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andrea-lyn · 5 months ago

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Roswell New Mexico - Master Fic Rec Post

See under the cut for thirty-four total recs, predominantly Malex. There's also 10 additional in the "Recs Less Travelled" project here.

a few drinks and some conversation by @christchex

Michael Guerin makes a friend who isn’t his sibling, an ex, or a sibling’s ex.

Astriferous Sea by hrhbrittany, Sismyn

Alex has always been the baby among the sirens in the Dead Sea. Michael is performing beard services for his sister. Communication is a little wishy-washy.

This AU came out of nowhere and smacked me right with the ‘I’ve always wanted this and I just never knew’. It has sirens and rescues and bad guys and false relationships and real marriages and rings and drama and romance. It honestly reminds me (in the best way) of an exciting romance novel and I’m so jazzed there’s still one part left to it.

The Bachelor by Sweetgirl2019

After the events of high school, Michael, Isobel & Max moved to California while Liz, Maria & Kyle stayed in Roswell and Alex went to war overseas. Once his enlistment period ends, Alex gets thrown into something that brings him and Michael back together again.

So I think this might be my favourite to see updated right now. It should be a run-of-the-mill fluffy AU, yet the author threw this incredible curveball by using the alien background in a canon divergence to turn The Bachelor into both a romantic dramedy for the boys, but also keeping the looming threat of people finding out about aliens in the background. Also, I think this is top tier pining that you will actively feel in your own chest, that’s how good it is.

blink back to let me know by haloud - Roswell New Mexico

Alex doesn’t have important conversations over the phone when he can avoid them. It feels too much like going in blind. But in some ways, the phone makes it easier–it’s easier to break when no one’s looking.

It’s Mylex and the 5th in a series, and every part is worth reading, but I definitely re-read parts 4 and 5 a lot. It’s so well written and the dynamic is mwah and I love how Kyle fits into this. One of my favourite pieces in this is how Kyle reacts to his father in relation to Michael & Caulfield and it’s an amazing read.

built this house on memories by @villanellve

He wakes up eight years in the future, and everything is strange, but Alex is there.

YOU GUYS. If you were to write a list of tropes I adore, this would be way up there at the top because of how much I love it. I am a sucker for a character having to be removed from their situation to learn (whether it’s an alternate universe or the future or the past), but this one is so achingly painful and perfect and hopeful. I love the callout that the situation is almost too hard for Alex, I love the resolution at the end on Michael’s part, and you could just soak in the happiness and comfort of their future lives if you let yourself.

Can’t Get No by one_flying_ace

“They’re on round two already,” he says, tilting his head towards the truck again, “or maybe three.” Guerin grimaces, and that’s fair; it’s his brother, after all. “You know how they’re feeling. Could I handle it, if you stopped-” being in control, he doesn’t say, but Guerin shudders. “I’m good, Alex. Just keep the hell away.” (Or: alien sex rocks don’t make them do it, but they sure do help.)

Sex pollen/sex-or-die fics are pretty much a requirement, but this is my absolute favourite and I have re-read it more times than I can tell you (let’s put it at six or seven?) The restraint that Michael has in this is amazing, but the mental images of it are incredible as well. I loved Max and Liz’s secondary presence as well and how each character was tonally perfect down to the little things (like Max not noticing Michael’s sex marks). What a good. What a hot. What amazing.

Constant as the Northern Star by celzmccelz

Michael stares at Kyle. “But I’m a guy! How can I be pregnant?” Kyle looks embarrassed. “Well, you appear to have a fully functioning set of female reproductive organs—or, I mean, like, the kind of reproductive organs that are associated with a double X-chromosome in humans, so I’d assume that you probably became pregnant when semen was introduced into your reproductive tract—” “Jesus Christ, Kyle!” says Michael. He could have happily lived the rest of his life without ever hearing Kyle Valenti say the words “semen” and “reproductive tract.” Kyle’s eyes widen. “Have you been having unprotected sex?” “Oh my God, I am not having this conversation with you!”

Yes, going in, there are some warnings to be cognizant of. It’s mpreg, there’s a lot of medical stuff to go through, but I think this is my absolute favourite of the mpregs I’ve read and it actually comes down to Michael’s support system outside of Alex, namely in Kyle. There’s no sudden BFF bracelets being given, but that morality that makes Kyle Valenti who he is, that’s right there. Also, given that this is an mpreg fic, it delves into family and plot in a way that I haven’t often seen. Plus, you get the ‘getting back together’ Malex that I so deeply crave.

Contigo me encontré by beautifulcheat (Katalyst), ladynox

The Lockhart House was once a home, although it was never a happy one. Steeped in tragedy, it still stands today, in the heart of Old Town Roswell, attracting ghost hunters and those seeking to catch a peak of something from beyond the veil.

Contrary to popular myth, it wasn’t currently haunted (except by one paranormally talented docent). It was Michael’s favorite job and the best part of his summer home from UNM. Or at least was until Alex Manes was hired to man the gift shop, complicating an otherwise fun and easy job.

everywhere on earth you go - @evepolastried

Across the room, he can still see how Michael Guerin is looking at him. And that’s something different, something new, something so very familiar. The thrill of nerves, of guilt, of want. Alex smiles, and he starts to sing. (OR: Alex Manes grabs his guitar and gets the hell out of Roswell in 2008, and he leaves behind a letter. Here’s what happens ten years later)

I love this. This one has something incredible, and it’s something I called out, but it has this amazing work with pace. There’s a frantic moment at the bar and it’s chaos, and you feel it. It’s rushed and wild and crazy, but then everything slows down and it gets perfect. There’s Michael, there’s Alex, there’s music, and it’s such a great ride.

Family Matters by @bestillmyslashyheart

Isobel is telepathic. Most of the time she ignores it. She used to pick up on other’s people’s emotions but she’s long since learned to tune that out. Until one night she can’t. Someone, somewhere is in such a state that it’s spilling over and she’s left to deal with the brunt of it. Or, Michael keeps things close to the vest until he can’t. The night after Alex leaves him at the drive-in, everything he’s feeling bubbles up inside until it spills over onto Isobel. Suddenly he’s left with no other choice but to open up.

This is an early fandom piece, but I still think it’s held up to an immensely amazing rate. Not only that, but I love how it delves into powers, Michael and Isobel’s relationship, and the incredible idea of spillover, which I still actively wish would become canon because of this fic. I think it’s so IC, especially with Michael’s active wish not to talk about it that he screws himself over in his sleep and seriously, it’s such a good read for both Isobel & Michael stuff, but also Michael & Alex.

the first who ever did - nostaljinks

Five times Michael saves Alex + 1 time Alex saves Michael back.

I feel like there aren’t enough words that I can heap onto this of praise. This fic is well-written, well-plotted, well-thought out, well-everything. It’s a beautiful emotional roller coaster and will make you ACHE, but in a great way. It also is the right amount of long that you want more, but you also get it, and it’s just as quality as the rest. ABSOLUTE must read.

fish bowl by @sabrinachill

Alex makes a series of phone calls and bad choices that lead him directly here — an Airstream on the edge of a junkyard with a distractingly attractive mechanic showing him how the dining table converts into a bed that he can sleep on for just $75 a week. It is, of course, completely absurd. But there’s something cozy about the fuzzy yellow blanket on the bed/table and the sparkling sunlight streaming through the mostly-clean windows, in the smell of leather and motor oil and aftershave and summer storms, in the hopeful half-smile on Michael’s face. That’s his name — Michael. Alex’s potential new roommate and landlord. (AKA An AU About Quarantined Roommates Who Fall in Love)

I highly recommend anything by @sabrinachill, but this fic is a really clear argument about why. It’s an AU that involves quarantine, and you might think ‘oh, I’ve read that before’, but then it will take you down the unexpected road that you didn’t expect to go down, but as soon as you take that twist, you instantly realize how much better it is that way. Hats off to the clever plotting not just in Fish Bowl, but other fics!

Funny How Things Never Change - @waroftheposes

“What can I do for you?” Michael asks, turning to face Alex. Alex can tell the moment that Michael’s mind registers who he’s addressing, because the polite smile drops from his face and the hat falls from his hand. He stands there, eyes wide and unbelieving, looking at Alex. Alex takes a deep breath, willing his racing heart to settle. “Well,” he begins and is his voice shaking? “For starters you can get your stubborn ass over here and give me a divorce.” – (A Sweet Home Alabama AU)

Yooooo, guess who was bereft when she thought she lost this link. It was absolutely me. This AU makes me happy in so many ways, especially the storms in the desert motif that keeps coming back around, and also that it’s messy. I like that it’s not cut and dry, that it goes right up until the wedding, and that it takes some real talk for them to get back together. I love fics where they all get to be human and this one is just so good.

I Know Nothing Stays The Same by aewriting

“Alex doesn’t believe in miracles until one happens to him. His father has a hammer in one hand and Alex’s throat in the other. As Alex’s consciousness fades, he’s dimly aware of movement. His father’s about to swing the hammer, and this is how Alex will die.” When an unexplainable force puts a stop to Jesse’s attack in the shed, Alex and Michael are forced to go on the run. Leaving Roswell is an easy decision, but navigating the consequences of that choice months and even years later proves to be much more complicated.

I think this one became a must read very early on, but then it’s continued to deliver. There’s been a few stories that delve into the characters getting therapy, but there’s a whole chapter here where it genuinely feels cathartic as we go through the process with Alex. This fic also is an excellent and long version of an AU I think that we’ve all wondered, about what would happen if they ran away, and it’s so well written and so real that I know I will be re-reading this a ton. Like many of the others, why I love it is because it’s not perfection, but it’s the kind of real where I want to wrap myself up in it.

i won’t go, i can’t do it on my own by @queersirius

alex tries to let go by giving back the pieces of michael he’s kept

Millie has a bunch of AMAZING AUs (guys, the 10 Things I Hate About You is something I never thought I’d get, especially from a favourite author), but i think this one is actually my favourite, especially when it comes to the ship piece that Alex has. Again, when I talk about ‘fics that make me want to be better’, this one was one. The writing is engaging, the characterization is fabulous, and the emotions are so honest and real. Then there’s this line, like a gut punch: “Because it’s the last thing I have of you,” he admits. “The last piece of you I have to let go of.” which I love because it’s still Alex’s journey, an honest attempt to offer closure (if closure is wanted).

in some other life - @spaceskam

michael tries to build a time machine, but ends up in a different reality all together

There are a lot of these that have been written and they are all quality, but I love this one especially because of how we get into Alex in the other universe, get the glimpse of this unknown Michael, but also the scene that strikes this one out for me is that Alex doesn’t want to let him go. I love that Alex gets to be selfish, that he begs for him to stay, and that we don’t get the automatic happy ending in that, but there’s still the hope for it. Also, Alex the Angel, unf.

intimate encounters of the third kind by @alexmanes

Three years after Antar and its people take Earth under their wings, Roswell becomes the epicenter for human-alien relations between both planets. It doesn’t take very long for Alex Manes to find himself embroiled in a scandal that threatens this intergalactic partnership, all thanks to a beautiful man named Michael Guerin who is not nearly as human as he claims to be.

Okay, so, if you like No Love Like Your Love, the truth is that you have this fic to thank. This was my first introduction in RNM fandom as to what a really amazing fic could be that incorporated the royalty elements into the pairing. Once 1x12 aired and we met Michael’s mother, it was pretty much a done deal that I wanted to do something that played with that, but this is the actual inspiration. It’s well plotted, it has a great ensemble cast, and plays with the kind of care that it takes to know your plot inside and out, but also to leave breadcrumbs that guide the reader along. It’s very methodical in the sense that nothing is by accident and it has you on the edge of your seat.

It’s a long road back to you by @magsthemagical

Michael finds out that Alex is dating Forrest and he’s okay with it, until he’s not. Maria suggests a double date to show they can all hang out as friends. But they can’t… not really. [OR the one where Michael & Alex realize that they belong together and so they say goodbye to their respective relationships and start anew]

Honest truth time - in terms of ‘ships, while I always love people to ship and let ship, my personal preference for both Michael and Alex is one another, so both Maria/Michael and Forrest/Alex aren’t things that I usually seek out when trawling Ao3. This fic is so good to all parties involved. No one is a villain and I appreciate that they get to talk about things like Alex’s reticence to do certain things in public, but also being aware that Alex deserves to have something new as much as Michael.

Last Stop: This Town by @ubiestcaelum

Someone asked what it would have been like if Michael had gone home with the Evan’s and I couldn’t let it go.

Am I cheating because I requested this? idk, maybe, because another one I requested will end up here too. I am addicted to the idea of Michael getting the support system he needs, but THIS FIC takes it to the most impossibly amazing level and fleshes out the Evans parents in such an incredible way. I love that it’s not super sunshine and rainbows, but it’s an honest telling of raising kids (and maybe too many kids versus what you expected). I know this is only in progress (several today will be), but even as it is, it’s worth reading multiple times, because I know I have.

let me count the ways by @queersirius

liz ortecho isn’t allowed to date until her snarky, determined-not-to-date brother, alex ortecho, does. luckily, one of her suitors has a plan. well, max goes to isobel for a plan, which involves getting their brother, michael, to woo alex. or, the 10 things i hate about you AU

Obviously this needs to be here as I desperately pleaded for it to exist, but it’s so beyond what it might be as a mini tumblr ficlet and has become a whole world. It’s not just a great Malex story, it’s an amazing story for all the characters and really fleshes out a world, but weaves in the RNM characters perfectly, but also gives me a dynamic I want more of, in Alex being an Ortecho. It’s not quite finished yet, but Millie has never steered us wrong and I can’t wait for more.

Loathly by @aewriting

When King Manes and his sons are caught illegally hunting on Antarian lands, King Noah gives King Manes a choice - correctly answer a riddle or accept death. A year-long search for the correct answer ensues, leading the youngest son of the king, Alex, to strike a bargain with a mysterious woman who claims to know the answer. This is an AU of the Arthurian legend “Sir Gawain and the Dame Ragnell.”

Love at First Sass - @daffietjuh

Taking a class of 30 high school kids on a school trip to an Air Force base was about as exhausting as it sounds, luckily, the Captain giving them the tour is perfectly capable of handling a group of rowdy teenagers. Michael may be slightly in love Okay, so first of all, if you haven’t read any of the author’s other work, you should. The AUs are fantastic and the hockey one is still one of my favourites ever, but this one also just was exactly what I needed. It was sexy and flirty and fun, but also fit their personalities perfectly!

Everything in the Michael Sanders AU, by prouvaireafterdark which is a fantastic series that gives us what we all wanted, which is Walt Sanders giving Michael the home he deserved (and getting one right back).

My love is a life taker by @jocarthage

By the time he turned 15, Captain Alex Manes had been to every war zone and unofficial conflict the United States of America was involved in. It wasn’t regular practice, or even heard of, for a Colonel to bring his son along on combat missions; the exception was if the child had been identified as Time Aware, able to travel in time along their own timeline using stolen alien technology. So here Alex Manes was, 28, and ducking bombs, killing who he’s told to. On his way back from a mission, Alex slips into another timestream. It should be impossible. But he can hear a child crying and he heads towards the sound. This is the story of how Alex saved Michael and Michael saved Alex, with lots of time travel shenanigans and angst.

This story is incredible for so many reasons and one of them I continue to praise is the balance. It’s an Alex driven story, but you can break his life down into friends, mission, family, and Michael, and often those elements combine, but there’s never any update that doesn’t give you enough (imo). It’s excellent writing with engaging OCs and wonderful plot, and the most incredible love story.

not in this world (or the next) by @hannah-writes

It isn’t until he realises he can’t find the keys for his fucking truck anywhere and that there’s mail on the table addressed to Mr M Evans that Noah called him ‘Evans’, too. He fumbles inside the wallet that he’d managed to locate and pulls out a New Mexico licence with his picture on it; he doesn’t have a black eye and a split lip in this one, his hair’s tamed and he doesn’t look like he’s gone three days without showering. His date of birth is stamped, clear and correct, but then where his name should read ‘Michael Guerin’, it reads “Michael Evans’ and the address registered on the license is that of Max and Isobel’s childhood home. Noah had also said ‘your mom’s’. Not ‘Mrs Evans’. It feels like a bucket of ice water’s dumped over his head as he finally accepts that something is very, very wrong. (aka, the fic spawned from a tumblr prompt about Michael waking up in a parallel reality.)

This one, guys. This is an absolute beast of angst and love and a really well plotted story, but also is really amazing for how it creates Mikey, but also creates motive behind what drives both Michael and Mikey in ways that are the same, but also different. Genuinely, this fic is a great read because you get so much attention to the characters while also driving along the relationships, and who they are.

nursery sharks by christchex

Six firsts in the Sanders household and a second.

Otherwise Engaged by JustAsSweet

Alex Manes was perfectly happy with his job at Colden Records but when his visa is rejected and deportation looms, marrying his assistant Michael Evans is his only option. And when they make a trip to Alaska to see Michael’s family, everything becomes a lot more complicated.

AKA: The Proposal AU that no one asked for but I wrote anyway.

Shadow Work - @myrmidryad

After his discharge from the Air Force, Alex Manes is working as a shade - a professional ghost hunter - when Michael Guerin tracks him down. Alex left Roswell thirteen years ago and never went back, but overnight Michael’s family has vanished and the supernatural activity in Roswell has exploded, and he wants Alex’s help. Featuring: ghosts, more ghosts, metaphorical ghosts, and a lot of sex without talking about feelings. Also missing family members, government conspiracies, and gratuitous worldbuilding.

No, YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND. I can’t rec this enough. Literally, this is a novel-type rec. If this were a book on a shelf, I would be shouting that you need to go read it, because it is literally good enough to be a published work on a best-selling list. It’s so fucking good. Every time you think it can’t get better, it does. It has nuance and plot and world-building and it is So. Fucking. Good. I could sit here and sing praises all day and it still wouldn’t be enough. Please give yourself a holiday treat and read it.

The World Forgetting, By The World Forgot by Anonymous

Michael and Alex erase each other from their memories. It does not go according to plan. [Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Roswell style]

I mean, I could rec anything by Anonymous and it would be worth your read. They’re so good and so in character, but this one is my favourite. It’s angsty as fuck, don’t get me wrong, but it plays with the movie plot in such a Roswell-specific way that makes sense that I honestly never even compared or contrasted it to the movie past the first few beats. The pain is visceral, and the memory loss segment is incredible, but also delivers on a positive ending.

To Trust Love by @laughsalot3412

The prisoner’s voice sounded like home. He could have been raised in Roswell, the way his accent stretched his vowels. He definitely hadn’t been. Alex would have remembered eyes like those. (AU where Alex Manes goes on an undercover rescue mission in Caulfield Prison and forms a bond with one of the prisoners in the process.)

I don’t have enough words in the English language to praise this one. Honestly, I don’t. For one, the pace and the length is perfect. That we got the parts as quickly as we did was honestly such a treat, but then every part was just as high quality as the last. There are chapters in this one that made me go, “holy shit, this would’ve been a novel I read”, and then there are little emotional impacts where the tone shifts, but it works so well. It’s SO HOT, and the AU is so perfect, and also helped inspire the one that I wrote last night with the “genie”.

Unwind Me - delgay

“Think you can manage that? Sitting next to me, without picking a fight?” Michael challenged. “Can you?” Alex returned. “No idea,” Michael admitted with a sideways grin that never failed to make Alex’s stomach turn over, “But I’m eager to find out.” Alex is avoiding everyone, but he can’t seem to escape Michael.

This whole fic is intensely amazing, but it got on my rec list for the absolutely electric scene with the dancing that was absolutely beyond incredible. You also get Michael courting Alex, which is something he utterly deserves and I love the way Michael goes about it.

we feel so american by thepredatorywasp

“Papa’s on the spaceship again?” River asks, his bright green eyes welling with tears and his face growing red. “Comin’ back?” “Of course he is,” Alex says, smoothing down the son’s hair and adjusting the Mickey ears atop his head. “Always.” There is no easy way to explain to your three year-old that not only is he an alien, but his Papa is an alien and that apparently, Michael loves leaning hard into irony because he has gone on Space Mountain approximately ten times over the course of four days.

LOOK. I LOVE A SWEET KID FIC. The next rec will prove this, but this one will melt your fucking heart. I love it because it’s not perfect and easy. There’s difficulties, there are issues, but it’s Michael and Alex and their baby boy in Disney and if you do not come away feeling warmer from this, then I just don’t know.

We’re Waking Up Slow by myrmyriad

“I think need a little time to process all of this. Um. Storm’s getting closer and I don’t really wanna get snowed in here, so…let’s just talk later, okay?” What if the storm that blew in during S01E10 came in a lot faster and heavier, and Alex was snowed in at the junkyard?

Again, fic that makes me wish that I could write as well as this. This one makes you feel it all. You’ll feel the cold, the wet, the storm, the pain, the hope, the healing. You feel the connection between Michael and Alex, and you’ll be left wishing at the end that this had been how canon went, but also that it’s justifiably not that far off from how it could have, had they taken a different tack, because of how well it’s written.

What’s Up, Pregnant? by Marie_L

Michael Guerin is broke, practically homeless, and a knocked up secret alien. What now?

Speaking of kid fics, this mpreg is one that I really like, because if nothing else, it introduced the concept of mpreg using pods to me in the fandom, and I kind of went, “YES, of course”. I love that it’s got everyone rallying, but I mostly love the psychic connection between Michael and his baby, and the softness of loving sugar and Alex.

With Love Overflowing by Nestra

"We both agree that this is not the place we belong, right? Please say yes."

Michael tossed his hat on the coffee table and dropped onto the couch. "If you mean that your dad's been dead since CrashCon and some kind of crazy shit is going on, then yeah, I agree."

(This one was for me for Secret Santa, it is just THAT GOOD that I want everyone in the world to read it)

x marks the spot (where we fell apart) by catching_paper_moons, preciousthings

“Don’t write it off,” Alex says, and Liz is so relieved someone is coming to her defense, even if it’s someone who already knew beforehand. “Liz and Kyle have ideas, and there are people in this room with literal superpowers. It’s pretty much our only option.” “Our only option?” Isobel scoffs. “What are we, Ocean’s Eleven?”

#malex #malex fic recs #roswell new mexico #roswell new mexico fic recs

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holdmytesseract · 2 years ago

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moodboard by @chennqingg <3

By the Fireplace

Jotun!Loki Laufeyson x fem!Æsir!Reader

Summary: You and Loki are enjoying some much needed togetherness and share some family moments, after he had been away on a hunt for a week.

Warnings: so much fluff... mentions of pregnancy and birth, Loki thirst, suggestive smut if you squint

Word Count: 2,3k

a/n: Yep, this is me, writing a Jotun!Loki fic - for the first time, I think... 🙈 I had this idea late last night and just wrote it down. 😅 Maybe this could be a part of the Winter Wonders Collection, @lokisgoodgirl ? ☺️ Loki is a Jotun, but not so tall. More like Thor 1 Loki. I hope this makes sense and you guys know what I mean. 😅 Enjoy! 🧡

Tagging: @lokisgoodgirl @lovingchoices14 @evelyn-kingsley @jennyggggrrr @acefeather2002 @lulubelle814 @vbecker10 @theaudacitytowrite @lady-rose-moon @aagn360 @fictive-sl0th @mostclevermiss @linaax @peaches1958 @simping-for-marvel

MASTERLIST

A loud knock against your chamber's door caused you to jump slightly. You were seated on the warm fur in front of the fireplace, with another fur draped across your body to shield it from the cold. Due to the unexpected loud noise, were you suddenly wide awake again, after threatening to fall asleep right then and there on the spot. Sleep wasn't a thing that came easily to you these days, so... You quickly rubbed your eyes, in order to get rid of the remaining sleep inside them, before you turned to answer. "You may come in!" The door opened on an instant. A guard stepped inside the royal chambers you shared with your husband, bringing a fresh wave of coldness, which made you shiver even more. Winters on Jotunheim were cruel... "Apologies for my unannounced and sudden intrude, my queen, but I am sent to inform you, that the king has returned." Your face lit immediately up. "The king has returned? My husband is back?" The guard nodded. "Yes, my queen. I shall tell you, he will be his wife as soon as possible." You had to swallow hard, in order to suppress the excited squeal which threatened to leave your lips and to behave yourself; maintaining your position as queen. "Thank you." You said instead. "You may leave now." The guard took a bow and left the room again. As soon as the door fell into its hinges, you allowed yourself to actually squeal in pure happiness.

Loki had been out, on a hunting trip for about a week now. It was the last one of this year, before the harsh winter would descend upon Jotunheim. In those few months, you usually weren't even able to set foot outside, due to the coldness and the raging snowstorms. Therefore, the royal men left for a huge hunt, in order to get a big winter stock. Usually, you always went with him on these hunts, in order to not be separated from him for so long, but this year, you couldn't. Something came in your way - or rather someone... Your gaze drifted over to yours and Loki's spacious bed. On the right - your side of the bed, were standing two beautifully crafted and adorned cribs; made of the best wood in the whole realm. Inside them were sleeping Jotunheim's newest additions to the royal family - princes Áki and Váli Lokison. The twins had been born only two weeks before the hunt - and therefore you had to stay in the palace. Loki wouldn't have let you go with him anyway, even if you wanted. He wanted you to rest and gather your strengths again - and of course to stay with the new-born boys. Not that he would've let you join him, if you had still been pregnant at that time. Oh no. Not a chance. No matter how, it was clear that this year's hunt was a taboo for you.

The past week had been exhausting, to say the least. Taking care of not one, but two new-borns wasn't easy. Not even with the help of a midwife. So, you were more than happy that Loki was back now. Not just because of that, of course. Seven days is a long time, and you really missed him.

Your train of thoughts got interrupted by a soft whine, coming unmistakeable from the left crib beside your bed. Getting up from the warm, soft fur, you made your way over to the boys. Áki was the one awake. He looked up at you with those big, beautiful ruby eyes. The unique marks on his blue-ish skin and the black fuzz on top of his small head left nothing to imagine, who his father was. While Áki resembled Loki a lot - except for the nose, which was definitely yours - looked Váli a lot more like you. Fair skin, Y/E/C eyes and your nose as well, alongside a tuft of blond curls.

"Hello, my little snowflake." You cooed, gently lifting Áki out of his crib. He was wrapped up - just like his still sleeping brother, in a warm, thick fur to keep him from freezing. The baby boy continued to whine softly, little mouth opening and closing, signalling you without a doubt that the tiny prince was hungry. You were able to tell by now, why Váli or Áki were crying. Most of the time at least. Therefore, you placed the fur, which had been wrapped around you aside with your free hand, before loosening your top; freeing the baby's food source - much to Áki's delight. Taking a last look on Váli, to make sure he was alright and still in a deep slumber, you sat down on the small stool in front of the fireplace, with your back towards the heat source - not to expose the new-born to the heat of the open fire. You freed his small arms as well from the warm cocoon he was wrapped in, so that he was able to hold on to you; gripping your pointer finger for dear life.

You were so caught up with Áki, that you didn't notice how the door to your chambers got opened quietly and the king of Jotunheim - your husband stepped inside. You wouldn't have even seen him coming, because you had your back towards the door as well. Usually, Loki announced his presence immediately, but since his sons were born, the Jotun king became much more cautious. He never knew if you or the were asleep - and to wake any of you was the last thing he wanted. Today, Loki was especially happy to set foot back into his and your chambers. Being away from his wife and new-born offspring was excruciating, but he had no choice. As the king, he had to look for his kingdom and follow royal duties, which included the annual winter stock hunt. His eyes wandered around the big main room; from the cribs, to the bed and wardrobe, down to the fireplace - where he spotted you, sitting on the settee. A smile spread on his face on an instant; his heart jumped in pure joy, love and pride. Loki knew exactly what you were doing, as he heard you speaking softly to the baby. On quiet feet, he stepped over to you, getting down on his knees on the soft fur behind you, before he placed his hands on your hips and his chin on your shoulder. You flinched slightly at the sudden contact, but your husband's deep, gravelly voice relaxed you immediately. "Hello, my darling wife." He literally cooed, pressing the front of his body against your back and turning his head to place a lingering kiss on your neck. Warmth and the feeling of pure love shot through your veins, causing you to smile broadly. "Welcome back home, my king." You turned your head as well to somehow connect your lips to his. It was an awkward angle, but the kiss didn't lack an ounce of passion. Quite the opposite...

Being separated was always awful for you and Loki, even if it was just a week. Being separated in this special and beautiful, but also vulnerable state in your life was even worse, even if it was just a week. So it was no wonder that Loki just kept his lips locked to yours for minutes and minutes, kissing you lazily but passionately. Your heart was literally standing aflame with love for him by now; and you realised in those moments how much you had truly missed the father of your children. "I missed you so much, Y/N." "Mhhh, I missed you, too, love." He smiled, and with a last, soft kiss on your now swollen lips, Loki nuzzled your nose with his, before he turned his head to the still eating baby. "And I missed our children." He said, as you felt him shift and move behind you. The king stood up, rounded the fur covered settee and stripped off his armour, until the leathery and furry loincloth was the last thing preventing him from being nude and leaving not much to imagine. You had watched him strip, of course. How could you be able to keep your eyes off your ravishingly handsome husband? You bit your lip as he turned to face you. Deep ruby eyes looking down at you, thin lips curved into a smile. Long, raven locks falling in waves over his bare, broad shoulders. Dark, curly hair was scattered across his chest and was leading in a tempting line from his navel down his pubic region and disappearing underneath the leathery garment. The muscles of his abs flexed gently as he breathed. Thick, muscly thighs lined the outsides of the loincloth. His blue-ish skin, which was covered in beautiful, unique marks and ridges, was literally shining in the dim light of the fireplace. You could feel your mouth watering at how delicious and alluring your husband looked - but this wasn't the time. You were recovering from giving birth to twins and therefore far away from thinking about sex.

"Do you like what you see, darling?" Loki purred, giving you that look. "Of course. Did I ever not like what I saw, when it comes to you, my king?" You flirted back shamelessly, having definitely missed those kinds of conversations. Your husband smirked, running a hand through his luscious curls, before he walked up to you again. "Would you move over, dearest?" Loki guided your movements, so that you were sitting on the edge of the settee on the long end. Your new position allowed Loki to sit behind you; one foot planted on the left side of the settee, the other on the right. He slid closer to you, pressing his chest against your back once again. Although this time, he enveloped you completely with his arms, helping you to steady the still eating Áki. Yes, that child was a little hog. Loki pressed once more a small kiss to your neck, before he settled his eyes on his son, watching him latch onto your exposed breast for a while.

The king smiled at Áki; one hand wandering to cup the infant's tiny hand. "I will never get tired of watching you feed and nurture our children, my love." You smiled, knowing that his words were true. Ever since Áki and Váli were born, Loki loved to watch you breastfeed them. It had something utterly calming and was even some kind of ritual by now. The boys were used to it as well. Especially Váli. You noticed this a lot in the past week... How the little boy was restless and antsy, while you fed him; always looking around for his father. Áki was quite alright with his father not always being present while he ate. "Me neither, Loki, me neither." You enjoyed a few more quiet minutes, watching Áki fall back asleep, until a small cry from your other baby cut through the air. "Someone's awake..." You stated with an audible smile. Loki hummed in agreement and let go of you to stand up and walk over to the cribs. He carefully lifted the crying new-born up into his arms, placing a lingering kiss on his small head, before he started to rock him gently. To feel the presence of his father seemed to calm Váli down again and soon both twin boys were sleeping peacefully in yours and Loki's arms.

Later on, after the princes were back in their cribs, you and your husband enjoyed some much-needed togetherness, seated in front of the fireplace, after having to miss the other's touch for days.

Loki sat on the big fur, casually leaning against a big pile of fluffy pillows, a goblet of the finest Asgardian wine in his hand. You were seated in between his legs, using his upper body as your pillow. Once again had Loki both his arms wrapped around you, keeping you locked against his chest. While you were covered in thick furs and blankets, was Loki still almost bare. No wonder. He was a Jotun and used to the harsh coldness of the winters in Jotunheim - unlike you... A shiver ran down your spine, causing you to cuddle closer to Loki. He noticed immediately. "Are you cold, my love?" You nodded. "Quite a bit, yeah... It's the same every year..." A low, soft chuckle escaped his lips, as he reached for another blanket to cover you and pull you even closer. "I know, my queen, I know - but don't fret. I will make sure to keep you safe and warm." His words melted your heart, warming you from the inside out. You turned your head to give him a loving smile, before indicating him to lean down for a kiss - what Loki did of course. The fire crackled within the fireplace, dipping your chambers in a cosy atmosphere. "How was the hunt?" You asked your husband then, who took a sip of his wine. "Great. Very successful. We have now more than enough food to come through those cold winter months." "That's great - and quite reassuring to know, that we are able to get our folk through the winter." Loki nodded in agreement. After all, it was your duty to look after your kingdom. "Indeed. It's been a hard, demanding week, without a doubt, but now we are prepared. The winter can come." You giggled, shaking your head. "Everyone is prepared now, except me. I hope the winter isn't coming too soon. I'm already freezing my ass off." Loki laughed. "I told you before, my queen... I'm going to make sure to keep you safe and warm, just like our sons - and I'll always will, as long as I am breathing."

#jotun loki x y/n #jotun loki x you #jotun loki x reader #loki laufeyson x female reader #loki laufeyson x reader #loki x reader #loki x y/n #loki x female reader #loki x you #loki #loki laufeyson imagine #loki laufeyson #loki imagine #loki oneshot #jotun loki

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goddessofteyvat · 1 year ago

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Basic info for my SAGAU

I’m making this to establish how Self Aware Genshin AU works on my blog. I don’t have anything in particular against SAGAU as it is written by other users on this website; I just felt like putting my own spin on the medium.

Also, additional info: I HAVE NOT PROGRESSED PAST THE FIRST ARCHON QUEST IN MONSTADT. This is my first time returning to the game, so any additional info will come from the wiki.

Moving on~

First things first, Reader came from another world just like the Primordial One and the Traveler

Created the seven elements and used them to make the world and the afterlife i.e., the Heavens

After that, Creator!Reader stuck around for a while and helped people whenever they called upon them

Despite Creator’s nature as a divine being, they for whatever reason needed to die and re-enter the reincarnation cycle (borrowed from Buddhism)

Creator!Reader didn’t want to leave Teyvat with no help or protection, so they came up with a solution:

They used their left eye to create Celestia

Then Creator!Reader used their powers to find a suitable place to rest, and found Earth

Earth was a world that happened to have a special connection to Teyvat, which was conveyed through a video game

With this in mind Creator!Reader made their preparation to leave

Then they created a prophesy detailing what they would look like should they return

Features include glowing golden blood called ichor, hair with the cosmos in it, and a missing eye

Anyone who claimed to be the Creator must have all three features in addition to knowledge of Teyvat

Celestia was originally content to act upon the Creator’s will but eventually grew power hungry

This is where the Imposter/Yaldabaoth comes in

Yaldabaoth was created by Celestia and implanted with false memories to convince them that they are the true Creator

Yaldabaoth is unaware of the Reader’s existence, at least until they isekai’d into Genshin Impact

While the Creator made the elements, Yaldabaoth is the one that created Gnoses and Visions

Previously if people wanted an element, Creator!Reader just gave it to them based on personal judgement

This is the way things have been for millennia, but unbeknownst to Teyvat and Celestia, the true Creator is about to make their return…

Anyway, thank you for reading, let me know what you think, and please remember to like and reblog my stuff! I’ve got some more stuff in the works, and I plan to post a 2k word chapter for an upcoming fic within this month.

Bye~

#sagau #imposter sagau #villain sagau #self aware genshin #genshin impact au

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bluejaysandblackbats · 5 months ago

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Hair Trigger

Fandom: DC Comics, Batfam, Superfam, YJ98

Summary: A junior at Gotham University, Jason finds it difficult to conceal his worsening mental health from his family and his friend, Jon Lane Kent. Family secrets are revealed and boundaries are pushed as Jason and Laney struggle to navigate through school, their romantic feelings, and their trauma. Could the reintroduction of Laney Kent be more trouble than it's worth, or is it just what Jason needed to confront the demons of his past?

I will also do trigger warnings for chapters and if there is smut I have the chapter(s) tagged so you don't have to worry about nsfw in the fic if you're just here for the story itself.

Chapters: 8/?

Characters: Jason Todd, Jonathan Lane Kent, Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Cassandra Cain, Tim Drake, Conner Kent, Natalia Knight, Jonathan Samuel Kent, Cassie Sandsmark, Chris Kent, Bart Allen, Original Character(s)

Relationships: JayLaney, Clois, TimKon

Additional Tags: University AU, No Powers AU, Sharing A Bed, Romance, Angst

Chapter Eight: Breakfast

Jason woke up in the middle of the night to someone climbing into the couch bed next to him. "Excuse me?" Jason whispered. Bart covered his face with the back of his forearm and rolled over to stare up at the ceiling before screaming so loud he woke up half his roommates. Tim came out of his room and tapped Bart's hand.

"Hey, we're gonna go back to bed," Tim whispered, his eyes still closed.

"It's not safe," Bart mumbled, "I want to stay here." Tim sighed.

"You can't stay here because we're going back to bed," Tim insisted, "You're sleepwalking again."

"Oh no," Bart mumbled.

"Uh-huh. Ready to go?" Tim asked. Bart nodded, and Tim took his hand and led him back to his room. Jason lay back down, and he drifted back off to sleep.

A few hours after sunrise, Jason's phone rang, and he answered, still half-asleep. "Hello?" Jason grumbled.

"Are you alone?" Laney asked.

"Shouldn't you be asleep?" Jason replied. "And no, I'm not alone. I'm at my brother's place. What are you doing up at—?"

"Seven in the morning? I've been asleep since eight-thirty. Listen, I'm glad I got to see you yesterday. I guess I can't really say what I want to... How were my brothers yesterday?" Laney asked.

"They were upset, but I think they'll be okay once they see that you're alright," Jason whispered. Laney made a noise over the phone. "Did Conner ever go back to the hotel?"

"No, he's asleep in a chair right here. He's been here all night, and he's probably half the reason any of us got any sleep," Laney confessed.

Jason yawned and stretched out his limbs. "How are you feeling?" Jason asked.

"Jason, did I wake you up?" Laney asked gently.

"Yeah, but it's okay... You okay, Lane?" Jason asked.

Laney took in a sharp breath, and Jason could tell that Laney was crying. "Jason... I'm gonna go," Laney whimpered.

"What's wrong?" Jason asked.

"I think that I should go back to bed," Laney cried.

"Hey, Lane? Lane?" Conner whispered. "What's the matter?"

Laney hung up on Jason, and Jason hugged his knees. Tim came out of his room and stretched out his arms. "Sorry I forgot to tell you, Bart's a sleepwalker," Tim yawned, "Did you just talk to somebody?"

"I talked to Laney... Did you know Conner was at the hospital with him all night?" Jason asked.

"Yeah, I told him to call me if he needed me... Why? Do you want a ride up to the hospital today?" Tim asked. Jason shrugged.

"I don't even know if they're gonna let us visit him today—." Tim's phone vibrated.

"Sorry, hold on. It's Conner... Hey," Tim answered, "He is? No... Okay... So, do you want me to bring you something to eat?" Tim ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath. "How'd you sleep?" Tim looked at Jason and mouthed something at him. "Love you too... See you in like an hour."

Tim punched Jason in the shoulder. "What?" Jason asked.

"What did you say to his brother?" Tim asked.

"Which one, Tim?" Jason asked.

"Laney. Conner said Laney's a mess this morning—."

"He was already like that when he called me. Not crying, but he was sort of off," Jason whispered, "Are you going to the hospital?"

"Not straight there. I'm gonna go get breakfast, but I think Conner and his mom are gonna switch off with Clark and the boys," Tim replied, "He said something about circling back at around noon after he gets a shower and some sleep."

Cassie came out of her room, dressed to go to the gym, and greeted both Tim and Jason. "Conner didn't come home last night, huh?" Cassie asked. Tim shook his head. "Did you tell him we could cancel our gig if his brother is still sick?" Tim nodded.

"I told him last night, but he said he was okay," Tim replied. Cassie opened the fridge and grabbed her water bottle.

"I still think we should cancel or reschedule. Oh, and we're out of milk," Cassie replied. Jason lay back for a few moments before getting up and making his way to their bathroom.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Laney sat up in bed with his face in his hands. "Lane, what's wrong?" Lois asked. She sat next to him and fixed his hair. "You can talk to me."

Laney took a moment to pull himself together, and he sniffed. "Please don't tell Dad I cried... I just—. I don't know. I guess I freaked out for a second, but I'm okay," Laney mumbled. Lois kissed the top of his head.

"Swear?" Lois asked. Laney nodded and took a deep breath. "You look like you feel a little bit better... I know Conner's relieved. What freaked you out?"

"I wanted to say something, but I couldn't figure out how to say it. Did someone feed Gus Gus? He's all by himself until my roommate gets back tonight," Laney whispered. Lois smiled.

"I will feed Gus Gus, and you can relax. Other than this, how was your weekend going?" Lois asked.

"Are you asking if Dad and I got along?" Laney asked, and she nodded. "Actually, once we got past the worst part, things were going nicely... Did he tell you I got drunk Friday night?"

Lois shook her head as her untroubled face turned to a grimace. "No... He didn't," she replied.

"So I just told on myself... Great... I only mentioned it because I thought Dad already told you, but I guess he thought I was joking. I wanted to ask him to stay a little while longer," Laney confessed, "And I know you guys are only just an hour away, but I feel like things were starting to feel normal again with Dad."

"They were?" Lois asked. A smile spread across her face.

"Yeah, and how come you don't tell him what we talk about in therapy? It's not like it's a secret," Laney replied.

"It feels weird telling him about what you said to me in therapy when I knew you two couldn't hold a full conversation," Lois confessed, "He did tell me about how you ended up at that restaurant when we thought you ran away. Can we talk about that?"

Laney nodded. "I thought that maybe I could run away, and I know it was stupid—."

"It wasn't stupid. I just wanted you to know that none of that was your fault. We can't be mad at you for a decision you made at fifteen—."

"I was sixteen," Laney corrected. Lois pinched his cheek.

"Oh, in that case, what were you thinking, old man?" Lois joked. Laney laughed. "No, but seriously, you get that we love you, right?"

Laney nodded. "I know you guys love me," Laney answered.

"Cricket? Did your counselor—?"

"No. Never," Laney answered, "And while I'm telling you about things I've been keeping to myself, I started drinking a few months after I got to boarding school."

"Alcohol? But I—. I should've noticed—."

"It's nobody's fault. I was losing it, Mom. It was bound to happen even if I didn't leave home—."

"You didn't look like yourself. Conner told me you slept on the floor by his bed the first night you came home," Lois whispered, more to herself than to Laney. Laney grabbed her wrist.

"Mom, I'm okay now. Emotionally, I mean. I'm not the same kid you picked up from the pier last year," Laney whispered. A nurse came in with Laney's breakfast, and both he and his mother grew silent. He thanked the nurse, and once she was gone, he started eating.

Lois saw Clark and the boys wave, and she smiled. "Look at who's here to see you," she whispered, "I'll be back in a few hours. Love you." She kissed the top of his head.

"Love you, Mom," Laney whispered as Lois left and Chris came in. Chris greeted Lois and immediately made his way over to Laney's bed, where he embraced him.

Laney held on for a little longer than he usually would, and he relaxed his shoulders. "Are you still sick?" Chris asked. Laney let go and grabbed Chris's nose.

"I'm feeling a little better... Just tired. Did you eat breakfast yet?" Laney asked. Chris nodded. "Think you can get Sammy to come and say hi?" Chris left the room, and Laney watched as his brothers talked outside and walked in with Clark.

"Good morning, Laney," Clark kissed the top of Laney's head.

"Aww! Dad," Laney pretended to be disgusted, eliciting a laugh from both Chris and Sammy. "Gosh, I can't see if that's Sam or not... He's so far away, and he looks a little taller than the one that I know." Sammy came over and hesitated at first before Laney pulled him in for a hug.

"Do you really think I got taller?" Sammy asked. Laney laughed.

"I dunno, maybe a quarter-inch or so," Laney answered honestly.

"What happened?" Chris asked. Laney went back to eating his breakfast, and he looked over at Clark.

"My heart's stressed out, but they say if my fever goes down a little bit more, I might get to go home the day after tomorrow," Laney answered.

"Conner didn't come back last night," Sammy whispered.

"He was with Mom and me. He was making sure I slept okay," Laney whispered, "Turns out I have some really cool little brothers... Who would've thought?"

"What's the food like?" Sammy asked.

"It's gross, but I hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday, so I'm starved. What'd you guys eat for breakfast? Please tell me that Dad let you guys eat fast food for breakfast," Laney smiled. They nodded, and a nurse came back in to check Laney's temperature.

"How are you feeling this morning?" the nurse asked. Laney nodded.

"'M okay," Laney replied, and she gave him his pills to take with his juice. Laney sighed and took his pills while the nurse stared at Sammy and Chris.

"Big family?" she asked.

"Weird way to say good morning," Laney snapped at her.

"Excuse me?" the nurse asked.

"You come in here, and you don't acknowledge my family or the fact that I'm eating, for that matter. Instead of being polite and maybe just saying 'pardon me' or 'just a moment,' you stare at my brothers and make a sarcastic comment about my family. That's disrespectful," Laney replied.

His heart rate went up on the monitor, and Clark asked as politely as possible for the nurse to step out, and he sent Chris and Sammy out to grab Lois. "Laney, it's alright—."

"It's not alright. That nurse had no right to treat you guys like that—."

"Laney, take a breath. You sound like your mother," Clark smiled. Laney nodded and took a few deep breaths to calm himself, and he pushed his breakfast away. "Finish your breakfast."

"I'm not hungry. I'm tired," Laney whispered as he sank back into his bed. He put his mask back on and turned over.

"Lane, I'm gonna stay here with you. Okay?" Clark asked. Laney made an affirmative noise, and Clark flipped the machine on just as the night nurse showed him, and he smoothed his son's hair down.

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improvised-finish · 7 months ago

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15 Lines of Dialogue

Share 15 or fewer lines of dialogue from an OC, ideally lines that capture the character/personality/vibe of the OC. Bonus points for just using the dialogue without other details about the scene, but you're free to include those as well!

Tagged by @archaiclumina, thank you so much! (And apologies this took so long to do, it slipped my mind)

Admittedly I don't have a ton of dialogue for Lehon'a written yet and I'm currently working on a story featuring someone else's character for a gift exchange, so I don't have anything really new. But! I figured I could grab a snippet from one of my finished fics to perhaps convince people to give them a quick read. So here's a chunk from one of my Wondrous Tails fics, which you can find in full here!

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“Hi, Lehon’a… I hope you, uh… haven’t been waiting long,” he said, scratching the back of his neck with a nervous chuckle.

“Nah, I just came to get a bit of this stuff in me before we get to spilling our guts, so to speak,” she replied. “D’you want some? I just finished this one, I’ll grab both of us another, if you’d like. On me.”

“Yes, I would. Like one, I mean. Please. And thank you.”

“Of course, G’raha.” She stood up, steadying herself on the edge of the table and making a mental note to order some water in addition to their beverages. “Be back in a sec,” she said as she strode off to the counter, leaving G’raha to sit in one of the two unoccupied chairs.

While Lehon’a was waiting at the counter for the drinks, she watched Y’shtola walk in and scan the crowd for familiar faces. Eventually she spotted Lehon’a, who pointed behind her to where G’raha gave a shy wave. Y’shtola took a seat right as Lehon’a returned with the tray of glasses and the pitcher of water.

“Doesn’t someone usually… bring that to you?” Y’shtola asked, more confused than anything.

“Yeah, but I figured I’d save ‘em the trip since I’d have to walk back over here anyway. Still left a tip, don’t worry about that,” Lehon’a replied, setting the beverages on the table and pouring herself a glass of water.

Y’shtola let out a laugh, shaking her head.

“So getting back to business, as it were,” Lehon’a began, “you’re probably wondering what in the seven hells could be so important that I felt the need to wrangle you both here and intoxicate myself for your amusement.”

“I did notice that after a brief moment ashore you seemed to make haste towards the source of liquor, yes,” Y’shtola said with a wry smile.

Lehon’a’s already red face grew a slightly brighter shade.

“Anyroad,” Lehon’a enunciated, clearly trying to move past that point of discussion. “I wanted to talk with you both after what happened in the vault. And not the fight in general, you both held your own in the heat of battle. I guess what I'm trying to say is… when I went to use a dance to heal all of us, I took your hand,” she continued, gesturing to Y'shtola, “and… well, you both gave me quite a look after that.”

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Tagging a few folks who I believe also have some writing they might like to share (as always, these are optional, no pressure): @azems-familiar @ferrocyan @sasslett @gatheredfates @otherworldseekers and anyone else who's got dialogue to share!

#ffxiv #tag game #lehon'a nhavareh #warrior of light #my wol #g'raha tia #y'shtola #my writing

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likes-words-and-shrimp · 11 months ago

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Chapters: 7/7 Fandom: Tales of Symphonia Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Colette Brunel/Lloyd Irving Characters: Lloyd Irving, Colette Brunel, Genis Sage, Raine Sage, Zelos Wilder, Sheena Fujibayashi, Regal Bryant, Presea Combatir, Kratos Aurion, Yuan Ka-Fai, Dirk (Tales of Symphonia), Frank Brunel Additional Tags: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Injury Recovery, Post-Canon, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Wingfic, Eventual Romance, Mutual Pining, Self-Acceptance, Happy Ending, POV Multiple, Body Horror, Transformation Words: 36,180 Summary:

Lloyd had never been too fond of his wings. But they were still useful, and convenient when they needed to be. It only made sense to use what he had. Until his wings changed one night, and became permanent, with real feathers attached to bone. And they were heavy.

Looking back on 2023, I think one fic I'm really proud of writing is this one, a multichapter Symphonia fic I was able to complete, with a focus on Lloyd and his wings taking on a different transformation. It's seven chapters of Lloyd and Colette dealing with the painful and difficult changes, but also the rest of the party helping them on this new shift in their journey. If you decide to read it, I hope you enjoy!

Just have some more additional thoughts for this fic under the cut:

Since this year for Colloyd Week was going to be its 5th year running, and it was also Symphonia's 20th anniversary, me and @frayed-symphony wanted to do something a bit more special with the prompts this time. We decided to bring back some prompts from previous weeks while still using a new quote day and the usual free day. (Here's the prompt list with her art which everyone should see) With that in mind, I also wanted to do something a bit different for myself writing-wise, and tell a story over the course of each of the prompts!

The tidbit about mana wings eventually becoming more feathered versions is actually a bit of lore taken from the Kratos novel. Essentially, if an angel uses it for too long, the wings will become a permanent part of the body, the mana solidifying into feathers. That's why we see a lot of angels in Welgaia floating about with feathered wings, and explains why Kratos, Yuan and Mithos don't keep theirs out consistently. And the reason for the title, it's from the Lloyd's Thoughts on Angels skit because I thought it would be fun to make all those angelic issues relevant for this fic.

I really wanted to use this bit of canon lore for Lloyd, and whether it's an effect of his unique Exsphere, or anything else, his wings succumb to the same transformation. But, well, it's more than just the wings changing here.

I also wanted to play more with Lloyd's self-consciousness here and the guilt he probably still carries with him when he failed to notice Colette suffering in time. Lloyd is also the unifying force for the party where he helps inspire and lift them up from each member's own troubles, but I also wanted to see this reversed while Lloyd is going through his own baggage and past traumas. It was also more interesting to write about Lloyd going through physical changes the way Colette did in the game and have that comfort role-reversed.

A lot of this fic was a learning process! The wings in Symphonia are just a favorite aesthetic for me, and learning about how they can change was really intriguing, so much of this fic centered around the Wings prompt. I was also planning on having everyone play a part with the Soulmates prompt, which I felt was fitting for Symphonia's anniversary year. Much of the later half of the story came as it went, like with the focus on Dirk, and the very last chapter that's a few years in the future, where Lloyd has a better handle on who he is now.

Change itself is also something I just wanted to focus on overall; how we change as people, or how our loved ones change over time. And sometimes change is frightening, but it can also be exciting and learning to accept and welcome it can also feel rewarding in the end. I think I wanted to show that in this fic, though how well I succeeded kinda depends on the reading, and maybe I was heavy-handed with the wings metaphor haha.

But also, I just wanted to write a longer cute ship fic of my OTP. That's another reason. :D

Compared to most chaptered fics, this isn't very long, but I like that it's contained enough at just over 36k. I still have other Symphonia WIPs I want to finish, but I'm really proud of completing this one, and a big thank you to those who've read and commented on this fic! Symphonia has always been special to me and I'm glad I could celebrate both the game and my favorite ship this way.

Around the new year, I'll probably make a Symphonic fic recs list for stories I've read this year. If you read this far, hope you'll look forward to it!

#tales of symphonia #lloyd irving #colette brunel #colloyd #fanfiction #shrimpy rambles #this got a bit rambly but just wanted to finally jot some thoughts down #thank you again for people who were part of the week it def made my year

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jjackfrost · 2 years ago

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What's your process when writing? Do you outline the whole fic before starting, or do you go scene by scene? I adore OTNWAS, and I love how everything flows together so well, so I was just really curious how you approach writing such a long project!

I’m like the worst person to ask this because my memory is so bad and I feel like my process changes for every new project, but I’ll try my best to answer this focusing on otnwas 😅

First of all, otnwas (or what it was before it became otnwas) was supposed to be a one-shot sick-fic in the beginning, because I was in the middle of writing a DBH fic but I randomly got obsessed with RotG again and I just needed to write a tiny little thing to get RotG out of my brain so that I could get back to the DBH fic (it’s still unfinished btw��working on it though!). It had nothing to do with HTTYD in the beginning, but then I came across some hijack fics and I remembered my obsession with RotBTFD in like 2014. So my list of what I wanted to write turned into: 1. Sick-fic 2. Jack and Jamie bond and find out they’re related after Jack turns human 3. Hijack. I feel like you can really tell the beginning of chapter 1 is just the sick-fic, but then it suddenly turns into something completely different lmao.

I didn’t plan the entire thing in one go, but I did marathon everything HTTYD (except the books, they came later—and also the comics, I haven’t read them) before I started writing the otnwas-version of the fic because I wanted to have a well-ish grasp of the HTTYD universe. Then I wrote the first seven chapters before I started posting anything. Actually, while I tried figuring out the plot, I briefly considered writing a RotBTFD thing where they somehow travel around in time and meet all those different characters, but in the end I wasn’t inspired by it so I scrapped it. What was left was Jack goes to the past, becomes human, and also Jamie is there (and Baby Tooth, because I’d been imagining bunch of funny scenarios where Jack talks to ‘thin air’ and I love their Peter Pan-Tinkerbell dynamic). I had a vague idea of the whole ‘gather magic to go back home’-part of the plot, but didn’t know much about the Time Fragment, and the Snow Queen was a later addition because I needed to up the stakes. The process was like, okay, I need to marry these two universes—RotG is about myths and legends—what kind of myths and legends would they have on Berk, close to Northern Europe, in the Viking era or….ish around that time? (Obviously, otnwas is not trying to be historically accurate lmfao I just wanted to be inspired by Norwegian fairytales and Norse mythology.) I got attached to Snow very fast though, and she became a much more signifact part of the narrative than I thought she would initially. I really enjoyed writing her as Jack’s opposite; if Jack is the beauty and joy of winter, then Snow is the horror of it, and forcing him to deal with that after losing his powers was a lot of fun (though, in retrospect, I wish I went a little easier on the Jack whump. It gets a bit much sometimes lol).

So there was some vague planning involved. I was working towards these key points:

1. Jack and Jamie figure out they’re related

2. Hijack happens at some point

3. Jack will become a spirit again and return to the future with Jamie

What happened in between was stuff I figured out almost chapter by chapter. I know a lot of people jump around while writing a story, but that takes me out of it; I need to write chronologically to feel like I’m in tune with the characters’ minds, and I use the scenes I’m most excited to write as fuel to get through the scenes I don’t particularly want to write.

One of the most vital parts of my creative process is to have time to just walk around and daydream. Imagine conversations, scenarios, etc. and I try my best to write down my ideas immediately in a document on my phone. The scene that was looping in my head the most, I think, was the one where Jack kisses Hiccup for the first time, and the conversation leading up to that. I really need time to let the story simmer in my head in between writing sessions or else I feel it lacks something, I won’t have a full understanding of it, and I feel like it would show in the writing. Honestly, the best part of writing is the daydreaming.

But though a lot of stuff was planned from the beginning, a lot of other stuff was just happy accidents—stuff that suddenly clicked together, so unintentionally I feel like it’s unfair to give myself credit for it lmfao. I won’t tell you which scenes because I don’t wanna take away the magic, but writing otnwas felt a bit like running down a steep hill and only barely arriving at the bottom still on my two legs, instead of toppling over and eating dirt. It could’ve so easily been messy (it Is messy at some points, like the whole deal with the warlocks—if only I could explore those fuckers a bit more 🤔) but it somehow turned out alright lol.

Idk how to make a TL;DR. 1. Vague idea of where the story is going 2. Countless hours imagining conversations and scenarios 3. Keep in mind key scenes and use them as motivation to get through the tough scenes 4. Also, be self-indulgent. What else is fanfiction for?

Sorry for rambling, I can’t be concise lol

#otnwas

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bamf-jaskier · 2 years ago

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Blood Origin/The Witcher Season 2 Fix-it fic idea

my mind is full of ideas after seeing Blood Origin so I came up with a season 2 fix-it fic featuring the Blood Origin characters.

Francesca knows Nilfgaard's allliance will eventually turn against her and The Northern kingdoms are already out for blood. In this AU, instead of seeking out the Deathless Mother she tries to summon heroes of Elven past in a ritual. But she doesn’t have enough magic on her own which is why Fringilla and Yennefer were captured so they would participate in the ritual. And now instead of the Deathless Mother in S2 it’s The Seven who are transported to the future and the war between Nilfgaard and non humans and the North.

The Seven were taken from their timeline just before they headed to Xin'trea and since it's a ritual their original timeline still exists they are just now versions of themselves from that moment who have been brought to the future.

Unfortunately documentation of The Seven is very sparse and Francesca had no idea who she was summoning. She got them caught up on the war between Nilfgaard and the North and human oppression of Elven kind (and wow they don't even know what humans are so this is a trip for them). Francesca assumes they would join her in battle but once Eile talks to Fringilla and Yennefer she realizes they would also be helping Nilfgaard because Fringilla has convinced Francesca of an elven/Nilfgaard alliance and considering they were fighting against a similar empire in their time...yeah the Seven basically escape the Elven camp that night alongside Yennefer.

From here, they decide to split into two parties because they need to find out more about the future and what the Continent is like now. Syndril as a mage creates pendants with a glamour to hide the elves' ears so they can move freely.

Syndril, Yennefer, Zacare, Meldof and Callan all head towards Aretuza. Syndril, as an original creator of the monoliths is probably once of the best people on the continent to try and work out what is happening with them and why Yennefer lost her magic after Sodden Hill. In addition, Yennefer tells them that Aretuza holds many secrets about what happened after their time on the continent and what magic is like today.

Meanwhile Eile, Fjall, and Scian all head towards Oxenfurt since instead of focusing on the monoliths they need to figure out what the fuck a Witcher is and why people keep giving Fjall strange looks. Oxenfurt is their choice because Yennefer told them there is a masive library there and she heard there is a bard there who could tell them more about Witchers.

Obviously, the Oxenfurt crew finds Jaskier and him and Eile have a bard-off that turns into the sickest duet ever.

I could end up turning this into a whole S2 Canon Divergent AU if anyone is interested, who knows, maybe I will end up turning this into a whole fic.

#the witcher #blood origin #eile #fjall #jaskier #yennefer #zacare #meldof #callan #syndril #scian #the witcher au #myposts #fic idea

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yellourr · 8 months ago

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WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S ALL THE RAGE ࿐ NANAMI KENTO

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ SYNOPSIS. an argument with your husband forces the two of you into life-changing situations for the night, allowing you both to realize what’s important before it’s too late. [ WORD COUNT: 13k ]

⁭✧. ┊ ⁭ ⁭ ⁭ ⁭ CONTENTS. black fem!reader, semi-canon jjk plot, written in third person (she & her is italicized), use of explicit language, unsettling content ahead so beware, art creds: hugues merle - mary magdalene in the cave (edited)

⁭✧. ┊ ⁭ ⁭ ⁭ ⁭ ⁭LISTENING TO. love drought by beyoncé

⁭✧. ┊ ⁭ ⁭ ⁭ ⁭ BEHILS NOTE. ah, first time I’ve posted any writing in over a year lol. I'm happy that I stayed dedicated to finishing this because this was so close to going into the pile of fics I've brainstormed and started but never finished. originally, this was going to be a retelling of the shibuya incident but… the original idea felt too boring and played out. I also think that this version allowed me to explore how I wanted to write the reader, nanami, and their overall dynamic. anywho, enjoy and happy reading!… or not ;) [ likes, comments and reblogs are greatly appreciated. ]

IT WASN’T HER INTENTION TO MARRY YOUNG. The idea of marrying in her twenties, and committing her entire life to one person whom she met when she was too immature to even know herself was frightening. There was so much to think about and even more to consider. The person she chose to marry needed to be everything she wanted all at once and that was too much pressure for one man to bear.

In those minor instances, the concept of marriage to her just wasn’t enough- vows weren’t enough. Declarations of love were stale and overdone and anyone could disguise words with a promising tone. Even as she laid there- side pressed against the mattress, hand held to her chest while the other ghosted over her belly- her mind was stuck on that decision. There was no better time to contemplate it than today. The seventeenth of October, a Wednesday. Another day of ordinary activities besides the blaring weight she felt on her lower back.

The room was cool, air conditioning combating the blaze of heat that washed over Tokyo. She wasn’t excited to see the additions to the bill by the time November rolled around. Even when the heat prompted a third shower on the previous day, she snuggled closely to her sheet for comfort. No foreign legs were sliding across her heels, or arms wrapping around her waist. Not even a huff of air in her direction or the faintness of snoring. Just his blonde tuft of hair messily plopped on a pillow with his back facing the cushions of the couch, his face buried in them.

Nanami had come in the last few weeks like this. Exhausted, with barely any energy to spare. He’d greet her with a chaste kiss on the cheek as he stripped off his suit to shower. He’d be working after hours, unable to make it to bed by the time she wanted to rest. There were sleepless nights when she’d get up and brew some tea. She’d have it with a muffin from the bakery she got during lunch. The kettle would be left on and a mug with tea leaves in case he woke up. She’d find the untouched mug in the morning.

His hasty distance was strange but his punctuality was more concerning. He never stepped into their apartment later than seven o’clock, usually. But as of late, he was coming in a few minutes past seven. “Something just came up at work. It’s been pretty busy.” He’d tell her with a monotone voice- though it didn’t ease her mind one bit. He still came in past seven, sometimes past seven-thirty without any further explanation other than busy days.

The behaviour was bothersome, consuming her mind as she showered, and even more as she settled into her clothes. A part of her fought with leaving a message about tonight’s events- but this was too important of a date for Nanami to overlook, not even with his character one-eighty. She found herself marking a post-it note, ‘Don’t forget about tonight, meet me over there @ 6:45.’

Surely there was a reason for his sudden change. It must have been quite the job, what with late-night calls from a Gojo Satoru that popped up on his phone while he showered. Which was as exasperating as the ones from an Ieiri Shoko.

Jealousy wasn’t her thing. She was hopeful that the answers to her suspicions would ease later tonight, though she was nervous that maybe the truth wasn’t what she wanted to hear. Listening was a trait she learned to take just as seriously as talking. It didn’t even come close to the mounds of listening she had to do for her clients. After all, how else was she supposed to get paid if she didn’t?

“Shall we continue, Mr.?...” She twisted in her seat, attempting to alleviate some pain that pinged in her back. But also because the client today had an aura about him that was unsettling. He was a sight to see- dark attire consisting of a green and yellow robe, black hair that stretched just above his rear, and an unnerving smile. His legs crossed over each other while his hands lay in his lap.

“Getou, Getou Suguru.”

Her glasses hung on the tip of her nose, hairs framing her face as she stared harshly at the notepad atop her lap. For a moment, she looked up at the man, giving him a nervous smile. “When did you arrive in Tokyo?”

His smile widened, “It hasn’t been too long. This December will make it a year since I’ve moved into my new home. It almost feels cozy, though I don’t feel very welcomed.”

She nodded, “It takes a lot of time to get used to. Some find it easier to adjust more than others but that’s dependent on the person.” Her hand planted flatly on the notepad before pushing the glasses up, “If you don’t mind me asking Mr. Getou, where did you live previously?”

“Here, but I moved around after the death of my husband. I’m just struggling a bit with readjusting.”

“Why don’t you tell me about him?”

This time, he smiled fondly. His fingertips grazed over his lips as he spoke, “He was a wonderful man, full of joy. Very understanding, very loving, and very honest. He was always honest with me.”

Of course, this was the client she would get today. One enamored in the memories of his late husband when hers was nothing but distant. She knew that digging herself into a hole by opening her mouth was imminent, but it’s always been a part of the job to judge business that wasn’t her own. She was nothing if not curious, “He certainly does sound like a wonderful man… is he the reason you came back to Japan?”

“No, there’s an old friend I’m here to see. He’s been difficult to pin down.”

“Is he helping you with this adjustment?” She circled the ‘mystery man’ markings written down on the pad. In the last session, he brought him up briefly- only letting it slip that he was a teacher. She assumed this friend was the kind suited to helping him out with an issue as big as relocating.

“No. He will though, once we’ve seen each other.”

That made her scribblings stop. He came to Japan unsure of whether or not his friend would welcome him. Much like her other clients, he was a creature for punishment. Another twinge of pain hit her, which made her straighten - the change in stature noticeable to the man in front.

“Is everything okay, Mrs. Y/N?” He spoke softly, concern etched into his voice, “You seem very uncomfortable.”

She shrugged, “I’m fine.” Setting the notepad down on the desk next to her along with her glasses as she gave her undivided attention, “About your friend- what if he doesn’t want to see you? What are you going to do then?”

This gained another smile, one that was followed by a chuckle, hearty and deep within her ear. “He hasn’t changed much. Sure there is more for him to lose but he’s still the same man I’ve known him to be.”

Before she could even think to respond, the clock had struck- eleven forty-five. The ending of today’s session.

“Well,” He started, dusting off his kimono as he stood from his place on the couch, “ I’m sure that that’s more than enough material for you to devise a plan of action for me. I’m hoping that this isn’t our last session together- I would love to see you on the thirty-first.” was the last thing he said while he exited the room. If he wished to make another appointment- Kiyoko was the one to chat with. Hopefully, by the end of the month, she’d be gone.

Today’s session was a bit tough. But tough sessions usually came and went. She envisioned that it would be a handful to talk to clients outside of something that she hadn’t personally experienced. When she first moved here, it was because of a position to provide recently moved-in foreigners with some assistance.

The money was decent enough to pay for rent and groceries but the work was always a reminder of why the job was so daunting. If there was a wall between her clients and her, the wall was a mirror that resembled her frame. The wall reflected her insecurities and pain like light bouncing off water. At times, she even heard the implications of her voice spewing words of sadness, remorse, and regret. Speaking on parental issues and fears of change, the sessions at times were too grave to continue. She had been so eager to prove worth in her decisions that she hadn’t considered the mind state she needed to be in to help her clients.

Even now, what could be said to Getou Suguru that would ease his mind from his husband’s passing when her own would barely even look at her?

Not that there was much to look at now as she stared at the bottle of Marques De Riscal. A quarter of the bottle down and it was only six fifty-eight. Her eyes began to wander around the room, a sea of people accompanied by their partners as they sipped wine and laughed, making the area around her feel lonely.

“May I take your order?”

“Oh not yet, I’m waiting for my husband- he should be here soon. But thank you!”

Time had passed since then and half a bottle was consumed. She could feel glares move towards her every few seconds, whispers grew, weaving their way into her head. The atmosphere seemed stifling, squeezing around her windpipe as her finger twirled around the rim of the wine glass. Interestingly enough, she found herself reminiscing about her mother. Imagining her in the brown leather couch she begged her father to purchase just a few days after they moved during her senior year.

She’d sit there with her legs crossed and a ball of red string and needles with her glasses touching the tips of her nose. Paired with gasps in between breaths to spew her I told you so. Her condescending words on how right she was about the course her daughter’s life would take. How much her mother wished she were more like her sister. The last time she had seen her was the last time she made the effort to care. She supposed Tessanne getting into medical school was enough to not look at the failure of her eldest daughter.

How easy was it to forget about her? Nanami had never been late, not when it came to events or special occasions. Not for something as tortuous as work. He might have been held up there, or some idiot on the road was driving too fast on the highway and built up traffic. She stared at her phone hesitantly. Seven fifty-one and only a simple message pinged on the screen to ease her mind. ‘Running a little late- don’t know when I’ll be there but if you’re hungry, order something.’ Maybe he had other things on his mind- other people on his mind.

Or maybe, he just didn’t care.

Her phone rang with anticipation as she called. Nanami’s lateness might be prompted by work, but surely the company could let him go for the evening.

“Hello, this is the Japanese Exchange Group- this is Jin speaking.”

“Hi, can I please get on the phone with Nanami Kento? He’s one of your employees.” She said lowly into the mic. It was weird enough to be in here for over an hour waiting. It felt even worse to have to blast spouts of anger through the phone while everyone around her carried on with their conversations.

“Give me one moment, ma’am.” He said faster than she could respond, leaving her with complete silence on the other line.

He came back with a low grunt, “The person you’ve requested to speak to is no longer with us.”

“That’s impossible… he’s been working there since 2015.”

“Actually, he hasn’t worked at this establishment since December tenth.” She felt her fingers tremble. Busy days…? How busy could the days of an unemployed man be?

That was one certain thing- Nanami Kento wasn’t a truthful man. Even though he prided himself on being a person who ruled with morality. With compassion for those who couldn’t provide it for others, or even for themselves. It was, after all, his duty to take care of things that other people wouldn’t dream were possible.

“I’m gonna be so late to this dinner,” He murmurs to himself as the needle pierces through his lower abdomen. The blood compiled around his side as he laid steadily on the table. The clock above the door read seven-ten. Twenty-five minutes late but he knew he wouldn’t make it to the restaurant until minutes to eight. If the universe was trying to tell him something, it was that he might leave the night a single man.

“I never told you to go and get yourself hurt, oh great salaryman.” Nanami could hear a hint of laughter in his voice. He let out a deep sigh like a petulant child. Of all the people he could have been stuck with for the moment, Gojo was not the one he wanted to be around. He stood there slanted at the door frame as he watched.

“Please shut up.”

He gasps, hands shooting up to cover his mouth, “you talk to your wife with that mouth?” The comment made him turn up in frustration. Which only prompted a swat from Shoko as she sutured the stitch through his skin.

Nanami also wasn’t the best liar either. But honesty had begun to run low on his scale of importance. And though he would like to assume that it didn’t affect him, it was her who suffered through his dishonesty the most. He could feel the way it changed the tone of the apartment. The both of them maneuvered around each other, never getting in the other’s way. Almost like roommates rather than husband and wife.

“Well look at that, looks like she’s all done.” Gojo called out as Shoko wrapped gauze around his wound.

“Change the gauze every few hours. If it’s still bleeding, you know where to come back to.” She handed him a bottle of ibuprofen.

“Thank you.” She gave him a thumbs up before she rolled her chair over to the nearby drawer, pulling out a stick from a Seven Stars pack. Shoko’s eyes averted from Nanami to above the doorway as she blew smoke through her nose, “It’s already late. Tell Itadori we shall discuss today’s mission tomorrow morning.”

Neither of them could respond as he stepped out of the room- leaving the both of them to look at each other. The heaviness of the room lightened a bit.

What was he to do with his feelings of despair? Ones that disguised themself as love? A part of him regretted it. A chill swiped down his spine the moment he heard the word yes from her lips. What had he gotten himself into? To be the man that he vowed to be on their wedding day just one year prior. And through all of these years of knowing each other- she never knew the truth. Not of what he used to do before he became a salaryman, or of what he does now.

But how could he ever regret her? The radiant curl of her lips showcasing her teeth. The passion in her voice when she’d tell him about whatever new food, or drink she was eager to try. The sound of her voice- stern and informative… but when it turned to laughter- it nearly made his heart constrict. How long had it been since he heard the serene sounds of laughter that vibrated throughout her chest? Or since he felt the heat of her fingertips dance along his skin?

It felt so selfish to put her through this. He knew that from the moment he asked her to marry him- putting her through the pain of losing the man she loved. But allowing her to walk out of his life would’ve destroyed him. He could handle it, he would tell himself, he could handle the curses that got in his way if it meant he’d make it home to her every night. He swore he wouldn’t allow himself to be taken- especially not on his wedding anniversary.

He only hoped that along with his thorough explanation and an apology- that he’d be able to rekindle their relationship to where it was supposed to be, maybe even better than before. It was all he could think about on the drive home, where he smelt the familiar scent of vanilla and jasmine. Her clothes scattered across the bed as he searched for his suit, which dawned a deep blue that she thought complemented his hair colour so well.

Flowers that bloomed reds and pinks were encompassed in his forearms as he closed the car door. The sky was starting to darken but he could see the plethora of lights that spread across the windows of the restaurant. The sight was as beautiful as he imagined.

He stormed through the door to catch the receptionist, nearly exasperated, “I have a reservation under Nanami for 7:00 pm. My wife should be waiting at our table.”

The receptionist stared amusingly at him. She eyeballed his sweat-ridden face which caused the hairs to stick to his forehead, his disheveled look, and the bouquet in his hand. She popped a bubble in her gum, not even bothering to check the paper in front of her, “The reservation has been closed.”

Nanami watched as her fingers played around with the pages of a magazine she had by the stand, right above the reservation paper. He sighed, brushing the hairs that covered his eyes slightly, “Look, I understand that I’m late. But the spot is supposed to be open for three hours. It’s only four minutes past eight-thirty.”

“And I am telling you, once the spot is empty the reservation is closed.” She said once again, pointing at the empty table at the far right. One that sat next to the vast wall of windows- giving the perfect view of a gorgeous body of water that remained at the back of the restaurant. Ridden with flowers of pink and white, with trees of equal colour. The same table that was being cleared of its glasses and a bottle of wine- one he could smell if he had been close enough. Marques De Riscal.

What an expensive bottle with such an earthy taste to it. Barely any hints of sweetness to cover up the blazing fire in her throat. She couldn’t understand how people drank so frequently- and to drink alcohol that tasted so damn boring. It had nothing on the hints of raspberry and lime with splashes of rum. One that had her chugging on her fourth daiquiri since she sat in the bar for not even a good fifty minutes.

The bar was quiet, nearly vacant. No one would be foolish enough to drink on a Wednesday night knowing the alarm would ring as early as seven. But then again, someone who wasn’t foolish didn’t have a partner who was late for their anniversary dinner. She sat, with her fingers dancing around the rim of the glass before huffing to herself.

“Tough night, huh?” A raspy voice called from the side of her with slurred words and the prominent stench of vodka. Her eyes peered to two seats down to reveal a woman, with a glass at her fingertips, mouth ghosting over it. The woman’s skin was fair, possessing a button-like nose that raised at the base. She didn’t look any older than her, presuming the lady was in her early thirties as she dawned dark brown hair with strings of silver filling her hairline. The lady possessed equally dark eyes, at equal distance away from her nose, that watched her tentatively. “I mean it must be. Considering you’re sitting in a bar drinking on a weeknight.”

She hadn’t entertained the lady’s point, continuing to sip at her drink while her eyes became occupied with the large fish tank in the corner. Still, as she kept her distance, the woman moved closer- now only one seat separating the both of them.

“I don’t mean to pry,” she started again, “but you’re sulking a bit. It’s kinda bringing down the mood.”

“I’m sure my ‘sulking’ wouldn’t bother you if you were a few seats away from me.”

“Feisty.” She chuckled, setting the glass on the counter and placing her hands up, they stayed on either side of her head, “My apologies, you just look like you need to vent about something.”

“I don’t.”

“You sure?”

“Very, so please.” She raised her hand to her face, trying to block the view. Another chuckle erupted from her chest, making her tap her fingers on the glass surface in anguish. Surely the lady was drunk or tipsy, the vodka practically stitching into her nostrils with each passing moment.

Another wave of silence washed over the space, before the lady pulled her hand back, reaching for her jacket pocket. Eyes finally moved towards her direction again as her fingers glided through the inner pocket of her woolen sweater pulling out a spout of cash, “Bartender, another vodka sprite for me and a raspberry daiquiri for the lady over here please.”

The man behind the counter nods, taking the money, “Can I also have a separate shot of tequila?” She told him as he nodded a second time and then moved to the other side of the table. Now she was left alone with the mysterious woman next to her. “What? You want my number or something?”

Another laugh came from her, this one much heartier than the last one, “No, I just wanted to chat- I’m quite bored if you couldn’t tell.”

“And buying me a drink is the way to start.”

“I tried to appeal to you before the drink but you weren’t having it- you’re too,” she taps her temple with her middle finger, “preoccupied.”

This garnered a laugh from her. She didn’t find it humorous but after today, she’d laugh at anything. “I’m Y/N. and yeah- it’s been a night.”

“I’m Kira.” She mumbled, holding a hand out to her. Her gaze was still fixated on Kira’s eyes as she took her hand.

“Haven’t seen you around here… you just moved or something?”

“I’ve lived here for quite some time, just… never came in here before.”

“So, what’s with the change of scenery? You get stood up or something?” Kira blurted out quickly, causing her eyes to widen as her lips parted. “You’ve got a pretty dress on, your hair’s done and there’s makeup on your face- people don’t dress like that to come to an empty bar with no one to talk to for almost an hour.”

Suddenly, the memories of Nanami and the night thus far flooded her mind. She came here to take her mind off him and here his actions were, loud and bright and plastered all over her body language. It was enough for even a drunk woman to see it. Through the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the bartender. Dressed in full black, they moved swiftly to her and Kira with the dark pink drink in one hand. “A raspberry daiquiri, a vodka sprite, and a shot of tequila.”

“Thank you.” The both of them commented as the two new glasses rattled on the counter's surface. She quickly turned the miniature glass up her head, twitching a little as the cool liquid slid down her throat. She took a deep breath, contemplating the next moves carefully. She didn’t want to give a stranger a one-way ticket into her mind. It wasn’t her concern. So why did she feel this need to explain herself?

“I got married a year ago today, and my husband didn’t show up to our dinner reservation.”

“Ouch,” Kira remarked loudly, dragging out the sound of the word as she gulped her drink, “that’s shitty.”

She shook her head lightly, peering at her lap, “It wasn’t always like that.”

“Well clearly, he wasn’t always like that- or else you’d be somewhere else.”

She snickered, taking a sip of the daiquiri. Her sight moved to Kira’s full body. “He’s been working a lot and it’s taking up a lot of his attention. I don’t know, it just feels like I’ve become second best. To a job no less.”

“Familiar with the whole second-best bullshit?”

By the time she finished her question, she already was down to half of her drink. When Kira remained still, she decided to continue, “My father loves my mother- supported her through everything, even when she was never right.” Her hand gripped the glass tightly as her mind began to navigate through the emotions that she swore died when she moved from the States. “She was the one who thought it was a terrible idea to become a therapist. Told me I wasted my education and her money on foolishness.”

Another gulp of her drink, “She preferred my sister.”

“Heh, let me guess, she’s studying to be a doctor or something?” Kira remarked, finally bringing the glass in for a sip.

She nodded, “Even my best friend- hadn’t talked to her in years before my wedding because of a falling out we had over her boyfriend. And yes, they’re still together.”

Kira nodded her head slowly, “So, what exactly does this have to do with your husband?”

“Nothing much I guess, I’m just worried about him. Where he is, where he’s been.”

“Worried?... Sounds like you think he might have someone else.” Kira retorted.

She felt like her throat clogged up on the spot. Is he seeing someone else? It wasn’t a foreign concept- it was something she pondered. But it wasn’t possible- not for a man like him. “I don’t know- he’s been distant these past few weeks- more so than usual. Maybe the problem is me.”

Kira’s eyes watched her attentively as if to examine every behaviour she exhibited without having known her ten minutes ago. Kira sighed, eyes dazzling with familiarity, one that she had only ever seen in the office with a client sitting on the sofa. “I doubt it- people don’t change overnight. I mean look at you, years away from your family and you’re still flooded with insecurity.”

“Thanks.” she scoffed harshly, “That makes me feel great.”

“Well, it’s true. Your husband is keeping something from you- probably was waiting for tonight to tell you. That’s why he was late. You’ll probably walk into the house and catch a glimpse of the young woman on his arm.” Kira’s tone began to mutate. The once playful sway that prompted her to open up about the thoughts beating against her skull now prompted a drawback and was open to unwarranted criticism.

“It’s what cheaters do-” She continued, turning the glass completely up her head, “they don’t care about hurting you because they don’t even care about themselves. And they probably hate you for putting up with them.”

Kira turned to her, much to her dismay as the atmosphere of the bar weighed dense with agitation. From Kira’s perspective, the heat that radiated off her body was present. “That’s not Kento. He would never.”

“Really?” She responded with laughter. “And that’s why you’re in a bar drinking away on your anniversary while he’s somewhere you don’t even know?”

Her hands tapped a little faster. Her body resembled a child, sitting and taking a lecture, remaining quiet. Wishing she could rewind before the start of this conversation with her. The lady with dark eyes and a drag in her words. Her hand planted flatly on the table, lifting her off the chair to lace fingers into the silkiness of her jacket, “Thank you for the drink, but I think it’s time for me to go.”

Kira’s eyes remained fixated on the glass in front of her, never daring to look back. It wasn’t until she turned her heel to leave that she spoke in an undertone, “Word of advice, sweetheart- leave. Don’t give him the satisfaction of watching you destroy yourself to keep him.”

All that mused Kira’s thoughts as she stormed out the doors of the bar was how she knew this wouldn’t be the last encounter. Because she wasn’t going to leave. How could she when things weren’t certain? Feelings of doubt like this were only reserved for new couples- not ones who were three years into their commitment.

Not when her mind was so fresh with the first meeting.

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MAY 2015

The air felt warm- the warmest it had been in months as spring made way for new bloomings. There was a faintness of sunlight, the clouds covering any shine. It was eleven thirty-seven- lunch break. She decided to stop by a local bakery, which was empty, except for the workers, a man, and herself. One that’s cologne filled the atmosphere, a gentle smell. She paced around between cakes and muffins, small cookies, and various breads. How could one person be allowed access to such large amounts of food?

Moments passed, and she finally settled on two danishes before she heard a familiar buzz. Her next appointment was waiting in the office. She couldn’t wait for the blonde man in front to finish ordering as she set the danishes down and strolled out of the store, jogging back to the building. The patience she was willing to exhibit would have to wait. An hour later, the acid in her stomach was bubbling and growling. Causing her to run over to the bakery this time, which was now vacant of any customers. Picking up the two danishes and grabbing her wallet to pay- searching for an extra dollar or two to drop in the jar.

“These are already paid for, ma’am.” The cashier called out, standing on the opposite side. Her eyes moved slowly to the young lady’s face, attempting to see cracks in the expression. Surely she was being joked around with.

“I’m sorry?” She said sternly.

“These are already paid for.” The cashier repeated with a wide curve of her lips, as her fingers gently massaged her shoulder. “The man who was in here before you asked to put it on his receipt and give it to you once you came back.”

She was definitely joking now. The only people who were there were her and the man. But he stood in front of her, how could he have known that she wanted the danishes, or that she’d even come back to get them? Why would he even pay for a stranger’s food without knowing that for sure?

Those words echoed in her head as she walked to the office, with her stomach still growling. The pastries stayed untouched on her desk. Untouched as it dangled from her hand as she stood on the train. Her keys fell to the wooden countertop of her apartment along with it. For days staring at her each time she entered through the door, growing a thin layer of grey spots over the fruit as it made its way to the now-hardened dough.

For a time, she avoided the bakery, fearing having to face the man and confess that she never even tasted the danishes he insisted the bakery girl give to her. She found herself back in there after four days once she had grown too curious to taste the tenderness of the pastry. The day that her teeth bit into the flaky and buttery crust was the day that she, fortunately, hadn’t encountered him. She intended to thank him and hand him the money it cost him whenever she got the chance to see him again. But every day that she was there, she didn’t catch a glimpse of the man- almost like he disappeared.

She’d imagine it would’ve been a simple interaction. Nothing more than a few moments and then silence. As he imagined that the interaction wouldn’t take more than a few seconds if he ever got the chance to see her again. He’d been working for longer hours, dozing off at his desk with his stomach roaring for attention. Too much work and his appetite was shot- that was a first.

It had been only two years since his transition into corporate life. And he found himself dragging along, increasing an already wealthy corporation’s stocks. He wanted to convince himself that it was better than being a sorcerer. He was distraught, but accepting of his decision to leave that part of him in the past. He was screwing people over by selling them mucky stocks. But at least he wouldn’t have to see anyone he cared for arrive at the school tattered and dead. A cowardly move yet one that allowed him to have a shred of peace.

However, the peace didn’t satisfy him for long. Not when he’d stepped through the door, the aroma of fresh dough and baked fruits filled his nostrils. Only for his sights to be set on the winged creature wrapped around the cashier’s shoulder like a possessive cat. It made his eyes burn with disgust, and shame.

“Can you take a step forward?” The words came out harsher than he anticipated. Still, she took a step towards him- her grin hitched. With a swipe of his arm, too close to her face, he asked, “How is your shoulder?”

She rotated the joint, feeling ease near the point, “Woah, it feels so light.”

“If you still have an uncomfortable feeling in your shoulder, please go to the hospital.” He began to step away, “Pardon me.”

As he turned to make his way to the door, the familiar jingle of the bell rang. He stood there frozen in place, gripping the bag with his cassecroute. There she stood, huffing and ridden with beads of sweat on her forehead. She dressed in a long button-down and a skirt to combat the growing heat that swarmed over Japan’s temperature. The deepness of her brown skin glistened in the artificial lights while her dark coils of hair were held together in a puff high up on her head.

“Right on time, I have your usual Miss Y/N.” The girl called from behind him. A smile flashed across her face, raising her cheeks and showing her teeth. How hadn’t he seen her in here before?

“Thank you so much, you already know I had to run over here.”

“You usually do.” She commented which allowed a sprout of laughter to fill the bakery.

He watched her intensively, fingertips lingering on the packaged goods with a wad of paper peeking out of her palm- face brimming with delight. Her presence was unfamiliar- especially for this part of the city. That piqued his curiosity- she must have moved here not too long ago. The thought, however, wasn’t enough to form a conversation with her- which just prompted him to eye her like a deer in headlights.

“Sorry sir, are you finished with your order?” she asked in a voice that poured into his ears like honey. He wouldn’t be able to process that she’d been referring to him if he wasn’t looking directly at her. Her face began to contort with anxiousness as she raised her hand to his face, snapping her fingers in hopes of gaining his attention. “Um, sir- is everything okay?”

His eyelids fidgeted, “No- sorry.” He responded abruptly, twisting away and catching sight of his head back. Blonde and short, and familiar- though she couldn’t put her finger on why. Then it hit her- the faint scent of his hair. Almost as similar to the aromas that surrounded her but as potent as the cologne he was wearing. The same one she smelled the first day she was in here.

Her legs moved faster than her mind, and before long, she was already out the door. Prepared to chase him down if she needed to, though it wasn’t necessary- he was sauntering. “Excuse me, sir.”

His tracks stopped and his head peeped back over his shoulder, seeing her sweat-ridden face out the corner of his eye. A part of him wondered if he dropped anything on his way out and how awkward it would have been. “Something wrong, Miss?”

She managed to notice his phone pressed up against his ear. “Uh, s-sorry. You’re on the phone, I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“It’s not a problem- but you came out here in quite a hurry. I didn’t misplace something, did I?” He questioned, a tinge of irritation in his voice. She’d already felt like walking back inside, the embarrassment wasn’t worth it.

“Oh, is that woman? She sounds pretty.” She could hear the faintness of giggling through the speakers of his phone. Which only made the present irritation light with flames, and lifted a weight from her chest.

“Shut it!” He whispered loudly enough to be heard, resulting in him hanging up.

He turned back, brown eyes searching for hers. “Sorry about that. Co-worker, he’s a special character, to say the least.”

All she could do was stare into the eyes that looked into hers earnestly. There were etches of tiredness above his prominent cheekbones- ones that sunk in slightly, shaping out the rosy tint of his lips. “So,” he started again, “ something you wanted to say?”

“Right, uh…” Her hands moved to the nape of her neck, fingers gliding over it. “I know this might sound weird, but I think I know you… Well, not really but I’ve smelt that cologne before so I know that I’ve seen you before or been in the same place as you.”

“You mean that place?” He responded, pointing behind her.

Her head snapped at the back of her to catch a glimpse of his direction. Dropping her sight to turn to him again. “You’re a comedian, I see.”

She laughed with saccharine sounds that caused an upturn in his mouth. He thought the peek of her teeth when she did so was pretty. Once she caught his gaze again, she stopped. “The point of me coming out here- I don’t know if you remember but the first time I came here, you kinda paid for the danishes that I wanted in the store.”

“I came back and the bakery girl told me what you did, which was kind of you. But I just haven’t seen you since to thank you.” She fumbled through her bag, getting out the wallet, “And well, give you this.” She stretched out to hand him a few crumpled bills that looked as though she ‘straightened’ them with the corner of a wall.

“There’s no need.”

“I insist,” she said, “I’ve been meaning to give it to you for a while now. And I wouldn’t want to have to owe you back in the long run.”

“You don’t need to. It took nothing off of me, especially since you like them so much now.”

She chose not to fight him on it, with his tailored suits, refined demeanor with high cheekbones, and a warm gaze- money probably wasn’t an issue. How could it be when he looked the way he did? She nodded slowly, “Guess I’ll see you around.”

He nodded his head, watching as she widened the distance between the both of them. Making her way back to the bakery’s entrance. It would be a dime a dozen if he was able to spot her again. He wouldn’t be back over here getting his cassecroute anymore. Because he wouldn’t even be working that lousy company job.

She pulled him from his thoughts as he noticed her approaching him again, this time with less urgency than the first time, “My manners are shot, sorry. I didn’t even introduce myself. My name’s Y/N Y/L by the way.” She said, extending her hand to him.

He took her hand graciously, nearly making her flinch from the chilliness of his fingers. “Nice to meet you Y/N. I’m Nanami Kento.”

She smiled, “Nice to meet you, Nanami.”

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Nanami thought life was so much simpler when he wasn’t involved in the inconvenience of politics. Before he became aware of his ‘condition’. Back to the age of eight, when his parents were happy, and in a way- he was too. When his mother would hum as she cooked in the kitchen. She’d trod off to work with his father who dressed in his nice suits- tailored to perfection. They would always make it back home after his eyes had closed and soft snores escaped his mouth. They’d return to the kitchen where the supper was eaten and packed away by Chisa, his babysitter, who was between school terms.

They never had the heart to tell him about his father being laid off from work- prompting his long-term unemployment and Chisa’s obsoleteness. The difference in the atmosphere came almost instantly. His father was snappier with his eyes glued to his computer screen and his mother was barely home except for a few moments in the morning. There was no time for the new adjustment, but at least he could stay in the comforts of his room- his little bubble and wait for things to return to the way they were.

It was naive of him to believe so. Especially when his sight was fixated on the gremlin-like curses that hid from his mother and father’s vision- plaguing his home and tormenting him. How could a child tell their parents monsters existed and were leeching onto them like parasites?

His mother couldn’t fully comprehend what his babbling was about. Assuming that their lack of interaction was the cause of it. “Maybe you’re just imagining it, honey.” She told him with her hands running through his hair. “I promise things will get better soon.” Mumbling and groaning as she flopped on the bed with half-lidded eyes.

His father wasn’t willing to hear it- a child with an overactive imagination wasn’t foreign. A person living in his own home like a freeloader, on the other hand, was. He nearly jumped at the opportunity to get back into the field, landing his first interview and leaving him to call back Chisa to look after Nanami for a few hours. She accepted though time wasn’t on her side.

Things began looking up as his father shook the CEO’s hand in agreement with his availability to work. He drove home feeling accomplished, excited to tell his wife that she didn’t need to kill herself off by working sixteen-hour shifts. That excitement quickly drained and filled his face with dread. Blood splattered on the hardwood and the walls. Chisa’s body, mangled and torn, laid promptly on the living room carpet.

His father’s eyes searched for him- checking the entry point of their home. Hearing faint sounds of crying coming from his room. Inside the closet, with his legs clenched tightly to his chest, Nanami rocked back and forth repeating through choked sobs, “It was the monsters, I swear.”

It was that thinking that got him into the college in the first place. Seeking out the institution he stumbled upon two guys, dawned in dark clothing covering every bit of their bodies aside from their hands and faces. Watching the white-haired one take down the curse with ease, similar to the curses he’s been seeing all his life.

It was the dark-haired one who suggested he talk to their teacher, who oversaw the students' tasks and acceptance. The hardest part wasn’t getting accepted, but telling his parents what exactly he’d be doing for the next three years at this school. Making up some lies about how the college was supposed to help them get internships to work at different companies in the country. The lie flowed out so easily, almost scary how quickly it came from him. But to be met with his mother’s warm smile and his father’s accepting eyes was all that he needed.

He spent his days slashing at curses that were much too powerful for his standing. Days with one who was all too enthusiastic about being there. Yu Haibara, the young boy that kept him from drowning in the misery of responsibility. A responsibility that was much too grave for a couple of sixteen-year-olds to handle. That unfortunately resulted in the same fate that came down on Chisa going down on his friend.

He wished for simpler times again. Prayed for that light at the end of the tunnel, a purpose that would make the sacrifices of those around him feel worth it. Just a measly piece of hope- but he struggled to find one. How pitiful he felt when he graduated and left the last three years behind him. ‘It’s what you wanted’, is what he repeated to himself. But how could he when no one knew what they did? No one saw what they’d do to people- how they’d devour their victims without remorse? What type of pathetic man would allow that to happen to innocent people? The same pathetic man who was lying to his wife.

He tapped his dress shoes anxiously, waiting to hear the turn of the door handle. Pondering his thoughts- how would she react to it? She loved him no doubt, but the play-by-play in his head told him this would end sourly. It was easier to be labeled as a child with an overactive imagination. To be an adult and preach the same gospel was a one-way ticket to padded walls and artificial light.

He heard footsteps before she walked through the door- standing suddenly as the keys jingled through the lock. There she stood, in a gorgeous blue slip dress that highlighted every curve, every rounded edge. A chuckle left her mouth as she finally met his eyes, “Well, it’s nice to see you’ve arrived somewhere before me.” She glanced over the table, toppled with his flowers in a vase and an envelope for her sitting next to it.

“Baby,”

“Don’t ‘baby’ me,” she stepped past him into the bathroom. He followed behind a few seconds later, catching a glimpse of her back before his hands stiffened close at his sides. On the lower end, stood a slimy green creature, coiled around her skin.

“Y/N, if I asked you to turn around, would you?” he asked as she stooped down to search the cabinets of the bathroom. His comment made her head turn up, straightening herself out.

“What are you talking about?.”

“If I asked you to turn around, can you?” he repeated.

Her shoulders began to fall as a sigh escaped her lips, “You didn’t answer my question.”

“Please, just- please?” he begged further- hoping that at least he could do this one thing before she managed to rip him a new one. She turned away from him, hand gripping the edge of the countertop. When he was certain, he stepped forward, swiping his arm across the area. Lucky enough the curse wasn’t anything too big and the relief came almost instantly. It surprised her how lighter her back felt- one swift move from Nanami prevented a drive to the ER as soon as dawn broke.

“How do you feel now?” he asked, voice present with curiosity. It was faint, the opposite of the tone her own had taken.

She shook her head, turning to face him, “Weirded out.” she whispered, “But furious no less. I mean- waiting in a restaurant for two hours is embarrassing enough but getting stood up by my husband is laughable.”

He could hear the tremble in those words. The rage that was laced with them as she spat more venom towards him. “Nothing to say for yourself?” she said, breaking through his thoughts. Being this close to her face allowed him to catch the scent of alcohol on her breath. The stench of tequila burned through every other aroma.

If the both of them were to have this conversation, it had to be when she was in the right mind to listen to him. Not that he believed he deserved the kindness of her ears, “You smell of alcohol, where have you been?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know…” she scoffed, picking up the wipes from the cabinet, and placing them down on the counter. His eyes stayed fixated on her face. Another spout of laughter came from her, “What?... You don’t believe me? Think I’m keeping something from you?” her head snaked up towards his ear, whispering into it.

He drew in a strong breath, “We can do a little without the sarcasm here, don’t you think?”

“No.” she drew away, and the wipe moved along the surface to clear off the foundation and blush. “What I can do with is the truth. What happened to you tonight?”

“Something came up.”

“Something like what?... Work?”

He kept a stiff face, but his response was even more predictable, “What do you mean like what? You know I have to work.”

“I don’t know, it’s just hard to work when you have no job.” She shrugged, continuing to rub off the foundation. She wished he didn’t make her spell it out for him- he was a smart enough man to know when he’d been caught. Her frustration grew the longer the silence went on. Once the wipe was done, she turned to him again, “Fine- when did you leave your job?”

His eyes widened at the question, face draining of the red colour that printed over his cheeks and on his full lips. That was the best response she had gotten tonight, “I called the company today to figure out where the hell you were that you couldn’t be on time for our dinner. Imagine my surprise when they told me you quit, after having believed that that was where you were going off to in the mornings.”

His gaze softened, shame overtaking his features as she continued, “So, I’ll ask again, when did you leave your job?”

There was no use in lying to her now. His voice was small, the words coming out muttered. “December.”

“What date?”

He shook his head, jaw clenching at the persistence, “I don’t see how that makes a difference.”

“Humour me, Kento.”

“The 10th.”

“A point for truthfulness, give him an award.” Her hands slapped against one another as she cheered, steamrolling past him out of the bathroom to their shared bedroom. She stripped herself of earrings and bracelets, watching his figure come to life in the mirror- his body just inches behind. His hands were starting to feel moist, a thin layer of sweat ghosting over his palms.

“I had every intention of telling you, I just-”

“Then why didn’t you?” she spat, “Something getting in the way?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Like hell you do,” the words came out in a rumble. She slammed the last of the jewelry on the dresser, turning to face him, “Late night phone calls, the distance, you walking through that door almost half an hour past time but I guess now I can see why.”

He said calmly, “Why don’t you just spit it out instead of beating around the bush?”

“Fine! Are you cheating on me?” The statement came blunt. A pin drop could be heard with the space the silence filled between them both. Her gaze moved away- fearful of his response or worse, his expression and ashamed of the insinuation. Nanami wasn’t a cheater- he wouldn’t do that to her. She knew that. She had to have known that.

Nanami could feel his eyes heat up with water. A lump caught in his throat as he followed the direction of her eyesight, focused on her painted toes. “You think I’m stepping out on you?” He took a few steps forward. His hands reached out to touch her face, cupping her cheeks. “That’s ridiculous. How can you even insinuate something like that?” His tone wasn’t berating, though it came off differently.

“Why should I believe you?” she shook her head lightly, “All you’ve been doing this entire time is lying to me.”

“There’s a clear issue here- accusations won’t help.”

Another chuckle erupted from her, “Oh, you’re insulted? Can’t imagine how that might feel.”

Her hands pried his from her face, stepping away from him as she slipped the straps from her shoulders. Her body was now bare, with only her underwear covering her. “What’s so funny?”

She searched through the drawers for a large t-shirt to put over her, feeling an instant chill from the exposure. “You. This. Everything. I mean- I feel like I’m going fucking crazy here.” shouts swelled from her throat, turning to him abruptly.

“You don’t kiss me the way you used to. You don’t talk to me the way you used to, I don’t know how your day was or what you dreamt about the night before… I mean, you’re sleeping on the fucking couch for Christ’s sake.” His stature hadn’t ceased yet, and he remained as still as she left him. A stitch of envy poked through the air- so much of her was exposed when he was shielded. Even his eyes, pools of a honey brown, appeared darker, more reserved. It infuriated her, to pathetically beg for answers to questions that wouldn’t come. Even more when she sensed the hot tears beginning to drench her cheeks.

Her body began to tremble as she spoke, fresh with anguish. She hobbled over to the bed, dragging her feet as she placed herself at the edge. “You come home and it’s like- you’re here but you’re not really here. And today,” she sniffled, wiping her nose, “today of all days, you decided to leave me in the restaurant that we made reservations for three months ago for two hours and only God knows why.”

His distance was closing in, hands reaching out to touch her. His legs caged her thighs as he stood in front. The choked sobs coming from her throat, the shuddering of her face between his fingers- how could he do this? She melted into his hands this time, looking up to follow the gaze of his eyes as they twisted in another direction. “Look at me, please.”

Her fingertip lightly grazed under his chin. “Tell me the truth. Tell me that this is all in my head, that I’m just drunk and not thinking straight. That there’s a reason for you quitting your job and keeping it from me for a year. That your behaviour is for a good reason- one that’s too out of the box for me to even have thought of.”

His breathing was ragged, paired with the deadpan of his stare. She knew what she was spewing tonight wasn’t unlikely. But god did she want it to be false. She just couldn’t believe it. She exhaled, tears continuing to drop from her eyelids. A million different scenarios of this conversation played in her head on the way here. Half of those included variations of this exact conversation. Ending with her, broken, rabidly scraping through bits of something that didn’t belong to her- recalling the familiar crack of her mother’s laugh.

She lingered a last effort to get the truth out of him. “Baby, please say something.”

His expression was unreadable, making her more anxious than she had been the entire night. What more needs to be done? Eventually, there was a swift intake of air and his nostril flared. His eyes, maintaining contact with hers, were gentle, “I shouldn’t-” He hesitated, his tongue lined with the grains of his answer. Her ears perked up gently, “I shouldn’t have married you.”

Nanami’s tone came out so softly- she almost hadn’t recognized the words he said. Then the words registered- twisting her face into an unrecognizable expression. Shattering through her resolve, through what little careful maneuvering she did to prevent this. Fear. She searched for any implication that he was lying, but his demeanor remained. His eyes were unwavering- there was no thumping of his heartbeat that pounded against her eardrums. No bob of his Adam’s apple or trembling on his lips.

An isolated vibration echoed through the walls of the apartment. The tremors of her body that had longed to snap, ceased. She pushed past him, skipping to her bag on the dresser top. Answering the phone as quickly as her hands could swipe.

“Hello, this is Y/N,” she greeted politely, hoping her voice wouldn’t be deceitful. Though she focused on the phone call, her attention never left Nanami. “Good night to you- no this isn’t a bad time, is everything okay?”

“No, I should be off for the next two weeks. Tell Mr. Getou he can book with me sometime in November when I get back.” She explained. In the instant, she could see his eyes narrow though she couldn’t understand why. “Any day past November 1st is fine. Okay- no problem. Bye.”

She took the phone from her ear, placing it on the dresser as she blew out a huff of air before she could hear his voice calling out again. “Getou?” He questioned, fingers tracing over his palm while he stood. Her mouth never opened nor did her eyes make their way back to him.

“It’s late and you’re tired. Maybe we should talk about it in the morning.” He explains- attempting once again to move closer, every step he took- she took one as well in the opposite direction. His whole body felt clammy now. “I should probably go, give you a good night’s rest.”

He moved towards the door, fire burning hot in his belly, creating a pit in his stomach.

“Kento,” she called out, causing him to turn. “There’s a hotel that I passed on my way over here. On route with that bar, you pass to get to…” she paused briefly, “used to pass to get to work.”

He nodded, turning on his heel to exit through the door. She heard the familiar turn of the knob and then the faint click in place as the door closed. Leaving her in the loneliness of the living room as the tears rained down from her waterline.

“I shouldn’t have married you.” She didn’t know if it was one of the only truths he told tonight. But he knew he should’ve stayed, held her tightly with his thumbs rubbing circles into the rolls of her back. He knew it was sinister to have left her to meticulous thoughts. The way his own was inked with the same fixation as his hands laid steadily on the wheel. The streets were quiet with a drizzle and fog covering the once-dark sky- surrounding the car with a thin veil of gray.

The words tasted of bile and acid once they slipped from his tongue, scorching through tissue and muscle. It’s all that was coming to him at the moment. Here he was met with the opportunity to be honest, to explain what he intended to and his words came out wrong. Maybe he didn’t feel the need to defend himself too heavily. He knew things other people didn’t and kept things other people wouldn’t. Maybe he did regret meeting her- marrying her and keeping her all to himself. Maybe in this scenario, on this occasion- he was the bad guy.

How could he not be when the love of his life now believed she plagued his thoughts with her inadequacy?

The words replayed over and over, wiggling their way through his brain like an earworm. Even as badly as the utterness of Getou’s name. It had to be a different person. It couldn’t be the person he thought it was. But getting to the school through a vulnerable source- a non-sorcerer, a human who was believed to be a waste- that screamed the person he once knew. It made him even sicker to think about how that source was his wife. It soured his mind even more- what was his reason for even targeting her?

Nanami would have to tell her the truth, in hopes that she could believe him and that through that, she’d understand the dangers that Getou posed to her. She wouldn’t believe him, but he’d be willing to do whatever it took to get her there. His mind also ran on Gojo for a brief moment as he came to a stop at the light. He’d have to call him in the morning too, it could be nothing after all. But their lives were never so lucky.

He pressed gently down on the gas searching around to see the bright signs indicating the entrance to the building. He noticed the light first, the shine of it nearly blinding his view. Then came the screech of a tire that made him crack his neck to the side. The car in the opposite direction collided head-first with his side sending an initial wave of shock over his body, feeling a sharp pain. The car drifted, stopping swiftly due to the dullness of the asphalt- flipping it on its side, again and again and again until the car rested on its top.

It left him dangled above the ground, blood gushing out of his head. The sharp pain pierced through his sides. Nanami didn’t have the energy to scream so his eyes just moved around slowly, catching a small glimpse of a car next to him. The car was on its side with its driver a few feet away from it, blood drenching the silver strands in their hair. His sight was starting to get droopy, he couldn’t even make out the figure approaching, “Oh my god, someone call the ambulance!” He didn’t hear anymore after that- his eyes grew too heavy and shut too abruptly.

“Someone please call the ambulance.” The man through the screen shouted out with his hands pressed down to the source of the blood. Her fingers pressed the buttons of the remote shakily, with a bag of sweets taking refuge in her other hand. She thought she’d be asleep by now. Ten twenty-six and her eyes were clawing for rest as she flicked from channel to channel. It was apparent that she should be in her right mind to talk to Nanami tomorrow. But sleep was evading her- preventing her from escaping the nightmare of the night into a dream of a new day. Even blinking took too much energy.

She wondered what could even be said in the morning. If anything he said tomorrow could take back the words of confession he revealed tonight. If it could fill the black hole in her chest that widened with each passing minute. The intention of tonight was to get him to tell the truth- the whole truth. He hadn’t told her what she expected but what was the difference in what he said?

Her fingers continued to switch through station after station, almost on its own before she made it to the news channel. Nothing caught her attention- there were the typical weather reports, local crime in the area- nothing too out of the ordinary. At this rate, she might as well force the sleep on.

Before she could think to turn off the television, something flashed quickly over the screen. A crash- two colliding cars that left one of the participants dead on the spot. Though she wasn’t sure why, there was this awful pit in her stomach that prevented her from switching it off. Her eyes scanned over the bright lights to piece together the crime scene. And then she noticed the car. The car was exactly like Nanami’s- scratches and scraps painting the doors. The same paint job, the same model. The street was the exact one she passed to get home- the one she suggested he take to get him to the hotel. What were the odds, right?

The words of the reporters began to drown out, just mumbles crowded the atmosphere. The only sounds that got through were those of her heartbeat, threatening to burst out of her chest. She could feel the bottom of her belly tingle, the emptiness of her stomach, and the build-up of urine that suddenly appeared. Even the saliva accumulating in her mouth became almost too watery. Her fingers were nimble and trembling as she let the remote slip from her grasp.

She nearly jumped out of her skin to get to the phone, “Hello ... .this is she.” There were constrictions around her throat, tightening as more warm tears were attempting to spill from her eyes. “Is he okay?...”

It didn’t take long to get to the hospital after the lady had told her where to go. The difficult part was not being able to see him. The doctor let her know that he had some cranial bleeding and two of his ribs had broken. One of them pierced through his spleen, which they planned to remove. Sitting in the crowded lobby, picking at her fingernails, she watched countless people passing in and out. Their injuries spanned from stomach aches to deep lacerations to full limbs missing from their bodies. The blood that dripped from the wounds added to her unease.

“You must be Nanami’s lovely lady. Y/N, right?.” She heard an upbeat voice call to her from above. Her vision slowly examined the slender body of a man who dawned dark slacks and a white button down. Dark glasses over his eyes with a dazzling white smile and hair to match. He extended one hand out while the other was occupied with a can of soda. Her attention left him as she continued to pick at her nail beds.

“It’s nice to finally meet you.” He continued, placing himself in the empty seat next to her. “I’ve heard much about you.”

Her head remained away from his direction, “Strange, I’ve heard absolutely nothing about you.”

“Ah, the businessman must be embarrassed talking about me or something.” He joked, soft giggles leaving his lips as his eyes studied the pattern of footsteps passing them every few seconds. His gaze made its way back to her face, with the same grin printed on, “Well, in that case- I’m Gojo Satoru.”

She figured if he knew who Nanami was, he was an associate of his. Maybe one from his new ‘job’ that she hadn’t known about. Not that she knew of any friends from the company. But, this was Gojo- the man sitting next to her with his legs crossed over one another- the same man whose name brightened up on Nanami’s phone late in the night. Strangely enough, with this new information of his identity- it made his appearance glow.

How’d he even know to come here? Did he get a call too? Was he watching the news like she had been and decided to rush over here? “Gojo,” She whispered to herself, barely audible to anyone else. One moment with him, and he was consuming empty spaces of her thoughts- the ones that weren’t occupied with Nanami.

Almost as if he had been reading her mind- his voice lowered to a whisper. Taking a sip from his can, he voiced plainly, “The lady at the front desk called me. I was in the area so it didn’t take me very long to get over here.” In the area? This was the closest hospital to the crash- how could he know about it so soon unless he was already here. Was this man on his emergency contacts list? Before his parents? Before…

“You must’ve been so worried. Car crashes in weather like this seem so obvious, but I’m sure that’s not really what you wanna hear, right?” He continued, nearly unaware that her attention was anywhere except the conversation. He briefly caught a glimpse of the vacant expression that washed over her features, “Hey, you okay?”

It wasn’t a long silence as she turned to him, being met with the intensity of his eyes. An icy shade of blue- nothing like the warmth that came from Nanami’s. “Can I ask you a question?” She asked hesitantly. He nodded, eyes so bright it felt like he was peering into her soul. It left her naked under the lens of his scope. But not vulnerable enough to pass the opportunity to question him, “What’s your relationship to Kento anyway? What is it that the two of you do?”

The smile he had worn before changed, turning it into a solemn expression as he answered, “He didn’t tell you?” His voice sounded concerned, though it only read to her as some sort of confirmation. There was a bob in his throat as he took another sip of soda, “Maybe I’m not the best person to tell you about it then.”

“I don’t think it really matters.”

She focused back on her hands that lay steady in her lap, thumbs circling around each other. He contorted in his chair, resting his knee up on the chair’s back as his elbow rested on the top, “Look, whatever happened between you and Nanami tonight, it’s not his fault- I mean not entirely at least.”

There was a curve of her lips, shaking her head as he pleaded with her. “I’m serious. I mean he’s been ranting about how shitty everything’s been lately- how he wishes things were easier. I mean it took him weeks to find some good plane tickets to Malaysia.”

The sentence made her fingers stop, and her blood ran cold. The envelope on the table… His hands clamped over his mouth as fast as the words came out. “Shit- I wasn’t supposed to say that.”

He wasn’t sure what her reaction would be to him spilling such an important secret. He knew if Nanami was awake, he’d strangle him for opening up his big mouth. But all she did was chuckle, “It’s fine- I’m happy about how unintentional your honesty was just now. I needed it.”

“Mrs. Nanami Kento,” The overhead speaker boomed through the ceiling, alerting every person whose eyes weren’t too tired to close. She took one last look at Gojo and then rushed to the front desk instantly, watching as the woman’s face stared patiently at the blinding screen in front of her. “Your husband’s out of surgery. You can see him now.”

She took a step away from the desk, up the elevator then straight down to the end of the hall- the post-anesthesia care unit. Her body stopped just before she could make it to the opening. She wasn’t sure what to expect, more fearful of what couldn’t be done. She hadn’t seen the effects- all that ate away at her was guilt.

And when she found herself turning the corner to see the damage, she was stunned by the image of him lying there. Half of his face was covered in scratches while a wide gash printed over the base of his forearm up to his bicep. The wound was held together by fresh sutures while his upper torso was covered with a large gauze. Another gauze printed over the other side of his torso, though it was much lower. His blonde hair now resembled a faint red.

“Kento,” she croaked, falling to her knees at his side as the welted tears came forth again. She took his hand in hers, thumbs ghosting over his knuckles delicately. His breathing was being taken care of by the ventilation machine- pulse oximeter tracking his heart rate which was stable for the moment. But the look of him made her stomach collapse inside itself.

“You can’t even allow me the courtesy of being angry with you for the night- you’re so selfish.” She starts up again, attempting to smile through the flames that were engulfing her lungs, “I mean- you weren’t cheating, though a part of me isn’t convinced. Your friend, Gojo… he’s very pretty, too pretty for his own good.”

She waited. After a while, there was no response, only the tranquil sound of beeping. It didn't raise, or slow down at all. There was no flutter of his eyelids, or huskiness in his voice, or movement in his fingers. There was nothing but a shell of him and the shame printed on her face. Whether it be through her suggestion of route or her persistence in fighting with him tonight- there was no denying it.

“Baby, you can’t go now- not like this.” She begged, lips pressed against his knuckles as her forehead rested on his thigh. She felt her eyes growing weary, if only she could fight it. She didn’t wish to sleep, or for the day to end. Not when there was a possibility that tomorrow would come with more pain.

“Please, just come back… come back to me…” Her voice crept into a lower tone, hoping that her prayer would only be heard by the ears of her unconscious husband.

She wasn’t sure when she’d fallen asleep. Nor was she sure what dreams her mind had come up with to pass the time, but the sound of shuffling, a loud crackle in voice, and a tap on her shoulder were enough to wake her. She was met with multiple attendees by the bedside, pushing her to the corner of the room, closest to the door.

“Start the compressions now.”

It wasn’t until she was fully conscious, rubbing her eyes to notice the stable noise of the machine. Nanami’s pulse was dropping rapidly, which left her panicked. She attempted to jump through the crowd of people, reaching her hand out to simply feel the tips of his fingers. Only to be pulled back by one of the attendees in the room. “Ma’am, please don’t move.”

Her gaze moved towards Nanami’s hand- the only sight of him that she was allowed to see in the ocean of bodies. The doctor's hands were placed across his chest, pumping up and down. “His vitals are dropping and fast.” He continued, now opting for defibrillators, the nurse attaching the pads across his chest.

He rubbed the two pads together before yelling “Clear!” A jolt came from Nanami’s body, but the ringing persisted. Another wave of electricity flowed through him though it didn’t do much, the consistent sound continued to torment her ear.

And then came that abrasive chime, the flatline.

For that moment the room went still, and she found herself in the position of multiple pairs of eyes to stare, inspect her expression. She couldn’t take her eyes off of his still hand, unmoving with the warmth draining as fast as the colour from her face. The words grew stuck on her tongue and the acid in her stomach churned to burn her insides. There was nothing but the sound of the machine.

The doctor finally broke the silence clearing his throat to speak in a low voice, “Call it. Time of death- 11:10 AM.”

━━━━━━━━━━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━━━━━━━━━━

They say death is supposed to be peaceful. To be rid of a hell that wasn’t of a person’s own choosing. Born into a world so cruel and spiteful to its inhabitants riddling them with anger and loss. It was what consumed her throughout the week, as her phone rang to contact her parents-in-law. A piece of her wished she had someone close enough to call, to just bask in their comfort while her head spiraled. To heat the numbness that chilled her exterior.

Here she was, making pointless conversation in the small room as people one by one came to place their flowers and make their amends. Nanami’s mother stood close to her, holding her hand in hers as she wept. His father was closer to the door, talking to colleagues while he glanced at the urn in front, filled with his son’s ashes. She couldn’t wait to step away from the crowds of sadness that drenched everyone’s faces. She caught a glimpse of a similar mess of white hair with the same shades. Next to him stood a much shorter woman with long brown hair and bags under her eyes. There was wetness on her cheeks and her hands were crossed over her chest. All Gojo had done was bow his head to her.

Within the next week’s time, her final sessions came to a close- though she could never get a hold of Getou. She assumed that he might’ve been busy- talking about loss was complicated.

It took everything in her to pack away the life she curated in boxes. To deplete her hopes and dreams into failure. To tear the memories of their love and lust, of their pain and anguish from the walls of their apartment. To see remnants of them in the people she would interact with, in the fragments of him he left her to grasp onto. It turned into an empty lot with the boxes piled away in trucks ready to become pieces of someone else’s memories. Invaluable pieces of her life that she used to end the consistent nagging from the landlord.

If she’d known, if only she had known- she’d never let him walk out that door. She’d never be forced to grip the envelope for dear life- her last bit of him. Even as she focused through the window, seeing wide sheets of clouds over the horizon, the words of him, his last, replayed to her like a song.

To My Y/N, My apologies mean nothing to you- they shouldn’t after how I’ve been behaving these past few weeks. I’m so sorry. I wish I could’ve told you sooner- I hope that someday I will be able to let you know about the piece of my life I’ve wished to hide from you. I know I do not deserve the blessing to hold your ears nor your kindness. I know that your love for me is one that I could spend a thousand years looking for and never find anything close to it. I hope you know, that you were never a second priority, you are and have always been the brightest star in my sky. Love, Kento

Marriage was sometimes painful- scornful even. But death was peaceful, just not for those who remained.

#[ ❦ ] ─── 𝘽𝙀𝙃𝙄𝙇𝙎 𝙁𝙄𝘾𝙎 #x black reader #x black fem reader #nanami kento #jjk nanami #nanami kento x black reader #nanami x black reader #jujutsu kaisen x black reader #jjk x black reader #nanami kento x reader #nanami kento x y/n #nanami x reader #nanami x y/n #nanami kento angst #nanami angst

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sohotthateveryonedied · 3 years ago

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would you give us a hint about one of your upcoming projects, but in the most insane way you can?

please appreciate my very artistic photoshop skills

#anyway i'm working on a fic where all of bruce's kids get turned into vampires and he just rolls with it lmao #''oh my kids all drink blood now? finally all that o-neg in the med bay can be put to good use''#it's literally just vampirism being used for humor #the funny part is i had this idea weeks ago but never got around to writing it #needless to say new developments have made me very passionate about this project suddenly #this in addition to like. seven more fics i came up with in the past few days dfghjklh #got a lot of work ahead of me #lay it on me papa bob #proof that i have friends

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pomefioredove · 6 months ago

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*does a little dance*

vil prompts you say? Can i get your take on Vil being confronted by Yuu's real and imminent return home? And it's their only chance too (ie. the portal can only be opened with a meteor traveling overhead and surprise surprise its passing NOW they have three days max)

*does a little jig, going away*

you guys love torturing this man omg. so much angst. I'm about to pour all my abandonment issues into him ikyk

summary: yuu leaving type of post: short fic characters: vil additional info: romantic, reader is gender neutral, reader is yuu, angsty, post-book 7 author's note: my partner has been ignoring me for the past few days (I can't figure out why) so vil is about to experience pain, as he should

There are only six visible letters in lonely, and a thousand more hiding behind them.

The word carries such a weight with it, its meaning and its leaden implications, crushing the lungs of all who dare to shoulder it. It's a sore, tender sort of hurt, one that constricts the chest and numbs the limbs. Paralyzing, strangulating.

They say beauty is pain, but Vil has never felt more hideous in his life.

He had known; of course he had known. There was always a possibility you'd get your chance to return to your home, a world alien to him, and never come back. He'd been preparing himself for that reality from the moment he met you.

It didn't make it hurt any less.

Love is blind, but it's ignorant, too. Vil had pushed that thought to the back of his mind, covering it up with an if rather than a when, like throwing a veil over a tombstone. He had convinced himself that the chances of you leaving were slim, that when the time came, years from then, he'd be ready.

He wasn't counting on a few months.

"It works for about three days," you explain, a giddy smile on your face. He forces himself to share the expression. "The spell is so powerful, it can only be cast under specific circumstances... if I miss this, who knows when my next chance will be?"

Vil is an actor, yes, but this is different. This isn't something he's reading off a page to a room full of production assistants and actors. This is you and him, alone, tangled in an uncertain future with no ending in 12-point Courier.

His voice cracks. "That's wonderful,"

Sevens, is he selfish.

A part of him wants to slap you across the face and call you an idiot for even thinking about leaving him here, let alone being excited about it, but he can't even move his feet from where he's standing.

He should be celebrating with you.

He should be happy that you get to escape this terrible place. You get to go home, where you're accepted as you are, and loved, and where you belong...

But you belong with him. He accepts you. He loves you. Why do you need anyone else? What can they offer than he can't?

It's an egotistical fantasy Vil holds in the back of his mind for the rest of the day, one where you wake up and realize that your place is here, by his side, and not a world away from him.

He tries to convince himself it's not the end yet. Perhaps the spell will fail. Perhaps Crowley will change his mind. Perhaps someone else will overblot and throw the school into chaos. Each thought is more indulgent than the last, but without them, he might have lost his mind before noon.

What is he supposed to do?

Smile and wave while the only person who has ever understood and loved him unconditionally leaves him forever? Make a fool of himself pretending to be happy for you?

Every second without the certainty of seeing you the next day feels like an eternity.

It's wrong. He knows that. He can't keep you chained to the foot of his throne like a pet. You want to go, don't you? That's what you've wanted all along.

Once again, Vil only comes in second.

#twisted wonderland x reader #twst x reader #vil schoenheit x reader #this hurts me anon

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barbiewritesstuff · 2 years ago

Text

Church Encounters: Chapter 4

-- Part 4 of the fic I am writing with @Igg5989, you can find this fic on her tumblr and her Ao3 account :)

On a different note, we just want to say thank you for the lovely responses we have received on this fic, we both adore writing this and we're hapoy you guys like it :D if you want to leave a comment, please do, we love hearing what you guys have to say :)

Previous part

Taglist: @acarboni21 @unsurebuttrying @dempy @peaches-1998 --

“Apparently Hangman has a girlfriend, can you believe that?” Halo asked, slamming her locker shut, “This asshole can manage to get a girlfriend, but I have been on, like, seven dates this month and I still can’t find anyone I like.”

“Yeah, it’s outrageous. You know what, I bet she only likes him for his looks. I mean, he has the personality of a dumpster fire, so she must be sticking around for something,” Phoenix replied. You stayed quiet, hoping that they would ignore you in their conversation. You felt a ball of tears lodge itself in your throat.

“What do you think, Dove? You’re awfully quiet over there, why don’t you tell us what you think Hangman’s got going for himself,” Vegas said.

She was the newest member of the team, a necessary addition after Harvard broke his foot before the previous mission and wouldn’t recover in time. She worked well with just about everyone, but whether she was friendly was something you hadn’t decided yet.

“Sorry?” You said, trying to steady your voice.

“What do you think she’s like?” Vegas repeated.

You hesitated for a moment, “Why do you assume all those things about her? I’m sure she’s nice.”

“Yeah, sure. I’m sure she’s really sweet,” Vegas laughed, throwing you a side glance, “Do you have a crush on Hangman?”

You rolled your eyes at her. Vegas removed her shirt, then her trousers and let them both fall to the floor. She advanced towards you, looking you up and down, a gesture that made you blush.

“Because, I’m sorry to say, I don’t think you’re his type,” She smiled at you in a threatening way. You threw a glance at Phoenix and Halo but found them engrossed into a different conversation, and entirely unhelpful.

“Do you think you are, Vegas?” you asked, laughing nervously.

“Sweetheart, I don’t think he’s into the entire Catholic schoolgirl shtick you’ve got going on. I think he’d like someone more experienced.” She said, taking one last sweeping look at your appearance before turning on her heels and whipping you in the face with her hair.

You let the hot water hit your back for a minute before soaping yourself up and then rinsing yourself off again. All the while, Phoenix and Halo stayed oblivious to the many amused side glances Vegas was throwing you. You exited the shower without telling any of the other girls and dried yourself off. By the time you were gently scrunching your hair dry, the other women had come to join you in the locker room again.

You waited for them to finish, not ready to leave the warmth of the locker room just yet. Halo took her time reapplying the minimal makeup the Navy allowed her to wear while Phoenix seemed to lose bobby pins whenever she managed to find another one, but eventually you were all ready to join the men again.

By the time you had spilled into the corridor, the last of the men were getting dressed. Omaha and a newly recovered Harvard were chatting, backs leaning against the wall while waiting for the team to reassemble. The door swung open again and out came Payback with Fanboy and Yale, and then Rooster. Bob, Coyote and Jake came out last.

Jake barely had time to fully leave the doorway before Vegas pounced. She made sure to throw a wink to you over her shoulder before blocking Jake’s path. You were too far from them to hear what she said as she twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, but it didn’t seem to matter as Jake didn’t stop to listen. Instead, he walked right past her and straight towards you, where he dropped his bag to the floor and put on his coat.

“Got any plans tonight Dove?” he asked you as he adjusted his collar, giving you a knowing look.

If you had been worried about your secret leaking, you needn’t have been, because at that moment Bob’s voice rang through the hall, “Admiral Simpson, how are you today?”

Everyone in the squad turned to face the Admiral, some snapping to attention and others staying relaxed.

“Doing well Floyd, thank you. Don’t you all have anywhere else to be? Any plans perhaps? You’re young… Go see your girlfriends, boyfriends, or whatever,” he said, giving you and Jake pointed looks before finishing his walk down the hall and turning the corner towards the exit.

You felt your face flush at Cyclone’s comment and pointed look. Before anyone could say anything to you about it, you grabbed your own bag off of the floor and headed out to your car. Climbing in, you turned the key over in the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot quickly, heading towards your apartment.

As you make it off base, a phone starts to ring an unfamiliar tone. Looking at the passenger seat of your car, you realised that you had made an egregious error. In your rush to leave the hallway, you grabbed Jake’s duffle bag, not your own. Digging your hand inside, you pulled out his phone, your own contact number with a picture of you sitting at his table in front of a stack of pancakes greeted you. Sliding the call button to answer, you put the phone to your ear, “Hello?”

“I think you might have something that belongs to me,” Jake’s voice teased over the line.

You sighed, “I think you’re right, do you want to come get it tonight? I can make you dinner.”

His chipper voice responded quickly, “That sounds wonderful sweetheart, but you have the keys to my truck.”

The blush from earlier had just faded from your face, but as soon as you saw his keys and wallet peeking out from you on top of the bag, it was back in full force.

“I’ll be there in a few minutes,” you said, your voice quiet with embarrassment.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Jake said, you could hear the smile in his voice, before the call ended. You rush to find a place appropriate for a U-turn, but the roads near the base are so inconveniently made that it takes you another five minutes to turn around. Once you are back in the parking lot, you stop the car in the first empty spot you saw.

Climbing out, you turned towards Jake’s truck to find him talking with Bob. As you approached the two men, Jake’s duffle bag hung by both hands in front of you as if you could hide behind it. Bob saw you first over Jake’s shoulder.

“Dove,” he says in greeting, giving you the kind smile that he is known for.

“Bob,” you say back quietly. The fact that someone else now knows of your error makes you more embarrassed.

Jake, upon hearing your voice, turns to face you, “Hello beautiful,” he says, a big smile on his face.

You feel your eyes widen with panic, What was he doing? Bob was standing right there.

“Jake…” you say nervously, your eyes cutting to Bob and back to him.

Jake seems confused for a moment before stuttering out, “Oh, right, sorry, baby. Err, Bob knows. He’s also a Youth Minister, so I kinda had to tell him when we had our first date…”

Bob gives you a shit eating grin, “I think this whole thing is great by the way, you two are so sweet together.”

With that he bids the both of you goodbye and makes his way to his car in the lot.

You turn to Jake, a smile on your face, “Wouldn’t have thought you’d get along with Bobby.”

“Bobby? You have a nickname for him now?” Jake feigns jealousy by raising an eyebrow and clasping his hand over his pecs.

“Yeah, I do. Bobby is always nice to me, likes to sit with me on the wall while y’all have all the fun at the bar,” you pause for a moment, “When did the two of you get so close? I’ve never seen you talk to him like that before.”

“I guess ‘Bobby’ is a little ashamed of me,” he laughed, “On a serious note, Bob’s dad ain’t great so he’s keeping his involvement in the church pretty quiet… That and y’know… He’s quiet, I’m not, so we stay separate when we’re in public.”

You just nod as Jake continues talking, “Not my idea, though. He asked. I’m okay with being chummy, he’s a cool guy when he wants to be.”

“When he wants to be?” you repeat, a grin plastered onto your face.

“Oh yeah, that man knows how to stir shit like no one else,” Jake chuckled.

You laugh before responding, “I guess that explains the well timed ‘Admiral Simpson, how are you today?’”

Jake just nodded, “Yeah, he sure has perfect timing too. I think it's because he is always observing everyone, he knows the right time to get the biggest effect.”

You laugh again before holding out Jake’s bag to him, “Here you go, sorry I stole you bag.”

“It’s not a problem,” he says, trading your bags, “I don’t mind waiting on a beautiful woman.”

You blush, turning back to your car, “Don’t forget to thank Bobby for saving your ass!”

“Language!” Jake shouts after you, a smile seeping through his voice.

You laugh at his teasing, “You should take your own advice! Dinner is at seven, don’t be late!”

—

At six forty-five sharp, there was a knock on your front door, you were busy stirring the homemade alfredo sauce and you weren’t willing to risk it burning so you called out, “It’s open!”

You heard Jake push the door open and kick his shoes off, “It smells wonderful in here,” he said, coming up behind you and dropping a kiss on the top of your head.

“Thank you, it’s my mom’s recipe,” you say, giving him a sweet smile, “Dinner should be done shortly, this just needs to thicken first.”

“Can I help at all?” he asks, brushing a few fingers over the sleeve of your dress. It was something casual that you saved for home, lavender purple and cotton, but comfortable and cute.

“Do you want to open the wine? I can’t promise that it’s any good, I don’t drink often,” you say.

“I’m sure it’ll be perfect,” Jake whispers in your ear, before you feel his presence move away from you and towards the other side of your kitchen.

When the sauce was done, and tossed with the noodles, you served up two plates before setting them down at the table. Jake placed a glass of wine at each place setting before pulling your chair out for you as you took your apron off.

Giving him a grateful smile, you take a seat in the offered chair, laying your napkin delicately across your lap.

“I can’t remember the last time someone cooked me a meal,” Jake said quietly, after the two of you had prayed.

Your heart sank for him, “Why’s that?”

“I haven’t been home in a while, and I’m not known for having friends really,” he said quietly, giving you a small smile as he picked up his fork.

“Well I hope you enjoy it,” you said, smiling back at him as you cut into your own chicken.

After a minute of cutlery scraping against plates, you looked up to see that Jake’s plate was empty, and he was eyeing the pan on the stove discreetly, “You can get seconds,” you say to him, laughter in your voice.

“I was going to wait for you to finish,” he said, a slight tint coming over his cheeks, “I’m not an animal.”

“You aren’t?” you said in a questioning voice, laughing a little at your jab.

His face dropped and you took his hand from across your small kitchen table, “I know you aren’t Jake, I was just kidding. Getting seconds is the biggest compliment you can pay my subpar cooking,” you say with a soft smile.

Picking up his plate from the table, Jake got up, dropping a kiss on your head as he passed your chair, whispering into your hair, “It’s not subpar, it's the best I’ve ever had.”

The smile that split your face stayed with you for the whole evening. Jake helped you clean up dinner, this time he did the dishes as you dried them and put them away. You packed a few leftover containers up, leaving them out on the counter to cool. It was a work night, but you and Jake settled into the couch for a movie, he let you pick from your own extensive collection, and you couldn’t help but be in the mood for a RomCom. The credits for How to Lose a Guy In Ten Days had just started rolling as the clock hit ten.

You pushed off the couch and made your way into the kitchen, putting the lids on the containers and leaving one out, bringing it to Jake at the front door.

He looked at you surprised as you pushed the slightly warm container into his hands, “For lunch tomorrow,” you said in explanation with a smile.

He just stood there, looking at you, for so long that you thought he might kiss you. A thrill ran up your spine at the thought that tonight would be the night. You felt a blush cover your cheeks, and you looked down at the ground, brushing a piece of hair out of your face and behind your ear.

Your heart started pounding loud enough that he could probably hear it when he put two fingers under your chin, pulling your head up to look at him. He glanced down at your lips for a second before placing a gentle kiss to the crown of your head. Disappointment rushed through you, but you kept a smile on as he left. You stood on the doorstep of your apartment and waved as he pulled away from the curb.

---

Vegas, in her eagerness to guide the plane down to the ground, hadn’t noticed the lone seagull soaring around the tarmac. The bird flew straight into the landing gear and the impact snapped the thing straight off with a sickening ‘CLANG’. Silence reigned in the cockpit for a second as neither of you knew what to do, a bird striking the landing gear shouldn’t have caused it to fall off. As your mind raced, any mental assessment of the situation gave you a less than hopeful prognostic.

You blinked and in that split second, the plane made contact with the concrete. It flew through the air like it was made of paper, ricocheting off of the tarmac for a moment before hitting its wing against something and spinning out of control. The safety wall at the end of the runway was approaching at neck breaking speed, but by the time you hit, both you and Vegas had already lost consciousness. The front of the plane crunched as it made contact with the safety wall, the force popping the canopy open and flooding the cockpit with burning air.

The rest of the team was waiting for you to complete the training exercise from the comfort of the recreation room. The television set in the corner of the room blared above the sound of the foosball match being played and yet, when your aircraft lost its landing gear and it hit the tarmac, it felt as though Jake was watching a movie and had forgotten to turn on the sound.

The coffee cup he had been holding was dropped to the floor, sending bits of ceramic flying through the room as he sprinted towards the door, throwing himself against it as it slammed open into the wall. Bob and Maverick were hot on his heels, the only sound that could be heard with the men’s boots slamming against the pavement. They ran towards the smoking wreckage as fast as they could. Jake, thanks to a high school sport career in hurdle jumping, jumped straight onto the wing.

He saw Vegas stir in her seat, and the voice in the back of his head told him to save her first but both his heart and his arms decided to carefully scoop you from your seat. Jake lifted you out of the plane, making sure to limit the movement of your neck before kneeling down on the searing metal of the wing and depositing you into Bob’s arms. He stood up again and did the same with Vegas, giving her to Maverick.

As Jake jumped back down to the ground from the wing, the plane rocked with a small explosion, sending him to the ground at Bob and Maverick’s feet. He lifted his head from the tarmac, catching a glance of your bloody forehead before he pushed himself off the ground. Sirens could be heard in the distance and he saw a base fire truck pull onto the tarmac, but he wasn’t willing to wait for a base ambulance to join it.

Gently taking you from Bob, he started towards the hospital, jogging through the pain that he was beginning to feel in his back. He could hear Maverick and Bob calling out behind him, but he didn’t turn around, just kept up his pace across the tarmac towards the end of the airfield.

He slammed his back into the door, groaning out in pain as he made it inside. Medical staff were standing ready, probably briefed about the crash a few minutes after it happened. He watched helplessly as they took you from his arms, placing you on a gurney and rolling you down the hall, away from him.

As Jake turned to leave, a nurse stopped him, “Sir, you need to be looked at too.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, confused as to why she thought he needed attention.

“Your back is burned, and there is a singed hole in your pants. Let us take a look at you, okay? She is safe now,” the nurse said kindly, guiding Jake gently by his arm to a trauma room.

He wasn’t sure how long he sat there, letting them take off his clothes and check him from head to toe, the only thing running through his mind was the sight of your bloodied face, and the Hail Mary. Mav poked his head into the room soon after the nurse left.

Jake shot off the bed immediately, “How is she?”

“They’re both going to be alright, but I am assuming you’re asking about Dove,” he said, a knowing smile on his face, “She is going to be fine, the doctor said that she has a few bruises from the harness straps and that she hit her head on the console when the crash happened. They think she has a concussion, but we will know more when she wakes up.”

Jake released the breath he had been holding, sinking back onto the bed with a heavy sigh.

“So…” Maverick started, “Dove, huh?”

“Oh, drop it, pops,” Jake grumbled, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Mav laughed before continuing, “No, no, it’s sweet. I support it. You two are adorable together.”

“Damn right we are,” Jake laughed, sending the older man a wink.

“Hey, I don’t suppose you could do me a favour,” Jake started, “I have some… things… in my locker that I need. The nurses won’t let me leave the med bay to get it myself.”

“Things?” Maverick asked, suspicious of Jake’s intentions. His suspicions only grew when the younger man seemed unwilling to meet his eyes for a second

Jake stumbled over the words, “I need my -- Just, can you get -- You know what, can you ask Bob to come?”

“Nope, spill it,” Mav said, raising an eyebrow at the usually cocky pilot’s nerves.

Huffing out a sigh, Jake collected himself, “I have my Rosary and my Bible in my locker. I need them.”

Maverick raised an eyebrow at the request. He hadn’t expected Hangman to be religious, but then, Maverick thought, he hadn’t expected Jake to be the kind to fall in love, either.

“No problem,” he said, turning around and leaving the room.

Jake hung his head and sat in silence for a few more minutes before he pulled on the scrubs the nurse had left out for him to change into seeing as his flight suit had been rendered unwearable by the explosion, he was lucky that he had been wearing a t-shirt underneath.

Maverick returned to find him sitting in the same position he had left him in fifteen minutes later.

“You need a new locker, the door’s stuck,” He said, looking at Jake with a smile on his face. “Here’s what you asked for,” Mav said quietly, holding out a bible and a velvet bag for him to take.

“Those aren’t mine,” Jake said, looking at the beautiful white book and the white velvet of the Rosary bag Maverick had given him.

Mav hesitated for a minute before continuing, “No. Like I said, I couldn’t get your locker to open… These are her’s.”

Jake carefully undid the string that held the pouch closed and pulled out a silver Rosary. Its beads pink and iridescent, glinting up at him in the harsh hospital light. Each holy mystery was a red rose. The chain shined like it was used regularly, a small thumb mark on the crucifix that Jake covered with his own. He traced every rose and every bead with his fingers, running the rosary through his hands like water. It was so beautiful, so… you.

Jake’s own rosary had once belonged to his grandfather, it was a very minimalist affair, made of wood and a silver chain but it brought him comfort wherever he went. The Bible had been grandfather Thomas’ too, although it had been in brand new condition when it had been passed onto Jake as Thomas Seresin liked to keep multiple versions about the house. His grandmother had kept the tattered old one for herself and given him one of the newer ones.

Holding these items always made him feel emotional, but as he held yours, he found he was barely able to keep himself from letting out a choked sob. Maverick moved closer to him. He put his arm around Jake’s shoulder and squeezed a little.

“She’ll be okay,” He said in a low voice.

“I know, I -- I’ve never been so scared in my life, you know?” Jake explained, throwing his head back to stare at the white ceiling in the hope that tears would not fall. Maverick stayed quiet but patted him on the shoulder.

“She’s the one for me, Maverick. I really thought I was going to lose her,” Jake said, his voice horace from holding back tears.

Mav gave him a knowing look, “She’s the one, huh?”

Jake couldn’t hold back the smile that covered his face, they might have only been dating for a few months, but he knew she was the one.

----

A day later, Jake was still in the hospital. He wasn’t in his own room, but sitting next to the bed in yours. Mav and Bob had come by the day before and forced him to go home for the night to shower and change.

The burns on his back and knee weren’t very bad, but they hurt something fierce, so he had taken a cool shower and dressed in the only clothes he could find that were comfortable, a black t-shirt and a pair of his gray Navy sweatpants. He had laid in his bed at home for what felt like hours trying to sleep, but the bible and Rosary sitting on his night stand kept calling to him. Before he knew it, he found himself back in your hospital room, your pink Rosary clutched tightly in one hand and the other holding yours on the bed.

The nurses tried not to bother him as they came in and out, they all thought it was so sweet that Jake was sitting by your bedside, mumbling prayers to himself. He carefully counted the beads, each prayer flowing through his head as he mouthed the words to himself.

‘Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.’

Over and over the prayer went in his mind, each time another pink bead passed through his fingers, the glass of the beads was more slippery than he was used to being that his own Rosary was made of wood. His large hands struggled to hold on to them at times, but he was careful to never drop it.

As he was getting into what could be his third or fourth time around the sacred necklace, Jake was interrupted by a cough at the doorway. Looking up, he almost cussed, catching himself before the words could pass through his lips. Standing in the doorway was Rooster, Phoenix, Halo, and Coyote. Bob was running up from behind giving Jake a look that said, ‘Sorry man, I tried to stop them.’

"I gotta say, I am confused," Rooster said, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Oh no, Roo, this is totally normal. Completely, absolutely, not totally weird." Phoenix replied sarcastically

Jake quickly placed your Rosary on the bedside table, standing from the chair he had been sitting in for half the night and moving towards the doorway, “Let’s have this conversation outside,” he said quickly, glancing back to make sure that you hadn’t stirred in the bed. His hand gently brushed against your hair, as if to tell you he was going to be right back

Phoenix protested, but with a pointed look she allowed Jake to corral them all into the waiting room and thus the yelling began.

Halo and Phoenix both started into Jake at the same time, “What the hell are you doing with my best friend Seresin? Or should I even call her that, what with how she has apparently been the secret girlfriend you’ve had all these months!”, “What the hell Bagman? Really? A coworker? You couldn’t even pick the one who was throwing herself at you, you had to go after Dove?”

Jake held both of his hands up in the air, like the cops tell you to do when they’ve got a gun pointed at you, and to be honest, it didn’t feel too far from what was happening right now.

“Whoa, whoa, ladies, calm down,” he said trying to keep the bit of fear he was feeling from the two women in front of him out of his voice, “Dove and I have been together for a few months now. We didn’t want to make it public for this reason right here. She is a nice girl and we are taking it slow, I love her.”

The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. Vegas looked put out, Phoenix was looking at him like he had grown a third head, and Halo looked like the human version of the heart eyed emoji. Coyote broke the silence first, “Well congrats man, I’m happy for you. I just wish that you had told the rest of us sooner, I mean come on you know that I wouldn’t have been poking fun if I had known it was that serious between you two.”

Phoenix suddenly looked like someone had turned the lights on in her brain, turning to Bob she raised her voice again, “You bastard Robert Floyd, you knew!”

It was Bob’s turn to look like he had a gun pointed at him, “Hey now, just because I found out first doesn’t mean you get to be mad at me. I am observant, I probably know more about all of you than you know about yourselves.”

"Un-fucking-likely," Phoenix shot back, her eyes flaring daring Bob to say something no one knew.

Bob hesitated for only a moment before airing out Phoenix’s dirty laundry, "Your lucky pair of underpants is purple and currently laying on the back seat of Coyote's car."

The blood drained out of her face and Coyote just glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, not daring to set her off either, he smartly stayed quiet.

“H-how did you know that?” she asked Bob, sounding like she didn’t know what to say.

Sighing, Bob explained, "Coyote dropped me off at the Hard Deck yesterday… and you write your name on the label…"

"Why were you checking?!" Phoenix exclaimed. The most daring pilot Jake knew was blushing furiously.

"I wasn't! You just left them right there and I saw them! I'm not a creep!" Bob shouted, now blushing as well.

"You're a little creepy, " Jake said, winking in his friend's direction, happy for the distraction.

Bob just shot him a glare, but there was no anger behind it. Jake laughed before continuing, “Alright, so now y’all know about us and Phoenix's lucky underwear, can you go home?”

Then as if remembering something, Jake called them back "Can you guys keep it on the down low? At least until she's better?"

They all looked at him before nodding, Phoenix and Halo both giving him their own glares before making their way out of the waiting room, Vegas brushed by without saying a word, Bob and Coyote both shook his hand and pulled him into a one armed hug, but the one who surprised him was Rooster. Rooster shook his hand and smiled before saying, “You know Hangman, I think she will be good for you.”

Jake just let out a laugh before responding, “She is better than I deserve.”

“Nah,” Rooster said, “She’s just everything you need.”

With that he left the waiting room, and Jake returned to your bedside, a weight he didn’t know he had been carrying was lifted from his shoulders. He gazed at your sleeping face, admiring the peaceful expression etched on your features. Jake leaned down and placed a kiss right on your temple.

"I love you," He whispered quietly, he hadn’t meant to tell the whole team earlier, but now that he did, he might as well say it to you, even if you were sleeping.

"You are a damn coward Jacob Thomas Seresin," You croaked out, your voice rough from disuse.

"Yeah," Jake cringed, "Yeah I am. I'm sorry."

"So fix it," You said, cracking your eyes open to look up at him.

Jake looked you in the eyes, "I love you," he said a tear was hanging in his eye, and at that moment you could see he truly meant it. His face crumpled, his chin quivered for a moment before his hard voice came out, "Don't you ever fucking scare me like that again, do you understand, baby? Never. Because quite frankly, I don't think I can take it."

You nodded, wincing slightly at the pain in your head, “I understand. Technically though, I wasn’t flying the plane,” you said cheekily.

He sighed at your teasing, "I will threaten Vegas too, don't worry. You're just closest for now," his voice was joking as he took a seat in the chair next to your bed.

“I love you too, by the way,” you said quietly, looking him in the eye.

His face split with a smile before he let out a laugh, “We are terrible at this whole taking it slowly thing aren’t we?”

"I mean, babe, you've practically already proposed… so yeah, I'd have to agree," you said smiling as much as your headache would allow.

Jake noticed your pain and pushed the nurse’s button on your bed. A short woman with a blonde bob came into the room and she fussed over you for a few minutes before leaving, promising to return with pain medicine.

At that moment, you looked down to see your Rosary laying on the bed. You were certain that it had been tucked safely into your purse, in your locker, across the base. So how was it laying next to you now?

Jake followed your line of sight and the confused look that crossed over your features, “Oh, I hope you don’t mind. Mav couldn’t get into my locker but he knew how to get into yours…"

You let out a slight laugh, “Ah, Bobby probably told him. He has seen me at church a few times and he knows that I carry my bible and Rosary on me.”

Jake nodded, “That makes sense, I didn’t really question it earlier.”

Just then the nurse came back in, handing you a cup of pills to take, “For your head, doll. You have a bit of a concussion but the pain should subside shortly. This young man here is your knight and shining armour too,” she said, looking quite excited, “Carried you all the way to the hospital and everything.”

"C--carried me?" You stuttered out turning to look at Jake.

"He hasn't told you?" She said, glancing at Jake, "I'll let him tell the story then," she said before making her way out of the room, a devious smile on her face.

"There isn't much to tell, just… Y'know… Helped a little" He said, hanging his head low and staring at his shoes

“Jacob Seresin, you tell me the truth right now,” you said sternly. You could see some bandages at the top of his shoulder now that he had hung his head, “Why are you bandaged up? What happened?”

Jake let out a long sigh before tilting his head up so his eyes met yours, "I may have pulled you out of the burning wreckage of your plane…before being blasted by a minor explosion…" He said, seeing you wince, he quickly added," It's nothing bad, just some minor burns, I'll live."

You looked at him with doubt, “Come here,” you said, making room on the bed for him to sit down, “Turn around,” you instructed, looking at him sternly. As you pulled up the back of his shirt to see his injuries, you gasped, half of his back was covered with gauze that looked like it had been on for a little while, “Oh my goodness, Jake,” your hand clasped over your mouth.

He quickly pulled his shirt back down and turned to you, taking both of your hands in his own, “Hey, I’m alright. It looks worse than it is,” he said, adding a quick, “I promise.”

"How does it feel, then?" you asked, “Because it looks pretty damn bad.”

"Just kind of achy, you know, like a bad sunburn," He lied, hoping it would calm your worries a little. In truth, his back felt sticky and seared. The disinfectant they had poured onto the raw flesh did nothing to hide the smell of burnt hair that had lodged itself into his nose.

The doctor had told him it would clear up in no time, but Jake wished it would hurry up.

“Jake, that didn’t look good. You need to have someone look at you,” you said, concern still laced in your voice.

He sighed, “Well it’s hard to clean your own back you know,” he said sassily. The truth was that the doctors hadn’t been very gentle the first time around and he wasn’t looking forward to a second time, “Maybe it can wait until you get out of here? Then you can patch up your, what did she call me, your knight in shining armour?”

You laughed, “I will patch you up, but it needs attention soon.”

“Then you better work on feeling better,” he said, smiling at you before leaning forward to kiss your head. With that he moved back to the chair, the two of you sat in comfortable silence until the doctor sent you home that afternoon with the promise that you would rest.

—

While the doctors had cleared you to go home, Jake was worried about you. He questioned if you were okay to go to church come Sunday morning, but you insisted that you were more than fine, it had been days since the accident.

He picked you up, much like he did every Sunday, and drove you to church, his hand holding yours on the centre console of his truck. Mass passed as it usually did, with him kissing your cheek softly and holding your hand during the Our Father. After Mass he took you home, this morning you had insisted on preparing breakfast at your house since he had for the last two months.

As you made your way into the apartment, you bent down to take your shoes off. When you came back up Jake was standing incredibly close to you, almost pressing you up against the wall just inside the door.

“Jake..?” you asked, your voice coming out in a whisper.

He didn’t answer, just brushed a loose strand of hair off of your face, his fingers lingering a little too long against your cheek. You looked into his eyes to find them staring back at you, an expression like you had never before seen on his face written over his features. He looked at you so tenderly, so lovingly, so adoringly that you never wanted this moment to end. But it did, when Jake leaned down and almost brushed his lips against yours.

“May I?” he asked, needing your approval to continue.

If the feeling of his nose against the side of yours hadn’t short-circuited your brain, you might have kissed him yourself. However, you were unable to do anything, not even breathe, so you gave him the smallest nod. He took that for the yes that it was, and you were glad when he pressed his lips against yours.

It wasn’t like the movies where fireworks went off in the background, it was so much better than that. Jake’s lips were warm and soft against your own, pushing against yours in a desperate and hungry way. He was gentle, but it was clear to you that he didn’t plan on stopping soon.

You felt his hands start to wander, one found its way underneath your Chapel Veil and into your hair. He brushed through it with his fingers while slowly moving his mouth against yours. Jake’s other hand came down from your cheek to find the edge of your jaw.

The kiss only ended when his fingers hit a knot. The unexpected jab of pain made you bite down on his lip. Jake groaned pleasurably at the sensation. Suddenly, his eyes flew open and he pushed you away a little to break up the embrace.

“Can I -- err -- Can I borrow your shower?” he asked, his face looking a bit panicked.

You gave him a confused look, before answering, “Yeah, of course. Are you okay?”

“Just fine, no worries,” he said, hurrying towards your bathroom.

You saw him disappear behind the door and heard him lock it before starting the water. In the meantime, you busied yourself with making coffee and starting breakfast. Your pancakes could never compete with Jake’s regardless of how neatly you cracked the eggs, so you had opted for making your favourite: cinnamon rolls.

You had made the dough in advance and left it to prove in the fridge, now that the buns were risen, all you needed to do was to pop them in the oven. While it preheated, you set about changing your clothes.

You removed the Chapel Veil and brushed through the knots Jake had found in your hair, then, you changed into some more casual clothes, opting for a lovely pink house dress and as you were baking, a matching apron.

The coffee machine sputtered to life and the oven dinged at the same time. You dropped a latte pod into the machine for yourself and a regular espresso for Jake before opening the oven door and shoving the tray of cinnamon rolls towards the back of the oven. By the time you had done that, you could hear the water had stopped in the bathroom.

“Hey, you okay?” you asked as he entered the kitchen again. You moved towards him and touched his arm with a reassuring rub. His skin felt freezing under your touch.

He hesitated for a moment, clearly embarrassed about the situation, “I got -- I got a little carried away.”

You eyed him from your spot at the sink, washing a few dishes that you had made, “How carried away are we talking?”

“Don’t make me spell it out,” he replied quietly, wincing.

Trying to reassure him, dried your hands on a towel before looking up at him, “Jake, I --”

He interrupted you right as you started talking to him, “I want to do this properly. In the right order, you know. I mean I know that ship has sailed for me but I want you to get the experience you deserve.”

Your heart melted, “Thank you,” you whispered, leaning up to kiss his cheek softly.

#fanfic #top gun fanfiction #top gun maverick #top gun x reader #fanfiction #hangman x reader #jake hangman seresin #original fic #jake seresin #hangman top gun

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lgg5989 · 2 years ago

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Church Encounters Pt4

-- Part 4 of the fic I am writing with @barbiewritesstuff, you can find this fic on her tumblr and my Ao3 account :) Check out my Masterlist for the other chapters!

On a different note, we just want to say thank you for the lovely responses we have received on this fic, we both adore writing this and we're happy you guys like it :D if you want to leave a comment, please do, we love hearing what you guys have to say :)