#will didn't “rip the bandaid off” he TRIED to and found he couldn't do it

[boyfriendsmalec]

I think a lot of people misinterpret the bandaid line in the van speech and believe that Will is saying that in that moment he's "ripping off the bandaid" to his love for Mike. As if this is his first step in "getting over" Mike.

But that's not the case. The whole line is: "And if [I] was going to lose you, I think [I'd] rather just get it over with quick, like ripping off a bandaid." He directly follows this up by adding, "So yeah, [I] need you Mike, and [I] always will."

Will is saying what he wishes he could do. He wishes he could get over Mike quickly, like ripping off a bandaid. But the point is that he can't.

[starlitmelanin]

ᡣ𐭩ྀི escapism; a.tchouaméni

pairing - aurélien x fem!reader

word count - 3k

warnings - mentions of alcohol/heavy drinking. implications of sex, nothing explicit.

summary - when your relationship ends abruptly, you don't have time to process the heartbreak. instead, you put on your little black dress, go out on the town, and find yourself a distraction.

it was supposed to be just another night, another argument that would blow over like all the rest. but when he sat you down, his expression more serious than you'd ever seen, you felt something shift in the air, something cold and final.

"we need to talk."

those words, so simple and so devastating, hung between you like a glass waiting to drop. you knew what was coming, could see it in the way he couldn't quite meet your eyes, in the way he sighed like he was about to do something he'd regret.

"i can’t do this anymore, y/n," he said, his voice heavy with regret but firm, like he'd made up his mind and there was no going back. "we're over."

the words hit you like a punch to the gut, knocking the wind out of you, leaving you reeling. for a moment, you just sat there, staring at him, waiting for him to say something, anything, that would make it all make sense. but he didn't. he just sat there, looking at you like he was waiting for you to understand, to agree, to make it easy for him.

but there was nothing easy about this. your heart felt like it was being torn apart, ripped to shreds, and you wanted to scream, to cry, to beg him to stay, to fight for what you had. but you didn't. you couldn't. because even as the pain surged through you, a numbness settled in, a protective layer that kept you from breaking down right there in front of him.

"okay," you said, the word hollow, emotionless, like it wasn't even you saying it. you stood up, walked away, and didn't look back.

you didn't cry. not then, not after. you wouldn't let yourself. instead, you did the only thing you could think of to keep from feeling the pain—you numbed it. the bottle became your closest companion, its contents a temporary bandaid for the wound that still felt too fresh, too raw.

that's how you found yourself out on the town, dressed in a little black dress that hugged your curves just right, your makeup flawless, your hair done up perfectly. you looked good, and you knew it, but it wasn't about feeling good. it was about not feeling at all. you wanted to drown out the thoughts, the memories, the pain. you wanted to lose yourself in the music, in the crowd, in the taste of alcohol on your tongue.

the club was packed, bodies moving together in a rhythm that was almost hypnotic, the bass vibrating through the floor, through your body, until it was the only thing you could feel. the lights were low, flashing colours that blurred your vision, making everything feel surreal, like you were in a dream. or a nightmare. you couldn't tell the difference.

you made your way to the bar, ordered another drink—something strong, something that burned on the way down—and then another. you didn't want to think, didn't want to feel. you just wanted to forget.

"you good?" the bartender asked, his voice cutting through the fog in your mind.

you looked at him, tried to focus on his face, but it was hard. everything was hard. "i'm fine," you said, waving him off. "just keep them coming."

he hesitated, but you weren't in the mood for pity or concern. you were here for one reason and one reason only—to drown out everything else.

that's when you saw him.

he was standing at the other end of the bar, leaning casually against it like he had all the time in the world. tall, dark, and handsome, with a smile that was almost too perfect, too charming. he had that kind of presence that made people turn and look, but he didn't seem to care. he was just... there. and for some reason, you couldn't stop staring.

he must have felt your gaze because he looked up, his eyes meeting yours across the bar. and then he smiled, a slow, lazy smile that made something in your chest tighten, made your breath catch. he was gorgeous, and you could tell he knew it, but there was something else, something in his eyes that made you want to look away and look closer all at once.

you weren't looking for anything serious. hell, you weren't looking for anything at all. but as he walked over to you, his steps confident, purposeful, you couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, this was exactly what you needed. a distraction. something, or someone, to take your mind off everything else.

"you look like you could use some company," he said, his voice smooth, warm, with just the right amount of flirtation.

"and you look like trouble," you shot back, the alcohol giving you a boldness you didn't usually have.

he laughed, the sound rich and deep. "maybe," he said, his eyes never leaving yours. "but maybe that's not such a bad thing."

you looked at him, really looked at him, and for the first time all night, you felt something other than pain, other than the numbness you'd been clinging to. you felt... intrigued. curious. and maybe a little reckless.

"i'm aurélien," he said, holding out his hand.

you took it, felt the warmth of his skin, the strength of his grip, and something in you shifted. "y/n."

he smiled, and it was the kind of smile that promised things you weren't sure you were ready for, but tonight, you didn't care. tonight, you weren't looking for promises or commitments. you were looking for an escape, and this aurélien guy seemed more than willing to provide it.

"so, y/n," he said, leaning in a little closer, his voice dropping to a murmur that was somehow more intimate than the loud music surrounding you, "what brings you out tonight?"

you hesitated, the truth too raw, too painful to share with a stranger, but the alcohol was already loosening your tongue, making you more honest than you would've liked. "my boyfriend dumped me," you said, the words slipping out before you could stop them. "last night."

his eyes softened, the playful light dimming just a little. "i'm sorry," he said, and it sounded genuine, not just something people say because they feel they should.

"don't be," you replied, taking another sip of your drink. "i'm not here to feel sorry for myself."

"what are you here for?" he asked, his eyes searching yours, curious.

you met his gaze, held it, and felt a spark of something you hadn't felt in a long time. desire. it was small, barely a flicker, but it was there, and you wanted to fan it, to let it grow, to let it burn away everything else.

"i'm here to forget," you said, your voice low, steady, and you could see the understanding in his eyes, the way his gaze darkened just a little, like he knew exactly what you meant.

"i think i can help with that," he said, his voice matching yours in intensity.

you didn't need to ask what he meant. you knew. and you were okay with it. more than okay. you wanted it.

"good," you said, setting your glass down on the bar, the clink of it louder than it should have been in the noise of the club. "because that's exactly what i need right now."

he didn't waste any time. his hand found yours, warm and strong, and he led you through the crowd, out of the club, and into the cool night air. the city was alive around you, the lights bright, the sounds of laughter and music and car horns filling the space, but it all felt distant, like you were in a bubble, just the two of you, moving through the night.

you didn't ask where he was taking you. you didn't care. you trusted him in that moment, trusted that he would give you what you needed, even if it was just for the night. because that's all it was. all it would ever be.

he hailed his driver, and you slid in beside him, the tension between you thick, electric. his hand brushed your thigh, a casual touch that sent a jolt of heat through you, and you leaned into it, into him, craving more, needing more.

the ride to his place was a blur, the streets flashing by in a haze of lights and shadows. your heart was racing, your mind spinning, but not with thoughts of your ex, not with pain or regret or anything other than the anticipation of what was to come.

when the car pulled up to his building, he muttered something to his driver in a language you barely understood and then led you inside, his hand never leaving yours. the elevator ride was silent, the air thick with unspoken words, unspoken desires. you could feel the heat radiating off him, the way his body seemed to vibrate with the same tension that was building in you, and it was almost too much, almost overwhelming, but you wanted it, in a way that was almost desperate.

his apartment was quiet, save for the soft hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen and the faint buzz of the city outside the windows. the space was sleek, modern, with clean lines and minimalist decor—everything in its place, not a single thing out of order. it felt like him, you thought, as you took it all in. controlled, confident, but there was a warmth to it too, something inviting that you hadn't expected.

aurélien watched you from the doorway, his eyes tracing your every movement as you wandered into the living room, your heels clicking softly against the hardwood floors. the silence between you was charged, and you could feel the weight of his gaze on you, the way it followed you like a magnet. there was something intoxicating about it, about him, and you found yourself drawn to it, to him, in a way that felt almost inevitable.

"nice place," you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper as you turned to face him.

he didn’t respond right away, just stepped closer, closing the distance between you in a way that was slow, deliberate. when he finally spoke, his voice was low, husky, sending a shiver down your spine.

"i'm glad you like it," he said, but his eyes were on you, not the apartment, like you were the only thing in the room that mattered.

there was a tension in the air, thick and heavy, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. it was the kind of tension that built, that coiled tighter and tighter until it snapped, until it became something else entirely. and you could feel it, feel that shift coming, feel it in the way your breath caught in your throat, in the way your pulse quickened as he moved closer.

"you don’t have to do this," aurélien said softly, his eyes searching yours, and there was a gentleness in his tone that surprised you, that made your heart ache in a way you hadn't expected. "we can just... talk, if you want."

talking wasn’t what you wanted. not tonight. not after everything that had happened, everything you were trying to forget. you didn’t want to think, didn’t want to feel. you just wanted to lose yourself, to drown out the pain in something else, in someone else.

"i don’t want to talk," you said, your voice firmer than you felt, and you took a step closer, your fingers brushing against the fabric of his shirt, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath. "i want..."

but the words died on your lips, and you didn’t know how to finish the sentence, didn’t know how to tell him that you needed him, that you needed this, more than you’d ever needed anything else.

"what do you want, y/n?" aurélien asked, and the way he said your name, so soft, so intimate, almost sent you spiralling.

you looked up at him, your eyes meeting his, and there was something in his gaze that made you feel like he already knew, like he understood exactly what you were feeling, even if you couldn’t put it into words. and maybe he did, because when you didn’t respond, he closed the gap between you, his hand coming up to gently cup your cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against your skin.

"i got you," he whispered, and there was a promise in those words, a reassurance that made you want to believe him, that made you want to let go of everything else and just be there, in that moment, with him.

you leaned into his touch, your eyes closing as you let yourself feel the warmth of his hand against your skin, let yourself sink into the comfort of it. it was different from what you were used to—different from the way things were with your ex—but that was exactly what you needed. something different. something that didn’t remind you of the pain, the heartbreak. something that made you feel alive again.

and then his lips were on yours, soft and cautious at first, like he was giving you a chance to pull away, to stop this before it went any further. but you didn’t want to stop. you couldn’t. because the moment his lips touched yours, everything else faded away—the hurt, the betrayal, the thoughts of what you’d lost—and all that was left was him. aurélien. and the way he was making you feel.

you kissed him back, your hands coming up to grip the front of his shirt, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss until it was all-consuming, until it was the only thing you could think about, the only thing you could feel. his hands slid down your back, pulling you flush against him, and you could feel the heat of his body, the strength in his arms as they wrapped around you, holding you close.

you lost yourself in the kiss, in the way his lips moved against yours, in the way his hands roamed your body, exploring, discovering. it was intense, but it was exactly what you needed. you needed to feel wanted, needed, like you mattered, even if it was just for tonight.

"aurélien," you murmured against his lips, your voice breathless, filled with a need you couldn’t deny, and he pulled back just enough to look at you, his eyes dark with desire.

"you sure?" he asked, his voice low, rough, and you could see the restraint in his eyes, the way he was holding himself back, waiting for your permission, your consent.

"yeah," you breathed, and that was all it took.

he scooped you up into his arms, his strength catching you off guard, but you didn’t have time to react before he was carrying you down the hallway, his steps quick, purposeful, like he couldn’t wait any longer. and neither could you.

his bedroom was just as sleek and modern as the rest of the apartment, but you barely noticed, too focused on him, on the way he laid you down on the bed, his body hovering over yours, his eyes searching your face like he was looking for something, some sign that this was okay, that this was what you wanted.

and it was. more than anything.

you reached up to pull him down to you, your lips finding his again, and this time, there was no hesitation, no holding back. it was all heat and passion and desperation, and you lost yourself in it, in him.

the rest of the night was a blur of touches, of kisses, of whispered words and shared breaths. it was intense, raw, and exactly what you needed. aurélien was everything you could have asked for in a distraction—attentive, gentle, but with a fire that matched your own, that made you forget everything else.

for a few blissful hours, there was no pain, no reeling. there was only aurélien, and the way he was making you feel, the way he was making you forget.

but when it was over, when the night had given way to the early hours of the morning, and you were lying there beside him, his arm draped over your waist, his breath warm against your skin, reality started to creep back in. the numbness you’d been clinging to began to fade, and the ache in your chest returned, more dreadful than before.

you carefully slipped out of bed, not wanting to wake him, and quietly gathered your clothes, slipping them back on with practiced ease. you couldn’t stay. you couldn’t risk the morning-after awkwardness, the questions, the regrets. this was supposed to be a one-time thing, a way to forget, not something that lingered.

as you headed for the door, you glanced back at him, at the way he looked so peaceful, so content in his sleep. for a moment, you were tempted to stay, to curl back up beside him, to let yourself pretend that this could be something more. but you knew better. you knew that staying would only make things more complicated, more painful.

so you left, slipping out of his apartment and into the cool morning air. the city was starting to wake up, the streets slowly coming to life, but you felt like you were in a daze, like everything was happening in slow motion.

you didn’t look back as you walked away, your heels clicking against the pavement, the sound echoing in the quiet streets. you told yourself that this was what you needed, that aurélien was the perfect distraction, that you’d be fine now.

but deep down, you knew that the ache in your chest wasn’t going away. that the numbness you’d been relying on was only temporary, that eventually, you’d have to face reality.

but not yet. not now.

for now, you’d keep moving forward, keep putting one foot in front of the other, keep pretending that you’re okay.

because that’s all you could do. keep pretending. keep moving.

until the pain faded.

until you could breathe again.

until you were ready to feel again.

[aneveningsword]

𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

pairing: Spencer Reid x gn!reader warnings: not proofread, some tough love, mentions of drug abuse words: 713 summary: Spencer needed help and if no one else was going to help him you would.

masterlist

It wasn't the hardest to see the change in Spencer after his time with Tobias. How on edge he seemed, snapping at people for the most minor offences. How uncaring of the feelings of those around him, saying whatever he wished. Everyone tried to turn the other cheek knowing the pain and despair he must be in. But they could only allow the infractions to go on for so long before they grow tired of it.

Everyone knew what exactly was going on, everyone could see the signs. Yet no one wished to acknowledge that it was happening. Maybe if they forgeined ignorance then it wouldn't be true, it would just silently go away and no one would have to worry about it.

But you couldn't, you couldn't keep turning a blind eye, watching the pain he was in. You couldn't stand by as he destroyed himself. That's what brought you to his front door, a bag full of flyers and hand banging loudly on his door. You weren't leaving until you got through to him.

It wasn't long before the door opened, the wood replaced with Spencer's exhausted features. Before he could even open his mouth to question why you were there you pushed passed him. Entering his house like you owned the place instead of simply visiting. A small grumble was heard from the man behind you as the door shut once more.

His annoyance did little to against the determination flowing through you, turning to face him you spoke. "I know." Confusion washed over the lanky man's features, unsure of what you meant. You had bargained into his house after nagging on the door like someone was chasing you, one to declare you knew something.

"You're using." You clarified taking note of his confusion, faked or not you didn't care. You wanted to rip the bandaid off, not give him time to try and snake out of it or distract you. You knew he was smarter than you and with a few words, he could throw you off the course you have been set on.

Spencer's features morph into an expression you couldn't describe before hardening, his face unreadable to what he was thinking. "I don't know what you're talking about." The denial of what was happening was weak, you both knew the truth. "God Spencer, I'm not stupid, I can see it. Everyone can. We're worried." There was a tone of anguish in your voice, pleading with him to just give up and let you help.

"I've got it under control." The words pulled a scoff from you as you shook your head. "But you don't do you? Because if you did, I wouldn't have noticed." There was a tone of desperation to your words as you tried to get through to him. He knows you are here out of the car for him, worried that this may escalate. But he didn't need the help, at least he didn't think he did.

You take a few steps towards him, hand reaching out to grab him in a firm but careful hold. You half expected him to rip his hand from yours and tell you to leave, spitting some harsh words on your way out. It was what he had seemingly been doing too very. Yet, he didn't instead just watched you for a few moments.

"Just... go to a meeting, please. If you don't help if you don't want the team to get their noses into it." With you're free hand you reach into your bag, pulling out a handful of crumpled flyers. Extending them towards him in the hopes he would grab them and at least skim over them. You didn't wish to watch him destroy himself, to get a call that his body had been found somewhere.

You watched his hand reach out, expecting him to take the flyer yet instead you were pulled into a hug. A bone-crushing one as Spencer's arms pin you to him. For a moment you are frozen, but quickly you return the hug with the same force. "Thank you," The words were so soft you almost missed them, the slient acceptance of your help and the admittance that he had a problem.

"Of course, I love you." "...I love you too."

[heyhoneyfox]

I don't often do this kinda post but I REALLY wanna share my OC x canon ship for TOH <3

(Image ID: a person with light skin, dark messy hair, dark eyes, black clothes, a black mask, one missing eye, scars, and gold jewelry. The image was made using the Black Centered Picrew by naylissah. End ID)

Morin Forester is a sixteen year old human that wandered into the isles after his parents kicked him out at thirteen. He didn't understand this world, but he couldn't leave, so he wanted to make the best of it. At the time, he didn't have scars and had much more hope for himself. Though Morin tried to get a job and survive with an honest living, no one wanted to hire him and no one came to his aid. He found himself starving, freezing, and alone, making him resort to stealing. At first he got caught a lot, but he quickly becoming an escape artist and master thief, evoking fear in everyone on the isles. He became known as the "Shadow Thief", as he came and went before anyone could get a good look at him under his heavy dark clothes that covered all but his one remaining eye. No one knew what he was. A monster? A skilled witch? Something worse?

(Image ID: Hunter, a witch with a hooked nose, pointed ears, light skin, thick eyebrows, blonde hair, magenta eyes, and scars. He has glowing stars on his face, a bandaid on his nose, and a distant expression. End ID)

(if anyone knows the artist, PLEASE let me know!)

Hunter, being the Golden Guard, was tasked with catching Morin, and he was determined to do so. He knew it was going to be a challenge, but he didn't expect the chase to last several years. Anyone who criticised Hunter for taking so long was asked to try and catch Morin themself. Even Belos and every coven leader couldn't, so the task remained in Hunter's hands.

In this universe, Hunter and Belos have a more healthy relationship, though they're often distant from each other and they rarely have a conversation beyond small talk.

As Morin and Hunter become familiar with each other in their rivalry, they begin to bond, taunting each other in an almost friendly way. Soon enough, Morin is even making small talk with Hunter rather than running from him, keeping a decent distance. Hunter notices that Morin is getting more and more scars every time they meet, even losing some fingers and an eye, but the thief never says what happened. They know they're supposed to be enemies, but they have a sort of bond. They've never felt so in touch with anyone. The chase continues, but even when Hunter catches Morin, he lets him go. They have a silent allyship, an allyship no one can know about.

Years after Morin arrives in the Demon Realm, a building collapses near the forest, and in the following month, there isn't any sign of Morin. Everyone is on edge, assuming he's planning something big, or that an even more powerful force snuffed him out putting them all in danger of an even more dangerous being.

Finally, Morin is spotted again, but something's wrong. He's slow and limping, his clothes are ripped are torn, and he's almost immediately cornered. He's quickly surrounded by guards, and though he's outnumbered, he tries to fight them off. Hunter is notified of the situation, and he's filled with both relief and panic. Relief that Morin is alive, and panic that he might not be alive for much longer. He rushes over and orders the guards to back down, saying he'll take Morin in himself, though the thief is beat up and coughing up blood. In a flash, Hunter teleports them both back to the medical wing in the castle, demanding the criminal be taken care of and healed.

Morin is put under, as his panic overcame him and he struggled against the medics, giving them some nasty scratches in the process. Once put under, they do an examination and find out that he's human, a confusing discovery, but not the most concerning one. His leg is practically torn to shreds. They say they can fix it up to some extent, but he'll be permanently disabled and need mobility aids. They do their best to fix up any wounds, which takes several hours, finally getting him to a stable state.

When he wakes up, Morin makes it clear right off the bat that he won't let anyone take care of him but Hunter. He rejects food and drink from anyone else, sceptical that it's poisoned. Of course, he's just being paranoid, but how can he not be? He grew up in an abusive household, then lived alone on the streets with only himself for years. Hunter doesn't mind taking care of him, though. He never feels that it's a burden, and Morin doesn't ask for much, just meals and Hunter's company.

It's soon discovered that Morin has terrible nightmares that cause him to wake up screaming, PTSD, chronic pain from his injuries, and has to use a cane to walk. He gets an offset handle cane which, over time, becomes decorated with rainbow and trans flag tape and gothic stickers. Once he's well enough to leave the medical ward, he stays in Hunter's room, not wanting to deal with the nightmares alone and needing someone nearby to help him if his cane is far away or he falls.

Though not all the details are disclosed to the public, everyone is reassured that the Shadow Thief has been caught and will no longer be a source of fear. No one thinks that Hunter's new "friend" is the thief they'd feared for years. I mean, honestly, how would anyone believe that this tiny, scar-covered human that can't leave Hunter's side is the Shadow Thief?

Hunter helps Morin through his nightmares, flashbacks, chronic pain episodes, migraines, and so on, and Morin does everything he can to make sure they're happy. With time, Morin finds a routine and is able to find joy in life again, still wearing all black but not feeling the need to hide all his scars anymore. He gets a lot of stares and rude comments, which makes him sort of insecure, but Hunter always makes sure to call him beautiful. It isn't a lie, since in Hunter's eyes, Morin is the most beautiful person he's ever seen.

Important side note: Morin does the "puppy eyes" thing a lot, and in Hunter's mind, he looks a lot like this:

(Image ID: a greyscale drawing of a cartoon black cat with a X over one eye and sparkles in the other. End ID)

ANOTHER important detail! This is Morin's cane:

I like to think the little grave sticker says "here lies my birth name"

(Image ID: a digitally drawn black offset handle cane with gay and trans coloured beads, a skull charm, trans flag tape, rainbow flag tape, and the following stickers: a grave, a skull, a raven, a moon, and a laurel branch. End ID)

Bonus facts:

Their favourite kisses to give each other are little pecks on the nose

They have little play fights, though Hunter has to go easy on Morin due to his injuries

Morin falls asleep first, usually after a chronic pain episode

Morin whacks people with his cane when they annoy him

Hunter knows Morin hates feeling weak, so he never fights his battles for him unless Morin asks him to

Morin is the more confrontational one, which Hunter is happy for. "Someone has to tell the waitress I ordered mashed potatoes, and it isn't going to be me."

They have matching shark and dinosaur pyjamas <3

Morin has the "loud, no filter" autism and Hunter has the "too scared to say anything that he hasn't imagined every possible response to" autism

Morin is the little spoon <3

There's more to their story, but I'll leave it here for now. Thanks for reading!

[matthew-alexander]

They still weren't sure if it was a good idea, but they had already agreed. When the time came, they made their way to the familiar area, feeling a sense of nostalgia. After all, he hadn't come anywhere near this area since they moved and a part of them missed the familiar streets. Stepping into the cafe, their eyes immediately found the fallen deity and they made their way over, noting the fluttering of his heart. They rarely saw him anxious. It was strange to see it now.

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long." Judas was trying to be polite, but he'd rather not waste time with small talk. "What did you want to talk about?"

----------

"No, you didn't..." Matthew replied and sat down along with Judas. The curt way in which Judas wanted to move this along evidently meant that they were mad at him and that only made Matthew's heart beat faster as he tried not to let his nerves overtake him. It was probably best just to rip off the bandaid and get this over with.

"I wanted to talk about what happened over Christmas. With the dance. And what happened in the ballroom." He could do it, Matthew had to keep reminding himself. "I wanted to... I wanted to apologise."

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They'd originally thought that Matthew had wanted to complain or argue about something. Instead, he was apologising. Judas let out a sigh, any irritation or tension leaving their body as they did. This was a first, though. What was going on in the fallen deity's mind that prompted him to do this?

"You don't need to apologise, at least not to me. I'm the one who asked you to dance, and I'm the one that kissed you. If anything, I should be apologising to you for dragging you into another mess."

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"Yes, but I returned the kiss, didn't I?" Matthew huffed in response. "Mistletoe mess or not, it would not have been my intention to make you push me away again..."

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He seemed to really want to apologise. Judas quickly pushed down the way it made them feel, focusing on the conversation. "I didn't intend to create a mess of things either." It was their turn to sigh. "I'm sorry for pushing you away. I needed time to fix things. If you feel like you need to apologise, you should apologise to Arjun, for my sake. He's the one who got hurt in all this."

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Matthew was about to feel better when Judas finally relented, but his guard went up again at the mention of apologising to Arjun. "What? No. He's not the one I kissed," the fallen deity retorted, clearly taken aback by the suggestion.

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"But he's the one who got hurt because of it, and his being hurt is the reason I regret it," they countered. They sighed again, well aware of how much the fallen disliked the deity. "If you really want to make it up to me, that's what I'm asking for."

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"I couldn't care less if he was hurt," Matthew returned, the furrow between his brows deepening and he crossed his arms over his chest defensively. "I'm sure you've apologised to him already. That should be enough for him." That greedy deity, Matthew thought vindictively.

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They should have known this was coming but it still stung, like a sharp stab to the chest. "It's not enough for me. I have to constantly reassure him that I won't choose you over him, when you never chose me, and then we kiss and it sends it all back to square one." The sigh he let out now was heavier, with hints of stress and regret. "It's hard for us to be friends when you can't be happy for me, nevermind pretend to be civil for five seconds."

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"What do you mean I never--" Matthew started before he bit his tongue. What was Judas implying? This was going to be their argument over Halloween all over again.

"What do you mean that I'm not happy for you? I am happy that you've found someone." Just not who Judas had found it with. "But that's not going stop me from disliking a man I've disliked since before you ever got with him."

----------

He was lucky he didn't finish his sentence. Judas was very aware of how he normally acted, either brushing things off or pretending they never happened, or ignoring their questions outright instead of lying. "I don't need you to like him. I need you to stop disparaging my relationship. I'm happy. I'm genuinely happy. I want my friend to support me, not make me feel like I need to walk on eggshells and never talk about my life at the risk of mentioning my boyfriend." Maybe they couldn't be friends if this was how this conversation was turning out.

----------

"I am supportive. You'd know for sure if I wasn't," Matthew bit back his response as he got more agitated at the idea of having to apologise to Arjun, of all people. He knew that it was a possibility coming into this conversation with Judas, but the fallen deity hated that Judas was making this the only way they would accept Matthew's apology. "But what you're asking of me is too much. You know how I feel about deities and your boyfriend is far from an innocent one..."

----------

"If this is you being supportive, then I think I'm good without it." Yet another conversation with Matthew that was going entirely wrong. Judas let out one more sigh before getting to his feet. "Fine. I don't care what you do, or what you don't do," they replied, though the look on their face looked more sad than indifferent. There was no point arguing. They knew he would never see their side, and it was a losing battle they didn't have the energy to fight. "If that's all you wanted to talk about, then I best be going. It was good to see you."

----------

Matthew watched as Judas stood up and he moved along with them to stand. It was clear that the vampire was going to leave again, just like they did that time at Halloween and Matthew would be the cause of it. The fallen deity hated that this was what had become of their relationship, that his pride would be the biggest hindrance to properly reconciling with Judas.

"Why do you keep pushing me away like this? Can't you see that I'm trying? For you... For us."

----------

"Because I never spoke ill of any relationship of yours, but you can't bring yourself to not talk badly about my boyfriend who I love," he retorted in anger, soon sighing to let out their irritation. "I want us to be friends, but I can't unless you can meet me half way on this. I've done a lot for you, and I need you to do this for me. But I know you. And I know I'm not worth that kind of effort for you, so I don't expect anything to change."

----------

Matthew had to stop himself off from cutting in, especially when Judas kept going, tearing into the fallen deity's past actions and how they contributed to the version of him that Judas had in their head. Was he really so terrible for Judas to see him this way? And think that he would not do anything for them? Matthew hated the jumble of emotions Judas' words brought out in his chest it hit home. The fallen deity's face darkened as his lips drew into a thin line. He knew an ultimatum when he heard one and he was warring between arguing with Judas and staying his tongue, and it took Matthew a long moment before he finally turned on his heel and stalked out of the cafe's front doors.

END!

[atlascripts]

Warnings: angst

the truth unveils

You had been stuck in the most agonizing time loops, one would eventually wake from their sleep paralysis but you seemed to relive the same moment every time you woke up. You tried to stay back in bed to close your eyes and not get the damn door that kept knocking incessantly but then when you'd open your eyes you found yourself lying on the floor of the hallway. With every loop though, the smallest hints of gaps filled back in your forgotten memory, like the number of people lined up dead along the hallways that never existed the first time around. And just when you thought you couldn't do it anymore, the final loop seemed to play over, this time however you chose a different path. All this time you had just stood in the hallway cowering in fear, but what would happen if you were to walk into the rainbow room right now in your dream?

The sudden curiosity and hope that that would end this nightmare had you move your feet before you could even process your decision, and you barged into that room the way one rips off the bandaid in one swoop. What you saw was a moment stuck in time and oh how it crushed your soul into a million little pieces. It all came back to you as you circled around the scene witnessing it before you, you walked around Peter's figure that held you against the wall with his abilities, you saw yourself then and the emotions came rushing back. You didn't run away or scream in terror, you only looked away closed your eyes and cried silent tears almost as if you had been suddenly mourning for a very long time. You now knew why your body was reacting so strangely all these years, it was recovering from such a traumatic incident, you also realized something wasn't right in all of this. Now that your memories were back you had full control over your senses and because of that, you could tell your reality was distorted. It was like you were trying so hard to wake up but when you did finally, from this nightmare, you were back in your little apartment on a sunny afternoon. Your shoulders drooped as you were sat by the bedside processing your emotions with a blank expression. Where does one go from here? You couldn't even navigate, because you were trapped in Peter's illusion.

~

'Fuck that, I really don't want to go inside, I can stand guard out.' Eddie spoke as he sized the Hawkins Lab at its full length now that they were at the gate in the upside down. The sky was darker here than in most other parts and clouds seemed to circle around it with thunder crackling. 

'Do you think it rains in the upside down?' Robin had asked and just then, it actually did start raining and everyone turned to look at her as if she summoned it. Steve and Nancy lead the way with El right behind them and Eddie and Robin at the end. They were armed with guns, nailed bats and axes you name it but they really hoped El would take care of most of it. The lab really looked like a whole other dimension here, despite her history, El was having trouble finding her way around.

'Do you think we should split up and search for the gate?' Steve asked and Eddie protested immediately, 'How many horror flicks do you all need to see to realize that is a bad fucking idea, so no, we are not splitting up.' He hissed through gritted teeth completely on edge from the entire predicament. 'El can you sense anything?' Nancy asked. 'A little,' She replied and walked around the corner into another hallway with the gang following behind. A few turns, and a few dead ends later when they were bickering about which way to go next, something caught Nancy's attention. It was more so a sound she could pick up, she took a few steps away from the noise her friends were making and though the black vines had covered the whole place, she could see a few of them pulse in a certain direction. The sounds she heard were a mix of slithering and breathing, her heart plummeted a little, they never realized there could be a dormant monster sleeping here but the idea was slowly creeping her with fear. 'I see it too,' El spoke then and the others turned to see what the two girls had found. They followed the pulsing veins and El's memories started kicking in, the route to the rainbow room, she remembered it now. 

The closer they went the vines seemed to change colour to a dark blue in hue, it was dark but very vivid, smaller mushroom-like flora grew from the walls followed by strange exotic flowers that looked nothing short of demonic fly traps, their edges were rimmed black with spikes like teeth and the inside was pure yellow and very viscous. There was an intense breathing sound again and they turned to notice horrifying mutated rafflesia that exhaled spores making the kids immediately cover their faces with their masks and bandanas. And amongst all this, behind membrane-like red veins, lay the door to the rainbow room. 

'Listen we don't know what creepy monster is sleeping inside, do we really have to walk into the monster's den and become a free meal?' Robin panicked, but Nancy was committed, 'We have to close the gate or this nightmare will never end.' And with that said she hacked away the flimsy barrier as El decided to be the one to open the door. 

Scared for what they would find, they all braced themselves holding their weapons firmly and ready to see the worst if it may be. But what they saw surprised them completely, the walls were lined with the same blue vines but they were growing more vivid in colour and around it were strange luminescent blue flowers that glowed rather beautifully, as if lighting up the darkness, The slightly greener plants there were concaved holding water that spilt into other plant leaves like a small cascade. The vines however bundled in the centre like a weird web holding onto something firmly, as if gripping for dear life, they slithered and tightened their hold, the edges of it attached to something, to someone. And just behind it, there was the wall with a thin thread-like crease that was crimson in colour, you couldn't miss it even if you wanted to. That was the final gate, the final and the first one ever created.

'Is that a person...' Eddie's voice spoke shakily and he went a little pale, a hand peeked from under the web of vines and at its wrist, the edge of the vine had sunk itself as if leeching off of it...or was it injecting it with something? When El walked up closer she covered her face in horror as tears began to stream down her face. Her vision of her little self that had watched Peter try to kill you played before her eyes, she had been tossed back in anger and had collapsed on the floor when you had come looking for the kids and Peter only for him to turn on you, her small self had cried seeing you before her eyes like that. And she cried now seeing it was you trapped in the web of vines. You had run bluish pale and looked sickly, most of your body was wrapped in them with your face barely visible because of the thick vine choking you. 

'Wh-what to do we do, do we close the gate or save this person, what are we doing?" Robin asked frantically. 'No we're saving her, we all thought she moved out of Hawkins when she'd been missing all this time and no one fucking knew!' Steve hacked at the vine with his axe as it seemed to protest in a weird screech and shrivelled away. 'Right we're going to fix this.' Nancy spoke as she held El and rubbed her arms, 'It's okay El, stay with us, okay? You need to close the gate so let us do this bit.' El nodded and turned to look back at the darkened hallway it was like she could see how it looked before and now it was just another version of a monstrosity. She furrowed her brows confused though, Peter wasn't here, he should have been here and if he's not, it means he could show up any moment. 'We have to be quick, he will return soon.' El spoke as the other four kept hacking to break off the vines. 'Say what now?' Eddie asked arching a brow, El didn't explain much but she used her powers then by holding out her hand to loosen up the vines in one go. 

You gasped loudly and coughed and for the first time in all these years, after that day when you were to spend the last night in your home, you opened your eyes to actual reality. Your view was bleak though, it wasn't the hospital’s piercing lights or the sun above you, nor the stars in a night sky. It was a horrific sight and you were so weak you couldn't do or say anything at all, the moment the vines were cut off from their supply chain everything seemed to go downhill. 

For the longest time as they tried to untangle you from the grip of those plant life, the vines stayed dormant in their shrivelled state but none of them noticed how they slowly started coiling around you again, at your ankled and legs and your wrists piercing themselves to your bloodstream. 'Why is it not working?!' Steve shouted in frustration and within the next second the plant life turned on them, it yanked each and every one of them hoisting them to the wall in its vice-like grip. While they all were pinned, El was choking the most as the thing coiled around her neck to subdue her, she was their last resort but right now it all seemed to fail. Peter was there in the darkened hallway and he walked in both enraged and panicked and didn't heed any of them and just fell to his knees before your weakened state. None of them even knew Peter even existed until now and they surely didn't know he was the cause and reason for all that had happened to their town.

Peter had no regard but he was using up a lot of his energies to keep the illusion alive and right now with everything at risk, his powers had weakened, and his resolve wavered. It was years of hard work to have you be locked away in this strange ecosystem so he could create a false illusion in your mind, to live the perfect life you two would have wanted. All of it was gone just like that as held you in his arms trying to get you to breathe to say anything, his worst fear was manifesting before his eyes and he had never felt so powerless.

'No, no please say something.' 

His voice was low enough for only you to hear but what was more strange was the tears that streamed down his face endlessly as he cradled you. Peter didn’t recall if he ever cried like this or at all, it was years of suppressed grief and hurt that had him pour his heart out like a child. Peter sobbed seeing what had become of you, what he had done to you. 

'i am a monster,' 

His words echoed in his head. He wanted to save you from all the falsehood of life but he hurt you the most in the process, he did more damage than good and the realization was the heaviest burden that chained him down, he was more human than ever at this moment, under the weight of his guilt of all the wrong he had done. As his hand stroked over your face feeling your faint breathing, he let go finally, not of you. He let go of everything he worked towards in all these years, and with that, the rest of the flora started drying up and dwindling to ashes. He was becoming worse than his demons, he was turning into despair itself, and his grief could be felt in the energy he gave out. 

'Don't go please,'

'I am sorry, I am so sorry,'

'You're all I have and I..'

'I love you,'

That day Peter realized what truly was the woe of feeling how to be human and how he tried to become above it all initially and became the worst of it in the end. As if he hadn't been neglected and misunderstood all his life as a child but then he found love and lost it by his own doings. Where does one go from here? Who does one pray to? How does he ask for help?

The vines holding the hostages were the last to turn to husk but they too realized the gravity of the situation, they also knew the gate was yet to be closed. They looked at each other confused about what to do but El stepped forward, 'Peter, we can still save her, don't do this please.' None of them knew how much truth the statement held but they all spoke in unison trying to reason with him so as to not anger him. Peter felt your shallow breaths and knew he had to make a decision and fast, so he held you in his arms as he stood up and looked over his shoulders back at them. He had made his decision. 

His soul had dried out, he’d become like the sand in the scorching desert, never resting. He had buried your existence somewhere under his smothering love that proved so brutal. He knew you were alive at this moment, he had to save you if it's the last thing he did, if it's the only selfless thing he did.

mood song: what we feel is enhanced by nowt

[the-bau-quinjet]

Secret's Out

Summary: Request! Reid and Y/N are secretly dating, but their business doesn't stay their business for long.

Warnings: Criminal Minds level violence

Word Count: 2974

a/n: Thank you for the request! I hope you like it :)

Sorry this took forever! It took me a while to think of case details that I liked and then I kept rewriting parts. I think I'm finally happy with it though!

Masterlist

"Spencer!" You pushed him away. "The doors could open at any moment! How are we supposed to keep this a secret if Morgan walks in on us kissing in the elevator?" You raised a brow at him.

"On average, elevators travel at a speed of 200 ft/min or about 4 seconds per floor. Being on the fifth floor means we have about 20 seconds to ourselves." He smiled triumphantly.

"Yeah, until someone surprises us on floor 3." You rolled your eyes, stepping out of the doors once they opened.

"I can't help it. I'm just... really happy with you." He whispered softly.

"I'm really happy too." You smiled at him. You were about to lean in when the elevator doors opened once again to reveal JJ and Emily.

"Hey guys, ready for another case?" Emily glanced between you suspiciously, but thankfully didn't ask any prying questions.

"Yep, let's go!" You turned quickly, walking into the round table room without so much as a glance back at the three agents by the elevator.

"What's with her?" JJ questioned.

"Said she didn't sleep well last night. Must be all the caffeine." He held his own cup off coffee up in solidarity before also walking to the round table room.

"Alright, we've got 3 dead in Billings, Montana. All three were law enforcement, and all three were found this morning around the city." You listened as Penelope introduced the details of the case.

"Could be someone who feels the police didn't do a good enough job protecting a loved one?" You threw out a theory.

"Or someone who feels wronged by the criminal justice system as a whole." Rossi added on.

"Either way, they likely won't stop until we catch them. Wheels up in 20." Hotch rose from his seat as he spoke, wasting no time in preparing for take off.

You all dispersed briefly to grab your go bags, meeting back at the SUVs to head to the jet.

Once boarded, it didn't take long for the conversation to start up again.

"When we land, L/N go to the morgue. Dave, Prentiss take the first and second crime scenes, they're only a mile apart. Morgan and Reid, check out the third scene. I'll head to the precinct with JJ."

With Hotch's instructions set, you took what little time you had left on the flight to go over the causes of death.

-

"Anything stand out to you on the bodies?" You asked the ME after going over the blunt force trauma and bullet wounds.

"There's tape residue and bruising on the wrists and ankles. Based on the state of bruising, they were likely held for about 3 days before they were killed."

"Thank you for your help." You shook hands, pulling out your phone to call Hotch.

"Hotchner."

"Hotch, they were held for days before they were killed. How did nobody notice they were missing?" There was nothing in the reports that indicated the victims were reported missing prior to being found.

"We just found the same pattern. They all used vacation days for various reasons in the days leading up to their deaths. Meet us back at the precinct and Reid can explain the whole pattern."

"Okay, I'm leaving now." You hung up just as you reached the SUV. Throughout the drive, you couldn't stop thinking that something wasn't adding up.

The victims were taken in the same day. It didn't make sense for the unsub not to escalate. So, why aren't any officers unaccounted for?

Suddenly, a truck crashed into your SUV, sending you flying off the road. A figure dressed in black opened the door and dragged you from the car.

"Agent L/N, it's so good to see you again." A male voice spoke, but you couldn't place it.

He hit you over the head with a handgun before dragging you to his own vehicle.

-

"Where's L/N?" Emily questioned when her and Rossi returned from the second dumpsite.

"On her way back from the ME." Hotch answered. "Did you find anything useful?"

"They truly are dumpsites. Both bodies were found by dumpsters, sending a pretty clear message." Dave replied.

"Same for the third site." Derek added on.

"All three victims were single and took time off leading up to their death. Nobody would've notice that they were missing until it was too late." Reid supplied the final bit of information gathered.

Hotch's phone rang before anyone else could comment. The frantic sound of Garcia's nails clicking against her keyboard echoed through the phone. She was talking before anyone could greet her.

"You need to see this, check your tablets."

Confused glances were exchanged as everyone, barring Reid, opened their tablets. Reid glanced over Morgan's shoulder to observe as well.

A seemingly live video that Garcia received a link to was streaming to the tablets.

A single woman sitting in a chair could be seen in the frame. Her wrists and ankles were bound to the chair with thick, gray tape and a bag was over her head.

"Garcia, what is this?" Hotch asked almost immediately.

"I was emailed the link just now. It's not streaming anywhere else online." Her reply came quickly, the sound of typing still filling in the silence.

"Can you trace it?" Rossi questioned.

"I'm trying, but it's being routed through multiple proxy servers."

"Did the email say anything?" Emily chimed in.

"No, it was just the link- Wait. I just got another email." She paused as the new email loaded. "It's addressed to Reid."

Every set of eyes in the room turned to Reid.

"What does it say?" He felt the nerves beginning to grow waiting for Garcia to read the words aloud.

"Dr. Reid,

I hope you remember me. What am I saying, of course you do. I've got something of yours that you might want back. You see Dr. Reid, you and your team ruined me. My family, my career, all of it, just gone. I thought I'd return the favor. A person's phone can be so informative. Tell me, does your team know about your girlfriend? I've so enjoyed getting reacquainted with her.

Happy hunting."

Spencer's face went white as he looked at Morgan's tablet again. His thoughts were racing. How did he not recognize you before? Even with the bag over your head, he should've known it was you.

"It's her." His words were barely a whisper.

"This is your girlfriend?" Morgan gestured to the screen again. Spencer could only nod in reply, his mind unable to focus on anything except you.

"Reid, listen to me. You've got to tell us everything you know about her. We'll have to split up. You can go back to Quantico with Emily and Morgan, the rest of us will stay here to work on our current case." Hotch was already devising a strategy to work both cases.

"There's no need." His words made sense to him, but sounded cryptic to the rest of the team.

"Kid, of course there is. We'll help you get her back." Morgan placed a hand on his shoulder, effectively shocking him back to the present situation.

"There's no need to split up because she's here. She's in Montana." Before he could continue, everyone was asking questions.

"Give me a phone number and I'll get you a location." Garcia was already typing away again.

"Are you sure she's here?" JJ's brows furrowed. She did her best to hide the hurt of her best friend hiding his girlfriend from her, again.

"Why would she be here?" Rossi added.

"How did she get here? Maybe we can track the transportation and figure out means of abduction." Emily was the only one thinking about the case.

Like ripping off a bandaid, Spencer blurted out the truth.

"It's Y/N."

He was met with silence in the room as everyone absorbed the information.

Garcia caught up first, a sudden gasp sounding through the phone.

"So, then that's Y/N... in the video..." Her voice wavered.

As if a switch was flipped, the team was back on the case.

"Garcia, get me a list of anyone who would have a grievance with the team." Hotch ordered.

"Go through anyone who was falsely accused. Start with cases in or around Montana. He would want to keep this close to home." Rossi specified.

"We've only had one case in Montana since Y/N joined the team." Reid supplied the knowledge as it came to him. "A name, I need a name." He muttered to himself, pulling his hair as he roughly ran his hands through it and over his face. "Garcia, look into Jameson Braddock."

"Got it." She immediately began a background check, searching through case files and news articles for additional information. "i'll get back to you with locations." With that, she hung up.

"Fill us in, kid. Who is Jameson Braddock." Morgan lead Reid to a chair, gently easing him into it.

"Our last case in Montana, Emily and I went to interview a witness." Emily nodded, the memories slowly coming back to her.

"He wasn't very forthcoming, and then he tried to run." She added on.

"Exactly, except he didn't make it very fair. We arrested him, but it turned out he was only guilty of selling alcohol to minors. When word of his arrest got out, the whole town thought it was for the serial rapes and murders we were investigating even though it was never confirmed."

"By the time we corrected the media, it was too late." JJ supplied, also remembering the man.

"So, he killed three officers just to draw us out back out here?" Morgan refocused the conversation on the current case.

"It looks that way now. The media knew we were coming, so he must have as well." Emily theororized. "If he followed us from the airport, he would've seen Y/N leave by herself."

"He likely didn't know about your relationship until he abducted her and went through her phone." Hotch paced the room.

"He's flaunting his power over us." Rossi chimed in just as Hotch's phone rang again.

"Garcia, what've you got?"

"Three addresses in Billings, Montana. Jameson Braddock has been on a downward spiral since your last trip there. His entire life fell apart, like he said. Divorced, his wife moved to Nebraska with their two kids. He lost his job at the high school, and was evicted from his house when he could no longer pay the bills." She listed the information quickly.

"He has ties to three addresses. Nobody has moved into his previous house, so it's vacant. He's got a small apartment in the northern part of the city which he pays for through working odd hours at Taco Bell. Finally, he briefly worked security at a now abandoned warehouse."

"An apartment wouldn't be enough space to hold her without the chance of someone hearing. She's not there." Rossi eliminated the location as an option.

"We'll split up to cover the warehouse and the house-" Hotch began, but Reid cut him off.

"No, we shouldn't split up. She's got to be at the house. The warehouse has no connection to his previous life. He wants revenge for our perceived wrongdoing, he wouldn't make his last stand at a new location." Reid was already putting on a bullet proof vest. Despite how his mind was racing, he refused to show how afraid he was.

"You're sure?" Morgan asked, on the fence about committing to one location.

"Absolutely." With that, Reid was out the door heading for the SUVs.

-

"Rossi, Emily head around back. I'll take the front with Reid. JJ and Morgan, the side door." Hotch instructed the team to split up upon arrival at the house.

Reid wasted no time in approaching the house. He was confident you were inside, but he didn't know what was happening to you.

The main floor was cleared quickly. Again, the team split up to cover the upper level and the basement.

Knowing you were likely downstairs, Reid immediately started that direction, JJ and Hotch following him.

It wasn't hard for him to find you. You were still tied to the chair in the middle of the room, bag over your head.

Before anyone could stop him, Reid lowered his gun and ran to you. He gently maneuvered the bag off your head, stopping his movements only when he felt something press into his back.

"Dr. Reid. So kind of you to join us." Braddock spoke maniacally, pressing the gun against Reid's head.

"Drop your weapon." Hotch commanded, but the man only cackled in response.

'Y/N... Y/N." Reid gently shook you in an attempt to wake you up.

"She can't hear you." Braddock singsonged.

"What did you do?" Reid tried to turn to him only to feel the gun press further into his head.

"Like I said in my email, you people ruined my life. They took everything from me, so I thought I'd try to return the favor." During his short speech, Braddock shifted just enough for JJ to get a clean shot.

He fell to the ground, gun clattering across the floor.

Reid moved quickly to remove the tape binding you to the chair while Hotch called for a medic in the basement.

The entire team watched as you were wheeled into the ambulance, still unconscious, none more scared than Spencer.

-

"She's going to be fine, Spence." JJ tried to reassure him, nonetheless his pacing continued.

"You don't know that. We don't even know what he did to her." He had one hand anxiously running through his hair, the other pinching the bridge of his nose in distress.

Just then, a doctor emerged from behind closed doors.

"F/N L/N." She called into the waiting room, slightly taken aback when the group of agents rushed to her.

"It was touch and go for a while, but she got here just in time." It was visible to even the least qualified profiler how relieved the team felt. Their previously tense shoulders relaxed, frowns turned to small smiles, wide eyes and raised brows pinched together with joy.

"What happened?" Emily posed the question everyone was thinking.

"In short, she was drugged. It's not clear what exactly was used, but it was likely a mix of drugs that attempted to stop her heart."

"Can we see her?" Morgan spoke next, cautiously eyeing Reid.

"You may, follow me." The doctor lead them through a series of hallways to your room. "She should be waking up soon."

With that the doctor left, allowing the team to file into the room. You looked strangely peaceful for someone who almost died.

"So..." JJ glanced between you and Spencer. "Girlfriend, huh?"

His eyes went wide. Instinctively, he turned to you for help, but you were still asleep. He opened his mouth to answer, but no words came out.

"Relax, kid." Morgan grinned. "We're happy as long as you two are happy."

Spencer smiled gratefully, looking at you with an adoring gaze. "We are happy."

"How long?' Emily gestured to your joined hands. Just before Spencer could answer, you groaned.

"I want to hear your guesses first." Your voice was raspy, but there was a clear smile on your face. "Also, what happened?"

The quickly explained the email Garcia received and the events that followed.

"Now that that's cleared up, do tell us how long you think we've been together. I know you've got a bet going." You narrowed your eyes, playfully glaring at each team member.

"4 months." Hotch begrudgingly admitted. JJ followed with 3 months, Derek and Rossi both betting 10 weeks, and Emily going with 6 weeks.

"Ha, you're all wrong." You smiled triumphantly, leaning closer to Spencer.

"Wait, we haven't heard from Garcia." Derek smirked as he rung her on speaker phone.

"Oh, my beautiful crime fighters. Y/N, are you okay?" Your smile widened at the concern in her voice.

"I am indeed, but I have a very important question for you." You glanced as Spencer briefly before continuing. "How long do you think Spence and I have been together?"

"Oh, I know this one!" Her excitement caught everyone but you off guard. "7 months, 2 weeks, and 3 days."

Spencer's jaw dropped as he stuttered out, "that's exactly right..."

"How'd you figure it out?" The group of profilers wore matching expressions of surprise as Penelope explained.

"Well, we had just finished testifying in the Bigelow trial. The whole team went out for drinks, and I could just see it in Y/N's eyes the next day that something wonderful happened. At first I just thought that she got some, but then I saw her and the good doctor in the kitchen getting coffee and I knew." Penelope's voice held a mixture of smugness and pure excitement.

"Babygirl, you didn't tell me?" Derek sounded genuinely offended.

"Y/N asked me not to." Even though you couldn't see her, you knew she punctuated the statement with a shrug.

"You knew, she knew?" Spencer turned to you in shock.

You nodded. "I could see it on her face the second I walked out of the kitchen. But she promised not to tell, so I didn't either."

"The two of you, thick as thieves." Rossi lamented.

"I love you so much." Spencer whispered into your ear as he pulled you in for a hug.

"I love you too." You whispered right back.

"Honestly, I'm glad the secret's out." You smiled at Spencer before looking at the rest of the team. "Although, I wish I didn't have to be kidnapped to tell you."

You spent a few more hours in the hospital before being cleared to go back to the hotel.

The next morning, you smiled to yourself as you were finally able to cuddle with Spencer during the flight home.

Permanent taglist:

@averyhotchner

@jesuswasnotawhiteman

@strawberryspence

@sebastnstn

Criminal Minds taglist:

@mac99martin

@goldeng1rl8

@measure-in-pain

[lnights]

sooo I'm having kind of a bad day today so if you ever wanted to write anything joonas/Joel without established relationship i'd be forever thankful for saving my week 😭😭 of course no pressure and you can answer any day I'll have a long day everyday this week anyway. sending love !!!🖤

Hope it's getting better!🦇🖤

Do you like idiots and coffee shops? I hope so.

...

Joonas tried not to look to closely at his new coworker.

Tall, blonde, and dressed in black was exactly his type and he did not need to develop a crush on the guy; especially since no one ever lasted on the overnight shifts.

The 24 hour coffee shop was located near a couple major universities, ensuring there was enough students trying to stay awake to study that there was always a few bodies sitting in the comfy armchairs or in groups at the tables.

Joonas loved the overnight shifts, their boss didn't care what they wore (saying uniforms would just alienate them from their customers) and he could choose whatever music he wanted to play through the shop.

It could be a little boring, but the customers coming in were usually too hyped up by whatever made them need caffeine at 3am to be rude or too loud.

But no one really lasted on the shift with him, not wanting to sleep during the day and their nights taken up. People always thought they were a night person until they were cleaning an espresso maker in the middle of the early morning.

Joel would be no different.

But to his surprise he seemed downright energetic during their shift.

"Is this your playlist?" He asked as "Can you Feel My Heart" came on over the speakers.

"Yeah," Joonas laughed.

"I love BMTH," Joel enthused, "They're coming to town this year!."

And Joonas was hooked.

Night after night they worked together, talking music and studies, hopes and dreams.

He found out the Joel had a wonderful singing voice when he belted out a song when they were alone in the shop one night, discovered he played guitar as well and soon they were meeting up outside of work to play together.

He met Joel friends, two shorter men, one with pitch black hair and the other with long curls, that also enjoyed making music.

He introduced Joel to his best friends, Olli laughing that someone finally came close to Tommi's height if not his size.

After months of working together, of being around each other almost constantly, Joonas despaired of ever getting Joel to realize that he was in fact trying to flirt with him.

He couldn't understand how they always seemed to know what the other was thinking, but Joel couldn't tell he would like to go out. It was beyond Joonas's reasoning.

It was November when he finally gave up hope, telling himself that he had a best friend, a twin almost, that that was more than enough.

"So..." Joel started, looking nervous for some reason.

"What's up?" Joonas asked, wiping down the counter. It was just after four in the morning and the shop was empty.

"I got us the 26th off." Joel said quickly, as if trying to rip a bandaid.

"Really? Why?"

"I, um..." Joel shifted from foot to foot, "I got tickets to Bring Me the Horizon. I thought-" he took a deep breath, "I thought maybe we could go together?"

Joonas felt his breath catch, a spark of hope igniting in his chest.

"Of course, I'd love to go." He told him, watching his face carefully.

"Great! If you wanted, maybe we could get dinner before?" Joel's hopeful smile made Joonas want to sing.

"Absolutely. I just want to be certain though..." Joonas held on to the image of that smile, hoping he was making the right move, "is this a date, Joel?"

Joel nodded, his eyes wide, "but it doesn't have to be!" He said quickly, "it can just be us hanging out and-"

Joonas quickly put the rag down and flung himself at Joel, knocking him back into the counter with the force of his hug.

"It's a date."

[mercurysstars]

All That Glitters Is Not Gold (part 6)

Summary: Y/n gets hired to be the avengers chief physician and also happens to be an ex assassin.

Word count: 2.1k

Warnings: swearing, the reader getting angry, violence. 

A/N: hope you’re having a better day than Y/n ;)

𝘞𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦

𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥

𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨?

_

Y/n's stomach grumbled as she made her way toward the kitchen. Between getting her room organized and training with Peter for 2 hours she didn't get a chance to eat and it was really catching up with her now. She groaned rubbing her face while she yanked the refrigerator door opened. After searching for several minutes she decided to give up and make a sandwich.

Y/n grabbed the bread and a plate out of a cupboard, she returned to the fridge and pulled out meat, cheese, lettuce, and just as she was about to grab a tomato her phone rang. Without checking the caller ID, Y/n answered, balancing the phone between her ear and shoulder. "Y/n Y/l/n speaking."

"Hey, doc it's Matt we've got kinda a situation here." Matt hesitated, Y/n could hear muffled yelling in the background.

"Okay? What's up?" She was confused it wasn't like him to call out of the blue and it was especially weird for him to not sound sure of himself, he was a lawyer, and lawyers always put on a confident front even if they weren't. Y/n began to cut the tomato into thin slices.

"So I kinda have one of his men tied to a chair in my living room." He blurted out quickly.

Well, that was unexpected "Are you sure it's one of his?" She asked cautiously.

"Yeah I checked, he has the branding. I normally would have just questioned him and texted you but the thing is he only speaks Latin."

She sighed, all Y/n wanted to do was eat 5 sandwiches, snuggle up in her comfortable bed and binge-watch the umbrella academy "Alright put him on the phone."

Y/n heard what sounded like the phone getting set down and the floorboard squeaking under Matt's weight. She heard a bit of wrestling and the sound of tape getting ripped off of something. She heard a quick shuffling and Matt picked the phone back up "Here he is."

"Sumus iens ut satus off facile. cur in New York." She questioned. Y/n started to make her sandwich again. We are going to start off easy. Why are you in New York?

"Im 'non adnuntiant vobis cacas." He hissed. This man was definitely one of his. Y/n rolled her eyes not in the mood for this. I'm not telling you shit.

"Iniuriam. Te volo experior quod iterum?" She purred. Wrong. You want to try that again?

At that moment Bucky decided to wander into the kitchen he heard someone speaking Latin and his curiosity got the better of him. He saw Y/n leaning against the counter talking to someone on the phone. Her eyes snapped up to meet his 'You want one' she mouthed to him nodding toward her sandwich. He shook his head and she shrugged.

The muffled talking through the phone caused an angry tick to Y/n's jaw "Pone super daredevil." She gritted out through clenched teeth. Put daredevil back on.

Y/n had to take a moment to collect herself before she threw something at the wall "Hey I'll be there in a bit." She hung up and when she turned back to Bucky her face softened.

He didn't know what to say, he's never seen someone 180 that quickly in his long life "Quite the conversation you had going on there." He tried to break the silence.

She chuckled nonchalantly "Oh yeah just some idiot that won't do what he was told."

"I didn't know you knew how to speak other languages." He quipped.

Oh Bucky you only know a part of me, I am a universe full of secrets she thinks. "I don't kiss and tell Sarge." She instead said.

Right after the words left her mouth Tony walked into the kitchen. "Hey, Sunshine I've got a meeting so I'm going to have to cancel for tonight."

Y/n's eyes lingered on Bucky for a few seconds then she turned to Tony "Convenient because I have some business in Hell's Kitchen to take care of."

Tony opened his mouth to press further until she added "Don't ask because you don't want to know."

Bucky ever the curious couldn't help himself or keep his mouth shut and blurted "What if I want to know."

Y/n raised an eyebrow at the super-soldier, amused "Would torturing a man until he confesses answer your question?"

She turned and walked out of the kitchen. Bucky's eyes went comically wide "She's joking right?"

Tony pinched the bridge of his nose at her recklessness and shook his head "Stay safe." He yelled back to Y/n.

_

Y/n let herself into Matt's apartment he have given her a key when he moved in. When Y/n was younger her father decided that she needed further training so he hired a blind war vet that specialized in martial arts. There she met Matt they clicked instantly him being only 2 years old, he taught them how to hear things others couldn't smell more things that you wouldn't believe was possible, how to heal faster, and even how to fight without seeing.

Y/n walked down the poorly lit hallway leading to his living room just wanting to get think over with. In the living room, the man had a cloth covering his eyes, hands were tied behind the chair behind his back and each leg was tied to the bottom of the chair. Matt was leaning against the counter already waiting for her arrival, he nodded toward her, acknowledging her presence.

Y/n sauntered over to the man, she lifted up the corner of his shirt and tisked "Mark of Cain, definitely one of his men."

The man began to thrash around hearing her voice, she pulled the eye cover off and smirked "Heu est dere." Hey there hun.

"Pedicabo ego vos bitch." He spat furiously.  fuck you bitch.

Y/n frowned at him "Bene quod suus 'non ut salutaret domina." That's no way to greet a lady.

She stood up and patted his cheek giving him a sickening smile that gave him the chill "Sit scriptor committitur. Cur ipse mittet vobis?" Let's start. Why did he send you?

"Irrumabo." He growled, the man jumped at her but the restraints didn't allow him to get far. Suck my dick.

Annoyance began to trickle down her spine and anger rushed through her body. "ego suadeant vos satus loquentes." She snapped in an angry tone. I suggest you start talking.

"Terrebis me non ex vobis, qui non vis tua boyfriend est vulputate." I'm not scared of you or that want to be superhero boyfriend of yours.

No longer being able to control her anger Y/n grabbed him by his hair and tilted his face up "Take a vultus, vultus diu, et bonum dicitur lets videre tua si adhuc durat." She fumed. Take a look, a good long look, and let's see if your statement still stands.

The man studied her face for several moments before recognition flickered through his eyes "Lamia." He breathed. Lilith.

"Nunc autem dic mihi, quid invenerunt in me pater meus!" She shouted her patience ran out long ago and she didn't hesitate to show it. Now tell me how he found me!

"Cur te et ipsum interrogate." The man taunted. Why don't you go and ask him.

The grip on his hair tightened and she lowered down eye level to him "Ego suadeant tu dicas, quod primus est I. cut off vos erant 'iens ut ne nimis" she pulled out her knife and nodded downward. I suggest you tell me because the first thing I cut off you're not going to like very much.

The man's eyes went wide and he attempted to squeeze his legs together. Fear settled into his stomach, he didn't know if she would keep her promise but he also didn't want to find out.

"Hoc tantum scio, aliquem cum Vindices compositis ei" He squeaked out. All I know is someone at the Avengers compound told him.

She didn't let her shook show, she kept her face cold and calculated even though her heart was beating a million miles per minute. "Si igitur deus, auxilium tu mihi mendacem." So help me God if you're lying.

"Im 'non ego promissionem." He exclaimed and Y/n believed him, she tended to have that effect on people. I'm not I promise.

"O Deus, hes 'iens ut interficias me." He muttered shaking his head. Oh god, he's going to kill me.

The man kept whispering to himself and Y/n grew tired and shoved a sock in his mouth. She stood back up and turned to Matt. "Dump him on 23rd street, my father will take care of him soon enough."

_

Y/n blew on her hot cocoa watching the mini marshmallows swirling around, sure it the middle of September but it was her comfort drink. She tried to go over everyone she knew in the compound. How could she be so dumb? How could she let her guard down? She was trained better than this. It didn't matter now what she did or didn't do, but Y/n knew she wouldn't make the same mistake twice.

Y/n could hear the elevator ding from her office and she was confused. All the Avengers were either busy with training or on a mission. She set down her mug on her desk.  A blonde head of hair peaked its head in. "Dr. Y/l/n?"

"Teresa how can I help you?" She questioned. Y/n was confused as to why she was up here Teresa shouldn't even be able to get past the 5th floor.

Teresa stepped closer with her hands behind her back "I got a paper cut stapling some papers together and I came up here for a bandaid."

Teresa was looking everywhere but at her. Y/n could tell she was lying but about what? Then it clicked, how he found out where she was, the weird look she gave her, what Sam said about her sudden move down to the front desk, but then the question struck again. Why was she up- she was up here to kill her.

Teresa lunged at Y/n with the knife she had hidden in her hands behind her back. Y/n went to block but she wasn't quick enough and Teresa cut a long strip down her arm and she hissed, it hurt more than she remembered. Teresa went to slash her again but Y/n grabbed her wrist and twisted causing her to drop the knife.

Y/ n grabbed her mug and smashed it over her head, Teresa staggered backward falling into a bookshelf. Teresa cocked her gun and began to fire, Y/n leaped over the table to take cover behind her desk. Her gun was on the other side of the office strapped underneath a chair. Bullets blew past her body, she shielded her head with her arms, the gun clicked signaling it was out of bullets.

She rolled from under her desk onto her feet. This time Y/n rushed toward Teresa, she threw 2 punches which Teresa both blocked, but the 3rd one Y/n got a hit to her cheek. Teresa attempted to throw a kick but failed, she went down and swept her legs. Y/n fell backward, she rolled onto her hands and shoulder, she pushed up causing her to land right side up, Y/n's movements were a bit slower and staggered due to the blood loss.

Teresa went to hit her but then Y/n grabbed her arm and the back of her neck and smashed Teresa's face into a mirror. With a bloody face, Teresa peeled herself off the wall Y/n collapsed feeling lightheaded. Teresa stood over with her knife ready in hand, she brought her hand up into the air, but Y/n grabbed the from under her chair and shot her right between the eyes. Teresa collapsed backward and the knife slide across the floor.

"FRIDAY Initiate the red button protocol." She coughed out.

"Alerting Avengers now."

Y/n grabbed her arm and hissed, she shouldn't have collapsed this soon, even if it was a cut this big, and the sting was worst too, but then she put it together Teresa would have had a better chance to kill her if she laced the knife with something.

She heard Bucky calling out her name "In here." She chocked out. Bucky rounded the corner to her office and ran in, there were papers scattered everywhere, the desks and chairs knocked over, glass broken. He crouched beside Y/n she was fighting consciousness.

"No Y/n don't you fall asleep on me." He demanded putting her head in his lap.

"It'll be okay Buck." She patted his cheek in a comforting manner.

"No, no, no, hold on they will be here in 30 seconds" He pleaded. That was the last thing Y/n heard before everything went dark.

Part 7

[osamiiya]

Pairing: Tendou Satori x Reader

Type of fic: Angst (But make it like, the middle to end)

TW// Death, panic, slight panic attack

Summary: Tendou's in love, and he'll stay in love, because, how could he forget you?

A/n I'm back baby, also I cried while writing this so good luck 🤩

Songs I listened to while writing: Love Like You (Caleb Hyles) , Be my Mistake (The 1975) , Mr Loverman (Ricky Montgomery), Lonely (Noah Cyrus), She used to be mine (Jessie Mueller), Before you go (Lewis Capaldi)

"Satori~" Tendou turns around, grin only growing as he hears your sing song voice call from around the corner.

He watched with bated breath, letting out a soft sigh and a heartwarming smile, as he holds out his hands and pulls you into his chest. Taking a deep inhale and exhale.

"How did you sleep?" His grin is soft, and those who've only seen a sinister smile on his face from volleyball would be surprised at how full of love and adoration it held. Truly, Tendou's paradise from the rest of the world, a breath of fresh air from those who found him creepy or weird.

No, you weren't like them. Ever since the beginning you were always the first to jump in to defend Tendou, who had just started to shrug off the looks and whispers of those around him.

"The best sleep I've ever had."

"Yeah?" Tendou sways the two of you in his arms slightly, his tall and thin frame trying it's best to keep you warm from the fall air.

"I had a nightmare." Tendou hums, clearly not worried about it.

"You did?" Tendou's heart squeezes in a way he can't describe as you look up at him with innocent eyes.

"Yeah, your bus was in a car crash." He hums, chills running down his back as remembers the rush of feelings that accompanied the dream.

"Well, I'm here now, besides it's just a dream." Too engrossed in his conversation with you, Tendou isn't aware of the worried look Semi sends him and then Ushijima.

But before he can formally say anything, Ushijima interrupts him.

"He'll be ok. He always is."

---

Tendou's absolutely sure that the looks he's gotten from people in the halls have passed just staring because he was weird looking, there was some underlying message in the stares now, something he couldn't decode.

"Don't mind them Satori." You tug on his uniform blazer, marching ahead of him slightly, eager to get to the convenience store.

"You know y/n. Eating ice cream in the winter leads to all sorts of bad things." Tendou leans over you as you pick out an ice cream from the ice chest, hands coming to your hips and subconsciously rubbing circles into the uniform fabric as he pretends to compare the different ice cream types, as if he wouldn't get the same ice bar he always got.

Tendou's eyes sparkle with happiness as you pick out a new flavour, turning over your shoulder to smile and show him the ice cream you picked.

As always, Tendou pays. Something about how you can repay him later, maybe when a manga he really wants comes out.

"Satori, do you want to try?" There's a mischievous smirk playing at your lips as you hold out the ice cream. After stopping on a park bench, not to far away from the school, the two of you just couldn't wait to have the slowly melting ice creams.

Instead of licking the ice cream as you expected him to do, Tendou leaned over and planted a kiss on your lips, humming as he pulled back and licked his tongue over his lips, smirking at your bewildered expression.

"Tendou." Ushijima's curt voice pulls both of your attentions away from eachother and to the stoic boy above you.

"Ushiwaka, sorry we didn't get you an ice cream. You don't like them anyways, but I did get you..." Tendou trails off, rummaging through the white plastic bag you had acquired at the store, a polite smile on the underplayed college student's face.

Tendou lets out an 'Ah ha!' as he procures the mint chocolate flavoured protein bar you've seen Ushijima eat during practice before.

Ushijima takes it from Tendou's outstretched hand, a polite and curt thank you as he sits next to Tendou.

"We were about to talk about the literature project." Tendou hums, sending you a wink and taking a careful bite of his ice cream.

"Tendou, y/n is gone." It's like ripping off a bandaid, it hurt to see his best friend push himself deeper into a fantasy he created of his own imagination.

"Silly Ushiwaka, they're right-" Tendou's stomach drops as he turns and sees you with a sad smile spread over your features, eyes glassy.

"No, they're- Ushiwaka they're right here." Tendou's confused, was this a prank?

"Tendou, y/n's bus was in a very bad accident, and they didn't make it out of the hospital." Tendou lets out a dry and nervous laugh.

"No, that was my nightmare last night, there's no way..." Tendou's blood runs cold and his hands are shaking.

'Not my Y/n. He's talking about the wrong Y/n.' Tendou's thoughts are too quick for him to keep up with, quick breaths coming out in short bursts.

Words are trapped in his throat as he looks between you and Ushijima. Ushijima's face uncharacteristically full of pity, and your's sad, a tear rolling down your cheek.

"Ushijima I think I need a minute." Ushijima nods at Tendou's serious voice, on the verge of breaking, and gets up, walking a good distance away.

"You're gone?" Tendou's hands are shaking as his voice cracks, wanting to reach out to you.

"Satori, listen to me ok? I love you. Don't ever forget that." A tear rolls down Tendou's face as his thoughts become clearer by the second.

What was once incomprehensible static in his head taking the shape of a word, then two, until they formed a sentence.

'Y/ns gone.'

A sob claws it's way out of Tendou's mouth, and he feels like he's in elementary school again.

"Make sure you don't give Goshiki too much of a hard time ok? He's always trying to impress you guys." Both of your hands are on Tendou's face at this point, and it scares him that he can't feel you, your warmth gone, your presence hanging on by a thread.

"Always eat enough ok? I know you don't have a big appetite, but don't get sick while I'm gone ok? Don't skip out on your meals, please." There's tears running down your face, and Tendou finally notices how you're not really there, tears falling quickly, like rain on the bench.

"You're not here?"

You stop wiping his tears away, giving him a sad smile and a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm at Tokyo Cemetery, darling." A bone shattering shiver rolls through Tendou as he lets out another sob.

"You can't go, I need you." Tendou's shaking, trying to suppress a scream in pain, his body overflowing with realizing and pain.

"You've been in denial Satori." You wipe his tears and leave a kiss on his cheek, and it kills Tendou inside because he can almost feel it. He wants to feel it. Tendou wants to feel your lips on his cheeks.

"Be good ok? Remember how we were going to go to Paris? Take my memory there, take me around Paris using that photo in your wallet. Kiss me goodnight, don't forget me." Your voice is strained and Tendou can't breathe.

"You hear me Satori? Don't forget me, ok?"

"Ok." He manages, it comes out forced , and very much real. A contrast to the life he's continued to live with you in his head, his body and mind now painfully aware that he'd been walking around like a husk of his last self, his mind entertaining the hope and the denial that, you y/n, were still alive. And Tendou could kiss you, and hold your hand, and see you in his jersey one last time.

'Y/ns gone.' And with that Tendou's back to the reality he hates, where you're gone. Tendou can't breathe and his mind feels like it's a tape recorder on 3x speed.

His heart is beating and his hands are grabbing for something to ground him. Seeing his best friend break apart, Ushijima speeds over, taking big steps and allowing Tendou to grip tightly to his shirt, sobbing loudly.

"I didn't get to say goodbye." He chokes out, burying his head into Ushijima's stomach, letting out a yell of pain and heartbreak.

Ushijima feels his heart constrict at the demonstration of his best friend's pain, the red haired boy screaming into his maroon shirt, soaking through the fabric as he rests his hand on Tendou's head, rubbing it in a way he's seen you do it before.

"I loved them and I couldn't say goodbye." Tendou screams, voice raw and filled to the brim with pain, lanky body shaking violently.

"I didn't get to kiss them one last time. I didn't get to tell them I loved them. I never got to take them to Paris like we planned. I never got to give them my volleyball jersey and see them in the stands, cheering for me one last time."

Tendou and Ushijima stay like that for what seems like hours, Tendou buried in his best friend's embrace, needing to be grounded from his raging thoughts.

"I loved them Ushiwaka." Tendou whispers, no longer shaking, voice and eyes hollow.

"I know Tendou." Ushijima tried his best to sound gentle, he knows that Tendou needs it.

"I didn't get to say goodbye." Tendou's like a broken record as Ushijima helps him get off the park bench, plastic bag filled with two uneaten melted ice creams picked up and thrown out.

"We were going to see the eiffle tower." Tendou whispers from his bunk above Ushijima's.

Body heavy with exhaustion, he's about to sleep when he sits up suddenly, hands panicked as he searches for something.

"Tendou?" Came Ushijima's voice from the below bunk.

"My wallet, where's my wallet?" He's stammering and his voice is raw from sobbing and his hands are shaking as he looks.

"Tendou." Comes Ushijima's calm voice as he gently hands Tendou the wallet.

Immediately Tendou opens it, digging through to find the picture he's sure he kept in there.

Pulling it out, he smiles gently, all run out of tears, as he brings the photo shakily to his lips, kissing the photo gently and smiling, looking into your eyes, frozen in time, no idea of the future, just pure happiness.

"Goodnight, my paradise."

---

Permanent Taglist

@sachirou-senpai @prayerofthehaim @ryusex-wife @x-ia-n @wompwomphq @elianetsantana @jovialnoise @yuujiya @peteunderoos @curiouslilbeast

[magnoliabloomfield]

Garden of Heathen- 9 Skeletons

Masterlist

Gertie flipped the light on, making Aussie clamp her eyes shut as she was unaccustomed to the brightness.

"God Aussie, you really look like garbage," Gertie remarked sadly as she set her bag down on the counter next to her.

Aussie's one good eye widened. "Do I have all my teeth?" She suddenly asked herself as she stuffed fingers in her mouth to check, relieved when she found them all intact.

"Ooh you're definitely concussed," Gertie said as she walked around them to get to the sink and washed her hands. "She's not going to be very coordinated so just make sure she doesn't fall," she told Gally.

He moved back to his original position though he was more self conscious about it with Gertie around and the lights on. Now that he could see her better he had to admit that Aussie did look pretty bad. He felt an out of place sadness seep from his chest to his stomach. Why did he always get weird feelings around her?

Gertie put on rubber gloves and ripped open a package of sterile wipes, pushing up Aussie's sleeve and cleaning her arm off. Then she got out a metal cylinder, opening one end and pulling out a syringe.

"What's that for?" Gally asked, wondering why on earth Aussie needed to get stabbed after everything else she'd been through.

"Aussie has a bad stomach, pain pills make her sick. So, she gets a shot instead," Gertie explained as she poked and prodded Aussie's arm till it turned red to desensitize the area first. Aussie still winced when the needle stuck her.

Gally suddenly felt even worse for her, she seemed like the unluckiest girl in the whole world.

"Here, you're taller," Gertie said as she handed Gally some weird plier looking things with a damp cotton ball clamped in them. "You do her face while I work on her arm."

Gally held the clamps but just stared down at Gertie for a moment, not exactly comfortable with her instructions. She finally looked up at him and got annoyed.

"Oh come on, just dab that on the cut to clean it, then I'll give you some antibiotics and bandaid to put on it. She took that hit for you, ya know," The small girl griped at him as she held up Aussie's forearm, gently cleaning the debris from her scrape.

Gally straightened up from his leaning position, but his shoulders drooped from being reminded of the reason Aussie's face looked like hamburger.

"Oh, it's not his fault," Aussie retorted. "It was Athena's."

She suddenly bit her lip again and a look like shame crossed her face. Gally wasn't sure what she had to feel ashamed about, she was one tough cookie. He swallowed before starting the task of cleaning her face. He tried to be extra gentle but Aussie still flinched at first before apologizing to him of all things.

Joan came in the house just then, gaining everyone's attention. She seemed exhausted but also mildly satisfied as she grabbed a chair from the living room area and drug it into the kitchen. She plopped down in it with a sigh and crossed her arms.

"Well, Aussie," She spoke at last. "You're in charge now."

"What?" Aussie blurted, quite unsatisfied. "Why?"

Gally looked at her, confused as to why she was confused. He figured that since Aussie had challenged Thena in the first place it was kind of obvious that she'd be taking over.

"Why do you think?" Joan replied, clearly riding the same train of thought as Gally.

"I didn't want to be in charge," Aussie almost whined. "I was going to nominate you to be in charge."

Joan's face finally took on a full, real expression, not just a hint of one, and it was mild outrage.

"Aussie," she said pointedly, her gaze going up to the ceiling as if asking God what was wrong with the girl. "Why would I be in charge? You've been here the longest."

That bit of news surprised Gally for some reason and he couldn't help his eyes from darting to Aussie in wonder. He hadn't put much thought into how long Aussie in particular had been here even though she had mentioned 3 years. He just figured she meant in general, not personally. And for him personally, he didn't like the concept of her living like this for so long- not just the physical things either, but the mental and emotional strains she'd gotten to know intimately. He'd pretty much been born yesterday and felt like he was already going crazy.

"H-how did Thena get to be in charge then?" He asked, feeling almost like it wasn't his place to speak up here.

An eerie wave washed over all three girls at once, the mood changing so drastically that a wave of apprehension hit his gut. He was afraid he'd said the wrong thing and also afraid of whatever they had to say on the matter. Joan was looking at Aussie who seemed to be just plain sad and miserable now.

"Do you want me to tell him?" Joan asked her softly.

Gertie had stopped treating her arm and just held her hand now.

"If he wants to know, that's fine," Aussie shrugged, indifferently as she swung her crossed ankles out once before her heels hit the cabinet door. "But I don't see how it's important right now."

Joan seemed to gauge Aussie's reaction before she leaned toward him. "I'll catch you up later," she promised him.

"Stop slacking," Gertie suddenly jerked back into motion and tossed him a tube of ointment that he barely caught, and then actually handed him a wrapped bandaid.

He figured he'd better wash his hands for this so he did as the girls picked up their conversation again.

"I didn't do what I did just to be able to take charge, that's not what I was after," Aussie said as if she had to defend herself. "I figured no one would want me to be since they all think I'm too emotional... besides, I'm not the smartest."

"But look at the good you've done the past two days," Gertie adamantly reminded her. "Without you being the way you are this ugly shank would be dead with a capital D."

Aussie swatted at Gertie with her free hand and nearly fell over. Gally fortunately caught her before she could topple into the sink.

"Don't call him ugly!" She said with a surprising amount of sternness after landing a hard smack on Gertie's shoulder. She then turned to Gally with a very apologetic look in the functioning half of her face. "I'm so sorry. Honestly, you're the best looking guy I've ever seen."

She was definitely feeling her drugs now. That's what this had to be. It didn't stop the heat from rising to his cheeks or him wishing he was anywhere else right then.

Gertie snorted, not looking up to notice his flushed cheeks. "He's the only guy you've ever seen," she muttered with a small grin as she started sticking bandaids on her arm.

"Yeah, so I'm not lying," Aussie said before giggles started to bubble up from deep within her chest. It set Gertie and even Joan off too, the three girls falling into a small fit of giggles together before simmering back down, Aussie giving one little snort at the end. Even Gally found himself grinning slightly as he shook his head at them, glad to hear Aussie laugh again. He tried to control himself and finish his task before Gertie did something else to hurt his body or his feelings.

"Hold still," he told Aussie as he held her chin with one hand to keep her steady and gingerly dabbed the ointment onto her cheek.

She instantly seemed to sober up the moment his skin touched hers.

"Can't we be a team?" She asked when he let go to open the bandaid. "You, me, maybe a few other girls- but all be in charge together instead of just one of us."

Gally was now trying to carefully place the tiny bandaid on Aussie's also tiny face. The only thing not tiny was his own fingers. He really shouldn't have accepted this job from Gertie, he was definitely out of his element. The gauze pad stuck to the ointment and he used the tip of his finger to smooth the sticky ends to her skin, trying to be very soft so as not to hurt her. His tongue poked out the corner of his mouth as he concentrated.

"Well, you're in charge so if that's how you want to do things, then feel free to run it by the girls," Joan said, earning an emotionless stare down from Aussie who was looking more exhausted by the second.

"Do it tomorrow, though," Gally said, surprising everyone including himself.

"Oh, right," Joan snapped her fingers. "Neither of you will be using Aussie's little house since it's right by the pits with Thena-" she sighed heavily and rubbed her temples "-and she won't shut up... so we're all gonna stay in the house tonight and lock the doors."

Gertie got something else out of her bag before walking to the freezer. "Gally, handsomest man in the Garden, you wanna help Aussie upstairs one more time?" She teased as she packed ice cubes into the little pouch.

Gally stared her down, unamused, but his steely gaze didn't intimidate the little whack job. She just threw her mop of hair back as she chuckled. "Awe, come on. She's all doped up and needs help."

He looked at Aussie and saw her eyes fluttering as she swayed lightly.

"I'll go get the room ready," Joan said before pushing herself out of her seat and hurrying to get up stairs. A few seconds later Gally heard her react to the mess he'd made to get out of his own room earlier. Holding Aussie now became a human shield situation he was grateful for.

"K, come on Aussie," he said as he stood in front of her, getting into position to hold her like he had earlier.

She was on the verge of just passing out, the stress of the day and the drugs in her veins pushing her toward the edge. When he stood in front of her, she slumped forward, her chin landing on his chest just below his shoulder. He tensed up as she drowsily wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling herself closer to him. A protest began in his throat but died on his lips when he unexpectedly felt something inside of him melt into it. His hips slipped between her knees and she crossed her ankles behind him like a child being carried. He just had to figure out what to do with his hands. If he actually held her like you would a child in this position, he'd be touching her butt, which he figured Gertie would assault him for. He put one hand on her back and the other under the back of her knee to help support her weight before sliding her off the counter and turning so Gertie wouldn't see his face.

"Lead the way," he told Gertie.

Aussie's mouth was pressed to the crook of his shoulder her steady sleeping breath hot against his neck. It was torture and euphoria all at once, his heart pounded and Gally was completely confused. He may not know much, but he was pretty sure these weren't normal reactions on his part. Still, his arm wrapped more tightly around her, afraid she might go limp.

"One stair at time this time," Gertie told him with a little smirk as they began climbing the stairs. She saw how red his face was and the daggers he glared at her and felt a little giddy, but decided not to abuse him any further. There was something so tease-able about him to Gertie and it felt odd when she thought about it. He was objectively quite intimidating and she had not known him long at all.

She got to the top of the stairs and her eyes landed on the broken door to the room he had been in. The door handle, attached to a splintered chunk of wood, lay in the doorway while the door itself leaned crookedly on one hinge. Gertie stared at it, her hands coming up from her sides as she shook her head. She turned to Gally to say something along the lines of 'what the actual heck, dude?!' but couldn't bring herself to do it when she saw the slightly apologetic and embarrassed look he gave her over Aussie's shoulder. He had done it to get to Aussie and Gertie didn't mind that. She dropped her hands and kept going down the hall.

Joan emerged from one of the rooms carrying a mattress with her, an old and yellowed thing. She didn't look at them, just turned and took it into the room at the very end of the hall. Gally entered it to see one normal bed and three more mattresses crammed into the available floor space.

"Us girls will take the floor, you can have the bed bed," Joan instructed as she closed and locked the door behind him. "And if you don't mind, I'm gonna go to sleep immediately."

"Go for it," Gertie agreed. "You deserve it."

Joan flopped down on the one mattress that ran perpendicular to the other two.

"You gonna put her down or hold her all night?" Gertie asked him when he continued to stand there.

He gave a small exasperated sigh. "Waiting on you to tell me where to put her."

"The one closest to your bed," Gertie instructed.

He carefully balanced Aussie's weight as he slipped off his shoes before walking over the first mattress and carefully laying Aussie down on the second. A small moan came from her throat as her hands slipped over his shoulders to come to rest across her stomach. Her body heat lingered on his skin as he stepped over her and crashed on the bed breathing a heavy sigh.

Gertie sat beside Aussie and gently pressed the ice pack to her swollen eye. Aussie flinched away at first but didn't wake up.

"She's my favorite person here," Gertie said quietly. She didn't have to look at Gally to know he was awake and was going to be for a while.

The springs groaned under him as he turned onto his side. "How long have you been here?" He asked her.

"7 months," Gertie sighed.

"That's pretty impressive," Gally said, pulling a face. "I thought you'd have been here longer based on how they all treat you."

Gertie looked kind of pleased at that, showing just how young she really was.

"Do you know what Joan was going to tell me?" He asked her, propping himself up on his elbow.

"Oh, that," the same weird mood washed over her as before but this time it just made Gally curious. "I guess I could tell you about that."

She pulled the sheet over Aussie and settled back into a comfortable position before she began talking.

"I don't know if I know the whole thing, Aussie and Thena don't like to talk about it, but eventually they have to explain the grave to everyone," she shifted uncomfortably.

"The girl who killed herself?" Gally questioned.

Gertie nodded solemnly. "That was Mary, the first girl that got sent here. After her came Aussie, then Thena. Being alone here for a month was too much for Mary, she was already... disturbed by the time Aussie came up. She kept it together just long enough for Thena to arrive before she slit her wrists in the basement. That's when Thena became the one in charge."

Gally turned onto his back and stared at the ceiling, trying to process that information.

"It always boggled my mind," Gertie went on quieter than before. "How Aussie spent a month alone with a nutcase, then found her dead in a pool of blood and she still turned out so... nice, while Thena, on the other hand..."

Gally knew exactly what she meant by that.

"When I got here I found out quick that all the girls were really, really smart- that I was too," Gertie went on, not sure why she felt so comfortable over sharing the whole history of the Garden with him. "But Aussie was kind. And the longer you're here, the more you'll appreciate kindness over intelligence."

With that, Gertie set aside the ice pack and laid down on her mattress, reaching over and grabbing Aussie's hand before closing her eyes. Gally looked down at them for a while, all the events and information of the day bouncing around in his head. There was a heaviness in his chest, like someone kneeling on it, as he tried to comprehend the lives these girls lived, Aussie in particular. He wondered how long they could all go on like this, and how he could possibly fit into it, until drowsiness drew his thoughts to more pleasant things, a tingle in the crook of his neck, and he finally drifted off.

Masterlist

@frequentlychangingfandoms @quackquackbi @sweetseunghyun-poulter @crazysheeplyca @pre-google @neilox @thesuitkovian @carp3d1em @cottoncandy-dreamxd @emilyhadenbaker @a-ravenclaw-into-tardis-221b @shardsofstarlight @piscesgvancouverite @tooty-fruity

[littobin]

sprung

genre: suggestive romantic stuff, with a tiny bit of angst

pairing: tattooist!moonbin x reader.

warnings: none ? just a minimal language, and kinda heavy making out... yeah

- summary: sanha, the well known skater, had an older brother. and maybe his best friend y/n was too in love to proper think.

a/n note: this is kinda long and emo, it's just my first time writing in this genre so hfjbfn sorry in advance. gender neutral, also for a special friend who encouraged me to post on her birthday. planning on do stuff for the other boys soon. :)

...

[1:02AM]

putting a bit of effort into it you open your eyes, tired after waking up from what felt like a long nap.

your head still was unsettled, confused, looking around the place you found yourself at. by some point then you manage to recognize the living room and the nice sofa on which you were lying, such things from nothing less nothing more than the comfy, simple house of your best friend, sanha.

honestly no matter how much you tried to recall it on your mind, nothing reminded you of what could have happened for you to wake up there. despite how it was already one habit of yours to often visit this house where the tall, half black half blonde haired boy used to greet you in with his bubbly smile several times, and of course with his extra peculiar style, ripped pants, bandaids and chaotic printed t-shirts you always thought to be funny.

to be friends with a professional skater since high school days wasn't so bad, after all sanha was indeed one of a kind, such a mature and high spirited boy. he was such a nice goofball, always ready to talk about any topic, share taste on music or learn new things, the actual opposite of what people say about someone like him. sanha has always been an amazing friend, making you feel comfortable and your days a lot lighter every time you went to see him after dealing with responsibilities.

whether your short visits were to spend some time for both of you to help each other with things about studies or just when you missed spending time with him, you were already a common guest. for textbooks and notes purposes or for when it'd all turn into laughs, popcorn and your best friend's favorite games, or even in skate competitions he used to bring you with him at the square down street.

or else, when you'd also come to secretly see the black haired handsome man always on his casual clothes living there with your friend, who at the time he was home would stay sometimes in the kitchen, sometimes doing his works outside at the small desk near the garden, sometimes practicing sketches in his own room.

sanha introduced him as his older brother bin, who unlike him was a lover of all kinds of arts. whom you shouldn't pay so much attention to, but before your mind could go against it all of your thoughts were just as they ended up. constantly filled with him, with the need to see him everyday.

however now instead of going on trying to figure out any other possibilities to what could've brought you there, or even letting your thoughts wander over sanha's brother again, you hear calm footsteps approaching and immediately close your eyes, burying yourself on the sofa's recline. there you pretend to be still asleep, yet not understanding why your first reaction was like this, if it could be just your best friend.

for a few minutes the atmosphere remains monotonous, but soon enough turns tense as you feel someone come too close. two strong muscular arms embrace you carefully, bringing a sweet smell of shampoo you instantly could recognize so well. since the time when, in a game match with your best friend and his brother, both you and sanha attacked him with tickles for being the loser, as a form of punishment. you'd never forget it, for how it was your very first time hearing bin's boyish giggles, and touching his so silky, smooth hair, like a thin fabric tinted by the late night hues.

all of this together sent your heart pounding madly, already knowing who was there with you, especially when his jaw's downy skin brushes against your face for the proximity. at first he made a kind of awkward attempt to put you into his arms, in a position you could be carried comfortably. after one more try he gets to pick you up, and just when he easily manages to hold you firmly in bridal style, taking you off the couch like a light plush on his arms, nervousness started taking over you in silence as you couldn't assimilate where he planned to carry you to.

albeit a bit sudden at times and without much control of his own strength, except when you saw him drawing extremely detailed lines with his tattoo needle for customers at the studio he worked in, to where once sanha took you to bring him lunch, albeit he was too broad and intimidating, and his own homemade food didn’t always come out good for that little rough way of his no matter how hard he tried to do something thinking of you and sanha, albeit it all bin was always too gentle, too loving. it was so much whenever he'd open his mouth to talk with such sweetness and even a tiny bit of timidity to express his thoughts, even though how excellent he is with words, all of his little 'eh?'s when he'd be confused or cute neck scratches, you'd never believe he'd be a professional tattooist for years. he could normally work for all kinds of people, from madams to rockers, and do any type of drawings, from small daises to pretty complicated dragons and skulls. you'd have no clue of it if sanha didn't tell you, also about the fact bin always wanted to be a dancer, but because it was just the two of them and life tends to adapt itself according to necessities, he never thought about doing tattoos, yet casually came to work on it with time.

outside his job bin always took good care of his younger brother, though the troubles sanha would occasionally cause or how mischievous he could be even with him, and bin had to hit his head sometimes. all of his gestures were always docile, humble, treating you as if he was also a friend, and always being a real gentleman. not mentioning the countless times he had his crescent moons smile on up his eyes, just utterly enchanting.

all of this inevitably got you even more lovestruck, and your heart weak, no matter how hard you tried to muffle down those feelings. bin remained as the only man whose your mind and its daydreams for hours never grew tired of, the only one who gave new colors to your days. the more you knew him the more you were sure you couldn't be in any other way than hopelessly in love with him, too affected whenever he'd be around.

before you'd notice it you were thinking about this, about all you kept hidden inside for him. so you just settled yourself to forget what would be going on and let him believe you were really asleep, although in fact tension ran down your nape feeling his body's warmth, heat uncontrollably up your face while you leaned against his large chest.

after a few minutes of more footsteps sounds on stairs and doors opening through he carried you, bin stops at a certain point, slowly placing you carefully over another soft material, which you deduced to be of a bed.

you held yourself static, thinking he'd soon leave you there to rest and go, as you figured out sanha's brother probably would do so by his cordiality. nevertheless almost all at once you were simply taken aback when the male leaned on the bed, and slowly on top of you. his elbows and one knee supported him over, in such a way that made you too weak under his figure covering yours up, as if he was like a huge brown bear in charge. shivers hardened your shoulders, as you feel a heavier breath against your face.

"i know you're awake." he says softly, yet his characteristic boyish voice sounding way huskier than normally. you instantly open your eyes in disbelief over what you've heard, and just so your cheeks turns crimson, realizing how both of you were just few centimeters apart. his stunning almond eyes sparkled brightly into the room, dark and hooded while staring deeply at you. every one of his features on his manly face were lined on a serious expression, seeming concentrated, but almost fatal.

"bin.." all you could do was just mutter his name sheepishly over embarrassment, only to get a sigh from him in response. "shh..." his index finger lightly touches your mouth, tracing its tip to the corner of your lips, your hands starting to sweat cold just by the small contact with his digits.

bin then suddenly towered over you, without removing his intense brown irises from yours and rests his arms around your face, so his long fingers would now caress your hair. solely in this move his body quickly cornered you on the bed by his height. butterfly swarms rush into your stomach, as for a few minutes both of you kept quiet, staring intently at each other.

you swallowed hard. any trivial action like breathing now seemed dull, with him there so close to you as never. bin was like the definition of being drop dead gorgeous, every detail, every fiber of him exuded beauty, to almost seem unreal. through these few seconds watching him you couldn't keep your eyes from wandering, over each one of them. his thin, dainty rosy lips, which looked a little swollen, begging for another one's touches. black hair strands resembling the universe's dark matter hovering messy on his slightly sweaty forehead, and over his expressive frowned eyebrows. soft, milky skin which became a little more flushed as he stared at you, thick neck exposed by his t-shirt colar, wide shoulders covered by his cardigan tucked on his elbows.

oh everything about him was, so breathtaking.

although you couldn't understand why he was doing this, for how in your head you wondered why such an attractive man like him, who anyone would want to have, was there looking this way at someone so simple, still you couldn't hold back such things he made you feel. too many things screaming for you to let them out. and it was just the same for him.

"you know what.. damn it.." you heard bin break down the silence with a shaky whisper, and before you'd realize or question anything he placed your noses together in a soft brush and collided your lips with his eagerly, both of you sighing in the contact.

fear still was the main emotion taking over you, even though you closed your eyes right away and gave in to him, millions of beautiful sensations coursing through your veins at once. you simply didn't have any idea on how to act, what you should do in the first place all because of the frozen state his attitude caused, something you'd hardly come up with in your dreams by how far out of your reach you thought it'd be. however now you just put everything aside, gradually melting away with your knees getting weaker, as you felt bin kissing you in an irresistibly slow, delicate way.

not even through any of your deductions with yourself you'd imagine these little things which had your heart to almost explode now, that his nose would be so soft, and his lips would taste so sweet, velvety in their texture extremely hot and moist, pressing and moving gently as if they were massaging yours. easily you were found anesthetized, like one who reaches the ninth cloud. when they started to move more, just a bit hungrier between small sucks created by him and nibblings on your lower lip, you began to gradually further correspond them into the kiss, wherein he lets out quiet sounds, his pulsations so out of control and his cheeks burning red just as, or perhaps even more than you.

bin was still trying to not lose his composure. still trying to keep the feelings he had hidden for you from being all poured out at once, like a waterfall.

since the first time when sanha introduced you to him as his best friend, after he came home from a rough day at work. since then when you smiled saying your name and he could sense flowers blooming all over his chest, stealing the air on top of his lungs. to every time you locked eyes for too long or your hands accidentally touched his when you'd volunteer to help him in the kitchen. every little conversation, every time you patted his shoulders to encourage him when his brother would as well, never looking intimidated, like most people he knew.

he didn't want to show each drop of his honesty so fast in case you wouldn't flinch, but it was too hard when he had you there kissing him back, only the two of you in this moment, feeling you not repress him but otherwise, just wanting his touches as much as he's been longing for yours. he couldn't help but lose his mind more and more into each of your small actions. your hands timidly plugged on his waist, almost embracing it while his warm, long fingers intertwined with your hair strands, that somes mixed a little in his bangs, or your leg unconsciously poking his. in a way that without noticing bin tightened his arms more around you as well as the pressure of his chest, looking for more and more closure to you.

it didn't take long until the male would part his lips like a bud's petals, and so you shudder with his hot tongue there rubbing your lower lip, asking for entrance. you just give in not even being able to think through all the flustering this new sensation sent on you, and bin slowly deepened the kiss, making it fulfilled by all the so suffocated attachment you had for each other.

little by little his tongue slides in intertwining with yours, as the first thing hitting you was the fresh flavor of his chocolate mint cereal bar, which you were used to always see on bin's hands or pockets, and it just added an even better feeling through you explored his mouth. plenty more touches come up between the two of you so that the male, after staying still in the same position for a little while, suddenly slides one of his arms down. his huge veiny hand grips firmly and gives light squeezes on your side what caused you to jump a few times, running it down in a path of pure shivers to your hips, until he catches your hand still on his waist and without any previous warning pulls it in, under his shirt.

air immediately hitched on your throat out of shock, but bin was immersed, focused on only feeling you more. in the intervals his tongue's tip traced your mouth tilting his head for access, and when he brought it back so he'd press and gently suck your lips with his, the male kept the pace guiding your hand on his large back. slowly he also brought it down to the point of his firm, built up abdomen, which caused chills on himself, and moved your palm to make contact with the warmth of his absurdly soft, fragile bare skin inside the fabric. uncontrollable pulsations took over you the moment you get access to this new touch, your head in a fog of only bin.

this one was indeed a little different from the docile person you knew, with his contagious smile behind gloves and a tattoo needle you were so used to see. instead bin showed to be such an intense man, and why not say sexy, full of alluring gestures you didn't know how to handle, solemnly irresistible. over an impulse you make up a little of courage and start moving your hands by yourself, caressing and feeling his muscles, that have always been apparent on his manly athletic body, as each of his proportions under the shirt.

"god.." he suddenly said under his breath in a way sounding too sensual from his gracious, still husky voice among the kiss, melting completely in sensitivity and a cardiac mess because of you. bin then pressed a few more pecks a few more times on your lips, not wanting to pull away but doing so already for running out of air, through both of you parted trying to catch it.

yet you fail miserably, as soon as you see your best friend's brother face, completely flushed and breathless. his coffee colored eyes dripped fondness and loads of tiny stars all together, eyebrows pressed in such a lovely, affectionate expression you swore you never saw anything so endearing in your life. if it wasn't for another beat skipping your chest when you noticed a small amount of saliva, that you could clearly define as traces of the wonderful kiss of a few seconds ago, in the corner of his mouth.

as soon as he notices your widened eyes, bin's face changes and he cleans it by licking his lips seductively, as if he knew how much it affected you. the cardigan he wore falls from over his shoulders and he removes the cloth piece, dropping it on the floor. a small smile sprouted on his captivating features when he looks over at you watching him, as he lowered himself to your neck, putting his lips near your ear.

"keep going.." bin closed his eyelids, feeling the characteristic and comforting smell of fabric softener on your clothes. this smell which he always had on his memories from that day he shyly hugged you on your birthday, that now made him ask sweetly into whispers for your hands on him again, pressing more of his fine body and chest against yours.

his hips suddenly rolled down in a slow move, stimulating waves of electricity and adrenaline onto your stomach, your state now broke into sighs. you squeezed his waist slightly and involuntarily, moved by your latent feelings as he nuzzled against your neck, like a fluffy cat purring. bin was panting still heavily, sending incessant shivers down your spine.

"bin... you.. you're too much.." losing any lasting control over yourself you buried your face deeply on his shoulder and grabbed his huge biceps, letting out any first thing that would come out of your mind.

he smiled against your skin with a muffled chuckle, light and content for how cute you sounded to him, what got you even weaker as well as over the moisturizer perfume on his exposed collarbones by his shirt, before you went to fulfill his request. soon enough your palms were all over his muscular back once more, massaging them in up and down movements. bin took time to appreciate the feeling of having you into his arms, touching your hair, your nape, your lower back, or your cheeks where he decided to put gentle, tender kisses, that got you forgetting even more about the destination of your fingers under his shirt.

they ran all over his torso, sides, down to his beautiful abdomen once again to trace trembling patterns with your fingers under his stomach, running them up to reach the area of ​​his chest, where you accidentally touch one of his nipples. bin stopped when he felt the stimulus, letting what sounded like a frustrated moan resonate in response, and you move your hands right away. yet you didn't expect him to feel so flustered to the point of, having his weight against you, to this time start distributing wet kisses, full of desire onto your neck and jaw.

in the middle of them bin took pauses where he sucked some of your skin to mark it slightly, or moistened each sensitive spot he left with the way too warm texture of his tongue. his hands also return to be entirely over you, one putting stronger, breath taking grips and squeezes on one side of yours as the other entered under the hem of your sweatshirt, his thumb touching your belly's area. each thing he did left you helplessly more and more of a mess for him, while his hips gave another roll once again in an enticing motion, causing you to feel an inevitable friction you tried to ignore but his moves only made it harder and harder, between his thighs wrapped tight by his jeans and yours pressed in the middle of his from jumping so much with his touches.

"sanha, saw you fell asleep, and asked me to take you to a room.. i went to see you and heard, you mutter my name.. saying that you wanted to have me..." for a moment, your eyes widen in realize, and finally you get how you were there.

your mind gets back remembering how sleepy you were before you'd come to see sanha, something which was again the result of another pulled night thinking about life, studies, and about bin constantly, about how incredible would it be if you had the courage to confess to him. but before you could even die of embarrassment for letting your dreams go too high right at your bestfriend's house, right next to him, bin slowly brings another trail of his warm kisses up your neck, eliciting quiet whimpers from you this time, especially when he stroked your waist skin inside your sweatshirt and reached for your earlobe, instantly capturing it in his mouth to suck on the small cartilage.

"do it now.. do whatever you want." you heard him confess with a bit of difficulty on his tone, for the much any response from you for now would mean to him. therefore he stopped, pulling away as he looked at you with sad traces, insecure.

bin needed to know about you, to get a reassurance from you, one more time of you expressing fully whether you were in love with him as much as he was with you to let yourself stay with him more, or if not, as hard as it could be he'd stop there, despite how reciprocal everything was from your side. he didn't want just a make out with you.

uncertainties still bothered him inside, through several sleepless nights spent on his room's desk among all his draft drawings and work notes, but thinking of the stupid, probably one sided attachment he developed for you, growing everyday because of how regularly he could see you. way too quickly you stole a space on his heart, bigger than the passion for art and colorful designs his job gave him. even when his needle did its work putting on pigment, when he found himself alone before a customer would come, he often wondered about what you'd feel, if you saw him only as your best friend's brother, if it'd be too risky to try and tell you what he felt.

there wasn’t one moment in 24 hours all of this didn't cross bin’s mind for once as the days went by, but he was too afraid of being rejected, to the point of thinking his brother could have much more chances with you. though he left all these things aside when he finally heard you demonstrating something for him as simple as saying his name on your sleep was, losing it all while he held you on his arms.

and so you knew you had to get all that fuss of feelings off your chest at once before the chance slipped from your hands. before you had no option but to go back to your routine of sinking in sighs about what could have been, wanting to be in his arms for a day, when you wanted it to be always.

taking a second to comprehend his eyes you raised your arms around the middle of his back to caringly engulf him on them. it caused bin to unhesitatingly lower himself again, resting his chin on your shoulder and hold onto your lower back, his heart rushing loudly, unsure by your action.

"i want what you want, love.." you confessed as well, still feverish for his previous caresses. then you just rested your face on his shoulder, and with all the sincerity within your heart you tightened your arms in a hug, trying to show your intention of making him feel exactly this, your simple embrace.

love.

as he heard you clearly when you hugged him, the moment you loosened the grip bin pulled his body a little away to look at you again. his serene, loving eyes flickered until they were deeply on yours, oceans overflowing with hope and anticipation into them. "did you say.. love?"

"yes, i.. always wanted to call you like that. can i?" your knees flutter with your own question, just by the idea of ​​being able to call him as something that in so long would describe him so well for you.

bin, however, sighed till the bottom of his lungs, both now filled as everything within into a magical warmth, through every inch of his longing feelings were complete over his exhale. he wondered if he was dreaming, if this was finally the pure and graceful joy of touching clouds, or the lightness of blowing dandelions to the wind, of knowing that you felt the same, despite how he still couldn't believe it at all.

"you're so cute, i adore you so much y/n. if you say it like that, i'll be addicted to you.." the male's palm comes back to find itself cupping your cheeks, as his fingertips against your ear. once again you watch his fascinating gaze and face too close to yours, his irises, his lips to his shoulders, as if it turned into a new habit which would give you life. his voice sounds honeyed, like a blanket on winter, yet intimate, breathy.

almost as an immediate response you blinked repeatedly at the main three words on his first sentence, as of it didn't take long until you blushed violently trying to proccess everything, surprising bin while you placed your wrists at your nose's level to hide your face. you were now too caught up on a mixture of inexplicable waves of euphoria and emotions hitting you, too overwhelmed at all of these extremely heartfluttering things he just said so naturally. god, indeed he was too much to handle, but he still was your favorite.

"don't do this, fool! i adore you too.. a lot.." with your wrists still there your embarrassed expression only increase as you let out, but soon you moved them aside when the sound of his soothing laugh echoed into your ears. "wow.. i guess i'm the happiest fool now."

bin was smiling widely, grinning, perhaps in the most angelic, genuine way among all the days you've seen him do through routine. the crescent moons forming his beaming eyes harmonized as his lashes half closed with the curves on his lips up, giving room for two light dimples, forehead aligned with yours, emotions all over that you still couldn't read, as of relief and affection at the same time on his details. to hear him laughing in a tender and so spontaneous tone, his body seeming relaxed, comfortable, and to be a part of it almost like watching stars at midnight, all of this also made you smile along with him.

without being able to express too many feelings at once or what you'd like to say to him now you simply place your fingers against his face, the small, gelid earring on his ear, touching his bangs between them dearly, as if he'd be made of crystalline glass. another silence raised as you both kept looking at each other, like the night stopped passing around you, until bin draws another small smile and breaks the short distance again.

you took a deep breath, grabbing a certain spot on his shirt when you feel all the coziness of his thin lips pressing more kisses on different points of your face all slowly. on the area next to your nose where he placed the most of them, or on your mouth as he initiated another sweet, luscious round of lips on lips, pulling you closer and closer by your lower back, which seemed to be his best choice for a comfort zone.

but it doesn't take long for his attention to turn back to your neck, stopping to scan and softly trace his thumb on the small crimson hickeys he left there.

"some of them, look like tattoos... sorry, i.." bin whispered, trying to explain himself somehow embarrassed, but gets interrupted by you taking the initiative to hold on his back and get closer.

there you bury your face on his neck and kiss him gently, under his jaw to the beginning of his collarbones, as of every inch of his velvety skin flushed hot and sensitive in goosebumps where you explored. still being a bit taken aback bin shut his lashes and rested his cheeks now tinted in shades of pinkish hues against yours, disarmed by your suddenness. the more he felt your timid lips going so intimate on him, the more unrestrained beats and pantings had the best of him at that moment, bin no longer being able to maintain the same calm. you always had that power to leave him like that, definitely. the only one who ever did.

"there's something i always wanted.. but first tell me, if you want me by your side." one of his thick arms hug your waist, a barely audible moan escaping through he said out without thinking at all, just letting himself upon your guidance, locked on your touches.

the moment you proccess bin's words and what they'd mean your fingers slip from curling the silky strands at his nape, also leaving the curve of his shoulder where you planted more confident kisses, as if by magic your heart was sent on another unbalanced marathon. did he really ask it?

"of course.. of course i do." you answered his doubt with your whole chest, and it was all he ever waited to have you saying.

bin didn't know what exactly made him feel so lost on everything about you, wishing to stick to your side more and more. but he knew it was such a thing way too heavenly for him to not want to dive deep in. one drink, or a way too pure cup of water on thirsty times he'd last there appreciating till the last drop, a room wherein he'd feel better than in any other, or even a necklace he'd carry on himself everyday, a permanent tattoo.

any way it all should be, he wouldn't care. as of the moment he heard you a smile flourished across the corners of his lips again, and in a matter of minutes he held your sides pulling you with him as he sat back among the sheets, placing you onto him all too fastly and strongly in a way you had to look for support by putting your trembling palms on his chest.

you were left once more in a loss of words, swallowing hard over another wave of butterflies when you found yourself held sitting on his lap and facing him, through he gave you such a dangerously charming, sexy smirk, gaze so intense it almost knocked you dizzy like you never thought to be. yet less even would you imagine he'd strip off his t-shirt right in front of your eyes, and reveal his toned, absolutely perfect torso, all of his muscles there totally exposed from collarbones to his lower abdomen, where a black butterfly spreading its wings showed up printed on his skin at his side. bin just let your shocked eyes hover on the sight of his whole sculptural half naked body, before he'd glue your foreheads and squeeze your sides excitedly, also giving attention to your right thigh caressing and gripping it with his other hand through he adjusted you on his lap.

"everything i want is us, y/n..."

he couldn't wait to throw aside his stupid composure with you.

[growingupautie]

StoryTime: The White Card Incident

(2,770 words but worth the read.)

In January of 2013, I was promoted from a part-time weekend job as a technology sales representative for Lenovo to the Marketing Development Manager for Lenovo in charge of half of my entire city of Houston. For a while, I felt like I was on top of the world. I loved my job and traveling through my city. I loved meeting all the people in the 50 plus stores I had to visit and started to memorize a lot of them and what we talked about.

I even made my route have me end up near Chinatown on some days so I could stop by and eat lunch there (and get some things from my favorite bakery.) But just as Kandace and I were planning on using this newfound position to get an apartment together, something terrible happened. In October of that year, we got on our weekly conference call as we always did, but the mood seemed somber and no one was talking or laughing like they used to.

When our boss came on, she also seemed upset and had trouble getting her words out. I could tell that everyone on the call, all 20 plus of us from across the United States just wanted her to say what was happening so we could rip the bandaid off. After a minute of praise that felt hollow given the tone of the call, someone finally asked if she could get to the news we were told to expect.

She said "sorry" and continued to tell us that the parent company we work for had lost the contract with Lenovo after failed negotiations and our positions were being terminated immediately. The call somehow fell more silent. Everyone had questions. Myself included. But in the end, we found out most of what we wanted to know. The Lenovo branded cars we drove were to be returned, (I had let my vehicle stay broken down as I didn't need it and it would be expensive to fix.)

The laptop we were provided was to be returned as well along with the phone, and hotspot device. But the most important bit of info came when someone asked if we would be allowed to apply for unemployment. "Of course we would be able to. We paid into it, we worked, we should be able to get that back." but to our surprise, the boss said something along the lines of "no don't do that! We could get in trouble! We haven't paid into that!" All of us were stunned. Someone asked how that was even possible.

It turns out the loophole in the law they had found was that because the company was in Akron Ohio, and we all worked and paid taxes in our various other cities somehow they managed to not pay into it. We didn't get bogged down into the why or how, but all that meant to us was suddenly we were without cars and a paycheck and would be denied unemployment. I was devastated. I really thought I had found a place to grow and could see myself making a career out of it.

We were about to sign papers on an apartment and suddenly I'm without a job, without a working car, and without any kind of financial assistance. Some issues happened around my family and after a short time, I got my car somewhat fixed and I moved out of the house into Dadaw's (grandmother's) house. I tried frantically to get another job. After all, I had just been in charge if half of Houston for a big company. Surely I would be offered another position somewhere soon.

But as time went by, nobody had called. I had very little money left, and very little outside help if any. Hope was dwindling, relationships were strained. I had spoken to at least 20 job placement agencies. After my mom informed me that I had been diagnosed as Autistic as a child, I had reconnected with D.A.R.S. (Department of Rehabilitative Services) who help people with disabilities get help with work and other things.

But they refuse to help me based on my other medical issues because they closed my case before, and they refused to help me as an Autistic until I got rediagnosed. They paid for me to be rediagnosed, I did so with no sleep, having skipped dinner and breakfast, and with a ridiculous amount of stress on my shoulders.

I aced their IQ test minus the memory portion, and after a while of convincing the doctor I was Autistic through old stories and experiences and the fact that I had been diagnosed, he agreed. That day, I went home with my heart sunk in my chest. I felt like a failure for needing this kind of help. I felt like a broken or incomplete person because I couldn't do it on my own.

And after months of their "help," working with a bunch of disability-based job agencies, the "help" of 20 plus other job placement agencies I had saught out, and filling out applications online myself, no matter what I tried, I couldn't get a job anywhere. I couldn't afford to eat, and I didn't want Dadaw to pay for me as she often couldn't afford much. A few people in my life suggested I get food stamps. Several people in my life told me I should apply food stamps. But the idea of that in itself was terrifying.

But after a while, between eating very little, my friends taking me out from time to time, and constant pestering from my family I felt I was left with no choice. I went to the food stamp office with my head down, the people around me had the same downtrodden demeanor. When they called me back, I felt a rush of emotions. Guilt, remorse, sorrow, anger that it came to this.

But most of all, I felt embarrassed. Growing up, food stamps had been used as an insult toward the people around me, I knew at one point my family had needed them and used them and I felt like as someone who had been constantly bullied growing up, I was opening myself up for more. I played through a million scenarios in my head as I walked back. Someone I know seeing me at the checkout counter, the cashier silently judging me, the people around me, me dropping the white card with the unmistakable logo in front of someone.

I snapped out of it and sat down in the interview room to answer questions to determine my eligibility. But it felt like a police interrogation to me. I felt like I was cheating the system. Like it wasn't for me, but someone else who deserved it. Someone else who needed it. I felt the eyes of the interviewer boring into me as if to say "why are you even here?" I spoke up about to break. "I...I don't even want to do this." Her face changed from accusatory and annoyed, to shock.

I let her know that I felt like I had no other choice, that I felt embarrassed. I explained my situation, and she looked at me almost begrudgingly endearing. "Son, if you need help, you need help." she said. "That's what it's here for." I felt somewhat relieved or at least a little better about not actually cheating the system. They accepted my application, and I was approved.

When I got the card, I was once again filled with dread. Replaying the simulations over and over in my head a million times. Finding a way to cheat the system in a way to avoid being bullied, I realized I could use the self-check-out. Then quickly realized if I get one of those "please remove items from cart" messages or something else regarding my card, someone would have to come up and help me anyway.

Still, I figured it was my best hope for avoiding confrontations, and I parked outside the grocery store. I checked my balance on the card and made sure everything was working, went in and got a basket, and started shopping while feeling like a spy. Like somehow I would get caught and it would be the end of the road for me. I'm honestly surprised nobody thought I was shoplifting as nervous as I was.

When I was done, I walked over to the self-check-out area doubling down on my earlier decision when a woman stopped me and said they were all closed for repairs. Panic set in. I didn't say anything. I just sort of smiled and walked away with my basket.

The 15 items or less line was almost empty but I had too many items. The next line had too many people. The next few lines had the same amount of people and items, and I started doing the math on which cashier was scanning and bagging faster vs how judgmental they look trying to get myself into the best possible situation.

Eventually, I found a line sandwiched between two closed lines with only one woman and her 2 kids in the basket with a few items. The cashier didn't seem to care much about anything and didn't seem like a gatekeeper or any other kind of threat. And the woman in front of me seemed sad and aloof as well so I felt like things were going to be ok. The woman smiled at me and apologized for having so many items. "It's not that much. It's fine." I responded with a smile.

But suddenly from behind me, I felt a high strung angry presence. Like a monster who's in a hurry and I'm in his path. As each item was scanned, he started saying "Oh God...." "Of course..." and "Just great..." in a demeaning and monstrous tone. The woman continued to hide her face with her back to him and sulked further into herself as he continued. "Cash or credit?" The cashier asked in a monotone voice. "I...uh...Here..." The woman said quietly and she tried to hand her..."A food stamp card..." I thought to myself.

I realized that I and the woman felt the same at that moment. In need of help, but afraid to seek it out, and even afraid to use it once that help had been provided. I started to piece the scene together realizing the kids had beat up shoes and clothes, and the woman did as well. They were clearly hungry and frightened by this angry rhino of a person and just wanted to get some food. I started to think of all the scenarios that could have put them in that situation. But then I realized it didn't matter.

Only a moment had passed while I thought through all of these things, the children were terrified of this man already and then he saw it..."OH GREAT! MY TAX DOLLARS AT WORK!" he screamed scaring the kids even more. He began to verbally narrate what he thought her situation was. accusing her of getting "knocked up" to "leech off the system." He said people like them were a "drain on the economy" all while using language inappropriate to use around her children.

At that moment after the initial shock wore off, I grasped my card in my pocket as anger built up inside of me. I knew what I was afraid of, I had built it up in my head, and this ignorant jerk was making it a reality for a down on their luck mom and her two scared children. I immediately pivoted. "What did you just say?" I told him with a face that said: "I dare you to repeat that." apparently too blustered to care, he said, "I SAID PEOPLE LIKE HER ARE A DRAIN ON THE ECONOMY!"

I whipped my card out and held it in-between two fingers right in his face. "And what about me?" I spoke out with an angry but in control tone. "I...Uh..." he said as it became clear to me, like most bullies, this one was only doing this because he thought his targets (this mom and her kids) would not be able to defend themselves. I yelled at him more, trying to control my voice so I didn't frighten the kids anymore "Well, you had all kinds of ignorant crap to say a minute ago!"

He snapped out of his shock bullies go into when someone stands up to them. "Wh...Why don't you mind your own business?! I WASN'T EVEN TALKING TO YOU! WHY DON'T YOU FIND ANOTHER LINE!" He started to build up steam again making the children huddle in the cart.

Having had enough of his nonsense I moved my card, leaned in with a scowl, got uncomfortably close to his face and angrily whispered: "Why don't YOU find another line before I find one for you..." a terrified look came across his face as he realized doubling down on his ignorance would not get the job done and after a pained audible gulp in the "big man's" throat he was frantically on his way spouting off "That's what I thought" and other face-saving phrases.

I timidly turned back to the family making sure I had dropped my "don't mess with me" persona (My Autistic folks know this one) so I didn't scare them. I asked them if they were ok. Her eyes were filled with tears, and so were the kids. She smiled at me and thanked me for stepping in. I told her kids that it was ok because he was gone now and offered to walk them to their car. She said she appreciated it but they would be fine.

The checkout woman handed her a receipt and obviously wanted to stay out of the situation. I saw the woman leave and she smiled at me on the way out. I had enough items that it took a good 5 minutes to check me out. I realized in that time I was no longer afraid of being seen with my card. Maybe it was the adrenaline of standing up to that bully, maybe it was outing myself to protect that family, after all, it would be silly to be afraid now that everyone had clearly seen it.

I paid, went outside, and on my windshield was a note on small lined paper that had been torn out of a planner of some sort that said: "You will be blessed all the days of your life." I don't know who left it, or if it was in response to what happened, or even how they found out which car was mine, but it was there.

The message here is two-fold. First, it is easy to get caught up in thinking you don't need help, or that even if you did it isn't for you. "It's for someone more deserving." sometimes it's just the fear of being bullied or ridiculed for accepting it. And because of this, a lot of people wait until they hit "the bottom" before they ever consider asking and even then they might not.

In a better world, we would destigmatize the need for help. Therapy, government assistance, shelters, these things are in place to help people, and if people need help, they should be able to get it without being berated to tears over it. The last thing someone who's questioning if they need help or not needs is some blowhard with their ignorant opinions of why they don't. Which brings me to the second message.

If you see something like this happening, and you have the power to step in whether you are personally affected or not, do it. This includes all forms of bullying. Bullies are cowards. They may double down, but once these types of people realize that we won't allow this anymore and there are actually people who will stand against them, they buckle under the pressure. If you see it, shut it down.

This has been another [Growing Up Aspie] Storytime. If you'd like to help me make more content more often, please consider supporting me at Paypal.me/growingupaspie or with a monthly pledge of $1 or more at patreon.com/irishwolfproductions. Thank you for your support.

-Nathan Alan McConnell

[bitch-banshee]

Goner

Prompt: Reader finds Derek on a hike while he's been wounded from hunters. She doesn't know about supernaturals so she thinks there's a serial killer. She takes him home and tends to his wounds.

This has been sitting for so long....sorry y’all.

Masterlist

Living in a town where the main attraction is the woods was a blessing and curse. Hiking was always fun, finding new places all the time by a simple veer of the beaten path.

Until today.

I had just passed a small creek when i heard a sharp shout and a thud. Against my better brain waves and ignoring every movie ever. I decided to venture even further to see what was going on.

"Uhh hello?" The gentle English tilt to my voice slipped out in my fear. "Is there someone there" i continued treading as lightly as i could. If it was an animal that was hurt the last thing you wanted to do was scare it. I came around a large tree slowly, it wasn't an animal.

"Oh my god!" I whispered and fell to my knees. It was a man, and he had 4 long slash marks on his bare back. "A-are you okay, oh my god, who did this to you, can you stand, oh my god" my hands trembled as they reached for him. Too many questions Olivia.

"Okay okay okay, i need you to stand, can you do that for me?" A grunt, we were getting somewhere. "Alright, wanna tell me your name?" He leaned heavily against me, and i was thankful for all the months I'd been hiking.

"Mm Derek" he slurred, his head lolling to one side. "Okay! Derek, I'm gonna bring you to my car okay? Is that alright?" Another grunt. Not a man of words i see.

"It's just over the hill, can you make that Derek, i need you to tell me, or else I'll call an ambulance to help" at this his eyes snapped open, "no hospital " it was clear, free of the slur from before. Okay, "cool, no hospital, i can work with that, you're lucky I'm a doctor, not for people but i don't think that matters" a dry laugh slipped from my lips.

I was rambling, and i knew it. More than once i was all to aware of his slipping consciousness, and the blood sliding over my fingers. But by some miracle we made it to my truck.

"Okay Derek, can you lean here for just a second, I've got a towel in the back" incoherent words slipped from his lips, an agreement i think. I'll never know.

Still with shaking hands, i draped the towel over his back. He hissed, I'd drenched it in water, because putting a dry towel on an open wound was stupid. "Sorry sorry" somehow i got him in my passenger seat. He didn't lean back.

Okay, so he's aware enough to not get blood on my seat. Great. With a shut of the door and a sprint to the other side. The car ride was filled with shuddering breaths and soft apologies. Someone had tried to hill him. With a knife it looked, I'd been paying attention to the news.

Animal attacks, and half found bodies, someone was slaughtering people so bad the only explanation was an animal. My mind churned, i wouldn't be going back into the woods until they caught that lunatic. If i found Derek, that killer could find me. I looked over with frantic eyes "still with me Derek" a soft hum slid from his chest to my ears.

When we pulled up to my house, getting him out was way harder than getting him in. "Okay Derek just lean over like that, I've got you, Oh shit" he slipped and i caught him twisting before we both fell.

"We're not doing that again, agreed" i didn't expect him to answer. His face was ashen, it made me nervous. With fumbling fingers and hot breaths i busted through my front door. We didn't make it to the garage where i had a table for this sort of thing. The kitchen it was.

With quick hands i sent everything onto the floor.

"Sorry Ana" i whispered to my housemate that wasn't in. "Derek, you there, i need you to lay on your stomach,I'm gonna clean you up okay?" I whispered, he flinched anyways.

Once he was laid down i ran to the garage. Pulling antiseptic and hydrogen peroxide. I heard a deep groan and raced back. He was moving, pushing his arms from the counter. "No no no no no" i pushed him back down.

"This isn't gonna hurt, but it won't feel good either, you ready?" A nod, halfhearted and heartbreaking. I pursed my lips in concentration, trying to still my wiggling hands. "Cmon liv" i admonished myself and tending to his wounds.

The cuts were long, deliberate and they weren't the only ones. Through careful cleaning and inspection there were bruises under all the blood. "Jesus. You still with me" i ran my fingers over his head, like i could a dog before snapping it back.

This was a person, flesh blood bones and brains. A muffled "yeah I'm here" and i almost cried out of relief. "AH words! Yes okay" i pulled out a needle and thread and stared "I'm gonna gave to stitch these, okay" a deep sigh, "okay"

After several deep breaths and some winces and grunts I'd put in about 150 stitches. "Don't move, I'm gonna get bandaids" i placed my hands softly on his shoulders, a drowsy murrp came from his mouth. Minutes later he was bandaged and lying on my couch. "Are you allergic to any pain medication?" I squatted before him.

"Derek, i can't give you anything for the pain if you don't tell me." The assertion in my voice surprised even me. "No, no meds, m'ok" he groaned and went to stretch before his face screwed up and his eyes popped open. Wide and scared.

"Don't panic, you're fine, you're okay" i soothed slightly "are you allergic?" I asked again. He shook his head, probably annoyed with my pestering. I nodded and stuck him with some morphine.

Maybe 20 minutes later Derek was fast asleep. I was thankful for the open floor plan because i could see him from the kitchen.

"No Ana i didn't go out looking for an injured man" i hissed over the phone. "Why did you bring him back?" "You've seen the news, people are dying, i couldn't leave him here. He looks like escaped from someone. You know what whatever, are you staying with Brenton tonight?" She humphed "i could be" i rolled my eyes, hearing her smug smile. "Do" was all i said before i heard Derek groan. "I'm gonna check on him, i call you later" "okay liv, be careful" i sighed and hung up.

Rounding the couch i saw he was still asleep but sweating. I put my hand on his head and he was burning up. "Shit" he was going to sweat the pain meds right out. I went to the fridge and took out some frozen corn before placing it on the back of his neck. He blew out a long breath, before settling against the chocolate brown couch. At that moment my stomach grumbled. "Let's hope you're alright while i cook" i said to his sleeping form, pulling my hands through my hair.

30 minutes later I'd made tomato soup and a grilled cheese when Derek moved. It took me all of four seconds to be in front of him. "Derek, hey, take it slow you're gonna rip your stitches" his green eyes were frantic, swiping over the unfamiliar room before landing on me.

"Who are you" he mouth settled in a scowl, eyes blazing green fire. "I-I'm Olivia, i found you in the woods. Y-you were dying" my voice trembled out, words flying from my mouth. I recapped the whole story of finding him and bringing him here and stitching him up.

His face softened, but not enough to not look intimidating "thank you, but i should leave" he made moves to get up. My hands slapped down on his still bare shoulders.

"LEAVE? You can't leave, you shouldn't even be able to stand. Your pain tolerance must be though the roof. You shouldn't be moving around for a few days Derek. Then we should go to the police. I wanted to take you to the hospital but you said very seriously in your blood loss haze no to that. I'm sorry, I'm talking a lot, but you can't leave." I kept shaking my head, hands squeezing his shoulder involuntarily at my hasty speaking.

"Okay" was all he said. Gruff and annoyed.

"Okay" i responded "i made soup, do you want some" he nodded slowly, his gaze so alert and sliding over my face it made me shiver. I made him promise not to move while i got his food.

~~

Derek needed to leave. He needed to get out of this house with this strangely nice and gorgeous woman. His eyes slid over her face and he'd wished he'd remained on her eyes. The baby blues were captivating enough. But when he let his gaze wander to the small nose and full pink lips being worried by her teeth. He felt his nostrils flare when she walked away from him.

She smelled like rain and honeysuckle. Not to mention the unintentional way of her hips made him weak and willing to do anything for her. When she set the steaming food in front of him with an easy smile and an earnest nod he knew he was a goner.

"What were you running from?" She inquired, smelling of anxiety atop her natural scent. He didn't answer, he couldn't, clearly she didn't know anything of his kind or the hunters hellbent on ending his life.

"Cmon Derek, it's okay, someone tried to hurt you, no doubt a serial killer that would've cut you up and scattered you around the woods" her voice lilted in a way that proved not only did she know nothing about supernaturals she also wasn't from here.

"How did you know what to do" he asked a question of his own. She faultered, caught off by such a question.

"I'm a vet, i moved here a few months ago, and I've been unable to catch up with the clinic owner here" she shrugged and nibbled at her sandwich. Derek caught a whiff of sadness and immediately felt bad.

"Sorry, thank you for not letting me die" his voice was stiff, he knew the slashes had already healed. Unless they hadn't, by the twist of his back and the ebbing pain that bloomed being any indication. She was immediately up, swathing him in her scent again "don't do that, God you're going to rip those open" she was behind him.

Soft fingers searing over his back, warmth flowing from her to him. He humphed "you're a good cook" he tried to appeal to her, to ease her strong feelings of anxiety and lingering sadness.

"Liar, I'm a horrid cook, you got lucky we had the only thing i can cook in the house" she laughed and it was like windchimes. Floating through the air, she was so soft spoken it didn't hurt his werewolf ears.

Like stiles did when he rambled, getting louder and louder. Her voice thinned and quieted as more words flew from her mouth. He realized he hadn't been listening to what she was saying. Her mumbles quiet as she continued to look over and slide her fingers over his back.

Yup he was a goner.

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@dylinski @terminallygenius @parker-potter @just-jordie-things