#they went to new orleans without me and she said they barely even got out of the car. he just pointed at stuff from the driver's seat lmao

[captainhongjoong]

thinking about doing something fun for my birthday this year since i'll be 30 but idk what and my mom is taking off work that day

i don't think i have much vacation time left after korea and she is not really a big city traveling person but all i can really think is i want to go to new york

[chloe-skywalker]

Really? - Kai Parker

Kai x Fem!reader (Eventually)

Warnings: none

Word count: 1,996

Summary: They call in Y/n to babysit Kai

Authors Note: I used the name Hope as a nickname. Also like shes hundreds of years old. Used Twitter in this because Kai had a twitter in the show. This is REALLY old my writing has improved SO much since I wrote this. I wrote for english class in highschool as a sophomore. The date on the paper that I turned it in on was 5/26/16. This was never typed and honestly I completely forgot about it. But I found the 9 page story in my closest. Hope you all enjoy it. This is probably one of the very first times I every wrote a piece of fanfiction. I never posted it on tumblr, I’m pretty sure. I did rewrite some parts cause like I said my writing has very much improved since this lol.

Masterlist

TVD Masterlist

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“Ok, I did not come back to Mystic Falls to babysit some sociopath that I don’t even know!” Y/n said standing in the doorway to the livingroom. Y/n had her left hand on her hip with it pushed out to the side, and her right hand flat out pointing towards Alaric and Jo sitting on the couch together. It had been awhile since she had been in the Salvatore boarding house. “This was your idea, wasn’t it?”

“Relax, Hope. It was mine and Stefans idea. We figured you're a Hybrid plus a witch. Also you're not easily persuaded. Your best option.” Damon said, pouring himself some bourbon.

“Ha,ha,ah, NO!” Y/n said with anger filled eyes. “I don’t want to babysit the newest town problem.”

Y/n turned on her heels towards the front door, once she got there when she started to open the door Stefan appeared right in front of her. He closed the door before slinging his arm around her shoulders, walking her back to where everyone else was.

“Please do this Hope, if not for me or Damon do it for Jo, Liv and Luke. Please.” Stefan pleaded.

Considering that Kai was trying to kill his siblings, the Salvatore brothers being allies with them and not Kai, makes it more understandable why they were keeping him in their cellar or as Y/n liked to call it a dungeon.

Even though Y/n didn’t plan on coming back to Mystic Falls from New Orleans to help in their latest crisis, she would. Her father, the original Hybrid, wouldn't like it. He couldn’t bare to lose her, not his hope. That was her nickname and it stuck. Everyone calls her Hope because of it.

“Fine.” Y/n gave in, although a bit annoyed.

Y/n didn’t have anything else to do and hey, maybe this sociopath wouldn’t be that bad. She had never been one to judge without knowing the person. Her father just because his mother was unfaithful to a werewolf was judged for her actions. Y/n found that unfair.

Damon opened his mouth to speak, bringing Y/n out of her thoughts. “Ok its settled then you watch the little weasel.”

Soon enough they all left to go do what they needed to do, so Y/n  headed down to the cellar and sat against the wall. Having been told to stay close to the cellar because Kai was tricky.

Y/n went on her phone and got on twitter, not long after her phone went off with a notification for the social media app. And apparently Kai had heard it.

“You should follow me on twitter, cobrakai1972.” He said from inside the dungeon cell.

Y/n thought about it for a moment and she didn’t see anything wrong with friending him on twitter. “Ok, that was corbakai1972. Right?”

Once she heard that Y/n heard him get up and suddenly his face was behind the bars on the door. Y/n lifted her head to look at him, he looked surprised. “Wait, are you serious?”

“Yeah, why not?” she shrugged.

Kai raised his eyebrows in shock. So he decided to explain who exactly he was. “Well, I assume they told you exactly why you're babysitting me. Right? I’m the new big bad in Mystic Falls. In the prison world I kidded BonBon, multiple times. I assume she’s your friend since you are obviously friends with Damon, Stefan, Alaric, and the rest of them. Probably friends with Jo, Live and Luke as well if you're willing to protect them. They trust you enough to watch me.”

Y/n didn’t miss the way he said his sister's name with disgust, he must really want to kill her like they said. Considering he look’s 22 and Jo looks 44, Y/n took it as in prison worlds you don’t age. Also he killed Bonnie in one so you can’t die either. Damn witches are assholes.

“Well for one thing they told me their side of the story of what happened. Second thing, me and Bonnie are not friends so whatever kill her I don’t care. And yes, they are my friends I guess you could say. Third thing, trust me now that is a kinda long story. They do trust me but that took a very long time, being the daughter of the original Hybrid Klaus Mikaelson whom they trust as far as they can throw. Trust wasn’t an easy thing to earn, Especially since I’m alot like my father. They have me babysitting you because I’m a Hybrid like him as well, and a witch.” Y/n smirked at him which made him smile widely.

“So I guess that means I can’t convince you to let me out?” He asked with a cheeky grin. Y/n shook her head ‘no’ and they both laughed.

Y/n realized she liked his laugh, she didn’t think he laughs often. After a while their laughter died down they started talking about everything and nothing all at the same time. They talked for hours and at some point they had both started leaning against the cellar door. Then the object of ‘pasts’ came up.

“Kai we don’t have to. We don’t have to talk about the past or family if you don’t want to. I get it’s a touchy subject.” Y/n told him sincerely.

Kai nodded even though she couldn’t see him. “You're right we don’t, but I want to know yours and I take it that if I don’t tell you anything then you won’t tell me anything. Am I correct?”

He was right, she wouldn’t tell him if he didn’t share his. “Yes, you're right.”

Kai nodded. “Fine. My family called me an abomination and they physically and mentally abused me with magic and, not because I’m a siphoner. I can’t and couldn’t fight back. Since I couldn’t generate my own magic. My parents didn’t want me to possibly rule the coven, so they kept having kids till another set of twins was born. When twins turn 22 in our coven they merge and the winner takes both powers and becomes the leader of the coven. The other dies. When me and Jo were supose to merge they said no, I went on a rampage. They decided to let us merge but it was all a set up to send me to the prison world. One of my very own, like hell.”

Y/n felt sad for him, his parents turned him into what he was today. They made him into the sociopath, from how they treated him. It wasn’t his fault he was born a siphoner. Called an abomination in his own home growing up by the people who should’ve loved him. It was so wrong in so many ways.

Y/n wanted to lighten the mood a bit. “Wow. That's some history. Am I supposed to top that?”

“There’s more things to me than just that but some things stay secret.” Kai winked, obviously teasing her.

Y/n bit her lip and rolled her eyes at his coolness.

“Okay! Your turn.” He said excitedly through the door.

Y/n laughed before thinking where to start. “Ok, ok lets see, before and after my birth my fathers parents have been trying to kill me. And they're dead now and still try. So my father sent me away for a while. When he brought me back to live with him and our family, his siblings in New Orleans. Its not the only time I've been sent away, my father has a lot of enemies. He sent for me back when he came here and undaggered his siblings. We even have a house here. We caught up and that's when I met everyone. Lots of saving, lots of killing. But I think everything that me and my dad have been through made our bond stronger. There's more to me but you know some things stay secrets.”

Y/n heard him laugh at her copying of his words from before.

“Well I think we are pretty much tied on the who’s worse considering my parents beat me and your dad's enemies and parents keep trying to kill you. I mean at least mine let me live.” Kai let out an amused breath.

“OK well this is getting depressing.” She sighed

“Agreed.” He said

Then suddenly Damon’s name lit up Y/n’s phone with a text.

[ Hey won’t be back for a couple more hours. Please keep watching him.]

Y/n scoffed, fully annoyed she’d already been here for 5 hours.

“What?” Kai asked, having heard her scoff and seen the annoyance on her face.

“Damon’s going to be even longer.” Y/n was officially pissed. Y/n thought for a moment and then a brilliant idea popped into her head. “You know if I have to watch you why does it have to be here?” She smirked michevously up at the breunette.

“What do you have in mind?” He questioned.

“If I have to watch you I’m not going to do it here.” Y/n stated.

“Wasn’t that the point?” Kai questioned.

“So?” She shrugged. “His text didn’t say it had to continue here.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s not what he meant but I won’t stop you.” Kai smirked at her idea, completely ready to be free from his cell.

Y/n didn’t need a key since she was hundreds of years old witch.

 “They're gonna be pissed when they find out.” He told her as he stepped out the doorway.

“They can’t and don’t know how to kill me. And my father plus Aunts and Uncles wouldn’t let them lay a finger on me.” She rolled her eyes.

So the two of them walked upstairs when Kai spoke up. “So you really want to hang out with me?”

“Of course.” she nodded but when she looked over at Kai he seemed relieved. “Did you think I would say no?”

He scratched the back of his head looking to the floor.

“Kai” Y/n looked at him and stepped in front of him reaching up to hold his face in her hands. “After everything we just talked about, and me letting you out, why would I not want to hangout with you?”

Y/n leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. Kai couldn’t believe he might’ve actually found a friend.

“You mentioned your name when we talked. How if they named you Mlachia then they must have expected you to be evil. When I look in your eyes I don’t see evil, I see a boy that doesn’t know what love is.” Y/n looked into his eyes. Kai saw no malice, no hatred. She cared about him.

“You don’t know me. Not really.” He shook his head not believing that she could care about him.

“I don’t. But I’d like to.” She smiled warmly at him. Y/n lifted her shoulders smiling looking into his eyes. “Who knows, maybe you can change. I’m not saying to stop killing, I’m just saying maybe not kill everyone. People might see you differently.”

Kai laughed at the last part, it was probably true. “No one’s gonna ever see me differently. No one will ever see me as redeemed.”

Kai looked down actually feeling sad about that. No one would ever give him a chance. He’d never be forgiven.

“Hey, you want to know why my dad and everyone calls me Hope?” Y/n asked, she was gonna tell him anyway but luckily he nodded so she continued. He didn’t just nod though he also raised an eyebrow and made a look that made Y/n laugh. “He calls me Hope, because I’m his hope. His hope to be better, his hope of redemption. Maybe I can be your hope to.”

Kai smiled nodding along. “Maybe.”

With that they officially left the Salvatore boarding house to go have some freedom and fun.

Taglist: @padawancat97

[monsterfucker-lisa-swallows]

so on thursday it was decided that i am in fact getting married so i can be an american autistic lesbian in a gay marriage with an english autistic lesbian (thus allowing me to move over there and actually start my life). lots of ideas have been thrown out for the ceremony itself because i will allow no churches (we might get married on a community theatre stage because that is the church i have worshiped in and hell why don't we just do this in new orleans so i have an excuse to go there) but that's not the point of this story that is a separate tangent

my friends decided to celebrate with me by taking me to the tennesee ren faire. we had to wake up early because we don't live in tennessee and would have to drive several hours. we'd bought our tickets a week in advance. we waited several hours in line only to be waved through and told there was no parking and even people who got to the front of the line were posting they weren't getting in because it was "4000 people over capacity"

so i was pissed off and disappointed and overstimulated. autism brain was not having a good time with any of the proposed solutions. it was extreme task switching. not a good.

i was feeling like i was gonna scream at some point or act bitchy or be interpreted as sulking or get frustrated which makes me cry. i knew a meltdown was coming and i did not want my friends to be stuck in an hours long car ride with me during a meltdown. i've purposely never let them see me when i get that bad.

so i took a small portion of an edible. not even half of it. a very small portion. it was a new brand that i haven't tried before and i was anticipating just a low dose of cbd to bring back my equilibrium. within a short time i was sitting in that car, increasingly becoming less and less aware of my surroundings and could not tell if i'd been there for minutes or hours on what became an impromptu trip to nashville. when we got out of the car to go into a restaurant, the name of which i cannot recall, i had to convince my body to work. i could not focus on reading the menu so i just ordered the same hot chicken sandwich my roommate did. i was given a drink cup. i did not fill it. i knew if i got up i would fall down. i ate to try to soak up some of the chemicals. ate an entire hot chicken sandwich and fries without a drink. barely was able to throw it the container away later.

we got in the car. an infinity later i forced myself out of the car and followed my roommate down a nashville street. i didn't know where we were or where we were going. but i followed. it was becoming hard to step across the street. we got to the steps of old smokey and i said i needed to sit. and i was down. not unconscious, just down. one of my roommates got the car while the other sat with me. we went to park somewhere. i threw up (my roommate luckily had barf bags she collects during hospital visits). i've never thrown up while high before but it was better than being drunk because it was only the once and i didn't remain nauseous. i had entered full autistic shutdown in the middle of nashville while trying to avoid an autistic meltdown.

i've had shutdowns before. never in public like that. meltdowns are almost preferable because i can still talk and can storm off as needed. when i shut down i'm just gone. my mind is rebooting to install updates. it normally happens with migraine, but when it doesn't it is a clear sign that i've made myself too stressed out. i was trying too hard to be flexible, so i broke.

i learned today that what happened was because i accidentally took delta 9 instead of the usual cbd i take. i've rarely taken delta 9 and never in so high a dose. i still don't fully blame the delta 9 because i think i was trying too hard to deny myself as a disabled woman and my body said fuck you and made me react anyway.

but the incredible thing is that no one was mad at me through that. if i didn't smile big enough on a trip as a kid, i would be yelled at for ruining it for everyone. but my roommates are autistic and one is also severely chronically ill. they've been there. so they just took care of me and are totally normal about it today. one of my roommates kept checking on me on the drive home, just insisting on any small sign of life. and i was happy to give it since i never lost consciousness. this signaled to my roommates that i was fine. if i'd needed a hospital i'd either say so or pass out. as chronically ill themselves, they knew better than to take me to a hospital when it is something i could just recover from.

i also learned today that everyone i was with had wanted to go home after the ren faire debacle because our autism brains were too upset about it but we were all holding on for everyone else. "well we're close to nashville, we might as well salvage the night" and no one was saying no because none of us wanted to be the unfun one. it's very clear that we're all autistic and chronically ill because we're used to minimizing our symptoms for fear of "ruining everyone's night" when all of us are fine to just go home. i was just the excuse to go back. one of my roommates had said before i went down she was wondering which one of us would break first. my money would've been on me and her tbh like we waited til the other two were out of the car before admitting to each other that we were pissed off and about to cry and rage quit. the two chronically ill girlies were always going to be the ones who fuck it up.

what's the moral of this story? that having disabled friends rocks because no one gets mad at you when you can't handle things? sure. that you should exercise caution when using delta 9 and never use it in public to avoid a meltdown because that will make the gods pull the plug in each of your mitochondria, draining you of all energy as you're climbing the steps of a distillery? yes, and you should know it literally felt as though that pit in my stomach had turned into a black hole and pulled me into it and now i cannot talk but at least my corset is keeping me upright just try not to puke on the nice skirt your roommate custom made for you using a $3 thrift store curtain. many morals to be found here

so no i did not see the aurora last night.

[undinegeist]

idk what this is, to be honest. I’ve had it written for a minute, got around to rereading and fixing today at random, thought it was decent enough to post. I suppose we can say it could be a series.

And now, a bit of background? This is (I guess) a made-up MCR tour in which Y/N is the guitarist for G Way’s (fictional) wife’s band.

- 1 - 2 -

a small but important disclaimer: I get why this storyline might suggest a connection to Lindsay but this is purely something that came out of my brain; I’m not here to comment on their relationship, and anything here that resonates with something in their real life is unintentional, even if this did start loosely based on Gerard Way’s life as it’s known publicly.

-xx- G -xx-

It starts with Lana and her band; I’m catching up to them in New Orleans.

They’re opening for us on the new tour; we left everything, our house, our kid, the relative sanity of staying in one place…I’m still not okay about it, but when she insisted we needed the money, I really couldn’t argue.

Lana wanted a new guitarist; after the mess with the last one, I’d hoped it’d be a girl. And it was.

They’d started the tour on their own; I’d had to stay home, looking for someone to babysit, eventually convincing my parents to come down and stay with Hayley, though Lana yelled at me for it, said it shouldn’t have been them, that we should have found someone else…I couldn’t tell her we couldn’t afford to.

The first time I saw Y/N was late one night when I slipped in to watch their show.

I’d been away so long, I hadn’t heard anything, hadn’t heard of the mess that had already been made, hadn’t realized anything was wrong.

She comes down from the stage sometime around the middle of the set, seething, hair all over her face, hiding her eyes, the only giveaway to her anger the way she flies off, down, almost tripping on the stairs.

I steady her, instinctively. “Are you okay?”

She’s still, for what feels like forever and no time at all, but then she’s gone without a sound, like she was never there, and I spend the rest of the set worrying about it.

-xx-

“Lan, what happened up there?” I know I shouldn’t ask her this the moment she’s coming off the stage, but I can’t stop thinking of that kid.

She sighs, rolls her eyes. “Nothing. Y/N’s just an annoying little bitch, can’t be normal to save her fucking life…”

“She’s just a kid. Don’t you remember what it was like?”

I’d wanted to run from the stage so many times; when I felt overwhelmed, when things went wrong, when the high took me down, made me feel like I was about to die, the lights so bright I could barely see, barely breathe…it was never easy.

“She’s not that deep, Gerard. She’s just trying to fuck with me because we had a fight last week. I should just fucking fire her…”

“Would you have liked me to fire you?” The words are out before I can think them through, sharper than I should be, inviting a fight; we’re still at the venue, why the fuck don’t I ever think?

Sometimes, I wish I’d fired her then; I try not to, hate that I still think that way, that everything is so hard even now, that I’m not better, even after all this time…that I’m probably never going to be better.

I do something I shouldn’t; turn and leave, realizing I don’t want to do this now, don’t have to do this now…knowing she can’t follow me, because she has to greet fans.

-xx-

I’ve already got my own room, separate from Lana’s, and that’s where I’m headed; blow off some steam before she gets back, to either torment me for the little scene back at the venue or drag me out to dinner…most likely, though? It’ll be both, and I’ll wish I hadn’t come…the rest of the guys are only joining us right before our first concert.

I see that girl then, still wearing the clothes from the show, lying on her back on a loveseat in the lobby, guitar on the floor, reading.

I know it’s a bad idea, but I turn and go her way, thinking I need to check on her, but also that I have no idea what happened tonight, and I should probably find out; Lana will never tell me now.

“Hey.”

She starts, sits up in a flash, dropping the book, but then recovers. “Hey.”

“Would you mind if I talked to you for a minute?”

She shakes her head, slides sideways to give me room; I pick up her book, look it over…a rockstar book.

I bite my lip on a smirk, thinking I get where her look comes from; I had that phase, where I wasn’t entirely sure what I was up to, so I borrowed and borrowed until it fit…to eventually become me.

“So…is this your favorite?”

She’s wary, but after a moment, she relaxes slightly. “One of. Why?”

“No reason, it’s just interesting. What else do you like?”

“Anything.”

“Really?”

“The more you know, the better.”

She straightens slightly, less on guard. “I’m sorry I didn’t…I’m sorry I ran away like that, earlier…I’m not all that good at being human.”

“I don’t think anyone really is. What happened, though?”

She sighs. “It’s kind of a long story.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Last week somewhere, Lana did something and I went off, we had a fight, and then tonight, it just…I felt like I shouldn’t be doing this. I shouldn’t have left in the middle of the set either, but sometimes I just can’t control myself…”

I bite my tongue on the admission that Lana can’t do that, either. “It happens.”

She laughs, too bitter for someone so young. “Yeah, but so what? I’m not supposed to let my feelings get in the way.”

“Feelings are always in the way.”

This makes her look back at me, silent now, and I’m thinking I hope she doesn’t go, when all hell breaks lose…Lana, coming at the two of us, still dressed as she’d been at the venue, no discretion, despite my always telling her to not draw attention to herself between shows…about to do even more of that.

“What the fuck are you doing here?!”

“Lan, calm down.” I hold her back, though we’re too close already, people are staring, why doesn’t she ever think of what this looks like?

“Don’t fucking tell me to calm down! This little bitch ruined my set, yet still has the gall to sit here talking to you…”

“I was sitting here talking to her…Lana, please, don’t do this.”

The last thing we need is a scandal a week before the tour.

“Don’t get in my way, Gerard! This isn’t any of your fucking business…”

I’m so distracted, she slips off me when Y/N goes for the elevators.

“Aren’t you going to apologize to me?”

They’re in each others’ faces, I might as well be invisible.

“For not playing along with your bullshit?”

“You’re a stupid little slut…you’re nothing.”

“At least that makes me not you.”

Lana doesn’t follow; everyone’s staring, some people with their phones out, filming every second…then Lana’s moving back to me, and I know she wants me on her side, but I can’t, won’t…not again.

I’ve done that too often, to my detriment, to hers too, because I give her too much.

“I don’t want her here, Gee. We need to…”

“We don’t need to anything. You said this wasn’t my problem, so it isn’t…deal with it yourself.”

“Where are you going?!”

“Nowhere.”

-xx-

[the-firebird69]

So what exactly did NCIS New Orleans come up with well they came up with a couple of theirs dying Brad jumped out a window with Paul Nunez and it seems to be a big mistake and it is they rated a place went in and grab things and apparently Paul Nunez is not Mark known as and Mark Nunez is not Trump now they're one of them are and the facility was not run by Trump that's what I feel and I'm getting confirmation and my wife is telling me so they went in and took this stuff and it's information on another group and Lady Gaga ends up dead and it looks like Trump or Tommy f kills her really that kind of intertwined and they're not fighting each other that hard over this particular information and when we think it would be the empire but we think it's the pseudo empire and Brad goes out of window

And Tommy f helicopter hits him and it's Trump is trying to hit Tommy f that's the relationship. But Brad answer without your body and he's swept around into different robots and into my grandpa finally it's in there for a while they say he finds a phone of his and he goes from clone to clone eventually dies and he's dying the whole time. The guys in Olympus store in France nuana Ariana Thor and Freya agreed to light it up in many of us individually stood up including myself and Hera these people are murderous swine and have accidents they need to have accidents this is the beginning of a series of deaths and they're permanent of all of you guys Jason got a big eye full this morning and my wife says that he says we're doomed and it's just dumb s*** about us and we need it out so they're trying to conspire to do it it's not really working you're going to pass the ships between them Tonya will take a ton of them then he will fight the morlock over Venus and they both will lose of this is coming up pretty quick and their end is coming up pretty quick I don't feel like they'll have an East-West game I think it's going to be far East West game shortly with the canal opening

Zues

I said a lot of the above with him and he's right it is Trump and Tommy f fighting over information about the pseudo empire and the table was full of it and they looked at it and went back in and grabbed it all from Tommy and from Trump and Brad is now under duress as this Lady Gaga and bja is involved but really they turned it off really for being involved and you want the data and yeah argument just bigger and they can do something and she's been taking prisoner there is a Halloween movie that starts off that way and it's the one they all say is very sucky and doesn't have much Michael Myers in it and it leads into the rest of the series Jason Voorhees will awaken and it's going to be in space no but it is going to start up again and it's going to be hell and you guys are going to pay but you will see what the clones are up to and Trump is a pushover he's just a human shield this is going to be over soon for you guys and thank God we can barely survive you idiots

Hera

Two people don't even know you're poisoned you're running around high in the hog after poisoning yourselves almost to death it's not impressive you look really stupid we need you out of our hair

Thor Freya

Olympus

[maryhadalittlehobby]

IWTV Liveblog S2E8 " And that's the end of it. There's nothing left"

What is the other city in the opening? Nola?[checks YES]

The irony of Louis being buried alive in Paris like what Grace did in New Orleans but literally now

Get his ass Daniel. Don't left him forget we know he is a liar who lies

Daniel asking Louis if the rocks are still there in his ankles-We leave the damage so we don't forget the damage.

Oh how the mighty have fallen-Armand is now the lowest in the coven. He says it was a consequence of him staving Louis

God the music is beautiful and I could listen to it and Louis talk for hours

Louis says does anyone ever ask Lazerus if he wanted to be woken? I am not sure what the refers to-the bible? but i get the gist and it goes back to what I was so annoyed with in episode 5. Louis went into the sun and did not want to be saved. Here he is saying the same thing. Claudia is dead, he feels like he has nothing to live for and here Armand is again doing this shit for self serving purposes.

I was dead but my rage had risen! yesssss. KILL THEM ALL

Rage and Madness-a terrible combo

MEOW. He's lost it fr

Lowkey I loved the dead guy talking to Louis. It gave horror zombie vibes especially cause they are in a cemetery. I'm gonna need to borrow your truck lol so considerate

"I ain't fuckin worried about you!"- and that's the sad part of this Loumand story. It was never really about him. Also fuck Armand (lovingly)

He roasts Hans costume in his mad ravings lol

"If I am not with him I am nothing. "Girl stand up, you have known him for what 2 years?!

Light em up! (fall out boy gif)

Yeesss walk away from the fire without looking at it!You are too cool babes.

People are calling Louis Gay Blade and I can't. I just might have to cosplay it! I have the trench and a machete at the ready!

Estelle is hilarious. The London coven killed them because they started speaking English?! Girl. I could watch more of these two

Hello Francis! Get his ass Louis!

Why would Armand leave the evidence in the sewers?! Come on he was begging to get caught

"Hard to hold hands after he killed my sister and my fledgling" Not that had apparently after 49 yrs but again that goes back to him punishing himself

"Don't let him take credit for the workman role he played" This quick line shows Santiago was the real mastermind

Come to me Francis

I'm not sure I believe Santigo. I think he is saying all of that to rile Louis up. Armand might not have cared about Claudia but I can't imagine he would let them desecrate her ashes like that. At least i hope god.

My man said I got big balls

Louis deadly with those words. Francis never stood a chance.

Say that shit about Claudia to my face. Louis has never been hotter but he should have lit him on fire too

"All my rage and madness exited my body and nothing replaced it."Even now

My first thought when Armand said he made a choice was that he chose himself then I revised it that he chose him and Louis bc that felt like the only thinking that would make sense as to why they are still together but I WAS RIGHT. The gremlin chose himself!

I was hoping this Lestat scene was him chained up somewhere by the coven but its Magnus's tower. I thought it would be bigger(thats what she said gif)

I don't know why it went over my head watching it. I guess Louis and Armand's presence together threw me off(ahem) or else I would have expected the canon book even ts. I was looking forward to it even.

I still hope we revisit the trial or even get exposition as to why he came, why he participated and why he stayed after bc its not clear to me

Ok he answered why he stayed- To contemplate his behavior and origins in the place he was made.

I've come to kill you" Was Louis being deadass? Would he have tried

"I have to be willing and I'm not in the mood" Lestat is sooo annoying lol This is serious business

LOUIS! whatever pale proxy of me!! is wild. That'll do it(wasted gif)

Lestat's face! He can barely keep it together

"He loved you I can say that now." Cause you know the end is near that Daniel about to drop a bomb

I really can't believe the Vampire Sm has become so important lol. We were laughing. He's a whole Talamasca agent and we're laughing

uh oh that fucking piano note. Its on par with the MCR 'g' note now

Woooow Armand fdidn't save Louis just went along with the lie that he did

For all intents and purpuses Louis held his anger pretty well. I thought it would have brought down all of Dubai penthouse

I like the change that they made that Louis isn't a weak vampite. It would make sense that he can toss around Arman(especially if he isn't gonna fight back) because if Lestat has Akashas blood then so does Louis. They even say in the episode to remind us. My blood us your blood

Why set the laptop on fire?He doesn't want the book to come out now?

Louis coming home.My heart . And damn if home dont look good on him. he don't good in that ballcap

Is this the same night? Why is Louis in different clothes? And you couldn't have told me this wasn't an 80's 90's flashback with the cut of his clothes

Lestats and emotional support plank of wood

Can't lie I was hoping for the have you come back to me

this is a lot of exposition

Loustat hugging like they are finally home. fuck me up

Loustat a storm in a storm

Daniel id a vamp!!

Louis said come at me bro!I own the night!

[gotham-ruaidh]

Little Bit Better Than I Used To Be

Catch up: Chapter 1 (Starry Eyes) || Chapter 2 (Save Our Souls) || Chapter 3 (Dancing On Glass)|| Chapter 4 (Merry-Go-Round)|| Backstage (1) || Backstage (2) || Chapter 5 (Danger)|| Backstage (3) || Chapter 6A (Love Walked In) || Chapter 6B (Without You) || Backstage (4) || Chapter 7 (Stick To Your Guns) || Chapter 8 (Time For Change) || Backstage (5) || Chapter 9 (Take Me To The Top) || Backstage (6) || Chapter 10 (Home Sweet Home) || Backstage (7) || Chapter 11a (Nightrain) || Chapter 11b (Nothing Else Matters) Chapter 12a (Handle With Care) ||| Also posted at AO3

Chapter 12B: I’m So Tired of Being Lonely

I'm so tired of being lonely // I still have some love to give Won't you show me that you really care?

Soundtrack: “Handle With Care,” Traveling Wilburys, 1988 [click here to listen]

“Here – these were still on the table.”

Faith smiled gratefully, elbow-deep in water at the kitchen sink. “Thank you, Claire – but really, you don’t have to help out. You’re our guest.”

“Nonsense. It’s the least I can do.” She picked up a towel and started drying the dinner dishes. “Does Alec do most of the cooking?”

“He does. I did, for a long time. Especially when the kids were little. But he’s really gotten interested in it over the past few years. So now we split the cooking, more or less.”

“Does it help with his sobriety?”

“I remember something Dougal once told us. He said that an addict is always an addict. And once an addict gives up their intense focus on scoring drugs, they need to channel that focus into something else. Something more constructive.”

“I get that. Jamie has his music. That was so, so helpful for him when we were at The Ridge.”

“He told Alec last night that he’s got an album’s worth of material.”

Claire nodded. “He wants to tour in the spring. Acoustically. That’s how he wrote the songs – so that’s how he wants to perform them. Get the band together and show everyone a different side of Print.”

“And did he ask you to tour with him?”

“Yeah.”

“You don’t sound too enthused about that.”

Claire shrugged, stacking the now-dry dishes on the counter. “He told me that he’s fine when he’s at home. It was on the road where he started to get fucked up.”

Faith nodded. “Alec was always into something or other. He was using, even when I met him. I didn’t think anything of it – all the musicians I saw were into one drug or another. But it didn’t start to get to be a problem until their first big tour in ’66.”

“Did you tour with him?”

“Whenever I could. Our kids were so little. I wanted our family to be together, but it was so hard to travel with them and sleep on buses and figure out what to do for childcare when the gig always started way past their bedtime.” Faith turned off the sink and watched the water slowly drain. “So I started staying home. And that’s when it got really, really bad.”

“How bad, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Faith sighed. “I remember it so clearly. I’d just dropped the kids off at school, and I heard the phone ringing when I came home. It was Tom – do you know Tom?”

“Tom Christie? Jamie told me he’s a fixer. Whatever that means.”

“Well. Back in the day, Tom was Uprising’s road manager. He told me he’d found Alec in his hotel room, ice cold, with a needle sticking out of his arm.”

“Oh my God,” Claire gasped.

“He was alive, but just barely. They were in New Orleans. I called my sister to pick up the kids from school, and Tom got me a plane ticket to come down that morning. I held Alec’s hand in the hospital for three days until he woke up. Thought I’d divorce him if he didn’t die. But then he woke up.” She closed her eyes. “I’ll never forget what he said. ‘I’m sorry. I fucked up. You can leave me, and I get it. But I swear on our children that I’m gonna get better for you, Faith.’”

Alec and Jamie’s laughter drifted into the kitchen from the living room across the house.

“He went cold turkey. It was the most awful three weeks of our lives. But he’s kept his promise.”

Faith opened her eyes and turned to Claire. “I don’t know you, honey, but I do know Jamie. He’ll never do that to you. He had to hit bottom in order to come up and find you.”

Claire licked her lips, stunned. “I – ”

“Trust me when I say that another one like him won’t come along. He wrote a whole album for you, Claire. You’re it. I know it probably scares the shit out of you – what would a guy like him see in a plain Jane woman like you? But believe me – you’re exactly what he needs.”

Claire’s heart thundered.

Jamie’s arms wrapped around her middle, drawing her against him for a kiss. “There you are. Come on – Alec says it’s time for dessert.”

Claire pivoted a bit to look up at Jamie. Gently cradled his jaw in one hand. Kissed the corner of his mouth.

Faith smiled at her over Jamie’s shoulder, Alec’s arm wound around her tightly.

--

“I think this used to be their daughter’s room.”

Jamie opened the closet door, keeping busy as Claire unzipped her overnight bag and took her toiletries into the ensuite bathroom.

“Have you ever met her?”

“Yes, a few months ago. Before The Ridge. My record company threw a party in LA and Alec brought her as his date. I was already half shitfaced but at least I remember being nice to her.”

He closed the closet door and stepped over to the other side of the bedroom, watching Claire wash her face.

“They are such a wonderful couple.”

“Yeah. Alec – he’s such a good sounding board. He got clean before it was even a thing. There were so few places like The Ridge back in the early 70s. Betty Ford, of course, but mostly for alcohol detox. Not a lot for the hard stuff. Faith and the kids have kept him on the straight and narrow. And he’s a much better man for it.” He paused. “I want what they have, Claire. Do you understand now?”

She set down her washcloth and turned to face him, leaning against the sink. Listening.

Jamie swallowed. “I want to share a home like this with you. A house that we can fix up, and call our own. I want you to have you own career, and for me to support you in what you do. And I want to have a houseful of kids. I want to share my life with you, in every way.”

She walked toward him, and hooked her thumbs in the belt loops of his jeans. “Are you proposing?”

“That’s what I want, Claire. But I need to know that it’s what you want, too.”

His eyes burned into hers. Outside, the wind whipped something against the window – tree limbs, or the branches of a rosebush.

“I can think of a thousand reasons why not. But none of them seem to matter.”

“We don’t have to rush it, Claire. You can come with me on tour this spring. We’ll just be playing clubs and theaters – no arenas. Not the full production – we’ll warm up to that. I want you to see me on the road. I want you to know what you’re getting into. But I want to share that with you, Claire.”

“Are you sure, Jamie? You sure you want to spend all that time with me? For all you know, I could be a horrible travel companion.”

He smiled. “Do you know what? I don’t think I care.”

She leaned up for a kiss.

“I’ll do it. The tour, I mean. And for the other stuff…”

He kissed her again. “We can talk about that more.”

She nodded. “I’m all in. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Good. I need to show you something.”

He stepped back a bit, and began unbuttoning his shirt.

Her eyebrows raised. “I thought we said we’d keep it PG-rated until further notice.”

“We are. I just – you need to see this. If you have any questions about how I feel.”

Now unbuttoned to the waist, Jamie pulled back the left flap of the shirt.

There, directly over his heart, was Claire.

He hissed as her thumb explored the tattoo.

“Got it as soon as I landed in LA from North Carolina. Friend of mine, who did most of the work on my arms.”

She bit her lip. “I don’t know what to say.”

His heart hammered beneath her thumb.

“We still have so much to learn about each other, Jamie.”

He reached out to tilt her chin, eyes meeting hers.

“I hope to have the rest of my life to learn about you, Claire.”

She parted her lips, and he dove in for another kiss.

“Starting tomorrow,” she breathed.

He nodded. “I want that.”

“Me too. Speaking to Faith – I can see how it’s hard for her sometimes. But the good always outweighs the bad. And I want that, too. I want what she has with Alec. I want that with you.”

He kissed her again. Again. Again.

Finally she pulled away, and rested her forehead against his.

“Can you hold me as I fall asleep?”

“Are you comfortable with that?”

She nodded. “I want to wake up next to you. The other stuff…it can wait. But I don’t want to wait to feel so close to you.”

He granted her wish that night. The next night, too – after a fun-filled day with Alec and Faith. And the night after that, when they stayed up very late, talking about their future, holding each other close.

At their very small wedding six months later, Alec gave a particularly rousing sparking grape juice toast. And Faith took the candid photo of Jamie and Claire that sat proudly, framed, on Claire’s bedside table for many, many years.

[sunmoonandeddie]

feelings are fatal (18/24)

pairing: bucky barnes x reader, past steve rogers x reader

word count: 3,655

summary: After the events of Endgame, you struggle to come to terms with what you’ve lost, though you’re learning that you still have something to gain.

chapter warnings: swearing, violence, being stood up

masterlist

a/n: This is part two of my blog birthday surprise!

Bucky’s face was set in a fierce scowl as he stormed into the new Compound, fighting every urge he had to punch a hole into the wall with his vibranium fist.

Actually, no. He’d use his flesh one. Just to prove he fucking could.

And just because he needed to get out some anger.

Except, he didn’t think it would diminish the fury he felt.

Because yeah, he was fucking pissed. He was pissed at himself, he was pissed at you for listening to him (which just came back to being pissed at himself), and he was pissed at every fucking bad guy that had dared to ever cross his path.

“Bucky? Buck!” Sam called out when he saw him enter. He’d been on a run and his phone had been off, so he had no idea about what had happened. “Buck, man, what���s going on?” He asked as he wiped the sweat from his brow, running after him.

“They got her,” Bucky said, his voice a low growl.

The way that Sam’s heart sank inside of his chest was written across his face. “No. No. Fuck.” He fell into stride with Bucky immediately. “Tell me what happened. Every detail.”

Everything in Bucky’s head was going haywire. All his therapy appointments, everything Dr. Raynor had ever told him disappeared.

Because all that mattered was getting you back, and he didn’t care who the fuck he had to hurt to do it.

So he did his best to lay out everything just as it had happened, though he didn’t go into… full detail about your little attempt to hide in some random van. His protectiveness reared his head at the thought of spilling the details of what you two had done in private.

A gentleman never kisses and tells, after all.

Especially not if he wanted to kiss and kiss again.

And, oh, did he wanna kiss again.

But he wouldn’t get to unless he got you back.

“Okay, first things first, we need to call the whole team in,” Sam said, already calling out to FRIDAY to alert everyone.

“I can’t think. I can’t think. I CAN’T THINK!” Bucky screamed, his face red as his flesh fist hit a glass window that looked out onto the gym. He barely even recognized that it had shattered, or that there were now agents looking at him like he was crazy.

“UNCLE BUCKY!”

Freezing in his tracks, his heart stopped when he saw Morgan running towards him, holding her stuffed Iron Man plush. “H-Hey… Hey, Morgan,” he said as he crouched down, catching the littlest Stark in his arms. “Did you guys all make it home safe?”

The little girl’s hands fisted in his shirt as she held onto him. “Yeah, but mama said all my friends and everyone is gonna stay the night here,” she mumbled into his shoulder.

Bucky knew what that meant. Pepper thought it was too dangerous for them to go home.

“Uncle Bucky, where’s Auntie?” Morgan asked after a moment, pulling back to look at him with those eyes that were just like her father’s.

“She is… She’s…” Bucky broke off, not sure how to tell her. How could he tell her that he’d failed her? He hadn’t kept you safe. “We’re going to get her back, okay? And she’s gonna be safe and sound.”

She nodded, her lower lip wobbling. “C-Can you give this to her when you find her?” She asked, her voice barely audible as she held out the Iron Man plush. “S-She didn’t have it with her when she went missing…”

“You know what, Mo? You’re so very right,” he said as he squeezed her close. Kissing her forehead, he fought back a wave of tears. “And I bet she’d really appreciate soft pillows in her room and maybe some homemade cookies when she gets back. Do you think you and your friends would be willing to make some cookies?”

The little girl needed something to focus on for the time being, and it was the least he could do. If she didn’t have something… Well. He really didn’t think she’d be able to handle losing you so soon after losing both Natasha and her father.

Though he didn’t think any of them would survive it if you were hurt beyond repair.

As soon as she was gone, the pissed off look came back over his face.

“Bucky?” Wanda breathed out as she entered, holding Vision’s hand. “What happened?”

“She was taken from the Coney Island aquarium,” Sam said, already having booted up all the tech that could possibly help them find you.

The witch looked horrified, her eyes focused on the super soldier. Like she was reading his mind, seeing the memories and what he’d gone through just earlier that day. Felt the anguish that he’d felt when he’d realized she wasn’t at their meeting spot. “Well… Guess that means we’re just gonna have to get her back.”

The doors suddenly opened, and everyone turned to see Steve Rogers storming in, Peggy following close behind.

“Where the hell is she?” The elderly man demanded, looking livid.

“We came as soon as Pepper called,” Peggy said, unable to keep up with the aging super soldier.

A frown covered Sam’s face as he glanced at Bucky. “Did you know Pepper called them?”

He shook his head, his fists clenching. He didn’t know where this was going, but he didn’t like it. At all.

Sure enough, Steve was still barreling straight for him. “What the fuck did you do?!” He shouted as he shoved at his former best friend. “Huh?! Where is she?! How the fuck could you lose her?!”

That… That shame, that self-loathing, was rising higher and higher in Bucky’s chest. Even as Steve was shoving and spitting at him in his anger—still incredibly strong even for his age—he didn’t fight back.

Because he was right. He’d lost you. It was his fault.

“HEY! HEY!” Sam shouted as he got between them and pushed back at Steve, making him stumble back away from him. “What the fuck is wrong with you?! How fucking dare you. You don’t get to fucking yell at him like that.” He was staring him down, unwavering.

And Bucky had realized it before, but it was hitting him all over again just how much he loved Sam, and just how much Sam loved him. They might not say it much, but they were best friends.

Sam believed in him, trusted him, even when Bucky couldn’t trust himself.

Even when Bucky was possibly at fault for losing you.

Steve looked shocked, blue eyes wide and mouth hanging open. Peggy had gone silent beside him.

“You don’t get to say shit when she almost died because of you. How many times did you send her out on her own when we were on the run without telling anyone else?” Sam bit out, half turned towards Steve and half turned towards Bucky. “Did you ever tell him about the other times? After we dropped Bucky off in Wakanda so he could get Hydra’s programming out of his head?”

Tensing up, Bucky’s eyes flickered between the two. “What do you mean? What other times?” He took a step towards Steve. “It was just the grocery run time, right? And you… you told me it wouldn’t happen again. You just weren’t thinking.”

Everyone except for Sam was looking at Steve in alarm, in horror. They knew that he’d neglected you for his Captain America duties, but sending you into dangerous situations on your own more than once?

“You said you wouldn’t say anything,” Steve said, his tone even as he glanced down at the ground and then back up.

“No, I told her that I wouldn’t say anything because she begged Natasha and me not to. Because she loved you enough to wanna protect you, to hide the shitty way you treated her. Because she knew how your friendship with Bucky would suffer if he knew what you did,” Sam shot back. “But you know what? You don’t deserve protecting anymore.” Running his hands over his head, his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. His deep, earthy brown eyes were glassy as he stared at the man that he’d followed into the line of fire, the man that he’d become a criminal for. “And just because we’ve forgiven you for abandoning us, for abandoning her, doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten. You better check yourself before you ever come at any one of us again like that again.”

Bucky knew how much Sam considered you a part of his family, having taken you to visit his own family in New Orleans. And Steve should’ve remembered that Sam defended the people he loved tooth and nail.

Sometimes he just forgot that he was included on that list.

He pulled the man away from the group of people and into a random tech room, swallowing around the lump in his throat. “You didn’t have to do that,” he said, voice trembling. “I… Thank you. For defending me.”

“Hey, man,” Sam said quietly as he seemed to peer right into his soul. “I know we had a rough start, but you’re my best friend. And shit, you’ve done the same for me before…” He eyed him for a moment, leaning back against a desk. “We’re gonna find her, you know. There’s nowhere we won’t look, no stone that won’t get unturned.”

Bucky sniffed as he suddenly felt a wave of despair come over him. “What if we never do? What if… What if I’ve lost her forever?” The centurion let out a broken sob as he fell to his knees, the pain taking over his body. “Oh, God… Oh, God… S-Sammy, I can’t lose her again. I can’t do it, I won’t survive.”

The handsome man immediately crouched in front of him, grabbing his face. “Hey! Hey!” He said sternly, getting him to look into his eyes. “You can’t keep doing this. You can’t keep blaming yourself, and yeah, I know that’s all that’s been going through your head because you always blame yourself.” Sam took in a deep breath, intentionally sucking Bucky into their usual panic exercise where they worked to match their breathing. “So, what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna take a few minutes to calm down, okay? And then, once we’ve gathered ourselves, we’re gonna figure out where our girl is and we’re gonna kick any asses that even try to get in the way of us bringing her home.”

“Tonight was… Tonight was fun,” you said softly as you stepped into the cold, dark lobby of the Avengers Tower. The flower stall was shut down, as well as the coffee shop. The night guard stationed to your right gave a small nod of acknowledgement as you two headed for the elevator.

It was late. Really late.

But it had been a really good eleventh date, and you hadn’t wanted to go home, and neither had Steve, and so you two had gone from dinner and a movie to a late night stroll through Central Park. For your first date in public, it had gone… really well.

Of course, you could’ve done without the constantly being stopped by random people so they could get a selfie or an autograph from Captain America.

That was the price you paid, though. And considering how well the date went, you supposed you couldn't complain.

Though, you didn’t blame them. Steve was… beautiful. More than beautiful.

Sometimes you could ignore the aching in your heart that you felt for someone else when you were looking into his eyes.

“It was,” Steve chuckled as his right hand touched yours where it rested on the inside of his left elbow. He hit the top floor that the main elevator would take you to, the one that only the team had clearance to get to without getting special permission.

The elevator music filled the silence as you tentatively leaned your head against his shoulder.

“Maybe we could… have a drink?” He suggested faintly in your ear, taking in the scent of your shampoo.

Playfully gasping, your free hand moved to rest on his broad chest as you looked at him. “Mr. Rogers, are you attempting to give a nineteen-year-old alcohol?” You asked like a properly scandalized southern belle.

Steve groaned dramatically, leaning his head against yours in a show of affection you hadn’t exactly been expecting. “Doll, are you teasing me?” He asked, sounding a little breathless. “Because I just… still don’t want this date to end…”

You two had come a very, very long way from yelling and insulting each other on that fateful mission just a few weeks ago.

It amazed you just how many dates you’d been on in a little under a month. But Steve had asked you to go on a date when you’d gotten back to the Tower from your mission, and then proceeded to have that date thirty minutes later in the form of turning on a movie and laying out a picnic blanket with a bunch of pillows and food.

It had been sweet, especially when he’d propped you up against the pillows and carefully massaged your hurt ankle, going from your yellow painted toes up to your calf. His strong hands worked your muscles, undoing knots you didn’t even know you had. You two had fallen asleep there together, and you’d woken up together, his arms around you and your head on his chest.

And he’d asked you to go on another date with him, which had happened two days later.

It had been a series of dates happening every other night if not every night sometimes, a whirlwind courtship.

And you wouldn’t change it for the world.

Well. Actually…

No. You weren’t in the Red Room anymore, and the Soldat had never truly been yours.

The Soldat most likely just felt sorry for you, another little girl in a line of little girls trying their best to not be executed before they turned eighteen.

You were here now, at the Avengers Tower, with Steve Rogers nosing at your hair and holding you close enough that you could smell his aftershave.

And he wanted to have a drink with you.

This was someone you could have, someone you could love. Hell, you’d be lying if you tried to say you weren’t already falling for him. But not only were you falling for him, but he could fall for you and truly be with you.

Something you’d never gotten with the Soldat.

Granted, part of that was probably (definitely) your age. But your point still stood strong.

The strong, calloused hand on your hip tightened as you nodded, turning your head to press your nose against his cheek. “I’d really like that… A drink… and for this date to not end…” Your hand on his chest drifted down just a little, teasing his abdomen. “Maybe we could put on a movie… or some of those jazz albums you have…”

The chuckle that tickled your ear was dark and breathy, and you felt a kiss against your temples. “That sounds perfect.”

As soon as the elevator doors opened, he whisked you towards the second elevator that took you up to the third floor up. Thankfully, no one on the team was around to see you two rushing through the common area. Your heels clicked against the tiled floors as he led you to the end, where his door awaited the two of you.

You’d been to his room before, though sometimes you forgot just how big it was.

Definitely bigger than yours.

“How come your room is so much bigger than mine?” You whined as he let go of you to throw a record on his little turntable before sauntering over to the mini bar he kept. “And you can’t even get drunk on normal liquor.”

“I mean… I usually just have Asgardian mead stocked up…,” he admitted sheepishly as he reached into the mini fridge to grab a bottle of mead and a bottle of vodka. “But I… I got some stuff for if you… if you ever stayed over… or just… hung out here.”

It’s sweet. Really sweet.

“Thank you,” you said softly as you sat on the bed, running your hands over the soft comforter. “I’ve never drank before… So you’ll have to make something you think I’ll like. Because I… I have no idea what… drinks…” You were rambling. And you were extremely aware that you were rambling.

And you were pretty sure that he was aware that you were rambling based on the smile that was spreading across his face.

He came back over with a lowball glass, holding it out as he kneeled in front of you. “Here we go… Vodka with cranberry juice and a little bit of Red Bull. I know it sounds weird, but it actually tastes pretty solid.” Steve carefully slipped off both of your heels as you took the drink and sipped it, watching your expression closely. “What do you think?”

“Delicious.” You couldn’t help but giggle, feeling a little like Cinderella. “Thank you…”

There was a heat in his eyes that you’d glimpsed before in passing, but now… The way he was looking at you made you feel hot and a little sweaty. “Doll…”

“Steve,” you breathed out, heart pounding. Soft jazz was floating through the air as he tentatively took the drink from your hands and set it to the side. “Please…”

The super soldier slowly pressed his lips to yours, guiding you onto the bed. “Is… Is this okay?” He asked, cupping your face before kissing you again.

“I… I’ve never… you know,” you said, letting out a weak laugh. You hadn’t wanted to admit you were a virgin, but well…

Baby blues softened as he sat up, pulling you with him so you were sitting chest to chest. “Do you want to? I’ll be gentle… I’ll make it good for you.”

“I do… and I know.” You couldn’t help but smile as you leaned in and kissed him, falling back onto the sheets.

An hour and a half later, you curled up against him, perfectly sated and ready to fall asleep right then.

“How do you feel?” Steve’s fingers ran soothingly up and down your spine, sending tickles along your skin.

“Sore… But in a good way.”

There was a permanent grin etched on his lips as he stole another sweet kiss, holding you close. “I meant to ask you this before we got back here… but I got nervous…” You could feel his heart rate increasing under your cheek. “I… Would you… Would you wanna be my girlfriend?”

“Yeah,” you said with a laugh on your lips as you rolled over to lie on top of his chest, smiling against his lips. “Yeah, I’d love that…”

You stared up at the woman in front of you, your heart sinking. “Madame B… I… I thought you…”

“What? You thought I died?” She asked with a laugh, shaking her head. Stepping further into the cell, she took a moment to look you over, to really take you in. “You’ve gotten fat, malen’kaya.”

“Don’t call me that.”

A familiar smirk painted her face. “You’ve gotten braver since you’ve been gone… How long has it been again? A decade or so?” Madame B moved to crouch down in front of you, grabbing your chin roughly in her hand and squeezing. “I got to see you on the news… Fucking Captain America, huh? Thought you had that locked down… Though, I’m not sure how your precious Soldat feels about it…” The demon picked up immediately on the way your body tensed, and you scooted back until you were pressed against the cool concrete of the wall. “You think we didn’t know? We’ve had eyes on you ever since you… escaped. Natalia, too. You were never too far out of our grasp…” Her thin, bony fingers ran down your cheek, before sharply slapping you. “Are you really so stupid that you thought you could escape us? I raised you better than that.”

A wave of indignation rolled over you, and you straightened yourself up. “You didn’t raise me. If anyone raised me, Natalia did. You’re… You’re a…” Everything you had suppressed while you were in the Red Room was coming back, building like a tsunami. Unable to find the words, you spit in her face, your chest heaving as you watched the way she flinched back in disgust.

Madame B suddenly slammed your head back against the concrete wall, causing stars to bloom in your vision. You could barely focus as she reached into her pocket and flicked open a knife. One of the ones you used to practice with in the Red Room. “You’re going to regret that,” she hissed, her hand wrapping around your throat and squeezing hard. Your hands clawed at her, trying to get her off of you, but it was like you had no strength at all, still weakened by whatever they’d injected into your neck. “I can’t kill you… We’ve gotta wait until your Soldat comes to rescue you for that… But that doesn’t mean I can’t make you cry a little.”

Your voice went out as she brought the knife to your face and slowly ran it along your cheek, slicing open your soft skin. The white hot pain felt like it would overpower you.

But all you could think about was the fact that Bucky would be coming to rescue you at some point or another, and he’d be walking right into a trap. They’d drag him right back to that chair they used to torture him, to wipe his identity away. They’d turn him back into the weapon he’d worked so hard to not be anymore.

And for the first time, all you could hope for was that he never found you.

[missblissy]

Glad you're back!! Miss you! I see about your post, can I have some modern AU maybe of Human! Alastor x reader going to an aquarium? Maybe a cute date? Haha thx amazing to have you again

(( QwQ/ It's good to be back! And I would be honored to do that. I had a lot of fun with this. I hope you enjoy!!))

It was hinted with salt filling the air. Misty and warm, the summer sea winds rolled off the coast and into your hair. The Long Island sound was picture perfect, just as you remember in your childhood dreams. You were staying in a quaint little town your familly use to visiting summer after summer when you were a child. And it was the perfect place for you to bring yourself on a long over due vacation. Work had been too much to handle this past year, and now you could spend the next week relaxing on the soft sandy coastal beaches of Long Island. 

However today you had plans to take the ferry across the sound to the aquarium. Sure... you were going by yourself but... So what. You didn’t particularly have many friends, nor a partner in your life. But so what? You were an introvert natrually and a social gathering over five people where never your thing. 

You had just made it to the ferry docks. As always, you were fifteen minutes early. You couldn’t bear to be late, especially since you considered “on-time” to be late. You were sitting on a public bench facing the sound. Dozens of other people have started to gather around the same place as you. You were just about to take one of your favorite books out of our bag when someone approached you.

“Do you mind if I sit?” You saw a man standing before you. He had a pleasant smile. A soft one that just barely met his eyes. You took one second too long to peer at him.

“Uh-...” You tore your gaze from his soft brown hair and to his polished shoes. They were out of style yet he somehow managed to pull it off, “Yea-.. I mean no...! Help yourself.” You tried to return his smile but you were far more awkward about it. This man had some strange sense of fashion. He looked oddly in place, however, he seemed like he was trying to live in a time long since past. 

“Are you waiting for the ferry too?” He asked, making simple conversation to fill the void of silence. 

You glanced at him quickly a second time and made a nervous little laugh. His dark complexion matched his brown eyes hidden behind perfectly circular glasses, “Oh... yes.” You remember you had your ticket in your hand, “It shouldn't be much longer until it arrives,” 

The stranger nodded his head slowly, “Have you ever been on a ferry before?” You nodded your head to his question, “Ah, first time for me. They don’t have ferries where I’m from.” He said with a cool expression.

He seemed chatty for a stranger. Most of the time when strangers tried talking to you, you’d brush them off. But this man was lucky that you thought he was rather... stunning in the looks department. That, and he seemed rather harmless as of right now. So you indulged in his conversation, “Where are you from?” You asked. 

The man paused only slightly then turned himself to face you. He held out his left hand for you to take. You were hesitant but you still reached out, “Alastor,” He said, “I’m from New Orleans. I’m guessing you’re a local?” You wouldn’t have ever guessed that, he didn’t have any kind of southern twang or drawl to his tone.

You shooked his hand but you couldn’t stop yourself from laughing a little at his question, “No, no,” You waved your hand a little, “Uh- aha... I’m (Y/N). And I’m not from here, but my family and I use to come here all the time for summer vacations.”

“Well, it’s certainly a lovely place to visit. I’m here for business though so I can’t say I’ve gotten the real experience of it all yet. Today was my day off, however, and I thought I’d go see this aquarium one of my friends keeps telling me to go to. She’s rather annoying about it, truly, spoiled even and quite the nagging little thing. But she is my friend after all and I’d rather not deal with the consequences of not listening to her.” 

There was a moment there went you felt your heart stop for a minute, “That’s... really ironic.” You said slowly.

“Oh? You have a bossy friend too?” He jested with a smile. 

You laughed for a second then shook your head, “No, I mean that it’s ironic that you’re going to the aquarium,” You paused for a second then reached into your bag and pulled out your phone. You showed Alastor and said, “I’m going too.” 

He peered at the e-ticket on your phone, the pushed his glasses up on his nose with a deep laugh, “What a small world!” He laughed, then laughed some more, “How truly ironic indeed!” Then without a second to waste, he faced you once again then asked, “Would you like to go together?”

The question startled you. You didn’t expect that. He was very bold, wasn’t he? You had only just met and he was asking to spend probably what would be the rest of the day with you. You were flustered suddenly, then you were tongue-tied, lastly, you cracked your voice as you answered, “S-Sure! Yea- um--....” You felt your cheeks turn a little pink, “Sorry. It’s just... That was unexpected.” Just as you said that the loud horn of the ferry screamed as it pulled into the docks. 

Alastor stood up while smiling down to you, “Life wouldn’t be life if what you expected happened all the time.” 

He then held out his hand, offering to help you up from the bench. You took a moment, sitting there and taking everything in for what it was. Alastor stood before you, looking as though he was some kind of mathematician, or professor, now that you got a good look at him. His red tie was tucked behind a brown sweater vest that stopped just shy of his belt. His hand was offered to you, while the wind dusted his brown hair around in the breeze. And that smile on his face, it was soft yet firm enough to show that he was pleased to help you up. 

So you decided then... why the hell not? He was right, life wouldn’t be the same if it was exactly like what you expected. You took Alastor’s hand and pulled yourself to your feet. The two of you chatted while boarding the ferry, and then stood beside each other while leaning along the guard rails of the top deck.

The both of you talked about all kinds of things. You found out that Alastor was some kind of internet personality, not really. He had a podcast he ran and owned with some friends of his. It was apparently very popular and well known, though not that well known because you’ve never heard of it before. And to say that didn’t hurt Alastor’s ego a little would have been a lie. Apparently, Alastor also had a strong taste for liquor, because at one point he went to the ferry’s indoor bar and came back with two rum on the rocks.

You told him it was only noon, to which he replied, “It’s five o’clock somewhere,” And laughed before taking a sip of his drink. You decided to have the one he got you and told yourself it’d only be one which Alastor stayed true to. He didn’t wander off for another drink once he finished the one he had. There was another point that you learned that Alastor had the habit of ignoring his phone, to the instance where he got annoyed with it and turned it off. It seemed he only wanted to focus on talking to you and listening to what you had to say.

Alastor and you talked the whole ferry ride, which was just under an hour long. And when you docked, you both walked side by side down the three and a half blocks to the aquarium. It wasn’t a massive place, but it was a good size with a decent amount of animals. You originally came here with the idea of looking for inspiration within sea life. For you were an author, after all, writing stories for a living came with its ups and downs. For instance, right now, your much-needed vacation wasn’t really a vacation. The current book you were working on took place in late century seaside town, much like this one. And you had run into the worse possible writer’s block you’ve ever been in. 

As you and Alastor had finished passing the entry gates and showing your tickets, you wondered why Alastor would want to come here with you. Maybe because he realized how terribly awkward it would be if you continued to cross paths all day. You also thought about how you wouldn't be able to focus on working with him around now. You also didn’t really want to out yourself, or your current story. 

But that would soon be unavoidable. You and Alastor had just made it to the open exhibits of the aquarium. You had stopped on an old wooden bridge to briefly look out at a beautiful koi pond. Alastor leaned over slightly while resting his arms on the bridge railing. He had a soft smile that was barely on his lips, “This one oddly reminds me of home,” He sighed. 

You learned along the railing as well, looking over the swampy like pond. It lily pads all over, with a dark green water filled with dead trees and moss. You couldn’t see them, but you could hear the bullfrogs chirping away. Seeing it gave your a sudden surge of inspiration. Something about it made you get several ideas for your book. You couldn’t let them slip away, so you reached into your bag and grabbed your notebook.

While you became lost in your own world, scribbling down idea after idea, Alastor quietly watched you. It wasn’t in a way that you noticed, because he’d only take a side glance here or there. But after a moment or so, he finally asked, “Forgot something to add to your grocery list?” 

It was meant to be a joke but it went right over your head (Mush to Alastor’s dismay).

“O-oh..” You then laughed weakly, “No... It’s for a story I’m working on.” 

Alastor turned to face you slightly while still leaning on the rail, “Oh, like an author?”

You took a dry swallow then glanced away and shrugged, “Yea,” You didn’t want to egg him on. But of course, he asked anyways. 

“Are you published?” He seemed genuinely interested. Yet there was a reason you wanted to avoid it. Oftentimes when you told people about your books, the general reception wasn't that good. There was a reason you wrote under a pen name. 

However, Alastor wasn’t from around here, and you weren’t on New York Time’s Best Selling List yet, and probably never would be. So there was a chance he wouldn’t know or ever heard of your books. 

So you took the chance and said, “Yeah. I’m the author of Sea Rise.”

“Oooh,” Shit. “That book series about the pirates?” Dammit. 

You felt your cheeks burn as you took in a deep breath and nodded your head, “You’ve heard of them?” You wouldn’t look at him though. You just kept your gaze on some turtle resting on a log. 

“Yeah, never read them,” He gave a slight chuckle, “But the girl I work with-”

“You said her name is Charlie, right?”

“Yes- Well, she reads ‘em. She’s a big fan. I’m under the assumption that it’s about fictional pirates?” 

You took in a small breath then sighed, “Pretty much. It’s... not that amazing or anything. It’s okay.” You noticed that Alastor pushed off the rail and started to walk again, but slower this time.

“Tell me about it.” His words surprised you enough to look at him with a shocked expression. He laughed at you while giving a small wave of his hand, “Only if you want to. I’m sure you can’t talk much about spoilers.”

You blinked, then let out a shaky laugh, “I-I don’t know. It’s... A long story. This is for my fourth installation.”

He hummed with a slight chuckle, “Well it’s a good thing there is a snack bar over there.” He pointed to one not that far away, “And plenty of places to sit too.” 

There was something that flickered around in your chest. You felt butterflies you always wrote about in your stories. You peered at Alastor finding it hard to stare at his face. You glanced up from his shoes and got caught in that tilt in his smirk. Heat ran to your cheeks and spread across your nose, you gave a sharp nod of your head then awkwardly stuttered out, “O-okay!” With maybe a little too much excitement. Who knew that today, of all days... You’d run into someone like him. 

[peggyrose19]

Day 19: Soulmates

Jeez formatting this was a bitch. Advent for tonight is a little bit different, because the prompt was an accidental double. So, instead of being a sensible human being and just writing a different one-shot off it again, I decided I should get my O’Knutzy soulmate AU done instead, thinking it’d be fairly simple. Oh how wrong I was. Who knew writing an actual plot and developing a relationship was so hard? Me, but I started it anyway so really I did this to myself. So if it’s complete shit, I apologize in advance. Some day I will go back and edit and add to it. Characters by the always amazing @lumosinlove 

Summary: Finn and Logan were soulmates, and had been since the moment they were born. Both had a journal filled with messages to each other, given to everyone once they turned 18. When Leo turned 18, he opened his journal to discover something rather peculiar. What did one do with two soulmates?

Sorry the summary is shit, I suck at them :) Journal entries are in italics and text messages are in bold because tumblr won’t let me underline. Hope you guys enjoy, leave a comment and I’ll love you forever <3

Leo stared down at the paper in front of him. His mind had gone blank when he’d opened the book. His soulmate journal, given to him today, on his 18th birthday. He had imagined this going hundreds of different ways. It had consumed his every waking thought for the past six months at least, what he would say, how his soulmate would respond, the possibility of words waiting for him already. What he hadn’t imagined was the words from two distinct hands written on the pages. 

He thumbed through the book as word after word flashed by. Conversations flowed between these two people, going back nearly three years, according to the dates on each page. The handwritings were different. One was messy, scrawled, and Leo caught a few words of French here and there. The other was neater, script-like, and the ink was dark and consistent.

Unsure what to do, Leo began reading some of the journal. He had never heard of this happening before; he wondered if the other two knew. 

What’re you doing up, it’s nearly 3 am? was the first thing Leo’s eyes fell upon. 

Can’t sleep. What’re you doing up?

Reading. But that’s irrelevant. Go to bed. I’ll be here when you wake up.

Okay fine. Night, Fish.

Night. 

Leo could feel the affection between the two, even just from those simple words. He kept reading, flipping back through conversations that felt too private for him to be reading. His eyes found the words “I love you” written in big stark letters, filling nearly half a page. He slammed the book shut.

What was happening? Why did these two already seem to have a life? Why were they in his soulmate journal?  He pushed back the tears forming in his eyes and slowly opened it again. Words began appearing on the page. 

Finn, you there?

A moment later, answering words appeared, Yeah, what’s up?

Shit day. Then, I miss you.  

Leo wasn’t sure how to feel about all of this. He didn’t know who these people were, why they were in his journal, what to make of the clear connection they had. The best way, he supposed, to resolve this was to see who they were.

Hesitantly, Leo grabbed a pen and set it to a blank page.

Hello? 

Umm… hi? one of them wrote back quickly, the messy one. 

Who are you? the other, Finn, added. 

I’m Leo, he wrote, unsure of what else to say. I just got my soulmate journal, he added. 

There was no answer for a while. Leo had just about given up when words began appearing on the page.

This is our journal. We’ve had it for about four years now. I’m Logan, by the way, he added. 

I’m Finn.

Uh, well it’s nice to meet you both. 

Neither Finn nor Logan were sure what to make of the situation. Finn grabbed his phone, watching Leo’s words spread across the page, telling them about who he was and what he’d discovered when he’d opened his journal for the first time that morning.

Lo, is it even possible he’s also our soulmate? Is that even a thing? He sent the message to Logan, turning back to the journal.

Leo, where are you from? he asked curiously. 

New Orleans, came the response. Born and raised. What about you both?

New York City, Finn responded right before his phone pinged. 

He pulled up Logan’s response. I’m not sure, maybe? I’ve never heard of this happening before but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t. 

Quebec, came Logan’s response in the journal a moment later. Leo answered, but Finn wasn’t paying attention.

He was focused on the message on his screen, mind running through all the soulmate stories and tales he’d heard over the years. He remembered his brother getting his, being ecstatic at the messages he’d received. His friends all getting theirs, writing excitedly to their soulmates from the first moment. Even his parents talked fondly about it, the two of them meeting after a year and already being in love. None of them had two soulmates.

But then, in the back of his mind, a memory surfaced. His grandmother, telling him a story, late one night when he couldn’t sleep, about her best friend from high school. She had had a girlfriend when they went off for college, her soulmate. When they connected some years later there had been a boy too. She had never questioned it. After all, this had been the 60s. People didn’t ask questions like that. 

But maybe it was possible. Maybe this could explain the hole that still seemed to exist between him and Logan, no matter how much they loved each other.

~

As the months passed, Leo slowly made it through the journal. Finn and Logan had both given him permission to read it, although initially he had been surprised. He barely knew these people, why were they trusting him with their deepest secrets? But Finn said that’s what a soulmate journal was for and so Leo spent each night before bed reading a few pages, getting to know his apparent soulmates better and better with each word. 

He learned that Finn was a year older than Logan, 23 now, and his birthday was in August. Logan’s was in December, four days before Christmas. He read page upon page about their siblings, Finn’s older brother and Logan’s three older sisters. He wondered briefly what it was like living with siblings. 

They’d met before, in person, two years ago, Logan flying from Quebec, where he lived, to New York City for New Years. Leo’s heart ached when he read that. He wondered what the city had been like, what it had been like when they met. 

He wished he could meet them. 

He learned the small things about them, too. Logan had a terrible sweet-tooth. He was French-Canadian and could speak it fluently. (Canadian French was very different from New Orleans French). He couldn’t dance to save his life, despite his sisters trying. Finn knew how to figure skate, but had switched to hockey early on. He still kept up with it.The only food he could make without burning was hot chocolate the way his brother showed him. Finn liked to feel useful, to make people feel better. He liked to read. He liked to write letters to Logan while he slept. And Logan would scold him for staying up late, then absolutely melt at the words written on the page.

Leo wanted one of those letters. 

By the time he reached the entry from his birthday, three months had passed. It was quickly becoming summer in New Orleans, despite it being only May. As he got to know his boys better, and they got to know him, Leo wished more and more that he could meet them, see them. He wished he’d known them four years ago when they first met. He wished they’d had that time together. 

He wanted them to fall in love with him.

~

Hey Le! Logan wrote cheerfully late one afternoon. Leo sat outside in the shade of a nearby tree, flipping aimlessly through the journal. He felt conflicted. But the nickname sent flutters through his heart. What’re you up to?

Not much, he replied. Sitting in the garden. What’re you up to?

You have a garden?

Leo chuckled. Yeah. I can see the ocean from here actually.

You can see the ocean?? Jealous. 

Yeah, it’s also 85 degrees.

Nope, I’m out.

That made him laugh again. That’s what I thought.

I just don’t know how you do it! It’s like a million fucking degrees there all the time. I would actually die. 

And it’s always a million fucking degrees below freezing where you live. 

….touché. Leo could sense his reluctance through the paper. He wished desperately to see Logan’s face in that moment, see the pout he undoubtedly was wearing right then. To kiss it away, maybe press him back against his bed…

No. He wouldn’t let himself think of that. Because if he started down that path there was no coming back. And he wasn’t sure he could handle that. 

~

Finn we need to talk 

The text came one day as Finn was getting ready for bed. He paused in brushing his teeth, typing out a response.

FaceTime in 5?

Sounds good

If he was being honest with himself, Finn had expected this a while ago. He had known it was coming, knew it needed to happen. From that first message, Logan laughed at something Leo had written. Finn knew in that moment he was gone. They both were. The only problem now was how to say it.

The ringing of his phone shook him from his thoughts.

“Hey, Lo,” he answered as the call connected. 

“Hey.” 

“What’s up?”

“We need to talk.”

“Yeah, I gathered that from your text.” Logan didn’t laugh, and that’s when Finn knew this was really bothering him.

“Logan, I know what this is about. It’s okay.” Logan’s eyes snapped to his face. 

“What- how?”

“Babe, you’re not exactly subtle. And, well, neither am I. I know it’s about Leo. It’s okay.”

Logan sighed. “I just- I know he’s our soulmate, obviously. But it still feels like I’m betraying you? How can I love both of you? How does that even work?” Finn’s eyes widened at Logan’s words. 

“You love us? Both of us?”

“Harzy, how could I not? You’re my soulmates. But it’s more than that. I love you for you, not just because of some match in the system. And I want us, all of us, to be together.”

Finn was quiet for a long time. Eventually, he said quietly, “That’s why we never made sense. Why there always seemed to be a, a hole. We need Leo to complete us.”

Logan smiled. “Exactly.”

~

Leo, you there? Finn wrote.  

Yeah, came the reply a moment later. 

We have something we want to tell you.

We?

Hi Nut, Logan added hurriedly. Finn smiled at him through the phone screen. He wished he was there in person. He wished both of them were. 

Logan?

Yeah, it’s me. Fish and I talked. About this, us. We want- 

“Don’t take my moment!” Finn scolded playfully. “Besides, no one can read your shitty writing, I would know.” Logan pouted, but let Finn continue. 

Sorry about that. What we were trying to say is that we want you. If you’ll have us. I know all of this is new for you, it is for us too. But we need you. You’re the missing piece of our puzzle, and we don’t work if we don’t have you. 

Leo read the words over and over. Silence buzzed in his ears. It didn’t seem real, that these two boys, who had been each other's for so long, now wanted him. His mind couldn’t make sense of it all, of the love he could feel even through the thin pages of his notebook.

Leo, you there?

I’m here, he managed. I just don’t know what to say. 

Good or bad? Finn asked cautiously. 

Good, he laughed. Of course I want you two, do you know how long I’ve wished for this to happen? 

Oh yeah? Tell us.

“Logan!”

“Sorry.”

Okay, you don’t have to tell us. But please tell me you’ll come see us? I need to see your face. 

Please? Finn added for good measure.

Leo could have jumped up and down in that moment. Of course I will come visit. Of course. Then, a moment later, heart in his throat, he added, I love you guys. 

[jamiedc-they-them]

Clean Slate (Platonic)

Requested Imagine: A debt in your hometown comes back to haunt you and sends you and your best friend into a tailspin of credit cards, cops, running and shouting.

“We don’t have to do this.” Your older sister (not by blood) told you as she continued to drive you, passing the sign that said, “Welcome to New Orleans”. This was it, no going back.

Well, there was. But you knew how Daisy could be with dramatics.

“You didn’t have to come.” You told her, even if thankful she came.

“Of course, I was going to come with you.” She said, firmly.

“You don’t owe me anything, Daisy.” You responded with, looking away from the mirror and meeting her gaze as she turned her head to look at you for a moment before it went back to the road.

“This isn’t about debts. I know I don’t, just as much as you don’t with him.”

“I do. SHIELD fucked that up. Besides, I know what it’s like to be blindsided like that.” You were stubborn.

But so was she, “There’s more to life than just ticking off boxes for people that are never gonna fully be done with you.”

You closed your eyes as you let out a sigh through your nose.

Daisy knew a thing or two about owing people, a lot of people. But she was always one who knew that those debts would never fully be paid off. She knew it wouldn’t work; that whoever it was would never be satisfied.

Did she say any of that as she drove into where your home was? Fuck no. You were her friend, her best friend, and a younger sibling to her. She hated this but loved you. She’d go the ends of the earth for any of you; it was why she kept driving and didn’t mention any of it.  

She pulled up at what used to be your old house. It had definitely seen better days, it looked like a wreck.

“You used to live here?” She asked, looking at the dump of a place. Although, in your mind, she lived in a van, so wasn’t one to talk.

“You’re one to talk. I’ve been in that van now for what seems to be a lifetime.” You heard Daisy make a noise that was offended by what you said. She let it go, however, and let you go in and grab what you needed.

You walked into your home, being hit with a wave of nostalgia. You remembered yourself sat on the couch that was still rotting away, shoving a needle into your arm. Some would say that would be death you were putting into your body; you would call it life instead. It kept you going. It made you say “Yes, one day, I will get enough.” And yet SHIELD hadn’t given you a pay check so…fuck.

Still, you removed one of the floorboards, finding an old squirrel fund you had kept for a while. Somehow, no one had found it.

You then heard your name being called, and saw Daisy holding a phone, and an uneasy look on her face.

Your heartrate picked up as you approached her, taking the phone from her and putting it to your ear.

“There they are.” The voice said to you, and you could almost hear how glad he was to know it was you; and that you both knew where this was going to go.

“Marcus.” You said, trying to not let the fear show.

“Aye, lass.” But he could still tell how you were feeling about this, “Wee bird told me you came home. Thought I’d give my favourite customer a call. See how they’re doing.” You were surprised at how easy you found the thick Scottishness in his voice; Fitz had helped with that, of course.

You closed your eyes and took a breath, “What do you want?”

His tone went serious, “Fuck do you think, love? My money.” Of course. He didn’t give you a chance to respond, he only hung up.

You pulled the phone from your ear, turning to Daisy who was leaning her hands against the hood of the van, she rose an eyebrow.

“You can go, you know?”

She didn’t say anything, she didn’t move either, “Daisy, I’m serious. Go, I’ll meet you when I’m done.”

She spoke then, “Give me the phone.”

“Daisy –”

She moved over to you and held out her hand, “I’m not letting you do this alone.”

“Daisy –” Your voice was more serious as you gave her the phone.

“I’m just…worried about you, alright? You came back here for a reason.”

“I need to do this Daisy. I have to make it right.”

Daisy sighed, “Not alone. And besides –”

“You’re my friend, Y/N. And I’m coming with you.” She said, in her tone that meant ‘this is final’.

You had no choice but to nod, “Ok, let’s save our asses.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your first stop was a bar. It was one that had a familiar vibe to it for you. And the person you saw tending it brought more than just a familiar vibe, it brought feelings to you. She still looked the same, still with her long burgundy hair, electric blue eyes. It was like she had never changed.

Then you saw the name she had on her name tag; it was different.

There was barely anyone else in this bar. It was just you, Daisy, her, and about 2 other people who didn’t seem to care of the new company.

However, she then looked up, freezing just as you had when you saw her. The pair of you were frozen, just staring at each other.

“Y/N.” She spoke. Daisy felt the atmosphere shift from cosey and inviting, to cold and distant.

“’Madison’.” You greeted back, reading the name tag she wore.

She looked at it and chuckled, “Yeah, well, desperate times and all that. You know how Marcus is.”

You took a step towards her as she came around from behind the bar. The two of you inched closer and closer…Daisy watched on warily.

“I know he wants his money back.” You said, bluntly.

“Ah, I bet he does. After that stunt you pulled.” ‘Madison’ threw back at you.

“That was SHIELD –” You never got to finish your sentence, as ‘Madison’ had struck you on the face.

You retorted with your own. The two of you then found yourself with two arms holding each other as you both threw yourself into the bar, heads colliding with the pumps. You both groaned at your less than stellar plan.

“SHIELD picked me up! You don’t think I wanted to come back!” You yelled as she smashed a bottle on the table.

“Then why didn’t you?” She asked as she attacked you with the bottle. You jumped back, before slamming your head into hers.

“I was trying to –” She counted with a kick between your legs.

“I had to change my name because of that bastard! And you come back!” She exclaimed.

“Then why are you mad at me?!” You said, on your knees, holding between your legs.

“…Because you left, and I had no idea where you were. I thought you were dead.”  She admitted, voice going quieter.

Daisy then made herself known, putting her arm under your own and helping you up, “Why not help us? We could use an extra pair of hands?” She asked, despite her first impression of the woman.

She looked from you to Daisy and back again. She then turned to other two customers, “See those two?” Daisy nodded, still holding onto you, “They’re new. They don’t exactly know the tricks we do.” Daisy saw where this was going.

“We got it.” Daisy assured her, checking on you one more time as you had seemed to be more stable now.

“You do?” Madison seemed almost surprised.

“Trust me, I had to do my fair share of that to pay for shit.” With that, the pair of you went over to the two. You sat next to them.

It was like you’d never left; and it seemed Daisy did have a lot of experience of this. It was a simple gig really: sit next to them, pretended to be their friend, chat them up about whatever they wanted and pretended like you cared. If you couldn’t get close without them noticing, then you’d have to improvise…like Daisy was. Still, whatever worked and got you close, worked and got you close.

As you reached into the pocket and found what you were fishing for as your man had passed out, you saw Daisy deeply kissing her man as she seemed to be on autopilot with getting the card and some money out of the pocket.

She seemed to be a pro.

When the two stumbled out, the three counted up the earnings the two of you had gathered.

Was it much? No, but it was a start.

“I can take some things from here, if we can get that out of our way.” At ‘that’ Madison pointed to a camera that was watching you.

“I got that, you take what you can and then we’ll go.” Daisy said, going to probably loop the footage of you all sitting there just moments ago.

That left the two of you.

“So,” Madison started as she poured you a drink and put it on the table, “What brought you home?”

“Something happened at SHIELD. Daisy had to get away from it all. I went with.” You answered as you took a sip of your beer.

“Why?”

“I couldn’t just leave her alone. She’s looked after me all this time I’ve been there, figured I’d return the favour.”

Madison sighed, “You’re a good friend.”

“She’s an even better one.”

There was a drag in the conversation following that. The only sound being you drinking, and her checking pumps and cleaning tables.

“I’m sorry you had to change your name.”

“It’s not your fault, it’s his. Besides, always kind of hoped you’d come back.” She said, stopping what shew as doing and turning to you, a light now in her eyes.

“You did?”

She smiled, “Yeah.” You smiled too.

 Daisy had looped the footage, and the three of you drove to the French Quatre. It was still as lively as ever.

And that meant opportunity, that meant money. That meant making it.

It led you all to an ATM, with cards upon cards. It was close to midnight, and all you three were doing was trying the cards you had gotten. Putting in pins and taking out cash.

You ran out of yet another establishment, this time chased by guards. As you ran, you did see Daisy relax a little, seemed she had gotten something out of this too.

Your feet slammed against the pavement, but you still heard your chasers. Daisy quaked up to the roof, while you and Madison dove right into a dark alley way, just around a corner from where your foes were coming from.

You had lost them.          

Daisy came down to join you. And, for once, the three of you laughed. You checked that the coast was clear one more time, before making your way to the ATM.

You did it, you somehow had just about enough. Daisy gave you a pat on the shoulder, while Madison gave you a peck on the cheek. You missed Daisy’s smile slip just for a second before it was back.

You then got out your phone, dialling the number that had called you.

Marcus answered almost immediately, “What?”

“I got it.” You said, proud of your actions.

He barked out a laugh, “Aye, you did? Well fan-fucking-tastic. Only, you daft cunt, you made a ruck doing it! You got coppers and what not looking for you. Aye, and little ol’ Jenny somehow come back to life, aye? I guess then, if you’re so fucking good at your job, you’d pay off her’s too, eh? See you at 3.” With that, he hung up.

Your smile was gone, “What is it? What’s wrong?” Daisy asked, concern now in her gaze and tone.

“He knows you’re alive.” You said, looking to Madison, who paled, “And he wants your share of the load.” She gulped.

Fuck.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“How much do you owe him?” Daisy asked as the three of you sat in Daisy’s van.

“Between us, or separate?” You asked, pointing between yourself and Madison.

“I guess separate.” Daisy answered.

You looked at Madison, the pair of your quickly doing some mental math in your head, “Well, we’ve gotten mine.” You reminded Daisy. She nodded at the answer.

“About 5 grand.” She then looked to Madison.

Finally, Madison answered, “About $36,200 between us.”

Daisy’s eyes widened, “What?!” She sounded like it should be a shriek but was a whisper instead.

“There was a deal. One we did before Y/N got picked up by your lot. Quite a big load of women coming in.” Madison looked to you.

You knew what she wanted; and so, you continued the tale, “We didn’t let it happen. Then SHIELD came and got me. And Madison here…well.” You knew what she did.

“What’d she does?” Daisy pushed.

“Went off grid. New name, same place. Safest place from a Whale is inside its own belly, after all.” Madison seemingly decided to give just enough information.

And it seemed to be enough for Daisy, “So, how long do we have?” She asked.

“With Marcus? He said a few hours –”

“That’s not long enough.” Daisy argued.

“It would’ve been longer if I wasn’t here.” Madison looked down a bit as she said that, like a wounded animal. You grabbed her hand, rubbing your thumb on her knuckles. She looked at you but couldn’t manage a smile.

“Ok. So, we can’t get out without being spotted, and we can’t get the money – well, that amount of money, without getting seen. So, what’s the plan guys?” As you said that, you all ducked down as you heard a cop car go past. Its sirens were blaring as it raced past, so you knew it wasn’t for you; still, couldn’t be too careful.

When it passed, you all slowly got back up, the lights from the street being your only source of light through Daisy’s curtained windows.

Ok, maybe you were starting to get an appreciation for the van life after all.

Still, you had to get the money. You had to have a clean slate. You had to get Madison out of this life.

You looked at Daisy, and she saw that you genuinely cared for Madison. And, despite her first thoughts on the girl, she had grown on her. She saw the light she brought to your eyes.

It was the same way Lincoln brought that same kind of light to her life.

She saw you look out the window, you had a face she had seen before; if this was any other time, she’d go along with whatever you were going to say.

Here, not so much.

“Y/N –” Her tone was tense, there was an edge to it. There was a warning.

“You two stay here and –”

“No!”

“Hell no!” the two women exclaimed in sync. Daisy the former and Madison the latter.

“Y/N, you can’t just –”

“Would you rather we all go out together and risk getting caught? Or splitting up? Look, Daisy, I’m sorry I dragged you into this, ok? Really, I am. But we don’t have a lot of time.” You said as you got a pistol out of your bag.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! The hell are you planning?” Daisy asked, grabbing the pistol and lowering it.

“Desperate time and measures.” You justified it as, putting the pistol in your back pocket, “Look, do you want to the bank, or am I taking it? There’s only three options we have here in the short space of time; and none of them good.”

You then looked to Madison, “I got the streets. Regular and all that.” You nodded, that left Daisy with another option.

She didn’t look pleased, “I’m doing the bank job,” She said, ripping the pistol from you and putting it in her back pocket instead, “You go to the bars we haven’t gotten before. But remember, low profile.” She warned, pointing a finger at both of you.

God, she seemed destined to always play big sister.

You gave her a mock salute, “You’re about to rob a bank, Daisy.”

“Yeah, but I have a name to go with that. If we get too much, we’ll use what we have left to help us against the Watchdogs.” Daisy said, getting out the back of the van before you could argue any further.

You and Madison looked at each other, a silent, “Be careful” being exchanged between you both. You shared one more kiss, before you went your separate ways.

 There was one more bar you hadn’t hit yet. It was a packed one, despite the time it was.

Still, you entered, looking for any sort of prey. Your eyes scanned the crowds, mainly large crowds in the area. Well, that could work in your advantage, but it could also be a hindrance.

Still, you went with “fuck it.” And walked further in, trying not to look like a desperate loser.

Your hand went into one pocket, and you got as far as the car, when a hand grabbed yours: a friend of his. He shook his head, and you put it back. He didn’t tell his friend, he only looked at you with bitter hatred.

That was enough of an arse kicking on its own.

So, no money, and arse kicking and a bar fight later and you were out. You made your way over to the van, seeing Daisy sat in the van, but laying low.

You opened the van back door, only to be punched in the face. Whoever had done that – not Daisy – had taken off running. As you readjusted yourself, your heartbeat rose.

They had the bag.

You got up, not caring about being careful anymore. Desperation ran through you.

You pulled the pistol, running after someone who would – whether they meant to or not – cause your death.

You pulled the trigger, and they went down. You ran, cars stopping and some screeching to a halt. You grabbed the bag the person had. You opened it –

And nothing was inside.

You then heard a van honk, and yours came careening around the corner. It stopped just next to you, “Get in!” Daisy called, with Madison pulling the side door open.

You were in, and you were gone the next moment.

 Either no one had called the cops on you, or they weren’t doing as good as you thought they were. You had gone back to Madison’s bar, and the three of you sat in it; you stared at what you had managed to garner as a three –

“$2,832. And it’s…” Daisy checked her phone, “2:51 am.” Her words came out slower, as she realised how fucked you guys were.

You stood up and started pacing, “I’m sorry, I should never have come back.”

Madison stood up, going to you and holding your hands in your own, “Hey, you know Marcus. Whatever you bring him, ain’t enough. He’d find a way to bleed you dry just like those cards, but he’d keep going,” She grabbed your shoulders, “Y/N, look at me,” You did so, “I’m sorry, but I don’t think…even if we got what he wanted, that it’d be enough. I mean, look at me; I had to change my name and what not. He just works people until they get shot, then calls it off.”

You looked at Madison, and you knew; you knew that she was right. You then looked to Daisy, “Put what we got in the van.”

She tilted her head in a questioning manner, “What you thinking?” She asked, as she pooled all the money with arm and watched it all fall into a bag.

For once, it was almost like old times, with that look on your face returning; and she supported it this time.

It was a face that told her you had a plan.

“We take that money, split it between us. He gets none of it.” You said, looking at your friends and seeing if they’d disagree. They shared a look and nodded in sync.

Ok then, here you went.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daisy had taken the van away a bit, hiding it in a different location that wouldn’t be as easily accessible.

You all waited as the time ticked down. If anything, it seemed to slow down.

Still, after what seemed like 2 hours – but what was really 3 minutes – it was time. The clock silent struck 3.

And, right on time, he entered the bar. He hadn’t really changed, it seemed. Still an old man with a moustache that was well kept but everything else on him – clothing, hair, jewellery – was not.

“So, I’m here. Where the fuck is my money, lass?” He asked.

“We don’t have it. And, even if we did, you wouldn’t get a cent.” You said, standing tall.

He whistled, “Aye? And where’d all this backbone come from then, eh? Because last time we called, you were willing to suck my fucking dick dry to make amends. Now, here you are, telling me I’m not allowed to have my own fucking money?” His temper was rising.

“You wouldn’t be happy with that though, would you?” Daisy asked from where she stood, to your right and leaning against one of the backrests.

Marcus finally looked at her. He looked at a TV that wasn’t on, then back down to her. From her to the tv, from the tv to her.

“You must be the one on the telly, Quake? Or whatever the fuck they call you now?”

Daisy just held his stare.

“This ain’t your fight, lass. Just between me and them two cunts and what they owe, me.” He said, looking at you and clenching his teeth together at the last part of the sentence.

“It is my fight, when it involves my friends.” She said firmly, moving away from the rest and to your side, fists clenched.

Marcus let out what seemed to be a scoff and a laugh all in one; and none having good connotations with them, “Loyal. I’ll give you that. Even if, in this case, not going to pay off the way you want.” He warned her.

The front door opened, with two of his goons coming in. Madison barely had time to turn before she was pinned against her bar.

“Hey –” Daisy said, going to step in, when Marcus waggled his finger.

“Told you.” He said, in a sing song kind of voice.

“Run.” Daisy advised, even pushing you in that direction.

You did, as fast as you could up the stairs to the toilets.

Marcus passed Daisy, “I so much as feel this building shake, and I will fucking kill you all, alright?” He threatened, before coming after you.

You found yourself in one of the cubicles, “You know, Y/N. I always wondered where you went. Then a man by the name of Phil Coulson comes knocking at my door, asking about an agent Y/N and Johnson. Course, I told them the truth…” As he spoked, you saw his feet stop by a cubicle and heard the door be booted open, “That I knew nothing of you. To be honest, thought you were dead. Would’ve been happy with that. Then you show up, and you left me no choice,” He kicked another open; you had nowhere to go, “But, maybe…maybe I can amend that now.” He booted in your door. And, despite your efforts and struggled, he slammed you into the sink. As you saw your own reflection, a cord went around your neck and he hoisted you up into the air before your feet touched the floor, but you were on tiptoes.

In his voice, there was no joy, “Don’t fight this, Y/N. Don’t fight it. This’ll fix everything.”

The door burst open, but he grabbed a pistol and fired at the entrance, “Take one more fucking step and I’ll blow their fucking –” He didn’t get to finish, as you hit him in the guy with your elbow. The cord went from your neck, and you hit him with your head and sent him back.

Madison was next, slamming him in the fist with her fist. As he spun around with the pistol, Daisy quaked it away, before quaking him into the wall. He slumped down.

The three of your shared a look.

Madison had a car – stolen of course – but a car and a home. The three of you carried Marcus’ body down the stairs and outside to the car. You slammed the boot lid closed as the three of you shared a look.

You looked to Madison, pulling her into a hug and putting your chin on her shoulder. You pulled away, “Thank you.”

“Anytime.” She said with a smile, but it was a sad one.

Daisy then hugged her next, “Thank you for your help.”

“Y/N is my…. friend, too. I’ll get Marcus here somewhere he belongs, then I’ll get a new ride. Heard there’s some good ones moving in.”

You pulled out a key in your back pocket, “Here,” You said, throwing it to Madison, “It’s yours.”

She looked from the key to you, “You serious?” She asked, excitement growing in her tone.

“Yeah. You’re my friend, might as well pay off the debt I can, huh?” She laughed, before hugging you again in thanks. She gave your cheek a kiss, before going to the car and driving off.

 You and Daisy saw the “Thank you for visiting New Orleans!” sign as you drove away. Your phone blinked with a text. Looking at it, you saw it to be Madison: “He’s with the NOPD now :D” The text read.

You looked to Daisy, showing it to her.

She smiled, before moving her hand over to yours and squeezing it and then going back to the wheel.

You were leaving your home, now in your new one for the time being.

But one thing you knew for sure; you had a clean slate. Just not in the way you would’ve expected.

[the-firebird69]

So what exactly did NCIS New Orleans come up with well they came up with a couple of theirs dying Brad jumped out a window with Paul Nunez and it seems to be a big mistake and it is they rated a place went in and grab things and apparently Paul Nunez is not Mark known as and Mark Nunez is not Trump now they're one of them are and the facility was not run by Trump that's what I feel and I'm getting confirmation and my wife is telling me so they went in and took this stuff and it's information on another group and Lady Gaga ends up dead and it looks like Trump or Tommy f kills her really that kind of intertwined and they're not fighting each other that hard over this particular information and when we think it would be the empire but we think it's the pseudo empire and Brad goes out of window

And Tommy f helicopter hits him and it's Trump is trying to hit Tommy f that's the relationship. But Brad answer without your body and he's swept around into different robots and into my grandpa finally it's in there for a while they say he finds a phone of his and he goes from clone to clone eventually dies and he's dying the whole time. The guys in Olympus store in France nuana Ariana Thor and Freya agreed to light it up in many of us individually stood up including myself and Hera these people are murderous swine and have accidents they need to have accidents this is the beginning of a series of deaths and they're permanent of all of you guys Jason got a big eye full this morning and my wife says that he says we're doomed and it's just dumb s*** about us and we need it out so they're trying to conspire to do it it's not really working you're going to pass the ships between them Tonya will take a ton of them then he will fight the morlock over Venus and they both will lose of this is coming up pretty quick and their end is coming up pretty quick I don't feel like they'll have an East-West game I think it's going to be far East West game shortly with the canal opening

Zues

I said a lot of the above with him and he's right it is Trump and Tommy f fighting over information about the pseudo empire and the table was full of it and they looked at it and went back in and grabbed it all from Tommy and from Trump and Brad is now under duress as this Lady Gaga and bja is involved but really they turned it off really for being involved and you want the data and yeah argument just bigger and they can do something and she's been taking prisoner there is a Halloween movie that starts off that way and it's the one they all say is very sucky and doesn't have much Michael Myers in it and it leads into the rest of the series Jason Voorhees will awaken and it's going to be in space no but it is going to start up again and it's going to be hell and you guys are going to pay but you will see what the clones are up to and Trump is a pushover he's just a human shield this is going to be over soon for you guys and thank God we can barely survive you idiots

Hera

Two people don't even know you're poisoned you're running around high in the hog after poisoning yourselves almost to death it's not impressive you look really stupid we need you out of our hair

Thor Freya

Olympus

[lynyrdwrites]

long story short (KC)

This is based off the request for frienzoline + Klaroline, and long story short by Taylor Swift from @ofthedirewolves. It’s more Frienzoline than anything, but really? That should be expected.  It’s sort of disjointed, but I hope you enjoy.

---

Pushed from the precipice

Clung to the nearest lips

Wrong story short it was the wrong guy

“My story can be split into a series of losses.”

Enzo blinked at the solemnly spoken words.  He hadn’t thought vampires could get drunk, but he and Caroline had spent the past twelve hours proving that, actually, they very much could.  Apparently they had moved from the karaoke singing stage to the sad reminiscing.

“My story basically just consists of an Augustine cell and a lot of bloody, bloody experiments,” he said after a beat of silence, figuring that he needed to give an appropriately serious response.  Caroline moved her gaze from the roof, where she’d been staring as he spoke, to look at him instead.

“That’s sad,” she said at last.  “Forget my story.  Yours is just sad.  You deserve French fries to make up for that sad story.”

“Will they actually help with anything?” Enzo mused, and Caroline wrinkled her nose and shrugged.

“I dunno.  But they’re tasty.  Do you think Matt would bring us some, if I called him?”

After a long debate, they decided that, no, Matt Donovan wouldn’t deliver French fries to his ex and the crazy vampire he hated.  But it turned out there was a bag of frozen wedges in the Forbes’ freezer, and Caroline declared they were good enough.

Another debate then occurred, where he convinced her to bake them in the oven, instead of heating up the deep fryer.  Enzo had been in an overly destructive building fire once before, thank-you very much. He’d rather not repeat the experience.

So it was, twenty minutes later, Caroline was perched on the counter, nibbling on a still frozen wedge as the rest heated, while Enzo sat on a chair, bottle of tequila dangling from his fingers.  He had decided he hated tequila, but it did do an awfully good job of getting one drunk.

“Okay, so back to your series of stories.”

Caroline blinked at him, gaze fuzzy with alcohol, and Enzo sighed.

“Remember? My story can be split into a series of losses.” He gave the sentence the proper intonation, one of surly seriousness.  

“I didn’t sound like that,” she muttered, reaching for the tequila.  Enzo handed it over. After all, getting drunk had been her idea.

They were at almost thirteen hours after her mother’s funeral.  

“You kind of ruined my sad story,” she said at last, after swallowing a mouthful of the alcohol.  “With your whole sad, locked up vampire schtick. No one can stand up to that level of tragedy.”

“We’re not playing a game of who’s trauma is bigger-”

“Yeah, cause you would win.”

Enzo ignored that and pushed on, “We’re playing a game of share the trauma.  Share yours, Gorgeous.”

“I don’t have trauma.”

“The dead mother says otherwise.”

Caroline looked thoughtful for a moment, and then shrugged.

“Did you know that she tried to kill me once? After I was turned.  Mommy tried to kill me and daddy tortured me.  I’m not sure what that says about me.”

“Probably that your trauma is much larger than you think.  Okay, dead mommy and daddy.  What would your other losses be?  Hit me.”

The timer of the oven went off, and Caroline pulled the wedges out.  She immediately grabbed one, and hissed, tossing it between fingers as it burned her skin, until she finally got it in her mouth.  She followed it almost immediately by more tequila.

“Be careful.  They’re hot.”

Enzo snickered, but helped her dish the wedges out onto plates.  Once they sat at the table, Caroline spoke again.

“I mean, my humanity.   That’s a pretty big loss, right?”

“Meh.” Enzo shrugged. “I think humanity’s overrated, but if you want to say it’s a loss-”

“No, you’re right!” Caroline poked a victorious finger at him.  “You are so right!  Like, how was being human really so great for me?  I was Damon’s dumb, compelled blood bag.  Everyone lied to me.  No one took me seriously.  But Stefan is all sad eyes about vampirism, and Elena is absolutely miserable, even if she tries to lie about it.  And I’m like, okay, maybe I’m missing something.  Maybe it is the worst thing… but see, you get it!  You’re, like, the only person who gets it.” She looked thoughtful for a second, and gave her head the slightest shake.  “Maybe, like, the second person who gets it.”

“Okay, so that’s a loss that’s not really a loss.  What else?”

“Mommy and daddy,” Caroline pointed out around a wedge, she reached for the tequila, then wrinkled her nose again.  “We need actual glasses for this.  Back wash is gross.”

In just a few moments, they both had glasses filled to the top with just tequila, because that was apparently who they were as people, and Caroline was brandishing a wedge again.

“Okay, so then there’s my relationships.  Matt and Tyler, and the total demise of my friendship with Stefan, because he is such a dick.  And did you see how he looked at me during the funeral? Like, really?  I bare my heart to the guy, and he can’t be bothered to care until he decides I look hot next to my mom’s casket?  Who does that?”

“Wankers,” Enzo replied, when Caroline paused and he realized she actually wanted an answer.  “Absolute wankers.  Of which Stefan is one.”

“Thank-you.  And I mean, we also lost Bonnie in there, even if we got her back.  And Jeremy. And Alaric.  Those are the fake deaths.  They probably get their own sub genre.  And there was Klaus, who fake died and then left, but I couldn’t really be sad about his fake death, you know?  Like, I was, but I couldn’t show it. Can I tell you a secret?” She leaned towards him, and Enzo leaned in as well, because that was what you did when there was a secret.  “I cried. When I thought he was dead.  When no one else was around.  I cried.  But if you try to tell anyone, I’ll lie, and say you’re a dirty liar who knows nothing. So don’t tell.” She leaned back in her chair, and gazed up at the ceiling again.  “I cried when he took off for New Orleans, too.  And a little bit after his bang and run. But it’s not because its, like, him in particular.  I just… hate not being good enough.”

“Gorgeous, if Klaus thinks you’re not good enough, he’s as big a wanker as Stefan.”

“I mean, he’s a bigger wanker.  He’s Klaus.  But he left. So obviously I can’t be good enough, right?”

“I dunno.  Maybe he thought he wasn’t good enough for you?”

Caroline threw a wedge at him, and looked vaguely impressed when Enzo managed to catch it between his teeth.  He smirked at her as he chewed on it.  They were surprisingly good.

“Really? Would you choose to abandon someone because you felt you weren’t good enough for them?”

“No, but I’m not a wanker. I thought that went without saying.”

Caroline laughed, and Enzo would admit it did his old heart some good, to see her actually show genuine mirth after all the tears and sadness that had followed her since her mother had died.

“That’s lame,” she said at last.  “Anyone who does that is lame.”

“And a wanker.”

“We already figured that part out.”

She looked out the nearby window, thoughtfully nibbling on a wedge, and Enzo finally nudged her knee with his foot, drawing her gaze back.

“Have you ever considered telling him that he is worth it?”

She looked away, and shook her head slowly.

“Well, maybe you should. I won’t help you with Stefan.  We both agree that he’s the biggest wanker, but I’ll help you with this other bloke.  Consider it a road trip.”

“Are you trying to get me laid, Enzo?”

“Of course, Gorgeous. That’s my job,” he gave her a careless grin that made her laugh again, before giving her knee another nudge.  “Or maybe I’d like to get you out of this hellhole of a town.”

“That would be nice.” Caroline closed her eyes, and laid her head on her arm.  “That would be nice.”

“Just say when.”

She didn’t respond to that. She didn’t acknowledge their conversation in the days that followed as Enzo followed her about, helping her to finish settling her mother’s estate.

She didn’t say anything as the rest of them made plans that, to Enzo, seemed entirely too insane.

She didn’t say anything until he took her out to the graveyard, with some daisies that made him think of Caroline, so he thought Liz would appreciate them.  He hadn’t known the woman, but he figured she must have loved her daughter, even if there had been that awkward attempted murder.

As he put the daisies down, Caroline knelt next to him, tracing her mother’s name on the stone.

“When.”

Send me a ship + a song

[lovedmoviesb]

And Bucky Makes Three: Birthday Date

For the full story, follow the link!

“Favorite food?”

“Etouffee. You?”

“Love a good burger. Favorite color?”

“Red.”

“...White and blue?”

“Har, har,” Sam deadpanned, grinning at the woman beside him. “You?”

“Blue. Ideal day off?”

“Oh… a day on the boat fishing...or anywhere with my nephews. How about you?”

“Still figuring that out,” Monica admitted. She dragged her toes against the cobblestones beneath them, pursing her lips just the slightest. “It used to be with my mom. She died during the Blip. Really died. I was just...gone.”

“Me too,” Sam sighed. “My brother-in-law died for real. My sister doesn’t like to talk about it.”

“Sick?” Monica questioned, tilting her head to look at Sam.

“Went out towards the beginning, right after the snap.” Sam sucked at his teeth. “I pulled the police report...someone found him a few days later. I guess it was really bad, especially that first year. People just going missing.”

Monica nodded. “That’s what they tell me,” she muttered.

“Sarah said he was going for groceries. Probably got what they needed then--” Sam sighed. “The boys are too young to really remember him. AJ I think does, but Cass…”

“It’s a whole different world. Two whole different worlds in five years,” Monica pointed out. “It’s going to take a whole lot of adjusting.”

“You’re telling me. I used to wonder if I would ever really be the same after all the tours. Figured I’d settle down, find a way to help people.”

Monica chuckled. “You’ve done that,” she hazarded a smile. “ Cap .”

Sam smiled back at her. “What about you, violet eyes? Have you picked a name yet?”

She snorted. “I’m still trying to figure out my powers.”

“Must be nice,” Sam teased. “What do you have?”

“So far?” Monica clicked her tongue. “I can see energy. It’s in waves, almost like a spectrum. And if I concentrate hard enough I can become the energy. Fuse with it.”

“Shit…” Sam whistled. “I learned to throw a shield. I have to step it up.”

She punched his shoulder lightly. “I don’t know. Taking a woman on a first date to New Orleans is a pretty good start.”

“Oh,” Sam blinked in faux surprise. “Is this a date?” She paused. Sam could only hold a straight face for a few more seconds. “I’m kidding,” he clarified. “I’m flattered you’re on a date with me.”

“Flattered, huh?” Monica started to walk again, hiding a smirk.

“And honored,” Sam added. “Even though I was planning on asking you myself.”

“That partner of yours beat you to it. Said you’d be mad at first, but that you take too long.” Monica chuckled.

“He’s got a lot of damn nerve.” Sam shook his head. “But this is a better birthday present than I could have expected. I haven’t seen the city since before the Blip.”

“My mom grew up here,” Monica said.

“Another thing we have in common,” Sam smiled.

He stretched his arm out at his side, the back of his hand brushing against Monica’s. Without hesitation, she took it, lacing her slender dark fingers with his.

“You could always just ask to hold my hand,” she teased.

Sam flushed, averting his eyes for just a second. “Looks like I didn’t have to ask.”

They strolled the streets of the French Quarter, watching as revelers pushed by. People were largely too drunk to notice him, a fact for which Sam was incredibly thankful. It felt almost like old times, being able to walk hand in hand with a woman he liked, just shooting the breeze.

“So…” Monica began, lengthening her strides. Her legs were bare beneath the skirt of her dress, her feet in strappy sandals. Leisure looked good on her, natural. The lights of the buildings around them seemed to catch in her hair and skin, reflecting back out in miniature prisms of color. “It’s your birthday. What do you want to do tonight?”

“I want to take you on an amazing first date,” Sam responded at once. “So tell me, Monica, what’s your ideal date?”

“Dinner,” she answered, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. “And drinks.”

“Obviously.”

“Good ones. None of this fishbowl nonsense.”

“Sazerac?”

“Gin and juice.”

“A woman after my own heart.”

“And dancing. Until I can’t stand up anymore.”

“I think we can do that,” Sam nodded, squeezing her hand.

“And if that all goes well,” Monica reached up with her free hand to push an errant lock of hair back into its updo, “maybe you’ll get a kiss.”

Sam chuckled, drawing her closer to him as he steered them into one of his favorite dive bars. “We better get started then.”

“Dinner then drinks!” Monica corrected, laughing.

“We can’t be in the Quarter and not booze and cruise,” Sam pointed out.

Monica considered this. “Alright,” she agreed. “Captain’s orders.”

“Enough of that, purple lady.” Sam laughed.

Monica shook her head. “Do better.”

“Prism?” Sam tried. “Wavelength? Spectrum?”

Monica paused. “That last one isn’t bad.”

“It’ll get better with a few gin and juices,” he promised, holding the door open for her.

With a fit of giggles, Monica led him into the first bar of the night.

[grilledcheeseandguavajelly]

“All The Echoes In My Mind Cry, There’s Blood On Your Lies” - Cordelia Goode x Reader x Wilhemina Venable

Prompt: 11 - Angst Prompt List - “Don’t cry. Everything’s going to be okay” + 12 - Angst Prompt List - “Who did this? Who hurt you?”

Words: ~12,000

Warnings: Sexual assault and a LOT of overthinking. Listen, I took this angst prompt seriously. You’ve been warned. 

Requested by: @darling-dontforgetme​

You thumbed through your notifications, rolling your eyes. 

It was just one picture. One tiny picture with one tiny caption, and it honestly shouldn’t have blown up the way it did. 

Since you had checked your phone about six minutes ago, there were twenty-five new comments. Of those twenty-five, two of them were positive. One from a childhood friend, congratulating you on being so happy, and one from Madison, Madison of all people, saying a short “congrats or whatever” and commenting on Cordelia’s shirt not matching her pants.

The rest were all relatively the same, some version of “ew” or “disgusting” or “blocked.” 

Your phone vibrated and you swiped to your messages. And you rolled your eyes again because Madison was being as impatient as always.

This place blows, where are you?

Almost there, two blocks away. 

I’m going to kill Foxxy for making you walk me home. 

Want to meet me out front?

No, let me at least finish my fucking drink.

And as another comment on your picture dinged, she texted you again. 

Bouncer was easy, you should be able to walk right by him the way he caved under my spell

You typed back a quick okay and flicked back to the comments on your picture. This one was from your cousin. 

Who’s the redhead with her tongue down your throat? Why have I never met her? ;)

You rolled your eyes, dread running through you because you knew he meant it in the absolute wrong way. But just as you were about to respond with something that was probably too possessive, someone rammed into you from behind.

You had stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. Not the best option on a Saturday night in New Orleans. You gave a soft apology and the man grumbled as he shuffled past you and into the crowd just ahead. 

And then you pocketed your phone, comment abandoned as you zeroed in on the club across the street and made your way over. 

Madison was right, the bouncer was easy. The crowds lined up and waiting to get in were not. There were too many people to push through just to get inside, and you were breathless by the time you reached the entrance. 

Lord, you hated this city sometimes. 

You slid past the bouncer without a second glance, shouldering the door open and wincing at the loud bass that thrummed through your skin. 

It was a huge club, and honestly you didn’t know how it fit into this cramped little city. But here it was, filled to the brim with glitter and cocktails and pulsing bodies. The beat pounded at the back of your neck and you could already feel a headache coming on, so you flicked your messages opened and started making your way to what could only be the VIP lounge. 

And of course, it was all the way across the dance floor. 

Shit. 

You did your best to push through the crowd of bodies, sticking to the outskirts of the dance mob and trying to keep your eyes pinned on the steps leading up to the roped off section of the club. But no sooner had you made it past the bar, caught a glimpse of Madison and texted her to tell her that you were there, then a hand wrapped around your arm and hauled you to your right. 

You tripped over yourself, dropping your phone, and by the time you caught your footing you were halfway down a dark hallway, a red light illuminating couples writhing against each other on the walls. 

“What the—“ you tried, ripping at the hand on your arm and yanking away. But you had barely gotten your hand around the fingers bruising into your skin when you heard a rough, “Calm down, it’s just me.” 

And everything inside of you shot ice cold. 

You looked up, terror freezing your attempts to get away. 

“J-James?” you stuttered out as he spun you and slammed you up against a free space on the wall. 

And he was over you in a second, mouth hot in your ear. 

“James, get off of me,” you tried weakly, pushing at him. Shoving at him. But he was so heavy. 

“Did you miss me, baby?” he growled, and his breath was hot and sticky and smelled of tar. 

“Let me go,” you tried again as you scratched at his shoulders. “Let me go.” 

His hand found your arm again and he slammed you back against the wall, hard enough that your head snapped back and the crack rang through your skull. 

“S-Stop,” you said as forcefully as you could, stars blurring your vision. “Stop it James, what the fuck are you doing?” 

“I know you missed me, honey,” he whispered in your ear, and you could feel his sickening smirk against your skin. “Come on. Let me make you feel good. Like I used to. What are the odds that we both show up here on the same night?” 

You screamed, shoving at his shoulders harder and harder until your breaths pulled uneven and ragged. “Get off.”

“You know you want this.” And now his voice was snaking into your ears, hot and low and venomous. But you had lost track of his head, of his mouth. It was dark and the lights were flashing and your head was still spinning from the impact on the wall. 

You felt his mouth ghost over your neck and you growled, kicking at his shins. 

“Get off of me, James. I’m not yours anymore. I don’t belong to you. I don’t want this.” 

And then the tears came, flooding what was left of your broken vision as your voice cracked and his hands slid up your waist. 

“Oh, I know,” he murmured, and his mouth was back by your ear. “I saw your little post. Got yourself two girlfriends, hm? Maybe you should call them? Ask if they want to join us. The tall one seems a little stiff, but I’m sure I could loosen her up.” 

There it was. The last straw. And as he slammed his mouth against yours, hot and wet and bitter, you shoved as hard as you could, pushing him off of you and smacking him straight across the face.

“Enough!” you screamed. 

His hand came down across your cheek before you could blink, and you hadn’t realized he was holding a drink until he hit you square in the stomach, made you fly back against the wall, and his hand came down across your face again, glass breaking as his drink collided with you skull. 

You crumpled, a shriek ripped from you, and cowered against the wall.

Small. Shaking. And helpless. 

There were at least twenty people down this hallway, and none of them were doing anything. None of them heard you screaming for help. None of them cared. 

You were trapped.

James’s foot came up, and you barely had time to register it slamming into your side before the breath was knocked out of you again. 

“S-Stop,” you tried, and you sounded pitiful but at this point, you would beg. You would plead. You would do anything to get him away from you. 

He crouched down to your level, face inches from yours. You blinked against tears and something hot dripping onto your nose. 

And you gasped when his hand yanked your knees apart and slid straight between your thighs. 

“This is mine,” he growled, squeezing too hard. You cried out. “And I don’t care how many women you sleep with, it will always be mine. Do you understand?”

You choked on a gasp and then his other hand was on your throat, squeezing so tightly that your vision started going black around the edges. 

Instinct kicked in and you reached out blindly, hand fumbling on the ground for something, anything.

A sharp sting and you wrapped your fingers around the object, grabbed a shard from his broken glass. But before you could slam it into his skin there was a sickening choking sound and the grip on your throat loosened just enough for you to blink your vision back. 

James was gagging in front of you, eyes bugging out of his head as his tongue curled back and back and back again. 

His hands dropped from you to claw at his throat and his face reddened. 

“What are you doing to me, you stupid bitch?” he choked out, and you pushed yourself farther against the stone wall, eyes wide as his eyes rolled back and he collapsed onto the ground. 

And you almost reached out to him. Almost lost all sense and went to check that he was okay. But then Madison crouched down in front of you, eyes scouring every inch of you. 

“Are you okay?” she started, pushing hair off of your forehead as she checked you over. Her hand was red when she pulled it away. “What did he do to you?”

You couldn’t find your voice, raspy whimpers the best you could manage as you shook against the adrenaline coursing through you. 

She nodded like she understood you and grabbed your hands.

“Come on, let’s get you home. It’s okay, you’re safe now.”

As she pulled you out of the hallway and around the corner, pressing your phone into your hand, you glanced back behind you against your better judgement. And there he was, coughing and sputtering and lifting himself off the ground. 

A piece of you broke at the fact that Madison hadn’t choked the life out of him. That he hadn’t gotten what he deserved. What you should have done, if you had remembered anything you had learned. 

If you were any kind of witch at all.

~~~ 

You pushed your pleas at Madison as she helped you up the steps to the academy and she rolled her eyes, hands tightening as you winced and wobbled. 

“I get it. Sneak you up to your room. Extra quiet. Don’t let Cordelia know.”

“And don’t tell Venable,” you finished, breathless by the time you hit the landing. “I don’t even want to think about what she would do if she found out.”

Madison paused by the door, eyes narrowing. “You’re going to have to tell them eventually,” she said softly, licking her thumb and swiping at your forehead. You had felt the scab bust when you were about a block from the house, but a tingling followed Madison’s thumb and you knew she had sealed it shut again. 

“I know,” you panted softly. “But just not now. Not tonight. I can’t…”

You lost your breath, the events of the night flooding back into your mind. You shook your head, trying to find words, trying to explain, trying to ask Madison to promise you that she would let you tell them in your own time. 

But before anything came out Madison nodded, wrapping her arm around your waist.

“Deep breath,” she mumbled, and then she pushed the door open. 

You had barely crossed the threshold when her arm fell from your waist and you wobbled. She muttered a soft “shit”, and when you looked up your heart dropped into your stomach. 

Cordelia and Wilhemina were standing at the base of the stairs, Mina mumbling something soft to Cordelia and stroking her hand. When the door slid opened they both looked up, Cordelia’s hand falling from Mina’s fingers as she locked eyes with you. 

“Oh my god,” she breathed, and the blood drained from your head. The room spun, and the next thing you knew you were on the floor, Cordelia’s hands on your shoulders.

She hovered above you, hair falling from behind her ear, and she was talking to you, but as you blinked back stars all you could hear were Madison and Mina. Mina firmly asking Madison what had happened. Madison blowing her off as usual. Madison rushing up the stairs. And the tapping of Mina’s cane as she chased after her. 

Cordelia’s hand on your cheek centered you. 

“Oh my darling girl, what happened to you?”

You shook your head, wincing as your propped yourself up on your elbows. That blow to your side had stuck harder than you initially thought. 

“Nothing happened, Delia,” you tried, throat sticky from screaming and crying and swallowing down terror. She stared at you, eyes narrowing as her thumb brushed your cheek, and you knew she wouldn’t stand for that. Knew that she deserved more than you blowing her off. So you added a soft, “I just fell” at the end. And after a moment’s hesitation, she gave you a small smile, nodding. 

“Okay,” she started, but there was something behind her eyes that you couldn’t read. “How about we get you cleaned up?”

~~~ 

You had asked to bathe by yourself, but Cordelia had pushed just enough and hesitated in the doorway, and you couldn’t help it. You caved. 

She sat next to the bathtub as you curled in on yourself, her finger tracing absent circles in the water. 

“People don’t usually get this banged up from falling,” she tried again, probably the eighth way she had phrased the same question that night. But you hadn’t had time to process anything, and you wanted to at least run it through your own mind a few times before you got them involved. Before you had two other people telling you how careless you had been and how disappointed they were in you. 

“Okay,” you mumbled softly. Cordelia’s brow pushed up and she made to say something, but then there was a soft knock at the door and Mina’s voice floated through. 

“It’s me. May I come in?”

Cordelia flicked her free hand and the door opened, and then Wilhemina was looming in the doorway, eyes piercing through you as she shut the door behind her. 

She walked over slowly, leaning her cane on the sink before sitting carefully on the edge of the tub. 

You averted your gaze to your knees, tucking them further up against your chest, but not before you caught Mina reaching for Cordelia’s free hand. 

You squeezed your eyes shut, dropping your head to your knees and hugging them. This was your fault. They were both so worried and it was becoming such a thing and you hadn’t asked for any of this, but you knew if you told them everything would be so much worse. 

“What happened?” Mina asked, and the way her voice dropped, the softness there, you thought she was talking to you. But before you could blow her off Cordelia answered, voice breathless in that slight tell of her annoyance. 

“She won’t tell me.”

Mina hummed. “Madison wouldn’t tell me, either.” She shifted, and then her finger was under your chin, pulling your gaze to hers. “Are you going to tell me, princess? Or am I going to have to get it out of you another way?”

Her lip twitched up at the corner and you knew exactly what that smirk meant, but then James’s mouth overtook your thoughts. The smell of it, the feel of it, the taste of it. 

The room spun and the bath was too hot and your stomach twisted, but you swallowed it down. Forced it all down. Because they couldn’t know. They couldn’t know that you had failed so miserably in such a crucial way. 

You were a disgrace of a witch, and they would never look at you the same way if they only knew just how much you had let them down. 

A tear fell, and before you could swipe at it Cordelia’s thumb was there, brushing it away. 

“What’s wrong, darling?” Cordelia tried again, and the way her voice shook made guilt shoot through you. “Just… talk to us. Please…”

Mina reached over and stroked her fingers through Cordelia’s hair, and Cordelia smiled sadly up at her in appreciation. And in that moment, that split second on the precipice of caving, you realized that what they had was so much bigger than you. 

You had been naive before, so giddy and excited and idiotically smitten with both of them. And just yesterday you had gotten their permission to post a photo of the three of you, both of them kissing you. But as much as they spoiled you and pampered you and made you feel so special and precious in the bedroom, they hadn’t signed up for this. They didn’t need this in their lives. They had been a perfectly happy couple before taking you into their bed, and that kind of fun didn’t lend itself to this level of drama. 

So you bit down on your lip, wrapping your arms around your legs and hugging them to you. Sighed. 

“I told you. I fell. That’s all. It’s not a big deal.” 

And after a long moment of Cordelia and Mina looking between each other and you, Mina got up, swiping her cane and skirting out the door.

Cordelia cleared her throat. “I don’t know what you’re not telling us, but it’s alright. If you say that you fell, then I believe you.”

You let out a long breath, closing your eyes and nodding. 

“Thank you.”

And you meant it, because the relief of that pressure being gone, knowing they would let it rest for the time being, if not for good, was enough to pull some of the terror from around your heart and let you breathe again. 

“Now, darling,” Cordelia murmured, finger lifted from the water and tracing ever so lightly down your arm, “where do you hurt?”

~~~ 

Cordelia’s arm twitched on your waist and you flinched, James’s hand flashing through your mind. 

It had been like this for hours. You didn’t know exactly how long because you could’t see the clock on the nightstand, but long enough for both Wilhemina and Cordelia to fall asleep on either side of you, and for you to have had at least three small panic attacks after that. 

They had both been very considerate, Mina’s fingers pulling skillfully through your hair as Cordelia skimmed her fingers over your ribs. 

“Are they feeling better?” Cordelia asked, and you nodded, thanking her again for whatever touch of magic she had put in that water that made all of your broken bits mend up a little quicker. At least the physical ones. 

But now, as you lay between these two perfect women and the world heated up, degree by agonizing degree, you couldn’t help but taste the thick air of that hallway. Every time you closed your eyes you saw the red lighting. Saw his face. Every time Mina nudged against you, you felt his hands, his mouth. And when she grumbled in her sleep, pressing a soft kiss to your head, you felt his hand come down across your face. Heard the glass shattering, again and again and again. 

Eventually it was too much. You couldn’t breathe and you couldn’t think and you needed space to just be. So you crawled carefully out from under the covers and off of the bed. You tiptoed to the door, opening it, and glanced behind you as Mina rolled over, whining and reaching into the empty space. And you almost paused. Almost smiled. But then her hands met Cordelia’s side and Cordelia was in her arms in a second, tucked up under her chin and legs twined together. Like you hadn’t even been there. Like they didn’t realize you were gone. 

You had been so caught up with the privilege of being between them that you hadn’t realized how perfectly they fit together without you there.  

Without you. 

And as you crawled into your own bed, under your ice cold, dusty sheets, you let yourself cry because you just wanted to make them proud. You just wanted to be good enough for one of them, let alone both. And you had utterly, miserably failed. 

~~~ 

You woke to your phone ringing, and you swiped your thumb over the screen before registering that it was your mother. 

“Hello?” you mumbled sleepily, sitting up and scrubbing the exhaustion out of your eyes. She was ranting before you had pulled the phone to your ear. 

“—and I don’t pay thousands of dollars each month for you to fall into this kind of nonsense. And with the headmistress? Really? I had no idea, honestly. No idea. But this will not stand. I don’t want you here, but you’re sure as hell not staying there. Not if that’s what they’re telling you is okay. I’m going to call your father tonight and then you’re going to be put in some sort of psych ward. It’s what we should have done in the first place. Some nice, white padded walls. That’ll sort you out—“

You hung up quickly, phone falling from trembling fingers. 

No. No, no, no. 

You sat frozen on your bed for a long moment, visions of your mother screaming at you, yanking you awake as you floated above your bed, the way she had practically shoved her money at Cordelia and left you shaking and fighting tears in the middle of the lobby. 

But in the four months or so that you had been studying here, you had found your family. Your friends. For the first time in your life you felt like you belonged somewhere. 

With them. 

You shook the thought away, steeling yourself against everything that had happened the night before and resolving yourself to the fact that they wouldn’t want you anymore. 

And as you felt another panic attack settling in, you slid out of bed, changing into something clean and fresh. But somehow, even with fresh clothes and a nice bath and a few hours of sleep, you still felt dirty as you plodded quietly down the stairs to the kitchen and turned on the light. 

It was unnaturally early and none of the other girls would be up for at least an hour. Which gave you plenty of time to make yourself a cup of coffee and sort out your brain. 

But no sooner did you have a steaming mug in your hand and were just relishing the first sleep-clearing sip, then you heard something shuffle behind you. 

You whipped around, James’s face flashing through your mind. 

It was Madison. 

You let out a long breath, hand coming to your heart. 

“Jeez, Madison. You scared the shit out of me.”

She skirted around you, pouring herself a cup of your coffee. 

“You’re not going to finish this, right?” she asked mockingly, and then she was settled down at the kitchen table, knees tucked up on her chair. She looked at you for a long moment and you blinked back. “Are we going to talk about last night, or…?” 

You waved her off, making your way across the kitchen. But you stopped in the doorway, guilt washing through you. 

“I-“ you tried, turning to face her. “Thank you for helping me. And for letting me tell Delia and Mina.”

Madison made a face, and you mentally scolded yourself because you knew she hated those little nicknames. You cleared your throat. 

“Seriously. Thank you.”

She stared at you, and when she spoke her voice was flat. “So you told them?”

You nodded. A lie. 

“Both of them?”

You rolled your eyes. “Madison, if one of them knows, it’s safe to assume they both do. You know how they are.” 

And you chuckled softly at your own joke, but she wasn’t laughing. Her eyes searched your face. “You’re sure you told them?”

Another nod. 

She hummed, sipping her coffee. 

“What?”

Her eyebrows raised over her mug. “Nothing. It’s just my bedroom is close enough to theirs that I can usually hear everything you weirdos do. And it was pretty quiet last night.”

You swallowed hard. “They wanted to give me space.”

“Oh, I’m sure.”

And you relaxed for a split second before she spoke again. 

“And that’s why you went back to your own room, right?”

You snapped your eyes to hers and she was challenging you, all wiggled down in her seat like a snake that was about to strike. 

“That’s none of your business,” you tried weakly. She smirked. 

“Alright.”

And your brow furrowed as you nodded. “Alright.”

~~~ 

You walked down the street, bundling your coat tighter around you and stuffing your nose into your scarf. It was cold, despite everything, and the icy wind was doing wonders to clear your head. 

You had volunteered to go on errands today, and insisted that you go alone when Cordelia offered to go with you. She hadn’t pushed, and you had been grateful. But the two or three stops you were planning on making had turned to seven, the mindless shopping and browsing doing wonders to clear your head. You were grateful for the space. The privacy. The ability to get away from Cordelia and Mina for a day and just breathe. 

It had only taken a fraction of a second. One man that got a little too close to you as he passed by you in an aisle. 

And suddenly you were acutely aware that you were utterly alone. Unprotected. Vulnerable. 

After that you saw him everywhere, tall and solid and looming. His brown hair bobbing through crowds, his face in strangers that passed by you. 

You rushed to the grocery store, desperate to get the last of your errands done and swearing that you could feel his gaze on you. Hear his voice. And as you pulled fruits and vegetables and all of Madison’s ridiculous requests into your bags, you realized that he could be anywhere. Anyone. You could run smack into him on the street and he could drag you away and no one would know what had happened to you—

Stop. 

You forced a deep breath in as you handed your groceries to the cashier, foot bouncing. Cordelia would always find you. Cordelia would always be there for you. Cordelia wouldn’t let him hurt you again. 

Except she didn’t know he had hurt you in the first place. 

Except now everything was different. 

And you were alone. 

The fear racked its way back up your throat as you walked determinately back to the school, heart hammering faster with every step. And as your pulse quickened so did your steps, until you were practically running from the ghost of his memory. Sprinting as far away from the idea of him as fast as you could. 

The pounding of your shoes on the pavement morphed into the pounding of the bass in the club. The light from the setting sun tinted too red as you remembered the flashing lights. And his hands. His hands everywhere…

By the time you reached the school you were out of breath, cheeks wet from tears you hadn’t realized had fallen. You yanked the gate open, not bothering to shut it behind you as you blinked around your blurred vision. 

You could feel him behind you, even though you knew he wasn’t there. Could feel him breathing down your neck.

You ran up the front steps to the academy, pushing away thoughts of him wandering the city. The fact that you could run into him at any point on any given day. The fact that you weren’t safe. 

The doors to the house swung open as you hit the landing and Kyle greeted you with a small smile, but it quickly melted off his face as you pushed by him and forced the doors shut. 

“I’m fine, Kyle,” you said in response to his unasked question. But the way your breaths were coming out of you, ragged and short and strangled from running, you knew it didn’t sound believable. 

“Can you take these to the kitchen?” 

His eyes caught your shaking hands as he took the bags from you and he frowned, but you brushed him off, heading straight for the stairs. 

You just needed a minute to catch your breath. 

And you almost made it. 

You were only three steps away from the staircase when Wilhemina’s fingers gripped around your arm, pulling you back against her. 

“Where do you think you’re going, sneaking upstairs before saying hello?” she murmured against your ear, and your knees went weak because oh lord, there was no air to breathe in this room. You swallowed around your dry throat, forcing steady breaths out of your lungs. Schooled your features. 

But you didn’t turn around. 

“I need to go to the bathroom,” you lied. And you should have known better. She could read you like a book, especially when you tried to lie to her. But after a brief pause, fingers twitching on your arm, she let you go. 

“Alright little one, just don’t be too long.” Her voice was low and it floated up behind you as you made too quickly for the stairs. “We missed you terribly and Delia made your favorite tonight.” 

And you nodded as you fled, retreating to the safety and privacy of the bathroom and forcing deep breaths down as you blinked at yourself in the mirror. 

And that’s when the tears came. Hard, heavy, and fast.

You didn’t realize how long you had been crying in there, curled in on yourself and shaking, until one of the girls knocked on the door and told you that dinner was ready.

~~~

They both stared at you through dinner. And it was probably your fault. 

For one thing, you hadn’t sat next to either of them, too afraid that if Mina slid her hand over your knee or Cordelia pushed a strand of hair out of your face you would lose it in front of everyone. So you situated yourself safely between Madison and Zoe, whispering with Madison that yes everything was back to normal, and thanking her quietly for not asking too many questions. 

Cordelia ate quietly, laughing softly with some of the girls. But you could feel Mina’s eyes on you like a knife, could feel the heat of her gaze with every twitch of your brow or quirk of your lip. 

At one point you gathered the courage to look up at them, but neither of them were paying you any attention, Mina’s eyes on Cordelia’s lap as Cordelia whispered in her ear. She nodded slowly as Cordelia slid her hand over Mina’s, and you saw Cordelia’s brow furrow, just so.

~~~

Cordelia caught you after dinner, sidled up against Madison and drying the dishes as she washed them. 

“Can I see you in the greenhouse for a moment?” she asked politely, her voice hitting that pitch that it always did when she was around the other girls. 

You hesitated, licking your lips slowly before nodding. 

And as you left, Cordelia’s hand skating over your lower back, Madison called out, “You don’t have to ask so politely, Foxxy. We all know you’re going to bang her brains out.”

~~~

Wilhemina hit her cane on the stone of the greenhouse floor and you flinched in Cordelia’s arms. She squeezed you tighter to her and you pulled yourself down as small as you could in her embrace.

“You don’t keep secrets from us, princess,” Mina tried again, something like regret flicking across her features at your reaction. “Understood? Just tell us what happened and everything will be okay.”

“We can’t help you if you don’t talk to us, darling,” Cordelia tried, pulling away and holding you at arms length. She searched your eyes and you ducked your head. 

“Nothing happened,” you said for the millionth time in the last twenty minutes. 

And Cordelia released you this time, eyes finding Mina’s behind you as she swallowed. 

“Alright.”

~~~

You planned on changing in the bathroom that night, brushing it off on the fact that you wanted to shower. And this time, when Cordelia offered to join you, you refused. 

The water did wonders to clear your head, letting the past days, the past week, the constant nagging, wash off your back as you scrubbed yourself down with soap. And when you stepped out of the tub, wrapping the plush towel around you and swiping the steam off the mirror, you let yourself smile at the fact that you actually felt clean. 

You pulled the comb through your hair slowly, relishing the quiet of the bathroom and the sheer space around you. No one pushing in. No one asking questions. No one’s eyes boring into your back as you tried to mind your own business.

But when you reached for your pajamas and your hand hit air, you frowned. You must have left them on their bed. 

Shit. 

A deep breath, and then you steeled yourself, tucking the towel tightly around yourself and plodding back to Cordelia’s room. 

You passed by Coco on the way and she looked you up and down, biting down on a snort. “Someone’s getting lucky tonight, huh?”

You faked a smile, hand frozen on the doorknob. “Go to bed, Coco.”

“Will I be able to sleep? These walls are thinner than you three think.”

“Go to bed, Coco,” you tried again, rolling your eyes. 

And then she was off, grumbling something about how she would have already been in bed if you hadn’t taken so long in the shower. 

You knocked softly on the door and waited for Cordelia’s muffled “come in” before turning the knob and entering. 

She was siting on the edge of the bed, Wilhemina standing next to her as she pulled the pins from her hair. And from the scowls on their faces they had clearly been in some sort of deep conversation. 

They both looked up when you entered, Mina dropping her loose pins into Cordelia’s outstretched hand. 

“Well, well,” Cordelia started, smirking as her eyes raked over you. “To what do we owe this pleasure?”

You cleared your throat, hugging your towel closer to your chest. You ignored the way Cordelia’s smirk faltered. “I left my pajamas in here. Sorry.”

She shifted on the mattress, crossing her legs as Mina leaned up against the post of the bed and looked at you through lidded eyes. Her brow raised. 

“Why on earth are you apologizing, princess?” 

And you gaped around words, because you really didn’t know. 

“You know,” Cordelia drawled, glancing up at Mina and smirking at the unspoken words between them. “Mina and I were just thinking that it had been quite some time since we spoiled you.” Her hands skimmed down her thighs, fingers playing with the fabric of her nightgown. “And we’ve missed you ever so much.”

James’s voice flooded your mind, making you flinch. 

This is mine.

Mina pulled herself off of the bedpost, stalking towards you. And you knew that look. You knew those predatory eyes. You knew what it meant when her fingers twitched on the head of her cane like that. And with every tap against the wood, James’s words rang in your ears. 

“You know, you really don’t need that towel.” 

Did you miss me, baby?

“Not when you have the two of us to keep you warm.”

I don’t care how many women you sleep with.

“To make you feel good.”

It will always be mine.

“To make you forget about whatever is worrying that pretty little mind of yours.” 

Do you understand?

And she was almost to you, just out of arms reach, when you ducked around her and fled to the edge of the bed, scrambling to scoop up your pajamas. 

“I-I think I’d rather sleep in my room tonight, if that’s okay.”

And when Cordelia frowned you mumbled some excuse about feeling ill. 

“Do you need me to get you anything?” Cordelia tried, hand reaching out to catch your arm as you passed. 

But you dodged her too, throwing a “no, it’s alright” behind you as you practically ran from the room.

~~~ 

“Did you and Foxxy break up?”

You rolled your eyes, flicking to the next page in your book. 

“I’m trying to read, Madison.”

She sauntered over, perching on the edge of the couch. “I’m just asking.”

And as she snatched a cigarette out of the holder on the coffee table and lit it, you let your curiosity get the better of you and put your book down. 

You sighed. “Why are you asking?”

She shrugged, dragging on her cigarette. “You took the Instagram picture down. You know, the gross one where Venny was practically licking your face.” 

And you rolled your eyes again, half at her attitude, half at the nickname. “Not that it’s any of your business,” you started, shifting on the couch and crossing your legs under you, “but no. We didn’t break up.”

She let out a soft “huh”, blowing another puff of smoke. And just when you thought she had let it go and went to grab your book back, she spoke again. “Why’d you take it down?”

And your eyebrows raised in frustration as you looked over at her. “Because I felt like it.”

“That’s bullshit.”

And you flinched at her tone. “What?”

“I said that’s bullshit,” she tried again, dragging the words out sarcastically. “We both know you caved to your awful mother.”

And this time you actually froze. “Madison, what are you talking about?”

The only person who knew anything about your mother was Cordelia, and potentially Wilhemina. Cordelia had met her briefly and whether or not she remembered the woman enough to discuss her with Mina, you couldn’t say. You were definitely careful not to bring her up in conversation. And honestly, they never really asked about your home life. No one did. 

There was an unspoken “no pry” policy between the girls, and it made it easier to forget the past and concentrate on your studies. 

Madison flicked her cigarette, leaning back on the arm of the couch. “I heard Foxxy talking to her on the phone the other day. Damn, that woman can rant.”

You blinked at her, trying to find the right words. But all you landed on was, “Cordelia was talking to my mother?”

“Yeah, and taking some pretty detailed notes.” 

You were off the couch in a second, heading straight for the door. But Madison caught your wrist, cackling. 

“Jeez, I was kidding. Relax.”

You paused and seriously considered yanking your hand from her grip and smacking her across the face because honestly. But you took a deep breath instead, setting your jaw as you flopped back down on the couch. 

“You’re a fucking prick, you know that?”

Madison hummed. “What are you so afraid of? That your perfect girlfriends will learn about your deep, dark past?”

You sighed. “I don’t have a deep, dark past. As boring as it may sound.”

She scoffed. “Exactly. So what’s the issue?” 

You huffed, pushing your hand to your forehead. “She threatened to pull me out of here. Throw me in an institution somewhere and lock me away.”

“Shit…”

You glanced up at Madison, all traces of playful banter gone. She actually looked pale. 

“What, no witty comeback?”

She shook her head slowly, studying you. “You know Cordelia would never let that happen, right?”

You waved her off. 

“No, I mean it. Even if you weren’t screwing her. You’re one of us. And she would never let that happen.”

And you hated that tears were pricking your eyes. “Maybe before, but not now.”

“Now…?” Madison prompted, swinging her legs over and sliding down onto the couch with you. 

When you spoke again, your voice was thick with unshed tears. “I failed, Madison. I couldn’t even defend myself from one stupid guy. I don’t deserve to be here. I don’t…” You swallowed hard. “I don’t deserve them.”

And she actually laughed. “You’re kidding, right? Do you think I knew how to choke a person out after only being here for a few months? You’re not supposed to know how to do that yet. Or really at all, I guess? I don’t know, I stole one of Foxxy’s books a while back.”

You chuckled, tracing the fabric of the couch and picking at it softly. “That’s all fine and good, but—“

Madison cut you off, waving her cigarette in your face. “I swear if you’re about to say that you’re ‘damaged goods’ and whine about how sorry I’m supposed to feel for you, I’m leaving right now.”

You groaned, smacking her hand out of your face and falling back on the couch. “What the hell am I supposed to do, Madison?”

She snorted. “You’re asking me for advice?”

You cackled, scrubbing your hands over your face. “Now do you understand how desperate I am?”

And as she leaned back on the couch and propped her feet up on the arm, dragging on her cigarette, she reached her hand out to you. When you took it, she squeezed. “You can start by saying ‘fuck the haters’.” 

You quirked your brow, looking up at her. But she sure as hell looked like she wasn’t joking, and you were willing to do anything at this point. So you cupped your hands around your mouth, dropping your voice a few octaves. 

“Fuck the haters.”

“There you go,” Madison laughed, and the two of you went back and forth, saying “fuck the haters” louder and louder as you giggled and smacked at each other. 

You didn’t see Cordelia watching you from the doorway. Didn’t see her brow push up as you laughed. Didn’t see her nose twitch against tears as you fell back on the couch, legs kicking at Madison. 

Didn’t see her bite her lip as she turned, sighing. 

You didn’t see her.

~~~ 

A soft knock. And you knew she was expecting you, so you weren’t surprised when the door opened of its own accord. 

You lingered in the doorway. 

“You wanted to see me?”

Cordelia looked up from her desk, pushing the hair off of her face. 

“Come on in, beautiful.”

You smiled at her, closing the door behind you. But you couldn’t help the slight tremble in your hands because somehow, in some way, you felt like you were in trouble. 

She gestured across her desk. “Sit.”

And yes, you were definitely in trouble, because you hadn’t sat across her desk in months. She always had you sit in her lap. Pushed you against the wall. Sat you up on her desk. 

You squirmed in the chair, fingers twitching in your lap. “Did I do something wrong?”

She shook her head, waving you off as she finished writing out some paperwork. She stacked the pages together and set them aside, and then her hands were folded on her desk and she was leaning forward, and you couldn’t read the expression on her face. 

You could tell what Mina was thinking by the way she inhaled. Knew the language of Cordelia’s fingers twitching better than speaking. But this past week had proved more difficult, all of their actions and decisions shrouded in some sort of secret code that only they could decipher.

You were utterly lost. And it terrified you. 

Cordelia cleared her throat. “I had initially thought that it was Madison that hurt you—”

“What?” you started, but she held her hand up. 

“I had initially thought that it was Madison that hurt you, and that’s why you wouldn’t tell Mina or I what happened.”

You shook your head. “She helped me. It wasn’t her fault at all.”

And Delia hummed. “I see that now.”

You nodded softly. Cordelia’s eyes narrowed as she studied you. And after only a few moments you found it difficult to breathe. 

It was different on this side of the desk. She was intense. Intimidating. You had never doubted her power, but you had always wondered how this woman who was always so soft and open and pliable with you and Mina could command an entire coven, let alone fight in wars against warlocks and voodoo queens and witch hunters. But now, sitting opposite her and very distinctly feeling like you were in trouble, not to mention that rooted gut feeling that you had let her down and the guilt of having lied to her — your skin was vibrating and your heart was pounding and you suddenly realized precisely why she was the Supreme. 

She was power personified. 

A powerful presence, a powerful love. A powerful voice. Powerful magic. 

She could snap her fingers and make the entire human population bend to its knees. Or maybe it was just you. The other girls didn’t seem to be afraid of her. 

“Your mother called me.”

Her words snapped you out of your thoughts. You swallowed. 

“Oh?”

A nod. “Do you want to leave this coven?”

Your heart sunk into your stomach, and when you spoke, your voice was smaller than you would have liked.

“Please don’t let her take me.”

You heard the way it came out of your mouth, weak and broken. You saw the way Cordelia’s eyes softened and her brow pulled together. Watched her fingers twitch. 

But where she normally would have reached for you, pulled you into her lap and kissed you until you were giggling, ravished you with reassurances, she only cleared her throat and leaned back in her chair. 

“Alright. That will be all.”

You blinked at her for a moment, stunned, before standing and thanking her. And as you turned to leave, fighting tears at her casual dismissal as you realized that she was already done with you, that she had already stopped caring, she called your name. 

You spun, hope flaring in your chest, but she wasn’t looking at you. 

“You should thank Madison. She covered for you well.” 

Cordelia dragged her pen through the air as she spoke, waving absently toward the door. 

A soft nod as you swallowed, fighting yourself on whether or not you should answer. But Cordelia was already buried back in her paperwork and she clearly didn’t have time for you, especially not when she had already given up. Before she even knew how broken you were. Because you had lied to her. Over and over again. 

This was all your fault. 

So you turned, wringing your hands as you pulled the door to Cordelia’s office open. You paused in the doorway, working against your better judgement and looking back at her once more. 

Nothing. You doubted she even realized you were still there.

You shut the door behind you with a soft click, leaning back against it and steadying your breaths out in the empty hallway, hands shaking against the wood. 

That night, for the first time in months, you slept alone in your room without telling either of them where you were going. Without making an excuse. Without any sort of explanation. 

And no one came looking for you. 

~~~ 

The next day was impossibly long. 

Cordelia and Mina were both out on errands, and they wouldn’t be back until the afternoon. You and Zoe has been left in charge of the girls, but while Zoe led the lessons, all you could do was watch from the corner, mind churning over the past week on an endless loop. 

And by the time both women returned that afternoon, you had resolved yourself to studying alone in the kitchen. Cordelia would go straight to her greenhouse if you knew her, and Mina almost always went right to her study to get off of her feet and file whatever paperwork she had collected on their run. 

So you startled when one of the younger girls scrambled into the kitchen, bouncing on her toes and looking around nervously.

“Millie?” you tried, putting your book down and walking over to her. “Are you alright?”

She nodded. Shook her head. Nodded again. 

“What’s wrong?”

And when she spoke, the words tumbled out of her mouth like she was afraid if she paused they would bite her. 

“Ms. Venable said she wants to see you in her room right now and if you’re not up there in two minutes she’s going to come find me and make me scrub the toxic ooze out of the bottoms of Cordelia’s rose pots with no gloves to protect my childlike hands.”

You couldn’t help but smile fondly, because it was honestly adorable how terrified everyone was of Mina. And you could tell Millie was repeating her words verbatim.  

“Alright. Thank you, Millie.” You gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder as you made to leave the kitchen. Paused as you heard her panting softly behind you. “And just so you know… Roses don’t produce ‘toxic ooze’. And you don’t have childlike hands.”

You saw her glance down at her fingers, nodding slowly, and then she scrambled out of the room as quickly as she had come. 

~~~ 

It was less than two minutes by the time you made it up to their room, but when you opened the door, Wilhemina and Cordelia were standing in the middle of the space like they had been waiting for hours. 

“We need to have a talk,” Mina said, and you braced yourself for what you knew was coming.

“You scared the hell out of Millie,” you deflected. Neither of them laughed. 

Instead, Cordelia reached forward and took your hand, pulling you over to the bed and sitting you down on the edge of it. She drew back, fingers falling from yours, and her and Mina exchanged a look that you couldn’t read. 

Cordelia wedged her thumb between her teeth as she looked you over, hand on Mina’s arm. And just when you started to brace yourself for your universe to split to pieces as they told you that this was over, just as you started building hard steel walls around your heart, Cordelia spoke. 

“Who hurt you?” 

Oh. 

You almost groaned, annoyed at the fact that they wouldn’t just let it go. But you told yourself that maybe if they were still stuck on it after all this time, maybe it meant that they still cared about you. Maybe you had been wrong. And you certainly weren’t going to jeopardize that now. So you lied. Just like you had hundreds of times in the past week. And you hated the fact that it was almost getting easy. 

“No one, Delia. I fell.”

All it took was a glance from Cordelia and Mina stepped forward, fingers twitching on her cane. 

“Don’t lie, princess.”

“I’m not lying.”

She scoffed, hard and loud as she tapped her cane down. “See but we think you are, little one.”

And Cordelia hummed, moving to sit next to you on the edge of the bed. “Why have you been avoiding us, darling?”

“I-I haven’t,” you countered weakly, swallowing hard. 

Mina tutted, walking over and tipping your chin up. “Lying again. What a naughty girl you are.”

You whimpered, fingers curling in the sheets as Mina’s hand moved to your throat. And she wouldn’t have known. Couldn’t have. But everything inside of you tensed, and you fought to keep yourself grounded in the moment. Refused to let your mind wander to that stupid red hallway. 

“Looks like we’re going to have to do this my way,” she continued, tapping at your ankles with her cane. “Over Delia’s lap. Now.”

But Cordelia held up her hand, the heat of her gaze raking over you. You saw her eyes narrow and her brow furrow, and then her fingers were on Mina’s wrist as she pried her hand off of your throat. 

“No,” Cordelia said firmly, tugging Mina down onto the bed next to you. “We’re going to do it my way this time.”

A look was exchanged between Cordelia and Mina, and Mina nodded, just so. And then Cordelia was running her hand over your shoulder, fingers pushing and massaging and working their way up to the base of your neck. 

“Do you want to tell us what happened?” Cordelia tried again, and you went to protest, but something stopped you. 

Cordelia hummed, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. 

“There we go,” she said softly, encouragingly, and your eyes went wide as Mina’s hand found your knee. 

“Delia what did you mean when you said—“ 

Mina cut you off, shushing you and pressing a kiss to your temple. 

Something pricked at your nose and you flinched, fingers twisting in the sheets at your side. 

Cordelia stroked her hands through your hair, fingers leaving warmth in their wake.

“It’s alright darling, just relax.”

Mina hummed, adjusting herself on the bed. Your eyes fluttered shut at the tap of her cane as she shifted. 

“You’re safe here,” Cordelia continued, and you felt Mina’s thumb brush over the dip of your knee. “We just want to help you. Now tell us what happened, beautiful.”

You had barely registered her request when the words pushed out of your mouth. 

“I didn’t fall. He hit me,” you started, and your eyes went wide as you dug your teeth into your lip. Cordelia’s brow creased and Mina’s fingers tightened on your knee. 

A pause as they looked at each other. 

“Who hit you?” Cordelia asked.

“My ex.” Your teeth came down on your lip again, harder this time. You tasted blood. 

“And why did he hit you, princess?” Mina’s voice was low. Steady. Surprisingly calm.

“Because he was—“ you started, the words snaking past your teeth before you bit down on your cheek. A deep breath. “Delia, what are you doing to me?” 

Her smirk twitched up at the corner, tugged up with her brows as her fingers strung through your hair. “Why did he hit you?” 

“Because he was trying to—“ And this time you covered your mouth with your hand, determination locking into your features. 

Cordelia furrowed her brow and shook her head, just so. “Don’t fight it honey, it’ll be so much easier if you just tell us what happened.”

“I don’t want to.” And now tears were pricking at your eyes because you knew what she had done. And you knew that you had driven them to this. And you knew that there was no way you could fight it. 

“Why not?” It was Mina, thumb brushing over your cheek. 

A sniffle. A shaky breath. And then you couldn’t hold onto it anymore and the truth fell out of you.

About how you had failed them, how you had failed as a witch. How he had pushed himself on you. Had hit you over the head with his glass. How Madison had saved you and defended you and covered for you like you had asked. How you were a disappointment. How you understood that they wouldn’t want to be with you anymore. That they didn’t sign up for this. 

At some point during your explanation, Cordelia had vaulted off the bed, pacing the room as Mina’s hand rubbed slow circles on your back. 

They let you go, let you talk, let you stumble over your thoughts and squeeze every last detail from your memory. And you weren’t sure how long it had taken, but by the time you finished the sun had set and a cool chill was billowing the curtains. 

You finished your explanation with a soft “I’m sorry”, more a breath than a final statement. And your body deflated as Mina pressed a kiss to your temple, the weight of the week and the pressure of keeping a secret from them finally lifting from your shoulders as sobs pushed up your throat. 

You thought that maybe you had done the right thing, letting everything go. That maybe, somehow, everything would fall back into place. But while Mina’s touches were soft and her mouth was warm as she pressed kisses along your hairline, Cordelia had hardened and a cold energy poured off of her. 

“What’s his full name?” Cordelia’s voice was as firm as you had ever heard it, pitched deep and low. 

You wiped sloppily at your cheeks and sniffed hard. “James Conroy.” 

Mina hummed, and it was almost a growl, but when you looked over at her she smiled reassuringly. “You’re doing great.”

“And his address?”

“I-I don’t know,” you tried, your brain pulling every piece of information you had on him to the forefront of your mind. Pushed the words onto your tongue. “He used to live by the French Quarter, but he might have moved.”

“His full address, Y/N. Now.”

“I—“ you tried, but your voice broke because you really didn’t know. Your mind was blank. Your mouth was empty. There was no other information you could present. 

“I said now!” Cordelia whirled on you, fire in her eyes. And Mina’s hand froze on your back.

“Delia,” Mina started, voice low. “She said she doesn’t know. Let it go.” 

Cordelia flicked her hand up. Wilhemina’s fingers sprung off of you and flew to her throat, and you watched in horror as her mouth moved around silent words. As she clawed at the soft skin under her jaw, brow creased and hot eyes on Cordelia. 

But then your head was whipped back to Cordelia, heat pressing in on your cheeks as you were held in place by an invisible force. Frozen in time. 

“Address,” she said again, voice thick and deep.

“I don’t know.” The words left you before you had decided to open your mouth.

“Last known residence.”

“I don’t know.” 

“Workplace.”

“I don’t know.” 

And your throat was heating up with the rapid fire questions, cheeks pressed in firmly to keep you still as your hands dug into the bedsheets. Found Mina’s thigh and squeezed. You heard a gasping sound and glanced over at Mina, saw her jaw set as the gears turned in her head.

“Physical description,” Cordelia continued, fingers twitching on the outstretched hand holding Mina’s voice in place. 

“B-Brown hair,” you choked out, and tears flooded your vision when you felt pressure constrict on your throat. It was starting to hurt, your brain working faster than you could fathom, swimming with information you thought was long forgotten. You could feel Cordelia digging through it, digging through your memories like a hungry animal. 

“Eye color.”

“Brown.”

“Height.”

“S-Six foot.”

And her fingers twitched at her side as the invisible fingers on your throat tightened. 

“Build.”

“A-Average. Broad shoulders,” you choked out, gasping around the crushing of your windpipe. And then James’s hand was there, pushing you, pinning you, choking you, sliding between your legs.

You gulped down air, struggling to breathe, struggling to think. Tears streamed down your cheeks as you sobbed and snot ran past your lips. It was too hot. It was too much. And your eyes rolled back in your head as every nerve was set on edge. 

It all happened so fast. 

The world swam in black and red, thoughts and memories whipping across your vision faster than you could comprehend. Cordelia’s voice cracking as she yelled at you, something about not being good enough. Not being enough. And the pieces of her chastisement that you could hear made you scream because you were trying for Christ’s sake. The sound got stuck in your throat, fire against the words that were trying to fight their way out of your mouth. A growl from Cordelia that fell straight inside your brain. Your lungs constricted as everything was pulled from inside of you. And then the sharp rap of Mina’s cane cracked through your mind.

It hit so hard it should have split the wood, and in that second, you were released. 

“Enough, Cordelia!”

You gulped down air as your vision came back, and the relief of having the pressure pulled from you made you feel like you were hovering off the bed. 

There was a long silence as you sobbed, choking on snot and air and tears. And it wasn’t until you tore your eyes from Cordelia that you realized Mina had an arm across you, blocking you with her body and pushing herself between you and Cordelia. 

Cordelia froze, blinking. “I—“ she tried, voice raspy. And her eyes went wide as tears welled. “I…”

She must have still been holding some piece of you, however small. Because in that moment, whatever spell was still on you broke and you crumpled in on yourself, doubling over Mina’s arm and curling against her side as you gasped and sobbed into your knees. 

And when Mina spoke again, you could barely hear her low voice through the sound of your sniffling, your face buried too far into her shoulder. 

“That’s enough.”

A long silence stretched. You felt Mina move softly with her breaths, hand stroking your thigh. But she was stiff. Too tall. Challenging. 

And after what felt like an eternity you heard the heavy click of heels, a soft “Mina…” Felt Mina shake her head slowly. And then the door slammed. 

Mina took a deep breath, shoulders falling just so as she sighed. 

“Alright, princess. It’s okay. She’s gone. It’s just me.”

She pressed a kiss to the top of your head and then she was pulling her arm from your grip and sliding her hand across your cheek, tugging your face from behind her shoulder. 

“Come on, little one. Look at me.”

You sniffed, leaning into her touch as you let her pull your face to hers and press a soft kiss to your lips. Your eyes fluttered open, vision blurred by tears that were still falling. 

“No no, princess. Don’t cry,” she started, brow furrowed as her eyes searched yours. “Everything is going to be okay.”

You sniffed, wiping at you cheeks. And the way she was looking at you, so worried. So tenderly. She had only looked at you that softly once before, after the first time she had used her cane on you. You wouldn’t have even noticed if you hadn’t squinted your eyes open that night after she thought you had fallen asleep. But as much love as she normally poured over you, this look was something different. 

And suddenly you felt very small and very, very stupid. 

You straightened, clearing your throat and sniffing against more tears. 

But Mina knew what you were doing and her fingers were instantly in your hair, scratching your scalp in that way that always put you straight to sleep. 

“Shh, princess,” she cooed, tipping your chin up. And you fought to avoid her gaze, but her fingers twitched and she whispered your name, and when you met her eyes she smiled. “You don’t need to do that.”

You shook your head, brushing her off, but her fingers tightened on your chin, just so, and your eyes snapped back to hers. “You don’t do that with me, okay?” A pause. “Ever.”

You gulped, sniffing as fresh tears welled in your eyes. 

And when Mina spoke again, her voice was low. Hoarse. “Please don’t do that with me. If you’re not okay, tell me. If something happens, tell me. You scared the hell out of us.”

You choked on a whimper, sobs pushing up your throat. “I’m sorry,” you whispered. But she cut you off.

“No, no. Don’t apologize.” A soft kiss to your forehead. “Just don’t shut us out. Okay?”

You nodded softly. “Okay.”

“I love you,” she said softly, brushing a strand of hair from your eyes. “And Delia loves you, too. That’s the only reason she lost control.”

You sniffled at her words, and this time when the tears fell onto your cheeks you weren’t sure if they were fresh or bottled up somewhere from before. 

“You’re not going to leave me?” Your hands fidgeted in your lap and you picked a point on Mina’s dress to study, too afraid of what would happen if you were looking her in the eye and she said yes. 

“What? I—“ Mina cut off, trying to catch your gaze. “Who told you that? Was it Madison, because I swear—“

You shook your head, swiping at your tears. “No, I just... figured you wouldn’t want me if I was...” A sniff, and the words got caught in your throat but you pushed them out. “If I was broken like this...”

Mina’s eyes went wide as her brow furrowed and she let out a soft “oh, no no” before licking her lips and swallowing. 

Her hand fell from your chin and she shifted, patting her lap. “Come here.”

She helped you lean over, still shaking from the vice grip Cordelia had on you earlier, and you rested your head on her lap, curling up on the edge of the bed. Her hand was back on your thigh in an instant, tracing soft circles as her fingers carded through your hair and over your scalp. 

“Relax, little one.” 

And you barely had time to nod, to sigh against the love her fingers were pushing into you, before your eyes grew heavy and you were lulled into a deep sleep. 

~~~ 

Soft voices woke you from dreams of Cordelia’s hair and Mina’s hands, and you whined softly as you shifted, waiting for one of them to grab you and pull you close. Reaching for their heat. 

Nothing. 

You shifted in bed and noted that you had been tucked under covers and that there were plush pillows fanned around you. But you didn’t open your eyes, sinking back into that soft twilight of warmth and peace between sleep and consciousness. 

At the rustling of the sheets the voices paused and you froze, face buried in your pillow. After a moment they continued, though, and you smiled to yourself at the warmth that threaded through you from those voices alone. The sense of safety and security that the sound brought with it. 

“You need to eat.”

“I’m not leaving her, Mina.”

“Then let me bring something up—“

“No, I’m… No.”

A pause, a dissatisfied hum, and Cordelia spoke again.

“Where was he?”

You frowned.

“Madison found him scrounging some bar. She might not be much, but she sure can pick an asshole out of a crowd.”

A soft chuckle, and then a long silence.

“What’s wrong, little duck?”

Cordelia took a shaky breath.

“I feel like I failed her…”

You heard Mina’s cane tap, heard fabric shuffle.

“You found him, you did everything you could do.”

When Cordelia spoke again she sounded so small. Her voice wavered. “But I wasn’t there for her. I— We weren’t there for her, Mina. Our girl. She was scared and she was hurt and she was alone—“

Her voice cracked and you heard shuffling, and you propped yourself up in the bed as heat flooded your cheeks. 

Cordelia sat in the plush chair by the window, sunlight streaming in and turning her hair to gold. Her head was buried in Mina’s stomach as Mina smoothed her hands over her back, shushing her and cooing at her and holding Cordelia against her. Cordelia’s shoulders shook and you heard a soft sob catch in her throat as her hands tightened over Mina’s arms. 

And watching your Supreme, so small and helpless and broken. Because of you. Because she felt like she had failed you. After you had been so worried you had failed her. 

Something broke in your chest and you sniffed against tears as they dripped down your cheeks. 

And Mina, ever present and always impeccably observant, caught the sound. She looked over at you and a soft smile played across her lips, eyes softening. 

“Good morning, little one.”

You gave her your best smile, eyes flicking back to Cordelia as your brows pushed up. 

“Delia…?” you tried softly, and in an instant she had pushed herself off of Mina, wiping hastily at her eyes and schooling her features. She smiled at you, clearing her throat as her nose twitched around the ghost of tears.

“Hi, darling. How are you feeling?” 

She gulped, and you watched her throat bob, and then you couldn’t help it. You climbed off of the bed, drawn to her like a magnet despite everything that had happened. Because she had just been trying to help. She had been doing the only thing she knew to keep you safe. To protect you. You had hidden and lied and locked them both out. And they both deserved better than that. 

Cordelia deserved so much better than this guilt that slumped her shoulders and pulled the light from her eyes. She had been there for you when you wanted nothing more than to block her out. Desperate not to lose her. And now it was your turn. 

Mina stepped back as you approached, and you slid your hand over Cordelia’s as she offered you a weak smile. 

“Feeling better?” she tried again, but you only laced your fingers together, pulling her arm around you as you curled up in her lap and rested your head on her chest. Her free hand stroked through your hair on instinct and you felt her brow furrow. “What are you doing?”

You nuzzled your face into her chest, humming. “Thank you.”

She tilted her head and her hair fell into your face, tickling your nose. “What?”

Mina chuckled behind you, and you heard her cane tap as she perched herself on the edge of the chair. You looked up at both of them, trying to push the love and gratitude that was threatening to burst out of your chest through your eyes and into them. Mina smiled at you knowingly, fingers playing absently through Cordelia’s hair. 

You reached out and took her free hand, squeezing their fingers as you spoke. 

“Thank you. Both of you. For everything. I’m sorry I kept all of this from you.”

They both murmured soft reassurances matched with warm smiles, but you felt like it wasn’t enough. So you brought both of their hands to your lips, kissing their knuckles. 

“I love you both… So much.”

“You know we love you too, darling. That’s why we needed to know what happened.”

You nodded. “I know.”

“I’m sorry that I hurt you,” Cordelia continued, and her voice went from sultry to strangled in a second.

You shook your head. “You don’t need to apologize.” 

“Neither do you,” Cordelia countered, nails scratching lightly against your scalp. “Not one bit.”

“But I lied to you.” You shook your head, gaze dropping to your lap. “To both of you. After you have been nothing but kind to me. After you let me in and let me love you… And I—“

“No no no,” Cordelia tried again. “I should have never lost my temper like that—“

And then she squeaked and you whipped your head up. Mina was leaning over you, kissing Cordelia deeply, and it shouldn’t have made you squirm, especially after everything that had happened. But it did. 

Cordelia giggled as she felt you shift in her lap and she broke away, looking down at you knowingly. 

“Are you alright, darling?”

You cleared your throat. But before you could speak, Mina’s hand was on your cheek and she looked between you and Cordelia. 

“We’re stopping this nonsense now. Understood?” She arched a perfect brow. “You’re both sorry. You’ve both apologized. And you’ve both learned your lesson. And if you haven’t, well then leave that bridge for me to cross.”

And the look in her eyes as she smirked at you was so predatory that you couldn’t help but whine.

“Alright, little one?”

You nodded, mouth gone dry.

“Little duck?”

And Cordelia nodded, clearing her throat. When you looked up at her, her cheeks had flushed pink, and you knew it was because she still wasn’t used to being so exposed in front of someone other than Mina. That little name got straight under her skin and it never failed to make you grin. 

“Good,” Mina continued, squeezing your hand in hers and pressing a kiss to the top of your hair. “Now how about we all go get some lunch?”

Mina helped you slide off of Cordelia’s lap, untangling your arms and untucking your legs. And as you followed her to the door, Cordelia’s fingers ghosted hesitantly over the small of your back, over your waist, like she didn’t want to touch you but couldn’t fathom doing anything else. You glanced back, slipping your hands over hers and guiding them around your stomach. And the smile she offered you made your knees go weak. 

“Oh, and Delia?” Mina threw over her shoulder, reaching for the doorknob. “If you even think about going that hard on her again, let alone taking my voice, I’ll cane you in the foyer in front of everyone. Understood?”

[exquisitley-obsessed]

Pieces of People - Part 14

Author: @exquisitley-obsessed

Summary: Vampire y/n returns to Mystic Falls after finding out her friend Stefan Salvatore has gone off the rails with blood, what she doesn’t expect to happen is find out her deep-rooted connections with the Mikaelson family, in particular – Elijah.

Word Count: long

Pairings: Elijah Mikaelson x Reader

Warnings: none

A/N: I love how it takes me a few weeks but I always come back to this story!

MASTERLIST FOR THIS STORY,

MASTERLIST

“Vodka and…lots of ice.”

Y/n smiled at the young bartender before taking the drinks menu and fanning herself. It was hot. Unbearably hot - the kind of summer heat that makes the air feel foggy, where you have no choice but to sit in a sun-daze and wait till it passed. Sitting there on that slippery bar stool, y/n could feel the sweat drip down her bare thighs, her short skirt and strappy top doing little to help with the sweltering warmth. The window, a few feet away, was only able to splutter out measly coughs of wind, but y/n took each one gratefully. Summer had hit, and New Orleans was paying for it.

“Thank you,” She took the glass with need, allowing the crisp, cool liquid hit the back of her throat and burn its way down - it had been a while since she had last fed, and she needed that extra something to ease the throbbing hunger. The car journey was long and brutal. It started off wonderful, driving down to New Orleans on the open road with the clear, blue skies above, the windows rolled all the way down, the car flooded with air. But as she neared the city the number of cars increased and soon she was sitting in constant traffic, the black as night car heating up around her, encasing her in thick air. Eventually she had got the damn thing parked and crawled her way into the nearest bar – she had earned that much she decided. As soon as she had had a break she would be off again, headed for the address Klaus outlined in his note

It had come through the door a few weeks after the night of the storm. A few weeks after y/n had seen Elijah. They had proceeded to talk the whole night as they, very slowly, made their way back to the Salvatore mansion. He had left her with nothing but a kiss on the cheek and a plea that she come to New Orleans as soon as she could – she proceeded to promise him that she would meet him for a whiskey and a night of mischief one day, just as soon as she was no longer required in Mystic Falls.

Then in came the letter.

Dearest y/n,

Trouble has arisen here in New Orleans and I require all the friends and family I have. I know I am not one to ask for help but please – I need you. I hope to see you as soon as possible, if you come, talk to no one. I don’t know who I can trust. I’m staying at the Brumley House, Room 507.

Cordially,

Klaus

“Typical,” Damon had scoffed as he read it over her shoulder, “You don’t know what you’re gotten yourself into y/n – ended up accidentally joining the Mikaelson army.”

Ignoring Damon’s snide comments, y/n proceeded to pack her bags, seeing clearly the gravity of the situation. Klaus would never, ever ask for help - unless it was seriously necessary. She had driven down the following day and had ended up here, sweating furiously in a bar in sunny New Orleans.

“Excuse me, another?” Y/n smiled and watched as her second drink was fixed sucking on the ice cubes of her first, still bitter from the vodka’s bite.

“I never took you for a vodka and ice kind of girl.” A voice swam from behind her and y/n swirled around before a soft smile warmed her cheeks.

“Klaus.” He moved to sit next to her on the bar, his usual jacket discarded of, leaving him in a dark shirt and jeans. “Well, desperate times call for desperate measures.” She answered. Her hearing at that moment kept focusing in on the poor bartender’s pulse, the thick blood currently beating around his body, the veins in his neck quivering as it did so. Her mouth felt hot and dry, her teeth aggressively sharp the razor edges running against her inner lip. Snatch, snack, erase. Damon’s mantra drummed through her head, she couldn’t help but wonder when the bartender went on his break.

“Here you go.” His cheery voice snapped her back into reality.

“Thank you.” She mumbled, taking the glass without eye contact.

“I think perhaps right now it’s not vodka you want.” Klaus eyed the bartender, “Perhaps something to make you feel a little more, how shall I say...human?” Y/n ignored the comment and took another sip, rolling her eyes.

“I was just coming to find you.”

“Oh really?”

“Well, those were your instructions, right? Brumley House, room 507. Talk to no one.” Y/n quipped as she shuffled the ice cubes about in her glass.

“Y/n,” Klaus murmured after a moment, “What are you talking about?”

“What?” She turned to him. He was staring at her wide eyed and a little confused, the fact that he had never heard of a note or even Brumley house was clear as day.  “Klaus…you sent me a letter, right? You told me you needed me here, in New Orleans.”

“A letter?” He quipped, his brow raised quizzically. Swiftly y/n dug around in her back pocket before protruding a well thumbed note and handing it to Klaus. She watched as he pinched it carefully before uncurling the slip to read. His eyes turning a distant grey colour as he dissolved into his own mind. Then he was up, taking long strides out of the bar leaving y/n to quickly slap down some money, grab her bag and chase after him.

“Klaus!” She called, running down the street. “Klaus, wait for me!” She watched as he turned and disappeared down an alley, she picked up the pace. It wasn’t long until she had caught up with him, finding him halfway down the path, scanning the note in more seclusion. “Klaus where are you going? What are we going to do? Klaus.”

“Y/n I did not send you this letter, do you understand? Someone here in New Orleans wants you here and wants you to come to this address, I mean for God’s sake if you hadn’t just so happened to stumble into Marcel’s bar, I would never have seen you, then what? You’d be there by now, dealing with witches or wolfs, we don’t know what happened when we lifted the mind block from you, this kind of magic isn’t your typical kind of every day bog standard Harry Potter stuff love-”

“Klaus! I got it, okay…I know...I’m beginning to realise all of that, but my question still remains…what are we going to do?” Klaus looked at her for a moment, but his brain was buzzing wildly behind his eyes as another Mikaelson plan formulated before him.

“We’re going to go to this address, we’re going to see who wants you so badly, and then we ‘re going to kill them.”

***

A distant bell was now ringing in her ears. She sat in the front of the car, watching sedately as dust particles swam in the sunlight, they moved numbly before her, drifting this way and that before disappearing in the shadows, never to be seen again.

Her throat now felt raw. The blood pounding in her head as she struggled to focus on the setting around her. God, she should have just compelled that bartender into the alley, better safe than sorry.

“Are you okay?” Klaus asked, y/n hadn’t even noticed that he had opened her door for her.

“I’m fine.” She coughed before giving him a smile. And she was, a little hunger isn’t something she had never felt before. “So, this is the address?”

“Yeah I don’t know how their plan would ever work,” Klaus looked up, “I don’t think anyone would believe that the Mikaelson family would ever step foot in here...never mind live in it.” The building was tall, and antique. The front stretched broadly and, glaring at them, sat rows and rows of windows all neat and in place, despite the fact that all of them were either bordered up or smashed in. They had parked in the overgrown greenery leading up to the house and proceeded to walk to the two domineering doors, a thick metal chain intertwined with the handles - Klaus broke this in record time.

“It would be suspicious.” She agreed. The building was on the outskirts of town, far away from any sense of civilisation. It was an eerie juxtaposition from the busy, bustling streets of New Orleans. 

Once the door gave, they both were in and instantly y/n noticed the abandoned feeling of the place. Before them sat some sort of reception, a long time since anyone actually sat behind the washed-out baby blue desk. Walking over, y/n grabbed a handful of some of the papers scattered across the floor.

“This was a hospital.” She called out after a moment, looking through the many medical documents and helpful hand out sheets in her hands. Polio, measles, the flu, how to get vaccinated, how to wash your hands.

“Lovely.” Klaus muttered as he looked around him, “I still don’t even know how these people could think that you would actually think I lived here, I mean, what on earth was their plan?”

“I don’t know Klaus,” Y/n smiled at him over the papers, “Maybe I would have fell for it. You are a man of mystery.”

In that moment, the towering doors they had just opened moaned deeply before slamming shut with a thunderous clatter, the force scattering the papers into the air so that they somewhat swirled around them. The thundering boom echoed from the doors down the corridors ringing and disappearing into the heart of the building.

“Ah,” Klaus said after a moment, amused by the notion, “That’s their plan.” Moving over, y/n placed her hand on the door and felt the all to familiar barrier that blocked her from leaving. The door was locked with something a little more than nuts and bolts.

“Well,” She said turning from the door and facing the barren corridor opening up before her and Klaus, “Now what?”

“This way looks right.” Klaus mused, his curiosity not even tainted by the display of theatrics.

“Klaus...people know we’re here right? Like...you told Rebekah or Elijah, right?” Y/n was asking a question she already knew the answer to.

“Y/n,” Klaus turned to her, “Hybrid.” He pointed a finger into his own chest before pointing at her, “Ripper...we’re going to be a okay love.”

“You’re not invincible Klaus.”

“I’m the closest thing there is to invincible.”

“Yeah well I’m not, all it takes is a bit of sharp wood and I’m done...besides, it’s not you that they’re after.” He paused, chewing on her words for a moment.

“Correct...it’s not me that they’ll be going for but Y/n...you still are one of the oldest vampires in existence, whatever is waiting for us at the end of the line, I do doubt it has any kind of ability to over power you.” Y/n didn’t see any particularly cordial feelings on Klaus’s expression but she did feel his words warming around her, strengthening her confidence.

“True, it’s just, if we’re being honest, I haven’t been a true fight since-”

“Let’s go left,”

“Oh, okay...as I was sayings, I haven’t been up against anyone really since before I...” She trailed off.

“You found out you’re probably the worlds most wanted murderer,”

“Wow, okay, thanks for putting it nicely.” But she grinned at him. Maybe because, like Elijah, Klaus understood what it could mean to be the ‘bad guy’ - except, unlike Elijah, he wasn’t afraid of the title. “But yes.”

“Do you think it’ll be different now? Fighting someone?” Klaus continued, peering into rooms here and there as they walked by.

“I don’t know, but...if push comes to shove, I know I’ll be able to protect myself.”

“And more importantly, I know you will.” Klaus paused, shooting her a wry grin, “And I’m thinking we’re going to be able to put you to the test.” Klaus proceeded to gesture at the wall up ahead where the corridors split and ran in opposite directions. Scrawled across the walls manically in what could only be blood was the word ‘venit iustitia’ over and over and over. Klaus and y/n shared a look. Justice is coming.

***

“The sun always was our enemy.” Rebekah growled from behind the curtains, glaring out at the unwavering sun beating down on the innocent people. Sighing heavily she turned and collapsed into an arm chair, “One more minute of this heat and I might die.”

“Don’t be dramatic Rebekah.” Elijah stated blankly as he turned the page in his book. He was doing his part in the plan, researching the witch history across New Orleans as far back as the records went. No, it was not how he wanted to spend his Wednesday, but when the witches become a threat it’s good to know what you’re up against.

“Come on Elijah, even you must be feeling this bloody heat - I mean, you’ve even got your jacket off.” He shot her a look. The heat in New Orleans was unusually scalding but it wasn’t so bad to get in the way of business. However, even Elijah had to admit that the muggy air and relentless sun didn’t help with any hunger he felt.

“Where is Niklaus?” Moving the book out of his lap he stood and played with his cuffs, the heat already wearing his patience thin, “He promised to be back here by 4, he was to give me updates from Marcellus.”

“He’s Nick, Elijah...he goes by his own rules...his own times.” Rebekah sighed, fanning herself with a coaster.

“Still, I feel it is not like him, especially with all the possible threats out there.” He moved the wispy curtains ever so slightly so he could peer over the streets filled with families soaking up the sun.

“Aw, you’re worried about your baby brother. How sweet.” Rebekah quipped standing and stretching, “Klaus will be simply with Marcel, having one to many drinks and forgetting that he is our sworn enemy as per usual.” Elijah paused at this and mulled it over for a few seconds.

“Yes,” He mumbled to himself after a moment, moving the curtain back further and peering down to the end of the street where Marcel’s bar sat bold and proud, “Marcel.”

Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to check in on his little brother and Marcel. Let’s just say Elijah wasn’t fully trusting of him just yet.

***

“Marcellus,” The bar was quiet as Elijah walked in, it was that peculiar time of afternoon where the day drinkers were stumbling home and those coming for the night were still getting ready.

“Ah, Elijah,” Marcel stood at the bar currently in discourse with one of his bartenders, a drink in hand. “What do I owe the pleasure? I thought I was lucky enough seeing one Mikaelson today.”

“I understand this is unconventional,” Elijah continued, not moving and not acknowledging the comment, “But, forgive me, I was supposed to meet Niklaus a few hours ago and my sister believes he’s still here - I was wondering if I could talk to him.”

“Klaus?” Marcel raised a brow, “Nah, he left my bar hours ago, I don’t know where he is.”

“He left?”

“Yeah with some y/h/c chick, left in a hurry too.”

“Y/h/c?”

“Yeah about,” Marcel leaned against the bar and thought, “Yay high, she came into the bar and had a few drinks before her and Klaus got talking. My guy here say she had some kind of letter, apparently Klaus read it and stormed out.” The clogs in Elijah’s mind sprang into action, something wasn’t right. He glanced warily at the bartender but it was clear he posed no genuine threat. In fact, no threat at all.

“I see.” He mumbled after a moment, filling the silence.

“You know her?” The bartender spoke.

“A certain girl does come to mind.” He re-buttoned his jacket and turned for the door, now finished with the formalities and Marcel.

“You know what was in the note?” Elijah paused breifly but didn’t turn around, the reality of the situation now sinking into his bones.

“Now that Marcellus…I do not know.”

***

Y/n and Klaus were still walking, still moving. Despite the second wave of theatrics with the bloody wall, not much else had occured.

“’I’m still offended that this was their best plan.” None of what had happened so far had even tainted Klaus’s confidence. It was comforting.

“You never know, they could really surprise us with something.” Y/n grinned.

“Oh y/n, my expectations are so low. I have a feeling this is only going to be inconvenient and mostly, a waste of time.” He was still peeking in rooms here and there, y/n genuinely didn’t care to ask why. They had been walking for a good couple of minutes, y/n following Klaus as he weaved his way through the labyrinth of linoleum tiles and flickering lights. Eventually, the halls widened out and the rooms spotted along the walls thinned out until it was just ivory paint.

“Hang on.” Klaus stopped suddenly. Y/n automatically became perfectly still listening out with her extended hearing for anything and everything.

“What is it?” Y/n spoke into the silence, hearing nothing.

“I’m not sure.” He murmured, “Something’s wrong. I think-” He never got to finish the sentence, an invisible force swept him the length of the corridor, crashing him against the wall at the end.

“Klaus!” Y/n went to rush to his side when an all too familiar ringing exploded in her mind. It was so powerful, unlike anything she had ever felt before. The shrill noise shredding her mind. With trembling fingers her hands clutched at her ears clawing at her hair as her own shrill scream ricocheted off the walls. Commotion erupted around her and she could distantly hear Klaus’ voices amongst others - but it all felt so distant. The noise was relentless, pulsating against her ears making her collapse to the floor. Her pre-weakened state from the lack of blood giving her little gumption to fight back. The pain was temporary are darkness began creeping around her splotchy vision before consuming it whole. 

***

Foggy. Her mind felt foggy. The sweltering heat, the now distant ringing in her ears, the sandpaper in her throat. As she came around she was distantly aware of being watched, faintly, she glanced around.

She was collapsed on top of a small podium, a square around a foot of the ground. The square itself was in a large hall, much older than the rest of the building, evident from the chipped wood curling around the room. However, pushed at the edges of the hall were crumpled medical beds and an assortment of medical equipment.

“You’re awake.” A voice said clearly.

“Obviously.” Y/n muttered under her breath with a series of curses. The woman stood two metres away, she was tall wearing a colourful shirt and a series of beaded necklaces. Y/n knew a witch when she saw one. The woman wasn’t alone, in fact, the number of people with her was quite astonishing. 

Spread around the room was thirty witches give or take, all similar to woman who spoke. They stood equal distance apart focusing on y/n with intent, their hands clutched at their sides. Raising a hand, y/n reached out tentatively until she found what she was looking for. An invisible barrier, holding her within the metre by metre square. 

“Don’t even bother. You’re not going anywhere anytime soon.” The woman spat.

“Don’t worry,” Y/n rubbed at her temples, “I know when I’m beat. Though I can’t say it was much of a fair fight.” She threw a glance to the thirty-odd witches surrounding them. Klaus was nowhere to be seen, but y/n wasn’t worried, it’s not like he could be killed.

“Oh trust me. Despite our...methods, today is a day of justice.” She sighed, shifting on her feet and folding her arms, “Well, not for you.” She smiled coyly, “You’re just the perfect solution to our rather complex problem.”

“And I assume by the theatrics, I don’t get a say in whether or not I’m going to help you.”

“Oh no, the choice is yours. I promise.” Y/n winced at her tone.

“Before we get started,” Y/n shifted so that she was now resting with her back against the invisible force, “Klaus?”

“He’s fine. Of course.”

“Good. Then what can I do for you?”

***

“You see,” The woman began, “Our problem is not with you. Like I said before, you’re sort of a wrong time and place situation.”

“Great.” Y/n murmured sarcastically.

“No really, our quarrel is with the Mikaelsons. You see, witches have inhabited New Orleans for a long time, since the Mikaelsons first left the city nearly a century ago. We’re safe here. Our families are here. Our lives. And now, the Mikaelsons have waltzed their way back into the city and demanded it for themselves. Their presence is the greatest threat to our community.”

“Have you asked politely for them to leave?” Y/n interrupted half-heatedly. An annoyed smile flickered across her face.

“Surprisingly, they’re not as co-operative.” Y/n hummed in response, “What I’m getting at is that we witches are done with them and all that they bring. They must leave. They will. But you see, I’m not interested in starting another war with the Original family. I refuse to put my peoples lives at risk because of them. No. The Mikaelsons will leave of their own accord.”

“I’m sure I’m not going to like where this is going but, how are you going to make them leave?” The witch smiled as if she was waiting for the question.

“You, of course. You’re close with them aren’t you, closer than anyone’s gotten - but you’re not actually in the family are you. You’re closest with Elijah. The most respectable original.”

“I-”

“I have eyes and ears everywhere. You vampires have a tendency to underestimate us witches.”

“I still don’t understand-”

“You need to die.”

“Oh.” Y/n stated dumbly after a moment. “And you’re going to...”

“No don’t be stupid. Aren’t you listening? Us witches are not to get our hands dirty.” She glanced at y/n’s incredulous expression and sighed loudly. “Your death will destroy the Mikaelsons, hopefully enough that they leave the city in which they lost you. But it’s one thing for you to die by our hands. That gives the Mikaelsons something to fight for, a new war for them to win and feel as though they avenged you. No, we can’t have that. So what’s worse than a bunch of witches killing you?” Y/n shrugged, “The Mikaelsons must kill you themselves.” Y/n stared dumb-founded, her jaw clenched.

“See then. They have no one to blame for themselves. Hopefully they’ll spiral with self-hatred, either that or they’ll turn on themselves. Just think of the possibilities. Elijah seems as though he would never kill you, even if it meant his own demise but Klaus and Rebekah are smarter than that. We just need to press the right buttons.”

“No offence, but, this is your plan?” Y/n half-laughed, “What are you going to do? How on earth are you going to make Klaus want to kill me? Ask him politely?”

“You’re missing the point. It’s not about making the Mikaelsons want to kill you, its about leaving them with no other choice.”

“I still don’t follow.”

“You’re a ripper correct?” Y/n didn’t respond, the pieces began to fall together. “Like I said,” The woman continued, “I have eyes and ears everywhere. In fact, I heard that you’re not just any ripper, but the Original Ripper. The first of your kind. Your relationship with blood is off-key and, to a certain extent, can never be truly controlled.”

“Whatever your plan is I can assure you. You know nothing about what you’re talking about. You are playing with fire and if you go any further you are going to get burned.”

“I’ve been researching vampires extensively. You are disgusting creatures. Made from evil to do evil.”

“I’m begging you.”

“Rippers can gain an illusion of control over time but deep-down it’s ingrained.”

“Please don’t do this.”

“Most of the time it’s your humanity which holds back the blood-frenzy.” Y/n was standing now pressing her hands against the invisible wall. “So, I have this theory. I’ll tell it to you and you give me your insiders take, being a vampire and all. I think that if I can force you to flip your switch, to turn your humanity off, then the ripper part of you may just follow. Thoughts?” Y/n stayed silent.

“Oh, you’re quiet now? That’s okay, I didn’t really care for what you had to say. Either way, I’m going through with it.” There was a question on y/n’s tongue but she was afraid that if she asked, she would get an answer. As if reading her mind the woman smiled coyly.

“Turn around.” Slowly, y/n pivoted and there at the other end of the room was two more stone slabs raised of the ground in one was encased Klaus who was stalking back and forth in the small space, the other contained a woman y/n had not seen before. Bound to a chair with shoulder length blonde hair and a strong jaw - she was petrified.

“They can’t see you.” The woman stalked around y/n, “But he can see her.” The woman was speaking the truth, Klaus was glaring at the blonde with a furious protectiveness. “I didn’t expect you to show up with Klaus Mikaelson but in a way, you’ve helped me. I was expecting you were just going to have to take my word but now, you can see it for yourself.

“As you can see Camille is important to Klaus. But humans and so...fragile. It’s scary isn’t it, how easy it is for them to get into an accident.”

“No need for the theatrics,” Y/n growled, “I can see where you’re going with this.”

“Oh, but I’m sort of having fun.” The nameless woman smiled.

“It’s not too late to change your plan,” Y/n began grimacing as she looked at the woman, “You have no idea what kind of forces you’re playing with.”

“What? Are you afraid to die?”

“It’s not my death I’m worried about!” Y/n was furious.

“Oh don’t act like you’ve suddenly learnt how to feel! I know vampires! You feel nothing! All you bring is chaos and pain!”

“It doesn’t have to be like this.” Y/n said again, her voice quiet, “Look, you’ve proved yourself. We’re standing here on the cusp of a tragedy about to unfold and there’s nothing I or anyone can do to stop you - you’ve proven yourself.” She repeated, “But you don’t have to go through with it. We can stop here. I can convince the Mikaelsons to move away.”

“Oh, please-”

“I beg you! I’m not asking for selfish reasons, I’ve lived my life I don’t care if I die. But I already have too much innocent blood on my hands. You just don’t understand that part of me, god, I don’t even understand it! Don’t do this to yourself.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Her face was stony, “I can’t back out now, weren’t you listening. The Mikaelsons can’t know I had anything to do with this, or I have a new war on my hands. No. This is all on you.” She was walking towards Camille. “Now you better flip that little switch of yours or I will kill her. And don’t think I won’t go through with it. If she isn’t important enough to you I’ll go find one of your friends from Mystic Falls.”

Y/n glared at the woman through shaky, blurry eyes. Her gaze flitting to Klaus who was still stalking in his box, eyes completely focused on Camille with the same protectiveness and love he often looked at her with.

She knew she had to take the risk. Turning off her humanity didn’t necessarily mean her ripper side would follow. Besides, she loved Elijah. He could bring her back, she knew it.

“Oh please forgive me.” Y/n muttered under her breath, letting her lashes flutter closed, “Elijah. Bring me back.” Was the last thing she said before delving to the back of her mind and turning it all off.

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