#this nun walked past us 3 times

[justascrollingghost]

As a girl who grew up with a very religious mum and still struggles when in any form of religious setting or conversation I have mad respect for Rhett and Link’s ear biscuits episodes about religion because it’s probably the most comfortable I’ve ever been listening to a religious discussion

[luvyeni]

❛COCKBLOCKERS❜ ( 00' liners )

authors note. based on a dream i had 😊 enjoy !

p. roommate!00' line x fem!reader w. 6.4k+

— 𖦹 warnings. unprotected sex, multiple sex scenes, oral ( f. receiving ), dirty talk, haechan is a munch, size kink ( jeno duh.)

— 𖦹 ( living with four boys isn't easy for your sex life , but luckily your roommates are here for you) !

“Do you even masturbate?”

Living with haechan for almost 2 years, you were pretty used to these questions — to the point were you don’t even flinch at the questions anymore. “Of course I do, i'm human haechan.”

“Yeah but i've never caught you, and i've caught just about everyone who lives in this apartment.” He was referring to your other roommates; jaemin, jeno and renjun — who were also used to his antics. “That’s because jaemin has a exhibition kink and jeno is a himbo so he forgets to lock the door, I've caught both of them multiple times.” Jaemin shrugged, smirking. “Can’t say you’re wrong.”

“Im not a himbo.” Jeno looked up from his phone. “Whatever you say, renjun is the only one I haven’t caught, because like me he’s smart enough to lock his door.” You said, speaking of the boy who finally exited his room. “What about locking my door.” He said. “She talking about when you masturbate.” Your eyes widened at haechan completely taking what you said out of context.

“W-why are you talking about that?” he cough, rubbing the back of his red neck. “Haechans bitch ass took that out of context don’t worry.” You threw the pillow at the boy, he dramatically fell back. “So where do you do it?” He asked, picking the pillow up. “In my room or in the shower, jesus haechan not everyone gets off in the open spaces.” You said.

“Wh-why are you guys having this conversation right now?” Renjun finally asked the right question. “Because jaemin and haechan think she’s asexual because we’ve never seen a boy come in and out of this apartment for her, and she never leaves the house.” You scoffed at jeno, meanwhile renjun regretted asking the question. “In other words, she’s not getting any dick.”

You scoffed, and that totally wasn’t your fault. “Well im sorry but not many guys like the or are comfortable fucking in a apartment when you have a mans voice yelling ‘yn where’s the chopstick for the ramen!’ or ‘yn how do start the washer!’ You mock their voices. “it’s kind of a turn off.”

“But that doesn’t stop you from leave and getting some.” Jaemin said. “You would think, but it seems like everyone on campus seems to think we’re in a big poly relationship, thanks to haechan being the alcoholic he is.” You said, remember the party a year ago. “What did I do?” You scoffed. “You got on a table and yelled it in front of half of the campus.”

“Oh yeah.”

“Yeah, so thanks to you 3 cockblockers im reduced to using my fingers as a form of release.” You stood up. “Is this conversation done now, can I go to my room?” You didn’t wait for a answer, you just kept walking. “3 ? What about renjun? Jeno asked. “He knows where the chopsticks are, he also knows how to start the washer and hold his alcohol.” You walked past the boy, smiling. “Good job renjun, for not being the reason im involuntary celibate.”

He watched you walk all the way to your room, closing your door. “Why does she always defend you?” Haechan said, renjun shrugged. “Does she want to fuck you or something?” Jaemin laughed. “More like he wants to fuck her.” Renjun felt his face heating up again, quickly walking back to his room.

“Well no shit look at her, who in this house doesn’t want to fuck her.” Jeno shook his head. “Don’t try and judge me jeno, you were the first one to say you wanted to fuck her.” Jeno stood up, putting his phone away. “Yeah I did, and I still do.” He said. “But I don’t act like a bitchless loser either.” He picked up his gym bag. “Hey! Im not bitchless.” The boy fought back. “Whatever you say, maybe don’t ask her if she’s asexual or training to be a nun and she’ll fuck you.” He left out the house.

“Haechannie.” Jaemin stood up, “Don’t give up, she’ll come around and find something appealing on you." He looked the boy up and down, patting his shoulder in a comforting way. “maybe.” He left leaving the boy to pout in the livingroom.

“Well shit, now im horny.”

There was a knock on your door, you looked up from your show playing on the computer as the door slowly opened, renjun popping his head in. “I just wanted to see if you were still up, and to not let what haechan said bother you, it’s okay if you don’t do that stuff all the time.” He said, you smiled. “Whatever comes out of haechans mouth will never make me upset, he’s harmless.”

He chuckled, “More like demented, but I get it.” You laughed in return, making him smile. “Is that it?” you asked and he nodded. “Yeah, im going to bed, i'll see you in the morning, goodnight.” You waved. “Goodnight renjun.”

“Stupid fucking professors.” You dropped your bag on the ground in anger. “Whoa.” Jaemin stood in the kitchen. “What’s wrong with you?” You opened the refrigerator door, grabbing a beer. “Oh you must be stressed, it’s 12 and you’re drinking.” He said. “I am.” You cracked open the can, taking a big gulp of the beer, sighing.

“My professors moved my essay date up until this week, because she won’t be in next week.” You took another sip. “how is it my fault her sister is going into labor, does her sister have incompetent husband.”

Jaemin saw how angrier you were getting with every sip, deciding to intervene. “okay love that’s enough.” He took the can from your hand. “You’re stressed, drinking isn’t gonna solve it.” You sighed, rubbing your temples, leaning over the counter. “I’m gonna drop out.” He laughed, knowing you didn’t mean it. “You’re adorable.”

You glared at him as he stood next to you, the dishes he was doing long forgotten, instead he was staring at you. “Im about to break down and that’s all you have to say,  im adorable.” He nodded, you pouted. “Don’t make that face, you’re making it hard for me.”

You tilted your head in confusion. “What do you mean?” You eyes widened as he got closer and closer — pressing you against the counter. “It’s hard to not want to not stick my hand in these sweats of yours and help you distress — I hate seeing you all stressed.” He was extremely close, his nose brushing against yours gently.

“Jaemin.” You sighed, grabbing his bicep. “We ca— you’re stressed aren’t you baby?” He said, you nodded. “This is what I do when im stressed, I get off and I know your little fingers won’t pleasure you enough.” He said. “I didn’t want to say anything yesterday cause I didn’t want to get haechan started, but I hear you sometimes, when you’re touching yourself.”

eyes widened in horror — you couldn’t believe he heard you. “Oh my god.” You whined. “This is so embarrassing.” You covered your face, but he quickly removed your hands. “Don’t be, those pretty gasp and whines coming from your room are like music.” He said. “But I know it’s not enough is it?” His fingers danced along your waistband. “Not enough to make you satisfied?”

You moaned softly, he smirked. “Listen to you baby, I know you want it, just let me help you distress.” He said, pulling at the waistband letting it snap at your waist. “When im done we don’t even have to talk about it.” He said, but you could hear the condescending tone in his voice. “But you might want more.”

You thought about it, what’s the worst that could happen, it will be awkward for a few days then you’ll go back to being normal — you could do that definitely – you once avoided renjun when you walked on him in the shower, and then you went right back to talking to him like nothing happen, and he let it go like nothing happened. “Princess don’t think too hard, hurt that pretty little head.”

You sighed — his hands waiting at your waistband waiting for you to give him the go. “And it won’t be awkward?” He nodded. “We won’t speak of it if you want” He reassured, kissing your forehead. “I just want to help you.” He whispered. “Just wanna make you cum.” That did it for you, you grabbed his wrist, guiding his hand into your sweats. “Please touch me.”

He smiled, cupping your clothed heats. “Sh-shit.” You moaned out. “You’re soaked through your panties pretty.” He toyed with your folds through your underwear. “Ja-jaemin.” You sighed, he smiled. “N-no teasing.” You whined, he chuckled. “Okay baby I won’t, I wont.” He said moving your panties to the side, running a finger across your folds. “So wet baby, your pussy is so desperate for me to touch her.”

He pressed a finger at your hole, slowly sinking it in. “Jaemin-” You moaned as his thick finger stretched you out. “Such a tight pussy, poor baby hasn’t had anybody touch her like this in a while has she?” You moaned, shaking your head. “You want another.”

“y-yes.” You moaned as he added another finger, stretching your cunt out more. “Sh-shit your fingers are amazing.” He smirked. “Yeah?” He asked, moving  his fingers in and out of your hole. “My fingers stretching your pretty pussy good?” You nodded, moaning out as his used the pad of his thumb to rub your clit. “Fu-fuck im gonna cum.”

“Go a head, you deserve it princess, cum on my fingers.” He fucked his fingers into your hole faster. “Cum for me.” He said and on his command you came all over his fingers. “Fuck!” You sighed as he stroked your clit with his thumb as you came down from your high. “Jae.” You gasped, grabbing his wrist,  stopping him. “I-I came.”

He chuckled stopping his movements. “You’re evil.” You breathed, he laughed. “But it was fun watching you struggle, and you feel better don’t you?” You nodded, “I do, thank you.”

You both were bought back to reality by a cough. “Want to come back to earth, you’re in the kitchen.” Jeno said, looking at the scene in front of him. “With your hands stuffed in her sweats.” He held his bag in his hand. “Right.” He took his hand out from your pants. Your face was heated with embarrassment of being caught — jaemin on the other hand couldn’t care less. “Thanks to someone I have something take care of.”

Your eye widened — jeno scoffing in amusement as you both watched jaemin brought his hand covered in your juices to his mouth, sucking on them, humming as he exited into his room to do the obvious.

You and jeno stood in a silence — a awkward one before spoke up. “I’m sorry you had to walk in on that.” You stood on the balls of your feet, looking down. “We all need to distress sometimes, next time it should be in your room though, haechan could’ve walked in and that would’ve been— tragic.” You said and he nodded. “also please don’t tell him, I don’t want it to be awkward, renjun either.” He gave you a salute.

“My lips are sealed.” He said, you nodded. “I owe you big time, thank you so much.” You said. “I'm gonna go, see you after your class.” You scurried away to your room, his eyes followed you the entire time.

“Shit.” He sighed to himself, how was he supposed to focus in class with the scene of you moaning while his friend fingered you in his head; and his cock hard against his jeans.

Luckily a few days past and the kitchen incident was never brought up, it was kept a secret between you, jaemin and jeno — like it never happened, well expect when it happened again when everyone wasn’t home again, or when jaemin would look  at you with fuck me eyes that made you flustered, but no one even noticed — at least that’s what you thought.

“I know it’s in here.” You rummaged through his dirty clothes hamper — any other time that would’ve gross you out, going through a grown mans laundry, but your favorite black bra, was in there and you needed to wash it, you were going out on Saturday and you needed it — it made your tits look the best.

“Excuse me.” A voice made you jump turning around. “Shit jeno.” You sighed, calming down. “You scared me.” He lifted his eyebrows in confusion. “I scared you?” He said. “You’re in my room, going through my dirty laundry and I scared you?” He laughed amused.

“Your laundry?” You said, standing fully up. “I thought this was jaemins, it was near his beds.” You said. “Because his bed is closer to the door where I had it because I was gonna wash them later.” He pointed to the closet. “his is in the closet.” You wanted to shrivel up and die. “I'm so sorry.” You quickly put the stuff that fell out, putting it back by the door.

“It’s okay.” He said, sitting his gym bag down. You opened the closet, where his hamper was. “Oh.” You bent down going through, huffing once you realized it wasn’t I there either. “I has to be in here.” You whined.

Jeno couldn’t help it — he is only a man, and you were wearing those shorts that made your ass look so good, he couldn’t help but stare, his cock hardening in his gym shorts. “how was the gym?” You asked as you went through the hamper. “Good.” You didn’t hear the subtle change in his voice.

He was slowly losing it, the way you kept having a conversation with him, with your ass basically in his face, if he looked hard — which he already was, but if he looked harder, he could see the outline of your pussy — you weren’t wearing any panties.

“Fuck.” He cursed, finally snapping. “You have to be doing this on purpose.” He said darkly. “huh?” You turned to him confused. “I mean what you’re looking for can’t be in there, the hamper isn’t that big and you reached the bottom already.” He said. “So you have to know what you’re doing.”

“Do-doing what?” You said , slowing backing up as he stalked you, his eyes low and full of lust. “showing that ass of yours off.” He backed you up against the wall. “I can see your pussy through these shorts.” You bit your lip. “I-im sorry.” You looked up at him your lashes.

He grabbed your jaw, forcing you to look up at him. “If I let you go this time will you owe me?” he smirked. “You still owe me for not telling haechan and renjun about you and jaemin.” He said. “should I tell him then? What about when you both did it again on the couch?” How did he know about that. “how did you- you might want to keep it under wraps, but jaemin loves to talk.” He said, his hands squeezing your waist — you whimpered.

“You know I was pretty pissed, finding both of you in that kitchen?” he said. “and when jaemin told me again I was livid.” He pressed his sweaty body against yours, his musky smell from the gym radiating off of him, it was your favorite smell on him. “Wh-why?” You stuttered, he smirked. “Because I wanted to be the one to taste that pussy first.”

You felt his words in your cunt, this was the second time one of your roommates was pressing you against a surface, confessing a dirty thoughts that they had of you. “You’re so hard.” You felt his hard on against your pelvis, twitching in shorts. “Yeah I am, cause of you baby, you gonna help me?”

You weren’t gonna pass this up — you weren’t dumb. “Yeah.” You said , he quickly grabbed your shorts, pushing them down  to your ankles. “No panties baby, you’re really looking to be fucked like a whore.” He tapped your thighs. “Jump.”

He grabbed both of your thighs , his cock was now sitting under your ass. “gonna stretch this pussy out.” He held your body in one arm, quickly undoing his shorts letting them fall to the ground. “Je-jeno please fuck me.” Your voice was whiny, your fingers locked around his neck.

He lifted you up, grabbing the base of his cock holding it as he sunk you down on it. “Sh-shit you’re so fucking tight.” He groaned. “So tiny , you’re pussy is struggling to take me.” You moaned, closing your eyes as he slowly sunk deeper and deeper into your wet cunt. “Of fuck! You’re so big.”

He finally bottomed out, his hand against the wall above your head as he calmed himself down. “Fu-fuck this pussy is gonna make me cum early.” He slowly began to move, his cock hitting all the right spots as he held you against the wall. “Oh my god.” You gasped.

He began to move faster, your head knocked against the wall. “fuck!” you screamed. “Baby, these walls are thin and anyone could walk into the apartment and hear you getting your pussy fucked open by me, unless you want haechan and renjun to know how much a whore you are, cause im pretty sure jaemin already knows, then I suggest you try and shut that pretty mouth of yours.”

His words made you clench around him. “Fu-fuck baby let up, or im gonna cum inside your pussy.” He groaned. “unless that’s what you want.” You moaned out, yanking at hair on his neck. “Pl-please.” You whimpered.

“Fu-fuck you want me to cum inside you?” he grunted, his hips snapped harder against you. “Breed this little cunt up.” He hummed, biting at your neck. “yes!” You screamed. “please cum inside me.” He groaned, his pelvis hitting your clit, along with his cocked continuously hitting your cervix. “Fuck im gonna cum.”

Before you could even warn him again, you came, he felt your cunt spasm around him. “Sh-shit.” He groaned, looking down where your bodies connected a white ring formed around his cock base. “Oh fuck, your pussy is magic -fuck- im gonna cum.” He moaned. “Fuck im cumming , im gonna cum.” He groaned, then you felt his cum leaking into  your womb.

“Shit.” He sighed. “Hold on.” He held you in his arms, sitting down with you in his lap, his cock still inside you. “im gonna pull out now.” You nodded , and his lifted you up, his soft cock slipping out of you. “That felt good.” You said. “Yeah?” He said, you nodded. “I need to shower now.” You got up, he held your arm. “You got it?”

You nodded, legs a little wobbly. “Do you need help?” He asked, your turned to him. “Are you really gonna help or do you want to have shower sex?” He smiled cheekily. “will you let me fuck you if I help you shower after?” You shook your head. “Fine.”

“Wait what were you even looking for?” He asked, taking his shirt off, throwing it in the hamper. “My black bra, im going out on Saturday and I need it.” You said. “The one that makes your tits look good.” You gave him a side eye. “Don’t look at me, of course I look at your tits.” He said, looking down. “Here it is.” He held it in his hand, throwing it in his hamper. “I'll wash it for you.”

“I better get my bra back lee jeno.”

You sat at your desk, finishing up the essay that stressed you out earlier in the week. “finally.” You finally hit the send button. “I hope your sisters husband has a horrible day, cause why are you going on maternity leave for her baby.” You pushed your glasses against your face. “Hey.” Jaemin knocked on the door. “Next time you fuck jeno, don’t leave your shorts in the room.” He tossed them on your bed.

“Thanks.” You said, it almost didn’t phase you showing him the computer. “Look I finished the essay.” You said. “From the other day?” he asked, you shook your head. “I guess my fingers really did wonders didn’t it.” You rolled your eyes. “get out of my room jaemin.” He smirked. “Im just saying , these fingers are magical, look how fast you finished that essay.” You picked up the plushie haechan gave you for your birthday about to chuck it at him, but he quickly shut the door.

“Dumbass.” You turned back to your computer, going over your syllabus for the upcoming week. Your door slowly creaked  open,  you thought it was jaemin, so you picked the toy up, your arm up ready to throw it. “Stop fucking around jaemin.” You threw the toy. “Jaemin?” you swiveled around in the chair, facing the person. “Was he just in here or something? Why are you calling me jaemin?”

“Oh shit haechan my bad, jaemin came to return something to me , and he was fucking around so I had to kick him out my room.” You quickly explained , he walked into your room, you noticed him stumble a bit — he was drunk. “I thought he was fucking around at my door.”

He hummed sitting on your bed, the toy in his hand, his cheeks a dusty red from the alcohol. “Did you have fun with mark and Johnny tonight?” he nodded, you hated when he was quiet, it seemed uncanny. “I did, but it was ruined.” He said. “Ruined?” you questioned. “How was it ruined?”

“I figured out I must be the problem.” He said. “What do you mean hyuck?” You turned in your chair facing him. “I might bit be as witty as jaemin or as strong as jeno or even as smart as renjun, but I thought I at least had some good qualities.” He said, picking at the hair of the toy.

“donghyuck what are you ta– oh.” It finally it you. “Shit, how did you find out?” You said. “I heard jaemin talking about it when I walked into the house.” He said, finally looking at you. “Are you upset?” He scoffed, smiling to himself. “Did you fuck renjun?” You looked at him weird. “no.”

“Good, I refuse to lose to renjun.” He said. “Why are you in a one sided competition with renjun, he hardly comes out of his room?” You said. “Because you don’t see it, but I do, I am man, I saw that jeno and jaemin wanted to fuck you and look what happened.” You rolled your eyes. “You’re deranged, renjun doesn’t want to fuck me.”

“well im not missing my chance and letting him win.” He said, sinking to his knees. “W-what are you doing?” You asked , as he crawled to you. “What does it look like?” He tapped your legs. “Im gonna eat you out.”

He pulled your legs apart, you were only in a oversized shirt, and some underwear. “H-haechan.” You covered your clothed heat. You’re drunk.” He scoffed. “I'm fully aware about what I want, and what I want is to eat your pussy.”

He moved your hand. “Fuck, you smell so good.” He inhaled. “Can’t wait to eat you out.” You chewed on your bottom lip. “hyuck, you’re drunk, you need to sleep.” You said, but he wasn’t listen. “Please, I really want to.” He looked up you, a look in his eyes. “Please.”

He kissed at your thighs. “See I am fully aware.” He kissed your clothed cunt, you sighed, your hands flying to his hair. “You taste so good.” He said licking your folds. “Let me take your panties off and get a full taste.” He said, his voice sounded so breathy, almost like a whimper — it turned you on even more. “that’s all I want, you don’t have to do anything in return.”

“Fu-fuck okay.” You moaned, he smiled kissing your thighs once again. “thank you.” He quickly grabbed the waistband of your panties, you lifted your hips — holding on to the arms of the chair as the air from your aircon hit your cunt. “So pretty.” He said, dipping his head back into your thighs.

“Fuck , such a pretty pussy.” He licked your now exposed folds. “sh-shit haechan.” He sloppily made out with your cunt. “it feels so good, doing so good.” Your praise went straight to his cock, his cock twitched against his pants, he hummed against your cunt. “fu-fucking good boy.”

You tugged at his hair with one hand, holding the arm of the chair, pushing him deeper and deeper into your cunt. “Hyuck, fuck!” You yelped. “Fuck im gonna cum.” He pulled away, his lips and bottom lip covered in your juices — his eyes completely blown. “Please cum.” His fingers strung at your clit, he looked up at you. “I want you to cum in my mouth.” He said. “Please I want it.”

“Fuck im cumming.” He put his mouth back on your cunt, your legs tightened around his head, cumming — haechan catching all of it, getting even more intoxicated. “Haechan.” You whined as he cleaned up his mess, pulling away. “Did I do good?”

You ran your hand through his messy hair. “yes, you did.” He smiley like a fool. “You like being called good boy" You smirked. “Are you- are you a sub.” He pinched your thigh, you hissed, tugging at his hair. “im not a sub.” He said. “Just being called good boy by you turns me on.”

“So it’s just me?” You smirked, he could hear the condescending tone. “If you tell anybody then I’ll deny.” He said. “Too bad the entire fucking apartment heard it, keep it down.” Jeno stood in the door. “and I still got to fuck her first.” He closed the door. “now you have to let me fuck you.”

“Haechan get the fuck out my room.”

“You are right.” Jaemin ogled your bust. “Huh?” You said sitting in the front seat of the car, renjun driving since he was the only sensible one. “Your tits do look good in that bra.” Renjun looked at the boy through the mirror — he wasn’t dumb, he knew what was going on, he seen the changes happening, the sexual tension that was constantly lingering in air when you were around — it kind of made him jealous.

Renjun had always thought you were pretty , he was newer to the apartment, but he was constantly nervous whenever he tried to talk to you — often opting to stay to himself in his room. “Stop looking at my tits jaemin.” You said, turning around where the three boys were. “be on your best behaviors, no getting sloppy drunk, im not dragging you home.” You said, but they weren’t paying attention, you shook head turning around.

“My tits seem more important.” You said to yourself — renjun slammed on the breaks, quickly putting his arm out to stop you from  hitting your head on the dashboard, the guys in the back not so much. “Shit im sorry I thought I saw a cat in road.” Renjun said, as the guys in the back moaned and groaned in pain.

You turned to him, where he was smiling to himself. “We’re here anyway.” You said, as he parked the car. “Go drink it off, not too much though.” You said, climbing out the car. “I swear he did that on purpose.” You heard haechan mumble as you all walked into the bar where your other friends waited. “Thank you.” You turned to renjun. “F-for what.” He smiled, you laughed. “Don’t mention it.” He followed behind the guys where Johnny and mark were.

“What!?” Your friends looked at you with jaws dropped. “All of them?” jinhae asked. “well not renjun.” you said taking your sip of your drink. “but yes.” You said. “And they all know about it?” You nodded. “I mean they’ve all seemly walked in or found out in someway.” You said. “And they’re okay with that?”

“Do they really have a choice, im not really looking for a relationship and they can easily stop if they want, im not going to them for it.” You shrugged. “Wow you lucky bitch.” Dayhun said. “We can barely find a guy who can find the clit, and here you are getting good dick by 3 guys who actually want to fuck you.” You turned to where they were, all of them looking directly at you. “Hi.” Haechan waved beaming, jeno slapping the back of his head. You turned around laughing at them.

“Are you a loser?” Jeno slapped the back of the boys head. “Stop waving.” The boy rubbed the back of his head. “Will you guys stop hitting me, i am in pain!” He shrieked, Johnny  and mark caught on to the tension. “What the fuck is going on with you guys?” Johnny said. “There’s this air around all of you guys, and I can’t tell if it’s hostility or- it’s sexual hostility.” Renjun spoke up.

“Sexual hostility?” Mark questioned. “Why?” Renjun got up to get himself another drink while they explained to the two boys. “Hey.” You stood at the bar. “Hey.” He smiled, ordering his drink. “Are they drunk yet?” You asked. “Not yet give it another 20 minutes, we’ll be dragging them out of the bar.” You shook your head. “Great.” You said, the bartender returning with both of your drinks. “here for her drink too.”

“Thank you, you didn’t have to.” he held his hand up. “I wanted to, go have fun with your friends.” He said, turning to make his way back to the boys. “What were you guys talking about?” jaemin asked. “nothing I just bought her a drink.”

“what?” Johnny smirked. “You fucked her too, lucky bastard.” Renjun rolled his eye. “No im not fucking her.” He said. “you mean they’re all fucking her, but not you.” Mark said with wide eyes. “Like is this voluntary or does she find something wrong with you?” Renjun cursed at the boys as they busted out into laughter. “I’m leaving all of you here watch, you bastards I hope you all get an std and won’t be able to have sex at all.”

And of course you had to end up dragging haechan out of the bar — jaemin and jeno dragging their bodies behind, stumbling. “Stupid fuckers who can’t hold your drinks.” Renjun held the door open as you dropped Haechans body in the back seat, letting them all crawl into the back. “Thank you love.” Haechan slurred, you shut the door climbing into the passengers seat— renjun into the drivers.

The ride home was nothing the sorts of good, jeno and jaemin arguing drunkenly about random shit, and haechan dry heaving complaining about having to throw up. “junie think you can speed up this car, before I take the wheel and crash it.” He nodded, pressing on the gas.

You guys finally got back to the apartment, renjun dragging haechan by his collar. “Be more gentle, im sick.” He whined. “And who’s fault is that, renjun opened the door to haechans room, pushing him inside closing the door.

“Hey yn, come.” Jaemin slurred. “Let’s go in your room.” He smirked. “If think you’re getting fucked tonight think again.” You took his hand off your shoulder. “go to sleep and sober up.” You said, he pouted. “Jeno, lets cuddle.” You shook your head, watching jeno push at the boy. “No you have a boner, im not cuddling with you like that.” He said , you closed the door huffing. “see why I don’t go out with them often?”

Renjun stood up against the wall. “This will be last time I go out with them two.” You said, walking into the kitchen, renjun followed behind. “Here.” You reached into the fridge pulling out two beers. “For your help in getting them to bed.”

He took the can from you, you opened yours taking a sip. “I think staying home is way better anyway, my feet are killing me and this bra is uncomfortable.” You bent over taking your shoes off, giving renjun a  perfect shot of your boobs. He took a sip of his drink, trying to look away.

“Don’t wear things that make you uncomfortable.” He said, you smiled. “look at you being all caring, this is the most you’ve said to me in a week, I was certain you hated me.” You walked into the living room sitting down on the couch. “I don’ hate you.” He said.

“Could’ve fooled me.” You said. “I don’t really, Im just nervous.” He said, you cocked your head to the side. “Nervous?” You questioned. “why are you nervous?” He said too much , he sat the beer down. “Maybe the drinks from the bar and that beer is too much.” He felt the heat rising to his face. “Im talking too much.”

You chuckled, he smiled before chuckling too. “No tell me why are you nervous?” You said, putting your hand on his thigh — he knew you meant it in a comforting way, but his cock clearly didn’t get the memo, twitching against his jeans. “W-well because you’re you.”

“Im me?” You questioned, he nodded. “You’re pretty and smart and you don’t care about what people think and you're hot.” He covered his mouth, he swears he’ll never drink around you again. “fuck im an idiot.” He said. “No it’s cute, you’re cute.”

You hissed again, the pain in your shoulder increasing. “it’s time to give this bra up.” You sighed, rubbing your shoulder. “Let me." He said. “Oh you don’t have to, once I go to my room it will be off.” You said, but he stopped you.  “im good at these things, trust me.” He said. “fine.”

You turned around, your back was facing him. He moved your hair to the side, bringing his hands to your tender shoulders, rubbing — you sighed as he magically worked on your shoulders. “Fuck that feels good.” You whispered.

He was bit his lip, but you sounded so pretty, your moans going straight to his cock. “You have like magic fingers or something.” He hummed, sliding your bra down your shoulder, your neck fully on display — ready to be kissed.

“You feel better?” He said you nodded. “You’re a god send.” You said, his hands lingered on your neck. “Renjun.” You were about to turn around and question him, when you felt his lips against your neck. “Im sorry.” He whispered. “I just don’t think I can handle myself anymore.” he left little kisses along your shoulder blades, nipping lightly making you shiver. You turned around, slamming your lips against his.

You climbed into his lap, unbuttoning his shirt — reaching behind undoing your bra. “fuck you’re so pretty.” He groaned, you sat directly on his cock. “m'so hard right now.” He groaned, you grinded against him. “fuck, please don’t tease me.”

You got up, he undid his pants lifting his hips up, leaving them at his ankles. You lift under your skirt, pulling your panties down, climbing back into his lap, you grabbed the base of his cock, sinking down on it. “shit.” He sighed as you sat down fully on his cock. “Fuck you’re so tight.” You moaned out, holding his shoulders for support.

“Y-you’re so big.” He groaned. “Fu-fuck yn, please move.” You began to move your hips, up and down on his cock — he held your hips, guiding you. “your cunt feels so good.” He groaned, throwing his head back in pleasure, he felt like he was in heaven, the way your cunt fluttered around him, squeezing his cock beautifully. “Oh fuck -fuck- im gonna cum.” He groaned. “Im not wearing a condom, get up, im gonna cum.”

But you don’t listen, you keep riding him. “Fuck, yn please.” He groaned, trying to hold off. You tug at his hair, whispering in his ear. “Fuck, please just cum.” You moaned. “Please im gonna cum.” He cursed, fuck you were killing him. “Fuck!” He groaned, shooting his load into your cunt, triggering your own orgasm. “Sh-shit renjun!”

Your legs trembled as you rode out your high. “god your beautiful.” He pulled you into a kiss — out of all of them he was the only one to kiss you.

You both later went to bed, and you didn’t wake up until the next morning when you heard them fussing in the kitchen, you groaning as you stomped into the kitchen. “What the fuck is going on?” You yelled. “Where is the coffee? I need coffee.” Haechan groaned.

“And that’s why you’re raging early in the damn morning.” You opened the cabinet, slamming it. “Why so loud?”  Jaemin rubbing his temples. “Im pissed.” You sat down at the table. “Why did renjun not make you cum?” You eyes shot open. “Are you people just waiting by for the next time I fuck one of you?” You said.

“I did make her cum.” Renjun walked out of the room, his bag on his back — seemingly the only one with his life together. “You could’ve too had you not been drunk out of  your mind.” He said, jeno and jaemin snickered on the side.

“I want to smack that smirk off his face.” Haechan grumbled, as renjun walked out of the apartment satisfied. “Don’t get all pouty, you’re still my good boy.” You teased. “Yah, I said don’t talk about that outside of the bedroom.” He said. “Wait does that mean I was the best?”

“Yn don’t answer that.” Jeno said, jaemin agreed. “please don’t.” You turned to the other boy who was waiting. “Answer it , I can take it.” He said. “You can’t bitch about it.” Jaemin scoffed. “He’s gonna do that anyway.”

“Just answer it.” He said, “no you weren’t the best at fucking me.” He frowned. “We told you.” Jeno said. “Are you serious? How could you be so cruel and say that?” He whined. “Be calm.” You said. “You didn’t even let me finish.” He flagged you off. “I don’t want to hear it.” He said.

“Was it jaemin?” Jeno asked. “No.” Jaemin didn’t seem so surprised. “I guess I gotta keep trying.” He said. “That’s the spirit.”

“Then who is it?” Haechan spoke up. “renjun or jeno?” he questioned. “if you say renjun im gonna kill myself.” You shook your head. “well if would’ve let me finish, you would’ve known that you and jaemin weren’t even in the race.” You said. “Why, are you that biased?” He argued.

“No dumbass because you two didn’t actually fuck me.”

©️LUVYENI

[wokelander]

SOMEBUNNY LOVES YOU !

ft. leon s. kennedy x gn!reader

tags. hybrids, owner leon, slight coercion, cunnilingus..i hate that word, pussyjob, slight suicidal mention.. hybrids are treats like pets, they have more animal instinct, reader is nonverbal, gn but good boy is used :3

note. commission for @aizawas-dryeye !!! SPROUT I HOPE U LIKE THIS IM SORRY IT TOOK SO FUCKING LONG!!! hopefully there r no mistakes 😭 but if there r ignore them… i changed the plot a lot bc i really like hybrids and i think there r so many fun ways to use them butttt i ended up w this i hope u like it!! if u would like a comm :3 pls dm me! feedback always appreciated <3 this is older leon i think… di and onwards

Leon leaves the office late, but Hunnigan leaves later. She’s wound tighter than a nun’s pussy—Pussy, not asshole, everybody knows butt stuff doesn’t count. He wonders if she ever goes home.

The last time he did see Hunnigan outside of the office space was a month ago, they ran into each other at the grocery store and it doesn’t matter how long you know her, it still feels like bumping into a teacher in public. She looked hot with her hair down and her glasses off, but Leon kept that to himself like the good, decent man he is trying his best to be.

“You sure you don’t want a ride home?” He asks her as he pats himself down. Keys. Phone. Wallet. Gun. “The rain is getting pretty bad.”

“I still have work to do,” Hunnigan brushes him off, she doesn't even lift her gaze from the pile of paperwork.

“Okay, well, your last chance is going, I’m going, and I’m gone,” Leon supplies very obnoxiously as he waltzes past Helena’s empty desk to caress the edge of Hunnigan’s like it’s a really nice ass.

“You can do that quietly, Leon.” He hears when he steps out into the hall.

The rain is so heavy it patters loudly against his jacket—This is vintage fucking leather, but bringing an umbrella with you is just so uncool. The only one Leon has laying around is the one Ashley left at his place and it’s polka dot. He wouldn’t be caught dead in polka dots.

It happens as he’s walking past glass-fronted buildings, revolving doors and every hostile architecture strategy in the book. It used to be the President cracking down on the homeless crisis, not in the way you’d expect of course, but now it’s to ward off stray hybrids. Foxes mainly. Culling is unethical, TerraSave insists.

The occasional alley cat is nothing new, but bunnies? That’s a new one. Bunnies are spoiled little things. He’s only ever heard of show bunnies. Ones that get pampered and decorated like wedding cakes, taught how to jump through hoops so they can get a pretty sash to show off to all their bunny friends.

You tug at his jeans, curled up on the pavement like a fast food wrapper. From under your shirt you produce a muddied teddy bear and wave it around.

“Oh,” Leon says, and then he looks around like someone might catch him bending down to take a closer look at you, “hey there, little one.”

A flash of irritation wrinkles your face, it passes quicker than a lightning bolt. You’re wearing ratty house slippers, he notices as you thump your foot, shoving the teddy into his face once more.

You squeak, agitated by his inability to understand hand signals and bunny noises and twitching ears. Leon crouches down so the two of you are at eye level, and that was a mistake—A really, really big fucking mistake.

He’s always had a soft spot for small creatures with big, watery eyes.

(Sherry, Ashley, Manuela, a stray cat he took in for a couple of months before that left him too, and more recently Rebecca.)

“Fuck, okay, alright,” Leon curses into the open air, his ankles click when he stands up, god, he is getting old. He offers you his hand.

Your initial hesitancy wanes when he smiles at you as kindly as he can smile. No teeth ‘cause what if you think he wants to eat you?

“It’s not a long walk,” Leon tells you, and for a hybrid with such big ears, you don’t seem to understand him, blinking at him stupidly as you trip over yourself in an attempt to match his pace. He slows down, and then when he notices you flinching at every car that whizzes past, Leon shifts so he’s walking next to the road instead.

“Yeah, okay, just—Wait there, yeah?” He sits you down on the couch when the two of you get to his place, shaking rain water off his phone as he moves into the kitchen. It’s not like you can understand him, but if you’re just playing dumb and you really do understand, Leon doesn’t want to hurt your feelings or anything.

Ashley answers after the first ring.

“Hellooo?” Her voice is more nasal over the phone, his ears tingle.

“Hi, Ashley, uh—“

“Hi, Leon, oh my god, it’s been, like, forever!” Usually, he would entertain her a little because Ashley has only ever meant well, but you’re sitting there lost and soaked to the bone on his couch.

“Yeah, I know, I’ve been been busy—“

“You always say that, are you still in D.C by the way?” She’s talking over loud music and muffled voices and laughter.

“Yeah, I’m in D.C. still, wouldn’t go anywhere else—Are you still in Michigan, Ashley?” Leon knows she has a property in Grosse Pointe, more importantly that she has a hutch full of bunnies, a start-up, her father said.

“No, Leon, I left months ago— I told you that already, I messaged you, can you not just open my messages?” She demands, not harshly, rather imploringly. “I’m in Miami right now actually.” She adds a moment later, her pink lipstick likely rubbed off on the straw in her Mai Tai.

“I do read them,” Leon insists, but he does not, “I got a bad memory, but, uh, okay—Ashley, the bunnies do you have those?”

“No, that got shut down, like, when I left, Leon—It was your friend, the redhead?” Ashley huffs, he can see her pouting at him through the phone. “She shut me down, her company did, like, Terrorist something?”

“TerraSave.” He corrects.

“Yeah, Terrasave! They shut me down!” She doesn’t sound half as upset as she should be. She seems to be amused more than anything.

“Why?”

“Funny story actually,” she laughs, “the bunnies got sick super quick, I mean, Leon, bunnies get sick super fast, they also fuck like a lot—“ She says that word in a hushed voice. “Anyway, they kept making noise and my neighbours complained, and it turns out you need a licence to breed bunnies, I didn’t know that?”

“Holy fuck, Ashley, are you—“ He shakes his head, doesn’t even bother to try and fathom what goes on in that empty head of hers.

“Yeah, so, they told me if I didn’t get them to a local shelter on time they’d press charges against me, something about their rights? But, like, Leon, I heard that shelters can kill them if it gets overpopulated.”

“Right..?” He says, not liking where this is going.

“So, the night before my flight I just let them go.” She says breezily.

“Oh my god, Ashley.”

“Why were you asking?”

“Nothing, just, nothing, I’ll talk to you later, okay?” Before she can pull him back in with her absolute ridiculousness, Leon hangs up.

What the fuck is he supposed to make of that?

Leon frets in the kitchen for a few minutes, rubbing his hands over his face, scratching his chin, biting his nails, tosses a few things into the floor. By the time he’s done, it looks like the room was picked up and shaken.

He re-enters the lounge, smile taut like a stretched rubber band. You’re sitting right where he left you, swinging your legs absentmindedly, threadbare teddy sat between your thighs. “I guess it’s just you and me for a while, little one.”

A night turns into two nights into a week into a fortnight into a regular part of life. Caring for you becomes a part of Leon’s routine. It comes to him as naturally as holding a gun does.

Hybrid shelters in D.C. are overpopulated, pet shops only take cats and dogs, only he has space for you.

It's lucky you’re easy to love. Fluffy-eared and cuddly and sweet like a stuffed toy. You curl up in his lap and love him in the way no one else has.

You stay.

Mostly because you don’t have the tact to get up and leave. These four walls are your home now and you don’t know any better. You don’t know what’s past the front door. All you know is that it was cold out there and that it is warm and safe inside with Leon. He feeds you, bathes you, loves you—Why would you leave?

There used to be this coldness inside of Leon, an empty space so vast it felt as if galaxies had been compressed and placed inside his chest cavity. A black hole in place of a beating heart. Ada’s restless ghost on his hip like the gun in his holster, and then nothing but himself.

And now you’re here, loving him, making his heart flutter faster than your lashes when you want a treat and you’re so… You don’t doubt Leon, his word is law and it’s not making things easy on him. It’s hard to hold back when you wander around with his boxers on or in your birthday suit or in nothing but those silk shirts he saves for work events.

(He could tell you to bend over, he could ask you to open your legs, and you would do it, but he can’t do that to you.)

You’re a distraction he welcomes into his life, but holy shit, this is hard. Trying to be decent is hard. Vicodin killed his libido, but he took one look at your thighs and the way they squished when you sat down and his dick came to life. You did the impossible, you’re literally Freudian fucking Frankenstein and it sucks. He can’t do that to you. He can’t do that to you. He will not do that to you. He will not fuck this up.

When he gives you a bath, Leon tries to make it all very impersonal. Like he’s a nurse and you’re a patient, that only brings to mind all those nights he’s spent watching sexy nurses fuck men out of bed rest. When you prance over to him naked as the day you were born, Leon closes his eyes, counts to ten, and shifts his jeans slightly. When you’re playing on the ground, rolling around a brightly coloured ball, Leon does not look at the soft, wet spot between your thighs. He does not do that.

He will not do that.

“You seem happier lately,” his therapist notes delicately, he clicks his pen incessantly, it makes Leon’s ears buzz. He’s a man because Leon cannot keep his hands off the lady therapists. They’re usually older women, and that in itself is enough to get him clucking.

EAP bullshit, which by the way, is not a legal requirement—They only send nutcases to the thirteenth floor, and Leon apparently counts as one. Usually, he has a lot to say, a lot to complain about - the skyrocketing cafeteria prices, new recruits not laughing at his jokes, everything a therapist does not need to hear.

This time, he’s quiet, there’s no need to empty his mind when you’ve cleaned it out for him. It’s like you stuck a cotton swab up his nose and pulled the bad parts out of his brain. Just didn’t get to that sick, horndog part of it. Leon’s not sad anymore, more pent up, hard, turned on, aroused. All of that.

If he was a cop, he wouldn’t have to get a mental health check, he would just get a gun and go unmonitored, no one would worry about him killing himself or anything. Leon does get a shiny badge that gets him out of speeding tickets and to the front of the liquor store line though.

The session ends, he gets a message from Sherry as the door clicks shut behind him. Her flight is cancelled, she won’t be able to make it to lunch on Friday.

Before, this would’ve sent him to the nearest bar and Sherry would still be able to smell the liquor on him by the time they finally find another time to meet in the next month or so.

Leon has you now, so there’s no need to be sad. He goes home and is greeted by big eyes and your cotton puff tail and—You’re naked. Okay. That’s nice, it’s nice, he can’t lie. He would never oppose to seeing someone hot naked.

He also can’t pass up a good fuck.

You look like one hell of a good fuck.

Bunnies are, like, built for it. They’re like God’s gift to earth — organic sex dolls. Thighs and hips and ass. He can’t help it. Leon cannot help himself, and that is really an issue he should bring up with his therapist, but he spends his sessions chattering about things that won’t matter next week.

After placating you with pets and a twenty minute cuddle on the couch, shaking you off on the pretence that he’s gotta clean up after work, Leon sheds his clothes and tries to jerk off in the shower.

The cold water batters his back until he’s numb, like the day he found you, and then he spots your face peeking into the bathroom. Your nose twitches, taking in the scent of his body wash, padding closer and knocking on the steamed glass curiously.

Leon wipes it down with his hand, and he smiles at you tiredly, hopes you can’t see the blurred outline of his stupidly hard dick through the glass.

He makes out your figure through the steam, soft and plush and so fucking fuckable. His dick aches. God, he thinks he hears it whine like a kicked dog. Leon wants to touch himself, but he can’t when you’re right there, blinking at him with those eyes—Fucking blowjob eyes, man.

This isn’t right.

Don’t do it, you’re so fucking cracked, Kennedy—If you do this to them, you’ve got no fucking morals—

Leon steps out of that shower, dripping wet, his feet sinking into the bath mat. You chirp and press into him, little hands gliding over the protruding ropes of flesh that sweep over his back. You don’t know what they mean, but Leon always finds that you’re drawn to touching his scars, soothing any phantom pains.

“Fuck, baby,” he sighs, saddened that he has to do this to you, that he has to fuck the shit out of you, “just stay right there, okay?” His dick is leaking like crazy, the tip is wet and it’s pressed right up against your tummy.

If you notice, you don’t say a thing, but you never say a thing.

You just take it.

Shifting slightly, Leon angles his dick between your thighs, keeping you close to him under the guise of a hug. “Press ‘em together for me, sweetheart, a little tighter, little tighter—There we go, my good boy.”

Preening at his praise, you don’t seem very bothered by the cock that wets your slit with the sticky tip. Leon places a hand on the back of your head, bringing it to rest on his shoulder as he rocks back and forth, dick cushioned by your puffy pussy lips.

His body trembles, wrapped around you so tightly his embrace is crushing. You whine and squirm, wanting him to loosen his grip. Leon’s shaking hands find purchase on your hips instead, the tip of his cock bumps your clit and your floppy ears move so fast they almost hit him in the face.

Little by little, you begin to get it. Bunnies are sex-crazed little maniacs. Give a bunny the tip and they’ll take the whole cock. They are nature’s pocket pussy.

Each time Leon pushes his hips forward, in turn you push up on him, the two of you fall into rhythm, matching pace and panting quietly in the heat of Leon’s badly ventilated bathroom.

His cock jumps like he’s a fucking virgin, it’s so sudden, tip smushing against your clit in a nasty wet kiss, and you squeak, eyes wide like saucers, blunt nails digging into his shoulders.

“Sorry, baby, can you—“ Leon shudders, every nerve in his body alight, tingly as a weight settles in his gut. “C’mon, baby, that’s it atta boy.” He urges you onto your knees, cupping your cheek with one hand, keeping your chin up so he can spunk on your cute little face.

“You’re a good boy,” he says shakily, toes curling as his stomach muscles contract, dick twitching with each stroke, “you’re so good, baby.” That keeps you at bay, and you watch him from below with great fascination, running your hands up and down his thighs and driving him fucking insane.

The first dribble of his seed splats on your upper lip, you recoil and squeeze your eyes shut. Leon apologises under his breath as he palms his cock, wringing every last drop out of it. He doesn’t stop until his balls feel like the weight of the world is lifted off of them.

You blink up at him, mildly mortified, wildly confused and partly happy when he smiles down at you guiltily.

“Sorry, baby,” Leon sighs, pulling you up off the ground and wiping you down with a hand towel.

In response, your ears flick from side to side, flattened against your skull and your foot thumps stubbornly. You’re agitated. Maybe ‘cause of the facial, he thinks, but Leon notices that you’re shifting from foot to foot, knees going inwards as you squeeze your thighs together.

Oh. Right. He blue balled you. And pulled your ears a little too hard. God forbid he fucks you from behind, he might rip them right off your head.

Ushering you out of the bathroom - the steam was getting to his head - Leon lays you down on his bed, spreading your legs and placing gentle kisses up your inner thighs.

It’s ticklish so you squirm away from it, tail twitching and your body twisting. Leon splays a hand across your abdomen to keep you in place, keeping his eyes on you, on your curious face as you push up onto your elbows to watch him. Aw. Bunny’s first orgasm, what a treat you’re in for.

He likes going down on people, likes to watch himself in their eyes, likes watching himself make them feel good. Call him narcissistic, but it makes Leon feel better about himself. Like, yeah, he did that. Made them cum so hard their brains melted out of their ears.

“Settle down, baby.” Leon soothes you with a kiss to your mound, the soft fur is matted with his pre.

His kisses trail down your slit, then back up, lips smacking wetly on your twitching clit. Leon pulls the hood back with his thumb, rubbing away at your bud with the pad of his thumb until he frays your nerves. His tongue works its way into your slick hole, curling upwards, as far as it can go—And the whole time, all Leon’s thinking is, damn. He should’ve waited it out. Shouldn’t have lost his composure back there, god, this cunt is so tight he should’ve had a go at it.

Oh well, he has tomorrow, and the day after that, and a whole lifetime with you hopefully.

In a matter of minutes, you come undone and it might be the cutest thing Leon has ever seen. You’re the cutest thing he's ever seen, so this is fucking adorable. He wants to squeeze you until you burst, snap you in half like a popsicle. It washes over you like a wave, lapping at your curling toes and making its way up your body. Your thighs tense and snap shut around his head, Leon pushes them open with ease, and then your back bows off the bend and you let out the cutest little whimper and god.

Why did he wait so fucking long?

You liked this, you liked it a lot.

Leon finds that you can’t get enough of it. Insatiable. He can’t blame you, it’s in your genes, and tomorrow he is going to push his dick so far up into you, he’ll knock something out of place.

A letter drops through the letterbox a while later. It’s from Sherry. A postcard from wherever she is. She sends them often to placate him. It’s a vintage painting of a bunny in a bow, and in cursive font along the bottom it reads: Somebunny Loves you.

Leon smiles without even reading what she’s written, filing it away for a rainy day and slipping under the sheets where somebunny is waiting to love up on him.

[schoenht]

↳ dust of the stars in their eyes

character: lilia vanrouge

synopsis: cinderella au (the musical version)

a/n: TO MY BELOVEDEST @linabirb I HAVE FINISHED PART ONE OF YOUR LATE BDAY PRESENT </3 ILY LOTS AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY !!! I'LL BE WRITING PART TWO VERY SOON I'VE BEEN SUPER EXCITED TO WRITE THIS SINCE I'VE BEEN OVER THERE

No one truly understood the woes of being the prince with pressures of becoming the next king. All the kingly duties and having to uphold the kingly stature when Lilia Vanrouge only wanted to slide across halls in his socks with his advisors, who joined a lot of the time. The loss of himself when he thought too much about who he was. On the surface, he was the prince, but deep down? He couldn't fathom understanding himself past the fun times that he granted himself. Slaying dragons, sliding across the halls, that was what created a life supposedly worth living for him.

Today, however, did not follow the usual exciting schedule.

Kalim walked in with a scroll in his hand. "Your Majesticness, we have to fulfill your father's wishes!"

Lilia smiled, an elfish grin that made him look so innocent when it was not-so-secretly full of mischief. "Which wish? The one where you and Cater dangle me from the ceiling as we pretend to be thieves taking the crown?"

The white haired male knew exactly what he was talking about. Their plans were jubilant, if not occasionally lethal at times. But Lilia seemed to always get back up after falling from several feet high. After all, he was a fae and fae were known for their antics. Kalim shook his head, unfurling a ridiculously long scroll that only said a few words in bright green ink and outrageously enormous letters. "Lilia, get married NOW."

What a bunch of poppycock, Lilia thought. His father had always been protective of him since he was young, and somehow, he had also been trying to set him up with several princesses. The princess he used to be betrothed to when he was a small fae had escaped when she was just 10, deciding to be raised by nuns. He was stunned to find out that when he was born, he was already engaged for some sort of power. Afterwards, his father believed he could court someone on his own.

He could not.

Kalim scrambled to pick the long scroll up and made it into a pile as he glanced at the prince. "My lord? You must find someone."

The prince knew it was time. "What do you suggest?"

"I have an idea~!" The singsong voice of his other advisor came through the halls as he took a singular selfie of himself and made his phone disappear into his pocket. Lord Cater, who was somehow the wisest one amongst the three of them when it came to a situation such as this one, had one of those signature Cater beams, the ones that could relax anyone because he had a plan.

Curious, Lilia slightly leaned forward. "What is your idea?"

"We host a ball! And if you meet the person you like there, we did it, you can get married!"

"That seems a bit unorthodox--"

Cater didn't want to hear it and refused to. "Just think about it, Your Gracefulness, a romantic night sky, candles...maybe even some flames."

"Flames?"

"Of love, of course! Not pyrotechnics." Cater glanced at Kalim, shaking his head. "That means no fireworks, Kalim."

"Awww."

Lilia tilted his head a little. Perhaps it was a good idea to receive guests into his castle, to see who could potentially be the next person at his side to hold a crown on their head. It did not have to be something so overly dramatic as Cater was implying, yet Lilia liked to have that dramatic flair. And a ball was as dramatic one can get. Not to mention, it would slowly quell the murmurs of an uprising advocated by the impoverished individuals in his kingdom. He would feed them and ensure that they got a pleasant night. And so, he agreed.

With his permission, Cater was sent to the kingdom to make an announcement. The day was blistering hot, and yet the town was bustling. He could see people hurrying to get the best purchases in the market; children laughing as they kicked a bright green ball around on the gray cobblestones; couples occasionally stopping at the old and unstable fountain in the middle of the square to share the toss of a coin, hushed wishes made about their relationship lasting until the finality of time; vendors shouting at the top of their lungs their best offers on their wares, hoping to outdo their fellow sellers and perhaps obtain a bit more money this time around.

A flash of excitement came over him and he slowly rose on a barrel full of old clothes, according to the label. The bell in his hand commanded for attention from the people and sure enough, the eyes of the public were on him. "The prince is giving a ball! The prince is giving a ball! Hear ye, hear ye, a ball and that's not all! His Royal Highness, Lilia Vanrouge, is giving a ball!"

The repetition of his words quickly got the attention of several individuals, murmuring and as if Cater was a magnet, they were drawn to him to listen further. "He's giving a ball?" "Impossible, the prince has never given a ball in his lifetime." "Oh, shut it, I want to hear!" "I can't see!"

The ginger grinned, knowing he had the attention of more people and as a crowd formed, he knew he had one shot at this. For Lilia and above all, for his paycheck. And his friendship with Lilia, of course. Clearing his throat, he spoke with regality as he brought out shiny, crisp cream envelopes with the famous wax seal on it. Everyone knew it was the royal seal. "His Royal Highness, Lilia Vanrouge, has this decree: To attend the ball, all one requires is an invitation and suitably fashionable attire, and the prince will choose someone from the ball to be his future partner. That means anyone can be the next royal."

In the crowd, swallowed up by other excited people, you listened with intent, eyes filled with a wistfulness to be able to join such a celebration with high stakes. Living in your position was not easy and perhaps, with luck, you could be the one chosen for the place at Prince Lilia's side. Your thoughts been filled with wishes and wants that had replaced your previous ones. Now there was one that was at the center of it all: you wished you were one of the lucky people with an invitation to the ball.

The crowd dispersed and it left you alone in the square as the vendors packed up to go home after a long day of work. You sat on the fountain, careful not to sit in the one crack that made it more unstable, daydreaming about what it would be like to be in the royal palace. You sigh softly as you talk out loud, dreaming up scenarios of what would happen. But you know it wouldn't and your voice trails off.

Out of nowhere comes the old man that listens to you speak all the time, speaking his gibberish. "All the wishes in the world are poppycock and twaddle!"

"Oh, Crazy Sam, are you mocking me with your gibberish?"

"Yes. All the dreamers in the world are dizzy in the noodle!" The man grinned, his magenta eyes hiding a secret as he listens to your wish about wanting to see the prince in person, to talk to him about what life in his kingdom was really like. With a hum, he teases, "And then to have him fall in love with you?"

You shake your head. No. You didn't want that for you, you wanted the prince to realize that his kingdom was a place that needed to be fixed as efficiently as possible. "Why did you come to visit me?"

"I just knew I would find in the same fountain, in the same part, on the cliff of a foolish dream."

For once, Crazy Sam wasn't crazy. He was right and you agreed begrudgingly. "Maybe I am being foolish."

"Then be foolish with me. What would you dream of?" His smile was reminiscent to that of someone who was the messenger for a surprise party. When he heard your dream of getting an invitation to the ball, he pulled out a cream colored envelope. It was a bit ripped from being run over in the stampede of the crowd as they left. "Here. There's an invitation. It isn't perfect, just go. What else would you dream of?"

Your heart lifted in hope as you spoke about silks and such for your outfit that you so desired for. But then you got realistic. "How would I get to the ball?"

He smiled. "See that pumpkin over there? I'll turn it into a golden carriage."

"And horses?"

"Those mice in that cage." He nodded at the mice trapped in a cage, almost a metaphor for your life was. "And a fox as a footman and a raccoon as a driver."

You could almost burst out laughing. This was so ridiculous and improbable. "In order to do that, you'd have to be a fairy godmother. Or godfather."

Crazy Sam raised an eyebrow and suddenly it felt as if the energy shifted between you both. In the same way a magical girl transformation would happen, it seemed like Sam glowed for a second and he changed from an old man with a hunched back to a man with a top hat that could stand up straight and dance. He had a cane in his hand, markings all around him and eyes that no longer hid their mischief and whimsy. Sam had hidden this secret from you all along. He laughed, doing a small turn. "Much better, don't you think?"

Your jaw was on the floor. You had just seen one of your only friends go from an old person into what seemed to be a magical being. "Sam! Are you...really my fairy godfother?"

Sam kept a beam on his face. "But of course! Actually, I'm everyone's fairy godfather, but you're the only one who has treated me with kindness and generosity. Now, I must make all the dreams we talked about come true."

"But that's so improbable, implausible! You could even say that it's impossible!"

With a regal huff, Sam shook his head, spinning his cane in his hand as he led you away from the town square into the edge of the woods. "Impossible? For a pumpkin to become a carriage? Four white mice becoming horses! Ha! The world is full of fools, who believe too much in their strict, invulnerable rules. Impossible things keep happening every day."

Truly, your eyes were deceiving you. You stared at Sam, thinking that he was out of his mind completely. "That's out of the question!"

"Is it?"

You nodded your head, your hands moving in front of you as if trying to emphasize your point. "Unattainable."

"Hmm, do you believe that?"

"Unimaginable..."

"Unimaginable..." Sam grinned as he parroted what you said.

You sputtered, "But you were just a beggar man a couple of moments ago and now you're my fairy godfather? Does that mean that anything is obtainable?"

"Of course." The man listened to you as you spoke, elated at the fact that maybe, just maybe, he could fix everything. He could fix all that caused you troubles. "No, but you can. You can make it all happen."

"I couldn't!" At your words, Sam mocked you a bit, "I couldn't, it's all so impossible--No, it isn't. Look at me, look at your invitation. I'll even give you proof."

His cane glowed as transformations began, suitable for that of a princess. The silliness of earlier became a reality as your dreams seemed to be closer and closer in your grasp. The pumpkin became a gorgeous white carriage, made out of a material that seemed to be made out of porcelain. It was ornate, decorated with gold linings and shining jewels on the swirling wheels. Under the sunset, it shimmered in the dazzling lotus pinks and poppy oranges of the sky.

Next were the raccoon and fox. They turned into grown men, with no idea as to how they could only walk on their hind feet and had fingers with actual human skin. They slowly stumbled to their positions by the carriage as commanded by the person who made them into something else. Another tap of the floor by Sam's cane and out popped the mice into horses, snuffling at the floor.

Finally, he turned to you. He caused you to float and spin and soon, you were transformed into the most gorgeous attire that you could ever even think of wearing. A gasp fell from your lips. "It's the most beautiful outfit I've ever seen in the land!"

He smiled not unkindly. "I will have to warn you, however, this spell only lasts until midnight. By that time, everything will go back to its normal state of being and so will you. Now go, go with the promise of possibility!"

With your heart beating faster and faster at the prospect of going to the ball that seemed as though any laws abiding by the fabric of the universe could now be ripped to shreds, your carriage raced through the night. The world seemed to hold its breath, as if waiting for you to finally step out and complete the puzzle of the idyllic night that was to come. Perhaps it was the joy of the moment that made you forget the midnight rule for now. After all, the plush fabric beneath you was more luxurious than any material belonging to your household. It was a dream that one would never wish to wake up from.

Arriving at the palace, it seemed as though you had stepped into another universe entirely. The palace was looming over you with its bright white ivory walls, shiny glass windows that prohibited a speck of dust to even land on it, perfectly polished doors with guards in armor, checking every guest for invitations as they walked in. Your carriage pulled itself aside, allowing you to step down from it. As the last person to arrive, it would be quite difficult to not notice you.

And that is exactly what happened to Lilia when he merely glimpsed at you, only to do a double take. In all his years of living, he had never seen a star up close, and yet here you were, dazzling without even attempting. It was a bit cute to him to see that you were standoffish, perhaps a bit shy. He made a choice to introduce himself as he walked over, bowing. "Good evening. I am Prince Lilia. How do you do?"

You couldn't believe your ears. The prince himself had walked over to you, even though you were late and completely alone. You also bowed as you introduced yourself to him. You studied him for a second and you saw that for a prince, he did not appear like one. Black hair with pink highlights in an asymmetrical haircut with tiny wisps on the sides of his head, reminding you of bat wings. Those red eyes full of roguery and the smile that showed who he was beyond being a prince.

"May I have this dance?" Lilia asked as a new soft ballad was being played in the background.

Taking his extended hand, you began to dance with him. It was awkward at first since you were not a professional in ballroom dancing and it was not something that was taught to you in your household. Waltzing through the ballroom quietly, but it was somehow a comfortable silence as you swayed back and forth with him. He didn't mind when you stepped on his shoes at all, he was fond of your inexperience. Oh, the thrill of possibly finding someone that he would adore, that made him refuse to come down to Earth again.

The waltz transformed into something slightly more upbeat, involving everyone. You did not know any of this synchronized dancing, only following through the motions. It was certainly overwhelming. Lilia saw that and he swiftly weaved through the other dancers to get to you, taking you away from everyone else. You may be in the center, but no one else would lay a hand on you as long as the prince decided that he would dance with you and you alone. The melody began to slow down slightly and began once again.

Time seemed to move slowly with him before you were matching the pace of the upbeat melody. It was quickening with every note until it reached its crescendo and suddenly it felt like you were floating. You were floating when you looked down at the floor. Lilia winked a bit. "I decided to switch it up this time instead of me floating."

He twirled with you around the room, everyone else enjoying their similar dances with their own partners as the music blared loudly from the area where the musicians remained. It began to quiet down before rising up again in its notes. As Lilia stared at you, he only thought that angels had to be real, for they lived in your eyes. He shook his head, getting that out of his head and smiling once more at you. "I would love to continue dancing with you, if you'd allow it."

"Oh, I would love to--"

Suddenly, everything snapped to reality as you took a brief look at the massive clock behind him. With a gasp, you realized it was late. You needed to go. "I am so sorry, but I have to go."

His surprise made you land on the floor as you ran through the crowd, a good amount of them a bit outraged and peeved at this inconvenience. "Wait! Please!"

You didn't listen. You made it up the stairs, breathing heavily and then moved to run downstairs. Your shoe fell from you but you ignored it. It was 3 minutes to midnight. If you didn't race out of there, everyone would find out who you were, especially your stepmother. It would not be a pretty sight to see.

As you hurried and pushed past Lilia's cries for you to stop in your tracks, the footman opened the door instantly and when you dove in, the carriage was off. What once seemed like a smooth ride on the way to the castle only seemed like a bumpy, hectic ride back home.

Meanwhile, Lilia was at the top of the stairs, watching you go. "How will I find you?!"

Then, there was the answer: the shoe.

He stared down at it and back up at the sky. The stars seemed to dim without you serving as their foreground.

The prince moved inside to his office, where Kalim and Cater were. "We need to find this person, immediately!"

They looked at each other before Cater spoke up, "Sir, that is a shoe."

"It will guide me to them!"

Kalim tilted his head but believed it. "Okay. Well, we can hold a banquet next!"

Lilia's eyes went wide. "Yes. Yes! That is what we will do tomorrow night. I will find them as soon as possible and we will do what my father said so that he can stop spinning in his grave. I am positive he has burrowed his way halfway to the inner core of the planet."

With a plan in mind, he knew what he would have to do next. He wouldn't stop until he found a satisfying ending. And it helped that Kalim and Cater were most definitely encouraging his delusions of grandeur, even if they were not delusions to him. They would become a reality.

[solomons-finest-rum]

“As The Crow Flies” (Alfie Solomons x fem!Reader) — PART 2

SUMMARY — By all accounts Anna Gray died in Australia and had no business standing in Alfie’s living room, nor calling the man “darling” for that matter. But there you were, identical to the picture they took when they shipped you off to the colonies.

AUTHOR’S NOTE — Thank you to everyone for words of encouragement and for waiting for the update 💗💗💗💗💗 Goodness, that was one hefty break. I hope the next part won't take me as much, but I can't exactly promise it will be fast, sorry about that. I think this is a part 2 out of 3 and then I'll do an epilogue, but that is still more of a draft than a plan.

WORD COUNT — 2,708

Masterlist

Tommy sat beside Polly in utter silence, watching the cigarette slowly burn between her fingers to the point where the heat nearly touched the skin. Tommy observed it with morbid fascination because it was something other to do than to stay with his own thoughts. And he would not dare to speak to Polly first—not after the news he had brought her this evening.

The clock chiming in the hall let them know it was nearly three o’clock in the morning, but still neither of them moved. The fire went out long ago and Tommy wondered in his solemn silence if Polly would accept a blanket.

“How could you tell me she was dead?” Polly suddenly asked the question Tommy had been dreading for the past hour and then she flicked the cigarette butt straight on the carpet. 

Tommy dared to look her in the eye then and immediately regretted that decision when he was met with nothing but hurt and steel-like anger.

“They told me she was, Pol. I went to the parish myself, saw the documents myself,” Tommy replied calmly.

That signature state of calm didn’t come to him as quickly as it used to, he noticed. These days it required more and more effort; or perhaps the things he chose to do got worse with time.

“Fucking nuns,” Polly hissed and shook her head. “You should have pressed them harder! Should’ve made them talk!”

“Then what, hm? Threaten them? Put a gun to their head, eh? There was nothing else they would have told me, Pol, they didn’t know.”

“I don’t care what! We shouldn’t have just abandoned her like that. Now look what happened, she’s a hostage with another fucking monster, just ready to put his paws on her whenever he pleases!” Polly stood up abruptly and Tommy wondered for a moment if perhaps he shouldn’t slip some laudanum in her drink. She looked frenzied, her hair in disarray and eyes bloodshot. The way Tommy saw it, she was half-ready to walk to Margate on foot and kill Alfie herself.

“Polly,” Tommy moved to stand in front of her just in case she had any ideas. He put both hands on her shoulders to reassure her. “Polly, look at me. Alfie Solomons, yeah? Alfie Solomons is just about the last man you’d find putting his hands on anybody that didn’t ask for it, all right? I swear this much.”

“Jesus, I don’t care what you swear anymore, Tommy!” Polly scoffed and tore herself away. “The man is insane, you said so yourself—many times in fact! We all remember what he did to Arthur! Or have you forgotten?!”

“No,” Tommy replied stiffly. “Perhaps he’s insane, but he’s not cruel to women, Polly, never has been. He doesn’t have the reputation.”

“Well, neither do you, that doesn’t mean one wife’s not buried, the other’s escaped!”

Though Tommy would never admit it, that hurt immensely. That was the problem with people who loved him, he supposed. They knew exactly where to hit to draw the most blood. He willed his face to return to the stony mask it was before.

“But your daughter is not buried and she isn’t gone,” he said. “She’s alive, Pol, I saw her with my own two eyes. She’s alive and we can get her back.”

“Well, that’s not exactly possible now, is it?” she scoffed and turned her gaze back to the fireplace as if some ghostly apparition beckoned her to it. “You said she didn’t know you, I bet that fucking animal has her caged.”

“That’s not true. I saw her, Pol, she looked well.” Tommy felt like stressing that might help. “She has your eyes and your wit and I swear she cooks somethin’ awful, but she’s no prisoner. Alfie is…” He hesitated then, because it wasn’t exactly a comfortable thought to consider. “She’s got him wrapped around her little finger, Pol. You can’t say no to her, eh? Just like I can’t exactly argue with you neither.”

That brought Polly back, even if just to glare at her nephew with fury.

“Pol, I swore to you once I’d bring your children home and I haven’t changed my mind.” Tommy took her hand in his and to his relief this time Polly didn’t pull away. 

“I don’t think Alfie harmed her,” he insisted. “I don’t think she’d let him. Polly, she looked tough. Hardened by life. She’s a woman grown, Pol, and I know she can take care of herself. You said so yourself, eh? It’s grandfather’s gift, reading people. Well, I read her tonight and I know Alfie, too. Something happened to her, that much’s clear, but there’s nothin’ evil happenin’ to her in that house.”

That seemed to satisfy his aunt because she finally took a deep breath that actually made Tommy feel like he could breath himself.

“Why would he tell you to lie to me, Tommy?”

“How do you mean?”

“Why would he think you wouldn’t tell me? That you’d play his game.”

“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “But I know what he wants in return and to be honest his plan wasn’t as delirious as I’d take him for.”

“I don’t care what you discussed with that man, that’s of little consequence,” Polly scoffed. “We are going to get her and we are going to get rid of him once and for all, Thomas, because no one fucks with the Peaky fuckin’ Blinders and no one fucks with the family! Do you hear me?!”

“I hear you.”

“Good. Now get up!”

“So we’re goin’ today?”

“Today!”

Tommy nodded and gently navigated her back into the armchair. He rang the bell for the maid. In the agitated state Polly’s house was currently in, Tommy was sure the servants weren’t really sleeping.

“And get Michael,” she ordered. “I don’t care what that peroxide tramp says about it, he’s coming with us.”

Alfie stood on the porch and smoked his pipe. He let you squeeze his arm in anger while trying to sneak concerned glances in your general direction. Tired of being treated like a spooked horse, you glared at him until he stopped with all the concern. You were tougher than you looked and you would very much appreciate it if Alfie finally admitted it.

“You alright?” Alfie asked you for what must have been the twentieth time and you nodded stiffly instead of a reply.

“Darlin’, I mean it, all right, ‘cause if you ain’t tryin’ to make me bloody worried then you’re doin’ a splendid job regardless, yeah?”

“Shut up.”

“Right, that’s just fuckin’ uncalled for, that…”

“No. Someone’s coming.”

You pointed then to the faint shapes on the horizon, which, judging by the noise, must have been the Shelby Bentleys.

“Get the binoculars, Alfie.” 

“I’ll get the fuckin’ shotgun is what I’ll get.”

“Alfie.”

“I’ll do as I damn well please in my own house, woman!”

“So your brilliant means of operation is just bullets, is that it? What the hell did you expect, that Tommy would just listen to you?”

There was a clear measure of challenge in your words and all you two did then was just size each other up, trying to see who would call the bluff first. Finally, your husband grumbled his best catalogue of swear words and brought you the binoculars you asked for. 

“It’s the Shelbys,” you confirmed.

“Like clockwork, that lot,” Alfie scoffed. “You tell them one thing, they go the opposite fuckin’ direction.”

“Some clock that’d be,” you chuckled. “We knew they’d come. That’s why we’re here.”

“Don’t get smart with me.”

The pipe now abandoned, Alfie checked the barrel of his favourite handgun and reassured himself with the number. The only problem was the Shelby threat looming on the horizon and what looked like three cars, no doubt packed to the brim with Tommy’s henchmen.

“And you’re certain he will help us?” you asked.

“‘Course. Like I said before, right, Tommy’s nothin’ if not reliable.”

“That’s quite generous coming from you.”

“Just ‘cause he shot me doesn’t mean we ain’t kin now.”

“I am many things, dearest, but a Shelby isn’t one of them.”

“Ah, well, too bad. And too late to call the cavalry off, I reckon. If ya changed your mind…”

“That’s not what I meant.” It was your time to scoff. “These people are not my family. You are.”

On a rare occasion when Alfie Solomons found himself something close to emotional, three black Bentleys finally arrived at the quaint Margate cottage. You instinctively grabbed your husband’s arm again. He didn’t flinch, not even when you dug your nails into the skin, hard enough to draw blood.

“Right, gentlemen! And lady. What a lovely surprise, innit.” Alfie beckoned with his other hand, waving the gun about and leaving very little doubt as to the quickness of change in his intentions were the Shelbys not to play along. “Let me simply say: shalom… All right. Welcome. Yeah, that is the message for today, or so one might hope.”

What would undoubtedly be another inspired monologue had to wait, however. As soon as Tommy escorted Polly out of the car and her eyes met her daughter’s, Polly’s knees gave out. Tommy and Arthur caught her just in time and held her up on both sides.

“Anna!” Polly cried. “Oh dear God, it’s really you! Anna!”

You stood still like a statue, at which point even your husband turned to look at you with a mix of concern and fascination. You let go of his arm and focused on Tommy.

“Mr. Shelby. You brought an army this time. Am I to expect a shootout?”

As cold and unmoved as Tommy tried to be, it proved to be hard with a sobbing woman on his arm.

“Or am I to understand you’re here to kidnap me?” you pressed. “Please don’t say my chicken was that spectacular, I won’t believe it.”

“Anna.” Polly squeezed Tommy’s arm and took a step forward. Alfie uncocked his gun. You sighed and wished he hadn’t, since the entire Shelby ensemble now followed with the same.

“What the fuck is the matter with you, you fools! Put the bloody guns down!” Polly seethed and marched towards the house with a newfound purpose in her step. “Anna. Come down from there. You’re coming home with us.”

You looked at the woman you knew was your mother, though now only by name. Your heart didn’t know her and your head was too preoccupied to care.

“That might pose an issue,” you answered. “Because I am home.”

The next person that got out of the car, however, seemed to finally make you shake off your stony demeanour. You couldn’t quite help it, because his face was the first you could actually say was known to you.

“Michael!” you whispered and then rushed down from the porch before anyone could stop you. “Oh dear God, you’re alive!”

You fell into your brother’s steady embrace and though the force of it nearly made him stumble, he held you firmly and wouldn’t let go—not even if the devil himself tried to claim you both again. 

The tearful reunion was so quiet that no one apart from you and Michael could know what words were exchanged. While the Shelbys weren’t exactly the type to interrupt, you could tell that Alfie was out of patience. 

“Are we just about finished, then?” he inquired. “Forgive the interruption, yeah, but it’s gettin’ li’l too chilly for my taste.”

Polly took that opportunity to point her gun directly at Alfie’s head.

“Now then, madam,” Alfie chuckled and stood his ground, though he didn’t raise the gun he was holding. “I’d only ask ya to aim better than your nephew, all right, ‘cause I can’t exactly take no more of this.” He pointed to the injured side of his face. “Once was enough, yeah, so if you’re certain that’s what ya wanna do, I won’t stop ya.”

“Shut your mouth,” Polly hissed. “You shut your mouth!”

“Polly.” Tommy took a step towards them. His voice was full of warning and he ordered his men to stand down with a single wave of his hand. “Polly, think about what we’re doin’ here, all right? We came to get your daughter,” he turned to point at you, who now looked toward her husband with a horrified expression. “She’s safe now, Polly, we can take her home. There’s no need for violence, Pol, not today.”

“Like hell you will!” you protested. “Can you stop talking about me like I’m not even here?! No one’s taking me anywhere.”

“Now then, Tommy,” Alfie sighed. “There I was, mate, thinkin’ we had an understandin’, you an’ I. After all these years of friendship, right, you come to my house, guns blazin’, and with your lovely aunt no less, all in pursuit of justice I can’t exactly give, mate, ‘cause I ain’t the one who took Anna away in the first place. So…”

To everyone’s surprise Alfie turned his back to Polly and opened the front door as casually as one might when having a gun pointed at you turns into something of a daily occurrence. 

“Might I offer you a drink then, uh, Polly, is it? Right, lemme just say that, yeah, I ain’t exactly one for close family ties, you see, that’s just not somethin’ I was brought up with…”

Alfie’s voice disappeared somewhat as he walked further into the house, completely ignoring the chaos on the porch. You tried to rush back towards the house and stomped on Michael’s foot with all your might when he wouldn’t let you go. Michael roared with pain and you took your chance to run, but this time it was Arthur who stopped you and who, all things considered, presented a much sturdier guard than your brother.

“You let me through,” you hissed. 

“Nah, I don’t think so, luv. You’re comin’ with us.”

“Like hell I am!”

Polly, still stunned, turned towards her children and lowered her gun, creating an opportunity for Tommy to catch up with her and take it out of her hands.

“Not today,” he repeated softly. “There’ll be time for vengeance and there’ll be time for justice. But not here, Pol, not now. Arthur, let Anna pass.”

Polly shook her head and spat on the bluish tiles of the porch, thoroughly worn out and bleached by the seaside air. Only then did she notice the curious mosaic right before the front door and the gentle arch forming the words “lethe”. 

“I’m not leaving without her, Tommy,” she warned.

“I know you’re not.”

Out of options and out of bullets, Polly crossed the threshold and she hoped the choice would truly erase the anguish from her memory—if only for a moment.

Alfie’s gambit must have been exactly that from the start, Tommy mused, because as soon as the rest of the Shelby clan entered the house, they were welcomed by the maid with a tea tray. Alfie, now comfortable in his usual armchair, gestured for his guests to sit. 

Judging by his calm and calculated demeanour, Tommy doubted him and his family had been so unexpected. In fact, he just about acknowledged he had let himself be manipulated not once but twice in what was perhaps the strangest forty-eight hours in a long time.

“Right, now, we don’t know each other well so I don’t know exactly what everyone drinks…” Alfie waved at the maid dismissively and she started to serve the tea as if it was any other ordinary occasion. “Feel free to peruse the bar if you so prefer, Tommy, right, but not you.” Alfie settled his only seeing eye on Arthur, though the elder Shelby brother didn’t seem as prone to anger as Alfie remembered. That was almost disappointing. 

You entered the house last, holding your brother’s hand. Michael smiled down at you fondly as if you hadn’t just caused him severe bodily harm. Tommy and Alfie both noted the scene, though neither exactly for the same reasons. Alfie looked just about done tolerating all that whispering between you and your brother and it seemed so was Tommy.

Though neither, exactly, for the same reasons.

“Right then,” Alfie announced. “Should we discuss the terms?”

[makiandcheese]

i wanna share the genshin impact ships i enjoy and why (mostly rarepairs)

Rosaria/Kaeya - undeniable trust and friendship turned romantic interest. though capable of forming a relationship, their occupation and circumstances prevent them from fully pursuing it. Even if all factors could ignite mutual interest, the fear of ruining the friendship they harbored would stand in the way. What's important in a lonesome city is the same stranger who is looking for the same comfort you seek. Frequent liar or not, he's quite the personality to have around.

Jean/Diluc - everyone says they are exes turned lovers however I view them as the failed chance at love. They are friends who knew each other since they were learning to walk type of friendship. The first love you never forget. If they were given the chance, they could say what they want to the other. "You look even better after you became a stranger to me, pretty woman"

Yelan/Ningguang - The what could've beens. similar to jealuc but in ninglan it's focus is more on the one-sided, unrequited type of love. (using Beiguang for this example) watching the one you love fall for someone you know she deserves hurts. It hurts because you know you could've been with her if not for your own issues. thankfully she will never know you love her since that love will die with you

Rosaria/Jean - oh god where do i begin with this. The "outcast" meets the city's beloved individual. For someone who feels they never belong, its confusing to have the city's hope make excuses to see you. Rosaria and Jean's relationship begins with jealousy due to the nun and the idol deaconess' relationship. What makes Barbara look at Rosaria the way Jean always wanted? Filled with concern and trust that only families have for one another. Giving that to a complete stranger is agonizing.

Lisa/Jean - coworkers to lovers <3. A workaholic learning the simplicities of life from the reliable, easygoing, gentle person. When she'd forget to take care of herself mentally, she'd be there. Unknowingly providing comfort with just her presence alone.

Beidou/Ningguang - Two people who rule and have a significant influence on the community. Bickering and arguing over the smallest things yet loving each other for the same reason. What makes these two so wonderful is the fact that they both witnessed each other overcome difficulties in their own manner. They both achieved goals that brought them together in some way. Competing with which one would make the other prouder.

Venti/Zhongli - centuries have gone and past, and yet home always had the same eyes and breeze. When it comes to gods, the only one they could consider as equal are the same immortals who suffer with them. Why does meeting each other again bring so much comfort and pain? How many friends did they watch come and go like sand through the wind? Thankfully, they can overcome these uncertainties together. Until they could no longer control the corrosion within them.

Surcrose/Rosaria - When your curiosity leads to people questioning your character, the person you gravitate towards is someone similar. Sucrose would have a lot on her mind and would desperately need someone to talk to. Rosaria always wanted to learn more about the world but never had the guts to say it out loud. The mutual silence between them could be a conversation. "I have something on my mind, but I have difficulties saying it" and "Take your time. No rush."

Kaeya/Albedo - Understanding your past from the product of the past can be an interesting combo. Kaeya and Albedo are two perspectives of the Khaenri’ahn existence. The truth is never black or white, in fact, the truth is always relative. Messing around with your coworker because of mutual origins grives a sense of comfort in the city where everyone knows everyone.

Ganyu/Keqing - coworker who has false impressions towards each other. A tender and careful love formed from the desire to protect their city. Patience is a virtue especially for Ganyu. However, with all the years she had lived, days with Keqing always felt like love personafied.

Xiao/Traveler - what cannot be may be. One's duties always hinder relationships, but there will always be someone stubborn enough to reach out. Someone once said that unnecessary suffering is not a proof of strength. Relying on others is difficult but if it's with the person they love, one could only hope that they're not a burden. Thankfully, they don't give a damn about your stubbornness and go out of their way to talk and spend time with you. Since you know that these times wouldn't last.

Ayaka/Yoimiya - The different lives we live shouldn't turn us into strangers. In a life where expectations are laid upon you, finding freedom and happiness incarnate is like grasping sunlight. Ayaka knows she has her duties but spending time with Yoimiya makes her forget the time. Grief and loss often isolate us from relationships (including socioeconomic circumstances). Thankfully the eternal shogun's antithesis stays by your side.

Itto/Sara - Our beliefs do not align, but if someone talks shit about the other. Someone will be getting punched or electrocuted. Being a Yokai in human society always leads to discrimination unless you are equipped with power and unimaginable influence. Seeing each other's most vulnerable sides in the most unexpected times always led to curiosity. Curiosity leading to interest. And interest leading to fondness.

Al Haitham/Kaveh - Unconventional ways of saying "i love you" almost always lead to someone's wrinkly forhead. If turning himself into Kaveh's personal screaming outlet would let him relax, Al haitham would gladly do it. What happened in the past has long gone, and what's left is to continue. Is it so difficult to let him love you?

Candace/Dehya - Every neighborhood child's first loves daring each other. Duty is always the priority. Traveling the world will come one day but not today. If that is someone's belief, then someone will bring the world to them. Even if it's small material gifts, its treasured dearly. Just make sure not to come home bruised and covered in wounds. Else a medicated scolding (and some kisses) would be perscribed by the village's resident guardian.

and that's all folks tell me what you think.

[brokebonewritings]

Bless Me, Father

Priest! Matt Murdock x afab! reader

Tags/Warnings: 18+, violence, smut, mention of religion, hurt/comfort

Summary: Seeking a priest for guidance. You just weren't expecting this priest to be an ex, and a vigilante.

Word Count: 4.2K

Navigation | Masterlist

A/N: This was written for a really dear friend of mine. I love them a lot, and I hope they love this story just as much! Pair this fic with A Question of Lust by Depeche Mode and Church by Chase Atlantic.

You walk into the church slowly as you think about what you would say. The cold bitter air pricks your nose, immediately warming as you step into the sanctuary. It’s been a long time since you have been here, though you feel comforted by the environment. Setting your bag and scarf on a pew, you walk towards the confessional booth and step inside quietly. You inhale and exhale before speaking to the priest on the other side.

“Bless me, father, for I have sinned.” You start. Hearing him shift in the booth next to you, you continue on. “It has been 3 months, and 15 days since my last confession.”

You continue to tell him about things you have done in the past few months. About things you feel are wrong, and how it makes you feel. How you felt shunned by your family for expressing your personal thoughts and interests. You begin to tear up as you finish speaking.

He sits for a moment before speaking. The air felt tight around you as you anticipated his voice.

“My child, there is no reason to weep.” His voice was soothing, much like a cup of hot chocolate. He continues. “What you are feeling about yourself is not wrong. You are on a journey of self discovery. Embrace it, and those who shun you will see the butterfly they mistook for a caterpillar. There is no penance for you today.”

You glance over at him, and catch a glimpse at the young priest. He looked stiff, as if he were a mannequin. You nod at his words and wipe the tears from your eyes. Stating the absolution, you thank him and step out of the booth. 

Lingering for a moment, you took in sight of the beautiful cathedral. Nothing felt more peaceful than the quietness of the church. A few nuns were staggered in the pews or kneeling at the altar. The smell of sweet incense flowed through the air.

Turning to look over your shoulder, you see the priest step out of the booth and turn his head in your direction. He smiles and makes his way towards you to walk you out.

“I haven’t seen you here in a long time, y/n” He starts, you can tell he was shifting uncomfortably.

“Yeah, it has been a while huh?” You avert your gaze to the wood flooring. “Not since our breakup” 

He winces at that comment. You didn’t have mal intent behind it. Just stating the fact. It had been a nasty one at that. He wanted to become a priest, and you wanted to have a family. Simple as that.

“Listen if you ever need to talk…” He sighs. “You know where you can find me.”

“Sure, sure. For godly insight I suppose?” You mutter. “Since when did Father Lantom step down?”

“About a month ago. I was appointed here personally.” Seeing the grip he held on his cane, you decided to take your leave. Not wanting to further the conversation before it got too awkward.

“I, uhm, have to head to work. Those court documents are not gonna write themselves, I guess.”

“Right. Well. Hopefully I will see you back again soon..” He said, giving a curt nod before you turn to leave. “And, God be with you, y/n”

“God be with you too, Father Murdock.”

“He WHAT?!”  Karen whispered in your shared office. She really was your closest friend so obviously you had to tell her.

“Right! So he was my ex from college which was so long ago, but god we were so in love.” You crossed your arms in defeat. “How could he look even better now?!”

“Oh no! You cannot go running back to that ‘used to be good’ feeling.” She stood and crossed to you. “Did you forget that, HE’S A FUCKING PRIEST.”

“I KNOW!” You huff. You were perfectly content without the knowledge of Matt actually achieving his dream. Sure it was extremely selfish of you to think, but he did break your heart. No wonder you hadn’t heard anyone talk about him, he basically fell off the face of the earth. Lost in thought, you hardly noticed when your boss approached your office.

“What’s up guys? What’s the hot gossip?”

You look up to see your boss, Foggy, leaning against the doorframe. Hardly a boss though, he liked to consider himself a friend to everyone in the office. 

“y/n wants to fuck a priest!” Karen casually said. You gasped loudly at her sudden statement, and stood up from your chair.

“I never said that!”

“Woah, didn’t see that one coming.” Foggy chuckled at the response. “Why a priest though?”

You roll your eyes as you lean against your desk. “It was a really long time ago okay? And he definitely wasn’t a priest then.”

Foggy cocks an eyebrow and looks at Karen. Who in return gives him a look.

“So what was he then?” Karen asks, looking back at you. You considered the question for a moment before sitting back down.

“Just a good catholic boy, I guess.” 

“You guess?” Foggy says suddenly.

“I mean, sure we had some fun.” You start quietly. “But we always found our way back to church on Sundays…”

“I thought you weren’t religious?” Karen asked curiously. You considered the question before answering.

“I’m not anymore. Not after how everyone made me feel after our breakup.” You turn back towards your desk to end the conversation. Foggy and Karen both shrugged at each other before going back to their own tasks.

Letting the tears fall silently from your eyes, you didn’t like when people watched you cry. Not that you liked to be emotional, but you didn’t want anyone to see you as weak.

The work day was long and strenuous. You worked quietly at your desk, only looking up to answer questions or find more paperwork.

Clients called and you helped to the best of your ability to answer questions, sending them to Foggy if you couldn’t. Until it was way past your time to head. You hadn’t realized it was dark outside. Turning around, you noticed Karen was also still working.

You gather your belongings and stand to leave. Giving Karen a quick hug, before heading out.

You walked quickly down the street after getting off the bus. Not that you were trying to act in fear, but you definitely knew that someone was following you down the street.

Hell's Kitchen was never the safest at night anyways. Working late was the worst, especially in cases that involved some sort of underground organization.

Turning down another block, you turn your head to see if the man is still following you. Of course he fucking was. What is the deal with men these days? Maybe you were overthinking it, and he just lived on the same street as you. Clearly you were too lost in your anxiety to not notice the second man coming from in front of you.

“Hey, pretty thing. Where are you rushing off too?” He says before grabbing your wrist. You gasp suddenly, trying to rip your hand from his grip.

“Please let go, I’m just trying to go home!” 

“Oh honey… Our boss would like to have a word with you.”

Without missing a beat, the man wraps his arm around your waist, and begins to pick you up. The kicking and punches you were throwing didn’t seem to phase him.  His other hand covered your mouth to muffle your screams.

That’s when you noticed a dark figure standing on top of the building nearest you. You prayed that it would help you. 

And just like that, your prayer was answered. Maybe. You watched as the figure jumped down into the alley way. Forgetting that for a moment, you continue to kick and flail your arms to deter the man. 

Of course there was a parking structure for these guys' convenience. You never understood how no one caught on to these things. While putting you into the car, you feel his body slamming against the door with force. Laying on the floor you scream as you see a man clad in a full white suit tower above you.

“Wait! Wait!” He puts his hands up in surrender “I’m a good guy I promise!”

Finally getting a full look at him, you realized you had never seen this hero before. Sure you’ve run into Spiderman multiple times, and even that Dr. Strange guy.

He stretches out his hand to help you up and you hesitantly take it. You narrow your eyes at him once you’re out of the car. The accent was not from around here. British. It was definitely British. “So who are you supposed to be?” You ask.

“Oh erm. Just call me Mr. Knight.” He starts and then continues with a bow. “It’s a little late to be walking around here, innit?”

You shrug and stand there awkwardly. Reaching for your satchel you finally realize it was missing. Turning back to the car you bend and reach around for it. Once you find it, you climb back out and turn to see that this “Mr. Knight” guy was gone and replaced with a scarier version of a mummy.

He sees the surprise on your face and the fear flash in your eyes. “Same guy. Don’t call me Mr. Knight though.”

The once crisp white suit had turned into a wrapped garment with a large crescent moon in the middle of his chest. It really did look like a superhero outfit.

“Stay right here. I need to get rid of these guys.”

You nodded and watched as both goons got back to their feet in a battle stance. The man in white pulled two crescent shaped blades from his chest, and waited for one of them to throw a punch. As they began their battle, you ran further back to avoid any debris flying around.

Turning your back against the violence, you didn’t want to see what was going to happen. Your eyes shut tight as you hear the gargled screams of your kidnappers. Once you determined it was all over you glance back up and see another figure standing in the dark parking structure.

Gasping loudly you trip over your own feet before falling backwards. You scramble back up and run over to the man who just saved you. He looked confused as to what you were frightened about. That was until he saw the figure. 

“If you know what’s good for you then you need to leave.” He said.

The figure in front of him growled. “I’m only here for her.”

Wait. You had seen this silhouette before. Sometimes as you walk down the street you would catch a glimpse of him. ‘The Devil of Hell's Kitchen’ they called him.

“It’s him.” You let out slowly. The man in white looked towards you, before you noticed the grip on his crescent weapons.

“Listen, guy, the lady is not interested in getting kidnapped tonight.” He said harshly. “You look like you don’t wanna die tonight either.”

“What makes you so sure you’re gonna kill me?” The figure taunted before taking a step forward. You look at this stranger with begging eyes. Hoping that you wouldn’t have to be in the middle of a hero battle. He sighed as he looked at you and then back at the devil.

“You asked for it pal.” He muttered before running towards the dark figure. Each fluid motion of his fists were dodged by the other man. You could tell that he was growing tired of the devil missing his punches.

He snarled loudly before yelling, “I’m tapping out!”

Suddenly the wraps disappeared and the white suit returned. The crescent shaped knives were replaced with a long bow staff. Breaking it in half, he readied himself for the devil’s next attack.

He was quickly met with a kick to his face and the sharp inhale really proved how hard the kick was. The next rounded kick was stopped by the chain attached to Mr. Knight’s staff. The devil flipped back as he untangled the chain from his ankle.

It was like lightning the way that Mr. Knight moved. He threw his hook up towards a pipe and went into a sprint. Swinging himself around so that he could end up on the other side of the other man. Failing as the devil grabbed hold of his forearm and slammed him on the ground.

The sound alone made your ears ring. You stayed behind the car door watching them fight. It was the only battle you have seen up close, and boy did it not fail to both excite you and make you feel fear.

Continuing with his motion, the devil begins to punch the hero into the cement. Over and over. Until finally there was a sudden stop of movement.

Mr. Knight held the devil’s fist, straining to keep it from making contact with his face once again. You noticed that the man in red looked up suddenly at you. His intense gaze made shivers go down your spine.

“Oi, wait a minute I know you!” Mr. Knight said suddenly. “Daredevil! It’s Us!”

‘Daredevil’ snapped his head back down to look at Mr. Knight and pulled his fist away.

“Steven?” His rough voice sent more shivers down your spine. The tone sounded vaguely familiar, like you had heard it somewhere before.

“Yeah mate!” 

The man in red stood up fully and held his hand out to help Steven up. You don’t understand fully how he didn’t recognize him, if you saw a suit that crisp you would have remembered immediately.

You stand surprised as the suit morphed back to the wrapped garment. It changed right in front of you, just like magic.

“Where’s your partner, Spector.” Daredevil asked. “You never go anywhere without them.”

He winced after the question. Something personal you supposed. “It’s the reason why I’m in America.” He leaves it at that.

Both men turn to look at you. You cower a bit not really knowing what they are about to do. The devil takes a step towards you, and you promptly take a step back. He holds up both his hands.

“I’m not here to hurt you.” He states. “I thought you were in danger.”

You narrow your eyes at him. “Yeah well, Sailor Moon beat you to it.”

“Hey!” The other hero said with offense in his voice.

You both turn to look at him. He hesitates a moment, most likely not going to say another word. How could you be meeting two heroes in one night? Well, not heroes, more like vigilantes it seemed like.

Clearing your throat, you looked around at the scene and wondered which lucky person would find that in the morning.

“This has been real fun, but I’d really like to go home and sleep.” You finally say. Daredevil and Mr. Knight both nod towards you as you start walking away.

“Let me walk you home.” A gruff voice says, turning to see Daredevil take a step towards you. It wasn’t a question, it was clearly a statement. “To make sure you get home safe.”

You shrug and walk towards the entrance of the parking structure. A voice calls from behind you both that makes you stop dead in your tracks.

“Hey Murdock, if you see my partner, give me a call…” Moonknight said with a hint of sadness in voice. You glance up at the vigilante beside you. Murdock. Matthew Murdock. The only Murdock you knew.

He reaches a hand up to touch your shoulder. Not believing what you had just heard, you flinch away.  “Matt?” You managed to choke out.

“I’m sorry.” He says gently. “Let’s just get you home.”

“No.” Tears pricking your eyes. “You need to tell me what’s going on.”

“Fine.” He says before starting to walk again. You follow close behind him. Street after street you managed to keep up with him. Seeing the church come into view you realize that he was taking you to his own sanctuary.

Matt opens the side gate to the cemetery and steps aside so you could enter first. You step inside and head to the bench you both sat at when you were younger. He lingers a bit by the gate before entering and following you deep into the graveyard.

Once you both are inside, and he makes sure the coast is clear, he takes off his mask. Setting it down next to you, you stare at it. You cannot actually believe that you were saved by Daredevil. Well sort of.

And to make it all worse, Daredevil was your ex. Your knight in shining armor was someone who completely broke your heart. How poetic. You look up at him as he paces.

“You do realize how sacrilegious this is, right?” Your comment definitely breaks the ice. The smile that tugs on the corner of his mouth is only slightly comforting.

“This started way before the priest thing.” He stops pacing and sits next to you. “While we were together actually.”

“You’re joking.” Your mouth gapes open. He stays silent. “Oh god. You’re serious.”

He grabs the mask before speaking up. “ It’s partially the reason why we broke up.”

“What?” You his through your teeth. Was this guy serious right now? “What do you mean it's partially the reason why we broke up? You said you wanted to pursue a life of Christ, Matt.” 

“I did! Didn’t I?!” He raised his voice. “I did what had to be done to protect you, y/n!”

You stood from the bench and put your hands over your ears. Not wanting to hear another word from his mouth.

“Okay what are you doing?” He asked.

“I don’t want to listen to you anymore!” You shout. “I mean do you even know how ridiculous that sounds!”

“I did it for you, y/n! I did all of this for you!”

Then there was silence. Not even the wind howled through the trees in that moment. Letting everything sink in, you felt your heart pounding against your chest. You bring your arms down in a folded position and stare at the man in front of you.

“I really was in love with you, Matt.”

“I’m still in love with you.” He stood as he confessed. “I think about you. Morning, Noon and Night.”

Air that was trapped in your lungs was released all at once. Like you have not been breathing for a whole year. You felt insane to think that this wasn’t some convoluted nightmare.

He took a step towards you, and you let him. Feeling like this had all happened for some divine reason, you let him take your hand. His glove was rough against your skin. You never broke your eye contact off of his face. Studying how his jaw tensed and untensed, or how his eyes always followed the sound of your voice.

“Please Matty.” You sniffle. “You broke my heart once. I can’t take it a second time.”

“I promise you, there won’t be a second time.” He says before leaning down and kissing you gently. It takes a moment for your brain to process what was happening. Once you realize it was in fact a real kiss, you kiss him back. Arms snaking their way around his neck and his around your waist.

The kiss becomes more hunger filled. You can tell you both were touch starved by the way your hands began to roam. His body was pressed into yours, and you could feel yourself getting more turned on every second.

“Sweetheart.” He says. “You smell so fucking good.”

You moan lightly against his lips. Taking his bottom lip between your teeth, you tug on it lightly earning yourself a low groan. The way it vibrated between both your chests went straight to your core.

“Matty. I need you.” You pant as you pull from him slightly. He cups your face with his hand and nods.

“I need you too, sweetheart.”

Rushing through the front door of the church, you kiss the man in front of you with an intense passion. You can’t remember the last time you were touched by a man. Let alone kissed by one. 

The way he grabs your waist with his gloved hands was addicting. You feel every desire and you’re sure that he could smell your arousal. You begin pushing him towards a pew before he turns you around and stops the motion altogether.

“Wait.” Hearing his voice startled you. “We should move to somewhere more private.”

“Where? The only other place is your office, and I’m not about to be bent over a desk, Matt.”

He raises an eyebrow and looks in thought. Whatever was going through his head made your heart start to race. Taking your arm, he leads you towards the confessional booth pulling off his suit, and your own clothes in the process.

Once he is satisfied with how naked the both of you are, he climbs inside. You follow behind him and once he makes himself comfortable in the seat, you straddle his lap.

Leaving a trail of marks down his neck, you feel the heat of his hard cock against your stomach. Moaning from the sensation you readjust yourself and begin to slide him into you. You hear the way his breath catches as your tight cunt passes over his cock.

It’s silent in the church, the only sounds being made were the moans coming from you and the priest you had underneath you. You can’t help but wonder if this was the wrong thing to be doing. Despite those thoughts, you continue to lewdly whimper and sink yourself onto him.

“Oh Father Murdock, how fucking holy art thou” You smirk as you hungrily kiss him.

This makes him groan against you as he thrusts himself deeper inside you. Gasping loudly, you feel his cock in the pit of your stomach. How he managed to thrust that far into you was an act of God. You look down to watch his hips thrust up into you, and you push down onto his cock. It was absolutely breathtaking knowing that he was doing this to you.

“Y/N, you are going to be the absolute death of me.” He gapes, “You feel like absolute heaven.”

“I’m not going to last much longer, Matty” You clench around his length as you begin to bounce more sloppily.

You hear a slight growl creep up from the back of his throat before he grabs your thighs and flips you both over. This new angle had you at a curve, which made each thrust more earth shattering.

“You don’t get to come until I allow it.” His voice echoed through the small booth. Chills were sent up your spine. Looking up at this holy man through your lust filled eyes, you try to focus on every feature of his face. The way his jaw was tensed, and how his eyebrows furrowed.

The intensity of each thrust sent you into an overstimulated galaxy. Seeing stars was typically not what you experience in times like these. Then again, you both had not had sex in a long while.

His panting mixed together with the groans falling from his lips was drawing you to your edge. The little voice in your head kept repeating itself. ‘You don’t get to come until I allow it.’. Fuck did that have an affect on you.

Your moans began to sound more high pitched as the overstimulation hit you. He lowers his head to your chest, taking a nipple into his mouth and sucking on it harshly. The gasp you let out pleased him even more.

He continued to suck before moving his mouth to your neck, leaving small bruises here and there. You could feel his thrusts start to slow down as if he were getting tired. 

“Pl- please, I'm begging you.” You whimper pathetically. 

He smirks before whispering in your ear. “On the count of three. Okay, sweetheart?” 

You nod as you groan loudly.

“One.”

His thrusts begin to pick up, as he fucks you harder than before.

“Two.” 

Your cunt starts to clench around his cock as you try to hold on for that third number.

“Three.”

You both moan and pant as you come together. The pulse of his cock as it releases his hot seed into you feels good against your quivering pussy. Never before have you experienced an orgasm this good.

Breathing finally steadying out, you stare up at him. The sweat running down his forehead was very prominent. You noticed a smile beginning to make his way onto his face. You smile as well.

“What?” You ask quietly.

“I think this is the most sacrilegious thing I have ever done.” He says back in a whisper. 

“Oh and not the vigilante thing?”

He shakes his head before pressing his forehead to yours. “How bout you tell me about what has your heart racing at the moment?” He says instead.

“I just didn’t think I would ever be doing this.”

“How about you share your confession then?” He says while giving you another small thrust making you moan.

“Oh…” You ponder. “Then, bless me, Father, for I have sinned.”

[copias-juicebox]

It‘s a Sin Chapter 5

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Pairing: Cardinal Copia x fem! Reader Words: 5886 Genre: romance, angst, smut, fluff, hurt/comfort, SLOWBURN Warnings: in this chap: angst and a little fluff Notes: It took me ages I know. I apologize. I hope you guys have not lost interest lol. I will try to update more often now. Special thanks to @fishwithtitz and @portaltothevoid without these two i couldn't have done this

The next day came around and you‘re dreadfully on your way to check in on the Cardinal. The events of the past day, still playing on your mind. You replayed them over and over trying to figure out what you could have done to upset him that much. As you neared the door to his chambers you tried to shake these thoughts out of your mind. It was of no use. You had neither the time nor energy to keep thinking about it too much. With each step you took, his door came closer.

You knocked on the door lightly and waited for an invitation in great anticipation. You were praying that he was in a better mood today. For some reason, yesterdays events and his cold behavior bothered you more than you cared to admit. You heard some rustling inside and a dull thump, followed by a string of italian curses. The door swung open and you stood face to face with the Cardinal. As his eyes landed on you his face fell a little and you felt a pang in your heart. You saw he tried to mask it but his eyes were a dead give away. This man wore his whole emotional state, displayed in his eyes. Apparently whatever it was you had done still stood between you.

„Ah Sorella uh.. come in sì.“ he beckoned you inside.

His obvious distaste to your presence made you self conscious and something in you broke. „Good morning Cardinal.. I uh don‘t want to bother you for too long. I just need to see how you‘re feeling today, is all.“ you hastily informed him to get out of his hair as fast as possible. You did not want to bother him more than your mere presence already did and you feared you‘d not be able to stay strong and your facade would break.

„Yes.. yes I am alright Sister.“ His eyes were going anywhere but your face and you decided to get this over with as fast as you could. It made little sense to you but it bothered you that he was too repelled to even look at you.

„Okay so have you felt any change? Any feelings of nausea or dizzyness? Change in temperature? Any sweating or freezing?“

„No.. no I am feeling like normal. Can I go back to work now?“ he tried to wave you off.

Normally you would have made a joke by now about how he has never once stopped to work but the vibe was off with him. You bit back your comment and smiled at him. „Yes if that is true you‘re officially allowed to resume your work now.“ you turned around and opened the door again. When you looked back behind your shoulder the Cardinal sat at his desk, concentrating on a bunch of papers in front of him.

„Good day to you Cardinal.“ With that you walked out the door and closed it behind you.

A few more days passed, nothing noteworthy has happened. You were spending more time around your new found friends of brothers and sisters of Sin. Today was about to be different: you were about to attend black mass today.

The first time you were officially present during a holy (or unholy) ceremony for years now. After you dropped out of school, you avoided going to church. Without your parents' presence or the nuns from the boarding school you finally had the freedom to live your life a little more like you wanted to. Attending the masses in the local church was never done on your own free will. You‘d learned not to tell anyone, but you dreaded it each time. It just never felt important to you. It didn‘t mean you were not a believer, but that would not be accepted. Since you were a child you never understood why you had to go to church all the time when it did nothing for you or anyone around you who might have needed help. You‘d rather live out your belief the way it made sense to you by helping wherever you could, by being kind to others and providing safety and stability to those who needed it. You just never understood why you it wasn‘t accepted to express being close to god in your own way, a way that worked for you that would give you the strength and hope you needed. But nothing seemed to please your parents or the nuns more than going to that tedious mass two times a week.

As you walked alongside your new found friends in the ministry, Hannah pulled you to the side, linking her arms with yours. „Hey so I know you‘re probably worried about mass, but trust me, it‘s not going to be as dark and devilish as you might imagine.“ She lowered her voice so the others wouldn‘t hear her. „We‘re not going to sacrifce any new borns to the goat you know.“ Hannah joked to lift the mood. She didn‘t plan to expose you to them since she was aware how sensitive you were when it came to your beliefs.

„Yeah, okay. I guess I‘ll be fine.“ You smiled back at her as you put your hand on top of hers reassuringly. You were anxious as you didn‘t know what to expect, but at the same time curious how different it would be from the Christian masses you used to attend.

When you entered the Chapel, your eyes widened as you took in the massive hall that revealed itself to you. With each step you took, you soaked in more of its grandeur.

The Chapel itself consisted of three naves. The smaller two adorning the imposing middle one. Wide high ripped vaults extend above round compound pillars with figurine capitals. The ceiling of the central arcade overthrowing the height of the two side naves further showcasing the celestial character of the building. On either side of the Chapel were three recesses occupied by various statues of satanic entities and candleholders. In the central room stood several pews for the Brothers and Sisters to sit during mass. At the head of the central ship, inside the big apse, sat the Altar upon an elevated pedestal. Behind the Altar a grand statue of Baphomet stood, looking over the masses right under the grand rosary window through which the bright moonlight shone. Some of it seeped through the beautifully rounded, adorned windows behind each of the niches, depicting different scenes of demonic interactions, horned beasts, serpents, goats and naked women. It was all very breathtaking and beautiful.

You kept walking with your group, and in horror, you noticed that they headed towards the first row next to the intricate embellished pulpit. You followed them as they all found their seats and you sat down between Hannah and Damien

After about ten minutes the chapel seemed to be full of Brothers and Sisters. On either side of the central pedastal, where something similar to a transept was located, stood a few pews which were reserved for the higher ranking members of the clergy. Papa Nihil, Sister Imperator, and Cardinal Copia sat down on the right side while the left side was occupied by Primo, Secondo, and another man you didn‘t know. Before mass started your gaze shifted over to Cardinal Copia’s and you found him already staring back at you. You wanted to nod at him, but just as you did so the lights went out. Your attention was taken now by Papa Terzo, who stepped on stage, wearing his papal robes. He started Black Mass by performing a song with his band. You had never once witnessed something like this. The ghouls also walked up to the stage with their instruments ready.

A soft guitar melody started to play and Terzo was getting in position in front of his microphone.

He began singing and your eyes were glued to his silhouette, drawn to his presence as your ears were blessed by his wonderful singing voice.

„ We‘re standing here by the abyss and the world is in flames. Two star-crossed lovers reaching out to the beast with many names.“

His eyes roamed over the crowd and when they found yours, he held your stare, a smirk playing on his lips as he winked at you. Hannah slapped your arm playfully and leaned in, „You‘re so lucky, you know that?“

Terzo’s performance took you off guard, in a pleasantly surprising way. It was already different from what you had known or expected. In your church, every mass was the same, always opened by the priest with a prayer, sometimes with a song performed together. Those kinds of openings you had always found dull and boring. Terzo‘s though, managed to take your breath away.

„ He is. He's the shining and the light without whom I cannot see.

And he is

Insurrection, he is spite, he's the force that made me be.“

You didn‘t know the song, but you had to admit, it was good and very catchy. You could imagine looking up that song later and listen to it again. You felt every single of his emotions he put into his performance and oddly enough you felt slightly closer to the entity he was singing about.

After the song had ended the mass continued very much like you remembered a typical mass from your childhood. Except that Terzo, who led you through the mass, was enthralling and enchanting. He had a special aura that drew everyone in, including you.

What surprised you most was the sermon. Never once did he praise or glorify any differences between people. Not between man and woman, not between children and adults.

When you were still young, you‘d attended every mass. Given that your father was the priest of the local church, it was expected of you. Even though it was your father holding mass you didn‘t like everything he had said. All throughout your time spent in the house of God, listening to your father preaching, you often found yourself questioning the very words that left his lips. Some irked you more than others, leading to your mind wandering off many times, trying to figure out what it could mean. Surely in our modern society we wouldn‘t hold back women from pursuing their dreams anymore, right? The older you got, the more you understood. And the more you understood, the more unnerved you became about it all.

All the roles you had been forced into in your life, the things you had to just accept because the old man at the top said it had always been like that and it was the only right and natural way of things. The very fact that you feared to deserve punishment and suffer endlessly burning in hell for violating a contract you were coerced into made you question if god was indeed loving or if he was even worth to be worshipped.

Terzo never once gave the impression that they handled things here like that. No, instead he kept encouraging everyone to be their best, treating everyone as equals, and live their lives as they wished. Saying you were amazed how different this church was from what you were told all of your life and how wrong the public's expectations were about these people, who called themselves satanists was drop dead remarkable.

For the last part a few sisters walked up to the altar. The smell of incense attacked your nostrils and you began to feel hot as if the room was on fire, sweat covering your skin and you felt like wearing too many layers of clothing. The obnoxious stench reminded you of your early experiences with the old senior priest in your childhood church. A set of flashbacks came crashing over you like waves. Just breathing was exhausting at this point. You needed more oxygen, but your lungs refused you. Panic started to rise in you as you felt dizzy, and your eyes widened, looking down to the ground, desperately trying to find a spot to focus on. Your hands gripped the fabric of your habit in an attempt to ground yourself to something. Your chest hurt and your face twisted in pain.

Whatever happened in front of you was drowned out until you felt a hand on your arm and a gentle, soothing deep voice next to your ear.

„Everything is gonna be alright don’t worry. You‘re safe here, nothing is going to happen. Breathe with me ok?“ He started to breathe in loudly and exhaled again. You tried to match his breathing and it helped you calm down a little.

As you gained a little more control, your head whipped to the side, looking back at Damien, who now had slowly and gently wrapped his arm around your waist, holding you steady.

„Shall we leave? Do you need some fresh air maybe?“ His voice rang out next to you and you barely nodded at him. He led you out of the Chapel, many eyes following you as he held you close to his body.

What you didn‘t see was the way the Cardinal's eyes had seen everything. He‘d been stealing glances at you throughout mass and he had studied your expressions very carefully since he was curious about your reactions to a satanic ritual. But that also meant he saw the moment your expression changed, how your body seemed to stiffen. He saw you were on the edge of a panic attack even before you knew it. There was nothing he could do about it, though. He was very close to just getting up and making his way over to you when he saw the man next to you noticed your change in demeanor and talked to you. Copia couldn‘t take his eyes of you and the brother who now wrapped his arm around you, hand resting on your hips. He didn‘t even realize but his hands formed into fists watching your body lean into his touch. The cardinal‘s disdainful eyes followed the two of you slowly walked out of the chapel.

As soon as you were outside and the fresh air hit your nostrils you took in a deep breath. Finally you could breathe again. You still hung in the arms of Damien who now pulled you over to a bench to sit down.

„That‘s it, breathe in and out. Let the fresh air fill up your lungs.“ He said as you both just sat there and he took your hands in his. He kept talking to you in a soft, soothing voice. You couldn't catch a word he said, but it didn't even matter because in the moment, his constant chatter was doing what it was supposed to.

Minutes passed and you slowly but steadily calmed down. „Thank you Damien.“

„Ah don‘t mention it. I‘m glad I could help. At least I hope you‘re feeling better now, yes?“ You were in a momentary daze as your eyes found his. His thumbs gently stroking over your palm definitely didn‘t affect you.

„Yes, I am much better. I don‘t know what just happened..“ You stared past his head, trying to make sense of the situation in the Chapel.

„You suffered a panic attack, love. I know what those look like. My mum used to have those often when I was a child. My dad abused her for many years and it just happened so many times. Usually because of a trigger.“

Your head snapped back, making eye contact with the man beside you. „I am so sorry.“ Now your hands were caressing his as you eyed him with concern.

„It‘s not your fault, so don‘t be sorry. If anyone should be sorry, it‘s me. I should have helped her sooner. I should have stopped my father.“

„But you were still a child? You couldn‘t have done anything.“

„I know but still I feel bad for it now.“

A soft breeze of fresh wind whistled around your head as a few beats of silence between the two of you passed.

„What happened to your mum and dad?“

„Well.. my uncle found out about it and made sure they divorced.“ Damien’s face was frowning now as he stared at his feet. He had never told anyone about this in the ministry but he was sure you needed to hear something personal. He was curious about you and your sudden panic attack. He wondered what your history was that you reacted like that.

„Glad to hear that. I hope she is doing better now?“ Your body moved slightly closer to him.

„I hope so. Wherever she might be now. She died a few years ago.“

Your eyes widened in horror. „Oh I.. Sorry.. I didn‘t mean to pry. And I‘m sorry for reminding you like this.“

„It‘s fine actually. I have made my peace with it.“ Damiens beautiful icy blue eyes looked back into yours as he smiled at you with a warm and heartfelt gaze, his hand squeezing yours reassuringly. Your eyes kept glancing back into his and you thought you were seeing a flicker of vulnerability in them.

He cleared his voice trying to switch the attention to you . „Now, do you wanna talk about what happened to you?“

Your gaze shifted towards the ground . „Ah well I don‘t know.. not really. I mean I don‘t know what happened. I just felt all weird and hot all of a sudden.“ You didn‘t want to let Damian know what had triggered your panic attack even though you knew what it was.

Before you could say anything more people swarmed out of the chapel. Black mass had finished and within seconds Hannah and her group were standing before you asking if you were feeling alright. After explaining that you just needed some fresh air since you were feeling dizzy and the occasional nurse joke („our nurse needs a nurse“), you laughed along with them and everyone was off to either fulfill their evening duties or to spend their time with one another.

You were about to head back to your room for now, as you‘d had enough of large groups of people, when a voice called your name.

It was Damien again.

„Hey wait..“ He jogged over to you. „I was gonna ask if you wanted to maybe go and have a drink?“ he stood before you, gazing down at you with his beautiful baby blue eyes, smiling handsomely back at you.

You smiled at him. These eyes… and oh, his smile— he looks like a devil. „Oh, ah thanks for the offer, maybe another time? I‘d rather lie down for a while and get to sleep early today.“

„Ah, sure, yes, I understand. Well, I‘ll take you up on it another day then. But let me walk you to your chambers at least.“ he replied politely, offering his arm for you.

Copia walked out of the chapel, eyes scanning over the sea of people, trying to find you. Just as he spotted you, he saw that brother jogging over to you again, conversing with you and making you smile. He watched your interaction with green eyes and the way you smiled at this tall man gave him the rest. He was fuming inside, his rage increasing with each second that your eyes were focused on the man in front of you. His mind was conjuring several insults to the man who‘s gained your attention far too long, his internal string of curses only interrupted by Terzo’s deep voice as he came to stand next to Copia, his line of sight following Copia’s.

„Ah fratello, geloso (jealous)?“

Copias head snapped back to look at Terzo. „Ah no brother. I am just worried..“ his voice trailed off towards the end of the sentence and his eyes landed on your figure once more.

„Worried your girl chooses to „take care“ of another man?“ Terzo raised one eyebrow, smiling cockily and teasing Copia, his fingers making air quotes to emphasize the words „take care“.

Copias face turned back to Terzo once more. The double meaning is not lost on the cardinal. „Wha.. no.. she.. she is not my girl. And she belongs to no one but herself.“ He hesitated for a moment. „And it is her job to take care of people you see.“ He chose to ignore Terzos' innuendo and stay on the innocent side of the conversation.

Terzos' laugh rumbled loud through the air. „Ah il mio fratellino è innamorato,“ he said, laying his gloved hand on Copia’s shoulder.

Copia blushed madly at his older brother's words. „Eh.. hehe. Nonsense… You.. argh nevermind. Excuse me, now, I have a lot of paperwork to finish before the end of the day.“ Copia stammered out and marched off towards his office, leaving a still laughing Terzo behind.

After Damien had escorted you to your room, you thanked him again for his help and his kindness. But now in the silence of your own chambers, your mind was louder than ever. As you got ready for bed, the events from black mass replayed over and over again. The smell of burnt incense hit your senses just as strongly as when it had happened earlier. The flashbacks had plagued you again. The flashbacks of Father Clifton screaming at the young girls, hitting them for laughing during mass. You and the others were still children — you didn‘t know what to do, so you endured his actions for far too long. Thinking about it now made your blood boil, and once again you felt yourself feel hot like a fire burned inside of you. How you wished to be an otherworldly entity sometimes. To be granted the power to judge over those who did others wrong. To condemn them in the name of God and make sure they got what they deserved.

A knock on your door pulled you back to reality, and you wondered who it could be at this hour. To your surprise, the Cardinal’s pair of eyes were there looking back at you when you opened the door.

His eyes widened for a moment as he saw your face. Something about you was different — you had such an imposing aura that it caught him off guard. The Cardinal was stunned for a moment, but he knew he had to say something. „S..sorella I am terribly sorry t..to be bothering you at this hour.“

You stared back at him, face flushed still from your internal rage but the flames inside of you seemed to die down as his words hit your ears. His mismatched eyes stared back at you as if to silently beg you to calm down before his eyes fell to the ground.

„Ah “ you cleared your throat. „Cardinal, what is it? Do you not feel well?“ your concerned expression replaced that of anger as you imagined him to have some health issues again. For why else would he appear at your door this late in the evening?

„I.. uh I was just thinking about black mass today and uh.. I… uh did you not feel well? Excuse me but I saw you leave the Chapel with that.. friend of yours. “ he said timidly, finally looking at you for more than just a second.

„Oh uhm.. “ you contemplated hard about telling him or not. He had been such a gentle soul to you, always helping and listening to you without judging you but your relationship appeared to have changed over the last few days. Maybe this was a way for you to regain his trust, so you decided to let him in figuratively and literally.

„Do you want to come inside maybe? I don‘t want you to stand out here in the hall all the time.“ you stepped aside, making room for him to enter.

„Ah.. Sì sì. Thank you, Sorella.“ the Cardinal stepped inside. His eyes roamed around the place as he took in your private quarters.

Watching him standing there like a lost puppy was kind of soothing to you, and you knew it wouldn't hurt to tell him. „Please sit. Would you like to drink something? I only have water, I'm afraid.“ you scratched the back of your neck.

„Water is fine. Thank you sorella.“

Taking a glass from the table you poured him some water out of the half empty bottle that stood on the table. You sat down next to him on the small couch that sat in the corner. You sighed as he gave you his full attention.

„Sorella.. I saw how stressed out you were.. I just wanted to make sure you‘re feeling ok.“

His hand briefly touched yours as you held out the glass to him and your eyes met for half a second before both of you pulled away, brushing it off. When you peered back at him you found his eyes never left your face and his own wore a worried expression.

You smiled at his words. „Thank you for your concern, Cardinal. I am alright now. I have to admit I was not during black mass though.. I.. I am not sure if I can tell you.“

His next action took you completely off guard as his gloved hand left his glass and reached out to your soft and delicate one that came to rest on the table next to his, his other still holding yours.

The cardinal sat up straight. „Sorella you can tell me anything, you know. It will help you to let it out, maybe. Only if you are comfortable, of course, I don‘t want to pressure you.“ He took the glass in his other hand and took a quick sip.

The way he was not pressuring you into telling him strongly impacted your decision that you truly wanted to tell him. Nevertheless it made you nervous, you shifted in your seat as you silently rehearsed the words in your mind. Ah fuck it you thought. With a visible gulp you summoned the courage to tell him.

„I was..“ your voice was wavering a little but you forced the end of your sentence out. „..actually having a panic attack.“ you informed him.

„Sorella, a panic attack? I am so sorry.. May I ask what happened?“ his thumb began rubbing gentle patterns over the back of your hand.

„I.. Yes. I think the incense has triggered something.. a memory..“ you trailed off.

„The incense? So you have a negative connotation to the smell of incense, is that it? Would you like to explain what exactly triggered that conditioning?“ His hands squeezed yours softly, encouragingly.

„I.. uh, yes.. It was our former pastor. He was a tyrant. He was very strict with me and the other girls when we were altar servers. He made our life a living hell…“ your voice faltered, still hesitant because he doesn‘t know of your catholic past and the fear of his distaste for finding out about it is still very present in you.

Copia nodded solemnly, his face painted with pure sympathy and kindness. "Cara, I'm so, so sorry. And I can imagine it was hard for you to tell me what happened just now. I am grateful you trust this old cardinal like that."

A beat passes.

"I hope that here in this church you will find the true meaning of faith and believe. Because I am sorry to say, but I don‘t think your former Church was a rightful one.“

Another breath of silence. You could feel he wanted to say more, but refrained from doing so because he didn‘t want to overstep and cause you to close off again.

„I.. you are right.. it was..“ you wanted to tell him everything right now but instead you just stared at him.

„Sorella, are you alright?“ Copia asked.

„Yes.. yes it‘s just.. Cardinal, can I tell you about my past?“ you decided to try to let him in more at this moment. It took a lot of courage, but his fingers curled around your hand. It felt so warm and familiar. It was now or never.

„Always. I hope you know I am always here if a sorella needs to let out something weighing her down. Whether it be something you‘re struggling for a while now, or just a silly rush of anger, I always have an open ear for you.“ The Cardinal added another sentence quickly. „I am Cardinal, after all. I take confessions, and I take my job very seriously.“

You gulped in an attempt to swallow your fear. „I am actually not a Sister of Sin at all. I am a devout Catholic, always have been. I grew up in this town as the child of a pastor. I was raised to worship the father, the son and the holy ghost and not to give in to sinning or revolting against our lord and savior's words.“ A moment of silence hung in the air and you continued. „When I came here to this institution, I didn‘t know it was a Satanic Church.. I was.. I am still scared..“ Anxious thoughts swirled in our head as you feared his next words.

The Cardinal waited patiently, his eyes never leaving yours. You looked at him with a frown, trying to read his expression, looking for a hint of discomfort or even disgust. When he finally opened his mouth, he pulled your hand closer, wrapping his second one around it additionally. The cardinal leaned back in his seat, let go of your hand for a brief moment and took another sip of water. His slow movements without saying anything made you almost gasp out in exasperation. The glass thumped against the surface of the wooden table and he made sure to retake your hand before he spoke up again.

„Sorella, actually I think I have to make a confession to you. I have to admit I am not surprised to hear that. In fact I have expected something like this. I knew all this already.“ his expression composed and casual.

Your mouth fell open, lost for words your eyes bore into his.

„What? You did? And you never told anyone? Do you not want to kick me out now?“

As you watched the Cardinals face closely you could tell he was being genuine. It was that very relaxed and calm attitude to your revelations that had your mind in a whirlwind of confusion. How could that little secret of yours, that you tried to guard around your new workplace, appear to be an open book for him? Were you that obvious? You tried to think of any instances where you might have given yourself away but none came to mind.

The cardinal smiled and chuckled, „Kick you out? But what would we kick you out for?“

„Because I am Catholic.. Have you not sworn to fight against the Catholic church? I am your enemy.“

The Cardinal sat back up straight. „Listen to me, Sorella, we are not enemies. Our Church never wants to fight against anyone. We are not at war with the Catholic Church. All the hostility that is between us is one-sided. We have no reason to hate Catholics.“

Copia licked his lips, his tongue barely tracing over his upper one before continuing. „It’s just that we do not believe in their beliefs. It would be against one of our core beliefs even. Everyone has the freedom to choose their beliefs. We respect that. And as long as you are not resolutely acting against our rules in the ministry there is absolutely no reason to kick out such a wonderful addition to our community such as yourself.“ his cheeks heated up slightly but when his eyes saw your expression he knew it was the right thing to say.

He didn‘t know why, but as he looked at your face your eyes were glossy, and he wanted to cheer you up more. Sathanas , something must have possessed him to speak those next words to you.

„Since you’ve graced these halls with your presence, the ministry is glowing again. Every day I wake up, I look forward to seeing you roam around these walls, and I am not the only one.“ His mind went back to the words he kept hearing in the ministry. You’d caught the attention of everyone in the ministry, even of the old fart Papa Nihil himself, but especially of the male half of the Clergy. The Cardinal blushed slightly and stopped himself before he would start rambling.

This time it was your action that surprised him as you launched forward into his body as you wrapped your arms around his neck in a strong embrace.

„Thank you Cardinal.“ you pressed your face into the crook of his neck.

His mind blue-screened, and it took a long moment for him to regain his senses. He gently but awkwardly put his own arms around your waist and rubbed your back soothingly. Just as he was about to melt into your body you pulled back, clearing your throat.

„I am sorry Cardinal, uh.. I didn‘t mean to.. I am sorry if I overstepped.“ You sat back in your chair next to him.

„Eh va tutto bene, bella. Non c'è bisogno di preoccuparsi. (It is quite alright Sister. No need to worry.)“ He switched to Italian as his mind was still half blanked out.

„I‘m sorry, what?“ you asked as you waited for him to explain.

„Ah shit, ah no, it is alright Sister. I am happy to be of help in any way. I‘m always here for you, so please, do come and see me if you need to.“ He smiled awkwardly as he slowly rose out of his seat.

„I should get back to my chambers now. I would hate to keep you up any longer.“ He gestured to your clothes as you were obviously ready to head to bed. „Besides, I have a few things to organize before tomorrow.“

„Yes, yes, of course, I am sorry, I didn't want to keep you away from your duties, Cardinal.“ you bowed politely as you walked him to the door.

„Good night Sorella. Sleep well and get some rest.“

„Thank you. You too, and promise me not to stay up too late to work, yes?“ you smiled at him brightly

„Sì, sì Sorella. I will not, prometto. (promise)“ He smiled and crossed his fingers and you closed the door.

When the lock clicked, the Cardinal’s back fell back against the wall right next to the door, head hitting against the bricks and his eyes closed as he had still not processed what just happened. Not only was he correct about assuming you were the little girl from all those years ago, no now he had felt what it was like to have you in his arms. Your body against his and it made his mind go all over the place. You felt so right in his arms — it felt like finally coming home. You made him feel like he was lost all of his life, and now that you were here, he finally found his purpose. You . It was you all along that he was missing. He finally pushed off the cold surface, walking towards his own quarters, a happy skip every few steps thinking about any incense alternative.

Taglist:

@hauntedlover03 @adinferix @ghostfangirlsweden @fishwithtitz @pinksweetsxtan @portaltothevoid @bbykens @sodoswitchimage

[linalina-universe]

https://youtu.be/ajst_f34ymc The Worship Celebration. I had the Honor of Being Crucifer during the 50th anniversary for the Philadelphia Eleven.

https://www.philadelphiaelevenfilm.com/ I am Honored to have been in the position in which Barbara Harris was during the Celebration. Who would later become the first woman of color to ever become a bishop, and the first woman bishop ever in the episcopal church. (My B.day Saint is also St.Barbara the martyr. Take that as you will.)

(Episcopal Bishop Barbara Harris) I'm a trans woman. This was very poignant to me. As Barbara was the odd one out during the ordination. Till her time for service came later. Without women Priests in the church I would have given up faith in Christ Jesus. I had been so hurt by in the past. I have been through several severely bad mental health drops recently too. I needed these women, I needed their wisdom, their kindness, their love. Their bravery and strength. I want to be just like them. If that means, becoming a nun, or a deacon? I dont know. I want Gods will for me. But I want to be an advocate for transgender welfare and civil liberties. Or atleast helping my trans siblings somehow. After Putting on robes and walking to the narthex, I was told by the Provost that "The white vestment suits me." He said something indicating the feeling of me becoming clergy or some part of the church. This was a powerful indication to me. That Maybe all of these comments mean something. But one of the little old lady priests there. (Many of whom were cute little old gay ladies <3) Told me this. "Sometimes God works through your neighbors, you just gotta listen, sometimes hes telling you something." I had told her all of my neighbors keep asking me to become clergy. As I walked in the procession I felt like for the first time in my life I found purpose. Looking up at the stain glass I realized. That I wanted to become part of the church somehow in some way. I wept a bit during this time facing away from the congregation holding up the cross. This place was warm. It was good. God is here with us. This was a point where I wanted to commit to Christ more then I already had been. Later after the eucharist. I was asked to become an acolyte by Mom Siri. this was in the side chapel.

I cried in her arms. I was so joyful, and sad, and grateful. She caressed my head like a mother. I have severe trauma from not having a loving mom growing up due to divorce. So I really follow her around like a chick gathered to a hen. She knows this and she calls me her "Favorite person." So clearly Mom Siri sees something in me. I have a complex that due to my trans status I would be refused position in the church. But this was what I needed to hear. Just typing this out makes me cry. I was weeping not only was one of my favorite songs playing. "I want to walk as a child of the Light", I feel unworthy of the gifts God keeps giving me. I'm not a saint, I'm not pure, yet Abba, Jesus, Holy Ghost keeps giving me these gifts. Which I cannot thank enough. I know that I will be inconsolable when Mother Siri reposes someday. But I want to be Just like her a person of absolute LOVE. Christ has died Christ is Risen Christ will come again

[coltrainbat]

Hi, I loved your Yes, No, Maybe... fic, is so good 🥰. I don’t know if you accepting requests but I would love to see a part 2 about their date 🥹🥹

Trust Me?

A/N: It is ready. Enjoy 💕☘️

YOUR POV

It was hard to find sympathy from your bestie at this point in time. 

Because they were right. 

Like always. 

This is not the worst thing to ever happen to you. 

It may be the most stomach curdling, sweaty palm, internal freak out moment of your life but nothing about having uninterrupted time with Chris Evans was bad. But you couldn’t help but think the worst. You sat in the foyer of your building, taking deep breathes, and pressing tissue to your forehead to make the sweat less obvious. 

You hadn’t told a single soul but them about this date. In the case it was a complete fuck up, that way you didn’t have to explain the could have been. 

When Chris asked to pick you up for your date you were a little taken aback. Where was he taking you? You didn’t know because he said it was a secret. The douche used your own line against you. But before you could run back upstairs to your apartment and throw up, you saw a slick black car pull up outside your building. And there he was. 

The moment you saw him again, the butterflies in your stomach ceded, replaced with this gooey feeling of mush and warmth. Your body tingled with excitement and your mind had to fight your body to just pull him in and kiss him. It felt like walking into a warm room filled with familiar faces or that first sip of hot tea on a cold day. Safe to say in the 24 hours since you had last saw him, you had developed a serious crush. Maybe it was all the YouTube bingeing of his interviews. But, this crush could not happen because from 1 week from now eh will be gone and you will be a past memory. 

He told you to dress casual but comfortable. Whatever the fuck that means to a man. You swear you had a 3-hour breakdown to your besties about the definition of casual yet comfortable who all came to the same conclusion.

Jeans and a nice top. So, there you stood. In your best ass hugging jeans and a top that didn’t make you look like a nun but screamed soccer mom with subtle cleavage.  The most basic outfit to ever exist. Basic = Safe. You were happy with it. 

He got out of the car, throwing the keys in his hand and shoving them into his pocket, beaming as he came up to the front door. 

It’s time to fall to your default in any awkward situation in which you don’t know how to feel… sarcasm. 

CHRIS’S POV 

Holy shit how did she get prettier overnight? 

Stop smiling like that she’ll think you’re a psycho.

God, Jeans, she wants to kill me. 

Truth is, I couldn’t stop smiling. She was just so goddamn gorgeous. 

“You look great.” You fucking idiot why don’t you say hello? Now she’ll think you just like her looks. 

“Is this what you meant by comfy yet casual?” She gestured to her outfit. Simple yet absolutely perfect on her. 

“Yes, but I wouldn’t have cared if you came out in Pyjamas or a ballgown.” 

“Really? Do we have time for me to get back into my pyjamas?” She looked at me, sarcasm written on her face. Funny too. 

That’s another point on the never-ending listing as to why she’s perfect. 

“No, now come on.” I hold out my hand. And…. she walks straight past it. 

“Alright then.” I’m not complaining, gives me at the great view of her ass.  

“Ladies first.” I pull out the car door for her, raising my eyebrows. 

“Ladies? As in plural? As in you have other ladies who are joining us tonight?”

“They wish now get it.”

She rolls her eyes at me. Ooft the sass. I love it. 

YOUR POV

“Sooooo you going to tell me where we are going?”

“Nope, watch your feet by the way the rope and duct tape are underneath them.”

“Very funny.”

“Nah I only bring rope into the relationship later on, so you have nothing to worry about for now.” He winked at you. 

You scoffed at him, trying to hide the blush forming on your cheeks. 

“Do you not trust me?”

“Not really no.”  

“How about we do this thing, where you have to trust me until I give you reason not to. Deal?”

“Deal.”

“Good so now you can stop hiding the fact that you’re blushing.” He smirked.

“Oh, bite me.” You groaned. 

“Gladly.” He smirked. 

You laughed off his advances.

“We are here.” He pulled up on a gravel road, trees surrounded you, but you hadn’t been driving long enough to end up outside of the city. 

“Where are we?” You looked around at the unfamiliar landscape. What seemed like a forest oasis in the middle of the city.

“Thought you lived here?”

“Yet, I’ve never been here.”

“Good then its new for both of us. A buddy of mine told me about it. It’s private that’s what you wanted right?”

“Fair enough.” 

Chris came on the passenger side, opening the door for you and holding out his hand and this time you took it. Appreciating his help as you got out of the car. 

“You’re gonna want to hold onto me for the next bit.” He looked at you.

You stood in your tracks, eyeing him down. 

“You trust me now remember.”

“Fine.”  

You grabbed his hand; it was warm and big encompassing yours. 

You walked down the old, sandstone stairs, with no railing. Rather than uniform steps it was more like large, blocks of rock in the shape of stairs. Chris walked ahead a step, as you had no choice but grip his hand tightly as he led you down the steps, easing you down and in position in case you fell and he had to catch you, all your weight being supported on his strong arms. 

“Great, now one more.” You did a small skip down the last step, finally looking up from your feet at what was in front of you. 

A lush well-manicured garden bordering on the harbour. You could see the whole city in all its glory as the sunset over the skyline, illuminating a golden light as a few office windows started to emote bright yellow light. 

A picnic blanket with two deck chairs between them a complete spread of deli meats, French cheeses, chocolate covered strawberries, assortment of crackers, various dips and spreads, and two champagne glasses laid out on the small table. Fairy lights surrounded nearby branches, lighting up the most romantic picnic you had ever seen. 

“Omg.” You gasped.

“Nice, isn’t it? Came down earlier to set it up. Thought you’d like it. Oh, and don’t worry about visitors or anything the park is officially closed.”  The man grinned sheepishly at you.

“Chris it’s… too much.”

“Really? Cause I’ve got the helicopter on standby if you want to go for a ride on that instead? Or maybe the boat?”

 You were pulled out of your shock “Ok shut up!” 

“Thought so… now come on.” He led you by your hand to the comfy chair. 

The sun had set and the beautiful, arranged platter was now a mess of crumbs and food scraps. The bottle of champagne, empty and the second one half full. For the last 3 hours all you and Chris had done was ask each other questions and you now know his whole family by name, their sacred Christmas traditions, what his first memory was, his favourite place in the world, what meal he’d eat for the rest of his life and the book that changed his life plus more. And he knew the exact same about you to the point you don’t know if you have ever shared this much with someone in such a small space of time. Nor would someone ever listen so intently as you shared your past and hopes for the future, never interrupting but hanging on your every last word, bowling over in laughter at your funny stories while he clutched his left boob. Teasing you and keeping up with your quick-witted jokes if not giving them back in 10 folds. It felt like talking to an old friend you hadn’t seen in while, the warm feeling in your stomach never fading but now spreading to the rest of your body… or maybe that was the champagne. Either way you felt safe and content, like the moment was never ending and once you left the park, reality would return, and you’d be left feeling cold and empty as the feeling dissipates. He felt like heroin, this addictive warmth that you just had to keep, you wanted doses of him 24/7, to feel the electric shock over and over every time he grazed your knee with his hand or when you’d watch his eyes crinkle at a joke you told.  

“Ok, first pet?”

“East, he was a British bulldog. Best dog ever.”

“Your turn, favourite movie.”

“Don’t laugh.”

“I will but tell me anyways.” He grinned, taking another sip of his drink.

“<Insert fave romcom>”

“I was supposed to be in that movie.” 

“Really?” Your eyes bulged at the image of Chris as your biggest movie character crush.  

“No, but if I said I was would you like me more?” He smirked at you at you with faux puppy dog eyes.

“You’re a dick.” You slapped his chest in a fit of laughter, he caught your hand on his chest, holding it in his.

Your eyes locked at the sudden contact.

“You’re cold here have my jacket.” He immediately shrugged off his jacket, moving to the edge of his seat to place it on your shoulders.  Placing it over you, his hand ran down the zipper enclosing it around you. 

“There, all better.” His eyes gazed at the skin of decolletage before concealing the sight in his jacket. 

“I don’t want to leave.” You blurted out, looking at his eyes. 

“Me either.” He moved upwards towards your mouth, planting a soft kiss on your lips. You put your hand behind his head, pulling the kiss deeper. He tasted like champagne and mint and everything delicious as his warm mouth encompassed yours. His hands moving to your jaw to support it as his tongue slipped into your mouth. You moaned at the sensation, quickly coming to your senses, and pulling out.

“Sorry.” You readjusted the jacket around you. 

“Why are you sorry?” His hand still on your face, looking into your eyes for a sign that he hadn’t completely fucked this.

“I just don’t want to make this more than it is.”  

“What do you think it is? You think I plan picnics for girls in major cities and then dump them before I leave?” There was a shock, pain in his voice. Your words stung. He didn’t think you’d take him as a playboy. 

“It’s not you, it’s just me not wanting to get attached to something fleeting.”  

“Y/N, you told me about your past, I told you about my family, heck, I told you things that haven’t ever left my head before. This isn’t a game to me. I don’t want this to end when I get on that plane.”

“Really?” 

“Yes really. I want to do this again and then I want to figure out how the hell I can get you in my arms every night of the week.” 

You smiled, avoiding his gaze. Your mind in a war with your heart that you’ve never experienced before.

“It’s impractical, you’re you and I’m me, I don’t do this life of yours, I don’t fit into it. It won’t work.”

“This..” You gestured to your surroundings. “It’s nice but it’s not the real world and its definitely not my world.” You looked at your hands defeated, trying not to cry as you break his heart into pieces. 

“I’ll make you fit. All the best things start off as a dream. That’s how movies came to be. Look, I can’t tell you it’ll be easy, and I can’t expect you to drop your whole life for me, but I can tell you, heck, promise you that if there is a way for me to make sure you can be a part of my life, I will make it happen no matter what. Look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t feel what I’m feeling right now too, and I’ll leave you alone forever, but I’d bet everything I have on the fact that you do.” 

You could feel his stare burning into you. You knew if you’d look up it’d be game over for you. 

You bite your lip, finally gaining the courage to look him in the eyes again. You sat in silence just staring at each other. Waiting for you to say something. 

“Oh, fuck it.” You said before throwing yourself back into his arms. 

TAGS: @royalwritersoftheuniverses

[petertingle-yipyip]

MAD AT GOD - MATT MURDOCK

Season 3 Epilogue - All I Wanted

tags: @ironprincessstranger @johnmurphys-sass @dusstory @americaarse @astrobees @mayasaurus--rex @woowwweee // finale // masterlist

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Reader

Word Count: 5,052

Summary: Speaking from the heart, a good man is laid to rest and good friends are reunited. Plans for the future are scribbled on a new napkin and everything seems like it’ll be okay.

It took a few days for everything to be ready for Father Lantom’s funeral. Leading up to that, everything felt heavy. You had a few meetings at the bureau to discuss your future with the agency, your involvement with the case against Fisk, and the charges being brought against Dex. You were updated on his condition, to which you had to give final consent for the experimental treatment he wanted given you were the only emergency contact he had left, and they asked you to fill the gaps in the timeline. But you couldn’t give much without putting your own secret out so you lied, as usual.

You spoke of getting out of your contract, hoping it would be just cause to release you from obligation. The caveat to that was your involvement in the case against Billy for the assaults against you and Dinah. Instead, you agreed to an extended paid leave. 

The only thing left was to update your friends on what you would do from there. After Father Lantom’s funeral, of course.

You and Matt walked together, neither saying much besides some small talk. He was dragging with the weight of the coming event but also there was a lightness to him. To finally be rid of the internal battle between himself and the Devil, he was truly Matt Murdock again. He felt like the man you fell in love with, the man you knew in college that made you feel alive. And it made you happy to know he was back.

But there was also uncertainty. You could feel the hesitation in his touch when he took your arm, the pauses between his words drew longer with each sentence. He didn’t know where you two stood with each other and truthfully, neither did you.

“You need to talk to her.” You said gently as you two entered the church with you offering sad smiles to the nuns you passed who nodded in your direction.

“Who?” Matt asked after a deep breath to steady himself.

You knew entering that building was tough for you, the memory of that night clawing to the surface of your brain, but for Matt.. You could only assume it was that much worse.

“Sister Maggie…” You answered quietly as you continued to lead him downstairs.

“I don’t even know what I'd say to her.”

You shrugged a shoulder but noticed he wasn’t resisting your lead.

“You usually figure it out.”

He chuckled slightly but said nothing while you two descended the stairs to his previous dwelling. Sister Maggie was already there, a chilled sadness filling the space around her. You offered a gentle smile and she returned the gesture.

Everything was quiet for a few moments before you nudged Matt with your elbow. He sighed before he finally spoke.

“Last time we spoke, I confronted Father Lantom.” He began and you pulled your arm away gently to fold them behind your back. “I was angry.. I’d change that if I could.”

“If God allowed that, there’d be no future.” Maggie answered. “Just people endlessly rewriting the past.”

“There’s a few things I’d like to rewrite.” You muttered with a small raise of your brows and you felt Matt give a gentle pat to your arm. “Then again… I probably wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

“Yeah, I think he was trying to tell me that for a long time… His last words were ‘Forgive us.’ .”

“Do you?” You put a hand on his arm and his hand instantly came up to cover yours. “Or do you think you could, at some point?”

An awkward silence filled the space between you all and Maggie offered you a look that portrayed that Matt’s response was what she expected.

“He told me something, years ago, when this happened-“ He used his other hand to gesture to his glasses and you noticed he hadn’t taken the hand off yours, nor did he take your hand off him. “-that I never forgot.”

“See, I was pretty angry at God and bitter towards his world.” Matt continued and you nodded in agreement. You’d been mad at God on your own plenty of times growing up. You took your hand off Matt’s arm as he continued talking and moved to his other side, where his fingers found a way to hook around yours again. “How could a loving God blind me? Why?”

That reminded you of your own challenges against the alleged loving man in the clouds.

“Anyway, he told me God’s plan is like a beautiful tapestry. And the tragedy of being human is that we only get to see it from the back.”

“The frayed and messy stitches, muddled colors.” You added, drawing both of their attention. “He told me the same thing once, out on that bench after Midland. Said we only get to see a piece of it and it’s not even the best part.”

Matt smiled slightly at you and you weren’t sure if it was because Lantom had shared the same advice with you that he had shared with a younger him or if it was because you remembered it. 

“Yeah, exactly.” He nodded before returning to his point. “And I’ve been thinking about that a lot recently because I realized I’ve made some bad choices and hurt people I love without meaning to.”

His fingers squeezed yours and you smiled softly before leaning against his arm.

“You don’t always know when you start down a false path.” Maggie offered gently.

“No, you don’t, and that’s my point.” Matt agreed. “I realized that if my life had turned out any differently, I would never have become Daredevil…”

“Sounds remarkably familiar.” You teased with a small smile.

“But I think your point was about your other vigilante potential boyfriend.” Matt answered with the same tone and you had to laugh.

“It was really about the fact that I might not have wound up here with you if my life had been different.” You corrected.

“Yeah, okay.” He smiled with a nod. “Anyways, even though people have died on our watch, people who shouldn’t have, there are countless others that have lived… So maybe it is all part of God’s plan. Maybe my life has been exactly as it had to be.”

“You have a generous heart, Matthew.” Maggie said softly, despite being near tears. “To see good in so much pain.”

“Not always… In fact, Father Lantom used to help me with that. Help me see the error in my ways.”

“And there’s been plenty.” You joked, earning a small laugh from them both. “Father Lantom really was good at that, even got through to me a couple times.”

“And you’re worse than me.” Matt added with a small smile, which got him a small smack to his arm. “But y’know.. I could use someone else to help me with that now.” He turned back to Maggie.

“Isn’t that what she’s for?” She nodded to you.

“I’m not exactly the most calibrated moral compass.” You confessed. “Regardless of me and my impact, he needs you.”

“I am a nun after all, Matthew.” She smiled at him. “Helping is what I was called to do.”

He turned towards the sun and took a deep breath, letting go of a lot of tension on the exhale. You saw his eyes close behind his glasses and you smiled to yourself. That was the moment he needed, to have time - even just a second - to relax and find his stability. 

“Y/N.” Maggie spoke gently, though you were so lost in your thoughts it made you jump. “I was hoping you could speak at the funeral as well.”

“Me?” Your brows raised as Matt turned to you. “I don’t think-“

“I think you should.” Matt spoke gently. “He was there for you when I wasn’t and I think he’d want you to.”

“I don’t have anything prepared.” You tried to reason.

“Just speak from your heart.” Maggie countered calmly. “I know you can string together something lovely.”

“Okay.” You nodded. “It’d be an honor.”

She smiled softly before patting you both on the arm on her way up the stairs. You gave Matt’s hand a small tug and tried to follow her up, but he pulled you back to him. 

“You okay?” You asked carefully.

“I just..” He said, thumb running along your knuckles. “I just wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Is it something that can wait a little while?” You tried. “There’s a bunch of people upstairs for the funeral.”

“I just want to know-“

“Matt.”

“-if you and I are-“

“Matt.”

“-gonna be back to-“

“Matthew.”

“What?”

“Stop.” You laughed slightly and put your hands on both of his shoulders. “As of this moment, I don’t know because I’m not worried about figuring all this out. I will be more than happy to talk to you about everything later. Okay?”

He nodded with a small smile before he offered you his arm. You two walked up in awkward silence and took your seats beside your friends. Foggy reached across to give your hand a small squeeze and Karen patted your arm. You gave them a nod in response.

The room was full of grief but also love. Everyone in that room had been impacted by Father Lantom in some way, whether it be directly or indirectly. And everyone came to show that he was appreciated. It even made your own chest warm to feel.

You walked with Matt to the podium and he offered to speak first. You joked for him not to make it too good of a speech because you’ll have to follow it and he chuckled quietly. You noticed he had leaned in, as if to kiss your forehead as he usually would, but he stopped himself.

He shifted awkwardly at the podium and you could tell he was struggling to find the will to start.

You sighed to yourself and moved to stand beside him. You put a hand on his back and he turned to face you for a moment.

“You’re okay.” You said quietly and his hand landed on your hip for a moment. He nodded quickly and then faced the crowd again.

“It feels like half of Hell’s Kitchen is here today to say goodbye to Father Paul Lantom…” He began, his voice as strong and calm as it could be. You smiled to yourself and were really hit with a reminder of why you fell for him. “Seems fair. He certainly welcomed everyone here, Catholic or not. And he expected those of us that were to look for ways to do good in our community. Not even the kids got out of that requirement.. I’m sure I’m not the only one who remembers his suggestion that we give some of our First Communion money to the poor box.”

A small chuckle came from the crowd.

“And that was his way.” He continued. “To think of the community and the individuals in it. To think in terms of ‘What can I give?’ . He gave his life, right here in this church, protecting others. Standing up to a man who used fear as a tool to set neighbors against one another. If Father Lantom had an enemy, I would say it was fear.

“For me personally, he spent many years trying to get me to face my own fears. To understand how they enslaved me, how they divided me from the people that I love.”

You knew eyes were falling on you with that line but yours were on Matt. As if that was something out of the ordinary. You were always captivated when he spoke, especially when he spoke about something that mattered to him.

“He counseled me to transcend my fears, to be brave enough to forgive and see the possibilities of being a man without fear. That was his legacy. And now it’s up to all of us to live up to it.”

He gave a small nod before stepping aside and gesturing for you to take his spot. You said a quiet thanks and he stepped behind you to stand where you previously were.

“Matt touched on how Father Lantom welcomed everyone, regardless of their faith.” You began, glancing over the crowd and seeing so many expectant expressions. “Personally, I wouldn’t call myself a Catholic, or even a Christian… But that didn’t stop him from sitting on that bench with me out front, almost every morning for a long time. That didn’t mean he offered any less honest sentiment or empathy than he would’ve him.” You gestured to Matt.

“When I would sit out there, I was at one of the lowest parts of my adult life. I had lost so much and I felt like I had lost part of myself. But he was patient.. And he was kind.. And he reminded me that I had lived through tribulations before and that I had survived. He refused to let me stay down and he would challenge me to get up, to live according to what I had already proven possible for myself. 

“See, Father Lantom never left you to feel it alone, whether it be on that bench or in the confessional or in those pews. If you were sad, so was he but he was trying to cheer you up. If you were angry, so was he but he was trying to find reason in the other person’s actions. If you were afraid… Well fear was the one thing Father Lantom didn’t let you feel. Like Matt said, he challenged us all to overcome fear. To be brave, for whoever may be looking up to you.

“The talks on that bench were some of the most important conversations I can think of. And I know that he’s up there-“ You pointed to the sky for a moment. “-listening to this and wondering what point I’m trying to make… To be honest, I’m not quite sure myself. I think I just…”

You took a deep breath and felt a tear fall down your cheek. You took a step back and turned away, using the back of your hand to clear it away. Matt’s hands found your arms almost instantly and he offered quiet consolation. You nodded that you were okay and stepped back to the podium, though his hand remained at your lower back.

“At the end of the day.” You began again and noticed Foggy giving you a small thumbs up. When you met his eyes, he mouthed ‘You’re doing great’ and it made you smile. “Father Lantom has left a mark on each and every one of us. And even now, he’ll be watching out for us. So I say we all be someone he can be proud of.”

After the ceremony, a few of the older women that you had met in your prior trips to the church came up to you. They hugged you tightly and some were still crying. They thanked you for your speech and said you were so eloquent with your words. Some of them hinted about you and Matt and you laughed when they wiggled their brows, saying he was such a handsome and sweet man. Glancing around and finding him talking to Karen, you had to agree. You politely excused yourself when they started talking about you two getting married and went over towards Matt.

“We’re all just trying to do more good than harm. I’d say you’re ahead on that score.” Matt told Karen, who offered you a small smile.

“I feel like I’ve missed something.” You stated honestly.

“I told Matt about Wesley… And my brother.” Karen explained hesitantly.

“I don’t think I knew you had a brother..” Your brows furrowed as you thought back. “Fill me in later? If you want to.. I’ll be back.”

“Y/N?” Matt reached for your hand.

“Hmm?”

“We still need to talk.”

“I know. I’m not going anywhere yet.”

“Yet? What does that mean?”

You kept moving towards Foggy and Marci, whose conversation was turning towards the end of Foggy’s DA campaign and potentially the end of his career at his big time firm.

“Uh oh.” You said as you got to your friend’s side. “That’s the ‘I have a terrible idea’ look.”

“Also known as the ‘I'm going to sink my DA campaign.’ look…” Marci sighed before she turned to you. “Any chance you’ve come to convince him otherwise?”

“I think you’ll like where we go from here.” You nodded. “Trust me, I’ve never let him down before… Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.” Foggy sighed and walked with you towards Tower’s media area.

“Mr. Tower.” You called, drawing all the camera’s attention to you and Foggy. “I appreciate you taking this matter seriously. Good agents were lost. Thank you for ensuring they get justice.”

He nodded in response, his attention then turning to Foggy.

“I wanted you to be the first to hear.” Foggy began as he took a few steps forward. “I am officially dropping out of the race for district attorney. The way you stood up to Wilson Fisk was an inspiration to us all. I'm gonna be voting for you.”

“Well I couldn’t have done it without those two courageous agents that testified to the Grand Jury… None of this would’ve truly started without them. Thank you, Mr. Nelson.”

Later that day, you arrived at the deli a bit after everyone else. Foggy’s family all celebrated your arrival with loud welcomes and tight hugs. It was as if you had grown up with them and it made your chest warm. You laughed at their responses as you fought your way through to your friends, who had already claimed a table.

“Want me to get your own?” Matt chuckled as Karen took his drink from his hands.

You reached across the table and took it from her, to which she laughed. You sat beside Matt as Foggy placed a beer for him and Karen, and a glass of liquor for you on the table.

“Give Matt his drink back.” Foggy laughed. You mocked him slightly before returning the glass to its original owner.

“I don’t know if you guys heard but my SAC flipped.” You explained, turning your own glass on the table. “Turns out Dex didn’t kill her after all.. She corroborated Ray’s dying declaration.”

“You see it?” Foggy asked gently.

“Yeah.” You breathed and nodded quickly. “He um.. He was smart, knew what he had to do…”

“I’m sorry, Y/N.” Karen offered and you tipped the glass towards her. “Were you there?”

“Karen.” Matt warned.

“It’s fine.. Um, I was.” You answered plainly. You lifted your hair to show the gap in your ear’s cartilage from where Dex’s bullet went through. “Just wasn’t quick enough, the usual.”

“Shit.” Foggy breathed. “FBI gets an enema and Fisk is still breathing…”

“Yup.” Matt nodded. “Still breathing.”

“Headed to prison, again.” Karen added.

“Not exactly what I had in mind but…” You muttered into your glass.

“So what ended up happening to Poindexter?” Karen asked you. It was intended as curiosity but you could tell that she asked you because of what your relationship was with him.

“T8 and T9 were absolutely shattered. He opted for some highly experimental, steel reinforcements. If it works, he’ll have PT for a while then it’s up in the air if he’ll be the same Bullseye he was. If it doesn’t, he’s completely paralyzed.”

“And he asked for that?” Matt’s head cocked in interest.

“Yeah but I had to give consent. The hospital didn’t think he was in the right space to fully understand the risks… I let them because-“

“You don’t have to justify your decision.” Matt cut in gently.

“You trust that Fisk’ll keep his word?” Foggy asked Matt to help change the subject and you smiled in thanks.

“I trust that he loves Vanessa.” Matt countered easily. “As long as she’s free, he should stay away.”

“But if she gets hit by a bus tomorrow?” Karen tried to joke, which got the boys to laugh.

“Then we’ll cross that bridge.” Matt answered and a soft silence covered your table.

“Speaking of tomorrows.” Foggy said with a small smile, turning to you. “Y/N, how did contract negotiations go? You a free woman yet?”

“Uh.. no.” You laughed awkwardly. “I’m not getting out of my contract anytime soon.”

“Why not?”

“Well I’ve pretty much relinquished all of my bureau’s privileges. The kids back at Quantico probably have more access than I do but I can’t retire yet.”

“Still not a why.”

“The case against Russo is still open. If I leave now, I surrender all evidence and testimony against him and the charges change from attacking two feds to one fed and civilian… I can’t do that to Dinah. She deserves her justice too.”

“But it’s your evidence. Can you retract it and we’ll start our own case?”

“It became bureau property when I submitted it. There’s circumstances about that night that are being kept under wraps so there’s no way they’ll let a civilian firm touch anything… I'm still getting my contracted pay and my badge is still valid, but I’ve relinquished my gun so…” You shrugged. “They’re considering it an extended administrative leave.”

“Can they do that?” Karen asked.

“Doesn’t matter. It’s already done. I’m not really able to do anything until the Russo situation is handled but that could possibly never get handled. It’ll probably go until my contract is due for re-up and then I quietly resign.”

“There’s gotta be something.” Karen insisted.

“Not unless you can magically heal Russo so he can testify.”

“We’ll work on something.” Matt patted your leg.

“How long do you plan on sticking around for?” Foggy nodded to Matt.

“Actually, I was thinking about moving back into my apartment.” Matt answered slowly, as if testing the waters.

“Really?” Karen smiled.

“Seeing as the bills are paid, I might as well.”

“That might be something we need to talk about.” You said quietly. “I’m not gonna-“

“So wait. You’re gonna move back into Matt Murdock’s apartment? With Matt Murdock’s girlfriend?”

“Technically it’s Y/N’s apartment now.” Foggy corrected and you pointed in agreement.

“Yeah, yeah.” Matt shook his head with a smile. “I just figured he has a healthier life-work balance. And actual friends.”

“Doesn’t have a job though… Kind of a mooch, living off his girlfriend's FBI paycheck.”

You shifted in your seat at the title and nursed your drink, wondering if the Nelsons had anything stronger.

“Semidecent lawyer, though.” Foggy added.

“Ooh.” Matt’s brows furrowed. “Semi-decent?”

“You do break the law. A lot. And often.” Karen laughed.

“Yeah, that girl he used to work with was probably better.” Foggy continued, shooting you a worried look when he caught your body language. He reached across and tapped the table in front you, a clear concern in his eyes.

You nodded and waved him off, which seemed to draw Matt’s attention as well. You sighed to yourself and rubbed your eyes before crossing one arm over your chest and the other held your glass.

“I have an idea.” Foggy said suddenly. “I need a new napkin.”

While Foggy wrote something, Karen leaned into Matt for a hushed joking conversation. You turned yourself away slightly but Matt’s hand landed on your leg under the table and pulled your knee closer to him. You rolled your eyes before Foggy proudly held up his new napkin.

It was quiet for a second as you all took it in.

“What?” Matt asked while Karen covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, he wrote all of our names, didn’t he?”

“How can you know that?” Foggy demanded as he flattened his pen to the table. That made you laugh.

“Cause I was thinking the same thing.”

“Guys, I’m not a lawyer.” Karen countered.

“You’d make a hell of a PI.” You offered honestly and Foggy pointed at you in agreement. “Could probably give Jessica Jones a run for her money.”

“I thought you liked Jessica.” Matt turned to you.

“I do.”

“But wait, what does that mean? We go back to helping people from a crappy office, getting paid in chickens?” Karen added.

“Sounds like someone got spoiled with Bulletin money.” You teased.

“Coming from the federal agent?” She laughed.

“I think Theo would let us work out of here, to start.” Foggy offered, nipping that conversation before it could become any sort of argument.

“At least we’d have a place to sell the chickens.” Matt joked.

“So what do you think?” Foggy asked with a hopeful smile.

“Why the hell not?” Karen smiled and lifted her bottle.

“To Nelson, Murdock, Y/L/N, and Page.” Matt lifted his glass and Foggy lifted his bottle.

“Page, Y/L/N, Murdock, and Nelson.” Karen corrected.

“Hang on a minute.” Foggy argued. “Y/N.” He turned to you. “Get in on this. You’re the Y/L/N, after all.”

“It’s too wordy.” You shook your head. “Maybe something like Nelson, Murdock, and Associates would be better.”

“Okay, we can workshop the name later. Are you in?”

“Just like old times.” You leaned up and tapped your glass. “Matt, come with me to my car. I have something for Foggy.”

“For me?” Foggy grinned.

“Yeah, that custom apron finally came in.”

“With the flames?”

“With the flames.”

You and Matt made it out of the deli to your car, where you grabbed the box out of your back seat.

“I can help find us an office space when I get back.” You offered, leaning against your car. “I just don’t know how long I’ll be gone for.”

“Where are you going?” His brows furrowed and he tucked his hands in his pockets.

“London. I owe some friends a visit and a thank you.”

“Don’t you have an ex in London?”

“Mhmm.”

“Is that the friend you're visiting?”

“You’re jealous.” You smirked slightly as the wispy green haze surrounded him.

“No, I’m not.”

“So what does it matter if it’s Marc or someone else I go visit?”

“I’m not jealous.”

“I can literally see the jealousy.” You rolled your eyes.

“Does it really matter?”

“No, but it is funny.” You shrugged. “Why do you care if I take some time away?”

“I was hoping we could try again. Y’know?”

You blew out a sigh and almost reached for his hand out of habit. Instead you put the box on the roof of the car and shoved your hands into your pockets.

“I talked with my old landlord. My old apartment is still open… I’m gonna start packing up after this.”

“And you were just gonna leave? Without telling me any of this beforehand.”

“That’s why I’m talking to you now.”

“Yeah, after you’ve made the decision already.” 

“It’s my life, Matt. You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do.”

“You’re right, I can’t. But I at least deserve a conversation about the things that affect me too.”

“Fine.” You shrugged. “Go ahead. Try to convince me.”

“Y/N.” He closed the distance between you two and you watched his hands twitch, desperate to reach out and touch you. “There’s nothing to get between us now. And I’ve been thinking about us, trying again and maybe even settling down. Start a life together, a family.”

“Like adopt?” Your brows furrowed. “Yeah, the church probably has a kid that would be a good fit but-“

“Sure, but I want our first kid to be ours. You and me.”

“That’s not fair.” You countered defensively. “You know I can’t..”

“C’mon, you’d be a great mom.”

“That’s not what I mean… Matt, I swear I’ve told you.”

“Told me what?”

“I had a full hysterectomy when I was a child… It was the graduation ceremony. Did you really not know?”

“No, I don’t think so.” He said quietly, more shocked by the revelation than you expected.

“How long do you really think we’d last when there’s so much you don’t know?” You asked honestly. “All I wanted was you but I have so many secrets that I’ve never told anyone.”

“So don’t leave me.” He leaned forward, bracing both hands on the vehicle behind you. You just noticed that he had left his cane inside and you wondered if that was intentional. “Stay… Tell me everything.”

You sighed and put a hand on his chest to gently push him back.

“I’m gonna go to London, spend time with people I owe for their help. You are going to settle back into your apartment and your life. When I get back, if you want, I’ll tell you everything.”

“I’ve wanted to know everything about you since I met you, Y/N/N. That’s never gonna change.” He confessed. “All I wanted was you, too.”

“Good.” You smiled slightly. “We’ll see if it stays that way.”

“It will.” He finally reached out and put a hand on your cheek, tracing the faded scar on your cheekbone. “Because I love you.” you 

“I love you, too.” You put your hand over his. “When I get back, and I tell you everything you wanna know - or everything you can handle, at least - we’ll figure out if we wanna try again… Start over.”

“Clean slate…” He smirked slightly and you noticed he was getting progressively closer. “No grudges. No bad blood. Nothing?”

“Like it never happened.” You said quietly, tilting your head up slightly as your fingers hooked around his belt and pulled him closer until his body hit yours. 

“I’ll remember some of it.” He smirked before leaning in to kiss you quickly. “All the good stuff.” Another kiss. “And all of my favorite parts.” Another.

“Careful, Matty.” You said as he leaned in to kiss you a fourth time. “Making it hard to try and move on.”

A fifth.

“That’s the point.” He leaned away to smile at you.

You chuckled and found yourself giving it to the sparks in your chest. You took his face between your hands and pulled him back to your lips. He placed his hands on your hips and pulled you against him, causing your skin to ignite with the familiar tingle that only his touch could bring.

Maybe you two would be okay after all.

[lilypinkattack]

hiiii super quick question for you as the biggest Gray enjoyer out there!

what's the deal with his eyes? do you think he's partially blind? or do his eyes just look like that but he can see just fine??

I don't think Sanada-sensei ever implied he's blind but I want to hear your opinion!

Me?!?! The biggest Gray enjoyer?!? You're going to boost my ego too much lol!

Quick warning: I will mention a character in Episode 0, so spoilers. I also have no experience with blindness or eye diseases, I only mention some ways I know some blind individuals navigate. If I have any wrong info please add any input or criticism!

Okay, all that fun stuff out of the way, I personally think he can see just fine. My main reasoning for this is because of the way Sanada and Naduka show the other two blind characters in the story, specifically the Old Man that Zack lived with for a while and the Old Nun that appears in Vol 6 and 7 of Episode 0.

The Old Man's eyes are drawn with lines showing where the pupil is but the inside is white.

While the Nun's pupil doesn't have any thick lines and is hazy, this could be just for the art style; I like to think it's because she hasn't been blind for long, possibly developing blindness as she got older. While the Old Man has thick lines for his pupils, perhaps showing he's been blind for a long time.

When their eyes compare to Gray's, the big difference is that there's nothing in his. It's just pure white.

There's also the fact both the Nun and Old Man use either tools or their hands to navigate.

The Old Man has a cane while the Nun uses her hands to feel her surroundings, she usually is by the wall so she can feel it.

Gray on the other hand is always standing in the middle of a room or a hallway, he's confident enough to know where everything is (if he is blind) or he can see just fine and know not to hit a wall.

(although the idea of him walking into a wall is hilarious XD)

Long story short, I believe Gray can see but just has whited out eyes for some unknown reason, probably having to do with his past

Thank you for asking Mifi!!!! I rarely get asks so this was a treat!

Have a good day <3

[sappho-of-space]

20 Questions Writer Meme:

I was nominated by the lovely @ashilrak to participate in this. Answering the these questions was a fun- a little walk down memory lane and a reminder of how much I've grown.

1. How many works do you have on ao3?

47!

2. What's your total ao3 word count?

189419

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Mostly Percy Jackson at the moment! I've written snippets for The Magnus Archives and Danny Phantom. I've also contemplated writing for Marvel for a while.

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

1. A God in Chains (3151)

2. At the Armrest of a God (3149)

3. we both have bad taste in men, but at least we have each other (2073)

4. cookies aren't the only hot thing here (1713)

5. you and i until eternity (1705)

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Complicated answer. I did in the past until I dealt with some harrassment/negativity with a previous fandom. It scared me away from interacting with any that I didn't really know on my own fics. I've found a lovely new community, so I'm trying to respond to comments more to show everyone how much I appreciate them.

6. What's the fic you wrote that has the angstiest ending?

I actually had to skim a few of my fics to remember their endings, lol. My answer is probably:

another flower in a garden of tragedies

Or

Of New Blood and Old Hyacinths

7. What's the fic you wrote that has the happiest ending?

I've written a lot of fluff with happy endings, so I'll just answer this with the fic with my favorite ending.

"we both have bad taste in men, but at least we have each other" is a win for the lesbians and was just so much fun to write. I've gotten a lot of requests for a continuation of it, and I've had some ideas, but nothing enough to put to paper.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Lmao, yes. I've orphaned about 7 fics from a previous fandom because of the toxicity of the fandom (My Hero Academia). It was everything from demanding updates to trying to 'cancel' me for no reason but because they didn't like how I portrayed a character. On my most recent fics, there hasn't been much overtly negative- just jokes/comments that don't land well. Overall, I'm happy with my new community.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Yes, lmao. I write hedonistic shit that would make even the most stone cold nun blush. Looking through my fics makes me realize I really enjoy temple/altar defilement.

10. Do you write crossovers?

None yet, but I'm not opposed! I enjoy reading them when they tick all of my boxes, but I will admit, I can be pretty picky.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

None that I know of, but I wouldn't be surprised.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes! Just one. I thought it was very sweet and adored the fact that someone liked my writing enough to spend time translating it.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Just one, but I'm very open to doing more! I've written in a rouns robin, but I think I would prefer doing a full co-write with one or two other authors.

14. What's your all-time favorite ship?

Very hard, but probably spideypool. I've had a Spider-Man fixation for about half my life, and I simply love Deadpool. Besides spideypool, probably perpollo or jonmartin.

15. What's a wip you want to finish, but don't think you ever will?

I don't think I have one? I have 4 wips currently. One has an ending well in sight. Another has 15k words already, and I refuse to let all that go to waste.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Descriptions and pacing! I've been told a few times that people enjoy reading my au's because I don't infodump all at once, I make the gathering of information feel natural and comfortable. I personally love my visual metaphors.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Time management. I'm generally very busy and get easily distracted. Getting myself to sit down and actually write is a pain.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I try to write around using another language if I don't know a native speaker who could help me. Writing in German would be no problem for me (I studied it in college), but I would shy away from anything else.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Attack on Titan (I was in 8th grade, lol). I published it on Wattpad, and it did fairly well before I deleted it.

20. Favorite fic you've written?

This is almost impossible to answer, but I loved writing "And Spring Will Come Again." It was for a fic exchange that I pinch hitted for. I went a bit overboard with the nature imagery and metaohors, but I had fun researching folklore + mythology. Anything that requires research is very fun to me.

I, sappho-of-space, hereby nominate @celestialepiphany .

[umbranstilettos]

Bayonetta Main Verse: 

v; The Witch in Remembrance | Arch Eve I

These are the events of Bayonetta/Bayonetta:Bloody Fate, where Cereza has no recollection of her memories as a witch she received an intel from Enzo her informant about the gem called the Right Eye, to which she was looking for a connection to her Umbran Watch hopeful that it will bring her memories back.

She suffers constant flashbacks from her childhood and her banishment being labelled as an outcast by her peers. She works as a nun in her day job to perform send offs to reach a quota with her infernal partners, she woke up instinctively to a journalist diver who was taken apart in front of her and with muscle memory she barely defended herself all she heard were cries from a child to which she tried to look for but she ran out of the scene immediately to take the attention off from the child.

Her special ability on this variant is Hoodlum Burial to which she has specialized torture devices to use of the forces of Paradiso. This variant is much more confident with her skills which often is the cause of her being vulnerable she does have Umbran Climax however when utilizing the following skill she will expend her own health and magic and would only bring the wrath of Madama Butterfly to do this taxing method of bringing out her powers she often brews a batch of rose-shaped lollipops with the use of Unicorn Horns to keep up.

In this timeline she managed to discover her past self as young Cereza the child whom she mysteriously encountered and protected awakening her past self creating a shift in the multiverse this is Pure Cereza the variant which will awaken to her full potential and will be the variant in Bayonetta 3.

//This verse will be mostly used for those who requests it and also those who want a flashback of the young Cereza during her banishment as a Witch in Training.

v; The Witch with Discerning Eyes | Arch Eve II

This Bayonetta variant walked the identical path of the first in this verse Cereza dealt with the God of Chaos during her adventure to save her friend Jeanne in Inferno when a shift in the power between the realms occurred. In this timeline Vigrid more technically advanced and moved on from the Ragna Religion which brought forth advancement and investors making it more friendly to tourists compared to the first game.

In this variant she utilizes Umbran Climax; she has the power of Hoodlum Burial but with much more dexterity and power to harness her demons using spirit magic to release a barrage of attacks to which each motion will release the wrath of inferno.

//This is the verse to which I will normally use for my interactions. I prefer the 2nd game from the first game and her style is just lovely on the 2nd game don’t you think?

v; The Witch of Genesis | Arch Eve III

This Bayonetta is Pure Cereza the variant whom in the first game was awaken by the Witch of Remembrance, this variant reflected the teachings of her mummy and stood up to her peers and the resistance of Umbran Elders to harness other techniques in her years as a Witch in Training. In this timeline she performed equal to Jeanne and both learned the ancient arts of Demon Slave to which beyond her pact with Madama Butterfly she could summon the whole entirety of her choice to do her dirty work for her in combat.

This variant survived The Witch Hunts and being banished by Lumen Sages in Europe she chose to embark on a new hometown found by Dutch settled which was called New Amsterdam present day New York.

This variant dealt with the wrath of Angels/Demons her years of experience with Bullet Arts made her more experienced with the other two and the influence of her childhood and her days as a witch affected her work ethic during battlefield and her emotion towards situations compared to other variants.

Powers

Bayonetta is a powerful witch that can cast spells, incantations, and hexes during melee attacks coupled with her summons and manipulation of time can be a deadly combination.

Physical

Bullet Arts: Bayonetta has an unprecedented skill for the Bullet Arts and shows near mastery of a new weapon whenever she picks it up. Her combat skills are brutal and graceful. Bayonetta possesses superhuman speed and agility, being able to perform numerous acrobatic feats with ease. She also appears to be extremely perceptive, able to evade attacks from all directions through anticipating her enemy movements in battle. She also has immense superhuman strength and endurance.

Superhuman Strength and Speed: Her superhuman strength gives her the ability to toss a satellite back at an aged Balder several times and headbutt an entire skyscraper thrown at her by the former as well as using only her lower body to redirect an even larger satellite at Aesir. She is also able to effortlessly lift the likes of a Belief and block and hold a thrusting attack from a Valiance. She also was able to physically toss back Fortitudo with the aid of her mother, Rosa. She also possesses great speed, being capable of keeping up with the likes of Balder during his younger years and well as fighting on par with the Umbra Witch, Jeanne, whom was stated to be either just as strong as her or stronger. She also can lift a light post and physically overpower the likes of Alraune.

Immortality: With the Umbran Watch said to be the source of the powers and ultimately the heart of an Umbra Witch, grants her immortality with it being shattered from her battle with Singularity resulted to her untimely death.

Magic

With centuries worth of experience of the Dark Arts in her end along with grasping the powers of creation from The Left Eye of Darkness, Bayonetta channels and directs her spirit energy to summon and demons and time manipulation to her advantage.

Torture Attacks: Bayonetta can summon multiple devices from Inferno to torture her enemies these devices are inspired from the Middle Ages her method of choice for killing Angels.

Wicked Weave: Her weaponry being created from different materials and alloys from the demonic world also has each of her summons attached to it thus with each weapon depending on which weapon she is wielding, she used the limbs of her summons to increase the damage of her attacks.

[thanks--for--listening]

divine monstrosity

Chapter 3: Camila 

I interrupt my string of shadow and bone posts with chapter 3 of my warrior nun fic that is definitely on time and not at all late. 

also on ao3. (chapter 1.) (chapter 2) (chapter 4)

~~~

“your beauty never ever scared me.”

—mary on a cross, ghosts 

It was three-thirty when she phased back into Cat’s Cradle. 

Her bedroom was on the west end of the building, but she entered on the east side instead. She had no use for that room anymore, except for carefully timed entrances and exits to hide the fact that sleep was no longer a part of her daily routine. 

But nobody would be up to see her arrive at this hour, and Lilith didn’t expect to stick around past dawn. Not tonight. She just needed more ammo. There was one person who would have the answers she needed, and she knew he’d be heavily guarded. She’d wasted enough time following the group as a whole looking for weak points — to end this, she needed to find the traitor himself. No matter the cost.

She reached the armory, grabbed what she could. Her body was weapon enough, but it never hurt to be prepared. 

Part of her longed to phase away, to start her new search immediately, but she knew there was little she could do at this hour. Wherever he was, Vincent wouldn’t move until the sun rose; she would kill him in the daylight. 

The only thing she struggled to kill was time. It was why she loathed nights like these. Left with nothing to do but wait, no one but herself for company, the restlessness grew to unbearable heights. It ate away at her, until her mind filled the quiet in her head with doubts and memories she’d rather forget. 

Tonight, she was thinking about her memorial. The one she’d stumbled upon after its completion. Ever since her conversation with Mother Superion a few weeks ago, she kept coming back to it. She wasn’t entirely sure why. 

Her legs dragged her to the main hall, went through the motions with muscle memory she hardly recalled. A ghost haunting her own house, there was an uncanniness to what was once familiar. It was as if, even though she could see it, could feel it, it was still somehow out of reach.

Cat’s Cradle could take part of the blame. It was particularly eerie at night. Too empty. The ancient architecture echoed, the sound of her footsteps reverberating all around her. She walked like a musician in an abandoned performance hall, followed by the spirit of notes that she no longer had the ability to play, desperate to both starve off the quiet and leave it undisturbed. 

The only light came from the moon outside; in its gaps of coverage, anything could be lurking in the dark. Nevertheless, she walked on. It helped, knowing that she was scarier than any monster she might find hiding in the shadows.

Lilith paused mid-stride when she felt it. Another heartbeat. Another body. She crept forward slowly, let her nails grow in anticipation as she moved toward the back of the hall. 

She found her lying on the piano bench, right next to where her picture had been. Her eyes were glued to the ceiling, completely oblivious to the fact that she had company. 

Lilith exhaled, moving forward with a little more weight in her step. 

“Camila.”

She gasped, nearly falling off the bench as she turned toward her. 

“Oh! Lilith.” She seemed to relax as she recognized her. Lilith wondered how long that would last, how much time she had before the sight of her invoked feelings of fear rather than comfort. “I didn’t know you were back.”

“I got in late,” she said, her words not entirely a lie. “Didn’t want to wake anyone.”

“Does that mean no news?”

Lilith shook her head. Camila’s face dropped, the glimmer of hope gone as soon as it arrived. 

“I’m heading out again in the morning,” she told her. “I’m going after Vincent.”

“You think you can find him? My tracking algorithms haven’t had any luck. It’s like he jumps into sight out of nowhere, does some stupid ritual, and then disappears again.”

“I’ll find him,” she promised. “He may be able to hide from the rest of the world, but he can’t hide from me.”

Camila nodded. She’d moved to a sitting position now, back to the old piano. The one she’d played for Shannon. Its keys were rotting, its strings not properly strung. The music that came from it could hardly be called such a thing, not with every note ringing wildly out of tune. And yet, when she’d sat there, when she’d added her voice to it, the beauty had been undeniable. 

Had anyone played for her, she wondered, when they’d thought her lost? Had Camila looked at the crowd with tears in her eyes and a sad smile on her face? In the midst of what was surely a period of upheaval, of frantic shifts in power and plans made from little more than desperation and prayer, had they found time to miss her? 

“You said you’re heading out in the morning?” 

Lilith nodded, refocusing on Camila. It was happening with more frequency. The dissociation. Losing small moments of time along with the big. Succumbing to the thoughts that slipped into her brain, thoughts that may or may not belong to her. It was impossible to tell anymore. The knowledge that someone else had taken residence before left doubt lingering after every image and instinct her mind conjured up.

“Then how come you’re still awake?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” she said in place of an answer. “Don’t you have morning service in a few hours?”

She’d meant it as a deflection, but the wrongness of the moment began to dawn on her. Camila only made it to morning service if she was dragged, and didn’t genuinely begin to wake until at least halfway through the sermon. 

“Yes, and I’m already up and ready to go. Aren’t you proud of me?”

Camila smiled as she spoke, but now that she was looking, Lilith could see right through her. It didn’t reach her eyes, which were surrounded by dark circles, etched too deeply to be the consequence of one sleepless night. 

“Camila,” she said slowly, “are you alright?”

“Of course I am.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

She tried to laugh it off, but the sound came out mangled. “Truly, I’m fine.” 

“People who are fine don’t sit in the dark at three in the morning.”

“You do.”

“Exactly.”

Self-preservation told her to hold her tongue, but she couldn’t help it. Camila wasn’t meant to look like that, light in her eyes so dim she could hardly find its shine. 

“It’s nothing,” she conceded. 

“Dreams?”

Camila bit her lip, which answered her question well enough. 

She’d already guessed the culprit — the problem was that Lilith was ill-equipped for this particular scenario. She’d never trained for it. Lacked the innate comfort found in Beatrice’s tone or Mary’s steadfast gaze. Hell, even Ava could be delicate when the moment dictated it. 

But she had always been sharp edges and harsh words. Providing comfort felt more unnatural to her than anything else. It was one of the only scenarios where her confidence wavered, where she looked to others for guidance. Mimicry had saved her countless times before, given her the answers she’d have never found on her own.

But Camila was still staring at the ground, hands fidgeting at her sides, and Lilith didn’t know what the right move was, but she knew she couldn’t stand there and do nothing. 

“Do you…want to talk about it?”

Camila shook her head; Lilith did her best to hide her sigh of relief. “No, I just…I just need to get out of my head, is all.”

That was something she could understand. “Sparring usually helps. It requires complete focus. No room for distraction.”

“It’s the same with playing.” She nodded to the keys behind her. “As a kid, I used to play at night a lot, whenever my mom worked late. Made the house feel less empty. Made me feel less alone.”

The image of a young Camila desperately clinging to music for companionship threatened to cut her hold on reality. Lilith forced herself to fight off the memories, to stay grounded in this moment, not get lost in any other.

“So play, then.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“It’s the middle of the night. I could handle the neighbors complaining, but I’m not going to wake the whole OCS. Not over something as pathetic as—“

She cut herself off. 

“As what?”

“Nothing.”

“Camila.”

“I can’t stop seeing it.” She spoke quickly, like she’d lose the words entirely if she paused for too long. “Mary drowning in all those bodies. Every time I close my eyes, I see it. And we’re all just standing there, completely helpless. And then we’re gone, and she’s...”

Oh. Somehow, she hadn’t considered that it would be her fault that Camila was up tonight. That they would both be haunted by her actions.

“And over all of it is that damned sound of Adriel laughing. Even when I wake, I still hear him. It’s like he’s in my head.” 

She was staring at her now, desperation in her eyes. Lilith had seen horrors that even her own mind hid from her, but nothing as upsetting as this anguish she knew was hers to blame.

Camila was the exact opposite of her. Kind where she was cruel. Gentle where she was rough. Lilith was the one who deserved sleepless nights and guilt that sat heavy on her shoulders; this pain was not meant for Camila to carry. 

Without thinking, she walked up to the bench. “Don’t panic,” she said as she wrapped her arms around her and willed them into the in between.

She could see exactly where they needed to go, and in the blink of an eye, there they were. Part of her was still slightly awed by her own ability, even if the otherworldliness was something she knew she should fear. Her mind echoed some parable about taking care of wishes lest they come true, but Lilith couldn’t help it — her entire life she’d fought to be remarkable. Now she finally was. 

Her body still clung to the rush that accompanied phasing no matter how many times she traveled. It was as if every one of the cells in her body was still vibrating with movement, energy that demanded a place to go. It was unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. Exhilaration in its purest form. 

The sight of her destination snuffed the feeling out rather quickly. The room was entirely unchanged since the last time she’d stepped inside. Cellar walls poorly disguised with hideous wallpaper. Chair in the corner that had never been used. Certificates in frames and medals on display, all for nobody to see. 

Despite its forthcomings, the baby grand sitting right in the center of it all commanded attention. Lilith wasn’t sure if anyone had maintained the tuning, but no matter the state, it had to be better than what they’d left behind. 

“Where are we?” Camila asked, eyes wide as she took in her surroundings. To her credit, she seemed unfazed by the mode of transportation.

“Somewhere you can play.”

Lilith watched her walk up to the piano slowly, as if it might disappear if she startled it. “It’s beautiful.”

“It’s out of practice.”

“That doesn’t take away from its beauty.”

Camila lifted the cover, let her fingers move delicately above the keys. 

“What’s it doing, hiding down here?”

“The walls keep the sound contained.”

Camila turned back toward her. “Who would ever want to trap music?”

The same woman who deemed it unnecessary despite her growing proficiency. The one who pulled her from her lessons, replaced her sheet music with fencing swords and her theory textbooks with Latin and Greek. Who didn’t hate the success, but simply struggled to see its value once it had taught her discipline and patience. 

“It doesn’t matter,” she finally answered. “Nobody will be bothered if you play down here.”

Slowly, Camila sat down. If she noticed the name engraved on the metronome to her left and the trophy to her right, she gave no indication. Even if she had, it wouldn’t be one she’d recognize. The girl who’d won those awards had stopped existing long before this body left this earth. 

Lilith supposed she’d mourned herself twice already. When she’d joined the OCS, when she’d disregarded who she’d been before, she’d thought she was evolving. Moving on to the next stage of her life. Becoming something bigger than she was. Not a death, but a rebirth. 

The irony was not lost on her. Nor was the awareness that, by her own standards, abandoning who she’d been should have been easier. It wasn’t as if it was a new phenomenon. She’d spent her whole life preparing for another transformation. It was the sole purpose of her existence. Her mother had always made that very clear. 

She wondered what she’d thought when she heard the news of her unfortunate death. Whether she’d felt anything but disappointment. It wasn’t like she hadn’t considered the possibility — according to her, it was better to have a meaningful life than a long one. How else could she justify the fact that they came from a family of martyrs?

At least Lilith could still claim to have fulfilled some element of her destiny. Mother had never even been in consideration for the Warrior Nun, let alone laid her life down for her. She’d hardly seen combat at all — her priority had been on maintaining appearances, on acquiring funding while keeping their secret. Desk work.

Lilith had never understood how she managed the contradiction. Demanding a life she’d never lived. A sacrifice she’d never given. But what confused her most was knowing that even now, when she could see the outrageousness of her mother’s expectations, part of her still longed for approval she knew she’d never get. 

The sound of a C Major arpeggio commanded her attention. Camila was staring at her. She wasn’t sure how long she’d spent looking, what she’d seen when Lilith’s mind had slipped into a vault of memories, burdened by thoughts she used to have the strength not to linger on. 

She stared back, waiting to see if her face would change. Waiting for the final shoe to drop, for her to see through her and discover exactly what she’d become. For her to run. Even the slightest of movements, the tiniest inkling of disgust, would confirm her descent into wickedness, would make certain that her very being was irredeemable. If Camila couldn’t see good in her, there was certainly none left.

Instead of revolting, she seemed to ease into her position when she realized she’d regained her attention.

“I take requests,” Camila said with a smile, looking like herself for the first time all night. 

When she’d offered before, using a tablet in Jillian’s lab, Lilith had been similarly lost in her mind, searching desperately for memories she had no access to. Her head had throbbed and her hold over herself wavered every moment. She’d snapped, but when Camila didn’t back down, she’d given in, drank the tea and tried to relax. Let herself smile for a few seconds.

She’d been promptly punished for it. Fire burned in her side the instant she’d let her guard down, hurting and healing the wound that killed her. 

The pain had faded since then, but her mind remained untethered. She should have learned her lesson, but still she longed for the relief, for the inexplicable comfort that came with Camila’s company. Lilith wanted to smile again, even if her body would take its revenge.

“Play something happy,” she answered softly.

She expected sarcasm, a joke at her expense, but Camila just stared at her and said, “I can do that.”

Her hands began moving quickly, plucking out a lighthearted melody. Lilith backed up and sat in the chair in the corner. The oddity of it was almost distracting — this room existed for the sole purpose of not having an audience. Her seat was intended to be mere decoration on the off chance guests wandered where they didn’t belong. But the pleasant sound grounded her, let the thoughts come and go without taking her with it.

Part of her was tempted to close her eyes, to allow the music to wash over her undeterred by her other senses. But to do so would mean losing sight of Camila, still smiling, eyes glued to the keys and hands moving freely across them. 

Her technique was unpolished, her path to each note made harder than it needed to be. The instinct to correct her was there, itching to come out, but she refused to listen to it. Not when she could be listening to her.

When she played, there was a freedom to her spirit, one that eradicated the presence of fear entirely. Lilith was certain she’d never felt the sting of a ruler against her knuckles, never felt the glare from the audience anticipating mistakes. She played with flaws, and yet instead of hindering the performance, they only made it better.

The piece came to its natural end, but Camila allowed only a breath of silence before she began again. The next one sounded much like the first, with bright staccatos accompanying an airy melody, but after a few moments it transitioned into something somber. The melodic line remained, but it had lost its energy, its joy. And when it returned, although she could tell the notation was unchanged, it no longer had the same quality that it had at the start.

If she still believed in omens, she’d have called it such. 

Eventually, that piece came to a close as well. Rather than cutting it off, Camila held the final chord, and Lilith wasn’t familiar with the song but she could recognize that the length was unwritten. The sound wouldn’t last forever, but Camila seemed determined to give it more time than it was meant to have, more importance than it deserved. 

Her efforts, however noble, were in vain. Silence won in the end, as it always did. 

“Do you want to play something?” Camila asked, turning toward her. 

“What makes you think I know how?”

“The way you looked at it.” She said it casually, but there was a sadness in the way she spoke, as if she could tell from just a glance that it was something she’d lost. 

Lilith thought about what it might feel like. She hadn’t played a note since her school days. Her sheet music had likely been thrown out, her muscle memory nearly nonexistent. There was no reason why she should say yes.

Despite herself, she still hesitated. Her mind remembered the effect that playing used to have on her. For a period of time, when her mother abandoned the lessons and she’d been forced to play in secret, creeping down on nights exactly like this one, it had been all she’d had. The one thing she did where she sought no one’s approval but her own. There had been something freeing in that. 

Staring at the piano, it was easy to imagine it now. She could practically see herself sitting there, playing for Camila, welcoming back that feeling of ease and satisfaction. Allowing this body to grab hold of that sensation, to familiarize itself with what it meant to be truly at peace. 

The temptation to say yes nearly overwhelmed her, but the longer she pictured it, the more reality crept in. She imagined long, dark nails leaving scratch marks all over the keys. Entire sections of the piece played without her recollection. Her hands jumping through space to reach the next notes. Music ruined, becoming another thing she could never return to. 

“No,” she answered. “You keep playing.”

“Alright,” Camila conceded without pushback. “But let me know if you change your mind. I don’t mind listening.”

She turned back, began playing something Lilith suspected was a pop ballad. Camila sang along this time, and although there was a tragic nature to the lyrics, she was still certain that it was a love song. 

Lilith usually hated those. For as long as she could remember, and much to her mother’s dismay, she’d preferred the harsh, brutal, unapologetic honesty found in punk music. They expressed emotions she’d never been allowed to, with confidence she sought to emulate. But with the soft cadence of her voice, the ache and awe no less raw or real, Camila could convert anyone.

The lyrics had depth to them. No grand statements, no simple pleasantries. The love it spoke of was a quiet kind. The asks were not big, but significant nonetheless. It was a concept she found both entirely foreign and yet strikingly familiar. 

Again, the song ended all too quickly. She waited to see how she’d respond, what she’d play next, but Camila just sat there, staring at the empty space where sheet music usually stood. 

“Hey, Lilith?” She said after a moment, turning to face her. 

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

Lilith couldn’t fight off the smile. “Play that one again.”

Camila’s grin widened, and she went back to the beginning, the initial chord progression returning as if it never left. 

In a few hours, Camila would be back in Cat’s Cradle. Despite her inexperience, she’d be leading them, working side by side with Mother Superion. Surrounded by faces who looked up to her, who saw talent with a computer and crossbow coupled with unbreakable spirit. She belonged there, in a way Lilith never had and never would again.

Come morning, Lilith would be hiding in shadows, following whispers until they led her where she needed to be. She would be giving in to her depravity, allowing it to become an asset, wondering when she’d finally cross a line she could not come back from. 

But right now, Camila was smiling. Music filled every inch of this lonely, hidden space, and it was all too easy to submit to it, to allow it to occupy the emptiness in her mind as well. 

[shipcestuous]

Some hot dads

Two of my favorite shows in the past year have been Silo and Mrs. Davis and they both happened to have shippable father/adult daughter relationships that I wanted to talk about briefly.

Silo is an Apple TV+ sci-fi/dystopian/mystery show that had a ten-episode first season and has been renewed for a second season. The main character is Juliette, played by Rebecca Ferguson. The premise of the show is that a population of several thousand people are living in a strictly-regulated underground silo and no longer have any history to tell them why. The worldbuilding is really good. Juliette is an engineer who lives at the very bottom of the silo and her father, Pete (played by Iain Glen) is a doctor who lives in the middle of the silo. They are estranged and as the season progresses we learn more about why. I'm getting into spoiler territory now, but only about one part of the story.

Juliette's mother and brother both died, and Pete did not handle it very well, putting himself into his work and leaving Juliette deal with a lot on her own. She flees to the bottom of the silo where she can focus on fixing things to get away from her grief. She's only 14 when she goes down there but Pete gives his permission because he knows he can't be what she needs. They don't really stay in touch and the rules of the silo don't allow for easy communication between the “mids” and the “down below”.

We also learn that Juliette believes Pete turned their mother into the authorities for breaking one of the silo's rules, and she has never been able to forgive him.

As the story progresses, she needs his help. He tries to mend their relationship but she isn't interested. However, she eventually learns that he did not turn her mother in, and immediately she wants to reconcile. They have a really touching scene and two very vibe-y hugs.

Especially since someone walks in on them the first time and they back away from each other and act all awkward and embarrassed.

Later hug:

One of my favorite scenes for them is earlier in the season. Juliette is climbing from the bottom levels up to the top levels, and she passes by where her father works. She gives it a very meaningful glance but also very intentionally doesn't stop there to see him.

I'm drawn to ships like this where there's a very organic tension but you can also imagine there's another reason underneath it. Juliette had a boyfriend who dies early on, and aside from that, she and Pete are both loners, and he doesn't seem to have remarried even though it has been 20 years. They're both still workaholics with no lives. They're a lot alike.

I will warn you that Pete is not in every episode and I think he and Juliette only interact in maybe 3 or 4 of the episodes. Saying anything at all about the ending would be too spoilery so I won't.

Mrs. Davis was an eight-episode miniseries made by Peacock. It's also a sci-fi slightly dystopian mystery, but a comedy, and a few other genres too, including being totally bonkers in mostly the best way. The plot is kind of complicated. But the main character is a nun named Sister Simone who wants to destroy a powerful A.I. that is basically running things. In order to do that, she is supposed to find and destroy the Holy Grail. This quest puts her on the trail of a woman named Clara. Clara came into possession of the Holy Grail and also wanted to destroy it, which is no simple task. In order to do that, she sought out the father she had never met, Arthur (played by Ben Chaplin), who is a scientist, hoping he could help her destroy it using his special laser.

Arthur and Clara are the father and daughter I want to talk about but they are not main characters in the series. There's really one main episode that deals with their relationship (episode 5), with a couple of bits and pieces scattered elsewhere. It really amounts to very little, but it's just so good.

Arthur is surprised to learn he has a daughter and doesn't particularly want anything to do with her.

However, due to his skepticism that what she has brought him really is the grail, he makes a pact to help her destroy it, thinking it will be easy and quick. We jump 10 years later and they still haven't managed to destroy it, getting together about once a month to try something new. At some point, it seems like the the destruction excursions became just excuses to spend time together.

I shipped it already, because I'm me, but the moment that made me ship it a lot and want to tell you all about it was when Clara suggests that she drink from the grail, which she knows for reasons I won't explain might cause something dramatic to happen. Arthur doesn't want her to do it, both because he doesn't want it to work (no more excuses to hang out) and because he's afraid it'll be dangerous. He suggests they throw it in a volcano instead, and then proposes a tropical vacation. It sounds like he mostly just wants to hang out at the beach with her. It sounded so much like a romantic couple vacation I almost died. Or more than a vacation. It really sounds like he wouldn't mind just living there with her forever. I don't want to overhype it, but I had to do a clip so you can make your own judgment anyway.

Unfortunately, without spoiling anything, I'll just say that something happens that means that Arthur and Clara can't be together after their scenes together in the show so you can't imagine them getting together later. I'll just have to imagine they hooked up at some point before.

Ben Chaplin and Iain Glen are both, dare I say, DILFs and look quite good for their ages. Their characters have extremely pretty adult daughters and lots of delicious awkward tension. Enough said, really.