I watched Nope with my siblings tonight and it was scarier than I anticipated. Primarily because this movie played into two very specific fears of mine and this was the first time I felt legitimate TERROR while watching a movie. I've watched some fucked up, gross, depressing movies but none have elicited this intense of a reaction from me. My ass almost had to leave the theater twice. It was fantastic but I could not watch that movie again. Jordan Peele knocks it out of the park again though!

Hey dude! Loving the tmnt stories! 💚Could I request #8 with raph? "I can make you feel better than that pathetic toy" 😈

*wiggles eyebrows* oh boy

Yes, let’s get thiiiiiis

TW of sorts: Consentual vouyerism

Rated Explicit (18+ only)

Night time would always be his favorite.

They are nocturnal creatures by demand. Walking around daylight just isn’t an option and for Raphael he doesn’t care. Longing for acceptance took a back seat a long time ago, around the time that you entered his life. All the acceptance he needed was right here, in the shape of you.

Schedules though? Well having a relationship with a human proved tricky in the sense of time structures and human necessities. You have a job, you need to sustain a living and well he beats people up for a living and has a curfew regardless of being in his mid twenties.

But the two of you have your ways. Tricky albeit but still always delightful and fun.

Which is why Raphael finds himself perched on the roof opposite your building, with a fantastic view of your window that led to the bed area. Good paying human job meant, good income and with that you had quite the luxury loft, with some very large windows.

Raph smirked, his phone showed him the time and around now as the sun fully set and the cover of darkness was on his side, he knew you would be home soon. Right on the nose you entered the apartment at 6:15pm.

He watched you dump you belongings by the door, kicking off your shoes before making your way to the kitchen area. Even from a distance his vision allowed him to make out little details he loved. You have a particular way of standing, switching your weight from hip to hip, a tendency to push away your hair with a sigh. In your most natural state, unbeknownst to his gaze you always looked beautiful.

The picture of perfection.

Your phone in your hand he saw you type something before leaving it on the kitchen counter and move towards the bathroom area (which to his dismay was much more private.)

In mear seconds his phone pins and alerts him to your message. It was your usual checking in, telling him that you were home and hoping in the shower. He types back nonetheless, all nonchalant with just the hint of cockiness you love. The sun soon disappears and Raph knows that the best parts are yet to come. You walk around in nothing but a towel, hair wet as well as skin. He swears he can smell you, just by memory that freshly washed scent of yours makes something beneath his stomach yearn.

You make a small stop by the counter to pick up the discarded phone, your smiling at his text never fails to make his ego swell. Bitting your bottom lip and answering to him as you walk towards the bed area he sees the sway in your hips, the jingle of your rear and a towel barely holding on.

Raph licks his dry lips, his phone pins again but he already knows what’s been said.

Now he can relax and enjoy himself.

You brush your wet hair, a few strands already beginning to dry. You grab a few of your basic routine essentials and start there first. Moisturizing your skin, which means dropping the towel.

And that you do. Unaware of green eyes following your every move. Each visible piece of flesh makes Raph’s soul burn, burn with a need. He watches the careful manner in which you care for your skin, touching here and there. The way you linger at his favorite spots, kneading and massaging those areas. He takes a deep breath, whe he sees you reach into the dresser and pull something out.

You make your way towards a chair close to the window, often times you’ve sat there to read but tonight, well you had other plans. It was thrilling, chalk it off to your adrenaline junkie ways but the thrill of sitting there and intimately touching yourself with nothing but skyscrapers and the night sky to accompany you always got you hotter. Mind wandering to Raphael which never seized to add even more heat, the image of his sculpted body and its roughness a turn on for you.

Once upon a time you had told him that while the two of you had been huddled together on the couch. Hands squeezing and groping various points of his body. He had been bewildered when you told him that he physically turned you on so much. For a mutant reptile that lived hidden beneath the streets it never felt like a possibility to find himself attractive. Yet here was a tiny human female praising his looks, his body and other areas he never thought he could put into the category of alluring.

In the now, Raph watches you from his spot on the ledge. The way your legs are spreading and the vibrator slowly making a trail towards your exposed womanhood. He felt that tightness, that need to drop down and release his errection from the confines of his shorts. He settled for running a hand over his clothed crotch. Each swipe making him churr and just to gut him further the toy disappeared inside of you. “Fuck, baby” He whispers to himself, eyes glued to your quivering body. “I got what ya need right here, this yer toy” He emphasizes with a grope to his tented shorts, no use in hiding it anymore.

He can see your lips moving, moans no less dripping with filth and hopefully intertwined with his name. A hand gropes at your breast before settling on you core, fingers toying with your swollen clit. Raph wants that image to play in his brain until he sees white. He craves to barge in right now but it’s not time yet, he needs to see your body shake and go rigid with release. Your hand speeds up, thrusting the toy as your other rubs at your sensitive nub. “That’s it baby, come on” He breaths hard, nostrils flaring and hand not seizing it’s rubbing on his rock hard cock hidden inside his shorts.

That familiar coil snaps inside of you, Raph’s name falling from your lips as you continue to fuck yourself through your climax. The toy does no justice to him, doesn’t hit the spots he can hit, doesn’t stretch you the way you’re used to by now. Shallow breaths and sweaty skin, just the way he likes it.

Speak of the devil, the phone rings.

Carefully you removed the toy and cast it aside to pick up the phone.

“I can make you feel better than that pathetic toy” Raph’s husky tone makes your toes curl. God, does he even comprehend the damage his voice can cause?

“How about instead of spying on me you get your big ass over here then” You bite your lip when he grunts, there’s shuffling on the other line and a sound of something heavy lands by the fire escape.

You watch him come into view, all imposing ‘6”6 of him. He grins at the display before him, he keeps the phone call going while he crouches to admire you. This was something the two of you had discussed before hand, that you were never opposed to Raph just keeping an eye on you...

That you actually liked being watched by him. The red banded brute had taken that to heart, he would be a liar if he didn’t say that he loved watching you do these types of things.

He opened the window, phone put away he got to his knees in front of you and without hesistation he dove in. Legs on his shoulders he holds you in place as his mouth works over your sensitive cunt. That skilled tongue of his made you whimper. The softness of your legs against either side of his head is one of Raph’s favorite sensations. Full on earmuffs, the tighter you squeeze the harder he felt his dick get.

It never fails to drive you nuts, to feel the air leave your body in one large in take as Raphael eats you out earnestly. Tongue flicking against your clit you caught green eyes glued to your every reaction, your hands fly to the back of his head and you push him against your folds. There’s no worry, you know he can hold his breath for a while and the pressure is exactly what you need to feel that rush hit you once more. “RA-AH!” Is all you can shout as you tremble and moan in your seat.

You feel like jelly, as if your limbs are foreign objects but you barely have to rest when Raph is standing again to his full height and gripping the back of your head. “C’mere baby girl” He growls as he shoves his shorts enough to free himself and pumps his cock vigorolously. “Open your pretty little mouth for me-fuuuuck” You lick your lips and open your mouth just as you’re told. Raph barely holds on, you’re his absolute fantasy come to life right now, sweaty and skin flushed, tits moving with every heave of your chest.

“Take it like the good girl you are-ahhh” He cums with a long grunt, each white rope hitting your open awaiting mouth while a few shots dribble down your chin towards your chest. He pumps his member till there isn’t anything left, the last of it dripping from his cock onto your thighs.

It’s a god damn mess and it’s beautiful. Raph admires your stained skin, bitting his lip when you lick the excess from your chin, scooping some of it from your chest. In your clean up you watch Raph undresses, gear and all discarded somewhere. You squeal excitedly when he lifts over his shoulder, hand smacking your rear.

“Now let’s make a mess in ya” He crosses towards the bed, ready to dunk you on it and start up this game again.

You happily oblige.

BTS Friends to Lovers Drabble Series (Namjoon)

Genre: Smut, Fluff

Theme: Bartender!Namjoon x Waitress!Reader

Warnings: mentions of cigarette smoking, Sex at work, somewhat public sex, slightly rough sex, hickeys, biting, hair pulling, some dirty talk, unprotected sex,

A/N: k... so none of the friends to lovers drabbles were supposed to be smut but here we are 😂 hope you guys like it! Let me know what you think! I’m new to writing smut so I’d like to think of this as some practice in that 🤷‍♀️ I might do a sequel to this one in a longer one shot possibly

Word count: 1.8k

Some days it was unbearable to go to work.  You were a waitress at one of the nicest restaurants in your town.  The pay wasn’t bad but the hours were crazy and it was always busy.  The highlight of your days were any time you’d go to pick up a drink for one of your tables from the bar and you’d get a chance to chat with your best work friend Namjoon.  

He always seemed to put a smile on your face even when you were having the worst day.  He’d let you vent about customers that were pissing you off and would always make jokes to get you in a better mood.

Tonight had been a particularly bad night.  At least half your tables had issues with their food and decided to take their anger out on you despite the fact that you were only the one you brought the food.  You even had one customer dine and dash, and due to a shitty loophole in the restaurant's policies that meant you had to pay for the meal instead or risk getting fired for being neglectful.

“Namjoon I swear to god I’m gonna quit. I mean it, I’m walking out the doors right now and never coming back” you groaned, resting your elbow on the bar.  

Namjoon who was mixing up a drink chuckled and grinned up at you, “Aw but who’s gonna come bug me every 5 minutes” he teased.

You wished you could reach over the bar and smack him for his comment.  “You’d miss me” you retorted.

“Yeah, true” he winked your way.

After your last two tables left for the night you went out to smoke a cigarette out on the back porch by the dumpsters before you got started doing your side work.

Namjoon who also had served his last customer of the night had followed behind to join you as he usually did when you worked night shifts together.

“Don’t let it get to ya” Grey smoke spilled from his lips as he spoke, “You wouldn’t believe some of the people I had to deal with tonight.  You’d think it being a classy restaurant and all the drunks would have a little more...class?” he shook his head.

“If you could do anything else what would you do?” You asked, “Like dream job, and not just cuz it makes a lot of money or something.  What are you passionate about?”

He thought for a moment.  “Not really sure actually, I’ve been doing this a few years and I guess I got comfortable, I’ve stopped thinking like that, about dreams and future aspirations and shit”

He shrugged.

“Thats kinda sad no?” you joked, gently punching his shoulder in a teasing manner.  

He simply shrugged again, back pressed against the wall.  

He looked so good in his bartender’s atire.  Black skinny jeans clung to his muscular thighs in all the right places, a white button up dress shirt with a bowtie now untied and hanging down onto his chest.  

You’d thought about what’d he’d look like under all those clothes, once or twice...maybe...just maybe.  You bit your lip slightly as your thoughts got a little too carried away.

Shit.  He noticed.

He cocked an eyebrow up, noticing you checking him out.  He took another drag from his cigarette, cocking his head up to the sky and sighing.

“Don’t do that.” he mumbled

“Do what?”

He lowered his head, pulling himself from the wall and now standing face to face with you.

“Look at me like you wanna fuck me” his eyes darted from your face down to your toes and back up again.  “You wouldn’t wanna fuck someone you work with, trust me shit could get awkward”

You moved into him slightly, “Oh? And who says thats what I was doing?” You teased flirtatiously “Even if I was, I’m not the type to hold a grudge if things go badly” you lifted your shoulders up and down slowly.

A wide smirk grew on his face and he shook his head, “You’re too much” he laughed lightly.

“Maybe just for tonight? We’ve both had a bad day and I could use something to get my mind off of it” you trailed off getting quieter at the end.  Suddenly nervous he might take you up on what you’ve just offered, even though you were the one who suggested it.

“Just for tonight huh?” there was almost something carnal in the expression that flickered on to his face in that moment.  Were you about to make a mistake? Maybe. Did you care? No.  In this moment now all you needed was him, you were craving him from the moment the idea popped into your mind.  

Namjoon grabbed one of the metal chairs that was sitting out in the makeshift designated smokers area and put it under the handle of the door so as not to allow anyone else to use the door.  Somewhat giving the two of you privacy despite the fact that you were still outside.  It was the back of the restaurant but still, cars drove past sometimes and that thought made it all the more exciting.

Namjoon strolled confidently back over to you.  “Yeah?”

“Yeah” you whispered.  

At that you hurriedly grabbed onto him, wrapping your arms around his shoulders and diving in to sloppy and frenzied kisses.  He groaned as you pressed yourself against him.  He pushed back into you and guided you to the wall, your back now pressed fully against it.  He lifted one of your legs and wrapped it around his hips, grinding his clothed erection against you.  

“Fuck baby” he pulled back from your lips, pressing his forehead into yours.  His pupils were blown out with an expression of pure lust draped over every inch of his face. He bit his lip tilting his head up slightly as his hand slowly trailed over your bare skin, moving from your knee down, down, down.

You silently thanked the owners of the restaurant for requiring their waitresses to wear a skirt.  It now made for easy access for Namjoon to do what he was currently doing.  Slipping a hand through the side of your panties, tracing softly over your now dripping center.  You ached for him, and he was teasing you so perfectly, but at the same time so frustratingly.

He grinned noticing your dilemma.

“Did you need something baby?” he chuckled.

“Namjoon please” you moaned as he sucked on your neck, leaving red marks, proof of his lust.

“Please what” he growled quietly.  

“Touch me, Make me cum!” you whined with complete and utter abandon.  Not even caring who could hear at this point. You needed him so badly.  

“Hmmm” pressing a soft kiss on your shoulder.  “I don’t think we have much time before someone notices us missing in there.” he brushed his lips lightly against your collar bone and groaned, a small frown on his lips. “I wish that our first time together didn’t have to be so rushed princess, but I think we should be quick mkay?”

In your daze you slightly questioned in your mind what he had meant by that.  Had he thought of this before? Had he pictured fucking you? And he had an idea of how he wanted it to go?

You shook the thoughts out of your mind, pulling yourself back in the moment to focus.  Because yes he was right, you didn’t have much time, and if either of you wanted to keep your jobs you should probably make quick work of the growing issue that had com to be between each of your legs.  

You nodded eagerly “Please,”

Namjoon quickly fumbled with the button and zipper of his jeans, pulling his large length out and teasing your entrance with it.  Flicking the head of his cock up and down your slit.  A small whimper escaped your lips every time he would brush against your sensitive clit.  

He brought his forehead to yours again, eyes closed and lips quivering “You’re so fucking perfect you know that?” he mumbled, and as he spoke he pushed himself inside of you fully in one swift motion.

You cried out in a mixture of pleasure and surprise at the feeling.  He filled you up so well, you felt complete with him inside of you. Like a missing piece that you had always needed had now found its way to you.  

He bucked his hips up into you quickly causing you to gasp every time you felt him bottom out into you.  His head was buried into your shoulder one hand tightly gripping your thigh that was wrapped around him, surely hard enough that he would leave a bruise, his other hand harshly tugged at your hair.   He continued to fuck at a rigorous pace, you loved the noises of pleasure that were falling from his lips low growls and moans, you loved knowing you were causing these symphonic sounds.

“N-namjoon, I’m g-gonna cum” you squealed out.

“Shit really?” He gasped “Fuck. Fuck yes y/n. Cum.  Cum on my cock baby, I want to feel it all”

And that was all you needed to fall into what might have been hands down the most intense orgasm you’d ever felt.  Your walls pulsating and clenching hard down onto the rock hard length inside of you.

“Oh god dammit” he moaned, eyes rolling into the back of his skull. “I’m cumming y/n. Fuuuuck”

His hips stuttered and his pace slowed as he emptied himself inside of you.  He bit hard on your shoulder as he rode through his orgasm, the hand on your hip hurting you slightly, but you didn’t mind.  The way he came undone inside of you was the most beautiful sight you’d ever seen.  You knew you’d be playing it on replay in your mind on your own over and over again.  

He stepped back pulling himself out of your throbbing pussy. “Holy shit” he gasped shaking his head and staring down at you in admiration.

“Holy shit” you repeated.

He brought a hand to your lips, gently tracing your bottom lip with his thumb.  “You know I’m not going to let that be the last time now right.  Not when you’re that good.”

You giggle cutely “mmm maybe that can be arranged”

As you both came down from your blissful highs you heard a voice yell from the door. “Namjoon! y/n! Are you out there?”

You clapped a hand over your mouth trying to suppress your giggles.  You’d almost forgotten you were at work.

Namjoon also was suppressing his own laughter. Shaking his head and redressing himself.  “Shit.  Girl, you’re trouble”

Could I request a nighttime beach walk with Jotaro and a female s/o that turns into some skinny dipping in the ocean? Either full NSFW or just a hint would be great, totally up to you!

Thanks for your request! Sorry it was late! Hope its okay!

NSFW 18+

[[MORE]]

"Such a beautiful sunset." You sigh, looking out at the setting ball of fire as it dips into the ocean; night growing as you and Jotaro walk side by side along the shore of the beach, water lapping at your bare feet.

This relaxing walk together was something Jotaro needed, even if you had to drag him out of his office. He had been working non stop for a while now, it was hard enough to get him to eat let alone some sleep. But you were persistent and finally broke him into agreeing to go for a walk along the shore.

He was glad you got him out of the house. Being here in one of his comfort zones, he realized how stressed he had been with grading papers or teaching classes. He grabbed your hand, lacing his fingers with yours, grateful for you to pull him out of his office.

~

You lost track of how long- and far- the two of you have been walking. You were definitely alone and the only light that was around you was from the half moon hanging in the sky. "Do you want to head back now?" Jotaro asked you, worried you might be getting tired.

You thought about saying 'yes' and go back home, but you finally got Jotaro out of the house and away from his work. You were going to take advantage of this. Looking around, you noticed a dock that lead out into the water. There was also no one around either. Smirking, you swiftly move to stand in front of your boyfriend, running a single finger up and down his chest. "Why don't we stay out a little while longer?"

Jotaro cocked an eyebrow. "You want to keep walking?"

With a grin, you pull your shirt over your head and remove your bra, letting Jotaro stare at your bare breasts; nipples getting harder from the cool breeze from the ocean. "I have a different idea." Grabbing his hand, you pull him onto the dock and down to its edge. Removing your pants and underwear, you jump off and into the cold ocean water. When you come back up for air, you look up at Jotaro. "C'mon, baby. Join me."

"Are you serious?"

"What? You, of all people, don't want to swim in the ocean naked? And you tell me how much you just love the ocean."

Jotaro didn't care much for your taunting. He stared down at you, your naked body floating on the surface.

"Take the leap, Ocean Man."

With a growl, Jotaro removed his clothes and jumped in, water splashing up in your face. When he resurfaced, he grabbed you in his arms, holding you so close to his chest. "This is cold." He shivered.

You agreed and wrapped yourself around his body, locking your lips with his. Your hands tangled in his black curls, his hands cupped your breasts, thumbs rubbing against your nipples. Soft moans escaped your mouth between kisses, enjoying the sensation against your erect nubs.

"You like that?" Jotaro whispered against your ear. You nodded. "Then you're going to love this." His dominate hand traveled to between your legs, middle finger sliding into your folds, rubbing against your clit.

"O-Oh... Jotaro..." He knew how to touch you in just the right way. His motions always started out slow, building you up so that he could give you the world shattering orgasms you love.

Jotaro moved forward and under the dock, towards one of the cement pillars that held it up; water just coming up above his knees. Removing his hand, he spun you around to face the pillar. Your arms wrapped around it while Jotaro held your hips, sliding his incredibly hard dick inside you.

"Mmmm... Yesss..." You hiss, feeling every inch of him.

"You ready for me to move?"

"Yes, please, Jotaro." Again, he went slow, making sure you feel all of him. The risk of getting caught by anybody passing by made the knot in your core grow tighter with excitement.

Jotaro's grunts could be heard behind you as he picked up his pace, pounding into your pussy with force.

"Ah... Ahh... Ahhh..." You panted and whimpered. "More. Give me more, Jotaro. Your dick feels so good. I love it so much."

"Good." He huffed. Leaning closer, he growled in your ear. "Do you want to cum? Want me to make you cum, woman?"

A couple tears ran down your cheeks. He always made you feel so good every time he fucked you. "Y-Yes! Jotaro, please! Make me cum."

His hips went to his full speed, bringing your orgasm closer and closer until you screamed it out. Your walls pulsing around his cock as he keeps going until he arrives at his own, pumping his seed deep inside you. "Fuuuuck!" He hissed, pulling your hips to his, making sure he gets right in there.

Pulling out of you, he set you down gently and collapsed into the shallow shore on his back; ocean water splashing as he hit the wet sand.

You smiled and walked over, straddling his hips and laying down on top of him as the water lapped around your spent, naked bodies.

"I'm not going to lie," he said as he kissed you. "Having sex with you in the ocean was one of my fantasies."

"Oh really?" You bite at his bottom lip, hand resting on the 'V' of his hips. "Do you want to go home and live out more fantasies?"

He looked intrigued, giving you a tiny squeeze on your bottom. "Its an option. We can start by showering off this sand."

You giggled but couldn't agree more.

Escape: To Salvation Ch: 10

Blake X Val

Summery: Blake wakes up in the hell town known as Templegate. confused and alone he must fight through both his past and present for his future. however, hallucinations of festering demons haunt him along with something else more of mortal blood. now he must fight to keep his nightmares and reality separate or succumb to the deadly wilds. however is he truly as alone as he feels in this world?  

status: complete

rated: M - fowl language, sensitive topics, and gore

previous chap: Escape: To Salvation CH:9

next chap: Escape: To Salvation CH:11

_____________________________________

~Ch:10 Shattered~

“How many exits left in the radius?” wicker spoke into the radio. Shifting his jaw side to side impatiently. “were about to blow the last few in a minute. All that will leave is the funnel.” a soldier replied. “good, once all the exits are closed head down. Scare them towards it and I'll take the shots from the high cliffs.” wicker ended the call with. A large crate sitting nearby with large clips. He turned around to unclip the crate open. Pulling out a long dark red sniper rifle from the snug foam padding. Opening a second box nearby filled with large silver rings of ammo. Snapping them into a large under compartment resembling a tube around 5 inches wide around. “you sure this was the best one from the lab?” wicker asked with a neutral expression toward a soldier. “yes sir, custom built. Made specifically to take any bullets available, that includes different types like shotgun shells, loaded clips or belts. silencer attachment, automatic filter scope to switch between day and night vision through even the most drastic changes of light in the environment. Can even shoot after being drowned in water for hours. The perfect traveling assault for any range.” the soldier spoke off proudly over the weapon. “heh, I've hear this thing was even built to work under pressure. After it breaks it can still perfectly fire ammunition. Although it's not marked as solid in testing.” the soldier smiled. “so why haven't these been released to the field if their so perfect?” wicker asked. “the firepower can blow limbs right off the body, but it gives a nasty kickback. Hasn't been properly suppressed yet. You must be thorough on locking it down or backing it against something solid. Or else you'll end up with broken shoulders, ribs, and even spinal fractures.” the soldier warned. “fucking perfect.” wicker growled at the news. “it comes with a portable shoulder brace. Small, easily adjustable, locks to the rifle to act like a stand against anything. Lean against a tree with the brace on it and it'll spread the kick to the tree. It doesn't entirely stop the possibility of bone breakage, but lessens the amount caused.” the soldier continued. “lock it to the ground before firing.” the soldier reminded as he handed over the large shoulder brace from a side compartment in the guns casing. “don't bother with the return paperwork. I love this thing far too much already.” wicker grinned widely with a crooked smile. Snapping on the shoulder brace before locking the gun to it.

_______________________________________________ “fuck, they've blocked this too.” Val cursed at the wall of towering rubble. “any more?” Blake asked quietly. They had been traveling everywhere the entire day with the sky turning orange from the sunset. Each pathway being blocked off from explosions causing a rock pile. “yes, only a few more. Otherwise were going to have to climb our way out.” Val spoke with mixed exhausted aggravation. Their heads turning toward a loud pop from behind them. Blake having a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach at the sight of a red flare. “what's that?” Val asked in a tense tone of worry. “a flare, used to signal for help. Or to help light up an area for search.” Blake spoke with a heavy swallow. More flares blasting high into the air in a circle formation around the pair. “they must have seen us!” Blake spoke quickly to Val. “follow me and stay close.” Val told him as she hurried off toward the closest exit. Blakes heart racing as he followed. Seeing the many beams of flashlights surrounding them closing in. he began to feel sick at the flashes of being chased in Templegate. All the lights looking for him, shining between trees or into the windows. His lack of attention almost knocking Val down after she stopped. She turned to make sure he was on his feet before pulling him to follow in a direction away from oncoming men. Val letting go of him as they passed into the narrow valley way. The sheer tall sides of the rocky cliffs blocking the light from the remaining sun and the falling red flares behind them. Vals running slowing to a stop while quickly looking over the area. “why are you stopping?” Blake asked through his wheezing. “they stopped.” Val stated, looking back at the long row of standing flashlights aimed at the valley entrance. “so, shouldn't we keep going?” he wheezed. “no, this was something I used to do. Somethings waiting ahead for us.” she stated, cautiously walking forward with quiet steps. Blake following her lead while nervously looking ahead. The whole forest being eerily silent besides there steps through the gravel. Val not walking far before stopping again. “if we keep going we'll be out in the open. There's no trees ahead with a white rapids river forcing us against one wall.” she informed Blake. “what do we do then?” Blake asked, knowing he wouldn't like the answer. “only two, run against the wall till we make the corner far ahead. Or jump into the river, right past the trees, with the risk of drowning.” Val stated. “can you swim?” she asked. “yeah, I do that pretty well.” Blake nodded. “if we end up in the river we have to meet someplace. Past the rapids, down the river, is a lake. You cant accidentally pass it if you get stuck in the river. River gets too shallow past the lake to be swept further.” she carefully informed. Blake nodded as he listened carefully to the directions.

“are they in the funnel?!” wicker growled impatiently over the radio. Sitting at the cliffs edge with the sniper rifle locked into the dirt. long retractable metal rods extending out from the bottom. “yes sir, we chased them in. must be stopped in the middle ground.” a man answered. “scare them, move forward. Shoot a few rounds to get them moving.” wicker sighed impatiently. Watching the treeline through the night vision scope. “yes sir.” the man spoke. Gesturing for the line of armed men to follow him forward.

“time to make a decision. River or chance the wall.” Val stated as she saw the flashlights moving closer. “river gets us away faster.” Blake stated quickly. Val giving a confirming nod as they went forward. Blakes heart jumping into his throat at the open space ahead. Rushing river water drowning out their footsteps. “l-let me go forward.” Blake spoke, stopping Val to get in front of her. Taking a nervous breath as he slowly peaked out past the trees. A tree suddenly having a chunk blasted away by Blakes head. Splinters raining down over the two before they hid behind another tree. Blake peeking out to just see the massive damage caused to the tree. The large trunk bearing a rounded hole at its side the size of a basketball. “fuck, do they have a cannon?!” Blake exclaimed.

“fuuuuck!” wicker roared out in pain. A crackling sounding out from a snapped collar bone. Shifting the gun to move it away from the broken bone. “sir, do you want one of us to-” a soldier began to offer. “back off! Wicker roared. “only i am taking this kill!” he thought in his head, ready to fire again. “move faster so I can get this over with!” he shouted into his radio. Angrily throwing it to the side.

“we have to make a run for it.” Val breathed. The circling men drawing dangerously close. Blake nodding nervously in agreement. “ill go first.” he breathed, getting ready to run. Bolting out only 5 feet till a blast had him fall back. Rock and gravel flying in all directions from the ground. A ditch left behind just in front of Blake. Vals heart jumped into her chest having her bolt out to yank Blake of the ground to run again. Just being missed by another shot at there heels. After Blake was up and running the two spread from each other. Blasts switching between the two stirring up large amounts of dust. The dust buying momentary seize of fire till Blake made it into the water. Slipping deep to reach a large rock to hide behind. “val!” he yelled. Chest tightening at the realization she was gone. Looking around frantically to make sure she wasn't laying dead anywhere. Unable to get a full look by a bullet ricocheting off the rock he was holding onto. Scaring him into letting go as sparks flew over him. He panicked with the rushing water yanking him away. Wave after wave of rushing water pounding him down to the rocky floor. He tried desperately to grab anything he could to stop himself. Everything being far too slippery with water or slick algae to get a grip.

“fucking piece of shit!” wicker roared, standing to his feet with the gun as he watched Blake escape down the stream. Having both escape with nothing to show for it, but a broken collar bone, dislocated shoulder, and two fractured ribs. “I'm getting at least one!” he shouted out over the cliff edge. Standing tall to aim the rifle down toward Blake. All the soldier behind him having their eyes go wide at the sight. “sir don't-!” one soldier shouted as he ran to stop wicker. Not making it in time as wicker released a shot. The un-suppressed kick throwing him off his feet to slam him hard back into the ground. Sickening crunches ringing out all over as he landed. The gun itself managing just to miss his rib cage, creating a deep dent into the hard dirt. The metal twisting at the impact to create a large crack along the barrels end. Wicker letting out screeches and cries of uncontrolled pain. Managing to roll onto his side in pain to shakily snap the shoulder brace off. Looking down at the gun in seething anger. Throwing it off the cliff edge after seeing the cracked barrel. The site of a million dollar gun being tossed away having the soldiers panic. “what did you do that for?!” one asked. “the barrel twisted till it split, its a hunk of junk now.” wicker hissed in pain as a group slowly helped him up. “we could have fix it! The CEO's going to be pissed-” another started. “she is not going to find out about this, you hear me! If I hear anything about her finding out all of you will pay!” he shouted, yanking the speaker down by his caller. Despite the massive pain it caused him.

Blake reached out desperately for the hundredth time. Managing to grab onto the top of a large rock. He gasped for a deep breath of air while clawing his way out of the water. Collapsing on the rocky river shore with a wheeze of breath. He laid there exhausted on the rocks till he caught his breath. Shivering from the cold as he rose from the ground. Leaning against a large rock to wring out his clothes. Wiping off his glasses of all the built up water. “fuck!” Blake shouted as he saw his wet food bag. Pulling it out to pour the ruined food into the river. “okay, Val said to meet at the lake.” the rivers calming down here, can't be far.” he mumbled with a shiver. Unsteadily walking with the great urge to get away from the area. “hope they're far behind.” Blake breathed out as he walked through the darkness. Staying close by the rivers edge. Speeding up his walk when he heard howling behind him further up the river. “shit!” he thought, running to the forest. Gathering supplies for a fire as fast as he could. Making a shoddy torch that could barely stay alight from all the water he dripped onto it. Keeping a hand by it as he hurried to find some sort of shelter in the area. Fearfully running thru the dark forest with the sound of rustling running up behind him. Stopping at the glimpse of a corner of a wood building. Quickly running up to it to look for a doorway. Seeing a large water wheel on the side with logs at the top of the square building. “saw mill?” Blake thought, tossing his dead torch to the side to climb the waterwheel. Standing at the top to catch his breath. “stay here till morning, then travel down river.” he thought. Suddenly startled by a hand on his shoulder. “blake.” Val spoke, helping him calm down. “geeze, thought you were shot!. Didn't see you get to the water. You okay?” he spoke while calming down. Ending with a question of concern. “i wasn't hit, thought you were though. Saw the sparks go by your head at that rock.” she tiredly sighed. “no, I made it okay. Heard wolves not to far though right out of the water. The emergency food in my bag was ruined. Ran here afterwards … what is this?” he asked, feeling exhausted after all the stress. “old saw mill, didn't know it was here. Or at least that it existed after all these years. It was made when Templegate was first being built. Knoth always talked about this place to preserve it. Like a founding father building of sorts to “preserve Templegate history”. Glad to know its rotting to the ground now.” Val spoke, kicking a rotting board off the roof. “pretty far to collect logs from.” Blake stated. “mother said they tried building along another lake, but the ground flooded every rain. Shifted the land far too much between rain and droughts.” she explained, sitting down. “are we going to wait here till morning? Should we make a fire?” he asked, sitting down himself. “wolfs around here won't let us get far. don't want to be seen by that gunman again. They might follow the river and pass us by tonight. All that's left is to sleep till morning.” she spoke. “would be nice to have a fire right now.” he shivered. “sleep close if you want to stay warm.” Val suggested, laying close by him. Blake hesitantly laying down after a minute of thought. Falling asleep the minute he closed his eyes. The next morning he awoke being back to back with Val. Getting up with a stretch while wincing at the rising sun. “no sign of the men.” he thought,looking carefully at his surroundings. Suffering a minor heart attack when he saw Vals back covered in blood. “val?!” he spoke with worry at the thought of her being dead. Calming down as he saw her breathing. He looked over her finding the blood a deep red surrounding the old bullet wound. He swallowed as he pressed on the area. Trying to get a look through the bullet hole left in her shirt over the spot. Val sitting up with a painful hiss as the sensitive spot was pressed. She glared at him with a look demanding answers to his action. “you have a lot of blood on you. The stitches must have popped.” Blake stated, highly concerned over the wound. Val stood up to pull her shirt a bit more to the side to see her back better. Gasping in surprise at the mass amount of blood. She rushed down to the ground back to the water without a word to Blake. “wait, don't run!” he yelled to her. Worried she may bleed out after so much blood loss. Running after her to the water. Watching her stand there, unclothed, to examine the wound using the water as a mirror to even see it. Blake stood there wanting to offer help, but he was sure of what her answer was going to be. “let me look at it.” he spoke gently. “no.” she stood firm. “you cant even reach it!” he snapped. Seeing how she wasn't using her arm with the hurt shoulder like usual. Holding it close to her chest as if it were broken. Wincing when ever she had the shoulder blade twitch near the wound. He didn't even get an answer from her that time. “are you sure you got the bullet out?” he repeated the question with a confronting tone. “yes.” she spoke through gritted teeth. Beginning to carefully wash the blood off her back. “somethings wrong if its not healing.” he insisted. “the stitches are just popped.” she waved off. Scrubbing her clothes next of the large bloodstain. Keeping the arm on the wounded half stiff in movement. “and there was absolutely no scabbing of any kind? The wolf bite in my leg is a bigger hole and its almost completely shut!” he continued, knowing she was still ignoring him as she scrubbed at the blood with her hand. “... you said I needed to learn how to take care of myself. Let this be a lesson about how to treat wounds. Let me look at it!” he insisted. “oh yes, let you carve into my shoulder. What a wonderful idea.” she spoke sarcastically while scrubbing. “ ...was the bullet in one piece when you got it out?” he asked, not knowing what else he could possibly suggest. Val closing her eyes with a pause followed by a defeated sigh. “...no.” she stated. “maybe there's one piece left that's deep. I can pull it out at least.” he offered gently. Val was quiet for a time to think, taking a long deep breath before nodding. Getting redressed to go sit on a large rock on shore. Keeping the upper half of her clothes hanging low for Blake to see the wound clearly. When he approached he noticed multiple scars covering her skin. Old claw marks by human hands, possible knife scars, some being large enough to create an obvious dip, along with recognizable burn marks scattered all over. He gently looked into the wound, noticing multiple silver shards glinting from the light. “i need to find something I can use for tweezers. There are a bunch of shards I can see that are pretty deep.” he said, not saying anything about carving into it. He didn't want to scare Val right at the start. “use a pair of cactus needles. Just make sure not to have them get stuck too.” she spoke to him. Blake nodding before going on a small hunt nearby. Looking over a few cacti till spotting one with thick long needles. Carefully picking two from the tough hide to return with. Carefully looking into the wound again as he slipped the cactus needles in. plucking out one small shard resembling a jagged triangle. The next one took a bit of shifting to unhook the long jagged piece. Val hissing and tensing at the pain of metal being pulled from her. The last shard was the most difficult. It looked small, but as Blake began pulling it just kept coming. A large shard with multiple edges slicing through like a razor blade. Once free the blood pooled out of the deep wound. Blake taking a guess that the big piece was possibly shredding through with every movement. The point of Val throwing dust having pushed it deeper from the action. “all the pieces are out.” he announced happily. “wonderful.” Val spoke through the aching pain in her shoulder. “get me my bag so I can make the paste for the hole.” she breathed. “i can make it.” he offered. Getting a raised head of acceptance from Val. “ill measure and show you what they do. You can mix and spread it.” she stated as he grabbed her bag to bring it over. Her digging through it for the first plant. “if your applying it to an open wound, you only want just enough to spread a thin layer. If your going to eat it. Treatments you eat must be taken as a tea or raw. Application to wounds needs to be a paste texture, excluding burns which can be solved with aloe vera. There are rare cases where you'll need to make an oil from a plant. First thing is this.” she explained, holding up a small plant with many tiny white flowers. “this can stop bleeding along with preventing infection. This will be the base for many wound mixtures. Next is lavender, that helps the inflammation go down.” she continued, adding a bit of purple flower petals to the small hand pile. “and the wild lettuce shoots which you eat to relieve pain. Eat them raw, or cook them to reduce the flavor.” she said, eating into the shoot as she handed over the other herbs. “mix that with a splash of water till it turns to a paste, then spread. Don't add too much water or you'll dilute the herbs. Too much water also makes the paste fallout.” she instructed. Waiting as Blake carefully grinded the herbs down with a few rocks. Making sure he made it similar to how Val created it. Returning with the finished paste to apply. Quickly cleaning the blood away before spreading the paste into the wound. The blood slowly stopping its slow pour from the wound. “now are the stitches. Just two will be enough.” she informed, setting up the needle and thread for him. “you know how to sow?” she asked. “a little, I've fixed a few holes in my clothes before.” he spoke, examining the stitching needle. Carefully sowing the wound shut with an X crossing the wound shut. Tying it off with double knots to prevent it from coming loose. Biting the needle free from the tie to hand it back. “at the lake I can teach you how to fish.” she said while putting the hook away. “did you used to teach your followers all this?” Blake asked curiously. “i tried at first, but it was more trouble than it's worth.” she sighed when she stood to walk out of the water. Setting her clothes back into place at the shore. “why?” he questioned. “just because they left Knoth, doesn't mean they were any more loyal to me. All of them were used to living just above dirt in rank. Everyone wanted a piece of the leader at one point. Get there pound of flesh from one another to feel better. Immediate satisfaction was what they wanted after being deprived for so long. When I had to sleep I always had to sneak away and hide. Taking chances by sleeping with someone wasn't working well anymore. I had to be aggressive about everything. Gave up on herb collecting after being unable to leave my clan for a moment. Every time I was gone for longer than 5 minutes everyone fought for my place. We weren't any better off then Templegate. You happened to catch a rare ceremony, most the time its pure survival. Fighting for food, fighting to keep your place, or just fighting for entertainment. Without medicine things had to be strict, in line, to keep them alive. You got sick you were cast out, too injured had you be put out of your mercy. After a few were put into the fire things were under control for the most part. They stopped fighting over every little thing, but that left me as the only mark for their anger. Had to be careful who I walked with. Couldn't talk to anyone about anything that could show weakness. Took them out for knoths men to satisfy their blood lust. I saw the poison affecting them overtime making them worse.” she spoke as they walked along the rocky shore down river. “and the poison didn't affect you?” Blake asked rhetorically with a look of skepticism. “it did, I don't deny it.” she spoke honestly. “did … like it still doesn't.” he picked at her words. “ it … doesn't. … Not as much as it used to.” Val spoke with difficulty on explaining. “how so?” Blake pushed. “ … it's … you saw the darkness to didn't you? … you were their longer … didn't you feel different after waking? Like something deep inside left you. Pain,lust, or a deep anger?” she tried explaining. “the pressure.” he thought with a heavy swallow. He did feel different, drastically different. All throughout Templegate he felt sick followed closely by a burning anger or fear. He assumed it was the environment he trudged through. The stench of rot everywhere he went. People trying to kill him left and right. Chased into barbed wire, cacti, slaughter houses, an area of pure disease coated land. “experiment, control tower, storm, that factory on the river.” he thought, remembering the soldiers talking outside temple gate before they rushed in. “have you seen a metal tower?” he asked Val. “the one by the factory.” she answered. “i guess it doesn't matter now. I think the factory was doing something, it wasn't just poison. It drove people just as mad though with what they were doing.” he spoke. “how long do you think it went on?” she asked. “when do you remember the poison coming?” he asked back. “i am not sure. that was many, many, years ago.” she spoke. “ready to fish?” she asked, gesturing to the lake in front of them. Cracked layered earth surrounding its edges suggesting it used to be bigger before multiple droughts. “sure.” he nodded. “first we got to find bugs. Or at least something to attract them. Small leaves floating at the surface can trick them temporarily.” she informed, plucking a few tiny leaves from a nearby brush. “actually, with the large rocks spread around. We mite be able to catch some crayfish between them. Those don't need bait, as long as your fast enough.” she spoke while walking over to a cluster of rocks. Climbing up one to walk across the others while searching the shallow water. “found one.” she spoke as she slipped closer down to the water. Reaching in with no hesitation to yank out the crawdad by its tail. Quickly tossing it over to the shore by Blake. “grab it.” she told him with a smile. “shouldn't I be grabbing them from the water? I seriously doubt ill be fishing for them on land.” he looked to her with raised eyebrows. Followed by a gesture of throwing his arm up for more trust on gathering food. “grab that one first before it walks away.” Val continued smiling at him. pointing at the small lobster looking thing fleeing back for the water. Blake gave both an annoyed look before reaching toward it. The crawdad stopping to spread is claws aggressively toward the hand. “grab by the middle, not the front.” Val warned with amusement as she watched. “i know!” Blake grumbled as he attempted to grab the small thing. The creature snapping its craws while walking backwards from Blakes hand. Getting frustrated at the small snaps he reached and grabbed it. Barely taking it by the middle, with a painful reminder he should have, with a hard pinch at his skin. “ow, shit!” he shouted, trying to pull the thing off his hand. Hearing Val laugh from the rocks not making him feel any better. He examined the pinched skin once the crawdad was removed. A bruised dark mark with a small amount of blood dripping. “you need to practice with them on land before trying in water.” Val smiled at him happily. “catching them in the water would be easier. I can grab better from a more above view over water.” he spoke with an agitated tone. “show me then. You can catch us breakfast.” she challenged. “fine, move!” he growled, trudging through the shallow water. “your scaring them by walking through the water.” she pointed out, getting a dismissive wave from Blake. He walked around the rocks slowly looking for more crawdads. Slipping between two rocks when he let out a hiss of pain. “ah!” he yelped with a tight wince. “step on one?” Val teased with a smile. “no, I was cut on a branch or something.” he spoke, reaching down till he grabbed something strange. Yanking it up to see a long sleek dark red metal. Blakes eyes going wide as he pulled a large gun from under the water. “looks like a strange hunting rifle.” Val spoke, examining the object in Blakes hands. “it's a sniper rifle, used for war. It's definitely different though with how big it is.” he spoke while examining it. “dry it off, it could still work.” she suggested, taking the gun from him. “no way with that cracked barrel. Probably why who ever tossed it.” he spoke while returning to look for crawdads. Val walking over the rocks back to land to aim it at the rocky shore at her feet.. Blake sucking in a startled breath at a large crack into the rocks flinging pieces in different directions. Looking back to Val holding the smoking gun with a smirk. “still works.” she smiled at him.

let me fall - beau/yasha

Also on AO3.

For @soofdope for @critroleexchange 2018!  Spoilers up to and including campaign 2, episode 46.

Beau has missed a lot of things about being on dry land, but being crammed into Caleb’s hut spell for a night is definitely not one of them.

Jester snores next to her, and Caleb mutters in his sleep, and Nott wriggles again and kicks Beau in the leg and Beau thinks of her cramped cabin on the Squall/Ball-Eater with a rose-tinted fondness she didn’t know she had.

Yasha’s awake too.

Beau knows she is - she can tell by now what Yasha’s breathing sounds like when she’s actually asleep. So she’s not surprised when she hears Yasha scramble to her feet, clearly aiming for stealth but that’s really fucking hard in this small space even when you’re not nearly as tall as she is. Beau cracks her eyes open and watches Yasha pick her way to the edge of the hut and slip past the barrier, murmuring something to Cad as she passes. He says something back, too low for Beau to make out, then settles back to his watch.

Beau waits.

It doesn’t get easier to do, waiting, but she does it. She waits, and she considers, and she decides. And after a moment, she gets up, as silent and light on her feet as Frumpkin, and she follows Yasha outside, nodding to Cad, who nods back in turn and doesn’t give her away.

She gets her bearings and the first thing she notices is that she can smell rain on the air. It’s not here yet, but it smells fresh and green and imminent, and it solidifies her resolve. She slips through the night after Yasha, keeping to the darkest shadows, minding her footsteps.

After a little distance, Yasha leaves the surrounding woods, emerging on a grassy cliff top that Beau knows in daylight would overlook sweeping plains and distant mountains. Beau hangs back at the edge of the undergrowth, unsure of her next move.

“I know you’re there, Beau.”

Yasha’s voice is clear in the quiet. Clear, and kind of annoyed. Shit.

Beau steps out into the open and waves awkwardly. “Uh. Hey.”

Yasha sits on the edge of a hulking rock outcrop, where she has an unobstructed view into the reaching darkness, and doesn’t look at Beau. Faint, on the edge of the horizon, a flicker of lightning forks through the sky, and the dull roll of thunder follows.

“So, uh, you leaving then?” is what Beau says eventually, when the weight of silence becomes unbearable. Damn it, she was hoping she could find a better way to come at it than that, something a bit less blunt at least.

Yasha breathes deeply, a gulp of storm-scented air, but she doesn’t reply.

“‘K. I mean, ‘s cool if you need to leave. I get it.” Beau finds herself filling in the gaps and she hates the way her voice almost shakes. “You’ve got your duty or whatever. When you gotta go, you gotta.” She knows she’s not first mate anymore. You can’t be first mate on a ship you don’t have. She knows it’s not her job to take care of everyone. Like she’d even fucking want that job. Like she’d be anything other than terrible at it if she had it.

She would be terrible at it, wouldn’t she? Had she been terrible at it? The crew hadn’t fucking killed them in their sleep or anything. That had to count for something.

So whether or not she’s first mate, whether or not it’s her fucking responsibility, she’s the one who’s fucking here, and damned if she’s going to let Yasha take off into the night without saying goodbye. Without knowing whether the Mighty Nein care about what happens to her. Without knowing whether Beau cares what happens to her.

She could say that to Yasha. She could. Or she could just as easily set herself on fire and learn to raise the goddamn dead. So, instead, Beau gauges the distance between herself and the rock. “Hey Yasha, watch this!”

She somersaults, head over heels, gives an extra flip and a kick that really wasn’t necessary but looks cool as hell, and makes perhaps the least graceful landing she’s ever managed on the rock next to Yasha. Pinwheeling her arms madly, she regains her balance and sends a quick thanks to whichever gods might be listening that she doesn’t actually fall.

She feels her cheeks burning. Maybe it won’t matter, surely Yasha won’t actually have looked at her.

She glances down. Yasha definitely looked. Yasha looked and Yasha… is she smiling? It’s hard to tell in the darkness, even with her goggles on, but Beau thinks Yasha might have been smiling at her, just a little bit. In her head she does a fist-pump of triumph, though outwardly she’s quite proud of how calmly she sits down beside Yasha.

There’s a long moment of continued silence that Beau doesn’t know how to break, but then Yasha takes an audible breath.

“I am not planning to leave tonight,” she says, quietly. “I came out here to… to watch the storm. To see if the Storm Lord chooses to send me another vision, I suppose.” Her cheeks are a bit pink, Beau notices. Or, like, a different shade of grey in the dark, but she’s going to assume it’s pink.

“Yeah, I heard a bit about the last one. Jester told me, uh, just a little.” Beau pauses, considers. “Sorry if it was, like, a secret or something.” She doesn’t think Jester would have told her, if it was a secret, but it occurs to her that she didn’t check, and she doesn’t want to fuck up Jester and Yasha’s friendship. That would be a low she hasn’t hit in a while.

Yasha looks at Beau, and then off into nothing again, just long enough that Beau thinks maybe she’s fucked up by even mentioning it, though Yasha mentioned it first, damn it. But then, “It’s not a secret,” Yasha says. “It is hard to talk about, but not a secret. Zuala is never a secret.” Her voice is wound as taut as one of Nott’s bowstrings in the moment before release.

Beau nods. “Yeah, I get it. There’s stuff I find hard to talk about too,” she offers. “It’s not secret either, but it hurts, you know?”

It’s Yasha’s turn to nod. If Beau didn’t know better, she’d think maybe Yasha was crying, just a little bit. If Beau didn’t know better, she’d think she wanted to cry herself maybe. Just a little bit. Fuck. She can��t go soft, not now. She gathers herself, shakes her head to clear it.

“Hey, uh,” she begins, without really knowing where she’s planning to end. “I won’t push, yeah? But if you do want to, like, talk about stuff, I’m here, and I know I’m not real good at knowing what to say, but I’m here, ok?”

She’s getting used to Yasha’s pauses. Maybe it doesn’t immediately mean that Beau has said something wrong. Maybe this is just how Yasha is, taking a moment to think before she speaks, so that her words, when they come, have weight behind them. It’s one of the things Beau’s trying to get better at herself.

“Thank you, Beauregard.”

She sounds calm and clear, and not at all annoyed this time. She sounds like she might have meant it. Like Beau might have helped her. A shiver of something runs right down the back of Beau’s neck, through to the tips of her fingers.

Without a thought, Beau reaches out and puts her hand on Yasha’s arm, and for a moment it feels absolutely right, but then Yasha flinches. So slightly that another person might not have noticed at all, but one thing Beau is good at is keep tracking of all the tiny movements a body can make, whether hers or someone else’s.

Beau pulls her hand away as quick as lightning. “Sorry, sorry, sorry.” She’s stumbling over the word, drawing her body back as best she can without actually getting up and moving away. “Sorry.”

Yasha’s eyes are wide. “No! Beau, no, don’t be sorry, I…” She trails off, helpless, and Beau knows she somehow has to fix this tear before it rips too wide and destroys the fragile thing they’ve built here tonight.

“Look,” she says, launching into yet another sentence that she doesn’t know the end of until it comes out of her mouth. “Yasha. We both know I think you’re hot, I’m not real fucking subtle about it, and you’re so fucking hot, but I’d never, y’know. I’d never want anything from you that you didn’t want.”

With a blush so deep Beau’s sure she’d be able to see it even without her goggles on, Yasha half-smiles, though she doesn’t quite meet Beau’s eyes when she answers. “I do know that. But thank you for saying it.” She takes a long breath and lets it out slowly. “I am not uninterested in, um, physical things, you know. But I do not want anything, anything more than that at the moment, not with anyone. I do not know if I ever will.”

Beau, who has always spoken better with her body than her words, thinks about Keg, and about the courtesan at The Landlocked Lady, and about all the women she’s known before that, and maybe even the women she suddenly suspects Yasha’s fucked along her road from there to here. She lets herself grin, flexes her arms as dramatically as she can. “I can do physical. I’m real good at physical.”

And Yasha laughs, a deep, bubbling sort of laugh that makes Beau laugh too, pride ringing through her head. She grabs onto that pride and uses it as the leverage she needs to push forward, with an eyebrow raised and her best smirk firmly in place. “Why don’t you find out? Come on, Yasha, want to spar?” She hops to her feet, dances into a fighting stance. “I bet I could take you.”

“Oh, you think so?” Yasha stands, slowly, unfolding her full height with the grace and power of a stalking tiger, each angle calculated to show off the lines of her muscles, and fuuuuck, Beau can’t take her eyes off her, thinks she could just watch Yasha move forever...

Yasha’s fist flashes out, any trace of her prior languor vanishing, and it tests Beau’s reflexes to their very limit not to let herself get punched in the shoulder. Instinct kicks in and Beau ducks to the side, the blow glancing off the edge of her arm, and she can feel the strength behind it. She lets out a wild sound halfway between a whoop and a laugh, and gets her head in the game.

Yasha is strong as hell, and Beau is quick as a cat, but Yasha isn’t slow and Beau isn’t weak, and they’re just as well-matched as Beau assumed they would be. She’s watched Yasha fight a hundred times by now, and fought alongside her, with moves that seem to gel so well together naturally that you’d think they practiced it or something, but she’s never fought against her before, though she’s pictured it. There’s a fierce joy in this, in how hard she has to work at this, in how well she trusts her body to know what to do - a joy that’s pure and all-encompassing.

Beau keeps her feet for a long time, using every bit of her speed to her advantage, but the goggles make it hard to see, and she’s tired, and if she’s honest, she can foresee how she wants this to end and she knows how to get to it. When Yasha takes her down, when she gets in past Beau’s guard and brings her to the ground, pinning her in place with hands and hips and delicious weight, it might have been because Beau let her, just a little bit. Beau really isn’t sure, and she doesn’t want to think about it too hard just now.

She wriggles against Yasha’s grip, panting, and is gratified to notice that Yasha’s breathing heavily too, beads of sweat visible along her hairline. She’s worked as hard as Beau to get to this. Beau makes herself fall still, with Yasha there above her. She wants to know what will happen, what Yasha wants to make happen.

Beau waits.

Again, she waits. Again, it doesn’t get easier, but perhaps, just perhaps, she gets a little better at it.

Yasha looks down at her, with a strange intensity that Beau can’t quite place, and then she leans in and kisses Beau on the mouth. It lasts a moment, her lips soft and hot against Beau’s, and it feels almost like a test, rather than a kiss. Like a question Yasha’s asking of Beau, and of herself.

Beau doesn’t know what answers she finds, but when she pulls away she’s still smiling, at least, and Beau can live with that.

They get to their feet, a few moments later, and untangling their limbs is awkward, but that’s ok too.

“I can go?” Beau asks. “Or, uh, I could stay? If you want? Watch the storm with you?” She doesn’t know if it’s too much, what she’s asking, if she’s too much, right here and now, so she braces herself for rejection.

“I would like that.”

Oh.

“Cool. Right, yeah, awesome.” Beau settles herself next to Yasha, facing the place where the dark sky is darker still, where lightning sparks and thunder rumbles, a little nearer than it was before.

Somewhere, far away and beyond the clouds, the sun begins to rise.