#yes. we humans gather pieces of happiness... so fragile... and then start over again when we lose it

[astrxealis]

i wna go into all mutuals inboxes and just say hi

[extremelyblackandwhite]

illicit affairs

pairing: sheriff lee bodecker x younger! reader

warnings: smut (18+), cheating, age gap

a/n: i love perfumes which smell of daisies so i made the reader use something like that. i do imagine her going for a very much female appearance and aura despite her personality and i can see lee fancying that sort of fragile femininity look paired with her independency. this song is based of illicit affairs from taylor swift but i was also listening to all too well at some points so i think some of that passed onto the writing. hope you enjoy xx

> DRESS

Leave the perfume on the self that you picked up just for him so you leave no trace behind like you don’t even exist. Take the words for what they are a dwindling, mercurial high, a drug that only worked the first few hundred times ... And you wanna scream don’t call me “kid”, don’t call me “baby”, look at this idiotic fool that you made me. You taught me a secret language I can't speak with anyone else. And you know damn well for you I would ruin myself a million little times ...

The snow settled onto the ground, a view she could see from her white window. Sprawled against her window pane, the blue soft fabric of her dress cascaded down her body as she watched the snow fall and become one with the mass of white covering the once green grass of her home. Her feet dangled in anticipation, hair cascading into hairdresser set curls, held away from her face with a pearl barrette. Her fingers dangled across her collarbones, feeling the cold matching pearls which unlike her barrette clip, had been offered to her by Lee on thanksgiving. “A pretty girl like you deserves her own pearls” his voice echoed in her mind whenever her feeling felt the smooth irregular circle shapes of the pearls laying against her collarbones. There was nothing more than she wanted than to wear those pearls to the police winter ball, to show up wearing something he had bought for her with what money he gathered from his fickle Captain position, but she couldn’t. Everyone knew what she had, what jewellery she had, it was all valued at the insurance centre downtown and the pearl necklace definitely wasn’t. Her own pearls rested inside her ivory jewellery box along with the ribbon she was wearing around her waist when she first kissed him, and the comb that held her hair in place whenever she met him during windy nights. 

Her grandmother had left before her, leaving with the grocery shop owner as her date for the ball but she had stayed behind. She had told her she’d rather go alone, blaming her loneliness on the fact all the boys her age were either engaged thus going with their wives and the single ones not wanting to do with her. Of course that was further from the truth and as she watched the snow fall, she imagined Lee’s cruiser driving through the snow, stopping in front of her home and knocking on her door to take her. But those were nothing but impossible scenarios created from the deepest part of her psyche. Looking over her shoulder, the clock on her bedside table shone 9PM into bold red letters. She should get going before her grandmother got worried. Her eyes lingered across her beauty parlour to the silver platter with her perfume, the one she’d picked just for him after hearing how much he loved the smell of daisies. She had to leave it, she couldn’t put any perfume on, she couldn’t take her pearls, she doesn’t exist. At least, she as Lee’s lover does not exist for all that everyone could know and nothing hurt more than the sound of her pearls returning to her ivory box. It was were they belonged, away from everyone, hidden, a mysterious sin secret. 

With her white fur wrapped around her arms, she entered her glossy yet dull red car, pulling the hood up despite the weather. She wanted to feel the cold, she wanted that numbness to hide what she had been feeling for the last months. It was all so exhilarating when it began; the summer walks, laying in the middle of the forest in an old towel as he feed her ripe strawberries, escaping from her grandmother’s house at night and meeting him up under the apple tree in light dresses. However, at time wind down, she started to crave the rest of a relationship, the holding of hands. Instead what she got was clandestine meetings in parking lots, behind the bars or in the middle of the forest when no one could see them. She constantly told herself it was going to eventually be her turn, he was gonna leave Jane for her. Yet, she seemed to constantly fall on the same error every mistress before her did, the mistake of forgetting her place. Stopping in front of the old town hall where the ball was being held, she could see the soft lights, hear the laughter and it made her sick. She didn’t want to go in, she didn’t want to see those happy couples but she had too. She had to put up a show, be the little pedestal trouble starter woman she was expected to be and so she would. 

Stepping into the hall, her eyes immediately found Lee in the corner speaking with the Sheriff, arm draped over Jane’s shoulder while the other hand held a clear cup probably with his favourite drink. Her heart sunk to the same place it always did as she got lost in the dance floor. She knew everyone in this town hall, from the first boy she ever kissed Jonah and his third wife Elizabeth to Billy whom had been prom king with her. There was nothing new anymore and what once felt new and true was now anchoring her inside a fishbowl of images of her own mistakes and unfulfilled life needs. 

      - Hey, Y/N. - Billy called out for her attention. She held onto the fur wrapped around her for comfort as she prepared her facade of a happy girl at a happy party. - Your grandma told me you ain’t gotta a partner for tonight. Could’ve told me, I would’ve taken you. 

      - It’s ok, ain’t like I need a man. - she replied, almost angrily although he deserved no anger from her. - What’s the stage for? We’re getting a band tonight?

      - No, the new sheriff candidates announcing themselves tonight. Prepare for the blood bath. 

      - Sounds interesting. - she spoke out, her voice getting mumbled out as the mic’s sound hurt her and everyone else’s ear. The police chief stood there in his best attire, holding a small piece of papers, his fat thumbs hitting the mic to gather everyone’s attention. He already had their attention merely by wearing a cowboy’s hat with a formal suit. 

       - Now folks, we all now how much we gonna miss our good old Sheriff but it’s time to elect a new one. - his southern accent was pronounced, too pronounced, cartoonish even. Y/N remembered laughing as a child when she first heard him speak only to immediately shut up when her grandmother looked her way with a look which left room for no questions. She herself had barely developed an accent, her grandmother still very keen on instilling in her the education she herself had gotten. However, the longer she spent with Lee, the more it would sometimes slip; one or two words, nothing major. - Of course, Leroy is running again.

     - I don’t know why he tries. - Y/N whispered to Billy, concealed laughing smile behind her hand. 

     - You gotta admit it’s a good thing to imagine. Damned Leroy and his prostitutes running the town? We’d be forgotten by God.

     - We’re already forgotten by God. We were banished from the garden of Eden, don’t you remember? - she teased, always enjoying to toy around with the religion Knockemstiff was so hang up on. - We’re probably direct descendants. 

     - You ought to keep that mouth shut if you don’t wanna get in trouble. - he warned yet it went through deaf ears. Y/N liked stirring it, specially when it came to things which were so analytically flawed. 

The regular list of candidates continued to go from officers to common folk who all believed they could make the town better. At least that was all they said they wanted to get some votes but at the end of the day, they just wanted to control the town with an iron fist. Do what they wanted without anyone question it. She couldn’t blame it, humans are hardwired to go crazy for power and let it consume them so she just let it pass. She knew all the candidates, they were always the same. Leroy, Matthew, Edwards ... all the common ones, she even wondered why they kept announcing it. Those three competing for the sheriff position was as certain as the sun coming up each morning. 

      - The last candidate is our cap’tain Bodecker. - her head snapped to the stage as every sound seemed to dim until she was surrounded by pure silence. All she could hear was the buzz from her ears as she watched him climb up the stairs to the stage, shaking the chief’s hands. 

Everything seemed to be stuck in slow motion yet her mind was running faster than a shot bullet. The clapping was slow, everything was silent yet she could see their hands slowly clap and their lips moving in whispers. Her eyes roamed the crowd finding Jane right in front of the stage, looking up at him with adoration at the possible place she could possible hold; the sheriff’s wife. The slow motion ended with a loud crash and suddenly everything seemed just too fast. She ignored Billy’s pleas for her attention and moved straight to the small plastic tables covered in burgundy towels to make it look fancier where all the drinks and food were being held. One of her only friends from high school Mary was the one in charge, happily serving food and drinks to anyone who asked.

     - Hi Y/N. - she always looked like the perfect housewife and that was always what she wanted to be. Beautiful, bountiful blonde hair with a few flowers matching her pink dress. Despite it all, she was always nice to her even with their different life goals. 

     - Hey Mary. How’s Paul? I heard from rumours you two had quite a nice honeymoon. St.Louis, right? 

     - Yes. He booked us a nice honeymoon suite, it had flowers and those heart shaped beds and chocolates. It was real nice, I’m hoping to be pregnant soon. What about you? Your grandmother said you came alone. You could’ve told me, my brother would’ve taken you.

    - That’s alright, Mary. I don’t intend to stay for long ... Uhm, can I have a drink?

    - Of course. Sidecar, as per usual? 

    - I think I’ll just have a double cognac, please. Or maybe some gin ... whatever can make me dizzy the fastest.

    - Everything, okay?

    - Just need to forget some stuff, it’ll be okay. - she forced a smile. At least half that phrase was true. Mary served her up with her best gin and she returned to the dance floor, trying to blend with the rest of the attendees, however her baby blue dress was much too different from anything else in town. 

Y/N thought she’d be best outside where no one could see her and so she left, avoiding Billy who kept asking for her. She leaned against the old wood of the town hall, mascara running down her cheeks, and gin glass on the other one. She looked like the perfect warning tale of why you should not mess her married men. She knew better, she knew so much better but she still did it, like the idiotic little fool she seemed to be. Y/N sighed, the air condensing in the air as she drank from the glass.

     - Pull yourself together, Y/N. - she looked to see side, her grandmother standing outside with the look she used to give her when Y/N embarrassed her as a little girl. - What did you expect?

     - I’m just not having a good day, nana.

     - You’re hanging around with Captain Bodecker that’s what you’re doing.

     - What?

     - Don’t play innocent with me, Y/N. You’re just like your mother and I’ve raised your mother so I’d know. I saw you leave in his car last week. Do you want to defend yourself?

     - Is it even worth it? - she took a sip out of her drink. - What do you want me to say? 

     - I want you to pull yourself together and go inside. You better have this finished off before those elections start. I will not have my granddaughter be a home wrecker.

Y/N ignored it. There was nothing her grandmother could say that hurt more than what she was already feeling. She watched the snow fall from the cover of the banner covering the town hall, cold and icy yet somehow warmer than her. The drink didn’t last forever and although it was much stronger than what she was used to, she didn’t feel the slightest bit dizzy. It was if the universe was punishing her for her choices. She shook her head, leaving the glass onto one of the windows. She’d be better off at home and she’d already made her appearance. If someone asked where she was, she could’ve blamed it on their drunkness. Opening her little clutch, she started fishing for her keys through a sea of change, makeup and receipts. 

    - You better not be thinking of driving after you just drank. - she turned her head to see Lee with his hands on his waist, playfully smiling at her. His smile faded as he noticed the streaks of mascara from her eyes to her jaw. - Did that shithead Billy say something? 

     - No ... Lee, I wanna go home okay. - she sighed. - Can you just pretend you didn’t see me drink?

     - I was hoping we could spend the night together. Rent a hotel room outside town. A real nice place, with a pool and some room service. My treat of course.

     - I ... We can’t, Lee. Your wife is inside as she’s gonna notice you’re not there and you’re not home. 

     - She’s going home early. Jane’s been taking a few sleeping pills. She’s down for the night, won’t even notice. - he took a few steps closer to her, knowing everyone was too drunk to even remember. - I was waiting for you to come greet me, congratulate me. I can’t believe my girl wanted to leave before showing me how pretty she looked. 

     - You didn’t tell me you were running for Sheriff. - he cupped her face, thumb caressing her cheek. - You said it was a silly position.

     - Yeah but ... it’s a Sheriff. I could become Mayor, ya know. The old sheriff thinks I’d be good for it. - he scratched the back of his neck, something he always did whenever he was nervous or was confronted by something he did not expect. Y/N had learned to read him and knew him better than her own favourite books. - C’mon, kid. It’s a night worth celebrating, don’t you think?

     - Don’t call me kid. - she shot her head his way, his word hitting a particular hurt spot which she didn’t realise she had. 

     - Hey, I’m not trying to mock ya. - he rose his hands. - What’s wrong, huh baby? Hm? Tell me sugar, I hate it when you’re upset. Besides, if it was that Billy kid I’ve been wanting to give him a good beating.

    - Don’t call me baby, either. - she sighed, throwing her purse inside the car, before turning to him. - Billy didn’t do anything I’m just ... tired.

    - I’ll drive you home, then.

    - I don’t wanna go home either. - she pushed her hair from her forehead, looking at the ground. The snow engulfed her feet and her shoes, yet it might as well have engulfed her entire being. Lee noticed her lip trembling and how her free hand was trying to stop tears from falling down. He looked behind him, the town hall door shut, before taking his jacket off, draping it over her shoulders, and opening the car door for her. 

 Y/N daren’t look him in the eye, instead sitting in the passenger seat as he pushed the hood of her car up. After all, most people did not enjoy driving in the snow with the hood up. She didn’t know where he was taking her and for all it mattered she didn’t want to know. If he was driving her to her killing location, it sounded much better than having to work out through the bubbling feelings in her tummy. Y/N didn’t even noticed how much she was crying until the tears started streaming so fast they were falling onto the palms of her hands like diamond daggers. She leaned her head against his shoulder, watching the road ahead through the blurry orbs of her own eyes, trying to find some warmth through him. The drive seemed endless and her mind rushed in an even more endless way as she considered all her choices til now. She found it unbearable how not guilty she didn’t feel about it. She could still remember the feeling of the cold water against her body and his lips against hers, being tangled in his bed sheets while he drank a beer, his grunts as he thrusted into her inside his patrol car. She remembered every detail either it being lust or romantic but most importantly she remembered how he looked at her. It was almost as through rose coloured glasses, most of the times agreeing with her pessimist view of the town she was in. Lee looked down on her, watching her perfect hair break through the gelled curls she had set down. He never liked the polished look anyway, he loved to see her walk in her white dresses and freshly washed hair flowing with the wind. This woman sat next to him was gorgeous but he preferred his Y/N, he preferred the woman who would poke fun of casualty and rush into the woods with her nightgown. This woman next to him was pretty yes but she seemed tainted by a sadness he could see yet couldn’t help. He didn’t want his Y/N to be the slightest bit sad. She did not deserve it. She was too pure, too young to be consumed by the loneliness, darkness and sadness that came with being an adult. Yet again, he had to start learning the young woman she was wouldn’t stay young forever. He wanted to know how to help. he wanted to be the man who wakes up next to her on summer mornings and winter evenings but life is not how we plan it out to be.

She watched the snow fall from her window as “You are my sunshine” played on the background from her radio. Looking up to him, his eyes were glued to the road, the sign of leaving Knockemstiff way past them and the hotel on the horizon. She called it the Heartbreak hotel, with its red walls and luxurious nature. A more fancy place for those who wanted to give a better night to their mistresses but that was not why she called it the heartbreak hotel. It was due to the fact she ended up crying every time she or he left. While inside those walls, she could pretend they were Mr. and Mrs. Bodecker, young couple moved out of Knockemstiff on a romantic getaway yet she wasn’t Mrs. Bodecker, Jane was. She had seen who the future sheriff’s wife was and it was not and it would never be her. He stopped the car in the parking lot, looking at her who was lost in thought, leaned against his shoulder.

   - Come on, sugar. What is it? - Lee kissed the top of her head. - The heck happened in that Town Hall?

    - Just being silly, Lee. - she shook her head, faking a smile. - Just don’t like parties one bit.

    - I hate ‘em too, sugar. All show no action. Besides no party is a party without my baby. - he hooked his ring finger under her chin, softly pulling it up. She tried not to look at the moonlight illuminating the silver band around his finger, a symbol he belonged to someone else and she knew it. She had seen the wedding photo on his secretary, a much younger Lee with a much younger Jane with the facade of a happy marriage. Thinking about it always made her sick and ever since seeing that picture she couldn’t bring herself to do so. - Come on, let’s get you a bubble bath, yeah?

She followed him into the hotel almost in a zombie like state until the reception. The talk was a dance she had danced before, it was all the same. Lee would present money in cash so it wouldn’t show up on his credit card statement. He would sign in with a fake address but with his own name and no one would question it. After all, the staff wanted money, they didn’t care if it was an illicit affair or not. To be honest, she didn’t care much anymore.

     - Mrs. Bodecker? Mrs. Bodecker? - the receptionist called out to her but it didn’t even register until she was looking her into the eyes. Mrs. Bodecker, she was definitely not. - Would you like a complementary tea? You look cold.

     - No, it’s okay. - she smiled while Lee grabbed the keys. His hand wrapped itself around hers, leading her over to the elevator.

God, she wanted him. She really did, he thought to himself. It was an unbelievable feeling to have someone who loved him back, someone who always had encouraging words to tell him, someone who would stay after a fight. He thought and imagine what it would’ve been like if she was born earlier, god he would’ve courted her and would’ve married her the second they were out of high school. Sadly, the woman he loved was born 10 years after and he met her when he was married. He led her to the 13th hotel room and closed the door behind them.

     - Things are gonna be different when I’m sheriff. No more sneaking around, no one will dare  say a word. I can move to Brewer Heights, heck, I can buy two houses, one just for you and me.

    - Lee ...

    - Where are your pearls, sugar? You know I love to see you with them, makes you look so pretty.

    - You know I can’t wear them in public, Lee. I am not your ... - she shouldn’t say that, she should not let those words out. - They’re not insured under my name, people would comment about it.

     - You worry too much. - he pushed the fur that covered her arms down, placing a small kiss on her elbow. - My little over-thinker.

     - One of us has too, Captain Bodecker.

     - How about some champagne? - he pointed towards the champagne bottle in the ice bucket by the dresser before walking towards it, raising it so he could inspect the brand. He longed for the finest things in life, no longer wanting to be that middle to low class man he’d been forced to be. Being Sheriff, Mayor someday was going to be really something, it’d be his chance.

    - I’m not 21 yet, Captain.

    - Only a month til you are, kid. - he filled two long crystal flutes, handing it over to them. - By then I should stop calling you kid, huh?

    - You shouldn’t call me kid, now. - she took a sip of the golden liquid, hoping it would take away her jealousy. Lee hummed, leaned over to kiss the crock of her neck, climbing up to her jaw in a move that was sure to leave marks. It was okay for him to leave marks on her, she was unmarried, young but on him? Sometimes she wanted to, sometimes she wanted to mark his pale plump skin as a possession, one that screamed Jane might have the wedding ring but she had the man. Yet, she couldn’t. - You look so handsome tonight.

    - You’re my worse critic. - he smirked, placing his glass on the bedside table before pulling her chin towards him, placing a soft kiss on her plump, painted lips. - God, you can’t even imagine how fucking hard I got when you walked in.

    - Such gentle behaviour. - she teased, fingers lightly tracing the skin of his face. He moaned, leaning in to kiss her again. - I wore it just for you. Blue. I knw you like it.

    - You’re always such a good girl for me. - he started to remove his jacket, pushing on her chest lightly so she laid against the luxurious bed.

The alcohol sure did a better job than her about making her forget what she was doing it. The alcohol and his kiss, his touch on her skin made her forget the clench in her heart when she saw Jane Bodecker clap once they said his name. It made her forget she couldn’t hear perfume around him unless he showered, it made her forget. Both of her moaned through the kiss, seemingly unconcerned with the fact that it was a sin. Maybe that’s why it taste so sweet, the sin, the thrill. None of them cared really and all he wanted to do now was hold her, touch her, look at her.

    - You are so beautiful. - he spoke, more to himself than to her specifically, leaning down on the bed as he spread her legs, taking his place in between them which was so familiar to him. Lee ran his knuckles through the middle of her folds, cold hands making her shiver. - Ev’ry darn day I wake up and I think, I got myself the most beautiful woman in the world.

Her eyes were glued to the ceiling, the white paint of it engulfing her as his hands caressed her thighs. All she could feel were his cold hands massaging the skin of her thighs, spreading them apart and giving him full access to her. His lips attacked her core, always chapped which made her feel so good, it made her know it was him giving her that pleasure. She moaned out loud as he dwelled in like a starved man, her head relaxing against the pillow. There was never any mercy with him, he teased her like he owned her, focusing on her clit while licking her folds. He had her exactly where he wanted her - starving for him.

   - You’re gonna see. - he mumbled out while he relentlessly ate her out. - When I’m sheriff there will be no more hidin’. No one gonna dare say anythin’ about it.

   - Lee, please ... no foreplay. - she whined, begged even as he stopped his motions. His eyes curiously searched for hers, hands pulling his body up as he stood on top of her. - I just want to feel you.

   - Weren’t you feelin’ me, sugar?

   - You know what I mean, Lee. - she wrapped her hands around his neck, head cocked to the side. - I don’t want any foreplay today.

    - Oh sugar ... - he chuckled leaning down to kiss her collarbone. - You’re just a cock slut for me, aren’t ya? Can’t just wait for me to treat ya right ain’t it, baby?

     - Lee, please. - she whined, hands wavering over his police issued chunky belt. Lee smirked, holding her hand before she could do anything. Y/N pouted, head leaning against her shoulder. - C’mon.

   - But baby, you look so pretty when you’re begging. - he returned to kiss her neck, leaving marks which were sure to become hickeys tomorrow but she didn’t care. No one was going to see it. - I was expecting you to come congratulate me in the way you always do, maybe in the back of the town hall. Hoping someone would catch us so they’d see you’re my girl.

    -  Lee ... -  she whined as he kept kissing her neck and collarbones. - Please.

    - Tell me what you want, baby. You know I do everything you want. - he rose from her neck, toothy grin as he leaned down to kiss her plump, pink painted lips. - Tell me you want my big fat cock. I know you do, baby. Tell me how much you need it. 

  - Lee ... please, need you.

  - You have me, baby, tell me what you need. Tell me what you want. - his knuckles ran through the middle of her folds again. - You’re so wet, baby. Just tell me what you want, c’mon

  -  Lee ... please. - she looked at him with those wide eyes that could get someone to commit murder for her, as he pushed down his trousers. - I want you to fuck me with your ... big fat cock, Capitain. 

  - Oh, baby ... - he leaned his forehead against hers as he pushed his cock past her entrance, eyes shut tight  as he tried to keep himself sane at the mere feeling of her walls contracting against him. His lips found hers as he shed himself fully into her. Her hand searched for his, as Lee slowly rolled his hips against hers, basking in the mere high that was being inside of her. - You okay, baby? 

  - Yeah. ... fuck, move. - she whined as he removed himself from her and pushed back in, slowly starting to rock into her as he always did. The little tease. Her hand clenched his as he speed up his thrusts, lips returning to hers in a messy, moaned filled kiss. All she could hear was the sound of skin against skin and interrupted breathing. - Lee, fuck.

  - I know, baby. - he laughed, returning to kiss her the way he liked as her walls started to clench more forcefully against his member, milking him for all he was worth. His free hand grabbed her hip as he further sped up against her, bruising her skin as his breaths got more raggedy. He bite onto her neck as he felt his control over his own orgasm disappear. 

  - Lee, fuck! - she moaned, almost raising off the bed as her own orgasm washed over her. Her head fell against the pillow, sluggish as he continued to thrust into her until ropes and ropes of cum painted her walls. He chuckled mid grunt, holding her against him as he turned around in bed. 

  - You all fucked up, aren’t ya, sugar? - he kissed the top of her head. - You’re gonna see, sugar. Things are gonna be so much better.

  - Right ... - she cuddled against his chest. - Hm ... Lee can you drive me back home early on?

  - Early shift?

  - Yeah.

  - Okay, sugar.

The morning was a harsh breaker of dreamy hazes and just like that she was back to the place where she always was, in her home, surrounded by the scent of the perfume she had bought just for him. She sat on her dress, taking the necklace he had given her from the little mother of pearl seashell shaped box and holding them against her chest. She loved him, she really did. Some people had their downfalls and hers was painted onto her neck and held by her hands. He was her downfall. 

The sun was high up on the snowy midday in Knockemstiff and once again Lee had been resigned to desk duty after the Sheriff not taking it too lightly he decided to run without his permission. Normally he would’ve been upset but he knew, he knew he was close to winning and then he could throw away those stupid hotels and just get her a little house close to him. God, he couldn’t fucking wait.

    - Captain Bodecker, someone here for you. - his secretary knocked on his door. - Mary Gillies, sir. 

    - Mary Gillies? - he knew her to be a friend of Y/N’s, perhaps her only friend other than that punk Billy. - Send her in.

    - Good afternoon, captain. - she said as she walked into his office. - I’m so sorry to be bothering but Y/N ...

    - Is she alright? - he interrupted her.

    - Yes, well ...  - she rummaged through her bag to find a cushioned envelope with his name on it. - She told me to give you this.

   - What is it?

   - I don’t know, captain. I must get going, my husband is waiting for me.

   - Of course. Thank you, Mrs. Gillies.

He waited for the woman to be out of his office and for the door to be shut for him to open the envelope. The minute he opened the envelope, pearls fell into his desk, the same pearls he had given Y/N followed by a small note in the dusty pink stationary that normally laid on her dresser. Turning it around, he saw the words he’d been dreading to read or hear ever since he met her. I’m sorry, Lee. He threw the letter on his desk before getting up from his desk as fast as he could, ignoring the calls from his colleagues as he got into his cruiser. Damned, Brewer Heights, why couldn’t it be closer?

He approached her home fast and closed the door as fastly as he ran up to the door. Her hag of a grandmother was possibly at church and he had learned where they kept the spare key; behind a violet pot. His heart was beating as fast as a deer on a hunt as he climbed up the stairs and found the once filled room was empty, with only a perfume bottle on her empty dresser. He observed the whole room as if he were in a nightmare, sitting on her bed as he clenched the pearls he had given her not so long ago, the smell of daisies in the air as some song played on the still turned on radio.

You never know dear how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away ...

taglist: @lookiamtrying​ 

[thebadboyfanclub]

Sounds Like Heaven (Klaus Mikaelson x Reader)

Y’all though I would leave... nah ah I’m back. Anyway this was requested by an anon and I wanted to kind of twist it, cause I do believe that the whole “I’m on my period and can’t lift a finger” not only is it overdone but it’s also not really believable since there are those cases of immense and unbearable pain but most women have learned how to deal with it so we overdose on pills and just move on... anyway enjoy!

“Klaus for the millionth time I am completely capable to take care of myself”

“I know that, but when do you ever let me take care of you? So be a doll, sit back and relax”

(Y/n) was always very stubborn, specifically when it had to do with Klaus seeing her as fragile. He was this invisible big hybrid that no one could really kill and she was just this mere human that he had to keep an eye out cause even a thin piece of paper could slice her skin. She had never really understood the concept of mortality until she met him, before he strolled into her life she saw herself as this strong, independent being that could take anything, yet now she had Klaus running behind her to make sure she was alright while he could take a stake to the heart on any given day without the fear of death. 

“So I bought this tea for you, it’s supposed to relax you and its infused with lavender and vanilla, do you like it?”

He asked her as he passed her the mug with the said tea. (Y/n) was in her “lady days” as Klaus would call it, which she found really weird, a vampire that has lived over decades didn’t want to say period. Klaus had seen how uncomfortable she got and how she would get random pains in her stomach, the part that was more concerning to him was during nightfall, where she would try and sleep but end tossing and turning for what felt like hours until she found a position that was comfortable and stopped the cramps. So this time he made it his mission to make her feel better and ensure that she is well taken care of.

(Y/n) took a small sip and let her taste buds judge the new hot liquid that went down her throat. She smiled at him as she let her back touch the pillows once again, nuzzling in the comfortable fluffy blankets with content

“Tastes like vanilla with caramel”

“Good, Excellent. Enjoy your tea dearest, I will make you some delicious dinner”

Klaus was aware of how much (y/n) hated soup, it made her feel like she was in a hospital or reminded her how her mom would force her to eat it when she was sick, so now as an adult soup was the devil to her. With that information he decided on making her some mashed potatoes that she seemed to find very comforting and steak with gravy, what could be more filling than that?

(Y/n)’s dinner was quite small, she wasn’t this millionaire that could afford mansions because she was alive over a century, yet that came in handy since she got to enjoy her TV series and also watch Klaus’s back while he prepared dinner. She slowly sipped on her tea and observed him as he ran around the kitchen, gathering ingredients, mixing them and putting stuff in the oven.

“Whatever it is that you are cooking it smells heavenly”

“I’m glad you like it love, just give me a few minutes to prepare my presentation”

(Y/n) giggled at how invested Klaus was at making her this dish. If you had told her that she would find a man that would prepare a meal for her because he wanted her to be happy and full during her period a year ago, she would have laughed in your face. Klaus wiped the plate to make sure there was no spills or anything unnecessary, he served it with some cold lemon tea, (y/n) wasn’t a big fan of alcoholic beverages during her meals. 

She clapped in an excited manner when she saw the tray coming to her. Her eyes where already on the plate, seeing that he had cooked her one of her favorites, of course he knew exactly what to do to cheer her up. As soon as he placed it right in front of her she took the knife and fork and dug started slicing the tender meat an took some of the mashed potatoes to smear it on her bit, when the first bite touched her tongue a little “mmmmhhh” was heard from her. 

“Oh it’s so good”

“Still got it”

“Oh yes you do, you should open a restaurant”

“Well since my sweet is in that said industry maybe when you become misses Mikaelson we can open one together”

(Y/n) was one of the few people that actually loved to work in customer service, specifically in restaurants. She loved to get closer to the customers and be part of their great meal, that’s how they had met so Klaus never minded it, although he did mind when he saw her after a particularly difficult shift, hearing her groan as she took her shoes off and complained that she smelled like food. That part to him was quite hilarious, to him she was always... edible, one way or another.

“Don’t patronize me Sir, cause I might take you up on that offer”

“I hope you do, Rebekah would be more than delighted to plan our wedding”

“Would you be okay with me walking around our mansion being pretty and hiring maids and chefs to do everything?”

“Would I be okay with having you be the madam of our household? Dearest, that sounds like heaven”

(Y/n) put her fork down for a quick minute so she can pucker up her lips and let him place a kiss to show him her appreciation. Of course she had thought of marriage, immortality with him did not sound so bad when Klaus and his family would be around, her and Rebekah had grown to be get pretty close and Elijah was always kind and helpful with her, almost like the older brother she always wanted. 

“Come now eat up, I have prepared some raspberry bavarian cream for desert”

“When did you learn how to do that?”

“To be quite honest, I saw your shampoo was with raspberry so I thought you might enjoy it”

“You spoil me way too much”

She said as she picked up the cutlery again but instead of cutting one bite for herself she offered it to him. He opened his mouth for her to feed him and smiled as they looked at each other, they were already acting like a married couple that was still on the honeymoon phase, still their honeymoon phase should have ended long time ago, now there they were still acting like 15 year old’s around one another. 

“Of course I spoil you, what other reason do you have for staying with me?”

“I can think of a few, wait a few days and I can get in more depth over them”

“Naughty little girl... I will write that down on my agenda, for now I have to go and prepare your dessert. Get ready to be amazed”

Taglist

@akshi8278

[drreidfics]

Dr. Reid and the Broken Girl pt1.

DR. REID AND THE BROKEN GIRL (Working Title)

Characters : SpencerReid x FemReader

Warnings : Abuse, Hints of Self Harm.

CAUTION // TW // THIS BOOK DEALS WITH MATURE CONTENT SUCH AS PROFESSOR AND STUDENT RELATIONSHIP, SEXUAL ASSULT, SELF HARM, MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. IT ALSO INCLUDES A LOT OF RATED-R MATERIAL. IF THIS IS TRIGGERING OR MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE THEN PLEASE DON’T READ.

Here I am again, on the floor, begging him to stop. There he is again, laughing at my pleas and forcing himself inside of me. Almost every night he climbs into my bed, then in the morning, he pretends everything is normal. When anyone is around, he acts charming. He is able to trick everyone into thinking everything is fine. Well, it's not.

My phone buzzed to life at the side of me. The alarm was going off but I had been up for hours, staring at the flecks of dust dancing around the air. The sunlight streamed in through my thin, white drapes. It was beautiful out. It was the middle of May and bound to be hot out in Arizona. I could feel the warmth on my skin already. I needed to shower and get all this sticky sweat off my skin. It wasn't even mine. I felt disgusting. His touch lingered everywhere on me. The bruises he gave me stained my skin more than the self inflicted cuts.

'Morning Ms. y/l/n. Last night was lovely. See you at lunch?'. It was a text from Mr Reid. He was my psychology professor. Older than me, at thirty, he had long dark hair and deep brown eyes. His hair curled slightly at the end. He was tall and slim. Smart and nerdy, having two degrees and a doctorate, he left his job at the FBI for something less mentally draining. He had worked there since he was twenty-two.  I was twenty-one making our age gap quite small. Look at me, trying to convince myself that it even mattered. He was a lovely guy. Friendly, and handsome. He wouldn't fall in love with a student, and if he did, that student would never be me. He was too smart for that.

"Morning Dr. Reid. Thank-you for taking me. It was a fun eve! Yes, see you at lunch. We can have a chat about the stuff we saw yesterday =)". I read the message over and over again before hitting send. I was nervous as I usually always say stupid things. My low self esteem affected me very much. I was twenty-one, already with one degree and going back to do another. I was still living at Sharon's and I haven't had a boyfriend. He texted me back instantly.

"Can't wait! Need a lift to school? =)" I smiled down at my battered iPhone 6. I couldn't afford a brand new phone. I was lucky in that I only had to work a few hours a week at the local book store and that it was something I enjoyed doing. Sharon was good to me. She helped me pay for and make my way through college. I don't know what or where I would be without her. On the other hand, she brought the human spawn of the devil into my life.

"No thnx, Luna is picking me up =)" I sent but then instantly regretted it. I love my best friend but I would have preferred a ride with Dr. Reid. Our conversations were always interesting and insightful. We could talk about a wide range of subjects for hours and it would only feel like minutes passed.

"Ok, see u soon Y/N"

I smiled, almost forgetting my problems before catching glimpse of myself in the mirror. My fragile, battered body stared back. I sighed. He could never find a girl like me attractive. Not that it mattered anyway. Silly little girl crush.

After debating whether it was best to just find the nearest bridge in town and throw my self off or get ready for school (I am very mentally unwell), I decided on the latter. Luna had already texted me to inform me that she was about to set off. Knowing Luna, which I have had the pleasure of knowing for fifteen years (no sarcasm in there), ten minutes would be ten years.

I staggered down the dreaded stairs, almost losing my footing a few times, feeling light headed. I entered the brightly lit kitchen. It was so bright that I could feel an aching behind my eyes. The decor was simplistic, all white with gold features. Classic business mom who is never home asthetic going on.

       Sharon sat at the island, face absorbed in her laptop. She was in her late forties with short, mousey hair. I believe she would be referred to as a 'Karen'. She looked nothing like Dom. She was short, like me, and fairly slim. He was tall and muscular with broad shoulders. Quarterback star player with the strength to show for it. He could snap us both in half. Dominic is Sharon's only child. Yes, that is correct. She is not my mum. I lost her.

Sharon looked up at me, flashing me a warm smile, still bashing the keys to her MacBook. She took a sip of her black coffee, nibbling on some cold toast. "You look like shit" she stated; matter of factly, her face blank.   '"Thanks?'" I answered with a raised eyebrow. I walked over to the coffee machine and put in a pod, sticking my travel cup underneath. 77Kcals of goodness. All the fuel I will need this morning. "Sweetheart, don't act like that. You know I'm just saying. You need to sleep more" '"I know" I sighed. It was true... "But that makes two of us" I retorted cheekily with a grin.        "Oh sweetheart, don't I know it" she raised her cup as if toasting the comment before gulping the last bit of coffee.

Sharon was my guardian, though not anymore as I was an adult and of drinking age. She still cared for me though as if I were her own. My mom died when I was seven and my dad had a breakdown. He couldn't cope. One day I came home from school and he was gone. He didn't say a word to anyone. He packed up his stuff and  left me. I hated him for a while. The anger within me burned to my core. After a while I felt sympathy. He didn't get the help that he needed. If he did then we both wouldn't be in this mess. We'd be happy - together. I doubt he would know how to contact me now.

Aunt Sharon took me in. She wasn't really my aunt, she was my mom's best friend. She was the only connection to my mother that I had left besides her wedding ring. She loved her dearly and I believe she loves me dearly too. It's not her fault she can't protect me. She works herself to death trying to help me live my dreams. Dom wasn't the child that she had always wanted. He is doing nothing with his life. That is something I will alway's respect of her, single mom raising her child and somebody else's.

I loved her, though she did have the tendency to dish out tough love which often was way - way too harsh. And she was always away leaving me with him. I knew that if I'd only just tell her what he was capable of... What he would do to me when she left... She'd have murdered him herself with her bare hands. But it would kill her. I couldn't do that to her. He was the only thing she had who was blood. Me, I had no-one.

"shit! Is that the time? I'm going to be late. I gotta go, honey. Say bye to Dom for me." she pleaded as she stuffed the last slice of toast in her mouth and gathered her briefcase and her keys. " ...And make sure you have something to eat. You're wasting away!"                                   "Have a good day at work Shaz" I shouted after her. I doubt that she heard me. She was out the door in seconds, jangling her keys and fighting between speaking with me and the ringtone on her work mobile. I heard her professional, scripted 'Hello, Sharon Cormack speaking' as the door slammed behind her.

I made my way through the spotless kitchen Gina, Sharon's housekeeper, always did a good job. I grabbed a bottle of water out of the integrated refrigerator. I also grabbed my iced latte from the coffee machine. It was almost half eight. My first classes start at nine and Luna still wasn't anywhere in sight. I scrambled through my purse for my phone, ready to give her a piece of my mind. That girl would be late to her own funeral.

"You're up early" a voice from behind me sneered. It took all my might to not to curl up in a ball, trembling.

"I... I have school"

No reply. I felt him creeping up behind me, felt his breath against my neck.

"I can think of something much better to do with the day baby"  he whispered as he planted acid kisses on my neck. It burned. I squeezed my eyes shut, putting my hands up defensively. He pushed my back into the counter. A sharp pain ran though me.

"Please stop. I have to go" I whispered as his hand snaked its way up my neck, fist knotting tightly in my hair.

'"Why do you think a whore like you has the right to tell me what to do, hm?"

'- Hello? Katy?'  Luna's smooth voice called out in sing song.

Oh, thank god for her and her timing. He released me from his grasp and increased the distance between us. His eyes were clouded. I could tell he was pissed. I brushed passed him, running towards Luna, who was standing by the open door. I ran straight into her arms hugging her tightly.

"I thought you'd never show." I whispered. She rested her chin on my shoulder, stroking my hair. I could tell that she was staring daggers at Dom and I could tell he didn't care. Like I said, the same routine. Every morning.

By the time lunch rolled around I had had enough. had gotten into a lot of trouble with Ms. Hallows over an overdue assignment and I had spilt water all down the front of my jeans. It looked like I had pissed myself. My saving grace is that they were dark jeans and so it wasn't too noticable. That didn't stop Georgie from laughing and calling me pissy pants for half the day.

Georgie was the kind of girl that you would avoid in high school. Everybody wanted to be her but everyone hated her so bad. She had golden brunette locks, a slim face and a petite nose. Her friends Nova and Ari were just as bad. Everyone used to tell you that when you left high school things would be different. I am sorry to inform you that they don't. Bullies stay bullies forever.

I forced my way through the groups of students, crowded together in the corridors. The last thing I wanted was to be late for my chat with Mr. Reid

"Y/N" I heard Luna calling after me. I could tell that she was chasing me through the crowd of students.  "Y/N. Look, Y/N stop." I rolled my eyes.

"What?" I snapped. I could see the hurt in her eyes. She leaned on the wall, panting. I sighed. "I'm sorry. What's wrong?" I asked. I felt bad for snapping at her. All she wanted was answers, like anyone would have after walking in on what she did. But I don't give answers. I shut down. I don't tell anyone anything. She tried talking once we got in the car. I ignored her and I ran once we'd arrived at school. She didn't even need to speak. I could just tell what she wanted to talk about from the look on her face. I sighed again.

"Luna, I can't talk about this right now."  I saw the hurt in her eyes. If I kept pushing her away then eventually she wouldn't fight to stay. 'Good', a small voice whispered in my head. Maybe that would be for the best. She deserves better. Everyone does. I could just end my life today and nobody would care. I used to fight hard against the suicidal ideations that entered my mind but now I didn't see the point.

"I have my meeting and I can't be late. Taco Bell after classes?" I asked. To my relief, she smiled and nodded, that beautiful smile that I loved so much. She was so easy to please. I smiled and walked away towards room 1980. Dr. Reid's office.

"I love you!" she shouted after me smiling.

"I love you more!"

"Lesbians" Georgie mocked. She was stood near the bathrooms. I rolled my eyes.

"Grow up"

Luna was gay but we weren't together. We had been intimate a few times but nothing had come of it. But so what if it had? We both agreed it felt weird as we had known each other as friends for so long. We didn't want to ruin anything. Luna and I had been friends ever since she opened up my juice box for me in kindergarten and then hit the girl who had stolen my straw. We had been inseparable ever since. She's been with me through thick and thin. I'd hate to think where I'd have been if she hadn't been there when my mom had died. We are and will alway's be the best of friends. In another life I could see us growing old together, adopting puppies and children but sometimes, it doesn't work out. And if you love someone, you have to let them go.

I opened the door to 1980 and as soon as I did my heart fluttered in my chest. There he was, as beautiful as ever. He looked up from the book he was reading, glasses perched on his nose and smiled, he seemed glad to see me.

"Sweetie!" he said, a smile spreading across his gorgeous lips. He's the only person who calls me that.

"Dr. Reid"  I smiled back. My smile was huge and I probably looked so dorky but I don't care. My day just got brighter. I pulled up a chair next to him and kicked my feet up onto his lap. He rested his hand on my calf.

"So what did you think to the book?"

[misstinfoilhat]

Hullo! I really love your writing, and I saw that you got a bad things happen bingo! I really love both Ed and Dazai, so I was wondering if I could request something for both of them? Maybe tied to a pole with Ed, and human shield with Dazai?? If two requests is too much, could you please do Ed? Thanks ☺️☺️❤️

Heyoo! I can do both! I have the Ed one ready now, and then I’ll do the Dazai one later! ^^ I might do some of the other stories first though--- I hope that’s okay! 

Again, this became an actual one-shot. A drabble isn’t usually 2000 words, ya know. But it was fun to write! And I’m actually really happy with the outcome!

The whole “tied to a pole” prompt was a bit unspecific to me, but here’s what I made of it:

---

Roy grit his teeth, fists clenching tightly. They all knew that the court martial’s verdict was bullshit, that the Mayor of this godless town in the south-of-nowhere was out for revenge. The humiliation of having been corrected on the history of his own town in the middle of a speech was too much for his wounded ego. The fact that representatives of the military from several other districts were present at the time, had only amplified the effects.

If Edward had only kept his mouth shut. If he hadn’t been such a bratty know-it-all, then Roy and his unit would have been on the train heading back to Central right now. They wouldn’t be standing in a crowd of people, watching as their youngest teammate was fighting his restraints, hard-handedly being escorted to the flogging pole.

The masses that had gathered to observe the disciplinary action was mixed. Some whooped and laughed, pointing while cheering for the administrator, while others turned away in outrage and disgust the moment they saw Edward’s minuscule stature and automail arm. 

“It’s just a child,” a woman behind Roy gasped, and Roy lowered his head, rubbing at his eyes.

‘I know!’ he thought. 

As the guards tried to attach Edwards’s cuffs to the pole, a wave of laughter spread through the crowd. Roy snapped his attention back to the stage, where it became apparent that Edward was too short to reach. The ropes they would tie him to weren’t long enough. 

“Yeah, go figure! They’re not meant for a child!” Havoc heckled but was quickly shut up by a sharp elbow to the side from Riza. Roy sent him a venomous glare.

“Leave it,” he hissed. “This is just for show. He can handle a few lashes. If we leave here on a bad note, we will all be court-martialed once we get back to Central.” 

Havoc scoffed. “It’s such bullshit,” he muttered, relighting his cigarette.

“I agree, but our mission was to kiss some ass and make good relations. Fullmetal did the opposite of that, and now he’s facing the consequences.” The words left a foul taste in Roy’s mouth, but it was the truth. All he had asked of the vertically challenged knucklehead, was to smile and nod as they paraded him around like a show pony. 

Eventually, someone had produced a crate from somewhere, which they placed Edward on top of. The teen was fuming with embarrassment and rage.

The large crowd settled as the Mayor walked ceremoniously to the front of the stage, unrolling a scroll and cleared his throat. 

“For the crime of breaching military code, I hereby sentence Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist to one hundred lashes,” he spoke loudly. The collective horror from the audience made him pause, however.

Something heavy settled in Roy’s stomach and he felt his knees start to wobble.

“That’s too much---” Riza gawked, aghast. The moment it had been said, Roy, Havoc and Breda had all bolted towards the stage, leaving Riza, Fuery, and Falman behind. The three exchanged glances, before rushing after them.

“That is outrageous!” Roy shouted as a guard blocked his path. “He can’t weigh more than a hundred pounds!”

“A lash per pound then,” the Mayor chuckled spitefully and glanced to where Edward was still fighting his bonds.

“That amount of lashes will kill him!” Fuery chimed in soon after, out of breath. “A man should optimally only receive fifty lashes a day, but a child his size---”

“Preposterous!”

“Barbarians!”

The crowd roared in outrage.

“-would likely not withstand more than twenty, maybe thirty---” Fuery was stopped by a hand covering his mouth. He glared back at Falman.

“Yes. As he said, twenty,” Falman inquired vigorously. 

The Mayor’s eyes hovered over the audience, furious fists being thrown in the air and voices pleading for mercy for the child. Only a few people still laughed, calling Edward a wimp, a crybaby, and other downgrading names.

Eventually, the Mayor rolled his eyes obviously and strolled back to the centerstage. He cleared his throat in an overexaggerating matter.

“On account of the kindness in my heart, I will relent to your appeal. I will change the sentence to---” he paused for dramatic effect, bathing in the sea of anticipation as all eyes were directed at him. “-forty lashes!”

“That’s still too much!” Havoc directed at Roy, eyes begging for him to do something. But all Roy could do was to shrug and shake his head gloomily.

“There’s nothing I can do. We need to be aligned with this asshole, no matter how much of a self-absorbed jerk he is.”

Havoc still argued. “But Furey said twenty lashes, and he raised it back to forty!”

“If we don’t accept this more ‘reasonable’ punishment, I’m afraid they might go back to a hundred and I’ll have to blow the tops off their heads off,” Riza joined in, hand resting instinctively by her holster. 

Their discussion was cut short at the sound of leather singing through the air, followed by the sickening noise of it smacking across flesh. The muffled groan Edward bit back made them all turn. 

The already scarred back had a glowing, red welt across the shoulder blades, and Edwards’s hands grasped at the ropes binding him to the pole as they shook by the effort of holding him up on his tippy toes. The thin scar tissue around his shoulder port was already bloodied.

Again, the flogger danced as the guard raised his hand anew and brought the spiked tip back across the feeble spine. The Mayor counted loudly as each stroke was delivered.

The seventh lash broke Edward’s skin. Crimson red merging with perspiration, running down his back and leaving small puddles of blood around his feet. As the punishment went on, his flesh broke more and more. On the seventeenth blow, the tip of the whip lodged itself underneath the plating of his automail arm.

As it was forced back out, the metal plating visibly shifted, grinding into Edward’s bones. That was the first time Edward broke his stubborn silence and let an agonizing cry cut through him. He threw his head back, revealing that he had bit his bottom lip bloody and cursed at them loudly. His body was spasming, if it was because of the flogging or the automail was hard to tell, but it was heartwrenching to witness nevertheless.

When the twentieth hit was dealt, the crowd had gone silent. A few had left, and Riza had her back turned, unable to take it any longer. She assessed her superior’s face solemnly. Roy’s eyes were dangerously narrow, and his jaw was set tight, telling her that he struggled to compose himself.

Edward had gone completely quiet behind her. The only sound that cut through the grave silence was the swishing of the whip and faint occasional moans.

As the Mayor got ready to declare the thirty-first lash, a brisk baritone voice spoke up.

“That’s enough!”

The man giving the lashes paused for a moment and looked questioningly at his superior. The Mayor glared at Roy for a moment.

“I will stop this now, if your unruly subordinate offer me a formal appology,” he smirked boastfully. 

Roy took a step forward and Riza had to keep herself from instinctively grabbing at his arm.

“With all due respect,” Roy bit, with evident sarcasm bleeding through his words, “even if he had been conscious to offer you his apologies, I would refuse to let him after your reckless, thoughtless behavior. A teenager wounding your ego is not punishable by death, nor near death. If it was, I swear Fullmetal would be administered floggings daily by myself!” Roy’s voice rose slightly, even if he was now standing only a few feet away from the podium, glaring up at the pompous man.

The Mayor assessed him lazily, arms crossed and nose raised. 

“I- I can take it,” came weakly from behind him. Simultaneously, Roy and the Mayor’s heads snapped towards the fragile voice.

Quivering feet were trying to get purchase on the wooden crate, the exhausted body swayed limblessly back and forth as he failed to keep his balance. The bright fresh blood still seeped through the several ugly lacerations crisscrossing over his sunkissed back at an alarming rate. 

“Fullmetal---” Roy disputed softly, but Edward shook his head.

“No! I can take it!” a newly found strength reached his tone. “I’m not some scrawny kid! If I can do an adult’s work, I can take an adult’s punishment!”

Edward had to pause as a few painful coughs wrecked through his weary form, robbing him of his newfound energy. A raspy intake followed, before he was ready to speak again. 

“So, just do it,” he croaked, barely above a whisper. “Give me forty, fifty, a hundred. I don’t care. Just get it over with so I can be done with this piece of shit job and go back home to my brother.” 

With a defiant stubbornness, Roy kept his stance with folded arms and looked venomously at the Mayor as he signaled for the punishment to continue. It proceeded with absolute silence, an uncomfortable aura spreading over the onlookers. Accusing and disapproving stares were cast at the man who had administered each lash. Edward had eventually given up on keeping his feet under him and hung motionlessly from the ties as the last lash hit him. 

The relieved sigh as the Mayor declared the fortieth blow was elevating. Low murmurs and quiet conversations filled the streets as the crowd thinned, and people got on with their lives, undoubtedly discussing whether or not they would want to keep such a heartless Mayor in the upcoming election.

The administrator reached to untie Edward’s wrist, but Roy skipped up on stage and demanded to do it.

Gingerly, he undid the first knot, carefully placing his arm under Edward’s to keep him from falling. Edward hissed from the contact, and Roy apologized bashfully. As he unraveled the second not, he let Ed slide down and rest on his lap.

Roy held him tightly, supporting his back with one arm while brushing strands of hair away from his face with the other. Golden half-lidded eyes peered tiredly up at him.

“I’m sorry,” Edward muttered weakly, shamefully scrunching his eyebrows together. Roy mimicked the expression in confusion.

“What? What do you have to be sorry about? You took your punishment like a champ!”

“I ruined the job,” Edward uttered quietly, straining to keep his torn bottom lip from wobbling. “They’re not gonna be our allies after this, all because I couldn’t keep my stupid mouth shut.”

The surprised scoff that tore its way through Roy’s throat startled them both. Roy’s hand kept brushing through the unruly mop of golden locks affectionately.

“He was an asshole anyway, Fullmetal. There’s no way anyone will elect him for another term after this display. Maybe a potential new Mayor was in the crowd today, watching as you took this unfair punishment with your head held high. If anything, you’ve might increase our chances of aligning with them.”

Those large, brilliant eyes widened as he looked up on him, making Roy smile fondly.

“You really think so?” Ed asked in awe, gripping at Roy’s sleeve to make him stop petting his head.

The colonel chuckled lowly, shifting a little, signaling that he was getting ready to get up.

“Yeah, I do,” he confirmed as he finally lifted Ed off the ground. Edward winched, and his grip on the older man’s sleeve grew tighter. They passed the Mayor without a word. 

A few feet away, the rest of their unit stood. Havoc was holding Ed’s red coat and delicately placed it over Edward’s trembling form as they turned to leave.

“You made me really proud today, d’you know that?” Roy murmured silently.

“Really?” a hoarse croak answered from the bundle in his arms.

“Yeah, really.”

[johnny-and-dora]

how sweet the taste of certainty

Finally, she doesn’t have to wonder if their love is doomed to be some quiet, fragile thing. It’s not some fickle flickering candle at all, but rather something as bright and as certain and as inevitable as the sunrise. Something beautiful and familiar that, in earnest, is only just beginning.

or, amy tells her parents the shining, golden reason why she can't marry teddy. (a missing scene of my royalty au)

read on ao3 / read the original  -

The morning after she asks Jake to marry her, Amy stops a couple steps short of the heavy dining room doors, heart in her mouth, feet suddenly and brutally rooted to the ground. The eloquent and respectful speech she spent all night planning has seemingly evaporated, leaving her less of a person and more a pile of nervous mush.

“Are you ready?” Rosa meets her gaze, her armour glinting in the summer morning sunshine.

“No.” Amy admits, smiling nervously, calculating the nearest escape route and how long she could survive in the forest based on her existing hunting and foraging skills. “Do you think this is a bad idea?”

Rosa considers it for a beat. “No. I think it’s crazy, and it might blow up in your face, but I think it’s a good thing. For everyone.”

She can’t help but feel reassured by her best friend’s trademark bluntness, smoothing down her dress and fixing her hair again almost compulsively. It’s just breakfast. A breakfast that may as well be taking place in the middle of a minefield, but still just breakfast. She can handle breakfast.

Amy takes a deep breath, nods at Rosa, and pushes the doors open.

She’s greeted by the tail-end of an idyllic Santiago family meal; her parents sit at the head of the table, looking stoic and serious as usual. Three of her brothers are also dotted around, Julian in the middle of shoving an entire croissant in his mouth as he waves at her. David is mercifully absent. Silver linings. She definitely doesn’t need the golden child around today.

“Amelia – good, we were starting to worry…” Her mom trails off, a weight behind her words that instantly sends an unpleasant lick of irritation down her spine. She clenches her fists, resisting the urge to tell her just how much she really needs to be worried about. Just how close she was to smuggling herself and Jake over the border last night and never looking back.

Amy knows this won’t work unless she’s calm, firm and collected – she needs this to go perfectly, the stakes for this particular conversation so far past the roof they’re practically up in the stratosphere (Jake’s words, not hers). So, instead of letting out all the latent anger kicking around in her chest, she takes a deep breath and smiles politely, the one usually reserved for dukes that condescendingly call her “sweetheart” and then drop their jaws when she can recite state law from memory.

“You guys said you wanted to see me?”

“Prince Theodore has been asking after you. He’s waiting at the West Wing gate.”

“Good. I need to talk to him.” Amy says, forcefully enough that her mother sharply raises an eyebrow, sucking all the air out of the room in the process. “I need to talk to you, too.”

Her mom and dad share a quick, loaded glance. Everyone falls quiet, Tony and Simon no longer squabbling over who gets the last bread roll, Julian letting a blob of jam fall on his shirt without noticing. All eyes are on her as Victor gestures for her to continue – ideally, she’d do this with as little of an audience as possible, but she confesses to Jake later that she couldn’t help but revel slightly in the drama of it all.

She’s Amy Santiago – she’s fluent in five languages, director of the royal art collection, ambassador for human rights and one of the best trade negotiators in the seven kingdoms. She is capable of anything. She can do this. She’d barely last a week in the forest anyway.

“I’m not going to marry him.”

“Amelia…” Her mother sighs disapprovingly – it drills into Amy’s soul, but she stands her ground, making peace with her portrait being one step further away from the mantel. Her father eyes her warily as if he was expecting this.

“No, I know. I know you think it’s what’s best for me. I know a marriage like that worked for you two, and I know that it would benefit the kingdom and that’s great. But I can’t marry someone I don’t love, and you can’t force me to.”

“Accepting his proposal may seem like a risk, but a one worth taking.” Her father says. “He’s good for you, Amy – his reputation, his influence, it could really help you build something. You two are perfectly matched.”

Amy chews her bottom lip, a nervous tic she just can’t shake, gathering her courage. “Maybe in a different situation, Teddy and I would have worked. I see what you see in him. But it’s more than just on principle. I physically can’t marry him.”

“Why not?”

“Because - “Amy says, voice shaking a little, but eyes alight, “-I’m engaged to someone else.”

And, well, there it is. Her whole life changed by a single sentence.

It has the intended effect, increased tenfold thanks to a truly magnificent spit take from Julian as he chokes on his orange juice. Her parents stare at her in stunned disbelief – a wide-eyed Tony pats Julian on the back as his coughing dissolves into laughter. Best of all though, Amy can see Rosa smiling wide and proud in the corner of her eye, and it’s all she needs to feel newly emboldened, heart thumping in a way that makes her feel powerful instead of helpless.

“My God, Amy. I thought I had it with the whole one-night-stand with the Prince of Arabia thing, but you officially just won most dramatic family announcement. Well played.” Julian laughs, uproarious and bright. She’s glad he’s here.

“I…don’t understand. You are…already engaged?” Her mother asks weakly.

“As of last night, yes.” Amy tries to remain as neutral and matter-of-fact as possible, but she can’t help softening at the fresh memory of Jake saying yes over and over again, punctuating each affirmation with a kiss as she laughed, buoyant and alive with unadulterated joy. It’s all still very surreal, especially considering she hasn’t slept since; but if it is all a dream, it’s one she never intends to wake up from.

“I don’t see a ring,” Julian says, a bright grin plastered on his face that Amy ever so slightly mirrors, unable to completely tamp down her happiness any longer. “Isn’t there supposed to be a ring?”

“There is, but he has it. I proposed to him.”

“Oh, of course you did.” Julian shakes his head in a perfect marriage of awe and amusement.

“How…what…who…” Tony stammers – having graciously passed the point of no return, Amy decides to throw all her caution and concern to the wind and dive headfirst into the unknown.

“His name is Jake Peralta and he is the absolute love of my life. I have never been surer about anything than I am about that fact.” She consciously pours every ounce of conviction she has into her words, and it tastes like honey on her tongue, fresh air in her lungs. “He’s a baker and he helps out in the kitchen with Charles and he is the kindest, most loyal, most wonderful person I have ever met.”

There are so many ways to describe him – completely unexpected, completely full of warmth and laughter and more love than she thought any human being was capable of containing. Loving Jake is endlessly surprising, but it’s also the easiest thing she’s ever done.

“I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d never approve of me being with someone who didn’t have ‘reputation’, but the truth is that Jake is good for me in a way that Teddy could never be. He is unconditionally supportive and thoughtful, and he sees me for me, not just as a status symbol or some idealised fairy-tale. I love him and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him.”

She says her piece, affection flowing from her almost of its own accord. As she does, she’s flooded with memories – throwing grapes at each other at the picnic they shared in the wildflower meadows beyond the gates. Jake smuggling cupcakes to her to cheer her up on bad days. Him clumsily risking his life climbing through her bedroom window just to help her rehearse her big address at a formal dinner, planting a kiss on her forehead every time she got through a cue card.

Their walks around the castle grounds, laughing at stupid inside jokes. Playing cards in the kitchens with Charles, Terry and Rosa. Teaching him how to paint and sketching him in increasingly ridiculous poses. Having dinner with his mom. Stealing away moments behind the stables and on staircases. Most vividly, their countless private rendezvous in the forest, free of all façades and responsibilities and reputations to uphold.

Amy refuses to hide any of it anymore – he is, openly and unashamedly, the man she loves.

No-one speaks, for a little while; she lets her honesty sink in. Her mother is wearing a look of abject horror – her dad’s expression is stony and unreadable, and it startles her when he is the first one to break the silence, directly addressing Rosa standing guard by the door.

“Diaz. Is all of this true?” Rosa glances at Amy, who gives her an encouraging nod. She knows her father has always valued Rosa’s directness as much as Amy does.

“Yes, sir.” She pauses. “And for the record, I’ve known both of these people a long time, and this is the happiest I’ve seen either of them. It’s kind of sickening, actually.”

Her parents exchange glances, a silent conversation Amy isn’t privy too – she’s too busy feeling her heart swell with further affection, this time for her best friend. She and Jake owe so much to Rosa helping them out, relaying messages back and forth and covering for them. When this is all over, Amy’s definitely embroidering a thank you pillow for her to punch.

“I see. Will you please bring this Jake Peralta here for me?” His tone is even and calm, almost unnervingly so. Rosa nods, quickly disappearing. She knows exactly where Jake will be; in the kitchens, probably stress eating day-old pastry and getting a last-minute pep talk from Charles (which is guaranteed to be largely unhelpful and delivered through hysterical tears).

She’d warned him that they’d probably want to meet him; he’d expressed anxiety about it last night, but Amy had quickly reassured him that no-one else’s opinion mattered to her about this. They’re getting married, whether her parents approve or not.

Obviously, she wants them to like him. She’s dedicated a lot of time to making sure he knows he is loved and accepted, and she’s willing to work even harder to wax lyrical about how wonderful he is for the rest of their lives if she has to. For now, though, she just has to focus on not getting them both exiled.

Her dad calmly asks her brothers to leave the table – Julian mutters in protest as he exits, only stopping to brightly clap Amy on the shoulder and earnestly congratulate her with an enthusiastic high five.

“He sounds great, mimi. I can’t wait to meet him.” For once, her older brother is completely sincere, save perhaps for the suggestive wink he gives her, and it’s a touching gesture that eases some of the relentless anxiety building in her gut. Amy dreads to think how insufferable the pair will be when they do finally meet. She can’t wait either.

Part of her is absolutely fucking terrified to be left alone with her parents with her open defiance and violation of their wishes hanging so ominously in the air – Amy Santiago has never been a rule breaker. She’s always worn the stupid fancy dresses even when she’s dying for something more practical and let Gina give her more and more complicated and ridiculous hairstyles and politely mingled with the endless line of boring high-status bachelors as her parents watched on hopefully. She’s always played the role of the only princess to perfection.

But then she thinks of little six-year-old Amy demanding that she be taught the same combat training as her brothers and twelve-year-old Amy petitioning to allow female members into the Royal Guard and, well. They really should have seen this coming from a mile away.

Thankfully, it doesn’t take long before Rosa strides back in, a clearly nervous Jake hurrying forward in her wake. For a moment, her original plan of whisking him away to start a simple life together swims into her head, a powerful urge to protect him surging over her.

But then their eyes meet, and he waves, a small nervous smile on his face. And then she notices, as it catches the sunlight streaming in through the window and glitters as if enchanted, the engagement ring hung proudly around his neck. And she just knows, as sure as the sun will rise, that they can handle anything.

“I understand that you are engaged to my Amy.”

“Yes, sir.” Jake rocks on his heels slightly, nervously fidgeting the way he always does when he’s anxious. “I’m very lucky to know her and I love her very much.” It’s not the most eloquent speech ever performed in this great hall, but it’s by far her favourite.

“How do I know you are good enough for my only daughter?”

“Oh, there’s no way I’m good enough for Amy. She’s the most incredible person I’ve ever met and the best thing that’s happened to me.” He steps closer to her, silently taking and squeezing her hand as he speaks. “But she still chose me, and I promise you that I will spend every moment of the rest of my life trying to be someone worthy of being loved by her.”

She wants to scream from the top of her lungs that he is completely and utterly good enough, and she wants to hurt anyone who has ever made him feel otherwise. Instead, she squeezes back, and mouths I love you while her parents exchange another hushed conversation.

“Well then - it appears there’s nothing we can do to stop you. Nor do I think we should try.” It could be a trick of the light, but she swears that she sees a glimmer of pride in her father’s eye. Her mom clears her throat, clearly still struggling to comprehend the situation.

“Mija, what we want most for you is for you to be happy. Does he make you happy?” She asks – Amy glances at the man beside her and finds her best friend, her fiancé, her favourite person. Easiest solve in the world.

“More than anything.”

“Then that settles that. You two have our blessing.” Her father says, as simply as if he was commenting on the weather. Amy blinks once, then again, her grip on Jake’s hand getting tighter.

“We…we do?”

“Yes, you do. We clearly have much to discuss, but I must first inform Prince Theodore that other arrangements need to be made.”

“I…wow. Thank you. Thank you, so much, I…” Her brain appears to be malfunctioning, so she does the only thing that feels right; she hugs her parents, whispering another strangled thank you, and then hastily pulls a stunned Jake out of the room, now squeezing his hand so tightly it’s probably cutting off all the circulation. If it does hurt, he doesn’t say anything – then again, in the moment neither of them seems able to speak.

She drags him into the nearest room; Holt’s classroom which, blessedly, is currently empty. Heart pounding, she finally meets Jakes gaze. He looks like he’s just found the end of a rainbow.

“Did they just…”

“Yeah. Yes. I think they did.”

“So, we’re…”

“Getting married. Yep. That is a thing that is officially happening.”

There’s a single moment before they’re both collapsing into shocked, near-hysterical laughter, an amalgamation of relief, disbelief, exhaustion and above all else, joy. Amy practically throws herself around him, performing some kind of strangled hybrid of laughing and crying as she buries herself into his shirt.

They stay like that for a while, completely wrapped up in each other. It could be seconds or minutes or maybe even hours – she doesn’t care. Time has ruled their life together for so long; now, it’s an insignificant enemy, no longer precious, unpredictable or finite. It’s bliss.

“Hey, listen. Rosa told me, uh, what you said. To your parents. About me being the love of your life and all that.” Jake says, suddenly adorably shy.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. She said it with a disgusted look on her face, but I think she’s secretly rooting for us.”

Amy hums in contentment, making a note to call her a secret sap and then hug her the next time she sees her. Jake clears his throat nervously, calling her attention back to him, all soft and warm honey gaze.

“You’re mine too, by the way.” He says sheepishly. “Just in case…I mean I hope you that know by now, but-“ She smothers his nervous ramblings with a firm kiss, finally. Finally, the abstract brush-strokes and subtle hues of the future they could have together come into sharp focus, vivid and prismatic.

Finally, she doesn’t have to wonder if their love is doomed to be some quiet, fragile thing. It’s not some fickle flickering candle at all, but rather something as bright and as certain and as inevitable as the sunrise. Something beautiful and familiar that, in earnest, is only just beginning.

“I love you.”

“I love you too, future wife.” He grins, kissing her again. She’s sure, now, as her lips meld to his that he is the person she was always meant to come home to, to find a home in.

Amy feels a wave of exhaustion overwhelm her; now that the adrenaline is wearing off, the unfortunate side-effects of not sleeping for almost twenty-four hours rapidly take hold. She barely suppresses a yawn, scrunching up her nose as Jake looks at her fondly.

“You wanna go back to bed? I happen to know an excellent nap partner.”

“Oh, great, me too. I’ll see if Hitchcock’s available.” She says, laughing when Jake pouts in offence, draping her arms around him, leaning up so that their noses are almost touching.

“It’s our first day together as an engaged couple. I want to do something special.”

“Ames, we have the rest of our lives to do something special.” He says, gazing down at her with so much undiluted affection that her resolve completely melts away. The rest of their lives. She really likes the sound of that.

“Okay, napping sounds pretty good right now too.”

“Good, because we have about five minutes until I collapse from twelve hours straight of nervous hysteria. Would you mind carrying me to your bedroom?”

She rolls her eyes and shoves him, but also offers him her hand. They soon collapse into Amy’s four-poster bed, quickly pulling the covers over their heads, wriggling around and fighting for space while they giggle like little kids. Amy sleepily leans into him when they’re all settled in, and she’s never felt safer than she does now, being lulled to sleep by the steady rise and fall of his chest.

“We’re getting married.” She whispers reverently, eyelids heavy – she feels his lips gently ghost against the top of her head in response, perhaps subconsciously as if he were made to do it. They drift off, and the last of her anxiety ebbs and flows away as if merely a bad memory.

It’s the best sleep either of them has had for months.

[theangriestpea]

In the Shadows : Six

Summary: Jughead Jones, resident werewolf, just wants to protect his family and his pack from the incoming doom of The Red Circle. Sweet Pea and Lily join him to help keep the Southside safe from human tyranny. Meanwhile a demon princess named Myra and succubus named Lavender had a plan to bring on the apocalypse. <ao3> <masterlist> <playlist>

Rating: Mature // Explicit

Pairings: Jughead Jones x OC, Sweet Pea x OC, Kurtz x OC

Warnings: Smut (now with plot!)

Word Count: 5.5k+

A/N:  Oh dang I'm getting out so much content now that I'm stuck at home its crazy. I wrote this chapter in two days. I haven't updated a fic this quickly since I first started MK last February. This chapter is much more mellow than the last. I know I made SP a bit of a horrible asshole but he will get a redemption later. Top and bottom images were made by @the-gargoyle-queen

Part Six: White Lights

Sweet Pea only felt remnants of his departed soul when he slept. And during his slumber after his last run-in with the sex demon, he felt tremendous guilt for how he had treated her. It ate away at him like millions of ants devouring a ripe piece of fruit that had fallen to the ground. When did he get so cruel? She was going to have his child and he treated her as if she were an old bag of trash. Hell, he treated her worse than if she were trash.

He could feel his soul being tortured in hell. It was distant, like a foggy memory, but it was there. He knew that if he were to ever get it back then he would never be the same as he was before. That kind of darkness carries weight.

He wondered how he could be a good father to Daisy when he was acting the way he was. Also at odds with Lily and now brutally indulging his greatest desires and whims with a demon that he should have no dealings with. A demon which Lily had decided to let into their idiotic alliance so that he can’t be free of her just yet. He wished he had killed her. There was no way he could do that now, soul or no soul, he would not take the life of a woman pregnant by his own seed.

Then came the aching pain of knowing he’d never see his child. It would take a miracle for her to not be taken from him. This is what the cards meant and he was sure of it. They read this situation loud and clear. If only he had done a reading sooner, then perhaps he could have avoided all of this.

But for now, it was too late.

In Sunnyside Trailer park, Lavender was healing her wounds. They were superficial, mostly deep bruises and small muscle tearing. There had been minimal bleeding but she wasn’t surprised due to how rough he had been. Myra was pacing, her energy giving out an obscene amount of pressure. That foul witch had hurt her demon. Worse of all, her demon let him. She could have ended his life as soon as he got rough with her but she didn’t. She didn’t and Myra was beyond reproach.

Myra had to punish her. She knew this and she knew exactly how she would. Hellfire could burn through anything, even the flesh of a demon. She would wait until Lavender had fully healed herself and then she would strike while putting a protection spell on the baby so it would not be harmed in the process.

Lavender was oblivious as she combed through her hair, humming an ancient hymn that allowed her body to heal much faster than it’s already naturally increased speed. She was wearing an oversized t-shirt and underwear but nothing more. Charlie had not come home and she was instantly grateful because she was not sure what Myra would have done to her at a time like this. She knew Myra was angry. What she didn’t know was how angry.

Once she was finished, she stood. Myra had fed her a soul to get her through the night since she didn’t hunt. She had been brought straight home to take care of her shame. Well, Myra called it shame. Lavender called it a good night’s workout.

She made her way to the bed, laying down and stretching out like a starfish. Her bed was big enough for two people but it was nice to not have to worry about hitting someone else during a good stretch.

Myra approached her, fingers crackling with magic. A look of alarm crossed Lav’s face. She knew that sound. She knew it all too well. “What are you doing?”

The princess was on top of her, holding her down by the shoulder with her right hand while her left was over her stomach. Lav could feel a barrier being put up inside her. The bottom of her chest cavity and below were protected with an invisible magical bubble. Her hazel eyes were wide with terror. There were some types of pain even a masochist such as herself didn’t handle well.

Her right hand was suddenly engulfed in a blue flame. Lavender screamed with pain so great that the walls of her trailer vibrated from the sound. Her own magical energy was surging and the pulse of it caused a nearby vase of black dahlias to fall over and shatter on the floor.

The contact only lasted a few seconds, but it was enough to nearly throw her into unconsciousness. When Myra retracted her hand, Lav tried looking at her but her vision was too clouded by tears. “You are to stay away from that stupid warlock, you understand me?” She hissed. “No more sex without taking souls. You need to feed more instead of messing around with mangy wolves and empty husks.”

She took her left hand away, straddling Lav’s thighs now. “I have to go to hell for a few days. I will not be here to protect you. Kurtz will be around but he’s not dependable in his current state. That witch hurt him pretty badly the other night and he needs time to heal. You have to stay out of trouble. Do you get that, you little whore?”

Why Sweet Pea called her a whore it was enticing. When Myra did it, it was degrading. She found herself wanting to scream but the sound was lodged in the muscles of her throat. The only movement she could manage was the involuntary trembling of her body. “Y-yes,” She managed to gasp out with great difficulty.

Myra got off of her fully then, sliding off the large bed. “Good. If you’re lucky, that’ll heal pretty quickly and you won’t starve too much. Don’t worry, the bringer of the end is protected for now. She is safe but you are not. If you die then she will too. The spell will be void. So don’t be a fucking idiot because I will raise your soul from the depths of hell and make you start all over again.”

After one more hiss of a curse, the demon princess was gone.

Back in Fox Forest, in the small cottage that housed a two-witch coven and a baby witch in training, Lily awoke with a start. She was panting heavily, sweat trailing down her brow. The rest of the house was asleep, the eerie quietness of the house settling caused her nerves to rev up even more. Someone was hurt. Someone….

Lily didn’t need to be particularly close to a person to grow an internal connection to them. It was one of her born talents that she could sense others from distances if she had some kind of dealings with them. Some were stronger than others. Sweet Pea she used to feel very strongly however since losing his soul there would be times when there was no connection at all. It left her feeling hollow.

But this was not Sweet Pea, though he was in distress from his dreams as he had been since the night he met Lavender. She would sometimes utter a spell under her breath to calm him, other times she’d go into the living room and pet his hair to try and soothe him. Either of these usually worked for a brief amount of time.

The pain she was feeling was not hers but that didn’t make it any less palpable. It was great, overwhelming, and she knew that the person that was in trouble was the succubus that lived down the street from the Jones trailer. She was in incredible agony and the thought of losing a powerful ally had her jumping out of bed.

She grabbed her cell phone as she dressed, cutting it on speaker. A few moments later a very groggy werewolf answered. “Lily? What’s wrong?”

“Lav is hurt, we need to go to her.” Lily said, buttoning a red flannel shirt over her black tank top. “It’s bad, I’ll have to bring Sweet Pea and Daisy. He’s better at making potions and salves and I have a feeling she’ll need one.”

The wolf was silent before she heard a loud yawn. It brought a small smile to her worried face. “I’ll meet you over there. Don’t go alone. The vargulf has been hanging around the park lately.”

“I will.” She murmured while chewing on her lip. Her anxiety was spiking even more now. “Don’t worry. Just get over there.”

Jughead disconnected the call and got ready to go see what was wrong with his demon neighbor while Lily threw her hair up into a tousled bun before going into the living room and waking Sweet Pea.

“What?” He asked, annoyed that he had been awoken but also happy to no longer be dreaming of hell. The guilt he felt while asleep quickly dissolved into apathy. “The sun’s not even up, Lily, Jesus Christ.”

“Lavender is in danger. We need to go help her.” Lily said, “We have to bring Daisy, I might need your help.” Before he could respond she started throwing the ingredients used for healing remedies into a backpack along with a few tools to mix them with.

Sweet Pea was quiet, an odd feeling in his chest. It was as if he didn’t know if he should care or not. He decided to not. “I don’t care. She’s a demon, she can take care of herself.” Though the thought of her being with his child almost instantly changed his mind. He swung his legs over and stood up, ruffling his hair with his hand. “Whatever, I’ll pack Daisy’s diaper bag.”

While he was collecting things for his little girl, he could sense Lily’s distress growing more. He swallowed the uneasy feeling gathering in the base of his throat. Did this have something to do with what had happened at the Wyrm earlier that night? Would she point a finger at him? Would her little demon master smite him with revenge? His fragile mortality was hanging heavy in the back of his mind. He wouldn’t age without a soul but he could still die.

He picked up the sleeping toddler who stirred minimally in his arms. Once she was secure he met with Lily in the entrance hall. “Ready?” She asked and he simply nodded in return.

They hopped into the beat up saturn that Lily had managed to procure a few years back. Sweet Pea put Daisy in her carseat before getting into the driver’s side. It only took about ten minutes to get to the trailer that Lily pointed out to him. The pain on her left side was growing worse and she had to grab her shoulder to try and keep it in check.

Her state had Sweet Pea even more worried. Lily’s empathetic abilities allowed her to feel what others felt. If she was in this much pain then the demon must be even worse off.

Jughead was standing on the steps outside, ears covered as the demon’s cries were too much for his sensitive ears.

“Why the hell is he here?” Sweet Pea seethed, not wanting to deal with the wolf any more than he had to.

“I called him. He’s going to help us.” Lily said before getting out of the car with the supplies, “Grab Daisy!”

Sweet Pea got his daughter and her diaper bag and carried her inside. The screams weren’t nearly as loud for him as they were for Jughead. He could barely hear them while outside but the sound made his blood run cold.

Jughead broke the door down and ran inside with Lily at his heels. Sweet Pea was a few paces behind them, not nearly as eager to go inside. His heart and his brain were having a fierce battle on whether or not they should even be here in the first place. Currently his heart was winning but who knew how long that would last.

The wolf found Lavender in her bedroom, on her bed, immobilized by pain. The smell of burnt flesh invaded his senses and nearly blinded him. He put a hand over his nose as he moved to her side. “Lavie, hey, we’re here. It’s okay.”

Lavender stopped, hand on her stomach as her eyes opened to see Jughead. She was crying black tears which was only something she did when she was really hurting. The entirety of her eyes were jet black, putting the three back in shock for a solitary second. Jughead could see the singed edges of the shirt she was wearing and in the gaping hole was a handprint, still burning with magical flame. They were low blue licks that caught nothing else on fire and only came up a few millimeters off her flesh.

“Hell fire.” Lily breathed as she moved to the other side of Lavender. She checked the baby first and noticed the protection spell on the lower half of the demon’s body. “Lavender, I’m going to try to heal you but it’s going to take a lot of work, okay?” Lav’s only response was a groan of pain. She didn’t even notice Sweet Pea in the room.

Sweet Pea’s worries dissipated as soon as he knew she wouldn’t die and the child was safe. He no longer cared to help either of them, but knew he’d have to or else Lily might hex him. He wasn’t exactly in the mood for that right now.

“Get to work making a burn salve, Sweet Pea, she’s going to need it.” Lily instructed, “put Daisy down on the chair over there, she’ll be fine.”

There was a plush loveseat along the wall. He gently laid down the little girl, surprised that she hadn’t woken up. He made sure she still had her favorite stuffed black cat in her arms. She couldn’t sleep without it.

He looked through the materials Lily packed and noticed the ingredients he needed were all there. He got to making it as Lily had asked It would take a few hours to finish and she needed it done as soon as possible.

Lily looked at Jughead, “can you rip her shirt more? I need better access. Don’t touch the flames.” Jug nodded and grabbed the edges of the shirt and ripped it so that the hole was much larger. The serpent tattoo on her breast was now visible.

The witch gently grabbed the sides of Lavender’s face. “Lav, I need you to breathe, okay? You need to relax as much as you can. I know it hurts.” She could feel the succubus draining a bit of her energy, most likely on accident. The more pain she was in the less control she’d have.

The succubus struggled to do as Lily was telling her. She was worried if she opened her mouth then she’d start screaming again. She didn’t want to do that. Slowly she began to regulate her breathing, her dark eyes locked with Lily’s.

Lily did not move her hands. She took a deep breath to concentrate, whispered a prayer to her matrons, and began to mouth the lost words of one of the most powerful healing spells she knew. The longer she kept physical contact, the more that was drained from her, but she knew that her energy would be just as healing as the spell.

Jughead watched in awe as the blue flames slowly diminished. It wasn’t instantaneous, rather maybe half an hour of chanting until it was finally all the way gone. The pain ebbed slowly from both Lily and Lav. Lav was close to unconsciousness as her body worked to try and heal itself.

Lily frowned, “your magic is weak otherwise you could probably heal yourself.”

“I had to heal myself earlier.” Lav confessed, her voice raspy with fatigue. She had fed off of Lily involuntarily but she had not taken her soul, just simply her essence. “I used what I had left to keep from passing out.”

The witch’s brow furrowed as Jughead looked perplexed. “Did whoever did this hurt you earlier too?” The wolf asked.

Sweet Pea stiffened. He knew he was the one that had done it. He glared up at the demon from his place on the floor. Their eyes met briefly and Lily’s narrowed in suspicion.

“No,” Lav said truthfully. But the truth stopped there, “something went wrong when I was feeding. I was careless and was injured. I was...punished for being reckless.” And so the truth returned.

As soon as Lily pulled her hands away from the demon, she collapsed onto the bed. Jughead jumped across and caught her before she could fall, awkwardly hovering above Lavender in the process. “I’m sorry,” Lavender murmured, too weak to project her voice, “I took too much, I’m sorry.”

“That’s not it.” Lily said, feeling as if there was a heavy weight on her chest that prevented her from taking deep breaths. “That took a lot of magic that I didn’t really have.”

Sweet Pea frowned as he stood, abandoning his work for the time being. “You need-”

“I know what I need to do, Sweet Pea! And I’m not doing it with you!” Lily snapped at him. “Lav is too weak to do it either.”

Jughead cocked his head to the side, understanding that they were talking about sex. Sex was the quickest way to build up your magic reserves as no magic was as powerful as sex magic. Especially sex between soulmates.

Of course the only one that knew they were soulmates was Lavender, and while she planned on biding her time before mentioning this, it seemed like as good a time as ever. “Lily…” She mumbled and the three others stared at her again. “It has to be Jughead.”

Jughead and Lily’s faces both blossomed a brilliant shade of red. He suddenly pulled away from her and she slowly slid to a sitting position on the floor. “W-what?” The witch managed to sputter.

Sweet Pea was glaring again, “She’s not fucking that lowlife mutt. She’s too good for him.”

“No,” Lav countered, “she’s too good for you.”

The warlock nearly lost himself to his rage but quickly reigned it in. Perhaps the demon had a point. Soulless Sweet Pea wasn’t good enough for anyone but the sex demon that took his life from him. His fists and teeth clenched, his jugular throbbing on the side of his neck. He wanted to say something to refute her claim, but had had nothing clever to say.

“I am amazed how blind you are to your own hearts.” Lav said weakly, fading in and out. “Do you not feel the connection yet? Or are you just hoping it’ll go away? You’re a witch, you should have recognized it by now.”

Lily was frowning. She did feel a connection to the Jones wolf but she didn’t know why. It was a foreign feeling, nothing like what she had once felt for Sweet Pea. “No, I...I don’t know.”

Jughead was looking between them, “what are you talking about? What connection?”

“Your souls are tied together, Jug.” Lavender replied, “you’re soulmates. Lily will be at her most powerful when you two are finally together and I’m afraid I don’t have time to wait on you two to figure it out for yourselves.”

Sweet Pea stormed from the room, slamming the door so loudly that Daisy finally did wake up crying. Lily tried to go to her, but fell as soon as she tried to stand. Jughead smiled and went and picked up the frightened toddler. “It’s okay, flower bud, mommy is right there.”

“Puppy?” She mumbled, looking up at Jug with wide but sleepy green eyes.

He turned so that Daisy could see her mother. The little girl smiled before yawning. “Go back to sleep, baby.” Lily said softly, “Mommy and daddy had an errand to run and we couldn’t leave you by yourself. You’re safe, just go back to sleep.”

Jughead set Daisy down back on the loveseat. The little girl curled up with her stuffed cat and easily drifted back off to sleep.  The wolf looked at Lily with a small smile of triumph, as if he somehow had aided the toddler into going back to sleep.

“You must do it tonight, Lily.” Lav urged before wheezing painfully. “It must be done tonight.”

“I know.” Lily murmured, “Let me talk to Sweet Pea, he will stay here with you while we…” The residual blush that was still on her face darkened considerably. “You know.”

The demon didn’t hear her as she finally had drifted into an uneasy slumber. Lily frowned, worried about her as Jughead helped her to stand. “I’ll be fine, just give me a few minutes to calm him down.”

Jug nodded to her and helped her to the door before stopping and letting her go on her own. She stumbled, leaning against the wall for support as she made her way into the living room of the trailer. “Sweet Pea.” She said tiredly as she looked at him.

He was sitting on the couch, head in both of his hands as he shook with rage and sorrow. How could he think that he still had a chance with her? How could he think that he could have made it work? She was completely lost to him now and he felt as if he was left with nothing. Would she take Daisy with her? Shut him out? He couldn’t lose her too.

“I want my soul back.” He seethed, because somehow that’s when all of this began. His downfall was due to his lack of spirit and he needed it back because he needed something to cling to. “You have to bring it back.”

Lily was quiet. She had brought the soul back to a bird once, but it had just departed. Sweet Pea’s soul has been in hell for weeks. The condition it would be in upon its return was unknown. He might be worse off. “I will do my best. Will you do something for me until then?” She asked softly.

He looked up at her, brown eyes hard and jaw set firm. “What?” He said, sounding more ungrateful than he meant to.

“Finish the salve for Lavender and put it on her wounds. It’s the least you could do for hurting her earlier.” Lily said, making her suspicions known. She watched him carefully to see how he’d react. She’d know for sure if she was right based on that.

Sweet Pea stiffened. He didn’t want to admit to what he had done. Perhaps Lily knew how out of control he could be. How selfish of a lover he was. The look on her face was non judgmental, but he still felt as if she was bearing a weight down on him. Eventually he let out a sigh of defeat. Some things just weren’t worth denying. “Fine, it’ll be done in an hour.”

The white witch nodded, “I’ll be taking Jughead and Daisy back to the cottage. You’ll need to stay here. I’m worried that the other demon will come back and hurt her again. You’re the strongest one of the three of us right now.”

Sweet Pea said nothing as he stood and brushed past her, shoulders bumping. He didn’t apologize as he went back into the bedroom and kissed his daughter on the forehead. “You’re not going to take her away from me.” He whispered darkly to Jughead who was still  present.

“I don’t want to.” Jughead said earnestly. “I wouldn’t dream of it. You’ll always be her father.”

The warlock seemed to relax a small bit at that but he was still on edge with the thought that the wolf and Lily were soulmates. It just didn’t seem fair.

Lily came back in and managed to pick up Daisy. “Jug, can you get her diaper bag? We’ll take the car. I’ll pick up Sweet Pea in the morning.”

Jughead nodded and retrieved the bag while Sweet Pea went back to work on the medicine.

About ten minutes later, after an incredibly awkward car ride, Lily arrived at the cottage with her soulmate and child in tow. She put Daisy back in her own bed before taking Jughead to hers. She nervously shut the door and was unsure on what to do next. She rubbed her upper arm with her opposite hand and shifted awkwardly.

“I know this is a shitty way to have to start a relationship.” Jughead said, “but we have to do this to protect everyone, including  yourself and your family.” He reached out and grasped both her wrists before pulling her to him. “I never had the nerve to tell you how amazing your scent is.”

He leaned down, lips brushing against her neck. Lily shuddered as her shoulders relaxed. “It’s intoxicating, I can’t think straight when you’re close to me.” He slowly moved upwards, planting kisses between phrases. “And you’re so beautiful, I can’t imagine why Sweet Pea would have wanted to hurt you the way he did.”

He progressed to her jawline, trailing closer to her mouth. “I will never harm you.” He kissed her on the lips. He was purposefully being slow and gentle, wanting her to know that he had the utmost respect for her and would only do what she felt comfortable with.

Lily was already melting against him, eyes shut as she kissed him back. Her mouth opened for his tongue and the two collided in a sensual dance. Kissing him was almost the polar opposite of Sweet Pea. She felt fireworks in her fluttering heart and happiness blooming in her veins. She had no idea a kiss could even feel this way.

They only separated when they needed air and only then for a brief moment. Clothes were lost, thrown haphazardly onto the floor. Somehow they made it to the bed. Jughead was on top with Lily splayed out beneath him. His fingers trailed down her body. First they ran along her clavicle before dipping lower to her breast. He gave a tentative squeeze and elicited a mewl of excitement from her.

His thumb glanced over her nipple and another pleased sound came out of her. Jug couldn’t help but smirk into their kiss before breaking it. He had a feeling Sweet Pea wasn’t the most gracious of lovers in the sack, but he sure was. His mouth trailed down and captured her other breast, tongue doing what his thumb just had. Lily gasped out in surprise.

The hand that was on her chest then moved down lower to cup her heat slowly. His palm grinding against her clit as the tip of his finger probed her entrance. Lily tensed for a moment with uncertainty before relaxing again. Her hands were on his shoulders, squeezing gently to reassure him that she was okay.

His middle finger slowly made its way past her entrance and into her core, moving at a languid pace. Lily’s hips were moving slightly to try and feel more, impatience made by her own desires to be loved.

Jughead continued to suck lightly on her breast, nipping at her nipple on occasion. Lily’s hips and spine rolled behind him as she squirmed, moaning softly at his teasings. He increased the speed on his finger before adding a second. Her moans went up a decibel at the new fullness she was feeling, his palm still rubbing on his clit.

She wanted to touch him, to feel him. She reached down and gently touched the tip of his penis, unable to reach much more due to the position he was in. He moved so she could grasp his shaft and lightly pump him.

It was Jughead’s turn to moan. He bit at the swells of her breasts as he held himself back from thrusting into her hand. His fingers were moving much faster now and Lily was making all kinds of delightful sounds. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could wait.

They were lucky they were not too terribly close to the full moon. The closer the time for him to change was, the harder it was for him to control himself. He was fine for tonight but he made a mental note to warn her in the future. His alpha nature would cause him to become much more dominant and aggressive. Some women were into that, of course, but he wasn’t sure if Lily would be.

“Jug, please,” Lily begged, now unsatisfied with just his fingers. She quickly reached over to the side table and pulled a condom out of the drawer. She handed it to him, eyes wide and pleading for him to give her more than just two digits.

He stared at her for a moment, amazed that he even found himself in this situation. He had been dreaming about her since they met and he didn’t think this would ever be happening. He’d have to remember to thank Lavender later when they were alone again…

Jughead grabbed the condom and opened the wrapper before rolling it on. She bit her lower lip in anticipation. The morning after he saved her she had noticed that he was better endowed than Sweet Pea, and she had thought the warlock was big. She hoped this wasn’t going to hurt.

The wolf suddenly rolled over onto his back and pulled her on top of him. Lily looked at him with wide, surprised eyes. Sweet Pea had never let her be on top, despite her asking him if they could try it. A giggle of amusement came out of her as she straddled his hips and grabbed the base of his penis to align his tip with her entrance.

She slowly lowered herself onto him. Jughead remained perfectly still, wanting her to go at her own pace. There was some discomfort as he stretched her out but it didn’t last very long. Unlike with her ex, she was very into this.

Once he was fully inside, Lily was still. Her eyes were closed as she could already feel the empty reservoir inside of her filling with magical energy at an obscenely rapid pace. She hadn’t felt this full in a very long time and she had forgotten how amazing it was. As soon as she was over the initial excitement of regaining her strength, she began to rock her hips.

The two of them moaned. Jughead grabbed the backs of her thighs and gripping them lightly to urge her on. Lily took the hint and increased her speed, bouncing on top of him with ease. She didn’t even need magic to enhance what she was feeling as what she was feeling was already beyond belief.

She had never known sex to be this amazing. It was mostly uncomfortable and when she did actually get off it was subpar. She was able to give herself better orgasms than Sweet Pea ever could. Now she was wondering what kind of high Jughead could give her and she was acutely aware that she was about to get her answer.

Jughead began to move in rhythm with her, his hips bucking up to connect with her so he was going in harder. Lily let out a small cry of pleasure when he first did this, causing him to continue feverishly. Lily matched his speed and wondered how he could be fast and go in deep all at the same time. It was mind blowing.

One of his hands moved to her inner thigh and his thumb found her clit. He motioned small circles around it, keeping in pace with her movements. Lily’s moans went higher and louder. Her head was thrown back as she hit her highest peak yet, vision blinding with light as glowing sparkles manifested around her body and illuminated the dark room.

He watched in amusement at the tiny lights but couldn’t concentrate on them too hard or he’d lose focus. He was moving her hips with his own grip, noticing that she had stopped moving due to the incredible high she was feeling. He helped her ride out the orgasm, her inner muscles fluttering around him and causing him to come himself.

Once he was done spilling himself into the condom, he laid motionless on the bed with her hips still in his hands. They were catching their breaths in unison as Lily slowly came down from the haziness that was orgasmic relief. She laid down, her head on his chest as he pulled out of her. He reached around and took off the condom, tying it off before setting it on the table.

Lily’s eyes were closed again as she inhaled the scent of his sweat and happiness. His fingers were trailing up and down her spine until she drifted off into the most blissful sleep she had ever had.

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[lostadrianda]

The house of wolves

Part I

*версия на русском языке по ссылке:

https://ficbook.net/readfic/8551009

There are dark times. I thought that the death of my parents was the worst thing I would ever see in my life. But now it's so bad… I have to admit that it's worse.

Smoke from the fire rises into the sky, twisting and dragging sparks with it. An axe clatters, and a tree falls with a crunch, breaking neighboring branches. I have almost no life left in me. Almost nothing is inside. People are scurrying around. The camp is growing in front of our eyes, turning from a temporary to our permanent campsite. I look at it, trying to figure out what’s going on. I'm not used to being in camps. The detachments held out successfully for four years in the Dominiana, where we took over the houses, and everything went well. But recently we were forced out of those lands, and the Sly Fox moved all of us to the Islands. It seems to be logical decision. But on the Islands we are not welcome. We could have gone to the south to sparsely populated areas and stayed there. However, we did not do this. But why?

I was the only one who seemed to be asking questions. I don't know. I didn't have much contact with anyone from the camp. I glance at the people sitting next to me. Their faces are dry and earthy. Only the reddish glare of the fire is on them. And their eyes are fixed. You always had to keep in mind that those were wolves around you, not people. They look alike, they even show humanity from time to time. It's all a lie. And if there is any kindness in someone, it will soon be beaten out of them. It's the only way around here. I am among the enemy, I am in their ranks. I help put up new tents. But I have a feeling that I will soon be finished with. It's about time. But the Sly Fox keeps stalling. I think he understands how much this torments me. That's why he keeps me close to him. He's not stupid, no. Therefore, his decisions are not discussed.

It's funny that the Fox has committed so many crimes, but if somebody asks to show the main bastard, everyone will point the finger at me. I betrayed my family. Not native, adopted. Yes, they are all dead now, too. I guess my life didn't work out. But I didn't betray anyone. When the door was kicked in and twenty men entered with the Fox at their head, it was all over. There was nothing I could do about it, no matter how much I think about it. I pretended that I always hated my new parents. And I joined the side of the enemy. I should have given my sister time to escape. I didn't expect much more. I didn't think about anything. I didn't think I'd have to break into houses like this with the others. That now I will always hear the sound of those black boots wherever I go. I didn't think I'd have to run around in the woods. I didn’t know I'd be stuck with them for five years. I thought they would kill me that night, in the same house, as soon as they realized what I had done. But they did not understand or pretended not to understand. They still look askance. And I'm not allowed to be absolutely free. The Sly Fox sometimes calls me, asks questions, and I answer, but I keep waiting for the punishment to come. And he lets me go. During all this time, not a single suspicion was expressed. And he's smart. And there is nothing left for me, I am in his hands, always in his sight, even if he is watching me with a hundred other people's eyes, wolf eyes. He is always somewhere above me, behind me. All the time my life is suspended, and I know it.

My only hope is that my sister will return. I have nothing else left. Everything is so empty. And I’m doing something wrong. I close my eyes so that I don't see anything, so that I don't understand what is happening to me. Because as soon as I start thinking, it turns me inside out. When I forget myself, I gather wood for a fire, go with others and scout the area around the camp, draw some maps. And everything seems to be as it should be. I make an obedient and silent employee, everyone is happy, I do not interfere with anyone. The whole body shakes, as if with a strong chill, and no fire warms. So something inside is resisting. It remembers, and remembers well, that the Sly Fox is the enemy. That he killed a lot of people. But he's good, he's built everything right. He's got an army of about three thousand men, and they all look at him and catch every word. Only one person I've ever known, only one person in my entire life, could stand up to him. And this is my sister. Isn’t it funny, huh? As I remember her, thin, fragile, as I look at the Fox… I can't believe it. But that’s true. Her playful dark eyes flashed with such power sometimes that I was willing to believe that she would overcome anyone. And every time I look at the Fox, I always look at the scar on his cheek. My sister left this for him as a souvenir.

But I haven't heard from her in five years. It's too long to wait, you know? A person waits, waits for a week, a month, maybe a year… And then begins to live, throwing a veil of oblivion over the past. Only I never started again. The air balloon ends sooner or later, you know? And I'm still trying to grab the mask and breathe, breathe. Nothing is inside. In the camp, when people talk about her, all they say is that she must have been dead for a long time. I wished they say something else, even nonsense. Nooo. There are no other options in anyone's mind. Only my brains resist. Things can't be that bad. No matter how much life beats me, I won't believe it. It can't be that bad.

Smoke from the fire gets in my nose. It's getting colder, the earth is blowing in autumn, and the leaves are not the same as before. I rub my flushed hands together. The Islands don't like us. We are like an ulcer on their body. We tried to move deeper into the mountains and fortify ourselves. Fifty of our men were killed in two days. A couple of detachments remained in the dense forests at the foot of the mountain, while the rest were scattered along the coasts hiding. We choose places so that we are not found for as long as possible. And it’s strange that the Fox ordered us to fortify ourselves here. But let hell be with it.

The sky has been cloudy all the time we've been here. Today, for the first time, I see the sun shining. Even now you can't see the sky — it's all white, with darker clouds floating across it. The horizon is dark-blue, grim, colliding with an even darker, colder sea. I look into the distance and for the first time I think that my sister must be dead. It scares so much. It's like I'm no longer a human being and I'm becoming a wolf, like all those people around me. That’s really scary. For some reason everything turns to be meaningless. No, I won't give them my soul. They took everything from me, but they won't get it. I will believe till the end. I will resist until I lose my mind. Why am I sitting now here with them, as if I really took their side?

It makes me feel sick. I kept hiding in their ranks and waiting for my sister to break out. Five years have passed. Time flies quickly, terribly, the further away, the more ghostly. I forget how it all happened, I forget why it happened, I forget what a mistake we made. I still think that I did everything right. I acted as I should. As well as I could. But for some reason, it all turned out to be really bad.

If I am the only one left here, who is still fighting, who still remembers that there were better, brighter times, if my sister is dead, and no one is fighting without her, isn't it time for me to get up? Isn't it time to remember who I was and how I was brought up, and what was on my mind before I got bogged down in this mire? I'm biting my lip nervously, they are already looking at me with suspicion.

What a coward I have become! Just thinking makes my temples sweat. I’m used to waiting for a miracle, but as soon as I imagined that I had to act myself, I shrank from fear and wanted to hide away. If only they didn't touch me, if only, if only... I did not to experience new horrors. You don't like me, do you? Despise? Look at me, all that is left of me is my skin, hanging on my bones! These wolves, damn them, have broken me so badly that none of my old friends would recognize me. But what good are these friends: they're either dead or they're first in line to take my head off.

I stand up from the log I've been sitting on all this time and feel my legs go numb. They are frozen to the bones. I stand still to stretch them a little. The two men sitting next to me look at me lazily.

— Where are you going? – Their cracked lips move, yellow teeth appear in between them. Those men probably don't like camp life either. And how long this will continue, no one knows.

— I'll go up to the river. There's one place I don't understand, I want to look at it.

— Don't run into anyone. We don't need you to bring the villagers here.

I nod. I don't get into fights, I don't get involved. Everything I have inside, I keep inside, and it’s a habit that has covered me like armor. I walk past the tents, from campfire to campfire, and turn onto the path that leads higher. I climb up and look back. Lights, trampled paths, people. I'm sick to death of such views. The further away from them, the better it is. I know I'll be back anyway. It's sickening. But the closer I get to them, the more I can learn about the outside world. I'm still waiting for news. At least one piece of news about my sister would be great. No one else will tell me. Only sitting by the fire I learn something new. Everyone in the outside world that I strive for hates me so much that they won't hesitate when they see me. They’ll kill me instantly. Here in the squads, I'm just one of hundreds. To the outside world, I stand in one line with the Fox. And he is happy for this — to keep a traitorous son and show everyone that even I recognized his power.

[platonicone]

Devotion - Story of the Oracle and her Shield

Chapter 29 - Friendship

Why do we confide in others? I wonder…

After braving the snow, they finally came to the haven by a thawed lake. The mountain arch with a deep opening created a nice shelter from the arctic wilderness. The depth of the arch prevented any wind or snow from entering the enclosed space.

“Looks very cozy,” Aranea stated, looking at the haven.

“At this point, even a coffin would look cozy,” commented Squall callously.

“Let’s go get some dry branches before it gets any darker,” she suggested. Squall nodded, and they both got busy gathering wood to burn.

They collected branches and various pieces of wood and dumped them at the fireplace. They huddled around it and tried to start the fire by rubbing stones.

“Oh fire, discovered by cavemen, useful even now,” she commented as a spark from her stone ignited the fire.

They sat as close to the fire as possible without getting burned. She warmed her hands and place it on her face to spread the warmth. Squall leaned in closer to the fire to bask in its warmth.

Once the sun set, the darkness took over. Without any city lights nearby, everything was covered in the thick blanket of darkness.

“I am glad we made it before the demons came out,” she said, rubbing her hands.

“Ya,” he sounded uninterested.

She gazed out into the darkness and her eyes could barely identify any shapes.

“Is this how the world will be if darkness takes over?” She wondered.

“Probably.”

“Is everything okay? You seem distracted,” she noted.

“Just, lots of things going on, that’s all.”

“Wanna talk about it?” She offered.

“No,” both of them said simultaneously. Aranea laughed his predictability.

“You can tell me anything. I am your friend,” she said, leaning closer.

“I know. I don’t want to burden you with my problems,” he replied, averting her gaze.

“Seeing a friend in trouble and not being able to help them is also a burden,” she stated calmly.

“You remind me so much of her,” he commented.

“Her?”

“In my world, I had a friend who stood by my side through thick and thin. She would go out of her way to help me at my slightest discomfort. Even though I never did anything for her, she never left my side.”

“She sounds awesome.”

“Ya, she was. It’s a shame that I don’t even remember her name or her face. But I think she was very intelligent, compassionate and very beautiful too. She even had her own fan club if I recall it correctly.”

“Makes me wonder why was she friends with someone like you?” she said, poking fun at Squall.

“I don’t know. She had no reason to,” he replied, adjusting the wood to keep the fire burning. “Once she wanted to talk about her problem and I told her to go talk to the wall.”

“Wow, you are such an ass. Did you at least apologize to her?”

“I don’t think so. It’s one thing I regret the most. I never treated her right or ever told her how much she meant to me,” he revealed, staring into the darkness.

“Squall, we humans are very resilient when it comes to our survival. However, our hearts are very fragile, it needs to be constantly reassured of love and hope. That is why is so important to tell someone how much you appreciate them or how much they mean to you,” She advised.

“You are right. I should do it more often,” he admitted.

“Everyone wants to be needed by someone. If you can make someone feel needed, you have done a good job,” she added.

“I know, but I have a hard time expressing myself. I’d rather show that I care about them through my actions than say it.”

“Even if you show it by actions, it is still important to say it sometimes,” she countered.

“Why?”

“Because it feels good to hear it,” she replied.

“I guess.”

“Aranea, thank you.”

“For which one? There are too many things you owe me for,” she said jokingly.

“You are one person who does not hesitate to tell me when I am wrong and I appreciate it. Sometimes you need an outside perspective to realize your mistake,” he confessed.

“I will always be at your service if you ever want to be insulted, scar-face,” she stated with a smile. “You are welcome. That’s what friends are for, to cover each other’s weaknesses and improve each other. If as a friend, I don’t help you identify and correct your mistake, then what’s the point of such friendship?”

“Friends like you are rare to find, so thank you for being my friend,” he said earnestly.

“Someone is taking my advice to heart. I like it,” she smiled.

Silence took over again as neither of them said anything.

“So, you gonna tell me what’s going on between you and Luna?” Aranea initiated the conversation.

“Nothing is going on,” he deflected her inquiry.

“That’s not what Luna said,” she stated, shaking her head.

“What did she say?” Squall asked with a glint in his eyes.

“Everything. From the day you meet till now,” she recalled.

“If she already told you everything, then there is nothing more I could add to it.”

“She told me about your journey from her perspective. But I am more interested in hearing your side of the story,” she stated her curiosity.

“Why?”

“Because I am curious. Because we have a lot of time to kill. Because I want to know why you risked your life like that. Because I want to help Luna. Do you need more reasons?” she listed.

“I guess not,” he shrugged.

“So, spill it.”

Squall took a deep breath and began.

“I gotta admit, after hearing all that, I am #TeamLeon. I think you two make a cute couple,” she giggled.

“Stop it,” he said, getting annoyed.

“Oh, come on now, just admit it,” she urged.

“Whatever.”

“You should tell her how you feel,” she suggested.

“Nothing will ever happen between us. She loves Noctis and will marry him someday. I will go back to my world once I take her to Altissia. That is how our story ends,” he remarked in a grievous tone.

After some solemn silence Squall spoke again, “Aranea, can you do me a favor?”

“Ask away.”

“Please help Noctis the best you can,” he stated, humbly.

“Wait! What?” she was taken aback. “You want me to help Noctis? Why?”

“Because Luna loves him. To see him fulfill his duty is her dream. Even though I might not be around to see it, I still want her dream fulfilled.”

“You do know that I don’t like Noctis, right?” She checked.

“Yes, I do. But I also know that you won’t let me down,” he stated.

“Urgh. I have so much pent-up frustration with him. Can I fight with him once and let it all out? Obviously, I won’t break his bones or anything,” she complained.

“Fine, but will you help him after that?” he asked.

“Yes, I promise.”

“Thanks.”

“You are so weird,” she said, shaking her head.

“You would have to be more specific than that,” he advised.

“It’s like you are going out of business because of a competitor, but you still want to make sure that they get all your customers once you are gone. Why?” she wondered.

“I am not doing it for him. I am doing it for Luna. I want her to be happy, even if it's not with me. Her happiness lies with Noctis.”

“What about your happiness?” she inquired.

“My happiness is in seeing her happy,” he replied sincerely.

“Why do you love her?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” he replied honestly.

“For someone so pragmatic, I thought you would know why.”

“Love is irrational by nature. You can have reasons to like someone, but you don’t need a reason to love someone. You just do.”

“Never thought you to be a hopeless romantic,” she said with a chuckle.

“I would like to think that I am pragmatic romantic.”

“There is no such thing as that. Now you are just making things up,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Isn’t that how the language was invented? Someone came up with some words and gave meaning to it,” he defended.

She just gave a facepalm in response.

“Your turn to speak.”

Aranea narrated her childhood, growing up in Niflheim, joining the military, and her rise to being a Commodore. One thing Squall could notice was that she was fiercely loyal to Niflheim.

After hearing her story, Squall asked, “Who was that little girl on the train? I saw you playing with her in Tenebrae as well.”

That question caught her off-guard.

“Oh, she is, um…” Aranea seemed to struggle to come up with a coherent sentence. “She is a friend’s daughter.”

Squall scrutinized her. She knew he was on to her.

“I thought you are were not allowed to keep secrets from a friend,” he stated, calmly.

Aranea sighed before speaking. “As a soldier, we sacrifice our body for our nation. Let’s just say that there is more than one way to sacrifice your body.”

“Oh…” it suddenly dawned on Squall on what she meant. “She is your—”

“Yes, she is my monster,” she interjected before he could complete. “Her name is Solara Aldercapt Antiquum.”

“Aldercapt?” his eyes widened.

“She is the granddaughter of Emperor Aldercapt. After the prince’s untimely death, the Emperor was left without an heir. However, they had preserved the DNA of the prince. I volunteered for the sake of my country. Only Emperor Aldercapt and I know of this secret. Now you know it as well.”

“I promise to take this secret to my grave,” he responded earnestly.

Aranea nodded in appreciation.

“She is my world. I want to keep fighting for a better future for her sake,” she said, as fire danced in her iris.

“You are lucky, Aranea,” Squall spoke softly.

“Why?” She asked, taken aback.

“Many people find a reason to die for, but only a few find a reason to live for. I am happy you found that reason to live for.”

“It was unexpected at first, but I finally found my reason to live. Even if the world goes dark, I’ll keep fighting for a better future.”

They chatted at great length about Aranea’s past. Talking with each other kept their mind away from hunger and cold. They continued to chat till dawn.

They heard engine noise coming in their direction. “They are here.”

A sense of relief washed over them when they heard that voice.

Within seconds Biggs and Wedge came into view, riding their snowmobile. Biggs waved at them and Aranea waved back.

They rode back to the ship on their snowmobiles. A medic on-board checked on them as soon as they entered the ship.

As the ship descended toward Tenebrae Aranea approached Squall. “Here, you should keep this,” she said, handing him something.

He looked at it and was shocked to see it, “Frozen tear! Why are you giving it to me?”

“Think of it as a token of our friendship. Keep it safe until I ask for it.”

“Yes, I’ll keep it with me so I can return it to you someday.”

“Good.”

The airship lowered and the hangar door opened. They said their goodbyes and made their way to their respective home.

Next Day

Leon did not see Aranea the next day at all. He assumed that she must be busy with her duties and taking care of her monster. He went for a stroll with Gentiana as usual. The healing camp was over the number of pilgrims was significantly less now. They could finally walk without bumping into each other. He had hoped to see Luna, but she had requested her meals in her room.

Next Day

A loud banging on the door woke up Squall. He stumbled his way to the door, “Biggs?”

“Sir Squall, Lady A has been captured by the Empire and she has been branded as a traitor," said frantic Biggs.

Hearing that, Squall was wide awake now. “What? How?”

“We don’t know much detail, but I got an SOS from her on our secure channel. We traced her signal, and her last location was in Zegnautus Keep, Gralea. The Empire will execute her if we don’t rescue her soon,” he pleaded.

Author's notes:

So, what do you think about this chapter? Are you #TeamLeon or #TeamNoctis? Let me know in your comments below. If you don't have much to say then at least say 'Hi' so I know someone is reading this. It would really brighten my day. Thanks :)

[queen-writing-sideblog]

Coffee and Cigarettes

Yes, finally! Here’s the second chapter, sorry it took so long!

--

As the days passed, the further Roger seemed to fall further down the rabbit hole. 

It had been manageable at first. He could shove things to the back corners of his mind, lock them up only to be revisited when he was alone and could express his emotions however loud or quiet or sappy as he liked.

It had gotten to a point, though, where it was becoming slightly obvious. Well, maybe more than slightly, but he was still in a little bit of denial over that part. As a matter of fact, he was still in a bit of denial over the entirety of this whole… thing that had wrapped itself around his heart. It had been a hot minute since he’d felt anything like that, something so fragile and terrifying and wonderful and confusing all at once.

He still wasn’t too sure if he liked it or not.

Freddie had started to pick up on the whole thing, which wasn’t really surprising. It was almost like he had a sixth sense for those sorts of things. Freddie could tell you if you had feelings for someone before you even knew about them yourself, he could tell you who you’d end up liking months before you met. He was just odd like that.

The thing that told him how obvious he was really being about the whole ordeal, was the fact that Brian was picking up on it. Brian who was more interested in the stars in the sky than finding a star of his own to love. Brian who didn’t seem to understand the purpose of human emotions the fell on the sappier end of the spectrum, who was so dense he couldn’t tell someone was flirting with him until they came right out and said it. He was more of a brick wall than he was a human when it came to these sorts of things, really.

If Brian had started to notice, then things were going in a downward spiral, and they were doing it fast. It wouldn’t be long before he hit rock bottom now.

Granted his “rock bottom” was more or less something that some people would wait their entire lives to find if they had the time, but.. He was in distress, he was having a crisis, alright? He was allowed to be all negative and grumpy about the matter.

Well, not really, but he would insist he was instead.

Every moment spent with John was as agonizing as they were wonderful and it was quite possibly one of the most annoying things he’d experienced in his adult life. (When he’d told that to Freddie, he’d simply snorted and told him that he’d lived a good life if falling in love was one of the annoying things. He’d just insisted that he wasn’t falling in love, even if he knew he was lying.)

He wished that he could feel the same torture he was inflicting upon Roger, the same confusing whirlwind of emotions that seemed to move in a direction every single time he thought he was getting the hang of them.

At the same time, though, he’d never wish that upon John, because he would never want him to hurt like that. It was truly infuriating, this stupid “catching feelings” thing he’d managed to do to himself. It made everything horribly complicated, which was quite annoying.

He almost wished Mr. Bernes hadn’t quit his job and fucked off to France with a younger woman.

Only almost, though.

As annoying as his feelings were, he did rather like John, and he didn’t smell like chalk dust and B.O. He smelled more like… coffee and cigarettes. A dab of some sort of cologne too. Which sounded like it would be disgusting, but it wasn’t. It was nice. It was very distinctly John, so, of course he liked it.

He hated that he liked it at the same time, though, and it was all… ugh. Yeah, that was a good way to put it, a better way to put it. The entirety of the thing was just.. Ugh. But it also made his heart explode into a million little pieces, but in a very, very good way. Which was weird and something he’d thought to be impossible, but it wasn’t.

And he thought that was a good way to sum up having feelings for someone. Hell, even the definitions he’d managed to at least attempt and outline were confusing as hell.

All of these together had made him grow to hate and love his lunch period. He and John just so happened to have it at the same time, so they would normally gather in one of their rooms and throw peanuts or wads of paper at each other while they ate. They also enjoyed smack talking a student or two, even if that was technically against the rules. He couldn’t name a single teacher that didn’t do that. 

“What’ve you got today, Mr. Taylor?” John plopped down in a chair next to his desk and dropped his brown bag lunch down on it.

“Well, let’s see. Leftover lasagna from when mum was visiting over the weekend. An apple. And the ever so exciting water.”

“Wow, how fancy. Much more interesting than a bologna sandwich and crisps.”

“Ah, well, that’s what happens when parents visit, they make you too much food so you have leftovers to make sure you’re actually eating, even if you are a grown adult.”

“Very true. My mum always complains about how thin I am. Thinks I’m out here starving or something like that, I think.” He shook his head. “What’s her name?”

“Who’s?”

“Your mum’s.”

“Oh. It’s not a very common one.”

“Makes it unique.”

“Winnifred.”

“That’s lovely. That was my great aunt’s name.”

“Really? Was it? Huh. Winnifred Deacon.”

“Baker, actually.”

“What?”

“Her last name. It was Baker. She was my grandpa’s sister.”

“Ah. I see.” 

They lapsed into a sort of quiet silence after that, simply enjoying each other’s company. It was nice.

John suddenly speaking drew Roger out of his thoughts.

“Sorry, what? I was spaced out. What did you say?”

“I asked you if you were busy this weekend.”

“Oh.” Was he busy? No. Probably not. “No, I don’t think so.”

“No? Neither am I.”

“Cool.” He tapped his fingers against his thigh for a moment. “Did you-”

“I was wondering if maybe you’d want to come over, then.”

“Oh.”

“It’s fine if you don’t want to, I just though it might be nice to be together in an environment outside of school.”

“No. No, yeah, I’d like that, I’d like that.”

“Thought maybe we could watch a movie or something. Or just hang out, if you’d like that better.”

“Whatever is fine with me.”

He chose not to say anything about the pleased little smile on John’s face as he ducked his head under the guise of putting his tupperware away. “Great.”

--

Roger was more nervous to just ‘hang out with a mate’ than he would have liked to admit. Then again, he’d never had these sort of feeling towards someone who was just his mate before. John was most certainly the exception here, there were… some sort of special rules that applied to it or something like that.

He supposed that was fair enough. There were a certain number of rules you had to follow for different situations. It was one thing when you thought someone was attractive and you wanted them to know it. It was another thing entirely when you had feelings for someone that you knew you weren’t supposed to. It was like the forbidden fruit or whatever from the bible with Adam and Eve. And his feelings were the snake.

Something like that, at least. He’d never been a religious man, never paid attention at Sunday school when his parents had made him go.

Anyways, the point was that John was something he couldn’t have, he was just out of his reach. And if he tried to grab it, then he knew, he knew that it was going to disappear and he wouldn’t even be able to admire it from afar.

He realized he had been standing outside of John’s door longer than was strictly necessary. Probably long enough to look suspicious. Maybe his paranoid elderly neighbor would call the police on him or something.

That thought was enough to get him moving, though, his hand coking up to give three knocks in quick succession.

When John opened the door and saw him, a rather pleasant looking smile spread across his face and Roger could faintly hear the barking of a dog from behind him. “Oh, hey, Rog. You’re early.” His hair was still a bit tussles, looking a bit like bed head, as if he hadn’t had the time to brush it. It wasn’t bad, though. Roger quite liked the way it looked, actually.

“Yeah. It would appear that I am. Thought traffic was gonna be worse than it was and all, you know? Didn’t want to be too late.”

“Right. Right, right, I see.” He stood there for a moment before seeming to realize leaving your guests out on your door stoop wasn’t the most polite thing to do and he stepped aside to let him in. “You can come in, if you’d like. Or if you want, you can just stand out there all day. But it’s your call. But Mrs. O’leary might call the cops on you if you do that,” He called over his shoulder at him as he walked away.

He knew it.

He stepped inside after him and looked around for a moment. He had a nice place. Not too big, but not small. Very homey and lived in and quaint. He liked it. “You’ve got a nice place.”

“Oh? Thanks. I’ve been looking for a new one, actually.” He commented from where he was in the kitchen and appeared to be putting his kettle on. “D’you want a cuppa?”

“That’d be nice, thank you.”

The flat filled with a comfortable silence for a few minutes, other than John’s quiet humming, the happy bark of a dog when John would stoop down to pet her, and the eventual whistle of the kettle. John sat down a mug in front of him, his own clutched in his hand. “I put some milk and sugar in it. Nobody drinks straight tea unless they’re an alien.” The mug which he had given to Roger was black and covered in little lightning bolts, and the one that he had clutched in his own hands had the words ‘World’s okayest bass player’ spread across it. They were both very… John and that alone was enough to have a little smile curling onto his lips.

God, he was falling, for Christ’s sake, they were mugs.

“Did you hear me, Rog?”

His head snapped up. “What?”

He gave a little roll of his eyes. “I was asking if there were any good movies that you might want to watch.”

“Oh.” He smiled sheepishly. “Oops. My bad. Well… y’ever seen A Clockwork Orange?”

He grinned. “I have, as a matter of fact. My favorite movie, really.”

“That so? It’s a favorite of mine.”

“Might see if there’s anywhere we can see it.”

They settled back into the comfortable silence as John flicked through the TV, seeming to have finally found it after a seven minute search. “Ah, here we are. Been a minute since I watched it, though. Never really have time to sit down and watch a film, you know? Life’s all busy and fast paced and then when you have free time, then there’s a million other things you’ve been meaning to get to that get done instead.”

“I get what you mean. Remember when we thought things would be so much more fun as an adult?”

John snorted. “I remember when I was a kid, I thought I was going to be able to do all these things when I got to be older, and now… here I am, stuck with work and bills and lessons and fixing things up and calling my mum and all that, and I’ve hardly got any time to do anything for myself if I want to actually sleep. Just aren’t enough hours in the day, you know?” He looked down into his mug.

“Do you ever wish for more?” Roger asked after a few minutes.

“Do I ever wish for more?” He seemed to have to think about that one for a minute, fingers tapping out a rhythm to a song only he could hear on the side of his mug. “No.” He finally decided. “No, I don’t. I like where I am. I like the things that I do. I like being a teacher, and I like making music and showing other people how to. I like having a dog named after a journalist that nobody understands, and I like putting Robert in the sweaters that my mum knits for him and I like living in a cozy flat that’s not too big or too small. I could have gone a lot of different directions in life, there’s a reason I chose to walk the way that I did.”

He pursed his lips and nodded his head. John was a lot more sure of himself and the path he had paved for himself than Roger was. He had wanted to be a dentist, but that was disgusting. Then he had wanted to be a biologist, but he hadn’t been able to find a job that stuck there, and he knew a local high school was looking for a new biology teacher and that he had the qualifications, so he’d ended up there. And he loved teaching, he loved the kids, but at the same time he couldn’t help but wonder what could have been from time to time. “That’s… it’s good to know why you do the things you do.” He said after a moment of careful consideration. “Not everyone can think like that,” He added after a moment.

“Do you like where you’re at?”

He sucked in a quiet breath and mulled over his words for a few minutes. “I like being a teacher.” He finally said. “And I think I’m in a pretty good place right now, actually.”

“That’s good, that’s good.”

Their attention turned back to the TV, focus returning to the show.

As the night went on, their mugs of tea were replaced by bottles of beer that John retrieved from the fridge, and he let the dog go with him that time. She settled herself on the couch between them and seemed to rather like Roger, letting her head rest on his thigh as he ran his hand up and down her back absentmindedly.

One beer turned into two and they were both pleasantly tipsy, floating the line between drunk when they hit halfway through their third beer. Roger’s mind wasn’t really clear anymore, but at the same time it wasn’t entirely clouded. Not quite.

It had gotten to the point, though, that he was starting to stare a little bit. At his smile, the little gap in his teeth and the way his eyes scrunched up at the corner. How he was always moving, fingers tapping, legs bouncing, feet knocking together.

And the alcohol probably hadn’t been helping what he did next.

John made some sort of dumb joke, and when he turned his head, he was laughing, and Roger couldn’t help himself.

He leaned forward and he kissed him.

When John didn’t immediately pull away, he thought it was okay, that he had made the right move.

Then he felt a hand on his chest pushing him back, and his heart sunk down into his stomach. There was a conflicted expression on his face, like he didn’t know what to say, what to do. “Rog. I think… I think that maybe you should go.” He finally said, eyes looking anywhere but at Roger.

“I… Yeah. Yeah, okay, I… Yeah.” He swallowed thickly and stood up from the couch.

Neither of them said anything as he put on his shoes and walked to the door, giving John a parting glance before stepping outside.

Well, fuck.

[superhero-daugthers11]

Hadestown epilogue

*fan made of course! I own nothing. I have listened to the soundtrack over a dozen times, but have not YET seen the musical live. So I may be off on some of the visual stuff a bit.

*Eurydice sits by the wall with a little girl sitting aside her. The area where she sits is filled with green grass and flowers. Eurydice holds a guitar and smiles at the young child. The child had short black hair and pale skin.*

Eurydice: *singing* he fell in love with a beautiful lady

Who walked up above

In Persephone’s green field

He fell in love with Eurydice

Who was gathering flowers in the light of the sun

And I know how it was because

She was me

A man fell in love with a woman

Singing la la la la la la la

La la la la la la la.

*song done*

Pentha (child) : *spoken* that man was my dad!

Eurydice: *smiles* Yes! He lives in the world of the living, among the beautiful sun and green grass. He is a great man, a man who believed he could change the world with a song. He almost did... he tried to set the workers of Hadestown.

Pentha(child): Was he handsome?

Eurydice: *with sadness* The most beautiful man I had ever seen.

Pentha(child): He was a brave man too? You once told me how he stood up to Mr. Hades.

Eurydice: He is one of a kind.

*hermes enters*

Pentha: mr Hermes! *the child runs to Hermes and hugs him*

Eurydice: how’s Orpheus? Have you seen him?

Hermes: I bumped into him a few times on my runs. He’s...well the same, he gave me this letter for you. *holds out a piece of paper to her*

Eurydice: *smiles and quickly grabs the piece of paper*

Hermes: what does it say?

Pentha: Read it out loud mommy! I want to hear it!

Eurydice: dear, eurydice

I been traveling around the world and playing my song everywhere I go. I hitched a few rides on the trains for awhile. Then word spread of my song and people were inviting me to there towns to sing! They even been paying me! You should see the places I have seen: Paris, France, England! My music has brought such happiness to people. I have met people from all walks of life, rich, poor and everything in between. My song didn’t just have the power to bring back spring, it’s brought hope and done so much more!

I wish you were here to enjoy this with me and I wish I could hold you in my arms again. I love you so much and even with all that’s going right for me. Your really the only thing I keep thinking of. I miss you everyday and it becomes harder and harder to be without you. I been trying to keep positive, but knowing your in such a depressing place just breaks my heart further.

Forever yours, Orpheus

Eurydice: *crying* he needs to move on! I want him to be happy. Can’t you talk to him?

Hermes: I tried, he’s as stubborn as they came.

Eurydice: He doesn’t even know about the baby.

Hermes: If he knew, it would be too much for him. He might do something stupid, one can only handle so much pain.

Eurydice: I don’t understand, everything is going right for him. He’s making money, he has food, he brought back spring, and people want to hear him sing. Why can’t he let me go?

Hermes: Because you are his true love and once you find your true love....it’s hard to let go. The human heart is a strange thing.

Eurydice: Maybe if I don’t answer his letters he’ll move-

Hermes: Theres nothing you can do, it’s his choice to move on or not.

Eurydice: Well I have to try! It’s my fault he’s like this! If I was stronger, if I could have held out longer.... *sobbing* If I didn’t die, we would be happy...togther.

*in the living world. Orpheus stands in front of a big crowd in the middle of the town square.

Orpheus: *singing* la la la la la la la la la

la la la la la la

*the dead plants start to bloom by the homes and the grass goes from brown to green. The audience applauses and cheers.*

Orpheus: *singing* la la la la la la la la la

La la la la la la

*The Fates are seen in the audience.*

The fates: *singing* doubt comes in

And meets a stranger

Walking on a road alone

Where is she?

Where is she now?

Doubt comes in

Orpheus: *singing, as he leaves the crowd.*

Who am I?

Where do I think I'm goin'?

The fates: *singing*

Doubt comes in

Orpheus: *singing*

Who am I?

Why am I all alone?

The fates: *singing*

Doubt comes in

Orpheus: *singing*

When will I see her again?

Who was I to think she wouldn’t follow me home?

The fates: *singing*

Where is she?

Where is she now?

*end song*

Orpheus: *to the fates* what happened to Eurydice? Has forgotten me? She hasnt been writing... she told me she would write me. She promised she would never forget me!

The fates: Eventually everyone forgets who they used to be and there memories are replaced by their after life in Hadestown.

Orpheus: I know but I thought if I kept sending her the letters it would help her remember me. She can’t forget me! She can’t become like the others! I won’t let her! It’s my fault she’s still there, I couldn’t save her.

The fates: Things will unfold the way they are meant to regardless if you like it or not. Your fate have been set in stone from the moment you both were born. You were never meant to save her.

Orpheus: No your wrong! I can save her memories! I can at least do that! Has she forgetten everything?

The fates: not everything.

*Orpheus spots Persephone in the window of a tarvern. He runs toward it and goes in.*

*hermes walks up to the fates*

Hermes: Orpheus is a poor young boy. Why must this be his fate?

Fates: it’s how it was written.

Hermes: You fates aren’t too kind.

Fates: never said we were kind.

*inside the tavern*

*Orpheus runs up to Persephone.*

Persephone: Hey look who it is! Orpheus! *She is clearly drunk. She hugs him with one arm and takes a sip of beer with the other one. She then looks to the crowd of drunk men and woman surrounding her* Why don’t you play your song for these guys? I heard you performing outside, its still as beautiful as I remember.

Orpheus: Persephone, I need your help!

Persephone: I can’t help you get to her, if I could I would. Ever since you came, Hades had that wall built bigger and more sturdy. Nobody can get in or out.

Orpheus: Is it true she forgotten me?

Persephone: *laughs* Of course not! How could she with that baby at her side. It’s certainly a constant reminder of you?

Orpheus: A baby? What are you talking about?

Persephone: Well I guess she isn’t really a baby anymore, she’s almost four years old now.

Orpheus: Eurydice wasn’t pregnant....she wasn’t...she-she would have told me...She would have said something!

Persephone: *she takes another sip of her drink.*

*orpheus takes the drink from her hand*

Orpheus: Tell me the truth!

Persephone: *she puts a hand on his shoulder and they move away from the crowd and go outside.* I’m sorry, I thought you knew. I thought she would have told you.

Orpheus: what happened?

Persephone: Normally the fates inform Hades when a woman dies who was pregnant. Hades didn’t want children in Hadestown, he didn’t put children through the torment of Hadestown. Plus children bring problems. He doesn’t offer the deal to expecting mothers. With Eurydice the fates made a mistake, they told him she was not expecting and Eurydice didn’t know she was pregnant. Hades was furious, when he found out, he created a eruption and killed a whole city of Pompeii. Everyone town was amazed and in awe of the situation. It was a miracle! The workers began talking to each other, buzzing over the coming arrival. When it was the day of the birth, everyone gathered in astonishment, even some of the gods of Olympus came! The stood over the child’s bed, in disbelief. Oh she was beautiful! The most gorgeous thing I have ever seen! A little girl, so small, so pure and fragile...and her smile brought happiness to all that saw her. The workers played with her and protected her as if she were there own. She gave them purpose, something to care for. once She had rammed into Hades while playing and he just started yelling. ...but the most amazing thing the workers all stopped working and then stood up to hades. She’s changing our world, she’s doing what you couldn’t. Isn’t that great? While you help people here, she helps them down there.

Orpheus: She sounds amazing. But all this over a child that isn’t even theres? Why?

Persephone: She sees the good in everything and everyone. She finds happiness in the darkest, most miserable place in the world. She gives them hope.

Orpheus: what’s her name?

Persephone: Pentha.

Orpheus: *frowns* we always dreamed of having a family together...we had our whole lives planned out. I would bring back spring and then everything would be perfect. We would get married and travel the world. .... are they happy? Eurydice and Pentha?

Persephone: I think so. Orpheus, you have something that all those people in Hadestown would kill for. You get to live and you could live a full and happy life if you would let yourself.

Orpheus: I can’t...Not without her. I have tried, I have! Nothing is the same without her.

Persephone: Well what she wants more than anything is you to be happy and for you to move on. You know, you have a great gift! not just your song, but your heart and your courage. You can do great things if you let yourself.

Orpheus: I can’t, she’s always on my mind and in my heart. Now knowing that she had my kid, how could I move on? She can’t. Pentha doesn’t have a father. She deserves to have a dad like any kid does. To have two parents who love her and watch out for her. She -

Persephone: Orpheus-

Orpheus: My dad wasn’t there for me and I hated him for it. I promised myself I would never abandon my kid! She’s gonna grow up never knowing me!

Persephone: it’s not the same, it isn’t your fault.

Orpheus: IT IS MY FAULT! I COULDNT SAVE HER!! I didn’t trust that she would be behind me and I looked and she was.

*orpheus cries*

*persephone hugs him*

Persephone: Anyone in your place would have done the same thing, Hades knew that.

*the scene changes Orpheus sits alone in a bedroom. He takes a knife from under his mattress and stabs himslef in the heart.*

*Orpheus sees the railroad station to Hadestown. When he gets off the train he sees Eurydice working along with the others on the wall.*

Orpheus: Eurydice!

*she looks up and sees him*

Eurydice: *with tears in her eyes* Orpheus.

*He runs to her with tears in his eyes and hugs her then kisses her lips*

Eurydice: are you-?

Orpheus: yes.

Eurydice: h-how?

Orpheus: ....I couldn’t live without you.

*Eurydice hugs him as she cried.*

Eurydice: Im sorry!

Orpheus: I’m not, *he grins hugely* I’m here with you. Oh I missed you so much! *he kisses her again*

Eurydice: *sadly* I wanted you to be happy to live out the dreams you had of changing the world.

Orpheus: you are my biggest dream and spend eternity here with you is more than I could ever want.

Eurydice: i love you. *she put her hands on his cheek and kissed him passionately*

*a playground ball rolls by Eurydice and Orpheus. Pentha runs over to get it. As she picks up the ball she looks up at the strange man holding her mother in his arms.*

Eurydice: *she looks down* Orpheus there’s something I have to tell you. I didn’t know how to say before-

Orpheus: I know about Pentha, persephone told me.

Eurydice: Pentha, this is your dad.

Pentha: *smiles big then immediately hugged him*

Orpheus: *singing*

You take me in your arms

And suddenly there's sunlight all around me

Everything bright and warm

And shining like it never did before

And for a moment I forget

Just how dark and cold it gets

Eurydice: *singing*

All I've ever known is how to hold my own

All I've ever known is how to hold my own

But now I wanna hold you

Orpheus and Eurydice: *singing*

Now I wanna hold you, hold you close

I don't wanna ever have to let you go

Now I wanna hold you, hold you tight

I don't wanna go back to the lonely life!

[haremofhetepheres]

My Gold of All Gold

~ 𝓢𝓴𝔂 𝓯𝓾𝓵𝓵 𝓸𝓯 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓽 𝓱𝓮𝓻 ~

Part 2 || Part 3

Jovially, royals and guests from across Arda, had gathered into the Great Dining Hall. They had all been spread out through the entire hall; many dwarves drank their mead while guffawing at silly tales and stories. 

Beside them, their Ones, gossiped, also laughing merrily. Despite for the fact of being hardworking, dwarves loved to gather to tell stories after a drink or two and roar in laughter, even if it were for no special occasion. But this evening it was different. This evening there were two occasions why everyone was so content.

The first event was that Erebor had been finally reclaimed and restored to its glorious peace. Thorin was crowned King Under The Mountain, right after the defeat of Azog the Defiler and the rest of the Company had a place to call home.

The second reason as to why there was such a grand celebration was because Fíli was married to his beloved wife, Sigrid, daughter of Bard. The guests that had arrived, had also brought with them lavish and magnificent gifts from their lands for the happy couple. Along with these gifts, they had also brought their cheerfulness.

Of course, everyone was happy that day. It was a celebration, hence the name of it. But you were not...or at least, you forced yourself to be. How selfish that must sound, right?

However, you had a truly painful reason not to be, content that is. And it was quite difficult to think of it, without it bringing tears to your eyes. It had to do with the dwarven prince. The one who was married.

As you thought of him, your eyes wandered over to the dais where the royal family and their friends were dining. Fíli had sat beside Thorin’s right and holding his big calloused hand, was Sigrid. She was pretty and in her white wedding dress, she looked even prettier. Her rich, dark hair had been curled up and a beautiful braid was very much evident, as it had been purposefully tucked behind her ear. Her skin seemed as pure as the first thick blanket of snow while her emerald eyes gleamed with joy.

You watch the pair of them as Fíli leans over to whisper something in her ear which earns a soft laughter from Sigrid, rendering Fíli’s features to be graced with a handsome smile. Even her laugh was lovely. You thought to yourself before you stared down at your plate, sighing sadly.

“It is an insult to have to sit below a human.” A dwarrowdam hissed behind you. Slightly, you turn your head to see her speaking with her friend as they, both, cast their eyes to Sigrid like you had done a few moments ago.

“We cannot complain, Freida.” The other replied bitterly. “She is married to the prince, in time, she’ll become the Queen.”

‘She’ll become the Queen...’ You repeated those words in your mind, like a mantra as if you wanted to continuously torture yourself. To torture yourself for having so foolishly fallen in love with the dwarf prince since the beginning of the journey. 

You had tried to keep your distance from Fíli during the journey so that you would all focus on what was more important than your measly love interest. Yes, you talked and sparred together many times but you were keeping your feelings hidden from him. You had decided to let him know of what you felt for him after the reclaim of Erebor, but it seemed you were too late.

Fíli, your sweet, darling dwarf, had fallen in love. And it was not with you.

You were truly happy for him but in your mind, you continuously cursed the day when you lay in tears on your aunt’s lap and she reassured you, “You will have love, sweetheart. He will come, your prince will come. You simply must be willing to open your heart and let him in. Let him love you.”

Well, apparently, you had opened your heart, your feelings, and your emotions and you regretted more than ever. Because like your previous aching heartbreaks, the dwarf prince was never going to love you. Looking over at the royal table, you decided upon something that you would most definitely regret later on. But it was too late as you had reluctantly begun to walk over to the royal table.

The Company turned their attention to you as you ascended the steps, slowly. You folded your trembling hands tightly together and with a shaky voice - trying not to cry - you whisper, “Kili, may I please speak with you?”

The dark-haired dwarf’s orbs bore into your own as he snaps out of his daze. “Sure, sure, of course. Let’s head out to the hallways where it would be more quiet and less overwhelming.”

You nod as you wait for him to come around the table and join you out at the hallways. As you wait, uneasily you decide to cast your eyes one last time to Fíli, who surprisingly you caught to have been looking at you with an expression you could not pinpoint. His blue eyes resembled the colours of the ocean, shimmering and crashing beneath the sunset. Looking into his eyes was not only hypnotizing but it seemed as if though you were staring at a fragile piece of turquoise glass, which laid in the sand, glistening in the bright sunlight.

You offer him a final smile and turn to Kili, who lightly grabbed your elbow and led you out of the Great Dining Hall. At the entrance, you stopped and his eyes were laced with concern and confusion. You could not take it anymore so, you let the tears cloud your vision as they quickly trickled down your cheeks. From one then, it continued like an endless waterfall.

Alarmed, Kili widened his eyes and took a hold of your hands, “What’s happened, (Y/N)? Why are you crying? Should I be getting my bow and arrows?”

You laugh through your tears as Kili lightens the tension and mood. The young dwarf smiles and brings his thumbs, wiping your tears away. “No, Kili. I don’t think this time would be a wise choice.”

“Then, perhaps not,” he agrees. “But tell me what is bothering you?”

You sigh and momentarily shut your eyes before finding the courage to tell him. “I am going to leave Erebor. After all, this marks the end of my adventure.”

“What?” Kili says as his eyebrows instantly knit in confusion. “Why? Please, do not do this (Y/N) or at least rethink it. Listen to me, if this is about the time uncle said those terrible things to you, you must know that he was - ”

“No, Kili, this has nothing to do with Thorin.” You reply, swallowing uneasily. There was an uncomfortable few minutes of silence and when you lower your head, Kili gasps, comprehending the sudden meaning of your answer. “(Y/N),” He whispers but you shake your head, not wanting him to say anything about it.

“Please, do not make this any more harder than it already is.” You plead as you reach from under your sleeve, producing a stone with a dwarvish engraving that said kidhuzel, which meant ‘gold of all gold’. That was the first and only word that you learned in Khuzdul. It was a word that Fíli had taught you and he made you promise to remember it while thinking of him.

“Please, return this to your brother. Not today. I don’t want him to think of this on his happy day. Maybe when you deem it to be right.” You say, placing the stone on his hand as Kili ran his index finger over it. “Gold of all gold.” He read and you squeeze your eyes shut, forcefully pushing your tears back.

“Wouldn’t he want you to keep this?”

“Yes, he would.” You reply, breathlessly. “But every time I look at it, it makes me tear up.” He nods understanding and looks back to you. “Kili, tell him I will forever remember and keep the promise. Tell him I loved him even if he might not have loved me in return.”

Fresh tears began to sting your face and the sadness you felt seemed to float  through the atmosphere. “Let him know that I thank him. For making me believe in love...again. Even if he did not feel it, it was quite real for me.”

Kili nodded once more and reached to embrace you. You wrap your arms around him and rest your head upon his shoulder. For a while, you remained like that, in a comforting silence as he soothes you by rubbing circles on your back. You sniffle and let him go. “And I thank you for all those silly stories and pranks that seemed to aid me from my worries and overthinking. You are a good friend, Kili.”

“Nonsense, you do not need to thank me, lass. I had known from the start, you’d helplessly fall for my charming personality.” He replies, winking mischievously as he did so, rendering you to laugh wholeheartedly.

“Well, I will miss you, my charming dwarf.” You say, placing your hand on his shoulder.

“As I, you, my little Thumbelina.” He replies, using the nickname from the stories you had told the Company and implying that you were short for a human. Sighing, you turn to leave from the Southern Gates, not believing this was truly how it was to end. You had dreamed of it to be much more differently...and happier.

“Oh and Kili,” You call to him before he’d enter the Great Dining Hall. He turns and regards you with a curious expression. “After tea with Bilbo, you are welcome to come to my house for dinner.”

He smiles widely and bows, “I’d be honoured, lass. And so would the Company.”

You watch him till he retreats back to the noisy hall and you walk away slowly, each footstep resonating in your head as you thought of the reoccurring memories of the journey you had taken apart in. Your tears, once again, clouded your vision and you let your sadness engulf you while you headed out to the Gates.

[writing-yj]

Robin x Reader: The Bird Tattoo~Part Five (Soulmate AU

A/n: This might be a little all over the place. I am so sorry. It’s so bad! 

You grabbed a couple chips from a bowl you set high up every time you did a pull up, switching hands for each few chips. You got back to the Cave about half an hour ago, and you had been exercising since then. At the same time, you were going over recent information about the Gotham kidnapping cases. Three more people went missing, and it worried you to no end. You were still working on finding the pattern; The Doctor had one when he started his dastardly plans in Star City. Once you obtained that, you could go to the Justice League with little chance of them listening, or you could get rid of The Doctor once and for all, by yourself. You intended on doing the latter. 

     These thoughts briefly distracted you, and you accidentally grabbed the edge of the bowl instead of more chips. The bowl fell from it’s perch, and all the chips were dumped on your face. After hitting your head, the bowl clattered to the ground and nearly knocked off your sunglasses as chips got caught in your hair.

     You heard loud laughter behind you, and you glanced back to see Robin with a hand over his mouth. “Smooth move, Mockingbird.” For once, he wasn’t laughing sarcastically at you. He was genuinely amused, and it pleased you in a way you didn’t appreciate.

     “Save it or I’ll turn you into a punching bag.” You threatened as you picked up your spilled snack. “Do you need something?”

     “No, I heard someone in here and I wanted to see who it was.”

     You raised an eyebrow. You weren’t even making that much noise, if any at all. “Well, it’s just me, so if you’re not here to do anything else, there’s the door.”

     “I’m just as entitled to be here as you are.”

     “I never said you weren’t.” With a jump upwards, you grabbed on to the bar and did pull ups on arm at a time. You put more focus on your arm that wasn’t dominant to keep your arm strength evened out.

     Around five minutes went by and Robin was still standing there, watching you. It was rather creepy. “I heard that taking a picture lasts longer than staring.”

     “Why were you in Gotham last night?” Robin finally asked. It was on his mind since the night before, and Batman said the behavior you displayed was unusual.

     “So that’s what you wanted,” you pulled yourself far up on the bar and sat on top of it, looking down at him. “I already told Batman; Black Canary and I finished things up in Star City and I wanted to drop by for a bit, do some sightseeing.”

     “Not happily, from what I saw.” Robin sat down on a piece of equipment. “You didn’t look too whelmed.” You fought back a smile at his made up word. They were amusing to you.

     “I just wanted to get some stuff off my mind. Clear my head a little, unless that’s a crime now. From what I remember, you weren’t too whelmed to see me either.”

     “You and Black Canary operate in Star City, not Gotham. I was just defending my territory.” 

     “And I was trying to feel better. Lighten up, would you?” Your eyes narrowed and you prepared yourself for an argument. “If it’ll get you off my back, I won’t step into your ‘territory’ again.” You didn’t want to completely stay out of Gotham, but if it got Robin to chill out, you would.

     Deep down, Robin was concerned. Anyone could tell that you didn’t sleep again and your personality was slowly starting to change, with or without being so tired. He told himself that he didn’t like you time and time again, but he cared and he didn’t want to fess up.

     “You don’t have to stay out.” Robin said quickly to keep your attention. “I just wanted to know what you were upset about.” Before you could take it the wrong way, he added, “It’ll affect the team if you are.”

     ‘Of course it’s about the team. It always is.’ You thought to yourself. “I was thinking about my family. About what happened to them.” Your voice got quiet and you fiddled with your watch/wrist computer. “Sometimes, I try to imagine what it would be like if they were still here.” Your voice was tinged with sorrow. It was difficult to open up to Robin again, but he didn’t tell anyone about what you said Saturday night, so he gained at least some of your trust.

     “What happened to them?” Robin asked gently. He also lost his family, which you knew about, and he knew how fragile the subject can be. “I know how hard it can be to talk about. I was like that, too.”

     “I’m not going to say much, just so you know...” You looked away from him, suddenly feeling very exposed. 

     You didn’t say anything for almost two minutes, but Robin was patient with you for once. Your chest got tight as you struggled to pull the right words together. You weren’t going to say everything, but you didn’t want to say too much. It felt like you were trusting him too easily, too early.

     You opened your mouth, and the words were quiet. “The Doctor nabbed my family and I on our way home, one night. We weren’t the only ones he experimented on,”

     ‘Experimented on?!’ Robin thought with alarm.

     “The various tests and serum combined with animal DNA  were too much for the average human body to handle. They died, one by one. Obviously,” you jumped down from the bar and gathered your things. “I didn’t.” When you stopped talking, you walked past Robin and to the door. You didn’t want to say anything else; you hated remembering it. You hated thinking about how you were the one to survive, instead of dying with your family.

     Robin’s words were too faint for you to understand, but you didn’t stop to ask. You didn’t want him to see you in such a weak, vulnerable state. With every piece of information you told him, you wanted to say more. It was like he always had your trust, but you refused to acknowledge it. He hated you, right? And you didn’t like him either? How he made you feel this way left you baffled.

Robin sat in the lounge next to Wally, who was loudly eating a bag of cheesy chips. He didn’t say anything, and the team noticed he wasn’t feeling well. Hearing just a tiny fraction of your backstory made him feel sick. You and your family were science experiments? Every one of his victims but you died?

     “What’s wrong, Rob?” Wally asked and waved a hand in front of his face. “You don’t look too hot.” He wasn’t used to seeing his friend in such a state. Robin looked a little paler than usual.

     “Are you sick?” Megan asked and she floated over to him. 

     He moved away a little, not wanting her to read his mind. It wasn’t his story to tell. “I’ll tell you guys later.” Robin said and shrugged it off. “Did Batman call for any missions yet?” He shifted the subject as fast as he could.

     Kaldur shook his head. “No, not today. It’s strange. We haven’t had a mission for almost a week.” Batman hadn’t even hinted at a mission.

     “Hey, I take that as a good sign.” Artemis said casually. “But it’s still really boring.”

     “Maybe if we poke your tattoo date, it’ll appear sooner.” Wally joked and he jabbed Robin in the side. “That’ll bring some excitement.”

     “Hey!” Robin exclaimed and swatted his hand away. “I don’t think it works that way, KF.”

     “I’ve only seen like, one or two soulmate tattoos in person.” Wally pouted. “And M won’t let us get close to hers, let alone see it.” His head turned to Artemis so fast that she that it was going to fall off. “But Artemis has.” Wally flashed a toothy grin and wiggled his eyebrows.

     Artemis responded with a groan and a glare. “I’m not telling you what her tattoo looks like; even if I did, she would kill me.” The last thing she wanted to do was break your trust or your friendship.

     “At least give us hints!” Wally whined loudly. “Is it an object? Is it an animal? Is it a weird shape?” His questions came out as rapid fire. 

     “She’s not going to say anything, Wally.” Robin said with a sigh of boredom.

     Wally’s groaned was so dramatic that it made everyone chuckle quietly. “At least tell us if it’s colorful!” The lack of action in his life was affecting him greatly.

     “Fine!” Artemis huffed. “Yes, it’s colorful! I’ve seen a lot of tattoos, but I’ve never seen a tattoo that colorful in my life!” The words spilled out before Artemis could stop them, and regret and guilt followed immediately. What were you going to do if you found out she told you? “Happy now?”

     Wally was over the moon. “Oh my God, she must see him every day, then!” 

     Just before he could launch into a loud investigation, Kaldur intervened. “I think it’s best that we stay out of this. Mockingbird’s soulmate tattoo is her business and her business alone.” He looked over at Artemis with scolding eyes, and she looked very guilty. “I’m sure that if we go any further, she will be even more furious when she finds out.”

     “If she finds out.” Wally butted in. “Emphasis on if.”

     “No,” Kaldur knew for a fact that there was no use in trying to keep something from you. In the time you had been on the team, you always found out eventually. Always. “When she finds out. Emphasis on when.”

     “Yeah, good luck trying to hide it from her.” Artemis told him. She was going to tell you what she did the moment the opportunity arose. “You can’t hide anything from Mockingbird. Remember when she found everyone during hide-and-seek in five minutes?”

     Robin did a double take. “She played hide-and-seek?” You didn’t seem like a girl who would play it. “Willingly?”

     “Yeah,” Wally scoffed. “Because she knows she can win. We never find her, but she always finds us. I got into the ceiling and she still found me.”

     “You and Batman were still off doing your own thing when we got back from a mission, so we played it without you.” Conner didn’t have any experience with the game, so he was barely disappointed when he was the first to be located almost every round.

     Megan clapped her hands excitedly. “Maybe we can play it again now! It’s been a while since last time.”

     “I’ll go get her!” Wally volunteered himself and he darted out of the room in, well, a flash.

     Robin listened in as the team reminisced and described the last game of hide-and-seek. You always found some sort of bizarre, secluded hiding spot or you blended in freakishly well. No wonder you never blew your cover on missions.

     When Wally brought you back in his arms, you leaped out of his grasp with a displeased grunt. “Don’t you ever do that again.”

     “Hey, I got you here fast, didn’t I?”

     You elbowed him in the ribs, making him wince. Robin noted how you looked perfectly fine and cheerful, unlike how you were in the workout room. “So, are you guys ready to lose?”

Robin gaped up at your hiding spot in the library. You, once again, were the last person to be found; you had to give him multiple sound clues. “How did you actually get up there!? Wait, no, how did you even fit in there!?” The others were waiting in the lounge for you to be discovered, and it had been a while.

     “Just a little faith, trust, and pixie dust.” You called down to him as you wriggled out. “Duh.”

     Robin barely held in a giggle, but he put on a stern and slightly annoyed face. “Are you going to come down now or what?”

     “Are you going to catch me, my caped crusader?”

     “Yes, because that’s exactly what I’m here to do.” Robin rolled his eyes and held his arms out sarcastically. “Bombs away.”

     You took that as the a-okay and you let yourself drop from a dangerous height. His sarcasm was evident, and you knew you wouldn’t get too injured from the fall, but you wanted to surprise him.

     However, when he barely managed to catch you, you accidentally knocked off his sunglasses and they clattered to the floor. You felt remorseful as you flung yourself out of his arms and you snatched up his sunglasses to put them back on his face as soon as possible. “I am so sorry, I didn’t think that was going to happen-!” Your voice caught in your throat when a pair of beautiful bright blue eyes stared back at you.  He looked just as shocked. While you held his sunglasses, he held yours. 

     You see his face at school every day of the week, but this is the first time Robin seeing your own. He was mesmerized by your gorgeous (e/c) eyes, and your whole face was stunning. “I-I, uh,” he tried to say something, but he stuttered constantly.

     You saw your sunglasses in his hands and you gasped out of reflex; you didn’t even notice they came off. You threw a hand over your face, gave him his sunglasses, and you took your own. But, surprisingly, you didn’t feel the panic you usually did when another hero/sidekick almost sees your face uncovered. In fact, you felt indifferent. Like when Artemis sees you without a mask.

     After he put his sunglasses on, he ran over and all but slammed the doors shut. “You’re (Y/n) (L/n)?!” He couldn’t believe it; Gotham Academy’s captain of the robotics team with a 4.5 GPA at the top of all her classes and considered one of the most attractive girls at the school was Mockingbird!? The girl who completely charred a bully who made fun of Dick’s name was Mockingbird!?

     “Yes, now shut it!” You hissed as you pulled up the cave’s monitor system and selected the library’s security camera. In a few seconds, you wiped the sunglasses removal and conversation from the system, and you turned off the mics for the time being. “Memory wiped and mics are off. Proceed.” You were going to let Robin vent; he looked like he was going to explode. With anger or surprise. Both, most likely.

     “I’ve talked to you! A lot! I see you everywhere! In the halls, in the courtyard,” it was all blowing his mind. “Your picture is in the trophy case with the robotics awards- impressive, I admit -and you pretty much roasted Jared for making fun of me!” He looked very confused, and then a little down. “You defended me even though I treat you like crap here. I’ve been hating you as Mockingbird and-”

     “You have multiple reasons for not liking me. Granted, most of them are really stupid reasons, but I wasn’t going to let an asshole make fun of you.” It was all so... easy to talk to him about who you really were, now that that cat was out of the bag. It felt like he was a close friend, when he clearly wasn’t. “I’m a similar but different person without a mask. Some differences more prominent than others.”

     “I'm just confused that I didn’t figure it out myself.” 

     You nodded slightly. “I’m a little confused, too.”

     “About what?” Dick cocked his head. 

     Your brows furrowed. “About how I’m trusting you so easily. We argued all the time before, but I’ve told you about why I never took off my mask and a little about my family. Just out of the blue. There’s not even a solid friendship established between us and I didn’t tell Artemis any of that until we were almost as close as we are now.”

     That confused Dick, too. He started to feel like that recently as well, but he thought nothing of it. You knew basically everything about him, Dick Grayson, anyway. “Well, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Teamwork is based on trust, so there’s a plus.”

     “There you go, making it all about being a team and teamwork and missions again.” You sighed and went to the door. You started to mimic his voice. “’The mission will go smoother if you get whelmed for once’ ‘We need to strengthen our teamwork with these trust exercises’ ‘Mockingbird, stop being so reckless, that’s not good for the team’.”

     “The last one is completely valid! You are reckless!”

     “Not on missions! I’ve never blown my cover and it has been months since the one and only time I actually put you guys in danger!”

     As you both walked out of the library, the team wasn’t surprised to see you two arguing again. Something about Robin claiming that you were reckless, and you rightfully denying it.

     “I really just want him to get his tattoo and get this over with,” Megan murmured. “I bet they’re soulmates.”

     “We all do, M’gann. We all do.”

[ninja-scenarios]

Orochimaru One Shot: autophagy

Happy >Birthday, baby <3 - 10/27/2017

Warning: dark themes, character death

“Damn!”

The clash from a broken syringe echoed through the room. The injected skin of the boy turned purple and reminded vigorously of poison. The pale, bound arms tried to struggle, the chewed off fingertips dug into the metal table while the involuntary patient tried to let out a scream which ended in a hoarse cry.

Orochimaru let out an annoyed sigh and allowed his tired eyes to rest for a second while Kabuto came running to silence the boy. The expectations had been very high this time. He had thought that this would be the cure, the end of sleepless nights and weeks he had spent in the lab hissing at his subordinates. Rustling up a live organism with the same disease had been difficult enough.

He needed to get away from this failure. Leaving the struggling boy behind, he pushed the heavy doors open and left the lab. The dying light that shone through two bullseye-shaped windows illuminated the back of his head and refrained this way from stinging his eyes while the troubled man moved forwards. The dark creepy hallways seemed harmless next to the snake-like scientist.

He moved past the prisoners who hurriedly scurried into the back of their cells as soon as they saw the black haired man walk by. Orochimaru couldn´t care less if they feared him. Fear meant respect, recognition. The distance to his destination grew smaller and smaller. Which each step he shed a piece of his grudge because of the incident in the lab.

As soon as the heavy door opened, Orochimaru´s shoulders slacked off as he felt the stress melt away from his mind and body. His gaze was already focused on the young woman stirring in the sheets, his sharp pupils dilating. It seemed like the girl roused from a half-sleep full of tumultuous dreams. She let out a whine that was muffled by a face mask and her movements were constricted by a straitjacket. Orochimaru approached her and sat down next to her on the bed.

“Good morning~.”

He was completely changed. His voice spoke in a warm, soft tone. He released her from the restrains and gathered her up in his arms with a soft glance. As he did, the fabric uncovered the bite marks and gnawed off skin of her fingers and arms. The girl protested silently and rubbed her eyes with cramped movements. Her arms and hands tingled from being held in one place for so long and she started to sob.

“Shhh, darling.” Orochimaru cooed while he rocked the girl in his arms. She continued to sob which he hushed with a quick kiss to her badly bitten lips. The young woman squirmed a little but relaxed after a few moments, sinking into his hug. Whether it was from tiredness or affection didn´t matter.

“Good girl.” Orochimaru let a smile pull at his lips while he held her tight and ravished in her presence. With her next to him he felt at ease. She was his precious little secret.

His long fingers combed through her hair while his eyes darted over her features. Did her condition improve? Aggravate? Did the side effects of her countless medication start to show? So many things he had to worry about. His nails peeled some caked blood away from her chin. He despised dirt.

“I will order someone to draw you a hot bath. Would that be good?”

While Orochimaru held the young woman, her regular breathing slowed down until she seemed to nap against his shoulder.

“Yes, go to sleep. I´ll be visiting you again tomorrow.”

And with that, he put the ties back on and kissed her goodbye, letting sleep take her back into its safe arms. He felt just as bound as her as he walked back into the lab to experiment for what would be another sleepless night.

She was his dark little secret, waiting for him in the most hidden place of his hideout. With every day her disease affected her brain further, at this point she would try to eat up her fingers and hands if no one kept her restrained. Even so, he would do everything in his might to keep his precious girl alive and well.

The weeks rolled by without any further improvement. Just when the formula was almost finished completely, they were faced with bitter setbacks that slowed down completion.

Another failed attempt. Orochimaru wiped the sweat off his forehead. The bright light of the neon tube blinded him as he leaned his head back to take a deep breath. He needed to see her. Now.

The heavy door opened with a creak and Orochimaru rushed in.

“Good morning, my dear.”

The familiar rustling of sheets failed to appear. A little worried, the tall man sat down on the bedside and pulled down the sheets to reveal the young woman sleeping.

“Wake up, darling, it´s morning.” His amused voice hid the worry that rose with every second.

She didn´t open her eyes, only scrunched her eyebrows together instead. Orochimaru pulled the blanket down further and took off her straitjacket as well as her face mask in a hurry and scooped her up in his arms. She still continued to sleep as he brushed the side of her face.

“Are you not happy to see me?” Something in his voice broke, while his eyes scanned her body to find a reason for this unusual behaviour. He unconsciously held her tighter, waiting for her to open her eyes, which she didn´t.

He felt strange. His heart beat like the one of a scared bird while his eyes darted over her fragile body. It had to be the medicine. In order to keep her safe in this room, the drugs helped her stay asleep most of the day. Usually it wasn´t a problem to wake up when Orochimaru visited her, but right now that seemed to be the case.

The medicine had been Kabuto´s idea. Orochimaru´s eyes narrowed in anger as he set the young woman back on the bed and put the blanket on her.

In a minute he was back in the lab. A metal table flipped over and in the next second, Kabuto was pinned to the wall by his master that had grabbed him by the collar.

“You said the drugs wouldn´t hurt her.”

Instead of fear, a smirk tugged at the assistant´s lips. “I´m sorry, my lord. I tested the medicine on several patients before and I can assure you that it worked perfectly.”

The grip around his throat tightened as sharp yellow eyes stared daggers into a pair of glasses. He had never talked to Kabuto like this. Her condition had to really get to him.

“Do something.” It came out in a low hiss, fangs baring while snake-like eyes shone with threat. After these words, Orochimaru released the hold on his assistant and walked into his quarters to get some sleep.

After two weeks, they finally found the formula. It was already too late. As Orochimaru removed the seals to get into the room, a strange apprehension let him freeze to the spot.

Her head peeked out from under the sheets. Her body didn´t seem to move and also her chest didn´t rise up nor down. Orochimaru slowly walked to her bed and sat down, holding her in his arms for what would be the last time. He had to blink to see clearly, stroking over her head for what felt like hours. The wet feeling on his cheeks was new. She was dead. And the last bit of his humanity had died with her.

After the black haired man left the room, he returned to his lab. Kabuto looked up from some paperwork, eyes fixed on his master´s expression. Why was he back so soon?

“Get someone to take care of her body.”

The words didn´t fail to bring a smirk onto the assistant´s lips. As he was about to walk out of the lab, when his master´s voice stopped him.

“Kabuto. Close the files about the whole project. We will focus on our main goal again.”

Kabuto nodded, seemingly pleased with the orders. He opened the door and stepped out, being just about to close the door.

“That was what you wanted, wasn´t it?”

Orochimaru´s words had him freeze to the spot at once. The fear vanished from him after a few seconds however. If Orochimaru wanted to kill him, he would already be dead. Just how had he found out about this?

The black haired man watched his assistant walk out of the door and turned to the messy desk. Soon there wouldn´t be any trace left of the work they had accomplished down here. It would be like the woman never existed in the first place. Kabuto must´ve thought his master was wasting too much time on this pointless project. It was quite amusing how far his assistant went to direct Orochimaru to the right channels, even though his raspy laughter got betrayed by just the smallest sting in his heart.

[imaginetonyandbucky]

Eight Ways to a Sunny Day

Part Two of OctoBucky and Seahorse-mer Tony. Read Part One Here

Tony stretched luxuriously. He finally had his mate with him. Their home was as safe and secure as they could make it -- there were advantages to having a mate as strong as Bucky. For an octo-mer, he was deficient, having only seven lower arms, and one upper, but for a seahorse, he was amazing.

Bucky could lift incredible loads with his multiple limbs. He could squeeze into tiny gaps --Tony didn’t really like watching that, it was sort of gross, really, but useful -- to get the finest foods. He was fast, so fast. Tony could barely keep track of his unusual mate as Bucky tore around on the ocean floor, gathering materials and collecting food and soft kelps for their bed.

For a creature that was supposed to be solitary, Bucky had mostly adapted to mated life. He was occasionally shy and if he wasn’t thinking about it, he’d shade himself to blend in with the background, giving Tony terrible panic attacks when he would think his mate had left him. And he still hadn't quite adjusted himself to the sheer amount of food a mer-seahorse could eat. Particularly a pregnant one.

“I’m hungry,” Tony mumbled. Not unusual. Tony’s species were grazers, constantly moving (when not pregnant) and eating a bite or two as they went. On a good day, Tony could eat up to forty tiny little meals.

But he was also all entangled with his mate.

When Bucky slept alone, he usually squashed himself into the smallest crevice he could find where he’d fit, and pull a rock in after him. It kept him safe from predators and let him rest. Tony, on the other hand, as a mer-seahorse, slept upright with his tail wrapped firmly around a strand of coral or plankton and tried really hard to look like part of the scenery.

They’d adapted, inside the mate-shelter; Tony slept upright, his tail latched firmly on one of the mate-shelter’s pillars. Bucky slept entangled around Tony, arms wrapped around his mate’s torso and tail, letting him rest his head on Tony’s shoulder. It kept Tony protected and allowed them to be in contact the whole night.

Tony slowly started unlooping Bucky’s arms from around him. Sometimes Bucky would just mutter and curl up against the nearest rock, turning the same brownish shade as the ocean floor. Sometimes he woke up as soon as Tony started shifting.

Tony got himself untangled, patted Bucky’s hair, and let his mate sleep, while Tony went to investigate the idea of breakfast.

Bucky had done something; a human thing, he’d called it. Weaving. Sort of the same thing that the herds did, to make their mate-dwelling, piles of stones to protect the young. Bucky had made tiny little dwellings from sea reeds that he used to keep the krills and shrimp and tiny fish that made up Tony’s diet alive, but contained, until Tony was ready to eat. Baskets were what Bucky called these things. Magic, more like. Tony could see how they worked, and once he’d been shown, he could even manage to make a few crude containers. They were nothing compared to what Bucky made, but the idea… the idea could change everything.

Tony lifted the lid and peered into one of the basket, stomach gurgling. The babies were already up, poking and prodding at him. Annoying little things. Tony loved them already, but sand and tides, he’d be glad to be done with this pregnancy. There were a handful of clams in one basket. Tony stuffed two in his mouth, sighing with satisfaction.

One of Bucky’s arms slid around Tony’s waist. Another fastened onto his shoulder, suckers taking little nibbles. “Morning,” Bucky said, curling up sleepily against Tony’s back. “How are you feeling?”

“Hungry,” Tony said.

“You’re always hungry,” Bucky said. Another limb slid around Tony’s throat, the tip caressing his jaw. “It astonishes me that you still fit in the shelter.”

Tony slapped at the arm. “Be nice to me. These are your babies that are making me fat and has absolutely nothing to do with what I’m eating.”

“Mmmm, yes, they are,” Bucky said. He rubbed his hand over the swollen roundness of Tony’s pouch. The babies inside kicked at each other again for a few moments, each one trying to reach their parent through the plating of Tony’s pouch. “They certainly feel like it.”

“All over enthusiastic acrobatics,” Tony groused. He picked up the empty basket. “There aren’t any clams left.”

Bucky prodded inside the basket with another limb (sometimes Tony felt like his mate had a hundred arms, he kept doing stuff with them) and sighed. “You could save me one, before you eat us out of bed and basket.”

(more below the cut, or read on A03)

“I have not eaten the bedding material except once,” Tony protested. That was mostly an accident. He didn’t really like greens, but he’d gotten a bit of a craving and half the plankton was gone before he’d really realized what he was doing.

“Still did it,” Bucky crowed. He swam around in a little loop and ended up sticking to the ceiling, limbs twining around the rocks and holding himself in place. “Can I get a kiss before I go hunting on an empty stomach?”

“Not if you’re going to continue mocking me,” Tony complained. That was totally a lie. Bucky’s kisses were incredible and Tony never wanted to go without them.

Bucky stayed upside down, wrapped an extra limb around Tony’s back and pulled him in. He licked along Tony’s top lip before moving in, tasting and exploring the contours of Tony’s mouth. Bucky threaded his hand through Tony’s hair, pulling his head at an angle, taking greater licks at Tony’s teeth and his soft palate, sucking on his tongue, sliding along Tony’s tongue until Tony was dizzy with it and tried to wrap his tail around something to stay upright. Bucky’s arms enclosed him, until they were drifting in the deep ocean currents, swaying and rocking slowly as Bucky kept one limb stuck to the upper rocks, his entire weight and Tony’s combined held by one fragile-seeming arm.

“Right,” Bucky said, breaking off the kiss with a suddenness that made Tony whine in dismay. “The sooner I hunt, the sooner I’ll be back, the sooner we can both have some breakfast.” He kissed Tony again, quick and warm, grabbed two of the baskets. He made to leave, then darted back, tasting Tony’s lip. “This time, for real.”

And he was gone.

The mate-shelter seemed very empty without him.

The water was good. Clear and a little warm. The currents were bringing in warmer water from the south. Bucky looped the baskets over his shoulder and went hunting. Small succulent clams and other bivalves from the ocean’s floor made quick work.

A crab, fat and irritable, made up Bucky’s breakfast. A few whacks with one long arm, smacking the creature upside a rock, and it didn’t care anymore. He put the shell into the other basket; Tony sometimes liked to make beads and there was a good deal of raw material there.

A small colony of seasnails went into the basket as well. Tony ate more than anything his size should possibly want. Bucky smiled, fond. His mate was demanding, but well worth it. And while demanding, Tony was also easily pleased, heavy with the praise, and generally happy with Bucky’s efforts.

A glissade of cooler water moved over Bucky’s skin and he pressed himself close to the rock, shifting colors, wondering what the change meant.

Bucky squinted into the depths, listening with every bit of concentration. The slow, slush-slush of respiration was his first clue. The bigger the creature, the slower it breathed, the slower its heart beat. An immense amount of water was passing over the creature, whatever it was. The push of water as it moved… it was huge. A whale, maybe?

A slithering drag, and then one of the baskets was ripped off Bucky’s arm, the lash of fibers stinging and leaving bruises on his back.

What in th’ depths was it?

When the feeding tentacle came for the second basket, Bucky shucked it quickly. He could always make more baskets!

The feeding tentacle’s club end was almost the size of Bucky’s torso. Just above the club, the creature wore a white and red striped bracelet, a solid mass of substance.

Ten Rings.

Like the hydra, Ten Rings, the colossal mer-squid was a legend. Bucky had hoped never to see another legend again. Dealing with the hydra, Bucky had escaped the situation short two limbs, and that had put him at a decided disadvantage.

Ten Rings was a ship-killer. Twice the size of a man-going vessel, the huge creature used its enormously strong limbs to pull fishing vessels before the surface. It cracked them like Bucky might smash a crab, eating the men that fell from the wreckage. Ten Rings took his name from the round items it had found aboard the ships, using the pieces of man-tools to adorn its limbs and claim its prizes long after they were nothing more than wreckage on the seafloor.

Bucky crept backward, arms feeling the way. Seeking a crevasse, a narrow gap between the stones. Something. Anything.

Ten Rings was slow, comparatively, but a squid didn’t have to swim fast to catch him. Ten Rings was also huge; Bucky could swim as fast as he wanted, but it would do him no good. Those feeding tentacles would slice through the water like whips, wrapping around him without Ten Rings even moving.

Bucky found a medium-sized rock, something about the same size as his head. He wrapped two arms around it, flung it as hard as he could, and then took off, swimming as fast as he could, in the opposite direction. Hopefully Ten Rings would be distracted, chase the rock, and leave Bucky alone.

He had to hurry, had to get away. Tony needed him. The babies needed him. Bucky kept an eye out while he swam and finally spotted a lovely, perfect gap between two large boulders. He could squeeze in there and wait for everything to be over.

Bucky squished to the crack, felt the press of stone against his chest, the roughness on his fingers.

Ten Rings wasn’t distracted long. The huge squid fluttered through the water, an unnatural disaster that happened to have a heartbeat.

Bucky hated predators. He’d lost everything to the hydra; he wasn’t about to let Ten Rings take what he’d rebuilt.

But what could he do? Ten Rings was huge, it would take an army of octo-mers and more to bring Ten Rings down.

Finally, Ten Rings moved on.

Bucky waited longer, until he was sure the squid was long gone, and not just waiting for a careless octo-mer to show himself.

He cursed the loss of the baskets and the snails; Tony would be hungry and Bucky had nothing for him. There was nothing. Ten Rings had come through for food, and there was nothing left. Bucky cursed. He would swim home, check on Tony. Apologize. And hunt later, when Ten Rings had cleared the area. There was no way to tell how far the squid had gone.

On the way back, Bucky talked himself around; he might not have breakfast, but he had outwitted Ten Rings, and that was a feat to be proud.

The water seemed darker, somehow, as Bucky made his way back to the mate-shelter.

He climbed the side of the reef, arms finding holds and pulling himself up.

Bucky’s smugness washed away like shapes in the sand.

The reason Ten Rings had gone away without turning every rock and reef looking for a mere octo-mer was because the beast had gone after a much tastier morsel.

A pregnant mer-seahorse, close to his spawning, was more vulnerable prey. No need to chase him across the ocean floor. Tony… wasn’t going anywhere.

Tony’s lower back was killing him.

It didn’t seem to matter how much he stretched. He even wrapped his tail low around one of the pillars and reached as high as he could, trying to relieve the pressure on his spine.

Still hurt. Ached, really.

Pulsed. A deep, throbbing sort of pain.

“Oh, scales and shells!” Tony swore. He pressed his hands to the bulge of his pouch. He was going into labor.

Alone.

Because, really, that just seemed his luck.

Tony really could have gone for some breakfast before this; the handful of clams barely sated his hunger. He peeked into the two remaining baskets, just in case something had decided to crawl in on its own. Nope.

He thought about going out, seeing if he could flush out a bit of shrimp or something from the nearby kelp beds. Although one might have thought Bucky would already have stripped them before venturing out further into the ocean to hunt.

Couldn’t hurt, though, could it?

It wasn’t that far, even though Tony was pretty slow. He flexed, pushing himself toward the door. The sway and stretch of his pouch almost dissuaded him from the attempt, but then his stomach growled again. He could do this. After all, he’d built almost half a mate-shelter by himself before Bucky showed up. What was a little swim, just over to the kelps?

He grabbed the basket.

Delicately, Tony swam -- well, floundered, really, but since no one was looking, it didn’t count -- over to the kelp beds.

Oh, krill! The tiny creatures were tasty, even if they were tiny. A handful would barely slake Tony’s hunger, but there were millions of them in a swarm, and they were swarming today. Tony was on his sixth or seventh (or ninth, or tenth, it didn’t count, Bucky wasn’t there to mock him) handful when it suddenly occurred to him to wonder why the krill were swarming south to north. It wasn’t time for them to return to cooler waters.

Only the mouthful that Tony had prevented him from shrieking out a distress cry when the shadow passed over him.

Too bulbous and graceless to be a whale.

Tony lashed his tail around a piece of help and tucked himself inside the greenery, pulling it around him. He pushed his face against it, then peeked around the corner. It wasn’t until the mantle passed directly in front of him that Tony knew what he was looking at.

A squid.

And not just any squid, but a massive creature. Nearly the size of two human fishing trawlers placed end to end, with feeding tentacles that stretched another two times as long. Ideal for plumbing the depths and snaring enough food to keep something that large functional. The tentacles trailed along behind it as the squid explored.

The ocean was often a deep and silent place, but now nothing moved.

Except the babies in Tony’s pouch that didn’t know enough to keep still.

That had no idea what was outside that safe and warm place for them.

Tony pressed his hand against the opening to his pouch.

He spared a moment’s thought for his mate, that Bucky would come and find him. But what in the depths was Bucky supposed to do against a creature this size? There was nothing that could be done except hope that the squid passed him by. That it was sated and lazy and returning home, rather than hunting.

Tony closed his eyes, curling into the plankton reed. A soft touch against his belly forced his eyes open again in shock. A pair of reddish, tentacled arms waved at him from the slit in his pouch.

“Oh, oh, no, baby, no,” Tony said, soft as he could, prodding the arms back into his pouch. Like playing with an eel inside the coral, every time Tony got one questing arm pushed back into place, another two or three would come out. His body was ridding itself of these babies, whether he wished to or not.

“Chum, chum, chum,” Tony swore. What was he supposed to do now? The babies infantile flailing would attract attention. His only hope was to finish his labors and then swim away, drawing the beast’s gaze, get them away from his babies. He couldn’t move very fast; could he possibly lure it far enough away?

And what would happen to his children? Would Bucky think to look for them, or would he be too distraught at the loss of his mate to search?

Tony bit his lip.

One of the babies made its way out, and once it broke free of his pouch, there was no going back. A little girl, her arms clinging around Tony’s wrist like a wiggly little bracelet. She had hair as red as her arms and eyes of grey.

Tony stared down at his daughter. She gnawed at his finger in frustration. Hungry and not even knowing what food was yet. Tony should have been prepared for her.

His gaze dropped to the basket. Of course, Bucky would find the basket, he would know his own craftsmanship.

There were krill in the basket. Tony pressed one into his daughter’s hands and tucked her into the basket. She attacked the little creature, shoving sustenance in her mouth with both hands and an arm while she was at it. Greedy little thing. Tony couldn’t quite help cooing over her. She was adorable.

“Ow!” Tony bit down on his hand, trying to stifle the pained moans as his pouch opened again. He reached, barely caught the spawn trying to escape and swim away, chasing the krills that still lingered in the undersea forest.

Tony blinked. Another girl, but this one had a mer-seahorse tail, with black, curly hair that stuck straight up from her head. She twisted her tail around Tony’s fingers and he absently gave her a few krills, watching her eat, messy and graceless. He’d taken in already fertilized eggs, Bucky’s former mate’s eggs that Bucky had given his seed to. How were any of them anything but octo-mers? Could Bucky have failed to inseminate all the eggs before giving them to Tony to tend?

He pulled the baby closer, holding her against his chest. “All right, little one. Into the basket. Stay with your sister.”

The next two came out together, as alike as two pearls in an oyster. Thick, dark hair, greenish arms, twin octo-mer boys. Tony didn’t have time to cuddle them; the squid was turning around. He pushed them both into the basket. Was that all? Four was a respectable spawning.

Nope. Tony winced, arching his back, trying not to scream.

A fifth baby clawed his way out; this one with reddish arms and a scowl to match his father’s. Tony kissed the baby and placed it in the basket. “Almost done, almost done, everything is --”

Everything was not fine.

Giant. Eyeball.

The size of Tony’s freaking body.

The feeding tentacle was weaving through the kelp forest.

Tony swam. Straight up. As far from the basket as he could get. As fast as he could go.

It wasn’t going to be fast enough.

Bucky hefted one of the cornerstones from the mate-shelter and dropped it on the trailing end of Ten Ring’s feeding tentacle. He smashed the club end onto the ocean floor, pinning the tentacle down.

Ten Rings let out a bellow, vibrating through the water and sending what small fish still remained in the area scattering in a panic.

“Come on, ugly, this way,” Bucky yelled, waving his arms enticingly and trying hard to look utterly delicious.

As soon as Ten Rings turned, Bucky was gone. Scrambling madly across the ocean floor, throwing up as much dirt and rock as he could manage. Making his path easy to follow.

He slid, throwing a cloud of dirt up, then darted to one side.

Just in time. Ten Rings blasted water from its mantle, slamming in front of Bucky before he could think. He grabbed hold of Ten Ring’s skin with his suckered grips, scuttling over the creature and kept on going, forcing Ten Rings into a tight maneuver. Squids were fast; utilizing the same water-siphoning technique that Bucky’s people were famous for. But in tight quarters, Ten Rings was at the disadvantage, unable to change direction nearly as easily.

Bucky skimmed over Ten Rings’ arms, squeezing himself through loops as they attempted to close over him. One sucker bit down on his shoulder, the sharp dentata tearing at his skin. Crimson blood stained the water. Bucky scurried down to the ocean floor, blending and settling into stillness, letting Ten Rings lash at the water, trying to stir him up.

When Ten Rings was looking right at him, Bucky let himself be seen. He shifted, going from I’m-an-inedible-rock to tasty-octopus. Ten Rings’ eye widened then narrowed dangerously. Bucky fled. He squirted a huge cloud of ink, but it hardly deterred the larger predator. Tentacles slashed through the cloud, seeking him out.

Bucky slammed into a boulder, blended to match it, and then scurried around behind it. He let go, the instant the feeding tentacle grabbed it, let Ten Rings draw it back to its beak. Fled further, waving his arms.

Ten Rings flung the rock; its aim was nearly as good as Bucky’s. Bucky slithered to one side and the boulder came down almost where he’d been. Bucky eyed the reef behind him; the drop off there wasn’t as deep as some places, but the bottom was fathoms down. “Come on, come on,” Bucky urged Ten Rings.

As the colossal squid streaked at him, Bucky blended into the boulder again. Ten Rings smashed into the rock, its great mantle pushing and pummeling. Even through the rock, Bucky groaned in pain. The impact was bruising. Not just for Bucky; dark ichor flooded the water as the boulder’s edges ripped at Ten Rings’s supple flesh.

Bucky squeezed as the tentacles wrapped around the rock, sliding between the tentacle and the ring around it from which Ten Rings took its name. With a quick tug, Bucky yanked the ring free.

Now he’d done it!

Ten Rings roared again, infuriated. Those rings were its legacy, its pride. Symbols of its triumph.

Bucky fled again, settling into a depression in the sand, covering the ring with his body, then blended. Just a bit of sea floor here, no need to look any further.

Slithered an arm out and grabbed a twist of seagrasses. It wasn’t going to be his best braiding job ever; he couldn’t even see what he was doing, but he had seven arms, and he could braid quick. Another twist of grass. Kept an eye on Ten Rings, who was scrambling through the boulders and rocks, trying to shake him loose.

He looped the crude rope over the ring, bound it. Skimmed across the ocean floor to another boulder. An outcropping on that one suited his needs. Bucky put his shoulder to the stone and shoved it across the ocean floor toward the reef’s drop-off.

“Faster,” he urged himself. “You can do this.”

Got the stone over to the edge. Tied the ring to the stone.

“Hey, ugly!”

Ten Rings cavitated a bit as it turned. Good. The more disoriented the beast already was, the better.

It saw its ring. Flexed its arms and sent itself into a spin, driving toward him, full speed.

Bucky went over the side. A moment later, Ten Rings slammed into the boulder, arms and tentacles scrambling for its ring. The stone shuttled forward in the dirt, pushed by the force of Ten Rings’ impact.

Bucky watched in satisfaction as the boulder went over the side and into the depths, Ten Rings clinging to it, trying in vain to rip the ring free.

Tony wasn’t ashamed to admit there was a very large part of him that wanted to just lay down on the ocean floor and wait for death. His mate was gone. Their mate-shelter was destroyed. He had six babies (six? That was at least two more than most spawnings, and was a ridiculous number of babies to look after) in a basket strapped to his chest.

He was tired.

He was still hungry.

He was terrified.

The squid had chased after Bucky, but Tony wasn’t certain that it wouldn’t come back. After all, something that big had to eat an awful lot.

But Tony did have six babies.

And he owed it to his mate, and to them, to try.

The basket kept his babies contained, and that was good. It also wasn’t too much different from being pregnant. He was still ungainly and middle-heavy and awkward, but at least he was mostly used to it.

Just get to Rhodey, he thought. Once he was there, some sort of plan… some…

Tony tucked his face against the basket, trying not to wail his grief and anguish.

A shifting in the sands was all the warning Tony had before great arms reached for him.

“Hey gorgeous.”

Bucky.

Yep. That was it. Tony was dead. He clutched one hand over his heart, staggered backward. If the basket hadn’t been hooked over his shoulders, he might have dropped it.

“Woah, woah.” Bucky’s arms went ‘round his waist, behind his neck, under his hips, keeping him upright. “I got you. It’s okay. It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got… all of you. Wow.” One arm opened the top of the basket and Bucky drew out one of their children.

The mer-seahorse filly was awkward, bumbling from side to side as she scooted toward her parent, arms stretched out.

“Well, I’ll be hooked,” Bucky said. “Look at her, baby.”

Tony couldn’t help a smile at that. “We did make some very pretty babies.”

“Come on, we need to get to shelter before Ten Rings comes after us again,” Bucky said. Tony shuddered delicately. So, the giant squid had a name? Ug. Somehow that was even worse. Bad enough to be eaten by a predator, but it was worse to devour something that could think… and knowing that it could.

Tony patted Bucky, as if reassuring himself that Bucky was all right. Which he was, give or take a new battlescar or two. “Where are we going?”

“My friend, Steve. His cave is this way; he’ll let us impose for a while,” Bucky said.

An altogether agreeable plan; unlike Rhodey’s mate, Pepper, Steve wouldn’t be overly territorial. Mer-crustaceans were more sociable than their crusty exterior might have indicated. Not to mention, Steve had powerful arms and a hide of solid armor. They’d be in less danger, with such a protector.

Bucky gave his daughter a quick nuzzle and put her back in the basket. “Here, let me carry them, you’ve been doing it long enough.”

“I hate to agree with you, but yes,” Tony said.  “And you have more arms to carry with anyway. Which will come in handy, as you’ll need six of them, looking after our brood.”

“Six for them, one for you, which still leaves me one to wave for Steve when we need help.” 

[happybeeme0514]

Pure Chap 14

Chapter 14

The God of Libra

 The man who kidnapped my aunt and uncle, the man who appears in my nightmares over and over, the man who Zyglavis was protecting me from from the start, the dark king, is standing before me, only he’s no longer a fuzzy black shadow. Here, he looks just like the king of the Heavens, same hair style, same facial structure, same build and height, only everything about him is black and dark. His hair is the same color as an oil slick, his skin grey as death, and his robes black. I glare up at him, even when my instincts tell me to look away.

“What did you do to them?” I demand through clenched teeth. He waves an unnaturally pale hand nonchalantly.

“Just knocked them out, that’s all. I had a feeling that once they saw what I’m about to do to you, they’d be screaming their heads off, and, you know, I just didn’t feel like dealing with that.”

The dark king leers maliciously down at me, and my shoulders stiffen. My body begins shivering, but not because I’m cold. I’m terrified.

But I knew this would happen. The very second that portal opened up in Zyglavis’ room and I jumped into it, I sealed my own fate. I knew that I was walking into my own death, and even now, being faced by the creature that wants to see the downfall of the human race, I don’t regret that decision.

“So. You are a strangely pure human, especially for your age. I’m sure you’re aware of that by now,” I remain silent, my body rigid and my teeth gnashing together. As he speaks, he slowly walks around me, his eyes never leaving me, like a lion stalking its prey. “And that purity, that innocence, is just what I need to completely be revived. You understand the terms, yes? You do as I say, and I release your precious aunt and uncle. You don’t, I kill them. And that annoying Punishments minister.”

At the mention of Zyglavis, my body naturally shoots up and I lunge at the dark king.

“Zyglavis has nothing to do with this!” I scream. The dark king grabs me and presses me hard against the wall.

“Oh, but he does! I can see right into your fragile human heart. You’re in love with him, aren’t you? Don’t you know of the law? Gods can’t be with humans, they can’t give any one human more love than the rest. Yet you, you want Zyglavis to love you and only you. How pathetic.” I push and shove against the dark king’s chest with all my might, but he doesn’t so much as move one inch. All the exertion causes me to erupt into a coughing fit.

“The god of Libra is constantly in my way. You should have died with your parents all those years ago,” My head, which had been angled down, snaps up at those words.

“What…?”

“Oh, you don’t know? The humans concluded your parents died during a robbery, but it was me. I killed them. Their love for each other, as well as their love for you, was just too good to resist. Consuming their clean souls increased my power significantly. If I had consumed yours as I had planned, my resurrection would have been completed then, but that minister…”

I stare stupidly at the dark king, tears stinging in my eyes. At his words, the memory of that day comes flooding back to me.

I had been sitting in the living room with my father, listening intently as he read to me. He was using wildly different voices for different characters. Mom had come into the room to give me a little snack, and then she sat down across from us and opened a magazine. It was a normal day.

Then all of a sudden the sky outside got dark. It got windy and frigid. Dad stopped reading and set the book down on the end table by the couch, turning around and peeking out the bay window. The power went out. I remember being scared, but dad gently hugged me close, and mom walked over to us to sit on my other side, assuring me that everything was alright. After she had spoken, we heard a laugh.

At the entrance to the kitchen, someone appeared, a dark figure with long, tangled hair and glowing red eyes. The fear that naturally flooded my body made me start crying, and mom gathered me up to her, diving off the couch and running toward the other side of the wall that divided the living room and kitchen.

However, the figure was suddenly in front of her, holding a grey hand up. Mom froze, her arms loosening around me and dropping me to the ground. My father was screaming, but I don’t remember what he said as I was hypnotized, staring unblinking as the light faded from my mother’s eyes. After a moment, she collapsed, motionless.

Dad must have called me over to him, as in the next moment I scrambled off the ground to try and run to him. A foot crashed into my side, sending my little body rocketing over toward the couch. Once my vision corrected, I blinked to see the figure doing the same thing to my dad.

In the next moment, I was alone.

The figure turned toward me, leering evilly at me as it slowly began approaching me. I screamed, and bright white light filled the room. I was pulled to a strong, warm chest, large hands holding my four-year-old body close. Dark hair tickled my cheeks, and a scent like clean linen filled my nose. The man who appeared held out one of his hands, glaring unflinching at the figure that killed my parents.

“By order of the king of the Heavens, I, the god of Libra, banish you back to hell.”

His voice had been low, but still powerful and authoritative. I don’t know what happened next, as I buried my face into the strange man’s chest.

 I remain silent as I remember that day, my tears sliding from my eyes in endless waves.

Rolling his eyes, the dark king lightly tosses me to the side like I’m nothing but a ragdoll. My body bounces on the ground, knocking what little wind I had out of me. I gasp for air, but all that enters my lungs is scorching, dirt-filled air.

“Now,” The dark king kneels down to me and grabs a handful of my hair, yanking my head up. I let out a small scream of pain. “You’re going to drink this.” He holds up a small vial of greenish yellow liquid and swirls it around. “This will make it so your soul can be consumed by me. If you don’t drink it, you can say goodbye to your family and that minister.”

My eyes move from his face to the vial in his fingers. If I drink that, I’ll really be giving up my life. I’ll have completely decimated the gods’ efforts at keeping me, and every other human, safe. God, this is such a cliché. The age old ethical dilemma—save the people closest to you, or save the world? My eyes flit over to my aunt and uncle. My only family. The two people who gave up their youth to raise their orphan niece. And then, Zyglavis. The stern, severe god who acts like a nagging mother-in-law but has a heart of gold, the god who never turned his back on humans even when they turned theirs on him.

The god who saved me. The god I love.

Tears sting in my eyes as I slowly look back to the dark king, who raises his eyebrows in impatience.

“Give it to me.” My voice is weak and broken, and it’s hard for even me to hear what I said, but he seems to have heard me just fine as his mouth curls into a sickeningly sweet smile.

“Good girl.”  

If I do this, then I’ll be putting the entirety of Earth’s population in jeopardy. But, I believe in the gods. I know they’ll be able to stop the dark king and his cronies. As I lift the vial to my mouth, I squeeze my eyes shut and mentally apologize to Zyglavis. I’m sorry. You were assigned to protect me specifically from this, and I walked right into it myself. I’m so sorry, Zyglavis.

I love you.

Just as I’m about to toss the liquid back, there’s a sudden high wind, cool like an autumn morning, and the dark king is violently shoved to the side, the vial being snatched up from my hand in the process. It takes me a moment to reorient myself, but when I look up, I see him.

Zyglavis!

 My mouth gapes as I stare at him, in a different form in front of me.

He is dressed in black and purple robes, the front opening to show his chest, a large decorative chest piece going from one shoulder to the other. His hair is down around his shoulders and hiding under his bangs is a simple headband with a purple stone in the middle. I notice that the chest piece has a small scale model on it.

This isn’t Zyglavis, Minister of Punishments.

This is Zyglavis, god of Libra.

“You’re an idiot, you know that?” He says, his gentle expression contrasting his mean words. His mouth turns up just a bit and his eyes narrow affectionately as he reaches a hand out to stroke my cheek. The tears that had recently stopped begin to slide down my cheeks again.

“I’m sorry,” I gasp. “I just couldn’t let them…”

“I know.” He interrupts softly.

I stare adoringly up at him. He came for me. And I don’t care if he came just because it’s his mission. I’m just happy he’s here at all.

“Always in the way,” The snarling voice makes Zyglavis spin around and shove me behind his back. The dark king is slowly pulling himself to his feet, an insane look taking over his features. “You’re not wanted here!”

As he screams, the dark king lifts a hand and a strong wave of power blasts out toward us, smacking into our bodies like a wrecking ball. Zyglavis doesn’t move very far as he’s a god, but my little human body goes rocketing across the room, only coming to a halt when something stops me.

My body slams into a structure, my head snapping back on my shoulders, warping my vision and knocking the wind out of me, my right leg continuing to fly back, until I feel something pierce into it, pushing through my skin and muscle and bone. It takes a moment for my body to respond, and then, all at once, a burning pain shoots around my right leg, a strange numbing sensation quickly swirling about shortly after. I slowly look down, and see that it had been one of the decorative pillars that stopped me.

And those decorative pillars have sharpened spikes sticking out of them.

A small cry leaves my lips and my vision blurs when I see that one of the spikes has impaled my thigh, going several inches out from its point of entry. Blood is pouring from the wound, but, I don’t feel very much pain. My shaking hands move down to uselessly hold my thigh, covering the wound to try and stop the bleeding.

“Eden!”

My mind registers Zyglavis screaming my name, but I don’t fully understand why. I feel faint, like I’m going to throw up and pass out. My eyes lift to see that Zyglavis is trying to get over to me, the dark king blocks his path.

Zyglavis violently slams into him, but he won’t let him get to me so easily.

It’s hard for me to make out who’s getting the advantage. My vision turns spotty, and strange colors and lights block out most of their bodies. I try blinking, but that doesn’t help. Blood keeps relentlessly flowing out of my leg.

Well, I guess I will die here, but not how I thought I would.

 In the next moment, I feel someone gently grab my head and lift my upper body up. Naturally thinking it’s a dark god, I try and jerk away. That doesn’t work all that great.

“Eden, it’s us,” A familiar voice enters my ears, and even though I can’t really make out who it is, my body recognizes it and stops struggling. My eyes turn up and a familiar face comes into my blurry vision. Brown hair falls over a forehead, and shades of green register in my mind. Next to that person is someone with a head of blond hair and…bullhorns sticking out of them. Dui? Teorus?

Next I feel hands at my thigh, two sets of hands to be precise. “Mm!” I make a sound of pain, and Dui responds by gently stroking my cheeks and hair.

“It’s alright. It’s just Huedhaut and Ichthys.”

It’s all of them. It’s all the zodiac gods.

I can hear voices beyond Dui, Hue, and Ichthys. Some part of me realizes that they’ve come to help us. Leon, Karno, and Scorpio are most likely helping Zyglavis with the dark king. I wonder what Partheno, Krioff, Tauxolouve and Aigonorous are doing.

Suddenly there’s a ripping sensation on my thigh, and I scream bloody murder. “It’s okay, Eden,” Teorus says, taking one of my hands. “They’re going to heal you.” Still, the feeling of having the pole removed from my thigh is not pleasant. It’s slow. It’s agonizing. I squeeze Teorus’ hand as tightly as humanly possible, and I think I hear him grunt in discomfort.

“God!” My voice rips from my throat. There’s so much pain and pressure, and on top of that, I can barely breathe here.

My mind flickers, like the shutters of an old camera taking a picture. “Lorraine, David!” I grunt. I need to know if they’re okay.

“Aigo and Lou got them.” Teorus says. That offers me some relief, but I’m not out of the woods yet.

Finally, finally, the pressure on my thigh is released, and the sharp pain I’d been feeling dulls just the slightest bit. The four gods move my body so I’m lying straight, and I feel something pleasantly cool run over my leg. “Hue is cleaning the wound,” Dui tells me. Against his lap, I nod my head a little.

I don’t know what’s going on with the dark king and the others, but I assume from how calm Dui and Teo are speaking, he’s losing. “Zyglavis…?” I whisper.

“He’ll be okay.” I nod again.

“Everyone else?”

“We’ll all be fine.” Another nod.

Once my wound is cleaned, Ichthys says, “Okay, Eden, I’m going to heal it now. It might be uncomfortable.”

“Mm…” That’s the only response I can muster up. I’m so tired. I just want to sleep. My mind is flying and my body feels numb. At my thigh, there’s a nice warming sensation, starting with the skin wound itself and then radiating down to any muscle and bone that might have been damaged. It grows warmer and warmer until it gets hot, too hot, and I squirm a little. It’s like grabbing the wrong end of a curling iron. My natural reflex is to jerk my leg away, but the hands on it keep me still.

“Ugh…ah!” I squeak and squeal in pain, but I don’t have enough energy to actually scream. Dui gently sweeps the hair, dampened with sweat, from my forehead.

“You’re okay. I’m almost done.”  

The swirling heat tortures me. Is Ichthys sure he’s healing me? “Hue?”

“On it.” I feel a gentle, cool sensation on my forehead and my cheeks, and realize it’s water.

“You’re doing so good,” Dui tells me as he strokes my hair, as if he’s speaking to a child. “I’ve never even met a goddess as brave and strong as you.”

“None of us have.” Huedhaut adds in a whisper.

“Done!”

I hear Ichthys’ triumphant voice, and the heat slowly vanishes, leaving in its place absolutely nothing. My leg feels perfect now.

I let out a long breath.

“She’s lost a lot of blood,” I hear Hue say to someone. “I’m surprised Dui didn’t…” Dui’s legs shift under my shoulders as I look around for who Hue is talking to.

“Zyglavis…” I whisper when my blurry vision lands on a figure that resembles him.

“I’m right here.” I feel arms go under me and lift me off the deadened ground, cradling me to a warm, comforting chest.

“The dark king?” I whisper.

“He’s gone.”

“Lorraine? David?”

“They’re safe.”

Relief washes through me so quickly my mind feels like it got shot into the air. Everything…is okay. Everyone is alive. Lorraine and David are safe. The world is safe. And Zyglavis is right here with me, his heart beating gently under my head.                

It’s not long until sleep takes me.