#third-party risk management
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aiolegalservices · 1 month ago
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Achieving NIST and DORA Compliance: How We Can Help Companies Build Cybersecurity and Operational Resilience
In today’s fast-paced digital environment, cybersecurity and operational resilience are at the forefront of corporate priorities. With the increasing frequency of cyberattacks and strict regulatory requirements, companies must adapt and align with internationally recognised frameworks and regulations such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Digital Operational…
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marswilliam · 2 months ago
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Third-Party Risk Management with Loren Johnson - Global Risk Community
 Learn how to tackle third-party risk with insights from Loren Johnson of Aravo! In our latest Risk Management Show, we dive into the challenges of third-party risk management with expert Loren Johnson from Aravo. Discover how third parties play a critical role in your business and why managing risks like cybersecurity and sustainability is more important than ever.
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aishavass · 1 year ago
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adroit--2022 · 1 year ago
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evonnebaker · 2 years ago
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In terms of successfully getting a candidate that is not Trump into the white house, the way I see it is:
Voting for Harris is a safe choice. I don't think she is a good candidate. She is pro-fracking, wants to be tougher than Trump when it comes to the border, and according to her team, will never have an arms embargo against Israel on her platform. It feels like she is trying to lose the election. It feels like voting for a Republican. But as the democratic party nominee, she has an extremely high chance of actually winning the election.
Voting third party is a risky choice. Risk is not inherently bad nor good. You have to be prepared to take a risk. This is the risk being taken in this particular situation:
A 6-3, possibly even a 7-2, conservative majority in the Supreme Court for the next 40 years.
Supreme Court Justices Alito, Scalia, and Thomas will retire if Trump gets elected. Trump will appoint 3 young, thoroughly conservative justices to the Supreme Court who will have promised to bend to his every will, clear pathways for him, and not check his power. They will have lifetime appointments. This is not even taking into account if any other conservative justice steps down. And if something were to happen to Justices Jackson, Sotomayor, or Kagan, that would open up another seat Trump will get to fill.
Trump is using the possibility of him getting to fill Scotus seats as a huuuuuuge draw for his campaign. If conservative voters think he is a delirious old man who needs to shut his yapper but really like what the Supreme Court has done in the past 4 years*, it's not a personality contest for those voters. It's about seeing stuff get done, which it has thanks to the current Supreme Court.
In my humble opinion: All of that risk is not worth it over One Single Election.
*overturn Roe v Wade (abortion rights), strike down the Chevron Doctrine (eliminate gov agencies' power to do their job regulate corporations), Trump v USA (the president essentially can never be criminally prosecuted), and they are still very eager to make mifeprestone illegal they just need someone to present a good enough argument in court.
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dnbblogs · 3 months ago
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ethicsindia · 4 months ago
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Compliance Training in India
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Looking for top compliance training in India? The Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional Course (CEPC), offered by EthicsIndia, is designed to equip Compliance & Ethics professionals with the knowledge, skills and hands-on experience required to build a sustainable culture of compliance and ethics within their organizations.
This CEPC training program includes essential topics such as: 1. Introduction to Compliance and Ethics 2. Organizational Ethics 3. Imbibing a Compliance Culture 4. Third Party Risk Management 5. Anti-Bribery & Anti-Corruption 6. Fraud Risk Mitigation, Investigation and Management 7. Data Privacy, Cyber Security & General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 8. Environmental, Social and Governance Practices (ESG) 9. Corporate Governance
For those seeking compliance training in India, this course offers a comprehensive solution to enhance your professional expertise and drive organizational success.
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malcified · 4 months ago
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Today on #malcified I’d like to share this sketch called #innerhealing on #sustainability and a few words.
Sustainability: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. - UN
Our indiscriminate use of each other, land, and natural resources at a rate faster and greater than it can naturally replenish is demonstrated in our daily life as well.
- A culture of use and dispose - food, products, humans, animals, land, plants, resources…everything!
-The global workforce sufferring from #burnouts due to extreme workloads and overworking
- Inadequate and ineffective #worklifebalance measures where #HumanResources (#HR) departments have weak autonomy, functioning purely as a target-driven business process
- Businesses striving to accomplish ever-growing unrealistic revenue, investor returns, and profit projections, cutting costs and compromising on health, safety, security, well-being of its employees - full-time, part-time, and contract staff
- Hiring #Thirdpartyserviceproviders (#TPSP) without performing adequate #DueDiligence, that compromise on major #legal #compliance, #reputational, #environmental #humanrights #riskfactors by procuring cheap labor and raw materials from jurisdictions without proper #humanrights awareness, laws, and historical background, countries without appropriate #governance, Governmental frameworks like #sustainabilitypolicy, #climatepolicy #Laborlaws and support frameworks, corporate #ESG frameworks, #environmentallaws, #regulations, #judiciary, #enforcement and #implementation frameworks and systems
-consumeristic and materialistic society focused purely on indiscriminate production and consumption, with no/less awareness of their individual #carbonfootprint, of #responsibleconsumption (#SDG12)
-#throwawaysociety where single-use disposable items are expected, #unboxing and other trash-generating practices are glorified, ephemeral products and goods are preferred to life-time durable ones.
The list goes on…
Maybe, our behavior has something to do with the way we look and feel about ourselves. We’re all maybe consciously and unsconsciously insecure about some aspect of our life.
Maybe, when we feel good and appreciated from within, we appreciate and look after our surroundings well. So, working on being more compassionate, content, and appreciative of ourselves is a good place to begin, then maybe, together, we can do better.
Seeking an inner healing for each of us!
Regardless, only the beings present now and in the future shall suffer from our own over-indulgence. The land, nature, oceans, whatever we call them, have been here long before and shall evolve and replenish from our relentless onslaught, eventually. With or without us.
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arturbudzynski · 1 year ago
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Mastering Logistics Management: A Comprehensive Guide to Streamlining Supply Chains and Boosting Efficiency
Logistics management refers to the process of planning, implementing, and controlling the flow of goods, services, and information from the point of origin to the point of consumption. It involves the coordination of various activities such as procurement, transportation, warehousing, inventory management, and customer service to ensure smooth and efficient operations. Logistics management plays…
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ernstandyoung · 2 years ago
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EY offers comprehensive third party risk management services to help organizations minimize risk exposure and maintain regulatory compliance. Our tailored solutions are designed to address the unique needs of your organization.
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aishavass · 1 year ago
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fatecantstopme · 1 year ago
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This Isn't Real
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Pairing: Dean Winchester x plus size!reader
Summary: When you get kidnapped by a Djinn, Dean and Sam risk everything to save you.
Warnings: canon violence, talk of death, cursing. Shit ton of angst. Some fluff. SMUT, oral (F receiving), unprotected sex (P in V).
You woke up in an unfamiliar room as the sun began to peek through the curtains. Your eyes took a moment to adjust as you glanced around the room, desperately trying to remember where you were and how you got there.
Your mind flashed to a dark warehouse and vague memories of searching for something there, but the harder you tried to remember, the farther away those memories became.
You sat up with a groan and began to rub your temples. Where the hell am I?
You felt someone stir in the bed beside you and realized you weren't alone. You turned to look at the person, but you heard his voice before your brain could process what you were seeing.
"Hey baby, you okay?" he asked groggily.
"What?" you managed to croak out--shock settling into your bones as you stared at the man beside you.
He sat up, revealing his bare, toned, muscular chest. You looked away quickly, not wanting to be caught staring. Why the fuck am I in bed with Dean Winchester?
He touched your cheek and turned your head towards him. "You okay? I heard you groan."
"I--um...I'm fine," you stuttered. "What, uh--what happened last night?"
He raised his eyebrows as he regarded you. "We came home from the party early because you were feeling a little...frisky."
"Party?" you asked in confusion.
"Damn, baby, how much did you have to drink?" he asked with a chuckle.
Your face must have show how deeply confused you were, because he seemed to take pity on you.
"It was Sam's birthday party, babe. Remember? We came home, had some damn incredible sex, and fell asleep. Any of this ringing a bell?"
"Sam's birthday?" you muttered, then belatedly yelled, "WE HAD SEX?"
Dean laughed. "Girl, you gotta lay off the whiskey sours. They're messing with your memory." He kissed you on your forehead before dragging himself out of bed.
You were now faced with a very naked Dean Winchester and you averted your gaze out of habit.
"I'm gonna take a shower. Wanna join me?" he asked with a smirk.
"I...uh--I...not right now."
He looked a little crestfallen, but he simply shrugged. "Suit yourself."
As soon as he'd entered the bathroom, you jumped out of bed and looked around the room. Something had to be going on. Something insane. This wasn't real life--it couldn't be.
You glanced down at yourself and realized you were completely naked. You quickly threw on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt before continuing your search around the room.
You saw a couple framed pictures sitting on the bureau near the bathroom door. You picked one up and felt your jaw drop. It was you and Dean on a beach. You grabbed the second one and found it was also of you and Dean, only this time you were apparently in Paris. The third and final picture was, of course, of you and Dean. It looked like some kind of park and he was on his knee in front of you, holding a small blue box in his hand.
You glanced at your left hand in disbelief, but there it was--a very large, very beautiful diamond ring. "We're engaged?" you mumbled in shock.
You set the picture down and collapsed onto the bed. Your mind was reeling and you had absolutely no memory of any of this.
You knew Dean--you'd known him for years--but you were just friends. You hunted together. That was all. Sure, you'd always liked him more than you should have, but he didn't reciprocate it. You certainly didn't wake up in the same bed, and you definitely weren't engaged to him.
When you woke up yesterday, you'd been in a motel room with Sam and Dean...you were hunting something. You closed your eyes and desperately tried to remember what it was. It was almost as if something was blocking that specific memory--no matter how hard you tried, you couldn't grasp it.
Dean appeared from the bathroom, clad in nothing but a towel around his waist. He saw you sitting on the edge of the bed with your head in your hands. Concern knotted his eyebrows together and he immediately crossed the short distance between you.
"(Y/N/N)?" he asked softly when he reached your side.
You looked up at him and felt your heart skip a beat. He was beautiful and perfect...and it was downright offensive. How anyone could look that good was a mystery. An even bigger mystery was why in the hell he was engaged to you.
He knelt down in front of you and took your hands into his. You stared at them, feeling the warmth spread throughout your body.
"What's going on with you?" he asked gently.
Tears filled your eyes as you looked into his beautiful green ones. "I don't know where I am," you whispered. "I don't...I don't remember any of this. I--I don't think it's real."
Dean's face lit up in surprise. "What do you mean? Of course it's real." He squeezed your hands comfortingly. "Do you feel that, baby? I'm real and so are you."
"Then why can't I remember?"
He looked sad. "I don't know, sweetheart. Maybe you just need to give it a little time and then your memories will come back."
You shook your head. "I was in a motel yesterday. A motel with you and Sam. We were going hunting."
Dean looked confused. "Hunting? I've never been hunting and I'm pretty sure you haven't either. Are you sure that wasn't a dream?"
"It felt--real. It was real," you insisted.
"Okay," he said soothingly. "What makes you think that was real and this isn't?"
"I remember it," you whispered.
"And you don't remember our lives together," he finished softly.
You nodded.
He reached up and tucked a hair behind your ear. "I don't know why you can't remember, but I'll be damned if I don't help you figure it out."
He stood up. "Why don't we go see Sam? Maybe going to his house will jog your memory of last night?"
"Okay."
He grabbed your hand and helped you to your feet. "Let's get dressed, pretty girl. Everything's gonna be okay."
You nodded, feeling a little more confident that everything might really be okay.
**********
When Dean pulled up in front of Sam's house, you looked out the window, but didn't have any rush of memories. Nothing about it looked familiar.
Dean came around and opened the car door for you and took your hand as you stepped out. He watched your face for any sign of recognition, but he saw none.
"Come on, beautiful," he said gently, leading you to the front door.
A few moments after Dean rang the doorbell, Sam appeared at the door with a warm smile. "Hey guys! Come on in."
Dean led the way and you followed gratefully.
"So, uh...Dean mentioned you're having some memory problems?" Sam asked gently.
You nodded. "I--uh--I don't really remember much of anything really."
"Hmm," Sam hummed. "Sit. Let's talk."
You and Dean sat on the couch and Sam sat across from you on a chair. Dean explained the morning's events to his brother, while you sat quietly. There wasn't much more to say.
"So what do you remember?" Sam asked you.
"Hunting," you answered honestly. "I remember hunting with you and Dean. We've been doing it for years together."
"Hunting?" Sam asked in surprise. "We've never been hunting in our lives--and certainly not all together."
"Do you believe in ghosts?" you blurted.
Both men looked shocked. "I'm sorry, what?" Sam asked.
"Ghosts, goblins, ghouls, vampires, werewolves...all the things that go bump in the night. Do you believe in them?"
Sam and Dean exchanged worried looks. "No, (Y/N)...those are just stories," Dean said gently.
You sighed sadly. "That's what we hunt," you whispered so softly they almost didn't hear you.
"We hunt monsters?" Sam asked incredulously.
You just nodded, not trusting yourself to say anything else.
"Baby, that really does sound like a dream. An intense dream, perhaps, but a dream nonetheless," Dean said calmly.
"Then why does it feel so real?" you asked softly.
He looked sad. "I don't know, sweetheart. I really don't."
"What about right now?" Sam asked. "Does this feel real?"
You nodded.
"As real as hunting monsters?" he prodded.
You nodded again.
"Then why would you think this isn't real?"
"I guess I don't have a good answer for that," you admitted. "Hunting monsters does sound kinda crazy, doesn't it?"
Dean offered you a soft smile. "A little bit, baby. Especially for a lawyer, a mechanic, and a veterinarian."
Hearing the careers the three of you apparently had sparked another question in your mind. "Dean, how did we meet?"
"What?" he asked in surprise.
"How did we meet?"
"We met when Sam found that stray dog with the broken leg. He asked me to drive him to the nearest vet office...you happened to be the vet on duty that day."
You closed your eyes and tried desperately to remember meeting him, to no avail. You also couldn't remember veterinary school or even having a job at all.
"Hey, it's okay," Dean said sweetly, upon noticing your distress. "You don't have to remember right now."
Tears filled your eyes again, upset and ashamed at your inability to remember your life.
Dean wrapped his arms around you and pulled you close. He kissed the top of your head and whispered, "Everything's okay, baby. I love you. You're safe."
You knew without a shadow of a doubt he was right about one thing--you were safe. You had never felt safer with anyone in your life than Dean Winchester and it didn't matter that you couldn't remember this reality...you still knew he would protect you with his life.
**********
Dean's POV:
It had been three hours since (Y/N) went missing and I was losing my mind. Sam and I had looked everywhere...we should have never let her wander off on her own.
My brother was clearly having similar thoughts as he said, "You shouldn't have let her go out there alone."
"Let her?" I asked in annoyance. "I didn't let her do anything. She got mad at me and stormed off. That's not my fault."
Sam glared at me. "You're the one who pissed her off and you didn't go after her."
I kicked a rock that was at my feet as hard as I could. I hated that he was right and I hated myself for upsetting her. I was terrified of what would happen if we didn't find her in time. "I know," I admitted softly.
Sam's expression softened. "We're gonna find her, Dean."
I looked up at him and sighed. "We've looked everywhere. It's like she just disappeared."
"She didn't just disappear. Something or someone took her."
"We've been in this town for 6 hours. It's not like we've pissed anyone off yet," I grumbled.
"Yeah, I know. Besides, (Y/N) could fight off most humans she came across..."
"She went looking for the Djinn, Sam. I just know it."
"Why would she do that on her own? She's not stupid."
I groaned loudly. "Because she had something to prove!"
"What are you talking about?"
"I was mad at her, okay? I was mad she was so reckless during our last hunt and I lashed out at her. I told her there was no way she could do this job without us, but we were perfectly capable of handling it on our own. I wanted her to stay at the motel while we took care of the Djinn."
"Dean, she saved your life!"
"I know!" I yelled. "I didn't ask her to do that! She could have died."
"That's the life, Dean. We all could die at any time."
I glared at him. "If she died saving me, I would never forgive myself. Never."
Sam sighed. He knew what I was trying to say without me having to say it. I wouldn't admit the truth and he knew it. "You should've known telling her she couldn't do something would make her want to do it."
I closed my eyes. "I'll regret it for the rest of my life, Sam."
Sam shook his head and opened the passenger door of the Impala. "You won't have to because we're going to find her."
I watched my brother get in the car and I took a deep breath. "I hope you're right," I whispered before getting into the car myself.
**********
It had been a couple days since you'd woken up in a strange place. You weren't sure why your memories were gone, but you'd started to feel comfortable. You'd settled easily into a routine, and those memories you'd had of hunting had begun to fade.
Dean had suggested you take some time off of work until you felt more comfortable...and perhaps your memories would return during that time. You'd taken his advice since you had zero memory of college and you didn't feel comfortable having animals' lives in your hands.
Dean had been the perfect boyfriend--fiancé. He was incredibly patient and sweet and it warmed your heart to know just how much he cared. Any time you forgot something that had happened, he would gently remind you about it without making you feel embarrassed or uncomfortable.
It surprised you to realize how deeply you cared for him--how much you truly loved him. He loved you, that much was clear, but you had yet to share those feelings with him. At least, not in your recollection.
You'd spent the day relaxing on your back deck with a good book. You couldn't remember the last time you'd felt this happy. An hour before Dean would be home from work, you went inside and began preparing dinner. You wanted to make him something special as a thank you for being such a good partner.
You were standing in the kitchen finishing up dinner when Dean got home. He came into the room and inhaled deeply. "Smells amazing, babe. Whatcha making?"
You turned to him with a smile. "Lasagna."
He grinned. "I freaking love lasagna." He came over and kissed you softly. "And I love you."
You smiled warmly. "I love you too, Dean."
His beautiful green eyes lit up at your words. He stepped forward and pressed you up against the counter. His arms snaked around your waist and he kissed you deeply.
You squirmed a little when it became hard to breathe. Dean chuckled as he broke the kiss, allowing you to inhale rapidly.
"You're covered in grease and you're getting it on me," you teased. "Go shower and dinner will be ready by the time you're done."
He smiled and kissed you again. "Fine, fine. I'll shower." He stepped away from you and turned to go towards the bedroom.
"Oh, and Dean?"
"Yeah?"
"I've got a surprise for dessert. I think you're gonna like it."
He grinned ear to ear. "Is it you?" he teased.
"Dean Winchester!" you yelled with a laugh. You threw a hand towel at him and he ran from the room to escape, laughing all the way to the bathroom.
You rolled your eyes and went back to finishing dinner. You also pulled a pie out of the fridge and set it on the counter to finish defrosting. You'd gone to the store earlier that day and picked up an apple pie--Dean's favorite.
15 minutes later, Dean came into the kitchen looking refreshed and clean. You were setting the table, so you told him to have a seat and you'd bring out the lasagna.
"Do you want a beer?" you called from the kitchen.
"Water's fine, babe," he called back.
You froze for a moment. In all the time you'd known Dean, he had never turned down a beer...certainly not in favor of water. A voice in your head was screaming that something wasn't right, but you ignored it. You shook your head to clear your mind and quickly poured him a glass of water instead.
The two of you ate dinner, enjoying each other's company. You listened to Dean talk about his day and he asked about yours. It all felt very mundane...very domesticated.
You kept a smile on your face throughout dinner, even though something was bothering you. You couldn't help but feel like you were meant for something more--like your life had a different purpose. Maybe you were just in your head too much since you weren't working at the moment. That had to be it...
"Sweetheart?" Dean asked, interrupting your thoughts.
"Hmm?" you hummed in response.
"You okay?"
You smiled. "I'm fine, Dean. I was just lost in thought."
His eyes scanned your face for a few moments, but he eventually smiled. You were doing a good job of hiding your thoughts from him, but you weren't sure if that was a good thing.
Once dinner was done, you began to clean up. Dean insisted on helping, which you appreciated. You kept him busy with packing the lasagna away in leftover containers so he wouldn't notice the pie on the other counter.
"Ready for dessert?" you asked sweetly.
He smiled. "Sure, baby. What'd you make?"
"I bought it, but I think you'll still like it. Go sit back down and I'll bring it out."
He nodded and went back to the dining room.
You cut a generous slice of the pie for him and a much smaller piece for yourself. Pie had never been your favorite dessert, but Dean loved pie more than he loved anything in this world. You didn't mind having something that wasn't your first choice because you knew it would make him happy.
You came into the dining room and placed the large slice in front of him before sitting down with your own.
He was quiet for a moment and you felt that same voice creeping into your head again. "Dean? It's apple pie..."
"Yeah, thanks (Y/N/N). Kind of a big piece though, don't you think?"
The voice in your head got a little louder. "Sure, but you never turn down a big piece of pie. I've seen you eat an entire pie before." You chuckled at the memory...except Dean looked different in your mind. Rougher, but somehow happier.
"I suppose you're right. I can make some room in my stomach for it. I guess I'm just not the biggest fan of apple pie."
You froze and the voice began screaming at you. SOMETHING IS WRONG! "Apple pie is your favorite," you said quietly.
His face changed as he looked at you. He smiled warmly and said, "You're right. It is my favorite. Thank you for thinking of me."
Your heart was beating so quickly you thought it might actually explode. The man in front of you had gone from 'not the biggest fan of apple pie' to 'apple pie is my favorite' in the span of 30 seconds.
In that moment everything changed. It was no longer just a voice inside your head screaming at you to leave...you realized it was your voice.
"This isn't real," you whispered.
"What'd you say, sweetheart?"
You looked up at Dean--the man wearing Dean's face. "None of this is real." You stood up. "I'm sorry, but I have to go."
He sat there in shock as you rushed towards the door. You weren't exactly sure where you needed to go, but you had a feeling you would find it. You were out the door and running down the street before he even realized what had happened.
**********
Dean's POV:
"This is the last vacant warehouse in this godforsaken city and I swear to God if she's not here, I'm going to kill someone."
"Since I'm the only person here, maybe you don't kill anyone," Sam said calmly.
I glared at him, but didn't say anything. We'd been searching for hours and we hadn't found a damn thing. Not even a clue. This was a last ditch effort to find (Y/N) and I didn't know how I would handle it if she wasn't there. I wasn't sure I could handle it.
I parked the Impala a little ways away from the entrance to the warehouse, just in case the Djinn was there. I didn't want to tip it off. We grabbed our weapons from the trunk and headed inside.
We'd only been inside the building for a few minutes when I heard a sound that sent chills down my spine. It sounded like blood dripping and my only thought was of her before I took off running.
Had I been thinking rationally, I would have realized it was just the sound of water dripping onto the floor, but I was far past rational. There aren't many people in this world that I would die for, but (Y/N) was second on that list right after my brother. She didn't know it, but she meant the world to me. I had to find her--alive.
Sam grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop. He gave me a look like I was being reckless, which I suppose I was. He pointed to a room up ahead that appeared to be dimly lit. He started walking towards it and gestured for me to follow.
The moment we turned that corner, my worst fears came to life. The only thing I saw was the woman I loved strung up from the ceiling by her wrists, feet barely touching the floor. She was extremely pale and I could see blood slowly draining from her body into an IV bag.
I moved towards her with a speed I didn't know I had. Terror filled my lungs as I reached for her, worried that I was too late. There was a lot of blood in that bag and I had no way of knowing how many had been filled already.
I touched her cheek with shaking hands and I whispered her name. My voice sounded foreign to my own ears as I begged her to wake up. I tried to feel for a pulse, but my hands were shaking too much to tell.
Sam came up beside me and pressed his fingers to her neck. I watched him in terrified silence, waiting for him to shatter my heart into a million pieces.
"She's alive," he whispered in relief.
My eyes widened in surprise and my heart practically flew out of my chest with joy. "We need to get her out of here," I whispered back as I unhooked the IV to stop the blood flow.
Suddenly, Sam went flying across the room and I turned around in surprise. I came face to face with the Djinn, who was reaching for me with blue electricity crackling from his fingertips. I ducked to avoid his hand and the fight began.
**********
You had no idea where you were going, but your feet were on a mission. You felt like you'd been walking for days, but in reality it had only been an hour or so. You belatedly realized you could have just stolen a car, but on the off chance you were wrong about all of this, you didn't want to commit a crime.
After almost two hours of walking, you found yourself standing in front of an old abandoned warehouse. Something about the imposing building felt strangely familiar, but you couldn't put your finger on why.
You entered the building cautiously, silently cursing yourself for not bringing anything that could be used as a weapon. You'd been so focused on getting away, that you hadn't done much--any--planning.
The building was dark and you didn't have a flashlight, but thankfully you'd had your phone in your pocket when you left the house, so you pulled it out to use the built in flashlight.
When you looked at the screen, you saw you had several missed calls and texts, mostly from Dean, but several from Sam as well. You ignored them both and turned on the flashlight.
You began to wander through the giant space, looking for something--anything--that felt out of place. It was a lot harder to find something when you had no idea what you were looking for.
After several minutes of wandering aimlessly, you noticed a room up ahead that appeared to be dimly lit. Well that's weird. You slowly made your way closer, trying to be as quiet as possible.
As you rounded the corner, everything changed. You nearly dropped your phone at the sight before you. You were hanging from the ceiling by your wrists, feet barely touching the ground, blood slowly filling an IV bag to your left.
In an instant, everything fell into place. Your memories--your real memories--flooded your mind. You remembered your argument with Dean and your foolish arrogance as you sought out the Djinn on your own. Clearly you'd been unsuccessful in your attempt to kill it--so here you were, trapped in a dream in your own mind while your body slowly died in the real world.
"(Y/N), stay," you heard Dean's voice say from behind you.
You turned to face him, knowing he wasn't real--he wasn't your Dean. "I can't...this isn't real."
"You're right. It's not. But it will feel real. You'll live out your whole life with me. We'll be happy and normal. Isn't that what you want?"
You thought about it for a moment. "No," you answered honestly. "I wasn't meant to be normal, to live a normal life. I'm a hunter...I save people. If that means I'll never be truly happy, if it means I'll die alone, then so be it. I can't stay here no matter how badly I want to...my real life is out there. The real you is out there."
"The real Dean doesn't love you the way I do."
Tears filled your eyes and you nodded. "I know...but at least he's real."
You closed your eyes and took a deep breath, desperately trying to wake up.
In the distance, you heard a voice yell your name. You focused on the voice, but you couldn't figure out whose it was. The voice begged you to wake up, to fight..."come back to me," it pleaded.
You began to sink into darkness, unsure of whether you were about to wake up or die. In the moments before the darkness overtook you, you realized who the voice belonged to. "Dean..." you whispered.
Then, blackness.
**********
Dean's POV:
"Sam!" I yelled as my brother was once again tossed across the room. This Djinn was seriously starting to piss me off.
I knew I needed to get (Y/N) out of here, but I was a little preoccupied trying not to end up strung up beside her. I'd managed to disconnect the IV, so at least she wasn't losing blood anymore.
"Shit!" I yelled as I once again dodged the Djinn's hands.
Son of a bitch! I saw Sam's silver knife lying on the floor, a short distance away from me. I moved towards it quickly, grabbing it before the Djinn noticed.
The creature approached Sam, clearly about to zap his ass into dreamland. I rushed up behind it and stabbed it in the back, bringing it to its knees.
The Djinn seemed surprised and I smiled ruefully. "Lamb's blood and silver--lethal combination, you son of a bitch."
Sam started to pull himself off the floor, retrieving his knife from the dead Djinn's back. One glance at my brother told me he was fine, so my focus turned back to (Y/N).
I rushed over to her and held her up while Sam started to work on the chains tying her to the ceiling. "(Y/N)? Can you hear me?"
She didn't respond, not that I expected her to, but that didn't deter me. "Come on, (Y/N). I need you to wake up."
Sam finally got the chains removed from her wrists and she slumped into my arms. I sunk to the ground, holding her close, and continued to beg her to wake up. I knew I sounded pathetic, but I didn't give a damn.
"(Y/N), please. I know you're mad at me, but I need you to wake up. I need you to fight. Please." I laid my head against her forehead and I whispered so softly only she could hear, "Come back to me."
To my surprise, I heard her whisper, "Dean..."
My head shot up and Sam's eyes widened. (Y/N) didn't say another word, but I knew she was alive. I picked her up and carried her to the car, gently placing her in the backseat before speeding off like a bat out of hell.
I pulled into the nearest hospital in record time, throwing the car into park without a thought. I carefully pulled (Y/N) from the backseat and carried her into the ER.
Sam had gone ahead and gotten a nurse to get a gurney, which I placed her on gently. I watched as the nurses took her back to an exam room and I sent up a silent prayer that she would be okay.
**********
You awoke to the sound of beeping and it didn't take you long to realize you were in a hospital. With that realization came a flood of memories. You had no way of knowing how long had passed here in the real world, but for you it had been days.
You began to stir and you let out a groan as your eyes started to adjust to the brightness in the room.
"(Y/N)?"
You turned your head towards the source of the voice, but you couldn't quite make out the person's face.
"Hey," the voice said again. "You're okay. It's me."
Your eyes were still struggling to focus, but you recognized the voice. "Dean," you mumbled.
You didn't see it, but he smiled warmly. "I'm right here, sweetheart. You're okay."
Your body tensed slightly, unsure of how to feel. He didn't normally call you by any pet names and you suddenly feared you were back in the dream. "What happened?"
"You were captured by the Djinn. Sammy and I found you."
Your whole body relaxed and you let out a relieved sigh. Dean didn't understand why that would calm you, but he didn't question it.
"Thanks for saving me," you whispered. Your eyes finally focused on his face and you knew in your heart this was your Dean. He just looked different and your heart tightened at the sight of him.
"You don't have to thank me. It was my fault you ran off in the first place."
You shook your head. "I was an idiot."
"No you weren't. You could have taken him if you weren't distracted by my asshole comments."
Surprise lit up your face. "So you're admitting you were an asshole?"
He chuckled grimly. "It's a one-time deal, so don't get used to it."
You smiled. "I expect nothing less."
Dean shifted slightly, clearly wanting to say something, but he remained silent.
"What?"
He seemed to debate for a moment, but finally asked, "What did you dream about?"
You sighed. "It doesn't matter."
"Of course it does," he insisted. "The Djinn lets you live out your dream life...so what's your dream life, (Y/N)?"
"Technically, the Djinn grants you a wish and the life you see is based around that wish."
Dean rolled his eyes. "You're avoiding the question."
"It was my dream, Dean. You don't need to know about it." You spoke a little more harshly than you'd intended and you hated yourself a little for it. Especially when you saw Dean wince.
He quickly recovered and threw his hands in the air in mock surrender. "Okay, okay. I won't press, I promise."
"Thanks."
"Let me go talk to the doctor and see when we can get you outta here, okay?"
It was like he knew exactly what you needed. It warmed your heart and broke it all at once. "Thanks, Dean."
"Sure, (Y/N/N)."
**********
"Will I ever not be tired?" you complained grumpily two days later.
Sam laughed from the small table across the room from the bed you were currently curled up in. "It'll just take a little time. You lost a lot of blood, so your iron levels are low. Be patient."
"I hate being patient," you grumbled.
Sam chuckled again. "You sound like Dean."
As if he'd been summoned, Dean himself walked through the motel room door. "Dinner is served!" he announced happily.
You sat up and started to get out of the bed, but Dean ran over to you. "You can eat in bed, (Y/N). You need your rest."
"I appreciate that, Dean, but you're smothering me. I'm tired of laying in this bed."
Sam laughed and Dean just shook his head. "Alright fine."
He helped you to the table and you sat down across from Sam. You were grateful for his help, even if you didn't want to admit it.
"I got you a burger," Dean began. "I wasn't sure if you'd be feeling up to eating one, but you could really use the energy."
You smiled warmly. "A burger sounds amazing, Dean."
He handed you your food and gave Sam his. He pulled out his own, then reached into the bag and pulled out a small item, which he handed to you. "They, uh...they had freshly baked brownies, so I got you one."
Your eyes lit up as you took the neatly wrapped brownie from him. "Thanks," you said softly.
"They're your favorite, right?" he asked.
He remembered. "Yeah. Especially with the--"
"--little chocolate chips," he finished for you.
You stared at him for a moment, a soft smile gracing your features. Your eyes began to water, so you looked down at your food to keep from embarrassing yourself. "This looks delicious."
The three of you ate your dinners in companionable silence. When you were finished, you got out of your chair and started to make your way back to the bed. You were still tired, but you felt stronger than you had in a few days.
Dean immediately jumped out of his seat to help you, but you gently told him you were okay. "I'm alright, Dean."
His hands seemed to twitch as he watched you walk away, clearly wanting to make sure you were okay. He didn't relax until you sat down on the bed and started to unwrap your brownie.
"She's strong," Sam said lowly.
Dean turned his attention to his brother. "I know. I just worry about her."
"You know I can hear you both, right?" you said from your bed.
Both men chuckled lightly.
"The room's small and voices carry," you teased.
"You're not wrong," Sam said as he got up with a stretch. "I actually think I'm gonna hit the bar. I could use a drink after the week we've had."
Sam looked pointedly at his brother, which didn't go unnoticed by you. You watched as some sort of nonverbal exchange happened between the two men.
"I'll be back later," Sam said, getting what appeared to be the final word in whatever discussion they had been having. He walked out the door with his jacket and Dean locked it behind him.
"Since when does Sam go to bars by himself?" you asked.
Dean shrugged, but didn't meet your gaze. "Guess he really needed that drink."
"Or he wants to get laid," you mumbled.
Dean groaned. "Gross."
You laughed. "He's not a monk, Dean."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I want to think about him getting jiggy with it."
"Did you just say 'getting jiggy with it'?"
"I was trying it out."
"Maybe don't," you said with a laugh.
He grinned and flopped down on the other bed. "I'll make a note of it."
The two of you fell into silence, but unlike during dinner, this one felt uncomfortable. The tension hung in the air and there was so much you wanted to say to him...and so much he wanted to say to you.
"Do you wanna watch TV?" you asked, breaking the silence.
"Not really."
"Okay."
The silence continued to drag on until Dean finally couldn't take it anymore. He sat up and looked at you, gaze seeming to bore into your soul. "Can I tell you something?"
"Sure."
"When you saved my life, I was pissed. Beyond pissed. I haven't been that angry in a long time. But it wasn't because I wanted to die or anything like that...I just didn't want you to. When that vampire sent you flying and I heard you hit the wall, I was terrified. More terrified than I've ever been before."
He took a slow breath before continuing. "Once the vampires were all dead and you started to get up, I felt relieved--you were okay. But then all I felt was rage. I was so angry with you for putting yourself in harm's way like that...for risking yourself to save me. I'm not entirely sure I deserve saving, but I do know if you had died to save me, I would have never forgiven myself."
You stared at him in silence, lips parted, eyes full of emotion. "Dean..."
He held his hand up to stop you. "That's why I yelled at you...that's why I said everything I said. I didn't--I didn't know how to explain what I was feeling, so I lashed out at you. You didn't deserve it and I'm sorry. I'm so damn sorry, (Y/N)."
"I appreciate your apology," you said softly. "But I won't apologize for saving your life. If I'd let you die? I wouldn't have forgiven myself."
He looked a little surprised. "I didn't think about that."
"You never think you deserve saving. You don't think you deserve happiness or peace, a normal life--god forbid love... You think you're some kind of monster, but you're not, Dean. You're the best person I know. You're loyal to a fault, strong and brave, but also kind and gentle. No one hates you the way you hate yourself, Dean Winchester, and I'm tired of you projecting those feelings onto other people."
This was absolutely not the direction he'd imagined this conversation going...but here they were. "I don't know why you think that...you've seen me at my worst."
Your expression softened. "You're right. I have. But I've also seen you at your best--and that is a sight to behold. You're incredible, Dean...in all the ways that matter."
His eyes roamed your face searching for any sign of deception. When he saw none, he decided to seize the opportunity to ask you the only question he was dying to know the answer to..."What did you dream about?"
"What?"
"What did you dream about?" he asked again.
You inhaled sharply. It wasn't that you didn't want to tell him about the dream...about the life the two of you had shared...it was just that you were afraid. Afraid of how he would react, what he would think, what he would say...you weren't sure if you wanted to risk it.
You looked into his eyes for what felt like eternity. They seemed to swirl with emotion while silently begging you to tell him the truth.
You sighed. "I dreamed of a normal life...nice house, good job, friends, a fiancé...the whole nine yards."
His lips parted in surprise. He wasn't sure he wanted to ask, but he needed to know. "Fiancé?"
You nodded. "Yeah...I, uh--I was as surprised as you are."
"Is that what you want? A normal life with some random guy who doesn't really know you?"
"He wasn't some random guy," you admitted quietly.
"What?"
"In my dream...my fiancé was someone I know."
"Like in the real world?"
You nodded.
"Who?" Please don't be Sam. Please don't be Sam. Please don't be Sam.
"It doesn't matter."
"It matters to you or you wouldn't have dreamed it...the Djinn wouldn't have chosen him."
You hated that he was right and you didn't want to tell him. You were afraid it would ruin your relationship...you loved hunting with Sam and Dean. You loved traveling the country with them, hunting monsters, saving people, living in shitty motels...you loved it all, but most of all you loved Dean...and that was something you had never shared with anyone.
"It wasn't real," you whispered. "It was just a fantasy."
Dean decided to take a risk and he prayed he wouldn't regret it. "It doesn't have to be a fantasy."
"What?" you asked in surprise.
"If you tell him...maybe it can be real."
There was something in his eyes that gave you pause. After a few seconds, you realized it was fear. He was afraid of what you were going to say...and it gave you hope. Why would he be afraid of what you were going to say if he wasn't hoping it was him?
"It was you," you admitted quietly.
His lips parted and he inhaled deeply. "Me?"
You nodded slowly, suddenly unable to speak.
He stood up and crossed the short distance between you. He very gently pushed you back against the pillows and crawled on top of you, hovering mere inches from your face. "Do you love me?"
Your eyes widened in surprise. This was not at all how you imagined telling Dean how you feel, but you found yourself incapable of lying to him. "Yes," you breathed out.
"Say it," he whispered.
"I love you, Dean," you said softly.
He closed his eyes and laid his forehead against yours, his breathing labored and his hands shaking slightly. "(Y/N)..."
He stopped thinking then and let his body guide him. He'd loved you for so long--wanted you for even longer--and now he was finally going to have you. He pressed his lips against yours and kissed you like he was trying to memorize the shape of your lips.
The kisses you'd shared with the fake Dean in your dreams were nothing compared to the real thing. Actual sparks flew, igniting a need for him deep within you. Your hands clung to his flannel shirt, pulling him even closer to you.
He moaned softly against your lips and you parted them to allow him entry. His tongue dominated yours in a passionate fight for power. His hands began to roam the soft curves of your body, eliciting low moans of desire from you.
"I don't remember a time when I didn't love you," he admitted against your lips. "I don't want to remember before."
Your heart seemed to sing at his words. Dean had always been a deeply emotional man--he felt things more strongly than anyone you'd ever known, but he bottled up his emotions and hid them from the rest of the world. Hearing him finally confess his deepest secret made you feel incredibly special.
"I love you so much, Dean Winchester. So, so much."
He smiled. "I love you more, (Y/N) (Y/L/N)."
He kissed you again and you melted into him. His hands continued to roam your body, and yours did the same to his. A passionate need for one another had been ignited within each of you and neither of you could deny it.
You began to peel off his clothing and he did the same to you. The idea of being completely naked with Dean would have normally terrified you, but you could feel the waves of love oozing from the man above you. You knew you weren't the kind of girl Dean normally brought home, but none of that mattered--not when you could feel the love he had for you.
By the time you were both naked, you were overwhelmed with the desire to feel him inside you. He, however, had other plans. He began to slowly work his way down your body, stopping to show your breasts some attention.
"You know, I always loved these," he mumbled as he nipped and sucked at your breasts, earning sweet moans from you.
He continued his journey down your stomach, placing kisses to the scars and stretch marks littering your skin. You felt worshipped in a way you'd never experienced before.
Finally, Dean landed right where you wanted him, but he didn't give into you easily. His lips kissed along your inner thighs, appreciating the soft skin, biting gently to see your reaction.
Your breathing was ragged and you began to beg him to do something, anything. "Dean please," you murmured. "Stop teasing."
He chuckled lightly, but he didn't deny your request. His lips pressed against your core and he pushed your legs as far apart as he could without hurting you. His tongue darted out and licked a stripe up your pussy.
He let out a deep growling sound and dove into you like a man starved. He dug his fingers into your hips as he tugged you closer to him, feasting on you like you were the most delicious thing he'd ever tasted.
Your moans spurred him on, the sweet sounds like music to his ears. He could have happily stayed here between your legs until the end of time, but he had a feeling you would make him stop eventually.
Your fingers were interlaced in his hair and you were begging him not to stop. Not that he would have, but you didn't know that. "Dean...I'm so close."
He moaned in response, sending shivers of pleasure up your spine. His tongue focused its assault directly on your clit and you cried out. Your legs began to shake and he could feel you nearing the edge.
He sped up his ministrations, earning another cry from your lips. Your hips bucked slightly and he shifted his arm to hold you in place. "Oh god!" you yelled.
You tightened your grip on his hair as you felt the impact slam into you, orgasming with a cry of his name. He worked you through your high, only stopping when you squirmed out of his grasp.
"Dean," you murmured as he crawled back up towards your face.
He kissed you softly. "I wanna be inside you so badly, baby," he whispered into your ear.
"Please..."
"I don't have a condom," he said softly.
"I don't care. I want you, Dean. Please."
He could never deny you, especially when you begged him so prettily. He lined himself up with your entrance and sheathed himself inside you with one quick thrust.
You gasped his name and dug your fingers into his shoulder blades. The feeling of him filling you up was enough to push you closer to a second orgasm.
Your pussy gripped him like an iron vice and he had to take a deep breath to control himself. He hadn't felt like this since he was a teenager. He needed to get a grip or he was going to cum embarrassingly early.
Your hips shifted beneath him and he hissed softly. "Dean," you begged. "Move."
He started to move and the sounds of wet skin against skin began to fill the room. Those were soon overpowered by your moans and his low groans.
"Fuck, baby...feels so good," he whispered. "Such a sweet, tight, little pussy."
You moaned and your pussy clenched even tighter around him.
He groaned and his hips stuttered to a stop. "You gotta stop doing that baby, or I'm gonna cum."
You grinned wickedly. "Isn't that the point?"
He nipped at your neck playfully. "Not until I get another one from you."
He started to move again, which wiped the smirk from your face in an instant. You wrapped your legs tightly around him, effectively locking him into place inside you.
"Normally I'd have you in a hundred different positions," he muttered, "but I wanna see your face when you cum. I wanna watch my pretty girl fall apart because of me."
Your pussy clenched and you moaned softly in response.
"Yeah? You like that? You like that I wanna watch you?"
You nodded.
"Words, baby."
"Yes, Dean," you gasped.
"That's my good girl."
You practically preened at the praise and Dean made a mental note of it for later. For now, he was focusing on drawing another orgasm from you and staving off his own.
"You're so tight, sweet girl. Feels so good."
Your moans spurred him on, forcing him to keep up his pace. He pulled himself up slightly, tugging your hips with him, allowing him to reach your g-spot with each thrust.
You let out a cry a pleasure that he knew he would die to hear again. He closed his eyes for a moment as he sped up, desperately trying to keep himself from cumming before you did.
"That's it baby, I know you're close," he murmured.
"So close," you cried out.
"I know," he whispered. "I want you to cum for me, baby. Cover my cock with your sweet juices."
Your legs tightened around his hips and your nails dug deeper into his back. He watched your face as you began to shake--orgasm mere seconds away.
"Eyes on me, baby," he demanded.
Your eyes flew open and met his gaze. You gasped--the intensity of it all pushing you over the edge. You yelled his name as you came, explosions of light flashing behind your eyelids as they fluttered closed.
He watched your beautiful face as you rode out your high with him. He shifted focus to his own quickly impending orgasm. His breathing became more ragged and you opened your eyes to find his again.
"Feels so good, baby," you murmured.
His eyes locked onto yours and he panted heavily.
"I know you're close, handsome. I want you to fill me up."
His green eyes widened. "You sure?"
You nodded. "I need it, Dean. Please." You clenched down on his cock to emphasize your words.
That was all he needed in order to reach his peak. He moaned your name as he started to cum, whispering it into your skin like a chant as he emptied inside of you.
You held onto him tightly as he came down, his body shaking slightly from the intensity of his orgasm. He finally collapsed on top of you, unable to hold up his own weight.
You placed a soft kiss to his head and listened to his breathing begin to regulate.
Eventually, he rolled off of you, leaving you feeling strangely empty. He managed to drag himself off the bed with a murmured "I'll be right back."
You watched him walk to the bathroom, and for a moment you worried he'd regret it, but your fears were assuaged by his reappearance with a wet washcloth.
Your face must have betrayed your thoughts because he knelt before you and said, "I love you, (Y/N), with everything I have."
You smiled. "I love you too, Dean."
He returned your smile and began to carefully and gently clean you up with the washcloth. It was warm and it felt nice to be cared for like that.
Once he was finished, he threw the washcloth into the bathroom and crawled back onto the bed. He tugged you close to him and pulled the covers up over you when you started to shiver.
"Anyone ever tell you you're beautiful when you cum?" he asked softly.
You laughed lightly. "You would be the first."
He kissed your hair and tightened his grip on you. "I intend on being the last."
You turned your head to look at him and felt your heart melt a little. You didn't have a good response for that, so you simply kissed him, hoping your emotions were conveyed in the action.
He leaned into the kiss and whimpered slightly when your lips left his. You kissed him one more time and he let you pull away after several seconds.
"You should get some sleep," he murmured. "I'll keep you safe."
You knew without a shadow of a doubt that he would die to keep his word. You settled back against him, a silent response of trust and gratitude. He gave you a soft squeeze as you began to drift off to sleep.
This life might be hard...it might be full of pain and loss, but it was real. The man holding you in his arms was real. The love you felt for each other was real...and you wouldn't change any of it.
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heavysighing-dreamyeyes · 4 days ago
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Oaths
My first Bruce Wayne fic! I kind of pictured this taking place in his early years as Batman. ~1k words
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When Bruce Wayne watches his parents die at eight years old, he vows to never let someone die in front of him again. It's a useless vow, one he fails time and time again to keep.
Yet, he makes the same vow over and over. With every eye that loses its light in front of him, he swears to be better, stronger, faster, so he never fails anyone who needs ever again.
Bruce carries each loss on his shoulders. He repeats the list of names to himself in the quiet moments, in the darkness that lingers as he races from crime to crime.
Some names are strangers. Some are friends. But the heaviest ones to bear are always his family's.
If he had just been more, more than himself, more than just a man, maybe he'd be able to fall into a restful sleep for once. But Bruce Wayne is not more. He is a human among gods. A mortal surrounded by death and power and chaos.
So he throws himself into being better. Trains himself until his muscles and bones fail him. Throws every dime he's ever had into the newest technology.
His life would be nothing but an endless cycle of training, fighting, lavish parties, and lies, if not for you.
You. His childhood friend. The third musketeer to him and Harvey. The person who treats him like he never left Gotham.
You never ask questions. Never push him for more than he can give. Always seem to be willing to drop your plans in favor of him.
It's almost intoxicating, but he does his best to stuff his feelings down, to pretend that the sight of you dressed to the nines for one of his charity galas doesn't make his mouth go dry and his head spin.
(He doesn't think he can be blamed for not being a model playboy, philanthropist when you're occupying all his attention)
There's something about the way you smile, the way the room seems to focus on your very existence, that has him unable to cut you from his life. It's a weakness. One Batman cannot have. But it's one Bruce Wayne certainly does.
He skips meetings at Wayne Tower for you. (Not that he wanted to go anyway) He cuts back on what little sleep he gets just to see you for brunch.
He invites you as his guest to various events. (Sure, it's under the guise of publicity, driven by the fact that you're one of Gotham's shiniest stars, but you both know he prefers your company over anyone else)
What Bruce does not compromise on, though, is his nights. His days are for you, but his nights are for Gotham. He vows you will never be caught in the crossfire of his double life. This is the line, a barrier between him and The Bat. One he cannot and will not let you cross.
That barrier crumbles to dust when your name is listed among the hostages at your favorite club. His heart is his throat as he tears over Gothams rooftops, his focus entirely on getting to you.
It's not a vow on his lips, but a prayer. A prayer that you won't be a casualty in a territory war he caused by taking out Falcone just last week.
He feels stupid. Inexperienced. He knew the fallout would be difficult to manage, but never considered it would risk your life. He should have told you to stay home, should have given you a panic button, anything to keep you safe.
But he didn't. Didn't even have a plan for it. So, he has to save you. Has to make at least one vow true. Has to stop you from being a victim of his crusade.
He's efficient, when he cuts the power to the club, plunging it into darkness. He's brutal, more brutal than he's ever been when he takes out each hired hand like they're simple training dummies.
He breaks guns over heads, uses his untested, electrified batarangs. He drives himself to the limits to ensure every person's attention is entirely focused on him, and not the vulnerable hostages– on you.
He sends a message with each bone he breaks, each punch that knocks the air from their lungs, every kick that sends them flying into the wall.
It's a message they don't understand, but one that's clear as day to him, The Bat and Bruce Wayne are inexplicably linked, and at the center of it is you.
You. He nearly crashes at the sight of you, once the goons are left moaning and curled on the floor.
You're safe, a little worse for wear, hair mused, and clothes rumpled, but you're alive, and none of his scans pick up any major bleeding or life threats. He doesn't quite know what to do with the awed, mystified look in your eyes, but you're coherent, and that's what he cares about.
It's a bad idea, but Batman personally escorts the hostages (namely you) to the police and paramedics waiting outside. (And if he steps on a few fingers along the way, no one says a word about it)
He can't help himself, even as his better judgment tells him to leave, to take care of the other violence sure to be happening around the city. But it's you. His– his something.
He will not name it. He will not dare delude himself into more.
So he lingers in the shadows. Stays poised on the balls of his feet when you're finally allowed to leave the scene. He selfishly follows you every step of the way until you're safe in your own home. Only then does he let you out of his sight.
The line between Batman and Bruce Wayne only blurs more, when he shows up at your door in the morning with coffee and breakfast, claiming to have heard about the situation from the news.
He decides it hardly matters what is fact or not, because you hug him, express how grateful you are to see him.
The smile on your face makes him engrave another vow onto his soul, one he intends to keep. Bruce Wayne will cross lines to protect you. He will blur what is Batman and what is him to keep you safe. And you will never, ever know it.
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woso-dreamzzz · 11 months ago
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Pregnant II
Hardersson x Baby!Reader
Part of The Big Adventures Universe
Summary: Pernille's pregnancy
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During the first month, you're about the size of a poppy seed.
Pernille's fine on her own during this period. She has a little bit of spotting and feels a bit more tired than usual but she's mainly okay. Since the announcement, her teammates have been more careful on the pitch with her.
Everyone knows that the risk of miscarrying is higher before the third month so they all take care not to knock into her as much or, at least, to not hit her head on.
Magda, it seems, is the only one completely stressed out of her mind. She sends regular texts to check in with Pernille. She calls every day (once in the morning and once in the evening).
If she didn't have commitments in England then Pernille's sure that Magda would have flown over daily.
By the second month, you're the size of a kidney bean.
The symptoms have gotten a little worse by now. The tiredness has been replaced by sore breasts and the spotting by morning sickness. It's still manageable and Pernille doesn't even think to tell Magda until she misses a morning call in favour of hunching over the toilet and spewing out her guts.
"Her heart's developing now," Magda's voice comes through the phone, echoing around the tiled walls of Pernille's bathroom," And her brain too. Do you think she'll be smart? I think she'll be smart."
"We don't know if it's a girl yet, Magda," Pernille says. She's still leaning against the toilet but Magda's voice is safe and soothing.
"I know it's a girl," Magda replies, an air of finality in her tone," A little Pernille."
"She's your egg. She'll be a little Magda."
Pernille can hear the smile in Magda's voice as she replies," I made you admit she's a girl."
At the end of month three, you're the same size as a lime.
The morning sickness is extremely bad now and Magda even flies out when she hears from Nilla that Pernille had thrown up on the side of the pitch one morning.
"This brings back memories," Magda quips as she holds Pernille's hair back.
"Of what?"
"Crazy parties in our youth."
"We're still young, Magda. Becoming parents doesn't automatically make us old," Pernille sits up and takes the washcloth from her partner.
"Yeah, but we're more mature now. No more crazy parties and throwing up."
"None recently," Pernille corrects. She smiles for a moment before hunching over the toilet bowl again.
Magda rubs her back. "I've taken a few weeks off," She says," You keep getting sick."
"Magda-"
"No, I've already made my decision. International break is soon anyway. Our next match isn't too difficult. They don't really need me."
Pernille can't find it in herself to argue about it much, with the way that she sags against the wall and stays within arm's length of the toilet.
Magda kisses her stomach. "You're making your Momma sick," She says," You've got to leave her alone. You're still growing in there."
At month four, you're around the size of an avocado.
The morning sickness has stopped completely now but the soreness in her breasts doesn't subside at all.
It's completely coincidental when, one evening as she's changing her shirt, Pernille catches the sight of herself in the mirror.
She's got a baby bump now.
Instantly, her hand goes to touch it, as if she could feel exactly where you are.
She takes a picture and sends it to Magda.
She can see that it's been read but Magda doesn't reply for hours until finally...
MAGDA ❤️ you look so beautiful that's my new lockscreen
It's month five. You're the same length as a banana.
She could have found out earlier but Pernille waits until Magda can make the trip to find out your gender.
"A girl." Magda is still convinced as they sit in the waiting room, her hand stroking over Pernille's knuckles. "I know she's a girl."
"We'll see."
Pernille feels a bit vindictive so has the doctor write your gender on a scrap of paper, folds it up and hands it to Frido (who has come to visit).
"Huh?" Frido says as she looks down at the scunched-up ball of paper.
"You're in charge of that," Pernille says," Magda doesn't see it, she doesn't take it before the gender reveal."
"You guys are planning a gender reveal?"
Pernille shakes her head. "No. You are."
By month six, you're as big as an ear of corn.
You move around a lot now and Pernille never forgets the look on Magda's face when, one evening, Pernille grasps her hand and places it over her swollen stomach.
You kick almost every day and Pernille rubs her stomach softly as Frido hands her and Magda a knife.
"I bought cake," Frido proclaims," Because this is a celebration and you can't go wrong with cake."
Someone (Pernille's not sure who) on the Wolfsburg team rolls it out.
"If it's blue, it's a boy. If it's pink, it's a girl," Frido explains even though it really didn't need explaining. She's taking her role as future moster very seriously and it's slightly amusing.
"It'll be pink," Magda says," I know it will."
Frido rolls her eyes. "Then cut it. But...just wait until the camera's on. Okay! Ready? Ready!"
Magda's hand is warm around Pernille's, who is holding the knife in her own. They make two cuts into the cake, one after the other, and then pull out the slice.
"A girl," Pernille says softly, smiling as her team celebrates around her. She looks up at Magda, whose eyes are glistening with unshed tears.
"A girl."
Month seven and the only thing different is now you're the size of a large aubergine.
Her doctor has said that you can hear now so she spends countless nights with a pair of headphones on her stomach, playing voice notes Magda has sent throughout the day for you.
It's amusing. They're mostly nonsense, Magda just talking about her day and all the things she looks forward to doing with you but it's incredibly sweet and Pernille ends up crying every time.
Month eight comes around and now you're the same size as a cabbage.
Pernille's back aches more than ever and you enjoy sitting on her bladder so she has to take a bathroom break more often.
The highlight of the month comes when Magda comes over and lifts her bump, allowing Pernille to sag against her and feel slightly weightless for a little bit.
At month nine, you're the same as a head of lettuce.
She and Magda have been arguing over names for months now. There's a list pinned to the fridge and each of them takes a lot of pride in crossing out the other's suggestions in healthy competition.
Your last name is still up for debate too, as is your middle (but, somehow, Frido's gotten in on that action and has been texting Pernille suggestions for weeks now).
Pernille's having trouble getting to sleep too and you get more active than before. Rather than kicking though, it's your little fists thumping against her stomach (something that, many years in the future, she will tell Zećira was you foreshadowing).
Her doctor told her it was normal but it's still a bit disconcerting to see the tiny imprints of your even tinier fingers poking from the inside out.
By month ten (and Pernille hates that she's been lied to and pregnancy does not, in fact, end in the ninth month), you're the same size as a pumpkin.
She feels ready to pop but restless at the same time.
Magda's meant to be flying out later today but Pernille is in desperate need of some fresh air so she pulls on some clothes and gets herself ready to head to the Wolfsburg grounds.
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drluvsick · 6 months ago
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Hello mate, how are you doing?
So, I've been following you for a while, and I couldn't help but notice your latest post, soooo, I have a request for you~~
You can ignore it if you don't want to do it, don't want to bother you :'D
So, it's a Muichiro (the Sweetest) x reader, that Reader always had a long hair, and they always treasure it, like alot, never letting people touch it, only Mui of. But one day, they just show up with a hair cut, and Mui is like "???", when he asks why they did it, they just say " oh, a demon cut it, so I thought it would be nice make a new hair cut "
Sorry about my poor english, I'm better at speaking ;-;
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𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐘 (𝐍𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊) — 𝐦𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐨 𝐭𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐨
muichiro loved your long hair. he loved the trust you gave him as you only allowed him to touch it. so imagine his surprise when you come back to him with a totally new haircut and some new insecurities. 📝 f! reader in mind; small hurt/comfort! this ask is adorable, don’t worry, your english is fine! :] NOT PROOFREAD
word count : 739
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“thanks for volunteering to soothe the knots…” you kept your position as still as you could manage, muichiro behind you as he ran his fingers through your hair.
“you always do this for me,” muichiro pointed out, “it’s only fair that i repay you for that.”
you could practically feel his soft smile against your skin, the close proximity making butterflies swerve through your stomach and clouding in your heart. you hummed in contentment.
he continued talking. “plus, i like your hair. it’s…it gives off this sort of…comforting feeling.”
“is that so?” you smiled at his action of trying to form his words into a proper group. “i have to go soon.”
“mission?” you caught the small pout in his voice, although very subtle.
“yep, being sent in to help some mizunotos. it’s always the start of being a slayer that catches you off guard.” you sigh at the memory of your own start.
muichiro sighed for another reason. “just don’t go risking your life for whatever group you’re assigned to assist.”
“no promises, but i’ll try my best,” you got up once you felt muichiro’s fingers leave your hair. you then felt him back hug you.
“stay safe.”
“love you too.”
then he let go and waved you goodbye.
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so many emotions swirled through you at once, making a wave of nausea swim through your senses.
relief. you were alive, and so were the people you were sent to protect (still heavily beaten up, but surviving nonetheless).
guilt. you could’ve prevented some of their injuries. but then again, it was a large group.
sadness and anger. after so many years of growing it out, it got snipped in a second. your hair, now cut short into a messy (but manageable) new haircut. you wished you were the one to decide when to have your hair chopped rather than some insignificant third party.
insecurity. would muichiro still love you the same? your hair played a part in your beauty, and you knew that muichiro thought you were beautiful. but that was before, when your hair was still long. what about now? would he still find you as attractive as before?
it was a little stupid, being so caught up in the fact that muichiro may like you less because of your hair. but a small thought still nagged at you, and it stayed until you decided to drop by mitsuri’s place.
you could guess her reaction vividly, and surprise, you were right on the money.
“(y/n)!! oh my gosh, you cut your hair?!” mitsuri screamed, “it was so—!!”
“demon cut it,” you simply replied, “i was busy protecting the others.”
mitsuri’s shocked face turned to one of excitement. “you have to let me style it! short hair’s going to look so pretty on you!!” she gushed, taking your hand and pulling you through the halls into her room for a hair appointment.
you dearly hoped she was right.
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you stared at yourself in the mirror. if she ever got to retire from being a hashira, she’d definitely excel in a side career of hair styling.
“you look absolutely gorgeous, (y/n)!!” mitsuri squealed. you smiled and thanked her, turning around as she wrapped you in a bear hug. and then you were sent off to show muichiro.
your mind was swirling as you made steps to his place. he’d probably be training right now, wouldn’t he? after a bit of walking, you found him.
“muichiro!” you called out. you could practically feel his whole demeanor shift from monotone to absolutely shining. he snapped his head your way before evident shock was applied on his face.
“(y/n), what happened to your hair?” he worriedly asked, knowing well enough that you wouldn’t have cut it by yourself.
“demon,” you tried to smile, “it didn’t hurt me much, thankfully.”
he didn’t speak for a few seconds, making you fidget in your spot under his stare.
“it fits you,” he finally said, “your hair, i mean.”
you look at him, your heart picking up pace. “really?”
“yeah,” he smiled, taking your hands and softly kissing your knuckles. your heart melted. “everything fits you.”
you pulled him in, kissing him on the lips. and as he ran his fingers through your now shortened hair, just like how he used to before, you realized that no matter what you looked like coming back to him, he’d always look at you as his one and only.
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overluvsick | please do not repost, translate, and/or claim my works as yours !!
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