#you just tore a whole room of people limb from limb

[hellsing-shitposts-r-us]

Making notes for if I decide to write fanfic and I thought I would share

[loulovingho]

part 2 to my lonely tommy fic. this time he's not so lonely anymore.

“What did you do this time?”

“Angela!” Tommy exclaimed, smiling brightly as she walked into the room. “Or Angie? Angel? We never clarified that.”

“You know, when I saw your name I thought dear God, that man's still alive? I was certain you would have sawed off a few more body parts by now.”

“I'm trying to keep my limbs, I promise.”

“So then tell me why you're here, back in recovery.”

“My appendix hates me.”

“Oh, that's a pesky little thing, isn't it?” she asked.

“It is. Are you my nurse today?”

“Not supposed to be, but I've got seniority on Gina, so she can deal with the jackass in 212.”

“I knew I was your favorite,” he replied, giving her a wink.

Angela rolled her eyes. “I haven't looked through your paperwork yet,” she said, waving the file in her hand. “Should I assume nothing's changed from last year?”

“You know what they say about assumptions, Angela.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Are you telling me there's gonna be a person to call in here?”

He nodded. “There is a name and a number. And it's a person I actually know. You won't have to call though.”

“I swear, if you tell me you brought yourself here again-”

“No, no, I didn't this time. I just-”

“I got some jello cups from the nurses station, and ice for- Marie?!”

Angela's eyes widened, a grin on her face. “Buck!” she exclaimed, opening her arms for a hug.

“Marie?” Tommy questioned, confused.

Ignoring him, Angela kept her focus on Buck. “What are you doing here? And in normal clothes! I only ever see you when you're in the bed!”

Buck laughed. “I'm a plus one this time. Tommy's appendix decided to burst in the middle of his shift.”

“You two work together?”

“Oh, no. He's at 217, I'm at 118.”

“He's my boyfriend,” Tommy clarified.

“Ohh, okay.” She turned toward Tommy, wiggling her eyebrows. “That's some new information for me.”

Buck took the ice and jello over to Tommy. He tore off the lid and scooped a little bit of the lime jello onto a spoon, then brought it up to Tommy's mouth. He took the bite without complaint.

“They only want him eating soft foods for the next few hours,” Buck said as Angela watched them both with nothing but fondness on her face. “But he gets hungry so fast I keep going for more jello cups.”

“How about I search around for something that will keep you fuller a bit longer?” Angela suggested. “Like some mashed potatoes?”

Tommy swallowed the next bite of jello. “That actually sounds really good.”

“I'll be right back.”

“Wait!” Tommy exclaimed before she could get too far. “Marie?”

She walked back over to his bed. “It's my middle name, and it's what everyone else calls me. You have to keep calling me Angela, because you pissed me off,” she said, gently smacking his leg with the file folder.

“Ohhh,” Buck teased, looking at Tommy with wide eyes, “someone's in trouble.”

“You had me worrying about you for a whole damn year while you were cozying up to one of my favorite patients? The nerve, Thomas.”

“Yikes,” Buck grimaced. “You got Thomas'd.”

“That's just Angela's way of telling me she loves me.”

“Mhm. You've aged me, Mr. Kinard.”

“This could have all been prevented if you'd let me use you as my emergency contact.”

She shook her head. “I'll be back with potatoes. Keep him in check, Buck!”

“Will do.”

Once she left the room, Buck eyes Tommy. "So you know Marie too?"

He nodded. "I do."

*****

After eating some potatoes, Tommy dozed in and out for the next couple of hours.

After that, he and Buck were in the middle of a very competitive episode of The Price is Right when there was a knock on the door.

One by one, people began to file in, much to Tommy's surprise.

Eddie, Hen, Bobby, Athena, Maddie, and Howie gathered into the room, hands filled with different items.

After all the hello's and how are you's, they took turns handing over what they brought.

“We brought flowers,” Athena said, setting them on a corner table. “To brighten the place up a bit.”

“Jee wanted to make you something special to look at while you're in here,” Maddie said, breaking through the crowd to hand Tommy a piece of paper. “She said it's her, her Uncle Buck, and her Uncle Tommy at the zoo.”

Tommy stared down at the picture. Three people, a step above stick figures, with their hands connected as they walked down a path. Some birds and other unidentifiable animals surrounding them.

“It's beautiful,” he said, speaking softly. “Tell her I said thank you. I love it.”

“Karen made cookies.” Hen dropped a bag down on Tommy's tray table. “Snickerdoodle and red velvet. They're your favorites, apparently?”

“They are!” Tommy replied in surprise. “I can't believe she remembered that. I just mentioned it in passing one day.”

“Karen remembers everything about the people she cares about,” Hen responded with a grin. “One of the many things I love about her.”

“We made a schedule,” Eddie said, pulling a piece of paper out of his back pocket.

“Buck made a schedule,” Chimney clarified.

“I've given Buck a couple days off,” Bobby said, “and after that we will be bugging you in shifts.”

“You guys don't have to-”

“Don't even try to fight it,” Hen interrupted. “We've already been made to memorize our individual schedules and tasks.”

“This is happening, Tommy,” Eddie said, giving him a pat on the shoulder, “whether you like it or not.”

Athena hummed. “And I can guarantee by the time you have fully recovered, you will not.”

“He's gonna love it,” Buck said, glaring over at Eddie. “Who brought the balloons?”

“That would be me,” Eddie replied. “Along with an airplane-shaped stuffed toy that actually used to be Christopher's, but he hasn't touched it in years.”

“And I found the cutest teddy bear in the gift shop,” Chimney said, coming up beside Tommy to tuck the bear into his side, “because I don't bring used toys to my friends.”

“Rude!” Eddie exclaimed. “At least he likes airplanes.”

“He likes bears too!” Chimney defended, then he looked down at Tommy. “You like bears too, right?”

“That could mean so many different things to me,” Tommy replied honestly. “But, yes, I love the teddy bear and the airplane. Thank you guys. All of you.”

“I know I didn't technically bring anything,” Bobby said, “but I will be making you guys some meals that you'll just have to heat up for the next couple weeks, at least.”

“You don't have to do that, Bobby.”

“Well, it's not just for you,” Bobby explained.

Athena rolled her eyes. “Here we go.”

“These are new meals I'm trying out,” Bobby continued, “So I need honest reviews before I start making them at work. Don't sugar coat it.”

Tommy lifted three fingers. “Scouts honor.”

As the conversations picked up around him, Tommy settled further into the bed. Buck smiled over at him, taking his hand. “Sorry,” he said, “I didn't know they'd all be coming at once.”

Tommy shook his head. “Don't be sorry,” he replied, giving Buck's hand a squeeze. “This is perfect.”

*****

It was dark outside when Angela came back into the room for her final check before getting off shift. The only light filtering through the room came from the bathroom. Tommy was sitting up, staring down at the drawing Jee had given him.

“Wow!” Angela exclaimed as she walked in. “Someone had a lot of visitors today.”

The room was littered with items that had been left behind.

Tommy smiled up at her. “Yes, Ma'am.”

“We could hear you all laughing from down the hall,” she said as she began to switch out his IV bag. “It was nice.”

“Yeah, it... It was.”

“Did you finally get your boy to go home?”

“Uh, no.” Tommy set the drawing back down on the table. “He's actually gone to get more blankets. I told him I was fine, but he said my feet always get cold at night so I'd need extra.”

“He takes good care of you.”

“Yeah, he does.”

She grinned down at him. “You take good care of him?”

“I try to,” he answered honestly.

They fell into a comfortable silence as she finished up her work.

She gave him a couple of sideways glances before asking. “You okay?”

He bit at his lip, suddenly overcome with emotion as he stared at his GET WELL SOON balloon. Everything had changed so much in the past year. His old life felt nearly unrecognizable.

“It's just a little overwhelming,” he admitted, clearing his throat. “Last time I went home from here I was alone. I took care of myself until I got better. This time I have a schedule to memorize of who is visiting when.”

“Sounds like a good problem to have to me.”

“It is,” he agreed, even as his voice broke. “I just never thought I'd have people.” His eyes burned, filling with tears. “Doesn't feel like I deserve it.”

“Oh, honey.” She leaned over the bed, cradling his head in her arms. She could feel the wetness from his tears on her sleeve. “You are so loved,” she told him as he let himself be held. “You deserve that.”

She leaned back enough to hold onto Tommy's face, wiping his tears with her thumbs as she spoke to him. “All these people who showed up for you today, they came because they love you. Because you show them the same love. And that man you've got, well, he looks at you like you're more precious than gold. Let yourself be happy, okay? You've got people now. You've got people forever.”

He took a shaky breath and nodded, Angela wiping away the last of the tears before letting him go.

He grabbed a tissue off his tray table and wiped his nose. “Do I get to call you Marie now?” he asked.

She laughed. “Oh, no. You're special, so you're stuck with Angela.”

“I got five blankets and two pillows,” Buck said as he entered the room, “which I know you won't need, but I'm trading chairs with the guy in 212- who's a bit of an ass, by the way- so I get the recliner.”

“You're staying the night?” Angela asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Oh, um, yeah,” he answered sheepishly, his cheeks going pink. “I didn't ask, but I- I figured-”

“It's fine,” she assured him before heading for the door. “I didn't think you'd be leaving anyway. I'll see you two lovebirds in the morning, alright?”

“Goodnight, Marie!”

“Thank you, Angela.”

Buck took one of the blankets and spread it out over Tommy's legs. “I gotta go switch these chairs out. Are you good until I get back?”

Tommy reached out for Buck's hand, tugging on him until he was close enough to kiss. When he pulled away, he smiled. “I'm good.”

[bloopitynoot]

Reading SVSSS: Chapter 18

For those who don't know, I am reading SVSSS for the first time and sharing my thoughts!

If you have not read it, there will be spoilers! Consider this a warning.

Also- if you want to follow along, I am aiming to post updates daily. You can find all the posts in the tag bloopitynoot reads SVSSS. You can also check out the intro post for context on my read.

New chapter, new cup, and back on my tea drinking! Today is another past year ren faire hand made cup with a Blueberry Jasmine tea.

This is present me rn - having finished this chapter- I WAS NOT PREPARED WHAT THE FUCK; what a goddamn jump scare of a read! D:

let's get ready for the notes journey so you can see me descend into a cacophony of sound:

Okay the visitor from last chapter was not Luo Binghe, and I really thought it might have been- it is in fact Liu Qingge! p159

Where is Luo Binghe though?? p159

Side note: unrelated, but a little bit related- adjacently related if you will - to the plot -> Big Same Shen Qingqiu! When I see a fan I too have to give that baby a firm crack! p159

Also real as fuck. LQQ: "what's up with you and Luo BInghe?" SQQ: I don't really know, but here we are LOL" p160

What did Liu Qingge see in the room that made him trip up/pause??? (I am sure we will find out later but still what the heck) p162

I'm crying at the strike out over here "His current attire and appearance was exactly identical to the Luo Binghe from before the Immortal Alliance Conference: the model of flawless and pure disciple of a major sect, the image of a pretty, diligent, and competent young wife, it really...really...was..." p162

Why am I so suspicious about the breakfast service Luo Binghe has for SQQ. p163

I love how the two of them in disguise in this very obvious trap of basically every powerful cultivator and sect is Luo Binghe changing his facial expression and SQQ being like "well I've been away for a while they will never recognize me" stealth check natural 1 for sure for sure p168

ewwww. anything to do with Old Palace Master. I really hate this guy, this story is so fucked. honestly poor Luo Binghe rn. pp171-172

oooo! New quest from the system: Raising Righteous Image Points! p176

more me appointed points to my 'SQQ is the damsel/love interest narrative', "In conclusion: So the female lead's role was going to be Shen Qingqiu again, huh?" p177

THANK YOU! This guy is the only one talking sense. Tianlang-jun really did nothing to start this whole war. He was only tricked and then essentially had the shit absolutely beat out of him. I dont even think the rumour he was going to wreak havoc and kill a bunch of humans was true- probably made up by butt hurt Old Palace Master. p181

ugh. Poor LBG having to hear all these people talk about his parents, their story, and how his mom hated him so much she tried to abort him. what the fuck, that's enough to mess anyone up quite badly. pp181-183

LBH: SQQ: my heart!!! pp 186-187

OFC LBH would be blamed mid Menty-B for the random demons being present. p189

Also so valid! the sects really are using the same tricks they used on Tianlang-jun. You know what, i'm really starting to stand with these demons - they have been done so dirty! p190

Hell yeah Yu Qingyuan stepping in! p191

Everyone here wants an explanation- how tf are they going to explain any of this tho LOL p195

Oh fuck, oh fuck! He hit zero points! p196

wait...alternate punishment? p197

Oh dang, he really just collapsed p197

AH! What's happening in the dream punishment. Is the punishment SQQ having to live with the original novel Luo BInghe and forever pining for him LOL? pp 198-199

Oh shit. Luo Binghe is totally figuring out that Shen Qingqiu is not his original Shizun p201

HE TORE HIS ARM OFF?! P202

MORE LIMB RIPPING P203

WHAT WHAT WHAT!!!!

THIS IS WILD.

What a horrible punishment OMG.

[m0thb0n3s]

Doable (Touchstarved x reader)

Hey everyone! This is my first installation in my Touchstarved series with my take on the MC and their Curse! I thought it'd be interesting to take their curse and put my own spin on it so please tell me if you enjoy this... prologue?

TW: mentions of pass abuse(physical and mental), descriptions of gore and bodies being eaten, chronic denial of own personal issues, past religion trauma((?) very brief), voice in your head but this time it's real, attempted dismemberment! Italics is Him, Bold is You.

Fic below the cut!

Ever since the mist permeated the world you've been experiencing... changes.

Your body began morphing in ways that doctors couldn't describe; priests called you a demon spawn upon seeing your hand. The golden rivers that trailed across your darkened skin seemed to move in the light, mesmerizing yet bothersome. Terrible to deal with but doable.

"Wrap the bandages, pull them tight, tell your hands it's nighty night." a song your caregiver Uma, a sweet woman long gone and mad, used to sing to you. She did her best to make you feel okay about the scratchy fabrics that were gently wrapped-

No. Blistered and bloodied, raw. It still hurts Bug.

No. Stop it, Uma was good... Uma was sweet and she always made me feel better.

And that's why she took the knife to your wrists?

Doable, yes, yes doable. That's what you told yourself, even as the people around you crumbled to the madness you seemed to produce, even as the alchemist who took you in and fed you strangely colored drinks locked you in the quiet room.

No, no please. Please! I'll be good I'm sorry Master, I'M SORRY.

Do not apologize, he has made us even stronger.

No no not the voices again get out get out GET OUT.

Hush little Bug. I am not a voice, I am something greater.

They always claim that but what makes you better?

Because you've had me with you the whole time... even when you tried to wrap me up and forget I was here. I've been with you from the start... now you can just heed my calls.

Even as the fur started to grow and the hearing got sharper, even as the tests became more and more painful, even after the night when you broke free and tore that feeble man limb from limb, savoring the meal.

Yes, it's been too long since I've tasted fresh blood on my tongue... I'm hungry for it now even. More. MORE.

...

Even since the curse evolved, taking a bat-like form to protect and hunt, no longer needing to touch when a simple shriek drove one mad with desire and bloodlust.

But it's still doable right? That's why you're coming here. To Eridia. Because it's... still doable. Wrap the hands, keep him fed, stay safe. Such a small hex will easily be cured by Senobium scholars right? After all, if master was the one who created him; his teachers should be able to reverse it, yes? It's manageable, it's simple, it's doable... right?

...

I'm hungry, little bug. The travelers smell divine but the Soulless ravaging those bodies smells better.

The sounds of intestines ripping and bones crunching hits my sensitive ears. My mouth waters at the smell of blood and viscera littering the ground, the wet slurping and sticky stench of gore ferment the air in a tangible aroma fit for Soulless feast...

Or a curse turned sentient and it's human host.

... Sometimes I wanna go back to nursery songs and too tight bandages.

[clamshell-writes]

pt.2 “Michael….” Sechenov whispered, weakened. Michael’s eyes shone like two cat eyes in the dark room as he approached the taller man incapacitated in bed. He did not say a thing. Just going over and slowly slithering onto the bed so he was above him. “Michael what is….” His fear showed through so much easier,  Sechenov’s pained breath quickened. “Eat” Michael said, holding the small green pill. Sechenov shook his head. “Michael….no!” He recognized the pill, confused why would his co-worker do this to him, he shook his head, mouth closed and he wrapped his hand around it, looking at Stockhausen wide eyed. Stock huffed, just suddenly pushing his sharp knee into the fresh stitches and Sechenov instinctivelly let go and cried out, hand shooting to the leg. It was then that Michael shoved the green pill down his throat, and Sechenov was left with nothing else than swallow it, wincing and tears shooting into his eyes. “Michael, stop, why are you doing this?” “You….don’t know boss?” Michael snickered, holding his sleek but small hand over Sechenov’s throat, his thumb on the windpipe as he was softly pressing into it. Sechenov grabbed on the hand, feeling the pill start to kick in, it was fast-acting, and he couldn’t do a thing about it, it was scarry. Michael pinned him down before he would try to do anything about it. Sechenov felt strenght leave his limbs. “Michael, please” He begged, but Stock only grinned, grabbing on the adhesive bandage and ripping it off of his stomach, as Sechenov cried out, whimpering and trying to break away from him, but he was too weak now. Despite distress, his heart slowed down, and his breathing got more desperate, as Michael tore the oxygen tubes off his face. “Not such a pathetic little rat now, am I?” He growled with a grin, face to face with him now as he held his whole hand around his throat. Sechenov was shaking, unable to fight Stock. But he thought all was over when Stockhausen got off of him. Little did he know this all was just a beggining. Stockhausen went to the counter in the ICU room, taking another pair of gloves. He stood there, towering above his boss with a foxy grin as he put the gloves on with a snap at the wrist. “I wasn’t scared to bleed for you, and what did I ever get for that? Called a rat! Now you know what rats did to people in the great war when they were hungry? They ate their victims alive, Dima…that is what they did” Stockhausen chuckled, his eyes wide open in the dark as he pulled off the blanket and took a scalpel. He grabbed on the underwear, starting to undress him by slowly cutting the cloth maybe way too close to the penis, as Dima hissed, grabbing on the railing now. He was still struggling to breathe properly, the weakness and the drug forcing him to take long laboured breaths. “All these checks you did to me, so unnecessary. The many times you asked me to handle the polymer without proper tools….I could have drown in the polymer, you know that well, just like your little _Friend_. I wonder if you ever said _thanks_ to him?” He asked, now being a little rough as he accidentally cut on his thigh. He chuckled. “Well well, if it isn’t the rat being a little clumsy” He said as he took the drop that came out of the wound and put the finger in his mouth, sucking on the bit of blood. part 3: https://www.tumblr.com/clamshell-writes/722766963499286528/michael-dmitry-tried-again-gathering-some?source=share

[thepaperpanda]

Summary: After being rescued from the rubble of the bombed school, Frederik wakes up for the first time in the hospital. Has this cruel world afflicted by war decided to give him yet another chance?

Warnings: mentions of war, smut

Words: circa 35k

Authors: Cass & Fenrir

Divider by @firefly-graphics​​

A move would probably have caused another collapse. Another ton of wood and concrete would have fallen onto Frederik's head. He had given up hope that there was anything beyond the rubble. Due to the strength of a wooden beam beneath him, the impact force of falling debris and elements was lessened.

Having screamed for minutes that felt like hours, his voice seemed powerless. The fact that he was partially numb in his legs didn't help him either in his efforts to stay alive when the water was still rising, constantly and gradually.

He closed his blue eyes, thinking to himself, This is divine retribution. I have done a lot of evil, so it's time to pay the price. Teresa was right.

Thankfully, help arrived in time. Frederik was semi-conscious when he was pulled from under the rubble.

In the morning, everything was calm; patients were behaving and not fussing too much, girls were telling spicy stories about last night in the bar, and everything seemed fine until the hell broke loose just a few streets away.

That's when it all began. Your small hills clicked on the tiles as you did your best to take care of those around you. Although you were a nurse by choice, the sight of the suffering tore at your heart. Especially now that the beds were suddenly filled with wounded children, some doing better with time, others on the verge of death. You were not expecting to see this. Who in their right mind would target children in a school? This thought filled your head but you managed to focus enough to push it away. 

After having yet another person brought into the room on the stretcher, you ran to the men who brought him and immediately led them to an open bed. You looked at him; he couldn't have been much older than you were; in fact, if not for the chaos all around, you would have said he looked good enough to be your date for a night or two.

You rushed to help others after ensuring this young man was doing as well as he could in the moment.

The time was probably between 1:00 and 2:00 am. Both your feet and your head hurt. You sighed as you walked to the nurses' room. You were as exhausted as the other girls. You saw one of the girls napping in a chair.

Children and others affected by the tragedy were cared for as much as possible. Although some were fine, others were fighting for their lives.

 Picking up the phone, you sighed deeply, then dialled your home number and smiled sadly when your panicked mother answered. Thank goodness she was okay.

"Yes, I'm fine. I just won't be back home today, I'm sure you understand," you replied quietly. "I know, mom. I love you. Try to rest."  

As soon as you put away the phone, you sat down on one of the chairs. After the chaos, it was hard to guard everyone. Though tired, you could not sleep.

The sharp pain in Frederick's back grew stronger and stronger as he opened his eyes. The burning sensation of fluid slowly dripping into his vein made his heart race as he tried to roll to his side, but found a drip attached to his left forearm.

While wiping his eyes, he winced. As Frederik turned around, he realised he was in a large patient room, surrounded by people who had been injured in the bombardment.

Even for him, the sight of missing limbs, massive head wounds, and bloodstained sheets was too much to bear. He felt nauseous as the familiar scent of metallic liquid, blood, filled his nostrils.

As you sat at the little desk, you could see the whole room and the beds. As you tried not to fall asleep, you rested your chin on your hand.

A little crying was heard at some point. As other girls were doing their best to rest, you decided to get up and see who was crying.

It was a young girl. She was probably six or seven years old and clearly frightened. She was sitting on the edge of the bed when you walked over to her and smiled at her forcibly. You wanted to cry seeing the child with a bandage around her head and right eye while holding on to the thin duvet. "Hey, little one. What's wrong?" You asked quietly.

"I... I want to see my mommy." The girl said quietly, her voice shaking. Tears ran down her cheeks as she explained, "This place is scary."

"I understand, sweetheart, but bad things happened, and we have to take care of you. Your parents will pick you up tomorrow, and my friends and I will look after you."

You were able to relax the girl enough so that she went back to sleep with the help of your words. Once it was done, you got up and walked among the beds, making sure everything was okay. 

The all too well known sound of vomiting caught your attention. It was that young man. You took a little metal bowl that happened to be empty and walked to him. "You are awake... That's good. That head wound didn't look so good." You said quietly holding the bowl just in case he needed to return more of his stomach content.

Frederik rolled his head back against the pillow, gasping quietly. "I'm sorry... I couldn't endure it any longer." His voice was barely audible.

It was a true saviour to be alone after a hectic day, a chance for true serenity to calm every part of Frederik's being, and he cherished that sweet quietness within the room, interrupted only by some quiet groans and sobs from time to time. He looked at you and said, "I heard how well you handled the girl. You're good with children."

You made a little joke to make the poor guy smile. "It's not my first nor last time with children so I have some experience. Now, just in case, I leave this bowl with you."

A quiet sigh escaped your lips as you walked away to get things to clean up his accident. Once back, you continued your conversation. "It's my job. Taking care of people also means making them comfortable."

He carefully listened to each of your words, finding them pure and reassuring. "I imagine you became a nurse so you could help others in need. On the other hand, you look quite young, perhaps not older than me."

"Are you asking about my age?"

He gave a short nod. "Yes."

After getting up from cleaning the floor, you looked at him with a smile. "So young and so rude. Didn't your mother teach you not to ask a woman her age?"

He lied on the crisp but thinning sheets. A curtain hung limply on the chrome railing, looking like it'd been scrubbed a thousand times. Looking upward, avoiding your gaze, he smiled. "Forgive me."

"I'm not mad, do you need anything?" You inquired as you walked to check in the drip.

Inhaling a little too sharply, he replied simply, "I just want to get outta here... By the way, were all those injured brought to this hospital, to this ward?" The young man asked.

"Some did, but there are more in other wards. Why do you ask?"

Maybe you've seen a young woman, a nun, to be precise. She has blue eyes and dark hair, and she's quite pretty."

"Not here, but I can check other wards if you want." You offered.

There was a slow nod from him. "Wouldn't it be a problem?"

In fact, I could use a stroll. Since it's a little quieter now, I'll go check." You nodded, patting his hand, and then headed back to the nurses' room to inform the rest of the staff you would be gone for a bit.

His eyes widened when he felt your soft palm on his rough, bruised hand. "Tak." He answered quietly.

He found it strange to see you leave; you had so much positive energy within you that when you entered the room, it was brighter. It was nice talking with you.

As you left the ward, you walked down a long corridor that was surprisingly quiet. After you reached the stairs leading to the mezzanine and climbed up to the next floor, you sighed deeply.

You removed your shoes and walked barefoot upstairs after a moment of reflection; the last thing you wanted to cause was some unwanted noises made by shoes.

Your poor feet actually benefited from the cold floor.

The nurses and doctors who knew you were surprised by your visit. Even though your shift ended hours ago, you were still working.

However, despite your best efforts, no one matched the man's description. Either she was taken somewhere else or she was one of many unlucky souls that didn't make it out of the rubble…

After your search was complete, you thanked others for their time and returned to your own ward.

Frederik's dreams brought him back to the bombed school. The roaring noise of bombs was again heard, and shattered glass fell from the frames right onto his head as he tried to enter the building. His stomach twitched when he smelled the burnt bodies. Still trapped under the rubble, he heard the screams of children and adults. On the dusted ground, there was evidence of shattered projectiles in the charred remains. 

Despite his desperate desire to return to the basement to help those trapped there, Frederik was awoken by a violent shaking on his shoulder. While he opened his eyes, sweat formed on his neck and forehead. His pupils grew wide as he gasped loudly.

Once he opened his eyes, you said, "It's okay. You're safe now."

During your time here there were many patients suffering from physical injuries, but also mental injuries, so it became something normal for you to calm someone plagued by nightmares.

Exhaling deeply, he nodded briefly. "I just had a... Nevermind, nothing significant." Frederik glanced up at you.

Your voice was quiet as you said, "Nightmare. Don't worry, we all have them from time to time. Also, I checked other wards but didn't see your friend. Don't panic though. Some injured were taken to some other place since we didn't have enough beds. Once you are out, you will surely find her."

A deep sadness washed over him, leaving his face emotionless, with his eyes darkening and clouded by grief. The feeling was already in his bones that she was dead, but he wasn't yet ready to admit it as if he was still clinging to a reassuring thought that Teresa would be okay. "You're right." Frederik replied shortly. "Thank you very much. I apologize for adding some unnecessary quests, that was stupid of me."

"Honestly, it's fine, don't worry about it. Now, I will change your bandages and then you have to rest, okay?"

"It's not necessary, thank you."

Rolling your eyes, you gently raised his arm, showing him his own hand, wrapped in a bandage that was covered in blood. "Sorry to be rude, but I am a nurse here, okay?"

It was your static tone that made Frederik nod his head silently, as if he were obeying a parent's scolding.

After you nodded, you walked away to get everything you needed. You returned quickly and treated his hand as gently as possible so as not to cause him more pain.

As he fixed his eyes on your face, he remained silent, not letting a single whimper escape his lips.

Your fingers worked quickly, and soon he was ready. "Here, all ready."

Still staring into your eyes, he said, "Tak." He sighed, "You should not be helping me. I have done so much evil. I would have been better off dead."

You told him, "If I may be honest with you... I don't care who you are. My job is to save lives, so I do that. I am not a judge, so I am not judging. If you have done much harm, there will be people who will take care of it, but I am not one of them."

As he gazed upwards, he let his head rest against the pillow once again, considering your words.

After getting up from the bed, you walked away to help other nurses with patients who woke up for whatever reason.

You worked hard but at some point you had the opportunity to sit down in the nurses' room and... That was the last thing you remembered.

A morning light flooded the whole room through the windows the next time you opened your eyes. Covered with your own coat, you lay on the desk. How thoughtful of someone who decided to do this for you.

The pain in your back was excruciating and you felt like you were going to have trouble sitting and walking. 

The corridors were already crowded. People came to find their children or friends.

As you sighed deeply you got up, stretched once again, and walked out of the room to help other nurses control the crowd.

A new patient was accepted in the morning, and there were many noises around the ward; people screaming after discovering their loved one died; children crying as a result of severe wounds; doctors and nurses screaming whenever a patient was getting worse.

Despite the sleep you got, you still felt tired. All the noises didn't help. Fatigue, hunger, and stress culminated in a pounding headache.

Even doctors noticed you were struggling, but every time they tried to send you home, you simply smiled and politely refused. Since what happened was so bad, every pair of hands was needed.

As Frederik's pain grew slowly yet steadily, he only experienced short, intermittent episodes of semi-sleep.

A new patient was brought to the huge patient room to Frederik's surprise. It was his comrade, HIPO member, Thure. 

You immediately went to help other nurses with the new patient.

A grin crept onto Thure's lips as soon as he turned his head and faced Frederik, even though his lips were swollen like from a bee sting. "Oh, well, well, look at you, brother! I thought you perished along with your virgin cunt."

"You better take that back," Frederik said despite the pain in his upper limbs and back as he sat up on his bed.

"HEY!" You said in a serious tone. Looking at them both, you growled. Pointing at Frederik, you added, "You lay back down and let us work."

While looking back at you, he narrowed his brows and obeyed.

Thure smirked evilly. "Well, well, did they cut off your balls, brother?" He asked.

"Hey! I said stop it. If you're feeling so well, maybe you should get out of here and give this bed to someone who really needs it." You frowned.

The newcomer simply put his hand on your knee and shrugged off your anger. "Cool down, little one. You seem stressed. Maybe you need a hand to reload it all?"

Doctor that was with you warned him, "Young man, if you act this way I will leave you to bleed out. This is a hospital, not a brothel."

Frederik didn't stop himself from grinning wryly at his former comrade. After enduring that man for so long, he started to wonder how he had been able to handle him.

You helped man with his injuries, dismissed his stupid and annoying remarks, then checked on his 'friend'. "How do you feel?”

Frederik nodded. "Jeg er mæt, tak."

"Good." You smiled and went to help others.

You had to leave the office after a few more hours of work. Probably it wasn't such a bad idea after all. 

Your legs allowed you to walk as fast as possible as you tightened your coat around yourself.

You were welcomed home by your mother who embraced you tightly, making sure you were not hurt.

You calmed her down and she told you that your father also returned home not so long ago.

Your concern for him was real. It's easy to imagine what he's been through as a fireman.

While your mother was feeding you, she talked about everything she had heard up to this point. The woman was just as shocked and scared as you were. Mostly, her fear came from the fact that you and your husband worked the kind of jobs you did.

After a delicious meal you proceeded to take off whatever make up was left on your face, took a hot bath, changed and you hit the bed. A decent night's sleep was all you needed. Despite the nightmares you didn't ask for, you slept and that was all you needed to get back to being a normal person again.

The next day you left home despite your mother's worries and got ready for work. You assured her before leaving that everything would be fine.

It felt strange to walk around the ward.

There were just a few vacant beds, but some new faces were visible as well.

In the meantime, Frederik became bored, and despite his wounds he tried to sneak out of the ward a few times.

A doctor once caught him and forced him to return to bed. He was once screamed at by an old nurse for trying to smoke in the corridor.

His countdown to being realised back home began. He wanted to see his mother's face again, embrace her, and hug her.

Taking a step towards the bed with a smile on your lips, you said, "I heard someone is eager to leave us." Wearing your uniform, you were fully prepared for work. "How are we feeling today?”

From the newspaper he was reading, he glanced at you. "Hi. I'm ready to get back home. You also look rested."

You nodded. "Well, they made me rest at home and rest there, so I look and feel better," you said. "I'm glad you feel better."

The man nodded. "I won't interfere with your work."

"I will check on you later." 

As you walked away, you checked on other patients, big and small. You even found the time to sing a song to cheer up a girl. Soon, a girl and a few other children joined you in singing. The experience was pleasant and relaxing for the children.

Once the checkup was over, you returned to the young man. "I never got your name," you said, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

In a hurry, Frederik sat up and pulled on the curtain that divided his bed from Thure's; the other male was on his side, glaring at the nurse that came to check on Frederik. This redheaded man remarked, "You look amazing in this tight uniform and heels. What are you up to tonight, sweetie?"

Frederik gave Thure a cold glance and shifted the material so the other man's bed was covered. Then he looked back at you. "My name's Frederik. How about yours?"

Your smile was contagious. "It's nice to finally meet you, Frederik. My name is Y/N. I am happy to see that you are doing better."

He offered you his still trembling, bruised palm. "Det er rart at møde dig, Y/N."

You gently took his hand, not giving it much of a squeeze to avoid hurting him. "Hope it will heal soon."

He smiled briefly. "For how long are you working here?"

"Around two years. I ended simple nursing school but it was enough. You know, I've always wanted to help and in those times every pair of hands is needed."

A nod of acknowledgment was given by Frederik. A reasonable decision. I wish I had made such a reasonable decision in my life."

"If I were a man, I would probably follow after my father. He is a fireman. When I helped here... He helped out there..." You said quietly.

"I saw a lot of firefighters two days ago, right after the bombardment. I may have even seen your father. They give themselves fully to helping people, despite the chance of having their own health compromised."

"My mom was really scared when I returned home." You nodded. "I don't do as much as he does, but I always do something."

"Your skills are highly valued, especially now."

Your features were flawless when he examined your face. He adored your eyes, nose, and perfectly shaped, rosy lips.

"I am glad to hear that," you giggled quietly, inspecting his face as well. Despite some scratches, it was so handsome. You would definitely date him if he wasn't a patient.

"Is there somewhere I can smoke without getting caught?" Frederik asked out of sudden.

"Well... I often smoke in nurses' rooms with other girls. You're welcome to come and smoke there." You offered with a sweet smile.

"Won't I be a problem to you? I don't want to cause you more trouble."

"No. Once, there was a gentle, old man. He loved to smoke but had a similar problem. He came to us once a night shift started," you whispered back. "He used to say we saved his life."

A soft smile spread across Frederik’s face. "I'm glad to accept your offer."

"Good. Then we can smoke together," you winked at him. "I'd like to talk more, but I have to get back to work."

"Of course, thanks for the tip, Y/N."

"I'll check in with you later." You patted his palm and walked away to get back to work.

Frederik spent another lonely day reading the newspaper and napping here and there. Thure was also bothering him.

Your day was busier than his. In truth, you wished you could spend it at home and in bed, but people needed your help and attention.

Of course, Thure was trying as hard as he could to annoy you.

You did your best to ignore his silly comments and even smacked his hand a few times when he tried to touch you. If you could, you would tie his hands to the bed so he would stop.

Thure fantasised aloud as he sat at Frederik's bed, "Ah, she's so beautiful. Imagine her among us as one of the officers. She's petite, but I think she likes to be in charge."

Thure was pushed off the bed by Frederik. "Get off."

"Ugh! So angry! Why are you so angry? You weren't able to relieve yourself with the nun, huh, friend?"

Frederik ignored the other man's comments and focused on the article he was reading for the fifth time.

One of your friends sighed. "That redhead man once again."

You looked at her. "What about him?"

"He is rude, even touchy. No matter what I say he keeps doing it. You aren't the only one." She muttered as she crossed her arms over her chest. He also bothers the guy next to him." She added.

"Well, we could always put him on another ward. Let's wait and see if he keeps acting up; we'll move him." You suggested and your friend agreed.

Frederik tried to remain calm and not react to Thure's taunting. He knew that if they fought, both of them would be kicked out of the hospital; the last thing doctors wanted was some fights on the ward.

Thure didn't stop bothering Frederik and the nurses unfortunately. "Hey Frederik, do you think that nurse of yours is a virgin? She looks so innocent."

"How many times do I have to repeat myself? Rend mig i røven!"

While you and two nurses watched, you felt nervous, you didn't want them to fight, but it was quite obvious Frederik was getting more and more agitated.

As Thure once again got out of bed, he stopped right next to Frederik's bed.

Dark-haired man raised his head and glared at the redhead.

"If I were you, I wouldn't want to get close to her or any other nurse working at this disgusting facility. The risk of contracting venereal disease is high, and I bet they all open their legs and cunts for the doctors." Thure claimed loudly enough for everyone in the patients' room to hear. "No fucking for poor Frederik, the HIPO police sargeant. First the nun, now the nurse, you appear to be unlucky with women. What drew you to join us then? Hey, maybe you like boys better?"

Thure had crossed the thin line at that moment. Frederik felt the tension and heard the intensity of his former colleague's voice. There was a great deal of emotion behind these words that Thure was uttering. Yet Thure insulted you without particular purpose. Frederik leaped from his seat and aimed a powerful blow at Thure's jaw, sending him directly to the ground.

Your friend said, "Oh, for God's sake," and stepped further into the room to separate the two men immediately.

You followed her immediately, of course. There wasn't a lot of fighting in the wards, but of course, something happened here or there.

Another nurse roared angrily while helping Thure up from the floor, "What do you think you are doing, sir?"

In order to make sure that Frederik wouldn't jump onto the other guy, you walked to him. "What's wrong with you two?! There are children here! They are scared enough, so there is no need to scare them further." You scolded them both.

"Åh undskyld!" Frederik replied. "He insulted you and other nurses."

The other nurse muttered, "Not the first time. I'm sorry, sir, but we'll have to move you to another ward." She informed, looking at Thure.

Redhead pushed the nurse who had helped him seconds earlier, grunting, "Don't touch me, bitch. I wonder if you ought to move him as well. I sincerely doubt that any of you would want to work for one of HIPO members."

"Behave or you will be taken away by force." You growled.

"You can remove me, of course! I don't need any of you."

The nurse replied, "As you wish, sir." The girl walked away to get the help she needed. 

Thure gathered his clothing and shoes and headed outside the patient room.

You looked at Frederik immediately as you asked, "Are you alright? You didn't hurt yourself, did you?"

Frederik's voice was deep, but you could see his palm trembling. "No, it's fine."

"Are you sure?”

"Yes."

You nodded. "I will try to check if he really left and I will be back with you, okay?”

"Y/N, you don't have to... I don't want to distract you from your duties."

As you reminded him, "It is my duty to keep people safe," you hurriedly checked to see if the troublemaker indeed left.

The afternoon soon turned into the evening and the evening into the night.

As you told Frederik, you stayed for the night shift and just waited for him, thinking about what had happened today. You sat near the window looking out at the street.

Suddenly a knock sounded in the room, and Frederik poked his head in. "Hello."

Another nurse sat at the desk and looked at him. "Is something wrong?"

You shrugged with a smile. "Oh, no, no... Cig, you know." You said.

'Well then, I'll proceed to check on the patients. Open the window, Y/N." Your friend grinned as she left.

You invited him in, and you opened the window.

Taking a step into the room, he saw the nurses' room was rather large, with shelves stocked with different types of drugs, drips, and papers. 

Frederick glanced at you before approaching. "I hope I'm not bothering you. Do you smoke?"

You showed him your pack of cheap cigarettes and giggled, "I wouldn't invite you in if I didn't smoke. I bet you have something better."

When he pulled a pack of slightly better cigarettes from his black pants pocket, he offered one to you.

Taking one from him, you said, "Oh. Thank you! It's likely you're well-equipped, but I have matches if you need them."

Frederik searched his pockets in an attempt to find a lighter. Having cursed a few times, he found it in his shirt pocket and lit it up for you. "Here."

"Good cigarettes, a decent lighter, I think I'm lucky tonight." You nodded as you took the first drag.

Looking down at you, he rested his hip against a windowsill. "You can die from it."

"Your friend told you something about HIPO." You said slowly, looking up at him.

He turned his head away, trying to avoid your gaze. "I don't consider him a friend, but he told the truth."

"So you're one of them?"

Resolving conflicted feelings was an inside job that required self-honesty and renunciation of self-delusions. Frederik decided to be honest despite feeling ashamed of his previous actions. He replied, "Yes, I am. Or rather, I was."

You took another drag from your cigarette before shaking some of the ash out of the window. "My uncle was a policeman," you said. "He's gone now."

Your words made Frederik choke slightly on his own saliva as he was about to take a drag from his own cigarette. He looked out the window, keeping a straight face. “'I'm sorry about your loss,” he said.

You sighed, "He was a nice man. A good uncle."

Frederik couldn't even describe what he felt inside; a mix of loathing and anger became unbearable. He remained silent, knowing none of his words would make the situation any better.

"Well. You can't be that bad, I think."

It was more to himself than to you that he whispered, "I am."

"Whenever we get people like you after that accident," you said pointing at him, "the majority of them got hurt during bombardment, but you were pulled from the basements, as I heard."

His face was sad as he nodded, saying, "Yes. That is true. I tried to save the girl and kids she was with."

"That already sets you apart from those bad guys." You nodded.

"I had hurt people for a long time. I was no different from them."

"You wanted to do this? Or did you just do it to keep yourself and your family safe?"

"I know nothing anymore. I know nothing..."

Your feet gently nudged him. "Hey, don't think I hate you. Because I don't."

"Those who claimed they didn't were the first to show it." He whispered.

"Hey, I could have mixed up your drips a long time ago, right?" You joked lightly. "Let's change the subject. How are you feeling?"

"It's fine, thank you. How about you?"

"It's fine. Things have calmed down a little, and it's pleasant to talk to someone else, not just nurses." You smiled at him.

The end of his cigarette was thrown through the window after he finished it. "Could I help? Not just you, but the whole ward? I'm not badly hurt. I might be able to help."

"We will receive a delivery soon. Some basic items, but I won't allow you to carry any boxes." You frowned.

"You can count on me. I just wanna be useful. Tell me when and what and I'll gladly do my best to help. At least that's what I can do." Frederik smiled sadly.

Your reply was slow. "It'll be tomorrow. But you are the patient. You can't carry stuff, you need to rest. Recover."

"I'll recover when I have time. Please let me know when supplies will arrive."

You watched him in disbelief. No matter how pleasant his offer was, you weren't really satisfied. Instead of rushing into work, he should rest and take his time to recover. "I'll do it." You nodded.

As the next day drew near, Frederik awoke early.

You were already on your feet, checking on the kids and others. It took you a while to reach Frederik. "Good morning. I can see you're an early bird."

The man nodded. He said, "Hey, I can help with the kids."

Blinking was all you did. "Are you sure?"

"I can try. I didn't have any younger siblings, but surely kids aren't that challenging to handle?"

"I mean, they are still scared, and hospitals can be even scarier, so that makes them difficult to deal with."

"I'll try. Just let me know what to do.”

"You just need to check on them. If nothing hurts, if they feel well. Simple things. Sometimes they are scared, so make them smile a little."

Frederik gave a nod of acknowledgment. "I understand. I'll try my best." As soon as he lost sight of you, he took a long look around the room, improving his dirty, stained shirt. Children were in fact present. His blue eyes fell on one girl who was looking terrified, rolling in a ball on the bed and clutching her stuffed animal. After exhaling deeply, Frederik walked towards her bed. "Hello, what's your name?" he softly inquired.

The girl stared at him with her terrified eyes and shook her head, refusing to answer.

In order to not scare her, he crouched close to her bed, not trying to sit on it. He once heard that scared children need space. "My name is Frederik," he said softly, offering a small smile. "You're under good care now. Those nurses are trying to help, right? You're in good hands now."

She whispered, "I want to go home."

Although he didn't say it out loud, he thought to himself that it was understandable. "Where do you live?"

"Mommy told me not to talk to strangers..." 

You walked over to Frederik and crouched next to him. "He is not a stranger, he is my friend, and he helps me."

The girl looked at you less scared. She already knew you, so she was calmer. "I'd like to go home."

After listening to you speak right next to him, Frederik almost jumped into his spot. "Y/N, don't be sneaky like a little polar bear, I've almost had a heart attack." He fixed his gaze on the girl. "I know you want to go home, but your leg is still bandaged, so it will take a little longer for your leg to heal. I'm sure you'd like to play with others once you're out. Can you play with your leg hurt?"

The girl only watched him.

As you wrapped your arm around his shoulders, you asked, "Maybe I am a little polar bear. I will eat that tasty arm of yours, because I may be small, but I am hungry." As you gently nibbled on his arm with a playful growl, you pretended to eat it.

Although he pretended to be scared, Frederik's shock was real; he could never imagine you biting him like that. He looked at the young girl. "I know your leg is injured, but do you think you could help me today? I don't want to be eaten."

Giggling, the girl blinked and sat up a little.  She whispered, "Don't eat him, please." 

Your gaze fell on her. He is a perfect snack for a polar bear, Charlotte."

The girl nodded. "Please, don't eat him."

As you moved away from Frederik, you huffed. "Then I will eat you!" Giggling, you sat on the bed and tickled the girl carefully.

The girl laughed loudly, trying to escape your little attack.

You stopped and smiled after a moment. "If you promise me to be brave, I will not eat you. If you promise me that, I will let you go home soon."

Still giggling, Charlotte nodded at you. "I will try."

You smiled, playful tapping her nose. "I know you'll make it.".

A warm sensation spread through Frederik's body. While he already knew you're good with kids, what he saw was beyond imagination. Within a blink of an eye, you brought a smile back to the little girl's face.

You were gifted in a unique way. As if you were a bird in flight, you made something so difficult for others seem easy and natural. While working on the ward, you calmed difficult patients. Yes, Frederik overheard them talking about you by chance. As he listened to them, he realised that they were right. You never hurt a patient, became impatient or brushed aside their pains, whether physical or otherwise. The way you spoke to the patients made them feel like they were still people, not just withered old bones stubbornly refusing to die.

The girl sat up and hugged you.

Another boy raised his arms loudly, whispering, "I want a hug, too!" He was missing a leg.

“Could you help him, Frederik?" You asked, raising your brow.

The boy was glared at bluntly by Frederik. He felt paralyzed for a few seconds, but soon got up and walked to another bed. Leaning forward, he picked up the boy. “Okay, friend, I'll take you to our very nice lady.”

As soon as the boy was seated next to you, he hugged you.

Both children were embraced by you as you smiled.

Your goal was to make everyone happy, no matter how stupid it may have been. You were especially concerned about the poor children who suffered for no reason at all.

It was what you loved to do, even if it meant calming down a man who was bleeding to death without full medical assistance. 

"I will call your moms to pick you up once you are fine, my two brave bears." You said.

Boy asked, "Do you promise?"

Your hand ruffled his hair. "I promise."

Frederik added, smiling, "She wouldn't break her promise. As you can see, Y/N is here to help you return home to your parents as soon as possible."

The kids looked at him and nodded. They then turned toward you.

With another smile, you embraced them tightly. "Maybe you two should get to know each other? I think you'd make great friends."

The girl offered her hand to the boy. "My name is Charlotte."

Her hand was squeezed by the boy. He introduced himself as Mads.

After that, you embraced them one last time before getting up from bed. "I'm leaving you two here for now. Later I'll return to put Mads to bed."

The kids didn't protest and started chatting.

You suggested Frederik follow you.

He watched the kids for a little longer but eventually followed you.

"The next time you try to cheer up a child, try to distract their attention from the injury, instead of using it as an opportunity to get to them." You instructed him softly. "They are afraid because of what happened and because of their injuries."

"I should have thought of it earlier, my bad."

You told him, "I spoke with the doctor and he says you're good to go, you just need to pick up some documents. I'm sorry... Uhm. Could I ask you... Maybe you would like to eat a home-made dinner?” You dropped the question a little hesitantly, not being sure how Frederik would react.

His eyes widened in amazement; he was astonished by your offer. "Where can I pick up the documents? And ... I don't think that's the right idea. We come from very different worlds... I don't want you to be embarrassed by who you are seeing... I... Thank you so much though. I really don't deserve it, but it was very nice of you."

"I'll give them to you later," you replied. "Don't worry, that won't be a problem. My mom usually cooks a bit too much food." You added, hoping secretly he would agree.

"I..." He didn't know what to say, so he nodded briefly. "It will be an honour, thank you once again."

You cleared your throat, "Amazing! Now, I'll go check on others and then we'll take care of everything else."

As promised, Frederik helped bring supplies up to the floor where the ward was located. In addition, he attempted to cheer a few kids up a little by talking to them.

You smiled when you saw him with one of the boys. The poor thing was so scared that he would not speak, but thanks to Frederik, he managed to introduce himself in the end.

In your message to girls, you said you were leaving for home. 

You walked to Frederik after taking his documents.

You looked a tiny bit different. Instead of your usual uniform, you wore a simple red coat. "Are you ready?" You asked.

When you confronted him and the boy named Kris, Frederik was in the middle of some story he was telling to the boy. "Are we going yet?" Frederik questioned.

Nodding was your response. "The doctor is letting you go and I am taking you to my house for dinner."

"But...oh, I... I... Nice. Well, yeah. Ahm, Kris, what do you say if I visit you tomorrow and we continue the story?"

"Oh! You two need more time? That's fine." You assured Frederik.

"I will come tomorrow."

"Is it alright with your little friend?"

A little nod was given by Kris as Frederik looked down at him.

"I will bring you something tomorrow, so remember to be a kind patient." Frederik ruffled the boy's hair.

The boy waved at you and you smiled at Frederik. All of a sudden you became excited and happy.

Smirking nervously, he looked at you. "I bet your mom won't be satisfied."

"No, my mom loves people. She will be happy to have someone over." You assured as you walked down the stairs with Frederik walking behind you. "Are you sure you feel okay?"

"Ahm, yeah. Perfectly alright."

As you looked at him, you nodded worriedly. "I'm glad to hear that, if you say so."

"I... Wait. I have a question. Is there a bathroom I could use?"

"Well..." You replied quietly. "My parents aren't home yet, so I wanted to offer you the opportunity to take a shower."

"Don't you think it's too much? I appreciate your hospitality, but I don't want to be a bother." Frederik frowned a little, feeling more than embarrassed.

Our ward has a bathroom with showers." 

"I have another thought. I will get back to my house. I live on the other side of the city. I need to contact my mom as well. If you leave me your address, I can come later if you wish."

You gave him a nod and hurried back to the ward in order to grab a pen and paper. As soon as you wrote your address, you quickly returned to him with a piece of paper. "Here."

He took it and slipped it into the pocket of his dirty shirt. "Tak. What time would you like to meet?"

"Are two hours enough for you?"

"Perhaps a little longer." He responded.

A nod was exchanged. "Of course I don't. Go! I'm sure your mother will be glad to see you; don't keep her waiting."

Frederik nodded and thanked you once more before putting his hand in his pocket and walking away.

You watched him for a moment before jumping a little in your place. That was stupid! It was so stupid you couldn't believe it! This man was a patient after all, not to mention he was a member of HIPO.

Although you shouldn't think of him in the same way you would  think of a guy you met in a pub, you couldn't resist yourself. His beautiful, blue eyes made him look even more handsome.

With a smile you turned and walked in the opposite direction, excited like never before.

Upon seeing her son alive and well, his mother gasped loudly, welcoming Frederik with open arms.

In contrast, his father greeted him by aiming his first shot directly into the young man's face.

As Frederik didn't want to argue, he went into the bathroom and sank to his knees, choking himself on his tears as he wept silently, his back against the locked door. After the anxiety subsided, he decided to wash off all the dirt he still had on; he was going to see you again and wasn't going to look like a burglar.

Unlocking the doors, you stepped inside. There was no one at the flat since both of your parents were at work.

You decided to take a quick bath before heading to your room to pick up a clean dress. You had to wear something pretty yet simple. You couldn't show off your excitement. Although you were sure that he had no feelings for you, you still wanted to show some affection.

Your parents returned back home an hour later. They were glad to see you home so soon. They rested for a short while after work, then your mother started cooking dinner with your help.

While your mother was cooking, you informed her that there would be one more guest. Your new friend. Sarah was surprised, but in a positive way. She could not wait to meet this new friend of yours.

Your father wasn't bothered at all. He was more focused on the newspaper and pleased that his family was at home, safe and sound.

Your mom made you clean up the flat a little since the guest was coming. She was a proud working wife who wouldn't let anyone see her flat messy, even when it wasn't messy at all!

While rolling your eyes and smiling, you started to pick up the books from the table and then pretended to clean the area by moving a few things around.

In the meantime, Frederik took a much-needed shower, washing all the dirt away with water. He brushed his hair, wore clean pants, and decided to iron a shirt.

His actions were disapproved of by his father, who called him a 'fucking monster' and told him that 'at least one less monster would exist in this world if he died along with the others in the bombardment'.

Frederik left his parents' house earlier than he was supposed to, so he could run an errand in the city. He arrived a little late as a result.

Standing in front of a small house, he considered whether or not to knock, and whether the decision to visit you was right. Ultimately, he knocked on the door.

It made you feel less afraid when you heard him knock on the door and you got up from the table. Honestly, you weren't sure he would return. You opened the door and smiled at him.

Black pants and a perfectly polished pair of black shoes were worn by Frederik. The white shirt was neatly ironed and the tie was neatly wrapped. His bangs fell toward his forehead when his hair was brushed on the right side. A large bouquet of red roses and a bouquet of yellow tulips adorned his hands. "Hi, Y/N."

Looking at him, you blinked. He looked so different now, so clean and so organised. You wouldn't recognize him if you didn't know he was coming. "Frederik, how come you brought flowers since you are late?" You joked.

"I'm sorry. I am not familiar with this part of the city, so I had trouble finding your house."

Red flashed across your cheeks. "My bad. I could tell you how to get here. Please, come on in."

Before stepping into your house, he took one last breath. "Oh, these are for you." He handed you the bouquet of roses.

"Oh! Thank you so much!" You said, immediately smelling them and enjoying their sweet scent.

As your mother joined you out of curiosity, she said, "Would you look at that! Such a handsome young man, yet he's late."

A clear voice came from Frederik. The woman received a second bouquet as he said, "Good day, miss Y/N's mom. These are for you."

Laughing, she took the flowers and said, "Oh, I wish I was still a miss. But with that, there would be no Y/N. Thank you."

Your face turned even redder as you laughed.

As he realised his mistake, Frederik chuckled nervously. He introduced himself, saying, "My name is Frederik."

"No problem! I don't mind at all since I am still young and pretty." She smirked, improving her hair as she spoke. "It's nice to meet you, Frederik. I'm Sarah. I am glad you finally came. Dinner is getting cold."

"I apologise for being late. I couldn't find the address."

He was led to the dining room, which also served as a living room. He shifted a chair for you.

Thanking him quietly, you sat down.

"I always wonder how people are unable to find it. It isn't like we live underground." Your father commented.

Taking a seat himself, Frederik smiled gently. "I've confused Grønagervej with Agerlandsvej."

A chuckle accompanied his nod. "At least you apologise for being late."

Sarah murmured, serving the soup, "Oh, leave the poor boy alone. Don't complain, and enjoy your meal."

After being presented with a bowl of deliciously fragrant soup, Frederik nodded a bit. Having heard his mother repeatedly tell him not to put his elbows on the table, he took the spoon and began eating.

You saw your mother smirk as she began eating.

So did you. Your only concern was your father's looks towards Frederik.

After sensing a pair of watchful eyes watching him, Frederick slowed down his eating. Slowly, he swallowed a portion of soup, looking up at your father.

Looking at him, the older man frowned. "I don't think it's my first encounter with you."

As Frederik held his breath, his eyes fixed on the other man.

"Two days ago, I rescued a young man from the rubble." He said briefly. "You were the one?" Your father asked simply.

A slight nod came from Frederik. "Yes, sir."

Your dad blinked in surprise. "Really?"

"Yes. I don't remember being pulled from the rubble, but if you pulled a man in a stained, wet shirt, that was probably me."

Man said, "That's why I remember your face. I'm glad to see you alive but I didn't expect to see you in my house."

You turned red and looked away.

Your mother asked, "Did you meet our daughter at the hospital?"

Frederik replied truthfully, "Yes." He straightened his back and placed the spoon next to his bow. "She was the first person, excluding doctors, who helped me there. She's very skilled, helpful, and has a very positive attitude towards people. Hard-working young woman. I'm sure you're proud of her. She also said a lot about you, how you're devoted to helping people, sir." Frederik added, looking directly at your father.

"Yes, I am proud of her. In some way." He nodded.

"Oh no. Don't start now." Sarah sighed.

"What? You must know I am not pleased that doctors and nurses help those HIPO dogs. They should be bleeding out right on the streets." Older man growled.

You asked loudly, "Please. It's dinner time. Let's not talk about this right now."

Fortunately, your father did not pursue the subject further.

With a slight tilt of his head, Frederik glanced at you. His cowardice was evident. Normally, he would admit openly to being a former member of HIPO, but he couldn't imagine what your parents would say, so he chose to remain silent.

Sarah scolded him, "You are making our guest uncomfortable."

The only thing your father did was to roll his eyes.

"Forgive him. The things that happened are terrible and hard to cope with." Sarah added.

Your hand moved under the table to gently pat his leg.

When Frederik felt your hand on his knee, he froze, but nodded.

The dinner became much more pleasant after that moment. Your mother tried to make the atmosphere as comfortable as possible for Frederik, and you did the same.

With time, he felt amazingly comfortable in your house.

He was still terrified of being asked about his profession by your father; his heart was pounding rapidly. Fortunately, it did not happen.

Sarah made everyone move to the couch after dinner for some coffee and cake she baked the day before.

You offered to let him smoke in a hallway at some point after you tapped his shoulder.

He excused himself and got up to follow you.

Frederik let out a loud gasp as soon as you left the house. He said, "I get more anxious than I used to."

You stared at him worriedly. "I'm sorry. Perhaps you'd like to return home?"

"You know, it doesn't happen often that I meet new people in such a way." Frederik replied with honesty.

"I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable. I just thought that after the hospital it might be enjoyable to spend some time in some good company..." You shrugged, lighting a cigarette. "Who hit you?"

You were offered a cigarette and lighter by him as he shook his head. The guy explained, "I just got a bit clumsy."

Once again, you accepted his cigarette and lighter and sighed, "Sure... I will pretend I believe you. Thanks."

"You're welcome."

As he drew a big drag from his cigarette, he rested his back against the wall of your house. "Your parents are amazing. They love you so much."

You nodded and giggled. "And I love them back just as much. I am sure my mother has already picked out a wedding dress for me."

While looking at the line of horizon, Frederik smiled a little at you. "The man who marries you will be the happiest man alive."

"Mom is probably sure it's you."

Until your words hit him, he was smoking and nodding his head. He felt his cheeks burn as his blue eyes fixed on your face. "Pardon me?"

You giggled as you looked at him. "You know how mothers are. I'm sure she's planning a big wedding because I brought a guy home."

Nodding, he shrugged his thoughts off. "Right. How could I miss that?"

"I'm sure your parents would agree." You laughed and took a drag of your cigarette.

Instead of replying, he changed the topic. "Your father is very kind, but he seems strict."

"Well, I am sure that he thought you were my interest. So he made himself look dangerous. He's a nice man but well," you sighed, "Last few days were difficult. He spent his time pulling bodies from the rubble."

"Yes, of course. I am grateful to him, and your mother, for their kindness."

"Your company is appreciated, I'm sure." You rubbed his shoulder spontaneously.

"If only they knew…"

Playfully pushing his shoulder, you urged him to stop. "My gut feeling is that HIPO will not end anytime soon, right? Are you returning back to work then?"

"I don't want to." He replied openly, his shoulders slightly shrugging. "Something had changed within me. I am no longer able to do those things."

"But if you say no, they will hunt you down."

"I'll think of something. I'm not sure yet."

You gently touched his hand, saying, "Hey... Just so you know, I don't want you to hurt yourself or put yourself in danger."

"I promise, I won't. Don't let these thoughts cross your mind."

You smiled sweetly at him and held out your finger, asking "Pinky promise?"

His gaze shifted to your outstretched hand. He intertwined his fingers with yours. "Pinky promise."

As you giggled, you nodded. "It's critical to me that you keep it, but I'm still worried about you, and this won't change."

"This is probably the first and only time that a nurse has shown such concern for her patient." Frederik joked, smirking a little wryly.

Your eyes blinked. "It's our job to help, of course we are all concerned about our patients."

"In essence, you're trying to say that every nurse takes patients to dinner with their families?" He winked at you.

You looked away, focusing entirely on smoking as your cheeks became completely red.

After he leaned down to you, Frederik whispered into your ear, "That was the answer I was thinking about, Y/N."

You shivered and blinked. "Stop it, Frederik..."

"You cannot accuse me of doing anything wrong, Y/N."

You whined, "I'm blushing!"

"What if I like it when you blush?" He asked, his tone low enough to sound almost like a grunt.

You took a drag of your cigarette and made a little annoyed noise.

Frederick completed his one. "Are we returning?"

After finishing, you nodded. "Unless you have a better idea?"

"Like?"

"I don't know. That's why I asked."

The man pointed out openly that he didn't know the neighbourhood.

"There's the whole city." You shrugged walking back inside.

He followed you back inside without thinking much about it.

Even though your mother was glad to see you, she couldn't resist scolding you for that terrible habit of yours. Although she scolded Frederik as well, it was more of a joke than a serious reprimand.

"I have been smoking for years already, ma'am. They say that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Frederik told her with a little smile.

She waved him off. "What doesn't kill you now, will kill you later."

Your mother hated the fact that you and your father smoked.

As you sat back down on the couch, you rolled your eyes.

Having checked his watch, Frederik said, "I would like to thank you for your hospitality and generosity, but it is getting late. And I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome."

Sarah glanced at the watch on the wall and frowned. "I think you're right. You should get home before it gets dark." After going to the kitchen, she returned shortly with some of her cake packed. "Here! Something for you and your parents. I hope they will enjoy it."

"Ma'am, you shouldn't have... but thank you very much for your generosity. It was a pleasure to be your guest tonight."

When your parents and you came to say goodbye to him, he first took your mother's hand and kissed it lightly before shaking hands with your father. Afterwards, he turned to you. "Thank you for saving my life, Y/N.

You smiled, reminding him, "You have a story to finish tomorrow."

When Frederik left, your mother immediately took you aside and asked you so many questions about him, making you red like an apple. Initially, he was just a friend, but your mother already wanted to treat him like a partner or at least a fiance.

Frederik's mother noticed a slight change in his behaviour, but she didn't have time to ask him - he headed straight to his room and locked the door.

Frederik flopped on his bed and slipped his hands under his head, thinking about your meeting on neutral ground. In thinking of you, he felt a little strange, as if something very warm was spreading over his abdomen and up his spine.

He managed to catch some sleep and rest properly. As much as he wanted to hold onto that night forever, the next day came rather quickly.

He got dressed and walked to the hospital a few minutes after six in the morning.

There you already were, gossiping with one of your friends in the ward.

When Frederik entered the ward, your friend immediately began to tease you about him because it seemed you were really interested in him.

Simply blushing and waving your nurse friend away, you took whatever you needed to go check on the kids. If you were being completely honest, it was just a way for you to get away from your friend to see Frederik.

Frederik was already sitting on the bed with Søren, telling him a story. Another two kids joined them, now staring at Frederik with wide open eyes.

Curious about the story, you stopped and listened from afar.

Frederik made sure kids didn't go hungry or thirsty after the story and that they took their prescribed medications.

"Maybe you should come here and ask for a job? I bet kids and other nurses would love to work with you." You teased him, getting closer.

He glared at you over his shoulder. "I'm not as qualified and competent as you."

"You can always improve, and I'm sure we will need hands to work." You smiled.

"Would you mind teaching me?"

As you stared at him shocked, you blinked. Of course you joked. "I am not a teacher..."

"But you're an experienced nurse. Can we talk later, on the cigarette break?"

You nodded. "Sure.”

In his free time, he played with the kids, spoke with the nurses, and tried to help as much as possible in the ward.

After your shift ended, you saw him smoking outside of the building while he sat on a bench.

As you sat down next to him, you asked, “Are you done working yet? How was your day?”

"Tiring. Hard. I am used to doing other things."

"I heard you did really well," you smiled, patting his shoulder. "Other nurses are thankful. One doctor even gave you praise."

You were offered a cigarette as he waved his hand. "The atmosphere is starting to cool down since the bombardment has ended... Maybe you would like to go to the cinema with me?"

As soon as the offer was made, you gladly accepted the cigarette. Looking up, you blinked with your cheeks already red. "You? Want to go to the cinema? With me?"

"Yes. Of course, if you prefer theatre, it can be a theatre then."

"I... I've never been to a movie before. I would love to join you." You nodded eagerly.

"When will you have the evening off?" Frederik asked casually. 

You told him quickly, "Starting tomorrow I'll have two days off as I worked more than usual."

"17, then?" He replied casually. "We could watch a comedy. After all that hard time we both experienced."

You nodded enthusiastically more than satisfied with his offer. "That sounds great! Will you pick me up or should we meet somewhere?"

"If it's okay with you, I'll pick you up." His blue eyes looked at you as he smiled sweetly.

Nodding, you put the cigarette between your lips and waited for him to light it. He immediately put the pack back into his pocket after lighting the cigarette for you.

When your cigarette was lit, you hummed happily, taking a drag. "So? Did you find her?" You asked, letting a cloud of smoke escape your lips.

"No. She most likely died."

"Oh... I was sure you found her. You asked me about her right away, so it was obvious she was important to you."

"Hindsight suggests that she merely clouded my mind, filling me with uncertainty and hesitation." Frederik stated openly.

You tenderly touched his hand. "Are you feeling better now? Or is it hard without her?"

He shook his head. "I don't feel fully better, but I do feel freer in some aspects. There are a lot of things I still need to work on."

You gently squeezed his hand as you moved closer. "I am sure you will succeed. I believe in you."

"Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate them more than you know." He grabbed your hand and stroked his lips against it.

While you were blushing, you nodded. "I'm glad I could help at least in this way."

"Thank you. Are you heading home now?"

"It's time to rest after all that madness. My legs are screaming for it. How about you?"

"My plan is to return home. I don't plan anything else."

"We both need rest after the last few days, but I must admit, I enjoy sitting with you." You giggled.

A brief smile appeared on his face. He said, "Thank you for keeping up with me still."

"I just dream about getting into bed and going shopping all day." You chuckled softly.

A car pulled up beside you two. It was your father, looking at you with a soft smile.

A deep blush accompanied your giggle. "Shit."

"Get home. You need it."

As soon as you finished the cigarette, you kissed him on the cheek. "I want to see you well-rested tomorrow."

After those words, you ran to your father's car so he would not be left waiting.

As soon as Frederik touched the cheek where you kissed him, his eyes widened and his lips parted. We'll catch up soon.

From your car, you smiled and waved at him.

It was an awkward ride home. Your father didn't mind Frederik, but seeing his "little girl" with some man didn't sit well with him. Returning home was even more awkward since he did not hide what happened from your mother. Fortunately, she took it easy again and began asking questions.

It took Frederik a long time to decide to return home after wandering through the streets of Copenhagen. Your sudden outburst completely caught him by surprise, and he couldn't stop his heart from racing. He couldn’t stop thinking about you. As he returned home, his parents sat down to dinner. His father was as cold as ever, mocking him and pointing out which company he used to work for. Frederick was tired, but he didn't want to start another argument or fight, so he decided to remain polite and quiet. As soon as he reached the bedroom, he locked the door and slipped onto the bed, slipping his hands under his head and staring up at the ceiling. After he knew what he had done, he wondered why heaven had blessed him with someone such as you.

The possibility of a date was more than exciting for your mother. Finally, her daughter had found a decent man!

You could finally crawl into bed after talking for at least an hour and eating dinner. After a quick bath, you collapsed onto your bed, hugging your pillow as you sighed deeply. Your thoughts kept returning to him.

Another day passed quickly. Frederik spent some time doing some basic chores. Despite that, he felt as light as if he was flying.

Later that afternoon, he got ready and told his mother he was leaving, which drew an unsatisfied glance from his father.

He approached your house again with a bouquet of roses, this time without getting lost.

As soon as she heard the knock on the door, your mother jumped. Glancing through the peephole, she giggled and clapped. She was probably more excited than you were.

Honestly, you were stressed and scared. You wouldn't have made it on time if your mother hadn't helped you get ready.

In a brown dress, you stood before him, hair completely untied and resting on your shoulders. You were a natural beauty so there was not much makeup on your face. "Hello."

Holding a bouquet in his outstretched hand, he stood there without saying a word, looking at you with his lips parted.

You thanked Frederik and took the flower from him.

"And for your beautiful mom, too."

"I'm sure she will love them. Let me take them, I'll put them in water. Would you like to come in for a minute?"

"I'll wait." He replied without blinking, staring at your face.

As you took flowers to the kitchen, you nodded.

Sarah was delighted to see more flowers. You handed them to her and she urged you to return to him.

You took your coat and did so. "Ready?" You asked.

His shoulder was offered to you. "Shall we?"

Your arms were linked as you put on your coat and nodded accepting his arm. 

Even though the sun was slowly setting, it was still brightening the city with its last rays during your walk.

How could you be so happy and so nervous at the same time? After all, it wasn't a date, he just wanted to take you to the cinema. After all, it was just a friendly meeting, wasn't it?

As a result of talking with him, you became much more relaxed.

"What will you do tomorrow since you have another day off?" Frederik inquired.

"Well, today I will spend the evening with a handsome man, and tomorrow I will probably just sleep." You giggled.

"Hey! How about a picnic?"

"Would you like that? Aren't you too serious about that?" You teased him.

He chuckled softly. "I swear, I'm not." He asked, "So, what do you think?"

You nodded enthusiastically. "That sounds fantastic! I could make something delicious and I have a super soft blanket that we could use." You smiled.

"I don't cook, so let me make sandwiches. Do you like them with smoked salmon?"

"It's great. I can make something sweet and I can make a delicious pie. Oh! I'll ask mom to bake her delicious cheese and strawberry cupcakes!" All excited about the whole idea, you giggled a tiny bit.

When he saw you so happy, he smiled.

While walking, you held his hand gently and jumped a bit as you squeezed it. When you and your friend reached the cinema, you couldn't stop smiling.  "What movie are we going to watch?"

While holding your hand, looking directly into your eyes, he softly said, "Pick whatever you like."

As you stared at him, you blinked. "Oh, wow. What should I pick? Is there something romantic?"

A title on the huge board caught his eye. "Maybe this one." Frederik said, pointing at it. "That sounds interesting, doesn't it?"

You nodded in response to the title after reading it. The title sounded intriguing. "Yes, I would like to see it."

Sitting by your side, he watched the movie even though it was not his type of movie.

You enjoyed the movie but, to be honest, you loved it more because you experienced it with him.

Upon exiting the cinema, you were jumping with joy. After watching the movie and spending time with Frederik, you were still excited. "How romantic! I wish real world romance was as romantic as this one shown in the movie."

He nodded in agreement with you. It was appropriate that he finally expressed his feelings for her. This was truly admirable of him, and it showed he was a brave person."

Your voice was dramy as you replied, "Oh yes, I wish to hear something like that."

"You're a sweetheart, I'm sure one day you'll make some guy lucky."

"Oh, she can make me happy. I won't complain." There was some husky voice behind the two of you.

Your back was tightly pressed against the strange man's chest when he wrapped his arm tightly around your waist. A giggle emanated from his lips as he replied, "I am sure Frederik would share. Right?" It was Erik, Frederik and Thure’s mutual friend.

You tried to escape, but the man only tightened his grip on you.

Frederik pushed the man's shoulder and said, "Leave her. That's not funny."

No one else but Thure approached Frederik from other side, wrapping his arm around his neck, saying, "Since that fucking hospitalization you changed, buddy! Don't be fussy, your girlfriend looks so cute, we just want to admire her!"

"It's a cute dress, isn't it?"I wonder what's underneath," said Erik. "If it makes you feel less fussed, Freddy, you can trust me to handle her gently."

After escaping Thure's forced hug, Frederik pushed another man's shoulder away. You felt his arm wrap around your waist, pulling you closer to his chest in a protective manner.

"Oh, Frederik has a girlfriend! How romantic!"

"After all, they saw a movie all about love," Erik laughed as he looked at how you nuzzled Frederik.

"Oh... is she scared? She looks adorable. The little girl is even cuter now. She would look great in our uniform."

Frederik pushed Erik's shoulder, walking away with you.

Sadly, Ture and the other man followed.

"When are you coming back to work, Freddy? Our commander asked about you."

Erik laughed, following. "Those stupid British idiots can't even bomb the right place and they think they fly with navigators. We're up and running. It's time to get back to work. You rested enough in the hospital and in her bed."

You simply held Frederik's hand tightly.

Suddenly, he stopped, looking deeply into your eyes. He pointed to a bench outside the bakery and said, "Y/N. Could you wait there? I'll be right back."

Frederik looked at his former colleagues as you walked away. "Listen, I don't give a damn about that anymore. I'm not willing to collaborate with any of you. Do you understand?"

Thure laughed at Frederik's grimace. "Freddy, you've grown some balls! Would you look at that? What? Is she warming your cock that well?"

Erik chuckled. "One stupid girl is enough to change your mind, isn't it? I wonder if you would be so interested if her face looked like mashed tomatoes. I bet she hates to go home alone after a night shift. I'll keep her company though."

Enough was enough. Erik was struck in the chin by Frederick.

A probably broken nose made him growl back as he stumbled. "You little fucker." 

Angry, Erik delivered a powerful blow to Frederik's face.

Erik then kneeled down on the ground when Frederik fell, pulling out his pocket knife, grinning. "Listen now... If you don't come tomorrow, I'll make sure that this little nurse of yours gets her holes nicely filled, but also gets her face carved nicely. I'll do it to your dear old mama as well. I'll make her squeal like a pig and tell her it's all because of her precious little boy."

Frederik spat on Erik and said, "Fuck you. You're both animals."

Erik chuckled. "Fine. We'll talk about that tomorrow."

As soon as the 'friends' walked away, you ran to check on Frederik. "Show it to me..." You said, helping him up.

"It's fine, Y/N." The older man assured, softly stroking your cheek. "Are you alright?"

"No, it's not fine," you said as you reached for your handkerchief, a soft pink one embroidered with your initials. You quickly placed it beneath his nose. "You are bleeding... and I'm fine. A little scared but okay."

He said, "Come on, let's get you back home. I'm sorry that you had to witness it."

As you shrugged with a sad smile, you said, "I expected it to happen at some point. Keep the handkerchief, please. I don't want you to bleed all over yourself."

"Thank you." Frederik grabbed your hand as he walked with you down the street after saying these words.

In the beginning, you were afraid to say anything, so all you did was hold his hand tightly. Eventually, he began to wrap his arm around your shoulders, gently caressing one of them.

Soon, you nuzzled to his side. "Are you sure you are okay?"

"Yes. Don't worry. Forgive me, please. I didn't think we would experience such an encounter..."

"I know. It's fine. I feel better with you close." Whispering this you nuzzled him.

"Y/N?"

"Yes?”

You need to understand that I wouldn't let anyone hurt you."

"I know it, Frederik. I know I am safe." You smiled softly at him. "But please, don't be reckless." You urged.

He replied, "I am not. But sometimes trouble finds you on its own."

"I see what you mean. What will you do next?"

"I will take you back home and go home myself."

"Frederik, you know I am not asking about that." You looked up at Frederik.

"I'm clueless."

As you nodded your head, you walked along with him, hugging closer to his side. You didn't dare to ask more questions.

"I'm so sorry."

“For what?"

"You saw things you shouldn't have witnessed."

You patted his chest as you sighed, "Frederik, please. Don't apologise. I expected it as I said."

The man didn't say anything more, just wiped blood from under his nose.

The rest of the way to your home was quiet and peaceful. Nobody bothered you.

Once you were standing in front of the door, you took the handkerchief and wiped the blood completely from under his nose. Folding the handkerchief neatly, you placed it in his pocket. "Just as a precaution."

"Thank you." He grasped your hand with both hands, gently stroking its top with his thumbs. "Thanks for everything."

"Thank you for a nice evening and keeping me safe." You smiled warmly. "Could you please lean a bit closer to me?"

After brushing your palms, he nodded slowly, getting closer to you. "Yes?"

Your lips touched his forehead as you stood on your tiptoes.

"Be safe now. I beg you... See you tomorrow."

When the kiss was placed on his forehead, he smiled and gasped. "I'll, I promise. So, can we meet at Ørstedsparken's east gate at, let's say, 15?"

You nodded. "Sounds perfect. I will have time to bake the pie."

While returning home, Frederik met Erik and Thure again. They were not as kind this time as they were when he was with you.

Although he hated himself for agreeing, there was little he could do.

Frederik felt the tension and heard the intensity in the tone of his commander, who was giving another order to the small HIPO group at the new headquarters. 

The old man poked Frederik's shoulder and said, "If you're going to try anything, I'll shoot you, Andersen. Then your mother, father, and the whore boys saw you with."

Frederik stared into the man's grey eyes, saying nothing.

While they were driving, Frederik checked his watch, and it was a half hour past the hour he was set with you. He already started thinking of ways to explain his absence to you, but he knew that whatever he said would not be enough to satisfy you.

"There he is!" One of the men shouted, pointing out the window.

A young man was walking along the street holding a newspaper.

Thure nodded as he examined the provided photos. "Stop the car. I said stop the fucking car, you idiot."

Frederik, who was driving this time, parked the car on the sidewalk and watched other men leave. 

Thure poked Frederik's back with the barrel of his gun as he said, "You're coming with us, little pussy."

Putting the keys into his black uniform's pocket, Frederik left the car with a heavy heart.

Meantime, you were now sitting on the blanket near the meeting place, waiting for the meeting to begin.

Maybe he was just busy or maybe he got lost again, just like the day you invited him for dinner? How busy could he possibly be? Perhaps that last date wasn't his cup of tea? Maybe the movie you picked wasn't good enough for him and he dropped you. Maybe he wasn't honest? And he had a better girl on the side?

A few minutes later, you decided to get up and gather your belongings. It's alright if you're a little late, but not by too much. As a result, you felt sad and stupid, especially after spending all that time making this stupid pie. As you gathered your belongings, you picked a pie and a blanket. For some reason you suddenly felt really upset and angry, and tears started to well up in your eyes. While walking through the city, you whined a few times, wiping your eyes as you walked. Suddenly you saw something which made you stop. The HIPO bastards were beating up someone again. "Stop! Leave him alone!" You yelled and ran up to them, leaving your stuff behind. "Please. Leave him alone."

The young girl was spotted by Thure before anyone else. "Oh, Frederik! Your girlfriend finds herself in the worst place possible, again!"

As he saw you walking towards them, Frederik paled. Immediately, he walked towards you.

Blinking, you stared at him in disbelief. That's why he didn't come to the picnic. He was too busy harassing people in the city.

He grabbed your hand and dragged you away. He said, "Go home, Y/N."

With your voice already cracked, you snapped, "Of course I'm going home. I can't make it back to OUR picnic." You pushed him away and picked up your stuff, then returned to him with the pie. "You can have it."

As he looked at you sadly, he accepted the item. "I need to explain."

Waiting for his explanation, you gazed at him.

"I..."

A man shouted, "Frederik! Come here! We have a task to finish!"

"Yeah, get your ass over here! You can talk to your girlfriend later!" Erik said firmly.

After wiping your tears, you gave him a flat smile. "Go... Get to work."

His eyes watered as he looked down at you. In the end he returned to the group.

Hugging the blanket you were holding, you headed back home quietly.

You spent the rest of the day at home.

Your mother asked you what was wrong when she noticed your bad mood. When she asked why he didn't come for the picnic, you sold her a story about his sick mother. After that, you went to bed.

The man caught on the street was interrogated for long hours.

As well as his eye and eyebrow, Frederick's knuckles were bruised and swollen when he returned home a few minutes past midnight. The fact that you saw them made him hate himself more than anything else.

The next day you didn't feel like getting up, but you simply had to. Others needed your assistance. After getting ready, you grabbed your coat and walked out of the building.You decided to light a cigarette on your way to work..

In front of the hospital building, Frederik Andersen was waiting for you. A few ashes were shaken off his cigarette with a shaking hand.

He caught your attention when you stopped. "What happened?" You asked, your eyebrow raised.

Taking a huge drag from his cigarette, he didn't reply at first. "Is there somewhere else we can talk?"

Sluggishly you nodded your agreement. "Yes."

He followed you, and soon the two of you were seated in the cosy cafeteria on the ground floor of the hospital. He played with a lighter in his hands without looking into your eyes, saying, "I don't have a clue where to start."

You watched him, feeling uncomfortable in your own chair. "Well... I don't know where to begin either."

"I know what you're thinking." He said, tilting his head and shaking his head. "It isn't my choice. No matter how much I'd like to quit, I can't. I won't apologise because it won't change a single thing. I..." He clenched his hand in his fist. "I like you. A lot. You have opened my eyes to so many things, but I would prefer if our last meeting at the cinema was the last one."

As you sighed deeply, you got up from your seat so you could sit next to him. As you squeezed his hand, you got tears in your eyes.

In response, you replied, "I like you too, a lot, and I care about you too. I was afraid when your colleagues approached us after the cinema, but I felt safe with you. I... I don't want it to end and it breaks my heart when you say that, but I can't make you do something you don't want to. For one reason or another."

A frown appeared on his face when you squeezed his palm. "I did not mean to hurt you. I hope you'll forgive me one day. It will be better that way. You're too good for someone like me." Then he leaned forward and kissed the top of your head. "I will never forget what you have done for me. Thank you." The man nodded, rubbed his chin slowly, and left.

Your eyes welled up with tears that day. In spite of being able to go to the hospital, you decided to inform the staff that you are sick and need some time to rest. As a result of the crying and work you previously performed, you get a whole week off. Your best use of it was in crying your eyes out after Frederik. You returned to work after that week, but things weren't the same. Helping people was still something that made you happy, but somehow you still felt empty. You searched for Frederik on the streets every time you saw HIPO, and sometimes you did see him among them.

After a month, a new doctor was hired. The newly-hired doctor was young and handsome. As soon as they saw him, all the girls fell in love with him.

Since your last romance didn't end the way you hoped, you didn't really care at the beginning. For some strange reason, the doctor took the most interest in you. Having finally agreed on a date, you finally felt something. He was kind. He was charming, but he wasn't your Frederik. You still missed Andersen dearly and it didn't change at all but to muffle the sound of emptiness you decided to agree on a "relationship" with the doctor.

The experience wasn't anything special. He was taking you out on dates and giving you gifts. Overall, he was everything a girl could ask for in a man. man. However, he wasn't Frederik.

In that relationship, you didn't feel terrible, but you also didn't feel fully fulfilled. Although it wasn't the same, you kept going. Mostly because you wanted to feel something.

After a few more months, the war was over. It was almost impossible to believe but it was true. There was happiness in the air. Who wouldn't be happy?

You still remembered the celebrations on the street and the happiness of the people.

It was the end of the war. Denmark lost thousands of soldiers, had many times more wounded physically and mentally, and those damn international do-gooders were whining about native civilian deaths north of a hundred thousand. There were still pictures of dying children in the newspapers and public support had largely turned into outrage. A new strategy was needed. People were still soft, so it was easy. Danes had to be coddled with stories of heroism and scared into supporting collaboration. In both their own country and in other attacks, the enemy had to be worse than a storybook villain. And this enemy was everyone who collaborated with Nazis, under whatever circumstances there were. That included HIPO. It was the government's mission to become the undertakers of the world's true villains - the hit men, HIPO members and many others - of those who had devastated society and left only ashes behind. So they were on death row regardless of whether they lived on skid row or mansion row.

Over the last few months, Frederik has changed dramatically. After his mother was killed by his own commander after Frederik refused to cooperate another time and his father shot himself in the head being unable to stand what happened to his beloved wife and the only son, he was left alone and didn't have much of a choice but to stay with "comrades" and "on the board". He had to get rid of any feelings of any kind if he wanted to survive. As soon as the war ended, he was sure he'd be sentenced and so he signed the truce with God; he sinned enough to be sent directly to hell.

As Danish gendarmerie broke down the door to a tiny apartment he lived in to arrest him, Frederik did not fight back. He let them perform their task without stubbornness. He didn't really have anything to fight for anymore.

Your doctor was taking you to a party his friends were throwing to celebrate the end of the war. You didn't want to attend, but he wouldn't let you say no. You held onto his hand as you walked the streets with him.

Then something caught your attention. It was the Danish gendarmerie, taking a man out of his flat. It wasn't an uncommon view though.

You gasped when you realised you knew this man. It was Frederik. Your Frederik.

"I... I need to go somewhere." You said to your partner, pulling your palm out of his hand.

The doctor stopped and looked down at you. "Where to, my love?"

"It's enough I know where." You said simply and let the hold of his hand to run on the opposite side of the street where the whole thing was taking place.

There was also another young man who tried to stop the cops. "No, you're making a mistake! He was helping the resistance! He didn't have a choice!" He was shouting, waving his hands nervously.

"It's okay, Karl." Frederik replied simply, an emotionless expression on his face.

During this time, your doctor watched the scene, his eyebrow raised when he saw you approaching them.

"Leave him alone!" You shouted as well. "He did nothing wrong! Why are you taking him?!”

"Ma’am!" An older man grabbed your hand and gently pulled you away. "This man was one of the collaborators. We have orders to take each of them into our custody."

"But... He did nothing!" You said loudly. "He was forced to work for them!” 

"He will be judged according to his deeds." Older man said, shaking his head. "But I wouldn't have a lot of hopes."

Frederik froze and paled when he saw you. He found himself unable to say a single word, yet he couldn't take his eyes off you. You changed much as well, your hair grew, you got even more beautiful and were seemingly happy.

There was not much you could do. You simply watched Frederik being taken away. When it happened, you looked at the man that was there. "You! Your name is Karl, right?”

Man ruffled his bangs nervously. "Yes. And you are?"

"My name is Y/N. Do you know anything more? Where are they taking him? Can we even do anything?" You asked him quickly.

He offered you his palm and shook your hand briefly. "He'll be put in front of the judges and will be sentenced for working under Nazis. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do."

"But he was forced to perform those horrible things, right? I heard you saying something about resistance?"

"He tried to pass as many information to our friends in resistance as possible but he also was a HIPO member."

"But they made him... I witnessed it once myself. Is there a way to, I don't know... Can resistance prove that he is a good guy?" You asked.

"I'm sorry, Y/N. I bet they'll try but the government has a lot of evidence for his collaboration with Nazis."

"I bet you don't know if there is any possibility for me to see him?"

"I don't think so. You'd have to ask in the court or at the arrest he was taken to."

You nodded and smiled at him. "Thank you so much. Take care of yourself."

Your boyfriend was standing with his hands resting on his hips. "Mind to explain to me what the hell was that?"

"What the hell was that? I had something more important to do than attend that stupid party." You growled as you walked towards him.

"Y/N, is someone getting arrested for a crime more meaningful than a party where you can meet new people who can give you work opportunities?"

"You think I care what your friends do with sticks up their butts," you said annoyed. "The man I loved and still love more than you is the man who was taken. I won't stand by."

The doctor shouted, "What? You're in love with a HIPO? Congratulations, Y/N. Congratulations on your priorities. I'll ensure everyone at work knows your lover was an accomplice in killing and torturing people."

"I don't care." You told him plainly. "He killed less people than you. Amazing doctor wannabe. You can take those." After those words you took whatever jewellery he had given you in the past and left.

Officers at the arrest had to move Frederik to an isolated cell to ensure he would make it to the lawsuit. This was because other arrestants wouldn't let him forget what he was arrested for.

You returned home after leaving your 'boyfriend' and immediately changed. You then borrowed your father's car and drove to the police station. Honestly, you weren't sure what to say. All you knew was that you simply had to see him again.

Walking into the building felt strange, but you were closer to Frederik now. "Excuse me. Can someone please help me?"

Above the desk buried under tons of papers, the portier looked up at you. "How can I assist?"

"I... I am looking for a man named Frederik who was arrested today," you explained simply. "I would like to see him."

"Any surname? There are at least five men with this name."

You said, "He was taken in maybe half an hour ago. Tall... Dark hair."

An older man crossed his arms on his chest and asked, "Why would you meet a HIPO?"

"Sir, I am in dire need of seeing him; I have my reasons, and he is not a HIPO." You replied steadily.

"He was a HIPO member. However, I'm not able to let you see him without a court order, I'm sorry."

Suddenly, you had an idea. "I didn't come here to look pretty, sir. This man was part of the resistance. Do you think they would have sent me here unless he was worth it?

Older man frowned. "Can I see your ID, miss?"

"The war is over, and many of our men have been taken in under false charges." You growled, furious. "We have a lot of work on our hands."

"I might be fired if I help you, ma'am, and I have a family to support." The older man was honest, but in the end he got up and sighed deeply. "Follow me. I know how much effort you put into fighting Nazis."

Inside, you laughed loudly. It worked. It really did! It brought you closer to Frederik.

You followed the man after giving him your thanks, all stressed and scared.

"To prevent lynching, we had to relocate him to an isolated cell." The older man added.

You stopped in front of a white door with a tiny window at eye level. 

Portier pulled the key from his pocket and opened the door for you. "Five minutes."

"Before I go in," you said, getting the man's attention, "My supervisor is curious. Is there any way we can influence the sentencing?"

A sad smile spread across the older man's face. "I'm afraid you cannot do anything. Almost all former HIPO members received death sentences, and many of them were already executed."

"He did a fair amount of work for us, won't it make a difference?"

"It's not my decision, ma'am. You need to speak with the judge. Five minutes."

Nodding, you walked inside, crying as you saw him again. "Oh my God... Frederik..."

He sat on the floor, the back of his head resting against a dilapidated wall, legs together and hands folded on his lap. His head moved unwillingly and his expression remained emotionless. His left brow was cut as well, bleeding still. His lower lip was likely cut after a strong blow he received. "What are you doing?" Frederik asked, with blood filling his left eyeball, and his intense blue pupil standing out more than ever. His nose was bruised; his shoulders were a sickly purple-blue.

"I came to see you." After those words, you couldn't resist joining him on the floor. Tears were already streaming down your cheeks. Despite looking so wounded, he was still your Frederik. As you gently rubbed his cheeks, you whispered, "What they did to you, my dear..."

After looking at you briefly, he closed his eyes and continued to breathe shallowly but heavily. It seemed as if he sat like that for a very long time, but when he opened his eyes again, he couldn't stop the tears from falling. He was an adult and a man, but he was unable to control his emotions anymore. In full acceptance of the emotional pain he was experiencing, he let his chin shake and tears rolled down his bruised cheeks before he burst into tears. Without asking for permission, he rested his head on your shoulder, saying, "I'm scared."

More tears were shed, and you hugged him as gently as possible. "I know you're scared, but it will be fine. I know it will be." You hushed him, gently stroking his hair. Your heart pounded. You did not want to lose him ever again. All you could think about was finding a way out. But you had no idea how…

When you stroked his hair, he calmed down almost instantly. He stopped sobbing and his breathing slowed down. "You shouldn't have come."

You whispered, nuzzling his shoulder, "I had to. When I saw they were dragging you out, I just had to get in here. I had to see you again. It's been too long."

He smiled internally, "At least one of us has had a good life. You deserved it more than anyone else for your dedication."

'Sweetie... you did as much as you were able to do, and I am so proud.”  You told him, kissing his forehead gently. "Without you, my life would be incomplete."

As he looked at you, he sighed deeply and lifted his head off your shoulder. "I want you to be happy. But even if I could, I wouldn't be able to provide you with a happy life. I don't have much life left."

You assured him, "They won't harm you or kill you. You were forced to do this. It will be okay."

He rested his head on your shoulder again, remaining silent this time.

The door opened. "Ma'am, your time has run out. You need to leave."

"It will be fine. Stay strong, please." You whispered and kissed Frederik's temple. "I love you. Remember." 

Sighing sadly you slowly got up. You didn't want to leave him, but what else could you do?

The older man led you to the front door of the arrest.

"You said I can speak with a judge about my friend that you took in," you said. "May I ask how I might do that?"

"Yes. All you need to do is submit an application. However, I would suggest that you find a competent lawyer."

You smiled and nodded. "We for sure will." After walking out of the building and to the parking lot,  you couldn't hold it any longer. While you screamed as many curses as you could, your eyes filled with all the tears you had held back.

Two months later, the sentence was announced. Frederik received 5 years of imprisonment, but the judge suspended the sentence, taking into account that it was proven that Frederik had assisted the resistance movement, specifically providing them with all the information needed to kill one of HIPO's top leaders. As you watched another HIPO bastard be sentenced to death, there were many people in attendance. You were probably the only person who was happy that one of the former HIPO members wouldn't be killed. You wanted to jump, but you had to restrain yourself.

He was uncuffed and set free. Frederik wore an ordinary, black suit for the sentence announcement.

When he left the court building and felt the warmth of the sun on his face, he felt a deep sense of happiness.

As soon as possible, you left the court to follow him. As you approached him, you asked, "Mind if I join you?"

He didn't notice your presence in the courtroom and looked at you, surprised. "Y/N. Hi."

Out of excitement, you could not help but hug him. The man was still alive and well. "Hi Fredrik. I had to come, I had to see what they decided. I had to see you."

He gently stroked your back as he wrapped his arms around your tiny body. "It means the world to me."

"I'm so glad you're out. I'm so happy you're here." Your hand cupped his cheeks.

His eyes were fixed on yours.

"I'm sorry." You whispered, pressing your lips to his, giving him the kiss he had waited for so long.

He couldn't express how much he craved that kiss. Your lips were smooth, warm, and inviting. This only encouraged him to return the kiss as he gently rubbed your cheeks with his thumbs as he held your face in his hands.

You could only hum into the kiss. It felt great to finally get this done. You certainly waited too long for this.

When your lips parted, he looked at you with watery eyes, and despite being watched by many, he grabbed your waist to pick you up.

With a giggle, you wrapped your arms around his neck so you wouldn't fall. "We can try from the beginning, Frederik. You are free, we can live as we please."

He looked around after putting you down. "You're probably right, but I have no idea where to start or what to do, all I know is that there's no place for me in Copenhagen anymore."

You took hold of his hand. "I would like to visit your flat. There we can talk about what happened during our time apart, and we can think about what to do. Is that okay with you?"

The man nodded. He warned softly, "It's terrible there. You won't enjoy it."

"It doesn't matter to me. We will be there together."

He squeezed your hand with a little hesitancy. It was surreal for him to experience such a thing after causing so much evil. Yet he would not change anything because in the end, every step he took led him to this point, to you.

Holding onto his hand tightly, you walked with him. You probably destroyed your whole life just now, but did you care? Obviously not. At the moment, all that mattered was that he was back with you. In the end you could start a new life with him and you were more than happy with that.

Frederik's apartment was a mess indeed. You could tell it lacked a 'woman's touch,' but you didn't give it a second thought. "It's not perfect, but it's still a flat. We can stay here for a while."

"We?" He asked after closing the door.

Your voice was quiet and shy as you spoke: "I mean... If you don't mind. I'd love to stay with you here? To catch up on everything that has happened. But I can leave if you wish."

"It's not about me... What will your parents say? What will your friends say?" He asked with concern.

You smiled with a shrug, "My parents will understand. I know they will. If my friends turn their backs on me, they have never been real friends."

He removed the jacket of his suit and hung it on a wooden hanger. "The flat doesn't look as shabby as it did before I moved in. Thanks to Karl, it's not a complete mess. Would you like a drink?"

"I met him. He was really kind, and the water is fine. I just want to spend some time with you."

After opening a bottle of water he found in the fridge, he poured it into a glass and handed it to you. "I apologise for the mess."

With a nod, you took the glass and said, "It's fine, love. Come here and tell me what happened."

"Life has been a shit." He said, sitting by your side on the couch. "You saw me with them, and I saw you, too."

"I know you did..." As you sighed, you nodded. "I hoped you would..."

Nodding his head, he continued. "How has your life been?"

You simply told him, "It was boring and lonely."

The weeks passed in this way. After work, you visited him every day, bringing him food and cleaning the apartment. It was pleasant catching up with him. When it came to discussing his parents, that was the most difficult moment. Holding him tightly, you let him cry his heart out. You knew it was challenging for him because he was alone in this world, after his parents died. Those weeks weren't wasted. You and Frederik slowly began to get to know each other better, slowly rebuilding your relationship. Even with the scars the war left on his mind and soul, he was still the same man you knew a few months ago. You loved him more and more each day.

One day when you were cooking dinner you got an idea. "Frederik? You know, I was thinking about something."

Frowning, he peeked into the kitchen. Y/N. I told you not to cook!" He then stepped in and rested his hip against the counter. "Yes? About?"

"You said so, but I decided not to listen. You deserved a tasty, home-cooked dinner, and I'm not such a bad cook." You shrugged and looked at him with a smile. "I thought we should visit my parents."

Blinking, he tilted his head. "After everything that happened, I don't think it's a sane idea."

"My parents aren't bad people, but they wonder where I go after work."

"I'm afraid I won't be able to look them in the eye."

Grabbing his hand, you stroked his skin, smiling. "Despite what you may think, they really are good people. Trust me on that."

Nodding, he replied, "You know I rely on you."

You joked, "Now sit down and hope I won't kill you with that soup. Go ahead, grab a bowl."

Your order was followed. He smiled and kissed your cheek briefly. "Tomato soup? I can have it all the time." After his bowl was filled, he sat at the table and immediately began eating.

After two months in prison and many more months of stress working for HIPO, he lost some weight, but his body was still lean and tense; he tried his best to regain his strength.

You filled your own bowl and sat next to him, but instead of eating you watched him. Being able to take care of him so well filled you with pride. Of course you couldn't heal his mind from all the terrible things that happened but you at least did what you could. "Did I ever tell you that you are handsome?”

With a spoon between his lips and a frown on his face, Frederik looked at you, blinking. He shook his head slightly. "I'm not handsome but thank you. You're the prettiest girl I've ever met."

You frowned and flicked him on the forehead. "Thank you and stop it. You know that for me you are the most handsome man in this world."

You were winked at as he smiled. "Only you have such an opinion."

Your eyes rolled back in irritation and you moaned, "Oh, stop it."

He smiled and returned to eating the soup you made.

As you ate yourself, you giggled, pleased with how tasty the soup was.

"Y/N?”

"Yes, love?"

"Can you stay with me tonight?" Frederik asked.

Looking at him surprised, you blinked as you nodded. It was the last thing you expected from him. "Sure, love, since you asked me so nicely, how can I say no to you?"

After finishing his soup, he smiled. "Can I have another bowl of this? It's too tasty and I can't help myself."

As you giggled, you nodded. "Yes. Do you want me to pour you more or will you pour it yourself?"

Getting up, he kissed the top of your head. "Sit and eat."

You munched happily on your soup as you returned to it.

It was a wonderful evening filled with snuggles, talks, and laughter. Since you didn't have your clothes, you used one of his shirts as a nightdress. It was a new feeling to spend the night with him. Of course nothing steamy happened but you didn't care. Snuggling was enough for you.

In the midst of talking to you, snuggling on the couch, he began mumbling some things without any apparent purpose and actually fell asleep with his head resting on his propped hand on the coach's armrests.

It was impossible not to giggle at that. You moved him into a more comfortable position once he was asleep. You watched him closely, gently stroking his hair.

It made you feel lucky and thankful that he was still with you. You eventually fell asleep as well.

The first thing he noticed when waking up was the weight on his chest and his forehead resting against the back of the couch. Seeing your fragile body snuggled to him, he smiled softly to himself. He couldn't resist petting your hair a little; in his eyes you looked like an angel sent from heaven.

When you awoke, you felt someone touching your hair. You stretched and looked at him, letting out a soft yawn. "Good morning."

Your face captivated Frederik's attention. After tapping your nose, he said, "Good morning, little princess. Sorry for waking you up."

Giggling, you nuzzled to his chest. "It's nice to wake up and see my handsome Frederik as soon as I open my eyes."

"Comfy?"

"Yes.. But I think the bed would be better for sleeping together next time."

As he licked his lips, he smiled. "Perhaps another time. I think the last thing I remember was us having a conversation... Then, it became black."

You explained, "I just moved you a bit and stayed with you until I fell asleep myself."

For a moment, he closed his eyes. "Can we stay there a little while longer?"

Again, you nuzzled him, closing your eyes. "I don't mind it at all."

"Aren't you cold?"

"You kept me warm the whole night. You are so warm."

He smiled lazily, slipping his hand from your head to your upper back. "Tak."

"Frederik?”

He half-opened his eyes. "Y/N?"

You raised your head and looked at him. "Yesterday. Before I fell asleep. I’ve been thinking a lot."

He opened his eyes wider, nodding head. "Yeah?"

Your chest twitched as you said, "We've been through a rough time. I know I can't help you heal fully, but I will do my best to help you as much as I can. I love you, no matter what."

You could feel how his chest stopped moving as he held his breath deep in his lungs. "Y/N... I didn't expect that..."

"I... I will understand if after all this time you don't return my feelings. I still wish to help you around." You smiled. "Even if just as a friend."

"Can you get closer?" Frederik asked softly.

You indeed moved a little closer.

He pulled you closer, making his lips meet yours in a sweet kiss as he cupped your face with his hands.

A quiet moan escaped your lips as you kissed him back, even though the kiss was heated and messy.

"I love you too." Frederik stated firmly. 

You gasped and kissed him deeply out of pure excitement. Once you pulled away, you told him, "I don't want to be away from you ever again. Don't leave me alone... Please."

"I'm not going anywhere." He assured, stroking your cheek, looking at you from half-opened eyes.

"I hope so. I don’t know what would I do." You smiled at him and placed one more kiss on his cheek. "I am not going anywhere as well."

He hugged you to him, letting his hands gently move up and down your back. "Don't think of that."

"We are together again." You whispered and hugged him tightly. “Together, forever.”

Eventually, you decided to get up after talking for another hour or so.

After waking up, you put on your clothes and prepared for the day. It was you who prepared the breakfast and convinced him to visit your parents.

Walking to your flat was nerve-wracking. You weren't nervous about your parents. Instead, you were worried about Frederik. Trying to hold his hand as tightly as possible and squeezing it from time to time was all you could do.

The moment you and he stood in front of the door, you both looked at each other.

"Are you ready?” You asked him.

"Not at all but I guess I'll never be ready enough." He announced openly, a tiny hesitation in his tone. He improved his white shirt and looked at you. "Let's do this."

Nodding your head you used the key to open the door. "Mom! Dad! I am home and I brought a guest!" You announced happily.

The first person to walk to the door was your mother, Sarah. "Y/N! Oh, you brought Frederik! Welcome, boy! It's been a while," She said happily as she hugged him. "Let me look at you. Oh, you should be happy I planned a big dinner! You are so thin." She teased.

After all this time, Frederik was completely paralyzed; this was something he never expected to encounter. "Good morning, ma'am. I would like to speak with you and your husband, if that's possible. I think there are a lot of things I need to verify and explain."

The two of you looked at Sarah as she blinked. "Oh, that sounds serious, so come inside. I'll make a cup of coffee and we can talk about it. Sounds good?"

He nodded. "Thank you, ma'am."

Your mother took the two of you into the living room where your father was smoking a cigarette. "Ah, it's you, long time no see."

In greeting the man, Frederik bowed his head a little.

Your father nodded as he said, "Come in, sit down."

You smiled softly as you patted Frederik's shoulder.

With hesitation, Frederik approached the couch and took a seat. 

After a few minutes, your mother brought in the coffee and sat next to her husband. "So? What do you want to talk about?"

"I..." Frederik sighed. "I want to apologise."

Your parents looked confused.

"Apologise for what?" Sarah asked.

"For... I bet you heard what happened."

"Well, the war is over." Your mother said.

Your father muttered, "Everyone who did something was judged accordingly. At least HIPO is no more. Can you finally get your message out?"

"I was a member of HIPO." Frederik said with a loud sigh, getting up from his seat.

A frown crossed your father's face. "It might be a good idea to get out for a walk with Y/N or something, Sarah."

Despite your mother's protests, he only yelled at her, so she took you with her and left the room. Leaving the house, you gave Frederik a gentle smile, and soon he was left alone with your father.

The young man already understood what your father was trying to tell him.

"I want you to sit down."

Although he didn't want to, Frederik followed the man's order.

The older man stared at him with an angry expression on his face. "HIPO, you say, and yet you still walk around? Most of them were sentenced to death."

"Yes, sir." Frederik responded simply, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. He added, "I got a suspended sentence for helping the resistance."

"Y/N knew? Or did you play with her like with us?"

"She knew right from the start."

The man nodded. "Due to her kind heart she can be sometimes ignorant, but despite knowing what you are, she stayed with you for a longer period of time. Why did it end?”

After our first date, we were set that day. Unfortunately, my former colleagues from HIPO got back in touch with me and told me openly they would hurt my parents and Y/N as well if I didn't return to serve. I had to return to "working" with them and later asked Y/N not to see me anymore. I didn't want to cause trouble for either my parents, Y/N and her family."

"So, you protected her and us." Your father said slowly and took a puff from his cigarette. "What with your parents?"

"They're gone." Andersen replied shortly.

"I am sorry to hear that, son." Man paused and nodded. "My sister lost her husband. He was a policeman, I am sure Y/N told you."

"Yes. She mentioned."

Older man cleared his throat, shaking off the ash into the ashtray. "You didn't do it because you wanted to?"

"The answer is partly yes, but on the other hand, I was stupid enough to step into this shit."

Y/N's father shrugged and offered his guest a cigarette, saying that young people do stupid things all the time. "My daughter is a good example of this."

Frederik Andersen endorsed the proposal. "Thank you, sir." 

Frederik shook his head after lighting a cigarette. "I should think more instead of acting quickly."

Thomas commented, "It was a chaotic time. Fortunately, it passed. So, I assume you regret it all? And the most important question, do you love Y/N?"

"I will never forget the first time I saw her... She brightened the room as soon as she walked in." Frederik smiled to himself. "I was scared to fall in love with her. I had been in love a few times before but it was never so intense..."

"And what about the other question? Do you regret everything that happened?"

"Of course I do!" Suddenly sharp in his own tone, Frederik frowned a little at his own statement. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap or sound rude... I...I can't sleep at night. When I close my eyes, I see those I caused suffering to. I wish I could turn back time, but it's impossible. Now I have to live with that stigma."

While listening to Frederik, your father sat there, observing the young man's face carefully. He wasn't entirely sure if he trusted the boy, but suffering was written across his face.

"I just want to start a new life. Hopefully with your daughter by my side."

The last part depends on her. You seem honest and I can see you suffer much. If she trusts you, I will as well," the older man replied with a smile, "But it's a thin line. One mistake, you hurt my girl and I will get your head myself."

"I am aware of that, sir. I have no one else to care about." Andersen smiled, turning his head aside to catch his breath as tears started gathering in his eyes. "I wish I could give her more, but the truth is I cannot at the moment."

"Trust me. If she is with you after all, it means she cares about you and not about what you can offer her."

Getting up, Frederik started walking around the living room, nervously tugging on the sleeve of his shirt.

The older man raised an eyebrow as he asked, "Is something wrong?"

"No. Yes. I mean, no."

"Spit it out!"

"I wanna marry her." Frederik said openly after gathering his courage. The proposal was a very important moment to Frederik but he had never been more certain in his lifetime. He fell in love with Y/N so badly that it hurt every time you had to leave his flat; he hated to spend time alone, without you by his side.

"Are you asking for my permission or are you simply informing me?”

"I am asking for your permission, sir."

"Well then, I agree. I trust you with her but you need to ask her as well." Man chuckled.

"I'm not sure if I'll be able to speak my mind out." Frederik smiled a little, grimacing.

The older man laughed and got up from his spot. Frederik's shoulder was tapped as he walked up to him.

"Shall I get them now?"

"It might be possible for them to walk longer..." Frederik hesitated but your father already went to open the door.

You almost fell into the house after your dad opened the main door.

He told you two to go for a walk, but you didn't even consider it. It wasn't a waste of time to stay close just in case. You didn't like the fact that the doors were too thick for you to hear anything.

While the boys talked, you took the time to explain to your mother what had happened between you and Frederik.

Sarah was deeply moved by everything she heard. As a result, she grew more respect for him.

Your father smirked and said, "My two stubborn women never left."

Frederik walked faster around the room, thinking to himself, "Oh my God." Finally, he sat down at the couch, still tugging at his sleeves and adjusting his bangs impatiently.

Your father rubbed your head. He had done a lot of wrongs, but he paid for them in one way or another, but since you see some good in him, I do as well." He said, looking at Frederik.

Seeing you, Andersen smiled shyly, his lips parted as he looked at you.

After hugging your father, you proceeded to sit next to Frederik. You asked, "Are you alright?"

He nodded eagerly and smiled. "Definitely."

Frederik stroked the top of your hand with his palms, his eyes never leaving yours.

"Are you okay? You look terrified."

A smile spread across his face. "Yes, sweetie."

Returning the smile, you stroked his hair. "You want to go home? I have stuff to make some cupcakes."

"I'd like to stay but, ma'am?" Frederik got up and looked at your mother. "Can I speak with you?"

Sarah blinked but nodded. "Of course. We can talk in the kitchen."

You huffed annoyingly, crossing arms over your chest; he wanted to talk with everyone but you. 

In the kitchen, Sarah smiled at him. "Is everything okay? Can I help you somehow?"

"Yes, I have a question about your daughter. I am not sure if she likes crystals. I mean, jewellery?"

She blinked and laughed softly. "Oh? Why do you ask?"

"Ah. I have an idea, but I don't know what to pick... Do you know the size of the ring she wears...?"

After thinking for a moment, Sarah snapped her fingers. "I have an idea. Wait."

Frederik nodded enthusiastically. He felt like an idiot inside, but there was no other way he could check something like that.

After leaving the kitchen, she returned moments later with a small box. She giggled at him, "Y/N told me that your situation isn't great, and now that I know what you plan..." Sarah winked at him and passed him the box, she explained, "This will fit her perfectly." Inside was a beautiful engagement ring. "It belongs to me. I always wanted to give it to my daughter's boyfriend so that it stays in the family."

"Oh my God." He whispered. "What if she declines? I'm not a righteous man. I'm not wealthy, either... I saw her with another man, he looked classy."

"That doctor? He was stiff as a stick. I prayed for him or her to change their minds every day." She rolled her eyes. "The fact that she returned to you after everything that happened means she loves you more than anything."

"I apologise for asking all these silly questions. Normally, I'd talk to my mother." He said, taking a deep breath. "I'm doing this."

"Wait a moment."

He nodded, looking once again at the ring in the box.

Sarah grabbed his cheek and smiled at him. "She told me about your parents, and as a mother I can tell you your mother would be proud of you. I am also proud of you." Sarah claimed, stroking his cheek and hugging him. "Remember, we are your family too, now."

He hugged her instantly, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Thank you, ma'am. I promise to take care of Y/N."

"I know you will." She squeezed him and then pulled away to adjust his shirt and hair a bit."Go to her now."

Frederik looked into the woman's eyes, nodding but then he shook his head, smirking nervously. "Hair... Is good?" He once again ruffled his bangs that had already been fixed by your mother moments earlier.

She sighed. "You, men. They were fine until you ruffled them. Go."

Frederik returned to the living room, straightening his shirt once again. "Y/N?"

"Yes?" You asked softly.

Sarah smiled and walked to her husband to take his hand.

As soon as you got up, Frederik offered you his hand and smiled at you. I've always had difficulty expressing my feelings, because when I do, I'm naked. Yet I fell in love with you the day we met. Then I fell in love more deeply upon a second meeting. I couldn't say. I thought you wanted to be friends, and that's all. It broke my heart. It was rough. But I'd rather have you as a friend than not at all. I love you more than anyone. Would you marry me?" He asked finally, getting down on one knee

Blinking in shock, you looked at him; to be honest, you dreamed about it but didn't expect it so soon. As much as you wanted him to heal fully first, you couldn't say no to his decision. You didn't want to refuse him. “Of course! Yes! Yes!”

As he picked you up and spun you in his arms, a bright smile appeared on his face.

Your laughter turned into tears of joy.

As he put you down, he cupped your cheeks and kissed you gently, just a small peck on the lips.

A smile spread across your face as you sniffed and cupped his hand on one of your cheeks.

Your parents clapped. They were happy to see you happy again. In spite of the fact that you seemed happy before, it was clear that you were never as content as you were at that particular moment.

"I'm the happiest man alive." Dark-haired man whispered, kissing one of your tears away. "I'll look for a decent job so you won't have to work."

"Stop it... We'll make it together." You poked his side, rolling your eyes.

A frown appeared on his face. "You're too beautiful. Besides, who will stay with kids in the house?"

"Look at them, already planning children!" Your mother giggled, making you blush.

The realisation of what he said hit Frederik as well, and he blushed too. "Maybe in the future, if God so wills?"

"What are you two going to do now?" Your father asked.

"As soon as I sell the house after my parents, all the foundations will be invested in the new home."

Your mother jumped into her place. "Oh, you don't need to do that! I have a perfect engagement gift!" Sarah shouted, running to the bedroom.

You only tilted your head slightly.

Frederik looked down at you, realising he had to put a ring on your finger. Taking your hand, he put the ring your mother provided him on your finger.

As you giggled and kissed his cheek, you thanked him.

Sarah returned soon with a key.

"Wait, is this the key to the flat your aunt left for you?"

"Yes, it is, the flat is located in Århus, it will be perfect for the two of you." Your mom nodded.

"This is not such a bad idea, love." Your father nodded. "We don't need the flat and you both can start fresh there."

"Isn't it too much for a gift?" Frederik asked openly.

"The two of you are young and have been through a lot. Especially you, Frederik." Older man said with a shrug. "At least this is how we can help."

You smiled and nuzzled him, looking at the key.

Putting his chin on top of your head, Frederik wrapped both arms around you. "I cannot express my gratitude enough, sir."

"You better be, boy." He laughed and your mother rolled her eyes, slapping him on the chest.

When things calmed down, your father decided to bring in some alcohol to celebrate.

Even though you and your mother had only drank a little bit, your father and Frederik completely consumed the bottle.

You decided to spend the night at your parents' home at this point. Putting your hand on Frederik's shoulder, you asked, "Sweetie? Are you sure you don't want to go to bed?"

As he held you on his lap, wrapping one arm tightly around your waist, stroking its curve, and playing with a glass of vodka, Frederik asked in the sweetest and most sober voice he could muster, "Your dad has so many interesting stories. Just a few minutes? Then bed time."

"I will take care of them. Go get your bed ready." Sarah instructed you.

Sighing, you nodded and kissed Frederik's cheek before getting up. "Don't be long, please." You told him.

He gave you a nod and refused to let go of your hand, just to pull you back on his lap to steal a few more kisses from you.

You giggled and tapped his shoulder. "Not in front of my parents."

It took him almost half an hour to finally get to your bedroom. Before entering, he knocked on your door politely, not being certain he was in the correct room.

"Come in." You said loudly.

Frederik opened the door and stepped in, closing them behind him. "Evening. I'm a little, ahm, late, kinda."

"I noticed that, sir." You said, looking at him from above your book.

He cleared his throat. "Ahm... I'm afraid, like... I have nothing. To change. To change into."

"Sweetie, go take a shower and I will go ask mom if we have some pyjamas for you."

He cleared his throat again. "Shower? Ahm... Where?"

You got up from the bed and walked to the door and opened it, showing him the small bathroom. "You can always take a bath if you need to."

"Ahm. This thing!" He chuckled, more to himself. "Yes. I do." With his legs a little wobbly, he stumbled to the bathroom, making sure to close the door as quietly as possible.

You wandered over to your parents' bedroom. Your mother gave you a set of pyjamas that were a bit too small for your father. However, they should fit Frederik.

After that you returned to your bedroom and knocked on the door of the bathroom. "Frederik? Can I come in?”

The door opened slightly and his head slipped from between them, his hair dripping with water. "Hi, Y/N."

"Hi, sweetie. I have pijamas for you."

He accepted it, offering you a tiny smile. "Thank you."

"I will be waiting in bed." You ruffled his wet hair and went back to bed.

Frederik joined you after a few minutes.

"Comfy?” You asked, placing the book down.

He looked down at a bit too huge pijamas. "Yes. Thank you."

"Now get comfortable and rest sweetie." You said and kissed his forehead.

He took a place by your side and ran his hand through still wet bangs. "I love you. Ahm. I can't believe it. You agreed."

"Frederik. You know I love you and as crazy as it sounds, I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"Can I?"

"Can you what?"

He didn't ask anything more, just shifted down in his place to place his head on your lap. "Oooooo, yes, comfy. You're so comfy. My Y/N. I can't believe it. When I wake up, will you be here? Or is it just a dream?"

You blinked and smiled softly, moving your hand through his still slightly wet hair.

"Of course I will be here, love. I am real and I am not going anywhere."

He kissed your stomach a few times, humming to himself. "Few months ago... Ahm. I wouldn't say something good would happen to me."

"But in the end it did. You are free, the world is free. And we are back together. I am not letting you go again."

Suddenly, you could feel the wetness on your nightdress. 

Frederik shed a few tears, sniffing a little. "I don't know how to comprehend... It's too much, I have never felt so much at once."

You blinked. "Sweetie. Don't cry, please. It's fine. Don't think about the past, it's behind you. Let's focus on what is now. Let's rebuild our relationship fully and start our brand-new life."

"I'm scared." He sobbed. "What if God will take it all from me? I can't lose you again."

"Frederik. He won't. "You did wrong things, but you paid for them enough." You said. "Now it's time to start a new chapter."

He nuzzled your body more, sighing. "Ahm. Yes. My beautiful Y/N is right. Right. And beautiful and wise. And with a heart of gold."

You stroked his hair, trying to calm him down. "Thank you so much. Rest now, I am sure you need it."

It took him only a few moments to drift into much needed slumber.

You smiled softly and covered him with a duvet, then you laid down making sure not to move too much. You turned off the lamp and went to sleep yourself, stroking his hair.

He was the first one to open his eyes in the morning, when the first rays of sun fell into the bedroom through a half-opened window and tulle curtains. Frederik shifted in his spot, moving his head up; he quickly realised he fell asleep on your belly, making you sleep in a very uncomfortable position. He smiled to himself, seeing your calm features and half-parted lips; your hair was messy, spilled over your pillow. He took as much of the view as he could. After he rolled to the side, he offered you a steamy kiss.

You let out a quiet sound and slowly woke up, wrapping your arms around him.

The dream you were having was so enjoyable, but he had to wake you up. You didn't like it but you gladly accepted it.

Instantly, Frederik nuzzled to the crook of your neck, slowly brushing his lips against your exposed skin. "Godmorgen."

"Godmorgen. And you see? I didn't disappear, I am still here. Still with you." You whispered.

He didn't reply, too focused on inhaling your sweet, warm scent.

You hugged him tightly, holding him close and playing with his hair. "So fluffy."

Frederik shook his head a few times.

Frederik asked you to stay with your parents while he got back to his flat to start gathering everything that could be useful in the new place.

You spend your time talking and planning with your parents. Evidently, they had some friends there so that both of you could count on help doing jobs and renovating the flat. It was so exciting and a bit scary but you knew that with Frederik on your side, you would make it.

Frederik asked his friend to help him sell his parents' house. He also borrowed Karl's car and packed a few cartoon boxes into the trunk.

Your parents agreed for the two of you to stay in their house until the two of you were fully ready to move. 

You were excited like never before.

Frederik, despite the fact your parents were extremely kind to him, felt a bit uncomfortable in their flat; he felt a bit like a third wheel.

But your mother didn't mind him at all. She even started to joke that she adopted him.

One afternoon when your parents were still at work, you sat with Frederik on the couch. "You know, I need to go to the hospital."

He was reading a newspaper, nodding his head after he heard your words. "Do you really want to leave the job and your previous life behind? I don't have any strings attached, but you, on the other hand, your entire life is in Copenhagen."

You smiled and shrugged. "And I already told you something. I want to start over in a new place, with you. I would need to move out one day anyway."

The newspaper was folded and placed on a small coffee table. His arm wrapped around your shoulders and he immediately began playing with a lock of your loose hair. With a nod, he said "Yes, I feel you. I know how much this work meant to you but I think that in Århus you'll quickly find a new place, you have excellent references in the end."

"So there is no reason to worry about me." You tapped his nose playfully and then nuzzled to his shoulder. "It will be wonderful. So wonderful!"

Silently, he nodded. "I think I haven't told you what I did before the war."

You shook your head and looked up with interest.

"Before being recruited by HIPO, I worked as a car mechanic." Frederik said with a slight shrug. "In those days, I was a chronic optimist who loved digging into engines."

All of a sudden you gasped. "You'll be able to do it again! Maybe you'll start your own business one day!"

"I'm not that skilled, love." As his thoughts drifted to that particular idea, Frederik smiled softly to himself. "Don't you feel bad now? You're dating a regular worker, no one as nice as the guy I saw you with before."

It made you shake your head. "Why should I feel bad about dating someone I love with my whole heart?" You shrugged. "I was with him to feel something after you, but it was hard and I hated it. It was as if he had a stick up his arse. He never took me to the cinema. He said it made people stupid."

"The idea that movies make people stupid is ridiculous." Frederik fumed, letting out a soft chuckle. "Y/N? How's packing going?"

"Good. Are you really that eager to leave?" You teased.

"Somewhat. It's more excitement. Karl promised to help us."

"That's so sweet of him! I need to thank him again."

"He told me that if I let you leave, I'm going to be the dumbest guy on the planet." Frederik said. "His help will be extremely useful during the renovation of the flat. I have a simple idea."

"What idea?"

"How to set things up in the newly acquired apartment. I have some ideas in my head. Bright interiors, with as much light as possible."

"I hope there will be space for a nursery." You hummed, tapping your cheek.

He didn't manage to turn his head fast enough, so you could see a blush overtaking his cheeks. "For a nursery?"

Simply nodding your head, you smiled. "Children will need their own room, right?"

He smiled at you. "Right. Yes. That's true. We'll make a space for a children's room."

"Just imagine! Little boy and a girl running around. Giggling and playing."

He leaned more against the couch, closing his blue eyes. "Yes. I can already hear the children's laughter filling the rooms, echoing from the walls... I bet they would take more of you."

"If the boy will be like you, we're gonna have lots of young ladies at our doorstep in the future." You faked a worried tone.

Frederik blushed more. "Y/N! Come on, I'm not that handsome. I have never had many women interested in me. Only a few."

As you cupped his cheek, you shrugged. "The others had to be blind. You look even more handsome now."

He quickly stole a kiss from you. "Jeg elsker dig."

Two weeks later, you and Frederik moved out of your parents' flat and moved into the flat in Århus.

The apartment was much larger than you expected. You could remember your mom saying her aunt was rich but you didn't expect that. It had a big bedroom and two smaller guest rooms, bathroom, living room and kitchen. You were wondering how the two of you would fill this whole empty space. "It's spacious..." You stated, looking around the living room.

"Indeed." Frederik agreed with you as he stepped into the apartment with a few boxes in his arms. He placed them on the floor carefully. "Apparently we need to try to get children." He joked lightly.

You blinked and looked at him with a playful smirk. "We can, as soon as you and Karl bring in and put together the bed."

Frederik chuckled. "Today we'll have to sleep on the floor, sadly. He promised to bring the frame tomorrow. And remember to be ready in the morning, we have to get back to Copenhagen to pick up the last packages and to take your papers from work."

You nuzzled him and groaned. "How early do we need to get up?”

"Probably around 6."

You sighed. "I used to start my morning shift like this... Lucky thing I put a clock in my box. We will be able to set it to wake up at a time. I am nervous to travel back there."

"Do you want me to go there with you?"

"Could you do that?"

"Of course. I will be glad to do so, as long as you want."

"Yes, please! I will feel much better." You nodded eagerly.

Andersen nodded. "Sure. Would you help me find an iron in the boxes? I'll iron your dress and my clothes."

"You better prepare us a bed. I will take care of that, okay?"

"Sure."

In fact, Frederik had prepared a bed, consisting of a double mattress, sheets, two pillows and a large quilt.

You took care of unpacking a little and then preparing your dress and his shirt. Once it was done, you started to take out some more of your things.

While unpacking one of your books you found a gift you prepared for Frederik. Back at his flat, you found a photo of his parents. The lack of a frame upset you, so you decided to change it.

When evening came you changed into your nightdress and joined Frederik in the provisory bed.

"I think I've never slept on the floor."

"I heard it's healthy for the back." He replied casually, laying with his hands slipped under his head. "So, that's it. Our own, personal space."

"New flat... In a new city..." You said softly. "New life. Our new life."

"Yes, indeed."

He turned his head to face you. "I'll never thank you enough for accepting me."

"No need to. Now, close your eyes and wait, okay?”

He narrowed his brows but nodded and followed your request.

You quickly got up and walked to your box to pick up the photo in a brand new photo frame. Then you returned to bed and sat down. "You can open your eyes now."

He hesitated for a second but once he opened his eyes, he sat up, his face paled.

"I... Found it in your box. It had no frame and I was worried it may get damaged or lost while moving. I wanted to make sure it had a frame." You explained.

As he looked down at the picture, he took it from you with shaking hands.

His mother smiled right at the camera, and his father had his arm around her shoulders, smiling gently. 

Frederik traced the edge of the picture's gleaming, brand new frame and glass with his finger. He raised his head to look directly into your eyes, not bothering himself with the fact that his eyes were glistening with tears. "I don't know what to say, I didn't expect that... Thank you so much, Y/N."

As much as you could, you hugged him in order to comfort him. "Despite not having the opportunity to meet them, I believe they would be pleased to see you put your life back on track."

Nodding, Frederik bit his lower lip. "Hopefully."

"Let's hang it on the wall." You smiled as you took his hand. "Across from the couch, I noticed some nails in the wall."

Getting up from the bed, he hugged the picture to his chest.

He hung the picture right next to the picture of your parents within a few minutes.

"You know what, love?”

"Yes?"

"Once we are all done with unpacking and other stuff, we should get a photographer and have our own photo here."

With tears streaming down his cheeks, Frederik offered you a sweet smile. "We will."

You blinked and immediately hugged him tightly. "Oh, love! Please, don't cry."

"I'm sorry."

You looked up and wiped his tears away. "My love."

"Love. We should get to bed. I need to rest if I have to drive all the way back to Copenhagen."

You nodded and took his hand. "Let's go get some rest."

Getting up first, he prepared a quick breakfast for the two of you.

You had a hard time getting up in the morning. Even though you were still very sleepy, you didn't feel like waking up more than you needed to.

You were ready to leave after eating breakfast and dressing up. Despite your wish not to.

During the ride to Copenhagen you mostly napped in your seat until Frederik started talking to you. You've been awakened a little more by this.

Frederik said, "I wish I could do this all on your behalf, but they require you to pick it all up in person."

"I know... I just... I never liked to get up so early." You muttered and yawned loudly. "Honestly? I am happy to be done with this work."

"Will you try to find a job related to your profession?"

"I would like to. I like to help people and maybe they will need a nurse at some doctor's office. I am not sure if I want to go back to the hospital though." You explained.

"Maybe you should think about pursuing a specialisation in paediatrics?" Frederik suggested softly.

You nodded. "Maybe. We will see about that."

He smiled. "You know you're perfect with kids."

"Then maybe we should have one soon?" You teased and giggled seeing his blush again. "I am just joking, sweetie. We still have time for this."

As you and Frederik picked up the rest of the boxes, your parents were moved deeply by the fact that their little girl was leaving to live on her own. They both said their goodbyes.

After that, it was time to go to your hospital. As you walked in the corridors with Frederik by your side, it felt strange because you met here. First, you went to pick up the documents, and then to find your old colleagues to say your last farewell.

One of your friends gasped and immediately hugged you. "Oh, my! Look at you! You are glowing with happiness!"

Suddenly, the door to the nurses' room opened and your former boyfriend doctor stepped in, holding a large folder in his hands.

As he spotted you, he cocked his brow up, but when he saw Frederik talking to your friend, he dropped the file hardly on the nearest desk by which a young nurse sat. "What the fuck is going on here? I will call the police to take this piece of trash away. How dare you bring this dog, Y/N?"

You frowned at him. You growled, "What is your problem this time? I came here to say goodbye to my real friends. Also, go ahead. You can call as much as you want, they won't take him, Frederik is a free man."

A young doctor commented, "I knew you couldn't be right in the head being from a family like yours. It was obvious the moment you ran after this piece of garbage. You ain't better than him. You spread your legs for an enemy."

"This man did more good than you. I would return to school if I were you. Most of your 'help' was only making people die." Y/N hissed. "You are not just an asshole, but a poor example of a doctor as well."

"Watch your mouth, whore."

Frederik felt like an invisible force touched him.

After only two steps he reached another man and aimed a strong blow at his chin, knocking him to the ground.

Frederick knelt next to the man and rubbed his chin slowly, saying, "And you're calling yourself an intelligence unit of the country, huh? Now, kneel and apologise to this adorable girl here."

"Frederik. Please, leave him alone. Come here." You smiled at him. "Don't waste your time on him."

"In a moment. Now, he'll apologise like the good boy he claims to be."

"Fuck you." Doctor hissed.

"Very wrong answer.”

You sighed. "I don't need anything from him. He is too dumb to apologize."

Other nurses giggled in agreement with you.

"I guess today is your lucky day." Frederik pushed the man's shoulder and stood up again. "I apologise." He nodded at your friends.

Girls smiled at him.

All excited, one of your friends asked, "You two are moving?"

When you proudly showed your ring, they gasped. You only nodded.

Frederik smiled at you gently.

You giggled. "If the wedding happens, I will send you invitations."

You were embraced tightly by girls who made a loud awww noise.

Then you said your goodbyes and left the hospital with Frederik. "It wasn't necessary to hit him."

"He pissed me off, forgive me but I'm a short-tempered sort of guy."

As you improved the collar of his shirt, you chuckled, saying, "I know, I know. Are we ready yet?"

He looked up at the building. "I think yes."

Y/N looked at the building too, thinking loudly, "Who would expect that I would fall for a man I had to look after?"

"It was highly unprofessional." He joked softly.

"Don't tell me you regret it now." You chuckled.

He grabbed your hand and walked back to the car with you.

You got into the vehicle and looked at him, smiling happily. "New life. Just us."

"New life, old us, you wanted to say." Frederik joked once more.

"Excuse me! I am still young and very pretty. You can be the old one, if you wish." You said, pretending to be offended.

His hand was placed on your knee, where he tapped your skin. "Well, I still feel young."

You touched his hand. "Good, Frederik, because you are still young and extremely handsome."

"Not as young as you are."

"Frederik, please. Stop saying such stupid things." You rolled your eyes, feeling a little irritated with his words.

He rubbed your knee and soon took his palm off it, placing it back on the steering wheel. "Let's get back home."

You nodded eagerly. "Yes. To our home."

A month has passed.

The fact that Frederik was able to sell his parents' house with Karl's help pleased him. Using the money, Frederik was able to complete renovations in the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen of the new apartment.

He also found a job as a mechanic.

In your neighbourhood, a doctor was looking for a qualified, experienced nurse, so you found a job quickly. You could support your home budget as well. The job actually made you happy and  helped you make friends in the city.

As soon as the renovations were completed, you were responsible for decorating and furnishing your apartment. When it was all done, you were so excited. Frederik and you had our own flat, your own home.

Frederik was the first to return home another day. Seeing that you worked so hard with your patients, he decided to prepare a supper for the two of you.

Perhaps an hour or two later, you returned home. Even though you loved the job, it was challenging.

As you removed your coat and hung it on the hanger, you asked, "Frederik? Are you home?"

The sweet scent of potatoes, garlic and meat filled the apartment. He didn't reply; he was listening to the radio loudly while watching not to burn the chicken breasts.

As a result of your foolishness, you decided to sneak up on him. As you walked on your toes, you reached the kitchen and wrapped your arms around his waist without making a sound.

“Y/N. How many times do I have to remind you that you're not a snow leopard to sneak up on me?" Frederik chuckled after he twitched in surprise at your sudden presence. "I've got a knife in my hand, darling."

"Well, it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't been listening to the radio so loudly. After I got home, I called for you, but you ignored me," you murmured, nuzzling his back.

"Wash your hands, dinner is about to be served."

You stood there, embracing him as you said, "I need a moment."

In a low voice, he asked, "Missed me that much?"

"Yes. I just need a hug."

As he put the knife down on the counter, he turned around and embraced you, stroking your back.

During this time, you nuzzled him and sighed deeply. You said, "Thank you, I needed this so badly."

"How was it at work, sweetheart?"

You muttered, "Hard...," into his chest. "I dreamed about coming back to you and to our home."

The tiny kiss was pressed to the top of your head. "You're so lovely, my beautiful Y/N."

You muttered and your belly grew louder. "I don't want to let go but I'm so exhausted and hungry." You pleaded. Pulling away, you went to wash your hands.

Soon, he served you potatoes and chicken, along with a salad of tomatoes.

Sitting at the table, you licked your lips as you wiped your palms. "Looks so good!”

"Nyd dit måltid." He also started eating, smiling at you from time to time. "So, how was it during the shift?"

As you began to eat, you said, "It was good but a lot of people are sick. You know, the flu is spreading viciously. How was your day at work?”

"Full of work." He replied simply, cutting his potato into pieces. "I had been working on the engine of the car for almost half the day, and at one point I thought I would be paralyzed.

"Maybe I should give you a back massage later on?"

"I have never tried it before."

"Now I know what we're going to do after we go to bed." You wiggled your eyebrows in amusement.

While cutting his tomato, he smiled a little. "Have you done it before?"

"My dad once used it for back pain after work. So I guess I can say yes." You nodded proudly.

"It means your hands cure."

"I can help you relax your muscles so they won't be so tired after work."

A nod of acknowledgement was given. "Have you discussed specialisation with your doctor?"

"I didn't. I don't think I want one." You shrugged, taking a bite of chicken.

"No matter what decision you make, I'll support it."

"I've been thinking... I won't get any younger. Soon we will have to think about kids."

"I don't think it's a wise idea."

"Why?”

"I'm not a suitable role model."

You frowned. "What are you talking about now?"

"Nothing, love." He replied casually, focusing on his meal.

"Don't start it." You said, irritated. "I think we talked about it, didn't we?"

"We did. That's why I quit the topic, love. We spoke about matters and I know your reasoning and opinions."

As you sighed and took hold of his hand, you said, "Yes, we talked. I know you made mistakes in your past, but now you are a fine man. You awoke, you helped people, now you live an ordinary life of a good man. Please do not feel bad about yourself."

Softly, he smiled at you. I will admit, I am happy, but I don't think anyone can tell. It's under the surface and mixed with a bit of anxiety, and that combination is new for me. Happy brings me up and anxious brings me down, so I'm simply focused on the task at hand. Perhaps it is the same for everyone starting something new: pleasure at gaining forward momentum and fear of change. It's hard work, but worthwhile. I need time to adjust."

"Well said, sweetie. I don't see the point in doing all this at once. Let's get settled in together. I will not force you and I know you won't force me, either. Let's take the new life slowly and get to know each other." You smiled. "Does it sound good?”

"It sounds perfect!" He claimed excitedly.

You got up from your seat and walked to him to place a kiss on his forehead.

He smiled, closed his eyes and enjoyed the tiny kiss. "You're the light of my life." He put a fork and a knife on his plate and wrapped both arms around your filigree waist. "I love you."

Wrapping your arms around him, you hugged him tightly. "I love you too. So much."

As soon as the meal was over, he cleaned both the kitchen and dining room; he didn't mind cleaning even if most of his colleagues thought it was a woman's duty.

"Love. You know I could do that, right? It's really not a problem.”

"It's not a big deal to me either."

"What shall we do now? We could go somewhere but my feet hurt." You sighed deeply, nuzzling him.

"We can stay home. Do things. Play cards. Whatever you like."

You thought for a moment and walked to the radio that your parents gifted you. "We can dance." Humming softly, you gave him a sweet smile.

He walked closer, bowed his head a tiny bit, and offered you his hand. "Can I ask you to dance, ma'am?"

"Oh. I don't know. I am not sure, sir."

He gently nudged your side. "Come on. Don't make me beg."

"My mama told me to not talk to strangers. Even if they are as handsome as you, sir."

"My mama told me to be afraid of beautiful, breathtaking women for they might break the heart of a man."

Smiling, you accepted his hand in the end. "That's fair. Let's dance then."

He took your tiny palm in his while his other hand was placed on the curve of your waist. Frederik started slowly rocking with you.

You giggled and did your best to follow his movements, without stepping on his feet.

"You're not so terrible at dancing, ma'am." He complimented softly. "Very proficient dancer."

"I have been to some parties in the past, so it's not my first time dancing.”

He smiled as his hand stroked the curve of your waist. "I can see that, ma'am. You're so beautiful."

"Thank you, sir. I must say, you don't look so bad yourself." You said quietly and giggled when he spooned you around. "I think I'm already in love with you."

He leaned forward to whisper into your ear, "Thank you, ma'am. You're breathtaking and I can't stop thinking about all the dirty things I'd love to do to you."

Blushing deeply, you blushed. Now you looked more like a red apple. "F-Frederik... What are these things?"

His hands moved down your back, resting on your buttocks. "We've been together for a while now. We're in love. So it might be the right time to get even closer." Your lips were kissed by him. "I want to have sex with you."

"R-Really...”

He kissed your temple, the earlobe, then moved down to the side of your neck. "Yes. Don't you?"

"I really want... I just thought you didn't because..." You shrugged with a shy smile.

"Because?"

"I never got the impression that you were actually interested in this."

A chuckle escaped his lips. The reason I waited as long as I did was because I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."

"And how do you know it's the right time?" you giggled.

The man licked his lower lip. After growing so close, it stopped being a taboo subject to me. I don't fear speaking with you about those things."

Your hand moved up his chest as you whispered, "I'm not too... I just... Forgive me. I'm just shy. I just never... Before..."

Slowly, one of his eyebrows rose, and a reassuring smile appeared on his lips. “You hadn't had sex yet?”

"No..."

"Of course." Frederik replied, picking one of your hands up to bring it to his lips, placing a tiny kiss on its top.

"I... I hope it's not a problem. I just never had a chance." Y/N shrugged. "But I love you and I want to be as close to you as possible."

He cupped your cheeks in his hands, stroking them with his thumbs. "Not a problem to me, love."

"I am glad to hear that." Nodding, you cupped his hands. "I want to be fully yours. I dreamt about it..."

He deepened his leaning and soon his lips touched yours, gently at first. This was like soft, northern lights moving silently over the sky, getting more and more intense with every moment. In the end he let himself suck your lower lip just a little, humming.

You gasped loudly when he pulled away. Your hands clutching his shirt tightly. It was a completely new feeling that you actually enjoyed.

When the kiss was broken and your lips parted, he smiled down at you, resting his forehead against yours. "Well, well, sweetheart, you're such a great kisser, that's the fact."

You giggled with your cheeks still red, "I-I... Thank you. It's hard to be bad with you beside me. You're a great kisser, too."

He smiled, gently touching the side of your neck. After kissing you again, he brushed his cheek against yours. "I want you and I need you."

You moved your hands into his hair and pulled him into a kiss.

The excitement of Frederik reached a new high like it had never been before, so he decided not to waste any more time. As he felt himself getting uncomfortable within his pants, he smiled a little to himself, feeling he had stopped thinking straight. When he picked you up, he helped you wrap your legs around his hips as his strong arms slipped under your butt, preventing you from falling.

As you gasped in surprise, you wrapped your arms around his neck to make sure that you wouldn't fall. "Have you ever before...?"

Upon reaching the bedroom, Frederik nodded as he carried you. "A few times. Don't worry."

You inhaled deeply as you rubbed your mouth against his neck. There was a moment when you felt a little scared; he had experience and you did not. You were placed on the bed you shared and he attacked your neck with soft, open kisses. One of your legs was wrapped around his hip; you could feel the bulge filling his crotch. Your hips rolled a little as you gasped. You never expected to reach this point, no matter how much you enjoyed it. "You will have to guide me, love. I am not as experienced."

Then he kissed you again and took time to taste you on his tongue. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it."

His lips were soon making their way down to your jaw, then down your neck to your cleavage. Frederik used one hand to tug on your shirt's decollete, kissing between your covered boobs.

"Oh, Frederik..." You sighed so softly that you were engulfed by a sweet feeling.

Frederik continued to kiss your découltage as he slipped his hands beneath your light blue shirt, grabbing the hem and yanking it up and off you from your head.

As you raised your arms up, you smiled sweetly at him, letting him remove your shirt easily. "This is not fair..." You said softly as you pushed his suspenders off his shoulders.

Frederik placed his hands on either side of your head. "Well, well, you're a quick learner, aren't you, my lovely Y/N?" Frederik smiled, kissing your left temple.

"I just want it to be fair. You have too many clothes on." You smiled as you worked on the buttons of his shirt.

He leaned down, kissing all over your face. Soon, he sat on his knees and helped you take his shirt off.

When all the buttons were opened, in a silent sigh, you pushed his shirt off his shoulders and moved your hands up and down his tensed chest.

The young man placed his palm on top of yours. "Do you like it?" Frederik  asked quietly, his heart pounding fast.

Nodding your head, you gently stroked his skin. "You’re carved by God." You moved a little closer and kissed his lips briefly before moving them to his neck and then down his chest.

While he kissed your lips once more, he worked on the clasp of your bra with his fingers as he held you close.

"Shall I help you?" You asked teasingly, raising your eyebrow.

Having struggled for a moment, he chuckled. "Yes, please. I'm not good with that."

You laughed softly as you moved away and removed your bra easily. After that, you wrapped your arms around yourself, a little scared and ashamed of your body.

In order to remove your hands from your chest, he looked deeply into his eyes. All it took was a gentle push to get you back on the bed. He kissed your neck and moved his kisses down, taking his time to fondle your breasts. "Look at you, you're so stunning."

Looking away, you whispered, "I bet you saw girls more beautiful."

One of your nipples was wedged between his teeth when he stopped. He never looked away from you. As he let go of it, he cupped your breasts with his hands, saying, "I had seen a lot of girls before, but I had never seen someone so beautiful as you before. No one compares to you."

"You promise...?"

“I don’t have to promise because that’s the fact." 

Frederik kissed you between your breasts, then sat back on his knees, gazing at your half-naked body. "Look at you. You're flawless in every way. Your perfectness reveals itself in your little imperfections. I love every inch of your body." He said as he cupped your hips in his palms and stroked them gently with his hands. "Don't turn your head away. You're beautiful. And you need to believe it. Soft, firm skin. Curves that drive me crazy when I look at you. Your warmth. Everything about you makes me fall in love with you more and more. And I want to look into your eyes when we make love."

Your eyes were already watering from everything he said as you listened to him. "You are perfect in every way as well, love. I can't look away from you, especially now. I want to be close with you. As close as possible." You told him shyly.

"Kiss me." He demanded.

While nodding, you wrapped your arms around his neck and kissed him.

When his hands began working on your skirt, he slipped his tongue past your lips and pressed you further against the mattress.

In an effort to unbutton his pants, you moved your hands between the two of you.

The unexpected feeling of your hand on his crotch caused him to freeze. He smiled a little, biting his lower lip. It was the first time he kissed you so eagerly. Soon after, your skirt was slipped down your legs.

"Will you be able to get my panties off or shall I help you like with a bra?” You couldn't help but ask him with a cocky smile.

Taking your hand off his pants, Frederik licked his way down your body, using the tip of his tongue to tease your delicate skin of yours. When Frederik reached the fabric of your panties, he grabbed it with his teeth and pulled it down your legs easily, looking directly into your Y/E/C eyes.

Watching him made your cheeks completely red. This wasn't what you expected at all. You closed your legs as soon as he removed your panties completely.

He parted them easily, picking one of your legs up, putting the other on his shoulder. He kissed your inner thighs without saying a word, soon encircling your pussy with his lips.

Nuzzling to the pillow right under your head, you moved your hips a bit as a moan escaped your parted lips.

He placed one hand on your abdomen and the other on your hip.

When your hand moved into his hair, you let out another moan.

Y/N could feel him smiling against your folds; he opened his eyes and looked at you. Having licked your pussy for a while, he kissed it and asked, "Does it feel good?"

Looking at him, you nodded your head. "Yes, it feels good, but I wish you were closer."

His tongue licked its way up your body, stopping for a moment by your breasts to nibble on both nipples. Soon he kissed you, letting you taste yourself on his tongue.

Wrapping your arms around him and placing your leg around his waist, you moaned and missed him back.

As he kissed you, he opened the fly of his pants and unbuckled the leather belt.

At the same time, you felt scared, concerned, and excited about everything that was going on. Your body felt all warm and ready.

While kissing you deeply, he pulled his pants and briefs down, revealing his already erected cock.

"Can I?" You asked shyly.

He looked down at you, nodding.

As you bit your lips, your hand moved between your bodies so that you could wrap your tiny hand around his cock.

He closed his eyes and focused on your touch. He grunted.

While stroking his length, you smiled and kissed his cheek and then neck. He felt so bulky and thick that you wondered if he would even fit in.

In a gasp, he rested his forehead against your shoulder, kissing the crook of your neck, breathing heavily.

"Are we both ready?" You whispered.

"As you can see, I am. Are you??"

You moved your hand up his chest from his member. As you breathed in, you nodded. “I am. Let me be yours."

He kissed you deeply while jerking his member a few times. Afterward, he rubbed the tip along your entrance and stared deeply into your eyes

As you looked at him, you blushed. Taking a deep breath you nodded, not breaking eye contact with Frederik.

With one smooth push, he shoved his way into your pussy, moaning as he did so.

Upon feeling the discomfort and pain of a stretch, you released a tiny squeak from your throat. Grasping his shoulder tightly, you gasped. "Oh my God."

He stopped immediately and gently kissed your lips. Frederik took time to kiss you all over your face as he said, "Breathe. I know it, baby. Relax."

Nodding your head, you tried your best to breathe. “Frederik, it hurts...” You whimpered softly.

As he kissed your temple, he whispered, "Relax your muscles."

You giggled. "I'm trying. Other girls always make it sound so easy."

As he brushed a strand of your hair from your face, he chuckled too.

After you felt better and it was less painful, you nodded. "Move, please."

He moaned lowly and bucked his hips into you, looking you in the eyes. "You are so tight."

As you nodded, you let out a soft chuckle. You moaned. "It still hurts... But man, it feels great." You replied.

As he began pushing in and out of your pussy, he looked into your eyes and kissed your lips. "So good."

Wrapping both of your legs around him, you whimpered, "Oh God!" Your hand cupped his cheek, kissing him back.

He felt a tightness around him. Everything about it was thrilling. While kissing you back, he stroked the back of one of your legs.

Relaxation allows you to take in every moment more fully. As you moaned his name loudly, you moved your hand into his hair. "So good! Oh! Fuck!"

As your hands made their way into his hair, Andersen moaned your name. The thrusts Frederik made were steady, slow, but powerful enough to stretch your tight walls. He occasionally kissed your neck and decolletage, while kneading one of your breasts lightly.

There was a feeling of pressure building in your lower belly. "Sweetie, I think I’ll… Oh, Gosh!" 

Probably the entire building heard your whimpers, but at this point you didn't care. All that mattered was that he was with you.

When he felt your inner walls clasping around his cock, all he could do was to say your name once more. "Oh, God. You're so perfect. Oh, fucking perfect." Putting your leg against his shoulder, he slowed down. The thrusts remained deep and powerful. He took the time to play with you, allowing you to see what it meant to be so intimate. Though Frederik dreamed of spilling his seed into your tight core already, he was calming his thoughts down to give you more pleasure. The focus was not on him but on his little girl that day.

Throughout the room, your moans and whispers filled the air; you repeated his name like a prayer.

You were kissed again by him and warned quietly, "I will cum."

Taking his cheeks in your hands, you kissed him back. Your eyes were fixed on him as you nodded. "Yes, please."

He leaned down, kissed you one more time, moving a bit faster, asking softly, "Can I cum in you? We aren't using a condom."

"Yes." You nodded eagerly.

While he was moving harder, he kissed your jaw, lips, and neck. He grunted deeply, "Oh God, fuck, baby! I'm cumming!"

As tightly as you could, you wrapped your arms around his neck.

The man said, "Look at me. I wanna look into your eyes."

You smiled and looked into his eyes as you followed his request.

As Frederik increased his pace, his thrust became sloppy. His bangs fell into his eyes as he looked into yours, moaning and gasping. Suddenly, his hips stuttered and Frederik spilled his cum in your pussy, groaning.

"Oh Frederik..." You moaned, without breaking eye contact with him.

As he continued to fuck you, his movements were extremely slow.

"Oh love... That was so good." You whispered, licking your lips.

As he leaned forward, he rested his forehead against the crook of your neck, halting his thrusts.

Having hugged him, you began to cry after a moment of silence.

"Hey, what's wrong, sweetie?"

"I... I just..." 

"What, love?"

Again, you sniffed and shrugged. "Just to think about it, I almost lost you a long time ago, and before this I almost let you go."

He smiled softly as he kissed your temples and pulled himself out of your pussy to lie next to you. "You'll never lose me again."

Instantly, you hugged him tightly. "Even now, it's frightening to think about it."

"Please don't think about that."

"I thought about you every day when you left me. As you know, I only saw you a few times, but I just wanted to walk up to you and tell you everything that sat in me." You whispered deeply, nuzzling to him. "It was impossible for me to forget about you for even a day."

As he placed a kiss on your temple, his strong arms wrapped around you, securing you. "I love you. I couldn't stop thinking about you. But I had to protect you because in the end you were the only one I had."

"I missed you so much and I was so worried about you."

"I was worried about you too. I prayed for your safety every day." You nodded and hugged him tightly.

"Wait." He stepped out of your embrace and got up, unfazed by his nakedness. He returned with a thick blanket, which was immediately wrapped around you as he took his place by your side.

You smiled softly as you moved closer to him. "I don't ever want to leave your side again."

Slightly smiling, he stroked your shoulder. "I love you, Y/N. I never thought about having a wife one day. And here we are, engaged, together. I thought I would be dead by now. But you saved my life."

Nuzzling his shoulder, you whispered, "You are with me now and I will give you everything you deserve."

Smiling, he ran his hand through his hair. "You're everything to me. Remember, back when we met at the hospital? I was looking for a nun. I thought, in one way or another, that I and she were meant to be together. She kinda pointed out a path which I should take. Even when she called me a demon a few times. And she was right. There was someone who planned my life above. And He sent you my way. It's not a coincidence."

"Stop it Frederik. You aren't a demon or anything like that. You made mistakes, like everyone in their lives. You paid for them and now it's time to continue your life." Y/N said, stroking his chest. "If God really is up there, I am thankful he brought me to you. No matter what." You hummed and gently kissed his cheek, then his neck and shoulder. "I love you."

He blushed a little, stroking the curve of your waist. "Thank you."

You giggled and gently bit his shoulder.

"Hey, what was that for?!"

"For you being handsome and not saying it back."

"I love you, too. Did you like it?"

You blinked and blushed, smiling a little. "I really liked it... A lot."

He replied with a smirk. "You were perfect."

"That’s a strong no… I bet you slept with better girls. It was my first time ever..." You giggled, embarrassed.

"And you were perfect. I'm so glad you felt good with me."

"I always feel good with you. No matter what." You smiled, grabbing his hand. "I simply love every moment with you."

"We need to start thinking about the wedding, don't you think?'

You looked at him. "You want that?”

"Babe, I proposed to you.”

"I know but I had friends who did this but didn't want the wedding."

"What?"

Shrugging, you replied, "This. I never understood why they would want their man to propose if they didn't want the wedding." You shook your head after a moment of silence. "I need to buy a dress. We need to plan this! Who will we invite? Where will we have dinner? I need to buy a dress!"

There was too much information coming at his brain all at once, so he blinked. Frederik chuckled as he rolled his head back. "I will contact the priest about the ceremony. We can have a family dinner in the house or we can even rent a restaurant."

"I need to think about flowers! Who will we invite!" You replied quickly. "I hope we have enough money." You said.

Taking your hand in his, he said, "Honey, we still have time. I have a good job, I don't earn as much as you do, but I also have some savings. We'll have enough money to make this special day perfect."

Your eyes met his and you nodded. "I apologise. I overreacted."

"It's okay to be happy and on cloud nine."

"We need to get some sleep. Work tomorrow... I don't want to." You complained.

He teased, kissing the side of your neck, "Can you take the day off? If not, I'll call your office in the morning and tell them you got a cold. We'll stay in bed the whole day."

"What about your work?"

"I can have a day off for sure. No one will even notice."

"They will notice for sure sweetie." You rolled your eyes. "You are competent at your work as I heard from your work buddies."

"Oh, you spoke with them?" He asked as he started kissing your shoulder.

"Yes. Remember when I brought you something to eat?" You asked, moving your hand into his hair. "Before you got out from under the car, I had an opportunity to talk to them."

He smiled. "Shall I get jealous about my beautiful soon-to-be wife speaking with my pals?" He whispered lightly, murmuring as he tasted your skin.

"Well, they are handsome. Especially the blond one." You teased him back.

He gently sucked on the skin on your neck, leaving a hickey there. "Watch your mouth, beautiful."

"Or what?”

"I'll have to speak more often with your friends at the clinic. Some of them are very attractive and sexy in those tight uniforms."

You gasped loudly. "You wouldn't dare!"

He lifted his head and looked into your eyes.

As you gazed into his eyes, you giggled. "I know you wouldn't do that and that I wouldn't leave you for some other guy as well. I waited too long to be with you to just leave it all behind."

As he laid down next to you, he kissed your temple. "Go to sleep now."

"You too. I don't want you to be exhausted tomorrow."

He nuzzled you. "Good night, my beautiful Y/N."

"Good night, my handsome Frederik."

A new day came quickly, but Frederik didn't let you out of bed, making love with you for hours. Also, he prepared every meal for you. Frederik was never happier in his life.

Next day, when Frederik went to talk to the priest about the wedding, you were going crazy at home. There were so many things to plan. Your dress, invitations, flowers, everything!

Suddenly, there was a knock at your door. As soon as you stepped up, you rushed to open them, wondering who had decided to stop by.

The person was your friend, Nana. She worked at the clinic where you applied and was the first to show you everything in your new workplace. "Hi. I came to check on you because you hadn't been at work for two days and I was concerned. I heard you had some health problems."

Seeing her was a great surprise to you. Smiling, you let her in. "Yeah... I think I got it from the people in the clinic. You know there's been a lot of them lately." 

"Oh, my God! What a beautiful flat!"

"Gift from my parents. We finished remodelling a week ago. It would have taken longer, but Frederik's friend helped."

"I can't wait to meet your fiance! I hear some girls gossip that you haven't shown him yet because you're single and they don't believe you to be engaged."

"I'm not lying! We work in two different places." You exclaimed, closing the door. "Besides we both work hard since we started our lives here... And we are slowly planning our wedding."

"A wedding? I hope I get an invitation!"

As you nodded, you thought, another name to add to the list. "Certainly!" you replied.

The young woman looked around curiously, inspecting every inch of the flat. She exclaimed, "Oh my, our little Y/N will be married soon! Also, you have a good sense. Beautiful colours on the walls."

You giggled nervously. "Yes and I am looking forward to being married. There is so much to plan." You replied.

"I'm sorry for my indiscretion, but are you pregnant that you are so fast with the weeding? Before you joined us, there was a girl named Maria who had been through the same thing. Please forgive me, but not many young girls want to become wives so quickly." Nana asked, her head tilted.

Suddenly, the main door opened and Frederik stepped through, carrying a large basket full of shopping. “Y/N, I’m back!”

"I am in the living room, love!" You said loudly before turning back to Nana. "No, I am not pregnant. We just love each other deeply and have waited too long for this."

Nana nodded her head.

Soon, Frederik stepped into the room, looking at the guest with his eyebrow raised. "Hi."

Nana's eyes widened, and she smiled brightly at the man. "Hello! So you're the reason why Y/N is buried in thoughtfulness during breaks! I'm Nana and I work with Y/N at the clinic. And you must be..."

He walked closer to the girl to shake her hand and introduced himself, "Frederik."

"I'm going to marry him soon." Y/N nodded, getting closer to pat his shoulder

"Would you like some tea, Nana? I brought fresh croissants." Frederik said, immediately wrapping arms around you to kiss your lips.

Nana watched the scene and in the end shook her head for no. "I won't be a problem, I bet you two want to enjoy yourself!"

After returning the kiss, you giggled. "We have a lot of time. It's really not a problem."

"I truly need to go, I just came to check upon your well-being but I see you have someone special to take care of you." Nana replied. She offered her hand to Frederik who shook it once more. "It was so nice to meet you, Mr Andersen." She added softly. "And you, Y/N, we will see each other tomorrow."

You nodded and watched her leave. Then, you looked up at Frederik and raised your eyebrow. "She left so quickly. I think you aren't that scary, are you?"

He smirked. "I'm just a sweet teddy bear, haven't you noticed?"

"I did. I was just wondering why she left so quickly..."

"I don't know, love. Maybe she felt uncomfortable when I kissed her like that?" He asked and offered you another steamy kiss.

Wrapping your arm around his neck, you kissed him back and moaned. As soon as he pulled away, you giggled. "I think this scared her off."

It was easy for him to pick you up. "I spoke with the priest. If we are sure, we can get married within a month or so."

Then you let out a little scream and escaped his arms to walk around the living room.

"In a month!? This is not enough time! I need a dress! You need a suit! I need to invite my family. Dinner! Flowers! Oh my god! Rings! We need rings! There isn't enough time!"

He blinked, shaking his head. "A month is a long time, don't worry. I can get rings tomorrow. Sending invitations will take up to a week. You will find the suitable dress or we can have it made by a tailor."

"But we also need to think about dinner. Or a restaurant! Oh my god!"

"Calm down, baby. Calm down. I'll take care of everything."

"No! We need to take care of it together! It must be a perfect day for both of us."

"Of course. It'll be just perfect, I promise." Frederik told you.

"I'm so excited! I can't wait to be your wife."

His laughter echoed off the walls of the staircase as he was holding you in his strong arms.

Your fitted, white dress matched his black velvet suit perfectly.

He looked at your face soon. Frederik smiled, opening the door to the flat, still holding you up. "So, welcome home, Mrs. Andersen." After crossing the threshold, he nuzzled you to his chest.

"I could walk by myself!" These words and actions made you laugh uncontrollably. Honestly, you didn't expect this to happen. The two of you were finally together forever. You were his and he was yours. The whole day was almost perfect. 

Unfortunately, you felt nauseous most of the day. It was especially troublesome in the morning, probably because of the stress.

To avoid stomping on your dress, he put you down carefully. Frederik cupped your hands. "What a beautiful party! I couldn't believe my grandma attended. And your mother cried the whole time!"

"It was beautiful! And I can't believe it all! We are married! Nothing can part us!"

His forehead rested against yours.

"Love... Please wait..." Covering your mouth, you nearly ran to the bathroom as another wave of nausea hit so hard you had to vomit.

Following you, he peered into the bathroom. "Are you feeling okay?"

You nodded, glad your hair was tied up. "I think it's just stress."

He stepped in the bathroom, crouched next to you and rubbed your back. "I'll make you tea."

"Thank you."

As soon as you came out of the bathroom, your tea was already prepared exactly the way you liked it - not too strong and not too light, with two spoons of sugar.

"I thought after today I would stop being stressed. I feel so sick for a few days." You sighed deeply and sat down in the kitchen.

Frederik approached you from behind to massage your shoulders. "Perhaps you should change into something more comfortable? I think we should get you to the doctor. You seem to have trouble sleeping too. I caught you eating pickles in the dark kitchen at night."

Blushing, you looked up at him. You were more than sure he was always asleep when you went to get a snack a few times. "Sweetie. Don't be silly. I was stressed so I had trouble sleeping. So I craved a midnight snack. It's normal."

"If you say so." He said, kissing the top of your head. "It doesn't change the fact you're going to the doctor next week. I'll set an appointment for you."

"Frederik. It's not needed, I am fine.” You rolled your eyes and took the cup to take a sip of the tea. "Bleh... Is it my tea really? Or you mixed it with yours again?”

He cocked his brow and leaned down, his chin rested on your shoulder. "It's yours. And you're going to the doctor. End of the topic."

You looked at the tea and sighed deeply. “Fine.”

Frederik dragged you to the doctor a few days later. He took you to a completely different place than your workplace.

Even though you thought it wasn't necessary, there was no way you could say no to him, so you let him. Having Frederik at your side in the waiting room felt better. Doctor was a kind, older man. The whole visit wasn't terrible but his diagnosis left you shaking. When you left the office, you had no idea what to tell Frederik. "Love... Let's just go home."

After getting up, he stared at you with a puzzled look on his face. "What did he say? Are you sick?"

After shaking your head, you walked past him. "I will tell you at home."

"What?" He asked, more puzzled than before, but he followed you, saying a quiet "goodbye" to the receptionist.

As the first to arrive, you hopped into the car and waited for him. The entire ride home was quiet. Both of you felt puzzled. Although you should be happy, you were worried about how he would react to the unexpected news.

Despite his plans to go shopping, he drove right back home since you seemed upset.

As you walked into the flat, you sighed softly. In the living room, you sat on the couch and bit down on your long nail, wondering what to do now.

"So, what did your doctor say? Did he prescribe any medication? Could I go to the pharmacy?"

After shaking your head, you patted the place right next to you.

Despite his hesitation, Frederik sat next to you.

"I guess we had too much fun... And well..." You said, scratching the back of your neck. "We are waiting for a little boy... Or a girl..."

"Are you... Are you expecting a child?" Frederik asked, his face pale.

You nodded.

He jolted up, walked to the window, opened it, and took a deep breath of fresh air.

Quietly, you asked, "Are you angry?"

Not even looking at you, he asked, "How do you think?"

"I have no idea based on that reaction."

"Which week are you in?"

Your nod indicated your agreement. "He said it's the 9th week."

With his hip resting against the windowsill, Frederik turned towards you. "I assume we don't know whether it is a boy or a girl?"

As you looked down, you shook your head.

He smiled a little at you. "I'm going to be a father?"

"Well, most of the evenings for the past few weeks we spent having fun together, so yes."

He smiled more at himself this time. He leaned out of the window and shouted, "My beautiful wife is pregnant! I'm having a baby!"

As you gasped, you got up from the couch and walked to him to pull him away from the window. As you closed it, your face was covered in a deep blush. "What are you doing?! They would think you're crazy!"

"I don't care!" He told you, picking you up easily, bridestyle. "My adorable wife is expecting a baby. I'm over the moon!"

Wrapping your arms around his neck, you stared at him in shock. "Are you happy?"

"Of course I am! I have always been looking for purpose in my life and now I have two of them."

"But last time we talked about this, you weren't so keen on having kids. I was  sure you won't like this news."

"I've always wanted kids, love." He tapped your nose.

You smiled and kissed him.

"I don't know how to be a mom." You whispered quietly, stroking his hair.

"I have no idea how to be a dad but I know it will click instantly, it's in our nature."

You said slowly, "I hope you're right. I'm scared and so excited at the same time. I need to call my parents! They will be grandparents!"

Frederick smiled at your happiness outburst, rubbing your shoulders and kissing your temples. "Of course."

“Oh my God! We have to prepare the room for real! We have to think about the name! So much to do!" You exclaimed.

"Babe!" He tapped you on the nose. "Relax. There's plenty of time to do all those things. I'll take care of the room."

You whined, "I want to help!"

"The colour of the walls will be decided by you."

The baby was born two months later.

It was unbelievable. Finally, your sweet baby girl was in your arms, and she was the sweetest thing you had ever seen. After seeing her for the first time, no matter what you endured to bring her into this world, you started to cry tears of joy.

After you were released from the hospital, Frederik picked you up. After getting home, he helped you unpack and take a refreshing bath while your baby girl slept in her newly made crib.

She was smaller than a bag of sugar from the store when you held her on your shoulder. Tiny toes peeked out of the pinkish blanket in which the baby was wrapped neatly. The girl's head, a tangle of dark curls not yet rubbed bald by lying in her crib, wobbled beneath your holding hand. 

He could not believe how tiny and vulnerable the newborn humans were, how awe-inspiring. Her size made him afraid to hold her in his arms; he was sure he could hurt her. It was hard for him to adjust to the new schedule - getting up at midnight wasn't his favourite thing, but he was trying to support you as much as possible.

The girl's name was Charlotte, after Frederik's mother.

Charlotte laid comfortably against your shoulder as you walked around the living room, humming and singing. She had been crying all day. "Frederik, love. Could you help me? I have no idea what got into her today."

Immediately, he stood next to you with a look of hesitation on his face. "Are you sure this is a wise idea? What if I squeeze her too hard?"

You frowned at him, for some strange reason he was always scared. "Love. You have never squeezed me or an egg too hard. I know you may be worried, but do you want to keep acting like this her whole life? What if one day she asks you to pick her up? Would you refuse?"

As he shook his head, he smiled hesitantly. "I wouldn't refuse our beautiful girl. How could I refuse such a sweet thing? Let me have her."

As you passed the girl to him, you smiled and nodded. You asked quietly, "What if she's sick?" There was nothing you could do, you were worried about your baby.

Holding Charlotte as tightly as he could, he cradled her in both arms. Soon, he walked slowly around the room, rocking the girl in his arms and humming a song that his mother used to sing to him when he was a child.

Within a few minutes, the girl calmed down in his arms.

This made you sigh with relief and slumped onto the couch. You just watched them with a smile on your face. "I knew she wanted her dad to hold her." You whispered.

He looked at you, he couldn't stop himself from grinning widely. "I think she just likes to get all the attention."

“She sure got this after her, dad." You joked and got up to walk to them.

Charlotte looked at you with her huge, blue eyes.

A tap was made on the girl's nose by Frederik. His arms encircled you as he said, "Happy to see mama, huh? My pretty girls."

You nuzzled him. 'Our handsome man, is that right, Charlotte?'

The girl only mimicked a little smile.

"I take it for yes." He replied and lowered his head to rub his nose against Charlotte's.

Your heart grew as you watched them.

The war was indeed over. Innumerable criminals were imprisoned, killed or still wanted. The world was slowly getting back on track. Most people forgot that war affects not only soldiers, but also ordinary citizens. Even if your life seemed picture-perfect, like a page from a colourful magazine you read at the hair salon, there were still difficult moments and nights. There were countless nights you spent soothing your husband.

While Frederik was indeed free, his mind sometimes became clouded by his past mistakes, all the things he has done, and all the things that have happened because of him. You spend many nights calming him down, holding him, and assuring him everything is okay. It was not easy for you either. You weren't as badly hurt as he was, but every now and then you thought back to that terrible day. There were so many children killed or severely injured. These memories gave you nightmares, and you feared for Charlotte's life even more. 

You were often to be found sobbing in your daughter's room by Frederik in the middle of the night. Just like you did for him, Frederik did his best to calm you down every time when the nightmares were too much for you to handle alone.

Frederick now divided his time between his work and family. Although he enjoyed his daily tasks at the vehicle service station, he was happy to return home to his family.

There were days filled with Charlotte's laughter echoing off the walls of your flat, and with your consternation whenever he and your daughter misbehaved while playing together.

Frederik was proud to watch his daughter grow all healthy, strong, and beautiful, and he was confident she had gotten all of it from her beautiful mother.

While some days were harder than others because he had trouble controlling his anger from time to time, he was always glad you were nearby to calm his nerves.

Frederik had never dreamt of living happily by your side, yet he had received such a precious gift, and he was convinced that it was God himself who had planned everything that happened to test him in some way, and set you in his way in the end.

Under your head, the pillow felt soft and warm. Through the window, the warm sun was streaming into the room.

Federik had already gotten up. He usually got up first, and you didn't mind it at all. There was more room for you to roll around in the bed!

Mattress dipped a little. "Mama? Dad told me it was time to get up." Charlotte said, looking at you. She was still in her nightdress; her long, dark hair she got from Frederik was messy.

You opened one eye and smiled softly at your daughter. "Fine. Fine. I'm up. Go back to dad, and I'll catch you soon." 

After giving you a hug, she jumped off the bed to run to the kitchen.

Getting up, you stretched your back before going to a room that used to belong to Charlotte. Girl grew up and got her own room. You looked into the crib at the two-year-old boy and cooed softly. "How's my handsome prince doing today?" He had your hair, but like his sister, he had Freserik's eyes. A smile spread across his face. You picked him up, cuddled him, and then changed his diaper. With your son snuggled to you, you went to the kitchen once he was all fresh and more happy than before.

Breakfast was already on the table; french toast, eggs, ham, cheese, cucumber, tomato, lettuce, and regular bread were on the plates, ready for everyone to enjoy. The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the room.

"Charlie, do you want tea or juice?" Asked Frederik, unaware that you came to the room with your son on your hip.

Girl held up her favourite cup and asked happily, "Juice, please."

You just stood there, watching them.

Thomas was quiet in your arms, playing with your hair a little bit.

In order for the girl to make it back to the table, Frederik made sure not to fill her cup up to the brim.

He smiled when he saw you and his son snuggled in your arms. "Look at that! Mom and Tom joined us finally. I was getting worried about who would eat all of the food I prepared." Man joked before walking to you and taking the boy in his arms. "Hey, buddy. We'll let mommy have her coffee."

As you took a sip of your coffee and sat down, Charlotte was already busy making sandwiches. "Are you looking forward to today's picnic?" You asked her.

Girl smiled with her mouth full and nodded eagerly. "Yef!"

When he heard his daughter's words, Frederik couldn't help but giggle. "Remember what mommy told you, sweetheart? Don't speak with your mouth full."

As he sipped on his coffee, Frederik began feeding his son with the porridge he had prepared.

"Soffy." Girl said with her mouth still full. 

"Are you happy about the picnic?" You asked, looking at Frederik.

He was already staring at you, smiling, and appreciating your beauty and the fact that you were his. "Oh, yes, most definitely."

As you looked at Frederik and Charlotte with your eyebrow raised, you replied, "I am too. I hope no one ate any of the cake I baked yesterday." They had a history of eating your cakes before the proper time.

A sigh escaped Frederik's lips. "Of course not. We didn't even try to do anything with the cake."

"But dad... When mom was asleep, you took me to the kitchen!" Girl said incredulously.

Frederik turned red and shook his head. "Okay. I just ate a little bit, honey. Don't be mad. It smelled good and tasted great."

"It was delicious!" The girl exclaimed.

Your eyes rolled as you chuckled and shook your head. "I expected that."

"You know your baking is too delicious to be ignored."

You always say it every time you eat my baking before I let you. It's nearly impossible to keep from remembering." You giggled.

While he was serving his son tea, Frederik made sure not to spill the hot liquid on the boy's body.

A few tiny sips were taken happily by the boy.

As you watched your small family, you simply smiled.

"I wonder if we can have ice cream during the picnic, what do you think?" Frederik suggested.

"Yes!" Charlotte shouted loudly, scaring her little brother.

Then you picked Thomas up and placed him on your lap. "We'll have to see what happens later. Maybe a cake will be enough for her."

Seeing his daughter, Frederik smiled. "See, I told you the cake was a bad idea."

You said, making the girl laugh, "I'm just saying that if we don't want a kitten running around the house all night, we need to prevent too much sweets."

After finishing his sandwich, Frederik got up. "Okay, dears, I will prepare everything."

As you got up with Thomas in your arms, you looked up at your husband before leaving the kitchen, "I'll get ready for the kids." You said, getting ready to dress the children. "I love you. Can I get a kiss?"

As his arms wrapped tightly around your perfectly shaped waist, he kissed your rosy lips, humming at the sweetness of your taste and the touch of your lips.

Your palm resting on the nape of his neck, you hummed and kissed him back.

While he rested his forehead against your shoulder, Frederik whispered, "I can't describe how much I love you and how much you have improved my life."

Your smile and nod conveyed your agreement. "Thank you for all the love you give me and for our beautiful children."

While he held you in his arms, he gazed into your eyes deeply, remaining silent. "I can't wait for that picnic... The first one didn't happen because of me..."

"Don't think about this," You said, kissing the side of his face. "Let's just enjoy it with our little trouble makers."

As you pushed the trolley in which Thomas was sleeping, Frederik walked with Charlotte, holding her hand. He had a wicked basket filled with everything you would need for the picnic. Charlotte was jumping while walking, singing a children's song Frederik taught her. All four of you made it to the park soon.

Charlotte quickly made friends and ran around with them while you were preparing the picnic spot.

Thomas was pulled from his trolley by Frederik, who rocked him gently in his arms. "Wake up, buddy. Look at this gorgeous day. Are you hungry?"

In an effort to get a bit more sleep, Thomas snuggled to his father's chest and made an angry noise.

Grabbing the blanket, you said, "Sleepy as always."

Frederik rocked the boy still, whispering, "I won't wake him in this case."

As soon as the blanket was laid on the grass, Frederik sat down and placed his son on his lap, resting the boy's back against his chest.

Next, you took something from Thomas's trolley and moved closer to kiss the boy's head.

Seeing the toy in your hand, he immediately woke up, opening one eye. After receiving it, he was fully awake. 

You replied proudly, "This is how you do it, Freddy."

"You are better with kids than I am." Frederik smiled at you. "He could take a nap a little longer. He should nap as much as possible now, because he'll have to take on some responsibilities as he gets older."

"I know. But you know we'll have a hard night ahead of us if he naps a lot during the day." You reminded your husband.

"True." Charlotte was observed playing with other children by Frederik. "My only complaint is that they grow up so fast."

You nodded slowly and said, "I hate it too. But you know what? I also enjoy it. Do you want to know why?"

As he waited for your words, he stared at you.

You said softly, "They grow up in a free country. They need not fear bombs, soldiers, or being forced to obey orders. Thomas and Charlotte can run freely and play with other children. They can both grow up and be whoever they want to be. They can sleep peacefully through the night. Without fear."

A deep sigh escaped Frederik's lips; how wise you were! Whenever you put your thoughts into words, you did so very carefully and in such a sweet, gentle manner that he loved so much. "That's hard not to agree with. I am so happy for them, I can't imagine anything else but freedom for our kids."

Our children are safe from what we have been through. Let us just provide them with the life we did not have." You added.

He tickled his son a little as he nodded. "Right. Charlie! Come here, please!"

Girl stopped and waved at her new friend before running up to the two of you. She sat next to Frederik and blinked, seeing that your eyes were all glossy. "Is mom fine?"

"Mom is fine, indeed." Man put his arm around his little daughter, gently tapping her cheek. "I love you, sweetheart. We both do, me and mama."

"I love you too." Girl nodded and hugged him.

A kiss was placed on the top of the girl's head. "By the way, we were too busy and I forgot to tell you how much I love your new dress from grandma."

The girl got up and walked over to you and hugged you tightly as she told her father, "Thank you."

Her back was embraced by you as you smiled.

"Come to us, girls." Frederik called as he improved Thomas. "We need some hugs too."

Charlotte immediately returned to her dad.

Frederik motioned to you to join them, asking, "Y/N?"

Before joining, you wiped your eyes and nodded as you got up, enjoying the warmness of the spring weather.

A group hug was exactly what he needed at the time. Frederik thought his good fortune was unreal. Frederik told you he loved you and kissed you briefly. "And you too, dears." He replied, smiling at the children. He realised he couldn't stop himself from shading a tear; his heart was full of love in a pure form.

As the sun rays illuminated another day of their livelihood, the air moved in blossoming brilliant arcs.

[ohheyitsokay]

Elle darling!! Ooooh more soulmates!! I am super excited!

Can I request Poe and red string of fate? 💖

Love you sweetie! 🥰

hello, my love! i so enjoyed writing this, thanks for being a great friend and for helping me out by sending something in! i adore you, and i hope you enjoy it!

warnings: death mention, canon-typical violence, angst with a happy ending

<<

soulmate requests

>>

After his first mission, Poe threw up in the back corner of the hanger.

The first time one of his team members was killed he didn't eat for almost three days.

Leia found him, watching the horizon, eyes glassy, cheeks a little hollower than they should've been, and she leaned her head against him. In his mind, he imagined swimming through murky waters, dark plants draping themselves over his limbs, weighing down his movements. He focused on the soft pad of her cheek as it squished against his shoulder.

There was no need to call her by a title, she was his Leia, and she slipped her hand into his, forcing him to notice the warm dinner roll she was holding.

Bile rose in his throat.

"I don't think I can," he croaked, barely recognizing his own voice.

I can't go back out there.

"You can," she said, resolute and gentle. Leia's fingers shifted, running lovingly over the blisters on his hands, and a tremor shook his body, heavy with emotion.

The world blurred.

"Do you know the legend?"

He focused on her words.

"They say everyone has a soulmate," she continued, telling her what her parents had whispered to her before she fell asleep when she was little. She told him about the strings, all across the universe, about how she used to look at the stars and imagine she could see them.

He could just imagine her doubtful little voice, questioning the system amongst so many planets, and a smile almost cracked its way to the surface.

Leia drew an invisible line around his thumb and paused, the implication clear. There were, as there had always been, people counting on him. There would always be people counting on him. She didn't ask him to do it for her, or for them, but she lifted her head to look him in the eyes.

It was his choice, but never-the-less, she tore the roll in half. And suddenly it wasn't about people counting on him - it was a fundamental reminder.

You're not alone.

Poe took his piece and turned it in his hand. Jaw and heart aching, he ate the whole thing.

-

Sometimes Poe just sits in his ship and watches the stars. He knows he doesn’t have fuel to waste, but he also knows he can’t think straight cooped up in an office or regulation-sized room.

He feels to big, clumsy, swelling so full of thoughts that he could explode, and so he goes and sits in the one place where he doesn’t feel like a bantha underwater – laughably out of place.

The ship – any ship – feels like an extension of himself.

It lets him feel small. Still important, but not quite so noticeable, and when he puts his hands on the controls, he can tap his thumb, and think of her… and thinks of you.

He knows the whole thing was just a metaphor, a way for her to love on him and support him from the inside out. Poe thinks sometimes that he’s overthinking things, letting his mind run at a thousand parsecs an hour and making constellations where there’s nothing but he holds onto it. He needs it, needs the hope as much as people need him to share it.

When he’s twisting and turning and dodging like his life depends on it, rolling through space like a pebble in a rock tumbler, he closes his eyes and taps his thumb and thinks of her, and of you.

When Leia isn’t by his side anymore, and his shoulders feel heavy with the weight of a shared galaxy, he taps his thumb against the console, takes a deep breath, and remembers.

One of his crewmates makes a joke that if he lives long enough, he’s going to get aches in just that hand.

Poe smiles and shrugs, not really wanting to think about it.

What he does find himself thinking about, though, is all the things he wants to do with his hands. He hugs his friends and grasps hands with colleagues and people he loves alike, and spends hot, jungle evenings wondering about touching you, instead.

Fingers entwined, your skin pressed into his, not having to let go, not ever if he doesn’t want to. Another soul, in the flesh, within his reach. And he likes the idea of it, thinks about it more and more, follows his daydreams like a string.

It fills him from head to the tips of his fingers, the desire to keep on... keeping on, to go and go and make things better. 

Until one day, he meets you. And feels a little pull, in his chest as his hand finds yours.

 -

Morning light streams through the window and as he blinks, looking for you, Poe smiles. The curtains had been yanked as closed as they could get, but the edges still leave lines across the bed, streaking over his favorite view: you.

Your hand is draped over your stomach and his heart thumps happily as his eyes draw over the steady rise and fall of your chest.

Poe sits up a little, feeling warm, almost jittery with potential but he doesn’t get up, doesn’t want to wake you.

He’s not sure how long the moment lasts, but the sunlight begins to creep across your skin, and as his resolve breaks and he reaches for your hand he can almost see a line between his hand and yours.

It’s a gift, like it always was.

And you wake to his kisses, grateful for the way he grins against your skin.

<<

Note: some versions say it’s pinkies, some say it’s a thumb and a pinkie. I figured his thumb was more in his eyesight when he was flying

taglist: 

@fangirl-316 @wanderrghost @writeforfandoms @beautyagegoodnesssize @princess76179 @mrsbentallmadge @horton-hears-a-honk @saradika @zinzinina @stardust-galaxies @0celestialbitch0 @princessxkenobi  @v4leriee @ifimayhaveaword

[quirkless-accident]

Ive got a prompt, since you don't seem to mind a bit of angst... (of course feel free to ignore if it's too much)

The Nomu are dead. Danny's dead. Cue All for One getting ahold of him to see just how many quirks he can take. You know, out of scientific curiosity.

When Danny wakes up, all he sees is darkness. The only thing that offers any kind of reprieve is his own natural glow.

His whole body hurts. Aches in a way that he hasn't felt since his accident. His limbs are all strung up, and he can't hardly move. His tugging, though weaker than usual, should have been enough to get the bonds to break, but the restraints didn't budge. He tried to fire up an ectoblast, but nothing happened. Which means these people...They knew what he was.

Maybe it was Vlad. If it was, that would make everything so much easier. Sure, it wouldn't explain the swirling purple-black mass that had swallowed him up, but it would explain the lump on the back of his head, and it would explain why he can't use his powers.

He's not sure how long he waits for somebody to finally come and mess with him. He knows he dozes in and out for a while, but with no way to tell the time it could have been hours or maybe even days. Had he been gone for days already? How long was he unconscious the first time? Were Mom and Dad looking for him? Was Jazz chewing her nails down to the quick with anxiety?

When somebody did finally come, it was a single man in a black and white skin tight suit. He was energetic and bored at the same time as he talked to Danny, though he can't really say he was paying much attention.

He didn't take the restraints off of him, but he did take the restrains off the wall. But before Danny could even think about attacking, four other copies of the man appeared and held him down long enough for one of them to shove his hands behind his back and lock his wrists together.

The man-Twice, he had introduced himself as-couldn't decide between shoving him harshly and gently prodding him. He seemed to be at war with himself, even before he made his duplicates. And because there was no telling how many he could make, Danny just complied as best as he could. He didn't have his ghost powers to back him up this time.

He's taken to this tall, long room with vats of miscellaneous creatures on either side. Danny can't help but cringe at the sight. He's briefly reminded of his clones being held in similar containment units, half melted and begging for mercy. But these ones...They look a little familiar. Didn't they cause that big mess in Hosu not too long ago?

"Ah, taking a gander at your kin," a new voice said. Danny tore his eyes away from the Nomu to look at the man who had spoken. He was wearing a dark, three-piece suit and a weird looking helmet like he was from a bad sci-fi movie. On his left was Shigaraki, scratching absently at his neck. Danny's never met the guy in person, but he would be an absolute idiot to not realize who that was. On the Boss' right was a man with dark hair and burn scars all over his body, looking down on him with piercing, blue eyes. He scoffs as he turns to the Boss.

"You think this runt is going to be able to handle it?" He asks snidely.

"Take the cuffs off and let's go a few rounds," Danny barks. He's in no position prepared to fight, even without the cuffs, but he'll take any chance he can get at escaping.

Unfortunately, nobody rises to the bait. But the burnt guy does give him a little condescending smirk, and well, it kind of pisses him off. He stamps it down as much as he can, because he won't be able to think clearly if he's blinded by his own rage.

"If you keep acting up you won't get your present," the Boss says as he slowly, threateningly walks down the stairs. There's a buzzing in the back of his head that's screaming danger! Run away! But Twice and his restraints make it impossible. So he tries to squash down the trembling his whole body is doing, and tries not to show any fear.

Evidently, neither of those work.

Boss comes down and cups Danny's face, and he has to fight the urge to throw up at how possessive it feels. He tries to lean away from it, but the hand follows without much trouble.

The suddenly, with no warning, the hand was gripping his face painfully. Danny tried to shake the hand off, but the Boss' other hand gripped his hair at the back of his head and held him in place.

There was a sudden, blinding hot pain. His whole body felt like it was on fire. Danny gasped and choked as his vision turned white and his ears started ringing.

He was vaguely aware that he was dropped to the floor as his knees buckled. His entire body spasmed. His mouth was open in a silent scream as his back arched towards the sky. As his vision slowly but surely returned to normal, he could see a blurry, dark figure hovering over him.

"Oh, this is better than I expected," the man crooned. He reached for Danny once more, holding the junction of his shoulder and neck, thumb pressing firmly onto his throat as a reminder that he could die right then and there.

Danny blacked out from the pain.

---------

This went on for what Danny can only assume is weeks.

Sensei, as that was his name, or All for One, which was too fucking long, hadn't gotten tired of him yet. Every day he would place his hands on Danny, and every time he did so he was met with blinding hot pain that made him fall to his knees.

"The Nomu," he had told Danny as he convulsed on the ground, "are my pride and joy. Several quirks genetically engineered in a perfect body to withstand the forces of All Might. You're a lot like them." A boot pressed down on his chest. Dabi came into view, looking more smug than ever.

"You're both dead," he said to Danny, looming over him. He felt his ribs creak from the pressure, but they didn't break. "Nomu are lifeless husks we shove quirks into. And, well, so are you."

-----------

"Why?" Danny coughed as he was dragged out into the chamber room again. "Why don't you just kill me?"

"Well," All for One said, giving him a serene smile. "Where's the fun in that, boy?"

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

Danny's sense of time was rightfully fucked. He knew he had been captured for a long time. Day in and day out he was met with nothing but pain, with the constant reminder of his death in the back of his mind. his body ached constantly, and his surroundings became a blurred sense of darkness and pain.

More often than not he felt like he was in limbo. He could feel the powers writhing under his skin, and in his brief moments of reprieve, he would try to distinguish what power was what.

Most of them were non-destructive. He could write in the air with glowing green letters. He could see in the dark, like built in night vision. He could smell the last three meals everybody had last eaten. But none of them could get him out of this mess. None of them were dangerous enough to require quirk suppressants. Only the ghost shackles that pulled his arms uncomfortably behind his back. God, when was the last time he was able to use his hands? Had weeks finally turned into months?

Was he...Was he going to die here?

-----------

Danny was woken up by an earthquake. At least, that's what it felt like.

He peeled himself off of the floor and just barely managed to roll away from a piece of ceiling that fell from above him. He quickly squirmed his way to his feet and looked at the door.

The foundation of the building was ruined, and so was the door frame. The large metal rectangle attached to the wall was bent in awkward places, causing gaps in between it and the frame holding it in place.

And with another tremble of the earth, it was just barely big enough for Danny to squeeze through.

It was a bit rough with his hands still cuffed behind his back, but desperate times called for determined actions. Plus they hardly fed him anyway. If they didn't want him to be able to escape through tight spaces they shouldn't have allowed him to get so skinny.

With his quirks, he's able to figure out the best escape route. It's like a sixth sense at this point, and with Night Vision and Danger Tingle he's able to dodge any rubble that comes flying his way, or avoid hallways that are seconds from collapsing.

When he gets to the chamber room, there's a huge gaping hole where half the room used to be. All for One is floating in the air, speaking in his usual condescending tone. Through the mountains of rubble, he can barely make out the form of a very sickly looking, gaunt man.

They're having a classic city-leveling quirk fight. There's no way Danny is getting out of this if he's still cuffed. He looked around wildly, and prays to every god he can think of that All for One doesn't fucking notice him.

The universe seems to have allied itself with Danny one last time, because there are lots of sharp and pointy things he can use to break through the restrains. He sits down and maneuvers the cuffs around his feet so they're in front of him instead of behind him, and he slams them down repeatedly onto the very sharp pointy things until they snap.

His shoulders pop uncomfortable. His muscles haven't been stretched quite so far in a long time, and he doesn't have his full range of mobility. But the cuffs are sparking and flickering, and Danny can feel the familiar, long lost coldness that sits in the center of his chest.

He lets the power travel to his hands, and the cuffs burst in a flash of powerful green.

For the first time in months, Danny allows himself to smile.

He turned to the fight. All for one and this newcomer-All Might, he heard the villain call him (which, weird but okay)-were in close combat now. And with the force of the punches Danny wasn't sure he could handle bring caught in the crossfire. No, All for One would probably use him as a hostage or something. It was best if he stayed hidden.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, he heard All Might's battle cry.

United States of Smash!

Danny had seen it once on TV. That smash had leveled half the city he had been fighting in. It was the equivalent of Danny's Wail, and he knew just how absolutely devastating that could be. But most of the hiding places were glass, and he wasn't sure if he was strong enough for intangibility just yet. He had been planning on flying out originally and he needed to save all of his strength.

Wait.

In the back of the room, All for One's large chair stood strong and sturdy. It was big enough for him to hide behind, he just had to-

He didn't make it.

Instead, he was swept up in a tornado of forceful winds and miscellaneous debris and slammed against the wall.

He immediately passed out.

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

Danny woke up slowly to the sound of continuous beeping and bright lights.

He groaned, and tried to cover his eyes with his hands, but found that he couldn't move them. He looked down, and found them cuffed to his hospital bed.

Quirk suppressants, his mind supplied.

And then-

Wait. Hospital bed?

He knew the Doctor had a room similar to this, but it was filled with heavy, malicious machinery and wall-to-wall monitors. This...This was just a normal, plain old hospital room. Had...Had All Might won?

Before he could think much more about it, the door opened. The nurse took one look at him, froze, and then scurried down the hall. A few minutes later, a detective and a hobo walked in. Danny almost laughed. It was like a setup to a bad joke.

"My name is Detective Tsukauchi," the detective said, taking off his hat. "This is pro hero Eraserhead. We just wanted to ask you a few questions about your involvement with All for One."

Danny scowled at the name and adjusted himself in the bed to get more comfortable. It was a bit weird with the cuffs, and in the back of his mind he knew he could channel his ghost powers to phase out of them, but he wanted these guys to trust him. To realize he was a victim in this mess too. So once he was settled, he took a deep breath and looked both men square in the eye.

"I'll tell you everything I know."

[lucifer-is-a-bag-of-dicks]

what the fuck I just found this in my drafts I literally wrote this years ago, like a very significant number of years ago this is old shit

and apparently I just saved it and forgot about it??? anyway I polished it up and now it is here, I have no context and I barely even remember writing it, enjoy!

my apologies for the long post I still can't figure out how to do read mores in the app

edit: some lovely people have unformed me how to use readmores, thank you ~

-----

Jack was starting to wonder perhaps if he'd done something wrong.

It wasn't uncommon for him to accidentally say or do something to upset his wife or daughter, although usually when such an event occurred Maddie would glare at him to express her displeasure, and Jazz would always take the opportunity to tell him in exact detail what he'd done wrong and how to make it up to them (something he was honestly very grateful for).

It must have been something pretty bad this time, because both women wouldn't even look him in the eye.

Jack first twigged that something was off that morning during breakfast, when he sat in the empty chair by Jazz's side and gave his usual greeting, "Hey Jazzypants!"

She ignored his presence completely, steely eyes glued to the wall opposite her, they were puffy and red and Jack wondered perhaps if she'd been crying.

It had been a long time since her problems were easily pushed aside by her father's warm hugs and jovial attitude, he had stopped being able to handle a crying Jazz after she'd turned twelve and countered his attempts at humour by insisting that he 'stop trivialising her distress', whatever THAT meant.

Nevertheless, warm hugs and gentle jokes were the only method he knew and so he wrapped a comforting arm around her thin shoulders, noting that she continued to sit still as a rock, not even glancing his way as he tried to coax a smile out of her.

Jazz didn't say a word as she pushed herself away from her unfinished breakfast and left the room.

It was when he walked down to the lab intending to ask Maddie about Jazz that Jack started to suspect he may have been the one responsible, as it became apparent that the two had seemed to coordinate their punishment for whatever transgression he'd made.

"Hey Mads!" his voice boomed over the noise of his wife's current project. He strained to see through the bright light of her blow torch at the large gun-like weapon on the table. Jack whistled in appreciation is he took in the size of what he assumed was some kind of rocket launcher. "So what are we calling this one? Ooh! How about, The Fenton Spectre 'Sploder!"

Maddie's goggles made it difficult to see what expression adorned her face, but her tensed shoulders and the shaky grip on the blow torch told him that she was most certainly upset about something.

"Mads? Are you alright?" his voice quivered slightly as he took a few steps closer, seeing his wife this tense tightened a coil within his chest. Suspecting that he may be responsible added an extra weight to his stomach that he knew wasn't cause by the breakfast he'd skipped.

The light from the blow torch snapped off and Jack had to blink the bright spots it left behind from his vision, trying to peer through the blotches to find any indication that Maddie was going to acknowledge his presence. It seemed as though she'd looked his way for a moment but before his eyes could clear enough to meet hers she'd looked away again.

Jack watched, puzzled as his wife raised a hand to cover her mouth and catch the sob that ripped its way from her throat, she hadn't succeeded as the sound echoed across the lab and tore its way straight through Jack's heart, causing his eyes to sting and his throat to close up.

He reached a hand out to touch her shoulder, intent on giving her some form of comfort. He'd barely brushed it with his finger tips before Maddie stormed right past him up to the stairs, Jack had to quickly stumble backwards to avoid being trampled.

He couldn't imagine what he possibly could have done to elicit such a response from the woman he loved, but he knew for sure that he must have done something terrible for her to not seek him out for comfort like she did any other time she was upset. He just wished he could remember what.

Jack's shoulders slumped under the dim light of the glowing jars of ectoplasm lining the various counter-tops, he dry-swallowed a few times, trying to push down his confusion and distress before following his wife's light footsteps up the stairwell.

He found her in the kitchen, leaning against a counter with her goggles slung around her neck and her wild red hair loose around her head, abundant with the kinks and tangles Jack usually watched her brush out of it every morning.

"Mads?" Jack said, voice rough and quiet, "Look I... if I did something wrong I-" Jack's apology froze in his throat as Jazz poked her head through the kitchen door, eyes once again glancing right over Jack and instead locking onto her mother.

Neither woman shared a word as Jazz crossed the room and wrapped her arms around Maddie, who desperately grabbed at her daughter in return, burying her face in long red hair as violent sobs wracked her whole body.

Jack, at a loss of what else to do, wrapped his own arms around his girls. Nestling his chin on his daughters hair, he expected the annoyed scoff that Jazz usually gave him for his 'chin noogies', but it never came. Neither Fenton woman pushed him away though, so Jack considered it progress.

Finally, after an age of rocking and sobbing, Maddie's muffled words escaped through strands of Jazz's hair.

"Where is he? W-where'd he go, where'd he go?"

A deep chill coursed through Jack's veins, Danny? Had something happened to Danny? Jack pulled away, a million questions thrumming through his mind.

What happened? Was he missing? Was he hurt? Had he run away, been kidnapped, been kill- no. Jack shook his head violently, running a hand through the shorts strands of his thick hair. No he couldn't be. He couldn't be he couldn't be.

Jack's mouth was on the verge of catching up to his brain, multiple questions bubbled at his lips when he heard a voice echo down the stairs.

"Jazz?"

Jack took a steadying breath and grasped at the counter for support, relief flooding his body as his son rounded the corner and came into view. Danny was fine, Danny was safe. He had been fretting over absolutely nothing.

Then Danny's eyes locked into his.

A number of emotions flickered across his son's face, the first being a brief moment of sheer relief and delight, but it didn't last. Soon, too soon, Danny's dark brows pulled together and his lips curled sourly in confusion before a new expression swept it away. It was one Jack had never seen before.

He felt as though the air had been sucked out of the room, an icy chill prickled up his arms as the sudden wave of absolute horror overtook Danny's face. Jack couldn't tell if his son was about to break down crying or scream.

And then it was over. The tension in Jack's limbs released as Danny's face flattened into an unnaturally blank expression, he dropped his gaze and continued his way over to Maddie and Jazz. Once again it was like Jack wasn't even there.

Danny placed a hand on his mother's shoulder. "Maybe you should do another lap around town, you might find something today." he spoke softly into her frazzled hair.

Jazz looked at Danny strangely, her brother sent her back a glance that must have held some meaning because she then gripped Maddie tightly around the shoulders and led her straight out of the house, and suddenly Jack recalled that he still didn't know who it was that had gone missing.

"So... is anyone gonna tell me what's going on?" the jovial tone Jack meant to use came out flat and strained, Danny didn't look even remotely amused.

"I think you should sit down." Danny said quietly. He was no longer meeting Jack's eyes as he pulled out a chair for himself and one for his father.

Jack took the offered seat and prepared himself for the worst, obviously someone dear to Maddie and the kids had gone missing, Jack ran a list of all the people they knew, preparing himself for the worst, it was obvious Danny did not want to tell him what had happened. Perhaps whoever was missing was someone that Jack in particular had been close to? Was that the reason behind the horrified look on Danny's face? Because he'd realised he was going to have to be the one to tell him?

Something in Jack's gut told him he was on the wrong track, but try as he might he just couldn't imagine what else it could possibly be.

Jack kept his eyes on his son as the boy's thin torso straightened up in his chair and his icy blue stare bored into Jack's. Danny took a deep breath, then took several more, eventually he seemed almost ready to speak, Jack didn't rush him.

"Dad... you're dead."

[robininthelabyrinth]

Spite in Misery - ao3

(rather silly AU of Delight in Misery, only even more petty and passive aggressive, and also slightly more JC/LWJ)

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

“What do you want?” Jiang Cheng asked.

“Sanctuary,” Lan Wangji said, prim and proper as he always was, the perfect untouchable iceberg as always, except maybe for the small child he was holding. “For me and my son.”

“Wait, you fuck?”

Wait, that wasn’t the right question.

“Why do you need sanctuary here?” Jiang Cheng asked, utterly bemused. “There isn’t a single place in the cultivation world you wouldn’t be welcomed –”

Except here.

“– and anyway, your brother, his sworn brothers, and your sect would demolish anyone who even thought about hurting you. Who in the world could you need sanctuary from?”

“My brother,” Lan Wangji said. “His sworn brothers, and my sect.”

Jiang Cheng stared at him.

Lan Wangji stared right back at him.

And then he collapsed.

“No,” Jiang Cheng said to the unconscious or possibly dead body currently lying across the threshold of the Lotus Pier and the small feverish-looking child in barely better state splayed out beside it. “I refuse to take responsibility for this!”

-

“You will not say anything about the room I have chosen to house you in,” Jiang Cheng said. “You will not complain about the food, the amenities, or make any requests whatsoever. Do you hear me?”

“Mm,” Lan Wangji said.

Jiang Cheng ought to have expected as much.

“And don’t think this means I’m going to like you or anything,” Jiang Cheng added self-righteously.

“I despise you with every drop of blood in my body,” Lan Wangji said.

“…so noted,” Jiang Cheng said.

After a moment, he added, “I don’t care!” and stormed out.

After yet another moment, he came right back into the room where he’d put Lan Wangji – it was just a convenient room, not specifically Wei Wuxian’s room, and if putting Lan Wangji in there meant he could delay having to clean out all the personal possessions left in there and actually repurpose it, that was his business and no one else’s – and said, “Why do you hate me, exactly?”

“Do you care?” Lan Wangji asked. He was examining the small cot Jiang Cheng had set up to put the still-unconscious and therefore nameless child on.

“Obviously,” Jiang Cheng said. “Or I wouldn’t have asked.”

“Mm,” Lan Wangji said.

Jiang Cheng waited a few moments, moments that grew longer and longer, and finally he realized – “You’re not planning on telling me?”

“I despise you,” Lan Wangji reminded him.

“Oh, you – you…!” Jiang Cheng ground his teeth together. “I’m the one giving you sanctuary, remember?”

“I came to you because you were the only one powerful enough to accomplish the task and spiteful enough to do it. I did not come here to owe you any favors.”

“Well, you’re going to owe me one anyway,” Jiang Cheng said, scowling at him. “You – you – ugh. Forget it!”

He stormed back out.

And then he realized he hadn’t actually brought the medicine that he’d intended to bring to Lan Wangji, so he had to go in and drop it off, but then he was finally able to storm away properly.

-

“I was under the belief we had agreed it would be best for us to see each other as little as possible,” Lan Wangji said, his voice even icier than usual – which was saying something.

“That’s right,” Jiang Cheng agreed, eying him warily. “I’m only here personally to drop off your medicine because it means fewer people know that you’re here.”

He’d thought that he would need to bring in a doctor for Lan Wangji’s injuries, but it turned out to be whip marks from a discipline whip and Jiang Cheng – well. Jiang Cheng knew everything there was to know about injuries like that.

Sure, he’d had to take A-Yuan to a doctor, he didn’t know shit about pediatric illnesses, but that was fine, it didn’t give the whole game away. Jiang Cheng was able to pass him off as some random sad orphan he’d taken pity on, which wasn’t far from what he suspected to be the truth.

“In that case,” and Lan Wangji’s voice was even colder, which how, “why do you live next door?”

“This was the only room available,” Jiang Cheng lied.

Lan Wangji glared death at him.

“Beggars can’t be choosers. I’m giving you sanctuary, aren’t I?” Jiang Cheng scowled. “Anyway, I told you that you weren’t allowed to complain about the room.”

Lan Wangji did not appear impressed.

“How’d you know I was next door, anyway?”

“You have nightmares.”

…right.

“I’ll invest in better soundproofing, then,” Jiang Cheng said haughtily. He wasn’t ashamed of having nightmares. After the life he’d lived, it was only to be expected.

“I don’t want to be around you at all,” Lan Wangji clarified.

“Too bad.”

“I don’t want you spending time with A-Yuan.”

Oh, so that was the real issue here. Well, in that case, the answer was still – “Too bad.”

“He’s my son.”

“He’s in my house,” Jiang Cheng said. “In my sect, in my lands, in my part of the cultivation world, which is the only reason you came here rather than literally anywhere else, remember? Because I’m a territorial bastard with a paranoid streak that won’t let anyone come look for you in here without hovering over their backs like a shadow, making it impossible for them to actually find you – sound familiar?”

Lan Wangji’s face twitched. “I did not say that.”

“You thought it,” Jiang Cheng said, and Lan Wangji’s silence proved he was right. “Anyway, I don’t care if you don’t like me spending time with A-Yuan. He’s one of the only people who can make Jin Ling laugh.”

“He wants to be his big brother,” Lan Wangji said. He sounded like he had swallowed glass.

“Okay,” Jiang Cheng said, not understanding. “Good for him?”

Brothers didn’t have to be biological, he thought, and that old pain tore through his heart the way it always did when he thought about Wei Wuxian.

“Worthless,” Lan Wangji said, glaring at him, and Jiang Cheng almost agreed with that assessment of himself – thoughts of Wei Wuxian usually had that effect – except of course it was Lan Wangji saying it, so naturally he had to disagree.

It was oddly reaffirming, actually. He might beat himself up as being worthless, useless and pathetic, a broken shell of a man who couldn’t keep a single member of his family alive, who had nothing and lived for nothing and existed purely for the sake of his sect and Jin Ling –

But the second Lan Wangji said that he was worthless, Lan Wangji who was wrong about everything, Jiang Cheng was immediately convinced that he was the best thing that had ever been invented.

Wait, was this how Wei Wuxian used to feel all the time?

No wonder he was always tormenting Lan Wangji.

-

“I brought you some books on physical rehabilitation,” Jiang Cheng announced. “No, don’t thank me - the sooner you’re better, the sooner you can leave.”

“It will not be too soon,” Lan Wangji said.

Personally, Jiang Cheng didn’t think Lan Wangji was going to be leaving for at least another year, maybe a few more years, not with that many strikes of the discipline whip to heal and his disordered qi to straighten out, but it was nice for both of them to see a destination at the end of the road in which they didn’t have to see each other all the time. Either way, he agreed, so he wasn’t going to ruin the rare moment of complete harmony by being persnickety.

“You should knock before entering,” Lan Wangji added, prissy as always.

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. He probably should have, yes, but he always had the ‘it’s my house’ thing to fall back on. This was the Lotus Pier where the rules of the Lan sect didn’t apply, and as far as he was concerned, that was reason enough to ignore etiquette. Anyway, Lan Wangji was here alone and healing just the way he’d been doing the past few months, what exactly was he going to be doing that Jiang Cheng might walk in on –

“Oh,” Jiang Cheng said when Lan Wangji attempted, with dignity, to extract his hands from inside his clothing, which was unfortunately not something he could do subtly. “Were you trying to jerk off?”

Lan Wangji looked mutinous.

“…were you failing to jerk off?”

Lan Wangji now looked like he wanted to rip Jiang Cheng limb from limb, even though it ought to have been clear enough that Jiang Cheng would only think to ask the question because he’d had a similar issue for a while there. The time after his family had died had been brutal, and he couldn’t even use getting off as a shortcut to fall asleep because every time he tried he couldn’t keep it up; it’d been awful. He’d been terrified that he’d broken his own dick somehow, which led to worries that he wouldn’t be able to have kids in the future and thereby fail his parents and ancestors in a brand new and yet unexplored way, which led to even more panic and even less sleeping. It hadn’t been until someone (he suspected Nie Mingjue, bizarrely enough) shoved a medical treatise about trauma reactions under his door that he’d realized it was a fairly normal aftereffect and managed to calm down a little.

Nie Mingjue had also given him so much work to do that Jiang Cheng hadn’t had time to even think about that sort of thing until nearly half a year later, at which point everything was working again and he’d completely forgotten it was even an issue until halfway into the afterglow.

Good man, that Nie Mingjue.

“If it’s a symptom, you need to tell me these things,” Jiang Cheng said, taking far too much wretched enjoyment out of the whole thing. He’d give Lan Wangji the trauma book, of course – he still had it – but he had to get his wins in where he could against the perfect iceberg, cheap shots or no. “As your current attending doctor, I’m responsible for your care –”

“It is unwanted but necessary. It is simply something that I must endure,” Lan Wangji said grimly, and Jiang Cheng raised his eyebrows.

The book had covered that, too, although that hadn’t been his problem, personally.

“Oh, I see,” he said. “You keep getting hard, is that it? And then retraumatizing yourself when you try to jerk off, which means you can’t satisfy the need, which means you can’t solve the getting hard all the time problem, which in turn affects your cultivation and so your healing…yeah, I see the issue. You should probably get someone else to do it for you if you get really desperate.”

“I see no one but you,” Lan Wangji said through gritted teeth.

A problem, Jiang Cheng admitted.

Still mostly Lan Wangji’s problem, though.

“Well,” he said with the smarmiest smirk he could manage, “as your attending doctor –”

Lan Wanjgji threw a book at his head.

-

“What are you planning on doing once you’re better?” Jiang Cheng wondered.

“Why are you talking to me?” Lan Wangji replied.

“Oh come on,” Jiang Cheng said. “How can you say such a thing after taking advantage of me? I let you into my home –”

“You will not be able to rely upon that fact forever.”

“I will be able to rely on that fact for eternity,” Jiang Cheng disagreed. “I let you into my home, I hid you away from the world – which isn’t actually as easy as I make it look, just so you know! Your brother is practically scouring the earth –”

Lan Wangji looked like he’d bitten into something extremely sour.

“I’m sorry, did you think he was not going to do that? And recruit his sworn brothers to help him?” Jiang Cheng asked. “I thought the whole point of this was – well –”

“It was.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I do not enjoy hearing of it.”

“Listen, if you’re going to decide to torture someone by turning your back on them and disappearing without a word, you should at least have the guts to own it.”

“You speak from experience, I take it.”

“As a matter of fact, I do. Did you somehow forget everything that happened back then with Wei Wuxian?”

“…you were the one who turned your back on Wei Ying.”

Jiang Cheng laughed disbelievingly. “Oh, yeah, sure,” he jeered. “Because I was so well-known for my backbone when it came to Wei Wuxian. I definitely was the one to come up with the idea to throw him out of my sect and cut ties, yeah, definitely, that’s completely what happened. I mean, obviously, I always got my way when dealing with him, every time, that’s how it always was between us. He had nothing to do with it.”

Lan Wangji was glaring at him. “Not then,” he said, each word cutting like a sword. “The Nightless City.”

“You mean the time he arrogantly and completely without warning started a fight that got my sister killed and then murdered three thousand people, including some of the very few family members and friends I had left?”

Lan Wangji was silent.

“You do mean that time,” Jiang Cheng said, marveling. “Are you insane? Even if I wanted to, if I took his side then, I’d have had no claim later on to grab him as a prisoner before anyone else did. The Jin would have executed him for sure! And slowly!”

“The Burial Mounds –”

“He imploded in front of my face!” Jiang Cheng shouted. “I had to see – when he – he died! He was – he did – you don’t even know – no, you know what, I’m not talking about this. Not with you of all people; you hated him.”

Lan Wangji’s hands were fists. “I did not.”

“No? You did a good job of acting like you did,” Jiang Cheng sneered. “Always talking about how you wanted to drag him back to Gusu just because it would make you feel better –”

“Better than leaving him.”

“I did what he wanted! And yes, fine, maybe that was my mistake. Maybe I should’ve ignored what he wanted, maybe I should’ve dragged him back to the Lotus Pier and locked him in a little room for the rest of his life the way everyone knows your dad did to your mom – ”

Lan Wangji flinched.

In fairness, Jiang Cheng was exaggerating about everyone knowing. He only knew about it because he’d heard his mother spit it out at his father during one of their nastier fights, and he was pretty sure she wasn’t supposed to have known about it, either.

“– but stupid me, I thought he’d be happier being free and alone than stuck with someone he clearly didn’t want to be around him anymore! But what do I know? Maybe I should ask you, you selfish bastard. You’re the one in his position this time, you’re the one who’s doing the turning away – I bet you don’t even know what it’s like to be the one that’s not wanted.”

Lan Wangji stared down at his hands as Jiang Cheng jumped up to his feet, Zidian crackling to life in his hand despite himself, persisting even though he tried to suppress it.

“I’m going to go hunt down some demonic cultivators,” he said, trying in vain to keep his temper even a little bit and knowing it was a lost cause. “And then I’m going to bring them back here and make them scream somewhere you can hear it. You can chew on that with some glass for all I care!”

-

“You handled that last one well,” Lan Wangji said. It sounded like someone was pulling teeth from his head.

“You’re sick,” Jiang Cheng announced. “I will go get some fever medicine at once. Are you experiencing any other symptoms in addition to hallucinations? Or should I be checking for signs of possession instead?”

Lan Wangji was back to glaring at him.

“I don’t know what drove that sudden spurt of niceness and I don’t care to know,” Jiang Cheng informed him. “I don’t need your approval.”

Lan Wangji ignored him. That was more customary.

Also unfortunate, because Jiang Cheng managed to get less than half a shichen of work done before coming back into Lan Wangji’s room (not Wei Wuxian’s room) and saying, “Okay, what exactly did I do?”

Lan Wangji looked at him sidelong.

“Seriously,” Jiang Cheng said. “What did I do that was so impressive that even you approved of it?”

“The demonic cultivator. The last one.”

Jiang Cheng frowned, thinking about it. “The – stupid one, you mean?”

Lan Wangji stared at him, and then looked at the ceiling, long-suffering. “The one from Yunping.”

“The stupid one,” Jiang Cheng confirmed, and then he was ranting again because he couldn’t seem to stop ranting about it. “I can’t believe the idiot got into demonic cultivation as a way to make money! That’s just – it’s just – if I ever figure out who paid him, I’m going to rearrange their guts with my sword. Lousy rotten opportunistic…!” He coughed, realizing he’d gotten started again when he’d promised Jiang Meimei that he’d stop. It apparently got old after the sixth repetition. “Anyway, what’s so notable about that?”

“You accepted him as an outer disciple of your own sect.”

“Well, yeah. What else was I going to do with him? He’s clearly got some talent for cultivation if he figured out demonic cultivation without dying. It’d be a waste to send him back to be a fisherman or a dockworker or something.”

“You didn’t kill him.”

“I’m not going to kill someone who got into demonic cultivation as a way to raise funds to get medicine for his sick mother,” Jiang Cheng said, rolling his eyes. “The idiot’s on tomb-sweeping duty for the next year to make up for having manipulated corpses the way he did, that’s punishment enough. It’s not at all comparable to the usual sort of amateur demonic cultivator, the ones that summon corpses to torment former lovers or murder business partners or that sort of thing – those are the ones I use as an example to warn everyone else. What’s the big deal?”

Lan Wangji said nothing.

“Fine, keep your secrets. Can you watch Jin Ling today? I have a – uh – important meeting.”

“Another woman that you have no intention of actually marrying?”

“Shut up and mind your own business.”

-

“No, but seriously,” Jiang Cheng said. “What are you going to do once you’re better?”

“I don’t want to talk to you,” Lan Wangji said, his voice muffled on account of his face being firmly in his hands. “Go away.”

“Listen, we’re still neighbors, we still need to talk. There’s no point in being suddenly shy about it just because you’re still in the acceptance phase of grief in connection with the whole me helping you with getting off business –”

“Never speak of it.”

Jiang Cheng sniggered. He wouldn’t have pegged the Lan sect as having uncontrolled libidos, much less Lan Wangji, but apparently the situation had gotten truly dire. Anyway, really, getting mockery rights was totally worth an arm work-out and having to put up with Lan Wangji, the latter of which he had to do anyway.

“You really are taking advantage of me now, though! My poor virtue –”

Lan Wangji looked at him through his fingers. “You don’t have any virtue.”

“Really?” Jiang Cheng asked, suddenly curious. “I strike you as someone with a lot of experience –”

“I meant morally.”

“Oh. Hey!”

Lan Wangji rolled his eyes. “Pathetic.”

“Not as pathetic as someone who won’t answer a straight question,” Jiang Cheng said. “What’s your plan for after you’re healed? Are you going back to the Lan sect? Or start traveling as a rogue cultivator?”

“Why do you care?” Lan Wangji asked.

“I can care!”

“But you don’t. Not about my affairs.”

Jiang Cheng had to admit this was correct. “Fine,” he said. “I need a name.”

Lan Wangji frowned at him.

“For A-Yuan,” Jiang Cheng said. “It’s been a year. The kid’s as healthy as he’s ever going to be, and he’s old enough for me to shove him in with the rest of the younger generation now that we’re starting lessons back up – cultivation, swordsmanship, shooting, etiquette, all the usual. But I can’t register him in the class without a surname, and I need to know if that surname’s going to be Lan or if you plan on changing it to something else.”

Lan Wangji was frowning at him.

“I know, I know, you’re in hiding,” Jiang Cheng said. “It’s fine, it won’t give you away even if you do pick ‘Lan’. I can register him as a Yunmeng Lan instead of a Gusu Lan, the surname’s common enough that no one will suspect anything unless you make him start wearing a forehead ribbon, which I don’t think you lot do at this age yet anyway. But if you’re planning on continuing to hide from your family after you get better, you’re going to need to do something about all of that.”

Lan Wangji looked sour.

“Anyway, long story short, that’s it. Your plans, I need to know them.”

Lan Wangji looked even more sour.

“Well? What is it?”

“We will return to the Lan sect,” Lan Wangji said.

“Not that hard, was it,” Jiang Cheng said. “I knew you were just throwing a temper tantrum.”

Lan Wangji rolled his eyes.

After a moment, he said, “What do we do about Jin Ling?”

“What do you mean, ‘what do we do about Jin Ling’?” Jiang Cheng asked suspiciously. “I had to fight half of Lanling Jin for the right to raise him here, we’re not doing anything about Jin Ling – anyway, who’s ‘we’? He’s my nephew!”

“A-Yuan sees him as a little brother.”

This was true.

“They will not want to part.”

…also true.

“Moreover,” and here Lan Wangji looked especially sour, “I believe A-Yuan has taken you as something of a – second parent.”

“Well, that’s nice,” Jiang Cheng said. “He’s a cute kid. Anyway, don’t take it so personally. Kids just do that, they adopt any adult in the vicinity as their own. I mean, certainly Jin Ling thinks of you as…wait. Wait. Are we co-parenting?!”

“Mm. Took you long enough to notice.”

-

It had been a bad day, a bad week, and a bad month, and Jiang Cheng’s temper, never good, was on the verge of imploding, so naturally that was when he completely lost all self-control he might have had and marched over to Lan Wangji’s room to blurt out, “Why do you hate me?”

Lan Wangji’s hands stilled over his guqin.

“I know why I hate you, even putting aside the fact that you’re a jackass with the emotional capacity of a brick,” Jiang Cheng said. “But I really have no idea what I did to you to make you hate me.”

There were so many options, after all. He was a cruel, vicious, and bitter man – he was a terrible parent, unlikable as a friend, barely sufficient as a sect leader, and such a failure at connecting socially with anyone that he’d been blacklisted as a marriage prospect despite being handsome, young, rich, and powerful. There were so many reasons to hate him.

But he didn’t know which one was the one that made Lan Wangji look at him with disdain, even if he thought that perhaps there was slightly less of that these days than there had been before.

“I hate you because you abandoned Wei Ying when he needed you,” Lan Wangji said. “He was your brother, and you left him behind – more than that, you led the charge against him, resulting in his death.”

…that was a good reason.

Jiang Cheng wouldn’t mind being hated for that reason, actually. It was a nice change from all those people who congratulated him for having done the right thing: all those smug sect leaders that comforted him for having raised a white-eyed wolf in the family, the ones that said his actions showed that he had a good backbone and a righteous bearing, the ones that had the gall to send him gifts of congratulation on the anniversary of Wei Wuxian’s death to thank him for his contribution to the cultivation world when all he wanted was to be left alone to mourn…

“That’s fine,” he croaked. “Okay. Yes. That’s – fine.”

“Why do you hate me?” Lan Wangji asked in turn. “You said you knew.”

“Oh, that,” Jiang Cheng said. “Same reason.”

Lan Wangji stared.

Jiang Cheng shrugged. “I mean, I know you were always harsh on him when we were together at your uncle’s lectures, which was completely fair given how much he was always bothering you. But he really did try sincerely to help you when we were all the Wen sect’s camp, and in the cave with the Xuanwu – but after, in the war, when he showed up with his demonic cultivation, you suddenly turned on him even though he was just doing it to help. You kept telling him he had to stop, even though you knew he was doing so much for the war effort, and you wanted to take him back to Gusu to do who-knows-what to him…you even snatched him away during the battle of the Nightless City! I saw you. I was so afraid you were going to kill him, I completely lost my head. I looked for you everywhere – I really don’t know how he was lucky enough to get away from you that time.”

Lan Wangji stared at him.

“And then you didn’t even bother to show up to the siege of the Burial Mounds in person,” Jiang Cheng added, feeling bitter. “After I heard from the Lan sect that he escaped from you, I briefly thought that you’d changed your mind and let him go. I was counting on you to be at the Burial Mounds to support me in claiming him as a Jiang sect prisoner – I had Chifeng-zun signed on, if reluctantly, and with you leading the Lan I could’ve made a decent argument. But then you didn’t show, either you or your brother; instead you sent your uncle, and of course there wasn’t even any point in asking him, was there?”

“…I didn’t know,” Lan Wangji said. His voice sounded strangely hoarse. “I wasn’t informed. It was shortly after…”

He nodded at his own shoulder, meaning the disaster on his back. Jiang Cheng hadn’t asked how it happened – he really wanted to know, as in really, really, really wanted to know, but even he was aware that actually asking would be unbearably rude. Still, he was surprised by the timing of it. How had Lan Wangji managed to end up in the hands of his enemies then? Who had even been left to do it to him?

“Yeah, well,” Jiang Cheng said, shaking his head to try to kick away his curiosity the way he would something clinging to his foot. “You were still a bastard to him when he needed you, so I hate you.”

He frowned.

“Also, you hate me,” he said. “So I hated you back just for that. Though I guess, since your reason for hating me is valid, maybe I should stop hating you back for that?”

He considered it.

“No,” he decided. “You’re too annoying not to hate.”

“The same for you,” Lan Wangji said after an unusual hesitation.

Jiang Cheng nodded and, feeling oddly relieved at not having found a new basis for self-hatred, departs.

-

“So once you’ve reestablished yourself at the Cloud Recesses, we’ll exchange extended visits on a regular basis so the kids can see each other,” Jiang Cheng said, and Lan Wangji nodded. “A minimum of three weeks per season, whether in the Lotus Pier or Cloud Recesses, and preferably double that.”

“Agreed.”

“In the meantime, you’ll work on getting the trade agreement we hammered out through your brother and sect elders as recompense for the time you spent here.”

“Mm.”

“An agreement whose source you will be disclosing very carefully because the Venerated Triad will not hesitate to murder me if they figure out without adequate warning it was me that was housing you for all this time.”

Lan Wangji said nothing and promised nothing.

Bastard.

Still, after nearly three years, Jiang Cheng was pretty used to it.

“Okay,” Jiang Cheng said. “Is there anything I’ve left out?”

“Joint night-hunts.”

“Right, right, we’ll make a point of regularly going on joint night-hunts – wait, why are we doing that? You don’t need me to watch your back now that you’re fully healed.”

Lan Wangji’s gaze wandered.

“Oh,” Jiang Cheng said. “So we can keep having hate-sex on the regular?”

“…mm.”

“Why didn’t you just say so? It’s not like I’m doing anything else – or anyone else. Blacklisted, remember?”

“Unsurprising,” Lan Wangji said, like the bastard he was.

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well, whatever. The set-up works, doesn’t it? I’m blacklisted, you’re apparently eternally pining for Wei Wuxian of all people – your taste is the worst – so who’s going to call us out on it? Go on, get out of here already. I’ll see you next month.”

-

“Well,” Jiang Cheng said, looking between the newly resurrected Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, abruptly made of an issue he had hitherto not considered based on Lan Wangji’s screaming body language. “This is. Uh. Awkward?”

[mrcleanheichou]

Wolves are (NOT) Scary Chapter 1

Pairing: Werewolf!BTS X Female human reader

Genre: Fluff smut angst

Warnings: brief handjob

Word count: 1,809

Summary: All Y/N wants to do is find her creativity and motivation but she finds 7 werewolves instead.

Author note: Hi guys! this fic is gonna flip back and forth between present time and the past as reader and the boys look back on their past together. If anyone would like to be tagged let me know!

Prologue // Chapter 1 // Chapter 2 

~3 years ago~

People think being a children’s book author and artist is incredibly easy but it’s not. Having 5 award winning books is awesome but those awards just add pressure. Pressure to top your last work, to keep doing better. And that pressure is definitely getting to you. Over the past month you’ve been spending more and more time in your office and less time at home. You’ve been surviving on four hours of sleep every night and multiple cans of Starbucks double shot energy drinks. You groan as you stare at your drawing tablet screen as if its supposed to tell you what to draw. When it obviously says nothing to you you put your head down and muffle your frustrated screams.

“Maybe what you need is a change of scenery”

“Huh?” You asked picking up your head from your desk to look at Yeji, your editor. She walked into your office without you knowing, making you wonder how much of your emotional breakdown she witnessed. The pitch meeting with your boss that morning didn’t go well at all. He didn’t like any of your ideas for new books. To be honest they really weren’t that good. You haven’t had much passion for your work over the last few months and it shows.

“You need to get away from all this mess.” That sent a pang of embarrassment through you as you look around your office. It looked like a tornado tore through it. There were coffee cans strewn about near your little trash can. Yeji came and sat on the edge of your desk pulling out her phone from her purse. “Look at this”

She handed you the phone with an excited look on her face. There was a picture of a cabin with a beautiful red and pink rose bushes around the front of it.

“Why are you showing me a cabin?”

“Because that’s my solution to your problem! That’s my grandparent’s cabin that they use every summer. Now that they’re getting older they decided to stay home this year. It’s in the mountains in Busan and it’s only 10 miles from the nearest town. It’s a serene environment that I think you can clear your head and get your creative mojo back.”

That is how you ended up driving behind a moving truck down a winding road leading up to the cabin. You were amazed the entire drive. The area was beautiful, full of huge pine trees and wildlife, like deer and bunnies. Yeji has always been nice to you the whole five years that she has been your editor but this took the cake. She had talked your boss into letting you work from home and her grandparents are letting you rent the cabin for way less than you’re paying for your 1 bedroom apartment.

It took thirty minutes for the movers to get all your things into the cabin. Yeji’s grandparents were nice enough to leave it furnished. Their furniture was definitely nicer than yours. You just brought your bookshelf. It was a very nice cabin with a fireplace and even a second floor. Taking a look around upstairs you found that there were two bedrooms. The smaller one had a desk facing a big window. Smiling to yourself, it was Instantly decided that this will be your work room. Looking out the window you could see a big beautiful tree with a rope swing attached to one of its limbs.

Grabbing your sketchbook from a box downstairs you went out to the back yard. There was no fence just a small area of grass surrounded by dense trees leading into the forest. It was beautiful and peaceful. No sounds of cars honking or busy commotion. Which was perfect for getting your creativity back.

Sitting on the swing, a plank of stained wood held up by thick rope, you got to work drawing the trees around you. It was by no means comfortable drawing like that so you begrudgingly got off the swing and sat on the ground.

Getting lost in the atmosphere you didn’t notice the presence to your right. You only figured out you weren’t alone when a twig snapped. Whipping your head towards the noise you heard the sound of light foot steps running away. Figuring it was just a deer you got up and headed in to try to find the box containing your food. After locating the right box you stared at the instant ramen in defeat. You forgot you didn’t go food shopping beforehand because you were moving. Well you were going to have to town at some point.

The drive to the nearby town was quick. It was cute one road town with small shops. Driving by art galleries and restaurants you parked in front of a barbecue restaurant fully prepared to eat some amazing Korean barbecue when you smelled something amazing. It was the smell of fresh bread and toasting sandwiches wafting from across the street.

There was a black sign that had a full moon with some clouds and letters in white that said ‘Moonchild Bakery -baked goods and gourmet sandwiches’. Your growling stomach is what pushed you into going that direction.

Walking in you were greeted by a warm atmosphere. The inside had the warm hunting cabin aesthetic. It had wood paneling on the walls and the counter top was a beautiful dark stained wood and there was a glass case showing delicious looking cakes and fruit pastries. There was also a second case with different lunch meats. The menu above the counter are was two large chalkboards side by side with colorful chalk handwriting.

“Hi, what can I get for you today?”

You must have zoned out due to hunger because you jumped a little when you heard the melodic voice. That made the source of the voice grin. The man looked like an angel incarnate. He had silver hair which made you wonder if he goes to the city to get his hair dyed because his hairstylist did a great job. Clothed in just a simple white shirt with a black apron over it he somehow rocked the outfit like a model. Looking down you could see his name tag ‘Jimin’.

“Umm, I’ve never been here before. Do you have any recommendations?” You asked shyly getting too nervous to make a decision yourself. Jimin goes to say something when you hear a commotion coming from the doorway leading to the kitchen. Another man walks through wearing the same thing as Jimin. He was carrying a tray with what looked like cupcakes.

“Ya! You punk! I’m the head baker!” came a voice from the kitchen.

“I don’t care! I did not spend thirty minutes frosting these for you to ruin them with a corny name” He put the tray on the counter behind him and opened the glass case in front of you. They were cute little cupcakes decorated to look like wolves. You could see his name tag, it said ‘Jungkook’

Jimin turned his head towards Jungkook and asked, “What was it this time?”

“Pup-cakes” Jungkook said with disgust in his voice. You laughed which caused Jungkook to finally look at you. He moved over to the cash register pushing Jimin out of the way. “Hi, my name is Jungkook. What’s your name?”

“Y/n” you answered surprised at his straightforwardness. Jungkook was about to say something when a clearly annoyed looking Jimin cleared his throat “I think I heard Jin hyung calling for you.”

Jungkook just raised his eyebrow at him “I didn’t hear anything. Did you hear anything y/n?” You really didn’t want to be involved in whatever this was but you shook your head anyway. The shorter man let out what almost sounded like a growl and stomped off. “I’m sorry about him. He gets grumpy sometimes.” Jungkook flashed you a dazzling smile that oddly resembled a bunny’s. “Do you know what you would like?”

“No, Jimin was about to recommend something to me” you confessed.

“Well my taste is much better than his.” he winked at you while grabbing some gloves. “Do you like eggs?”

~Present day~

“Ew! You drooled on me!”

“No, I didn’t!”

Opening your bleary eyes and groaning from being so rudely woken up you see Jimin throw a decorative pillow (that Namjoon bought for the aesthetic) at Taehyung’s head. Smacking the other werewolf in the face.

“Now I’m really gonna drool on you!” Tae exclaimed before chasing after the naked silver haired man out of the living room.

All three of your boyfriends are human again and are just as loud as they normally are. Unlike in movies, werewolves don’t have some grotesque transformation with bones breaking and shifting painfully. It’s actually quite beautiful, magical and can happen in an instant, so they can transform in their sleep and not even notice. The moon goddess, Luna, cursed the people of the wolves but she was merciful in her punishment. She did not wish to make them suffer needlessly. It’s a lot to take in and you still can’t believe it sometimes no matter how many times you’ve been to the Luna Temple or witnessed one of your boyfriends transform.

While Jimin and Taehyung are up and wrestling a very tired Jungkook is snoring very loudly right in your ear. He has a leg slung over your hips while he hugs you from behind. His morning wood was pressed to your butt and you can bet there was probably a wet spot on your shorts from his unconscious leaking.

Knowing Jungkook waited patiently for the past three days, you decide to take pity on him. You reach back to grab his cock but trying to stroke him proved to be difficult. Instead you started rhythmically tightening and loosening your grip on Jungkook’s length. Soon he was humping into your hand chasing the delicious friction you were providing him. Hearing the sweet whines and moans in your ear you knew your boyfriend was close. He always finished fast the first time after his monthly turning, you swore he had the highest libido in the world. Thankfully he had 6 other mates besides just you otherwise you’d probably never be able to walk.

“Noonaaaa” Jungkook moaned in your ear “I’m gonna cum.”

A final hard squeeze had him spilling all over your shorts. He right away pushed your hand away because he knows your evil ways of exploiting his sensitivity.

“This is definitely my favorite way to wake up” Jungkook muttered groggily into your neck. Right as he was reaching his hand into your shorts you both heard a clearing of a throat. Looking up you could see a fully clothed Jimin crossing his arms looking extremely judgemental and Taehyung eating cereal in his boxer briefs standing next to him.

“Really? Right in front of my cereal?”

[in-ky]

Hi! I’d love a story about Negan being a serial killer who only kills “bad people” (like in Dexter) and maybe he saves the reader from her ex who’s about to kill her and Negan can save her and takes her in because she’s a mess but she’s actually a killer herself (who kills rapists etc/ only the bad ones) and Negan and the reader start fighting and then get caught up in steamy hot sex 🥵 thank you!

Savior - Negan Killer AU

Warnings: Warnings: GORE + violence, smut, domestic abuse, swearing, dirty talk ig? idk how to tag this lol

A/N: hey! i struggled over this one for a while lol. ive only seen like. 3? episodes of dexter so. i really hope this meets your expectations! also forgive any mistakes its late, im tired, and i wanna get this up lol. also, is negan batman? maybe. 3.7k words

"Will, stop you're hurting me!" I hissed, grabbing at his wrist. He tugged me out of the bustling restaurant and into the dark street.

"I don't really give a shit," He snarled, throwing me into a secluded alleyway a few buildings down from the restaurant. Will had taken me out to a business dinner with his boss in hopes of showing me off and making a good impression. But things didn't quite go according to plan. "You embarrassed me in front of everyone!" He pushed me against the brick wall of the closed department store.

"What was I supposed to do?" I sneered, trying to wiggle away from him "He kept commenting on my body, saying how he wished he could take me home at the end of the night and do all kinds of 'unspeakable things to me'."

"You were just supposed to shut up and take it!" Will said, voice filled with rage "But no, you and your untamable fucking complex just couldn't handle a compliment. You threw your drink in his face! You're lucky he didn't fire me right then and there. You made me look like some pussy who can't control his whore."

"You're an asshole." I shouted, tears welling at the edges of my eyes. Will's face contorted further into a look of pure, unadulterated hatred.

"What the fuck did you just call me?" He seethed, clasping his hand tightly around my throat and constricting his fingers around my airway.

"I said you're an asshole who cares more about his dead-end career than his fucking girlfriend." I croaked. I hated him. I hated him so much. My vision clouded with the combination of disgust, loathing, and lack of oxygen, so I hit him where I knew it hurt. "There's a reason you needed me for arm candy tonight. It's 'cause you're a boring, piece-of-shit, lowlife who has no skill whatsoever. How does it feel knowing you need me to make something of yourself?" With that, he threw me to the ground by my throat. He wasted no time and pinned me to the cold concrete. His knees dug into my shoulders and his hand flew to his back pocket, whipping out the switchblade he carried as a precaution against mugging. My eyes widened as they caught a glint of the moonlight off the sharp knife. He brought the blade up to my throat and slapped me over the cheek harshly with his free hand.

"You better take back those words, bitch," He hissed, pressing the blade into the soft skin of my jugular "or they might just be your last." A dribble of blood ran down my neck with the pressure. Realization flashed through my mind. I could die right then. That could have been my last moment. Was I scared? No. Why wasn't I scared? Maybe it had to do with the shadowy figure that was slowly approaching us from the ally entrance.

There was plenty of time for me to warn Will that someone was coming. But I didn't. Instead, I stayed quiet and watched as the shadow figure pulled Will from my body with ease and tossed him to the side. Everything was kind of a blur. I was still oxygen starved and filled with a whirl-wind of emotion. I heard Will cry out in surprise and indignance. The shadow figure said nothing. It saw the switchblade with a steady line of my blood. It kicked Will in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Then it lifted up a baseball bat over its head and cracked it down over Will's skull. He continued to beat Will until he stopped squirming. The shadow figure paused and swung the bat over his shoulder. I had regained my breath and pushed myself to my elbows. The shadow noticed me moving and took a few heavy steps in my direction. I squirmed away slightly, instincts telling me to get away from the thing that had just pulverized my boyfriend. The shadow entered a stream of moonlight. It was a man. He had peppered hair and a blood-speckled face. He had dark brown eyes and a small smile perched on his lips.

"You okay, sweetheart?" He said. His voice was deep. I was partially surprised. He wasn't a bulky man. He was tall and had a broad frame, but his limbs were long and his body was lithe. He wore a leather jacket and his boots were slick with what I could only assume were Will's brains. I didn't want to look at his bat.

"W-Why did you do that?" I whispered. It was all I could muster.

"He was going to kill you." The man sounded confused, like I was supposed to know who he was and why he saved me.

"You don't know that." My voice was quiet. My eyes were glued to a spot behind the man, unblinking. He let out a throaty chuckle and dropped to a squat, leveling with me.

"Doll, he had a knife pressed to your throat," His words were gentle "Looked like he was gonna fuckin' kill you." He hesitantly reached out two fingers in the direction of my face. I didn't move. He was wearing leather gloves. The ridged fabric ran along my injuries. "Seems like he did some damage before I could step in. Damn. Sorry about that. Listen, I live a few streets down. If you want, I can get you cleaned up."

"Okay," I said softly. I let him help me up to my feet. He guided me along with one arm while holding his bat with the other. As we walked out of the alley I couldn't help but look down at Will, or what remained of him at least. His forehead was split in half, a pool of chunky blood bubbling on the ground. I clenched my jaw and forced myself to swallow the bile that had risen in my throat. And yet, I didn't feel sad. I didn't mourn him. Maybe it was shock, maybe it wasn't. "Thank you?" I murmured, though it was more of a question. The man and I stepped out onto the street and I was grateful there was no one around to see us leaving the scene of a very heinous-looking crime.

"No problem, doll," The man hummed, setting a brisk pace down the sidewalk. "The name's Negan, by the way." Cool. Negan: my Savior.

~~~

"So you're like Batman?" I asked Negan as he dabbed the blood away from my neck. He gave a short chuckle and tore away the sticky part of the band-aid.

"I guess you can say that," he mused, splaying the bandage over the cut the knife had left "but I specifically go for people that I know have hurt others. The baddies, if you will."

"Is that legal?" I tilted my head, crossing my ankles as they dangled over the bathroom counter. My palms were flat on the surface of Negan's marble sink top, fiddling with the wrappers of the medical supplies he had used to clean and bandage my small cuts and bruises.

"I haven't been caught," Negan shrugged "besides, it's less work for the police. They don't have to do any interrogation bullshit or anything. I usually catch people in the act, like tonight. Then I do my thing."

"Do you kill everyone?"

"Only the bad people," He reminded, tossing away a bloody tissue "only people who have hurt others. But, yes, usually the offender ends up on the business end of Lucille over there." He pointed out the door into the living room, where the still-bloody bat rested against a chair. I furrowed my brow.

"Well, doesn't that make you a bad guy?" I pressed. He tapped my knee and I dropped down to the tile floor, tucking my hair behind my ear and gathering some of the scraps.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you still kill people, right? Even if they're bad? So doesn't that still make you a killer?" Negan was quiet for a minute. "Let's put it this way," I continued "What would you do if you came across someone who was like you; someone who hurt the bad people. Would you still kill them. They're hurting people." Negan took a deep breath and let it out with a contemplative sigh, itching his bearded chin.

"I'm not sure," He mused "I've never really thought about it before. See, I don't consider myself a bad person per say. Yea, what I'm doing might be considered fucked up. But I'm doing it for the right reason. I'm protecting people by attacking their attackers. In the end, someone's saved." He brushed off his hands and led me out of the bathroom, flicking the light off. "Would you rather me not have saved you tonight?"

"No," I said immediately "thank you. Really, thank you. You saved my life. Will is...was...always a dick, but I never thought he'd actually hurt me. I guess that proves people can have a whole bunch of layers." Negan nodded and moved to the kitchen. He raised a bottle of whiskey as an offering. I shook my head but he poured himself a glass.

"I was just doing my job," Negan grinned sympathetically "I'm sorry your boyfriend was an asshole who tried to murder you." I shrugged, amusement in my eyes.

"Eh, it happens to everyone." I smiled as he let out another laugh. I felt as if I shouldn't be laughing, but at the same time, everyone has their own responses to almost getting stabbed to death in an alley. So I let myself have this moment. Besides, Negan was a good guy to be around. He made me feel safe, comfortable, secure. Everything I needed right now. "So, Negan, what do you do? Surely vigilante-ing can't pay well, and this apartment is really nice."

"I'm a retired baseball player," Negan said, sipping his whiskey and settling into one of the armchairs in the living room "Hence the bat."

"Were you any good?" I asked. He let out a loud scoff.

"Was I any good?" He mocked "Sweetheart, I have a whole damn trophy room. I was fucking amazing. I just got old."

"So you're rich with no real job, you kill bad guys, and you have a massive ego," I listed "You really are like Batman, aren't you?"

~~~

Negan let me stay on his couch that night. It was leather, like everything else that man seemed to own, but it was comfortable. I woke up to the smell of bacon filling the air. I groaned and rubbed my fists against my eyes, clearing them of sleep. I stretched my arms above my head in a yawn and rolled off the couch, stumbling into the kitchen. Negan was hunched over the bubbling pan, dodging pellets of grease as they shot up at him.

"Smells good!" I purred, closing my eyes and taking a deep inhale.

"Good," He grumbled "You better fucking enjoy it because I've gotten burned at least three times." I laughed and walked up to him examining the small red patches that dotted his arms.

"You didn't have to make me breakfast you know."

"Yea, but I wanted to make sure you were comfortable," He sighed, turning off the stove and scooping the cooked bacon onto a paper towel. "Besides, I was craving some bacon when I woke up. I haven't had someone to share a meal with in a while."

"Well, if you want, you can come by my house for dinner." I offered, crunching down on a piece of bacon "I've been meaning to whip out the family alfredo recipe for a while, maybe a hot date would give me that incentive." I gave him a playful wink and he chuckled.

"Sure thing, doll," He hummed, putting the pan in the sink "I love me some fucking spaghetti. I'll see you around seven?"

"Sounds good."

~~~

I ran down the sidewalk, chest heaving. There was enough darkness to cover me, but I still kept my head down to prevent recognition. I held my hands close to my stomach, praying that the blood on my fingers wouldn't drip on the pavement and leave a trail. I had been on my way home from the store when I heard some commotion coming from an alley. My first instinct was to run, but then I heard the girl crying for help. Negan came to mind, what he did, how he helped people. I couldn't turn away. I marched down the alley and saw a greasy man pinning a woman to the wall of a building. Flashbacks of the night before hit me like a train. I looked on top of the alley dumpster  and saw a crowbar perched on one of the lids. I grabbed it and stormed up to the man, whacking him upside the head with the weapon. I kicked him to the side and brought the crowbar over my head before swinging it down. It connected with his face in a sickening 'thwack.' I thought of Will. I thought of what might of happened if Negan had never stopped him. I thought of all the times that bastard had gotten drunk and told me I was nothing. I let the rage bubble up and fuel my beating. By the time I was pulled back into the moment, my muscles were screaming, the woman was gone, and the man's face was unrecognizable. I tossed the crowbar into the dumpster and ran back home.

Dried blood is extremely hard to wash off. It sticks to your skin in flakes, creating a pattern of red veins crawling over your hands. Fuck. I scrubbed as hard as I could under the rushing water of the sink, pumping more and more soap into my hand. It was under my fingernails. It was stuck in my palm prints. Shit, did I leave fingerprints at the scene? Would they be coming for me? With a hiss, I rubbed even harder at my skin, small flecks of blood turning the sink water red.

Suddenly, my door opened.

"I'm ready for my s'getties!" Negan boomed with a wide smile. My head whipped around, looking at him with wide eyes. His grin faded and he crossed the room in record time, grabbing my wrists and turning the sink off. "Is this fucking blood?" He snarled, bringing my hands up to my face. I clenched my jaw and dropped my eyes to my feet. "Jesus, who's is it? Answer me!"

"I-I heard someone screaming on the way home," I said quietly, eyes still downcast "I thought I would help..." His jaw went slack and he let go of my hands, running his fingers through his hair.

"Jesus fuck, you can't just go around killing people!"

"Why not?" I snapped, eyes meeting his "You do it all the time? What's the difference? Why can't I help people?"

"Because it...Because you just can't!" Negan growled, shaking his head.

"Why are you so special?" I hissed back, drying my hands off on a towel before tossing it at him "It's not like you can get a permit for fucking murder. Why do you do it, anyways? Is it some perverted thing? Do you get off on saving people from attackers?"

"Watch yourself." Negan warned, eyes darkening.

"Pfft, or what?" I laughed, tossing my head back "What are you gonna do, kill me? I'm not afraid of you, Negan." As soon as the words left my mouth, he charged me. His hand flew to my throat, squeezing my airway lightly. His hips pressed me against the counter. I let out a small gasp when he shoved his face next to mine.

"Oh, but doll, you really fucking should be." He spat, curling his lip "I could snap your neck right here, right now." He gave a small squeeze to emphasize his words. I let out a strangled moan. We both froze. "Are you turned on right now?" He muttered, furrowing his brow. I licked my lips and squirmed in his grip, pressing my thighs together slightly in an effort to alleviate the warm pressure growing in my belly.

"No," I lied, voice weak. A sinister grin curled over the bottom half of his face and he licked his tongue over his teeth.

"And I'm the perv, huh?" He sucked on my earlobe and peppered kisses down my jawline "Sweetheart, tell me, do you want me to fuck that pretty little pussy of yours? Do you want me to make you cum harder than you ever have?" I whimpered at his dirty mouth. "Use your words, doll, or I'll leave right fucking now."

"Y-Yes!" I breathed as Negan's lips sucked on the sweet spot right beneath my ear.

"Yes, what, princess?"

"Yes, I want you to fuck me, please!" I groaned, clawing at his shirt. He let out a short chuckle, muttering something about how needy I was, but I didn't care. Right now, the only thought running through my head was that I needed Negan. I needed all of him. And damn me if I wasn't going to get it.

We clawed at each other's clothes like rabid animals. Once we were completely bare, Negan moved his kisses down my body. His large, calloused hands kneaded my breasts, twisting my nipples between his thumbs. My arms flew around his neck and I dragged my fingernails up his back. He shivered against my touch and slid his hands further down my body. They settled firmly on my hips as he captured my lips in a fervent kiss.

"Fuck, sweetheart," he grunted, pulling back for air. I looked at him. His tawny eyes were now black, pupils far beyond dilated with lust. Both of our lips were swollen and red from the intensity of our kisses. Negan's chest inflated and deflated quickly as his eyes roamed over my body. "You're so damn perfect." I smiled sheepishly and pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, looking up at him through lidded eyes.

"You're not so bad yourself," I reached out my hand and used my pointer finger to draw a line from his collar bone down the center of his chest and through his navel, finally ending right over his pulsing cock. He sucked in a breath as my fingers closed around him. My thumb swept over the hot tip, gathering precum on the pad of my finger and rubbing it around.

"Shit," He hissed as I slowly pumped him "I'm not gonna fucking last if you keep doing that." He gently pried my hand away and took a step closer to me. I could feel his hardened length resting against the inside of my thigh. The thought of him being so close made a burst of heat rush down between my thighs. Negan took a long finger and ran it through my folds, collecting my wetness. I moaned as he teasingly dipped the first knuckle into me. He pulled back and let out a low whistle. "Damn, girl," he chuckled, raising his finger to my face "You're fucking dripping. Who's that for?" His slick-coated fingers glistened in the light of my apartment. I let out a deep groan as he slid them between his lips and sucked.

"You, Negan!" I whimpered, wrapping my legs around his waist "It's all for you." A wolfish grin spread over his features as he tugged me off him and pulled me down off the counter. He spun me around and pressed gently between my shoulder blades until my chest was flat against the cold surface.

"Then if you don't mind," Negan cooed, lining himself up with my entrance "I'm going to take what belongs to me." With that, he slowly pushed into me. I gasped at the stretch, balling my hands into fists as he continued to split me open.

"Fucking shit," he groaned once he bottomed out "you're tight as hell. I bet you've never had a dick as big as mine." He pulled out slightly and I let out a moan at the growing emptiness inside. The moan soon turned to a yelp when he brought down his hand against my ass. The smack was loud and he rubbed the red spot tenderly. "Have you?"

"N-No!" I gasped when he thrusted into me for the first time "Never. Fuck, you feel so good." Negan's thrusts sped up, his hips snapping against my ass in an obscene rhythm. Grunts and moans of pleasure slipped from both of our lips as he plowed unapologetically into me. I could feel every inch of him. He was hitting every spot, dragging against my walls in a sinfully perfect way.

"You're doing so good," He purred, kissing and biting my shoulder "So good for me. You're so perfect." I tossed my head back and he grabbed my chin, tilting my face towards him so he could give me another bruising kiss. I could only keep up for so long, though, and the white bliss of pleasure he was giving me soon became overwhelming. My jaw went slack and my head dropped against the cool tile of the counter in an attempt to ground myself in the moment. "I want you to cum, doll, cum around me. Wanna feel those walls squeeze me." His thrusts were starting to become sloppy and I could tell he was getting to his end. One of his fingers danced down my spine and found its way to my clit. He circled it with just enough pressure to get me to the edge that I was so willing to jump off. "Now." Negan growled. I obeyed, feeling the band in my lower abdomen snapping violently. We reached our releases simultaneously. My walls clenched around him, milking him of every drop. I screwed my eyes shut and screamed his name, holding in a large breath as the world around me spun. Negan eventually pulled himself out and collapsed on top of me. We both were breathing heavily, sweaty bodies entangled as well as we could over a counter. I swallowed, my throat dry from panting through my orgasm. When my eyes fluttered open, I could see Negan's thumb tracing circles over the love bites that were starting to darken on my shoulders.

"Are you going to kill me?" I rasped, running a hand through my wild hair "I guess I'm a bad person now." Negan chuckled, still out of breath.

"I think I'll make an exception," He mused, pressing a sweet kiss to the shell of my ear "I don't think I'm ready to let you go just yet."

[aftqrglow]

Promise Me

pairing: bucky x fem!reader

word count: 5.2k

warnings: this was supposed to be a part two to It Was You but then I just merged the two together; sort of a sequel to We'll Be Alright; the first two scenes take place simultaneously, and then the rest move on chronologically,; mentions of blood, violence, mental trauma; guns and gunshot wounds; oc antagonist and side characters; hospitals; French dialogue; ANGST SO MUCH ANGST

a/n: look i know i fucked up the timeline let's just pretend that didn't happen

edit: here's a little drabble of how much y/n getting shot actually affects bucky, how that plays out in relation to his past, and how that affects their relationship — Come Back Home

You couldn’t keep that stupid smile off your face.

Your hair was messy from the wind outside that still possessed a lingering hint of cold from the night before, causing a delicate flush to rise over your cheeks and your nose. You were wearing one of Bucky’s coats, his scent of oak and woodsmoke still heavy within the fibers of the fabric. Gloved fingers sifted through your purse, looking for your wallet as the woman at the checkout desk rang up your purchases—Bucky’s fridge had been empty when you’d left that morning, and you wanted to make him dinner.

It was stupid, you knew. Because you—one of the deadliest people to walk this Earth, one of the most efficient killing machines S.H.I.E.L.D had churned out, too powerful a weapon to be ever crossed—you, the only person to ever come as close as you had to the infamous Winter Soldier—turned into a gigantic pile of mush every time Bucky smiled at you.

And you wanted to make him dinner.

Pathetic, you thought to yourself with an idiotic smile on your face.

Because for Bucky, you would.

I’d go to the ends of the world for you, you’d told him. I’d go to the ends of the world with you.

You had meant every single word—and it was a promise you intended to keep till your dying day.

Dinner—you would make him dinner. And maybe you would finally summon up the courage to tell him that last night was the best night of your life. That kissing him was the only thing in your life that you didn’t regret.

That it was him. It was always him.

“Here you go,” you said, handing the woman your card as another customer—a man appearing to be in his late thirtes—halted in front of the checkout desk next to yours. You didn’t bother looking at him, only noting his presence through your peripheral vision.

He was wearing a flannel shirt and blue acid-wash jeans—both pieces appearing cheap in their make. But there was something about the way the man carried himself, something about the way he favored his left leg when he walked, something in the way you saw him turn his head to look at you out of the corner of your eye—something horribly familiar.

It was over before you could even register it.

His hands thrust out towards you, the impact forcing you to the floor, your shoulder stinging at the impact. Your legs shot out in protective instinct, hooking around his ankle and pulling him down with you, the two of you colliding to the floor in a tangle of limbs and missed punches.

You rolled over, pinning the man’s body to the floor. And that was when you saw his face—Christian Andrews, the man known as Silverblade, the man you’d put away three years ago.

The man who had sworn to end your life in front of a courtroom full of people.

The man who now lifted his head upwards, his forehead colliding with your nose. The sickening crunch of bone breaking filled the silent room—the clerks had disappeared. Some part of you was thankful for it—the part that had been trained to protect people who couldn’t protect themselves.

But you felt the cold metal of a gun press against your belly, and dread settled itself into your veins.

You couldn’t go out like this—not without a fighting chance.

The shot rang out, loud enough that you knew the whole block heard it. Loud of enough to drown out the strangled gasp the parted your lips as the bullet tore through layers of skin and muscle and sinew.

Your vision was tinged blue at the edges—a cold, dark blue, so unlike the warm ice of Bucky’s eyes you’d been staring into not six hours ago.

Bucky.

I’m getting blood on his coat, you thought. I’m getting blood on Bucky’s coat.

Stupid stupid stupid.

You couldn’t go out like this. You had to go home to Bucky. You had to tell him—tell him that he deserved the world and you wanted to give it to him. That he might be broken and shattered but you’d tear your own heart apart if it meant fixing him.

That you loved him—You’d always loved him.

His name was the sole thought that echoed through your head as you felt your grip on consciousness loosen, as you felt yourself slipping from the clutches of the bone-shattering pain in your gut and into the welcome embrace of unconsciousness.

Bucky, Bucky, Bucky.

And the world went black.

*****

Bucky was going to lose his mind.

He lay in his bed, his vibranium arm tucked underneath his neck, cradling his head, as his flesh arm reached out over the wide expanse of his bed, patting around in search for his phone until his fingers brushed the cold glass of the screen.

Bucky lifted the device, his thumb clicking the power button, lighting up the screen. His lockscreen was devoid of notifications, revealing his wallpaper—that picture he’d taken of you in the rain, your hair drenched and your clothes soaked, and there, visible only if you knew to look for it, was the slight bruising around your mouth—evidence of confessions spilled in the rain, washed away like Bucky wished the lingering scent of your perfume on his clothes would too.

That was the first time he had kissed you. That was the last time he had kissed you.

He sighed, rolling over on his side, his arm still braced below his neck. He wanted to call you. To hear your voice, to say something to make you laugh.

God, he loved hearing you laugh. The sound filled up an empty room—filled up the empty spaced in the cracks of his heart, until he felt whole again.

He wanted to drive over to your place, to knock on your door and kiss you again. To fall asleep next to you, to press his face into the crook of your neck and let the steady rise and fall of your chest rock him to sleep.

He wanted—he wanted. For the first time in a long time, Bucky wanted something—someone.

You. He wanted you.

Pathetic, he grumbled to himself. But there was a smile on his face regardless—an involuntary smile, one that appeared every single time he thought of you.

Sighing, Bucky pushed himself out of bed. The sheets still smelled like you, but now there was a lingering scent of woodsmoke and oak and his cologne mixed through from when he’d lay awake next to you the night before.

The two of you had spent the night talking, your hands tracing idle circles on his chest, his arm wrapped around your shoulders. It was better than anything Bucky could ever have dreamed of—the sound of your voice, the delicate rise and fall of your breathing. The warmth of your body pressed against his, the fluttering of your eyelids when you started to fall asleep.

And somewhere between the sound of your voice and the exhaustion weighing heavy on his bones, Bucky did too.

It was the first time in a long time that he slept dreamlessly. It’s the fatigue, he’d told himself. But he knew it was a lie.

It was you. It was always you.

He wanted nothing more than to tell you—that you were all too good for him, that you were everything he’d hoped to have but never dared wish for. That he was a broken, shattered man, but for you, he’d tear himself down brick by brick so he could rebuild his heart to be better for you.

Bucky could hear the sound of the television outside. It was still turned to the same sports channel it had been on last night, the commentary punctuated by the cheering of the crowd. He knew that Argentina was playing France, and that if you were here, you’d both be rooting for the ones in sky blue and white.

But football games were your thing—something the two of you did together. It didn’t feel the same without you; without your head against his shoulder and warmth of your fingers trailing up his arm.

Sighing, he made his way over to the wardrobe, throwing the doors open and pulling out a black t-shirt and dark jeans. Might as well take a shower while he was waiting for you to show up.

He passed his bed on his way to the attached bathroom, casting a glance at his phone just in case you’d texted him. You hadn't—but there was a voicemail from Steve.

I'll check it later, he thought, shoving his way into the bathroom.

The water was warm, bracing—reminding him so much of the rain last night. He remembered every little detail about that memory, having played it over and over again in his head until it was impossible for him to close his eyes and not see the image of your face, rainwater clinging to your lashes, the white fabric of your rain-soaked t-shirt sticking to every dip and curve of your body, and that beautiful half-smile on your face that made the world disappear from his periphery because all he could see was you—all he wanted to see was you.

God, he missed you.

There was no other way to put it, no softer way to say it. He missed the sound of your voice calling him, ‘love,’ the lilting notes of a smile hidden somewhere underneath. He missed your ready tongue and your relentless teasing, he even missed the sarcasm that used to get on his nerves when he first met you but now couldn’t imagine going a day without. He missed the color of your eyes, swimming with a million different emotions that eased the dull ache in his chest whenever you were gone.

He missed you.

Bucky stayed in the shower for a long while, until the water began to run cold. He stepped out, dressing swiftly, his hair still dripping water into his eyes as he pushed the bathroom door open, only to be greeted by the flash of his phone screen lighting up.

He walked over to where the phone lay on his bed, picking it up and turning the screen on. There, across the lockscreen, was the notification telling him he had seven missed calls from Steve. Along with two voice-mails. And three text messages.

A feeling of unease settled itself in the pit of Bucky’s gut. Something was wrong—something was very, very wrong.

*****

Cold white tiles were all he could see.

Bucky's hands shook in his lap, and he held them out before him, his blue eyes unseeing, empty. Haunted, almost, with the image of you standing in the rain with that smile that sent his heart sputtering still burned into the back of his eyelids.

Cold—he was so cold. It wasn't even that the waiting room of the hospital was chilly, or the fact that he wasn't wearing anything warm. It was the fact that you were in the operation theater, fighting for your life, and he was out here, unable to do anything about it.

I should've been there, he thought to himself. I should've been there with her, to keep her safe.

Because what good was he, really, if he couldn't protect the one person who had given him a reason to fight? What good was he if he couldn't keep you safe when you had done it for him, over and over again, even when he didn't have the strength or will to do it himself? What good was he—what goddamn good was he if he failed you, just like he'd failed everyone around him?

Because losing you would destroy him. Because losing you would break that thin thread of sanity he was barely holding on to. Because losing you would mean losing an irreplaceable part of himself.

Bucky hadn't prayed in a long time. What good was it, when no God had ever been kind to him? Gods didn't pay attention to people like him—to sinners and killers like him, born and bred to take lives.

But for you, he was ready to sink to his knees on the cold hard floor and pray to whatever deity would listen. Because he might be a sinner—but you were his salvation, and even the cruelest monsters deserved redemption.

Sitting there, with his head hung low, staring at his trembling hands yet seeing nothing but the that angelic smile of yours, he wondered how he would ever deal with losing you. He'd lost nearly everyone—even himself.

But you—you brought him back. Bit by bit, with every kind smile and soft laugh, with every word you said edged by something so gentle he couldn't begin to believe there was a way to describe it, with every night you spent at his place, curled up in his bed until all he could smell every time he stepped into his room was you you you.

Bucky would set the world on fire and watch it burn down to ashes if it meant that you'd be okay.

Distantly, he could hear Steve calling his name. It didn't sound like his name though—not in the way you said it. The three syllables sounded lifeless on Steve's tongue, like the his own existence was slowly ebbing away with every drop of blood spilling from your veins tonight.

The warmth of Steve's touch on his shoulder was unfamiliar, unwelcome. Bucky flinched, drawing away, but he looked up to meet Steve's eyes anyway, his own cold stare curling into his friend's worried one.

"Did they find Andrews." The words were not a question. He didn't have it in him to form questions anymore.

"Bucky, I don't think—"

"Did. They. Find. Andrews." His temper flared with every word that left his mouth. Not the usual hot flames of fury that curled in the pit of his stomach, but cold, icy rage—like the blood in his veins had frozen over and nothing but frost and rime replaced it, held stagnant by the dam he had built up brick by brick that now threatened to fall to pieces.

Steve heaved a sigh—not one of exasperation, but of understanding. Because he knew that Bucky wouldn't have even an inkling or illusion of peace until he did what he had to. "They tracked him down to an abandoned warehouse a couple of blocks from the grocery store. That's his LKL—Fury sent a team in, but they lost him. They're trying to track him as we speak."

Bucky rose to his feet. There was a cold efficiency in his movements, a murderous purpose. Part of him screamed at him to stop, to stay where he was, to stay with you. But it was the part he was tired of listening to, the part that had gotten you hurt. He refused to listen to that part, not right now. When he finally spoke, it wasn't Bucky's voice that echoed through the empty waiting room. "Tell them not to bother."

The Soldier was out for blood tonight.

*****

The Soldier's hands never shook.

Tracking Andrews hadn't been hard for him, and he now stood in front of the ramshackle old house, the heavy weight of his weapons pressing into his body. A gun strapped to his thigh, the other tucked into the leather holster hooked into the waistband of his pants. But stashed away in the leather of his jacket were six knives—besides the one he now held in his hand.

His vibranium fingers, shot through with gold, flipped the blade between them, over his knuckles until the handle pressed against his palm. He took a step in through the door, his boot splashing into a puddle of water. The sound reverberated through the empty house, but he didn't care—the Soldier had no need for stealth. Death was death, forewarnings be damned.

The only light illuminating the dilapidated old house was the shafts of buttery yellow street lights bleeding in through the cracks in the boards blocking the windows, but it didn't matter. His heightened senses could pick up on things that no one else could.

Dried blood trailed in rusty smears across the floor, tracks in the dust marked in scarlet. A mess of footprints—both animal and human, tracked across the floor. Boxes stood piled high, pressed close to the cracked plaster of the walls but not quite pressed against it.

Only hours ago, he hadn't been able to hear anything over the rushing of blood in his ears, over the haunting sound of your lilting laugh. And now, there was nothing between him and the blood that would soon stain his hands crimson. Nothing between him and the Soldier—nothing that made him human.

A flicker of movement, the faintest sound—barely audible, even to his superhuman hearing. The slight graze of the sole of a shoe against the dust-covered tile, coming from his right. That was all he needed.

The Soldier stalked towards the sound, tossing his knife in the air.

*****

He'd trailed blood all over Steve's floor.

He couldn't bear to go home, not when everything in that house reminded him of you. That spot on the couch you always curled up on, the television where the two of you watched your football games. The bed with the covers that still smelled like you, the lingering presence of you haunting every inch of that house.

So Steve's apartment it was, then.

His friend had just gotten home from the hospital, judging by the weary look in his eyes when he opened the door. That look vanished in a second, however, as he took in the sight of blood that covered all of Bucky's clothes, and he shifted, using his body to block the entrance.

"Bucky?" he asked tentatively, as if afraid that the Soldier had come calling.

Bucky nodded. "Who's with her at the hospital?"

"Tony and Nat," Steve said, shifting his weight again, this time pulling the door all the way open and moving out of the way to let his friend in. "The doctors said she'll be out of surgery soon."

Bucky only nodded—a single bob of his chin. The cold, empty look was back in his eyes, and the smell of blood was making him dizzy.

But it didn't matter—none of it mattered. Not if you wouldn't come back to him.

Steve's tone of voice was careful as he asked, "Is Andrews..."

"He won't be a problem anymore," was all Bucky said, the clipped finality of his voice signalling to his friend that this conversation was well and truly over.

Steve let out a slow breath. "Hop in the shower, Buck. I'll get you fresh clothes and something to eat."

Another curt nod. Bucky turned his heel, silently stalking through Steve's living room and into his bedroom, blood still caked into the crevices of the soles of his boots, leaving a trail of crimson in the wake of his heavy footsteps—more proof that he destroyed everything that ever came close to him.

He wasn't going to allow himself to destroy you.

Bucky peeled off his clothes, dropping them in a bloody pile into Steve's dustbin. Stepping into the shower, he stared at the valve, the red marking on the right indicating hot water, the blue on the left marking icy cold.

Bucky hated cold showers. They reminded him too much of the feeling of being hosed down, too much of the ghosts of his past that he tried so goddman hard to escape from.

He stared down at his hands. That strange, inhuman steadiness had bled out with Andrews's bullet-hole riddled body on the floor of the abandoned house, and now his fingers trembled again. There was blood caked underneath the nails of his flesh hand, the same crimson seeping into the cracks of his vibranium arm. A cruel, cruel joke—a worthless life in exchange for one that had saved his own.

He wanted to wash that blood off—he had to wash that blood off. It seemed to seep into his bones, staining his very being. He needed the familiar comfort of the warm jets of water.

Gritting his teeth, Bucky turned the valve all the way to the left.

He almost screamed out loud at the feeling of the water hitting his skin, tears pricking the back of his eyes, threatening to spill. Bracing a palm against the shower wall, he set his jaw so hard his teeth stung. Eyes screwed shut, muscles tensed.

Torture—It was torture, but he kept at it, even as the memories flooded in, even as he felt his legs tremble and give way, his knees hitting the floor. Cold, cold, cold water, cold enough that his teeth chattered. Streams of red ran down the floor, creeping into the drain. So, so cold, and yet he willed himself not to move, willed himself to fight. He sat there, hands clenched in fists, muscles wound so tight they hurt, until the memories blurred in with reality.

He didn't have the sound of your voice to pull him out of it this time.

*****

Steve, to his credit, didn't say a much when Bucky finally stepped out of the shower.

But the tightness in his voice didn't ease when he said, "She's out of surgery. We can head there now, if you'd like."

Bucky had only nodded.

And now here he was.

Dr. Kristina Dawson was young—far too young to be working on such a high-profile patient, on one of S.H.I.E.L.D's most valued agents.

"She hasn't woken up yet," Dr. Dawson said, sweeping her long ponytail of night-black hair off of her shoulder, her voice grave. "She's lost of blood—so we're not quite sure if she'll make it through the night. But one of you can stay the night, if you'd like." Then, surveying the crowd of agents gathered in the waiting room, she reiterated, "Only one."

"I'll stay," Bucky said, his voice sweeping through the room before any of the others could even open their mouths. And then, even more firmly than before, as if he was afraid someone was going to deny him, he repeated, "I'll stay."

Without even waiting for a response from the others, he motioned to the young doctor to lead the way, disappearing out of sight, down the long, sterile white corridors until they halted in front of a gleaming wooden door with a rounded panel of glass set into it.

The hospital room was crammed full of machines, the incessant beeping of the heart rate monitor marked each pump of your cardiac muscles.

And there—lying on the bed, hooked to three different monitors using various wires, were you. Dressed in a loose hospital gown, a bandage peeking out over the neckline.

Bucky’s heart shuttered at the sight. Y/n—his y/n.

He slipped into the chair next to your bed, his blue eyes taking in the sight of you, his hair still damp.

She's alive, he thought. She's okay.

Tentatively, he reached a hand our towards yours, dragging the tips of his fingers over the exposed skin of your wrist until he could feel your pulse thrumming beneath his touch.

Alive—you were alive. The steady beat of your heart was proof enough.

Bucky choked back his tears, his throat burning. He'd almost lost you. The thought drove him nearly feral, and when though he knew you couldn't hear him, he said, his hands starting to shake once more, "Promise me. Promise me you'll be okay. Promise me that—that this wasn't a lie, that I didn't lose you because I can't, not anymore. Not you. Please, y/n. Promise me."

He slipped his fingers through yours, his head lowering in exhaustion and defeat as he pressed his forehead against the thin mattress of the hospital bed, muttering, "Se réveiller, mon solil. Revenir à moi." Wake up, my sun. Come back to me.

*****

The glow-in-the-dark tips of the hands of the clock mounted on the wall of the hospital room told you that it was fifty-three minutes past five.

You grimaced, wincing at the mere action of peeling back your eyelids. Everything hurt—but something told you that the dull throbbing echoing through your abdomen could be a lot, lot worse.

You could feel a weight pressing into the mattress on your side, and you slowly turned your head, wincing at how rusty your muscles felt.

And there, with his forehead braced against the mattress, was Bucky. He was sleeping—you could hear the sound of his breathing. Your heart twisted around itself, knotting in your chest as you slowly lifted your hand and shook his shoulder. "Buck?"

He jolted awake, his body lurching upwards, eyes blinking the sleep away, his stare already awake and alert. Your heart shuttered at the sight of him—those familiar blue eyes, the messy hair, the dark five o'clock shadow of his beard hardening the square of his jaw further still.

"Water," you croaked. The pipe they'd slipped down your throat to pump the anesthetics into your body had scraped your throat raw, and your swollen tongue scraped against the roof of your mouth with every word you spoke.

Bucky was on his feet in a heartbeat, breezing out of the room and returning minutes later with a paper cup full of ice chips in one hand, followed by a raven-haired woman in blue scrubs and a white coat, who you assumed was your doctor.

Sure enough, as Bucky braced a hip against your bed and spooned ice chips into your mouth with a plastic spoon, the woman said, "Hello, y/n. I'm Dr. Dawson, your doctor. How are you feeling?"

"Sore," you muttered. "How long was I out?"

"Not too long, actually. You were shot less than forty-eight hours ago. Do you have any recollection of the incident?"

You furrowed your brows. "I remember the grocery store... And I remember bits and pieces of the fight. I don't remember the gun or getting shot."

And yet there it was, utterly undeniable, hidden underneath layers of bandages tucked under your hospital gown—the hole where the little piece of lead had torn through you.

After Dr. Dawson had updated you on your condition and left with the promise of coming to see you when she made her rounds in a few hours, and your throat felt less like the the surface of Mars and more like the Sahara Desert, you leaned back into your bed, surveying Bucky. "You look terrible."

He looked beautiful, with his dark hair falling into his face, his icy blue eyes tired but brimming with warmth as he gazed down at you. The dark five o'clock shadow on his jaw, and even in the dim lights of the hospital room, he looked like every single of your dreams brought to life. "Says the woman in a hospital gown."

You wanted to tell him—you were supposed to tell him.

Instead, like an idiot, you croaked, "J'ai du sang sur ton manteau." I got blood on your coat.

Bucky had been the one to teach you French, on one of those late nights when he couldn't fall asleep and you refused to let him retreat into the gilded cages of his own thoughts. And now—now it was something the two of you did, switching between English and French.

He let out a low chuckle, the sound warming you up like the summer sun. "C'est bon. Les manteaux sont remplaçables. Vous, par contre, ne l'êtes pas." It's alright. Coats are replaceable. You, on the other hand, are not.

You shook your head. "Bucky, I—"

"I know."

"You do?" you asked, eyes widening.

He nodded. "I—I was going to tell you last night, but..."

"I was going to tell you last night too."

Your heart thundered in your chest as he braced his index and middle fingers under your chin, tilting your face upwards to meet his. "Je sais, mon cœur." I know, my heart.

You sucked in a deep breath, even as he continued. "I was terrified of losing you. These last forty-eight hours have been ten types of hell, but the thought of losing you—I couldn't bear it, y/n."

His breathing staggered. "So... I guess what I'm trying to say is, je t'ai aimé depuis le jour où je t'ai vu, et je t'aimerai toujours, mon soleil." I have loved you since the day I saw you, and I will love you always, my sun.

You smiled, tilting your head upwards until your lips brushed against his in the faintest of kisses. "Tu as mon cœur, mon amour. Prends-en bien soin." You have my heart, my love. Take good care of it.

His knuckles brushed your cheekbone, the touch gentle and fleeting. "Je promets." I promise.

You shifted, making room so that Bucky could climb into bed next to you. Despite the cramped space, you didn't want to be parted with him for even a second. "Stay with me tonight?"

He didn't answer, only hoisted himself onto the bed. You tucked your own body against his, his fingers twisting a strand of your hair around his fingers.

Comfortable silence engulfed the two of you, broken only by the sound of your breathing and the beeping of the heart rate monitor. That was, until you said, "Promets-moi, s'il te plaît. Promets-moi que ce n'est pas un rêve. Promets-moi que tu seras là quand je me réveillerai le matin." Promise me, please. promise me this isn't a dream. Promise me that you'll be there when I wake up in the morning.

"Je promets."

And even through the haze of morphine and exhaustion, you knew it was a promise he would keep till his dying day.

Tags:

@goldengoddess @wherearethesantreys

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[donutloverxo]

First night

This is for nastybuckybarnes' au challenge. I hope you like it babe.

Run through - You're nervous to consummate your marriage with your new husband.

Warnings - medieval au, smut, heavy dub con, innocent/inexpericened reader, loss of virginity, light breeding kink. Read responsibly.

Pairing - King!Steve Rogers x reader

Word count - almost 3k

Masterlist is linked in the bio!

You bit your lip getting up from the bed, thinking of maybe pacing around the chambers to help your restlessness. You looked at the pot of red wine right next to the fruit basket. You could have one, that would help with your nerves. But you were afraid you wouldn’t handle the alcohol well and make a fool of yourself in front of the king.

You looked at the crisp white cloth laid on the bed. Maybe you should lay down? That’s what your mother had told you.

“Just lay down and let your king do the job. Don’t move for a while after it’s done, or you won’t be able to conceive. If it hurts too much just think of something else”

Her words didn’t make things easier for you. But then you had heard good things about it from your friends. You really didn’t know what to believe. You hoped that you would meet a boy, fall in love and get married. Perhaps knowing a person helps with the coupling? Not that you need to know Steven anymore than you already do. He is your husband now. He could do whatever he wants with you.

When you were told you were to be married to him. You were as scared as you were happy. You didn’t know the first thing about marriage or men. But you had heard of king Stevens bravery and kindness, along with tales of his ethereal beauty. They said that he was carved out by gods themselves. You fell in love as soon as you saw his portrait. His rugged jaw covered with a thick beard, his long locks sweeped back, his broad shoulders and alert stance, akin to that of a soilder.

You couldn’t believe you were to be the queen. Being the youngest of three sisters you would never have had such an opportunity. But both your older sisters were married off. One to a prestigious Lord and another to a king of a small kingdom. You did feel a tinge of pride when they were so jealous of you. Of the power you were to have as a queen and of your beautiful and brave future husband.

Power. Something that scared you the most. Sure being a queen was glamourous. But what if you let your new kingdom and people down. What if you let your king down?

You had never met him before the wedding. When your face was unveiled, and you looked at his face and him up close you were taken aback. Of just how much more handsome he looked in reality. That portrait did him no justice.

You couldn’t tell if he found you satisfactory at all. His face was set in an unreadable expression. Was he pleased or disappointed with you? He barely spoke two words to you the entire ceremony and feast. You cringed as you recalled your first dance. How even after so many lessons you kept stepping on his feet, while he kept moving gracefully. You imagined him moving with the same grace on the battlefield.

You wanted to please him. To be enough for him. You knew men seeked pleasure from other women if they found their wives unsatisfactory. You didn’t think you could stand it if he did something like that. In a moment of desperation you asked your newly assigned handmaiden for some help on how to please a man. She, of course was embarrassed and refused to give you a clear answer. They would probably gossip about you now. No. You can’t think about that. Not right now.

You straightened your back to sit up straight as you heard the doors being opened. You let out the breathe you didn’t even know you were holding as you looked at him. With his white shirt, which gave you a generous view of his chest and the thin hair splattered over it and his dark pants, he looked much different without his informal attire. He stared you down but didn’t really acknowledged your presence as he made his way over to the wine.

Before he could pour a glass you quickly made your way over to him, fetching the glass from the table. “Allow me, my king” you gave him a nervous smile. It was probably a bad idea since you couldn’t stop your hands from shaking. You cringed as you splashed a few drops out of the glass.

He only shook his head making a sound of disapproval, grabbing the pot from you he poured the glass full handing it to you. “You might need it more than me”

“Oh well... thank you...” You took it from him. Too scared to refuse him. To tell him you absolutely hated the foul taste of wine. You tried your best to keep a straight face as you swallowed the liquid. You chugged the glass down setting it on the table. You could feel it taking effect in your limbs as you felt your whole body loosen up.

“Have you been with other men before?” he asked walking over to the bed.

You were floored by his question. They had sent a doctor to make sure you had never been touched before. Which you weren’t. He knew the answer. But then why was he asking. “I won’t dignify that with an answer” You huffed. He was getting some kind of sick pleasure from your humiliation. You wouldn’t have him make fun of you.

“Oh?” He smirked in amusement at your boldness. He felt his cock stir in his pants at your defiance. A stark contrast to what he perceived you as.

He never really cared much for marriage. Always thinking that he would find the right woman along the way. Sure he indulged in some courtesans here and there but he held back. Not wanting any bastard children. He knew how doomed their fate was just like his half brother James.

He wished for a strong woman, capable and worthy of being a queen. But he learned that you didn’t even know how to ride a horse. You were nothing more than a spoilt sheltered princess. But he agreed to the marriage, for his kingdom and his duty.

He could make it work. As long as you give him a few sons the marriage wouldn’t be an utter failure. He could learn to bear you or even care for you a bit.

But then he looked at you face, your hair and gown all made up, you were the prettiest bride he had ever seen. His bride. He couldn’t help but be proud you were going to be his.

And now that he could see you and your plump figure through the thin petticoat, he couldn’t wait to tear it off and to find out if you were just as curvy underneath. “Come here” He smirked as you instantly followed standing in front of him, your fingers fidgeting with your gown. “Have you ever kissed anyone before?” he knew you hadn’t. But he needed to hear it from you. He would be proud to be your first in everything.

You shook your head staring at the floor. You looked so small and helpless in front of him. It was a dilemma. Because it made him protective of you but at the same time want to do devious things to you. He thought about how he could take you. Of course he’d get to have you every way and anyway he wanted, you were his wife and his future queen, but he needed the first time to be memorable. “What was that?”

“No. I haven’t, your grace” You spat almost spitefully.

He chuckled at that, staring at your lips, he bent down to capture them and have a taste. He felt you go stiff when his lips touched yours, as soft as rose petals and oh so sweet. You gasped into his mouth as he pulled you into him by pulling at your waist. He threw you on the bed, over the white sheet.

You stayed there panting, your kiss swollen lips, your nipples that turned into stiff peaks he groaned just at the sight of them. You were looking at him as if you were afraid of him, maybe you should be. He climbed onto the bed and settled between your legs. He pushed the helm of your petticoat up until it revealed your smooth soft legs and thick thighs to him.

“Oh! Wha –“ you stammered as he nipped at the inside of your thigh, slowing moving towards your core. He could smell your arousal. He couldn’t wait to dig his face in it and taste it. Find out if it was as sweet as you were. He wasn’t a patient man but for now he would wait. You were a fine woman. One who should be enjoyed at the fullest. So he would take his time, even if his cock was aching to be inside you.

He was trying to get the gown off of you with no help from you it was turning out to be quite a task. Fuck it to being patient. He tore the collar of your gown, ripping the whole thing off. He quickly threw the shred of cloth away and tossed it away.

He stared you down. You were sniffling as tears of shame escaped your eyes, your hands pathetically trying to cover your chest. You made yourself small trying to curl in on yourself ,but with him sitting between your legs, didn’t leave you much room to move.

He took your wrists in his hands pushing them down besides your head and he bend down to lick the salty tear off your cheek. He pressed a small kiss to your cheek before squeezing your wrists. “Keep them here. I’m your husband, you don’t hide from me” He stated as he pulled back up to admire your nude body. You gulped down as you moved your head so you wouldn’t have to look at him, but you didn’t dare move your hands or cover yourself.

He pressed a thumb over your hard nipple pulling on the nub as you gasped and tried so hard to contain those your moans, but he heard them. He licked the peak before sucking it into his mouth placing soft kisses over your breasts as you kept whining and shivering under him.

He kissed down your stomach finally looking at your heat between your legs. He had never been as awestruck as he was in that moment. He took in a deep breathe to get a whiff of your arousal.

“My king?” you hesitated sitting up on your elbows looking down at him between your legs “ what are you doing?” you panicked. Surely he wouldn’t.... “Oh!” You cried out loud as you felt him lick a stripe up your folds. You sat up pushing at his head “This isn’t how it’s done” you tried to argue. Although you weren’t sure, no one told you about this. What was he even doing?

You fell back on the mattress as he pushed his palm down on your chest “Stay” He commanded. You had no choice but to lay back. You stared at the rose garlands painted on the ceiling, trying to distract yourself, as he licked and sucked at you. You really did try to hold in the noises your body was so desperate to let out. But you couldn’t not when you were feeling so strange yet so good.

You whimpered as he wrapped his mouth around your bundle of nerves sucking it into his mouth and swirling his tongue over it. Maybe he was doing it to make you feel good but it felt more like a sweet torture. You felt as if you were on the edge of something about to crash and burn. But then, your world came to a screeching halt as you felt him push a finger into your channel. You clenched around the alien object, the invasion felt so strange you didn’t know what to make of it.

“Fuck you’re tight” you would’ve been upset at his foul language and his use of the forbidden word but what he was doing was much more sinful than that. You couldn’t think of anything but his mouth and his tongue on you, his finger inside you. You moaned as he pushed another finger inside you pulling them out only to quickly push them back in. “Don’t know how I will last” He groaned curling his long digits inside you as you screamed at the top of your longs.

It was as if everything came crashing down on you. The feeling was incomparable. Unlike anything you had ever felt before. Your skin was on fire as your muscles spasmed.

You could vaguely hear him undress as you looked at him through your hooded eyes. His pupils blown wide, his cock standing up straight against his hard stomach. You could see the faint scars littered across his body, proof of his many battles.

You were expecting him to do the deed, make love to you and truly make you his wife. But he pulled you up to sit on your bum, your eyes staring straight at his cock. “You gonna return the favor princess?” He asked his voice was much deeper and his tone more gruff. “Taste it” He said pushing the head of his cock against your lips.

You weren’t quite sure what you were supposed to do. So you simply opened your mouth as he pushed himself in. You gagged as he hit the back of your throat, your spit dripping down your chin. He tasted salty and musky. You felt as if you’d cry again, of being naked and in such a compromising position. All the while he was so composed and graceful.

He held onto your face pulling his cock out of your mouth but before you could breathe out in relief he slammed back in again. You couldn’t fit all of him, he was too big. He thrusted a few times before pulling out of your mouth completely. You coughed and gasped for air, cleaning up his spend and your spit with the back of your hand.

“Can’t cum in your mouth” He groaned pushing you to lay down he hovered above you. You felt him rub his tip against your folds.

“Wh – what if it doesn’t fit?” you asked nervous again. You had never seen a naked man before, but he looked big. At least right now, he was looking at your face instead of your naked body.

“Just loosen up” You followed his advice as you held onto his thick arms. You winced in pain as you felt the pinch of him entering your weeping channel. You moved your head away biting your lip to contain your screams.

“Look at me” he demanded grabbing your chin “look at your king” You reluctantly opened your eyes staring at him. He was so beautiful. You couldn’t help but run your fingers through his thick beard, just a shade darker than his golden blonde hair. You wailed throwing your head back as he pushed into you completely seething himself.

“Shh” he hushed you as he snaked a hand between your bodies striking your clit to distract you. “It’ll feel better soon” He promised. As he let you get accustomed to his length. The fact that he was much larger than most men and that you were a virgin wasn’t lost on him. He would have to restrain himself. Which seemed impossible at the moment. Your walls so snug and tight, clenching around him, he would cum right this second.

He pulled out of you before slowly pushing himself back in. He set a steady pace as your cries slowly turned into moans. You clawed at his back, your legs instinctively wrapping around his waist. He was only spurred on by your little mewls and hot puffs of air against his ear.

You cried out again thrashing and squirming under him another wave of pleasure crashing into you. He grunts as he felt you clench around him, milking him for all he’s worth. He snapped his hips against yours a couple of times cuming deep in your womb.

He laid on top of you, catching his breathe. He pulled the white sheet from under you and used it to clean you between your legs. You jerked as the cloth touched your sensitive skin. He cleaned his cock and went outside his chambers to hang the sheets up.

When he returned you were about to get up and put on whatever you could salvage out of your torn nightgown. “Lay back down” He demanded fed up “you have to give me a son” he reminded you pushing you into the mattress. Just how many times would he have to tell you before you would understand. He’ll have to work on a way to make you listen. That’s alright though, he had all the time in the world.

Tags will be in the reblog! If you wanna join the taglist lemme know or click on the link in the bio. divider by @writeyourmindaway

Ima go soak in holy water for like ten hours to wash off these sins🥵🥵 this is as dark as I'm gonna go lol. Who knows maybe there will be a part two 👀

[ameliajessicawilliamspond]

PART 2

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

A heavy kick to his ribs was Luke Skywalker's rude awakening.

"Rise and Shine, sweetheart!" A cruel voice mocked.

"Come on, Qiler." Someone responded, exasperated.

Luke looked around the room grogily. The jedi was surrounded by five men, his hands bound above his head to an old rusty poll in a cold, dingy bunker. His head was still spinning from whatever they had given him to knock him out.

"Hey, kid!" A man to his left slapped him across the face to get his attention. "What are you doing in our territory?"

Luke bit his lip, thinking. If they knew why he was here, they might kill him. If they knew who he was, they might kill him. If he said nothing, they might kill him. Either way, this was not an ideal situation to be stuck in. His silence earned him a punch to the stomach from the larger man to his right. "My friend just asked you a question. I suggest you answer."

"Haha! Good one, Keye!" Another laughed.

"I..." Luke began before biting his tongue once more. He had to decide how best to deal with this situation. He could use the force right now, break the bonds, take these ruffians out and be done with it. After all, Din was unconscious somewhere out there in the cold; freezing, dying, alone....

But these men may be their only help around for miles. Plus, they could be the smugglers who had found the holocron, which means it could be close.

He had to be smart about this.

Luke leaned forward, his mouth open as if he was about to speak, before sighing and leaning back against the cold metal behind him. "Nah, you guys wouldn't know what I'm looking for."

"What do you mean?" The man in the middle -Qiler, he remembered the skinny one say earlier- asked.

"It's just that...well," Luke looked them up and down, wrinkling his nose. "it's above YOUR paygrade." He said, as snoody as he could, earning himself another slap across the face. Qiler grabbed him by the shirt, pulling him close enough that their noses nearly touched.

"We are the famous Smugglers of Kajimi." He said, glaring into the jedi's eyes.

Luke blinked. "...Who?"

"The..." Qiler stuttered. "We're..." His grip loosened as he broke eye contact to look at his comrades. They all looked as surprised as he was. "You've never heard of us?"

"Sorry." Luke shrugged. "Must be local fame or something."

"Where are you from?" The skinny one asked.

"Ever heard of the Galatic Republic?" The jedi felt tension rush through the room at his words. "I was sent on a mission to find some artifact for them."

"What kind of artifact?" The big meaty one asked.

"Like I said, you've probably never even heard of it." Luke said, sitting back again, nonchalantly. "I mean, it's common knowledge where I'm from, but maybe not all the way out here."

Qiler reached forward at lighting speed, grabbing his jaw and pulling him close once again.

"What. Is. It?" He demanded.

Luke stared the man down for a moment before yanking his face from the man's grasp. "A Jedi Holocron."

The men looked at each other. Luke shrugged, regaining his non-chalant demeanor. "Like I said, I'm sure you've never heard of it. Why would you?" He laughed.

"Oh yeah, smartass?" Qiler yelled, turning back toward the table behind him. He reached into a drawer and pulled out an odd cube.

There it was.

Din was right. The Smugglers of Kajimi did find it. But they hadn't sold it yet!

"What do you think of that?" He said, tossing it in the air like it was a ball and not one of the rarest artifacts in the galaxy.

"I think you better give that to me so I can return it to the Republic." Luke said, his whole demeanor had changed, his tone low and serious.

Qiler let out a hearty laugh, putting it down on the table with a loud thump that made the Jedi flinch. "Empire, Republic, none of them have ever done nothing for me."

Luke took a deep breath before shrugging and leaning back against the pole that held him there, trying to regain his charade. "Oh well. The Republic would have paid you big for that, as well as for me." He made his eyes go wide, feigning surprise. "...oops."

"What was that?" Qiler asked, rising from his seat.

Luke stayed silent.

"Maskter, run a search on him." He said and the group turned their backs on him. Maskter ran through the bounty database before finally pulling up Luke's bounty.

"A jedi?" Maskter read. The group looked between each other. The bounty on him was...It was insane.

Just as they were about to round on the jedi, Luke sprang into action. He snapped his binds and stood, extending his hand and shoving the group apart with the force. He pulled Din's scarf from his back pocket and rushed forward, grabbing and wrapping the holocron in the fabric before making a break for the door.

It flew open, intense cold rushing in and wrapping around his body like frozen fingers gripping at his limbs. A sudden memory flashed through his mind of --Cold, so cold, Ben? Ben was here. Degoba? Pain, pain, pain...Han?-- He shook his head, pulling himself from the awful memory and rushed into the snow, cradling the artifact. He didn't know where he was, and he didn't care. He knew he had to get out of the area first, find the waterfall, get Din and get the kriff home. His mind swam with the last image of Din he had; laying on the bank, reaching for him...

Engrossed in his own worry, he missed the sudden sharp warning in the Force as something tore through his abdomen.

Luke stopped in his tracks, the air sucked out of his lungs. With wide eyes, Luke slowly looked down, his hand touching his stomach. When he pulled it away, it was wet with blood.

A bullistic. And not blaster fire, a solid bullet had gone through his body.

So, his bounty was dead or alive, then?

Luke dropped to his knees, one shaking hand gripped over the wound and the other clinging desperately to the wrapped holocron.

Behind him he heard voices. The smugglers were gaining on him.

Luke screwed his eyes shut, trying, desperately trying to push past the pain spreading through his body. He stood slowly, ever so slowly, placing the holocron down next to him.

He stretched out his fingers, trying to stall their shaking with little results. The men got closer, their voice grew louder. He raised his arms high in the air before slamming them down. The earth beneath him shook and a huge flurry of snow flew up behind him, blinding the group pursuing him. They screamed in frustration as they stumbled and got lost in the sudden snow storm.

Luke bent down, letting out a cry as his wounded side protested the movement, then ran as fast as he could. He ran and ran and ran, not caring where he ended up, he just had to away. Away from the smugglers, the bunker, the violence, the pain. He ran until his body didn't allow him to run anymore. He found a large snowbank and rushed behind it, falling behind the freezing cover, hoping it was enough to shield him from his pursuers. Luke gasped in breath after breath, trembling hands gripped against his wound, dropping the holocron next to him so both hands could put pressure on the wound. His body wouldn't respond anymore, too cold, too hurt to move. Luke choked back a sob as another rush of pain went through him.

He really hated the cold.

"I'm sorry, Din." He mumbled, before slipping into unconciousness.

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

"Luke!" Din woke with a start, the jedi's name dripping from his lips. He sat up before instantly regretting it, his aching body bringing him swiftly back to the ground.

"Well, well, the sleeping beauty awakens." A gruff voice says from behind him. He turns to see a woman entering the doorway, a pile of logs in her arms. She looked to be in her late 60's with long blue hair and shining orange eyes hidden behind the markings of wisdom her age had earned her.

"Where am I?" Din asked.

"You are a guest in my home, even if as a reluctant one." She said, tending the fire.

Din's memory began to catch up with him and he remembered his last cognitive memory; Luke being drugged and dragged away by strangers as they left him for dead. "Where is my companion?"

"I didn't seen anyone else. Although there were a lot of markings on the ground from what looked like a scuffle." She told him.

"Who's out here?" Din asked.

The woman froze for a moment. "There's been some activity around the waterfall within the last week."

"Pirates?" Din questioned.

Her glowing eyes latched onto his helmet. "The Spice Runners of Kajimi."

Din's chest tightened. If the Spice Runners discovered who he was, Luke would be in a world of danger. His face was plastered all over the bounty boards, and from what he last saw a few of those were marked "dead or alive." He stood up, rushing toward the door.

"Hey, a thank you would be nice!" The woman yelled after him.

Din froze, hand hovering over the door handle, before turning back toward his host. "How did you know to check the lake?"

The woman's eyes became distant. "I just...felt like I needed to go there." She explained slowly, like she wasn't sure what had brought her there herself. "There was this...feeling. Like the heaviness of desperation was burnt into the air, a silent voice begging for help through the wind..."

Din sucked in a breath.

--Oh, Luke...-- Din thought.

"Thank you for saving me. I have to go." He said, turning back to the door.

"This companion of yours, must be pretty important." She said. Din didn't answer. The woman stared him down, studying him before reaching down into a bag and pulling out a metal cylinder. She tossed it to the Mandalorian. Din caught it, studying the tube. It was Luke's Lightsaber.

"Found that near the lake. This friend of yours. He's one of those jedi." She said. It wasn't a question.

Din stayed silent.

"I used to run with them. I know where their base is." She said.

"Why are you helping me?" Din asked.

The woman turned her head and bit her lip, contemplating what to say. "One of his kind helped me get away from those people when they turned on me. It's only right I return the favor."

"You knew a jedi?" Din asked, stepping toward her.

"A togruta woman. She carries two of those. She was looking for someone, ended up finding me instead..." She reminisced. "But that's a story for another time." She said, making her way toward a drawer against the wall. She reached in, pulling a holomap from it, then handed it to Din. He activated it, the place where Luke was being held glowing before his eyes. He wasn't far. He thanked her again, shaking her hand. She nodded at him. "Go find your jedi."

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

Luke's could feel hands on him, shaking him back into consciousness. One was gripping his shirt, the other tapping his face. Someone was trying to wake him up.

"Din?" Luke whispered out, hoping beyond hope.

"He's alive!" Someone yelled. Luke screwed his nose up at the sound.

That wasn't Din's voice.

He was pulled roughly to his knees, the movement jostling his aching body and pulling a cry from his trembling lips.

"You wanna treat us like we're stupid?" The voice said above him, hitting him hard across the jaw. "You wanna pretend you're better than us?" He said again, a knee entering his sternum, causing the jedi to cough, blood mixed with spit falling on the prestine white snow.

"Please..."Luke begged, his body screaming against the assault.

"Oh, now you want to beg? Too late!" The man mocked. "You make a mockery of us, you don't leave alive!" He yelled. Something cold and hard was pressed against Luke's forehead.

"Hey, we may get more credits if he's alive!" Someone yelled from behind Qiler.

"No! You saw that thing he did with the snow! He's too dangerous, I want him dead!" The man screamed, beyond crazed with anger. The barrell was removed from his head, the man grabbing him by the jaw, ripping Luke's head up to look at him as a knife was pressed to his throat. "The only question is if I wanna do it fast or slow." He growled.

Before Qiler could make his desicion, the earth erupted around them.

Single spikes from what seemed to be bombs set off around the perimeter. A row of them cut off Qiler from the rest, seperating the party. Qiler looked around at the disruption before turning his wide, crazed eyes back to the jedi. "What did you do!?" He screamed. Luke was too cold, in too much pain to respond, he tried to shake his head to convey this wasn't his doing this time. Qiler hoisted Luke up by the shirt and flipped him around so that his back was flush against Qiler's chest, knife to his throat as the smuggler backed away from the commotion. Scattered screams echoed incoherently through the blinding snow as whoever was hunting them made their way through the crew.

Using the diversion to his advantage, Luke shoved the man off him with the little amount of Force he could muster, his broken body crumpled to the ground.

Qiler recovered, letting out a frustrated scream as he barrelled after the jedi. He grabbed his ankles and flipped Luke onto his back, pinning his arms above his head and digging a knee into the wound on his side, mounting him. Luke screamed, his voice cracking in the process. The knife was pressed to his throat once again, this time, drawing blood. "Bye bye, jedi." He mocked.

But his threat remained unfinished, thanks to the blaster bullet the just went through his skull. The man fell off Luke with a thump, legs still tangled around his damaged torso.

Luke didn't move, he couldn't anymore. Any adrenaline he had left was sucked dry the second he landed on the ground. He lay there, staining the white snow red like the sands of Crait, shivering so violently it could be mistaken for convulsing. He heard footsteps approaching him. Luke pinched eyes shut, waiting for whoever hunted down the smugglers to do the same to him.

"Luke?"

The jedi's eyes shot open. That voice sounded familiar.

The man kneeled down next to the fallen jedi. Luke gasped, in spite of himself as a familiar helmet came into view. "You're alive?"

Din Djarin nodded. "I told you we were getting off this blasted rock, didn't I?"

Luke's wrecked body finally caught up to him. Every nerve seemed to be frozen over, except for his side which screamed at every movement. He caught a glance at his reflection in Din's visor. His blond hair was thick and frozen, little blond icicles dipped in red from the blood that had pooled around him. His lips were purple, chapped beyond compare. His neck leaked blood from where the knife had pushed in and Luke realized this was the first time he'd ever experienced a murder attempt that was actually a threat since... He couldn't hold back the sob that escaped his mouth.

"I'm so sorry, Luke, this never should of happened. I'm so, so sorry." Din said, voice shaken as he put pressure on the wound, pulling a cry from the younger man. Din shook his head. "Kark that blasted holocron, I'm taking you home."

The Holocron! Luke looked past Din, spotting the artifact still wrapped in the scarf. Luke reached toward it, trying to pull it with the Force. When the thing wouldn't budge, Luke let out a grunt of frustration, trying to sit up. Din pushed him back down. "Luke, enough, please, cyare, enough." He begged, taking Luke's shaking hand in his own.

"No, Din, please, please!" He managed to say, ripping his hand free from Din's, pointing a trembling finger at the wrapped box.

Din glanced back, spotting what had Luke's attention. "I can get another one, it's alright." He said about the scarf, continuing his field medicine.

"No, no! Please!" Luke insisted, wiggling against the pressure on his abdomen, shoving at Din's hands. Din let out a sigh as Luke stubbornly pointed at the scarf again.

"Okay. Okay, cyar'ika, alright. Put pressure on this." He instructed, guiding Luke's frozen hands to his side, pressing them into it. He stood, fingers lingering over the man's wrecked body for a moment, before turning to go. "I'll be right back." He promised.

Luke watched with greying vision as the mandolorian reached down and picked it up. With a sigh of relief, he looked back up at the sky, watching the snow fall lightly around him. He had stopped shivering, something that should have worried him more than it was. He didn't have the energy to care, he was too tired. His eyes slipped closed and he gave into oblivion.

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

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If there are any mistakes please let me know!

There will be a part 3!!!! Comment in the notes if you'd like to be tagged in it!

EDIT: Just went through and fixed a few buggy parts. Sorry, did not check this right the first time! Hopefully that's a bit better!

[drabbles-of-writing]

my head is pounding (I can't stop the pounding)

This is part of my Four Years AU

AO3

Masterpost

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“They say you travel dimensions,” Luz said, gazing up at the man, flickers of hope in her eyes. “Is it true?”

“My dear, of course it is!” The man chortled, a tall demon of sorts covered in fur, with a mane like a lion around his neck. “Interested in learning my ways, are you?”

“Very much, sir.” Luz nodded, a smile spreading across her face. “I’m looking to find a way to the human realm. I got separated from my mom, and she’s got to be worried sick about me by now.” 

“I see, I see.” The man hummed, digging around in his pockets. “Yes, I believe I can help you. Come with me,” He said, withdrawing a card with his name on it and handing it to her. “Are your friends interested, as well?” He asked, peering over her shoulder towards the witches poking around at the knickknacks and items around in his shop.

“They’re here to help me find a way to the human realm,” Luz explained, swelling, just a bit, with pleading in her eyes. “We’ll take as much as you can offer.”

“That,” The man said, eyes flickering to the wanted poster sporting a crude drawing of a figure dressed in a purple and white cloak, an owl mask covering her face. “My dear, depends on how much you are offering.”

The building rippled like water, the scene smearing like wet paint. In the blink of an eye, the scene changed to inside a tent, Luz holding a potion bottle in her hand and peering at the murky, brownish green contents within. The man spoke words that meshed together like gibberish, as though his words had been forgotten, as he gestured towards gadgets with springs sticking out of them.

Luz quietly watched, clearly not listening to a word he was saying. Her face was blank, the faint traces of weary hope gone, like they’d never existed at all. Her shoulders were slumped, and she glanced at the potion in her hands before shaking her head and sighing.

“You’re not real,” She muttered, eyes downcast.

“Come again?” The man startled.

“You’ve never been to a dimension outside your own, have you?” Luz said, raising her head. 

“What in the nine realms are you--”

“Nine realms?” Luz snorted bitterly, shaking the potion in her hand. “You really commit to the bit, don’t you?”

The scene rippled again. The two were still inside the tent, but the man had moved. There were tables covered with cloth now. He had a table between him and Luz, who was still holding the potion.

“I’m very busy,” He gruffed. “And I can’t afford to convince you of what's right before your eyes--”

“This isn’t even a potion,” Luz said, raising the ‘potion’ in the air before letting it drop, watching it dully as it cracked on the ground and the contents spilled out. Muddy swamp water, by the looks of it. “I would know. I’m practically surrounded by them.”

“Honestly,” The man scoffed, eyes darting around. “Do you want my help, or not? I assure you, it’s an arduous journey, but I could accomplish it, I believe you could, too.”

“I wanted your help when I thought you had the faintest idea of what you were doing,” Luz huffed, eyes half-lidded in annoyance as she kicked the fake potion aside. 

The tent flickered, like an old tape with a scratch on it. Luz was on the other side of the tent now. The man was closer, one hand in his pocket.

“--vious really.” Luz’s voice faded back in.

“Well,” The man said, rearing back, his mane puffing up. “If you're so insistent that I am a fake, why are you still here?” He said, nose turned up.

“Because I told Gus to find me if you took longer than ten minutes, because Eda was worried you might try to jump me.” Luz said simply. “And it’s been fifteen, and he’s never later than two minutes. Which I’m willing to guess means you either tipped off someone, or you set traps. It was the biggest among my many lists of clues that you don’t give a damn about this whole thing.”

The man growled, looking around wildly as his fur continued to puff up. It would’ve been pretty amusing if Luz was in any other situation.

“I have been searching,” Luz started slowly pressing a hand against her face. “For five days straight trying to find you. And the last two people I met before you tried to feed me to a pit or get me in on their murder clan when they found out who I was.” She moved her fingers aside to free an eye, sending a seething glare.

“And you knew why I was trying to find a portal out of here,” She continued. “You knew I was trying to find my mother, and you insisted you had the answer. Why? Honestly, dude, why?” She threw her arms out in a wide gesture. “What do you gain out of this? Do you get a kick out of leading on grieving people? Cause you need to see someone for that.”

“Everyones trying to make a living, and I’m just making mine.” The man hissed, withdrawing his hand from his pocket, fist clenched. “You know how it is.”

“I’m trying to go home,” Luz spat, the seething in her gaze bordering on barely restrained fury. “And yet I’m standing here, wasting my time on the excuses you're throwing at me. So, no, I don’t--”

A tear tore through the scene, sections of the tent smeared over and blurred, forgotten. Words combined and mumbled like they were talking under water. Luz had her hood up now, turning away with some inaudible, but clearly harsh, words spitting out.

The man unclenched his fist, revealing a retractable blade that he switched upright. He hissed and held it tightly in his grip, crouching for just a moment, enough for Luz to give a bored glare back, before charging her.

In that same moment, a small, furry demon leapt out from under the cloth-covered tables, latching his teeth and claws into the man's leg.

“King!” Luz exclaimed, jerking back as soon as the man charged her.

The man howled, a distorted sound, kicking out his leg as he stumbled and tried to shake off the demon clinging in like a burr, drawing blood as he growled and kicked. 

Eventually, the man just slammed his leg against the closest table, King squawking as he was hit straight on and falling to the ground with a wheeze, curling into a ball.

The man had barely turned to resume his attack before a pillar of ice hit him square in the face. He fell as vines wrapped around his limbs, pinning him to the ground as he struggled. Luz shoved the glyphs she didn’t use back into her pockets before rushing to King, scooping him up into her arms. He raised his head slightly, giving an affirmation he was fine, just winded, and Luz relaxed ever so slightly.

“Emperor’s Coven showed up,” King explained with a wheeze, waving off Luz when she tried to fret over him. “They’re fine, keeping ‘em at bay outside.” He said, tilting his head in the direction of the exit to the tent. “I just thought that, you know, you might be in trouble.”

“And what a brave demon you were,” Luz agreed, smiling down at him as King perked up under the praise.

Smoke flickered over the top of the tent for a moment, like a tape had skipped a scene, before returning to normal.

“You’d do best to stick to what you know!” The man snapped from where he writhed on the ground, managing not to wilt under Luz and King whirling to glare at him. 

“Spreading that wild magic of yours to the human realm won’t do any good.” The man continued, hatred spilling off him in waves. “The Emperor didn’t take kindly to an Owlet like you, why would the human realm be any different?”

“It’s not,” Luz agreed, withdrawing a fire glyph and holding King closer to her with her other arm. “But my mom is.”

With that, she tapped the glyph with her thumb and let it fall to the ground. It burned away at the plants, momentarily singeing the man's limbs tied down. He yelped and sprung free when he could, staring with wide eyes when the fire quickly spread to the cloth across the tables of fake items, catching ablaze near instantly, like frames had been passed over to allow a smooth transition.

King stared wide-eyed, looking between the growing flames and the cold, hardened fury on Luz’s face. He shrunk back in her arms, though she didn’t seem to notice. With that, she turned sharply on her heel and left, storming out through the tent flaps as it, too, caught ablaze the second she touched it, glitching as it did so.

The scene itself was wrapped up in the inferno the moment Luz left it, flames cackling as they grew and spread and consumed everything it touched. 

There was soon nothing but the roaring of the fire, the blinding smoke, the rippling of the world, and a golden eye blinking into existence behind the bonfire.

,

“Luz?”

She shot upright with a start, breathing heavily as she gasped and tugged at the sheets, staring at the far corner of her room. King jerked away from her old mattress she called a bed, head lowered and eyes wide, claws fiddling together.

“Sorry, sorry,” King said quickly, tucking his tail around his legs like a scolded cat. “I...is this a bad time? Should-should I get Eda…?”

“Huh?” Luz said dumbly, voice sounding hoarse as she turned to stare down at King, her body feeling weighted and numb.

“You, um…” King pointed to the side of his face, right under his eye.

Luz felt at her face, feeling instantly that she’d been crying. She quickly wiped at her eyes, breath raggedy as she tried to dry her face.

“Is...is it an episode?” King asked quietly. “Should I leave? I don’t want to--”

“No, no, it’s--” Luz sniffled, hating how her voice sounded and shaking her head, dropping her arm. “It's fine. Small one, mostly just...just a dream, really.” She said, cringing at how slow her movements felt as she leaned back against the wall her bed was pushed beside, attempting to shake off how it felt she was under an ocean.

“Oh...okay.” King said, staying right where he was, claws clinging to the edge of the bed as he looked away.

Luz closed her eyes in the ensuing silence, attempting to banish the memories from her head. It had been just a few days ago, and they’d finally made it back to the Owl House after all their walking and dodging the Coven only yesterday. Everything in between was a little hard for her to remember now that she thought about it. Probably for the best.

“I didn’t wake you up, did I?” Luz eventually asked when her head didn’t quite feel like it was going to roll off her shoulders.

“No, I just...wanted to visit.” King mumbled, avoiding her gaze.

Luz exhaled, forcing herself to bite back the desire to bury herself in her blankets and never see the light of day again, opening her arms slightly with a small, half crooked smile.

King noticed the invitation and took it instantly, scrambling up onto the bed and scurrying into her arms. He curled in her lap as she pulled him close, leaning her chin on the top of his head and exhaling heavily, only by force of will not slumping over and crushing him. 

They stayed like that for a bit, waiting in the silence as Luz calmed herself down, clutching King tightly. If King was uncomfortable or had trouble breathing, he gave no indication. He stayed perfectly still and loose as Luz’s raspy breathing slowly calmed to something more manageable. It was late, but only just past dusk. The soft sounds of others in the house moving and talking softly on the floor below them could be heard if you strained your hearing.

“What brings you in here?” Luz finally asked, straightening her back a bit and squinting an eye, realizing King left the door open a crack and a sliver of light was seeping into the dark room.

King shrugged, a little comical considering Luz had wrapped her arms around his midsection like he was a teddy bear, his arms forced up a bit.

“Wanted to visit,” He repeated.

Luz didn’t seem convinced, but she didn’t push, slumping back against the wall and crossing her legs as she situated King in her lap. She knew King would break and tell her if she left it be for a moment. Sometimes he needed a moment to get his thoughts in order.

“Back when,” King paused again and Luz didn’t move, waiting patiently until he spoke again. “When you were talking with that demon guy…”

Luz looked down at him again, only able to see the back of his head and horns from this angle. He didn’t attempt to turn around and she didn’t do it herself.

“Your mom,” He tried a second time. “If we…” King stopped when Luz tensed, ever so slightly. He kept quiet for a moment before tilting his head back, still not enough for Luz to see his face. “When we find her,” He started again. “What’s...the plan after that?”

“What?” Luz blinked in confusion, loosening her hold on King to let him sit more comfortably in his lap.

“It’s just…” King said, turning halfway now that Luz could see his worried, contemplative face. “You always talk about how much you want to get back to your mom, because she must be worried sick about you, but...what are you gonna do after you find her?”

“...apologize for the next decade?” Luz tried, raising a brow in confusion. “Be grounded for the rest of my life?”

“I mean, just,” King struggled for another moment, leaning back against her leg and glaring up at the ceiling. “What...what are you gonna do when you're home again?” He asked quietly. “Is your mom coming to the Boiling Isles?”

“Oh, definitely not.” Luz snorted, shaking her head, not noticing his sudden reclusion. “My mom would freak out at this place. No, she’s a human realm type of human.”

“Then...are you staying with her?” King asked, drawing his limbs close to his body.

Luz watched him then, surprise evident on her face. King wasn’t looking at her, only the ceiling. He was already pretty small, but now he looked as though he was trying to make himself shrink even more.

“Course not,” Luz said softly, pulling King closer to her chest. “I love my mami, but the human realm isn’t for me. Never really has, if I’m being honest.”

“But you said your mom wouldn’t stay here,” King frowned, looking up at her now. “Are you going to stay separate again?”

“Well, no, that’s not,” Luz pursed her lips, frowning as she glanced to the side. “We...we’ll work something out. Maybe I could visit. Or...you know, it’ll depend on the portal, so we’ll have to see.” She decided on. “She’ll have to watch the tapes first.”

“So you don’t know, then?” King said simply, as if he was discussing common knowledge.

“I know I just...need to work out finer details.” Luz insisted. “Look, it’s fine, really. I’m not going anywhere.” She assured, drawing him up and giving a quick hug. “And I’m sure my mami would understand. I’m sure she remembers how crazy I was, this shouldn’t be that big of a surprise.”

She didn’t sound too convinced herself. King frowned, hooking his claws into her shirt and thus keeping her from pulling him away. He used his new leverage to give her a serious, no-nonsense expression that was honestly pretty cute on him. His nose almost touched hers.

“But don’t you miss it?” King asked, tilting his head. “I mean, you’re always talking about how different the human realm is from here and...how safer it is, really.” His eyes strayed, only for a moment, towards the edges of a scar that poked out of the collar of her shirt, one that he knew stretched far further along her arm and body like an angry, tangled thicket.

“I mean, nothings trying to kill you the moment you step outside, yeah, but the human realm isn’t perfect.” Luz said with a shrug. “If I’m being completely honest, if my mami wasn’t there, I don’t think I’d ever be trying to go back.” She said, sounding only slightly surprised at her revelation. 

“But it's your home, isn’t it?” King insisted. 

“My home,” Luz said, booping his nose as she sat him down on her crossed legs, taking a moment to pull his claws off her shirt. “Is where I decide it is. And it’s not there.” She said, giving him a small, soft smile. “But my mom is part of what I consider home, and I won’t be home until I find her. Does that make sense?” She asked, head turned.

“I...think so.” King said with a frown.

“Hey, at the end of the day,” Luz said, scratching at the fur just under his skull, the demon leaning into it. “Just know that, no matter how much the Emperor tries otherwise, you guys are stuck with me, okay? Getting back to my mom won’t change that.”

King curled closer to her hand, still appearing a little doubtful, but far more reassured than earlier. Luz giggled as she used her other hand to scratch at his side, the demon kicking out his back leg happily.

“And, who knows,” Luz continued. “Maybe we’ll find your dad, too. Ask him a few questions, figure things out with him.”

“He probably wouldn’t care,” King sighed, deflating a bit and going limp in Luz’s lap. “You’ve at least got memories of your mom. I don’t have any.”

“Then he’s missing out,” Luz said, swooping down to hug the demon and giggle at his squirming. “His loss, really. I’ll be sure to tell him that if we ever meet him.”

“Even if he looks as big and terrifying as his mural?” King asked, moving his head just slightly.

“Even if he looks scarier than his mural.” Luz said with a very serious nod.

“Alright,” King said with a tsk, shaking his head. “But I’m not responsible if you get stepped on.”

“That’s fair,” 

The two smiled at each other, chuckling quietly as Luz turned and flopped back on her bed, jolting King before he crawled up and curled into a ball on her stomach. Luz smiled up at the ceiling, stroking a hand down his back. King nuzzled her hand, yawning as he shut his eyes, wrapping his small claws around her fingers.

She turned her head to the side, off towards the bundle of items she stashed at the other end of her room. Her eyes locked on the box of tapes under a pile of clothes, the words FOR MOM written as large as possible on the side in sharpie. Her smile fell, and she looked away from the box, face pinched.

“I hope your mom likes us,” King mumbled sleepily. “It won’t change anything if she doesn't, right?” He cracked open an eye, the yellow and purple glow looking eerie as he gazed at Luz.

“She’ll like you,” Luz assured quickly, forgoing answering his second question as she stroked her other hand over his skull and down his back. King shut his eyes again and purred in response, tail wagging. “She’ll like you.” She repeated, quieter, gently squeezing her fingers around King’s claws.

She didn’t speak after that. She did, however, tighten her hold on his back with her other hand, like she was afraid he’d get ripped out of her hands from a simple gust of wind. If she was squeezing him too tightly, he didn’t say anything.