#your really gonna say to his face the man who risked his life to save as many mutants as he could and then risked his life again to protect

[cinematicbookworm]

Slight tangent that’s been stuck in my head the last couple days but when magnito come back to confront Charles in X-men 97 justifiably so fuck you charles and rouge is all like oh none of you where there on genosha in response to the team telling her to not join him in literally destroying the world like Kurt was standing right there her brother who nearly died that day was standing there and asking her not to join magneto and she just says no you weren’t there like bitch yes he was I feel like the writers weren’t really thinking things through there like he very much was there like I love ya girl but come on nightcrawler very much was there and did risk his life to save the people that where there

[princessbrunette]

stepbro john b with a nympho reader? :PP

.𖥔 ݁ ˖🎀𖦹🍨₊ ⊹༘⋆

you’re openly ravenous, and it kills him. any other guy would be thrilled to have a girl as hot as you flaunting herself round in a bikini all day, throwing yourself at him. but john b had a good heart, although lead astray the brunette was often set on doing the right thing. what he thought would be the responsible thing to do, and despite jj’s constant goading — that didn’t entail boning his little step-sister.

“you ain’t never watched step porn? the fuck do you even search on pornhub, bro — holding hands? love making?” the blonde scoffs as he leans his elbows against the rickety wooden barrier, casting his fishing line over it.

“i don’t really watch— ugh, whatever. i can’t do that. it’s tempting, oh trust me — i am incredibly tempted, but… i was left in charge of her, okay? i—i can’t just take advantage of her like that. she’s probably just all messed up because both our parents left us for dead.” john b sighs, shaking his head out at the open still water. jj squints at him for a moment like he’s dumb before checking his own rod.

“take advantage of her? dude she’s practically offerin’ it up n’dangling it infront of your face. you know what i say? you just take the risk, show her how a real man does it, tell her enough with the slutty little girl games. s’what i’d do anyway.” he shrugs hypothetically.

“really jj? thats what you’d do?” john b blinks, deadpanned as he glances at his best friend, barely entertaining his rambling.

“sure would. look if you’re not gonna swoop on that shit i hope you don’t mind me tryin’ that door. she’s hot, man.”

the idea of jj trying you out didn’t sit well with john b. the way you acted sometimes was like you were famished, starved for dick, like it was your life line and your step brother was the only one who could save you. jj oddly had a way with ladies, he was brutish and pogueish and the girls knew he fucked rough and dirty. john b can’t see you resisting that, especially as you know it’ll get to him.

that’s why he walks straight into your bedroom with all the confidence in the world, and loses it the second you turn and look him in the eye.

“okay.” is all he says and you furrow your brows, already slinking towards him like there were magnets attached to the two of you.

“okay what, john b?” you tilt your head. everything you did, every little move and micro expression you made seemed to be a seduction tactic. a spell that couldn’t be broken because he was just a simple minded guy that thought with his dick at the end of the day.

“uh…” he lifts a hand up to scratch the back of his head and you take the opportunity to eye him, delighted to see that he was already half hard from the thoughts running through his mind. “yeah this was… not my finest idea aaaand, i didn’t really think this through—” he starts to talk, and momentarily distracted you take his tanned hand, pulling it to cup your cunt. “uh— so… that’s your pussy.” he deadpans obviously, lost for words.

you grin and nod, eyes fluttering when his muscle memory kicks in and his slides a thumb over your covered clit, nothing but the material of your bikini bottoms separating you. “nothin’ gets passed you, big bro.” you tease, pushing your body closer to him.

“so this step-sibling… conundrum… really doesn’t bother you. like, at all?” he clarifies, big brown eyes locked in on your lips as you stand on your tiptoes, breath now mingling and lips just nearly grazing his.

“uh-uh. s’not like we’re related.” you reason, and when it comes from your sweet voice he can’t argue.

“jesus.” he sighs into your mouth, practically sharing oxygen at this point. “you know what? fuck it.” he takes the leap, pressing his mouth to yours as to which you let out a delighted squeal, immediately jumping up on him, wrapping your legs around his waist.

“we’re gonna have so much fun, john b.” you muse, almost happy to a sinister degree as you wrap your arms around his neck. he blinks up at you, guilty but sinfully aroused and presses his bulge between your split legs.

“thats the plan.”

.𖥔 ݁ ˖🎀𖦹🍨₊ ⊹༘⋆

[cultofdixon]

Vocalize What’s Inside

Daryl Dixon • She/Her Pronouns • SFW/ANGST • Risking your life countless times for someone who doesn’t notice, only for you to realize it was never one sided • TW: Scars / Nightmares / PTSD / Injuries

Daryl Dixon, man of a few words and certainly someone who doesn’t just share with anybody…

Found a soft spot for you.

“Y/N, Daryl. Go on the next run will yea? You know what we’ll need” Rick states heading straight to the gardens of the prison.

“He’s quick with it I guess.” Y/N laughs a bit going to get her gear as Daryl watches her until the second she entered the prison.

“You’re staring”

Daryl froze hearing the other Grimes’ voice catch him off guard. He turns to Carl seeing his mischievous smile plastered on his face and next thing you know, Daryl pushes him into the dirt.

“Mind yer business”

“Then stop staring that like you’re gonna die if she leaves your sight!”

“CARL” Rick yells out spotting his son bothering Daryl and once Carl groans running over to him. He gave Daryl a shrug in response to his son being annoying.

As Y/N was heading out of the cell block she was stopped by her name being called by Maggie. She sets her bag by the door before running up the stairs to head to her cell.

“Need something Mags?”

“A little favor. Rick ain’t quiet and said you were going on a run.”

“Yeah, with Daryl. So…this favor?” Y/N smiles sitting beside Maggie on her cot.

The roaring of Daryl’s bike made Y/N run over faster climbing onto the back of his bike throwing his crossbow over her shoulder. He pats her thigh for her to scoot closer and wrap her arms around his torso.

“What took yea so long?”

“Girl things”

“Right. Don’t tell me anymore” Daryl scoffs with a bit of a laugh as Y/N rolls her eyes smiling holding onto him tightly when he started to drive once Carl and Rick opened the gate for them.

The drive felt longer than usual as Daryl took a longer route to show his rider a bit of the quiet in the storm. He may have not seen it but the way she relaxes against him, he knows she’s smiling watching everything go by.

“Imma hit up the pharmacy and you sweep the the grocer?”

“Mm. Should stick together”

“I’ve handled my fair share of walkers, D. I’ll holler if it gets too much” Y/N squeezes his bicep with a smile on her way to the small pharmacy they found a bit ago.

Daryl being quick as he was, swept the building and got what seemed useful before entering the pharmacy finding Y/N scrambling through the ruins. He was going to ask to help her find whatever she needed but when she shot up suddenly from crouching, she held up a pregnancy test and read it carefully. Was she seein’ somebody else in the prison? Part of him felt jealous and another was toward his insecurity.

“Hey”

The way she didn’t tense when he called toward her. Y/N turned to him shooting a smile his direction as she didn’t bother hiding the box.

“Hey sorry, was I taking forever? I had to find somethin’ for Maggie”

“I’m takin’ it’s what in yer hands?” thank god it’s not for you. Daryl propped himself against one of the empty shelves as Y/N nods while she stuffs it in her backpack.

“Can’t tell them you saw, okay?”

“Okay” Daryl nods watching her smile and god does he take a mental picture of it. “I’ve got everythin’” he says heading out of the building as Y/N trails behind him after snagging a few more things.

It didn’t take long for the archer to get in some trouble, but even shorter time for Y/N to quickly body slam the walker away from him knocking it off it’s feet. Daryl looked at her with pure confusion as to why the hell she did that.

“Don’t do that!”

“It got the walker off you!”

“Don’t matter! You could’ve been grabbed. Scratched. Fuck! Just don’t do that” Daryl snaps annoyed going to put an arrow through the walker’s head before retrieving said arrow and heading back to his bike. “Let’s go”

She felt defeated even when saving him. Yeah, it didn’t need to be that “dramatic” but he really doesn’t understand why she would do that when he could’ve handled it.

Once the two returned to the prison, Rick noticed Daryl’s annoyed expression over what happened as Y/N tried her best not to look too upset with herself. He was going to ask Daryl how the run was but he immediately dropped his bag of supplies to his feet before storming off.

“What’d you do?”

“What didn’t I do” Y/N sighs. “I have to get something to somebody but then I’ll put the rest in the pantry. Okay?”

“I’ll take care of his stash…Uhm. Give him space I guess?” Rick frowns as Y/N nods walking past him after getting off Daryl’s bike.

“What’s up yours?” Carol scoffs watching her best friend approach her with annoyance and a bit of rage. “Cmon. What’s wrong pookie?”

“Don’t. I ain’t in the goddamn mood for nicknames” He groans sitting at the table Carol was currently residing.

“Then talk about it or I’m leavin’”

“It’s Y/N!”

“Oh, oh!” Carol suddenly started smiling expecting the obvious but was soon met with a shake of the archer’s head as her smile instantly faded. “Oh…so what then?”

“Got in a bit of a mess with a walker. And she just. Fucking slammed against it”

“Taking it was about to topple you over or it was already on top of you”

“Don’t justify what she did”

“I mean. You both aren’t hurt are you?”

“No! But still reckless” Daryl sighs resting his face in his hands. “That shit scared the fuck outta me”

Carol knew not to press it any further and comfort the archer after a stressful moment. He knows why he’s acting such a way but even if it wasn’t for that he would still worry about the damn girl.

“You scared him. That’s what yea did” Maggie states on one side of the half wall as she was taking the test that Y/N sought out for her.

“I understand. But should I apologize? Or do you think he will get even madder”

“Is that even a word? No. It is a word. Just sounds funny” Maggie referred to “madder” which steered the conversation but as she was worrying about a possible mini Glenn happening, Y/N knew she would have to apologize. At least to see if that will make him less mad.

But she didn’t see him until the planned run with Rick and Michonne to possibly tame some horses they found a herd running through. The two sat in the bed of the truck with the things they will need and the ride was slow enough to hear the other person if they talked.

“Hey Daryl?”

“Hm?”

“I’m sorry about the body block the other day. Or whatever you call what I did…”

“It’s fine” Daryl sighs scratching the side of his face as he didn’t wait for Y/N to say another word once the truck stopped and he got out.

The group found one of the horses from the herd it was a part of. Michonne manages to get the rope around its neck to try and get it to calm enough for one of the others to climb on its back. But before Rick could even try, the horse started bucking. It’s not just humans that don’t like to be tied against their will.

Y/N dodged every blow in her direction and noticed it get dangerously close to Daryl. Right as he was about to have a blow landed in his abdomen, Y/N was stupid again pushing the archer out of the way and getting kicked instead.

She is shorter than Daryl. Not by a lot but enough for the blow to be directly in the chest when he would’ve been hit in the stomach.

The poor girl landed hard on her back after getting kicked that the wind got knocked out of her.

“Shit!” Daryl yells quickly addressing the situation watching her gasp for air for a moment. Michonne came over to help her sit up to get her to try and take deep breaths. “I fucking hate horses”

“It’s okay. You’re okay” Michonne reassures Y/N as she finally got a few deep breaths in but her chest was hurting even more now. “Come on. Let’s get yea back”

“Look here y’all!” Rick yells catching everyone’s attention as he managed to get the horse tamed. “Now we got another form of transportation”

“Now I hate you” Daryl snaps helping Michonne with getting Y/N up and back to the truck.

Daryl took over driving and had Y/N in the front with him while Michonne sat in the truck bed and Rick had his ride. He kept glancing at her every now and then watching the discomfort grow based on her expression which lead to the drive being slower and much longer.

Once the four returned to the prison and Carl was personally excited to see the horse his dad brought back. Y/N slowly stepped out of the car holding her chest as Michonne went to her immediately once getting out. Daryl was about to help but Michonne waved him off like “I’ve got this” and leaving the archer to stew once again.

“Hey grumpy. I heard about what happened to Y/N, but Hershel said she’ll be okay” Carol makes her presence known when joining the archer in the watchtower while carrying dinner she made. Another stew. Not that he ever complains. “Thought you would’ve liked an update” she says calmly as she handed the bowl to Daryl watching him happily accept.

“She scared me once again” he frowns staring at the bowl. “And got hurt this time”

“She’s gonna be okay and it would’ve been you that had gotten hurt instead—-“

“I wish it was! And I ain’t gonna confront her about it cuz I’ll hear her say some bullshit that my life matters too or somethin’”

“But it does” Carol smacks his shoulder catching him off guard. “You never care for yourself, Daryl. It’s obvious you give 100% into caring for others. But not for yourself…so seriously. Take a second and realize. How much she cares for you”

It was obvious to others that watched the two interact. Y/N cared deeply for Daryl as he did for her. She would go out of her way to make sure he was okay even when she wasn’t alright herself. As Daryl took the time to be by her side when she needed it. When it became more of caring for the physical well-being. They wanted each other safe, but Y/N was willing to risk herself to the extreme if it meant he was okay.

She knows her limits. But she can’t lose him.

And he doesn’t want to lose her.

“Ey, no bike ridin’” Daryl stops Y/N in her tracks as she gave him a disappointed look before nodding. “Just until the bruising clears” he gestures to his own chest to indicate what’s really on hers. Her bruises peaked out from her tank top. The horse really got her. “But we uh, can use one of the cars”

“You’re still letting me go on the run…even when you’re mad about—-“

“I ain’t mad…just, wish yea didn’t do that” Daryl opened the car door for Y/N. She knew as she entered that the archer could notice the blush that had formed to the gesture. Hell, the tint of pink on the tip of his ears would give him away.

The two have always done runs just the two of them. Daryl didn’t want to stop doing that because he was overwhelmingly worried about the woman he cares deeply for. He knows he can protect her outside the prison, the best he could.

“Maybe since we aren’t on your bike we could go a bit further? Even make camp a night” Y/N asks Daryl as the two were at an abandoned gas station looking at a map from the glovebox on the hood of the car after siphoning the surrounding cars for gas.

“Already told Rick we’d be a while. Didn’t mean hours or days so, yeah. Why not” Daryl pulls away from the hood to grab his crossbow to load back up as Y/N folded the map and did the same.

Going through the passing neighborhoods, they found plenty of stuff for everybody. Especially cans of food and formula for Judith.

Once Daryl got the can trigger line and Y/N secured their findings in the car, they regrouped in the center of their small campsite. Y/N held herself as the night breeze that came through still drew goosebumps even with the small fire Daryl had made to help cook the rabbit he caught on the run.

“Watch this?” Daryl gestures to the catch watching Y/N nod before getting up to grab something from the car.

Y/N watches the rabbit cook and flipped it when she thought it needed to be. She flinched when she heard the archer curse and the shut of the trunk.

“Daryl?”

“Sorry” Daryl came back handing Y/N his poncho to help with her small shiver as she couldn’t keep it to herself when noticing he was hiding his other hand.

“What happened?” She frowns putting the poncho on staring directly at his hidden hand.

“Nothin’. It’s nothing”

“Daryl. Come on”

“Y/N. It’s seriously noth—-“

“Shut the fuck up” Y/N suddenly snaps feeling her face heat up on anger and a bit of embarrassment as Daryl looks at her surprised. “You can’t hide an injury. I know better than anyone how hard that can be…I don’t care how small it is, D. Just let me fucking see it”

Not another word was shared as Daryl watches Y/N be ever so careful with the cut in his palm using her medical supplies she always carries. Enough for a few cuts here and there. Not enough to cause a dent in their supply that Hershel keeps inventory on.

Daryl waited for her to finish patching him up to carefully take one of her hands into his. The gesture made her look up from their laps showing the tears that threatened to spill, finally do so.

“You care so much for me…”

“Yeah, I do…”

“Why am I worth it to yea?”

“Because your life matters yknow. You may not think it does, but it does…and I can’t lose you. You mean so much more to me than you think”

“C’mere then” Daryl gently tugs her toward him wrapping his arms around her once she got close enough to lean on him feeling his arms tighten enough but not too much to cause discomfort. “Let me take care of yea, too”

The days went by slowly after that interaction…the archer found himself being more mindful of his surrounding for his well-being as well as others. He made sure to take in every second of every day and make sure he comes back at the end of it.

To her.

“You wanna go for a ride?” Daryl leans over Y/N as she was reading at one of the tables outside.

“For a run?”

“Nah, one of those rides”

Y/N leans back into him looking up slightly with a smile, feeling his lips press a kiss to her forehead.

“C’mon then”

[elegantauthor]

Saving Grace Chapter 13

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Aurora Stark

Summary: Aurora is left in the dark, as Zemo travels to Prague.

Warnings: threats to one’s safety

Series Masterlist

Aurora awoke with a gasp, bolting upright only to find herself restrained. Disoriented, she thrashed against whatever was holding her in place, until the sound of Zemo chuckling doused her panic like ice water. She fell back against the seat, inwardly cursing the seatbelt. She didn’t remember falling asleep. She glanced sidelong at Zemo—eyes tight, he must’ve drove without stopping.

She would risk jumping out of a moving vehicle, but she wasn’t about to imperil her life by attacking him while he was driving. There was, of course, another option, but she doubted that he’d feel anything. Still, she thought, it was worth a shot.

Worming her way inside his heart, she stood at the precipice of an impenetrable fortress—more so than with Bucky. The calm that she now exuded was more for her benefit than Zemo’s. She needed it like a security blanket. If she couldn’t read him, sway him, let alone control him, then she was powerless against him.

Seeming to pick up on her distress, Zemo frowned. “I have no intention of harming you, as long as you behave.”

“And if I don’t?” asked Aurora, tersely.

Zemo clicked his tongue. “As defiant as your father, I see.”

“Don’t think I’ll make this easy on you.”

“Of course not,” he sighed. “After all, you are the Winter Soldier’s lover. Who else but a woman of your stature could tame him?”

Ignoring the implication, Aurora redirected. “Where are we going? Clearly, you’ve been driving all night.”

“Prague.”

“What’s in Prague?”

“Patrons who would be very interested in someone like you.”

“You said you weren’t going to hurt me.” Aurora tried and failed to suppress the tremor in her voice. She turned to stare out the window, her breath fogging the winter-kissed glass. She didn’t want to think about what awaited her in Prague, yet the intrusive thoughts impeded her calm all the same.

One hand gripping the steering wheel, Zemo reached over to wipe a stray tear from her face. “I am a man of my word.”

~ * ~

Seven years ago

“Bucky?” Aurora reached the hut in near-record time. After he bolted from the medical facility, she quickly followed after him. The Super Soldier beat her by several minutes and was now hunched over on the floor.

“I can’t, I can’t, I can’t,” he chanted like a mantra, shaking his head. “If Ayo says the words, and something happens— I can’t.”

Kneeling at his side, she tentatively reached out. She released an aura of calm, and once he relaxed, she placed a hand on his shoulder. “Nothing is going to happen,” she assured him.

Slowly, Bucky lifted his head. As if just realizing she was there, his wide eyes narrowed into a glare. “You shouldn’t have been in there,” he snapped. “You don’t know what he could’ve— what I could’ve done to you, Aurora.”

“Nothing happened,” she repeated, firmly yet gently.

Scowling, he pushed himself into sitting position and leaned against the bed. “You are so goddamn stubborn.”

“So are you,” she chided softly, “but you don’t see me throwing a fit.”

Bucky quirked a small smile, as some of the tension in the room ebbed. “You are going to be the death of me.”

“Stubborn and a force to be reckon with, if I’m the one who’s finally going to take down the Winter Soldier.”

Bucky wasn’t sure whether to laugh at that, or not. Sighing, he took her hand and held it. “Your hand is so delicate, so fragile, I could break it easily.” He applied pressure with barely a squeeze. “And I don’t need a metal arm to do it. Don’t you see?”

Lacing her fingers with his, Aurora shook her head. “I’m not scared of you. Do you want me to be scared of you? Because that will only reinforce the narrative you keep telling yourself, and I don’t think that’s what you really want.”

“What do you know about what I want?”

“I’d like to think you want to heal. You want people to look at you with some semblance of normalcy.”

“Never gonna happen,” he scoffed, gesturing to his empty left arm socket.

“Having a metal prosthetic, or lack thereof, doesn’t make you the man you are.” She shifted so that she was sitting next to him. “Take me, for example. I’m Tony Stark’s daughter. Naturally, everyone expects me to be some sort of prodigy. They assume I have a passion for science and technology, which I don’t. Then, there are those who label me as shallow simply because I have a rich dad.”

“You’re anything but shallow,” Bucky murmured, turning his head to look at her. “You’re so smart. Hell, you help me make sense of all this mess. And- and… you’re beautiful. You’re one of the most compassionate people I know.”

“That’s the point I’m trying to make.” She smiled, looking up at him. “You are more than what HYDRA made you. You’re not their legacy. You’re a victim, but even that doesn’t have to define you.”

“What do you see when you look at me?”

“I see a man who has been traumatized, but is strong enough to overcome. You are brave and resilient. You’ve showed me and the people of Wakanda nothing but kindness. Then, there’s the you when Steve visits… the you whose grin brightens a room, and with your charm and presence…” She paused and chewed on her bottom lip, unsure whether she should continue. “Managed to capture my heart.”

“I—” He huffed out a breathless laugh, the corner of his mouth begging to curl into a smirk, unable to out of astonishment. “You’re a demigoddess, the demigoddess of love. I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to. I’m not going to pressure you for anything. I… can’t help how I feel, but if you need time, I—” Aurora was rambling.

Her words and subsequent whimper of surprise were swallowed the moment Bucky pressed his lips to hers. Without breaking the kiss, she knelt beside him once more, as he circled his arm around her. The pull of his regret instantly quelled at the push of her lips against his.

Arm wrapped around her, Bucky broke the kiss to look up at her. “I wanna be the man you see.”

Aurora tenderly kissed his forehead, whispering into his skin. “You are that man.”

[walpu]

Reading your Nameless!reader and pre-relationship with Aventurine gave me a brain blast because I merged both ideas into one. (Word vomit, send help-)

You're either just an acquaintance of his or just a mere fling during the lively nights of sucking the bettors' cash dry in the casino, he won a bet against you and spent a date. That’s all there is to it, and that’s the extent of your relationship with him. That’s what he initially thought. What fate brought you two to meet at certain intervals are too good to be a coincidence, you caught the glances of that one they call a ‘Stoneheart’.

Cerulean and magenta would drift their attention away from whatever once they saw you behind his shades, just listening to a guitarist express their soul on the bench just by the road, right there when you’re alone did he propose for another bet and an upcoming date.

And you’d just drag him with you to do something, no bets, no losers would do anything the winner wants. You know your chance of winning against Aventurine is little to none, so if he wants to do an encore he’s gonna get an encore, no bets needed.

And this would happen for quite a while after coincidental encounters in planets, star systems, galaxies, it reached the point he’d touch you freely like an old friend. Aventurine doesn’t know what led him to take attraction to you, was it boredom from that second time he saw you? Was it how you seem to enjoy just with him being there? Or was it how you held him so gently like an angel’s touch as you danced with him in your first fling?

Gentle and caring is what he’d describe your touch as, and it scared him. You’re not his first fling oh no no, but you’re the first person he invited to have an intimate night to destress who touched him so gently, and he’s not one to ask hem to be gentle or caring. It’s intoxicating, he craves for more but the butterflies inside him makes him feel vulnerable and weak. Oh how he’d love to take you anywhere in the universe if he’s not a busy, busy man, and a coward that pull away from you the more he realized that you mean so much more to him.

Until he notices that this coincidental encounters starts to lessen, with his position in the IPC he became busier and busier he doesn’t have the time to contact you and you’d reply much later than usual, texts from you would be more rare after a long while. He wants to be relieved for the calmness and solitude but his heart aches at the thoughts of you abandoning him. He fears genuine affection, he’s afraid that you’ll risk your life mingling with someone like him. This is an optimal solution for both of you, right?

Seeing you again in Penacony after a long time of not meeting one another again made him forget how much he misses you, the way you’d run up to him all happy to finally see him again and how you smirked mischievously at your Astral Express crew’s shocked face about your beloved old friend. Aventurine has many things to catch up with you, to be part of the Nameless you follow the tracks forged by the Trailblaze, you’d save worlds and seal Stellarons, to cross path with one another is once in a lifetime.

And he’s calm himself down and take things slowly with you, what do you say about a dinner together?

- 🪽

(I'm normal don't worry. Sorry if it's so LONG! Have a nice day, love your writing!)

DON'T APOLOGIZE ANON IT'S BEAUTIFUL thank you for sharing this with me it really made my evening 🥹💛

Have a nice day as well <з

[gh0stsp1d3r]

Hiii! Can I please request a Tangerine x fem!civilian/innocent reader where she is an innocent civilian that gets caught in the crossfire, but unlike the civilian when they were getting by the White Death’s son, they’re able to save her life. But as they’re driving off with a very terrified Y/n, they realize that she has seen their faces and she sort of becomes an accidental hostage. Tan is really soft with her though. As time passes Tan realizes he has fallen in love with her and feels bad, so he lets her go, BUT Y/n ends up not wanting to leave because she has fallen in love with him too, so she stays🥺

Hostage

-dark! Tangerine and lemon, probably ooc but who cares, idk if this counts as Stockholm syndrome

Tangerine started to walk, and then stopped as he saw you sleeping against the glass. What the fuck was a normal civilian still doing here?

“Hey. Wake up.” He said, and shook your shoulders.

You groaned and woke up, looking up and seeing a man.

In all the chaos, how didn’t you wake up?

“Who the fuck are you?” You asked him.

“Tangerine. Look-“ he started but stopped, as the train crashed into another.

He quickly grabbed onto you, thinking that he couldn’t just let some normal person die. He held onto you tightly, and after a little bit you passed out. Tangerine held onto you as you guys fell into the water, along with Lemon and some other guy who lemon killed quickly.

“Who the fuck is that?!” Lemon asked, gesturing to the person tangerine was carrying.

“Some random person, the last one on the train. Can’t leave a regular civilian to die.” He shrugged and put you on the ground, he sat down and sighed heavily.

“How the hell is she not dead?” Lemon asked and sat next to him.

“I don’t know. Why don’t you ask them?” Tangerine muttered and scoffed, looking for a car or vehicle.

“Seriously?” He said when lemon pulled up in a Tangerine decorated truck.

“Hell yes I’m serious. Get in.” He said.

“Oh fuck.. wait. We just gonna leave her here? She’s seen my face, and she can go to the authorities.”

“That’s true. Your porn-stache is very distinguishable.” Lemon said, while thinking.

“Oh, fuck off. What do we do now?” He asked.

“I guess.. we could let her go.”

“Yeah, but then she’s gonna go tell everyone and then we’re gonna be in a jail cell, do you wanna be in a jail cell?!”

Lemon sighed “Do whatever you think is best, I guess.”

“I did not sign up for this.” He mumbled as he dragged you into the back, tied up with a taped mouth.

As soon as you woke up, you tried to scream. Then you realized, your mouth was taped so you couldn’t.

They both realized that you had waken up when they heard something in the back.

Lemon gave tangerine a look, and tangerine just rolled his eyes at him.

“Keep your eyes on the road.” He said.

“So where the fuck we going now?”

Tangerine sighed “We cant drive back to London, obviously. We might just have to catch a plane.”

“How the hell are we gonna- Y’Know, never mind. Let’s just find a hotel for a little bit and then we can think.” Lemon muttered, and tried to find somewhere to stay.

Finally, after a little bit, lemon had finally found a place. It was small, but he wasn’t trying to waste all his money.

“I’ll get her.” Tangerine sighed, baking his head and entering the back.

You tried to scream again, as you sat up in the back.

“Look, sorry about all this. But uh, you did see our faces and the minute we let you go you’ll run away and tell someone. Can’t risk that.” He sighed, taking the tape off your mouth and waiting for lemon to come back and say he got it.

“Let me go!” You shouted, he covered your mouth as you tried to fight against it.

“Look, after a while, we’ll probably let you go. We’re not gonna kill you or anything unless we fuckin’ need to, got it?”

You weren’t paying much attention, as you still tried to scream. He sighed and hung his head in defeat.

“Got it. Come on out.” Lemon said.

“Coming.”

“Say one word to anyone, I won’t hesitate to kill you.” Tangerine whispered, although it was a lie. Having an innocent person killed would make him feel guilty. Lemon just rolled his eyes at the lie. In reality, he was a big fucking softie. And he knew that he wasn’t just going to kill some innocent person, on purpose at least.

He untied you, grabbing you hand as Lemon unlocked it.

“It’s got two rooms, you two can figure that shit out, me, I’m going to sleep.” Lemon said, and immediately went into a room and taking off his pants and shirt, then hopping into the bed.

“Alright then… c’mon.” He said, pulling your hand.

“You need anything to eat or drink?” He asked. But you didn’t answer.

“I will take that as a no.” He mumbled, and tied you up to the bed frame.

“Okay.. then, I had a long fucking day, so I’m going to sleep. I’m trusting you to not do anything.” He narrowed his eyes at you, and got into his bed, but took off only his shirt, since you were there.

You would admit, you were staring. He looked like he belonged in a museum- wait, what? You could not be thinking about your kidnapper like that. You shook those thoughts away- or tried to at least. But it was true.

He fell asleep quickly, and you almost thought of ways to escape. But then you remembered what he had said.

“Say one word to anyone, I won’t hesitate to kill you.”

You frowned, and tried to at least get comfortable on the floor, you shifted to a position that was somewhat comfortable and sat there.

You decided that you weren’t going to escape any time soon, and decided to just go to sleep, maybe this was all a bad dream.

✢✢✢✢✢

But it wasn’t, because when you woke up, you saw the man, the one with the mustache. You didn’t actually know their names, and you didn’t try learning.

“Morning.” Was all he said, as he glanced back at you. He brushed his teeth, and then he sighed and looked at you after.

“You know, you have to eat.” He said, and looking at the plate next to you.

“I can’t, my hands are tied.” You said, rolling your eyes at the man.

“Guess I forgot about that.” He sighed, and sat down in front of you. He picked the fork up, and he looked slightly annoyed but again, he was the one kidnapping you.

He fed you, slowly, like as if you were a child. You had to eat though, because even if you didn’t admit it you were fucking starving.

“Thank you.” You said quietly, as he got up and took the palate, he put it on a counter.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” He muttered and left the room again.

Lemon started to deny his brothers thought about it.

“Look, why don’t you just let her go?” Lemon asked, as he sat in the living room. It was surprisingly modern, but the style was very minimalistic.

“I can’t. Unlike you, I don’t wanna end up in jail.” He rolled his eyes.

“Well we have to go to our own homes eventually, then what the hell you gonna do?”

“I don’t know! Okay? I don’t bloody know!” Tangerine said, and went back in the room.

He groaned and sat on the bed, thinking. He put his face in his hands, irritated.

He looked down at you, sighing.

He untied your wrists, you didn’t get up though, and you just held your wrists, rubbing them.

“You can go.” He said.

You stayed quiet for a moment “Where are we exactly?”

“Kyoto.” He said.

“I don’t really know how to get from here back to where I live..” you said quietly.

Tangerine sighed, slightly in annoyance.

“Look, lady-“

“Do I have to go?”

He was taken aback at your question, shocked. He looked at you confused.

“Why would you not want to..?”

“Because.. just because.”

He just sighed “I guess..it would be fine by me. Don’t know about my brother though-“

“I don’t care about what he thinks.”

[romana-after-dark]

The Wrong Way: Chapter 9

Dark!Joel Miller x Fem!Reader

Tommy Miller x reader (secondary)

Masterlist

Spotify playlist

Summery: You are sold to Joel to clear up some of your fathers' debts, and he takes you back to his house where him, Tommy, and high ranking members of his raiding trope stay. Joel is mean, cruel, and hash, but had small moments of softness that confuse you in your venerable state. Over time, you get to know him and Tommy, and see different sides of each, and both are hiding secrets. Was it possible to fall in love under these circumstances? Or was that just another way Joel was fucking with you?

Aka: my mom sold me to One Direction

WARNINGS FOR FULL FIC, NOT CHAPTER BY CHAPTER UNLESS SOMETHING NEW IS ADDED AFTER MASTER WARNING LIST: DEAD DOVE DO NOT EAT!!!! Fic contains graphic depictions of sexual assault, rape, molestation, dubcon/non con. Blow Jobs, PIV sex, lose of virginity, sex trafficking, past incest, death/people dying everywhere, Stockholm syndrome, falling for your rapist, victim blaming, torcher, branding, physical abuse, rape (not Joel), somno, dub con on tommy? idk he's not really into it but feels like he has to, self-harm/depression/suicidal thoughts (not a lot) but fair warning, major age gaps, love triangle, pregnancy/birth, threats of abortion, major character death, mentions of potential csa/child abuse but does not even come close to happening, forced pregnancy, forced housewife shit, breeding, breeding kink?!?!

Pacing is a bit off for reason's I'll explain at the end so uh have mercy. I shifted thing a bit but I think it'll make the last chapter better.

*********************

If we had a daughter I'd watch and could not save her The emotional torture From the head of your high table She'd do what you taught her She'd meet the same cruel fate So now I've gotta run So I can undo this mistake At least I've gotta try... -Labour, Paris Paloma

It was cool out, and the fall leaves crunched under Joel heavy footsteps, shuttering and flittering as he pulls you across the lawn, screaming his brother's name in vain, horse shouts. 

You were supposed to rake tomorrow. 

“TOMMY! TOMMY! TOMMY!” was all you could say, all sense having left you as soon as you were thrown around in the kitchen. It was another slap that brought you back to reality, opening your eyes to come face to face with the man who had beaten and loved you in such harsh contrast this last year, pulling you both to stand on top of a chair. Your shirt felt wet from how much you cried and were still sobbing, but you have enough thought, just barely, to stop screaming for Tommy… he let go, and you wanted to run, wanted to protect your baby… but you’d get nowhere. You look down at the crowd that gathered, all men you recognized, some you liked, some you knew were just waiting for Joel to relinquish you to them… and Lorenzo, his normally droopy bedroom eyes opened wide with fear.

This is how you’d die, isn’t it?

Joel yanked your face back to him. “They ain’t gonna save yuh, little one. Not even Tommy would save you, you know that, right, for all you cry for him, he still chose me over you. He chose Maria over you, because you are NOTHING! You were nothing but a pastime to him but me?” A rush of calm as he held your chin tightly, nails digging into the skin and clawing your face open. “I love you, princess, and all you do is hurt me.” His voice was soft, small, and for a foolish moment you think maybe he already peaked in his rage… until a strong, painful punch in your sternum knocked all breath out of you... and again. and again.

You hear Lorenzo call out your name, and through your sore throat and abused body, you manage to get out and small ‘don’t’. You hope Renzo knows that’s meant for him. Don’t do it. Don’t risk your life for me, I’m not worth it.

Joel throws the rope over the tree branch, and as you look at your surroundings, you are struck with horror at the realization that this is the tree in which Nick’s skeleton lay at the foot; an area you always intentionally avoided since Joel brought you out here so, so long ago. The rope that his hands hung from as Joel skinned him alive was across from you… was that your intended fate? Would he really do that to you, 8 months pregnant? Or would he kill you and preform some sick, botched c-section?

He fashioned a noose around your neck.

“Joel, Joel please, I’m sorry”

“I don’t fucking care!”

“THE BABY, JOEL!” You sob, pleading for your child's life. “Please, please just wait until I give birth, then you can do whatever you want but they shouldn’t be punished because of me!”

“You’re right, she shouldn’t” Joel always referred to the baby as ‘she’, despite no evidence. He pulled the rope tight, causing you to choke and stand on your toes to keep breathing. “This is your fault.” He slapped you, making your head swing wildly to the right. “It’s your fault I’m hurting you.” He slapped you again, and you felt blood leave your mouth. “You hurt me!” He screamed, and another slap. The ringing in your ear doesn’t prevent you from hearing him as he tells you that you are hurting the baby yourself before delivering his final blow. You can’t focus your eyes at all… but you can hear him, although you wish you couldn’t. From the loud voice and the feel of his breath, he’s right in front of you. “I should tie us both up, little one, and kick this chair out from under us, end it all, is that what you want?”

No, absolutely not. Even after everything, you didn’t want Joel dead, and it hurt you to hear the pain in his voice, just as it hurt to see the betrayal in his eyes as he learned of Tommy… You loved him, you loved him, you loved…

“N-o!” you choke out, the harsh rope burning on your throat.

“As much as I know you want me to,” Despite the fact you said no, he was so convinced you hated him. “You don’t get to win, cheating bitch.”

He hops down, rope in hand, tying it to the bar of the chair and leaving you gagging and rasping on your tippy toes for air on the chair. He mutters his usual threats to the men, that anyone who helps you or touches you is dead, and you watch him walk away towards the house. 

So you stand there for what feels like forever, attempting to pull the noose off but you can barely breath, can barely see, can barely hear… you can, however, feel your precious baby kicking.

One by one, the men get bored and wander off inside, until two bodies are left.

You register Lorenzo’s smell, alcohol and those strange gross cigarettes he smokes, hoping up on the chair and quickly taking you down. You can’t stand, and Lorenzo barely stops you from completely collapsing on the ground. He yells at Jack to help him carry you inside, but Jack hesitates, no doubt not wanting to die… but after back and forth, another arm is lifting you up, and your heavily pregnant form is stumbling back to your home.

“Hey, stay with me sweetheart, we’re gonna get you back, okay? But I need you to stay awake, I think you’re concussed”

You don’t answer; you can’t answer, really… even as you slowly start to gain a little focus. Lorenzo is talking you through it. ‘Right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot.’ Although you’re certain Lorenzo could carry you on a normal day, 8 months pregnant was another story.

You weren’t sure what his plan was, but it didn't really matter as Joel was waiting inside for you.

“Jack, take the girl.”

Lorenzo spoke up. “Joel, calm down, I know damn well you didn’t want her dead-”

“Jack, take the girl, and cover her eyes.”

You try to say no, to tell Joel to stop, but words don’t form like they should… Joel wouldn’t listen anyway.

So, there you are, stuck in Jack’s arms which were oddly tight, protective and comforting as Lorenzo’s blood splattered on you both, Joel pistol whipping him hard before shooting.

Lorenzo’s body falls to the floor as a clump of deadweight, and as Joel grabs you, dragging you into the room, all you can glimpse is Jack frantically trying to stop Lorenzo’s bleeding as your only friend screamed in pain on the floor.

When the door closes, Joel is a new person, pulling you to him and onto the bed. He was sat up against the wall, holding your back to his chest as your body wracked in sobs. Lorenzo was dead, you were in pain, and you were so, so scared for your baby. Could they survive what Joel had just done to you? You were certain it was over for now, Joel was back to his lovey, post-violence state had already set in… but what about next time? Joel had been safe for months… months where you didn’t run, you cooked and cleaned and serviced him and fucking hell, you fell in love! You loved him! You were the best possible wife you could’ve been, all while carrying his child, and even the mere suggestion of waiting on having another instead of pumping them out like he wanted, and he nearly killed you.

Was he trying to kill you?

Lorenzo said he wasn’t.

But you weren’t sure…

Lorenzo…

Despite the protruding stomach, he began to massage your core, and you were too violently ill and dizzied to protest. You’d be too scared to even try, anyway. You weren’t sure how long he tried until he gave up, but it felt like forever, minute after minute of your shaking, aching body crying in his arms as he tried to bring you to orgasm with his hands before realizing you weren’t the slightest bit wet. Your body didn’t even have it in you to attempt to betray you this time.

So Joel just held you, and held you tight, so tight you couldn’t hardly breathe again and you had no choice but to try and relax yourself until the sobs bubbled down to gentle hiccups and a steady stream of tears.

“Why do you make me do this to you?” Joel spoke, his voice croaking and you suddenly notice tears on your neck. “Why do you make me hurt you?”

“I d- I don’t know.” You gasped and tried to answer through the shaking tears.

“I don’t want to do this, you know that right?”

“Uh-uh”

“You make me act like this. I’ve been good to you, haven't I?”

“Y-y-yeah-ah.”

You almost killed me and our baby.

“I feed you, I care for you.”

“Y-yeah”

Tommy fed me. I cook for you.

“I make love to you, I make you come, don’t I?”

“Yeah.”

You rape me.

“You’re my wife”

You kidnapped me.

“I gave you a child.”

You forced this on me.

“I gave you a life here, free from your father.”

You ripped me away from Zach and June, you sent Tommy away, you killed Lorenzo.

“But still, you treat me like dirt.”

I cared for you. I’ve been a nurse, a servant, a cook, a whore

“You cheated on me with my own brother”

I was terrified of losing my virginity, and Tommy was safer than you.

“You disrespect me”

I asked a question.

“You know why I do this, right? It’s for your own good. Our baby needs a good mother, she needs a mother who will love her unconditionally, who will always be there for her, to be a good example. I can’t have you running around making her feel unwanted, can I?”

“No.”

Joel buried his wet, crying face in your hair. “So it’s not really my fault, is it?” It was like he was begging for forgiveness, for absolution, justifying it to you, to himself, maybe even to Sarah…

You answer him, sleepy, head throbbing and you feel like you could throw up. “No, it’s my fault.” and it was. It was your fault for not leaving with Zach, for not taking him up on countless offers he made in letters Lorenzo passed between you, offering to run away with you and June and Lorenzo… even continuing to beg into the pregnancy, but you ignored him, causing many fights between you and Lorenzo. It was your fault, and now Lorenzo was dead or dying and you were trapped with no way to contact Zach, no way to get to him…

He caresses your head and body. “Yeah, it’s yours, but it’s okay, I forgive you. You’ll do better, I just know it.” Joel sounded like he was about to fall asleep too. “You’ll be good for her. You’ll be a good mom for Sarah.”

If you weren’t so fucking tired, the revelatin of the extent of Joel’s dellousions would be shocking to you, but you couldn’t find anything shocking anymore.

“I spoke to Tommy the other day.” He sat up, laying you down into bed and tucking you in. “He’s doing good.” A kiss on the cheek and he continued his talking. “I was think’n, maybe after she’s born, we could see Tommy a little bit? Not much” Joel was quick to warn. “Maybe just… once every month or two… so Dolly can know her uncle?” He was back to using Dolly… “Would you like that? See’n him a little bit here and there?” He was offering you an olive branch.

“Y-yes, I’d like that.” Tommy… seeing Tommy again… You wanted him so badly, you missed him so much it hurt… Lorenzo was a blessing, he was like a brother, but Tommy was someone special. A kind, soft heart in a world of monsters…

“Go to sleep, little one. Tomorrow’s a new day.”

You thought you shouldn’t sleep, given that you were clearly concussed, but Joel was so warm beside you, big and broad and protectively wrapping his arms around you… You allow yourself to drift off; there was no use fighting it anymore.

But tomorrow wouldn’t be a new day. Tomorrow would be the same thing. Cooking, cleaning, baby, sex… every day for the rest of your fucking life.

The next morning Joel brought you eggs and toast... Breakfast in bed like a good husband… You waited until it was safe to ask about Lorenzo.

Hesitantly, Joel let you go see him… he was alive, but barely. The gunshot went straight through, thank god, but the wound on his torso was already looking infected, and his face was deeply swollen and bruised; Jack was no nurse. 

But Lorenzo was still Lorenzo. “Hey sweetheart, you look like shit” 

You smile at him. “Yeah, you’re not exactly Han Solo yourself.”

“Now, how come you know who Han Solo is but you don’t know Fleetwood Mac?”

You go on to explain the comics and Joel telling you all about it while you care for his wounds, making little jabs at each other until you are done, and he grabs your hand; sincerity in his voice.

“What happened? After he shot me… what happened?” 

Lip quivering, you answer. “Nothing, really. He took me into our room and he-he held me and cried-”

He furrowed his brow at that. “He cried or you cried?”

“B-Both” You whimpered.

“Jesus”

“And he-he-he he told me I made him do it, that it’s my fault and I was a bad mom-”

Lorenzo groaned, and went to scrub his face, but yelped and winced in pain from his pistol whip. “Sweetheart, I need you to listen to me. I know I call you stupid and dumb and… I don’t understand why you stay, I really don’t… but…” He reached out and took your hand. “But this is not your fault. Even when you stay, even when you make him mad, it’s not your fault, and you are not a bad mom.”

You allow yourself to cry as he tells you, being perhaps the first person to say…

This isn’t your fault.

Two days later was when Joel left you next. You had sworn up and down you would forgive him so long as he got Lorenzo the medicine he needed, and tried your best to give him the best makeup ‘I’m sorry I hurt your feelings, Joel, I’ll do better next time, please don’t kill me’ sex you could give to smooth it all over.

The closet was locked; he kept your shoes in there, as he did any warm coats or gloves or anything that made aid in running away, but you didn’t care. You were going to the barn, you were taking a horse, and you were getting far, far away from here. You had a tinge of remorse for leaving Lorenzo; Joel will surely take it out on him, but you had gotten him his medicine and with it, a fighting chance. 

Right now, you have to run. Nothing mattered more than your baby’s life.

It was cold, crisp, but not unbearable in your sweats, socks, shirt and jacket. You had to find your way to your family farm, find Zach and go. Joel didn’t know June existed, so she was safe from his rampage… if you were lucky, your dad might be who Joel takes it out on. Joel had told you if you tried to run, Zach was the first person he’d go to… but you wondered if now that Tommy was gone, Joel might go to wherever the hell Tommy was first.

You loved Tommy, there were few people who you loved like Tommy… but you loved your child more, and you prayed that Joel would go to Tommy first, buying you and Zach some time.

As you ran through the woods, your thoughts were scurried, desperately trying to find the barn in the darkness; there were few stars and no moon, and you had never been taught a sense of direction… You weren’t sure how to get to your family farm, but Christ, you were running for your life right now. 

SMACK! You ran into a tree, no doubt adding to the horrific bruises on your face as is, but that's nothing compared to the horror of Nick’s skeleton under your body. You barely manage to cover your mouth from the scream as you fall backwards and scramble, trying desperately to get away.

As you run into a pair of legs, a hand covers your mouth this time and you scream, loud.

You are turned around and are suddenly face to face with Jack.

“Jesus fucking christ!” He whisper-shouts. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

You immediately begin begging. “Please! Please don’t tell Joel, I’ll go back! Please Jack he’ll fucking kill me, he’ll kill my baby please don’t tell-”

“Shut up!” He hisses, standing up from his crouched position to run his fingers through his hair. “Fuck. Fuckfuckfuckfuck FUCK!” Jack begins pacing, considering his course of action. “We’re going back to the house.”

You nod obediently.  You could figure out how to escape later, right now you needed Jack to keep a secret. You’d do whatever you needed to.

“Please don’t tell him, please” You sit up on your knees, wobbling with the belly but giving your best attempt to look pretty. “I’ll do whatever you want.” You’d suck him off, he could fuck your ass

“Jesus Christ, he’s got you fucked up.” Jack turns out, groaning, before helping you stand. “Get up, we gotta talk to Lorenzo, he’ll… fuck he’ll figure something out.”

Jack started walking, and you hesitated… you aren’t sure of you can trust him… but damn if you don’t have any other options. You look back and into the woods, debating your choices.. When you see a glint of silver in the grass near the skeleton.

A jackknife, the one Joel used to skin and castrate nick. You had no weapons… so you took it. It had a smooth wood handle with an ivory inlay, with a blunted out edge… the button struck a little as you practiced switching it in and out.

Not hearing your footsteps on the leaves, Jack turns around and urges you on.

He instructed you to stay put on the side of the house. He said Joel isn’t due back for a few hours, but just in case. Not long after, a stumbling and swearing Lorenzo is walking outside under Jack’s support.

“Of all the fucking times you wanna leave, you had to chose when I’m barely alive, huh?”

“I’m so-”

He holds up a hand. “Stahp.” His boston accent was thick with irritation and pain. “I’m just fucking with yuh, kid. Let’s get you to Tommy.” He began to walk, with Jack’s help, to the barn. 

“But Zach-”

“Tommy is closer. I know where Zach was gonna take you, I’ll give Tommy the instructions.” He turned to Jack. “You need to go. Joel is gonna kill you if she and I left on your patrol.”

Jack shakes his head. “No, I don’t think he’d”

You spoke up. “He would. He told me he… he knows you and Tommy still talk. He doesn’ trust you.”

Jack groans again, rubbing his face.

Lorenzo continues. “Swing by and get Maura, anyone in proximity to this is in danger.”

“Fine, fine. Meeting in Boston?”

“Rapid City, we’re not there in 4 days, keep going. You know the plan once you get to Boston.”

You turned to Lorenzo. “Zach, Joel said-”

“Relax, sweetheart. Jack and I’ve had an escape plan ready to go just in case, and that involves your brother.”

The plan was for Jack to go to the farm and get Zach… if all went well, you’d meet up in Boston. There they’d find a friend of one of Lorenzo’s sisters, Tess, and she’d help you… You weren’t entirely sure about all of this, but Renzo would bring you to Tommy… Tommy would keep you safe.

Lorenzo wasted no time. He saddled up quickly and he and Jack helped you on the horse. You thanked Jack as he and Lorenzo hugged goodbye, and Lorenzo took off galloping for as long as his wounded body could take. He slowed down after half an hour, his weakening body slumping up against yours, telling you how to get to Jackson and what to tell Tommy should he fall over… If Lorenzo passed out and off the horse, there was no way to get him up in your condition… 

Somewhere along the lines, you  found yourself apologizing, apologizing for causing so much trouble, uprooting his life, uprooting all their lives, Tommy’s happy life in Jackson…

“Sweetheart, knock it off, I mean it.” He said in that harsh but loving tone. “Joel… he said you were nothing, that you were nothing to Tommy but that’s not true. I love you, Zach loves you, and Tommy absolutely loves you. We are doing this to give you and that baby a chance at survival.”

You continued into the night, until a group of men on horses approached with dogs.

“Lorenzo Alverano!” He shouted, and the men looked at each other. Quickly, you and Lorenzo were sniffed out for infection and hurried off into the city limits and brought to where you sound found out was Maria and Tommy’s home, the men banging on the doors.

It was Tommy who answered. 

You didn’t look like yourself at all.

Even under the dim porchlight, Tommy could see the expanse of bruises and scratches on your face, your black eye, the hanging and strangulation marks and rope burn, the busted lip, the considerable amount of fat you’d lost… and of course, your 8 month round belly.

“Oh honey…” Tommy murmured before rushing to take you in his arms. “What did he do to you?”

You cried heavily in his arms as he guided you inside where another woman watched, questioning Lorenzo on the situation at hand. You were introduced to her, Maria, and although she was straight to business, you didn’t feel unwelcomed. Tommy would care for your emotional needs, Maria was planning your escape.

It was decided when she spoke. “Lorenzo, you’ll never make it to Casper the way you are, you’re staying here.” She turns to Tommy. “Take one of the travel bags and go.”

“Maria. ” You didn’t know if he was going to protest or what, but Maria stopped him short.

“Go. She needs you.” She looked… Sad, almost, as she turned to the men. “Get Lorenzo to a safehouse with a medic.” Back to Tommy. “You, get the horse and the bag and go. There isn't much time, Joel is gonna come barreling and we need to prove you’re gone.” 

Back and forth, Tommy looked at you, then Maria, then you, then Maria… before standing up. “Okay.” and he headed out the door in a hurry.

Maria looked at you sympathetically. “Do you remember me?”

You tried to think… she looked familiar but- oh. “The first day.”

She nodded. “Yeah. Joel… I wanted to stop him, but I was trying to broker a deal to keep Jackson out of his grasp and…” Maria shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m honestly amazed you lived, knowing Joel.”

“Yeah.” You huff out. “Me too.”

“Tommy’ll get you to Boston, get you safe, take care of you…” She looked sadder, the more she talked…

“I’m sorry.” You couldn’t help but over apologize, it was ingrained in you now. “But once my babies safe, I’ll leave you and Tommy alone. He’ll be back and you’ll never hear from me again.”

She didn’t look like she believed you. “Sure. He’ll be back…” did she believe herself?

Despite Maria and Tommy’s insistence to hurry, they took their time saying goodbye, Maria grasping tightly to his body.

“I’ll be back, Maria. I swear. Get through the winter and I’ll be back first thaw, okay?”

Maria didn’t sound like she believed Tommy either.

One hand was around you, holding you tightly to him while the other guided the horse, urging it on to run as much as it could… you needed distance, as Joel likely already returned to the house and discovered you were missing by now.

It was a long while before he spoke.

“What did he do to you, honey?” It was that soft, low, ever-calming tone he used on you that never failed to make you felt into him… “How did this happen…”

You couldn’t help but tell him the story of the last 8 months since he’s been gone. The pregnancy, Lorenzo, the freedom, and exhausting housekeeping with a giant belly… How Joel began to see you as his wife, his maid, a person to make babies and clean the house… not as a person like you had thought.

Finally, you told him how Joel beat the ever-living fuck out of you, how he hung you from the tree and left you for dead… and how you called for him in your hysteria. 

Tommy rested his head on yours, taking in the smell of your hair as he apologized for not being there for you.

When it was clear you weren’t getting much further, Tommy guided the horse to an old abandoned house he knew off in the woods. Tommy knew this area well, having made this trip many times throughout the years. The sleeping bag you were sent off with was intended to be shared between two people for body heat, but not necessarily a heavily pregnant person… the fit was tight, but nonetheless 

you were comfortable in his arms. You were always comfortable in his arms.

“I’m glad you’re here, Tommy.” You spoke softly, drifting off to sleep.

“I am too, honey.” Tommy kissed the side of your face, and as the tiniest peak of light shown through the horizon, Tommy and you drifted off to the small amount of sleep you could before continuing on your journey to Boston, to start a new life.

*************

CW For a bomb threat on kids between the *******'s

*********************I work at a day care, it's week 2, and between waking up from nap and snack time we received a bomb threat. Our building evacuated around 100 kids to a nearby church. People where there to set up a anniversary party and were incredibly kind. They set up a tv for the kids to watch a movie, brought out water and crackers for our poor kids who didn't get their snack, and tissues for the teachers who were crying. its me i was teachers. I did great getting the kids to safety butt as soon as the action ended i was a mess. not long after a bunch of people arrived. My day care does child care for workers at the nearby hospital we are a part of so pretty soon lots of people where there including the hospital president, HR, and on sight counseling which I took part in. Turns out it was a middle school pulling a "prank". Law enforcement said they have never seen a building full of children evacuated that quickly and safely. Several of us are new. **************

this being said... I am exhausted. I cried a lot and my anxiety drained me... but I wrote this chapter bc writing helps me cope. So.... it's not my best writing but that's okay.

chapter 10 will probably take a while to see, because I need it to be perfect, absolutely perfect for you guys because you all deserve it. You maaaaaayyy just a small drabble bc there was a scene i wanted to include but it just didn't fit!

I go on a trip next week where I'll finally get to see Matchbx 20 who ive had tickets for since 2020 but covid ruined it lol...

I'm also working on a joel one shot for ya'll

anyway thak you all so so so much for your continued support!!!!! I love you all very very much

Reblogs are the best way to spread and support, but comments mean the world. I know not everyone likes to share dark content on their blog, but even a kind anon is such support!

Anyone got any guesses for the grand finale? I would looooove to hear some theories!!!

@my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction @howaboutcastiel @tidlewav3 @bunnnyy-dummy @slutfortimotheechalamet @foggymoonbanana @dinsbaby @miraclesabound @jenna-ortega @primosworld @marclovers @threeheadedlamb @secretwriterpp @the-fox-den

@bitchyglitterfox @0bsessedwithfictionalcharacters @alloftheboysivelovedbefore @not-a-unique-snowflake-blog@lunar-ghoulie @pedritosdarling @dreamonseems @alwaysdjarin @amoramorquetepintas @milla-frenchy

[blank-slate-jay]

In Need

Joel Miller x Male!Reader Word Count: 2.6k

Tags:Angst,Violence(Blood),Comfort, Soft!Joel

Request: "Long story not so short reader's the one to encounter David, he gives Joel the medicine, reader is the one who kills David. Joel and Ellie find him, Joel seeing that he went outside alone, he killed someone for the first time and basically put himself at risk just to take care of Ellie and to prove Joel that he isn't cargo and obviously Joel fucking breaks because the guy he's in love with did all this shit to keep safe the two people he cared for the most and didn't give his life any value even before that. Reader was always behind to warn them if something was gonna attack, or to defendem with his body first and Joel didn't notice until that moment."

A/N: This prompt has a lot of angst and I love it! Has some slow build up so I really hope this is what you wanted anonymous, Enjoy!

“Where, WHERE THE FUCK IS HE?!” Joel screamed. His growl was enough to shake the wooden walls and it definitely rattled Ellie, who had her gun pointed at their second hostage tied up against the table.

Joel was furious, with his injury, with the lack of information, and most importantly, your absence. Ellie had told him everything about the raiders, how they came to kill him, how you acted as bait to lure the ruffians away from the town. Ultimately you failed and were captured. He didn’t need to know all the details, just hearing Ellie recite this to him was enough to get him off his deathbed, away from the cold mattress.

The man Joel had in his grasp, screamed out as the knife drove deeper into the man’s knee. “I don’t know…” he cried in anguish. Joel didn’t give a damn, whipping the man’s head back to get him to focus on his words. “Where. Is. He?”Joel's voice is much lower but just as menacing as before.

“They…” the raider muffled, “..there…there’s a town.”

“What TOWN?!”

His screams were enough to cause the second man on the floor to shift, Ellie positions her gun in line with the man’s head. “Leave him alone man, I can tell you where it is. It’s-”

Joel yelled again, “Shut up,” pulling the knife out from the man’s knee. Just on the small table next to him was a map, he grabs it while shoving the knife’s handle into the man’s mouth. “Point to where it is. It better fuckin’ match up with your buddy.”

The man sobs through the handle, with the map being held to his face. He did as told, drawing a line across the crinkled paper. He spits the knife out into his own lap, “There…ok? It should be there, fucking psycho”. Joel looks at the location, Silver Lake. “I wouldn’t hold my breath,” Joel's eyes look back at the raider, “David’s probably chopped him up by now,” he laughs.

Joel gritted his teeth, eyes as dark as the night. In one swoop motion he grapples the blade and shoves it against him, receiving a cry from his buddy off to the side. “Noo.”

The other hostage tried moving, as if he could somehow save his dying companion. Ellie of course was on it, “Move again, and I’ll shoot you.”

He tried pleading with them, in a state of hysteria, knowing he might have the same demise. Ellie had her gun, her aim shaky, scared to kill again but ready if it meant less obstacles later.

Joel though didn’t want her doing the dirty work, he was up and by her side, lightly pushing her hand down to lower her aim. “Get the horse ready”, he said with a small hint of guilt in his voice. Joel had insisted she stay hidden in the basement while he interrogated them, instead, she wanted to help. The older man didn’t have it in him to argue with her, between his grogginess and his wounded stomach, it wouldn’t have done him any good. 

This time she did as told, lowering her weapon and walking out of the room. 

Keep reading

Joel’s gaze turns to the man, tightening his fingers. 

“We should’ve blasted you motherfuckers when we had the chance!”

“Maybe you should have,” he says, bringing his knife down onto the man’s skull. 

------------

The Silver Lake town was in shambles, people were yelling, people were running for their lives, and some were even fighting each other. Chaos ensued outside from your hiding place. Word got out on what was in their last meal, human remains. The people freaked out and began fighting, guns blazing.

You were sat up behind a counter, a pool of red just inches from you. Trembling at the sight, you tried collecting yourself. It was the first time you killed somebody, someone you couldn’t spare for once. You were moments away from being turned into a dish, what were you supposed to do? The thought made you nearly gag, you didn’t know how Joel didn’t feel the same way after he did the same. Perhaps he did and was just numb to it all. 

It didn’t matter though how you felt, you lived, you survived. You’d get to breathe freely even if it was for another moment. There wasn’t much time to celebrate, as nothing was in the world, because another set of footsteps entered into the massive dining hall. The quickness and sudden entrance made you jerk.

You listen carefully, as the person trailed around the room.

He said your name and you recognized that voice. Fucking David. Shit. He was the last person you wanted to encounter, especially in your hazed state. To some degree your fizzled mind was more alert than ever. After all, you trusted him. He gave you medicine, let you and your friends live; he must’ve had a change of heart. Or his plan to raid your rundown base, kidnap one of you even, was his intention all along. 

He called out for you again, sending a chill up your spine, “I know you’re in here. Why don’t you come on out, we can just work this out. Like ole pals”.

His voice, so condescending he might as well just say he wanted you dead. His voice was far, not enough to calm your nerves. Peering around the counter, through all the chairs and tables, you can make out the movement of a gray door. It swung, with a faint bit of light shining from behind. That was your way out, it had to be. The front door wasn’t an option as that would expose you to David and the mayhem happening just outside. There was probably a window, or even better another door just beyond the one you saw ahead. You needed to leave.

“If you take me to your friends, I’ll let you off scout free. We can forget about this whole mess, start over.”

Yeah right? Like you’d put your faith in him again. After he captured you and put you in a cage, after he ordered his man to cut you up like an animal; like hell you’d trust him.

Hearing David’s steps, slowly trailing around made you move, making sure you were as quick as can be. You kept your distance behind pillars, seats, and small walls; constantly keeping track of him through sound and small glimpses from your hiding spot.

You were now close, hiding behind a a seated booth that hid you from David’s sight and had the backdoor completely in full view. Anyone coming through the door would see you. It was tempting just to run for it. Doing so would alert him, causing you more trouble than you could’ve ask for.

A distraction is what you needed, something to keep him busy for a time. But would do that? A molotov might do the trick, the idea came about while you looked over at the bottle on a nearby table. If only you had a rag and a lighter.

Your knife would have to do, as you prepare yourself for a sneak attack.

————

Joel and Ellie made it, Silver Lake. The place was in shambles, they were caught off by the shouting, the combustion; initially thinking they'd have to sneak their way through a heavily guarded town.

Joel couldn't tell if he'd prefer what he was expecting, or the situation they were in now. There wasn’t time to waste, thinking too hard would just prolong your rescue.

The two kept behind a brick wall, watching and waiting for an opening. Joel’s plan was to search all the buildings that likely had a kitchen or butcher room. They’d have to wait until the gunshots came to a steady, not wanting to get caught in any cross fire.

One last shot rang out, before all that was left was the sounds of the howling winds. It lasted long, and the two gazed at each other before Joel decided to peek around the corner. Only three men remained, at least from what he could see. He could easily take them all with just a few bullets, but his aching stomach would prove to make that difficult.

“Jesus, can’t believe they’d turn on us.”

“Yeah, where the fuck did David go?"

Was there a dispute? Did you cause this? Who cared, not Joel. He just wanted to know if you were alive and well, afraid the ladder was high unlikely and wishful thinking.

Fuck it. He pulls his rifle up, groaning as he lined up his aim. Ellie got herself prepared too, locking eyes with Joel and communicating they’re next action through gaze alone. One of the men were facing away from them, he takes aim before pulling, taking one guy out.

It startles the other two, leaving them confused. It gave Joel time to reload behind cover before coming back out and down went the raider. None of them could hide besides one, who ducked behind the opposite side of the building the two were already hiding behind.

He had his rifle aimed just at the edges of the brick wall, ready to tap the raider the moment he peaked over. Ellie had herself up against Joel, somewhat curious if the coast was clear. His sharp, focused eyes said otherwise.

Just as half of the raider's face came into view, Joel was quick to dispose of the last man with a piercing shot to the face. Falling to the ground, the coast looked to be finally clear. The silence almost seemed threatening, like a trap was awaiting them if they stepped out from their hiding spot. Nothing of course convinced Joel of this other than his own worry. 

“Stay close to me”, Joel instructs Ellie. She nods, taking small steps behind Joel to keep her pace steady for the injured man.

They didn’t have a certain route, just trailing the walls and looking into the windows of buildings as they passed by each one; alleyways included. Joel sporadically looked around, trying to locate you while keeping a lookout for any other threats. Ellie did the same, but kept her eyes out for you. 

Joel, so caught up in the moment, hadn’t realized Ellie’s light steps growing distant by the second.

He turned to her, eyes widening at her recklessness, “Ellie”! She wasn’t listening,her eyes were squinted, investigating the figure just beyond the alleyway. She could have swore she recognized who it was, until she got closer. She gasped. 

Joel calls her name again, this time she listen. 

“Joel,” she waves her hand over, “It’s y/n”. She ran into the alley leaving Joel to limp his way over to the other side of the street. She could’ve at least helped him, after hearing that you were alive, the man wanted to run but couldn’t. 

He crosses the street, and is parallel with the valley and spots you at the other side, knees deep into the snow; draped in stains of red.

Ellie had already cross the distance in a sprint. She grabs your arms, startling you from your paralyzed state. Looking up from the snow, you were shocked to see Ellie, she was here. How? You had told her to stay and watch out for Joel, now she was here?

You had some questions but decided to hold them off, just wanting to be reminded what a caring embrace felt like. You reach your hand up and Ellie comes down to you with a hug. You could feel your tears welling up, wanting to forget the hell you just experienced.

Hearing a set of steps hit the snow, you snap your gaze to the side. Some of your questions were answered on sight just seeing Joel struggling as he limped over to you. Your tears finally started pouring down your face. "Joel, I fucking did it. I killed someone," your voice quivered.

You're words barely graced the man's ears. He just was happy you were still here, functioning normally too. He drops down to you, cupping your face and making you keep eye contact with him.

When you tried speaking again, it came out disjointed. It was a blend between an explanation and an apology. Yet Joel knew what you meant by the few words that escaped your shaky lips.

The way he treated you up to this point, your dispute weeks ago, the one that shut you down completely; when Joel yelled at you for not defending yourself. He did it out of fear, you nearly got kidnapped for god knows what reason. By then he was fed up with your passiveness, practically calling you useless and nothing more than dead weight.

He very quickly regretted this over the next few days, the lack of any soul in your voice was aching to hear. Ellie was feeling the effects of this too, trying to make small talk with you, but you never had much to say. The raising pain he felt made him feel guilty, believing his actions didn't justify his emotions. You likely we're in greater pain than he was.

Joel ran his fingers across your cheek, wiping away the drops leaving your eyes. You look down, "I'm sorry I...I tried protecting Ellie, and you..."

Hearing your voice was just furthering the wounds in the older man's heart. He shook, his head reminded of his wrongdoings. "No no no..." he pulls your face back up, "Sweetheart, we wouldn't be here if it weren't for you," Joel tried hiding the cracks in his voice. "You saved me, you watched over Ellie, I can't thank you enough. And..." he paused, his guilt coming back into the forefront. "''m sorry, for everythin'. I shouldn't have said any of it, I'd go back and change it in a heartbeat."

His words were touching, as if you didn't have enough to keep your tears flowing. You close your eyes in an attempt to hide yourself, to save the two people you cared about much the trouble of witnessing you break down. A combination of everything you'd suffer through just came crashing down onto you. The embarrassment of appearing weak in front of Joel, wasn't enough to stop your cries.

This time, he wouldn't push you away, not like last time. He pulled you in, his forehead pressing up against yours. He just kept repeating his remorsefulness, each time his voice grew softer until it was a whisper like the wind.

Ellie was also providing you extra security with her head leaning into the back of your shoulder. She would thank you later, with her own words, but she thought it was appropriate to comfort you now. Without you, she'd have no idea how to mend Joel or even handle David. It scared her thinking about doing everything you've done all alone.

You spent some time regaining your composure in Joel's warm palms, reaching up to place yours over his, you didn't realize how numb it had gotten from the freezing cold. You grip them tightly, clearing away the sorrow with a sniff.

"We need to go, okay?"

You took a second but eventually nodded.

Joel nods too in approval, he grips your hands in his own, and stands slowly, pulling you up along with him. Ellie lifts herself on her own accord, giving you some breathing room to physically reconcile with Joel. Seeing him wrap his arm around your back, his chin stuck to the side of your forehead, gave her hope that things going forward between you two would get better.

She informs you, "The horse isn't far," grabbing ahold of you before leading you forward.

Being that close to you, glued to your side, he wish he could tell you how much you meant to him. With the nightmare you just experienced, dropping something heavy like that would have to wait, you’d been through more than enough.

For once he was just happy, to finally make up with the man he loved, dearly.

[melanatedkink]

Forget About It

Pairing: Y/N x Sero Hanta

Quirkless AU

Warnings: Angst, mentions of sex, trauma dumping if you squint, impulsive writing, love confession, implied happy ending

What had started out as an undisputed, best one night stand of your life, quickly devolved into a rollercoaster of unrequited turmoil. You breaking your own rule, falling in love with a man you met strictly to have sex with. A man who had been coming to the bar you worked for with his friends. A man who had won you over one night with a wink and a challenge. You remember when he first offered, you smugly blew him off.

"Every guy thinks he's unforgettable in bed. What makes you different?" you scoffed.

Hanta shrugged," True. But if you are able to forget me after tonight, it would definitely be because of the alcohol,"

A cheesy line. You were well aware, but it was a Friday night, and you were getting out of closing the bar so you took him up on his offer. He made sure you felt comfortable in his home, starting up a healthy conversation before getting intimate. He asked questions about what you were into. You never met a man that thorough. And anything you didn't like would be swept away in favor of your desires. He followed your lead, complimenting your drive harmoniously through the night.

The next few days, you chewed your lip whenever you saw his number at the top of your message list. It was so tempting to text him. But, you didn't need him saving face. He probably didn't even remember you. God, you couldn't convince yourself to not send that text. One that effectively sealed your fate, when he invited you over that night.

Those few times festered into a pastime. You began meeting with his even if he hadn't showed up to the bar. You would chat, go out with his friends, and ultimately spend more time in house just talking rather than ripping each other's clothes off. You couldn't deny the way he perked up at your suggestions to see him, nor could you hide the anticipation you felt everytime you set up a meeting.

"Y/N?" You glanced up to find Hants offering you a glass. It was a coktail you two had been sipping on as you lounged on his couch. You offered a smile, and took it. You hoped he didn't notice how awkward you were being.

He smirked, tilting his head as he rounded the couch and sat on the floor. He looked up at you like he was trying to figure something out without saying anything.

"I don't get you, sometimes," he began.

You furrowed your brows at is observation," What's not get?"

"Get this, okay," He turns so he can lay an arm on your knees as he speaks,"We meet up. You text me back days later proving me right by the way." He accents his statement with a wink before continuing," We hang out. You meet my friends and...you're still sitting here like it's our first night together. If you think I'm attracted to shyness, well, I got news for you,"

You fiddle with the cup. Of course you were well aware of the way you acted. It was almost obsessive how you kept tabs on everything you said in a single conversation, combing every word for a reason to be cast out. You chest tightened. Cast out. Forgotten. It was easy to keep up appearances at a bar. Being awkward in the midst of tipsy patrons was low risk. Getting to know someone was much harder to do. Because for you, the deeper the rabbit hole went, the more alone you'd end up feeling. Those starter conversations didn't hold up too well, and your personality...well forget that. Nobody was gonna take the time to understand that.

"I-I...what an observation," You faltered.

Hanta sighed, his flirty tone losing its dominance.

"You're really gonna make me say it first, huh?"

You stiffen," Say...what?"

"I get that where we met wasn't conventional but I do like you. I thought that taking you out might get you to be a little more comfortable with me but...it doesn't seem to be helping,"

You go to set your cup down, willing all the sobriety you could muster for this.

"But, if telling you that I like you and I want to be your lover helps then-"

"I have to go,"

Hanta stuttered as you rose from the couch. He scrambles to his feet, inserting himself between you and the front door.

"Woah woah, you're not going anywhere after drinking. At least let me take you home,"

"Y-you don't have to. I can call a ride-"

"Okay, what is it?" he softens his tone," What is it that I'm doing that's making you so...distant?"

Of all the times a little white lie would have sufficed, you couldn't lie to Hanta. He wasn't a stranger at this point. You cared about him. But the idea of him getting close...finding something about you that he couldn't put up with. You couldn't deal with that again. You couldn't untangle that emotion with Hanta.

"L-look I...I hate being alone. I've had to be alone for so long because I just don't really know how to connect with people. I'm too intense. I want to be close and learn things about them and show them I care. But one too many times, people just...they don't really want that. At least, not from me," You lock eyes with him," I don't just like you. I care. And if you think that's gross or weird just tell me,"

He shook his head in disbelief," Who the hell made you think like that? You think that...that getting close makes you lonely?"

You shrug,"I can't help it,"

"Okay but, one that doesn't make you the problem, and two that is exactly what I want from you," Hanta states," Do you really want to be alone, again?"

You consider his words. It was a novel idea, one you had never seen in practice. Logically, you couldn't risk it, but emotionally, you were exhausted. You couldn't go another day tormenting yourself with the idea that yet another person didn't want you as close as you wanted them. You shook your head, readying yourself for a plot twist to confirm your reality. Instead, you were met with a gentle kiss on the top of you head. Hanta gazed at you filled with conviction. He didn't know what you had been through, but he was sure going to find out. If not tonight, then on a date where you would officially be together.

[sirowsky-stories]

Collision

Part 2

Description: While struggling with how to keep Niki safe, Pero ends up making some hard choices, creating far reaching consequences.

Warnings: Pero Tovar x OFC, no reader insert, Pero's pov, hospital scenes, cursing, shooting, gunshot wounds, minor character death, angst, friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, secret identity, AU fic. Rating: Mature/Explicit 18+ONLY Word Count: 5700 Series Masterlist

Author's Note: Well, that didn't take me long... We get a bit more history on Pero here, and I hope you won't be put off by my attention to detail on hydraulic lifting.

-=¤=-=¤=-=¤=-=¤=-=¤=-=¤=-

   The unknown man has seen her. He doesn’t just know what Niki looks like, even covered in tubes and wires and completely unmoving, but also which equipment she needs to be connected to. Which things that are keeping her alive.    And it wouldn’t take a genius to figure out that if she’s moved, all anyone needs to do to find her, is look for any place where that array of machinery can be plugged in. Which basically rules out everything but one of the patient rooms.

   He can try to hide her by switching rooms with someone, but there’s no guarantee that the people hunting her would even care about looking at records. They might just search through the entire hospital, and since he doesn’t know how many of them there are, he can’t say how effectively they might be able to do that.    It’s not a big city hospital, the patient capacity is only a couple hundred in total, and it’s not like he’s gonna risk these people tearing through a children’s ward.

   “Excuse me,” Pero says to the nurse at the front desk, another new face to him. “Can you tell me what your protocol is for if a patient’s life is threatened? I mean, not medically, but if someone actually threatens them?”

   The young woman looks him over before answering, as if trying to ascertain if he might be contemplating threatening someone. But she seems to decide that he probably isn’t.

   “We alert our security team and if the threat is serious or ongoing, they stand guard by the affected patient. If it’s deemed necessary, we call the police and on rare occasions we will move a patient to an undisclosed location within the hospital.”

   Exactly what he expects to hear, but it’s not good enough. He knows it won’t save her. Even under guard this eerily calm man can get to her, either himself or by proxy. He just knows it.    He looks around the ward while he tries to think. There are nine other people there at the moment. All of them potential threats, because as good as he is at reading people, there are those who are just as good at hiding in plain sight.

   The nurse is still looking at him, and she’s starting to worry now, seeing his eyes repeatedly dart towards Niki’s bed.

   “If you have any concerns about Ms. Morse’s safety, I’d be happy to call security for you.”

   “It’s just… I can’t prove that there’s anything wrong,” he says, nervously drumming his fingers against the taller front section of the desk while he keeps scanning the halls.

   “Why do you think that she’s in danger, Mr. Tovar?” she asks, and he meets her eyes.

   She’s young, probably no more than twenty-three, but there’s a lot of experience in those eyes. Like the unknown man, her calmness is also practiced. Tested by years of overcoming her own stresses and fears.    But where the two differ, is in the warmth that she projects around her. Her tribunals have been about understanding the value of helping others, about leaving a better world or even just ward behind, at the end of each day.

   The man doesn’t care about living things.

   “Because the crash that put her here was intentional. Someone wants her dead. I know it, but I can’t prove it,” he frustratedly admits, and resumes his survey of the ward.

   He needs to come up with a way to get Niki out of here, there’s no other option. The nurse is kind and means well, but she can’t help him. Not really.    He leaves the desk and heads back to the same spot where he’d been when the man had walked in. A corner at the far end of the hallway which connects the arrival lounge and nurse’s station, to the four ICU slots.

   From there, he can see almost the entire ward, and he can just make out the third slot behind its curtain, although only if he stands.    Leaning against the wall, he tilts his head back to rest his neck for a moment. He’s so tired. It’s only 7:30 am and this has already been the worst fucking day ever. But he can’t stop.    He’s not supposed to care about her, but he does. And because he does, he won’t stop.

   What will it take to get her out of here safely?

   An ambulance won’t work, her bed is too big, and he can’t risk transferring her onto a gurney, not with her injuries. Plus, all that equipment would have to come too.    He knows that all the machines have a battery back-up in case of power failure, so as long as the journey isn’t too far, they’ll be fine in transit. But it’s gonna take a truck of some sort to move her, and that’s if he can even get her out of the building.

   He stands there, seemingly idle, as his gaze is drawn to the medical staff gathered at the nurse’s station. There’s no visible hierarchy among them there. Doctors and nurses sit together, trading information as well as insights, equally dependent on each other, and not just to manage their work.    Banter passes between them effortlessly, keeping their hearts light, despite the many horrors which surround them.

   A long time ago, in a different life, Pero knew what it was like to have that kind of relationship with his coworkers. He’s all but forgotten it now, but the thought brings his mind to his current colleagues.    People who know how to handle precious cargo with ease and efficiency, who are experts at safely lifting heavy and delicate items, who can work under the most stressful conditions without losing their heads.

   They’re not his friends, but they’re good people. Maybe… they’ll help him if he asks.

   He can’t use his cellphone in the hospital, and while he doesn’t want to step outside, he also can’t call from the front desk where any number of people might overhear the plan that’s begun to take shape within his mind. And he’s quite certain that the staff will try to stop him if they find out what he’s thinking.    So, he takes the risk of walking outside to make the calls.

   “Brandon,” his supervisor answers.

   “Hey, it’s Tovar.”

   “Hi,” the guy replies, suddenly sounding unsure and clearly stunned to hear from him, because Pero never calls anyone at work unless he’s there himself and there’s a work-related issue.

   “I need to know who’s on shift right now,” he demands.

   “Okay, that would be, uh… Haig, Kurtz, Olivera and Andersson.”

   “Thanks,” he says and then hangs up, having gotten the information he was after.

   The two people he needs the most, Carrera and Boon, aren’t working so they might be available. But that also means that he’s gonna have to convince them to go to the warehouse anyway, if they’re gonna be able to help him.    He has no reason to think that they’ll even want to. They don’t owe him or Niki anything. He’s placing all his hope on the idea that they’ll at least be willing to help her, as most everyone at work likes the quiet mechanic who never fails to fix their problems.

   “Hello?” Boon’s deep voice asks as the call connects, having not recognized the number.

   “Hey, it’s Tovar.”

   “Tovar? Why you callin’ me? Isn’t it your weekend off?”

   “I need your help,” he admits, and the other man scoffs, but with surprise more than anything else.

   “Well, that’s a first.”

   “Yeah. Sorry to spring this on you, but I don’t know how much time I have. Morse is in the hospital and she’s not doing so good,” he rattles off, nervously treading on the spot because he doesn’t like being out here while she’s alone inside.

   “Shit… What happened?”

   “I think someone tried to kill her, and I think they’re here, monitoring her at the hospital. That’s why I need your help.”

   There’s a moment of silence on the line. Then…

   “What do you need me to do?” Boon asks, and his tone is sure now, any hesitation or confusion blown away by his determination to protect.

   Unlike most of the guys that Pero works with, this man is a father. Of two girls. Even if he doesn’t know Niki or care about her the way that a friend would, he sort of automatically cares when bad stuff happens to good people, and especially women.

   “I need to move her out of the hospital, bed and equipment and all,” Tovar explains, and the guy instantly sees where his head is going.

   “You’re thinking of using the modified hydraulic table?”

   “And the new flatbed lifter. We can run the table out of the building without a hitch, there aren’t any thresholds, but it won’t get the bed into a truck,” he explains, giving Boon enough information to work out the details himself, without wasting time on lengthy deliberation.

   “So, we’re gonna need to borrow all three, without getting stopped at the gates and preferably without losing our jobs.”

   “All within the next hour,” Pero confirms, and hears the other man sigh.

   “Shit.”

   “I was thinking Carrera.”

   “Yeah. It’s gonna have to be,” his colleague agrees, and while he sounds worried, there’s no doubt that he’s onboard. “Let me make some calls, alright. Can I get back to you on this number?”

   “Text me, I’m going back inside to keep an eye on her.”

   “Sure. Hey, you keep that girl safe til we get there.”

   “Trying to. Just hurry.”

   He hangs up and half runs back to the ward, where he quickly notices that another new face has turned up.    A man with the same impassive expression as the unknown man that he saw before, has taken a seat in the general waiting area, leafing through a magazine, but not reading a single word as his entire focus is on his surroundings.

-=¤=-

   Boon walks into the ICU fifty-three minutes later and immediately clocks Pero, who’s now pacing as close to the slots as he’s allowed to get.    The same young nurse who was at the desk when he’d asked about security is standing between him and the area that’s off limits, with her arms crossed. But her face is calm, and her eyes are compassionate.

   “Hey, Tovar. Everything okay?” his coworker asks as he reaches them.

   “Not really,” he grumbles between tight jaws, but he can’t find the words to explain why, so the nurse takes over.

   “There was an incident. Mr. Tovar got into an altercation with another visitor here.”

   “He is not a visitor,” he persists with absolute certainty, to which she patiently sighs.

   “Unfortunately, there’s no way to know for sure, because you broke his humerus. You’ll be lucky if he doesn’t press charges.”

   “He won’t, because then he’d have to explain why he was loitering here for half an hour before making a beeline for Niki, a person he definitely doesn’t know or care about,” Pero spits, still high on adrenaline from the encounter, and only more worried now that there’s no longer any doubt that he’s right.

   “Shit…” Boon says, nervously scratching his neck. “Why would anyone wanna kill Morse?”

   “I have someone else working on figuring that out. In the meantime, we gotta get her somewhere safe.”

   “I understand your concerns, Mr. Tovar, but she can’t be moved yet, she’s too fragile,” the nurse interjects. “I can have security stand guard, but she needs to be right here for the time being.”

   He’s been too preoccupied the previous times he’s met her, but Pero now looks at her nametag, hoping to create a temporary relationship of trust, which seems more likely to succeed if he at least knows her name.

   “Gillian, please listen to me. This woman is the only person in the entire world that I give a shit about, so you need to understand me when I say that I will not leave her lying here as a sitting duck for the next assassin who shows up, which I know they will.”

   “Sir, you’re being dramatic. I admit, he had a cold manner about him, but an assassin?” she poses with incredulity, but Pero merely sucks in a deep breath, entirely undeterred.

   “No actually, I’m not being dramatic, I know what I’m talking about. There were two of them, one to scout ahead and make sure they had the right location and the correct patient, and then a second guy to perform the job.    That guy then sat there, waiting for an emergency to come in so that most of the staff would leave, and then he snuck past you, heading straight for her. The only reason she’s still alive is because the guy failed to notice me.    But now they know that I’m protecting her, which means that the next time they come, they will have changed tactics, and I might not be lucky enough to figure out what they’re doing until it’s too late.”

   She stares at him with her mouth hanging slightly open, and she looks as though she’s unsure of whether to laugh in his face or back away to a safer distance.

   “You were watching him?” she deduces, but phrases it as a question, probably to emphasize how abnormal she must find all of this.

   “Yes, because I know when people don’t belong. He was either gonna bomb the place or come after Niki.”

   “What are you? CIA?” she whispers, and when he exasperatedly shakes his head, he sees that Boon is looking at him with the exact same expression that she is.

   “Oh, for fuck’s sake… I used to operate outside the law, alright. I was a criminal. And the type of crap I did, was the type where knowing people at first glance was the difference between a safe job, and a death-trap,” he admits, and they both look a little sheepish.

   He hates talking about the past, for several reasons, but primarily because he isn’t proud of any of it. He’s nearly forty years old and he’s got nothing to show for it.    Life as a crook had its benefits, sure. But the downside for a man who had specialized in extorting people by using their secrets against them, was that it was impossible, and dangerous, to make friends.

   He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, feebly trying to chase the past away.

   “The point is, I’m not wrong about this. There’s at least two of them, and the other one might already be here.”

   “Okay, I hear you. But you need to understand that there’s no point in protecting someone if you kill them, and if we try and move her, that is entirely likely to happen,” Gillian counters.

   Pero had lowered his voice considerably while he’d spoken about his past, but he now realizes that the nurse is following suit, to the point where only the two men in front of her can hear what she’s saying.    And there’s no reason for her to try and hide anything, unless she’s already contemplating doing something that from the hospital’s standpoint, would be wrong. Which means that there’s every chance that so long as they have a good enough plan, she might help them.

   “Moving her is risky, I agree. But leaving her here is worse. Now, my colleagues and I have a plan, and it’s not as idiotic as you might think. Please, just hear us out.”

-=¤=-

   As it turns out, Gillian doesn’t just approve of their plan, she decides to improve it by becoming the boss of it. And for someone as young as she is, the authority that she commands when she sets her mind to something, is admirable to say the least.    First, she somehow convinces Doctor Leo that Niki needs a new CT scan, to give them an excuse to move her off the ward. Then she manages to rope in two other nurses, without even telling them what’s going on, to help move all the equipment without having to disconnect the patient from it.

   And when they’ve all crammed into the elevator and Pero presses the button for sublevel two, the garage, the two nurses are understandably confused.

   “Radiology is on the third floor, sir,” one of them needlessly informs him, since each button has the relevant floor information printed next to it.

   “We’re not going to Radiology, Chris,” Gillian firmly announces, and both nurses turn to look at her with confusion.

   But before either of them has had a chance to speak, she continues.

   “No questions, just do what I say. That way, you can rightfully blame me as much as you need or want to, when you’re being asked about it later.”

   And that’s the end of it. Neither nurse dares to say anything more.    They reach the garage and gently maneuver the bed and the five machines, each one individually mounted onto either a pole on wheels or a cart, out of the elevator. The truck is standing by, parked in the middle of the driveway, and the moment he sees them, Carrera jumps out to open the back.

   He waited so that he’d be able to move if anyone should see it and worry that a truck standing with its tail-end in front of the elevator is terribly suspicious. Which it is, especially for a garage with no loading dock or goods reception.    Once the back is open, he jumps in there to start up the electric flatbed lifter. The hydraulic table is already positioned on top of the metal bed, being unloaded along with the lifter.

   It’s a very clever machine, designed specifically for cargo needing to be loaded into a trailer from the ground, without having to be tilted or removed from the lifting mechanism at any point. The only drawback is that once loaded, the machine goes wherever the cargo does, but for this endeavor, that doesn’t matter.    The hydraulic table is just that. A smooth flat surface, approximately five by eight feet, and only two inches thick, capable of lifting eight thousand pounds at the most.

   Together, these two factory tools should be enough to get Niki, her bed, and everything attached to her, into the truck and safely away from the hospital. But since no one has ever tried something like this before, they’re going to have to take it slow and make sure that they get it right.    The hospital bed sits on top of a hydraulic system of its own, and it has wheels that need to be securely locked throughout transfer. Contrarily, most of the medical equipment can’t be locked into place at all.

   The two nurses exchange a look of nervousness as they begin to realize what’s happening here, but to their credit, neither of them tries to back out.

   Once the machines are on the ground and positioned, the delicate work begins.    The bed is lowered to its bottom setting to put the center of gravity as far down as possible, then Pero and Boon carefully roll it up on top of the table, while all three nurses manage the equipment, constantly keeping it close enough that no tubes or wires are being stretched to the point where they might detach from Nikita’s skin or blood-vessels.

   The wheels are locked, and then the table is raised just a few inches from the ground. Only enough for the flatbed to be able to slip underneath.    Unlike what the name suggests, it isn’t simply a solid flat surface that makes up the lifting area of the flatbed. It’s actually made of eight parts, all of which can be shifted individually with a series of levers next to the steering wheel inside the cabin.

   Carrera is thus far the only one to have mastered this new piece of machinery since it’s arrival at the warehouse just a week ago, which is why both Pero and Boon decided that he needed to be involved.    Either of them could technically have operated it, mechanically it isn’t that different from a forklift, but since they’re unfamiliar with it, that would’ve taken five times as long and it wouldn’t have been nearly as smooth as the seasoned Latino is managing.

   He shifts six of the sections up and out of the way, leaving just one at each end of the lifting area, and then slides them under the edges of the table, slowly taking up its weight while checking that nothing is misaligned or slipping.    Once he gives a thumbs up, Boon presses the button which lowers the hydraulic table back to its bottom setting, and then everything stops while the medical equipment is lifted onto the flatbed as well.

   The nurses have to climb on too, in order to keep the unsteady carts and poles from rolling or tipping, and then Carrera begins the precise task of raising the entire machine along with its cargo, off the ground and up to the edge of the truck’s cargo hold.    There, he engages a different engine, which pushes the entire flatbed into the trailer, but not by dragging it along the floor. Instead, there are little wheels, much like the ones in commercial airplane cargo holds, embedded within the underside of the flatbed, letting it slip effortlessly and with minimal vibration, into position.

   Next, the machine itself needs to be brought onboard, because it can’t be detached from its loading bed. But it has another trick for that. Another engine, this one operating two legs which are pushed into the ground and thereby lifting the machine. The engine which works to push up the flatbed now works in tandem with the one that operates the legs, so that the bed remains on the floor of the truck even as the machine rises.

   It’s clever, but not quick. Nearly ten minutes have passed since they stepped out of the elevator, and just as Carrera has completed the maneuver, they run out of time.    The legs have just been retracted into the belly of the machine and the engine switched off, when the elevator doors open, and the first of the unknown men that Pero encountered up in the ICU, steps out.

   This guy doesn’t have a broken arm, or anything else to slow him down, so when he realizes what he’s looking at, he reaches into his open leather jacket and pulls out a revolver. Down here, there’s no reason to be discreet or quiet, and his quarry is conveniently trapped inside a trailer along with all the witnesses.    But, as is usually the case with people and guns, once the first shot is fired, panic ensues.

   At the foot of the bed, Boon is closest to the opening of the cargo hold, and being the protective person that he is, he jumps out of the truck and runs straight for the assailant. He gets there without getting shot, as the unknown man is focused on Niki, and tackles him to the ground.    While the two men wrestle around, Gillian all but shoves the other two nurses out of the trailer and screams for them to run for the stairwell.

   Meanwhile, Pero remains at the head of the hospital bed, trying to keep the equipment from toppling over in all the ruckus, and Carrera, having still been in the cabin of the flatbed when the shooting started, has gotten out and is trying to close the double doors at the back of the truck.    He eventually manages to get a hold of them, but then seems to change his mind about something, and jumps out before closing them, leaving Pero and Gillian trapped in there, with no light besides the faint glow of the digital screens on the medical gear.

   A revolver holds either five or six bullets, and Tovar can’t remember how many shots he’s heard in total, but another two suddenly hit the back doors. They must’ve hit at an angle, though, because neither shot manages to penetrate the metal.    He worries about his colleagues out there, both of whom are only here because he asked them. But he can’t help them now. He can’t even help himself.

   The sound of the driver’s door opening behind him draws his attention. There’s no window between the cabin and the trailer, so he can’t see who is climbing in. But the sound carries over well, and he hears the door close and keys rattling over there.

   “Carrera, is that you?!” he screams in the direction of the driver’s seat.

   “Yeah… hold on!” the Latino calls back while starting the engine.

   “What about Boon?!” he asks, but there’s no reply.

   The truck begins to move just as another shot is fired and hits metal somewhere on the truck, but he can’t tell where.    The father of two is left to fend for himself, and Pero tries not to blame himself. Tries not to think that those girls are fatherless now. But it’s possible that they are. Maybe even probable. And if so, how can he not blame himself?

   To him, Nikita is worth it. But to those girls, she’s nothing but a stranger.

   Carrera tries to drive carefully, but the ride is still not free from bumps, and every time she’s jostled, Niki’s breathing hitches. But like the nightshift doctor had observed, her heart never misses a beat. And that is tremendously reassuring.    Soon though, the truck is brought to a stop, which is not surprising because he hasn’t had time to tell his coworker where they’re going.

   It seems to take longer than it should for him to get out and walk to the back, before unhooking the locking arm and swinging one of the doors open. But when he comes into view, Pero understands why.    He’s been shot. It must’ve been one of the very first bullets, since his position while he’d been sitting in the flatbed’s cabin had put him in between the shooter and his mark.

   He falls backwards onto soft grass, and Gillian rushes to try and help him while Tovar secures the medical gear and then follows.

   “Sorry, man…” Carrera gasps once he’s by his side.

   “No… It’s not your fault. You did perfect.”

   “Thought you were exaggerating… but that guy…”

   “Yeah. A real fucking assassin. But don’t worry about it anymore, we’re gonna get you some help,” he says and then reaches into his pocket to grab his phone and call for help.

   There’s no point. The bullet went through his liver and this long afterwards, there won’t be enough time to save him.    All three of them know it, just like they know that they can’t stay there and wait for emergency services to show up, given that they’d find a stolen patient and a truck with bullet-holes in it, along with a gunshot victim.

   “Get outta here…” Carrera says, putting his hand on Pero’s to stop him from dialing.

   It’s not fair that a good man should die for trying to help someone. But that is what’s happening, and there’s no stopping it. But leaving him there alone while he takes his final breaths would be inhuman.    They’re not safe out there in the open, but they risk it. He’s earned as much.

-=¤=-

   Gillian stays with Niki while he drives the rest of the way. He’s impressed that she hasn’t run off yet. He won’t blame her if she does.    As he drives further and further away from the city, the streets grow quiet, and traffic becomes sparse. He sticks to the larger roads for as long as he can, because they’re smoother, better maintained than the one’s he’s going to have to travel as they near their destination.

   But it’s a six-hour drive all in all, so he stops about halfway there, to buy some food and supplies. To avoid prying eyes, he parks half a mile away from the store, at a rest-stop, and then jogs there and back.    He climbs in the back to give the nurse some food and water and check how Niki’s doing after so long on the road.

   “She seems to be coping well, right?” he asks, since he can’t see any obvious changes in the readings on the various monitors.

   “Considering the circumstances,” Gillian nods, but she’s still concerned. “She needs fresh IV's, though. And her wounds need to be re-dressed.    How much further?”

   “We’ll be turning onto smaller roads in a few miles, which is gonna force our speed down. I’d say another three hours. Do you think she can handle that?”

   She deliberates for a few seconds, looking at her patient and then the battery levels of the equipment.

   “Don’t dawdle,” she sighs, looking up at him, but then something occurs to her. “Are we going to some kind of medical facility? Because unless there’s medical supplies ready and available-…”

   “Everything she needs is there,” he gently cuts her off. “But no, it’s not a medical facility.”

   The rest of the drive demands his entire focus for every yard that passes. The smaller roads are okay for the most part, but the larger cracks and dips are often hidden in bends or at the crest of a hill, so he can never relax. He has to scan every inch of the road surface every second, or he risks missing something that could jolt his passenger into cardiac arrest.    It drains his energy and his nerves, but he doesn’t even dare to reach for a snack for fear that he’ll mess something up.

   All of which means that by the time they finally get there, he’s exhausted. And that’s when the next strenuous task begins: Getting the bed out of the trailer.

   The process is the same, just in reverse order, but he’s never used the machine in any order before, and there are no extra hands to keep track of all the medical gear this time.    Thankfully, there’s also less of a time-restraint, so he can go into the garage and fetch rope and duct tape to secure the poles and carts for the maneuver this time. But it’s still nerve-wracking to try and use the machine smoothly and prevent jostling, when he barely even knows the controls.

   He’s got no wiggle-room at all, there’s no trial and error here, if he does one thing wrong, it could kill Niki. And he’s so fucking tired that he almost uses the wrong controls twice, only managing to avoid it by triple checking his every move.    But he does eventually get her down, safe and sound. It takes nearly twenty minutes, though, so it was a good thing that Carrera had been there for the loading, or she would definitely have been dead now.

   “What is this place?” Gillian asks once they’ve gotten the bed through the extra wide front door and are gently pushing it through the front hall.

   “My place,” he offers, and sees her eyes widen with surprise.

   “I’m gonna need a bit more than that…”

   He waits until they’ve completed a ninety degree turn into the master bedroom before answering, both because he needs to concentrate on one thing at a time when he’s this tired, but also because it’s far from his favorite subject.

   “I told you I was a criminal, but I never mentioned that I was also a very successful one. And this is what I did with the fortune I was able to amass.”

   While he paused to lock the wheels of the bed and start untying the equipment, she looked around the room, admiring the exposed wood panel, the floor-to-ceiling glass walls and the woodlands beyond.    The house stands on the edge of a cliff, so along this side of it, one is literally among the treetops. The floor above looks out over the entire valley below, but here in the bedroom, the conifers seem to embrace the house, creating a soft green duskiness.

   “The idea was to have a place where none of the people who I’d scammed would ever be able to find me, so this place has no address. I own the land here, but under a different name that can’t be tied to me. The water is pumped up directly from the bedrock, the sewage system is self-supporting, and the electricity comes from the wind, sun and an underground river.”

   From a cabinet inside the closet, he retrieves an IV bag which he hands to her, and an extension cord with ten extra sockets into which he begins to plug in all the gear.

   “You have all this stuff laying around here just in case?”

   “It was always meant to be a safehouse, especially if I needed medical aid, because hospitals are really fucking unsafe, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

   Her face turns somber then, and he regrets the harshness of his tone. It’s her second home, as most workplaces are, and chances are, she’s never felt unsafe there before. Not like today, at least.

   “I don’t know what happened to them… Chris and Talia,” she whispers, referencing the two poor nurses she’d roped in to help. “I told them to run but I never managed to check if they made it.”

   She finishes with the IV and then checks to make sure that all the equipment is functioning properly, and that Niki’s vitals are still good.

   “Thank you,” Pero says once she’s done, and she turns to meet his eyes.

   He doesn’t need to tell her what for, she knows what she’s done and that she could’ve backed out at any number of points along the way.    She nods at him and then moves to take a seat on the protruding edge of the wood frame of the bed. He wants to lay down on the bed and sleep for about two days, but he remains standing. Once he allows himself to rest, the fatigue is gonna make him crash, and he can’t let himself do that yet.

   “So… What now?” she asks, for the first time letting him see that she too is exhausted.

   “Get some rest.”

   “And what are you gonna do?”

   “I’m gonna find out who’s trying to kill her.”

-=¤=-=¤=-=¤=-=¤=-=¤=-=¤=-

Part 3

Thank you for reading, and remember: I have no taglist anymore. Follow @sirowsky-stories and turn on notifications for updates on my writing :)

[raccoon-eyed-rebel]

I miss my guys from 179 Crescent Street and I know it's gonna be some time until I get the next chapters, so I hope you have some time for little headcanon snippets...

I was wondering how the guys are dealing with being jealous...

Are they jealous at all? And if they are, how are they going to react?

OH BOY! Thank you so much for this ask! You know I love talking about my boys! I used your edits for most of the dividers <3 (Except the Mikey one, because I needed that purple-redish bckg that I love so much...)

Let's get into it! I'm going to tag @deandoesthingstome @keanureevesisbae and @fvckinghenrycavill for the hell of it, because I just need you to hear my incessant rambling about these boys ❤️❤️❤️

Warnings: We're gonna be offhandedly mentioning sex a couple of times. Big whoop.

It's been said a million times at this point, but I'll just repeat it; Mike is super laid back about almost everything.

This guy wouldn't know jealousy if it hit him square in the nuts with a baseball bat. That means he doesn't do well with a partner who is prone to jealousy.

He 100% will not understand why you're a little miffed about what just happened because "but, babe, I was just licking her cheek? How is that weird?" They're just friends, you had better believe it, because he really isn't lying.

But doesn't he see that irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann there's always a ton of girls who are flirting with him? Huh? What? No? No one is flirting with him? He legit doesn't see it, because he's with you.

There's one little exception to this: Charles. Seriously, Charles Brandon can kindly fuck all the way off, and if he so much as looks at you wrong...

Contrary to popular belief, August Walker isn't a jealous guy. He isn't subtle in any way, so if you're going to be his girl, you know what he wants out of that relationship: Commitment, loyalty, trust. And a very intense sex life. He's not going to settle for vanilla...

Are there any guys checking his girl out? Of course! She's beautiful. But she wears the ring he gave her, her arms are wrapped around his waist, and she's going to end up in his bed tonight, screaming his name. He's not worried about anyone else.

There is one little exception to this and his name is Charles Brandon... Then again, he's not too worried. Brandon wouldn't risk taking a couple of punches to his prettyboy face for his friends' girls.

Anjelica, however... She's small but vicious, and you had better not spend too much time looking at her man. She might just gouge your eyes out.

'But I can look, right?' Yeah, you can look. The other way. Buh-bye.

Walter Marshall needs a hug, some good head, a whole lot of coffee, and probably therapy. And he's not even a cop yet!

He likes to keep you close, that's for sure. You always know when there's guys around who he doesn't trust, because the fingers of the hand that seems to be permanently on your hip dig into you so hard it definitely hurts a little.

It's okay though, he won't do anything rash or stupid as long as they keep their hands to themselves.

He'll save all of that anger for the rink, when he knows you're watching him play. Yeah, there's some unnecessary checks and punches, but if it gets you all hot and bothered...

Geralt isn't jealous at all! As long as his girl is near him all the time so he can keep an eye on her...

No, Geralt definitely likes to say he's not jealous, just suspicious, which is largely true. The first few months away from Sol were an adjustment, though, because he couldn't scowl at all those losers who went after his Swedish goddess.

Sol ironically likes to rev him up a little on those rare occasions they go out. She likes the way he claims her when they're finally alone again. The good thing is that Geralt hears and sees everything. He always knows when it's her playing around, or the guy getting a little too into it.

Now, Charles, that's an entirely different story. Geralt will and has throw hands if Mr. Brandon ever decides to try and get a little too friendly with his girl.

Napoleon Solo, jealous? Yes.

He has no trouble at all taking the things he wants for himself, and our Leon doesn't like it when other people touch his stuff.

However; he's a collector. Unfortunately, you aren't a collection if you're just by yourself, so watch out: You're the one who's going to end up jealous and hurt if you expect commitment and monogamy from this guy.

Now, if he were in that sort of relationship with you, he'd mostly be curious to see how you react. He's not going to blame the guys for trying; God knows he would have. But you... If you play along, you're definitely in for a long talk that might just end badly...

Much like Leon, Charles is very prone to want more, and more, and more. He'll happily go after whatever (and whoever) he wants, even if she's already taken - or he himself is. Honestly, everyone's continuously surprised he doesn't live with a permanently broken nose...

He likes to rile his friends up by flirting with their girlfriends, but he has no intention of seeing that through. Well, he's not planning on it, at least. This man has about as much control over his dick as I do over my brain. None. At all.

Now, if he did try to commit to one girl, trying to make a move on her would be a surefire way to get whacked in the teeth with a hockey stick. But if he so much as gets the idea that you're the one interested in anyone else? Let's just say he's very eye-for-an-eye when it comes to that...

Sy doesn't need to be jealous. I could just stop here, but allow me to explain:

Prince of pussy eating perfection. Don of dinner down there.

Do I need to keep going? Sy is the literal Headmaster! (@deandoesthingstome please appreciate this terrible pun)

He knows you'll come back for him - they all do, which is precisely why you had better not be the jealous type. Sy has no problems with commitment when he finds a girl he thinks is worth it, but the others ladies didn't get the memo: They just keep flocking to him.

He doesn't respond to any of it, of course, because you're his woman. His one and only. And you trust him completely.

That being said; it does get fucking annoying that these girls don't seem to understand the concept 'off the market'. Not that you don't understand why they do it... In fact, it's something you're very actively reminded of every time you see his face in between your legs...

Our lovely Sherlock is far too rational to be jealous, of course! Right?

We know he doesn't have a ton of experience (alright, he has no experience at all), and he absolutely would get a little anxious if he were to think Elena was into someone else.

Now, is he going to be smart and talk about these feelings? Probably not! She'll have to pull it out of him, and he won't take kindly to her laughing about it, but she can't help it because it's just so silly of him to think she'd want to be with anyone else!

Now, Elena likes that little bit of protectiveness, but she knows better than to go looking for trouble. Luckily, she's pretty, and guys do flirt with her, but Sherlock hardly ever notices; he's too busy looking at her, to be honest.

If he does notice, he just gets a bit sad, and a little clingy. Until the flirting crosses a line. It takes a lot to get Sherlock to lose his temper, but lewd and inappropriate behavior or comments towards his girlfriend will definitely set him off... Just ask Charles.

[piracytheorist]

Character ask : Anya Chichi

Anya Forger

First impression: Oh she looks cute. Hope she doesn't turn into a plot device. Impression now: My adorable chaotic gremlin who has more agency and control in the story than her spy and assassin parents <3 Favorite moment: I think I'll choose the moment where she rescues the drowning boy in episode 11. She's kind and selfless enough to risk her life to save him, and she didn't even hesitate to jump into the pool like how brave is that kid! And since she didn't want to expose her secret she took it all upon her to act and save him herself. Idea for a story: I think it'll be wasted potential if we never learn about the scientists who created her and their motives, so I think a story of her being taken by them will be interesting, albeit sad, until at least her parents come and kick ass to save her. Unpopular opinion: I don't ship Damιanya and that seems to be quite the unpopular opinion in this fandom... Even if they're aged up and Damian actually treats her decently, I still don't think they'd make an interesting couple. Favorite relationship: Anya with Papa and Mama. Don't make me choose! Favorite headcanon: I genuinely wonder if Endo is ever gonna explain why she has those little hats on her head, and I think it would be hilarious for them to be just hair clips that she wears literally 24/7. So my headcanon for that is that Anya is just stylish!

Loid Forger

First impression: LOL that's a way to break up with your girlfriend. Is he just gonna be one of those boring protagonists whose only character traits is past trauma and being OP? Impression now: If anyone hurts him I will commit several felonies. But please hurt him I want the whump :3 Favorite moment: Bench scene after Yor kicks the living daylights out of him. The vulnerable moment of him remembering his mother and opening up to Yor about that because we know it's real and not for the mission is unparalleled. Chef's kiss. Idea for a story: Okay okay hear me out. We know that he's a very disciplined spy so if he's ever caught he has to be caught in the act. Mere evidence won't do because he'll deny any involvement to hell and back and be pretty convincing about it. So he has to be caught red-handed. And an idea for that is, he's disguised himself as Yuri because for Reasons he has to infiltrate the SSS offices, but then for some reason the actual Yuri appears there too. "Yuri" and Yuri fight, and an incompetent officer finds them, aiming his gun at them. Twilight is silent, but Yuri tries to convince the guy that's he's the real Yuri and he should shoot the fake one. The guy says that "Only a spy would act like that" and shoots. While that happens, within a split second Twilight thinks "I have to let him die. I have to get out of here. I have to let him die." But he just cannot do that because he knows how much it would devastate Yor to lose her brother... so he pushes him out of the way and takes the bullet instead. Maybe not anywhere too dangerous, like his arm or something. But it's enough to slow him down as he tries to escape, and he's finally caught while still wearing a mask with Yuri's face. You can imagine Yuri's shock and horror when he realizes it's "Loi-Loi", who is a spy and tried to infiltrate the offices and also saved his fucking life. Because as many lies as he's said, Yuri has absolute proof that this man really does love his sister. I want this to happen so much you have no idea. Unpopular opinion: I've yet to read the manga and anything that explores his backstory but I think it's easy to think he'd abandon his spy work after he realizes he loves his family and wants to spend his life with them. Which yeah it's what we want for him but I think his desire for peace tops even his love for his family. He'd rather break his own heart along with theirs and leave if it means he can keep working as a spy and protect the fragile peace. Which is why I feel that the story cannot end without Ostania's government falling, and the new, more democratic government either signing a secure peace treaty with Westalis or uniting under one nation. Favorite relationship: Loid and Anya. Look I love twiyor as much as the next shipper but the father/daughter feelz was one of the things that hooked me into the show so it's the one I want more of. Favorite headcanon: I once read a post talking about how people from Westalis may have a different accent than people from Ostania, and now I cannot get that idea out of my mind. I think it would be interesting to see Twilight suddenly drop all pretenses and start speaking with the accent he grew up using, allowing himself to connect with that old part of himself he kept hidden. I doubt they'd do that in the anime (and since I watch the Japanese version I don't think I'd notice the difference) but it's still a very interesting headcanon.

(no manga spoilers please 😁)

Send me a character!

[soulsfractured]

23 for Yazoo

16 for Tseng

12 for Kuja

3, 4 for All Listed Muses, not just the three picked above

Random Character Asks

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT ALL MY BABIES. I LOVE THEM ALL SO MUCH. I really need to write more with everyone at some point, once I get back into the swing of writing again.

It's a bit long so everyones answers are under the cut!

Cyril

3 - Wears glasses because he can't wear contacts they bug his eyes too much. Still wishes he could though because he'd look more like Genesis that way.

4 - "If it could help my dad come back faster? I'm willing to give it a shot. So long as no one gets hurt from it, because then I won't do it."

YOU WANNA SEE ME CRY. Cyril put all his focus into biological sciences bc he wants to help Genesis in every way possible. He just wants to live a quiet life with his dad please let him have this--

Kuja

3 - Absolutely wears a packer, and had his codpiece custom made to fit it. Has thrown it at someone before, will throw it again.

4 - "Peace is but a shadow of death, desperate to forget its painful past... Though we hope for promising years. After shedding a thousand tears, yesterday's sorrow constantly nears. And while the moon still shines blue, by dawn, it will turn to scarlet hue."

Its in there, it's one of my favourites coming from someone who doesn't think he can die. Really makes me wonder if he had suspicions about it, but Garland gaslit him into ignoring those thoughts.

12 - Absolutely has tried to dye his hair and his tail once. It went horribly and he couldn't get all the dye out. It was all a faded blueish colour for weeks

Luneth

3 - His hair is always in his face because he enjoys playing with it/having others play with it. But, he doesn't enjoy it against his neck at the same time so, ponytail. Not really practical, but that's not important.

4 - "Slacking off saved her from the curse, so maybe that 'luck' might rub off on us!"

I cant explain why this one sticks out to me, but Luneth and the rest of the party actually acting like kids and joking around is really sweet? Idk I guess I love that theres a bunch of moments we can see them enjoying their journey and not just be silent strong protagonists.

Sephiroth

3 - Literal cat eyes. They glow, his pupils shrink and widen with mood. He has cat eyes.

4 - "We'll meet again soon."

Just Sephiroth and Zack talking in that entire scene. The small smile when Zack says "I'll hold you to that" the notice that Zack wanted to say something before he left. It's one of my favourite CC Sephiroth moments.

Tseng

3 - Really enjoys wearing longer socks. Knee or thigh high are preferable, and 90% of them are just black. He organizes them so he doesnt grab two different lengths (which has happened a few times before)

4 - "There is nothing more precious than a human life"

It's SUCH a development for me to see Tseng say this. Consider all that he does, and all that he has done. He may commit atrocious deeds for Shinra, but he's failed missions to help random Shinra employees before, he's put himself at risk to protect others.

16 - Tseng's darkest secret that he won't admit is that he absolutely hates Shinra. Without a doubt he does wonder what life would have been like if he stayed in Wutai. Would he have stayed at the Temple? Would he had left anyways? What if what if what if. He will not admit this thought crosses his mind and tries to tell himself it's just hypothetical. But it's a thought that does come up more often just before Rufus becomes president.

Vincent

3 - Refuses to cut his hair. Even a trim it takes a long time to convince him. He's not gonna die anytime soon so whose gonna see the mess it becomes anyways. But he still takes pretty good care of it- mostly

4 - "I don't care what you are doing, so much as the idiotic way that you are doing it."

The tired dad quote of the year bc god dammit the party is a bunch if teenagers and their old man needs a fuckin nap so he can stop telling them dont put that in your mouth

Yazoo

3 - Vegetarian. He just doesnt like meat- usually he just takes whatever meat he gets on food and pushes it to the side or gives it to his brothers. He has picked a burger apart to take the patty out and just eaten it like that, just sides and bun.

4 - "I will not have you refer to Mother that way!"

One of the VERY few times that Yazoo actually shows emotions??? P l e a s e. I love him so much and actually getting to see that cool exterior crack is so interesting.

23 - As a candle Yazoo would be a more woodsy kind of scent. Damp earth, firewood, stagnant waters. There's a slight spice mixed in as well, like a faint hint of cinnamon.

[soul-wanderer]

06x15//What Are You Willing To Lose - weekly recap

I don’t think I can cover everything in this recap, because man, there’s so much happening in this episode and I have a whole lot of feelings and thoughts about certain plots, but let’s try to get to it (aka almost one week later because man, that ep was a lot, and then I got sick, hence the slight delay, so consider this a refresher after the break between eps):

- Andy telling Ross “I can’t afford to lose you” - can we talk about this, please? Can we? This still hits me right in the feels a week later, and I don’t think I’m gonna be over that anytime soon, thanks for asking

- Ross being genuinely surprised that Andy and Maya did not tell anyone else about the photos (apart from Carina) and that they’re on her side - that moment just had it all, and I love that they have them sticking together instead of them tearing each other apart. Ross clearly did not expect that, probably didn’t think she’d ever deserve this type of loyalty, but Andy and Maya still show up for her, and my god, am I here for this. And Andy is totally right that they need someone like Ross in a position like that.

- Andy and Travis both trying to be a good friend to the other, and it’s just the silliest and cutest thing, and I’m here for that friendship, too  (especially because “hos over bros”), especially the scene in the end where Travis is there for Andy

- I’m gonna try to keep the Theo as captain recap short, but let’s just say: He was rightfully upset about the house being a trap for both the people living there and his team. It’s his job to keep the team and everyone else safe and out of burning buildings alive, and that job was made impossibly harder when he figured out what was going on. It’s not his job to be empathetic or to counsel anyone at the height of an emergency, BUT we see him backpedal one moment later, when he sees how desperate this woman is and IMMEDIATELY softens and tells her they were gonna do their best, before going back to work and that’s really all that needs to be said about this situation. Same with him having to make the decision to leave Warren behind - Ross was right there and watching him, and he cannot possibly risk more lives to save the life of one team member (+ it’s protocol, too), even if the mere idea of leaving someone behind hurts. He would have made the call, and he would have been right about it, too

- Ross owning her “mistake” in front of a bunch of dudes and giving a goddamn fantastic speech while she is at it. Man, that episode really gave us all of that. I mean: “You know, in the short time that I have been here, I have seen this union look the other way when sloppy firefighters who should have retired years ago made fatal mistakes on the job. I've seen it allow a serial sexual harasser retire with full pension instead of face discipline. And this is where you want to draw the line? [...] No, I am pro-union! I am anti a system that has a million things wrong with it. [...] I fought to drag this department kicking and screaming into the 21st century, to make your jobs safer and better", they really gave us that and I love it

- Maya being cute on her date with Carina, that’s all. That smile is gonna kill us all one day, and it’s gonna be a fucking fantastic death

- I will never, ever forgive the editors/producers for making these goddamn awful cuts between Maya and Carina in the shower and a man fucking dying in a burning house. I mean, what the hell? That was a downright horrible decision.

- Andy. My goodness, Andy. And her trauma. Like, finally? They’re finally acknowledging that trauma doesn’t simply disappear? Thank goodness. Thanks to whoever remembered. And thank you for the portrayal of such raw and heartbreaking emotions when Andy told Warren, “You fell through the roof”, that just about wrecked me in a million different ways, but in a good way, so thank you for that

- Ross telling Theo he did the right thing. Thank you for that, too. And I guess Jack confirming that wasn’t too bad either.

- And they acknowledged Carina’s trauma too, and the contrast was so beautifully portrayed. Carina wants them to be okay. She wants their marriage to be okay. But it isn’t. And she can’t pretend, and she realizes that and realizes they got more work ahead of them. And Maya just...acknowledges Carina’s pain and is there for her. It’s heartbreakingly beautiful, that’s all. Now, let’s hope Carina finally accepts some professional help as well.

- Sullivan being an ass. Honestly, will there ever be a week where I don’t have to type this out? I can only hope so, because that man is getting on my nerves, badly.

- Theo and Vic are not communicating well right now. That doesn’t make them toxic, that doesn’t mean their relationship is about to end, this doesn’t mean that they’re awful human beings. It just means they’re both fighting their own battles and they suck at talking and they’re being human and sometimes relationships just are like that, okay? They’ve been through so much and they’ve come so far, this will not be their breaking point (or at least not forever)

- last but not least: I am not here for them trying to create fake drama between Theo, Vic and Travis via that “old friend” they introduced. They need to stop recycling that storyline in Shondaland, before I flip some tables, seriously.

[brainyxbat]

Chapter 11: Zoan-Type Devil Fruit! Chopper's Seven-Form Transformation

(episode 88)

"You can't break it! The skull mark is a symbol of faith!"

"Luffy!"

"It's a direct hit!"

"He must've been blown away! Such an idiot!

"See? It didn't break!"

"What?! Can't be... he's stupid!"

"I don't know who the heck this pirate flag belongs to, but since this flag is a person's pledge to risk his life, it's not raised as a joke! This flag isn't something you can just break, while laughing foolishly!"

'Incredible... so this is... a pirate!'

-

"This is a symbol of the belief that nothing is impossible! I will save this country as a doctor! By raising this, I'll fight just like pirates do!"

"What are pirates?"

"Pirates are incredible guys at sea. It's cool to be a pirate! There're tons of incredible guys at sea! Chopper, go out to sea someday."

"Hey, reindeer!" Luffy snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"I'm gonna beat up these guys now. What do you wanna do?"

"I..."

"What're you saying? You damn idiot! If you wanna protest that bad, stay there forever to protect it!" He aimed a cannon at him.

Sanji immediately leaped into action. "Why don't you stop... right there!"

"Hmm?!"

Sanji was running into battle, when there was a terrible crack. "Ow!"

"Sanji!" Venus exclaimed in concern. "What's wrong?!"

"Looks like his backbone gave out," Kureha noted, as he tried to fight anyway, "That's just natural. You're moving around too much! Stop, doctor's orders!" She kicked him in his back, sending him to the ground, and kept him down with her foot.

Wapol laughed mockingly. "What're you idiots doing?! Just stand there, and watch! I'll blow him to bits, along with that flag! Time to get blown away, Straw Hat!"

"Stop it!" Chopper raged, charging back in.

"That's the idea!" Luffy praised, as he worked on fixing the flagpole. "Get him, reindeer!"

"Wapol-sama! Watch out!" Chopper nailed a punch to... Kuromarimo's face.

"Go, Chopper!" Venus cheered.

"The little brat is showing his guts as if he's a fully grown man," Kureha remarked.

"Chessmarimo" laughed mockingly, and simultaneously. "Sorry. I won't let you lay your finger on Wapol-sama!" A furious Chopper shrunk back down to his small form. "Really, there are some strange creatures in this world. Seems like you're that yeti the citizens got worked up at one time." Kuromarimo both pointed at him. "You must really have spent your whole life disliked by everyone. You poor monster. Why's a loner like you trying to save this country? Don't make me laugh!"

"Shut up!" He snapped. "Even if I don't have friends, I can still fight! As long as Doctor's flag exists, I will-"

"You do have friends!" Luffy yelled from above, and readied his arms. "I am your friend!" He launched himself down, and crashed right in front of the evil trio, knocking them off their feet.

"Straw Hat!" Chopper exclaimed. Luffy chuckled, as he adjusted his hat. "Are you okay?!"

"I'm just fine, since I'm a rubber man."

"A rubber man?!"

"Chessmarimo" regained their footing. "Hey, reindeer. Can you finish that guy?"

"Someone like that is a piece of cake."

"Then it's decided; my opponent is the annoying mouth!"

Speaking of which, Wapol stomped up behind him. "How dare you, Straw Hat, flying around like that!"

"I won't hesitate any longer!" Chopper vowed.

"You can take me down?!" They exclaimed simultaneously. "Huh, you monster?!"

"How dare you..." Sanji struggled through his pain. "Old hag! I will fight..."

She pressed down harder on his back. "Shut up, and watch! If you keep moving around, you won't be able to walk on your own anymore."

"If you can't fight, then I will!" Venus decided, and started to march out.

"N-no!" Sanji protested, weakly grabbing her booted ankle. "Venus-chan, don't!!"

"I can't just stand back, and watch!"

"Stay here, little girl," Kureha ordered.

"B-but I-"

"Don't worry; when push comes to shove, my reindeer can handle things."

She stayed quiet, before standing aside to observe.

"My name is Tony Tony Chopper! It's a name that the world's greatest doctor gave me! Even if Doctor forgave you, I won't forgive you for laughing at how he lived!"

"Chessmarimo" approached him. "I'm the one who'll show no forgiveness! I'll stomp you!"

"Stop talking simultaneously!" Venus shouted. "You're not fooling anyone!"

Chopper pulled a small, yellow ball out of his blue bag. "Rumble Ball!"

-

"Dalton-san! Dalton-san! Wake up!" Vivi begged. "Please! Dalton-san!"

"Vivi," Usopp watched nervously.

"Hey! Dalton-san! Dalton-san!"

Out of nowhere, someone felt his heart. "Dalton is still alive."

"The Twenty MDs!" A resident exclaimed.

"His body's frozen. That's all."

"Will you leave him in our care?"

Everyone looked on in awe. "Hey, there are doctors," Zoro remarked, "I thought I heard that there weren't any doctors in this country."

"These guys're called the Twenty MDs, and they exclusively work for Wapol," Usopp clarified, and narrowed his eyes, "In other words, they're bad doctors!"

"That's right! We can't trust you! Leave Dalton-san in your care when you gave in to Wapol, to the king?!"

"What're you going to do to Dalton-san?!"

"If you want to save him, just do what we say!" One of them removed his sunglasses. "We are still doctors. Even though we were forced to give in by Wapol, and his men's power, we've always worked to advance our medical research, for the patients in this country!" More shades were removed, as the residents were still cautious. "It was because a certain quack taught us not to give up. We can't lose any more... stupid men like him!"

-

"The effect of the Rumble Ball lasts 3 minutes," Chopper said, "I'll take you down in 3 minutes!"

"3 minutes?!" Chess and Kuromarimo laughed tauntingly. "You can't defeat me at all, much less in 3 minutes!"

"3 minutes?" Luffy beamed. "That's amazing!"

""3 minutes? That's amazing!"" Wapol mocked him.

"W-will 3 minutes be enough?" Venus asked worriedly.

Kureha chuckled, now sitting on Sanji's back. "Shut up and watch. We'll be able to see something interesting."

"Dammit! Let me fight too!" He struggled.

"Rumble!" Chopper broke the ball with his teeth.

Chess and Kuromarimo readied a pair of flaming arrows. "What... did you say you could do?! Marimo's Snow Melting Arrow!"

As they were shot, Chopper prepared to change form. "Walk Point! Leg Boost!" He resembled a regular reindeer, as he charged in.

"Whoa!" Luffy watched in awe.

"Humph! Just a transformation?! I was expecting something more! In other words, you have the powers of a Devil Fruit. Zoan-type, just like Dalton! A reindeer human, huh?!"

"Heavy Point! Weight Boost!" He changed into his large form. "I'm a human reindeer!"

"Same difference! I know everything about the three-form transformation you Zoan-types use." They each held two large, wooden mallets. "Marimo's Super Surprise Quattro Hammer! I've seen all your forms. Looks like you're a power fighter like Dalton. But there's no way you can..."

"Jumping Point! Jump Boost!"

"Outpower me!" He changed into a new form, with a humanoid body, a reindeer head, and large triceps, as he leaped out of the mallet's shadow.

"He jumped!" Sanji exclaimed. "He can really jump!"

"Whoa!"

"What?! What's that form?! Wasn't his "human-animal form" the little reindeer from earlier?! How impudent!"

"Guard Point! Fur Boost!" He changed into a large furball with a head and hooves, shielding from a mallet whack, and was sent rolling up to the castle.

"Again?!"

"Whoa!" Luffy continued watching.

Chopper stood on his hooves, and poked his head out. "Can't be... I hit him dead on!"

"It won't work!" He defied them.

"I was sure that Zoan-types had a limit of three forms. What the heck are you?"

"The Rumble Ball is a drug that messes up the wavelength of the Devil Fruit's transformations. During my 5 years of research, I found 4 more transformation points. 3 transformations plus 4."

"Seven-form transformation?"

"Sev-" Luffy gawked.

"What's the big deal with the number of transformations?!"

"A..." Luffy's eyes lit up. "A seven-form transforming, interesting reindeer!"

"What's the matter with him?" Kureha snarked.

"Looks like his happiness exceeded its limit after hearing seven-phase transformation," Sanji remarked.

"You bastard," Wapol loomed over him, "What happened to your fight against me?!"

"To hell with seven-phase transformation! I won't be deceived by such a sham!" Chess and Kuromarimo leaped in the air.

"It's not a sham!" As Luffy continued watching, Chopper bounced up to them. "Arm Point! Arm Boost!" He became a humanoid with a reindeer head again, only now with much thicker arms. They were shocked when he broke all of their mallets effortlessly. "Let me tell you one thing. My iron hooves can smash even rocks!"

"Amazing!" Luffy gushed.

"How impudent, you bastard!" The pair complained. "This'll show you! Marimo's Surprise... Quattro Axe!" They each wielded a pair of huge axes. "Snow Splitting Blade!" The attack left merely a cut on his left shoulder, and struck behind him.

"Hey, the castle wall got hollowed out!" Sanji noticed.

"Tsk! He dodged it! Then, how about... this?!" They charged up to him, swinging their axes. "Omnidirectional Snow Splitter!" Chopper jumped, ducked, and changed forms to dodge them. "What happened to your high spirits from earlier?! You can't win if you just keep dodging, you know!"

Chopper managed to leap into the air. "Brain Point! Brain Boost!" He landed away from them. "It's not that I was just dodging." He began o prepare for a super-analysis. "I was looking for your weak spot."

"What?!"

"This will finish you. Scope!" His held his front hooves together into a diamond, and analyzed his enemy.

Luffy gulped. "A-a beam! He'll definitely shoot a beam!"

"He won't, you idiot!" Sanji exclaimed.

"Shut up! It's definitely a beam! I don't care what anyone says, it's a beam!" Wapol was getting angrier by the minute at being ignored, as Venus facepalmed. "What else could it be?! It's a beam!"

"How can you know?! Huh?!"

"I just know! It's a beam! Beam!"

"Then what kind of beam?!"

"I should use this chance."

Chess and Kuromarimo charged in. "You were looking for my weak spot?! So what?!"

Wapol began sneaking into the castle, oblivious to a certain witch noticing. She turned to look up at the sky. 'A full moon. Perfect.' Stealing the opportunity herself, she began sneaking in as well after him. Kureha turned to her when she started inching away. "Little girl?"

"Shh." She cautiously walked in the castle without a word.

Kureha narrowed her eyes in her direction. 'She's as reckless as the boys!'

"I don't have a weak spot! You're a transforming idiot, who can't even attack! You're the one who'll be finished!"

Once they were right in front of him, he stopped. 'I found it! His jaw!' He then disappeared into the deep snow on the ground. "Where'd he go?!"

"Hoofprint..." He burst out, back in Arm Point, "Roseo!" He nailed a punch to Chess' jaw, sending them flying back, an ultimately defeating them. He shrunk down to Brain Point, and brushed off his hat. "3 minutes."

"All right, reindeer!" Luffy cheered. "You're pretty good, reindeer! Amazing!"

"Shut up!" Chopper smiled with embarrassment, as Luffy laughed.

-

Back in the village, Dalton woke up surrounded by... the Twenty MDs! "Dalton-san!" They all murmured.

"In any event, let's go up the mountain," Vivi decided, "Usopp-san, Mr. Bushido!"

"Huh?" Zoro raised an eyebrow.

"I can't just sit around, and wait! I'm worried what happened to Luffy-san and the others in that big avalanche! Nami-san has a very high fever! If anything happened-"

"You're worried about Nami," Usopp cut her off, "On top of that, you're worried about Dalton-san as well as Alabasta, right?" She stare at him silently. "Vivi, calm down! You're carrying too many burdens on your shoulders!"

"What?"

"Nami is with Luffy and Sanji, as is Venus-chan," He clarified, "I'm sure they're okay. They'll be fine! I believe in them!"

'That's right,' Vivi thought, 'He's right. Usopp-san believes in his friends. That's why he can be so calm.' "Thank you, Usopp-san. I-"

"For you, it's just that you're afraid of going up the mountain, isn't it?" Zoro confronted, poking his forehead.

"B-but I heard that there're things like a yeti, and bear-bunnies there!" He stammered, his legs shaking.

"Then say so from the start! Aren't you worried about Venus, at least?"

"Sh-sh-she's fine! She's with Luffy and Sanji!" Vivi frowned in disappointment. So much for that. "It'll be fine," Usopp assured, "It's Luffy we're talking about. He'll make it work. I can't help it if I'm scared! Any problem with that?!"

"Dalton-san!"

"W-wait!" Against the doctors' orders, Dalton staggered outside with a sled for a crutch.

"Ahh!" Usopp perked up. "Dalton-san!"

"Dalton-san!" Vivi turned with a smile.

"Would someone please tell me who the heck this guy is?!" Zoro exclaimed.

The doctors, plus some citizens, filed out after him. "Dalton-san! You can't!"

"Get out of my way! We can't let Wapol in the castle! Never!"

"Don't tell me they're heading to the castle!" Vivi fussed.

"In your condition... that's reckless!" Usopp scolded.

Dalton glared in their direction. "When will I fight, if I don't fight now? If Wapol goes back to being the king, this country will become rotten forever!"

"There's no way you can fight in that condition!" A resident protested.

"We're no match for them either."

Dalton straightened himself through the pain. "I will settle this! No matter how dirty I have to play!"

He started stumbling off, only for a bold Usopp to stand in his way. Through the silence, he turned away, and knelt down. "Get on my back. I'll take you to the castle." Dalton stared in shock. "You don't need to be modest! I don't wanna waste your determination; that's all."

"Usopp-san," Vivi watched from the crowd in awe.

Usopp struggled, as he kept true to his word, dragging himself with Dalton through the village. "Hold on, okay? I will take you... to the castle now."

"Usopp-san," Vivi grew concerned.

"Hey, Usopp-kun. I really don't think this is going to work."

"It'll work!" He insisted, though he was starting to perspire. "I'll take you there! You're gonna fight for the country, right?! You're gonna settle this, right?! Don't worry. I'll definitely take you there!"

Zoro facepalmed at his obvious struggling. "Geez... that moron." To Usopp's chagrin, Zoro lifted Dalton over his shoulder with ease. "We just have to go up the mountain, right?"

"Zoro..." He glared, and started kicking him. "You jerk! You jerk!"

"Ow! Ow!" Zoro griped. "What're you doing?!"

"Usopp Punch!"

"Look moron, you can impress Venus some other way."

"Hey!" He was pushed away, and spun his arms to stay upright, before he stomped ahead indignantly, his shoulders hunched. "I was just about to use my serious power!" He complained.

"Yeah, I know," Zoro snarked.

"Serious Power!"

"Whoa, amazing, amazing."

Vivi ran after them, gaining a resident's attention. "Wait! If you're willing to go that far to get there," They all stopped, "There's a ropeway to the castle."

"Can't be. There's no rope connected to the castle anymore."

"There's one. Someone has reattached a white rope from a big tree at the edge of Gyasta to the castle!"

"Gyasta?" Usopp asked.

"That's the name of the town that Dr. Kureha headed last," Vivi reminded.

-

"Hey, Luffy!" Sanji called to him.

"Huh?"

"Where is that guy?"

"That guy?"

"He's not here!" Sanji exclaimed.

"Which guy?" Luffy asked obliviously.

"That tin bastard! He's disappeared!"

"Ahhh!" He glanced around frantically. "Ahhh! Ahhh!"

"He came up on the haired hippo," Kureha recalled, "He wouldn't go down on his own."

"When on Earth did he-?"

"While you're fascinated by the transformations, of course!" Sanji glared.

"That bastard! I'll find him right away, and finish him off!"

"Don't tell he got into the castle from somewhere," Sanji frowned, before panicking. "In that case, Nami-san will be..." When Luffy ran inside like mad, he crawled after him. "That bastard! If he lays his hands on Nami-san-"

"Hold it!" Kureha ordered, but was ignored.

"I'll gut him 100 times!"

She sighed in exasperation. "Geez, does he want to die?"

"Doctorine."

"Hmm?"

Chopper pulled his hat brim down over his eyes. "He called me... his friend."

"Where're you, you annoying mouth?!" Luffy demanded.

In the room, Nami felt her forehead. "Seems like my fever is coming down quite a bit. At this rate, it's likely that I can go back to the ship soon." She then shot up. "What am I doing?! This is no time to be in bed, resting here! Vivi is waiting for me!"

Downstairs, Venus was unnoticed, as she spied on Wapol from behind a large snow mound. "What the heck is going on here?!" He demanded. "Is this really my Drum Castle?" She glared silently. "What have they done to my castle? They won't get away with this!" He growled. "I will chew up every single one of them!"

[on-noon]

find the words tag game

thanks for the tag @vsnotresponding @k--havok

tagging: @treesandwords @elizaellwrites @briannaswords @writerfae

with the words: lonely, breaks, reply, town, & head

tale (life friends & friendship ends)

"Hey, Kalar, do you have any suggestions?" Mashaw says, "SInce none of these idiots can think of anything creative."

"Hmm. What if I wove a tale about a monster that's followed me all my life, almost caught me once. Tell some details about the monster, maybe it leaves puddles of water behind on the floor and makes screeching noises, then make those details happen," I say.

throne (life friends & friendship ends)

“Someone find Rabal a chair, and everyone, even Bathaz, leave,” Larath says atop his throne.

An adviser brings an armchair and leaves. I sit on the stone floor.

precious (Archives of Flying & Falling Through Space)

You might wonder why I joined the Space Force, if you learned that I did. The answer: because I knew you would hate it. That I was “risking myself unnecessarily.” But yet you wouldn’t say that if someone else joined, if there were pilots that went and saved your precious planet from something.

brutal (The Search For Ezra: A Star Wars Fanfic)

“He’s not the most popular in the Ascendancy, as he does some non-traditional tactics. So, he left the Ascendency to see if the Empire could be a good ally, and ended up in the Empire,” I say.

“Where his brutal tactics would be appreciated. I got it,” Sabine says.

shadow (fff163)

Stanch picks me up and puts me in the boat. “Don't stand up unless you can keep your balance, you’ll tip the entire boat. Or would, if you had more meat on you.”

“I caught a shadow fish!” I hold it out. 

“Would you look at that? You might have some potential. I'll teach you at least a week more. And you'll get half what I sell it for,” Stanch says. 

I smile. I'm gonna be a shadow fisher. 

Red (life friends & friendship ends)

I follow Dalar to a room filled with fabrics. There's a man in there, cutting fabric. He's wearing a coat with red fabric cutouts, sewed on with zig-zagging blue thread.

Kick (ChemistMan)

The next morning, Khali knocks on my door.

“Okay, I’ve been asking around, and one of my friends went to a school with a teacher who loved chemistry, and loved it when there were students who were really into chemistry, and he’ll get me in touch with that teacher, so maybe you could get into that school?” Khali says.

“Maybe. You don’t have to do this, you’re probably busy with your racing. By the way, when’s the next race? And campaigning for city council.”

“Don’t worry about it. I can find time. After all, I can’t have a brother who got kicked out of school in his second year.”

Moon (fff168)

Warren was right, the cool air whipping onto my face is great. I won’t be able to get to sleep now. We fly over the forest this school is built in towards, towards the little rural town. Some of the houses glow from their lights – I’m not the only one still up, but mostly the moon provides the light. We fly and fly and the sky starts to lighten. 

Going (Countdown to Magic)

He’s waiting outside a room. Inside the room, several people are walking over a huge glyph on the floor, occasionally using

“See them in there? They are working on a weather spell. I think to slightly change the air pressure to change wind patterns so that we get snow so it’s wetter come spring? It was probably ordered by some farmer’s guild or something. But can you believe that? They’re going to influence the weather, make it rain. And that helps the farmers grow food reliably, which keeps our food supply stable.”

The people all start to go to the edge of the rune, and then start to chant an incantation.

Hurl

not found.