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j-eryewrites · 1 year

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Infected

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Word Count: 12.7k

Disclosure: I do not own the plot or the characters from The Last of Us. This is a “what if” fic based on the HBO television series and the game The Last of Us.

Warnings: Character deaths, canon typical violence, zombies, detailed descriptions of gore, detailed descriptions of violence, crude language, mental issues, unhinged characters, usage of firearms and weapons, (let me know if I missed any!)

Authors note: finished this at 3.00 am in the morning, but I don’t care! hope y’all enjoy this chapter!

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Piper should have been tired, yet there she sat. Her back was stiff, tall, and defiant. Hell, even Joel could admit to himself he was exhausted and sore from the night before. Not to mention, the throbbing pain in his hand. Joel felt as if he had a million splinters stuck deep within his skin. Each time he moved his hand, the pain would spark a chain reaction. At least the swelling had gone down. That was a good sign. A sign he would have taken notice of if he wasn’t so busy staring down the teenager in front of him.

There was no indication in her stance and glare that she was at all affected by the events of the night before. The only sign of otherwise was the dark circles under her eyes. A biological betrayal. Joel hadn’t noticed it before, but the more he observed Piper the more he began to think that those dark circles may be a permanent feature on her face. Yes, he remembered clearly now. She had those same dark circles when they first met. However, this time, they were a few shades deeper than before. Missing a whole night’s rest would do that to you. Joel was all too familiar with the dark circles that grew under his own brown eyes. It was hard to get a good night's rest when it felt like everything was out to get you. It didn’t help that it was actually the case. One wrong move. One extra second of sleep could mean death.

“If you stare at her any longer you may implode, Joel,” Tess muttered. Her voice filled to the brim with sarcasm.

He didn’t respond to her. Only kept his eyes on the girl in front of them.

Tess sighed and followed his gaze. From her perspective, she saw the falter in Piper’s posture. Her posture was slumped over ever so slightly, though, from Joel’s view, it would be mistaken as perfect. The young girl's body looked about ready to collapse to the floor in a deep sleep, however, Tess knew that in cases like these, the mind won over the body.

It reminded her of her son when he was a toddler. The argument of ‘I’m not tired’ flashed in her mind. Her kid didn’t know any better. He wanted to stay up and not miss a single thing, but as a knowing mother, she knew that rest would allow him to experience the world untainted from the grumpiness that came when one was tired.

So Tess wasn’t surprised when she told Piper the exact same thing she’d tell her son.

“You know, life’s just a bit more pleasant when you get some sleep. Trust me,” Tess said softly. She knew it was best not to push this subject. “Why not get some shut-eye before your sister wakes up? We’ll stand guard.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I’d rather not place my life or my sister’s life into the hands of someone who got us caught by FEDRA last night.” Piper kept her gaze on Joel as she replied. Her genuine tone had the same snarkiness that was present in her sister’s voice.

Tess chuckled at the encounter. “Suit yourself.” She sat back in her chair and looked between Joel and Piper once more. The two were more similar than she’d like to admit. They had that same tired yet proud look in their eyes. Their bodies were on guard in front of those they protected. The unwavering stubbornness that Tess had grown all too comfortable with was apparent in both Joel’s and Piper’s demeanour.

Ellie stirred awake from behind her sister, causing Joel to tighten his grip on the gun. Instinctively, Piper moved her body so that it defended more of her sister. Tess sighed. Joel wasn’t making this easier and neither was Piper who sat even more on edge, any sign of weakness in her posture was long gone.

“Morning,” Tess called out. She saw how Ellie wiped the sleep from her eyes only for them to land on Joel’s gun. Great now, both girls were on edge. Way to go Joel.

“Do I look like I'm infected?” Ellie mumbled bringing up the elephant in the room.

Joel grunted, leaving Tess to interpret for the girl. “Show us your arm.”

“Yeah, it's not getting any worse, is it?” Ellie spat as he pulled up her sleeve to display the bite mark on her arm. She wasn’t liking the idea of waking up to the threat of a bullet in her body.

Tess nodded allowing Ellie to return her sleeve to normal.

It was quiet in the building and Ellie didn’t like the quiet. Her eyes darted across the room and widened in remembrance. They were out of the QZ. In the open city.

“If we're out in the open city, why aren't we getting swarmed?” Ellie asked. It was her dying question. After all the rumours she had heard floating around the QZ, you couldn’t blame the girl for being curious.

“Don't worry about that,” Tess replied. It only served as fuel to the flame. Ellie opened her mouth to ask another question when Piper cut her off.

“Well, I'm gonna,” Piper growled. It was then Ellie noticed the tension in the air. A shiver ran up her spine as she saw the glare her sister was sending Joel. Joel’s glare was just as harsh. Man was Ellie glad to not be on the receiving end of either of them.

Tess cocked her brow. It was her turn to be curious. “What was Marlene doing with an infected kid?”

“She’s not infected,” Piper spat. Her voice was seething with anger and only served as an instigator in the battle between Joel and Piper.

“She found me after I was bitten,” Ellie blurted, hoping to diffuse the tension.

Tess moved her attention to Ellie. “And she didn't shoot you.” For a moment Tess could swear there was a new line on Piper’s forehead.

“Clearly not. She locked me up and had her guys test me every day to see if I was getting sick,” Ellie explained.

Now this interested Tess. “Test you how?”

Ellie sighed and rolled her eyes. “I have to pee…”

“Test you... how?” Tess repeated.

“They'd make us count to 10 and hold out our hand and then keep it steady. But, you know, I think what really impressed them was the fact that we didn't turn into fucking monsters. There. Happy?” Piper spat.

There was a momentary pause in the conversation. Joel’s eyes narrowed and Tess’ brow furrowed. Did their ears hear right?

“Wait, both of you?” Tess finally enchanted her confusion.

Without another word, Piper yanked back her jacket, just as Ellie had done before, and presented her arm for the adults to see.

The wound looked different from Ellie’s, at least to Tess it did. No prominent veins were spiralling out from the scabbed-over wound. In all honesty, it just looked like a normal bite mark. The only thing that dismayed Tess was the depth of the wound. It was deep. Something that would only happen if there was a determined force behind it. Something she’d only seen from Infected.

“Now can I please?” Ellie grumbled. She was squeezing her legs tight to her body.

Tess took one more look at Piper’s arm before dismissing Ellie to use the makeshift bathroom. “Fine. Back there. You can find a spot. And here. Tear out a few pages.” She chucked a magazine she had found to Ellie who caught it with ease.

“There's not gonna be anything bad in here?” Ellie asked as she tiptoed over to the room Tess had pointed to earlier.

“Just you,” Piper smirked back at her sister.

“Oh, funny,” Ellie responded.

Tess smiled. That simple action reminded her that they were just kids. Kids who were doing the best they could with the world handed to them. Kids who were bit and infected, but still kids. A grumbling beside her shook Tess out of her nostalgic trance.

“Broken. Maybe a hairline. It'll heal fast,” Joel mumbled just loud enough for Tess to hear. He was cradling his hand. Nasty bruises had formed along his knuckles. The skin was an angry red as Joel’s free hand brushed over the injury.

“She made it through the fuckin' night, Joel. Apparently so did Piper.” Tess said in disbelief. These girls were the fucking future. They were something she hadn’t had in a long time. Hope. They were hope.

“It doesn't matter,” Joel scoffed. “It's gonna happen sooner or later. All right? We're still close to the wall. We sneak them back into the QZ. We find a different way to get the battery.”

“This is our best shot. We take them back to the QZ, someone's gonna notice their arms, they're gonna scan them...then they'll kill them. They kill those girls.” Tess couldn’t help the desperation that slipped into her voice.

“Well, better them than us. You need to stop talkin' about these kids like they’ve got some kinda life in front of them.” Joel said.

Tess ignored him. Joel was never one to believe. It would break his stubborn ass if he ever did believe in anything. Ellie emerged from the back room and sat down next to her sister. She nudged Piper’s shoulder and nodded toward the backpack.

“You two hungry? You can share some of ours.” Tess offered. Joel grimaced as Tess raised the food out to the girls. Fuck, Joel thought Tess. She was going to hope no matter what he said.

“Thanks,” Piper replied, her voice empty of gratitude. “Marlene sent us with our own.” Just then she handed a sandwich to Ellie and retrieved one for herself. The two girls didn’t waste time digging in.

Tess smelt an old scent that hit her nose. Her stomach began to grumble at the thought. “Is that chicken?”

“Yeah,” Ellie replied. Her mouth was full of food. “Marlene said they get it from smugglers.” She paused. “...Guess not you guys.”

Tess was surprised when she heard Joel’s voice speak up. “Hey. Hey! Why...why are you so important to Marlene? And don't lie to me or we'll take you back.”

“You take us back, you don't get your battery.” Piper plainly said.

“You heard that?” Joel asked in disbelief.

Tess butt into the conversation before it could sour again. “Then you must've heard that he wants to shoot you too.” She stood up from her seat despite Joel’s protest and crouched down in front of the girls. “I'm gonna talk to you two like you are adults. Okay?”

Ellie immediately nodded in understanding. Piper just glared at Tess, who glared back until the girl nodded as well. Tess needed them to understand.

“Joel and I aren't good people. We're doin' this for us because, apparently, you're worth something. But we don't know what you're worth if we don't know what we have. So answer my question.”

In a quiet voice, Ellie muttered, “She told me not to tell anybody, and now I'm telling the first people that I…” Ellie was cut off by Piper.

“There's a Firefly base camp somewhere out west…” Piper explained.

“…with doctors. They're working on a cure,” Ellie finished.

“Mm-hm. I've heard this before,” Joel grumbled.

“And whatever happened to me...to us...is the key to finding the vaccine,” Ellie replied. Her voice was unsteady but full of belief.

Joel was taken aback. Did this girl really believe it? “That's what this is? We've heard this a million times. Vaccines, miracle cures. None of it works. Ever.”

“Fuck you, man. I didn't ask for this.” Ellie cried. She was hurt, but so was Joel.

“You and me both. This isn't gonna end well, Tess. We need to go back.” Joel instructed.

Tess turned her efforts back to Joel. “Let's just finish it. It doesn't matter if she is or she isn't what the Fireflies say. If they believe that she is then...we get what we want.”

Joel narrowed his eyes at Ellie. “If she so much as twitches–” Joel warned.

Suddenly there is a loud screech followed by hollow clicking noises.

Immediately Piper, Tess, and Joel all turn to Ellie. “Don't,” they say in unison. The power of their voices makes even Ellie pause for a moment.

“Okay. Okay? Okay.” Ellie receded back behind her sister, but not before catching sight of Joel’s gun.

“Can I have a gun?” Ellie asked.

Once again three voices fill the air. “Absolutely not–No–Ellie, don't even think about it.”

“Okay, Jesus! Fine. I'll have to throw a fuckin' sandwich at them.” Ellie groaned. She didn't like the idea of having three versions of her sister. One Piper was enough.

“Let’s go,” Tess told the two girls.

Without another word, the two of them pack up their bags and in one motion, swing them over their shoulders. Joel grunted as he lifted the makeshift barricade from the door. The shelf was heavy and put an unnecessarily large amount of weight on his injured hand. It didn’t take long for the barricade to be moved and the door to open.

Light from the sun flooded into the room and for a moment it looked as if Joel had disappeared into the light.

“It's clear.” Joel’s gruff voice started before he fully submerged himself in the daylight.

While some light found its way through the cracks back in the building, it could not prepare Piper’s eyes for the vast amount of light outside. Her eyes closed shut before opening once again. Her pupils shrunk as they adjusted to the early morning light.

“Whoa,” Ellie gasped in disbelief.

“Yeah, looks different in the daylight, huh?” Tess said.

Tess was right. Things did look different illuminated by the sun. Piper could clearly see the decaying buildings that were overgrown by vines and weeds. The greens swirled around the greys and browns on the buildings. She could even see some trees that poked their way through the giant holes in the roofs. Underneath her feet was a road cracked and crumbled. There was barely a hint of the yellow and white paint that once outlined the streets. Cars were rusted over and doors were forever glued shut. On top of it all was a layer of dew. The rain storm from last night left its mark as the plants and wildlife try to soak in as much water as they can before the sun's heat dries it up.

Joel let the two girls take in the view. It’s not every day you get to see the ghost that humanity left behind. “We should get movin'.”

The group trudged along the roads. Broken glass from the buildings glittered as the sun reflected off of it in just the right spot. They twinkled almost like stars in the night sky. As they journeyed deeper into the city, more and more buildings made friends with the ground, no longer having the strength to stand as tall as they were designed. In the road ahead, sat a crater. The indented in as the grey shade of the road turned a deep black.

“It's like a fucked-up moon!” Ellie cried out in awe.

“Ellie, be careful,” Piper warned as she saw her sister approach the crater. Her legs pushed up onto the side of the crater to look down into the vast hole.

“Is this where they bombed?” Ellie asked. She picked up a stray rock and dropped it into the crater. Her brown eyes followed as it scraped across the ground finally resting in the center of the circle.

“Yeah. They hit most of the big cities like this,” Tess explained. “They had to slow the spread somehow. Worked here, but it...didn't in most places.” She walked over to Ellie to help nudge her along. Then she stopped and so had Joel. Piper and Ellie shared a puzzled look.

“So, the State House is across there. It's about a 10-minute walk if you could go straight.” Tess noted.

“So?” Piper asked.

“Long way or short way?” Joel replied. His question was directed towards Tess.

“I mean, it's the long way or the "we're fuckin' dead" way,” Tess stated.

“Well, I vote the long way just based on that limited information,” Ellie muttered.

Tess and Joel ignored Ellie’s comment and continued to talk amongst themselves. Piper, just for a moment, noticed the similarity to a book she had read. Something about how parents will converse amongst themselves as if the kids aren’t even there. But to think that, Joel and Tess would have to be parents and Piper and Ellie the kids and together they’d make a family. Once again, an idea that Piper wholeheartedly disagreed with.

“We have to check it from the hotel first,” Joel directed Tess.

“Okay,” Tess replied, she looked back at Ellie and Piper. For what reason Piper wasn’t sure.

Soon after, Joel readjusted his hold on his gun before taking a step forward. Then another and another. There was the crunch of gravel under Piper’s shoes and she found herself and the group walking once more.

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Her feet were sore and the soles of her shoes were worn. The sun beat down on her back and a smooth layer of sweat had formed on her back. It was making her shirt uncomfortably stick to her skin. Her socks rubbed against the back of her heels scraping against the sensitive skin. She imagined it was turning a shade of red from all the friction. Ellie was soon to change the way her weight balanced on her feet. Toe to heel instead of heel to toe. This seemed to ease the friction, however, it produced a dull pain in her feet. One that seemed only to be relieved with a good complaint or two. “Why aren’t we already fucking there?” Ellie groaned. Already she felt a relief just sharing.

“You'll know it when we're close,” Tess replied.

“I didn't know last time,” Ellie muttered.

“How did you get bit?” Tess asked in an attempt to distract the young girl.

“Ellie–” Piper whispered, but Ellie interrupted her.

“You know the old mall in the QZ?” Ellie asked. She didn’t care if her sister was as cautious as a mouse around cats. Ellie liked Tess and her instincts told her that Tess could be trusted. Almost.

“The one that's sealed off and boarded up, and no one's supposed to go in... ever? That one?” Tess clarified. She looked back at the two girls unsure that they would have been stupid enough to go in there.

Piper lowered her gaze to the ground. She stuck a foot out to kick around a small pebble on the highway. She was adamant about not looking at Tess, Joel, or Ellie for that matter. Her shoulders slumped over and Joel took notice of how quiet it had gotten.

“Whatever. I snuck in. Wanted to see what it was like. Didn't think there was gonna be anything in there, and then one just came at me outta nowhere. Thought I got away, but…” Ellie’s voice grew quiet. Maybe she didn’t trust Tess enough with this information. The blood. The pain. The screams were all too fresh. Ellie knew that if she closed her eyes she would see Piper. She would see her sister tear into her skin. She would replay the scene. Ellie felt sick thinking about how the Piper she had grown up with disappeared when she was bitten. Piper was desperate and afraid. But what disturbed Ellie more was the thought that grew in the back of her head. Something in her knew what would have happened to Piper if Ellie had turned.

Tess’s voice broke Ellie out of her thoughts. “So it was just you in there, alone?”

“Yeah–I mean Piper was with me, but yeah. Just us two,” Ellie mumbled.

Tess halted. She turned to Ellie and Piper. There was a curious look on her face. “How old are you?” Tess asked the two girls.

“Fourteen.”

“Seventeen.” Piper and Ellie said at the same time.

In Tess’s eyes there flashed a hidden respect for the girls. “Wow. Well, I mean, you got some balls on you, sister.”

“Thanks,” Ellie muttered to the two of them. She didn’t know about Piper, but Ellie grew to like Tess. The woman wasn’t a complete asshole like Joel was. In fact, she was almost like a mother. Almost.

Piper had told Ellie what she remembered of their mother. Blue eyes. Light-coloured hair. Piper wasn’t sure if it was blonde or light brown, but Ellie was confident it was light brown. After all, Ellie and her sister’s hair was brown. When Ellie was young, she liked to imagine what her mom would look like based on the vague description Piper had. For some reason, the image that came to mind was Piper. An older version of the course, but it was still Piper. Piper had always been there for Ellie. She stepped up when no one else would. But now as Ellie was thinking about it, the image of her mom changed into one that looked like Tess.

At first, Ellie disliked the idea. There were no similarities…except that Tess had light brown hair and blue eyes. Just like Piper had told her. Tess was kind in her own way. She would walk next to Ellie and talk to her. Hell, Tess even stood up to Joel for the girls and offered her some of her food.

Well, shit.

Ellie shook her head to toss the thoughts out. She can’t get attached. She’s just cargo. Tess will leave just like everyone else. But it couldn’t stop Ellie from hoping.

“Nobody's gonna be comin' after you, right? Like, Mom, Dad ...boyfriend?” Tess wondered.

The momentary lap in Piper’s character dissipated. She snickered under her breath as if having anyone out there who would care enough about the two girls was just as possible as pigs flying. “Dead, non-existent, and no. No one gives a shit about anyone other than themselves,” Piper scoffed.

She didn’t notice the flash of sadness in Tess’s eyes as she heard the teen’s response. “Yet you care about your sister,” Tess noted.

Piper’s jaw clenched as she raised her gaze to glare right at Tess. “That’s different,” Piper hissed.

“Right,” Tess replied. She knew when to not bite back.

Ellie, sensing the tension in her sister’s attitude, chose to change the subject. “Everyone said the open city was crazy. Like, swarms of Infected running around everywhere.”

Again Piper scoffed and rolled her eyes. She kicked the pebble she was playing with so hard it cracked a rusted car’s window. “It’s fucking propaganda that’s what it is. Want us to stay inside the QZ. Keep us to be their soldiers and dogs.”

Suddenly Joel spoke up from behind the group. “No…not exactly like that.” He eyed Piper carefully just like Tess did moments before though with a tinge of appreciation. Piper was right after all.

“You know, people like to tell stories,” Tess explained.

“So, there aren't Super-Infected that explode fungus spores on you?” Ellie wondered. She twirled around on her heel. Her hands made what seemed to be an explosion, as she created sound effects. Her eyes went wide as her hands flew apart.

“Shit, I hope not,” Tess laughed.

“Or ones with split-open heads that see in the dark like bats?” Ellie continued acting out what she thought each Infected would look like.

The laughter faded from Tess’s voice. “Uhh…”

Suddenly there was an inhuman screech. It echoed off the decaying buildings. The noise got louder and louder as the sound travelled. The group froze. Ellie’s eyes widened.

Piper clenched her eyes shut and clenched her fists. Her nails dug into the palms of her hands as she slowed her breathing. Her nails pierced her skin and the warm trickling of blood forced Piper to open her eyes once more. She quickly looked around the group. No one was paying attention to her. Piper quickly brushed her hands on her jacket, wiping the blood away.

“What was that?” Ellie asked. There was a tinge of curiosity in her voice.

“Let's keep movin',” Joel instructed. He looked to Tess who nodded in agreement. As the group continued on, Joel couldn’t help how his sight moved down to Piper’s hands. What really drew his attention was the tiny punctures in her skin that were bleeding. Tearing his eyes away from Piper’s hands, Joel fought to keep the thoughts of concern that popped up into his mind.

This kid was cargo. Nothing more. Nothing less.

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When Joel and Tess discussed going to the hotel, Ellie and Piper didn’t think much. However, the two teens couldn’t help the gasp that left their mouths as they took in the building in front of them. Tess chuckled to herself upon seeing the girl’s reactions. While Piper’s reaction was a bit more subtle than Ellie’s, Tess knew that the young girl was still excited.

The hotel was overgrown with nature. Vines snaked up the walls. Surprisingly, most of the glass windows were still intact. The layers of dust that accumulated after twenty years reflected the midday sunlight creating an unearthly glow. It was almost like the hotel had a halo of light surrounding it. Inside was even better. The main floor had flooded and was transformed into what Piper imagined a jungle would look like. Trees shot out from the murky water and their green leaves reached towards the sunlight that trickled through the gaping holes and cracks in the hotel’s ceiling and walls. Piper could hear the sound of trickling water and the croaking of…frogs?

“You've gotta be kidding me! Ya ever stay in a place like this?” Ellie exclaimed. She spun around in a circle as she gazed up at the ceiling and the treetops.

“Uh, no, a little out of our league,” Tess replied.

“How do you even know what this is?” Joel asked.

“Have you heard of books?” Ellie said with as much sass as her small figure could produce. “Wait, are we going in there?” She wondered. Her voice was no longer filled with sass and instead was replaced with fear.

“Yeah, we gotta get to the stairwell on the other side,” Tess explained.

“Well, I…” Ellie eyed the murky water. There was no bottom in sight and it looked deep. There was no way to tell what could be lurking in there. “...I don't know how to swim.” She looked to Piper and Tess for reassurance.

“Seriously?” Joel shot back. His tone was full of disbelief.

“Do you think we have pools in the QZ?” Ellie retorted.

Joel rolled his eyes. “No, smart ass. I mean…” He jumped from the steps and into the water.

Ellie’s eyes widened and her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. “I don't know how I was supposed to know that.” She said defensively.

Piper came up beside her sister and placed a hand on Ellie’s shoulder. “It’s okay, Ellie. Do you have your extra pair of socks?”

Ellie grinned and rolled her eyes. There was the Ellie that Piper knew. “Yes, Mom…” Ellie said.

“Good,” Piper nodded before stepping into the water. It rose just below her hips. There was one thing for sure, Piper did not like being wet. She hated how the water sloshed in her boots. She especially didn’t like the feeling of her socks being drenched. To make matters worse. Her pants were sticking to her legs making it even harder to move through the water. What Piper didn’t like most was that she was slow. The water dampened her speed and reflexes. Something that made her vulnerable.

“This is so gross!” Ellie exclaimed. She, unlike her sister, was enjoying the experience. Ellie dropped her hands into the water and splashed around a bit. She even flicked some water at Piper who sent a tidal wave in Ellie’s direction. Ellie was now positively drenched but loved every bit of it. It reminded her of playing with those water guns Riley had found.

There was a box-like shape in the corner of the room. Next to it was a brass suitcase holder. Ellie’s eyes widened with excitement. “Oh, check it out!” She trudged over to the desk, Piper in tow after her. “Ding, ding.” Ellie rang the bell on the desk.

Piper appeared behind the desk. Her arms pushed up to slightly raise her body out of the water. Something she regretted as the cold air hit her soaking-wet clothes. “Good evening, madam. How may I help you?” Piper said in her best impression of what she thought a hotel worker would sound like.

“Yes, sir. I would like your finest suite, please.” Ellie replied. Her voice was just as ridiculous as Piper’s had been.

Piper raised her brows and broke character. “I’m a sir?”

Ellie sighed, breaking character as well. “Well, fuck, you sounded like a man just there. Your voice was deep an’ all.”

Piper waved her sister off. “Okay. Fine.” Then Piper switched back into her “man” voice. “Yes, ma'am. Would you like me to take your luggage?” The words were over-enunciated and Piper’s mouth exaggerated the movements of her mouth. A hint of a smile appeared on her face. She was having fun.

“Of course, sire,” Ellie replied.

“Yes, ma'am. Right away, ma'am…” Piper motioned to the suitcase carrier. “Here get on the thingy,” she instructed Ellie.

Ellie eagerly hopped on and Piper began to push the cart. Ellie squealed with delight even though the cart was moving slower than a snail. A giggle escaped Piper’s mouth just loud enough for the entire group to hear.

Tess smiled fondly at the scene.

“You're a weird kid,” Joel muttered. There was no malice in his voice. In fact, Piper was even sure she heard a hint of amusement.

“You're a weird kid.” Ellie spat back.

Piper smirked at Ellie’s response. Suddenly a dark figure splashed in the water below Piper. It touched her leg and she yelped. “Oh fuck!” She quickly jumped back from whatever it was. Her body was stiff and defensive as she tripped and fell into the water.

Joel moved to the girls without thinking. His gun was ready to fire and protect them. He didn’t notice how his breath grew tight realizing he couldn’t see Piper. At that moment, Piper’s head shot out of the water and she gasped for breath. Adrenaline was pumped into her system.

“Oh, my God,” Ellie said as she saw what scared Piper. It was a skeleton of what she assumed was a hotel worker. “Uh, sorry,” she mumbled to Joel.

He let out a small sigh of relief and lowered his gun. He kicked the skeleton away from the two girls. Then he found himself looking down at Piper with a look in his eyes that he couldn’t place. Joel extended a hand out to the teen.

“You okay?” He asked her.

Piper stared at Joel’s hand. Water droplets trickled down her face and dripped down her brow bone. She wiped her face and for a moment considered taking his hand. Maybe she could let someone care…never. Piper brushed the thought away just as she did with Joel’s hand. She didn’t need his or Tess’s help. Piper and Ellie were just fine on their own.

“Yep. Fucking fabulous,” she growled.

꧁_____________꧂

Piper had been silent the rest of the way through the swamp of the hotel and up the ten flights of stairs the group climbed. She didn’t even let out so much as a breath. Joel was pretty much the same. The two of them shared a strained aura. Their boots sloshed and water continued to drip onto the floor.

“Fuck... Holy shit.” Tess grabbed her lower back and sighed in relief. Her joints ached.

“Come on, it wasn't that bad,” Ellie teased. She and Tess had talked the entire way up. Ellie was positive their conversation kept Piper from losing it.

“You try climbing ten fuckin' floors with our knees. See how ya feel.” Tess’s gaze moved down the hallway and she groaned at the sight. A wall had caved in. Something that wasn’t there the last time she and Joel were at the hotel. “Well, when the fuck did that happen?”

Joel was already down the hall. He was trying to open the doors, but each one seemed stuck.

“Maybe that one,” Tess suggested. It was the last door in the hallway.

Joel tried the door and shook his head. “No.”

Tess sighed. “All right, well, I mean, maybe I could climb up there, work my way around, and open it from the inside?” She suggested. It would be a tight fit.

“Uh, no, well, I'm the smallest, so it'd be easier for me to get through,” Ellie replied.

“No,” Piper stated.

Tess nodded in agreement with Piper. “I’d listen to your sister. If you die then we get nothing. You stay.” She turned to Joel. “Can you give me a hand?”

Joel extended his hand and Tess took it. He lifted underneath her thigh and boosted her up. Tess was able to grasp some rubble and squeeze her way through the debris. “You good up there?” Joel called out.

“Yeah, uh, it's a bit of a mess, so I'm gonna need a few minutes,” explained Tess. Her voice was muffled.

Now that Tess was gone, the group grew silent. Ellie huffed in boredom before leaning against the wall. Piper stood looking at the crack where Tess had disappeared from. She clutched her arms close to her body and shivered. The mix of cold air and soaking wet clothes was a deadly combination. Joel peered down at Piper’s shivering body before he reached into his pack and pulled out his jacket. Without a word, he draped it over Piper’s shoulders. He didn’t give her a chance to refuse as he walked away and sat opposite Ellie.

Piper sighed and drew Joel’s jacket closer to her body. Her shivering calmed down. “I’m going to change into my spare clothes. Ellie?” Piper shot her sister a look.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll change my socks,” Ellie mumbled.

Piper nodded and turned around and walked to the end of the hall before opening the doorway to the staircase. Joel was not worrying about Piper as she walked away from his presence and into the dark stairwell.

Ellie, in the meantime, had peeled over her wet socks and switched them out for dry ones. She leaned against the wall and huffed in boredom.

Joel felt a weight in his pockets and remembered he still had Ellie’s switchblade in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw how Ellie’s expression changed instantly.

“Where did you get that?” She asked, extending her hand out. Joel tossed it to the girl.

“Pulled it out of the FEDRA guy’s back. Thought you might need it.”

“Thanks,” Ellie whispered. Then she flipped out the switchblade and began to play with it. The silver blade turned and twisted in her grasp.

“Nice knife. Where'd you learn to do that?” Joel asked.

“The circus. Where are you from?” Ellie replied.

“Texas.”

“What about Tess?”

“Detroit. It's in Michigan.”

Ellie scoffed. “I go to school. I know where Detroit is. So, uh, you two like a…”

“Pass.”

“How'd you end up in Boston?”

Joel grumbled. These questions were serving as a shitty distraction. “Pass. No more questions about me.”

“How long do Infected live?” Ellie asked. She stopped flipping her knife.

“Oh, I thought you went to school,” Joel leered with a tilt of his head.

“It's a really shitty one.”

“Well, some last about a month or two. But there's others been walkin' around ‘bout 20 years.” Joel explained.

“Ever kill one?” Ellie asked.

“Yeah, I killed lots of 'em.”

“…Was it hard? Like, knowing they were people once?” Ellie’s voice got quiet.

“No,” a voice from beside Joel and Ellie spoke. It was Piper.

“Sometimes,” Joel said at the same time.

Joel turned his head to look at Piper. She was wearing his jacket over a brown, green, white, and blue striped tee shirt underneath along with a dark pair of jeans. She had the sleeves of his jacket rolled back. It was huge on the teen girl.

“What about that guy last night?” Ellie asked Joel, bringing his gaze off of Piper. It was another question Joel did not want to answer.

Suddenly there was a rustling noise from behind one of the doors in the hallway. Joel shot up from his seat on the floor and pushed Ellie and Piper behind him. His gun raised.

“You can put the gun down, Joel,” Tess's voice instructed from the other side of the door. There was a click and the door swung open. There was a look of unease on Tess’s face.

“What now?” Joel stressed.

꧁_____________꧂

Well fuck, was the collective thought as they stared down at the writhing pile of Infected. The sight was nauseating. The bodies of the Infected slithered along the ground. Moans filled the air and merged into one sound of death. Piper couldn’t help the foul thoughts that plagued her mind. Her entire body was on edge as she watched the Infected below. She felt like something was crawling underneath her skin, prickling the hairs on the back of her neck. Something that would shred her skin apart and kill her from the inside with its sharp claws around her heart as it tore her apart.

“There's so many,” Ellie muttered. She was in shock. The image of the Infected on top of her from three weeks ago was still fresh in her mind.

“The last time we were here, they were still deep inside the buildings. Then I guess enough people came through looking for the QZ, they went inside seeking shelter… and that's how they get more and more of the city bit by bit, year after year,” Tess said.

“They're connected,” Ellie whispered, scared her voice would alter the Infected below.

“More than you know. The fungus also grows underground. Long fibres like wires, some of them stretching over a mile. Now, you step on a patch of cordyceps in one place, and you can wake a dozen Infected from somewhere else. Now they know where you are, now they come. You're not immune from being ripped apart. Do you understand?” Tess leaned close to Ellie. Ellie was quick to nod her head.

Piper on the other hand turned away from the ledge. She took in a sharp breath in an attempt to control her shaking. She clenched her eyes tight and felt a cold tear slide down her cheek. The mark from where she bit her arm burned as the screams from that night thundered in her head.

NO. NO. ELLIE! NO. NO. PLEASE…I CAN’T…NO!!

“It's important. I'm tryin' to keep you alive,” Tess told Ellie.

The words twisted in Piper’s mind. You can’t keep Ellie safe. You can’t keep her alive. She got bit because of you. It’s your fault.

No…I’m sorry. I can keep her safe. I CAN!!

It’s when Ellie speaks that Piper was taken out of her dark thoughts.

“So, we're not goin' that way,' ' Ellie noted.

“No,” Tess said.

“What do we do then? Short way?!” Ellie’s eyes flashed with worry. If she remembered correctly, the short way was the “we’re fucking dead way”.

“Museum,” Joel's voice said.

Ellie shivered. She wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or the knot that formed in her stomach. The “we’re fucking dead way” it is.

꧁_____________꧂

“You've gotta be fucking kidding me,” Piper snarled.

The museum was overgrown with fungus. Yellow and white tendrils slithered up the withering walls of the museum. Like roots, the fungus spread out from the entryway of the museum. The fungus almost looked painted on. It reminded Piper of the spray paint art found on the walls of the buildings in the QZ. However, this design was deadly.

“Well, there's a way across from the top floor,” Tess told the two girls. She pointed upwards.

“Well, then I guess it's fine,” Ellie shrugged.

“No, Ellie. It’s not fucking fine!” Piper exclaimed. She wasn’t about to let her sister walk in there. Had she not remembered what Tess told her? The Infected were connected by the fungus. One wrong step and hell would descend upon them.

“We used to take it all the time,” Tess reassured Piper. Well, I tried to.

“Okay,” Ellie said.

Piper shook her head. “I’m not fucking going in there. Neither is Ellie.” Piper grabbed the hood of her sister’s jacket and pulled Ellie to her side. “We’re not going in…,” Piper growled.

“Look, it was fine. Piper, you’ve gotta trust me.”

“Trust the person who walked up straight into that FEDRA agent? Hell no.” Piper’s eyes narrowed and her body grew stiff as Tess took a step forward.

“Awesome,” Ellie said sarcastically. She sighed and tried to remove herself from Piper’s grasp, but her grip was too tight. “Jesus Pipes, calm the fuck down. Tess says it's fine, so –”

“It's bone dry. It could mean they're all finally dead in there,” announced Joel. Joel’s deep and calm voice eased some of Piper’s nerves.

“Oh, man. See Piper, we’re fine.” Piper sent Ellie a warning glare. “Mind if you let me go?”

Reluctantly, Piper released Ellie’s hoodie. Ellie shrugged off her sister’s hand and turned to Tess and Joel who were on the ground sifting through their backpacks.

Joel pulled out a large flashlight and waved it in front of the girls. “Marlene pack you one of these or just sandwiches?”

“Yeah,” Ellie nodded. She and Piper pulled off their bags and began to look for the flashlights Marlene had so graciously given them.

Piper groaned. “Where is that fucking thing?” Then she reached into her pack and began to pull out everything in search of the flashlight. First, it was her wet clothes, then a makeshift first aid kit, some rope, and her gun. Joel’s eyes widened as she pulled out the gun from her bag. His hand instinctively hovered over his own.

Something that didn’t go unnoticed by Piper. “What?! I know how to use one of these things.” She waved the gun around. “It’s not like I’m gonna shoot you. Plus it's empty.” She opened the cartridge and indeed it was empty. Joel’s hand left his side. “Just grabbing my fucking flashlight,” Piper grumbled finally finding the damn thing.

Joel’s shoulders didn’t relax until Piper had shoved the gun back into the bag. She made sure to place it at the very bottom of her bag. She didn’t need to give Joel another reason to shoot her.

“Okay, so… more ground rules.” Tess swung her bag back over her shoulder and placed her hands on the girl’s shoulders. Her eyes switched between Piper's and Ellie’s eyes. “We're gonna go slowly. If we come up against anything, you get behind us and ya stay there, okay?”

“Yes,” Ellie said.

Tess sent a look to Piper as she scoffed. “Yeah. Jesus. I’ll stay behind you.”

Tess pulled back accepting the girl’s acknowledgement and pulled out her gun.

“I have a spare hand…” Ellie suggested. She pointed to the guns in Tess and Joel’s hands.

“Congratulations,” Joel said as he stepped over the dead fungi and into the Museum.

“Yeah... cooked,” Joel noted as the group settled into the building. The only source of light came from behind them and their flashlights. Piper was surprised to find that the roof and walls were intact. Part of her was half expecting half of the building to have collapsed and to be overrun with plants and fauna just like the rest of the city.

“Oh, finally, some fuckin' luck,” said Tess.

“I guess we should've gone this way in the first place,” Joel confessed as he looked around the museum. All was quiet and still. He and Tess quickly check a side room to make sure it was clear. Maybe they were in luck.

Ellie on the other hand did exactly what Joel and Tess told her not to do. She wandered away. Piper followed her sister. Her hand tightly grasped her own switch. Ellie turned a corner and jumped back. “Oh shit! What the fuck did that?” She pointed her flashlight behind the corner and Piper ran to her side, her hand ready to strike. It seemed like Tess and Joel had the same idea.

“Ellie…” Piper muttered. She pulled her sister away from the dead body.

It was a man. His throat ripped open and his shirt torn. Thick blood seeped from the wounds. His eyes were wide open with terror; Frozen in time the moment his life was stolen from his body.

Tess tensed beside Joel.” Maybe… maybe he was attacked outside and crawled through the doors. The door was open. Could've been him. I don't hear anything.” She said hopefully.

“Who would you hear?” Ellie asked curiously before Piper’s hand flew up to cover her mouth. Piper leaned in close and shushed her sister.

Ellie got the message and pulled Piper’s hand away. “Who would you hear?” Ellie whispered. She looked at Tess and Joel. “Are you saying an Infected did that?”

“Shh,” Tess pleaded.

“Because I've been attacked by one and it wasn't like that.” Ellie pointed to the body, her voice growing louder than a whisper.

“You know the bat-like ones?” Piper said. Ellie nodded. “Well–”

Joel’s jaw clenched as Piper spoke up. “Okay, from this point forward, we are silent. Not quiet. Silent.” He brought a finger to his lips.

“What…?” Ellie asked.

“No. No questions. Just do it.” Joel commanded.

Ellie sighed, or she would have if Joel was not giving her a death glare. Tess motioned for Piper and Ellie to walk behind Joel. The girls followed Joel as Tess took the back. Her eyes darted from side to side to look out for any sign that could warn her.

Piper and Ellie stepped over the fungi that spread all across the floor and spanned across the walls and ceiling. Piper didn’t care that Joel stated the fungi were dead as she walked on her tiptoes to avoid even the tiniest fragment of fungi.

As the group moved up the stairs of the museum, Piper could see piles of debris and shattered glass mixed between the large root-like tendrils of the fungi. It seemed like the stairs were the focal point for the fungi. It grew denser making it harder for Piper to find a safe place to step. Ellie resorted to hopping from one place to another.

There was a creaking sound from above before a rumbling CRASH! Suddenly a part of the ceiling collapsed down onto the stairs just a few feet in front of Joel. The group froze: Their breath stilled, the blood in their body stopped pumping, and every muscle in their body refused to move. All were focused on the sound. They listened as the dust stilled and fell to the floor. They waited for what felt like a century as they were reassured nothing was altered.

Joel was the first to take a step. His movement created a chain reaction in the rest of the group. Everyone now continued to make their way up the stairs past the decaying bodies of lifeless infected. Fungi grew out of their cracked skulls and shot out of their eye sockets.

Ellie couldn’t help but be fascinated with the Infected. She could clearly see the hollowness of the human that the monster was created from. She soon became lost in her thoughts as she imagined what these people must have been like before they were turned. Her steps soon grew careless and less calculated.

CRACK!

The group froze again as Ellie winced. The sound pierced the air. The sound came from below Ellie. She cautiously lifted her foot off the ground and glanced down at the crushed hand of the Infected. The hand was reduced to dust and bones. She mouthed a quick sorry to Joel who was staring right where her foot once was and the group trekked up the stairs once more.

Piper felt a wave of relief fall over her as she realized the fungi were getting less dense. The stairs finally reached an end and now she and the others stood on the second floor. Light seeped into the hallway from the windows making it just a fraction easier to see.

Once again, Joel was the first to move. He crept towards the end of the hallway and pushed the door slightly ajar. Just enough space for him and the others to get through. Piper was the next to walk through the door.

The second Piper stepped into the threshold, the building began to groan and croak. The ceiling screeched and a rumbling began. Tess ushered her and Ellie forward. The ceiling cracked open. In desperation, Tess shoved Ellie forward. The two of them came crashing to the ground. The two of them struggle to contain the groan of pain that built in their lungs.

The crashing was much too loud. The sound thundered in Piper’s ears. It was all that she could hear. Then came the silence. It was deafening. All of a sudden, Piper became consciously aware of how ear-splittingly loud everything was: her breathing, the creaking of the building, the roaring of her own heart, the blood sloshing about her body, the dust settling around what used to be a doorway.

Piper preferred the silence to what came next. It was a bone-chilling scream. One that was followed by a screech from the other direction. There were two. The creatures flocked to the sound. Tess pulled Ellie up by the scruff of her neck and backed away from the collapsed debris. Joel placed a hand in front of Piper and backed her away from the scene. The group walked step by step backwards. Their eyes filled with uncertainty as they looked for any sign of the creatures.

Click. Click. Eeraahh! Click.

It was coming from behind them. Piper pulled Ellie close as the Clicker came into view through the glass of one of the display cases. Ellie’s eyes widened in fear as she turned away from the shadow of the Clicker.

“They can't see, but they can hear.” Joel mouthed.

Ellie nodded in understanding. She needed to be silent. Not Quiet. Something was proving difficult to do. The image of the Infected on top of her clawing at her chest appeared in her mind. The creature spat and snarled as it growled into her ear with a twisted animalistic smile on its face. Ellie couldn’t help how her breath quickened in her chest as the clicking grew nearer.

The Clicker has rounded the corner of the display case. Its’ body is only a foot or two away from Joel.

Suddenly, Piper’s hands come to the sides of Ellie’s face. “Look at me. Breathe in and out.” Piper mouthed. Her own hands trembled viscously against Ellie’s skin.

Ellie does what Piper asked. She breathed in and looked at her sister.

Click.

Ellie looked away. She saw the Clicker. Its arms twisted and fingers pointed sharp like claws. She saw the blood seeping from its mouth and the fungi that split apart its’ skull. Ellie breathed out.

A simple breath. That’s all the Clicker needed to whip around towards Ellie. It screeched and reached out its hands. Joel was quick to aim his gun and shoot. The clicker screamed out in pain as bullet after bullet lodged into its stomach.

“Run!” Joel cried as he fought the Clicker.

Tess didn’t hesitate to pull Ellie and Piper away from Joel and run. Another Clicker jumped out from behind the wall and growled at Tess who fired her own gun. She dragged the girls away in the other direction. Her head whipped back to shoot once more. A fatal mistake. Ellie tripped, causing Piper and Tess to come toppling over her. The Clicker charged them. Tess instinctively kicked a nearby stand over. The noise served as a distraction to allow the three of them to crawl away. Tess motioned for Piper to take Ellie and run, just as the Clicker learned of their deception. Tess pulled out her gun once more and shoots the Clicker, effectively leading it away from the girls.

Piper and Ellie do not dare stand up. They crawled under a nearby display case as chaos ensued around them. Shots were fired. Clickers screeched. Ellie’s breath grew heavy and tense as the sounds grew louder and more frequent.

Piper raised her hands to cover Ellie’s ears. “Calm down.” Piper mouthed. A hypocritical statement for Piper’s mind was in turmoil. She was just as helpless as she was that night in the mall.

FUCK. FUCK. FUCK. FUCK. FUCK. FUCK.

YOU’RE GONNA DIE. ELLIE’S GOING TO BE RIPPED APART.

CRASH!

Piper and Ellie jumped out of their skin. They collectively decided to move to another hiding place. The two carefully crawled across the floor. They froze at the sound of glass breaking. A Clicker ran past them roaring as it searched for them.

In the corner of her eye, Piper saw a display case. It was low and could cover her and Ellie’s bodies. She carefully moved towards the case. Ellie followed after her.

Click. Click. Click.

The Clicker was closer than ever. Piper could see the shadow of the creature inch closer and closer near the edge of the display case they were hiding behind. Suddenly Joel tapped on her shoulder. She had to cover her mouth before she yelped. Joel looked at Ellie and Piper and then at the Clicker on the other side of the display case.

“Follow me.” He mouthed and turned around on his heel.

Click. Click. Click.

Joel raised one foot and then another. His body was crouched low as he stepped in the opposite direction of the Clicker. Foot down. Foot up. Foot down.

Crack.

Then he was on the floor. Piper and Ellie were screaming as the Infected jumped on top of them. Their arms thrashed as the Clicker claws at Ellie. Its’ mouth growled as a mix of saliva and drool dripped onto Ellie’s face. Piper cried out as she managed to lodge one of her arms on the Clicker’s neck and face. It began to snap its’ jaw open and closed. The clenching of its’ teeth pinched a chord in Ellie’s ears. Piper’s grip on the Clicker slipped. The creature fell onto Ellie, biting down. Piper cried out in pain as Joel’s gun fired. The Clicker turned its attention to Joel. It lunged at Joel knocking his gun away. Ellie froze as she saw Joel struggle. The Clicker growled and hissed fighting to rip into Joel’s skin.

BANG!

The Clicker fell still. Joel shoved the clicker off of him and looked up. It was Piper. In her hands, she held his gun. It was a perfect shot to the head.

A screeching appeared beside Piper as the other Clicker lunged at her. She jumped back and cried aloud in fear. The gun dropped to the floor in her moment of horror.

“Run, run!” Joel screamed. He shoved Ellie to the side and reached out for Piper. His hands grabbed onto the jacket she was wearing and pulled her out of the Clicker’s charge.

Suddenly, Tess appeared. She raised an axe and swung it at the Clicker. The weapon was now lodged into the Clicker’s neck. It howled in pain and turned to Tess, now preparing to jump at her.

Immediately, Joel retrieved his gun and raised the barrel. Locked. Loaded. Finger on the trigger. Fire!

Silence.

The Clicker dropped dead.

“You all right?” Joel heaved. He had asked everyone in the room but his attention was directed to Tess who was on the floor holding her ankle in pain.

“Twisted ankle, but... yeah. You all right?” Tess asked.

“Well, I didn't shit my pants, so…” Ellie said.

“Piper?” Tess inquired.

The teen was in shock. Her ears were ringing and there was a dull pain in her arm. She felt something warm trickle down her skin.

“Piper?” Tess asked again. Worry filled her voice.

“Fuck–” Piper cried. She was looking at her arm. “I mean if it was gonna happen to one of us.”

The group's eyes fell onto Piper’s arm. Where she had rolled back the sleeves of Joel’s jacket was a bite mark. It was bleeding profusely as Piper clutched the wound. Her whole body was shaking, and she bit her lip. The taste of copper and iron flooded her taste buds. Ellie seemed just as terrified. A fear both Joel and Tess chalked up to being attacked by two Clickers. An experience that a majority of people don’t live to tell the tale of.

“Hey...let's get the fuck outta here,” Tess muttered.

Joel nodded and looked around the room for the window that led to the rooftop. He found it already cracked open. Ellie was the first to step out onto the roof. Then Piper, Tess, and, lastly, Joel.

Tess groaned in pain as her ankle throbbed. Joel instructed her to sit down as he pulled off his backpack. He reached inside and pulled out bandages. He held them out to Piper who was still in shock clutching her bleeding arm.

“Put this around your arm,” He instructed her.

Piper looked at the bandages before taking them. “Thanks.”

Ellie stood near the ledge. “Over there?” She asked and pointed to the boardwalk that connected over the next rooftop.

Joel nodded, “Yeah, I know. It looks scary.”

“That was scary. This is wood.” Without another word, Ellie crossed the wooden plank and jumped onto the next rooftop.

Piper adjusted her backpack and gripped the bandage tightly as she walked across the plank of wood. They were high off the ground. One misstep and she would go tumbling down to the ground. But Ellie was right. The thought of that was nothing compared to the bloody mark on her arm.

“Just wait there. Give us a minute,” Joel called out.

Piper assumed he was gonna help Tess. She walked over to Ellie who stood staring at the view of the city in front of them. Piper silently observed her sister as she began to wrap her arm. Something she struggled with. The bandage never stayed in one place. Piper furrowed her brows in concentration.

“Pipes,” a small voice whimpered. It was Ellie. She was crying as she looked at the bite mark on Piper’s arm.

Piper frowned and her lips trembled. “Look. You’re immune, right? We’re sisters, so I’ve got to be.” Piper’s sight grew blurry. “I just– Just help me, please.” She raised her arm up as Ellie took the bandage from her hand.

Ellie snatched the bandage from Piper’s hand before fishing something out of her pocket. Piper’s face paled as she saw the silver blade fling to position. Ellie raised the knife over the palm of her hand.

“My blood’s the cure, right? I’m immune so if I mix it with yours then–” Ellie winced as the blade sliced into her hand. The silver knife drew across her skin before being closed and placed back into Ellie’s pocket. Then Ellie raised her hand over Piper’s arm, who was quick to draw it away.

“Ellie-” Piper begged.

“Just–fuck! Piper. Please!” Ellie whimpered.

Piper shakingly stuck out her arm again allowing Ellie to squeeze her hand shut over Piper’s arm. It was like juicing a lemon, as Ellie’s blood dripped onto Piper’s wound. Then for extra measures, Ellie took that very bloodied hand and proceeded to mix Piper’s blood with hers.

It had to work. Ellie knew that she was immune. It was in her blood. That’s what Marlene had told her. The cure was in her blood. So, if she put just enough of her blood in Piper’s system then Piper wouldn’t turn. It had to work. It had to. Ellie didn’t know what she would do without Piper. It was always Ellie and Piper until the end. The panic in Ellie grew as she gripped her sister’s arm tighter as if she was afraid that if she let go Piper would disappear.

“Ellie,” the panic as Piper's terror grew. “Ellie that’s enough!”

Ellie yanked her arm back and stood clutching her bleeding hand as her wide and trembling eyes glared at the bite mark on Piper’s arm. Her breaths were short, and tense and they grew quicker and more frequent with each second.

Piper shot her hands out and cupped her sister’s face. “Breath. I’m okay. We’re okay. I’ve got you, Ellie,” Piper whispered to her sister.

Ellie was able to calm down enough to bandage her sister's wound. In turn, Piper tore off some of the fabric to tie it around Ellie’s cut. Ellie giggled as Piper kissed Ellie’s boo-boo. It was just like old times back in the QZ.

“We’re okay. We’re gonna be okay. It’s you and me until the end.” Piper said as she wrapped an arm around Ellie’s shoulder and turned the two of them to face the view of the city. The calming scene was just what the girls needed to pull them out of the water threatening to drown them.

The afternoon sun cascaded down on crumbling Boston. The Capitol building shimmered like a lighthouse in the dark as the gold-tinted dome roof caught the warm light of the sun. The sky was a picturesque blue and there was hardly a cloud in sight. Occasionally the dark outline of a bird would fly into view above the buildings.

“If I had a superpower, then I would be able to fly,” Ellie muttered as her brown eyes flowed the latest bird to grace their view.

“Oh yeah?” Piper said as she pulled her sister in closer.

“Yeah. Then I’d be able to take you and we’d fly someplace safe. Somewhere there is no Infected. No FEDRA. No fireflies. Somewhere where it’s just me and you,” Ellie explained as she snuggled into her sister's side.

Then there was a shuffling behind them, and Joel and Tess appeared, finally catching up with the girls. Joel came to a stop next to Ellie. He crossed his arms over his chest and let out a deep sigh before glancing down at Ellie.

“Is it everything you hoped for?”

Ellie sniffled before answering Joel. “The jury's still out. But, man, you can't deny that view.” Then Ellie smiled.

Joel furrowed his brows as his gaze softened. There was no malice or sassiness in Ellie’s voice as she answered. But then the girl smiled. It was a soft smile and not one that was noticeable. But it was a smile. An honest-to-God sweet smile.

Tess looked at the location of the sun in the sky before limping over to a ladder attached to the building. “C'mon, let's get there before it's dark.”

Tess raised her leg over the edge and began her descent down the ladder. Ellie stepped out from under her sister’s arm before walking over to the ladder and climbing down after Piper.

Joel took a step forward, but something in him made him look back at Piper. There was a dullness in her eyes as she looked at the view. So unlike Ellie’s simple adoration for it. To Piper, the view was just a little greyer and darker too. It was as if her whole world was tinted. Cursed to dull and eventually fade away.

“You good, kid?” Joel asked.

Piper took a moment to respond back. “No.” Then she stepped forward and walked over to the ladder. Her figure descended from view.

Joel just stood there. His brown eyes fixed on the spot Piper once stood. It was only a “no”, yet Joel Miller was frozen in his step. It wasn’t dullness in her eyes. No, it was defeat. It was the glance at a broken soul whose pieces have scattered so far and wide that there is only the hollowness of what once was.

Then Joel found himself glancing down. The broken glass of his watch gleamed in the sun. One thought alone was in Joel’s mind as he looked at the watch. One thought alone was in Joel’s mind as he climbed down the ladder.

꧁_____________꧂

The sun had begun its descent in the sky and the crickets decided to make an early appearance. They chirped as a light breeze danced through the long grass. The leaves rubbed together making a wave-like noise every time a gust of wind flew by. Tess, Joel, Piper, and Ellie stood behind a rusted old car that had spent too much time under the harsh gaze of the sun.

“Where the fuck are they?” Tess harshly whispered to Joel.

Before them stood the Capitol building. The drop-off point. The place Marlene said a bunch from out west were. The Capitol was anything but alive. There was no sign of the Fireflies, except for a gigantic truck. A truck that looked entirely too new compared to the numerous rusted and crumbling cars that were scattered around the grounds.

Joel’s eyes narrowed on the truck as he stepped out from behind the car. “Stay back,” he instructed.

The gravel crunched under Joel’s boots as he stalked towards the truck’s driver-side door. The door was slightly ajar which allowed Joel to pry it open with his gun. The leather seats were drenched with blood. Not a person in sight. Joel’s worry grew as he trekked around to the back of the truck before opening it as well. Empty.

“Joel? What the fuck is going on?” Tess said. She stepped out from behind the car and began to approach Joel. Her face fell upon seeing what Joel had found.

“I don't know,” Joel replied.

Ellie and Piper approached the truck as well. The two girls circled around to the other side looking for clues as to where the Fireflies could have gone.

Ellie gulped as she spotted a trail of blood leading into the Capitol building. “They went inside,” she said. Piper came up next to Ellie. Her eyes followed along the blood trail.

“Come on,” Tess dictated as she grabbed Ellie’s sleeve and pulled her into the Capitol building.

Piper and Joel ran after Tess.

“Tess!” Joel called out.

“Come on!” Tess hissed as she pulled Ellie along.

“Tess!” Joel repeated.

The scene they had found inside the building was a massacre. Ellie was the first to enunciate what they were all thinking. “Holy shit.”

Bodies lay along the marble floor. Some were shot, blood still oozing out of their deadly wounds. Others lay face up with their necks sliced open or knives gouged into their heads.

Ellie turned around taking it all in. She stepped closer to a particular body lying nearby. Joel tensed before pulling Ellie away from the body and into the centre of the lobby.

“Oh, Jesus. Okay.” Joel looked around and caught sight of Tess. She was digging through the numerous crates and boxes that the Fireflies had kept in the building.

“I mean, there's gotta be a, a fuckin' radio or somethin', right?” Tess’s voice quavered.

“Who killed them? FEDRA?” Ellie looked at Piper as she said FEDRA.

Piper shook her head, but it was Joel who answered. “No. One of them got bit. The healthy ones fought the sick ones. Everyone lost.” He stepped towards Tess whose movements got more and more frantic. “Tess? What're you doin'?”

Tess turned on her heel and marched towards Ellie and Piper. On instinct, Piper grabbed Ellie’s sleeve and pulled her sister back behind her.

“Where did Marlene say that she was taking you? Ellie! Piper!” Tess demanded.

Ellie shook her head. “Uh, I don't know. Just west.”

“Just west. Fuck.” Tess ran her hands through her hair. Her fingers gripped tightly around her light brown locks. “Okay. Well, I mean, one of them's gotta have a map on them, right? Joel, can ya help me?” Tess walked over to one of the bodies and began searching the pockets.

“No! Tess... it's over. We are going home,” Joel said. His voice began to fill with worry. The most emotion Piper and Ellie had ever heard from his voice.

“That's not my fucking home!” Tess yelled. She glanced back at Joel. “I'm stayin'. I mean... our luck had to run out sooner or later.” Her voice faltered.

There it was. Defeat was embedded deep within Tess’s eyes. A look–a feeling that Piper knew all too well. “Fuck. She's infected,” Piper stated.

Joel looked back at Piper before returning his gaze to Tess. “Show me.”

“Joel,” Tess stepped towards Joel, but he raised his gun at her. She let out a nervous chuckle. “Oops, right?” Then Tess marched over to Piper pointing at her arm. “Take your bandage off,” Tess commanded.

Piper glanced at Joel before she lifted up her sleeve and removed her bandage.

Tess snatched Piper’s arm pulling it close to Joel. “Look.”

Joel’s jaw clenched as he did as Tess told as did Piper. The bleeding had stopped and a layer of scab was growing over the wound. It was healing. Relief fell over Piper. She was immune. She was healing.

“Joel?” Tess caught Joel’s attention once more. “This is real. Joel, she's fucking real. They’re real…” Tess finally let go of Piper’s arm. “I need you to get her to Bill and Frank's.”

Joel shook his head. “No.”

“They'll take her off your hands,” Tess continued.

“No.” There was desperation growing in Joel’s voice.

“They'll handle it from here,” Tell told Joel.

“No, no, no, I can't. They won't take her. They're not gonna take her,” Joel replied.

“They will. They will 'cause you'll convince them.” Joel shook his head. “Yes, you will. I, I never ask you for anything, not to feel the way I felt.”

Joel’s eyes began to water. His hands gripped his gun tighter as if it was his only lifeline. “No.”

“Shut the fuck up 'cause I don't have time.” She stepped close to Joel. “This is your chance. You get them there… you keep them alive...and you set everything right. All the shit we did. Please say yes, Joel, please,” Tess begged.

Suddenly there was a snarling behind Piper and Ellie. The girls whirled around and cried out in fear. The dead never seemed to stay dead.

“Oh fuck!” Ellie exclaimed.

Instinctively, Joel raised his gun. The trigger was pulled. The Infect collapsed to the floor. Its hand fell to the floor and then time froze.

Why hadn’t he noticed it before? Joel scolded himself.

There’s a howl in the distance and it feels as if hell has descended upon them. Piper clutched Ellie close as the unanimous snarling from the distance filled their ears.

Joel ran over to the entrance of the Capitol building and stuck his head out the door. His face paled at the sight.

“How many?” Tess asked.

“All of them. Maybe a minute.” Joel closed the door and ran back to the group.

Tess ran to a nearby container before dumping its contents out. Yellow gasoline spilt across the pristine marble floor. The smell of petrol swarmed Piper’s sense of smell.

“What are you doing?” Ellie asked as Tess ran around the room dumping out the gasoline.

“Making sure that they don't follow you.” Tess raised up a small lighter before turning to Joel. “Joel… save who you can save.”

Joel’s whole body clenched tightly as his eyes said goodbye to Tess. He couldn’t say it. She knew he couldn’t. Then Joel listened. He did exactly what Tess told him to. He saved who he could save. His large shoot out to grab tightly onto the girls’ arms before dragging them away.

Piper and Ellie look back helplessly at Tess. Ellie grunts and yells as she tries to fit Joel’s grip. She couldn’t leave her mom behind.

“No! We're not leaving her!” Ellie screamed.

Piper smiled sadly at Tess. Her brown eyes said thank you over and over hoping Tess knew. She did. Of course, Tess did. She was a mother after all.

“Get off me, you fucker!” Ellie began to hit Joel with all her might. But Joel was hardened to violence and pain. “Piper!” Ellie began to plead with her sister.

Piper shook her head before using her other arm to loop around Ellie and help Joel drag her out of the building. “Ellie, we have to.”

Ellie cried out in frustration. “I'm not going with you!”

Piper didn’t exactly know when they exited the building. What she did know was about twenty seconds after, as Joel continued to haul Ellie’s thrashing figure into the field of tall grass, the building exploded.

Clouds of fire fumed out of the windows. Glass shattered. The ground trembled and then all was silent.

Ellie’s fight broke down. Joel let her go he watched as she scrambled forward her arms reaching out to the burning building before Piper stepped in her sister’s path.

“Ellie,” Piper soothed. Her hand reached up to wipe away her sister’s tears.

“Fuck you!” Ellie screamed as she shoved Piper to the ground.

“Ellie!” Piper said, trying to stand back up to calm her sister down.

Ellie growled before jumping on top of her sister. This wasn’t like their games where Piper was in control. Ellie was on top. Ellie was going to win. Her finger scrunched up and formed a fist. Then that fist flung through the air finding a place on Piper’s body. After the first punch came another. Then another.

Piper raised her arms up in defence. Her body squirmed under Ellie’s weight as she tried to get the upper hand, but Ellie gave her no such opportunity. Hit after hit Joel stood by and watched. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak, so he just let it happen.

Then there was a sickening crack as Ellie’s fist landed on Piper’s face. Blood trickled down Piper’s now broken nose. Ellie froze. Her knuckle felt warm with her sister’s blood. Then Ellie was on the ground. Piper was on her feet clutching her nose in pain. Joel just looked at the teen as she tried to nurse her wounds.

Tears are falling down Ellie’s cheeks now. She doesn’t feel them. All she can feel is the blood of her sister’s body tainting her skin. She feels sick but there is nothing to puke up.

There was another crack and Piper winced in pain. Her nose adjusted; the blood was no longer spilt from her nose. She could breathe now, but the blood was in her mouth. She hated the coppery taste in her mouth that was becoming more and more frequent. Piper spat out the blood in her mouth. The red liquid mixed with her saliva as it hit the ground. Piper wiped her nose, her eyes on Ellie’s stilled figure.

She felt Joel’s eyes on her. Her dark eyes met him as she shoved her way past him. Piper began walking. She didn’t care if she had no clue where she was supposed to go. All she could think of right now was getting away. Away from the burning building. Away from the terrors that crawled in her mind and scarred her soul. Away from Joel. Away from Ellie.

Joel let out a shaking breath before looking down at Ellie. He lowered his gaze to the ground. The earth beneath his boots rattled as Joel departed after Piper. He too needed to leave. He needed to leave before the sins of his past swarmed to the surface. So he left.

Ellie was the last to move. Piper’s figure was now small in the distance. Joel’s figure was a couple of inches larger than her sister’s. The blood on her knuckles ran cold. Ellie sniffled and wiped away the blood. Her hands found refuge in her jacket pockets as she took one step forward. One after the other. She was deserting–leaving a shell of herself behind in that burning building. Just like she left a part of herself in that mall with Riley’s body. Just like she would continue to do for the rest of her life. Piper couldn’t protect her anymore. No one could.

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twoidiotwriters1 · 2 months

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The Curse of Oenone (Leo Valdez xFem!Oc)

A/N: Honestly the action that takes place in HoH is my favorite -Danny Words: 2,727 Series' Masterlist Previous Chapter // Next Chapter

XXX: What Are Thooose?

"What are they?" The demigods stand together near the handrail and stare at the creatures wandering the streets of Venice.

Jason squints. "The mortals think they're stray dogs."

"Or pets roaming around," Piper suggests. "My dad shot a film in Venice once. I remember him telling me there were dogs everywhere. Venetians love dogs."

"But what are they?" Frank repeats Hazel's question. "They look like... starving, shaggy cows with sheepdog hair."

"Maybe they're harmless," Leo muses. "They're ignoring the mortals."

"Harmless!" Hedge laughs. "Valdez, how many harmless monsters have we met? We should just aim the ballistae and see what happens!"

"Uh, no," Leo looks at Ara. "General?"

"We follow Hecate's instructions," she replies, eyeing the creatures with distrust. "Let's look for our given address, and hope they'll ignore us."

"I agree," Frank sighs, looking grumpy. "It's the only way we're going to track down the owner of that book."

Leo has the book under his arm but draws it out when Frank mentions it. The address the Kerkopes gave them is written in a Post-it. "La Casa Nera," the boy reads. "Calle Frezzeria."

"The Black House," Nico hums. "Calle Frezzeria is the street."

"That's what I said," Ara nods.

Nico raises a brow. "I thought you only knew how to catcall in Italian."

"Lily threw a dagger at me last time I did it and I figured it was time to learn for real."

"You speak Italian?" Frank blurts out, looking at them.

Nico glances at him with a scowl before continuing. "Frank and Ara are right. We have to find that address. The only way to do it is to walk the city. Venice is a maze. We'll have to risk the crowds and those... whatever they are."

"Did you just admit I'm right?" Ara smiles.

"Don't push it."

Thunder booms a little ahead and Jason scowls at the nearing storm. "Maybe I should stay on board. Lots of venti in that storm last night. If they decide to attack the ship again..."

"We had venti?" Ara asks in surprise. "I didn't hear it!"

"We noticed," Nico replies. "You snored the whole night, I wonder how Leo managed to—"

"You talk in your sleep," she interrupts him before he tells Hedge she slept in Leo's room. "I have recordings."

"What—"

Coach interrupts them. "Well, I'm out, too. If you softhearted cupcakes are going to stroll through Venice without even whacking those furry animals on the head, forget it. I don't like boring expeditions."

"It's okay, Coach." Leo smirks. "We still have to repair the foremast. Then I need your help in the engine room. I've got an idea for a new installation."

"Well..." Piper looks around. "Whoever goes should be good with animals. I, uh... I'll admit I'm not great with cows."

"Those aren't cows," Ara retorts.

"I still pass."

"I'll go," Frank says.

Leo pats his shoulder and hands him the book. "Awesome. If you pass a hardware store, could you get me some two-by-fours and a gallon of tar?"

"Leo," Hazel scolds him, "it's not a shopping trip."

"I'll go with Frank," Nico declares.

"Uh..." Frank hesitates. "You're good with animals?"

The boy smirks. "Actually, most animals hate me. They can sense death. But there's something about this city... Lots of death. Restless spirits. If I go, I may be able to keep them at bay. Besides, as you noticed, I speak Italian."

Leo hesitates. "Lots of death, huh? Personally, I'm trying to avoid lots of death, but you guys have fun!"

"I'll go too," Ara places a hand on Frank's shoulder and senses his anxiety. "I'm good with animals. Hellhounds and Nemean lions love me."

"What about the repairs?" Leo asks, suddenly not as amused as before. "The new installation? I wanted to teach you how to do it!"

"I'll be back soon," she assures him. "If you wait for me, you can still show me."

Ara wants to keep an eye on Nico. She can't afford to lose him, Lily would kill her. She knows how to look after him now, so that's what she'll do.

"I'll go too," Hazel says right after. "So I can stop you two from killing each other."

Nico and Ara share a look. They can't act offended, that could easily happen if they're left unsupervised.

"All right, then," Nico turns around. "Let's go find the owner of that book."

At some point during their walk, Nico speaks to her quietly. "Lily would've loved coming here."

"Don't remind me," Ara makes a face.

"You're too quiet about her," he points out. "You guys fought? I know Lily was against you leaving..."

"The argument was because of you, actually."

"What?"

Hazel stumbles on a cobblestone and Frank catches her, but the movement makes the cow-dogs around look up and growl. Their gazes make Ara feel sick, and she has to avert hers.

"What are they?" It's her turn to ask with concern.

"Nice cows," Frank steps forward to protect the group. "Guys, I'm thinking we should back out of here slowly."

"I'm such a klutz," Hazel winces. "Sorry."

"It's not your fault," Nico points at the ground. "Look at your feet."

Ara and Nico move back in unison, and the roots try to follow their feet as they go. The plants are smelly, and the cow-dogs seem to like them a little too much, because the more they move, the more they pay attention to them.

"These roots seem to like demigods," Frank scowls.

Hazel reaches for her sword. "And the cow creatures like the roots."

"Don't touch it," Ara warns her. "They won't be nice if we tamper with their food."

"Don't meet their eyes either," Frank adds. "I'll distract them. You back up slowly toward that black house."

Ara frowns. "You're not staying here alone."

The plants speed up and reach their feet quickly, the creatures tense and growl. "Okay, change of plans," Frank says thinly. "Run!"

Nico and Hazel hurry to the Black House while Ara turns Almighty into a spear. Frank stands next to her screaming, seemingly trying to turn into some animal.

"No!" Frank screams at two creatures that leave the group to chase after their friends. "Me! I'm the rhino!"

"What?" Ara asks, striking one of the creatures.

"Nothing," Frank moves closer to her as the creatures encircle them. "I just... need to concentrate."

"If these were all Nemean lions, I'd have this in the bag," Ara sulks, and it gives Frank an idea.

"A lion," he says, looking up at the balcony of a nearby house.

He turns into a massive feline. Ara climbs on top of him and changes her spear to a bow and arrows, summoning Artemis's blessing. Frank jumps over the herd of monsters and as they go, Ara shoots at all the furry targets she spots in the area.

They get rid of most, but one jumps too close to Frank's face and releases a cloud of greenish fog. Ara holds her breath and moves away, but Frank is in killing mode, he roars and slashes through the creature and realizes his mistake too late.

"Frank! Frank!" Nico's screaming.

Frank turns back into a human and Ara slips off his back. His face is reddish and he can't stop coughing. Ara searches in her Octopi bag and pulls out the piece of fabric she'd used while fighting the Kerkopes to cover her mouth and nose, then places Frank's arm around her shoulder.

"Hold your breath!" She tells him, lifting her bow.

"Ara c'mon!" Nico urges her, he's killed the cows that had tried to chase after him and Hazel.

Ara grabs three arrows and shoots to get rid of the remaining cow-dogs. When they get to the archway, she realizes Hazel is unconscious.

"She got a blast of green gas right in the face," Nico explains. "I—I wasn't fast enough."

"It's okay," Ara eases him, though she's also concerned.

"We need to get her back to the ship," Frank says hoarsely.

More cow monsters approach, and Nico shakes his head. "We'll never make it on foot. Frank, turn into a giant eagle. Don't worry about us. Get her back to the Argo II!"

"Sounds like a good plan," Ara agrees. "Maybe Hedge will know what to do."

"Your friends can't help you," says a voice behind them. "They don't know the cure."

There, in the Black House's entrance, is a man dressed in all denim. A god.

"Who are—"

"Can you cure her?" Frank interrupts her.

"Of course," the god grins. "But you'd better hurry inside. I think you've angered every katobleps in Venice."

When they get Hazel on top of a table, Ara touches Frank's shoulder. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," he brushes off the question as well as her hand.

Ara's decided that she likes Frank because he's loyal and protective of the people he loves no matter what. He is Clarisse's brother through and through, a mellower version of her, which is nice, but just like her in all the good ways.

"What were those cow things?" Frank asks the god. "What did they do to her?"

"Katoblepones. Singular: katobleps. In English, it means down-looker. Called that because—"

"They're always looking down!" Nico hits his forehead. "Right. I remember reading about them."

Frank makes a face. "Now you remember?"

Nico looks slightly embarrassed as he explains. "I, uh... used to play this stupid card game when I was younger. Mythomagic. The katobleps was one of the monster cards."

"I played Mythomagic," Frank replies casually. "I never saw that card."

"It was in the Africanus Extreme expansion deck."

"Oh."

"Used to?" Ara raises a brow. "You still play with Lily when you visit us!"

"Shut up."

The god steps forward. "Are you done, ah, geeking out, as they say?"

"Right, sorry," Nico clears his throat. "Anyway, katoblepones have poison breath and a poison gaze. I thought they only lived in Africa."

"That's their native land," the man sighs. "They were accidentally imported to Venice hundreds of years ago. You've heard of Saint Mark?"

"Saints? They're not part of Greek mythology," Frank scowls.

"No, but Saint Mark is the patron saint of this city. He died in Egypt, oh, a long time ago. When the Venetians became powerful... well, the relics of saints were a big tourist attraction back in the Middle Ages. The Venetians decided to steal Saint Mark's remains and bring them to their big church of San Marco. They smuggled out his body in a barrel of pickled pig parts."

"That's... disgusting."

"That's religion," Ara corrects him.

"Yes," the god smiles. "The point is, you can't do something like that and not have consequences. The Venetians unintentionally smuggled something else out of Egypt—the katoblepones. They came here aboard that ship and have been breeding like rats ever since. They love the magical poison roots that grow here—swampy, foul-smelling plants that creep up from the canals. It makes their breath even more poisonous! Usually the monsters ignore mortals, but demigods... especially demigods who get in their way—"

"Got it," Frank interrupts him impatiently. "Can you cure her?"

"Possibly."

"Possibly?" Frank's eyes darken, and Ara sees the Ares in him. He reaches out and places his hand under Hazel's nose. "Nico, please tell me she's doing that death-trance thing, like you did in the bronze jar."

"I don't know if Hazel can do that," Nico winces. "Her dad is technically Pluto, not Hades, so—"

"Hades!" The unknown guy stumbles back. "So that's what I smell. Children of the Underworld? If I'd known that, I would never have let you in!"

"Hazel's a good person," Frank stands up straight. "You promised you would help her!"

"I did not promise."

"She's my sister," Nico seizes his sword. "I don't know who you are, but if you can cure her, you have to, or so help me by the River Styx—"

"Oh, blah, blah, blah!" The man turns Nico into a corn plant. "There! Children of Hades can't order me around! You should talk less and listen more. Now at least you have ears."

Ara laughs in delight, and then she stops. "Wait, I'm supposed to be looking after him," she looks at the god. "Turn him back!"

"No."

Frank steps back in alarm. "You're a god."

"Triptolemus." The man smiles. "My friends call me Trip, so don't call me that. And if you're another child of Hades—"

"Mars! Child of Mars!"

"Well... not much better. But perhaps you deserve to be something better than a corn plant. Sorghum? Sorghum is very nice."

"You don't wanna do that," Ara steps in. "Listen, mighty god of..." the girl looks around the room. "Farming. I'm Ara Jackson, my friends call me Birdy so you can't, and I'm the current daughter of Olympus. We found something that belongs to you."

Frank pulls out the old book from his backpack. "This is yours, right?"

"My almanac!" Triptolemus snatches the book out of the boy's grip and reads through its pages. "Oh, this is fabulous! Where did you find it?"

"Um, Bologna. There were these..." Ara gestures at him to shut up and Frank quickly redirects his speech. "Terrible monsters. We risked our lives, but Ara knew this was important to you. So could you maybe, you know, turn Nico back to normal and heal Hazel?"

"Hmm? Oh, heal them?" Triptolemus laughs. "I'm grateful for the book, of course. I can definitely let you go free, son of Mars. And I can't touch the daughter of Olympus, but I have a long-standing problem with Hades. After all, I owe my godly powers to Demeter!"

"You're holding onto a grudge that isn't even yours?" Ara scowls. "So what if he married Persephone? Even Demeter lives with him now!"

"It's a matter of principles," he shrugs. "When Demeter went searching for her daughter, scouring the whole earth, not many people would help her. Hecate lit her way at night with her torches. And I... well, when Demeter came to my part of Greece, I gave her a place to stay. I comforted her, gave her a meal, and offered my assistance. I didn't know she was a goddess at the time, but my good deed paid off. Later, Demeter rewarded me by making me a god of farming!"

"Wow," Frank states plainly. "Farming. Congratulations."

"I know! Pretty awesome, right? Anyway, Demeter never got along with Hades. So naturally, you know, I have to side with my patron goddess. Children of Hades—forget it! In fact, one of them—this Scythian king named Lynkos? When I tried to teach his countrymen about farming, he killed my right python!"

"Your... right python?"

The god shows them his broken chariot. "You see? No good! Ever since I lost my right python, I haven't been able to spread the word about farming—at least not in person. Now I have to resort to giving online courses."

"What?"

"Triptolemus Farming University!" He says, turning his computer to show them. "In just six weeks, you can get your bachelor's degree in the exciting and vibrant career of the future—farming!"

"If we fix your stupid chariot will you heal Hazel and turn Nico back into a real boy?" Ara asks.

Trip blinks and pauses. "Fix... my chariot?"

"Fool-proof deal. We help you, so you help our friends and Demeter can't get mad at you."

"You could even give us whatever aid you can to defeat Gaea's forces," Frank suggests quickly.

Triptolemus snorts. "What makes you think I can aid you with that?"

"Hecate told us so," Frank explains. "She sent us here. She—she decided Hazel is one of her favorites."

"Hecate?"

The god's reaction tells them all they need. Ara and Frank share a brief look before the boy continues. "The goddess guided us to your almanac in Bologna. She wanted us to return it to you, because... well, she must've known you had some knowledge that would help us get through the House of Hades in Epirus."

"Yes... I see. I know why Hecate sent you to me," the god eyes them reluctantly. "Very well, go find a way to fix my chariot. If you succeed, I will do all you ask. If not—"

"I know. Our friends die."

"Yes! And you'll make a lovely patch of sorghum!"

As they exit the Black House, Ara turns to Frank. "I have no idea of how to fix his chariot."

"What!" He looks over his shoulder and then talks under his breath. "Why did you say you'd fix it, then?!"

"Because I was spacing out and I wanted him to shut up!" Ara replies defensively. "And he wasn't going to help us out of the kindness of his heart."

"Hazel is running out of time—"

"So you better start brainstorming with me."

"I have a brainstorm in my head already," he slips to the floor, holding his head like it's hurting.

Ara crouches in front of him, placing a hand on his knee to feel his emotions. He's stressed, but most of all, he's furious. "Frank, what's wrong?"

"It's my dad," he locks eyes with her. "He wants me to kill all of you."

Next Chapter –>

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mysticonsheadcanons · 29 days

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Mysticons Fan Episode: The Hidden Hotel

Proxima calls the Mysticons to the Academy, and tells them about a hotel that asked for their help. The Mysticons are ready to accept the quest, but Proxima warns them that it may be dangerous. The hotel keeps travelling to different dimensions, so there is a chance that the Mysticons get stuck in another world. Arkayna says that it's their job to help people, and the Mysticons leave, promising Proxima that they'll be careful.

They go to the hotel, where they meet Mr. Travmo, the hotel owner. He explains that the hotel normally travels to different worlds, but on a set, predictable schedule so guests can plan their trip. However, lately, the hotel has been travelling to worlds outside of the scheduled plan. Zarya notices that the hotel seems quiet, where something like that would likely create panic. Mr. Travmo says that they insist on guests staying in their rooms for their own safety. They go to the control room, but as nothing looks out of place, they decide to investigate the hotel.

As they are investigating the hotel, they see Aunt Yaga and Nova Terron. They are surprised to see the Mysticons there, and Aunt Yaga guesses that they're on vacation. Sharise explains why they're here, and Nova Terron is surprised, saying tha nothing seems out of the ordinary. Piper wonders if Mr. Travno is hiding the truth about what's going on from the guests, but Em says that would be hard, with them being told to stay in their rooms. Nova Terron admits that they were told to, and he wanted to, but Aunt Yaga sneaked out, wanting to see what's going on. Just then, the Mysticons are called over the loudspeaker to go to the control room, and Arkayna suggests that Aunt Yaga and Nova Terron listen to Mr. Travmo, promising that they'll figure it out.

They go to the control room, and see someone messing with the controls. A small fight ensues, and the Mysticons easily capture the man at the controls. Just then, mist comes. Mr. Travmo comes, and says that the mist means that the hotel will be going to a different dimension shortly. Since they know that Gemina's a safe dimension, but don't know where they're going, they start getting everyone out of the hotel. As the Mysticons are about to leave, Sharise feels someone grab her. The other Mysticons don't notice, as the mist became too thick and they didn't hear Sharise cry out through all the chaos.

In the meadow that the hotel used to be, the other Mysticons realize that Sharise isn't with them, and they begin to panic. Piper asks if Sharise will be fine, and Zarya reassures her that Sharise is smart, and she can take care of herself until they find a way to help her, and that Sharise might find her way home by herself. Arkayna tries to call Sharise, but then realizes that they wouldn't be able to get through to different dimensions. Nova Terron comes, saying that he thinks Aunt Yaga didn't evacuate the hotel either. Em, knowing that Malvaron and Aunt Yaga can talk in different dimensions, asks Malvaron to help.

Sharise turns to see who caught her, and finds that it's Mr. Travmo. He explains that he wanted to get the Mysticons out of Gemina and into a dimension he knew they wouldn't survive in. He is dissapointed that he only got one Mysticon, but knows that the others will follow. Sharise realizes that the problem with the teleporter was a trap, and that the man "sabotaging" the control room was actually one of his employees. A fight ensues, and Aunt Yaga helps. She leads Sharise out of the hotel.

As they are walking, Aunt Yaga reveals that Malvaron called her and explained that they left a Mysticon behind, and asked if Aunt Yaga could help. Sharise says that she was fine on her own, and that she can take care of herself. Aunt Yaga says that the Mysticons were worried about Sharise not because they didn't Sharise was a capable Mysticon, but because they were friends. Sharise admits that makes sense, as she does tense up when one of the other Mysticons get a particularly bad hit on a fight. Aunt Yaga says that they don't have to worry about the Mysticons missing her for long, as she can send them back to Gemina. However, strange gorilla like monsters start attacking.

Back at Gemina, the others are worried about how long it's taking for Aunt Yaga to bring Sharise home. As Aunt Yaga recognzied the dimension and told Malvaron what it was before she left to save Sharise, Malvaron is able to find a spell to send them there. They go, and arrive just as Sharise and Aunt Yaga are finishing the fight. The Mysticons hug, and Aunt Yaga asks to join the group hug. Piper lets her. Sharise thanks the Mysticons for finding them, and Aunt Yaga is about to send them all home. After Sharise tells them about Mr. Tavmo's plan, Arkayna has another plan.

The Mysticons return to the hotel and act like they're surrendering, saying that they went to save Sharise, but after the horrors of the world, will allow Mr. Travmo to send them anywherere else. Mr. Travmo laughs, saying that he'll send them somewhere way worse than where they are now. Just then, the mist comes again, and the Mysticons reveal that while Mr. Travmo was distracted, Aunt Yaga took control of the telporter. Once in Gemina, the Mysticons block the exits until guards come and arrest Mr. Travmo.

#Mysticons #Fanwork #Fan episode #The Hidden Hotel

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the-metaphorical-jellicle-cat · 2 years

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Coffee or Tea

This is what happens when you are trying to finish writing two emotional fics but instead find this cute writing prompt that needed to be used asap! I mean, I actually love what I have here and it never fails me how much I can write in almost 30 minutes. As I was writing it I discovered that I made everything as basic as possible. From the descriptions all the way to the actions. There is no plot (?) and I think that made it easier. I wrote as if I watching a film or reading a book. This is a specific scene that doesn’t need a continuance or even what happened before.

Enough talking. Here are some things to note about this short fic: Characters: Skimbleshanks and Jennyanydots AU: Human Ages of Characters: They are adults over the age of 25 Warnings: None

This follows a random headcanon that thought Skimbleshanks loves tea with a bit of scotch, he also enjoys coffee too in the morning. But only sometimes. Writing prompt: - it's early morning and as character A is making coffee or tea in the kitchen, they feel character B wrap their arms behind them and whisper in their groggy morning voice, "come back to bed."

It was known to many that Skimbleshanks was an early riser mostly due to his job on the rails. So one may say it was more of a habit than anything. Today was just like one of those. Except something was different.

His house was silent other than the sounds from the birds outside. He chuckled. Sometimes it was wonderful to listen to near silence.

But to make things better, he made his way to the kitchen where he carefully began the quiet process of making coffee and tea.

The coffee was for him as tea did almost nothing to wake him up. The caffeine was rather lackluster to him.

He let the coffee drip into his cup as he went to begin the process of heating the kettle. Though he was not the one for tea, he knew someone who did and it would be a surprise for them to get a hot cup from him.

Just as he was about to pour the hot steamy water into the cup, he felt Jenny wrap her arm around his waist.

“Come back to bed, dear” she whispered, her voice still groggy from waking up.

He only paused for a moment, thinking about what to do next. So he finished filling the cup, turned around, and hugged his sweet Jenny.

“I couldn’t fall back to sleep.” He whispered back. “And I made your favorite tea.”

He felt her laugh vibrate in the hug. “Then I guess I’ll need to drink it then if it’s made by you dear.”

They broke the hug so Skimbleshanks could finish preparing their morning drinks. Though this time he did it with an even greater smile knowing how lucky he was to have Jenny.

_____

I don't think I've posted a fic solely on Tumblr in a while and might post it on AO3. What do you guys think?

@storyweaverofgondor @uppastthejelliclemoon @roxycake @is-it-mungojerry-or-rumpelteazer @the-pied-pipers-assistant @queen-with-the-quill @thunderwhenhepurrs @dramatical-cat

#cats the musical fandom #cats the musical fan fiction #this is what happens when you fins a prompt #writing prompt #skimbledots #skimbleshanks #jennyanydots

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pestcontroldoctor · 1 year

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Everything You Must Know About Cockroach Removal in Melbourne

Cockroaches in your house can make your life stressful. They are the last guests you would ever invite to your place for a barbeque dinner. The best way to get them out of your house is by hiring a Cockroach Removal Service in Melbourne or by applying some home remedies. However, before you implement any measures, here is all that you need to know about these awful creatures.

What Draws Cockroaches to a Tidy Environment?

Majority of homeowners believe that maintaining tidy surfaces at home shall prevent cockroach infestations. Cockroaches, on the other hand, can infest even clean surfaces. There are numerous factors that contribute to an area being favorable for cockroaches. Cockroaches are commonly found in humid, moist environments. If you are looking for home remedies to get away with cockroaches permanently, the primary step is to figure out what drew these pesky creatures to your home in the first place. The following is a list of common factors that lead to cockroach infestation in a tidy place.

Shelter

Foods

Water

Warmth

These four elements are critical for roaches. In a clean house, cockroaches are attracted by food waste, unwashed dishes, and leaky faucets and pipes. Make sure that you do not keep any food on the surfaces and repair any leaky faucets and piper in order to get rid of cockroaches at home.

Detection of Cockroaches At Home

These pesky creatures can adapt to any weather and can live in any climate or surrounding. So, once roaches have infested a space, it's difficult to get rid of them on their own. They feed on a variety of foods, and over-the-counter sprays and pesticides are ineffective for permanently removing cockroaches from your home. Checking your home for roaches isa crucial factor before attempting any of the home remedies. If your home is infected by cockroaches, you can easily detect it. Look for the following indicators:

Egg capsules: This is an obvious sign of a cockroach infestation in a home. Roaches leave a trail of capsulated eggs.

Cockroach droppings: These creatures excrete a black dust of droppings that varies in size and length.

Unusual odour: A roach infestation is indicated by an unpleasant odour in the premises.

Shed skin: As it matures, an adult cockroach sheds its skin 4-5 times per day. One can trackthis to determine where the roaches are hiding.

Smear marks: Roaches leave a trace of horizontal brown smear in areas with high humidity and moisture.

Damage: Unusual signs of food, package, and furniture damage can be traced back to roach infestation.

Cockroaches in Homes: Where Do They Live?

Cockroaches can survive in any given area provided there is enough food, water, and shelter. Because humans and pests have similar needs, it's no surprise that pests thrive in homes.

a. On the inside

Trash or lawn clippings that accumulate too close to homes may attract insects inside. As they look for areas that are close to food and water, these pests can conveniently and quickly move into bathrooms an kitchens, where they prefer to hide:

Cabinets beneath sinks

Within or beneath trash cans

Close to food preparation areas

Porous materials such as wood and cardboard

b. Outside

Cockroaches can be found outside under decks and near plumbing and sewer leaks, as well as in or near:

Dumpsters & Garbage cans

Brush

Crawl spaces

Leaf litter

Mulch

Storage sheds

Fallen logs

c. Which places to Check for Cockroaches

To quickly spot the cockroach infested areas, look for the below spaces.

Around food prep areas

Within or underneath garbage cans

Inside cabinets under sinks

In dark, cool spaces like cellars

d. Cockroach Control

Prevention:Sanitation is essential for avoiding issues with cockroaches. Targeting areas where cockroaches usually reside such as under appliances and in cabinets is necessary. Pests are attracted to dirty dishes and crumbs. Limit problems by promptly cleaning up messes and storing pantry items in airtight jars.

Removal: Numerous cockroach pesticides and baits are available, but these chemicals lack safety and effectivenessfor beginners and amateurs. Specialists can conduct a complete inspection to locate and eliminate cockroaches at their source. Contact suitable services for simple and dependable removal.

Cockroaches Pose a Risk to Humans in What Ways?

It is a known fact that certain pests such as mosquitoes and rats transmit diseases, but roaches are just as dangerous, not to mention smell bad because they communicate with cuticular hydrocarbons. Roaches have the ability to spread disease through their droppings and carrying viruses and bacteria on their bodies. Among these diseases are:

Cholera

Dysentery

E. Coli

Salmonellosis

Leprosy

Plague

Controlling Cockroaches in the Home

This is the most expensive option, but if you are dealing with a major outbreak of cockroaches, you must seek professional Pest Controlassistance in Melbourne. Don't try to deal with it home remedies and DIY methods because they may not yield great results. A professional pest control company will help you get rid of roaches in your home by using effective bug-killing treatments.

Pest Control Doctor is a reliable pest control company that can offer you a variety of services other than cockroach control. If you need wasp control in Bungal, do call us right away!

#Cockroach Removal Service in Melbourne

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countrywizard1234 · 2 years

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Cobra Kai

Part 24 pt 1

The End of Season 1

Tyler, Julia, and Timothy were on top of the skyscraper. Terry silver and Kreese pushing them to the edge. They finally made it to the edge.

Tyler was bleeding down his arm.

Julia's forehead was busted open.

Timothy was bleeding all over.

"Say your last words." Said Kreese smiling evily.

"Your friends can't save you now." Said Terry.

"Julia," then he looked to Tyler, "I'm so sorry..." Said Timothy and he started crying. "We're going to die!"

They all looked down. It was a long drop.

Timothy grabbed Tyler's hand. Tyler grabbed Julia's.

"Jump." Said Kreese. "And your friends are let go."

Back to the present...

"Naomi? You're with them? You're with him?" Said Timothy breathless.

"Don't take that as too much of a surprise. You stopped seeing me. You didn't come to the dojo. I didn't even know if you liked me anymore! So when Kenny asked me out, I was more than happy to. Then I figure out your working with Kreese?" Said Naomi as she walked up to him. She kicked him in the nuts.

"Naomi, please. Im sorry I really-"

"No. It's too late. This is the end for you Timothy." Said Naomi and she walked back to Kenny.

Hit after hit. His stomach felt like it was broken. He was so numb he could hardly move. Hardly open his eyes. When he did he saw Tory crying into Robby. Robby actually made eye contact with Timothy.

"Take that!" Shouted Kenny as he punched him in the face. His nose was definitely broken. His ribs were broke. He should have been a dead man. He'd rather be dead.

Piper came with her pipe again and whacked Timothy in the face. He knocked out.

When he woke up. He saw Robby fighting. Kenny tried punching but Robby grabbed his arm twisted and elbowed it. Breaking Kenny's arm. Kenny cried down to the ground.

Devin kicked Robby from behind. Robby fell forward but backwards kicked and spun Devin. Piper came with her pipe and started to whack him. Robby waxed on and off the pipe. The he grabbed the pipe and side kicked piper. Robby thought he got them all but stingray was on the ground waiting to attack. Timothy tried to warn Robby but no words came out.

Stingray jumped up and was about to kick Robby. But Tory came out from behind and whacked him with Piper's pipe. He knocked out.

Robby and Tory ran to Timothy. They untied him and Timothy suddenly felt very heavily and fell to the ground. Robby and Tory got on either side of him and helped him to his feet.

"Ah! Ow!" Timothy shouted struggling to stand. His lakes shook and he fell to the ground.

"He needs to rest here. I'm going to get help." Said Robby. "Stay here and look after him."

Robby was about to walk out. "Robby..." Said Tory softly.

He turned around.

"I love you." Said Tory.

Robby nodded. "I know." Then he left.

Timothy tried to sit up. But his body was in too much pain. "Ow ow!"

"Hey, relax. Robby is getting help." Said Tory.

"I'm not worried about that..." He groaned. "Kreese... I need to warn him."

"About what?" Asked Tory.

"About the plan..." He groaned again and held his rib. "The plan that will make us fail. He wants Johnny to come here. He wants miyagi do to come here."

Tory put a hand on his shoulder, freaked out. "Why?"

"He's going to kill Johnny..."

Tory's eyes widened and she reached for her phone to call Robby.

"Robby?"

"Yeah, what is it?" Asked Robby.

"We may have ran into a little problem." Said Tory.

Kreese looked at Johnny.

"Johnny. I have a plan. You and the students go and save Timothy. I'll stay and fight Terry." Said Kreese. Everyone gave him a unsure look. "I can handle him. I know how he fights. I know how he thinks. I know how to beat him. Go quickly! He must have his phone on him because it says he's at the old facility 2 blocks from the all valley tournament."

Johnny ran out the dojo. Julia and Tyler followed.

They got in Johnny's car.

"Okay, you guys need to stay close to me." Said Johnny. "We don't need any injuries."

They drove to the facility and got out. It looked abandoned. The perfect place to beat someone, thought Julia.

"Okay, creepy building. Great." Said Tyler.

They cautiously walked in. The doors were small so Johnny had to duck when they got inside it was dark. Johnny turned on the lights.

There were boxes everywhere and cobwebs. The place didn't look like it's been used in years.

30 cobra kai's came out of nowhere.

Johnny put up fists. Julia turned and saw 30 more cobra kais. Tyler put up his fists. And 30 more cobra kai's came out. Tyler, Johnny, and Julia were all back to back.

"How is there so much?!" Shouted Tyler.

"Terry opened dojos all around the world. It wouldn't be that hard to call some down here." Said Johnny.

"There's too many of them. We can't take them." Said Julia, the fear in her voice was obvious.

"Julia, don't be scared. We can do this. Just think of Miguel. Think of the anger you had when Kyler raped you." Said Johnny. It was almost coincidental.

Kyler walked out in front of everyone. With 3 people behind him.

"Hey, hot stuff. Get ready to give me some ass." Said Kyler and he laughed with his buddies. "Cobra kai's... ATTACK!"

They all ran at them like a stampede of gazelles. Julia kicked one guy. A person on her side punched at her but she ducked and kneed him in the stomach. Another guy tried to kick her and she grabbed his leg and threw him on like 4 people. They fell to the ground.

Tyler was being taken to the ground. Julia ran through the crowd of cobra kais blocking and also taking hits. She kicked the girl off Tyler and pulled Tyler up.

"Thanks." Said Tyler.

A girl was about to punch Julia in the back of the head. Tyler pulled Julia towards him and he kicked the girl. Julia punched the guy that was about to kick Tyler. A guy came at Tyler. He punched twice, Tyler blocked then he lined him up with Julia and she kicked the guy in the back then Tyler finished him off by punching his back.

Johnny was eliminating everyone.

Then Kyler came through the cobra Kai crowd. Tyler was dragged away to fight other people.

"It's just you and me now, bitch. No boyfriends to save you." Said Kyler and he bit his lip.

"Screw you!" Said Julia her teeth scraping.

"My favorite thing to do." Said Kyler. He kicked at Julia. Julia turned to the side. She punched at Kyler. He dodged and punched her in the stomach. Julia fell to the ground. She swept Kyler. Kyler fell. They both stood up.

"We were just getting started." Said Kyler. Then out of nowhere two people grabbed Julia's arm and pulled it behind her. She was stuck. Kenny kicked her in the stomach. Kenny went for another kick but Julia kicked him first. She elbowed both the people's stomach. The she finished them off by punching one in the face and kicking the other in the face.

Then she turned to Kyler.

But he was gone. She turned and saw Tyler getting beat up and then saw Johnny being toppled on top of. They fought off a lot. There was only like 42 left.

Then Kyler came out of nowhere and punched her in the back of the head. She hit the ground really hard and couldn't get back up.

There was a pause. Then a loud cheer and applause. The cobra kai's had won.

She felt her pants and underwear come down. Then she felt something get put into her pussy. She passed out.

Tyler woke up lying on the ground. The floor was a white tile and when he looked up there was white tile all around them.

He stood up and saw no one. He was in a very small squared room with white tiles going along the walls and roof. But there was one rectangle window. Tyler limped towards the window and he looked inside. It was another room. But it wasn't made of tile. It was made of stone and there was someone strapped into a wooden chair. It was Brooklyn. She was knocked out.

"Brooklyn!" Shouted Tyler. "BROOKLYN PLEASE!!!! WAKE UP!!!!!"

She didn't wake up. He banged on the window. But it was made of some bullet glass stuff.

Tyler broke into tears and slowly slid down the wall.

"Tyler. Tyler what's happening." Said Brooklyn. But it was sort of static.

Tyler scrambled to his feet. "oh baby. It's okay we are going to get out of here. Just hold tight." She was terrified. Tyler looked around for an exit but it was just white tile everywhere. He slapped the walls but nothing happened.

Julia woke up in a room with white tiles all around her. Except for a rectangle window. Her butt really hurt and her boobs.

She stood up and went to the window. When she looked inside. She saw Miguel sitting in a wooden chair strapped.

"Oh my god, miggy!" Shouted Julia.

He woke up. "Julia. Ugh, what happened." He said weakly.

"Miguel! Are you okay, you're not hurt are you?" Asked Julia.

"No, I'm just really hard for some reason." Said Miguel looking at his straps and then at his dick.

Julia rolled her eyes. Piper or Devin might of done that. "Okay, well I'm going to find a way out of here." Said Julia. She, like Tyler, slapped the walls.

Johnny woke up. He contemplated before standing up in an identical room to Julia and Tyler.

He looked around and saw a window.

When he went and saw whats inside. He banged his head.

"Oh Carmen. Why! Carmen, are you alive?" Asked johnny banging on the glass.

Carmen fluttered her eyes.

"Johnny?" She looked around. "Johnny, where am I?"

"I don't know, but we aren't going to say here long.

"I HAVE A OPPORTUNITY FOR THE THREE OF YOU. ALSO, SORRY JULIA IF YOU HAVE BABIES, KYLER JUST REALLY WANTED YOUR ASS. ANYWAYS, THIS IS YOUR SITUATION. YOU ARE STUCK IN A SOUNDPROOF ROOM. YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE THROUGH THE WINDOW THAT IS STRAPPED UP TO A WOODEN CHAIR WHICH IS ATTACHED TO AN ELECTRIC WIRE." Shouted the Speaker which sounded a lot like Terry.

"I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WORKS. EITHER SAVE YOUR LOVED ONE FROM BEING ELECTRIFIED BY FACING YOUR WORST SITUATION, OR DONT SAVE THEM AND THEY DIE. YOU HAVE 1 MINUTE TO DECIDE." Finished Terry from the intercom.

Julia looked at Miguel and then at Kyler who just entered the room.

"What are you gonna pick, baby?" Asked Kyler.

Tyler was walking in circles thinking about what his worst situation could even be. Then he looked at Brooklyn and remembered about the baby. He had to save her no matter the cost. "Okay, I'll take the worst situation."

"GOOD DECISION, TYLER." Said the intercom.

Tyler looked at Brooklyn and the straps were released and he ran out the door next to her.

Tyler sighed of relief when he turned around he saw the worst situation.

Johnny knew what his worst situation was going to be. It was going to probably be a ton of beers and alcohol. But Carmen? He had to save her.

"Fine, damn it. I'll take the worst situation. You better let her go you bastard." Said Johnny.

"GOOD CHOICE, HERE YOU GO." Said Terry.

Julia went to Miguel and he smiled up at her, Miguel shook his head.

"No! I'm not letting you die." Cried Julia. Her voice went soft. "We haven't even got married."

"Julia... Kylers going to fuck you for hours. I don't want to put you through that." Said Miguel calmly.

"I-" tears filled up her eyes and everything with blurry. "I- won't take the situation..." She said finally. Then she broke out crying. Screaming crying.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Julia heard Miguel scream. It made Julia cry even more. She fell to her knees and planted her head in the ground. Snot was rolling down her face along with tears. She took her ring off and kissed it. She crawled to the wall and picked herself up, still crying and she looked through the mirror. Miguel was dead.

Tory helped Timothy up and they walked outside. They looked around and thankfully they were next to miyagi do. They walked over there. When they opened the door Tory dropped Timothy on the ground. He was bleeding everywhere.

Daniel came running in and so did sam. Sam gasped at the sight.

"What the hell happened! Why isn't he in a hospital?!" Shouted Daniel leaning down over him.

"I can't carry him all the way over there. This was the closest place." Said Tory hastily.

"What happened???" Asked Sam. Crouch down over him.

Timothy lightly opened his eyes but then closed them.

"I don't know." Lied Tory. "All I know is he was being beat up by cobra Kai. Not me. But Timothy told me before he passed out that it was all a trap and that Terry was going to kill Johnny." Finished Tory.

Daniel stood up. "Sam, Tory, take care of him. I'll be back." Then he went and grabbed Chozen. They ran out of the dojo.

Sam cupped his cheeks with her hands. Tory slapped them away.

"Hey! Im Trying to comfort him." Said Sam.

"He doesn't need your comfort." Said Tory rudely.

Sam checked his pulse. There was nothing.

Sam went pale. "He has no pulse!"

Tory started freaking out. Sam was looking him up and down. "Um I'll give him chest compressions." She put her hands over his chest. "1..2..3..4.." she checked to see if he had a pulse. He didn't. "1..2..3..4. he doesn't have a pulse." Tory was still freaking out. Sam looked at him. She leaned over him and did mouth to mouth. She locked her lips around his and breathed out.

She let go of him. She checked his pulse. It was there, but really soft and slow. She did it again. His eyes opened in shock while Sam's lips were touching his.

Sam let go and Tory stopped freaking out. They both crouched down next to him.

"What happened?" Asked Timothy, rubbing his head.

"Sam saved you. You were dead for 30 seconds." Said Tory relieved.

Timothy stood up. Slowly but he did it. He used Tory's shoulder for support. "Thanks Sam. That means a lot you didn't want me dead." Said Timothy, smiling at her.

She laughed awkwardly.

"We have to get to Johnny..." Said Timothy.

"Hey, I kind of had an idea." Said Sam. Timothy looked at her. "What if we call all miyagi do and eagle fang. They can help us save Johnny."

Timothy contemplated. "That'd work."

"Okay, Sam, go call them all." Said Tory. And Sam grabbed her phone and started calling.

Tyler turned towards his situation.

There was a table and on the table was a paper. He walked over to it cautiously. It looked like an application. Then Piper came in.

"What is this?" Asked Tyler, skeptical.

"Well, read it and you'll find out." Said Piper.

He read it. "Wait, what? Why am I signing a paper that says I was in jail?"

Piper walked around him. "Think about it, you have a kid you need to take care of which means you need a job. This is the worst thing that could happen to you. If you sign that it'd be almost impossible to get a good paying job. Am I right?"

Tyler was shocked. Piper out her face on his shoulder. "Sign it!"

Tyler out of fear and force scribbled his signature on it. His life was ruined. Piper was walking out when Tyler shouted "What does Terry want???!"

Piper turned around. "To get rid of the dojos best fighters." Then she left. Tyler looked down in realization.

Johnny watched Carmen leave. When he turned around though he saw two samurai with swords.

"We have come to kill you Mr. Lawrence." Said one of them.

Johnny smiled. "You can try."

The 1 samurai slashed his sword at Johnny. Johnny dodged. The second samurai slashed his sword and Johnny pushed the other samurai towards the blade. The 1 samurai stopped his blade. Johnny jumped off the wall and punched one. "Ouch!" Mumbled Johnny. Their helmets were hard.

Johnny dodged their slashes. He swept one and then punched a lot at the second one. The 1 samurai slashed at Johnny and it scratched his arm. Then the other samurai stabbed Johnny in the stomach.

Johnny gagged. Blood filled in his mouth. He pulled the sword out of him but still stood.

The samurai looked impressed. Johnny threw the sword to the ground. Johnny walked past the samurai and they were too amazed that Johnny still walked. He walked out the door they came in.

Timothy was laying in the grass of miyagi do. He couldn't do much else. He was all bandaged up and was feeling a little better. After a little bit all eagle fang and miyagi do was there.

Tory helped Timothy up. There was so many students there.

"Hello! Everyone! I am Timothy! And I was a incident to a bigger cause." Started Timothy. Everyone went silent and listened. "I know, how most of you feel about me." Then he looked at hawk. "But right now our sensei's need us more than ever. Terry silver has Johnny, And Kreese. He also has Julia and Tyler."

There were whispers and murmurs. "But we can help them! Terry silver has recruited almost all of cobra Kai here. All over the world. And we need to stop them."

Everyone screamed "yeah!"

"Then what are we waiting for!!!!" Shouted Timothy. They all cheered and started talking to themselves.

"Timothy, what exactly are we doing?" Asked Tory. Sam walked over too.

"Well, I was taken to an old warehouse. The only other place that is big enough for an invasion is that old facility by school. So I'm guessing that's where Julia, Tyler, and johnny are. Julia is Johnny's best fighter so I know Johnny took her. And kreese told me before they were taken that him and Tyler were going to confront Terry." Said Timothy, limping inside the dojo.

"Yeah but what does that have to do with the plan?" Asked Tory.

"I'm getting there." Said Timothy knowingly. "So we all go to the facility and see if they are there."

Sam sighs.

"What?" Asked Timothy.

Sam tilts her head. "It's just, we brought every person from every dojo."

"Not every dojo." Said Timothy.

Sam gives him a confusing look. Tory walks outside to tell everyone the plan.

"Naomi, was in sea tridents. But she cheated on me with Kenny. So yeah." Said Timothy. Sam put a hand on his shoulder.

"You'll get over her." Said Sam and she gave him a warning smile.

Tory walks back in. "Okay we are ready to go."

They make it to the facility...

It's dark and empty but someone was definitely in there. Boxes were crushed and tables were knocked over. They all walk around a little when Timothy hears a cough.

He goes towards it and sees a cobra Kai coughing on the ground. He yanks her up and pushes her against a wall.

"Ooo, aggressive. You wouldn't hit a girl would you?" Asked the girl.

"No", Timothy smirked, "but she will." And he took a step to the side to reveal Tory.

Fear grew in the cobra kai girl's eyes.

"Now, where did they take Johnny, Julia, and Tyler. An adult blond, teenager who looks like an egirl, and a ginger who looks like me." Said Timothy.

"I'm not talking you anything." Said the girl.

Tory punched her in the face.

"Where are they!" Shouted Tory. All the other dojos were watching. She punched again. "Where are they?"

The girl spit. "Ugh, fine. They them to the cobra Kai dojo."

"Thanks." Said Timothy. Tory then knocked her out.

Tory got a call. "Robby?"

"Hey, Tory. I got the police involved. They are going to get a warrant for Terry's dojo."

"That's awesome!" Said Tory.

"Ok got to go." Said Robby.

"Bye. Love you." Said Tory but Robby already hanged up.

She turned to Timothy. "Robby got them to investigate Terry silver."

Timothy stepped up on a chair. "Okay, everyone. We are going to go to cobra kai's dojo to stop this once and for all!"

Julia, Tyler, and Johnny were released. They all ran towards each other.

"Are you guys okay?" Asked Tyler. He looked at Julia and saw she was crying.

"he killed.miguel!" Cried Julia. Then Johnny collapsed. Tyler crouched down over him. "Oh my god your bleeding. Have you been stabbed?"

Johnny coughed and nodded.

Julia jumped down even though she was crying and she put pressure on his wound. When Tyler looked around they looked like they were on some skyscraper. They were so high.

"come on, Johnny. Stay with us."

Johnny put his hand on Julia's shoulder. "Julia. I was never taught the difference between mercy and honor. And I payed the price. But you can be better than I ever was. I'm not going to make it Julia." Coughed Johnny. She sobbed.

"No, no! Please!"

Tyler looked away with tears in his eyes.

"Take my place, Julia. Take down cobra Kai. Tell Miguel that I'm going to miss him and that I love him as a son. Tell Robby I'm gonna miss him..." Johnny gulped. But he stopped talking. His breath slowed down and his heart beat slower. Julia cried and laid her head on his chest.

When she stopped sobbing she softly said "You can tell Miguel that yourself."

Julia stood up and stared down at Johnny's heartless body. Tyler wrapped his arm around her and she cried into him. Tyler rubbed her back.

"Shhh. It's okay. It's going to be fine."

0 notes

neopuppy · 3 years

Text

Dive Into You: Part 4.(M)

Preview: “What brings you into confession today?”

Pastor Lee’s voice sounds through the small wooden booth around you. Uncomfortably shifting in your seat when the reality of confessing your sins to the one who brought them into this world settles.

“Pastor… what does the bible say about pre-marital sex with two brothers?”

“At the same time?!” Pastor Lee spits out abruptly, gagging on his words.

“Separately Pastor!”

Pairing: brothers Jeno/Haechan x female reader

Word Count: 4k

Genre: pwp, church boys AU, smut, love triangle, brothers nohyuck, a little angsty

Warning: sacrilegious themes, explicit language, master manipulator Haechan, innocent Jeno, corruption, cheating, religious innuendos

Smut Warning: dry humping, fingering, in public setting

Intro—>

Part 1–>

Part 2–>

Part 3–>

“Oh my gosh goodness, that woman is old enough to be his mother!” Your mother gasps, hand over her chest. Haechan strutting into mass with, quite frankly a woman old enough to be his mother. Scantily clad in a tight skimpy hardly there dress. Arm securely draped around her waist. Your jaw falls open following where he leads her into a pew. Both Mark and Jeno sharing looks, back and forth between you and Haechan. Mumbling whispers erupting throughout the crowd of church-goer’s gathered.

“Isn’t that woman just a bit too mature for Pastor Lee’s son?” A voice behind you whispers. Conversations sparking around faster. Pastor Lee awestruck at the podium, slack jawed similar to you and others questioning what Haechan is doing. Your mother scoffing eavesdropping in on everyone muffling their words.

“That is just disappointing. Such a promising young man, wasting his time with an old whore like that.” She lets out a sound in dismay. Never noticing how you hide your face behind the scripture for today's mass. If you muted everyone's speaking enough, sure enough, you’d be able to hear your heartbreaking this very moment. Blinking away hot tears threatening to pass over the rims of your eyes.

Your mother may have not noticed, but that didn’t mean the altar boys missed the way you sunk into your seat. Sadness taking over your features as Haechan relaxed in the pew across from you. Arm around this woman’s shoulders, large smirk displayed. Jeno and Mark gave you many warnings, too many. Your stubborn fault for not listening…always insisting to do things your way. Maybe this was how life worked? How could you have expected a guy like Haechan to want you for more than sex?

Your eyes lift to the ominous cross hung above the altar where you let Haechan commit sin with your body. This church becoming more like a place to drag your mind through hell than anything. Ah, but what was really the point in letting yourself get upset over this? He used you, like some brainless naive idiot you danced along to the pied pipers fiddle.

With a few rapid blinks you return to stare at the floor until this dragging mass ends. Catching Jeno’s gaze before you land on the dirty brown itchy carpet. His lips part open, surprised when your eyes lock on each other. The question passing through his mind all too obvious in his stare. A silent ‘are you ok?’ that you didn’t even deserve from him.. Forcing a smile, your eyes end on the floor, defeated. What if Jeno was the angel on your shoulder that you turned a muted ear to? Turning the volume up for the devil on your other side. Consequences, that’s what the bible was all about wasn’t it? Learning your lesson and living with the aftermath.

Eve bit into the apple of temptation, you were no different.

——————————————————————————

“Father Lee insisted we provide fruit along with baked goods. Health is wealth!” Your mother slaps an apple in your palm. Turning to greet approaching bodies with a shining bright small. Like a wire hanger was propped in her mouth.

“Watermelon! My favorite!” Mark’s brows wiggle, picking up a plate of vibrant fruit. “The fruit of salvation. You know fruit represents, pleasures.. overindulgence, temptation.”

Mark holds up a slice of bright red watermelon. Pale light in the bible room dimming it’s flavorful beauty. Admiring it as if it’s the best thing in the world. He takes a large bite, avoiding seeds. Juice spilling down his chin, speaking between chews- “Can’t always agree with the bible I guess.”

“That’s shocking coming from you..” you look at the apple in hand. Thumb rubbing over a bruise developed on the red yellow coating.

“Nothings perfect right? Only God is perfect. Look at that apple, bruised but still serves a purpose. Sort of like us, we have our flaws but we’re doing our best.” Mark shrugs, devouring the rest of his watermelon.

“You’re pretty logical when you’re not quoting Samael 6:66 all the time.” You smile, earning the jaw drop from Mark as expected.

“Now that is just blasphemous, you little harlot!” Mark scoffs. Damn finger waving about in front of your nose. “Jesus said..”

“Save the quote, I’m not seeing the gates of heaven anytime soon.” You quietly interrupt Mark. Setting down the apple with the other fruits. Some more pristine then others, none perfect. How could perfection be defined anyway..

“I’m pretty sure my invitation to the sky above got revoked years ago.” Perfection spoke up. Jeno standing by, catching the tail end of your conversation. Hands shoved into the pockets of his tight black jeans. Form hugging black t-shirt tucked in. Defined trimmed waist leading down to sculpted long legs. Physique of a God if you’d ever seen one.

“Gods for sure not the only perfect being..” you mumble under your breath. Mark and Jeno’s eyes both lifting to you curiously. Smiling, shrugging off a response. “Well I’m sure you redeemed yourself with all that bible camp stuff. God loves shit like that.”

“Does he now?” Jeno’s arms cross over his chest. Forehead wrinkling in surprise. Mark muttering into another bite of fruit how you needed to stop cursing all the time.

“He doesn’t communicate with me, but I’d imagi-…” Haechan’s loud laughter cuts your speech off. Entering the room with that woman old enough to be his mother. Pulling them closer to the table filled with coffee, pastries, fruits. Shifting side to side anxiously as they near, stomach bubbling in.. embarrassment? Was it because Mark and Jeno knew?..or could at least assume very well.

“Aw nono, you already changed out of your cute little altar boy get up? Wanted to introduce my girl to my cute innocent little brother. Now you just look like hot topic threw up on you or something.” Haechan pokes at Jeno. Smirk plastered across his face. Jeno’s ‘fuck off’ reply coming in like garbled words.

My girl?! My girl? All of a fucking sudden? Hag. Haechan wasn’t even sparing you a glance. If he was trying to make it clear there was nothing between the two of you- he didn’t need to try much harder. Accepting the situation the best to your abilities or not wasn’t going to stop the rush of tears attempting to streak down your face. A quick spin had you racing out of the church, Jeno’s neck snapping catching sight of your back exiting.

“You’re such a dick Haechan.” Shoving past his older brother, Jeno pushes past a few bodies. Running out of church behind you.

“I didn’t watch the porn because there was a watermelon in it…BUT there was a watermelon in it…” Mark’s eyes lift expecting to see you and Jeno. Too engrossed in his favorite snack. Haechan staring at him dumb founded.

“This is exactly why I don’t believe in God.” Haechan’s head shakes, teeth clicking. Nudging the woman at his side to agree with him. “He’s my distant cousin. Emphasis on distant.”

——————————————————————————-

“Hey! Wait up!” Jeno catches up to you easily. Long legs sprinting out faster than you were moving. Hand wrapping around your arm, revealing your wet tear stained face with a turn. His face instantly falling, chest moving up and down returning to a regular breathing pace.

“It’s ok..” hands lift covering your face. You should be accustomed to this sensation of embarrassment by now. Hunching in, sobbing harder the more it settles in. Humiliating deeper because it wasn’t some secret you could live with. Jeno knew exactly how easily you walked into his brothers trap.

His hands shook, staying still in the air near your head. Internally resisting the immediate urge to comfort you. Arms dropping, hands flopping down by his sides. Lips pursing annoyed he couldn’t bring himself to even touch you. The fact was- you weren’t interested in him. You were another broken girl, crying at his feet over Haechan. Ignoring the stinging pain in his chest, from watching you break down. From knowing why you were in such pain. Who knew either way, Jeno wasn’t going to admit it.

“I can.. take you home..”

His delicate rasp reaches your ears past muffled cries. Pouting, rubbing your palms across wet heated cheeks. Reminding yourself in the back of your mind how you probably looked like shit. The last way you’d prefer for Jeno to see you, not that it mattered.

“Don’t wanna go home..” you sigh into your hands, shoulders shaking trying to control yourself. “Dad’s home..”

Jeno looks around, eyes falling on his bike under a large tree. Shaded from the bright daytime sun. Mouth lifting to one side, he could take you to the diner? The book shop was closed on Sundays to prioritize mass.. or maybe..

“I got a place..” Jeno pulls your wrist. Sad face reveal causing another type of tight clench in his chest. “Come with me.”

Gently leading you toward his bike, unclasping the helmets attached along the back. The memory of riding attached to his back still drawing impure thoughts to your mind. No idea who you even were anymore. Riding around on the back of an attractive boys motorcycle. Losing your virginity in church of all places.

Arms circling around his flat stomach. Jeno smelled nice, clean and fresh. Nothing too strong, your nose tempted to dive in with a deep inhale. Opting to rest your chin on his broad upper back where it dipped down the middle. Not bothering to question where he was going to take you, grateful he even cared.

He cared.

“What is this place?” You cautiously stepped forward. Looking down the ledge of the cliff Jeno had brought you to. Setting the helmets back on the bar attached at the end of his bike.

“I guess I come here to get away.” He shrugs, moving to stand by your side. “Small town, not many places to go. It’s hard when you’ve lived here all your life, everyone thinks they know you..”

“Yea..” guilt gnaws away at your gut. You were no different from everyone else. Like your mother looking at Jeno with preconceived notions, judgement. “It’s hard when you’re the town pastor’s son, I can only imagine..”

“Pft.. cause he’s so innocent. Somehow brain washed everyone into forgetting he cheated, knocked up my mom while still married to Haechan’s..”

“Oh…” scuffing your boots nervously against dirt. Sparing glances Jeno’s way. Chiseled jaw having you ready to swoon like some sad teenager passing her crush in the hallway. Mind so far away distracted, screaming at yourself that Jeno’s trying to have a deep conversation with you. “I didn’t uh…know that about your dad.”

“He just lucked out my mom didn’t tell anyone about the church intern fresh out of high school that she filed divorce papers over..” Jeno says, removing his jacket. Holding it open for you with a questioning look. Your eyes widen, immediately caving in a moment of weakness. Allowing him to drape the material around your shoulders. Fresh scent engulfing your sense of smell.

“You’re really.. nice Jeno. Considering everything, I have to admit I expected you to be more like Haechan..” you express, pulling the jacket around yourself tighter.

“We aren’t that different, growing up together will do that. Someone has to be the scapegoat, unfortunately it’s always me. Typical younger sibling syndrome right?” Jeno rubs his exposed arm, muscle tank revealing bits of tattoo. You nod to his words, unable to picture Jeno and Haechan getting along like two loving brothers.

“Your tattoo… your dad doesn’t know about it right?” You inquire, returning to topic back to Jeno. Ready to forget his brothers existence, at least for the time being.

“Oh yea..he’d probably ship me off to Jerusalem, peace core or some shit.” Jeno laughs, pushing the loose cut off sleeve up. Further exposing the evil creature blaring into your vision.

“Why a demon?”

“Why not right? I lost my faith in religion when my dad kept coming up with new excuses for why his sins were forgiven. God isn’t real anyway.” Jeno finishes. Eyes narrowing, expecting a reaction from you.

“I think you’re right actually..” you nod, softly smiling. Awestruck eyes staring into yours, satisfied. “..I should probably get home. Didn’t even tell my mom I was leaving. She’s gonna be so pissed..”

“Ah yea..can’t have that. She’s pretty intense huh?” Jeno scratches his throat anxiously. The voice in the back of his mind yelling at him to do something now. “..I’ll take you home.”

You take languid drawn out steps together. Tension surging between your bodies like electric shocks. Jeno reaching for his helmet. Fingers hesitating to open the clasp.

“Can I ask you something?” he looks away, teeth digging at his bottom lip. Was that nerves?

“Of course” you promptly respond, bouncing on your toes.

“If Haechan..hadn’t.. I don’t know, gotten to you first..” Jeno cringes. Focusing his eyes on the ground. Ending his curiosity there, struggling with his hope that you’d ever like him.

“What do you mean?” Your brows furrow, moving in, closing the space between your bodies. Jeno’s eyes meet yours, giving away the intent behind his question. “..you..why are you asking? You don’t..”

“It’s nothing, forget it.” Jeno’s head shakes, realization hitting you. Guys like Jeno never gave you the time of day..

“Would you have?” Boldly your hand lands on his, pulling fingers away from the helmet. Still wearing his jacket, could you be more oblivious?

“I wanted to..” those words are all it takes. Pushing up on your toes, lips smashing on his. Fever like heat raising your confidence to go for it. Jeno’s been good to you- the cold demeanor a cover up for how painfully shy you make him.

Hands find your hips, pressing you against the seat of his bike. Ass digging into the warm leather, jacket falling from your shoulders. Jeno kissing you back needy, full of desperation, loud breaths passing through his nose. Finger nails scraping the material of your dress, gathering the fabric up. Skin rubbing on the sun kissed bike under you. He presses in, tongue flicking out, asking for permission to enter. Fisting the cotton shirt on his chest in a wrinkled mess. Mouth parting so fast, too fast. Wet tongues eagerly meeting, rolling against the roof of your mouth.

Jeno’s groans are hot, raspy and deep. Affecting you quickly, sinking back on the bike when his hips roll between your thighs. Hard on tenting angrily in tight jeans. Grinding against your soaking core.

“God I..” Jeno mumbles on your lips, lapping spit across your mouth. His own pouting out cutely, blood tinted lips shining in outdoor light. “I really…whoa..fuck..”

“Jeno..” your arms lift, wrapping around his neck. Bringing your bodies together impossibly close. Pained moan trapped in his throat, thrusting in anguish. Craving to bend you over on his bike, slap your ass and fuck you until you can’t even remember his brothers name.

Jeno’s thumb shoves between your wet mouth, tongue swirling around. Groaning louder with another crushing thrust. Cock screaming for release, working up a faster speed. Demanding movements bouncing you on the bike. Eyes falling shut sucking at his thumb, picturing the length prodding at your walls sitting heavy in your mouth instead. Both of you growing needier with each dry hump against each other. Calves finding Jeno’s hips, lifting yourself up writhing against the hard fabric of his worn jeans.

“You feel so good..fuck..” Jeno captures your upper lip, sucking harshly. Hips growing furious, thigh muscles flexing tightly. Dragging sweet panted moans out of you, thumb opening your mouth. Saliva drooling past both of your lips messily, chins coated in each other.

“Please..” you whimper, pleading. Unsure what you could be begging for. Jeno nods reassuringly, gripping the back of your neck. Hand falling from your mouth, finding space between your legs. Drenched underwear shoved aside, sliding long fingers up and down. Catching your wetness, palm covered, landing loudly on your mound. Jeno finding your clit, pressing down hard. Surprised scream releasing from your chest. Tongue covering your exposed neck, nipping at dips.

“Can I?” Jeno’s fingers prod your opening up entrance. Head nodding rapidly, eyes wide. Gliding past your convulsing walls. Groaned curses repeating from his lips, finding way deep inside of you. Slender pretty hands working you to a heightened pleasure. Jeno continuously licking around your jaw, catching parted lips in bites. Hard enough to leave you a swelling pained mess, lips pursing out asking for more.

He lets your neck go, face dropping, forehead hitting his shoulder. Tattoo coming to life so close up, licking the expanse inked skin. Jeno grits his teeth, whimpering with squeezed eyes. Hand squeezing your hip, fingers jabbing in and out. Thumb circling your clit with expertise, nothing innocent in his touches.

He squirms on your thigh, member begging to fuck you open. Resisting to need for himself, fully focused on getting you off. Enjoying the way your eyes roll, tongue hung out letting your mind succumb to his touches.

Your hips jump up, wriggling into the thrusts of his fingers. Reaching far deep within, hitting every delicious spot. Lips landing together in a bruising sloppy kiss, muffling strained moans. Jeno’s thumb pressing down just right on your clit, precise fingers hitting where you need him in repeated motions. Trembling around him, walls gripping tightly. Jeno’s motions slowing down, letting the climax high wash over you. Softly tracing kisses atop your burning cheeks, staggering down to your neck. Soft nips turning into hard bites, leaving marks of himself behind.

“I..” Jeno’s forehead rolls over yours, skin dragging against his. Nose nudging gently at you, nerves still clouding his sense. Hard breaths landing on your face, eyes finding yours, mind returning back to you. “I want.. I like you.. I need…..I want..to take you out, like…date out...”

You nod a bit too excited, nose hitting his. Jeno’s stressed words making you clench up around his fingers yet again. Another pained groan blended into a sigh sounding around you. “I want that so bad Jeno.. I really want you.”

—————————————————————————-

“What brings you in to confession today?”

“Pastor… what does the bible say about pre-marital sex with two brothers?”

“At the same time?!” Pastor Lee spits out abruptly, gagging on his spit.

“Separately Pastor!” You shriek out. Fingers stopping your lips, wondering if Pastor would recognize your voice. It’s not as if you spent time speaking to each other much..

“Well..” Pastor Lee’s throat clears, adjusting the collar tightening around his neck. “That’s..good to hear. Are you planning to wed one of these men?”

“Wed?! Like marry?” Your forehead creases, thinking it over. It was way too early to even consider such a thing. “I’m not pregnant pastor!”

“That’s…that’s good news my child.” Pastor audibly swallows. Sweat gathering at his hairline. “You..wish to know what the bible has to say about this?

“Am I going to hell if I choose to…have intercourse with both of them? I’ve only slept with one..”

“Only?” The pastor sounds flabbergasted. Gulping down another loud breath of air. “You won’t go to..hell over this. You need to repent for your mistakes none the less. God is good, and forgiving.”

“So, I’m not going to hell right?” Your frazzled tone sounds around the booth. Growing frustrated the longer he skirts around your questions.

“Yes my child, of course God does, but!-…”

“….God forgives all right? Like…God will love and forgive me even if I do happen to…somehow…you know..fornicate with uhm..” you chew on your thumb nail, catching yourself ready to say- ‘your sons’. “..siblings?”

Pastor Lee becomes frantic on the other side of the confessional booth. Fingers quickly turning through thin pages of his bible. Murmuring sounds of ‘uhm’ between, buying extra time to find an explainable excuse for why you absolutely should not do such a thing.

“Now my child.. yes God loves you, of course. I cannot say he would approve of you doing this! What about the brothers bond you could end up destroying?? That would be greed and lust! Those are sins child, sins!” Pastor Lee exasperates. Patting a handkerchief along his sweating forehead. Small towns hardly ever brought him confessions this extreme.

“Pastor, did you not have sex out of wedlock once too?.. more than once! With two different women! Does God approve of that?” You sit up straight. Hand slapping over your mouth after speedily replying. Shit, God probably didn’t care much for this conversation, that’s for damn sure..

“Child of God! now..” the pastor continues, avoiding your accusations. “Are you going to go through with this regardless of what excerpt from the bible I give you?”

“Yes father…I believe so..I really like this guy..” you timidly say. The thought that the pastor could have you in mind making your stomach turn.

“Well then..” with a heavy dissatisfied sigh, Pastor Lee continues. “Twenty hail Marys and Fifty our fathers should do it.”

“Fifty?!” your mouth falls open, disbelief stricken by the idea of sitting here for the next three hours repeating prayers.

“Make that seventy child. Ten for each seven deadly sin.”

You pause for a moment, hand on the door knob ready to exit. Mouth gaped considering asking what the bible says about losing your virginity in church. A minute of contemplation later, you decide it’s best to add another fifty hail Mary’s.

“Thank you so much Pastor Lee!”

——————————————————————————

It felt a little scary, but fun, getting ready for your date with Jeno. Of course you still wanted to leave an impression, even with his confession.

Repeating it in your mind over and over again: A. Date. With. Jeno.

Holy fucking shit. What alternative universe had you stumbled into moving to live here. Maybe the best way to get over someone really was by getting under someone else…younger brother and all. God had to be real if this was how your love life was playing out.

Walking up to Jeno, he was a complete vision. Black messy hair pointing different directions, as if he just ruffled it and said ‘good enough’. Leather jacket all too tight over his defined rippling biceps, like a second skin. Silver chain necklaces shining under the sunset across the orange red sky behind him. Hoops adorning his ears making the sparkle in his eyes come to life. The large steel ball chain necklace catching your eye against his pale thick neck. Imagining him on top of you coated in a sheen of sweat. Cold chains dangling down on your skin..

“Isn’t this… your brothers car?!?” Your eyes nearly bulge out of sockets asking the question. Drawn out of the quick fantasy you’d almost drifted into. The cherry black trans am practically glowing behind Jeno.

“It is, isn’t it..” Jeno’s smile lifts into his eyes. Fingers waving around a set of keys mid-air. “Who do you think Haechan learned how to pick pocket from? Still no match to the king.”

Jeno unlocks the car, opening up the passenger door for you. Surprising you first with his tattoos.. now this. Maybe he wasn’t the innocent cute younger brother you’d perceived him as all this time.

The engine sounded alive, Jeno pulling out of your driveway. Better looking than any heart throb you’d see on some terrible basic cable teen drama. Arm reaching around the space between your bodies. Other stretched in front of him. Long fingers attached to pretty veins flexing around the spinning steering wheel. All he had to do was grab your thigh to set you bursting up in flames. Stealing subtle looks at him picturing the tattoo adorning his perfectly sculpted shoulder.

“Haechan doesn’t know you borrowed his car I’m guessing? Won’t he be mad?” You wonder out loud. Jeno’s smile spreading into his cheeks. Eyes squinting under the low sun coming through the windshield. Relaxed in the drivers seat making way down the empty road. Arm closest to you splaying out, fingers wrapping around your exposed leg. Shivers shooting up your heat from where his large palm covers the majority of your visible mid-thigh.

“That’s the plan.”

Final—>

taglist: @seuomo @unknown5tar @sunoosi @nabi-nono @ahsshilee-me @safariria @nctlover94 @underjeno @nanascupid @jenorenle @scruffiejelly @mel-yjh @winwiniee @count-your-shadows @sunflowerhae @johnjaespeach @nctflix @notsooperfect @skrtbeepbeep @lanadreamie @nctstrawberrycow @meonlightuniverxse @sunshinedhyuck @haechanswhore @n0hyuck @kpopmultiifandomm @d1nne @neobanguniverse @pewpewpwe00 @abitofafan @haechansworld @born5sos @bockhyun @jen0zen @xuyiyangstan @alexameliamg @negincho @na-na-nakita @jeon-jungkook-is-actually-god @xwanna127x @heyitsbreeeeee @melaninjhs @cacaubs @multifandombtvh @kyngaji @whlplazh @eleanorfreakingchan @classic-antifood @sheytanni @player23 @wavetease @nahyuckk @doyoungssouthernbabygirl

788 notes · View notes

palidan-sheep · 2 years

Text

Companions reactions and thoughts to you jumping off of the Prydwin/high or tall buildings in power armor.

Cait- oh fuck yeah!

She wouldn’t ask if it was okay to do such, shed just jumped right off the deck since you have her her own set of power armor. Or anything possible. There was something badass about jumping off of a high structure and landing without a hitch.

She’d actual challenge you to see who have the biggest sack and jump off the highest point of whatever you could find.

She won.

Codsworth- mum no

He far more prefers it if you don’t put your life in so much danger. The commonwealth is already super dangerous as is, poor ol Cod’s didn’t need to worry about your reckless actions

The first time you did it, you had to go back up the deck and fly back down simple because Codsworth wouldn’t budge.

He‘a very displeased with you if you jump from any height that could cuase any type of harm to.

Curie- oh heavens no, goodness gracious no!

She very much enjoys taking the vertabird and will do such if you jump.

For the next few minutes, all you’ll hear about the dangers of doing such, both to your body and to your surroundings.

Even if you give her power armor and reassure her that it will be fine, she will still take the vertabird.

Danse- Loves it

He’d always enjoyed jumping off of tall or high things, the thrill and rush he would get falling through the sky and landing was almost as pleasing as getting into his beloved suit.

Would take the vertabird when he was either solo or with those who didn’t have the privilege of getting a set of power armor, but you first jumped right off he didn’t hesitate to follow you.

You thought that you were either going to have to convince him or withstand a very long lecture from the bastard but was very surprised when you heard him land next to you with a massive goofy grin.

There is now a rule that there is no jumping off of the Prydwen after you almost crushed someone, again.

Will shout “Outstanding” or “Ad Victoriam”

Deacon- not for him

He may have done a lot of things in his life but he planned to keep jumping off of the Prydwen off of his bucket list. Nothing was going to get him to do it.

You were able to convince him to do it, how? Peer pressure.

He threw up afterwards.

Dogmeat-you can’t

You simple cannot

Nope

Hancock-impressed that you have the balls to do it

It was a bet, he placed down all of his jet and said you’d get it all if you jumped. You didn’t even hesitate to do it, already had your hand on the rail and leg up on top of the rail

You got very high that night.

Respect +100

MacCready- let me go again

Took a lot of caps but you got MacCready to do it. About 1,000 caps outta ya pocket but man hearing him scream like a little girl was worth it

“If rollercoasters we’re still around, I’d like to image that what riding one of them feels like”

He will occasionally ask to borrow a suit so he can do it over again. Every time he’ll scream like a little girl.

He now owns a set of power armor just for jumping off of things.

Nick- critical and annoyed but he’ll do it

Constantly talks about the chances of a a sting gust of wind knocking you over and falling flat on your back or face.

Despite all that junk, he’ll do it if he’s not wanting to deal with bigoted comments about him being a synth.

Has been pushed off by people of the Prydwen. A couple of close call drownings later, no one messes with him anymore.

Piper- Next big story.

“Blue-“ every time she sees a potential jumping point. It’s too late

Talked about you being her next story, a “power armor pancake with some strawberry syrup to go with it, chunks included”

“Piper wtf”

Preston-rathe take the vertabird

He enjoys the bird much more.

Will almost throw a fit if he can’t get to rid the bird.

“Flying makes it easier to get to a settlement that needs our help!”

“Preston stfu” *jumps off Prydwen*

X6-won’t catch him that high up or falling into the water

Hahahahha

“I’d like to keep my knee caps”

Strong- not even allowed up on the Prydwen.

Thinks it’s a sign of power

Likes it

Makes fun of you for needing metal cage.

#fallout 4 #palidan danse #fallout #fallout 4 companions #danse #fallout 4 headcanons #fallout 4 companion headcanons #fallout 4 maccready #Piper #Cait #john hancock #preston garvey #codsworth #rj maccready #nick valentine #Dogmeat #x6 88 #Strong #fo4 curie

144 notes · View notes

mercy-burning · 3 years

Text

Win Me Back

Pairing: Spencer Reid x fem!Reader

Summary: When Reader’s ex-boyfriend comes back to town, he finds a way to make amends— with a little help from her niece.

Category: FLUFF

Warnings: None other than a few swears :)

Word Count: 3k (I barely made the limit, folks, that was hard lol)

MASTERLIST

NOTE: This is my entry for @homoose ‘s 2k Celebration!! And if this fic seems familiar, that may be because it’s a re-telling of the car-wash scene from Ramona and Beezus 🤭😂 It’s one of my favorite movie scenes of all time, it never fails to make me squeal, and I had SO MUCH FUN writing this!

Also! I tried very hard to find the scene for you to watch incase you haven’t seen the movie, but the ones I did manage to find on YouTube cut out THE BEST PARTS, so I’m sorry 😭 But in case you want to know the ~vibes~ I tried to capture and don’t feel like watching the movie, I made THIS post last night with some dialogue/background from the scene if you’d like to read it! Obviously it’s not required since what I’ve written is quite different, but it is encouraged 😊

I hope you like it!! And if somehow you haven’t followed Moose yet, you should! She’s the sweetest ❤❤❤

***

Y/N found an abundance of upsides to taking neighborhood walks with her niece. For one thing, it gave her a distraction, something to focus on as she made sure eight-year-old Piper wouldn't wander too far from the sidewalk. She found solace in quizzing her on the multiplication table as they made their way around the block, an activity in which Piper enthusiastically flaunted her love of numbers.

It was also nice to stay outside and take in the warm sun and soft rustling of the trees, though every once in a while all of it wasn't enough to keep the memory of Spencer at bay.

After all, it was kind of hard when he was back in town, and after all these years he was reaching out to her like he hadn't broken her heart in the first place.

"You seem sad, Auntie," Piper said, grabbing Y/N's hand as the turned the corner.

Y/N swung their arms together gently, smiling down at her with a tilt of her head. "Why d'you think that, hon?"

Piper gave a little shrug, her ponytail blowing softly behind her. "You don't smile as much. And you always smile when you're with me... And you asked me the same times equation 3 times in a row just now. You're distracted."

Y/N couldn't help the breathy laugh that escaped her. You sound just like Spencer... Instead, she told her, "Aw, I'm sorry, Kiddo. My mind is just in a... confusing place right now. But I'm very happy that you got to come stay with me this weekend, you always brighten my day." She punctuated her sentence with a little boop on Piper's nose, to which she giggled and asked for another math equation.

The two of them continued around the block a few rounds, though on their fourth and final one, Y/N noticed very familiar car parked just outside her house.

Heart jumping into her throat, she stopped in her tracks, and Piper kept going only to be pulled back slightly. The girl turned to her aunt and furrowed her brow. "Auntie, why did we stop?"

"Um... I just wasn't expecting any company today besides you..."

Y/N certainly wasn't ready to discuss everything that was going on with Spencer to anyone, let alone her eight-year-old niece who wouldn't probably understand or care anyway. So she explained it the best way she could, quickly coming up with a plan to avoid him as long as possible.

"See the car parked over there?" Y/N asked, and Piper nodded. "Well, that's an... old friend of mine... And we haven't talked in a long time because we don't really get along anymore. So when we get up to the house, he might try to talk to us, and I'm going to tell him that we're busy."

"He's not mean, is he?"

Sensing Piper's reservations, Y/N reassured her while letting her own contempt for her ex fuel the conversation. "No, but... He broke my heart. And he—"

"Y/N... Hi..."

She nearly jumped, mostly from surprise, but also at the fact that hearing her name coming from his lips and his voice and just him brought back a flood of feelings she'd rather have forgotten. Still, she turned to him and cleared her throat. "Spencer... Hi."

Piper suddenly let go of Y/N's hand, a small scoff escaping her. "Oh. Spencer..."

The two adults turned to look at her with surprise, though it was Spencer who spoke up. "You... know me?"

"Mhm," Piper returned with a nod, crossing her arms. "I heard Mom and Auntie talk about you yesterday, and she says you have a stupid, beautiful face."

"Piper!" Y/N screeched, heat rising to her face. "I... You can't tell people that, I— That's not... I..."

"Oh... I'm sorry, Auntie," the little girl said quietly.

Y/N was fully prepared to dig a hole and stay buried in it forever, and her embarrassment grew even stronger when Spencer spoke up again. "It's okay," he reassured gently, a small laugh sounding from his throat that regrettably gave Y/N butterflies. "You're auntie's definitely right, I do have a stupid face."

Before Y/N could stop the conversation altogether, Piper cut in quickly, being sure to add, "And beautiful."

Spencer's eyes flicked up to Y/N, drawing her in with amusement and charm, a fact which she hated to her core. Because it was working, and that was annoying as hell. "Yep," he said, never taking his eyes off of her. "And beautiful."

And then the corner of his mouth turned up slightly, flashing her the most amused, stupidly perfect smirk.

Piper started talking again, and for the second time that day, Y/N wished she hadn't even said anything at all, keeping this whole situation to herself.

"But we can't talk to you, because you broke Auntie's heart, and we're busy. C'mon, Auntie. Let's go." Piper grabbed Y/N's hand and led her up the rest of sidewalk until they got to the driveway. And even though it might have been childish to completely ignore Spencer as they walked past, not giving him a second glance, quite frankly she was quick to abort the situation as soon as possible.

Unfortunately for her, Spencer was persistent.

They were almost to the steps up to the door when he called out. "Piper! Can I ask you something?"

The little girl turned around, losing grip of Y/N's hand and greeting his gaze without batting an eye. "Sure."

Damn kids and their willingness to be nice to strangers, Y/N grumbled in her head.

"I know... your auntie is an important person to you, right?" Spencer inquired, walking up the driveway with his hands in his front pockets. Y/N swallowed, most certainly not noticing how the sun perfectly highlighted him in a glow that made him look more beautiful than stupid.

Piper nodded.

"Well... She's important to me, too. And I really hurt her feelings, but I want to make it up to her. Would you be kind enough to let me try?"

Damn him, Y/N grumbled yet again. Damn him, damn him, damn him to hell... Why was he so charming?

He'd always known that kids were a soft spot for her, and when they'd dated, they talked a lot about having some of their own one day. Every time they took a walk in the park and they passed a kid, they always gravitated to Spencer, giving him the biggest smiles, and in turn he would give them a high five or perform a little magic trick to make them smile even wider. And Y/N melted into a damn puddle every time.

He knew exactly what he was doing, using Piper as a means to win her back, but even still, she knew that because of his gentle nature, most of it was... well, nature. Deep down, as much as she hated to admit it, she knew that he was a kind person. They may have ended things on bad terms, sure, and Y/N could pretend he was cruel all she wanted— The truth was that no matter how their relationship ended, he was a good man at heart.

And that's why it hurt so much.

Y/N thought for sure Piper would fall into his web, but she was pleasantly surprised when the girl responded with, "I don't know... I don't know if I trust you yet."

You and me both, Kiddo, Y/N thought to herself.

Spencer laughed again. "That's fair. Look, you can say no, but... How about I give you something in return?"

"Spencer, that's no—"

Piper crossed her arms and tilted her head to the side, interrupting Y/N before she could finish protesting. "How much we talking?"

"Piper!"

"Well, I was going to offer to show you a magic trick, but I suppose I could work you a deal... I only have a hundred bucks on me, would that be enough?"

Sure enough, Spencer pulled a one-hundred dollar bill from his pocket, and the young girl's eyes went wide. Y/N's did, too, but more likely than not it wasn't a means of excitement.

"You have yourself a deal!" Piper squealed with a jump. She ran over to take the money, meanwhile Spencer looked up at Y/N with a smile.

She didn't return it.

"Is there somewhere we can talk?" he asked softly. Kindly.

"Well, I'm babysitting Piper today, so you'll have to come back another time," she returned a little coldly, hoping that she and Piper had just scored a free Benjamin to pig out on ice cream while Spencer was left waiting forever for a conversation that was never going to happen.

Funny how eight-year-olds always had a way of making things more difficult for you.

"Auntie, Spencer and I made a deal. He gave me money, and now he has to make it up to you. Remember?"

Y/N groaned. "Yeah, yeah, I remember..."

"Well, how about I... take you guys out for lunch? My treat? If it's alright, we can go to McDonald's..."

"The one with the play place?" Piper gasped, immediately turning to Y/N. "Oh, Auntie, please can we go? Please, please, please?"

She looked up at Spencer, shaking her head in exasperation as he smiled at her, those sparkling honey eyes reeling her in whether she wanted them to or not. Then she turned to Piper and sighed.

"How fast do you think you can eat?"

***

Y/N was surprised Spencer didn't try to talk to her more on the drive over. Though, Piper did most of the talking, telling Spencer about how much she loved numbers and math, and he even quizzed her on some multiplication equations on the way.

If she wasn't so annoyed with him, Y/N would have melted completely.

It was the getting into the restaurant that worried her the most, though. She knew that once Piper ran off to play while they waited for their food, he would spend whatever short amount of time he had trying to win her back. And she was afraid of two things, mostly that she would end up crying in the restaurant, making a scene and wishing she'd never agreed to go, no matter how heart-broken Piper might have been. But there was also a small part of her, nestled deep into her heart, that was afraid she'd fall for him all over again.

He certainly made falling easy.

When the three of them stepped into the restaurant, it was easy to see how excited Piper was to be there. She gently tugged on Y/N's sleeve before looking up at her. "Nuggets, fries, and Sprite?"

"Apples, too, and you've got yourself a deal," Y/N said.

Piper nodded, not really caring but eager to go and play. So she sighed and nodded, leaving her with a, "Be careful!" as she saw the girl quick-walk over to the play area. There was a decent crowd that day, but thankfully no one in the restaurant seemed to have any grievances or knacks for trouble.

Spencer on the other hand... Y/N scoffed to herself, thinking how he was the most troublesome person in the area.

He proved her point by nudging her with his elbow. "She's a fun one."

"Yeah, she's somethin' alright," Y/N grumbled. "I can't believe you bribed her just to talk to me... If I didn't know better, I'd have thought you were being romantic. But I do know better, and you're just stubborn."

Spencer laughed, but she refused to look at him. "Aw, come on, give me some credit. You know I can be a little of both."

This time Y/N did look at him, squinting in a glare, like she was contemplating. "Eh... five to ninety-five. Leaning in favor of stubborn, of course."

"Obviously." The amusement in his voice made her hate his stupid, beautiful face even more than usual.

Thankfully he kept the conversation short after that, at least until they ordered. Since it was Spencer's treat, she milked his wallet for as much as she could afford to on fast-food. She ordered a large chocolate milkshake and enough food for her and Piper to share for dinner later— and probably lunch the next day, too. The amused chuckle Spencer let out as she was ordering did have her believing maybe she was being a bit childish. But the longer she thought about it, the more she stood by her actions.

He did break her heart after all. The least he could do was compensate through chicken nuggets and French fries.

The only thing she didn't count on, though, was how long it was going to take to make all her food, not to mention getting things done for other people. As she and Spencer made their way to the table, she realized she'd have to talk with him longer.

Spencer took advantage of this, naturally.

"So... How've you been?"

Y/N scoffed. "You show up out of the blue five years after you break up with me, and then have the nerve to ask me how I've been, in a McDonald's? Yeah, I've been great."

He sighed, his eyes flitting down to the table. "I know, I'm... I'm sorry. And I know I should have—"

"Spence, please don't... Look, I know... I know why we broke up, and I came to terms with the fact that your job was just to dangerous for us to be together, but... I mean, you weren't even willing to work it out, you just... ran away. That hurt."

"Y/N... I'm so, so sorry that it happened that way. I think about it almost every day and how much I wish I could have changed it..."

"But you can't change it. And now you... you show up here after all this time to—to what? Win me back? Use your kindness and your charm to reel me back in, like that'll somehow make everything better?"

He looked up at her through his eyelashes, the sight almost breaking her. "Maybe..."

"It's not that I don't appreciate the thought, Spence, because I do... I've dreamt about the day you'd come back and apologize, begging me to take you back... But I can't get hurt again. And you have to understand that."

"I do... Just..." His hands reached out across the table, gently touching hers. The feeling sparked something in her, something nostalgic and warm...

Something that felt a lot like home.

He was going to continue his speech, but a knock on the glass separating them from the playroom on the other side jolted them apart. It was Piper, a stern look on her face. "Don't try anything, Mister... You're still on thin ice."

She turned away then, running back to the slide when Spencer sighed. "I thought we had a deal."

Y/N laughed, nodding at Piper through the glass. "Even a hundred bucks and free food isn't enough to win someone's trust." Spencer looked over at her and waited, visibly swallowing. But Y/N flashed the smallest of smiles before finishing, speaking quietly, yet with all the truth and firmness in the world. "You have to work harder than that."

"Duly noted," Spencer replied, his gaze never straying from hers. "Looks like me and my stupid, beautiful face have some work to do."

Y/N rolled her eyes, leaning back in the chair as Spencer grinned like a fool... A stupid, beautiful fool. "Oh, alright... You know what... If you weren't paying for my mountains of food and giving me a ride home, that thin ice you're on would have just shattered under the weight of that comment."

"Oh, come on, it was funny."

"No, it really wasn't."

"Yeah, it was."

He stared at her, smiling until her forced frown slowly and reluctantly transformed into a smile of her own.

***

"Thank you for lunch, Spencer! And for the hundred dollars!" Piper skipped past him and up the driveway, stopping to turn and wave with her Happy Meal toy in hand. Y/N was carrying a bag of leftover food and half a milkshake, her stomach already regretting every choice she'd ever made.

"You're welcome, Piper," Spencer said, smiling at the girl. "And thank you for letting me get a chance to set things right with your auntie. You really helped me out today, I appreciate it."

"Sure thing. Just don't break her heart again, or I'll break your stupid, beautiful face. It'll turn into a stupid, ugly face then."

Y/N mentally face-palmed herself, turning to Piper and telling her to go inside and wash up. The girl gave Spencer one final wave and a smile as she did so, leaving the adults alone once again.

"Thank you..." he said quietly, shifting on his feet. "For giving me a chance. I really want to make things right with us... Make up for the way I hurt you, and... try harder. You deserve that much."

Years of heartache and trying to get over him begged Y/N not to believe it, but deep down she knew he was being truthful. He wasn't the type of guy to come around like this—especially with all the work travel he did—just to manipulate her into heartache again, with empty promises and hurtful intent.

She knew he was really willing to try to make things right, and that was a big start.

"Thank you... for saying that... And for making Piper's day. I know you didn't really mean to bribe her, but the fact that you did it anyway is absurd, so... I guess I have to give credit where credit's due."

Spencer laughed, and this time Y/N didn't hate the feeling of the butterflies in her stomach fluttering at the sound. "Well, I'm glad I could at least amuse you today. Does... this mean my romantic to stubborn ratio shifted a little bit?"

Y/N rolled her eyes affectionately, taking a sip of her milkshake. "Hmm... twenty to eighty."

"Still leaning in favor of stubborn, I suppose..."

The smile they shared in that moment felt more like the ones they used to share back then, officially kickstarting the slow, meticulous mending of their love.

"Obviously."

***

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willsimpforanyone · 3 years

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Hey there! Ok, first of all, your writing is ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS 🤩!!! Okay, on to the actual request now. Could you plz write a Heroes of Olympus fic with the seven (plus Reyna, Thalia, Nico and Will) X fem!reader who is a daughter of Khione (Greek goddess of snow)? R is struggling with controlling her powers cause they r linked to her emotions. Individually each character helps her with her powers in some way. Thanks! (Idk if that made sense btw but hopefully it makes sense!) okay, bye!!

no stop you're so sweet!! thank you so much omg

i can absolutely do that- for context, we're gonna say that the camp jupiter kids are visiting

i haven't given R a name and i refuse to use y/n

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

The camp was huge and busy and full of people. She was overwhelmed, her breaths coming in sharp, shallow bursts. Steam blew around her as her freezing breath met the warm air and her hands fisted in her skirt. She wasn't gonna panic, she couldn't panic with all these people around, gods there were so many people in this stupid little tour group and oh shit she was panicking. She could see tiny flakes of snow start to flutter down around her, settling on everyone's skin. They started looking around and up at the sky and her nails dug into her cold skin as they finally turned and looked at her, the light snow turning into larger flakes and increasing in number. Within seconds there was a blizzard spanning six feet squared. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying her hardest to calm down. A hand touched her own, and a voice reached her ears, muffled by the snow. "Hey, I'm Percy, is it okay if I touch you?" She forced herself to nod, and Percy pulled her gently away from the group. As soon as there were fewer people, she could breathe a little easier. "We're away from everyone else, it's okay, can you open your eyes for me?" Her eyes opened and met green eyes and black hair and an encouraging smile. "Take some deep breaths, that's it, you're doing great." Her breathing became more regular. "It's overwhelming for a lot of people, that's okay. You're safe now that you're here, I promise." The blizzard had all but stopped, just a few flakes brushed off her hair by Percy's caring hand. "It's okay, we don't have to go back until you're ready." She would be ready in a little bit.

The forest was quiet. She liked the quiet. She knew she hadn't been avoided, exactly, but it was hard to feel that way when there wasn't anyone sitting at her table. No one talked to her, but it was just because she was new. Talking to new people was awkward, she knew that. So it was her choice, and her choice alone, to go sit in the woods. She didn't know why there were tears down her cheeks, and she hated that they froze on her skin. A snapped twig made her look up sharply. There were two people in front of her. The girl sat down next to her. "It's cold out, why are you sitting out here?" She shrugged. "Don't really feel the cold. And it's either being alone out here or alone in a cabin so it doesn't really matter." She gave a small smile. The guy sat next to the girl. "You're the daughter of Khione, right? No wonder you feel lonely," he turned to the girl. "Hazel, there's no one else in her cabin." Hazel gasped and rubbed her shoulder. "Come with us. We'll see if you can be moved to my cabin, there's only me and my brother in there." "Oh, I couldn't do that to you," she said, but the warmth of hope and companionship bloomed in her chest. "If you really don't want to, that's okay, but at least come with us to the campfire, come with me and Frank." Hazel's soft smile melted away the resistance, and Frank stood up, offering his hand. She stood, using the hand held out, and followed the pair. Frank held her back a moment while Hazel joined the group of ten, twelve-ish people around a campfire. "If you really don't want to join, it's okay, I'll take you back to your cabin, I promise." He smiled warmly and a little nervously. "But it might be fun. Coming?" She smiled back, and walked towards the promised warmth.

Hunched shoulders, her ears were being assulted with jeers and taunts. Loser, loner, ice freak, anti-freeze. That one wasn't even right. The small table felt a lot bigger when she was the only one there, but she was getting used to that. It didn't help that the Ares cabin was very loud. To be fair, it wasn't the whole cabin, just the very loud minority. She tried to remind herself of that when she got called all these names. The table was covered in a heavy frost, the cutlery in her hands was cold and clutched tightly. She took a few deep breaths. There was minimal snow, and she smiled to herself. She was gaining a little more control. A plate slamming onto the table made her jump, and she looked up to see sharp blue eyes and a shock of black hair, piercings decorating ears. The girl sat next to her, scowling at the Ares cabin. "Hey! Leave her alone, assholes!" The girl turned to you. "I'm Thalia, ignore them." She smiled at Thalia. "Thanks, but you don't have to be here." "It's no problem," Thalia shrugged. "My brother is at his girlfriend's table so I was alone anyway and you looked like you could use a little help." That normally would have made her defensive, but Thalia seemed more protective than pitying. "...thank you, I'm not good at confrontation." She frowned. "Sorry about the... ice." Thalia shrugged. "I struggled too. And being the daughter of Zeus, my power was a lot more destructive than yours, trust me," she grinned. She felt less self-conscious with this strong, angry girl next to her.

The rings of seats surrounding the dead campfire were cold. There was a light layer of frost, but she was too tired to know if it was because of her or just the chill of the night. The nightmare had been bad, and waking up in an icy cabin alone hadn't helped. The outside had seemed warmer, more welcoming, and as she looked up she could see the stars. The campfire was central to the camp, she felt like she could check every direction. For example, the second she heard footsteps coming from the left, she snapped her head to see another girl, wrapped in a blanket and walking with determination towards her. The girl sat firmly beside her. "You're the kid of Khione, the one Frank and Hazel introduced us to the other night, right?" "...yeah," and suddenly she remembered the girl's name. "You're Piper, right? Daughter of Aphrodite?" Piper nodded. "Yep. What's up, why you out here?" She shrugged. There was no stigma around nightmares in the camp, everyone got them, but she still wasn't comfortable going into detail. "Just a nightmare, didn't want to stay in the cabin." Piper made a noise of understanding. "Me too," she shivered. "The frost natural or you?" She laughed ruefully. "Not sure, to be honest." She ran a hand through her hair, and it came away covered in ice. "Although judging by that, I'd say a good portion of it is me." Piper stood up. "Stay here, I'll be back in a minute." She grabbed her blanket and ran back to her cabin, returning with a larger blanket and a wide-toothed comb. "Can I get the ice and frost out of your hair?" Surprised, she nodded hesitatingly. Piper sat cross-legged on the wooden seat by her side and wrapped the blanket around them both, gesturing for her to turn round. "I'll be gentle, I promise. It'll calm us both down, then you can get the frost under control."

The sword shattered yet again and she threw the hilt on the ground, yelling in anger. She barely noticed the two others in the arena, too focused on the fact that the blade of her sword had gotten so cold it had broken- this was the third time. Every time she got into her training and concentrated too hard, ice spread from her hands to the sword and it was only a matter of time before she shattered it. "Hey, stop throwing stuff on the ground, kids train here." A harsh female voice came from across the arena, and she flinched. Turning, she recognised the pair- Jason and Reyna, they must be training. "Sorry, I'm sorry, I'll clean it up." She frowned, kneeling and picking up the remnants of her sword. Jason jogged over, followed slowly by Reyna. He knelt down too, helping with the jagged edges. "It's okay, what's got you so worked up?" She sighed. "If the metal gets too cold, it breaks. I get freezing if I concentrate too hard on fighting, apparently, so I've broken three swords in the past two hours." Reyna grabbed the discarded sword hilt, examining it. "You know, you should find a specific sword for your abilities." "You can do that?" Jason and Reyna nodded. "Yeah, mine turns into either a sword or a spear depending on the flip of a coin," Jason explained. "I'm sure we could find something that can withstand low temperatures." Reyna frowned, considering. "I'm sure if you asked Chiron he'd figure something out. Although maybe you should work on controlling the temperature issue." Jason's eyes lit up. "Hey, you should go see Leo! Remember him from the campfire the last week? He's always too hot, but he's great at changing his body temperature. Go see him tomorrow!" Reyna nodded her approval. She smiled. Okay, let's go see Leo.

"Um, hey, Jason said you could help me?" She knocked on the open door of the Hephaestus cabin, settling her eyes on the curly-haired kid- Leo- screwing around with bits of metal on the floor. He leapt up, scattering metal everywhere. "Yes! Hello! I remember you from the campfire, Piper said you'd be knocking on my humble door." She grinned as he approached, hands still fiddling with a screwdriver. "She was right, she recommended I talk to you about helping with my heat regulation?" Leo practically vibrated with enthusiam. "Yeah! I'm always hot-" he winked, she laughed. "-but it took me a while to regulate it, so I wasn't spontaneously bursting into flames. May I?" He held out his hands for hers. They were searing hot against her freezing skin, and she yanked them away. Leo pulled away too, a dismayed look on his face. "Uh, okay, too hot, got it. I'll lower my temperature as best I can." She placed her hands back in his, the difference a little less painful this time as she breathed deeply. "Sorry, it was just a little surprising, I wasn't aware of how cold I was." Leo shook his head, and pulled her further into the room. "Don't worry chica, you'll get the hang of it. Don't concentrate on the hands, focus on the feeling inside," he nodded towards a small bench, and they sat down. "Think of your body as a... car. If the hood it hot, you open it up and cool down the engine, right?" Nodding, she relaxed her shoulders and hands. "Got it, focus on the internal cooling issue rather than the results." That earned her an encouraging squeeze of her hands. They sat together for an hour, maybe two. She could almost increase and decrease her temperature at will. Leo taught her a weird handshake, where they changed temperature every time their hands met. "Thank you so much, Leo," she grinned, getting up to leave. "No hay problema, I'm glad I could help," he lightly punched her shoulder. "And hey, any time I need to cool down, I know who to come to."

The tiny ice towers sparkled in the sun, almost looking like crystal. She was curious- she'd come so far from the girl who caused a snowstorm at the slightest anxiety, so how much control was she capable of? The ice was sharpened to a point, but there wasn't much distinction between the small structures. There was someone who could help, with a mind almost as sharp as her ice. "Hey Annabeth? Can I steal your attention for a second?" The girl looked up from her Ancient Greek book, and smiled upon seeing her friend. "Sure, come in, what's up?" She walked towards Annabeth, sitting next to her on the bed. "You're good with architecture, right?" "'Good' is an understatement," Annabeth nudged her in the ribs. "But yes, architecture is kind of my thing." "Can you help with my power? I think I can control it better now, but I need a guideline- can you draw up a blueprint or something for me to model out of ice?" Annabeth's eyes sparkled as brightly as ice in the sun, and she darted to her desk, grabbing graph paper and a pencil. "We can experiment with different temperatures and thicknesses of the ice-" starting to spout facts about architectural structures and buildings. "Annabeth, this is awesome, but just know you have to be patient with me," she said. "I need a lot of practice." Sitting back down on the bed, Annabeth wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I know, but we can do it. It'll be awesome."

"Hey! Over here!" Will beckoned her over. She smiled and jogged over and into the medical tent. "Hey Will, what's up?" She gave a small wave to the shadowy boy next to him. "Hey Nico." She recieved a vague nod in return. Will gestured to a kid, maybe eight or nine, holding his wrist sitting on a camper bed. "We've run out of ice packs, and we're waiting on an order of ambrosia and nectar so can you do me a favour?" She shrugged. "What do you need?" His next words came as a surprise. "I need snowballs." Laughing, she nodded. "Okay, sure, how many?" Nico kicked an ice box next to him. "Fill this." She nodded, and started creating lumps of snow, balling them up in her palms and chucking them into the box. The kid stared, fascinated. She grinned, pausing her snowball-making to blow a flurry of snowflakes in the kid's face, eliciting a delighted laugh. The slight smile on Nico's face didn't go unnoticed. She leaned into Will. "Hey, get Nico to summon a skeleton outside the tent." "What? Why?" She whispered a plan into his ear, and Will giggled. He grabbed his boyfriend by the arm and dragged him outside. She kept making snowballs and entertaining the kid with snowflakes until Will grabbed her arms and pulled her outside, a huge smile on his face. "Come on, come on, do it!" Will jumped up and down excitedly. Nico raised an eyebrow, but smiled fondly. "What did you want the skeleton for?" She grinned, and pushed her hands forward, snow flying from her hands and surrounding the skeleton. Bones clad in thick snow and from somewhere Will produced a carrot. Nico rolled his eyes, but took out two solid black earrings to stick into the face of the snowman for eyes. Together, she and Nico manipulated the snowman to walk into the medical tent, and from within came screams of delight- it was Christmas in August.

She felt home.

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

this took me so long and my shoulder is killing me but i did it! i very much hope you enjoyed, thank you so much for requesting!

#heroes of olympus #percy jackson #annabeth chase #jason grace #piper mclean #leo valdez #hazel levesque #frank zhang #nico di angelo #will solace #reyna ramirez avila arellano #imagine #hoo #pjo #percy jackson and the olympians #seven

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