#this one is much softer than the last one

[lila-lou]

✨Taking her in - Pt. 11✨

Summary: After Dean Winchester saves your life, he brings you into the safety of the bunker. As you grow older and stronger, Dean refuses to let you join the hunts, his overprotective behavior intensifying. But beneath his fierce protectiveness lies something darker—conflicted feelings he can’t face. As your 18th birthday approaches, Dean struggles to keep control, torn between his duty to protect you and emotions he’s buried for too long.

Pairing: Dean x Reader

Warnings: 18+ only! Smut, HUGE Age Gap, Immoral, Underage Reader, Language, ANGST, Fluff

Word Count: 8149

A/N: English isn’t my first language, please be lenient. 💜

By the time Jack brought you back to the bunker, the place felt eerily quiet. You hadn’t expected that—usually, there was some noise, whether it was Sam typing away on his laptop or Dean working on the Impala. But tonight, it was different. As you stepped through the door, the silence seemed almost oppressive, heightening the unease that had settled in your chest.

You took a few steps further into the bunker, glancing around as you called out, “Hello? Anyone here?”.

The sound of your voice echoed slightly in the empty space, but there was no immediate response. You couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, that there was an energy in the air that you couldn’t quite place. You set your bag down on the nearest chair and wandered deeper into the bunker, the quiet starting to make you feel a little on edge.

Then, you heard a door open and close down the hall, followed by the familiar sound of footsteps. A moment later, Dean appeared, stepping out from the hallway that led to the showers. His hair was damp, and he was still rubbing a towel over his head, dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans. The casual look contrasted sharply with the tension that seemed to radiate from him.

“Hey”, you said, your voice a little softer now, as if the quiet of the bunker demanded it. You tried to gauge his expression, but Dean’s face was carefully neutral, making it hard to read what he was thinking.

“Hey”, Dean replied, his voice just as soft. He finished towel-drying his hair and slung the towel over his shoulder, trying to act as casual as possible despite the whirlwind of emotions brewing inside him. He glanced around. “Sam’s out for the night”.

The information took you by surprise. “Oh”, you said, glancing around as if expecting to see Sam somewhere nearby. “Did he say where he was going?”.

Dean shook his head, trying to keep his tone light. “Nah, just said he had something to take care of. But… it’s just us tonight”.

The way he said it made your heart skip a beat, and you could feel the tension between you and Dean thickening the air. You weren’t sure what had changed, but something about the way he was looking at you felt different—more intense, more focused.

You took a deep breath. “Is everything okay?”, you asked, your voice laced with concern.

Dean’s eyes met yours, and for a moment, he hesitated. There were so many things he wanted to say, so many emotions he needed to get off his chest, but finding the right words felt impossible. He could see the concern in your eyes, the same concern that had been there for weeks.

Dean hesitated for just a moment, the weight of the conversation he knew the two of you needed to have pressing down on him like a heavy stone. But as much as he wanted to be honest, to finally clear the air between the two of you, the fear of what might happen if he did was too strong. The last thing he wanted was to make things even more complicated, to risk saying something that would push you further away.

So instead, he forced a smile—one that didn’t quite reach his eyes—and shook his head, brushing off your concern. “Everything’s fine”, he said, his voice a little too casual. “Just a long day, you know?”.

You didn’t believe him, not for a second. You could see the tension in his posture, the way he was avoiding your gaze, but you knew better than to push. If Dean wasn’t ready to talk, there was no forcing it. But the unease in your chest didn’t go away, and you couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

Dean, noticing the lingering concern in your eyes, quickly changed the subject. “You probably want to take a shower after being out all day”, he said, his tone lighter. “There’s plenty of hot water left”.

It was such a mundane suggestion, such a clear attempt to shift the focus away from whatever was really going on, that it almost made you laugh. But instead, you nodded, deciding to go along with it for now. Maybe a hot shower would help clear your mind, give you a moment to collect your thoughts before figuring out what to do next.

“Yeah, that sounds good”, you replied, offering him a small smile before turning to head towards the bathroom.

After taking your time in the shower, letting the hot water soothe your muscles and clear your mind as best as it could, you finally stepped out and dried off. You dressed in a simple pair of shorts and a tank top, trying to shake off the lingering unease that had settled over you since you returned to the bunker. You knew something was bothering Dean—something that went beyond just having a long day—but you also knew how stubborn he could be when it came to opening up.

When you emerged from the bathroom, the faint sound of clinking bottles drew you towards the kitchen. As you rounded the corner, you saw Dean leaning against the counter, a beer in hand. It was his third, judging by the two empty bottles beside him. He stared down at the bottle in his hand as if it held the answers to the questions swirling in his mind.

The sight of him like that—alone, brooding, and clearly lost in thought—made your heart ache.

“Hey”, you said softly as you entered the kitchen, your voice gentle so as not to startle him.

Dean looked up, surprised to see you standing there. His eyes flickered over you for a moment, taking in your relaxed appearance, before he offered a small, tight-lipped smile.

You hesitated, the words you wanted to say caught in your throat. The silence between you had stretched on for far too long, and you knew it was time to address it, no matter how uncomfortable it might be. Taking a deep breath, you stepped closer to him, the concern in your eyes reflecting the weight of the past two months.

“We haven’t talked in over two months, Dean”, you finally said, your voice quiet but firm. “Today’s the first day you’ve actually talked to me”.

Dean winced slightly at your words, the truth of them hitting him harder than he wanted to admit. He had been avoiding you, avoiding this conversation, and now it was all coming to a head. He looked away, his grip tightening around the beer bottle as he tried to find the right words.

“I know”, he muttered, his voice thick with regret. “I’ve been… avoiding it. Avoiding you”.

You could see the guilt etched into his features, the way his shoulders slumped under the weight of it all. The tension between you was palpable, and your heart ached as you watched him struggle with his emotions.

“It’s okay, Dean”, you said quietly, trying to keep your voice steady despite the pain you felt. “I know you don’t feel the same way I do”.

Dean’s head snapped up at your words, his eyes wide with surprise and something else—something that looked almost like fear. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, he just stared at you, the conflict in his eyes deepening.

“You don’t have to explain”, you continued, trying to give him an out, to make it easier for both of you. “I get it. Whatever happened between us… it was a mistake. You’ve been avoiding me because you didn’t want to hurt me, and I appreciate that. But you don’t have to keep pretending, Dean. I understand”.

Dean’s grip tightened on the beer bottle, his knuckles turning white as he struggled to find the right words. The last thing he wanted was for you to think he didn’t care, that he didn’t feel something. But the fear of what those feelings meant, of what they could lead to, had kept him silent for too long.

“It’s not that simple”, he finally managed to say, his voice rough with emotion. “It’s not that I don’t feel anything. I do. But… it scares the hell out of me, (Y/N). You mean so much to me, and I don’t want to screw this up. I don’t want to hurt you”.

The sincerity in Dean’s voice made your heart ache, but it was his next words that truly unraveled you. As you looked at him, the depth of your feelings shining through in your gaze, you saw something crack in his expression. His usual tough exterior seemed to falter, revealing a vulnerability you hadn’t seen before.

Your eyes, wide and filled with unspoken love, seemed to be more than he could bear. Dean’s face twisted slightly in an expression of near-pain as he brought a hand up to rub his face, almost as if trying to shield himself from the intensity of your gaze.

“Don’t… don’t look at me like that”, he said, his voice a rough whisper, laced with a whine that you’d never heard from him before. It was as though your gaze alone was enough to break him down, to make him face the emotions he’d been desperately trying to push away.

The way he reacted—the way he seemed almost pained by the love in your eyes—made you hesitate. Your heart was pounding in your chest, torn between wanting to comfort him and the fear that you were only making things worse. You had never seen Dean so vulnerable, so raw, and it scared you as much as it tugged at your heartstrings.

You took a slow, cautious step closer to Dean, your heart pounding in your chest as you closed the distance between you. Every inch felt like a mile, and with each step, the tension in the room grew thicker, the air charged with the weight of everything left unsaid. Dean’s breath hitched as you moved closer, his body going rigid as if he were bracing himself for something he couldn’t quite handle.

When you finally stood in front of him, close enough that you could feel the warmth radiating from his body, Dean froze. His eyes were locked on yours, and for a moment, neither of you moved. It was as if time had stopped, leaving you both suspended in the moment, teetering on the edge of something that could change everything.

Dean’s chest rose and fell sharply, his breath shallow as he battled the storm of emotions raging inside him. His eyes stayed locked on yours, searching, questioning, fighting the pull he felt deep in his gut. He could see the vulnerability in your gaze, the quiet plea for him to let go, to stop fighting something that felt so inevitable.

You hesitated for a moment, your heart pounding in your ears, before you finally found the courage to speak. “Dean”, you whispered, your voice barely above a breath, “with the life we live, no one would judge. We don’t even know that many people. This… this is between us”.

For a long moment, Dean stayed quiet, his expression conflicted. The weight of your words hung in the air between you, the truth of them undeniable. The world you lived in was unpredictable, dangerous. There wasn’t time for regrets or what-ifs. You knew that, and you were asking him to see it too.

But what truly undid him wasn’t just your words—it was the look in your eyes. The love, the trust, the unwavering belief that this was something real, something worth taking the risk for. He couldn’t fight it anymore.

Without another word, something inside Dean shifted. The tension in his body melted away as he closed the gap between you in one swift, decisive motion. His hands cupped your cheeks, rough and warm, grounding you in the moment as he drew you closer. And then, with a tenderness that nearly broke your heart, he pressed his lips to yours, featherlight at first, as if testing the waters of a moment he had tried so hard to deny.

The kiss was soft, tentative, and filled with the weight of everything unspoken between you. Dean’s lips lingered on yours, warm and gentle, his touch both reassuring and filled with longing. You responded instinctively, your hands finding their way to his chest, fingers gripping his shirt as you leaned into him, the feeling of being this close to him sending a shiver down your spine.

Dean deepened the kiss slowly, his hands sliding from your cheeks to the back of your neck, pulling you even closer as the floodgates of emotion finally opened. There was a rawness to the kiss, an unspoken promise that everything had changed in that moment—that neither of you could go back to the way things were before.

With one swift motion, Dean tugged you closer, lifting you effortlessly and placing you on the edge of the counter without breaking the kiss. Your breath hitched as his body pressed against yours, the heat between you intensifying as he stepped between your legs. His hands gripped your waist, pulling you flush against him.

Your heart raced as Dean's hands slid lower, gripping your hips before settling on your ass, pulling you even tighter against him. The intensity of the moment made you dizzy, your entire body reacting to the heat and desire that was building between you. You couldn’t help the soft gasp that escaped your lips as the friction between your bodies ignited a fire deep inside of you.

Dean’s lips moved with a newfound urgency, the kiss deepening as his tongue teased yours, and you melted into him, letting the wave of passion take over. The hunger in his touch was palpable, and you could feel his restraint slipping away with each passing second. His rough hands caressed your body, leaving a trail of heat wherever they roamed.

As he pressed harder against you, your body instinctively arched into his, seeking more of the delicious friction. You could feel his erection straining against his jeans, pressing insistently against your core, and the sensation was almost overwhelming. Your breath hitched again, a soft moan escaping your lips as the intensity of the moment threatened to consume you.

Dean broke the kiss, his breathing ragged as he rested his forehead against yours, his eyes dark with desire. “Tell me to stop”, he whispered, his voice low and hoarse with need. “If you don’t want this, tell me to stop”.

But stopping was the furthest thing from your mind. You shook your head, your voice barely above a whisper as you replied, “I don’t want you to stop, Dean. I want this. I want you”.

That was all the permission Dean needed. With a growl of raw need, he captured your lips again, his hands roaming your body with a newfound urgency. You clung to him, your fingers tangling in his hair as the world around you disappeared.

The heat between you and Dean was overwhelming, almost too much to handle. Every touch, every movement sent your senses into overdrive. You could barely think, barely process the flood of emotions and desire that had built up over the months. It was like everything you had felt for Dean was coming to a head all at once, and you could do nothing but surrender to it.

Dean’s lips left yours, trailing down your jaw, leaving a hot, tingling sensation in their wake. The rough stubble of his chin brushing against your skin made you shiver, adding to the intensity of the moment. His lips moved to your neck, finding that sensitive spot just below your ear, and the second his mouth touched it, a moan escaped your lips, unbidden and raw.

No one had ever touched you like this before. No one had ever kissed you in a way that made you feel like you were coming undone. Every brush of Dean’s lips, every press of his body against yours, was electric. Your whole body felt alive in a way it never had before, and you could feel the wetness pooling between your legs as desire coursed through you.

Dean’s hands gripped your hips, his fingers digging in just enough to leave an imprint of his need. You could feel how much he wanted this, how much he wanted you, and the realization only made your own desire burn hotter. He groaned softly against your neck, his breath hot against your skin, and the sound of it sent a shiver down your spine.

Your hands clung to him, desperate for more contact, more of him. The way his body pressed against yours, the way his lips moved over your skin—it was everything you had wanted for so long, and now that it was happening, you could barely contain yourself.

“Dean”, you breathed, your voice shaking with desire. You didn’t even know what you wanted to say, only that you needed him to know how much you needed him.

Dean’s hands moved up, tangling in your hair as he pulled you closer, his lips now at your collarbone. He kissed you there, slow and deliberate, as if savoring every inch of your skin.

Dean’s lips continued their slow, deliberate trail across your collarbone, his kisses growing more fervent as he marked you with his touch. Each brush of his lips was like a spark against your skin, igniting a deeper flame of desire within you. The moans that escaped your lips were soft, almost involuntary, as the sensations overwhelmed you.

With a sudden surge of need, Dean picked you up effortlessly, his strength and urgency clear as he began walking towards his room. Your legs wrapped instinctively around his waist, and you clung to him, breathing heavily, your heart pounding in your chest.

As you both moved, you took the chance to press a kiss to his stubbled jaw, your lips brushing against his rough skin. The contact was tender but full of your own desperate longing. Dean groaned softly, the sound of your touch making him tighten his grip on you.

When you reached his room, Dean kicked the door open with a firm nudge of his foot, the creaking of the hinges echoing slightly in the quiet room. He moved with a purpose, his focus solely on the intense connection between you both.

As he carried you inside, you could feel the solid strength of his body against yours, the warmth radiating from him almost overwhelming. Your heart raced in sync with the thudding of his chest beneath your hands.

Dean carefully lowered you onto the bed, his movements tender despite the urgency of the moment. The mattress gave softly beneath you. He didn’t break the kiss as he maneuvered you both into a more comfortable position, his hands still gripping your hips with a mixture of passion and reverence.

Once you were settled, Dean’s hands moved to your waist, gently yet firmly guiding you to lie back against the pillows.

Your fingers tangled in Dean’s hair as he began to kiss down your throat, his lips brushing against your skin with a mixture of tenderness and urgency. Each kiss felt deliberate, as though he was savoring the moment, and you couldn’t help the soft, breathless moan that escaped your lips.

Dean’s hands moved with the same careful precision, gripping your waist firmly yet tenderly, holding you in place as his lips traveled lower.

Your back arched slightly off the bed, pressing yourself closer to him, needing more of his touch, more of the warmth that was spreading through you with each kiss. Dean responded by tightening his hold on you, his fingers trailing along the curve of your waist, his touch grounding you in the moment.

He kissed the hollow of your throat, then the curve of your collarbone, taking his time as if he wanted to memorize every inch of you.

“Stop me if you don’t want this”, he said, the words coming out almost as a plea, a last attempt to make sure this was truly what you both wanted.

Without hesitation, you gently pressed him tighter against you by the back of his head, your fingers tangling in his hair as you pulled him closer. The action was a clear answer, a silent confirmation that you wanted this, that you wanted him, without any more reservations or hesitations.

As you reassured him with your actions, Dean’s movements grew more confident, more deliberate. He gently pulled your top over your head, a sharp intake of breath escaping him as he took in the sight of you.

Seeing you there, your bare skin exposed to him, stirred something deep within Dean. It wasn’t just desire—it was admiration, awe, and a profound appreciation for the beauty and trust you displayed. You started to instinctively bring your arms up, a natural reaction to cover yourself, but Dean was quicker. He gently caught your wrists, lowering them back down as he leaned in, his lips pressing a warm, reassuring kiss against your collarbone.

“They’re small”, you mumbled, a trace of shame in your voice. “I know you usually prefer them… bigger, but—”.

Dean’s expression softened, and he cut you off with a tender touch. “Don’t”, he said, his voice low but firm.

“You have no idea how damn perfect you are”, he murmured, his voice rough with emotion.

His eyes moved from yours down to your chest, his gaze full of admiration and desire. “Doesn’t matter what I’ve liked before. You’re it for me”.

Dean leaned back slightly, his eyes never leaving yours as he carefully cupped one of your breasts with his large, warm hand. The contrast between his size and the delicate curve of your body was striking, and he marveled at the sensation of your skin beneath his fingers.

His hand enveloped your breast completely, the pads of his fingers reaching nearly up to your collarbone as he explored the softness with a gentle, reverent touch. He kneaded your breast slowly, his fingers applying just the right amount of pressure, and a deep, appreciative groan escaped him.

The feeling of his touch was electric, sending waves of pleasure through you. Your breath hitched, the sensation of his hands exploring you making your body respond instinctively. You closed your eyes for a moment, focusing on the overwhelming pleasure and the warmth of his touch.

Dean’s own breath growing heavier with each passing second, as he watched your reaction.

As he gently brushed his thumb over your hardened nipple, the simple touch sent a shiver through your entire body, eliciting another soft moan from your lips.

“Has anyone ever touched you like this?”, he asked, his voice deep and quiet, the vibration of it mingling with the warmth of his breath against your skin. There was a vulnerability in his question, a cautious curiosity about your past experiences, as if he was both afraid to know and needed to hear the answer.

You opened your eyes, meeting his gaze with a mixture of desire and sincerity. “No”, you whispered, the word barely escaping your lips as you responded to his touch.

Dean’s actions intensified, his touch skillful and purposeful as he delicately rolled your nipple between his thumb and forefinger. The sensation built slowly, a growing heat that made your breaths come quicker, each exhale a soft moan escaping your lips. His attention to your response, his focus on giving pleasure was evident in his every move.

As he dipped his head lower, his breath hot against your skin, he kissed his way across your chest. The anticipation built with each gentle kiss until his lips finally enveloped your right nipple, sucking gently while his fingers continued their delicate work on your left. The dual stimulation was overwhelming, the pleasure sharp and sweet.

You shook under his touch, a cry escaping your lips as a sudden rush of intense pleasure washed over you. It was unexpected, powerful, and left you trembling. Dean’s eyes, locked on your face, held a look of awe and surprise, mixed with a deep satisfaction at seeing your uninhibited response.

As the wave of your climax ebbed, Dean gently eased the intensity of his touch, his lips softening as they lingered on your skin, his fingers easing their pressure, allowing you to catch your breath. The room was filled with the sound of your heavy breathing and the quiet hum of the bunker’s distant machinery.

“You’re quite responsive”, he murmured, his voice low and thick with emotion.

Despite the tenderness of the moment, the physical intensity of his desire was undeniable. He could feel the throbbing ache of his arousal, constrained and increasingly uncomfortable within the confines of his jeans. He made a subtle adjustment, trying to ease the pressure without drawing too much attention to his state.

He maintained eye contact, his gaze never wavering from yours. There was a question in his eyes, a silent inquiry about how far you wanted to go, what you were comfortable with.

To make your intentions clearer, you reached up and gently cupped his face, pulling him towards you. Your kiss was soft but insistent. The way your lips met his, the gentle pressure and the warmth, was meant to reassure him that you were fully present, that you wanted to continue.

Dean responded to your kiss with a deep, satisfied groan, his arms wrapping around you more firmly. The pressure of his arousal was palpable, and he shifted slightly, trying to manage the intense need he felt. As you gently tugged on his shirt, he took the hint, his hands moving to assist you.

He began to lift his shirt over his head, his gaze locked on yours as he did so.

As Dean sat back on his heels, his gaze never leaving yours, you took a deep breath, summoning your courage. The moment felt fragile, a delicate balance between desire and nervous anticipation. You hesitated for just a moment before slowly placing your palm against his chest.

The feel of his skin beneath your hand was different from anything you had experienced before. The warmth of his body, the solid muscle, and the slight texture of his chest hair were all new sensations. You moved your hand cautiously, exploring the contours of his chest, tracing the defined lines of his muscles with a mix of curiosity and reverence.

Dean’s response was immediate. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, his breath catching as he felt your touch. The sensation of your hand moving over him, so tentative yet full of intent, elicited a low, appreciative groan.

He leaned into your touch, his hands resting on your hips, encouraging you to explore further if you wanted.

Your hand trailed lower, tracing the contours of Dean’s ribs down to his stomach. You were acutely aware of his breathing, the rise and fall of his chest more pronounced as you approached the edge of his v-line.

The intensity of the moment spiked as you moved your hand lower, guided by curiosity. But just as you were about to venture further, Dean’s hand swiftly caught your wrist, his grip firm yet gentle.

Your heart skipped a beat, fear flickering through you as you worried you might have crossed a line. You looked up at Dean, your cheeks warming with a blush, but his expression was not one of reprimand. Instead, his eyes were dark with desire, his breath uneven.

“If you gonna touch me there”, he mumbled, his voice thick with arousal and a hint of amusement, “I’m gonna fucking come in my damn pants”.

His candid admission, raw and unguarded, made you pause—a mix of surprise and a deep, thrilling rush of excitement washed over you.

“Okay”, you whispered, your voice laced with a teasing tone, acknowledging the boundary he had set with a newfound understanding of the depth of his arousal. “We wouldn’t want that, would we?”.

Dean let out a breathy laugh, the sound mixed with relief and desire. His fingers loosened around your wrist, but he didn’t let go, choosing instead to guide your hand back up to safer territory. As he placed your hand over his heart, you could feel its rapid beat beneath your palm.

Dean’s touch was reverent as he approached the waistband of your shorts. His heart pounded loudly in his chest, a rhythm you could feel under your palm as your hand still rested there. The moment was charged with a mix of excitement and nervous energy as you felt him begin to gently pull down your shorts and panties together.

As the fabric slid down your legs, exposing you further, a wave of vulnerability washed over you. Instinctively, you pressed your thighs together, an involuntary reaction to the sudden exposure. The blush that spread across your cheeks deepened, a mix of desire and a shy apprehension filling you.

Dean’s touch was gentle as he brushed his fingers slowly up and down your thighs, his movements soothing yet filled with intent.

His voice was soft, almost a whisper. “Wanna open up for me, sweetheart?”, he murmured. The way he said it, so softly and respectfully, made your heart skip a beat. His words, combined with the tender way he was touching you, made your entire body respond instinctively.

A deeper flush spread across your cheeks, and you could feel a flutter of nervous excitement mixed with a powerful, undeniable arousal. With a slow, deep breath, you gave a nod, your eyes meeting his with a blend of trust and desire.

Dean’s touch was gentle as he spread your legs slowly, his eyes dropping to your glistening folds. The sight of you, so vulnerable and exposed, made his breath catch in his throat. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself as he bit his tongue to hold back the flood of feelings rushing through him.

His gaze locked with yours. “You want me to touch you?”, he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, thick with anticipation.

With a soft, breathy reply, you nodded slightly.

Dean’s eyes stayed locked on yours. His fingers traced lightly along the inside of your thighs, starting at the top and moving slowly downward. The sensation of his touch was warm and almost tickling, sending shivers across your skin. He paused briefly, letting his fingers linger just above your folds, giving you time to adjust to the sensation and to the growing tension.

When he finally touched you, his fingers made a delicate, tentative exploration. He started with gentle strokes along your outer lips, feeling the softness and the heat of your skin. His touch was feather-light, almost reverent, as if he was savoring each moment. He could feel the way your body responded to his touch, the way you quivered and your breaths quickened.

As he continued, he applied a bit more pressure, his fingers gently parting your folds. The sensation was intimate and intense, a new kind of pleasure that made your body respond in ways you hadn’t anticipated.

He used his thumb to trace small, deliberate circles around your clit. You could feel the growing heat and moisture, the pleasure building gradually as his touch became more confident, more attuned to your reactions. Your breathing grew uneven, each exhale a soft moan of pleasure that was met with Dean’s quiet, encouraging hums.

“You’re so damn wet”, he murmured, his voice low and laden with desire. He took a moment to spread your wetness around with his thumb, ensuring his touch was as smooth as possible. The sounds of your arousal were evident, adding to the intimacy of the moment.

You mumbled an apology, feeling a mix of embarrassment and pleasure. Your voice barely audible amidst the heavy breaths and quiet moans.

“That’s a damn good thing, Sweetheart”, he said with a cheeky grin.

With a deliberate slowness, Dean positioned himself above you, his body close to yours. One hand remained beside your head, offering support and stability, while his other hand stayed between your bodies, a comforting presence as he began to gently push a finger inside you.

The sensation was both intimate and overwhelming, a new kind of pleasure as Dean’s finger slowly entered you. He was careful, his movements measured and deliberate, feeling the tightness of your body around him. The sensation of just one finger, the way you enveloped him, was intense for both of you. Dean’s breath caught in his throat as he felt how incredibly tight you were.

You could feel the stretch and the pressure, the way your body responded to his touch. The initial invasion was slow and carefully controlled, a gentle introduction to the new sensations. Dean’s eyes remained locked on yours, his expression a mix of concentration and deep affection.

He took his time, allowing you to adjust to the sensation of his finger inside you.

His finger moved with deliberate intent, slowly stretching and exploring as he sought to open you up. His touch was gentle but persistent, aiming to make you as comfortable as possible while preparing you for more. The sensation of his finger working inside you was a blend of pressure and pleasure, a new experience that made you shiver and gasp.

Despite the careful and attentive approach, your body remained incredibly tight around his finger.

As Dean continued to gently work his finger inside you, the pleasure built to a peak, causing you to climax once again. The wave of pleasure hit you with such force that you shook beneath him, your body trembling as you clung to his biceps.

As the waves of your climax began to recede, Dean gently withdrew his finger, his touch lingering for a moment longer before he pulled away. He resisted the urge to lick his finger clean, not wanting to scare you just yet, but damn, the urge was there.

Your eyes were fixed on Dean as he opened his belt and the zipper of his jeans.

When Dean finally freed his erection from the confines of his jeans, it was larger than you had anticipated. The sight of him was both awe-inspiring and intimidating, the size of his dick catching you by surprise. Your eyes widened slightly, a mix of curiosity and nervousness playing across your face as you took in the sight.

Dean positioned himself above you once more, his eyes searching yours for any sign of hesitation or discomfort.

He took a deep breath, his gaze softening as he asked quietly, “Are you sure about this?”.

You could feel the intensity of the moment building, your breath growing heavier as your heart raced in response.

Despite the nerves and the racing of your heart, you nodded.

Dean positioned himself at your entrance, his hands were steady and gentle as he guided himself slowly.

He began to ease into you, the initial contact was slow and tender, allowing you time to adjust to the feeling of him. The sensation of his head pressing against your entrance was a mix of pressure and warmth, a new and intimate experience that made you both shiver.

Dean’s eyes moved between your face and the point where you two were connected. Each inch he progressed was measured, ensuring you were as comfortable as possible. His own breath was ragged, the effort of holding back his own pleasure evident in the tension in his jaw and the way he gripped himself to maintain control.

He pressed forward gently, his breath caught as he felt the slight barrier. His hand, which had been steady and supportive on your hips, tightened slightly.

As Dean finally breached the barrier of your hymen, a soft cry escaped your lips, your grip on his biceps tightening instinctively for support. The sensation was intense, a mix of sharp pain and the profound connection that was unfolding.

Dean’s eyes were locked onto your face. He let out a deep, throaty groan as he continued to slide inside you, his movements slow and deliberate. The tightness around him was overwhelming, and he could feel every inch. The pressure was almost too much for him to handle; he had to hold tightly to himself, a struggle against his own burgeoning climax.

Dean’s breathing grew more labored as he finally bottomed out, fully sheathed within you. He remained still for a moment, allowing you to adjust to his full presence.

His hands, which had been gripping your hips gently, now caressed your sides, providing a soothing presence as he watched you closely. You could feel the heat and the firmness of him inside you, the sensation both overwhelming and deeply intimate.

“You good?”, he asked, his voice heated and thick with emotion, the words barely more than a whisper as he searched your eyes for reassurance. .

You bit your lip, trying to manage the pressure and discomfort. Despite the overwhelming fullness and the intense pressure you felt in your lower belly, you nodded. The sensation of his size was indeed considerable, but you were willing to endure it.

Dean felt the tightness around him, the way you clenched involuntarily, and it made his struggle to hold back even more difficult. His body was reacting strongly to the pressure and the warmth of you. The sensation of you being so tight around him was both incredibly stimulating and a significant test of his restraint.

He remained still for a moment longer, his hands gently caressing your sides, offering comfort as he tried to ease the intensity of the moment. His focus was on you, on making sure you were okay, before he began to move.

Once he was confident that you were managing the sensation and that you were comfortable enough, he began to move.

He slowly withdrew from you. He took in a deep breath, his chest rising and falling with the effort of maintaining control.

Dean’s gaze remained fixed on his dick. He could see how tightly you were gripping him, how each movement affected you.

Dean’s voice was filled with a strained reverence as he spoke, his breath heavy and uneven. “You feel so damn amazing”, he grunted, his gaze locked onto the sight of his dick surrounded by your folds.

As he continued to move, he remained attentive to your responses. His hands were tender on your sides, occasionally brushing your skin to offer reassurance and comfort. His eyes flicked between your face and where you were connected, watching for any sign of discomfort or pleasure.

As Dean continued his careful, deliberate movements, the pressure and fullness you felt remained intense. Soft, strained moans escaped your lips with each thrust, the mix of pleasure and discomfort evident in your sounds. Your nails dug into his biceps, the pain and the sensation of him stretching you causing a continuous, deep reaction.

Dean´s groans grew deeper, strained with the effort of holding back his own climax. “I’m—fuck”, he started to say, the words breaking off as he struggled to keep his composure.

Just as he was about to tell you how close he was, you whimpered his name, the sound so sweet and vulnerable. The way you spoke his name in that moment was enough to push him over the edge. With a deep, shuddering groan, Dean came inside you, his body tensing and shivering with the release.

His hot cum filled you. His face was buried in the crook of your neck, his breath hot and heavy against your skin, while he was pulsing inside you.

“I.. Sorry”, he mumbled quietly, his voice muffled but sincere.

He felt a mix of embarrassment and disappointment, his quick climax not something he was accustomed to. The sensation of being inside you, combined with your incredible tightness, had proven overwhelming in a way he hadn’t anticipated. His usual control was tested to its limit.

You, on the other hand, were relieved that the intensity was over. The pressure and discomfort you had felt were significant, the brief duration of his climax had spared you from further discomfort.

As Dean lifted his head to look at you, his eyes were full of concern. His brow was furrowed slightly, the depth of his emotions clearly visible. “You okay?”, he asked quietly, his voice laced with worry. “Any pain?”. His hand moved gently to brush a strand of hair from your face, his touch tender and cautious.

You managed a small smile, appreciating his concern. “I’m okay”, you reassured him, your voice soft. “It was a lot, but I’m alright”.

Dean let out a breath, the tension easing from his body as he heard your reassuring words. However, a hint of shame lingered in his expression, since he hadn’t lasted as long as he had hoped. He was used to being in control, and the intensity of the moment had overwhelmed him in ways he hadn’t expected.

He glanced down between your bodies, taking in the sight of the mess you both had made. A mixture of his release, your wetness, and a few drops of blood. “Fuck”, he grumbled softly, his voice laced with a mix of frustration and guilt.

Carefully, Dean began to pull out, his movements slow, not wanting to cause you any more discomfort. As he withdrew, more of the combined fluids dripped down your thighs, the sight making him bite the inside of his cheek. He had wanted this moment to be perfect for you, but now all he could think about was whether he had pushed you too hard, too fast.

As he absently moved down his waist, to pull off a condom—a habit that should have been automatic— his fingers brushed against bare skin. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut, his face instantly going pale as he realized there was no condom to remove.

A wave of panic crossed his features, his eyes widening in shock. “Shit”, Dean muttered under his breath, his mind racing as the gravity of the situation hit him. Dean’s eyes met yours, wide with shock and guilt. His lips parted, but it was clear he was struggling to find the right words. You could feel the shift in the atmosphere, the sudden tension between you, and it made your stomach knot with unease.

“What?”, you asked softly, your voice tinged with confusion and concern as you searched his face for an explanation.

Dean swallowed hard, his hand still frozen near his waist. He looked down briefly, then back up at you, his face pale and tight with worry. “I—I forgot”, he mumbled, his voice rough with guilt.

“What do you mean?”, you asked, your voice still soft, but more anxious now, unsure of why he seemed so rattled.

Dean ran a hand through his hair, clearly distressed. He glanced away for a second before looking back at you. “I… didn’t use protection”, he said, the words coming out in a rush, as though saying them faster would lessen their impact.

You blinked, trying to process what he meant. And then it hit you.

The realization flooded your mind, the implications crashing down all at once. Your heart started racing as the understanding settled in.

Your breath caught in your throat, and you stared at him, eyes wide. “Dean…”, you whispered, the anxiety in your voice clear now.

Dean could see the panic setting in your eyes, and his heart sank even further. “I… I’m gonna get you the pill in the morning”, he said, his words coming quickly, trying to offer some sense of reassurance. “I’ll take care of it. I promise. But for now, let’s just… let’s just take a shower”.

A few minutes later, Dean turned on the shower, the sound of the water filling the small bathroom seemed to drown out the heavy silence between you. He stood with his back to you, his broad, muscular shoulders tense as he quickly typed something into the search bar of his phone. You watched as his fingers moved across the screen, his brows furrowed in concentration, clearly trying to find the information he needed.

You felt vulnerable standing there, the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on you. Without thinking, you crossed your arms over your chest, trying to shield yourself, both physically and emotionally, from the gravity of the situation. The warmth of the room felt stifling, and the sound of the water splashing against the tiles did little to ease the tension building inside you.

Dean glanced over his shoulder at you, his expression a mix of concern and focus. “When was your last period?”, he asked quietly, his voice steady but filled with urgency. He turned back toward the phone, continuing his search while waiting for your answer.

You hesitated for a moment, the question pulling you further into the reality of the situation. Your mind raced, trying to remember. After a few seconds, you answered, your voice quiet, almost uncertain. “Three weeks ago, I think… I’m not sure exactly”.

Dean nodded, absorbing the information as he continued scrolling through the phone. His muscles tensed further, the weight of responsibility clear on his face. He let out a small breath, clearly trying to maintain his composure.

“We’re okay”, he said, his tone measured as he tried to reassure both you and himself. “Small chance I got you pre-… We’ll get the pill tomorrow. Just to be safe”.

You nodded slowly, Dean’s words bringing you a little bit of relief, but not completely erasing the anxiety that still lingered. You bit your lip, trying to process everything. The tension in the room hadn’t fully dissipated, but Dean’s attempt to take control of the situation and offer reassurance helped a little.

Dean finally put his phone down, his shoulders still tight as he rubbed the back of his neck, clearly feeling the weight of the situation too. After a moment, he turned to face you, and despite the seriousness of what had just happened, he gave you one of his familiar, boyish grins—though it was a little weaker than usual.

“Sorry”, he said, his voice soft and laced with regret. There was an awkwardness to the grin, a quiet acknowledgment of how badly things had gotten out of hand, but also an attempt to lighten the moment.

You managed a small, nervous smile in return, appreciating the effort. His smile had always had a way of calming you.

He stepped closer, still cautious, as though he wasn’t sure how to navigate the aftermath of everything. His hand was warm as he reached out for you, and his eyes softened with a mix of tenderness and reassurance. “C’mere”, he mumbled gently, his voice low and soothing as he pulled you towards the shower.

You hesitated for just a moment, the weight of the situation still hanging heavily between you. Even though Dean had already seen every part of you, there was something different about the vulnerability you felt now. But the way he looked at you—caring and patient—helped ease the anxiety swirling inside you.

As he led you under the warm spray of the shower, the water cascading over both of your bodies, you felt his hands gently rest on your hips. His touch was reassuring, not demanding, and he gave you space to settle into the moment at your own pace.

“You really okay?”, he asked, his voice barely audible over the sound of the water, his gaze steady as he searched your face.

You nodded, even though your heart was still racing. The water felt warm against your skin, and it seemed to wash away some of the tension that had built up in your muscles. You could feel Dean’s hand lightly trace up your back.

“Good”, he whispered, his thumb brushing over your skin in slow, soothing strokes. “Don´t worry. We got this". Dean’s arms tightened around you, pulling you gently against his chest, his lips pressing a soft kiss to your forehead.

———————————

A/N: Ugh, guys, I'm so sorry. I hate this chapter. So much. This was one of my worst smuts and I'm so sorry because I was so excited about their "first time".. I have no idea what happened.. but I promise, it'll get better again.. I'm so fucking sorry *cryingintosleep*

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[ruewrote]

𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑎𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑣𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑒.

PAIRING: josh washington x fem!reader WARNINGS: the prank, no use of y/n GENRE: ANGST. SONG INSPIRATION: youth by daughter WORD COUNT: 9.1k REQUESTED: yes NOTE: who's ready to cry?

navigation | ask | josh washington masterlist

no one truly understood how much his sister's disappearance had shattered him.

they tried to be there for him, to console him in those rare moments when he couldn’t mask the pain that cut him so deeply. 

they wanted to help, but no amount of support could bridge the pain left behind.

but you, you didn’t need to see the cracks to understand how broken he was. 

you were the only one he ever truly let in.

his brokenness became yours. the faraway look in his eyes, the way he’d drift off into silence, the dark circles that painted the story of sleepless nights. it all tore at you. he needed you more than ever, and in truth, you needed him just as much.

you started showing up at his place late at night, no matter the hour. just to hold him. to check on him. to sit beside him when the silence became unbearable.

there were no words that could mend what he had lost, no comfort you could offer to fix the pieces of his shattered heart. and yet, your presence was enough. he never said it out loud, but you saw it in the way his breathing slowed, the way he relaxed when you were near. 

you made it a little easier for him to sleep, to eat, to simply exist.

you’d do anything for him, and you had proven that countless times.

so when he brought up the idea of going back to the lodge a year after his sister’s disappearance, your heart sank. you knew it would be agonising for him, and the thought of reliving those memories made you hesitate. 

but when he asked you to come along, because you hadn’t been able to go the prior year, you couldn’t refuse.

you’d never let him face something like this alone.

you were the first ones to arrive at the lodge, the mountain air crisp as you stepped out of the car and took in the familiar, yet bittersweet surroundings. once you stepped in front of the lodge josh grabbed your bags before you could protest, flashing you a small, tired smile as he pressed a soft kiss to your lips.

“i’ve got these,” he murmured, his eyes flickering with a warmth that hadn’t been there in a long time. then he headed up the stairs, leaving you alone in the spacious but eerily quiet cabin.

you took a moment, inhaling deeply, letting the nostalgia and tension settle in your bones. with a contented sigh, you stretched your arms out and decided to get to work. the place needed a little life breathed back into it. 

you started in the living room, uncovering the dust covered furniture. the old couch creaked as you lifted the heavy cloth, revealing its worn, familiar fabric. you busied yourself with small tasks: arranging the cushions, stacking wood, and kindling the fireplace until the room started to glow with a warm, flickering light. 

it felt good, in a way. a distraction, a chance to bring some comfort back into this space that had held so much grief.

but after a while, you realised you hadn’t seen josh. it wasn’t like him to disappear without a word, so you set down the last piece of kindling and wiped your hands on your jeans, calling out as you made your way to the bedroom.

“baby?” you called, peeking inside. the room was empty, the bags still packed, and there was no sign of him in the ensuite bathroom either.

frowning slightly, you turned back and started wandering the halls, your footsteps light on the wooden floors as you searched for him. just as you rounded the corner towards the front door, it flew open with a loud thud.

you jumped, letting out a squeal as your hand flew to your chest. there was josh, grinning looking extremely proud of himself, his laughter filling the cabin.

“oh my god, you scared me!” you gasped, half-laughing, half-annoyed as he stepped closer and pulled you into his arms.

“sorry, sorry!” he chuckled, his voice softer now, brushing a kiss against your temple. “couldn’t resist. you should’ve seen your face.”

you playfully slapped his chest, but the sound of his laughter, genuine and unburdened, was something you hadn’t heard in what felt like forever. it melted away any irritation you felt, leaving behind a warmth that spread through your chest.

“you’re terrible,” you muttered, smiling despite yourself.

“yeah, but you love me,” he teased, his smile faltering just a bit as he looked at you, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from your face. for a moment, the playfulness faded, replaced by something deeper, more vulnerable.

“i do,” you whispered, your hand sliding up to rest over his heart. you felt the steady beat beneath your palm, a silent promise that you were here, together, no matter what memories this place held.

josh’s eyes softened, he pressed his forehead to yours, closing his eyes. 

“thank you for coming,” he murmured. “i know it’s not easy. being here.”

you squeezed him tighter. “you don’t have to thank me. i’d follow you anywhere, you know that.”

he nodded, his grip tightening around you before he pulled back, a lighter smile on his face now. “c’mon, let’s finish setting up before the others get here. i want it to feel...normal. at least for a little while.”

it didn’t take long for everyone to show up, the lodge filling with a familiar mix of voices and laughter. the chill from the outside seemed to melt away as your friends settled in, dropping their bags and unwinding in the main room. 

the fire you started was crackling, casting a warm glow over the space. you could feel the tension start to ease, though the air still held an undercurrent of unease.

you made your way over to josh, slipping under his arm. he pulled you closer, his hand rubbing soothing circles against your back. you rested your head on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat as the others chatted and joked around. for a moment, it almost felt normal.

then the front door swung open with a sharp gust of wind, and in walked emily and matt. emily’s face was set in a familiar look of annoyance, her eyes rolling as she stepped inside. matt followed close behind, his jaw clenched, clearly frustrated. you could sense the tension between them before they even spoke.

“well, look who finally decided to show up,” sam drawled from across the room, leaning against the couch with a smirk. mike's eyes flicked briefly to emily, lingering a moment too long.

emily scoffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “yeah, well, some of us had to deal with a little drama on the way up here,” she snapped, shooting a glare at matt, who looked like he was biting back a retort.

“drama? what kind of drama?” jessica chimed in, her voice dripping with curiosity and something sharper. she stepped closer to mike, wrapping her arm possessively around his waist. the look she shot emily was a thinly veiled challenge.

“oh, you know, the usual,” emily said with a sarcastic smile. “matt getting all worked up over nothing.”

matt’s face reddened, and he stepped forward. “over nothing? you were practically hanging off mike’s arm, em!”

mike’s smirk widened, clearly enjoying the show. “hey, don’t drag me into this, man,” he said, holding up his hands in mock innocence. “i can’t help it if people like being around me.”

“oh please,” jessica interjected, rolling her eyes. “it’s not like she hasn’t moved on, right, em? or maybe you just can’t let go of the fact that i’m with him now.”

emily’s eyes narrowed, her voice icy. “oh, trust me, jess, you’re welcome to him. i’ve moved on to bigger and better things.”

“bigger and better?” jessica repeated, her voice rising in pitch. “you think you’re better than me?”

the room went silent, the playful banter tipping quickly into hostility. matt stepped closer, fists clenched at his sides, while mike watched with a smug grin. you felt josh tense beside you, his arm tightening around your shoulders. he had that look in his eyes, like he was trying to decide whether to step in or let the drama play out.

“alright, alright, everyone, let’s just cool it, okay?” josh finally intervened, stepping between them with a broad, disarming smile. “we’re here to have a good time, remember? no need to fight over ancient history. how about you and jess go to the other cabin that i told you about and you let this go?”

he shot a pointed look at mike and then at matt, his tone light but firm. mike shrugged, backing off with a chuckle, while matt reluctantly stepped away, muttering under his breath. emily and jessica exchanged one last glare before turning away from each other, both visibly annoyed but unwilling to push it further.

the hours drifted by slowly as you lay in bed, your head pounding with the dull throb of an oncoming migraine. you closed your eyes, trying to block out the flickering shadows cast by the firelight, wishing for some rest. 

the lodge had fallen into an almost eerie silence. everyone had split off, doing their own thing, giving the place a stillness that felt almost unnatural.

then you heard it. a loud, frantic banging on a door downstairs, followed by a sound that made your blood run cold.

chris’s voice desperate.

“ash! oh my god, ashley!”

you bolted upright, the pain in your head forgotten as adrenaline coursed through your veins. throwing on your shoes, running out of the room and down the stairs, heart pounding in your chest.

you found chris frantically pushing against the kitchen door.

“hey, chris!” you yelled, grabbing his arm, trying to get his attention. “what’s going on? what happened?”

he turned to you, eyes wide and wild, barely able to get the words out. “it’s ashley,” he stammered, his voice breaking. “something– something took her! we were looking for clues and then... i don’t know, it grabbed her! we’ve got to get her out of there, now!”

the sheer panic in his voice left no room for questions. you nodded, bracing yourself and shoving against the door with him, putting every ounce of strength you had into it. the wood groaned under your combined weight, the hinges straining.

with a sudden, violent crack, the door flew open, and the two of you were thrown forward, hitting the carpet hard. you scrambled to your feet, the room dimly lit and filled with shadows. it was hard to see, but as your eyes adjusted, you spotted her.

ashley was sprawled on the floor, unconscious, her body limp and unmoving.

“oh my god, ashley!” you gasped, rushing to her side. you knelt down, hands shaking as you checked her pulse. relief flooded through you when you felt it. faint, but steady. she was breathing.

you turned back to chris, ready to tell him she was okay, but the words died in your throat as a shadow moved behind him. before you could shout a warning, a masked figure stepped out of the darkness and swung a fist, landing a brutal punch squarely across chris’s face.

“chris!” you screamed as he crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

instinct took over. you had no time to think, only react. you sprinted to the kitchen, grabbing the first thing you could find, a small knife. it wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.

you held the knife out in front of you, your hands trembling as you backed towards them, trying to protect her and chris. 

“stay back!” you shouted, your voice cracking with fear. “i swear i’ll use this!”

but before you could make another move, you felt it. a strong arm snaking around your waist, yanking you back against his chest. the sudden pressure of a cloth was pressed over your mouth and nose, the sickly sweet smell of chloroform invading your senses.

you thrashed wildly, kicking and clawing, refusing to go down without a fight. the knife was still in your hand, and you swung it blindly behind you. you felt the blade connect, slicing into flesh, and a distorted scream of pain ripped through the air. the grip on you loosened for a moment, using the last of your strength to try and break free.

but it was too late. the world around you started to blur, the room spinning as your vision darkened. your body went limp as the chloroform took hold, the knife slipping from your fingers.

the last thing you heard before you blacked out was the masked figure’s laboured, angry breathing and the sound of ashley’s soft, uneven breaths, still unconscious on the floor beside you.

that's when everything went dark.

you stirred awake, groaning as the pounding in your head reminded you of the events before you blacked out. 

beside you, chris let out a low grunt, shifting as he groggily sat up. the air was cold and heavy, the lights still off, and nothing around you seemed to have changed.

but as you blinked, clearing the haze from your vision, unease curled in your gut. something was different.

ashley was gone.

“shit,” you muttered, your voice breaking the silence. panic surged through you as you scrambled to your feet. turning to chris, you shook his shoulder, forcing him to focus. “chris. ashley’s gone.”

chris blinked hard, his face paling as realisation dawned. “what? where– what the hell happened?”

you didn’t answer, instead yanking him to his feet. “we’ve got to find her. she can’t be far.”

switching on the flashlight of your phone, you searched your surroundings. the beam caught every shadow, every corner, as you searched for any sign of where she might have gone. 

finally, your light hit something, a purse lying on the ground.

“it’s hers,” you said under your breath, crouching down to pick it up. it wasn’t much, but it was something. you clutched it tightly as you moved around the house toward the front door.

the door creaked as you pushed it open, the cold night air cutting through you. but what you saw next made your stomach twist into knots.

blood.

it smeared the wall outside the door in messy streaks, glistening faintly under the pale moonlight.

“holy shit,” chris whispered, his voice shaking as he stepped closer. “is that–?”

you didn’t let him finish. your flashlight followed the trail of blood, which led away from the house, cutting through the snow.

“we have to follow it,” you said, barely able to keep the fear out of your voice.

chris nodded, sticking close to you as you both ventured into the freezing darkness. each step crunched beneath your boots, the sound unnervingly loud against the eerie silence of the night. 

the blood left a faint trail to the shed in the backyard.

it was there that you heard it. a voice, cracked and trembling, carried by the wind.

“chris!”

ashley.

her sobs were unmistakable. exchanging a panicked glance with chris, both of you breaking into a run.

you burst into the shed, your flashlight sweeping over the scene inside. the sight made your blood run cold.

ashley hands tied above her to a wooden board, tears streaming down her face as she struggled against the ropes holding her in place. 

she wasn’t alone.

beside her was josh, also bound, his wide eyes locking onto you the moment you entered.

“oh my god,” you breathed.

“help me! please, help!” his voice cracked.

ashley was sobbing harder now, her pleas barely coherent as she begged for you and chris to save them.

their cries grew louder, filling the small shed with tension, until they didn’t.

the sound of a voice, deep and distorted, crackled through hidden speakers, silencing them both.

“hello, and thank you all for joining me..”

the voice was chillingly calm, it’s tone laced with malice. it was the one you’d heard before you passed out. 

you and chris froze, every muscle in your body tense as the words echoed around you.

your flashlight flickered slightly. josh’s voice cut through the deafening silence, quieter this time, trembling with nothing but anguish.

“please,” he whispered, his eyes locking onto yours, wide and glistening with unshed tears. 

“don’t let whoever it is hurt us.”

before you could respond, the crackling static of the speakers filled the shed once again, followed by the same deep, sinister voice.

“tonight, we’re going to conduct a little experiment.”

“what the fuck is going on?” you murmured, your voice barely audible over the sound of your own heartbeat pounding in your ears.

the voice continued, unfazed by the panic rising in the room.

“for this experiment, we’ll need the cooperation of two of our test subjects… joshua and ashley.”

“what?” ashley’s voice broke into a sharp shout, her cries mixed with a choked sob.

josh froze, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his panic evident even as he tried to keep himself from breaking completely.

“oh my god,” you whispered, dread settling deep in your chest.

“but,” the voice drawled, almost casually, “we’re going to need one more brave participant to help decide… which subject will live, and which will die.”

“no,” you gasped, your voice cracking as the weight of the words slammed into you. tears burned in your eyes, now spilling over as you covered your mouth with your hand. “no, no, no!”

ashley’s screams became louder. “this can’t be real! this can’t be happening!”

josh pulled against his restraints again, pleading. “don’t listen to him! please, get us out of here!”

their cries overlapped, filling the room with desperate pleas and frantic sobs. you couldn’t breathe; the room felt like it was closing in, the walls pressing tighter and tighter around you.

chris stood frozen beside you, his face pale, his hands trembling.

“please, please,” the voice interrupted smoothly, it’s calm tone a stark contrast to the chaos you all shared. 

“everyone calm down. it’s all very simple.”

simple?

“you will find a lever placed directly in front of you. all you have to do… is choose who you will save.”

your head snapped toward the lever.

“what the fuck? they can’t be serious!” your sadness morphed into something hot and volatile. rage bubbling beneath your skin as you stormed toward the door between you and them.

“no!” you growled, slamming your hands against the handle. “this isn’t happening! this can’t be happening!”

you pushed, pulled, slammed your shoulder into the door, anything to force it open. the wood creaked under your assault, but it held firm.

the sound of metal grinding against metal filled the air, sharp and shrill. the saw had started.

the noise sent a chill down your spine, you pulled harder on the door handle, your breaths coming in ragged gasps.

“oh no,” ashley sobbed, her voice rising in pitch. “please, this can’t be happening! this isn’t right!”

the saw’s steady whirring was like a countdown, each second ticking closer to an unthinkable end.

josh’s voice broke through the noise, full of pure terror. “don’t do this! please, you don’t have to do this!”

ashley’s cries grew louder, more frantic. “save me! please, oh my god, i can’t die!”

you could feel your sanity slipping as you turned back to face the room. the lever stood there, mocking you, as if daring you. chris was pacing now, running his hands through his hair, his movements jerky and panicked.

“w-what do we do?” he stammered, his voice cracking as he looked to you for answers you didn’t have.

the saw’s hum grew louder, as the reality of the situation bore down on you. time was running out, and you were trapped in a nightmare with no way out.

the grinding sound of the saw grew louder. your hands trembled as you clutched the door handle, pulling with everything you had, screaming for it to give way.

"come on!" you cried, voice breaking as hot tears streamed down your cheeks. "come on, you son of a bitch, open!"

but it was no use. the door wouldn’t budge.

behind you, the pleas grew more frantic, more agonised. ashley was sobbing uncontrollably, her words tumbling over each other as she begged for her life. josh was screaming now, his voice hoarse and cracking, calling your name, calling chris’s, calling anyone who might listen.

“please!” josh shouted, his eyes wild and terrified as they locked on yours. “you can't let me die!”

your vision blurred as you turned your back to them, the image of josh tied up, eyes red, face swollen burned into your mind. the person who made you laugh when no one else could. the one who saw you when you felt invisible. the one you loved more than anything.

"chris," you sobbed, clutching at his arm. "we can’t do this! we have to find another way!"

but chris wasn’t looking at you. he wasn’t looking at anything but the lever.

he was trembling, his eyes darting between josh and ashley, both of them screaming, both of them begging, their voices a mix of anguish and fear.

"chris!" you yelled, shaking him hard. "don’t! we’ll figure something out! just–just don’t!"

his breathing was shallow, his face pale and wet with tears. “i– i don’t know what to do,” he choked out, his voice broken. “i can’t–, i can’t–”

but even as he said it, his hand was moving. slowly, shakily, he reached for the lever.

"no!" you screamed, lunging for him, grabbing at his arm. "chris, don’t!"

it was too late.

with a guttural cry, chris yanked the lever.

time slowed to a crawl, the world around you dissolving into a haze of sound and motion. the saw roared to life, screaming as it moved toward it’s victim.

“no!” you shrieked, your voice tore through the air as you clung helplessly on the gated wall for josh.

his wide, terrified eyes met yours, full of pain and betrayal. “no, no, no! please!” he screamed, struggling against the restraints with everything he had.

and then the saw reached him.

the sound was sickening, the kind that burrowed into your ears and stayed there, haunting. blood sprayed across the room, splattering the walls, the floor, and even you as you stood frozen, paralyzed by the horror before you.

josh’s screams cut off abruptly, his body going limp as the saw finished it's grim work.

the room fell deathly silent, except for the faint hum of the machinery winding down.

the door clicked, the lock releasing with an almost casual sound. it swung open.

chris stumbled forward, rushing to ashley’s side. she was sobbing uncontrollably as he worked to untie her. “it’s okay,” he murmured, his voice shaking. “you’re okay. i’ve got you. don’t look.”

but you didn’t move.

you couldn’t.

your knees buckled, and you crumpled to the floor, your body wracked with silent sobs. 

josh. your josh, was gone. the one person who mattered most to you, the only source of true comfort that you had, was gone.

your eyes stayed fixed on the blood-soaked floor, on the mangled remains of the person you loved.

he was gone.

cut in half.

gone.

you hugged yourself tightly, rocking back and forth as grief consumed you, an unbearable weight that left you hollow and broken.

chris turned to you, his face pale and etched with guilt. he opened his mouth, but whatever words he tried to speak were drowned out by the sound of your own sobs, tearing through into the cold, unforgiving night. 

it echoed around you, a resonance that mocked the void where he used to be.

you could still hear him, josh's voice screaming for you in those final moments. still feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your ear when you used to lie close to him. it was nothing but a ghost now. a cruel reminder of what was gone. he wasn’t there anymore. he would never be there again.

your thoughts spiralled. chris. it was all chris's fault. he had made the choice. not josh. chris. he chose ashley. he chose her over him. his crush over his childhood best friend, your love, your person. the realisation hit.

before you knew it, you were moving, your grief boiling over into something darker. you snapped to your feet, crossing the space between you and chris in an instant. your trembling hands hit his chest, his shoulders. whatever you could reach, your fists weak but desperate.

“why?” you choked out, your voice breaking as you struck him again. and again. “why? we could’ve found another way! how could you do this? how could you do this to me?”

chris didn’t stop you. he stood there, letting you vent your anguish, his own tears carving silent trails down his face. he didn’t try to defend himself, didn’t make excuses. ashley stood nearby, distraught and useless, her sobs muffled behind her hands as she watched the scene unfold.

your blows slowed, turning into open palms pressed against him, you collapsed against his chest. the grief overtook you, the strength to hold it all inside shattered. you cried into him, the rawness of your pain spilling out in broken gasps and incoherent words.

for a moment, chris tried to hold you. his arms moved hesitantly, afraid to make things worse. but the second you felt him, your anger surged again, and you ripped yourself away. “don’t touch me,” you hissed, your voice shaking. you stumbled back, wiping at your face, dragging air into your lungs that felt too thin.

you couldn’t stay here. not in this place. not with these people who used to be your friends. you turned away from them and staggered outside into the night. the cold air bit into your skin, but it didn’t matter. nothing mattered anymore. not without him.

the lodge loomed behind you like a reminder of everything you’d once loved. 

deep down, you knew it didn’t matter who had been chosen. losing either of them would have been devastating, a blow from which you would never truly recover. but that logic was lost in the haze of your grief. it didn’t matter that the decision had been impossible. all you knew, all you could feel, was that chris had made it.

he had chosen not to save josh.

you stumbled a few steps further, every breath was agony. the grief, the disbelief, the rage. it all swirled inside you, drowning you in it’s weight.

it felt as though someone had reached into your chest and ripped out your heart, leaving you to feel nothing but also everything at the same time. you stared at the distant treetops, the stars blurred by tears, and tried to feel something other than the nothingness threatening to consume you. 

your chest heaved as you bent forward, hands braced on your knees, gasping for air that seemed almost impossible to catch. the night’s chill clawed at your skin, but it did nothing to numb what burned inside you.

the crunch of footsteps on snow made you look up, your tear blurred vision settling on emily and matt as they approached cautiously. their faces twisted with confusion and fear as they took in the sight of the three of you. shaking, pale, and splattered with blood.

emily was the first to speak, "what happened?" her voice was sharp but laced with unease. matt hovered beside her, his wide eyes darting between you, the blood, and sounds of the sobs that you shared.

you straightened slowly, forcing yourself to meet their stares. your voice trembled as you tried to speak, every word catching in your throat like broken glass.

“it’s josh,” you rasped. “he… he’s gone.”

emily’s lips parted in disbelief, she faltered as she tried to process the words. matt stiffened, his jaw clenching as his hands balled into fists at his sides.

“what do you mean, gone?” emily asked, her voice wobbling. her eyes darted between you and the shed, expecting josh to emerge at any moment, laughing this off as a cruel joke.

you opened your mouth, but the words refused to come. instead, fragments of the moment flashed in your mind. the split second choice, the screams, the sound of your own heart breaking. you winced, flinching at the memory, wrapping your arms around yourself.

“chris… he had to choose,” you finally whispered, your voice barely audible over the wind. “it was him or ashley.”

the weight of the admission crushed you all over again, and for a moment, the only sound was the muffled sniffling from you and the distant howl of the wind. emily stared at you, her face draining of colour, while matt swore under his breath and looked away.

“that doesn’t make any sense,” emily whispered, her tone brittle. “how could something like that even happen? why–why was there a choice at all?”

her words struck a nerve, but you didn’t have the strength to argue. you couldn’t. the truth of it was unbearable, but it was all you had.

“i didn’t… i didn’t even get to say goodbye,” you choked out, your voice breaking. tears welled up again, blurring your vision. you turned away, clutching your arms tightly, trying to breathe through the pain.

you hear them talking. quietly at first, but the words soon cut through the air. they’re discussing the psycho on the mountain, piecing together what had happened. the conversation ends with emily and matt deciding to head to the fire tower to try and contact someone on the radio, and chris suggests you and ashley go with him to find sam, still hopefully holed up in the lodge.

you say nothing. you just follow them, keeping your distance but staying close enough to hear the whispers. the words between them are too loud for their own good, a mix of fear and regret, constantly circling back to josh.

ashley’s voice cracks as she speaks to him, her apologies tumbling over each other. “i know how close you were to him,” she says, her voice low. “i– i just... i never meant–”

she stops herself. the realisation hits her. she turns to you, eyes wide with guilt, as if suddenly aware of the weight of her words.

her face is full of remorse, her lips parting to offer an apology, but you can already feel the anger bubbling up inside you.

you clench your jaw, your fists tightening at your sides. she doesn’t get it.

“don’t. you don’t get to talk about him,” you bite out, the words sharp. “you don’t get to. not after what happened.”

the air between you is heavy with tension. ashley opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. she knows. she knows there’s no fixing this. you didn’t want her to. how could she?

you charge upstairs, your legs trembling with every step, but the adrenaline doesn’t let you stop. it fuels you, because you can’t stop. not now. not with sam missing. not with everything spiraling further and further out of control. 

you don’t even bother hiding the tears streaming down your face anymore. you just need to find her and get out of this godforsaken place. this needs to end.

you’re done with the fear. you want to go home, to a place where things made sense. you want to feel safe again, slip into your bed where his scent still lingers, and just… cry. to finally feel the pain and let it break you. 

the hallway stretches out before you, quiet and eerie, the air heavy with the silence that feels so much worse than any scream. your breathing is ragged as you throw open door after door. 

"sam!" you call, but there’s no answer. just empty rooms. no sign of her. each door you open makes your stomach twist tighter with dread, like a rope being pulled too taut.

you jog back down stairs, walking to the entrance of a room you haven't checked yet.

the movie room is where it all comes crashing down. her bracelet. you spot it immediately on the floor, lying there as if it’s mocking you. you freeze, staring at it. she never takes it off. never. your heart drops, she was here. and she’s not anymore.

you stumble forward, picking it up with shaking hands. it’s so small in your palm, so simple, but it’s hers. it’s hers, and it’s the only sign of her that you’ve found. and then you see it. the video.

it’s looping on the projector, a grotesque, grainy replay of josh’s death. over and over. the sound of his screams fills the room, echoing in your ears, drowning out your own sobs. chris is already on it, slamming his fist into the projector, but it’s no use. the damn thing won’t stop playing. he kicks it, hard enough to send it skidding across the room, but it keeps playing.

you double over, clutching your stomach as if it’ll stop the nausea rising in your throat. it’s too much. all of it. the weight of what you’ve lost, the guilt, the fear, it’s suffocating. the bracelet in your hand feels like a cruel reminder that sam could be next. or maybe she already is. and what the hell can you do about it?

“we have to keep moving,” chris says. you know he’s right, even if you can’t bring yourself to say it. you wipe your face with the back of your sleeve and force your legs to move, one step at a time, until you’re following him down to the basement.

the air is colder down here, and not just in temperature. it feels… wrong. like something is watching. waiting. ashley’s hand brushes yours at one point, a trembling, silent plea for some kind of comfort, and you squeeze it instinctively. you don’t say anything, though. what is there to say?

then, it appears. the ghost. at first, it’s just a pale blur in the corner of your eye, but then it comes again. clearer this time. the faint outline of a figure, there and then gone before your brain can catch up.

ashley screams, stumbling back into chris, who immediately snaps into denial. “there’s no way–” he starts, but then it happens again, and the words die in his throat.

your pulse is nothing but a hammer in your chest. you can’t even feel your hands anymore; they’re ice, like the rest of you. you scan the room, every dark corner, every shadow, but it’s the dollhouse that pulls your attention. it sits there, perfectly positioned, it’s tiny rooms lit by some unseen source. 

the dolls inside. each one carefully placed, are positioned just like that night. like the prank. like what happened to hannah.

you couldn't even touch it at first. your fingers hover over the tiny furniture, shaking too much to do anything else. you open it and you see her diary.

the pages are worn, the ink smudged in places like she’d cried over it while writing. you skim the entries, your chest tightening with each one. her excitement about mike. her insecurities. the little hopes she’d held onto, even when things were rough. you can see her in the words, hear her voice, and it breaks you all over again.

she trusted you. she trusted all of you. and what happened? she was pushed too far, and now she’s gone. her warmth, her kindness, her life, gone. 

the tears come harder now, but you don’t stop reading. you owe her this.

you don’t realise how long you’ve been standing there until chris nudges your shoulder. “hey,” he says, softly this time. “we… we should go.”

the basement hallway stretches out further than you thought it would, the shadows growing deeper with each step. then you see it. a figure. sam’s clothes, and for one awful, heart stopping moment, you think it’s her. you freeze, the air ripped from your lungs, until chris steps closer and pulls the chair into the light. it’s not her.

relief floods through you, but it’s short lived. she’s still missing, and the nightmare is still far from over. you glance at ashley, whose eyes are wide with panic, and then at chris.

chris looks just as distraught as you, his face pale, his hands trembling as he struggles to stay composed. you want to say something, anything, but the words won’t come. that’s when you notice it. a shadow shifts behind him, barely noticeable at first. it moves closer, and your heart leaps into your throat.

your mouth opens to scream, to warn him, but it’s too late. a figure lunges out of the darkness, fist connecting with chris’s face in a brutal, sickening thud. his head snaps to the side, he crumples to the floor, out cold.

“chris!” you gasp, but there’s no time to check if he’s okay. the flashlight he was holding clatters to the floor, spinning wildly before it’s beam settles on the attacker. he turns toward you and ashley, his movements deliberate, methodical.

ashley is quicker than you expect. before you can react, she rushes forward, gripping the scissors. she drives them into his shoulder with a desperate cry, the blade sinking in deep. the attacker stumbles back, a low, pained grunt escaping him, but it’s not enough to stop him.

he moves with startling speed, grabbing ashley by the wrist. she struggles, kicking and thrashing, but his free hand rises, before she can break free, his fist connects with her face in a brutal blow. the impact sends her crumpling to the floor in a heap on the floor, her body still.

“no!” the word tears from your throat. helpless, as the reality sets in. you’re on your own, and your only weapon is still lodged in his shoulder.

you turn to run, your legs screaming at you to move, before you can take more than a step, something sharp pierces your neck. it’s small, almost subtle, but the effect is immediate. your hand flies to the spot, fingers trembling as they brush against the tiny dart embedded in your skin.

a whine escapes your lips as your knees buckle. the world tilts violently, the edges of your vision blurring. panic claws at your chest as you try to stay upright, your body refuses to listen. your legs give out completely, you fall, the ground rushing up to meet you.

before you hit the floor, strong arms catch you, pulling you against a broad chest. you’re too weak to fight, your limbs heavy and useless.

“i’m sorry,” a voice murmurs, low and distorted, the words muffled by the mask obscuring his face. “i’m so sorry.”

you try to focus, to make sense of what’s happening, the world is fading fast. the last thing you see before the darkness takes you is the mask staring back at you, it’s blank, soulless eyes the final image burned into your mind.

you wake slowly, your eyelids feel weighted, your thoughts sluggish and out of sync. something isn’t right. your instincts scream it before your senses can confirm. when your eyes finally flutter open, the world above you sharpens into focus. two massive saw blades hang ominously overhead, their jagged teeth gleaming under harsh fluorescent lights.

it’s the next sensation that sends a chill crawling up your spine, your wrists. they’re bound tightly, the rough rope digging into your skin with every small movement. you yank at them, testing the restraint, but it holds firm, the fibres biting deeper.

panic sparks, your breath becoming faster as you look around, desperate to understand where you are, what’s happening. the room is cold and industrial, its concrete walls bare except for the shadows cast by flickering lights. your gaze snaps to the figure directly in front of you, chris.

he’s slumped in a chair, his head hanging slightly, his face pale and tight with fear. one of his hands is bound to the armrest, but his other arm hangs free. between you, perched cruelly sits a gun.

your chest tightens as you try to move your legs, only to realise they’re tied too. the ropes around your ankles bite just as viciously as the ones on your wrists. you twist and pull, but your body feels sluggish. the injection, that stranger. you’re still under it’s influence, your limbs betraying your desperation to escape.

“chris?” your voice is hoarse, trembling, thick with fear. “what’s going on? where are we?”

he lifts his head slightly, meeting your eyes with a look that chills you to your core. his face is a mix of confusion and terror, his lips parting to speak. “i don’t know.”

your mind reels, memories flooding in, the shed, the others, the horrific choices. 

the weight of what’s coming feels unbearable.

“we’ve gotta get out of here,” you whisper, your voice trembling, barely audible over the relentless pounding of your heartbeat.

that’s when you hear it. the saws.

the metallic whine cuts through the air as the blades begin to descend, slow but deliberate. the sound, growing louder with each passing second. your head snaps upward, and the sight of the spinning teeth edging closer sends a fresh wave of panic through you.

“no!” you scream, thrashing against the restraints, your wrists burning as the ropes cut deeper into your skin. the effort is frantic, wild, but useless. the ropes don’t budge. you feel like you’re suffocating, the walls of the room closing in.

and then they stop.

the saws are still whirring, still spinning inches above your head, but their descent halts. the silence that follows is almost worse than the noise. 

that’s when you hear it.

that voice again.

“hello there, my special little subjects.”

your stomach twists as the sound crawls over your skin. chris freezes across from you, his head snapping up toward the speakers embedded in the walls.

“aw, shit,” he mutters, his free hand darting for the gun on the table between you. he grips it tightly, holding it up defensively as though the steel in his hands could somehow protect you both from the nightmare unfolding around you.

the voice continues.

“chris has made one fatal choice already today, and now he must make another.”

you and chris lock eyes, the horror in his matching your own. your breaths come faster, you shake your head desperately, trying to deny the inevitable.

the voice pauses, as if savoring the moment, before delivering the final blow.

“chris, you can take the gun in front of you and shoot her, or you can shoot yourself. whoever is left gets to live. the choice is yours.”

your stomach churns, your chest tightening so much it hurts.

“no,” you whisper, shaking your head, your voice trembling. “no, this can’t–this can’t be real.”

chris’s hand shakes as he lifts the gun, his knuckles white around the handle. his gaze flickers to the saws above you, still spinning mercilessly, then to you, and then back to the gun.

“don’t look at me like that,” he says, his voice barely steady. “there’s gotta be a way out. this… this doesn’t make sense.”

he turns the gun toward the machinery and fires. the deafening crack of the shot echoes in the room, but it does nothing. the saws keep spinning. the gun’s recoil jerks his arm, and he mutters a curse under his breath, lowering it slightly as the futility of the situation sinks in.

“no, no, no,” you mutter, panic clawing at your chest. you thrash against the restraints again, harder this time, your vision blurring with tears.

“chris,” you rasp, your voice breaking. “you have to do it.”

“what?” his head snaps toward you, his eyes wide with disbelief.

“shoot me.” the words come out stronger than you expected, but the tremor in your voice betrays your fear. “you have to. you can’t–” your voice falters, and you swallow hard before continuing. “you can’t kill yourself. you have ashley. you can live. you can make it out of this. i–i can’t.”

“what the hell are you talking about?” chris’s voice rises, desperation thick in every syllable. 

“i’m not doing that! we’ll figure something out– together.”

“there’s nothing to figure out!” you cry, your voice raw. tears spill down your cheeks, but you keep going, words tumbling out in a frantic rush. “chris, i can’t live without josh. don’t you get it? i’m already gone. he was everything to me, and now he’s dead. i don’t have anyone to go back to. but you– you have ashley. she loves you. you can still have a life.”

chris shakes his head violently, his grip on the gun trembling. “no. don’t– don’t say that. don’t you dare say that. you think this is what i want? to kill you? how the hell am i supposed to live with that?”

“by being alive!” you scream, your voice cracking. “chris, please. i can’t– i can’t do this anymore. just end it. end it for me. you don’t deserve to die here. not for me. not like this.”

tears streak his face now, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps. the gun in his hand wavers, the barrel swinging between you and himself.

“i can’t,” he whispers, his voice breaking. “i can’t do it.”

“you have to,” you plead, your voice softer now, almost broken. “please, chris. you have to make it out of here. you have to live. for ashley. for yourself. for me, don’t let this place take you too.”

the saws above you screech, jolting both of you. the voice returns, colder now, more impatient.

“time is running out, chris. make your decision.”

chris’s face crumples as he stares at you, the weight of the choice pressing down on him. his hand tightens around the gun, shaking harder now.

you hold his gaze, tears streaming down your face. “it’s okay,” you whisper, your voice trembling but resolute. “it’s okay. just do it. i’m ready.”

the gun rises.

the room feels impossibly still, the only sound the relentless whir of the saws above. your chest heaves with shallow breaths as you close your eyes, waiting for the end.

BANG.

the sound reverberates through the room, deafening and final. you jolt, your body stiffening in anticipation of pain, but... nothing. you’re still here. alive. untouched.

your chest heaves as you slowly open your eyes, your breath caught in your throat. chris is staring at you, his face pale and drawn, his expression one of shock and bewilderment. he’s just as confused as you are.

the saws above you screech to a halt, the room plunging into a sudden, eerie silence.

you blink, trying to process what just happened. “chris?” you whisper, your voice trembling.

before he can answer, the overhead lights blaze to life, harsh and unforgiving. the sudden brightness makes you wince, and when your eyes adjust, you see him.

the psycho.

he steps out of the shadows, his mask gleaming under the fluorescent lights. he moves with a slow, deliberate confidence, as though savoring your fear. your heart pounds wildly in your chest, the sight of him terrifying you.

“no,” you stammer, your voice rising in panic. “no, no, no! get away from us!”

chris, snapping out of his stupor, raises the gun without hesitation and fires.

bang!

bang!

bang!

three shots. each one echoes through the room, but the psycho doesn’t even flinch. he doesn’t stumble, doesn’t react. it’s like the bullets didn’t touch him.

“oh, chris...” the voice is mocking now, dripping with condescension. the psycho moves closer, his head tilting as if amused. “oh, chris, chris, chris, chris, chris.”

chris’s grip tightens on the gun, his knuckles white. “what the fuck?!” he shouts, his voice cracking with frustration and fear.

the psycho chuckles, a low, sinister sound that sends chills down your spine. he circles the table slowly.

“you’ve heard of blanks before, haven’t you?” he says, his tone smug and condescending. “i mean, really?”

chris freezes, the gun lowering slightly as the psycho’s words sink in. blanks.

you feel your stomach drop. the tension in the room grows unbearable as the psycho stops beside you, his presence radiating menace. he tilts his head, examining you for a moment before turning his attention back to chris.

“i mean, come on,” he says with a smirk in his voice. “you really thought i’d make it that easy?”

his hands move to the edges of the mask, and your breath catches in your throat. the anticipation is unbearable as he lifts it, slowly revealing his face.

your eyes widen in disbelief, shock and horror flooding through you as the truth clicks into place.

it was him all along.

the sound of the door screeching open echoes through the space, but you can’t bring yourself to look away from him.

your entire body feels like it’s been hollowed out, like every breath has been violently torn from your lungs. your mouth is open, but no words come out, no sound—just the sharp, jagged edges of disbelief slicing through you.

josh.

josh, your josh. the one you saw ripped in half, his blood pooling across the floor in a scene so horrific it seared itself into your memory. the man you mourned, grieved for so deeply it felt like the world might never make sense again.

and yet here he is, standing before you.

“josh?” mike’s voice cuts through the silence, almost as if he’s trying to convince himself of what he’s seeing.

you can’t think, can’t move. it’s like the pieces of reality are crumbling apart and leaving you suspended in this unbearable moment. how is this possible? how is he alive? and more terrifyingly– why?

a tidal wave of emotions crashes over you. confusion, relief, anger, betrayal. all churning into a storm so violent you don’t even know which way is up anymore. your head drops, the tears come, shaking you to your core. but the sobs are silent, strangled by the sheer weight of it all. 

you cry so hard your entire body trembles, the kind of crying that leaves you gasping for air but never getting enough.

sam rushes over, her hands working to untie the ropes binding your wrists. “it’s okay,” she murmurs, though her voice shakes as much as your hands do. “we’ll figure this out. you’re okay. i’ve got you.”

but even as she says it, you can hear her unspoken doubt. she doesn’t understand what’s happening any more than you do.

and then josh laughs.

it starts low, a chuckle that grows louder, sharper, until it fills the room. the sound is manic, cruel, cutting through your grief.

“oh, very good! every one of you! got my name right!” he says, his voice dripping with mockery, arms flung wide as if he’s addressing an audience. “and after everything you’ve been through– wow!”

your stomach twists painfully as his words sink in, each one laced with something venomous. he paces the room, looking at each of you in turn, his grin widening as he feeds off your reactions.

“good, good, good. i mean, how does that feel?” his eyes flick to you, it feels like the winds been knocked out of you. “huh? do you enjoy feeling terrorized? humiliated? panicked?”

his voice rises with every word, his arms flailing dramatically.

“all those emotions my sisters got to feel one year ago! only guess what? they didn’t get to laugh it off! no, no, no! they’re gone!” he stops, his face twisting into something wild and unhinged.

mike steps forward, his expression dark, his body tense. “i don’t know if you’ve noticed, josh, but none of us are laughing.”

chris then speaks up, there’s a venom in his voice you’ve never heard before. “you want to talk about humiliation? about terror?” he jabs a finger in josh’s direction, his voice rising with every word. 

“do you have any idea what you’ve done to her? to all of us? you died, josh. we thought you were dead! she—” he gestures toward you, his voice cracking. “she begged me to shoot her because of what you did! she wanted to die, josh! because of you!”

josh’s manic energy falters, his expression slipping into something more subdued. his mouth opens like he wants to argue, but nothing comes out.

chris steps closer, his face inches from josh’s now. “you think this is justice for your sisters? you think this is what they’d want? or are you just too wrapped up in your own goddamn head to see the difference?”

josh stares at chris, his lips trembling, his confidence visibly cracking.

but you’re not watching them anymore. you’re staring at the ground, your vision blurred by tears. his voice, his face, his laugh. it’s too much. it’s all too much.

“hey,” josh says softly, steps toward you, his voice lacking the bravado it held moments before. 

“hey, it’s okay. i– it’s me. it’s josh. i’m here now.”

you feel his arms around you, warm and familiar, and for a fleeting second, you almost give in. almost let yourself believe that this is the josh you knew, the josh you loved.

but then reality slams into you like a freight train.

“no!” you cry, shoving him away with every ounce of strength you have left. he stumbles back, his face a mask of shock and hurt.

you take a step back, your chest heaving, your voice trembling with betrayal. “how could you do this to me? to us?”

josh’s hands rise defensively, his eyes wide. “i– i didn’t mean–”

“don’t you dare,” you snap, you point at him. “don’t you dare act like this was some accident. you planned this, josh. you planned it, and you knew what it would do to me!”

your voice shatters into a sob as you turn away from him, collapsing into sam’s arms. she catches you, holding you tightly as you bury your face in her shoulder.

“it’s okay,” she whispers, her hand rubbing soothing circles on your back. her voice is steady, but the anger in her eyes as she glares at josh is unmistakable. “i’ve got you. it’s okay.”

josh takes a step toward you, his hands reaching out. “please, i–”

sam’s glare sharpens, “don’t. you’ve done enough.”

josh stops, his arms falling to his sides. the room is heavy with silence now, the weight of his betrayal suffocating.

and for the first time, you see it on his face, realisation. guilt. maybe even regret.

but it doesn’t matter. nothing he says or does will undo what’s already been done.

comments and reblogs are appreciated ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ @antihuntress

© ruewrote 2024.

[harryssyndrome]

Darkness and You | h.s

summery: a late night drive takes an unexpected turn when an handsome stranger takes his place in your passenger seat.

wc: 5.3k || 🌕🌖🌗🌘 Masterlist 🌒🌓🌔🌕

WARNING ⚠️ sexual references, mention of unprotected sex. MINORS DNI! you’re responsible for your own consumption, don’t blame me later. It’s your own choice.

Posted on: November 25th, 2024

Tag-List: @fruity-harry @angeldavis777 || TAGLIST IS OPEN!

Surprise lovelies! The first part from serial-killer!Harry series is here and I really hope you enjoy it. 😌 let me know how was it and if you have any ideas for other parts, I just might post some more this week itself. this is my first ever try at writing 18+ stuff tho it’s not really much so I hope it didn’t suck🤭😳 REQUESTS ARE OPEN!

You don’t do this. Any of this. You don’t pick up hitchhikers in the middle of the night. Especially men.

You’ve seen a lot of horror movies and you’ve heard a ton of news stories.

You’re not five. You know what you should and what you shouldn’t do. But you’ve made an array of bad choices tonight so why not continue it?

You don’t know what it was but something compelled you to pull over.

The boy with the curls and those deep green eyes, gets into the passenger seat, a grateful smile on his face. He looks sweet, to be honest.

“Oh, thank you so so much. I’ve been out here for so long. My car just gave out on me and there’s no signal in this shithole.” He says, his English accent very evident as he adjusts his seatbelt. “May I know my saviour’s name?” He asks with a smiles that shows a pair of dimples.

The air is thick with the quiet hum of the engine, and your fingers clench the steering wheel a little tighter than usual. You’re not sure if it’s the cold seeping into the car or the nervous energy building in your chest. Something about this feels surreal, like stepping into a scene you’d only watch from the safety of your couch. Yet, here you are, with a stranger in the passenger seat and an unspoken weight hanging between you.

“Uh, YN,” you reply, your voice more hesitant than you’d like. His accent catches you off guard again, so polished and charming it almost makes you forget the unease simmering below the surface. Almost.

“YN,” he repeats, letting your name roll off his tongue like he’s testing its sound. “That’s a lovely name. I’m Harry.”

Harry. It suits him somehow. Still, you can’t help but glance at him out of the corner of your eye. His curls are messy, probably from standing in the cold too long, and his coat looks worn, but there’s a warmth to him. Those green eyes, so striking, carry a sense of ease—like he’s the last person in the world you should be afraid of.

Still, you’re not stupid. Sweet smiles and dimples don’t guarantee safety.

“So… where are you headed?” you ask, trying to keep your tone neutral while silently calculating how far you are from the nearest gas station or town. Somewhere with people. Witnesses.

He exhales, the sound almost a laugh. “Honestly? Just anywhere away from here.” He runs a hand through his curls, shaking his head. “My car decided to betray me in the middle of nowhere. Tried to call for help, but of course, there’s no signal. Classic, right?”

You manage a small laugh, though it feels forced. Your instincts are at war—one side whispering that this guy is harmless, the other screaming at you for stopping in the first place.

“Well,” you say, trying to sound composed, “you got lucky I came by. Not a lot of cars out tonight.”

“Not a lot of kind people either,” Harry adds, his voice softer now. “I was starting to think I’d be out there all night.”

His words linger in the air, and for a moment, you feel a pang of guilt. Maybe he’s just another unlucky soul, stranded and hoping for a break. Maybe you’re overthinking this. Or maybe this is exactly how every cautionary tale starts.

“So, YN,” Harry says, breaking the silence again. His tone is light, conversational, as if this is the most normal thing in the world. “What’s a girl like you doing out here at this hour? Don’t tell me you’re running away from something, too.”

The question catches you off guard, and your grip on the wheel tightens. “No,” you reply quickly, a little too defensively. “Just… a long drive. Needed to clear my head.”

He hums in acknowledgment, not pushing further, and you feel a flicker of relief. He leans back in his seat, letting his head rest against the window. For a moment, you think he’s going to drift off, but then he glances at you again, his eyes almost piercing in their intensity.

“You’ve got this look,” he says, his voice quieter now. “Like you’re carrying the weight of the world.”

You don’t respond right away, unsure how to take that. “You’ve known me for all of five minutes,” you finally say, trying to deflect with a weak smile. “Bit of a bold assumption, don’t you think?”

He chuckles softly. “Maybe. But I’m pretty good at reading people.”

The car falls into a strange silence again, and you can feel his gaze shift back to the window. There’s something about him—something you can’t quite put your finger on. It’s not just the way he talks or the way he looks at you. It’s the way he feels out of place, like he belongs in a story that hasn’t been written yet.

And for reasons you can’t explain, you let yourself keep driving.

There was some reason he can’t take his eyes off of you, almost as if you’re a rare piece of art he couldn’t help but admire.

“You always pick up handsome strangers in the middle of the night?” He teases with a cheeky smirk on his features.

You glance over at him, briefly, before focusing back on the road. The way his smirk lingers, paired with those dimples, feels both disarming and maddeningly charming. “Not usually,” you reply, your tone even, though you’re acutely aware of his gaze on you. “Just the ones who look like they’ve had a rough night.”

He laughs at that, the sound soft and warm, filling the small space of the car. “Lucky me, then,” he says, his accent turning the words into something smoother, like they carry more weight than they should. “Although, I think the luck might be yours. How often do you get to share a car with a proper English gentleman?”

You roll your eyes but can’t help the small smile tugging at your lips. “English gentleman, huh? You sound like a guy who gives himself that title. Let me guess, you also drink tea at every opportunity and say ‘cheerio’ unironically?”

His hand flies to his chest in mock offense, and he lets out a dramatic gasp. “Cheerio? Absolutely not. What do you take me for, a walking British stereotype?”

“Maybe,” you shoot back, your tone playful now. “I mean, you did say your car ‘gave out,’ and who even says that anymore?”

He chuckles again, his head tilting slightly as he studies you. “Fair enough. But for the record, I’m more of a coffee guy. And I don’t say ‘cheerio.’” His smirk returns, softer this time, as he adds, “I think you might be the first person to question my gentleman status, though. Most people just take one look at me and assume I’m… irresistible.”

You snort, trying to stifle your laugh. “Irresistible? You really do think highly of yourself, don’t you?”

“Can you blame me?” he quips, his voice teasing but not cocky. His gaze lingers again, softer now, almost contemplative. “But I’m serious. You’ve got this… way about you. Like you’re completely unimpressed by people like me, and I can’t decide if it’s refreshing or terrifying.”

That catches you off guard, and you shift in your seat, the smile slipping from your face just a little. “People like you?”

He shrugs, the smirk still lingering but now tinged with something deeper. “You know, the ones who talk too much, crack jokes, try to charm their way through life. The ones who should be lucky just to share the same space as someone like you.”

Your stomach flips at his words, a mix of unease and flattery you’re not quite sure how to handle. You keep your eyes on the road, focusing on the distant glow of headlights in the distance. “You’ve got a lot of opinions for someone who just met me.”

“Maybe,” he admits, leaning back in his seat and letting his gaze wander out the window. “But you can tell a lot about someone in five minutes. Like how you’ve got this look in your eyes, like you’re constantly bracing for something to go wrong.”

You freeze for just a moment, his words hitting closer to home than you’d like. “You’re imagining things,” you say quickly, brushing it off with a casualness you don’t really feel.

“Maybe I am,” he replies, his voice low and calm, like he doesn’t quite believe you but won’t push. After a moment, he adds, almost to himself, “But for some reason, I can’t stop looking at you. It’s like… you’re a puzzle, and I can’t figure out the edges.”

You don’t know what to say to that, so you settle for silence, the tension in the car shifting to something strange and unspoken. Outside, the road stretches endlessly ahead, the darkness pressing in on both sides. And for the first time since picking him up, you wonder if you’re the one being read, the layers of your carefully built armor peeling away under the weight of those deep green eyes.

Harry leans back in his seat, one hand resting casually on his knee as he studies you. His gaze, though soft, feels weighted—like he’s trying to peel back layers you didn’t even know you were wearing. After a beat of silence, he speaks, his voice low and curious.

“Can I ask you something, YN?” he says, his tone gentle, almost disarming.

You glance at him briefly before focusing back on the road. “Sure,” you reply, though the way he says your name sends a faint chill up your spine.

“Aren’t you scared?” he asks, tilting his head slightly. “Picking up a male stranger in the middle of the night? Alone? I mean, you said it yourself—this isn’t exactly normal behavior.”

You bite the inside of your cheek, his words triggering the voice of reason that’s been screaming at you ever since you stopped the car. Your fingers tighten on the steering wheel, and you force a small laugh. “A little,” you admit, though your voice wavers slightly. “But you don’t seem like the scary type.”

Harry’s lips curl into a smile, one that’s almost too perfect—dimples and all. “Well, I promise you, I’m not some sort of serial killer,” he says lightly, his tone almost playful. “Scout’s honor.”

Something about his phrasing makes you laugh, and the tension in your chest eases—if only slightly. “Isn’t that exactly what all serial killers say in the movies?” you tease, glancing at him briefly with a raised brow.

Harry’s smile widens, but there’s a flicker of something behind his eyes—a shadow of a thought you can’t quite catch. “Touché,” he says, leaning forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. His gaze never leaves you, as though he’s memorizing every detail of your face. “I suppose it would be the perfect cover, wouldn’t it? A smile, a little charm… make yourself seem harmless enough, and no one suspects a thing.”

The way he says it sends a ripple of unease through you, and the playful smirk he wears only deepens the strange knot in your stomach. You force yourself to stay calm, trying to brush it off. “That’s… a little creepy, don’t you think?” you reply, half-joking.

Harry chuckles softly, the sound low and almost hypnotic. “Maybe. But if I were a killer, wouldn’t I have already done something by now? You’ve got me here, alone, no witnesses. Seems like the perfect opportunity, doesn’t it?”

Your heart skips a beat, and your hands grip the wheel tighter, your knuckles whitening. His voice is still light, teasing, but there’s an undercurrent to his words that you can’t quite place. You glance at him out of the corner of your eye, trying to gauge whether he’s just messing with you or if there’s something darker lurking beneath the surface.

“And yet,” he continues, his tone softening again, “here I am, just a guy stranded on the side of the road, grateful for the kindness of a beautiful stranger.”

Your throat feels dry as you swallow hard, forcing yourself to respond. “Well, for your sake—and mine—I hope you’re telling the truth.”

He lets out another soft laugh, leaning back against the seat again. “Of course I am,” he says smoothly. But there’s something about the way he says it—like he knows more than he’s letting on. Like he’s enjoying this moment a little too much.

The road stretches on in front of you, the darkness pressing in from all sides, and for the first time, you start to wonder if stopping for Harry was the worst decision you’ve ever made. Because while his smile is charming and his voice is calm, there’s something about him that feels off. Like the quiet before a storm.

Harry shifts in his seat, his gaze flicking to you every so often, like he’s studying the curve of your profile, the way your fingers tap the wheel, the faint crease in your brow as you concentrate on the dark road ahead. The hum of the engine and the soft patter of the tires on asphalt are the only sounds filling the car now, a strange kind of peace settling between you two.

“How far’s the city?” he asks casually, breaking the quiet, his voice smooth and easy, though there’s a strange undertone to it—like he already knows the answer but wants to hear you say it.

You glance at the dashboard clock before replying, “Probably around three hours. Give or take.”

Harry lets out a soft hum, leaning back in his seat, his head tilting toward you as though drawn by some invisible force. Three hours. Three uninterrupted hours with you. It’s enough to make his heart race.

He lets the silence return, but his thoughts are anything but quiet. His mind is a storm of emotions and desires—chaotic, consuming, and entirely focused on you. There’s something about you that’s different. It’s not just the way you look, though your beauty feels like something out of a dream. It’s the way you hold yourself, the sharpness in your wit, the vulnerability you try to mask but can’t fully hide. You’re magnetic in a way he can’t explain, and the more he sits beside you, the deeper his obsession grows.

He watches the soft glow of the dashboard lights reflect off your face, highlighting your cheekbones and the curve of your jaw. He wonders what it would feel like to trace that line with his fingers. To know the softness of your skin. To see you look at him not with the occasional suspicion that flashes in your eyes but with trust. Admiration. Love.

His thoughts spiral, wild and untamed, as his gaze lingers on you. What would it take for you to see him the way he already sees you? Would you ever understand how special you are? How perfect this moment is? You were meant to find him tonight—he’s sure of it. The universe wouldn’t have aligned so perfectly otherwise.

His fingers twitch, his desire to reach out, to touch you, almost overwhelming. But no, not yet. He has time. Three hours to savor this moment, to bask in the glow of your presence, to solidify the bond he’s convinced you’re destined to share.

You’re unaware of the storm raging in his mind, the way his chest tightens with every glance at you. You think the silence is peaceful, and in a way, it is—for you. For Harry, it’s intoxicating. Maddening.

He forces himself to take a steady breath, his fingers curling into his palms as he tries to calm the fire within him. He doesn’t want to scare you, not yet. You’re like a delicate thread, and if he pulls too hard, you might snap.

So, he keeps his voice soft, his demeanor calm, though his thoughts are anything but. He smiles to himself, a small, secret smile, as he stares out the window at the endless darkness. You have no idea, he thinks, how utterly and completely you’ve captured him.

And he plans to make sure you never get away.

As the silence stretches between you, Harry's mind spirals further into chaos. He shifts again in his seat, the seatbelt digging into his chest as his thoughts race uncontrollably. His green eyes flicker to the rearview mirror and then to the empty backseat, a dark thought taking hold of him. It's ridiculous, he knows, but the image is vivid, almost too vivid to push away-the two of you tangled together in the small space, your back arching against the leather as his hands grip your hips, holding you in place.

The idea sends a heat rushing through him, and he clenches his jaw, forcing his gaze back to the road ahead. But it's no use. His thoughts keep circling back, no matter how hard he tries to distract himself. The way your lips curve as you speak, the soft rise and fall of your chest as you breathe, the faint scent of your perfume that fills the car—it's driving him mad. You're so close, yet just out of reach, and it's enough to make him want to explode.

He imagines it so clearly: the way you'd look beneath him, your head thrown back, your lips parted in a gasp as he claims you. The sound of his name spilling from your mouth, a mix of moans and screams that would echo in his ears forever. The thought of marking you, leaving his fingerprints, his bruises, his everything on you-it consumes him. He wants you to be his, entirely his, in every possible way. To make sure no one else could ever have you, touch you, or even think of you the way he does.

His breathing becomes shallow as the lust builds inside him, threatening to take over. His hands clench into fists in his lap, his nails digging into his palms as he fights to regain control. Not yet, he tells himself. Not yet. You're driving, unaware of the wildfire burning inside him, and the last thing he wants is to ruin this perfect moment.

But his eyes betray him, flicking back to the rearview mirror, imagining again how easy it would be. The backseat seems like it was made for this-for you. He could pull you back there, coax you into his arms, and let his hands explore every inch of you. He'd take his time, memorizing the feel of your skin, the way your body reacts to his touch. You'd look so beautiful, so utterly perfect, with your cheeks flushed and your voice breaking as you beg for more.

Harry exhales sharply, trying to shake the thoughts from his mind. He turns his head slightly, stealing another glance at you, and it only makes things worse. The way your lips press together in concentration as you drive, the way your fingers drum softly against the steering wheel-it's enough to make him want to lose control.

He shifts again, trying to adjust himself discreetly, the tension in his body almost unbearable now. His lustful thoughts are a storm, loud and demanding, drowning out every ounce of reason he has left. He's trying to distract himself, to think of anything else, but it's no use. Every thought keeps looping back to you-your voice, your scent, your body, your everything.

You glance at him briefly, catching the flicker of something dark and unspoken in his eyes, but you brush it off as nothing. To you, he's still the stranded, grateful stranger, polite and charming, sitting quietly beside you.

But Harry's chest tightens as he fights the urge to act on the consuming need inside him. His teeth graze his bottom lip, his mind racing. He's never felt like this before— this overwhelming obsession, this uncontrollable desire. And it terrifies him. But it also excites him, in a way he can't even begin to describe.

For now, he forces himself to stay still, to keep his hands in his lap and his voice calm. But his thoughts? His thoughts are far from calm. They're filled with you, with every possible way he wants to have you. And the longer he sits beside you, the harder it becomes to stop himself from making you his. Completely, utterly, and irrevocably his.

Harry’s voice cuts through the silence, a casual curiosity in his tone that makes you glance at him briefly. “You don’t have a boyfriend yet, do you?”

You raise an eyebrow, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected question. You keep your eyes on the road, trying to process his words. “How did you know?” you ask, voice light, though you can’t quite place the reason why it feels like an oddly personal question.

Harry shrugs slightly, a devil-may-care smile curling on his lips. “Just a guess,” he says nonchalantly. “No man in his right mind would let a gorgeous girl like you be alone at night for this long. Either that or you’ve got a terrible taste in men.”

His words hit you with an unexpected warmth. You laugh, a soft chuckle escaping your lips, trying to hide the flutter of something that rises in your chest. It feels like he’s teasing you, and yet there’s a charm in his tone, something alluring and carefree that makes it hard not to feel a little… flattered.

“Terrible taste, huh?” you reply, half-joking, your eyes flickering back to him. “Well, maybe I’ve just been too picky.”

Harry’s smirk deepens, a glint of mischief dancing in his green eyes. He leans forward slightly, his voice low, as if sharing a secret. “Maybe I can be your new boyfriend,” he suggests, his tone playful but with a teasing undertone that makes your pulse quicken. “Save you from your bad taste?”

You laugh again, this time more freely, the sound light and natural. “Oh really?” you reply, shaking your head with a mock skeptical smile. “You think you could do a better job?”

Harry’s gaze flickers to you, a knowing glint in his eyes, as if he’s sure he’s exactly what you need, even though you’re not quite sure how to respond. “I mean,” he says, his smile widening, “you wouldn’t know until you tried, would you?”

The playful banter between the two of you continues, the tension that had briefly been present starting to dissipate, replaced by a light-hearted connection that feels easy and natural. But beneath the surface of the conversation, Harry’s thoughts still swirl with that same obsessive desire. He’s enjoying the game, enjoying the way you laugh, the way your eyes twinkle when you tease him back. But deep down, he’s already picturing what it would look like if he were your boyfriend. How it would feel to have you close, to make you his—completely, entirely, and without question.

For now, though, he lets the teasing continue, enjoying the playfulness between you, and the undeniable pull he feels toward you. But he knows, deep down, that this is only the beginning. This is just the start of what’s to come. And he’s more than willing to wait for the moment when you’ll be his.

Harry’s smirk widens as you teasingly reply, “Maybe.” He can’t help it; his pulse quickens at your words. He’s always been good at reading people, but with you, everything feels like an exciting game—one he’s eager to win.

He leans in a little, his arm stretching out to rest on the console between you, positioning himself closer. His breath hitches slightly as he catches the scent of your perfume again, the warmth of your presence filling the car. He’s trying to remain casual, but he can’t help it; his thoughts are moving too fast, pulling him deeper into the haze of attraction.

“Give me some hope at least, moon flower,” he says, his voice softer now, almost intimate. “Let me know I’ve got a shot.”

His eyes never leave you as he waits for your response, and when you tease him back, saying, “Okay, you do. You have a shot at it,” Harry’s grin stretches across his face, almost too excited for his own good. It’s as if he’s won something. Something he can’t quite put into words yet, but it feels like a step toward getting closer to you.

He sits up straighter, a surge of confidence overtaking him. His gaze moves over your figure with a deliberation that makes your stomach flutter. The way his eyes drink in the details of your face, your body, makes you feel… noticed. Seen.

“That’s one hell of a boost for my ego,” Harry says, his voice dripping with a mix of playful arrogance and genuine admiration. “I’ve got a chance with the most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”

The words hang in the air for a moment, and you can feel the intensity of his gaze. It’s flattering, but there’s something else in his look—something deeper, something more consuming than mere compliments. It’s as if he’s claiming you in some unspoken way. His eyes linger a little too long, and though he’s trying to be playful, there’s a certain hunger there that catches you off guard.

A part of you wants to laugh it off, but another part of you… well, another part of you can’t quite deny the effect his words have on you. The way his confidence oozes, the way he seems to have you completely captivated even when he’s just speaking casually.

You force your gaze back to the road, but the tension between you both feels different now. It’s charged, electric—filled with unspoken possibilities. Harry, however, doesn’t let up. His eyes keep studying you, as if trying to decipher every little detail about you. His lips curl into a smile that’s both triumphant and knowing.

The atmosphere in the car shifts. The lightness of the teasing still hangs in the air, but there’s a deeper layer now—one that feels almost like a promise. Harry’s made it clear: he’s not here for just a simple ride. He’s here to win your attention, your affection, to make sure you know exactly how much he wants you. And as he watches you, he knows he’s already made his mark on you in some way, whether you realize it yet or not.

The air between you thickens, charged with the energy of his words. Harry's voice lowers, almost like a secret. "This might sound crazy since I hardly know you," he says, his gaze flickering from your face to your lips, then back to your eyes. "But I really, really want to kiss you."

The intensity of his gaze, the weight of his words, sends a rush of heat to your chest.

Your heart skips a beat, then races faster than before. You know it's reckless, impulsive, but it's as if something deep inside you is responding to him, telling you to act, to do something. But before you can process the surge of emotions, your foot slams down on the brake pedal without warning.

Harry's eyes widen, his body thrown forward by the sudden stop. His hands instinctively grip the console as he stumbles against the force of the car halting.

"Jesus!" he exclaims, his voice laced with shock, his pulse spiking.

You breathe shakily, your hands still gripping the steering wheel as the car finally comes to a stop. The silence in the car is thick with anticipation. Harry's heart is racing, not just from the sudden stop, but from the way you're looking at him now-there's something different in your eyes. Something that mirrors the craving he's been feeling.

When the shock of the stop wears off, Harry turns to you, his breath coming in quick bursts. His chest rises and falls rapidly as he stares at you.

"Why the hell did you stop the car like that, love?" he asks, his voice rough, his brows furrowed in both confusion and curiosity.

Your eyes lock with his, and something shifts. The walls you'd both been playing behind-teasing, joking-begin to crumble. His question hangs in the air between you like a challenge. But then, without saying another word, you lean toward him. A glint of something darker passes over your face.

"Because I wanted to do this," you whisper, and without waiting for any further hesitation, your lips crash into his.

The kiss is immediate and intense, born out of the tension that's been building ever since he first got into the car. His lips are soft but urgent, pulling you closer. There's no room for uncertainty anymore; only the heat of the moment, the heat of his body pressing against yours, the heat of desire crackling between you both.

Harry responds eagerly, his hand reaching to cup your jaw, fingers threading into your hair as he deepens the kiss, his lips moving hungrily against yours. The taste of him is intoxicating, sending a pulse of warmth straight to your core. His kiss is fierce, as if he's been waiting for this moment just as much as you. His tongue brushes against yours, a soft, tantalizing pressure that makes you lose yourself in the sensation.

For a brief moment, nothing else matters-the world outside the car, the consequences, the lingering doubt. All of it fades away as you both succumb to the pull of each other, driven by something stronger than logic or reason. The kiss feels like a release, the pent-up tension from the entire ride coming to fruition in one passionate, desperate embrace.

When you finally break away, your breaths are ragged, both of you still close, your foreheads resting against each other. Your pulse is wild, your heart pounding in your chest, and you can't help but smile at the way he looks at you now-his eyes dark with desire, filled with a hunger that matches your own.

Harry grins, a satisfied, almost predatory look crossing his face. "Well... I guess I got what I wanted," he murmurs, his lips barely brushing against yours as he speaks.

But you know this isn't over. The tension between you both is only just beginning, and neither of you can walk away from it now.

“God, you’re so hot,” Harry mutters against your lips, the hand not on your face sneaking down to your thigh, his fingers gently squeezing the flesh through your jeans. He’s getting drunk on you, addicted to the feeling of your lips on his. He’s never before felt this way, it’s like something in him has snapped in half, the primal and possessive side of him awakening. He doesn’t want to let you go.

The kiss gets more heated, the sweet gestures replaced by desperate and hungry ones. Harry’s fingers dig into your thigh almost possessively, his head tilting to deepen the kiss even more.

His tongue runs over your lower lip, begging for entrance.

As soon as you grant him access his tongue immediately pushes inside your mouth, exploring every inch of your wet cavern hungrily. It’s as if he wants to devour you. His hand moves up from your thigh to your waist, pulling you closer, trying to get the most possible body contact.

“You’re driving me insane, princess…” Harry mumbles against your lips, one hand now gently gripping your chin, holding you in place. He’s practically addicted to the way your mouth feels on his, you’ve unleashed something primal in him, something he has trouble controlling.

“Your car is like.. a perfect spot for this, love,” Harry comments, his lips moving off of yours, down to your jawline. He begins kissing the skin there as he speaks, “Plenty of space… dark, private… you should park somewhere. I bet your backseats are really comfortable.”

There was no denying that he get want he wants and you’re now his… and this is just the beginning

[verstappenf1lecccc]

heyooo could you write a long one shot where Fernando is readers mentor when he “retires” teaches her everything she needs to know.: however then he returns to F1 and can’t mentor her anymore is instead a rival but pushes her off the track accidentally he thought it was ocon.. and he retires the car .. because along the way he’s fallen in love with her… again lots of angst and fluff I’m down for it ahah

comments are always appreciated:)

Red Flags and Green Lights

When Fernando retired he himself thought that it was the end of his career especially towards Motorsport. His last season was gruesome and frankly disappointing. McLaren had let him down big time it was almost as if each race was a joke. Poor strategy Poor performance Poor car.

At the end of the season Fernando knew he couldn’t take it much longer and had decided to draw the curtains up towards his impressive career.

To get away from the cameras and the journalist Fernando had decided to seek refuge in a small Spanish town just off the cost. The salty Spanish air made the Spaniard thrive. He had no intention of ever going back to anything related to Motorsport.

Beginnings

The first time Fernando Alonso had seen you on track, he had raised an eyebrow. It wasn’t the usual dismissive look he gave young drivers—those hungry, wide-eyed rookies trying to make a name for themselves. No, you weren’t like them. You were different.

You had come from the junior ranks, a rising star in a new generation of drivers, but there was something about you that intrigued him. Your precision, your ability to adapt to a car almost too quickly. But it wasn’t just that. It was the way you handled yourself off the track—there was a steeliness to you, a quiet confidence that made him think: This one, she’s got it.

Fernando had never been a particularly warm person, but he’d learned the hard way that talent alone wasn’t enough to succeed in Formula 1. Mentorship—that was the missing ingredient. He’d had great mentors, but his relationship with them had been less than ideal. He was determined to be better. To be the mentor that you didn’t know you needed.

And so, he took you under his wing. At first, it wasn’t obvious what he was doing. He wasn’t the type to sit down and give long speeches about racing. Instead, it was in the small moments, the subtle lessons.

“Don’t overdrive the car,” Fernando would say, tossing you a casual glance during a debrief. “The car doesn’t care about your ego. It’s about balance.”

At first, you’d bristled at his bluntness. But as you spent more time together, you realized he wasn’t being harsh—he was just pushing you in the only way he knew how. And you respected that. In a world of flashy trainers and corporate personas, Fernando was real. He demanded nothing less than your best.

But there were softer moments, too. When he’d see you frustrated, or exhausted after a long race weekend, he’d quietly hand you a bottle of water with a knowing smile. “You’re getting better,” he’d say. "But don’t burn yourself out. It’s a marathon, not a sprint."

Sometimes, after a race, when you’d sit on the pit wall, Fernando would join you. The two of you, silent, watching the crowd disperse, the paddock buzzing around you. He’d stare into the distance, and you could see the weight of his years in the sport, the regret, the battles won and lost.

“You’ll be in my shoes one day,” he’d say, almost absentmindedly. “Just... don’t make the same mistakes I did.”

You’d always chuckle. "I'll try not to." But deep down, you knew exactly what he meant.

You were learning not just the technical side of racing, but the psychology of it—the mental toughness that could make or break a driver. How to handle pressure. How to handle failure. Fernando was a master of that.

The Return

It had been a year since Fernando had “retired.” You were now racing for a mid-tier team, working your way up. You had started to gain attention, but it wasn’t easy. Racing was still a brutal sport, and no one cared how much potential you had if you didn’t win.

It was late in the season when the rumors first started. Fernando was coming back. You tried to ignore it, but it was everywhere. You told yourself it was just gossip. He’d never actually return.

Then, one afternoon, you were sitting in the debrief room, eyes glued to the telemetry, when your phone buzzed. It was a message from your PR manager: "Fernando's back. Announced this morning."

The room around you seemed to close in. It hit you harder than you thought it would. Fernando Alonso, your mentor, your friend, your rival. You had always admired his fiery passion for racing, but this—this felt different. He was coming back *to take your spot.*

The news hit you hard, but you swallowed it. You had worked too hard to let it defeat you. Yet, the sting of betrayal wasn’t easily ignored. He hadn’t told you. He hadn’t warned you. He was coming back to take the very thing you had worked so tirelessly for.

For days, you were a mess. Racing weekends became a blur of frustration. Every time you saw Fernando’s name on the timing sheets, every time you heard the roar of his engine in the distance, something inside of you twisted.

Rivals

The first time you went head-to-head with Fernando on track was at the Monaco Grand Prix. The streets of Monte Carlo, narrow and unforgiving, had always been a playground for him. You had grown up watching him win here, his aggressive style perfectly suited to the challenge. But now? Now, he was your competition.

The tension in the paddock was palpable. You hadn’t spoken much to Fernando since his return—an awkward, strained silence had settled between you both. He was now racing for Aston Martin, and you were still with your current team, fighting for every point.

Race day arrived, and as you suited up, your heart pounded in your chest. The press had been relentless, comparing you to Fernando—asking if you were nervous, asking if you felt the pressure. You couldn’t let them see you break.

As you lined up on the grid, your eyes drifted to Fernando’s car. He was in his familiar spot, just a few rows ahead of you. When his eyes met yours, you felt a twinge of something—regret, longing, but also something else. The rivalry. You had to put it all aside now. You weren’t his protégé anymore. You were his equal. And that meant you had to beat him.

The race was a blur of tight corners, full-throttle accelerations, and the constant threat of losing grip. Fernando had a knack for reading the race, for making late-breaking moves that left you on edge. Lap after lap, he pushed you, forcing you to respond with everything you had.

But it wasn’t just the pressure on the track that had you on edge. It was the way his presence haunted you. Every time you braked too late or took a corner too aggressively, you could almost feel him beside you, his voice in your ear.

Don’t overdrive the car. Control your emotions.

And then, it happened.

It was the final lap, and you were battling for position. You had the inside line heading into the chicane, the tires on your car worn and your concentration slipping. Fernando, pushing hard from behind, wasn’t giving an inch. You could feel his car getting closer, so close that his rearview mirror almost felt like it was inside your helmet.

You took the corner too sharply, trying to block his line. And that’s when it happened.

Fernando’s car clipped your rear tire. The next thing you knew, your car was spinning, the track blurring around you, the world upside down.

In an instant, you were off the track. The gravel crunched under your tires as you skidded to a halt. For a moment, there was nothing but silence.

"Shit! Are you okay?" Fernando’s voice crackled through your radio, panic in his voice.

You gripped the steering wheel, a lump in your throat. He didn’t mean to do that. It was an accident. But it didn’t change the fact that it was him the man who had once mentored you, the man who had taught you everything you knew, the man who had now put you in the gravel.

You sat there for a long moment, trying to regain your composure. The race was over for you. But it wasn’t over for Fernando.

You heard the engine roar as his car raced past. And then, as he crossed the line into the pits , he was the one who had retired without any reason to.

The Apology

The days after the incident were heavy. The press had made their usual spectacle of the crash. But you were quiet. You kept your distance, kept your head down. Fernando had won, of course. The car was still fast, even if he had been a little too aggressive.

He didn’t come to you right away. It wasn’t until the next race in Austria that you finally saw him, walking through the paddock, looking like he hadn’t slept a wink. His eyes met yours, and for the first time since Monaco, you both stopped.

He cleared his throat, stepping closer to you.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice low, almost apologetic. “I thought it was Ocon.”

You blinked, trying to hold back the flood of emotions rushing to your chest. The apology wasn’t much, but it was enough to make the walls you’d built around your heart begin to crack.

“Fernando,” you said softly, “I know. I know it wasn’t intentional. but” You cut yourself off, swallowing hard. “You could’ve hurt me. You could’ve ruined everything we worked for.”

His gaze softened, and for a moment, he wasn’t the driver who had taken your spot. He was just Fernando the man who had shown you how to drive, how to fight for everything you wanted.

“I didn’t mean for it to go like this,” he said quietly. “I’ve been a fool.”

You were silent, looking at the ground, feeling the weight of the last few years crash down on you.

And then, finally, you looked up at him. “You taught me how to race. But you also taught me how to let go. Maybe... maybe it’s time for it for us to let go.”

Confessions

Months had passed since the Monaco incident, and the tension between you and Fernando, once thick and palpable, had slowly faded into a quiet understanding. The rivalry had not diminished the bond you shared, but it had forged a new dynamic. There were moments when you'd catch him watching you, his gaze steady, his usual cocky demeanor softened by something deeper.

It was after the Italian Grand Prix, a race that had been as unpredictable as the season itself, that everything finally came to a head. You had managed to finish in the points, a small but significant victory for you and your team, while Fernando had taken a step back from the podium, frustrated with his own performance. As you made your way through the paddock, you saw him standing near the garage, his eyes distant. You walked over, unsure of what to expect, but the warmth in his gaze when he saw you took you by surprise.

“Not bad today,” he said, his usual teasing tone absent, replaced by something genuine.

“Could’ve been better,” you replied, glancing at his tired eyes. "But you, you’re still a threat on the track, Fernando. Always will be."

He chuckled softly, then fell quiet. The noise of the paddock, the usual chaos of post-race analysis, faded as the two of you stood in that small, private bubble. It was strange, how it had always been with him. Every time you were around, you felt seen—truly seen, in a way that no one else could.

“You’ve come so far,” he said, his voice unusually soft. “I don’t think you even realize how much you've changed, how much you've grown since I first saw you.”

You raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk pulling at your lips. “It’s all thanks to you, isn’t it?”

He looked down at the ground, almost as if hesitating. The silence between you stretched, and then Fernando looked up, his eyes locking with yours. “Maybe... but it’s not just that. There’s something I need to say to you.” He took a deep breath, his hands gripping the edge of the pit wall.

You felt your heart skip a beat. "What is it?"

“I never meant for things to get so complicated between us,” Fernando started, his voice low but clear. “I’ve been trying to convince myself that it was just the rivalry, that it was all about racing. But the truth is I’ve been holding back for so long. Holding back from telling you what I really feel.”

Your breath caught in your throat. You knew what he was about to say, and yet, hearing it aloud made the words seem more real than ever.

“I care about you," he said, the words tumbling out, raw and honest. "Not just as a driver or a mentor, but... more than that. You mean more to me than I’ve let on."

For a moment, all you could do was stand there, staring at him, your heart racing. The past few months had been a whirlwind conflict, growth, understanding but now, in this quiet moment, everything felt clear.

“I care about you too, Fernando,” you whispered, your voice barely above a breath. “I’ve been so focused on proving myself, on being the driver you helped me become, that I never realized how much you meant to me until now.”

There was no dramatic confession, no grand gesture. Just two people, who had been through so much together, finally acknowledging the feelings that had been there all along.

Fernando smiled, a warmth in his eyes that you hadn’t seen before. “So, we’re not just teammates anymore?”

You shook your head, a small laugh escaping your lips. “Definitely not.”

He stepped closer, his hand gently brushing against yours. It wasn’t a rush or a need to act on anything. It was just a simple, unspoken connection—one that had been building for so long, and now, at last, it was out in the open.

“You’re incredible,” he said softly, his voice filled with admiration. “I’ve always known that. But now I get to see it up close. I’m lucky to be here with you, to be a part of your journey.”

You smiled, feeling a weight lift from your shoulders. The competition, the doubts, the uncertainty—it all melted away in that moment. You were no longer just a driver fighting for recognition. You were someone with a future. A future that, for the first time in a long time, didn’t feel quite so lonely.

“We’ll see what happens next,” you said, your heart lighter than it had been in years. “But I’m ready for it. Whatever it is.”

Fernando nodded, his hand resting lightly on your shoulder, a silent promise between the two of you.

The next race came and went, and although the rivalry remained on track, it had transformed into something deeper something that was no longer just about the competition. And when the season came to an end, it was not just your achievements that filled your thoughts, but the quiet moments shared with Fernando: the conversations after races, the supportive glances across the paddock, and the realization that you were no longer fighting alone.

In the end, it wasn’t the checkered flags or podiums that defined your journey. It was the person who stood beside you, someone who had seen you for who you were and who you could be. And for the first time, you weren’t just racing for yourself. You were racing for both of you.

[mochinomnoms]

*slides in* PTM!Silver you say? Please elaborate! I love Silver. He's so handsome! And his arms! The sprites don't do him justice, and i will forever be bitter about it. And they way his face can go from j gentle smile to his intense angry face. I feel like his mind would be mostly sweet daydreams. Hanging out in the woods with his head in your lap. Maybe even dancing in the forest surrounded by his animal friend (like in sleeping beauty when Aurora met Prince Philip) Or! Since he mentions that the Prefect might have some talent with swords. He daydreams about showing them the basics. Hands lingering on theirs while they grip their sword. helping them correct their form as an excuse to hold them close! He has such a serious face. But he fantasized cute little outings.

Any lewed thoughts, I think, would be more like wet(day) dreams. Maybe you were taking a nap with him, and He's was just dozing off thinking how pretty you were. How nice your voice sounds. It's soothing to him. And the way you just sighed and stretched. Now, his mind is else where.

He thinks how beautiful you'd be while he gently rocks into you. Would you stroke his hair like when he naps on your lap? Would you sigh and groan like when you woke up from a nap together? Would you kiss him when youre close to your release and tighten your legs around his waist when he cums in you- he snaps awake. He shouldn't be having such thoughts to his Lord's friend. To His friend. That would be disrespectful. While he was in turmoil beside you, you are desperately trying to face away from him and hope he doesn't see your flustered face. I'm sorry I forgot how obsessed i am with Silver >~<

Refering to this post

I didn't have too much interest in Silver when I started writing PTM, so while he was one of the last options for the fic (mostly because he fit the personality of the manga lead I took inspiration from) I kinda tossed him out right away cause Jade was more appealing and funnier.

I think if I had written it with Silver, your thoughts here would probably match up! He is a lot softer to me so i would imagine his thoughts would be soft when about you as well. I think the drama/conflict in this would be very different though! In Jade's case, it's such a remarkable difference between his personality and thoughts that it sends you into a loop! It's embarrassing (and flattering, though you won't admit it)! So you don't want to address that, and deny it, which only makes Jade want to chase you more!

In Silver's case, since PTM would be the next school year, the conflict comes from Silver not wanting to confess to his Lord's friend, someone the prince holds near and dear. What if he confesses and you reject him and distance yourself from him, will you distance yourself from the others as well, from Malleus? It's a bit irrational, he has to admit, but you are a kind and silly human who won the affections of the Briar Prince, and he is just a knight. What if Malleus were to invite you to his court? If you were to become a noble or diplomate or something similar for Malleus, you couldn't possibly be seen with some knight, can you?

Overall, I think Silver's version of PTM would've been a lot more angsty than Jade's, which does have it's own appeal!

[hello-sweetheart]

Fame and Fortune

Do you dream of glory? Crowds of thousands all adoring beneath you. The roaring cheers echoing in the arena. Countless of small white lights held up like beacons creating a sea of waving stars all for you. Breathless exhilaration has your chest heaving, skin glistening and damn. To feel like a god: never ending, eternal.

What would you be willing to do to get it?

What are you willing to sacrifice for fame?

Who are you prepared to lose?

Could the love of millions be worth the love of one?

——

[Backstage: Corroded Coffin Global Tour-Los Angeles, Ca]

Eddie is pacing, more than just pre-show nerves numb his hands. His cigarette burns quickly, ash falling on the carpeted floor, but no amount of nicotine filled lungs will fix this. Gareth, his drummer and long time friend, is watching him pace, eyes pleading.

“Is it worth it, Eddie?

We all got what we wanted; why are we miserable? You can’t lie to me, we all feel it. I see it in everyone, even you! You haven’t been the same since—“ He receives a withering glare from the frontman and sighs, speaking softer.

“I miss mom and my little sister. It’s been so long since I’ve seen them… I’m no longer drawn in her crayon family portraits, did you know that? Does Anne even remember me, anymore?

How can you keep going like this and expect us to do the same? I’m grateful—I really am—for you. You got us where we are now, a fantasy that we never even dreamed would become reality. It was amazing, I’m glad I got to experience it all with you, but I’m tired. I’m so tired guys.

I just want to go home.”

The long drag he takes burns his throat,

“Look, we’re all tired, I get it. Really, I do, this tour has been… particularly grueling I’ll admit, but come on. This is our last show, the big finale! We’ll give them all we got and then we’ll be able to take a break to freshen up before doing what we do best: creating kick ass music.

Like always. You’ll feel better after this, we always do after the last show—“

Gareth cuts him off, his patience clearly stretched thin.

“No, Eddie, listen to me! It’s different this time. I’m happy with the money we’ve made, we all have enough to live comfortably and I’ve been thinking that, you know, it’s time to settle down. I can’t do that if I’m always working. This, the band, it doesn’t… it doesn’t make me happy anymore.”

Jeff stands and his imposing figure makes Eddie pause from wearing a path into the floor.

“He’s not the only one, man. Im sorry, but its killing me. We don’t expect you to give it up either, you can keep the band name, find new members, keep signing… But for us? We can’t keep going, man. This is the end of the line.”

‘Not him too. Fuck. Fuck!’

“No! What am I—I’ve given up too much for this, you can’t just, fucking, bail on me!” This band, playing with his friends, it’s become his entire world. He’s lost too much to get here.

“Woah, woah, hey! No one fucking told you to and you know it. We’ve always had your back no matter what, but anything you chose to do is on you. Not us. The least you could do is extend us the same fucking curtesy and respect the fact that we’re fucking done with this bullshit.”

His gaze is venom as he looks at band, Grant and ‘Freak’ silent but agreeing with the rest. They refuse to meet his gaze.

“Fine. Do whatever you want.” He turns and leaves. They’ll be starting in 15 minutes.

Fucking cowards. Ungrateful bastards.

A memory plays in his head. Brief and intrusive. The voice of someone long gone from his life rings in his mind.

“I’ve missed you, Ed. Are you done at the studio, yet? When are you coming home?”

“Steve, this is important. You know this. I’ll be pulling a few more all nighters here—this album has to be perfect, baby.”

A crackling sigh is barely audible through the phone.

“I know, I know. I’m just being selfish. I’m sorry. Miss waking up to you next to me.”

“Miss you too, baby. You’re my world you know. Love you more than anything.”

“More than music?” It’s a timid question.

“Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” he’s the only one to laugh into the receiver.

“Right… night, Eddie.”

“Wait, Stev—“ fuck. It was only joke. Whatever, he’ll apologize tomorrow.

Right now, he has music history in the making.

[ohbueckers]

HEART OF A WOMAN. … instead we’re moving slow, i guess she’s used to it by now.

05, CHAPTER FIVE. YOU BETTER START THINKING.

ju speaks. i procrastinated this so bad lol but i have some time over the break to get some stuff out (more hoaw chapters) so yay! pairing. wnba!paige bueckers x fem!oc. warnings. sexual innuendos.

present day, june 2025.

i’m not sure why i let it happen again.

scratch that—i know exactly why. i just don’t want to admit it to myself. it’s always like this with paige and me. a spark, a touch, a stupid comment or argument that turns into something much bigger, much harder to control. we’ve been here before, over and over, in different cities, in different beds, pretending like this time will be the last time. it should’ve been.

the last couple of weeks have been easier than i expected, softer in a way i didn’t know we were capable of. i’m starting to think it’s too good to be true. paige hasn’t been running from me, hasn’t been trying to prove something every second of our time together. maybe that’s why i’ve let my guard down, just a little.

she’s still herself, of course. cocky, loud, and incapable of stilling. but she’s been showing up. not just physically but in the ways i used to hope for back when we were together the first time. it’s in the way she looks at me when she thinks i’m not paying attention, like she did in high school when she told me she never wanted to let go of me. it’s in the way she texts me good morning before i can even think about reaching for my phone, like she’s trying to prove she can still be someone i want to wake up to.

and maybe, stupidly, i’m starting to believe her.

not completely, not yet. paige bueckers has always been good at saying the right things, making promises she’s not ready to keep. but these past weeks, it’s like she’s trying to remind me who she was before everything got so messy. the version of her i fell for in the first place.

but when she’s here, like this? it’s so hard to remember why i ever tried to stay away.

paige is stretched out on her back, arm slung around me, fingers tracing patterns absentmindedly on my shoulder. the sheets are tangled around her bare legs, and she shifts slightly, the motion sending a faint brush of her skin against mine. i glance up at her, and the smug smirk already curling at her lips tells me she knows exactly what she’s doing.

“you staring at me, nai?” she asks. her voice is rough and a little husky from sleep as she stretches. my eyes flash to her exposed abdomen.

“don’t flatter yourself,” i mutter, though it is so obviously a front.

“tooooo late,” she drawls, shifting again so she’s propped up on one elbow, the other hand sliding up to lazily run along my arm. “you’re terrible at pretending you’re not obsessed, by the way.”

i roll my eyes, trying to hide the way my breath hitches at her touch. “says the girl who texted me five times in a row last night because i didn’t answer fast enough.” i lean back against the pillow, staring up at her, and i swear i could forever.

paige’s grin widens, shameless as she looks away. “i mean, what was i ‘posed to do? sit there and wait? nah, i had to apply pressure.” the smugness on her face tells me she’s having way too much fun with this, fun with me.

i snort, shaking my head as i get up, swinging a leg over her and straddling her waist casually. “pressure? you called me a ‘certified flake’ and threatened to pull up if i didn’t respond.”

paige lets out a low laugh, her hands instinctively finding my thighs as i settle over her. “yeah, and look where it got me.” she licks her lips, smirk softening as her eyes flicker over my face, lingering on my lips that are curled up into a smile. “don’t act like you didn’t like the attention.”

i arch a brow, tilting my head to the side. “oh, is that what we’re calling it now?”

her hands tighten on my thighs, smirk faltering for just a second before she regains composure. “mhm. attention. you’re welcome.”

i roll my eyes but don’t pull away, my hands bracing on her chest. how could i? “you’re such a problem.” i bring the comforter we shared last night up over my back, and its like a tent giving us privacy from the sun of my windows. i really need some black-out curtains or something.

“and you love it,” she fires back, her voice dropping, teasing, as her fingers trail upwards, stopping just far enough.

i do. God, i really do.

i smile, and i swear my face hurts from it as i lean down to kiss her. again and again, each one leaving paige chasing after my lips. i savor the moment. i’m not sure how long it’ll be like this, but i like it. a lot. i pull back, resting my head on her chest, breathing in her morning scent as she bites down on her lip in reminiscence.

“tell me i’m wrong,” she murmurs.

i laugh, more of a pity chuckle just because she’s so full of herself. i furrow my eyebrows just slightly, bringing my hand to a resting point right by my face. “i’m not telling you shit, bueckers.”

“yeah? but you didn’t say i was wrong.”

i don’t want to admit it, not to her, not even to myself, but paige knows me better than anyone. she always has. it’s infuriating and comforting all at once, the way she sees through me like i’m an open book. i’m not an open book. i never have been, but for paige…

she doesn’t press, though. she never does when it really matters. she just watches me with that maddening half-smile, her fingers brushing over my skin like she has all the time in the world, and i know she’s waiting for me to say it. to give in.

maybe that’s why i keep coming back. or maybe it’s because she’s the only person who’s ever made me feel this much all at once—frustration, want, affection, something i’m not ready to name. whatever it is, it’s why i don’t pull away, why i let her keep pulling me closer even when i know i should stop.

i shift, the sheets rustling beneath us, and my chest tightens. not about what she said, but what i’m forcing myself to think about. i hate how much i want this, how much i want her, even after everything. especially after everything. but its addicting, and i know she feels the same.

“maybe i’m just a sucker for this,” i mutter, low enough that i’m not sure she hears it.

but of course she does.

she nearly breaks her neck to look down at me. she doesn’t let the words settle. “nah, you a sucker for me.”

i roll my eyes again, avoiding her gaze, but i don’t argue. instead, i lift my head again as i prop myself up on her chest. “what makes you so sure?” it’s a stupid question, but i was fully ready for her to read me.

paige’s smile turns smugger. “because you’re here,” she says simply. “and you’re smiling like that.”

i scoff, trying to play it off, but the way she’s looking at me makes it impossible. i lean down, pressing my lips to hers again, even slower this time. how could i stay away from her when kisses me like this? i feel the way her mouth curves, realizing she’s smiling too.

my hand slides up to cup her face, and she pulls me just a little closer by the small of my back, grip tight like always, like she’s scared i’ll slip. it’s not rushed—in fact, we have a couple hours to be entangled like this before having to part—it’s intentional. like she’s got all the time in the world and wants me to feel it.

and i do.

“it’s—mhm—okay,” paige says, and i find her muffled words rather cute as i shift my hips up, pushing my lips further into hers. her hand slides up my bare back, fiddling with the clasp of my bra. “i am too.”

i pull away, sitting up a little straighter as i quirk a brow at her. “you’re what?” i ask. i decide to help her out, unclasping my bra, but holding the straps up over my chest until she’s finished speaking.

her eyes fall, tongue swiping over her swollen, pink lips. i’m teasing her, i know it, paige definitely knows it. but as she brings her hands up slowly, tearing my own away, i almost forget what i was doing to her in the first place, suddenly fully exposed. i hear her breath hitch. “a big, fat sucker for you.”

i bite back a smile despite her unserious words, because they always make me do that. i roll my eyes, cusping her mouth into my hand playfully as she laughs, shaking out of it.

paige doesn’t hesitate.

she attaches her lips to my collarbone, trails down to the curve of my chest. i look down, and if i didn’t know any better, i’d say paige bueckers is absolutely enamored with me. “so beautiful, baby,” she huskily says, her hands grounding my hips against her as she moves to my tits, attacking the marks she’d left last night so roughly it has my breathing going faster.

i tangle a hand in her hair, fingers tightening reflexively, and it’s like i can’t look away. her face, her lips—every detail feels seared into my memory. “for real,” she continues, and when she looks up at me unexpectedly, lips curving into a small grin, it’s like i’ve completely checked out.

i’m not me anymore, i’m whatever paige wants me to be.

“need you framed or somethin’.” it’s a joke. clearly a joke, nailea. but the way she’s making me feel makes it land differently.

“framed, huh?” i manage.

“yeah,” she replies proudly, like it’s the sweetest thing she’s ever said. “you know, like for the crib. big centerfold. maybe as my lock screen too.”

i can’t help it—i laugh, shaking my head, closing my eyes momentarily as i pretend her words aren’t setting me closer to giving myself to her completely. “you’re so stupid,” i mutter.

paige doesn’t flinch, her grin only widening as she dips her head again, her lips brushing over the swell of my chest. “nah, just honest,” she murmurs against my skin, and the way her voice vibrates there nearly makes me lose it.

i force myself to breathe, leaning back slightly as her hands wander. “maybe you can,” i blurt out without thinking, and she pauses, glancing up at me again.

“what you talkin’ about?” she asks.

i don’t answer right away, leaning over to grab the pink polaroid camera sitting on my nightstand. it’s old and clunky, a relic from freshman year that my dad had given me, and i’d kept it more out of nostalgia than utility. now, though, it feels like fate.

it always does with us.

when i sit back, holding the camera up, paige’s eyes light up, her grin widening into something more troublesome. “nai,” she drags out.

i lift my eyebrows, playing along, like i don’t already know where this is headed. “i’m listening.”

“you not serious,” she shakes her head, voice etched with some laughter. she doesn’t believe it, yet she still tilts her head, sizing me up like she’s already planning the perfect angle.

“thought you wanted me framed, p,” i counter, poking my bottom lip out as i lift the camera a little higher.

her grin deepens, tongue flicking over her teeth as she leans back just enough, hands sliding up and down my legs, creating some sort of friction. she hesitates. “you sure?”

i pretend to think for a moment before responding. “hmm, depends. you gonna cooperate?”

paige chuckles. “oh, i’ll cooperate.” she shifts again, her posture loosening as she leans back against the headboard, one arm draping casually over her head, the other trailing down to rest just between my legs. shes so sexy it’s almost overwhelming. her grin is the same as always, blue hues pierced into me.

“go on then,” she urges. “show me how you see me, baby.”

i adjust the camera into focus, fingers fumbling over the different buttons i’m sure i’ll have to show her have to work before snapping the first photo. the flash and the sun combined cast her in a perfect light, and though she’ll look less defined in the old pixels, the sight’s engraved in my head now.

the whir of the camera fills the room, and the polaroid slides out, landing softly against her chest. paige grabs it, holding it up with a satisfied smirk as the image slowly develops, inspecting it like it’s a prize. she glances at me, her expression softening just a little. “i’m bettin’ you could do better.”

“oh, you think so?” i shoot back, handing her the camera.

“mhm. there a timer on this thing?”

i step out of the shower and into my room, shivering a little as i pull the towel tighter around my chest. paige, completely the opposite temperature of me, must have messed with my thermostat.

i silently curse her for getting so comfortable.

she’s still here, tall figure leaning over the bed she made up. she’s wearing nothing but a pair of basketball shorts and her sports bra, her phone in one hand, the other lazily shuffling through the scattered polaroids we just took.

“what you doin’?” i ask, tilting my head at her as i walk over, water droplets trailing down my legs.

paige glances up, her blue eyes gleaming like i’ve interrupted something i should’ve known better than to question. “you thought i was lying about my lock screen?” she smugly says, holding up her phone.

i keep my eyes on her, not knowing what to expect as i move closer, the faintest tug of a grin threatening my lips. “what’d you do?” i mutter, snatching her phone to check it for myself.

sure enough, the lock screen now features a series of the pictures we’d taken. i blink, and i think my boiling, hot shower just cleansed every dirty thought i had before getting in, because i don’t remember us being this fucking horny. my cheeks flush despite myself. “paige, you cannot keep this on your phone.”

she strokes her chin, lowly laughing at my reaction. “why not? looks good, don’t it?”

i shake my head as i fight back every inch of amusement that wants to take over me. “it’s unhinged,” i retort, though the corner of my mouth betrays me. a part of me wants her to keep it.

she looks at me, completely unfazed. “everything we just did is unhinged.” well…

before i can think of a snappy comeback, there’s a sudden knock at the front door, loud and authoritative. my heart leaps, and i freeze. paige stiffens too, her smile faltering just slightly.

“shit,” i mutter, tossing her phone back on the bed. “put a shirt on.”

paige doesn’t move immediately, still grinning like she thinks this is funny.

“now, p!” i urge, hitting her arm and scrambling toward my closet for a robe.

“aight, aight,” she finally says, scurrying over and grabbing a shirt off the back of a chair. she takes her time pulling it on, moving like this isn’t urgent, like we’re not one knock away from being exposed.

but then there’s another knock, louder this time. not from the front door—this one is right outside the bedroom.

the fuck?

i freeze, my hand still on the closet door, dread pooling in my stomach.

paige’s eyes widen as realization dawns on her. “yo, who has a key to your apartment?” she mouths, grabbing the polaroids and shoving them under the pillow in a panic.

i shake my head as if to tell her i wouldn’t know before squaring my shoulders, trying to channel a calm i don’t feel. If i act casual, maybe—just maybe—i can smooth this over. except i don’t know who it is. we don’t know who it is. i tie the robe around myself and open the door slowly, preparing for the worst.

and there she is. cameron brink.

her arms are crossed as she scans the room, and she doesn’t have a reaction to paige’s presence in the slightest bit. i speak first. “how’d you—“ i start, but she cuts me off, holding up a pink key decorated with yellow daisies attached to her keychain.

well, shit.

“i had a feeling i’d need this,” she says coolly, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. “and your locations.” her eyes flick over my robe, then to paige standing awkwardly by the bed, and then back to me.

“bye, paige,” she says pointedly, not even giving her the courtesy of a glance as she busies herself by stuffing her keys into her purse.

paige hesitates, looking between me and cam, clearly debating whether to say something. i’ve got my own arms crossed, chewing down on my lip like a kid in trouble. she takes the hint, and finally, she steps toward me, pressing a quick kiss to my cheek before grabbing her phone and heading toward the door. “i’ll… catch you later.”

if it weren’t for the predicament we were in, i’d call her adorable.

the door closes behind her, leaving me alone with cam, and i don’t even have to look at her to know what’s coming.

“really?”

i roll my eyes, crossing my arms tighter against my chest. i shouldn’t be upset with her though. i’m deflecting. “you stalking me now?”

cam smirks, but there’s no humor in it. “i came to apologize for what happened at the bar,” she says. “in person, because i haven’t seen you. but now i know why—you’ve been busy.” her voice has something etched in it, almost like she’s disappointed in me, but at the same time, knew.

i look away, fingers curling around the fabric of my robe. “it’s not like that,” i mutter, but even i don’t believe it. not really. it is like that. and maybe i’m just too tired of pretending i can stay away.

“isn’t it? i thought you were done with her,” she says, her brows raising like she’s daring me to lie.

i let out a breath, awkwardly keeping my hands to my sides as i sit on the edge of the bed. “me too.”

“then why is she leaving your apartment like a one-night stand?”

“because—” i start, but the words stick in my throat. what was i supposed to say? that seeing paige nearly every day had unraveled every ounce of willpower i had? that being around her felt like falling into an old habit, comfortable and impossible to resist?

“you try having your ex-girlfriend get drafted to the team you work for,” i say finally.

still, she rambles. “and maya?” cam presses. she’s so worried about it you’d think it was her problem. “they’re seeing each other, you know that, right?”

i close my eyes for a moment, guilt clawing at my chest. that wasn’t fair. “we haven’t…” i trail off, shaking my head. “we haven’t been thinking that far.”

cam exhales, hand running down her face. “that’s the problem, nai. you’re not thinking.”

her words settle into the room, a bit harsh for me to hear, but not untrue. and maybe that’s what stings the most—that i’ve been avoiding this conversation with myself for weeks. the truth is, i haven’t thought about anything beyond the way paige makes me feel when she’s close, the way her voice drops when she says my name, the way her hands feel like they’re meant to pull me back in no matter how far i run. i haven’t thought about maya, about what it would mean for her to find out, about how i’d explain myself if it came to that. i haven’t thought about the job i fought so hard to get, and how quickly it could all fall apart if this got out.

i look at cam. she looks like she’s seen this all before. she hasn’t. she hasn’t even seen half of it and wants better for me. she loves us both, i know that. but apart better than together.

i bite my lip, frustration pooling in my gut as i try to put my thoughts together. somehow, the only thing i can think about is how this isn’t just paige and i’s secret anymore, and i should fight to keep it under wraps until we figure it out. “please don’t tell maya,” i plead.

cam looks at me, her expression unreadable for a long moment before she sits down beside me, close but not touching. “you know i won’t.” i feel a sense of relief. “but promise me you’ll start thinking. about how this affects your job. about you.” she chuckles dryly, emphasizing that i don’t really have a choice.

i suppose she’s right. she is right.

[acute-crashout-jeyuso]

Possession: a Jey Uso x Rhea Ripley x Jimmy Uso fanfic.

Chapter 8: Elevated

Thursday, December 5th, 2024 8:39 PM

Jey pulled up to the curb outside the airport, the headlights cutting through the cool night air. Rhea glanced at him as he put the car in park, his expression softer than it had been in days. As much as their week had been tense, this moment felt like a small reprieve.

Jey turned to her, a hint of guilt in his voice. “Baby, I feel way better now that you’re gonna be rooming with Joe instead of Jon,” he said, his hand resting on hers. “I’m sorry I’ve been such an ass all week. When you come back, I’ll make it up to you, okay?”

Rhea smiled, her heart tugging in different directions. “I love you, babe,” she replied, leaning in to kiss him.

The kiss lingered, bittersweet, and when they pulled apart, Rhea grabbed her luggage from the backseat. Jey stepped out of the car to help her, his arm brushing against hers as he hoisted the bag onto the curb.

“Text me when you land,” he said, his voice low but warm.

“I will,” she promised, adjusting the strap of her bag over her shoulder.

She turned toward the terminal and spotted Joe waiting a few yards ahead, his hood pulled up and sunglasses shielding his face. Always incognito, he gave her a subtle nod as she approached.

Rhea waved back briefly before glancing over her shoulder at Jey one last time. He stood by the car, watching her with a faint smile, and she felt a pang of guilt twist in her chest.

With a final wave, she joined Joe, her luggage rolling beside her.

“Ready?” Joe asked quietly, his deep voice steady.

“Yeah,” she said, stealing one more glance behind her before they stepped inside the bustling terminal.

The check-in process was uneventful, Joe expertly navigating the crowds with his usual calm demeanor. Rhea stayed close, her thoughts buzzing as she clutched her boarding pass.

As they waited for security clearance, Joe leaned in slightly. “You good?”

Rhea nodded quickly, forcing a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

Joe studied her for a moment but didn’t press further. He simply gestured for her to follow as they moved through the checkpoint.

The weight of the week—and the secrets she carried—settled on her shoulders as she walked beside him, the noise of the airport dull in her ears. She didn’t know what the weekend would bring, but she was determined to keep everything in check.

For now, she just needed to focus on the task at hand: getting through the next few days without letting the cracks in her life show.

—

After what felt like an eternity, the plane touched down in Minneapolis, its tires skimming the runway as the city lights flickered in the distance. Joe and Rhea moved swiftly through the terminal, their bags in tow and their demeanor guarded. They kept their distance from prying eyes, slipping into the waiting black SUV at the curb like seasoned professionals.

The ride to the Four Seasons was mostly quiet. Joe leaned back in his seat, scrolling on his phone, while Rhea watched the city blur by through the tinted windows. Her mind was restless, a mix of excitement and guilt swirling within her.

When they arrived, the doorman greeted them warmly, but Joe waved him off with a subtle nod, leading Rhea inside. The lobby was grand, its high ceilings and chandeliers oozing luxury. Joe checked them in, handling everything with ease while Rhea stood by, feeling slightly out of place.

They took the elevator up to their floor, the quiet hum of the ride filling the space between them. When the doors opened, Joe gestured for Rhea to step out first. He unlocked the suite and pushed the door open, revealing a space that was nothing short of extravagant.

Rhea’s jaw dropped. The suite was massive, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city skyline. The decor was modern and elegant, a stark contrast to the no-frills motels she and Jey often stayed in.

Joe chuckled as he set his bag down. “You’ve never seen a suite before?”

Rhea shook her head, still in awe. “Jey always wanted to save money, so we’d get the cheapest rooms,” she said, running her fingers along the plush couch.

Joe smirked. “That does sound like Jey. Well, you’re not slumming it this weekend. You can take the room on the right; I’ll take the one on the left.”

Rhea nodded and grabbed her bag, heading to her designated room. She opened the door and found herself in another gorgeous space, complete with a king-sized bed, a sitting area, and an en suite bathroom that looked like it belonged in a five-star spa.

Closing the door behind her, she set her suitcase on the bed and began unpacking. Her fingers brushed against her ring gear for Monday, and she pulled it out, laying it across the bedspread. The black leather, studded one-piece was edgy and bold, paired with fishnet stockings and thigh chokers to accentuate her curves. It was a perfect reflection of her “Mami” persona, confident and unapologetically dominant.

Next, she pulled out her outfit for the following day. It was one of WWE’s newest shirts, featuring a graphic of Jimmy with the words Samoan Heat emblazoned across it. She paired it with black jeans and her signature black boots.

Rhea stared at the shirt for a moment, her stomach tightening. She hadn’t let Jey see it when the company mailed it to her. She knew anything involving Jimmy was a trigger for him, and she didn’t want to deal with the inevitable tension. Still, the shirt was striking, and part of her looked forward to wearing it.

With her clothes neatly hung and folded, Rhea sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the city lights through the window. Her mind drifted back to Jey, to Jimmy, to the tangled web she was caught in. She exhaled deeply, trying to push the thoughts aside.

—

Jimmy checked into his room at the Four Seasons, sliding the key card into the door and stepping into the spacious suite. He set his duffel bag down near the closet and took in the luxurious space—the crisp white sheets on the king-size bed, the elegant furnishings, and the soft glow from the bedside lamp. He sighed, shaking off the fatigue from the flight, and collapsed onto the bed.

Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he immediately texted Rhea: “Wya?”

He barely had to wait a moment before her reply came through: “Already here. I’ll wait till Joe falls asleep, and then I’ll sneak out.”

Jimmy smirked, the thrill of their secret rendezvous igniting a spark of excitement in his chest. He typed back quickly: “Can’t wait to kiss you again.”

He set the phone down for a moment, staring up at the ceiling as anticipation curled in his stomach. The thought of her slipping out of her room and into his, unseen by anyone else, was as intoxicating as the woman herself.

His phone buzzed again. Another message from Rhea popped up: “You’re impossible 🙃 but okay.”

He tossed the phone onto the bed beside him, running a hand over his face. This was reckless. Dangerous. But, damn it, he didn’t care. Rhea was worth the risk.

He glanced at the clock on the nightstand. 11:45 PM. Still a couple of hours to kill before their planned meeting. He grabbed the remote and flicked on the TV, aimlessly flipping through channels to distract himself, though his mind was fixed on what the night would bring.

—

The clock struck 3 a.m., and Rhea’s phone buzzed, its soft vibrations pulling her from sleep. Groggily, she reached over to grab it and saw Jimmy’s name flashing on the screen. She swiped to answer.

“You fell asleep?” Jimmy’s voice was low but teasing.

Rhea yawned softly. “Yeah, for a bit. Let me see if he’s asleep.”

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood, moving quietly to avoid waking Joe. Padding across the suite, she approached Joe’s door and pressed her ear against it. The steady rhythm of his snores confirmed that he was out cold.

Grabbing the spare key card from the counter, Rhea whispered into the phone, “Tell me what room.”

“520,” Jimmy replied without hesitation.

“I’ll be on my way,” Rhea said, her voice tinged with both nerves and excitement.

She hung up the call and quickly threw on a hoodie and joggers over her bra and panties, not bothering to put on socks or shoes. Quietly, she opened the suite door and slipped out into the hallway, closing it just as softly behind her. Taking a deep breath, she opted for the stairs, not wanting to risk running into anyone in the elevator at such a late hour.

The cool air of the stairwell brushed against her exposed skin as she descended the steps to the fifth floor. Her heart thudded in her chest, both from the rush of sneaking out and the thrill of seeing Jimmy again.

When she reached room 520, she knocked softly. Almost immediately, the door opened, and Jimmy stood there, his face lighting up the second he saw her. Without a word, he grabbed her hand, pulled her inside, and shut the door behind her.

He lifted her off the ground effortlessly, wrapping his strong arms around her waist. “I missed you so much,” he murmured before pressing his lips to hers in a hungry, passionate kiss.

Rhea melted into the kiss for a moment, her hands resting on his shoulders, before pulling back slightly. “I can’t stay too long,” she said, her voice breathless.

Jimmy set her down gently but kept his arms locked around her. “Don’t worry, I just wanted to kiss you and feel you in my arms, Rhea.”

She looked up at him, her expression conflicted. “What are you doing to me?” she asked softly, almost more to herself than to him.

Jimmy’s dark eyes locked onto hers, his gaze intense but tender. “I’m showing you how you should have been with me in the first place,” he said, his voice steady and filled with conviction.

Rhea’s breath hitched, her mind swirling with emotions she couldn’t even begin to untangle. But before she could say anything else, Jimmy kissed her again, and for a fleeting moment, all of her doubts and fears melted away in the heat of his embrace. He used his hands to lift her up and she wrapped her legs around him tight. Jimmy walked the two to the bed, not breaking the kiss. He softly set Rhea in the bed and he pulled the comforter over the two, Jimmy straddling Rhea as she used her tongue to taste Jimmy more, both their tongues battling.

—

9:30 AM

Rhea woke to the blaring sound of her alarm, the shrill noise cutting through the deep, almost dreamless sleep she’d fallen into. She groaned, rubbing her eyes as she tried to shake off the lingering exhaustion. Glancing at her phone, she realized there was no time to waste.

Grabbing her neatly folded clothes, she headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. The warm water cascaded over her, and for a moment, she let it clear her thoughts, washing away the tension from last night’s secrecy. Once out, she dressed, slipped on her boots, and began packing her gym bag for the night’s show.

A knock at the door broke her concentration.

“You ready?” Joe’s voice called through the door.

“Coming!” Rhea replied, zipping up her bag and slinging it over her shoulder.

They headed out shortly after, their ride taking them straight to the arena. The atmosphere was already buzzing with anticipation, crew members bustling around in preparation for the live show.

Inside, Hunter was waiting for them in one of the production meeting rooms.

“Alright, let’s go over the details one last time,” Hunter began, addressing Joe and Rhea. He laid out the plan for Joe’s grand return, emphasizing the timing and the dramatic cues. As Hunter spoke, Rhea stayed focused, mentally preparing herself for the part she had to play.

Toward the end of the briefing, Hunter looked at Joe. “Where’s Jimmy?” he asked, glancing at the clock on the wall.

Joe shrugged casually. “He texted me saying he slept late, but he’s on his way.”

Hunter nodded, satisfied. “Perfect. Rhea, it’s time to get into position. You know the drill.”

Rhea nodded, already anticipating the long, uncomfortable hours ahead. She grabbed her bag and headed toward the arena floor with one of the crew members.

As she crouched low and crawled underneath the ring through the trapdoor, she took a deep breath, bracing herself for the cramped space and the inevitable wait. The space was dark and quiet, save for the distant echoes of people moving around above her.

She adjusted herself, laying down on the padding beneath her. This wasn’t her first time doing this, but it didn’t make the hours of waiting any easier. Her mind wandered, thinking about her performance tonight, her secret rendezvous with Jimmy the night before, and the tension with Jey.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she focused on her breathing, counting down the hours until her cue.

As Rhea adjusted herself on the padded floor, she heard the sound of movement nearby. Turning her head toward the trapdoor, she saw Todd, one of the assembly crew, crawling into the cramped space with a small ice chest in hand.

“Hey, Rhea,” Todd greeted casually, setting the ice chest down. “Figured you might need something to make this wait a little less miserable. You want a soda?”

Rhea, grateful for the gesture, smiled. “Yeah, if you’ve got a Dr. Pepper, I’ll take one.”

Todd dug into the cooler and handed her a can. “What about snacks? You good?”

Rhea shrugged. “If you’ve got a Lunchable, I wouldn’t say no.”

Todd chuckled. “Lunchable? C’mon, Rhea, we’re professionals here. I raided catering for the good stuff.” He pulled out a few containers of food and held them out for her to choose.

“Okay, you’ve outdone yourself,” Rhea said with a laugh, grabbing a small plate of chicken sliders and some fruit. She settled back on the pad and began eating, feeling a little less irritable about the hours ahead.

Rhea looked up from her spot on the pad as Todd set up a small monitor beneath the ring. Just as she was about to thank him, the trapdoor opened again, and Jimmy crawled in, his signature smirk plastered across his face.

“Look who decided to show up,” Rhea said, arching a brow. She fought to keep her tone casual, though the sight of him made her pulse quicken.

Jimmy shrugged, settling himself comfortably on the pad beside her. “What can I say? I slept late. Had a fun night.”

Rhea felt heat creeping up her neck and quickly looked away, pretending to focus on her Dr. Pepper. She wasn’t about to let Jimmy’s words—and their implications—rattle her in front of Todd.

“Well, since you missed the briefing,” she said, her voice steady, “Hunter went over everything. We’re set to make our entrance after Solo, Jacob, Tama and Tonga corner Joe.”

Jimmy nodded, his smirk softening into something more serious. “Got it. Should be good. You nervous?”

Rhea gave him a look. “I’m always ready. You?”

Jimmy leaned back against the side of the ring, folding his arms behind his head. “I was born ready.”

Todd, who had been quietly adjusting the monitor, chuckled. “You two should save the banter for the cameras. Here, you’ll want to keep an eye on this,” he said, gesturing to the screen as he turned it on.

The monitor flickered to life, displaying a blue screen that was currently airing. Todd handed Rhea the remote and said, “Let me know if you need anything else. I’ll be in the truck if you do.”

Rhea nodded, giving him a quick smile. “Thanks, Todd.”

As Todd crawled out of the space, Jimmy shifted closer to Rhea. “You okay?”

Rhea glanced at him, her expression unreadable. “Just focused,” she said simply, though the tension between them was palpable.

Jimmy looked at Rhea, a sly grin spreading across his face as he said, "Give me a kiss."

Rhea giggled softly, her cheeks warming under his gaze. She leaned in and gave him a small, quick kiss, trying to keep things light.

But Jimmy wasn't satisfied. "After last night," he said, his voice dropping into a husky whisper, "I want more."

Rhea turned her head quickly to check the trapdoor, making sure no one was coming. When she saw it was still clear, she let out a soft sigh and leaned in again. This time, the kiss was deeper, more lingering, as Jimmy cupped the back of her neck, pulling her closer.

The two made out for a few moments, the sounds of the crew members assembling the fixtures and finishing the top ring above them muffled by the thick padding of the bottom of the ring. Jimmy's fingers trailed down her arm, sending a shiver through her.

Finally, Rhea pulled back, her breathing slightly uneven. She pressed a hand to his chest, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "You're so crazy," she said, shaking her head.

Jimmy chuckled, his eyes glinting mischievously.

"Crazy for you."

Rhea rolled her eyes playfully, trying to ignore the rapid thudding of her heart. She glanced back at the monitor Todd had set up, pretending to focus on something else. “We need to be careful," she muttered, her voice softer now.

Jimmy leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. "Careful doesn't really suit us, does it?"

Rhea fought back a smile, knowing he wasn't wrong. But she also knew how much was at stake if Jey knew she had went back to Jimmy.

Taking a steadying breath, she adjusted her position and Jimmy pulled her closer to him.

"Jimmy for real, we have to be on the lookout."

Jimmy let out a low laugh, leaning back but keeping his gaze locked on her. “Okay mami..."

Rhea bit her lip to hide her smile, shifting her attention fully to her phone. But the heat lingering between them was undeniable, making the small space under the ring feel even more charged.

—

The arena lights dim, and Solo Sikoa’s music hits, drawing a mix of jeers and gasps from the audience. He strides down the ramp, flanked by Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, and Tonga Loa, their intimidating presence radiating authority. Solo wears the coveted Ula Fala, his face expressionless but his eyes brimming with confidence.

Corey Graves: “Here he comes, Wade—Solo Sikoa, the self-proclaimed ‘real’ Tribal Chief. And look at this Bloodline! Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa—this is an imposing sight.”

Wade Barrett: “Corey, this group may be new to the WWE audience, but these men have wrestling royalty coursing through their veins. Solo Sikoa is making a bold statement tonight by aligning himself with these Samoan warriors. Forget about Roman Reigns—Solo wants us all to acknowledge him.”

Corey Graves: “Minneapolis is letting him know exactly what they think of his so-called claim to the throne, but Solo doesn’t seem to care one bit!”

The group enters the ring, each man taking a corner and raising their hands, commanding the crowd’s attention. Solo steps to the center, grabbing a microphone. The boos grow louder, but Solo smirks, unfazed.

Solo Sikoa: “Minneapolis… acknowledge me.”

The boos reach a fever pitch, and Solo waits patiently for the noise to subside, his stoic demeanor adding to the tension in the arena.

Solo Sikoa: “Roman Reigns? A Tribal Chief? Nah. You can’t be a Tribal Chief if you don’t even have a tribe. The truth is standing right here, in front of you. Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa—this is my tribe. And you will acknowledge me as the real Tribal Chief.”

The crowd erupts with boos, some chanting Roman’s name, others screaming insults at Solo.

Wade Barrett: “Solo is cutting deep tonight, Corey. He’s not just challenging Roman Reigns—he’s dismantling the very foundation of Roman’s legacy.”

Corey Graves: “This is dangerous territory, Wade. Roman Reigns isn’t just the face of the WWE; he’s the Tribal Chief of an entire legacy. Solo might regret these words.”

Solo Sikoa: “Minneapolis… you will acknowledge me, because Roman Reigns will never step foot in the WWE ring again! He’s too afraid to face me! He knows his time is up!”

Suddenly, the familiar opening notes of Roman Reigns’ theme music hit, and the arena explodes in cheers. The crowd jumps to their feet, screaming Roman’s name as he emerges on the stage, his signature calm and menacing presence.

Corey Graves: “He’s HERE! ROMAN REIGNS IS BACK AFTER WRESTLEMANIA! THE TRIBAL CHIEF IS BACK!”

Wade Barrett: “Look at the intensity on Roman’s face. He’s not here for words—he’s here for war!”

Roman cracks his knuckles as he slowly makes his way to the ring, his eyes locked on Solo and his crew. He steps onto the apron and into the ring, unflinching despite the numbers against him.

Roman charges Solo, and the brawl begins. Eventually, Solo, Jacob, Tama, and Tonga gang up on Roman, hammering him into a corner. The crowd is at a fever pitch as the beatdown continues.

Corey Graves: “Roman Reigns is fighting with everything he has, but the numbers game is just too much!”

Suddenly, the lights in the arena shut off, plunging everything into darkness. The crowd roars, phones lighting up the arena like stars.

Wade Barrett: “What the hell is going on?! Who’s behind this?!”

In the cover of darkness, Jimmy and Rhea emerge from underneath the ring, both dressed in all black, ski masks covering their faces. They each grab steel chairs and take their positions.

The lights come back on, and chaos ensues. Rhea swings her chair, taking out Tama Tonga with a brutal shot to the back. Jimmy smashes his chair into Tonga Loa, sending him sprawling out of the ring. Jacob Fatu turns to attack, but Jimmy and Rhea double-team him, taking him down with synchronized chair shots.

Roman capitalizes on the moment, launching himself at Solo and pummeling him into the mat. The crowd is deafening, a mix of cheers and gasps.

Corey Graves: “This is absolute carnage! Roman Reigns is cleaning house, and whoever these masked assailants are—they’re helping him dismantle Solo’s tribe!”

With Solo’s crew neutralized, Jimmy and Rhea drop their chairs and kneel in the center of the ring, raising their fingers in the air in the signature “One” gesture. Roman stands over Solo, looking down at him before turning his gaze to the masked figures.

Roman approaches them, yanking off Jimmy’s mask first. The crowd erupts into cheers as Jimmy’s face is revealed. Roman then removes Rhea’s mask, and the cheers grow even louder, mixed with a few shocked gasps.

Wade Barrett: “It’s the Mixed Gender Tag Team Champs Jimmy Uso and Rhea Ripley?! What on earth is going on here?!”

Roman smirks, looking at the carnage around him. He extends his arms, pulling Jimmy and Rhea to their feet. The three of them stand tall in the ring, raising their ones high as Solo and his crew retreat up the ramp, licking their wounds.

Corey Graves: “This war for the Bloodline is far from over, but tonight, Roman Reigns has sent a message: he’s still the Tribal Chief, and he’s got soldiers willing to go to war with him!”

Wade Barrett: “Solo wanted to call himself the real Tribal Chief, but after tonight, he’s going to think twice about stepping to Roman Reigns again. This is just the beginning, Corey!”

The screen fades to black as Roman, Jimmy, and Rhea stand united in the ring, the crowd chanting Roman’s name.

—

Cathy Kelley: “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m here with Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, and Rhea Ripley. Roman, tonight marks a monumental moment in WWE history as you make your return and team up with the Mixed Gender Tag Team Champions, Jimmy Uso and Rhea Ripley. What does this mean for the Bloodline moving forward?”

Roman stands silent, his expression cold and intimidating. Before he can respond, Rhea steps forward with a smirk, cutting Cathy off.

Rhea Ripley: “You can call us… ‘The Elevated Bloodline,’ Cathy. A name fitting for a faction that’s untouchable and unstoppable.”

The crowd in the arena can be heard buzzing in the background, a mix of boos and intrigue. Cathy, keeping her composure, presses forward with her next question.

Cathy Kelley: “Rhea, that’s a bold statement. But I have to ask—what about your boyfriend, Jey Uso? Is he part of this new trio, or has he been excluded?”

The tension rises immediately. Rhea raises an eyebrow, her smirk faltering for a split second, but before she can say anything, Jimmy steps forward, his cocky demeanor radiating.

Jimmy Uso: “Jey? You wanna talk about Jey, Cathy? Alright, let’s talk about him.” He chuckles mockingly, glancing at Rhea before continuing. “As for the ‘boyfriend’ part, let’s just say Rhea here chose the better brother. That’s why she’s standing here with us—where she belongs.”

Jimmy casually puts an arm around Rhea, who doesn’t flinch. Instead, she leans into the mic with an icy smile.

Rhea Ripley: “Let this be a lesson to Solo, Jey, and the rest of those… insignificant pigs whose names I don’t even bother to learn.” She looks directly into the camera, her voice dripping with venom. “Rhea Ripley, Jimmy Uso, and Roman Reigns are the only Bloodline you will ever acknowledge.”

The crowd erupts in a mix of cheers and gasps and boos as the weight of her words sinks in. Cathy is left speechless as Roman, Jimmy, and Rhea turn and walk away, their presence commanding.

Corey Graves (on commentary): “Did you hear that, Wade? Rhea Ripley just declared war on the rest of the Bloodline—and Jimmy Uso didn’t even hesitate to throw his own brother under the bus!”

Wade Barrett: “This is calculated, Corey. Roman, Jimmy, and Rhea aren’t just forming a faction; they’re establishing dominance. And if this is the ‘Elevated Bloodline,’ I don’t think anyone—not Jey, not Solo, not even the WWE locker room—can stop them.”

The camera lingers on Cathy, still stunned by the sharp words and the powerful declaration as the screen fades to the next segment.

— Flashback 3:20AM

Jimmy pinned Rhea down, their lips locked, and tongues intertwined. His rough hands ran through her long black hair, pulling her head back as he took control. He loved the way her body molded against his as he laid on top of her, their legs tangled together. His strong, tattooed arms snaked around her waist, his chest muscles flexing as he lifted her up off the bed. She wrapped her legs around his torso, letting him grind his hard-on into her.

Rhea pulled back, breathing heavily as she stared up at Jimmy. "I'm still not ready," she panted, biting her lip.

Jimmy's face fell, but he quickly recovered, plastering a smile on his face. "Don’t worry about angering me.. I could never ever be mad at you," he said, leaning down to kiss her again. Rhea melted against him, letting his warmth wash over her as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I do want to please you in another way," Rhea whispered, pulling back from the kiss. Jimmy raised his eyebrows, his curiosity piqued. Rhea grinned, using her legs to flip the two, before climbing on top of him. She trailed her fingers down his chest, tracing the lines of tattoos. He watched her in fascination as she reached down and pulled his dick out from his sleeping pants.

Rhea wasted no time, taking him into her mouth and sucking hard. Jimmy threw his head back, letting out a low groan as she worked her magic. Her tongue danced around his tip, teasing him as she took him deeper into her mouth. She sucked and licked, her hand pumping the base of his dick as she worked him up. Jimmy's hips bucked off the bed as he thrust into her mouth, letting out a string of curse words as he felt himself nearing the edge.

The blowjob lasted for such a long time and despite her jaw locking up several times, Rhea kept going, despite the gagging sensation she was feeling. This was nothing like the blowjobs she would give Jey, this felt… right. Rhea felt her saliva drip onto Jimmy’s dick as he continued to thrust into her mouth. The way he tasted made her so wet but she knew.. she knew she had to repay him the favor for that mind blowing orgasm she received just last week.

It was like Rhea just knew how to drive him wild. She moaned around his dick, the vibrations sending shivers down his spine. She gripped his thighs, pulling him deeper into her mouth as she hollowed out her cheeks, hoping to finally get him to cum in her mouth, his cum that she was so wanting to have go deep down her throat, the saltiness she was wanting to taste. Jimmy's breath hitched as he felt himself on the brink, his balls tightening as he exploded into Rhea's mouth. She swallowed every drop, licking him clean..

“My beautiful possession..”

[crusherthedoctor]

A guide on how to draw Trudy "officially".

Over the years, Trudy has received the occasional fanart, and I can never be grateful enough for every last one of them. <3 However, possibly due to not being an artist myself (unless you count purposefully terrible MSPaint doodles), I sometimes get asked what her intended reference is supposed to be. As in, how is she officially meant to translate in the Yuji Uekawa style alongside the other Sonic cast members.

In the past, I've been hesitant to clarify because truth be told, I don't care too deeply about every detail being completely accurate in fanart: I'm always perfectly satisfied and delighted to see how artists handle her regardless, no matter their spin on it. You wanna make her even taller? Go right ahead. :D You wanna make her hair reach further down? Knock yourself out. :D Boots going all the way up to her thighs? Hehe long leg horsie. :D But since it's something I've been asked more than once, I feel it's about time that I finally give a rundown for those who are interested in keeping her proportions, colours, facial expressions, and other such features canon-adjacent, so to speak.

I'll be numbering my points, because bullet points always seem to get smushed together no matter how I space them, which never fails to aggravate me lol. There's a lot to go over, but I hope I've compiled and summarized them as conveniently as possible. ^^ Alright, now let's make like a Mach Speed secton and go:

1. Trudy's official height is 3'06". For comparison, Rouge is 3'05", and Sonic himself is 3'03". (Originally Trudy was shorter than Rouge, but since Trudy remaining tall in spite of her condition is already a thing, it just felt right this way the more I thought about it.)

2. Trudy's shade of green is much more softer and minty than most green characters in the franchise (Vector, Jet, Scourge, Scourge With A Vagina, etc), as a harsher shade would clash with her portrayal.

3. The rule for her clothing:

Darker blue = headscarf + bandana Medium blue = top + boots Lighter blue = gloves + boot cuffs Brown = breeches + glove cuffs

4. Her muzzle and inner ears are peach, but lighter and more pale than other characters who have peach for those features.

5. Speaking of the ears, they're a teensy bit bigger than Sonic's, but not by much. They're also more rhombus-shaped by comparison.

6. She has five bangs in total, though it may often look like four due to her headscarf.

7. Her eye shape is exactly as it's presented in the image below. The general shape is tsurime, similar to Blaze, but rounder and softer to convey Trudy's personality, and how despite the rough experiences she went through while growing up, they haven't changed her kind heart. Her eyelashes and their length are also exactly as they appear here.

...also, while she's commonly depicted with half-lidded eyes, they're NOT like that all the time like in Rouge and Vanilla's case. Her eyes are fully open in her default state like most of the cast, she's just prone to half-lidded eyes due to her tender demeanour.

And of course, her sclera is NOT the usual white. :P It might look white from afar, but upon closer inspection, it's actually a very subtle light blue. This is often an effect of EDS in real life, so I figured it would be a good way of conveying it visually within the specific framework of a Sonic character. Meanwhile, the shade of brown used is much more warm than cool.

8. She actually has a little boop for her nose (complete with the two nostrils in place of the traditional black dot), it's just not obvious when looking at her from the front, like a mind trick of sorts. It's easier to notice from the side or from other particular angles, like so.

9. There's no easy way of putting this, so I'm gonna come right at ya with it: Trudy does indeed have breasts. Not as overt as Rouge (I say that out of endearment, not out of Bumblekast-flavored contempt), but it's there all the same to indicate she's a bit older than Amy and Cream.

10. Likewise, her legs are on the thick side. Again, more subtly so than Rouge, but still notable when compared to the pipe frames of Amy, Cream, Blaze, etc. And yes, just like horses in real life, she also has a prominent... er, behind, but this too is not quite as blatant as Rouge, since her top tends to obscure some of it, at least when standing up.

11. Her tail reaches down to just above her feet, and can be used to convey some of her emotions, such as slowly swaying when happy, or raising ever so slightly to show her contempt towards a villain. The joke is that she's "politely" telling them they can kiss her ass.

12. Her ponytail reaches down to her back, and in its default state, it forms an S-shape. It's also so close to her back that it may look as though the top and bottom alike are fully glued to her lol. It's not, obviously, but it's another mind trick per say. The height and width of the big upper half are near-equal, for maximum roundness. :3

...however, when she's in motion, be it mild or major, the ponytail can react accordingly in order to convey said motion. This never needs to be portrayed super realistically, what matters is that it looks cute and/or amusing. :3 :3 :3

Basically, if you're familiar with the Shantae franchise, and you know how animated the titular protagonist's ponytail can get, you can play around just as much with Trudy's ponytail.

13. Her gloves are just like Rouge's gloves: they go above her elbows, and fit her arms smoothly even with the small triangular gap on the brown cuffs. They're very much intended to invoke the feeling of classic princess gloves, to contrast the tomboy aspects of her attire.

14. Trudy's boots are yet another mind trick: while they technically go up to her knees like Amy's boots, they end up looking as long as Rouge's boots due to Trudy having longer legs than Amy. :P As for the feet, while they may seem similarly shaped to Amy's boots from a brief glance, the toes have recently been mildly altered to be a little more visually distinct and to reflect Trudy being older than Amy, so the toes are slightly longer and pointed now, as seen below. Despite this, they still lack heels, because heels are a no-no for Trudy's sensitive hooves.

15. Despite her bandana seemingly appearing smaller than her face when she's not using it, it somehow covers the entire lower half of her face perfectly fine like a ninja mask when she is using it. What sorcery is this??? Same reason Amy can pull her hammer out of thin air. Cartoon logic, deal with it.

16. As you can see in the second image above, Trudy's top has a window, which can be easy to overlook since you normally only see it when she has her bandana up. And on the subject of her top, as you may have noticed in a few images earlier, the top also has two small triangular cuts at the bottom of both her sides.

17. As for other details that are normally concealed by her clothing, her body has some pale peach that matches her muzzle and inner ears: it starts exactly at her *ahem* chest, and goes down across the middle portion of her front, ending where the stomach ends. Her feet - or rather, her hooves - resemble the typical round and toeless texture of most Sonic characters, except they're grey, with a little bit of fluff over them like so.

18. Trudy can certainly show a wide range of facial expressions, even playful and silly ones that you might not expect from her, but even so, they are always presented in a dignified and restrained manner. She's also not the type to lose her temper outright, preferring Tranquil Fury, so you won't be seeing her gnashing her teeth madly.

In other words, if Trudy shows visible disgust towards Eggman and his nefarious ways, she would not pull a Jack Nicholson Joker grimace ala Tracy Yardley's Sonic while doing so. She would much rather turn her head a little to the side and turn her nose up at him all proper-like.

19. And finally, simply put, the design of her trusty bow is as it appears here:

...and her whip, in its finalized form, can easily be described as being able to extend like a regular whip, while the handle resembles a rapier handle.

Bonus Fun Fact: During the very early stages of Trudy's design, I considered giving her a cape that reached down to just below the knees, so as to fit her unique mix of refined-yet-quirky. It wasn't super-detailed or anything, it was simple enough, but elegant nonetheless. However, I decided against it due to fears of it potentially making the design too cluttered, and also thinking about Trudy's design not causing inconvenience if she were actually playable in a game.

That said, I still think about it from time to time, as while it may not be part of her finalized attire, I still think a cape could look endearing on her, partly due to an old comic by Skaru, so if anyone wants to try their hand at drawing her with one, that's perfectly fine with me. :> Plus, with those who already accuse Trudy of being a Whisper ripoff, despite Trudy existing long before IDW Sonic in general was even a thing, it'd be a funny way of baiting them lmao.

And that's about it, assuming I don't remember something else five seconds after uploading this post! So for any artists who prefer to draw her with her "canon" proportions and whatnot, I hope this guide is able to help. ^^ Credit for all the art used in this post goes to: @skaruresonic @star-stages @nuncadisponible @sonikkuruzu @eva-of-the-sea @thespeedhighway @aquillis-main @la-nom-nom @latias-eevee-hatori

[elizabeth-holland24]

The Beast Within - Chapter 5

Days in the sun when my life has barely begun. Not until my whole life is done will I ever leave you. Will I tremble again, to my dear one's gorgeous refrain. Will you now forever remain. Out of reach of my arms. Oh, those days in the sun. What I’d give to just relive one. Undo what's done. And bring back the light. Oh, I could sing, of the pain these dark days bring. The spell we are under. Still is the wonder of us I sing of tonight. How, in the midst of all this sorrow, can so much hope and love, endure. I was innocent and certain, now I'm wise but unsure. Days in the past, I can't go back into my childhood. Oh, those precious days couldn't last. One that my father made secure. I can feel a change in me. Oh, hold me closer. I'm stronger now, but still not free. Days in the sun, will return. We must believe as others do. That days in the sun. Will come shinning through.

Flashback

The woods always felt alive, even in their stillness. Sunlight filtered through the canopy of leaves, casting golden patterns on the forest floor. A young Mausi skipped over roots and around trees, her worn shoes crunching against the earthy path. This was her sanctuary, a place where rules didn’t matter, where she could dream endlessly and imagine a world beyond her small village.

As she wandered deeper, a muffled sound stopped her in her tracks. A soft, hiccupping sniffle.

Curiosity, tinged with concern, bubbled inside her. Who could be crying here, in her woods? The sound pulled her forward, her little feet quiet now, as if afraid to disturb the sadness lingering in the air.

And there he was—a boy, crouched by the base of an ancient oak tree, his head buried in his knees, his shoulders shaking ever so slightly. His clothes, though finer than hers, were dirtied from the forest floor. He looked about her age, maybe a little older, but it was hard to tell. His form was curled in on itself, as if he wanted to disappear, to fold himself into the shadows of the woods and never come out.

Mausi’s heart clenched. She didn’t know why, but seeing him like that hurt her in a way she couldn’t name. She wasn’t the kind of girl to ignore someone in pain—especially not when that someone seemed so lost.

She took a cautious step forward, her small voice breaking the silence. “Why are you crying?”

The boy stiffened but didn’t look up. “Go away,” he muttered, his voice raw and shaky.

Mausi frowned but didn’t leave. Instead, she plopped herself down beside him, tucking her knees under her chin. She wasn’t the type to be scared off easily, not by a little grumpiness.

“I’m Mausi,” she said cheerfully, though her voice was softer than usual, as if she knew not to push too hard.

Silence.

“My dad calls me that. It means ‘little mouse.’” She paused, glancing at him. “What’s your name?”

“Doesn’t matter,” he grumbled.

“Well, I’ll just call you ‘grumpy boy’ then,” Mausi said, crossing her arms with mock indignation.

At that, he finally looked up, his tear-streaked face partially hidden by unruly blonde hair. His green eyes, red-rimmed from crying, locked onto hers. For a fleeting moment, something unspoken passed between them—a connection neither could fully understand.

“I don’t need friends,” he said, his tone defensive but weak.

“That’s fine. I don’t need another friend either,” Mausi replied, shrugging. “But I’m not going anywhere. You look like you need someone.”

The boy stared at her, as if trying to decide whether she was a nuisance or a lifeline. Eventually, his shoulders relaxed just a fraction, and he let out a sigh.

They sat there in silence, two small figures against the vastness of the woods. The weight in the air began to lift, little by little, as the boy’s sniffles faded into the rustling of leaves.

From that day on, the two became an unlikely pair, their connection forged in the quiet corners of the forest where the rest of the world couldn’t reach them. The boy never told Mausi his name, and though curiosity burned within her, she never pushed him to share it. Somehow, she understood that names held power, and his reluctance was less about hiding and more about protecting something fragile within himself.

Instead, they created a world of their own, one where names didn’t matter, and labels were irrelevant. They met in the same secluded spot beneath the ancient oak tree, the one whose roots snaked into the earth like veins carrying the lifeblood of the forest. It was their sanctuary—a place where laughter, exploration, and quiet companionship thrived, untainted by the weight of expectations.

The boy was guarded, his words often clipped and his demeanour prickly. He had a way of snapping when he felt too exposed, a defence mechanism Mausi came to recognize as fear rather than anger. But she had a gift for disarming him. Her chatter filled the silences he carried like armour, and though he’d roll his eyes or let out exaggerated sighs, Mausi noticed the corners of his mouth twitching upward when he thought she wasn’t looking.

She talked about anything and everything:how her father was always building something; how she didn't have a mother, how she loves adventures and reading, hoping one day she'll get an adventure of her own, how in her village they made fun of her for being different. Her words painted vibrant pictures, filling their little world with light and warmth.

At first, the boy didn’t respond much beyond a grunt or a sarcastic comment, but slowly, the cracks in his shield began to show. In stolen moments of vulnerability, he shared pieces of himself—little glimpses into the life he kept hidden.

As the weeks turned into months, the boy’s edges softened further. He taught Mausi how to skip stones across the surface of the creek, laughing when her first attempts sent the rocks plunging straight to the bottom. In return, she showed him how to whistle using a blade of grass, their giggles echoing through the forest as they competed to see who could make the loudest sound.

Yet, no matter how much they shared, there was always a heaviness in the boy’s eyes, a weight Mausi couldn’t quite name. 

One day, as they sat side by side on the bank of the creek, Mausi noticed a scar running along the inside of his wrist. It was faint, almost hidden by the dirt smudging his skin, but unmistakable. She reached out instinctively, her fingers brushing against it before she realized what she was doing.

The boy jerked his arm away, his expression darkening. “Don’t,” he said sharply, his voice colder than she’d ever heard it.

“I’m sorry,” Mausi stammered, pulling her hand back. “I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s nothing,” he interrupted, his tone firm. But the way he turned away from her, his shoulders tense and his hands clenched into fists, told a different story.

Mausi didn’t say anything else, afraid that if she pushed too hard, he might disappear again. But the scar stayed with her, a silent reminder that the boy she called her friend carried more pain than she could see.

Even in their happiest moments, the shadow lingered. It was in the way he sometimes stared off into the distance, his brow furrowed, as if he were reliving something he couldn’t escape. It was in the way he flinched at sudden noises, his head snapping around as though expecting danger.

Mausi wished she could take that shadow from him, to make him laugh so hard it disappeared forever. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t that simple. Some hurts ran too deep to be erased by kind words or shared laughter.

Still, she stayed. Because even if she couldn’t heal him, she could be there—to listen, to laugh, to remind him that he wasn’t alone.

And in return, the boy gave her something she didn’t even know she needed. For all his guardedness and sharp edges, he made her feel seen in a way no one else ever had. When he looked at her, it was as though she mattered—not as the village’s ‘little mouse’ but as Mausi, a girl who could climb trees and weave daisy chains and bring light into the darkest corners of the forest.

Together, they carved out a space where the weight of the world didn’t exist. It wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t without its complications, but it was theirs. And for a while, that was enough.

The rain came suddenly, drenching the forest in a matter of moments. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the sky hung low and gray, casting the woods in a shadowy gloom.

Mausi clutched a bundle of wildflowers in her hands as she raced toward their spot, her heart pounding with a strange urgency she couldn’t explain. The rain soaked through her clothes, chilling her to the bone, but she didn’t care. Something felt wrong—terribly wrong.

When she reached the clearing, she saw him.

He was curled up at the base of their tree, just as he’d been the first day they met. But this time, his sobs were not muffled. They tore through the air, raw and gut-wrenching, the kind of sound that made the world feel heavier.

Mausi dropped the flowers and ran to him, falling to her knees beside him. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice trembling. “Are you hurt?”

He didn’t answer. He just shook his head, his hands clutching at the damp fabric of his shirt as if trying to hold himself together.

Mausi hesitated, unsure of what to do. Finally, she did the only thing that felt right—she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug.

“It’s okay,” she whispered, even though she didn’t know if it was. “You’re not alone.”

For a moment, he stiffened in her embrace, as though the kindness was too much to bear. But then he broke, his sobs growing louder as he buried his face in her shoulder.

“I can’t—” he choked out between gasps. “It’s gone. They’re gone. Everything’s gone.”

Mausi didn’t understand what he meant, but she didn’t need to. She just held him tighter, her own tears mixing with the rain as she tried to absorb some of his pain.

For weeks, he didn’t come back.

Mausi visited their spot every day, her heart sinking a little more each time she found it empty. She left little gifts for him—wildflowers, pebbles, even a tiny carved mouse she’d made from a piece of wood. But they remained untouched.

She began to wonder if he was ever coming back.

When he finally did, he wasn’t alone.

Mausi’s face lit up when she saw him, but the joy was short-lived. The boy she knew was gone, replaced by someone colder, harder. He stood with a group of older boys, their laughter sharp and cruel.

“You’re here!” she said, her voice filled with relief. “I was so worried. Are you okay?”

He smirked, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “What, are you some kind of puppy?” he sneered. “I don’t need you following me around.”

The words stung, but Mausi refused to let him see. “That’s all you have to say?” she asked, her voice trembling. “After disappearing for so long?”

“I don’t owe you anything,” he snapped. “I’m not your friend. We’re not even on the same level.”

The boys around him laughed, their jeers echoing in the clearing.

Mausi blinked back tears, her heartbreaking in a way she didn’t think was possible. “Fine,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Sorry I cared.”

She turned and walked away, leaving the flowers she’d brought for him lying on the ground.

The boy watched her go, his fists clenched at his sides. Every instinct screamed at him to call her back, to apologize, to tell her the truth. But he didn’t. He couldn’t.

“She’s better off without me,” he told himself. “Everything I care about gets taken away. It’s better this way.”

But as her figure disappeared into the shadows of the woods, he felt the weight of his words crushing him. For the first time in his young life, he wondered if pushing someone away hurt more than losing them.

A/N: Hey guys, sorry it took me so long to publish this chapter. Thank you so much for the love and support this story has gained. We got a flashback, wonder who that boy is. Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter, thank you so much for the love and support on this story again. Don't forget to comment, like and reblog, so I know if you are enjoying it. I think that's all. Thanks for reading <3

[goblinbeetle]

A long overdue update

[kinnbig]

Jeff and his lollipop | Dum Dum (ดึมดึม)

[wormstar]

something like this

[fragmentedblade]

"You are more candid than I calculated"

Honestly, same

[tlgerpapl]

another experimental piece, this time of beachy keen, another of my ocs!

[kalloway]

I don't know him that well personally, but I WOULD take a bullet (an arrow? I guess, in this context?) for Anri of Astora

He gives me SUCH soft boy vibes, I just wanna protect him at all costs despite him being in a literal suit of armour already