#then being shocked and disgusted to learn of her time in prison

[stardvstbby]

i’m going to read a frankly concerning amout of fix it fics once Arcane finishes

i NEED my Vander, Vi, Jinx, and Isha happy family

[cuppajj]

Thoughts about BY 5 and 6

So I finished the episode at an unhealthy morning hour, and now after getting my full sleep, I can fully share my thoughts!

And of course, spoilers for the newest episode!

First things first, I want to talk about Burning Spice himself. A while back, I made a post about my hopes for him and how I didn’t want him to be a temperamental meathead, but instead a smart and calculating person who took from his extensive knowledge of history to psychologically destroy as much as physically. Did we get that?

Kinda, kinda not. Spice isn’t another Purple Yam like I’d hoped, he has more character than being just angry, but the hotheadedness does remain most of the way through. He reminds me of a strongman anime villain, the kind whose braun speaks more than brain, but still capable of strategy. Most of that strategy comes from Nutmeg Tiger though, as Spice is mostly interested in fighting Cheese from beginning to end. There’s no moment where he messes with her mind directly and picks apart her vulnerabilities beyond surface level “you hold things dear to you that I will destroy”. Which, implication is that he was more focused on just fighting, which in the context of how/why he is the way he is, kinda makes sense.

And about that, I’ll address it briefly: So we learn that Spice’s corruption, at least the straw that broke the camel’s back, was that he got bored watching history unfold. I think it’s very cool! While I was interested in a little more nuance behind his boredom, sometimes villains don’t need a complex reason for why they do what they do. It does make Spice less sympathetic than Mystic Flour though, so it seems like not all Beasts may be equal in cause and backstory. However, stuff about him may be explored later, since he’s going to be back.

So I would say that Spice isn’t as one note as I’d hoped, but he is a simple villain. A simple and very very fun and scary villain, but there could’ve been a lot more to his character in this story that made it lacking for me. I know BY chapters are usually short, but there could’ve possibly been more time showing the parallels between him and Cheese beyond a dialogue or so. It would’ve been really cool if Spice addressed those directly, using it against Cheese. Making her rethink/relive the trauma of losing everyone and mentally destroying her… like what if there was an exchange in the prison cell when she was at her lowest? What if Smoked Cheese had either been incapacitated and unable to speak, or in a separate cell so Cheese could be entirely at the Beast’s mercy? (We DID get a bit of that when Cheese realized how apathetic he was and what he saw in her soul jam, but that was more of a disgusted shock than a mental breakdown.) Smoked could help her out of her turmoil later (an exchange between him and Spice could’ve also been awesome), but Spice leaving mental damage on Cheese would’ve further spread the idea that he also values breaking things internally.

But, I guess Spice is just destroy destroy destroy to the point where he doesn’t really care about anything else, which is… fine. Admittedly not my cup of tea because it’s so basic, but it doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy his motivation. I hope we get a little more nuance next time we see him.

Anyway love these sprites!! I wished we got more related to the first two, it shows a mellower and/or ironically colder side of him that I think would’ve really helped amplify his fear factor. Spice is all fun and destruction but the oh shit comes from him showing more of the calculated side he used to have.

But speaking of Golden Cheese, I’ll talk about her next.

Overall I really liked her story here! I love seeing her in action and on her own, and her interactions with Smoked Cheese were fun to see! Smoked Cheese was extra fun, I loved how he had sass while still caring for people beyond his kingdom’s entourage (his voice and mannerisms remind me of tfp knockout it’s crazy). I was also happy to learn how the soul cheese worked, since that was a question I had from last episode. It appears Smoked isn’t in his body, but his soul is projecting a physical form given mass that relies on Golden Cheese’s power. Very interesting, and I wonder if he’s just going to stay out now, or if he’ll return? And what of the others too…

Now, something I will say about Cheese is that while her character arc made sense for her in a bubble, I feel a similar thing like I did with Spice that it could’ve been much better. Personally, while Cheese staying true to her greediness and immense care for her treasures is a good thing to power her up, I don’t think it made her as bigger a person than Spice than she could’ve. What would’ve been cooler and more thematic for her character would’ve actually been accepting that destruction and the loss of things she cares about is a natural part of life.

What I mean by this is that while Spice embodies destruction, Cheese essentially embodies creation, which are two polar opposites that have their place in the universe. Antagonizing one or the other should come with a deeper approach to the message, and frankly, antagonizing destruction in its entirety is a very black and white angle. Destruction can be inherently bad and tragic, yes, but it can also pave the way for new life and new things to be created. Plantlife grows back after a forest fire. You can build something better upon the ruins of what was before. For Cheese, her kingdom could’ve been lost/destroyed, but she could’ve accepted it and strove for a newer and better kingdom. Which, in some parts she did, but my philosophy also applies to people lost too.

Death and destruction was a prominent theme in Cheese’s backstory, and much of her Golden City arc was confronting that. I suppose this is a separate talk for another time, but to put it simply, she didn’t have an arc about accepting those who were lost, moreso about striving to bring those who were lost back. The story ended with her promising to bring her friends back, instead of accepting that she lost them and focusing her strength on protecting those she still has with her. That last part could’ve actually been what the Spice story led to, with her first wanting to find a way to bring everyone back, but deciding by the end of it that she can protect the memory of her kingdom along with the living friends she still has. Smoked Cheese could’ve even helped her with that, showing that he cares for her over himself, leading to a heartfelt goodbye between the two. This is just a wishful image, but it would’ve been a really good way for CRK to tackle a deep theme and touch a lot of people’s feelings. But what we got was a lot simpler, with both Spice and Cheese’s characters and themes, which I guess makes sense. Some stories (or the game itself) don’t really want to be anything super deep in narrative, and that’s fine as long as they’re still fun, which this was.

Lastly I will say, I fear the awakening thing will get a little predictable and repetitive from here on out. Beast is a threat for the first chapter, continues to be a threat up until Ancient does a power of love and friendship introspection and transforms into a stronger version of themself. I hope one of them will be a little subversive in this—I don’t know how, I just hope these great stories aren’t bogged down by predictability!

But anyway, those are my thoughts about BY 5 and 6. Overall a great story, I’m so happy to get Spice and Cheese action because they’re two of my favorites, Smoked Cheese was fun, and I’m looking forward to the new Shmilk stuff we will be getting around the anniversary. After that I really hope Eternal Sugar is next, I have a bunch of thoughts/hopes for them too!!

Anyway thanks for reading!

[silverose365]

Unknown Ocupent

Summary: When Sirius Black takes shelter in his family home of 12 Grimwald place he's unaware of two thing 1. His brother Regulas Black had a daughter with a muggle born witch and 2. That his niece has been living there for years.

Psa: It's been forever hasn't it? Super short idea that just popped in my head let me know if I should do another part!

Sirius POV:

I'm not really sure what I had expected was going to happen as I walked into the place that brought me so much dread as a kid but I know I wasn't expecting to see my mother's portrait already covered with her whispering about wasted pure blood.

I certainly wasn't expecting to hear Kreatcher telling someone "mistress Black again suggests you work from the book of dark magic and forget the work the school has given you".

Followed by the sound of a tired young witch telling the house elf "Kreacher for the hundredth time you are not a messenger owl, I do not care what my grandmother requested of me, and please for the love of Godric leave me the hell alone".

As I step into the kitchen I'm shocked to see a witch who is the spitting image of Regulas sitting at the table with school books spread across the table and an elegant looking wand placed in her hand as she mumbles to herself about Expecto Patronum. I peak over her shoulder to see the other subjects she is learning and note Advanced Potions, Astronomy, Advanced Defense Against The Dark Arts I raise my brow impressed.

"Those are some tough classes to get into you must be pretty smart" the girl jumps at least a foot as she launches from her chair..

I chuckle as she held her wand up against me "who are you? And what do you want?"

For someone so young she holds her stance with practiced ease and her wand steady. As I open my mouth to put the girl at ease Kreacher speaks with respect but slight disgust "this is Sirius Black you father's brother".

I watch as she debates in her head before putting her wand down and quietly going back to studying. I stare shocked "That's it? A strange man in prison clothes you've never met in your life walks in and when you hear my name you suddenly don't care?"

Without looking up she motions to the stove "stew is in the pot, tea in the kettle, I assume you know where everything in the house is" she speaks quietly.

"shall Kreacher serve two bowls of stew?" The elf asks clearly not wanting to be here.

"No" I answer for the girl as the elf walks out of the room.

I grab two bowls and ladel stew into them sitting down beside her as I slide one towards her "so am I to call you little Regulas, or..." I trail off seeing her smirk.

Y/n POV:

I try not to break my uninterested face but can't help but smirk everyone says I look like my dad but unfortunately for 'the great and noble house of Black' based on my personality others may think I'm more like my uncle say beside me.

Realizing I haven't answered I lower my eyes to the stew as I stir it "I'm y/n" I keepl it simple enough.

He clears his throat "so hogwarts huh? A Slitherin I presume"

"Nope" again short and to the point.

"Drabble in the dark arts?" He tries again

I scoff "nope" as he opens his mouth again I groan "ok let's just get this over with I'm a 6th year Huffelpuff, I'm top of my class, no I have no intrest in the dark arts, no I don't care if anyone in the family disagrees and if you have a problem with that get over it because I'm not moving"

He chuckles at me...chuckles. he soon grins "so I see the family reacted the same to you being different as me."

I look back at my soup "well..." I hesitate "except my mother's a muggle" I mumble.

To my shock instead of turning his nose up at me like the others he puts his hand on top of mine I the kind of way a father would soon a nervous child "i don't care about that.. I get a feeling you and I are gonna be just fine living here together"

I smile softly feeling accepted blissfully unaware of my father's ghost smiling at the scene before him from the corner.

Let me know if I should do another part!

@myloser @scandalous-chaos @myfictionaldreams @georgeandiareinparis111 @roonilwazlibimagines

[threewaywithdelusion]

GOT Fic

Feedback (and title suggestions!) welcome, as this is a work in progress! This is based off GOT, not ASOIAF, so we have Mad Queen Dany, sorry.

Jaime may have been reluctantly permitted into Winterfell by Daenerys Targaryen and Sansa Stark, with the help of Brienne’s shocking and unwavering faith in him. But that didn’t mean he had been welcomed. 

Everywhere Jaime went, he was watched with wary, distrustful eyes. Whispers trailed in his wake, words like Kingslayer and sister-fucker and Lannister hissed with equal venom. The wildlings, including that savage redheaded fucker who stared at Brienne wherever she went, watched him with open curiosity. His presence here had apparently done a lot to mend the rift between the wildlings, the Northerners, and the armies from Essos, gossip uniting them against a common enemy. 

It seemed the whole world hated a Lannister. 

Jaime had never felt so far from Casterly Rock. Here, he wasn’t Jaime Lannister, Lord Tywin’s hair and future Warden of the West. He wasn’t Jaime Lannister of the King’s Guard. He wasn’t even Jaime Lannister the fearsome knight, now that his fighting skills were mediocre without his right hand. A few days ago, he had watched Brienne teaching men in the yard, where she was eventually joined by Arya Stark, and had been dismayed to learn that he would almost certainly lose to the Starks’ youngest daughter. 

Jaime did his own training, sparring with Brienne in the yard and with Podrick Payne in a clearing in the woods, trying to strengthen his left arm. He ate meager rations of flavorless gruel, despairing at the thought of eating such terrible food for the next several years. He helped the blacksmiths distribute Dragonglass weapons, helped fortify Winterfell’s soot-stained walls for if (when) the army of the dead got past them, and tried desperately not to think of Cersei at every turn. Jaime was never allowed into the war room and he was never left alone. He felt a bit like a prisoner, constantly watched and never allowed near anyone of import.

That was why he was so surprised, after he’d been there a week, to walk into the bedroom he was sharing with Tyrion and Podrick and find Jon Snow waiting for him. 

The last time Jaime had seen Jon Snow, he’d been a mere boy, sat away from the high table and sulking about it. Since then, he’d been Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, King in the North, and was now Lord of Winterfell, despite his bastard origins. 

Jaime had never felt his fall in the world more acutely. 

“My Lord,” Jaime said stiffly. He had no idea what Snow wanted with him, but it couldn’t possibly be good. 

“Ser Jaime,” Jon Snow said, sweeping an arm at Tyrion’s bed. “Take a seat.”

Jaime stepped over his and Pod’s bedrolls and took a seat on Tyrion’s bed. Jon Snow shut the door and gave Jaime a long, unreadable look. 

He had brought no guards with him, but one of his hands was resting over the wolf’s-head pommel of his Valyrian steel sword. 

Jaime did not think that could mean anything good. “Am I being banished?”

“No.”

“Punished?”

“No.”

“Has Daenerys Targaryen decided she can’t forgive the man who murdered her father?”

Something in Snow’s expression twitched. “No.”

Jaime spread his hands. “Then I can’t imagine what I’ve done to deserve the honor.”

Jon Snow frowned. He opened his mouth several times, but no sound came out. 

Jaime sighed and began rooting around the furs on Tyrion’s bed. There was nothing under the pillow, or tucked between the bed and the wall, but a glance under the bed led Jaime to his prize: a skin of wine. 

Snow frowned as Jaime took a swig of it – it was disgusting Northern swill, strong and flavorless. 

“We’re on rations,” Snow said. “You’re not meant to have wine.”

“It’s not mine,” Jaime said. “Clearly your Queen has seen the wisdom in keeping my brother supplied with alcohol for as long as humanly possible. Here.” He held out the skin. 

Snow hesitated for a moment and then took it, gulping down half the wineskin and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. 

“So?” Jaime asked. 

Snow took a deep breath. “How did you do it?”

Jaime waited, but that appeared to be all. “I’m going to need more than that.”

“You and Cersei,” Snow said, making Jaime stiffen all over. “How could you…”

The word sister-fucker rang in Jaime’s ears. 

“Fuck her?” Jaime asked angrily. “I assume you’re not asking me for instructions. I know the Night’s Watch requires you to take a vow of celibacy, but I don’t believe you’re an untouched maiden..”

Snow’s cheeks flushed red as he scowled. “That’s not what I’m asking. Of course I’m not! I meant, knowing that she was your sister, how could you feel… that way… towards her.”

Jaime forced himself to keep his hand off his sword. “I came here to fight the dead, not put up with Northern scorn. I know you’re the honorable Ned Stark’s son,” he said with venom and Snow flinched, “but that doesn’t give you the right to abuse me for my choices.”

“I’m not mocking you,” Snow growled. “I was just- forget it.”

Something about the look on his face, scared and ashamed, made Jaime sit up straight. He knew what men looked like when they were teasing him about Cersei. He knew intimately the disgust on their faces, the way they would look down on him, the way their mouths would twist like they had tasted something sour. He knew Euron Greyjoy’s leer as he said, “”. He even knew how his friends and family treated the subject — Tyrion mostly alluding slyly to Jaime and Cersei’s relationship, unless they were arguing in which case it was fair game, Tommen watching him with questions in his eyes, Bronn teasing lewdly but without making incest seem any worse than the other inclinations he frequently saw in brothels. 

And Brienne. Incredible, honorable Brienne, who had been revolted with his reputation as the Kingslayer and Oathbreaker but had never questioned or begrudged him his love for Cersei. She had repeatedly asked him to be a better man, to keep his oaths to her and to Catelyn Stark, and to do what was right. But she’d never once implied that he should leave Cersei or told him that he was wrong for the way he loved her. 

He wasn’t delusional enough to think that Brienne approved of his relationship. But she didn’t act like he was a monster for it, and that was much more than most people did. 

It was the thought of her stalwart loyalty that made Jaime speak up.

“Snow,” he said, before the other man could leave the room. 

Snow stopped at the door, shifting uncomfortably. He looked fearfully at Jaime and Jaime’s heart sped up as he recognized the mix of guilt-shame-longing on the other man’s face.

He really wasn’t being cruel. He was asking for himself. 

Jaime thought of Arya Stark, laying grown men flat on their back in the yard with the skinny little sword she claimed her brother had given her. He thought of Sansa Stark, cold and beautiful, sitting at the high table beside Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen and ruling like she belonged. 

Jaime supposed either of them could have appeal. But Arya Stark spent every moment she wasn’t training following Robert Baratheon’s bastard around the forge and Sansa Stark stiffened when men stepped too close. 

That was the first important bit.

“We both wanted each other,” Jaime said. “People may judge my choices, but Cersei was no wilting flower who would have let me take advantage. I didn’t force her and I didn’t dishonor her with other women.”

Snow stared at him for a long moment, then said, “I didn’t think you had taken advantage. From what Sansa says, Cersei is formidable and I’m sure she would not have tolerated advances she didn’t welcome. What I want to know is how you were able to overlook your blood connection to love her that way.”

Jaime frowned. Was he trying to overlook a blood connection for marriage? If so, he could only be talking about Sansa Stark. Maybe he planned to marry her to become Lord of Winterfell in a way a bastard could never manage.

“I mean no insult, but Lady Sansa has had four betrothals and two husbands and I’m not certain she’s interested in another.”

Snow looked like he’d just been slapped. “I don’t want to marry Sansa,” he hissed. 

Jaime raised an eyebrow. “Arya?”

She wasn’t nearly as beautiful, but Jaime couldn’t deny that he understood the appeal of a girl skilled with a blade. He would’ve already proposed marriage to Brienne if he wasn’t unworthy of her. He’d pried himself free from Cersei’s claws but she’d left only a tattered, bloody heart in his chest, struggling to beat without its other half. Brienne deserved a man with a whole heart, two hands, and enough honor to rival her own. 

Snow made a face like he might be sick. Jaime tried not to take it personally, though Snow was the one who had started the conversation about fucking siblings and was now acting like the idea was disgusting. 

“No,” Snow said emphatically. “Not Arya. No.”

The only other Stark Jaime had seen around Winterfell was the boy he’d paralyzed, who spoke eerie prophecies and acted too creepily composed for Jaime’s taste. But then again, the Starks followed the Old Gods. Maybe Snow didn’t mind that the boy acted possessed by forces beyond the Wall. 

Jaime had never been able to understand the appeal in men, either, but he thought of Brienne’s devotion to Renly Baratheon and decided not to mention that part. 

“Bran-”

“Stop talking,” Snow barked. 

Jaime snatched the wineskin off the bed and took a long drink. “Either explain what you’re asking or go. I’m not here to watch you look revolted at me, and if this goes on much longer I’m going to take offense and we’re going to find out how much Brienne’s training has improved my left hand.”

Snow nodded jerkily. He held his hand out for the wineskin, took a long pull, then sank next to Jaime on the bed. “It doesn’t matter who this is about. Please don’t try to guess. Let’s just say… it’s a relation on my mother’s side.”

That caught Jaime’s attention. As far as he knew, no one had ever been able to discover the identity of Ned Stark’s secret lover. Robert Baratheon had asked Varys once, in the early days of his reign, but even the Master of Whisperers had been unable to discover the woman’s identity. 

“Go on,” Jaime said. 

“She- I met her before I knew my parentage,” Snow said. “She was beautiful and fierce. I gave her my heart and my body, and then found out that she’s my…”

He trailed off, looking uncomfortable, and Jaime filled in the word sister. 

“It seems to me the damage has already been done,” Jaime said. “You already love her. You already fucked her. What could you hope to gain from staying away now?”

Snow looked miserable. “If I’d known, I wouldn't have let myself feel this way.”

Jaime snorted. “Knowing something is forbidden has very little effect on love. Letting yourself feel a certain way is a fantasy we tell ourselves to pretend we have any control over the matter.”

“I don’t believe that,” Snow said. “We’re not animals. My father always said that family and duty come first and we can choose who we love. He and Lady Catelyn weren’t a love match, but they did have true affection for each other.”

“Your father was an honorable man,” Jaime said. “Honorable to the point of madness, really. And yet, he fathered a bastard. If that isn’t evidence that we have no control over who we love, I don’t know what is.”

Snow flinched, but he didn’t contradict Jaime. 

“Look, you said you’d given this woman your heart. Did you stop loving her because you found out she’s your sister?”

Snow shook his head. 

“Did she stop loving you?”

“She doesn’t know.”

“She doesn’t know?” Jaime repeated incredulously.

“And I can’t tell her,” Snow continued. 

“Then why are we even having this conversation? You can’t lie to her to take her to bed — that would be dishonorable. And once she knows, she may not even want you.”

“I wouldn’t lie to her,” Snow said hotly. “I haven’t touched her since I found out. But she grew up… I don’t think she’ll be deterred by knowing we’re family. So I might have to be the one to walk away.”

“Why?” Jaime demanded angrily. “Society’s scorn? If you’d walk away over that, you don’t truly love her. Do you know what I put up with to be with Cersei? Even before the world knew, I had to watch her marry that pig Robert Baratheon. I had to guard his chamber door while he took her to bed and hear what they did together. I had to pretend that disgusting man was the father of my children and keep my distance from them so no one would ever realize he wasn’t. And ever since your father saw fit to announce our love to the world, I’ve been sneered at and disrespected and called every foul name in the book.  I endured it all — everything — because I love Cersei. She was worth it.”

“It’s not that,” Snow said quietly. “The world doesn’t even know we’re related, so I’m not worried about people’s reactions. At least not yet. It’s just… the possibility of children.”

“Children?” Jaime echoed, pulled up short. 

Snow glanced at him, then looked away. “There’s a reason we’ve had so many mad Targaryen kings. Every time a new Targaryen is born, the gods toss the coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land. They intermarried, they all went mad, and the realm suffered for it. And — I’m sorry, I know he was your son — but you can’t deny there was something truly wrong with Joffrey. I’ve heard what he did to Sansa. I don’t want to have a child like that.”

Jaime’s heart ached dully. His children, his wonderful, beautiful children, were all dead. Tommen had jumped from a window as a result of Cersei’s machinations. Myrcella had died in his arms, right as he’d begun to hope he could be a real father to her. He missed them both so, so much. 

He missed Joffrey too, but differently. The boy had always had an appetite for cruelty and Jaime had feared what he would become. He’d loved Joffrey because he was his son, but he’d never managed the unadulterated love for him that Cersei had. 

Say what you would about Cersei, she had loved her children more fiercely than any mother in the world. 

“I don’t think intermarriage is the problem,” Jaime said quietly. “The Targaryens already had madness in their bloodline — of course it was going to be passed down. And Joffrey… I loved him, yes, but I realize he was flawed. He could be cruel and selfish and vindictive. And… I know where he got those traits from.”

Cersei had known as well. When Myrcella had died, she’d said I don’t know where she came from. She was nothing like me. No meanness, no jealousy, just good. 

There had been no similar words said for Joffrey. 

“As long as your lover isn’t mad, you don’t have to worry,” Jaime said. “Besides, I’m assuming she’s baseborn if she’s a relation on your mother’s side? The Targaryens and Joffrey were only problems for the realm because they sat on the Iron Throne. Your children won’t be a danger to anyone else.”

If possible, Snow looked even more miserable at that. He flinched violently, as if Jaime had slapped him, and Jaime’s blood ran cold. 

Snow wasn’t in love with Sansa or Arya Stark. Everyone knew Snow had been conceived while Ned Stark was fighting in the South, which ruled out any Northern ladies or wildlings as his relations. No love for a lowborn girl would put that look of fear on his face, and the only southern Lady present was Brienne of Tarth, who Jaime was certain hadn’t had a madly passionate affair with Jon Snow sometime in the last few months. 

The only highborn girl left as a viable option was Daenerys Targaryen. 

Jaime thought back and suddenly it seemed stupidly obvious. He’d heard the men whispering about Jon Snow riding one of Daenerys’s dragons. He’d heard the dirty jokes about how Daenerys had gotten the King in the North to bend the knee and give her his crown by spreading her legs. He’d seen her looking at him in the Great Hall as he walked away from her, trying to hide her hurt. 

“Who was your mother?” Jaime growled. 

Snow shook his head. 

“Rhaella Targaryen?” Jaime asked. 

Snow’s head shot up so he could look fearfully at the door, as if afraid of being overheard. 

Well he would be afraid if he was a Targaryen bastard, wouldn’t he?

“Rhaella Targaryen was your mother?” Jaime repeated incredulously. 

“No!” Snow snapped. He glanced at the door, lowered his voice, then said, “Lyanna Stark was.”

Jaime blinked. Ned Stark had fucked his sister? But no, Snow hadn’t been asking about being the mad child of an incestuous union. He’d been asking about producing such a child. About being in love with a woman. 

That meant Ned Stark wasn’t his father at all. And given the boy’s age and the fact that his mother was Lyanna Stark… 

“Your father was Rhaegar Targaryen,” Jaime breathed, horrified. 

Snow looked like a hunted thing. Only he wasn’t a Snow, was he? Was he a Waters? A Sand? 

“No one can know,” Jon said. 

It made sense now why he hadn’t told his lover. Daenerys Targaryen had never truly been in the line of succession for the throne, as Aerys’s third child and a girl. But Rhaegar’s son, even a bastard one, would have a fairly legitimate claim. 

He didn’t want to steal her crown. 

“Neither of you is entirely in the line of succession,” Jaime said, stretching the truth to ease the look of misery on Jon’s face. “She’s a woman and you’re a bastard. I’d say you have about equal claim.”

“No,” Jon said hoarsely. “We don’t.”

“I know you want her to sit on the throne, but speaking from a historical perspective, a bastard-“

“I’m not a bastard,” Jon said. 

Jaime stared at him. “What?”

“Rhaegar had a Maester annul his marriage to Elia Martell. He married Lyanna Stark under a weirwood tree.”

Jaime seized the wineskin and drank until it was empty. He was sitting beside a trueborn Targaryen son, a man who could possibly have ended the War of the Five Kings had he known his real identity at the time. A man who could cause a new war if he joined Cersei and Daenerys in vying for the throne. 

“You’re fucked,” Jaime said eloquently. 

Jon Targaryen laughed humorlessly. “Yeah.”

They lapsed into silence. Jaime didn’t know what Jon was thinking of, but he was remembering the honorable, lovable prince that had been Rhaegar Targaryen. He remembered the Mad King screaming, “burn them all!” Remembered the smoke of the burning Sept of Baelor and the cold look on Cersei’s face as she sat on the Iron Throne. Remembered Daenerys and her dragon setting fire to his army in the field, terrible and unstoppable, the smell of burning flesh permeating the air.

“You asked the wrong question,” Jaime said finally. “You asked me how I could still love Cersei, knowing she was my sister. I don’t think that’s what you’re wondering. You still love Daenerys, even though she’s your aunt. You’re wondering if loving her is going to doom you and everyone you love.”

Joffrey, eyes bulging as he died in his mother’s arms. Myrcella’s sweet smile before she was murdered for Ellaria’s revenge. Tommen, jumping from the window when he saw what his mother had done. 

Brienne’s Renly, killed before her eyes. Alton Lannister, Jaime’s cousin who he’d beat to death with chained hands in Robb Stark’s war camp. The army Tyrion had burned to death with wildfire. Catelyn Stark and her son, murdered at a wedding. Oberyn Martell’s failed vengeance for his sister. Jaime’s father, shot to death on the privy by his own son. Tyrion’s dead whore. All the innocents who died in the sept. 

How many had died because of his and Cersei’s sins? Because of Cersei’s thirst for power and his undying loyalty. 

“She’ll ruin you,” Jaime said hoarsely. “She’ll kiss you, and you’ll love her. She’ll bear you children, and you’ll love her. She’ll frighten you, and you’ll love her. You’ll give her all you have — your heart, your honor, your dignity, your life — and it won’t ever be enough. As long as she sits on that throne, there will always be enemies and there will always be sycophants and if you aren’t the one, you’re the other.”

He looked at Jon’s eyes, dark and frightened and pained. Stark eyes. Nothing like his father’s. 

Daenerys? She reminded Jaime all too much of the Targaryens of old. 

“Daenerys isn’t Cersei,” Jon protested. 

“No? Jaime asked wryly. “Because she’s beautiful, strong, and kind? Cersei was all those things once.”

“It’s not the same!”

Jaime pitied the boy. But he was what, four and twenty? Older than Jaime had been when he’d been thrust into the game of thrones by Cersei’s ambition and Aerys’s madness. 

“Aerys burns them in their homes, Cersei burns them in their septs, Daenerys burns them in their fields. Kings and Queens — they’re all the same. They want power and they’ll do anything to keep it. And when she’s destroyed all you care for, killed your children and wasted your honor and done the one thing you can’t forgive — you’ll love her still.”

Jaime still loved Cersei. He hated her too, perhaps in equal measure. But Cersei was part of him — not in the way she’d always said, we came into this world together and we’ll die together, but someone who had shaped who he was for so long that he didn’t truly exist apart from her. 

Jon’s face was a blaze of fury. “I think you should leave.”

Jaime stood and walked towards the door, ready to ask Tyrion to hunt down more wine for him to drink. 

“I’m not you,” Jon tried, when Jaime was almost to the door. 

“No,” Jaime agreed. “You aren’t.”

Jon slumped with relief and that was how Jaime knew, as an absolute certainty, that Jon was on the path to loving Daenerys the way he had loved Cersei — irrationally, unconditionally, and irrevocably. 

“You’re not me,” Jaime repeated sadly, looking at Jon Snow’s somber, despairing face. “Not yet. But you will be.”

And Jaime walked out the door. 

[sweetpeaches666]

I simply wanted a part where Sandra and Flor talk to eachother. And gives up a summary lore of why Flor never actually showed up earlier even tho he learned of Ben early on. It was a typical night for Sandra. Until she hear a knock on the door wondering who's up this late at night she opened the door only to see Flore'gez standing Infront of her doorstep. Confused and in shock by how late it is Flor with a choked voice asked to come in knowing that it's very late something in the Methonasians tone sounded like he was about to collapse and drop in her floors crying.. reluctantly she let him In and Flor as quietly as he can for a large alien manage to make it quietly through the wooden floors of the house where he went to the living room currently where Prisoner 775 was sitting down at seeing Ben's other dad he immediately made room for the Methonasian confused he made eye contact with Sandra who doesn't also know what's going on. Flor gave Sandra some tea and herbs compensation for him barging in so suddenly late this night.. but it's very clear that Flor is distressed. Something both didn't even knew the Methonasian was even capable off the only times they see his emotions are rarely ever shown any emotion as the only times he did show are times where he's completely off guard or out of earshot.

Flor explained the reason why he's here as he wanted to discuss this for a very long time but never had the courage of actually saying anything this peaked curiosity from both Sandra and 775 as they listened intently from how Flor told them how he knew of Ben before when he was on his road trip with Max Tennyson as he explained that when he did found out of Ben he was busy over something else in his own business. At that time he didn't believe that Ben was actually there. That he had "another" child. Both Sandra and 775 were obviously confused. Until realizing he has other children but never bothered to actually say anything at all. With a very heavy heart Flor explained that he never went to Ben early because he was afraid. Afraid of making another mistake again.. afraid that maybe he would have neglected Ben after everything he has been through and probably scarring him off. He was visibly shaking he's having difficulty trying to explain everything to them because the tears through his face started to act up. Sobs and a few years came out here and there with 775 and Sandra immediately acting out to comfort the Methonasian who was very confused and very concerned. He managed to choke out his whole backstory.. how he was abducted. used and molded into the perfect killing machine and detailing the abuse and neglect he has been through the years.. the physical and emotional trauma that would have probably broken a person to insanity why he was this way.. there were a few breaks here and there for Sandra and 775 who out of every detail they felt sick to there stomach.. 775 have never felt such utter disbelief on what Flor has been through as he refused to open up on some sensitive topics but the hint was clearly there that he has. Went through something 775 can understand and relate in a painful way. But it disgusted him and Sandra by how young Flor was at all barely even listening to it was alone enough to make you pause. Then to the part where Flor told Sandra that he took was a parent at once for only a sliver of a moment and that simple line gave Sandra a look of a dread a look no parent ever wanted to experience while Flor was already crying and sobbing away explaining how he failed not only was he taken of his own childhood he was also taken away by his own kin forcefully out of his need for them to hopefully live or forced by his hand. The scientist wanted a tool a machine a perfect being of pure power a weapon a super soldier. And they used Flor's body and his ability to regenerate in fast speeds for there experiment.. and obviously it was painful.. he watched Ben in the shadows because he was scared.. that maybe someone would hurt him or that he would fail to save one of his kids. He already failed so much of his own offspring he hasn't even found the remaining 4th children's that may or may not have lived all that time he spent he was searching for his lost kids. Seeing Ben broke him because he realized he may not love him and knowing where he was standing already he has already been through too much he needed time, time to accept Ben slowly.. after all this Flor was welcome to stay in Sandra's home.. in the couch. Both 775 and Sandra were the first people Flor has trusted to let down his guard and his pain to someone who can hear him. Sandra and 775 was still shaken and horrified, disgusted even through what Flor even went through.. all those things they did to him. Sandra and 775 kept Flor's secret until he's ready to probably open up slowly but it's clear Flor trusted them and apologized to Sandra for how he treated Ben like he's avoiding him.

Oh, God. Why you must hurt me so!!!! 😭😭😭😭

[abba-enthusiast]

Am I (65F) the asshole for refusing to pay for the wedding of son Tony (fake name 29M) and his fiancé Carl (19M) after we paid for the wedding of his younger brother Milo (22M) and his wife Julie (21F) last year. Last year when my younger son Milo got married, my soon-to-be ex husband and I paid $10,000 toward his wedding. He and his wife Julie had been dating since the end of freshman year of high school and we've known her family for even longer; they practically grew up together! And while I would never try to intentionally push my son's toward a specific partner, I'm glad her chose her. Their relationship is as healthy as can be and they're extremely compatible. Everything was going fine until 5 months ago when my older son Tony came to us asking us to contribute $10,000 to his wedding. We were taken aback as we had previously been unaware that he had a partner. We knew he was gay so his partner being male wasn't a shock; but what was a shock was the age of his partner. We initially told him we needed to hold off on deciding one way or another until we met his partner. We were introduced to Carl for the first time 6 weeks ago and it turns out that not only is he 10 years younger than my son, but they've been 'dating' 🤮 off and on for 4 years (keep in mind this would've meant that this guy was 15 and my son was 25)! When his father and I learned of this situation we immediately shut down any hope he had of us funding or taking any part in his wedding. When he asked why we both told him it was disgusting what he was doing and that he's lucky we didn't report him for this (he was also his fiancés English teacher).  I'm conflicted on if I'm handling this right.

My family is torn over this; some people think I'm the asshole for giving my son's unequal treatment due to their choice of partners while others think I'm not the asshole for standing my ground.

Edit 1: this has really blown up. So I wanted to add some things to clarify.

1. Yes Milo got another girl pregnant 2 months ago. His wife doesn't know yet, she's sterile due to childhood illness so this could be our only chance to have a biological grandchild.

2. Tony claims he and Carl haven't had sex yet and are waiting for the wedding night but I don't know if I believe them

3. Carl is a trans man (read: he used to be female) and his birth name is Carly.

Edit 2: gonna say this one last time

I DIDNT KNOW IT WAS OFFENSIVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE TRANS PEOPLE'S BIRTH NAMES!!!!!!!

Edit 3: one more thing about Tony

1. He and Carl have apparently both accused each other of domestic violence in the past.

Edit 4: OKAY LAST UPDATE AND THEN I'M MUTING NOTIFICATIONS ON THIS ACCOUNT.

I have not given anyone permission to share this story on other social media. Please stop putting it on tiktok, Instagram, and especially not Facebook. If you do this I'll sue! Also just to let everyone know; Julie got expelled from her school (a community college 🤮) and arrested and is facing time in prison time for harassing and cyberstalking this girl my son got pregnant.

Edit 5: both my son's and each of their partners have seen this post and both relationships have broken up. I hope you're all happy with destroying a healthy marriage of two soul mates because you care more about the ethics of monogamy than you do about carrying on a rare bloodline!

And I'm like yeah ESH. You're not an asshole in the way that I expected but you're still very much the asshole and probably an asshole in your everyday life from the sound of it. You're not the only one though. I'm pretty sure everyone here is an asshole except for maybe Carl. Tony for dating his own underage student (regardless of whether the relationship has been consummated or not). Milo for cheating on his own so called "soulmate". Julie for attacking a girl who her husband had impregnated instead of going after him; I'm not able to tell from this post but for all we know this other woman had no clue that he was married.

….. NTA i guess. But like. Barely.

(NTA for refusing to pay, everything else is. Yikes)

[taintedpromises]

A Life Worth Forgetting

— Part 2 —

I am the monster that you created.

“She could’ve lived.” He spoke like the death of someone was amusing somehow.

“The old you would’ve known better, she wouldn’t have been so careless.”

My jaw muscles flexed from clenching my teeth, my irritation rising. That’s been the common phrase around this mansion, ‘the old you’ this ‘the old you’ that. I’m not her anymore, I don’t even know who that person was and I’m sick of hearing it.

The man sat behind a solid oak desk that lacked any clutter, only a laptop and lamp took up residence on the smooth surface. His greying raven hair is slicked back in its usual look, his thin lips pursed together as his sharp blue eyes studied me.

I’ve been held captive for over three months in a fancy room connected to its own bathing chamber and dining area, I was sought after and fed like a queen after the interrogations they had me undergo just to be sure I truly had no memories of the past. By interrogations, I mean torture for two weeks.

My bones are now fully healed and I knew he’d call me into his office to inform me that I’d be participating in the training. There were others he had here that he’s had in the mansion for years, training. I still wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, but I wasn’t about to ask questions. I found that every time I asked too much, I would go without food or water for a couple days. There was nothing like the hunger pangs. I needed to keep my strength up, I had plans to kill and being weak wasn’t an option.

Pushing away from the dark blue velvet armchair, I turn towards the giant wooden double doors. The heels that were waiting for me on the dining table, along with the little black dress I now wore, clicked with every step against the hardwood floors. My fingers grab ahold of the handle before I hear his voice again.

“Welcome back to the family, Luce.”

My spine straightened at the name, nobody has told me what my name was before the accident. Turning my head just enough to see him from my peripheral, I respond.

“Luce is dead.” My words dripped with pure hatred.

The last thing I heard prior to closing the door behind me was, “I’m counting on that.” followed by a low chuckle.

I refuse to go by that name, I don’t know her. Tequila isn’t your normal name, I’m aware, but it is the last thing I have that is mine. It may not be perfect, but it’s mine.

I learned a few things during my stay here. One: The one in charge is my father.

Two: He hates me because I remind him of my mother that died giving birth to me.

Three: If I don’t get out of here, he will force me to do something I’ll hate myself for.

I was shocked to find out that my mother is dead, not that I would be able to remember her anyway. It made me wonder, had my father always been like this?

I walked the marble halls of the mansion until I reached my prison of a bedroom, threw myself on the downy bed, and cried until sleep overcame me.

He killed Helen.

———————————————————————

———Two Years Later———

The world was built on nightmares

disguised as dreams.

The taste of blood on my tongue made my nose scrunch in disgust. I must have bit my cheek while sleeping again. My eyes slowly opened to adjust to the light pouring into my bedroom from the large windows that had a clear view overlooking central park.

This was the third hotel I’ve stayed at in the last three months with the money I swiped from the safe that is nestled behind my father’s desk. I never stayed in one place for too long. I’ve been on the run ever since I escaped my father, the leader of a tightly strung group of hitmen.

I don’t believe he’s hunting me, he knows I’ll go to him when I’m ready. That isn’t stopping some of his lackeys from trying to put me in my place. Every time one of them crosses my path, I have to change cities. Can’t stay in the area where a dead man is found. New York City made it easier to blend in, maybe I’ll stay.

My father knew the risks of training me. Although most of my memories remain hidden from myself, I remembered enough to escape from the clutches of that mansion that held me captive for two years.

I’m not sure how old I truly am, but as I gaze in the mirror, my burnt orange hair unruly from sleep, I’d say I were about twenty-eight.

My father’s attempt at ending my life failed, but with his failure came the loss of my memories. To my father, that was like handing a painter a blank canvas. I was something for him to mold, to make into a masterpiece.

The interrogations he had me undergo will forever be burned into my brain. The memory of those two weeks haunt me in my sleep. The torture lasted two weeks, I thought I was going to die in that room, until my father walked in. His presence made the room seem smaller, his emotionless eyes scanned the work of his men, his gaze was unnerving. He seemed like he was staring into you, at your soul, right to your center.

One of the servants was at work cleaning my wounds from the last round of interrogation. My father stood there, watching, waiting. When the woman was done, she scurried from the room after gathering all of her supplies. I stayed slumped against the chair, peeking through my blood soaked hair up at him. His face, expressionless.

He regarded me the way one would regard a pig they were looking to purchase for butcher. “Do you remember your name?”

He picks a piece of lint from the right shoulder of his black suit coat while he paced in front of me awaiting an answer.

“No.” It hurt to breathe. I was sure I had a broken rib or two.

He stopped and before I could blink, he was kneeling before me with his face inches from my own, eyes blazing with a deep hidden rage. He grabbed my face between his fingers, squeezing my bruised cheeks until it hurt. My scabbed lip opened, blood slowly trickled into my mouth.

“No, sir.” He corrected.

“No, sir.” I repeat, though it was hard to talk with him holding my face so tightly.

It took every ounce of self control to stop the tears from spilling. My body was in pain from the brass knuckled beating I took the day before, but I wouldn’t cry, not in front of him.

Satisfied, he lets my face go, he was close enough for me to smell the mix of coffee and cigarette smoke on his breath. “Do you remember my name?”

My heart rate kicked up, and I felt like I would vomit. “No, sir.”

“Good.” He stroked his chin in thought, his eyes staring into mine. I refused to look away, to show him any sign of weakness.

He straightened back into a standing position, going back to pacing the small room. “Training starts when your bones are healed.”

I thought that was all he had to say as he turned to leave, but when he was halfway through the door, he turned back to me and the hairs on the back of my neck raised. “Don’t disappoint me again.”

My muscles remembered what my mind couldn’t. The more I trained, the more my body remembered. Training required a lot of mental work along with physical and because of my petite size, I had to use people’s weight against them. It was easy considering how my opponents always seemed to underestimate me. That was exactly how I escaped, everyone underestimated me, thought me weak.

My father once said that I got my looks from my mother, but my way of thinking was all him. It made my skin crawl as much then as it does now because he was right. No matter how much I hate that man, I had a lot in common with him. The difference, I don’t enjoy killing.

Everyday I’ve had to look over my shoulder waiting for someone to jump out of the shadows and attack, even though it’s only happened twice. I can’t risk letting my guard down, I refuse to end up in my father’s clutches again.

“Luce.” I hear my father’s voice call out. “Luce, your mother is dead because of you.”

No! I want to shout but my voice is gone.

“Your fiancé died because you were too weak.” My father’s voice continued.

No, no, no! I tried to escape his voice, but it was no use.

“Everyone you will ever love is going to die because of you, Luce.” My fathers voice sounded almost amused.

“YOU’RE ALONE.”

I awoke with a start, sweat coating me and the covers. Another restless night, the days blurred together. Helen, James, my mother, all dead because of me.

“You’re a weapon, and weapons don’t weep.” I repeated those words until I knew the tears wouldn’t spill. I can show no weakness.

My mother died giving birth to me, James was my fiancé and he died trying to save me, Helen died because my father found her number in my pocket after I was kidnapped outside the hospital. They haunt my dreams every night and in the waking hours, I had to hide. Paranoia made every stranger that lingered too long a potential threat.

I can’t get close to anyone in fear that any connection to me will result in their death. Until I’m free, there is no life for me.

I may have escaped, but this is hardly living. I’m the shell of a woman. I have to kill my father, if I don’t, the fear that is so tightly wound into my being won’t ever ease, I’ll never be free, and I’ll always be alone.

“Anyone can start again

Not through love, but through revenge

Through the fire, we’re born again.

Peace by vengeance brings the end.”

———————————————————————

[zaenight]

Crazy but she's mine ch21🖤

Jackie groaned its been a month since the events of that night , The mayans & Sons had to hold another meeting , however it was gonna be held during a club party honoring Creepers release .

Jackie had one month left before baby reyes was born , Ez and illiana had built the crib , the nursery being on the other half of their room.

Illiana was excited to be a big sister , Ez and Jackie had decided to wait untill the baby was born to learn the gender.

Ez's hands were around Jackie's waist trailing downwards.

"Nice try , we gotta go." Jackie said as Ez kissed her neck.

"Te amo querida." Ez said as Jackie laughed , The two walked out of the room , Illiana had been picked up by letty and hope who were heading to the party after getting their nails done.

"I love you too Ezekiel." Jackie said as His hands rested on her stomach.

----------

"LITTLE CJ!" yelled tig .

"Hey alex!" Jackie yelled to tig , who was next to Chibs,happy,t.o, and ratboy, Quin ended up being sick , and stayed home.

"Finally , the hell took you so long bro!" Angel yelled , arm around Luisa , who was holding a babbling maverick.

"Your brother couldn't keep his hands to himself." Jackie smirked.

"Mierda , what are you tryna do knock her up even more." Angel said as Ez smirked.

"Shut it!" Jackie laughed , while saying hello to tig and the others.

It wasn't untill A black limo drove into the scapyard that everyone was off put.

Miguel and Emily Galindo stepped out of the limo , arm in arm.

"What the hell?" Ez said arm around Jackie , As Illiana came out of the clubhouse , Ez holding an arm out so she wouldn't ram into the two who were walking up.

Illiana stared at the man who looked similar too her adoptive father , and the woman who watched her with a careful eye , Noticing how Ez had his arm wrapped around the now pregnant woman and the protective arm around the teenager.

"Ezekiel." Emily said with soft eyes , and with a glance towards Jackie's pregnant stomach.

"Emily , this is my old lady Jackie , and our daughter Illiana." Ez stated proudly , barely glancing in the woman's direction.

"Daughter?" She questioned , not seeing any resemblance between the three , and the fact the child would have been around 13 during the time Ez got released from prison , and there was no mention of her, nor mentions of the woman besides him.

"Adopted , biologically im Bishop's , but I came to santo padre with Jackie , and They adopted me together , so basically , Im the reason they got together , because without me , Jackie would have never came here." Illiana said , emily had a small smile , but Jackie noticed the grimance in the her eyes.

"Is there somthing you need?" Ez asked the man , who had just got back from saying hello to Nestor.

"I have a few words to share with Camila , alone." Miguel said , as Jackie clenched her Jaw.

Emily stared confused wondering what he was talking about.

"It's Jackie to you , Ezekiel is the only one allowed to call me Camila , and whatever you have to say , you can say it here and now." Jackie stated , Ezekiel told Illiana to go inside , nodding towards Gurero and Downer to be ready to shoot if necessary.

The sons watched curious , what does a cartel boss want with a Club president's pregnant old ladie.

"I have a propersition for you." He stated.

"I don't think the meetings gonna happen any time soon." Ratboy said as T.o gave him a "you think look".

"Tha' Lass looks angry." Chibs stated as Happy nodded.

"That's the look of murder , Im getting hard just thinking about the blood." Tig said as The sons , and the mayans around him stared disgusted.

"What proposition?" Jackie wondered , Emily stared at miguel , wondering whats going on.

"Leave Ezekiel and the club , come with me and you could have more than you could ever dream of." He said leaving everyone around them shocked.

Untill Jackie let out the loudest laugh.

"Me- Leave with you? -You , don't make me laugh, You have a beatiful wife and last I heard a child , Beside's You can't handle me , and you sure as hell can't fufill my... Sexual needs." Jackie said with a laugh , her tone high pitched and playful.

Ez was furious , Jackie couldn't believe his audacity , Emily was Hurt and confused , and Miguel had a glare as he opened his damn mouth.

"A tu mujer se le debe enseñar a obedecer y mantener la boca cerrada antes de que se meta en problemas." Miguel stated with a glare , Emily let out a gasp as the others watched.

(Your woman should be taught to obey and keep her mouth shut before it gets her in trouble)

Ez was furious , he launched forward , his fist landing a punch in the face of the cartel boss.

As Miguel launched his own punch , it was too late , as Jackie wacked the side of his face with Ez's gun , Miguel could fight But together Ez and Jackie calculated their moves , not having to speak a word.

The Mayans and even the Sons had their guns pointed at Miguel's henchmen.

"I swear to God if you pull that trigger I'll fucking kill you Motherfucker." Angel said pointing his gun towards one of Miguel's men , who's gun was pointed at Jackie's stomach.

"We jus' wanted a meetin' and to drink fuckin' beer , Yet we come ta this fuckin' mess!" Chibs Exclaimed.

"Im so turned on right now!" Tig exclaimed as Angel cursed him out.

"NOT NOW ALEX!" Jackie exclaimed pointing the gun at Miguel.

"Si alguna vez vuelves a hablar así de mi chica, te mataré, me importa un carajo si eres un jefe del cartel." Ez Stated with a glare , boot on Miguel's chest , arm around Jackie.

(If you ever speak about my girl like that again , I'll fucking kill you , I don't give a fuck if your a Cartel boss)

"The only one who should keep their damn mouth shut is you , Also to make myself clear." Jackie said trailing off , Pointing the gun at The henchman who pointed a gun to her stomach , Pulling the trigger , a headshot , as she stared Miguel straight in the eye.

Luckily there was construction work going on so the shot wouldn't have been heard.

"Don't threaten me or my fucking kids , and I'll open my mouth as much as I want , It's my best quality ... in both ways." Jackie smirked .

"Get the hell out of here , Your not welcome , Soledad and The mayans already spoke , she says you need to be thrown out , but if you stay away from the club and my girls , you'll still be part of the trade." Ez said with a glare.

-----------

The man left furious , Emily apologized as She left , Wondering what would've happened to her , if Jackie had said yes.

-----------

As the templo opened Jackie sat up from the couch , slightly , to not wake Illiana , who fell asleep on her lap.

"Everything good?" She whispered.

"Perfect , Samcro is apart of the trade." Ez said as Jackie kissed his cheek , Music blared , as The men laughed and cheered.

"Good , Now give me your hand." She said as He handed her his hand , knuckles were bruised and bloodied.

"You know you didn't have to make Bottles clean up the body right?" Jackie said as her hands traced his hand.

"He's a prospect it's what they do , beside's he had help from samcro's prospect and Nestor." Ez said , watching as Creeper jumped on the bar swinging his shirt around.

"You know he's about to stage dive right?" Jackie said as Ez groaned , kissing her , and rushing towards the bar , along with Angel and Gilly who tried to catch him.

And by tried , it means he landed on Angel's face, let's just say angel almost got a mouthful of di-

Angel cursed as he pushed him off , blabbering and wiping his tongue , Luisa sat By Jackie with a now awake Illiana , And a sleeping maverick , the three laughing.

Letty and Hope were spinning in circle's , yeah they were drunk as hell.

And let's just say Ez had to deal with his drunk Brothers , Specifically a drunk Creeper , who tried pissing off the bar , landing on an unaware Downer , who got laughed at by gurero.

"Jesus fucking christ." Ez murmered as Jackie's hand trailed down his abbdomen , and suddenly he felt much better , as soon as he deals with the drunk idiots , the sooner he can give his girl the time of his life.

"Ay Tiggy Don' drink that , tha bald one pissed in tha' glass!" Chibs exclaimed.

-----------

[mothz11]

The love song from tawog

Gumball and Darwin: Love. What is love?

Bobert: Yes, that was my query.

Gumball: What is love?

Darwin: Does it fall from above?

Gumball: Listen Bobert, to the words we sing.

Gumball and Darwin: We are love, and love is everything.

Bobert: Warning. Circular reference detected.

Carmen: I love my boyfriend.

Tobias: I love my toys.

Billy: I love my mother.

Banana Joe: And I love making noise [makes fart sound].

Rocky: I love my television.

Nigel Brown: Darling, I love you.

Lucy Simian: Love is as old as time.

Anton: And love is always new.

Gumball and Penny: Do we love each other?

I guess we sorta do.

All: Love is everywhere and love is in you!

Love is in the stars and love is in the trees.

Listen, Bobert, are you starting to believe?

Carrie: Love is invisible.

Rob: Love has no name.

Bobert: Love is scoring zero in a tennis game.

Gumball: Love is all around us.

Darwin: Love fills your heart.

Bobert: Stacked-up error. Please press "restart."

All: What is love? Does it fall from above?

Listen, Bobert you need to learn about, to learn about, to learn about love!

[The first segment shows the hexagon lady using the Internet to online date. After some time passes, Timmy reveals himself to her, though she deletes him from her laptop, sending him back to his room.

The second segment starts with the melted cheese guy talking to his sandwich to motivate himself to confess his feelings for Karen. As soon as Karen walks toward him, she slips on the sandwich, ending the segment.

The third segment starts with a narrator talking about what happens when one finds themself in love. In the end, the male and female end up running to another male and female, with the narrator deciding love has no rules and says to dance instead.

The fourth segment features Nicole and Richard being recorded and interviewed. Nicole tries to explain something, but after numerous attempts, the two just hug each other.

The fifth segment shows the Sun and the Moon complimenting each other over the day-night cycles. They then find a way to spend time together via the Moon spinning around Earth, which annoys Earth.

The sixth segment shows Mr. Robinson and Mrs. Robinson getting married, moving into their house, spending time together, and fighting while taking care of a baby Rocky. However, Mrs. Robinson gets sick and has to be taken to the hospital. Mr. Robinson visits the hospital to see how she is doing. Mrs. Robinson then shocks Mr. Robinson, and they continue fighting until the segment ends.

The seventh segment is about Sussie's parents having dinner at Dump's Cave. They both start trying to feeding each other, but only end up making a mess in the process. and they then start to try and kiss each other, but only end up making kissing noises without actually kissing each other, which disgusts the other couples there. The segment ends with Harold asking the waiter for his check.

The eighth segment shows Gary driving, while turning his head back to admire Martha. This causes him to crash into the Donut Cop's car.

The ninth and final segment starts with Richard walking on the sidewalk, noticing Billy crying. He hugs Billy until Felicity calls the police. Richard gets sent to court and is sentenced to jail. He tries to hug the prisoners, who in turn punch him so hard he flies out of the jail and lands in the hospital. A screen comes up saying love is the answer to almost every problem, but then the rest of the Watterson family meets Richard and hugs him. A similar screen then reads "Nah, every problem."]

Gumball: [spoken] So Bobert, what have we learned about love?

All: What is love? It's what we all dream of.

Tell us, Bobert. What have you learned about love?

Bobert: Anyone can love. No love is wrong.

I have now become a lovesick dreamer.

I fell in love with this old vacuum cleaner.

(Not sure if there is a sound cloud or a Spotify song of The love soo yeaahh)

[voidtouched-blue]

Something about this whole situation brought back the memory of the shivering prisoner huddled in the corner of a cold cell. Terrified, and ready to hurt any malcontentedly reaching hand towards her trembling mass. Far too long had she spent on the brief vision. Yet when she returned to the present, her tired eyes caught the light flick of his as he observed her with care.

"Mmm..." She nodded in response to his statement. Not yet brave enough for words, but at least some of her anxieties had been eased. This was more touch than she had felt in years. Understandably, the requirement of needing to be carried happening twice had sent a shock through her system on top of all of the other events that had happened in the recent hour.

Glancing down at the tray that he had pushed in her direction, a quick visual inspection told her that he had already prepped this in anticipation of the post-disaster cleanup. He must have done this while she was busy scrubbing away the evidence left on herself. At the present moment, she wouldn't dare take a bite. Not while he was still watching her. The memories dredged up from her imprisonment brought back things she had fought so hard to unlearn. This waiting for permission always brought back feelings of disgust. Yet, with such a nerve-wracking episode, it was hard to lock them back up where they belonged.

Cyra couldn't fight the flinch when he stepped away from the bed. Her ears flattened fully to the sides of her head in response to the movement. She hated how her emotions and memories tore down the careful castle she had built over the years. Learned behaviors were so much harder to correct, especially when she was not in a good state of mind. All the chaos, the pain, the horns, the chaos of touch, and the ghosts and demons that had come back to haunt her all in the span of mere hours had completely thrown her out of her usual self. This cowering creature was something she hated.

The clear of his throat caught her attention and pulled her back out from the raging storm behind her starlit eyes. The smile he gave, and the slight huff with his light jest had her glancing over him as well. The stains on his skin and clothes made her wonder of its origins.

That's not all mine...is it? Cyra tilted her head slightly to the side as her gaze wandered across every splatter and smear. Silently she watched as he then moved across the room. The level of surprise that touched her face increased when she realized that this room was his.

Of course, every room in this luxurious home was his, but this was his room. She assured herself that this change of scenery he mentioned was more for the sake of convenience rather than having some ulterior purpose. The "situation" she had put him in with her presence had demanded for nothing more than that. Her life had been at risk, it was only natural that he chose this one for the sake of providing aid where he could, right?

Her ears relaxed from the sides of her head, turning more into a neutral position as the adrenaline of being carried had begun wearing off. The gentle suggestion of his was a welcome one, especially when he had been that far from her person. She didn't carry any ill-will towards him, she just found a great deal of discomfort in their interactions over the last hour. Cyra didn't fault him for his decisions. She would have done the same despite her aversion to physical contact. She just had a hard time coming to terms with it. Quietly she nodded before he disappeared behind the door.

She waited there for a moment, her gurgling stomach urging her to reach over and begin consuming the assortment of foods on the tray. Instead, she closed her eyes. She needed this quiet moment to calm the tempest, at least wait until it was a gentle rain. Her hands still trembled in her lap with the drying end of her tail flicking under the restraint of her grasp. Finally, she let go. The appendage slapped the bed as it flicked away from her reach, its feathered tip slowly curling and uncurling in a sign of relaxation. She still held her shoulders nearly up by her ears of course, but at least she could breathe without the threat of being touched...hopefully for a while.

Grateful for the assortment in front of her, Cyra had plucked a small amount in each category with the exception of the different meats. Those were detrimental in her recovery. Knowing that these were mostly prepared for her, she made sure not to eat them all. It was only right to have consideration for such a hospitable host. She felt guilty that he had even done this much for her. With her original intentions mostly swept to the side for now, the weight of it really settled in. She had become a burden, and she wasn't sure exactly how this had come about. Something sparked the violent event of the horns that now stood proudly outside of her skull.

I will have to pay him back for all this. There's no way I could just come in, and leave him this mess without doing something in return. I'm not sure what I could offer. Clearly if he needed something he could just go and get it. I have no such luxury.

The cool air still had her shivering with every gust that passed over her still-damp fur. With a bit of effort, she pushed the tray over to the other side of the bed. She wanted to leave enough space for her to at least make herself somewhat comfortable. She wasn't sure if the wounds on her head still wept, or if the crimson ichor had ceased seeping out of the torn skin on her forehead. Cyra reached up and delicately tapped the hot skin around the fresh horns. Satisfied that she would not be staining yet another set of sheets, the Miqo'te began nestling herself in and among the various pillows sat atop the bed.

Curled up on the mountain of softness, her tail coiled delicately around her small figure. This bed was definitely made for someone of a far taller stature than she. Regardless, she couldn't recall the softness of the mattress she had slept on the night before, nor how she had even gotten into that room, but curled up in this mountain of clouds had her wonder if she should change out the furniture in her own home for something more comfortable than just wood and hay covered in canvas.

With a full stomach, she rested her full weight into the nest of decorative pillows. Once again she felt her body grow heavy as sleep crept up onto her. She knew she needed to remain awake. It was the scary part of blood loss, and kept the heart from slowing to a stop. Her cooling appendages led her to believe that her body was doing its best to protect the essentials. Fingers, toes, tail, ears, nose...all felt as ice as she tucked every little bit into her chest as best as she could.

Her heavy lids continued to drag the dark curtain of sleep down upon her. The light flutter every few seconds had her letting out long sighs.

"Stay....awake.........stay............."

Cyra's gentle whispered commands fell silent.

Voidtouched-blue--[Prior]

She tucked her legs back beneath her, sheepishly trying to cover as much of herself as she could without seeming too uncomfortable. After all, he was helping her with more than she could have ever been able to ask for. This generosity, consideration, and kindness were things she was familiar with, but rarely experienced herself from others. Still trembling, and still fighting off the deadly effects of blood loss, her eyes darted from the Elezen at the edge of the bed, to the tray of food that sat nearby. Unable to process the emotions that flooded through her, her hands absent-mindedly searched for, and found the fluff of fur at the end of her tail. It was all she had to bring her any form of soothing comfort, and for someone else to see her in a state like this was distressing to say the least. She couldn't even form words if she wanted to. Her mind was a swirling storm of multiple clashing strains of thought that only fed the shuddering anxiety. Like a frightened animal testing the security of the space around them, she sniffed the air lightly.

Both souls looked to the honesty that snaking limb presented, the unspoken between them egged on by the physical need ever wanting in any deep rooted mortality, that desire for connection, for comfort, to be present.

Dark fingers pulled it free with a tender touch as to not startle the injured animal on his bed more than he’d already done.

He didn’t need her to cause more of a fuss than she’d already done. That was the cause for the gentle approach. Of course.

Silvaire’s eyes were low for a few moments as she made herself comfortable - knowing the hem of the shirt, his shirt, sat far too loosely on her smaller frame. At the least she’d made the attempt to account for that; for all the help it did.

“I’ll make sure your clothes are fixed and cleaned by the morning.” It was a quiet sentence as the thought of her current standing was pushed away and he focused to the matters at hand, that temporary pool of satisfaction from that crystal giving enough sway to keep his thoughts clear - for the time being at least, as long as she avoided doing anything more.

It wasn’t a matter of hunger alone for the creature, no a trigger that light would have gotten him staked and condemned years ago, it was the overlapping interest he’d taken in the plight of her soul mixed with the ample well of such a talented healer’s core. No wonder the worm had taken a chance to respond to her summons, she was almost a beacon for disaster.

What monster could pass that up?

At the sound of her stillness at finally making herself reasonably comfortable, holding that telling tail in wounded palms, he looked back to her for a moment before sliding the tray of food closer to her so she need not move (herself or that blanket of a garment) any further. It was general things, fruits and vegetables from the market, more meats then most for the deficiency of iron in her body, but he doubted she would really complain.

Cyra didn’t seem the type to be picky. If anything, the lord was positive by this point she’d not seen this much ‘kindness’ in a life time if her habits and fears were any indication. Even now she seemed to fall into a primal nature to sniff and watch, more animal than girl in that sense, but it didn’t bother him.

He’d been much the same.

Biting the hand that feeds.

Earning reprimands for pulling shackles taut.

Clearing his throat he took a step back from the bed to give her room, running a hand over his cheek as if to brush away any lingering heat that her touch had brought him; realizing with a slow blink that he’d not even noticed how stained his own personage had remained. He was so used to the feeling of gore plastered to skin, to the tight fabric of whetted violence that it felt natural. A dangerous thing to ignore considering it wasn’t normal.

“Ah.” A hum as he looked to his stained fingers, coated sleeves, ruined clothes. She wasn’t the only one who needed to change and bath it seemed, and it was with an apologetic smile with a hint of humor that he gave a nod. “I suppose it’s my turn.”

Being in his own chambers, it became obvious as such as he walked to the wardrobe that remained open from his last searching - not really paying attention to anything in particular to grab as the impression of a fanciful garment wouldn’t matter to the woman in his bed; just as it didn’t really matter to him, and like the guest room adjacent, there was a connected bathroom and as his hand hovered to the handle he paused to look back to her finally looking her over from a safe distance.

“I’ll just be a moment, eat what you can stomach and... try to rest.”

Perhaps, as the walls separated them properly for now, Silvaire could rid himself of the last of that viscus temptation that painted his skin, giving him some functional reasonability to hold the conversation they both avoided.

[coutelier]

Irongate - Dawn

~1400 Word Excerpt of my WIP.~

It was getting too dangerous. Now other people were getting involved. If Tenley didn’t find a way to end it soon they’d end up hurt. And she was just so tired. Harder and harder to stay awake, but every time she closed her eyes she was looking out the window, mother looking back, wondering how she could still be so weak.

She returned to the forest, to one of the glowing fairy circles. Kneeling she placed her hand in its center. The mycelium beneath began to light up, spreading out from her. The forest warped and spun and then she was in the caves illuminated by shining crystals and more brightly colored fungi. She thought perhaps she could rest here, but found Titania sat on her twisted throne flanked by Lilian and Ella, several of the bark-skinned soldiers, and humans being made to kneel before The Queen. Tilting her head Tenley could hear their rapid heart-beats. They were terrified.

Titania leaned forward toward a man cowering in front of her, wearing what she might have thought a friendly smile but like everything else about her was wrong enough to be disturbing. “Who are you, little man?” She asked.

“Hir-“ he gulped, his heart not slowing down, “Hiroki.”

“You are the leader of this merry band?”

“We - we have no leaders. But I-I… I speak for the collective.”

“Of course you do,” The Queen grinned, “sit here, Hiroki.” Before he could make any effort to move on his own he was dragged and lifted by some invisible hand then dropped just to her right. Titania then turned to a woman barely containing her sobs holding on to a flute. “You will play,” The Queen instructed, “and the rest of you, dance!” She clapped. The remaining prisoners shared panicked and confused glances as the music began. Titania flashed red, roaring, “DANCE!”

Tenley frowned, not completely understanding what she saw. Just that it was cruel and unnecessary. Klaus was also in the room, haggard and bent into a little folding chair surrounded by camping equipment. In one hand he held a tiny figurine - a knight in armor carrying a shield - while with the other he drank. As she approached he shook his little flask, offering, “drink?” Her frown intensified. “Ah,” he looked down at a cooler, “there is probably some juice or soda in here somewhere.”

“What is going on?” She asked.

“Oh, whenever Titania is mad or upset about something she has Lil and El drag some poor souls here to ‘entertain’ her.”

“What will she do with them?”

“After she has had her fun, she will either use them, or,” he swigged, “well, she won’t let them go back to where they were.”

“And you just let her?” Tenley’s face crumpled in disgust, “you’re just going to sit here and watch? I thought you were a Knight?”

“I am,” his hand closed over the figurine, dust falling through his fingers as he slowly shook his head. “I am just an old man. Every time I have tried to help it just blows up in my face. I am tired.”

“You’re a coward.”

Around the throne the music had stopped. The flute player drenched in sweat and tears was pulled to Titania. “Tell me,” The Queen said, skin pulsing a calming blue as she gently stroked the woman’s hair. “Where did you learn to play?”

“Um… i-in school,” the player wept.

“And your parents; did they ever come to hear you?”

“Yes.”

“When they did, did they tell you that you were flawless? Perfect?”

“I-I… yes?”

“They lied,” Titania said. Her hand stopped stroking, pulses changing from blue to purple. “They always lie. They tell you that you’re perfect, but behind your back, they,” she grimaced. “Why would they try to destroy something perfect? What about you? Do you think I’m perfect?”

“I-I… I-I don’t…”

“Simple question. Yes or no.”

“Yes?”

“LIAR!” Titania burst fully red seized the woman’s throat, flinging her to the ground scattering the other prisoners. Rising from her throne she took a spear from Lilian, and threw. The humans all winced and held their breath. Even Klaus slowly rose from his chair, shocked by what he saw; Tenley standing in front of the prone woman having deflected the spear with her own. Titania’s lips peeled back as she hissed, “you…!”

Ella cracked her knuckles, “let me teach her a lesson!”

“No!” Titania inhaled as if the air cooled her temper, returning her body to a more greenish hue. “No; she is quite right. I overreacted. It has been a stressful day,” she said returning to her throne. “There is to be no more fighting among yourselves. Understood?”

Ella was disappointed. So was Tenley - until she had proven herself against her Ella was never going to stop picking fights. Which meant she would get plenty of opportunities. There were more important things to finish first. “Alvin Stag,” she said as she relaxed her stance.

“Who’s that?”

“He sent the people that murdered my mother.”

“Ah, yes - coming back to me now. I believe he is the CEO of Stag Corp. Vain, obviously, and paranoid. But as is the way with humans, what power he wields is an illusion. A delusion that others have bought and support because humans are weak and fear change.”

“How do I find him?”

“Well that’s easy; the man hardly ever leaves his fortress. Unfortunately, you cannot use the dampening crystals to get inside. Still, you are creative and resourceful. That’s why I chose you. I am sure you will find a way.”

It seemed she would get no more help from Titania. Tenley would have left then and perhaps never returned, but the prisoners. They saw hope in her, silently mouthing ‘please’. She knew she couldn’t fight everyone here, but she also a knew a temper like Titania’s. She knew no matter what she said that wouldn’t be her last outburst. “What will happen to them?”

“So long as they amuse me, nothing.”

“And then?”

“Then?” Titania gripped the edges of her throne, bright white stripes rippling down her orange skin as she brought her head lower toward Tenley. “They are not your concern. You need only focus on finishing what you started; destroying those who tried to take everything from you. Then you may rest.”

It was hard to look at her. Hard to keep her eyes open. She had to finish it, but Tenley couldn’t walk away from here just yet. She shook herself. “You could change them,” she suggested.

“I could,” Titania sighed, “but few are worthy of my gifts. You were chosen because I saw talent in you. Skill. But these wretches have nothing.”

“Then they’re not a threat. You might as well just let them go.”

“Oh,” Titania groaned, “very well. As a favor to you, I will return them to their world.”

“Thank you,” Tenley blinked. The pulsing and rippling stopped. She had done all she could here. Now she had to finish it. Then she could rest.

As Tenley left Ella scowled, “I told you she was soft.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Klaus said as approached the throne, another swig before his eyes settled on Titania. “She’s resisting you.”

“It matters not,” The Queen assured him, “everything is already in place.”

“Why don’t you just kill him yourself?”

“Because it’s more fun this way. Besides, there are other things I must attend to. If the little one actually succeeds in killing Stag, it will just be a bonus.”

“What are you up to?”

The Queen grinned. “Hiroki,” he was still panting on the ground not convinced he had been saved before finding himself lifted to her eye level. “You consider yourself a servant of nature, yes?” He meekly nodded. “You know, I have seen many worlds. Most are barren, toxic, irradiated wastelands - that is the true face of nature. Life… life is precious, but always hangs in the balance. Sometimes it needs help fighting back against those who would do it harm, wouldn’t you agree?” He nodded more enthusiastically. “Good. You will come with me; keep being so well behaved and you may yet see the dawn of a new age,” she turned to Ella as she stood. “Kill the rest.”

“B-but,” Klaus spluttered over her broken promise, “you said-”

“I never said I’d return them alive.”

[lubdubsworld]

Change of Heart ( Taehyungx OC)

Pairing : Taehyung x OC Werewolf AU!!

Genre : Romance, Explicit Content.

Warnings : None. ( Some mild violence but mostly off screen ) werewolf sex, ruts, knotting etc

Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3/ Chapter 4

[ Summary :

Times are changing.

After years of being oppressed, werewolves are taking a stand against humans , demanding equal rights and fair treatment. Heading the movement is Kim Taehyung, the breathtaking heir to the Kim fortune and one of the few remaining Alpha werewolves in the country. His disdain for the human race is well known and well warranted. They killed his family after all…..

He wants to change the world , to put humans in their place but when his five year old daughter takes a shine to their very human neighbor , maybe he has to start with a change of heart , first.  ]

Chapter 5

I found myself breathing through my nose, woozy and incoherent as the doctor fussed over me. 

“This is looking pretty damn bad, Dr. Jeon...” He was muttering while Jungkook sat next to me gripping my hands. My throat went dry at the words, fear making my heart jackrabbit against my ribs. 

“The bullet’s hit pretty close to artery near the clavicle, she’s lost a whole lot of blood. “

“Seo Joon’s going to prison for this... “ Jungkook swore, stroking my palm as I tried to stay conscious. 

“Tell me I don’t have to stay in the hospital for a long time...” I begged, desperate. 

Jungkook rolled his eyes. 

“You got shot... It’s not a playground scrape, Mirae....” Jungkook sounded exhausted. 

I nodded.

“ Whats going on with my father? Seo Joon was pissed off about something with my father....” I said, remembering the reason the wolf had been so pissed in the first place. 

“We’ll talk about this later- You need to rest and-”

“Just tell me damn it!!” 

Jungkook sighed.

“Your father got called out for trying to sabotage the vaccine drive going on on the island and he played the whole, ‘ why would I sabotage something my daughter helped make...’ card on TV. It’s had an effect....” 

I swallowed.

“What do you mean by effect?”

Jungkook looked a little angry now. 

“Can’t we talk about this tomorrow...you’re bleeding and hurt ...you need to fucking rest...”

“What’s going on...?” I demanded. 

“The weres don’t want the vaccine anymore. They think...well they think you may have tampered with it....” He looked uncomfortable and I couldn’t comprehend what I’d just heard. 

I stared at him, my jaw going slack in shock. 

“I’m not.... I have nothing to do with the vaccine...that is so far above my paygrade..I’m a lab tech..... what even-” I was too outraged to even think clearly. 

“People don’t know that, Rae. All they know is that they have always associated your father with bringing harm to the were community and somehow his daughter is here working on something that has the potential to both hurt and heal.....”

I bit my lips.

“He’s not even my real father.” I choked out. 

Jungkook looked surprised at that. 

“What?”

“It’s true. He adopted me because he raped my mom and she fucking killed herself over it. I was eight years old at the time and the bastard did not want any loose ends...” The words came out , bitter and edged with anger but it was an old hurt. An old rage that had long faded into a blunt sort of ache. I had been so young. Too young to fully comprehend 

Jungkook looked completely stunned.

“Fuck, I’m so sorry....”

“He wanted me to marry one of his anti-were associates . That's literally all he raised me for. When I refused , he cut me off completely. I’ve literally been on my own for years now and my job is the only thing keeping me from dying on the  streets....”

I hissed when the nurse touched my shoulder , the physical agony of my shoulder somehow intensifying as the nurse moved to finish dressing the wound. I would have to wear a sling next but I couldn’t even fathom moving,   let alone sitting up for that ordeal. 

The nurse gave me a slight smile.

“Your ribs are bruised again , this time its going to take longer to heal because one of them actually has a hair line fracture.” 

Great. That explained the woozy breathlessness. 

“It doesn’t hurt much...” I said confused.

“That’s because you’re on enough drugs to fell a horse...I’m actually surprised you’re still conscious.” Jungkook shook his head. 

“It’s just the adrenaline...that and the fear of being fired.” I muttered. 

Jungkook laughed a little at that.

“Don’t worry about anything. Just rest for a while and we’ll talk tomorrow , yeah?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I woke up to fingers in my hair, soft and gentle. 

My eyes fluttered open and I felt my breath catch when I saw who it was.

“Yuggie ??” I croaked out, my brother’s face coming into focus as I blinked back exhaustion.

“Welcome to the land of the living...” He said softly, keeping his fingers on my hair, stroking the strands back gently.

“What..... how did you get here so soon?” I whispered.

“You’ve been out for forty hours, baby....” He laughed a little and I blinked, 

“I....I got hurt.” I whispered bleakly. My shoulder was still throbbing and the pain in my rib was now a bit more prominent. I took a deep shuddering breath. 

“I’m glad you’re here.... “ I whispered, lifting shaky hands to hold his face. 

“Dad called me. He wants you to come back home.” 

I felt my entire body going cold, hands going clammy at once. 

“That’s not going to happen.” I said sharply and Yugyeom looked worried.

“He’s really upset , Rae. Kim Taehyung winning the election was not a part of his plan and he’s desperate to try and cover his ass before he gets carted off to prison.” 

I blinked at that.

“what do you mean by prison?” 

“We can’t talk about this here. He’s not allowed on the island. None of his cohorts are. So he’s been trying to get you transferred to a hospital in Seoul. Jeongguk was the one who called me. They’re holding off on the transfer but ....you know how dad gets.” 

I felt my head pound . 

“What does he want me for?” I whispered in disbelief. 

“I’m not sure. But I think you should at least go see him and find out what it is that he wants.”

I shook my head .

“I’m not going anywhere near him, I’m-”

The door swung open and I found myself jerking in surprise, the movement jostling my ribs and making me wince. I felt my eyes widen when I saw who it was, fingers scrambling to grab Yugyeom . 

“Dad...” He whispered, sounding terrified and I felt that familiar jolt of sickening fear . 

“There she is.... my precious little one.” My father’s eyes held no emotion as he stared at me, lips curled in a perfect smile. He looked so much like a good guy that it was nauseating. 

I took a deep shuddering breath. 

“the management here is terrible. I had to petition the fucking courts to get a permit to visit my own daughter.” He shook his head as he made his way over and I lurched away instinctively. 

“I’m taking you home now. Bout time you came back to me.” He smiled, chillingly and I shook my head. 

“No...thats not going to happen. I’m an adult, you cannot force me to...” 

“You are my daughter. And you will be my daughter till you live. Cha Eun woo is still single. He’s looking for a wife and you were promised to him a long, long time ago. “ 

“Dad.... she’s fucking hurt...she got shot like three days ago can you not do this right now...” Yugyeon had stood up, reaching out to actually shove my father away and he looked surprised for a second. 

He gave Yugyeom a glare but my brother didn’t back down, towering over my father easily. 

“Forgive me. I didn’t mean to sound insensitive but it just worries me that my only daughter is choosing to stay in an island full of beasts and getting mauled quite often . Isn’t this the second time you got attacked in that same cabin, by wolves?” 

“that doesn’t mean you can just offer me as a gift to one of your buddies.” I hissed. 

“He’s one of the richest men in Seoul....you should be on your knees thanking me for letting you so much as breathe near him.”

“Isn’t he a werewolf?” Yugyeom frowned in confusion. 

My father shrugged.

“I’ve since learned that your sister has a preference for them. Well if she’s going to spread her legs for an animal, better an animal I happen to hold the leash to....” He stared down at me with calculated cruelty. 

The crude words made nausea rise up in my throat and I almost dry heaved. 

“You’re not pimping me out to serve your own selfish purposes.” I shook my head. 

“He’s here. Outside. He’s going to stay here and he’s going to bring you back to his apartment in Seoul and you’re going to stay there with him. End of discussion. Yeom, I want you to come back to Seoul with me now. “

Yugyeom looked torn as he stared at me and I bit my lips. Yugyeom was still a kid, still in college. He couldn’t afford to antagonize my father.

“I’ll be fine. Go ahead.” I smiled. 

“I’ll send Eun Woo in.... “ My father nodded at me and then sighed. “ contrary to what you think, I don’t want you to hurt. I’m offering you a good life. Marry the fellow and spend your days lounging around in luxury. Thats hardly a punishment now, is it?” 

I turned my head away in disgust. 

Less than two minutes after he left, I felt a hand on my arm and I jolted.

“Mi Rae ssi.... I’m Eun Woo.” 

I glared at the man in front of me, barely looking at him. 

“I have no interest in being your wife.”

He looked bored at my outburst.

“I have no interest in indulging your  interests.  Your father is paying me handsomely to take you off his hands and that's all I’m doing. If you happen to be good at taking my knot, that's just gonna be a pleasurable bonus?” He pressed a thumb to my lips, stroking the skin in an almost gentle caress.  . 

A knock on the door made him pull away and I glanced up, relief flooding me when I saw it was Jungkook. 

“She’s going to have to rest now, Mr. Cha. Her father told me that he’s arranging her transfer to Seoul but that's going to have to wait for tomorrow at least. “ He was staring at the beta with narrowed eyes and Eun Woo bowed lightly. 

He shot me one leering glance before walking out casually.

“So...fiancee huh? You’ve been holding out on me...” Jungkook whispered thoughtfully and I flinched.

“Didn’t know he existed till five minutes ago..” I muttered. 

“Are you in trouble, Rae?” Jungkook looked worried and I hesitated, before shaking my head. 

“I’ll be fine. I can handle him. I just hate the thought of having to leave the preserve... even if its temporary. But I don’t want to annoy my dad right now... He’s... He can be irrational and i don’t want him to take it out on the Preserve and do something harmful to the research program itself , just to be petty.”

It was exactly the kind of thing he would do, too. My shoulder still had a lot of healing to do and it was unlikely that Cha Eun Woo would actually hurt me , at least till i got better. My dad, for all his anger was still rabidly protective of what he considered his. And i was definitely high on that list. 

“So you’re going then?” 

I caught the hint of disappointment in Jungkook’s tone.

“Aww....is my poor Jungkookie gonna miss me? If I weren’t sporting a broken rib and a messed up shoulder, I’d definitely, at least give you a handjob…” I waggled my eyebrows. 

Predictably, his eyes went wide , lips tinged fire engine red in a second. 

“Wha- Shut the fuck up, noona” He whined and I laughed. 

And then I sobered up when he sat next to me, linking his fingers with mine .

“I’m serious, Jungkook. I’m gonna be just fine. My dad’s upto something. If I stick close, I can at least figure out what he’s planning. I don’t want him to hurt you guys.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Right little firecracker his daughter is. So fucking pretty and man, those lips. I’d like to take a drink from that....” Cha Eun Woo gripped the shot glass hard, throwing back the whiskey with practiced ease. 

Taehyung struggled to keep his features neutral. 

“ Yoon Jae hyun’s daughter? From the preserve?” He had meant to sound casual but he sounded like he was being strangled. 

Eun Woo hummed.

“ Yeah....Her name is... Mirin....no wait ? Lirae? Mirae? ….. whatever. Poor thing. Apparently she has a tendency to get mauled by wolves too often. She was in bad shape when i saw her. “ 

Taehyung felt his heart lurch at that. He had wanted nothing more than to sink his jaws into Seo Joon’s throat, when he’d heard what had happened. If it weren’t for his abysmally packed schedule he would have rushed there as soon as he could. 

 As it was he had talked to a few of his acquaintances who were in prison. Seo Joon was going to go to prison and he wasn’t going to be coming out alive. 

“So, she just.,...agreed to marry you then?” 

“Not like she had a choice. The old man is going senile. Dude really thinks he stands a chance with his whole Reform Camps proposition. Wants to put weres in concentration camps.... What the fuck, are we in the middle ages..? He also thinks that betas are naturally resentful of Alphas or some shit. Kept feeding me crap about how you alphas want to subjugate the rest of us. Of course the fucker’s feeding into my Hotels and resorts so i just nodded along and agreed to his shit. Next thing I know he’s offering me his daughter in return to me being an ally in his campaign.. Figured I’d agree. See if i could get some inside dirt on him. I know you’ve been trying to bring him down for years, Tae...” Eun Woo gave him a reassuring smile. 

Taehyung felt a jolt of pride for the beta. Cha Eun woo had been a close friend of his from childhood and he knew he would never betray their kind. He had worked hard to earn his position as one of the biggest tech moguls in the country and he stayed true to his roots. Taehyung liked Eun Woo.

Admired him even....

But the idea of him touching Mirae.....

His claws nearly popped out at the mere thought of it. 

“And well if I get to fuck a nice little human bitch in the process, so be it right Taeh- Fuck!! “ Eun Woo jumped when Taehyung’s claw popped right out, shattering the beer mug in his hand and spraying both of them with the frothy liquid.

“Fuck...” Taehyung groaned and to his utter horror his fangs had dropped as well, his words slurring around the lengthened canines and he felt embarrassment flood his face. . When was the last time he’d popped a fanger in the middle of a fucking conversation....not since he’d been through puberty.

“Uh...you okay, pal?” Eun Woo looked worried now, beta eyes flashing green as he stared at him and Taehyung waved him off. 

“Be uh... Be careful with the daughter.” He muttered , trying to sound nonchalant. 

Eun Woo just waved him off. 

“Whatever , I know the type Tae. Likes a good, feral fuck from a wolf that knows how to give it to her good, you know?. Could smell her all over the alpha doctor who works there... Jungkook was it? Yeah... Girl gets around a lot, i could tell. And you can just tell that she’s going to be so fucking tight when you knot her you know, i mean human bitches always are but those hips just look like they-” Eun Woo stopped, stunned when Taehyung suddenly shoved the table away from him, hard. The older gripped the table and stood up on shaky limbs. 

“ I need to get going...” Taehyung fought the urge to shift, his wolf warring inside him, snarling at him to shift and leap across the table and devour the man across from them. To lock his fangs on the beta’s throat and rip his jugular out. 

 He’s threatening our mate...... He’s talking about what is ours....

The voice in his head was so clear and concise that he nearly blacked out at the very force of it. 

Eun Woo was saying something behind him but Taehyung was moving swiftly , stumbling to the bar where Jimin was taking one of the shifts.

“I need to go home...” Taehyung choked out. “ Call....fuck... Call my chauffeur.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Pre rut symptoms....are you fucking serious...?” Taehyung growled at the doctor taking his vitals. the man, long used to Taehyung’s intimidatingly deep voice, merely hummed. The man had been one of his father’s dearest friends. And one of Taehyung’s most trusted confidantes. 

“You’re body believes you mate is around. A mate you haven’t yet claimed. It’s reacting to it.” 

Next to him Ji hyun was looking disturbingly excited.

“It’s not you.” Taehyung snapped at the tall woman who recoiled in shock. Taehyung felt momentarily bad but the truth was he had been trying to break up with Ji hyun for a month now. The model was just so shamelessly clingy it was getting to him. and he most certainly did not want her around if he was going into rut. 

What he wanted was a luscious, chestnut-haired human with ebony eyes and a scent like heaven. 

Fuck... he was burning up and his skin felt like it was stretched thin. 

“You need to leave Ji hyun. I want to talk to the doctor alone.” He demanded and the were bowed, moving out of the room quickly. Taehyung turned back to the doctor. 

“So what do I do?” He demanded. “ I don’t.... my mate died two years ago. “

The doctor sighed.

“She was not your mate. I told you that already. She tricked you. She was wearing your mate’s scent but it wasn’t hers...” The doctor shook his head. 

Taehyung growled. 

“I fucking know that..... And I’m gonna fucking bury Yoon Jae hyun into the ground for what he did to me..... But I need to have my senses about me if I want to do that...Him and his entire drug cartel is coming down.....But. That's not gonna happen if i go into fucking rut  now.. so close to me taking over office. So tell me how to fix this. “ 

“Who is the girl?” The doctor said casually. 

“What?”

“the girl who smells like your wife. Like your mate. Who is she?”

Taehyung sighed. 

“Its Yoon Jae hyun’s daughter.” He muttered. 

Dr. Lee’s eyebrows shot straight up to his hairline. 

“Oh no... do you think he .... again?” 

Taehyung shook his head. He had distanced himself entirely from Mirae just to make sure he wasn’t being pulled into another fucking trap. But so far , from what he learned, the drug did not work on humans. There was no way a human’s scent could be manipulated to fool his wolf.

And that meant that it wasn’t a trap at all. 

His wolf really did find a mate in a fucking human of all things. 

God, he couldn’t believe the sheer irony of this. 

“it doesn’t work on humans. It is her scent. She’s... She’s the one I want.... “ He groaned. 

The doctor chuckled.

“ You mean, she’s the one your wolf wants?” 

Taehyung frowned.

“Isn’t that what i said?” 

“No, you said she’s the one you want and it makes me wonder.....do you perhaps....care for the girl?” 

Taehyung shook his head swiftly.

“I barely know her...she...she used to look after Luna. “ He finished. 

“Luna...? Interesting. “ The man’s words carried a hint of amusement and Taehyung felt his hackles rise. 

“ What does that tone mean?” 

“I’m just saying.... You don’t let people watch Luna that easily. You’re fiercely protective of your daughter. If you let this girl watch her, you must trust her at least.” 

Taehyung sighed. 

“I.. of course i trust her …. she’s a good girl.  A good....person...” 

“ I would suggest spending your rut with her. Claiming her if she’s interested. With you being you, I doubt she’s going to refuse.” The older man’s eyes fairly twinkled, 

“I’m not knotting her when I’m on my fucking rut …” He snapped. “ I’ll likely break her in two. “ 

The doctor chuckled. 

“It wouldn’t be a very pleasant experience for her, yes. But ….there's no reason why you can’t make it enjoyable for her. “ His tone turned gentle and more serious. “ Listen to me Taehyung-ah...… There is a reason wolves mate for life. We are not meant to be alone. If your wolf has found a mate, he’s not going to let you function till you claim her. That's just the way our body’s are built. You need to talk to her. Make some sort of arrangement. You have three weeks at the most before your rut hits and trust me you don’t want to be alone when that happens. “ 

Taehyung felt his insides churn at the prospect. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“No fucking shit.... You couldn’t have just told me that instead of letting me mouth off about her like that ? “ Eun Woo groaned , watching Taehyung with guilty eyes. 

Taehyung brushed him off. 

“It’s fine. I just.... can you just...keep her at your place till she gets better. I’m ...not in a good headspace right now and i don’t want to hurt her. she needs to recover.”

Eun Woo nodded.

“The doctor says three weeks and she’ll be fine. I’m a bit busy myself so I’ll just arrange for her brother to pick her up. Her dad’s busy meeting some suppliers. I sent the details to your men.... Did they get it?” 

Taehyung nodded. 

“The guy’s a bigger idiot than i thought. He’s actually met a few of these dealers himself. We just need one of them to ID him and he’s going to get locked up for life.” 

Eun Woo nodded.

“Everything by the book, Tae. We stick to the laws....no  bloodshed without cause and no one gets hurt. He likes to hide behind the fucking law when he’s trying to destroy our entire species , we’re gonna use that same ;law to rail him to the ground .” 

Taehyung grinned. 

“ Not just on the ground, Eun Woo. I’m gonna be putting him six feet under.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The recovery from my shoulder was surprisingly easy compared to the bruise on my ribs. Movement was difficult and it definitely hurt but my pain threshold had definitely gone up. It helped that Cha Eun Woo had stayed away from me and Yugyeom was on a three week break . We crashed out at his apartment and It was like being a kid again. 

We spent the days lounging by the indoor pool or playing video games. Yugyeom was a great cook and he liked cooking. 

Two and a half weeks after I had moved in, I was finally out of the sling. The physiotherapist visited me at the apartment and after making me move my hands well, she gave the go ahead to start my normal routine ahead. 

“I still want you to take it easy. Your ribs are healed and so is your shoulder but no roughhousing.... I’m only saying that because i know how it is i when siblings live together.” She smiled and I laughed, nodding. 

“I’ll make sure she’s resting well, noona.” Yugyeom said seriously. 

I closed the door as the doctor left, smiling as I watched Yugyeom trip over my sling on the couch, when the doorbell rang again.

Surprised , I turned back tot he door.

“ Did you forget something, Unnie-?” I froze in shock. 

Kim Taehyung stood leaning against the wall, looking like he had run all the way from his home across the city. 

“Taehyung-ssi?” I stammered out, taking in the untucked shirt, sweat drenched hair and flashing red eyes .

“I’m.... I fucked up.” He whispered, eyes fluttering shut. It took me a second to realize that he was falling and instinct made throw myself under him, holding my hands out to catch him. 

Pain shot straight up my shoulder as it took the entire brunt of his weight. The pain only lasted a second though, because Yugyeom was shoving me out of the way and grabbing the taller alpha by the waist.

“Holy shit....is this Kim Taehyung?” He looked awestruck as he stared at him and I felt my heart race. Taehyung seemed conscious but his breathing was raspy. 

I pressed my palm against his cheek and his eyes fluttered open .

“I’m... I need you.” Taehyung growled right at me. 

Yugyeom froze next to me and I felt my throat go dry. 

“I... sorry?” I squeaked out. 

“You...need you....under me... fuck...” 

“What the fuck, Rae?” Yugyeom hissed , face turning red as he tried to maneuver the alpha werewolf to the couch . 

I stayed frozen, having no idea what the fuck was going on.

Taehyung scrambled to a sitting position on the couch, gripping the cusions and he was paniting, his eyes wild as he stared right at me. 

“Mine.” His voice was ten times deeper than usual, fairly vibrating with power and Yugyeom went completely still. He was shaking as he reached for me, the terror evident in his face. 

“Oh, shit... Rae...is he....? Fuck , is he -” My little brother sounded terrified and I pulled him behind me. 

Taehyung’s eyes flashed red again and then they shifted to my brother. His gaze narrowed and his mouth opened. 

There was a split second when I knew exactly what was going to happen and I whirled around , grabbing Yugyeom and shoving him straight into the hallway leading to the front door.

“ YUGGIE, RUN!!!”  I screamed with all my might, and behind me Taehyung let out a vicious growl, pouncing across the room at my brother. Yugyeom managed to avoid him by a hairsbreadth and instinct made him move faster to the door but he stopped near the door looking terrified but torn. 

“ Rae...come with me,...come...” 

I stared at the alpha on the floor, my heart racing. 

Taehyung was clearly fighting against the wolf in him, trying to stay down, on his knees, fingers gripping the carpet to ground himself but the little growls that he let out told me that it was a fight he wasn’t winning. He looked up at me and there was so much pain and contrition in his gaze that I felt my heart break. 

“I’m...sorry...” Taehyung gasped out eyes fluttering shut. He was panting harder now, fingers clenched into fists around the carpet and voice ragged. i looked up at my baby brother and he looked so young and scared that I couldn’t stand it. 

“Its okay.... just go... I’ll be fine...he won’t hurt me... Just go...” I whispered desperately and Yugyeom shook his head.

“No... No... you’ve got to come with me... Rae...Noona....”

He never called me noona. I realized just how scared he was and tried to comfort him, but wary of going near him, lest Taehyung attack him again. 

“Yugyeom listen to me carefully. He’s on his rut. He’s not gonna hurt me, he just thinks I’m his mate. If you stay here he’s going to see you as a threat, so you need to leave..If I come with you he will hunt us down....I’ll be fine. I can take care of myself. You just need to go.” 

Yugyeom nodded, moving to the door and I turned back, feeling my stomach clench when Taehyung’s claws came out, tearing through our rug with ease. 

I heard the door shut behind me and I stayed perfectly still. 

Taehyung was still trembling and he finally looked up at me. Now that we were alone he was distinctly calmer. 

“I shouldn’t have come here.” He rasped out. 

I nodded. 

“So why did you?” I asked, staring at him as he stumbled to his feet. 

“You smell ....fuck you just smell like. ....like...”

“Like your wife, yes.” I muttered . “ So you want me to be stand in for your wife tonight?” 

Taehyung’s eyes shot up to stare at me. 

“My wife .... she worked for your father.” He choked out.

I straed at him, the blood running cold in my veins. 

“What?”

“Your father hired her.... to get rid of me. She... used a drug . A drug that confuses a wolf’s senses. Makes the wolf think he’s found his mate. Wolves cannot hurt or live without their mates. Its important to us.  She...She got pregnant on the night we mated and by the time I found out she was already carrying Luna and there was nothing I could do....I couldn’t...it wasn’t even a fucking bond.... I couldn’t sense her...couldn’t feel her...couldn’t muster any kind of affection for her but ... but she was carrying my baby and I just couldn’t bring myself to send her away......”

“Taehyung...” I whispered, remembering how Luna had talked about her father not liking her mother. 

“Its not natural for a wolf my age to be without a mate. But ....that scent ....I... I never picked up on it with anyone else till I... “ He sighed. 

“Till you met me.” 

“Till I met you.” 

I stared at the floor. 

“I’m not.... I’m not actually in rut yet. It’s still a day or so away. i didn’t want to come here but.... I’m supposed to be taking over the office in three days. When I do, I can finally use my position to bring your father down. He is using his drug dealers and suppliers to mess with our biology and its ...something sacred to us. Wolves mate for life and to make a wolf doubt his ability to choose his mate is the worst kind of sacrilege.....”

“What do you want me to do?”

He stared at me....

“If I go into rut and I don’t have.... my mate ...it’s going to fuck me up. I don’t wanna go into the gory details but I most certainly will not be able to take over the office. ” He laughed without mirth. 

There was nothing else to be said , was there?

“You have no right..... asking me to do this.....” I whispered , angry . 

“I know.... I know and if you say no, I will walk out this door and you will never see me again.” 

I laughed. 

“I think you came here because you knew. “

He didn’t respond.

“You fucking knew I wouldn’t be able to say no to you. “ 

His gaze was steady as he stared at me.

“I’ll take care of you.... I won’t...this isn’t a one night stand or a no strings attached thing, Rae..... You will be mine. I’ll be yours. “ 

“And yet, your eyes tell me that there is nothing you hate more, than standing here asking me to be your mate......” I said bitterly.

He didn’t deny it. 

“Will you come with me , then?”

I stared at his handsome face , the surreal beauty of it. And I thought of my father and how he wanted only to destroy anything that he didn’t understand. If Taehyung was going to bring my father down , I wasn’t going to be the thing that stopped him from doing it. 

“Let me get my clothes.” 

AUTHOR’S NOTE : IT WAS EASIER GIVING BIRTH THAN WRITING THIS FIC 

just kidding i love werewolf tae. Please let me know what you thought uwu

[the-halloween-jack]

Only Ones Who Know ➳ Bucky Barnes x Fem!HydraExperiment!Reader, Part 1

Summary: Y/N had no recollection of who she was, she didn’t even know her own name; all she knew was that she was a weapon. One day when a group of misfits come to rescue her from the life she had been subjected to, she meets the man she was meant to kill, her mission. But what happens when Y/N can't bring herself to complete her mission? Instead finds she is unable to kill James Buchanan Barnes.

Bucky Barnes x  Fem!HydraExperiment!Reader

Avengers x Reader

WARNING: Angst, Mentions of Violence, Mentions of Abuse.

It had been days, days of being strapped to the metal table, with no recollection of who she was. She didn't even know her own name, she had been referred to as ‘The Weapon’, by the passing men and women in lab coats, sometimes they would stop to examine her, and experiment on her with needles and various instruments, other times they would watch her from a distance whispering among themselves almost seeming as though they expected her to do something, fight back. But the truth was she was beyond fighting back, what was the point when she didn't know what she was fighting for? She didn't know who she was, or why she was there. But somehow, deep down, she knew that what they were doing was wrong.

That was only confirmed the day they handed her a gun and told her to fire at a man, without reason. They said that everything they did was to make the world a better place, but the girl knew that wasn't true. She stared into the eyes of the man, tears ran down his face, yet he was silent. He knew what his future held for him; that it was inescapable. She held her finger on the trigger and aimed at the man like they had taught her, but she couldn't get herself to pull it. 

Without a second thought she placed the gun back on the table with all the other weapons. That was the day she learned they didn't treat disobedience lightly, they told her 'they were in control' that she 'wasn't a person, just merely their weapon', she couldn't make decisions for herself, she had no choice but to comply. Later that day they showed her what they meant by control, when they placed her in a chair, and strapped her in, placing an object over her head. The pain was excruciating, the shocks traveled through her body, she tried to scream but the guard they placed in her mouth had prevented her from doing so. The lights began to flicker and swing from the roof, papers and other loose objects began to move around the room, not long after the furniture was rocking too. 

The men and woman in lab coats frantically rushed around the room attempting to shut down the machine, the lights went out as the sound of the machine dying down could be heard. Soon the heavy and pained breaths coming from their weapon, sitting in the metal chair was all that could be heard.

It had been the first time all week that the girl had managed to fall asleep, it wasn't an easy task, given that alternatively, terrors would plague her all night as the empty room she was restrained in left her with nothing but her mind; constantly reflecting on the horrendous, violent crimes she unwillingly committed. 

All of her efforts to achieve this state of blissful unconsciousness were ruined by the sound of heavy footsteps fast approaching her quarters, though referring to them as 'her quarters' was unnecessarily generous, she sighed as she glanced to her surroundings from her place on the tattered old mattress in the corner of the room. Her eyes were met with nothing but old, cracked bricks, water dripping from the moulding ceiling, a stained yellow sink paired with a just as disgusting looking toilet and the rusted, closely placed bars keeping her contained within the room. To say the sight was miserable, would be an understatement.

Based on the volume and pace of the footsteps, Y/N had easily deciphered that they belonged to that of the guards. In the following minute, banging on the prison bars that lined the far wall of her room, asking her to get up, was the guards she had been expecting. Though their request had been pointless as she soon found herself being forcibly removed from her bed and dragged into the adjacent room where her suit and weapons were kept.

The guards didn't leave when they told her to get dressed, though that was normal; she had never known privacy. Ever since the day, she woke up on the metal examination table, with no recollection of who she was, every aspect of her life was controlled and monitored. She used to try to resist, refuse to kill for them. But nowadays she did everything for them, it was as though she had no control over her body or mind. She expected that this was due to the many experiments she was subjected to each day. She knew they did something to her, that she wouldn't do their bidding if she had the choice. They never disclosed much information to her, she wasn't even aware of what the organisation was attempting to achieve, though from what she had read from their minds, they were called HYDRA, and even though the girl believed what they were doing was wrong, the people behind HYDRA truly believed they were doing the right thing and that they were stepping in the right direction to making the world a better place.

After Y/N had put on her suit and filled all the hidden compartments with an array of weapons, she followed the guards out of the room for the mission briefing. She looked around the room; various men and women of HYDRA sat around a long table, starring down at her, they expected her to take a seat. Hairs on the back of her neck raised, a feeling of discomfort settling in her stomach, she didn't want to join them, but she knew she didn't have the choice. Once she had taken her seat, an image of a man was projected to a screen. The man wore a black tactical suit much like her own, though he also had a metal arm. The men seated at the furthest end of the table began to introduce him,

'James Buchanan Barnes, an ex-assassin of ours, only now he's involved with the enemy organisation'

'He is well-trained. And now that he is working for the opposing side; he has become a liability and a great threat to HYDRA.' He continued,

'That's why we need The Weapon to eliminate him, she is just as well trained Barnes, but her mental capabilities and powers put her to an advantage'

The girl was capable of telepathy and telekinesis, although she found the use of her hand to hand combat skills during missions to be much more beneficial. They didn't stand out as much, and as a highly trained assassin; 'standing out' was never a good idea.

Before the briefing could come to a close, an alarm had sounded throughout the building, a threat had infiltrated the Hydra bass.

A guard frantically ran into the room,

'It's the Avengers sir, we believe they are coming for The Weapon'

Part 2 >

[just-someone-who-likes-to-write]

...imagine idea for a (Y/n) Variant...

This (Y/n) came from a universe where she has destructive powers,((Kind of like Scarlet Witch but don't control reality and such)) because of that Odin took her as his "Daughter" when truly he wanted to keep her under his watch and control. Except for Frigga and Thor who treated her truly as a family, a daughter and a sister.

As (Y/n) grew older she felt suffocated because everywhere she went there was a guard or maid around her to keep eye on her for "Protection" when it's just Odin wanting to keep her at bay watching every step she took. At some point, (Y/n) goes to Frigga and tells her of how sue felt, he mother having sympathy helps her sneak out of the castle by creating an illusion of her broidering with her.

(Y/n) doesn't waste time to make here way to the market among the people who barely knew who she was, because they don't go to the castle and she switched from her Royal clothes. She ended up in a local library enjoying the simplicity of it. That's when she met Loki.

Loki is a simple Asgardian who works in the library, and when he saw (Y/n) browsing around he didn't waste time to go to her and introduce himself as well as offer his help. (Y/n) doesn't take the offer but Loki stays around and starts speaking complement to her, of her intelligence at the choices of books she took, of her beauty whenever she looked at him.

(Y/n) weirded out because no-one has ever spoke to her like that before, for a moment she suspected that he might know who she was, but he didn't. He was genuinely interested in her. And that's how the secret meetings started.

Every now and then she would meet him to go on dates that he has prepared, and it was a bit Easier thanks to Frigga's help. They went on walks, picnics, simple restaurants, or just set in the library and enjoy the silence with each other companies. One day (Y/n) sneaked out to meet Loki for a picnic but was shocked to find him on a top of a tree. He wanted to bring her a fruit that she said she never tried before, he slipped and fell but before he could touch the ground (Y/n) used her powers to stop his fall before slowly putting him down.

Loki was shocked and asked her about her powers, that when she confessed of who she was and what was her power. (Y/n) was afraid that he will be terrified of her like most people do. But he was fascinated, by her power and by the fact that his lover was the powerful princess (Y/n). That day was spent with Loki asking her questions about her powers, and showing him what she can do.

Learning that his lover was the princess, Loki worked very hard to be in the castle, and he did. He was the assistant librarian, which made his meetings easier since most of her time was spent in the library anyway, so she was sure Odin won't notice difference in her routine. Centuries past with then being together, they were truly in love so it was inevitable for Loki to get on one knee and ask for her hand.

(Y/n) overjoyed by this but also terrified because in order to marry the man she loved she has to face Odin and ask for his blessings. As she based in her room planning on how she was going to tell thor and Frigga first so she could have someone to aid her in case Odin tried to reject her. A maid knocked on the door saying Odin asked for her along with het mother and brother, (Y/n) was planning to take the chance and tell them all after Odin made his announcement of whatever.

She didn't expect Odin to declare her and Thor's engagement. Least to say, everyone was shocked, even Frigga who obviously was consulted to that decision, and Thor who was a look of shock and disgust, because he saw (Y/n) as a sister not a wife. Everyone tried to object and reason with him but Odin was unfazed saying how (Y/n) was groomed for years to be Thor's wife and as his eyes met hers she understood.

Odin wanted her to marry Thor so he can have even greater control over, he KNEW of Loki he knew Everything!. And that wad he cue to run away.

(Y/n) told Loki of what happened how they will never be happy. But loki then confesses that he had found a way to get out of Asgard without heimdall or Odin's knowing. (Y/n) was touched by his offer to escape together, that he is ready to leave everything behind for her, and so they plan their escape. While everyone was busy preparing for a wedding (Y/n) was hatching a plan with loki yo escape.

Everything was perfect, they both had everything they needed, everyone was too busy to notice them, Loki provided a ship for easy escape. Everything was perfect indeed. Until (Y/n) was summoned to the throne room and saw her Loki's dead body on the floor still tied up in chains as he was under a trail. It appears that he was accused of being a traitor to Asgard that he was found middling with the enemy, which everyone seemed to believe, even Frigga and thor.

(Y/n) was in too much shock by what she saw, she was a prisoner of Odin all her life, being kept under watchful eyes and refused any connection or friends or lovers, having only Frigga and thor who even they didn't help much to ease her silent suffering. And when she finally had someone who wanted her for herself, not her power or title, who loved her truly as a person, someone who wasn't controlled by Odin or would follow him against her.

Here is where the TVA comes.

(Y/n) was meant to break into a chaotic rage, killing everyone around her, forcing thor to stop her, she would be imprisoned and then broken out, in short, she would have ended up being Thor's Enemy who wants to kill odin and Asgard. But she didn't, she confronted Odin and told everyone that Loki was her lovet and Fiance, that Odin kne of their relationship which lead him to force her to marry thor, but when he saw that that wouldn't stop her he killed the one who was going to take his personal weapon away.

The TVA comes and takes her away before resetting the time line, and prune her to the void. In their (Y/n) have went insane because she wasn't meant to be happy and uses her powers to make an somewhat illusion of her Loki still there to comfort and love her. Her power is the only one strong enough to fight Alioth, not kill but keep him away.

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A silly au of a Variant that I wanted to share.

[anna-justice]

Now or Never - 4

Summary: It’s been 10 years since they were juniors and lot’s has changed, but other things have stayed exactly the same. (Sequel to Lost or Found)

... 4 - Replay ...

Hailey pushed her door shut behind her, throwing her bags on her kitchen counter. She put away all the food she bought, grabbing a pen and a notebook and taking a seat at her bar. Hailey was a planner, she always had been, but it had gotten worse as she had gotten older. So, when she felt like things were out of her control, she sat down and made a list of everything she could. Today, it was meal planning. 

She filled the whole page, listing each meal and all the ingredients that go with it, the cook time and how likely it was to end up as leftovers. Almost all of it were things that Hailey knew Jay loved, things that he hadn’t had in a long time. 

She was grasping, she knew she was, but she was living in an eternal limbo. She was exhausted, she hadn’t slept in days, but she couldn’t dare slow down. She couldn’t dare let everything catch up to her. Hailey was running from years worth of demons coming back for her, and if she took a chance to breathe, she’d have to face them. 

As she looked down at her finished list, she felt tears prickle her eyes. She dropped her head in her hands and pushed the pad and paper aside. She fought the urge to laugh, her boyfriend - the only man that she had ever loved and it seemed like she was ever going to love - was coming home, and she was making a meal plan. 

What else was she supposed to do though? If the last four years had seemed foreign, then she was living on a different planet now. She had no idea what the next few days, weeks, months, had in store for her and she was terrified. 

Her phone caught her eye on the counter, and she felt a small grin grace her face. She picked it up and dialed a familiar number. The line only rang once before they answered, “Hello?” 

“Hey,” Hailey said, sighing out. There was something about her Aunt’s voice that had always calmed her. 

“Hi sweetie, how are you?” 

Hailey took a deep breath, with everything going on, she hadn’t had a chance to tell anyone about Jay’s highly anticipated homecoming. “Really great actually.” She said, finally. A smile gracing her face once again. Jay was coming home, no matter how many times she told herself, it still didn’t feel real. 

It didn’t matter what they ate for dinner or what her apartment looked like, he was coming home to her, finally.

“Good, I’ve been thinking about you.” Her Aunt said.

“I have something to tell you.” Hailey drew out, barely able to contain her joyful laughter. 

“Okay?” 

Hailey squealed - an action reserved for her Aunt - and the words tumbled out of her mouth, “Jay’s unit was recovered, he’s being shipped home on Tuesday, Will and I are going to pick him up-”

“What?” Her Aunt asked, cutting her niece off. 

Tears started to pool in Hailey’s eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time in days, “He’s coming home.” 

“Oh my God,” Trudy said, her voice breaking. “Are you serious?” 

“Yes!” Hailey laughed, the sound followed by Trudy’s own. 

Trudy gasped, “Hailey, that’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you, both of you.” 

“Me too.” She was so happy, she didn’t think it was possible be this happy. There were things that rivaled it: the first time Jay told her he loved her at the dance when they were sixteen, the day he came home from his first deployment, the day they she graduated college, the day of Adam and Kim’s wedding. She had had so many happy moments, but none of them measured up to what she was feeling right now. “I just can’t wait to see him.” 

“Well I’d love to see him, and you too. So give me a call when you two are all settled in and we’ll make a plan.” Trudy and Randall have moved to Hilton Head Island a few years back after they both retired, Hailey saw them a few times a year. Including during the summer when all of them would drive down and stay with them for a week. 

The two woman talked for a while, catching up, making plans, circling back around to the idea of Jay coming home several times. A smile stayed on Hailey’s face the whole time, despite anything going on in her life, Trudy seemed to always know what to say. That never changed. 

Hailey barely had time to set her phone down before it started ringing again. This time it was Kim.  “Hello?” 

“Hailey.” 

Hailey stood from her stool. “Kim, what’s wrong?” 

“Hailey, I need you to come here like right now.” Hailey could hear her panic clearly, she was already grabbing her car keys and her purse. 

“Okay, I’m on my way.” She stalled at the door. “Kim, what is going on?” 

“Hailey...its Erin, she’s back.” 

…

“Why on earth didn’t you all tell me?” Hailey asked, standing in Kim and Adam’s kitchen. “Don’t you think I had a right to know this? Especially with everything going on right now.” She ran her fingers through her hair, leaning against the counter. 

After walking in and finding a crying Kim and a very stressed Adam, they showed Hailey the bathroom, Then spent the next 10 minutes explaining everything they had been keeping from her. 

Kim took a step forward, “We found out right before Will called us, Jay seemed ore important.” 

“Jay is more important! But this puts his life in danger, it puts all of our lives in danger.” Hailey said. 

“You’re right, I’m sorry. We’re sorry.” Adam said, glancing between Hailey and his wife. “But more importantly, what are we going to do?” 

Hailey nodded, beginning to pace. “Well, we learned a long time ago that calling the police was a bad idea, but,” she gestured to herself, “I think we are covered in that department. We could call Beth Sanders back, tell her what happened.” 

“Hailey it says not to talk…” Adam says. 

“We aren’t teenagers anymore Adam!” Hailey snaps, she pauses, takes a moment to catch her breath. She wasn’t a yeller or a fighter. “I-I’m sorry, I just. I don’t know, there isn’t a correct answer. Obviously she isn’t out of prison yet, we would know right?”

“Right.” Kim said, nodding.

Hailey pinched her nose, “Then someone must be working for her. Or she’s blackmailing someone like before, like what she did to Kelly.”

“Or she escaped.” Adam said, causing both Hailey and Kim to gape at him. “Think about it, it might not be in the media yet, hell maybe no one even knows.” 

Kim rushed to the front door, making sure it was locked. It didn’t make that much of a different, but it gave her some peace of mind. Her hands were shaking, “Why would she appeal her case just to escape?”

“Maybe she just couldn’t take it anymore? She couldn’t wait for a parole hearing, so she escaped and decided missed her little playthings.” Adam said with disgust. 

Hailey stared at the counter, tracing the granite veins, running every possible idea through her head. “Or she found out about Jay.” She said, her head snapping up. “Think about it. She’s been there for 10 years. She’s earned good behavior or she’s figured out how to sneak things. She could have seen a newspaper or seen the news, decided that a parole hearing would take too long and broke out. She’s always been crazy about him, it’s what started it all in the first place.”

Adam stood there in shock, Kim scoffed, “Hailey I hate to say it, but I think you’re right.” 

“So he’s leaving a war zone and coming home to a new one,” Hailey, dropping her head in her hands on the counter. “Perfect.” 

Kim rounded the counter, placing a hand on Hailey’s shoulder. “It’s gonna be okay, we’ll get through it. We’ve done it before.” 

Hailey stands up, nodding, looking defeated. “I-how?” She asks, “We barely did the last time.”

“I honestly don’t know, but we will.” Kim looks to Adam for support. 

He just shrugs, “We have too.” 

“Yeah…” Hailey agrees, she squeezed the hand on her shoulder. “I gotta make some calls, can I use the guest room?” She asks. 

“Of course.” Kim says, giving her a quick, but necessary hug.

Hailey makes her way into the guest bedroom, shutting the door behind her. She checks the entire room for bugs, checking behind photos and under pillows, really anywhere they could be. Then, she closes the blinds and dials a familiar number. They answer after just one ring. “Hello?”

“Garrett, hey, I need your help.”

... 

An hour later, Hailey was sitting in her living room while Garrett paced around the room, a pained expression on his face. “So, you’re telling me that in high school, one of your best friends faked her own kidnapping and death, killed a random girl, blackmailed your classmate into breaking into yourself and choking you, locked you in a garage with a running car, shot Adam and then tried to kill you in basement, all because you stole her boyfriend?” He paused, turning to face her. 

“You forgot stalking us and threatening us for 3 months but yeah, pretty much.” She said shrugging. “And actually she did all that because I “stole her friends,” I didn’t steal her boyfriend until after she locked me in a garage.”

Garrett huffed, sitting down next to her. “Details.” He leaned back against the couch, running his hands over his eyes. “Hailey, I’m your partner, why didn’t you tell me any of this before now?” 

“I don’t know,” Hailey said, running the past year through her mind. It wasn’t a light or funny story for when their bored on a stakeout, and wasn’t exactly something she spewed when she was drunk, it just never came up. It was one of those things that you shove down and hope it disappears. “They aren’t exactly fond memories.” 

Garrett picked up his beer off the coffee table, taking a long drink. “Fair enough.” He looked over at his partner, her blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail like usual, an old academy sweatshirt covering her. On the surface she looked like the old Hailey, but he could see the pieces of hair falling out and how swollen her eyes were. She wasn’t the normal Hailey. “Hailey, I-I’m sorry you had to go through that, especially that young. No one deserves that,” 

Hailey gave him a soft smile, nodding her head and dropping her gaze to her lap. She knew he meant well, but the look on his face was one of the main reasons that she never told anyone about her past. She was a big girl, she didn’t need anyones pity. “Thanks, that means a lot. But, I’ve come to terms with it all. I thought I had moved on, but, the bitch is back, and I need a plan.” She stood up, grabbing her laptop off the sofa table across the room. “Jay is coming home and Kim and Adam want a baby, and Kev and Vanessa want to get married, and dammit Erin is not going to ruin everything again.”

She sat back down on the couch next to him, and Garret smiled at her, he admired her more than anyone else in the world, even more now. “Then we’ll stop her.” He tried not to think about the way his chest tightened when she said Jay’s name, it wasn’t fair to either of them. She deserved to be happy, he just thought that eventually it would be him to make her just that, and he wasn’t sure he was ready to give up on that. 

“I have no idea how.” She logged in to her computer, completely unaware of the way her partner was looking at her. “First we need to find out if she’s actually still in prison.” Garrett scooted a little closer to her, so he could see the screen. 

Hailey looked frustrated as she typed aggressively, it wasn’t really getting them anywhere. “Hailey,” Garret said, grabbing her attention. “You are the strongest person I have ever met, if anyone can figure this out, it’s you.” He said, watching as her tough guy facade finally fell before him. “I’m lucky that I get to call you my partner.” 

She eyed him, his honestly and heartfelt-ness coming out of left-field. They usually never talked like this. But, she let it go. Chalking the comment up to the many lines they had already crossed during the evening, she was bound to feel a little strange. “Thanks, me too.” 

The rest of the evening was spent deep in thought, developing several different ways things could go wrong and how to fix them. Somehow they ended up sprawled out on her couch, Garrett sound  asleep and Hailey wide awake, eyes darting between him and the floor. She had finally let someone else in, and she had this horrid feeling that it would come back to bit her in the ass. It would come back for both of them. 

…

A/N: Holy crap, it has been SO LONG since I have updated this story. I’m so sorry you all, it’s been an absolutely crazy few months and I am happy to say that I have finally found the inspiration to write again. I’ve decided that I will update this story every Wednesday, so hopefully the accountability will keep me on track. Thank you so so much for reading. Have a great night <3

P.S. like always, comment to be added to the taglist!

@lissethsrojas @puckluck28 @fuckyeahkillianemma @ruzek-halstead @thebigapocalypsewolf @karihighman @anotheronechicagobog @snowwhite013 @tracysupton @angelsjedi @anniesardors @carissalizz @joy-meathiel @alkadri-layal @number2chicagopdfan @stephanie708

[quazartranslates]

Welcome to the Nightmare Game II - CH59

**This is an edited machine translation. For more information, please [click here]**

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Chapter 59: Purgatory Reunion (XI)

Burst brains mixed with dirty blood and flowed across the floor, filling the air with the disgusting scent of blood.

Ning Zhou was standing in the pool of blood, his dull expression unchanging.

He hadn’t actually done anything. What he did was to tear Mrs Kathleen’s enchantment with the Sword of Judgment, and then stand in the same place and shock this group of lower demons with his influence. However, under the oppressive feeling of terror, the demonic power in this group of lower demons became disordered, and the lower demons who couldn't control their demonic power had their heads blow up one after another like inflated balloons.

Bodies with destroyed heads fell to the ground, and blood was still streaming from the incomplete skulls. The brains and blood splashed everywhere on the ground, on the walls, and on the sofa, making this originally neat reception room like a slaughterhouse.

Mrs Kathleen was still kneeling on the ground, shivering and afraid to look up at all. Now she only hoped to save her life.

This bloody scene shocked Qi Leren.

Although he had confidence before and he felt that Ning Zhou should be able to handle this barrier, he had not expected...

Standing in the pool of blood, Ning Zhou was like a Devil King who had just come into this world. His eyes emptily looked ahead, but his sight seemed to have penetrated the wall and looked toward an unknown place. He never said a word, and remained as silent as ever. This bloody silence left a trace of gloom on his handsome face, which also made Qi Leren keenly capture his emotion—Ning Zhou was not happy.

Even his heart was in pain.

This kind of power was a kind of torture for him.

Even if he was delivering justice with the evil power, he was not happy. Because this kind of power perpetually lured him into the abyss of sin.

"Let's go and hand her over to the people from the Courthouse," Qi Leren whispered, stepping forward and touching Ning Zhou’s arm.

Ning Zhou recovered from his long silence and nodded his head.

Their entire journey back was silent. Qi Leren contacted Celia, the Trial Court’s contact person in Ant City. Celia brought people to take away Mrs Kathleen and her companions, and asked about the informant who had come to investigate before. Fortunately, this informant was still alive, but he was locked in a private prison and had suffered a lot of injustices.

The gambler who had claimed to have seen the Illusionist was dead, and died because of his high gambling debts. As Qi Leren and Ning Zhou had seen in this underground casino, it was even worse than that. All the useful parts of his body were removed, and even the blood was drained clean.

So for the time being, they couldn't figure out why the Illusionist had come here.

After returning to the Court’s stronghold in the Underground Ant City, Qi Leren talked with the contact Celia about the current situation, intending to take Ning Zhou back to the Village of Dusk after confirming the Illusionist’s safety.

Under the working conditions, the contact Celia was a very capable woman, who worked in perfect order and could handle the subsequent troubles of this underground casino despite having a shortage in manpower. Although she was obviously curious about the relationship between Qi Leren and Ning Zhou, she didn't ask a word about the things she shouldn't ask, and turned a blind eye to the two people holding hands all the time.

"This underground casino is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Underground Ant City’s filth. Gambling, prostitution, and drugs in the lower city form a huge interest chain, and there are some higher demons standing behind them. For them, the humans and lower demons here are just slaves without brands." Celia frowned in disgust. "This Dragon Ant Queen is too careless in managing this place."

"What are these people thinking when they’re gambling?" Qi Leren couldn't understand it at all.

"They’re dominated by greedy desires and... greedy witches." Celia said, "As far as I know, the behind-the-scenes owners of most underground casinos here are Witches of Greed, just as the owners of brothels are mostly Witches of Lust, and this is also the arena where they compete for power."

Qi Leren seems to understand, but his understanding of "forces" had not jumped out of the concept that ordinary human beings could grasp. Even though he had broken his shell and even touched a higher level, he had not condensed a half-field after all, and he still had little knowledge of his "rebirth" force. When things here were over, he would have to ask Chen Baiqi and the Prophet when he returned to the Village of Dusk.

Celia added, "The letter of request has been sent, but I'm afraid it will be another week until the Court replies."

"All right, let's wait another week." Qi Leren thought about the Illusionist’s safety and decided to stay for one more week. Anyway, now that Ning Zhou had been found, he wasn’t in a hurry.

It was settled. Celia skillfully commanded the staff to interrogate Mrs Kathleen. Sitting on the sofa, Qi Leren suddenly thought of something: "Remember to ask her where the subordinate who came to the Underground Ant City with her is now."

Qi Leren had a subtle intuition that he couldn’t speak of; it was always right to be vigilant.

Celia looked through Mrs Kathleen's information. "Okay, I'll have this added to the interrogation. Take a rest first. I’ve prepared the room for you."

The room was a private suite with two bedrooms separated by a wall. The shared living room also had a beautiful small terrace where you can see the Underground Ant City’s underground river. Judging from the arrangement of the room, the Ant City’s contact person was a very careful and cautious person, and has a smooth integrity.

Qi Leren's spirit had been overloaded recently, but the compulsory monthly task had been put off until it couldn't be put off any longer. So after dinner, he greeted Ning Zhou and went to do this month's compulsory task—for a person who has already glimpsed his original force, the compulsory task of a novice was really too simple to mention.

It was only ten o'clock in the evening after completing this month's compulsory task. Qi Leren, who was exhausted physically and mentally, thought he could have a good night's sleep. However, he was haunted by nightmares, and various death scenes appeared in his dreams over and over again, forcing him to relive the tragic deaths again and again. After experiencing the Star Death Reality Show copy, he had experienced some new ways of dying. The horrible laser net was really a psychological shadow, and finally there was the fall into the deep glacier when he had fought Leviathan, which worsened how horrifying his nightmares were.

Amidst the weightlessness of the fall and the severe pain of his nerves, Qi Leren suddenly sat up from the bed and gasped. When he came to, his back was soaked with cold sweat, and his temples were still throbbing with the same frequency as his heartbeat, bringing a spasm of pain each time.

Qi Leren took the water cup at the head of the bed and drank half a cup of cold water, which made him calm down from his extreme panic.

It's no use. I'm going to lose sleep again.

Qi Leren took out the sleeping pills he had brought with him, but the pills stopped before they reached his mouth.

It wasn’t a good thing to sleep by taking medicine, so he shouldn't do it unless he had to. Qi Leren swallowed the temptation of taking medicine and getting a good night's sleep, got out of bed in exhaustion, and prepared to go to the balcony to smoke, relieve his mood, and slowly adjust himself to sleep.

Opening the bedroom door, ahead of him was the living room with no lights on, and beyond the living room was the open terrace. There was a figure standing behind the curtains blown by the night wind, standing on the terrace with his back to him.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Ning Zhou looked back and met Qi Leren's eyes.

Both of them didn't speak. In this gentle evening breeze, the unexpected encounter in the middle of the night was as beautiful as an otherworldly dream.

Qi Leren trotted over and stood beside Ning Zhou, watching the underground river in the distance. There were several boats with lights floating on the river’s calm waves, and the surrounding streets were lit with streetlights. Sparse pedestrians walked along them, humans and demons alike. They walked silently on their own roads and were indifferent to everything around them.

But Qi Leren cared. He thought of the silent man beside him, and he could feel his inner unrest.

"Let’s talk," Qi Leren said to him.

"Talk about what?" Ning Zhou asked him.

"Anything will do." After Qi Leren finished saying this, he felt that he had not fulfilled his responsibility to guide the conversation, and started a temporary topic. "After I was resurrected, I saw your mother, Ms. Maria."

Seeing Ning Zhou's eyes focus, Qi Leren considered his words and said: "Later, I happened to learn some things about her and the Devil of Destruction... Speaking of which, had she never mentioned it to you before?"

Ning Zhou shook his head: "She chose to send me to Neverland, so that I wouldn’t find out."

Perhaps the Holy Nun had already foreseen such a cruel possibility, that one day she and the Destroyer’s child would follow the same path as his father, so she cut off this path from the beginning and guided him to condense a half-field that would incompatible with his original force by way of the Holy See. If there hadn’t been the accident of meeting Qi Leren, Ning Zhou would have walked on the clouds all his life, and he would have fought with demons and finished his life with inner peace and contentment.

"She didn't really hate him," Ning Zhou said.

Qi Leren could vaguely feel it.

"She said that he was a lost man." Ning Zhou watched the distant lights, which were reflected in his eyes. The ethereal flickering lights became spirited in his beautiful eyes. The light generated from pain and despair lit up his soul.

Qi Leren was almost stunned. He suddenly wanted to kiss his beautiful blue eyes.

"Maybe one day, I will become lost like him, and step by step go down the path of destruction. If that day comes... it will be enough for me alone to be in Hell," Ning Zhou said quietly. At this moment, he suddenly felt something called "fate", which was once cruel, and would only become even crueler.

Qi Leren, who was in a daze, asked him, "What about me?"

Ning Zhou looked at him and whispered, "I hope you can always stand in the sun."

Qi Leren's throat tightened, and the lights in front of him suddenly blurred. Always, this person always tried every means to protect him and the world. He was too gentle and kind. The world treated him so cruelly, but he didn't know what resentment was and didn't want to lash out. Even if one day he fell into Hell, he didn't want to take anyone with him, even the one he loved.

He would rather bear the pain and loneliness alone, and go to ruin silently.

"Then I’ll tell you, I don't want to," Qi Leren choked up and said.

As Ning Zhou was stunned, Qi Leren hugged him.

"You listen up: I don't care if you are a human being or a demon, or if your force is destruction or something else. I don't care if I stand in the sun. Only you, Ning Zhou, only you are something I must not lose, do you understand?"

Ning Zhou didn't answer. He hesitated, wrapped his arms around Qi Leren gently and carefully, and felt the people in his arms embrace him harder, so he hugged him too.

It was like holding the only salvation in the world.

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