#then a spy told me something and it all made sense why he sounds so familiar

[pybun]

I FINALLY KNOW WHAT HE SOUNDS LIKE 👁👁

[tokutaiseichan]

I’ve pointed this out before but so far, Hotarubi is the only chapter where a Like Dove never made any appearances. Thanks to Taiga, we know that Like Dove is probably some kind of a spying device and everything points to the possibility that its duty is to monitor missions involving ghouls.

Yet it never made an appearance during the course of Hotarubi’s mission. Why is that? At first, I thought it’s perhaps because Taiga had killed and eaten the one that appeared during the Sinostra chapter. In the first place, we never found out if there are more than one Like Dove. It’s an anomaly—and a rare one at that. It might be the only one or maybe not.

But then I started thinking: what if the reason a Like Dove didn’t appear to monitor the ghouls’ mission this time is because they already have an “Insider” involved in the mission?

Zenji is automatically out. My man’s dead and Darkwick doesn't even know his ghost is still wandering around. Subaru? Makes sense since he has already lied to everyone before. What’s another secret? But after all that happened at the Ultio prison and considering his personality, I feel like what he confessed that time was everything he was involved with. Subaru’s awful at lying and hiding things, if he’s the spy he’d be a bit more obvious and feel even more guilty. So hmm… I wonder who we’re left with……

Remember how during that one time MC was trying to escape again, Haku was the one who just conveniently showed up and successfully convinced her to not defy Darkwick anymore?

Sure, we can see it as simply a considerate gesture of a senior looking after his anxious junior. Especially when it's so blatantly implied later that he had experienced the consequences of going against the rules. Still, the timing is just… too perfect…

MC trying to escape → Bumped into Rui who's about to head to a mission → Haku suddenly appeared (Rui: “But Moby said no one usually rides around this time of the day~”) → Haku scolded both MC & Rui一brought up the clause of disciplinary actions if one were to do anything funny during missions and reminded Rui of his standing (Haku: “You know it's even worse if you're the one she's with, right?”) → Haku got MC away from Rui → Haku reassured MC and convinced her to stay at Darkwick to break her curse first instead of running away (like what he did before?)

It's almost as if he was purposely sent there for damage control.

“I'll keep this incident a secret from the Academy,” when the reason MC can't even escape in the first place is because Darkwick already knows what she's trying to do? Yeah, right. If you have tried to run away before, you'd know Darkwick has eyes everywhere.

I also found his responses from chapter 2 of his Personal Story rather interesting.

If MC thanked him → “…You shouldn't put too much stock in what I said, you know.” (He acts like the ever dependable and reassuring senior to MC but when she expressed genuine gratitude, he immediately backed off. Does he feel guilty because of how MC seems to always trust his words now? Because he’s keeping something from her?)

If MC shook her head → “Looking at you trying so hard made me realize how underhanded I am.” (Now he just sounds so bitter here…)

There's also the bait and switch with Hotarubi.

During Sinostra, MC found out the existence of a spy among the ghouls. And immediately at Hotarubi early chapters, Moby told her that the Hotarubi ghouls are hiding something. This planted seeds of doubt in MC一she thought one of them might be related to the spy. But at the end of the book, it was… in a way, disproven.

The secret they kept was Zenji's existence一for Haku & Zenji一and Subaru's mission regarding Lyca and his true stigma. This, ironically, leads up to MC being much more determined to trust the ghouls and be more wary about the Academy and Institute一even more than she originally did.

The reason I brought this up? Because the narrative has now painted Hotarubi as the “innocent” house. They made us (both MC & the readers) think how the ghouls over there are just trying their damn best to protect their friends… so that you'd suspect it the least for housing any spy (whom, in Taiga's words, is supposedly trying to screw other ghouls over). They made it seem like Hotarubi must've shown all their cards by now and gave us a sense of… relief? In a way.

(Obviously, there's still the mystery of Haku's dorm transfer. But that's for another day…)

Last but not the least, I'll bring you Haku's last words he told MC before jumping into the fire:

EN: Sorry, I guess I couldn't be the guy you wanted me to be. Ha ha… Don't look like that. Never lost faith in me, did you?

JP: ……すまんね。おまえさんの期待に、応えられんかったわ。はは……そんな顔しなさんな。最後におれを信じてくれて、ありがとね (Direct, almost word-to-word tl: ……Sorry. Looks like I couldn't meet your expectations. Haha…… Don't make that face. Thanks, for trusting me even at the bitter end.)

“Thanks for trusting me to the end,” are you Implying MC has reasons to lose her faith in you, Mister Haku Kusanagi? 🤔🤨

This is probably just me reaching but, has anyone noticed how “trust” seems to be a recurring theme with MC and Haku in particular? “Trust me. You'll be fine here,” and “If you need any help, I'm always happy to lend you a hand,” but also, “Don’t take what I said too seriously.” Which is it???

Anway, since Obscuary is just around the corner, I just wanna say that: 

1) If a Love Dove doesn't appear then it means I'm just looking too much into things and that the reason it doesn't appear is simply because Taiga has killed the one during Sinostra. And everything I wrote up to this point are hogwash.

2) If a Love Dove does appear again, I'll add +1 sus point to Haku.

“Why are you so suspicious of Haku anyway?” Years of watching anime and reading manga/visual novels/etc has taught me that you should always be wary of the sawayaka oniisan type. =w=)b

If you read until this point then thank you for giving my 2 a.m. rambles a chance! But please keep in mind that they don't call me Detective Reaching #2 for nothing. 🤧 For now, I'm going to log off so 🫡 Ciao!

[deonsx]

Good Girl For Them

Feat: Dazai, Chuuya, Fyodor

Content: obscene speech

Dazai Osamu

You wanted him at work You wanted him at home you wanted him everywhere but he wasn't interested in you these days you knew what a serious guy he was at work

If it's a really serious business, you can never stop him, but it's been going on like this for 1 month, he doesn't take care of you, sometimes you even suspect that he's coming home, he sleeps at work or comes home for 2-3 hours

There's nothing he can't do in his job. A mission was more valuable than his own life. You tried to talk to him, but he promised you to pick up where he left off after his mission

But you really didn't like to put up with it, you were going to sleep alone tonight like any other night. But tonight you were feeling horny just like any other night, the only difference was you didn't want to deprive yourself

You wanted to touch yourself but you hesitated but you really started thinking about him you closed your eyes slowly undressed..everything was normal until you moaned his name "osamu..hah" you sighed your fingers went deep until you heard that voice

"So that's how you satisfy yourself while I'm gone, bella”

Your eyes widened at the sound you heard and I quickly sat up, "Osamu? It's not like that-" Osamu put his hand in his hair and scratched his face with a slight anger, "If that's what you want"

You couldn't speak, and he sat down slowly on the coffee table across the bed "Hm? What's the matter sweetie"

He was looking at you as if he was expecting something, you swallowed...you got out of bed and knelt in front of him "So cute" Your hands went to her pants and you unzipped them

“You're a good girl, aren't you?"

Chuuya Nakahara

You were working in your office and your boyfriend was front of your desk, and next to you was a boy who had just joined the team

You were all reviewing and organizing the documents the Boss gave, but you talked a little too much with the boy next to you and you got chuuya's full attention

The boy bent down in your ear to tell you something, suddenly the table slammed into the floor hard "what the hell are you talking to my woman?" looking at the boy, chuuya asked

The boy didn't answer and you didn't talk he just told you something about work and it made your boyfriend suddenly angry but you didn't find him wrong so you kept your silence

"We're leaving! We're done here for today, but you'll take care of the files for us" He made fun of him and grabbed you by the wrist and dragged you out of the office

He quickly pulled you into a corner. "Why are you letting him talk to you? Or does he have something that I don't?" he asked in a serious and slightly elevated tone

You laughed at his angry face "my love it's not possible she told me something about work it would be silly to look at another man than you"

He grinned at you, "So that's it… will you do whatever I say?" You nodded your head yes

“kneel my love”

Fyodor Dostoyevski

These days, you didn't even have time to stop by the house where the two of you live together, you were constantly going on missions

You were secretly working in the Agency to spy, for Fyodor and you couldn't find the time for her these days, but you didn't care, you wanted to give her important information and show her your worth

You were in one of those duties again and you were talking to the people in the agency, at that moment you felt a sense of being watched, but you thought it was not that important and continued the conversations

When it was evening, you finally came back to your house, your eyes were light sleepy, you saw him, you wanted to give the information as soon as possible and increase his confidence in you, in fact, you were doing everything for him

When you got home you saw your boyfriend Fyodor waiting in the dark "oh? didn't you sleep? I brought you good information" your voice rang with joy but no sound was heard from him

"Fyodor? What's the matter? Was there a leak in one of the missions—" he interrupted. "You think everything in my life is a mission?" You are stunned "I chose you as my girlfriend but you are not here even at night my dear?"

You didn't know what to say "I do everything for you... aren't you ?" your hair fell in front of your eyes, the man's eyes shone in the moonlight and he looked at you

"To happy me? Do you really want that?" You nodded but you thought to yourself did you really do all this to him but didn't he want it all this time? You looked forward to what he was going to tell you. Another mission? Or Assassination?

“Show me your Skills and kneel under the table”

Request Are Open

[personwhowrites]

Common Sense

Task Force 141 (kind of?) x gn reader(platonic)

No use of y/n or any female/male pronouns.

Words: 2k ish something

——————————————————————

Sense, that’s what they all told you in boot camp. If you want to survive in such a job, you need sense. Not just a ‘I felt that’ sense, but also common sense. It came to surprise when you almost put a sergeant in danger along with the squad you were assigned to. The base bussed with rumors about you, how you lacked common sense in serious situations and instead did stupid things. You don't like those types of rumors, it made you feel like you didn’t matter.

You did have common sense, you did know what to do in serious and tense situations.

“Are you done mumbling to yourself?” A voice spoke, finally you snapped back into reality and noticed you were sitting down in front of a man. “You’re a rookie, correct? Fresh out of boot camp?”

“Yes sir, I am..” You replied unsure why he needed to know if it was correct. “I want to apl—”

The apology was cut off short by the sound of him shushing you. You were taken back by this type of response and looked at his desk. There you found a label, his name written on it ‘Captain John Price’. You soon then turned your attention to Price, he didn’t seem so happy to have a rookie in his office, and his gesture made it clear he didn’t want any excuses or apologies.

“I have heard several rumors about you.” Price says looking at you, his face with a simple annoyed expression. “So, is it true you lack common sense?”

“No I don’t sir, I don’t believe that I do.” You reply is slightly hurt by his question. “I understand that things may seem like my fault but it isn't.”

“Yet it is your fault, you were the one crossing the enemy line.” Price adds and crosses his arms against his chest. “ I should be getting you fired and investigated., you could be a spy with all the actions you have done.

The word spy struck you like a truck, you a spy? How could he come to the exception that you were a spy? Could it be another rumor someone started behind your back that you weren’t aware of? Price cleared his throat, your attention back on him, your eyes slightly wide to his words.

“Are you a spy rookie?’’ Price asks you now, leaning back on his chair. “Your reaction makes me think otherwise..”

“I'm not sir, I was just taken back by your words..” You reply and look into his eyes now slightly scared. “I would never betray britain.”

“On that note do you lack common sense then?” Price asks, looking at you. “Looking at you makes me think that you lack common sense.”

“First of all I do have common sense.” You blurted with slight anger in you. “I understand that I might bebe violating some dress code with my piercings, butI do have common sense.”

Price leans back in his chair and sighs. He shifts his weight to the chair, you stare at him. It was clear he didn’t want your smart ass mouth talking anymore. An awkward silence rose between for a couple seconds before he finally sat back up.

“Twenty four laps around the whole base.” Price ordered as he reached for a file on his desk. “I don’t care if you get tired, I want them done before dinner.”

“That's in two hours!’ You exclaim and look Price. “That is impossible to do without breaks!”

“Dismissed.” Price bluntly said not looking on from his file. “If you did have common sense I would stop arguing and start now.’’

You looked at Price, he was being very serious about your punishment. You didn’t want to get a longer number so you left his office and headed down to the outside of the base. People around you were getting ready for missions, starting up cars and helicopters. The sunset was setting and you knew time was ticking down for you as you started to run. People gave you odd looks as you ran around the base, no one questioned you or even wanted to talk to you. Time became clear, it was so little so very little and you were just on lap seven. When you made your eight lap, Price was waiting for you, his arms crossed and a look of disappointment.

“Just eight how disappointing” Price remarks looking at you. “How bad of a rookie even you are?”

You look down at the floor, your hands on your knees as you're slightly slouching. Price hands you a water bottle and you immediately drink it. Price eyes narrow to the sight, did you really not take a break? You stand up straight and look at him, his cold gaze meeting your tired gaze.

“Who said you can stop now?” Price says looking at you now. “Go on, you had one of your water breaks.”

You look at Price and curse, even yell and tell him something but nothing escapes your lips. Soon you turn away from Price and start running again. Each time you finished a lap Price gave you a nod of approval and watched on. When you came around on your twelve lap, you saw three people standing besides him. They all watched you now. It seemed like they were trying to understand why Price is so interested in keeping an eye on you. Price stops you before you can runoff to do another lap, he hands you a water bottle.

“I'm surprised you haven’t decided to give up yet.” Price remarks and looks at you with some pity. “Call it a night if you know what’s best for you.”

You look at Price, unwillingly you walk away and soon start to run instead. You did see tall people next to him. One had a mohawk as their haircut was strange at first but then more looking into it did make his facial features pop out more. Another had a balaclava with a skull sewn into it, it gave you creepy vibes even more as you notice he was the tallest out of them. He definitely didn’t seem normal or friendly at all. A fellow male with a cap with a Union flag stood next to Price. They all seem to come from different backgrounds yet they seem to get along so well. When you came around on your thirteen lap Price stared at you. His gaze wasn’t threatening but more of a respectful look.

It took two more hours to finish up those twenty four laps. When you finished you collapsed onto the dirt. It was a sight, you were sweating and panting as you tried to regain your breath. Price kneeled next to you and looked at your shaking body. It was clear he was slightly impressed that you really didn’t give up like he expected you to. No one said a word, only silence and the cool night breeze hung around. Crickets chirped and the late night lights turned on, it was clearly late and you still needed to shower and finish your daily tasks. Finally after a couple minutes you regained your breath and stood up, Price stood up as well and crossed his arms. He had something in mind.

“Good job rookie, I honestly expected you to give up sooner.” Price beamed before handing you a bottle of water. “Follow me kid..”

You did as told, your feet ached but you couldn't stop then. When you followed Price the other three people did too. It felt like their stares wanted to eat you alive and know what makes you weak. You arrived in a building and saw a strange obstacle and Price stopped and turned to you, his gaze was now cold once more. Price handed you an L85A2, a rifle mostly used by beginners and people who fail to hold a gun correctly.

“I want you to do this obstacle and see if you really deserved to pass selection.” Price says and looks at you before pushing you forward. “Come one now, we don’t have all night.”

‘We’ the mention of it made you realize that the people earlier were going to judge you too. You heard the mohawk man snicker with the union flag cap man. Meanwhile the creepy tall looking man stared into your soul, definitely freaked you out. You held the rifle in your hand and tried to reject or say something but your body started moving. Your mind wanted to go against it and rest, but your body wanted to move and do as told.

When you finished the obstacle, a loud buzzer went off and you looked at them. Price had a semi pleased look on his face. He then grabbed the rifle out of your hands and looked at the union flag cap man.

“Gaz, you think they would beat your record?” Price asks them and the man chuckles, shaking their head. “No?’’ Price soon turns to the mohawk man and chuckles. “Soap?”

“You aren’t gonna call them a muppet?” Soap asks with a sly grin on his face. “That’s new for you captain.’’

“At least they don’t have a ridiculous codename like you when I first met you.” Price adds looking at you now. “Do you have a codename yet, rookie?”

“None..” You reply to price before yawning. “Why ask me that sir?”

“Oh you will get one soon when you're with us.” Gaz adds speaking for Price. “You are a rookie with common sense, correct?”

You let out annoyed sigh and nod to his words. It seemed like that common sense rumor would be sticking for a long time. Price ruffled your hair and chuckled, his whole attitude with you changed immediately and it seemed like the others as well. You looked at the four men in front of you, slightly confused about what's happening. Price soon dismissed you without another word. You left the building only to turn your head back around to see them talking like some sort of loving family. The scary looking skull masked man made eye contact with you. It sent shivers down your spine. Soap spoke, you couldn't manage what he said fully but he called the man ‘Ghost’.

The rest of the night was blurr, you found yourself eating cereal and looking at the table. You kept bobbing your head as you tried to remain awake. It wasn’t easy but you kept shaking your head hoping that would make you stay awake. The training for the day was a drag for you, already so you decided to sneak away hoping no one rats you out. You made your way into the busy hallways, buzzing with activity and movement of carts pushing items. You turned the corner of a hall and saw Price, he immediately saw you as you tried to duck behind a rack of boxes, he walked over and looked at you. He didn’t recognize you at first but soon did as you gave him a small awkward smile.

“Aren’t you supposed to be doing your rookie training?” Price says looking at you with a slight disappointed look. “A muppet like you really lacks common sense huh?”

There it was again, common sense..How come everyone you knew or well felt like you knew asked you such a thing. Have things become off after that mistake of yours? Did people really think you had no common sense no more or was it just to get under your skin?

“You done thinking? Because I still need an explanation.” Price says looking at you with a slight pity look. “Forget it, come with me I need to discuss something with you.”

You open your mouth to speak but Price had already walked away. You let out an annoyed groan and follow after him. He takes you back outside, past the other rookies and into the building from last night. There you see Ghost, Gaz and Soap all waiting for Price and you? Price pushes you up to them and they stare at him with some confusion.

“What is the rookie doing here? No offense..” Gaz says looking at you then at Price. “Thought this was private practice.”

“I did mention that I would be bringing someone here with us today.” Price adds before turning his attention to you. “You think that it’s okay to leave training and go sneak around the base. I think it should make some sense to punish you by making you train with them.”

Oh boy and training you did, Price made sure no one slacked off. Well mostly you didn’t slack off and tried to take a break. It did have its ups, you were training with a captain, two sergeants and a lieutenant. A normal rookie could never get that type of training, it wasn’t so bad in the end. They all gave you some slight pointers to better your skills and what not to do on a mission, for some reason they all had a good bond with you. Well except Ghost he moved away from you or scoffed as you tried to ask for his assistance or any tips. Soap told you he was like that to everyone so you shouldn’t take his actions to heart. Which you didn’t most of the time.. When lunch time you started to walk away from them.

“Where do you think you're going?” Gaz asked as he leaned against some pillar. “You have things to do or what?”

“Lunch, I don’t want to miss it and this training made me hungry.” You say looking back at him before Price shakes his head and chuckles. “What?”

“You don’t want to go out and grab a bite to eat with us?” Price says with a small smile on his lips. “You hurting us here rookie, we are a team after all.”

“Team?” You say confused before Price walks up to you. “We just don’t let some rookie hang and train out with us for no reason. You didn’t think this was a punishment.. Did you?”

“I mean.. You did say it was a punishment for sneaking away.” You say now embarrassed and confused by what's happening. “I should go back, I'm probably in trouble now..”

“Kid, don’t worry about that now” Soap adds, looking at his phone while leaning his weight on Ghost. “You’re with us now, so no need for some worry.”

“With yall?” you ask confused, Price sighs and places his hand on your shoulder,

“We really gotta work on that common sense..” Price says with a chuckle are you stare at him confused. “What do you feel like eating?”

You stare at Price unsure on how to answer, then look at the others. Then it became clear, they took you in but didn’t want to admit they did such a thing. You smile a bit, maybe just maybe you did need help with some common sense and they would be the ones helping you.

——-

Authors note; it’s been a while since I written anything. I hope I can get back into the rift of writing. All feedback is lovely, please tell me on how I can make the ‘fanfics’ in yeh future more enjoyable for you all. I take in all options and tips 🖤

[firstdeerwife]

Well...hello

And so well I must say that it is the first time I write something

I just had this idea in my head to write something and maybe it's not good but by spoiling you learn, so I hope you like my idea and I hope I can continue it as a series maybe

And well, a little context about this crazy idea.

Well I was browsing Pinterest and I found some cute fanarts of Adam and Eve and I said why not

|PROLOGUE|

God had created Adam and Lilith from the dust of the earth on equal terms.

Despite this Adam demanded control and Lilith refused to submit to his will and escaped from the garden.

Given this, God gave Adam a second wife,this time created from one of his ribs.

And for a while everything was fine

Eve was walking through the garden looking for some flowers, then she came to a part of the garden that she had never seen before. She examined the place looking for familiar signs to know where it was.

A figure hidden among the trees caught her attention, maybe she should go back to Adam but she was curious, after all Adam and her were the only ones in the garden, right?

Maybe if she came back the next day it would still be there, but what if it wasn't there the next day? It was a risk she would take,besides, Adam would surely be looking for her.

★___________________________________________★

The next day she decided to return at the same time as the day before, she had told Adam that she was going for a short walk and strangely he had agreed to let her go alone.She approached with extreme care so that she could observe at a not too short distance behind a tree, trying not to be discovered.She was able to notice more closely that figure that seemed to be looking at the sky, oblivious to her presence.

She tried to know who or what she was. She observed her very carefully and noticed that she seemed to be like her and Adam, but that was not possible.Adam had told her that they were the only human beings in the garden, "the first man and the first woman." She had so many doubts, she had to go back to Adam.

Creak

She had stepped on a small branch that rustled and caught the other person's attention. Panic began to scare her. She looked up at the trees and sighed when she didn't see anyone, although she didn't know if it was good or bad.She turned around and then collided with something better said someone.

A silence invaded the garden until a voice spoke.

"What are you doing here?"Her voice was so soft even though it sounded demanding.

"Uh...sorry, I'm already gone, I don't want to bother"Eve kept her head down looking at the grass

A small laugh made her look up, seeing the face of a very pretty woman and if she hadn't seen her reflection in the water before,she wouldn't know how much they both looked alike.

"Hey, don't be scared, I won't bite." The woman gave her a warm smile that made her feel more comfortable.

"Sorry, I didn't want to spy on you, I was just curious." Eve smiled shyly.

"Don't worry, by the way my name is Lilith" Lilith extended her hand for Eve to take.

"My name is Eve." Eve took his hand and gave it a little squeeze.

"It's a nice name." Eve smiled at the compliment.

""Thank you, Adam gave me my name." Eve smiled while Lilith rolled her eyes at the mention of Adam.

"Either way I have to go o Adam will be upset if I was late ."Eve gave her a small smile."Maybe I'll see you soon"With one last look at Lilith, Eve walked away in the direction of where Adam was.

Lilith smiled as she watched her walk away.

"Sooner than you think"

∆|____________________________________________|

I don't know what I did but I hope you like it, I will answer your questions if you like, I will also try to improve my writing,this will make sense over time so enjoy 🥺💐

[apollostears]

𝐿𝐼𝐾𝐸 𝐴 𝐕𝐈𝐑𝐆𝐈𝐍 ＃︎！︎

❤︎ 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆(𝐒): 𝐬𝐦𝐮𝐭, 𝐛𝐟𝐛 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞, 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧!𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐨, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭!𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐨, 𝐝𝐨𝐦!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫-𝐢𝐬𝐡, 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝, 𝐜𝐮𝐦 𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨����𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎, 𝐞𝐦𝐨!𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐨, 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐰/ 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞, 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐮, 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐰

❤︎ 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐨 𝐤𝐚𝐦𝐨 𝐱 𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐛!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

✉︎ 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭: Y/n is a childhood friend of Yuuji's and is always over at his house to hang out with him, which also means she sees Choso almost every day. It's not a surprise that she develops a crush on the man. I mean....who wouldn't? The multiple tattoos decorating his body, the way he walks around the house without a shirt and his dark grey sweatpants hanging dangerously low on his hips. Don't even get me started on his V-line and pink nipples. For some reason though, he never has anyone over. For all the years y/n has known him, he has never brought a single girl over. Is he-? No, it can't be...But what if..what if he's a virgin??? Nah, that's impossible. Who wouldn't want to fuck this hot emo?! All of her questions are soon to be answered when one night when y/n is sleeping over, she passes Choso's room and hears him...moaning? It seems like he's having a hard time....she should help him...that's the right thing to do, right? (Sorry if this is all over the place </3 I've been going thru a Choso brain rot after reading a few fanfics.) - a mega slay xx

Choso Kamo was easily the hottest man you had ever seen, and that’s saying a lot because even after two full years at college, none of the boys on campus came close to Yuji’s older half-brother. His tatted body and pierced skin should’ve deterred you, as your parents would have a heart attack if you got with that kind of man, but something about the pale boy just made you lose all common sense. 

Maybe that’s why you lingered a little too long at Choso’s door that night. Yuji’s room was two doors down, where Nobara and Megumi slept in a dogpile on his bed with Yuji at the base. You were only stepping out to get a drink, but everything was so much louder at night. 

You could hear the staccato breathing behind the door perfectly. The wet sound of slick being smeared around in the palm of Choso’s hand. You wondered if his tip was as pretty a pink as his nipples were, a soft pink contrasting his emo persona. The thought made your cunt throb in need, your own nipples becoming tight in a desire to see what you’re hearing. 

But it was wrong! Spying on a young man who’s never had the touch of a woman before. Why hadn’t Choso ever asked you to take his virginity? You always wondered why he never brought a girl home. And at first, you assumed he was gay. But, one peak into his bedside drawer when you were looking for a hair-tie told you otherwise as you saw the outdated porno magazine underneath a slew of junk. That revelation was all you needed to confirm that the tall and mysterious Choso, was a virgin. 

Which made it all the more difficult to leave when you heard his moans. Such a pretty sound coming from his lips, you couldn’t help but bite yours in suppression. This was getting sick! You were one moan away from reaching your hand into your own underwear and matching your fingers with the speed of his strokes. 

Then the unmistakable sound of your name came from behind his door, and your eyelids softly fluttered shut at the sound. He sounded even better than you could have ever imagined. And he was such a pervert too. A needy whine broke through, tiny and discreet but more than you had intended. You knew then it was time to go, but it would be callous to leave the virgin to satisfy his needs, right? When he so desperately called on you to make him cum. 

So, with a steady hand, you gently turned the knob and opened the door to Choso’s dark room. His deep purple lights were on, and soft rock music barely played audibly, but you weren’t focused on that. No. You were focused on the dick being rubbed on in front of you. 

“F-fuck! Shit!” Choso stuttered as he finally noticed your presence in his room. 

He knew he needed to stop and tried to, but seeing you look at him with such lust in your eyes sent him over the edge. Instead of cowering in shame for being a desperate slut, Choso came in his hand instead. 

Closing the door behind you, your feet carried you over to his bed, where he was panting softly, his chest a dusty rose color. And his nipples were pink and erect. 

Kneeling on the bed, just by his thighs, you spoke, “You made such a mess, Cho.” 

Choso whimpered in response, body tight with anticipation as his hand stayed clutched around his cock. His eyes were wide as he looked at you, all innocent and ashamed. But there was a need there too. A hunger that he only wanted you to fill. 

You brought your hand down on his inner thigh, your decorated nails lightly scratching the skin, causing him to shiver. “Come on. Let Mommy see the mess you made.” 

Mommy. Fuck, that word flooded Choso with so much want he practically yanked his hand away from his semi-hard cock. Pre was gathering at his tip as if he didn’t just empty his balls two minutes ago. Choso watched you marvel at his dick, his tip twitching under your lustrous gaze. 

“So pretty, baby,” you cooed. “Can I taste you, angel?”

Choso’s bones trembled as he inhaled a shaky breath, anxious about what would happen next. He wanted to hide and never speak to you again, but he wanted you so bad. He didn’t want to miss his chance. 

“Ye-yes, Mommy. You can taste me.” Choso said the words slowly, hesitantly. But, from your smile, he felt more confident in his actions. 

For the first time that night, you leaned forward and planted a soft kiss onto Choso’s slightly chapped lips. Cool metal contrasted with the searing heat of your lips. The kiss was over too soon for Choso’s liking, but he didn’t wanna be needy. Not that you would mind. This was what you touched yourself thinking about. 

You left a trail of tiny kisses down Choso’s body, stopping to suck each of his nipples into your mouth and curl your tongue around the pierced buds. His whines and moans were soft and cute, going straight to your cunt as you licked the cum from his hand. 

Choso could have come again just watching you eat his cum like it was the finest meal. Your warm, wet mouth enveloped his fingers happily, and he ached for his dick to be next. Your moans were low and obscene, the last of his cum on his hands licked up by your tongue. 

“Taste sooo good, Choso! My sweet boy.” Your praise went straight to his heart and his dick. 

He wanted to beg you to touch him. To beg you to sit on his face and allow him your pussy as his first. Choso wanted to cum everywhere on and in you. He wanted you to take away his innocence and only make him desperate for you. 

Choso craved you. 

A small yelp came from him at the feel of your hand stroking his cock. “Hmm, your tip is the same shade as your nipples. Seems I was right.” You mused. 

What? Have you thought about his cock? The thought alone made his eyes roll, and a deep moan came from him. “Please, Mommy!” His hips were starting to move slightly with every move of your hand. 

“Shh shh shh. I got you, baby. Just relax and let me take care of you, ok?” You said reassuringly, your head dipping down to lick the pre-cum off his tip. 

And all the little virgin could do was cry and moan as you had your way and pleased him repeatedly the whole night. Becoming the first girl to have sex with the hot emo, Choso Kamo. 

𝐰𝐨𝐰.

uploading more requests soon xx

𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐒. @kennyackermanswhore @chaoticevilbakugo @indiecursor @gabzlovesu @desiray562 @brownmochii @knjkitten @sweeneyblue1 @namjoonswifeyy @nyxeclipse @rubinocore @somerandompipzsxh @dabilovesme @histarean @hannas16 @caribbeanwifey19 @emonaculate @po3ticb3auty @waka-umm @wilsonsbuck @ctrlstar @jealousfuckingcunt @savagemickey03 @dukina @saintblk @sisnot @littlemochi @hoohoohope @ruubric @tor-tor8 @beautyfairykei

[cheemscakecat]

Dumb AU idea

Spy ends up raising Scout from a young age… Because they’re both werewolves and he had to be rescued from the sect of monster hunters.

Jeremy didn’t like the bad people; they always wore those stupid freakin black hoods and told him to shut up. They took him away from Ma when he was late coming home one night and transformed.

It wasn’t fair; he didn’t hurt anybody as a wolf. Ma said it was only bad werewolves that bit people and ate their animals. But they kept talking about him like he ate another kid, and like he would be happy if he did.

They didn’t smell right. It had been a month since he’d been taken here to this dungeon by these monster hunters. It was too dark all the time, there weren’t any windows. He was only 7, what was he gonna do if the moonlight did transform him? Bark? He was really sick and pale. And he felt like layin down all the time. But they didn’t try to fix it, and they got mad if he started talking. The fat one kicked him one day.

They called themselves strong, called themselves hunters. Who keeps a werewolf puppy in a dark cage and watches him all the time? If they were so important, why didn’t they go after grown ups that were hurtin people? New ones kept showing up, but the old ones didn’t leave. And of course, they wouldn’ta told him nothin if he tried to ask. They wouldn’t tell him what happened to Ma and his brothers.

Jeremy hoped they were ok, the others weren’t werewolves so they mighta been let go if the bad guys took them to the police. The bad guys all left the hallway for a while. It was their dinner time. It really sucked that they didn’t share that food, it was one of the things he could still smell right. Bet they hada lot of money too.

Somebody walked into the hall, alone. The bad guy was really tall and skinny, and Jeremy couldn’t see him under the hood. He smelled like smoke, and smoke meant fire. Jeremy didn’t like fire, the bad guys burned people up too much. The monster hunter got real close to the cage and made him nervous. He shuffled to the back of the cage and glared up at the man. They could always poke him or shake the cage around if he got too angry, but this way he couldn’t get kicked.

The monster hunter kneeled down and stuck his hand in the cage. Jeremy snarled and got small again; he didn’t trust these guys, they’d been mean to him already. The bad guy stopped for a minute, then patted his head.

“Don’t be scared, I’m not going to hurt you. But I need you to be very quiet and stay next to me, okay?” He stared up in confusion. The hooded tall guy unlocked the cage and opened it for him. “I’m here to get you out.” Jeremy scooted forward and tried to stand up, but he got real dizzy and fell. The man held onto him and mumbled something that sounded funny. Like it wasn’t English. “Hold on a moment.” The tall man said.

He took off his monster hunter robe, and Jeremy could see what he looked like. The stranger had a hooked nose and black hair with a little grey in some places. And he was wearing baggy red clothes. He pulled off his vest, and it wasn’t a vest at all. It was a big red bag with two straps. He picked Jeremy up and put him in the bag. He frowned, not sure whether to trust the new stranger or not.

“It is going to be okay, I won’t let them keep you here anymore.” And then he put the bag back on, leaving the ugly black hood on the floor. “I- I smell people-” Jeremy tried to warn the stranger, but the bad men had returned. They were all around.

“You. Who are you, you dirty infiltrator?” The mean fat one pointed. The strange tall man didn’t look real bothered. “Someone you’d like to treat just as badly as this little child. If you monster hunting pigs have any sense, you’ll let me take the boy.” “And why should we give a disgusting werewolf to a spy in our ranks? What makes you think you can just walk out with our quarry?” The tall man took a step forward, staring at the bad guys. “Tell me, what made you double and triple your numbers these past weeks? Surely such skilled men are capable of detaining an untrained child.” A few of the bad guys grumbled. Jeremy almost felt like laughing at them. Almost.

The bad hunter man with all the silver on his hood stepped forward with his dumb metal stick. “That is no common werewolf from this country. That is a European Dire.” The stranger just crossed his arms and said nothing. “Ugh, since you are clearly an uncouth hired nuisance, I may as well explain. A European Direwolf is a horrible, savage animal from the old country that willingly hunts humans. A werewolf version is-“

“More powerful than the wolves of America, bloodthirsty, incapable of controlling itself, evil, demonic.. Yes, yes, I’ve heard it all before.” The bad people paused. They moved like they were trying to see if the stranger was really strong. “Why do you know this?” The stick man sounded mad. “I’m from Europe, it’s not exactly a big secret like it is here.” So the tall man was from all the way in Europe? Jeremy wondered how many other monsters were really strong there. “In any case, you abusive animals have been tormenting this boy who does not belong to you, and I’m leaving with him either way. Move or die, I don’t care.”

All the bad guys got real huffy about that and drew their swords and things from under their robes. Jeremy gulped. Did the tall man have backup? Where were his weapons? “Silence, you insolent mercenary! You are guilty of infiltration and tampering with a high level quarry! Surrender and we may spare you your life.” The tall man put Jeremy’s bag on the floor and patted him on the head again. At least he knew surrender wasn’t gonna happen, which was relievin. Then the stranger stood up to face them.

“You are the one who is insolent, head of Boston Guild. You do not fear the child. You fear the wolf who fathered the child and the rest of the pack.” The hooded people got ready to fight, and there were like 25 of them so Jeremy wasn’t sure how one guy was gonna beat them. Tall man chuckled. “Evidently not enough to call upon your European faction. They may have stood a chance here.” “What makes you so sure, mercenary?” Fat man grumbled. The stranger took off his shirt and popped his neck by pushing on his head, not caring about their words. He stared them down.

“Woof woof.” And with that, the tall man turned into a big black and white wolf. Jeremy stared at him in awe. His baggy pants were just the right size to fit him and his fluffy tail as a werewolf. All the bad guys started yelling and freakin out. “D-d-d DIREWOLF!” Fatty screamed. “It’s impossible! How did he transform inside?!” Some of the bad men tried to attack the big werewolf, but he knocked three of them into the wall with his tail and clawed two coming over from the other side. He stared at the fancy stick guy. “ATTACK THE BEAST, HUNTERS. DO NOT LET HIM ESCAPE INTO THE CITY!”

Like the wind, the grown up werewolf took out all the hunters but the fancy one. He ran away like a coward after telling them what to do. They tried swinging their heavy swords, maces and battle axes, but the big wolf was too skinny and fast for them to aim at the right spot. He bit-ed a few of them in half and threw the candle ch-handle-ear on about 6 of them. Fatty ran to the dining room as fast as his legs would take him, and the big wolf followed, grinning real furious like.

“Weren’t you the one who liked kicking Jeremy for crying?” From the hallway, the boy heard the big wolf say that and then the ugly scream that followed. When he walked back into the hall, his back foot claws were all bloody. The little boy looked up at him excitedly. “Wow! You really got all’a them, Mr! Thanks a lot!” He thought real hard. “But how did you know my name?” The big wolf looked a little sad. He lay down and let Jeremy look at his face real good.

They had the same marking on their face and ears. Hey, didn’t Ma say… “Dad?” “I’m so sorry Jeremy. I thought you took after your mother. I never would have left you two here to be hunted by these bad people if I had known..”

“DAD!” The seven year old buried his little face in Spy’s fur and giggled. “That was so cool… Wait! Ma! We gotta go find Ma!” He sounded panicked. “Don’t worry, I’ve got friends on the case.” Dad wolf put the bag on his back, and the straps fit just right.

The Head Monster Hunter ran outside, calling for the townsfolk’s attention. “THE WEREWOLF WOMAN! BRING ME THE- the-“ She was already there with 8 monsters of various shapes and sizes.

There was a Red and black Dragonborne, and a maniacal vampire, a- an Australian elf! Giant Siberian Ogre, a Shortfurred Plains Bigfoot wearing a soldier’s helmet as a trophy, a Scottish Seabeast, and a poisonous Texan Arachnecentaur!

The Direwolf strolled out of the dungeon with the child on his back and nodded to the other beasts. He locked eyes with the woman. “Are you hurt?” “Naw. Your friends made sure’ a that.” “Woah Dad, you got so many friends! What kinda monsters are you, you guys look cool!” The restless baby werewolf had transformed, seeing as it was night, and was fussily shifting around in his holding bag. His golden and white fur was fluffy and sticking up from the static.

The Arachnecentaur took the child and gave it back to the mother, who sat down on the Ogre’s hand and pet the puppy’s tummy. “Thank you gentlemen. I’ll be along shortly, there’s just one more loose end to tie up.” And those were the last words said before the child was walked out of eyesight and his father tore the head hunter apart with his teeth.

[skylarmoon71]

Patrick Jane (Mentalist) - Chapter 3

It took a little bit of convincing on Jane’s part. There was still so much that needed to be discussed. But you knew you couldn’t avoid work for more than a week. So for the remaining days of your little vacation you try to evaluate all that you’ve learned and your mind trails back to Jane. 

“I can help you.” 

With an obnoxious laugh you just turn your head at his words. 

“Yeah, and I should trust you why? You almost outed me.” 

“That’s because I thought you were a spy or a terrorist.” 

You send him a look and he smirks. 

“Okay maybe I didn’t but I knew it was something big. If you did turn out to be dangerous I think they deserved to be warned.” 

You sigh. 

You can’t exactly be mad at him for that. You might have done the same. Surely you would have gone about it differently. 

“How exactly are you going to help me?” 

“No idea.” 

Your glare speaks volumes. 

“I’m not exactly an expert but you said it yourself. I’m the only one who’s able to hear you. So it goes without saying that I’m the only one that can help.” 

In some crazy way that almost makes sense. 

“What do you say?”

“It’s not like I have a choice.” You run a hand through your head. 

“Why the hell did my captain have to be such a great guy?” You grumble.

Jane is just smiling at you with a thumbs up. 

There’s nothing encouraging about that infuriating man, but he’s right. You can’t run away. That would raise every flag in the book. You have to face this. The alternative is being suspected of some heinous crime or disappointing your former captain who spoke so highly of your abilities. You can’t let him down. 

You’re not surprised when Jane comes to visit on your last day of relaxation. He was standing at the door with a smile and a little wave. Something about his face just made you want to punch it. 

“You were thinking about punching me in the face weren’t you?” 

“No.” 

“Yes, you were. It’s all over your face.” 

You let him in, rolling your eyes. Sometimes it really does feel like he’s the mind reader. 

“Lisbon told me to check in on you.” 

“No she didn’t. She probably told you to stay far away from me.” 

“Oh, you got me. Guilty as charged.” 

Dropping onto the couch you just direct your gaze at the wall. Jane really does have a tendency to push people’s buttons, but as of right now he’s the only one who knows about your secret and he hasn’t reported you to the government or called you crazy. You should be happy. 

Your eyes move to the door to address the topic of your return but he’s not there. 

“Jane?” 

He walks out from the kitchen with a cup of tea and a smile. 

“What the- how the hell did you make that so fast!” 

“You’ve been staring at the wall for about five minutes. I figured I’d make myself at home.” 

This man was obviously put on the planet to be a nuisance.

“If you really didn’t want the job why did you bother taking it?” 

You just fold your arms at his question. 

“Because Captain Haynes went out on a limb for me. I can’t let him down.” 

“He raised you.” 

Your arms slowly unfold and you look at your lap. 

“He looked after me. The only reason I’m a cop is because of him. He’s the first person who’s ever helped me without wanting anything in return but my success.” 

Jane seems inquisitive.

“You’ve read his mind before.”

You nod, a bit ashamed. 

“It was once back when he made me do community service at the precinct when I was in high school. I got caught stealing from a grocery store. The owner agreed to drop the charges if I apologized and said that I learned my lesson. Captain told the owner that was too lenient. He made me work at that place for months. He said that if I didn’t show up he’d throw me in a cell.” 

Jane can’t help but laugh because it was obviously a bluff. You smile at the sound.

“I was used to people trying to take advantage of me. One night I was there with him late. He called me into his office and I was ready. Ready for him to proposition me. I wanted to hear it. To prove that there were no more good people in the world. I grabbed his arm. I still remember those words.” 

“You’re smart. You can be great if you apply yourself. I wish you didn’t have such a tough life, kid.” 

You would never forget that.

“I was so shocked that I’d started crying right there and then. It was the first time I’d heard something good in someone’s head. Turns out the only reason he called me in there was to threaten me to stop skipping classes. He wanted me to join a sports team and try to get a scholarship. He had a whole presentation and everything lined up. He was going to keep threatening me with time in jail to get me to stay on the straight and narrow.” 

It’s funny how you’d been so oblivious to how much he’d just wanted to offer a hand. 

“He was the first man in my life that I could depend on, I could trust. I knew he sent in the application because he thought I was clinging unto him. Sticking to his side out of loyalty. He didn’t want me to limit my ability because of any obligation.” 

Jane was beginning to see the bigger picture.

“There were times that I wanted to tell him, I really did. But the thought of him thinking I’m crazy, or ever looking at me differently it would hurt too much.”

He can only imagine. 

“I never thought I’d tell anyone.” 

But now, Jane out of all the people knows. 

“I won’t betray that trust.” 

Maybe he reads it on your face. You just offer a smile. Jane is unpredictable as hell, so you've already prepared yourself.

[credince--writes]

Custody

JITTERVERSE

AO3

Be careful who you trust. The ones you love can hurt you the most.

Anger is a corrosive thing.

It eats away at everything around it, gnawing and clawing, gripping for purchase on your soul until it devours you whole.

"You're the primary suspect."

How?

How could she be the suspect?

She was a member of the team.

She tried to search Price's gaze for anything, some kind of hint or flicker of humor.

This was all just a sick joke,

a stupid sick joke and they were going to laugh in a moment and say 'got ya!' like Soap would always do when he'd play a prank at the base, and the day would go on like normal.

But there was no flicker.

No hint.

No humor.

She looked down at her hands, feeling like the life was draining from her face.

"So. What happens now then?"

The room was quiet for a moment.

"We have a meeting with The General in an hour. You'll be there." Price stated. "Can we have the room?" Price glanced at the men behind him.

They nodded, filtering out of the room quickly. The sounds of footsteps shuffling out of the room leaving them to bathe in the sound of the buzz of the lights hanging in the room.

She still felt dumbfounded- probably looked it too.

"I didn't do this Price." Her voice cracked.

He didn't respond, maintaining his stare. "They are going to ask questions. Questions that the team doesn't know."

"Like what?"

"The reasoning for your contract."

"Oh." She faltered.

She can't remember the last time she really thought about what happened. Mulled over the actions that led to this moment.

"And I can't guarantee how they will react." He said.

"Do they think I did it?"

He was quiet.

"I didn't do it."

"I'm not the one asking questions, Laswell has tried to cover for you. But with the most recent events your past has caught up with you and they'll ask questions about it."

"Am I going to be ok?" She asked.

"Yes."

He didn't reply fast enough to be comforting.

"If they don't think I did it why are they so mad- did I do something?" She asked.

"You were told not to leave that room, and you left the base. You went missing for over 24 hours." He states, crossing his arms. "I can't imagine why anyone would be irritated- What were you even thinking?"

"First off- no one told me I couldn't leave." She said, raising her arms. "I got bored of sitting around, wandering, and I asked Rudy to go see the tech dep. the next thing I know I'm playing Rummy with a fucking mummy and in the goddamn desert and talking to demons."

"What?"

"And on top of that- what is with this Russian thing? First I see his balls, and then Ghost is kicking a spy or something into mush-"

"Slow down. Slow down. You remember what happened?"

"Yes, I remember what happened. That's why we went out to the desert." She replies, looking up at him as if it was a simple statement, everything she just said made sense.

"That didn't make any sense, did it?" She sighs.

"No."

"I know what happened. I think."

"What happened?"

"I was... Uh, roofied." She starts, rubbing her arm. "Ghost found me.  And the last thing I remember was going back to my room and getting Soap- well I was being carried. And then I woke up in the truck driving here."

Price sighs. "There are things from our past... and they are resurfacing. You've been involved."

"How?" She asked. "I haven't done anything- at least recently-"

"They have a hit on you- capture. Intelligence- interrogation."

"For what?"

That was a stupid question.

She recognized that after she said it.

She was working with them.

She knew about them.

She had seen things Price had seen, maybe not the others-

breaking encryptions.

Scanning emails.

Listening.

She knew things.

Maybe not enough pieces of the puzzle to fill everything out, but enough to know there was something bigger at work.

There was always something bigger at work.

Always a bigger fish.

Price steps forward, leaning down and grabbing her shoulder tightly before speaking in a scolding tone. "You're working with us. You've been doing this work for how long now? You've made an enemy. It comes with the job."

"Does being accused come with it too?" She replies, almost regretting it as the words left her lips. She was sure he'd let the snark roll off of his back. At least she hoped.

He'd turned, twisting his neck to glance over at her.

She hated when he acted like this.

Had the shielded expression.

He was acting like Captain.

Not Price.

And she hated it because she knew that was his work expression.

She wasn't Jitters, she was the suspect.

He didn't respond.

"Sorry." She sighed, leaning down and putting her head between her legs.

He started walking to the door.

"Price?" She asked.

"Hm." He looked.

"I'm sorry." She said.

What was she apologizing for?

Maybe what was to come.

...

They were all at a table.

It was like the first time she met them, really.

At the end of the table, there was a computer propped up- a camera pointed at them.

Focused on her.

The meeting was long.

Grueling.

Ghost refused to look at her, keeping his eyes locked on the screen.

Soap stared.

Gaz joined the club.

The General, Laswell, and two other unfamiliar men were on the call.

"I'd like to know who cleared having a conspirator against the United States of America added to this task force." The General asked.

"Those charges were dropped, the conspiracy," Laswell said.

"My question still stands."

"I did." Laswell states.

"As did I." Price adds.

"And these previous actions were not considered to be a concern?" The General asks.

"No, the PMC was taken into an advisory period and was ruled to not have any influential ties. No ties, actually." Laswell spoke.

"So..." The General pauses for a moment. "PMC Jitters." He speaks as if her name left a sour taste on his tongue, distaste filling the air.

"Yes?" She asked.

Her voice was small, but clear.

She was getting flashbacks to that cold room.

Her hands propped up on the table being held down with the metal cuffs bolted to the table.

"Was your team made aware of your previous conflicts?"

She glances at Price.

"No, Sir."

"Do you have any affiliation with the group responsible for the leaks that led to us losing our assets?"

"No, Sir."

There was a long pause on the call. She couldn't see him, but they could see her.

She was pale, clammy.

Looked like shit, really.

"I want you off of this, effective immediately."

"Yes Sir."

"Do not make me question your loyalty again."

"Yes Sir." She says, nodding her head.

"You'll be restricted from your current duties, losing access to any sensitive data until this is wrapped up and we track down the source of the leaks." Laswell says. "You'll stay with Price."

They all looked at her as if they never knew her. They were seeing her get cut open, and her guts pulled out and discarded around the table.

It surprised her, after a few moments of discussion Soap, Ghost, and Gaz left the room, leaving the files on the table.

She let out a breath, visibly relaxing to a degree.

They weren't going to send her to prison somewhere.

She'd be able to stay.

They wouldn't lock her away.

She could stay-

but that thought was no longer comforting.

What if they didn't want her there?

The meeting ended not much longer after that, closing up the laptop and Price grabbed the scattered paperwork on the table and pushed it into a folder.

"That went well." Price states, the room now empty save for the pair.

"Did it?" She asks.

"Could've gone a lot worse."

Her hands gripped the table, feeling the perspiration from the stress sliding against the cool surface.

"Can I trust that you'll behave?" Price asks.

She didn't know if she should feel offended or not at his question.

What was she, fourteen?

Was he worried that she was going to go sneak out to a party?

Fucking betray the team?

She could feel herself spiraling. It was as if any foundation of trust that was built- that she slaved to build. Each minuscule piece of foundation broke her bones and tore her flesh.

All for it to go to shit in an instant-

Would they hate her?

Would they ever trust her again?

…

Ghost, Soap, and Gaz, sat.

Almost sounded like the start to a bad joke.

Two Brits and a Scot go to a meeting about the little jittery PMC committing heinous crimes- potentially betraying their team.

Ghost can’t remember the last time he’d watched Gaz chain smoke like was doing now.

“Conspirator against the United States of America.” Soap states, to no one in particular. “The hell does that even mean?”

“Not much.” Ghost says.

“We don’t know anything about Jitters.” Gaz states. “It would be stupid to assume a little girl would be brought onto our team if she wasn’t good at what she does-”

“That doesn't mean being a fuckin’ conspirator. Let alone leaving us all in the dark. Price and Laswell knowingly kept all of us in the dark.” Soap adds. “And now- she goes missing and there’s a data leak?”

Gaz gives him a questionable look. “You really think she’s a rat?”

“Who else could it be? This is going to be Graves all over again.”

“Shut up Johnny.” Ghost states.

“What- they're keeping us in the dark, just like they did last time.”

“I knew.” Ghost states.

“What?” Soap gawks. “And you didn’t tell us? Didn’t tell me?”

“When did you know?” Gaz asked.

“‘Bout four hours after she arrived.” He explains. “Not that she knew.”

“So who told you?”

“Price did.”

“Why would he tell you?”

Ghost gave him a look.

He didn’t need to answer that question.

They all had their skeletons.

Their secrets.

Was it fair to cast stones in such a way?

“Jitters is part of this team. We need to trust our team.” Ghost states. “Don’t forget the only reason we are even is Mexico is because you couldn’t keep it in your pants.”

Soap scoffed, “Gonnae no’ dae that, pinning this all on me. You took us to Mexico. And don’t even start about trust. You. you were the one that said be careful who you trust. The one’s we know are the ones who can hurt us the most.”

“Guys.” Gaz started once more.

“You have no legroom in this matter. You had her pulled off any roster after that fiasco with Lopez. You had her benched because you didn’t trust her.”

“Guys.” Gaz speaks again.

“And I did. But the difference between you and I sergeant was what I did wasn’t out of a selfish hunt for some cheap pussy.”

“For fuck’s sake guys.” Gaz groans.

Ghost turns to leave, only to be greeted with the sight of Jitters and Price standing in the doorway. Price blocked the door with Jitters awkwardly standing in front of him, staring Ghost down.

Fuck.

Ghost continues forward, not bothering the glance down at her as he pushed past Price and storms off into the hallway. Soap followed soon after him, turning in the opposite direction of the hallway Ghost walked down and stormed down it in his own fashion, muttering something under his breath the entire time.

“Looks like that leaves you Gaz to watch you.” Price states. And with that, he gives Gaz a quick nod before leaving off to handle his own duties.

She stands, staring him down with some of the most uncomfortable body languages he’d ever seen the already-awkward-woman give off. She didn’t know what to say. And if there was even anything to say.

Was there?

Does he even trust her anymore?

Hold her in the same regard?

“Gaz.” She states.

“Hey there.” Gaz says, walking up to her and tossing an arm over her shoulder. “Rough week?”

She laughs. A soft, bitter, weary laugh.

The kind that makes her question if she was going to break out in tears.

She couldn't.

She wouldn’t.

She’d be better.

“You could say that.” She murmurs. 

“Mexico brings back bad memories for the pair.” He starts, trying to comfort her.

“Save it Gaz, I know they meant it.”

He didn’t respond.

He led her to a small common area, a TV, and a couch. Not that either of them understood Spanish- but it created a background noise that supported the two from creating any further conversation.

It was a strange lifeline as Jitters sat, picking at skin peeling from around her thumb.

She’d had her gear confiscated- 

Even her phone.

They were basically putting her on lockdown.

Keeping her from being able to communicate with the outside world.

The phone Ghost had given her.

The one that ended up saving her drunken ass.

What if he hadn’t been there to save her?

What if she just,

Vanished?

Would they of looked for her?

“Gaz.” She says, breaking the silence between the two.

He blinks harshly, pulling himself out of the small trance he was in watching a Mexican weatherwoman. “Yea?”

“Do you…” She pauses, swallowing. As if the words she was speaking tasted bitter on her tongue, pained her to even utter the words. “Do you still trust me?”

His gaze softened slightly. “If this is about what Soap said earlier-”

“I’m asking you. Not Soap.”

“Jitters.”

“Be honest.” She stares at him, their eyes meeting. “I’m not gonna be able to live with myself if you all keep lyin’ to me.”

Gaz sighs, shoulders falling forward. “Right now? No. I don’t.”

She stays silent, allowing him to continue.

“You’re still the Jitters I’ve known- nothing has changed- maybe a little has changed. It’s temporary. It’s part of the game, you have to be cautious. Keep your guard up.”

“So you think I could be the rat.”

“We’ve been betrayed before.” He states, keeping his voice even- even if it was strained. It was his best attempt at keeping his voice calm and collected. The stress glimmering in his eyes at the possibility of a teammate- someone he’d allowed to get close, again betraying him off the table. He wouldn’t allow it to happen again. 

It’s not a confirmation of trust,

If anything its the opposite.

A ‘I’ve seen people I’ve trusted betray me before, I’m not against thinking it could be you too.’

It hurt.

But part of her understood.

But still.

She could feel the anger bubbling in her throat.

The bile rising,

The feeling of the acid chewing at the internals.

Devouring her from the inside.

Causing her to rot from the inside out like a bad fruit.

She stayed silent, allowing them to fall back into their awkward silence.

It was conflicting,

It was confusing.

And it hurt all the same.

She felt as if she had been stripped bare and left to stand in front of a crowd.

They didn’t know the full story.

They didn’t know who she was,

The entirety of what she had done.

Maybe if they had it would end up worse.

Maybe this was for the best.

But it was Gaz.

He was the least conflicting-

He was solid.

She’d never seen him off his game.

He was honest,

She appreciated it, she really did.

But she was so close.

She could feel the burn of his words, the sting of it on her flesh.

She can’t say it didn’t hurt.

But at least he hadn’t fucking lied to her-

Betrayed her.

That’s what it was.

They were turning this all around on her, weren’t they?

His words even confirmed it.

It was Ghost.

He pulled her off.

She wasn’t good enough.

It was Soap.

His own selfish desires.

But was she?

Was she good enough?

Could she stand on her own?

"You. Are a scared, weak little girl."

"No. I'm not being cocky. You, yourself told me to do something about it and this is me doing something about it." She throws her hands up in the air. "You drag me out to bumfuck, act like I'm your Soap surrogate but when we get back you act like none of it happened." She seethes out.

"You were a liability." Ghost says again, the words leaving his mouth drawled out slowly.

"Yea?" Jitters voice cracks a little bit.

"This isn't some fun game you just get to run around with now." Ghost started.

"This isn't a fucking game, and I earned my spot here. I've earned it multiple times and I've proven that-."

"You haven't proved anything. You are not a soldier. You are a fake. We are not your community service project or your parole officers. I don't need your falsified pity, or courage for that matter." He spits.

She could see where her place was on this team perfectly.

They didn’t need to spell it out for her anymore.

“Can I visit Momia?” She asks glancing over at Gaz.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea…”

“We’re going to leave Mexico, and I’m never going to see him again. Would you at least let me see him?”

He sighed. “What are you even gonna do?”

“Probably play cards.” She sighs. “Please, Gaz?”

It must’ve been something in the tone of her voice.

Because when he looked at her, there was sympathy.

Maybe, in reality, it was a pity.

But are they not the same thing?

Her electronics were gone, she didn’t even know where they were. Price had even sighed, sticking his hand out for her to hand him her watch. Whatever level of technology the watch was classified as was considered ‘too smart’. Most likely because it could receive and send messages- but still.

It was the principle.

Now she was left with a tan mark wrapped around her wrist.

He glanced behind him, at the doorway, then back to her. “Three hours. That’s all the time I can give you without them wondering where the hell you went. And you better stay in that room. Nowhere else. You got it?”

“Clear as crystal.”

“Come here.” He sighed.

He was fidgeting with his watch, setting a timer and pulling it off of his wrist. “It’s got a timer on it- two hours and forty. When it goes off you start walking your ass back over here.”

She laughed, taking the watch and pulling it onto her wrist. 

It draped slightly, rolling off to the side face down.

“And don’t lose it- I like that watch.”

“Thank you.”

“Just go before I change my mind.”

He didn’t need to tell her twice.

She was out the door in nearly an instant, following that familiar path that would lead her to the old man's room. In theory, she could just follow the lingering smell of nicotine tar that radiated from the man's room and she could find it. But she found herself stepping in the exact places she once trotted past- even if it was with a sour expression and two trays of food in hand. 

It was a type of peace.

Maybe she could even act like everything was normal.

That everything was going to be fine.

In theory, she could close her eyes and act as if nothing had happened. This was just another day, her following her routine. 

Soap was an angry man, maybe that was why he got along with Ghost so well. It wasn’t that their friendship alluded her, it was just surprising to see their argumentative tendencies ending with each of them storming off. He had a hot head- and at any sniff of betrayal he would turn on his heels- shackles risen and hiss. She saw his hesitation when she first joined the team- but was it all really in the name of courtesy? Had they not built any true foundation for their friendship? Or was it guilt, a burning shame of feeling blame? Yea, she could resent him, hate him for betraying her trust tie and time again to chase his desires of flesh, but what good would that do her?

She supposes, forgiving him the last many times did nothing.

Ghost was the kind of man to walk away before engaging further in an argument- it was always him getting the last word in.  He also wasn’t the type to verbally apologize. She’d be the one to extend a verbal olive branch- usually after he’d make some small move to initiate them speaking to each other again. Soap? They’d physically fight- taking it to the mats in the training room or scuffling it out in random places until they’d stop where they stood, nod at each other and continue about their day as if everything was fine. She had learned that the hard way.

In a way, she regarded Ghost to be a coward. But could she consider herself to be any better when she had spent all of this time hiding from her own past?

It wasn’t any of their business, in reality. And she knew that.

She didn’t really know anything about them, and they were judging her.

Maybe it was time for her to stop rolling over, soft belly up and letting herself be a doormat in the name of wishing for an ounce of attention from this faux-found family.

It’s obvious they don’t regard her in the same light, so why should she continue to be the weak link?

She stood at the door to Mom’s room, hand reaching out to push onto the handle and open it- meeting with the smothering stench of cigarette smoke. She could hear the odd clicks coming from the old computer that he was now sat at, focused on a game of solitaire.

“Hermana- did not think to see you again,” He said, looking up to her.

She moved past the door and took a seat at the dingy little table in the too-small chair. 

“Fancy a few last games?”

He gave her a small smile, the kind where his lip lifted and it crinkled the aged skin on his face.

Maybe this would be the last game.

There truly was no maybe about it- this would be the last time she sat in this dingy little room, with him.

And so they played.

With a creak and a groan he stood, moving over to sit at the table and look down upon the cards he had neatly put back into their case.

“You get in any trouble from sneaking out, Mom?”

“What would they do, ground me? As if I leave this place.”

“Thinking they’d be real mean, take away your cigs.”

“That is the day I will remind those boys to respect their elders.”

“Gonna open a can of whoop-ass?”

“I’d need to find the abrelatas.”

“I’d just beat em’ with the can-opener.”

“Now you are thinking like a Vaqueros.”

They continued to play, the sound of their fingers pushing against the thick cardstock of the cards filling the room. The smoke drifts off of a cigarette and dissipates into the thick atmosphere of the room.

She was surprised she hadn’t become nicotine dependent from sitting in the room with him.

Maybe that was the real reason she craved his company.

“You think you’ll ever find yourself back out there?”

“When I am dead.” He spoke.

“Why’s that?”

“That is where my comrades are buried.”

“You took me out to a graveyard?”

“You saw a ghost, no?”

“Was that even real?”

“Who am I to say?”

“So you’ve seen him too, right?”

“We all see it differently.”

“You’re talking like we’re trip buddies.”

“That is what the little pequinos call it, no?”

“You drugged me?”

“No, I took you to the ceremony.”

“Was I high?”

“Maybe a little.”

“On what?”

“Maybe the Peyote in the water bottles.”

“What?” She seethed. “They were sealed. You’re full of shit.”

“Melt the seal, boys don’t find them. Water was old, surprised it worked.”

She sat back, feeling her back rock against the small metal back frame as the chair creaked in protest.

“I really need to reconsider how druggable I am.”

“But you saw him, and you remembered. A true warrior.”

“Why are they buried out there?”

“To greet children, like you. Guide the lost.”

“I’ll be sure to find your grave. Leave a pack of cigs for you- or a coyote to eat.”

“Find the cactus that laughs at the sun. I’ll be buried in front of it.”

“I’m sure that is very descriptive. So I’ll write that down.”

He laughed, smoke escaping his lungs as he heaved and gripped the table. “What you, though? Trouble?”

“Si… Muy trouble.” She replied.

“Did you say you found the ghost?”

“About like that.”

“Did they not believe you?”

“Not really.”

“That used to be the respectable, understandable thing to do.”

“Tripping in the desert?”

“Finding guidance.”

“You go out there often? When was the last time you’d gone out there?” “Well… When were you born?”

“Jesus, ok I get it. You just casually broke out to go with me?”

“Why not? I will die in my sleep any day now.”

“Don’t say that.” She bit her lip, eyebrows tinging down in worry.

“It is true. It is why I have these.” He lifts the carton of cigarettes. “So I will simply die faster.”

“Seems like the long, drawn-out way to go.”

“I need to beat my solitaire score before I will die.”

“That the only thing tethering you to the mortal realm then, huh?”

“If you say so.”

She glances over, looking at the blue-hued light that filtered off of the large box screen.

“Hey, Momia.”

“Si?”

“You get internet on that thing?”

“Web?”

“Same thing.”

“I have Solitare.”

She faltered, trying not the puff out a gasp of laughter. She stood, giving him a cautionary glance, and then looking down at her watch.

She still had two hours.

“Can you keep a secret?”

“Si.”

“Swear on it.”

“Cross my heart, bury me face down.”

“I was never in this room with you. Playing cards.”

“No, No, never saw you.” He nods.

She smiled.

“Good man.” She nods, moving over and taking a seat at his computer chair and grabbing the mouse. 

“Jesus, Mom.” She comments, he lifts his head and gives her a confused glance. “When was the last time you washed this mouse?” Her finger pressed down against it, skin nearly sticking to the accumulated filth.

“When were you born?”

“God, ok I get it.” She groaned. Grabbing hold of the whole mouse and clicking around the minimize the Solitaire. 

She glanced down, moving the mouse over to click on the internet browser and blinking a few times to find that it surprisingly, was connected.

She continued to fiddle with settings, looking through the computer's files when it clicked.

This was an old processing computer.

This computer was supposed to be destroyed- it was still connected with all of its permissions.

It had full access to the Mexican government's files- even if she was limited to the files she could open with the older software.

She tensed, sitting back in the old chair feeling the faux leather cling to her skin as she stared at the screen.

She hesitantly reached her hand out, clicked open a frame, and began typing. It was almost as if she were in a movie- really. She’d be laughing if she weren’t sweating bullets. The black screen, thick bright green lettering as she typed in a few lines of code before a white screen with the Mexican Special Forces insignia displayed, bringing her to a bank full of files.

She’d call this putting her mud boots on, because this is where she would begin to trudge around searching for anything to spike her interest.

It kind of like an out-of-body experience.

What she’d assume for a soldier to make a successful kill.

The feeling of her fingers tapping against the chunky keyboards, feeding information, and reaping the fruits of her harvest.

In her head, it’s like diving deep into a cold pool.

First you’d feel the cold shock of the water surrounding you.

Then you’d dive deeper.

And you just keep swimming.

It’s lonely in a way.

It’s a bit like drowning.

It’s better to do it alone.

To sift through the information.

Find what she wanted-

No.

Find what she needed.

She knew a little bit about the target- he wasn’t even a target that day.

When she was met with the cold stare of a killer.

A Ghost.

She had finally met the real Ghost.

The masked creature.

The demon.

The Cold-Blooded killer.

She was hyperventilating, eyes frantically scattering back and forth trying to come to grips with the situation.

Ghost huffs, striding over to her and grabbing her face in his hand. Pinching her cheeks together and shaking her head slightly.

"Look at me." He hissed.

It took her a moment, but her eyes opened wide, looking at the skull mask glaring down at her.

"Calm. Down."

She nodded her head, inhaling.

"They know we are here." He started to explain. "They're gonna try and hunt us down."

She nods again, his grip never wavering over her.

"That means, we are going to do whatever is necessary to get out."

She nods.

"Even if it's a boy behind the gun."

She doesn't nod at that, inhaling through her nose.

"You're upset." He states.

She nods.

"Be upset later. Now we need to survive."

She needed to find out who he was.

She wanted to get under his skin just like he had done to her- just like her so-called team.

Anger is a corrosive thing.

It melts.

Destroys.

It’s a vicious, painful thing.

So is watching the eyes of her teammates land on her, with a look so disgusted- so disappointed.

She was tired of being the sidelined victim.

Woe is me.

She wanted to lash out.

Finally, give some hurt for a change.

Give this big bucket of acid living in her gut to the next man- open his mouth and force it down his throat.

Maybe that would be the real satisfaction of pulling a trigger.

What a real soldier feels.

What a warrior feels.

Vengeance? Revenge?

Or maybe simply, it was just spite.

They say that a woman is a very spiteful creature.

One that fights with lies, treachery, and poison.

She stared at the screen, reading the file.

~

FARHAD LOPEZ

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

DRUG TRAFFICKING

ARMS DEALER

LOCATION OF OPERATIONS:

MEXICO

+REDACTED

+REDACTED

1367 MANGROVE WAY +REDACTED

COLUMBIA

TASK FORCE 141

CAPTURED

~

Maybe they hadn’t had time to update the file.

She glanced through it, reading the descriptions of crimes he had committed- and was probably committing now.

It made her stomach tumble in flips.

But a large chunk of it was missing.

Redacted.

And the address.

What was it even too?

She leaned forward, prodding through the system trying to find any information on the address.

Anything at all.

There were bits and pieces.

Whispers.

But then she saw it.

A old, blurry photo scanned in from a document.

It was a photo of a woman standing in front of an apartment complex with three children.

ANITA LOPEZ

JOSE LOPEZ

FARHAD LOPEZ JR.

ROSE LOPEZ

1367 MANGROVE WAY, SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA

She stared, blinking a few times.

He had children hidden out in the States.

Children.

This monster had children?

And a wife?

Did they love him? Know what he did-

Who he was? Did they care?

The sound of the watch buzzing broke her from her train of thought, glancing over to see Momia asleep, head leaned back in his chair as he lightly snored.

She smiles lightly, looking at the content look on his face.

He looks peaceful.

As much as he could be.

She stood, quietly, closing out anything she had to do with and opening solitaire.

She stepped over, lifting the hat from the side of the man's head, and place a kiss on his temple, lightly patting his shoulder so as not to wake him up.

“Thank you.” She whispers. Turning, and leaving to meet back up with Gaz.

..

She’d met back up with Gaz. Finding him in the same place that she left him in, handing him the watch around her wrist and sitting as far as she possibly could get from him.

“Have fun?” He asked.

“Yea.” She mumbled. “I think I’m gonna turn in.” She said.

“Alright.” He replied.

She stood and left, walking to the room filled with cots they were sharing at the moment- not like any of them would be sleeping in the same room as her. She was sure they couldn’t bring themselves to been in such close proximity with her.

Walking up to her designated cot- which used to be much more recognizable with her laptop bag and miscellaneous wires scattered on it. Now long gone, whisked off to some locked box she was sure.

She groaned, throwing her body onto the cot and slumping her head down on the pillow.

“What the fuck-” She hissed, opening her eyes and arms and reaching for the pillow, man handling it.

There was a hard little rectangle in the pillow.

“What the fuck.” She grumbled, pawing at it through the minimal stuffing in the pillow.

It was inside.

Stitched in.

Which just further added to her confusion,

She glanced around, eyes landing on Soap’s bag tucked in next to his bed and a pocket knife he kept attached to a pocket on the front of it.

She cautiously stood, grabbing the knife, and rushing over back to her cot where she carefully flicked the blade and ran it against the seam of the pillow.

If there was one thing nice about Soap, it would be how much of a freak he was about keeping his knives sharp.

The blade easily glided through, popping each stitch and allowing her enough space to slip her hand up into the pillow, gripping the rectangle and pulling it out.

She was a little confused to say the least when she found a phone.

A fucking smartphone? Like the one she had, on her person, before it was taken away?

She clicked the power button, looking at the screen only to see a message from an unknown number.

KEEP ME ON YOUR PERSON, JAYME.

She stared, eyes reading over the text, again and again, to see if what was sent was correct.

She unlocked the phone, pressed on the messages and replied.

WHO IS THIS?

There was no response.

She tucked the phone up into her bra.

No one would be looking there, she assumed.

She could feel her heart rate in her ears, pounding away as her mind was running a million miles an hour.

Who?

What?

Why?

What kind of conspiracy bullshit warrants a phone inside a pillow?

Was this a setup?

Were they setting her up?

To prove she was disloyal?

Maybe she should’ve dealt with the awkward tension of sitting across from Gaz. 

She didn’t know Mexico could be this cold.

It should be joke, really.

Why would she be cold?

Curled up on the shitty little cot, trembling from the cold- or what she’d assume to really be fear.

But she’d let it be blamed on the cold.

She sat up, bile bubbling in her throat as she looked around the empty room hoping for any explanation.

Anything at all.

She shivered.

Maybe she could bare a little bit more time with Gaz.

She walked back out, holding the thin blanket that used to live on her cot. He must’ve heard her footsteps because his head poked out and glanced at her. “What’s wrong?” He asked.

“I’m cold.” She grumbled, resuming her spot furthest from him on the couch.

“Don’t get me sick.”

“I’m not sick.” She bit back.

He gave her a side eye- one of him wondering where the sudden attitude came from.

He wasn’t going to touch that with a ten-foot pole.

“Come here.” He said, lifting an arm up for her.

“I’m fine.” She bit back.

“You mad at me?”He asked, dropping his arm.

“No.”

“You sound mad.”

“I’m not mad. I am cold.”

“Then come here.”

“I’m fine.”

“Fine. Have it your way.” He huffed, going back to watching the Spanish weatherwoman. 

She shivered, the horrible feeling of dread cementing itself in her gut.

She can’t remember the last time she felt like this.

She didn’t even feel like this when she was staring into the glazed over eyes of a corpse.

Why was that? She’d ask herself.

As much as she hated to admit it, it was their presence.

She knew that Ghost would have her back- all of them.

Which just made it hurt all the worse when they displayed their distrust.

She glanced at Gaz, who was seemingly focused on the Tv.

She continued to look back and forth for a while, debating on inching forward and sucking some of the heat from his bones.

Maybe the fourth time she glances, he lifted his arm again, without saying anything.

Without moving his head.

She leaned forward, leaning her body against his and enjoying the feeling of warmth radiating off of his body, head resting next to his shoulder on the back of the couch, slowly drifting off into sleep.

Pulling the blanket closer to her, feeling his arm wrap around her shoulder and pull her in closer.

For tonight, she could pretend.

She could act like everything was normal.

That this was normal.

And that corrosion wasn’t melting through her heart.

[sapphire-weapon]

me in the shower, just tryna shave my legs and have a normal night: you know, I'm really proud of that Leon and Ada boat scene meta post that I made earlier today. the biggest problem with Ada's character has always been that, outside of RE2, we never get a peek into her actual emotions at any point. she just seems to be a Sexy Spy Robot going on autopilot. but this is like, layered and nuanced and shit. it's interesting. my brain: hey me: ... uh oh my brain: you know what's really interesting about Leon and Ada's dynamic in the Remake series? me: ... oh god what is it just say it because this razor is very sharp and I have no wiggle room for bullshit. my brain: in OG, Leon always came off as naive and even a little bit childish due to his attachment to Ada. Remake is flipping that on its head. this time around, Leon is the mature adult in the room, and Ada is the one with a naive, almost childish worldview. me: ... what, you mean the whole "Leon is more comfortable with silence than Ada is" thing? I already did that part. my brain: bitch would I have piped the fuck up if that was it my brain: no, I mean the fact that people -- even you up to this point, dumbass -- have been misinterpreting the genesis of her redemption arc. it isn't that Ada discovers that she has a moral line in the sand that she won't cross. it's not like she reunites with Leon and, out of nowhere, has the epiphany "maybe killing people is bad, actually." me: ... go on... my brain: it's that she reunites with Leon and sees what he's become and feels incredible guilt over it -- and that's probably the very first time in actual literal years she's felt guilt over anything. me: ... so she... wants to avoid feeling guilty again...? is that what you're saying? my brain: yes, and the reason it's been so long since she's felt guilty about anything is because she doesn't ever ask why. she has no real sense of object permanence when it comes to what she's doing and who she's doing it for. she does her job and she shuts up and moves on to the next. it's an almost child-like mentality of "I just do what I'm told." and that's why Wesker is surprised to hear her ask for more information. when he says "I do not pay you to ask questions" it sounds like the very first time he's ever had to say that to her. ever. me: back up. how do you get from "feeling guilt over what happened to Leon" to "she's never questioned Wesker"??? my brain: Ada is extremely intelligent and, as a spy, curious and investigative by nature. if you think about how completely bewildered she was by Leon's change in attitude and demeanor, it only makes sense that she'd have a moment of "how the hell did this happen" followed up by the question of "what's driving him to fight so damn hard for a government that did what they did to him?" with the found answer that Cid gives Benedikta about Clive: "he's fighting for something he believes in." it's not about the government. it's about stopping something like what happened in Raccoon City from ever happening again. which then culminates in the thought: "why am I doing any of the things I'm doing? where are my efforts going, exactly? I guess I can just ask Wesker about it." me: holy shit me: you're right, it's not about drawing a moral line in the sand at all. that moral line has always been there. she just had no idea how close up on it she actually was. my brain: exactly. if not for her guilt over Leon, she would have never been inspired to ask Wesker what he plans on doing with the amber -- so, he would have never told her, and she would've handed it right over to him and been responsible for the deaths of billions. Ada is essentially learning for the very first time that her actions have consequences, like a toddler sticking a penny in a light socket. me: aight aight I feel u. but one thing to tack on: it's also probably not just Leon's influence at play here. there's probably something of Luis here, too. my brain: OH COOL I CAN MAKE IT EVEN WORSE THEN me: gODDAMN IT NO

[mariana-oconnor]

The Three Gables pt 2

A little late, because life and Christmas are just... it's a lot.

Last time we had a lady who wanted to sell her house and someone who really wanted to buy it and everything in it. Including the remaining possessions of her dead son. Who had died of pneumonia? I think, but also been involved with some sort of woman his mother did not approve of.

And a servant was fired after everyone was kind of terrible to her, even if she was spying for some bad guys.

And there was a lot of racism, which I expect will increase.

Anyway

"Now, Watson, this is a case for Langdale Pike, and I am going to see him now."

Ah, it's another randomly referenced character that it sounds like we should know and yet we do not. Unless I have forgotten him. I don't think I've forgotten him.

Langdale Pike was his human book of reference upon all matters of social scandal. This strange, languid creature spent his waking hours in the bow window of a St. James's Street club and was the receiving-station as well as the transmitter for all the gossip of the metropolis. He made, it was said, a four-figure income by the paragraphs which he contributed every week to the garbage papers which cater to an inquisitive public.

OMG, he's the paparazzi!

Well, the Edwardian equivalent of it.

Holmes, I thought better of you than this. You're really feeding this guy information. Ugh.

'Please come out at once. Client's house burgled in the night. Police in possession. — Sutro.' Holmes whistled. “The drama has come to a crisis, and quicker than I had expected."

Really? You must have known you sped up their timetable a little. They knew you'd gone to see the place and they were worried enough about you they tried to warn you off. It makes sense that seeing you there would move up their plans.

“Well, they don't seem to have got much. Mrs. Maberley was chloroformed and the house was— Ah! here is the lady herself.”

She was chloroformed and it's just an ordinary burglary? I hate to see what you call an odd burglary.

Just going to skip over the extra racism.

“Well, I don't think there is anything of value missing. I am sure there was nothing in my son's trunks.”

You hadn't even looked in them and Holmes told you that he thought there was something in them. Why are you so confident in this, lady?

"It is in my son's handwriting.” “Which means that it is not of much use,” said the inspector. “Now if it had been in the burglar's—” “Exactly,” said Holmes. “What rugged common sense!"

Please allow me to use my Holmes-English dictionary. I'll just check... yeah... Mmhm.

“I never pass anything, however trifling,” said he with some pomposity. “That is my advice to you, Mr. Holmes."

Oh, oh no. Oh poor boy. You are being set up for the biggest of falls. You have no genre savvy. I'm sorry. This will hurt.

“Seems to be the end of some queer novel, so far as I can see.”

Please, tell me more.

“Why should they go to my son's things?” asked Mrs. Maberley.

Clearly they wanted the manuscript of his magnum opus of homoerotic literature, Mrs Maberley. I can see no other possible reason.

And honestly, relatable.

"Man must live for something. If it is not for your embrace, my lady, then it shall surely be for your undoing and my complete revenge.”

🔥VENGEANCE!🔥

So it's not a homoerotic bodice ripper, at all. It's a tell-all memoir.

"I hear that she is about to marry the young Duke of Lomond, who might almost be her son."

Refreshing to see an older woman-younger man romance portrayed for once. Usually it's the older man preying on the sweet young ingenue. This time the sexual predator is the woman. Although... honestly, nothing that's been said so far makes me think she's doing anything but having a good time.

“Not at home means not at home to you,” said the footman.

RUDE!

The lady had come, I felt, to that time of life when even the proudest beauty finds the half light more welcome.

Also rude!

Come on, Watson. You're not exactly young yourself at this point. And you're still apparently marrying people left right and centre. Do you hide in the shadows?

Pah.

...two wonderful Spanish eyes which looked murder at us both.

I know what he means by this, but also I am imagining her irises being the Spanish flag.

Beautiful.

“I need not explain, madame. I have too much respect for your intelligence to do so—though I confess that intelligence has been surprisingly at fault of late.”

Holmes is in such a bitchy mood in this one. He's just insulting everyone as much as he can. I kind of love it.

"I feel that I may be frank with you, Mr. Holmes. You have the feelings of a gentleman. How quick a woman's instinct is to find it out. I will treat you as a friend.”

Wow...the bullshit is strong with this one.

“No doubt it was foolish of me to threaten a brave man like yourself.”

You should totally stroke his bicep and ask if he works out. That's clearly where this is heading. Lolol!

“No, no, you would not. You are a gentleman. It is a woman's secret.”

Wow. Just... wow. Weaponising femininity indeed.

✨ Gaslight. ✨ Gatekeep. ✨ Girlboss. ✨

So roguish and exquisite did she look as she stood before us with a challenging smile that I felt of all Holmes's criminals this was the one whom he would find it hardest to face. However, he was immune from sentiment.

That's because unlike you, he is not ruled by his horny brain, Watson. Please, take some deep breaths, drink a glass of cold water and come back when you've calmed down. You were literally just saying you thought she was too old to stand in proper lighting, my dude. Down boy!

"Because I had given he seemed to think that I still must give, and to him only. It was intolerable."

OK, fine. I'm on her side now. She's still the most ridiculous person ever, but this is a valid and correct point. Douglas needed to take no as an answer.

Barney and the boys drove him away, and were, I admit, a little rough in doing so.

I'm torn. On the one hand, Douglas needed to understand that just because his sense of entitlement told him she owed him something, he really didn't. On the other hand, don't hire people to beat people up. Maybe just hire bodyguards to keep turning him away and save the beating for if he escalates?

I feel like everyone sucks in this story.

This... this is the same story from Charles Augustus Milverton except the female character is rich and has agency. And yet we're supposed to not side with the people who stole back the blackmail material that would ruin her? Because she's promiscuous?

Yeah, she's kind of terrible, but her crime was getting people to beat him up. The theft seems fair, honestly.

“Very good. I think you will sign me a check for that, and I will see that it comes to Mrs. Maberley. You owe her a little change of air."

Yeah, she was chloroformed and it's possible that the beating led to her son's death. She definitely deserves something for all of this.

"Have a care! You can't play with edged tools forever without cutting those dainty hands.”

Weird line to end on, but okay. Basically 'fuck around and find out' in Holmes speak, I guess.

But yeah, this is just a different version of Charles Augustus Milverton and A Scandal in Bohemia only this time the lady is the bad guy. And she actually has done some horrible things. But if she'd come to you and said 'Mr Holmes, I had an ill advised dalliance with a young man and I need the evidence before it ruins my upcoming wedding!' Holmes might have done the burglary himself.

Well, probably not if he found out about her having Douglas beaten up.

But it's a weird change of perspective.

[whitedarkmoonflower]

Captive Part 2

Sihtric x OC

Authors note: this is somehow Part 2 of the Captive, but at the same time it is not. This is the same story, just from the perspective of the captive girl - her name is Elfflaed. I am thinking of what will happen next. I am not sure whether this is something worth reading at all, so if you have any comments or suggestions - let me know.

Summary: Sihtric is sent to Heasten’s camp to spy and discovers the Danes have a captive – young Saxon girl he just can’t leave to her fate.

Word Count: 894

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Elfflaed was holding on to Sihtrics hand and followed him into the woods. She still couldn’t believe what had happened. The moment she saw him entering the tent, she had no doubts about his intentions. He stood there with his gaze fixed at her, scanning her from the head to the toes, eyes so dark with lust that she felt herself naked. Elfflaed wanted to scream for help, but what help could she expect here? She had seen the glances Danes were casting at her.

The bigger was her awe when the Dane spoke to her.

"Stay calm," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I'm not your enemy. I have come to bring you to safety," he continued, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and determination.

Elfflead couldn’t believe her ears. She looked at him with a gaze full of mistrust, anger, and fear. Her mind was racing in search of an escape. He was tall and imposing, his muscular frame rippling with strength and battle-hardened prowess. His broad shoulders and muscular arms attested his physical vigour and training. There was no chance she could stand against him, but nevertheless she was determined not to give in quickly. And still she felt so helpless, so ashamed and full of fear and anger. She could do nothing to escape her fate of being raped by a vicious Dane.

The Dane reached out a hand, his voice filled with sincerity. "I understand you don’t believe me. But I give you my word, I am not here to harm you. I am here to offer you a chance at freedom, to return you to your people, and ensure your safety."

Of course, she did not believe him. Why would she? But something cached her in the Danes voice. It sounded so sincere that she wavered torn between the hope of liberation and the fear of betrayal. She couldn’t remember anymore whether she said something to him nor his answers

“I am Sihtric and I am lord Uhtred’s man,” was the only thing that reached her consciousness and in the same moment she saw him drawing his knife and leaping towards her. He put his hand on her mouth, silencing her, and at that very moment she was sure she was going to die. What a foolish thought he would be her savior! Her eyes widened with terror, she wanted to scream, but his hand was holding her firmly and not a sound was escaping her and in one single motion he cut the rope holding her hands.

"Promise me, you will not scream," the Dane whispered in her ear. “If you do, we are both doomed.”

Elfflead was torn between the wish to believe this stranger could be her salvation, her way to freedom, and her common sense that told her that this was simply not possible.

“Promise me," she finally managed to pull herself together and find her words, her voice still laced with a fragile mixture of fear and longing. "Promise me that you will protect me, that you will not lead me into further harm,” she whispered.

“Sihtric,” she thought, “His name is Sihtric. He is Uhtred’s man, and he will not harm me”.

Of course, she knew Uhtred. He had been a regular guest in her father’s house. Her father had always supported lady Æthelflæd. She was the wife of the Mercian King Æthelred, but her husband hated her, and Uhtred was well known as a friend and protector of lady Æthelflæd.

“I swear on my life that I will protect you, that I will do everything within my power to keep you safe," Sihtric's voice held unwavering conviction as he made his pledge and Elfflead believed him, she wanted to believe him and so she felt a flicker of trust kindling within her, a glint of belief in the possibility of an escape.

Sihtric stepped back and extended his hand towards her, and she felt the faintest touch of a smile unconsciously gracing her lips. Hesitantly she reached out, her fingers intertwining with his and Sihtric helped her to her feet. She looked in his eyes and noticed that they were of different color.

His strong jawline exuded an aura of determination, while a scar etched along his cheekbone served as a reminder of battles fought and battles won. Despite the harshness of his appearance, she could not deny there was a certain magnetism in his features. He moved with a grace that defied his imposing stature, each stride purposeful and confident. With every movement, his muscles flexed beneath his taut, battle-worn skin. There was an air of confidence that surrounded him, a palpable energy that drew her towards him. But beyond that in his eyes, there flickered a glimmer of compassion and respect.

Sihtric pushed up the back wall of the tent and together, they crouched out. It took just a few steps to reach the nearby trees, so Sihtric guided her towards them, their movements silent and purposeful. Elfflead clenched to his hand seeking a reassurance that everything will be all right and he squeezed her hand in response. She was overwhelmed with his strong presence and was slowly melting into his grip. He was her savior and she thought that she would follow this man where ever he would take her. She had never felt anything comparable before.

[misskittyhart]

Material Girls

Content warning: language, suggestive language (I mean it’s Angel guys ) stalking

Angel had his head in his hands sitting at the bar nursing a cocktail. He looked out of it completely. Kitty knew that look well. The distant look of disassociation, trying to lose your self at the end of a bottle. Angel and her saw eye to eye on many things, and often confided in each other. When kitty was alive in New Orleans she was in a horribly abusive arranged marriage. She was no stranger to toxic love and binding contacts when it came to Angel. That is probably why they clicked so well. They could sense the sadness and pain buried behind the mask.

“Oh honey.” Kitty said in her soft and caring tone. She put her hand gently over his bringing him out of his glazed daze.

“Oh….ah…hey Kit cat.” He said quietly.

“….he hit you again” kitty said in a tone laced with malice as she saw the bruise on Angel’s cheek. If Valentino wasn’t an over lord he’d be six feet under by now. But Alastor always told her in due time darling.

Angel tried to play it off like always “well you know spice things up in the bedroom!” He laughed finishing his drink “I’m fine are you kiddin me? Doesn’t even hurt”

Kitty felt a pang of sadness deep in her. She could see the mask coming up. She sighed not wanting to pry further. She squeezed his hand “say.” She started he looked at her curious, “why don’t we go shopping? Some retail therapy is a great way to get out of the dumps”

Angel’s eyes lit up at the idea. “Oh yeah? You got it sugar tits! That sounds like a blast!”

Kitty laughed, she rather liked his crass and sassy nature. It was also nice to have a man not trying to touch or flirt with her. Angel just felt like a younger brother, which made her fiercely protective. Kitty held up a gold credit card between her fingers. “I’ve got the all access tour to a ton of money~ so we can go wild.”

Angel grinned looking at the credit card, he could clearly see Alastor’s name across it as the owner of this. He raised and eyebrow. “That’s sure sweet of the strawberry pimp. Look I don’t understand your relationship with ol creepy smiles, or how you can even want to tap that….but I guess everyone has their kink~”

Kitty smacked his hand playfully, “oh hush you.” Her cheeks were tinged lightly pink at his teasing. Though the thought of being intimate with Alastor made her heart pound in her ears. She shook her head her fluffy fox ears pinned back against her head.

Angel cackled and looked down at her. “Let me go get into something more fun. Then we will burn his money up baby!”

Kitty sat down at the bar as she waited for Angel. The bracelet on her arm with the radio tube eye emitted a low hiss and crackle sound. Her ears caught the sound flicking as she gazed down at it. Of corse he would be spying on them. “You are suppose to be working you know. Not listening in.” She said placing her finger on the eye, “you couldn’t take me for a wardrobe update because you said you were soooo busy with your territory”

Hissssssssss, pfffffbttttt, pop.

That was her reply with the faintest sound of Kitty~ in the static.

Alastor would get so possessive and jealous when she spent her time with other residents. He was egotistical like that. He wanted all of her attention all of the time. Even if she had to sit in his office in silence for hours while he worked. He just wanted to feel her close and giving him her time. She rolled her eyes. “Don’t get all jealous.” She sighed pinching the bridge of her nose. “You made the choice…” she trailed off before hearing Angel’s foot steps

“Girl let’s go!” He said striking a pose. He had changed into a fluffy fur collar jacket, and a pair of hot pink sunglasses.

Kitty looked at him with a bright grin her canines flashing in the light “as the kids say these days ‘girl slay’” she was getting used to modern slang and modern technology. After all the 1920s had all of its own slang and she still used it but mostly with Alastor. Angel laughed doing a little runway walk to her.

She grabbed her purse and pulled out her own sunglasses her looked classic and vintage. She put them on. Angel took her arm in a friendly matter “let’s go bad bitch!” He laughed.

They headed out into the street from the hotel lobby. Kitty quite liked shopping with Angel, he had excellent taste in clothing and often loved dressing her up like she was a little doll. She was hoping to get a few more modern pieces of clothing with some more sex appeal. Not that she minded wearing all of her vintage clothes, she always looked so darling. However…she wanted to change things up.

“I’ve got an idea Ang.” She said looking up at him.

He beamed down at her “you thinkin what I’m thinkin?”

She nodded firmly “Hell bucks!”

“Yes girl I could go for a bucket of iced coffee right now.” He smiled

“Long night again?” She pryed.

Angel’s smile fell slightly “I mean yeah you could say. Val had me filming almost to sunrise…”

Kitty purses her lips. Oh if that mother fucker wasn’t more powerful then a her, she’d throw him into a bug zapper. He was gross with her too. He pressed her to make a contract with him so he could make her a star, in front of Alastor, during a overlords meeting. He followed it saying he could find a good use for her pouty lips. The amount of static and malicious that had drilled off Alastor but he had to play nice. She could feel his claws on her shoulders digging in as he glared at Valentino before saying she was already a star. So yeah….fuck valentino.

Angel noticed an aura of rage around her. He laughed softly “hey it’s okay…it’s part of the job”

This snapped kitty from her thoughts “well fuck him, but let’s not let him spoil our day.” Her ear flicked hearing a soft hissing static from her bracelet. Her eyes cast down at it in slight annoyance. He really had nothing better to do did he?

They made it down to the coffee shop and headed inside. The delicious smell of fresh brewed coffee was a welcome beacon. Heading to the counter they eagerly ordered iced coffees in the largest size possible and waited. It was nice having access to as much money as she desired to spend. Alastor didn’t much use his wealth, and enjoyed showering her with it. The amount of dresses and trinkets she had in her room was almost getting to hoarding levels. He very much loved for his possessions to look pretty. Frequently dripping her neck and arms with jewels. It was overwhelming at times.

They got their coffees and headed out. Angel sighed happily drinking it. “This is what I’m talking about! Ya know sometimes coffee hits harder than blow!” He laughed

Kitty grinned up at him. She wasn’t one for drug use finding her vice only at the bottom of a bottle of rye. “It’s quite the treat isn’t it?” She sipped on it as they walked into one of the large shopping districts. She always let Angel lead on these outings, he seemed to know where to shop.

“So whatcha lookin for Kit cat?” He asked looking down at her, “you want me to help pick out some sexy lingerie to make ol creepy smiles jaw drop?” He grinned mischievously messing with her.

Kitty’s face flustered at the idea, putting quite the image in her mind about what would happen if she walked into his office in something Angel had picked out.

Psssssst!!!! Crack! Pop! Hizzzzzmmnnnnn

the radio static again, why did it seem flustered.

Choke on that you bastard. She thought.

Angel could barely hear the static, her ears more sensitive to its sounds. She wasn’t sure if it was her contract with Alastor that made that so.

He looked at her bracelet “not to be a cunt. But it’s really creepy he gave you that magic transponder that he can tune into when ever and listen in on you”

Kitty shrugged lightly “well when you sign your soul away you kind of loose the right to all privacy.”

Angel nodded lightly “fuck…don’t remind me.”

Kitty shook her head, honestly it didn’t bother her. It made her feel safe knowing he knew where she was and what she was doing. It’s come in handy when she got into danger a few times. It’s like he could immediately step out of the shadows and challenge whatever creature dare touch his property

Angel shook his head. She sure was strange. He had no idea why she liked Alastor more than just, her boss. But he had no right to shame her.

“Oh yeah! We gotta go in here!” Angel said suddenly stopping at a store that had hot pink neon lights pouring from its windows. Kitty cocked her head looking at the clothing on display. It was modern and….revealing. Her face flushed lightly. She wasn’t much into wearing dresses and skirts that went above the knee. But Angel had been desperately trying to get her into a mini skirt for what seemed like eons. She sighed.

“I suppose I can try to see what they have to offer” she said looking at the overly sexual clothing. Angel grabbed her hand and jaunted into the shop with her.

Kitty looked around at the clothes in here. Most of it barely left anything to the imagination. Angel wasted no time diving into a rack of clothes and started grabbing things to try on. Including a handful of items he thought she’d look great in.

Kitty looked out of place and embarrassed as he handed her some clothing with what she thought had very little material to them. He patted her on the shoulder and pushed her to the dressing room a mischievous grin on his face. He was fucking with her. Her ears pinned back as she shot him a look. She was shoved into the dressing room and he shut the door behind her leaning against it so she couldn’t come back out.

“You’re impossible Ang!” She scowled. She picked up one of the dark green dresses which had a deep V cut that almost went to her belly button. The bottom of the dress came up mid thigh and it felt like wearing a vise it was so tight.

“I want to see~” Angel said in a sing song tone. Kitty felt almost naked wearing this. She steeled her nerves and walked out. Angel’s eyes lit up seeing her in it “holy fuck girl!” He clapped his hands together “that will surely fluster ol smiles~” kitty kept pulling at the hem of the dress trying to hold it down. Angel laughed at her modest nature. “Honey it’s not the 1920s any more. Live it up be a bad bitch!” He teased

Kitty sighed. It was pointless to argue with Angel. Her mind began to wander thinking what Alastor would think of this outfit.

She could sense him. Her eyes flicked around looking for him. He was near by. She could feel it in her bones. The radio static was getting out of control. Faintly she could see his shadow in the corner of the room. It’s head in her direction. The radio static got louder and her ears pinned back. Hm? What a weird reaction. Kitty smirked “I think I’ll get this and a few more things” she felt emboldened by Alastor’s reaction.

He always teased her and touched her flirting with her because he loved seeing her break down for him. It was a power high to be able to control her in that way. He always had that wide sharp grin as he stared down at her squirming in his grasp. Time for payback.

They shopped for hours at different stores. She could see the shadow becoming more clear as the day went on. To the point she could see red eyes staring her down and a wide toothy grin meeting her gaze. Angel hadn’t noticed it at all. Which made it almost like a secret.

Oh she had his attention alright, Angel was right about that. “man!” Angel said suddenly breaking her thought, “I needed that! Thanks again kit cat!” He grinned at her

They were heading back into the hotel with arms full of bags. Angel had found a bunch of new outfits and seemed giddy. Kitty hadn’t gone too wild, as she felt the clothes she had picked were bold enough. Angel begged her to get some lingerie; she caved this time.

They came back into the Hotel and her face went scarlet seeing Alastor on the couch reading a book. The old gramophone was playing some jazz in the background and he was nursing a whiskey. He didn’t look up at her but spoke suddenly “have fun spending my money~?” He said in his usual teasing tone.

“Don’t give me a credit card with out a limit if you don’t want me too~” she said back setting her bags down. His eyes drifted toward the bags. He didn’t get to see everything she had bought but he had seen enough. He was curious what other treats might be in those bags and felt his mind wander.

“Hmmm” was all he said in his little annoyed tone.

Kitty handed him a small bag, “here….I got you this as a thank you.”

She caught him off guard his eyes widened slightly at the idea. However his classic grin didn’t falter to betray his emotions. He simply set his book down and took the bag from her curious. He opened it up and saw a black box inside. Kitty’s tail wagged slowly as she waited for him to open the box.

He couldn’t recall the last time he was given a gift, and it was only ever from Rosie when he did receive one. He was curious. He must have missed this little part of their excursion. He opened the box his eyes falling onto a beautiful gold pocket watch. It was antique. It had a stunning decorative link chain with a red ruby bail charm handing from it. He was silent. He’d never received such a personal and fine gift.

He ran his thumb over the crystal thinking quietly. He stood suddenly grabbing her bags. His eyes looked down at her as he towered over her. Kitty cocked her head not sure what he was thinking. “Office.” He said walking out of the lobby carrying her packages. She turned to look at Angel who gave her two thumbs up.

She followed Alastor in silence as they moved through the hotel to his radio tower. He opened the door for her letting her move past him into his main office. He closed the door behind him. He set the bags on the couch and looked over her looking down at her.

“Alastor?” She asked confused.

His clawed finger reached forwards playing with a curl around her face. His eyes burning into hers. She felt her heart racing. Did he not like it? Was he upset with her? He would do this she swore just to make her on edge, another way he could control her.

“Hmmm.” He said in a hum. “Thank you.” He said simply. His claw moved tracing her jaw slowly. She felt her hairs stand on end and her heart pound in her chest.

“Y…you’re welcome” she said looking up at him. He ran his finger under her chin and leaned down over her his face close to her ear.

“You looked stunning by the way, darling~” he purred into her ear.

Kitty went stiff her face flushing a dark shade of red. He grinned wickedly looking down at her. “I want to see them all on. Give me a little show” he teased.

He was serious wasn’t he? He nodded as if confirming those thoughts, he moved to sit at his desk. “Well?” He said lacing his fingers together. “Sometime this century, kitty~”

Fuck.

“Yes sir.” She said moving to her bags.

“And that little lacy thing you decided to let Angel talk you into. Now.” He said his eyes burning into her. “I’d like to see you in that now~”

Her face went scarlet and she felt she would pass out. God damn it Angel.

~til next time

[loraliewritesthings]

Avengers crossover that I needed in my life

The avengers watched in horror as the girl struck up the deal. The monster they had been fighting, part spider part seamstress part something else shook the poor girls hand.

Natasha had been flung across the room. Tony's suit was simply not working.

They had been sent to a old house, long sense abandoned over missing people. Not just people...missing children.

The monster they found there had wiped the floor with them. And now there was a young woman who looked barely Peter's age, with her black roots sticking out against navy blue hair, shaking the monsters hand.

They would have stopped her had they not all been so out of breath.

The girl was calm and above his ears ringing Tony made out what she was saying.

"If I win you let me go, and if I don't...I'll be your next meal."

"And them?" Replied the syrupy sweet monster.

"You only need one meal right now."replied the girl coolly. She continued. "Don't you want to play the game?".

The monster nodded all smug and smiley and finished shaking the young woman's hand.

Then like the wind she was gone.

Immediately the girl ran for the old cupboard and practically took the door of.

Steve gained back his breath first.

"Do you really think you can do it?"he spoke, a voice laced with worry. The girl immediately told him to shut up.

"She should have left a spy behind...so don't make this more difficult for me." She continued. Natasha froze. Steve and Tony looked at her.

It was just the three on the mission. The monster wouldn't show up for Thor, Bruce, or even Peter Parker, despite spiders being cannibalistic.

Still the young woman didn't seem to notice the apprehension of either men as she rummaged threw cabinet after cabinet.

It was then when she pulled it out. A large greasy looking rat. Without much thought she snapped its neck and threw it into the empty fireplace.

She then began to speak,"I don't like rats at the best of times, they sound the beldams allarms" then she chuckled to herself.

"It's an inside joke, you wouldn't get it."

Tony managed to catch his breath. To speak

"Kid how do you know you'll beat that thing."

The young woman looked up at him, smug and said,

"I have the best monster catching partner I could possibly have. I'm just laying out the ground works so we can get to work when he arrives., oh and that's not my name."

It was Natasha's turn to speak,

"We tried to get the doors open kid. It just wouldn't work."

That was enough to get the girls full attention.

"First of all my names coraline. C-O-R-A-L-I-N-E, second of all he doesn't need the door. He can come and go as he pleases."

Natasha looked at the young women with a shrug. Then Tony asked the question everyone besides Coraline was wondering.

"Why is she willing to eat you if your not her target demographic. Don't monsters like this eat babies or whatever."

Coraline laughed a little and said, "No, they consume souls of the willing. Children are just the easiest to trick normally."

Steve being worried decided to try to ask his question again,

"But how do you know you'll win her game?"

Coraline turned towards him half way and said nonchalantly,

"This isn't my first time against a beldam. If I can beat one at twelve years old, I can beat one now."

As they were talking and Coraline was looking for more rats the same cupboard door opened and out popped a cat.

Not Steve nor Natasha or Tony knew what to do when it opened its mouth and began to talk.

Coraline didn't even look phased instead petting it affectionately.

Tony noted that he'd definitely have to do some research on this girl say they ever got out of the beldams playground.

[icanbeyourgenie]

“ You know, I have a door, you should come from it, it's less dangerous. ” – Malachai to Yasmeen, who entered his room in the middle of the night by the window

Yasmeen smiled lightly while closing the window behind her. She didn't make a sound, outside of her knocks on the glass.

“Is it really?”

“I'm on the highest floor of the east tower. It's raining outside. The walls are slippery.” He said, and followed his words by handing her a towel. She liked how he kept a distance while doing so.

“I like the height. And the fresh air.”

She welcomed the soft feeling of the warm towel on her face, and then around her shoulders. Noble people always had such fluffy towels. Nothing compared to the rough fabric the servants were occasionally given. She could get used to it.

“What are you doing here? Are you in trouble? Did Rhys claim you ag-” He must've seen her tense, cause he stopped talking on his own.

“Nothing like that.” She tried to steady her voice. She had no reason to be angry, it could've very much been the truth. “You looked tense.”

Malachai looked puzzled. “What?”

“Earlier, on the church. You looked tense. Like something weighted on you.” It was not just the church, where they didn't talk much this time, but the entire day. Yet she wasn't ready to admit that she watched him that closely. “You helped me last night. I figured I could try to do the same.”

“You don't have t-”

“I know.”

He paused for a moment to look at her, deep in his thoughts. Like he was truly debating something. Yasmeen didn't know what exactly. But she knew that it was the first time she wasn't uncomfortable under a man's gaze.

Then, without a word, he went back to the table in the center of the room. The spy followed but this time, she didn't find checkers, but a real war board. She didn't understand. Triton and Morgana weren't at war. Not yet at least.

“The sirens.” Malachai said, like he read her mind. “They're gaining territory lately. ”

Yasmeen didn't know exactly why Malachai trusted her with this information already. But she could see in the way his shoulders sagged that he was truly tired, even if he hid it pretty well. She had just be trained to observe, and right now she could see him fixed on a board he barely saw anymore after hours of reflexion, the red of his eyes expending and his eyelids struggling to stay open until he found the solution to a problem he didn't explain to her yet. She felt the need to assist. She didn't understand why, but wasn't it why she came here? She had noticed him looking tense all day and had dread the worst - her mind had a way to make up the worst scenarios possible in second or less - and she had come to confirm one of them. So she came closer.

The war board was a pretty basic one, simply put on the table - which made sense since Morgana wouldn't have allowed a true war board to be built on the borrowed chamber of the enemy. Yasmeen stayed silent. She had seen enough war council to understand what was happening, but she wanted to let Malachai the option to either confide in her, or change the subject. Still, she was surprised when he started talking (She was always surprised when he told her little secrets about him when they were alone in the church, but this was another kind of trust entirely).

“This is the war base of the Greenland sea. If they manage to take it, they'll soon take control over the Norwegian sea, which would significally extend their territory, and persuade some of the most dubious sea lords to switch sides and turn against my father. If they win this battle-”

“The blow on your father's reign will be too big. And if he appears weak, Morgana will strike immediately.”

They looked at each other with some kind of understanding. Yasmeen saw a bit of mistrust in Malachai's red eyes. He wasn't stupid. It was Morgana that sent Yasmeen as a guard and maid for Calypso, and he was clever enough to know that Morgana probably used Yasmeen's abilities in some other way. It was logical to doubt her. So this time, she talked first, without breaking eye contact.

“And you're outnumbered.”

“Barely. But sirens fight dirty. They're stronger and faster.”

“Prince Nathaniel doesn't seem to be stronger. He seems rather weak.”

Malachai choked on a laugh. “My brother has not fed since he was a little boy. It does weaken him - don't tell him that, though. But those sirens will be freshly fed, and out for blood. And our army has taken a lot of blows lately, and some are fighting other battles. The men I was given are not enough to win this time.” Malachai looked away, which made Yasmeen realized that they didn't break eye contact once. He looked ashamed. “My father wants to send civilians.”

“But they'll die.”

“That's the point. They'll be used as a decoy, a given feast, so we can still win while the sirens are distracted.”

“I see. And do you want to do that?”

“Not really. But I might not have the choice.”

He looked at her this time, and found no judgment in her eyes. Instead she examined the board for a few silent minutes.

“Or you could use yourselves as a decoy.” Malachai raised an eyebrow. “You said it yourself, your army is weakened, and there's other battles to fight. The sirens won't have any idea how many you're supposed to be. You take one part of your army and you make them march to them. You should be amongst them, so the sirens truly think it's the entirety of your army. Meanwhile, soldiers will be hidden on both sides of the zone. When the sirens all came to you, they'll come out. This way, you'll encircle them. And any encircled army-”

“-is a dead one.” Malachai finished, eyes brighting up. “Great strategy.”

“One that doesn't involve sending untrained men, women and children to their deaths, at least.” She drew a smirk from Malachai with her remark but didn't dwell too much on it. “It might still be a bloodbath.”

“Yes, but as you said, only with people who chose this path. And we might actually win... Thank you. Truly.”

He looked at her and she smiled for the first time since she was here. A shy smile, but still a smile. She suddenly became aware of how close they became during this conversation, and took a step back.

He took a moment to gather his thoughts. “Calypso doesn't know about any of it. Can you please keep it that way?”

“I wasn't even here.” She replied, and just like that, this night and many others to come became their secret.

She turned to leave, and she was almost at the window, when he started to talk again, which effectively stopped her.

“It's my home, you know? I was born in the Norwegian sea. I have responsibility over it. If they take it...”

He didn't finish, but Yasmeen could make up the rest in the silence that trailed. She took a decision, here and then. “When are you leaving?”

“In three days.” It bothered her. “Hopefully, I'll return.”

“Do you want to train with me tomorrow?”

His eyes widened. “I thought you preferred to train alone.”

“I changed my mind. Tomorrow, 8 o'clock?”

He nodded. “Also you... you can come here... Whenever you want, I mean.”

“Only if you return.”

“The maybe you could pray for me?”

“You truly think you have to ask?”

He smiled, and she turned away before he could see her own smile. In a breath, she was gone, window closed behind her like she was never there. She couldn't explain why she was so eager to start their training session the following day, but this was a question for later.

[walker-extended-universe]

We Go Down Together, Ch 2

Ch 1

Relationship(s): Cassie Perez & Cordell Walker

Tags/Warnings: Torture, Kidnapping, Waterboarding, Hurt/Comfort, Canon Divergence

Summary: While Cassie and Cordell wait for rescue, their captors take things up a notch

Written for @whumpuary Alt Prompt 4: Forced to Watch

Taglist: @theladywyn, @klaatu51, @ihavepointysticks, @itsjessiegirl1, @neptunium134

-------

Cassie was losing track of time. She wasn’t sure how long they’d been held, only that it had been more than 36 hours, which she only knew because Walker said so. She wasn’t sure how long ago that had been.

She knew she was tired. She knew she was cold. She knew she was hungry. She knew the concrete floor was comfortable enough to go to sleep on but she was still dozing off, which wasn’t helping her sense of time at all.

“They’ll find us,” Walker said out of nowhere. “James knows what he’s doing.”

“Yeah, they will,” she agreed. She glanced over her shoulder at the moonlight filtering through the window.

“We just need to hold out a little longer. That’s all.”

“Trying to convince yourself or me over there?”

Walker smiled wryly. “Can’t it be both?”

Cassie tried to smile back. “Well…. Got any fun games to play while we’re trapped here? They probably taught you some in the marines, right?”

Walker hummed. “Yeah, but there’s no ceiling tiles or dead rats for us to count. And I was told ‘I Spy’ could get us killed so you may just have to be bored for a while.”

Cassie would take being bored over the alternative. “Guess we’ll just have to keep ourselves entertained then. Got any fun stories? Maybe including some potential theories on who these guys are and what they want from you?”

He sighed. “The only thing I know is that they, allegedly, want me to join up with them. As far as who they are and why they want me…. I’m guessing this is tied up in what Miles was looking into since it sounds like they’re looking for a replacement for Fenton….”

She snorted. “What? So to get you to work for them they kidnap you and threaten you? Doesn’t sound like the best recruitment strategy.”

“Agreed. Which has me wondering if there’s a bigger motive. Then again, Fenton was ready to kill himself to avoid their wrath….”

“Yeah, I guess….” She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and turned to see something lowering from the vent. “Walker.” She motioned toward the vent. “Looks like it’s coming down on your side.”

He followed her gesture and carefully made his way over to the edge of the cage. “An…origami swan?” He caught it as it fell from the vent and brought it in. “Do we have a fellow captive?”

“Sounds plausible. Is there a note on that thing?”

Walker untied the swan and unfolded it, frowning and turning a blank page toward her. “Nothing. Unless…” He picked up the string and stared at it. “Knots. There’s knots.”

“Some kind of code?” Cassie supplied.

“Exactly.” Walker silently counted the knots. “0007…. That’s flight codes.”

“Is that important?”

“Maybe….” Walker turned the string over in his mind. “Maybe it’s a message. Or maybe they just want us to know they know codes….”

“Right….” Cassie stood up and got as close to the vent as she could. “Hey! You still up there?!”

“Quiet!” a woman’s voice hissed. “They’ll hear you.”

Walker gave her a Look but stood up to the vent as well. “Sorry. We, ah, got your message. Can you… Who are you?”

“My name is Julia. Julia Johnson. I’m a journalist,” she said. “I’ve been investigating these psychos for the past year. Are you a Texas Ranger?”

“Uh, yeah, we both are,” he confirmed.

Julia cursed. “I knew it…. They needed a new guy after Fenton….”

“So this is about Fenton?” Cassie still thought that was a weird recruitment process but if Julia had been investigating them for a year, she must know her stuff. “Why are they doing it this way?”

“It’s how they operate,” Julia said gravely. “They break you down and then build you back up again, mold you into what they want. They’ve done it to so many… They’re experts.”

Suddenly, there was a loud bang, like a door being opened. Cassie whipped around to check their door but soon realized it was coming from upstairs. “No… NO!” Julia shouted off some random numbers (probably another code Cassie didn’t recognize) as she was taken away from the vent.

“Don’t worry,” said another, smoother, male voice that had Walker clenching his jaw. “I’m sure you two can keep each other company.

Cassie swallowed hard and, not for the first time, wondered if she might be in over her head here.

—-------------

The introduction to Julia (and her sudden removal) left Cordell rattled for the rest of the day. With nothing to do but think and make bad jokes with Cassie, there was little else for him to focus on.

“What are you thinking about?” Cassie asked him out of nowhere.

He hummed. “Thinking about the roast Mama’s gonna make for us when we get out of here,” he lied. “What about you?”

Cassie shrugged. “Ben. He’s probably freaking out right now. I hope he’s okay….”

Cordell nodded. “I’m sure he is. He’s got Liam.”

“Yeah….”

There was clanging outside the door and Cordell slowly stood up, ready to face whatever their captors were going to throw at them next.

He tried to put himself between them and Cassie as much as he could, but as soon as the cage door opened, he was shoved back against the bars opposite Cassie. Two of the goons held him in place and, even without the leash on his ankle, he wasn’t really in a state to fight them. He was too hungry, tired, outnumbered, weak.

Which meant all he could do was watch as the other two went to Cassie.

One of them grabbed her by the arms, holding her firmly to his chest while the other brought in a waterboarding chair. She struggled, but like Cordell she was tired and hungry and didn’t have nearly enough strength to fight back in any meaningful way. It wasn’t long before she was strapped down and anything she had to say was muffled by a cloth laid over her face.

Then the water started.

And all Cordell could do was watch. “This your big plan?” he growled, trying to sound more confident than he was. “We’re Texas Rangers! We don’t break easy!”

“Maybe you don’t.” Cordell whipped his head around to see Sean lurking in the background. “What, with your history in the marines and all. But a greenhorn like her?” He shook his head. “She won’t last that long. We both know that.”

Cordell narrowed his eyes. “Drastic measures, I assume?”

“I did warn you.”

The sound of Cassie choking brought Cordell’s attention back to her. He tried to break his arms free but there was no use.

All he could do was watch as wave after wave of water assaulted his partner. In between waves, when Cassie might have a moment to breathe, one of them hit her with the cattle prod. It was torture just to watch.

It didn’t take long for the message to click. Sean wasn’t going to wait around for Cordell to break. Given his training and experience, it would be a waste of time. But Cassie? She would break. And if watching her fall didn’t break him, he knew they’d take it further.

And all he would be able to do was watch.

It was too long before it was over. Cassie was put on the ground, coughing her lungs up in a puddle, and still they held Cordell back. It was only the sound of his leash being undone that kept him from lashing out.

Once he was let go, he scrambled to her side of the cage. “Hey, partner,” he said gently. “It’s over. You’re okay. We’re okay….” Pretty little lies like that kept falling from his lips; he couldn’t tell who he was trying to convince more as he all but put her in his lap. “We’re gonna get out of this,” he promised.

Cassie coughed again, weaker this time, but nodded. “Yeah…. We will….”

Cordell went without sleep again that night, splitting his energy between coming up with a plan and watching over his partner.

He wasn’t going to watch Cassie break.