#we stopped to the side and were waiting calmly for them to pass us when the husky run to us to say hello

[svantetic]

i'm dogsitting this weekend and started the day by yelling at the old woman in the park to put her husky on a leash. i love dogs but having one in the city is a nightmare because other people suck

[sanaxo-o]

Start A War (Joshua Hong)

Pairing: Joshua Hong x Female!Reader

Synopsis: Getting stuck in a town with no way to escape was not a part of your plan—getting trapped in a town where monsters come out at night to hunt and rip you apart was not your plan either. It was as if living in a nightmare where you were not able to escape but despite all of that you managed to find a small place of comfort in a person who helped you throughout your chaos filled thoughts and anxious queries with his sweet and gentle eyes which always held warmth in them.

Genre/Warnings: A From AU, angst, fluff if you squint, strangers to lovers, kissing, apocalyptic kind of au since it revolves around monsters, major character death, graphic description of a dead body, cursing, sheriff!Seungcheol, Chan and Woozi appearance, a bit of a description of torture, supernatural things happen but none of it is explained how,

Tagging: @kstrucknet @kflixnet @tokitosun @metaphorandmoonlight

Sana: So happy to finally put out my from au fic hehe. This is also my submission for @eclipsaria 100+ followers event <33 (congratulations yu baby). A huge thanks to @shinysobi @supi-wupi and @nerdycheol for beta reading this! Thank you @bella-feed for listening to me yap yap and also beta reading it. Banner made by @eclipsaria

Word count: 10,628

Teaser

Opening my eyes, I looked around the area in confusion. All I could see were trees and nothing else. As far as I can remember, there should not be any forest to reach my destination. “Excuse me, are we going in the right direction?” I asked the bus driver once I stood up from my seat. 

“This is another route I had to take, dear. There was a tree blocking our way earlier but don’t worry, we will reach the highway soon.” I nodded at her words and diverted my attention to my phone only to furrow my eyebrows in confusion when I saw that there was no service or network. 

“Well that’s just great.” I said to myself in frustration and looked outside the window only to see a town, it had this eerie feeling to it which made me shudder. There was no one outside, which just made it worse. 

“Didn’t we just pass through here?” I turned around when I heard a girl say that to herself in wonder. “What do you mean?” I questioned to which she shrugged. “I swear, we just passed through this same town a few minutes back, it’s as if we’re going in  circles.” I opened my mouth to say something but decided not to. 

Are we just lost? But that is not possible, right? How can one get stuck in a town out of nowhere? I stood up from my seat once the driver stopped the car and told us to stretch our legs and to relax while she inquired for the road which would lead us to the highway. 

I got down from the bus and looked around the place, it felt as if we were waiting for something bad to happen. “Hi…” I looked to my side to look at the guy who just greeted me. I smiled softly before muttering out a small ‘Hey’. 

I turn around, when I heard some commotion only to find our bus driver arguing with a lady. “I cannot let you go on that bus again! What is there to not understand when I say that it is fucking dangerous to go out alone!” I tilted my head in confusion as I looked behind at the guy. “What is she talking about?” 

He sucked in a deep breath when I asked that question, he opened his mouth to answer but pulled me back when that woman shot one of the bus tires. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” The bus driver yelled in anger and panic. “It is my responsibility to keep you all safe believe it or not–and god forbid if you guys get killed by those fucking creatures at night.” The woman said calmly as she motioned for everyone to enter the diner. 

I looked at the guy for a moment as he nodded his head and motioned for me to enter the diner behind others. Once settled down, the woman from before stood in front of us with a serious expression painted across her face, “This place…is not what it looks like. To put it in simpler words, you all are stuck here–and if you want to survive, you better listen to me.” I scoffed in disbelief when she said that. 

“Why can we not go out at night?” I questioned when I realised that none of the people present were asking the most obvious question. 

The woman heaved out a sigh as she sat on one of the chairs. “There are monsters who roam around at night. We keep the windows, doors–and almost–everything closed at night to ensure safety.” I felt my throat go dry at her words. 

Monsters? Is this really where I am stuck now? I slumped back in my seat, stuck in my own thoughts when I felt a presence taking a seat beside me. Turning my head, I tried to smile when I saw the guy from earlier but just couldn’t bring myself to give a real smile. 

“You don’t have to force yourself to smile, I know it’s a lot to take in and definitely not what you were expecting.” I nodded my head grimly and brought my legs closer to my chest. 

“You never introduced yourself.” I mumbled softly as I tried to make conversation with the guy. He chuckled in return and nodded his head. “I am joshua.” I couldn’t help it when a small smile took over my face when I heard his name. Nice name. I thought to myself and introduced myself to him as well.  

“So…where were you heading?” I looked at Joshua when he asked that. I puffed my cheeks with air, tears brimming my eyes when the reality about my situation sunk in. I was stuck in this godforsaken place with no way out. 

“I was going to surprise my family…I had a few days off from my job.” I nodded my head, mostly to myself. Joshua let out a small ah in acknowledgement. 

“It’s starting to get dark out…” I said the most obvious thing, my gaze looking out of the diner window. “Do those…things come out every night?” I questioned to which he gave me a small nod. 

“Every single day…it is as if they enjoy tormenting us. No matter what you do, they would always have this smile on their face–as if taunting us.” I gulped in fear when Joshua said that. 

“Is there something to eat?” I asked when I felt my stomach growling. Joshua gave a small nod and stood up from his seat to grab something for me.

I took this as a chance to look around the diner, the people present all looked stressed, anxious and of course scared. Scared about the situation they were caught in unknowingly. I looked outside the window again and realised that the sun was already down and it was nighttime. 

“What the fuck was that?” I heard one of the guys from the bus demand when we heard a loud growl from outside. I knew him as Jihoon, we were heading to the same destination. “Lady, are you sure we are safe here?” I turned my attention to the lady to hear her response when Jihoon asked that. 

“That talisman hanging by the door would keep the monsters out. We are safe but that is if you don’t open the door or windows.” 

“Hey you, wanna come out and play?” I flinched and turned my gaze towards the window when I heard a creepy yet sickenly sweet voice knock on the window. All I saw was a woman, in a nurse outfit standing before me with a wide smile across her face. 

“Y/N!” I looked behind and saw Joshua approaching me in panic as he immediately closed the curtains before I could even reply to that woman…or a monster. 

“Aww, don’t be like that Joshua. Come outside, let’s play. I don't bite.” The woman said from outside as she knocked on the window again. After a while, we heard her leave and only then did I realize I had been holding my breath. 

“First nights are always the hardest.” I turned my attention to Joshua as I heard him say that. Taking a seat beside me he placed a bowl of cereal in front of me, 

“We’re out of milk and this was all I could find.” I let out a small chuckle and nodded at him muttering a small ‘It’s okay’ as I started eating the cereal out of the bowl.

“How do you get used to something like…this.” Joshua looked up from his lap when I asked him that. He sighed again and rubbed his face with his hands as he opened his mouth to answer my question. 

“You don’t…you just accept the reality as time goes by and if you don’t this place will drive you crazy. Trust me when I say this that these monsters aren’t the worst part you would find in this fucked up place.” I stared out of the window as Joshua said that. “Hey, how about I show you around this town tomorrow?” I smiled at his suggestion and agreed. 

A small tour would be nice I guess. “You should sleep for some time, it would help you keep your mind off these things.” Saying that, Joshua stood up and left the place beside me but soon came back with a blanket in his hand. 

Stirring in my sleep, I looked outside the window as soon as I peered my eyes open. Rubbing them with the back of my hand, I slowly sat up straight, the blanket Joshua gave me yesterday still clinging onto me. 

“Good, you’re awake!” I looked up when I heard Joshua’s voice. Giving a small wave, he approached me and placed a warm cup of tea in front of me, “I was just about to wake you up. You can freshen up in the colony house and then we can walk around the house.” I furrowed my eyebrows at the word colony house. 

“Colony house? What’s that?” I questioned once I took a sip of the warm tea. Heaving out a satisfied sigh, I looked at Joshua again. 

“Colony house is where everyone lives together. People get to choose between the colony house or in the town in one of the houses.” I nodded in understanding, “I live in the colony house.” Joshua said with a smile. 

–x– 

Walking down the stairs, I looked around the colony house. It was like a mansion, filled with people who chose to live together. It had a warm feeling to it which made me feel welcomed in a way. 

Entering the kitchen, I saw Joshua helping a few people with bringing the boxes inside. Upon noticing my presence, he waved at me and approached me once he was done placing the box inside the storage room. 

“Are you ready to leave?” I nodded with slight enthusiasm at Joshua’s question. Seeing my enthusiasm, Joshua chuckled and walked ahead of me towards the main door. Upon reaching, he opened it and gestured for me to leave first with his hand forward, acting like a gentleman. 

I chuckled at his behaviour and gave a curt nod, playing along with his act. “So as you already know, this is the colony house on top of the hill and a bit ahead we have a barn.” I nodded in acknowledgement at his words and looked around the place, observing it silently. 

“Can I ask you something?” I asked with slight hesitation which made Joshua look at me with a gentle look in his eyes. “Before you found those talismans or stones, how did you survive?” I asked curiously as we both continued walking down the road to reach the town. 

“We would hide. There are hiding spots all around the town, some underground, some in the houses itself. Our town sheriff, Seungcheol, managed to find the talismans when he was busy exploring the forest at night.” I let out a small ‘oh’ at his words, “And we reached the lake.” I snapped out of my thoughts at his words and looked around the place. 

It had this magical feeling to it, a small pond with a few tires in it for fun activities, “This is the only fun place we have here. Something which doesn’t remind us about the nightmare we’re living in currently.” I nodded in understanding of his words.

“What else do you do here?” I stared at Joshua as he jumped inside the lake to take a swim. After taking a short lap, he swam back and stopped in front of me. 

“There isn’t much you can do here? We are hoping to find a way out of here. That is also one of the reasons why Seungcheol went out in the forest again with Chan. Apparently Chan can hear voices or something. We’re hoping that they come back with the answers which are helpful.” I hummed in acknowledgement again and stared at the lake for a moment.

“Are they safe in the forest?” Joshua nodded at my question. “Well they have a talisman with them so they should be safe at night. Come on, I will show you the rest of the town.”  I stood up from the ground and stared at Joshua as he came out of the lake, drenched in water. 

“Do you not want to get changed?” I questioned when he started walking in the direction of the town instead of the colony house. 

Joshua looked back at me and shook his head, “It will dry soon enough plus we are surviving on a limited amount of clothes sweetheart, cannot change them twice a day.” He said with a chuckle. 

It must have been over a week since I was stuck in this town which was possibly the worst nightmare for anyone. 

Standing beside Joshua, I stared at him as he used the stove when I suddenly realised something, “Where does the electricity come from?” I asked which made Joshua stop whatever he was cooking as he pondered over the question. 

“I honestly don’t know…it’s just always been there I guess.” I looked at the stove for a moment and turned around soon after to see if there were any cables or wires connected. 

“Joshua…why is there no cable to this wire?” I asked hesitantly, my hand gripping the bulb which was stuck on the ceiling a minute ago. He looked at me for a moment and furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. 

“That’s odd.” He trailed off, his gaze still on the bulb and the wire.

RING! RING! RING! 

I looked at Joshua with wide eyes when the telephone suddenly started ringing. “It’s never done that before.” Joshua mumbled, his breathing uneven. Taking staggering steps towards it, I looked at Joshua once again and picked up the call when he gave me a small nod. 

“Hello?” I stuttered out and waited for someone to speak from the other side but gulped when I heard nothing but just shallow breaths. I pulled it away from my ear and was about to hang up when someone from the other side finally decided to speak up. 

“Is this Y/N?” I gasped in surprise and shock when I heard that person say my name, it felt like a man's voice, hoarse and breathy. “Who is this?” I questioned, my hands shaking with fear. 

Noticing my shaken form, Joshua stepped forward and gently took the telephone from my hand, “Who is this?” He questioned angrily meanwhile I took a step back and tried to steady myself.

“Joshua…you better tell your girl to stop whatever she is thinking of doing and while at it, you might as well check up on your little sheriff. He’s been through quite a couple of rough nights. Gotta tell you though…he really fucked up by not shutting off the music box.” Saying that, the man laughed and hung up before Joshua could reply. 

The telephone immediately slipped out of his hands when he heard the threatening words from the man who was at the other side of the call. Turning around, his gaze became more gentle when he saw my shaking fear. 

Approaching me, he pulled me in a tight hug, my hands wrapping around his waist as if it was a natural instinct, “That person knew my name.” I said with a sob. Joshua nodded, his chin on top of my head as he gently patted my head. “I am scared. He knows our name!” I yelled in panic, my body trembling with every sob I let out. 

“Hey, hey calm down. You are okay, okay? I am there for you.” I shook my head at Joshua's words and slowly pulled away from the hug. 

“You don’t fucking get it, Joshua! That man knows our name! He knows us but we don’t know anything about him!” I yelled at him, panic setting in as I suddenly felt as if I could not breathe. 

Noticing my panicked reaction, Joshua held my arms and made me look at him, “Hey, take deep breaths. Look at me.” I looked up at Joshua, my eyes glossy because of tears. Following his lead, I started taking small deep breaths in, slowly feeling like my chest was opening up and as if I could breathe again. “There you go.” He said softly before pulling me in for a hug. “Good girl.” He mumbled as we stayed in that position. 

His embrace feeling oddly safe and familiar, as if that was the only thing I needed. I sniffled and tightened my grip around his waist when he was about to pull away. He let out a small chuckle and relaxed in my arms again, his chin placed on top of my head. “What did that person say to you?” I asked, my face still pressed against his chest. 

Joshua’s grip tensed around me when I asked that question, “Hmm…nothing important. I will tell you later.” I didn’t press him any further and just nodded at his words. 

It had been a few days since Joshua and I got that weird call. Currently, I was sitting beside Joshua as he talked with Seungcheol about what he encountered in the forest with Chan, 

“So you are saying that you ended up in some kind of dungeon when you jumped into the tree trunk? Do you realise how insane that sounds right now?” Joshua said to Seungcheol with a silent hiss at the end of his sentence. Seungcheol  simply nodded at him and opened his mouth to speak again. 

“Look I know that whatever I am saying makes me look insane but there are answers out there in the forest! I just need some more time to figure this out.” Seungcheol  tried to reason with Joshua. Hearing his words, Joshua shook his head in disbelief and stood up from the couch to pace around the room. 

“Seungcheol you barely made it out alive from that forest! Your arm is injured and honestly speaking you look like shit right now. You cannot go out there again…it is messing you up.” Joshua said as he looked at Seungcheol  with a concerned gaze all over his features. 

“You don’t get it, Shua. I even found this musical box at the dungeon although the man who was tied up there told me to shut it off.” Joshua and I turned to look at Seungcheol  sharply when he mentioned the music box and the man. 

“Man? What man? And what do you mean by the music box?” Joshua asked in panic as he approached Seungcheol and stood in front of him but before he could even answer Chan stormed inside the room, his hair disheveled as if he just ran across the town to get here. 

“Sheriff, come with me right now.” Was all he said before turning around to leave with us following behind him. 

Sharing a look, we followed Chan and soon stood outside the residence of one of the townspeople. People were already gathered around, whispers coming from one place to another. 

Without saying anything, Seungcheol walked inside the house and went upstairs when he heard someone sobbing. Upon entering the room, I couldn’t help the soft gasp which escaped from my throat. 

On the bed–laid a woman with her mouth open but her insides were ripped apart and blood was everywhere. Her eyes were almost popping out of her sockets as her mouth hung open. I averted my gaze towards her son who was sobbing and shaking while looking at his mother.

 Chan soon entered the room and went towards the son to comfort him. Taking in a deep breath, I looked away, feeling uneasy. 

Feeling my insides churning, I turned around and stormed out of the room with Joshua calling out my name from behind. 

Entering the bathroom, I slid down the wall and started sobbing hysterically when I realised just how fucked up that looked. I couldn’t stand to be in this place for another second but no matter how hard I tried there was no way out. 

“Y/N!” Joshua exclaimed as soon as he opened the bathroom door and entered the small cramped area. Seeing the state I was in, he heaved out a small sigh and kneeled down beside and pulled me in his embrace without me having to verbally say it to him. 

“Joshua, I don't think I can do this. I think I am going to go crazy, I am starting to see things, I hear voices in my head and I don’t like it.” I mumbled in his chest, my fingers curling into a fist as I held on his shirt as if my life depended on it and in a way it did. 

Once I had calmed down, Joshua pulled away from the hug slowly and sat on the floor in front of me, “Well Seungcheol said that we cannot sleep tonight. Whatever happened to that woman happened in her sleep so he said it is better if we stay awake as a precaution.” I stared at Joshua when he said that, a hint of disbelief evident in my eyes. 

“For how long do you even think we can stay awake for? We are all going to die in this fucked up place in one way or another.” Joshua didn’t deny when those words left my mouth because nothing was guaranteed here. 

Everyday was like a new challenge and another What if? About our chances of survival. 

“Let’s just see what happens for now, yeah?” I stared down at our hands when Joshua slowly reached out for them to hold them in his grip. It was firm but not overbearing. I entangled our fingers tighter and looked into his eyes. 

It held this warmth in them, saying ‘You don’t have to worry, we are in this together’ which just made it all the more better. Although no words were engaged, I knew that the one person I could trust in this place with my life on it would be none other than the man right in front of me. 

“This noise is so annoying.” I said to Joshua while munching on the apple he had bought for me. 

“What noise?” He questioned, his eyes focused on the knife in front of him as he continued sharpening it. Hearing no response from me, he looked up and raised his eyebrow in confusion. “Is everything okay?” I shook my head, my face a bit drained out due to lack of sleep. 

“Do you not hear the noise of those insects?” I questioned again, my hands trembling as I tried to be calm despite the growing unease. The more I forced myself to keep my eyes open, the more I felt the noise of those insects growing louder and closer. I felt my throat becoming dry when Joshua shook his head. I looked around the room–my eyes widening when I saw a bunch of cicadas on the window. 

Following my gaze, Joshua became more confused. “What are you looking at?” He asked and stood up from the chair to look outside the window. “There is nothing here.” I closed my eyes and tried to focus on my breathing. 

After a while, I opened my eyes again and breathed out a sigh of relief when I saw no cicadas on the window anymore, “I must be seeing things–lack of sleep I guess.” I said with a small chuckle, Joshua still looked concerned. 

Walking towards me, he placed his hand on my forehead to check my temperature, “You don’t seem to be down with fever, that’s good. I will get you some water then.” I opened my mouth to stop him but stopped myself. 

I watched Joshua exit the room and close the door behind him. Once he left, I felt as if the temperature had suddenly dropped. The noises of the cicadas started ringing in my ear again, making me place my hand on my ear tightly, hoping to drown out the voice– but it felt as if the insects were closer to me by each passing second. 

I opened my eyes when I felt something crawling on my leg. Looking down I let out a gut wrenching scream when I saw the cicadas entering the room through the window which was somehow open. 

Standing up from the bed, I tried to get the cicadas off of me but they just kept on climbing on me. In no time they were all over my body, I could feel them entering my mouth and that was what I remembered before I lost my consciousness. 

Entering the room, my eyes widened when I saw Y/N lying on the ground. Rushing towards her limp body, I placed her head on my lap and tried to wake her up by tapping on her cheek lightly, “Y/N, Y/N, wake up, hey…” I felt the tears brim in my eyes when she did not respond. 

“Seungcheol!” I yelled for him, I didn’t even try to stop the tears from flowing from my ears as I continued tapping Y/N’s cheek, hoping she would open her eyes. 

Sitting in Seungcheol’s office, I stared at him pace around the room while biting onto his nails nervously, “Do you remember that guy on the bus?” I nodded at his question, “Jihoon…” He whispered that boy's name under his breath and messed up his hair in frustration.

“I heard Jihoon was unconscious as well, just like Y/N.” I mumbled at which Seungcheol gave me a small nod and heaved out a sigh and took a seat on the chair in front of me. 

“Fuck,” He cursed and placed his head in his hands, “This is all my fault!” I furrowed my eyebrows when Seungcheol said that but before I could even ask him he continued, “I should have destroyed that music box when that man told me. You know what? I am going back to that dungeon.” I stared at Seungcheol as if he had lost his mind.

“Are you crazy? No way in hell are you going back in that forest!” I yelled and stood up from the chair to follow Seungcheol. 

Turning around, he stared at me for a moment and stood in front of me, “Shua, trust me on this, we don’t have much time and we will have to act soon. I either go in the forest and destroy that music box or we watch Y/N and well Jihoon lose their lives.” I inhaled a shaky breath when Seungcheol said those words, “I am leaving the town in your care, make sure no incidents take place.” I gave a small nod and stared at Seungcheol leaving the room. 

It had been a day since Seungcheol went into the forest to destroy the music box. Y/N and Jihoon were still unconscious and the town doctor said their pulses were getting weaker with every passing second. 

Sitting in front of Y/N’s bed, I washed her face and hands with a wet cloth. I could feel my heart aching at the sight of Y/N laying like a lifeless doll on the bed with no movements. Her eyes were fully white, and she would get a seizure every other minute.

“Y/N!” I exclaimed when her eyes opened out of nowhere. Circling around her bed, I handed her a glass of water and tried to calm her down when she started taking deep breaths as if she was having trouble breathing. 

“Joshua!” Seeing me standing in front of her, she instantly engulfed me in a hug and started sobbing, “It was so fucking scary–I was in that dungeon, tied to the wall and…” I wrapped my arms around her tighter when she stopped speaking, unable to contain her cries. 

“Shh, it’s okay, you’re safe now. I am here.” I said with a small, gentle voice and placed a kiss on her temple while moving my hands through her in a slow, comforting manner.

“Wait, where is Jihoon?” She asked once she calmed down. Her breathing was back to normal and her eyes were not plagued with that white colour anymore which made her look as if she was in a trance. 

“What about him?” Instead of answering me, she stood up from the bed and walked out of the room with me following behind her.

“He’s not on the bus, he was unconscious just like you so we moved him in one of the rooms upstairs.” Hearing my words Y/N turned around and took hurried steps up the stairs. “Hey, slow down!” I yelled after her. 

Standing outside the door, I watched her sit beside Jihoon as she waited for him to wake who was still unconscious, “Why is he not awake yet?” I shrugged at her question when I couldn’t think of the right answer. 

“The town doctor should be here any minute, she can take a look at Jihoon. Meanwhile, you should go and get some rest in your room. I will bring some food for you.” I chuckled when Y/N refused to stand up from her seat. 

Approaching her, I made her stand up from her seat beside Jihoon and guided her towards the door, “You can come and check up on Jihoon as soon as you get some food in your system, hmm?” Knowing she had no way out of this, Y/N gave a small nod and left the room with me. 

It had been a few days since I woke up from the coma I was in. Although instead of being in a coma, it felt like I was in some kind of nightmare where no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get myself to wake up. 

I still hear the screams of agony I let out when I was tied to the wall in the dungeon. It felt all to real–as if I was actually going through that torture instead of just experiencing it in a nightmare.

The bloody walls, that skinny man tied to the wall across me who looked like he had been starved to death and those torches which were hung on the wall and also the only source of light. 

I stopped walking when I saw the bus I came in this town with and which was also the place where Jihoon had been staying ever since we were stuck in this town since he could not get along with the others. 

I took a deep breath in and started walking towards the bus so that I could talk with Jihoon about what we went through. I was going to talk with the instant he woke up from the coma but never got the opportunity to do so because he had left the colony house the moment he woke up.

“Hey, can we talk?” I asked while standing outside the bus, hearing my voice, Jihoon looked up from whatever he was doing as his eyebrows shot up in mild surprise at my sight. 

“I believe we don’t have anything to talk about.” He said and stood up from his chair to look through his back. Instead of answering him, I entered the bus and took a seat on one of the chairs. 

“Don’t act as if you don’t know why I came here. Jihoon, we both went through the same thing and believe it or not, it was terrible.” Hearing my words, Jihoon’s hands stopped midway and sucked in a deep breath to steady himself before he opened his mouth to speak. 

“Y/N, look, you’re nice and all but honestly speaking, I really don’t want to think about those days again. I still hear those damn insects and it feels like they’re coming after me.” I stared at Jihoon as he stood up from his seat and paced around the bus,

 “I can hear my screams and that bloody room where we were tied to the wall. You have Joshua with you who can look after you but I don’t have anyone to turn to, okay?” He turned around and stared at me, his eyes red as he stopped his tears from escaping his eyes. “It gets so lonely here at night and those fucking creatures keep on mocking me every chance they get and I know that if I open that damn door at night…I am done for and I am fucking scared of myself at time cause what if, what if I lose myself in the moment and open the door?” By the time Jihoon was done speaking, his shoulders were shaking as he sobbed into his hands. 

Seeing the state he was in, I took slow and cautious steps towards him and knelt down beside him. I hesitantly wrapped my arms around his shoulders and pulled him in for a hug, hoping it would give him some kind of comfort. “Hey, it’s okay. You can talk with me anytime, we came here together on this bus either way so we’re not total strangers, yeah?” I said in a lighthearted manner and patted his back.

After a while, Jihoon calmed down and pulled away from the hug. Moving away, he leaned against one of the chairs and brought his legs closer towards his chest, sucking in a deep breath, he stared at me for a minute and offered me a small smile, “Sorry you had to deal with that–I normally don’t breakdown like this, especially in front of strangers.” I smiled softly at his words and sat opposite of him as I gave his hand a small pat. 

“Hey, I told you that we’re not strangers right?” I replied in a playful voice at which Jihoon laughed softly and shook his head, “Yeah? We’re not strangers? What are we then because I don’t think you know anything about me.” I looked outside the window for a moment when he said that, thinking about what to answer him. 

“I know that we were on the same bus so our destination was perhaps the same and we don’t have to total strangers you know? We could be something…” I replied at which Jihoon raised his eyebrow and looked at me as if gesturing for me to continue, “We could be bus buddies!” I exclaimed in excitement and clapped my hands as if I just discovered the best thing in the world. 

“Bus buddies you say?” He nodded and shook his head in amusement. “Let’s call ourselves bus buddies then.” I smiled and nodded when he said that. 

Standing up from the floor, I offered my hand to Jihoon so that he could get up. “What?” He questioned and just stared at my hand instead of grabbing it. 

“Let’s go to the diner to get some food.” I said casually, my hand still reached out to him. “And what makes you think I will agree to come with you?” I gave him a small smile, my hand still stretched out, “I know you’re hungry. Let’s just go.” Mumbling something under his breath; Jihoon nodded his head and got up without the help. 

Scoffing at his behaviour, I threw a playful glare in his direction and started walking ahead of him. 

“You should try these scrambled eggs, they’re good.” I said while placing some scrambled eggs on Jihoon’s plate. 

“Can I ask you something?” I questioned, poking at the piece of broccoli I had on my plate with slight disgust. Giving me a look once, Jihoon took the broccoli and motioned for me to continue. “Why do you not live in the colony house like most others? I mean don’t get me wrong but everyone who came here on the bus is living in the colony house with the others.” Jihoon chuckled at my question and placed his fork down to give me his full attention. 

“Ah well..I am not someone who gets comfortable with people easily and that place was just not it for me. Honestly speaking, I never really liked anyone and they weren’t that fond of me either. I was a bit aggressive at first so I understand why they did not like me.” I nodded at his words, understanding his point of view. 

“But you were just as scared as the others, this place is a nightmare.” I stopped speaking for a minute and stared ahead of me, “What do you think about going into the forest tomorrow?” I asked and looked into Jihoon’s eyes to make eye contact, hoping he’d agree to this. 

“Are you crazy? We’re not going into the forest no matter what. It’s dangerous.” I scowled at his answer. 

“We will leave in the morning and come before the sun sets! Come on–you must be wanting some answers as well.” I mumbled and played with the leftover food on my plate, hoping he would agree. 

“I will think abo–” Before Jihoon could finish his sentence, we turned around at the sound of the bell ringing. 

“Joshua?” I mumbled under my breath and stood up from my seat to walk towards him but he beat me to it by approaching our table as soon as he saw me. “Hey, what brings you here?” I asked and sat down again. 

“I should be asking you that, what are you doing here with him of all people?” I looked at Joshua in confusion and slight offense when he spoke so harshly about Jihoon. 

“Y/N, I will get going and thank you for inviting me to eat.” I raised my hand to stop Jihoon from leaving but hesitated when I realised how uncomfortable he looked the moment Joshua came here.

“What did you talk about with him?” I stared at Joshua as he took a seat in front of me. Instead of telling Joshua about what we talked about, I just shrugged and decided to keep the conversation we had just between the two of us. 

Standing by the window, I stared outside and grimaced when I saw those monster-human looking creatures walking around the streets, although occasionally they would glance up and would wave at me mockingly with a smile on their face. 

I just wish I could put an end to this but at the same time, I knew it was impossible. Gosh, the things I’d do to escape from this place which makes every passing day harder than the previous. 

Closing the curtains, I turned around and sat on my bed again, still deep in my thoughts. I am not going to miss this opportunity, no matter what I am going to make Jihoon come with me into the forest. I know we would find something there. 

“Hey, sleepyhead, wake up.” I said while poking Jihoon’s cheek with my finger who was still fast asleep. It was only 7:30 in the morning and everyone else was half asleep–including Joshua. 

This was the perfect time to leave and explore the forest, “What the, what are you doing here?” Jihoon murmured as he rubbed his eyes sleepily. “How did you even enter?” He asked once he sat up straight. 

“Through the door.” I said as if it was the most obvious thing and even pointed at the door. Hearing what I said, Jihoon scoffed and rolled his eyes and stood up from the seat to stretch. 

“What do you want?” I smiled sheepishly at his question. “Well, as I said we’re going in the forest to explore!” Saying that, I walked out of the bus before Jihoon could decline. I chuckled quietly when I heard Jihoon groan in annoyance but told me to wait for him nonetheless. “Come on! Hurry up! We don’t have all day!” Saying that I turned around but froze when I saw Joshua at a distance, approaching us, his hair still messy.

“Come on, let’s go…” Jihoon trailed off once he spotted Joshua standing in front of, “What is your little lover boy doing here?” Jihoon said snarkily which resulted in me nudging his side to shut him up. 

“Joshua, what are you doing here?” I asked carefully. Joshua stared at me for a moment and opened his mouth to speak but closed it immediately as if decided against and shook his head. 

“I am going wherever the two of you are going.” Saying that, Joshua leaned closer towards me to whisper in my ear, “And I don’t trust Jihoon.” Jihoon cleared his throat behind us.

“I heard that you know?” Jihoon said and glared at Joshua too which Joshua simply shrugged. 

“Well good, I don’t trust you, one bit.” Saying that Joshua grabbed my hand and started walking ahead off Jihoon on purpose. 

“Why did you want to come to the forest?” Joshua asked as the three of us walked. I pondered on his question for a minute, not really knowing what to answer. 

“To find answers, of course. Do you even know what your girlfriend went through?” Jihoon said from beside me as he scowled at Joshua. 

Unknowingly. I felt my cheeks flare up at the word ‘girlfriend’, I mean, it’s not like we’re together or anything but it still feels nice, to be called something and I felt my cheeks deepen in colour more when Joshua didn’t try to correct Jihoon.

“Could you just mind your own business?” Joshua said to Jihoon. Looking around the place, I stopped walking when I saw a dome looking thing which was no longer in shape. 

Walking towards it, I stared at it for a moment as Joshua and Jihoon soon followed me and looked at it. “What is this?” Joshua questioned to which I just shrugged and took a step forward to stand inside it only for Jihoon to grab ahold of my hand to stop me. “I am not getting a good feeling from this.” He said hesitantly, “How about we head back for now?” 

I shook my head, ready to protest when Joshua spoke up, “Y/N, I really don’t think this is a good idea. Let’s just go back and it is going to be dark soon.” 

I heaved out a sigh and started walking side by side with Joshua and Jihoon only to turn back around and sprint in the direction of the dome. I could hear Joshua and Jihoon calling out my name in panic but I drowned out their voices and entered the dome. 

I gasped as I looked around, I was no longer in the forest–instead I was in the dungeon where I was trapped with Jihoon. I placed my hand over my ears when I heard screaming. 

“What the actual fuck..” I mumbled under my breath in disbelief when I saw myself and Jihoon tied to the wall, except our eyes were pure white and they were constantly screaming. Crouching down, I ducked my head between my knees and closed my eyes–hoping the screaming would stop.

I slowly opened my eyes when the screaming stopped and soon noticed the old man tied to the wall, just like us but I could no longer see Jihoon nor my body on the wall. “Hey kid..” I took a step back as an instinct when the old man started speaking.

“Could you do me a favour and throw that rope down the hole?” I blinked in confusion and turned around to the place the old man was pointing at. 

“Seungcheol?” I mumbled to myself when I saw Seungcheol down that hole–calling out for help. “That man has been calling out for help for who knows how long. I would have helped him myself but well..” The old man stopped talking and started coughing violently.

Was this the dungeon Seungcheol told us about? Was Jihoon and I supposed to die like that man who is tied to the wall? I looked around the place once again and felt goosebumps all over my body. “You can go back to where you came from but just help that poor man.” I stared at the old man with slight hesitation and then at the rope.

Sighing softly, I grabbed the rope and threw it down the hole. Once I did that, I turned around to ask the old man a few questions but he was no longer there and I was alone in the bloody dungeon.

 “Y/N!” I opened my eyes and slowly took the surroundings in–I was not in the dungeon anymore and was laying on the ground in the forest. 

“Are you okay?” I looked at Joshua when he asked me that question and gave him a small nod–still trying to grasp the whole situation I was in.

“What happened?” I asked and slowly sat up straight. Jihoon came and sat in front of me silently, a serious expression on his face. “I told you not to enter that dome, didn’t I?” Jihoon said in a firm voice. I didn’t open my mouth to answer him and decided to just stay quiet. “Well, once you entered that dome–you suddenly passed out. Joshua and I decided to take you out of the dome and lay you on the ground. You soon woke up once we settled you down on the ground.” I nodded quietly and looked at Joshua when he opened his mouth to speak. 

“I think it’s best if we stay in one of those huts we saw on our way here. It’s going to be dark soon and we won’t reach the town before the sun sets.” I looked around the forest when Joshua said that. He was right, the sun was starting to set and the town was way too far for us to reach before those monsters came out.

“But we don’t have the talisman stone with us.” Joshua chuckled when Jihoon said that and stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jacket, taking out the talisman stone he had.

“How do you have this here?” Joshua shrugged his shoulders casually at my question and helped me stand up. “I figured I should carry it with me just in case, you know?” I nodded at his words. 

Jihoon started walking ahead of us, Joshua and I followed in his footsteps soon enough. “I don’t know how sturdy these huts can be but we should be safe with this talisman hanging by the door.” Jihoon said while entering the hut–closing the door once Joshua and I entered the hut. 

“I should start some fire.” I mumbled.

–x– 

Sitting beside Joshua, I leaned against his shoulder as he talked with Jihoon about when we should leave in the morning, “I think it’d be best if we both took turns sleeping. Just in case.” Jihoon nodded at his words and immediately laid down on the floor to sleep.”What do you think you’re doing?” Joshua asked, his voice firm as he stared at Jihoon’s sleeping figure.

“What does it look like genius? I am obviously trying to sleep.” Joshua scoffed when Jihoon said that and stood up to wake Jihoon up.

“Who says that you can sleep?” I stared at Joshua and Jihoon as they both argued. Joshua kept on trying to wake Jihoon up, saying he should be the one sleeping first since he recommended this plan while Jihoon continued ignoring–occasionally shoving his hands away.

KNOCK KNOCK 

Jihoon and Joshua stopped their banter when they heard the sound of someone knocking on the door. Jihoon sat up straight and took slow and hesitant steps towards the door to keep the talisman in place and to ensure that it does not fall. 

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK 

I flinched when the knocking grew aggressive, distant screaming in the forest could be heard as well. Turning around, Joshua looked at me and stepped away from the door to approach me. “Hey, hey, it’s okay. Everything is going to be fine.” Joshua said as he sat down beside me and pulled me in a hug,rubbing small circles on my back to help me calm down.

Once the knocking stopped, Jihoon quietly came and sat in front of us, “I think…those things are something different than those monsters that come out at night.” He mumbled, his voice distant, as if he was trying to comfort himself. 

Sighing softly, I grabbed Jihoon’s hand and pulled him in a hug. His shoulders instantly relaxed as he let out quiet sobs in my embrace. I shared a look with Joshua as he soon joined the hug, “We will leave the forest thing tomorrow morning.” I nodded at his words and continued hugging Jihoon till he calmed down.

After a beat of silence, I looked at Joshua and decided to speak up, “You remember the time when Seungcheol went to the forest to find answers?” I asked quietly as Jihoon and Joshua both turned their attention to me. 

Nodding at my words, I continued, “Right now when I passed out, once I entered that dome…I saw Seungcheol. I somehow teleported to the dungeon but…” I stopped talking for a moment, thinking of the right words, “I was in the past…like I time traveled or something…and I even saw the time when Jihoon and I were in a coma. It was as if I was living it all over again but instead of experiencing it…I was seeing it happen to the two of us right in front of my eyes.” Joshua carefully entangled his fingers with mine and tightened his grip. 

“How is that even possible..?” Jihoon finally said, his voice coming barely above a whisper. Joshua shook his head and heaved out a sigh. 

“This place is just…weird and no matter how hard we try we won’t find the answers. Let’s just go to sleep.” Saying that Joshua motioned Jihoon to sleep first, saying he’d look out for now. 

Walking in silence, I stared at our surroundings–it had been almost over three months since I was trapped in this godforsaken town with no way to escape. Time just flew by like a whirlwind and it seemed as if I was still stuck in the past–I still had that small bit of hope that I would be able to leave this place. 

Turning my head slightly, I stared at Joshua quietly who was walking beside me. He might just be the only good thing which happened this whole time. Heaving out a deep sigh, “How do you think this place came into existence?” I asked while staring at Joshua. 

Hearing my question, Jihoon who was walking ahead of us turned around and scoffed slightly, “I think this is all just some fucked up shit made by someone to mess with peoples minds. This is entertainment for those people.” Joshua furrowed his eyebrows when Jihoon said that and stopped walking–his arms crossed across his chest as if he was in a deep thought. 

“That still doesn’t answer the question about people ending up in this place from different parts of the world.” Jihoon opened his mouth to revert back but closed it again when he realised that Joshua was right. 

“How did you end up here then?” I asked Joshua as we started walking again–our steps slower than before as if we had all the time in the world to reach the town before sunset. 

“Well, I was going on this trip with Seungcheol when we came across this tree fallen in the middle of the road–we stepped out to check the road, hoping someone would drive by but no luck and then soon there was this herd of crows in the sky. When we turned around for a reroute, we ended up in this town.” I looked at Jihoon once Joshua finished speaking. He had the same look of surprise and shock itched all over his face.

“The same thing happened to us– we came across a fallen tree as well.” Silence fell over us once I said that, too shocked to even say anything ahead. 

“This is fucked up man…” Jihoon mumbled as he ruffled his hair in frustration.  

It had been a few days since I came back from the forest with Joshua and Jihoon. Our answers were all still left unanswered– instead they just seemed to increase. I tried to figure out what this place was but it all just went down the drain when I realised that I was just caught in a loop with no definite answers. 

I tried to be positive and helped the town people in their daily chores but at the end of the day when I am all alone with my thoughts–I ask the same question ‘Will this ever come to an end? Will I ever escape from this place?’ Which were of course all left unanswered.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard my doorbell ringing, “Coming!” I exclaimed and went downstairs to open the door. “Joshua…what brings you here?” I asked in surprise when I saw him standing before me. 

“Well…it had been over a hundred days since you arrived here and although I know this place is not the best..I thought about celebrating your hundred days here with you–kind of like a change of mood.” I stared at Joshua as he rubbed the back of his neck in nervousness. 

Giggling, I walked out of my room and closed the door behind me, “Let’s go then.” I said a bit cheerfully, forgetting all the thoughts which were occupying my mind before. It was as if there was a switch in me, I felt more relaxed and less nervous now that Joshua was here. 

“Wait really? You’re not weirded out or anything right?” He asked hesitantly and started following me. I laughed slightly at him and shook my head because I was rather more touched about the fact that Joshua even thought about something like this in the midst of this chaos we were trapped in. 

“I think I’d rather say that I am more touched by you thinking about something so little and taking the effort to organise all of this.” Joshua laughed softly, his eyes becoming in the shape of a half moon as his nose scrunched up a bit. 

–x–

“And we’re here.” I looked around the place in awe, “Thought we could come here since this was the first place you visited when you got stuck in the stuck.” I looked at Joshua when he said that. Averting my gaze away from him, I looked around the lake again which was now beautifully decorated with flower garlands and a banner which said ‘Happy 100 days of survival!’ 

“Happy hundred days of survival indeed.” I said with a giggle while taking a seat on the floor, “Come, sit.” I said with a small smile, patting the space beside me. 

Joshua nodded and turned around to grab the basket of sandwiches and fruits which he had prepared for our little celebration. “Here, your favourite sandwich.” I gently grabbed the basket from his hands, our fingers momentarily brushing against each other which sent a small jolt of spark through my body.

Opening the basket, I handed one sandwich to Joshua and took one for myself as well, “Where did you get cherries from? I thought we were short on them…” I asked in surprise when I saw that there was a bowl of cherries in the basket along with the sandwiches. 

“I had my ways…pulled a few strings here and there.” I squinted my eyes at him playfully when he said that. 

“By strings you mean you begged Seungcheol, no?” I said with a small smile, flicking his forehead lightly which made Joshua move his head while letting out a small laugh.

–x– 

Sitting in silence, I stared ahead at the river, my knees brought to my chest as I rested my chin on my arms. Weirdly enough, this small moment felt peaceful and calm–as if we were in our own little world with nothing to worry about. 

Moving my head, I looked at Joshua who was looking at the lake as well, his body looking visibly relaxed, “Can I ask you something?” I asked after pondering that thought for a while. 

Instead of giving a verbal answer, Joshua let out a small hum as if motioning for me to speak, “Do you ever feel scared? Like always being on your toes, waiting for something bad to happen.” Joshua heaved out a long sigh at my question and slowly sat up straight, as if preparing himself before saying the next words. 

“Before when I had no idea what kind of place this town was then yeah..in a way I was always on my toes but I slowly started getting used to it but there were always these small moments of doubt where I think I won’t survive this place. It was all before though, I don’t think about it that much anymore.” He looked at me and slowly smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes fully, it felt forced in a way. 

“What changed your perception then? Why do you not think about it anymore?” Joshua chuckled quietly at my question and told me to come closer, as if whispering a secret. 

“You want the truth?” I nodded my head eagerly at his question, “You changed my perception.” I blinked my eyes in surprise–not accepting such an answer from him. 

Gulping, I tried to stop my heart from beating so fast but it was of no use when I realised just how close our faces were to each. I could feel his hot breath fanning against my cheeks, his breathing uneven like mine, “When you’re with me…those monsters are the last thing on my mind…it feels peaceful when I am with you and it doesn’t even feel like I am living in a nightmare because you somehow manage to cure it all with your presence itself.” I could feel my breath hitch when Joshua said those words–not expecting him to say this. “It might be a bit too soon for this but I like you Y/N…believe it or not.” I chuckled softly when Joshua said that, suddenly feeling giddy all over. 

“I think I like you too but I need some time to be sure about my feelings..” Joshua nodded slowly, agreeing with me as his gaze slowly travelled down to my lips. Nodding my head, I leaned in slowly as his hand went to the back of my head to bring my face closer to his. 

The kiss was slow and gentle, as if we had all the time in the world. At this moment the only thing which mattered was us and nothing else in our surroundings. I slowly brought my hand up and tangled it in his hair to pull him closer which made Joshua smile in between the kiss. 

Pulling away, he stared at me, “I will be courting you from today then.” I nodded and pressed my forehead against his, a content smile taking over my features, “And you know what? Fuck those damn monsters, they cannot control me.” Joshua said playfully which made me giggle.

Pulling away, I looked around the lake, “I think we should head back, it’s getting dark.” I said softly as Joshua nodded and stood while offering his hand to me. 

I signed out of nervousness, it was already starting to get dark outside and the screaming and howling of those creatures could be heard everywhere–echoing every step we took. “Hey, don’t worry, the sun didn’t set yet.” I nodded at Joshua’s words and held his hand in my grip tightly, increasing my pace hoping we would reach my house on time. 

“Going somewhere, Joshua?” We stopped dead in our tracks when we heard that eerily creepy voice coming from behind us. 

Turning my head around, I visibly gulped in fear when I saw a woman in the nurse uniform standing in front of us with a knife in her hand, a huge smile adorning her face as she tilted her head mockingly. 

“Don’t look back and run.” Joshua whispered silently in my ear, his grip around my hand tightening as he turned around and started sprinting towards the direction of my house. 

“Aww come on you both, let’s play. Joshua I thought you said you didn’t care about us.” A man's voice said from behind us, his voice dripping with mockery and sarcasm as if he was enjoying this little thrill. 

I sucked in a deep breath when I saw more of those monsters walking in our direction from front, their steps calm as if they knew that they had the upper hand. 

“We won’t make it to my house in time!” I exclaimed in fear and sheer horror, knowing the odds were against us. 

“Y/N! Joshua! Come here!” We both turned our heads in sync at the sound of someone calling out our name. 

At the corner, we saw Jihoon standing by the bus door, waiting for us, “Come on, let’s go.” Joshua said as he pulled me in the direction of the bus. 

Stumbling in my steps, I tried to increase my pace when I felt the monsters starting to come closer towards us. 

Reaching the bus, Jihoon helped me get inside first as Joshua soon closed the door and locked it from behind. 

“Fuck…” Joshua mumbled as he rubbed his face in frustration. 

“Open the door kids, don’t behave like kids.” I stopped breathing when I heard that voice again right outside the bus. 

I exclaimed in surprise when those monsters outside started shaking the bus violently. Joshua immediately approached me and held me in place—his hands wrapped around my waist. 

“Fuck!” Jihoon suddenly exclaimed in panic. Looking at him, I stopped breathing when I realised that the talisman stone had fallen down due to the violent shaking. 

Jihoon ran and tried to hang the talisman again but it was too late, the door was already jerked open with inhuman force. 

Those monsters started entering the bus with slow and menacing steps, a mocking smile on their faces as they all laughed. “What did you say Joshua? That we weren’t in control? Guess what?” The nurse said sweetly as she motioned towards the others behind her with her eyes. 

In an instant, the others held Joshua and Jihoon in place and pulled them back violently, “Just wait and watch.” The nurse said as she stalked towards me, her face suddenly changing into something inhuman. 

I stopped breathing when she stopped in front of me, her teeth sharper as if she were an animal and her nails long and sharp like demons. “This is your punishment for underestimating us, Joshua.” She said with a smile, her sharp nails digging into my skin with brutal force. 

I let out an agonising scream, my body thrashing around with force as I tried to pry her hands off my face. “Stop! Please, don’t hurt her.” I could hear Joshua scream in between his harsh sobs. 

I choked out a sob when another one of the creatures approached us, his nails digging into my arms as he scratched it—drawing blood. 

I felt myself slipping away, my gaze becoming blurry as I tried to hold onto something but there was no strength left in my body, “This is what you deserve.” My eyes were closed as I heard someone say that. 

Soon I felt myself being pulled into someone’s embrace, “Y/N, please please don’t close your eyes.” He sobbed while cradling me in his arms. 

I smiled weakly and tried to form some kind of words but felt my throat closing up as I spit out some blood. 

“Y/N no please…” was the last thing I heard before my body went limp in the arms of the only person I could ever truly get myself to like. 

[theyhavetakenovermylife]

The Triceratons Experiment: part 2 (Angst) (18+)

2003!Turtles, Donatello x reader

Intro Part 1 (18+) / Part 3 (18+)

A/N: Finally! Finally I’ve been able to write part 2! I know some of you have been waiting for this for quite some time, and it’s finally here! Hope it was worth the wait💜💚

All characters are aged up.

Warnings: Loooong (but we do like that), lust drug?, mildly forced?, forced injection, fingering, being watched, orale - female receiving, orgasm denial?

What Mikey had told Donatello and his brothers, had the purple clad turtle on edge. As a man of science, the unethical ways the triceratons went around their so called experiments, left a bad taste in Donnie’s mouth. He did not like what Mikey just had told him, and furthermore, Donnie had a feeling that this wasn’t the last they would see of the triceraton “professor”. But Donnie would have no idea how quickly his suspicions would come to pass.

The next day started like the day before. The turtles were woken up along with the rest of the prisoners, and told to head for the cantina for food. However, as the turtles made their way down the hallway, they were stopped by the guards, stretching their hands out and blocking their way.

“Halt here”, the nearest guard grumbled, scowling at the turtles.

“Why?”, Raph asked, already feeling agitated. He was hungry, even if it was for a plate full of horrible alien beige goop.

But the guard did not answer him. Instead they intensely stared at each other. Raph waiting for the guard to answer, and the guard expecting Raph to stand down. But neither of them did, standing strong in their silent power struggle. But finally the guard gave in with an agitated look.

“Crowd control. We can’t let all prisoners in at once”, the guard grumbled.

“Since when?”, Donnie asked, confused yet slightly annoyed. It made no sense to him. But the guard did not answer, instead he turned with his side facing the turtles, making it clear that he wasn’t interested in talking, leaving the turtles in silence for some time.

None of the turtles had any way of knowing how long they stood in that hall, waiting for the time they were allowed to go into the cantine. And as the time went on, their already present hunger had started growing, their stomach growling loudly. Raph’s anger and frustration grew as well, to the point where his brothers had to put a comforting hand on his shoulder, in order to calm him down.

Then, finally. Finally the turtles were allowed to go down the hall, making their way to the cantine. Mikey and Raph practically sprinted, not caring what kind of horrible food was left. They just wanted something. But as soon as the two of them came to the cantine, just ahead of their brothers, they were sad and horrified to learn that there was no more food.

Mikey kept pulling on the handle, hoping that a little bit of that beige goop would come out into his bowl, but nothing came. There was no more food.

“They did that on purpose!”, Raph spat, throwing his bowl and spoon on the table in distaine, before sitting down with his brothers. “Fucking triceratons! If I could get my hand on them I would-”.

“Raph!”, Leo exclaimed, cutting his brother off with a stern voice, his face matching his tone.

“What?!”, the red turtle asked, still fuming his anger.

Leo didn’t say a word, but with the same stern look, be pointed to level above them. Raph turned to look up, and found what Leo was talking about. On the floor above, professor Exzor stood with his clipboard, surrounded by guards, looking down at them, taking notes on his board.

“They’re doing it on purpose”, Donnie mumbled, not taking his eyes from the professor in his white lab coat. “It’s probably his idea. A way to force us into giving in to what he wants”.

“You’re telling me that that piece of shit doesn’t think he’s done after yesterday?!”, Raph boomed, fighting not to jump at the nearest guard.

“Yes, that’s what I’m telling you”, Donnie calmly said. “Now, sit down before you give them a reason to go at us”.

With a scowl Raph finally sat down, staring angrily at the table, his knee bouncing under him.

“Aw man!”, Mikey whined, laying down on the table. “I was looking forward to food!”

Donnie and Leo exchanged looks before side eyeing the triceraton on the balcony above. Both had a feeling there soon would be an offer of food coming their way…

—

Once back in their cell, all four stomachs were growling like never before. Raph was getting angry, walking in circles, mumbling and growling. Mikey was once again sitting on the bench, talking about the human girl from yesterday. Though he had been surprised and shaken by the events, he nonetheless had found you very attractive. So attractive he would still mention you out of nowhere before rambling on. Both Leo and Donnie found themselves in deep silence, trying to figure out what was going on.

Suddenly the door slid open, once again revealing six triceraton guards with their weapons ready at hand.

“Face against the walls!”, they roared, marching into the small room. For a moment, Raph looked like he was ready to attack, but with a sharp look from Leo, he let out a small grumble before turning around to face the wall.

With every turtle turned and facing the walls with a guard behind them, professor Exzor made an entrance. For a moment, just a brief moment, Mikey hoped he came to pick him out once more. Though yesterday had been quite a shocker, he wouldn’t mind seeing you again. And if he actually would be allowed to have his time with you this time, he would have absolutely nothing against it. But Exzor didn’t go for Mikey this time around. Instead he went directly over to the guard that stood with Donnie.

“This one”.

“What makes ya think he wants to go?”, Raph suddenly perked up. “After what ya did to my brother, ya be having some nerve coming in here-!”

“Raph!”, Leo yelled out in a stern voice, causing his brother to shut his mouth instantly. “Shut it”. Raph tensened his jaw, letting out a strained sigh. He hated this so much.

Donnie didn’t really say a word as the guards escorted him out. And for some reason, he wasn’t too scared. No, he was thinking. He was too busy throwing glances towards professor Exzor to be fearful, his mind working trying to figure out what was going on.

They guided Donnie down one long hall after another, until they finally came to what Donnie assumed was professor Exzor’s laboratory. Under any other circumstances, Donnie might have been fascinated by it, wanting to get a closer look at the different machinery all around. But not today. Right now, he stood out in the middle of the room, all six guards standing by the walls, while professor Exzor went around the room, getting things ready.

“You’re probably wondering why I chose you today, aren’t you?”, Exzor asked, still not looking at Donnie.

“Because you want a different test subject than yesterday?”, Donnie asked innocently, acting as if he didn’t already knew.

This time professor Exzor finally looked up at him. He stared at him for a moment, before putting his hands behind his back, slowly wandering over to Donnie, slowly walking around him, taking a look at him, before stopping right in front of him, his horn up in the air as he did so.

“You seem like the smarter one of you four”, Exzor said, looking at Donnie down the bridge of his horn. “Am I right to assume that?”

“I like to think so”, Donnie calmly answered.

Exzor nodded a few times before stepping back, moving over to a strap table, setting things up for whatever he had planned for.

“Are you a scientist yourself?”, he asked with his back turned to Donnie, hands busy on the side table.

“I am”.

“I had a feeling you were”, Exzor said. “That’s why I picked you for today”.

“What do you have planned for today?”, Donnie asked, studying the way Exzor moved, along with what he was getting ready by the table.

Exzor stood for a moment, thinking his words through before he spoke. “Do you know a lot about humans?”

Donnie frowned his brows. “A thing or two”.

“What about human biology?"

“A few things as well”, Donnie said, feeling his hands getting clammy. “Some of my friends are human. I know enough in case they need medical attention”. Donnie wanted to ask why, but he had a feeling he would know soon. All day he had had a feeling he would learn something today.

“Have you ever gotten hands on with a human?”

This question took Donnie a little aback. He had never been asked such a question. He had never even allowed himself to think of such a thing. Him, a mutant turtle getting hands on with a human? No way.

“No, never”.

Exzor turned back towards Donnie, this time with a small self satisfied smile. He was finally going to explain. “Your brother has probably already told you about the human girl we have, right? I thought so. She’s an interesting specimen. We found her in an unknown spaceship, cruising around at the edge of the galaxy. We believed she was a spy from the Federation, but she kept saying she was from a planet named Earth. She wasn’t very convincing so we didn’t believe her. Yet she’s the only human we’ve ever had in captivity. It would be idiotic to get rid of her, when she could provide useful information about the mental and physical workings of our enemy. Yet there was only so much we could learn about with only one specimen. But then you and your brothers showed up, stating you were from planet Earth. That suddenly provided us with a whole new opportunity”, professor Exzor said, taking a hold of what he had been working with on the side table. Gloves… High tech gloves… “Though you and your brothers may not be the same species as her, you are from the same planet. That can be just as useful as well”. Exzor took a hold of Donnie’s hands, forcing the three fingered gloves on his hands. “These gloves are made to scan and read the subject. What we want you to do is touch the subject in specific areas, so that we can have our readings”.

“And why exactly do I have to do it?”, Donnie asked, somewhat fascinated by the gloves.

“Because no triceraton is so low as to touch a human in that manner. Disgusting!”, Exzor said sternly, almost offended that Donnie could even ask such a question. “Bring in the subject for testing!”

Another set of doors slides open, revealing two more guards, dragging in a woman wearing what looked like what Donnie could only describe as a hospital gown. Suddenly Donnie understood why Mikey kept talking about you - you were beautiful. A very attractive woman. You made him freeze on the spot and stare with wide eyes as they strapped you onto the table, hands and arms restrained, legs open wide in front of Donnie. He instinctively avoided his eyes, trying to be gentlemanly. But given the whole situation, it was kind of hard for him to do. That was when the two of you made eye contact, and Donnie felt a strange feeling in his stomach, remembering all the things Mikey had told him. Why did Mikey have to tell him all those things? And why did he have to remember them right now.

Professor Exzor told the guards to stand clear, before moving to a computer screen, pressing a few buttons on the keyboard before suddenly turning back towards the guards.

“Give them the shots”.

Before Donnie was able to react, he was grabbed by two guards, one holding his arm out, ready and exposed. He tried to put up a struggle, but realized it was no use. They had him in a lab. Resisting would only cause him, and maybe even you, more problems.

You and Donnie watched the guards with wide observant eyes, as they came in closer, two syringes at the ready. One for you and one for Donnie, filled with a violet substance. You immediately began struggling against your restraints when you saw it. Donnie immediately knew what it was. Whatever gas they had used on you and Mikey yesterday, it was that in liquid form.

“What is that?”, Donnie asked, keeping his voice calm, trying to sound curious, hoping it would make Exzor talk. But the triceraton didn’t budge so easily.

“You’ll figure it out”, was all he said, not looking up from his computer screen once.

Grabbing a hold of your arms, the guards injected you and Donnie with the pinkish, violet liquid, before quickly taking a few steps back from the two of you.

“Now”, professor Exzor said with a stern voice directed at Donnie. “Before the effects set in, put your hands on her angels”.

Donnie gave you an apologetic look before doing as he was told, closing his eyes for a moment when he felt your leg under his gloves. He would lie if he said he didn’t already feel the effects slowly kick in. His senses was already getting heightened, the scent of you slowly getting stronger and stronger. Along with another scent from you… oh no. It was kicking in for you as well. Donnie could understand what Mikey was talking about now. You already smelled so good. Why did you have to smell so good?

“Move your hands further up”, the professor said, still not looking up, somehow sounding even less interested than before.

Donnie already wanted to shoot him a death stare. Somehow the sound of Exzor’s voice made him feel like he was being ripped straight out of a pleasant state of peace. He did as he was told and moved his hands further up, noticing how your legs tensed up and your scent getting stronger. How easy it would be for Donnie to just slide his hands further up, lifting your hospital gown just a little…

“Don’t hold yourself back”, Exzor’s voice sounded once again, reading whatever came up on his screen. “The more you explore, the more information I get”.

Donnie looked back at your eyes, only to find you pupils blown wide already. From the sweat he was feeling forming on his own body, he was sure he looked the same. He sheared your eyes for permission, and to his surprise, you gave it to him. Giving him a small nod. Remembering what Mikey had told him from yesterday, you probably still had a lot of pent up emotions from yesterday. And with that, Donnie gave in, sliding your gown up so that he had a full view of you, the scent of your arousal smacking him in the face.

Donnie stood and stared for a moment, just the sight of your most private area making him go dizzy. Never had he seen a woman up close, nor been able to smell a woman like this. He couldn’t tell if it was because of your scent or the dose running through his veins at the moment, but it was making him feel like he was a week away from his mating season.

Donnie’s hands settled on where your thighs met your hips, pushing your legs further apart for him, his thumbs subconsciously making small circles against your skin, making small whimpers escape you. It didn’t take much to figure out that you were already feeling the effects, and that they were already hitting you strong. Just the feeling of Donnie’s hands on you making you tense with neediness under him.

You laid there before him, your eyes closed and your hands holding onto the restraints. Donnie caught the sight of your tongue wetting your lips, the stuff in his blood already creating images of what that tongue would be capable of doing to him…

“Please”, you whimpered, bringing Donnie back to reality, his abdomen tightening at the sound of your voice. The first time he had heard your voice, leaving him stunned. You sounded just as beautiful as you looked. Your legs quivered, trying to close so that you could create some friction yourself. “Please do something”.

Donnie’s brain went into reboot. He had never thought he would get to hear a woman beg for him to touch her - to do something to her. Yet here he was, with your legs spread wide open for him, though under rather dubious circumstances.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of staring, Donnie finally dared to touch your most intimate zone, letting his thumb grace over your clit. The slight touch made your hip buckle and a small sound of pleasure leaving your mouth. Donnie took a deep breath, taking in the strong scent of your arousal, totally forgetting about the triceraton guards standing around by the walls. Frozen like statues, not even looking at the two of you. It was as if your doings weren’t interesting to them at all.

Pressing this thumb a little firmer against your bundle of nerves, Donnie watched your reaction. You opened your eyes, trying to look down at his hand on you, heavy breathing and hands shaking. You needed more, your eyes silently begging him to do more. And so, Donnie started moving his glove covered thumb in small circles on your clit, causing you to cry out under him.

“Shit!”, you cursed, buckling your hips against him once more. Donnie couldn’t stop himself from churring lowly in his chest at the sound, the hand on your thigh tightening, pushing you even further open with a small increase of force, your head falling back. “Don’t stop”.

Donnie ignored the sound of the triceraton professor pressing the keys on the computer keyboard, focusing on your sounds, your smell and the expression on your face, pressing his thumb firmer against you. You slammed your foot against the table, moving your hips, forcing Donnie to use his other hand, placing it on the side of your hip and keeping you down against the table.

With his thumb still moving against you, he moved one other finger to your folds, gliding his finger through them. How he wished he could be doing this without gloves, so that he could feel your wetness against his skin…

Donnie’s finger glided through your folds until he found your entrance. He did not ask for your permission, feeling both you and his need growing with every second, instead pushing his finger into you, sliding into you with ease. You let out a loud moan that took both you and Donnie by surprise. Yet it fuelled something within him that he didn’t even know was there.

“Is that what you needed?”, Donnie asked as he started to move his finger inside of you, causing you to squirm underneath him.

“Yes”, you whimpered, your restrained hands moving to hold onto the table. Donnie could only imagine how pent up you had been yesterday, finally gaining some sort of release. “Faster, please”.

Donnie hummed at your words, doing just as you told him to, speeding up the movement of his finger, curling it up inside of you. Your reaction was better than he had expected, one moan falling from your parted lip after another. He felt that pressure against the inside of his cloaca, which he grown familiar with throughout his many mating seasons. How he just wanted to drop on the spot a slam into you, as if there was no one around the two of you. But he restrained himself, growling at the strong pressure within him, instead adding a second finger into your clenching hole, watching as your juices gathered up around his digits.

Your legs started kicking against your restraints, your muscles tensing and relaxing as he stimulated your nerves, his fingers hitting the sweet spot deep inside of you. One would not be wrong for believing that he was a master at this, that this wasn’t his first time at the rodeo. Donnie couldn’t explain it. His actions just felt natural at that moment.

You clenched around Donnie’s fingers making him groan, thoughts of how you would clench around him running through his head. You were intoxicating, every sound from you dulling the fire in his veins, yet edging him on, telling him that he needed more. That you needed more.

Donnie couldn’t help but press a kiss to your knee, making you look up at him, your eyes pleading for him. Pleading for him to continue what he was doing. To do more of it. So Donnie did, his lips going from your knee to hovering just above where his thumb was rubbing circles on you. You whimpered when you felt Donnie’s breath on you, your excitement for the feeling of his lips where you needed him the most, almost turning into anxiety of the thought of him not doing it. Flashes of what happened yesterday appeared in your head. The pain and need you felt for hours after the guards had broken you and the other guy apart. You had had no release, and the slowly growing feeling made you almost anxious. You wanted nothing more to cum, letting your juices drench this guy’s face. You still didn’t know he or his brothers names, yet in that moment you were desperate for either one of them to make you cum, just to stop the growing burning feeling inside of you.

Donnie replaced his thumb with his lips, giving your bundle a small lick before attaching his lips with small sucks. This action caused you to let out another loud moan, arching your back, once again struggling against the restraints. Donnie’s fingers speed up, so did his tongue continuing to do fast small licks on you, while the hand that had been holding you down, slowly sliding up under your gown, reaching to grab a hold of your chest. You and Donnie was so far gone in what you were doing, that you didn’t hear professor Exzor mumbling “interesting”, at what he saw on his screen.

You were so close, your mouth open wide, your eyes closed shut, and your body squirming underneath Donnie. He could feel how close you were, driven by a primal instinct to make you climax on him. You were so close. So close that Donnie could almost taste more than your sweet and salty juices. So close…

“Okay, that’s enough”, Exzor said to the guards. “I got the data I need for now. Put him in a holding cell before you bring him back to the others. Just send her straight to her cell”.

It felt sudden to you and Donnie when the guards grabbed a hold of him, pulling him away from you. You let out an almost pained scream, knowing that your possibility of release was once again being pulled from you. Donnie was like a wild animal at this point, fighting against the guards that were trying to restrain him.

“Let me go!”, he yelled, trying to pull his arm away from them with as much force as possible, only causing the guards to get more aggressive towards him. However, with eight guards around, it was only a matter of time before they were able to overpower him, and escort him out of the lab, so that they could place him in a holding cell. But just before they managed to get him out of the door, Donnie managed to get a look back at you, fighting against the restraints on the strap table. He caught your eyes, seeing how you silently pleaded for help. And suddenly Donnie understood why Mikey couldn’t stop talking about you.

—

“Log 67 on Human Studies by Professor Exzor. Date: the eighth of galamion, in the year 56 of the Triceraton Republic.

Today’s experiment once again proved a success. The turtle specimen marked purple has proved to be just as useful as theorized. With their help, I have been able to obtain more information about the human reproductive system, as well as their nerve system, along with a long theorized connection with humans' perception of pain and pleasure.

With today’s obtained data, I can now green light tomorrow's experiment, focusing further on humans’ connection between pain and pleasure, using the turtle marked red.

For the Republic”.

[twst-drabbles]

Malleus 16

Summary: Class has ended and you’re ready to eat for lunch, but everyone has stopped at the door. Turns out Malleus was there, and he craves affection.

(Wanted to write about kisses. And then Malleus popped into my head. So here you go!)

“Um, hey, Prefect?” Oh, well would you look at that, it’s Deuce speaking up this time, “Can I… copy your notes again? Please?”

“Yeah, I really couldn’t pay attention,” Grim tapped his paws on your desk, like that’ll somehow endear you to him, “besides, the board is so far away.”

You and your group are two seats away from said board.

“Yeah, come on,” Ace laid an arm across the back of your seat, “do us a solid, yeah? You know you want to. Can’t resist the call of enlightening our tiny little brains.”

“What are you gonna give me?” You closed your notebook just so Ace and Deuce don’t have a chance to look at your notes. “I’ve been saving your asses for the past two weeks. You gotta give me something.”

“Hehe, that’s my minion! If you want a fast pass, you need to give us reparations in tuna!” He cheered, once more using ‘we’ as soon as he thinks he’s getting something.

“You have to pay too, Cat.”

There will be no ‘we’ this time.

“What?! Why?!”

You tried tutoring them in the past but having Ace, Deuce and Grim all in the same room for more than ten minutes always leads to either an argument breaking out, a bunch of whining, or just general chaos because one or more people tried to slip out of trouble.

Yeah, yeah it’s partially your fault for losing patience and just giving up on them, but you’d think they’d at least pay attention long enough to take notes.

They’re right there! On the board!

They have no excuse and they have to at least pay you back for this emotional trouble.

Was this petty? Yes, very. You don’t care right now. You want a treat. Or money. Or both!

“Huh, ah, well,” Deuce got sheepish and reached into his pockets, “I have gum.”

“No.” He has disappointed you. An unworthy treat for your notes.

“How about I only eat three-fourths of your food this time?” Suggested Grim.

“My treat is me giving you more of my food?” And you don’t even give it, he just steals it!

Grim hissed. He was probably hoping you didn’t know fractions. But, good on him for finally learning. Shame his first thought was to try and trick you with it.

“Okay guys, you all know that’s not what the Prefect really wants,” Ace leans in, acting chummy, “how about this?”

You were given one thaumark.

“…”

“Alright listen, I need the rest to buy other things, okay?”

You got up after calmly putting your notes away. “I’m going to get lunch.”

“No wait come back!”

But, as much as you wanted to walk out and sit at the regular table while your friends slowly fill in the seats, the exit to the classroom was blocked by a cluster of murmuring and rather nervous students.

“What’s he doing here?” You heard one whisper.

“Uh, did we do something? Were we too loud?”

“I’m really hungry but…”

You are not in the mood. You tried to excuse yourself as you bumped into shoulders but you had to settle for grumbled apologies instead as you shoved yourself through.

Finally, you popped out of the other side, a little more heated and more irritable.

“There you are, Child of Man,” so goes the voice of Malleus, who stood to the side of the door, waiting. The cause of this blockage, students frozen with only his green-eyed stare. “I was kept waiting quite a while. How bold of you to do this, after the slight you made this morning.”

What?

“Wha?” Your annoyance was momentarily replaced by bafflement, but that quickly went away when your brain caught up to his words. You grumbled, “Oh, come on…”

Yeah, you’re probably not even gonna eat at the cafeteria. You’re just gonna get your food and go hide away somewhere until you cooled down.

Malleus walked forward, the surge of students all taking a collective step back as though his very air could potentially kill them.

“Well? Don’t you remember?” He crossed his arms and you were ready for that high-brow glare that comes with all people of royalty, but instead, you found an exaggerated and childish pout. “You forgot to give me my morning greeting. I felt off the entire morning, unable to focus, because I didn’t have the memory of you kissing my brow fresh in my mind.”

A hush fell over the classroom.

And then a, “Huh?!” shot out of Ace’s mouth.

You snorted, then gave out a hearty chuckle. Once you calmed down, you waved Malleus over.

“Alright, alright, get over here. Let me correct that.”

A laugh rumbled low in his throat as he tilted his head into your hand. Playfully, you lightly pinched his ear, just because his pointy ears always caught your attention. He twitched, breath hitching just the slightest bit, and you couldn’t resist the urge anymore and kissed above his brow.

Malleus’s lashes fluttered open and the sigh that escaped him reminded you of a pure-hearted maiden with a fast-beating heart. And yet, there’s nothing delicate about the way he stood. If anything, the affection flowing through him made his pride more apparent. He practically glowed with that royal grace he was taught to have.

You couldn’t help yourself. You gave him an extra kiss on the corner of his lips. Malleus nearly hissed in a breath as he clamped his hand over your own, his body leaning in closer towards yours, as though he wanted to meld with you.

But, with a chuckle, you pulled away and he had no choice but to let go. Malleus was back to pouting, though this time, cheeks flushed and hair slightly messier than usual. The air around you was slightly charged with wayward magic, causing the hair on your body to stand on end. And his eyes…

Well, whoops.

“Good morning. I’ll see you later, okay?”

Better get out of here before Malleus jumps you right in this hallway.

[starlit-crossing]

A Ghost of Yourself

Chapter 7 - Brotherly Bonding

Bruce hadn’t been thrilled when they returned later that afternoon. Luckily Danny didn’t have to deal with the fallout. Bruce was more relieved he had returned, than angry at his leaving. He gave him a look Danny was very familiar with and sent him to his room without a word. He didn’t care the mall had been fun, like afternoons spent with Sam and Tucker after school. The others watched him calmly walk up the stairs, stopping at the top to give them a thumbs-up before disappearing. The others were stuck under Bruce’s gaze.

“What were the four of you thinking? What made you think taking Danny out shopping was a good idea? He’s still a flight risk.” Bruce demanded.

“We get that Bruce, but it’s been two weeks since he got here. Have you talked to him? Gotten to know him?” Steph challenged.

“Steph’s right, he’s not going to want to stay if he feels ignored. Duke and Damian can’t be the only ones.” Tim added.

“If that was the case he wouldn’t have left the other homes. He’s trying to get somewhere, and we still don’t know enough about him to let him do whatever he wants.” Bruce sighed, head in his hand from stress.

“But letting him wander the grounds till he’s stir-crazy is better?” Tim scoffed. “We got more out of him just by talking than anything we’ve tried to garner from research.”

“Like what?” Bruce pressed.

“He has never heard of the Justice League,” Duke chimed in. “Anything about heroes really.”

“He seems to have a regular civilian life, video games, and friends. Not that he’d let much slip about the friends.” Steph added.

“He has shown immense interest in astronomy and aerial advancement.” Damian spoke up.

“It’s why we took him out, Bruce. We wanted to see if we gave a reason to want to stay, that he’d take it. The hope is eventually he won’t need strings attached.” Tim concluded.

“So, you took him out as a test.” Bruce looked amongst them reminded of how well he trained. “What did you promise him?”

“A tour of STAR Labs in Metropolis, to see the space exploration department.” Steph answered waiting for a familiar bat glare, instead, Bruce pondered the thought.

“I’ll allow it, but there should be more of you. What would happen if an incident were to occur while you were there? Who would make sure Danny was out of the way while the others went to help? I’ll reach out to Clark and see what I can do about a tour. It’s his city so he’ll be best as back up.” Bruce answered, tugging his phone from his pocket. The four of them were surprised but decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth. Duke and Steph went off with their haul while Damian went to find Alfred the cat. Tim followed behind Bruce as he made his way to the study. He offered Tim a seat setting the phone aside.

“How was the mall?” Bruce smiled, taking his seat.

“It was fun, Danny seemed to have had a good time at least from what I could tell. Though something else happened I wanted to brief you on.” Tim answered, pulling out his phone.

“What did you find?” Bruce leaned over to get a closer look.

“So far, we know Danny was traveling to Gotham via a Greyhound, no city he’s passed through holds a record of someone named Danny or Daniel matching his description. The brands of the clothes he arrived in can only be found in the northeast side of the U.S.” Tim explained.

“What states does that leave us with?” Bruce asked.

“Everything west of Indiana, then Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois. A burner phone was in his bag, but neither the phone nor the contacts within have ever been used. The location on the phone was turned off and didn’t ping until he entered Gotham.” Tim answered.

“Hmm… Any contacts on the phone?” Bruce inquired.

“Two numbers neither used and no location mentioned since purchase. It almost feels like he must live in an electronic blackout, but such things would’ve been noticed by now.” Tim rambled.

“How does this relate back to the mall?”

“The attention we garnered is something we’re all used to. It comes with the Wayne name. Danny actively hid from the cameras. Though not many were focused on him, one did catch something.” Tim turned the phone to Bruce showing the blurred image of Danny, his eyes a glow. The man’s face was unreadable as he looked at the phone. Then it shifted to a look only Tim could recognize; he’d seen it when Bruce brought in new members. Whether Danny liked it or not he was stuck with the Waynes at his side.

“Dick will be taking those who wish to go to STAR Labs. I’m sure Connor or Wally can tag along as backup.” He spoke leaning back in his seat. “Let’s also keep an eye on that photo, on the off chance anyone is able to recognize him.”

---

Bruce had given the green light to visit STAR Labs. They had a chaperone, Dick, who would be joining them. He was the eldest of the adopted children. Danny had seen Tim roll his eyes at the mention of the brother though a smile lit his face. Danny didn’t care though so long as he could go he was happy. They would head out the following weekend, anyone who wished to go could tag along.

So far it was just Tim, Duke, and someone named Cass. Damian and Steph had schoolwork and were unable to take the day off. Danny himself was buzzing with excitement, all week he had been in the library reading up on advancements he had missed because of hero work. They had images of black holes and had found so many lives amongst the stars. Danny had also taken the time to learn more about the Justice League.

There were way more than Danny had thought. So many Danny wondered how no one had heard of what happened in Amity Park.  His entire town had been dragged into another dimension and were attacked on almost a weekly basis until recently. Way more than some of these other cities. Those cities did deal with crime he wasn’t used to, except for maybe robberies. They were human crimes, which dried up with the constant ghost attacks.

Nothing about his home, family, or hero life were online. Tourism was prominent for people visiting for work or on the way to Chicago. He could still picture the lawyer’s face when he saved him from getting hit by a truck when fighting Technus. It was so funny when he realized he was a ghost and not a normal hero. The only conclusion he could come up with was the Guys in White creating a media white out on Amity Park. Powerful people had an easy time silencing those who didn’t have a lot of eyes on them.

In comparison the whole world had their eyes on the Justice League, not just Earth but throughout space as well. This meant they also had the whole world on their back. The UN tracks the heroes across the world and will even try to keep them from getting involved. That shut down his hopes of getting help from the JL. If they were bound by the law and he approached them seeking help he would thrust onto the world stage.

The Anti-Ecto Control act would come up and he would be left just fighting for his right to exist. Still, he wanted to meet them at some point, especially Martian Manhunter. It would be amazing to meet him and learn about Mars, Superman too. Superman seemed to have similar powers to himself, mainly the flying and shooting lasers, but he could probably give him some tips.

Then there was the other teams, all young heroes just like him! Other kids his age doing hero work and getting to hang out. Red Robin and Robin were the most familiar as they were from Gotham. Steph and Duke were more than willing to tell him all about Gotham’s iconic bat family. They also skimmed over the Young Justice and the Teen Titans who were more popular online than the adult hero teams.

The Outsiders were the most recent of the teams, focused on public image alongside heroism. Danny had binged through their social media, spending many hours watching their videos. It gave him a peak into what being a hero was like for other teens. All of this filled out his week of waiting very well and let him get to know Damian and Duke more. Damian still had a wall up with him, but was willing to let him help with taking care of Titus, Alfred the cat and his other pets.

Hiding his emotions was easier now, he barely had to consciously focus on it. His emotions felt stronger too, due to being unable to express them he felt more. The excitement for the next day was almost too much at this point. It had been growing gradually throughout the week and was starting to make headway at dinner. Danny could feel the eyes on him as he wolfed down his food, delicious as always thanks to Alfred.

“Thanks for the food, I think I’m going to turn in early. See you all tomorrow!” Danny announced as he finished off his last bit of steak. Rushing out of the dining room to the stairs and back to his room. He changed quickly into pajamas and settled in for the night. He knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep right away so he opened the window letting the crisp fall air drift in while he turned on a movie on the computer.

The screams of the Tormentor filled the room, his eyes wandering from the screen every few minutes. At first it was his leg bouncing under the table, then a hang nail on his thumb, the sound of the leaves rustling outside. His eyes fell back on the window, rolling his swivel chair to face the rolling countryside. The lights of Gotham twinkling in the distance, a few bats swooping through the trees.

When was the last time he flew? The last time he just got to have fun with his ghost powers. His mind reached out to the ghost half of himself, it was still there buzzing with energy ready to go at moment’s notice. A light started to flitter through the trees along the main road. He leaned out the window, seeing if it would stop at the gate as it began to slow. As the car made its way down the drive, Danny felt his head bump against something rigid. Above him was the top of the open window, the floor serval inches below him.

A shout escaped his lips as he forced his flight off knocking the wind out of him as he landed halfway out the window. Scrambling back inside his room before the car parked in the drive.

---

“So, B wants you to babysit?” Jason Asked in between dodging goons.

“Yep, Red came up with the idea to take the kid on a field trip. Keep him entertained and wanted while he’s on house arrest.” Dick answered. “Apparently he’s a big space fan.”

The two of them were currently in Crime Alley raiding an old office building that had been coveted by a newly formed gang. Jason had little interest in the gang itself, but the group had been bragging about knowing everything that happens in the alley. Rumors had surfaced they got a hold of an old Black Mask info broker. So, Jason and Dick went out to raid the place, well Jason did Dick decided to tag along while Jason ignored him but it was progress. So far the man they’d been looking for was a no show, they had cleared the first two floors with little issue but were growing concerned as more members showed but not the target.

“In that case I’m guessing you’re bringing baby blue with you? I don’t wish to be you this weekend.” Jason laughed, chucking a man out the window.

Dick just gave him a look, “Are you serious?” the sibling just gave him a shrug as they pushed deeper up to the third floor. “Superboy is on holiday with Miss M, I thought of Kaldur or KF but they both are busy with family.”

“So that’s why you followed me out here, you want me to help watch the roamer.” Jason exclaimed.

“That isn’t why I came; I wanted to hang out and catch up on what’s happening at the Manor. You wanted to spend family bonding time beating up a gang.” Dick explained.

“What do you mean, that’s how we always bond in this family.” His brother defended kicking open the next door. The fourth floor was different than the others, it was quiet with an open floor plan with large floor-length windows. Crates and boxes with stacked around creating strange angles and cover.

“True, but if I needed backup for the kid I already have it since Orphan is tagging along.” Dick smiled. They crept forward, movement in the back of the room catching their eyes. The two nodded to each other before splitting up. Dick kept talking, keeping the stranger’s attention.

“I don’t really need an excuse to want to hang out with you do I, Little Wing?” he called, moving between the door and the unknown lurker. “I’m mean really it’s been ages, or maybe just a month. You should swing by more often, I know you can cook at least better than the rest of us.”

Finally, with the man cornered, Dick turned past a pile of crates to see a skinny stick of a man. His wiry frame was covered in tattoos with a large jacket hanging loose over his white tank. His dark hair slicked back with so much product it looked greasy and had a small trigger in his hand. He’d rigged this place to blow, and they were standing at the top of it. Before Dick could think any further, Jason was perched above the man ready to jump him.

He had to get the trigger away before Jason made a move, so he went off instinct and side kicked the trigger out of the man’s hand. Second the info broker let go Jason dove on him throwing both out the window. Dick fell to catch the trigger catching the piece just before the thing landed button first. The room felt too quiet after that, Dick was missing something during all the commotion. A crash was heard outside the building, Jason’s grappling hook couldn’t be seen outside.

Dick ran to the window to see two bodies lying on the ground in a pile of trash. Jason seemed to lay on top letting the broker take the brunt of the fall. Dick deactivated the trigger and followed down to check on the two.

“Hood! Are you alright? What happened?” Dick yelled rushing to his side, a groan met him as an answer. He checked Jason over before rolling him off the crushed man. Jason then proceeded to remove his helmet leaving him in his domino mask.

“Fucker decided that holding my arms as we fell was better than letting me save us from the fall. Is he dead?” Jason huffed, pushing himself up into a sitting position. He looked over the man Jason landed on, surprisingly he was mostly fine outside a few broken bones.

“You definitely broke a rib or two, lucky for him he’s out cold.” Dick answered.

“Great, so I can kick him, and he should wake up!” Jason hissed, trying to move his foot but couldn’t get far.

“He needs to go to the hospital before any integration and we should get you back to the cave.” He ordered, calling over his car.

“Like hell! He was going to blow up an entire building, what for? He could’ve died in there with us, so he’s got something worth hiding.” His brother spat.

“You’re right, but if dies due to a punctured lung than he’ll be useless.”

“Fine.” Jason muttered.

“Good, I know you won’t like it but I’m going to have B look over your guy.” Dick began messaging Bruce through his arm communicator.

“Whatever, but if he wakes up have the kid interrogate. It’ll give him some practice.” Dick smiled at the suggestion of having Damian take lead.

“Sounds good, he’ll be glad to.” He grabbed Jason’s unhurt arm and helped him into the car as it pulled up to the alley.

As they reached home, Dick received confirmation that the broker had made it to the hospital alive. Bruce and Damian would be keeping tabs on him until he woke, but he wouldn’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Jason on the hand kept insisting he was fine, but his attitude on the drive back suggested otherwise. With every tight turn or bump his face would strain and a curse would slip out.

It was a family trait at this point to pretend you were fine when you really needed rest. No one could stand being benched, but doing anything else would risk evoking Alfred’s wrath. As Dick approached the manor he could make out a figure in one of the upper floor windows. He couldn’t tell what they were doing but when the figure suddenly fell half way out the window he picked up on the gas.

By the time they were out front the figure was back inside, he wasn’t sure if it was Danny trying to escape again but it wasn’t the best time to go see. It wouldn’t make sense if Nightwing showed up with an injured crime lord to a billionaire’s house. Dick wasn’t supposed to be here until tomorrow. He’d ask around tomorrow if it could’ve been anyone else and put the alarms on alert.

Rolling into the garage and helping Jason to the Batcave didn’t take long, Alfred was waiting at the bottom to help. They wrapped a cast around Jason’s hairline fracture in his forearm where the brunt of the fall seemed to be. Luckily his only other injuries were a twisted ankle and some bruised ribs. Bedrest was Jason’s best bet despite the many complaints. Alfred went a head and helped the man to bed while Dick followed suit going to his old room.

It still amazed him that Bruce bothered to keep the rooms untouched. Though it’s not he had much of a chance to go through them. Bruce tended to acquire new bats effortlessly, often finding him before he could begin to miss the company. Alfred never dared move anyone out, even with Jason’s first death he just knew that we may need them again. With that thought Dick changed into some pajamas and crashed as his head hit the pillow.

---

Sleep was something hard to come by Danny knew this and still fought off slumber for as long as he could. Waiting for ages for someone, anyone to barge in and begin questioning him. For the GIW to smash through doors and windows, drag him away far from Wayne Manor and Amity Park. Nothing happened, no one rushed in and slowly the quiet of the night crept into the room. The only thing keeping him from panicking was the focus he held on to. He had to keep his breathing even, so deep in slumber back to the door only the dead could wake him kind of sleep.

Eventually it wasn’t an act, and sleep slowly stole him away from his adrenaline. Just a cozy comforter and bed spread, the sounds of the countryside and crickets easing the tension in his body. As night went on, Danny’s dreamless sleep got interrupted by the cool air as the comforter slipped away. Danny cracked open his eyes to find himself waist deep through the ground floor.

“Ah!” Danny yelped pulling himself back up out of the floor.

 “What is going on?” he whispered to himself. “I’ve been good, doing so good. I should have control.” He needed to think, this hadn’t happened in so long why would it come back. What would his parents think? Wait, that was a dark path and heavily biased. What would Jazz think?

She’d probably say it had to do with bottling his emotions, keeping everything in and making his powers unstable. It wouldn’t be the first time his powers had acted up due to his emotions and Jazz tended to focus on the psychological. It felt wrong, like the answer was deeper than that. Could Clockwork know? Would he help? he thought.

“Clockwork? Any chance of some cryptic wisdom?” Silence was the only answer Danny received. “Should have known, when has he ever stepped in to help when I ask for it.”

With a huff, he decided to forgo his mysterious power instability questions for now. He would just be extra careful; the others would be suspicious if he suddenly refused to go to STAR Labs and it may be a good distraction if he needed. Danny meandered down the hall to the kitchen, hopefully a snack would help him back to sleep. As the door swung open he came face to face with a stranger.

He was taller than any of the Waynes aside from Bruce, a cereal bowl balanced a top a cast as he froze midbite. His hair was black with a white streak dressed in plaid pajamas and a shirt that read Don’t be a “Dick”ens. Danny opened his mouth to speak but felt a familiar chill creep up and out of his mouth in a frosted breath.

The man before him was a ghost, he looked too normal how was he a ghost. Was he like Spectra or Johnny 13 hiding amongst humans gaining power on their emotions. He shouldn’t jump to conclusions but based on the man’s expression he knew Danny wasn’t human. Whether this was a relief for the ghost he couldn’t decide, but as the spoon fell from his hand Danny was already out the door.

“Wait!” The stranger yelled, the sounds of dishes falling could be heard behind him, but he didn’t dare look back as he dashed to his room.

---

Hello people of the internet! Spring break is near for me, so I’ve finally gotten to work on chapters! I had some more written for this but decided to save it as a head start for chapter 8 so I can hopefully get the next chapter out sooner. I’ve been loving the comments and hype, I can’t wait to see how everyone feels about this chapter.

I’m not sure if anyone else has this issue with their fics, I’m not sure if it’s bots or actual people but I’ve been receiving messages that are basically ads for artists to make art and comics of my story if I pay them. I understand promoting and advocating for yourself as an artist and your artwork but it definitely feels like automated bot messages and it only seems to occur on Fanfiction.net for me. I go into it deeper on fanfiction.net, but in the meantime I hope you all enjoy the story, and I’ll see you next time! Byee!

Master post - Chapter 6 Prev. <<< Next >>>

[mykoreanlove]

i need skz angst like rn??😭

hyunjin x female reader, and they maybe decide to go out to like a club or something, and some guy hits on the reader and hyunjin is like “you were flirting back!” and the reader is just very confused bc they tried to let the guy know as kindly as possible that they are taken, but hyunjin is still really mad and it results in them fighting

and then maybe hyunjin decides to go home but not like a shared apartment thing like he goes somewhere reader doesn’t know about

and then a day passes and he’s like “oh no i fucked up” and comes to readers apartment to apologize

happy ending? tysmmm🎀

I was like sure, let's writing something short and quick but somehow it turned into 6 pages lol. hope u enjoy it :)

The pros of being an insanely hot couple? A lot of sex and affection, a lot of people wanting to be like you and a lot of praise and admiration.

The cons of being an insanely hot couple? A lot of people trying to take your place, a lot of jealous envy and a lot of insecurity.

“Baby, you look incredible”, Hyunjin whispered into your ear as he hugged you from behind. You were standing in front of the mirror, admiring your look for the night. “I wanted to look good for you”, you shyly admitted as you leaned into him. “There is absolutely nothing you have to do to accomplish this, y/n. Nothing, you hear me?”

Ever since you met Hyunjin a couple of weeks ago your whole world turned around. You were used to dating a lot and having fun, but this was different. He was different. Both of you fell for the other rather quickly, a romance that revealed a hidden side within you.

“I want to kiss you so badly”, you whined.

“Why don’t you?”

Instantaneously, you pointed to your lips covered in deep ruby red.

“Ah”, he nodded understandingly. “Is it okay then if I do this?”, Hyunjin asked before kissing every inch of your collarbone, slightly sucking to mark his territory.

Hyunjin was a confident guy, knowing damn well that he was good looking and talented and still he felt conflicted at times. What if this was not enough? What if he was not enough for you? Since you were in your early dating stages, he never had vocalized his concerns, but his body did. His need to be near you, touch you and possess you was evident from the start.

“Jinnie, stop”, you giggled as you pushed him away.

Irritation grew on his face, not understanding why you were distancing yourself.

“I’m gonna be covered in marks that everyone is going to see”, you teased.

He felt his chest tighten. Did you not want others to see them? Did you want to be perceived as single? His own sparks of insecurity got ignited again, waiting to turn into a full-size fire.

The club was crowded with people of all kinds – dancers, jocks, hot models, a real feast for the eye. You were used to people turning their heads, especially when you were together with Hyunjin. It never bothered you that much since you knew how devoted he was to you.

“Can I tell you something?” You were laying on his chest, watching him breathe calmly. “Sure.” “I found your old DVDs in the basement, and I started watching them while you were at work. Binging them, really. And I saw something that really stuck with me”, he explained silently. “What was it?” “Ever thine. Ever mine. Ever ours”, he explained softly. You turned your head and gazed into his teary eyes. “We haven’t been together that long, I know. But this is exactly how I feel, y/n. I can’t imagine my life without you anymore. Cannot. Do not want to. Impossible.” You started tearing up as well, finally feeling at home with another soul. You placed a soft kiss on his plush lips and whispered: “I’ll be your Carry, baby.”

“Come dance with me”, you shouted as you pulled him to the dance floor. It was hot and sticky, but you didn’t mind, in fact you loved it like that. The music was energetic and vibrant, filling the whole room with energy and life force. You only had eyes for Hyunjin, watching his body move gracefully to the music. When he danced, he became one with the tunes, one with the movements. He smirked as he caught you staring, knowing damn well that you were weak for his dancing. As the song changed into a slower, sexier one you found yourself in front of him, grinding on his muscular body. All the other people were forgotten as you swayed your hips on him, feeling him getting hard behind you. His hands on your body and his hot breath on your neck was all you needed to know.

Hyunjin however was more prone to your surroundings. He enjoyed having you like that, but he hated sharing you with others. He was too aware of the other pair of eyes that was set on you. Like a reflex, he pulled you closer, grabbed a bit harder and provoked your surrender, demonstrating whom you belonged to.

“Fuck, baby, if you keep this up, we have to go”, you moaned into his ear.

“Let’s do that”, his whole face lit up. “Let’s get out of here, y/nnie.”

“But we just came?”, you whined in annoyance.

Hyunjin’s eyes darkened as his gaze pierced through you. Just like that, goosebumps formed on your skin, electricity cursed through your body making you feel all hot. He knew exactly what he was doing to you.

“I’m going to the bathroom really quick to fix this situation right here”, he said as he nodded to his crotch, “and when I come back, we leave, you hear me?”

You swallowed and nodded, already anticipating the night ahead.

“Good girl.”

He placed a kiss on your forehead and turned around, quickly looking for the bathroom.

You walked over to the exit and leaned against the cold wall, waiting for your boyfriend, already picturing him doing unspeakable things to you. You were so engulfed in your naughty daydreams that you didn’t even notice the guy from the dancefloor approaching you.

“Hey!”

“Oh, hi”, you replied politely.

“I saw you dancing earlier, damn you got moves!”, he complimented you.

“Thanks”, you replied drily.

“So uhm, would you like to have a drink with me?”

“No”, you shook your head.

“Why not?”

“Well, if you saw me dancing earlier you must have seen my boyfriend behind me, right? That’s why.”

“Shit, sorry. I kinda hoped that he was just another guy hitting on you.”

“Far from that.”

“He’s that great, huh?”

“Y/N”, Hyunjin called out angrily while glaring at the other guy.

You were taken aback by his tone, feeling anxious so you followed him without saying a word.

Fumingly, he marched to the car, while you were trying to keep up. Hyunjin placed both of his hands on the cold metal of the vehicle as he was trying to calm himself.

“Jinnie”, you called out softly.

“Don’t fucking call me that, y/n.”

“What?”

He turned around and faced you, his pupils were dilated, and his nostrils flared – he was angry as fuck.

“Don’t fucking call me that when you were flirting with some dickhead behind my back!”

“Are you serious right now?”

“Of course, I am. That bastard was eye-fucking you while we were dancing, and I left you alone for 5 minutes and you were already cozying up to him?”

“Cozying up to him? Cozying up to him? Are you out of your fucking mind?”

“What? I know what I saw!”

“Enlighten me, then. What did you see?”

“I saw you all smiley and giggly, you were practically shooting heart eyes emojis at him! Is that why you hated me giving you hickeys on your collarbone? So, everybody could see you were available?!”

You felt the punch to your stomach, making it harder to breathe. Every single word of his was laced in the most painful accusation, one that you had been familiar with way too often.

“Yeah, you’re right. I was flirting back and shooting heart eyes emojis at him. It was so much fun! And I was damn grateful that my body was free of your damn hickeys!”, you retorted angrily.

Hyunjin was about to explode, not being able to differentiate between your lies and his perceived reality.

Wordless, he turned around and got into the car. You looked at him one last time, hoping that he would come to his senses – but he didn’t. The loud sound of his engine disturbed the quiet of the night and not seconds later he was gone.

What should have been a fun night out for a young couple turned into a vicious disaster. One was crying hiding in the dirty toilet of a club, while the other was crying racing down the highway. Promises of forever love turned into accusations of unfaithfulness, painting your rosy world of adoration into black loneliness.

You had no idea how you made it back home, nor did you care. The following day was torture – you were ruminating over everything, trying to understand what had happened yesterday. Deep sadness filled your whole being. Hyunjin did not call, nor text. He vanished out of your life, just like he vanished into the night air yesterday. Was that it? Was it over?

“Damn, you look like shit. Why are your eyes so puffy?”

Hyunjin pulled the covers over his head, trying to dissolve into thin air.

“Hey, come on. Talk to me”, his friend encouraged him.

“I may have made the biggest mistake of my life yesterday.”

“Oh my god, did you cheat on y/n?”

“What? No. Of course not. I would never do that”, he explained.

“What did you do then?”

“I accused her of cheating on me.”

“Shit, sorry.”

“Don’t be. This was the last time I let my demons take over”, he mumbled as he left his room.

By evening, you felt better – at least good enough to go for a walk and clear your head. Minutes after you left Hyunjin appeared at your door – holding a giant bouquet of flowers in his trembling hands. He rang your door hundreds of times, knocked on it until his knuckles were swollen and called out for you until his throat was sore. But nothing.

Defeated, he slid down to the ground and thought of what to do.

“Y/N, I made a big mistake yesterday. I am so sorry. I should have never accused you of shit like that.”

He was wiping away his tears again, the thought of loosing you made his heart break every single time.

“You see I’m not perfect. Far from it. Yet somehow you seem to think that way. And I just… I just wait for the shoe to drop. For you to finally realize that I’m nothing special.”

“Jinnie”, you called out his name while stopping in front of your apartment. His eyes widened in surprise, immediately followed by relief. “You didn’t open up because you hated me but because you weren’t home…”

“Don’t flatter yourself, hate is on the top of the list right now”, you glared angrily.

He lowered his head in defeat.

“Are those for me?”, you nodded to the bouquet of flowers.

“Yes.”

You opened the door and passed by him. “Put them in a vase, then.”

Surprised, he got up on his feet and followed you inside.

“Can we talk?”

You sat across from him, giving him the cold shoulder.

“Talk.”

“Y/N, I am sorry. Please believe me, I am so sorry. I was seeing things, I let my insecurities win and I accused you of shit you didn’t do. Please, forgive me.”

“What did you think happened there?”

“I saw you guys talking and then I saw red. Like, you were smiling from ear to ear, practically shooting heart eyes emojis at him. I just, I just saw red.”

You sighed deeply, finally understanding where he was coming from.

“You’re right. I was shooting heart eyes emojis at him.”

“What?” Hyunjin’s heart was about to explode.

“But only because I was talking about you, Jinnie. He asked me out for a drink, and I explained to him that I already found the greatest guy on earth. I was gushing over you, like a freaking fan girl.”

“He’s that great, huh?” “Oh my god, yes. He is the greatest. No really, he is great at everything. Dancing, painting, loving? The best. He is also the kindest and loveliest guy I ever met. Always caring for the ones he loves. Never a dull moment with him. He makes me laugh so much. I swear I got abs because of him. And did you see how handsome he is? Fuck me, it’s like God created him himself and brought him to earth, so we could adore him. Fucking masterpiece, that man.” “Okay, okay, I got it”, the guy gave up. “Must be one hell of a lover.” “One hell of a lover. One hell of a soul. My soul, actually.”

“I feel like the biggest idiot right now”, he admitted ashamed.

“Yeah, you should feel like that.”

“I’m sorry, y/nnie. Can you forgive me?”

Silence lingered between the two of you, only for a moment, until you got up and walked over to him. You put your arms around his lean torso and hugged him tightly, willing to put this past you.

Hyunjin’s body finally relaxed, as he hugged you back. His lips landed on the crown of your head, simply resting there, and holding you close.

“Jinnie, wait. There is something else you need to know.”

He released you from his grip and looked at you anxiously.

“What is it?”

“When I was younger, I got bullied for hickeys. My first boyfriend always left them on my neck and the others harassed me for it, calling me slut and all sorts of names. So, it’s true, I don’t like them being visible.”

Hyunjin’s heart broke once more – for one because you had to endure this harassment, but also because he bullied you himself.

“I’m sorry, y/nnie. I won’t do that ever again.”

“Wait, no. I love your hickeys. I love your lips on me, I really do. But can we, maybe, agree to leave hickeys in places only we can see?”, you asked shily.

Hyunjin chuckled and pulled you in for a kiss, promising to do just that.

“I really meant what I said. I can’t imagine my life without you. I really can’t.”

You grabbed his hands and squeezed them, agreeing you felt the same way.          “I feel like we should talk about your insecurities, but I’m drained from last night.”

“Let’s relax for now, baby.”

“What do you want to do?”

Hyunjin’s lips turned upwards, forming the loveliest yet sneakiest smile.

“Okay, fine. I get the popcorn and you switch on the TV. Sex and the city marathon it is”, you rolled your eyes at him teasingly.

[joels-princess]

“… Give Sarah my love.”

Possibly the most depressing thing I’ve ever thought up, from the perspective of Tommy. Sorry.

Spoilers for The Last Of Us season 2, episode 2 and 3

Warnings: vomiting mention, dead body mention, cuts and blood mentions.

Jackson was a disaster. Several hundred dead infected piled up everywhere, and several townsfolk with them. The snow storm didn’t help, and the fact that Tommy didn’t know where four people were at was weighing on him. One of them being his older brother.

He was helping sort and move bodies with Maria when a gate watchman ran up, out of breath and visibly anxious.

“Tommy!”

He heard and stopped what he was doing to look at the man.

“Tommy!… They’re back.”

Tommy immediately started heading to the gate, but the watchman stopped him.

“Wait… They’re back… but-“ He shook his head.

Tommy’s heart dropped. Someone’s been hurt, or…

He ran. No other thoughts went through his head except seeing his brother. When he reached the gate, Jesse was helping Dina off of her horse, and Ellie was on her hands and knees, hyperventilating and vomiting. No sight of Joel. He felt his blood run cold. He tried to help her up but she screamed hoarsely, holding her chest painfully and pushed him away.

“Ellie… Where’s my brother?” Tommy tried to force her to look at him but she was sobbing and crying out. “Hey! Please look at me.” He begged. The thought of Joel getting torn apart by infected was too loud in his mind.

“Tommy.” Jesse got his attention and pulled him to his feet. “He didn’t make it… I’m sorry.”

Numb and paralyzed, his body was now running on autopilot. He just… stared at Jesse in shock and disbelief.

“We brought his body back… but… Tommy-“ Jesse ran a hand over his own face, trying to find the least heartbreaking way to tell him. Tommy stood staring at him.

“He was… he was beat to a pulp. I saw him. Had to wrap him up.”

Wrap him up? Tommy looked at the horses. A rope trailing behind Jesse’s, leading to a body wrapped in bloodstained sheets. Tommy pushed past Jesse and walked over, standing above the body. He stared at it for a few seconds before looking sadly back at Jesse. At Ellie who was now being comforted by Dina and Maria. It was really him…

His knees hit the muddy snow, the freezing wetness soaking through his jeans but… it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered. No tears because how could this be real? He slowly reached shaking hands out to untie the rope, then to unwrap the sheet. The second he saw Joel’s bloody face, Jesse pushed the sheet back down.

Tommy stood quickly, running a few yards away and dropping to his knees again. The tears ran down his face quickly as his breath picked up and his ears began to ring. Every breath he sucked in, his throat closed a little more and he caught himself sobbing loudly. Maria was instantaneously by his side trying to help him breathe but it was no use. He let out such a loud and long scream that he ran out of breath. Maria tried to get him to stand but his vision tunneled immediately and he passed out, falling to the snow.

When he woke up, it was slow and calm. He sat up quietly, remembering everything immediately, but remaining emotionless. The image of Joel’s beaten face was essentially stamped into his mind.

“Hey…” Maria’s voice broke the thoughts for a minute. “Eat this.” She said, handing him a sugar cookie and sitting next to him. “… you’ve been out for about little over an hour.”

Tommy took a bite of the cookie and had to force himself to chew it and swallow it. Maria’s hand on his thigh was soothing and it helped him focus on eating the rest.

“Jesse and I carried him to the council lobby… if you want to go see him. He’s being cleaned right now.” She explained calmly. Tommy just nodded and held her hand.

On his way to the council lobby, his legs carried him like they had their own mind. He reached the door and hesitated, seeing all the other people under sheets through the window. He opened the door finally and the nurse cleaning Joel’s body gave Tommy the rag to continue.

When she left, Tommy calmly walked over to Joel and lifted the sheet covering his face. He just wanted to make sure. The cuts and wounds were deep and ugly, ruining the features of his face. His jaw, his nose, his forehead, his ear- Tommy put the sheet back down. He sat down, wet the rag, and began cleaning the blood from Joel’s exposed arm.

The watch… he’s never really paid attention to it. It’s the same watch Joel has had since before the outbreak. It’s cracked face a gruesome reminder of Sarah’s death, bringing tears back to his eyes. He looked up at Joel’s covered face, thinking about them finally being back together.

“… Give Sarah my love.”

[acupofcoffee-asia]

Taroko National Park/ Part Two

After retracing the Shakadang trail, heading towards the bus stop, we immediately realized something was wrong: the bus scheduled according to the timetable didn’t seem to be arriving. While we were waiting, we met a French family in the same situation, who asked us for some tips. The little I could do was try to act as a translator between them and Yun Xia, who, being familiar with the area, was the only one who could help us in some way. After a while, we lost sight of the family, but the bus still hadn’t arrived. So, who else but my amazing, newly-met travel companion could come up with a solution?

A few minutes after deciding to hitchhike, a car with a family of three stopped, and not only did they take a detour to drop us off at what would be our next stop, the Nine Turns Trail (九曲洞) but they were so kind and generous that they didn’t make us feel uncomfortable about it at all.

This second path was shorter, but its unique feature lay in how the trail was structured: it was almost entirely inside a tunnel, with tall pillars lining both sides. Looking out from them, you could catch glimpses of views that, despite the unkind weather and overcast sky, were nothing short of stunning. I believe, and I’m pretty sure, the photos I managed to take don’t even come close to capturing the beauty and grandeur of it all.

In any case, the stop was short, it was getting late, and Yun Xia had to head home to Taipei (to take care of her cat). It would take her a bit longer than me, as I was staying in a hostel in Hualien that night. Fortunately, the return bus passed by, almost on time!

Instead of heading straight back to Hualien, to the hostel as I had thought, while chatting about this and that with her, I decided to go to the last bus stop: I really wanted to see the sea. I got off at the terminal, Tianyang, to head to Qixingtan Beach: 七星潭 (Qīxīngtán).

Imagine arriving, just after getting off the bus, to a rather isolated street with small local vendor stalls on either side, surrounded by lush greenery that leads to the pebbles of the beach and then the blue of the sea, with stray dogs wandering around alone.

The encounter with these stray dogs was one of the few (maybe the only) moments during this week-long solo trip when a red flag went off in my mind. But it wasn’t until I realized I had wandered into what seemed like the entrance to an aboriginal reserve—an area that, as I later found out, held cultural significance for the local people but wasn’t formally designated as a reserve—that I had to fight my curiosity to keep going. I realized that I was all alone, in the middle of a barren field with a few trees, and at least two large stray dogs by my sides, not looking at me too kindly. Calmly (my movements were, but not the beating of my heart), and with all the composure I could muster, I got out of that uncomfortable situation and made my way toward the beach, where I stayed afterward.

The beach!

As soon as I got close, I felt an urge to do something that was a bit unusual for me. You should know that when I travel, I tend to not stay very much in contact with my loved ones; I check in with a simple "I'm fine, hi, how are you?" But in that moment, I felt the need to make a video call to my parents because I had to share the vastness and power of what was in front of me. They were with my grandmother when I tried to give them a taste of what was a very rough, threatening sea, yet at the same time so fascinating and powerful. It had the power to send adrenaline through my veins, and a feeling that, neither with words now, nor on the phone with them that day, I think I was able to convey.

I walked from one side of the shore to the other, until, after meeting some Taiwanese children who called me "美国人," (měiguó rén - American), (different from mainland China, where I was mostly called "俄罗斯,"(Éluósī - Russian), I headed towards the bus stop. It was there, after an hour of waiting for a bus that I thought would never come, that I met a Vietnamese family, with the father speaking perfect English, and we exchanged some travel information.

Just as we were talking and trying to figure out how to get back, since the bus still hadn’t arrived, a tourist bus driver showed up, a private one, to replace the one that was supposed to pass. With a kindness that continued to surprise me, despite having encountered not one person who wasn’t kind during those days of traveling, he explained that we had to go with him. And so, after a long journey (I was at one of the last stops, having reached the terminal), I got off and headed towards the hostel, which was still an unknown to me.

When I saw the alley I had to go down, it seemed anything but reassuring, since it was dark. But as soon as I stepped inside, I understood that this wasn’t just any hostel, and that it would be hard to find one as beautiful as this in the future.

I was greeted by a girl at check-in who gave me some directions, explained that I could check out on my own by leaving the key on the desk, and told me that the room I was going to stay in had girls from all over the world. "You’ll get along well," she said. "You’ll have so much to share, I’m sure of it." And that’s how it was.

Without even realizing it, I was plunged into the story of Charlotte (a fictional name), from France, who was taking a gap year from work and spoke a little Italian. During this year, Charlotte had sailed on a boat with strangers and planned to surf in Taiwan. Charlotte had a diary in which she asked everyone, including me, what happiness is. I think I told her that happiness, for me, is like a quest, something you never stop searching for, traveling, meeting people, and having experiences. But what struck me the most were the answers, so different, that people gave her. The simplest ones were the ones that touched me the most. I don’t have any contact with her at the moment, but I’m sure she’s gathered many more interesting ones.

We went to bed early, and the next day, when I went out to explore the east coast of Taiwan, I didn’t meet any of them. I said goodbye to this place with a bit of melancholy, and I hope to return one day. I hope it didn’t suffer too much damage after the 2024 earthquake.

This part of my journey has come to an end, but the more I write, the more I realize how much happened in those six days in Taiwan, and even the seemingly insignificant details, when I think about them now, take on a new hue. For example, how cozy was the little room and the bed I slept in at Hualien? I felt so at peace, and so at home. A year may have passed, but when I think about it, the feeling of gratitude remains.

[lovelyladyabsinthewrites]

From the Ashes Pt.45

Pairing(s): Pairing(s): Rhaegar Targaryen x Lannister!Reader, one-sided!Jaime Lannister x Lannister!Reader, Jaime Lannister x Cersei Lannister

Warnings: slow burn fic, changing povs, MC POV, Rhaegar POV, Alizah POV

Words: 3136

Part 1 Part 2  Part 3  Part 4  Part 5  Part 6  Part 7  Part 8  Part 9  Part 10  Part 11  Part 12   Part 13  Part 14  Part 15  Part 16  Part 17  Part 18  Part 19  Part 20 Part 21 

Part 22 Part 23  Part 24  Part 25  Part 26 Part 27  Part 28  Part 29  Part 30  Part 31  Part 32  Part 33  Part 34  Part 35  Part 36  Part 37  Part 38  Part 39  Part 40 Part 41 Part 42 Part 43 Part 44 Part 46 Part 47 Part 48 Part 49 Part 50  Part 51 Part 52 Part 53 Part 54 Part 55

Agitated, Weles bounced against the walls as he was unable to stand still, even for a moment. They were in the mouth of their enemy, separated through the Manor of Shades from one another. Nuahlin had drilled in him the instinct to stick together with your comrades. (y/n) didn’t even have Latilth by her side if the situation worsened.

He had promised Jaime Lannister that he would keep her safe, not that he needed a flimsy thing as a promise. Weles wholeheartedly devoted himself to (y/n) and had seen enough to know that she possessed Azor Ahai's soul. Even if (y/n) was tentative about admitting. Would Weles have to admit to Jaime that he could not keep his sister safe?

No, he had to have faith that if danger did befall upon her, (y/n) could take care of herself. She proved it with her fight with both darkin. There was no help for her then, nor with Batur. Even he couldn’t defeat Inniros when put up with the task. (y/n) had stopped him dead, pinning Lightbringer to his shadow so he could not escape.

Never having been claustrophobic before, Weles eyes the foreboding walls that contained him like a caged animal. While the doors may not have looked like the ones a regular prison would have, he figured this room to be much the same.

“I can hear your incessant pacing all the way from my room.” Melisandre’s voice is muffled by the door. Whipping his door open, Weles finds the red priestess completely alone. Her finely sculpted eyebrows are raised in amusement by Weles’ disheveled appearance. “You do know we don’t have to stay in our rooms.”

It would mean little if they attempted to escape. Shadows were agents of the darkin, even if Melisandre bragged to be one of few who was a shadowbinder, much different than the darkin. Their skill was almost at a toddler’s level of shadowdancing. Shadowbinders could not even fathom the inert power of the darkin to truly become one with the shadows itself. Every step of their’s was being watched , the resident darkin waiting for a slip up so they can label the outsiders as villains.

“No thanks.” Weles sneered, a vile taste left in his mouth after (y/n)’s experience with Batur, the shadowmaster.

“The darkin may not like it, but we are guests in their home and will be treated as such.” Melisandre calmly explains; scarlet eyes watch irritation flicker in Weles.

“Then why have they set us up in a tower like prisoners?”

She places a hand on the door frame, a ruby ring looking nearly black as there was no light to make its brilliance shine. “Not that I agree with them, but can you blame them? If the temple had its way, they would be no better than slaves to us. We are strangers threatening their home with this little girl that looks nothing like a prophet. They have reason to be cautious.”

He could blame them, for his resentment toward not just the darkin but Asshai as a whole grew more with each passing minute. And Melisandre was born here, she was of Asshai’i blood. “Do you trust them with (y/n)?”

“Of course not.” Long lashes send a darkness over her pale cheeks. “But I’m not worried. And you shouldn’t be either. Not if you truly believe in (y/n)’s strength. You taught her. She is as much a student of your’s as any Fiery Hand.”

And, of course, a dragon. Latilth had not liked the sight of her mistress being taunted by Batu7r. Wales would have applauded her had he not been busy trying to call the dragon back. She had been intent on helping (y/n). Even if it jmeant killing Batur which Rhiannon had feared. Her dragonfire could have easily consumed him. He had no shadows to hide in when the light of dragonfire lit up the dark hall.

“Batur will not do anything to us. Not when Inniros is on our side.” That made him scoff. Inniros. His weapons thirst for the darkin’s blood, the blood of the monster who had slaughtered his brothers without any type of punishment. Jaime had been close to being taken by Inniros had it not been for (y/n). “Is he really on our side?”

“You’re such a bummer, Weles.” Rhiannon stands in the doorway, arms crossed and her gold eyes narrowed. The young priestess, as lovely looking as she was, often had a sassy mouth on her that made conversations with her slightly difficult. Weles had much preferred the sweetness of her older sister Thalina. “Has he not shown us in every way that he is on our side? You may not have spoken with him as much as I have, but he’s devoted to nuh kosh. And (y/n) trusts him. That should be enough.”

Melisandre makes a face like Rhiannon did have a valid point. “She may be young, but (y/n) has a great intuition of who is worthy of her trust.” After her childhood, of course, (y/n) would be reluctant to trust anyone immediately.

Stepping next to Melisandre, Rhiannon holds her head up, challenging the chief of the Fiery Hand. “He is trustworthy and repentant of his sins. All so that he may serve (y/n). He didn’t have to show us the way to the Shadow Hills. Inniros could have turned on us when the female darkin made herself present.”

Snorting in indignation, Weles matched her cross armed stance.

Find no use in arguing, Melisandre sighed and positioned herself between the two. “Settle down. If Ray hears you guys squabbling, he’ll have us all in an hour of prayer.” Welles had sat through enough of Rays’ drawn-out sermons.

Rhiannon let her arms fall to her sides, obeying the senior red priestess. Her shield of confidence lowered, too. Behind her rough exterior, worry bled through. Until recently, Rhiannon had been attached to (y/n)’s side. An immediate connection had developed between the young ladies, each longing for the guiding hand of Thalina. Being away from her must have been strange, unable to look out for her adopted sister.

“What do we do now?” Her voice lowered to a soft timber.

“We try not to cause trouble and give (y/n) our support. That is why we are here.” Melisandre clasped her hands together. “R’hllor will carry us through this. As he always has.”

At least Weles and Rhiannon had one thing in common: doubt.

Sleep had alluded you that night. All you could do was grip at your thin sheets while tossing and turning. You should have been beyond exhausted, but your heart raced and skin tingled. The Shadow Hills energized you, making your legs swing off the cot and onto a stable, albeit cold, flooring.

It could be dangerous, roaming through the shadow estate at night, but you wanted to see Latilth. You were missing her warm body pressed against your sleeping frame.

You hesitated at your door, grabbing Lightbringer as an afterthought before slipping out into the pitch-black dark. Metal concerts on the wall offer meager lighting for your venture. You realize what a foolish idea it was to wander around at night in unfamiliar lands. Getting lost was a high probability that dawned on you too late.

The feeling of being watched clawed at your back, making you shiver as you prayed that you were walking in the right direction. Loviisa showed you the way earlier if you wanted to visit Latilth. Someone could misconstrue your wandering as suspicious. Thankfully, you found the staircase leading to the entrance hall's giant doors. You doubted anyone had actually used it in decades, preferring to take the secret tunnel through the mountain. How would you even open such a beast of a door?

Your hands wrap around the handle and you tentatively pull. The groaning of the hinges startles you, making your hands instinctively release at the loud sound.

A pale hand replaces your’s on the door handle and you turn to meet Inniros. He’s chuckling at your wide eyes. “Don’t let it scare you.”

Finally you smile in pure relief. A friendly face. “It’s so quiet here. Do you think anyone else heard it?”

“Oh most definitely.” Ignoring another groan of protest from the door, Inniros steps aside to let you through. “They probably knew you were roaming around the moment you stepped foot outside of your room.”

“I figured as much.”

You found Latilth immediately in the courtyard. Curled up next to a rudimentary sleeping bag. Her head turns, and when her bright, orange eyes spot you, Laitilth leaps up, shaking herself off of any dirt and nearly toppling you to the ground in her excitement. Warm scales soothed your soul as you wrapped your arms around her neck.

“I missed you too.” You smile and turn your face away to avoid one of her sharp horns. “Thank you for staying out here with her. You really didn’t have to.”

“I couldn't just let her be by herself.” Inniros pats the dragon on her back fondly. A rumbling purr vibrates in the back of Latilth’s throat. All she had ever known was you, Inniros, and Rhiannon. She wasn’t interested in the others in your group; they hadn’t been central to her rearing. Rhiannon had encouraged her to fly while Inniros prompted her to use her dragonfire to roast her fish and meat. And of course, you loved her more than anything.

Out in the courtyard, you still felt like you were being watched. Whether by whatever creatures lived in the mountains around you or by someone watching from a window inside the Manor of Shades.

You noticed where Latilth had been sleeping the earth had been scorched in a perfect circle. She needed some kind of warmth during the cold Asshai’i night.

Loviisa said there’s somewhere she wants to take me tomorrow. Apparently it will help me connect to Azor Ahai’s spirit. Any clue where she could be taking me?”

He pondered for a moment, long ivory fingers cascading over her cream scales that contained the softest flecks of blue, green, yellow, and pink. Even in the dark night, those colors shimmered as Latilth moved. “This land has many secrets. Some, even the darkin, have yet to unveil, even after centuries of living here. The River of Ash, Mountains of the Morn, Stygai, and even the Vale of Shadows hold terrifying magic to them. I have a strong feeling she might take you to the fallen city of Stygai.”

The way his voice actually trembled made you extremely apprehensive. “You. . . You sound scared. . .”

“Out of all of Asshai, that is the one place even the darkin stay clear of. It is a place to be feared.” He admits without any shame. “Batur and another master took us there. We only went to the outskirts, but we saw in the middle of the decayed city a circle of black obelisks as tall as any tree I have ever seen. Those alone still stood in near-perfect condition. There’s something in the air around those pillars. An energy, that’s what Master Nazneen had said.”

If this place made even Inniros shiver, it was indeed a cursed place. For what was there for shadowdancers to fear? You had always thought they were above fear.

“But. . .” A ghost of a smile flickers on his face. “If anyone can survive Stygai, I believe it would be you.”

You blush at his odd compliment. “I hope you’re right.” Traveling through Essos with Jaime had been a great adventure, and they had bonded more than ever. Glittering in all sorts of possibilities. Asshai. . . Asshai was a dark land, sinister even. A place where one never lets one's guard down. Hostility everywhere, you hoped to have the same amount of faith in yourself that Inniros did for you.

Robert nearly laughed in Prince Rhaegar’s face. “That creepy girl said she can give you a fleet?! How rich is their bloody god?”

“Enough that the temple’s fleet can take Blackwater Bay; from there, we take the Iron Throne.” Rhaegar knew he sounded overly ambitious. He was excited at the prospect of seeing his wife. If what Lady Alizah said was true. She was still a stranger, after all. The way she had made the flames in the fireplace leap, though, was quite impressive.

Arthur sat in a plush armchair, his face remained chalky due to his injury still paining him greatly. A blanket lay across his lap. Big enough to cover his missing leg.

When Arthur had woken up, the first words out of his mouth was a promise to Rhaegar: That he would be fighting alongside his prince again in no time.There was no doubt of Arthur getting back in the fighting spirit soon. The only question was how he would do it with one functioning leg. Fighting required two healthy arms and two strong legs .

“The things she’s told you about (y/n). . . She knew about the scars on her back.” Arthur murmurs.

“From the lions. i don’t think many know about them.” Darkly recalling the story (y/n) had told him. They added to her strength though, at least that’s what he thought. Deep scars that ran jagged from her shoulder blade to the dip of her spine. She must have been so terrified when it happened and in excruciating pain. Too much for a little girl to experience.

For once, the outside was quiet, with no onslaught of rain or shaking of trees or the wind. Everything was calm, soothing everyone’s previously fried nerves. Even a small amount of sun was in the early morning before the clouds hid it.

Frown seeming permanent under his thick black beard, Robert continues to glower. “Doesn’t this all seem too good to be true though?”

Well, Alizah had made terms and conditions. Building a temple in King’s Landing when all was said and done would be expensive and controversial. Another faith interloping in Westerosi society would be frowned upon. The people were already set in their faiths. The Iron Isles had their drowned god, northern folk with their old gods, and weirwood trees accompanied by the

Faith of the Seven didn’t leave much room for anyone else. Back lash like that in the beginning of his reign would be ill-advised.

Rhaegar sighed. “Believe me, I know how crazy it all sounds. Maybe I’m the real Mad King.”

“Don’t you dare say that.” Lord Baratheon sounded insulted on behalf of Rhaegar even tghough it was the prince who said it. “Aerys would have used his me like fodder in that wildfire. You had us retreat to save what lives you could.”

Weakly chuckling, Arthur’s purple eyes glance at Rhaegar. “What else do we have going for us? We haven’t received word if Oberyn made it to Greenstone.”

“Lord Estermont would have sent a raven as soon as the storm’s cleared.” Robert picks up a map that was spread out on the small table between he and Rhaegar. Greenstone was loyal exclusively to House Baratheon. “Perhaps the bad weather is still lingering in their area.”

“I say lets throw caution to the wind then.” smiled Arthur, positive in his words. “IKt will take time for our arm to rebuild. give the fire freaks time to send over their ships. Hopefully Aerys won’t notice how quiet we are in the mean time.”

“That is if he doesn’t blow up King’s Landing before that.”

The clock was ticking. Would time prove to be their ally?

Alizah walks away from her stout fire pit, which she had brought from Volantis, specially made for her. Her fingers twist around the garnet gem strung from her neck.

Even not there physically, Alizah’s skin prickled at the sight of the Shadowlands constructed in flames. She regretted not being the one to go with Erh, but (y/n) was in good, reliable hands.

Still. . . (y/n) would truly be tested in Asshai. There, she would either learn how to fly or plummet to her death.

“Haakon?”

The Fiery Hand soldier wanders in, his companion lingered behind him. “Yes, Lady Alizah?”

“I must write a letter to the temple. Can you help me?” Her blindness barely affected her daily life, but she was still unable to read or write properly. There were still things she was limited to.

“Of course.” He finds that there is already parchment and ink on her writing table. Picking up a plumed quill, Haakon hovers it over the paper. “I am ready whenever you are, my lady.”

There was much to tell High Priest Bennero. Alizah paused before speaking, choosing her words carefully.

To the divine graces of the Red Temple, Pillar of R'hllor. . .

In order to fulfill the prophecy in which Red Priestess Alizah made a testament via flame reading, it requires four armed and ready ships.

The royal husband of our champion, (y/n) Targaryen, can easily gain capital with our assistance. His Royal Majesty, Rhaegar Targaryen, will rule side by side with his wife until the end. It is paramount that the requested fleet arrive in four turns of the moon lest King Aerys succeeds in destroying all of King's Landing.

I fear I have yet to receive any visions regarding (y/n) Targaryen and her efforts in Asshai.

May R'hllor guide my vision to (y/n)'s fate.

Signed, Red Priestess Alizah Tahib of Qohor

Haakon immediately lays down the quill and stares at Alizah. "Pardon me, but will King Aerys really destroy all of King's Landing? Every living soul?"

Alizah's expression is stony as she regards Haakon. Even glancing behind him to Kafele. "His mind is rotting, Kafele. I can see it, eating away at whatever goodness remains in him. He will become a creature of paranoia and illusion. Rhaegar needs to end him. For the good of the realm."

The vision of Aerys had terrified her if Alizah was to be honest. Inside Aerys was nothing but putrid decay. The curse of the three-headed dragon.

Not all was lost, though. . . Alizah had to remember that from what Thalina had divulged to the congregation before she set off for Westeros. Though there would be a trail of blood and a sea full of tears, there was peace at the end of it all. The Cold Gods would be destroyed, and magic would once more prosper worldwide. (y/n), the Warrior would see them through. She didn't seem like much as Alizah remembered her, but Thalina had been certain that she would grow and earn her title. (y/n) and her dragon.

Taglist:

@boywivlove

@esposadomd

@domoron

@yentroucnagol

@enchantingcupcakecollectionfan

@bregarc

[ejzah]

For @chicgeekgirl89, who mentioned wanting a follow up to one of my stories over on the Densimber page. I hope this satisfies.

***

Wrongfully Accused, Part 2

Another ten minutes passed before the Dean’s office door opened. He looked mildly surprised at seeing Rosa, Deeks, and Kensi waiting for him, but gathered himself quickly and ushered them inside.

“Mr. Deeks and…Ms. Blye?”

“Mrs. Blye,” Kensi corrected.

“Mrs. Blye. Thank you for coming in,” he said, gesturing to a row of chairs in front of a large desk. “I’m sure Rosa has told you why she was suspended from class.”

“Yes, she did,” Kensi said grimly.

“Well, our standard protocol for an infraction like this is an in-school suspension and—”

“I’m just going to stop you there,” Deeks interrupted. Mr. Ruddell blinked at the intrusion. “I want to start off by saying we appreciate how much you and all the teachers do for students. I know teaching is an incredibly difficult job.”

“I appreciate that, Mr. Deeks. So you’ll understand why Rosa’s teacher, Miss Kelly, has such a strict no cell phone usage policy,” Mr. Ruddell said.

“I do and it would make sense. If Rosa was actually using her phone.” Turning to her, he asked. “Rosa, will you share your side of the story?”

“Sure,” Rosa said, shooting him a hesitant look. He nodded encouragingly as Kensi squeezed her hand. “Someone’s phone was ringing in class but it was not mine.” She paused to take a quick breath. “I was going to show Miss Kelly my phone, but the ringing stopped and then, um, she took it. My phone.”

“I see.” Mr. Ruddell regarded Rosa seriously. “That’s much different than Miss Kelly’s narrative.”

“Which is why we’re obviously concerned and hope to see a quick resolution to the matter,” Deeks said.

“Mr. Ruddell, do you have our daughter’s phone?” Kensi asked. “She hasn’t seen it since it was confiscated.”

“No, Miss Kelly would have it still.”

“Then I suggest you get it.” Kensi stared him down with a look that had proved successful during many an interrogation. The Dean cleared his throat nervously, and pulled out a piece of paper with the school logo.

“Usually, when students—”

“Rosa’s phone is a key piece of evidence in this case, so it should be present as we discuss the details,” Deeks explained.

“Case? Woah, this isn’t court,” Mr. Ruddell said, holding up his hands in a calming gesture.

“No, but I am a lawyer, and I know Rosa’s rights and want to make sure everyone gets to share her side of the story. Don’t make me quote case law, because that would probably just be embarrassing for both of us,” Deeks finished calmly, sitting back. “I would hate to have to take legal measures.”

“I’ll have someone retrieve the phone,” Mr. Ruddell decided with a resigned sigh. He stepped out for a moment, the murmur of his and the secretary’s voice drifting in.

“I don’t want to get anyone in trouble,” Rosa whispered.

“Do you want to be in trouble for something you didn’t do?” Deeks asked.

“No.”

“Well, then things will have to be slightly uncomfortable for a few minutes. I won’t embarrass you too much though.” Deeks patted her shoulder reassuringly as Mr. Ruddell came back in.

An awkward silence descended while they waited for the secretary to return.

“We’ve been happy to have you here with us, Rosa,” the Dean said, then added. “Recent incident aside.”

“Thank you?”

Finally, the secretary returned and placed Rosa’s phone it its familiar pale blue with a flower pattern case.

“Rosa did you turn your phone on or change anything on it before Miss Kelly took it?” Deeks asked.

“No, I didn’t have a chance.”

“Alright, please put your passcode in and show us if there are any missed calls from today.”

Following Deeks’ instructions, Rosa opened her recent messages, keeping the phone on the desk so everyone could see. The only missed calls were one from last night and another from ten minutes ago.

“Ah.” Mr. Ruddell grimaced. “I’m sorry for the misunderstanding, Ms. Reyes.”

“I accept your apology,” Rosa said with impressive grace.

“So, can Rosa go to her next class?” Kensi asked. Her smile seemed pleasant enough, but Deeks could tell how badly she wanted to lay into the Dean. Luckily for him, Rosa didn’t want to make a scene. Otherwise, he’d be getting an earful.

“Yes, I’ll call Mr. Juarez to let him know she’s on her way. I’ll also speak with Miss Kelly about removing the suspension from Rosa’s record.”

“We appreciate that,” Deeks said.

“Well, thank you so much for coming in. I’m glad we were able to resolve this issue,” the Dean said, offering an insincere smile.

“Me too.” Standing, Deeks offered his hand with his most judgmental smile in return. “Maybe next time it would be a good idea to listen to all perspectives before passing judgment.” Mr. Ruddell fidgeted uncomfortably.

“Yes, well, I’m afraid I have another meeting.” He gestured to the door and Deeks, Kensi, and Rosa stood, leaving the room.

“What an ass,” Kensi said as soon as they were out of hearing range. Rosa snorted, covering her mouth.

“He’s actually really nice most of the time,” she defended the Dean. “Marty, would you have actually sued the school?” She sounded both amazed and a little anxious at the idea.

Deeks scoffed. “Of course not. That would be a waste of resources for something like this. It certainly get things moving though.”

Kissing his cheek, Kensi looped her arm through his. “I love it when you intimidate people with your legal knowledge.”

“It was very impressive. Thank you for helping me.” Rosa smiled shyly, and Deeks wondered for the thousandth time how they’d gotten so lucky.

“We will always help you no matter what,” he promised.

[thebrownssociety]

Fulliautomatix and the Missing Bard, Part 4

Warnings: Cacofonix bashing and mentions of vomit.

I do not own Asterix in any way shape or form.

'That' was the sound of laughter. Roman laughter, which was never a good sign.

"Isn't he the one that never shuts up?" They heard one of the romans say.

"Maybe he's lost his voice?" Another one said, though they didn't sound convinced.

A laugh from a third, then. "Maybe this will get it back again?"

The sound of something banging and a quick shout from what Fulliautomatix and Unhygenix immediately identified as Cocofonix.

Immediately the two stepped out from behind the tree, with their weapons - a hammer and a fish respectively - raised high and took a moment to take in what was in front of them.

Cacofonix was suspended in the air by his foot, which was held in a noose basically. He wasn't massively high enough of the ground, only a few foot, but obviously couldn't get down on his own. Standing around him in a circle were five romans.

"What the hell are you doing?" Fulliautomatix barked.

The five romans promptly went white and all bolted in five different directions. Unhygenix was prepared however and took a swig of the potion, then grabbed a passing roman by the neck as he ventured to close. "What in toutatis is this about!? Let him go!"

The roman stared blankly and Unhygenix shook him. "Now!"

The roman promptly fainted. Unhygenix threw him to the side in disgust.

While Unhygenix was dealing with the roman, Fulliautomatix had managed to untie the noose. "Unhygenix!" He called. "Help me lower him to the ground."

Unhygenix hurried over and together they gently placed him on the ground. Fulliautomatix removed the noose from Cacofonix's ankle. "Yeah, that's definitely going to be bruised. Don't think it's broken though."

Unhygenix waved a hand over Cocofonix's face. "Cacofonix? You alright?"

The thinner man groaned and opened his eyes before immediately closing them again. Then he very suddenly sat up and threw up to the side, thankfully missing both of his rescuers. "S'rry." He mumbled, then closed his eyes again.

"Hey!" Unhygenix slapped his lightly on his cheek. "Don't go to sleep on us. Cacofonix?"

The blacksmith waved dismissively at the fishmonger. "I'll carry him. He's not walking on that ankle anyway. Honestly, those romans are crazy." He said, once he'd got Cocofonix into a vaguely comfortable position and they were walking back. "Who leaves traps out in the middle of the forest anyway?"

"Stupid roman troops who aren't man enough to hunt with their bare hands." Unhygenix muttered.

They walked back in silence, both stewing until at last they got back to the village where Vitalstatistix was waiting for them. "What happened!?" He exclaimed, as soon as he set eyes on them.

The two explained what had happened as they hurried to Getafix's hut.

"What the hell in wrong with the romans? Couldn't they just take him prisoner like anyone else?" Vitalstatistix ranted to no one in particular.

Getafix took the whole situation calmly, directing them to put the bard on his spare bed and examining the ankle carefully. "Not broken." He said, after what seemed like ages. "But definitely sprained. What the romans hoped to catch near the roads I don't know. A deer or something? Anyway, it's good you two got their in time." The druid said to Fulliatomix and Unhygenix. "Who knows what they were planning to do with him when they'd finished? Now don't worry, I'll look after him. Get back to your families."

Unhegenix pretty much left immediately, but Fulliautomatix stopped at the door. "Er...when he wakes up properly tell him we're glad he's back. Though we don't need an ode."

[staysdelulus]

Stray Kids - Changbin [MDNI!!]

Kinktober Day 13!!

Summary: After your gym trainer shows you the ropes, it turns into something... more.

Warnings: fem!reader, pinv, no protection, oral (69), and more!!

Word Count: 1474

“Let me see it again,” Changbin says.

He was your personal trainer, you having shown up to his place roughly twenty minutes ago, going through the usual dynamic warm ups with him before getting to the main part of your arm workout. Having known him for a while, you had finally agreed to let him train you a month ago, and were already making good progress.

Sure, maybe your muscles weren’t fully developed the way you wanted them to be, but you were definitely getting there. Tugging on your ponytail again, you nod, eyes fixed determinedly on the dumbbells in front of you.

With a grunt, you lift them to your chest, his hands steadying your arms, your heart beating faster when his fingers graze your breasts.

“Breathe,” Changbin says calmly, prying your lower lip from the teeth it was caught on. Flushing, you quickly let go, pushing the dumbbells up and performing the bench press. With a nod of approval from Changbin, you set them down, him grinning. “Better. Let me show you.”

You stand up, straightening yourself as he sets aside a towel on another bench he had. Without another word, he picks up the dumbbells you had left, the weights light in his hands, before he speaks. “Use the bench. If it’s angled up a bit, it makes it easier to lift, and if it’s angled down more, you can guess what it’s like.”

“Right,” you say, nodding at his words as his muscles rippled under the tight shirt he was wearing.

He grins slightly, the garage light flickering for a second again as he settles himself down comfortably. “And now, we lift.”

You watch, fascinated, as he holds the dumbbells with ease, pushing them up in front of him, eyes trained on the ceiling, before he presses them back down towards his chest. Setting them down again, he stays where he is, smiling softly. “And, you know. I know you said you were scared, but the actual bar isn’t too bad. It’s roughly twenty kilos, or fourty-five pounds.”

You shuffle uncertainly, glancing at the bar that was hung up on the side. Following your gaze, he smiles again. “I promise. I can spot you too, you know? A light tap on the elbows and you’ll be able to push it up all the way. And if you ever need to drop it, there are safety bars for a reason. You’ll be safe.”

“I just…” you laugh awkwardly, glancing back at Changbin. “I don’t know. Maybe later?”

He nods, a note of understanding passing his eyes. “Yeah, of course. Do you want me to show you how to use it, though? Just so you know what it’s going to look like?”

You nod eagerly, following him to the bench as he settles down, stretching his arms. He lays down, gesturing for you to stand behind his head. “Spot for me, yeah? You won’t need to do anything, it’s just the bar I’m lifting, but just in case.”

“Okay,” you answer, watching him lay back as he wriggles around before putting his arms up. He grabs the bar, holding it steadily as he lifts it easily and presses down to his chest, before pushing back up. He does a few more reps before he puts the bar back up. “See? Easy. It’s only just over 2 more kilos, or 5 more pounds, then the weights you were lifting. You could do it.”

“I don’t know,” you say again, your eyes nervous. “I’m just…”

He smiles gently, his eyes softening. “Yeah, no, it’s fine. I understand. I was scared at first too. But whenever you’re ready, just let me know, yeah? I’ll spot you anyday.”

Nodding in agreement, you’re about to go back to bench pressing with the dumbbells when his voice stops you. “Wait.”

“Yeah?” you answer softly, eyes wide as you turn back to him.

“Let me show you how the safety bars work,” he says. “Watch.”

He grabs the bar, holding it up again for you before lowering it slightly. “And now, when you’re starting to feel like you can’t lift it up again, gently lower it down, and then…”

When the bar is inches away from the safety bar, he drops it, the bar falling onto the safety bars with a small clang. He grins cheekily up at you, looking proud of himself.

“And there you go.”

“That was… simple,” you say, eyes wide. He nods in agreement, grabbing your hand and tugging you closer.

“Changbin…” your breath hitches. He had a clear view of under your shirt at this angle now, and you knew it from the way his lips fell apart slightly. He clears his throat awkwardly, looking away for a moment.

“I… sorry, I wasn’t…” his voice trails off, but the sight of his pants tightening definitely betrayed him.

You chew your lower lip when you catch sight of it, eye widening. Groaning in embarrassment, Changbin covers his face, his neck red as he speaks. “I’m sorry, it’s not something I can control…”

“Maybe that could be our workout.” The words slip out of your mouth before you can even think, and Changbin’s eyes snap open at your words, an eyebrow raised. At the sight of your flushed face, he grins cockily.

And that is how you find yourself positioned over Changbin’s face, butt-naked, him exposed as well. Lowering yourself onto him slowly, he sighs, his breath fanning over you as he holds your hips, pulling you down to him right away.

Flushing, you fall forward, breasts over the bar, lips finding his arousal, whining at how thick he was. Groaning at the sensation, he mutters softly. “Come with me, Y/n. No coming over me before, yeah?”

You let out a muffled grunt of agreement, and he begins to eat you out, the sounds sickeningly hot as he laps at your entrance, chin reaching up to nudge your clit. Groaning at the sensation, his cock twitches slightly at the vibration, his hands reaching up to steady your hips, which had begun to subconsciously roll against the feel of him.

Using your hands to stroke his length, you pop off of him to catch a breath, legs buckling at his force before your head falls right back down to his cock, taking him in again as you whine.

He groans softly, his tongue lapping at you more roughly before he begins to thrust it in, your body clenching slightly at the feel, eliciting a small whine from you. As you begin to roll your hips, his hands guide you, moving you faster and faster over and over again.

As you begin to reach your high, he does as well, hips thrusting up into your mouth as you groan, whimpering softly as you take him in, gasping softly as his cum shoots right into the back of your throat.

At the feeling of him, you come as well, whimpering as you swallow, gagging slightly as you gasp. Changbin gently guides you to stand up, sitting up as well, lips glistened with your slick.

Before you can even process what has happened, he guides you to the bench, groaning softly as he pushes you down against it, hovering over you as he kisses you, the tastes of the both of you mixing together.

“Fuck, Y/n,” Changbin groans against your skin, letting out a soft groan.

“Changbin,” you gasp, managing to choke out his name as his cock thrusts into you. You were already ready to take him in, but his thickness was still a stretch, your hands flying up to his arms as you whimper, crying out.

“Yeah, just like that,” he gasps, watching with awe as you take him in, his lips parted as he groans softly. “You feel so- ugh- tight-”

You wail softly as he pushes himself into you faster and faster, his eyes falling onto your flushed face, the sight of you beneath him, the redness in your face making him lean closer to you, the bench angled up perfectly for hims to press his body against you as the both of you come.

Wailing his name, his cock twitches one final time before he lets you go, gasping.

“Let’s go clean up,” Changbin says softly, scooping you into his arms.

His face focuses on you, smiling softly as he gently pushes open the bathroom door, setting you down in the tub. After cleaning up the both of you, he dries you down, taking you to the bedroom and setting you down on his bed. Snuggling against him, you nuzzle your face against his chest.

Wrapping his arms around you fondly, he kisses the top of your head, holding you gently. “Sleep well, Y/n.”

Nodding sleepily, you close your eyes, his arms tightening around you once again before he, too, falls asleep.

[amournoir]

hello! how are you? I hope you're fine<3

can I ask #11a & #11b of fluff scenarios for Elijah Mikaelson?

thank you🫶🏻

Fluff Prompt | E.M {request}

℘ prompt — late night texts (11a) & phone calls (11b)

℘ warning — fluff

℘ pairing — elijah mikaelson x f!reader

℘ count — 0.9k

The moon cast a soft, silvery glow through my bedroom window as I settled into my pillows, clutching my phone. It had become a comforting ritual—a late-night text or call with him, the man who had captured my heart in a way that felt both surreal and entirely right.

My fingers danced across the screen as I typed out a simple message: Can't sleep?

I pressed send and held my breath, waiting for his reply. It didn't take long for his name to appear on my screen.

Elijah: Indeed. The night often finds me contemplating the mysteries of life.

I chuckled softly, imagining him in his distinguished attire, sat on his grand office chair in his study with his brows furrowed.

Me: Sounds deep. But don't let it keep you up too late.

A few moments passed, and I saw the three dots indicating he was typing.

Elijah: I promise, I'll try not to lose myself in the labyrinth of my thoughts tonight.

His reply came, accompanied by a playful emoji. My heart warmed at his words. Despite his centuries of existence, Elijah had a way of being both dignified and charmingly human.

As our conversation flowed, it felt like we were creating a world of our own, separate from the demands of the daylight hours. We discussed everything from literature to our favorite constellations, sharing pieces of ourselves that we might never have revealed otherwise.

Elijah: Tell me, my dear, have you ever considered that the stars might be the echoes of forgotten wishes?

His words painted a vivid image in my mind. I smiled, my heart fluttering.

Me: I've never thought of it that way, but now I can't help but imagine the night sky filled with whispered hopes.

The conversation continued, moving from dreams to laughter to the occasional playful tease. And as the night wore on, it was clear that neither of us wanted it to end. I started to feel my eyelids growing heavier with each passing minute so I thought I’d rest them for a moment. Before I was fully asleep, my phone loudly rang and jolted me awake. In a rush to pick it up, I accidentally pushed it and it fell but the ringing stopped. I figured it was probably one of my late alarms so I decided on looking for it in the morning, I couldn’t be bothered to search for it now in the dark.

Not seconds had passed when it rang again, the echo underneath my bed made it louder than before. With a frustrated groan and whine, I blindly searched the floor for it. My eyes were still shut all the while. Once I felt it, I pressed the answer button without a glance, clearly this wasn’t my first time.

“Hello? Y/N are you alright?” his voice dripped with worry.

“Eli? What’s wrong?” I asked instead.

“You didn’t respond to my texts nor did you answer your phone. I grew worried.”

I smiled in the dark to myself and calmly replied, “I’m sorry I fell asleep.”

“Oh.”

“Aren’t you tired yet?" I could feel the sleep heavy behind my eyelids.

“Not quite,” he replied. “I just find myself drawn to the sound of your voice. It's as if the night becomes a little less lonely.”

I hummed in approval at his words and let out a soft chuckle, I couldn't help but feel a rush of affection for the man on the other end of the line.

“I feel the same way," I confessed. "Talking to you makes everything feel a little brighter.”

We talked for a few more minutes, at times we’d pause and the quiet intimacy of our conversation soothed my soul. Eventually, I yawned, unable to suppress the exhaustion any longer. I propped my phone up against my nightstand lamp so he could fully see me and pressed the speaker button. With a few turns, I was now comfortable and ready for bed. I heard noise in the background from his side and soon the view changed from his study to his bedroom. He placed his phone down then seconds later retrieved it and it was clear that he had changed into his nightwear.

“Elijah, I think it's time for me to get some sleep,” I admitted, pulling the cool pillow closer to me.

“Of course, my dear,” He replied. “Rest well, and know that I'll be here, watching, until you fall asleep.”

I felt a sense of warmth and security in his words, and I knew that I could close my eyes with a peaceful heart. I was almost sure that all the peaceful sleep I had gotten in the recent months had been due to him. He had a way of making me feel protected and safe even if we were apart.

“Goodnight Eli,” I whispered softly into the phone, letting the darkness and Elijah’s digital presence lull me to sleep.

“Sweet dreams, my love,” He responded with a smile as he made himself comfortable against the bed’s headboard.

With a contented sigh, I set my phone aside, feeling grateful for the unique connection that bound us. As I drifted into sleep, I could almost hear his voice in my mind, like a soothing melody, promising to be there whenever the night grew too quiet. And so, with the moon as our witness, our late-night conversations and calls would continue to stitch together the tapestry of our love— one text, one call at a time.

🏷️ taglist:

⤷ @mrs-maximoff-kenner @thatfanficstuff @elijahmikaelsontrash @mxacegrey @thatfictionalwh0re @catmikaelson20 @loverswillowed @sweetwrathoflilith @panic-at-the-fiction @iiskittles16ii @original-siphon @hellotvshowtrash @onlyfreds @onlyfredslibrary @imgoingtofreakoutnow @slinthoex @i-love-nora @multiversediaries @decoffinated-vamps @hopester08 @aloneatpeace @hopes-wife @softcoremaybank @klaustopia @dreamingwithrafe @sweetestdesire @cottontears @cottonreads @buckyysdoll @spnandtvdudeservedbetter @impossibleheartflower @madetragic @spike-and-angels-gf

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[deeptrashwitch]

This just appeared since I was having my romantic moment hearing music xd I had to do it. It's more like little moments more than a proper snippet, but still, enjoy! :D

Quizas no fue coincidencia encontrarme contigo (Maybe it wasn't a coincidence to find you)

Private Vargas sighed silently as he waited into the formation, he was bored as hell, but he stayed right beside his friend Rudy. Soon the plane that transported the American soldiers landed, and the soldiers that came to train and be deployed there started to descend. His eyes locked by pure luck with one of the female soldiers, who stole his breath in a second as she raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly.

Tal vez esto lo hizo el destino (Maybe this was destiny's thing)

"Private Vargas, be sure to make Private Marchant keeps with the pace of everyone" a superior said to him, to which he nodded and saluted

"Yes sir!"

"...I guess I'll be under your instruction, huh?" she said with a animated and big smile once the superior walked away, then she saluted him "please, take care of me, Vargas. I hope we can work well together"

"Uh, y-yea, I hope so as well" he murmured, flustered by her smile

Quiero dormirme de nuevo en tu pecho (I wanna sleep over your chest again)

After some months they got into a relationship, and now they passed their free days together, sometimes just staying on bed together. Right now they were, instead, lying over the floor just passing the time with the city sounds outside. Alejandro was lying as some kind of weighted blanket over Alicia, who just played quietly with his hair, with his head over her chest.

"What do you wanna do today?" she asked calmly

"Nothing, let's just stay here for a while" he answered, looking at her with a smile "please, amor"

"Fine, fine, you charming idiot"

"You know you love me that way~"

Y después me despierten tus besos (And that your kisses wake me up)

She groaned and then giggled when she felt how Alejandro was peppering her face with soft kisses, soon she laughed and cover herself with the blanket as she heard his laugh. Just seconds later, she was caged in a huge hug, that make her laugh as well as she tried to liberate from the grip. Alejandro pulled a bit the blanket, discovering her head and starting to kiss her again.

"Stop it Alejo!" she murmured with a giggle

"Nuh-uh, this is the only way to wake you up" he said with a side smile

"Let me sleep!"

"No!"

"Then cuddle with me!"

"...Okay"

"Alejo!"

"What? It's a good offer"

[...] (some years later)

Te envío poemas de mi puño y letra (I send you poems in my own handwriting)

Alicia was smiling as she was sat over her cot overseas, a bit flustered and blushed, reading a letter that Alejandro sent her once he knew she would be on a long mission. It was filled of romantinc things and even a poem, that last part made her blush a lot, hiding a giggle with her own hand. She kept it inside the book she brought to that mission, feeling a little warm inside her chest, and soon she lied down and started at the ceiling with a lovesick smile.

"You charming idiot..."

Te envío canciones de 4 40 (I send you songs from 4 40)

While he was doing some paperwork inside his office, Alejandro had his earphones on and was hearing some songs that Alicia sent him lately. He hummed while we was writing, also smiling silently as he wondered what would have been Alicia's expression, maybe a smile or a relaxed face. And when he looked to his messages, he felt heat crippling over his face, she always wrote similar things as when she sent him the music.

"It remind me to you, wanna hear it?" he read as he saved the song on his playlist "I always will"

Te envío las fotos cenando en Marbella (I send you the pictures of us dinning in Marbella)

They compared the pictures they took during their recent dates during leave, always traveling around the world as tourists, and the last one was during a long leave. Both of them went to Spain and met there to start a tour, and ended up having dinner on a beautiful restaurant with looks to the beach. And they took a picture with the sunset behind them, all as they hugged and smiled.

"You looked handsome, cariño" Alicia teased with a side smile "even like a model"

"Don't make me start about you, amor" he answered, kissing her cheek "like a goddess"

Y cuando estuvimos por Venezuela (And when we went to Venezuela)

Another picture was them during an old trip, the first time they were together, to Caracas and now they just could laugh seeing all the differences between the past and how they are now. They were older, were more tired, but also stronger and mature, and that gave them a huge joy to be together again.

"Where's that hat, tho? I haven't see it in a long time" Alicia asked, pointing at the picture

"I...lost it" he admitted with a shy smile

"Just you, Alejo, just you"

Y así me recuerdes y tengas presente que mi corazón está colgando en tus manos (So that you remember and know that my heart is hanging on your hands)

Alejandro and Alicia were sat beside each other, just staring at the landscape in silence, with little smiles. The Colonel put his hand over the Captain's, who just scoffed and squeezed it while the little match bracelets, which they got not so long ago, made a tingling sound. For a second they stayed there without moving until the wind crashed against them and ruffled their hair, then they scoffed and laughed quietly when they looked at each other.

"Now you look like a little hedgehog" Alejandro joked with a side smile

"Oh, look who's talking, you also are a hedgehog" the woman said with a laugh "don't start mocking now, cariño"

"Me? I don't know what you mean~"

"Liar"

"No, I'm not! And you're also laughing at me!"

"...No~"

"Then what is this?"

Then he dragged her into a hug, starting to tickle her as she started to laugh loudly, trying to get away. Like that they continued for a couple of minutes, until Alejandro stopped and just stayed there, hugging Alicia from behind.

"I'm glad to have found you again" Alicia said with a little smile "but are you sure to be here with me?"

"Obviously, amor" he answered, kissing her forehead "it doesn't matter what happened in the past, I'll always be sure to stay by your side"

"Can I ask why?"

"Hmm, because I still see that you are the one I chose, and yes, even if you did something really bad...I'll stay"

"Alejo..."

"Yes?"

"Te amo" (I love you)

"Y yo a tí. Mi corazón es tuyo, querida" (I love you too. My heart is yours, sweetheart)

*overloads of sweetness* Welp, I doubt I'll do this again in a long time. It was worth it, tho *smiles*

[vaquelin]

“Happy Father’s Day!”


A woman on the street smiled at them, pointing at the large banner hanging above the main street’s chatter.

“Will you two be joining the fest later this evening?” She stepped in front of them, stopping their walk.

Alhaitham glared at her with his typical cynicism, while Kaveh responded with equal enthusiasm.

“We’ll see, but the preparations look astonishing! I bet it’ll turn out to be quite an eventful evening!”

The woman’s smile brightened, and sparkles danced in her eyes. Alhaitham felt a sharp pang of bitterness that this was a typical reaction people would give to Kaveh’s flattering words. It was almost a shame that he hadn’t given anyone even a hint of this so desired attention. One may said he was too predictably charming.

“See you around!” Kaveh waved to the woman on the crowded street, while he and Alhaitham continued their walk.

She bid them goodbye, blushing a little, which didn’t escape Alhaitham’s meticulous observation. Kaveh, however, seemed to have overlooked it, or simply never paid enough attention to notice such obvious signs of attraction.

“Isn’t it wonderful? All this lightness in the atmosphere and overreaching happiness!” he did a tiny pirouette as they were passing by some colourful stalls getting ready for the fest.

“I must remind you,” Alhaitham replied dryly, “that every celebration seems like overreaching happiness to you.”

“Excuse my optimism, Mr. Everlasting Grumpiness.”

Kaveh tried to sound fed up by his friend’s remarks but his bright expression hadn’t darkened even for a moment. He was looking around like a child excited to experience the first fest in their life. Jumping around and approaching every stall to complement the owners of how incredible the goods on sale looked.

“Your optimism is far beyond acceptable level, considering neither of us will be celebrating this event,” the Scribe informed him.

“Why not?” Kaveh asked out of habit, then spoke up to another seller. “Oh, these look delicious! I’m sure they will be out of stock in an hour!”

Alhaitham once again ignored his empty flattery for everyone in the world.

“Is this a serious question or sort of a provocation from your side?”

For a moment, they abandoned their conversation. Alhaitham couldn’t pay more attention to Kaveh’s excitation when he noticed the outline of their house on the horizon, between two massive pots with lush plants decorated with lights. Recently, they hardly ever had a chance to walk together, as they both were working days and nights. The main difference was that the Scribe was saving money for future plans, and Kaveh kept spending it right away on useless ornaments or helping out everyone who looked at him with teary eyes. Perhaps, because of less time spent together, they had grown apart a little, forgetting how opposite their personalities are and how easily it creates tension between them.

“I’m more than well aware that we won’t be bringing our fathers to the fest,” Kaveh stated calmly, “but I doubt that this makes us not allowed to celebrate today’s holiday.”

“Oh, I plan to do it so.”

“Really?” the Architect stopped smelling roses at the florist’s stall and turned to Alhaitham with a surprised look.

The Scribe let him wait a bit in wondering before he eventually elaborated on his confession.

“I’ll revive my father’s memory by spending time in the same way he always liked. Alone, in silence, with a book. See you, Kaveh.” he said, directing his steps to the house.

“You’re impossible.” The Architect rolled his eyes as Alhaitham was no longer in his presence. “I hope that at least Cyno and Tighnari are in brighter moods today.”

#kavetham 🌱🏛️

Whole story can be read on ao3 ☘️

[romeoandjulietyouwish]

Kindred Spirits: Chapter

Summary: With winter fast approaching the Oklahoma Territory, Darry and Sodapop Curtis face their first freeze without their parents. Needing help to prepare, they plan to adopt a girl. Instead, they are sent Ponyboy. This is Tulsa, 1889. Or: an Anne of Green Gables AU combined with my love of 19th century history

Read on ao3!

Those living on the edges of the Oklahoma Territory were awake before the rising sun. They pulled themselves from warm beds, donned denim and muddy boots, and got to work.

Though he wasn’t in the barn’s loft, Darry already knew Johnny and Ace were dragging the others boys out of bed. That was why they always got served breakfast first. That and Darry took great joy in making Dallas wait his turn.

Darry got dressed quickly, using the light from the dim sky. He looked to the other bed, finding Soda still asleep, tucked completely under the blankets so Darry couldn’t even see his hair. With a fond smile, Darry got up and shook what he assumed was Soda’s shoulder. 

The bundle of blankets groaned, “Darry...”

Darry chuckled and yanked the blankets off the bed, tossing them to the side. Soda cried out and squished his face into the pillow dramatically, despite waking up this early every day since he was eight years old.

“Up and at ‘em, little buddy,” Darry prodded Soda’s spine. “Horses ain’t gonna water themselves.”

“You’re a horse,” Soda murmured nonsensically. But he sat up, though slumping over on himself. Darry stuck his arms under Soda’s and hauled him to his feet, laughing harder when Soda protested. Nowadays there were few opportunities for him to be a big brother, this was one of them.

“You awake now?” Darry asked.

Soda looked up at him, all messy hair and squished cheeks. “Yeah.”

Darry couldn’t stop himself from ruffling his little brother’s hair, “See you outside.” Soda gave him a tired salute and plodded over to his dresser.

Leaving him to it, Darry headed downstairs. He decided to leave Ponyboy sleeping, it was his first day on the farm after all, and he’d had a long day yesterday. 

Outside, the others were miraculously awake, thanks to the hard work of Johnny and Ace. As Darry plodded towards the hay loft, he passed Johnny in the chicken coop scattering feed on the ground. When he saw Darry, Johnny jogged over. 

There was a light flush on his skin, he’d been chewing on his lip and it was near bloody. Johnny hadn’t been back home in a few days so the bruises on his face were a faded yellow color. Johnny began, “Darry, we were talkin’ last night and if I stop goin’ to school then I’d be at the farm more and we’d have more food and Ponyboy-”

Darry held a hand up, silencing Johnny. It hurt his heart a little to do so, it was rare to heart Johnny stringing so many words together, but he knew Johnny would only get himself worked up. Calmly, Darry said, “You’re staying in school.”

“But-”

“And Soda and I decided last night that Ponyboy is gonna stay for a little while, just until the winter sets in.”

Johnny grinned, “Really?”

Darry ruffled Johnny’s wild curls, “Yeah. He’s still asleep, but I’ll tell him before breakfast.” Johnny nodded and started to head back to the coop. Darry called after him, “Once you’re done with the chickens, help Two with the goats!”

“I don’t need help!” Two-Bit called, his voice startling some of the birds. A duck quacked angrily at him. Darry and Johnny looked over to where Two-Bit was hopping the fence into the goats’ paddock, feed bucket in hand. Somehow, his overalls were already dirty. “That was one time, Darry!”