—at the impossible sky, at the quiet stone steps leading to his feet. “It’s… beautiful."

That gets a reaction.

His head tilts slightly, one eyebrow raising. The amusement fades from his smile, replaced with something unreadable. His eyes narrow, not with malice—but with interest. The kind of sharp attention that makes your skin prickle.

“No one has ever called it that,” he says.

Silence stretches between you.

You should be scared. You should run, or wake yourself up, or pray to someone stronger than him. But instead… you sit.

Right there, on the lowest step of his throne.

A strange calm settles over you. “If I’m already dreaming,” you say, “then I may as well see it through.”

He laughs again—rich and full, echoing off the distant pillars. “You’re bold. I like that.”

Minutes pass like that. Maybe hours. Time doesn’t flow the same here. He speaks of ancient things with cryptic phrasing. Of old temples that once chanted his name. Of wars he started and lovers he devoured. But something about the way he talks—slow, deliberate, almost wistful—makes you think… he’s lonely.

And maybe, just maybe, this dream was no accident.

Eventually, you ask, “Why am I here?”

He leans forward again, resting his elbows on his knees. “Because you think of me. Even when you shouldn’t.”

You feel your breath catch.

His eyes gleam like a predator’s. “I hear it. When you wonder what I’m really like. When you see me behind that boy’s eyes and don’t look away.”

You open your mouth to deny it—but it would be a lie.

And somehow, you know he would see straight through it.

“I don’t fear you,” you whisper.

“You should.”

He stands, and the sheer force of his presence steals your breath. He descends the steps slowly, deliberately, each movement fluid and ancient. When he reaches you, you should flinch.

You don’t.

He reaches out and brushes a finger beneath your chin, lifting your gaze to meet his.

“You’re fascinating,” he murmurs. “A little moth with no sense of danger. Or maybe… just enough to like the fire anyway.”

Your skin tingles where he touched you.

“I’ll be seeing more of you,” he says, as the dream begins to unravel—your surroundings dissolving into smoke and blood-red petals.

You blink.

And then you wake.

In your dorm, heart pounding, lips parted in silence.

On your neck, just beneath your jaw, is a faint, burning warmth. Like a brand kissed into your skin.

And you swear you hear a voice—his voice—whispering from somewhere deep inside your mind.

“Next time, stay longer.”

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Moon River 1

Warnings: non/dubcon, manipulation, and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

Characters: Loki

Summary: your husband is a mischievous man.

Note: this kinda just came together.

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging ❤️

Your eyelids glow. You open them and stare up at the dark ceiling. Slats of silver drape over your body and the one next to you. Your husband's breaths cascade over you in slow draws, his leg tangled over yours.

You look at his silhouette in the supernatural light. He looks oddly blue as he slumbers. You carefully drag your leg from beneath his as you sleep up. Insomnia has ever been a constant companion, not that you ever lack for energy. It's only that even when you sleep, your mind wanders away.

You go to the window and sit on the cushioned bench before it. You peer up at the lunar deity beaming back at you. You admire the distant craters and the sharp border against the night sky.

An urge to go outside and lay in the grass has you on your feet. You glance at the bed. Loki's lean finger splays over it, nearly corner to corner. You tiptoe past him, snatching up the green cloak from the bedpost. You drape it from your shoulders as you flit into the hall.

You grow careless as you get to the stairs. You hurry down and to the front door. You spin out into the night as you shut the door behind you. You face the moonlight and sigh. You go out past the birdbath and spread the cloak on the ground. You lay on it and bask in the eerie haze of the full moon.

The stars wink back at you as the dewy air breezes over your body. You hum an off-key melody you can't place. You hear footsteps in the grass. You're not scared.

"Darling," Loki stands above you. "What ever are you up to?"

You look at him. The moon illuminates the veins beneath his skin, the blue hue still in his complexion. You smile.

"Look," you point to the sky.

He lifts his chin as he follows your finger, "what am I looking at?"

"The moon! Isn't it wonderful?"

He tuts and steps around you. He sits on the other side of the cloak. His eyes fall down to you.

"I've seen many such moons, darling. It begs to ask why you should be out so late," he touches your arm, "why I should wake to an empty bed."

"She's so pretty."

"Who?"

"The moon, silly," you stick your tongue out.

"Ah, not so much as you," he slithers.

You swat him playfully. "You are cheesy."

"Shall I be cruel instead?" He counters.

You put your hand on his and bring it to your heart. You hold it there and gaze up at the sky with a smile. He relents and lays next to you.

"You Midgardians are apt to catch an ague in the night chill," he girds.

"I've me fae husband to keep me safe," you insist.

He sighs, "must you call me that. I am not a fairy, dear."

"You are magical!"

"Hm," he exhales again and drags your hand to his chest instead. He shifts and snakes his arm under your head. He brings you against his side and you nestle into him, eyes clinging to the goddess above.

You blink and wake in bed. You're still against him. He's asleep. He got you in one of his tricks. You know the moon was no dream but he would not let you stay outside. He worries more than he likes to admit.

You try to sit up and he groans, catching your shoulder with his other arm and pushing you back down. He turns onto his side as his hand goes to your cheek. "You are running away again?"

"No!" You argue. "I'm awake and bored."

"You are restless," he reprimands. "Be still, let the world rise."

"Loki," you gently pull his hand away and sit up. "I have an idea."

You get to your knees and bounce. His hand settles on your thigh. He watches you with languid eyes.

"Yes?"

"The aquarium."

"Derived of your midgardian Latin, aquarius, pertaining to water..."

"A big museum of water," you explain. "And fishes."

"Fish, I believe is the plural." He corrects.

"And turtles," you smile. "I always wanted to go. It was on my list. Remember?"

His cheeks tauten and he nods. His eyes stray. "Yes, but that list was for... then."

"The list is forever, so..."

"Hmm," he drones, as he so often does. "Today?"

"Why not?"

He frowns, "you are always in such a hurry." He slowly sits up, leaning on the heels of his hands. His dark hair hangs to his shoulders, tangled. "Is there a reason I should know?"

"Loki," you brush his arm. "I'm well, I promise."

"Yes, let us see this aqua room."

"Aquarium," you correct.

"Yes, yes, as you will," he lifts a hand to your chin, "only after you are ready."

He leans in and kisses you. You smile as he does then push away. You bounce across the bed excited.

"You make certain you do not miss anything," he girds.

"I won't," you chirp as you hurry into the bathroom.

You take out the long container with its seven compartments; one for each day of the week. The doctor gave you these pills. You pluck out Tuesday's dose and swipe up the swirling green bottle that Loki prepared. You wash it down with a measured helping of the sickly elixir. Loki appears behind you in the mirror.

"You certainly are lively, as late," he muses.

"Mm," you give a tight smile as the icy flow permeates your stomach. "I'm just... happy."

"Happy?" He muses as he goes to the shower and cranks it on.

"Very. Aren't you?"

He hums, "so I am." He comes to you and tugs at your nightgown. He teased you last night for the little sheep printed on it. "And I daresay a bit ripe from last night's games."

You make a face at him and raise your arms as he strips you of the cotton. You sigh and drop your arms as his gaze lingers on your torso. You put your hands to your scars, not ashamed, but aware.

"Lulu," you call him by your pet name. His eyes meet yours.

"We match," he traces the deep scar down the center of his chest.

"We do," you shimmy and let your fingers fall down the ridged tissue beneath your skin. Not quite the same but both marked.

"Let us be clean, for a time," he takes your hand guides you to the show. "I can never wait very long before dirtying you once more."

[hederasgarden]

The Caged Bird

Summary: You disobey Tangerine and Sergei.  Pairing: Sergei Kravinoff x F!Reader x Tangerine Word Count: 677 Rating: 18+ only. This is a dark fic, dead dove, do not eat. Warning for a brief moment of physical violence against the reader, implied kidnapping and physiological distress. Not all elements are tagged.   A/N: This came about from a discussion with @otaku-girl-ao3. Thanks to @ryebecca for the moodboard. We jump right into the story so it is below the cut. Please comment or reblog if you enjoyed this and want to see more. Or scream at me in my inbox. That always makes my day.

Aaron Taylor Johnson Character Masterlist

Your head jerks to the right, the bite of Tangerine's rings into your skin barely registering. There’s blood in your mouth, warm and metallic. Your tongue instinctively brushes against the cut. Pain flares for a moment, sharp and fleeting, but all you can do is blink, the sensation lingering just beneath the surface.

“Runnin wasn’t very smart, luv,” he reprimands. 

You stare back at him blankly, watching his chest heave with effort, anger radiating off him in waves. The ever-present fear you live with is there, but it feels distant now, buried deep in a place you can’t reach. Sergei stands just behind him, at the edge of the treeline, his eyes flashing golden. You briefly meet his gaze before quickly looking away, your eyes lifting to watch the grey sky slip through the thick canopy above. It’s quiet here—only the soft babble of the stream and the low murmur of conversation between Tangerine and Sergei. No birds, though. There never are when Sergei is around. They were smarter than you, more attuned to his true nature, fleeing when they had a chance.

You ran right into his arms. 

Sergei says your name—once, twice, and then a third time—before you can tear your eyes away from the sky. You can’t quite place the expression on his face. It used to frighten you, that uncertainty, not knowing what he wanted or being able to predict his next move. But now, you simply stare at him. Waiting. Accepting. You’re so tired. 

His thumb grazes over your split lip before he brings it to his mouth, tasting the blood. A low rumble escapes his chest, sending a shiver down your spine as he pulls you in closer. He’s warm—so warm—that you suddenly realize your teeth are chattering, your skin cool and clammy. You left the house in nothing but the sundress Tangerine liked you to wear and there’s snow on the ground. Instinct has you leaning into the touch, welcoming him like he’s taught you to.

"Let’s get you inside, pet," Sergei murmurs, his voice steady. "Into something dry and warm. Would you like that?"

You look at Tangerine, noting the deep furrow between his brows as he watches you. His mouth is bloodied, his clothes disheveled. Did he look like that before? You glance down at Sergei's hand, the skin of his knuckles is split, streaked with blood.

"I want what you want," you parrot back to Sergei, your gaze shifting to Tangerine. "I want to make you happy." 

Tangerine exhales harshly and you frown. "Was I bad again?" You ask.

“No,” Sergei soothes. “You just got a little confused. And Tan,” he adds, looking back at the other man, “shouldn’t have hit you. We don’t hit our pets, do we?”

Tangerine clenches his jaw and purses his lips briefly. He looks away from you and exhales. “Thought she was doing a runner,” he defends. 

“But you weren’t, were you, pet?” Sergei asks, cupping your jaw. His grip is gentle but there’s no mistaking his strength. The way he could hurt you with barely any effort. 

“I wanted to hear the birds,” you tell him truthfully. 

Tangerine moves around you, the snow crunching beneath his feet. You tense as his hands settle on your hips, gently kneading the soft flesh. He kisses the side of his neck, soft and sweet again though you know it won’t last. It never does with him.

“Maybe we’ll get you a bird, darlin’, a pet of your own. Would you like that?” He asks.

You shake your head, the idea of caging something so free and beautiful feeling deeply wrong. Before you can stop yourself, the words slip out—whispered, but clear. It’s the wrong thing to say, and panic rises within you as you realize your mistake. Tangerine’s grip tightens, pain blooming where his fingers dig into your skin, while Sergei’s hand suddenly clasps your chin, holding it firmly between his thumb and forefinger.

“Some things are meant to be caged,” he murmurs, his voice smooth, “to keep them safe.”

[mejaemin]

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vernorexia - jeon wonwoo

wc: 0.9k summary: spring is always a little emotional for wonwoo, and it makes him a little more of a romantic warnings: nothing !!! just pure fluff (except for one very tiny very vague inappropriate joke) an: goodbye wonwoo ☹️ you’re so special to me, and above all other members, even my bias, i feel the most emotionally connected to you. i’ll be waiting !!! 2027 pls come quick :c

˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　　　　 . ✦　　　 　˚　　　　 . ✦　

the sheets are calling wonwoo’s name so sweetly, and he accidentally drags them with him when you pull him out of bed. his body is tense, so unready to be awake, but the feeling of dewy grass under his feet, your palm in his, wake him just enough.

you sit down, completely unworried about dirt and the elements on your skin. he grimaces, squinted eyes and messy hair making you giggle. he still moves to sit beside you, facing you with his whole body to trap you in a tight hug. you curl into him, the cold morning making you shiver in wonwoo’s tee and your sleep shorts. he sighs, sucking in a long breath, absorbing the moment in full.

spring is finally here. in your backyard, there’s little flower buds poking out all throughout the grass. the birds are waking up, already chirping away so early in the day. one lands on the ground next to you, looking around in the dirt for worms to eat. you reach out to touch it, and it tilts its head before flying away somewhere else.

the sun’s finally starting to make its appearance, poking over the rooftops of other houses and painting the sky a purple-orange. as the world lights up, you hear the pet door swinging, yours and wonwoo’s cat coming to sit with you both.

it smells like fresh petrichor, and it’s when the scent hits wonwoo’s nose that he remembers the rain from the night before, listening to it fall in the background while he laid in bed with you. that’s probably why he’s so tired right now, also remembering the clock reading something like 3am, which was only about three hours ago.

he takes a sharp breath in, leaning in closer to rest his head on your own. “i had a dream about you.” he mumbles.

“oh really?” you giggle, and he can’t see it but he knows you’re wiggling your eyebrows. “what about?”

“not that kind of dream.” he rolls his eyes. “we got engaged in it.”

“oh,” suddenly, it’s not so cold, and you squirm a little in his embrace.

“we were in the park, when spring reached its peak. you looked really pretty, with all the flowers around you.. i couldn’t wait. i got down right then, and proposed.” he relives the dream with blissfulness. you truly looked beautiful, flowy dress disturbing the flora beneath you. the sun was shining down on you, making you look truly ethereal. suddenly, the weight of a velvet box appeared in his pocket, and everything came to be, ironically, like a dream, as he pulled it out and proposed.

“did i say yes?” you ask, scooting into his lap, black cat following suit, turning your head to look up at him.

he nods his head, pulling you into him. the sunrise is still growing, darkness not fully gone yet. “it was magical. i wish i could’ve taken a screenshot or something.”

you burst out laughing, wiping tears from your eyes. “a screenshot of your dream? really?”

“yes, i’m serious. spring, and you, the two most beautiful things in the world. and it was just a dream.”

your smile never leaves. the kitty in your lap rolls onto its back, stretching and purring when wonwoo reaches down to pet its stomach. “you really enjoy spring, don’t you?” he hums, deep voice vibrating against your back. “you asked me to be your girlfriend during the peak of spring. i’m sensing a theme here..”

when truly honest with himself, the change of seasons tugs at his heartstrings a little. from winter to spring, it’s such a drastic change, and even though it’s a goodbye to something as mundane as snow and cold weather, it’s still sad. it makes him want to hold onto the things he has a little tighter. you could say big changes like that, commonly with spring’s arrival, make him feel a little clingier. more romantic.

“something about the spring just.. makes me feel like loving you a little harder. holding you tighter. it may very well be a trend of mine, but i can’t help it. spring just so happens to be a romantic time for me.”

you coo, turning his head so you can crane yours and kiss him. he sighs into it, fingers flexing on your skin. he pulls back, smiling softly when he looks into your eyes, seeing a love so full that it makes him feel a little less crazy about the amount he feels in his heart.

he continues kissing you, leaving a trail all over your cheek and down your neck, making you giggle. “so.. does this mean you’ll propose to me in spring too? maybe even marry me then?”

he looks up, watching as the sky turns pink, sun almost fully in the air, pretending to think hard. when he looks back at you, skin glowing in the morning’s golden hour, he doesn’t have to think so hard to know his answer. not that he hadn’t made his decision the moment he saw you, coincidentally at a time of year very similar to the one now.

“hm, we’ll have to see. will you stick around until i do?” he asks, teasing smile pillow at his lips.

you press a kiss to his cheek before settling back into his lap, watching the sky and wildlife fluttering around. “of course, nonu. i’d rather die than leave you.”

“okay then.” seeing the world around him come to life, so beautifully, it makes him wish a ring would ‘poof’ into his pocket right now. he’d use it without a thought.

for now, he’ll just set a reminder to go to the jeweler as soon as possible, checking the calendar and weather app for a day where the flowers are in full bloom, sun shining down on you just as he saw in his sleep.

he hopes that it’s soon.

˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　　　　 . ✦　　　 　˚　　　　 . ✦　

svt 🏷️ @coquettejunnie @prettymoles

[leggerefiore]

cw: abduction, implied past life, unhealthy relationships, look its longan dragon its not safe or sane

pairing: Longan Dragon Cookie/Reader

The sheer terror and chaos of the islands made panic course through you. All around you, everyone turned to stone under the horrid eyes that seemingly came out of nowhere. Your panic was only worsening as they spotted you. Was the end so near? Would your face be among the many petrified in terror? The eyes stared yet nothing came. They simply moved along to others, leaving you unscathed.

Despite the instant relief at having breaths still filling your lungs, you found yourself more terrified. What did it mean that you were passed along by those eyes? It was illogical when they were clearly otherwise so indiscriminate. It was only as your feet carried you to a cliff that overlooked the sea that you felt something akin to an answer.

Within the sky, you, something bright approaching. It was upon you in an instant, giving you no time to react. A hand grasped your cheek. Dark eyes stared intensely into your own. A far too fruit-like scent ruminated around you. Something familiar stirred inside you, but nothing truly came to the forefront of your mind. The eyes, surrounded by a golden headpiece and a horn rising from just above them both… You could barely take in a breath.

“… There you are…” the voice was deep and loud, more like thunder than the voice of a person. “What has become of you since I slumbered…? You are even worse than the others…” A thumb gently caressed your cheek. It was far too affectionate. Who were they mistaking you for? Burning acid ate at your stomach lining. A question nervously left your lips.

A question that made their already harsh face twist into something mortifying. You felt more petrified than those turned to stone. Their grip tightened, claws digging into your sensitive skin. A question of who they were somehow was far too much for them. They were not a normal person – No, you could easily comprehend that they were a dragon.

“Beloved…” their voice was strained. The other arm wrapped around your waist and pulled you up from the soft ground beneath your feet. Their robes were soft. You could not look away from them. Their beauty was truly captivating despite the fear that consumed you. “I understand… I foresaw this, but I had hoped that I was somehow mistaken.” You were floated across the sea to where a lustrous, ivory palace had apparently emerged. Not once did their attention shift as you were brought into the depths of it.

A tree sprouted in the middle of the room, shining with golden leaves. A soft padding covered the ground alongside many of those horrid eyes. You were gently placed there. The dragon cookie gazed at you far too curiously. They were far too tall, towering over you. “… I shall return us to the age of dragons,” their voice was far softer now, “In that moment, your memories and true form should return.” Their words were still beyond your comprehension. You wanted nothing but to be returned, but a folk story about what being in a dragon's nest implied entered your head.

Hoarded.

Like treasure.

There was a low-chance of you escaping this. Especially with all those eyes watching you. No, you decided to carefully ask yet another question. A more rational one – why?

The dragon crinkled their nose.

“I see no purpose in explaining when you will recall on your own,” they stepped away from you with a sigh, “To think, my mate would become so pitiful… Thankfully, I shall care for you until you recover.” They glanced down at you once more.

“Remain here. Attempt to recall. This is your home,” they left no room to argue. In walking away from you, you were left in the nest to ponder just what the hell they wanted from you.

You tried to ignore the bones hoarded away with you. They certainly were not of your species, at least.

~

“Sooo, this is what became of you?” an annoying voice distracted you from your scheming. A brightly coloured figure had entered the room without you noticing. They circled you a few times, observing you far too closely. “No wonder they were so mad.” Your arm was lifted and expected before they got into your face. A pout came across their lips. “… You really don't remember?” they asked, conspiratorially. As if you would lie! A huff left them at your nod.

“… It's not nice to forget family,” they stuck their tongue out. You glared at them. Certainly, you could remember your family. It was just unfortunate you somehow were mistaken for someone else. Really – two of them seemed to be in agreement about it! Their expression shifted a bit. “… You'll remember,” they said simply, “You'll have to! Your mate is expecting you to.” They seemed to fly off after that, leaving you more bewildered.

Mate… that was right. The other dragon had called out it, too. You found yourself wondering what happened there.

~

Your escape attempt ended almost as soon as it started. A loud voice called your name, and then you were pulled back into the nest. The ivory dragon glared down at you, clearly frustrated. “Where do you think you are going? Your place is here,” they were very much not allowing you any room. Their strength was terrifying. A single glare left you feeling far weaker than it should. You swallowed. Their embrace caught you more off-guard.

Sharp teeth buried themselves in your nape. The feeling of blood spilling out made you want to cry out. Their tongue lapped up it just as quickly. Those dark eyes gazed into your own with your blood staining their face. Lips pressed to your own, making you taste the sanguine in your tongue. It was impassioned and full of unspoken feelings. A genuine and desperate love… But… for whom?

Your eyes were lidded when they finally pulled away. Their body was still atop yours, pinning you to the soft ground. “This form doesn't suit you,” they brought a clawed hand down your torso, “... You would not be able to handle many clutches…” Your heart raced. What?

“… You will remember,” they commanded again, “I shall wait until you do.”

They left you alone and breathless, pondering just what your future was going to be again.

[ninguitar]

꣑ৎ　────　𝓟OP THE HOOD , DA 　　　　　lovin' you long takes the pain away 𓈒𓈒

───﹙⚙️﹚𝓢. ｡｡　a trip to the froyo shop ends up leaving daniela with a broken-down car, but hey—at least she got a pretty girl to fix it!

𝓹airing. daniela avanzini x mechanic!f!r 𝓰enre. fluff wc. 1.9k notes. haiaiaiaiia idk anyt abt cars so take everything that is said abt cars w/ a grain of salt 😛 also thinking ab a part2 but idk !! lmk how yall feel or wtv (MASTERLIST)

now playing ⋆ ballad of a badman by tory lanez

MAYBE IT WAS DUMB LUCK.

daniela just wanted to get froyo on her way home; it shouldn't have to be such a big deal, and it sure didn't need to turn into a shit-show. her mustang was starting fine at first—jamming her keys into the ignition, a grin adorning her face as the engine roared lively. she drove safely, but not even an hour later, she stood at the side of the road, smoke coming out the cabin, and her eyebrows knitted together.

though, maybe her luck wasn't so bad, because barely a block away stood an automechanic shop, flashing the words, "tony's wheels & tires." and when she finally arrived at the shop from pushing her car all the way there, it appeared to be a big open garage with a couple cars parked in the slots—full of grease and strewn equipment, the faint smell of smoke and fuel lingered in the air. the bell above the door chimed every few seconds, the sound of engines running accompanying it.

and the sight of a disheveled you underneath a car, fiddling around with the bottom of it, welcomes daniela. a weary, heavy sigh escapes from your throat, as you mutter curses under your breath, before sliding out from beneath the car. shaking your hand in pain, you grunt, and your other hand jots down words on a yellow notepad frantically with a pen. while you were too immersed in writing down the cost of some repair, the latina slowly walks up to you, and you barely raise your head up—though not enough to spot her clearly.

interrupting your dazed, concentrated expression, daniela clears her throat, and your head shoots up, your expression falling into embarrassment. your eyes wander to the girl above you, and for a second, you stare palpably for a fleeting moment. with heat curling at your cheeks, you begin to fumble your words, "shit—didn't see you come in, sorry. hi, welcome to tony's."

the latina meekly flashes a soft, reassuring smile at you, and god do you look at her like she was the one who put the stars in the sky. "it's fine, i just got here," she murmurs, laughing lightly, as her gaze flickers to the navy blue mechanic's button-up that hugged your frame, her eyes fixating on your bright red name patch. and before you could respond back, a beagle appears at daniela's feet, its ears comically perking up, "hey, move along," you groan, gently shooing it away.

"sorry, 's just the owner's dog—she's usually a recluse, but i guess she just likes you or somethin'," you shake your head, a gentle smile painted on your face, before you raise your eyebrows, "so what can i do for you?" you tilt your head, fixing your gaze at eye-level, as you clutch your hand, sliding your notepad and pen into your pockets.

"my car—it broke down, and it wouldn't start. i tried to pop the hood open, but it started smoking, so i pushed it to the slot over there," she explains meekly, her hands clasped together, before she pointed out to her mustang. your eyebrows furrow, confusion washing over your features.

"you- you pushed it here?" you ask, laughing breathlessly, "christ, you know you could've called us, and we would've towed it, right?" you shake your head, a grin curbing your lips, as a playful glint remains in your eyes.

"i- fuck, you guys do that?" a sigh drifts from daniela's lips at your words, warmth spreading around her cheeks, as she wishes the ground could just swallow her up right now. god, she was embarrassing herself in front of you—an insanely, drop-dead gorgeous girl.

and really, she doesn't think it could get worse until you reassure her, your voice dulcet and coaxing, "yeah, but don't worry 'bout it. i think it's cute that you pushed it all the way here." the unbridled sincerity in your words accompanied by the series of giggles escaping your breath makes her knees buck, her self-restraint crumbling bit by bit. "anyway, i'll take a look at your car. 's the red one, right?"

once she nods, you brush past her, the plethora of keys cluttering your carabiner ringing through the lot. and while you were out there, checking out her car, daniela's gaze wanders around the place—random trinkets of spiderman, portraits, and posters crowd the back of the front desk. a bright red clock sat above the posters, ticking each second, and accompanying it was a sign that read "please ring the bell for service," with the words "don't" scribbled above it. and before she knew it, the door jingles a second time, the bells chiming, as you enter back inside.

your navy blue button-up was completely discarded, now swung over your shoulder, and instead, you had a grease-stained mickey mouse graphic shirt on. a thin line presses onto your lips, and reaching for your notepad in your back pocket, you pop the pen cap off. "your car isn't in such bad shape," you start, trying to alleviate her worries, before writing down on the notepad hurriedly, "your fuel pump's a lil' faulty, and you have a coolant leak." your eyes flicker to the latina, watching her profusely nod, trying to process your words. and continuing, you explain the time it'd take to finish the repair and the cost—the only words, 'not gonna be finished until at least next week,' registering in her head.

daniela huffs in defeat, crossing her arms against her chest, "next week? fuck, that's gonna be awhile," she mutters under her breath, worry lines creasing her forehead. you lean against the counter, shrugging, "i know, i really can't do that much—there's still a lot of cars that need to be fixed before yours," you murmur, a frown jutting at your lips, as you look back at her.

and with your eyes tracing her features, you blink, noticing the latina's tense posture, her fists clenched; you could tell she was visibly nervous. you teeter, as you cock your head, a resigned expression on your face, sighing, "i- i mean, if you wanna stick around for a little, i could, maybe pull some strings. just this once though." at your words, daniela's eyes light up, a fox-bright gleam in her eyes, and the corner of her lips quirking up, as she crosses her arms loosely against her chest, "really? you would do that for me?"

you hum lowly in your throat, nodding your head slowly, and scribbling over words on your notepad, trying to keep your eyes glued to your paper. you nearly go into anaphylactic shock at her smile, as your eyes flicker to her features, "yeah—'course, i'll see what i can do." a toothy smile curbs your lips, and you're so sure you look like an idiot trying to win her over—with a simple repair job at that—but you're just desperate.

you shrug, grabbing your toolbox that had random stickers stuck onto it, from under the counter, as you stroll back out into the lot, the curly-headed girl following you shortly. and noticing your stickers, daniela chuckles, "you must really like spider and mickey mouse, huh?" a teasing smile plays on her lips, as she watches you freeze in your movements, rubbing the back of your neck awkwardly.

"you could tell?" you murmur, as you lean over the car hood, pulling the handle up, and popping the hood. you softly hum under your breath, before you look back, the girl standing gingerly while watching you, "you- you can pull up a chair from there if you'd like," you mumble, your hand pointing to the stack of chairs by the window. your eyes darts around the different fuses, biting the inside of your cheek to suppress a.

"what's your name anyway? never got it," you ask, as you check the clogged fuel filter again, your hands moving around meticulously. "daniela," she answers flatly, her eyes shamelessly trailing down your body. your face scowls at the blockages, too lost in looking at every fuse of the car to even notice the latina mindlessly watching you intently.

"you're a lifesaver, you know that?" she cracks up, chuckling, as she watches you concentrate with your eyes all narrowed. you roll your eyes, shaking your head, "been called stuff here and there but never a lifesaver." you tilt your head, a shit-eating grin curling on your lips. she scoffs, shaking her head in response, "i'm sure you're just exaggerating to make me feel special." her gaze flickers to your lips and then back to your eyes.

and for the rest of the repair, silence falls, leaving daniela with her thoughts. while you scrutinize her car, replacing a few things here and there, daniela couldn't help but notice the way your muscles flexed while your chest rose and fell, exasperated grunts escaping your lips every few seconds. synonymously, she couldn't help but chastise herself for gushing over you—a girl she barely knew but a sweet one at that. your eyebrows furrow, the tightness blooming in your chest, as you toss the girl a look over your shoulder, checking up on her, before brushing away a feeble string of sweat on your forehead.

after a good hour, you screw the hood closed, as you turn your head over to look at daniela—the girl practically knocked out on the small chair beside you. a chuckle escapes your breath, before you tap her shoulder, waking her up. "it's all good now. sorry for uh, keeping you out for awhile," you profusely apologize, dropping her keys onto her lap, as you wipe your hands on your rag, leaving your hands awkwardly clinging to your belt loops. a look of pity washes over your features. your heart knocks and knocks out of your chest, as you try to discern her expression, hoping she wasn't too bored.

daniela shakes her head, and with her voice smooth and calm, she drawls out, "it's fine, at least it's done earlier than in a week." it felt as though you were gonna drop dead at her reassuring tone, and in response, you hum, trying to dismiss the heat spreading at the tip of your ears. you lean against the car before fumbling over your words, "you- you can try out the car, see if it works y'know."

the latina nods slowly, "yeah, i'll definitely try that," as she enters the car, twisting her keys with a quick flick into the ignition, and finally does the engine actually rumble to life. you couldn't help but let a smile dance along your features, your arms crossed against your chest, as she rolls down the window.

"how much do i owe you?" she asks in a hushed tone, and you think for a fleeting moment before murmuring in between your teeth, "$30's fine," hoping nobody else could hear—especially when you lowered the bill by more than half of its original price. and in response, daniela furrows her eyebrows, clearly confused at how the price was now suddenly lower, but she nonetheless shook it off, handing you the money.

and before daniela takes off, she winks at you, a grin plastering her face, and you swear your heart squeezes ever-so-tightly that you could combust, melt, and ascend to the heavens. with your cheeks flushed, you take a few steps back, watching the curly-headed drive away from the lot. before you could wave, your coworker—kazuha—teases, "you know you have a fuck ton of cars to fix, and you need to pay the rest of her bill," as she nudges your shoulder.

you huff, sauntering over to the cash register inside, "shut up, it was worth it," you murmur, as you open the register, pulling out your wallet. you narrow your eyes, as you notice words written sloppily with a black marker on one of the bills daniela handed you.

call me, pretty (###)-####-#### - daniela

"can't believe a girl as gorgeous as her wants… whatever you are," kazuha snickers, raising her eyebrow, as the japanese girl flicks your forehead, making you push her playfully in return. you huff, a scowl on your face, before you slip the written bill into your pocket, shoving bills from your own wallet to pay off the rest of daniela's tab. and maybe you did have to work extra shifts to repair the rest of the cars, but you got daniela's number, and that was all that mattered to you right now.

so when you look me in my eyes

will you take some time?

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[sulkingheichou012]

Into the Dungeon with You

Pairing: Jinwoo x Reader

Genre: RomCom, Action, Future Smut

Warning: Description of violence and profanity.

Summary: Jinwoo frowned as a new system notification appeared before him.

[Special Reward Successfully Claimed.]

Author's note: I'm happy that some of you are enjoying my silly work! Yes, if you're asking to be tagged—sure! 😊

Chapter 12

The ground trembled beneath an army gathered at the heart of humanity’s last stand. Hunters of every rank stood shoulder to shoulder, their weapons clenched tight in their grasp, faces grim but determined. Even the weakest among them stood their ground, refusing to abandon the front lines, because behind them was home—and family.

And at the forefront stood the Shadow Army. Ten thousand strong. Silent. Unflinching. Giants towered over mountains, the air thick with Tusk’s arcane incantations. Bellion, Igris and Beru knelt at Jinwoo’s side, their auras blazing in anticipation.

And standing just behind him was Y/N.

Her scythe rested over her shoulder, and at her feet was a massive, slumbering shadow—her dragon. Its pitch-black scales shimmered with deep violet veins, its breath rumbling like distant thunder.

She whispered to the dragon, “Be ready.”

The portal in the sky pulsed ominously, dark tendrils spilling out, distorting the air itself. And then— A tear ripped through the clouds.

He came.

Antares arrived like a black sun blotting out the heavens. Wings outspread, talons sharp enough to rend continents, his descent cracked the earth itself. His molten glowing red eyes swept the battlefield with disdain.

And then, they settled on Jinwoo.

“You’ve gathered quite the resistance,” Antares said, his deep voice like the grinding of mountains.

Jinwoo stood tall, unmoved. “They’re not here for me. They’re here to protect what matters.”

Antares chuckled. “Protect? When the end is inevitable?” He spread his claws wide, gesturing toward the swirling abyss above. “The Primordial Hunger stirs. Even if you kill me, you’ve already lost.”

Jinwoo tightened his grip on his blade. “I haven’t lost anything yet.”

Antares tilted his head, his gaze shifting—landing on Y/N.

She froze.

Her shadow dragon rose, snarling low at the Dragon Monarch. Antares’ interest piqued. “You,” he murmured. “The Balance Keeper. Ashborn’s broken anchor.”

Y/N narrowed her eyes. “I’m not broken.”

She wasn’t ready for the sheer heat of that stare. It was like staring into the heart of an active volcano. Her chaotic brain, ever unhelpful, whispered: Majestic Daddy Dragon… Which was immediately followed by her own mental slap: Stop that!

But Antares noticed. Of course he did. Instead of fear, he found curiosity. Sparkle.

Antares gave a slow, cruel smile. “Perhaps not. But you will be.” he said, voice lowering as if it was a secret shared between them.

“I expected terror. But I see… fascination.”

But Jinwoo’s shadow swelled, and he took a deliberate step in front of her. “You will not touch her,” Jinwoo said, his voice dropping an octave.

Antares sighed. “A shame. She’s… intriguing.”

Antares’ offer came. Alliance. Partnership. Protection from the Primordial Hunger that was already stirring.

But Jinwoo refused. Exactly as Y/N knew he would.

And as Antares’ disappointment turned into lethal intent, Y/N found herself gripping her scythe tighter. This was it. The calm was over.

Jinwoo gave no warning. In a blink, he was in motion— Sword clashing against Antares’ talon in a blinding explosion of black and red.

The shockwave blew back the front line of Hunters. Tusk threw up shields of magic to hold the line.

Above them, titans clashed. Antares was relentless, his strength honed by eons of conquest. Jinwoo was faster, cutting deeper, shadow blades slashing like lightning strikes.

But it was not enough. Every time Jinwoo pressed forward, the portal tore wider behind Antares. The Primordial Hunger pulsed, screaming to be let loose upon the world.

Y/N didn’t stand still.

While Jinwoo fought Antares, she ran to the front lines. Hunters were falling, their ranks breaking under the weight of lesser dragons and corrupted beasts spilling from smaller tears. Y/N swung her scythe in wide arcs, cutting down monstrosities with brutal grace.

“Hold the line!” she shouted. Her dragon roared beside her, unleashing streams of black flame that consumed the enemy.

When a Hunter was about to fall, she was there. When a squad was about to break, she summoned shadow manifestations of ancient warriors, spectral heroes, and great beasts to bolster them.

But it wasn’t enough.

The monsters kept coming.

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. But Y/N didn’t hesitate. She called forth more of her Shadow Manifestations—warriors she didn’t know, yet who stood for her as if they’d been waiting for the call their whole afterlife.

“You fight for me,” she whispered. “Then I fight for you.”

Y/N was everywhere. Her control of the battlefield was flawless.

And Antares noticed.

Through the corner of his eye, he watched as she rallied the broken, her dragon shielding the weak. The Balance Keeper… restoring the fragile thread between life and death, holding the tide back.

He sneered. “She’s interfering.”

But Jinwoo heard none of it. He was locked in a brutal exchange, his blade carving deep into Antares’ scales, his strength driven by something deeper—someone he couldn’t lose.

Antares roared, shifting back into his true form—massive wings blotting out the light. The heat of his flames scorched the land. The Shadow Legion roared in response. And Jinwoo’s shadows surged forward to meet him.

Jinwoo glanced once toward Y/N. And found her already staring at him.

He spoke through their minds. “I’m proud of you,” he said. And then, “Stay alive.”

Y/N’ throat tightened. “You too, idiot.”

And yet, the Primordial Hunger continued to awaken.

Y/N saw it. The portal above was too vast, too hungry. Even if Jinwoo defeated Antares, the world was moments away from being devoured.

And then it struck her.

Ashborn’s final battle. The memory of his agony as she gave her life to seal the rift. History was repeating itself.

Y/N bit her lip hard, her scythe trembling in her grip.

She turned back toward Jinwoo. He was fighting with everything he had. For her. For everyone.

Tears stung her eyes.

Jinwoo was struck hard by Antares.

He flew back, smashing into the ground with an explosion of debris.

Y/N didn’t hesitate. She sprinted toward him, throwing herself down beside him.

He coughed, blood painting his lips. But his eyes were on her immediately, searching her face.

“You have to stay back,” he rasped. “I can do this.”

Y/N’ throat closed. “You don’t have to do it alone.”

Before he could react, she leaned in— And pressed her forehead to his. A soft, lingering moment in the chaos.

“I’m glad I met you,” she whispered, tears threatening. “You… you are my home.”

Jinwoo’s breath hitched. “Y/N, don’t—”

But she was already rising. Running.

The battlefield had descended into utter chaos. The skies tore open with gaping maws of endless blackness, spilling the influence of the Primordial Hunger. Portals bled into each other, rupturing reality as monstrous distortions clawed at existence itself. Even Antares, locked in deadly combat with Jinwoo, glanced up once— And smiled. “The beginning of the end,” he whispered with cruel satisfaction.

But Y/N had already made her decision.

She exhaled shakily, lifting her gaze to the sky. Her fingers trembled as she reached out, calling to the massive shadow coiled nearby. Her dragon responded instantly, rising from the ground with a thunderous roar that shook what little was left of the earth.

Y/N vaulted onto its back. Her scythe stabbed into the beast’s hide—not to harm it, but to anchor herself as they surged skyward. The dragon’s wings spread wide, obsidian membranes shimmering like oil on water as it carried her toward the heart of the apocalyptic storm.

Below them, the Hunters were frozen in place, gazes lifted. “Lady Y/N…” murmured one of the low-rank Hunters, eyes wide in awe.

“She’s going for the portal!” shouted another.

“She’s going to close it!”

A rallying cry rose from the ranks. Their voices shook with desperation and hope.

Beru and other shadows knelt in the dirt, his mandibles clicking anxiously. Bellion and Igris, battered but standing tall, silently lifted his sword toward the sky in salute.

As Y/N and her dragon climbed higher, the winds howled violently. The Primordial Hunger’s influence battered at her, tendrils of dark energy lashing at her skin. Blood streaked her cheeks, but she gritted her teeth and pushed forward.

“Just a little closer…” she murmured. The dragon’s muscles coiled tight as it reached the apex of its flight. With a final, guttural roar, it unleashed a torrent of shadowflame, scouring a path directly into the heart of the portal.

Y/N rose to stand atop the dragon’s neck, arms wide. Her scythe vanished in a ripple of shadow. In its place, black tendrils erupted from her fingertips—long, thick shadow chains, glowing faintly with ancient runes.

“Bind,” she commanded. Her voice was steady, though her body shook.

The chains shot outward, spearing into the edges of the largest rift in the sky. The entire world seemed to groan under the strain as the chains anchored themselves deep into reality’s seams. Then— She pulled.

Y/N screamed. Shadow energy exploded from her body in a shockwave that sent the dragon tumbling beneath her. But she did not fall. She hovered, suspended by sheer will.

The chains groaned and tightened, inch by agonizing inch, dragging the portal shut. Each moment was a battle. For every meter the portal closed, the Primordial Hunger pushed back twice as hard.

Blood poured from her nose and ears. Her vision blurred. But Y/N smiled through it all. “Not this time,” she whispered. “I’ll finish it.”

Below, the Hunters watched in stunned silence. They saw her glowing like a dying star, her dragon dissolving beneath her into black dust. And still, she pulled the chains tighter.

Relief and sorrow warred in their expressions. “She’s doing it…” whispered a Hunter. “She’s winning.”

But others wept openly. “She’s… she’s not coming back, is she?”

Jinwoo felt it the moment Y/N gave herself to the Balance Keeper’s duty. A tearing sensation in his chest, as if something inside him was being ripped away.

He roared, driving Kamish’s fang deeper into Antares’ hide. The Dragon Monarch snarled, retaliating with brutal fury— But Jinwoo was relentless. Fueled by desperation. By rage.

He drove Antares back, deeper into the broken ruins of what was once a city. Every strike Jinwoo delivered cracked the air itself, his shadows swarming in a black hurricane.

Antares smirked through the pain. “You’ve already lost her,” he hissed.

And Jinwoo snapped. He unleashed everything. Antares’ massive body was thrown back, smashing through the remnants of a skyscraper, pinned by a forest of shadow spears.

Jinwoo didn’t wait. He turned and sprinted toward the sky.

The portal was closing. The chains had nearly finished their work. The sky was clearing.

But Y/N— She was falling.

Her dragon was gone, disintegrated into stardust. And she followed, her body fragmenting into particles of light and shadow. Each breath she took scattered her essence a little more.

Jinwoo’s heart stopped.

He leapt. Shadow teleportation blurred his form as he raced to catch her before she was lost.

“Y/N!” he shouted. Her gaze found him, dazed but soft. She smiled. “We did it.”

He caught her— But there was nothing solid. Her form dissolved against his chest, leaving faint warmth and motes of light behind.

“No. No, no, no… Please... not like this…” Jinwoo’s hands scrambled to hold her together, but his fingers passed through smoke and fading light.

And she was gone.

The portal sealed behind her, its edges stitched closed by shadow chains that dissolved into the ether.

Hunters dropped to their knees, some crying and roaring out in relief, others in grief. They had won. The world was saved.

But the cost…

Jinwoo stood in the center of the ruin, arms empty, head bowed. Shadows swirled around him, restless and mourning.

The silence was deafening.

Jinwoo knelt there for a long time, hands still out as if cradling something that wasn’t there. His head bowed. His shadows stood frozen behind him, unmoving, silent in mourning.

He didn’t cry. He didn’t scream. He simply… stopped.

The world was quiet. The battle was over. But the ache had only just begun.

And in the wind, A faint whisper: “I love you.”

His fists clenched. Tears dripped from his chin. But when he raised his head again, his eyes burned with purpose.

“I’ll find you, Y/N,” he swore. “Even if I have to tear through every realm to bring you home.”

And the Shadow Monarch took his first step toward a new journey.

<< Chapter 11 | Chapter 13 >>

Tag requests: @kisssleeping; @catsf0rlife707; @aorifukuzawa; @joannthebish; @ojog404; @tanspostsblog; @snowy-violet; @o-qi-shisme; @sleepyamaya; @harrystylesfan2686; @night-shadowblood-writes2; @weaponxgames; @bubera974;

Sending big hugs to every Y/N out there 😭💔

[whitedarkmoonflower]

I won’t lose you!

Pairing: Sihtric x reader (female)

Authors note: was it inspired by some of the latest creations of @leftoverp1zza? For sure! Darling you are feeding my little inner angst gremlin so well. It's incredible!

Warnings: some mild SMUT, description of blood and violence, afterbattle setting, some angst

Word Count: 1,5 K (Yey, I managed to write a short one)

Summary: based on the promt "Even at my worst?". The battle is over and Sihtric can't find you.

Raindrops, like rare salty tears, rolled down Sihtric’s face, mingling with sweat, blood, and dirt, leaving pale trails in their wake, like tiny rivers carving paths on his skin. His joints felt heavy, as if filled with lead, and every muscle ached with even the slightest movement. Yet he raised his head to the sky, now weeping alongside him, hoping the rain would wash away not only the blood and grime but the sudden dread creeping beneath his skin.

Thunder boomed above, and the scattered raindrops turned into a torrential downpour, as though the sky had flung open its gates in a desperate bid to cleanse the earth of this stain of shame that this battlefield had become.

Death. It clung to the air—its scent, its presence palpable in every sense. He could smell it, feel it in his fingertips, taste it on his tongue, hear it in the silence between each heartbeat, and see it spread across the horizon like a plague. There was no escape from it. He was no stranger to battlefields, but this was not a battlefield anymore—it was the aftermath of a massacre. It was the evidence of men’s recklessness, a testament to the violence and rage that seemed to be the only true values left in this cursed world. And he was a part of it.

He had felt Death’s cold, bony fingers grasp his own as his strength ebbed away, blood splattered across his vision, his feet slipping in the muck—mud, blood, and filth mixed beneath him. 

Sihtric closed his eyes and listened. He could hear his heart racing in the cage of his ribs, feel his breath scraping through his dry throat, filling his aching lungs. The blood pounded in his ears, rushing through his veins.

Alive. He was still alive. The realisation struck Sihtric like a searing blade against his skin. Only now did he notice his fingers still clenched around the shaft of his axe, blood dripping from his hand, mingling with the rain. He had survived even if it seemed that a part of him had died today and will remain buried in this battlefield forever.

His eyes wandered around as if searching for something or rather somebody. 

You had been there, just within arms reach, as the shield wall broke and your eyes had found his – a short fragile moment of unspoken promise of peace amidst the eternity of chaos and pain. 

You were his peace and his undoing, all at once. And he wouldn’t have it any other way. The unending storm of life in your gaze was one of the rare things that tethered him to this world with that invisible thread of silent acceptance. Acceptance of who he was, down to the darkest corners of his mind, to the parts of his soul even he himself struggled to claim as his own.

It seemed like ages ago, like in another lifetime, like a memory wrapped in smoke from the dying embers. That night by the fire, your lips had crashed against his with the greedy, raw and uncontained anger that replaces the battle rage, filling the void left by the screams and death. He knew it too well. That same anger ran through his veins – unquenchable, unrelenting. 

His hands had found you instinctively, gripping, clawing, tearing at fabric, ravenously dipping into your bare skin as though you might slip through his fingers like sand, lost to the tide. His need as wild as the battlefield behind you, the need to feel you, to ground himself in something real, something beyond destruction and chaos, beyond ruin and loss. 

You sank down onto his cock, and the world fell away as he watched you through heavy-lidded eyes, his lips parted, breath ragged as you took him in, inch by aching inch. A groan rumbled in his throat, deep and guttural, something between a wild beast’s snarl and a man reaching for salvation just beyond his grasp.

Your hands braced against his chest, fingers digging into the firm planes of muscle, as if anchoring yourself into him, as if he were something solid, something unbreakable, something capable of stopping you from falling apart. But he wasn’t. Not here.  Not like this. 

Anger and tension bled from his tired body, leaving him bare and raw, giddy and drunk from you, from your touch, unraveling him like nothing ever before as he sought the warmth of your body to save him, to make him feel something. Something that wasn’t rage or fury.

He thrust up into you, his arms around you, pulling you flush against him, skin to skin, breath to breath, your heart hammering against his. A collision of fury and desperation, heat and want. 

There were no words between you, only the rhythm of your bodies moving against each other, wildly, frantically, his grip on your hips tightening, his pace fierce and relentless, dragging broken gasps from your lips. 

Forehead pressed to your shoulder he had groaned your name as his seed filled you, your body tightening around him as your own release clashed through you, moans filling the nightly sky. 

You were his everything, the only being in this world and beyond worth worshipping after a day spent drowning in death, and yet he had never told you that, had never dared to say the words burning on his lips. Too afraid to shatter that fragile something between you, too scared to name it.

And now you were gone. 

He had begged you not to come with him this time. It was not your war, not your battle. 

Sihtric’s fingers let go of his weapon, one by one, as if releasing the blood soaked wood meant severing a part of himself. It fell. With a dull, lifeless thud the axe hit the ground. He didn’t care anymore. He couldn’t.

He moved through the battlefield, body after body he combed the ground, the heaviness in his limbs and joints gone. His nails broke as he clawed at armour, rolling over the dead bodies, staring at the faces ruined by death. Searching. Praying. Dreading.

And then he saw you. A body, a still, lifeless body. A face so hauntingly beautiful, so pale, that even Mani - the goddess of the moon – would weep with jealousy. 

You heard him, heard him shouting your name, heard his footsteps pounding against the wet, muddy earth as he ran to you. You heard his knees hitting the ground beside you. 

You felt his warmth. The weight of his body as he pressed himself to you, the desperate rain of kisses landing on your cold skin. You felt his hands, shaking, cradling your face.

You tried to open your eyes, but you didn’t have the strength. 

The scent of blood and sweat, the echoes of clashing steel, the shouts and screams all blurred into a distant hum and slowly faded, retreating beneath the press of Sihtric’s body against yours, beneath the gentle touch of his calloused palms, beneath the sound of his cracking voice. 

The desperate pull of a shaky breath you stole between kisses made Sihtric freeze for a moment. His heart thundered, not with the remnants of battle rage, but with something deeper, something so much more terrifying. Love. And dread. The kind that threatened to break him entirely, an overwhelming dread that he might have lost you. 

His forehead pressed against yours, his breath uneven: “You’re alive,” he murmured, as if saying it aloud would make it more real.

“As are you,” you whispered, though your voice sounded shaky and splintered as if each word scraped against a thousand shards of glass in your throat.

His fingers skimmed along the curve of your jaw, rough but so gentle and reverent, his thumb lingered at the corner of your lips as if memorizing the feel of them. His world had nearly ended today. Yet, here you were. In his arms. Still breathing. Still his. Had you ever really been his?

“Sihtric…”

It was a quiet, delicate whisper, but hearing his name in the soft exhale, leaving your lips, he could feel the tears pearling in the corners of his eyes.

Sihtric leaned in, the sheer need to kiss those pale lips that had whispered his name, to feel them, to burrie himself in the truth that you were alive, that you were still here could bring the world to stand still. 

“Never ever do this again. Do you hear me? Never! I won’t lose you! I can’t lose you! I… I love you too much,” Sihtric’s voice faded into a hoarse whisper and you finally willed your arm to move, your fingers trembling as they brushed against his cheek. 

So many battles, so many nights of raw, unfiltered passion had passed between you in silence that you had already abandoned hope of ever hearing those words. 

But here they were.

"I love you too, Sihtric." You forced a weak smile, your lips trembling.

His breath hitched.

"You are my life," he whispered. "I will always love you."

"Even like this? Even at my worst?"

"Especially at your worst."