#we quietly did single pulls after that and i was a-okay with this silent judgement call xD i also think part of it was bc they didnt seem
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zwei-rhunen · 1 year ago
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you love to see it uwu
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be WHM
right after the first boss, me and RPR run ahead towards the next set of mobs
RPR draws aggro from the two gorillas up ahead and makes a mad dash back towards us
i turn around looking for the tank and other dps
no tank, no dps
me and RPR run all the way back to the first arena, where the tank hasnt moved
RPR sics the gorillas onto the AFK tank to little avail
as soon as i saw us running back into the first arena, i'm already thinking "lol I guess RPR's my tank now"
me throwing out heals gets the aggro of at least one gorilla, which temp takes the heat off the RPR on half health but now i'm acting as their damage shield LMAO
holy+running away+ self-benediction + (aggro switches to RPR) + spam cure II's on RPR (aggro switches back to me, ish) + stone IV on the lower HP gorilla until dead
we hot potato'd and got it done
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ssahotchhner · 4 years ago
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reckless endangerment
the reader can't let go of the trauma of aaron being kidnapped and tortured six months ago.
pairing: hotch x reader
warnings: kidnapping, torture, smut, dom!hotch
masterlist
questions, comments, concerns
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It was stupid to jump on the helicopter that contained at least two terrorists as it took off that roof in Manhattan. Even stupider that you had done it alone, Aaron’s voice screaming for you from behind. You weren’t sure he would forgive you for this if you survived so you supposed it was a good thing you weren’t planning on surviving.
Why did you jump on the helicopter, you may ask, and that would be a reasonable question. Perhaps it was your hero complex finally getting the better of you, knowing the helicopter was planning on flying straight into the Empire State Building, loaded with explosives. Or perhaps it was because these terrorists were part of a group that had tortured Aaron for hours a few months ago when he was on assignment in Pakistan and you had always believed fully in revenge. Aaron did not, he was much better than you.
“Hold your fire!” Aaron had yelled when it was clear you weren’t getting off that helicopter, “Federal agent on board!”
“With all due respect, sir, but you said that helicopter was headed for the Empire State Building where there are thousands of tourists and--”
“I said hold your fire.” Aaron snarls at the leader of the SWAT team. He knows he’s being ridiculous, letting emotion cloud his judgement, but how can he let them blow up a helicopter that you’re on? And why the fuck had you jumped on it in the first place?
The SWAT agent glared at him, “That helicopter gets within a hundred yards of the building, I’m ordering my men to shoot it down.” And then he walked away.
“Hotch!” Morgan yells, the rest of the team not far behind him, “What the hell did she do that for?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.” He responded. He was furious with you, so much so he couldn’t think straight.
JJ steps closer, the panic evident on her face, “She’s not responding on radio.”
He looks at the rest of the team, all of them one step away from absolutely losing their minds over the fact that one of their own had gone on a suicide mission without consulting any of them, and then he looks back to the helicopter that’s getting smaller and smaller by the second.
***
SIX MONTHS AGO
You take a sip from your glass, “I miss you.” You say to your computer screen.
On that screen, SSA Aaron Hotchner smiles back at you, “I know. I’ll be home before you know it.”
“When you get back,” You say slowly, “Can we… Can we tell them? About us?”
By them, he knew you meant the team. He gets quiet, the smile falling off his face, “Are you sure that’s what you want?”
“Hotch, they’re like our family. I feel terrible keeping things from them. It was fun in the beginning, but I don’t want to hide it anymore.”
He swallows, but then nods, “Okay.”
“Really?”
He smiles, “Yeah, of course. I don’t like hiding you either.”
You’re about to tell him you love him when there are suddenly men in the tent, “Aaron?” He looks around and scrambles for his gun, but he’s too late. One of the men hits him in the side of the head with a blunt object and he’s out, “Aaron!” You yell and then the feed cuts out.
***
It was surprisingly easy to disarm them, you supposed because you had surprised them. You easily knocked the gun away from the one who wasn’t piloting, ducked some of his punches before kicking him square in the chest, causing him to fall down. He hit his head on a hard metal handle on the way down, knocking himself unconscious. The Empire State Building was looming closer and closer and you knew if you didn’t stop it, SWAT would shoot down the helicopter. It would lead to less deaths than crashing directly into the building would, but people would still die from fallen debris. You wouldn’t let that happen. You pointed your gun at the man in the cockpit.
***
“Garcia, is her body cam on?”
“No, sir, but I can turn it on.”
Seconds later, the team was viewing the inside of the helicopter. You had knocked one of the men unconscious and handcuffed him to a handle, but you still had to get control of the helicopter.
“Can you hack the helicopter, Garcia?”
He hears the frantic typing of the technical analyst, but she huffs on the other end, “Not under these time constraints no, by the time I get in it’ll be too late.”
“Agent Hotchner, the snipers have locked in on the target.”
“Just give her another minute.”
“We don’t have another minute.”
He sighs, “She’s about to take control of the cockpit.”
“Does she know how to fly a chopper?”
“She’ll figure it out. Stand down, I won’t say it again.” Hotch’s radio goes silent after that.
***
You waste no time getting the team together and forty minutes later you’re sitting in the conference room, styrofoam cup of coffee warming your hands.
“You were video calling Hotch? At 10 PM?” Reid asks. From anyone else, it would sound accusatory, but you knew he was just genuinely curious.
“10 PM here is 7AM for him. I caught him right before he started his day, wanted to ask him about a case.”
Spencer frowns, “What case?”
Your mouth falls open as you try to fumble for something, but it’s already too late. “I knew it.” Rossi says quietly.
You grind your teeth together, “I’m sorry, is dissecting my love life more important to you guys than finding Hotch after he’s been kidnapped by a terrorist group?” You stand, squashing the empty styrofoam cup in your hand and toss it in the waste bin as you walk out of the room.
Moments later, Spencer’s standing next to you and you immediately feel guilty, “I didn’t mean to pry,” He says, “Honestly, the two of you being romantically involved was the last thing I would have guessed.”
The corners of your lips turn up just slightly, “I didn’t mean to snap in there, I know you meant nothing by it, I just… Right before he was taken we talked about telling you all. Together. Once he got back.” You sniff, “Part of me feels like all of you figuring it out without him here is the universe saying he’s going to die out there. I know that’s silly, but…”
“It’s not silly at all. When you’ve witnessed something traumatic, like a loved one being taken away in front of you with no way for you to help, your brain looks for anything to rationalize it. Even the universe predicting the outcome.”
Spencer's voice throwing out facts was actually fairly soothing, “Thank you, Dr. Reid.”
“Come on.” He squeezes your shoulder, “Let’s bring Hotch home.”
***
“Slowly put your hands up and back away from the controls,” You say, flexing your fingers on the gun, “Now!” You say when he doesn’t move. You’re running out of time. Finally, he slowly raises his hands, but at the last second turns and lunges for you. The helicopter tips as you fall over, your gun misfires at the ceiling before tumbling out of the chopper, and you’re free falling until your face slams on the floor and your hands grab the outside edge of the helicopter so hard you’re sure you ripped out your fingernails. Dangling, you grunt as you scramble to hook your feet on something. The pilot, already assuming you’re dead, had gone back to the cockpit.
Finally, you haul yourself back inside and run to him, ripping him out of his seat. He’s bigger than you, though, and quickly overpowers you. His hands wrap around your throat as you’re pinned to the floor and you’re choking, suffocating. All you can think is at least you’ll die before the chopper goes up in flames. And then, in a last ditch effort that’s more involuntary reaction than conscious choice, you’re able to knee him in the groin. His hands immediately leave your throat and instead of taking the moment to catch your breath, you kick him off you and he rolls to the open door. You reach for him, but you’re too late, he falls.
You wanted revenge, but you didn’t want to kill anyone. But you had no time to think about that now. You cough a few times and then stumble over to the cockpit. For the first time since you jumped on the helicopter, you turn your radio back on.
“I don’t suppose one of you knows how to fly a chopper?”
***
When you reenter the conference room everyone’s watching the last few seconds of the video call. They look at you apologetically and you nod in acknowledgement. You have to close your eyes at the sound of your own screams.
“Who was he working to take down while he was there?” Morgan asked.
“The leader of the Kashmir Jehad Force, his name was Syed Khan.” You said.
JJ frowned, “He told you all of this? Wasn’t it classified?”
You nodded, “Hotch asked to bring me on a few weeks ago when they were stuck. I was debriefed, but then they had a break before I could get on the plane. They finished the operation a few days ago, Hotch was supposed to come home in the next couple of days.”
“So Khan is dead?” Rossi asked.
You nod, “No one was supposed to know it was the US Government who did it. They wanted it to look like an accident. They shouldn’t have known Hotch was there.”
“Are you thinking there’s a double agent?” Emily asked.
You shrug, “It’s either that or Hotch was sloppy. Which one would you bet on?” The room is silent. “Exactly.” You say quietly.
***
They don’t have time to be relieved about the fact that you single handedly re-hijacked the chopper because now you need to figure out how to safely land it and you’re a football field length away from the Empire State Building. Reid jumps into action, apparently having read a lot about helicopters when he was younger.
“I’m assuming he had it on autopilot, the button will be glowing green on your left, turn it off and then get ready to steer.”
You sigh, “Spencer, I am so happy to hear your voice.” You flip off the switch like he said and the helicopter immediately starts beeping at you and plummets. You try and remain calm and pull it up and then turn the helicopter in the opposite direction from the building and sigh. “You know how to land this thing, right Reid?”
“Yeah, I’ll walk you through it.”
Hotch has to walk away from the conversation because he’s so caught up in feeling relieved that you’re alive and absolutely furious with you for doing what you did. He thinks he knows why you did it. You had been absolutely torn up when he had been taken while in Pakistan and you had been on edge this whole case knowing the terrorists you were after had been a part of the group that had tortured him.
***
When Hotch wakes up, he’s chained to the ceiling by his wrists, shirtless. He can feel a migraine blooming from his temple where he was hit, but he knows the real pain hasn’t even begun yet. He can hear talking from the corner of the room and before they can see that he’s awake, he begins detaching himself. He pictures your face, smiling at him on your first date. The way you smile sleepily at him when he kisses you first thing in the morning. The way you scrunch up your forehead just a little when you’re thinking really hard. The first time you told him you loved him. And then he’s with you and no one can touch him, no one can hurt him.
***
“Do you know where they would keep him?” Strauss is sitting in the conference room now, looking at you, “You were debriefed, is it enough for a profile?”
You sighed deeply, eyes darting back and forth as you tried to recall all the information you know, “I know most of the profile for Kahn, but we never focused on the group as a whole because we wanted to find him alone when we neutralized him.” You tap your fingers on the table, “I have no idea what a group without Kahn would function like, even knowing what I knew before, the fact that Kahn is gone would change the whole profile. We don’t know who took over.”
“And what do you know about the group?”
“Um,” You blinked a few times, you were having a hard time focusing, “They were all followers, none of them would have been capable of leading. Whoever is in control now was outside of the group.”
“Maybe our double agent?” Emily says.
You nod, “That would make sense.”
Strauss frowns, “You think there’s a double agent?”
“There’s no way the group would have known Hotch was responsible if they didn’t have insider information.” You say.
“What you’re proposing is that a terrorist somehow infiltrated a Top Secret US Operation, waited for us to kill a terrorist leader, then took over that same terrorist group and kidnapped the leader of our operation.” Strauss said and waited for someone to say something, “Does that not sound ridiculous to anyone else?”
“Do you have any other ideas?” You ask sharply.
“Yes, that Agent Hotchner left something behind at the scene that pointed the remaining group in his direction.”
You’re shaking your head, “If you’re so certain that’s the case, then check their old stronghold. If it’s a new guy, they would have abandoned it, which I’m certain they did. But be my guest, waste our time and your men.” You storm out of the conference room for a second time.
***
You find yourself in Aaron’s office and you tilt your head to the side, stretching out a kink in your neck before sitting on the couch. You look around the office, well decorated with plaques commemorating his work in the bureau. When you get up and walk around to his side of the desk, you notice a small gold frame that hadn’t been there before. In it is a small picture of the both of you sitting on the beach at sunset. When had he put this here? When had he decided that it was worth the risk of your coworkers noticing that new frame? Seeing you propped on his desk like that?
And then you were crying and you couldn’t stop it and you just wanted to hold him. “Looks like you just outed your relationship to Erin.” You looked up to see Rossi standing in the doorway and wiped your tears, sniffling.
“Not like she can say anything considering you both make it a habit of checking in at the same hotel every weekend.” You snap, and then sigh instantly, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, kiddo.” He says and walks over to put a hand on your shoulder, “You miss him.”
“A few hours ago we were talking about what we were going to do when he gets back, and now he’s gone.”
“He’s coming back, Y/N. We’ll find him.”
***
You had been right about the former stronghold being abandoned. All signs now pointed to a double agent. You tried to think of everything Aaron had told you about the team that would be a part of the operation, but you kept coming up empty. When a list was brought out with pictures of each you went over it again, every conversation you had had with Aaron since he left.
And then… there was one interaction, one interruption that you and Aaron had both dismissed at the time.
A man walks up behind Aaron while he’s talking to you, debriefing you back when they thought you’d be flying in. At the look on your face, Hotch had turned around to face him, “Can I help you with something?”
The man had simply shook his head and left, but you could have sworn for the rest of the call, he had lingered. Listening. Aaron had explained to you that most of those involved in the operation hadn’t known the full details of the plan up until they had left, in order to prevent situations like the one they were in now.
There were times when Aaron was talking to you on the phone and he told you he felt like someone had been watching him, but you both dismissed it as paranoia. And when the pictures and names were presented to you again, you pointed to the man you were sure you saw on that one video call. “What do we know about him?” You asked.
And the look of dread on Erin’s face when you pointed him out told you everything you needed to know. Garcia did what she always did and soon they knew every detail of his life. He was a textbook narcissist and sociopath. Incredibly charming, everyone loved him, he could convince almost anyone to follow him. He had an FBI background and rumor had it, he thought he was to be the one to lead this operation until Aaron showed up.
“So he takes over an entire terrorist organization just to take out Hotch?” Morgan asks, “We have to be missing something.”
You’re getting impatient, “Well let’s figure it out on the jet.”
“This team is not going to Pakistan.” Erin says firmly, “We will inform an extraction team that’s already on the ground when we figure out where they’re holding him.” You’re already rolling your eyes and preparing a retort and she notes that and continues, “If you can’t compartmentalize your emotions, Agent, I will have you removed from the case.”
You hold yourself back from yelling that you need to be the one who brings him home, because you know how ridiculous it sounds and you being stubborn isn’t helping Aaron. “Fine.” You say, “Here’s what I can tell you.”
***
You’re on top of him, straddling his hips, giggling as your hair falls in your face. He reaches up to push it away and you grind your hips against his. “Hotchner.” You say, “You have to wake up.” He frowns. It’s not your voice.
And before he can stop it, your face swims away and it’s replaced by SSA Scott Carter. It takes him a few moments to realize that Carter isn’t here to help him and that he was probably behind this whole thing. “Carter?” He manages.
Carter smiles, “Ah, the darling of the BAU finally awakens. What were you dreaming about, Hotchner? Sounded juicy. Was it about your girlfriend?” His head shot up at that. If you were in danger, he’d kill this son of a bitch. “Oh, I hit a nerve.” He smirks, “Did you tell her you weren’t planning on coming home this week? That you had some loose strings to tie up?”
Hotch blinked, his brain was still fuzzy from what he assumed was a concussion, “You… You’re the one stealing the military weapons and selling them to the terrorist organizations.” He hadn’t told you he was planning on staying a few more days to figure out who was transporting the weapons, he had still been hoping to figure it out before his flight was scheduled to leave, but Carter had been his prime suspect. Apparently, Carter had figured out he was on to him. It was why he was able to get Khan’s men to drag him from his tent this morning.
Carter gives him a slow clap, “You know, for a profiler, I’m disappointed you hadn’t figured it out sooner, Hotchner. Really, I’m very torn up about it. I have half a mind to fly to Quantico after you’re dead and demand your position.”
Aaron laughs, “You’re out of your mind if you think my team won’t figure this out in a quarter of the time it took me to.”
“What did you tell them, Hotchner?”
“I haven’t been in contact with my team in weeks.”
“Oh, but your girlfriend. Did you think I’d forget she’s a federal agent in the BAU as well?”
“She doesn’t know anything, the mission was classified, you know that.”
“You never mentioned your suspicions of a lucrative weapons trading operation?”
“No.”
Carter hums and takes out a knife, “I don’t believe you.”
Hotch doesn’t flinch, “Then go ahead and carve me up, Carter. You won’t be the first.”
***
With Reid’s help, after working through the night you were able to narrow down the possible holding sights to three places and Strauss ordered three separate teams to check each place. Now the only thing left to do was wait.
You’re sitting alone in Hotch’s office when Penelope, JJ, and Emily all walk in, JJ holding a tea for you. You give her a small smile of thanks as you take it, “You guys don’t have to sit with me, I’m okay.”
“Did you think we were going to just let you gloss over the fact you never told us you were dating Hotch?” Penelope said.
You manage a genuine smile and look down at your tea, “We weren’t sure when or how to tell you guys. Or if it would make things weird.”
JJ shrugs, “We’re already family and families are weird.”
“Not the point,” Penelope interjects, “We need all the details now, who made the first move?”
“He did, actually,” You smile recalling the memory, “He asked me if he could call me outside of work hours and I said sure, he could always call me to discuss a case. Then he got really red and I asked him if there was something else he would want to call me about. And he cleared his throat and asked if he could call me to ask me out to dinner sometime and I laughed and said yes.”
Emily shakes her head, “Hard to imagine that man getting flustered over anything.”
You laugh, “Yeah, he gets really awkward around women he likes romantically, it’s kind of endearing.” You clear your throat, “Thank you guys for trying to distract me.”
JJ nods, “They’re going to find him. Alive.”
You nod, “Yeah. I just wish it was my face he was seeing first.”
***
You had somehow managed to fall asleep at some point, head in JJ’s lap with her fingers gently combing through your hair.
“Guys.” Spencer’s voice jolts you from sleep, “They found him.”
All of you jump up, but you’re the first one out of the room, trailing Spencer, “He’s okay?”
“He’s injured, but yeah, he’s gonna be fine.”
Your legs almost give out, but JJ and Emily come on either side to grab your arms as you walk into the conference room.
“They’re airlifting him to the hospital, he was stabbed a couple of times but they were shallow, some burns, looks like he was waterboarded as well,” Erin Strauss smiles, “But he’s fine. They’ll transfer him to DC first thing in the morning.”
“What about Carter?” You ask.
“It turns out he was stealing weapons from the military and selling them to terrorist organizations and Hotch was onto him. That’s why he took him. Not because of Khan. He wanted to know how much Hotch knew and if he had told you anything.”
You shake your head, “I didn’t know anything about that.”
Strauss nodded, “Carter has people here. Hotch didn’t mention it to you on purpose. So that they wouldn’t take you if something happened.”
You close your eyes. That man, always trying to protect you. Always being the hero. You could have found him hours ago if he had just told you. But that was the man you had fallen in love with.
***
You insisted on being on the roof of the DC hospital when the chopper landed and you charmed all the nurses into allowing you into every room he was wheeled in until he was settled. They had sedated him for the long flight and it seemed he would wake at any moment. You slid your small, cold hand, into his large, warm one and waited.
“I know that ice cold hand,” He said slowly. His voice was gravely and it brought tears to your eyes to see that he was trying to smile. “Oh, hey, don’t cry.” He reaches his hand up to stroke your cheek and you turn your head into his hand to kiss his palm, sniffling.
“I’m very happy to see you.” You manage, choking down your sobs, “I didn’t think I was going to see you again.” His smile grows, “It’s not funny!”
“It’s very funny, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you cry over anything and certainly not me.” You glare at him through your tears and he chuckles, “Ah, there she is, tough guy. I know the only thing holding you back from punching me in the shoulder is that I’m injured.”
“Oh, I’ll still do it if you don’t shut that pretty mouth of yours.”
He smirks, “Promise?”
And finally you break into laughter and lean over him to kiss his mouth, “You should’ve told me about Carter.” You say, “You could have at least told me you were in danger.”
“And what, have you worried from an ocean away when it might have been nothing? I needed more evidence.”
You bite your lip, “I’ve never been so scared in my whole life, watching you get taken like that.”
“I came home.” He says softly, “I’m okay, I promise.”
You swallow, “Did they get Carter?” He nods, “And what about the guys that took you in?”
“Sweetheart, that’s a whole terrorist organization, no they didn’t get them.”
“They kidnapped a federal agent!” You say indignantly.
“And the federal agent is alive.”
“But—!”
He puts a finger over your mouth to quiet you, “Don’t make me argue with you like your unit chief right now. I just want to be your boyfriend.”
You sigh, “Okay,” Leaning over him, you rest your head on his chest and he begins stroking your hair. Having not slept at all since Hotch had been taken, you fall asleep like that. Finally at peace.
***
You hadn’t really been able to let it go, even when Hotch was better and back to work, he could tell you were harboring real anger about his kidnappers.
And on that morning, the morning you jumped on the god forsaken helicopter, when the BAU was asked to come to New York to investigate a possible terrorist threat, he debated telling you not to come. The government had suspicions that they were here to take revenge for Khan and he knew you’d be upset with being benched.
“Hotch, I’m fine. I’m not angry.” You had said when he pulled you into his office after debriefing the rest of the team.
“If you even hint at taking impulsive, reckless risks I will suspend you immediately, understood?”
You sigh, “I hate when you use your boss man voice with me.”
“Y/N—” He starts impatiently.
“Yeah, yeah, fine, understood. No being reckless. Got it.”
His eyes scan your face to see if you’re lying, “Good.” He says finally and presses a kiss to your forehead, “Let’s go then.”
He should have known you were lying. It was only the previous night you had woken him up tossing and turning from a nightmare. When he had finally gotten you awake you practically flung yourself at him, arms twining themselves around his neck as you caught your breath, “I thought you were gone again.” You had said breathlessly. And he had wordlessly held you to him, running his fingers through your hair until you were asleep again. It hadn’t been the first time he had had to comfort you. You had had far more nightmares about him being taken than he had about himself being tortured. Truth be told, he had been through far worse than being kidnapped and tortured for 24 hours. He knew it made you feel weak, the nightmares, when you weren’t even the one who had been tortured so he never brought them up. Never made you talk about them. But they worried him all the same. You relived the trauma again over and over, nearly every night. How were you expected to let the anger go when you were still living through it?
He should have known, but he let you out in the field anyway. Would that not put in question his ability to lead? His ability to lead with you on the same team?
He can barely see through his anger as he turns back to where Reid is instructing you to land. When you successfully land and jump out of the chopper, the rest of the team gathers around you to hug you, but Hotch stays back, watching.
When you notice, you walk over to him, “Hotch, I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t have--”
“You’re suspended for at least a month, if not more.” He starts, “You’re lucky I don’t remove you from this team all together.”
You frown, “Aaron, I was able to detain one of the suspects, now we can learn more about the group--”
“By doing what you did you put yourself and hundreds of civilians at risk. We could have shot down the chopper, but because you jumped onboard I had to instruct them to stand down. Which, by the way, I had to do several times because they were more than willing to kill you to get that chopper down, do you have any idea the damage you caused? What could have happened if you didn’t get control of that chopper when you did?”
“I… Baby, I’m sorry--” You reach your hand out to put on his arm, but he pulls away.
“Don’t talk like that, I’m not your boyfriend right now, I’m your unit chief. Now give me your badge and gun.”
You know you can’t blame him, he had warned you he would do this and you had disobeyed him intentionally. But still, your hands shake as you hand over your gun and badge. You don’t say anything else as you leave the roof, heading down all the way to ground level to get a taxi back to the hotel. And then you wait. You lay on your back and wait for the sound of the door opening and when it does hours later, you push yourself up and sit cross legged on the bed.
“Hi.” You say softly when he walks in.
He spares you a glance before heading to the bathroom without a word. You sigh and fall back on the bed. When you hear the shower running you decide to undress yourself and head in.
He sighs when he realizes you’ve joined him, but doesn’t object when you wrap your arms around his waist and press your face to his back, “I’m sorry.” You murmur.
“You keep saying that, but I know if you were given the opportunity to do it all again, you’d make the same decision.”
You pause at that, “You’re right, I don’t regret what I did, but I’m sorry I had to disobey you to do it.”
He turns in your arms and looks down into your eyes, “Do you not see the problem with that? You did what you did out of revenge. You let your emotions get the best of you, you broke the number one rule of being in the BAU.”
“Those men were prepared to die at all costs, I just didn’t want them to get off that easy. I want them to pay for what they did to you, and this way, at least one of them will. Would you not have done the same? Did you not murder Foyet after he had given himself up because he had killed your wife and threatened your son?”
“Don’t.” He warns.
You scoff, “You have this God complex sometimes, Aaron, and it’s so frustrating. You can do whatever you want because you always have a reason and from your standpoint you’re always right. But whenever one of your toy soldiers falls out of line, it’s a different story--”
“What I did with Foyet did not put myself or civilians at risk.” He says firmly.
“You went in alone.” You said, “You didn’t wait for backup.”
He looks down and shakes his head, “You cannot compare what you did today to the things I’ve done because I would never endanger hundreds of innocent people just for some petty revenge.”
He thinks your eyes water, but it’s difficult to tell in the shower, “It wasn’t petty, Aaron. Not to me.”
He sighs and bends his forehead to yours, bringing both hands up to cradle your face, “Honey, I’m fine. You have to let it go.”
You close your eyes at his touch and lean up just slightly to capture his mouth with yours and as he sighs into your mouth you pull away, just slightly, “If it was me… If I was the one who was kidnapped and tortured in a country thousands of miles away, what would you have done?”
He swallows, and searches your face, “There wouldn’t have been a single protocol that I wouldn’t have broken to get you home safe.”
You nod, “I’m sorry. I understand why you’re upset, I put others in danger. It won’t happen again.”
He kisses you hard on the mouth, “You’re still suspended.”
You hum and he pushes you against the shower wall, his hand coming up to rest on your throat, “Are you going to punish me?” You asked breathlessly.
“Maybe.” He leans down and scrapes his teeth against your neck, hand tightening around your throat just slightly in warning when you squirmed. “I’m still angry with you.” He says, his eyes looking up to meet yours, tightening his grip on your throat again.
You can barely breathe through his grip, “For disobeying you?”
“No.” He says roughly, “For nearly getting yourself killed.”
You manage to swallow, “And that would have upset you?”
The desire immediately fizzles out of his eyes and he drops his hand, “Of course it would, how could you ask that?”
“I didn’t mean anything by it, I just…” You shrug, “I don’t know, forget it.”
“No,” He puts his hands on your shoulders to keep you from leaving, “Do you really think I wouldn’t have been upset if you died?”
“Aaron,” You say slowly, “You are the love of my life. But Haley was yours. And that’s okay, I don’t expect anything else, but it’s just a fact of our relationship that I love you more than you love me.”
He stares at you blankly for another moment, and then looks away to turn the shower off. He leaves you standing there, wet and naked as he climbs out of the shower and towels himself off silently.
“Aaron.” You say after he’s been silent for so long, stepping out of the shower and wrapping your own towel around yourself.
“You think there can only be one?”
You blink, “What?”
“A person can have more than one love of their life, you think you just get one and done?”
You frown, walking over to the bed and lowering yourself onto it, “Yes, that’s the whole concept.”
He scoffs at you, “I forget how young you are, you think you know everything there is to know about relationships, you have no idea.”
“Don’t patronize me.”
“Me?” He raises his eyebrows, “Don’t patronize you, you’re the one who just tried to convince me you know more about my feelings, about who I love than I do. That’s quite patronizing, wouldn’t you say?”
You look down at your hands, “I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.”
He sighs and walks over to you, crouching in front of you, “Haley was the love of my life, that’s true. But in my head,” He swallows, “There’s the me from before Haley, and there’s the me from after Haley. And you,” He brushes his index finger over the tip of your nose, “Were the person who made the me after Haley believe I deserved love again. You are just as much the love of my life as she is and I have no idea where I’d be right now if I hadn’t met you.”
You finally give him a little bit of a smile, “Probably even more insufferably miserable than you are now.”
He chuckles and you relish in the sound, bringing your fingers up to lightly stroke his cheek, “I’m sorry. For everything today, being reckless, bringing up Haley… I’m sorry, I was out of line.”
“It’s okay,” He says softly, “But you pull a stunt like that again, I’ll fire you.”
“Yes sir.” You say, smirking as you lean in to kiss him, twining your arms around the back of his head. Gently, you tug and pull him back on the bed, on top of you and you feel him smile into your mouth.
Since you’re already naked from the shower, he can’t stop his hands from wandering across your soft skin. His hand grips your thigh, lifting up your leg and allowing him to squeeze your ass. You gasp into his mouth just the way he likes and he bites down on your lower lip. “Aaron,” You whine.
“Did you want something, sweet girl?” He whispers in your ear as his hand slides between your legs.
It’s not fair, he knows when he works you up like this it’s nearly impossible to get a coherent word out of you. You manage only to moan his name again as he slowly, torturously, rubs over you again. “Come on, baby, use your words.” He teases and you can hear the smile in his voice. Bastard.
He runs a single finger down your folds, “Should I make you come with my fingers?” He slowly dips a finger inside you, eating up your reaction as your mouth falls open and a moan claws its way up your throat. “Or,” He pulls his finger out and you glare at him, “I could do it with my mouth.” Your eyes roll back when he licks you and you physically ache at his touch. But then he stops, “Or maybe,” He crawls back up to kiss your mouth and you can taste yourself on his tongue, “I won’t let you come at all since you’ve been such a bad girl.”
“Please,” You whine, “Please, I’ll be good. I promise.”
When he pulls back to look at you, his pupils are blown out and you feel such a rush seeing your effect on him. “We’ll see.” He says softly and without warning thrusts into you. Your back arches against the mattress as you curse. When your eyes meet his, he has a look of such confident satisfaction it nearly makes you come undone right there. “I think,” He pulls out slowly, “I’ll take my time with you tonight.” He reaches up a hand and wraps it around your throat again, “Is this okay?” He says softly, breaking his role for the first time.
You nod, “Please.” You say again, knowing how he loves when you beg. He scans your face once and then he grins again, tightening his hand around your throat until you’re gasping. “Good girl,” He whispers in your ear and slowly pushes into you again, gently biting your ear.
“Baby,” You manage with what little air you’re able to take in. He immediately stops, taking his hands off you, but you shake your head and pull his hand back to your throat, “Harder.”
He sighs and shakes his head, “Fuck,” He curses, wrapping both hands around your throat, “You’re gonna kill me one day.”
And you smirk as he pushes down on your windpipe before slamming his hips into you at full force, you’re rapidly approaching climax, but Aaron can tell. You don’t know how he can tell, but he immediately slows his hips and takes his hands off your throat. You gasp at the sudden release and cough a little bit, “I didn’t tell you you could come.”
“I didn’t,” You say breathlessly, your heart hammering against your ribcage.
“You almost did, and you would have if I didn’t stop.”
“I’m sorry.”
He looks at you and tilts his head to the side as he watches you, “Turn around.” He says calmly.
You hide your smile as you do what you’re told, turning on your knees, letting your forearms and face fall to the pillow. He roughly pulls at your waist, repositioning you and pulling your ass up even farther. He runs a hand over your ass, “Look at you, so pretty for me.” He says softly before pulling back his hand and smacking it hard against your ass. You moan into your pillow and then he’s inside you, a fistful of your hair in his fist.
“Are you gonna be good for me?” He asks breathlessly.
“Yes.”
He slams into you roughly making you yelp, “And you’ll never disobey me again?”
You swallow, “Never.”
He releases your hair and leans over you, sweetly kissing your shoulder and you can feel his smile against your skin, “That’s my sweet girl.” He reaches his arm around your front and begins to massage your clit as he thrusts into you. “Come for me, baby.” He says and speeds up his movements. It’s all the permission you need and you’re immediately unraveling. It takes everything in you not to collapse onto your stomach until he’s also climaxing, brought to his edge by the pulsing of your walls. He swears and collapses fully onto your back, your knees giving way under his weight.
You both lay there like that, him resting on your back in silence for a few moments, catching your breath. Then, Aaron sits up quickly, hands searching your skin, “I’m sorry, baby, did I hurt you?”
“No.” You say, but he presses kisses all over your skin anyway, immediately entering aftercare mode.
You sigh sleepily and pull him to you, wanting to snuggle with him. He obliges, wrapping his arms around you and nuzzling into your neck. “I love you.” He murmurs into your skin, “So much.”
You hum, “I love you. Thank you for not firing me.”
“If you ever end up getting yourself killed I’ll never forgive you.”
You chuckle and kiss his temple, “Noted.”
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bibbawrites · 4 years ago
Text
Don’t Mention This To Anyone - Alive!Luke Patterson x Reader (SMUT)
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Request: Hi can u do a luke x reader smut with an enemies to lovers storyline? Maybe they’re at a party and they’re playing truth or dare and luke and the reader get dared to play too hot to handle and later on at the party they get drunk and hook up? // can you do rough sex with luke?!! // Can u do a luke x reader enemies to lovers smut? //  Would you make a Luke and Y/N smut and just make it whatever you want but super smutty?
Word Count: 2163 words
Summary: Your best friend Julie invites you and Flynn to come over to hang out with her bandmates, and a game of too hot to handle ends up making you re-evaluate your relationship with Luke Patterson
Warnings: swearing, mention of underage drinking, unprotected sex, choking, praise kink, dirty talk, grinding/groping
A/N: hopefully this makes sense, i’m editing it half asleep lol  i’ve also put together a masterlist which you can find here anyways hope you enjoy :) 
You should have said no when Julie batted her eyes and asked you if you wanted to come hang out with her bandmates after school one Friday night. 
You should have said no when she used alcohol as a bribing tactic to get you to come. 
You should have made up an excuse not to go. 
Don’t get the wrong impression, you loved Alex and Reggie. The two boys had become close friends of yours since the day Julie first introduced them to you and Flynn. 
It was Luke Patterson that you had an issue with. The lead guitarist of Julie and the Phantoms and the lead pain in your ass since the minute you met. 
If you had said no to coming you wouldn’t have been in this situation. 
Staring down at the bottle on the floor after you drunkenly agreed to a game of Too Hot to Handle, watching as the bottle slowly stopped and pointed at the one person you were praying it wouldn’t. 
Luke fucking Patterson. 
“Oh fuck no.” You exclaimed loudly. Luke shook his head. 
“No way. Not doing it.” He said, his tone matching yours. 
“You have to, the bottle chose you.” Reggie grinned. You rolled your eyes. 
“The bottle doesn’t know what it’s doing.” You spat. 
“It’s simple, if you don’t want to do it that bad just give in straight away.” Flynn raised an eyebrow, looking between yourself and Luke. 
“I���m not a quitter, Y/L/N can give up.” Luke said. Your eyes narrowed. 
“What makes you think I’m a quitter Patterson.” You stared at the boy across from you, venom in your eyes. 
“There’s only one way to settle this then.” Julie spoke up after a moment of silence. 
“Play the fucking game.” Alex finished, his head resting on Willie’s shoulder. 
You rolled your eyes, standing up and making your way over to Luke. You knelt down in front of him, glaring at him. 
“I still hate your fucking guts.” You told him. He smirked. 
“The feeling’s mutual princess.” His tone was condescending. 
You placed your hand on his thigh, leaning in and sucking on his neck. He scoffed. 
“Is that all you’ve got Y/L/N?” He teased. 
You pulled away, glaring at him again before moving your hand up his thigh, getting dangerously close to his crotch, your eyes never leaving his. He didn’t even bat an eyelid. 
You held back a scowl, frustrated that Luke was so good at this game. Standing up you sat down in his lap, grinding your ass into his dick. You grabbed his hand and placed it onto one of your boobs, and your friends whistled at the scene. 
Luke fake yawned and this time you couldn’t help but scowl. 
“Are you fucking kidding? Nothing? Maybe Carrie is right and you are in love with Reggie.” You said, and Reggie choked on his drink. 
“Guess you’re not as seductive as you thought, sweetheart.” Luke teased, ignoring the comment about Reggie. You moved again so that you were straddling his hips, and you could feel that his dick was slightly hard in his pants. Motivated by this you started rocking back and forth, trying to ignore the feelings of pleasure shooting through your body. 
“I feel like we shouldn’t be watching this.” Flynn joked, covering Julie’s eyes with one hand and Reggie’s with her other.
“You guys were the ones who wanted this.” You reminded them, stopping and looking Luke in the eyes. You had always known that Luke was an attractive guy, his arrogance often outshining his good looks, but up close he was stunning. You hesitated and he smiled, glancing down at your lips. Your heart started to race and you mentally kicked yourself. 
This was Luke Patterson, the same boy who you had hated ever since Julie had first introduced him to you. 
The boy who was so self centered he couldn’t handle things not being about him.
The boy who you fought with every single time you saw him. 
He lent closer and you froze. Was he going to kiss you? 
“I- I give up.” You stuttered, jumping out of his lap and rushing back to your spot. 
“I knew you’d chicken out.” Luke sung, a smug look on his face. 
You were silent, and Luke’s cocky grin fell, concern flicking through his eyes for a brief moment. 
“Hey Julie, it’s getting late, everyone needs to go home.” Ray said, stepping into the studio and you stood up quickly, rushing to grab your bag as the others stood up slowly. 
“You sure you don’t wanna stay the night Y/N?” Julie asked as you flung your bag onto your back. You nodded.
“Yeah I’m sure, my mum would kill me.” You said, and she nodded understandingly. 
“Can I walk you home?” Luke blurted out, and everyone turned to look at him in shock. He shrugged. 
“What? I may hate her guts but I still don’t want her to be murdered on the way home.” He said, and you could have sworn you saw a slight blush on his cheeks.
“No it’s fine, my house is just around the corner, Alex or Reggie can walk me.” You replied, glancing at your two friends. 
“Yeah I can-” Reggie stopped, noticing the glare that Luke was shooting him. “Actually sorry Y/N, I really have to get home quickly before my parents realise I was gone.” 
“Alex?” You tried. The blond boy shook his head. 
“Sorry babe, Willie and I are heading in the complete opposite direction.” Alex shot you a sympathetic look. You sighed, turning your attention to Luke. 
“Fine, let’s go Patterson.” You said, giving in. 
Luke followed behind you as you left the garage and headed out onto the street, walking in silence for a few minutes before you decided to speak up.
“So what’s your motive?” You asked. Luke frowned.
“My what?” He asked.
“Why are you walking me home? You said yourself you hate my guts.” 
“Can’t I just be a good friend?” He tried. You rolled your eyes.
“We’re not friends.” You reminded him. He shrugged as you turned heading down your street.
“Okay.” He replied simply. You stopped in front of your house, spinning on your heels to look at him.
“So?” You questioned. He hesitated, his normally confident aura gone. He opened his mouth to speak but decided against it, instead taking a step towards you. You looked up, your eyes meeting his, and your heart skipped a beat when you noticed the lust in his eyes.
“Luke.” You muttered quietly, and suddenly your back was pressed against the front wall of your house, his lips on yours.
Your brain short circuited. No one had ever kissed you with that much passion before.
You kissed him back with just as much force, the lust and alcohol clouding your better judgement.
He pulled away to take a breath and you wordlessly grabbed him by the shirt, pulling him towards your front door. You reached into your bag to find your keys, Luke’s lips on your neck sucking hard enough that you were definitely going to have a few marks to cover in the morning. You got the door unlocked and you kicked it open, spinning around to capture Luke’s lips with your own again, kissing him as you dragged him into your house.
“Are your family home?” He questioned breathlessly as he pulled away. You nodded.
“Just mum.” You told him as you lead him up the stairs, him trailing behind you like a lost puppy. “But she doesn’t care if I bring people home to fuck as long as we’re safe.”
You reached your bedroom door and opened it, shoving Luke inside before shutting and locking the door behind you.
He roughly shoved you against the door, lips connecting once more in a passionate kiss full of tongues and roaming hands.
You kicked off your shoes and began to strip down, your lips never once leaving his, and he did he same. You briefly pulled apart for him to remove his shirt, but once it was off his lips were back on yours again.
“Fuck.” He groaned, as your naked bodies pressed against each other.
“Speaking of, can you please?” You teased, pushing off the wall and placing your hands on his shoulders, leading him to your bed.
You gave him a light shove so that he fell backwards, and you climbed on top of him, straddling his waist, almost moaning at the feeling of his hard dick slipping between your folds.
“God Y/L/N.” Luke groaned as you began to move your hips, grinding into his boner.
“Shut up.” You told him.
He flipped you over, pinning you against your bed, his hand coming up to grab at your neck, choking you slightly.
You moaned loudly, not even caring that your mother might hear. She’d know in the morning by the marks littering your body.
“You like that? You like it when I choke you?” Luke questioned, placing a bit more pressure on your neck but not enough to hurt you or constrict your airways. 
“Fuck, yes.” You moaned in response.
“Of course you do, you dirty little whore.” His words made you even wetter, hips bucking up for some kind of contact.
“Patterson please just fuck me.” You groaned. He smirked.
“If you say so.” He sat up, hands running down your sides, before hesitating slightly.
“Do you have...” He paused, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
“Are you clean?” You questioned. He nodded. “Me too. Just fuck me.”
“But what about-” He started.
“I’m on the pill.” You cut him off. “Please Luke.”
He smirked.
“I think you need to beg a bit more.” He teased. 
“Fuck me right now or you’ll be jerking off in the street alone.” You threatened.
“Jesus princess, no need to be so pushy.” He said as he lined up his dick with your hole, pushing in roughly causing you to gasp.
“Fuck.” You exclaimed. He barely gave you time to adjust before he was pounding into you again, causing the both of you to swear loudly.
“Again.” You stuttered out, and he obeyed, slamming into you again.
“That feels so good.” You groaned.
“Oh yeah?” He smirked, repeating his actions to see your reaction.
“Yes you cocky bastard.” You spat, and he grinned.
“Fuck you.” He said.
“Please.” You bit back. He grinned, before beginning to thrust hard, creating a rhythm. His hand went back to your throat again, pressing down causing you to moan loudly.
“Fuck if you keep this up I won’t last.” You groaned. He bit his lip as he continued to pound into you.
“Me neither.” He admitted. He sped up his pace, the room filled with the sounds of slapping skin and your breathless moans.
“Fuck, I’m close.” He said, and you felt the familiar feeling pooling in your stomach.
“Me too.” You said. He glanced at you, seemingly hesitant to say something.
“What?” You questioned.
He bit his lip.
“Could you... tell me that I’m doing good?” He questioned, somewhat shyly.
“You have a praise kink?” You asked.
“Maybe...” He replied quietly.
“God Luke this feels so good. You feel so good.” You moaned, smirking at his reaction.
“Okay yes, I have a praise kink.” He admitted, squeezing your throat slightly as a warning not to tease him. You gasped.
“Yes Luke. So good.” You praised, and he moaned slightly.
“I’m gonna cum.” He said between moans.
“Ugh yes, fill me with your hot cum like the good boy you are.” You moaned, and he came undone, hips stuttering as he came inside you. The feeling of his cum coating your insides was enough to set you off too, your walls clenching around him as you came hard.
“I hate you.” You moaned.
“I hate you more.” He replied breathily.
You rode out your highs together and he pulled out, flopping down next to you.
“Mind if I stay the night?” He asked softly. You hesitated.
“No, I don’t mind.” You eventually decided. You turned your head to look at the boy next to you, his hair stuck to his head with sweat, and you suddenly realised that maybe you didn’t hate Luke Patterson as much as you thought you did.
You forced yourself to get up and clean off in the bathroom before climbing back into bed still naked with Luke.
He snuggled into your side and you pressed a soft kiss to his head, an oddly intimate gesture to someone you had claimed to hate up until an hour or so ago.
“Goodnight Y/N.” Luke whispered softly, his voice full of sleep.
“Goodnight Luke.” You replied, and with that the two of you drifted off to sleep, until the next morning when a shout woke you from your slumber.
“Oh my god did you two fuck?” Alex’s voice startled you, and you groaned, pulling the covers up over your head.
You were never going to live this one down.
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lunar-wandering · 4 years ago
Text
Glamours and Gauze
well. this fic now wins the title of “longest one shot i’ve ever written”.
seriously, after Shadow Play, the will to write a Macaque fic was way too strong.
Word Count: 6k
Read on Ao3
There was a loud crash outside the noodle shop.
Pigsy paid no attention to it, simply continuing to work in the kitchen, but MK paused mid-sweep of his broom, glancing towards the entrance nervously, bracing himself for a possible enemy attack. (Knowing that the Lady Bone Demon was out there...... one could never be too prepared).
Instead of an enemy however, what stumbled through the door way was a, very visibly injured and bleeding, Monkey King.
"Holy shit, are you okay?!" MK yelped, dropping his broom to the ground as he rushed over to catch Wukong as he stumbled into the shop. A bit of blood dripped down from a rather large gash on the monkey's arm down to the floor. Pigsy would probably murder MK for the stain that would make, but MK was more so concerned about the heavily wounded monkey he held in his arms at the moment. "What happened?"
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with." Wukong grunted out, standing up a little with a wince, trying to push MK's hands off of him, without much luck. "I just came to get some bandages or whatever, then I'll get out of your hair."
"You- You can't just walk in here bleeding and expect me to not be concerned." MK said, leveling Wukong with what he hoped was a disapproving look, before turning and yelling towards the kitchen. "Pigsy! Monkey King's injured, can you get the first aid kit?"
There was the sound of something dropping in the kitchen, MK had probably startled him, and a bit of shuffling, and then Pigsy rounded the corner, first aid kit in his hands, looking exasperated as well as worried.
"I swear, everyday it's something new with you two." He said, "Come on, lets get him upstairs. The blood will scare away customers if he stays down here."
MK nodded, and despite the Monkey King's quiet protests, managed to drag him up the stairs and into his apartment. Carefully, he directed Wukong into a chair, as Pigsy set the first aid kit down on the kitchen table.
"You already know what to do, right?" Pigsy asked, MK nodding in response. "Good. I have still have some orders to get to, but call for me if you need any extra help."
"Got it. Thanks." MK said, opening the kit and pulling out some gauze and bandages as Pigsy turned and left down the stairs. MK reached into a nearby drawer, pulling out a small hand towel, wetting it with some water from the sink and adding a bit of soap.
"Okay." He said, turning back to Wukong. "I gotta clean your cuts so...... take off your shirt?"
"I can take care of myself, bud." Wukong said, quietly, but still, he complied, his shirt disappearing with a snap of his fingers, allowing MK to get a better look at his injuries. Most of the cuts didn't seem too bad, just surface wounds, but the cut on his arm was still cause for concern. MK was no expert, but it looked deep.
....Probably best to start with the most serious injury first, MK thought, giving Wukong no warning as he pressed the towel to the monkey's arm, cleaning the wound. Wukong yelped a little as he did it, his fur bristling and his tail thrashing in response.
"Sorry, probably should've warned you." MK apologized, trying to ignore the way Wukong's glare pierced into him. He hadn't noticed it before, far too worried about the very injured Monkey King in front of him but something seemed.....off about all of this. He wasn't sure what, and honestly, it could just how worried he was for his mentor's health, and nothing else. But still, his instincts had yet to steer him wrong before....... He shook those thoughts out of his head as he examined the injury. "Hm.... Not as deep as I thought. Good news is, it doesn't seem like you need stitches."
Wukong scoffed a little at that, rolling his eyes in a way that clearly communicated how obvious he felt that statement was. MK chose to ignore it, picking the gauze up off the table and starting to tightly wrap it around the monkey's arm.
"You know, I could've sworn all the stories said you were pretty much invulnerable." MK said, in an attempt to make conversation. The Monkey King had been unusually quiet this whole time, after all.
"Heh. You shouldn't believe every story you hear, bud." Wukong said again, and somehow, that was all it took for things to finally click into place. Sure, the Monkey King called MK 'bud' all the time, along with a variety of other nicknames he'd thrown into the mix, but the way he said it just now, his tone-
MK froze as the dots connected in his mind, slowly glancing up at the monkey's face, finding that the other was purposefully avoiding his gaze.
It didn't take true golden sight to figure out who the person MK was currently bandaging up really was.
Not wanting to seem suspicious, MK slowly went back to winding the gauze around the monkey's arm, trying to sort through his thoughts.
Okay. So. The Six Eared Macaque was currently sitting right in front of him. He was disguised as the Monkey King, who was MK's mentor. The last time MK had seen Macaque, he'd kidnapped his friends, attacked him, but then let them all go, giving MK a cryptid warning as he left. And now-
And now he was injured.
And he'd come to MK for help.
As for why the shadow monkey would turn to him for help, MK had no idea, but. As much as he distrusted Macaque, he couldn't just not help someone who was injured.
Alright. Okay. MK could work with this.
He stayed silent as he continued to treat Macaque's wounds, trying to put his anxiety over the fact that he was treating Macaque, of all people, out of his mind.
"...So." He started, nervously, as he finished wrapping up the last of the cuts. "Uh. Any other injuries I should know about?"
"What?" Macaque asked, sounding somewhat.... dazed and confused. MK had been so deep in his thoughts, he hadn't even noticed that the monkey had been spacing out.
"I asked if you were injured anywhere else." MK repeated, narrowing his eyes as Macaque's eyebrow twitched as he looked away, tail swinging back and forth.
"Uh, no. Don't think so." He muttered, seeming.....unusually quiet and meeker than MK remembered him being. Then again, he was supposed to still be pretending to be Wukong, since he didn't know MK had figured him out yet, but still.
"Well. 'Kay, that's obviously a lie." MK said, crossing his arms. "Seriously, are you injured anywhere else? Did you get hit on the head or something?"
Macaque didn't answer, staring at some point on the nearby wall. MK sighed, taking that as a yes.
So probably a concussion then. That......explained why he'd decided to come here for help, of all places. Or, well, at least explained a bit of it.
MK pulled some ice cubes out of his freezer, putting them in a little plastic bag, before wrapping a cloth around it, and placing it in Macaque's hand.
"What's this for?" Macaque asked.
"Put on your head, wherever it was you got hit. It's for the concussion." MK explained, putting the materials he'd used back into the first aid kit and closing it up. "Stay here. I'm going to bring this back down to Pigsy."
Leaving Macaque alone in MK's apartment was probably not the best decision he could've possibly made, but it really didn't seem like the shadow monkey planned on moving anytime soon, from the way he'd slumped against the chair, holding an makeshift ice pack against the side of his head. With one last look over his shoulder to make sure Macaque hadn't moved, MK turned and walked down the stairs.
He found Pigsy in the kitchen washing dishes, as expected.
"How's the monkey doing?" Pigsy asked, once he'd noticed that MK had entered the room.
"Oh, uh, he's fine, other than the mild concussion, but uh. He's um. Not who we thought he was." MK started, setting the first aid kit back into it's usual spot on a nearby counter. "You remember Macaque, the one from the shadow play a week or so ago?"
Pigsy paused, gently setting a place down into the sink as he turned around to give MK his full attention, wiping the soapy water on his hands off onto a hand towel as he did so.
"You mean to tell me." He said, "That the shadow monkey that attacked us a week ago is up in your apartment? And you just left him there? Alone?"
"He's injured, it's not like he's going to go anywhere." MK said, although he wasn't entirely sure if said statement was even true. "Besides, I think. Well I think there's more to him than meets the eye."
"Look, kid." Pigsy sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I trust your judgement. However, if that monkey makes a single move against you-"
"Then he's out of here, I know." MK said, turning to head back up the stairs. He'd left Macaque alone for long enough, after all. "I assure you Pigsy, if I need help, I'll call for you. Promise."
"....Whatever." Pigsy said, "Just go and keep an eye on him. I'll text the others and tell them what's up."
"Thanks!" MK said, and he rushed back up the stairs.
-
Macaque wasn't sitting in the chair.
For a brief moment, panic flung through MK's mind, wondering if, he had, in fact, been duped.
But....there was no way someone could fake injuries like that, and nothing seemed to be out of place, the windows and door still closed, so where-
There was some rustling in the living room.
Cautiously, MK slowly walked around the corner-
Macaque was laying, face down, on the couch. His injured arm dangled off the side, his hand barely touching the floor, the ice pack lazily positioned on top of his head. His tail was curled up beside him, still.
He was no longer disguised as Wukong.
MK cautiously approached him, before lightly poking his back.
No reaction, but he still seemed to be breathing normally. He'd probably fallen asleep.
Well.... MK supposed he could leave him be for now. He'd have to wake him up in a few hours or so, both to make sure that the cut on his arm hadn't gotten infected, and to check on that concussion, but as of right now, he could let him rest. He didn't really want to let Macaque out of his sight again though, so instead he grabbed one of his sketchbooks and pencils and sat down on the floor, doodling as he waited.
-
Macaque woke up to something poking him in the side. He groaned, rolling over-
And tumbled right off the couch and onto the floor with a pained yelp. He landed on his stomach, thankfully not hitting his head again on the way down. Upon this rude awakening, on pure instinct, he immediately shifted back into whatever disguise he'd been wearing before he'd fallen asleep.
Grumbling under his breath, he slowly pushed himself up, looking over to the side.
Oh. And there was Wukong's kid, sitting on the floor, holding his staff and looking both nervous and guilty.
.....Ah, that's right, Macaque had, in a moment of weakness, chosen to go to MK for help. As for what had been going through his mind when he'd chosen to do that, Macaque had no idea, but at least he'd disguised himself as Wukong first-
Wait. His disguise. He'd fallen asleep.
.....How long had the kid been sitting there? Had he seen-
"I'm sorry!" MK squeaked out, distracting Macaque from his thoughts. "I had to wake you up- to check on your injuries. I didn't think you'd uh. Fall."
Macaque did his best attempt at a 'Sun Wukong Original Smile'. He think he only half succeeded.
"It's uh, fine, bud." Macaque said, mentally trying to pull himself together. Come on, he's an actor, he acts every time he has to interact, he can do this. "You uh, did a good job, but I think I'm mostly healed by now already so I'll just get out of your way-"
"Wait." MK interrupted, and Macaque, who had stood up and turned to walk towards the door, froze mid-step.
He could not do this.
"You don't....need to stay disguised as Monkey King." MK said, and Macaque's fur bristled. Fuck, he'd been found out already, time to get the hell out of dodge-
"Ohoho? So you've figured me out already huh?" Macaque said, letting his Wukong glamour drop, but keeping his other ones, his most important ones, up. He pulled the shadows closer to himself, to make a more threatening appearance. "Hah, I guess every fool has moments of lucidity. Well, I've got all I wanted-" That was a lie, he'd gotten nothing, but might as well make the kid panic for a while wondering what he'd taken, right? That's what villains did, right? "-So I'll just be on my way now. See you later, bud."
Macaque turned, fully intending to walk into the shadows on the wall and teleport away-
The front door swung open, and the lights, which Macaque hadn't even registered had been off, switched on, flooding the room with light. The shadows crumbled in the brightness-
And Macaque smacked right into the wall.
He fell back to the floor, hissing in pain, his tail swishing as his previous wounds, both from the earlier fight and from falling off the couch, were agitated. He rubbed his head as a new batch of pain swept through it.
"MK!" He heard Mei shout, as she came in through the door, a true storm of energy. "I came as soon as I could- is that him?"
Macaque, still rubbing his head, (he was pretty sure his concussion from the fight was gone by now, but honestly he might've just gotten a brand new one), glanced up, seeing that Mei was looking at him with an appraising gaze.
"He doesn't really look all that menacing without the cloak to be honest." She said, shrugging. Macaque blinked at her, confused.
"What? No, you know what, it doesn't matter, I'm leaving." He said, standing up and dusting off his outfit, trying to put what had just happened as far away from his current thoughts as possible. (Later, he told himself, later he could scream into a pillow about how fucking embarrassing what just happened was. But he couldn't focus on it, not now.). With as much dignity he could muster at the moment, he slipped past Mei, walking out the door she'd left wide open.
"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Someone asked, and Macaque abruptly felt something grab onto his scarf. He stumbled, turning around to see who'd grabbed him, only to find himself standing in front of a large, blue, fish demon.
Ah. This must be that 'Sandy' that Tang had mentioned. Macaque had never met him, and honestly, right now, he really didn't want to.
"Ah, I was just leaving-" He started, tugging on his scarf, trying to get Sandy to let go.
His grip didn't even waver.
"But I haven't even gotten the chance to meet you yet!" Sandy said, easily scooping Macaque up despite the shadow monkey's protests. "Come on back in, I'll even make you some tea!"
Was literally anything going to go as planned today?
Apparently not, as Sandy unceremoniously dropped Macaque back onto the couch, the monkey scrambling to right himself so that he didn't go tumbling off the piece of furniture again.
"What kind of tea do you like?" Sandy asked, "Mint? Peach?"
"I don't like peaches." Macaque hissed, "And I don't like tea."
"Coffee then?" Sandy asked, and proceeded to take Macaque's silence as a yes.
"There's some instant coffee in the 3rd cupboard on the right." MK instructed, and Sandy nodded, heading into the kitchen and quickly setting up a teapot of water on the stove to boil.
"So~" Mei started, plopping herself down on the couch beside Macaque, showing a surprising lack of fear at his presence. "What exactly are you doing here, huh? You going to kidnap our souls again?"
"Oh for the love of- no, the lamp is gone anyways." Macaque huffed, keeping his eyes on the kitchen. He wasn't a fool, he knew a powerful demon when he saw one. Sure, Sandy was only making tea right now, but he'd have to be extra careful around him in the future. "I would've left already if you guys didn't keep trying to keep me here, for some stupid reason I can't even begin to comprehend."
"Well, after much debate, we've decided to attempt to add you to our anti-hit list." MK said, casually leaning against a wall. If the room had been darker, Macaque would've taken great pleasure in having his shadow appear behind him to freak him out a little, but as it was right now....
"What the fuck is an anti-hit list?" Macaque asked, genuinely confused, but didn't get an answer as Sandy walked out, carrying a tray with four cups, three filled with tea, one with coffee, and a small plate of cookies and fruits. He set them down on a small table that, to be honest, Macaque hadn't even noticed. MK and Mei happily picked up their cups, sipping at their tea. Macaque didn't touch his cup, staring at it with obvious distrust. 
"Aren't you going to drink your coffee?" MK asked.
"How am I meant to know it's not poisoned?" Macaque scoffed in response.
"Because Sandy would never do that? I can taste test it for you, if you really want me to-" MK said.
"No thanks, don't want to be contaminated with your dirty Monkey King Successor Saliva." Macaque said, smirking when MK sighed in irritation. Good, maybe if he got under the kid's nerves, he'd let him leave.
"Why don't you try some of the cookies and fruits then?" MK asked, biting into one of the said snacks, "The rest of us are eating them without a care, so they're not poisoned."
"You could just be avoiding the ones that you poisoned so that I'll eat them." Macaque said, relishing in how MK huffed, rolling his eyes. "I'm not going to be fooled so easily. You do remember who I am, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, the Six Eared Macaque or whatever." MK grumbled, and Mei stifled a laugh.
"Kind of a weird name for someone who doesn't have six ears." She said, before pausing. "...Wait, do you have six ears?"
"...It's more of a nickname, really." Macaque mumbled, eyebrow twitching, suddenly very much disliking where this conversation was going. He stood up, pushing the cup that he hadn't bothered to drink out of to the side. "Anyways, I think I've overstayed my welcome here, so if you don't mind-"
"Not so fast." Sandy said, stopping Macaque before he could even take a step.
"What now?" Macaque hissed, glaring at him.
Sandy grabbed hold of Macaque's hand and dropped a tea bag into it.
"I know you said you didn't like tea-" He said, "-But I figured you should take some with you anyways. This one specifically is good for relaxing!"
Macaque rolled his eyes, but he still shoved the tea bag into his pocket, something the others took note of. With a quick glance at MK and Mei to make sure they weren't going to try and stop him again, Macaque finally, finally, left.
-
Cursing himself with every step he took, Macaque snuck into MK's kitchen, pulling out the tea bag Sandy had given him. He'd tried, oh he'd tried, to rest on top of the roof but, as he was right now, he wouldn't be getting any sleep.
Sandy had said this tea was good for relaxation. He could probably trust that, just a little bit.
Keeping an ear (or two. or three. or four-) out to make sure MK didn't wake up, Macaque slowly and quietly set up the tea kettle on the stove. He pulled a mug out of one of the cupboards, and set it down on the counter. Restlessly, he tapped his foot on the ground as he waited for the water to boil.
Really, he'd rather be anywhere but here, in the middle of the night, making tea in the apartment of Wukong's Successor.
But, truthfully, he didn't exactly have a choice in the matter. The Lady Bone Demon obviously had records of all the places Macaque would usually hide out. He wasn't very keen on getting captured again when he'd only just barely escaped.
Right now, staying close to MK was probably the safest place he could be. The kid was under Wukong's protection after all.
...Whether or not Wukong would arrive in time to maintain said protection was up for debate, but the kid is powerful. He'd be enough.
Macaque barely managed to get the kettle off the stove before it started whistling. He poured the water into his cup, blew on it to cool it down, and took a sip.
...Huh. So Sandy hadn't been lying. The tea actually was pretty good, and Macaque found himself leaning against the counter lazily as he continued to sip it. To be honest, he hasn't eaten or drunk anything in... a while, technically he didn't really need to, he could live without it, but. Something about this was... nice, he supposed.
He felt a bit more relaxed than before, almost enough to no longer notice the small aching pains of his healing injuries-
The cut on his arm throbbed with an extreme amount of pain, and Macaque tensed, tail curling up, doing a full body shudder-
The cup went tumbling to the floor.
-
MK woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of a crash and quiet swearing coming from the kitchen. Quickly, he shot out of bed, summoning his staff and rounding the corner-
He just barely caught a glimpse of a shadow slipping back out through the window.
Keeping his guard up, MK slowly reached over and flicked on the lights.
There was nobody there.
But somebody had been there- The kettle was not where he'd left it earlier, and-
There was a broken cup laying on the floor, some remnant drops of tea around it, as well as a very familiar tea bag.
MK sighed, putting the staff away and getting his broom out of the closet instead. He swept up the broken pieces, throwing them into the garbage can. He paused for a moment, thinking. Then, he activated his golden vision, and looked up.
Sure enough, he could see a faint golden outline of Macaque pacing on the roof.
MK debated, for a while, whether or not he should go up there and confront him. After all, an explanation as to why Macaque had broken into his apartment in the middle of the night just to make tea, instead of drinking it earlier when they offered, would be nice information to have.
On the other hand though, MK was tired, and it was late, and honestly, from the way Macaque was pacing, it didn't look like he'd be leaving the roof anytime soon.
MK turned around and went back to bed.
-
When MK climbed the ladder to the roof in the morning, still clad in his pyjama's, his phone tucked in his pocket, the roof seemed to be empty.
MK had long since learned that when things involved Macaque, not everything was as it seemed.
Specifically, a bunch of shadows on the nearby wall looked rather suspicious, if you were asking him. He dug his phone out and turned on the flashlight, shining it over the shadowy spot.
Almost immediately, Macaque fell out of the, now non-existent, shadows, barely catching himself from having another close encounter with the ground. He stumbled a little, clearly off balance. For a moment he looked like he hadn't slept at all, his fur mussed, bags under his eyes-
MK didn't get to see much of it, for as soon as he blinked, Macaque was back to looking the same way he always did.
"Would you stop doing that?" Macaque hissed, glaring at him. MK blinked, turning off the flash and pocketing his phone again.
"Uh. Good morning?" MK said, and, seeing no way to phrase the question delicately, asked; ".....Why did you break into my apartment in the middle of the night?"
"Heh, what are you talking about?" Macaque said, sliding back into his 'cool and composed' persona almost effortlessly. "You must've dreamed it, bud."
MK, in fact, had considered the possibility that it had been a dream when he woke up in the morning. However, the broken porcelain and used tea bag laying in his trashcan proved otherwise. He was about to point this out- when a familiar dull pang ran through his head.
Oh shit, not now.
"Hey, bud!" The Monkey King's voice said, a golden see through version of him appearing at MK's side. "I uh, know I kinda brushed you off the last time, sorry about that, but I figured I'd check in and see how you were doing!"
"Not now, Monkey King." MK whispered, under his breath, but of course, Macaque still heard it.
"Monkey King?" He questioned, before registering the way MK was looking slightly to the side, a slight golden glow reflecting in his eyes. "Ah. He's doing the astral projecting thing, isn't he."
MK didn't answer, instead trying to give Wukong the hint that now was not the time.
"Why, are you busy with something? Meh, I'm sure it's nothing you can't handle." Wukong said, and MK sighed. "Look, my vacation will be over soon, okay? There's just a few more uh, friends I need to visit, and then-"
A hand landed on MK's shoulder, and he barely restrained himself from startling as another, different pang ran through his mind.
"Monkey King! Good to see ya, bud." Macaque said, sarcasm colouring his voice. "How's your little vacation treating you huh?"
"Macaque." Wukong hissed, looking shocked, but quickly transitioning into anger. "What are you doing with MK?"
"Me? Why would you assume I've done anything to your little apprentice?" Macaque said, "You should be thinking about what you've done, honestly."
"Wh- what are you going on about now?" Wukong asked. Macaque laughed.
"Seriously? You need me to explain it to you? Oh, that's rich." He said, "Wukong, you really need to learn how to take a step back and see the world outside of you, because you obviously haven't realized that you've left your successor behind."
"I- I haven't left him behind." Wukong said, although the glance he sent in MK's direction spoke volumes about how much he actually believed that. "I'm coming right back, MK, as soon as this is done. I promise."
"Oho, we all know exactly how good you are with promises, Wukong." Macaque said, his tail thrashing back and forth. Wukong looked pained for a moment-
And then the connection cut off, Wukong not even saying goodbye as his see through form turned around before fading away. Macaque took his hand off MK's shoulder, laughing in a way that felt....forced.
"Ha....same old Monkey King, huh." He said, crossing his arms. "As much as he tries to insist other wise, he really does never change."
"What, was that?" MK asked, looking Macaque up and down. He'd stayed quiet during their conversation, but now... "Seriously dude, what the fuck?"
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about." Macaque said, waving him off. "Anyways, what are you doing on the rooftop this lovely morning?"
"I should be asking you that." MK responded, "Also, don't think I don't realize that you're attempting to deflect."
"Deflection who? Never heard of her." Macaque said, sitting down on the edge of the roof, his legs swinging off the side. "Besides, don't you have a job to do?"
MK looked down at the clock on his phone. 9:30 am. Shit, Macaque was right, MK did have to be getting to work.
"This conversation isn't over." He said. Macaque pretended like he didn't hear him.
When MK finally got a break and headed back up to the roof, the shadow monkey was gone.
-
Macaque ended up showing up in the noodle shop, two days later.
Tang had nearly choked on his noodles when the monkey had suddenly appeared out of nowhere beside him, barely keeping himself from yelling in surprise. Macaque hadn't even glanced at him, resolutely staring down at the counter instead. Everything about his body language implied that he'd rather be anywhere but here.
So..... why was he here?
Everyone very much wanted to ask, but one look from Pigsy shut them up. They all knew Pigsy's habit of helping people, MK and Tang had experienced it first hand after all, and they deferred to his judgement on things like this.
So they let Macaque be, silently sitting on the stool, his tail swinging back and forth.
Pigsy pulled MK into the kitchen.
"Kid," He started, "When you patched up Macaque, how much gauze did you use, exactly?"
"Only enough to wrap up his arm." MK answered, "There was plenty left afterwards. Why?"
"And you made sure to put it back in the kit?"
"Yeah.....why are you asking me this?"
Pigsy sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I was doing inventory earlier- checking to see what things I'd need to stock up on. Figured I'd check the first aid kit too, since you'd used it." Pigsy said, "The gauze is gone kid. And I mean like, gone, gone. There ain't any left at all. Like it was never there in the first place."
"That's....weird." MK said, scratching his head. "Who would want to steal gauze?"
"That's what I'm wondering too."
-
Red Son happened to visit the noodle shop that day. He paused as he entered through the door, noting the monkey demon sitting at the counter, resting his head on one hand.
"...I see you peasants have forced another person into your friend group from hell." He said to Mei, leaning up against a wall. Mei elbowed him in the stomach in response.
"You say that as though you aren't also part of our friend group." She said, rolling her eyes. Red Son huffed, but didn't argue with her claim, so she took that as a win. "Also, he isn't exactly in the friend category yet. We're working on it."
"If he isn't in the friend category, then why is he even here?" Red Son asked, "It's not every day a random demon monkey decides to just hang out in a noodle shop, of all places."
"First of all, his name is Macaque." MK said, walking over to where Mei and Red Son were standing, holding a broom in his hand, since he'd just finished sweeping up the kitchen. "Secondly, we're not sure why he's here. He just kinda, showed up."
"And don't diss the noodle shop either." Mei said, "We all know you like it here as much as we do."
"Whatever." Red Son said, before turning to MK with narrowed eyes. "Anyways, are you okay, Noodle Boy?"
"....What do you mean?" MK asked.
"I can smell blood."
Unseen to the group of three, Macaque tensed, head snapping up as he looked over to them.
"I'm fine though?" MK said, a questioning lilt in his voice. "I haven't fought...anyone, really, in over a week, and I don't think I've cut myself on anything.... Are you sure the spices aren't messing with you?"
"It's kind of hard to mistake the smell of blood, Noodle Boy." Red Son said, rolling his eyes.
Macaque slowly stood up, starting to make his way towards the door. Unfortunately for him, this movement caught Mei's attention.
"Where are you going?" She asked, drawing MK and Red Son's attention to Macaque who, upon realizing he'd been noticed, stepped forwards much quicker, looking like he was about to run-
He stumbled, one hand going up to his head, his other arm waving off to the side as he struggled for balance, tumbling backwards. MK dropped the broom and caught him before he could hit the ground. In front of the group's eye's, Macaque's form seemed to glitch, revealing, for a moment, mussed up fur, a scar over his eye, six ears-
And blood soaked gauze wrapped around his arm.
Almost as soon as they'd seen it, it was gone again, replaced with Macaque's usual look.
There was silence, for a moment.
"Holy shit, are you okay?" MK asked.
"I'm fine." Macaque hissed, attempting to shove MK's hands off of him, struggling. When he found that he couldn't, he stopped, slumping a little. "Put me down."
"No no no, we're not going to pretend that we didn't just see that." MK said, adjusting his grip and lifting Macaque up.
"Wh- what are you doing, I said to put me down, not pick me up." Macaque said, fur bristling. "Also, you didn't see anything. You're hallucinating."
"Stop deflecting." MK said, gesturing vaguely for Mei and Red Son to follow him, as he carried the monkey up the stairs. "If you're still hurt, we need to treat it."
Macaque didn't respond, and MK looked down to see that his eyes were closed, his form flickering again.
"Huh. I guess he really does have six ears." Mei said from behind him.
"Now is not the time, Dragon Girl." Red Son said. MK ignored them as he unlocked the door to his apartment, walking into the living room and laying Macaque down on the carpet. He might regret that later, blood stains were hell to wash out, but that was a problem for future MK.
Macaque's form flickered again, except this time, it stayed on the version of him that looked.... well if MK was being honest, he looked awful. His face was pale, and his fur looked like it hadn't been brushed in weeks.
Not to mention the bloody gauze around his arm.
MK made quick work of removing it, wincing whenever Macaque whimpered in pain in response to the injury being touched. As soon as the injury was uncovered, the trio sucked in a horrified breath.
"...I don't understand." MK whispered, "He's a demon, demons heal quickly right? He got this injury at least 3 days ago, so why is it-"
"It's cursed." Red Son said, sounding terrified, for once. "He's been struck by a cursed blade. Whoever did this really does want him dead."
"What do we do?" MK asked, "We can't just let him... let him bleed to death."
"You mentioned before that Wukong has a room full of items, back on Flower Fruit Mountain?" Red Son asked. MK nodded in response. "He probably has something there that could help."
MK, who had kneeled on the floor to check Macaque's injury, quickly stood up, summoning the staff.
"Mei, get Pigsy and the others. They'll probably be better at taking care of him right now than we are." He said, before turning back to Red Son. "How will I know if I've found something that will help?"
"Truthfully, I couldn't tell you." Red Son said, shrugging. "I've never had to deal with something like this before. ...I'm sure you'd know when you see it though."
"Oh, sure, that's real helpful." MK said, sarcastically, and proceeded to turn and run out the door.
-
"Seriously why does Monkey King have so much stuff!" MK yelled, throwing a box of jewels at a wall. He'd been searching frantically through the mountains of items for.... about ten minutes, and he was, honestly, tired of it. "Would it kill him to hold a garage sale once in a while? Maybe then I'd actually be able to find shit!"
"Hey, each of these items are near and dear to me, I'll have you know."
MK yelped, summoning the staff as he whirled around, coming face to face with none other than Sun Wukong himself.
"Monkey King!" MK said, "You're back?"
"Yep, managed to get all that I- uh, I mean, I managed to catch up with everyone." Wukong said, lazily laying back on his cloud. "Anyways, mind telling me what you're doing in my storage room?"
"...You're not going to like the answer to that." MK nervously rubbed the back of his neck. He knew that Macaque and Wukong had a history, and although he didn't know the full details, he knew that the two of them didn't get along now. Truthfully, he had no idea if Wukong would even be willing to help Macaque at all.
MK himself wasn't entirely sure why he was helping him either, really, he'd done nothing to warrant it.
But then again, he hadn't done anything that warranted a slow death via bleeding out either.
"I'm sure that whatever it is can't be that bad." Wukong said, "It takes a lot to surprise me, kid."
"Macaque is currently bleeding out on my carpet."
"He's what?!"
-
When Macaque woke up, he was back on the couch again. He vaguely recalled passing out after MK had carried him up the stairs, but to be honest, that whole event was.... a little blurry for him. He thinks he woke up a few more times afterwards, but between the blurry faces and surprisingly muffled sounds, he can't make heads or tails of what happened.
He sighed, not really wanting to get up yet, snuggling back down into the couch-
He can hear another heartbeat. There's someone in the room with him.
Macaque sat up laser fast, throwing his usual glamours back on.
"Ah ah ah, none of that now."
Something lightly tapped his shoulder, and Macaque's glamour dissolved completely as a slight golden light went over him.
He turned his head to see Wukong sitting on the edge of the couch.
"Don't want you to pass out on us again after we just healed you." He said, "Seriously, try to keep from using a lot of magic in the next few days. You'll heal faster."
"Oh that's rich, coming from Mr. 'I can't stay in bed for 2 hours'. You don't think I've forgotten when you got hit with that energy depletion curse, did you?" Macaque retorted, crossing his arms. Wukong gave a nervous laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"To be honest, I was hoping you did forget that, actually." He said.
"Please. As though I'd ever forget something that led to the honorable Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, walking right into a tree." Macaque said, a smirk on his face.
They were both avoiding talking about what had happened between them. Neither of them truly felt they were ready for that yet.
They were in MK's apartment though, so they could at least try to avoid an actual fight.
"What's this I hear about Monkey King walking into a tree?" MK said, walking into the room. Pigsy and Mei followed close behind him.
"Ah, it's nothing, he's just lying like always. The medicine is probably making him think of things that aren't true." Wukong said, and Macaque rolled his eyes.
"If you give me some plums later, I'll tell you all about it, MK." Macaque said, ignoring Wukong's protests. "Monkey King needs to get knocked down a peg or two, in my opinion."
"MK, I swear if you agree to that-" Wukong warned.
"Deal." MK said, holding out his hand for Macaque to shake. Wukong yelled in outrage as Macaque laughed.
"Heh, nice to see the two of you actually getting along, for once." Pigsy said, leaning over the back of the couch as he ruffled the fur on the top of both Wukong and Macaque's heads.
Both monkeys froze.
"....You two okay?" MK asked. Wukong and Macaque glanced at each other. An agreement had been made.
They would never speak of this.
In near perfect sync, the both of them leapt off the couch, turning and running off in different directions, Wukong going out a window, while Macaque chose the slightly more reasonable option of going out the door.
MK, Mei, and Pigsy stood there in shock for a moment, as they watched the two monkeys get further away.
".....Stupid touch starved monkeys." Pigsy sighed, turning and heading back down to the restaurant. He'd had enough Monkey Madness for one day.
MK and Mei glanced at each other, and then back in the directions Wukong and Macaque had gone.
"Uhh, I go get Monkey King, you go get Macaque?" MK said.
"You wanna make it a race? See who can get one of them to come back first?" Mei asked.
"Absolutely. Ready?"
"As always."
"Then 3, 2, 1, go!" MK yelled, and two of them ran off, chasing after Wukong and Macaque.
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cafeacademia · 4 years ago
Text
Guardian | Chapter One
Draco Malfoy x Muggleborn!Reader Soulmate AU
Chapter Summary: As you navigate your fifth year at Hogwarts, you reflect on the things that have led you this far and you begin to wonder if your complicated friendship with Draco holds more meaning than you originally anticipated.
Warnings: A little bit of angst, some friendly teasing, mentions of Umbridge’s punishments, description of harm to a student, comfort, fluff.
Word count: Approx 4000 (oopsies)
Masterlist
A/N: Hi loves, here’s the first full part of the series! Please check out the Prologue if you’re new to the series, it gives some general setting up for the story and explains how this soulmate AU works. Enjoy! 💖
Flashbacks are separated using *** and use of the soulmate book is highlighted in italics
Previous Part | Next part
(Gif is my own)
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Sitting in the library, Neville was not far from the desk you were sat at as he scoured the shelves for a copy of a book about rare magical properties in plants while you were trying to work on your final Potions essay for the term. “This feels impossible.” You yawned, slouching over your four parchment rolls of completed essay. All you really had to do now was make a conclusion, but your brain was wandering after a few hours of working on your homework and it just wasn’t happening. “That’s incredible.” Neville whispered to himself and you couldn’t help but breathe out a short laugh, looking over your shoulder to see that he was fully engrossed in the book he had pulled off the shelf.
Putting your quill down, you looked down at your hand, eyes trailing over the little bandage wrap you wore over the mark left from the detention you had served the previous evening with Umbridge. It was still sore and it felt very tender, but you tried your best to keep it hidden under the bandage and the sleeve of your school jumper. Slowly, your mind wandered towards what Draco might be up to. You hadn’t spoken to him in months since you had started in your fifth year and you’d had less of desire to do so now that he was in the Inquisitorial Squad. And your thoughts paced back to your fourth year when you had started to share a bit of a friendship with him.
***
“You’re fraternizing with the enemy, you are.” Ron scoffed. “I am not.” You frowned at him. “Oi, shove off would you? I know you don’t like the little git, but he seems to like our girl, isn’t that right George?” Fred asked, looking over your head to his twin who was standing on the other side of you. “That’s right Fred, maybe he’s got a crush on you.” He chuckled, nudging you in the side. “Ah, young love.” Fred sighed, garnering a multitude of reactions between Ron sounding utterly disgusted to Ginny’s amused laughter. “Draco is just being friendly.” You rolled your eyes. “Oh Draco is it now? Not Malfoy anymore eh?” Fred teased.
“He’s such a git, Malfoy’s not worth your time anyway, he’s probably just using you or something.” Ron argued and for once, Hermione gave Ron an agreeing nod. “Besides, since when is Malfoy nice to anyone?” Hermione asked, Fred and George giving each other a look, they were a little more accepting than the others, but with the question raised even the twins wondered if there wasn’t another motivation there.
Sighing, you leaned back against the wall of the quad and glanced over at Neville, who had just been quietly listening to the conversation without saying a word, but the look on his face told you that he felt the same as the rest of your friends. The problem was, while you really, truly valued their opinion and you understood that they were trying to look out for you, albeit with a little tough love on Ron’s end, you knew there was something there between you and Draco but you just couldn’t seem to find the words to describe it.
Was it friendship? Was it some kind of connection deeper than that? Whatever it was, Draco seemed to become a different person around you. He was more genuine, more open, more himself and oddly, you were starting to feel like he really valued your attention and your opinion.
“You shouldn’t be giving him the satisfaction.” Ron went on, Harry now wandering over to join the group and you heaved out a sigh because you knew as soon as he joined in, the two of them would be going on about how much of ‘bloody git’ Draco was. “Give who the satisfaction?” Harry asked. “Malfoy.” Ron replied in a disgruntled tone. “Fine,” You gritted out. “Then I won’t give either of you the satisfaction, Ronald.” You suddenly burst out, everyone looking at you as if you had grown a second head from your sudden outburst. “What’s that ‘sposed to mean?” He asked, a little bewildered.
But as the days passed, your friends started to realise what you had meant by that statement. Your little chats with Draco seemed to have halted entirely, and you didn’t speak a word about your budding friendship with the Slytherin. It was as if you had completely forgotten it had ever happened and your friends were starting to wonder if you were sneaking off to talk to him without any prying eyes, but of course there was no way they could prove it.
You valued their concern, you appreciated it in fact, but stupid or not you couldn’t deny that you felt a pull towards Draco. So you removed all indication that there was any interaction with Draco at all and it became quickly apparent to you, that maybe it was safer to just have a friendship with Draco in secret, especially as you weren’t too fond of the attention that being around the Slytherin Prince brought you.
You couldn’t deny, the secret meetings with Draco felt a little wrong, purely because you knew you’d get an absolute earful from Ron if he ever found out. But you still loved spending time with Draco, because out of everyone you had ever spent time with, Draco seemed to really value your company, be it quiet or more talkative. He seemed to understand when there were days that you just didn’t want to say a lot or you were more shy than usual and he understood that it was okay to enjoy silent company, but he also enjoyed it when you had energetic days and you wanted to chat about whatever came to mind.
***
“Are you listening?” Neville asked, leaning over your chair. “Hm?” You suddenly looked up at him, a little bit startled from being pulled away from your thoughts. “If we don’t hurry up, we’re going to be late for Defence Against the Dark Arts.” Neville warned and you pulled a face of worry before you hurried to pack away your things.
“Thank Merlin.” Neville mumbled as you both practically ran up the stairs to your classroom, seeing that there was a line of students waiting outside of the room, telling you that either you were just on time or Umbridge was late, though you thought the latter to be unlikely when she liked to go on about punctuality so often.
As you joined the line, Draco Malfoy made his way up the stairs, stopping when he reached you and pushed his way into the queue, though he was careful not to push you. And while Neville was busy catching up with Susan Bones who was standing on the other side of him, Draco leaned in and whispered to you.
“Meet me after class?” He asked. “Promise no funny business, just you and me.” He murmured and you tentatively glanced up at him. “This isn’t about you know what, is it?” You asked quietly. Draco knew what you were referring to. He knew you would be worried that he might try and pry some information out of you about the DA. Checking from side to side with a quick look, he held up his hand in front of you and pointed his ring finger at you. “I promise, it’s just like our old chats.” He whispered, glancing down to see you smiling, realising he was attempting a pinky promise. “Alright, but you’re using the wrong finger.” You had to refrain from giggling and instead, you shyly hid your smile as best as you could. Hesitantly you raised your hand, almost too shy to even touch him, but you pulled his little finger free and linked it with your own. “Sorry, I always forget which finger it is, muggle promises are strange.” Draco mumbled.
It wasn’t long before Umbridge finally poked her head out of the classroom and invited everyone in.
Draco sighed as he slouched down in his chair with his arms crossed in the drier than normal Defence Against the Dark Arts class. Umbridge was particularly boring to listen to as she droned on about a test you’d all be taking soon.
Instead, his focus was trained on the notebook that peeked out of the top of his bag that sat under his desk. He wished he could pick the book up and leaf through the pages, idly reading your handwriting, take in your thoughts and feelings and remind himself of days before now. Sometimes Draco wished that he could outright approach you and tell you that it was him, that he was your soulmate, but really that would be quite a bad move.
Draco wasn’t even sure if he’d be able to actually tell you, perhaps there was something that would prevent him from doing so or some sort of consequence and he was especially wary of this since his fourth year at Hogwarts when Pansy Parkinson had involved herself.
***
“What is that tatty old thing anyway? And why do you always brandish it about like a... a trophy or something?” She had asked with a judgemental edge to her tone, stealing it right out of Draco’s lap. The boy had nearly thrown himself across the common room at her as she hurried off with it. “I bet it’s a diary.” She giggled to herself. “Yeah, or he keeps secrets in there.” Crabbe added as he joined her. “That’s what a diary is, you dolt.”
“You wouldn’t understand.” Draco stormed towards the pair of them, his heart racing with fear as he watched Pansy teasingly open the cover of the book. However, much to Pansy’s surprise and even more so to Draco’s, there wasn’t a single word, not a single drop of ink, no markings, nothing. The book was completely empty. “You really carry around an empty book?” Pansy questioned, sceptical with her upper lip curled in disappointment. “What did you expect, my heartfelt feelings?” Draco scoffed, his tone cold and sarcastic as he snatched the book back from her, trying not to appear too hurt that his book had been handled roughly. “I’m to keep it safe. Father sent it to me.” Draco lied through his teeth, but thankfully, his lies were hard to detect, even for someone who knew Draco’s tactics to uphold his image and Pansy just pulled an expression that told him that she thought it was weird.
***
But now, as he sat in class, Draco could still see the small dent in the leather cover that Pansy had caused when she’d roughly stolen it from his grasp. He was still angry about it even a year later, perhaps it was irrational to be so annoyed about damage to a book, but this was special and he remembered how very upset he had felt that someone other than him had held the book. It was precious, vulnerable and he treasured it.
But it wasn’t just the book that he treasured. No, what he considered to be more important, more precious and something truly wonderful in every aspect was you. Which was why he had started to slowly distance himself from you. But as Draco looked up to see you sitting a few rows ahead of him in the middle of the classroom, the thing that reminded him of why he wanted to see you peeked out from under your jumper sleeve. Your hand was bandaged and Draco was quite angry with himself, because the night before when you had unknowingly written to him in your book and told him that a teacher had hurt you during detention, Draco had immediately known what it meant and he was livid.
“Attention, mister Malfoy.” Umbridge practically shrieked across the classroom, slamming her hand down onto the front desk, disturbing the Friday afternoon gloom and making everyone in the room jump at her sudden raised voice before she gave him a forced smile. Draco lazily sat up in his seat, eyes flitting to you every time Umbridge turned away to write or point at something on the blackboard as his mind wandered throughout the rest of the lesson.
When the class finally came to an end and Professor Umbridge excused you all to enjoy the rest of your Friday evening, Draco left the classroom and leaned against the wall outside until the very last person left the room.
Draco gave you a subtle smile before he very quickly peeked around the doorframe to see that Umbridge was climbing the stairs to her office before he turned to look at you and give you a proper smile. “I’m so sorry it’s been months, it’s bloody difficult with her around, it’s like she’s everywhere.” Draco sighed, rolling his eyes as he pushed away from the wall and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I understand, everyone is on high alert at the moment.” You replied in a quiet tone, almost too afraid to speak up as Draco began to walk you down the stairs, having avoided the eyes of all of your classmates and hopefully any spying caretakers too.
You were anxious to be spending time with Draco after all of this time. Especially as now he was part of the Inquisitorial Squad and part of you was afraid that your friends had been right last year. What if he did try to use you? But Draco had not yet betrayed your trust and you firmly believed in giving him the benefit of the doubt, you just hoped you weren’t doing it at your own expense.
“Come, we can talk in here.” Draco stepped into a hidden little alcove that was behind a statue at the side of the staircase. It was unlikely anyone would stop long enough to be able to hear you both talking and no one could see you hidden around the corner either.
“Was she hard on you yesterday?” Draco whispered his eyes softening as he watched you give him a little nod. “Yeah, a little.” You replied. “How did you know?” You queried, shyly looking up at him. “Pansy told me she caught you and Neville yesterday.” He explained and you just gave him a little nod. It wasn’t an outright lie, Pansy had told him she’d caught some students, but she never said who, it was only until you confided in your soulmate that it had happened that he knew you must have been in the group that Parkinson had caught. He watched as you slowly lifted your hand and pulled up your jumper sleeve to show him the bandage.
“Can I see?” Draco asked softly, gently taking your hand into both of his, holding you so softly like he was afraid he could hurt you with just his tender touch. You nodded, Draco leaning down to catch the way your eyes seemed to be filled with shame and you glanced at him, only for a second with a watery gaze.
Slowly and as carefully as he could, Draco unwrapped your bandage, reading the words that had been carved into your hand. “Oh love, I’m sorry, I should have been there to stop it from happening.” Draco sounded like he was scolding himself as he apologised, the emotions reaching his eyes as they swam deep in worry.
“It’s alright, I knew I’d end up in detention with her eventually.” You sighed, watching as Draco gently held your hand in his. He couldn’t lie and say it didn’t make his stomach turn horribly. It sickened him to no end and part of the reason he had joined the Inquisitorial Squad in the first place was with the hopes that he might be able to protect you better from that position. Not that he would let on to that, though.
“Does it hurt still?” He asked. “It still stings a bit and it’s sore.” You told him, your eyes saddened as you looked down at the writing you had tried so hard to conceal all day, not just because you were ashamed of what Umbridge had done, but because you simply could not bear to look at it. Would it always be there? You wondered if it would serve as a constant reminder and you hoped that with time that it would fade, but you couldn’t help the worry that sat deep in your stomach that the mark would remain long after healing and you hoped at the very least, that it would not make your stomach turn every time you looked at it.
“I’m so sorry.” Draco sighed, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to the back of your hand, his eyes looking up to meet yours as you let a shy, watery smile take over. You hoped not to cry, but Umbridge and her punishment was still very fresh in your mind and you felt a horrible chill roll through you whenever you thought of it. Merlin only knew how you had managed to make it through your lesson with her without it affecting you terribly.
“I’m so sorry I haven’t been here, but I’m here now.” Draco whispered it so quietly as he pulled you against his side. He hated that he couldn’t promise it wouldn’t happen again. Draco hated that he couldn’t stop Umbridge from hurting you and part of him hated himself for how weak he was for you. Did you find it strange that he was so apologetic? That he was almost loving towards you? But the worry seemed to slip from his mind when he felt you lean against him. It was moments like this that made Draco question himself. He questioned if he should continue to create distance between you, or if keeping you close was easier to keep you safe. And he questioned things like if he should find a way to help you realise that he was your soulmate like he had worked out two years ago. But he was afraid. Draco was starting to feel like that was beginning to be all too common for him to feel these days as things became more intense. The pressure from his father to do increasingly worse things that simply did not align with Draco’s morals was enough to twist his mind and now with working under Umbridge, he hoped it did not skew his true alignment and morality. It was this that he was fighting so hard to keep, because it was the one thing he could control when everyone else was insistent on pushing him into the directions they wanted him to go in.
What you didn’t know though, was that your friendship, his connection with you was more than just that to Draco. When he was around you, he didn’t feel like he had to cling on to who he was and put a mask on. He could just be himself and it relieved some of the tension and the fear.
But the question begged itself again. Am I too close to her?
“You know, Draco.” You broke the silence, the Slytherin humming in response, prompting you to continue. “Sometimes I feel like I’ve known you for years.” You told him. And while it was somewhat true, you had known him since you both had started Hogwarts, you never really knew him until recently. Without even knowing what lay deeper in your connection to Draco, you could feel something there, you felt drawn to him.
That’s because you have, he thought. “I know what you mean. I’ve felt the same too.” Draco replied with a soft smile, only he really did know what you meant, more than you did and he wished he could tell you.
“We should go.” Draco spoke, almost in a regretful tone as he carefully and gently bandaged your hand back up. He hated that he had so little time with you, but he was thankful at least, that you were not against spending time with him. Stepping forwards, Draco checked the stairwell. “There’s no one around.” He reassured you. “See you soon.” Draco smiled sweetly at you. “I hope so.” You nodded, mirroring his smile before you stepped out of the alcove and made your way down the stairs quickly, Draco waiting several minutes before leaving, just in case.
The end of term was on it’s final stretch with one last exam to sit the following Monday for Defence Against the Dark Arts. But as the weekend came, you decided to spend at least some of it with the person you’d not been able to see nearly all year.
“Can I ask you something?” You broke the silence, Draco glancing over at you from his spot on the grass. You were both sat down by the lake, hidden by a bit of overgrown foliage and rocks. It was a part near the shore of the lake that not many people went to and it was perfect for spending a private moment with someone. “What is it?” He asked as he reached up to push his hair to the side.
“You’ll think it’s ridiculous.” You sighed, fiddling with the book that sat closed in your lap. “Nothing you say is ever ridiculous.” Draco said, looking over at you with a sweet smile and you felt yourself warm at his words. “Well in that case,” You paused, looking out over the horizon of the lake. “Do you believe in soulmates?” You posed the question as if you were terrified he’d tell you it was utter rubbish, but when you heard him give you a little hum as he thought about it, Draco leaned over a little, resting his hand on your arm to get your attention.
Meeting his gaze, his blue eyes softened when he saw how nervous you looked and he wondered if someone had told you that it was all an old wives tale.
You seemed to become more shy under his touch and Draco smiled to himself, feeling that it was sweet that you seemed to get so flustered whenever he touched you, even though it had very rarely happened.
“I do, I believe in soulmates.” He reassured you. Draco wanted, with every fibre of his being to show you his book, to tell you everything. But he didn’t. “Did someone tell you it was...” He trailed off. “Stupid? Yeah.” You huffed out. “Do you think there’s someone out there for us?” You asked, relaxing a little as Draco leaned down to gently grip your hand.
“I know there is.” Draco smiled softly.
Sometimes I wonder if I already know you, you wrote. Perhaps we do know each other, but we won’t know until we reach the end of this book, he wrote only moments later. The trundle of the train rolling over the tracks began to lull you into a sleepy state as you sat in a mostly empty carriage on the Hogwarts Express. It was the end of term and while too much had really happened for you to fully compartmentalize and process it all yet, you took solace in knowing that you could figuratively lean on your soulmate for comfort.
You told him everything you felt, almost like a journal and in turn he did the same. He detailed his thoughts, his feelings and he came to you when his day had been too much, but neither of you were too specific. You wished you knew who he was so that you could give him physical comfort, so you could both lean on each other and you wished for this even more so now that you started to wonder if you already knew him.
I promise I’ll write to you as often as I can. You scribbled it down into the book. But there came no answer. And days after you had arrived in London and returned home for the holidays, there was still no response.
If only Draco could tell you what had happened. If only he could write to you and explain it all from beginning to end. But he had no idea if he could, because his only way of communicating with you was no longer in his possession.
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gaemkyuu · 4 years ago
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Mommy, Can We Keep Him? (Charlie Gillespie x Original Character
Warnings: mention of teenage pregnancy A/N: I was inspired to write a character like Lilo from Lilo and Stitch and thought of what if Charlie had a daughter like that? Then I thought about Dad! Charlie.... Here is my inspired writing piece! Let me know if you want a follow up wedding piece! Disclaimer: This is a FICITONAL writing piece! In no way do I claim characters in this piece act this way in real life.
Masterlist *now taking requests ;)
Mommy, Can We Keep Him? (Charlie Gillespie x Original Character)
Riley King started working for Netflix when she was 18 and impressed everyone at the head office with her hard work and dedication. With her motivation and work ethic, she managed to climb her way to be part of the executive management team all at the ripe age of 21. People often asked Riley how she climbed the ladder so quickly, or what was the secret to her success. No one ever guessed that her motivation came from a little girl who looked exactly like her.
Emerson Gianna King was born on August 31st of 2014 when Riley was 16 years old. She had quite the wild nature to herself, always sneaking out and illegally partying with her friends. It was only a matter of time that she would be blinded by love and give her virginity to a boy she swore would get married. He was 17 at the time and she was head over heels for him. One drink too many and a poor judgement call resulted in Riley’s teenage pregnancy.
Her one true love broke up with her a week after they had had sex, stating that his dad had had gotten a job at a law firm in Miami and that a long distance relationship wouldn’t work. She didn’t know that she was pregnant at the time, but when she did, she tried to reach out to him. His family thought it was stupid attempt at getting back together and claimed that the baby wasn’t his. They were ready to launch a full lawsuit in order to protect their family’s reputation, something that Riley and her single mom couldn’t afford to do. So they dropped it, signing legal papers that they would never contact them again and that their son wasn’t responsible for paying any child support.
This heartbreak and her daughter made Riley clean up her act and graduate high school a year ahead of her friends. She quickly started working for various companies, taking night classes at the local college campus in hopes to get her foot in the door for a bigger company and work her way up. Which is exactly what she did and how she ended up working for Netflix. That’s how she met Kenny Ortega, who introduced her to the actors of Julie and the Phantoms. She mostly worked with Netflix, but she was assigned to be there every day of boot camp to watch and monitor the development of the TV show, making projections about how their viewers would receive the new show. She didn’t anticipate to be a part of the small family that was created behind the scene with the cast and crew, and she certainly didn’t anticipate falling for one of the lead actors Charlie Gillespie.
They had been dating for three months before Riley told him about Emmerson. She had expected that he call off the entire relationship, understanding that not everyone wanted to be with someone who had a baby at sixteen. They were 22 at the time and Riley explained that she was looking to be in a serious relationship for her daughter’s sake. While Charlie couldn’t promise that this relationship would go in the direction they both wanted, he did promise that he would do his best to be there for her. He didn’t know that winning over the little girl’s heart would prove to be difficult.
Emerson wasn’t like all the other kids. For one thing, she was very mature for her age. She was potty trained at two years old and started to learn how to read basic books at the age of 4. She developed her speech quickly and often looked to use specific words that kids her age rarely heard or understand. She was a perceptive little girl and sometimes she was a little too smart and observant for her own good. This made it difficult for her to make friends at daycare because everyone thought she was weird. Riley would often catch her talking to Lilo whenever she put Lilo and Stitch on for her to watch. She would tell Lilo about the frustrating girls at her daycare and how they too “need to be punished”.
So it was no surprise to her that when Emerson first met Charlie, she would be grilling him. Charlie had expected her to be a cute little girl that likes to play with dolls. Instead, he was met with a perceptive toddler that made him question his own intelligence at times. She was very standoffish when she met him, afraid that this man was going to hurt her mommy, but over time Emerson began to open up and trust Charlie. One night, when they were six months into dating, they had to cancel their dinner plans as Riley’s babysitter came down with a flu and no one else could babysit. Therefore, their dinner plans were changed to ordering pizza and having a movie night with Emerson. Riley groaned partly through the beginning of Lilo and Stitch when her work called, excusing herself as it was an important phone call. 
This left Emerson and Charlie alone for the first time.
“Charlie, who’s Elvis Presley?” Charlie’s eyes grew big like teacup saucers.
“Your mom hasn’t shown you who Elvis Presley is?! How many times have you watched this movie?!” Emerson shrugged, not taking her eyes off the screen, popping a piece of popcorn into her mouth and chewing.
“Do you want the real answer?” he was caught off guard at the frankness in her tone, starting to wonder just how many times she had watched the film. He shrugged it off and paused the movie, pulling his phone out and opening Youtube to educate the child on the legend, Elvis Presley.
When Riley returned to the living room, she was shocked to see Emerson sitting in Charlie’s lap, holding the phone, staring intently at the screen and listening to the music that played out of the speaker. She had never seen her daughter so focused before. She looked at Charlie who was equally focused on the screen of the phone as well, and she smiled to herself enjoying the view. Out of defense, Riley quickly shrugged off the creeping thought that this could be her family. After all, her and Charlie had only been dating for 6 months.
“How have you not shown her who Elvis Presley is?” he exclaimed, noticing her presence. Emerson looked at her with questioning eyes as well, feeling slightly betrayed that her mother withheld such precious information away from her. 
“I’m not really a big music person! I kinda just listen to songs I like rather than musicians” she shrugged sheepishly.
“Mommy, Charlie said there’s a documentary on Netflix about Elvis Presley. Can we watch that instead of Lilo and Stitch?” Riley’s jaw dropped at the fact that her daughter was more interested in watching something other than her favorite comfort Disney movie. She silently nodded and changed the settings on the TV, starting the Elvis Presley documentary. This was the first time her daughter ever really opened up to someone and found something in common.
Emerson absolutely loved the documentary and would go on for weeks listening to Elvis Presley nonstop. After Riley waved goodbye to Charlie and closed the door, Emerson sat patiently on the entryway bench for her mother.
“Mommy, can we keep him?”
“Yeah, Emmy. I think we can”
***
It soon became a regular thing to have Charlie stay the night at Riley’s house. He woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, but on his way back to the bedroom he heard soft whimpers and sniffles coming from Emerson’s bedroom. He stood outside her door, debating if he should go get Riley or if he should go in himself. He knew Riley was exhausted having had a full day of work and meetings, so he opted to let her sleep and peek into Emerson’s room. He thought that if it was out of his control, he could always go and get her. The sight of the little girl broke his heart.
Emerson was fast asleep, but she was trembling and clutching onto her stuffed bunny for dear life. She whimpered and tears fell from her closed eyes. Charlie quietly moved to her side and sat on her bed, softly rubbing her back, whispering her name to break her out of her nightmare. It worked, but when she woke up, she jumped into Charlie’s arms and softly cried. He was surprised at first,  but quickly snapped out of it hugging the girl and rubbing her back.
“It’s okay Emmy... It was just a bad dream... It wasn’t real... you’re okay... you’re safe” the little girl started to calm down as Charlie soothed her and rocked her side to side a bit.
“They took me away from mommy...” she whimpered and nid her face in Charlie’s neck. He felt the collar of his shirt dampen as she cried, but he picked her up and moved to the armchair she had in her room. He sat down and held her tightly in his arms.
“No one is ever going to take you away from mommy, okay? I won’t let that happen” he didn’t know where these words were coming from or where he got the confidence to say them, but in that moment he knew that he would do whatever he could for Emerson.
“Promise?”
“I promise.” he whispered, kissing her head and rubbing her back. She settled comfortably in his chest and took deep breaths. Charlie instinctively started to hum a song softly as he rubbed her back, until her breathing steadied and soft snores came from the small figure. Charlie smiled to himself that he was able to handle the situation alone, but he realized he wasn’t sure if he was supposed to put her back in bed, or if he had to hold her for the rest of the night. Not wanting to wake her up, he carefully reached for the knitted quilt beside the armchair and draped it over them. Guess he was sleeping in the armchair that night. His neck would hate him in the morning. 
Riley woke up early that morning when she rolled over to cuddle the missing Charlie. She bolted up and threw on her housecoat to search for him, but stopped when she noticed Emerson’s door cracked open. The sight inside the bedroom brought tears to her eyes and she covered her mouth to avoid making any sound that would wake them. There was Charlie sleeping in the armchair holding a sleeping Emerson in his arms. They were both fast asleep and quietly snoring.
For the first time, in their nine months of dating, Riley let herself see the possibility of Charlie being the man who could be Emerson’s dad.
***
Charlie fiddled with his collar nervously, holding flowers in the other hand. He took a deep breath and shook off his nerves before pressing on the door bell. He waited patiently and anxiously outside, only to be greeted by his beautiful girlfriend, Riley. She smiled brightly at him and he stood there blown away by her beauty. They were both dressed up semi-formally tonight as Charlie insisted on taking Riley out for a fancy dinner to recreate a cheesy romcom movie date for their anniversary. Their usual dates consisted of hiking or lounging at the beach, so Charlie figured it would be nice to dress up for once, especially since Riley rarely dressed fancy.
“Hey! Come on in, I’m just finishing up debriefing the babysitter” Charlie kissed her cheek quickly and stepped inside, shutting the door behind him as she rushed back to the kitchen. Charlie waited by the front door patiently for her to finish up.
“Where are you taking mommy tonight, Charlie?” he jumped at the voice from behind, turning around to see Emerson sitting on the entryway bench. She looked up at the man who waited for her mom, bunny beside her in one hand and her blanket in the other. Charlie smiled at her presence and squatted down to her level, petting her bunny on the head.
“I’m taking mommy on a fancy dinner. You off to bed?” she nodded and opened her arms, to which Charlie gladly received her hug, only, he didn’t expect her to awkwardly latch herself on to him. Thinking quickly, he adjusted himself and picked her up. She was short and thin, so it was no problem carrying her. Her small stature always made her mother worry that she wasn’t getting enough nutrients. “I guess I couldn’t let you sleep without some snuggles could I?” she nodded as she laid her head on his chest, something her and Charlie had in common was that their love language was physical touch.
“It’s nice to see mommy in something other than jeans or sweats. I like your bowtie too” Emerson fiddled with said bow tie as Charlie gently rocked her. He was always so surprised at how observant she was and how she was able to clearly articulate her thoughts for being six years old. She was very bright and quick to understand situations, which made it hard for her to make friends at daycare. Another thing that Riley worried about often.
“You want me to tuck you in Emmy?” she shook her head against his chest and wiggled, signifying that she was okay with being put down. Charlie obeyed her wish and set her down on the floor, sitting on the entryway bench like she once did. “You’re looking a little sleepy squirt” he chuckled, clearing the hair from her face.
“Mommy said the babysitter and I get to watch a movie of my choice before bed time since it’s Friday. I wanted to watch Big Daddy but mommy said the babysitter might question her parenting choices” he let out a big laugh and Emerson giggled back.
“Having fun you two?” Riley appeared in the entryway with the babysitter. Riley crouched down and opened her arms wide to hug Emerson. The little girl jumped into her mom’s arms, nearly knocking her to the floor. “Love you Emmy. Please listen to the babysitter and go to bed on time” Riley knew she wouldn’t put up a fuss, but she figured she would remind her anyways.
“Love you mommy” she smiled as she kissed her mom’s cheek and walked to Charlie. “Love you Charlie” she tiptoed so that she could reach the man’s cheek, who also gave her a big hug. “Don’t be out too late!” she called skipping into the living room, the babysitter following after. The couple stood in the entryway thinking about Emerson’s last remarks before disappearing. 
“Ready to go, my love?” Charlie cleared his throat, opening the door and gesturing for Riley to go first. She playfully rolled her eyes and they stepped out of the house towards the vehicle. Emerson waved at them from the front window, and they waved back, until she couldn’t see them any more. 
***
“Remind me again what time you fly in?” Riley wiped some of the water that splashed on her face as she washed the dishes. Like all mothers, she was multitasking. Cleaning the house for Emerson’s birthday and trying to figure out her schedule considering Charlie was flying in from Canada. Emerson sat at the kitchen table quietly coloring while her mother was on the phone.
“Don’t worry about picking me up. You already have so much to do! I’ll just get an uber to your place” Riley toweled off her hands and took Charlie off speaker phone, holding the phone to her ear. Despite dating for a year and a half, they hadn’t officially moved in together. Charlie still had his place with all of his things, but half of his stuff was at Riley’s. “Plus I don’t want Emmy catching on to my surprise for her.”
“Right. Okay, well I’ll keep the door unlocked, since we’re home all day. I gotta go though, I still have to call the bakery to set up a pick up time for her cake and cupcakes” the couple said their quick ‘I love yous’ while Emerson shouted hers from the kitchen. Riley took a moment to herself and sighed against the wall in the corridor. Between everything at work and Emerson’s birthday, she had quite a lot on her plate but she was relieved that Charlie was able to come home a little earlier to help her out. She straightened her spine and returned to the kitchen, kissing her daughter’s head. “Emmy, mommy has to jump on to a zoom meeting in the office, are you okay to color for 30 more minutes?”
“Mommy, when can I go on a date with Charlie?” her mother froze mid movement around the kitchen, the question catching her off guard. “I know we go on dates together, but you always look like you have way more fun when it’s just you and Charlie. I wanna have fun with Charlie too” she smiled at her daughter and sat down beside her.
“Well, why not ask Charlie on a date? You can make him a little card before he gets in tonight and while I do my meeting.” her eyes lit up at the suggestion and she quickly got to work, making her mother smile. Riley got up and headed to her office, not wanting to disturb the project her daughter had started.
Riley’s meeting lasted an hour, much to her displeasure, but it was a productive one. It worked out for Emerson as she had made an elaborate card to give Charlie when he came home that night. Riley helped her daughter take a bath and ordered Sugarfish for dinner, both of them anticipating the arrival of their favorite guy. As soon as Emerson heard the door creak open, she bolted for the entryway and jumped into Charlie’s awaiting arms. He peppered her face with kisses and tickled her until Riley came along, who he kissed deeply and earned a “yuck!” from Emerson. Their dinner arrived soon after Charlie’s arrival and they all sat around the dinner table, Emerson lost in Charlie’s stories of his hometown.
“Emmy, don’t you have something for Charlie?” she perked up remembering and clumsily got out of her chair, putting her chopsticks down to run to the office. She grabbed her card for Charlie and skipped back to the dining room, placing the card beside his bento box.
“Oh? What’s this Emmy? Can I open it?” she nodded her head enthusiastically and sat back in her place at the table. Charlie’s smile wavered as he read the card, feeling slightly emotional. On the front was a picture of the three of them and inside the card read:
Dear Charlie,
Will u go on a date with me?
Love, Emmy
Hearts, flowers and smiley faces decorated the inside of the card, but the text was written in big bold letters. He could tell a lot of effort went into making the card judging by all the neatly placed stickers and carefully drawn pictures and patterns. It still amazed him that for a six year old, turning seven, that she could write so neatly. 
“Mommy helped me with some of the spelling, but I mostly did it myself” she smiled, anticipating his response. “What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful Emmy. I would love to go on a date with you” she clapped her hands and bounced in her seat, her reaction causing everyone at the table to smile and laugh. They continued to eat their dinner while planning things that they could do together, as Riley sat there watching and admiring the relationship that was unfolding before her eyes. How did she get so fortunate to find a man like Charlie? 
***
Charlie ended up taking Emerson to Disneyland and even though Riley accompanied them, Charlie and her went on all the rides together. Riley took pictures and held onto their things as the two enjoyed themselves around the theme park. Charlie knew it would be a good thing to have Riley around because she was the voice of reason when Emerson and Charlie thought of having their third Dole Whip of the day. The two of them laughed and had the time of their lives. When supper time came, Riley planned to meet a client over super at downtown Disney, planning on meeting her boyfriend and daughter later on in the evening. This left the two of them to have dinner with Goofy at Goofy’s Kitchen. 
As they enjoyed each other’s company and visits from Goofy, Charlie helped Emerson pick out her dinner and order it. Charlie could honestly say this was the most fun that he had had in a long time, but he should’ve known that with Emerson’s intelligence, there was more to this date than just having fun.
“Charlie, when are you going to ask mommy to marry you?” Charlie choked on his water, not expecting the question from the curious little girl. “Mommy said I wasn’t allowed to ask you because it was rude”
“Not rude at all Emmy, but why are you asking me that?” he was genuinely curious, thinking that maybe Riley had been venting to her subconsciously again, or that Emerson overheard a conversation with one of her friends. 
“I heard Aunty Savannah teasing her the other day over the phone and mommy got really red in the face. I think you should ask her, I know she’d say yes” Charlie’s eyes grew wide as Emerson nonchalantly recounted the conversation her mother had the other day. Emerson continued to color in the coloring book Charlie bought her earlier.
“Do you want me to ask mommy to marry me?” Emerson nodded her head as soon as the question came out of his mouth. “How come?” the question was meant to be playful, but Emerson’s reply was serious.
“Because I want to be able to call you daddy.” 
Charlie felt a lump in his throat.
“I’ve never had a daddy. It’s always been mommy and me. If you marry mommy, then you can be my daddy.” she paused to take a sip of her juice. “I think you’d make a great daddy”.
Charlie wiped away a tear that threatened to fall from his eyes and cleared his throat, feeling emotional. He took a sip from his water and took a deep breath. “You think so, Emmy?”
She nodded her head, continuing to color in her book. “Plus Justina at daycare said that in order for me to have a little brother or a little sister, you have to have a daddy AND a mommy.” Charlie chuckled at the little girl, and got up to kiss her on the head, hugging her too. 
“Got any ideas on how I should ask Mommy to marry me?” Emerson forgot about her coloring in that moment as her eyes sparkled with excitement over Charlie’s question.
“Well...I have a couple ideas...”
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queenmuzz · 4 years ago
Note
26 and 28 with F!reader x Vergil, where Reader says both of the words to Vergil. Kill me with fluff muzz like how you kill me with angst.
“You’re really warm.” “Can I stay here tonight?”
Vergil cursed himself, as he carried your shivering body through the portal.  He should have known that the ice wave was aimed for you.  He should have known that Frosts were about to show up in that area.  He SHOULD have known that taking you along was an error of judgement.  HIS error of judgement.  And now you would pay the price for his mistakes. “You’re thinking too hard” You murmured between chattering teeth.  “Silence” he said, with no venom. The fact that you were still coherent to make a joke at his expense was a good sign, (although, if his brother with the single brain cell was able to do that on a regular basis, the bar was incredibly low), and he was slightly relieved.  When he had first picked you up, you had been so cold, he had immediately feared the worst.
But, your heartbeat was still there, and thankfully you were still breathing, if the puffs of fog indicated.  Without warning, without even telling his son or brother, only hearing Dante yelling “Oh come on, you’re gonna strand us here!?” as the portal sealed shut.  Vergil did not care.  The two of them, with hot demon blood racing through their veins, were more than immune to the chilling effects and were more than capable to deal with the threat.  You, on the other hand, with your weak human constitution, would quickly succumb to the cold.  He wasn’t familiar with first aid, but he knew that he needed to warm you up, and quickly.  He could deal with his brother’s complaining later.
Taking the stairs two at a time, he nearly kicked the bathroom off its hinges with his foot as he carried you inside.  You needed a warm bath, but...he looked down at you, nearly dozing off in his arms (Not a good sign, he knew that at least), he was somewhat hesitant.  You and him were close...but not that close, regardless of the insinuations Dante would constantly quip.
He pondered as he slowly let you down and turned on the bathtub faucet, what to do.  You needed to get warm, and fast.  But undressing you… even with your life in the balance, his sense of honour dictated that seeing you unclothed, without your consent, he hesitated.
Perhaps… he could find a possible way around this.  After the water filled up as far as it was safe, he picked up your nearly unconscious for, and after a murmured apology, he gently placed you into the tub, clothes and all.  At the very least, the warm water would not be a shock to your system.
Still, as you came to, you weren’t that happy.
“Vergil…” you asked confused, “what in the hell” you looked down as your sweater, now almost double its original size.
“You were suffering from hypothermia”  he explained, as confidently as he could.  “I deemed that it was necessary to get you into a warm situation as soon as possible.”
“Yeah, but my clothes and all?” 
“You were beginning to drift off, time was of the essence.”  Yes, that would be his official reason.  “How are you feeling?”
“Better” you smiled at him, “I can feel my toes again,” and as if to show off you wiggled your feet, barely visible underneath the soaked shoes you wore.  “Really Vergil, my new shoes!?  You could have at least taken them off.  I’m billing you for this,” you chuckled.
You seemed a lot better, with your sense of humour intact, so he thought it was alright to leave you alone while he fetched fresh towels (from his stash, he never would allow you to be forced to use his brother's), and after a bit of hesitation, he chose his own bathrobe.  
You were already out of the tub when he came back, and were in the process of struggling to get off your shirt, revealing a lot more skin that he had expected.  Hurriedly, he placed the towels down, and left, before you had even noticed his arrival.
He tried to take his mind off your nearly topless visage, but that led to the thing that caused this whole situation.  He should have been more alert, more cautious… more protective.  He sat down on his bed, head in his hands.  What would have happened if he hadn’t gotten you out of there in time?  What would happen the next time you went on a mission without him, or went solo.  The very thought of you laying alone, injured…
“Hey,”
He looked up to see you leaning on the doorframe.  You were wrapped up in a bathrobe that was comically too big for you, but there was a look of concern on your face.
“You okay?”
“I could say the same thing to you.”
“I’m fine, wrung out my clothes as best as I could, and hung them up on the shower rod, hopefully they don’t drip too much.” You cocked your head, “May I come in?”
Vergil nodded, and you took a seat beside him, your hand interlacing with his.
“Thank you,”  you said quietly, as if afraid to break the silence, “I know I was really snarky about it earlier, but I am truthfully grateful.  I shouldn’t have been so dumb and got got up in that attack, I’ve fought dozens of those things, and they’re all so predictable.”
“It’s not your fault, the fau-” but he was cut off by your finger on his lips.
“Now now, remember what I said about things we can’t control, besides,” you wrapped your arms around him, “It's how you responded that’s important.” Hesitatingly embraced you, pulling you closer to his chest.
“You’re really warm.”
“Pardon?”
“When you were carrying me out of there, I felt like I was drifting off, even though some part of my brain told me that was the worst thing I could do.  But being held so close,” you snuggled deeper into his chest, “I could feel your warmth, and I clung to it like a lifeline.  It possibly was the only thing keeping me going...well, until you dumped me into the bath.”  He could feel a faint breath of a chuckle, followed by a suppressed yawn.  “Tired?” he asked, just the slight worry that the hypothermia hadn’t gone away. “A bit…” you admitted, “and seeing as I have no dry clothes at the moment…”
“Can I stay here tonight?”
Silently, he leaned back, pulling you gently onto the bed, arranging it so that you had to move as little as possible, your head resting on his chest.  It was a good arrangement, he could monitor your condition, and you can enjoy the ‘warmth’ of his body.  
“Thank you, Vergil” you whispered tiredly, and he placed a soft kiss on the top of your head.
Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long for you to fall asleep.  Surprisingly, it didn’t take HIM long for him to fall asleep either, each of you lulled to sleep by each other’s warmth.
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rebelliouslala · 4 years ago
Text
4 Something
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warnings- character death, language, cult like behavior, angst
word count- 1.7k
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You had been introduced to everyone, but to be honest, you felt as if you could not memorize the men you had just met.
To be fair, there were 16 other men.
Selen was the eldest, and therefore the elder brother figure of the entire Pound. Mouse was the youngest. He was an “intern” at the Dream Gems. He sat next to Chenle, and whispered to him quietly in Korean. He looked so small in this gang. You assumed he had to join when he was possibly younger than you became a member in the Ripple.
Selen had made you meet the others, and even repeat their names. Victory sighed as he endured everyone hugging him and strangely calling him Orpheus. Selen, surprisingly, went quick. With each snap of his fingers, as if it were the 1920’s, he pointed and named.
Your head spun with the names; You only went by small descriptions to memorize each man. And even then, you had no idea. Osaka, or Herac was sitting next to a lean man, Zeus. This man was lanky, but smiled widely and laughed as he sang.
The one that Johnny sat next to, with his statuesque face was Aphrodite. He was breathtaking. Gogo- Hermes, was faced away from a very energetic boy, with feathery hair, Helios. You looked at another man, with a pinched nose, named Athene. Selen sat next to him. You stared at him, and he nodded at you silently. 
And in this room, Johnny was not even referred to his name, his English nor Korean, but as Ares. You held his hand under the table.
“So, Eos has made this, Psy is their name, as a new spy. Now, Athene will make the plan.” Selen said loudly.
The man mentioned nodded, before he did a double take. “What? Hyung—?”
“Eos orders.”
Athene blinked, and he stood up, quietly kicking you.
“OW.” You stated with disgust, glaring up.
“Oh! Pardon me, would you mind punching Selen?” Athene said like a gent. 
There was an ahem. The man who made the noise placed his hands under his chin. “Continue, Athene.” Aphrodite said with a coolness.
The other man sighed quietly, but he got out a scroll. It was curled, but he laid it out so everyone can see. Yuta -you didn’t even want to try to remember his name-, helped it keep it open with his elbow, and another boy who was introduced as Songbird, who smiled up at Athene.
Athene now read loudly, “My fellow Gods, demigods and mortals; we invite a new, fellow mortal by the name of Psy. They have a chance to take down our enemy. Because of this, all business is now closed. We will be quiet and we will,” Athene leaned closer, muttering to himself in Korean, “We will now not be active. Herac, Dolphin, Psy and Ares, shall all go to the West Side and take the corrupt Ripple down. Any news from our spies will be delivered by Songbird and Orpheus.” Athene sighed as he pulled away, “With Godspeed, Eos.”
You hid your smirk at his flat tone. Perhaps Eos was too much of a narcissist to even realize his team was much too sick of his dramatics.
Athene pulled the scroll back, and he blinked. “Any questions?”
“Yeah.” You crossed your arms, “Is Eos okay?”
Aphrodite scoffed and he looked at you through his lashes. The other men, including Selen, scoffed and harrumphed at your response.
“Well don’t look at me like I’m some sort of goon.” You stood up. “You all might’ve thought the same.”
“Eos,” said the young man you saw training earlier, you believe his name was Achilles, “Is a God among us. I am lucky to be seen as a demigod—,”
“Oh my god.” You rolled your eyes as you grabbed Johnny’s shoulder, and whispered loudly, “What a cult, am I right?”
“Psy,” he whispered with guilt.
You turned, and sighed, holding the bridge of your nose as you looked upon everything. The shining waxed table. The white suits everyone wore. Their stares. How they all looked down.
“I’m going to take down the Ripple my way. Chenle—,”
“He is known as Dolphin!” Orpheus, started.
“Not another word out of your mouth.” You glared at him, before turning away, gently tapping Johnny.
He sounded worried. You’re already in enough shit. You should be dead. More than ever in this situation. With Eos. This is the worst scenario and your best friend didn’t know how to act. You held his hand tightly above the table and smiled.
“Let’s go. I will contact Ch- Dolphin, with updates. And or, Victory- Orpehus.” You giggled as Johnny stood up with you.
“Then Godspeed,” Helios said to you calmly.
“God damn,” you replied with a smirk, and pull your friend out as the others daggered your back with judgement.
And another, foreign dagger stared above the table, witnessing every single move you had just made.
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The funeral was that. A funeral.
Nothing prepared you for the pain you felt staring at Yangyang’s body. His face was still, no smile, and he was so, so pale. Unlike the photo that was next to him. It was only from a few days ago. He was grinning. Laughing. It was with Mr. Money and Sushi, but they were edited out.
His real name was read out in multiple languages. From German, Chinese, Korean, English. It read the same. Liu “Dreamer” Yangyang. Friend. Son. Brother.
You gripped onto Johnny, and looked up at his eyes, trying to find his warmth. It had to be. It was supposed to be. Impossible. It had to be.
Johnny sighed quietly as his lips contorted, before he finally grabbed onto the words. “D-Do you remember how Dreamer always knew what you wanted for your birthday? And how he always shared with us the photos of Louis and Leon?”
A hot tear escaped your eye, as you hid in his huge chest and nodded. You nodded frantically as you began to sob. Johnny’s big hands held you, and he placed his chin on you, sighing quietly again. 
The plan was ruined. You lost the man who should be here and hugging you and Johnny before you both went on a cruise to Korea, and then after that, the world.
You let go to breathe, biting the inside of your cheeks with anger. Your gaze turned to Victory’s tears, and Sushi looking at the youngest member’s body
His face reminded you, strongly of how you were young once. Running away and living with Johnny out on the streets of Baise. You had only one television, the news, and that broadcast that evening was of a grown woman crying, over and over in Taiwanese, “WHERE IS MY SON? WHO TOOK HIM AWAY FROM ME?”
His eyes shared the same pain.
“Psy.” You turned as Mr. Money hugged you. Embraced you. He hid in you. “I-I can’t we could’ve lost you too. And John, we- fuck.”
Osaka was in the corner, looking down as he stared at the Ripple mourn.
Once Mr. Money had released himself, you stared at Jewel letting Smalls and Henry hug him tightly. Jewel despised any touching. 
The fierce, cunning man, couldn’t even look what is inside the coffin. He only held the two now youngest members close to his heart.
Your hands gripped, nails digging to your palms. Now this was something you couldn’t take. The Pound may have you and Johnny’s lives on a string. But nothing could describe your frustration, to Sicheng. Victory. Whatever his name was.
To Yuta himself.
Osaka got up from his place on the wall, and he strutted himself to the coffin. He peaked over. 
Today, the man wore not the white cult suit from the Pound, but a simple, and dull outfit. He took off his grey jacket, his white shirt bulging out oddly, as his black shoes, matching his black suit pants, had rubbed against the table that Dreamer was placed upon.
“He knew.”
Everyone turned to the man. Osaka took a katana from inside his shirt, and now the cloth hugged him. The weapon had a sky blue diamond handle. The blade itself was an opaque diamond. Osaka placed it in Dreamer’s hands.
Jewel stopped him, gripping it and he glared at him. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“I thought perhaps—,”
Jewel grabbed it with both hands, and he threw back into Osaka’s chest, stepping forward. “You don’t touch his body. You don’t look at it. What the fuck happened there.”
“John already explained,” Smalls tried to explain.
“No, bullshit. John is a nice guy. We don’t even fuckin’ know Osaka- in fact. It seems his Japanese is a little shaky.” Jewel pushed Osaka now, speaking in Japanese quickly, with poison. Your ears weren’t the best in the language, but he did say something along the lines of, “Speak now or hold your peace, bitch.”
Osaka took the blows from Jewel. But he looked up. “We were all ambushed by Dream Gems. You know that they work under the Pound. We believe Chenle—,”
“BBall.” Mr. Money held his cane and separated the men.
“Listen. I’m sorry. I wanted to pay my respects—,” Osaka tried to reason.
“YOU DONT DO SHIT HERE!” Jewel roared, his eyes glowing with anguish. “YOU GOT HIM KILLED!”
“He’s not dead.” You said.
Everyone turned.
“Really? He’s okay? Di-,” Sushi started.
“He’s in a very deep, deep coma.” You slowly take your hand back, and put it in your pockets.
Henry teared up, hugging Smalls, “G-Good.”
“That doesn’t mean shit. Yuta needs to be investigated. On our last and final mission all of the sudden it goes wrong?” Jewel said as he glared at Osaka from the side of his eye.
“Then let’s attack The Pound.”
Johnny held your arm and gently pressed four times.
What.
Are.
You.
Doing.
“We need to make the Pound pay for what they did. And if Osaka isn’t bad, he’ll help.” You look at Osaka. “Won’t you?”
Osaka’s cold face suddenly melted to the side as he leans on a hip and he raised a brow, his smirk curving out as he said, almost naturally, “Perhaps I will for ya, doll.”
Johnny rolled his eyes. “Who should go with us?”
“Gogo. He’s reliable, after all he’s known Sushi for a long time too, hasn’t he?”
The big man nodded. “Yeah.”
You look at everyone. You planned for a bigger plan. A bigger dramatic. But that’s the Pound’s job. Right now, a plan, quite without common sense, was forming.
And the goal is was for you, and Johnny to be safe.
“For the Dreamer.” You said firmly.
“For the end.” The Ripple echoed back.
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writingfromkitchenator · 4 years ago
Text
Thor ~ Wonder
Alphabet Challenge Masterlist (700 Followers)
Masterlist
Based on imagine found here by @thefandomimagine
Words: 1,312
Warnings: Neutral Reader, anxiety, shyness, personal doubts, suggested abusive upbringing, fluff
Thor hadn’t thought that he’d been gone that long, or that within the month he was gone, that a new team member would be added.  It was a strange thing, one he hadn’t been expecting, but he couldn’t deny that he was intrigued.
You were shy and kept to yourself, and for some reason, no one had mentioned to Thor what you could do. It had earned his curiosity even more, you knew that in just the way watched you, but you didn’t want to put any sort of target on yourself.
He found it both endearing and a little frustrating, that no one seemed to want to tell him, but he never pushed it.  For whatever reason you didn’t want to tell, he could be patient, and if that same message had been passed around the rest of the team, then so be it.
What he did know, was that you had been pulled out of some terrible circumstances, and that knowledge alone, made him just a little protective.  He wasn’t overly sure why, but he silently swore to himself that he would not let you get into harm’s way, no matter the cost to himself.
On your first mission together though, he quickly learned that you were more than capable of taking care of yourself.
There’d been a big fight going on, and the enemies had been drawing in close around the two of you, Thor keeping close to your back, even as his hammer swung in his hand, taking out anyone that got anywhere near the two of you, but it was starting to get too much.
That was when he’d felt the crackle of electricity on his skin, and for a moment he’d been confused, knowing that it wasn’t him that was drawing upon such power at that time, and the enemies weren’t capable of doing such a thing.
But then you caught the corner of his eye and he had to do a double take, bolts of lightning dancing across your skin, your eyes shifting into a brilliant purple light.  With a cry, you slammed your hands down into the ground, a ring of electricity circling the two of you before expanding outward, blasting away all the enemies within your immediate vicinity.
You were slightly breathless afterwards, temporarily safe, and you avoided Thor’s gaze as he stared at you in amazement.
For the rest of the mission, Thor was burning with curiosity, but fixing the current problem had to be the priority.  Each time he got to see you use it, the more it grew, and he just knew that he had to find out.  
As soon as they were done, as soon as they were returning safely home, his gaze turned to you.
“Where did you learn such a gift?”
It took you a moment to realise that he was talking to you, and you looked up shyly, your voice quiet, not missing the several look passed between some of the team.  “I, um, have always been able to do it.”
Thor smiled widely. “Truly?  That is remarkable.”
You avoided his gaze nervously.  “Thank you.”
“You have no need to be shy about it, it is a wonderful gift!  You handled those out there with a precision that took me years to master. I do not understand why you-”
“Thor.”  Bruce said quietly and Thor stopped, looking at him, Bruce nodding back to you.
He looked at you, properly looked at you, and he could see the nerves practically dancing on your skin. Whatever had happened to you, whatever situation you’d been in, made you incredibly self-conscious about your powers, and it didn’t matter what Thor was telling you, you weren’t believing a single word he said.
Thor’s shoulders sunk a little.  “Y/N, I’m…I’m sorry…”
“It’s okay,” You said quietly.  “You weren’t to know.”
He went to keep talking, but found Tony suddenly doing so, changing the subject away from you, something that Thor quickly realised you were very grateful for.
It bothered him, more than he let on to anyone else, to see you like this, and it took him a couple of days to come up with something that he hoped would make you feel more comfortable.
The knock on your door surprised you, almost everyone leaving you to your own devices when you retreated to your room, but you answered it anyway, hoping it wasn’t an emergency.
You were even more surprised when you found Thor standing there with a large bunch of flowers.
“Ah, for you,” He said, a little awkwardly, holding the flowers out.  “As an apology for the other day.”
“Oh,” You said, it still not entirely registering what was going on, even as you took the flowers. “Thank you?”
Thor beams at you, although there was no missing the slight red tinging his cheeks.
“Thor,” You said slowly, looking at him a little nervously before you sighed.  “Come in.  Please.”
He wasn’t expecting this reaction, but he followed you inside, standing there a little awkwardly as he watched you put some flowers in water.
After a few moments of silence, in which you mulled over the best way to talk about this, you finally looked back at him.  “Please don’t think you offended me in anyway the other day, it’s just…how I am.  I am not accustomed to talking about who I am or what I can do.  It was never something that was…encouraged.  This whole…Avengers thing…it’s new to me, and I just need time to handle that.”
Thor nods in understanding. “That’s alright, I can understand that. I simply wished to offer my apologies. I felt I was over stepping my bounds; I did get a little excited on you.”
You laughed softly, looking away.  “In all honesty…it was nice.  I’m used to people being terrified more so, so it was always easier to just…not tell them or let them see.”
“Hence why you didn’t let me know.”  Thor said. “You will find no judgement here Y/N.”
“I…thank you.  I did have a feeling that you would understand, but…”
“What you did was incredible,” He said quietly, smiling softly.  “But I do understand.  There is a certain…rush, that is usually best kept controlled.”
You nodded, still not meeting his gaze, and Thor thought for a moment.
“You don’t have anything to be ashamed of.”
This startles you a little and when you look back at him, his gaze is incredibly earnest.
Thor gives a soft chuckle at your stunned expression.  “Go look in a mirror.  Your powers are spectacular Y/N, and now you are amongst friends, friends who understand that you have a unique gift.  There is no shame amongst friends, and if you need help, you have but to ask.  I can’t speak for the others, but I would be more than happy to help you.”
“You barely know me Thor.”
“Well, if you let me, I’d like to change that,” He smiled, and it was so genuine that you actually finally felt your guard slip a little.  “We all need a friend Y/N, and, if you would like, I’d like to be that for you. You are both powerful and honest, and humble about your abilities, even after you saved the two of us out there.”
You looked away for a moment before looking back a little hesitantly.  “That’s…that’s really what you see in me?”
“It is.”
It took you a moment before you finally laughed softly.  “I…I think I’d like that Thor.  It’d be nice to have a-a friend.”
“Excellent!”  Thor beamed brightly, but he quickly faltered. “But of course, whenever you need space, just tell me directly.  I will take no offense.”
You were went to thank him again, but suddenly seemed to think better of it, just nodding, a smile coming you, and Thor knew that this was all you needed to hear.
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wann-der-lusst · 4 years ago
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Survived in the darkness of the tunnel
by Chabelita Alvarado
I woke up in the morning with the alarm clock. I quickly made a way in the hall to the bathroom. I did my usual routine in the morning and got ready to go to school.
I walked downstairs to eat a quick breakfast with mom and dad. Smiling to myself and munching on the last piece of bacon. I made a way down the sidewalk, the cold air stinging my cheeks, and towards the subway.
I was halfway through my walk to the subway station when my phone started vibrating in my pocket. I pulled out my phone, I saw a chat on messenger that came from my annoying best friend.
My best friend, Jane, just told me through chat that Wade Rivas was single. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. That's what she had to tell me?! As if I care.
Well, if there was one thing Jane would wake up this early for, it would be Wade Rivas. Tunasan High School's very own stereotypical badass who just happened to have every female in the school drooling at his feet, and unfortunately that included my best friend. I pity for Jane, poor thing.
I just chatted that "let's see each other at school and spill me the tea".
I slipped my phone back into my pocket smiling at my idiotic excuse for a best friend and looked up to see that I was at the subway station.
Sighing I found myself a seat towards the back as far away from everyone else as possible. I hated when I went out in public and the public was actually there.
It was only after I had sat down and was about to pull out my pair of headphones ready to expertly ignore everyone, that I realized who was sitting right across from me looking like someone had definitely had a bad day.
Sitting there, arms crossed, and dressed in a black hoodie and jeans, was none other than Wade Rivas.
I didn't realize I was staring at him that long until a pair of green eyes met mine, followed by the harshest glare I've received.
Embarrassed, I quickly averted my eyes and turned back to my phone and headphones. My embarrassment turned into curiosity though. Why was he riding the subway? The last time I checked he had a car.
I put my headphones in and played a song of All About You by Taeyeon. I tried to feed my wandering thoughts, and prepare for the thirty-minute ride.
I once glanced over at Wade. He was still staring at me. Although this time that confused expression was no longer on his face. Instead, it was replaced by an amused one.
I didn't buy to talk to him. We've been going to the same school for just about four years, and in all that Wade and I had never crossed paths.
To kill and waste some time, I approached him. "Why are you staring at me?"
"Weren't you just staring at me?" he said. Hmm. His voice, it made sense that many girls admire him.
"I'm not staring, I'm… just… not blinking." I protested.
He shook his head and fixed those eyes on me again.
"Then why were you 'not blinking' at me?
"Why do you care? You used to be girls staring at you." I said. Okay, I admitted that I am quite attractive to him.
"Of course I'm used to girls staring at me. I'm asking why you're staring at me. You don't even throw me a glance at school." Wade said.
That caught me off guard. I was an average girl in the school. So, he knew who I was? I had to remind myself that I didn't care whether he noticed me or not.
"I was just curious." I said bringing myself from my thoughts.
"About?" he prompted.
"Why are you here? Riding the subway I mean. Don't you have a car?"
"That's none of your business." He snapped as he turned to look in the other direction. Woah, a sudden change of his mood. I can't bear him, god.
Aha! He wasn't in a good mood because of his ex. Now I know. I decided to take pity on him. "I'm sorry, I just heard about your, uhm, break up?" I said with sympathy.
"What are you doing Chayo? Why are you trying to be nice?" he said.
Now that really shocked me. I wasn't pretending! It wasn't like I was a mean person. I was nice all the time. Or at least I thought I was. Second thing, I'm shocked he knew my name. We were not uttering a single word to each other through high school and this our first time to casually talk.
"What do you mean, why am I trying to be nice?" I asked, a little offended.
"I mean we haven't said so much as one word to each other throughout high school. Why are you talking to me now? Let alone trying to be nice to me? If I'm not wrong, I was under the impression that you couldn't stand me. If it's just cause you feel for me, don't." he said while completely facing me.
My mouth actually dropped open. What kind of reputation was going around about me?
"It's not that I can't stand you. It's just that I wasn't about to drool at your feet just so I could get a chance to talk to you". I said.
Wade was silent for a moment as he seemed to think this over.
"I don't know why I'm even telling you this, but as crazy as it sounds Amber was the first girl I was really serious about. I mean there was a girl before that but that had about a snowball's chance in hell of happening."
"What? There was a girl that The Wade Rivas didn't have a chance with? I need to meet her and shake her hand." I said, teasing him about that.
First time, we talked like a friend. We'd finally talked and on a subway of all places, kinda strange. However, we were comfortable with each other.
Our conversation interrupted when the subway train suddenly came to stop. The awkward and embarrassing filling caused my body sway to the left and body bumped into Wade's and seeing as my hands were currently shoved into my pockets, I couldn't brace myself for it. So, instead Wade ended up with his hands placed on my arms to keep me from toppling over face first into his lap.
My face heated up. It looked like a tomato.
My moment of embarrassment was changed in fear. Our light mood ended abruptly when the subway doors suddenly slid open and instead of passengers boarding, five masked and hooded figures made their way inside.
They were all wearing dark jeans and hoodies that concealed their faces. Each one carried a black duffle bag. Flirt out of the five figures silently made their way into the other cars leaving just one behind. The lone figure stood in the middle of the subway car and dropped the duffle bag with a loud thud, gaining the attention of all the other passengers.
Silently, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a black handgun.
Screams erupted all around me as everyone laid their eyes on the weapon. I sighed in fear, I couldn't believe that this was happening.
I felt the train begin to move again and I let my eyes wander to the left, trying to see through the window into the next car.
I observed all the passengers, they were all afraid. Screams were still ringing out around me and I had to suppress the urge to yell for everybody to shut up.
A gunshot rang throughout the small space causing me to almost jump out of my seat. My ears were ringing and when I looked up to the figure holding the gun in the air with their index finger wrapped around the trigger.
Everyone was silent now.
"Now that I have your attention I'd like to properly introduce myself." The figure pulled off the hood that had been covering their head and face, revealing a creepy flesh colored mask with holes cut out for the eyes and mouth and a shaggy mess of short greasy black hair on top of his head. When he spoke his voice was muffled by the mask but nonetheless I could still hear that it was deep and rough, like a smoker's voice.
"You can call me Rad." He continued.
I frowned at that. What kind of a criminal introduces themselves to their victims? I mean I doubted that if I made it out of this alive and went to the police that they'd have someone named Rad in the system, but still.
"Now first thing first, we need to get a few things straight. Any of you scream again, you die. Simple as that, understand?" He warned.
When no one answered, he shot the gun into the air again causing everyone to jump but no one screamed.
"I guess you all understand. This ride will go by a lot more smoothly if you all just cooperate." He added.
No one dared move suspicious. Wade and I kept our mouth to not say anything for our safety. Rad walked back and forth in the small confined space of the train car, switching the gun from his right hand, to his left, and then back again.
I wondered what he was doing exactly. If he was here to blow people's heads off then why wasn't he? I hated the fact that we were waiting here not knowing what would happen next. As if he could sense my impatience with him, Rad spun around and glared at me through his mask. Or at least I thought he was glaring at me, but I couldn't really tell with the mask on.
"You." Rad said pointing the gun at me.
I froze and clenched my hands into tight fists as I stared wide eyed, not at Rad, but at the barrel of the gun.
"What's your name?" Rad asked.
"Chayo." I said quietly.
"Chayo...Why don't you go ahead and stand up Chayo." Rad said kindly. I hated it when he say my name. I gave an involuntary shudder.
I was about to force myself to stand, even if it was against my better judgement, when I felt Wade grip my left hand, keeping me in my seat.
I glanced at Wade and gave him a questioning look.
"Why do you want her to stand?" Wade asked while narrowing his eyes.
I wanted to slap my hand over Wade's big mouth.
"I thought we already went through this. You don't speak… Unless. You're. Spoken. To." Rad ground out the last words slowly, and I doubted he would remind Wade.
"Wade please…" I begged quietly. I stood up even though I highly doubted it. "Obviously your girlfriend has more sense than you." Rad said while tilting his head to the side.
I almost opened my mouth to tell him that Wade was not my boyfriend, but I kept it shut. I wanted to live.
I slowly walked up to Rad and stood there, waiting.
Then I waited for more than two minutes. He said nothing, did nothing, just stood there staring at me. I couldn't keep my mouth shut anymore. He was making me anxious and when I became anxious I also got a really bad case of word vomit.
"Are we just going to stand here and stare at each other?"
After I regretted what I just said, my eyes instantly darted down to Rad's clenched fits and before I could look back at his masked face, I felt his hand connect with my jaw, hard.
The force of his punch made me bite down on my tongue as I stumbled back from the impact, my hand covering my jaw. The train car seemed like it was suddenly bathed in bright white lights, and I reached my free hand out to try and find something to steady myself. I could taste something metallic and salty which I knew had to be my own hold.
Wade approached me and gave an angered face to Rad.
"Well, aren't you two sweet? Trying to protect each other like that." Rad gave a dark chuckle before he jerked his head to the door leading into the next car.
"Move it, both of you, Now!" He ordered.
Still clutching the left side of my face I stumbled my way toward the door with Wade right behind me, one hand on my lower back and other on my arm, whether it was to keep me from falling flat on my face or just there to comfort me, I didn't know. All I was focused on was the pain which seemed to be everywhere in my face.
As Rad pushed us forward I wondered exactly what we'd gotten ourselves into. We'd continue to walk through the next two train cars.
Wade and I got shocked from what we witnessed in the next train car. The image of the knife swiping across the old man's neck and the gushing blood, was imprinted in my brain.
"Grandpa!" the little girl wailed and a chorus of horrified screams followed. She hopped out of her seat and ran to her grandpa before she sank to her knees next to him, his blood seeping into her white tights.
I stared, unable to move or breathe. I pressed the back of my hand to my mouth hard and bit down, trying to keep myself from throwing up.
I heard Rad chuckle darkly behind me before he began shoving at our backs again. When we had reached the front of the train where it was operated. Rad opened the door and I had to bite back a scream.
There on the floor was the conductor with a bullet bole i. the center of his head. I couldn't take much more of this.
Rad lifted the man up like he was nothing more than a rag doll and threw him out of the compartment where he landed with a loud thud, pointing the gun back at me and Wade.
"Get in." Rad ordered.
I walked inside slowly and my nose instantly wrinkled at the smell of blood. I looked ahead, out the front window of the train, as we sped past flickering light bulbs in the tunnel. I wondered where we were headed now.
Wade walked in behind me and I saw his face scrunch up as the smell of blood invaded his nose too.
"I'll be back to deal with you two later."
That was all Rad said before he closed us in and made his way back towards the back of the train.
As soon as the door closed, I pressed my back against the wall before I slid to the ground and pulled my knees to my chest.
This couldn't be happening.
Wade knelt down in front of me with his arms on his knees, and he stared at me intently.
"He just killed him." I whispered, shaking my head. "He didn't even flinch. He just slit his throat. Right in front of his granddaughter!" My voice rose and I think I was starting to hyperventilate. I was taking in quick shallow breaths and I started rocking back and front.
"Oh God, we're going to die. We're going to die." I was seriously starting to panic now. What would my parents do once they found out that I had been chopped up into a thousand little bite sized Chayo pieces? Then there was Jane. She'd probably take it worse.
Wade snapped his fingers in front of my face and broke me from my horrid thoughts.
He placed both of his hands on my knees and spoke very slowly, "We're not going to die. Okay?"
I looked back up at Wade and nodded slowly.
"Promise me then. Promise me that we won't die down here. Not like this." I said as I felt unexpected tears fill my eyes.
I didn't want to die. Not here. Not like this.
I watched him with a frown as he reached out and wiped a strat tear from my cheek before letting his warm hand rest there.
I didn't push his hand away like I told myself to. Instead, I welcome it, enjoying the brief comfort his touch brought me. I could use it right now.
"I promise." he said quietly.
I could only hope that he kept his promise.
I'm not sure how long I sat there. My imagination was running wild the longer we sat there. I imagined it might happen but my horrible thoughts scattered when the subway lurched and rumbled against the tracks.
"We're slowing down." Wade said.
The sound of the door sliding open behind us made me tear my gaze from the window and Rad who was standing in the doorway, his flesh colored mask and gaping black eye holes staring at me. A shiver ran down my spine.
Rad ordered us to follow him.
As we made our way through the subway cars I noticed that they were now all empty. I wanted to ask where everybody was but I was afraid of the answer I might get. So, I kept my mouth shut this time and kept moving.
We were on the last train car, Rad pushed us toward the exit doors which were already open.
We stepped out onto the old platform and my earlier question was instantly answered. All the people who had occupied the subway cars were now on the platform, all on their knees with their hands tied behind their backs with zip ties, set up in a line.
The one wearing a Jason Vorhees hockey mask stepped forward and tied our hands in our back. Jason Mask pushes us forward at the end of the line of subway passengers, where we got down on our knees and joined them.
"Now that you're all here, the real fun can!" Rad began with a clap.
A whimper and a sniffle came from my right and I glanced down the line of people and my eyes landed down on the same little girl from before. The little girl whose grandpa had been murdered right in front of her.
She was crying. I made myself a promise that I'll protect her.
I watched in silence as Rad and his band of masked began untying people and ushering them down onto the tracks of the
subway.
"Now this is how this is going to go," Rad began as he paced back and forth in front of the abandoned tracks. "The tracks from here on out are abandoned and farther down they break off into a bunch of unused subway tunnels. That's where you all are headed." He added.
"We're going to be playing a little game of hide and seek if you'd like to think of it that way. There's only one exit in one of these tunnels that leads up and out of the subway station but finding it will be like finding a needle in a haystack. If by some miracle though, you do happen to find this exit then you're home free... but if you don't," I could practically hear the smile in his voice. "And we get to you first then... well I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise now would I?"
Wade and I joined the group of passengers after the mask man untied the knots.
"You get two minutes, Two minutes and then the chase begins and you better hope like hell that we don't catch you" Rad warned everybody
"Why are you doing this?' A male voice demanded and that was Wade.
"I'm doing this to prove a point." Rad stated simply.
"What point?" Skater boy demanded.
"That I'm free to do whatever I please. You all live in this world thinking that you're safe, that you're protected. Well, you're not. Do you see anybody down here that'll give you as second glance if it means risking themselves?" Rad shook his head when the skater boy didn't respond.
"So, whoever is gonna survive through this game. Deliver the message to your pathetic police When they find all your dead bodies they'll see what a complete failure this entire system is." Rad added.
Rad glanced down at a watch that sat perched on his wrist.
"You have one minute and fifty-nine seconds" Rad said
As a cue, all the passengers started to run. I tried to scan the crowd for the little girl but people bumped into me and elbowed their way past trying to sprint ahead.
We kept running.
My legs were arching, my lungs were burning, and my head was spinning, all while I was running for my life.
As we continued running, my heart hammered furiously in my chest, and it felt like I was going to puke acid really soon.
I started slowing down and eventually I just stopped. I bent over with my hands on my knees trying to catch my breath.
Wade approached me and tried to motivate me to keep going. However, we heard an ear splitting scream echo down the tunnel. I turned to our back. I'm sure the group of masked men started to sue us.
Wade gently helped to keep half-running. I ignored the pain. We've reached the end of the track, we came to the tunnels that Rad had mentioned earlier. It was seven that all led off into different directions.
Wade and I agreed to pick the seventh tunnel. When we were inside, there were no lightbulbs, we couldn't see anything other than a pitch black.
We walked faster and carefully felt our tracks. My hands touched the wall of the tunnel and continued to walk.
Leading the track, Wade checked his phone but no signal to call police. However, we could use that as a flashlight.
Unluckily, the ground seemed to change, and I found myself free falling into the darkness. Wade yelled my name. My body smacked against the concrete. I cried out as bolts of searing hot pain jolted through every inch of my body. Tears filled my eyes instantly and spilled over as the pain took over. There was a horrible throbbing pain in the back of my head and an awful burning and ripping sensation in my side.
I heard the faint shuffling of footsteps and suddenly a bright light was shining in my water filled eyes.
"Shit!" I heard Wade's horrified whisper.
I couldn't even speak cause everything was hurt. Wade knelt down next to me. He sat his phone next to him letting the light create a small pool of illumination around us.
Wade said that he was going to help me. He began to lift the hem of my shirt. He slowly moved his hand upward until it rested just below my rib cage. And I felt an extreme amount of pressure on my ribs. There was an audible pop but I could barely hear it over the ear piercing scream that
was coming from my mouth. That was a great help, it had lessened considerably the pain before. A sheen of sweat covered my forehead as I breathed in and out rapidly.
Wade called my name with a worried and concerned face.
"I'm… still.. okay" I said through pants of breath. I blacked out.
I woke up cuddling with Wade. I'm literally surprised because I thought it was one of the psycho mask man. I could still feel the pain in my side. Wade told me that I was fell in manhole. One of my rib was dislocated.
"I'm grateful that you stuck around and helped me. It means a lot that you'd do that for me… and… and I'm sorry."
I jerked back a little when Wade whipped his head back so he could look at me, his eyes shining in the dim light of his cellphone.
I swallowed nervously and stared back at him, waiting for some kind of response. I froze when he reached up and pushed a damp piece of my hair behind my ear. My heart just about exploded when he let his hand linger on my face.
Didn't he know that there were people after us? Shouldn't we be running for our lives now?
I was ready to raise to slap his face when he got close enough to kiss me, but an ear splitting scream rang through the tunnel.
That scream scared me half to death in a panic, I jumped and slammed my head against Wade's.
I groaned in pain while rubbing my forehead and said to Wade that he had a hard head. Wade said that my head was exactly soft, teasing me.
"Did you hear that scream? Somebody could be in trouble." I said.
Wade just coughed and sounded like he was struggling to contain his laughter.
"Have you lost your mind? Those masked freaks could get to whoever that was and they could be headed this way right now." Wade explained.
I ignored his statement and tried to get up from sitting into his lap but he pushed me back to his.
"Please, Wade, I want to know who it was. Because it could be that little girl. She can't make it down here by herself. Hell, we can barely make it, so just imagine how she's doing. I have to find her Wade, so please don't try to stop me" I said.
Wade stared at me for seconds and stood up and then gently helped me to my feet. He grabbed my hand, shooking his head before he said "Let's go then, Wonder Woman."
Along our way, Wade and I talked nonsense. I've just realized that it was a mistake to find this little girl or who it was that did the screaming.
We've reached the end of the tunnel, but there was a large cavernous room. It was made of the same gray stone as the rest of the tunnels down here and jagged pieces of rock and pipe jutted up from the floor and hung from the ceiling. There were a few pale yellow flickering lanterns that cast an eerie glow across the large room, which meant someone had been here recently. Looking around, the room was empty.
"There's nobody here Chayo, we should head back and try and find our way out of here while we still can." Wade's voice rang out in an echo arout the vast room.
When I was to turn back to face Wade, the same shrill scream from earlier ran out behind me.
A black boots began to step forward, revealing black jeans and then a black hoodie before finally revealing a sheep masked figure.
"You two are just too easy." Sheep Mask drawled out, his voice slightly muffled by the mask.
I couldn't believe that we were fooled by this man. The scream that we heard was just recorded. The sheep mask currently holds the device where the scream came from and he pressed the button again to play the scream sound.
The Sheep Mask reached into the waistband of his dark jeans and pulled out a black handgun. The Sheep Mask pointed the gun to Wade but to my suprise, Wade was on top of him. Both of them struggled to gain control of the gun.
When the Sheep Mask started angling the gun towards Wade's chest, I rushed forward and brought my foot down as hard as I could on Sheep Mask's face.
Wade didn't wait for any second as the gun was on his hand. The Sheep Mask tried to scare them that we were going to die soon when Rad reached them. I faintly heard a loud crack and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Wade ram the butt of the gun into the side of Sheep Mask's face, then he shot the gun toward the head of the masked man.
Wade came to me and brought my head to his chest.
"We're not going to die here, Chayo. Do you understand? We're getting out of here," he promised. I hold on that promise.
I can't believe that we just killed the Sheep Mask man. I'm so mad to myself that we had to do that.
We've continued to search the exit. Wade leads the way, but his navigating skills sucks. When I led our way, it turns out that any navigating skills sucked a lot more than Wade's did. I ended up leading us right back to the spot where we started.
Apparently, Wade and I saw the same flurry of pink darts across the tunnel and into another one. I'm sure that was the little girl with the pink shirt that we tried to look for before.
We were not really sure but we decided to follow the girl from where the tunnel she ran through.
In turn of the event, someone grabbed me from the right. I saw Wade also dragged by another mask man. The piggy mask figure man that was covering my mouth by his hand, led me from somewhere. I was parted away from Wade. The last scene of him was fighting with the other mask man.
The Piggy Mask lifted his left foot and kicked open an old door that read "Employees Only".
The room looked like a place where electricians or repairmen would frequent with all the machinery inside.
The Piggy Mark man removed his mask as soon as he closed the door. It was Rad, the leader of the psycho mask group.
He grabbed my hair to go to another destination. There was a series of many lefts and rights before we finally came to his destination.
We went to another room. It was large and full of pipes in the ceiling. In the center of the room stood four, large, curved, gray pipes that jutted out from the floor and were pointed to the right wall.
There were three people handcuffed for those pipes. The strange man was handcuffed to the first one. The second one was the skater boy. The third one was the little girl that we've been looking for.
And for the fourth pipe, Rad cuffed me from the last pipe.
"W-why are you doing this?" I asked between my sobs.
"I already told you. The system already failed me once and now they're going to fail you. This is all to prove a point." Rad simply said. With that, he disappeared back down from the tunnel.
As soon as Rad was out of sight I slumped against the pipe before sliding to the ground. Anything I did was a failure to escape. I just dropped my head and think that this was how I'm going to die.
The first man in the pipe turned into red, burned, bloody and raw. The skin skin looked like it had been seared completely off and I could see the white of their bones poking out.
The skater boy started to scream, asking for help. The little girl started to cry and I had no idea what to do to comfort her.
I've heard a voice. "Chayo?!" Wade yelled out from somewhere. My head whipped up at the sound of his voice and directly look at his eyes.
He ran forward and bent down to hug her.
"How did you-,"
"You don't know how I fight that masked man but I'm relieved that I found you." Wade said.
"But I'm going to die here. The pipes. They shoot out hot steam and the man just got a face full of it." I explained.
Wade looked at the first pipe, his eyes widened and urged to fight to not throw up something.
Wade immediately pulled a trigger of his gum that pointed to her handcuffs but nothing happened.
Wade found two bobby pins into the hair of the little girl. He borrowed it from the girl and promised to help her.
I suggested to Wade to help first the skater boy and the little girl before me. Wade argued about it but he still did it. When Wade successfully unlocked the handcuffs to the skater boy, the skater boy moved forward to also help unlock the handcuffs on the little girl. Wade finished to get rid of the handcuffs to me before the steam of the pipes burned her.
We were successfully all safe, as of now.
The four of us continued to find the exit of this tunnel. Upon walking, we've talked in some conversations but stay alert. The skater boy named Dylan and the little girl named Rose.
Our conversation was long. Until Rose pointed ahead of her. She was pointing at the end of the tunnel and my blood ran cold.
Standing at the end of the tunnel, completely silent and staring at us, was the man in the Jason Mask.
Jason Mask aggressively started running towards us. As an instinct, Wade held my hands and we started to run to the tunnel on our right. Dylan and Rose followed us. There were a bunch of lefts and rights before we reached the two tunnels.
We agreed to part away in two groups. Dylan and Rose went to the left tunnel and Me and Wade ran through the right tunnel.
Me and Wade never stopped to run even though I've being clumsy for how many times I fall on my feet.
Wade stopped, he pushed me against the wall of the tunnel that didn't reach the dim light of the tunnel. I wondered what's going on in his mind but it made sense when I heard booming footsteps and a few seconds later I watched with wide eyes as Jason Mask went thundering past us and continued down the tunnel.
When I'm sure he was gone, I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
For a minute, we stayed there and had some rest. But I saw Rose had just come into view and even from here I could see red stained in her pink shirt.
Wade and I hurriedly approached Rose. I asked if she was hurt. But she said with tears that the blood stain came from Dylan.
Rose led the way where Dylan was. There was no way Rose should have been able to know the way back. She made way too many turns for her to have memorized it only going through it once. I stopped walking, Wade and I shared a look and thought the same thing.
With that, Rad suddenly came into view and Rose ran to him.
"Did I do good Daddy?" Rose asked.
"You did great sweetheart. Daddy is so proud of you." Rad said. Rose smiled proudly.
Rad pointed a gun on me. He ordered me to walk. We were now on one of the train car. Rad demanded Wade to hold out his hands. Rad handcuffed Wade's hands in one of the metal standing poles. Rad got the gun from Wade's pocket.
And by that, Rad left us after he locked the door of the train car.
I went to Rad's place.
"I'm sorry, I broke my promise to you," Wade said.
"You don't have to say sorry, maybe this is our fate." I said in my tears.
Wade asked to come closer with him. I went closer enough but he demanded to stand between his arms and the pole. I just didn't argue with that with the small place he was asking me to stand.
I stepped forward before ducking under one of his arms and I was now officially enclosed to him. I looked at him when he called my name with an intense expression.
"It was you. Even before Amber. I know this is not the right timing because we're almost likely dead anyway but I needed you to know."
I didn't know what response I should do, but I passionately kissed him. He kissed me back.
We stopped kissing when all of the sudden the doors that connected opened, I can see on the front train that the subway train was on fire. And the flames were quickly making their way towards us.
I could already smell the smoke. I ran back to the exit door and began pushing, pulling, and even banging on the door. Nothing worked.
Wade suggested kicking on the exit window. We kicked the window twice and it cracked. For the fifth time we kicked the window, it finally broke.
Wade told me that there was a left pin in his pocket. I get it used to get rid of the handcuff to his hands. It took more time and the smoke was already burning our lungs. Finally, the handcuff was unlocked. Wade took off his hoodie jacket and placed it around his left hand. He broke some left pieces of glass in the window.
He was the first one to climb out in the window before me. Wade helped me up. When I was on my feet I looked up at the burning subway train and watched as the flames of the fire completely engulfed it.
We saw Rad and his little girl at the top of the platform looking on the subway train to burn into ashes. Rad didn't see from where we were, I'm sure he thought that we were dead on that train.
So I made a plan to eliminate that freaking psycho.
__
I appeared from where Rad was standing.
"You bastard! You killed him!' I screamed as I slammed my body into Rad's and forced me to cry.
Rad was shocked that I was still alive. But he grabbed me roughly by my wrists and squeezed them tightly.
Okay, this was not part of my plan, I hope he didn't think to kill me now.
Turning back to my acting, I yelled to him like he really killed Wade. He just darkly chuckled about it.
As part of the plan, Rad never got to finish what he was about to say because a shard of glass was pushed straight into the center of his back.
Rad let me go. Rad was about again to speak but Wade stabbed again into his chest.
Rad had died. I hugged Wade as finally we are safe now. Wade took the kicking Rose and threw her into his shoulder. Wade and I slowly move forward to find the exit.
With the help of the light in Wade's cellphone, it was enough to see our way. As I was the one who's holding the cellphone, I saw in the darkness a set of stairs and swallowed hard before turning back to face Wade and nodded slowly.
We saw a light on the wood that was blocking our way. We kicked the light wood on how many times before we succeeded to pull off the wood.
Through the small hole, I could see the city lights that brought me into tears. The stars in the sky let me know that it was night.
We've carefully made a way through the hole. When I stood up and took a deep breath, it felt like it had been forever since I had breathed in fresh air.
There were a lot of old and abandoned buildings around that were boarded up just like the subway entrance had been.
We had planned to surrender and tell the police about Rose's case. She could still be changed with the help of DSWD.
Wade called an emergency call to 911. Wade and I shared a smile. I slowly kissed him.
We sat on the abandoned street and waited for the police to come and rescue us.
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dc41896 · 4 years ago
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Small Mishaps
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Pairing: Chris EvansxBlack Reader
⚠️: All fluff💕
“Da-yee!”
Chris couldn’t help the smile tugging on the corners of his mouth as he heard the shouting of his newest nickname paired with little feet padding closer to his office.
“Yes bae-yee?” As if on cue, he turns to see the dangling plaits and toothy smile of his four year old, Kira, looking like the exact copy of him at that age and even displaying the same seemingly unending energy.
“Spa now?!,” she asks lightly tugging his hand to make him get out of his chair.
“Give me a second, let me make this last note,” he answers lifting her to sit on his lap. With a small huff, she wraps her arms around his neck making him chuckle from her cheek being pressed so closely against his. Ever since early this morning all she wanted to do was play her new game with him, but each time she asked he always said the same thing.
Later.
To anyone else, later might’ve been fine. However to a toddler, later was an unknown answer that just made her antsy as she looked at that ticking thing on the wall wondering when later would come.
“How long’s a second?”
“Well uh mathematically speaking, it’s much shorter than a minute.”
“Oh...what’s mat-tick-catly?” Head tilted back, his laugh echoes throughout the office and into the halls at his daughter’s attempt to repeat the challenging word.
“It’s just a big word for numbers,” he smiles kissing the top of her head. “Nothing you need to worry about until you get older and go to school. But hey guess what?”
“Hmm?!”
“I’m done, which means-,”
“Spa!!! Cmon da-yee you’re gonna look so pretty!,” she excitedly claps, leaping from his lap and pulling an amused Chris behind her.
———
“There, now no touch!,” Kira orders with a pointed finger making Chris hold up his hands in surrender as he chuckled.
“You got it.”
“And what’s going on here?” Back from your run with Dodger, you lean on the doorframe giggling as you take in the sight in front of you. Sat on the tile floor with one leg crossed over the other, white cream speckled with orange dots messily covered his forehead, nose, and cheeks while your daughter squat beside your nighttime bag rummaging through your products.
“Kira wanted to play spa, so I’m her customer.”
“Here you go,” she smiles handing him a single square of tissue paper.
“What’s this?”
“I think that’s your bill honey,” you quietly laugh as your daughter nods her head.
“Five monies please!”
“Kira, you’re gonna make your dear old dad pay? After all the fun we’ve had?” Rocking back and forth on her feet, her eyes roam around the room waiting for her requested payment and making Chris shake his head as he chuckles.
“I’ll give you cookies...”
Smile lighting up her face, she takes the piece of paper from his hands and instead gives it to you leaving you silent with mouth slightly agape. “Your turn mommy!”
“Let’s get this off of daddy’s face first then after I shower we can work on me,” you smile watching her reach for the silver handles of the facet before being placed on the counter by your husband. Slowly tip toeing to your phone, you return pressing record just in time to catch their cute exchange as your daughter dangles her feet back and forth.
“Now you look pretty forever and ever!”
“Forever and ever?! What magic did you use huh?,” he asks tickling her side. Zipping her lips, she shakes her head making her plaits wildly swing around.
“Nope, it’s a secret,” she giggles holding onto his hand and playing with the silver band on his finger.
The following morning, the Evans household started as usual these last couple months. Sunlight peaking through the curtains. Chris groaning as he begrudgingly gets up to use the bathroom leaving you lying in bed snuggling with the comforter until he would return taking its place. Taking over his side of the bed, you smiled to yourself waiting to hear his deep chuckle followed by the feeling of soft hands gently lifting your “sleeping” body and keeping you close to him while you both lied in comfortable silence.
Instead, you felt your arm being frantically shaken by your husband repeatedly beckoning you to wake up.
“Babe. Babe!”
“Hmm what’s wrong?,” you groggily ask rubbing your eyes to help you see clearer. Small red sploches dotting his face, you rise on your knees getting closer to his face making sure what you were seeing was in fact true. “What happened to your face?”
“I don’t know. I just noticed it when I went to the bathroom.”
“Does it itch?”
“A little. Do you think it was the mask?”
“Maybe, do you remember if she used anything else from my bag?” Shrugging his shoulders, there’s a momentary silence before his palm hits his forehead as he silently curses.
“Of course this happens on the day I’m supposed to talk with Jimmy Fallon.”
“Listen it’s okay, we’ll hopefully have you fixed before then. Just let me think of what could help.”
“Mommy! Da-yee!” As if on cue, Kira runs into your bedroom using the bench at the end of the bed to climb in and stand next to you. “Ooh I want face paint too!”
“It’s not face paint honey, daddy might’ve had a reaction to the mask from last night.”
“Reaction?,” she asks slightly tilting her head.
“Yea, like when you ate peaches that one day and your tongue was itchy and cheeks got puffy? That’s a reaction.”
“Ohh...I hurt da-yee?” Frowning with pouted lips, Chris picks her up smoothing the frizz from her hair as he kisses her temple.
“Noo no sweetie you didn’t hurt me. I promise I’m fine, my face just looks a little funny.”
“Mommy’s special tube didn’t work.”
“Special tube?,” you both inquire looking puzzled. Nodding her head, she nervously wrings her hands together afraid of your coming reactions.
“The white one.”
“Ohhh...”
“I’m guessing this white tube is what caused me to look like a Dalmatian with red spots?,” Chris asks slightly rocking Kira back and forth.
“Yea, it’s my acne gel. I call it my special tube because only I can use it sweetie,” you answer lightly rubbing her back.
“Ohh, sorry.”
“It’s okay, let’s not use it anymore though. Especially on daddy’s delicate skin.”
“Delicate?,” he asks raising an eyebrow in amusement making you laugh.
“Babe you even said so yourself that you have sensitive skin, don’t start,” you laugh stepping out of bed. “Now let me go get the rash cream.”
“Wait, rash cream?”
“You have a better idea?” Groaning as he rolls his eyes, Kira places her hands on either side of his beard before kissing his cheek.
“No worry da-yee, mommy can fix it.”
“I hope you’re right bae-yee,” he smiles blowing raspberries on her cheek making her wildly giggle.
———
“Okay first it was poor Dodger’s haircut now this?! What is going on in the Evan’s household during this quarantine?,” Jimmy asks trying to hide his laughter but failing.
Sat at the island in his kitchen, he chuckles to himself while shaking his head at his current predicament. Surprisingly the rash cream did help a bit, but the red spots were still evident on his face although a bit lighter in color.
Especially now currently being in the room with the best lighting.
“Well uh as you can see it’s been a bit eventful,” he laughs as he runs a hand through his brown locs. “Kira’s been watching her mom do her nighttime routine so now her favorite game to play is Spa. Long story short some things didn’t agree with my skin when we played yesterday.”
“Ohh noo,” he laughs covering his mouth with his hands. “Are you okay though? How did she react when she saw you?”
“Yea I’m fine. It was a bit itchy but now it’s starting to fade away, and at first she thought it was face paint, but after telling her what happened she felt bad because she thought she hurt me. So now she’s been checking on me and making sure I’m okay.”
“And speaking of, looks like she’s here to check on you now.” Turning around, he smiles seeing his little girl in her jean overalls raised on her tip toes trying to get a look at Chris. Waving her over, she nervously steps to her father before he sits her on his lap.
“Hi Kira! How are you?”
“Good,” she shyly replies playing with her braid.
You tried to keep her occupied during his time away with his interview, but your sneaky little one took advantage of your lapse of judgement when distracted by your phone. She said she was going to the bathroom and by the time you thought you should walk with her, you could hear feet scurrying down the hall towards the kitchen.
Catching the corner of his eye, you mouth “sorry” before he smiles mouthing back “it’s okay” and giving you a quick thumbs up.
“And how do you like being home with your parents this whole time?”
“I-I like it. We get to play a lot!,” she smiles making both men lightly chuckle.
“So your dad tells me you like to play a game called Spa. Is that something you’d want to do when you get older?” Nodding her head, she giggles looking up at her father as he kisses the top of her head.
“Well I already know you’ll do such a good job with your own spa one day from this video from a little birdie’s instagram.” As he plays the short clip of Chris and Kira talking in the bathroom while he washes off his mask, he meets your eyes shaking his head as you innocently shrug your shoulders as if you didn’t know anything.
“Hmm I wonder whose Instagram you got that from?”
“You know I can’t reveal my sources,” Jimmy laughs. “The adventures of being a girl dad though right?”
“Yea, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it,” Chris smiles holding onto his baby girl as she latches around his neck.
Taglist: @fumbling-fanfics @honeychicanawrites @honeychicana @lady-olive-oil @themyscxiras @melinda-january @lovelymari4 @literaturefeen @damnitaa @curlyhairclub @renfrewscorner @fullofmelaninsarcasmandepression @nunubug99 @felicity-x0 @ellixthea @jojolu @jnk-812 @brwn-sgr @captainsamwlsn @wildfirecracker @nina-sj @iammyownlover @chaneajoyyy @secretmysteriousperson @plokyu23
If anybody wants to be tagged, has asked to be tagged but don’t see your name, only wants to be tagged for certain people I write for, or no longer wish to be tagged just let me know🤓!
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queencarolinemikaelson · 5 years ago
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Beyond Mikaelson
Klaroline Bingo as hosted by @klaroline-events Prompt // Dagger
This is set early season three, and is fairly canon compliant until then, except Caroline is an Original. Very Mikaelson heavy, and a little bit gruesome/gory in parts. It’s also very long.
This will be my last contribution to KC Bingo, thank you so much to the team at @klaroline-events​! I wouldn’t have got any of these out without prompting, and I’m glad to have participated in another fandom event! xxx
/
“Rebekah, where are you? Pick up the phone darling, daddy’s dead. It’s time for a family reunion.”
Klaus Mikaelson’s phone beeped quietly, signalling he had a call waiting on another line.
The hybrid couldn’t help the smug smirk that crossed his lips as the name Stefan Salvatore flashed on the screen.
This was going to be fun.
“Stefan! Miss me already?”
“I’m just calling to thank you for my freedom,” Stefan said on the other end of the phone, sounding far too sardonic.
“Well I like to believe I’m a man of my word… more or less,” Klaus smirked.
“The thing is,” Stefan continued. “It came at too high of a price. You took everything from me, Klaus.”
“Let bygones be bygones, trust me. Resentment gets old.”
“You know what never gets old?” Stefan asked, in a tone that had alarm bells ringing in Klaus’ mind. “Revenge.”
As the line went dead, and Klaus opened the back of his van, only to reveal nothing, Stefan’s words truly sank in.
And Klaus felt a white-hot rage bubble through his veins; a rage unprovoked in centuries.
/
It would be weeks until Klaus’ coffins were returned, and when they were, Klaus’ shoulders sagged in relief.
They were safe.
They were home.
They could be whole again; all five of them.
Wait… five?
Any shred of tension that left his body instantly returned.
There were five coffins, five.
Klaus often thought of there being only five in his family, which was likely why it took him so long to cotton to the fact he shouldn’t have five coffins.
He should have six.
Quaking with unparalleled rage, and a panic long lost to time, Klaus tore at the lids from the caskets, flinging each open so roughly he nearly destroyed their hinges.
Elijah.
Finn.
Rebekah.
Kol.
Klaus squeezed his eyes together for a moment, as he stood before the final coffin, knowing everything had a fifty-fifty chance of being okay. If they were together, they would be okay.
But as Klaus tried to open the box, he was met with complete resistance.
And he knew, that box belonged to his mother.
And he just knew, they had her.
His hands shaking, Klaus pulled his phone from his pocket, dialling Stefan’s number.
“Hello there Klaus, not the family reunion you were expecting?”
The young vampire sounded so gleeful that Klaus mentally signed his death wish then and there. Their history be damned, there was no repenting for this.
“Where is the sixth coffin, Stefan?” he asked, his voice shaking as much as his hands.
“Well, see, the thing is Klaus, we found your little cave paintings. We can account for everyone in the coffins, except for this one. She’s quite beautiful, isn’t she? I’m not letting loose an unknown entity in my town, Klaus. Not now. Not ever.”
“Stefan, I suggest you listen…”
“No, Klaus, you listen,” Stefan interrupted. “You’ll get a map. You’ll be able to find at least some of her. And that’s a promise.”
“Stefan, if I do not have her back before sunset, you will regret it.”
“You took everything from me, Klaus,” Stefan cried, his gleeful composure making way for his true anger. “I can’t regret anything anymore than I already do.”
“You have five hours, Stefan. For the sake of this town I hope you hand over my box,” Klaus said, coldly. “The consequences of this will be yours, and yours alone.”
Klaus hung up. He didn’t need any more of Stefan’s amateur postulating.
Nothing mattered, not without her.
Without much more than a heartbeat, Klaus circled the room, removing each dagger from the chests of his siblings.
He couldn’t worry about how they would react to him.
Not now.
/
It took nearly three hours before all his siblings were awake, each waking in their own time; Bekah first, Finn last.
And during that time, it had become quite apparent that, Elijah and Finn at least would not be easily swayed into helping him.
“I don’t much care that you finally killed our Father, I will never mistake our brotherhood for trustworthiness again, Niklaus,” Finn said, in the old, awkward tongue they all once spoke.
“I’m afraid I may have to agree with our eldest brother,” Elijah said, coldly, true betrayal shining in his eyes.
“I never trusted any of you,” Kol said melodramatically, eager to stir the pot. Yes, he was a little miffed that he’d been in a box for about 200 years – but had daggered and undaggered his brothers (never Bekah though) many times himself over the years. Who was he to judge?
It was Rebekah – of course it was Rebekah – who first noticed Klaus’ haunted expression.
“What is it, Nik,” she whispered, fearing the answer.
“It’s Caroline,” he said.
Her name dropped from his lips like a secret, and immediately every Mikaelson ear was tuned in, and listening.
“They have Caroline.”
Caroline was a name buried by time. It was a secret more fiercely protected than any other the Mikaelsons’ held. For she always was their saviour.
“Who are they?” Finn asked.
“The vampire who has her is named Stefan Salvatore. I need your help. We can’t let him hurt her,” Klaus explained, his sparing vulnerability revealed, even if fleetingly.
Klaus’ vulnerability, coupled with their love for their baby sister, steeled the nerves of the Mikaelson siblings. Klaus may have long since given up his right for family trust, and may have done vile and cruel things to each of them over the years. But then they all had.
Except for Caroline. Her unwavering support and love for them transcended the centuries they lived together. She would care for them, laugh with them, cry with them. And through it all, she brought a sparkling joy to their lives.
Until one day, the horrors of being a Mikaelson caught up with her, and she tried to leave. She did it with such grace; such respect.
But they had not taken kindly to her desertion, and had laid to to rest because of it.
There wasn’t a waking moment since that day, when each Mikaelson hadn’t felt their guilt keenly.
“I hope she forgives us,” Kol said quietly.
“Let’s just… get her back first,” Finn said.
“What do you need us to do?”
/
Caroline’s eyes were shut as she began wriggling her toes, revelling in the feeling of stretching through the awful stiffness. In her first moments awake, she felt dread and betrayal, though she couldn’t for the life of her work out where those emotions came from…
Birds were chirping in the distance, the air was fresh, and it seemed like an all-round good day to be alive.
Though she was almost instantly disabused of that notion, as she made a move to roll over, and was met with searing pains shooting through her body.
Her eyes flew open, and her heart raced, as she took in her unfamiliar surroundings; very low light, menacing stone walls, vervain soaked ropes and chains firmly tying her to a jagged wooden table. A bloodied silver dagger was on the ground, not too far from her, as though it had been pulled from her and tossed away.
A dagger.
And suddenly, Caroline’s agonised confusion made way for terrible remembrance.
/
“I want to travel alone for a while.”
Caroline spoke so softly, but so resolutely, that the light mood around the table seemed to still, as her statement was met with looks of confusion.
“I beg your pardon?” Elijah said, incredulously, breaking the silence after a moment.
“I want to travel alone,” her voice was steady, but she dared not meet anyone’s eyes just yet. “I love every single one of you, more than my heart can bear. But families are meant to go their separate ways at some point, to live as their own souls.”
Caroline began fiddling with her fingers nervously, but continued to speak, knowing this was her only chance to convince them of her pure intentions.
“And we are a family cursed with eternity. Yes, we are sometimes stronger together, but we’re also angrier, bloodier, more terrifying. I want to discover a world beyond our existence, we have eternity to be together, what will a few decades, maybe a century, of time alone mean in a thousand years?”
“It’ll mean you left us for a few decades, maybe a century,” Finn said, coolly. “Are we not enough for you, little sister?”
“No, it’s not…”
“Caroline, you can’t leave,” Rebekah began.
“You are our sister,” Kol pleaded.
And thus, the damn of silence was broken, each sibling layering their own heartbreak and panic over the next.
“How could you possibly do this?”
“Are we that horrible a –”
“What did I ever –”
“This desertion is –”
“Please, Caroline, please.”
The only to remain silent was Klaus, fury and fear etched in every line of his face, choosing instead to regard her with the coldest of eyes – silence had always been his knife of choice with her.
“We’ll be better. I’ll try and –”
“Who on earth will –”
“You are to leave us, just like them, and –”
“ENOUGH!”
Her own anger and frustration at their judgement of her bubbled over and she couldn’t help the as the scream leapt from her mouth, her eyes turning dark, veins snaking up her face.
“Would this have been easier if I left with absolutely no warning? If I just snuck off in the middle of the night? Without saying goodbye?” Caroline asked, disbelievingly, into the silence her loss of control had created. “I love each and everyone of you, and we will see each other again. But I just want to live, for myself.”
There was silence for another moment, until Klaus finally spoke up.
“And what if Mikael finds you?”
His voice was frank, nearly nasty, and Caroline wished her husband could understand.
“He won’t, I will be less conspicuous on my own,” Caroline replied softly, the sad truth of her statement wracking through her family.
Klaus glared at her, the fear of losing her slowly seeping from his body before their very eyes, making way for only fury.
“Oh yes, Caroline, run away like the little girl from the village who could never see me with Tatia. Run away like the true Forbes your blood says you are. Remember when your parents ran from you? Because you were a monster? You will always be a monster, Caroline.”
His voice was malicious, cruel, but Caroline knew him, she knew him better than anyone, and she knew this was his way of making it hurt less.
It didn’t make it okay, but it did steel within her that this was the right choice for her.
“It won’t be forever, Nik, I promise,” Caroline said, gently placing a hand over his. “Just a little while.”
And with that, and all the grace in the world, Caroline rose, and smiled wanly at those around the table.
“I’m going to bed for the night, we can resume this discussion in the morning.”
As she retreated, she thought she heard Elijah say, “what are we to do about this?” but she blocked it out. Her mind was made up, their pleas and arguments for her to stay would not sway her.
The next morning, Caroline woke just after daybreak. She felt somewhat numb, as she relived the previous evening, but relieved that she finally shared her desires.
She rose quickly, and decided to prepare a meal for them all to share; a last supper of sorts.
As she bustled to the kitchen, she was surprised to find Rebekah already there, as the other woman usually liked to stay in bed far later than dawn.
“Good morning, Bekah,” Caroline said, softly smiling at her, as she leant against the bench next to her sister. “You’re up early.”
A flicker of something unreadable flashed over Rebekah’s face before it was extinguished with a warm smile.
“I feel awful about last night, I couldn’t sleep,” Rebekah said, real sorrow in her eyes, as she took Caroline’s hand. “You’re my sister, Caroline, and I don’t want you to leave.”
“I know, my love,” Caroline said, resting her head on Rebekah’s shoulder. “You could come with me, you know, the Mikaelson girls against the world.”
Rebekah frowned, and Caroline’s face lit up excitedly.
“Yes! Just imagine, we could go wherever we want, love whomever we please,” Caroline’s face fell a little before continuing. “I love Nik, always and forever, but it’s been over 200 years since our wedding. I think I’ve seen him share his love with dozens upon dozens of others, because I understand that life for us is different. But he’s never shown me the same mercy. Not once.”
“I could come?” Rebekah said, her mind racing with the possibilities. “What about wanting to leave us?”
“It’s not about leaving you, or any of you, it’s about living beyond this family. Living as Caroline, not as a Mikaelson. Don’t you ever want to just live slowly? Where the day is cherished, and longed for, rather than feared?”
“We have to fear the day, Caroline, we are vampires!”
“Yes, the original vampires that can only be killed by our deranged father! Living slowly means we won’t have to fear Mikael’s retribution, because he will never be able to find us!”
For a moment, Rebekah let herself dream of a life beyond the Mikaelson name. A life with only Caroline by her side, as sisters. Her sister had always been the best of her family – the most compassionate, the gentlest, the kindest.
But she shook herself; that life could not happen. That life belonged to a girl who died many years ago.
“Caroline, it is a life I do not want, I love my brothers too much.”
The two blondes looked sadly at each other, until Caroline squeezed the hand still holding Rebekah’s and sprung into action.
“Well, let us not waste this day then, my dear sister!” she said brightly. “I was going to cook a feast for our family, care to help me?”
Rebekah smiled, and nodded. Caroline once again missing the flash of guilt across her sister’s face.
It was a few hours before the two women finished their creation, and Caroline sent Bekah away to gather their brothers for the meal, as she picked up the final dish for the table.
It was a beautifully decorated ceramic dish her family purchased her as a gift, even before the six of them turned. She had treasured it and cared for it ever since. She would undoubtedly miss this place, her family, and all the adventures that came along with them – but she hoped it would do some good; learn that a family can exist as individuals.
“Good morning,” Caroline said cheerfully, as she made it to the dining area where each of her siblings were awkwardly standing around waiting for her. “Where’s Niklaus?”
She peered around, trying to find the eyes of her husband. In her distraction, Caroline didn’t notice the predatory ring her family was making around her, until she heard a light ‘whooshing’ sound, and suddenly her husband was in front of her, a glinting silver dagger in his grasp.
“I’m sorry, Caroline,” he whispered, as he plunged it into her chest.
As a reflex, Caroline’s hands flew to grasp her husband’s arms, her beautiful dish falling from her hands, becoming a mess on the tiles below.
“Please, have mercy, Niklaus,” she gurgled, as the ice cold pain worked its way through her body from her heart outwards. Her eyes flicked to the faces of her siblings, and it absolutely shattered her heart to see them watch this happen – knowing they knew this was coming.
Her eyes flicked back to Klaus’ in her last moment, and she didn’t see regret or remorse or love. She saw only fear.
/
Caroline let the memories and pain wash over her, and cursed herself for not being more like her family.
For if she had listened to their scheming that night, had been more mistrustful she would have learned that fleeing in the middle of the night is what she should have done.
She let out a desolate sob.
She sobbed out of fear of not knowing where she was, or when she was. She sobbed out of utter desperation for the pain shooting now constantly through her body. And she sobbed out of deep, deep betrayal at the hand of those she so loved.
“Oh, you’re awake.”
A snide voice came from a shrouded corner of the room, and Caroline was immediately silent. Her grief was for her alone, not this stranger.
“Torture time!”
The man moved from the shadows, to reveal a sadistic, smug smile – that was not dissimilar to an expression that was common on Niklaus’ face – and within an instant, had buried a jagged-edged knife into her side.
Caroline winced at the pain, but did her best to remain silent and defiant, unwilling to give this cretin the satisfaction.
“I’m going to chop you into little tiny pieces and make a scavenger hunt for the Hybrid that wants you back so desperately.”
He continued speaking as he stabbed her, and cut chunks from her flesh, but Caroline couldn’t decipher any of his words, the language he spoke far different from any she recognised.
So she did what she did best, she remained silent, and somewhat calm throughout terrible violence.
She nearly chuckled to herself at how compliant she had always been with her family. Letting them destroy towns and lives, for no reason other than the sport of it. And for them to repay that loyalty with a silver dagger, and goodness knows how many years in a coffin…
She was sickened with herself.
/
Klaus’s leg was twitching anxiously, waiting for the communications to come from his siblings.
The minute he had the green light, he would tear Stefan’s world down, piece by pathetic piece, for even considering toying with Caroline.
His phone buzzed with Rebekah’s name.
“Little sister?”
“Hello brother, almost every thing is in place. Finn has the quarterback and the teacher, I’ve got the doppelganger, thank you for lending me you electric razor, by the way! Kol has the witch and the doppelganger’s brother. The only issue is Elijah can’t find Damon.”
Klaus gritted his teeth.
“I think we might just start without Damon, then; we can’t wait any longer. Have Elijah help Kol instead,” Klaus said.
“And have you done your part, brother?”
“Of course I have,” Klaus snapped.
It was agreed that to lure to bait out, unfamiliar faces would be best – giving Finn, Kol, and even Elijah to an extent an advantage over Rebekah and Klaus. Though, Rebekah had put her foot down, saying she ‘dibs-ed’ the doppelganger.
And thus, Klaus’ task was to line the perimeter of the Salvatore estate with gasoline, and maybe something explosive, then dig a fire break around it, so if Stefan decided not to talk, they could control burn his life around his wretched ears.
“Are you on route?”
“Yes, we’re about five minutes away, I suppose,” Rebekah said.
“Make sure you all stagger your arrival for maximum impact,” Klaus ordered. “I want Stefan to feel hope until the very last moment.”
Without another word, Klaus hung up his call to Rebekah, and sprang into action.
And before those five minutes were up, Klaus was pulling up outside the Salvatore boarding house. He knocked commandingly on the front door, and was infuriated when he was met with a smug smirk from his former friend.
“Stefan, lovely to see you mate, I’m here to collect my prize.”
“Your prize, Klaus, isn’t here. As I said, you will never see her again, not in one piece anyway.”
For Caroline’s sake, Klaus did everything in his power to keep his calm.
“Well, in that case, perhaps we can remake an episode of This Is Your Life?”
As if on cue, Finn arrived, flashing to the front and dumping the unconscious bodies of Alaric and Matt at Stefan’s feet.
“Finn, brother, apparently Mr Salvatore here has plans to mince our darling sister, perhaps you could show him the same courtesy, using these two as surrogates of course.”
“With pleasure.”
Stefan looked between the two brothers, confused and wary, having been unable to decipher much of what they were saying.
But the meaning of the sentence wasn’t missed, as the brown haired Mikaelson bent down, and ripped the finger encasing the Gilbert ring clean from Alaric’s body, before turning to dislocate Matt’s shoulder, leaving it pointing in a wholly unnatural direction.
“Now I will ask again, Stefan, where is she?”
“I will never tell you,” Stefan spat, coldly disregarding the suffering of his friends.
“On your own head,” Klaus said, taking a step back, as Elijah and Kol, arrived on the scene, each restraining a struggling body.
“What would be the best way to torture these two?” Klaus mused aloud to his brothers.
“This one’s true torture will come in due course,” Elijah said, nonchalantly, his vice grip clamped around the muscular arms of Jeremy Gilbert. “However, I suppose I could inflict some physical torture. For effect, of course.”
“Well it’s easy for this pretty little thing,” Kol said, grinning wickedly, biting into his wrist, as forcing it to the mouth of Bonnie Bennett. “Break that connection with nature, become that disgusting creature she reviles so much.”
“Please, stop. Let me go,” Bonnie said, weakly, struggling meekly against Kol’s strong grip. “Stefan please, I can’t turn.”
“Tick-tock, Stefan, time does march on,” Klaus said. “Where is she?”
“I will not tell you,” Stefan said, furiously ignoring Bonnie’s whimpering pleas, or Jeremy’s grunts of pain.
“Fine then. Rebekah!” Klaus hollered over his shoulder.
Stefan furiously hoped they hadn’t found her. He’d told her to stay inside, to not come out for any reason. Surely she would be safe, surely she had –
But he was cut off mid-thought as a swath of brown hair was thrown in his face, and Elena’s perfect face came into view.
Stefan’s knees nearly buckled, taking in her appearance. Her face was tear-streaked, yes, but that was hardly noticeable through the blood dripping down her face from her mangled head, large chunks of skin ripped from her skull.
“I thought I would arrest her of that horribly boring hair of hers,” Rebekah said, poisonously. “It was just so straight all the time.”
“Stefan,” Elena snivelled. “Please, just tell them what they want, please.”
Stefan’s nostrils flared, and fury, and agony coursed through his veins.
“I will kill her Stefan,” Rebekah stated, her hands placing her hands on either side of Elena’s garbled face.
“What about his hybrids,” Elena said, desperately trying to bargain for her own life. “Without me, you don’t get anymore hybrids.
“You broke the curse, brother?” Kol asked.
Klaus smirked in replied and flicked his eyebrows.
“Well, congratulations!”
In lieu of responding, Klaus menacingly strode toward were Rebekah suspended Elena by her head in mid air.
“Without Caroline, hybrids mean nothing to me,” Klaus spat in her face. “So someone tell me, or all six of your pathetic little lives will be snuffed out in the most horrific way possible. And then I will find that horrendous brother, and snuff him as well. Then burn this town, and all its residents to the ground.”
The four conscious Mystic Falls residents stoically kept their silence, for a few moments, until Klaus said, “Fine then, Elijah!”
Before anyone could blink, Elijah had broken Jeremy’s back, and the young boy gargled out a cry of pain.
“No!” Elena shrieked.
“He has approximately a minute left, we can still heal him,” Klaus said, in a sing-song voice, radiating a wrath Stefan never thought possible. “Bonnie is next on the menu, and if she dies, well, we all know her fate.”
“She’s in the Lockwood cellar! With Damon,” Elena sobbed.
“Elena, no!”
“Please just help Jeremy, I need Jeremy.”
“Well, then, that wasn’t so hard,” Klaus said, as he narrowed a smirk at Stefan. “Heal the boy, Elijah. Then make them unable to follow us.”
Each Mikaelson sibling delivered a blow to their charge, and suddenly all was silent, as the whimpers and grunts of pain made way for heavy breathing.
“Does anyone actually know where this ‘Lockwood cellar’ actually is,” Kol said, letting Bonnie’s body flop unceremoniously to the dirt below.
“Well, no but I’m sure it can’t be that hard to find, given that there is a ‘Lockwood Estate’ only a few miles from here,” Klaus said. “Uh-uh-uh.”
It was at that moment Stefan attempted to run, though he made the mistake of passing Klaus, who stuck his hand out and grabbed the young vampire by the neck.
“You took everything from me, Klaus, and now this?”
“I warned you very clearly, Stefan,” Klaus said, coldly. “You and your gang have been quite lucky with your upper hand over me during the sacrifice. But I don’t fight with vigour much anymore, nothing is worth it. But you reunited the Mikaelson family, but kept one of our own to do with as you please.”
Klaus dug his fingers into Stefan’s neck, puncturing hole straight into his windpipe, and watched avidly as the blood drained from the wound.
“But Caroline, she is worth fighting for.”
Klaus dropped Stefan to the ground, only to stake him twice a moment later, one through each leg.
“Can’t you kill him already?” Rebekah whined. 
“No.”
“Can we still set the fire, at least?” Kol grinned, his eyes lighting up.
“Why not,” Klaus mused.
/
It had been over an hour of this man striking and maiming her. And she desolately thought that perhaps in whatever time it was now, not even her family were there for her anymore.
Throughout the hour, the man, who had identified himself as ‘Damon Salvatore’ – what a strange name – had moved her from being tied to a wooden plank, to being hung from the ceiling on suspended metal hooks.
“I had these installed, just for you,” he simpered, at some point or other, though Caroline still did not understand the language he spoke.
She was in desperate agony, as this man had arrested her of her fingers, then her hands, and now he was working on her legs. She still refused to give him the satisfaction of showing him how pained she truly was, but even she wasn’t sure why she was trying to be so stoic.
Damon raised a wooden knife to her face, and was just about to drag it across her cheek when there was a violent crash from above.
He whipped around, but before he could do anything, a figure flashed into the dark dungeon and slammed his body into the stone wall.
In her haze, she couldn’t quite make out the face, but at that moment, she lost her battle with consciousness and fell back into blackness once more.
/
“I know it’s impossible for her to be dead, but do you think she’s dead?”
“Shut it, Kol, she’ll be awake soon.”
“She’s had blood though, why isn’t she stronger?”
“The magic literally had to heal a foot, hands, fingers and ear that was cut off, obviously that’s going to take longer than a little gash in the palm.”
The first thing Caroline registered when she began to regain consciousness was the unmistakable sound of her siblings having a whispered argument. She’d heard similar conversations many times over their lives; outside doors they shouldn’t be outside of, over someone who was sleeping, in a crowded room of too many prying ears.
Though, unlike those times, she couldn’t understand what they were saying, for they too spoke in the same foreign tongue the man in the dungeon had spoken.
She nearly shuddered as she remembered the ordeal in the dungeon, but she didn’t want to reveal her consciousness just yet.
Though it didn’t seem as though she had a chance to rest any longer, as she felt a soft hand pick up her own and squeeze it.
“Caroline,” he said. “I know you awake.”
He spoke in a tongue she recognised, and that, more than anything, compelled Caroline to open her eyes. Her gaze was met with Klaus, his own eyes filled to the brim with love and care – very much at odds with how they looked the last time she saw them.
“Hello Niklaus,” she said, her voice small and delicate.
“Caroline!”
In an instant, each of her siblings were crowded around her, all of them vying for her attention; all of them saying how much they missed her, how sorry they were, making excuses for what they did to her.
“What year is it?” she said, ignoring their words, her voice trembling a little.
“2011.”
It was Klaus’ admission, not too small to take responsibility of his actions, though each sibling had nearly a thousand years’ worth of guilt on their face.
“2011?” she repeated. “So, I’ve been daggered in that box for…”
“Nearly nine hundred years,” Elijah finished.
“If it makes you feel any better, Caroline,” Finn said. “They got me only about 200 years after you, and I was only woken a few days ago.”
“Yes, and me and Bekah have been in and out of the boxes since about then as well.”
“Is this a joke to you?” she levelled Kol, who at the decency to look a little ashamed.
Caroline’s cold gaze moved to her husband – though it nearly revolted her to call him that now.
“And you… you’ve been living… awake… that whole time.”
“Yes, my love,” Klaus said, his deepest shame staring him in the face. “I will do anything to ensure your forgiveness. I love you, Caroline.”
Tears began to well in Caroline’s eyes at his proclamation. For he, still, after over 800 years apart loved her – or so he said.
And for Caroline, her love for him, and for her family, had not been time-tested. She had fallen asleep what felt like yesterday, and then woken up today, no time having passed at all. She loved them all like she loved them then – though their deep and unjust betrayal of her battled to be acknowledged.
“How is one supposed to live in 2011,” she asked. “You all seem to speak the same strange language that the man in the dungeon spoke.”
“It’s called English,” Kol said. “Old Finn over hear isn’t very familiar with it either, though he’s taken to it quite quickly.”
“There’s really a lot of things you would need to catch up on…” Rebekah said.
“Clothes, cars, television.”
“Electricity! The internet.”
“Hot showers – I guess, showers at all.”
“Flushing toilets.”
“Shorts and jeans!”
“Western medicine.”
Caroline listened closely as her siblings listed off so many words she never heard of, nor could even conceive, and it made her blood boil with anger.
“I think you all need to go,” she said, so quietly, they could barely hear her.
“But Caroline…”
“Go!” she spat. “Find something that will teach me this English, then stay away from me for a few days.”
/
Later that day, Caroline heard a knock at the door of her room.
The knock was light but firm, and Caroline just knew that it was Rebekah on the other side. Apparently some things hadn’t changed over the years.
Without waiting for Caroline to invite her in, Rebekah opened the door and stepped through it, a burly, unshaven man following her in.
“This is Alaric, he’s a teacher,” Rebekah said. “He’s going to teach you modern English. You shouldn’t have too much trouble with it, when you… left… we spoke what they now call ‘Middle English’. There is overlap with root words, and sentence structure. And in any case, you were always the best of us at picking up new skills.”
“I didn’t leave, Rebekah,” Caroline snapped. “The five of you put me down. For 800 years.”
Rebekah flushed furiously, but didn’t say anything, just left the room.
“Uh hi,” the man named Ric said. “I know you probably can’t understand what I’m saying, but I have no idea how to help you… I’m a history teacher, not an English-as-a-second-language teacher. But is there a difference to a thousand-year-old vampire who won’t take no for answer? No there’s not.”
Caroline smiled tight lipped at him, not catching a word more than ‘vampire’.
“This is a chair, I guess,” Ric said, pointing to the chair.
“Chair,” Caroline repeated.
“Yep,” he said, popping the ‘p’ awkwardly. “Chair…”
/
Six weeks later
It had been over a month since Caroline and the rest of the Mikaelson’s had been reunited, and she was still with them in Mystic Falss.
She had been living quite the wild crash course in modern day life, and she was annoyed to admit, she was slipping back into old patterns with each of her siblings. Joking with Kol, reading with Elijah and Finn, giggling with Rebekah. She had even kissed Klaus a few times.
She was now pretty fluent in modern English, and knew about showers and the internet. She refused to get behind the wheel of a car, because she didn’t see the use of them at all anyway.
She was tentative friends with Ric, who she learned only yesterday had been compelled to teach her – a compulsion she freed him of immediately.
She was regaled with many things the family had done other the centuries, and had been given the run down of what went on in the little town of Mystic Falls, during the sacrifice, and the aftermath, as well as what had taken place to get her back.
And through all of this she had not left the Mikaelson Estate alone. It wasn’t that she felt trapped there, as such, but she also knew if she tried to go anywhere, she would be sent with at least two of her siblings, and it irritated her somewhat that even now they were holding her as a bit of a hostage.
“I am going to the village,” Caroline said, now trying to speak only modern English, where possible. “Alone.”
“No you are not,” Klaus spluttered.
“Yes, I am,” Caroline said defiantly. “I am an adult woman, Niklaus, and you will not tell me what I can do. Goodbye.”
With that, Caroline turned on the heel of her very new boot, and flashed away.
Once in the centre of town, Caroline actually didn’t know what to do with herself.
But was spared the trouble of coming up with an idea when someone walked into her.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” she said, apologetically. “I am very clumsy.”
“Don’t worry about it,” the man said. “It’s – it’s you.”
“Do I know you?” Caroline asked, peering at the tall, dark haired man with interest.
“I’m Stefan Salvatore, maybe you’ve heard…”
“Oh… yes… I’m Caroline,” Caroline replied, awkwardly. “I’m really sorry my family were so awful to you… they can get pretty protective.”
“I’m sorry I told my brother to chop you up into little pieces…”
“Your brother?” Caroline said, incredulously. “Yes, you should be sorry, that hurt.”
Caroline let out a tinkling laugh, unable to hold much of a grudge against the man before her. Sure, Niklaus hated him, but didn’t mean she had to. In fact, it would probably irk Niklaus greatly if she were to befriend this young vampire.
And boy Caroline would love to do anything to irritate Klaus.
“Do you want to get a drink? I’ve been in that box for almost 900 years, I have five friends in this time, and they put me there. I could use… someone new.”
Stefan frowned, sensing it was a bad idea.
“It’s not a trap, I promise.”
Caroline gave him her most sunny smile – it was a smile that got her in and out of trouble a lot of the years – and Stefan relented. 
Stefan led Caroline to the Mystic Bar and Grill and Caroline took a seat awkwardly, while Stefan ordered for the two of them.
“So, who are you to the Mikaelsons?” Stefan asked.
“Niklaus and I married when I was quite young, so he’s my husband, and the rest are my siblings.”
“By marriage?”
“Yes, but I grew up in the hut next to theirs. They’re more my family than my blood family ever was.”
The two of them chatted away, Caroline learned a lot about Stefan’s life as a vampire, as well as his life in Mystic Falls over the last two years. She couldn’t always understand the words he used, but he was kind enough to stop and explain whenever such a word came up.
Caroline couldn’t help but feel at ease talking to him, despite his obvious unstable side, she could sense there was a lot of goodness in his heart – even if it had been poisoned somewhat by time and sadness.
It was a familiar sense – it was what happened to her family.
“May I ask a personal question?” Stefan asked, to which Caroline nodded. “Why did Klaus dagger you?”
“It was not just Niklaus,” Caroline said, sadly. “We were all living together, and they all liked being vampires, the murder and the power. I didn’t want that. So I told them I wanted to travel alone for a while. None of them wanted me to go.”
“I see,” Stefan said, shrewdly. “That’s why they were so willing to band together to save you, when they should have been angry with each other.”
“I suppose, plus I am the best sibling.”
“I can see that,” Stefan replied, slipping the lightest of flirts into his voice. “I guess you’re lucky I came into your life. I freed you.”
Caroline stiffened.
It was a thought she’d had a few times since waking, though it was one she always pushed to explore later. But having it so casually raised with her, she realised she couldn’t deny the question anymore.
“I’ve got to go.”
/
Klaus was sitting agitated in his study.
It had been six whole weeks since his family had been reunited, and there were times when it felt like nothing had changed. But there were also times when he could set fire to west wing of the house and still would receive no attention from any of them.
He supposed that was fine. It wasn’t an unfamiliar dynamic.
But, he reasoned, he was the only one of the six of them who remained awake the entire time. He guessed he wished they needed him more, the way he needed them.
Suddenly the door to his office flung open, and there stood Caroline.
Her eyes were full of tears, her cheeks flushed from what he could only assume was the run home from town.
“Would you have woken me if Stefan hadn’t kept me?” Caroline asked, in a strangled voice, reverting back to their old tongue for her own ease.
“What?” he asked, defensively.
“Stefan just said to me that maybe it was lucky he took me, because he freed me from your betrayal.”
“Stefan just said to you, Caroline? Your friends with Stefan now?”
“Don’t avoid my question, Niklaus,” she said, dangerously. “Would you have woken me now? Would you have woken any of us now?”
“Mikael is dead, Caroline, it was my plan to insight a family reunion.”
“That still doesn’t answer my question!” she sobbed. “If Stefan hadn’t woken me to torture you, would you have woken me now? You reasoning has always been Mikael would have killed me if I was alone. So, now he’s dead, would you have woken me?”
Klaus mouth stayed tightly shut, unable, or at least unwilling, to answer her.
“How could you?” she asked, her voice so broken.
“Caroline, you have to understand, you –”
“Understand what, Niklaus? That I wanted a life beyond this family, beyond you?”
“I was –”
“I don’t care, what you were,” Caroline cried, tears freely pouring down her face. “You robbed me of eight hundred years of life that you got to live. You got to live beyond me! Why could you never offer me the same kindness?”
“What if I lost you?”
“What if you lost me?” she shrieked, the words tearing her throat. “Your sense of love and loyalty to me is completely insane if you think keeping me dead in a box wasn’t losing me, Klaus.”
“Caroline, please, I –”
“Don’t you dare say you love me, Klaus,” Caroline spat, the tears on her flaming cheeks mixing with the sweat and mucus dripping down her face, forming a grotesque imprint of the Caroline he’d loved and lost so long ago. “I could have been there in 1492 when you tried to break the hybrid curse the first time, I could have been there when you adopted your son in New Orleans, I could have raised him with you! I could have been there to cheer you on when you finally succeeded in breaking the curse this year! I could have been around for all of it!”
“But you were leaving!” Klaus said, finally beginning to match her level of rage. “How can you not see how ridiculous your notions of ‘being there’ are, when you were – by your own admission – trying to not be there!”
“You’re unbelievable, Klaus,” Caroline scoffed. “That you still fail to see my side of this at all, proof that I was right back then.”
“I can’t stand you when you’re like this, Caroline,” Klaus muttered. “Just get out of my sight.”
“No,” Caroline said, giving Klaus a look of pure petulance. “What did you do with my stuff?”
“What?”
“Way back then, what did you do with my stuff? My books, my dresses, my everything!”
“I packed them in a box and it travelled with us.”
“Good, where is it?” Caroline asked, petulantly. “I want it.”
“Cellar.”
Klaus grunted the last two syllables as he brushed past Caroline, and stalked away from her.
She rolled her eyes, but made her way to the cellar instead of engaging him further.
/
Elena Gilbert was sitting on the couch in her home shaking intermittently.
The past year had taken its toll on the young woman, and the events of only the last couple of days had served to shake her more deeply than she thought possible.
She refused to see Stefan, or Damon – both complicit in disregarding her life, and the life of her family for their own revenge fantasies. She ordered both Jeremy and Bonnie be in her vicinity at all times, though she rarely spoke to them. Matt and Ric were allowed a little more freedom, but had to call or text her every couple of hours.
Despite the fact she was completely healed, thanks to vampire blood, Elena could still vividly feel the vicious and cold pain Rebekah inflicted upon her. And every time she looked in the mirror, and saw her bare head, her eyes would fill with tears, for her scalp was just a visual representation of all she lost since turning sixteen.
She flinched as there was a sudden knock at the door.
She knew Bonnie and Jeremy were upstairs, and Matt and Ric were at school, and surely Stefan and Damon knew better than to come grovelling for her forgiveness so soon?
Trying to pull herself together, she bravely stood up, wrapped her cardigan more firmly around her, and answered the door.
“Hi,” the blonde on the other side of the door said softly. “I’m Caroline. Are you Elena?”
Elena nodded jerkily, but didn’t say anything.
It was at this point, Bonnie came down the stairs, and, recognising Caroline, pulled Elena from the door.
“Elena, don’t, she’s one of them.”
Caroline smiled sadly – that was a line she heard frequently her entire life. She was one of them; a Mikaelson. Once she vowed her life and heart to Niklaus, she doomed herself to an eternity of spite and shame.
“They don’t know I’m here,” Caroline said gently. “I don’t even want to be invited in.”
“What do you want?” Bonnie said, tersely.
“To apologise; my family betrayed me, and I guess they thought their saving me this time would make up for that. I’m sorry for everything they’ve undoubtedly done to you. My husband, especially.”
“Which one’s your husband?” Jeremy asked, from his position behind the two girls.
“I’m sure you can guess,” Caroline huffed. “Niklaus is a brutish man, and I am loathed to admit regret for anything, but now…”
She left her sentence hanging in the air, leaving all four of them to contemplate the terrible twists and turns their lives had taken.
“It is strange,” Caroline said. “I feel as though, perhaps in another life, another universe, I could be a close friend to you three. But I don’t believe that’s for this life.”
For the first time in a few days, Elena gave a small, guarded smile to the blonde at her doorstep, and it was enough for Caroline. It was all the solace she would get from this particular encounter.
“I brought you this, I used a photocopier, whatever that is, to make you a copy from one of my old books.”
Caroline placed an envelope at the foot of the door, and took a step back, gesturing for them to take it.
“What is it?”
“It’s a spell I weaved myself, back when I was a girl, I was a witch, you know,” Caroline said, wanly. “It should spark hair growth. Over night, you should be able to regrow all the hair my brat of a sister stole from you, in any style you want. There’s also instructions on how to spell your hair to different colours, lengths etcetera.”
Elena’s eyes widened, and tears filled them.
“I know it’s not much salvation from the destruction that tends to follow my family, but hopefully it’s something. The world needs pure souls like the three of yours, and I want you to still believe there are good people out there.”
Without another word, Caroline turned and left.
She heard a quiet ‘thank you’ when she was half way across the street, and she smiled sadly again, unsure of where to go now.
/
It was a few days later, as that sun began to peak its beams through the trees, and Klaus was quietly reading when he heard a heartbroken wail, that was unmistakeably his little sister.
“Rebekah!” he called, jumping from his armchair and dashing toward her.
She was crumpled in a heap on the marbled floors of their kitchen.
“What’s the matter,” Klaus said, alarmed, as the rest of their brothers joined them.
“It’s Caroline,” she cried, barely audible through the choking sobs ripping through her. “She’s left us."
It was then Klaus noticed the the thick paper clutched in Rebekah’s hand, and the matching envelopes addressed neatly to each other them on the kitchen bench.
“I don’t know if she’ll want to come back this time,” Elijah said.
“Of course she will,” Finn encouraged.
“She can’t keep away from us forever, she won’t be able to help herself,” Kol joked, weakly.
Klaus reached for his own letter, dread coursing through his veins.
And, as he read both letters she left for him, he couldn’t help but think maybe he would never see her face again. 
/
 Hope you enjoyed! I also hope there’s not too many mistakes, I couldn’t bring myself to read this monster again!! Much love xx
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writemywaytoyourheart · 5 years ago
Text
Onsra- Chapter 1: Late Days and Awkward Encounters
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vampire!jungkook x female reader
warnings for this chapter: pure awkwardness 
If you haven’t read the prologue, do that first!! PROLOGUE
word count: 1.5k
Onsra Masterlist ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3 months earlier…(before the prologue)
“Y/N! Get out of bed right now! You are not leaving me to endure mathematics by myself today!” Your best friend yanks the covers off your head in an unforgiving manner, throwing them to the floor and pouncing on top of you. You shriek when her skinny fingers dig into your sides and start tickling mercilessly.
“Get off! I’m up, I’m up! Stop it!”
Ga-In laughs and rolls away from you, squealing when you shove her off the bed. She hits the floor with a loud thunk and pouts when you smirk at her while looking off the edge of your bed. “I told you to stop, don’t give me that look.” You stick your tongue out at her and she chuckles, lifting herself off the ground and pretending to smack you, “get up, lazy butt. We’re already going to have to run to catch the bus.” You sigh and force yourself to stand up, despite your sore muscles screaming at you to get back in bed.
A quick look in the closet shows that you’re going to need to do laundry, but you make the best of it for the moment by grabbing the cleanest looking pair of jeans off the floor and spritzing them with perfume. 
You pull them on and scavenge the room for a decent shirt.
Because frick doing the wash. 
Ga-In is huffing and puffing next to you while the two of you practically sprint for the bus stop. Her asthma is probably kicking in, but your guessing her panting is also partly out of the rage she has for a certain someone making you both late again today. 
You start to laugh at the ridiculous situation while you truck along, backpacks flopping wildly and Ga-In clutching her skirt for dear life against the wind. People stare at the pair of you as you streak past them, apologizing if you knock into anyone. You’re starting to choke because you can’t breathe and run and laugh all at the same time, and Ga-In hears your giggles.
“Shut the heck up, y/n. I could literally kill you right now if I wasn’t so focused on not dying." 
That sends you into another fit of hysteria and you trip on a crack in the sidewalk, slamming to the ground with enough force to make pain go shooting through your wrist. Ga-In almost trips herself when she stops abruptly to see if you’re okay. She bends down and shakes her head when she sees you laughing and crying at the same time, "are you okay? Clumsy. Here, give me your hand.” You reach out and take her outstretched hand, letting her pull you to your feet.
You can’t decide if crying or laughing is the better way to go, so you just stick with alternating between both. The fall was painful, especially on your wrist, but the whole situation and the way you must’ve looked when you tripped makes you unable to stop laughing at yourself.
You look around, up, down and anywhere but your best friend while you try to blink the tears away and swallow the remaining painful giggles. Ga-In chuckles next to you, shaking her head, “really, y/n? A tiny crack in the sidewalk?” You glare at her as you wipe your eyes and shoulder your bag back into position.
“Well, we can’t all be as perfect as you, Ga-In. After you.” You sweep your arms out in front of you dramatically to tell her to keep walking. Ga-In bows and proceeds to skip ahead, “you know I love you, stinker.”
“Well, I hate you so.”
“y/n! Shut up and hurry.”
“I’m coming, geez.”
~
Needless to say; you miss the bus. It’s only a minute until your math class starts and your professor is always strict about students being tardy, so you run with all the strength left in you as you two dodge around people crowding the college campus. You’re only a few paces behind Ga-In, who’s reached the door, curse her long legs, and is holding it open for you; when you run right smack into someone who was crossing your path. 
Your momentum and how hard you hit them sends your body flying backwards and crashing to the ground. You barely register that the boy who accidently cut your b-line to the door hasn’t even fallen and he’s apologizing quietly, before you leap to your feet and dart past him; not sparing him a single glance but gracing him with a quick ‘I’m so sorry!’ as you sprint for the open door. 
You don’t dare stay behind and risk the wrath of Mr. Sung today.
The young man looks after you and bites back a shy smile, shoving his friends off him when they start to tease, “ohhh, someone’s got a crush.” He groans and pushes the other boy away from him, “get off. We’re late for class.”
~
Your eyes scan the cafeteria when you walk in; girls and guys alike either walk aimlessly picking a random table, or shoulder past people to sit with their groups. Ga-In waves at you from across the room and you smile and wave back, pointing at the lunch line and mouthing 'I need food’.
She nods and sends you a thumbs up; assuring you she’s got a seat saved. You scoot into the line and grab a tray, scanning the options to pick from quickly before your stomach implodes with hunger, when you overhear a girl whisper to her friend next to you.
“Did you hear about it?”
“About what?” Her friend whispers a little louder and the first girl shushes her before continuing, “-the police found a body yesterday. Someone was murdered.” Your eyes widen a tad, but you smile at the lady behind the counter and point to a sandwich, “that one please.” You keep pretending like you aren’t listening in on the girls’ conversation.
No. You’re not listening in. You just happened to hear a little something. A little something about a body. A supposed murder. Wait, what else was she saying now?
Against your better judgement; you lean a little closer to them and almost choke on your own breath when they suddenly walk away, whispering and sharing secrets without including you, who obviously just wanted to know a little info. What harm could that bring? 
What really startled you though, was how abruptly they get out of line, which sends you stumbling a little. You accidently step on the foot of the person that was behind them and apologize profusely, “oh gosh, I’m sorry. I- I’m a little out of it today.” You haven’t met his eyes. 
Yes, it’s a he and you can tell from his black combat boots. Which is actually why you’re so nervous.
You know those boots.
The same boy that you ran into before math today. 
He most likely hates you now for running away so quick after that incident. He must think you’re so rude, but you didn’t see him fall so you thought he was fine! 
You just stare at the lace on his boots, noticing that he tied them on the second to last line of lace holes. That’s kind of annoying, but whatever. 
It’s silent for a minute so you start to turn to walk away before he mentions anything from earlier, but then you hear his quiet and low voice mumble almost incoherently, “uh no, no it’s okay.” You smile and bow, but still refuse to look at his face, because if he’s cute then you’ll just have to chuck yourself out the window. You can see he bows as well as you turn to scurry to safety.
Shaking your head in disbelief at your rotten luck today, you swerve around the other students and head straight for Ga-In, who’s eating silently in the corner. As you pass a table of boys you hear one speak lowly to his friend, “dude, did you see the news?” That sparks your interest and you try to slow down subtly, listening intently to what they’re talking about. Maybe you’ll get a little more detail than those girls cared to give. The second boy appears to shake his head and the first scoots closer holding his phone out to show him a picture.
“They found a body yesterday and the police think the killer is going to strike again.” His friend just laughs and shakes his head, “how can they know that?” Boy number one scoffs and taps away on his phone.
“You seriously need to pay better attention to the news, dude. There have been four murders in the past week before this one, and it’s all the same guy.”
“Oh yeah? How do they know that for sure?" 
You’re probably looking like a creeper right now because you’ve come to a full stop behind them, clutching your tray and trying to get a glimpse of the picture on his phone. 
"Because they were all done the same way and all of them were in Seoul, idiot. It’s definitely a serial killer." 
Your breath catches in your throat at his next words, ”-the police found the same marks on every body they found. Two puncture wounds on them, nothing else. The report says it seems like they bled to death…but, there wasn’t much blood at the crime scene.“
Well….that’s absolutely horrifying.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
a/n: I hope you guys like this one, dw it’ll start getting good soon ;) thanks for reading! Let me know what you think :)
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spacesuitsforemergency · 4 years ago
Text
The Rise Of Iron Maiden
Chapter 7: The Time Heist
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Word Count: 2.5k
Originally Requested by: @amateurwriterbigdreamer
Previous Chapter: Whatever it Takes
A/N: pretty short chapter, but shits about to go down. Also literally everyone’s adopting Tye, he just keeps getting passed around
You blink, and you’re somewhere in New York City. You look around, recognizing what was happening; this was when the Avengers first became a team. You looked to Apache Chief, Iron Man, Captain America and Ant Man for orders.
“All right, we all have our assignments. Two Stones uptown, one Stone, down. Stay low. Keep an eye on the clock.” Captain America said.
“Alright, you two know how to get to the Sanctum from here?” Your dad asked as he retracted his helmet to look you both in the eye.
“Got it, dad.” You nodded, retracting your own helmet.
“Isn’t this so cool? We just time traveled!” Scott whispered to you two.
“Easy there, Marty McFly.” Tye pat his shoulder.
“Focus please?” Tony snapped at you.
“We’ll get the Time Stone, don’t worry.” You reassure him. “You gotta remember we can handle ourselves, dad.”
“I’m well aware you can handle yourselves.” Your dad said before opening his mouth to add a snarky comment.
“Go.” Steve ordered you.
You nod and turn to leave, then rushed to your dad and tackled him in a hug. He was surprised at first, thinking you were still angry with him about the past couple of years. Your hug was an apology, which he graciously accepted and held you close.
“I love you, dad.” You whispered.
“Love you too, kiddo.” He squeezed you slightly before letting you go. “Now get out of here. We’ve got our reality to save.”
You nod before following Tye, looking back one last time. You run along the streets, chaos surrounding you as Chitauri attack civilians. You don’t worry about them though, your only goal being the Time Stone.
“So you know how to get there right?” Tye asked as you both ran. “Cause I don’t know where I’m going!”
“It’s just up ahead! I can see the cafe Eduardo...” you trail off, remembering the date you went on when this all started.
“Hey, don’t worry.” Tye told you as you both ducked when a truck was thrown your way. “Think about how close we are. We are so close to seeing everyone again.”
“I know, I know.” You nod as you both stand back up.
“Now lets go get that Stone.” He holds his fist out to you, and you fist bump before darting off again. You activate your helmet and grab Tye’s hand, then fly up when you see the Sactum. The door had rubble all around it, but you figured there would be a roof exit.
You land behind a bald lady in yellow robes, fending off Chitauri with the same magic you saw Doctor Strange using.
“I'd be careful going that way.” Your and Tye spun around when she spoke. “We just had the floors waxed.”
“Uh...ma'am, we’re looking for Doctor Strange.” You day awkwardly.
“You're about... five years too early. Stephen Strange is currently performing surgery about twenty blocks that way. What do you want from him?” She asked calmly.
“That, actually.” Tye pointed to the Eye Of Agamotto around her neck.
“Ah! I'm afraid not.” She shook her head.
“Sorry, but I wasn’t asking.” Tye said as you both moved towards her.
“You don’t want to do this.” She smiled, not even moving back.
“You’re right, we don’t.” You say as you make a grab for the Eye of Agamotto. “But we need that stone, and I don't have time to beat it-“
She swiftly shoved you back, and you watched as you floated out of your body. You stared in shock, horrified that she just did that. Tye watched with his jaw dropped, backing away from the lady.
“Let’s start over shall we?” She asked.
Your astral form looked at Tye’s regular one, then down at your body lying on the floor.
“Um, why didn’t you push his soul out of his body?” You sassed, irritated.
“His astral form is different from yours. I simply can’t.” She shrugged.
“How’d you know that?” Tye’s eyes widened, now thoroughly creeped out.
“Look, lady, we need that stone.” You glared at her.
“Please.” Tye added.
“I'm sorry, I can't help you, Y/N and Tye. If I give up the Time Stone to help your Reality, I'm dooming my own.” She sighed as she started to walk away.
“With all due respect, I'm not sure the science really supports that.” You said as you followed her.
She looked at you for a moment and raised an eyebrow, before creating a projection to represent the flow of time.
“The Infinity Stones create what you experience as the flow of time. Remove one stone and that flow splits.” She flicked the Time Stone projection away and showed a black stream, indicating a point of divergence. “Now, this may benefit your reality, but my new one…not so much. In this new branched Reality, without our chief weapon against the forces of darkness, our world will be overrun. Millions will suffer. So, tell me, child of Stark, can your science prevent all that?”
“No, but we can erase it. Because once we are done with the stones, we can return each one to its own timeline at the moment it was taken. So, chronologically,” you grab the Time Stone projection and put it back. “...in that reality, it never left.”
“But you are leaving out the most important part. In order to return the stones, you have to survive.” She said, still not convinced.
“We will.” Tye said sternly. “We promise.”
“I can't risk this Reality on a promise. It is the duty of the Sorcerer Supreme to protect the Time Stone.” She shook her head again.
“Then, why the hell did Strange give it away?” Tye raised his voice in frustration.
She finally turned around to face both of you, eyes wide in surprise.
“What did you say?” She asked.
“Strange, he gave it away. He gave it to Thanos.” Tye told her.
“Willingly?”
“Yes! I watched him!” You insisted.
“...why?”
“I have no idea!” You shrug.
“Maybe it was a mistake.” Tye said. “But he did.”
“Or I did.” She sighed, then pushed you back into your body.
“Oh, that’s much better.” You sigh as Tye helped you up. You watch as she opens the Eye of Agamotto, the Time Stone glowing green.
“Strange is meant to be the best of us.” She mumbled in thought.
“So he must have done it for a reason.” You nodded.
“I fear you might be right.” She said as she gave you the Time Stone.
“Thank you.” You smiled at Tye in relief and victory.
“I’m counting on you, Y/N and Tye. We all are.” She said, watching you take the Time Stone like a first time mother giving her child to a babysitter.
“Ready?” You asked Tye as you both prepared to go back.
“Hell yeah.” He grinned.
You grabbed each other’s hand in a handshake then pulled each other into a one armed hug, patting each other on the back. Then you hit a few buttons on your watches, and you were sucked back into the present day. You both retract your helmets and look around, seeing everyone also doing the same.
“Did you get them all?” Bruce asked as he rushed up to meet you guys on the platform.
“You telling me this'll actually work?” Rhodey asked happily.
“Wait...where’s mom?” Tye asked, staring at the spot where she used to be standing between him and Clint.
“Clint? Where’s Nat?” Bruce asked as everyone stared at him for an answer. He didn’t say anything, his eyes clouded with mourning. Tye fell to his knees and you tried to catch him, and you stared at him in shock when you saw a single tear fall down his face to the floor. You had never seen him cry, hardly ever show emotions at all. Your own sadness also dragged you down, but you had to s strong.
“We should...get out of these suits.” Rocket mumbled after awhile.
You all got out of your time suits and handed them off to Rocket and Scott, and you, Tye and the remaining Avengers were led out to the lakeside by Tony. You hugged your dad and silently cried, everyone else standing and staring at the water.
“Do we know if she had family?” Your dad asked as he rubbed your back to comfort you.
“Yeah. Us.” Steve mumbled.
“What?” Thor asked, confused.
“I just asked him a question–“
“Yeah, you're acting like she's dead. Why are we acting like she's dead? We have the stones, right? As long as we have the stones, Cap, we can bring her back, isn't that right? So stop this shit. We're the Avengers, get it together.” Thor snapped.
“We can’t get her back.” Clint shoot his head.
“What?”
“It can’t be undone.”
“I'm sorry. No offense, but you're a very earthly being. Okay? We're talking about space magic. And "can't" seems very definitive don't you think?”
“Yeah, look, I know that I'm way outside my paygrade here. But she still isn't here, is she?”
“No, that's my point–“
“It can't– be undone. Or that's at least what the red floating guy had to say.” Clint became angry and started shouting. “Maybe you wanna go talk to him, okay? GO GRAB YOUR HAMMER, AND YOU GO FLY AND TALK TO HIM!”
Clint’s face fell, grief clouding his judgement. You blinked away tears and let go of your dad, moving to stand next to your friend, who’s eyes never left the water.
“It was supposed to be me. She sacrificed her life for that goddamn stone. She bet her life on it.” Clint’s voice cracked.
Bruce grabbed a bench, and in a burst of anger, he hurled it clear across the entire lake.
“She's not coming back. We have to make it worth it. We have to.” Bruce clenched his fists.
“We will.” Steve reassured him.
During another long stretch of silence, Tony motioned for you to follow him. You left the dock with him, Thor, and Steve, leaving Clint, Bruce and Tye alone. They need more time than you, since they were all closest with her.
Flashbacks of Natasha raced through Tye’s mind, his brain still hardly comprehending she was gone forever. He thought about the first time he called her mom. The day she taught him how to shoot a gun. When they watched old football games together and cheered, despite already knowing the outcome.
“You called her mom?” Clint said as he stood next to Tye, Bruce still pacing behind them.
“Yeah. She said I could.” Tye said quietly.
“Didn’t know you two were so close. Even before the Snap.”
“You were gone.” He said bitterly. “You wouldn’t know.”
Clint was about to retort, but shut his mouth. The kid was right. He was gone. He left them. He left Natasha. He left Tye.
Before the Snap they were close, Clint always helped Tye work on his speed and accuracy. They were sarcastic together, and would play pranks on the rest of the team together. Clint accepted Tye into his own family, since the kid never really had one.
“I’m sorry, Tye.” Clint said after awhile. Tye didn’t answer, but didn’t protest when Clint draped an arm around his shoulders.
You watched as your dad and Dr. Banner start to place the Stones in the new gauntlet, carefully and and nervously.
“Boom!” Rocket shouted from beside you, Tony and Bruce both jumping and whipping around to glare at him. Rocket and Tye snickered to each other, then laughed loudly when Tony threatened them.
They bring the gauntlet to another room, where everyone gathered in their usual superhero suits.
“All right. The glove's ready. Question is, who's gonna snap their freaking fingers?” Rocket asked.
“I’ll do it.” Thor said.
“Excuse me?” Scott asked.
“It’s okay.” Thor shrugged, and moved towards the gauntlet.
“No, no, no, whoa. Stop. Stop. Wait a sec. Hey, hey–!” Everyone shouted at him.
“Wait, wait, Thor, just wait. We haven't decided who's gonna put that on yet.” Steve held him back.
“I'm sorry. What, we're just sitting around waiting for the right opportunity?” Thor asked.
“We should at least discuss it.” Scott said, Rhodey agreeing with him.
“No, no, sitting here staring at that thing is not gonna bring everybody back. I'm the strongest Avenger, okay? So this responsibility falls upon me. It's my duty.” Thor insisted.
“Thor, this isn’t about that-“ you start.
“It's not that– Stop it! Just let me!” Thor started to tear up. “Just let me do it. Just let me do something good. Something right.”
“Look– It's not just the fact that that glove is channeling enough energy to light up a continent, I'm telling you, you're in no condition.” Tony explained to him.
“What do you– What do you think is coursing through my veins right now?” Thor asked.
“Cheez Whiz.” Rhodey mumbled, Rocket elbowing Tye as they both snickered.
“Lightning.” Thor snapped at them.
“Yeah.” Tony sighed.
“Lightning won’t help you, pal.” Bruce said, everyone turned to him. “It’s gotta be me.”
Everyone stared at him.
“You saw what those stones did to Thanos. It almost killed him. None of you could survive.” Bruce told you.
“How do we know you will?” Steve asked.
“We don't. But the radiation's mostly gamma.” He moves towards the gauntlet. “It's like...I was made for this.”
“Good to go, yeah?” Your dad asked.
“Let’s do it.” Bruce nodded.
“You remember– everyone Thanos snapped away five years ago and just bringing them back to now, today. Don't change anything from the last five years.” Tony instructed everyone.
“Got it.” You nodded.
Everyone suited up and prepared, you held up a shield for you and Tye as Rocket hid behind both of you.
“F.R.I.D.A.Y., do me a favor and activate Barn Door Protocol. Will you?” You asked the AI system.
“Yes, boss.” She said and the facility goes into lockdown.
“Everyone comes home.” Bruce whispered to himself as he puts on the gauntlet. He grunts in pain when the power surges through his veins, making them glow.
“Take it off! Take it off!” Thor shouted.
“No wait!” Tye shouted.
“Bruce, you okay?” Steve asked.
“Talk to me, Banner.” Tony said calmly.
“I’m okay. I’m okay.” Bruce nodded.
You kept the shield up when he snapped, screaming in pain. He passes out, the gauntlet falling off his hand, and Clint kicked it away.
“Bruce!” Steve shouted.
“Don’t move him.” Tony ordered.
“Did it work?” Bruce asked weakly.
Scott walked to the window, seeing plants and birds. A smile makes a way to his face. You followed Clint when you heard his phone ringing, joy overwhelming you when you saw his wife’s name. Your phone was on the counter next to him, and a moment later you saw ‘Lalo’ on the screen.
“It’s Jaime.” Tye pulled out his own phone from his pocket.
“It’s Eduardo.” You smile, and you both answer your phones.
“Y/N? Y/N!” Eduardo shouted in panic.
“Eduardo? You’re alive?” You smile, tears pouring down your face.
“Guys...I think it worked.” Scott alerted you all.
“Princesa, tell me you’re okay!” Eduardo shouted.
You didn’t get the chance to answer, when suddenly, the compound exploded.
13 notes · View notes
writer-k-pop · 5 years ago
Text
Visuals
너는 원벽헤. You’re perfect.
Description: San has always had insecurities with his appearance but they haven’t been bad until a public incident causes him to fall back a few steps. Warnings: None Genre: Angst Word Count: 2.1k
Ateez Masterlist | Masterlists
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For three days, it’s been all over the news. There is no way any one can escape it. Not even the company could stop the spread of it.
Scrolling past yet another article reporting that Netizens are upset and demanding legal action and spreading a hashtag to keep his hopes up. I haven’t watched it yet. Not trusting myself to control myself during the day but I’m home now. Tucked in bed. Able to block out the entire world with the press of a button.
“Screw this,” I think to myself, “I’m going to watch it and then go straight to bed.”
I scroll back up, find the last article I saw about it, and tap the video attached to the article. Turning up the volume, I brace myself for what may come next.
At first, it’s just them attempting to get through a crowd and a bunch of camera clicks going off. Reporters yelling for them to look this way and that. I spot San immediately with his faed red highlights shining against his natural hair. He’s wearing the coat we spent hours searching for a couple months ago. The memory of running around to different stores to find the perfect one brings a smile to my face.
But a female’s voice wipes the smile away in seconds.
“San! Why does your face look like that?”
“Did you even put make up on today?”
San’s gaze becomes glued to the floor.
“Look at the other members, why can’t you keep up?”
I watch the screen with sadness and anger as Hongjoong pushes forward through the crowd, Seonghwa wraps his arm around San’s shoulder while Mingi and Yunho use their height to block any line of sight to San. At the rear of the group, Jongho and Yeosang flank a furious looking Wooyoung.
The video ends.
I slam my phone down on the bed and throw an arm over my eyes.
“How could anyone be that cruel to any human being? Especially to San. This boy has been through so much I just-“ My thoughts are interrupted by a text.
“Have you seen the video?” Seonghwa asks.
“Why do you ask?” I send back.
“Because I think you need to watch it.” Seonghwa replies quickly. “I think you need to know what’s going on there to help with what’s going on here.”
“What’s going on there?” I ask, sitting up in bed, ready to run out of the house if needed.
“We can’t really do anything tonight but Yunho told me he covered up the mirrors in their room.” Seonghwa answers. “I don’t know the details of what happened in the past but I thought you should know. We can try to talk to him but again, I think it’d be best coming from you. Please watch it.”
“I’ve seen it.” I tell him, “I just watched it and I’m pissed.”
“We all are.” Seonghwa agrees, “Wooyoung was ready to rip off the head of Lucifer himself.”
“Has San said or done anything?” I ask, needing the clarification.
“He’s had a few degrading comments but he’s trying to hide most of it. Come over tomorrow? We have the day off while the company tries to deal with most of it.” He informs me.
“Yeah, I’ll be over.” I tell him and move to my chat with San.
“I love you, my amazingly handsome prince San.” I add a couple kissy emojis before hitting send.
San replies with two kissy emojis.
Sighing, I shut my phone off and snuggle back under the blankets. Tomorrow then.
———————————————————————————————————
“Am I too early?” I ask myself as I stand in front of the elevators. Checking my phone, it reads 10:03 am. “It shouldn’t be too early?”
I texted Seonghwa and he knows I’m coming.
The elevator doors open and I step into the silent, empty space. Clicking the right floor, I feel gravity pushing against me as I’m transported to their floor.
I knock on their door and not five seconds later, Seonghwa opens the door with damp hair and a towel in hand.
“Am I too early?” I ask softly, knowing that he’s usually the first one up.
He shakes his head as Hongjoong appears, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
“Oh, (y/n).” He greets when he sees me. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Hongjoong.” I smile at him, “Ah, I should’ve brought breakfast.”
Seonghwa shakes his head, “It’s okay, I went shopping last night so we have plenty of food.”
“Is San still sleeping?” I ask, cutting right to the chase, as Seonghwa retreats down the hallway.
Hongjoong nods, “Yunho is awake but I’m pretty sure San’s still out cold.”
Walking to San and Yunho’s room, Yunho comes out of the bathroom. With a silent nod of understanding, he walks away the way I came, leaving the room to San and I.
I quietly sneak into the room and look around. Seonghwa was right. The two floor length mirrors are covered with dark blankets and the couple makeup mirrors on their desks are turned towards the wall.
I walk over to San who’s holding onto Shiba for dear life. Sitting down on the bed, I study his face. The way his hair falls over his smooth skin. His eyelashes fan out beautifully over his cheeks. With lips like his, it’s hard to remember that he has a nose perfect for landing kisses on. And knowing those lips hide the prettiest smile known to man kind makes me smile.
Playing with his hair, I wonder how anyone could be so mean to a pure soul like San.
San groans and slowly blinks his eyes open.
“Good morning, Sannie.” I say softly, watching his eyes quickly find me. Ditching Shiba, he wraps me in a hug and pulls me down onto the bed with him.
“Good morning.” He says, snuggling his nose into my neck.
“How are you doing?” I ask, intertwining our hands.
“I’m doing okay. We have the day off so I’m quite happy I can sleep in.” San replies, still half asleep. “How are you?”
“I’m okay.” I answer, quickly thinking of a way to divert the conversation back to him. I know that it’s not healthy to leave an issue alone until it boils over, especially with San. “I’m thinking of doing something to my hair again. But I don’t know if I want to dye it or cut it?”
San pulls back and looks at my hair while running a hand through it. “Leave it, I like yours like it is. Mine on the other hand is starting to fade. I liked the red.”
“Have you seen it? It hasn’t faded too much.” I ask, slowly pushing.
“Not recently.” San answers and rolls onto his back.
“Why not?” I ask.
Silence.
“San?” I look over at him. His eyes are closed and his jaw his clenched. “San, are you okay?”
San opens his eyes but refuses to look at me, instead staring straight up at the ceiling.
“You know you can tell me anything.” I turn on my side to face him. “You know I’m always right here no matter what. No matter what anyone says.”
“So you saw it then?” San asks after a few deep breaths.
I nod silently.
“I keep telling the guys I’m fine.” San insists, still not looking at me, “Sure, it bugged me for a day or so but I’m fine, negative words like that don’t affect me anymore.”
“San-”
“And I’ve read all the comments under the hashtag,” San cuts me off in a rush, “I agree with most of them. If that girl were a real ATINY, she wouldn’t say those things. She’s not a real fan, so her words shouldn’t affect me.”
“Hey, Sa-”
“Those words mean nothing.” San keeps going, his voice starting to shake. “Nothing. Physical appearances are strictly superficial. Who even sets the standards of beauty? And who is she to judge my appearance? No, she’s a nobody who has no real power to make those judgements about me.” He sits up in bed and I follow suit.
“San, just cause she has no power doesn’t mean her words didn’t hur-“
“(Y/n), I said I’m fine.” He says, sniffling, “I’m fine.”
“Look around your room, San, and then look me in the eyes and tell me that you’re fine.” I tell him, angry that this girl made him feel the need to cover up his troubles from me of all people.
San slowly looks around the room and I watch as his eyes linger on the mirrors he’s turned and covered.
“I’m-“ His voice cracks and my eyes follow the single tear that falls from his eyes.
Now it’s my turn to wrap him in my arms and hold him.
“You’re right, she doesn’t hold any power to place any judgement on anyone else.” I tell him while he silently cries into my shoulder, “But it doesn’t make it hurt any less. Sannie, it’s okay to fall back. It’s okay to doubt every once in a while. It’s okay. But don’t hide it from me or from your other members.”
San’s arms wrap around my waist and he squeezes me tightly.
“Everything she said about you is false. It’s all bullcrap. I know it. Your members know it. Every true ATINY know it. We all know it.” I kiss the top of his head, “But you have to know it too.”
San nods but his tears continue to fall.
“You have amazing visuals.” I begin to list off his ridiculously attractive features. “Your makeup free face is a gift from the gods. What am I saying? You, yourself, are a gift from the gods. They wouldn’t give just anyone the perfect face with perfect proportions and perfect skin and perfect everything. Only a select few are blessed with it, and you are one of them.”
I feel San’s tears slow but he’s still sniffling.
“Out of all the members, you’re obviously the best looking one. Just ask your fans.” I finish, squeezing his shoulders.
“You’re obligated to say that.” San says with a tiny, tiny smile on his face.
“Am not!” I retort, “And even if I am, it’s still true. You saw the hashtag, you saw the comments under it. ATINY agree with me.”
“It still hurt.” San says, shoulders sagging a little. “We’ve dealt with a lot of negative comments but they were always on a screen, I’ve never had someone say them to me in person.”
“It will always hurt.” I tell him. “And as your group gains more and more attention, what happened a few days ago may happen more often. But next time, you won’t let it hurt as badly. You want to know why?”
“Why?” San asks.
“Because up here,” I tap his forehead, “you know you’re perfect. In here,” I tap his chest above his heart, “me and your members will make sure you feel perfect. And out there,” I point towards the window, “There are hundreds of thousands of ATINY willing to fight to protect you.”
San smiles and grabs my hands.
“You’re feeling better?” I ask, looking into his eyes.
He nods, “I am. So much better. Thank you.”
I smile, “Then put the mirrors back, they’re starting to look like people just standing in the corners of your room.”
San giggles and climbs out of bed. He turns the desk mirrors back around and moves to the bigger mirrors. Letting the blankets slink to the floor, he stares at his reflection.
I walk over and stand next to him. “What are you looking at?”
“You were right.” San presses his lips into a line while turning his head left and right.
“I usually am but about what this time?” I ask, thoroughly confused.
He runs a hand through his hair, “The red hasn’t faded as much as I thought.”
Just as I’m about to tell him off, his stomach grumbles in hunger. We laugh and begin the short walk to the kitchen.
“I’m not going to watch the video but I read that Wooyoung looked ready to kill someone.” San remarks with a smile as we reach the kitchen where Seonghwa is cooking.
“I was!” Wooyoung speaks up from the table, a fire ignited behind his eyes. “And I still am!”
I laugh, “You carry the body and I’ll dig the hole?” I joke.
“No one’s killing anyone.” Hongjoong says, appearing from the bathroom.
Seonghwa sets a platter of food on the table, “Until you’ve eaten some food.”
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heavenly-roman · 5 years ago
Text
Bait
Plot: Remus has a plan. He just needs the perfect bait - Logan seems to be the answer
Warnings: kidnapping (and everything that comes along with that), unsympathetic remus, feelings of worthlessness, feelings of abandonment and inadequacy, one (1) ‘swear’, one (1) kiss
Pairing(s): logince, platonic dlamp
Word Count: 1955
if you like this, consider buying me a coffee?
inspired by this gorgeous artwork by @sandy-sides !!! thank u for letting me write this story based on your work!!!
(ao3 link!!)
+++
It’s late. Logan knows it’s late. Does that stop him from hunching over his desk to finish his work that could very well be done in the morning? Absolutely not. 
The thumping footsteps in the hallway alert him to someone’s presence, calling, “come in!” before they could even knock. 
“You’re no fun,” Remus pouts, opening and closing the door rather quietly for the chaotic side. Logan looks him over once, the rope in his hand not alarming him as much as it should - classic Remus to have some sort of unsettling item in his hand. What does alarm him, however, is the sinister grin on Remus’ face. 
Attempting to overlook it, Logan asks, “Is there something you needed, Remus?”
The grin on his face grows, as does his grip on the rope. Logan’s eyes widen, something unfamiliar panging in his chest - fear.
“Bait.”
+++
Logan awakes, his head spinning and muscles aching. He tries to adjust his glasses but finds he is unable to. His shoulders scream in protest of his movements, and Logan connects the dots. That must be what the rope Remus was carrying was for. Surveying the area, albeit slightly blurry, the logical side quickly assumes he is in a basement of some sort - whether it was created in the imagination or is attached to the mindscape, he is unaware.
He hears the thumping footsteps again, and feels his body freeze in fear. He concludes he doesn’t quite like this new feeling. 
The chair he is sat on creaks as he tries to examine his area a bit more, as well as find the source of the footsteps. Before he can get a good look behind him, a cold hand jerks his head to face forward, sending his glasses further down his nose.  Another hand adjusts his glasses to their rightful spot, and a sickly sweet voice whispers in his ear, “can’t have you too incapacitated, now can we darling?”
“Where are we, Remus? And why am I here? I have work to do and-” Logan’s questioning is cut off by Remus’ hand slapping over his mouth, the other one still holding his chin.
“That’s quite enough from you, Logic,” he spits the title like it’s poison on his tongue, throwing Logan’s head to the side. ”Keep it up and I might have to put that pretty little tie to better use.”
Remus circles Logan’s chair, and Logan briefly considers sticking his leg out to trip his captor - his better judgement and his incapacitated leg decide otherwise. The creative side stops his pacing directly in front of the chair and leans down, coming face to face with his prisoner.
Remus tugs on Logan’s tie, pulling him uncomfortably closer and causing the rope to bite into his skin some more. “You’ll make the perfect bait for everyone, little Logic.”
Logan scoffs, “you honestly believe anyone will come looking for me?”
Remus’ smirk falters slightly, and Logan almost, almost, believes the look on his face could be mistaken for pity, sympathy, understanding. But he plasters it back on and leans impossibly closer, practically touching noses now, and whispers, “you’d better hope so.”
+++
Logan doesn’t know how long it’s been since Remus left him before his thoughts start running wild. 
They’re not looking for you. 
The feeling of the rope grows familiar. 
They would’ve found you by now, if they really cared. 
He notices the single light bulb hanging from the ceiling. He never took Remus for a lover of cliches. 
They’re better off without you. 
He starts to believe his thoughts. 
You’re useless. 
He’s useless. 
+++
The next time he hears footsteps, they’re softer. He knows it’s still Remus, the tell-tale sound of his clunky boots are always there, no matter how quiet Remus tries to be. Despite his best efforts, Logan still hopes it’s one of the others coming for him.
“Poor Logan.”
Despite his best efforts, Logan is still disappointed.
“Still expecting your friends, are we?” Remus’ pout is fake, taunting Logan. “Or can we still call them friends?” 
When he doesn’t respond, Remus continues, “You know, my original plan was to lure them all here to save you, but this? Breaking down sweet little Logic into realising that he really isn’t one of them? That they don’t truly love him? That they’re better off without him? This is much better than the original plan.”
“Unfortunately for you, your secondary plan is not working, as I do not believe any of the things you mentioned,” Logan replies, looking forward and avoiding eye contact. Maybe if he lies enough, Deceit will appear and he’ll be saved.
Please, he’s probably just as happy as the rest of them that you’re gone. Remus did them all a favour.
“Whatever you say, Logi Bear.” Remus begins walking out again, footsteps resuming their heaviness. He flicks the light switch off, leaving Logan in complete darkness. “Whatever you say.”
+++
Logan awakes to his tie being shoved in his mouth, and shouting echoing from outside the door.
“It seems my plan has worked, albeit a little late,” Remus whispers in his ear. “If you so much as make a sound, I will tear off your fingers and make you eat them. Got it?”
Logan nods, whimpering when Remus pulls his hair for good measure. “Good boy.” Remus pats Logan’s cheek and crouches near the door. 
The shouting and banging is getting louder, when the door bursts open. A flash of purple blurs passed Logan before he shuts his eyes, the bright light from the hallway a sharp contrast to the dim lighting he has grown accustomed to in the time he has been here.
His eyes open when hands gently cup his face and Roman, horrified, whispers, “Logan?” 
Logan tries to respond, forgetting Remus’ threat and the tie in his mouth, when he spots Remus rising from his crouched position and brandishing his morning star. He curses his inability to warn Roman, when someone - Deceit? It can’t be - yells, ‘Roman, look out!”
Roman startles and unsheathes his sword, swiftly moving and blocking his brother’s strike from now hitting Logan. The clanging of the metal causes Logan to close his eyes again, and he feels deft fingers carefully untying his wrists. Another pair of hands tug on the ropes around his ankles, cursing when they won’t come undone. Logan hears a victorious cheer and winces as he hears heavy footsteps move towards him.
“Logan? It’s just me, you’re okay,” Roman speaks softly, trying his best as to not scare the other. Logan slowly opens his eyes and watches Roman’s worried expression turn into a small smile. He looks down and sees Deceit finally free one leg, just as Virgil comes to assist with the other, and his hands fall to his side. Patton rubs up and down Logan’s arms, presumably trying to get feeling back into them. Roman gently pulls the gag from Logan’s mouth and the latter gasps in a full breath, earning sympathetic looks from his friends. Logan glances around Roman and sees Remus on the ground, knocked out cold.
Roman crouches to his eye level and wipes his cheek, swiping away the tears he didn’t know were falling. They silently agree to talk about that some other time, and Roman pulls him into a bone-crushing hug. It’s not something Logan would’ve usually appreciated, but he squeezes back, and if Roman sheds a tear or two at that, Logan doesn’t need to know.
“Did-” Logan speaks as he reluctantly pulls away from Roman. His voice is hoarse, he clears his throat before he continues. “Did you guys seriously use Virgil as a door ram?”
Logan smiles as he hears his friends laugh, a sound he so dearly missed. Patton rounds the chair and nudges Roman out of his way, helping Logan stand and acting as a support. “Are you okay, kiddo?” Logan pauses to think for a moment. 
Are you okay? Well, that’s a loaded question. Physically, yes, you are okay. Mentally? How does one tell their friends that they thought they didn’t care about you, and left you tied to a chair with one of their deranged brothers? How can you-
“I’m fine, I suppose,” Logan cuts off his thoughts after a few seconds, sick of those words being the only ones he has heard for a while. “However, I really have to piss.” 
+++
It’s late. Logan knows it’s late. Does that stop him from reading over the abandoned work on his desk that he very well could have done in the morning? Absolutely not.
There are thumping footsteps in the hallway again, and Logan feels his blood run cold. He cautiously locks the door and grabs the closest thing to him to use as a weapon, which happens to be a letter opener. It won’t match against Remus’ onslaught of weapons, but he hopes that the element of surprise will be in his favour. Still, the knock on the door startles him.
“Logan?” His shoulders slump at the voice. “Can I come in?
Logan lowers his makeshift defence, but doesn’t put it away just yet - after all, he could be tricked. He unlocks the door and opens it a crack, peeking out to see Roman’s features scrunched up in concern. Letting out a breath, Logan fully opens the door and lets Roman in. 
“Talk to me.”
They sit beside each other on the bed, Logan leaning on Roman’s shoulder as the creative side holds him in a side hug. Logan visibly relaxes into Roman’s embrace. “I don’t know how to express my feelings, Roman.”
“Tell me what you’re thinking, then. I’m here to listen.”
“I’m scared, Roman. I’m so… I can’t sleep, did you know that? I can’t sleep because everytime I close my eyes I’m afraid that I’ll open them and he’ll be staring at me and this will have all been a cruel dream and you still haven’t found me because you don’t want to. It’s illogical, I know, but I can't help but just be so damn afraid.” Logan doesn’t mean to blurt it all out, but he does, and he ignores the tears rolling down his face.
“Not everything you do has to be completely logical,” Roman tilts Logan’s chin up so they’re looking into each others eyes. He smiles sadly and wipes a tear from Logan’s cheek. “You went through something traumatic, Logan, and that’s okay.”
Roman takes a deep breath before continuing, “And I’m sorry. I’m sorry we didn’t find you sooner. We were searching everywhere, I promise. Patton even went down into the basement, you know how much he hates it down there and - and I’m sorry. About everything. About Remus.”
“You don’t have to apologize for him,” Logan sniffles and inches his face closer to his companion’s. His voice quiets to a whisper. “You didn’t do anything wrong, you- Roman you saved me. You’re… my hero.”
Roman leans down ever so slightly, lips barely brushing Logan’s. “Is this okay?” he asks, moving his hand to hold the back of Logan’s neck. The latter nods, and Roman connects their lips in a gentle kiss. Logan’s hands move to hold Roman’s face, stroking his cheeks with his thumbs.
Logan pulls away and smiles, the first real smile Roman has seen since they found him. Roman returns the smile, and Logan feels metaphorical butterflies in his stomach.
“As your hero,” Roman starts, “It is my sworn duty to protect you, from monsters and evil twin brothers alike. So I’ll be here, I’ll be your hero, whenever you need me to be.”
“Do you think you could start by being my hero tonight?” Logan asks. He adds, sheepishly, “Stay?”
Roman smiles, and kisses Logan on the top of the head. “It would be my honour.”
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