#to do what he can to keep those he cares for safe

[sidekick-hero]

A Leash, a Van, and a Christmas Plan

steddie | rated teen | 3.7k | tags: Christmas fluff, Nurse Steve, meet-cute, Bear the dog | Read on AO3

Steve had always wanted a dog—ever since he could remember. As a kid, he would beg his parents endlessly, swearing up and down that he’d take care of it. He’d walk it, feed it, clean up after it.

Despite all his promises, a dog remained one of the few things he didn’t get as a child, right alongside the attention and affection he truly craved.

So, the moment he could afford his own flat, he knew exactly what to do. Together with his best friend Robin, he made his way to the local shelter in search of a furry companion. Robin, a self-proclaimed cat person, indulged him in this quest to fulfill his childhood dream.

They wandered the shelter for what felt like hours. Even Robin started to joke that they should just take all the dogs home. Steve, however, found the decision nearly impossible. How could he pick just one? They all deserved to feel safe and loved.

Steve was not projecting. Okay?

Anyway, just as they were about to give up, they passed what looked like an empty kennel. A faint growl stopped Steve in his tracks. Curious, he stepped closer and found a small black bundle cowering in the far corner. The dog was young, terrified, and yet somehow still looked like it was ready to take on the entire world.

“Robin!” Steve called over his shoulder. His friend was busy fussing over a golden retriever a few kennels ahead. “Can you get someone from the staff?”

A week later, after passing all the background checks and paperwork, Steve brought Cerberus home.

The name wasn’t his idea. That credit went to Dustin, one of the kids who worked at the shelter. Dustin had taken one look at the little dog and declared that it would grow into a huge, black monster, making “Cerberus” the perfect name. Steve hated it—but he liked the kid enough to keep it.

Besides, they ended up calling him Bear anyway.

That had been three years ago. Since then, Bear had grown into the huge, black monster Dustin had predicted—well, minus the monster part. Unless, of course, you counted being a total cuddle monster.

Still, Bear was a big guy, and his size alone was enough to make most people wary. It didn’t help that he was fiercely protective of Steve, growling at anyone who dared to come too close. He always needed time to warm up to new people, but once you were accepted as part of his pack, you had a loyal friend for life.

Steve didn’t mind Bear’s intimidating presence, though. If anything, it made him feel safer. As a nurse at the local hospital, his unpredictable shifts meant late-night walks were a regular part of their routine. Bear’s size and low, rumbling growl made it easy for Steve to wander through quiet streets at night without a second thought.

It was on one of those walks—a bitterly cold December night, just two days before Christmas—that everything changed.

Months of working with Chrissy, his dog trainer, had paid off in more ways than one. Steve ended up with a kind-of-well-behaved-but-stubborn dog willing to (mostly) cooperate, and Robin got herself a girlfriend who was every bit as amazing as she deserved. Even if it meant that Steve would have to spend Christmas alone this year, while Robin took Chrissy home to her parents for the first time.

Usually, walking Bear was uneventful—a blessing, considering Steve, despite being fit and regularly working out at the hospital gym, was no match for 145 pounds of determined dog. Bear stayed close to Steve’s side, happy to keep watch, growling menacingly at any perceived threats but always trusting Steve to handle things.

That’s why Steve wasn’t gripping the leash as tightly as he should have been. His thoughts were far away, preoccupied with a little boy he’d been tending to—a boy stuck in the hospital over Christmas and heartbreakingly sad about it. Steve was busy planning ways to make the holiday festive for the kids in his ward when it happened: a sudden, sharp tug on the leash.

The leash slipped from his fingers before he could react.

“Bear!” Steve shouted, his voice cracking with shock and just a little more panic than he’d like. “Come!”

Bear, however, had other ideas. He bolted, disappearing into the dense trees at the edge of the park.

“Shit. Shit. Shit.” Steve swore as he took off after him, already regretting not listening to Robin when she suggested a cat. A cat, after all, wouldn’t have him tripping through brambles and stumbling over undergrowth, with only his runner’s light bouncing wildly to guide him.

Finding a black dog in the pitch-dark night was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Impossible.

“Bear!” Steve called again, cupping his hands around his mouth to carry his voice further. “Come here, buddy!”

He stopped, straining to hear anything—a rustle, a bark, a clue—but all he got in return was the sound of his own heavy breathing and the distant hoot of an owl. The silence felt louder somehow, now that one of his senses was compromised.

The realization crept in slowly, chilling him even more than the night air: he was alone, in the dark, with his dog gone and no one else around.

His breath came in visible puffs, clouds of mist dissipating into the cold. A shiver ran through him, though he couldn’t quite tell if it was from the cold or the unsettling weight of his surroundings. The trees loomed, their shadows stretching longer than they should, and everything felt just a little off.

He was on the verge of giving up—tears prickling at the corners of his eyes, frustration mixing with fear—when a loud snap echoed through the stillness.

Steve flinched, his heart leaping into his throat.

Then, a deep, rumbling growl broke through the stillness, followed by a sharp bark.

“Bear!” Steve shouted, bolting toward the sound. More barks followed, their tone higher and lighter—not aggressive, but curious.

“Good boy,” a voice called out, shaky but trying for calm. “Or—uh—good girl? I don’t want to assume, man. Or… woman. Shit. Please don’t eat me?”

The voice sounded young, male and unmistakably terrified. Steve couldn’t blame him. Anyone would panic if they were cornered by 145 pounds of black fur and sharp teeth.

Forcing his legs to move faster and silently praying he wouldn’t trip over a stray root or branch, Steve barreled toward the commotion, his heart pounding in his chest. Bear was obviously holding someone hostage, and Steve had no idea what he was about to find.

He burst through the trees and stumbled into a clearing. There, parked at the edge, was an old van—and standing on top of it was a man.

The guy had his hands raised in a desperate, placating gesture, his voice trembling as he pleaded with Steve’s dog.

“Easy, big guy. Good boy. Or girl. Seriously, no need for violence here—”

Steve couldn’t tell you why, but the whole thing was so absurd, so completely surreal. Bear, massive and proud, sitting at the base of the van like some four-legged guardian, and the poor guy perched on the roof like he’d been treed by a bear. The adrenaline coursing through Steve’s veins, paired with the overwhelming relief that Bear was safe—and that no one appeared to be bleeding—hit him all at once.

Steve doubled over, hands on his knees, laughing in near hysteria.

Both Bear and the guy turned toward Steve’s laughter. Bear let out a low whuff, the canine equivalent of “Look what I found!” Meanwhile, the guy, clearly panicked, shouted at him.

“Run! There’s a wild beast—it’ll tear you apart if you don’t move! Hurry! I can try to distract it, but I don’t know if it’ll work.”

Another wave of laughter threatened to bubble up, but Steve managed to swallow it down. The poor guy was terrified, and yet he was still trying to save Steve. It was kind of adorable, in a completely ridiculous way.

Instead of laughing more, Steve decided to end the guy’s suffering. He walked toward them, shaking his head.

“What the fuck are you doing, man?” the guy yelled, eyes wide. “Don’t come closer! I—I don’t think I can stop it!”

Steve smiled up at him, though in the dim light—provided by the van’s headlights and his bouncing runner’s light—he doubted the guy could see it. He kept walking until he was right beside Bear, the dog’s massive head level with his waist.

Calmly, he reached down to scratch behind Bear’s ears and said, loud enough for the guy to hear, “What do you think you’re doing, huh? We talked about this. No running away, and definitely no hunting down poor, innocent people.”

Bear responded with another satisfied whuff, his tail wagging furiously despite the fact that he was still sitting.

“What. The. Actual. Fuck.” The voice from above sounded incredulous. “Are you some kind of dog whisperer or that your beast?”

Steve looked up at Bear’s hostage, and upon realizing that his runner’s light was blinding him, turned it off. He could still see well enough with the headlights casting a warm light close by after his eyes had adjusted. The first thing he noticed were the guy’s eyes. They were huge and almost black in the low light, sitting atop full lips on a pale face framed by dark curls. He was adorable and hot.

“Sorry,” Steve began, running a hand through his hair. “Not a dog whisperer, or this big guy wouldn’t have bolted the second I got distracted and loosened my grip on the leash. In my defense, though, he’s never done that before. You must smell pretty incredible for him to chase you all the way down here.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Steve wanted to slap himself. Once upon a time, he had game. Real game. But apparently, those days were long gone, and now he was reduced to this—word vomiting as soon as he came face-to-face with a hot guy.

The guy—whom Steve had silently dubbed Bambi because of those wide, enchanting doe eyes—blinked at him, utterly speechless. Steve dared to hope he was overwhelmed by Steve’s suave charm, but that hope was dashed by the guy’s next words.

“Are you for real? You’re telling me it’s my fault for smelling like dog food that your… your beast chased me down?”

Something about the incredulous tone, coupled with the faint tremor in his voice that betrayed more lingering embarrassment than true anger, lit a spark of mischief in Steve. He wanted to make the guy laugh, to banish the last traces of fear, and—let’s be honest—to see how those full lips would look wrapped around a smile.

“Not dog food, no,” Steve said, tilting his head thoughtfully. “Bear here is a professionally trained drug detection dog. So he must’ve picked up something really interesting to go off the rails like that.”

It was meant as a joke—obviously, Bear was no such thing as a professionally trained anything. But at Steve’s words, Bambi’s eyes widened to cartoonish proportions. Before Steve could assure him he was kidding, the guy scrambled to climb down the other side of the van, his movements jerky with panic.

“Whoa, hey—wait!” Steve called out, stepping forward, but it was too late.

There was a sharp slip, followed by a dull thud and a pained groan.

Steve hurried toward the spot where Bambi had hit the ground with an alarming thud, but Bear was faster.

“Please make it quick, big guy. Haven’t I suffered enough already?” came a slightly wheezing voice, followed by another soft whuff.

When Steve rounded the corner of the van, he stopped dead in his tracks, the scene before him equal parts surreal and hilarious.

Bambi was sprawled on the ground, spread-eagled, his head tilted to one side. Bear sat beside him, their faces mere inches apart. Bear’s loose fur and skin hung comically, his head tilted in a way that screamed curiosity, as if he were silently asking, “What are you doing down there?”

Steve considered taking a picture. Robin and Chrissy would never believe this otherwise. But a low groan from Bambi snapped him out of it.

“Shit. Are you okay?” Steve asked, quickly crossing the remaining distance. He dropped to his knees on Bambi’s other side, mirroring Bear’s concerned expression as he leaned over him.

“This is hell,” Bambi muttered, his voice heavy with dramatic despair. “The hellhound Cerberus has chased me to my demise, and now Charon’s coming to ferry my soul to Tartarus.”

Steve blinked. Was this guy serious? A concussion seemed likely at this point. But it was hard to ignore the weird coincidence that Bambi knew Bear’s namesake.

“I’m so sorry, man,” Steve said, raking a hand through his hair. “It was just a joke—I didn’t think you’d believe me. Robin’s right. I’m hopeless.” He let out a frustrated groan. “I mean, who almost gets someone killed trying to make them laugh?”

To Steve’s surprise, a hand reached out and found his, squeezing it once.

“You wanted to make me laugh?” Bambi asked, his voice soft.

“That’s what you’re focusing on? Not the ‘almost got you killed’ part?” Steve sighed, but a faint smile tugged at his lips. “Yeah. You looked so scared and embarrassed. I just wanted to see you smile. So I made a dumb joke… and ended up getting you hurt instead.”

Bambi—he needed to find out the guy’s name, Steve reminded himself—hummed softly, his lips quirking into a teasing smile. “So, just to be clear: You’re not a cop, and he—” he gestured toward Bear, still sitting like this was all a casual hangout in the park—“is not a drug detection dog?”

Steve let out a rueful laugh, one hand rubbing the back of his neck as warmth crept up his cheeks. “Nope. Not a cop. Not a drug detection dog. Just a pediatric nurse with a terrible sense of humor and a dog who’s usually better behaved.”

Eddie’s tentative smile grew into something full and radiant, so dazzling that Steve momentarily lost track of everything else. It was the kind of smile that made you think cheesy things, like comparing it to the sunrise—hopeful and brilliant, warming something deep in Steve’s chest.

“What’s your name?” Steve asked, shaking himself back to reality. “I keep calling you Bambi in my head, and I’m pretty sure that’s not it.”

That did it. Eddie burst into surprised laughter, his head tipping back as his eyes crinkled at the corners, the sound bright and unrestrained. It sent a wave of smug satisfaction through Steve, though it didn’t last long. The laughter soon faded into a low groan, Eddie wincing as the movement jostled whatever injury he’d sustained.

“Shit, sorry,” Steve blurted, words tumbling out as his concern surged. “Are you okay? God, I didn’t mean—”

Eddie’s hand found Steve’s again, squeezing it firmly. “Shhh,” he soothed, his voice low and warm. “Hey, it’s okay, sweetheart. I mean, your sense of humor might be the death of me, but what a way to go, huh?”

Steve barked a startled laugh at that, though it quickly gave way to a more serious tone. “I’d really prefer you don’t die on me,” he said, pausing deliberately for the guy to fill in the gap.

“Eddie,” came the soft reply.

Steve smiled, relief and something else he couldn’t quite name washing over him. “I’d rather you don’t die on me, Eddie.”

They were both smiling at each other, the night cold and silent around them, as if the world had paused just for this moment. And then, as if the universe wanted to underscore how surreal and cinematic everything felt, it started to snow.

Big, soft flakes drifted down, landing on Eddie’s long eyelashes and melting on his nose and cheeks. Eddie’s smile widened, his expression pure delight as he laughed softly, tilting his face up to the sky. Without hesitation, he stuck out his tongue to catch a few flakes, his laughter bubbling up again at the absurdity of it.

In that instant, Steve felt very much like one of those snowflakes—falling, utterly and irrevocably.

“So, Nurse—” Eddie’s voice broke through the quiet, pulling Steve from his rose-tinted thoughts.

“Huh?” Steve blinked, realizing he’d been staring.

Eddie grinned, a hint of mischief lighting his face. “I was being sneaky, trying to find out your name,” he explained, “while also asking for a little help here. As much as I’m enjoying the view, it’s getting kind of cold down here.” He shifted slightly, wincing before adding with a smirk, “I thought I’d be clever and ask Nurse Prince Charming—that’s what I’ve been calling you in my head since we cleared up the Charon situation—to help his patient off the ground.”

Steve threw his head back and laughed, the sound warm and unrestrained. He couldn’t help but feel charmed by Eddie’s offbeat but endearing mannerisms. In all his life, he couldn’t remember meeting anyone quite like him—and they’d only known each other for a few minutes.

“It’s Steve,” he said finally, his smile lingering. “And I’d prefer to check you out real quick—” he paused, realizing how that sounded, and tried to recover, “—to make sure you didn’t hurt yourself too badly before helping you up. That okay?”

Eddie’s grin turned sly. “Oh, darling, you can check me out as much as you want,” he replied, tongue-in-cheek.

Heat flooded Steve’s cheeks at the innuendo, even as he tried to stay professional. “I didn’t mean it like that,” he muttered, though he couldn’t deny that having an excuse to touch Eddie wasn’t exactly the worst thing in the world.

“I think it’s safe to say it’s nothing life-threatening if you can joke around like that,” Steve said, shaking his head but unable to hide his fond smile.

Eddie snorted—a sound that shouldn’t have been cute but somehow was—while Steve carefully began to palpate his ribs.

“My uncle always said my last words would be a joke,” Eddie mused, wincing slightly as Steve pressed on a tender spot. “Probably after my big mouth got me into trouble.”

Steve chuckled softly, trying to keep the mood light as he continued his examination. “Well, I’m not letting you test that theory tonight, so sit tight.”

Eddie’s ribs were bruised, and he’d probably be sore for a few days, but thankfully, there was no serious injury. Steve helped him up carefully, Bear trailing close, unusually subdued but steadfast. The dog stuck by their sides as Steve walked Eddie around the van to its rear. Following Eddie’s quiet instructions, Steve opened the door and helped him settle inside.

The interior was cramped but functional. A mattress with a thick sleeping bag was tucked in the back, surrounded by scattered clothes, empty bottles, a bong, a pizza box, and an acoustic guitar propped against the passenger seat. The van had the unmistakable feel of a makeshift home, and Steve’s heart sank.

Eddie caught him staring, and a nervous laugh bubbled out as he rushed to explain. “It’s not what it looks like... God, I can’t believe I just said that. Jeez—” He cut himself off with a sharp breath, grimacing from the strain. After a moment, he added, quieter, “I know it looks bad, okay? But it’s just for a few days. Until I get back on my feet. It’s fine. Just a hiccup.”

The words were defensive, but the shame lurking beneath them hit Steve like a punch to the gut. Eddie was trying to downplay it, but the tightness in his voice gave him away. Steve wanted to say something, anything, but before he could, Bear whined softly, breaking the silence. The big dog nudged Eddie’s thigh with his muzzle, his soulful brown eyes a perfect mirror of Eddie’s own.

Eddie, who’d been so terrified of Bear earlier, now reached out instinctively, stroking the thick fur of his head and neck. His fingers found the sweet spot behind Bear’s ears, and the dog leaned into the touch, letting out a contented huff.

“You were planning to sleep here tonight?” Steve asked softly, the question heavy with concern.

Eddie didn’t look up. He just nodded, his hand still moving absently through Bear’s fur.

Steve cursed silently. The thought of Eddie spending the night in this van, in freezing temperatures, sent a chill down his spine. Even if he kept the engine running, the risks—carbon monoxide poisoning, frostbite, worse—were too high. Steve couldn’t stomach the idea.

“Come home with us,” he said, the words tumbling out before the thought had fully formed. He just knew he couldn’t leave Eddie here.

“What?” Eddie blinked, his hand pausing mid-stroke. Bear, displeased by the interruption, let out a soft, insistent whuff and nudged Eddie’s hand again.

Steve forced a smile, trying to sound casual. “Bear and I both want you to come home with us. I can bandage your ribs properly, and you can keep petting Bear. Clearly, he’s touch-starved and desperately needs some affection.”

Once again, Steve was not projecting. Okay?

Eddie raised an eyebrow, scanning his face carefully. "Oh, so Bear needs some affection, huh?”

Steve rolled his eyes, his cheeks heating. “Look, are you coming or not? Because I’m not leaving until you agree, and I’ll have you know Bear can be very persuasive.”

At that, Bear whuffed again, his tail thumping lightly against the van floor, as if to second Steve’s statement.

Eddie’s lips twitched, and for a moment, Steve thought he might actually laugh. “You’re not giving me much of a choice, are you?”

“Not really,” Steve admitted, his tone softening. “But seriously, Eddie. Let us take care of you. Just for tonight.”

Eddie hesitated, his gaze dropping to Bear, who was still gazing up at him with unrelenting devotion. Finally, he sighed, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Fine. But only because your dog’s giving me the eyes.”

Steve grinned, relief flooding through him. “Smart choice. Bear’s impossible to say no to.”

Bear, as if understanding, let out a low, approving bark.

As Eddie took the hand Steve offered, his fingers cold but steady, Steve felt a warmth spread through him that had nothing to do with the touch itself. It was the kind of warmth that came with hope—the quiet, surprising hope that maybe neither of them would have to spend Christmas alone this year.

[marsdql]

Finders, keepers ! — part.2

⌖ p. 𝘮𝘢𝘧𝘪𝘢!𝘭𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘯𝘨 ⤫ 𝘧𝘦𝘮!𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳﹒wc: 2.3k﹒g . 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, t𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳, smut, angst﹒cw. 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦/𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦, 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨/𝘢𝘣𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦/𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴, 𝘵𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘤 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴, degrading, smut, (p in v), possession, masturbation﹒tgl: @rii7eis7 @lavxndxrsworld @babygirlskz98 @profoundruinsunknown @lilmarsh-t @shadowyperfectionllama

marea talks; part 2 of finder’s keepers! I’m shadowbanned guys it’s been so bad… so reblogs r very appreciated atm.. okay enjoy | not proofread..

ᡣ𐭩 synopsis ﹒ After this mysterious mafia boss captured you and tied you up, the last thing you expected was to belong to him completely…

— 18+ . AHEAD ────୨ৎ──── MINORS . DNI —

You flinched at the deep groan, your body tensing up as the man’s hand trailed lazily down your back. “Darling, I asked you a question,” Mr. Lee said, his tone calm but laced with authority. His fingers curled into your hair, tugging slightly to force your gaze upward. “I don’t like repeating myself.”

“I-I don’t know,” you stammered, your voice trembling. The tight restraints around your limbs made it impossible to shift away from him.

He leaned in closer, his breath warm against your cheek. “That’s not an answer, sweetheart. Try again.”

“Yes,” you whispered. “I slept… okay.”

Mr. Lee hummed, his fingers trailing from your hair to the back of your neck. The touch sent shivers down your spine, a mix of fear and something you couldn’t quite name. “Good. At least you’re honest. Unlike your little ex-boyfriend.”

You flinched at the mention of Damien. The reality of the situation hit you like a brick—he had betrayed you. Sold you off to pay his debts. And now, here you were, tied up and at the mercy of this man.

“Why are you doing this?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Mr. Lee chuckled, low and deep. “Doing what, doll? Keeping you safe? Treating you better than that pathetic excuse of a man ever did?”

“Safe?” you repeated, incredulous. “You call this safe?”

He tilted his head, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. “You think Damien would’ve kept you safe? Do you even realize how far up his neck he was in trouble? If I hadn’t stepped in, you’d be in a much worse situation right now. Trust me, sweetheart, I’m the best option you’ve got.”

You bit your lip, refusing to respond. Part of you wanted to argue, to fight back, but his presence was overwhelming. He radiated power, and you knew better than to push him too far.

“Let’s get something straight,” Mr. Lee continued, his tone shifting to something darker. “I don’t tolerate defiance. You play nice, and I’ll make this as comfortable as possible for you. But if you try anything stupid…” He trailed off, his hand gripping your chin with enough force to make you wince. “Well, I don’t think I need to spell it out for you.”

You nodded quickly, your heart pounding in your chest.

“Good girl,” he murmured, releasing your chin. He stood up, towering over you as he adjusted his suit jacket. “Now, let’s get those ropes off. Can’t have you bruised up, can we? That wouldn’t do.”

Despite his words, his actions were anything but gentle. He untied the ropes with swift, practiced movements, his grip on your arms firm as he pulled you to your feet. Your legs wobbled, and he caught you effortlessly, his hands gripping your waist to steady you.

“Careful,” he said, his voice softening for a moment. “Don’t want you hurting yourself.”

The juxtaposition of his harsh demeanor and the way he held you so carefully left you confused. Was he being kind, or was this just another way to assert control?

“You’ll stay here for now,” he said, guiding you toward a plush chair in the corner of the room. “And don’t even think about trying to leave. You won’t get far.”

“What do you want from me?” you asked, your voice breaking.

Mr. Lee crouched down in front of you, his hands resting on the arms of the chair, caging you in. “What do I want?” he repeated, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “I want what’s owed to me. And until Damien figures out how to pay up, you’re mine.”

“But you said—”

“I said I’d let you go when Damien pays me back,” he interrupted, his tone sharp. “But let’s be real, sweetheart. Do you really think he’s coming back for you? He sold you off without a second thought.”

Tears welled up in your eyes, and you looked away, unable to meet his gaze.

“Hey,” he said, his hand cupping your cheek and forcing you to look at him. “Don’t waste your tears on him. He’s not worth it. You deserve better than that spineless bastard.”

The sincerity in his words took you by surprise. But before you could process it, his thumb brushed away a stray tear, his touch lingering.

“You’re mine now, doll,” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “And I take care of what’s mine.”

The weight of his words settled heavily on your chest. Whether you liked it or not, you were at his mercy. And something told you he wasn’t planning on letting you go anytime soon.

You woke up groggily, the dull ache in your head reminding you of the explosion. The room was dim, the soft light of a bedside lamp casting long shadows. You blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the haze, only to realize you were lying on an unfamiliar bed, your hand bandaged and resting on a pillow.

A figure loomed nearby, seated in a chair with one leg crossed over the other. Heeseung. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, his tie discarded, and the top buttons of his shirt undone. His dark gaze met yours as he swirled a glass of whiskey in his hand, the amber liquid catching the light.

“Awake, finally,” he said, his voice low and smooth, with a tinge of sarcasm. He leaned back, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, watching your every move.

“What… what happened?” you croaked, your throat dry.

He smirked, tilting his head slightly as he set the glass down on the side table. “You decided to take a nap in the middle of chaos, doll. Lucky for you, I don’t leave my things behind.”

You frowned at his words. “I’m not your—”

“Careful,” he cut you off, his voice dropping an octave. He stood and approached the bed, his tall frame towering over you. “You’re in no position to argue right now.”

Your breath hitched as he leaned down, one hand pressing into the mattress beside your head while the other gently brushed a stray hair from your face. His touch was surprisingly tender, but the proximity made your heart race for reasons you didn’t want to admit.

“You’ve got quite the habit of getting yourself into trouble,” he murmured, his lips curving into a smirk. His fingers trailed down your cheek, lingering for a moment before pulling away. “It’s almost like you’re begging for someone to take care of you.”

Your cheeks flushed at his insinuation, and you turned your head away. “I didn’t ask for your help,” you muttered, your voice barely audible.

He chuckled softly, a dark, velvety sound that sent a shiver down your spine. “No, you didn’t. But that’s the thing about me, sweetheart. I don’t need permission to protect what’s mine.”

His words hung in the air, heavy and suggestive, as he straightened up and began rolling down his sleeves.

“Get some rest,” he ordered, his tone shifting back to its usual coldness. But as he turned to leave, he paused in the doorway, his silhouette framed by the dim light from the hallway.

“And don’t think about running,” he added, glancing over his shoulder with a smirk. “Not unless you want me to chase you.”

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving you alone in the oppressive silence. You sank back into the pillows, your heart pounding as you replayed his words in your mind. As much as you hated to admit it, there was something about Heeseung—his presence, his intensity—that you couldn’t ignore.

And that terrified you.

You lay there in the dim light, the weight of Heeseung’s words still hanging in the air like smoke. His presence lingered in your thoughts, even though the door had closed behind him. You wanted to shake off the feeling, but the tension he left behind was palpable. He wasn’t like anyone you had ever encountered. He was dark, commanding, and there was something in his eyes that made you feel like you had no choice but to listen to him.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours before you heard footsteps approaching again. The door creaked open, and Heeseung stepped back into the room, his presence like a storm rolling in. His expression was more severe this time, and the usual cocky smirk was replaced with a look that was almost unreadable.

You instinctively tensed, but Heeseung’s eyes scanned you coldly, taking in every detail of your posture, your hands still resting on the bed. His eyes narrowed as they settled on the bandages wrapped around your hand.

“Still acting like a victim, huh?” he remarked, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. “You’re not a child. Stop playing helpless.”

The words hit you harder than you expected. You knew you weren’t helpless, but the way he said it made something inside you churn. Heeseung didn’t give you a chance to respond. He moved toward you quickly, his footsteps heavy on the floor, and before you could even blink, he was standing at your bedside.

His gaze was colder than before, his presence suffocating as he loomed over you. “I’ve told you before, don’t make me repeat myself,” he said, his voice low and harsh. “You’re under my care now. And I don’t take kindly to defiance.”

You couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. His words hung in the air like a chain around your neck. Heeseung’s hand shot out and gripped your wrist, his fingers tight enough to make you wince. The pain from your hand felt amplified under his touch, but you couldn’t pull away.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you,” he demanded, his voice like gravel scraping against your skin.

You lifted your eyes, meeting his gaze, but something in you recoiled at the intensity. There was no softness in his expression now, only a dark resolve.

“I don’t like being ignored,” he continued, his grip tightening even more, making you gasp in discomfort. “And I don’t like being questioned. If you think you can get away from me, think again. There’s nowhere you can hide.”

The words stung. You had no room to breathe, no space to think. Everything he said made it feel like you were cornered, trapped. But there was something else too—a strange, terrifying pull toward him that you couldn’t deny. Despite everything, part of you couldn’t stop yourself from being drawn in by him.

Heeseung’s face was mere inches from yours now, his breath warm against your skin. “You’re mine now, and I don’t tolerate disobedience. You’ll learn that quickly enough.”

The words sent a chill down your spine, but before you could respond, he let go of your wrist with a harsh push, causing you to stumble back slightly. His eyes were still locked on you, colder than before, as if daring you to defy him again.

“Hey, sit up.” He demanded. You did as you were told. “Strip for me.” And to both you and his surprise—that is exactly what you did.

With a gentle smile and a rising and falling chest to hold back a sigh, he says, "Fuck... Thats it, baby.“ Every time he finds himself with a fist around his cock, you play his name over and over again like a broken record, letting out each syllable in a syrupy sweet whiny manner. even going so far as to press his face against one of his pillowcases, which still had your shampoo residue.

Heeseung uses his weight on the pits of your knees to keep your ass angled up as he pulls himself out to just the tip. He throbs against your opening while his red-swollen cock tip adorns your abused hole. "You desire it."

‘mhh..L-. Heesseung...’

He grunts as he pushes back, taking his time to feel you suck around every inch of his thick size. "So cute," he coos. allowing you to feel every inch of him as he shapes your hole. He jumps inside you, pushing balls deep, and you let out a loud, moaning gasp. “I own you. I have you all to myself.“

In spite of how dry and scratchy it feels, thrusting picks up speed again, gripping groans out of your throat. Heeseung tries to force you to watch by pushing your body in half with her hands on your legs. spread wide enough for you to see exactly where your pussy tugs on his shaft. You pulsate and clench around him while milking him to cum.

“you want me to stuff this lovely pussy? hmm?” He presses his hips against your ass to emphasize. You can only nod your head stupidly while your cock dips in and out of you angrily.

"H-hee…Heeseung—Heeseung.”

You throw your head back and let out a final cry as the broken prayer of his name falls from your lips. His pussy squeezed so tightly that he had to pause for a moment to catch his breath. The fresh smell of body wash fills your head with everything Heeseung, and the sweat between your bodies is secreting quickly.

He says roughly, almost to the point of exhaustion, "that’s my good girl." As he gets closer, you are further confined to the bed and have no option but to accept it. "There you go fuck yourself on my cock pretty girl, forget about your stupid boyfriend—you have—fuck, you have me”

His thrusts become unpredictable, causing your hypersensitivity to go into overdrive and turn into a meandering mess. He is pushed over the edge by the sight of your pussy taking it despite the pain and you mouthing his name. Shooting hot white strings to the final drop, lips twitching, coming to a still point. shallowly fucking the final few spurts until you writhe and scream as you toss your head back and forth.

He keeps you held open by letting your legs drop. The gush of cum that will not leave you is captivating. Holding on to the base of his length, your tiny cunt is unable to handle it and tries to push it back in.

You nod off a few seconds later; perhaps this mafia is not so horrible after all.

[fushiguruuzzzz]

ALL I WANT 4 CHRISTMAS .ᐟ

What are the jjk & aot boys doing this Christmas season?

Somehow, mistletoe is left in his wake like a trail of breadcrumbs. Nobody knows exactly how he acquired all of this, but as he continues to swerve the advances of anyone else he meets under the green and red decoration, his intent grows more clear. There's also a mysterious bundle of it in his pocket, which he explains as his "just in case" backup. Before you knew it he was taking you by the hand and leading you through the house, much less subtle at scanning the doorways above than he thinks. At first you're oblivious, wondering if someone had spiked his eggnog or something of the sort, but no. When he halts abruptly and you follow his gaze upwards, every oddity of his behaviour makes much more sense.

"Would you look at that? Mistletoe. Wonder how that got there."

You can still feel his proud grin against your lips, even after he kisses you.

⤷ Satoru, Jean

He’s lounging on the sidelines, eyeing you over the rim of his mug as you enjoy the winter day, unaware of his lingering eyes. The hot chocolate sears his tongue, but he can't find it in himself to react. How could he care, when you're laughing across the room? What was so funny? What was so special about those people that prevented you from talking to him? He's got plenty of other people gabbing in his ear, they always end up flocking to him, as odd as it seems. He only feigns interest in their words, but if it were you, he'd hold on to every syllable like they were life's greatest treasure. he'd take note of every shift, of every breath you took. But for now you were across the room and all he could do was stare, frozen in place.

⤷ Suguru, Eren, Toji

Ah, yes. The personification of Christmas, your very own worker elf at your side. Clad in a ridiculously festive sweater and some reindeer antlers, Santa Claus might as well have thrown up on him. You're sure that if it weren't for you, he'd be wrapped in Christmas lights and singing carols on doorsteps. "It's holiday spirit! Don't you like Christmas?" he'd say. He makes you out to be some sort of grump, but you know deep down that he's just a total dork.

⤷ Toge, Yuji, Connie

Your boy isn't one for grand gestures, he never has been. Even around the holiday season, his love is quiet; soft. His chunky sweater wrapped around your shoulders, a steaming mug in your hands because he noticed you were chilly. A batch of sugar cookies made just for you, icing of your favourite colour decorating the tops. A pretty little box with a ribbon tied into a bow (or at least it was supposed to be) atop it, even though you made him promise not to go out of his way more than he already has. He just can't help himself. A photo snapped of you when you're looking particularly docile, just for safe keeping. He looks at his little album of you when you're apart, but he doesn't tell you that part. His affection is a collection of small sweetness, like a box of trinkets filled with the little things you hold dearest to your heart.

⤷ Yuta, Armin

He’s doing all of the sappiest things without even realizing it. Who would expect this big, beefy oaf of a man to be so whipped? “Yeah, those decorations are really pretty. I’d rather look at you, though.” “Sorry for staring, baby. You just look so pretty. If you were the only present under the tree I wouldn’t mind.” He’s buying you reindeer plushies just because they’re cute, and when he gives them to you his eyes shine with something so sweet it’s hard to believe it’s him. So you take them, you accept all of it, every little thing teetering on the fence of cute and corny, because maybe that’s what love does to you.

⤷ Reiner, Choso

You know how I said Toge, Connie, and Yuji are the personification of Christmas? Yeah, he’s the grinch. No, he doesn’t need another candy cane. No, please don’t turn up the radio, if he hears another Mariah Carey song he might implode. It would be easier to hide his disdain if you weren’t so adamant, so pushy for him to “get in the spirits.” Get that damn hat away from him, he tells you he won’t allow himself to be subjected to your childish antics. But when the festive shine in your eyes dulls ever so slightly, when you retreat with a defeated huff, he doesn’t know what changes. He doesn’t understand why, but he knows he doesn’t like it. So he tugs you back with an annoyed huff, grumbling under his breath as he falls victim to your will. He always ends up doing that, somehow. Always ends up at your mercy, even though if it were anyone else he’d have blocked them out long ago.

⤷ Megumi, Levi, Sukuna

He seems like something straight out of a hallmark movie. Okay, maybe he isn’t as cheerful as your picture perfect husband, waltzing around like Buddy the Elf. Maybe he’s got that passive expression on his face, the one that’s just barely grown easier to read over the years you’ve grown to know him. But he’s cooking you meals and massaging your back, he’s sliding you his card over the kitchen counter before he leaves for work and telling you to do something nice for yourself. He doesn’t care, as long as he gets to see the results; see how happy they make you. He trusts you, he trusts that you’re just as his as he is yours, and that means all of his work benefits him just as much as you. Because he gets to see your face light up, see the subtle curl of your lips with every act of service, and knowing he’s the only one is well enough for him.

⤷ Kento, Erwin

a/n — I wrote this randomly at 4am because one of my mutuals asked if I was doing a Christmas special. Yes apparently I am. Also Gojo fit a few of these but I decided on that one :3 I was thinking about doing more fandoms but I’m not 100% confident in my characterizations for hq, hxh (been a HOT minute since I’ve watched), etc. so aot and jjk it is <3 most people are only here for jjk anyway so

[juletheghoul]

adversary

a/n: Merry Christmas and happy holidays! just jumping on to post some Joel, hopefully you enjoy! 💕 not beta’d and barely proofread, but thank you to @just-here-for-the-moment for taking a look- this ones for you!

Warnings; 18+ no minors, bit of an age gap, piv sex, dirty talk, Joel laying down the law and making sure you’re not in your head, allusions to past trauma, toxic relationship with Joel, but both parties like it- let me know if I missed any!

Pairing: Joel Miller x F!Reader

word count: 1k

reblogs are appreciated

Masterlist

-

Surviving in the world, as it stood, meant keeping your face unreadable, and your mouth shut.

When Tommy had arrived in Jackson, he’d been easy to accept. He’d been humble and grateful, hardworking and eager to cement his place. Quiet. Peaceful.

Joel was a different beast. He tested your limits, broke the façade that had been crafted with care and time and trauma. The mask you’d created for safety, for the good of the community, had come terrifyingly close to cracking under the strength of his gaze. 

Maria had been wary when he’d shown up, and who could blame her judging by the things Tommy had whispered to her in their dark hours, but then again she’d been wary of you too. 

She still was. Sort of. 

Mostly it was a distant respect, what she felt for you, what you imagined everyone in Jackson must feel for you, If how they treated you was anything to go by. You were content with this though. A peaceful, quiet life was more than anything you could have hoped for. When people averted their eyes from you, when they kept their conversations short and to the point, when they left you alone, you took it as a sign, took it as good fortune. In this world, you were lucky to have this. 

Your solitude was the first thing Joel threatened. It was the first thing he took, and it wasn’t the last. He also took the comforting silence of an empty, safe, house. 

He took your hard-won peace. 

“Open the door.” His voice slipped through the cracks in the door like smoke, raising your heartbeat, as well as your blood pressure. 

“I thought we agreed we wouldn’t do this again.” You opened the door, just a crack. 

“Go away, Joel.” 

“We never agreed on anythin’, don’t play dumb with me, woman, I saw you lookin’ at me this mornin’ just like I was lookin’ at you.” The toe of his boot slides just inside, stopping you from slamming the door in his face. 

“I don’t want you right now.” You crossed your arms, yet didn’t move. This was the game you always played, and he was wise to it now, so he laughed. 

“Yes you do, I can practically taste it.” It’s pitch black outside the house except for the glint in his eyes, he’s obviously in a good mood, which only sours yours further. “Let me in baby, I’m in a givin’ mood, let me be sweet to you.” His hand reaches through the crack in the door and strokes, petal-soft, at the skin of your arm. Instantly your body betrays you, blooms for him while outwardly, you seethe. 

“Come on darlin’,” His voice is warm honey now, “let me in so I can do all those things I know you like.” His towering frame presses closer, slipping through the widening crack in the door, and you let him.

-

A filthy moan slips past your mouth, and into his ego. 

“Such a good girl, takin’ this cock just how I need you to take it.” He swirls his hips, pressing deep enough to pull another moan despite the useless vow of silence you’d promised to no one except maybe your own pride. 

“Shut up-“ you pant with an embarrassing lack of any real bite, inwardly cursing him for how good it feels, while physically clutching at him harder. He laughs, slowing his movements down.

“You like it when I talk though, I can feel how fuckin’ wet you are right now, drippin’ all over—“ you pull him closer, kissing him in the foolish attempt to disguise the noises you couldn’t seem to stop making, as well as stop him from pouring more gasoline onto the fire he lit in your veins. 

He got the hint, blessedly. He was in a giving mood, being real sweet despite how disrespectfully he was fucking you. 

His skin slips against yours, sweatslicked and warm as he crushes you to the mattress with every heavy stroke, his cock is so hard you vaguely wonder if he’d been imagining this. That thought turned you on, to know that despite the usual aversion, the perpetual scowl on his face that he’d been craving you for god knows how long - it made him seek you out. Whether or not you wanted to be the object of his desire, you still didn’t quite know. 

Thoughts spiraled though and soon the moans turned into frustrated sighs. The inner conflict he embodied for you chased away the pleasure, replaced it with inadequacy, with that ever-present melancholy and anxiety that was the new normal in this world. You felt him stop, felt him pull away, pull out of you with a grunt and the sour feeling swells. He can sense you’re not in it anymore, resigned to have to shower and chase the orgasm once he’s gone you blindly reach for the blanket—

“Turn over, hands and knees.”

“What? I thought-“

“Do what I say. Turn over.” His tone is serious and unquestionable, and it lights you up from the inside, even though you’d never admit it to him.

Once you get into position his hands are heavier, rougher. A heavy crack lands on your ass and you gasp, shocked, distracted. He enters you in once brutal thrust, giving you no time to get accustomed before he’s pulling you up, your back meeting his chest. 

“There it is, gotta get you out of that pretty little head, fuck you dumb.” He pants the words in your ear, his fingers slipping between your legs to pinch your clit. “That’s it baby, feel that?” His words are clipped, one hand working between your legs while the other holds your breast possessively, keeping you pressed tight. 

All thoughts are knocked out of your head by the heavy stroke of his cock, mindless, euphoric, rhythmic and divine. Tighter and tighter the coil winds, a full body clench only inches away from the brainless buzz of pleasure and when his teeth sink into the curve of your shoulder it snaps. 

He grunts as your cunt squeezes him tight, clenching around his cock, milking him dry as he grinds himself deeper, as deep as he can. 

He says nothing as he dresses, nothing still as he walks down the stairs and out of your house. He never does, and as the blood cools and the exhaustion shoos away your consciousness, you vaguely wonder if you’d ever need him to.

-

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[cottoncandyafterdark]

Stanley Snyder SFW Alphabet

Fandom: Dr Stone

Character(s): Stanley Snyder

Warnings: None

Notes: This one was requested by C_L_E_O on ao3! Next up is gonna be Xeno, just some form of Xeno lol. Enjoy!

ao3 | Ko-Fi

A: Affection (How affectionate are they with a s/o?)

More than you might think. He doesn't get super sappy about it, and isn't too into PDA, but he can be pretty affectionate in private, and even in public it's not strange for him to put an arm around you or give you a quick hug sometimes.

B: Breath (What can their s/o do to take their breath away)

You could dress up real nice and take his breath away with how gorgeous you are, that's the easy route. If you want to really impress him, show off some skills he's invested in. He'll try to appreciate any hobbies you might have, but cares the most about strength and combat related skills. If you have any interest or prowess in those, you'll be able to really grab his attention.

C: Cuddle (Do they cuddle? If they do, how and when do they cuddle?)

When he really loves someone, he can be pretty casual with touch, so you'll be cuddling with him, probably more than you expected. It's not exactly planned, he doesn't make a big deal of it, he just pulls you closer when you sit next to him and wraps his arms around you pretty much whenever you're close by.

D: Dream (What do they dream of doing with their s/o?)

He wants to eventually settle down. Not retire, not completely, not yet, but when things have calmed down a little, he'd love to live a bit more quiet a life with you; a nice house, maybe a couple kids, a dog. That kind of thing.

E: Effort (How much effort do they put into a relationship?)

He does things pretty effortlessly, honestly. He has a decent amount of experience with relationships, and more or less knows what goes into making one work, especially once he's gotten to know you and what you want specifically.

F: Fear (What do they do if their s/o is scared? How do they handle it?)

Stan is a protector, and his first priority is always going to be keeping you safe. He has more experience with fighting physical threats than dealing with anxiety or irrational fears, but no matter what's scaring you, he'll do his best to neutralize the threat.

G: Gifts (What type of gifts do they give their s/o? Do they want a gift in return?)

I don't think he really knows how to give a good gift, he's not particularly interested in gifts as a display of affection. He'll get you something on your birthday and Christmas, but he'll likely need to be advised on what to get and doesn't really expect anything in return.

H: Hugs (Do they hug their s/o? How often?)

Yes, pretty often. Only when you're in private, though, he's not one for PDA.

I: Intimacy (How romantic are they? Do they have problems with intimacy?)

It depends a little on your definition of "romantic". If you want physical intimacy, no problem! He can be very physical with someone he loves. But if you're more into spoken affirmations or candlelit dinners, you might be out of luck.

J: Jealous (Do they get jealous? How do they act when jealous?)

Surprisingly, given his protective attitude, not really. He might feel jealous on occasion, that's only natural, but he doesn't really... Do anything about it? He'll step in if someone is making you uncomfortable with their flirting, but generally, he trusts you to make good decisions. He's not up for a completely open relationship, but he might even be okay with introducing a third to your relationship of it was someone you both knew, liked, and trusted (like, say, Xeno-)

K: Kiss (Are they a good kisser? Do they like to kiss? How often do they try to kiss you?)

He's a great kisser with plenty of experience, and you'll get to experience that a lot.

L: Love (When do they say they love you? How often do they say it? Do they prefer to say it or show it?)

He doesn't outright say it very much, he prefers to show it through his actions. He does say it sometimes, though, when the time is right. He says it once in a while when you're making love, he'll say it when he proposes, and he'll say it at your wedding, don't expect to hear those words much otherwise. You'll feel them through his actions and devotion instead.

M: Marriage (Do they want to get married? If so, what kind of ceremony?)

Stan always pictured himself getting married back home in a small ceremony with just family and close friends in his mom's backyard. He's probably going to wait until that becomes possible again to propose- if that can happen in a reasonable amount of time, anyways, if a few years pass and it's not looking like "home" will be rebuilt any time soon he'll bite the bullet and pop the question anyways.

N: Night out (What type of dates do they like to go on? How often do they like to go on them?)

He doesn't like to go out much, per se, he's more into home dates and such. You can definitely convince him to go out every once in a while, but don't expect a lot of PDA or anything, it's likely just going to be the two of you doing a normal fun activity together.

O: Out of the Ordinary (What’s something they don’t normally do for/with their s/o?)

He's not one for PDA, and traditional "romantic dates" in public places aren't his style either. He prefers to keep things mostly private and low-key.

P: Playful (Are they playful in a relationship? If so, how do they play around/mess with their s/o?)

He doesn't joke or play around much, but he can be a bit teasing, sometimes. He mostly jokes by poking fun, and sometimes a darker sense of humor slips through. He... Usually avoids taking it too far, though.

Q: Questions (Do they ask their s/o their opinion on things? Do they share theirs?)

He's used to being in command at this point, but he tries. He doesn't want to just unilaterally make decisions when it comes to his personal relationships. You might sometimes need to remind him you also need to weigh in on the matter at hand, though, because he may not always remember to ask.

R: Random (How spontaneous is their relationship? Do they do things on the spot or plan ahead?)

It's a pretty solid mix of spontaneity and plans with him- he doesn't really have a strong preference for one or the other, he appreciates both ways of doing things.

S: Sleep (How do they sleep with their s/o?)

He sleeps on his back and likes to hold you on top of him so you're laying on his chest, like a pillow. He makes a pretty good pillow.

T: Trust (How much do they trust their s/o?)

If he didn't trust you, he wouldn't go out with you, especially not with the world as it is, so by necessity the answer is "a lot".

U: Unique (What makes them unique as a s/o?)

To put it bluntly, strength, skill, and renown. He can fly a plane, he can shoot a gun, he can lead an army. He was one of the astronauts that went to the moon. Now, how often are you going to need or see those combat skills, especially post-canon? Hopefully not much, and he's not exactly going to be going around with his medal bragging about his achievements, but it's all still felt and seen.

V: Vulnerable (How long until they can be vulnerable around their s/o? What are they like in this state?)

Yeah, he's not exactly the "vulnerable" type. Don't get me wrong, he has a soft side, especially for his romantic partners, but you're not going to see a lot of weakness from him unless things are fucking dire.

W: Wild Card (Random domestic headcanon)

He's a terrible cook. Look, the guy's never had to worry about his own meals in his life, he went straight from his parents to the military and he definitely wasn't doing the cooking post-petrification. Put him in a kitchen and he'll have no clue what he's doing.

X: X-Ray (What would they do if their s/o got injured?)

Hopefully the injury was an accident because if someone else hurt you he's going scorched earth on their ass. Besides that, though, he'd take you to the nearest medic and do what he can to help until you're healthy. He might be able to do some basic first aid himself, but he's not the most experienced in medical things.

Y: Yuck (Do they have any pet peeves about their s/o? Are there any habits that might bother their s/o?)

He smokes. He can try making accommodations, he'll avoid smoking indoors or around you, but you're not going to get him to quit.

Z: Zeal (Are they passionate as a s/o? Do they want or like passion?)

Oh, is he ever. In his own way. He can come across as a cold, distant person, but his devotion to someone he truly cares for is unmatched. He'd do just about anything for you. And he might not like PDA, but when you're in private and he's comfortable showing affection, he'll be all over you.

[gay-dorito-dust]

Oh, should i request it again then?

Damian pining after a male reader, its like his first big crush, its like their first patrol and damians all like "should i confess or nauh..."

Damian didn’t do feelings, or at least he liked to say he didn’t but in actuality he was raised by those who felt that emotions hindered his potential, his progress and thus installed the idea that the moment he started to feel something; he was bound to become a dead man.

So when he realised that he was developing a crush on you- a fellow vigilante- Damian knew he was a man doomed to fall upon his sword because he felt as though he needed to keep you safe, despite knowing well enough that you were capable of taking care of yourself if you managed to stay alive as long as you had.

However main couldn’t help but notice how vastly different you both were from one another. He had rough edges, a sandpaper like surface that felt like thousands of sharp teeth like fangs, he wasn’t exactly a welcoming presence to others; unlike you as you were the exact opposite of him. You were soft yet firm, strong enough to be able to give other kindness, and wielded a will power of pure iron and unyielding strength to push through any and all adversity.

A true reason for people to hope for a brighter future in comparison to him, but as Dick told him once, opposites attract and it was only natural for Damian to feel pulled towards you that he couldn’t explain. He still couldn’t explain it and it sent him mad at most times, but now that he was here with you on patrol, he couldn’t help but feel that things were becoming clear to him now as your presence tended to clear the fog within his head and help things seem clearer then before.

Now Damian faced a completely different challenge, should he confess to you of his innermost feelings, or remain true to what he was taught and keep the emotions within his chest until he -or they- died. This conflict raged even more within poor Damian as his shoulder brushes yours ever so slightly, causing his breath to hitch and his body to straighten upon instinct, all the while you only smiled at him and Damian damned his heart for speeding up at the sight of such a small thing.

‘You okay dami? You seem a little more brooding than usual.’ You said teasingly.

‘It’s nothing.’ He replied straightforward, his eyes firmly locked on the city you both swore to better, to protect and change.

You furrowed your brows, concerned. ‘Are you sure? If you don’t feel up to going on patrol with me I can always get dick to-‘

‘No.’ Damian almost shouted at the idea of having to deal with his brother talking his ear off about how he missed his opportunity to confess to you tonight, and how he’ll have to try and find another way to set you and him up on a mission. ‘I’ve just got a lot on my mind, I’m sorry if I come off as snippy or rude.’ You smiled and rested a hand on his shoulder, squeezing as all Damian could do was get lost within your gaze, words that he wanted to say died on his tongue as his mind blanked everything out but you.

‘Good, I wouldn’t want my Damian to get bored of me now.’ You joked as you patted his shoulder twice before letting your hand drop to your side again before choosing to overlook the city yourself. Unaware that Damian’s eyes had long shifted to you in the process. He hated how you made him feel but didn’t want to live in a life without it either, it was the most frustrating thing he’s ever felt but yet the most beautiful and he wanted to explore it deeper, it reminded him of how he often had issues with how his art came off a times to the point he had to redo the entire piece all over again.

‘Bored? You’re the only person I can wilfully tolerate on patrols.’ Damian found himself saying upon instinct but thankfully for him, you didn’t think more of it other than him being blunt.

‘I’m glad because I’m staring to like you Damian.’ You admitted.

Damian wondered whether you knew what you were saying and the way they made him feel half of the time, but at least you were more open with your emotions then him, so when Damian went back to the thought of confession to you he decided that tonight wouldn’t be the night; he still had time to do so and besides Damian didn’t fell it would be appropriate to confess on a patrol, perhaps an outing with his dogs would suffice instead?

[eventheodds]

The gamut of emotions she is experiencing are similar to when she first set out on her field assignment with Roberto. It feels like ages since that day, running into Vash when he’d been hanging upside down, courtesy of bandits, but memorable enough that she can clearly picture every moment from that day with the utmost clarity.

There are…others, as well, that come to mind, but Meryl does her best to focus on the positives.

She barely registers Knives’s warning about bringing a flashlight and with as many spare batteries as she can carry—and the very obvious threat of not wandering off where humans have seldom gone; if they’ve even gone there before.

Her experience being underground, even inside a giant worm, still counts and is not something she wants to repeat. Under any circumstance.

The reality of what they’re about to do makes her halt in her tracks as she composes herself, nearly forgetting the company she is with, and those memories make her snap to when she remembers that long tendril whip made of sharp blades that could have easily turned her into ribbons. 

“O-of course! I’ll keep it to myself!”

Not that she has anyone to talk to. The Bernardelli news agency has been feeling a little hostile towards her lately and Meryl is being careful where she treads. There’s been things going on that don’t quite add up—not like they are supposed to, and she’s being careful where she digs.

At the mention of Nicholas’s moniker, Meryl stops in her tracks like she’s been hit with a compulsion to remain frozen in place. 

They had said their goodbyes when it was decided that Home would be where they would part ways. 

“I…I don’t know where he is, actually. So, there’s really no point.”

Meryl grits her teeth at the slight tremble in her voice—not because she misses the Undertaker—well…that’s not entirely true but she refuses to admit it—but it is more so of the fact that she doesn’t have anyone she can really talk to. Vash can’t be found; Roberto is dead; Nicholas is…well, she doesn’t know where he is and she’s not about to start looking.

However, that doesn’t mean she’s about to let go of him entirely.

“I’ll need about a day to figure out how I’m gonna pack what I need,” she says, relieved that he’s not demanding they depart right away. It would make sense for him to find someone to look after the farm while he’s gone. “Well, I better get started…”

She gives one last look towards Knives, like she’s waiting for him to change his mind; when it’s clear he is not going to, Meryl books it and the first place she goes to is the nearest saloon. Out of breath, she reaches the counter, she procures a piece of paper from her notebook and a pen that can barely write but this may be its last note it will ever write before the ink completely dries out.

Despite the urgency, Meryl is careful to write clearly, and to not give too much information away. If there is one person who should know about her whereabouts, it has to be Nicholas.

To Nicholas,

Travelling far on the other side, with sharp company. Safe and doing okay. Can’t call you, no signal down here. Haven’t stopped looking. Hope you haven’t, either.

-Meryl Stryfe

She signals for the barkeep and hands him the note and gives a description of what Nicholas looks like. If he’s not changed since, she’ll expect he’s still carrying around that giant cross and looking as disheveled as ever.

Before she knows it, she’s meeting Knives back at the designated spot, a pack ready of what she considers essential to bring, and feels more nervous than excited at this point. 

“Just promise me there won’t be any need to get swallowed up by a giant worm. I’ve already done that and am not a fan. Not a fan at all.”

"Home won't be much use. I said no one's seen them in a century, didn't I?" And the fleet had, of course, been rather busy trying to save themselves. None of the surviving ships would have had anywhere near the time to grab coordinates for the other falling ships when they barely managed to save themselves. And then they'd had to rebuild and survival was more important than looking for lost ships where none had survived.

"If you want coordinates you're gonna need a bug." That is how Knives knew where they were, after all. He considers, contemplates who would care for the farm if he left it behind. Someone in town, if given instructions... Another moment of thought, before Knives sighs. "We'll leave after I arrange someone to care for the farm." He's put a lot of work into this place, he isn't going to leave it to die without some sort of supervision. "I suggest getting yourself a working flashlight and as many batteries as you can shove into your pack." A mental apology to Zazie, who was definitely going to complain at him, later.

"You will not discuss our travel methods with anyone else." It's not a request, an edge of danger curling around the words in a way that's been absent in their conversations so far. "I won't have your kind invading down there."

If he's honest she's probably going to want to pack for a fairly long trip. The lack of a road beneath the sands means no truck, and Knives is already making a mental map of the tunnels he knows and where each of them may pass towns they can resupply at. The trouble, he figures, is going to be once they pass the invisible boundary of human settlement into the true wilds where no humans have set up camp. There won't be any towns to resupply out there, and they can only carry so much at once...

He glances down at his hands, frowning. How much can he create, if he regulates properly? Would it be worth it when they could find a way to carry more supplies? Perhaps Zazie–but no, he doesn't want to make Zazie play pack bug either. Knives drags a dirty hand through his hair, scowling as he watches the reporter stumble around like a newborn tomas just finding its legs. She looks ridiculous–maybe that's what Vash sees.

"This isn't going to be a short trip so you better say your farewells to Punisher before you go."

[adrift-in-thyme]

OMG!!! I’m dying to know more about “Give the Lion Fangs” because I LOVE FIRST!!!! What can you tell us?!?!

Yesss FIRST MY BELOVED

I’m ALWAYS up for talking about this au

I actually worked on the latest chapter a bit over vacation lol. The only obstacle rn is I need to reread the entire fic to ensure I’m on the right track plot wise. So it’s prolly gonna be a bit longer before I update

I’ll let you in on a secret though…the Chain and First are about to go to the Surface

Which means GROOSE. I can’t tell you how excited I am to write that dork (affectionate)

Here’s a snippet from chapter 10!

He had contemplated running. As he had endured the long hours until sunrise, lying in a bed still damp with his sweat and cold from the nighttime chill, as he had listened to the thunder and rain battling outside of his window, drowning out Cree’s soft snoring, his breaths (still too fast not to betray the frantic energy fluttering about within his chest)…he had considered it. Seriously.

Not away from the Shadow, of course. He is terrified to be certain. Almost as much as he was when Demise had torn him apart, and in those final moments when he had known with horrible certainty that the breaths he inhaled were his last.

(Though, perhaps, that was not terror at all that had driven away the pain encompassing him, that had blurred his vision, softened the scenes of destruction surrounding him. No, that was regret. Heavy, smothering, yet unable to reach him through the haze of terrible acceptance.)

(Death had come and he had lacked the strength to resist it.)

Nevertheless, he is terrified, yes. But that does not give him the right to be a coward.

No, he had yearned to run far from this place full of kindhearted people, this place that he and Hylia had dragged out of the ashes of his failure, crafted with bloodied, broken fingers and sent high, too high for evil to scale and destroy.

(Too high for either of them to reach.)

The sky had called to him through the open window, promising escape, promising protection for those he cares so deeply for. It had been so tantlizing…

But the fact remains that the Shadow is not solely after him. Whether or not he can view Link’s actions, it changes very little about his mission.

He wants all of the heroes. Not just one. No amount of distance Link manages to put between himself and them will aid them if the Shadow attacks. After all, they were the main targets. He was merely a pawn.

That cursed beast will not come for him first.

So, no, escape is not an option, no matter how it beckons.

[radioroxx]

i think everyday about. how, as a robot, freddy fazbear would experience emotions differently from people. and how, as a robot, his whole perspective on the three star family situation would be wild. like… you’re programmed to be an entertainer, a dancer, a singer, etc., until suddenly youre not. he probably cant dance without a head- wouldnt have a reason to sing anymore (except maybe to his family. which is VERY cute to imagine). and its just… he’s not really freddy fazbear anymore, is he?

theres also a point to be made about, how robots feel. bc bc ai blah blah i wont go into it, his feelings arent going to be expressed or understood in the same way peoples’ are. theres going to be part of him that doesnt fully understand what its like to be part of their little family, to fully understand why and how he came to care sooo much about these two for taking him in.

i need to organize my freddy thoughts but. oooughhg. do you understand? please please pl

[patroclusdefencesquad]

twn is so funny because they'll write amazing scenes like jaskier singing about burning all his memories of geralt because they're too painful for him to even think about and then him literally being tortured for those memories of geralt. and then they'll turn around and write whatever the voleth meir shit was

[the-sparkling-diamond-satine]

if you title this you could post the first few chapters already!!! (for the wip ask game lol)

WIP Ask Game! tw: abuse implied

But Christian isn’t looking at her face. His gaze is currently fixed on Satine’s wrist where—Satine notices as if in slow motion and with a lurch of her stomach—the sleeve of her coat has ridden up and a nasty purple bruise is on full display. Unable to adjust her sleeve with her hands full of coffee cups, Satine rotates her arm but it’s too late; the damage has been done. “Are you alright?” Christian asks, reaching for her arm. His touch is as warm as Satine remembers but she flinches back from it as if it’s scalding hot. “I’m fine.” “I’m sorry, did I hurt you?” Christian asks, searching her eyes. “Not at all,” Satine hastens to reassure him, realizing too late that she probably should have taken that excuse when it was offered to her, that flinching away from something that didn't hurt is suspicious while flinching away from something that did is reasonable. “Nothing to worry about,” Satine tries next, “just one of the hazards of live theatre. The show has a lot of lifts and I bruise easily. You’ll see tonight—the dancing is incredible,” Satine says, trying to get him back on topic of opening night.

[bizlybebo]

thought about mark winters again dhmu

[ruvviks]

sometimes i forget that vitali really is a heywood boy

[skrunksthatwunk]

really fun letting all of my favorite shows take turns being the "i can't think about it i can't think about it i can't think about it!!" bingewatch during finals season/associated crunch times. they're being inducted into a society

[silvreflamess]

things you'll be hard pressed to learn about nesta from nesta so i am telling you, pt 1:

the grooming she was made to endure at the hands of her own mother to prepare her for marriage, first in the hopes of securing her family's place in society and then in saving her family from poverty

[inkskinned]

it's because the bear wouldn't kill me just for being a woman. the bear doesn't kill me for fun. the bear can be shouted at, and will leave me alone. the bear won't make a tiktok complaining about how i crossed to the other side of the path when i saw him coming. if a bear kills me, it's just being a bear: it cannot understand logic. it is not acting out of malice - just fear or hunger.

bell hooks once wrote about how porches might be the only outside space left for women - it is still the domain of the house while it is also outside-but-safe. when i am in the woods, i am in the bear's home, and he has a right to defend his property. outside spaces - anywhere at night, certain parks in the day - those are often implicitly "owned" by men. i cannot explain the feeling of knowing when you have entered a man's "territory." you walk into a place and just know you are in their space. you get a sick sense - you're in danger.

the other day a group of about 8 men were fooling around in the woods while i walked my dog. i had to go around, take the extra 3 miles just to avoid them. it's okay, i like walking. this wasn't even a #feminism moment. it was just a tuesday.

what a plain and easy question. only one of the situations is seen as a tragic accident. i would rather die and have a park bench erected in my honor rather than have my family questioned about why they let me, an adult, walk in the woods in the first place when i should really be at home in the kitchen.

i worked in retail and food service. i have had women say and do absolutely heinous and abusive things to me - not because i was a woman, but because i was there, and they were angry. the way men treated me when angry was different - it was because i was a woman. you can always feel the difference, how there's an undertone of i'd hurt you worse if i could get away with it. i keep seeing people try to cite stupid statistics. why is there always a strange rage whenever women agree on things? like men can argue their way out of our lived experiences? it isn't a buzzfeed quiz - which of these traumas are you? 10 super cute ways not to fear strange men.

i have actually (thrice!) seen a bear in the wild, by the way. i died each time, obviously, and am a ghost writing to you. (it was scary but completely and utterly fine). the second encounter was a black bear with her cub. she looked at me like - do we have to do this or are we good? my dog was busy sniffing a bush, completely nonreactive. i felt like i was in a sitcom: feminist poet reacts - does she actually mean she'd choose the bear? my only thought was - she's so beautiful. her paws are massive.

and there's a part of me that feels the rage spinning out in a corner. why do we have to come up with quippy little comments in order to teach men empathy. would you rather die in a car accident or due to a mugging? and would you rather your house burn down due to an electrical fire or due to arson? gee willikers - it's almost like we're human people, and want to risk the accident versus the intention.

i would rather my last thought be oh shit, a bear rather than i'm a person too. why doesn't that matter? why don't you care?