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muddyorbsblr · 10 months ago

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would've could've should've pt1

See my full list of works here!

Part of the 500 Follower Celebration Requested by: Anonymous

Summary: A careless comment from Thor calls into question the stability of your relationship with Loki

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Word Count: 3.5k

Warnings: 18+ | mature themes; the slightest bit of steam toward the beginning; angst; Tony and Thor having a very much "bro" type attitude and not in the good way; hinting at Reader's emotional baggage; the slightest mention of human experimentation [let me know if I missed anything!]

Things to be aware of: established but private/secret relationship; Reader's baggage will be explained further in part 2

There was something rather peaceful in the routine you and Loki had settled into when either of you came back from a mission. Decompressing the night before the debriefing care of Rogers that you took bets on how long this one would last. And whoever won would get to pick where to get takeout from on your next indoor date night.

Your last mission was particularly stressful, nearly losing a limb from triggering a booby trap while retrieving intel about potential human experimentation from a HYDRA base. The second Nat mentioned that little tidbit in passing while you were unpacking your equipment from the mission, the god left the common area, raiding the pantry for a selection of your favorite snacks, and queueing up one of your comfort movies.

The one about a woman that hit her head and found herself stranded in a romantic comedy only to realize that her best friend, the one that had been in front of her all this time, was her great love all along.

When you got to your apartment, Loki was already there with the movie ready to play on the screen, and he even went the extra step to open and plate the snacks on the coffee table in your living room for easier access. And the cherry on top of it all was that he brought over one of his sweaters for you to change into, something he'd been doing more and more ever since you mentioned how comfortable they were during one of your missions together where you'd shared a suite.

"You know, I'm pretty sure they're watching the same movie outside," you mentioned, speaking around the wafer stick you were munching on. "Nat just texted me that she has Netflix power considering how this mission got us stressed out to hell and back. Wanna just watch it outside with the rest of the guys?"

The god shook his head, pulling you closer to him. "If we join them outside, then I would be unable to do this." He tilted your chin up and pressed a soft kiss to your lips. "And this is my favorite part," he mumbled against your skin before proceeding to give you a series of kisses, increasing with passion in each one.

Suddenly whatever was happening in the movie didn't matter to you anymore, an army of butterflies fluttering near violently at your stomach as he wrapped his arm around you and maneuvered your positions until you were straddling him on the couch, your knees on either side of his hips. He kept his hand on your waist, holding you steady while his other hand buried itself in your hair before he licked into your mouth, letting out a decadent sounding moan when your tongues met.

He moved his hand to your lower back, changing your positions once again so that your back was flat on the couch, and he hovered over you and between your legs. You leaned into his touch, losing yourself in his attentions, until his hand moved upward, cupping your breast. That was when you broke the kiss.

"I'm sorry," he panted, immediately moving his hand away once he saw the frantic, panicked look in your eyes. "I got carried away--"

"No, sweetie, I'm sorry," you insisted, placing your hands on his shoulders, and pulling yourself up slightly to kiss him, trying to reassure your boyfriend he did nothing wrong. "It's just…I want to be ready, really, I do. And I know it's frustrating for you it's just that…every time we take a step in that direction something in me starts running and cowering in a corner, it's not fair to you that--"

"Please don't apologize, darling, you have nothing to be sorry for." He righted your positions on the couch, delicately stroking your hair and giving you a soft peck on your lips before he stood, offering you his hand. "I think we could both benefit from cooling off a bit. Would you like to join the others outside?"

Despite having offered it yourself just a few minutes earlier, your stomach dropped when the tables had turned, knowing that you'd put a stop to something that could have turned out completely mind-blowing and possibly even life changing. Only thing was, when you reached the peak of a relationship, that was it.

The only way forward was down.

"You go ahead," you told him, walking toward your bedroom. "I'll just change into my sweats first…so no one asks questions."

By some miracle, no one on the team had caught on yet that you two had started seeing each other and had been in a relationship for the better part of the year. And neither of you seemed to be itching to burst your little bubble of privacy quite yet, knowing that the second the team knew, Wanda and Nat would be down your throat with questions practically begging for every detail. And Thor would be doing much of the same for his brother.

At least that was the story you tried to tell yourself. It was better than what that little voice in your head tried to scream at you every time he didn't take the seat next to you. Or when he'd drop your hand and take a few steps back the second he heard someone rounding the corner.

Loki gave you a strained smile, starting to walk toward your front door. "I'll see you outside then." Before you could reach your bedroom, he called out to you. "I love you, little mortal."

You blinked back the tears that were threatening to come out, looking back at him with a contrived smile of your own. "I love you, too, Mischief."

A good few minutes passed before you exited your apartment, the movie paused on the TV and a rather lively discussion being had among your teammates. Something about Barnes' new girlfriend.

"Oh good you're here, jellybean, welcome to the circus," Tony greeted you, jutting his chin toward the empty seat next to Wanda. "Need your input on something."

Instead of taking the seat, you walked over to the bar to pour yourself a glass of wine. You had a feeling you were gonna need it. On your way there, you spotted Loki seated near his brother, giving you a minuscule smile and a tiny wave of his hand.

"Go ahead, I'm listening," you called out.

"Stark's trying to tell me the woman I'm seeing isn't all that interested in me because she doesn't want to spend the night," Bucky started. "Said she's just with me for the aesthetic of dating me, whatever backwards 21st Century nonsense that is. I'm trying to tell the rest of these horn dogs that maybe she's just not ready yet. Good things take time. Flowers need to blossom--"

"Sarge, don't ever say that line again, it's so cheesy you'll attract rats in here," you shot back, pointing your finger at the soldier before turning toward Stark. "That said though…I'm with Bucky on this one, Stark. Maybe she's just not ready yet I mean…not everyone's ready to drop trou and put out so easily, you know. How long have you been dating this girl anyways?" You turned back to Bucky as you asked the question.

"Three weeks? Give or take?"

"Dammit Stark, it's only been three weeks, give our boy some time." You made a show of facepalming before you picked up your glass, plopping down next to Wanda who immediately rested her head on your shoulder.

"They've been at this for the last ten minutes," she groaned. "Wake me when they put the movie back on." Meanwhile, you clocked Nat next to her, not so subtly massaging her temples in an attempt to calm herself down. You shared the feeling; this was such a common sense discussion it shouldn't have lasted thirty seconds.

"Well then perhaps you could provide some insight for another situation, Lady Y/N," Thor boomed from across the floor, swatting his brother's hand away when he tried to get the blond Asgardian to stop.

"Brother you really need not--"

"Nonsense. Lady Y/N seems knowledgeable on how timetables and relations between mortals work, perhaps she'll finally give the perspective I have been seeking."

Your boyfriend shot you a look, as if he was already embarrassed by what his brother was about to say, piquing your curiosity even more. "I'm all ears, Thunder. Ask away."

"My brother has been seeing a mortal woman for the better part of the last Midgardian year. My best estimate…eight moons," he began, your stomach once again dropping at the realization that he was about to ask your insight about…yourself. You gave him a motion to go on, placing your glass on the table to hide the way your hand had begun to shake. "And while it has been as you here on Midgard would say 'like pulling teeth' trying to get him to divulge any detail about her, something I have surmised is that she also seems unwilling to spend the night with him. Yet he claims they love each other."

"Yikes, tough break, Reindeer Games!" Tony winced. "My two cents? You're not just on the same boat with Barnes over here, you're the goddamn captain of the ship. Go on, jellybean, tell him."

"I-I…" you stuttered, your heart thundering in your chest from unwittingly having been placed on the proverbial hot seat. "Maybe she just…wants to be sure, you know? I mean…I don't know how y'all do it in Asgard but here, with some people, being intimate is…something m-more than physical."

You could see from where you sat that the raven-haired god's fingers were twitching, his leg bouncing as if he wanted to stand up and leave the room. You pretty much wanted out of this, too.

Thor waved off your explanation. "I completely disagree. That amount of time passed, I believe one should be sure lest she be wasting both of their time. Brother, much as I can tell you love this mortal, it is my expert opinion, which I believe will be backed by the men in this room, that your mortal woman does not love you. This is, as our genius friend Stark has stated earlier, all for the optics of having you at her arm."

It was getting impossible to breathe. How dare he say that about you right in your face like this? Thinking he knew everything there was to know about your relationship just because he was in one of his own?

"You know not the first thing about her, Brother," Loki hissed, speaking through his teeth as if he was readying himself to strike.

"I know enough," the blond Asgardian shot back dismissively. "You know I think the world of you, Brother, and after everything you've endured, you deserve every bit of happiness this universe will grant you." He clapped his hand on Loki's shoulder. "If this mortal shares not this sentiment, then perhaps your time is better spent elsewhere."

"He's right, Mischief," you choked out, your voice so small you were surprised it even traveled that far that it had everyone looking to you. "Maybe you are wasting your time with this one…you know, if she's making you wait so long." You stood up abruptly, making Wanda groan in protest when she nearly fell over to the spot you'd just vacated.

In what was probably your most poorly miscalculated decision for the night, you downed your wine in a single gulp, starting to walk back to your apartment.

"Hey where you going, jellybean, you just got here," Tony hollered from his seat. "Come on, I know talking about Frosty the Snowman's nonexistent sex life was a drag, how about we all drop it for now, I'll order some tacos and we can go back to grilling Manchie here."

"Or we could lay off either of us and grill someone else for a change?" Bucky groaned, throwing his human arm over his eyes as he turned his face to the ceiling.

"You know what, you are so right, let's talk about the big guy who has a lot to say about being the resident relationship expert." Stark turned to face Thor. "How is Lady Thunder lately? And how are you with the whole your old hammer chooses her over you thing?"

The conversation faded into a dulled roar in your ears as the wine begun to take what fleeting effect it would have on you, your pulse faintly thumping in your ears as you made your way back to your apartment.

You hadn't even been back two minutes before your door swung open again, the God of Mischief standing at your entryway looking a mix of concerned and distraught. "Darling, I completely apologize for my oaf of a brother, I had no idea he would--"

"It's okay, Loki," you cut him off, throwing your hands up as if to push away the conversation. "Maybe he's on to something, I mean you should be with someone who doesn't take forever and a day to be ready for something like this, maybe we should--"

In an instant, he stood inches away from you, placing his hands on your shoulders in a gentle but firm grasp. "Don't say another word, my love, please." He rubbed his hands up and down your arms in a soothing gesture; whether it was to soothe you or him was beyond you.

"You want more, I get that," you pressed on. "And I can't give that to you--"

"You are all that I want, precious mortal." He leaned in, pressing a desperate kiss to your lips before wrapping his arms around you. "I am already more than content that you've even granted me the honor to know who you are outside of our duties. This is all I need, to be able to love you as I have these past moons."

Tears began to fall from your eyes as your words weighed heavy on your tongue. "I'm sure there's someone out there more than willing to give you what I can't, it's selfish of me to keep you--"

"Stop, little mortal, I beg of you," he pleaded, repeatedly pressing his lips to your forehead. "Don't rid yourself of me like this. I don't care if there's someone else out there, they aren't you." He sat you both down back on the couch, cradling you against his chest as his hand rubbed up and down your back in soothing motions. "Please just try to put what my oaf of a brother said out of your mind. His opinion is entirely his own and it is one I do not share."

Your next question blurted out without much resistance. "Loki what if I never become ready? What if you really are wasting your time with me, you shouldn't--"

"Any time I spend with you, regardless of how it is spent, is never a waste," he whispered, stroking your face as he held your gaze. "If ever you decide to share that part of yourself with me, it will be an honor that I will cherish for the rest of my days, but I will never be the one to place pressure on you to move yourself at a pace you're uncomfortable with."

You nuzzled your face into the crook of his neck, prompting him to press a kiss to your temple when you sniffled from the tears you were trying and failing to hold back. "I do love you," you mumbled against him. "You know that, right?"

"Of course I do, my darling mortal." He pressed his cheek against yours, taking deep breaths to calm himself after the scare your words from earlier gave him. He wanted to punch his brother clean across the jaw for jeopardizing his happiness with his careless words, and the stabbing pain it put him through seeing how deeply that opinion had cut you.

He started moving toward your bedroom, carrying you in his arms bridal style. Mostly in refusal to let you go even for a fraction of a moment.

"What're you doing?" you mumbled, making a motion to move out of his arms.

"We're going to bed, darling. Just to sleep, nothing more, I swear."

"Hmph…" you shook your head, the motion making the tip of your nose nuzzle his neck in a slight tickling sensation. "Maybe…maybe you should stay at your place tonight." Your voice was so small, so unsure of what you'd just said. The god stopped in his tracks, his body going rigid and making you immediately regret your words.

"Do you want me to leave, dear heart?" he choked out, his heart at war with himself as it protested against him putting you back down on your feet.

"No," you admitted, lifting your head from his shoulder and showing him the tears that had begun to redden your eyes. "I want you to stay, I'll always want you to stay, I just don't…" Your breath hitched in the back of your throat, almost sounding like a hiccup. "I don't want you to be frustrated because of me--"

"I'm not," he reassured you, resting his forehead on yours. "Being with you like this is more than enough for me. I need you to know this, my darling."

He laid you down on your bed before his clothes changed into his own loungewear set with a wash of his green magic, settling under the covers next to you and pulling you into his arms.

"Promise me something, Mischief?"

"Anything."

"If…and when…the time comes that you get tired of waiting? And you want to be with someone else--"

"Little mortal, not another word." He tightened his hold on you, as if he couldn't hold you close enough. "Please, my love, let's just retire for the night."

"Just let me get this out," you insisted. "Let me say my piece and I'll never mention it again. Okay?"

He sighed, pressing a lingering kiss to your forehead. "Okay."

"If you want to be with someone else, just promise you'll tell me and leave me first? I don't wanna find out waking up one morning and seeing someone else with her arms around you and just waving it around for everyone to see." Your voice dwindled and wavered into barely a whisper, your arm tightening around his midsection, a part of you already refusing to give him up even if the day were to come.

"That will never happen," he told you. "Why would I ever wish to leave you?"

"Just--Just promise me anyway. Please?"

"Look at me, little mortal." He traced along your jaw with his finger, tilting your chin up so he could see your eyes. The sight of the genuine fear of that precise outcome reflected in your expression knocked nearly all of the air from the god's lungs. "On the remotest chance of that happening, I promise I will never do wrong by you. But I want nothing more than for you rest assured that I will never wish to be with another.

"Perhaps one day you'll believe it. But I will gladly spend my days proving my devotion to you. This…This I will gladly swear to you. On whatever semblance of a soul I have left." He brushed the tip of his nose against yours before pressing a tender kiss to the same spot. "I love you, my darling Y/N."

You finally settled in his embrace, resting your head on his chest as you began to let your breathing even out. "I love you, too, Loki."

Just the thought of history repeating itself one day had your blood going cold, feeling as if your very bones were shaking from the images your mind conjured of the inevitable day that Loki would leave you. Somewhere deep inside you knew it was ridiculous for you to even think that your boyfriend was anywhere even near capable of putting you through what he had all those years ago.

But that was the thing about fear. Sometimes it was rational, like jumping out of the Quinjet and having a passing scare that your parachute had a hole in it. And other times it was outright absurd. Like now. Thinking that in the morning after you first had sex, the god would have realized there wasn't anything worth spending more time with. That he'd have had his fill of you and now it was time to move on to better prospects.

It didn't help, either, that your overly cautious mind was yelling that the signs were all there. That it could tell you exactly where this was headed because of the dropped hands. The refusal to even sit near each other. The barely there acknowledgement when you were even in the same room together. Everything that had happened before with him…felt like a mirror image of what was happening now. With Loki.

And you didn't have it in you to tell him that his desire for privacy was slowly and quite surely crushing you.

A/N: Starting off another story from the request pile! This is going to have 3 parts, where both parts 1 and 2 will deliver on the more angsty part and part 3 will be the comfort/fluff. I know you asked for "90% angst", Anon, but hopefully 10k words worth of angst will do it…because part 2 is 6.5k words long 😳👀

everything taglist: @simplyholl @loopsisloops @imalovernotahater @coldnique @loz-3 @huntress-artemiss @salempoe @vickie5446 @athalialaufeyson @lokiprompts @kats72 @kikster606 @asgards-princess-of-mischief @lokixryss @thomase1 @mischief2sarawr @peaches1958 @lovingchoices14 @lunarnights95 @goblingirlsarah @iamlokisgloriouspurpose @creationsbyme @maple-seed @mjsthrillernp @ladyofthestayingpower @mygfloki @sititran @glitterylokislut @ozymdias @fictive-sl0th @lokidbadguy @mochie85 @silverfire475 @joyful-enchantress @elizabethmidnight2017 @holdmytesseract @smolvenger @gigglingtiggerv2 @lokidokieokie @lunarnights95 @superficialdomina @kmc1989 @november-rayne @goddessofwonderland @buttercupcookies-blog @peaky-marvel @lokiified @tom-hlover

#loki angst #loki x reader #loki x female reader #loki fanfiction #loki fanfic #loki laufeyson fanfic #marvel fanfiction #marvel fanfic #mcu fanfic #muddyorbs writes #fic requests #500 follower celebration

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hannyoontify · 2 months ago

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casual - yoon jeonghan [teaser]

member | childhood best friend!jeonghan x fem!oc

genre | fluff, angst and angst and lots of angst, childhood best friends to ????

teaser word count | 1k (full fic est. 12k)

synopsis | throughout her childhood, jeonghan was the one constant in jeong-ah's life. he was her rock and she was his, but there was always an unspoken tension between the two, something that made jeong-ah's stomach flutter and her pulse race. was it casual, like jeonghan said? or was there a possibility of being something more?

warnings | none (in teaser)

notes | inspired from this post i made a while back! bc this was inspired by events that happened irl, i had to make it an oc so that things made sense (like their names) read the fic here!

“You should ask me why we’re in here instead of sleeping like everyone else.”

I let out a sigh that ended in a laugh. “Okay, Jeonghan. Why are we in here instead of sleeping like everyone else?”

Jeonghan immediately straightened his back and turned his body to face me, and I mirrored his movements. The way he looked at me with shining, excited eyes reminded me of the same 5-year old who enjoyed pulling on my pigtails and playing hide-and-seek.

Despite growing a lot in the past decade together, there were still some parts of Yoon Jeonghan that never seemed to change. For example, that mischievous look on his face whenever he was about to do something he wasn’t supposed to.

“Wait here.” Jeonghan disappeared outside and I couldn’t help but smile at his excited, almost child-like demeanor. Resting my head against the wall, I looked up and saw the sloped ceiling decorated with glow-in-the-dark stars.

The door soon opened again and Jeonghan reappeared with a single cupcake, a match, a candle, and two mini party hats. “I know we all got in trouble with our parents today so we can’t celebrate New Year’s, but I still wanted to do something for you. I know how much you love New Year’s celebrations.”

It was true. When all six of us had gotten in trouble earlier that evening because Jeonghan convinced all of us to try and help him set up a booby trap in his grumpy neighbor's backyard involving popping firecrackers, I was greatly disheartened when our parents decided that our punishment would be a bedtime of 9:30 and no New Year’s celebration.

I was particularly more upset than others because my parents had promised me a year ago that this New Year’s celebration would be the year where I finally got to try champagne.

“Jeonghan, I-” I faltered. I couldn’t find the words to describe how grateful I was to have him at that moment.

Jeonghan scrambled to sit in the empty spot next to me. “You can thank me and be impressed later, just put this hat on. We only have a minute left.” He snapped on his own party hat before sliding its identical piece over my own head.

With a shaky hand, Jeonghan struck the match and lit the candle that was stuck atop the cupcake. We had made these cupcakes earlier today, with the help of our siblings. It had always been a tradition of ours.

My family would go over to the Yoon family’s house for the New Year’s and we would spend the night. Jeonghan, his older brother, and I were the older ones so we usually resorted to playing video games, board games, and baking while our younger siblings played with toys or watched TV. Our time together was always fun and a big highlight of my winter break every year.

But two years ago, when Jeonghan and I kissed in the summer, something changed. Our conversations became more stiff and awkward and he seemed to avoid me and my text messages more often.

When I consulted my mother about this situation (minus the kissing part), she had laughed and told me, “It’s because both of you are going through puberty now. It’s okay, it’s natural! Your relationship is going to return to normal in no time.”

Albeit it did take two years and a global pandemic for the two of us to be back on speaking terms again, but I was thankful to have my best friend back.

Jeonghan looked at me with a bright smile as he softly began to count down, his phone propped up against the wall so we could keep an eye on the clock. The single flame of the candle seemed to reflect the hundreds and thousands of stars that Jeonghan held within his eyes. His long lashes fluttered against his pale cheek bone and that tear-shaped mole on his right cheek that I had always been fond of.

“Five… four…” I joined him in the count down, our hands holding the small cupcake together.

I’d grown to accept the fact that Jeonghan wanted to pretend that kiss never happened. I did a lot of thinking and reflecting to realize that it was our silly pre-pubescent emotions that had gotten the best of us in that moment. It never meant anything.

“Two… one! Happy new year!” Jeonghan cheered. “One, two, three!”

11 years of friendship helped me to immediately recognize Jeonghan’s intent when he began counting again.

When he reached 3, the two of us blew at the single candle and the flame flickered for a moment before it disappeared, leaving a small trail of white smoke in its wake. Jeonghan pulled the candle out of the cupcake and I dipped my finger into the frosting and smeared it across my best friend’s cheek.

Jeonghan smiled with a mischievous glint in his eyes before dipping this thumb into the white frosting and spreading it across my forehead. “Simbaaaaa.”

We both erupted into a fit of childish giggles as I tried to smear another glob of dense, sweet frosting onto his face, but he dodged my hand successfully. But because Jeonghan was blessed by the genetic gods and had much longer arms than I did, he was able to reach over and smudge another spot of white frosting onto the top of my nose.

“Ewww!” I cried loudly.

Jeonghan tried to shush me but it was too late. We heard a door upstairs opening, and a pair of footsteps moving down the stairs. Jeonghan and I held onto each other with bated breaths and when we heard the footsteps slowly fade away, we let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“Maybe they’re just grabbing water or some-” As Jeonghan whispered into my ear, the doorknob of the small door rattled and opened, revealing Mrs. Yoon, half disheveled with a face mask.

I clamped a hand over my mouth to suppress the giggle that was threatening to erupt as Jeonghan fumbled to find the right words. “H-hi, mom. We were just-”

“Out. Both of you. Now.”

Uh oh.

PLEASEEE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

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lola-writes · 5 months ago

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One-Eye & the Dreamer

Part 5

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x O.C Aylana Velaryon

Word Count: 1,8k

Themes & Warnings: slow burn, friends to enemies, enemies to lovers, violence, blood, targcest, sexual themes, tension, drama, angst, fix-it of sorts, eventual smut, sexual inexperience, forbidden love, high valyrian, dance of dragons, POV first person

Summary: Aylana Velaryon foresees Aemond Targaryen's fate and assigns herself to alter it.

More chapters

– AYLANA –

in the aftermath, she shines.

blue fire in her palms; bloody roses in her hair.

she rises out of the sea.

nothing burns as bright as she.

The heat was a relentless beast, even in the absence of the sun, clawing at me with its suffocating breath. Sleep remained stubbornly out of reach. I tossed and turned like a ship in a storm until I got a crick in my neck, the sheets twisting into a tangled prison.

Finally, I heaved myself out of bed and stumbled towards the basin, splashing myself with its tepid water. It offered me a fleeting reprieve, but a blessed oblivion seemed miles away.

Resigned, I got dressed, twisted my hair into a messy braid, and approached the wall in the back corner of my chamber. My hands rummaged across the familiar nooks and crannies of its rocky facade. If my memory did not fail me, this is where …

The wall suddenly shuddered in protest as it ground open into a gaping maw of darkness.

Maegor’s tunnels.

I grinned with satisfaction and threw one look over my shoulder before I vanished into its jaws, the heavy stone door groaning shut behind me.

My ancestor, King Maegor Targaryen, had them built as a secret escape route, a spider’s web spun beneath the Red Keep itself. Legends whispered of treacherous passageways, some so narrow they forced grown men to crawl, some booby-trapped with deadly cunning. Some coursed right outside the royal apartments, allowing a hidden person to unravel the darkest secrets.

The darkness pressed against me, thick and alive with possibility. Wind wailed through unseen cracks and rats skittered across the floors. The oil lanterns, flickering like trapped souls on the rough-hewn walls, cast long, distorted shadows that danced at the edge of my vision. They grew scarcer the further I went.

The lower I delved, the cooler the air became – a welcome change. Though, the rats appeared to grow larger down here. Or was my mind playing tricks on me?

I took a right turn, then a left turn, continued ahead forty paces, then turned left again, just as I remembered. It would not bode well to get lost in here.

After what felt like an eternity of wandering the ancient tunnels, a sliver of grey pierced the oppressive darkness. Relief surged through me, and I quickened my pace. The passage widened, and with a final heave, I pushed myself through the opening.

The warm night air washed over me again as I exited onto a rocky ledge overlooking the Blackwater. Moonlight painted a shimmering path across its surface, the sereneness only disturbed by the pulse of King’s Landing’s unseen heart. The distant sounds of laughter, the clatter of carts, and drunken brawls drifted from above.

I started down the stairs, raising my skirts as I went. The lapping waves whispered promises of cool relief, carrying a breeze in toward the land. The water - the singular antidote for my tenacious perspiration – looked so inviting I did not linger to shed my dress, allowing it to pool down my slicked body. The ground turned from rocks to sand beneath my feet, then, the seawater embraced me like a long-lost friend, its coolness seeping into my bones, washing away all the grime, tension and vigil that stained me. My arms churned, propelling me into the moonlit body of the Blackwater with long strokes. The Red Keep, a hulking silhouette against the star-dappled sky, receded with each powerful kick. Its lit windows like eyes, watching me full of judgement. But in that moment beneath the vast expanse of the night, my naked body submerged beneath the water, I was descended into pure, unadulterated freedom. I doused myself in the cool seawater and exhaled with relief.

For the briefest second – no, rather five, I thought life as a common-born would be preferable to this gilded cage I was living.

A low rumble, like a distant drumbeat, sounded across the Blackwater. Thunder? I cast my gaze to the star-dusted canvas, unencumbered by clouds. It would be impossible. It rumbled anew, closer this time, a tremor that sent shivers down my spine and iced my veins.

Then, a massive silhouette descended from the heavens, blotting out the moon with its immensity. My pulse leapt into my throat.

Vhagar.

Her great, tattered leather, stretched taut like sails, beat the air with a thunderous rhythm, propelling her colossal form towards the city. In the ethereal, silver-lit night she was a nightmare made real, a monstrous beauty, a morbid fascination that would’ve held me captive if it weren’t for the plaguing question at hand,

Was she carrying her rider? I wondered. The idea was disconcerting. Though, a strange quiver bubbled through my core as I watched her draw closer.

And closer.

Closer still.

Taking a deep breath, I submerged myself fully beneath the dark, counting seconds, listening to the eerie silence of the depths, until I watched Vhagar’s blurry form pass overhead through the water’s surface.

Once I could no longer feel her thunder, I surfaced, filling my lungs.

The encounter left me adrift in a sea of uncertainty. The cool allure of the water now felt distant, replaced by a chilling dread.

Had Aemond seen me? The question hammered in my skull, a relentless beating that drowned out any remaining peace, leaving me perturbed.

Would that if he was mounted at all? Vhagar might have just been flying all by herself.

But if she wasn’t, what would bring him out at such a time? It was well into the hour of the wolf.

Questions spun endlessly in my mind as I got myself to shore, not ceasing as I made my way into the tunnels.

I decided I would not care whether or not I’d been exposed.

I am the princess, I thought, a feeble attempt to anchor myself. Soon to be the heir to the Iron Throne. I can do what I like. Yet, the words tasted like ash in my mouth.

I could’ve relished the defiance of being seen, a secret rebellion against the court’s watchful eyes. But the consequences were too dire. A single word from Aemond to his mother, and the gossip would erupt into a wildfire, consuming my mother’s claim and scorching my legitimacy.

Shame burned hot in my throat. The risk I had taken, the foolish yearning for a sliver of freedom, suddenly felt reckless.

Stupid fucking girl. My thoughts echoed in the silent tunnels. Why don’t you think twice?

But defiance flickered once again, a stubborn ember I liked to breathe life into.

It doesn’t matter what people think.

The internal battle raged on, mirroring the fight for control in my shaking limbs. Twice, I nearly lost my way, the darkness reflecting the turmoil within me.

Reaching the upper levels, I ghosted past identical doors, taking great care in choosing the one to my apartments.

The silence, only momentarily interrupted by my breathing, took a sudden turn when I passed one of the doors.

“Pass me that, would you?”

A muffled voice came from behind it, and I froze, my heart hammering against my ribs. Without thinking, I pressed against the cool stone, trying to discern its owner.

“You’ve had enough.” Another voice, laced with vexation.

“Not nearly.”

A tremor of recognition shot through me, and nerves played beneath my skin.

“You drink more than a Braavosi Sealord.” Aemond’s voice was undeniable, a hint of resignation colouring his tone, a concession to his elder brother’s legendary indulge.

Words or gestures were exchanged beyond my hearing.

“Don’t be a twat,” muttered Aegon, “You haven’t even touched your cup.”

“I’m not thirsty.”

“Suit yourself.”

The sounds that followed painted a vivid picture: the scrape of a chair, a cup being drained with a heavy sigh, then a collapse back down.

“This Arbor gold has gone sour.”

“Dornish red,” Aemond corrected dryly.

Aegon scoffed. “Figures. Speaking of which, I’ve been told the so-called prince of Dorne graced us with his presence.”

“Indeed,” Aemond replied curtly.

“Cunt. Why is he here, anyway?” Aegon pressed.

“Private business, I believe.”

Aegon groaned theatrically. “Go on, brother, you always know more than that.” A playful edge crept into Aegon’s voice as he creaked in his chair.

“Find another source of gossip,” snapped Aemond.

Aegon groaned loudly.

“Mayhaps an abstemious habit might grant you access to firsthand information.”

Aegon mimicked him with slurred fraternal mockery, but Aemond did not retaliate, though the disdain that oozed from him was tangible.

“That’s why I have you,” said Aegon finally.

“Hmmph.”

“Not to worry, dear brother. I shall remain sober enough to mess with the Strong children.” Aegon rubbed his hands together vindictively, a grin in his voice. “The eldest one looked…”

My breath caught in my throat.

“Exceptionally tasty,” said Aegon salaciously.

Bile crept up my throat to his words, and my revolt was so strong I nearly retreated back into the tunnels, but a prickle of defiance held me rooted. Later, I’d curse that defiance.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that!” Aegon drawled, a cruel amusement in his voice, “I am merely reflecting your own… prior interest.”

“You are mistaken.”

“To even think is to covet, dear brother.”

Venom poured into Aemond’s voice, “Aylana is as significant to me as a whisper in the Dragonpit.”

A strange ache bloomed in my chest.

“An illegitimate bastard styling herself as Velaryon,” he sneered.

I could not bear to hear anymore. I pushed myself off the wall and continued my path forward, a curious emptiness hollowing me, a sticking feeling behind my eyelids. Aemond’s words, an endless echo in my mind, consumed me, to the point that I must have dissociated, for I could not recall how I reached my chambers. I had collapsed onto my bed, the emptiness and a bitter taste of betrayal warring within me, until blessed oblivion finally claimed me.

The press of bodies surrounded me endlessly, a pulsating mass that swayed to the relentless beat of the drums. As I filtered through their celebration, I found myself standing in front of the Iron Throne. Its jagged edges, forged from a thousand fallen enemies, seemed to drip with dark history.

“Your refreshment, princess.” Prince Marius Martell materialized beside me, offering me a goblet of emerald crystal, adorned with gold filigree. His dark gaze remained fixed on me as he took two large gulps of his wine. As I placed the rim to my lips, a choke tore from his throat.

A crimson tide spilled from his mouth, and his eyes wept blood. Panic clawed at my throat. The goblet slipped from my grasp, clattering on the stone floor. Prince Marius crumpled into my arms, and I watched his slow, tremoring demise, infarctions webbing the veins of his throat, his eyes, wide and vacant, staring sightlessly through empty space as his body went still.

I awoke with a heart-wrenching gasp, clawing at my sheets desperately. The morning sun was pouring through the window like liquid gold and birds sang their performances.

As my ragged breath calmed in my chest and reality dawned upon me, terror lingered, its cold, icy hands gripping my heart.

A shiver coiled down my spine. As much as I did not want to believe it, it would be foolish to ignore my heart’s indisputable warning. They had not come to me in years, yet this night I knew it to be true.

It was a Dream – as clear as this room, as clear as my own name.

Something terrible was going to happen.

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krirebr · 11 months ago

Note

For MTT: what if Ransom was actually looking forward to the arrangement, sick of dating and the party scene. When he sees reader it’s love at first sight for him at least.

Chelsea! This was a great ask, but answering it was hard for me. Maybe because MTT has so fully taken over my brain and trying to change it just a little tripped all sorts of internal booby traps for me.

Regardless, I was able to come up with something. Here is an alternate version of their first meeting where Ransom isn't a complete dick from his POV. But because I'm me, I, of course, can't just let these two be happy right away. Even in this alternate, alternate universe.

And somehow, even though this fought me the whole way, it's still well over 1k words. I don't know how.

No Way of Knowing

Pairing: Ransom Drysdale x Reader

Warnings: Explicit language, references to forced marriage and forced pregnancy, angst

Ransom was furious when Harlan and Linda told him. Absolutely livid. How dare they dictate his life like this! Yes, most of his friends had already entered into similar arrangements years ago, but he was doing fine the way he was!

And they were so fucking smug when they told him. ‘Oh, it’ll be so good for you.’ ‘It’s about time you settled down and joined the real world.’ Fuck that.

But. When he got home and had a chance to think calmly about it, without his mother’s resting smug face glaring at him, what was he doing, really? He was inching ever closer to forty and sleeping with random socialites just wasn’t as fun as it used to be. Almost all of his friends were married, so he didn’t really see much of them anymore. He was kind of lonely if he let himself admit it. Would this really be so terrible, if he did it for himself and not for them?

The pregnancy clause was admittedly awful but if you took the narrow timeline away for a minute, he could actually see wanting to be a father. He’d do it right, wouldn’t treat his kids the way his parents had treated him. This didn’t have to be the worst thing.

So he spent the next week going through the binder they’d given him, did what he could to get to know you. You were young, which made him a little nervous, but it wasn’t the largest age gap he’d seen in one of these things, and you were still very much an adult. You seemed intelligent (your fucking test scores were in there, which just seemed like a wild invasion of privacy) and sweet. You had a dog, which wasn’t ideal, but at least it was small, so he hoped he’d be able to tolerate it.

All in all, you didn’t seem like the typical society fare that Linda liked to parade in front of him. He dared to hope that that would hold true once he met you. That opportunity came faster than he was ready for. Just a week after he’d signed the papers, he was sitting in a restaurant, waiting for you. He already had his Macallan 18, trying to get some liquid courage before you appeared.

You were a few minutes early and seemed surprised but pleased that he was already there. He stood up as you approached the table, partly to be polite and partly to get a better look at you. You were beautiful. Gorgeous. It was shocking, really, the way you took his breath away. That’d never happened before.

“Hi,” you said softly as you stood opposite him and extended your hand, then gave him your name.

“Hi,” he said, somewhat stupidly. He swallowed and tried to pull himself together. “I’m Ransom,” he said. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too,” you said, cautiously, as you sat across from him and he sat back down. “Have you ordered yet?”

He shook his head, “Just a drink. I’m ready to order food whenever, but I’m in no rush.”

You nodded and after you briefly looked at the menu, he signaled the server over. He couldn’t stop watching you as you ordered. You asked a lot of questions about their wine selection. It seemed like you knew what you were talking about. He found himself wanting you to tell him all about it, how you knew so much, why you liked it. He just wanted to listen to you.

Once the server was gone, you looked over at him warily. You were so nervous. He wanted to reach across the table and gently hold your hand, but he wasn’t sure how it’d be received. “So,” you said carefully, “I guess we should talk about how this is going to go.”

He nodded, a little disappointed that you wanted to get down to business straight away. He wanted to just talk, get to know you, take some time, but he supposed that he couldn’t blame you for wanting to get the hard parts out of the way. “I have a house,” he said, “just outside Boston. I think you’ll like it. It’s big, in a good neighborhood, quiet. But I’m not sure how suitable it will be for starting a family. That’s something we’ll have to talk about once you’ve seen it.”

You looked at him, shocked. “Start a family? Don’t you think you’re getting ahead of yourself? We’ve only just met.”

The bottom dropped out of his stomach. Oh no. “Didn’t they tell you? You didn’t read the contract?” There was no way. They couldn’t have been that cruel.

He could see the panic rising in your eyes. “They didn’t give me any time to read it,” you said, your voice wavering. “What didn’t they tell me?”

Fucking shit. How could they have done that to you? And now he had to be the one to break the news. He cleared his throat and tried to speak calmly, gently. “There's a clause in the contract. We’ll need to conceive a child within the first year.”

“What.” you whispered.

He didn’t say anything, wanting to give you time to process. And he was afraid that if he tried to speak right now, his voice would come out far too angry. He needed to find out who was responsible for this, who had treated you so terribly.

“A baby,” you breathed. “With you? Right away.”

“They should have told you. Talked to you about it. I’m so sorry, you shouldn’t have found out this way.” He wasn’t sure you heard him. You just stared straight ahead.

That, of course, was when the server brought out the food. The sound of your plate hitting the table right in front of you seemed to bring you back to the here and now. You looked down at it and shook your head and then looked back at him. “I don’t think I’m very hungry,” you said.

“That’s fine. We–”

You stood up, interrupting him. “I’m sorry,” you said, both your voice and body very stiff, “but I need to go.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, desperate to get you to change your mind, to fix this. “I’d really like you to stay, so we can have a chance to talk.”

You shook your head. “No,” you said, your voice resolute. “I can’t tonight. Maybe– Maybe we can talk another time.”

And then you turned around and walked away, leaving Ransom reeling. He would spend the rest of his meal thinking about all the ways he would make this up to you, earn your trust, win you over.

Tag lists are open

@stargazingfangirl18 @drabblewithfrannybarnes @thezombieprostitute @jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory @bval-1 @km-ffluv@texmexdarling @ladyvenera @she-wolf09231982 @citronbun @rebeccapineapple @alexakeyloveloki @dancer3205 @i-can-do-this-all-dayy @thecrandle @lokislady82 @thedazzlingburglar @23skidoosteven @arbesa-mind @samfreakingwinchester @blackhawkfanatic @emerald-writes

#krismas party #ask kris #ransom drysdale x you #ransom drysdale x reader #ransom drysdale #reader insert #knives out #arranged marriage au #drabble #ce characters #chris evans fanfiction #kris wrote something #more than this

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psychedelic-ink · 1 year ago

Text

𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 - 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐎𝐀𝐃𝐊

Pairing: FEDRA!Javier Peña x firefly!reader

Genre: slice of life, smut, romance, angst, enemies to reluctant friends to lovers, TLOU AU, minors dni

Summary: Javier, a former member of the Federal Disaster Response Agency in Kansas City, is haunted by the guilt and violence he indirectly caused by not taking action when he should have. After fleeing Kansas City in the aftermath of Kathleen's violent overthrow of FEDRA, you and Javier seek refuge in an abandoned train in the middle of a forest.

As you and Javier turn the train into a living space and learn to navigate the dangers of a post-apocalyptic world, you gradually overcome your differences and form an unlikely bond. But when your pasts catch up with you, you must confront the demons that haunt you and make a choice that could mean the difference between life and death. Will you choose to protect each other and find a way to build a new life together, or will the ghosts of your pasts tear you apart?

word count: 4.3k

chapter summary: new dynamics, new outlooks. the story comes to an end.

warnings: cock worship, oral (male receiving), ass play, anal sex, spit as lube, dirty talking

a/n: this is the last chapter of this series but there will be an epilogue coming very very soon. thank you to everyone who joined me on this journey and I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it xx

Railhead - The end of a railroad line where trains can be loaded and unloaded, often in a remote location.

You’re proud, to say the least. Looking back at the train, your chest swells with indescribable emotion. The outside might look rusty and dusty—something Javier was adamant about so no one would want to come take a closer look—but the inside was where your efforts truly shined. Through the windows, you catch a glimpse of the plants you potted in old cans you cut into two and one semi-intact clay pot. A fence surrounds the train, booby-trapped just in case someone lurks nearby.

Javier comes out and stands next to you, he’s chewing on a long-stemmed dandelion. His signature aviators nestled above his head.

“We fucking did it. An actual living place,” his shoulders raise slightly, the corner of his lips twitching into a smile. “I can’t believe we actually did it without killing each other.”

You roll your eyes and come to stand in front of him. His eyes drop to your lips, then smoothly travel back up to meet your gaze. You smile playfully as you quickly pluck the dandelion from his lips, closing the distance, you slant your lips together. As always, he’s hungry. He cups your waist and pulls you flush against his body, slipping his tongue between your wanting lips. You groan loudly, your stomach doing somersaults as he tilts his head and deepens the kiss. Every part of you is humming with delight.

But then Javier suddenly parts, and you’re left aching.

“Hey—”

“I got a surprise for you.”

You blink before answering, “A surprise?”

“Si,” he chirps quickly, brown eyes shining. He holds your hand and pulls you towards the entrance of the train. “Follow me, querida. I’m sure you’re going to appreciate it.”

“Hmmm we’ll see.” Javier sits you on the tattered couch and disappears into the makeshift bedroom—your shared bedroom. “How did you even manage to get me something?” you call out. “We literally go everywhere together.”

“I have my ways.” then he adds. “It’s handmade.”

Handmade?

He appears from the narrow threshold, he’s holding a small box, “Here,” he says, placing it on your lap. “Maybe you’ll complain less thanks to this.”

“Charming as always.”

You carefully lift the lid, a pair of intricately crafted insoles catches your eye. Javier watches you intently, his full attention making your heart stutter. The insoles, are fashioned from what seems to be a combination of salvaged leather and repurposed fabric.

“I—Insoles?” you gasp, tears prick the corner of your eyes. You lift your gaze and your brows furrow as you meet his. “I don’t remember mentioning I had shitty insoles.”

“You didn’t have to.”

The edges are neatly stitched with a weathered thread, showcasing the craftsmanship that went into it. You notice the tiny details, like irregular patterns and faded hues, hint at a past life.

Javier grins, leaning in as you inspect your gift. "I found an old leather jacket and some sturdy fabric in one of the abandoned buildings. Thought it might make your life a bit comfier. And hopefully—it’ll make my ears hurt less."

“Don’t ruin the moment, Javi.”

“I don’t want you crying. I can’t handle you crying.”

“Aw, big scary Fedra soldier afraid of some happy tears?”

“Didn’t say I was afraid,” his lips touch your forehead, you lean into the heat of them as he takes a seat next to you. “I just don’t enjoy being the person who put them there.”

“You do know what happy means right?”

He waves a hand, “Tears are tears, perla. I’d rather see you smile and laugh.”

Looking back down, you run your fingers over the textured surface. It’s soft, resilient. The insoles seem to mold to the contours of your hands, promising a snug fit when placed inside your old boots. The scent of worn leather and a hint of dust lingers.

"Try them on," Javier urges, his eyes gleaming with eagerness. He nudges you slightly with his shoulder.

“Alright alright. Just give me a second.”

You slip the handmade insoles into your shoes, a surprisingly pleasant sensation envelops your feet. You sigh pleasantly and your eyelids flutter.

“That good, huh?”

“Oh, shut up.”

Javier watches your reaction closely, "So, what do you think?"

"Handmade indeed," you muse, a soft smile breaking across your face. "You always find a way to make things special," quickly, you lean in, your kiss taking him by surprise. “Thank you, Javier.”

He holds you by the hip, hands gradually moving lower to your backside. A shudder runs up your spine, your breathing becoming short-paced.

“Say my name again.”

“Javier,” you repeat, a bit more breathily this time. He stands up, the sudden movement making your head spin. He’s not touching you anymore. Instead, he’s just staring at you, his eyes like charcoal.

“Again.”

“Javier.”

His hand finds its way to the back of your neck, he pushes you towards him, close enough that you feel the warmth of his breath on your lips. You inhale sharply.

“Where do you want me to fuck you?” he asks. “The couch or the bed?”

“B—Bed,” you stutter. When he clicks his tongue with disapproval, you say, “I want you to fuck me on the bed, Javier.”

“That’s my good little troublemaker. My sweet thorn.” Before releasing you, he keeps you still, his fingers digging into your neck. “Before I fuck you,” he groans. “I want you to suck my cock, baby. I want you to get it nice and wet, want you to fucking worship it. Understood?”

You nod in a daze. Javier smiles, a bit of softness showing in his irises. His hand dropping from your neck, he kneads the plump flesh of your ass. “Then I’m going to worship this gorgeous ass. Does that sound fair to you?”

You swallow thickly, not sure what to say when your head is swimming in deep arousal.

“Yes,” you whimper. “That sounds fair.”

The way to the ‘bedroom’ is a blur of quick kisses and rapid stripping; some part of you doesn’t want to remove your boots, you want to continue to appreciate the insoles he made for you, but sadly, you end up kicking them off.

“Lay down,” you say, taking back some of the control. While Javier pulls down his pants, you suck the skin above his collarbone, tracing the bone underneath with your tongue. A soft whimper reverberates in his throat, dragging your lips up, you kiss his bobbing Adam’s apple. “I haven’t even begun worshipping your cock and you’re already a mess?” You palm his erection, grinning at the way it twitches in your palm. “Are you going to come as soon as I wrap my lips around you, Javier?”

He grunts and grips your wrist, “Don’t start a war you can’t finish.”

You know the words are meant to be a lighthearted tease, but they affect you more than you anticipate. You look down at his scar, almost ashamed at the cruel past that ended up binding you two together.

He must’ve felt it because he lifts your chin, forcing your gaze back to him, “We’re not in a battle anymore,” he reminds you. “There are no wars. And even if there were any, I have no intention of joining when I’m desperately in love with you.”

Love.

He’s in love?

With you?

“I want to witness the beauty the world still has to offer. . . with you.”

Your eyes go wide, your pulse skyrocketing in your veins. Your chest heaves. Love. A feeling so foreign that you thought you’d never be on the receiving end. Love. An emotion so complex that sometimes it felt you were the only one capable of it. Love. The emotion Javier feels for you.

Love. The emotion you feel for Javier.

You don’t say it—mostly because you’ll get choked up if you do—but you do kiss him with every bit of emotion you feel towards him. You breathe him in. Inhale him. You feel his lashes on your skin as he closes his eyes, feel the thud of his heart against your own chest.

Love.

What an amazing thing it was.

And a cruel thing you were only able to find after the world ended.

“Get on the bed,” you say, softer this time. Javier complies, the bed creaking in protest at his weight. You strip down completely. Your underwear and bra left on the floor. You want to be bare. You want to be safe. And you are safe, with him you’ll always be.

“I love this pretty cock,” you mutter, kissing the side. The muscle in Javier’s jaw tenses, his teeth coming together. You lick up to the tip and wrap your lips around the head, swirling your tongue around the ridge. Before he can get comfortable, you drag your lips back down, following the vein that throbs violently under your soft flesh, you take one of his testicles into your mouth. You suck on it slowly and release it, blowing a bit of air over the spit-slicked skin.

“Fuck,” he growls, hips jerking. “Fuck fuck fuck—That’s it baby, that’s it. . . Shit—”

Javier’s head falls back, his dark locks a mess above the white-ish pillowcase. You dip your tongue between the crease of them and flattening your tongue, you lick the underside of his cock. His breath comes in short, fast pants. You take him into your mouth, sucking him halfway until the tip touches the back of your throat. You feel your nipples tightening, your pussy soaked from pleasuring him. Javier cradles the back of your head for dear life, thrusting into your mouth with shallow thrusts. You let him. You��d let him ruin you, you’d let him tear you apart and stick you together again.

A series of moans and groans drop from his lips. Saliva trickles down his length, going down his thighs. Moaning around him, you grip the meat of his legs and push yourself down. He sinks into your throat desperately, his breath hitching when your throat convulses around him.

“Fuck,” he breathes, pushing you off his cock. “I don’t want to come yet but your mouth is too damn tempting.” You look up to him with a grin, he reaches towards you, thumb pulling at your bottom lip. “Next time I’ll fuck this pretty mouth so well you won’t be smiling about it.”

“I’ll hold you up to that, you know.”

“Good.”

Javier pulls the pillow under you while he guides you to all fours. Suddenly you’re feeling too exposed with your ass in the air. You chew the inside of your cheek and look down at the sheets. He flattens his palm above your spine, his hand moving all the way down, he stands on his knees right behind you, his cock wet and heavy above the swell of your ass.

“Just say the word and we’ll stop.”

“No, I. . . I want it, I’m just nervous because I’ve never actually. . .” you trail off, your cheeks flaring at the thought of speaking openly—which is hilarious when you think about it because this man has literally seen the worst of you. “I’ll tell you if I need to stop. Promise.”

Javier seems satisfied by your answer and playfully slaps your ass. You imagine him smiling, stoked to have you in a way that no one else has. He parts your cheeks, you hear the sound of his mouth as a string of saliva drips right onto your hole, Javier hums, and with a thumb, he smears it over. Your breath hitches. He hasn’t even done much, yet you’re already dizzy with the vicious way your heart beats in your chest.

Javier spits again, a pleasurable shudder crawls up your spine. Your nipples tighten. Goosebumps rising across your skin. He slowly pushes in a finger, he stops shortly after, examining the way your back tenses at the pressure. With his other hand, he caresses your spine. It’s soothing and you relax into his touch.

“Wish we had lube,” he murmurs. You hear the rustle of sheets as he moves. “But hopefully this’ll be enough to loosen you up, querida.”

His lips are nothing short of sin. You groan at the touch of his tongue, the velvet muscle swirling around you. He groans at your taste, pulls you closer by gripping your waist. You go willingly. Gathering spit in his mouth, he pushes, your body jolts as he wiggles his tongue inside.

His hand moves down to your clit, rubbing slow circles over the swollen nub. You feel your arousal growing, your body responding to his touch. You moan and squirm, unable to control yourself. It’s too much but also not enough all at the same time. He kisses where he’s been fucking you with his tongue and presses the same finger inside. This time it slides in with ease but he stops half-knuckle deep.

Your body tenses when he swipes over your clit again.

“How are you feeling?” he asks, mouth moving over the plump flesh of your ass.

"Amazing," you gasp, your body tingling with pleasure.

He moves his hand away from your clit and you whimper at the loss of his touch. But before you can protest, you feel him pulling out. Slightly turning, you see him licking his fingers, getting them wet. His hair is a mess, his beard thicker now that time has passed. Your heart swells and your lashes flutter. A beat later, your eyes meet. Javier makes a show up sucking his fingers, smiling around them.

“Are you enjoying the show?” he asks, pressing both fingers against your hole.

Instead of words, a choked-out sound drops from your lips. Your head falls back, your body arching as he pushes them deep.

"Relax, mi amor," he says, his voice gentle and reassuring. You wince at the stretch, but his spit makes it easier, and soon his fingers are sliding in and out of you, stretching you open.

Javier leans over you, his body covering yours. You feel his hard length against your back, and you know that he's just as turned on as you are. His fingers begin to move faster, scissoring and curling inside of you. He moans with you, precome dripping down your back and onto the sheets. Your body begs for more and more and more—

"Please," you gasp, meeting the thrust of his fingers. "I need you inside me, Javier."

“How can I ever say no when you beg so sweetly,” he rasps, chest heaving. “Mi dulce perla.”

He pulls his fingers out of you and you feel a sudden emptiness. But it's quickly replaced as he lines himself up with you and slowly begins to push into you. You gasp as he stretches you wide, he stops mid-thrust, waiting for you to adjust. Slack-jawed, you feel sweat beading at your temple. Javier finds your clit again, playing with it until you’re a soaking mess over his fingers, your body squeezing him tight. A loud groan trembles within his chest and he rocks forward, his cock filling you completely.

“Fuck, you feel amazing,” he says, voice hoarse. “I could go on like this all day long—until the day I die.”

You want to quip back at him, maybe mention that there’s no way he can go that long, but you lack the ability to form sentences. An elongated groan slips past your lips instead and you swear he smiles, without even looking you can sense the mischievous smile curling at his pretty, plush lips.

Javier starts thrusting into you, slowly at first and then building up speed. His hands caress your body, over your back, and down your hips. You can hear the sound of his lower abdomen slapping against your ass, along with both your moans filling the air. His cock hits all the right spots inside of you, sending jolts of pleasure through your body. You grip the sheets, desperate for something to hold onto as he hammers into you, the wet sounds growing and growing with every move.

You feel a sudden intensity building within you, rising higher and higher with each thrust of Javier’s hips. He lets out a low growl, his grip on your hips tightening as he pounds into you harder. You can’t help but moan loudly You’re feeling overwhelmed but in the best way possible.

Javier leans down and whispers into your ear, “You look so fucking sexy like this, taking my cock in your ass. You enjoy it don’t you—my sweet filthy girl.”

His words, along with his cock pounding into your tight hole, send you over the edge and you come with a loud cry, your entire body trembling. Your clit throbs as your cunt squeezes around nothing, pulsing viciously as your orgasm is ripped away. You clench around him and Javier’s movements become erratic. Suddenly, he stills, his body tensing as he reaches his peak. You feel him release inside of you, filling you up as he continues to thrust into you, prolonging his orgasm. Your eyes roll and your lids flutter, your own release washing over you as you come undone with him. He stays buried inside, both of you panting and catching your breath, until he finally pulls out.

Javier collapses onto your back, his chest heaving as he catches his breath. You both lie there for a few moments, basking in the aftermath. He eventually pulls out of you and you move to lay on your side, feeling his spent trickling down the back of your thighs, you face each other.

He strokes your cheek gently, looking into your eyes with a tenderness that makes your heart flutter. “You were amazing, mi vida,” he says, still trying to catch his breath.

You smile back at him, “So were you,” you reply, running your fingers through his hair. “Though sadly, I don’t think we can do that again for a while. I’m going to be feeling it for days.”

Just as he opens his lips, a sudden chill settles over your sweat-slicked body and his eyes drop down to your naked body with worry. “Are you cold?”

“A bit,” you admit unwillingly. You slightly stir, attempting to reach for the blanket. “Winter is finally coming, huh?”

Javier leans in and kisses you softly, his lips moving against yours in a slow, loving dance. You feel a warmth spread through your body, then you feel it on the outside as he reaches down, grabbing the blanket for you.

“It is.”

“Is there a reason we’re outside in the middle of the night?” you grumble, hugging yourself, you follow Javier’s footsteps. “It’s fucking freezing.”

The crisp night clings to your skin, freezing everywhere it touches. You miss the heat of your shared bed, the heat of another body against yours. With narrowed eyes, you glare at the man who is not slowing his steps. Javier takes your hand into his own, forcing you to move faster. He’s been secretive ever since he woke you—and it was definitely not pleasurable to be waken up in the middle of the night, especially in this day and age.

“Javierrrrr,” you whine, throwing your head back. “It’s cold. . .”

“You’ll thank me, I promise.”

“Fine. I trust you,” you chew on your bottom lip and smile. “But mainly because you made me new insoles.”

He turns to you, eyes round and simply adorable, “Are they keeping you warm?”

“They are.”

The two of you continue your journey through the night, and as you walk, Javier's hand remains firmly clasped around yours. The crunch of leaves beneath your feet echoes in the quiet darkness, a lullaby that once again makes you wish you were in bed instead.

After what feels like an eternity, Javier leads you to a small clearing. Your eyes go wide when you notice the soft silver beams cascading onto the patch of ground underneath The air is still, and the world seems to hold its breath, the only sound being the faint rustle of leaves.

Your breath catches as you step into the open space, your hand slipping away from Javier’s. A field of flowers had bloomed in various shades, their slender stems standing proud. The delicate petals reflect the silvery light. They remind you of stars, their petals pointed instead of round like you’re accustomed to.

A gasp escapes your lips, and a radiant smile spreads across your face. Your head snaps to Javier, "What are these?" you ask.

Javier's gaze shifts from the flowers to you, and in that moment, the world fades away.

“I have no idea what they are,” he answers, finger moving over his bottom lip. “But they only bloom at night.”

Your heart swells, “They’re beautiful. Thank you”

He steps closer, his fingers gently tracing the curve of your cheek. "Don’t mention it,” he brushes your lips together, the warmth of his breath making your melt into the earth. “Besides, they’re pale compared to you.”

“No need to charm me further,” you grin. “You already have me.”

“Do I now?”

“You do.”

As you share a tender kiss, the first snowflake falls. Then another. The world quiets down, and as you pull away, you notice the first snowflakes gently falling around you. Breaking away you both look at each other, then up to the sky.

It's here – winter has finally arrived.

Surprisingly, despite the cold, you've never felt warmer. In that simple kiss and under the falling snow, there's a magic that makes everything feel just right.

The day was warm, the sun bright. Small petals flew further away from the green grass, colorful flowers moving left and right with the soft caress of the wind. The grass tickled your bare ankles. You felt lucky to have found some regular shoes. If not you would have to wear your boots that made your feet feel like it was in a sauna. The lovely weather felt like a joke. It wasn’t the reality you lived in, just a mirage of the life before—though even then, it wasn’t quite perfect was it?

Your grip tightened around the straps of your bag. If you listened close enough you could hear the clatter of all the guns you were meant to smuggle in. The FEDRA was cruel in Kansas City. It was like the boogeyman stories but real.

You took a deep breath, your eyes scanning your surroundings one last time. It was like a spitting image of a Van Gogh painting. The world was still alive. It wasn’t infected, it didn’t know about the monsters that lurked on the surface.

Turning around, you continued to walk uphill, your chest starting to ache from both the heat and the constant walking.

Then you saw him.

A FEDRA soldier.

Your eyes momentarily went wide. He wasn’t looking at you, He was fidgeting, constantly looking around as if he was waiting for someone. Worry made a home in your gut. You didn’t think you had the strength in you to fight anyone off today. You just wanted to help the people and get rid of the weight of the guns.

The vest he wore looked like it dug uncomfortably into his chest, his rifle slung over his back, and pistol snug on his hip. You wondered if he would use either one on you—

Your eyes locked on one another.

Your breath halts in your chest, your heart ramming angrily and fearfully against its boney cage.

He raised a sole eyebrow, eyes narrowing. He was assessing you, trying to see how much of a threat you were.

“Who are you?” he asked and pulled out a cigarette pack from his back pocket. “You’ll get hurt if you wander around much, hermosa.”

You swallowed, “I—I’m just walking by,” you paid careful attention to make your voice sound meek and frightened. You lifted both your hands in surrender. “Please don’t shoot.”

He lit his cigarette and made no move toward his weapons. You eyed him nervously. FEDRA was not to be trusted.

“That wasn’t my question.”

“I just want a place to stay for the night. I was hoping to take refuge here for the night and leave first thing in the morning.”

The soldier looked through his lashes and he shielded the tiny flame with his hand. When the cigarette finally came to life, he took a deep breath then looked up to the sky.

“I really want to trust you. You have a kind face,” he said, sounding tired. “But your bag is making me doubt you.”

You froze, “Please. You can trust me.”

“And that’s all everyone needs during the end of times isn’t it?” he asked, not really wanting an answer. “Someone they can trust.”

He lowered his gaze, looking back at you, he sighed. His gaze lingered on you for an uncomfortable long amount. Your feet were glued to the soil, heat blossoming all over your skin. He had a kind face too. In another life, you might’ve even fallen for eyes.

The soldier suddenly blinked as if hitten by electricity, something he saw bothered him and you worried he saw right through you. Saw that you were a firefly, that you were carrying a shit ton of weapons. But he didn’t say anything.

“Go.”

“Go?”

He looked away, “Go before I change my mind. I have someone I need to meet anyway.”

So he was waiting for someone. Briefly, you wonder but quickly shrug the thoughts away. You had a mission.

You mumbled a thanks as you walked past him, your arms brushing in the process. As you left, you tried not to think about the electricity that circulated you, about the brown eyes and the tired look in them—

You tried not to fall for the possibility of a happy ending. Tried not to look for him when the chaos ensued, when Kathleen took over.

You tried.

And you failed. Miserably.

#javier peña x reader #javier peña x you #javier peña x f!reader #javier peña x fem!reader #javier peña au #javier peña smut #javier peña fanfiction #tlou crossover #the last of us fanfic #narcos fanfic #narcos fanfiction

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maccreadysbaby · 6 months ago

Note

the secret keeper talked about Bentley being Robin and Tim being Batman in a different reality, and you showed us Bentley with a yellow and black robin suit looking at ducks Nightwing suit in a case and NEVER SPOKE ABOUT IT AGAIN???

WHERE IS BRUCE? WHAT HAPPENED TO DICK? CAN WE PLEASE GET A TASTE OF THIS REALITY??? PLEASE??? MAYBE WITH SOMETHING ANGSTY LIKE FEAR TOXIN OR POISON????

A Hundred Ways to Become a Wayne Drabbles

tw: general angst and violence? major character death

wanna read the extended fic? here’s the table of contents!

⚠️ THIS IS NOT PART OF BENTLEY’S CANON. THIS IS AN ALTERNATE REALITY MENTIONED BY THE SECRET KEEPER HERE.

SOMEONE WAS BREAKING INTO RED HOOD’S SAFEHOUSE.

It wasn’t an uncommon occurrence for light sounds to pry Jason out of his feeble endeavors to sleep. A dog barking in the distance, some wind, rain drops, a car passing by. It happened nightly, hourly, half-hourly — he hadn’t been able to sleep in weeks. (Since December fourth. Twenty-four days. Who’s counting?)

What was an uncommon occurrence, however, was the fact that the light sound that roused him this time was the window over his kitchen sink sliding open — it had a certain minuscule squeak the others didn’t have — and not a single alarm or booby trap activated. Not a single security measure was tripped, and Jason never, ever, ever forgot to arm them. Not since December fourth.

He would’ve normally been less jittery, but life hadn’t been normal for twenty-four days. The bats didn’t know about this safehouse — Jason made quadruple sure of that. He wanted nothing to do with any of them and they wanted nothing to do with each other. Which meant that either they’d broken through his anti-tracking defenses, or someone else was breaking in.

And Jason’s anti-tracking was really good.

He wasted no time grabbing the key from his nightstand and unlocking the handcuffs that kept him attached to the bed. (That’s what he did on the nights when he couldn’t trust himself, or the pit, or his mind.) He slid out of bed and chambered the pistol he had on his nightstand, silently. His Red Hood suit was on the floor — having shed it earlier in favor of sweats and a t-shirt — and he might’ve had the decency to kick it under the bed if he cared enough.

He didn’t. Whoever was now inside his safehouse probably wouldn’t live long enough to see it, anyways.

Instead, he made for the bedroom door. He didn’t turn the lights on, because that would give away his location, so instead, he pulled the door open as slowly and quietly as he could.

There were sounds echoing down the dark hall; maybe shuffling? And then there were a few thumps. A thud against a wall.

Jason made it down the hallway and into the kitchen. His eyes hadn’t adjusted to the dark fully yet, but he could see a figure standing in the middle of his kitchen. Turning on the lights would blind him, but it would also blind them, and give him a jump. It was risky, but honestly, he hadn’t cared in twenty-four days.

He flicked the lights on.

A moment passed where he couldn’t see anything, but after that moment was over, he was greeted by an all-too-familiar black and yellow caped vigilante. He huffed deeply, his pistol staying trained straight at the head of the so-called intruder.

“What the hell are you doing here, Robin?”

“Bleeding on your floor, actually, thank you,” Bentley replied with a newly acquired bite to his voice — a bite and coldness and venom that had only been there since December fourth.

Jason watched the kid lean over the countertop and close the window behind him. He had to have been — his birthday wasn’t that long ago — sixteen? Jason was pretty sure he was sixteen. He was sixteen and definitely bleeding. From what Jason could see, he had several small scrapes and bruises and cuts, primarily on his face, and one large gash across his torso that was leaking a spectacular amount of crimson. He was breathing heavily, like he’d been running, and was sweating almost profusely. His skin was about four shades too pale. He was moving slow — favoring his right leg — and his domino mask was off. The skin around his eyes was red, and the whites were bloodshot. So, either crying, a bad reaction to domino adhesive, or drugged. Jason wasn’t sure.

He was also… tall. Taller. Only a little. He couldn’t grow that much in twenty-four days, could he?

Bentley’s brown eyes traveled to the barrel of the gun. “Why are you still aiming that thing at me?”

With a huff of annoyance, Jason lowered the firearm. “How did you find me here?”

“Not dumb,” Bentley replied shortly, walking over to the fridge like it was his damn safehouse and opening it, leaving a bloody handprint there. He groaned dramatically. “Why do you only have butter and pickles? They’re not even in date.”

“How did you get through my security?”

“Again: not dumb,” He continued, closing Jason’s fridge and cringing at the handprint. He thumbed at it for a moment before giving up and limping himself toward the old wooden dining table, pulling out the chair at the head.

(If this kid got any more like Tim Drake, he and Jason were going to have problems.)

With a duh tone, the unhappy owner of the safehouse tossed his hands to the side and said: “Get out?”

Bentley glared over at him with an icy gaze, piercing. “Yeah, yeah, I just need a minute.”

Jason, fed up, put his gun on the kitchen counter with a clack. (There was blood on his sink and windowsill, now.) “You broke into my safehouse so you could complain about my fridge, bleed on my stuff, and leave?”

Bentley breathed out, too. “Look, I know you’re not in the mood for this, but frankly, neither am I. So let’s both just shut up and pretend we’re alone, yeah?”

Jason said nothing, but watched closely as Bentley tugged off his hood.

The kid never got this injured — especially not with Tim dawning the cowl. He treated Robin like he was made of porcelain, and this, right here, was a very cracked chunk of porcelain.

Jason, with a huff, moved toward the (bloody) kitchen sink. “Tim doesn’t know you’re patrolling? That’s why you came here to bleed out instead of the cave?”

“What happened to shutting up?”

“Piss off, ginger. You broke into my safehouse,” Jason spat, moving quickly. He ducked under the kitchen sink and grabbed a large, white first aid kit he had there, tossing it onto the dining table with a bang that made Bentley jump. “Stop bleeding and get out.”

Bentley pulled his yellow gauntlets off and tossed them on the table next to the kit with two clacks, muttering something under his breath.

“Why were you patrolling alone?” Jason questioned, taking up a spot leaning against the countertop across the room. After all, patrol had been nonexistent for the last twenty-four days apart from when Jason decided he needed a night out. It was very out of character for Bentley to go anyways. “I thought you were taking notes from the goodie-two-shoes Robin.”

Bentley glared at him from the table, hard.

“Got a lead on a drug deal,” He answered surprisingly honestly, popping open the first aid kit. “Thought I’d bust it. Y’know, instead of staying cooped up in my bedroom feeling sorry for myself like you. Like B. Like everybody.”

Jason’s eyes traveled down to Bentley’s bleeding gnash. “That obviously went well. Be out in ten. I’m going back to bed.”

Jason pushed himself off of the counter in an attempt to retreat.

“I can’t,” The kid muttered.

Jason turned back around with a dramatic sigh. “And why not?”

Bentley’s huffed deeply, bringing the heel of his hand up to wipe at his eyes, blinking rapidly a few times.

Jason persisted. “Why not?”

“I just need a few hours, okay? This place was closest,” He replied vaguely, pulling out a needle and thread. “Just go back to bed. I’ll be gone before you wake up.”

Jason didn’t move, but he leaned against the counter again, crossing his arms.

“Jason-“ Bentley’s annoyed groan was cut off when he, very suddenly, winced in pain, bringing his hand back up to his right eye and pressing into it with his heel.

“Kid?”

“Go to bed, Jason,”

Jason did not, in fact, go to bed. Actually, he stood right there and didn’t move. Just to be a pest.

Bentley glared at him again, hard, and the whites of his eyes were a little redder — his pupils dilated much larger than they had been when he arrived.

Drugged.

Jason scoffed. “Your eyes are telling me that the drug deal went reallygreat.”

“Go to bed, Jason,” Bentley repeated. He’d been trying to thread the needle but finally abandoned it, choosing instead to shove gauze and sutures over the gash that definitely needed stitches.

(Jason pretended he didn’t hear the little, sort of desperate sounding please that came a moment after.)

“So you broke into my safehouse to complain, bleed, and ride out a high?” Jason questioned, snickering lightly. “I think I’d be honored under any other circumstances.”

“It was fear toxin. The new strand,”

The smirk promptly left Jason’s face.

The new fear toxin was some of the hardest hitting stuff Jason had ever experienced on the field. He was also the only one who’d experienced it on the field, hence probably why Bentley was there.

The stuff was like a horrifying, gut-wrenching acid trip that literally almost killed Jason for the seven hours it wreaked its havoc a few months ago. It was less of your worst fear and more of everything terrifying that’s ever passed through your brain, even for a millisecond, ever. He didn’t remember most of it, but Dick said-

Dick… said…

Jason felt a sudden onset of green creeping into his corners of his vision and promptly abandoned that line of thought entirely, lest he need to handcuff himself to his bedframe again. The gist was, it was bad. Bad bad. Psychotic, violent behavior bad. Jason-had-to-be-locked-in-a-cell-in-the-Batcave bad. They-couldn’t-get-close-enough-to-sedate-him bad.

But Jason was a tainted test subject — he had the pit, which added a whole new dimension to the rage. Bentley did not.

So really, there was no telling how this would go over.

“Please, just go back to bed,” Bentley muttered, in this sort of defeated child tone that made Jason feel kind of gross and sad. “Lock the door. Turn your security on. I won’t be lucid enough to leave.”

“Kid-“

“Please? It took me seven minutes to get here. I’ve been here for five. There’s only three until it starts,” Bentley muttered with a sigh, his left leg bouncing under the table. He was peeling off everything from his Robin suit that could be dangerous — his whole utility belt, his gauntlets, his cape, his bow, quiver; by the time he was done, he was really just wearing his pants and shirt. “Please just leave me alone. Don’t open the door.”

“Bentley-“

“Promise me, Jason,” He said with a bit of urgency. “Promise that you won’t open the door. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“But-“

“Promise!”

“Fine! I promise. I promise I won’t open the door,” Jason finally caved with a huff. “But if you start killing yourself, that promise is toast.”

Typically, Jason would’ve passed with a hard hell no — but that was before. Before December fourth. Before twenty four days ago. Before their whole family crumbled and he forgot how to do this big brother shit.

Jason armed the security. Took Bentley’s Robin gear — as well as hidden weapons, kitchen knives, rat poison and other lethal things, like guns — and went back to his bedroom. Closed himself in. And sat.

The safehouse was silent for exactly twenty-four minutes. (Jason wasn’t counting.)

Then he heard footsteps. Just a small pitter-patter, the tiny pat pat of Bentley’s socked feet going down the hallway. He heard them stop at the bathroom. At the coat closet.

Then finally, ahead of his bedroom door. He could see the two little shadows of Bentley’s feet through the crack at the bottom.

There were a couple of tiny knocks.

“Jason?” Came a voice that sounded way too much like baby Bentley from six years ago. “Jason? Are… are… are you in there? Jason?”

As far as Jason knew, when he had been infected, there was not a single second when he wasn’t trying to actively murder someone.

Honestly, he’d prefer that over the baby Bentley voice.

“Jason? Are you in there?” He knocked again, not louder but faster, frantically. “Jason, I think I’m sick. I don’t feel good. Jason.”

Jason breathed in and out, rubbing his hands over his face. (Why the freaking baby Bentley voice?)

“Jason? It’s thundering really bad and I want to come in,” He continued, knocking softly, over and over without stopping. His voice was getting thick like he was starting to cry. “Jason, my father’s looking at me from the end of the hallway. Please-please let me in, Jason. Please let me in. Please let me in. Jason!”

Jason exhaled.

“Jason! Jay! Jason! Please, please, my father, he’s… ah!”

There were a myriad of thumps and thuds that let Jason know the kid had probably just fallen and shuffled down the hallway. It was then that Bentley started screaming, thick and wet from crying: “No! No, father, please! Father- ah! No! Father, no, please! Jason! Jason!”

He began to scream real, bloodcurdling screams from the end of the hall, past Jason’s room. He could hear them through the walls, in his bones.

Twenty minutes of screaming later, and Bentley fell silent.

Okay, well, yeah. Screw this.

Jason only lasted forty-seven minutes before he opened the bedroom door and peered down the dark hallway, toward where Bentley had been yelling from. The old, ugly table at the end of it was knocked over, the tissue box smashed in the floor. There was some blood, there, too, but no Robin.

And suddenly, Jason was slammed in the side of the head with something extremely hard that hit with a clang and sent him careening into the wall. Blood splattered there, and it only could’ve been from his own head.

Without warning, he was hit again, in the back of the head, and he collapsed on his hands and knees. His vision was swimming with black, and his ears were ringing so violently he couldn’t seem to comprehend anything.

Bentley kicked him over, and Jason could’ve swore he saw (and heard the clang) of him dropping — was that the metal legs from the barstools?

Bentley had manhandled the barstool legs off?

A glance toward the kitchen, and the barstool was laying over, the bolts and screws unscrewed with an alarming amount of blood on them.

With a flash, Bentley was on top of him, rearing back with a giant pair of kitchen shears that Jason didn’t even know he owned. His pupils were so dilated it was almost scary. In a reflex, Jason’s fist collided with the side of his head, and Bentley tumbled off into the floor, the scissors clattering beside him.

Okay, so rage Robin was here. He just had the decency enough to lureJason out before trying to kill him.

Bentley made a mad grapple for the scissors, which, despite Jason’s simultaneous effort, ended up back in the kids hand anyways. And then right into Jason’s.

No, like in Jason’s. Like, Bentley stabbed it through his hand and into the hardwood floor on the other side a millisecond after picking them up.

If Jason were anywhere else, with anyone else, he wouldn’t have reacted. But a part of him was so utterly stunned that he let out a shocked: “Bentley!”

Bentley didn’t seem to hear him, but ripped the bloody scissors right back out and scrambled to stand up. Jason forced himself off the floor, too, and hurried back into the bedroom, slamming the door literally in Bentley’s face. The poor kid rammed against it with his entire body weight, but still wasn’t strong enough to really move him.

Jason exhaled sharply, glancing down at his right hand that now had a furiously bleeding hole in it. He glanced up, around the room. All of the things Jason dubbed lethal were in there, so it was, like, the one place Bentley couldn’t be.

Jason’s eyes caught on Bentley’s bow and quiver that were laying in the open on his bed.

He moved away from the door, and Bentley literally crashed inside, leaving a perfectly sized circle hole in the drywall from the doorknob.

By the time his red, dilated, crazed eyes scoured the room and landed on Jason, he had the black and yellow Robin’s bow drawn and aimed at the child. “I would say I’m sorry, but I’m not.”

He released the arrow, and the syringe-tip landed right in Bentley’s left shoulder with a shout of pain and a jolt. The teenager ripped the syringe head out as quickly as he could, making an ugly wound on his arm in the process, but it was too late — the liquid had been drained.

He looked up just in time to make a really ugly face at Jason, before his eyes rolled back, and he hit the floor.

Jason exhaled sharply, lowering the bow from his face. Bentley was now unresponsive on the hardwood, face down, bleeding in various places with a giant pair of scissors clutched tightly in one hand.

Jason worked swiftly — he took the scissors (and everything lethal) and hid them in his closet, then went about moving Bentley toward the bed. He laid the kid gently on the mattress, and, with a small grimace, handcuffed his right wrist to the bedpost where his own wrist had been.

With an exhale, he sat on the end of the bed and turned the tv on to drown out his own mind. The sedative in the Robin arrows lasted for about an hour, which meant he had about that long to decide how he’d deal with him when he woke.

The tv opened to a news channel, displaying a burning, dilapidated building Jason knew all too well.

“Twenty-four days ago, on December fourth, twenty-seven people were killed in a freak apartment complex explosion, including Jolene Collins, A government official, and Dick Grayson, son of billionaire Bruce Wayne. The paramedics say-“

Jason’s ears stopped working when a picture of Dick popped up on the screen, smiling with those big blue eyes.

The tv shattered, and it took Jason a second to realize it was because he’d thrown the remote at it. Bentley stirred at the noise, only enough to get Jason’s attention and distract him from the green. The handcuffs glimmered in the sun that was starting to come up.

How the hell was he supposed to be the oldest when he couldn’t even handle himself?

—

dedicated to @sassenashsworld 💚

—

tag list! (If you want me to remove or add you, ask in comments!)

@fleur-alise @sarcopterygiian @flyrobinflyy @skylathescholar @gayboss-too-close-to-the-sun @xiaonothere @beatyoutothatusernameloser

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queenofbaws · 3 months ago

Note

top 5 favourite until dawn characters to WRITE vs top 5 favourite until dawn characters in general (if it's different)

it is such an important distinction med, and i thank you endlessly for letting me get into it 😏

WRITING

1. flamethrower guy/the stranger/jack: this one likely shocks no one. there's just. a joy. that comes with writing an unhinged, monster-hunting hermit. he kicks doors open. he lives in a burnt out hospital full of Creatures. he's larry fessenden. he's alive in canon for roughly 5 minutes. he's the light of my life. 2. mike: probably slightly more of a surprise because i don't write him OFTEN, but i love writing mike. lovelovelove writing him. mostly because, of the ud kids, i think he's the character who talks...the most...like i do irl??? similar speech patterns, i mean - same tendency to just. say things. that do not make sense. or things that did not need to be said. 3. EMILY: again, probably a surprise because i don't write her much, but my GOD there is a freedom to writing in emily's voice asldkfjdskf she's smart. she's mean. she always has at least three insults locked and loaded in the chamber. she's also the only character in the franchise to say "understand the palm of my hand, bitch." she contains multitudes. 4. dr. hill: gotta be honest here. i went through. a lot. of schooling for psychology. okay. like. however much you think that means? it was like. twice that. and i spent a lot of time - a lot of time - listening to professionals in the field talk in circles and say absolutely batshit things while sagely nodding and giving everyone around them knowing looks, and if i didn't have alan j. hill to channel all that lingering angst into, i might've exploded by now 😫 hehehehehe. i'm only sort of joking. 5. beth: what did supermassive give her? nothing. what does that mean? she can be anything i want, and i don't have to worry over whether or not it sounds believable in canon 😎 lmfao. in much the same way i looove writing jack because we get like. 10 lines and A Vibe from him, beth's a hoot to write for because, like. we know who her siblings are. we have an IDEA of what her home life must've been like...and everything else is up for debate!!!

JUST, LIKE, TO LOOK AT

1. ashley ashley ashley: they could never make me hate you bb. did she handle some things poorly? yes. does she make some questionable decisions? sure. would i give her the world if the opportunity presented itself? of course. look, i just think. she should get to do...whatever she wants. always. as a treat. :)c 2. matt: i am so. intrigued. by matt's whole deal. every second of it. he's a huge part of the prank but he's also hugely sympathetic. he has that incredibly cute moment with ashley right as they get to the lodge but seems pretty chilly (if not downright disinterested in) chris and josh, her best friends. he helps jess through the mines. he holds his own with emily. unless you play him a v certain way, he seems the most interested in smoothing things over between everybody. HE LEAVES. THE FUCKING. HATCHET. AT THE BASE. OF THE FIRE TOWER. i would love to live in his brain for just like...ten minutes. just really figure him out. (i need to write more with him too 😭 he has bewitched me, body and soul) 3. flamethrower guy/the stranger/jack: look. look i'm not subtle. i just. love that weird old man. i just love him so much. if supermassive said 'hey here's a dlc where you go through one (1) calendar day as jack fiddler, it costs $60 and is roughly 1 hour of gameplay,' i'd fold immediately. idk why. 4. josh: there is no one - NO ONE - in this, or any other, game who's so willing to commit so fully to the bit. my man had BLUEPRINTS. my guy had DEAD PIGS. bro sourced knockout gas and fake newspapers and real blood and made voice recordings and an alter ego and rigGED HIS WHOLE FAMILY'S VACATION HOME WITH BOOBY TRAPS, THREW A PARTY ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS SISTERS' SUPPOSED DEATHS, AND EVERYONE STILL FUCKING SHOWED UP. say whatever else you want about him, josh had SOMETHING figured out, man. 5. jess: again. did she make some questionable decisions? sure. do i agree with everything she did? no. but after everything she goes through, after all the tragedy and agony and terror she is put through, this girl still has the wherewithal to grab a shovel and beam a guy in the head with it, and you know what? i respect that 🙏🏻 plus she wore hiphuggers to a party on a mountain in alberta in the dead of winter, and i just want to study her under a microscope.

#samgiddings #asks #queenie rambles about supermassive #ty for giving me permission to ramble medddddd!!!!! 🥰 hehehehe #for someone who moSTLY writes about the four who spend most of their time at the lodge #i do really really really love the others a whole lot 🥺 maybe one of these days i'll sit down and barf out some words that prove it hahahah

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naughtyneganjdm · 1 year ago

Text

On the Run - Chapter 10

Summary: At Bill’s home, the group recuperates and the time they spend there brings back painful memories for Y/N while she deals with the loss of losing her best friend.

Characters: Joel Miller (The Last of Us), Negan (The Walking Dead), the reader (OC, third person), Bill (The Last of Us), Frank (The Last of Us), etc.

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/47007172/chapters/121849411

Warnings: Swearing, severe angst, talks about some heavy topics, etc.

Notes: This chapter was supposed to go very differently, but my brain decided to write it very different. I’m just trying really hard to get this story done so I can say it’s done. Thanks to anyone that reads it.

Trusting two strangers was the last thing Y/N wanted to do right now, but it was all she could do. Sitting in the corner of Bill’s living room, she kept her eyes on Bill who was standing at the corner while both Joel and Frank tended to Negan. Beyond stressed would be how she would describe Bill’s demeanor right now. He didn’t want them there and she wished she didn’t have to be there.

“What the three of you need the most right now is to get cleaned up, wrapped up, medicated and rest,” Frank explained, moving away from Negan to rub his hands together with an unnerving breath. “We’ll get you moved into the guest room where you can get comfortable. Unfortunately we don’t have more than one room, but the bed is a king size and I think the three of you need to get some rest where you are comfortable.”

“We can’t keep them here,” Bill snapped making Frank fold his arms in front of his chest to turn and glare out at his obvious significant other. “We could be at risk here with them here.”

“Bill, you have this house surrounded with booby traps and tons of security cameras so you know what is happening at all times. Nothing is going to get past you. We’re keeping them here,” Frank asserted pointing toward Joel and Negan that were sitting together on the couch. “These two look like they’ve been hit by a truck. If we throw them out of this house and something happens to the three of them, I’m never going to forgive myself. So let’s help them get their things in the house, do what you have to do so they can get cleaned up and then we’ll make them a dinner before letting them rest.”

“Damn it,” Bill muttered under his breath showing that it didn’t take much for him to agree and listen to Frank. Lowering his arms and nodding toward the door, Bill attempted to get Joel’s attention. “Help me get your shit to the guest bedroom.”

With a nod, Joel got up and limped out the door to follow Bill outside to the SUV. Offering up a weak smile, Frank nodded toward Negan, “You want to help me get this one in the shower so we can get his ribs wrapped and those wounds cleaned?”

“Thank you,” Y/N muttered when they worked together to get Negan up. Negan’s arms wrapped around their shoulders while Frank led them toward the stairs. It took quite some time to get Negan up the stairs and down the hallway, but once they entered the bedroom, she assumed they would be staying in she let out a questionable breath. The decorations and the way the room was put together was very classy which surprised her. “When I came into this house, this is not what I expected.”

“I thought the same thing when I met Bill, but you’ll be quite surprised by what he’s capable of,” Frank snickered urging her to follow him toward the bathroom. Once they pushed open the door, they were able to balance Negan against the counter while he braced himself with his hands. “Under the sink there are plenty of towels, razors, whatever you need. I’ll bring up the medical supplies. Have Joel wrap his ribs and help with the wounds when he’s up here.”

“He’s been taking good care of us, he’ll know what to do,” Negan grunted, his hazel eyes lifting to meet Frank’s stare. This was the most coherent Negan had been since they got there. It was nice seeing him have some kind of strength, but it was obvious he was still in significant amounts of pain. “Thank you.”

“Yeah,” Frank stood in the bathroom, his eyes gazing back and forth between Negan and Y/N. Throwing his hands up in the air, Frank cleared his throat and looked like he wanted to say something but it took some time. “I really am sorry for the things that Bill said to you on the phone a few days ago. It was wrong.”

“You don’t have to apologize for him,” Negan grunted, pulling himself up from where he was to outstretch his arm. Holding his hand out, Negan was looking to shake Frank’s hand and it shocked Frank. Accepting the gesture, Frank shook his hand and Negan gave him a weak smirk. “I am going to punch the hell out of Bill at some point though, I hope you know that. Not multiple times. Just once. Really hard.”

“I think it might be justified,” Frank tipped his head to the side with a frown making Negan’s eyebrows bounce up. That wasn’t exactly the response he was expecting from Bill’s lover. “And luckily you’re hurt so he won’t die from it.”

“There is always a positive to things,” Negan noted when Frank released his hand and back stepped. Tapping on the wall, Frank gave them a final welcoming smile before leaving them alone. Looking to Y/N, Negan could see that her worried eyes were staring out at him. Considering the way she was focusing on him, he knew that he must have looked pretty bad. “I look pretty, huh?”

“Fucking gorgeous,” she stammered, her bottom lip quivering when she stepped forward to caress over his face in a tender sweep. “You’re the one person that could get his ass kicked and you still look good. You and Joel look like you’ve been through a war and here I am. With little to nothing to complain about.”

“I’m sorry I let this happen,” Negan frowned, his thumb tracing faintly over her neck where there was some bruising before dragging his fingers up toward her cheekbone where she knew her cut was. “I should have never let him touch you.”

“He was a beast Negan,” she reminded him reaching up to wrap her fingers around his wrist, stroking her fingers over the pulse point. “I know that you would have done anything to protect me. Including almost dying.”

Lowering down, Negan pressed his forehead to hers when her fingers hooked with his. The warmth of his breath lingered over hers making her bite down on her bottom lip when she closed her eyes cherishing the warmth of him close.

“Let’s get you ready for the shower,” she breathed reaching down to start unbuttoning Negan’s shirt and his hands unsteadily reached for hers. Shaking his head, there was worry in his eyes and she felt her heart leap in her chest. At this point, with his face bruised, cut and swollen she didn’t imagine it could look much worse. Urging his hands away, she got the shirt undone pushing down the material from his body. When her eyes gazed over his abdomen, she immediately knew why Negan was trying to keep her from seeing it. Gasping out, she adjusted her positioning to look at the severe bruising that was done to Negan’s ribs, side and lower back. “Negan…”

“No…” Negan shook his head, stepping forward with a pained sound lifting both of his arms to cup her face in his hands tenderly when she started to break down after seeing what his body looked like. Seeing him this way had her crying and that was the last thing he wanted her to do. “I’m okay. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“You need medical help Negan,” she traced her fingers over the discolored flesh making him let out a sharp exhale. Shakily he reached for her hands and shook his head knowing that the last thing they needed was to let people know where they were because he ended up needing medical care. “There could be some internal bleeding, something that could kill you.”

“I can tell you what’s wrong with me Y/N. After playing baseball and seeing the injuries that come from it, I’m very much aware what happened,” Negan cleared his throat, his head lowering down to look at his body. “I have broken ribs, a concussion, a broken nose and probably a bruised kidney.”

“The way you just said that like none of those things are a big deal,” she snapped at him making Negan frown when his stare lifted up to look at her with his fatigued hazel eyes. “A bruised kidney is a big fucking deal.”

“I would have died already if it’s as bad as you think it is,” Negan responded with a frown, shrugging his shoulders when he swallowed down hard. That didn’t help calm her with that thought. “We just have to pay attention to my blood pressure and I’m fairly certain this Bill guy will have something for me to check it. I’m going to guess his house is better than any safehouse we would have stayed at when it comes to your father.”

There were tears in her eyes looking at how injured he appeared to be. Moving forward, he cupped her face in his rough hands getting her to lift her head up so he could claim her lips in a kiss that made her eyes come to a tight close. The tender caress took her breath away with his thumb sweeping over her jawline.

As their lips parted, she nuzzled her nose in against his and felt him wrapping her up loosely in his arms, “I love you so much Negan.”

“I love you too,” Negan replied with a grumble, faintly brushing his lips over hers again making her tip up on her toes toward him.

Jumping, she heard the sound of someone clearing their throat and looked to see that Joel was standing in the doorway of the bathroom after she pulled away from the kiss that she was sharing with Negan. It seemed like he was jealous of the way he found them, but he was holding some clothes in his hands, “I grabbed you something comfortable for when you are done with your shower.”

“Thank you,” Negan gave her one final weak hug before moving over toward Joel to accept the clothing. Setting it on the counter, he started unsteadily pulling apart his pants with a wince.

“You need help with the shower?” Joel offered making Negan grunt under his breath and look up at Joel with a certain expression that made Joel throw his hands up. “I know how hurt you are. I’m not looking to cop a feel.”

“You wouldn’t be able to help yourself,” Negan joked with a snort, winking the one eye that wasn’t swollen making Joel grumble under his breath. “If I ever ask someone else to help me suds my ass it will be a very dark day for me. I’m sure if I need your help, you guys can hear me if you’re in the bedroom.”

“I’m going to keep the door open then,” Joel announced making Negan shrug like it didn’t bother him. Moving out of the bathroom, they both gave Negan his space when they went to sit on the edge of the bed. At first it seemed like Y/N was worried about Negan being able to get in the shower on his own until the water started up and the shower door was heard. “I told you he took the grunt of it.”

“You both look like shit,” she blurt out making Joel snort at the way she said it. “You know what I mean.”

“It’s just funny thinking about it in a different context,” Joel spun his fingers around carefully lowering himself back against the bed. Humming out, he closed his eyes and felt her laying down beside him. “I don’t even care that we all have to share a bed. It will be nice to finally sleep on something where I don’t feel every single spring. Not waking up with severe back pain as soon as I get up will be nice.”

“Honey, your upper back is bruised to shit. You’re going to have back pain for a while,” she reminded him making him chuckle when he knew that she was right. Turning his head with his eyelashes fluttering to an open, he could see that she was staring out at him with worry in her eyes. “Thank you for bringing me here. I know how much your daughter means to you. So bringing us here was a really big deal for you.”

“Of course,” Joel bit at his bottom lip, sliding his hand in closer to hers to hook their fingers together. “I don’t want you or Negan dead. I couldn’t leave you. As fucked up as it is, we’re a team. The three of us. We keep each other safe.”

“Even though you pulled a gun on him?” she pointed out making Joel groan and roll his eyes. “I can’t believe you thought it was Negan that did all of this.”

“When someone dies, you don’t know what to think,” Joel turned onto his side, reaching out to brush his fingers over the side of her face making her eyes come to a tight close. “You were so upset and I didn’t know what to think. It was the only other option that I could come up with.”

Reaching for Joel’s hand, she pulled it from her face and sat up making him frown. Pushing up, Joel noticed the way that she was crying again and he slid in closer to her, “It’s hard pretending everything is fine when I know that Poppy isn’t here anymore Joel.”

“You aren’t pretending it is fine,” Joel whispered, brushing her hair back over her shoulder. “You’re just here trying to figure out what is happening. And we’re going to. For Poppy.”

“I don’t even know what I’m going to tell her parents,” she explained clasping her fingers together in her lap. The ache at the center of her chest grew and she let out a tremoring breath. “Poppy was a mess, but she was my mess. And I’m never going to have that in my life again. I just expect her to pop in at the worst times saying the most ridiculous things…”

A weak laugh fell from her throat when she pointed at the door and let out a whimper lowering her head again. Wrapping his arms around her, Joel hugged her tightly knowing that she was going through things he would never be able to understand right now. But this had to be her way of coping while they were here.

“I’m never going to forgive myself Joel. You can say what you want, but Poppy’s death is on me. I should have just been fucking mature, but instead I wanted to piss off my father. Throw this grand party to make him angry, but he didn’t even care. If I wasn’t throwing that fucking party, she wouldn’t have even been there,” she thought aloud hating that her best friend got tied up in all of this. “I didn’t even want to be there at that party. I wanted to be with you.”

“At the same time I could blame myself that I didn’t allow you to come over that night,” Joel countered hating that she was putting so much pressure on herself from the death of her friend. “There are a lot of factors that led to what happened.”

“You had nothing to do with this. Even you, I guilted you into being there and I blame myself for that,” Y/N thought back to the night this whole thing started on her birthday. More than anything she wished she could go back in time and stop this whole thing from happening. “I just keep thinking about all the decisions I made that led to her getting killed Joel. I should have just left when I planned on leaving the day you stopped me. If I wasn’t around the three of you, Poppy would still be alive and the two of you wouldn’t be this hurt.”

“I don’t think any of us including Poppy would have been okay with leaving you,” Joel claimed with a frown, caressing his thumb over the curve of her jawline. His empathetic chocolate brown eyes were locked on hers and she felt a chill flooding her body.

“Poppy isn’t here to say that Joel,” she painfully breathed out hating to acknowledge that very thing. “I know Poppy wanted to be with me, but Poppy wouldn’t have wanted to be dead. It should have been me, not her.”

“Listen, I know you’re always going to have a hard time accepting this Y/N, but this isn’t your fault,” Joel explained with a frown, stroking his fingers over the back of her neck. “Truth is, this is the fault of the person that wants you dead. And they are going to pay for what they did.”

“He’s right,” a voice rumbled making them both look up toward the bathroom door to see that Negan was standing in the doorway just in a black pair of athletic pants. They obviously got lost in their conversation enough to not hear Negan getting out of the shower. Brushing his fingers through his wet hair, Negan slicked it back and shook his head. “This isn’t your fault. I know you, you would switch spots with her in a second if you could. Whoever did this, I promise you they are going to get fucking punished for it. I won’t let it slide.”

Moving to the bed, Negan sat down on the opposite side of her and rest his head against her shoulder nestling in against her while they both comforted her. It felt nice to have two people trying to make her feel better, but she still didn’t think she deserved this. Both Negan and Joel were too good for her. And she knew that.

Taking some time to calm down, Y/N agreed to take the next shower while Joel helped Negan get his ribs wrapped and cleaned his wounds. Unlike Negan, she closed the door to close them out so she had time to herself. Instead of being quick about things, she took her time. Crying in the shower was an uncontrollable thing that happened, but she was broken. The image of Poppy’s cold, dead body was locked in her mind and she knew it was the one thing she would remember the most of her friend. It was a nightmare that she saw every time she closed her eyes.

Once she was dressed, she pulled the door open and saw that both men were sitting at the edge of the bed diligently waiting for her. They were worried about her. With a nod, she motioned toward the bathroom to suggest that Joel take the next shower. Even though it seemed like he wanted to say something more to her, he listened.

With Joel in the shower Negan did his best to talk her through things and while he was always the best at being able to reach her, this was something that she wouldn’t just get over. It wasn’t that he expected her to, but he was doing his best and with being hurt it was taking a lot out of him. But he was going to comfort her to the best of his ability because that was just who Negan was. And that’s why she loved him as much as she did. There was no one in this world that she could count on as much as she did Negan.

Joel was quick in the shower too and she knew it was because he was worried about her. Still, she was worried about him and they all took care of each other. As weird as it was, the three of them were linked now and together they cared for each other. At the end of the day, all the three of them had were each other to count on and they understood that.

Getting downstairs was hard for Negan specifically and they helped him down for a dinner that Bill had made for them which was shockingly good. Like something out of a high-class restaurant where it was obvious that Bill took pride in his meals. After living off fast food it was incredibly strange to have a meal like this, but they enjoyed it to their best ability. Negan didn’t eat much likely from all the pain that he was in. When their meal was over Bill led them to his basement telling him he had things to share with them.

“Not what I was picturing,” Negan mouthed taking a look around the old items that were in Bill’s basement.

“That’s because you haven’t seen the main attraction,” Bill snickered reaching for the dresser that was pressed up against the wall. With ease Bill was able to push it into a vertical position revealing that it was the top of a hidden entrance that led somewhere lower.

“Well fuck me,” Negan gazed down at the opening in the floor and Frank grabbed a hold of him so he wouldn’t fall in. “That’s fucking awesome.”

“Wait until you’ve seen the whole getup,” Bill motioned Negan down, but there was no way that Negan was going to be able to get down those steep steps on his own. Taking initiative, Frank went first and helped Negan wobble his way down the steps into the bunker that Bill had made for himself. Once they were down safely, Joel waited for Y/N to go next and then he followed her down. Once Joel’s feet hit the floor, Bill was coming down and closing them in. Negan was gazing over the walls that were covered in guns in amazement.

“Holy shit,” Negan’s words dragged out in a slur while Frank continued to hold onto him. “Bill is a fucking bad ass. Who would have known.”

“Paranoid is more the term I think I would use,” Frank suggested making Bill grumble under his breath and frown. Looking back at Bill, Frank offered up a weak smile and sighed. “He’s proud of his collection though.”

“He’s prepared for a fucking war,” Negan inspected the guns that were before him and bit down on his bottom lip. There was ammunition galore and Negan was actually in awe of everything. Moving around the group, Bill hit a button on the computer making the screen light up also drawing attention to the monitors he had of the security cameras that were watching both the house and the small town. Moving around the space, Negan gazed out at the monitors and shook his head. “I think paranoid is an understatement. Holy shit. Damn Mr. Smarty Pants, you really stocked this whole place full of goodies, didn’t you?”

“One day you’re going to realize that this was all for a good purpose,” Bill insisted noticing the way that Y/N stepped forward to look at the multiple screens. There was a person passing the house on a walk and it shocked her. When Bill was a hacker, this wasn’t exactly what she pictured. Reaching out to touch one of the monitors, Bill wrapped his thick stubby fingers around her wrist and stopped her. “No touching.”

“Careful Bill,” Joel warned stepping forward to grab Bill’s wrist himself so that he would release Y/N’s wrist. “Not everyone is used to something like this so they are going to be curious.”

“You were one of those Y2K people, weren’t you?” Negan snickered, bobbing his head about weakly. Even in his state Negan couldn’t help being a smart-ass making Bill roll his eyes. “You have this house prepared for a fallout, don’t you?”

“I’m a survivalist,” Bill corrected Negan’s words, taking a seat in front of the computer that he had set up. “This is a fucked up world and we need to be prepared for anything. And I am. If you knew the things that I did, you would want to be like me too.”

“I can only imagine the things that you hold in that big brain of yours, but I’m not sure I would ever want to be like you Bill,” Negan slurred making Joel smirk happy that someone was giving Bill shit and at least pushing his buttons a bit. Even though Negan was impressed, Joel still knew that Bill had severely upset Negan so he was going to fuck with Bill and get on his nerves.

“Are you going to show us something?” Y/N pondered knowing that it was interesting to see what Bill was capable of, but there was a point to this whole thing.

“You know, I wasn’t expecting all of you to show up today so I didn’t do a deep dive that I think you all may be expecting from me. I only got through the bare minimum to catch up with the whole situation,” Bill declared hitting a few keys bringing up multiple things on his screen. “After Joel asked me to look into what happened at the motel, I was able to pull up security video from both the motel and the club. This Half Moon guy shows up a few hours after you did and he just waits on his motorcycle.”

A video started to play showing exactly what Bill was saying to be true, “With facial recognition, I was able to discover that this Half Moon guy is a wannabe country singer. Popular in certain crowds but is apparently more talented at killing than he is singing. Or should I say was?”

Bill giggled thinking he made some kind of joke when he looked over his shoulder to see Negan’s eyes narrowing at him from where Frank was helping to keep him standing up. When no one else found the joke funny, he pulled up closer to the computer with his desk chair.

“Tough crowd,” Bill breathed under his breath making Joel tense up beside Y/N. Joel tapped his fingers against the desk trying to hint Bill to move along and Bill waved his hand in the air dismissively. “Keep your pants on Joel.”

“After you left the room, he followed you into the club,” Bill motioned to Y/N to look at the screen showing Half Moon following after her. How did someone that big go unnoticed to her. Was she really that locked up inside of herself to begin to even notice him? How did he go completely unnoticed? “From there he just sat at the opposite end of the bar and watched you. Almost came up to you until Negan showed up.”

Shaking her head, Y/N hated that she let this happen. If she wouldn’t have had a fit over Joel wanting to be with his daughter, maybe it wouldn’t have led to all of this.

“Once I found out his identity, I was able to track his cell phone and he got a text from the same number that was interacting with Perry,” Bill informed them, stopping the video when the video camera on the street caught Half Moon going into the motel room with Poppy. It made Y/N let out a hurt sound and Joel curled his arm around her to allow her to rest her head against the center of his chest when seeing her friend alive for the last time upset her. “They reached out to him this time. Offered him the same money amount. Gave him the same address to take the body once he killed Y/N. I don’t know why he killed her friend. He got nothing out of it.”

“He was a sick bastard, that’s why,” Joel grumbled under his breath making Bill gaze back at them and for the first time it looked like he may have had empathy for Y/N with her crying against Joel’s chest. “What about after we left?”

“I don’t know if she wants to be here for this,” Bill muttered, his eyebrows furrowing when he pushed away from his computer making her head pull from Joel’s chest to stare down at him.

“What?” she inquired making Bill gaze back at Frank who gave them a nod. “I deserve to know.”

“After you left, no calls were made to the police. About ten minutes after Joel got off the phone with me a cleanup crew arrived,” Bill declared showing the video where people actually showed up, but then the video seemed to be wiped clean. “Someone with a whole lot of power was able to knock out the security cameras. I’m assuming that your father had someone sent out to clean up the scene so this wasn’t on his record for running for governor. There were no reports on a body matching your friend’s description. Nothing about the fight or the bodies. I think your father found out about your friend dying and sent a crew to hide this from the media so it didn’t soil his name. Because I’ve found nothing on Half Moon or Poppy’s bodies. Not even a peep about the motel room you tore to shit.”

“That’s not what Simon said they were going to do,” Negan spoke up, his head shaking making everyone turn to look back at him. “Simon is her father’s head of security and they said that they would make sure that they would send someone to look into things.”

“If by look into things you mean have this erased so it wouldn’t affect his votes that he would be getting, then yeah, that’s exactly what her father did,” Bill snorted making Frank reach out to place his hand in over his shoulder to warn him to tone it down a bit. “I wish I had something better to tell you, I do. But I don’t.”

“My father cares more about his career than he does my life or my best friend’s life. He has made that more than clear since this whole thing began,” she snarled knowing that the only thing she felt for her father at this point was extreme hatred. “He’s pushed this whole thing under the rug. First it was the group of men that tried to kill us at the first safehouse and now it’s Poppy.”

“Bill, you have to have some kind of idea who is doing this,” Joel pushed making Bill huff and go back to the computer to type some things. “You have to help us figure this whole thing out.”

“I plan to, but what you are asking me to do isn’t something I’m going to be able to do in a few hours. Let alone one day. It’s going to take weeks. You have no idea how hard it was for me to just do what I’ve done,” Bill claimed with a grumble making Y/N let out a shuddering breath. “Trust me, you all need a few weeks anyways. Even if I could come up with something quickly, which I can’t, looking at both of you Joel and Negan, neither one of you is up for a fight. You can’t win a fight looking like you do now. The big one can barely stand and Joel, I’ve definitely seen you look prettier.”

“You expect us to stay here for weeks?” Negan scoffed making Bill look back over his shoulder at Negan who was glaring down at him. Standing up from his computer, Bill stood before Negan and nodded.

“If you want answers, you’re going to lay low for a few weeks here. That’s your only option. Trust me, that’s not what I would prefer either because every day you are here the more you put us in danger, but I agreed to do this and I’m going to do it,” Bill shoved his hands into his pockets, flipping his long hair back with the movement his head made. “Unless of course you want to go back out there and run into things like the giant country singing cowboy killer again.”

“We haven’t had a moment of peace in quite some time. I think laying low here for a while should be fine. As long as Rick is going to take good care of Sarah and Tommy, that’s all that matters to me,” Joel spoke up for the three of them, his throat tensing up when Negan gave him a firm nod. “Bill is right. More than anything, the three of us need some good rest. And Bill took care of the SUV. Here we are going to be hidden and safe.”

After they heard everything Bill had to tell them, Frank and Joel helped Negan up the steep stairs that Bill had built to his bunker. When it was just Bill and Y/N together, Bill reached for her wrist and pulled her back before she could walk away, “I don’t like people.”

“No kidding,” she piped making Bill’s eyebrows furrow while he looked up toward the opening where the three men would be above them.

“I hated the world until Frank came into my life. He made me see things I would have never seen,” Bill confided, his eyes narrowing while he unhurriedly released her wrist. “Because of him and how he feels about this whole thing, I promise you I will do everything I can to help you. I’m not a fan of your father and I know I’m strange, but I do know what it’s like to have a terrible father like that. Someone who never lets you truly be…you. Nor does he care about your better health. I promise I will use all of my resources to help you figure this whole thing out.”

Kindness. That was not something she expected to ever receive from Bill. Especially after the way he displayed himself to be over and over again.

“Thank you,” she whispered standing before Bill not certain how to respond to what he just said to her. Giving her a nod, Bill raised his hand and led her toward the stairs. Once she came up, Negan was waiting at the top for her eager to grab her hand to help her out. After she was safely back up, Negan did the same for Bill and when Bill got to the top, Negan firmly pulled Bill forward making Bill stumble forward toward him. “Negan?”

“From the moment you talked to me on the phone, I told myself that I was going to punch the fucking taste out of your mouth when I finally saw you,” Negan made Bill swallow down hard with the glare that Negan was giving him. Keeping his grasp firm around Bill’s thick fingers, Negan’s Adam’s apple bounced in his throat with his jaw flexing. “But I’m not going to. As much as I want to, what you have down there is pretty fucking cool. You’re weird. Really fucking weird. But I respect you and I like Frank. A lot. So I’m going to let what you said slip out of respect for what you can do and outta respect for your significant other.”

“Thank you,” Bill slurred his blue eyes narrowing when Negan finally released him with a small shove. Gazing over at Frank made him frown and he straightened up his shirt that Negan had ruffled. “I am sorry for saying what I did the other night.”

“No you’re not,” Negan shook his head feeling Joel hooking his arm around his waist when Joel visibly noticed that Negan’s knees were getting weak. “But I understand you.”

“Come on buddy,” Joel urged Negan to follow him toward the stairs.

“Thank you,” Y/N looked between both Bill and Frank, letting out a surprised breath when Frank reached for her hands and gave them a firm squeeze.

“If you need anything, please don’t be afraid to let us know,” Frank uttered noticing the sadness that was still in her eyes. Moving forward, he wrapped his arms around her to give her a hug. At first, she was uncomfortable, but allowed the warm gesture and loosened up in his arms. Having a stranger comforting her like this was not something she thought she would be okay with but there was something extremely soothing about Frank. “We’re here for you.”

Closing her eyes, she felt the same energy from Frank that she often felt from Poppy making her let out a hurt sound. Hearing her crying alerted Frank to squeeze her harder in his arms hushing her when she got emotional. Getting the empathy from Frank felt different than being around Negan or Joel. When she pulled back, it was hard to hide that she was crying and she reached up to wipe at her eyes with the back of her hand.

“I’m sorry for getting tears on your shirt,” she realized that Frank’s shirt was wet and he waved his hand about in the air.

“I’ve gotten much worse on my clothes before darling,” Frank winked making her smirk before heading for the stairs. “You know where to find me if you need me. Last door on the right. Any time of the night. I’m always ready to talk.”

Heading upstairs, she knew that this would take some getting used to, but she was almost happy that Frank was here. He reminded her of Poppy and while it hurt to be around someone like that, it kept the image of Poppy alive in her head for her. That’s what she needed the most right now and Frank was helping deliver that.

For the next few weeks, they lived at Bill’s home. The first few days were all about getting rest for them. More so for Joel and Negan. They were the ones that needed the rest. Sharing a king-sized bed with the two of them she thought would be more uncomfortable, but it wasn’t. Joel slept on one side and Negan the other with her in the middle. Jealousy didn’t seem to exist with the two of them while they were at Bill’s after that first day. They were a team and it seemed like both men seemed to understand that. Then again, there wasn’t much sweeping each other off their feet. Sleep was the predominant thing that they did.

Occasionally she would take a walk with Frank around the small town that Bill lived in. In the time that they lived at Bill’s home, she had gotten incredibly close to Frank. Hell, it was easy to do. His personality was loving and caring. Frank made her feel more at home than anyone had in a very long time. When he was awake, Negan seemed to get along well with both Frank and surprisingly Bill. The two of them shared a passion and a love for cooking. So dinners were often cooked by both Negan and Bill together which was some of the best meals she had in years. Negan also enjoyed spending time with Frank because they would garden together and talk, a lot. That was one thing Negan and Frank were very much capable of. Talking.

Joel floated a little bit everywhere. Frank and Bill were two people that Joel already knew so it wasn’t exactly a learning experience for Joel. But that didn’t mean he didn’t fit in because he did. Joel was just never big on being social. Joel was more of a loner or was more open around his small group of people which was her and Negan. This whole experience also gave Negan and Joel a chance to get closer. And boy did they. From there talks about sports to many other things, at night sometimes they would keep her up with their talking across the bed to one another.

This morning she had woken up early. The night before was a hard one for her because Bill had brought up something about Poppy bringing back hard memories for her. Both men tried to comfort her, but sleep was not something that was going to happen for her.

Shifting, she breathed out heavily when she realized that she was being held by both men while she was at the center of the bed with both of them sleeping. Negan was holding her hand with his head cuddled in against her shoulder. Joel had his arm draped across her waist with his head resting over her collar bone and she sighed.

Wiggling, she did her best to keep them asleep while she worked her way out of the bed. Once she did, she changed into some jeans, a white tank top and a button down before making her way downstairs. A surprised sound fell from her lips when she saw that Bill was sitting in the living room at the piano strumming at the keys.

“You’re up early,” she commented stepping forward making Bill jump, gaze back at her and grumble. It wasn’t the first time she had woken up in the morning to come down and see him at the piano. Often, he was down working in his bunker, but if he wasn’t there or in the kitchen, by the piano was where she could always find Bill. “You really like playing that thing, huh? You and Negan are always playing that.”

“It calms me,” Bill explained letting out an uncomfortable breath when she moved beside him on the bench that was before the piano. It made him tense up and she hushed him motioning him to put his hands back over the keys. “I’m particular about my music.”

“I was born into a rich family like yourself Bill. You don’t think I didn’t learn how to play the piano?” she strummed a few keys herself. Bill looked to her with disbelief and she shrugged her shoulders. “You wanna guess what the first thing they had me learn was?”

“Chopsticks?” Bill quipped back making her smirk and nod her head. Giving her an expecting glance he held his hands over the keys and watched her do the same. At the same time they started playing together making Bill snort while she managed to keep up with him. After about a minute, he groaned and pulled his fingers away. “God, I hated that one.”

“As did I, but I never forgot it,” she joked with a loud sigh looking to Bill. “You know Heart and Soul?”

“Of course I know that,” Bill grumbled under his breath waiting for her to prepare herself while they both started playing together. “You know, you’re not what I thought you were.”

“I’m probably everything you thought I was Bill,” she stated simply continuing to play with Bill through the song finding herself having no problem in remembering the keys that she played so constantly as a child. “I was born into a rich family. I was pampered. I was privileged. I was ignored. My parents wanted me to learn to play the piano to show off to their other rich friends, but do you think they ever showed up to one of my recitals? Nope. I was abandoned by my mother at a young age, but you probably already know that. Hell, you probably know everything about me, don’t you?”

“As much as someone could learn through technology, but not everything,” Bill stopped playing listening to her still playing her part of the song. Leaning back, he turned on the bench to watch her. “There has been something that has been on my mind since I went through your text messages…”

“Well shit,” she smirked hearing him sigh loudly. “Should I be worried?”

“I just…” Bill cleared his throat uneasily and tipped his head to the side. This wasn’t really any of his business, but it was something that he kept thinking about and with her alone he finally decided to bring it up. “Does Joel know?”

“Does Joel know what?” she stole a quick stare at him and by the way that he was looking at her, it immediately clicked for her what Bill was asking. It made the color drain from her face and she hit the wrong key letting it linger before pulling her hands away from the piano. “Oh, that.”

“I don’t mean to pry,” Bill continued realizing that him bringing up what he did really had brought her down while she hit the same key a few times on the piano. “What you went through…”

“So many women do,” she slurred noticing that Bill seemed to be staring out at her with compassion and she wasn’t sure that she wanted it. Her voice was hitched, searching for the right things to say when he noticed that her eyes were damp. “It wasn’t that big of a deal. It happened in the first few months. And…”

“It’s a big deal,” Bill corrected her making her frown and she was undeniably uncomfortable staring him in the eyes while he brought up something she tried to hide from the rest of the world. “I know compared to this, it probably feels like it’s nothing, but from your texts…”

“Bill, the only person to ever know about that was Poppy,” she finally spoke up with a whimper making Bill frown when she looked to him again. There was a single tear sliding down her face and he felt something he hadn’t in a very long time. Guilt. “You didn’t tell Joel, did you?”

“Of course not. I’m an asshole, but I’m not that big of one,” Bill defended himself placing his hand over the center of his chest wishing he had the right words to say right now, but he didn’t.

“Please keep this between us,” she begged of Bill knowing that before this whole thing started, the thing he was talking about was the event that was the worst thing she experienced. “Poppy was the one person that was part of the whole thing. I didn’t want anyone else to know.”

“You used her name when you went to the doctors,” Bill noted making Y/N inhale sharply and let out a tense breath. “I know I have no right bringing this up to you. I realize now what I did to Negan and seeing the things I did with you was wrong. I just, I can tell that you and Poppy were close. I’m no good with words.”

“She took me to that appointment and let me use her name so my father didn’t find out,” she swallowed down hard letting out a shuddering breath. A whimpering sound fell from her throat when she looked up at Bill with tears in her eyes. “She was the only one that was there for me through that.”

“I don’t understand why you didn’t tell Joel. It was his baby,” Bill spoke up in a whisper making Y/N smirk and look to Bill with a shrug of her shoulders. “It’s your body, but you think you would need him to help you through your miscarriage.”

“It’s complicated,” she simply said, her bottom lip quivering when she looked away from Bill.

“Even hiding it from your father, you were very much an adult,” Bill tried to reason it out in his head making Y/N smirk.

“Bill, Joel was my professor. I know you know that. I had to keep the pregnancy a secret because if my father found out he would have kicked me out of his life then and there. When I had the miscarriage, Poppy let me use her name because you know if my father found out it would have been a big deal. Look what he’s done to cover up everything that is going on right now,” she thought about her father and the extremes he was willing to go through in order to keep his good image. “If the press were to find out that Philip Blake’s daughter had a miscarriage, first they would have found out who the father was. It would have ruined Joel’s career if it was revealed he knocked up his student. And you know the media they would have spun it in some conservative propaganda. I was already broken enough over it. That’s why I kept it a secret. I wanted to suffer through it alone, not involve the whole world.”

“But I feel like you should have told Joel that you were pregnant,” Bill pushed, his voice rasp while he did his best to keep himself quiet. “You should have told him about the miscarriage. It was not something you should have suffered through alone.”

“I wasn’t alone, I had Poppy. Plus, you know Joel, right?” Y/N pushed making Bill take in a sharp breath and give her a nod. “You looked through most of my texts, you probably saw our relationship up until now. No matter how many times I told Joel I loved him, I never got it back from him. Back then? I didn’t know what I knew now with Joel. I thought he would hate me if he ever found out about it. There wasn’t a good way to tell someone who was uncomfortable with you telling him that you loved him that you were pregnant with his baby. Plus, I thought I was being safe, but it still happened.”

Bill went to say something, but instead he frowned and just lowered his head to look down at his fists that were balled up in his lap.

“It was probably for the best Bill. I only just found out on my birthday that when our relationship started it was all fake. I’m sure you’re aware of what Joel did. When he called me into his office that first day, I was so smitten with him. The way he looked at me, the way he made me feel,” she recalled her relationship with Joel cracking a small smile. “I mean there was Negan, but when I met Joel, Negan was still married and it was just a silly crush I had on him. Joel was the first person that made me feel special and seen. Beyond Negan and Poppy I mean. We hit it off immediately, I mean…at least I thought we did. I thought we just had this undeniable chemistry that was off the charts. I thought I got lucky catching the extremely gorgeous professor that every girl wanted. He was shy, but so charming. I thought I hit the lottery. When in reality he was just using me to get back at my father. After my father screwed Joel over and he realized what my name was, he let his rage for my father get the best of him and he didn’t even love me anyways.”

“From his texts…” Bill searched for things to say, biting down on his tongue knowing that he had seen conversations in texts between Joel and Tommy about what Joel was doing. Tommy knew from the start what Joel was doing. Joel didn’t seem to hide things from his little brother. And in the texts Tommy didn’t agree with what Joel was doing at all. But through time, Joel’s texts had softened about Y/N and he talked less like she was a conquest and more about someone he did care about. “By the time you lost the baby…”

“Listen, I love Joel and now we’re okay,” she whimpered feeling her chest aching at the thought of everything. “But when I had my miscarriage, it wouldn’t have mattered to him. I was afraid to tell him I was pregnant to start with, but the miscarriage saved me the trouble of having to tell him.”

“Joel is a lot of things, but I think if you would have told him he would have changed his way of thinking,” Bill reasoned with her reaching out to place his hand in over her knee watching the way her eyes looked up at him. “You can still have children, right?”

“I can, but now is not the time for me to be thinking about children Bill,” Y/N decided reaching up to wipe away at the tears that were staining her face. “I don’t even know if I am going to make it to the end of the year. Let alone be a mother. Plus, with Joel and Negan…”

“It’s complicated,” Bill filled in for her making her smirk and nod her head. “I could tell.”

“Bill,” she spoke quietly, her eyes finally connecting with his again. “If you know everything there is to know about me, you know how close Poppy and I were. You know what she’s done for me. If you do one thing for me, I need you to figure out who got my friend killed. Okay?”

“I will,” Bill vowed with his blue eyes locked on her when she stood from the bench. As she moved for the front door, he called out to her and watched her turn on her heel. “Where are you going?”

“For a walk,” she pointed toward the door and shrugged her shoulders. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back. I promise. I just need some time to think. It’s a bright sunny morning. It’s a weekend. I’ll be okay.”

Instead of fighting her, Bill let her walk out the door. Huffing loudly, Bill got up from the bench that he was on and made his way upstairs. Heading to the guest bedroom, he carefully pushed open the door letting out a surprised sound when he saw that Joel had his arm draped across Negan’s abdomen and his head resting against Negan’s shoulder while they both slept.

An amused breath fell from his throat making Joel lift his head up with tired eyes noticing that Bill was staring out at him snickering. Looking to where he was, Joel scrambled backwards when he realized that he was cuddled up to Negan.

“No judgement here Joel,” Bill waved his hand about watching Joel pull himself up to the edge of the bed to pinch at the bridge of his nose in a tired fashion. “I just came in here to tell you that Y/N went out for a walk and when she left, she was kind of…emotional?”

“About what?” Joel pulled himself up from the bed and headed over to grab some clothes.

“I uh…” Bill cleared his throat and waved his hand about. “Things.”

“That’s not vague,” Joel pulled his pajamas off leaving him in his black boxer briefs while he worked to tug his blue jeans up his body. “Did Frank go with her?”

“No, she went alone,” Bill answered making Joel grunt out when he pulled his shirt off and quickly put on a white t-shirt. Tipping his head to the side, Bill let out a surprised sound when Joel reached for a blue button down to pull it in over his arms. “You two definitely are connected because what you just picked to wear matches her so much.”

“Bill?” Joel grumbled looking back at Negan who adjusted at the center of the bed showing that he was still very much asleep. “Where is she?”

“We can figure it out. You know I have cameras all over this town,” Bill waved Joel on to have him come down with him to his bunker so they could find out what area she was headed in. When Joel went to go after her, Bill reached for Joel’s wrist and cleared his throat. “Be gentle with her. I brought up something that was a bit of a sensitive topic with her.”

With an annoyed breath, Joel quickly pulled himself out of Bill’s bunker and then headed out of the house. Swiftly moving through the streets, he saw that Y/N was headed for the big hill that overlooked the small town.

“Hey,” Joel called out to Y/N making her look back over her shoulder at him as he worked to catch up with her, moving in beside her. “Where are you headed?”

“Up here?” she breathed out looking him over to see that they matched except for the over shirts that they decided to wear making her smirk. “Nice choice of clothing.”

“Great minds think alike, huh?” Joel offered up a weak smile making her smirk and look down. Her eyes were still red making Joel sigh knowing that she was definitely emotional after whatever Bill had said to her this morning. “You okay?”

“I will be,” she assured him feigning a grin knowing that she was still so lost inside of the darkness that was lingering in her heart after losing the one person in her life that she considered her family. It was hard to really open up to Joel about things. What Bill had talked to her about was something that always weighed heavy on her. After Joel explained to her that she was just someone that he took advantage of to piss off her father, she assumed the miscarriage is why she took it all so hard. After her miscarriage she kind of clung to Joel and wanted him happy. Hearing at the beginning of this trip that their relationship was fake from the start broke her more than it should have. Everything hit her so hard because she had this connection with Joel that she had never told him about. Well, she never told anyone but Poppy, but now Bill knew too.

“Hey,” Joel whispered with the back of his fingers skimming over hers. Looking down, she hooked her fingers with his and let out a nervous sound.

“What did Bill tell you?” she wondered hoping like hell that Bill kept his word and didn’t tell Joel what they talked about. Shrugging his shoulders, Joel didn’t have an answer and she rolled her eyes. “Joel, there had to be a reason that you came running after me.”

“He told me you went off on your own for a walk and you were emotional,” Joel explained to her with a yawn knowing that he was still barely awake. “I don’t think you should be running off on your own, so I got quickly dressed and I came after you. As you can tell by the messy hair. Negan was still sleeping and we used Bill’s cameras around town to find you.”

“Oh, that doesn’t invade my privacy at all,” she sniffled finding amusement in his comment about finding her, but she still was trying to push past her emotions. Tipping his head from side to side she knew that they hadn’t wanted her to wander on her own, but she needed a moment.

“Why are you running off on your own,” Joel inquired, his eyebrows furrowing when he looked to her. The sun was shining just right on her face to bring attention to her eyes and how beautiful they looked even though she had undoubtedly been crying.

“It’s a small-town Joel. Walking around it makes me comfortable. It opens my mind up and Frank wasn’t up so I had to go on my own,” she replied back with a tiny snicker knowing that Frank had become her sidekick since they had been living at Bill’s. “I was going to go up this hill because no one really comes up here often and it felt like it would be more private than the gazebo by his house or the church.”

“Fair enough,” Joel grumbled moving in closer to her while they made their way up the hill. Once they got there, there was a big tree at the top that had a tire swing hanging from its thick, overgrown branches. Once they stopped walking, he gazed over to her to see that she was staring off in the distance at the small town that Bill lived in. “You know you can talk to me, right?”

“Joel, there are some things that I just don’t feel comfortable talking to you about,” she admitted looking straight ahead, her eyes tearing over while she stared out at the barely awake town down below. Tears were burning at her eyes again and she smirked looking down at the ground. “And what I talked about with Bill is one of those things. It was something that I only talked to Poppy about and with Bill digging into our texts, well…Bill knows now too.”

“Now I’m curious,” Joel alerted her, his dark eyes narrowing surprising him to hear her talk like that. When he woke up, he just assumed it was something about Poppy, but it sounded like it was something more by the way that she was talking. “Do I have to be worried about whatever it is?”

“It doesn’t affect your life in any way,” she assured him, lifting her hand to see that his fingers were still hooked with hers. Guilt ate away at her when she bit at her bottom lip and let out a broken sound. “It doesn’t even matter anymore.”

“But it matters to you, which means it matters to me,” Joel reasoned with her, stepping forward before using his other hand to reach up to palm in over the side of her face. Caressing his palm in over her flesh he urged her eyes to meet his and he gave her a supportive nod of his head. “I’m here for you Y/N.”

“Why couldn’t you be this Joel the whole time?” she whispered making the expression over his face change and he took a step back. That hit him harder than he expected. There was a tear sliding down the side of her face that he swept away before shaking his head. “God, things would have been so much easier over the last two years if this was the Joel I knew.”

“I reckon I was always this Joel, I was just confused and making some seriously stupid decisions,” Joel breathed out knowing that he couldn’t defend his actions because there was nothing that could explain them. “I got lost, but I’m here now. And I know this is where I belong.”

“You belong with your daughter, but you’re stuck here with me,” she corrected him making him frown and let go of her hand so his other palm could cup her face to bring her closer to him. “You know I’m right.”

“It’s a situation we both fell into, but this is the place I’m choosing to be right now,” Joel swallowed down, his chocolate brown eyes serious while he stared down at her. “Yes, my daughter is my life, but you’re part of it too. I know my daughter would support the decision I’ve made in wanting to help you. Because I’m a hero in her eyes and it’s time I finally did something right in my life. And you are the first thing I’ve done right in a very long time. Maybe the first thing since Sarah was born.”

“Damn it Joel,” she scoffed, pulling away from him and moving over toward the large tree that was behind them. Resting back against it, she dragged her hands down her face. Joel moved before her, resting his hands on his hips while he stared out at her. “You make things so hard. I thought I made a choice at the motel. You were leaving and Negan is so perfect…”

“No one is asking you to make a choice,” Joel reasoned with her, folding his arms out in front of his chest. There was a muscle that flexed in his jaw when he threw his right hand up. “I don’t think Negan or I expect you to make a choice. Not now anyways.”

“You weren’t a choice before recently,” she reminded him making him huff out loudly, his eyes lowering down toward the ground. “I’ve spent the last two years head over heels in love with you Joel. And over these last few weeks you have been exactly the man I always longed for you to be. But I have Negan who is the perfect man. Who has done everything for me. And I love him…”

“You’re right. He is perfect for you,” Joel agreed with her stepping forward closer to her making her let out a sharp breath. “And I know you love him, I don’t care. I told you that I was okay with you loving both of us. And I meant it. But I also know how I feel about you. I know that I want to protect you. I want to be part of your life…”

Outstretching his hand, Joel caressed over her shoulder making her look to where he was touching her. Getting even closer, Joel’s sigh was loud when his body pressed in against hers pressing her further against the tree, “And what the two of us have, the passion and tension between us…Negan is perfect, but our story is the stronger one. We’ve been through so much together and we’re still…together.”

“Joel,” she shuddered with the warmth of his breath over her lips. Pressing his hands beside her against the tree, Joel nuzzled his nose in against hers making her eyes come to a tight close. “I can’t choose right now. I love you both, so much.”

“I’m not asking you to choose. I’m okay with you loving both of us,” Joel pressed his forehead to hers cuddling his head with hers making her body tremble at the closeness. Caressing up and over his shoulders she knew to be careful since he was still healing. “The thought of losing you destroyed me Y/N. I thought I was okay with writing off what the two of us had, but I’m not. You’re part of me.”

Releasing a loud exhale, Y/N hooked her arms around his shoulders and his arms instinctively wrapped around her waist when he pulled her in closer to him. Silence surrounded them while they held one another close with his nose nuzzling in against the side of her neck.

“Come here,” Joel hummed against her lips, not kissing her but leaving her with the sensation of his lips over hers. Grabbing her hand, he led her toward the tire swing holding tightly to it making her give it a scrutinizing expression. “Get on it.”

“I am not getting in some old tire swing that is going to break,” she refused with a wrinkle of her nose letting out a gasp when Joel took a running jump and hopped onto it making the tire on the old rope swing out. With the power, the branch that it was tied to tugged somewhat while Joel swung back and forth on it using his legs as the power to swing it. “Jesus. Okay Tarzan, you could barely move a few days ago. Calm down with that. The last thing we need is you falling on your back and hurting yourself all over again.”

“Don’t be the boring one in the relationship Y/N,” Joel hopped down from the swing giving her a wicked smirk when he wiped his hands off on his pants. There was an ache in his leg that he injured and maybe that was a poor decision, but he was trying to lighten the mood for her. “I was the one that was always the boring one, not you.”

“You dick,” she huffed moving forward to hit at the center of his chest before putting her legs through the tire. When she was in safely, Joel started to push it for her making her gasp when she grasped tightly to it. “I’m too old for this shit.”

“You’re never too old to have fun,” Joel asserted finding himself happy when she started smiling with the way that he was doing the tire swing with her.

For a while she just allowed him to push her on the swing until she let out a sigh, “I can’t feel my legs anymore.”

“Good enough for me,” Joel snickered managing to get the swing to stop. Helping her out, he let out a gasp when she put enough power into pulling back out of the tire swing that they both fell back onto the grass with her falling over him. After groaning out loudly, Joel started laughing making her drop her head down against his chest in embarrassment. “You are so clumsy.”

“Come on, stop,” she giggled lifting her head up to see that his face was flushed over with the way he was laughing. “It was an accident.”

“I’m aware,” Joel growled rolling her over onto her back beside him on the grass. Wrapping her up in his arms, Joel cuddled his head in against the side of her neck and exhaled loudly. “You smell good.”

“I took a shower last night,” she reminded him closing her eyes when the warmth of his breath lingered over the side of her neck. Sinking her fingers into Joel’s hair, she loved this close contact touching that he was doing with her. Rolling onto her back, she felt Joel sliding in next to her on the grass while his fingers traced over the side of her body. “Joel?”

“Yes?” Joel breathed out, his chocolate eyes connecting with hers. Tracing his fingers up over her shoulder and over the side of her neck toward her jawline had her tremoring.

“If I kept something from you, would you hate me for it?” she questioned kissing at the pad of his thumb when he dragged it across her bottom lip.

“What could you possibly keep from me that would make me hate you?” Joel frowned leaning in to press a kiss over her temple. Lowering his kisses down over her face had her shuddering while she laid beside him. “After everything I’ve done, I would have no room to judge you.”

Thinking back on her discussion with Bill made her eyes tear over again, but Joel hushed her while he brushed them away and started to press gentle kisses over her eyes after she closed them, lowering them down over her cheeks when he nuzzled his nose in against the side of her face.

“I…” she reached out to brush her fingers through Joel’s hair when he gave her his full attention. Something inside of her wanted to tell Joel what happened in the past, but she was fighting it inside because of the fear of how he would respond to it. “I feel so lucky to have you here with me right now. I hope you know that.”

“I’m the lucky one,” Joel whispered taking her breath away. Noticing the way that Joel’s shirt was riding up over his abdomen, she reached out to brush her fingers over the exposed flesh that was there. Raising up on her arm enough she outstretched enough to meet his lips in a lingering kiss. With time the kiss grew and she reached for his shirt to pull him in over her. “I wish I was the man you needed all along.”

Hearing that made her heart skip a beat in her chest. Getting him to kiss her again, she cherished the warmth of his lips over hers. Each caress was tender and loving causing her to brush her fingers through his messy hair. Crawling in over him, she settled her hips in over his enjoying the way his hands caressed up and over the sides of her body. Laying down in over him, she traced over his features with her fingertips making him turn his head in to press loving kisses over the inside of her palm.

Rolling her onto her back again, Joel moved in over her and traced his fingertips down the side of her face with his eyes gazing over her, “I love you.”

A lump developed in her throat while she stared up at Joel and reached out to stroke her thumb in over the side of his face. Parting her lips, she felt her tears burning at her eyes again after hearing him say that, “And this time, I actually believe you. That one was real.”

“It was very real,” Joel stammered, his eyelids heavy with the warmth of his breath lingering over her lips. “I mean it, with everything that I am.”

Having his lips hovering in over hers, she got caught up in kissing Joel. Every touch, every kiss was so much more impactful than the ones she felt in the past. Pulling away from his kisses, she rest her head against the center of his chest. Joel stroked his fingers over the back of her neck and she could hear the powerful beats of his heart from where she was resting. Staying there for a few moments, she felt safe and comfortable, but still that conversation that she had with Bill lingered making her squeeze her fingers around the material of Joel’s shirt.

“We should head back before the kids that use this swing come up here and see us making out,” she circled her fingers over the center of Joel’s chest making Joel chuckle. Joel cuddled his chin in over her head before kissing over her head. Carefully getting up, she helped Joel up from the ground and pulled him into a hug that he was eager to accept. “Thank you.”

“Thank you,” Joel repeated what she said, stroking his fingers through her hair before allowing her to lead him back down the hill that they were on hand in hand. Taking her time to get back to the house with him, things were circling in her mind making her think of Poppy, Joel and Negan all at once. When they got back to Bill’s, Bill asked Joel for help and she was thankful for that. “I’ll be back.”

“I’m going to go check on Negan,” she headed up the stairs when the two men disappeared. Once getting to the bedroom, Y/N opened the door to see that Negan was cuddled up to a pillow holding onto it tightly. Sitting down on the bed, she reached out to stroke her fingers through Negan’s hair making his eyes shift beneath his closed eyelids. Negan’s shirt was riding up revealing the healing bruising over his lower back making her frown.

“Good morning beautiful,” Negan yawned drawing her attention back to him when his eyelashes fluttered to an open. Palming in over the side of Negan’s face had him tipping his head in closer to her touch. Noticing the way that she looked down, Negan frowned and groaned when he pulled himself up unhurriedly. “What is it?”

“How do you always know when something is wrong?” she weakly smirked making him frown when he slid in closer to her and cuddled his head in next to hers. “You’re the only person who always knew when something was wrong. Even when I didn’t tell you.”

“That’s because I know you,” Negan whispered stroking his fingers over the side of her face making her bite down on her bottom lip. With a shuddering breath, Y/N felt her emotions getting the best of her while Negan comforted her. “What’s going on Y/N?”

“I don’t know what to do,” she answered with a shake of her head making Negan frown. “And that’s with my whole life. I don’t know what to do with Poppy gone. I don’t know how to live life normally anymore. I don’t know who I want to be with because…”

Tipping his head back, Negan’s hazel eyes grew heavy when she licked her lips, “Because I love both you and Joel. And I don’t want to pick who I want to be with. Not now.”

“Who is making you pick?” Negan tipped his head to the side asking the same question that Joel had earlier. “Right now with everything going on, that should be the last thing we’re worried about. We’re all together and that’s what matters right now.”

“You should be furious with me for loving Joel too,” she reasoned with Negan letting out a whimpering sound when Negan shook his head and brushed her hair behind her ear. “You’ve always been there for me, taken care of me…loved me.”

“I’m not going to force you to make a decision between the two of us,” Negan hushed her, stroking his fingers over her jawline pressing a loving kiss against the side of her face. “I like what we have now. I like that you feel comfortable with both of us.”

“I need to tell you something,” she reached for his hand, giving it a firm squeeze while he urged her in closer to him so he could wrap his arm loosely around her hips. “Do you remember a few months ago when I disappeared on you with Poppy? And when I came back, I was so…so depressed. And you just knew something was wrong? So you kept doing those things to make me smile. Pampered me for days even though I asked you to leave me alone?”

“I remember all the good and all the bad days Y/N,” Negan stated with a long sigh, his tired eyes watching her closely. “Why are you bringing that up?”

“I had a miscarriage Negan,” she blurt out in a quiet voice making his eyebrows furrow, the lines in his forehead growing. Leaning back, Negan’s face grew tense and she cleared her throat. “Not recently Negan, then. I got pregnant with Joel’s baby and I was so scared to tell him. The only person that knew was Poppy. I knew how I felt about Joel, but things were so hard back then with him. I wasn’t trying to get pregnant. Hell, I didn’t want to be pregnant, but it happened. I don’t know if it was the stress from things or if I wasn’t healthy enough, but I ended up having a miscarriage in the first few months. I wondered if it happened because I was stressing so much about telling Joel that I was actually pregnant that I ended up losing the baby.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Negan frowned sweeping the tears away from her face while she cried beside him. “I would have done what I could with things. I would have been there.”

“Lucille just passed away Negan. The last thing you needed was worrying about me in any fashion,” she hushed Negan with a whimpering sound seeing the empathy in his eyes while he listened to her. “I had to go to the doctors and instead of going as myself Poppy let me use her name. So people thought Poppy got knocked up and fucked off too much causing her to lose a baby when in reality it was me. She did it so that my father didn’t find out. I never told Joel. Ever. And Poppy was the only person that knew, but you knew something was wrong and you wouldn’t let up, but I could never tell you because I was so embarrassed.”

“Why would you be embarrassed? I would never judge you for that,” Negan promised her, stroking his fingers through her hair and reaching out to pull her in closer to his chest so she could cuddle in closer to him. “Y/N?”

“You’re the one person I’ve told other than Poppy. You’re the only person I want to tell because you’re the only person that has understood me from the start. Saw me even when I hid myself so hard from the world,” she sobbed against his chest while Negan stroked his fingers over the back of her neck. Maybe it wasn’t the best time to tell Negan, but with it weighing heavy in her mind after her conversation with Bill she had to tell someone and Joel was not the person she felt comfortable telling. “I keep asking myself why I am so hooked on both you and Joel, but the answers are completely there right in front of me. With you, I have everything I could want and more, but with him…”

“There’s history,” Negan filled in the blanks making her nod, but not lift her head from Negan’s chest. “It makes sense.”

“I’m sorry for throwing this on you Negan, but Bill brought it up and I realized the one person that knew as gone and I couldn’t tell Joel. I don’t want Joel to know,” she whimpered making Negan tip his head back to look down at her when she raised her eyes to his. “You’re my best friend Negan. You’re also the man I love and know that I can tell absolutely anything to.”

“Anything,” Negan repeated in a whisper, stroking his thumb in over her bottom lip with his eyes genuinely worried about her. “I love you Y/N. No matter what, I’m here for you. And I always will be.”

“I’m in so much pain Negan, “she informed him crying without even trying to. “I know I have nothing to complain about because both you and Joel have been through so much physical pain that I am nothing in comparison, but my heart is broken. I was already broken before this happened. From my mom leaving me. To my dad just hating me and ready to cut me out of his life. To never feeling loved. Then all of this happened and I realized that I meant more to the world dead than I did alive.”

“That’s not true,” Negan shook his head, pulling her into his arms so he could hold her and allow her to rest back against his chest while squeezing his arms around her. “You mean so much to this world Y/N.”

“The one person who loved me my whole life is gone Negan,” she cried knowing that there was so much going on, but she couldn’t stop thinking about Poppy. “When I had nothing, I had Poppy. As crazy as she was, she was my family. My father didn’t even care about that. He doesn’t care about me. Someone wants me dead and I don’t even know why. All I feel is pain. I just want to feel better but no matter what I do I’m not going to. I want to forget about everything, but all I think about is Poppy walking through that door and saying something ridiculous and she’s just not going to. That’s my fault and that’s the weight I am going to have to carry my whole life. People thought Poppy was a shitty irresponsible person because of me. Poppy is now missing and dead because of me. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to come to terms with that. Because right now, I hate myself. I hate the decisions I’ve made in my life. I hate my family. My blood is dirty and I just…”

“You are not dirty. You are the woman that I love. You are what saved me when the darkness ate me alive,” Negan nuzzled his nose in against the side of her neck hating to hear her crying like this. “You have always been the light in my life since the moment you came into my life Y/N. Without you I would be absolutely fucking lost. I would have given up, but you saved me. I’m here because of you. I love you. And while I know you are in pain, you need to know that while you think you have nothing and you are nothing, you are my every fucking thing. You are everything to me. And I love you so much.”

Tipping her head back, her hand palmed in over the side of his face leading him to her lips so they could kiss in a passionate sweep that took her breath away. After, she cuddled into his arms and laid back against the center of his chest.

Hearing the sound of the door pushing open, Negan wondered if Y/N heard it when he saw that Joel was standing in the doorway. Clearing his throat, Negan could tell that Joel had heard everything that Y/N had said and he was doing his best to hold it together himself. Cuddling her in closer to him, Negan watched Joel step back and away from the door. Through the crack Negan saw Joel press his forehead against the wall before he lowered down. Joel covered his head and Negan knew in that moment Joel was undoubtedly crying too and he understood it.

It was the last thing that he knew Y/N would want Joel to hear, but he heard it. Negan was worried that Joel would explode after he heard what he did about her miscarriage, but instead Joel took his time out in the hallway while Negan comforted her. When Joel got it together, he managed to wipe at his face and headed back for the bedroom.

Once he entered it, Negan’s eyes locked with Joel’s and they didn’t have to say anything for them both to understand what the other was thinking. Lowering down onto the bed, Joel reached out and caressed his hand in over Y/N’s hip making her lift her head.

“Do you think you would be okay with a small little day trip?” Joel questioned, his eyebrows bouncing up before he reached for one of her hands to squeeze it in his. “I just got done talking to Bill and he said we could use his truck to do something nice. The three of us. What do you say? Just take a day to pretend to be normal?”

“Sure,” she gave Joel a nod, reaching to wipe at her face. It took a minute for her to gather herself before she pointed toward the bathroom. “Let me go and clean myself up so I don’t look terrible when we leave.”

“We’ll be here,” Joel offered up a weak smile when she headed for the bathroom. When she was in the bathroom, Negan reached out to touch Joel’s shoulder trying to comfort him from what he undoubtedly heard. Allowing Negan to do it, Joel shook his head and cleared his throat. “This isn’t about me. I’ll be fine. What’s most important is her.”

“Okay,” Negan breathed out, giving Joel’s shoulder another firm squeeze before standing up from the bed allowing Joel to have his space for a minute. Negan’s eyes were damp as well while he stared down at Joel. “I don’t think she would want you to find out like that. I don’t think she’d want you to be hurt.”

“I know,” Joel swallowed down hard, his lips parting when he looked between Negan and the door. “What’s important right now is her. And that’s what we both need to focus on. Making her feel better. Making her feel loved because that’s what she needs the most.”

----

Tags: @jennydehavilland @labyrinthofheartagrams @msjamesmarch @thebeautysurrounds @hotfornegan @redmercysugar @a-girl-interupted @akumune @stoneyggirl2 @xsarcasticwriterx @insertneganhere @haleygreen23 @xhannahbananax03 @sanctuaryforthelost @burningredaffair @killaweiser @dead-of-niight @ayumi-wolf @hollyismentallyillhelp @wonwoosthetic @misskittydenoire @casangel1986 @pedritosdarling

#Negan #Joel Miller #Jeffrey Dean Morgan #Pedro Pascal #The Walking Dead #The Last of Us #negan x reader #joel miller x reader #negan fanfiction #joel miller fanfiction #negan x you #joel miller x you #tlou fanfiction #twd fanfiction

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glorious-spoon · 1 year ago

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where the dead men lost their bones [9-1-1 | Buck/Eddie | 1/1]

Rating: Mature Wordcount: 5700 Warnings: Blood and gore; Bites; Amputation Other tags: Zombie apocalypse; Angst; Hurt/comfort; Love confessions; Open/ambiguous ending Summary: The end of the world makes for some difficult choices.

(My contribution to the @911angstinautumn fic fest.)

where the dead men lost their bones [on AO3]

Buck thought the floor was clear.

It should have been clear. It's been weeks now, and he and Eddie have done the miserable, heartbreaking, and frequently gruesome work of checking and clearing every other unit in the building (he's sickeningly grateful for the fact that it isn't exactly the sort of place to draw a lot of families; the vast majority of his neighbors are—were—adults). They've barricaded the exits, the elevator shafts, the windows on the first and second floors. The stairwells are booby-trapped. A fully rational, thinking person could probably evade those, but not—not the other ones. Not the things that people have turned into.

Christopher has been calling them zombies. Eddie likes to complain about that, insist that it's inaccurate, but it's close enough.

The traps were untouched. It should have been safe, or as safe as anywhere is these days.

Eddie is a few steps ahead of him, sawed-off shotgun held comfortably in his left hand, shoulders looser than they have been all day out there in the wilds of what used to be Los Angeles. These trips are necessary: supply runs to keep them going while they finesse their plan to get the hell out of here. There's an outpost up north. Maddie is up there with Jee and Chim, and Buck has been choosing to believe that the rest of his family has made it out, too, because that's the only way he can keep himself sane.

They'll get out. They'll make it to Joshua Tree, and he'll be able to see Bobby and Hen and everyone else, and everything will be—not okay. He doesn't think everything will ever really be okay again. But better.

Continue reading on AO3

#911 fic #buddie #buddie fic #evan buckley #eddie diaz #my fic #angst in autumn

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justsomerandomfanfic · 2 years ago

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Temple Run - Indiana Jones X GN Reader

Title: Temple Run

Indiana Jones X GN Reader

Additional Characters: Indiana Jones's father (Mentioned), Reader's father, Reader's mother (Mentioned), Monty Shaw (OC), Aaron Tucker (OC), Theo Black (OC), Michael March (OC) (Mentioned), Sallah, Fayah, Sallah's kids (Mentioned), and random people/men (Mentioned)

Requested by Anon (thank you so much for requesting! You know who you are ;) Sorry if it's a bit long. I got a bit carried away with this XD)

WC: 10,688 (I am so sorry)

Jawhara = Jewel | Habibi = Darling (Arabic)

Warnings: Human remains (mentioned), teasing, taunting, fighting (physically and verbally), enemies to friends to lovers, awkwardness, nervousness, embarrassment, movie references, yelling, insults, name-calling (nothing bad), death, Indiana Jones booby traps, sandstorms, knife/dagger mentioned, guns, killing, attempted murder, snakes, property damage, fear of heights, explosives mentioned, injuries, bruises mentioned, animal abuse (snakes don't like fire), blood, grenade mentioned, angst, cute, and fluff

Stacking the papers around you in a neat pile, you grabbed the last small stack, placing it away in its folder. You were hard at work, filing away reports and sending them to their respective departments. You worked at a federal government agency in Connecticut, and you were the head of your team; the captain of sorts. You worked as both a forensic scientist and a forensic archaeologist; both fields required extensive knowledge about osteology, human remains, and ancient civilizations. Back in school, you were considered a genius; your academic prowess far exceeded many of your classmates’ grades. As a graduate of Yale University with honors, you earned multiple offers of internships, but you declined every one of them; you enjoyed working alone and being on your own, but your father was adamant that you make some social connections. In fact, after some persuading, he got you a job where you were working now.

As you were filing yet another folder, a knock sounded at your office door, slowly the door opened; peeking their head in. "Uh, Doctor L/N, someone by the name of Mr. Shaw wants to speak with you." Your secretary, Ella, announced, making you look from your papers.

"Do they have an appointment?" You asked, voice monotone as Ella bit her lip.

"No, Doctor."

You sighed, dropping the papers as you rubbed your temple with your fingers. "Miss Hart, you know how I feel about walk-ins. They have to make an appointment to speak with me." You explained and Ella nodded, shutting the door, the click-clacking of her heels against the floor fading, only for it to come back more rushed as your office doors were slammed open.

Shocked and wide-eyed, you watched as a man in the three-piece gray suit sauntered in like he owned the place; his cane hitting the ground with each step. The handle, gold and shiny, in the shape of an eagle's head. Beyond annoyed, you stood up from your desk, your hands placed firmly on it as you stared up at the man. "What's the meaning of you barging into my office?" You asked, anger evident in your tone as the man leaned back onto his heels with a smirk on his face.

"I just wanted to see if I could meet you." His voice was smooth and deep, "I've heard about your work, Doctor L/N. And might I say, I'm impressed." His British accent seemed to roll off of him like honey.

"And who might you be?" You asked, standing up straight as you clenched your fists.

The man in front of you adjusted the lapels of his jacket, before straightening his silk tie, "My name is Monty Charleston Shaw, and I have a proposition for you. Believe me, you'll want to hear it."

Staring at the man, you narrowed your eyes. Your mind was screaming at you to send him away, but your heart was curious. You've made up your mind. Gesturing to the chair in front of your desk, Monty sat down with a grin. "What's the proposition, Mr. Shaw?" You asked, sitting down in your own chair, your fingers fidgeting with the cold leather.

Monty cleared his throat, producing a creme envelope from the inside jacket pocket; sliding it towards you on your desk. "I have a special team heading to Egypt in two weeks to excavate the hidden remains of a forgotten prince. Prince Huaphris." He began, as you furrowed your eyebrows, opening the wax-sealed envelope to find a plane ticket inside. "It is said that Prince Huaphris was buried in a hidden tomb somewhere. My first team had unearthed a secret temple near the Nile, and we suspect he was hidden there. I need your expertise in finding Prince Huaphis and his treasure." He finished, leaving you intrigued, yet hesitant.

"Is this legit?" You asked, gesturing to the envelope, only for Monty to nod.

"Of course, Doctor. I'm certified by the board of the Smithsonian. Whatever we recover goes straight to the museum, and after, you'll be rewarded for your help."

You felt like a fish out of the water as you tried to speak, flabbergasted, "I don't really have the funds for a trip like this, Mr. Shaw. Especially one happening in two weeks."

Monty raised a hand, before placing it back on his cane. "Do not fret, Doctor. All expenses are covered. Flight to and from, hotel, and food. You'll be well taken care of."

You pursed your lips, "All expenses?"

Monty nodded again, a grin on his face as you thought it quickly over. What did you have to lose?

"When does the plane leave?"

~~~

Walking out on the runway, you spot the private plane in the distance. Beside you, one of Monty's drivers was carrying your luggage. "This way, Doctor. Mr. Shaw is waiting for you." He spoke, as you notice Mr. Shaw and four other men with him.

Monty turned to you as you approached, hands clasping his cane as he grinned widely. "Ah, Doctor! Thought you'd changed your mind. I want you to meet part of the team." He spoke, gesturing to the four men.

"These two, Mr. Aaron Tucker and Theo Black. Mr. Tucker is an expert in ancient civilizations while Mr. Black is an expert in hieroglyphics." He spoke, signaling to a tallish man, you presumed was Mr. Tucker, with shaggy blonde hair. And, Mr. Black, a noticeable scar on his face, passing down his eyebrow and onto his cheek. "And this is Mr. Michael March, he's the photographer and journalist. He'll be taking note of everything that happens." Mr. Shaw spoke about the man with a camera around his neck, his circle glass slightly askew on his face, blue eyes piercing. "Lastly, we have Doctor Indiana Jones. Archaeologist. You may have heard of his work for the National Museum."

You turned to the famed doctor, giving him a once over with a slight frown, "Yes, I have." You said shortly, before turning back to Monty.

Still grinning, Monty let out a laugh, "Well, let the journey begin. We have a long flight in front of us!" He spoke, before the five of you headed onto the plane.

Finding a spot near a window, you buckled and shuffled in your seat to get comfortable. You rubbed your thighs nervously, covered by your tan pants. You tried to dress as well as you could, knowing Egypt was going to be unbearably hot. You brought some sweaters for the cold nights, but for the sweating days, you brought tons of breathable shirts, pants, and your favorite pair of boots. You were about to read the book you brought with you, after all the trip was going to take forever, but you were surprised to see Indiana Jones sitting right across from you. You watched as he also got comfortable before he looked at you. You ignored his staring to go back to your book, feeling yourself getting dragged into the story before you heard him clear his throat. You looked up, eyes meeting his as he gave you a grin.

"So, you've heard of me, but I've never heard of you..." He trailed off, waiting for your name.

"L/N. Doctor L/N." You said, looking back down at your book.

Indiana's grin turned into a smirk, "Hmm, Doctor. I heard Shaw say that. What are you a doctor of, if I may ask?" He asked, crossing his arms as he leaned back in his seat.

"I am a doctor of Forensic Science and Forensic Archaeology. Specializing in examining and analyzing evidence from crime scenes. And, I specialize in my archaeological skills to assist with the location and recovery of human remains... I got my PhDs at the age of twenty-two, so it wouldn't surprise me if you had heard of me. Doctor." You replied curtly, keeping your gaze glued to the book.

Indiana shrugged, "I guess so." He muttered under his breath as a smile played upon his lips. Indiana was intrigued. He wanted to know more about you. You were quick-witted, and obviously incredibly smart. A fact Indiana liked. But, you were stubborn and didn't seem willing to share anything that wasn't relevant to what you were doing. If it weren't for his curiosity, Indiana would have stopped talking to you already. But, he couldn't resist the pull of a good conversation.

After a few more minutes of silence, Indiana spoke up again, "So, L/N, do you have a first name?" He asked, making you glance up at him briefly before turning a page in your book.

"What could you possibly gain from knowing my first name, Doctor Jones?" You asked, raising a brow as he smirked.

"Call me Indiana, please." He requested, holding out his hand as he flashed a winning smile.

Hesitating for a moment, you slowly put your book down in your lap, "I'll stick to Doctor Jones. Now, tell me why you're asking so many questions?" Ignoring his request for a handshake.

Indiana dropped his hand to his lap, clearing his throat. Your dismissal of his handshake threw him off a bit. "We are going to be working with each other for two months. Might as well get to know a fellow Doctor." He smiled, leaning forward a little.

You nodded, thinking about what he said for a second before looking up at him again, "Okay, I suppose I can give you my name, but only if you answer me something, Doctor Jones."

His smile widened as he leaned back into his chair, "Alright, Doctor, shoot."

"Are you going to be exasperating me the entire trip?"

Indiana let out a laugh, "Exasperating? After I find out your name, I'm taking a well-deserved nap."

You raised your book back up, covering your mouth as you hid your light smile, "Names Y/N."

Indiana sat back with a grin, satisfied. "Y/N." He tested your name out, only for you to look up at him with your tired, half-lidded eyes.

"Doctor L/N to you, Doctor Jones." You corrected, watching as Indiana just hummed, leaning his head back and placing his hat over his eyes.

"Doctor L/N it is then."

~~~

Clutching your seat's armrests as the plane jolted around slightly as it landed, you let out a sigh as you closed your book, slipping it into your brown leather satchel. Looking across from you, Indiana was still sleeping, his hat covering his eyes; chest softly rising up and down. Rolling your eyes, you stood up, leaning over to flick the rim of his hat up, waking him suddenly. Indiana gave you a glare as you just ignored him, grabbing your suitcase and leaving the plane. Stepping down the steps, you breathed in the air, smiling at the world around you. You haven't been to Egypt in a long time.

Rushing over to you, Monty gave you a smile, "Doctor, the vans will take you to the hotel. We only have three, so you'll have to double up. If you don't mind." He added, glancing over at the vans that awaited you.

"Of course not." You responded, grabbing your suitcase and walking towards the car. Once you arrived, you climbed into the backseat and sat down, putting your suitcase at your feet. "How long will it be until we reach Cairo?" You asked the driver, as he adjusted the rear-view mirror.

"Less than an hour."

You nodded and sat back, only to see the door beside you open, watching in dismay as Indiana took a seat next to you.

"Great. The other vans weren’t good enough for you, Doctor?" You mumbled irritatedly, as Indiana sat his own suitcase at his feet.

Indiana gave you a grin, "Well, Doctor, Mr. Shaw, and the photographer already claimed a van while those other two took the other."

"How wonderful." You replied sarcastically as the van began to move. You turned to face your window, watching the sandy dunes slowly turn into sandstone buildings and houses. Soon, the van stopped in front of a large building, what you guessed was the hotel. The driver opened your door for you, grabbing your bag for you as you stretched. Your bones were tired from all the sitting and your body was begging for adventure. Either that, or a nice nap. You knew you'd probably get started with the dig tomorrow, as the sun was beginning to set.

Walking into the lobby, you gazed at the tapestries and portraits that lined the walls. You could hear chatter coming from the lobby, people rushing to get their room keys. Monty turned, noticing you before he walked over to you, handing you your room key. "You have room seven." He spoke, dropping your key in the palm of your hand, before turning to look slightly behind you. "And Doctor Jones, you have room six." He passed the key to him before looking at the two of you. “Dinner is at six sharp, don’t be late.” He called, before walking away, disappearing around the corner.

Turning to face Indiana who stood beside you, you raised a brow, "Dinner on the Nile? Sounds fancy..." You trailed off, causing him to nod.

"It's beautiful; The Nile. Staring down into a seemingly never-ending abyss." Indiana muttered before gesturing to the stairs, "Might want to get unpacked, neighbor. Don't want to be late." He spoke, before grabbing his suitcase and heading up the stairs. Letting out an irritated sigh, you grabbed your bag and followed behind.

You stopped at your door, taking your key and unlocking it. You pushed open the door, setting your case down. Shutting it behind you, you looked around the room. There was a queen bed in the center of the room, with creme and red sheets and sheer curtains hanging from it. You spotted a small wooden dresser beside the bed and a small desk on the other side. You dragged your suitcase to the bed, unclasping the locks and pushing the lid open. You paused, grabbing the framed picture from its place on top of your neatly folded clothes. You felt yourself become emotional, quickly setting the frame down on the bedside table. You were quick to put away your clothes, checking your watch for the time. You still had enough time to get dressed, pushing the drawer closed, you grabbed your chosen attire and headed to the bathroom.

~~~

On the boat, you sat at a long table, eating dinner. Thankfully, you were sitting beside Mr. Tucker and Mr. Black, though Indiana was sitting across from you; periodically looking at you as the dinner continued. The entree, rice-stuffed vegetables, and grape leaves were beyond delicious and brought up a lot of memories from your last trip to Cairo. The waiters then came around, placing a plate of sweet honey cakes in front of you; you felt your mouth salivate from just looking at the tasty dessert. You picked up your fork, stabbed a piece of the cake, taking a bite. It tasted amazing and made you realize how hungry you had become. With an appreciative hum, you reached for another piece, biting into the sweet cake, closing your eyes as you savored the sweetness. Unbeknownst to you, Indiana was watching you with a small grin. He'd never really seen you smile before and he'd found it quite entertaining, endearing even. After finishing up your cake, and as most of the others had left the table, you wiped your hands clean; dabbing your mouth with your napkin. You glanced over at Indiana, your eyes locking with his for the briefest of moments before your gaze fell down to your empty plate.

You quickly pushed your chair back, standing before you made your way onto the deck. You leaned your arms against the railing, watching the fairy lights dance across the water's reflection. People were chatting not too far away, sipping their white wine and having a great time. You, meanwhile, stared down at the river, silently listening to the soft sounds of laughter and music. The sound of someone gently clearing their throat broke that peace. You looked over to see Indiana, raising your eyebrows when you noticed his glass was almost drained.

"What do you want?" You asked, giving him a stern look.

Indiana blinked at your slightly harsh tone, "Just thought you might need some company." He offered, and you hummed tiredly, turning back to the river. Indiana stood beside you, looking down at the river with you. Taking a glance at you, he noticed your small frown, eyes cast downwards at the black abyss of the Nile, the soft lights casting shadows on your face. He watched as you ran your finger across the edge of your empty glass, staring into nothingness as you did. "What's the matter?" He asked, turning to face you slightly.

"Nothing," You answered with a shrug of your shoulders, taking another sip of your own drink, "Just thinking. By the way, it's none of your business."

He watched you curiously, seeing the look in your eyes; his own eye widening slightly, "You've been to Cairo before?" He asked in realization.

You let out a deep sigh, "If you must know since you keep pestering me... Yes. I have." You answered, looking up at him through your lashes, "Why are you so interested? And how did you know?"

Indiana looked at you, tilting his head slightly. "I'm curious about you."

Giving him a glare, studying him. Indiana was wearing what he usually wore, minus the whip and his hat. A loose white shirt tucked underneath tan pants. His hair was messy but kept somewhat under control. You bit your lip slightly, glancing away from his piercing stare. If he wasn't so irritating, you would find him charming. As it was, you couldn't help but feel slightly flustered by him. You shook your head slightly, turning to face the river once more. "Is that all you ever are, Doctor Jones? Curious?" You questioned.

Indiana smirked, "Call me Indiana."

You sputtered out a laugh, "I'll stick with Doctor Jones."

It was silent for a while, Indiana letting out a hum as he looked back at the river. "I know that look."

"What look?" You asked, turning to look at him, catching his side profile.

"You've missed this place." Was all Indiana answered back with, making you turn back to the river, pursing your lips. You stared down at the water, a cold breeze blowing past you as you thought about whether or not to let the man in. You had built your walls up so high…

"My father used to take me with him to Cairo for his excavations." You began softly, Indiana turned to you once more, his arms leaning against the boat's railing; he was silent, waiting for you to continue. "His first expedition was one of the most successful, he was able to find some valuable artifacts along the way." You sighed, smiling lightly as you remembered your father and his work. "But, after years of working hard and trying to make a name for himself, my father met someone who had told him about a rare artifact. One that would put my father down in the books as the finder."

"What happened?" Indiana asked softly, moving closer to you to hear the rest.

"A certain archaeologist took all the credit." You muttered grumpily, looking up at Indiana. "A certain archaeologist that was your father." You confessed, making Indiana's eyes widen.

"My dad?" Indiana narrowed his eyebrows, "So is this why you've been so cold towards me? Because of something my father did to yours?" His voice was laced with annoyance.

You shook your head, "No, actually it's the opposite. I just find you really stubborn, arrogant, annoying, scruffy-looking-"

"Scruffy-looking?" Indiana scoffed.

"-and rude. And you're always asking stupid questions-" You started to ramble until you heard Indiana laughing, "-What is it?" You asked, cocking your head.

"Well, do you know what I think?" He stated slowly, glaring at you.

"No," You replied, crossing your arms. "What do you think?"

Indiana smirked as he leaned down slightly, "I think that you think you're so much better than me." He answered tauntingly, making you huff.

"Really? Have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe..." You snapped, "Maybe I just don't like you!"

"Well, I don't like you either, sweetheart!" Indiana exclaimed, making you scoff.

"Fine! And don’t call me that!" You quickly pushed past him, Indiana turning to watch you.

"Fine!" He yelled back, staring as you paused at the railing, your tense shoulders falling as you ducked your head. Your breath slowed as you clenched your fists tightly.

"You were right about one thing, Doctor Jones." You mumbled loud enough for him to hear.

Indiana crossed his arms, "And what is that?"

You gave him a side glance, "It is beautiful." You answered, before heading back inside the boat.

Indiana stared at you as you left, eyes widening ever-so-slightly as he pursed his lips. He turned back to the dark Nile water, running his fingers through his hair, tugging at the ends slightly; letting out a heavy sigh.

~~~

You held your hat on your head, the wind blowing past you as you sat in the back of the wagon. You were heading to the excavation site, a couple of minutes out of Cairo, further down the river.

"We're coming up to the site my first team had uncovered," Monty spoke up, gaining your and Indiana's attention over the loud engine.

"Will the first team be meeting us there?" You asked, but Monty shook his head, hands firmly clasped around his cane.

"No, I'm afraid I had to fire them." He spoke, making you furrow your eyebrows.

"What did they do?" Indiana inquired, causing Monty to shrug.

"They, shall we say, broke the contract." Monty replied, voice strange as he leaned against the wagon's wall, a small smirk on his face; eyes holding some unknown emotion. It irked you.

Suddenly the wagon stopped abruptly, sending you forward. Indiana was quick to grab your arm, saving you from slamming your face on the ground. You pulled your arm away, fixing your posture. Monty jumped off the wagon, making his way around to the front, opening the trap door. You climbed out, adjusting the hat on your head. Indiana followed suit, stepping into the heat of the day. Looking around at the landscape, your eyes widened as you saw the hidden temple, half-emerged from the sand. Even though most of it was hidden under the sand, you could tell it was a large structure. It was rectangular in shape, with large pillars holding up the large stone entrance. The entrance was dark, with two lit torches on another side of it, you could see the engraving on the side of the temple; beautifully crafted.

"It's similar to the Temple of Edfu." You exclaimed, eyes wide in excitement and awe. “Oh, I can’t wait to see the inside.”

"Doctor, why don't you take a look?" Monty asked, making you look over at him.

Taking your time, you carefully made your way to him, turning your attention to the dark entranceway. It had stairs that lead straight down. Now that you were closer, you could see the touches that lit the stairwell. "I believe what we seek is down there," Monty spoke, as Mr. Turner and Mr. Black headed down into the temple; Indiana stopped beside you.

"Are you coming with us?" He asked, and Monty shook his head, tapping his left knee gently with his hand.

"Bad knee, you can understand."

You nodded, and started down the temple stairs, holding onto the walls for stability as you did so. Indiana was close behind, grabbing a touch on the way in. Soon the stairs stopped, opening up into a long hallway; the walls lined with hieroglyphics; the air was still and stagnant, the only sounds being the footsteps of yours, Indiana's, Mr. Black's, and Mr. Turner's.

Walking slowly down the hall, your footsteps echoing against the cold stone walls. You stopped behind Mr. Black and Mr. Turner as they paused before a room. It was large, with strange symbols on the ground along with the walls. You leaned around the two men, spying perfectly square holes in the walls. "You go first." Mr. Black muttered, nudging Mr. Tucker, who nudged him back.

"You scared, Black?" Tucker teased, "It's just a room, right?"

"I don't know, I don't recognize any of these symbols." Mr. Black muttered and Tucker sighed, taking a step into the room.

Suddenly, an arrow shot out of the wall, hitting Mr. Tucker right in the head, instantly killing him. You gasped, covering your mouth as Mr. Black yelled out.

"Booby traps!"

Mr. Black turned around and pushed you and Indiana out of the way, terror in his eyes as he scampered down the hall and up the stairs.

"Coward!" You yelled out to him, before gritting your teeth and turning back to the room.

"What do you think?" Indiana spoke up, his voice echoing off the walls.

"What do I think?" You asked, giving him a side glance, "I think we keep going." You said before narrowing your eyes on the floor. "It seems that if you step on the wrong tile, the trap goes off." You theorized before you went to take a step forward; but Indiana grabbed your arm, pulling you back.

"What are you doing?" He asked, looking at you as if you were crazy.

You looked up at him as you pulled your arm away from him again. "If you had read some of the hieroglyphics back there you would know that it basically told you how to get across this room."

Indiana narrowed his eyes at you, "When were you going to tell me you can read hieroglyphics?"

You turned away, stepping into the room, "You never asked, now, only step where I step." You replied, turning back to Indiana.

He watched as you took another step, his heart lurching with each step you took; thankfully, no arrows shot out of the walls. "Step where I step," Indiana muttered, making you stop, glaring over at him.

"No mocking me, I can easily lead you astray." You lightly scolded, before pointing to a stone with a bird-like symbol.

Indiana moved to that step, before taking the next one. "Would you?" The tension between the two of you could be cut with a knife.

"No." You answered before you hopped onto the last stone, like a messed up version of hopscotch; struggling to keep your balance. "But I could."

Indiana stepped on the last one before he entered the next hallway with you. "You know, it would've been helpful to know you could read it," Indiana muttered to you, taking the lead as he walked down the hall with you.

"Jones! Wait!" You exclaimed quickly, grabbing the back of his shirt and pulling him back, noticing the ceiling with a large slit in it.

"What?" He asked, and you grabbed your hat, tossing it in front of Indiana, watching as a large sharp object shot down, cutting your hat in half.

"For someone so observant, you really are blind sometimes. Booby trap." You answered, making Indiana sigh.

"Thanks, sweetheart." Indiana thanked you sarcastically, his voice deep and taunting as he stepped over the booby trap, continuing down the hall.

You followed close behind, glaring at Indiana's back, "Don't call me sweetheart." You practically growled before you heard yelling from where you had come from. "I think we should go back." You spoke up and Indiana nodded.

"I think you're right." He answered, the two of you making your way back past the fallen booby trap and across the tiles and up the stairs; careful not to get shot. Stopping at the top of the stairs, you moved your hand above your eyes as the wind and sand blew against you harshly.

"Come on, we have to go!" One of Monty's men yelled out to you, taking your hand.

"What's going on!?" Indiana yelled out over the loud wind.

"There's a storm coming. We have to get back before it hits us!" He yelled, guiding you both back to a smaller van, before speeding away back to Cairo.

Back at the hotel, you shook out your hair, bits of sand falling to the ground and onto the carpet below. Indiana did the same, grumbling about sand in his shoes as you headed up the stairs together.

"How long will the storm be?" You asked, and Indiana shrugged, his shoulders falling as he let out a sigh.

"I don't know, hours?" He answered before heading down the hall and stopping at his door. "Good night, Doctor." He spoke before entering his room and shutting the door.

You pursed your lips before entering your room. Shutting your own door, you shuffled to the dresser, grabbing some night clothes as the wind howled. Changing quickly, you sat on your bed, exhausted.

~~~

A knock at your door awoken you, your eyes blinking rapidly as you sat up in the bed, the blanket dropping to your waist. As whoever was at your door knocked again, you slid out of bed, slipping on your slippers and robe before heading to the door. Opening it slightly, you looked up to find Indiana staring down at you. He was dressed for the day, similar to his attire the day before. You rubbed your cheek as you spoke, "May I help you, Doctor?"

"I'm taking you to see a friend of mine," Indiana replied, giving you a grin.

"Right now? Aren't we going back to the temple today?" You asked and Indiana shook his head, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"That sandstorm covered most of the temple, so they are going to re-excavate it." He answered, and you raised an eyebrow.

"So that means you want to drag me around Cairo?" You asked and Indiana nodded.

"Thought it would be better than sitting in your room all day." He spoke, and you raised an eyebrow at him. Why was he now being so nice?

You let out a sigh, casting your gaze down, "Fine. I'll be ready in ten." You answered, shutting the door.

You quickly grabbed some clothes and got dressed, stumbling to the door as you pulled on and laced your boots. Opening the door, you spotted Indiana leaning across from your room on the wall. He pushed off the wall as you neared, fixing your hair. "Who are we going to go see?" You asked and Indiana began walking, you followed close behind, being able to catch up and walk beside him.

"A friend of mine." He answered back, a smirk on his face.

You furrowed your eyebrows, looking over at him, "A friend of yours? Wow, very specific." You mumbled, earning a laugh from him. "I like them already." You said sarcastically.

Indiana ignored your obvious enthusiasm, "He helps me with excavations sometimes. He lives in the city."

You hummed, stepping out into the streets of Cairo. Indiana led you around the city, passing by vendors, businesses, and homes. You both weaved past people carrying woven baskets on their shoulders, others carrying bags filled with goods. You saw a man standing outside of a clothing shop, a few children following along beside him as they played with a ball. Their laughter reached your ears and a smile formed on your face. It didn’t take long to reach Indiana’s destination, stopping at a house, you narrowed your eyes at it.

"This place seems familiar."

Indiana turned to look down at you, his eyebrows furrowed, "Familiar?"

Before you could say anything you heard laughter, watching as nine children ran out of the house, all crowding around Indiana in a giant hug. Indiana beamed, ruffling some of the kid's hair, as they chanted his name. The whole scene in front of you surprised you. It was almost… Endearing.

"Where are my- do my eyes deceive me?" You turned to the new voice and your eyes widened, a smile on your face. "Jawhara!" He cried, rushing up to you as you threw your arms around him.

Indiana watched in shock as you laughed, hugging the man he knew to be his friend, Sallah. So that was what you meant when you said you recognized the home.

Pulling back, Sallah looked at you with a beaming smile, "Oh, how you've grown. Just like your mother. Yet as adventurous as your father." He praised you, making you smile sheepishly.

"Thank you, Sallah. I am so glad to see you again. It's been ages." You replied, glancing over at Indiana who had been frozen, staring at you. "I didn't know you had kids." You turned back to Sallah, who nodded happily.

"Yes, you remember my wife, Fayah? Yes, nine perfect children." He replied, before he turned to Indiana, his kids having gone back inside a while ago. "Let's go inside, we have lots to catch up on."

Inside, you sat down at a table with Indiana and Sallah, sipping some tea that Fayah had made for you. Indiana looked to his friend and to you, before looking back to Sallah. "How do you two know each other?" He asked and Sallah sighed.

"I was friends with their father and mother, when they traveled here Fayah and I would take care of them.” He explained, smiling fondly at you before turning to Indiana. "Such a little troublemaker this one was." Sallah added and you blushed, slightly embarrassed as Indiana chuckled.

"Still is."

You turned to him, giving him a small glare, only for him to sort of glare back. Sallah cleared his throat, gaining your attention back. "So, how do you two know each other? Friends? Lovers?"

"Sal!"

"Sallah!"

You and Indiana both exclaimed, making the older man laugh, rubbing his beard thoughtfully. You rubbed your face, closing your eyes as you leaned your elbows on the table. Indiana ran a hand through his hair, before speaking.

"We were both asked to join this excavation." He answered simply, letting out a tired sigh.

Sallah smiled brightly, turning to you, "You were asked to join them?"

You nodded with your own smile. "We're looking for Prince Huaphris's tomb."

The older man's smile grew as he took another drink of his tea. "Ah, the forgotten Prince. I heard that they recently excavated a temple."

"Sallah!" Fayah called from somewhere in the home, making the man in question straighten in his seat.

"Yes, habibi?" He called back, earning no answer. Turning, Sallah gave you both an apologetic smile, standing from his seat. "You must excuse me. You two can stay as long as you need " He spoke, headed to another room before he turned to you, "It was nice seeing you again, jawhara." He spoke softly before leaving the room.

You smiled, taking another sip of your tea as Indiana turned to you. "What does he call you?" He asked and you paused before you placed your cup down.

"He calls me ‘jewel’." You answered, before speaking again, "You didn't tell me you knew Sallah." Looking up into his eyes, he looked into yours.

"You didn't either."

A silence fell upon you, as the two of you just looked at each other. The tension, similar to the one in the temple, could also be cut with a knife. The room felt cold. The atmosphere was suffocating, almost unbearable. You didn't know how long the two of you sat there, staring at each other, before you snapped back to reality, clearing your throat as you avert your eyes. You hadn't even realized it, but you began to fiddle with your shirt sleeve, your fingers playing with a gold thread.

Indiana looked at you, watching as your eyes looked away from his, almost bashfully as you looked down at your lap. Indiana bit his lip, looking to the floor as well before looking back at you.

"Um... Y/n... I-" He trailed off, not sure of what to say. You turned your eyes back to his, looking at him questioningly. His cheeks began to feel warm. "Y/n, I..." He paused, swallowing thickly. "I'm sorry."

Your eyebrows rose in surprise. You glanced back down, looking at your lap as you bit the inside of your cheek. Your lips pursed together. "I'm sorry too. You know, for calling you scruffy-looking." You apologized, looking up at the man. "More than that, I have been a bit... Rude." You turned back to look at him, giving him a soft frown. The two of you continued to stare at each other silently. After a moment, you found yourself unable to stand the silence between the two of you. "Can we please start over? Properly this time?" You asked, and Indiana nodded, giving you a grin.

You both stood up, Indiana offering his hand to you, "I'm Indiana Jones." You smiled at him for the first time, taking his hand and shaking it firmly. Indiana's heart began to race at just the sight of your smile, "But you can call me Indiana."

"I'm Y/N L/N." You began, smiling at him. "It's nice to meet you, Indiana."

The two of you stayed quiet, looking at each other, Indiana's chest warming at the sound of your voice saying his name. Had his eyes always been that chocolatey brown? You felt heat rise in your cheeks and you coughed, clearing your throat, pulling your hand back to your side, "Well, we should get going." You said, nodding towards the door. "We wouldn't want to make our friend suffer. Hands probably full of kids.”

~~~

“We're going to have to cut this trip short. Another sandstorm is coming. Bigger than the last one.” Monty spoke, the handle of his cane glinting in the hot, smoldering sun.

Your head perked up at his words, pursing your lips, “How long do we have?” You asked, awaiting his answer.

“Less than three days.” He answered shortly.

“No offense, Mr. Shaw, but I don’t think we can get to the tomb in that amount of time.” Indiana spoke up beside you, and Monty turned to him, his fingers clenching his cane.

“Well, Doctor L/N finished that map, correct?” Monty asked and you were quick to nod your head. For the past couple of weeks, you have been charting the temple's layout. Marking down the halls and rooms, you had narrowed it down to one area where you were sure the tomb was located. "Splendid, I have faith in Doctor L/N's faultless expertise. We’ll find that tomb."

While you were working on your map, Indiana was researching the supposed treasure. Finding out that it would all be worth one million dollars. Especially if the rare artifact, the dagger of the fourth King, Ahkmenrah, was in there. It was all so thrilling. And during that time, you and Indiana grew closer. You found him indeed charming as Indiana found you wondrous.

Taking a torch, you led the way, your fingers dragging along the inscriptions on the wall. As you walked farther and farther along, a sense of unease began to grow within you, causing your steps to slow. You glanced behind you to Indiana, "Do you trust Mr. Shaw?" You asked, and Indiana said nothing; taking your hand and taking the lead.

"No." He finally said as he reached the first room, following your steps as you made sure not to step on the wrong tile. "Not at all, why?"

You hopped to the ledge, making it into the next hall, the sounds of your footsteps echoing loudly against the hard stone walls. "Because something doesn't add up about him."

He stopped at the next doorway, tilting his head as he regarded you. "Such as?"

You shrugged, "The first team. Where did they go? And what about Mr. Tucker?" You said, gesturing back to the sadly dead boy of Mr. Tucker, "He didn't even seem to care when we told him."

Indiana sighed, taking your hand again as he led you down the hall with the one booby, helping you over it, “He has been a bit off-" He stopped abruptly at the end of the hallway, freezing.

You looked at him, tightening your hold on his hand, "What? What is it?" You asked, leaning to the side to see that the hall just opened up, dropping into a dark hole; it was at least eight feet or more across. You gulped, feeling a shiver run down your spine as you felt your hands clam up. "Indiana... Please don't tell me we have to cross that." You practically begged, eyes wide as you stared at the deep hole.

"It seems we don't really have a choice, sweetheart." He mumbled, before going straight into action, letting go of your hand and grabbing his whip.

Your mind completely passed over him calling you 'sweetheart', rather thinking about falling down to your death. You bit your lip, "I don't think I can do it, Indiana. I'm not really good with heights... And you know, the whole impending doom of falling down that thing."

Indiana took the torch from your hand, reaching out and dropping it into the deep depths, watching it as it fell down and down… Indiana then swung his whip as best as he could, before aiming it at a small beam on the ceiling. Tugging it, Indiana turned to you, offering his hand to you. "You can do this. Just hold onto me tight." He softly commanded. You let out a shaky breath, before grabbing Indiana's hand with a death grip. Pulling you closer, Indiana wrapped his arm around your waist, "Don't look down." He whispered, his breath hot against your ear as he gripped your waist tighter.

Digging your head into his shoulder, you shut your eyes tight. Taking a step forward, Indiana pushed off from the ground; swinging across. You squeezed tighter as you felt the wind move across your hair and face, your stomach flipping as your feet left the ground. Soon though, your feet touched the ground, but you kept your arms around Indiana, clinging to him. You peeked open an eye, taking in the view of your surroundings.

"Are you alright?" He questioned, turning to face you as you slowly released your hold on him.

You felt your heart thumping in your chest as you looked up at him. He was so close. If you only leaned in a little bit more-

You gave a nod, "Yeah, but I am never doing that again." You let out, making Indiana laugh lightly as he tugged his whip down, letting go of your waist but taking your hand again as you walked down the next hall, but not before grabbing another torch.

This hall was larger, far more spacious, allowing Indiana to walk beside you; his hand dropping from yours. You frowned slightly, missing his hand in yours as you clenched your hands briefly before looking at the walls. You could make out most of the inscriptions, catching a passage but you were quick to get distracted. You turned yet again down another hall, making you sigh. It felt like you had been walking on the slight slope for hours and your knees were beginning to ache. When really, it had been only a couple of minutes and your knees were aching. Right when you were about to say something, you paused to see two beautifully designed statues holding up the entranceway, and two perfectly carved snakes on each wall.

"Beautiful isn't it?" Indiana muttered, looking at the architecture in awe.

"Impeccably so," You responded in kind, looking at the statues. One of them was holding some sort of animal, but you couldn't figure it out. A couple of meters ahead of you stood a pedestal, sitting upon it was a golden coffin, your face brightened as you pointed to it.

"We found it!" You exclaimed, taking his hand and dragging him further into the tomb. Before you, the tomb sat on a large pillar, carved to look like snake scales, dropping off with a large gap between you and it. Behind the tomb was the treasure, the treasure of the forgotten Prince. Golden vases and goblets. Thousands of jewels were overflowing a giant golden chest, and golden coins laying on the ground. With a joyful smile, you turned to Indiana, his own lips turned up in a smile as he looked at the tomb. You had done it; you had actually uncovered an ancient Egyptian tomb. A Prince, not to mention. You were over the moon.

Suddenly, you heard a loud explosion of some kind, watching as the wall nearest to the treasure blasted apart, smoke flying in the air as you stepped closer to Indiana, flinching at the loud noise. Pausing, you heard slow clapping, seeing Monty, and a couple of his men as the smoke dissipated into the air. They held guns as they stepped over the rubble. As did Monty, holding it by his pinkie as he clapped; a smirk on his face. "Well done, Doctors. Well done."

"Are you crazy!?" Indiana exclaimed angrily, "You just ruined thousand-year-old history!"

Monty scoffed, gesturing with his hand, his men rushed over, grabbing armfuls of the treasure. "I want to thank you two. If it weren't for your knowledge of the treasure and your knowledge of Forensic Archaeology, I wouldn't have found the treasure. I do have to give you two credit. After all, you did lead me straight to it." He laughed evilly, before pointing his gun at the two of you. "Now, if you'd like to take a glance down, you'll see your future, and well, your end." You glared up at the man, seeing red. He used you. Both of you.

You leaned over slightly to see that you were standing above a pit of snakes. Hundreds, thousands of snakes, slithering; crawling over each other. Your heart started to pound rapidly inside of your chest, and your breaths became shallow. This wasn't how you expected this adventure to end.

"Snakes... Why is it always snakes?" Indiana mumbled to himself, seemingly frightened as his terror-filled brown eyes stared down at the evil beneath him.

"I did actually read something about how the Prince really liked snakes back in the hall." You spoke up, Indiana turning to you with narrowed eyes. “He even had a pet snake named Hathor.”

"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked, frustratedly as you shrugged.

"The pet snake? I didn't think it was a big deal.” You shrugged, making Indiana shake his head, looking down at you.

“No, about the pit of snakes.” He answered back, annoyed, and your eyes widened slightly as you ‘oohed.’

“Oooh, I thought if they had put anything down here it would've been dead already. But I can see how if they put enough down there, they could procreate... But what would they eat?" You ranted slightly and Indiana rubbed his face.

"Each other, sweetheart."

Monty became more and more irritated as you both bantered back and forth, physically shaking, "Shut up! Both of you!" He yelled, shooting his gun at the ceiling, but you both ignored him.

You scrunched up your nose. "But do you know if they have those types of snakes down there? I mean, when I looked, I saw a King Cobra, but I don't think snakes eat each other, even in times of hardship."

“I have no idea, Y/N, I’m not a snake professor.” Indiana sighed, rubbing a hand down his face.

"Shut up!" Monty yelled out again, in red rage before he aimed his gun and shot out.

You watched in a sort of slow-motion as Indiana clutched his shoulder, blood seeping through his dirtied shirt as he toppled over, falling down into the snake pit.

"Indy!" You cried out, eyes wide in shock and fear. Not really thinking, you jumped down, landing in the sand that didn't have any snakes, but on your side, making you wince. That was definitely going to leave a bruise.

"That was a very foolish thing to do, Doctor. Do you know how many poisonous creatures are in this pit? I should shoot you, but I guess I will allow you to live." Monty spoke, voice low and threatening. You looked up at him, as he just laughed, gesturing for his men to hurry up. "No hard feelings!" He called down to you as he left the temple with his men, carrying bags of artifacts.

You quickly stood up, looking around, spotting Indy's torch near you. Grabbing it, you found Indy standing in his own clear section, surrounded by snakes. Thinking quickly, you measured the distance between yourself and Indy; forming a plan. "Snakes don't like fire, right?" You called to him, watching as you moved the torch around, the snakes backing away from you as they hissed.

"They hate it!" Indiana yelled back, the snakes getting incredibly closer to him.

Concentrating, you tossed your torch in the middle of the snakes blocking you from Indiana. The snakes hit with the flames hissed and quickly slithered away, leaving a good amount of empty ground for you. Indiana watched you as you took a couple of steps back before sprinting forward, jumping into a front flip and landing in the small circle you made with your torch. Picking it up, you tossed it to Indiana, who quickly grabbed it as you landed another flip into his circle.

"Where did you learn that?" He asked as you looked around at the snakes.

"My mother, now do you have a plan?" You asked as he waved the torch at the snakes, making them back off.

"No, do you?" He asked and you looked around the room, noticing four large pillars in the corners. Looking at the ceiling, you found that it was cracking, from the bullet Monty had shot at it. You watched as it began to crumble, giving you an idea.

"Yeah, and you're not going to like it." You spoke, noticing most of the pillars had snakes creeping along them. The drop from where you had been was only maybe a fifteen-foot drop, too high to reach but the pillars had deep grooves that you could use. "Indiana, follow me." You instructed before you took a running jump and grabbed onto the pillar. Similar to rock climbing, you used your upper body strength to push yourself up and grab another deep groove, pulling yourself up. Looking down, you weren't more than nine feet off the ground.

Indiana looked up at you before he dropped the torch, running up and grabbing the first groove before pulling himself up to the next one beside you. "What now?" He asked, wincing from the pain in his shoulder as your chest heaved and you looked up.

"I don't know, i'm making up this stuff as I go. Maybe we could keep climbing until we get to the top. Idiot Monty shot the column, it's unstable. We can slide around to the back and push it off the wall."

"Do you really think we can push a thousand-pound rock?" Indiana asked as you shrugged, climbing higher.

"We got to try, and I don't know about you, but I'd rather not be snake food."

Carefully, you both climbed up, moving against the wall. Pushing your backs against it, you put your feet against the pillar, pushing with everything you had. Hearing a loud rumbling, you opened your eyes to see the ceiling crumbling away, the pillar began to shake as it broke away from the stone. You watched as it began to fall, jumping down and running along the falling column, Indiana running close behind as the large sculpted stone hit the Prince's tomb, crashing into it harshly.

"Sorry, your highness!" You cried out as Indiana took your hand. Before running up the ramp you made out of the pillar and jumped over the large chasm, over the snakes; landing brutally on your sides.

You sat up with a wince, holding onto your side as you watched the sculpted pillar that the tomb was on slowly crumb, before falling down into the pit of snakes, the tomb going with it.

"At least he's with his snakes." You grimaced, as Indiana let out a deep breath, his chest heaved, sweat covering his brow and his forehead. You stood up with a grunt and helped him up, smiling weakly.

"That was quite a leap you made there." He groaned, your arms wrapping his arm over your shoulder, leading him through the hole Monty and his men made with their explosives.

"And you, you survived a pit of snakes." You praised, carefully making it over the broken pieces of wall.

"Wouldn't be the first." He hissed in pain through his teeth, a smile on his face nonetheless.

~~~

Making it to the surface, you let out a sigh of relief, before turning to look up at Indiana. "Are you alright, Indy?"

"You called me Indy?" He asked, looking down at you, a small smiling forming on your lips.

"I also did when you got shot, but that doesn't matter right now. If you're fine, we need to get to Monty, and get that gold back."

"You're the boss, honey." He replied back as you began to walk to Cairo. Indiana turned down to look at you, noticing your little freckles and the way your lashes caressed the tops of your cheeks. "You didn't tell me off for that one." He noticed and you hummed, staring up ahead.

"I guess I don't mind that one." You confessed quietly, making Indiana smile proudly before it slowly faltered as he heard a car in the distance. Ahead, you watched as a car drove towards you, stopping a couple of feet away.

"Jawhara!" A voice called, making you smile seeing Sallah in the driver's seat. You quickly rushed over, helping Indiana in as you took the passenger seat.

"Sal! How did you find us?" You asked, pleasantly surprised as Sallah began to speed back to Cairo.

"I was out in town and watched those excavators leave but without you. Knew you and Indiana were in trouble." He spoke as he carefully weaved his way past people.

"Thank you, Sallah," Indiana spoke up from the back and Sallah nodded his head, catching a glimpse of Indy in the mirror.

“So, what happened?” Sallah asked as he speed down the sandy dunes, the trip bumpy as you held onto the seat, your other hand pressed firmly into the van’s ceiling.

“Shaw tried to kill us with a snake pit.” You answered, making Sallah laugh heartily.

“Ah! Typical. Must have been terrible for Indy. Hating snakes and all. But, I am glad you both made it out alive!”

You looked behind you to Indiana, a small smirk on your face. “You hate snakes? Why didn’t you tell me?” You asked him as he grimaced just thinking about the slithering reptile.

“Why would I? Just thinking about them…” Indiana shivered.

You turned back to Sallah, “Thank you again, Sal.”

"Anything for Indiana Jones and my Jawhara!"

Sallah sped down the desert, somehow being able to catch up to the plane before it went into the air. Sallah stopped a little ways away as Indiana pulled his gun from his belt, checking the bullets before he hopped out of the car. You opened the glove compartment and grabbed Sallah's gun, before doing the same. Getting low, you rushed up to Indiana behind a giant boulder, holding your gun close as you both peeked out from behind the rock.

"How many?" You asked softly, as Indiana counted the men, watching as they slowly packed away the gold in the plane.

"Eight?" He asked, more as a question. "Don't get killed." He then said, turning down to look at you.

You just looked up at him with a smile, "Not planning to." You promised, giving him a wink.

Quickly, you and Indiana began your assault, taking down as many men as you could from behind your spot, the men firing back. You were able to hit three of them, sending them down before they could reload.

"This isn't working." One of the men shouted and you looked up just in time to watch him take out a grenade, pulling out the clip with his teeth.

Quickly, you ducked behind the boulder, sand flying in the air before the sound of gunfire. You looked down at your gun, it had jammed. And beside you, Indiana was gone, making your eyes widen and your heart pound in your chest. Looking over the boulder, you watched him storm the plane, taking out the rest of the man. You let out a sigh as Indiana swerved around a man's punch, before knocking the man out. How he got on top of the plan, you'd probably never know.

But you knew this wasn't the time to wonder about it, so while the last two men were busy with Indiana, you before rushing inside the plane. Inside, you paused, finding the stolen treasure. You knew you couldn't grab all of it, so once all the yelling, fighting, and gunfire stopped, you peeked your head out of the plane.

Indiana walked over slowly, stumbling slightly as he made it to the plane's stairs, leaning up against it as he looked up at you. "Is it all there?" He asked, his hand gripping his shoulder, covered in dry blood.

You nodded with a bright smile, "Yeah, it's all here." You breathed out, "It's here."

~~~

In the spare bedroom of Sallah's home, you dipped a cool cloth into a bowl of water, rinsing, and squeezing it out. Reaching over, you gently dabbed Indiana's wound. Well, it wasn't really a wound, the bullet barely grazed him; though he was bleeding a lot. You were trying not to get distracted by Indiana's chest, his bare chest and stomach that was exposed; to easily access the wound. Glancing up, you watched as his face scrunched up in pain, wincing again. "I'm sorry..." You apologized softly, pressing lightly on the area again. You glanced back to Indiana's face and felt your cheeks heat up slightly before your eyes wandered to a small bruise forming on his cheek.

Reaching out, you gently touched his skin, feeling how warm it was underneath your fingers. You swallowed nervously, trying to avoid eye contact as your finger trailed across the bruise before finally looking up at him. His eyes were closed, as he softly nudged his cheek into your hand; his own reaching up and gently holding your wrist.

"I'm fine. Always am. You have nothing to be sorry for." Indiana whispered, his eyes slowly opening, looking into yours intently.

"If I hadn't-"

"Don't start that again." He interjected, making your eyebrows furrow. "Stop beating yourself up over it, please."

"But if I had stopped talking about the snake..." You muttered only for him to interrupt you again, dipping the rag in the dirtying water again.

“What do you think would have happened? We still would've fallen into that pit; if anything I'm the one who should be apologizing." Indiana argued as you squeezed out the water.

"But you didn't do anything." You stated quietly, "Can we just drop this? We have already established that we are both stubborn. We won’t get anywhere fighting…" You commented, pressing the rag to his wound, making some progress as you finally cleared up all the blood, dirt, and sweat. Your words hung in the air between you, as you glanced up to meet his brown eyes. Your hand slowly fell from his shoulder, as you gazed into his eyes. His eyes flickered down at your lips, his thumb slowly rubbing your wrist until your skin warmed under his touch.

Indiana looked at you, the sun's rays shining down on you, illuminating your features. The sunlight glistened on your smooth face, making it seem like you were glowing under the light. You were breathtaking; stunning. Even with sand in your hair and a smudge of dirt on your face; you were heart-stopping. Indy's eyes widened a fraction of an inch and before he realized what he was doing, his thumb slipped from your wrist, brushing your skin softly as he reached over. Your breath hitched in your throat as he brushed a stray strand of hair out of your face, pushing some of it behind your ear. Your heart pounded loudly in your ears as you stared into the brown orbs of his. His gaze softens, his fingers running down your cheek and resting on your neck. You leaned closer to him, your lips almost touching as he stared into your eyes.

The world seemed to go silent as he lowered his head down to yours. It seemed like time slowed down, as he softly brushed his lips against yours, a small spark igniting inside of you. Your hands found their place in his hair, your fingertips lightly stroking through his silky locks as you deepened the kiss, knocking his precious hat off his head. After a moment, you parted, breathing heavily as you gazed into each other's eyes. You were both quiet, neither one daring to move, scared that any sudden movement would ruin the moment. So you kept gazing into each others' eyes, admiring the way the sunset brought out his eyes, the way his eyelashes brushed his cheeks, and the way his mouth curved into a slight smile, his forehead pressed against yours.

The sounds of people outside in the streets, going to and from businesses and shops, Indiana finally breaking the silence, "You're beautiful," He murmured, his hand moving to cup your face as he stared into your eyes with such intensity you felt you might drown in his stare.

You felt your cheeks flush and you closed your eyes as you leaned forward and kissed his palm. "You're a charmer, Jonesy." You whispered, your eyes fluttering open and gazing into his brown eyes, his smile widening slightly as he cupped your cheek. "Indy?" You then spoke up softly, making Indiana hum in response. "Do you know how to fly that plane?"

Indiana froze for a moment, "No?" He answered, making you laugh a little, nuzzling your nose with his as you pulled away, grabbing the bandages for his wound.

"I had a feeling you wouldn't." You teased, biting your lip, giggling as Indiana narrowed his eyes at you, feigning offense. "I borrowed a phone while I was grabbing the bandages. We'll be out of Cairo and back in Connecticut tomorrow night. And I have a van that will be sending all the Prince's treasure to both the National Museum and the Smithsonian." You explained, wrapping the bandage around his upper arm.

Indiana's eyes lit up, a huge grin appearing on his face, "Oh, honey," He breathed out softly, "Could you be any more perfect?” He asked as you just rolled your eyes.

~~~

Standing beside you, suitcases packed and at your sides, you waited for the plane to arrive. You both had said goodbye to Sallah, his wife, and the kids. Promising to write and visit as much as possible. Indiana tugged you closer into his side, his arm wrapped securely around your waist as the wind began to pick up slightly as you watched an airplane slowly land. Indiana held his hat down as the plane slid to a stop a couple of meters away. The plane's propeller slowly spun to a stop as the door opened, and an older man with a thick gray beard stepped out. In spotting you, he smiled rushing over. You did the same, pulling your father into your arms.

Indiana watched in a form of awe as you smiled at the man before turning around and smiling over at him.

"Come on, Indy. Let's go home."

Without wasting another second, Indiana grabbed the suitcases, following you to the plane. And as he sat beside you, being introduced to your father, Indiana couldn't help but wonder... What new adventures were in store for him?

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missvelvetsstuff · 1 year ago

Text

Guarded Heart

Bucky Barnes x Reader

MobAu

Summary: Y/N is the daughter of a powerful mob boss who only cares about her horses and making it to the Olympics but her father expects her to marry an equally powerful boss to help strengthen his business. Bucky is looking for a wife to help his business and give him an heir, something his long term girlfriend, Natasha can't do.

Warnings: swearing and angst. A smidge of violence

Last chapter,

"Goddammit Steve, she's gone! Y/N left with Pietro and Wanda." Then his phone dinged, a text with blueprints for her house including everything she had mentioned. Bucky showed his phone to Steve.

Chapter 20

Steve looked at Bucky, eyes wide "Fuck", then startled at a sound from behind him. Furrowing his brow he retreated into his room to grab his phone, whispering "Loki?"

He heard an annoyed breath "Obviously. Do tell me you're on your way."

Confused Steve replied "On my way?"

Loki huffed "Yes, Steven on your way. Have you suffered a stroke since last we spoke?"

Steve shook his head forgetting that Loki couldn't see him "No, but I am pretty confused right about now."

Loki scoffed "She didn't tell you? She told me you were all on board and she was sending the blueprints to you. Did one of you oafs get a message with the blueprints?"

Steve looked at Bucky "Uh, yeah, Buck has em."

"Well that's something I suppose. I'm almost at her house and would appreciate if you could rally Barnes and back us up before Zemo arrives. She told me 2-3 hours when I spoke to her 15 minutes ago. Best to err on the side of caution and have everyone in place within an hour. Can you manage, love?"

Steve started pulling on a black pair of jeans "Yeah, we'll be there. Be careful."

Loki chuckled "Don't get sentimental on me now, Rogers. See you soon."

Bucky was looking at Steve expectantly "So? What'd your boyfriend have to say?"

Steve glared "He's not my-. Nevermind that. He's on his way to Y/N's house. She told him we were down with this insanity and would meet them there."

Bucky shook his head "What the fuck is she playing at? Fuck!" He ran his hand through his hair "Get dressed. Stealth is probably best. Well armed" He looked over his shoulder "You too, Sam. Out the door in 15. Message everyone, including Fury."

Bucky woke his father and they dressed, armed up and piled into the SUV, pulling out 17 minutes later, with 2 more cars following them. Bucky and Steve sat in the back seat looking over the plans, arguing softly and trying to find a way to get in.

"Look, there's a tunnel we can access in the guest house that goes into the sunroom, which is just off of the living room where I'm assuming she would be. We need to get ourselves set up in these passages" Steve pointed on the blueprint "Where we can listen in and get to her quickly. She has Pietro so isn't completely defenseless."

Bucky scoffed "Yeah, he was shot a couple of days ago and left the hospital early, against doctors advice. Not sure he will be much use.

Call Loki and find out where they are and if we should start there or if there's another place."

Steve called Loki "Hey babe, we're almost there but where exactly do you want us to start?"

He listened and nodded for a couple of minutes. "Right. We'll see you soon." He put his phone in his pocket "Staging at the guest house then we move in to the various hiding places. Jesus, Y/N's father was more than prepared, this house is crazy. Secret passages, multiple weapons caches and booby traps that can be activated with an app. An app that also accesses security cameras all over the house and tracks movements. I'm downloading it and sending the link to you."

Bucky nodded "We need a place to park where Zemo won't see a bunch of cars and get suspicious. This only works if he buys her story and we don't want to fuck it up for her."

For the rest of the ride there, they were all quiet, each preparing themselves for battle but hoping it wouldn't get that far.

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

Sitting in her fathers office, Y/N tried to calm her racing heart. Contrary to popular belief she didn't have a death wish, she was simply fed up with her lack of control in her own life. Dreykov, Natasha, Zemo, her father, fucking Bucky.

Her left shoulder was aching and carried a slight odor, like death rotting her flesh away. She was pretty sure she was running a fever as well, likely had an infection. She knew the dressing needed to be changed, she needed to get some sleep and take it easy for awhile but this had to be done. She couldn't rest while Zemo was still out there plotting against her. As she mumbled to herself, she didn't realize how unhinged she was becoming.

Y/N was at the point where she didn't really care anymore if she survived this mess as long as Zemo didn't. Dying would be better than living the rest of her life looking over her shoulder.

She needed pain meds but wasn't willing to chance them taking away her edge. Her mind didn't consider that concern when she lit up a joint in an effort to relax.

The doorbell rang and she jumped out of her seat. She took one last long drag off the joint and exhaled slowly, trying to blow out the anxiety she was feeling. After a couple more calming breaths she stood slowly and headed for the front door. As she walked she fidgeted with her dress, it was one Zemo had always liked as he tried to mold her into some depraved 50's housewife role. It didn't fit quite right due to her missing limb but Wanda did the best she could. Silk stockings were attached to her corset and pink pumps that matched her dress perfectly waited on the floor.

Her hair was styled with a ribbon that matched the trim on her dress. She quickly stepped into her shoes, wobbling the first few steps before gaining her balance.

Y/N didn't realize she had started off walking at a reasonable rate that was slowing as she moved closer to the door. She smoothed her skirt and checked to make sure her weapons were secure and out of sight.

Pietro stood by the fireplace giving her an encouraging nod. Wanda had been sent to the panic room to keep her safe. She was practically a mind reader when dealing with people but not much of a fighter.

The doorbell rang again making Y/N speed up until she was there. She silently said a short prayer and then made sure it was Zemo and one of his men, someone she didn't recognize, before she opened the door.

"Helmut, you look very handsome" she stuttered nervously and moved aside "Please, come in. I have your favorite scotch if you'd like a drink." She didn't mean for that to come out as a question but sounding nervous played into her game. "I made some of your favorite rolls, the ones with cheese and garlic. Come sit in the living room."

Zemo eyed her suspiciously, she had fought him too hard through their entire relationship, to just cave like this. "Thank you my dear. You look quite lovely, is this all for me?"

She tittered nervously "Of course. I contacted you to end this war but have realized that you're the one that I want to marry. It's always been you, I just needed to grow up about some parts of the business. They may be distasteful to me but it's all part of the game.

I don't want to be a boss and carry the weight of peoples lives. I want a simple life, taking care of the man that I love. I would be happy to let you handle business. All I need is you and my horses, not even competing just for pleasure."

Zemo looked her over, she really was delicious but this didn't sound right. "Are you sure my love? This is a huge turnaround for you."

"I know Helmut but the last few years, hell the last few weeks have taught me a lot and on top of the list is that I don't want this pressure, this responsibility."

He moved closer grabbing her hand and pulling her flush against him. His voice lowered "I could give you that life and anything else you want but I have to know I can trust you. Submit to me. Right now, on your knees and prove your devotion. Show me the whore you will be for me and me alone."

She followed his orders, smiling seductively when all she wanted was to kill him. She opened his pants and pulled them down to reveal his partially hard cock. Before she could wrap her mouth around him he stopped her and put himself away.

He smiled wickedly at her as he pulled her to her feet "Wait my love. I have something better. I know your friends are here but I'm not sure where. You'll help me find and kill every one of them. Then I will know you are sincere."

Y/N kept the seductive mask on her face afraid to look in his eyes, hoping he took it as submission. "Of course, Helmut. I'm not great at killing but I'll do what it takes."

Zemo chuckled "I saw the security footage of your confrontation with Natasha. You took her and Clint out, two shots and after your shoulder was hit. I'm sure Clint regretted training you so well, at least for a second, before he died."

She fiddled with her hands "I was angry, they took almost everything away from me. Bucky is an idiot but he-"

Zemo looked at her sadly "He refused to listen when you warned him about her. Refusing to consider your evidence. He even refused to listen to his own brother." He sighed "It's alright my dear, it will take much longer to repair our bond and ensure my trust in you but I'm happy to kill them."

"I'm so sorry, sir. I know I'm weak, that's why I need your strength. At the head of my family your power will be beyond your imagination." She kneeled in front of him, "Please, sir."

Zemo felt himself getting turned on, he had never been able to get her to submit to him like this before, she was too headstrong. He knew he should wait until Barnes and Loki were taken care of before taking his spoils but his cock was straining against his pants at the sight of her kneeling and submitting to him. He wanted Barnes to see her like this on her knees, make up ruined and face fucked out.

He cleared his throat.

She got his message and pulled him back out, straining to look anything besides disgusted as she worked him just how he loved.

Bucky and Steve were behind a bookcase in a passage off the living room. Bucky felt sick listening to her trying to convince Zemo that she wanted him. Words that he wanted to hear her say to him but for that dirtbag. Bucky wanted to shove the bookcase aside and kill him. He tried to ignore the meaning of silence coming from that room. Well, not quite silence he could hear her slurping and Zemos groans and words of praise.

Steve gave him a dirty look and pointed at his watch to give Bucky the message that they had to wait.

Zemo shouted when he finished in her mouth, touching her cheek gently until he grabbed her hair and pulled until she yelped. "Do you believe I'm stupid my love? That I wouldn't realize you set me up." He spat in her face then shrugged "Maybe if Barnes wasn't a mouth breather I wouldn't have been able to hear him" he pulled her up to her feet by her hair causing Y/N to shout in pain "Come on out Barnes before I kill your lady love. I know you're behind the bookcase." He shook his head.

"I'm disappointed, you all seem to have a very poor opinion of me. As though I would walk in to such an obvious trap unaware." He slapped Y/N's face with his free hand "Now face me Barnes before I pull my gun out."

Bucky looked at Steve in a panic, who shrugged and pushed him ahead. Bucky stumbled into the bookcase, making it turn and almost fell before straightening himself out. Steve walked behind him, smirking.

Y/N gasped "Helmut, you must believe me I didn't conspire with Barnes or any in his family. He has betrayed me too many times to trust him with my life."

Zemo shook his head "You think I can't see how he looks at you? You knew he would try to save you just as well as I did. Lucky me, I get to kill you both and take over your families."

"Please, Helmut, sir. I'll be a good wife for you, like you wanted."

Bucky started to object when Zemo reached up Y/N's skirt and pulled a knife out. "If you are sincere why are you armed? I doubt this is the only weapon you have hidden."

He brought the knife up against her throat "This is much better. I can hear your heart racing my sweet. Don't worry, I'm going to kill you last. Maybe take a bit more pleasure from you before I do. Unless you find a way to convince me to keep you."

He looked at Bucky as he stiffened and smirked "Barnes, put down your weapons and instruct your men to do the same or I'll kill her in front of you." He put a little pressure on the knife at her throat, creating a thin line of blood.

Feeling the trickle of blood on her neck brought Y/N out of her haze and made her realize she did want to live. She hoped it wasn't too late for her self preservation to be kicking in.

Bucky looked over at Steve in a panic to see that Steve and Sam were both putting their guns down so he did the same while his mind raced to find a way out.

Before any of them had the chance to come up with anything, a gunshot rang out and Y/N crumpled to the floor.

Chapter 21

@bigphattygyal @cjand10 @lokiandbuckysdoll

@kimomoraba @avery199 @mishkatelwarriorgoddess @esposadomd

@sebsgirl71479 @calwitch @hhiggs

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes fanfiction #james bucky barnes x reader #james bucky barnes #bucky barnes x you #angst with a happy ending #mob!au #arranged marriage #guarded heart

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thespiceyoops · 2 years ago

Text

Home - Chapter 1

So I finally fell into the Steddie pit and it’s kind of all I can think about right now. I am fully obsessed and I feel like making it everyone’s problem. I thought it was going to be a quick little one shot to help me get past the writers block but it is a full six chapters and has fully taken over my brain.

Series Status: Complete (6 chapters)

Series Pairing: Steddie X Reader

Series Summary: You find yourself back in Hawkins after a long 6 month disappearance, the events of the Upside Down sending you screaming out of your home town to escape the horrors that haunted your mind only to find yourself face to face with your best friend begging you to come home, to finally see your boyfriend again....his boyfriend.

CW: So much angst, descriptions of violence and horror, character death (he gets better), PTSD and trauma, No smut this chapter yet.

WC: 3.9K

The wind is cold on your face, the late autumn breeze bringing equilibrium to the chill that had settled deep inside you those long six months prior. You had embraced it wholeheartedly when it had finally found you miles outside of your hometown, finally taking the searing edge off the agony that had gripped your heart as the Welcome to Hawkins sign faded in the rear view mirror, a blanket of numbness that covered the shattered pieces of your heart. You hadn’t even attempted to put those pieces back together, the fear of the pain that would come from even letting yourself look back keeping the cover of apathy undisturbed for those long 6 months. There had been moments, deep in drunken stupors, either alone or on the bathroom floor or wrapped in your roommates arms, curled in a familiar sweater or jacket, where you had let yourself be swept up in the memories, the pain and overwhelming terror all over again. Eliza had sat with you every time, smoothing your hair and whispering soft encouragements until you fell asleep, making sure to put the articles of clothing back in the box under the bed before you awoke the next morning, having learned early that sober-you was much harder to handle when you saw them than drunk-you. Her abundant compassion was the only thing that kept you going during your hardest times, sprinkled with the occasional tough love when she knew you could handle it. That tough love was what got you where you were now, standing in front of your old home at 11 am on a Tuesday, staring at a car that was definitely not your parents. Your heart drops as you see a young couple pass the living room window, also definitely not your parents. You were never close with either of them, the pair clearly realizing their regret in creating a child early in your development and instead focusing on their own parties and trips, it had been how you’d become close with one, Steve Harrington, the both of you finding solace in each others similar neglect and carving out your own small world together, spending summer days tearing through the town pretending to be archeologists, tomb raiders or astronauts running from big bad aliens, little Steve always flinging himself in the path of beasts and booby traps and the occasional screaming parent when you disrupted their carefully curated evening dinners with your foolishness. It had been just the two of you against the world until he’d met Tommy and Carol, his personality shifting almost overnight and leaving you drifting alone in the sea of high school horrors. You’d thought you’d gotten him back briefly after his devastating breakup with Nancy, coming to terms with your own romantic feelings for the tall fluffy haired teen only to have those feelings trampled as he then desperately chased every other girl but you to numb the pain of his heartbreak. Resigning yourself to your unrequited love had been hard but a very effective distraction had quickly shown itself in the form of Eddie Munson, his wild look and even wilder attitude taking over all your senses the moment he sat himself beside you in the study hall and began adding little bats and dragons to margins of your notebook already decorated with tiny knights and castle walls, the grin he’d thrown you melting the icy walls you’d hidden your heart behind like the summer sun. The two of you became quickly inseparable, Hellfire taking over your Thursdays, Corroded Coffin’s practices or performances your Tuesday’s and since the moment the two of you confessed your more-than-friends feelings for each other the rest of your time spent sneaking off to secluded places, planning for a future far away from Hawkins, desperately attempting to keep your hands to yourselves long enough to crawl your ways to passing grades and eventual graduation. He’d almost made it too…

The warmth of nostalgia tips dangerously into forbidden territory before you can stop it, the memories of finding out what had happened to that poor girl in his trailer, the fight with your parents that had gotten violent when you had insisted that you go look for Eddie and ended with them telling you that if you were “going to continue to whore yourself out to some satanic murderer then you were no daughter of theirs'', the panic and subsequent relief you had felt when Steve had picked you up on the side of the road, his warm arms wrapping you up in the same hug he used to give you when you ran away from home as a kid, telling you it would be ok and pressing a kiss to your forhead, in that moment you had believed him. You’d clung to Eddie so tight when you’d found him in that boat house he’d joked through tight sobs that you were going to dislocate something but not releasing his grip on your either, not while you’d stayed with him that night on the cold dirt floor, not when you’d made a break for it to escape Jason and his cronies, not under skull rock, only finally breaking contact when you’d dove into the dark waters of lovers lake after Steve had been dragged into the inky blackness. He’d been immediately on your heels to your surprise, followed closely by Nancy and Robin, helping you beat the savage bats away from Steve just long enough for him to free himself, his shredded body leaning heavily on the two of you as everyone had scrambled their way through the upside down. You had remained in some kind of physical contact with the both of them the remainder of that horrible nightmare, hand in bloody hand, fingers tangled in Eddies jacket or the vest he’d thrown over Steve, limbs brushing each other, needing some small assurance that the other was there, never letting them out of arm's reach. Not until the plan that was decided upon, you’d felt your stomach the moment Nancy had split the groups, understanding the need for Steve’s protection and knowing there was no one better to back Nancy and Robin up where they were going but hating the idea that he wouldn’t be by your side while you stayed back to aid the distraction, that he’d be so far away and you wouldn’t be able to do anything if something happened. He’d held you for a long moment when you said your goodbyes in the upside down, holding your face in his hands and pressing a kiss to your forehead, promising he’d be right back then looking over your head to lock eyes with Eddie and making him promise to keep you safe …. And to stay safe himself, a look of surprised worry lining his face as he looked at the other boy.

It had all gone so well, you’d done your job, the bats had come in droves and left the Creel house undefended, you’d shared a long kiss with Eddie, his eyes glowing with pride and excitement over his killer concert, Dustin jumping and whooping at your sides. But then the vent broke, the first one covered quickly with the spiked shield, small celebration cut short with a horrified look at each other as you reminded Eddie that the vent in the bedroom hadn’t been fixed until the previous summer. He’d thrown himself at the door, slamming it shut and screaming for you to get Dustin out before the bats could break through the flimsy wood. You’d managed to help the younger boy hoist himself through the portal and were hanging weightless between the two worlds waiting to pull Eddie through behind you when he’d pressed a kiss to your forehead and shoved you back, your back hitting the floor and knocking the wind from you as he slashed the knotted sheets, cutting off his escape route with a sorrowful smile, promising to buy you time as you and Dustin had screamed at him to stop. You’d nearly shattered your knee when you finally managed to vault yourself through the tear in space, barely allowing yourself to feel the pain as you launched yourself through the trailer door, the screams of the man you loved echoing across the twisted landscape, permeating your bones and driving you towards the swirling vortex of bat-like demons. You were fully prepared to dive in, to let them tear you apart as well so long as you could be in his arms when they began to fall lifeless around you, silence falling like a blanket save for Eddie’s gasping breaths as you fell to your knees at his side, everything in your heart shattering as you took him into your arms.

The soft call of your name drags you from your tormenting memories with a painful gasp, the familiar voice stabbing into your heart like a knife. You will yourself to keep your gaze averted, to jump into your car and speed away, never looking back again. But you can’t help it, a voice you’d heard in your dreams, in your nightmares, sometimes even in your waking moments when you’d gone one too many nights without proper rest, Steve’s voice. You turn slowly, even through your welling tears you can’t help but absorb every detail of the man before you, his hair swooping in the way it always has, his skin pale and soft, speckled with beauty spots that disappear under a gray shirt and thick jacket, his hands are extended in front of him slightly, halfway between calming and nervous, like he’s trying to get close to a deer or a frightened dog. He says your name again and you finally fight through every instinct to run and look up to meet his gaze with a shaking breath. It’s every bit as devastating as you’d expected, a million emotions swimming in his hazel pools, pain and sorrow overwhelmed in the pure joy and relief that feels unreal as your heart shrinks behind its protective walls.

“How did you know I was here?” Your voice doesn’t sound like yours in that moment, hoarse and broken like it hadn’t been used in all the months since you’d left. You wince, hoping you don’t sound as pitiful as you feel, expecting a volley of anger and ridicule after having the nerve to show back up in town after all this time, expecting it yet not ready in the slightest.

Steve takes in your posture, the way you’ve got one foot turned to run, the hunch of your shoulders as you wrap your arms around yourself and his heart breaks, desperate to wrap himself around you yet knowing how fragile the moment is. He starts to make up a lie, something simple, something light that will keep this moment of a dream alive just a little longer but his mind stops as his gaze falls across the familiar leather jacket gripped tight under your fingers, the pale fabric of an even more familiar sweater peeking out from underneath and he can’t help but be honest, as he always has been with you, a tiny flame of hope igniting in his chest.

“Eliza.” His lip ticks up in the ghost of the smile he’s holding back as he watches your eyes widen with surprise and confusion.

“Wha- how? Why?” You sputter, mind racing as to how she had managed to make contact, remembering the torn pieces of paper you’d left unreadable along the side of the road, remnants of phone numbers you’d let the wind scatter across an unknown Indiana field. You remembered them for sure, every one of your friends phone numbers seared into your brain like a brand but you were sure that’s where they had stayed, not even in your drunken dazes had you let them slip so how? Steve see’s your mind reeling behind your eyes, letting his hand drift up to gently brush the fabric of your jacket, your eyes snapping back to him from where they’d drifted into your panicked memories, wide and scared.

“Can we go somewhere to talk a bit?” He tries to keep his tone light, holding back the emotions that swell with every moment he looks at you. “I think the new owners are starting to worry”

You glance back at the house you had parked in front of to see the couple standing, half hidden behind the curtains eyeing you suspiciously, a wave of embarrassment floods your cheeks as you turn away, nodding and biting your lip as you stoop to get in your car. There is only a moment of reprieve as you pull the door shut, the sudden silence feeling like a cool breeze on your overheating body, before it is broken by the clicking of the passenger door and Steve flops into the seat. You glance over at him confused, mouth gaping for a question that he silences with a chuckle, pointing up the road.

“Let’s go up the road a bit, they put in a new park last month but it should be pretty quiet right now” He can see the tension in your knuckles as you pull away from the house, the tension he’d felt rolling off you in waves as he stood there, it was enough to tell him not to let you out of his sight, that if he let you drive off alone he will never see you again. He can feel his heart clench as you hesitate, seeing the mental battle going on in your head just as clearly as he always could, the same wrinkle that forms between your brows while your lips open and close like you’re having a silent argument. His hand itches to smooth the creases forming across your forehead like he used to but instead just whispers “Please?”

The softness in his voice breaks you from your panicked spiraling and you can’t help but glance over at him, his posture is almost relaxed but you can see his own nerves in the way he tugs at the hem of his shirt, his fingers busying over the rough fabric as he tries to maintain his calm. With no other plan coming to mind you start the car, wincing at the screeching whine it makes as it rolls forward. Steve frowns and makes a mental note to ask Eddie to take a look at it if he can keep you from fleeing town long enough.

It’s a short drive, the new park quiet and deserted as you get out, walking closer you understand why; seeing the remnants of one of the giant cracks that had torn their way through the peaceful Hawkins streets that fateful night, ground next to the swings dipping away and filled with dirt and gravel and a few patches of grass still clinging to the last ghosts of summer. You halt as Steve wanders closers to the swings, an almost physical force keeping you from getting closer, memories of the days following the quake humming into your mind, the government had managed to keep the rest of the survivors safe while El had closed the rift for good, or at least as good as she could. No one knew what happened to Vecna, if he was still out there, if he would be back but what El could assure was that he wouldn’t touch Hawkins again. What that meant you didn’t know, all you could feel at the time was fear and guilt, you were the only one that came through relatively unscathed…physically… the rest sporting visible wounds from their efforts, yours however remained entirely internal once the bruises and scuffs went away, your heart in pieces and your mind fracturing as you spent the lonely nights tormented by nightmares of the ones you loved torn to pieces in front of you, the nightmares Vecna had filled your head with when he threatened El. Useless as they took care of each other, took care of the rest of the survivors while you’d remained locked in your room, hidden from the horrors you’d seen and guilt that tugged at your heels with every step through the town until you couldn’t take it anymore.

Steve halts when the sound of your feet on the dead grass behind him stop, turning he sees your eyes staring blankly past him to the crack in the ground, your breathing coming in ragged gasps as you clutch your arms tightly around you. He turns quickly, putting himself between you and whatever terrifying visions are playing behind your watery eyes, hesitating for only a moment before placing his large, warm hands on your shoulders, your name falling gently from his lips and slipping past the wall you are hiding behind.

His voice brings you back to the surface like a buoy, just like it always had, the way he says your name holding you in a way that fights back all your demons just long enough for you to regain control of your breathing and blink back the tears prickling the corners of your vision. You shake your head and slip out of his grip gently, your body screaming to feel the warmth again but your heart aching at the touch. He follows you to the swings, opting to sit on a boulder diagonal of the swing you pick, snatching a long piece of grass and fiddling with it for a moment as you settle, flinching at the way the chains rattle above you.

“Eliza called us 2 months after you left… you’d apparently mentioned some names when you were…sleeping and she did some digging. That woman must work for the CIA or something I swear.” He chuckles remembering the accusatory tone he’d bristled over when the shrill voice of who he now knew to be Eliza, your 55 year old roommate and apparently self appointed guard dog had launched itself through the phone receiver at him.

“Steve huh? What the hell did you do to this poor girl?” She’d snapped the moment he’d answered with his name, he hadn’t even needed her to tell him who she was referring to, his heart leaping into his throat the moment his brain made the immediate leap.

“Is she safe?” He’d choked out, strangling the phone in a vice-like grip, whispering into the receiver so Eddie wouldn’t hear, his meds not quite having knocked him out yet.

“She’s still alive if you even care.” He could hear her scowl over the phone and his heart ached, you hadn’t gotten close to many people when you’d lived in Hawkins so the fact that you had someone this protective in your corner wherever you were overwhelmed him with relief.

“Oh thank god” his voice had hitch at the end of the sentence, biting back a sob, voice strained with relief. Eliza had been quiet for a long moment, clearly taken aback by the reaction. “I just- please stay with her. I know you don’t know me but I know you care about her. We do too, so, so much.” He had to take a second, his shoulders shaking with muted sobs before he could hiss out the rest of his words. “If… If she’s ever able to please send her home. We miss her so much. I don’t kno-” His words are interrupted by the sound of something shattering behind Eliza, her muttered curses and a hurried, “I’ll call you back” Before the line went dead. Steve had stood there for what felt like hours, grinding his fist into the wall as he bit painfully into the other, stifling his cries in the dark hallway, miserable longing overwhelming him.

“That would explain it” You sigh, remembering the long conversation she had almost too giddily sat you down for after you’d made it a full month sober a week ago, a sudden and mysterious lover had come into her life and she was moving across the country with him which left you very suddenly in a lurch… She owned the home and was more than happy to let you live there; however she was taking all her furniture and you, having not worked nearly enough to replace everything, were left with the ever so inconvenient option of retrieving your belongings from your family home. She had been unsettlingly insistent, lovingly giving you shit for being a scaredy cat and being equally patient as you’d steeled yourself for the trip, trying to think of any possible way to get out of the inevitable call home only to be countered expertly by Eliza’s infuriating persistence. That particular stress had however been for naught, not being able to get a hold of either of your parents at their old number you had resigned yourself to a surprise visit, hoping that it would lessen the likelihood of anyone else finding out you were here before you could gather your things and scurry back out.

“She called a couple times over the months you were gone, just to let us know you were ok, or at least getting there. I didn’t really tell her what happened, government cover up and all that. Plus we figured you would tell her eventually if you felt up for it.”

“Didn’t quite get there unfortunately, not that she minds I'm sure, she is either off drinking something fruity in the arms of a too good to be true man or, the more likely scenario, she lied to my face, knew my old stuff was long gone and was just setting me up for well…This.”

“Oh it’s not actually.” Steve pipes up, the familiar wry smile cracking your lips igniting the hope in his chest ever more to push just a bit. “Your parents left around the same time mine did and dumped pretty much everything not of value out on the front lawn. Managed to get it all before it got rained on… We kept it for if…for when you came home.”

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