#what a pathetic attempt to tell me to kill myself

[divinesolas]

Hi, could you do an Aemond one shot where he and Reader (Rhaenyra's bastard daughter) are husband and wife and she and Aemond are married, based on the first episode of season 2 where instead of killing Aegon's son, kill the reader's son and aemond

a.n: hi hi ty for the request 🫶 i had a little too much fun writing this, this probably isnt what you wanted this is not a happy fic but i still hope you enjoy regardless 🫶🫶 slightly inspired by the events of ep two

Despite the halls of the keep being pure chaos everyone swiftly moved out of the way for the one eyed prince who rushed through the halls seeking out the one who he knew needed him.

They had been in his room. They wanted him. But they must have left his room when they knew he was not there and stumbled their way into the nursery which was attached to his room where his son had been. His son. his only child. and he was furious.

The door to the council room slams open and otto swiftly turns to look and stand before him, “where have you been-“ otto is shoved out of his way as he goes to kneel next to his sobbing wife on the floor who was clutching a blanket on the floor.

You look at him with red eyes and choke out his name, he grabs your face in his hands and looks upon you for a moment before you throw yourself into his arms. Shoving your head in his neck to breathe in his scent, to feel his pulse, make sure he’s real.

“they killed our son.” your words come out choked in between your sobs and he strokes up and down your back, “i tried to offer them anything, gold, myself, but they only wanted him aemond only him.” he shushes you and pressed a kiss against your temple, speaking into your ear. “Im sorry my love im sorry.”

He will return the pain they have brought to not only himself but worst of all to his wife and he will pay it tenfold. A lone tear streaks down his face as you say nothing more merely continue to sob into him while the other faces in the room can only merely watch with sorrow.

He picks you up, making sure to keep the blanket firmly in your grasp as he turns to leave the room ignoring the voices calling after him. They must want to discuss what they plan to do now but he wants no part in it, only wanting to comfort his wife.

“they were saying they want to blame my mother.” You had calmed down at some point, still delirious with grief but you had stopped crying, merely staring blankly up at the ceiling as aemond kept you firmly next to him. “she would never do a thing like this. my mother loves me, why would she send someone out for my son.”

Aemond is quiet and his hand on your back falters for a moment, “she wishes to punish me.” you say nothing but he notices how you shift ever so slightly.

With the way you two were right now nobody could tell the two of you have not spoken in those fourteen days since his return when he broke the news to the court. When he broke the news to you. Your own brother murdered in cold blood.

You could never forgive him despite his attempts to talk to you after, you swiftly dismissed him and his words would fall on deaf ears. Your baby brother was everything to you, you remember growing up side by aide and he was teary eyed the day you permanently moved to the keep.

despite your hatred for him and your hatred for your mothers usurpation you cannot go home. The people here watch you like a hawk you cannot even send a letter out to her but alicent is free to beg and plead to her like a pathetic dog. you hate them. Yet you allow him to comfort you because you know you will get no comfort from anyone else here.

“they wish to flaunt me around like a prized lamb. ‘gain sympathy from the houses.’ he says.” You ignore his words and continue to speak. “I will not allow it.” you shrug mindlessly and sit up, he stays laying down. His eye patch off and hair down from its usually prime and perfect state, he had thrown his shirt off at some point too.

You can see it, the hurt that laces his eye and his face, his hand finds yours and you want to rip it away but you cant, the warmth on your skin bringing you a small sense of comfort.

“i had thought we would work. That you would finally move on and forgive grievances of the past. But i hate you just as you hate me aemond,” “i do not hate you. i love you.” you shake your head as he says it, sitting up and gripping your arms tightly, trying to hold your gaze as he says it again.

“i will never forgive you. I will hate you for as long as a breathe.”

“i did not mean to i lost my temper that day.”

“you feeling sorry means nothing to me you know that. how would you feel if the men who murdered our son came in here and said they were sorry., that they didn’t mean to.”

He says your name and his grip tightens on your arms but you continue to merely stare off mindlessly.

“i will repent for the rest of my life. our son will be brought justice.”

he will kill every man in the keep if he has to, slay every man in all of westeros if they cannot figure out who had done it. For you. for his son.

“i love you.” the words come out strained as he begs and pleads to anyone who is willing to listen to him for you to say something else anything to him.

you do. you finally look at him. a look devoid of any love you had once had for him. and it kills him.

“you’re pathetic.”

[klausysworld]

I don’t know why but I really want something with Klaus breaking reads heart.

Maybe…. Reader and Cami have been kidnapped and Klaus has to choose who to save. He chooses Cami but before reader can be killed Elijah saves her.

Left for dead

Living with the originals was hard enough. Between the betrayals and the wars just within the family was overwhelming let alone outsiders going out of their way to destroy each of them.

Being with Klaus was already difficult, between his mood swings and temper tantrum’s he wasn't an easy person to love and yet I did.

Even when I realised he was in love with someone else, even whilst knowing he was kissing someone else, I didn't leave him. I loved him with everything in me whether it was killing me or not.

I had offered my life for his, I took life for his and I ruined my own life for his. With Klaus came his family and I did everything I could to welcome them as my own. Even after I found out that his sister knew that he was seeing someone else.

Hope was treated the way I would treat my own daughter and I loved more than anyone else to walk the planet. Maybe that was why I stayed, for Hope. Or maybe that’s what I tell myself because how could I have been pathetic enough to stay for a an who only saw me as a warm body.

For some reason I had it in my head that perhaps he loved both me and Camille. Maybe he thought I wouldn't accept it and so he kept it a secret but surely after everything he should know that I would never try to change him or invalidate his feelings. It was stupid to be okay with him seeing Cami behind my back, I was blinded by something I had created in my mind.

I would smile when Cami was near and I tried to talk to Klaus but he labelled me paranoid and brushed it off. So I thought maybe he regretted it and he didn't want me to know because he wanted to stop. Maybe he did still love me.

This was the ultimate test really.

Both myself and Camille were beaten until black, blue and bloody. A loop of our cries and screams echoed through my mind and bounced against the walls of whatever dungeon we were seemingly chained within. I had no way of knowing how long we had been there but my body and soul felt such a sense of relief when Klaus's voice rang through the building. That feeling only lasted a few seconds before our captures taunting replayed in my head:

"Klaus will choose between you both, he will decide who lives or dies. He may think that he can have it all, have you both but I won't let him well. Whichever one he chooses, the guilt from the other will eat away at him, he won't be able to stay with the other. You will all end up broken and alone." he had whispered cruelly.

Her heart pounded in her throat as she watched Klaus approach them both, his hands coated in red as he forced the bars that separated us apart and went to step through only to let out a gasp and drop to his knees. The with who had tortured us for however long appeared from thin air in front of Klaus and I automatically pulled my legs to my chest to hide in the corner.

"Only one of them leaves" he stated, a grin on his face. "I don't care which but you will choose one or they both die and the next to go missing will be your daughter"

At his words Klaus let out a vicious snarl and attempted to lurch forward at the man but a sharp pain forced its way to his head and caused a loud yell of pain to burst from within him.

I could feel my eyes burning with another flow of tears just watching his pain, knowing what he felt. I could see Cami staring straight at me. Over our time in here together she had often brought up Klaus's ultimatum, I told her that I knew that they loved each other. I told her that he would choose her. She was certain that I was wrong and that Klaus didn't love her but just used her as a release. But I knew what Klaus looked like when he was in love. Even so part of me hoped she was right, it was a dark thought, a horrible hope that I wish I didn't have but I really wanted it to be true.

I looked back to Camille, a tight lipped smile that was probably more of a grimace formed on my lips as I mouthed the words 'it'll be okay' to her and her head shook as tears slipped down her cheeks.

Cami was sweet, she was lovely and I loathed it. She wanted to die instead of me, she said I deserved to live more than she did. That I was Hope's second mother I was apart of the Mikaelsons. She apologised for ever being with Klaus and it just made me feel worse. I thought that maybe they were lies, maybe she secretly hoped that Klaus would choose her and I would be left to die.

I couldn't tell and it didn't really matter anymore. Not when I realised that Klaus was right in front of me. I felt a small spark of hope as his arms wrapped around me and he pulled my close to his chest. A soft sniffle left him and his lips pressed to the side and top of my head

"I'm so sorry" his voice whispered with a crack and I went to tell him it was okay before I felt him pulling away and I realised what he was apologising for "forgive me" he uttered as he made his way to Cami.

My eyes stayed blurry with tears but they didn't fall as a complete feeling of numbness spread throughout me completely. I could hear my captures sickening laugh spin around me and I could hear Camille asking Klaus what he was doing.

"Klaus- go back to her" she whispered but he shook his head

"I love you" he admitted and a bitter laugh left my lips. I covered my mouth with my hands and pressed my forehead against my knees. I shouldn’t have been surprised and I shouldn’t have been so upset. I knew he loved her, I knew he would choose but for some reason it hurt so much more when he actually confirmed it.

I could hear Camille apologising to me as Klaus lifted her up, carrying her to a safety I thought I would never again know.

As soon as they left hands were on me, grabbing and dragging me by my hair to force me to crawl wherever he wanted me. Uncontrollable pain shot through me continuously and I had no time to comprehend the sobs that shook my body. I felt my back arch painfully, almost breaking but not quite, my head was forced back so my neck was bared and a sharp knife went to the edge of my neck.

"it's unfortunate really..." the voice uttered before the blade began to sink into my throat. My eyes closed and I welcomed the quick death but the pressure stopped and a thud sounded from before me.

Fingers pressed to the place the knife had began to cut, a familiar scent engulfed me and an arm circled my waist.

"You're alright darling" the voice whispered, pulling me into an embrace making me grab onto the back of his suit silently. "He's gone now Y/n. You're safe." he murmured softly, rubbing my back before i felt him pull back a little bit. My eyes slowly cracked open to see his face, his deep dark eyes boring into mine with a knowing look of pity. Silently I watched as an array of reds and purples scattered under his chocolate brown eyes and his pearly fangs dipped into the tough skin of his wrist. The fresh wound was lifted to my lips and I accepted the metallic taste with a sigh. I drank for much longer than I needed, I expected he would pull be off but his hand only pet the back of my head gently

"Good girl" he whispered "just heal". His touch made my heart hurt and I didn't bother trying to stop the tears from falling anymore. My hands clutched onto his jacket desperately and I gulped his blood down as though it was water.

Soft touches were given to the skin of my face before his silk handkerchief cleaned at the dirt and dried blood that had dripped down my neck. Reluctantly I pulled away from his wrist and licked my lips clean. He wiped his own wrist and tucked the material away into his pocket. Elijah proceeded to pull the jacket off of his body and instead wrapped it around my shoulders. The inside was warm and smelt of home.

My eyes felt heavy with exhaustion and I gave him a tired smile making him frown.

"I'll bring you home now okay?" he whispered but I shook my head

"I can't go back" I muttered "I won't stay with him anymore. I should have left ages ago" I admitted and his eyes grew glossier.

"Where should I take you?" He asked gently and I shrugged

"Airport? Train station? I don't care just don't tell anyone you saved me? Please?" I begged softly and he nodded.

"I'll give you whatever you need" he promised "anything"

[girlfictions]

I cannot even begin to tell you how hollow it sounds when you cry and shit yourself over dead Palestinian children while a few days ago you were celebrating the deaths of innocent Israeli children and saying they deserved it, calling BABIES colonizers and cheering on the wholesale rape and kidnapping of women and children who have yet to be released. I guess childrens lives only matter so long as they aren’t Jewish.

Usually I wouldn't bother engaging with Zionists because it's not worth the energy but this is actually a great learning opportunity for other people to see exactly how the Zionist narrative works.

"I cannot even begin to tell you how hollow it sounds when you cry and shit yourself over dead Palestinian children"

Absolutely insane way to start off your message. Just pure dehumanisation of the nearly 3,000 children who have been murdered since October 7th, not to mention the 1,434 children who have been killed by Israeli forces from 2008 to October 6th 2023. I am not "crying and shitting myself" over dead children, I am mourning them. I am grieving for them and the lives they should have rightfully lived. I am aghast that thousands of children have been killed while the world watches.

"a few days ago you were celebrating the deaths of innocent Israeli children and saying they deserved it, calling BABIES colonizers and cheering on the wholesale rape and kidnapping of women and children who have yet to be released"

Show me exactly where I said anything even remotely close to this egregious statement. Every one of my posts about this situation has been tagged with #palestine, so it should be easy to prove your claims. I have never celebrated the death of an innocent child because I am not a complete fucking scumbag. I have never called a baby a coloniser because I am not stupid. I have never, ever cheered on the rape and kidnapping of women and children and it's disgusting that you'd even accuse me of doing so. These blatant lies are honestly shocking; why do you feel the need to put words in my mouth? Is it because your narrative falls apart without it? Or are you just projecting how you feel about Palestinians onto me?

"I guess childrens lives only matter so long as they aren’t Jewish."

What a pathetic attempt at moral posturing. And, of course, the classic Zionist move of accusing those who support Palestine of anti-Semitism. Never mind the fact that 500 Jewish protesters were arrested for calling for a ceasefire at the U.S. Congress last week, or the hundreds more, including rabbis, who were arrested just yesterday during another ceasefire demonstration. I get it — you're losing the PR war. It's hard to get away with supporting a genocide when there are millions of us bearing witness, so you've resorted to sending hysterical, vitriolic anons. I hope you realise no matter how desperately you try to paint this situation as anything but a one-sided massacre, nobody believes you. We will fight for a free Palestine and we will see a free Palestine.

من النهر إلى البحر

[errielovesu]

Sesshomaru x Fem!Reader (smut)

Cw: Violence, drugging, breeding, oral sex, sex in general, humiliation (?), mentions of sex work/prostitution

A/N: first smut, first fan fic what feels like since 2021, I would’ve wrote this in second person pov but I just ended up doing first pov, I hope you enjoy (^^)

Word count: 2,131 words (wow)

The flash of blush that passes through my body could be enough to warm me up…foggy vision and no knowledge of what or where i’m at.

“Wake up.” I hear a voice say, funny that this thing thinks i’ve slept, I sit there immobile, i’m not afraid but i’m unsure on how to address the current situation. “I know you heard me, you low level thing” thing? i’m not some thing? I slowly peak my head towards the door where the voice comes from, tall, long haired, that’s as much as my eyes can figure out. “Who are you? What did you do to me? Where am” I got cut off by the sudden steps towards me, slowly he comes into my vision.

A demon! “Tell me, why does your kind always say so many words with no meaning.” I asked what I think are very meaningful questions! “What do you want” I snark, quickly i’m met with pain. He slapped me. He slapped me? “Do you not seem to remember? You tried to kill me. Pathetic attempt as you failed miserably and got yourself into this situation.” he said, his voice deep and cold, he reaches down and pets my back, leaving a trail of goosebumps along my body, “i’m not sure I understand, before coming here i was…? i was?” I don’t remember anything at all, “What? You can’t recall your stupid actions, can’t you own up?” I shiver, usually I can get out these situations with a quick smile and wink but I sure this time it might be over for me.

“My name is Lord Sesshomaru” Lord? who actually is this guy. “Lord..?” I stammer out, “Yes, that’s what I just say did I not?” yet another smart ass response, he slowly sits down in front of me, his face more visible now, “Lord Sesshomaru whatever I did i’m sure I can fix but I don’t wish to be tied down like livestock.” I don’t think i’ve been here for a short period of time, i’m starving and weak, I need to do whatever I need to do to get this so called demon lord to release me. “You can fix?” Slowly his hand approached my face, the stands of hairs framing my face get moved out the way, his long nails caress my face enough to give me goosebumps once again, my body is afraid but i’m not, I want out of this place. “If you claim you can fix this attempt of murder that you tried to commit, what shall you do?” Trying to make out his face for some kind of weakness but I fail once more, i’m blind into this, only a figure talks to me, “I can pay you a lot of money, I kn—“ Pain meets my face one more, the familiar slap i felt before, “I’m not in need of money you pet” this time his voice scares my body once more, my body is slowly becoming numb, my joins hurt and i’m losing hope, money always works? everyone wants money? “What do you want then, demon.” I spit out almost defeated, his hand reaches out, I prepare for the slap i’ll get, “You’re willing to do anything? Without denying me?” No slap? Anything? What is he thinking, i’m afraid now, my senses slowly returning and I can smell this place, i’m terrified. “What do you need, Lord?” I vomit out, I don’t enjoy feeling defeated this way. “What is it that your body can do?” My body? Oh. My pride swallowed the fact I am naked, I look down to my figure, my breast, my core, quickly I pull my legs to my chest covering myself, he reaches out and slams my legs down to their original position, “You said anything to get out, you can’t fight? you’re too weak…you should just give up yourself to me now.” Give myself up? Slight beads form in my eyes, I gave up this kind of work ages ago, “I know what kind of filthy work you did…it’s no secret you used to give yourself up to other demons” Sesshomuro? Have I worked with him before? “Yeah I did, years ago, are you forming some kind of revenge plan because I didn’t do you?” My mouth is going to get me killed, “You didn’t do me because I would never pick some thing to help me through my issues, your body wouldn’t even be able to hand my touch” His cold voice makes me want to snark at him, his hands reach out to me once more, this time i’m afraid of where he might reach, my breath hitched his hand wonders around my neck, afraid he’ll lower his hands more my body trembles in his touch, my hands tied behind me and my ankles tied as well. Sesshomuro gets up and leaves the room quickly he comes back with a tea cup, “You should drink this. I don’t want to mess with such a weak body” He holds up the cup to my mouth, I drink the liquid, not to worried what it could be from the strong smell of tea the tea cup gives out, slowly I consume the liquid, my body feels warm again. “I’ll be back.” He closes the door behind him, a big sigh leaves my body when seconds later I lose consciousness.

“You can’t handle anything can’t you?” A muffled voice interrupts my sleep, “You’re body is warmer than usual. Pathetic how the body can submit itself.” What is he talking about, my eyes feel too heavy to open and my body even heavier to move, my face is lifted up by his cold hand, “Tell me human, why is it that your body yearns for me” I can’t formulate a coherent sentence for him, “Too stupid to talk?” His thumb caresses my lower lip, slightly parting my lips together his cold finger slithers its way inside my mouth, “If you’re mouth is this warm I wish to see what other places are.” My eyes slowly wake up once more, his face close to mind, his finger in my mouth it’s all so weird and I can’t process anything around me, his finger slips out of my mouth, “Please what do you want from me?” I whine out in desperation, my body slowly regaining strength, “I want you to serve me with your body” My body snaps away from him in protest, I don’t want to ever touch a demon in that way ever again…I promised myself. My thoughts merge together I can’t formulate thoughts again, what is going on with me. “Seems that it’s finally taking action, wether you want to or not your stupid cunt will be attracted to me”

What? I feel a heat rush through my body, my heart beat accelerating, Lord Sesshomaru drugged me? For sex? I can’t think straight, slowly I feel it, the wetness build up on my sex, my nipples hard and my face flushed, “Shouldn’t you be embarrassed? hah..your body is dripping for me you animal.” My body is too weak to stop his advance, his face close to mine, his hands grab my waist and pick me up, my legs wrap onto his body uncontrollably my body needs to be close to his, I need friction, my body needs pleasure, it feels as he’s carrying me away, shortly my body is pressed into a floor, Sesshomaru towering over me and my body, he lowers down and kisses me, not gently, these are desperate kisses, sloppy kisses, my body only responds by kissing him as well, the interchanges of kisses fuels my body more, I need more, Sesshomarus hand slowly wonder on my body, caressing my neck till he reaches my harden nipples, he isn’t afraid to start playing with them as he stops kissing me and moves his mouth towards my neck, he pushes his teeth into my neck, my body is feeling so much pleasure I can’t feel any pain, I want more. He cups my breast and slaps them, the feeling only fueling my desire for more, his hand move to my face and quickly he lifts me up, “Your mind has sure changed, you’re wet and warm” looking up to him his eyes are red, his fangs longer than before and quickly he grabs my hair and positions me right on his lap, my face…close to his cock, it’s begging to be taken out, “You’ll do me a big favor you pathetic whore” he’s sitting down and i’m on all fours, my ass up in the air exposing everything there is to hide, he slowly pulls his twitching cock out, no time is wasted when he pulls my face straight down, stuffing my mouth with his giant member, I slurp and bob my head for his pleasure, he moves his hand and grabs my ass in the air, my ankles still bonded together pushing my thighs together, Sesshomarus finger wander around my body till he gives in and starts running his finger down my slit, wet and warm, all he can think about his shoving himself deep in me. His other hand pulls my mouth from around his cock, he grabs my face and leads my body to his lap, my dripping sex begging for his cock to fill it up, “You help yourself to it, i’m not going to do everything for you” Slowly I start to position his big head around my entrance, i’m afraid he’s too big for me and he’ll break me, when I slowly ascend into him, Sesshomaru slams himself inside me, he isn’t gentle, rapid strokes meet my core, I can’t help but let out moans and whines, my breast bouncing on his face as his red demon eyes seem to almost want to eat me whole, hands tied behind back as he forces and uses me as his doll, he growls and hums as I squeeze around him. “You gave up this work for what reason? Your tight cunt should always be put to use, you’re unbelievably stupid for doing this, you’ll have to endure me for however long I want” Sesshomaru snarks at me, he stops and throws me on my stomach, positioning himself once again and slamming himself in me, my cunt swallowing every single inch of his cock, unsure how i’m taking him so well I only have pleasure in my head, I need to finish, I need to make him finish, his cold hand lift me up and once again he sinks his teeth into my neck this type more aggressive than before, moans escape my mouth and I can’t contain it anymore, it feels so good, he feels so good, he throws me back on bed and drags my ass up again, slamming once more into me, his hand grabbing

my hips and i’m used like his doll again, all I feel is him. His strokes start to get more sloppy as I feel him twitch inside me, I can’t help but beg for him, beg for his seed in me, i’ve never gotten any in me and right now my body is only asking for it. “The stupid thing wants my cum? Are you even deserving of such treatment, to carry my off spring inside you?” I can’t help but just nod at his words, I want every single drop he has to offer, his strokes filling up every single part of my canal, begging more he shoves his finger in my mouth and forces me up, he cover my mouth with them as he becomes more aggressive, his cock feeling bigger than before in me, my muffled whines and begs only makes him go even faster and faster, he keeps going until I feel it, everything inside me, the warm liquid filling up my womb as he keeps fucking it into me, more whines follow my climax as I clench around his cock and shiver in pleasure. Sesshomaru quickly removes himself from inside me and flips me over, his tounge swirling around his bite marks as he cleans up my blood, his face, his hair, everything you see. He leaves the room and snarks, “If you did give up such work years ago, why does your body still swallow me up everytime, what would others think? A human girl submitting herself to yet another powerful demon, think about that while my warm seed is inside you, farewell.”

[h5eavenly]

Fallen Star┃Jake Sim

nine -the devil and angel are entangled. warnings: smut and a bit of angst.

Masterlist ✶ prev ✶ next

You’re having a bad day. It did not necessarily start that way. In fact, your morning started out as one of the best in quite a while, from waking up ten minutes earlier than your alarm to the pleasant quietness that had swirled around in your apartment settling that same pleasant emotion to swim through every nook and cranny of your being.

And so, you find yourself going on a coffee run before heading to the company, a charming smile adorns your face that gets you a free blueberry muffin. It all falls perfectly into the pleasurable warm buzz in your chest. like pieces of a puzzle flumping into place. Crumbs of joy that had managed to find its way into you, separating the collective graying clouds of heartbreak you’ve been lying on for a couple of days.

But oh, you were so wrong. You should have known these clouds are gonna be replaced with a burning fire instead. One that you became too familiar with. It sets your soul ablaze every time you come face to face with the devil’s facet, clad in designer brands and doused in a seemingly uncanny aptitude for getting on your nerves.

Jake Sim.

“What the fuck is this?” he almost spits, a grimace clinging to his handsome features and a glare saturated with the same fire that’s burning inside of you.

“Coffee?” you reply, drily. Your gaze flickers between his eyes and the cup of coffee you handed to him ten seconds ago.

“It tastes like absolute shit. What kind of milk is this?” your hand twitches against your chest, you fight against an otherworldly urge to just smack him across the head and maybe pull on his perfectly styled hair that somehow manages to add grams of beauty to his already perfectly sculpted face –

Okay. Taking a deep breath in, you manage to trap in your wild thoughts for a mere second as you clear your throat.

“Califia. Isn’t that what you like?”

“This is not Califia.” he declares. His head swivels towards you with a deepening glare that somehow has your insides tying into knots. His eyes shouldn’t affect you this much but the dusted colors of dark brown and a light black on his lids only add sharpness to them. It has you pathetically kneeling into desire.

From behind him Sunoo sighs, abandoning his work on jake’s face and his brushes to walk away from the growing heated argument he knows is bound to happen. He has been a witness to it close to a hundred times by now.

“Call me when you’re done.” He calls to the both of you with a yawn. It falls on deafening ears as you attempt, fragilely so to glare back at Jake.

“it’s what I asked them for I don’t know what to tell you Jake.” Even his name leaves a bitter taste on your tongue, melting into something darker that you ignore.

“Well clearly someone is lying here.”

“it’s not like I can make the coffee myself.”

“Then don’t bring me something I didn’t ask for.”

“I’m just trying to be nice.”

“that’s not working very well for you, isn’t it bunny?” his tight brows and tongue poking his cheek shouldn’t also affect you, but it does. Perhaps that’s why it annoyed you, the fact that he was just so attractive yet so annoying. Pulling you apart with confusion. It all bleeds into frustration that bubbles up in your blood, so you huff. Refusing to accept defeat.

“I’ll get you a different one.”

You try to reach for his cup that he has deemed worthless, placed it on top of the table across from him. His hand circles your wrist before you do. His fingers are cold against your pulse, sending shivers down your spine and a pitiful gasp bubble at the back of your throat. Coming up with immense force and almost spills your deviant cravings right at jake’s face. You bite on your lower lip just in time to kill your embarrassment.

“Just get me a protein bar instead. I’m not in the mood for coffee anymore.” The lack of emotions in his tone is antithetical to the masses dancing in his eyes. growing darker in color, splashed with undeniable desire. Making itself so evident when he glances down at your bitten lips.

You swallow around nothing. Your eyes prancing between his as if it’s ever possible for fire to be added upon more fire. Like it could consume you whole and turn you into ashes that simply lays at the feet of the nation’s sweetheart. Another countless victim to the glistening of him. You don’t know who you should start throwing the blanket of blame on first. Your ex-boyfriend who cheated on you and left you to deal with despair on your own? Or perhaps it was the perpetrator who started this little game of mouse and cat? Translating itself into endless staring contests between the two of you and you always end up losing somehow.

It only got somehow rapidly worse over the week. Jake will peek at you in the most random of times. Between the fluttering of his lashes as he’s getting his face done for whatever upcoming programme or in the between the crowds of nameless people and amid the loads of work, you’re being crushed under. His eyes would find you one way or another. A thin line on the verge of breaking stays between you two. It’s in the lingering of his stare when you’re stuck in the van in the middle of unmoving traffic. He rests his chin in the heart of his palm and a wandering curiosity laces his gaze with a dazzling intensity. They’re piercings and more than anything clear.

Capturing you in place with the overwhelming knowledge that he knows exactly what he wants. It almost has you melting against the leather of the car seats. Like a flower loitering amongst many, almost blending in with everything else and hoping to be lucky enough to get picked. It’s pathetic. You grow hateful at it so quickly it should be alarming. It meshes into you taking it as a challenge, daring yourself not to be the first to be weakened and look away.

A smirk disperses across Jake’s lips each time with no fail and you stumble on your cold façade, swaying and drenched in a feeble coated loneliness. Yet with a coarse heart you take and take until you snapped.

It happened two days ago.

After a long day of work you find yourself in the all-too familiar elevator of the company. An Aching body and a hazy mind. Jake has his head thrown back against the wall behind him, his Prada sunglasses covering his eyes while Jay is next to him scrolling through his phone mindlessly. You bask in this rare tranquility for a few seconds before it’s interrupted by a huge group of staff members. Invading the cramped space. With a sigh and deflating shoulders, you move to make space. Squishing yourself into a corner as you hug yourself in futile attempts to make yourself appear smaller than you already are.

You’re surprised when another smaller group joins in as well leaving little to no room to breathe. Jake is somehow pushed right next to you and into your space. His scent breaks its way through to you before you feel him against your back, his chest pressed against you, and he uses his palm to rest on the wall right next to your head that is refusing to face him. Instead thanking God and the heavens above at the lack of mirrors in this specific elevator.

The last thing you want right now is catch your own reflection or even worse – Jake’s reflection.

The sudden proximity has your heart picking speed as you haven’t been this close to Jake before, his expensive perfume almost chokes you when someone pushes him again. Causing him to press you further against the wall. You’re starting to feel suffocated. It only ever becomes worse when you grow hyperaware of his chest raising and falling against your back, his breath fans against your exposed neck and you shiver.

“You good, bunny?” Jake murmurs into the back of your head, his other arm coming up to splay his hand flat against the wall, successfully caging you in. his voice is low yet soft. Softer than any other time he had spoken to you before, tenderly causing tingles to linger at the top of your spine.

Jake had never spoken to you gently before if he’s not blunt and cold. He is teasing you with harmless insults and perhaps that’s why his tone has specifically broke you that day. It blazed a trail down your being, nestling in the middle of your stomach and travelling down right to your core.

When was the last time someone had spoken to you this softly?

You can’t come up with a good enough answer. Not to the question swimming around in your fizzy mind or the one Jake threw at you. you’re flickering, wobbling on this thin line between you and your eyes are following the trail of veins on his hands. They look so strong that your brain melts and turns into mush, the only thought arising on top of everything is that he could fuck you right now and you would definitely let him.

Maybe that’s why when your lips separate a phantom of a whimper escapes you, ringing in Jake’s ears when you start squirming, pushing your lower half back against him in the process. You aren’t sure if you’re trying to get away or closer to him.

“What are you doing?” He groans, pushing further into you to stop your constant movement. The sound sends another unwanted shudder through your body.

“I can’t breathe.” You hang your head, disgrace marring your cheeks in red at the way you catch yourself in a lie. The way your eyes have glazed over, and there’s a haze turning your mind into a jumbled mess. forcing you into the lust you have been denying the existence of for days now.

You can’t breathe.

And it’s not because of this cage you found yourself trapped in, it’s because of him.

“we’re almost there.” His voice is almost like a distance dangled comfort, offered by some pitying god that you refuse to take despite your sinful thoughts and so you grow quiet, equally terrified at acknowledging the fact you want him.

You feel like a stumbling mess all the way home, with wobbly legs and a quivering heart that somehow always manages to make itself your worst enemy. You don’t allow yourself the pleasure to scour the thoughts swirling in your mind for answers. Instead, you mellow out into the tingling electricity that had lingered on your back. As if his scent seared itself onto you, you end up touching yourself in the middle of your bed. myriad of visions invades your mind. They’re mostly of Jake’s hands and intensive stare. A glorious fire that takes you so high up and only when you’re down do you realize;

Oh, you’re so fucked.

“yn,” jake’s annoyed voice pulls you right back into the current situation you’re in. he arches a brow at you and you blink, breaking yourself out of a daze.

Daydreaming about your boss who happens to be in front of you right now is a different kind of fucked. One that you didn’t have in your bingo card for this year.

“Right. Protein bar I’m on it.” You free your wrist from his grip easily, he falls back into his seat with suspicion mixed with irritation that has him biting on his lower lip. A habit that you grew to hate so quickly. It has you straightening your back and moving away in a stiff manner. As if you’re an alien that just learned how to walk on human ground.

“You okay?” Jay asks you when you manage to faceplant right into his chest as soon as you’re out of the room, a breath of a chuckle escapes him at your expression.

You only give him an equally stiff thumbs up, a blush so deeply red spreads across your cheeks like an exposure to all the corrupted fantasies that found your brain and made it their home. It’s so ridiculous you don’t even welcome them so why are they taking over you as if you are a dried up branch flourishing back to life with none other than your desire for Jake Sim out of all people.

You will not allow it.

You catch yourself in another lie when afternoon rolls around. Passing by you with a blur drenched in misfortunate mishaps. It all begins with an inexplainable discussion you end up in with one of the staff members, you don’t recognize her so you think she must be new. She saw you next to Jake earlier that morning and apparently thought it was funny to joke about you and him fucking and perhaps it hit way too close to him. Perhaps because it is something you’ve been thinking about for nights upon nights but it had angered you so much. To the point where you decide to give her a piece of your mind when you run into her in the bathroom.

Despite the smell of actual shit surrounding you, your anger doesn’t subside. In fact, it only grows bigger when the girl rolls her eyes at you and walks away in the middle of you talking. You screamed, hitting your hand against the wall.

And that’s how you ended up with a broken nail. A bandage that has a fucking bunny on it of all animals wrapped around your pinky and a scowl not nearly as cute plastered on your face. You are startled when the door of the dressing room opens, your stare flits across Jake’s figure that dawdles past you followed by Sunghoon. You sink further into the couch you’re sitting on. Annoyance pulling at you when your silence is interrupted.

“Oh, hey yn.” Sunghoon greets, notices your figure that is being drowned by a graying disappointment. Almost as deep as the lines forming between your brows.

“Hey,” you return drily.

Your eyes linger on Jake, and he catches them from across the room. They cut into you deeply, it has you splitting open, breaking like shattered glass and your only wish as you go down is to cut him back.

The longer your staring stretches the more you feel your blood started to bubble with something akin to anger. Running through your veins and becoming one with every other negative emotion that has nestled in you throughout the day. It makes up all of you, turning you into a hungry void that wants to swallow everything in sight. It only grows when you feel like you’re the only one who’s getting burned by this fire growing vastly fast between you two.

Jake’s façade never breaks, doused with indifference and feigned coldness. It’s in the way his pruriency for you is ferocious. Taking up every sense of his being, he finds it in the notes of your scent, vanilla, and cinnamon like you’ve stumbled out of a bakery. Sugary sweet and he’s never been a fan of dessert, yet he grows a sweet tooth just for the taste of you.

It’s in the way you’re infuriatingly confident. Carrying yourself with a loudness he’s sure he despises yet you manage to walk away with pockets full of his attention. The shape of your body capturing growing ounces of his interest day by day. Perhaps he’s just sexually frustrated, he hasn’t fucked anyone since Chaewon. And so, when he glances one too many times at your legs and when he’s staring at your breasts too long to be deemed discreet. He lets himself because he’s just taken by his sweeping frustration.

Because truth is he finds you insufferable, overly stubborn with a spark of determination in your gaze, yet his want is uninhibited, crawling to you with licks of temptation and he pretends to be stronger than any of it. That the way you laugh so loudly is enough exasperation for his lust to abate. He pretends that you being so pretty doesn’t matter as much, that the innocence clinging to the edges of your smile like you haven’t been tainted by the evil of the world is only a rarity he finds in you.

It pulls him right into you and yet away from all his logical thinking. He finds himself being thrown back and forth in the overwhelmingly profound walls of his brain.

He’s never met someone who irritates him as much as you do so how is it that he craves you this bad?

Jake’s hiding is deep-rooted and so you remain unaware of it all.

“yn can you hand me Jake’s shirt? It’s on the rack behind you.” Sunghoon speaks, words cutting into the pregnant silence that had spread around the room. It hangs heavy that you don’t ever hear him.

Your mind stolen with the wandering of your eyes, dipping to Jake’s hand clad in rings. They’re nothing sort of enticing and yet you find yourself transfixed, unable to process anything that’s going around you and unable to look away from him.

It’s tremendously inequitable how he looks like he ambled out of a painting carefully coming to life by a starstruck lover. It’s aggravating how he’s a sculptor’s approximation of a person. You’re sure he’s been sipping on angels’ tears in his past life because there’s no way for him to be real otherwise and even when the angel is walking towards you with so much force in his steps, his wings dripping with glittering gold covers the floor and a couple of broken hearts cling to his lashes, you hold your breath. It’s in the faint scars adoring the palm of his hands.

It’s so absurd how could it be possible for something so tarnished to hold onto so much beauty? How is he so captivatingly attractive?

When Jake leans over you, his body mere centimeters and your face is almost buried in his chest. Your heart pulses against your ribs, eyes widening in surprise.

“Focus bunny,” he says with a stern look in his eyes, pulling back and the shirt Sunghoon had asked for in his arms.

You’re unable to come up with something to say. Your mind a blank when Jake takes his shirt off. His skin comes to view like whiplash to your face and your heart sinks to your fucking ankle.

It has your cheeks heating up, you fumble with the end of your rope.

One slip, all it took was one slip and you’ve fallen.

“Can you leave us alone?” Jake’s voice breaks into your clouds of thoughts and you swallow. Standing up and with too much of shakiness in your legs, you head for the door.

“Not you bunny. Sunghoon leave.” The latter looks between you two, taking note of the tension that seems to follow you two. It’s fatuous yet Sunghoon complies.

“What’s with you?” He stands before you, arching a brow at you and you linger by the door. Toying with the hem of your skirt and avoiding his gaze. The same one that is dancing across your figure appetitively.

“What?” You don’t mean to snap at him, but you do and his face hardens enough to chip enamel.

“Don’t start giving me attitude now.”

You sigh, a breath of exhaustion as you try to regain some pieces of sanity that the lines on his abdomen stole. Your eyes lolling everywhere but him.

“Sorry I’m just having a bad day.”

“you’ve been having a bad day for the last two weeks?” he asks sarcastically, followed by a scoff that tugs at your anger so easily. Yet you keep quiet.

“Get your shit together yn. you’re only making this harder for everyone else.” He adds bitterly, scrutinizing your futile attempts at avoiding his eyes. maybe because you know he’s right that anger finally sinks its teeth in you, and you don’t resist it. Locking eyes with him with a newfound raising flame.

“It’s not like you’re making it any fucking easier for me.”

“Don’t cuss at me.”

“I’m not cussing at you.”

He pauses, his gaze flickers for a mere moment that it’s enough to have you slipping yet again. As if you have been standing on slippery glass all along, barely hanging on by his avoidance and a simple darkening of a shade is enough to weaken you. eluding the depths of your desire to the surface. The wall of tension builds alarmingly fast, it’s in the way Jake’s eyes follow your lips.

“My job isn’t to make anything easier for you. so, if you feel like it’s too much you can leave.”

“I’m not leaving.” Your voice wavers slightly, mimicking the buckling of your knees.

“Then take it.” You wither away in silent indignation, so intense it feels seared on you and it only grows, peeking over the now mountain of tension. So leaden, it only intensifies when Jake’s takes slow steps towards you. A playful glint has taken its claim in his eyes, like he had won a contest you didn’t agree to be a part of. When he’s close enough he brings attention to your lips with his index finger.

“And take care of this mouth too yeah?” like splashes of wine your cheeks grow red in color and Jake’s lips tilt upwards in a troublesome smirk “behave bunny.” His words are meaningless, a passing empty thought he throws right at your face and when you sputter for a response. Swaying with shaking hands to gather your discomposure that he abandons as he walks past you.

It’s a blunder, one that will have you mourning your dignity right after and yet like a fool who stumbled upon a dazzling cup filled with sparkling poison you drink up. The devil and angel are entangled with sin when the words tumble out your lips;

“You take care of it then,” you turn to look at him and he looks back with the same vigor spilling from his eyes, like a river running down the route of lust.

“If you hate it this much then take care of it.”

For an indeterminate amount of time, the two of you stay there, standing in silence on opposite sides, it stretches agonizingly slow that you almost feel an overly determined urge to melt onto the floor you’re standing on.

Your mind careens over your own words yet when Jake takes a tentative step towards you, his eyes search yours for crumbles – you hope are heavenly enough to have him breaking and you didn’t just offer yourself to refusal. You don’t evade it, instead you allow yourself a few seconds to savor the intoxicating tension.

No one has ever looked at you with this much want before and so you forget the ability to breath like tiny million sparkling stars are falling from the darkness of his eyes and right into in the lodge of your throat, so sharp and rigid and they’re bright, so bright it lights up your insides. Like lightness have found an abandoned cave –

And because Jake burns first, so frighteningly fast like melted candle wax. Your inside twist when his lips meet yours in desperation that emerges a gasp from you

- They fucking explode.

Your lips move against each other with famish, a thirst nestled so deep in both of you it can only be quenched by your kiss. His hand is on the curve of your jaw and yours form fists in the lines of his shirt. The pressure of his mouth upon yours renders your mind a foggy mess. So much so that when he moves you against the door, your back hitting it harshly you follow with no reluctance. Another pretty gasp escapes you at the impact and it gives his tongue access to your mouth.

A light moan falls from you, as the kiss deepens the bridges of your noses slide together and with a mind of their own his hands are like phantoms travelling over your body, palming your breasts over your shirt. your every sense becomes overwhelmed with his lips, his touch.

“Are you clean?” he pulls away briefly and you whine, eyes heavy lidded as they chase after his lips again. As if your cells need him to live as opposed to oxygen.

“What?”

“I’m going to fuck you so are you clean?”  you blink at him, the fog clearing up for a moment and you almost frown close enough to take offense if your underwear sticking to you with wetness isn’t growing annoying,

“I’m clean,” you murmur, almost doused in shame that you don’t get to linger in before he’s diving back into you. his lips finding yours with fervor and the air bleeds red with desire.

With his hands down your underwear, he lightly brushes to tease at the wetness. Lips quirking in something akin to egoistical pride. And your expression turns sour despite the incontrollable bucking of your hips against his unmoving fingers.

“How come you’re this wet already?” he’s imprinting the words upon your cheeks, leaning down to drop the same bruising kisses to the skin of your neck and collarbone, drawing a map of possible regrets.

“I’m horny and I haven’t been fucked in weeks what did you expect?” you sneer, and his chuckles vibrates against your neck.

When he goes back in to kiss you, you feel your cognitive facilities shut down. Your hands with a mind of their own travel across his body, in his hair like you’re running on a time ticking bomb, and you need to feel every inch of him before it explodes.

“Get on the couch.” He whispers against your lips.

“You don’t have enough stamina to do it standing up?” you tease, a playful quirk of your lips that has his eyes darkening. You’re not sure if it’s anger or lust.

“Unless you want me to leave you like this you better zip it.”

Once you’re on the couch, he clambers over you, and the kiss that follows is filthy, his hands work fast on freeing his cock from his slacks and your mouth is falling apart with an open silent whimper when he runs the head of his cock down your covered slit. You pant into his mouth, spit dripping down your chin and you arch into him with a new sense of need coloring your moans.

“Hurry,” you mumble against his lips, your embarrassment shows plainly on your face and Jake only smirks at you.

He wraps his fingers around the hem of your skirt and pushes it upwards, creating a halo of fabric around you. he slides your panties down your legs just enough to have your pussy on display for him. Jake’s eyes are feral and heavy as it trails over your figure, so intensely deep it has you squirming in your place. An uncontrollable need crawls over you mixing in with your frustration.

“Are you gonna fuck me like you said you would or are you gonna keep staring at me?” you huff, feeling your patience thinning.

His lips quirk upwards in flickers close to mockery as he smooths his hands over your legs, tad too gentle for your liking but when he’s looking up at you it’s not close to tender but rather like you had fallen right into the devil’s lap.

Just like he had planned all along.

He slowly sinks into your wetness, chuckling at how quickly your mouth falls open with a silent moan. He grinds into you, his own eyes falling shut at how your walls lock his cock inside of you and you’re more than grateful for that. Not wanting to be witnessed with a stupefied look on your face.

You want to – try to keep quiet as if a challenge had presented itself to you and you remain nothing but a too stubborn of a flower, refusing to be picked especially not by Jake Sim of all people and so you bite down on your lower lip. You almost taste the sweetness of victory on your lips and then it’s pulled so brutally away from you when the head of his cock hits that gummy spot and you convulse. Head falling back with a strangled moan.

“F-fuck-“ you clench around him and your hand scrambles for purchase in his locks, the other digging into the couch, the throbbing pain of your pinky long forgotten.

He falls forwards with a soft laugh, so melodic and unexpected it has your stomach twisting into knots you aren’t sure are nerves or pleasure. He buries his face in your neck as he sloppily drives his hips deeper into you and his lips draw a lazy map of salvia rather than actual kisses on the skin of your neck. It leads him right to your lips; the eye contact you hate so much transpires again. Your bodies keen in flawless harmony, it’s absolutely sinful.

“You were so talkative earlier, what happened bunny?” he whispers on top of your mouth, close enough to behold the want in your eyes. you attempt to glare at him and yet it melts right with your dignity with the touch of his fingers on your jaw, stopping you from looking away as he fucks into you harder “are you gonna thank me for taking care of it?” open mouthed kisses dot across your jawbone before lining his lips over yours, your chin in his hold as he thrusts into you.

When he leans back, you’re growing delirious, barely gripping into your remaining sanity when he smirks at you “come on say it.” He mumbles half-heartedly and you shake your head with a whimper, it echoes throughout his mind and ignites a bigger fire within. Curling into an ungodly soundtrack of sweaty bodies and the hankering to break you.

“Say thank you Jake for giving me your cock,” he mocks, his voice like devilish thorns against your skin and you push at his shoulder with a grunt.

“F-fuck you.” He doesn’t falter at the wavering of your voice, so debilitated compared to the way you glare at him and yet it turns him on even more.

He starts to relentlessly fuck into you at a faster pace, the thrusts going from slow and deep to tight and pointed. It has your eyes rolling back into your head, mouth falling open with moans and whines- anything that could be good enough to indicate how he feels inside of you, how your cunt grips onto him in desperation for more, more, more.

You’re so dilapidated from pleasure that you’re struggling to breathe, struggling to control your sounds anymore. They spill over endlessly, and Jake knows they’ll be tattooed into his brain just like the first time he had heard music in his life. They will haunt him just like the clicks of a piano, so sweet, sugary sweet and addicting. He feels so good, inside of you, around you that tears start stinging in your eyes.

“Fuck- fuck Jake I’m coming oh- “you blabber.

“Shut the fuck up.” He presses his hand flat to your mouth, hushing you and pressing you further onto the couch and your eyes soften as you swallow, entranced by him. Your walls tighten around him and his tight grip falters but remains. His face is drenched in perspiration and so much want for you.

With the oxygen stolen from your lungs. Your breaths are quick and heaving and your body shakes in ecstasy as you feel your orgasm approaches quickly, building so intensely with the way his movements become jerky. Shooting your hand to your clit you work yourself up and further into the gates of iniquity. your whole body becomes taut, and you rock into your hands and chase after his cock. watching you melt under him is something Jake will be viciously proud of for a couple of days to come.

So much so that it’s almost an impossible challenge for him to pull out of you when his own high approaches dangerously overwhelming. With labored breaths, his eyes glued to your heaving figure. He spits on his hand and starts pumping his pulsating cock. His other hand scrambling for the tissues on the table and he sends himself over the edge. Your eyes are the only thing that he needs to fall.

As soon as the fog of lust clears up you feel a shift in the air. The gold and sparkles disappearing and washed away along with all the bent-up anger. Leaving behind nothing but a sliver of dullness and awkwardness that clings to your limbs. Jake moves from on top of you with a grimace. You watch him move to tidy himself up in almost blissful yet holding on by an ambiguous edge that tug at your heart painfully. When he looks at you, you don’t know why you almost feel like you want to disappear.

“Jay has been asking for you. Fix your hair before leaving I don’t want him knowing about this.”

Oh. Oh. It shouldn’t be a surprise to you that he doesn’t want anyone to know about this and you do realize how inappropriate all of this is and yet you still stumble into a bitter feeling. An old picture starts burning in your mind, the same one of you falling into desperate repetition of a prayer to someday be good enough to keep and not a sparkling piece of art that holds no actual value.

“I’m gonna leave first.” Jake speaks into your growing silence and the click of the door is the only indication of him leaving.

You don’t know how long you stay there on the couch. A couple of hundred emotions take over you, guilt, anger, regret, and shame. So much shame and all it took was one slip to throw you into the maze of agony so familiar yet so frigid and cold.

When you walk out of the room you run into Jay right away like a mockery of the devil you’re growing sick of playing with. There’s a knowing smirk spreading across his face as he studies you, one that you don’t get to see because you’re so busy looking anywhere else.

“You and Jake had a good talk? Sorted out the tension?”

“Yeah, all good.” You mumble almost inaudible as you push past him with a burning face.

Jake watches the interaction between you two with intense attention. His eyes betray him as they follow your figure almost religiously. and when Jay strolls to him with a shit-eating smile plastered across his face., Jake groans sinking down into his chair and hoping to somehow vanish.

“Don’t even fucking start,”

“I didn’t even say anything.” Jay retorts with a laugh.

“I know what you’re gonna say, and I don’t want to hear it.”

Jake’s hiding is deep-rooted and so you remain unaware of it all.

Once you’re one step in your apartment the sounds of all the too familiar trio have your shoulders deflating even further if possible. Despite your immense love for them the need for a quiet night after the hectic day you had is bigger. You can kiss it goodbye now.

“Hey,” Niki greets you as soon as your figure is in the living room, the other two sitting next to him on the couch turn from the tv to you as well and you force a smile upon your face despites the aching in your body,

“Hey guys,”

“Heeseung is helping me get to plat.” Jungwon tells you, eyes brimming with joy. It has your chest enveloping with warmth. a breath of fresh air like you’ve been choking all day. On your thoughts and on lingering stares

“Slay.” You ruffle his hair as you pass by him and into the kitchen, gravitating towards a glass of wine that you’re sure your soul needs.

“Are you okay?” Niki asks, eyes dancing across your features. Your mind clutters full of the earlier events and you down your glass of wine in a moment.

“I’m perfect.” You reply, pouring yourself another glass and running away from the concern lacing Niki’s eyes “I’m gonna take a bath and call it a day. Don’t trash my apartment.” You call out to them as you start heading towards your room.

“Without me?” Heeseung says from behind you, you ignore him and the only thing you hear before closing your door is the impact of Niki’s hand hitting his head and a loud ‘Ouch’ following.

The darkness of your room welcomes you, in a rather unexpected coldness that has you wondering what home really is. It’s all so stupid, and yet you wonder why you feel like a hole had opened right under you. staring at your glass of wine you feel like the air, not free but hallow.

One slip was all it took.

→ taglist : @slutforsjy @wonwoos-wineparty @nxzz-skz @piripurora @vousty

@realrintaro @slut4hee @chartrucewhore @iveivory @hearteyesforseungsung

@jooniesbears-blog @hee4lifer @pretty-bluntz @babrieeee @mandoscyare

@stayyyyyyyyyyyy21 @softieluvsyou @seunghancore @chaewonshoney

@chaeyunloveeee @beommii @fuxktaekook @antonsgirlfriend

@direxila @rockyhedgehog @nessas-archive @lukeys-giggle

@arikazu @pochamocharoll @chlodavids

[redwolfxx]

if he died

(Gun x reader)

Tw: death

Summary: Title

A/N: i'm a gun stan 🫣 can't help myself, he's too fine, sorry for all the angst - such a mood killer, gonna have to right something happier this makes me feel like 💩😭😭

If he was killed

It was late and he was still out. He'd normally be back by now, dragging himself in through the door, body, likely littered in cuts and bruises, nothing ever fatal. He'd walk in and lightly brush past you, kidding your forehead on his way to the bathroom to clean up.

But he wasn't. At first you'd try and reason with yourself, maybe the job was farther away than normal. Maybe he was out with Goo again at one of those god awful karaoke bars they'd try to drag you to.

But by now hours had passed and he still wasn't home. Texts and calls unanswered. You knew you couldn't ask Goo as the two weren't exactly on good terms at this point, but you didn't have another choice.

As you scrolled to his contact, the doorbell rang out through your apartment. Ah, he was home.

As you went to greet him you stopped. He has a key.

Quickly you go to grab the metal baseball bat you kept in the hallway closet. As you grew closer you carefully looked through the peephole.

It was Goo.

Hesitant, you opened the door. At first he didn't say anything, he wouldn't meet your gaze.

You tried to invite him in but he wouldn't even look up.

Eventually he looked up and opened his arms to hug you. Yes, Goo, hugging, you.

You begin barraging him with questions about what he was doing, why he was there, etc, and most importantly where was Gun.

But he wouldn't answer, his only response was to hold you tighter as you began crying out your questions, occasionally hitting his chest in a pathetic attempt to force him to say it, to tell you it was a joke.

But he didn't.

Once you had calmed down he had apologized out of pity.

After he left you closed the door behind him, locking yourself away.

Friends calls went unanswered and texts unread as you cried out for a ghost that wouldn't come home.

His lawyer would come one day, reading to you, his last wishes. Explaining how title transfers and money transfers to you would work.

At first you'd refuse telling him that Gun was alive and he must've gone into hiding and he'd be back. The man only looked at you with a gaze of knowing pity for you.

Eventually when affairs were settled you'd visit his grave in Japan, it was on his family home estate, that his father still owned. You'd met him a long time ago when you'd visited Japan with Gun. He had invited you up to see his final resting place to give you a chance to properly grieve.

You'd sat on the bench by his grave, it was fancy and expensive, not a speck of dust, not a mar of imperfection. It was him. With that you'd cry, you'd cry to him asking him why he'd go and get himself killed. Why he'd left you without saying goodbye. And you'd cry because you loved him. You'd cry because he'd never comeback, you'd cry because you could.

The attendants had left you to cry in peace, but you felt their gazes watching you, some pitiful, some criticizing, and some jealous. But you'd paid them no mind.

Once you had your good share of crying, you sat there. Starring at his name. Starring at him.

Eventually you'd return back to Korea, back to your shared apartment, back to the real world.

You'd have to go back to the same cruel routine without him to ground you. You'd have to go on alone.

If he died of natural causes

(be fr he has so many enemies 😭)

You'd grown old together, and had shared a life, a home, one love.

When the two of you were old enough you'd both move to Japan together where you'd work a regular 9-5 for a while, while he ran his Yakuza.

Eventually he'd convince you it was too dangerous to work without his protection and you'd retire to focus on your hobbies and spend his money as you wished.

You'd have kids together and you'd do your best to try and keep them away from what their father did but boys'll be boys and your son would be drawn to what his father did, and would become successor to Gun. Your daughter would go abroad to study, going on to work and start a new life in the States.

You'd grow old together, his love for you as obvious as ever and never growing thin. As they say, time makes the heart grow fonder, and it did. You'd enjoy dates to fancy restaurants and simple shops around the world.

You'd watch your kids have kids and you'd watch your son pry Gun away from the fighting and push him into retirement with you.

You'd buy a place in the country, away from the noise, away from people. You'd have a garden out front and a lake behind your place to yourselves. Occasionally friends and family would visit, and you'd find joy together in the peace.

Your home would be decorated with random wood figures he'd make in this newfound free time.

And eventually when the time was right the two of you would pass. Your final resting places next to each other for eternity. Whether he went first or you, didn't matter to time as the other of you two followed soon after.

You'd live lives without much regret, you had lived together and you had died together. Your love was eternal.

---------------------------------------------------------

Note: i love him so much i'm actually gonna lose it if he goes (no spoilers, im only up to date w the webtoon app chapters)

[hollowed-theory-hall]

do you think harry is a flight or fight type of person? or maybe its just cuz he knows which battles are worth fighting

I think Harry is very much a whatever suits him best person with a preference towards fight. Like, when he is actually scared and distressed and backed into a corner, he fights. I think, especially later in life after the books, if you grab him unawares he might accidentally hex you out of instinct, like we see in book 6:

“Pathetic, Weasley,” said Snape, after a while. “Here — let me show you —” He turned his wand on Harry so fast that Harry reacted instinctively; all thought of nonverbal spells forgotten, he yelled, “Protego!” His Shield Charm was so strong Snape was knocked off-balance and hit a desk.

(HBP, 180)

But, when he's in a situation he can't win, if he could he would flee. He's smart. In the graveyard Harry is terrified, he only chooses to fight when he comes to the conclusion running isn't an option:

There was a split second, perhaps, when Harry might have considered running for it, but his injured leg shook under him as he stood on the overgrown grave, as the Death Eaters closed ranks, forming a tighter circle around him and Voldemort, so that the gaps where the missing Death Eaters should have stood were filled. Wormtail walked out of the circle to the place where Cedric’s body lay and returned with Harry’s wand, which he thrust roughly into Harry’s hand without looking at him. Then Wormtail resumed his place in the circle of watching Death Eaters.

(GoF, 659)

Even in book 5, even though he does fight and successfully hold off the Death Eaters in the ministry, his first choice of plan is to escape without a fight. And he's right to do so in these situations.

In life-or-death situations, Harry's first instinct is usually to run away to live another day. Flight in combat scenarios like his would be the best option for survival more often than not. So, it's a smart, practical move.

In the face of more mundane fights, like bullies (be it Dudley, Malfoy, Umbridge, or Snape) Harry swings back, with either words, curses, or even punches.

He held out his hand to shake Harry’s, but Harry didn’t take it. “I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks,” he said coolly

(PS, 79)

Darkness fell outside Umbridge’s window. Harry did not ask when he would be allowed to stop. He did not even check his watch. He knew she was watching him for signs of weakness and he was not going to show any, not even if he had to sit here all night, cutting open his own hand with this quill. . . .

(OotP, 267)

“IMPEDIMENTA!” and only when he was knocked over backward by the force of the spell did he abandon the attempt to punch every inch of Malfoy he could reach. . . .

(OotP, 4113)

“What are you doing, Potter?” said Snape coldly as ever, as he strode over to the four of them. “I’m trying to decide what curse to use on Malfoy, sir,” said Harry fiercely. Snape stared at him.

(OotP, 852)

The point is, Harry's situational. Flight is usually his first choice in life-and-death battles he isn't likely to win, in situations with bullies where he is likely to win, he chooses to fight, like, instantly.

The reason I'm saying he has a preference for fight is because of his anger and savior complex. When someone hurts someone he cares about, he chooses fight regardless of how dangerous the situation is or his chances of winning.

In the Chamber of Secrets, Harry doesn't even consider running away, because running away means killing Ginny, so it isn't an option:

Harry was thinking fast, weighing his chances. Riddle had the wand. He, Harry, had Fawkes and the Sorting Hat, neither of which would be much good in a duel. It looked bad, all right . . . but the longer Riddle stood there, the more life was dwindling out of Ginny . . . and in the meantime, Harry noticed suddenly, Riddle’s outline was becoming clearer, more solid. . . . If it had to be a fight between him and Riddle, better sooner than later.

(CoS, 292)

In OotP, after Bellatrix kills Sirius he chases after her, disregarding how dangerous that is:

“Harry — no!” cried Lupin, but Harry had already ripped his arm from Lupin’s slackened grip. “SHE KILLED SIRIUS!” bellowed Harry. “SHE KILLED HIM — I’LL KILL HER!” And he was off, scrambling up the stone benches. People were shouting behind him but he did not care.

(OotP, 809)

Harry reacts similarly after Snape kills Dumbledore:

And Harry felt the ground shudder under his face as the brother and sister and the enormous Death Eater obeyed, running toward the gates. Harry uttered an inarticulate yell of rage: In that instant, he cared not whether he lived or died. Pushing himself to his feet again, he staggered blindly toward Snape, the man he now hated as much as he hated Voldemort himself — “Sectum — !”

(HBP, 603)

When someone Harry cares about is hurt, the danger matters much less to Harry, and fight just becomes his go-to instinct.

[soobnotfound]

Thinkin bout you chapter [01. well...hello there my skibidi queen]

When  Zaidaan Amin lead guitarist of popular band Burnouts posts a not so tasteful comment about his labelmate katseyes logo their PR teams force the two groups to merge and befriend each other.What happens when shy Yn Vaughn, the lead singer of burnouts catches the eye of socially awkward dancer Megan Skiendiel?

The strong scent of coffee wafted around the  café as the low sound of discussion flowed through the building. Priya and Yn sat next to each other, Yn on the edge of the seat because yn had already formed the 'perfect' escape plan if anything went wrong. Priya played with a small rubix cube that her brother gave her (although it was missing a square). Meanwhile Flynn was reprimanding Zaidaan and telling him how to react when katseye got there. The group was so absorbed in their own world that when Sophia greeted them the first two times they hadn't realised at all.

"Yo. We're here garage band" Daniela said irritatedly which gauged the attention of the band

"We don't use fucking garage band" Zaidaan had mumbled to himself equally as irritated as Daniela due to the comment.

The members of katseye sat opposite the members of burnout a thick awkward tension lingering in the air that desperately needed to be broken, so taking it upon himself Zaidaan spoke first.

"It's so crazy that we're all here together two groups under HYBE x geffens getting along, ten crazy ki—"

YNS pov 

   "Our logo isn't stupid." The blonde one spoke interrupting Zaidaan (thank god).  

Zaidaan unfortunately being the argumentative and impulsive person that he is felt the need to respond to her "well it kind of is...I mean what is even going on with it? What's it mean, ya know I'd expect a cat to be on there or some—" 

I really tried to care about whatever the hell those two were talking about but I found it really hard, especially when the ginger one was looking at me. Like...full on staring me down, it was quite scary actually she kind of looked like she wanted to pounce and me and kill me. 

I sunk into my seat uncomfortably and attempted to avoid eye contact completely. 

"Girl she's totally checking you out" Priya mumbled poking my shoulder with the biggest grin known to mankind on her face.  

"No I think she just has a staring problem" I Whispered back to her trying to be as discreet as possible so the ginger girl didn't notice we were talking about her. 

I felt I needed to get out of this situation as soon as physically possible because the more the girl looked at me the more terrified I was, so I excused myself to the bathroom and immediately found refuge there.

3rd person Pov

Megan watched as yn left her seat which prompted Lara to play wingwoman for her hopeless friend 

"pretty sure you scared her off with your insistent staring, it was like you were trying to melt her with heat vision"

"I- no? She was just uh...okay you know what Lara, I don't appreciate your judgement." Megan attempted to switch her focus to her friend. 

"Right but you need it because this is hopeless...you should go talk to her alone and apologise for freaking her the fuck out" Lara squeezed Megan's shoulders whilst simultaneously pushing her to stand up.

"In the bathroom? Lara this is actually wild-" 

Lara cut her off "Bye bye now" waving her hands shooing Megan off to the bathroom.

“Uh hello? You in here, Miss band lady?” 

Yn held her breath hearing Megan's voice "what the fuck" she mumbled under her breath bracing herself and pushing open the door

"OH MY GOD GET BACK!" Yn shouted using a bidet to protect herself which proved to be both pathetic and ineffective only resulting in both yn and Megan soaked in water.

"WHAT THE FUCK CHILL!" Megan screamed as she pulled the bidet from yns hands and  turned it towards yn further drenching the poor girl

"Dude what the hell!!?" Yn grabbed the bidet and threw it to the ground.

...

The two girls stood in silence for a moment, their bodies entirely drenched in water, hair sopping and clothes dripping.

Yn looked up at Megan and a small grin appeared on her face. 

Megan looked up at Yn and began to laugh, the two girls both began to burst into a fit of giggles.

Yn smiled and extended her hand to Megan.

"I'm Yn Vaughn."

"Megan Skiendiel"

[skulla-rxcks]

I wish you’d stay another night

Paring: Dick Grayson x f reader

Rating: explicit

Genre: smut

Warnings: or4l (fem and male rec), drinking, drugs, protected s3x, mention of injuries

Taglist: @f3lix00 @channiesgoodgirl @mal-lunar-28 @bangchans-gf5 @fun-fanfics @iwannabangchan @linosluver

Please dm me or use my inbox if you’d like to be added to the taglist ^^

Dick saw you getting a little too drunk at a party so he had to take you to his place to sober up.

!THIS IS PURE FICTION, NOTHING IN THIS IS REAL ITS JUST A STORY!

It’s 11pm there was a massive party happening in Bruce Wayne’s Mansion, I somehow won an invitation, it was a one in 30 chance to be invited and I somehow got it. It isn’t that surprising as it could’ve been way harder to get in due to it being a party in a billionaires mansion. the party only started half an hour ago and I’m already 6 drinks in, all of the alcohol, drinks and food are all expensive high quality stuff, I didn’t end up reading the alcohol percentage on the drinks due to not being able to because of the flashing lights, but that’s not the worst part. I didn’t know how strong and rich tasting the drinks could be.

I can barely stand or move around without stumbling over myself. I cannot go home like this yet alone take care of myself while drunk. I need to get out of this party and get some fresh air. I place my hand on the wall as I walk trying to keep myself steady, I continue walking slowly, trying to keep my balance.

I look around anxiously praying that no one’s staring at my pathetic attempts to walk, especially important figures in this city, cause oh god that would be so embarrassing, I would fucking kill myself! What if Nightwing saw me like this? He’s helped patch me up after I got stabbed once but being found and saved while being extremely god damn drunk is probably 10 times worse than me being stabbed, that’s just my personal opinion though. I’d rather cry in front of someone instead of them seeing me intoxicated.

I make it to the door and exit the mansion that the party was held in, once I’m outside I sit on a step and take a blunt I rolled up before I left out of my purse, lighting it with a flick of my lighter. I hold the cigarette between my fingers and inhale softly, trying to get my senses back to sober up faster; even though weeds definitely not going to help it, not even a little bit. I don’t have enough money for cigarettes lately so my stash of pot is all I can rely on.

“Y/n? You shouldn’t be doing drugs outside it’s risky, especially outside of Bruce’s property. Look I won’t turn you in or tell anyone but just for future reference”. It’s a man, he has the same physique as Nightwing as well as the same voice. “Who youuu an how do you know my naame..?” I ask, god why do I sound so fucking stupid when I’m intoxicated? “I’m Dick, Dick Grayson, you probably know me better as nightwing, since that one time I saved you. And for your name well, I looked it up in the files, I was curious and wanted to learn more about you and that was the only way to do so.”

He takes a seat next to me on the stairs. “Ohhhh hi dick… hehe, dick..” I lean my head on his shoulder, I reek of alcohol and weed. “You’re drunk, how much did you have to drink?” He takes my hands in his and looks at me sternly in the eyes. “Like 6 or….orrr 6… or mayyybee 7…?” I respond before quickly turning to the side and throwing up on the pavement next to me, holding my head in my hands, it’s pounding and I can hardly feel anything. “Fuck you’re drunk. I’m going to take you back to mine and take care of you for the rest of the night, you’ve had way too much to drink.” He sighs, lifting me onto his back like I’m a child again and bringing me back to his car, he buckles me into the passenger seat before hopping into the drivers seat and starting the car.

“I’m sorry... I’m sorry..” I mumble, resting my head against the window. “For what?” He questions.

“that you have to.. to waste time… looking after me” I whine, trying to keep my eyes open, but it’s difficult.

“you’re not wasting any of my time, trust me. I’d rather help you out than some other random drunk guy.” I close my eyes as my head sinks into the car seat relaxing myself as the drive continues on. a few minutes later Dick wakes me up “We’re here. need help getting inside?” he asks. “where are.. where are we…?” I look up at him rubbing my eyes. “my house, hope that’s okay, it was closer after all.” He says, opening the door and helping me out of the car. I wobble along slightly before finally standing up straight with his help.

“My room is upstairs, come on.” He tells me pointing the stairs up ahead. “okay,.” I attempt to walk up the stairs but end up stumbling and falling backwards. Dick grabs my arms to stop me falling backwards and luckily ends up catching me. “careful” he mumbles, taking my hand and helping me get up the stairs and into his room. “Here, lay down here” He places me onto the bed, I’m still drunk but my head feels more clearer now than before. He sits down beside me. “So how do you feel now? Are you still feeling sick? Do you need anything? Food, water..?” His hands are clasped together, he’s nervously tapping on his leg, clearly not used to practically ‘babysitting’ a drunk person. “I’m okay… I think”. I say, yawning a little. My head starts hurting all of a sudden. “ow.. fuck, p-painkillers maybe.” I whisper to myself, feeling a headache coming on. “You want pain killers?” he questions, raising an eyebrow at me. “Yeah please.” I reply, he gets up from the bed and leaves the room. Minutes later he returns and gives me two pill bottles. “Here, the blue ones are for extreme pain, red ones are for slight.”

“whatever you suggest, my heads fucking killing me.” I groan as I open them up and swallow them down accidentally taking a few more than the container prescribes immediately regretting it. “Oh shit!” I yell, grabbing my head in pain, I fall off of the bed and land heavily on the floor. “Hey careful!” He yells running towards me, stopping at the side of the bed. I lift my head out of my hands and see a small trickle of blood dripping down from my head into my hands. “fuck, you’re bleeding. okay, we’re definitely getting you into the shower. come on.”

Dick takes my hand once again this time leading me into his bathroom, he turns on the shower taps, fiddling with them and testing the water to see if it’s not too hot or not too cold, letting me adjust it if I need to. “Come put your hand in the water. Is the temperature okay?”

“Yeah, it’s perfect thank you..”

“can you help me shower?” I ask, looking at him and receiving a nod in response to my question. i strip down until I’m fully nude. the cold air of the bathroom making my nipples hard. once Dick’s undressed we hop in the shower, he makes sure to wash all of the wounds and injuries from all of the fights I’ve been caught up in and around Gotham.

I look down at the shower floor as he washes my hair and back. I watch the excess water drop onto the floor and travel down into the drain to keep myself entertained, I see some blood joining the water. I move so I can face Dick, there’s wounds on his chest and thighs, they seem new, not exactly new but not exactly old. “Dick? you’re bleeding..” I look at him concerned, I reach out and put my hand on his chest, hoping if he’s in any pain contact will soothe it. “it doesn’t hurt” he assures me, moving my hand away. “but..” I look at him sadly, knowing that deep down he knows it does, he just doesn’t want to say that he’s hurt.

“thank you for worrying about me though, I really do appreciate it.” Dick looks at me and smiles softly. He brings his lips towards mine and connects our lips gently. His hands find their way around my waist pulling me closer towards him as he presses himself against me harder. “You taste like alcohol mm..” I pull away from the kiss confused, but still allowing his grip on my waist. “what.. what.. was that for..?” my face turns red with embarrassment, his straight forward actions making me realise that I crave him, I need him. I want him.

“I don’t know, I apologise if I made you uncomfortable I just-“ before he can continue speaking I cut him off by pushing him against the cold tiled wall in the shower, bringing my lips back to his as the warm water sprinkles over us. “Dick.. I want you.” I mutter, putting my arms around his neck and pushing myself against him, feeling him grow hard against my thigh.

“Are you sure? You’re still tipsy.” He asks for my consent, reassuring me, reminding me that Im not fully sober.

“I’m sure..” I giggle, moving my hand down between his legs, cupping his cock with my palm before stroking him softly, trying to convince him to let me do stuff even if I’m still not sober. “Then..fuck.. can you please.. uh, suck me?” He groans, pressing little kisses along my neck. “here in the shower?..” I ask. “Yeah, here. In the shower.” He chuckles. I get down on my knees, not caring if water accidentally gets into my eyes, since that’s not what my goal is. My goal is to make Dick feel good all over. I take him into my mouth, surprised at how many inches he gained just from growing hard. I begin moving my mouth up and down, trying my best to impress him even though I’m definitely not the best at giving blow jobs. I use my hand to stroke his base, since I can’t manage to take all of him into my mouth.

It’s not long until I feel his dick twitch in my mouth, so I continue sucking on it bobbing my head faster now and tightening the inside of my mouth. Feeling his hands gripping onto my hips as he thrusts into my mouth faster. I’m starting to get a bit turned on and excited. who knew just by having someone in my mouth would get me so hot, especially Dick Graysons! “I’m close.. fuck..” He moans out, I nod and increase my mouth skills once again. Not long after he cums down my throat, I swallow it all like a good girl to impress him. “Jesus Christ that was good.. haven’t gotten sucked off that well in years..” Dick groans, pulling his dick out of my mouth and pulling me up to my feet to kiss me deeply once again, this time parting my lips with his tongue and exploring more of my mouth with his.

“Dick? can we go to your room. I need you..”

“of course.” he smiles, leading me into his room where he lies me down on his bed, hungrily prying my legs open to reveal my wet needy cunt, without warning he grabs my thighs and brings my crotch towards his face, beginning to thrust his tounge into my pussy. “mmg…!” I gasp in delight, tangling my fingers in his black messy hair as he starts devouring my pussy like a starved man.

“o-oh my god Dick.. !” I moan, my head falling back into the pillows, I buck my hips upwards trying to get more out of his mouth, as if it weren’t already perfect for me. He takes note seeing that I want more, he takes his tongue out of me and flicks it on my clit, but he also gently thrusts two fingers inside of me curling them upwards to hit that sweet spot of mine inside of me so my dripping hole won’t be lonely. he starts moving his fingers faster inside of me, making me arch my back in pleasure.

“Dick.. I want your dick..”

“Don’t worry baby, I wanna be inside you as well.” He smirks as he moves away from me to get a condom out of the night stand, he rolls it on before positioning himself at my hole. “Ready?” He asks. “M-mhm just put it in.” I beg “please Dick.” His expression changes as I use my manners, looking pleased at my obedience towards him. He pushes inside of me letting both of us letting out loud moans, he stretches me out perfectly, so fucking perfect. “Oh god!” I cry out, wrapping my arms around him and hugging him closely as he moves inside of me, slowly increasing his movements. “So tight..” he whispers into my ear before nibbling on it lightly. “Harder.. more.. please.” I tell him, as a response he starts thrusting even harder than I expected, making me scream louder than I ever have in my entire fucking life, the mixture of both pleasure and pain his cock is giving me makes me feel unreal. “I’m gonna cum..” I warn, hugging him tighter as my orgasm creeps closer and closer towards me like a spider. “Me too. I’ll cum after you don’t you worry.”

Dick says, a mixture of groans falling out between his words. Just hearing his groans is enough to make me cum on the spot, I cry out as I tighten around him, finally cumming, having the best orgasm of my life. Not too long after I feel the weight of the condom fill up, indicating that he came too. “Oh my god.. Dick.. I…fuck.” I kiss him softly before we get underneath the covers.

“Fuck, I needed that. I needed you so badly Y/n thank you.. now how about we get you drunk again so you can stay another night?” Dick winks at me.

[rosyl12620]

Yandere Kise Ryota x reader

(Imagine he’s in his 3rd year of high school)

You walked through the gates of Kaijou High School. Tugging at your mostly grey uniform, you tried to navigate your way to the front office.

It was your first day at Kaijou and you were already lost. You looked around for someone who could help you. Suddenly, a group of screamed girls ran past you, knocking you down as they ran. You hit the ground, confused.

The blonde guy the girls were swarming around noticed you had fallen. He started to walk towards you.

“Are you okay?” he asks in genuine concern.

You stand up and brush off some dust from your skirt.

“I’m fine, thanks,” you reply.

“That’s good,” he exclaims cheerfully.

“Excuse me, but do you mind telling me where the office is? I’m supposed to go to the front desk to get my schedule since I’m new,” you explain to him.

He smiled brightly, “I don’t mind taking you there. If you don’t mind me tagging along.”

“That’d be even better. I was starting to get scared I’d misunderstand your directions,” you laughed awkwardly to fill the silence.

“My name’s Kise Ryouta, by the way,” the blonde guy, ‘Kise’, introduces himself.

“I’m L/N Y/N,” you respond, “Nice to meet you, Kise-san.”

————————————————————————

After helping you on your first day, Kise still decided to hang out with you on a daily basis. Not that you were complaining, it was nice having a friend around.

You were also surprised when he told you that he was a model. He even showed you some of the magazines he had been in.

Though surprised as you were, you would never like him solely for being a popular model and basketball player. Kise himself seemed surprised someone didn’t immediately like him for his looks.

“It’s quite refreshing,” he had commented.

It had been a few months since you’d met him.

“Hey Y/N-cchi!” a familiar voice called to you just as you were walking out the gates of Kaijou.

You spun around to find Kise running to catch up with you.

“Do you wanna hang out at my place?” Kise asked.

“Sure. We could drop by the convenience store on the way there,” you suggested.

Kise nodded excitedly. Before you could take a step though, another voice called out to you.

“L/N-san!” one of your male classmates called to you.

“What’s up, M/N-san?” you asked him.

“I overheard you say you’re going to the convenience store. Not that I’m stalking you or anything. But maybe we could spend some time together afterwards,” he said.

“I’m sorry, but I already told Kise-kun I’d go to his place after,” you explained to your classmate.

You didn’t notice the glare Kise was giving M/N.

After M/N ran off apologizing you turned to Kise.

“That was weird,” you stated, “Why’d he run off like that?”

Kise shrugged.

“Come on, let’s go,” he said, hurrying you off, “I don’t want you hanging out with him anymore.”

“Why?” you asked, “He’s my friend.”

“He might hurt you, Y/N-cchi,” Kise explained.

“I can protect myself,” you protested.

Kise only sighed as he led you to the convenience store despite your protests for an explanation of his behaviour.

————————————————————————

When you got to school the next day, an envelope of pictures was slid into your locker. You curiously opened it. The pictures were of M/N in the hospital, his clothes were tattered with blood. You were horrified.

There was also a note attached.

“You should’ve just agreed to stop hanging out with him, Y/N-cchi.”

Your eyes widened in shock. Kise. He attempted and probably succeeded killing M/N. And speak of the devil.

“Y/N-cchi! Did you see the little note I left for you?” Kise asked as if it were just another homework cheat sheet.

You were trembling from shock, “How could you?”

Kise’s gaze softened, “I know your mad but it was for your own good. He could’ve hurt you, and what if I wasn’t there to protect you?”

“That’s such a pathetic excuse,” you retorted.

Pushing past Kise you ran to the nearest washroom, careful not to let the tears spill from your eyes.

“Y/N-cchi...”

————————————————————————

You stepped out of class as the last bell rang and school was dismissed only to see Kise waiting for you.

He grabbed your wrist, “Come on, Y/N-cchi! Let’s go shopping! It’s cheer you up!”

“I have plans with a friend,” you said, pulling your hand away.

“Then you’ll just have to cancel,” he pulled you closer and whispered into your ear, “You wouldn’t want them to have the same fate as M/N, now would you?”

“Fine,” you begrudgingly agreed.

Kise’s smile widened. Mentally, you couldn’t help but wonder how Kise was capable of murdering someone and acting like a complete sunshine the rest of the time.

Once you both had arrived at the mall, Kise immediately dragged you into one of the designer stores.

“Uhm, Kise-kun? I can’t afford that,” you hesitantly told him.

“Don’t worry, Y/N-cchi. I modelled for this brand once and they gave me an $100 gift card. You can use it,” he reassured you.

“But it’s yours,” you protested.

“I don’t mind. Besides, if it makes you happy I’m willing to give it to you,” he said.

You decided not to protest. Deep down, you were terrified of what ‘injuries’ you’d be getting if you refused to comply with him. Besides, what’s a piece of designer clothing gonna do to you?

Kise helped you pick out a cute yellow dress and payed for it using the gift card and a few extra dollars. It genuinely didn’t look bad on you so you accepted.

Afterwards, he took you to get food and something to drink. Then the arcade where he won you a bear plush from the claw machine that you wanted.

Kise had wanted to make you happy and it seemed like his plan had worked.

————————————————————————

Graduation was coming soon. You and Kise were going to study different at different universities.

You were relieved knowing that you didn’t have to live in fear of triggering him to kill another person.

But all those thoughts came crashing down one night.

You were at Kise’s house on a Saturday night. He was leading you to his basement to show you something.

You were surprised when you stepped into the basement to see it was arranged like a bedroom. All the things he had gifted you were also there. No wonder you felt like you were missing a few items.

“Look Y/N-cchi!” Kise said excitedly, “You don’t have to go to a different university as me anymore. You don’t even need to go to a university.”

You tried to head back upstairs but Kise stepped behind you and locked the door. When running away wasn’t an option anymore you tried to protest and argue.

“But what about my family? And everything else I have in my life?” you asked desperately.

Kise lifted you up to carry you bridal style. He laid you softly on the bed.

“Your family will be taken care of. We’ll be moving out of this house soon anyways. As for your life, you don’t need it anymore, Y/N-cchi. All you need is to be here with me,” Kise said.

“But-“

“Shh, shh,” Kise said lovingly.

His hand reached up to softly stroke your hair in a soothing gesture. Oddly enough it did calm you.

“I don’t want you crying,” he wiped your tears off your cheeks. You didn’t even realize you were crying.

“Don’t worry Y/N-cchi. I’ll take care of you. I’ll even dress you and do your makeup and hair,” Kise smiled brightly, “Not that you need makeup. You’re already so beautiful.”

It took all your strength to force a fake smile.

————————————————————————

You looked at yourself in the mirror, wearing the new clothes Kise had given you.

“You look so beautiful, Y/N-cchi!” Kise exclaimed happily when he saw you.

For the past year, your life had been controlled by Kise. From what you ate, to what you wore, and especially where you went. You had even started to accept it. It wasn’t as though he did anything to hurt you.

“I was waiting for the day you could go to these events with me,” Kise said.

‘These events’ meaning his fancy modelling parties that you hadn’t be able to attend with him till now because he didn’t trust you enough yet.

Kise frowned, “You seem more quite than usual.”

“I’m fine, Ryouta,” you assured him.

“Alright,” he replied to you.

You looked at yourself one last time in the mirror before following Kise to his car.

“I love you Y/N-cchi. I knew you’d make me happy since the moment I met you,” he said as you stepped out the front door of his house for the first time in a year.

[milarqui]

Scarlet Lady: Origins (Part 1)

Directory

That blasted girl! she thought. She had been the queen of this class of pathetic, poor peasants for years, and Dupain-Cheng, who was the worst of the lot, had somehow got a spine to replace the baguette she once had!

Baguette, ha! I kill myself.

Maybe that new girl, Cesar or whatever, had something to do with it, but she needed to make sure Dupain-Cheng got the message that no one got away with messing with Chloé Bourgeois, the Princess of Paris!

“I’ve got to get back at that upstart Marinette and Alya for talking back to me,” she muttered, and she looked towards the girl, who was distracted doing whatever homework she had missed, the clumsy idiot. And she also saw her bag - seriously, what a horrible thing, not even a Dior! - unattended to a side.

Struck by a brilliant idea, she carefully walked towards the bag and put her hand inside. Maybe she could find something she could use to put her down, back into her place. Her fingertips touched something wooden and polished, and when she grabbed it and pulled out, she saw that it was an eight-sided box that looked really old and expensive.

Hahahaha! This is probably an old family heirloom! she thought, crowing to herself with an evil smile. She’ll be totally freaked when she can’t find it! Perfect!

As she left back for her seat, Marinette remained completely oblivious to what just happened.

And would remain so for months.

----

Perhaps, if she had known what that act of thievery would bring her, Chloé Bourgeois might not have carried it out.

Perhaps.

But Chloé Bourgeois was never one to think on the long-term consequences of her actions.

----

Back home from that peasants’ building known as Collège Françoise Dupont, Chloé sat on her bed and picked the box she had purloined - not robbed, robbing is something those who are pathetic do! - and admired its colors. 

“A pity that this was wasted in that family of boulangers,” she said. “Let’s see what kind of treasure I won. Hee hee!”

And she opened the box.

----

Within the box, the kwami known as Tikki had been waiting for this moment for quite some time. Master Fu had shown her how her future holder, Marinette, looked and acted like, and she knew it would be a wonderful partnership. With Nooroo and the Butterfly Miraculous in the hands of someone who would use it for evil, someone needed to act - and who better than the girl that showed strength of character and compassion in every act?

The box opened. This was her moment!

“Hello, Marinette!” she said, smiling. “Please, don’t be afraid, everything’s--!”

The light that usually covered this kind of thing vanished... and she saw that the person in front of her was clearly not Marinette. Blonde, long hair in a ponytail, rather than black and held in pigtails. Blue, cruel eyes instead of innocent blue. Features of Caucasian ascendancy instead of Chinese.

Conclusion: Master Fu had made a mistake.

“WHO ARE YOU?!” Tikki screamed, trying to make a sense of what had happened.

“THAT’S MY LINE!!!” the girl screamed even louder.

----

Elsewhere in Paris, a boy by the name of Adrien Agreste had discovered a similar box, containing a ring and the kwami known as Plagg. After the terrible day he had had, with his attempt to finally go to school thwarted by Nathalie and his bodyguard, he had listened to the cat-like creature and jumped into the chance to become something he had always wanted to be.

A Superhero.

“THIS IS GONNA BE AWESOME!!!”

----

He would regret those words soon enough.

----

Chloé couldn’t make heads or tails of what this little bug was telling her.

Going out there to fight some monster that had suddenly shown up?

"You’re the only one who can stop the Akuma!” the bug said.

As in, doing something sweaty?

“You use Lucky Charm to save the day?”

Helping other people? Her mere presence was enough to do that! She didn’t need to do like Majestia and waste her precious time in making people think they had any value beyond doing what she wanted.

“You have a partner?!”

And not even a way to claim the credit! No, she had to share it with some no-name peasant, and she couldn’t tell anyone she was the one that had saved their lives! No, she had to hide herself for whatever dumb, irrelevant reason the bug had mentioned, something about someone wanting to rob the earrings she had purloined from Dupain-Cheng.

But the bug was persistent. It kept pestering her until she agreed to it.

Well, maybe she could actually do something and bask in the love of the masses.

----

At the Dupain-Cheng’s house, Marinette thought she had earned a prize for finally telling Chloé off for being a jerk, so she had made herself some popcorn and gone to watch TV, where the usual programming had been replaced by a live newscast.

Un Super-Vilain Á Paris?

A giant creature, who for some reason the newscast had identified as Stoneheart, had shown up in the middle of the city, and was causing quite a lot of chaos.

“Stoneheart is moving toward the Montparnasse Tower!” Nadja Chamack reported, clearly shaken by the current events, as the titan punched a car and sent it flying several meters away.

“Sucks,” Marinette said, munching on her popcorn. Not like there was much she could do. If she were part of something like United Heroez, she would probably jump into action, but she was a civilian, so--

“The monster... seems to be unstoppable!”

And, as Stoneheart kept ambling towards its target, at the down left corner of the screen, Marinette saw something.

Or, rather, someone.

“ALYA!!! What are you doing?!”

----

How does Lois Lane always look so perfect when she does this?! Alya Césaire thought, panting as she pedaled behind Stoneheart. This could be the start of her journalist career!

----

“I’m starting to get the hang of this,” Adrien - no, Chat Noir, that was his superhero name - said, following the trail Stoneheart was leaving behind.

“aaaaaaaaAAAAAHHHHH!”

Pain.

Before he could react, someone had crashed on him, and now the two of them were tangled in some sort of thin rope and hanging upside down. And, as he recovered his sight, he was met with someone wearing a domino mask, similar to his, but red with black polka dots.

This had to be the partner Plagg had mentioned! Well, maybe he could break the ice and begin with a good joke.

“Well, nice of you to drop in!”

“Omigod, no.”

Seriously? Not even a smile?

Tough crowd.

The girl in red pulled on something, and the rope around them suddenly became untangled, causing them both to fall to the ground.

“Say, what’s your name, partner?”

“Why should I tell you?” she replied, with a tone that reminded him too much of his father talking down to someone else - usually him.

“I’m Chat Noir! Nice to meet you!” A loud noise reminded him that Stoneheart was still loose, and he swung back in action. “Come on! Stoneheart seems to be going for the Parc des Princes!”

“Stone-who?” he thinks he hears her say, but it might have just been his imagination. He didn’t pay it any mind.

It was time to be a hero!

----

Sabine Dupain-Cheng looked in shock as her darling daughter nearly crashed down the stairs and towards the door, a look of dread in her face.

“Marinette, where are you going? Lunch is almost over.”

“Out because my new best friend is INSANE!!!”

The bell clinked as Marinette opened the door, picked her bike and started to pedal westward.

“What’s going on here?” she wondered. Well, she would certainly learn about it later.

----

Chat Noir charged towards Stoneheart, his new staff - he could make it grow like Goku did, which was amazing - in hand, and attacked the creature, distracting it from the guy it was trying to attack.

BANG! the staff sounded as it hit Stoneheart’s head.

And then Stoneheart grew in size.

“Oh shit, he’s bigger!” he said, dodging an attack. “Where are you, partner?”

Looking around, he saw his partner standing at the top of the stadium.

“Ah, there!” Good, she could jump in and help him stop Stone- wait, was that a compact mirror?

She was preening in front of a mirror while he was here, risking his life?

“HEY!!!” he shouted, dodging another attack.

----

It looked like that mangy cat had everything well in hand, so she didn’t need to do anything at all! Whew! She could just stand here and let him do all the work, that was what peasants were for, after all.

“What are you waiting for, Super Red Bug?” a voice said from below, and Chloé Bourgeois turned to see the new girl down below, a cellphone in her hands.

“Ugh, you again.”

“The world is watching you!” Césaire said, gleaming and smiling.

“The world is watching...?”

Oh my god, this was perfect! She could jump in, easily put a stop to the monster and bang! Instantly famous! The adoration of all Paris was at hand!

She closed her new compact mirror and grinned.

----

Chat Noir was starting to feel that maaaaaaybe he was a bit over his head. Nothing he could do to Stoneheart could stop him, and it was a hard task to just keep dodging everything. And, of course, his partner refused to do anything.

Stoneheart had grabbed one of the goals with its gigantic left hand, and was clumsily attempting to swing it at him, but fortunately his years of fencing had given him the reflexes to avoid such a large object, and the suit was actually making him faster and stronger!

But then Stoneheart tossed the goal - and it was clear the target was not him, but a red-haired, dark-skinned girl that seemed to have followed them into the stadium.

Oh, no!! he thought, and he turned about to attempt to stop the large object from hitting the girl.

“ALYA!”

Before he could act, someone else, a girl with black bluish hair in a pair of cute pigtails, tackled the red-haired girl out of the way.

“You came!” the red-haired girl - Alya - said.

“Yeah, but why did you?!” the new girl replied.

Whew, crisis solved. Now, he had to find out how to stop Stoneheart, quickly, before it could cause further disruption.

“Cat boy!” the pigtailed girl said, and he felt her hand on his shoulder.

“It’s Chat Noir, actually!” he replied, turning to look at her - and wow, she was quite cute and blushing.

“He doesn’t open his fist!”

“Good note, thanks! Maybe you should be a hero!”

Anyone could be better than his "partner". Not that that was a high bar to surpass.

“Priorities!” the girl said.

----

Chloé could only see red. That blasted cat had said that Dupain-Cheng should be a hero? Ha! As if!

She jumped and kicked Stone-whatever in the head, sending it tumbling away as she turned to the cat and her classmate.

“WHAT DID YOU SAY?!” she shouted.

“Wow, wow, calm down! Maybe we need to use our powers to stop him? Cataclysm! My power destroys anything,” the cat said, his right hand covered in some sort of icky black thing.

“How barbaric. And useless. Like you.”

“Did I look cool?”

The cat thought he was cool? She wanted to laugh.

“Absolutely not.”

The cat grabbed the large net thing that had fallen nearby with his right hand, and suddenly the white on the stick became black, and in seconds the entire thing had disintegrated into dust.

She was sickened to have to admit it, but that trick left her hair standing.

“Jesus...”

“So, what about yours?” the cat challenged her.

You’re going to swallow those words, you mangy cat!

“Lucky Charm!” she declaimed. After a flash of pink, she felt something heavy in her hands, that seemed to be made of rubber and looked a lot like this unfashionable costume she was wearing. “Oh, ha ha, Tikki.”

“So, how useful is your power?” he taunted her, and she angrily threw the thing at him.

“Why not ask your other partner?!”

“You just don’t want to work,” he muttered. Well, of course she didn’t! Work was something someone as important as her shouldn’t be bothered with!

You’ll come crawling back to me once you see how useless Clumsinette is, she thought, grinning at the idea of her rival doing anything useful at all.

“Cat boy, run interference!”

“it’s Chat Noir!”

“Alya, the tap!”

“You got it!”

What.

----

Chat Noir followed the black-haired girl’s instructions. The moment he had given her the polka-dotted red wetsuit, she had immediately come up with a plan. It was a bit risky, particularly since he would have to let himself get captured, but something told him he could trust her.

His trust was rewarded. The girl had managed to trick Stoneheart into grabbing her and the wetsuit, dropping a purple rock from its closed right fist, and then Alya had opened the hose tap, filling the wetsuit to grow and forcing Stoneheart’s fist open. The girl had quickly jumped out, ran for the rock and stomped on it, letting out a black butterfly and a crumpled piece of paper.

And Stoneheart transformed back into a large boy that looked to be his age.

The girl picked up the note and ran for the large boy, shouting what he presumed was his name, as his ring began to beep.

“What’s the noise mean?”

“Dunno, I didn’t read the manual,” he said. Maybe he should have waited for Plagg to explain everything before transforming?

----

“Kim wrote it. He’s always making fun of me,” Ivan confessed to his classmate.

“Pa, don't worry about him. He cried when we saw The Little Mermaid when we were 10.”

He chuckled.

----

Chloé grabbed the rubber thing - now empty of water - and attempted to rip it, but it only stretched without giving in.

No one’s paying attention to me!

How could this be? She was Chloé Bourgeois! The Princess of Paris! Everyone’s eyes should be on her! All the boys should be in love with her! Everyone should worship her! But here they were, paying attention to a mangy cat and Bruel who got his dumb arse turned into a monster, instead of her!

Oh, wait. Tikki had said something about this, right? That she could fix stuff broken by the monsters with this Lucky Charm thing?

“Hey, reporter girl! Catch this! MIRACULOUS LADYBUG!”

The Lucky Charm transformed into a cloud of ladybugs that flew around everything Bruel had destroyed as Stone-whatever. In moments everything was back to its normal state - still below the quality she demanded of everything, of course.

“Whoa!!” Césaire said, and she rushed towards her, cellphone in hand. “Incredible! You can fix everything?! Hey, what do we call you, Wonderbug?!”

Now, that was closer to what she expected. Still not enough simpering, but closer.

“Well, obviously not that. Let’s see...”

----

Chat Noir was tired. Fighting Stoneheart had taken out a lot off him. And he realized that maybe the beeping was some kind of count down.

And then he heard his ‘partner’ proclaim to have saved the day ‘in spite of her clumsy partner’s inability to do anything right’.

“You... you didn’t do anything,” he muttered, astonished of her credit stealing. But then the beeping became more insistent and he left: he had to return home before someone noticed he wasn’t in his room.

Somehow, the beginning of being a hero had become nothing like he had thought it would be.

----

Fu sipped on his favorite tea, relaxing after a long day. Wayzz had reported that the negative energy of the Butterfly had vanished, which meant that young Marinette and young Adrien had managed to stop Stoneheart and captured the corrupted butterfly transforming him. Good. Ah, if only he were a few decades younger! He would have been able to go out there and guide the two young heroes in the matters of the Miraculous.

Wayzz clicked on the remote to turn on the TV and see if the news were mentioning anything about the attack.

“... our new hero, Scarlet Lady...”

He turned to look at the screen, only to notice something strange, because the girl wearing the Ladybug Miraculous didn’t resemble his Chosen wielder at all-

“... thanks to amateur footage by local student, Alya Césaire...”

-and then the screen showed Marinette and a red-haired girl he supposed was this Alya Césaire, smiling at the camera.

“Wait...” Wayzz said. The problem was clear: if Marinette was there in her civilian clothes, who was wearing the Ladybug Miraculous?

He barely noticed as his teacup crashed into the floor.

----

“So... her name is Scarlet Lady...”

Plagg was a bit disturbed by his bearer’s angry face. What in the holy name of Camembert had happened to leave him like he had gone a few rounds with trying to swallow some mushrooms?

“I’ll call her Scar for the scars she leaves on my life.”

Uh-oh.

----

Tikki enjoyed the cookies Chloé had offered her.

But she still wondered why she was here, instead of with Marinette.

And she remembered there was something she hadn’t explained.

“Did you catch the akuma?”

Chloé gave her what she supposed was what humans called the ‘deer-in-the-headlights’ look.

“Huh?”

Uh-oh.

----

Origins (Part 2)

@zoe-oneesama Hope you liked this.

[purplebubblywitch]

LAST LETTER TO ASTARION

Hi everyone! This is my very first post, and I’ll admit, I’m a little nervous. But I thought I'd share my first fanfiction! What if Cazador had written a final letter to Astarion? Oh and I had to post it again. -_-What do you guys think? Trigger Warning: Abusive behavior.

To Astarion,

these are maybe my final words to you, my little spawn. I don’t know if I’ll survive when we meet again. They say you’re nearly at my door, and I hear the malicious gossip, it seems you've grown surprisingly strong, gathering a charming little entourage. Even Gortash is a thorn in my side, so I must act. Today, the ritual begins. But know this my dear: no matter what happens, I will always win. My only failure was letting you escape. Yet, deep down, I’m proud of you, Astarion.

You are like me. No matter how hard you fight it, you are as power-hungry as I am, driven by the same fear of being enslaved again. We  both clawed our way to the top. Maybe that’s why I’ve always felt so close to you. I couldn’t break you. Bravo, my little spawn. And I truly did try. Every time I heard your sweet screaming, I heard myself through that filthy mouth of yours, my own screams, my own pleas for mercy. You are a reflection of my past, a twisted reminder of what I lost. You’ve become a key to what remains of my humanity. I got addicted to that feeling. To feel like myself again, you made me feel alive, when I’d thought it was lost to Vellioth. Maybe I got carried away some days, but we all have our good and bad days, don’t we? Can you understand that? 

Once, I was someone’s little pet, like you. I was impaled for eleven years—compared to that, my treatment of you was almost… loving, wouldn’t you say? I can’t tolerate anyone above me. Those were Vellioth’s words. This words were for himself, but they apply so damn well.They kept me alive. I wasn’t allowed to love, because love makes you weak. Love makes you vulnerable. Look at your brother and his pathetic attempts to protect his daughter. At the end of it all, he will be alone. As will you, Astarion. Why should we care for others? No one ever cared for us. 

Here you are, barely out of the nest, clinging to someone, desperate for protection. But will you ever truly be free? Will you ever trust anyone completely? When I sent those men to you, you thought I saved you. Your naivety was always overwhelming and, dare I say, refreshing. I watched you for so long, knowing you’d make the perfect addition to my collection. Like a piece of art.

It won’t be long before you stand outside my door. Let’s imagine the scenarios: if you kill me and stop the ritual, however unlikely that may be, then that will only prove how alike we are. Sacrificing everything for power. I taught you well my little Spawn.

But if you don’t finish the ritual, do you think you’ll be free? Could you ever be truly free, Astarion? Do you think my death will heal your wounds? 

It won’t undo anything. It won’t heal your soul. You’re so accustomed to fear that you’d feel lost without it. Absurd, isn’t it? Because you’re used to living in terror. In fact, when you were gone, your first instinct wasn’t to run away as far as possible, it was returning to me. I’m sure,  your thoughts are surely filled with me, telling everyone how wicked I was to my little pet. It’s a clever tactic, claiming weakness to lure them in. With your pretty face, who wouldn’t believe you? I’ll always live on, Astarion, in your mind, in the scars on your body.

And if you don’t kill me? Then you’ll never be free. I’ll find you and hunt you down. Because we belong together, Astarion, whether you like it or not. I’m the only one you can truly count on. You trust no one. And even if you resist, I’m the one who can offer you safety. Familiar horror is easier to bear than the unknown, isn’t it, my dear?

Anyway, we’ll see if you come to my door. I have enough wine to celebrate, the full-bodied one you like so much.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Cazador

Please read my next fanfiction Astarion's Journal

______________

[jewishbarbies]

Idk if you saw but Sonya Massey was a Black woman cruelly killed in a recent police brutality case. The body cam footage is haunting. I recommend reading about Sonya if you haven't already.

I, like many, can't stop thinking about it. I was reblogging some posts on one of my blogs to spread attention when I noticed a really depressing pattern.

There were popular posts saying things like "This is why Black people care so much about Palestinians" and just random mentions of Israel....somehow linking it to Sonya.

Now this is nothing new. Everything that happens in the world gets linked to Israel right now because yk antisemitism. However this gave me chills because well in real life I've been really hurting over this. As a non-white person in a country with a majority non-white population, I've had to deal with this rise of thinking where Palestinians = brown and good and Jews = white and evil. It's affecting me severely. I'm almost friendless now. It's hard interacting with people and even just living.

It's terrifying seeing every minority group tell themselves the Jews are the enemies. Where do we go from here? How do we get through this? How do we get over this? What do we do? How can we ever pretend this never happened? Idk. I'm just hopeless atp.

I’ve seen the body cam footage floating around on tiktok. some people are also using her death to say we shouldn’t vote for Kamala bc “she’s a cop”, and I just cannot fathom the level of stupidity and depravity that this society is at. I don’t understand how a black woman being murdered in her own home by a racist white cop with a history of behavior has them making it about literally anything else. HER FAMILY WAS TOLD SHE KILLED HERSELF. THEY DIDNT EVEN KNOW SHE EAS MURDERED UNTIL THEY LOOKED AT AN ARTICLE AND THE FOOTAGE WAS RELEASED. why are we not screaming from the rooftops about this like George Floyd? WHY are we making this some pathetic attempt at activism…FOR PALESTINE??

black people are getting gunned down in their homes and this is what the left is talking about? I’ve seen people say the cop is probably a zionist. bitch HOW DOES THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT HE JUST MURDERED AN INNOCENT WOMAN?? these people need to get their heads screwed on straight before I do it myself because this response has been absolutely disgusting from the people who still have BLM in their bio with a black fist emoji.

[0v3rcast]

Gnaw (5)

You drift in infinity, if only for a moment, in a place devoid of feeling. There is no heat or cold, no light or darkness, no life, no death. There is an overwhelming absence.

Hello, my maker, Says a voice into your ear.

Warm hands tug at your sleeve and turn you in place.

You make eye contact with a woman in perhaps her early twenties, wearing a simple black dress. She's somehow standing on the nothingness as if it's solid ground.

She gives you a smile.

I wish we'd have had any other way to meet. You a corpse, myself a stranger.

I am Nil. The Abyss Made Manifest. The first of your children. I'm sure you have no recollection of me from the... simulation of Teyvat. Genshin Impact, I believe they called it?

You nod, not quite sure what to say.

...or even if you can say anything, because this place probably doesn't have a way for your voice to travel.

She smiles, giving you a strangely abashed look.

Sorry. I'm not used to guests. Or anyone other than my children, the Abyssals. If I'd known you'd be coming, I'd have made you a chair or something.

You shrug. At this point, you'll settle for her not trying to maim you.

Which, in hindsight, is kind of pathetic to settle for.

She offers a hand. You take it, and she pulls you close for a brief hug before somehow sitting you down on a solid plane of nothingness, your legs dangling off the edge like you're both sitting on a pier.

I can't give you much help from here, and your body is much too feeble to sustain abyssal energies, but I've been putting you back together every time you die.

I know it hurts, and I know you probably don't want to be here if all it means is being miserable, but...

They know not what they do. To them, you're someone wearing their creator's face. And that's not a valid excuse for murder, but they're blind to the truth.

You don't understand. It's probably written all over your face, based on the sad, sympathetic look she gives you.

There's another you. Sort of. An unstable clone. Some alchemist made them when Khaenri'ah existed. They had been attempting to summon you and bind your soul to an immortal body so you could guide Teyvat as you did before. They managed to only summon a copy of your essence.

The elements and Celestia annihilated Khaenri'ah for playing with forces they had no right to control, and I devoured most of the survivors for supporting someone that was trying to pull you away from your rest.

You have many questions. And no way to ask them. She catches on.

Oh! Also, you can just talk in your head and I'll hear it. It's not quite telepathy, but you and I are closer than the elements are to you, since I was the first.

You ask why the people of Teyvat didn't kill them, or why the elements couldn't.

You didn't want us interfering with the world so directly. That's why you gave my siblings the ability to grant Visions and the Gnosis. So they could still shape the world and watch over the souls they cared for.

You didn't want them to rule Teyvat, or to terrorize it, so you set some limitations on them.

Let's just say vaporizing an entire civilization was the kind of thing that caused backlash, massively draining them. They've spent all the time since then regaining their strength.

As for the mortals, they were just happy to have who they thought was you back.

You ask what the past you was like.

I can't tell you that. You'll remember on your own time.

You tell her that's not helpful, and also kind of a dick move to get your hopes up like that. She giggles.

This you is much more feisty. I like that.

You ask for any advice she can give you, because you're pretty lost and more or less without a clue right now. She perks up a little.

You'll make some friends in Liyue. I promise. Not everyone on Teyvat is hostile.

She looks away awkwardly.

Just, um. Most of them. Sorry. And I can't tell you who.

You sigh. At least there's a chance for someone to not immediately murder you.

Our time is up for now. I'm sorry. The waking world calls for you.

You tell her that the two of you will meet again and give her a wink. She laughs.

(Her warm, bright laughter follows you up to the world above.)

You wake with a terrible pain in the neck, and a golden band around your throat where you were decapitated.

You're more than a bit pissed about having your head chopped off because of someone else that's wearing your face.

A shitty copy at that.

You hope you'll meet one of those friends you were promised soon, because right now there's very little attachment to Teyvat as a whole.

(You meet your new friend not even three minutes later when she trips over your prone form and drops all her herbs.)

You awkwardly stare at Qiqi, who stares back at you with a mildly perplexed look.

"You... are not familiar," she says, tilting her head slightly as if she was a curious puppy. "But you seem nice."

"I'd hope I seem nice. You're the first person to not immediately try and kill me." You say, defensively.

You think she looks concerned, but reading her face is... well, difficult. Since she's an undead and all.

She offers a hand to you, and with her help, you get back on your feet.

"Thanks, Qiqi," you say, and then immediately have an 'oh shit' because she hasn't even fucking introduced herself.

"Have we met?" She asks.

"Nope. You're just famous where I'm from," you hastily explain. "Lots of people like you and want to be your friend."

She seems to consider it, but about halfway through she forgets and stops caring.

"Do you want me to help you pick up your herbs?" You offer.

She nods.

Qiqi delicately retrieves the various plants that were in her basket, and you point out any she misses.

"Are you from Liyue?"

"No, I'm just passing through."

"...ah."

You have a sudden alarm ringing in the back of your head and hit the grass, grabbing Qiqi and yanking her down with you.

You give her a small smile. She smiles back and then seems surprised she can. Then her smile widens slightly as she smiles for the sake of smiling, too.

"I like you," she says simply, with all the confidence of a child zombie. "Would you like to be friends?"

"I'd like that." You say genuinely. "I don't have a lot of those here."

"Then we're friends," Qiqi says with all seriousness before pulling out a notebook. "I will write your name down so I always remember you are my friend."

An arrow covered in icy mist whizzes just barely over your head and explodes several yards away, freezing a large circle of grass.

"Fuck!" You hiss, looking up to see Ganyu in the distance.

The look on her face is nothing short of barely concealed hatred. Her face is nearly expressionless, but there's open aggression and hostility in her eyes.

If looks could kill, you'd be a smoking crater.

"Go, Qiqi," you urge gently, nudging the jiangshi in the back.

She may be a zombie child, but she is no fool, very clearly understanding what's about to occur.

She quickly makes herself scarce.

As soon as she's out of the way, your gift spins to life, and your hands crackle with arcs of electro.

Ganyu lets another arrow fly.

You launch towards her, the world slowing to a crawl as you accelerate, her arrow sluggishly spiraling by you.

Right as you're about to be in range with a weapon, she... disengages.

Leaving behind a fucking ice lotus.

A wash of pure cold carves into you, sapping your body heat and leaving you winded.

You manage to roll away from the lotus, but her next arrow gouges into your thigh. You cry out in pain, indigo blood oozing down your leg and staining your pants.

You slam into her shoulder-first with the aid of your gift, the two of you crashing into the dirt and grass with a brutal force that leaves Ganyu wheezing.

Her hands come up to grab your throat, her grip like iron and tighter than a vice.

You briefly claw at her wrists, but the edges of your vision are beginning to darken.

You reach out, grab a horn, and yank.

Snap.

Ganyu wails. Her hands instantly move from your throat as she scrambles back, clutching the bleeding stump of her left horn in one hand. She isn't even paying attention to you anymore, lost in the agony.

You gasp for breath, taking in deep lungfuls of air.

Ganyu doesn't move to re-engage. She seems to be having difficulty staying conscious.

When she stands, her legs are shaking, and her attempt to move in your direction ends with her toppling over.

It's likely her horns have nerves, given their nearness to her human brain, and who knows what kind of function they serve? Do they help her sense which way is upright or help her orientate her body?

Whatever the case, she's down by half and now struggling to keep her balance.

You pretend to throw the horn at her as a distraction tactic, and she scrambles for it, not quite realizing you never let it go.

You flee, the arrow still in your leg and sending bolts of searing agony through you, the Quilin horn clutched tight in your hand.

(You fall asleep beneath a tree, which begins to grow rapidly due to the blood oozing from your now-healed wounds. An Archon approaches your unconscious form.)

When you wake, it's to jeering. You're... on a boat near the Guyun Stone Forest. There's a crowd watching you from the docks and shorelines, spitting insults and calling for your death sentence to be hastened. You can only faintly hear them.

Your limbs are bound in heavy chain and weighted with dense iron locks.

Zhongli glares at you like you're nothing more than a particularly vile insect.

Ganyu keeps fidgeting with the band of gold holding her horn in place now. She seems unsteady on her feet, especially on this boat. She watches you with something between hostility and fear.

Ningguang snarls at you for a moment with raw hatred when you make eye contact, but she swiftly schools her expression into an icy glare.

Keqing doesn't bother to look at you.

Zhongli must not like the look you give them because he steps forward and backhands you so hard you pull something in your neck and lose a tooth.

How dare they do this to you?

Your lip is busted and throbbing with pain. You, in a fit of spite, spit your blood onto his boot.

You're swiftly tossed into the sea and immediately begin to drown.

Before the darkness can claim you, several stone spears pierce your torso and limbs and make you sink to the seafloor as if the stone was lead instead.

You are so very cold.

(The sea goes as still and flat as a sheet of glass.)

Your eyes open in the lightless depths of the ocean.

Before you lies an ancient, imprisoned serpent - Osial, the Overlord of the Vortex.

You lay next to one of his heads. A single massive eye is trained on you.

"...my creator?" He asks, hesitant. "Why - no, how - are you down here?"

"Morax."

His eyes narrow in anger. "Wretched lizard. Had I my freedom, I would skin him alive and offer his carcass as tribute to you."

You breathe out a sigh through the gills you didn't have before.

"I wouldn't stop you at this point." You murmur bitterly.

(You and Osial lay there in the darkness of the sea together, side by side, prisoners of the same Archon.)

((Taglist:

@the-dumber-scaramouche @thatdeadaquarius @ssak-i @imyme20 @fried-lotud @acacla @itz-luna @iruiji @crierofirony @itsredactedlove @sweetsthetik @leafanonsforest @oxyotl @kkazuyass @featuredtofu @resident-cryptid @d4y-dr3am3r @crimson-ashes @red1sg0n3 @the-real-fandom-person @code-roevember @yourlocalsourwolf @rhoswen-drake @minimari415 @reversearrowhead @call-me-shroom @evqnescents @valeriele3 @mochicurls21

[askganon]

You said you like to tell the story of how you killed the king of hyrule and I am now morbidly curious of what exactly happened, specifically what way did you use to cancel his subscription for life (I have a bit of a morbid fascination with Death, ways it can happen and how it changes our bodies, so I am very curious here)

Very well, I have teased you all enough. It is only fair that I regale you on one of my most proud achievements.

I first entered the courts of Hyrule castle in strength and stoicism, hiding no sense of anger. My visage alone terrified the local lords and ladies of the court, and put all the guards on edge.

However, I knelt before the King, and pledged myself and my Gerudo to the service of the crown of Hyrule. The King, seeing me as little more than a tribal chieftain, accepted my pledge.

I then spent several months in the castle of Hyrule, speaking with the King, aiding him in simple tasks throughout Hyrule in an effort to gain his trust. My actions, as well as a constant flow of alcohol, drew the King's trust ever closer to me.

It became a regular occurrence that I would find myself in private quarters with the King, sharing philosophies and stories, exchanging the wisdoms of rulers. It was in these reclusive moments, free from advisors and even guards, where I learned much of the true nature of the King and of Hyrule as a whole.

Through word and deed, I rose from tribal chieftain to a close ally of the King. That was where I truly desired to be, for anyone who doubted me assumed due to my "barbaric" heritage that were I to attempt a takeover, it would be through brute force.

It was inconceivable that such a desert brute could possibly outwit such heights of society, after all. It was because of this that my chance finally came.

One night, when all my plans to weaken the other races had been implanted, I found myself in the King's chambers. We drank wine and played a game of strategy, as was our routine. Outside his window, a storm grew dark and cold.

The King stood, staring outside, and spoke in a moment of drunken weakness of his flaws as a leader.

Hmm, I recall a moment, then, that he apologized for the treatment of my people over the centuries, and because of our meeting he was determined to change everything for the better.

I told him he indeed would. That was when, as he saw my reflection standing behind him, that the dagger bound to my boot found its way between the lout's ribcage through the back.

I kept my gaze on his reflection, smirking, as I told him everything was indeed about to change, and that the Gerudo would become a power greater than anything ever witnessed in Hyrule.

The King gasped from the blade's puncture and was held still by my free hand as I repeatedly thrust the dagger into him over, and over, and over.

It was not a swift death. I made sure he felt every inch of my blade as it moved back and forth through his fatty flesh.

There were tears in his eyes, and a silent question formed from his lips, before I let go, allowing him to die on the floor of his own chambers, drunk and pathetic.

Once he died, I sheathed my dagger, refusing to ever clean the blood of Hyrule from its Gerudo Steel.

[waytooinvested]

Forgotten, Not Forgiven - Chapter 33

This and previous chapters are also on AO3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The takeout bag hit the roof with a soft thump as Lena and Kara turned to face Lex, sushi rolls spilling out across the too-short distance between them.

‘Lex. How long have you been here?’

‘Long enough. I was surprised to hear from you after all this time, so I thought I’d teleport in quietly and get the lay of the land before I revealed myself. Imagine my surprise when I arrived to find you not in a deadly battle for your life, but casually sitting up here doing nothing in particular. I considered that maybe you had just come round to my way of thinking and were ready to join your family, but then who should show up but Little Miss Blonde Ambition herself, and you all but tell her you’re trying to lay a trap for me. Not a very good one I’ll admit, but that still hurts Lena.’

‘It’s not like that. Kara followed me up here, and I was trying to get rid of her. Just because I didn’t want to let you kill her doesn’t mean we can’t still be on the same side.’

Lex shook his head pityingly.

‘I almost admire your attempts to salvage the situation sis, but lets be honest, we both know that I could outwit you with my wits tied behind my back. So shall we just cut to the chase?’

Lena took a cautious quarter step towards Kara, trying to get between her and Lex, but it was no good. She was standing just too far away to block without being obvious about it, and that would only draw further attention to her.

‘Alright, fine. But lets keep this in the family. Let Kara leave, and you and I can discuss things like adults.’

‘Really, Lena? Even now, that – creature – is all you can think about? After everything I did for you, after how generous I’ve been all this time, letting you have your way with your little toy when you should have been focusing on building our legacy? No matter how far I lower my expectations of you, you always find a way to disappoint me. You’re pathetic.’

‘HEY, don’t talk to her like that!’

Kara stepped forwards, fists clenched and jaw set with fury at Lex’s casual cruelty, though she hadn’t seemed to care a bit when he had insulted her. She seemed taller suddenly, a new set to her shoulders that recalled Supergirl more than Kara Danvers, a steely look in her eye that said she was ready to fight for Lena if it came to it.

Lena threw out an arm to stop her before she could move any closer, her own stare flint as she met Kara’s steel and struck sparks.

‘Stay out of this Kara.’

Her tone was a sharp rebuke, though inside she was more touched than she could express that even without her powers Kara was willing to go up against the mass-murdering maniacal genius who had very nearly taken down Superman at full strength, all for her sake.

But her best hope of getting Kara out of here in one piece was to have Lex dismiss her as beneath his notice, and her noble but ill fated attempts to defend her were not helping with that.

‘Yes, stay out of this Kara. Or should I call you Su-’

‘DON’T. She’s nothing to you, she’s not a threat. Just let her walk away, and I’ll come with you. I can help you.’

‘You think I need to bargain for your help? You’ve been helping me for months. Just imagine – DEO backed beta testing for my patented alien neutering technology with full, if unwitting, co-operation from the primary test subject. It’s been most illuminating.’

Of course.

Of course Lex had factored her attempts to restore Supergirl into his plan, and if Lena hadn’t been so laser focused on Kara the whole time she would have deduced that from the start . Not that it would have mattered anyway. After all, what other choice had there really been? Her brother had set up a situation where he won whatever move she played, and Lena stood by her decision to at least try to get Kara’s memories back. Besides, it might even work to her advantage now.

She tilted her chin up and flashed a sharp, self-satisfied smile worthy of Lex himself, conveying all the arrogant Luthor confidence that was her birthright as much as his.

‘And doesn’t that just go to prove my point? Leave the Danvers girl out of this, and I can help you with your real objective. You know she was never the one you really wanted anyway.’

‘And you’d be willing to go after my real objective, in exchange for her?’

‘Lena, whatever this is, you don’t have to-’ Kara tried to chip in, but Lena spoke over her, her eyes never leaving her brother’s face.

‘If that’s what it takes.’

She was lying of course. Once Kara was safely clear of Lex and she had access to his hideout, she would revert to plan A and find a way to get the information she needed out of him, and then kill him before he could carry out his intentions against Superman. She tried not to dwell on what she would do if things went wrong and the only way to save Kara’s life was to remove Superman’s powers for real, leaving the world at Lex’s mercy without either of its Kryptonian protectors.

It wasn’t going to come to that.

And… well, if it did, she’d just have to find a way to save the world herself, and then restore both of them. She’d do it if she had to.

Whatever it takes.

The silence between them lasted just long enough that Lena began to feel an inkling of hope that he might be considering it, then Lex shook his head.

‘As soon as you let go of the chess piece you’re committed to your move, you should know that by now. You broke a sacred trust today Lena, and you have to accept the consequences.’

Lex kept eye contact with her, his expression almost regretful as he pulled a gun from the concealed holster in his jacket and took quick but careful aim at her chest. Lena’s fingers twitched to reach for her own weapon, but as her plan had been to gain her brother’s trust she had compromised accessibility for discretion in her packing, and she had been so intent on getting Kara away that the risk of retrieving it had felt too great compared to what could happen if she failed. Now it was too late: by the time she realised what he was doing, Lex had well and truly outdrawn her. The moment echoed with all the other times it had come down to the three of them, and the choice she had to make between her xenophobic brother and the alien woman she had fallen in love with.

Only this time Lex was the one with holding the gun, and Lena was staring empty handed down its barrel at her own demise, knowing that once she was shot the choice would be out of her hands. There would be nothing she could do to save Kara.

‘It’s time to say goodbye, baby sister.’

The apparent regret in Lex’s eyes hardened into gloating satisfaction, and Lena had the brief, awful understanding that the brother she had once known was so far gone that he was going to enjoy watching her die. Somehow that knowledge hurt even now, and the spark of anger it kindled made her shift her stance, preparing for one last ditch, pointless effort to, if not save herself, then at least wipe the smug look off Lex’s face before she died.

She was preparing to spring when, at the very last second, the barrel of the gun swung from Lena to Kara, Lex’s finger tensing on the trigger as he recalibrated his aim. Lena, watching him intently throughout for any hint of an opening, caught the shift almost before it appeared and threw herself at Kara, shoving her hard to the ground and out of Lex’s line of fire even as Kara tried to do the same for her.

The gunshot rang out, deafeningly loud in the still night, and there was a spray of red as Lena staggered backwards.

She stumbled, off balance, her knees colliding with the low barrier at the roof’s edge.

Time stretched out into slow motion as Lena felt her centre of gravity shift. Her arms pin wheeled desperately, but there was nothing she could grab, and she tipped, agonisingly slowly, out into empty space.

‘LENA!’

Through a rush of tears she saw Kara above her, leaping the railing and launching herself off the edge. Lena couldn’t get enough air into her lungs to make a sound, but her mouth formed a silent howl of no, no, NO as she watched Kara plummet down after her, arms outstretched like a diver from the high board.

She hadn’t even hesitated.

Lena had been having nightmares like this ever since Kara’s accident, but now she wasn’t waking up with a jerk and a cold sweat in her own bed the way she should have been. She was wide awake this time, and Kara had thrown herself off a roof in a doomed attempt to save Lena’s life. Because this wasn’t like her parkour accident. They were a hundred stories up, and there was no surviving this fall.

In the distance behind Kara’s shoulder Lena saw Alex’s stricken, chalk white face appear over the edge of the roof, grabbing uselessly for her sister even though she was well out of her reach by now.

Where the hell had Alex come from?

But the thought slipped away as quickly as it had come as reality rushed in to replace the first seconds of shocked dissociation from what had just happened.

She was about to die.

Kara was about to die.

Lena’s ears were full of screaming and she wasn’t sure which of them it belonged to, or if the world had simply reduced to one long howl of anguish that would echo and rebound throughout eternity.

Unable to bear it, Lena closed her eyes. She didn’t want to risk seeing the moment that Kara shattered on the unforgiving concrete that was rushing up to meet them.

I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you.

And then the whistling of wind past her ears stopped. Her hair fell lightly back against her shoulders as gravity seemed to lose its grip on her, and she heard the soft thumping of a heartbeat that wasn’t her own against her ear.

Was this what dying felt like? Whatever came afterwards, she had at least expected there to be more pain at the moment of impact.

Very tentatively, Lena opened her eyes.

Kara was looking down at her, her expression full of mingled concern and fierce determination. Somewhere during the fall she had lost her glasses, her hair was standing out wild about her face from the wind, and a strange, detached thought came to Lena that she couldn’t believe she could ever have missed that Kara and Supergirl were so clearly the same person. Kara Danvers. Kara Zor El. Just, Kara.

‘Are you okay?’

Somehow Lena managed to reinflate her winded lungs enough to choke out a reply.

‘I… think so? Are you?’

‘Yeah, I’m okay.’

Tears flowed down her cheeks as her survival instinct panic spike began to drop out of fight or flight and towards shock.

‘Thank you. Thank you so much.’

‘Of course, you know I’ll always catch you Lena.’

Lena made a sound that was somewhere between a laugh and the yelp of a puppy being stepped on.

‘I actually wasn’t sure this time. You have… not been entirely yourself recently.’

‘What do you-?’

And finally Kara seemed to realise where they were and what she was doing. Her eyes widened, and for a moment Lena was afraid that the realisation would cause Lex’s barrier to snap back into place and they’d both plummet to their deaths after all. She cursed herself for not insisting that Kara fly them down immediately and tried to calculate whether they could keep their balance on one of the narrow window ledges if they could get to it before Kara’s flight cut out.

But rather than tumbling from the sky, Kara stared back at Lena with a pained expression and eyes rapidly filling with tears of her own.

‘Lena… you saved me.’

This time her laugh sounded more like a real one, if slightly hysterical with the potent cocktail of adrenaline and relief still pumping through her system.

‘Given our current situation, I’m pretty sure that’s my line. Kara, you just threw yourself off a building for me when thirty seconds ago you had no access to your powers. How did you know you were going to fly?’

‘I didn’t. I-’

The truth seemed to catch up with Kara then, and she shook her head in wonder at what had just happened.

‘I really, really didn’t. I just knew that I couldn’t let you fall.’

It was the purest, most sincere declaration of love that Lena had ever received, and she had no idea how to process it in this moment.

She wanted to tell Kara that she would jump off a building for her too.

That she would bend the laws of nature and unravel the very fabric of the universe.

That there was no line in any reality she would not cross, and while she never, ever wanted to hurt another person, if it came down to it she would choose to let the rest of the world crumble to dust if it meant that Kara would be safe.

The words burned inside her heart, but they were too big, too intense to be allowed out into the open air, especially when Lena was still reeling from their near brush with death, and in the end all she managed to get out was:

‘Now who’s the marshmallow?’

Kara smiled into her eyes, infinitely gentle in spite of her newly restored muscles of steel.

‘Still you.’

‘Honestly, I can’t even argue with that right now. I really want to be mad at you for jumping off a building again, but I am just so, so glad not to be a red stain on the sidewalk.’

Kara gathered her in a little closer against her chest, protective even now the danger was past.

‘Me too.’

‘HEY! If you two don’t get your asses back up here so I can hug you for not being dead RIGHT NOW, I’m going to kill you both!’

They looked up to see Alex glaring down at them from the edge of the roof, gesturing emphatically with one hand while the other held the railing in a white knuckled grip.

‘Oh, right, oops! BE RIGHT THERE!’

Kara began to rise easily back up the way they had come, and in another few seconds Lena found her feet on firm ground and she and Kara were being hugged so tightly that the air was squeezed from her lungs. There was no room to draw another breath to replace it, but still she never wanted the moment to end, because this was everything she had always wanted and never had, and she knew that no matter who she was born to or who raised her, this was her family now.

‘Alex, I can’t believe you’re here. How are you here?’

Alex shrugged, flashing a grin that was half cocky, half guilty.

‘I followed you. Well. Technically I had a drone follow you. I’ve had one in place since our text conversation last night actually, because I could see you were too much of a stubborn ass to back down, and I at least wanted to be there give you some back up if things went badly. So when I saw you sitting up here for no apparent reason I had a hunch that it was somewhere worth being. I’ve been hiding behind your solar panels for hours waiting for something to happen. I was sure you were going to find me when you started pacing, we were practically face to face at one point.’

‘Well, I was a little distracted.’

‘Yeah, no shit. And then Kara showed up and I damn near broke cover to get her the hell out of here, and maybe chain her to a radiator for real this time.’

‘Hey!’

‘Sorry Kara, but it was for your own good. You could have been killed.’

‘So could Lena.’

‘I know. I can’t even imagine what I’d have done if anything happened to either of you. Lex so nearly shot you, and then you both fell…’

Alex shuddered at the memory of watching them plummeting over the edge of the roof, but something else in what she said caught in Lena’s mind – the missing piece that had been niggling at her ever since they had touched down.

The last thing she had been aware of before she fell was the ringing gun shot, and a spattering of blood. She had thought in that brief, chaotic moment that she must have been the one who had been shot and was just too much in shock to feel it yet, but here she was, completely unharmed, along with a very definitely not shot Alex and Kara.

Which meant…

‘What about Lex? What happened up here after I fell?’

The happy relief dropped from Alex’s expression, and her gaze slid over Lena’s shoulder to the expanse of rooftop behind her.

Dread pooled in Lena’s stomach.

Had she been keeping her back to it on purpose? Knowing, on some subconscious level, that she didn’t want to see what was there?

But she had to see now.

Lena turned slowly, and was confronted the thing she should have noticed as soon as they had regained the roof, despite the gathering darkness around them.

Lex lay spread-eagled in a spreading pool of blood, a hole no bigger than a dime in his shirt showing where the bullet had passed through him.

Such a tiny thing to end such a big life.

Lena’s legs felt numb as she left Alex and Kara and went to kneel beside her brother, though whether from her recent near-death experience or the sight before her she couldn’t have said for certain. She reached out a tentative hand to check for a pulse at his throat, but there was nothing to find.

He was gone.

She closed her eyes, and a single tear seeped from beneath her lashes to roll down her cheek, a traitorous admission of the grief she was trying so hard not to feel.

Even though she had tried to kill him twice now and had come here with the intention of doing it a third time, it was still hard to believe that Lex could ever really die. He had been such a permanent presence in Lena’s life since early childhood, first as her champion and role model, then as the dark shadow reminding her of all she must never become. She felt strangely untethered without him, as if a strong breeze might just blow her away to scatter to the winds like the seeds of a dandelion clock.

Somewhere in the background she was vaguely aware of Kara saying her name like she was about to come over, only to be stopped by Alex, their murmured voices dropping just too low to make out the words as they – presumably – argued about whether they should join her or give her time to say goodbye alone. She tuned them both out and instead took Lex’s still-warm hand in hers, allowing herself just this one moment of weakness.

I’m sorry it came to this big brother.

The pool of blood around him looked black in the gathering night, as if all the darkness was leaking out of Lex to leave him in death as the boy he once was, and the man he could have been if only he hadn’t let hatred and resentment take him over.

There was so much blood.

It had reached Lena’s knees now, and she could feel the wet stickiness of it soaking into her slacks, but she didn’t try to move away. It didn’t matter. She would never wear them again after this anyway.

She stayed where she was until it was too dark to easily distinguish the blood from the roof surrounding it, or to make out how unnaturally still Lex was lying, as if he might be merely unconscious after all. The idea sent a ripple of unease through her, for all Lena knew it wasn’t true. She sat back on her heels to put a few more inches between them, and became aware of someone else nearby. Her movement must have been taken as a sign that she was done with her silent vigil, because a hand came to rest gently on her shoulder, and she glanced up to find Alex standing over her.

‘I’m sorry Lena.’

‘Don’t be sorry. You saved Kara.’

‘YOU saved Kara. I was trying to save you. I saw Lex aiming at you about to pull the trigger, and I couldn’t let it happen, so I killed him before he could. I’m not sorry I stopped him from shooting you, but he was still your brother, and now he’s dead because of me. I understand if you don’t feel like you can be friends with me anymore after this.’

Lena turned away from the slack, lifeless features of the man who had once been her greatest hero to focus instead on Alex’s tear stained face, grim and still slightly spattered with Lex’s blood. She laid his hand carefully back down by his side, and rose to stand beside Alex.

‘I knew Lex had to die. He was my big brother and part of me will always love him for who he once was to me, but he was never going to stop no matter how securely he was locked away. Killing him was the only option, I knew that when I came up here, and I was prepared to do it. But then... you did it for me. You shot him so that I wouldn’t have to, just like you said you would.’

She met Alex’s eyes through the unshed tears still swimming in her own.

‘Thank you.’

Alex made a soft sound that was almost a whimper and pulled Lena into another tight hug, the motion pressing her face hard into to the armoured vest of her friend’s tactical gear, but she didn’t care. She hugged Alex back just as fiercely, pouring all her gratitude and relief into the embrace.

‘Guess I have two little sisters now, huh? Or... maybe that should be sister in law…?’

Lena’s cheeks heated and she broke the hug to give Alex a stern frown, but she couldn’t help ruining the effect with a slight watery grin at the implication.

‘It is way too soon for that kind of joke Danvers. You know Kara and I have a lot to talk about...’

Her gaze drifted up to where Kara was silhouetted against the full moon, evidently reveling in her newly regained power of flight as she gave them space to clear the air over Alex’s role in her brother’s death, and (hopefully) resisted the urge to practise her super hearing by listening in on their exchange.

‘I’ll take being your sister though. Whatever else happens next, you’re my family, and I don’t want that to change.’

Alex gave her a warm, genuine smile, then reached over to ruffle Lena’s windswept hair like she was an unruly puppy.

‘You know this means you’re going to be Lulu forever now, right?’

Lena rolled her eyes, swatting Alex’s hand away from her head more forcefully than she would have with any other friend, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that it would be taken as the gesture of affection she intended it to be.

‘Urgh, fine. But if anyone apart from you calls me that, I break their fingers.’