#yes he got his arm sawed off shortly after but he made an honest attempt.

[astramachina]

I figured it out. My two brands of horror writing are "it's giving A24" and "it's giving Blumhouse" and it's always a toss-up where shit's gonna land.

[azucanela]

pls some headcanons for Bakugou, Shinsou and Shoto when the reader kisses them infront of everyone. Thank you :)

KISSING THEM IN FRONT OF EVERYONE

FT. BAKUGOU KATSUKI, SHINSOU HITSOHI TODOROKI SHOUTO

SUMMARY: in which you and the boys kiss in public, and now everyone is screaming. oh no.

WORD COUNT: 2.1k

WARNING: season three spoliers, insecurities, arguments,

A/N: i wanted to do scenarios bc this was too good ugh thank YOU for requesting this 

BAKUGO KATSUKI

lol so HAVE FUN WITH THIS ONE

you two are already dating but you keep it on the down low because its Katsuki and he’s like ew people knowing i have feelings other than anger? ew ew ew

you’re fine with it, but if he thinks its bothering you he’ll talk to you about it and smother you with affection, but he’ll act like its nothing

wants to rub it in his faces that you are his girlfriend, yes, but also he doesn’t want the teasing that comes with it. he knows for a fact that all his friends would bully him because he is SOFT FOR YOUUU and he’s also just a generally private person

you respect this and like it’s fine woo yeah okay it’s nice being the only one that sees the side of him that’s all soft and cute and affectionate

i can’t really see the two of you slipping up unless it’s influenced by a lot of emotions

where do these emotions come from? you might ask

his kidnapping.

you were a mess, but it was lowkey, real lowkey. and unlike the others you do not support trying to save katsuki on their own, trusting the heroes to do their job is the way to go.

so you don’t go with them. the next time you see your lovely boyfriend is when he’s giving kirishima money

so naturally, consumed by all the fear and panic you felt while he was gone, you kiss him!

and he kisses you back and its really soft and oh-

what a shame the whOLE CLASS IS THERE 

everyone is really confused, but they’re happy because they think that the two of you finally addressed the clear tension between the two of you, all it took was a lil kidnapping

except then you pull apart, completely disregarding them, your hands on his face, “baby are you okay?”

you don’t call someone you haven’t kissed before baby

then it clicks for the rest of the class

SCREAMS.

so much yelling

oh god have fun with that one

the bakusquad is yelling at him for not telling him, the dekusquad is scolding you for not telling them, there’s just a lot of questionable things

katsuki will get SO FLUSTERED because this is not what we wanted

at least the attention was off of his kidnapping now

maybe that was your goal idk 👀

Katsuki really wished everyone would shut up about his kidnapping, it wasn’t something he wanted to think about right now, or ever if he was honest. So much had happened in the past few days and he was still struggling to process all of it, and the disgustingly warm welcome he’d received to the dorms wasn’t helping. It was gross. 

He’d shoved cash into Kirishima’s hand, rolling his eyes when he began to panic at the possibility that he’d taken it from Denki, shutting down the idea almost immediately.

And then he saw her.

Y/N was shoving past everyone and heading to him, and he couldn’t help the relief he felt when he saw her. Katsuki was grateful she hadn’t been involved in the little escape plan Deku had hatched out, but seeing her made him feel calmer than even as she practically tackled him, hands coming to his cheeks as she brought him into a kiss.

Their lips molded together perfectly, his hands coming to her sides and holding her like he’d never let go as her hands gripped his face rather harshly. It would have been the perfect moment, had the rest of his class not been there. 

Y/N seemed to disregard this as she pulled apart, eyes darting across his figure as his brows furrowed at her clear distress. “Calm down, idiot.” His cheeks are turning red as he realizes that everyone is staring, but he can’t help but focus his attention on her as he feels a wave of relaxation wash over him as she begins to run her hands all over him in search of injuries.

“Oh, I’m sorry, for caring about your wellbeing.” She grumbled, wrapping her arms tightly around his torso when her hands left his face. “Baby, you scared me.” His arms wrapped around her shoulders securely, as he rolled his eyes, though Katsuki wouldn’t deny he was appreciating all the attention she was giving him, he was beginning to feel embarrassed as he allowed her to hold onto him.

As if the kiss hadn’t been enough to astonish the rest of their class, the pet name simply amplified their shocked as they all cried out, “baby?” Kirishima had exchanged looks with Mina, who looked equally confused before returning their gaze to Katsuki, a look of betrayal evident on both their faces.

Stupid barbarians. “SHUT UP EXTRAS!” Katsuki exclaimed, holding Y/N tighter to his chest as his cheeks flushed red, he could hear her laugh against his chest. “Can’t a guy hug his girlfriend in peace.” 

“GIRLFRIEND?”

He was grateful for the subject change, though he didn’t appreciate the fact that his relationship had been exposed, until he looked back to Y/N, who beamed at him. 

If she was happy then it was fine he supposed. 

SHINSOU HITOSHI

welp

this one will probably have the funniest reaction

like

you did not just kiss him, in front of all these people, was that a joke?

i think he’s the only one you wouldn’t already be in a relationship with, purely because this is just 10x funnier

so ever since the two of you first started hanging, there have been people criticizing you for befriending him at all, because of his quirk, they just cannot believe that the Y/N L/N is hanging out with Shinsou Hitoshi

but also, ever since the two of you started hanging out, the bullying has lessened immensely, most because you threatened everyone it was really subtle, but they got the message

nobody screws with Y/N L/N

anyways, you two are probably hanging out again, and it’s been a while since you got one of those comments, which is the main reason this one sets you off.

“quit hanging out with that freak L/N, he’s gonna ruin your chances at becoming a pro.” 

shinsou was used to this, and your violent reactions, so he immediately brought a hand to your arm to ensure you didn’t commit a murder, shaking his head at you

you turn back to him, and you’re lowkey glaring at him before turning your piercing eyes back to the other guys

and without breaking eye contact with them, you grab Shinsou’s face, earning stares from everywhere in the cafeteria, and then kiss him

shinsou is shocked

shinsou.exe

you killed him.

he did not anticipate this um, you kinda caught him by surprise with this one, he genuinely did not think it was possible for you to feel this way for him

when you pull away, the kiss is almost like magic

you don’t mess with Y/N’s friends, much less their boyfriend

When Y/N beams up at Shinsou, he can’t help the way his heart skips a beat. It’s ridiculous, he knows this, and he hates that he can’t prevent it. Shinsou is no fool, he knows Y/N L/N, a UA student that could potentially be a member of the Top Ten heroes in the future, would never like him. He wouldn’t be shocked if she befriended him entirely out of pity, given how students used to treat him prior to their unlikely friendship. She’d weaseled her way into his life, despite his attempts to avoid her, ignore her, and even tell her off, she’d stuck around. 

And yes, Shinsou had made the mistake of liking her. On days like this, he’d entertain the possibility that Y/N liked him back, because sometimes she hugged him for longer than average friends did, or maybe she’d press a kiss to his cheek, or even hold his hands.

That was probably just something best friends did.

“Hitoshi! Don’t you know what this means?” She exclaimed, hands finding their way onto his shoulders in the middle of the cafeteria.

Yes, she used his first name.

Shinsou rolled his eyes, trying to keep himself from getting flustered purely because her hands were on him, “Y/N it’s not a big deal, and besides-”

“We’re going to be in the same class!” Her hands move from his shoulders to around them as she pulls him into a hug, “I’m so proud of you.”

He’s shocked that she’s saying these things, and its clear she has more confidence in him than he does. Aizawa had offered him daily training to get him onto the same level as the other Class 1-A students, and he’d be joining them the next semester, assuming everything went well. “It’s no guarantee.” He mumbles, wrapping his arms around her torso.

Shinsou felt Y/N swat his back as she pulled away slightly, much to his dismay, “you’re so talented! Of course, he’s gonna let you in.” 

She sounded so sure, and Shinsou felt his heart swell with pride. 

He moves to speak, only to be interrupted by a passerby, “L/N. Come on, quit hanging out with that freak.” Y/N recognized him, James, he’d bothered Shinsou before, and he’d tried to get Y/N to stop hanging out with Shinsou and been unsuccessful. “He’s just gonna ruin your chances at becoming a pro.”

Y/N pulls away slightly from Shinsou, her brows are furrowed as she moves to confront him, only for Shinsou to grab her arm, shaking his head. “Don’t.”

Turning to glare at the guy, Y/N scoffed, “is this because I rejected you?” 

“He asked you out?” Shinsou asked, but Y/N gave him a look that said they’d discuss it later. She could remember the day vividly, he’d asked shortly after she returned from hanging out with Shinsou, telling her she could do so much better, and so much better meant him. 

She disagreed. And now Y/N couldn’t help but feel bothered as their argument begins to draw attention from others within the cafeteria, she can see in the corner of her eye that Izuku has come to a stand. Though Iida is grasping his shoulder to try and prevent him from doing anything irrational, they all knew Y/N could stand on her own. 

James scoffed at her words, “you probably rejected me because he made you.” The implications were dark, the idea that Shinsou had forced Y/N to befriend him and reject James, though he’d never used his quirk on her and swore he never would. 

Shinsou found himself releasing Y/N’s arm, taking a step backwards as he sighed, only for her to grab his hand and yank him closer before taking his face in her hands and kissing him.

She was kissing him.

Oh.

Shinsou’s mind empties as Y/N pulls away, turning back to James as she says, “my boyfriend doesn’t need to make me do anything.” And the boy practically stomps off in frustration, grumbling about Shinsou’s stupid quirk or something of that sort. Not that either of them are paying attention as Y/n brings a hand to the back of her neck awkwardly, searching her mind for an explanation.

“Boyfriend?” His voice is soft, small, and he knows there are other people in the cafeteria but he can’t bring himself to care about their stares. 

Y/N turns to him, and she feels her cheeks warm as she tries to avoid his eyes, “well. Only if you want to-”

“I want to.” Shinsou replies too quickly, his cheeks flushing.

Y/N nods, “cool.” 

“Cool.” 

Izuku can’t help but beam as he watches the interaction, hitting Iida’s arm repetitvely as as he exclaims, “does this mean I’ll be able to study his quirk more?”

Tsu just sighs, “this means we don’t have to listen to her pining anymore.” 

TODOROKI SHOUTO

THIS ONE

probably the most relaxed about it, not flustered at all, you tried thoughh

your relationship isn’t really a secret, it’s just that neither of you are that into PDA. 

there will be occasional cuddling on the common room couch of the dorms during movie night, but that’s seen as normal to the rest of Class 1-A. during dates, there will be hand holding, a kiss on the cheek, an arm around the shoulder, otherwise most of the intimacy is reserved for your rooms

this lack of PDA is why class 1-A was completely unaware that the two of you were dating, 

though you hadn’t tried to hide it, you also hadn’t made it entirely public, you also lowkey thought everyone knew.

mostly because it was so blatantly obvious that shoto was in love with you, but the entire class thought he was unaware of his own feelings and you were just oblivious 

oh how wrong they were

you come into class one day and you see shoto and you’re just like lol hi babe and you kiss him, he kisses back, LIKE IT IS THE MOST NORMAL THING

he’s temporarily caught off guard because like i said you two don’t really do PDA, but he digs it, 10/10 would kiss you again in front of everyone, mostly because after all of the CHAOS that this kiss causes, the other boys in the class stop blatantly flirting with you

speaking of chaos

the class erupts into PURE CHAOS

so much yelling and screaming, they are so confused, have fun explaining that one

shoto is equally confused as to why they are confused and you’re just laughing because you knew this would mess with their heads. he ends up getting a little flustered by all the sudden attention the two of you are getting, but maintains his apathetic attitude.

Shoto places his bag beside his desk before pulling his things out one by one to place them onto the desk along with the small cup of coffee. Shoto wasn’t really the coffee type himself, he preferred tea, Y/N on the other hand had an obsession if he was honest. Of course, he enabled this obsession, he liked being the one to bring a smile onto her face. 

Yeah, he was whipped.

He could tell when Y/N entered the room because the atmosphere seemed to change entirely, she seemed to brighten everyone’s mood despite how early it was. Greeting their other classmates, she began to move towards him, seeing that he was holding a cup of coffee, Y/N raised a brow. “You drink coffee now?” She asked as she placed her things down. 

Shaking his head, Shoto extended the hand with the cup of coffee towards him, “it’s for you.” He explained, small smile on his face.

The rest of their classmates watched the interaction, Kirishima punching Kaminari’s arm as he exclaimed, “so manly!”

Bakugou scoffed from beside the both of them, “if he was really manly then maybe he’d actually ask her out.” Crossing his arms, he averts his eyes from the two, finding the class’s obsession with their relationship a tad ridiculous. Though everyone seemed to be at least slightly invested in the potential outcome at this point. 

“Whatever, Bakugo.” Mina says, “L/N has the prettiest boy in class wrapped around her finger- ugh! I want someone to love me like that.” She places her head in her hand, brows furrowing as she stares at the two. Y/N is smiling widely at Shoto, who returns her smile with one of his own. 

And then Y/N kisses him. As though this is an everyday thing. 

Mina practically jumps out her seat, and though Bakugo would never admit it, his mouth gaped open in shock as she cried out, “did you two just kiss?!”

Shoto’s cheeks are red as they pull away, though his face remains apathetic as he looks to the ground and Y/N replies, “can I not kiss my boyfriend?” She tilts her head in confusion, laughing slightly at the outburst and the clear shock in everyone’s faces. 

“Boyfriend?” Hagaruke cried out. “Why didn’t you tell us?!”

Y/N’s brows furrows as she looks to the rest of the astonished class, “did you guys seriously not know? I thought we were obvious, I literally call him by his first name-”

“We thought that was because you two were madly in love with each other but neither could confess!” Momo exclaimed suddenly, her cheeks flaming red at her outburst as she slaps a hand over her mouth.

Mina simply nods in agreement, “exactly! But now he’s buying you coffee and-”

Shoto shakes his head in confusion, “I often buy her coffee, normally she finishes it before we get to class.” He looks to Y/N, a small frown on her face, “today she woke up too late for me to walk her to school so I couldn’t give it to her then-”

“You’re so manly, Todoroki!” Kirishima exclaims, though Shoto simply looks at him in confusion as he removes his hand from Y/N’s waist. 

Shrugging, he takes a seat at his desk and Y/N speaks once more, “I just don’t understand how you guys didn’t know.” Standing beside him as he organizes his things while seated, Y/N runs a hand through his hair, and Shoto’s cheeks seemed to redden once more.

“You guys aren’t normally so touchy!” Uraraka has joined the conversation, shock clear in her features. 

Shoto nods in agreement,  “your behavior today is abnormal, Y/N.”

Now Y/N can feel her cheeks warm as she removes her hand and takes a seat t her desk, “you guys are weird.”

Izuku simply sighs, deflating almost as he watches the interaction and leans over towards Iida, “now I owe Kacchan money.” 

[yoshkeii]

“𝙽𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝙷𝚊𝚒𝚛”

࿐ character(s):  Sukuna Ryomen, Gojo Satoru, Megumi Fushiguro

࿐ genre: sfw, soft/fluff

࿐ type: headcanons (hcs)

࿐ requested by: anon

⌦  gn!reader (they/them)

⌦ ‘reader(gender neutral) has shoulder length hair but always keeps it in a ponytail or a tiny bun. after they finished showering and step out of the bathroom without hiding their hair in a ponytail for the first time(plus points if the reader is wearing a headband so that the hair wouldn't cover their face). maybe with gojo, megumi, sukuna?’

A/N: to be honest, this was hard to figure out a title for- so i just- went straight forward. also my favorite headers i made for separate characters by far, just looks nice for once-

𝚂𝚞𝚔𝚞𝚗𝚊:

→ he always sees you with your hair up. except at the times he catches your figure sleeping lazily in bed or on the couch, in a comfortable position of course. but that’s a rare moment to even catch you sleeping, with your slightly longer hair loose and free.

→ so let me just say, that this man is just staring as soon as he sees your hair fall loose from its tied position. gracefully falling down to rest around your shoulders.

→ he’s staring without knowing he really is.

→ until you snap your fingers from the bathroom doorway, noticing the curse admiring you from the soft sheets of the bed. you laughing softly as he blinked back into reality, before barking a dumb excuse of him not staring.

→ i really see him- as the type to not admit to soft or cutesy things out loud or to anyone, especially if its about you. always commenting to himself in that head of his and occasionally muttering it softly to himself. 

→ but now, you already knew he was staring- because... he literally was- 

→ letting it slide like nothing you reached inside the bathroom to grab a headband aside of the sink, easily slipping it on so your slightly damp hair doesn’t cover your face and eyes. your hands occasionally patting the ends of your hair aside on or behind your shoulders as well.

→ feeling the familiar stare, you glance over at Sukuna. seeing him stare once more.

→ smiling lightly you walked over towards the bed, sitting up on the soft blankets “..do you- wanna touch it or something??” 

→ the cute head tilt you instinctively did made his heart skip a beat, the quick answer of “yes-” leaving his lips without him really thinking.

→ seeing you crawl over towards his position and sit with your back facing him, you glanced over your shoulder at him. questioning what’s taking him so long but to only flinch lightly as his hands removed the headband, but the feeling of his hands running through your hair with such gentle and care surprised you.

→ Sukuna was rarely gentle and was rather rough and careless when it came to people. but he was being soft and slow, as if you were fragile and could shatter like a glass-piece.

𝙶𝚘𝚓𝚘:

→ man was smitten seeing your hair down for once. he honestly wouldn’t stop teasing and commenting you about it as he saw the constricting band from your hair release it.

→ “ohhh y/n you look so pretty n cute with your hair down!!” “why have you been keeping this look away from me </3?” “hey-! ouch- don’t hit me!! sooo mean to your boyfriend xd”

→ before he saw your hair down, he always tried to secretly untie your hair just to see it. but you always somehow knew, quickly pulling away every last second before he could pull the tie out.

→ he always struggled to untie the band from your hair if it was not in a ponytail, so anything like braids, a bun, etc. he would just contemplate a plan in his brain before giving up and attempting to untie it himself ‘secretly’ which really wasn’t.

→ anyways, the moment he saw your h/c hair meet your shoulders so lightly at its edges as you came out of the bathroom- his jaw was slightly ajar... or dropped the more he stared. 

→ waving a hand infront of his face to try catching his attention, you really couldn’t tell with that blindfold of his covering his eyes. 

→ but seeing how you looked so soft, adorable, cute.. pretty/handsome- wearing a slightly oversized hoodie that caught your figure slightly but still had that comfy hollowed look. he just wanted to swipe you off your feet and cuddle you, oh so so badly.

→ and he actually did that, picking you up easily in his arms- making you startled and dazed before you realized you were cuddle in his arms. 

→ his arms wrapped around you tightly and close as he nuzzled his face into your hair. breathing in the comforting and fresh scent you gave off from your refreshing shower.

→ gazing up at the frosted-colored male, you blinked to see he has taken off his blindfold. you didn’t knew when he did, nor did you really care.. but seeing his lashes flutter softly at your movement and shortly greeted with icy-blue eyes with your e/c ones. 

→ flustering up you hid your face into the gray sweater he wore, letting out muffled complains as you heard the coos and teases from Gojo. 

→ “Haha! Blushing just from lookin’ at your boyfriend- what a cutie you are~” he lifted up a hand to touch your hair with, his fingers slightly brushing through each strand. each bundle of strands softly falling back into its previous position.

→ humming contently at the soft noise of comfort you left out from his chest made him continue to pet your hair.

𝙼𝚎𝚐𝚞𝚖𝚒:

→ didn’t really realize you never took your hair down till he decided to visit your dorm room, hoping to grab something you borrowed from him earlier to see you at open the door for him.

→ with your hair down that rested on a damp towel that hung from both of your shoulders, your hair right over it which signaled you must’ve got out of the shower recently. opening the door wider for him to come him, but he didn’t budge, he just stared at you blankly.

→ the soft tone of your voice calling out the familiar nickname of his first name snapped him out, before walking in with a slight tint of blush across his cheeks. 

→ “..don’t be staring at me like that in doorway ‘gumi- you might embarrass yourself if Nobara or Itadori stumble by~” you teased, glancing over at the raven haired boy to see the blush deepening its color.

→ laughing softly at the simple reaction before you pointed at the small bag Megumi had lend you filled with studies of techniques, cursed studies, etc. he retrieved from a library.

→ he rested on your bed, scooting the bag towards his side. before his eyes drifted off towards you in the bathroom, seeing you run your hand through your hair to have it away from your face as you slid a headband over to keep it held in place. 

→ suddenly he was by your side, arms snaked around your waist as he planted a soft kiss onto your cheek then forehead.

→ “h-hey..! w-when did you become so affectionate babe-” you giggled, feeling him pout slightly but muttered a reply.

→ “I.. I just never seen you with your hair down... and it’s a really nice look on you..”

→ and ever since then, you often kept your hair down whenever you were with him. which was often in one another’s dorm room.

→ but after seeing your hair untied and down a few more times, he tried to teach himself how to tie them for you. and if you knew how, you could teach him the basics before he went off to learn new ways online. 

→ whenever he got frustrated or tired of getting it bad, he’d just end up playing with your hair. or massaging your scalp and pets. (you do it to him, so why can’t he?)

[angelkurenai]

So much for a surprise - Chris Evans x Reader - Part 2

Title: So much for a surprise

Pairing: Chris Evans x Reader

Warnings: None

Prompt: I’d love a chris evans x reader one shot, where they’re dating, and after the knives out movie, he’s been spending a lot of time with his co-star Ana de Armas, and like in one specific interview she was getting very flirty and such with Chris, and touching his arm and stuff, and I’d just want to see how you’d interpret jealous!reader, and Chris reacting to that jealousy!!

Read Part 1 here!

There was an echo. A distant one. Far away. And there were words too, he was sure of it, but they couldn't reach him. They tried to, as did the person saying them. However it felt like there was something more, preventing them from getting to him. Maybe it wasn't the voice or the person. Maybe it was really him, him that had walls around him. Preventing the outside world from getting to him.

And the echo seemed further away, muted somehow though he could still hear it. Maybe he was underwater? He didn't know, he had no idea what was going on in the first place anyway, but it felt like it. And not just because he felt like no sounds could get to him clearly, not because his own ears were ringing and the pressure building on each side of his head made him feel like he was thousands of feet deep into the sea, crushing his head in a way that oddly enough didn't hurt as much as the rest of him, as much as his chest and not because of his eyes stinging, burning as did his lungs as he held his breath. No it wasn't because of those reasons that he thought he was beneath the sea but because he felt like- He had taken you on your first date for a picnic by the sea. You had commented on how punctual he was. How him being right on time might seal the deal for you and make you fall for him in the end.

The memory seemed to shake him to the core. A link to reality which assisted in pulling him further and further up from the depths he had found himself in, the surface almost tangible and the other side... painfully there. It hurt more to be back to reality than it did to be underwater in the sea of his thoughts, after all. Maybe, and he was almost certain of it, it would hurt much less to really be underwater. The physical pain would be nothing compared to what he was feeling now.

He blinked. Once. Twice. Then some more. Everything slowly started coming into focus, all of his senses sharpening. His vision more clear, the sounds reaching his ears more acute and precise, to the point he could tell what was being said.

“Chris? Chris? Chris are you still in there?... Are you alright? The door is locked. Please, just say something.” the voice on the other side of the door was unmistakably Ana's, and while both the tone in it and the knocking on the door was frantic and panicked, to say the least, he couldn't find it in himself to move a muscle just yet.

Whether it was that he didn't care to move or that his mind still hadn't made the connection to the rest of his body so as to not feel the full scope of pain, especially the one harboring within his chest and broken heart, he didn't know. All he did was blink several times again, his eyes slowly focusing on the small open box in his hand. He had spent so much time agonizing over picking the right ring, wanting to treat you right he wanted to pick a ring that could express all of his love for you, and then agonizing over trying to organize the perfect occasion to finally ask the question. It had almost been months now, though he couldn't dare admit to that (mostly because he was almost sure now, he wouldn't get the chance to) just like he wouldn't dare admit that you had been right about Ana. Only up to some point though.

He had been spending more time with her, maybe much more than he did with you, but he was completely oblivious to the way she could possibly feel about him, let alone about all the flirting you had seen. He had too much on his mind, you and his possible future with you, that he didn't even notice half of it. Appreciating only the fact that it somehow managed to make him forget his worries, he went along with all of it. Not that you were to blame for it, if anything it was possibly one of the sweetest kind of worries, but it was still something that kept him up at night. And staying away for some time he had the chance to prepare, mentally if nothing else. He feared that if it didn't go right, if you said no, then maybe that would be it for the both of you and for good. It was a risk, no matter what, and he feared losing you to it.

“Chris? Chris, are you alright? Please just- Say something, I'm getting really worried here. I'm going to get someone to kick the door open if you can't-” her words didn't really register in his ears after that but that wasn't necessary when the purpose had formed in his mind.

Taking in a deep breath, albeit shaky, he shoved the closed box inside his pocket and got up. He cleared his throat and finally unlocked the door, opening it to face his costar standing on the other side. Her face showed the same amount of worry he had detected in her voice through the frantic knocking, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He didn't have the mind to.

“Chris! You- Are you alright? What happened? I've been waiting for you. We- you said you were coming with but then you didn't show up and I- I got so worried.” she said with wide eyes.

He felt a pang in his chest at those words but didn't dwell on it “I- Yeah. I'm fine, I'm- I'm sorry. I was actually a bit in a world of my own, I didn't mean to worry you.”

“Well, no- it's alright, don't worry about me.” she blinked several times, shaking her head “It's just that you've been here for hours and I-”

“Yeah, I've got lots of things going on at the moment and I- To be honest with with you, I'd prefer to be alone right now. So I apologize but I just- I actually have to be somewhere else, I won't be able to make it tonight. I'm sorry, I just... I don't think I will be any good company.”

“Well, it's not like you have to even try to be any good company. Not if you don't want to. You could just come with and not have to talk at all to anyone else if you don't feel like it. And after-” she paused, as if hesitating for a moment “Not to intrude or anything but I kind of noticed that things got bad after your girlfriend showed up so I couldn't help but think that maybe... it would help take your mind off things?” she suggested hopefully but it only made Chris' insides twist “Cause I could help if you'd let me, I'd love to. You know that. I- I mean maybe it's not my place but it seemed-”

“You're right, it's not.” maybe it came out more harsh than it was supposed to, maybe more harsh than he meant it too and more harsh than he even realized, not until h saw Ana's eyes widen in surprise that is “I-” he started before he cleared his throat “Sorry.” he mumbled.

“No, of course- It's alright.”

“It's just that there's something very important going on right now at the moment that needs my full attention. And you can't help me. I would actually appreciate it if you left my out of your plans for quiet... quiet some time. I'm sorry, it's really not you specifically. It's between (Y/n) and I, it can only be that way and it should be that way. Which is why right now-” he hurried to grab his phone and close the door “I have to hurry. I'm truly sorry Ana for...” he paused, looking at her with a frown “For more things than were in my power and I wish things could have gone different but right now (Y/n)'s my main priority. She's always been, even though I did a shit job of showing it.”

“You- uh you don't have to apologize. It's personal. I get it.” she put on what could only a a brave, albeit forced, smile on her face “You go to your girlfriend. I might not know what's going on but... it's clear she could do with seeing you. I can certainly say you need to see her. You should go.”

There were far too many things he wanted to tell her, to apologize for having let things get this way because she wasn't entirely at fault either. He had been so busy worrying about the proposal that he had led her on in his selfish attempts to unwind. In his mind, and heart without a doubt, though he knew that there was no space for any other woman but you. You came first and all the pain he'd put you through, one which he was willing to spend the rest of his life trying to amend for if you'd just let him. Hopefully. So instead all he did was give Ana a short nod and tight smile with a soft “Good night.” before he was sprinting to his car, ready to find you.

Even though he didn't really know where to begin with, the thought of which filled him with ten times the panic of having to propose to you. Moments like this, he really wished he could go back in time and change everything. If he could, he would ask you to marry him with a napkin ring on the spot, without waiting a minute let alone months, from that first morning he realized that he really did want to wake up to you like that every morning for the rest of his life. He even had some crazy hope you would say yes. And it was certainly much more hope than finding you tonight in time and before things took a turn for the worse.

If only he knew where to find you, that would have been great.

It felt like forever, going around with his car, from bar to bar. It was almost crazy, futile even, but it was the only thing he could think of; even if it didn't work out. And it really hadn't because he hadn't been able to find you, or better yet you and your companion, in any of the places he went until he found himself in the most unlikely place for you to be. Or maybe it was the most likely one, who knew?

All Chris knew was that had he not struggled to get out of his car and into your apartment then he would have never noticed the familiar car, parked just a few feet away. And therefore would have not gotten a warning for the man whom he saw exit not shortly afterwards that apartment complex which he certainly didn't live in. Chris followed your costar with his eyes, frowning but otherwise making no move. He wasn't planing on approaching, much less confronting him; he wasn't even ready to know what he was doing at your apartment, because he knew that's where he'd been and he knew that's where he'd find you now. He watched the man get in his car and slowly drive away on the other lane. He kept looking even after he was long gone, no other car in sight or any other person but darkness. The kind of darkness he was afraid would swallow him up whole, most probably from within.

He shut his eyes tightly, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists around the steering wheel and took many breathes in and out as well as a few seconds to calm himself and his thoughts before he left his own car and made his way to your shared place. Or maybe it was a couple minutes trying to prepare himself, but he didn't want to dwell on what he was preparing himself for.

Opening the door and walking into your shared apartment he almost prayed deep down to find you at leas on the living room and when he didn't, he only felt his heart rate pick up. Holding his breath, fearing that even that would make a sound audible enough to alert of his presence, he made his way to your shared bedroom. He would have looked for you in the kitchen or probably any other place he wanted but that would have only been stalling and an attempt at sparing himself some pain and truth was he felt like he didn't deserve it. Even if it was eye for an eye, even if it was more, he had it all coming.

So with that in mind he walked into the bedroom only to, if possible, be more hurt by the sight that greeted him than he initially expected. His breath hitched in his throat when he spotted you sitting on the floor of the room, back resting on the bed, staring at the open wardrobe with red eyes, still glossy from the tears you had no doubt shed. Because of him. And that was a knife to the chest.

It was Dodger, who was as always attached to you and currently laying on your lap, trying his best to comfort you, that noticed Chris first and gave a small bark. You blinked, almost jumping in your place, before you turned your head to meet his eyes. Your own eyes widened briefly, maybe you really didn't expect to see him there, and after a few seconds of hesitation and confusion, you looked away from him again and back at your clothes. He still wouldn't look away, nor make a single sound.

“He only offered to drive me back home. I wasn't-” in came a shaky breath “I clearly wasn't in the mood to stay with them and I- I couldn't really calm down and he got worried. He- He stayed for only a few minutes as I, well-” your smile was so bitter it cut him open “Cried my eyes out. Didn't tell him anything though, don't worry, he didn't ask either.” a heavy sigh “Don't worry about this... us either. I'll uhm I think I've figured out what kind of clothes I need, I haven't talked with Lizzie yet but she wouldn't have a problem letting me stay at her place for some time before I make my way back home.”

“What?” his words came out choked out, probably barely above a whisper, but ringing in his ears “Home? (Y/n)... this is your home. This is our home. What are you talking about?”

“I think I was rather clear, Chris. It's better if we put some distance between us. And after that... Well, I'm going to go back home. There's obviously no other way this can go.” your voice was low “Besides, it's not going to make a difference to you, be honest. Whether I am here or not, how will you even notice the difference when you barely remember you have a girlfriend let alone are around enough to notice her.”

He wished there was some anger in your voice, he wished there was venom or bitterness direct at him. But instead there was nothing, nothing but exhaustion and possibly pain. And that was the worst of it.

“(Y/n), no.” he breathed out almost desperately “No, please don't say that.”

“Well, it's the truth.” you shrugged casually.

“That you're leaving him? Is that the truth? Is that the truth of what you wanted? Of what we were fighting for in this relationship? Of all that we wished and dreamed about? Of what we promised each other when we took the next step?” his voice cracked, and he knew his vision was getting blurry, but he couldn't bring himself to care of how pathetic he could look right now.

“The truth of what the past couple months have been leading to. Of what all this secrecy and distance between us has led to. Even if, as you see, I've been right here for you all the time; maybe it's really time for me to take a step back too.” you looked sadly only at Dodger, no wonder feeling sad that you'd have to part with him and possibly for good after today and-

Chris shook his head, banishing all the thoughts from his head and trying to fight off the lump in his throat. No, no this was not how things were supposed to go. This was not how he was going to let them go.

“It's only natural after today.” you spoke softly “Look, I- I don't want to take any of it out on you. We've had our talk, there is nothing else to say anymore, not really, so I will simply gather my things and-”

“No!” it was the first time a voice was raised in the room, coming from Chris who, as his ears were buzzing, was shocked as well by it all “No, you won't. Not until you've heard my side of the story!” he sounded more firm and determined than, he was sure, he had ever heard himself be in his entire life.

“Chris, honestly, there is no need. I told you I don't blame you and I'm not even jealous anymore. I simply-” you gave him a forced smile “I'm simply tired. I don't have the mind or heart for any of it. And if you really want to be with Ana then you are free to, you don't even have think about me. Much less try to explain yourself or the situation.”

“This is not some sort of excuse, (Y/n). I would never-” he sighed heavily, dragging a hand down his face before slowly making his way to you and sitting down in a way that looked more like he was collapsing, making sure to still leave some small distance between you in case you felt uncomfortable “You know I've never cheated on you. I would never try to hurt you, especially in that way. Though, I understand, by not paying closer attention to Ana flirting with me I did just that. You know I-”

“I do.” you whispered “I do know that... Just like I know that all those promises we made each other all that time ago mean nothing anymore. So really there is no reason for you to try and mend things between us. There is no reason to-”

“There's always a reason. There's-” his eyes widened before he shut them closed tightly, shaking his head and fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. It looked like you had given up and that hurt him even more. He couldn't have you give up, because if you did then he probably could do nothing to undo the mess he had created “I love you more than anything in this world, more than my own life.” his voice cracked but he didn't care, he could almost not hear his own words, not as he almost subconsciously reached inside his pocket and pulled the small box only to slowly place it in the space between you.

And even though he was sure all words had left him by now, he surprised himself when he recalled only a few. The ones he had practiced in his head – and ridiculed himself while failing to say out loud – he would tell you when he did get the courage to propose to you “You're my reason.” he whispered, fully looking at you and therefore being able to notice the way your eyes reluctantly but surely trailed from him to the small object between the two of you. Shock was the word that could easily describe the look on your face but not the only one. The gasp from your lips sounded louder in his ears.

“You're my reason for everything. Everything good that happens in my life. Everything good that makes me happy. Everything good that I manage to achieve, you're my reason. Everything I've become these past years, you're the reason. Because you push me to be the best of who I can be . But when the world demands that of me, you're the reason I remember it's also good to not be the best I can be. It's because of you that I remember that falling and failing isn't so bad, because you will be there to help me stand up again. You're the reason I smile and laugh, and cry and get angry more often than not. But you're also the reason I love doing all that as well. You're the reason I love life, with its ups and downs, that I love waking up and that I wish it could be next to you for the rest of my life. You make it all worth it in a way no words can describe it... even the one I've already used. Even-” he stopped himself, the lump in his throat too much to bear anymore, the unshed tears making his eyes burn.

He didn't say anything more, and you weren't about to break the silence that had set around the two of you, his uneven breathing being the only sound that was heard besides the ticking of the clock. In the end, Chris let out a pained laugh “There was a lot I was planning to say after that too, before I really asked the big question you know. For obvious reasons... I probably won't. Not that I think I can really... I'm sorry. But that's the most I've said without messing it up so uh-” he rubbed that back of his neck, painful smile on his face “I guess if things were different, you would have been proud of me? If...”

“Chris... When did you get this?” your voice cracked, hurting him worse than his broken heart.

“It's- I've had it for months now. I couldn't bring myself to- I was scared to ask you. But instead of facing that fear head on I did the stupid thing of trying to get my mind off of it by... well, you know what I've been doing lately.” he sighed, letting his head lean back on the bed, he closed his eyes and fought off the tears. Or at least so he told himself, he was actually scared to face you “I'm so sorry, (Y/n). For everything I've done. For ruining easily the best thing to ever happen to me in my entire life.”

“Fucking hell, Chris. That's- Damn it.” you shocked out, burying your face in your hands. The silence that hang in the room was so thick he felt like chocking. But the way your low voice whispered to him in pain, he realised that there were worse things than that silence. “You did all of this for- for that?”

“I know, trust me I do.”

“You should have told me.” you shook your head, fresh tears running down your face “You should have... That's not how you- I deserved to know. I deserved it... I needed it.”

“I know... I know now. And I understand how... scary it gets. And it's much more scary than asking you that question.” he let out a shuddering breath, eyes opening and falling on the small box “Realizing that there was a real chance of losing you to another man made me feel so helpless. It scared me more than anything and I hate that we had to come to this for me to understand the truth... That I can't lose you, I can't live without you. Only real question here is-” he gave a humorless smile “Is it too late for that?”

Three beats. Three beats of his heart. The longest three beats in his entire life and he felt like drowning again. Before you finally sighed and whispered "You're never too late."

[enbyprentiss]

Can i request from Smut prompts #31 #60 #74?

Thanks

🥰

#31: “Don’t kink shame me!”

#60: “You have no idea how much I want you/”

#74: “Yep, that’s me. I love to fuck.”

Pairing: Spencer x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Virgin!Spencer (I pictured like season four), also sub!Spencer, penetrative sex, unprotected sex, oral/fingering (female receiving). mentions of alcohol and intoxication

--

It was rare that the BAU ever caught a break. But, when they did, they usually went to bars to celebrate being able to rest for a bit. And tonight was no different. Hotch and Rossi were long gone. Hotch having to get home for Jack, and Rossi said he was ‘too old to be out this late’. Leaving just the younger agents together. They were a few shots in with the addition of mixed drinks and or beers. So, of course, they were all very tipsy. Except for Reid, who opted to stick with glasses of water. But that didn’t stop the others from playing games and asking questions that, like usual, turned sexual very quickly. By the time Spencer zoned back into the conversation, Derek and Y/N were playfully teasing.

“Oh, please. You, Derek Morgan, are just jealous that I pick up more ladies and men than you ever do on cases.”

“Alright, whatever you say, Little Mama.”, he surrendered. 

“You both pick up plenty of people, but nobody picks up more working girls than Spence.”, JJ chuckled. A light blush covered his face at the comment. He was always a little timid when it came to topics like these, mostly because of his lack of experience.

“Who can blame ‘em?”, Y/N smiled cheekily, tracing along the young genius’s jawline with her index finger.

“And what exactly does that mean, Y/N?”, Emily arched her eyebrow with a highly amused smirk.

“Have you seen him? We don’t call him ‘pretty boy’ for nothing.”, she bit her bottom lip as Spencer’s already extremely present blush spread all the way down to his neck.

“Ok, ok, Y/N. You’re gonna give poor Reid a heart attack from all that flirting.”

“Hey! Who said I was flirting?”, she crossed her arms at the uproar of laughter from her friends, but she still saw the small smile on Spencer’s blushy face.

Eventually, the topic had switched, focusing on Emily’s latest Sex Capades. Though, even in her slightly delirious state Y/N could feel Spencer’s doe eyes on her every once in a while and see out of the corner of her eye how he kept shifting in his seat. And the more this went on, the more she couldn’t contain herself.

She turned more towards him, twirling his tie in her fingers, “You have no idea how bad I want you, do you?”

Spencer attempted to stutter out a few words to no avail while everyone else watched in amusement and slight shock. They never thought she would really go for it.

“Geez, Y/N, you really just want everyone you can get your hands on, huh?”

“Yep, that’s me. I love to fuck. But mostly when they’re just as pretty as Dr. Reid.”, the use of his honorific made him shudder and his pants grow just a little tighter, no matter how much he tried to fight it off. His own body always found ways to betray him as he mentally cursed himself. 

“Well, that may be a little bit of a problem. You know Reid’s a virgin.”, Derek was always very adamant about this being a fact despite Spencer’s failure to confirm this.

“I don’t see how that’s a problem. In fact, it might be even better.”, she gazed deep into Spencer’s light brown eyes, relishing in how his pupils had dilated to the point where they consumed most of his irises. 

“I’m sorry. What?!”

“Don’t kink shame me! Maybe I have a bit of a thing for innocence--and corruption too.”, she added on the second part much quieter. Spencer hung onto every word, his mind wandering to every and any possibility, which created quite the problem for him...downstairs. He tried to clear his mind, but all he could fill his thoughts with was his pure adoration--fascination with Y/N. Of course, she picked up on this and was simply waiting for the night to come to an end. 

After what felt like an eternity, the night did eventually start to wind down. Everyone began to say their goodbyes and Y/N reached her hand out, offering it to Reid. 

“C’mon, I’ll take you home.”, but he could tell by the smirk on her face that she had other plans and he began to buzz with excitement. She turned to him as soon as they entered the car (she was well sober enough to drive at this point), “Nothing more has to happen tonight. I really can just take you home, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”, and now her mischievous smirk had turned into a sweet and honest smile. 

“N-no! You’re not. P-please take me to your apartment.”, he bowed his head down in slight embarrassment at his vague admission.

“Are you sure?”, he nodded, “And you know you can change your mind at any point, right?”

“Mhm. Just--please.”

“You’re a beggar, huh? I like that.”

--

Y/N could tell that Spencer was nervous the minute they stepped into her apartment. She gently took his shaky hands in hers, not wanting to startle him, “Spence, I mean it, if you don’t want this it’s ok. I won’t be mad.”

“No--I want to.”

“What do you want?”

“K-kiss me, please?”, who was she to deny him when he was so sweet. She places one hand on his cheek, the other toying with some of his soft brown curls, and pressed her lips gently on his. She brushed her tongue against his bottom lip, silently asking for access, and when he moaned quietly into the kiss she took her opportunity. He wrapped his arms completely around her waist, wanting her impossibly closer and whining when he had to pull back for air, “I really am a virgin, you know? And I know you said you wouldn’t mind but you were also under the influence and--”

“Spencer, it doesn’t matter. If you’re ok with this being your first time, then I am too.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Virginity’s a social construct anyway. So if it doesn’t bother you, then it’s ok. Whatever you’re comfortable with.”

“I’m ok with it.”

“Good.”, she leads him into her bedroom, pushing him onto the bed and straddling his lap. Y/N reconnected their lips, dominating the kiss with ease, rocking her hips every once in a while against his very apparent erection. She only broke the kiss to discard her shirt to the side, Spencer breaking it again shortly after. 

He tugged at her bra strap muttering a little ‘Off, off, please.’

“Needy little thing, aren’t you, baby?”, he nodded shyly as she unhooked her bra, letting it fall off her shoulders. With the way his lips parted, his pupils dilated, and the ginormous blush on his face, he just had to know what he was doing to her. She kissed her way across his jaw, leaning in and pressing her lips against his ear, “You can touch, honey.”

With that permission, he didn’t hesitate to explore her breasts gently while she sucked marks against his smooth skin and unbuttoned some of the buttons at the top of his shirt. 

“W-wait. Can I--um..uh--”

“Can you what, baby?”

“Can I--eat you out, please? I just wanna try--”

“I thought you’d never ask.”, she smiled and pressed another small kiss on his lips before laying back on the bed and slipping her pants off along with her panties. Which left her bare in front of an amazed Spencer. He was absolutely mesmerized by her, her beauty, and the way she was glistening between her legs. He couldn’t believe that he had done that to her. He shook his head, remembering what he was supposed to be doing, and kissed up her thighs softly. He licked a stripe up her core, finding her clit almost immediately. He’s a genius with an eidetic memory of course he would have knowledge of basic anatomy and maybe even pleasure. And once he found that spot that made her squirm, he latched on, making little kitten licks against her.

Y/N tangled her hands in his hair, “Doing so good for me, baby. Such a good boy.”, the mixture of the praise and her tugging on his hair made him let out a filthy moan against her, much to her delight. And even though she loved what he was doing to her she wanted more, “Can you put some of your pretty little fingers in me, sweet boy?”

He obliged, slicking up his fingers in her arousal before pushing two into her. He relished in every little moan and curse that escaped her, and now that he heard that noise, he never wanted to stop hearing it.

“Oh--just curl your fingers up a little bit for me. Fuck! Yes, just like that, such a good boy.”

Spencer sucked on her clit softly, curling his fingers on every upward thrust until she was unraveling before him and he made sure to lick up every last drop of her before sitting back up.

“Aw, look at you. All messy.”, she swiped his chin that was glistening with her cum with her thumb, putting it in his mouth. He swirled his tongue around it, letting out a soft moan. She pulled her thumb from between his lips when she was satisfied with how well he had done, “Can you strip for me, baby?”

He nodded softly and began to remove articles of clothing. Spencer was already very blushy and the way Y/N was looking at him with an almost--primal look in her eyes was certainly not helping. She licked her lips, catching the bottom one between her teeth slightly, “I should’ve known you could get so much prettier.”, he smiled slightly as she guided him back onto the bed, leaning him back against the headboard more and straddling him once more.

Y/N dragged her fingertips down his chest softly, taking a minute to admire every inch of his skin, all while kissing him softly, “Are you ready, honey?”

“Yes.”

She took his cock in her hands, stroking a few times before guiding him into her entrance, sinking down slowly. He wasn’t even halfway in when Y/N noticed his eyes squeezing shut and his lips parting, and she wished she could borrow his eidetic memory to remember this image forever. 

Spencer gripped her waist tighter, “Oh--feels so good.”

“Yeah? Well, it only gets better from here, pretty boy.”, and before he got to question her, she raised her hips only to slam them back down onto him, making him yelp. She set a steady rhythm and leaned more into Spencer so that she could feel every downright filthy moan that escaped him against her lips.

Spencer was trying his best to hold back his orgasm, but he felt himself getting closer and closer to falling off the edge, “Oh--fuck.”, he cursed under his breath an uncharacteristic thing for the doctor, “I-I’m not going to last longer, Y/N. Feels--too good...”

“That’s ok. You were already such a good boy tonight. You can let go, baby.”, she tugged on his curls again, knowing just how much he liked it. And sure enough, he fell over the edge, spilling into her with a filthy moan and burying his head into her neck. He whispered little ‘thank you’s’ while she brushed her fingers through his hair, kissing any of his exposed skin that she could reach. 

Eventually, she had to get up, returning with a warm washcloth to clean them both up, “Well, congratulations Spencer Reid, you are officially no longer a virgin.”, she kissed him softly again, “Maybe Derek will finally lay off those stupid jokes now.”

“Yeah, maybe.”, his heart fluttered at the idea of everyone knowing what had happened. That she wanted everyone to know that he had had his first time with the most beautiful, perfect girl he could ever imagine.

[shyficwriter]

Temporary Home: Chapter 10

Guardians of the Galaxy fanfic | Reader x Guardians (With Yondu and Kraglin!)

Summary: The prank war has an unfortunate outcome and Rocket has a run-in with a raccoon.

Previous Chapter here | Next Chapter Here Or click here to: Start From Beginning

Author's note: Thank you to @maribatshipper for the suggestion for the raccoon scene and a prank idea! And thank you to all the others who have suggested scenes they'd like to see in this series! (I'm still working them in!) Everyone feel free to send me anything else you'd like to see happen in this story, it might take me a bit to work certain things in, but I'll try to add as many as I can!

Word Count: 6,114

You slept-in the next day, as did Yondu, though he slept in a bit later due to having waited up for several nights before finally being able to catch you sneaking out.

When he did finally wake up the first thing he saw was you oiling the hinges to your bedroom door.

The two of you locked eyes on his way to the bathroom, no words exchanged. Just you very deliberately not stopping in your actions with an almost defiant look and him shaking his head with a half-laughed huff because you both knew why you were doing it.

***

Peter and Kraglin wasted no time continuing the prank war. Kraglin attempted to whoopee cushion you at breakfast, but you had seen it and decided to eat your apple standing against the counter.

He then later got you with the same ice trick you had pulled on Peter the previous night. Well, almost the same trick. Jackass actually stood there and kept the ice pressed to the back of your neck for a bit while you seized up and tried to escape the cold sensations before eventually letting it fall down the back of your shirt. He laughed the whole time, Peter too. You hadn't seen him open the freezer so he and Peter must have planned it out before you got into the kitchen, arranging for Kraglin to do it instead, knowing you'd likely suspect Peter.

Your thoughts were that you needed to plot some revenge as you made your way out of the kitchen, but they were interrupted as you walked into the sitting room and Rocket confronted you.

"Hope ya don't think you can bribe me with a new bed to get me to like you."

You crossed your arms and feigned a mildly confused look, saying flatly, "I don't know what you're on about."

Peter and Kraglin make their way past you to sit on the couch, throwing a glance to you and the raccoon as if to gauge the situation. Everyone knew that you and Rocket weren't exactly on friendly terms, and to see you facing each other down inspired a degree of concern.

Rocket scoffed. "There was a new bed in my room last night, where else would it have come from?"

You shrug. "Haven't a clue."

Kraglin now threw a glance at you. He knew you said you weren't going to say anything about it, but he hadn't expected for you to actually outright deny you had done it when asked.

"Oh, so it just magically appeared then?" Rocket said sarcastically.

"Looks like it."

"What's going on?" Gamora asked as she entered the room, eyeing the two of you to see if she needed to help diffuse anything.

Rocket ignored her. "Beds just don't appear out of thin air!"

"Apparently they do," you replied.

Gamora tilted her head back in understanding, and then made her way over to the table where Yondu was sitting and playing with Groot. This didn't appear serious, so she wasn't going to get involved.

When she sat Yondu whispered over to her, "What're they carryin' on about?"

She didn't get a chance to answer because Rocket then yelled, "DON'T CALL ME A RACCOON!"

What had happened was Rocket said, "They do not!" in response to your claim that beds could just magically appear. It couldn't have been one of the others, it's not like they could leave to go buy one, so it had to be you, and it pissed him off that he was so sure and more frustrated that you wouldn't just admit it. He felt like you were making fun of him, calling him stupid for insinuating he would believe in something as dumb as a magically appearing bed.

To be honest, you weren't even fully sure why you were denying it yourself. You had just wanted to set it up and be done, and you were annoyed by him insisting that you admit you had done something nice for him, especially if he was now going to accuse it of being bribery.

You replied, "Why would I have done it? I don't even like you."

Rocket was only growing angrier, crying out, "I know it was you! None of the others could have done it, and I would have seen if one of those SHIELD people showed up with it!"

You shrugged then responded with, "I don't know what to tell you, I'm not in the business of making beds for raccoons."

You knew you were being a little mean. You had called him a raccoon once already, shortly after he arrived, and received a very curt scolding from him for it. You had also seen how it pissed him off when Peter called him that, always angrily insisting that he wasn't a raccoon. So, you had expected him to be a little miffed.

You hadn't expected him to snap and actually lunge for you.

You dodged just in time, luckily, and he landed on the floor, growling at you.

Peter yelled at him to knock it off and Rocket retorted back that you deserved it.

You just stared him down and said, "I'll punt you across the room next time, you little shit!" Why had you taken the time to make him a bed again?

"Alright, break it up!" said Kraglin firmly, standing up to show he meant business, used to having to break up Ravager fights and easily falling back into the old role of neutral mediator.

"Gladly," you say bitterly, turning to leave the room.

Rocket grumbled something unintelligible and walked in the opposite direction, hopping up into the rocking chair to sulk.

***

You went back and forth with Peter and Kraglin with the pranks most of the rest of the day, and it actually helped improve your mood about the Rocket situation, or at very least took your mind off it.

You got them back around lunch when you squirted some lemon juice in Peter's soda when he wasn't looking, and smeared jam on the inside of the handle of the fridge knowing Kraglin was about to make a sandwich. The looks on their faces were satisfying, but you discovered their way of getting you back later was to leave two glasses of water on the table. Upside down. With a note that read, "Have fun! Don't get wet! -Peter and Kraglin"

You didn't have fun, but at least a bath towel made into a makeshift dam around the glasses kept you from getting too wet.

You immediately thought of a way to get them back. Unfortunately it didn't work quite as planned.

That evening, sometime after supper when you finished washing the plate you had used, you placed a piece of duct tape just over the spout of the faucet, so that it was only mostly covering where the water came out. This way, when the water was turned on, it would spray directly onto the victim.

You knew that Peter or Kraglin would likely be the next ones to use the sink, as they had made their own dinner just after you had and were just starting to finish up.

You left the kitchen and went to the sitting room, pretending to look for a book to read but in reality you were eagerly waiting for the screams as one or both of the guys met their fate with an unexpected shower. You even considered returning to the kitchen once it happened just so you could tease them on not following their own advice, referencing the note attached to their previous prank about 'not getting wet.'

Not too long and your desires were met, however, the voice behind the cries wasn't the one you had intended to hear.

A loud, angry, bellowing of, "DAMMIT QUILL!" could be heard from the kitchen and your eyes went wide.

Oh no.

That was Yondu's voice. Apparently he had fancied a glass of water and got in the way of the prank, becoming its unintended victim.

You quietly made your way out the sitting room door, hearing Yondu scolding that Peter needed to grow up and then Peter saying, "I swear! I didn't do that one!"

You made it to the front door and heard Kraglin's voice defending Peter, "No, for once he didn't, sir. I've been with him all day! Pete didn't do that."

You quickly and quietly opened the door and escaped just in time to hear Yondu calling your name.

***

You decided it was probably safe to re-enter the house perhaps half an hour later after taking the time to do some light archery practice.

You were greeted inside by Mantis who was apparently coming to look for you anyway to see if you wanted to play a game of UNO.

You eyed her suspiciously, remembering the last time someone sent her to invite you for something. You lean in close to her and quietly say, "Before I say yes, I want you to answer honestly. Did Kraglin or Peter send you, and is this another trick?"

Mantis shook her head. "No, Gamora sent me. She said nothing about a trick."

You thought for a bit. Mantis didn't seem the type to flat-out lie, and Gamora already said she didn't get involved in Peter's mischief, so you decided it was safe and agreed.

Mantis grinned wide and took your hand, practically dragging you to the sitting room and exclaiming to the others upon entry that you had said yes to playing.

At the table you saw Gamora, Drax, Peter and Kraglin. You didn't know where the others were, but you thought it was probably better that Yondu was elsewhere just in case he was still cranky about getting caught in the line of fire. You also didn't feel like dealing with Rocket.

Gamora and Peter sat on one side of the table, with Drax at one end. Kraglin sat opposite of Peter and Mantis was about to take the seat across from Drax, only just releasing your hand when you realized the only other seat would be between her and Kraglin. You eyed him and said, "Do you promise to behave yourself if I sit here?"

Kraglin feigned being offended. "Of course, ma'am!"

You narrowed your eyes but went to take a seat hesitantly. Out of the corner of your eye you could see him reach his hand out toward your chair, thinking that you weren't looking. If the last couple days had gone any differently you might have thought he was going to try a creepy move and grab your ass, but you had a feeling that wasn't what he was going for.

Kraglin was startled when your hand suddenly darted to grab his wrist and pulled it up above the table.

Just what you thought. Whoopee cushion.

"Aha! Behave my ass!" you scold, ripping the whoopee cushion from his hand easily in his shock and sitting down. "I'm keeping this," you taunt, mimicking what said the other day when he took possession of it from you. You stuck your finger in the opening to quietly release the air from the sack and stowed it away in your pocket as he pouted.

Gamora narrowed her eyes at Kraglin. "You two said you were going to behave." She wasn't referencing how you had made Kraglin promise before sitting down, but rather she had actually made Peter and him promise that they would behave and not cause mischief during the game while Mantis fetched you, wanting to try and make friendly with their host with a game without their shenanigans. Honestly, she wasn't sure why she believed them.

Kraglin grumbled what sounded like a "Sorry, ma'am." and Peter changed the subject by starting the game.

Surprisingly they did behave while playing. All six rounds of it before everyone was tired of playing and decided to pack it up.

***

You had just finished washing up for bed and were exiting the bathroom when a cry to "watch out!" made you turn just in time for a giant spider to fly towards your face.

You realized too late it was only Peter throwing the rubber spider at you.

Too late to stop yourself from shrieking as you batted it away, too late to prevent your loss of balance as you reared back, much too late to stop your socks from slipping on the hardwood floor or you from falling backwards, and unfortunately much, much too late to stop yourself from a poor landing where you tried to catch your fall with your outstretched hand only to be met with blinding pain.

Your eyes rolled back and you couldn't even scream, the sound caught in your throat as if the pain were strangling you.

Peter realized his prank had gone wrong when instead of yelling at him, you only rolled to one side and muted gutted noises came out of your throat as you held your arm.

"Crap! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! That wasn't supposed to happen!" Peter cried, rushing toward you on the floor. Kraglin's voice could also be heard apologizing, footsteps coming from his and Yondu's room where he and Peter had been waiting for you to be done with your shower so they could perform what was supposed to be just a harmless jump scare.

Finally finding your voice you yell, "Don't touch me! Get the fuck away from me!" as Peter knelt down. Your senses were blurred into only pain and rage. Your only thoughts were "go away" and 'fix arm, stop pain.'

More apologies poured from their lips as you tried to right yourself up with only one arm as you couldn't bear to move the other.

Peter tried to help you up but you only kicked him away, still blinded by pain and rage. "I said don't fucking touch me!" Eventually you were able to use the nearby wall to use to crawl into a standing position while the other two made pleas for you to let them help, for you to calm down, and something about dislocation. You couldn't really think clearly enough to sort out what they wanted, and only kept (figuratively) pushing them away as you made your way to your bedroom door where Mantis was now standing looking concerned.

You could just make out other voices, but didn't have a clear understanding of what they were saying or what they wanted either. You were only focused on one goal, and that was getting to your room to assess your arm.

Mantis readily moved aside so you could enter, but then remained in the doorway once you entered, unintentionally preventing you from being able to close the door. You look at her, saying firmly, "In or out. Pick one."

Looking a little frightened, she chose out, and you slammed the door behind her, locking it out of instinct more than clear thinking.

Almost immediately there came pounding on the door, and Peter's shouts that you needed to come out and let someone help you.

"Fuck off! I've got it!" you yell back.

Outside the room was a mess of concern. Gamora stood in the doorway of her and Peter's room, yelling at Peter and Kraglin from across the landing for their foolishness once she realized well enough what had happened. Yondu was standing on the stairs, having heard the loud thump of a body hitting the floor and then you yelling at someone to get away. He came to investigate only to find the scene before him.

Mantis, intimidated by the yelling, sought comfort from Drax who was standing in his doorway wondering what in the world was going on.

Rocket had momentarily stepped out of the room with Groot to see what the commotion was about, but upon realizing it was you just waved the situation off and returned to the room. Not his problem.

Yondu asked Peter what all the fuss was about and Peter admitted that he and Kraglin had fucked up a prank and it lead, to what looked to Peter, you dislocating your elbow, and then you locked yourself in your room. This explanation made Yondu join in with Gamora's scolding.

Inside your room you assessed your arm. Nothing was broken, but the elbow was indeed dislocated. You felt sick, mostly from the pain but also from the unsettling feeling of having a bone out of joint. You knew what you needed to do, you just wished you had a shot or two of whiskey in you first.

Back outside the room Yondu scolded both Peter and Kraglin, telling them that he was putting a stop to this prank war. Gamora agreed, stating that it had gotten out of hand when the guys tried to argue that it was just an accident.

Yondu attempted to knock on your door and convince you to come out, but you wouldn't bite, calling back through the door that you had it handled and for everyone to leave you alone.

Yondu glared through the door at your stupidity. He thought you were acting like a child. "Ya need someone to help ya put it back in place, now get out here. That's an order!" That last line was mostly from habit, and it got pretty much the response anyone would have expected from you.

"I don't take orders from you!"

Yondu growled, not exactly used to being defied, especially not the rare occasions he was actually trying to be helpful. He'd seen his share of dislocations, both from his crew and their victims. It was never pretty. "Well ya can't just haul up in there like a wounded animal!"

You rolled your eyes inside your room, fighting the churning in your stomach as you positioned yourself for the unpleasant task, nestling the inner elbow of your injured arm against one of the short posts of your bed's headboard. You took several deep breaths, trying to gather the courage to do what needed to be done.

After a few moments of you not responding Yondu beat on the door again. "Ya better not have passed out in there!"

You groan and say, "I'm fine! Give me a minute to handle it!"

Before anyone can speak again a pop followed by a cry of pain and a string of curses was heard from your side of the door.

Yondu stepped away from the door and rubbed his face. "I don't believe it. She actually did it." he said in disbelief.

Peter approached the door. "Hey! Hey! You alright?"

More curses, followed by, "I told you I had it handled. Now piss off."

Yondu just shook his head and retreated to his room after that, muttering that you were insane and followed by a remorseful looking Kraglin.

Peter also went back to his room feeling guilty and receiving a scolding look from Gamora as well as an earful once they closed the door.

After a bit Drax convinced Mantis to also go back to your shared room, only planning to return to his once he was sure you'd let her in.

You heard a gentle knock and a soft voice asking, "Can I come back in now?"

You considered telling her no, that she chose 'out' so she could stay out, but now that a bit of pain had subsided and your mind was starting to clear you had the presence of mind to realize that you'd only be being a dick by doing that, so you got up and unlocked the door for her.

She entered sheepishly, asking if you were ok, clearly seeing the pain in your eyes.

"I'm fine, Mantis," you say curtly, tucking yourself into bed the best you could, settling for lying on your back with your arm resting on your stomach. "Go to sleep."

Mantis turned off the light and quietly crawled into her own bed. You could feel her staring at you as you stared at the ceiling and waited for sleep.

***

The next couple days you mostly stayed in your room, leaving only to shower, use the restroom, and eat. You knew with that kind of injury you weren't supposed to use your arm for a bit if you wanted it to heal, and that knowledge irritated you to no end.

You couldn't tend the garden, you couldn't practice your archery, or anything else that required the use of two hands. So, you just sulked in your room listening to music and reading.

The first day nobody bothered you much, sensing that you were very cranky. Peter tried to ask to look at your arm, but you ignored him, and he didn't press it. Gamora had later tried to tell you that you needed to splint your arm, and Yondu added that if not that then you at least needed to keep it in a sling, but you only sighed at them at took your glass of juice to your room, much to Yondu's irritation.

The second day they started getting more insistent when by around noon it became clear that you intended to stay in your room all day again. Yondu grumbled again to Kraglin that you were hiding away like a wounded animal. However, realizing that you'd only get mad if they all kept hounding you, they collectively decided to send Gamora in.

They knew you wouldn't listen to Peter or Kraglin since the injury was their fault and you were understandably not really talking to them right now. Mantis might have been a decent choice since you didn't ever really get angry at her, but she had no basic medical knowledge, so she was off the table. Yondu also could have been a decent second choice, but everyone, including himself, knew he wouldn't have the patience to deal with you if you started refusing to listen to reason.

Gamora went up to your room and took it as a good sign that the door was open. She peered inside to see you sitting at your desk and knocked on the doorframe.

"What?" you asked, not looking up from your book.

"I just wanted to-"

"If this is about my arm again, it'll be fine." you say stubbornly.

Gamora entered your room without bothering to ask permission. "If you just let me look-"

"No." you say curtly.

Gamora took a breath. "We really do just want to help you."

"I don't need it. I've been fixing myself up all by myself for a long time. I don't need help now."

"Look, I can't force you, but please understand that it's not weakness to accept help."

You finally look at her, your expression hard. "I never said it was. Just said I didn't need it."

Gamora stared back at you. You were just so stubborn. Reminded her of a few people she knew... if she were honest. One being herself. There was a time where she had believed if she couldn't solve every problem on her own, it made her weak. This wasn't helped by the fact Thanos raised her to be an assassin, and punished such weakness. However, after she joined the Guardians, after she found a family, she came about unlearning that. It was ok to need help sometimes. It didn't make you weak. She only wished she could help you realize it, but she knew that pushing wasn't going to make it happen. You needed to get there on your own. You needed to trust them.

"Ok," she relented, "but know if you ever do need our help, we're here, alright?"

You shortly nod and turn back to your book. "Got it."

She then left you alone. Sometimes, to get someone to come to you willingly, you needed to give them space.

***

The next time anyone saw you was late that evening when you finally decided to eat something for supper. You were in the mood for peanut butter and jam, though opening the jars proved tricky for obvious reasons, but you managed.

You were in the kitchen having just finished your sandwich when Drax came in the kitchen. He looked around a bit before asking if you had seen Rocket. You hadn't, but before you could say as much you heard the sound of growling followed by Rocket's voice shouting, "Fuck off!"

Your eyes flew wide and you bolted for the door, throwing it open to see Rocket fighting with another raccoon a few meters away, rolling on the ground with Rocket cursing up a storm as the raccoon snarled and snapped at him.

You swore, and pushed past Drax to grab the old shot gun you left hidden in a cabinet near the back door along with a couple shells and ran back outside.

You popped the shells in and took aim, trying to get a shot where you wouldn't hit Rocket along with the other raccoon. Your aim was a little shaky due to your injured arm, the shot gun being just heavy enough to make steadying it with that arm a task, even with the adrenaline dulling the pain. You were worried you might accidentally shoot Rocket, but you had to take the shot. If you didn't, and the raccoon bit him, he would likely be as good as dead anyway.

In what was likely seconds but felt much longer, you managed to line up a shot when the raccoon managed to pin Rocket on his back, the wide body of the raccoon up in the air providing a target that with your SHIELD honed skills would be as easy as hitting a cow's ass with a shovel on a normal day. With your injury, however... well, you could still make it. You had to.

You took the shot. The crack rang loudly through the evening air and the raccoon fell off of Rocket and onto the grass, dead.

Rocket's attention turned to you as you lowered the shotgun and quickly approached him, he was about to snark off that he had it handled when you said in a firm but yet still slightly worried sounding voice, "Did it bite you?"

He sat up irritably but didn't answer. He didn't need you of all people to save him. He looked down at his body. There was blood, but it looked to be just the after spray from where you shot the animal. Terran weapons were clearly messier than blasters.

"Did it bite you?!" you ask more urgently.

He looked himself over. "No? What's it to you anyway? I had it handled!"

"Raccoons carry rabies, you dipshit!" you scold. Removing the other shell from the gun you tell him to get inside.

"I'm not a raccoon! And I don't have whatever rabies is!" Rocket shouted at you angrily. "And I don't take orders from you!"

You groan. You didn't have time for his bellyaching right now. "You utter gobshite! I'm not talking about you! I'm talking about that!" you point to the now very dead raccoon, and just to be mean you threw in a, "You know, that fucker there that looks exactly like your furry ass!" He glared at you but you didn't care. "They carry rabies! Now get inside so we can get you looked over and you better hope like hell it didn't bite you."

Rocket grumbled and started walking back to the house, making sure to complain just loud enough for you to hear that he was going because he wanted to, not because you told him too.

You follow behind him. You would dispose of the dead raccoon in a bit.

"That was an amazing shot." Drax told you as you walked by. "I was sure you would have hit Rocket."

"Not now, Drax, please." you say, walking past him.

You got inside to find that the gunshot had attracted an audience, and everyone else was now in the kitchen wondering what had just happened. You put the shotgun and shell back in the cabinet, making a mental note to clean it later. It had belonged to your father, and never saw much-or any really- use from you as there wasn't exactly a lot to need defending from, wildlife-wise, where you lived. Hell, you couldn't even remember the last time you had even seen a raccoon around before tonight, and even when you had you never needed to defend yourself from one. If you left them alone, they returned the favor.

You turn back from the cabinet and lock eyes with Rocket. "Now are you going to let someone check you over or..." you left the question hanging, your tone clear that there was no 'or.' He was going to get checked out. You tried to ignore the irony and your own hypocrisy.

"What happened?" Gamora asked.

"He got attacked by a raccoon." You answered.

Rocket indignantly spoke up. "I had it handled!" He heard Peter snickering and he snapped, "What?!"

Peter just shook his head and quipped, "Already fighting with family..."

Rocket growled. "Shut up, Star-Munch!"

"Table. Now. You need to get checked out. Quit stalling," you command, irritation and exhaustion present in your voice. "I'm not even kidding."

"So what if it did bite me? How bad could rabies possibly be?" Rocket snarked.

"What's rabies?" asked Drax.

You sigh and say flatly, "A very horrible way to die." You look to Peter, thinking that maybe you had a way to get through to Rocket, and ask, "You ever see Old Yeller?"

"Yeah..." Peter answered, though seeming slightly unsure.

"You remember what happens to the dog?"

His eyes widen a bit. "Yeah..."

"Then will you please explain to him why this is serious?"

Peter looked at an annoyed Rocket. "Dude, she's right. Just let us see."

Rocket rolled his eyes and hopped on the table. "Fine! But only to get you all to stop whining."

Peter checked him over, as it was silently agreed with a nod that Rocket would trust him more. While he checked Rocket you thought to ask if he was given any vaccinations when they got here. Peter said that everyone had, but they had been given so many that they weren't sure what they all were.

You knew that Fury should be stopping by the next day for a weekly check-in, and said you'd contact him to suggest a booster for Rocket just in case.

Luckily, Rocket was bite-free, and he gloated as much. "See! I told you! I had everything under control!"

You roll your eyes. "Right. That's why the raccoon had you pinned under it, then. Yeah?"

"Did not!" Rocket protested.

"Well you certainly weren't having a cup of tea, were you?" you said, the tone in your voice saying that you were done.

Drax spoke up. "It's true. The beast was winning."

"It was not!"

"Enough," you say. "Go get cleaned up. I'm tired of hearing you. "

After he skulked off Gamora asked, "Just out of curiosity, what would have happened to him if he had gotten bitten."

You avoided telling her. "He wasn't, but I'm going to take the animal into town in the morning to see if it was rabid. Just in case."

Gamora asked again. "What would have happened?"

You frown. You didn't know how to put it delicately, and the others could tell you were trying and it worried them. Your eyes meet Peter's.

His eyes widened in understanding. "We can't do that to him." Peter said, shaking his head.

Yondu spoke up for the first time. "Do what?"

You frown. "Just calm down. He wasn't bitten. We won't have to."

Yondu sounded more irritated. "Do what?"

You sigh and look to the ground for a moment before looking back up to answer, "If he had gotten bitten, and he hadn't already received a rabies vaccination..." You pause, choosing your words carefully, "the only merciful thing to do... would be to put him down."

"Put him down?" asked Drax.

You pinch the bridge of your nose. "Do I really need to spell it out for you?" You kept your voice down, afraid to say it too loud and for Rocket to hear. "We'd have to kill him. There's no cure, and if we didn't, he'd go rabid, and die horribly." You saw the horrified looks on the other's faces and repeated, "But he wasn't bitten, so that doesn't have to happen. He'll be fine. I'm just going to check with Fury that he was given the shot, and if he wasn't I'll make sure he gets one, just in case. Ok?"

They seemed to relax slightly and you stated that you were going to go take care of the raccoon corpse in your yard, mostly to just get away from the situation and hoping they would have dispersed when you got back.

You didn't even get to take three steps before you felt someone grab your arm. Luckily it wasn't your bad one. "What the hell?" you ask irritably, turning to see it was Kraglin, who had been so quiet the whole time you actually hadn't noticed him.

"I really don't think you should be doing that. If it was big enough to pin down Rocket, then it's too big for ya to be lifting with your arm injured how it is."

You sigh angrily and try to pull away, but his grip held firm. Strong for a skinny guy, you thought. "Let go." you say, irritation thick in your voice.

"No. If this is the only way for you to take it easy and let us help, then I ain't letting ya go til you agree to step back."

You look at the others and you can tell they aren't going to be on your side. You roll your eyes and focus them on the space above Peter's head, where you could see where the ceiling met the wall. "You can't help if I can't unlock the shed," you say, hoping to appeal to their sense.

"Fine," Peter said. "But I'll do the lifting. It's mostly my fault you got hurt anyhow."

"Fine," you grumble, just loud enough to be heard and for Kraglin to release you.

You lead the way out the door, Peter, and also Kraglin and Yondu who wanted to see the raccoon, following behind. Gamora and Drax stayed behind to make sure Mantis and Groot were ok, seeing that they looked a bit shaken.

You instruct none of them to touch the corpse and unlock the shed, turning on your phone's flashlight and pointing out an old box and a shovel to Peter.

"Wow, you've got a nice workshop in here," Peter said, noting the various saws and tools set up around the room that he could make out in the dim light.

You used to make things with your dad and brother growing up, and had inherited most of the tools inside, but instead of traveling down memory lane you just told Peter, "Another day. Let's get the raccoon sorted, please."

Peter obliged and grabbed the items so you could finish the task at hand.

Yondu and Kraglin were staring at the raccoon when you returned.

"Thought it'd be bigger." Kraglin said, cocking his head.

He was right. It did look smaller now that it was dead, but it was still a decent size.

Peter unceremoniously scooped it up with the shovel and dumped it in the box.

"We should probably keep that in the shed until morning," you said, "I don't want it stinking up the car overnight. I can wash the blood off the shovel real quick-" You reached for the shovel but Peter handed it off to Kraglin instead. You looked at them in annoyance. "I'm not helpless, you know."

"And it won't kill you to accept some help, girl," retorted Yondu, fed up with your stubborn attitude.

You roll your eyes and call after an already retreating Kraglin, "Try not to tangle yourself up in the hose this time!" You could see him bristle at the taunt, but he ignored you.

After everything was back in the shed and you locked it up everyone headed inside. The others were nowhere to be seen and you assumed they had all decided to just go to bed, in which you also followed suit, but not before sending a quick text to Maria (Yes, you had said you'd contact Fury, but Fury doesn't exactly text) asking about the vaccination situation surrounding Rocket.

You hadn't expected an answer so late at night, but she responded asking what had happened, correctly assuming that you wouldn't be asking unless something had.

You kept it short. Said you shot a raccoon and wanted to be sure Rocket had his shots.

She didn't respond, and you couldn't help but wonder if that was a bad sign.

[fandomspov]

ASTRONOMY TOWER ꒱ george weasley

❝SUMMARY❞ you and george have a secret relationship

❝WARNINGS❞ none

"WHAT’S GOTTEN into you y/n?" your best friend, pansy, questioned with a frown visible on her face "nothing pans, i'm fine" she rolled her eyes making you sigh "you can tell me anything you know? I've seen the way you and weasley look at each other" she giggled "we don't look at each other" "or when you sneak out of our dorm to meet him at the astronomy tower" you rolled your eyes and sat up straight in your chair "there's nothing going on between me and George ok? I hate him and you know that" parkinson laughed at your lie "yeah sure, keep telling yourself that"

you returned your attention back to professor snape but your mind kept wandering about george trying to hold back a smile but failing miserably "i told you" pansy's voice could be heard from your right making you roll your eyes with a small blush.

the day flew by really fast, now sitting in the great hall eating dinner while taking small glances at the gryffindor table, george giving you his famous wink. fred noticed the small exchange of looks and elbowed his twin "l/n huh?" george shook his head with a small giggle "oh shut up fred, i see the way you look at angelina" fred gave him a smirk "fair enough"

back to the slytherin table, draco grabbed your sleeve grabbing your attention "what's up?"

"is there something going on between you and weasley?" he made a disgusted face when he mentioned his name making you roll your eyes "no draco, and if there was it wouldn't be any of your business anyways, alright?" malfoy let go of your sleeve and turned back to blaise with a huff, you giggled and returned to your conversation with pansy. after dinner everyone left to go to their dorms but as you were getting out the door you felt someone tug on your shirt, looking up you saw george giving you a smirk then walking away leaving you there, a blushing mess.

arriving at your dorm pansy started to tease you about it "lemme guess, meeting redhead tonight again?" pansy giggled as she jumped on her bed "i'm not meetin-"  your words were shortly cut off by your best friend "y/n I already know, you don't have to lie anymore jeez"  you sighed and dropped on your bed "alright then, yes I am but please don't tell anyone"

pansy nodded her head 'yes' and walked to her wardrobe to change into her pijamas you turned your back to her, closing your eyes, thoughts about you and george filling your head, like when you were heading to hagrid's hut but george threw a snowball at you out of nowhere, ending up in a snowball fight or when he took you to have a small secret picnic next to the black lake. soon, you were asleep completely forgetting about your meeting with the ginger.

you heard the floor crack making your eyes shot open, only to realise it was one of your roommates cat playing around, realization hitting you "george" you silently said jumping out of your bed, not bothering to change from you pijamas or anything, you ran towards the stairs and to the astronomy tower

you noticed someone looking down at the landscape with their back at you, the moon lighting up the ginger hair, you smiled and walked up to him, placing your hand on his shoulder making george jump "holy shit you scared me"

"i'm so sorry georgie i fell asleep and i forgot to-"

"it's ok y/n don't worry  you were like..only 10 minutes late" he giggled and pulled you into a hug. you hugged him back, placing your head on his chest taking in his sweet scent, you felt him plant a soft kiss on the top of your head, a smile slowly creeping its way onto your face. "cute pijamas, i like astronaut cats too" george's remark made you both laugh "i'm glad you like it, i'll buy you one for your birthday" george smiled "that would be the best birthday present"

"i know right, we can drink hot chocolate and cuddle next to the fire together while wearing them" he chuckled, looking down at you "i love that" his hand came up to your cheek, caressing it with his thumb "you look beautiful tonight, love" you smiled and decided to compliment him back but he interrupted you "even if you hair is in every direction possible right now" he giggled and you rolled your eyes with a small smile "wow a way to ruin the moment" you scoffed "i'm only kidding love, you look amazing" you shook your head with a small giggle "you've looked better to be honest"

george made a shocked face, his hand flying to his chest "that was mean, you hurt my feelings"you chuckled and grabbed his hand copying his words "i'm only kidding babe, you look amazing" the younger twin rolled his eyes at you "yeah yeah ok mock me now"

"aww im sorry did that upset you?" you teased making him huff "yeah it did" georgie sarcastically augmented "i'm sorry, what can i do to make it right then?" you questioned "i can think of something" he stated with a smirk "yeah sure, you wish"

"oh shut it I know you want meeeeeee" george teased as you attempted to hold back a smile "oh please i see the way you look at me in the hallways, drooling over me, don't get me started weasley"

"yeah yeah, at least i'm not a liar I heard when you told you friend parkinson that you didn't like me when you're literally sneaking out of your dorm past curfew to meet me"  george objected"ok fine, can we just agree that both of us are obsessed over each other?" you implied

"fine"

"fine"

after a moment of silence, you let out a small giggle "what?" the redhead asked "nothing"he yanked you closer to his chest his hands rising to cup your face, pulling your chin closer to him 

you got on your tip toes to reach his lips when he crushed your lips together, your arms flying around his neck. his hand lowered down to your waist, softly gripping your sides "you know, we can go to my dorm, i'll tell fred to piss off, the rest are not there anyways" "sure"

"so how did it go?" pansy whispered "what?"

"your date with ginger" she grinned and you shook your head with a smile "it wasn't a date, we just met up to..talk" "yeah sure, talk" pansy acknowledged and went on eating her breakfast

you perked up to peek at george only to catch him already gazing at you with a smirk, you felt a blush creep onto your cheeks and looked down at your dish wishing that he didn't notice. he shook his head with a small giggle and turned his attention back to his friends. "after that smirk and your reaction I can tell that something more happened then just talking l/n" pansy explained "ok fine then sherlock holmes, you're right, want an award for that?" she chuckled "i just wanted to hear you say that i'm right that's all"

[elianamarie-blog]

The Things You Give Pt. 11

Happy spooky season, my dear loves! Thank you for being so patient with me as I publish each part. I really hope you enjoy this next part. I love hearing from you guys so feel free to message or leave a comment <3 

Steven Hyde x Reader

“Eric!” Y/n said, completely frozen in shock. “W-what are you, uh, what are y-you doing h-here?”

           Eric’s face didn’t change as he stared at the couple in front him, wide eyes and jaw slack. So many questions ran through his mind as well as different emotions. Rage, confusion, hurt, shock, and most of all: betrayal. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to scream or strangle them both. His hands started to shake and he swore his heart was going to beat out of his chest.

           “Uh…it’s not what it looks like!” Hyde said, trying to save the situation. “She was helping me move some boxes and she found some of my nudie magazines.”

           “Yeah!” Y/n cut in, catching on. “And I started making fun of him for it and that’s why it sounded like we were talking dirty and that’s why we look like this because of all the moving…and it’s hard work. And we smell like this because we got all sweaty. But nothing else happened!”

           Eric couldn’t believe that his best friend and sister would think he was that stupid. He couldn’t even say anything to them. All he could do was calmly walk out through the basement door without saying a word.

           “Oh no,” Y/n said under her breath.

           “Crap,” Hyde sighed and looked at Y/n who looked like she was about to cry.

             Down at the Hub, the couple and everyone else, minus Eric, sat around their usual table as Y/n and Hyde relayed what had happened just a short hour prior.

           “He was like a deer caught in the headlights,” Hyde said. “A very angry looking deer.”

           “You know what this means?” Donna asked. “This means that he’s going to rant for the next six months and guess who is going to have hear about it?” She pointed a finger at herself. “That’s right, me. Over and over and over again.”

           “I know,” Y/n grumbled and hid her face in her hand. “This is so not the way I wanted him to find out. Any of you really.”

           “Yeah, I still think I found out the worst way still,” Donna commented and took a sip of her root beer, but not before she shuddered dramatically. “I still have nightmares about it.”

           “Yeah it wasn’t a thrill for us either,” Hyde said and took some fries from Y/n’s basket.

           “To be honest, I’m kinda scared to see him,” Y/n said after taking a sip of her coke. “He just…didn’t say anything and stormed out.”

           “Maybe he didn’t know what to say,” Jackie said. “I mean, he probably was disgusted.”

           “Jackie, what the hell, man?” Y/n asked her frustrated.

           “No, I mean it’s his sister and best friend. How would you feel if that happened to you?” she defended.

           “It did happen to me!” Y/n said. “When Mike McCan’t Keep It In His Pants over here and Easily Spread Butter started sleeping together.”

           “First of all, that’s a good burn,” Kelso laughed. “And second of all…I totally nailed your sister! Now if I can nail you, I’d done it with all the Forman girls!”

           Hyde didn’t even hesitate to connect his fist to Kelso’s shoulder. Kelso grunted and glared at him before scooting away from him.

           “So, how did it make you feel? How did you react?” Donna asked.

           “Well, I was beyond angry because I felt so betrayed and disgusted and lied to—ah crap,” Y/n said, realizing what the point was. “Dammit, Jackie, I hate it when you’re right!”

           “Which isn’t very common,” Jackie stated, holding up a finger. “But when I am, it’s a big deal.”

           “Have you guys seen Eric?” Y/n asked.

           “I haven’t,” Donna answered.

           “Me either,” Jackie mumbled.

           “Nada,” Kelso said.

           “Sorry,” Fez finally said, shaking his head.

           “Man, I’m kinda freaking out,” Hyde said. “Normally I don’t, especially when it comes to Forman, but you should’ve seen him. I’ve never seen him like this. Normally, he’s like, you know, all squeaky and twitchy, but this time, he was just quiet and walked out calmly.”

           “Yeah, I don’t what I’m going to do once I see him,” Y/n said, leaning back and crossing her arms.

           “Well, you might want to figure it out soon because he’s coming in,” Fez said, panicking a little.

            Y/n and Hyde whipped around to see Eric stomping in, but the second he came in and made eye contact with them, the air around them suddenly went still.

           “Hi, Eric,” Y/n said softly.

           “Hey man,” Hyde said, trying to sound as casual as he could.

           The dirty blonde twin looked at them before turning away back into the parking lot.

           “Damn,” Kelso mumbled and turned back around to face the group. “He’s really pissed.”

           “Trust me guys, I’ve known Eric our whole lives and I’ve never seen him like this,” Y/n said.

           “Well, duh, you shared the womb with the guy,” Fez piped up and everyone couldn’t help but roll their eyes. “I guess you can say, you were wombmates.”

            Y/n couldn’t help but giggle at that while everyone else groaned and rolled their eyes.

                                                                         ⧝⧝⧝

           The next day, things between the twins and Hyde were still eerily quiet. Eric couldn’t even be in the same room as them. Even at the breakfast table, Eric refused to look up from his plate. Kitty and Red shared a look, knowing something was wrong.

           “What’s wrong with you?” Red asked. “You’re usually annoying in the morning. Actually, I can get used to this.”

           “Red,” Kitty said sternly and turned to Eric. “Eric, honey, are you okay?”

           “M’ fine,” Eric mumbled shortly without looking up and shoveled some eggs into his mouth.

           “Did you get into a fight with Donna?” she asked.

           “Mom, I said I’m fine. Can we please drop it?” Eric asked, trying to not raise his voice at her.

           She held her hands up. “Fine, fine.”

           The table went back to ground breaking silence while everyone sat there tense and still, except for Red who was actually enjoying the silence for once.

             Outside later in the afternoon, everyone, minus Eric, sat in the driveway, shooting some hoops and talking on top of the Vista Cruiser.

           “Where’s Eric?” Jackie asked.

           “He’s…somewhere,” Y/n answered and looked towards the house. “I think he’s been hiding in his room all day. Or he just goes where we aren’t.”

           “Probably both,” Jackie said and shuddered. “I wouldn’t want to be in his room either.”

           Donna laughed. “That’s true. One time I just walked in and he was reading a nudey magazine and I swear I’ve never seen him jump up so fast. It would’ve been funnier if he wasn’t naked.”

            Y/n and Jackie shuddered in horror.

           “Gross!” Jackie exclaimed.

           “What she said,” Y/n said and gagged. “Thanks for that mental image.”

            Y/n  looked over to Steven, Michael, and Fez playing basketball and made eye contact with Steven. In that split second, Michael took advantage of it and swiped the ball from him. He made a slam dunk and stuck his tongue out at Hyde.

           Hyde quickly grabbed the ball and spun around, dodging Kelso’s attempted swipe and slammed it into the basket.

           “Hyde: two, Kelso: uno,” Hyde said, smirking and balanced the ball on his hip.

           “I love watching you play basketball,” Y/n said, her voice lowering.

           “Yeah?” Hyde responded, staring her down.

           “Yeah, it’s hot,” she responded before realizing they were in front of everyone and cleared her throat. “Or you know, whatever.”

           “Get a room!” Kelso shouted.

           “It’s my house!” Y/n argued.

           “Exactly! So, you should go find one and get that out of here,” he responded.

           “Shut up, man. We used to have to watch you and Jackie make out all the time,” Hyde said.

           “Yeah, but it wasn’t weird like this is,” Kelso responded.

            Y/n and Hyde rolled their eyes at him before turning back to each other.

           “So, have you seen him?” he asked her.

           “No, have you?” she asked.

           He shook his head. “We’re going to have face him sooner or later.”

           “Later,”  Y/n answered. “Gives me time to think of ways to calm him down. Or by the time we do face him we’ll be in Guadalajara.”

           Hyde shook his head smiling. “Come on, let’s get this over with.”

            Y/n  sighed and hopped off the car. “Fine. Let’s go find him.”

           “I think I saw him go into the basement earlier,” Fez said and everyone followed Y/n and Steven to go to the basement.

           “Can we get some privacy?” Y/n asked when they noticed everyone was following them.

           “No way!” Kelso answered. “We aren’t going to miss the show.”

            Y/n grunted, feeling annoyed. “Idiots.”

           Hyde turned around and slammed his fist into Kelso’s shoulder. “Will you get out of here? All of you!”

           “Ow!” Kelso yelled. “Fine!”

           Everyone dispersed leaving Hyde and Y/n alone.

           Begrudgingly, Hyde and Y/n made their way to the basement where they did, in fact, see Eric sitting on the couch watching TV. But judging his body language, he was tense and still really pissed off.

           “Eric?” Y/n called out gently, afraid to scare him off like a stray animal. “How are you doing?” She rounded to the couch to face him and saw his chin resting on his thumb while his index finger held up his cheek. He wasn’t paying attention to the tv and was just sitting there, seething.

           He looked at her from the corner of his eye to back to the screen. He stayed silent, refusing to speak to her.

           She looked at Hyde desperately, needing help.

           “Listen, Forman. We need to talk about this,” Hyde said stepping forward.

           “There’s nothing to talk about,” he said, struggling to keep his voice leveled.

           “Yes, there is and it’s need to happen,” Steven responded. “I get it, you’re pissed. But this needs to be hashed out so it doesn’t become another Kelso fiasco. So, come on. Let’s talk.”

           “Talk about what, exactly?” Eric snapped. “What’s there to talk about? Talk about you screwing my sister? Or that you guys went behind my back and have been lying to me this whole time? Or how ‘bout this, that you went after my twin sister? You know it was bad enough when Kelso did it with Laurie, but Y/N?” He shook his head.

           “Eric, please,” Y/n begged. “Trust me, this is not the way we wanted you to find out.”

           He jerked his head to look at her. “How did you want me to find out?”

           She shrugged her shoulders nervously. “I don’t know, but somewhere along the lines we wanted to tell you.”

           “And how did you think I would take that?!” he yelled. “You’re sleeping with my best friend! I can’t believe you guys would do this to me!”

           “Okay, first all, Forman, we’re not doing anything to you,” Hyde defended. “In fact, this isn’t about you at all. And second of all, it’s nothing like that. It’s more than that now.”

           Eric’s face darkened. “What do you mean by that?”

           Hyde cast his eyes down and looked to Y/n before turning his gaze back to Eric. “I love her, man.”

           “WHAT?!” Eric practically screamed. He dragged a hand down his face and started to pace behind the couch.

Y/n stayed seated as she watched her brother’s breathing becoming uneven and shaken. She knew that he was about to lose his cool.

“What the hell do you mean you love her?” he continued shouting. “Out of all the stupid crap you’ve pulled, this has got to be the dumbest one yet!”

“What do you mean by that?” Hyde asked offended.

“I think you know exactly what I mean,” he replied. “You stringing my sister along for fun, making her believe that you’re in love with her and then when you get tired of her, you’re going to dump her for the next girl that comes along.”

“That’s what you think I’m doing?” Hyde was getting visibly angry. “You think I would that to her? I’m not freaking Kelso!”

“I don’t see you denying it!”

“Hang on!” Y/n shouted, standing from her seat. “Do you really think I’m naïve to fall for something like that again?”

“Well, you did before,” Eric spat.

Y/n’s blood started to boil. “That’s nothing compared to what Steven and I have! What he is saying is true because I love him too!”

Eric’s face fell and flushed red, clenching his teeth. “How long?”

“How long what?” Y/n asked.

“How long has this been going on?”

“Well, uh, since June,” she answered.

“So, you’ve been dating secretly for four months and never thought of when to tell me?! When were you going to tell me? After you guys secretly got married? Or after the birth of your first secret child?”

“It’s not like we wanted to hurt you,” Y/n defended. “We didn’t plan for anyone else to find out either.”

“Everybody else knows?!” Eric shouted.

“Nice going,” Hyde grumbled, elbowing Y/n’s arm. Gently, of course.

“Uh—yeah. They kind of…found out on their own. Except for Fez. Kelso told him, but other than that, yeah. They caught on.”

“How do you think Mom and Dad are going to take it when they find out their daughter is screwing the town’s rebel?!”

“You mean the one they took in?” she asked angrily. “The one who they love like another son?”

“I’m warning you now when Dad finds out, you’re dead. Both of you. And I mean literally,” Eric warned and continued to pace.

“I know, but this a risk that we’re willing to take,” she said and walked over to where Hyde was standing and wrapped her arms around his waist. Steven wrapped a protective arm around her and held her close. “I love him and he loves me. I’m actually happy.”

“I know this hard for you to get through your thick skull, but I really do love her, man. For the first time ever, I’m happy,” Steven said, more calmly this time.

“Stop saying that!” Eric screeched.

“It’s true, man!” Hyde yelled back. “Will you quit acting like a two-year-old and actually have a decent conversation?”

“You don’t get to tell me how to act when you’ve been going behind my back like this,” Eric growled. “Don’t you dare tell me how to act!”

“This is why we didn’t want to tell you!” Y/n said. “We knew you’d act like this!”

“How am I supposed to act, Y/n? I mean, for four months, four damn months, you’ve been doing whatever you’ve been doing in secret. I can barley understand all of this. I don’t know how the hell you expect me to accept this!”

“Well, you’re gonna have to because this isn’t going to end anytime soon!” Hyde said.

Eric finally stopped pacing and looked Hyde straight in the eye. “You know what bothers me the most? That I gave you more than one chance to tell me the truth and you lied to me. I’m supposed to be your best friend, your brother, and you couldn’t even come to me to say, ‘Hey man, I like your sister and I’m thinking of asking her out. Just thought I’d give you a heads up,’” Eric said, doing an impression of Hyde.

Hyde unhooked his arm from Y/n’s shoulder. “Okay, first of all the impression, uncanny,” he said sarcastically. “And second, even if I did come to you first you still wouldn’t be okay with it.”

“Of course not!” he said. “But it still would’ve been better than being lied to!”

Hyde and Y/n grew quiet and looked at each other. As much as they hated to admit it, he was right. They should’ve at least said something to him before all this.

“You know what? I can’t even look at you two right now,” Eric finally said and walked over to the door, grabbing his coat from the rack.

“Where you going?” Y/n asked, tears beginning to surface.

“Anywhere but here!” Eric shouted and slammed the door on his way out.

“Damn it,” Y/n groaned, rubbing her hands down her face. “I knew this was going to blow up in our faces.”

“Let’s just give him some space,” Hyde said and brought her in for a hug. “It’ll be okay. He can’t stay mad forever.”

“What was all that yelling about?” Kitty asked, coming down the stairs.

Y/n pushed herself away from Hyde and stood close to him. “We got into a fight with Eric.”

“You two got into a fight with Eric?” she asked surprised. “Why? What happened?”

“Donna and Eric had a fight,” Hyde and Y/n answered quickly together.

“Nice!” Y/n laughed.

“Alright!” Hyde laughed with her.

Y/n turned back to her mother. “We sided with her and now he’s all pissed at us.”

“What about this time?” Kitty asked.

“I’m not too sure,” Y/n lied. “Something about Star Wars.”

“Oh, for the love of God,” she responded, rolling her eyes. “Those two fight over the dumbest things.”

“You can say that again,” Hyde said, chuckling to himself.

“Well, when Eric gets back, make you sure tell him dinner’s almost ready.” She trotted back up the stairs, leaving the couple along again.

They sighed together and collapsed on the couch next to each other.

“What are we going to do?” Y/n groaned and dropped her head on his shoulder.

Hyde kissed her head and sighed as he put his arm around her. “I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out.”

“I love you.”

A small smile crept up on his face. “I love you too.”

                                               ⧝⧝⧝

The next day at the hub, the gang, again minus Eric, sat around a table eating burgers and fries. Y/n slurped on a milkshake while listening to Jackie’s incessant rant about God-knows-what.

“So, then as Brittany took the position of head cheerleader from me, now the whole squad has been completely ignoring me and talking behind my back. That skank wad,” said Jackie, crossing her arms.

“I thought you quit cheerleading?” Y/n asked.

“Yeah, but then I realized I needed to go back to my natural habitat. Snobby and bitchy.”

“At least you’re honest,” Y/n said..

“So, you talked to Eric, huh?” Donna asked.

“Yeah, and he didn’t take it well at all,” Hyde responded.

“Well what happened?” Fez asked.

Y/n and Hyde went into the details of what happened the night before with everyone’s eyes glued to their faces.

“Man, he’s taking this a lot harder than I thought,” Donna said, leaning back and taking a sip of her soda.

“I’m not surprised,” Kelso piped up. “I mean, he hated it when me and Laurie got together, but yours is way worse.”

Y/n squinted at him. “How is this worse, exactly?”

“Well, me and Laurie were just doing it,” he responded. “You guys actually feelings for each other.”

“No, you idiot,” said Fez. “If he was just doing her he would be angrier because then Hyde would look at her just like a hot piece of meat instead of actually having feelings for her.”

“Thanks, Fez,” Y/n said, happy that someone made that point.

“Or,” Kelso said. “He’s madder because this is a thing that’s going to stick and not just be a fling and get over with.”

“That’s also a good point,” Jackie said.

Y/n gave a look to Donna and shook her head before continuing. “Anyway, I don’t know what else to do.”

“There’s nothing you really can do,” Donna responded. “He knows now and there’s nothing you can say or do to make him any less pissed.”

“Except if you two broke up,” Jackie said.

“Oh, I got it!” Kelso said, snapping his fingers. “You two should break up!”

“Kelso!” Hyde and Y/n said in unison.

“No! I mean you two should fake break up and then Forman won’t be so mad at you anymore,” he responded.

“Well, that’s not too bad of an idea,” Jackie said.

“What’s the point of that?” Hyde said. “He’s already pissed off at us for lying to him. What makes you think this one is better?”

“Yeah, good point,” Fez said. “Well, then Donna is right. There’s nothing you can do.”

Y/n sighed and leaned back, rubbing her temples. “This sucks.”

“I know, but he’ll come to accept it,” Donna said. “Especially if this is going to last.”

“What Miss Kitty and Mr. Red?” Fez asked. “Red is a fireball. He’s going to lose his crap.”

Everybody gasped.

“Red!” Kelso shouted. “I didn’t even think about him!” Then he started laughing. “You’re so dead, man.”

Hyde glared at him. “You think we didn’t think of that?”

“Well, we’re eighteen now. He can’t tell us what to do and who to be with,” Y/n said, turning to Steven. “He’s going to have to get over it.”

“Yeah, after he sticks his foot in your ass,” Donna laughed.

“I’ll take it,” Hyde said and put his arm around her shoulders. “I’ll take anything for you.”

Y/n giggled as everyone awe’d at him.

“Shut up!” Hyde yelled, but a smile formed on his face anyway.

A ding at the door caused the group to turn around. Zack stood at the entrance and made his way over to Y/n once he made eye contact with her. Y/n internally groaned.

“So, you’re with the school burnout now huh?” Zack mocked. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to find someone better than me.”

Y/n blinked at him. “Great. You’re back. Don’t you have to be annoying somewhere else? Like in college? Or did you fail and disappoint them too?”

“BURN!” Kelso shouted, laughing along with the rest of the group.

“I didn’t fail out,” he defended. “They kicked me out.”

Y/n laughed. “For what? For spiking the sorority girls’ punch?”

“No,” he said, growing frustrated at everyone’s laughter. “I broke into the girl’s locker room and drilled a hole through the wall.”

Y/n through her head back and laughed. “Yeah, you know what, I upgraded. And my guy maybe a ‘burnout’ but at least he doesn’t cheat on me with some skank.”

“I only cheated because you wouldn’t put out,” he said, his cheeks puffing out.

“Yeah, get lost, Loser,” Y/n said, throwing the word back in his face.

He pfft’d and smacked Hyde in the arm. “Good luck with this bitch, man.”

Hyde glared at Zack before slowly standing and winding his fist back and connecting it to his nose. Zack cried out and held his nose in his hand.

“What the hell, you prick?!” he shouted.

“Call my girlfriend a bitch again and I’ll make sure you’ll be the first person to touch his chin to his ass!” Steven shouted. “Get the hell out of here!”

Zack didn’t respond as he scrambled out of the building.

“That was awesome!” Donna cried out, laughing.

“Yeah, that was,” Kelso said, smiling. “I’ve never heard a guy scream like a bitch before.”

“Me neither,” Y/n chuckled and looked to Hyde. “By the way, that was so hot.”

“I gotta protect my girl,” he said and leaned in for a kiss. Y/n smiled into the kiss as she placed her hand on his face, scratching his sideburns.

“Oh, God,” Eric called out from the door, feeling disgusted seeing them being affectionate.

Hyde and Y/n pulled apart and looked at Eric.

“Hi,” Y/n said. “What are you doing here?”

“I thought I’d come down and see my dear sister with our dear friends, to try and maybe to hang out and get some normalcy, but seeing you two makes me want to vomit.”

“Oh, come on, Eric,” Donna said. “It’s not like this Kelso and Laurie.”

“That’s what I said!” Hyde said, trying to deflate the situation.

“Besides, they’re kind of cute together,” Donna said with a smile on her face. She looked to Y/n who mouthed a ‘thank you’ and winked at her. “You can’t stay mad at them forever.”

“Maybe not, but I can for a really, really long time,” he answered and was about to walk out the door when Y/n stopped him.

“Eric, wait no,” she said and got up, grabbing his hand. “Please don’t go. Sit with us.”

“Look, Y/n. I can’t. You have no idea how angry I am that you lied to me. We’re twins and we’re not supposed to have any secrets between us. We share everything, but you know the thing that really hurts the most? It’s that you felt like you couldn’t come to me at all. I can understand Mom and Dad, especially Dad because he’s well, scary, but me? I thought we were best friends and you trusted me enough to come to me.”

Tears filled Y/n’s eyes. “Eric, I do.”

“Clearly not enough,” he said, hurt laced in his face and drew his hand back from hers. He looked to Hyde who looked like he felt deep guilt. “We’re supposed to be best friends and you couldn’t even tell me the truth the first time. You clearly don’t care about anyone else but yourselves.”

“Eric, that’s not fair!” Y/n cried.

“You want to talk to me about fairness?!” he raised his voice again. “This isn’t fair. None of this is fair! It wasn’t fair that you went behind my back and started doing it! Or, that you couldn’t even come tell me that you have fallen in love with each other! That’s not fair.”

He walked out the Hub, leaving Y/n in tears. She sat back down and rested her head in the crook of Hyde’s neck, face turned away from the group so they couldn’t see her tears.

Hyde wrapped his around her waist and held her close, trying his best to comfort her.

“I’m sorry Y/n,” Donna said. “I’ll talk to him later.”

“But he’s right,” Y/n croaked out and turned her face back to them. “This isn’t fair to him and we did him wrong.”

“But you can’t help how you feel,” Jackie said sweetly. “It’s not like you did this to get back at Eric for something. You two truly do love each other and if he cared about you, he wouldn’t be so angry.”

“No, he has every right to be,” Y/n said, wiping her eyes. “Yes, we have strong feelings for each other, but we still went behind his back and betrayed him. He has every right to feel the way he does.”

No one else knew what to say, but to look at each other.

“I gotta go,” Y/n said and ran out before anyone else could see more tears.

“I should go too,” Hyde said. “This is my fault too.”

He got up and walked out after her, feeling the same guilt as she did.

Taglist:

@lieswithoutfairytales​ @mdittyz123​ 

[dontcare77ghj]

Skin

Natasha x reader x Bucky

When a person was born, the name of their soulmate was printed onto their skin. It made new parents relieved to know that their child had a perfect match in the world.

Your parents were not soulmates. Neither had ever met theirs and fell in love with each other. Their union had produced you, and when you were born, you had two names printed onto your skin.

Natalia Romanova and James Barnes.

Triads were not an uncommon occurrence in the world, but not everyone was as accepting of fates design. 

Your father didn't believe in triads, he thought by having two names you would choose one and abandon the other. As you grew older, it became clear to you your father did not believe in soulmates.

You didn't like the notion of abandoning one of your soulmates. The idea made you a little sick, to be honest. You thought yourself to be very lucky, you had not one but two soulmates. It wasn't something everyone could say.

As a child, your only dream was to find the two tattooed on your skin. You had no idea how soon you would be meeting them.

Non-reader POV

The Red Room did not often associate with HYDRA. There was no grudge, just a case of not having the same goals. Today was one of the handfuls of times they had to meet.

"It's come to our attention that you have something we want." The HYDRA director said, lounging in his chair.

"I don't have a clue what you're talking about." Madame B. mused, staring the man down.

"Natalia Romanova." He clarified. "And we have James Barnes."

"You seem to believe that means something to us." Madame B. smirked. "We don't encourage soulmates, and we certainly aren't going to let you take one of our girls."

"We don't want to take one of your girls." The director informed her. "We've been having some issues with our boy. He's not freezing as he used to, and when the asset is awake, it seems to believe it has control."

"What does my girl have anything to do with your solider?"

"Your girl could help us control him. Allow them to meet, form the bond, and it will serve as a reminder for them to follow commands. In return, we will provide her with extra training." The director bargained.

"She is already getting the best education she could." Madame B. scoffed. "What better could you possibly provide?"

"From James Barnes himself. The Winter Soldier." The man smirked as he spoke the ghost tale's name.

"This all sounds well and good, but my girl has a third soulmate." 

"As does the asset," The director assured her. "We've already planned for her extraction. She'll ensure the asset and your girl understand there are consequences. What do you think, Madame? Shall we continue negotiations?"

"Yes. Yes, I do believe we shall." Madame B. smiled.

Reader POV

"Happy birthday, sweetheart." Your mother greeted you that morning with a smile. "Big, big day. You're eighteen, maybe you'll meet your soulmates." 

"Soulmate." Your father cut in from over his newspaper. "You only need one soulmate."

"Perhaps I'll never meet either of them. Like the two of you." You said, sitting at the table.

"Ignore your father. He's especially cynical before his coffee." Your mother rolled her eyes.

"And you're especially bubbly with it." He muttered.

"Do you have any plans for today, sweetheart?" Your mother asked in a loud tone as she flitted about the small kitchen. 

"Not really." You admitted, feeling uncomfortable. "I was just going to work on my painting." 

"You should go outside more." Your father told you gruffly. "You're so pale, you need more sunlight."

"Leave her alone, Jack." Your mother sighed.

"Whatever, Marie." He said, standing from the table. "I'm going for a smoke."

"Your father is a difficult man when he wants to be." Your mother commented.

"Why do you stay with him?" You asked her. "He's not your soulmate, and half the time he acts like that."

"It doesn't matter, I love him, and he loves me. Love is complicated, my darling." She explained.

"What would you do if you did meet your soulmate?" You quizzed her.

"Talk to them." Your mother smiled. "I would get to know them, sit with them, and I would explain why I married another."

"Would you leave dad for them?"

"I don't know." She answered. "I truly don't know."

You had left the kitchen shortly after your conversation with your mother. Returning to your room, you had fitted in your headphones and drowned out the world.

You weren't sure how long it had been since you zoned out. The sun had shifted across the room many times by the time you turned off your music.

With your music silenced, you heard screams, crashes, and gunshots coming from downstairs. A part of you wished to run downstairs and fight whatever was attacking your home, but the intelligent part of you won out.

With haste, you rushed towards your desk and shoved the item in front of your door. Barricading yourself in, you rushed for your phone. As several booming thuds hit the door, you dialed 911 with shaking hands.

A shriek left your lips as the door splintered. 

"Hello? My home is being broken into. I live at 890 Real Street. Please hurry, I think my parents are dead." You said quickly, letting out another scream as your door was thrown open.

You had no weapon, making it very easy for the men to knock the phone out of your hands and push you into the wall.

"Get off me!" You cried, struggling against a burly man. "Please, let me go! Let me go!"

None of the men seemed moved by your pleas as one passed over a rag to the one holding you. You tried to hold your breath as the cloth was placed to your mouth and nose but failed.

The world went dark quickly, and you collapsed into the man's arms.

With a loud gasp, your body shot upwards as you finally awoke. Your eyes widened as you took in your unfamiliar surroundings, and continued to grow as you noticed people sitting in front of you. In front of you, sat a man, maybe ten years older than yourself, and a girl about your age.

Once they saw you were awake, the girl made to move towards you. Before she could get close to you, you pushed yourself into the corner behind you.

"Vse normal'no. My ne sobirayemsya delat' tebe bol'no." The woman said, raising her hands.

"Vy v bezopasnosti s nami." The man added.

"I, I don't speak Russian." You stuttered, praying they could understand. "Please, I don't know what's going on. Do either of you speak English?"

"You don't have to be scared with us." The woman said in perfect English. "We're not going to hurt you."

"Where am I? Why was I taken?" You asked her.

"Unfortunately, we're the reason you're here." The man sighed, lifting his shirt to reveal your name and Natalia's.

"James." You breathed. "I take it, that means you're Natalia." You said, turning to the woman.

"I'm sorry." Natalia apologized. "Neither of us thought they would take you."

"Where exactly am I?" 

"You're in Russia. In a HYDRA facility." James informed you. "I'm sorry, but this is to be your new home."

Seven years. You had been trapped in this HYDRA facility for seven years.

You had attempted escape three times, and each failed. The results of said attempts were nightmares you did not wish on your worst enemy. 

James lived in the compound but was often out on missions or frozen for months at a time. Collectively you had spent two months with him per year.

Natalia, on the other hand, was stationed in a place she called the Red Room. She told you, you were her reward. If she did well during the week, she was allowed to see you for a handful of hours during the weekend.

For the first few months, you had been terrified. You barely spoke to anyone, let alone your soulmates, and you were too scared to sleep. You overheard some of the soldiers talking, telling each other the director was mad at the lack of bonding between the three of you.

After your fourth month in the compound, you had been dragged out of your room and into another room. A place you would call hell.

It felt like a decade had passed when the torture stopped. You were barely conscious when James lifted you into his arms and took you back to your room.

Imprinting is what Natalia called it. They thought by hurting you and having Natalia and James fix you up, you would turn to them and eventually garner feelings for them.

The three of you had a real conversation that night. They explained their lives or revealed what little they were allowed to. You spoke of your previous existence, a lump in your throat the whole time. The two were allowed to stay much longer than they had in past months, and you felt you finally knew who your soulmates were.

Seven years later, you were still trapped. Still locked away, under a much stricter lock and key than at your arrival, in this hell hole. 

"Look who's awake," Natalia said, entering your cell, pulling James behind her.

"You're back." You sighed happily, jumping from the bed and throwing your arms around him as the door closed.

"I'm back, kotenok." He confirmed, tightening his arms around you.

"If you're back, that means you're going on a mission." You said as the two of you pulled apart.

"Both of us are," Natalia said, sitting on the small bed. "We're going on a mission the day after tomorrow."

"They've never let the two of you on missions together." You commented. 

"We were surprised too." James nodded. "But orders are orders, and we do what we're told."

"You don't need to tell me that, James." You said. "I'm well aware of how orders work around here."

"Sorry, kotenok," James said, looking away from you. 

"No, I'm sorry, that was rude." You apologized, squeezing his hand. "You don't deserve that."

"Are you okay, kisa?" Natalia asked you. "You seem on edge."

"I got new guards today." You admitted, not looking at either of them. "They just put me on edge."

"Did they do something to you?" James questioned you, lifting your chin.

"No, they didn't do anything." You mumbled.

"We've spent too long together for that to fool either of us." Natalia snorted. "What did they do?"

"They actually do anything." You insisted. "One made a couple comments about taking me off your hands, and the other is very dedicated to HYDRA. A little bit too much."

"I'll kill him," James growled. 

"No, you can't." You told him. "If either of you does anything, you're going to get punished. They're going to hurt you, I'll be fine. I don't see people often, I won't have to see them."

"I should gut him. Give me the name of the one who said it." Natalia demanded.

"Nat, I don't know his name. It's fine. All the guards know not to touch me. They just like their little jokes." You rolled your eyes, sitting on the bed with her.

"It's because they all sit watching us through the camera," James grumbled, standing in front of the two of you. Blocking the camera from seeing the two of you.

"Will I get to see you when you come back?" You asked, looking between the two.

"Hopefully." Natalia smiled. "But even we're not sure when we'll be back."

"What she means is we're not sure if I'll be put back in the freezer." He said.

"You're never going to let the freezer thing go, are you?" You asked, managing a weak smile.

"Probably not." Natalia smiled. "If it makes you feel better, I've been 

given permission to stay at the base overnight."

"Really?" You asked, eyebrows raising in surprise.

"Yeah." She nodded. "I have to train with J in the morning, so it was decided it was easier for me to stay the night."

"And we were informed that they want our bond to strengthen further, so we're allowed to stay in here tonight," James said, stepping forward and taking one of yours and Natalia's hands.

"So, they want us to try again?" You stuttered, swallowing against the lump in your throat.

There were many reasons you had been brought into the HYDRA compound. To control James, join them with the Red Room, and produce the future of HYDRA.

They wanted you to breed with James.

It wasn't until you were twenty that this became an idea. The three of you had strengthed the bond, and it suddenly gave the handler ideas. 

Seven years they'd forced the idea of breeding, and for seven years, it had failed. So far, there was no possibility of children. Something you were incredibly grateful for.

"Yes, that was the implication," James said, not looking at you.

"I love that my one act of defiance is not giving these assholes any children." You chuckled without humor.

"You shouldn't have been brought here," Natalia said, taking your hand. "You should've been allowed to live a life, get married to someone else, be with your family, anything just not this."

"I'll be the first to admit, I don't want to be here." You started, looking at her. "I've never wanted to be here, but I wouldn't go back. I couldn't go back. I wasn't happy before, I'm still not a hundred percent satisfied, but the two of you are my saving light." You told them.

"You're too sweet, kotenok," James said with a small smile.

"Too sweet for your own good," Natalia added, squeezing your hand three times in quick succession.

Natalia and James were very shut off people because of what they'd had to do in life. The words 'I love you' did not come naturally to them, resulting in the three of you coming up with the hand squeezing to substitute it.

Squeezing both their hands, you pulled James onto the bed with you and Natalia.

Few words were exchanged that night as the three of you laid in your small bed. The times you were allowed to all spend together were few and far between. Instead of worrying when you would all see each other again, you were simply enjoying the time. Enjoying the comfort, you all brought each other.

"I have news from the lab." A dark-haired guard said as he entered your cell. "Unfortunately, you're not pregnant."

"Right then." You nodded, staring at the wall. Natalia and James had been gone for two weeks, and you were slowly losing it.

"You don't seem to understand how important it is for you to be pregnant." The guard growled, moving towards you. 

"I probably don't." You rolled your eyes.

"You are weakening HYDRA." The man snarled. "You are turning our soldier soft! You are not producing our next super-soldiers! Weakening us from the inside out. Are you committed to HYDRA?" 

"Not particularly." You said, narrowing your eyes at him. "You kidnapped me, and murdered my family. I'm not exactly your number one advocate."

"HYDRA will one day establish a new world order. And we will do that with the asset and the Black Widow. We do not need you." He said as he advanced towards you.

You attempted to dodge the man but were grabbed by the back of the neck. A cry left your mouth as the man's gun was brought down upon your temple until you blacked out.

The next few hours were a haze. You could briefly remember the man taking a scalpel to your soul marks, slicing the skin off your forearm only for their names to reappear. They would appear with burning pain on different parts of your body every time he would attempt to erase their names.

You could remember the man throwing the scalpel down in a fit of rage. Screaming at you and nothing in German.

The last thing you could clearly make out was the man taking you into his arms and sneaking you towards the cryotubes.

"They'll kill you." You weakly snapped as he locked you in the tube. "They'll make it hurt."

"They're not going to do anything to me. You died of natural causes." He smirked, before setting the machine. 

You raised a hand to the small window, and the world froze, leaving you in the dark for years to come.

Non-reader POV

Natalia and James never returned to the bunker. They overheard a conversation between two of the men with them, detailing the death of their Y/N.

Anyone who came across them in the next three days could only describe them in two ways. Robotic and bloodthirsty.

It was a miracle when they didn't kill Clint Barton on sight. The things he said on that mission, things about choice, making their own way, leaving their own marks, had resonated with things Y/N had said.

With one look, Natalia and James knew they were both thinking the same thing.

It had been three years since their defections from HYDRA and the Red Room. Three years since the death of Y/N, and the shattering of James' brainwashing. 

The two had joined the SHIELD first and then later the Avengers. Steve and Clint were the only two on the team to know of the two's shared soulmate. Though they suspected Fury and Wanda knew.

There was one day a year Natasha and Bucky asked for the team to leave them alone. Y/N's birthday. They asked for no contact with anyone so they could grieve privately for the loss of Y/N. 

This year, they couldn't seem to respect their wishes.

"I know it's your day off, but you're needed," Clint said, standing by the doorway.

"Unless the world is being invaded by aliens again, I think you can handle it," Bucky said, running his fingers down Natasha's back.

"Okay, let me rephrase this. There's someone you need to see." 

"Who?" Natasha asked, trying not to purr at the feeling of Bucky's fingers on her skin.

"He works for HYDRA. Fury brought him in, and he keeps mentioning the two of you." Clint explained.

"Everyone in HYDRA knows us, Clint." Natasha pointed out. "It's not a new thing."

"He also brought up Y/N," Clint said, causing the two soulmates to freeze. "Steve's got the team handled for now, but this guy seems to know a lot about her."

"Take me to him," Natasha demanded, rising to her feet. Her face was hard, and her gaze rivaled Medusa's at that moment.

Clint did not say anything as he led both the soulmates to the tower's holding area. Bucky and Natasha were clutching each other's hands as they stared into the one-way glass.

"Do you know him?" Steve asked, approaching the trio.

"Unfortunately." Natasha deadpanned before entering the room, Bucky right behind her. "I should have killed you three years ago."

"We all know you were in too deep for that." The man said, smirking at the two. 

"Lucky for me, I'm not in deep anymore," Natasha smirked, circling behind the man, and slamming his head into the steel table.

Bucky smiled as the man cried out. His face covered in blood, dripping from his clearly broken nose.

"You are the reason our soulmate is dead. I know it." Natasha snarled, tightening her grip on his hair.

"I didn't kill her!" The man exclaimed.

"Don't play dumb, Gideon," Bucky growled, stepping closer. Gideon's eyes widened as he noticed Bucky's mechanical arm shifting. "You were her guard. You were the one who reported it. There is no-one else who could have done it!" He said, slamming his fist into the table.

"I'm not lying, she's not dead!" Gideon stated, flinching at the loud noise.

"Bullshit!" Natasha yelled, slamming his head into the table again.

"She's not! I swear! She's alive! In cryostasis!" Gideon cried out, spitting out blood in his mouth.

Both Natasha and Bucky froze at the statement.

"Explain," Bucky growled.

"She was ruining HYDRA. She wasn't pregnant, and she was weakening you. She had to go. I tried to cut her marks out, attempted to bleed her out, but she kept healing. Her marks kept reappearing." Gideon stammered.

"She was injected with serums like mine. You should've known that." Bucky snarled, seeing red at what he was hearing.

"I didn't, I swear! And when she wasn't dying, I got scared! If anyone found out, I would be killed. I panicked, and I threw her into a cryo chamber! No-one ever found her!" 

"You son of a bitch," Natasha gnarled, letting go of him and stepping towards Bucky. "She's still there?" Natasha confirmed.

"Yes! Yes, she's still there." Gideon nodded.

"You better pray she's still there and alive," Bucky said. "Otherwise, you'll pray for death." He chuckled darkly.

"Oh no, you're going to pray for death." Natasha corrected. "You're going to pray for a swift death as you're choking on your blood. You're going to pray as we burn you alive." She smirked as the man paled.

Bucky took her hand and led the woman out of the room. Stepping into the corridor, they saw the team waiting for them.

"Someone deal with the piece of shit in there," Natasha said, moving past everyone.

"Do you want to explain what that was in there?" Tony asked, following after the two.

"That, was well deserved," Natasha said, not looking at the man.

"Dammit, Nat." Tony cursed, managing to stop the two. "Who is Y/N?"

"Our soulmate," Bucky told him. "Someone who we thought was dead because of that scum in there."

"Are you going after her?" Tony asked, despite knowing how dumb the question was.

"Yes." Both responded in unison.

"You're going to need help," Steve stated, coming up behind Tony with the rest of the team. "You can't go running into a HYDRA base without backup."

"We're not going to force anyone to come," Natasha said. "If anyone wants to come suit up and meet us at the jet in ten." She told them before she and Bucky walked to the elevator.

"Nat, I don't know what I'll do if she's not okay. I can't go through that again." Bucky murmured as they suited up.

"She'll be okay," Natasha assured him, taking his hand and squeezing it thrice. "She has to be."

She had to be. If she wasn't, the world would burn in the wake of their despair.

"Is there a plan here? Or are we just going in, guns blazing?" Tony questioned as the jet neared the drop zone.

"Kill anyone who gets in the way, get Y/N, and get out," Bucky stated, strapping multiple guns to his form. 

"I'm coming with you," Bruce said to the soulmates. "I highly doubt he treated your soulmate or set the chamber correctly. You'll need help." He told them, grabbing a medical kit.

"Agreed." Bucky nodded.

"I'll come with you to cover Bruce," Clint said, putting two sheaths of arrows on his back.

"Thank you, Clint." Natasha gave him a small smile.

"Alright, we've got ten minutes. Make sure you've got everything you need, there's no information as to whether or not this place is still running." Steve said. Everyone nodded before scattering in the jet, preparing for the fight.

"Nat, can I ask you something?" Clint murmured, standing next to Natasha as she checked over her widow bites.

Natasha gave him a quick nod.

"What did Bucky mean when he said Y/N was injected with the serum?"

"She was injected with the serum." Natasha shrugged. "It was a punishment for the three of us not attempting to bond during her first months there. She was tortured, and they wanted to see how we'd each react to her being injected."

"All because you didn't bond the way they wanted?" Clint asked, raising a brow.

"She wouldn't even talk to us during those first few months. I don't blame her. HYDRA had killed her parents and snatched her out of her life. But we had seven years together, I would burn the world if she asked and it would make her smile. I would do anything she asked if it meant I got to see her smile again." Natasha told him.

"You'll get her back," Clint assured her. "The two of you will get her back."

"Thank you, Clint." Natasha smiled.

"We're here," Steve announced. 

It was time. It was time for Natasha and Bucky to get their girl back.

The base had not been empty. It had been as full as Natasha and Bucky remembered it to be three years ago. Steve had led the rest of the team in a fight against the agents as Natasha, Bucky, Bruce, and Clint snuck in.

"This way," Bucky said, moving down a corridor. The HYDRA headquarters was a labyrinth of hallways. Twists and turns, and dead ends littered the base, but Bucky and Natasha knew them all.

The path to the basement was a familiar one, to Natasha especially. She would always be asked to collect Bucky after he had been frozen.

"He said she'd be in one of the last ones," Natasha said as they entered a room filled with cryotubes.

Clint and Bruce nodded at her words before they split into their own corners.

"I found her!" Bruce called. Natasha and Bucky were by his side before he could blink.

"What do the stats say?" Bucky asked Bruce as Natasha raced towards the tube. "Can we get her out?"

"Yes, but these scans are all over the place. Some wounds were pouring blood when Y/N was put in here. Even if she was given a version of the serum, she's still human. We're going to need to be ready to close the wounds the best we can." Bruce said to him.

"We'll be able to heal her?" Natasha asked the scientist.

"As best we can." Bruce nodded. "We'll have to take her to medical, so they can fix what we've done, but it should keep her stable."

"Make it work, Bruce," Natasha said, stepping away from the tube. Bruce began setting up a makeshift medical station and informed everyone as to what they would have to do when they released Y/N from her cell.

"Okay, on the count of three. One, two, three." Bruce said, before opening the tube. Bucky grabbed the woman gently before she could hit the ground and laid her on the floor. Natasha and Clint used rags on her wounds, which began bleeding as she thawed out.

Bruce quickly began stitching up the wounds, flinching at the patches where the skin had been flayed off.

Bruce had closed two of the wounds when suddenly, Y/N's eyes snapped open, and she jolted upright.

"Y/N!"

Y/N had passed out almost as soon as she awoke. Bruce had quickly closed her open wounds, and Natasha and Bucky were able to get her onto the jet.

Y/N had been unconscious for three days now. Bucky and Natasha had not left her side once, despite the multiple attempts for Steve.

"YA obespokoyen." Natasha murmured to Bucky. "Ona do sikh por ne prosnulas'." Bucky knew she must be incredibly tired to slip back into Russian.

"She'll wake up, I know she will." He told her, taking her free hand.

"No chto, yesli ona etogo ne sdelayet?" Natasha asked him. "YA ne mogu snova yeye poteryat'."

"Natasha, she will pull through," Bucky said, looking her in the eyes. "YA tebya lyublyu." He said, squeezing her hand thrice.

"YA tozhe tebya lyublyu." She smiled, leaning over to kiss him.

"I still don't understand Russian." A croaky voice said, garnering a gasp from Natasha. As she and Bucky turned around, smiles crossed both their faces as they saw hazy E/C staring at them. "I should probably start learning."

"You probably should." Natasha smiled as her eyes began to water. 

Both Natasha and Bucky allowed their tears to flow as Y/N weakly squeezed their hands three times.

Reader POV

"You're beautiful, kotenok." Bucky hummed, trailing his lips down your exposed skin. A year of physical healing had done you well. Your body had healed from the years of torment at the hands of HYDRA though, there were still scars that lingered.

Particularly the scars from where the skin was removed from your body. Those scars never seemed to fade in color, remaining a bright shade of pink a year later.

But it didn’t matter to you. After all this time, you were free. You were free and you had both your soulmates at your side. Your father would be rolling in his grave.

“And you’re a charmer.” You smiled, moving your neck to give him more access.

“He’s always been like that.” Natasha smirked, running her hands down your form. “But it really comes out in the morning.”

“So does his accent.” You smiled, leaning up to kiss the woman. “So does yours. They’re sexy.”

“Good to know, doll.” Bucky drawled, pulling you closer. “I’ll have to remember that.”

“As will I.” Natasha said, curling up under your chin. 

The three of you laid in the large bed for hours. The sun was high in the sky before you decided to move. And as you all dressed for breakfast, a smile was welcomed to your face at the sight of your name on your soulmates skins. And the sight of theirs on yours.

It was all you needed.

Taglist

@rvgrsbrns @smilexcaptainx @hopingforbarnes @starlingelliot @piper-koko-barnes-rogers @jelly-fishy-babie @skeletoresinthebasement @agent-barnes40 @reann-loves-sebstan @skadikh

Natasha Romanoff Taglist

@natasha-danvers @5aftermidnight @ohfuckno 

[tears-and-lilies]

Chapter 37 - Care

I’m not too happy with this one, but I’m proud I finally wrote it

Tag: @whumpfigure @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi @green-eyed-whumpster @liliability @sideblogformindtrash @starnight-whump @milk-carton-whump @abitefullofwhump @unicornscotty

CW: feet whump (aftermath), death mention, attempted murder mention

Glorien couldn’t help it. The gross sobs coming from his mouth, the tears running down his face, they annoyed him. It annoyed him Feyros had brought him to this bedroom once again, laying him down onto the bed. Glorien pulled his feet away when he tried to look at them.

‘I don’t have much time. I’m supposed to go, but I fear that they won’t get you any help if I don’t treat your wounds.’

‘Why. Do you. Care?’, he gasped between sobs. He blinked so he could see Feyros’s face. Somehow he feared the answer.

The man sat down on the side of the bed. ‘Of course I care. You’re a citizen of Koia, and it is my job to make sure every citizen is safe.’

‘No. No, you’re lying. I’m not. A citizen. I’m a prisoner.’

‘You were born in Koia.’

He tried to sit up. ‘You must feel so proud of yourself. Trying to help someone who is so defenseless, it’s so fucking easy to pamper a pitiful piece of crap. You can show everyone how much of a kind and caring person you are! How I wait for the day you’re going to kick me or whip me just like all the rest of you! Be honest: I’m nothing more than dirt to you.’

He wanted to go on, but his throat was screwed shut and he struggled to breathe. He curled up, trying to stop this miserable display. He was only embarrassing himself more. Not that he had much pride left anyway.

Feyros sat there, his mouth opening and closing. Eventually, he placed a hand on Glorien’s arm.

‘None of that is true. Not at all. Vasri, as my friend, let me help you even if he hates it. But as the Emperor to the Keeper of the City, he can’t always allow me to do this. I risk a lot in helping you, when it shouldn’t be like that.’

Feyros sighed, but Glorien didn’t care. Excuses.

The man continued: ‘But I… I can't. I can’t treat you like a prisoner. You are so much more, you went through so much. I don't… It hurts to hear you talk about yourself this way. They made you believe this, and I'm so sorry they did…’

It wasn’t fluent, a mess of words glued together to sound inspirational. Glorien wasn’t stupid. He didn’t need half-hearted apologies. He needed… he didn’t know what he needed, or what he should have expected, really.

‘Okay’, he said, his voice flat. He tried to smile, knowing he would fail. ‘Then why do you care about me?’

Because you are pathetic. That’s all he needed to hear. Just admit and give me that small victory.

He didn’t get it. Feyros shifted, leaning further away from him.

‘I was there, at your execution. And I can’t forget what I saw. It was unfair, you were so young when they caused you so much pain. I still remember your screaming. How can I ever forget? As I see it, the civil war only resulted in terror and chaos, and it hurts me that you were a victim of that as well. And now still, 6 years later, everyone is supposed to hate you. All those years you went through on your own. I can’t even begin to imagine how lonely you feel, how desperately you want someone to care.’

‘Stop.’

He didn’t know how to process this. He should be mad, that this man was taking his most horrifying memory as the big reason to pity him. But it was weird. He couldn’t tell most of the details of that day, but the emotionless way the crowd was looking on never left him. He couldn’t put Feyros’s memory in his own. This gave him an empty feeling in his stomach, he couldn’t quite place. It was unsettling.

But more than that, he couldn’t hate Feyros’s words. He… liked them.

It took a lot of effort to move his trembling form, but he managed to sit closer. He noticed Feyros’s confused look before he gently took the man’s sleeve, and next leaned his head on his shoulder.

‘Thank you', he whispered hoarsely.

***

He had calmed down quite a bit, and tried not to think too much about the wounds on his feet while Feyros bandaged them.

‘What happened to sir Elvar?’, he asked, just to distract himself.

‘He’s banished. He has to leave the city in maximum three days and the mainland in fifteen.’

‘Where will he go?’

‘To one of the smaller islands in the eastern part of the Empire’, Feyros responded. He kept his eyes on his task as he talked.

Glorien thought for a moment. ‘Why is he banished? What did he do?’

‘Did you hear about the princess yesterday?’

‘No?’

Feyros checked the bandage, before moving on to the other foot. ‘An assassin tried to kill her in the gardens. Luckily her uncle saved her, but no one was supposed to know they were there. The princess admitted later she had informed lady Lilian about it, and thus Elvar was suspected to have hired the assassin.’

He could be trying to cover up for his daughter. But Loryan wouldn’t try to kill the princess, would she?

‘Why does everyone call Loryan “Lilian”?’, he asked.

‘Right, you must have known her.’ Feyros looked up shortly. ‘After the civil war her family lost their influence. Nevertheless, she married, but lost her husband not long after. I think she wants to remover herself from her past, and therefore changed her name.’

So his childhood friend was dead. Such a nice way to find that out.

‘Lilian only got a warning from the Emperor, but she is still allowed to be in Koia. She’s a close friend to the princess, so Vasri might even let her enter the palace every now and then.’

‘She’s a friend of the princess?’ Despite her connection to me?

‘I don’t know how they got to know each other. I’m not aware of the personal life of the princess.’

‘Of course’, Glorien said absent-mindedly. He wondered what Loryan had been up to in the last six years.

‘I’m done with the bandaging.’ Feyros stood up. ‘I must go. I don’t think they’ll allow you to stay here, so be careful when you go, okay?’

Glorien pushed himself off the bed. Reluctantly, he must admit.

‘Sir Feyros?’

‘Yes?’

He stood up, cringing at the sting in his feet. He quickly regained himself as he said: ‘Will I see you again?’

Feyros smiled softly and looked at the ground. ‘Maybe. I’ll try to find a way, if you want.’

He would like that.

[i-like-plan-m]

About your LWJ can hear lies AU- I can’t help but wonder how he would react to Nie Huaisang and Jin Guangyao since they are both known for being expert manipulators, especially since it’s hinted at that Nie Huaisang had a lot to do with the WW and MX thing. So I wondered if Huaisang would find a way around LWJ’s lie detecting or if he even knows about it? Also, I can just imagine the PAIN LWJ would be in if he had to talk to Jin Guangyao

Oops, I forgot to link this on tumblr! My bad! This is chapter 3 of the lies au

The trip to Qinghe was familiar by now. 

Years of flight between the sects meant Lan Zhan could make the trip with his eyes closed. He kept them open, because the sight of the Qinghe mountain range always brought a sense of relief that was as sharp as the cold air.  

The sight at the gates was becoming a familiar one, too. Nie Huiyin waited for him with all the patience she was capable of, her constant restless energy directed into a small but impeccably crafted blade that she was sharpening like it had done something to offend her. 

It was just her way, Lan Zhan had learned. Nie Mingjue’s cousin was as brusque as he was, infinitely more cheerful and possibly the loudest person Lan Zhan had ever met in his life. She was also, however, the most refreshingly honest person in all five of the great sects, save for perhaps Nie Mingjue himself. 

“Ah!” She said brightly as he landed before her, stepping gracefully from his sword and sweeping it back into the sheath on his back. “It’s our little Lan Zhan, back again!” 

He refused to acknowledge the blush heating his ears and instead nodded in greeting. His composed response did not deter her from tossing a friendly arm around his shoulders and hauling him through the open gates, past the grinning guards and into the towering grasp of the Unclean Realm walls. 

“How have you been, shidi?” She asked. The Nie Sect, Lan Zhan had quickly discovered, lived up to their imposing reputation of strength and honor. They were also the friendliest people in the world, once they’d decided you were theirs. 

Once Lan Zhan's was unofficially acknowledged as a member of the sect leader’s family-- or at least someone held in high regard by Nie-zongzhu himself, the floodgates had opened. He couldn’t decide whether their open affection was embarrassing or not, but it did fill him with a warmth he was unfamiliar with, one that felt like unconditional acceptance. As though they wanted him here. As though they liked him.

He had never had friends before. 

Well. He wasn’t entirely positive that he had any now. But regardless, the Nie Sect disciples treated him with regard. They smiled when they saw him. They welcomed him in their training exercise despite the differences in their sects’ fighting styles. 

Some, like Nie Huiyin, treated him as though he was a part of their sect. Another of Nie Mingjue’s little brothers to look out for, to keep tabs on like he was incapable of taking care of himself. 

It would be insulting if it hadn’t felt so much like acceptance. 

“I have been progressing,” Lan Zhan reported dutifully. “My control has improved further since my last visit.” He didn’t react to lies like someone had stabbed him in the ear the way he once had. With age came control, and a higher pain tolerance, apparently. 

Nie Huiyin made a sound of exasperation. “You Lans, I swear. I meant how have you been? Done anything fun lately?” She jostled him to punctuate her questions. He was slightly cheered by the fact that she had to reach higher than usual to rest an arm over his shoulders; he’d finally hit his growth spurt this summer and was nearing his brother’s height. 

“I mastered Inquiry,” he offered. 

She squinted at him suspiciously. “Is that what you do for fun?” 

“I enjoy it, yes.” 

“Hm. Acceptable. Though my rock climbing offer still stands if you want real fun. There’s nothing more exhilarating than free-falling from a thousand feet, shidi!” Lan Zhan gave a doubtful noise in response that made her laugh. “We catch ourselves before the bottom and take the rest of the fall on our sabers. And then!”

And then they raced through the most dangerous mountain pass in Qinghe on their sabers, chasing adrenaline with as many death-defying stunts they could manage until the pass ended in a dead-drop of a hundred feet. Most of them followed the waterfall straight into the large lake at the bottom. Most of the Nie disciples were reckless enough to try it at least once.

“Scorpion Alley,” he said, familiar with the sect’s unofficial rite of passage. 

“You got it,” she agreed cheerfully. “We still haven’t gotten you out there, have we?” 

“You will not,” he assured her, and bit back a smile when her laugh echoed across the training grounds. It was so different here than in his sect. There was little composure in Qinghe, no reason to stifle laughter or keep words hushed. 

Composure, he’d learned, was another word for concealment. Disguising one’s truthful feelings to reflect serenity instead. A mask that hid the turmoil beneath for the sake of propriety.

It was a lie all the same. 

“I hear your sect is hosting guest disciples next year,” Nie Huiyin said, steering him towards the main hall. 

“Yes.” He made a halfhearted attempt to sound neutral. He must have failed, because she snorted a laugh as she shoved open the doors of the main hall where Nie Mingjue sat, sorting through a stack of reports with a cranky expression. A slender, unfamiliar man with a dimpled smile stood beside the desk, holding a massive accounting book and waiting patiently for Nie Mingjue to stop muttering under his breath. 

Nie Mingjue looked up as the doors swung open. He brightened almost immediately, standing to welcome Lan Zhan with such genuine delight that Lan Zhan ducked his head, pleased. 

“Welcome back,” he said, clapping a hand on his shoulder and leading him to one of the nearby tables, gesturing for a servant to bring tea. He sat across from Lan Zhan while Nie Huiyin leaned against a column behind him. “How was the trip?”

“Fine,” Lan Zhan said, and tried not to sound petulant. He was almost sixteen, perfectly capable of making the trip from Gusu to Qinghe without trouble. 

“It’s the da-ge instinct, little Lan,” Nie Huiyin said with a laugh, nudging Nie Mingjue with her knee when he scowled up at her. “He can’t help himself.” 

The unfamiliar man hovered in the background as though unsure what to do without Nie MIngjue’s attention. Lan Zhan blinked at him, still unclear on who this newcomer was or how he’d climbed to Nie Mingjue’s side so quickly. Lan Zhan visited often enough that he would have noticed a new person in Nie Mingjue’s inner circle before today, surely. 

Nie Mingjue noticed his distraction and turned to wave the man over. “Ah. Apologies, you two have not met.” The stranger obediently crossed the room and bowed low to Lan Zhan. “This is Lan Wangji, the Second Jade of Lan. And this is Meng Yao, my new deputy.” 

“It is an honor to finally meet you, Lan-er-gongzi.” 

Lan Zhan nodded politely in response and wondered at the faint whisper of a slipped note that accompanied his words. Not quite a lie, but there was something underlying that sounded… off. 

“Da-ge,” Nie Huisang complained, sweeping into the room with a sulking expression. “I already did my saber training today as promised, and Nie Zonghui is trying to make me do more. This is cruel and unjust and-- oh, hi Lan Wangji.” 

“Nie Huaisang,” Lan Zhan murmured. 

“Lan Wangji,” Nie Huiasang said brightly, throwing himself down beside them. “Tell me, doesn’t your clan have a rule or twelve about keeping promises?” 

“A-Sang,” Nie Mingjue said tiredly, pinching the bridge of his nose. Behind him, Meng Yao hid a smile like he’d witnessed many similar discussions like this one. 

Then again, so had Lan Zhan. The Nie’s bickering was as constant as stars in the sky. It had taken some getting used to, but now Lan Zhan let it pass over him as background noise. It was all born from a place of love, and even the small lies (like Nie Huaisang’s mistruth about the duration of his promised saber practice) were easily ignored. 

Meng Yao, though. He was odd. 

Lan Zhan kept his face carefully neutral whenever Meng Yao’s smiles rang false, which was… often. He smiled like he knew it was expected of him, not because he wanted to. Like he was playing a role, either for the sect leader’s benefit or his own. 

It had been a few years since his lessons with Lan Xichen on the reasons why people lie, but most of it was… still hard to understand. So when Meng Yao responded to direction throughout the rest of Lan Zhan’s visit with a demure, “I would be honored, Sect Leader” and it rang discordant every time, Lan Zhan thought it was perhaps time to ask for help. 

Only a few years ago, Lan Zhan had accidentally exposed an advisor in Qinghe who had been bought off by merchants in the city. Every bit of his advice and own influence had been manipulated to support the merchants. 

Of course, when Lan Zhan was in the room and realized the advisor’s input sounded like a drunkard playing a dizi, he’d signaled to Nie Mingjue, who then rooted out the reason for his lies. Lan Zhan was not capable of doing so himself-- he only knew when people lied, never their reason for it. 

Shortly after Nie Mingjue had personally tossed the advisor out of the Unclean Realm’s gates, Lan Zhan had discovered a shadow wandering around on his heels. 

“How’d you know he was lying?” Nie Huaisang asked curiously. He continued when Lan Zhan stood frozen in place, unsure how to respond. “I saw your cue to da-ge. The hand signal?”

“I…” He had no idea what to do. Brush him off? Explain his mother’s gift? Deny it entirely? 

No. That was dishonest. 

He swallowed hard and admitted, “I can hear lies.” 

“Really?” Nie Huaisang’s eyes brightened. “So you knew the advisor was corrupt?” 

“No. Just that he lied.” 

“Hm. Interesting. So just the lie, not the intention?” The ever-present fan fluttered as Nie Huaisang stared thoughtfully at him. He nodded once in agreement. “You hear it?”

Lan Zhan realized he’d been absently following Nie Huaisang’s meandering pace along one of the walls. They were alone, so he reluctantly shared, “It was a gift from my mother, before she died. I hear conversations like music, and lies are…”

“Horrible, mangled sounds?” Nie Huaisang asked dryly. “My music tutors tell me that’s what I sound like when I play, anyway.” 

His face did not show the flicker of humor he felt. “Yes.”

“Is there anything other than the curse that tells you when they lie? Like, if their voice sounds nervous or their breathing is too fast?” 

Lan Zhan paused. He’d never thought of that, of looking past the sound of the curse to identify the physiological aspects of the liars. Why would he? There was irrefutable proof from the curse. 

But not looking further felt… lazy. Like willful ignorance. That he could not abide. 

“I will observe from now on,” he decided. 

“Me too!” Nie Huaisang caught his skeptical side-eye, because he sighed like he alone bore the weight of the universe and said, “I’m just saying, it seems like a useful skill. That advisor got past me, too, you know, and I spend a lot of time listening to their incredibly boring conversations.” 

“Boring conversations about running the sect.” If the disapproval wasn’t clear on his face, it was evident in his tone. 

“Exactly,” Nie Huaisang agreed. “But I learned my lesson, Lan-er-gongzi, all thanks to you! We should practice together, don’t you think? How about just before lunch every day?” 

“That is the time of your saber training,” Lan Zhan, who was not an idiot, said. 

“Is it?” Nie Huaisang asked, blinking innocently at him. “Ah, well, da-ge can’t complain if I’m busy making our favorite guest feel welcome!” 

“We will spar together before lunch,” Lan Zhan decided, ignoring Nie Huaisang’s horrified expression. “And then study during lunch.” 

“No,” Nie Huaisang wailed. “How can I learn to read people if I’ve been pummeled into the dirt by the Second Jade of Lan?”

“I would not,” Lan Zhan said, offended. “You are not capable of a legitimate spar--” 

“No shit!” 

“--so instead I will help with your training.” 

“Somehow this turned out very badly for me,” Nie Huaisang muttered, but he was at the training grounds mostly on time later that day all the same. 

That was two years ago. 

After two years of shared study, they had something that was not quite a friendship. Lan Zhan had never lost the sense of awkwardness around Nie Huaisang-- he was never quite sure how to interact, wasn’t sure what his role was in this relationship. 

Nie Huaisang mostly just complained to him about everything under the sun. But every time Lan Zhan visited, he showed up to the training grounds with an expression of utmost suffering. He only remembered his saber half the time, and he tripped over his own feet often enough Lan Zhan feared for his life, but he showed up. 

So Lan Zhan knew his concerns would be heard if he took them to Nie Huaisang. Maybe he would have more insight into Meng Yao’s oddities-- Nie Huaisang understood people the way Lan Zhan didn’t. He couldn’t hear lies, but he could see them. 

Most of the time, anyway. He’d learned to read faces where Lan Zhan heard the mistruths. It was a training method with guaranteed reliability, and Nie Huaisang’s success had surprised him. Apparently he was highly capable when he actually applied himself. Too bad he didn’t want to. 

Still. He would listen to Lan Zhan, and he would help. That much was certain.

[wordynerdygurl]

Bruises and Baths

Author’s Note:  Hello everyone!  Something amazing happened over this last weekend.  While millions were watching the “Big Game” some of my mutuals came up with a wonderful way to honor the amazing, talented writers here on tumblr.  @authorspotlight​ is a blog for showcasing a weekly author, at random, just to promote their great work and keep the haters at bay!  Interested?  Follow that blog!  We’ve a great little community starting up and I would love, love, love to see you all there!! P.S. Comments, shares, reblogs are appreciated!!  I love the love!! P.P.S. shout out to the creator of this amazing gif!  >swoon< Summary/ Request:  This story came from a request by one of my sweet little followers.  After a wild night with Loki, you, dear reader are sore and tired.  What does aftercare look like from the God of Lies? Pairing:  Loki x Female Reader Warnings:  References bondage, rough SMUT, then just fluffy, lovey, romantic SMUT

As the back of your thighs met the supple leather of the conference room chair you nearly cried out.  Memories from last night made your knees weak and your panties damp as a jolt of pain shot through you.  It had been like this all day, fraying your nerves and your patience.

Biting back a moan, grabbing onto the conference table's ledge, you willed your wayward body to relax.  One more meeting then back to your apartment upstairs, a cup of tea and a shower.  And Advil.  Lots of Advil.

"Everything alright darling?"  Loki's voice, honey hot, humming in your ear sent a shiver through your aching body.  He knew it wasn't alright.  Oh yes, he knew very well, but you weren't about to give him the satisfaction of needling you.

Trying to sound unaffected, "Me?  Yes.  I'm just fine, thank you."  

Refocusing on the paperwork in your hands, smoothing your skirt over your tender bottom, you gingerly sat for the afternoon meeting.  Perching on the very edge of your chair, back straight, you struggled to appear professional, giving Loki none of your attention.  Could Loki allow that?  Hardly!  

Sliding into the chair next to you, leaning into your space, "I do love your blouse.  High neck line, very demure."  Dropping his voice an octave, "Good for hiding behind, I suspect." 

Attempts to avoid the handsome God, who was so close that his amber scent was swallowing you, were heading out the window.  Loki managed to make your body, your physical being, react to him in ways you couldn't overlook.  

Playing with the chunky statement necklace that lay on top of your turtleneck, intent on ignoring the mischievous man at your side,"Go away Loki."  

Flashing out a silent warning, your eyes peered into his, almost daring him to continue.  With a searching glance Loki settled in beside you without another word.  Too tired and too sore to spar with him, you turned your attention to the presentation Steve Rogers was starting, almost grateful for the droning distraction.

Feeling your eyes drop closed, heavy from your active night and lack of sleep, you struggled to follow Steve's sonorous voice.  Right now it felt more like a lullaby than life saving information.  You realized that this was the most comfortable you had been all day and mentally decided to let sleep claim you.  Apologizing to Steve would be easier than staying awake just now.

Reaching past you for a water glass, Loki made sure to rub his arm across your chest, waking you fully.  A stuttering gasp left you because your nipples, bruised and abraded, were purposefully agitated by Loki's intentional fumbling.  "Fuck, Loki!"  Whispering for him alone, you glared at his smug smile, now awake and more than slightly aroused.

"What?  Is something wrong?"  His innocent act was almost as irritating as the rub of your clothes against your abused flesh. 

"You know damn well what's wrong."  Steve was staring at you, clearly aware that you and Loki had both checked out of his talk. But it was too late.  The meeting was over, as was the workday, and you couldn't have been more relieved.

Rising as quickly as your bruised knees allowed, you scooted out before you could be chastised by your leader, trying to outrun Loki too.  It didn't work.  

He caught you outside the elevator, gripping your wrists tight, pressing his normally delicate fingers against the bracelet of welts you sported today."Shit, Loki!  That hurts!"  

Instantly releasing you, Loki pressed the call button, a frown creasing his noble brow.  "Did you put the lotion on today?  The cream I left for you?"

Tugging at the hem of your skirt, hoping no one could see your purple marked thighs, you denied Loki eye contact.  "No.  I forgot alright?  But, ya know, this… this sucks."  

Arriving with a ding, you both boarded the elevator, the conversation on hold.  In the privacy of the lift, pushing you into the mirrored wall, Loki's mouth dropped to yours.  Denying him your lips, you turned away, pouting a little.

Chuckling darkly, "Hard to get, is that it pet?  Isn't this what got you into trouble last night?"

"Don't remind me about last night.  How could I possibly forget?  Every time I move, every step I take, I can feel it, Loki."  Your words are angry but your tone?  That's whiny.  Loki's just so close to you.  And your body, betraying, pushes your chest out craving more connection, even if it makes you bite back a whimper.

Missing nothing, Loki's voice full of sin, "Are you saying that it's my fault you can't sit properly?  Or... that I'm the reason you're covered from throat to wrist?"

"Um…"  That is exactly what you were saying, but with Loki nipping at your earlobe you were forgetting why.  

Humid breath husked across your throat carrying the scent of Loki's afternoon espresso.  Tracing your jawline with his talented tongue, Loki tisked at you, "Am I the reason you can't walk straight this morning?"  Uh oh.  This is exactly what he wanted.  Admission of submission.  

His hand slid under your skirt, lifting it higher as he nosed against your jaw.  "Because I loved sucking everyone of those hickeys on to your body while you were handcuffed to my bed, mewling with need."

"Loki…"  You felt your center blaze to liquid life.  Nuzzling into your covered neck, Loki's arms course over your own, raising them over your head.  Pinning you against the mirrored wall of the ascending elevator, "Those breasts of yours, so soft, so full, are covered in my fingerprints.  I can still taste your firm, tight nipples.  Licking them and biting them while you cried my name was so enticing, pet."

God, you remembered it all.  Each affliction, each sharp touch, roaring to life in your mind.  Recalling the sexual adventures of the night before was making you weak willed and warm. 

Stopping at your floor, the doors parted on a thankfully empty hallway.  Taking you by the hand, Loki pulled you toward the room you shared, causing you to stumble over your heels.  "Keep up kitten…"

Holding the door for you, Loki slapped your bottom as you passed by.  Somehow your legs kept you upright but you still yelped at the stinging smack.  Fresh hurt washing over the embers of yesterday's rough play set you whimpering.

Coming up behind you, wrapping you up in his iron banded arms, "Take off your clothes."

Without waiting for a reply, Loki crossed the floor, shutting the bathroom door after him.  Your mind wanted to resist his domineering demand.  The rebellious side of your nature needed to, but your body was already flush with want.  

Interest piqued by Loki's behavior, desire drawing your hands to act without direct input from your brain, you slipped off your shoes.  With a sigh, your sore shoulder stretching, you shrugged off your top, letting it drop to the floor.  It was shortly joined by your skirt.

Popping his dark head around the bathroom door, "Darling?"

Seeing you in your underclothes, looking more exposed than if you were fully bare, Loki licked over his bottom lip.  Sexy as hell, that's what you were, covered in the lavender and scarlet stains of his passion.  Although, if he was honest, maybe he had been too rough on you last night.  

Turning as he neared, you noticed his jacket was gone, shirt sleeves rolled up.  Those strong forearms, which could hold you down and force your pleasure from you, or gather you into a bone cracking hug, were on delicious display.  Loki was so impossibly masculine in moments like this, it was no wonder you let him talk you into realizing your wildest fantasies.

Reaching for the hooks on your bra, Loki saw you wince, and it softened him even more.  As happy as he had been to restrain you, taste you, tease you, Loki was now over eager to soothe away your hurts.  Good thing he already had a plan in motion.

"Come on, dove."  Threading his fingers through yours, you trailed Loki to your shared bathroom, the warm scents of vanilla and coconut filling the space.  Almost overflowing, the tub was loaded with creamy lather, tendrils of steam rising from the surface.  It called to your weary body.

Brushing his hands over your shoulders, Loki kissed along the nape of your neck, gathering your hair to one side.  From behind you, he circled your waist, hands slipping under the waist of your panties.  As they slide over your thighs, Loki follows, kneeling in order to help you out of them completely.

With his sturdy size for support you stepped into the scalding water, settling in slowly with a gentle groan.  Sitting outside your bath, Loki used the same hands that had spanked your bottom pink to swipe sudsy soap across your neck, releasing the tension you carried all day.  Following with a soaked washcloth, Loki began to wash you, worship you, with each soothing swipe.

Shifting slightly, you gave Loki full access to your bobbing breasts, hungry for his touch once more.  Dipping under the water, you felt him ghost over your legs, his hands quick, never lingering very long.  You were cooing quietly, Loki getting high on the soft sounds escaping you at each pass of his palms.

To him you sounded like a happy cat, purring in pleasure, unwound.  Eyes closed, leaning into the back wall of the deep tub, Loki could swear you were melting.  "May I… may I wash your hair?"

His request was whisper soft, just shy of timid, and so adorable that your heart fluttered at his sweetness.  Biting your bottom lip, nodding, you put yourself completely in Loki's capable hands.  "Keep your eyes shut, dove."

"Yes…"

Pouring smoothly, Loki traced the flow of the water, separating your hair with his dexterous digits.  Heavily lidded eyes watched Loki, the God of Mischief, as he poured shampoo into his hands.  Once he was happy with the lather, Loki began working in slow circles, savoring the sensation of your scalp under his fingers.

"Tip you head back, sweetling."  Using a hand to keep soap from your eyes, just like a protective mother might, Loki emptied his pitcher over your head.  Shivering as the suds sluiced over your heaving chest, you were overcome by the erotic gentleness of your lover.

After rinsing your hair free of bubbles, Loki kissed your upturned forehead, then shifted so that his folded arms laid on the lip of the bathtub.  Watching you like that, resting his chin on one arm, the other playing in the cooling water, he was content.  

Reaching for his wet fingers, "I think you missed a spot, babe."

"Hmm… did I?"  Breaking through the scented suds, Loki's hand slid over your slippery skin, grazing your thigh.  Moaning gently, his light touch thrilling, you tipped your head back.  Enjoying Loki's quiet exploration of your body, his eyes never left your face, "Gods, you're gorgeous."

Smiling, "Aren't you the God of Lies?"

"I have no reason to lie to you, kitten.  And here, now, you are a beautiful water nymph.  Tempting and taunting me from your watery lair."

Laughing lowly, "I am no temptress, Loki."

"I beg to differ."  His fingers found your fluid folds, two entering you slowly, as Loki leaned in to kiss you deeply.  Skimming over your bottom lip, Loki's tongue licked into you, his free hand tangling in your clean hair.  Scented water splashed onto the floor as Loki curled his digits against your sweetest spot, soaking him, making you sing out.  

Gasping, you gripped the walls of the tub, letting Loki take care of you as your body shook through its release.  Safe in his care, cherished and clean, your body softened, satisfaction making you sag into the deep water.  When he withdrew, you sat forward, "Not yet, please?"

Using the ledge, Loki rose, chuckling as he lifted your chin. "Take a few more minutes.  I'll be back to dry you off in a bit.  Don't want you to get pruney, do we?"

"Hmm… no we don't want that!"  Sinking back into your warm, wet cocoon, you yawned and shut your eyes.

Too soon, it seemed, Loki was nudging you awake.  "Dove?  The water's cold now… come on, let's get you to bed."

Stirring, you saw Loki holding out a fluffy towel, ready to dry you off.  He helped you stand and made sure you carefully stepped out onto the wet tiled floor.  Wrapping you in the comfort of his big bath sheet, you giggled as Loki dried your tresses, then tucked the towel firmly around you.

Leading you to the best looking bed you had ever seen, Loki unwound your terry cloth covering, "Lay down, pet."

You did, happily collapsing into the comforter, laying on your tummy.  

"This might be a little cool at first…"  Loki's oil filled palms slipped over the sore muscles of your back.  Spending some quality time on your tenderized tush, Loki made sure to rub you in delicate circles, smoothing the liniment into your hot skin.

After sliding over the backs of your legs and each arm, "Very carefully roll over, alright?"

Muffled by the downy softness of your bedspread, "Yes, dear."

It took you a few moments to follow Loki's direction.  Your body was like melted butter.  Soft and pliant, all of the previous night's precious pains soothed away, you were a mushy marshmallow.

Fingers traced over the bites and bumps that marked you as his.  Stroking oil over your thighs, your belly, your bruised breasts, you let Loki work.  His magical hands anointing you with his attention.

Certain that you had drifted off during his massage, Loki kissed you lightly, gratified that you were comfortable and content.  Straightening, Loki stepped out of his trousers, eager to join you in bed.  When you felt the mattress dip to accommodate him, you turned towards Loki's warmth,"Thank you, babe.  I feel magnificent!"

Gathering you to his side, Loki curled an arm over your middle, his chest to your back.  "That pleases me, kitten."

Twisting around in order to face your mischievous man, "I mean it.  You take good care of me, Loki."

Twirling a lock of your damp hair in his fingers, "That was always the difference between Thor and myself.  I took care of my toys."

Pushing his shoulder, huffing, "I'm not a toy, Loki!"

"I know, I know, it's just I love playing with you so much… You are my favorite plaything.  My darling doll."

Pulling him closer, you pressed yourself to Loki, lip to lip and hip to hip.  You both let the kiss deepen, drawing you tighter together, when Loki tucked his forehead to yours.  "Sleep now, darling."

Nodding with a deep yawn, you let Loki wrap the thick blanket around you, snuggling into the security of his arms.  Arms that could bring you to ecstasy easily.  Arms that could rock you to sleep.  Arms that belonged to Loki... arms that belonged around you.  

To my Minxes:  @lots-of-loki @brokenthelovely @vodka-and-some-sass @iamverity @just-random-obsessions @archy3001 @jessiejunebug @nonsensicalobsessions @thefallenbibliophilequote @mizfit2 @alexakeyloveloki @rorybutnotgilmore @procrastinatinglikeabitch @peterman-spideyparker

[diddlesanddoodles]

DUMPLING ch 55

The horrible silence was broken at last when Jae began to gag. He pulled his shirt over his mouth and turned away. It was then that the smell caught Nenani’s nose, and though there was nothing intrinsically offensive about it, the knowledge of what it was made her body shudder, and her stomach roiled. She swallowed thickly against the rising bile as her heart beat thunderously in her ears.

It felt as though her insides had spilled out from her body, and she was overcome with a seeping dread that passed all along her limbs and down to her fingertips. The hairs along her neck prickled, and all sensations were amplified. Worst of all were the forest boy’s words that drifted back to her.

“Follow the smell of blood...”

Keral’s expression was venomous. He swung his hand back as though meaning to sweep the whole horrid affair off the table in angry disgust, but Farris pushed him back.

“No,” Farris hissed, grabbing his brother by the arms and pinning them to his sides. “Don’t.”

Keral thrashed against his brother’s hold, but Farris’s grip was iron. The ranger was snarling. “The bloody business is–!”

“Think, dammit!” Farris said. “They were people, Keral.”

“Ye don’t think I know that? That fuckin’–!”

“They were people,” Farris repeated, his voice having gone quiet. “Not gonna let ye go and insult or demean them any further by throwin’ what’s left of ‘em to the fuckin’ floor.”

Only when he was sure that Keral understood him did Farris release his grip. The old cook then moved to the fireplace and watched the firewood burn. Keral’s gaze did not leave the pot and the one filled bowl. After a time, he reached forward to shoo Ellis away from the lid, and she did so without a fuss. The contents, viewed with new understanding, made his inside tumble about. He was not unaccustomed to carnage. Far from it. He had, on occasion, come across such things in his line of work. But they had become blessedly rare in the last few years, and to be suddenly confronted with it once more, he found himself far more affected then he was comfortable admitting. Even to himself.

With as much ceremony and grace as he could muster, Keral picked up the bowl with both hands and gently poured the soup and its victims back inside. Setting the lid back in place, as though sealing a coffin, he placed his hands gingerly atop it. He did not consider himself religious, but he said a small prayer to whichever of the gods cared to listen.

He turned to Ellis, the ire from before now concentrated solely in the intensity of his gaze. The fairy regarded him warily.

“Tell me what you know,” he said. “And speak calmly and slowly. The less you have to repeat, the better. Tell me everything.”

The fairy, less frantic now, hovered a few meters from Keral’s head and wrung her hands.

“I didn’t feel right about the way we left you all. Whatever Bertol says or blames you for, I don’t. Not much anyway. My mission is to make sure Haiyer stays safe. So that is why I came back. I wanted to make sure Haiyer got back safely. I came to check on you once I had enough energy to make a portal jump for myself. I was in that jar for a long time and I am still not all the way better, if I am honest. So it took longer than I would have liked. And Bertol didn’t like the idea. He even tried to stop me, but...well. Anyway. When I did find you all again, you were at the house’s door and I did not want to reveal myself to that woman or the short toad mad. I did not like their energy. And they have a smell about them I do not care for. Like old blood. This whole house is filled with it. A miasma. And it’s not good for those like Haiyer to be around it. His magic will never bloom if he is constantly subjected to magic draining energies. You’re a terrible guardian for–”

“We’ll leave that conversation for another time,” Keral replied shortly. “On with the rest of it, please.”

Ellis looked as though she wished to continue on with her tangent, but with a single mournful glance to the pot, she reluctantly continued.

“I went to go look around to find the source of the miasma. All the rooms are empty, so I went down to the kitchens. Down in the basement. And I saw them.”

“Humans?”

“...what they had left of them. The butcher is skilled,” she said with a frown. She swallowed nervously. “There wasn’t anything wasted.”

Farris made a harsh scoffing sound and moved to the other side of the room, further from them all. Nenani felt a sickening pull in her chest. She went to the side of the bed and considered the distance to the ground. It wasn’t too far a drop down to the floor, and the shock of everything all but dissolved her inner inhibitions. She eased herself over the edge, keeping a firm grip on the bedspread, and pushed off. The fabric slipped slowly through her fingers as she scaled down and dropped the last few feet to the floor. In any other circumstance, she would have felt a sense of pride. But all she felt was sorrow and fear.

“How many?” Keral asked.

“I only saw two...remains,” Ellis said. “But there was too much blood for it to have only been two. The miasma is thick down there, but it wasn’t the source. It’s seeping from behind a door far back inside a cave. Past where they’re storing their wine and cheeses.”

“Any idea what’s in there?”

“It’s an iron door and I cannot pass it.”

Keral growled in frustration and rubbed his temples. “Right. Iron weakens Fae. Gods piss on it...”

“But I did hear things.”

“What things?”

“Crying mostly,” Ellis replied. “I believe there are humans there. How many I cannot say.”

Nenani stopped several feet from where Farris stood, looking up at him and wishing she weren’t as small as she was. It was only then that she saw the slight shaking of his shoulders, andthe pulling inside her chest turned to a painful yanking. Her eyes started to prickle as her chest heaved against a sob.

“Farris?” she called out tentatively, her voice cracking. “Are you...are you alright?”

For a long moment he did not speak.

“The world is a very dark place, my girl,” he said at last. His voice was thick and hoarse. “I know it well enough. But even so. I don’t care to be reminded. Not like that...”

He didn’t need to say anything more, and she could only stand there, not knowing what she could do.

Ever since coming to Vhasshal, Farris had maintained a place in Nenani’s mind as someone of deep integrity and strength. Like a living wall of stone: impervious to the world’s harsh realities and the withering sorrow that came along with it. A place of shelter and safety. She did not know his past in any great detail, but she had enough pieces to put most of it together. And to see such large cracks in the stone wall that was her guardian had her feeling both incredibly sad and angry. Not for herself, but for him.

In a strange twist of roles, Nenani was suddenly feeling very protective of Farris. She felt a surge of heat and her fingers started to glow. Before she could attempt to say anything, however, Farris turned from the wall, and she scrambled to be out of his way. He marched with determined purpose over to one of the beds, yanked the bedspread off, and stomped up to the table. Keral wordlessly moved aside as Farris flung the blanket over it, tray and all, and stepped back. When he looked to Keral, his eyes were red and his frown was deep and morose. Old wounds torn open afresh.

“We may have just found out the lord who has been supplying the traffickers,” he said. “If he has anyone else down there, we need to get ‘em out. Tonight.”

Ellis made a sound of alarm and flew over to Farris, wings buzzing in irritation.

“But you can’t stay here!” Ellis said. “You need to get Haiyer out of this place! And the other two. They are not safe!” 

“I don’t think that falconer will be coming,” Keral said to Farris, all but ignoring Ellis. “Brennan will likely be aware that I’ve been on the hunt for traffickers. And I don’t doubt his servants are in on it. Servants have big mouths. He would need ones who know how to shut up. Either that or they’re simple minded.”

Farris snorted in disgust. “No one accidentally cooks human soup. They know. And they’re complacent if not fully involved. That’s why this place smells off. They’re tryin’ to hide it.”

Jae sat with Haiyer, his face having turned slightly pale, eyes unfocused as though his mind was far away. Haiyer seemed more confused than anything and was looking around as though patiently waiting for a more easy-to-understand explanation. But he could sense well enough the emotions of the room.

“I wanna go home,” he whimpered, tears beginning to pool under his eyes. Jae pulled the boy closer to him. “I want Mama...”

Keral ran his hand down his beard, furrowing his brow, and paced about as he contemplated. Farris stared at the floor, also lost in his own meandering thoughts. No one said anything for nearly a minute. A long, uncomfortable, minute. At last, Keral pinned Ellis with a serious frown.

“Do you know where the indigo fields are, Ellis?”

She blinked and slowly nodded. “I know of them and I can get there. They are rather large and hard to miss. Why?”

“That is Lord Colem’s estate. It’s the closest one to us. Closest that I trust anyway. Go there and find him. He won’t be hard to miss.”

Ellis looked scandalized. “What? And just reveal myself? I can’t go about and just–!”

“Listen to me, girl,” Keral growled, stepping forward into the fairy’s space. “If ye wanna see Haiyer outta this mess safely, we need back up. I need Colem. He employs a private militia to protect his fields. He can send them all this way within a matter of hours.”

“How do you know he’s not in on it with Brennan?” Jae asked angrily. “That guy’s a loon! I wouldn’t be surprised if he was in cahoots with him!”

Keral disregarded Jae’s concern with a single look and a shake of his head. “He’s not.”

“And how the hell do you know?” Jae demanded.

“Because I thought the same. So I investigated him,” Keral replied. “And you know what I found? Seventy three humans. But they weren’t prisoners and he wasn’t trafficking ‘em. They were all refugees from the war that he had hidden away from Nethrin. Made them a little village deep in his indigo fields where no one would bother them. Protected by his militia.”

Jae just stared.

“Warren even asked him to help with the planning of the Hill Tribe. It’s all based on Colem’s design. Just scaled up.”

Jae’s mouth fell open. “What? He...what? Really?”

“Tried to get them all to come live there once it had been built,” he continued “But none of them wanted to leave. Colemn offered to help us track those still dealing with the trade. His family connection to the old Rangers gives him clout with the seedier lords who aren’t very receptive to Warren’s reforms. He was deputized a few years back.”

“I...wouldn’t have guessed,” Jae said. He looked back through his own memories and slipped in the new information to see how it fit. “Warren never said anything to me.”

“Colem’s one of my top informants. Without his help, our extraction rate would be half of what it is. I trust him with my life,” Keral said. He pinned Jae with a look. “More than that, I trust him with yours. Remember back at the dinner? Ye think I’d leave ye alone with just any lord? Not a chance, boyo”

As Jae stewed on that thought, Keral turned back to Ellis.

“Well?” he asked. “Can you do it?”

The fairy huffed with indecision, her eyes looking to Keral and then to Haiyer. She nodded. “I can do that. I don’t have much energy, but...yes. I can make it there.”

“Then go. The sooner he knows, the quicker his men get here. I don’t know if Brennan’s got any men stationed here or nearby, but if this is the center of it all, there is going to be some sort of enforcement body close.”

“Could there be a battle?” she asked, seemingly horrified by the idea.

“Could very well be,” he answered grimly. “So best we have some swords of our own to meet them should the need arise. Now go! Time’s precious.”

“All of that is well and good,” she snapped, crossing her arms. “But just what am I meant to tell him? Hello there my lord giant! Do you happen to mind terribly if you just send your little army over to this other lord’s estate? He eats people and is a very nasty person.”

Keral smirked. “Just tell him ‘Ai eyvue ha’dure.’ He’ll know what it means.”

She tilted her head, mulling over the strange phrase. Her indecision melted away with a sigh.

“Alright,” she said at last. “I will do as you ask.”

Keral nodded. “Good girl.”

Ellis stole a glance at Haiyer.

“Take care of him,” she asked. Her pleading face turned hard and she added firmly, “Or I’ll curse you.”

Keral spared her a smirk. “Get a move on girl.”

There was a flash of light and Ellis was gone.

…………………….

“What do we do now?” Jae asked.

“Now,” Keral said, grabbing a chair and moving it across the room. He planted it near the fireplace, facing the door. He sat himself down into it and eased back. “We wait.”

“If there are humans down there we shouldn’t be sittin’ on our arses,” Farris argued.

“We don’t know this house,” Keral reminded him. “If the servants all still believe we’re unaware of what’s going on, they won’t think we’re up to anythin’. It’s clear they weren’t prepared fer a visit like this. Least of all me. They won’t be tryin’ nothing funny that may give themselves away. They’ll want us out and gone as quick as they can.”

“That’s a lot of assumptions,” Farris said. “Can we afford any of ‘em?”

“If we’re patient enough and play this just right,” Keral replied, “we may very well end the human trafficking trade once and for all tonight.”

“And what if they decide it’d be safer fer them to just kill us all and be done with it? They only know who you are. And rangers disappear on their patrols all the time.”

Keral shifted in his chair, making himself more comfortable, and laid his head back.

“And that, dear brother,” he replied. “Is why we need to be prepared for things to go sideways.”

…………………….

Farris had moved the table back and out of the way but kept the blanket covering the tray and pot. No one was interested in dwelling too much on what lay inside it any more than they already had. The children had all been moved to the bed farthest from the door, and there they sat, trying to keep quiet and calm. But their nerves were as frazzled as the brothers’. Farris took one of the other chairs and sat it at the bed’s bottom edge, bodily placing himself between the children and the door. Ever the stone wall, Nenani thought. 

An hour after Ellis left, there came a knock. Keral was on his feet and went to the door, placing a hand against it as though preparing to press it shut should the need come.

“The falconer is here, milord,” said the voice of the footman from earlier. Looking back at his brother, Keral gave a small nod. Farris sneered, displeased, but nodded back.

“Thank you,” the ranger replied, his tone pleasant. “Shall I come down to greet him or will he come to me?”

“He is waiting in the atrium, sir,” came the reply. “I would send him up, sir. But he is all over mud and Miss Embrews won’t allow him any further inside. She is rather particular, you see. She requests you and he conduct your business there so as to minimize the cleaning the poor maid must do.”

Keral rolled his eyes.

“Well, we cannot have that,” he replied. “It’d be a lot of work for those poor girls.”

“Oh, it’s just the one, sir,” said the footman. “We keep a low staff when His Lordship is away.”

“A big house like this? Surely you must have more than a housekeeper, you, and a maid.”

“Oh, we’re quite adept, sir. And of course there is the cook and the butler. Everyone else was given leave to visit family, you see.”

“His Lordship is most kind to give you all some time off,” Keral replied. “Perhaps Lord Brennan could convince His Majesty to do the same for me.”

The footman laughed. “I shall see what I can do, sir.”

“Give me just a moment, son. I’m puttin’ my boots back on and I ain’t as fast at it as I used to be. The joys of gettin’ older. It’ll happen to you too, boy. Just wait and see.”

The footman laughed again. “Yes, milord.”

Keral turned to Farris and silently mouthed “lock the door behind me,” before pulling the door open just enough to walk through. It shut behind him, and the sound of Keral amiably chatting to the footman as they descended the stairs grew fainter. Farris was on his feet then, carrying his chair with him, and slipped the back under the metal knob. He wedged it against the door and gave the handle an experimental pull. It did not move.

“Alright,” he said, turning to the children. “If things go south on us, you all need to get on the roof.”

“The roof?” Jae asked, looking behind him at the window.

“Aye, the roof,” Farris said with a nod. “The moment ye hear any sort of shout or scream, yer all to get onto the roof as fast as ye can. Jae, yer the expert climber here. So it’ll be yer job to see these two safely up. Understand me?”

Though still pale with nerves, Jae nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Good lad,” said the kitchen master approvingly. His eyes turned to Nenani. “And if anyone comes after ye, ye have my full blessing to roast the damn fuckers to their bones. Ye do what ye need to do to protect yer brother and the brat.”

Nenani nodded mechanically, not quite seeing Farris or anything at all. She was staring passed him towards the blanket-draped table and what lay below. Her chest hurt and her throat felt as though she had swallowed nails. Farris bent himself in half to peer into her face, his familiar green eyes hard and resolute. In a voice that belied the severity of his expression, he said, “Ye need to be sharp, lass. Keep yer wits about ye.”

Nenani’s eyes focused on him, but her vision was blurred with tears. A large hand rested against her back, and a choked sob burst from her mouth.

“Ye can do this, darlin’,” he told her. “Maevis’s taught ye good and well. I believe in ye.”

She spared him a small smile, but it was all she could manage. He pinched her arm, returning a half hearted smile as empty as her own.

“Just pretend they’re Aidus and have at ‘em,” he told her. “But try not to burn the house down. Not until we get those poor wretches downstairs out. Then ye can go on turn every timber to charcoal fer all I care.”

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

BONUS ART

[jawritter]

The Arrangement

Part 15

Summery: You are a young girl that was raised in a small church in Dallas, TX. One of the only churches left in the state that still practices arranged marriages. When your betrothed ran off to California you thought you'd escape the fate you were trained for ever since a small child. Now upon the death your parents your fate seemed to be inescapable as he's returned, and is ready to take you as his bride.

Book Warnings: Arranged marriage, loss of virginity, smut, unprotected sex, angst, language, suicide attempt, battles with anxiety, struggles with mental illness, age gap (about 11 years), I think that’s it, chapters will have warnings of their own!

Chapter Warnings: First Christmas after the death of parents, angst, dealing with children from pervious marriage, some fluff there too, and think that’s all.

Word Count: 2316

A/N: This book is a book about Christian and church based arranged marriages, I would like to take this moment to say that I DO NOT have ANYTHING against the Chirstian faith, and mean absolutely no harm to anyone! Especially Jensen’s family! This is a complete work of fiction, and should be treated as such!

Beta’d by the amazing @deanwanddamons who was awesome enough to do all this for me! It was a lot of work, and she deserves all the praise for it!!

Pairing: Jensen Ackles x Reader

Want More? Check Out My Masterlist!!

***MASTERLIST***

***SERIES MASTERLIST***

Sitting quietly at the bar in the kitchen you look around the dimly lit room. The sun wasn’t  quite  past the trees yet. It was still very early in the morning. The house was still and quiet. Jensen was still sleeping soundly in the room the two of you shared.  Your coffee cup was steaming, sitting in front of you, virtually untouched. Your mind was wandering over everything that had happened to you since your parents had passed away. Since you  married  Jensen. 

He'd done a lot to make things better for the two of you. He'd even set some ground rules for your marriage. 

The first being never to go to bed angry with one another. That one proved to be harder than it first appeared it would be. Because let's be honest, if you live together, no matter how much you care about each other and love each other, you are going to get on each other's nerves. 

The two of you hadn't had a fight since you returned from the hospital. Which was a relief in a way, and worrisome in another. It made you wonder if he was walking lightly around you on purpose. Then there was a part of you that said there was nothing to fight over. So you should just be grateful for that. 

You had gotten into little disagreements, but they were always diffused quickly. Like arguing over what show to watch, or what to have for supper. Nothing out there, or too heavy. 

You still had the battle of your mind, and you guessed that you always would, but it had gotten a lot easier to manage and deal with. You couldn't help but feel like a child around Jensen, even though you had gotten control over your emotions a little more, and a better grip on your depression. 

He'd seen the world for Christ sake. You had never left the state of Texas. 

He'd seen and done so much in his life. You can make a lasagna.

So many people loved him and knew his name. Only about four people even knew you were his wife and that you existed. 

Jensen said he was just trying to protect you from the evil that lurks through social media, but you didn't really care about what people that didn't even know you thought. You didn't want to fight with him, and he didn't want to fight with you. So you just didn't bring it up anymore.

Walking up behind you, Jensen placed a kiss to the side of your cheek, making you jump in your seat, causing him to giggle at you. You loved it when he made that sound. 

"Morning babe."

"Morning." you mumble, rubbing your face, trying to  wake up a little more. Even though you'd been awake for hours you felt like you were still partially asleep.

"What are you doing up so early?" you asked him, letting him wrap his arms around you and pull you close to his chest. 

"Woke up and you weren't in bed, so I got up because I couldn't go back to sleep. Why are you up so early?"

"Just couldn't sleep. I'll come back to bed if you want me to."

Jensen stopped you from standing up. Wrapping his arms around your waist as tight as he could. 

"That's okay, we're already both up, and I want some coffee now." he said with a laugh. "How about you and me go pick out a christmas tree today. It is December now." he said, nuzzling himself into you close if that was possible. 

You didn't know why he was being so clingy this morning. Sure he’d always had a hand on you in some way, but he hadn’t “touched” you since you got out of the hospital.You tried not to let it bother you, but it was .

"Why do you want to put up a tree? Are your kids coming?" you asked, turning to look up at him. He looked tired, stressed, even though he tried to cover it up and hide it.

"No, no not this time, I just wanted to do it for us." he fell silent, and you didn't want to disappoint him. You could almost feel the tension in the room surrounding it. "If you don't want to do it that's okay." he finally said, putting his face into your neck, hiding his expression from you.

"NO! No we can put up a tree, I just thought maybe you were going to get to see your kids. I'm sorry they don't get to come. I know it's been a long time since you saw them. I didn’t mean to upset you." 

Looking up, he put his hand on the side of your face, and pulled you closer to him, brushing his lips lightly over yours before placing a soft, gentle kiss on your lips, pulling away way too soon for your liking. 

"I'll be fine baby. We need this time together. We need to get to know each other." Nuzzling himself back into you, you both just sat there in the dark for God knows how long before you finally pulled away from him. 

"Let me fix some breakfast for us before we get ready to go. I'm starving."

Standing at the stove cooking breakfast while Jensen sat at the bar, typing away on his laptop, you wondered if you were missing something, and you should have been paying him more attention.

He spent so much time looking after you, making sure you were okay,  you had totally missed it until this morning. He hadn’t seen his kids in months. The holidays were coming, and this would be his first Christmas without them. 

Was he struggling? Was that why he wanted to put up a tree?

Kicking yourself for not paying attention when you should have been, you placed his food down in front of him, then wrapped your arms around him tightly. You made a promise in that moment that you were going to be more observant when it came to him. Not everyone could be strong all the time.

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

Three hours later Jensen was pulling the car up to the local Christmas tree farm just outside of town. You realized you'd never been to one of these before. Your parents had a small fake tree they would put up every year, but that was always as far as it went. They never really went all out for the holidays. 

Grabbing your hand as the two of you walked through the trees, Jensen was quiet, watching your every move. The sights and smells of the place were so peaceful. 

The cool crisp Austin, Texas air, the sunlight that seemed to shine at just a little dimmer light during the winter months, children running and playing through the rows of trees. Everyone seemed so light. In such a good mood.

After an hour or so of walking around Jensen settled on what tree he wanted. The man was meticulous in everything he seemed to do, but you could tell he was becoming a lot less tense than he’d been all morning, acting like he was actually excited about the tree. You were both standing, waiting on the tree to be wrapped and loaded when you heard a tiny little voice running toward the two of you.

"Daddy!!!"

Jensen turned on the spot, hit knees and grabbed the child that was running toward him. You knew she was his. She favored him so much. Long blonde hair flowing down her back. Then the twins quickly joined in. You took a step back, giving them their space. These kids didn't know you, and you didn't want them to ask Jensen a bunch of questions and get confused by your presence.

Looking up from the scene in front of you, you saw Danneel, standing far off,watching the four of them like an attack dog, ready to pounce if you made the wrong move. The man that was with her was starting to make his way over to Jensen and the children. Jensen noticed him to, and stood slowly with his son still in his arms wrapped up around his neck.

"Steve." Jensen said shortly, the man just nodded. Not saying anything at first. You wanted to run and hide. You felt so uncomfortable. You didn't know what to do with yourself. 

"Is this your wife?" the man Jensen called Steve asked, looking over at you. 

You could only guess that you looked as horrified as you felt. Jensen stood to his feet, and moved closer to you.

"Yes." 

Jensen was staring the man down like it was taking all his restraint to not strangle him to death. Steve approached you slowly, and stuck out his hand for you to shake, which you did, figuring that it was best to be civil for the sake of the children that were present. They were still holding onto their father, watching the three adults with curious glances. 

"Well.. I'm sorry Jensen, but we brought them up here to pick out a christmas tree, and I need to get them back over to their mother before she gets mad at me." he said, giving Jensen an almost apologetic look before turning to look at Danneel over his shoulder. 

Jensen said nothing, just nodded at the man standing in front of him before kneeling and hugging each child as tight as he could manage before Steve started to gather them from him. 

Judging by Steve’s body language, he didn’t really want to take the kids away from Jensen.

"When will we get to see you again?" the oldest child asked him. Jensen looked like if he would have been sat on fire, he would have been in less pain than he was right then. 

You had known that not having his children was hard on him. You didn't realize that it hurt him this much though until you saw it with your own eyes, and it broke your heart. He never told you, he never let on that he was hurting just as much as you were.You felt like you failed him.

"Soon, okay I promise." was all he could tell her before Steve took her hand. Steve looked between Jensen and the children, guilt evident on his face.

"What about Easter... I think I can talk her into Easter. We're going on a trip, and need someone to watch the kids for the week." 

Jensen nodded his head, and cleared his throat trying to find his voice. 

"Easter sounds great. I'll give you a call when it gets close to time." 

With that Steve nodded and walked the kids back toward their mother. Arrow was still pulling against Steve somewhat, reaching back at Jensen.

The tree was loaded quickly for the two of you after that. Jensen got into the car and closed the door. Taking a deep breath you reached out for him, and grabbed his hand in yours. He gave you a small smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I'm sorry Jensen. I wish there was something I could do..."

Jensen just shook his head. Taking another deep breath and squeezing your hand. 

"There's really nothing I can do until we go to court. Until then I just have to deal. No matter how unfair it is..."

Starting the car, he backed out and headed toward a local craft store to pick out decorations.

“I haven’t been completely honest with you this morning.” Jensen said, his eyes locked on the road in front of him. “I knew they’d be there today, that’s why I wanted to come pick out a tree.That, and I couldn’t stand not having something in the house, even though my kids won't be there to see it. I knew If I was lucky, I’d get to see them today for a few minutes.”  

You wanted to hug him, and just hold him until he felt better. Even though you knew that there was nothing you could do really.

“I wish there was something I could.” 

Jensen gave you a tight smile, bringing his lips to the back of your hand. “It’s okay sweetheart, I’ll get her to court soon enough, then our family can be whole.”

He seemed to have pulled himself back together by the time you got to the store, and was back to smiling and picking out everything. 

When the two of you pulled up to the house it was late, and cold, but Jensen was determined to decorate the tree tonight, so that's what the two of you did after showers and a change into comfortable PJ's. 

Decorating a tree as an adult was probably funner than you thought it would be. Between Jensen arguing with the lights, and him making fun of the fact that you needed a step ladder because you were vertically challenged he seemed to be in good spirits, and you hadn't seen him laugh like that since the two of you had gotten married. 

Once the tree was decorated he began to turn off all the lights. 

"Okay, time for our grand reveal!" he said, running over to plug the tree up once all the lights in the house was off, like an excited little kid.

"And here... WE... GO..." 

Once the tree was plugged in you were pretty impressed at how well the two of you had done. "What do you think baby?" he said, wrapping his arms around your middle.

Leaning your head back against his shoulder,you take a deep breath, enjoying the smell that you had learned to take so much comfort in. 

Jensen, just Jensen. That’s all you needed. 

"I love it, It looks great." you tell him, enjoying the feeling of his arms wrapped around you. Maybe this Christmas wouldn't be so bad after all.

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

Tag List: @deanwanddamons​ @imabitch4jensen​ @rvgrsbrns​ @bi-danvers0​ @onethirstyunicorn​ @i-love-superhero​ @akshi8278​ @lyss-dw79​ @magssteenkamp​ @lemondropirwin​ @squirrelnotsam​ @hobby27​ @spnbaby-67​ @mrsjenniferwinchester​ @defenderrosetyler​ @screechingartisancashbailiff​ @thecreatiivecorner​  @aflamboyanceofgays @vicmc624​ @busy-bee-angel-misska​ @justanotherwinchester​ @brilovesdeanwinchester​ @idksupernatural​ @lyarr24​ @amandamdiehl​

[fireopal-tash]

First of all, an explanation about certain words that I will use: - things like 'daughters', 'mother' and 'sisters' is not in the sense of family, but of creation, superiority in a more friendly way, and closeness.

After all, gems have no family. Not until Steven. It is a simple connection that has no words, that's why I use those. If it bothers you, my apologies. You can change the words for others, if that is what you prefer.

Also, as always, sorry if there are mistakes ^w^'

Chapter 5: Era 0

It was a warm and bright morning when Steven Universe was woken up by a commotion below. Still a bit sleepy, but worried about what might have happened, Steven ran down the stairs, almost hitting the wall. He didn't notice anything out of the ordinary at first, until he saw smoke coming from the kitchen. He headed there, somewhat amused by what he saw. Amethyst, Pearl, and Spinel were covered in bread dough, flour, and... something he guessed was cream. The smoke was coming from the oven, apparently.

"What are you doing?" He asked, holding back his laughter. The gems looked at him somewhat embarrassed. Well, Amethyst seemed to be having fun more than anything, and Pearl seemed worried, trying to get rid of the smoke. Spinel, however, looked at the ground with a really red face.

"I... I just wanted to make you the brakefat" she mumbled, trying to explain.

"Don't you mean 'breakfast'?" the purple gem snickered, one hand over her mouth. She couldn't resist, really. That pink gem was very... cartoonish. And funny.

"Ha ha ha" Spinel mocked her, annoyed by the other's attitude "It was your fault it ended up like this. You told me to..." Their discussion stopped short when they heard Steven's free laugh. When was the last time he laughed like that? None of them remembered. And the heart-shaped gem was very captivated. Amethyst snickered again at the sight of Spinel's face, which brought her out of that state.

"S-shut up!" she complained, he cheeks flushed. Ame laughed again.

"Ok, ok. I'll stop now." she got off the counter, brushed off the food scraps and headed in front of Spinel "To make it up to you, how about I take you to the funniest place in all Beach City?"

That invitation was... very tempting, she had to admit. And Spinel smiled enthusiastically, forgetting the disaster that surrounded them.

"Now, Amethyst? Really?" Pearl pointed at the mess, almost hoping they would understand her. She knew better than that tho.

"I don't see what's the problem. Spinel still needs a tour of the city" the purple shrugged, completely unconcerned.

"Amethyst!" Pearl yelled annoyed.

Spinel, once clean, approached Steven, arm in arm, watching the scene in front of them. It was funnier than her misfortune on her first attempt at cooking.

"We better get going, before Pearl makes us clean everything up too" Steven whispered, walking in the direction of the door.

"Wait! Steven...!" Amethyst yelled running after them, ignoring Pearl, who kept talking about how irresponsible she was. Ah, the old days...

It didn't take long for the three of them to get to the Big Donut. After running part of the way, of course. Breathing somewhat ragged, Steven looked at Amethyst.

"Amethyst, why, ah, this sudden interest in being a guide?" He asked somewhat curious, still catching his breath.

"Eh, no reason. Someone has to do it" she replied absently.

Noticing how the smaller gem got all of Spinel's attention, Steven snorted, somewhat irritated. He could be a guide too. He had done it many other times, after all, hadn't he?

"Hey Ame-" He was interrupted again by the purple who made a loud exclamation as she pointed to another place, managing to capture Spinel's attention even more.

Steven grunted. The purple gem kept walking, showing and pointing at everything in their path, Spinel behind her as she looked at Steven with concern. It hadn't escaped her attention how very dejected the boy looked. The brunet's good humor seemed to have vanished the moment Amethyst had offered to accompany them.

"Spinel, look over there!" Amy exclaimed again, pointing to one of the buildings there. They were in Little Homeworld now "There are the gems I mentioned earlier. Come on"

Steven hadn't realized, until now, that she had been talking about other gems, or that they had arrived at Little Homeworld. They both approached the center, Amethyst calling out to said gems, while Steven lagged behind. Today nothing was going well. It was too early for this. He sighed, his hands fisted in his pockets. He did not want anyone to see him in that state. And it was ridiculous, to be honest. There was no reason to be upset. He should be happy for Spinel.

"Lapis! Peri! Bis!" she called again. The three mentioned gems appeared shortly after, Bismuth carrying a heavy weight on one of her shoulders.

"Hey Amethyst!" The smallest gem greeted, being caught by one of the arms of the purple gem "Stop it!" she complained, managing to get rid of it "You know how much I hate when you mess with my hair"

"Heh. Whatever you say dwarf" she stuck out her tongue. Peridot hid behind Bismuth, her cheeks puffed out.

"And who is this gem?" Lapis Lazuli asked, noticing the pink one.

Spinel looked away, seeming to be looking for something, or someone, before approaching Steven and wrapping her arm with his. She was feeling nervous again.

"It's okay" Steven reassured her, and turned his attention to the blue gem, at whom he smiled "Lapis, this is Spinel. She is new, and today she is here to learn a little about our planet, right?" He looked back at Spinel. Spinel nodded, implying that it was true.

"Nice to meet you, Spinel. I am Lapis, Lapis Lazuli. The dwarf gem is Peridot. And the gigantic gem over there is Bismuth.

"Diamonds are bigger" Spinel commented on impulse.

Well it was true. Bismuth was small compared to the matriarchs. Lapis snorted, especially when she saw the shocked faces of her companions.

"I like this gem~"

Spinel beamed at her accomplishment. Even if that was not her intention. She wasn't as rusted as she had originally believed. Steven was an exception.

The rest of the day they took a detour. The gems were telling stories, taking again all Spinel's attention. Amethyst was the one in front of the entire group, leading animatedly. Steven stayed behind once more, noticing how Spinel was acclimatizing. Soon she wasn't going to need him... It was Bismuth who noticed this, heading back, until she was next to Steven.

"Hey, buddy? What's wrong?"

"Bismuth?" he was surprised to see her there. He shook his head and with a forced smiled said "it's nothing"

The multicolored gem frowned, not believing him at all. It was clear that the hybrid was upset about something.

"Come on, tell Aunt Bis what's wrong?" she insisted.

The boy sighed again, knowing that the other was not going to give up. His gaze fell on Spinel, who was talking to Lapis, as she showed her one of the trees. Spinel seemed amazed.

"It's just that I thought I could help her" referring to the gem with two pigtails.

"I don't see the problem, it seems to me that you're already helping her"

"That's what it looks like, isn't it? But I didn't do anything. The others are the ones helping her. Showing her everything. Telling her everything she needs to know. And I don't know how..." he complained hands in his hair.

"Steven. You, better than anyone, know that you cannot pressure others to do what you want, even if your intentions are good" she admonished him.

The hybrid was embarrassed to notice that this was what he had been doing.

"Besides, isn't it your presence that makes her feel so relax around us? If you look closely, you will notice that you do more than you think. Give yourself more credit, Steven. You deserve it. "

She patted him on the shoulder, before returning to Lapis's side, changing the subject, noticing Peridot and Amethyst were about to start an argument.

"I guess you're right..." Steven whispered, relieved.

(In Beach City)

It didn't take Pearl long to clean up the mess in the kitchen, plus Garnet was waiting for her on top of the portal, so she didn't have time to lose.

Today they were going to visit the diamonds. Cleaning helped her with her nervousness.

"Pearl, we don't have all day," Fusion reminded her patiently. She didn't want to go either, but it was for Steven's good.

"Yes. Of course. You're right, Garnet" the pale gem sighed, before putting away her cleaning supplies. Better to get this over with as soon as possible.

They both immediately traveled to Homeworld, appearing in front of the gigantic thrones. The diamonds were nowhere to be seen.

"Well, here we are. How do we do this, Garnet?" Pearl asked, her hands entwining between them. She still didn't like the place, tho this was her first home.

"We have to find the Diamonds. Or the pearls. They will know where to find the Diamonds" replied the fusion calmly, noticing the room full of other gems.

"Right, come on then!" exclaimed the other nervously. The fusion followed her, preferring to keep quiet. Some things never really change, do they?

They had been walking from hall to hall for at least half an hour trying to find someone who could help them before finding that someone.

"Blue Pearl..." Pearl whispered. The last time they saw each other, not counting what happened two years ago, was shortly after the war began.

The blue pearl seemed to have a good hearing, because she turned in their direction, her hands clasped as they usually are. She tilted her head slightly, before speaking.

"Blue Diamond is busy with a meeting with Yellow Diamond" she said, intuiting in part the reason why two of the members of the Crystal Gems were present.

"Ah...! Yeah? T-then we'll go talk to White Diamond" replied Pearl nervously but almost challenging.

"Wait" Garnet looked closely at Blue Pearl "Maybe you can help us" she finally decided.

"Me?" she said softly.

"Garnet?" Pearl questioned her friend.

"I'm curious. I've heard of a very interesting story about the first Era" she lied easily "and I would like to know more about it"

A few seconds passed, before Blue Pearl decided to give them an answer. By way of following them, because all she did was walk in another direction. The palest gem had her doubts, but trusted her friend's judgment. They spent some time going through the corridors, before reaching their objective. Pearl gasped, immediately recognizing the place. The Great Library about Gems and their History. She believed her entry had been forbidden before she was created. She must have said that outloud, because Blue Pearl replied with a:

"It was reopened recently. It has been several millennia since I was last here..." her dreamy gaze under her bangs was positioned over the other Pearl "Something you never could" Pearl felt irritation bloom inside her. She knew she was teasing her, even if neither her tone of voice, nor her words, showed it.

"Right. That's why I'm here" she admitted with difficulty. The hand on her back made her feel better. At least she had someone's support "Come on, Garnet"

In Homeworld, things like night and day didn't exist. There was always light, albeit artificial. The library that Pearl and Garnet were in was no different from the rest of the planet. It was huge, cold, and empty, apart from the few gems, and many, many files. All in the form of a somewhat old and difficult to read writings - more by the method of recording such information than by the language itself. Time didn't seem to pass.

"We've been here for many hours, I think, Garnet. And we haven't found anything! Are you sure this is the right place? It would be quicker to ask the diamonds." Pearl kept complaining. If she was on Earth, she would have been excited about this research. But she was too uncomfortable.

"No. This is the place. Here we will find our answers. If at some point the Diamonds give us information, we can contrast it with what we find here."

"But the Diamonds were the ones who created this place. They are the ones who have lived the history of the gems since the beginning. Or at least White did." the last thing was mumbled, a little unsure.

"Mmm"

The two kept silent, still searching through the sea of information, their patience wearing thin.

"Aha! Here! I found it!" Pearl exclaimed with a shout of joy. At last! "Let me see..."

The pale gem began to read aloud:

"Entry XXXXX - 6

This writing is a testimony of the times. ERA 0.

Thousands of years ago, the Guardians were created, formed by the great authority, White Diamond. The Great Creator, that's what they called her in those days.

This was an opportunity, a new community, created from the power of The Great Creator. Our Queen, in her benevolence, gave each gem created from her light her own gems, and thus create great cities and discovered more worlds. A whole colony. The First of many others.

Tourmaline. Tanzanite. Moissanite. These were the three great Guardians. The first gems created by The Great Star. Powerful as they were, they weren't perfect. They made mistakes, being punished by The Great Creator, turned into permanent statues to maintain their eternal vigilance over the entrances of each new world. What did their 'daughters' do to receive such a destiny, you ask? Breaking the only law that existed during the Era 0: The separation of two Gem Mates.

Shortly after another law was created: Vindicta.

[ Gem Mates are gems that are made to be together forever. Made to be understood. Made to never feel alone. Their bodies of light, their music, everything in them is in sync. Much more than a fusion could ever be. They call it: The Final Union. If for some reason a GemMate is destroyed or is too far from its half, its lights will fade, agonisingly slowly. Some take longer, others turn off suddenly. There are records of these events in entry XXXXVI - 19 ]

Tourmaline was jealous of the closeness between Tanzanite and Moissanite, her sisters. They were both Gemmates, so it wasn't a surprise. But, as the story goes, Tourmaline was madly 'in love' - that's what she called it, that feeling - Painful but the most wonderful thing she had ever felt.

One day, she saw them together sharing their light. Fusion. That moment of intimacy was what made her act impulsively, pulling out her sledgehammer - a weapon that was created to protect, not to destroy - and take down one of her sisters. Tanzanite. When the Guardian came back to herself, The Great Creator was present. Moissanite, hurt by the loss, asked for one last wish to her Queen, before she herself ceased to exist. Their wish was granted with the idea that they would give up, or lose the will to commit such a crime. Such was her mistake...

The fighting was fierce and devastating. All the gems present were watching from a distance, shouting, asking for the tragedy to stop. They had never seen anything so devastating as the fight and separation of their Guardians. They asked for mercy. White Diamond granted their wish. She had had enough.

"For having broken the universal law, for separating what should never have been separated, and for the use of the Vindicta, I condemn you to an eternity as statues" said this, the Great Authority threw a powerful light, turning their companions in what today are known as statues, objects of admiration; and soon after, historic art walls were created to never forget what happened.

Some time later, perhaps due to the loss of her daughters, The Queen created two more gems. Blue and Yellow Diamond. The New Authority. Welcome to Era 1.

End of Entry

White Sapphire, the Queen's Clairvoyant "

That was all. It was not the only entry on this same topic, but the first of many others. Apparently they were going to spend a lot more time in the Great Library about Gems and their History than they thought.

They both looked at each other with a triumphant smile. At least now they had knew where to start.

What did you think of my entry? I have my own version of the Gems history, something that will be part of my Fic.

It will not be 100% well done, sure, but I hope you find it interesting, and you like it~ xP

[toothlessturtle21]

Nary A Nightmare

Sup, it’s me again, back with another one shot upload. Could be glacier, but was written as a healthy bromance. TW: mentions of guns, temporary disability, temporary sensory deprivation ---

A bullet between the eyes leaves Zane down and out during a fight, leading to some intimate moments between himself and the Earth Ninja as Jay toils away in his wires.

Zane didn't hate many things, or even many people. He considered himself a rational person, who knew that there was a bright side to pretty much everything.

But lying on Jay's workbench with no sight or hearing? That he hated.

He had gotten shot in the head by a lucky burglar who just happened to hit the one member of the team that wouldn't die from a bullet between the eyes. However, just because he was a robot didn't mean he wouldn't be affected. So after being held up on shaky legs and carried home by someone (he was too out of it to say for sure), he was placed on the familiar cold metal of the table in Jay's room dedicated to his inventing. Someone was holding his left hand, his right neatly folded on his stomach. Jay's careful fingers were poking around the wound, sharp stings registering as Zane tried to keep his expression neutral to avoid any hesitance.

Truth be told, although so much pain was ricocheting around his body he felt like he could throw up, he was thankful that it was him going through this as opposed to one of the others being shot dead. The thought of any one of his teammates disappearing so quickly from his life made him sicker than his injury, so he grit his teeth as a new wave of hurt hit him square between the eyes, and the fingers wrapped around his own tightened in response to his twitch.

He assumed the one holding his hand was Cole, because the fingers felt big and calloused from years of mountain climbing and training. The Earth Ninja had always hated to see his teammates in pain, anyway. The hand seemed to flex at the same time Zane felt any pain, as if the person it belonged to was flinching in his place. After a bit, Jay's hands left his head, and he felt his hand being moved off his stomach to his side, and his shirt being slid up to his collarbone. He shivered at the cool air settling over his skin, and Jay opened the torso panel with practiced ease, Zane desperately wanting to ask Jay what was going on for himself.

Zane must've looked in pain, because a hand equal in size to the one holding his own reached up to rest on his cheek, warm and a little rough. The android tilted his head to lean into the touch, mostly to reassure its owner that the gesture was understood. Truth be told, it was nice to have a distraction from the piercing pain in the center of his skull. It was truly bizarre to have two completely opposite sensations occurring at once: the warm fingers cupping his face, and the cold air and quick hands working to map out his chest. Zane wasn't sure how much more of the prodding he could take, and he couldn't help but curl in on himself, Jay forcibly holding his waist down to keep him from jostling any work done.

The hand on his face lifted for a moment, probably out of confusion, as Jay was never shy in vocalizing his frustrations. The Ice Ninja squeezed the hand interlocked with his own, and his face was once again graced by the fingers, and this time a thumb stroked across his cheekbone in an attempt to calm the android down. As Zane was forced to lay there with two pairs of hands on him, he felt like crying, turning his face into the palm on his cheek to hide his trembling expression, and the hand gently massaged the skin it could reach in pity. He wondered what was taking Jay so long to get to the point of the opening of his panel.

His question was answered when one finger circled the power-off switch in the bottom corner, asking silent permission, a signal long since established between the two. Zane grimaced, but nodded as best he could without jostling his injuries too much, and his mind clicked off as the switch was flipped.

He woke up resting on somebody, although he wasn't quite sure who. It took him a moment to realize it, but the sounds of a show playing in the background caught his attention, making him shift hazily, still not running at maximum capacity. The person he was resting on started a little, making a soft noise of surprise. Zane's head was resting on their chest, so he could feel the rumble of their voice as they spoke.

"Can you hear me?"

Ah, it was Cole. But that didn't tell him how he got here in the first place.

"Yes, I can," Zane replied, blinking rapidly. "But I cannot see you."

"Yeah," Cole sighed through gritted teeth, patting Zane on the back twice. "Jay got your audio working again, but he said something was fried in your vision, so he's getting those parts in a few days. You're good other than that, though."

The android deflated once more, and then remembered where he was.

"If you don't mind me asking, why am I reclined on your chest?"

"You looked like you were having a nightmare of some kind when Jay let you come out of sleep mode. You kept twitching a little and making noises. So we just had you lay down on me while you woke up naturally. It worked, so there's something. The others are going grocery shopping, since you can't really cook right now."

Now that Zane thought about it, he did remember what he saw as he began to wake up. He couldn't see anything, and he was forced to listen as his friends cried for help around him, but he was immobile. He shuddered at the memory, but Cole didn't comment. Neither ninja moved, unsure if they were supposed to stay cuddled on the couch or if it was breaking some sort of unspoken bro-code.

"What do I look like now?"

"Huh?"

"Are my eyes themselves damaged, or is it just the circuitry?"

"Oh, uh..."

Zane felt a gentle hand on his forehead, tilting his head back for a better look.

"I mean, maybe they're a bit duller, but that's probably because they're not focusing on me."

"Interesting," Zane nodded, even though his tone implied it was anything but. His system refused to speed up, keeping his processors running at a less than optimal rate, and Zane slumped back into Cole. "Were you the one with Jay earlier?"

"Y- yeah," Cole sounded bashful, and Zane waited quietly for him to continue. "Look, dude, I know you were under a lot of stress and your head probably hurt like a bitch, but hopefully you didn't mind that I was keeping you company. I couldn't exactly ask, y'know?"

"No, I appreciated it," Zane spoke truthfully, and he got the feeling that Cole was dying to ask what he had dreamt about, and what it was like being stuck with no senses other than touch. "It was rather frightening, being alone in my own head."

That caught Cole's attention. Zane was shifted up so both ninja were sitting against the arm of the couch, the android still between Cole's legs.

"What was it like?" Cole asked quietly, his voice much closer to Zane's ear in this new position. "That is, if you don't mind-"

"No, no, I understand. I will indulge your curiosity to the best of my abilities."

Cole stayed quiet while Zane collected his thoughts, hands slightly shaky from the memories.

"A lot of it was pain and worry. Keep in mind that anything I tell you will be clouded by my sensors being overloaded from data. I will admit that I was scared, knowing that what was a moderate fix for me would have been deadly to any of you. Since Jay powered me off when I was still feeling those fears, I experienced distorted "what if" realities while in standby."

"Aw, jeez, Zane-"

"These were only amplified by my partial sensory deprivation, as it were. It was difficult for me to feel grounded in my surroundings aside from the pain, which is why I am especially grateful for your assistance there," Zane gave a small smile, and Cole hummed pleasantly in response.

"I just couldn't stand seeing you in so much pain, it was really unsettling seeing you so... vulnerable. Plus, there was a minute or so after you were shot that we thought we'd lost you," Cole interrupted himself to clear his throat, glad Zane couldn't see the mist gathering in his eyes. "Just please try not to die, okay?"

"Not planning on it," Zane promised, and shifted a little on Cole's chest. "To be fully honest, my systems are not fully up to speed, and I should probably resume a resting state. Since you seem to observe that physical contact lessens any abnormalities in my sleep cycle, would you do me the favor of keeping my company?"

"Is that just a fancy way of asking me to hold you while you sleep?"

"Perhaps," Zane mused, practically hearing the smirk in Cole's voice. "Now if you don't mind, I will be entering standby shortly."

Cole laughed for a second, shuffling them down a little so Zane was more reclined. He wrapped an arm around Zane's back, exhaling deeply as he decided to nap alongside his icy friend.

"G'night, Zane," The Earth Ninja mumbled absentmindedly, and the android nodded minutely into his chest.

"It is the late afternoon, but goodnight, Cole."

The others returned later to find the two snuggled on the couch, none of the crew having the heart to wake either of them up, so they slept peacefully through the evening with nary a nightmare between them.