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captain-astors · 1 year

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1, 16, 18 & 29 for Seidou?🙂 I just love my boy Taki so much💕

Another one for Takizawa! Such a silly guy.

1, My first impression of them

I suppose I could do this twice for before the half-ghoul nonsense and after. Before, I believe I’ve talked about how none of the CCG characters really registered in my mind until :re and Takizawa isn’t a profound exception. He was one of my favorites, but it was really a “the best of the worst” situation. The moment that caught my attention most was definitely the “I don’t want to die” scene. He’s just like me (joking, obviously.) But seriously I think that was a turning point for the CCG for me, they were kind of the stock character bad guys who got a couple chapters to be fleshed out, but they were still narrow-minded and somewhat two dimensional, mostly because of their lack of fear. Because when you think about it, every CCG character we focus on before :re is some variety of talented investigator with no need to fear, and no shown instance of it. Amon, Akira, above average. Houji and Shinohara, decently experienced. Juuzou and Arima, prodigies that speak for themselves. In comparison, Takizawa is shockingly human and average when placed next to those exceptions. That desperation he has, the moment where he simply can’t pretend this is just a normal job and that he’s on par with the rest of them hits like a brick. So my first impression was neutral but the first time I noticed him was incredible. For after, in his first appearance in :re, I loved him on the spot. I had actually heard and seen of what would happen to him and had thought "Oh another artificial half-ghoul? Previously from the CCG? With a design like that? He'll probably be a main antagonist or something!" I was wrong, :re has like 5 artificial half ghouls and it's a little ridiculous. But he's still a personal favorite. Freaky raccoon. 16, A childhood headcanon

Rocky was a gift from an uncle who adopted the puppy and quickly realized his apartment wasn’t large enough to house the creature. Seidou’s birthday was coming up quickly, so he got the best present of his entire life. His parent’s weren’t initially enthused about the idea, but Seidou got attached to him so quickly they didn’t want to take the dog away. He’s named after the film. Funnily, his mom was always Rocky’s favorite, with Seidou as a second no matter how much time they spent together.

18, How do you think they were as a kid? (Like, were they shy, noisy, wild, etc) Impressively middle-child like for an eldest sibling. He’d do anything for the compliments of his parents or teachers and was quickly upset when it seemed his sister was getting preferential treatment. He wasn’t unloved or anything, I just imagine from his talks with Akira that he used to be something of a “gifted child”, and once he started curving down into a more average realm he was desperate to still receive that same amount of attention and praise simply on account of being accustomed to it.

29, How do you think they would be as a parent?

Before ghoul-ification? Fine. I Don’t think he’d consider himself ready for parenthood and frankly neither would I but if he somehow got stuck with a child that presumably wasn’t his because you cannot tell me he could ever, out of the options for fathers in tokyo ghoul (none of which are good except for maybe 3) human Takizawa is not the worst. The kid’s going to have a couple issues if he’s doing it alone but if he’s got someone to help him, he could probably raise a decently functioning human being with inferiority issues and fatherly resentment at worst. Congratulations human Takizawa, I grant you the “You do not suck at this as much as you could” reward.

After being turned into a ghoul on the other hand? God help that child. If he manages not to have a mental breakdown from the responsibility and abandon and/or eat the thing I do think he could raise it… kind of, but I do not think he would be good at it unless he had several points of help, and at that point you might as well just give it to them because in contrast to his human self, there are actually few worse options. He’s simply not mentally stable enough to give them consistent love and attention and I highly doubt he knows how to take care of a kid’s physical needs either, or how to keep them out of dangerous situations, so we should all be thankful his biology is so screwed up at this point that, unhelped by plot power like Kaneki, he’ll probably never have a child. Could be interesting as a fic or something but I’d pity the ghoul/half ghoul that comes of it because the issues will be countless if they even manage to live to adulthood. I grant ghoul Takizawa the “You do suck at this as much as you could.” reward, however he’s not the worst of the worst as he would at least try his best if there were no alternatives for this kid. With enough support he could do it but I think he’s best off in the “older brother type” role.

#Character asks my beloveds #I gain nutrients from them #miscellaneous not-art things #tokyo ghoul #seidou takizawa #zeph answers questions about media/characters/ships

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artemiseamoon · 2 years

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By Your Side

One: to save a life

Overgård x ofc (Film Arctic)

Ficlet? Is this too long to be a drabble? | Words: 805

An: I finally watched this and I loved it. 💜 I process emotions via writing. I have a loose plan for later expansion.

Gif credits to owner, name attached to link

Warnings: a helicopter crash, bodily injuries, a head injury and infection mentioned, almost dying.

What do you say when thank you isn’t enough?

When no amount of words strung together can express what you feel in your heart?

Lisa didn’t remember much of anything. They were up in the air, saw the S.O.S, turned to help and crashed.

The crash itself, she could only recall in bits, like shards of glass. The sounds, the smell, the way her body shook in her seatbelt. She didn’t remember the impact, or the shard of metal that cut her.

Her next memory after the crash was him, the stranger who saved her. Memories of him were scattered. Lisa can only recall small moments in between the painful darkness; sips of water, small bites of food, feeling herself being moved or lifted, the sound of his voice.

There were no visions, no dreams in between those moments. Maybe she was dead? Maybe she danced on the line between death and life? Maybe she was transported elsewhere, like some subterranean world where no heaven existed, no hell, just endless lightless space.

The first time she dreamed of the lush green gardens was here at the hospital. In contrast to the cold white landscape of the Arctic, the gardens were sun kissed, inviting, and healing. Lisa was dreaming of this very place the first time she opened her eyes and saw his face again, the man who saved her life.

Flashback

Waking slowly, Lisa flutters her eyes open and stares at the white ceiling. Though she’s woken up a few times since being hospitalized, she wasn’t fully conscious. Her semi-delirious state mixed with meds and a small head injury made it hard to hold on to things.

Blinking a few times, she turns her head to the side, her eyes settling on the window. The sun is out, a soft breeze blows into the room. Her gaze lingers here for a moment until she hears a soft breath.

It must be one of the nurses.

Turning her head to the other side, what she finds isn’t a nurse nor a doctor. Her brows come together as she tries to place the face.

The man is a stranger, but doesn’t feel like a stranger. His expression is steady, stoic even, except for his eyes. Behind them she can see a sea of emotion.

“You’re awake.” He said softly.

2 months later

What do you say when thank you isn’t enough?

When no amount of words strung together can express what you feel in your heart?

Standing in front of the hallway mirror, Lisa smooths her hands over her shirt. The fluttery feeling in her gut remains, accompanied by a racing heart.

She was equal parts worried and excited. As she healed in the hospital and eventually overcame the infection, the stranger remained by her side. Visiting when he could, crutches and all.

Their first couple of visits were quiet, when he reached for her hand and held it, the gesture warmed her heart, and helped her recall the times he held her hand in the arctic.

Lisa looked forward to his visits, and once she was mobile, she’d visit him too. The stranger was released before Lisa, on his last day he left her a number and a mailing address.

Though he never left her, Lisa didn’t use either. Not for a while.

With him gone the full realization of what happened that day hit her. She wasn't on that chopper alone. Oliver was dead. Alma was dead. The grief hit like a ton of bricks, and the stranger she’d grown fond of now shared space with great loss and sadness.

She was out of the hospital for weeks when she finally used the number. The moment he picked up, a profound warmth washed over her. She felt regret, wishing she called him sooner. After 2 weeks of phone calls, some lasting so long one of them would drift off to sleep, Lisa made an invite. He happily accepted.

When the doorbell rings, Lisa steps away from the mirror and glances back toward the kitchen. It’s been a long time since she’s cooked for anyone but herself, she hoped he’d like it. Shaking out her hands, she travels the short distance to the door and unlocks it.

Taking a deep breath, Lisa holds it and opens the door. On the other side of it he stands, dressed in fine all black clothes, his hair still long but neatly styled. He smiles as his eyes meet hers, “hi.”

“Johan,” she smiled and took a step back, holding the door open, “come in.”

More Mads

#Overgård #Arctic film #mads mikkelsen #Overgård x ofc #mads mikkelsen characters

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musicarenagh · 3 months

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Miles East's Sonic Love Letters: Introducing “Lucky To Be Here Tonight” In a world where the scaffolding of music is often built upon layers of digital perfection, it's refreshing to stumble across something as earnest and heartened as "Lucky To Be Here Tonight" by Miles East. Laced with the genuine spirit of soft rock that whispers tales from soulful dusks to the first light of dawn, this track stands not just as a piece but an experience, one that wraps its listeners in a warm embrace and speaks directly to the heart. https://open.spotify.com/album/65OdOjj9srG8go2ltvlrmQ Miles East, flanked by Blake Morgan and Justin Goldner—a trio that conjures magic through strings and keys alike—delivers a performance steeped in gratitude and reflection. Their synergy isn't just heard; it's felt. This single precedes their upcoming album "Between Lightning and Thunder," slated for release on June 7th, 2024, setting high expectations for what's coming next. From the moment "Lucky To Be Here Tonight" begins, you're transported into a dimension where each chord strummed on East’s acoustic guitar doesn't just resonate through space—it narrates stories. Stories woven from threads of overcoming adversity tenderly intertwine with melodies reminiscent of road-worn travelers finding solace under starlit skies. Blake Morgan’s production does more than do justice to these compositions—it elevates them. The bass lines walk beside you like an old friend recounting memories; electric guitars courtesy of Morgan himself alongside Justin Goldner paint landscapes so vivid they could be postcards from another era; keyboards whisper secrets meant only for moonlit nights—all while backing vocals promise hope amidst hardship. Rarely does such orchestration achieve balance so effortlessly between upliftment and solemn introspection. [caption id="attachment_54328" align="alignnone" width="1152"] Miles East's Sonic Love Letters: Introducing “Lucky To Be Here Tonight”[/caption] Thematically profound yet remarkably approachable, “Lucky To Be Here Tonight” honors its title by celebrating life’s blessings against odds stacked unfavorably high sometimes—a resonating message underscored by nuanced musicianship reflective not only in their audible prowess but deep-seated emotional connectivity. It dives into love letters written to both people and places sustaining us when our spirits wane—a universal anthem echoing resilience in face of trials enveloping human experience at large. Charting over 100k streams already date stamps its appeal among vast audiences—the collective hunger for music which transcends mere listening into feeling clearly undeniable here.A crossover hit beckoning ears accustomed to genres spanning folk-rock through indie-Americana peers gently at contemporary legends like The Lumineers or Vance Joy . Yet, the uniqueness lies untouched beneath familiar sonic landscapes offering fresh narratives ready for exploration As we anticipate 'Between Lightning and Thunder,' if "Lucky To Be Here Tonight" serves as any indication—listeners are set yellow-brick roads ahead paved with tracks promising tales yearning for telling,a venture back towards sincerity surrounded modern musicscapes, incomparable journeys await initiated Miles East & equally talented accompanists. Follow Miles East on Website, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

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leonbloder · 1 year

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Failure Is An Option

There's this phrase that I've heard more than a few times over the past thirty years that has the power to both inspire and terrify at the same time:

Failure is not an option.

I decided to look up the origin of that phrase and discovered that it is widely attributed to NASA flight director Gene Kranz during the near-disastrous Apollo 13 mission.

But the true story is that the phrase was coined by the creative team behind the Tom Hanks film Apollo 13 in 1993. There's your fun fact for the day. You're welcome.

The inspiring aspect of that phrase is that it creates a kind of "do or die" scenario that can be helpful when facing an insurmountable challenge with profound consequences.

But it's also terrifying because of one simple fact:

Failure is an option.

It may not be the option we choose, but it is certainly a possible outcome if we move forward, decide, or take a risk. And frequently, we realize just how possible failure can be.

Coming to grips with failure is a challenging thing for all of us.

The feeling that comes over you when you realize that you are out of options and that admitting defeat is all that is left is a sinking feeling that I imagine is not unlike being in free fall.

I've had more than a few defeats in my life---enough to know that I don't take to failure all that well. But I've also learned more through failing than I ever did by succeeding.

Still, I don't like to fail. None of us do. And that's a good thing. The moment we get used to failure, resign ourselves to it, or let it become the narrative that shapes our lives is tragic at best.

Some of us may have experienced so much failure lately that it feels like we're somehow doomed to it. Perhaps somewhere along the line, we internalized that phrase about failure not being an option, and then our failure sends us spinning.

Others of us find it impossible to get over that sinking feeling that we felt and can't shake the notion that we are failures because of it.

I read this quote by author and speaker Bob Goff the other day, and it resonated with me profoundly:

Failure's just a part of being human. The problem is usually the story we tell ourselves that keeps us from moving past it.

That quote hit me like a ton of bricks. It essentially asks, "How often do we tell ourselves stories about our failures, so much so that they become a defining narrative instead of a lesson learned?"

The answer is: More often than we would like to admit.

Most of us only uncover the dirty secret underneath those stories with a great deal of hard work. It takes brutal honesty, self-awareness, and reflection, and most of us don't want to "go there" because of what we might find.

And generally, the fear of failing again keeps us from moving past our failures into fearless hope.

Believe it or not, many people would prefer to keep telling themselves how they are prone to failure rather than let go of that narrative and live a new life with new risks of heartbreak, disappointment, and the like.

But if we are willing to learn from our failures, transcend them, and include the lessons, we can find a new way forward without those old stories.

God doesn't hold our past against us. Because of this, we don't have to live in dread over what comes next. We can find the lessons in our failures, know that God doesn't love us less, and move forward in the hope that, come what may, we are held in God's loving hands.

May this be so for all of us. And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all, now and forever. Amen.

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psychewithwings · 3 years

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Pt. 1 A Visitor... Once Again Kirishima x Goddess!reader

hello hello, this is my contribution to this months bnharem collab! The theme was ‘mythology and lore’ and hit very close to my ancient greek loving soul. We have so many wonderful writers and artists that have worked hard so pls check out the rest of the collab here!!!

I’ve been rather ill and so I’ll be breaking it up into parts, part 2 will be out as soon as I am feeling more myself (which will hopefully be next week). Please enjoy a story about 2 of my favourite characters. Kirishima Eijirou, as his hero self (tho with a demi-god twist) and reader! as Kalypso, the goddess, daughter of Atlas, the titan who holds up the sky. Her curse is that she is forced to live alone on an island and fall in love with any visitor who falls to her shores. Once she falls for them, she is forced to ask if they would like to stay and she may grant them immortality if they say yes, and if not? They may leave. They have no way of leaving the island until she falls in love. She is a kind and wonderful character and I have a lot of love for her, (perhaps I relate to her a bit too much) so it is an honor to tell a new version of her story.

This is set in present day even tho Kalypso is an ancient greek figure, Kirishima is about 25-28 here? Pro hero Kiri!

TW: a small sex scene in the beginning, little bit of dirty talk, penetration

———————————————————————

“Fuck, thats it baby, feel it going all the way inside? Feels good right?” You moan into his neck, “s-so good.” He starts to thrust in and out slowly. Your nails dig into the muscles of his back… his… names and faces are unimportant blurs as he continues to thrust inside. Each drag of his cock hits each sweet spot and taps against your cervix. “Fuck~ you feel so fucking good darling, so-fucking-good, perfect, fucking perfect… yeah that's it clamp down on my cock, massage it with that perfect pussy.” His hand slips between your sweat soaked bodies and rubs quick circles over your clit. “Gonna cum for me baby? I can feel it, you’re about to gush~” You cry into his neck, soft tears of ecstasy hitting his skin. You’re close, so very close-

“Hello? Hey!!! Is anyone home?? Hello?”

You open your eyes and the man above you, the cock inside you, all falls away. It had all been a dream… a delicious, wonderful dream. A dream that had been ruined by an incurable racket. You stare groggily at the ceiling. The ache in your core of having been so close to cumming now boils into a rage. “Hello?!?! Is someone here? Hello??” Your brow crinkled in confusion as to who the rasping voice belonged to. You check to see if you had somehow managed to flip the tv on but the screen was dark. “Does anyone live here?” It dawned on you then… It’s a visitor.

You check the clock that blinks 5:37AM. You groan into a pillow and kick your legs in an attempt to relieve the ache. Your bare thighs are covered in your arousal, which has turned into your frustration. You stay lying still in hopes that he will go away, leave you alone, never return. “HELLO????!?!” But he had to stop screaming and it didn’t seem like he was going to until he came into contact with someone… You knew the nature of the curse well enough at this point but you would try to rebel as long as you could…

You flip the covers off of your body and slowly walk to grab a robe to cover yourself with. You stare at your reflection in the full length mirror while you finish tying the robe. “We got this,” you point to yourself, “no falling in love this time, no falling in love no matter what, ever again, you hear me?” You nod back to yourself. “Pinkie swear.” You touch pinkies with the mirror and laugh coldly. “No more foolish love,” you sarcastically remark before opening the french doors and stepping onto the balcony.

You stare down at the man who had been shouting for so long and your heart drops. He’s beautiful, red hair hanging in his face, still wet with the sea. His body must have been designed by the muses and chiseled by delicate hands. It’s clear even through his clothes. Son of Ares? Or even Zeus perhaps? He is interesting, never had you seen a demigod with such clear physical strength and kind eyes. The combination was rare. He gives you a grin which then fades to surprise. “Oh- I am so sorry, my manners,” he laughs nervously before slowly kneeling on the ground. “Great Goddess, I humble myself now in front of your grace and all encapsulating beauty…” You roll your eyes hoping he will take the hint and shut up. It wasn’t any different from the men before him… It was the same shit as always, though you were disappointed, this one seemed different upon first glance. “...your magnificence is profound, you are both elegant and ethereal in your just standing there-” you cut him off before he can continue the asinine speech. “Ya done?” you ask bluntly.

His eyes grow wide and he softly utters a “what?” You roll your eyes and lean on the gold railing. “Dude, it’s 5am, you’re yelling and ranting, can ya just get to the point?” He remains on his knees in a bow. His pitch varies with confusion as he speaks. “My ship, uhh I crashed it on your shore, and I was hoping that you could umm, maybe assist me in getting home? I-” he hangs his head for a moment, perhaps in exhaustion before continuing. “I have no GPS, no compass, not even a map… if I could do it without bothering you, I would, nothing you for help isn’t very manly... but please Goddess, please help me get home.” You sigh, century after century of the same request has really weakened your patience, though he had asked nicer than most. “You’re stuck here for the foreseeable future,” you smile slightly. You wait for the look of annoyance, frustration, fear… but it never comes. In fact he gives a slight half smile as he stands. “Well, nothing we can do?” he asks. “‘Fraid not,” you sigh. He starts to say something else but he winces. “Are you okay?” you ask, genuine concern bleeding through the nonchalant tone you had been practicing the past milenia. He nods and grabs hold of his side. “I got a little beat up, but don’t worry goddess, ‘tis but a flesh wound,” he tips his head down. As he raises his head he looks deathly pale. “Hey sit down okay?” you call down to him, but it’s too late. His eyes roll back and he collapses. “Shit-” you mutter to yourself as you run down to him.

He lays there in a crumpled heap, his breathing shallow. “Wish you’d said you were hurt first dummy,” you grumble before assessing the situation. You need to get him to the herbs and the back porch. This wouldn't be easy, he’s big, huge really. But he collapsed on his side which makes things easier. You hook an arm around one of his and the other around a leg. It takes a lot and it's a staring but you manage to lift him on your shoulders. If your father can hold up the sky, you can surely carry this brick house of a man back to the bed on the porch.

You step into the house while fireman carrying him to the screened-in porch to lay him down on the daybed. You place him carefully in the soft, green covers and he whines softly. “You’re gonna be just fine,” you reassure gently. Your back porch was reserved for growing herbs, arts and crafts, summer sleep, and it occasionally became a makeshift infirmary when visitors came to you injured and in need of patching up. It happened once every few centuries…

You grabbed some fabric scissors and cut away his shirt to reveal what had been ailing him. You hoped for a broken rib, those were easy to heal with a careful dose of leaf from the widows bone flower and some angel root. But what lay beneath was worse than imagined. A deep gash in his side had tried to close over and heal but it’s irritated, angry. The wound is oozing a sickly yellow pus and iridescent ichor. The skin around it is red with infection. This is one of the worst you’d been brought with. You touch his head, it’s hot and sticky with sweat. This wasn’t good. “Wait here, okay?” You grab a clump of angel root and take it back inside to the kitchen, setting it in a pot of water to boil. You grab a cloth and wet it under the sink in cold water.

You place it on his forehead and sit on the bed beside him. His face was relaxed and he was even more beautiful now. You brush the hair from his eyes and smile down at him, there was something familiar about him… like you’d met before. Though no one could return to Ogygia.

You lean down to where you can speak over his heart in a language that cannot be written or replicated... But the meaning of the words would go something like:

You are healing

You are youthful and strong

Your heart knows how to heal because it is made of love

Pure love can heal anything

You are healing now

You repeat this chant until you hear his breath deepen and watch the cut sooth. It’s a small enchantment but it has done its job. Sure, you’re no Circe, or her brethren, but you’re an enchantress all the same.

You rush back inside and grab the angel root, that's now wet and flexible from being submerged in water. You lay it across his wound before wrapping it carefully. “There now, wait here and I’m going to get you some nectar to drink,” He doesn't respond but his face is relaxed, less anguished, less in pain. You sigh in relief, hopefully that will be enough to close the wound in a day or so, else he will need to be stitched up.

You return with a small bottle of nectar and a dropper to feed him with. You coax his jaw to relax with your hand before dropping the nectar slowly onto his tongue. “You heroes are an awful lot of trouble… you know that?” You continue to feed him slowly so he won’t choke. You sigh in relief as the colour returns back to his face. He’s so beautiful he’s almost glowing, you start to reach for him, to brush the hair from his eyes but you stop yourself and turn away. “No, no love this time, remember?” you say to your reflection in the glass of the windows.

His eyes flutter open with long slow blinks. You watch as they focus on you. He blinks again. “Elyssium,” he breathes and you can’t help but chuckle. “No, Ogygia,” you correct gently. “I’m Eijirou,” he smiles. You laugh again. “No no, this island, where you are is called Ogygia, you aren’t dead,” you assure. He blinks up at you still and you curse the gods for creating him to be so breathtaking. “And what are you called?” he asks. He attempts to sit up but finds it difficult. You place your hand on his head, it’s warm and you can feel his brow relax against your palm. “You’re much better now, but just take your time…” His hands touch his torso and then move to his head. “You healed me?” You nod, “I’ll have to sew this one the rest of the way, it was quite deep.” He circles his hand around your arm, his thumb stroking soft circles. “Thank you, goddess,” he murmurs. You pull away, his touch sending lightning down into your fingertips. You don't remember the last time you had a visitor on this island of yours… but none of the previous visitors seemed to matter anymore, even though each one had stolen your heart some way or another. But no- no love, not this time, not now, not again… It hurt, but you suppressed the feelings of desire and brushed your hands down the front of your robe. “It’s nothing, but for the love of the lethe, stop calling me goddess. Kalypso is fine, just Kalypso.”

He grabs your hand as you turn to leave, “thank you... Kalypso, thank you for saving my life.” In all the years you had been saddled with this curse, it was rare for the visitor to say your name... and none of them, had said your name quite like that.

You pull your hand from his grasp and make sure not to look back, even though you want to. “You’re welcome,” you answer simply, “I’ll uhh- get you some water.”

to be added to the taglist

#kirishima #bnha #kirishima eijirou #kirishima x reader #kirishima x y/n #kirishima x you #kiri #eijiro x reader #kirishima eijiro x reader #bnharem #bnharem collab #august collab

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unreachablevoice · 2 years

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Could you do 30 with Jasonette?

Maribat Master List | Prompt List

... abso-FORKING-LUTELY my dear! :D

P.S. This is sooooo late (like that prompt list was posted ages ago) but you know what they say,,, better late than never :)

Warning: Swearing and cuss words may be present. Please read with caution, thank you!

My Love Language Might Be Singing, So I’ll Woo You With A Musical

Jason really really really likes Dramas, has he mentioned that? In fact, he is even willing to put his book down if someone were to ask him if he wanted to join them in watching a live-action play. Lucky for him, that “someone” was currently his adoptive brother Timothy Jackson Drake-Wayne aka his Replacement.

The younger adult had asked him one night if he wanted to come join him and his friend in watching the new musical that just came out since, apparently, that friend of his had a spare ticket. And who was he to say no to that? Plus, he is kind of curious as to who this new profound friend was (how shocking that the dissociable Replacement has finally found someone he could talk to!) because, honest to God, he could always hear Tim babbling and fangirling about how amazing they are for hours on end. It got him slightly—if not, a lot—interested.

Although he was all talk about that, finding out that this friend of his is a girl (and a very cute one at that) made it harder to approach her.

Letting out a sigh, he looks at the said girl longingly as she leaves for the bathroom right after the show has finished and he and his wayward brother waits for her. He wonders if she enjoyed the show. They didn’t really sit together since it’d be awkward so Tim was sitting in between them, but he had caught a few glimpses of her while watching the play. She was either smiling brightly and laughing at a particular scene or swaying her body to the beat of the song. Either way, she’s really cute.

“So,” Tim snaps him out of his reverie and swings his body forward and back like a seesaw while clasping his hands behind his back. “What’d you think?”

Jason looks at him confusedly. What the f■■■ is he talking about? “What? About the show?” he asks.

Tim deadpans and raises an eyebrow. “Seriously?” He sighs and shakes his head. “I’m talking about my friend! What do you think of her?”

The brunet averts his eyes and looks at the direction of the Girls’ Comfort Room. “She’s cute, I guess.” He feels his cheeks warm slightly at the thought. Damnit, did he really have to tell Tim all that? He'll annoy the death out of him, that’s for sure.

“Pfft—” He hears the younger brunet snicker and it pisses him off. “You ‘guess’?” He looks at the teasing grin on Tim’s face and it infuriates him even further.

“Shut up,” he hisses between clenched teeth. Would anyone notice it if Tim was suddenly sporting a black eye?

He ignores his brother’s snickering as a sigh slips out from his slips, finally seeing the aforementioned girl exit the washroom. She really is pretty, drop-dead gorgeous even, that the dread of knowing that she’s way too out of his league hits him harder than a pile of bricks.

“You want to talk to her?” Tim hits his shoulder with his own as he notices Jason looking at the ravenette.

Feeling unusually hesitant, Jason spares his brother a glance before focusing back to the advancing figure of the girl. “Yes,” he finally spits out. Yes, he does want to talk to her.

“Well, then, go on.” Tim nudges his back and suddenly, he was walking. It was like that was all he needed to be on a running start and finally grow some balls to talk to his brother’s friend, who Tim, himself, is also conveniently helping him with.

“Jason!” Tim calls for him again, making his steps falter.

“Yes?” he briefly looks back at the male.

“Don’t come on too strong, ‘kay?” His usual annoying smirk plasters on his face.

Jason lets out a huff and continues walking to meet the ravenette halfway. Knowing absolutely nothing of what Tim was talking about. He’s never come on too strong.

Meeting the tinkling eyes of the girl, he swiftly gets down on one knee in front of her and holds his hand out. “Come home with me?”

Oh sh■■, did he really just sing that? And did he really have to pick that musical??! Damn, he really should’ve listened to Tim.

He hears the said male silently laugh behind him (only patience, loads of patience, could stop him from hurling his fists onto his face) and it became the signal to make the girl in front of him smile. Well, now he’s dead, again.

“Who are you?” the ravenette plays along with his crazy plan while sporting a smile.

“The man who’s going to marry you.” He grins at the girl. Welp, he’s already there, might as well get on with it. “I’m Jason,” he deviates from the lyrics because seriously, what if she didn’t really know his name?

“Is he always like this?” the girl asks to someone behind him while still wearing that almost-laughing-but-not-quite smile. And he’s pretty sure that the one she’s talking to is none other than his brother.

“Yes.” He hears Tim forcefully say between coughs (goddammit, at least try to hide your amusement!) and still plays along with their shenanigans.

The ravenette giggles and takes his hand so as to be more into her “role”. “I’m Eury—Marinette,” she stutters the original lyrics with her name and smiles radiantly at him.

“Your name is like a melody.” He smiles back breathlessly. Gosh, she’s really pretty.

“Oh, a singer? Is that what you are?” Marinette—glad to finally have a name to a face—teases him back and it makes his heart skip a beat. Ah, sh■■, no, stop. Stop, please. Why does she have to be so cute?

He clears his throat and looks into the ravenette’s eyes. “I also play the lyre.” And yes, he does play the lyre... but, okay, maybe he’s not that good at it (and he’s way better at playing the saxophone at three in the morning just to spite everyone in the manor) but he can. At least a little bit.

“Oh, a liar and a player too!” She smirks, mirth dancing in her eyes. “I’ve met too many men like you.” She passes him and he vaguely hears a “humph” from her still smiling lips.

And he panics (They’re just pretending but what do you expect him to do? What if she actually does think of him like that?!). “Wait! I’m not like that!” Wow, okay, even when he’s not singing, he still gets the lyrics right. He abruptly stands up and reaches for her hand.

Marinette whips back to face him and he sees her sporting an amused smirk with an eyebrow raised.

He hears Tim snicker behind him again and feels him place a hand on his shoulder. “He’s not like any man you’ve met.” He stares at the brunette with wide eyes (because, seriously, he’s also playing along?!!) and Tim meets him with a cheeky grin. “Tell her what you’re workin’ on!”

Jason shakes his head in disbelief and huffs out a chuckle. “I’m workin’ on a song...” Well, technically, yes? No? He sometimes writes some small blurbs of poems in his free time (which is not very often), but otherwise, he would just be reading a book. He doesn’t write songs, per se, that’s not his thing. But he does still continue with the singing; if only to talk longer with the girl. “It isn't finished yet but when it’s done and when I’ll sing it, spring will come again.”

He smiles brightly at the girl and spreads his arms (“Like a dramatic little bi■■■,” “Shut the fu■■ up, Replacement!”). Honestly, it was so awkward and goddamn embarrassing to be doing this in front of so many people but, God, he really wants to impress this girl. And if embarrassing himself like an idiot is what it takes, then, he’ll gladly do it.

Marinette laughs—oh, sweet mercy, he can die happily now—and shakes her head. “Come again?” She wipes a stray tear as soft, bell-like giggles continue to spill from her mouth.

“Spring will come.” He takes a step closer to her person, all the while never looking away from her bluebell eyes.

“When?” she asks with a smile while her hands press against his chest, against the place where his heart thrums like a loud drum that it feels painful. “I haven’t seen a spring or fall since... I can’t recall.”

A pink hue spreads across her cheeks—no doubt must be the effect of their close proximity—and it gives him a mini heart attack, the red color creating a striking difference against her pale skin and it makes the light sprinkle of freckles on her cheeks stand out.

“That’s what I’m working on,” he whispers and Jason leans even closer that he could almost connect the freckles on her face like constellations, stars upon the milk-like expanse of her skin, “a song to fix what’s wrong.” He looks down and takes her hand in his, relishing the feeling of her feather soft skin against his palms. “Take what’s broken, make it whole.”

The ever-present smile on her face blooms into a bigger grin, showcasing her pearly white teeth and the cute dimples on her cheek. His heart beats even more painfully—if that was even possible—at the sight. His head telling him that, somehow, he’d be more than okay with it if this was the face he wakes up to.

“A song so beautiful,” he sings as though he’s telling her that she was the one who’s beautiful; she was so beautiful, “it brings the world back into tune, back into time.” He cradles her face and presses his thumb on her cheek, caressing it ever so lightly. The softness of her cheek is so out-of-this-world that he wonders if it even was real (he also wonders about her skin care routine but whatever).

“Where all the flowers will bloom... and you become my wife.”

Marinette replies with throwing her head back and laughing, laughing like she has no care for the world because she is (his) world, and laughing like she didn’t just punch him in the gut and send butterflies on his stomach; like she didn’t just light the worn-out fire in his heart into a blazing flame.

Gasping as if she’s trying to catch her breath from laughing too much, she shakes her head. “Oh, he’s crazy,” she says as though she means it (and maybe he was crazy; crazy for her). “Why would I become his wife?” Her eyes look at somewhere behind Jason and, for a second there, Jason missed having her attention on him that he almost forgot that they were still on a silly, little game.

“Maybe because he’ll make you feel alive,” Tim answers her from behind Jason, his voice sounding like he’s smiling; Jason wasn’t sure—since he doesn’t really have eyes in the back of his head to see the boy.

But what he is sure is that, yes, he’ll make her feel alive. So alive that every waking minute of their lives will feel like it was their last chance of living. (God, look how easy it is he fell. He fell fast and hard, so damn hard).

The ravenette raises an eyebrow at Tim, and damn if that didn’t make his knees wobble. “Alive?” she asks and meets his eyes once more, the same blues—yet different shades—in their eyes clashing like waves under the sun. “That’s worth a lot.” She looks down at her feet before staring back into his eyes, genuine curiosity coating her irises. “What else ya got?”

Leaning in, Jason smiles as his breath mingles with hers, touching ghostly against her lips. “A lot, I have a whole lot more to show you.”

–––––––––––––––––

After their little show, claps and whoops resounded around the mall and, although it was a bit embarrassing, the bright smile on the ravenette’s face made up for the shame.

Following that, three weeks passed, a couple of dates both chaotically and wonderfully ended, Jason’s single status for over two years has now been broken, his grown-a■■ self practically living on Marinette’s couch with how often he visits her for cuddles.

And, right now, as he watches the girl dance in her kitchen while waving a spatula around, Jason feels as though the crawling, green gunk in his soul has vanished completely. He feels as though the chains that bound him to that pit has disintegrated and left him completely bare in front of this Eurasian girl.

And, surprisingly, Jason is more than content with that.

Maribat Master List | Prompt List

asdfdsda this has been delayed for like a year??? or almost a year??? I dunno the point is I'm so so soooo sorry. I hope whatever this contraption is made up for the long wait ＞﹏＜

Also,,, you know I actually am not that satisfied with this one??? I dunno,,, I just- it feels a bit,,, lacking??? for me that is. I dunno about you people.

And I was actually going to write a different fic for the ask (because, again, I wasn't satisfied with this one) but then I scrolled through the other asks I got and saw this BEAUTIFUL MAGNEFICENT CHEF'S KISS PROMPT (although they've submitted that like months ago) and I was just,,, I got distracted and the thought of writing another fic for this one just went OUT the window so.... yeah

(also,,, this was posted on patreon ages ago so...

Go become a Patron if you want to have early access to different updates! :))

Also also,,, Kim Dokja white coat webtoon debut??????????? Kim Dokja?????????? You???? are???? so???? pretty??????????? I kid you not like I legit combusted on the spot and screamed so hard that my parents scolded me adsfdgfhdfdg

and on another note, today is the premier of Jujutsu Kaisen 0 movie????? and I'm crying because I know, like I just know we won't go out and watch it because my parents and the pandemic don't mix well :'((

that's whhy,,,, I'll be taking a break from twitter because I'm pretty sure I'll be bombarded by spoilers so bye bye for now...

Anywho, I really hoped you guys enjoyed this one and I'll see you when I see you??? lol byee

*whispers* Also, Marry Christmas hehe

TAGLIST:

[Note: If you have changed your username, please message or tell me so I'll be able to update my list. Thank you! ^^

Also,, this list (that is thankfully written) is the one for anything maribat,,, in case anyone's asking :)]

#jasonette #maribat #ml crossover #miraculous x dc #dc x miraculous #marinette x jason #jason x marinette #ml x dc #mlb x batman #mlb x dc #so this is like my christmas gift to you all no?#… well I guess that’s a first ^^;

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inkandpen22 · 3 years

Text

The Princess and The Pogue (Pt. 9)

Pairing: JJ x Reader / Topper x Reader

Word Count: 3.0k

Warnings: swearing, mild smut, angst, fluff

Part Summary: Y/N goes to see JJ after the party and she begins to think everything will work out

Masterlist

The Pogues are gathered around the bonfire, chatting over a couple of beers and joints. JJ keeps checking his phone every few minutes, wondering why you haven't texted him yet. You agreed for him to pick you up at your house at eleven, but he wants to wait for your text saying you're home. He's considered just going over anyway, assuming you're already there since dinner would've ended at least two hours ago. Before he has the chance to even rise to his feet to go, you and Topper roll up the driveway. None of the Pogues recognize the gray BMW, except Sarah.

“Is that Topper dropping off Y/N?” She frowns in confusion as the car comes to a steady halt at the end of the gravel drive.

Pope presses his fingers to his temples, wide-eyed. “Am I hallucinating?”

“Okay, enough weed for me," Kiara declares, passing the joint to John B.

Topper stops the car and turns to you. “You’ll be okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” you nod, collecting your bag between your legs.

“Call or text if you need me,” he instructs, still somewhat reluctant to drop you off.

“Will do,” you offer him a reassuring smile.

“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow," he complies, leaning over the divider and planting a quick peck to your cheek. “Love you.”

“Love you too,” you return, granting him a kiss on the cheek as well. You climb out of Topper's car, walking toward the fire pit where JJ and everyone watch you utterly dumbfounded. “Hi guys,” you greet, slinging your bag over your shoulder.

“Topper knows his way around The Cut?” John B pokes fun.

“Did he drop you off to scope out the place?” Kiara grumbles.

“He didn’t want me driving," you explain as you take a seat next to a silent JJ. "We went to Kelce’s for a little after dinner and I’ve been drinking."

“What a gentleman,” Sarah mumbles sarcastically.

“Hi Baby,” JJ greets you with a soft smile, wrapping his arm around your waist.

“Hi,” you grin, leaning in and planting a kiss to his lips to which he reciprocates.

“I could’ve picked you up,” he whispers against your lips.

“I know," you state, parting from him for a second. "I just didn’t want to make you do the drive."

“I’m surprised Topper let you out of the car,” Sarah snickers.

“We came to an understanding,” you describe vaguely.

“Oh yeah?" Kiara raises a brow. "What’s that?”

“We’re just friends,” you reply confidently.

“I don’t just kiss my friends goodbye...” John B mumbles under his breath.

“We’re just friends," you reiterate, starring the boy down warningly.

“You bet you are,” JJ agrees, pulling you into his side. “I missed you today.”

“I missed you too," you blush, peering over to meet his gaze.

“Movie anyone?” John B suggests suddenly rising to his feet.

“Yes!” Sarah bursts.

“Comedy!” Pope votes.

“Romance!” Kiara challenges.

“Actually," JJ sighs, standing up next to you. "I was going to head to bed, wanna come?” He asks as he glances down at you.

You hum. “Yeah, I’m pretty tired actually."

____________________________________________

You and JJ lay in bed, facing each other as you talk about everything under the sun. You could've watched the movie considering you've been up for hours talking, not once trying to fall asleep. Yet, spending hours laying in bed, talking to JJ, is a much better pass time.

“Fish tacos from The Wreck,” JJ answers without a moment's hesitation.

“Ooo, you know I’ve never been there,” you confess, intrigued.

“Really?!" JJ's eyes grow wide. "We’ll have to go ASAP! Kie’s dad makes the best hush puppies,” he dramatically gestures with his hands.

You giggle, “sounds amazing.”

“Okay, now your turn." JJ's arm drapes over you and rubs his hand up and down your back.

“Hmm," you hum, thinking it over. "My grandma’s chicken and dumplings. She always made it when I was sick and it’s like a warm hug.”

“Yum," he grins. “Dream vacation?”

“Anywhere with a beach,” you answer easily. “I love to travel, but I also love the ocean so can’t be too far from it. You?”

“Surfing trip around the world," he nods, clearly having thought about it before. "I’m talking Australia, Japan, Brazil, all over.”

“Surfing world tour. Very surfer Pogue of you,” you tease playfully.

“Would a Kook Princess like to come?” He offers with a sly smirk as his eyes fall to the small space between you.

“Sure I’ll follow,” you accept with a soft smile.

JJ jokingly nudges you on the shoulder with a slight blush to his cheeks. “Stop," he chuckles. "If anything you pick the places and I follow. Follow you around the world.”

“You would?” You narrow your eyes at him with a smirk.

“What’s that Carol King song?” He tries to recall and whispers some of the words. “Where you lead...”

“I will follow," you add in a sing-songy tone.

“Anywhere!” You both say in unison to each other, causing you two to laugh.

JJ exhales deeply, catching his breath after laughing.“Talking to you is so easy it’s scary," he confesses, taking your hand in his between you two.

“I never felt so understood until I met you,” you tell him.

His brows scrunch together as he watches your hands move around one another. “You don’t think Topper understands you?”

“I do... to an extent,” you shrug, not fully convinced. “He’s known me longer, so he knows why I am the way I am, but he’s not necessarily accepting of all of it.”

“What do you mean?” JJ wonders aloud.

“If I told him that I don’t want to go to every party and rather stay in, he’d wonder why. If I said I don’t like the Club and rather spend a day on some remote island somewhere he wouldn’t relate. I could tell you that I want to move to Guam and you’d be game for it. Some days I don’t want to have any responsibilities or social obligations which confuses Topper. He’s satisfied where he is. He’s satisfied being stationary and though I’m told I have everything, I don’t want any of it." You pause, finding yourself coming to a hard conclusion. You peer up at JJ who's eyes have left your hands and pour into you. "There has to be more right? There has to be something different out there.”

“Life beyond the OBX?" He seek to clarify to which you nod. "Yeah, there’s an entire world outside of here!”

“That’s what I want..." You whisper. "Something entirely my own and somewhere where no one knows me.”

“Maybe we should explore it together,” he smiles gently with content. “I mean, as long as it’s okay for one person to know you.”

“You don’t count," you blush.

JJ releases your hand, bringing his own to caress your cheek. “I want to see the world with you."

You lean into his touch, his warmth making you feel safe, seen, and understood. “I think that can be arranged...”

JJ shakes his head, as though he's come to a profound realization. “You’re everything to me." His words slip by in a whisper as he leans in and presses a gentle kiss to your lips, sealing his statement.

You run your fingers through JJ's hair, pulling him in deeper. He smiles against your lips, loving your reaction. He moves to hover over you, encompassing you with his body. You take matters into your own hands and press JJ down to lay down beside you. Swiftly, you move to straddle him. A grunt leaves him and you cower slightly.

"Did I hurt you?!" You nearly panic.

“No, no,” he’s quick to assure you, bringing his hand to your face and brushing your hair back.

You hadn’t noticed when he got into bed, the bruises and cuts scattered across his torso. You remember them from the Boneyard and in the hot tub. You had thought perhaps they were from Topper.

JJ can tell that your mind isn’t satisfied. "What else is troubling you?" He frowns. "Babe, look at me, please."

"If these weren't Topper, what happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it,” he scrunches his face with a shake of the head. “Don't worry, it's taken care of,” he tries to change the subject, reaching up to kiss you.

You gasp. "Did someone do this to you?!" You quickly realize.

"Y/N..."JJ exhales deeply.

"JJ, I have to know!” You argue. “If someone-"

"It was my dad okay!" He confesses.

You heart sinks has the dark reality hits you like a ton of bricks.

"He... he gets mad sometimes..."JJ describes, looking anywhere but you. He begins to fidget with the hem of your shirt. When... When things weren’t good between us... I picked a fight with him. It was stupid. I shouldn't have done it, but I did! I think I wanted it. At least then I could control the pain,” he explains, killing you.

You lean down and plant a gentle, comforting kiss to his lips. When you pull back, JJ stares at you, stunned by the action. You swallow hard as you slide down, keeping eye contact with him as you plant a kiss to his bruised peck. JJ’s heart begins to race as he watches you. You continue on your path to his multicolored rib. JJ’s hand brushes over the top of your head gently. Your fingers curl under the hem of his boxers as you leave a trail of kisses over his cut and bruised stomach.

"Y/N..." He breathes heavily as his eyes fall shut.

"Never again,” you tell him warningly as a demand. “You never go back there. Here, Kie's, Pope's, my place, anywhere else but there. Morning, noon, or night, you need a place, come to me. You hear me?"

JJ nods, too consumed in you to voice anything.

"I see marks like these on you again, I'll kill him and they won't find the body. I've seen enough crime documentaries. I can be like Liam Nison in Taken,” you joke slightly.

"I'm sure you could," JJ smirks, peering down at you.

You lift yourself up to hover just above his face. You cup his cheeks, making him look you in the eyes. "I'm never going to leave you, ever! You never have to suffer alone again. I promise. Your pain is my pain. Whatever you inflict on yourself you also do on me."

"I promise too. You're my world, Y/N,” he tells you and you know he means it. “You're my life now."

Suddenly, there's a ruckus coming from outside in the hall. The sound of the screen door slamming against the frame and shouting.

“Hey! Hey! Hey! I’ll go get her! You stay here!” You hear John B yell.

“Like I’d listen to you!” Another voice barks.

You break from JJ, trying to listen. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know,” he frowns, peering over at the door. He climbs off of you and slips out of the bed. He grabs a t-shirt from the chair in the corner and pulls it over his head, his boxers still slightly exposed.

“JJ, be careful!” You beg, worried that it could be someone looking for trouble.

"I will, Baby. It's okay," he promises, heading toward the door to check it out.

“Cool off Topper!” Pope shouts before you hear a bang.

“Topper?” You mumble in disbelief, flying off the bed and toward the door.

“Y/N!" JJ grabs your wrist as you open the door. "Baby, wait!”

Before he has the chance to stop you, you stumble into the hallway. JJ rushes out of the bedroom, nearly running into you. Standing at the end of it, in the archway of the living room, Topper turns his attention away from the Pogues. His eyes land on you and a wave of relief consumes him.

“Y/N...” Your name falls from his parted lips faintly.

“Topper...” You stand frozen.

“There is almost an equal Kook to Pogue ratio in this house and I don’t like it,” Pope huffs from behind Topper.

“I need to talk to you," the tall blonde announces urgently.

You speed walk down the hall, despite JJ's efforts to stop you. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, I just... I... uh...” Topper stutters, nervously avoiding your gaze, and focuses on the small floor space between you.

“Have you been drinking again?" You question, coming to the conclusion he has. He smells of beer and weed, more than he did hours ago. "Did you go back to Kelce’s!”

“I was losing my mind, Y/N!" He bursts, uncharacteristically, causing you to jump and JJ to step forward toward you. "I needed a distraction, but nothing was working!” Topper explains in a rush, all fidgety. “Can we just go somewhere to talk?”

JJ immediately steps in, moving to stand between the two of you. “You’re not going anywhere with her!”

“Oh shove it,” Topper snaps at JJ.

“You forget you’re on my side of the island, Kook!” JJ barks, shoving Topper in the chest.

“Enough!” You scream, pressing a palm to each of their chests. “For Pete’s sake!”

“Back off JJ!” Kiara yells.

“I just need to talk to you,” Topper pants.

You exhale deeply, glancing between JJ and Topper. You know JJ won't approve and won't allow it without a fight, but you agree to speak with Topper. “Okay, let’s go outside.”

JJ laughs, pacing around. “You can’t be serious-”

“Ten minutes!” You shout at him, escorting Topper toward the door.

“She sure told you,” Topper mocks JJ as he backs up to the exit.

“Oh shut up,” you grumble, urging Topper through the doorway leading to the front yard.

You and Topper settle down on the hammock, swinging back and forth on the edge, side by side. The sun has long since set and the lights in the large tree illuminate the yard. Unable to sit still, Topper rises from his spot and paces in front of you.

“What’s going on Topper?” You ask worriedly.

The boy stops, rubbing his hand across the back of his neck nervously. “I’m losing my mind, Y/N!" He finally breaks his silence. "I feel like there are weights strapped to me and I’m being pulled to the bottom of the ocean, struggling for air!” He rushes out in a pant. “I’ve been an arrogant ass and too scared to pay attention, but now I’m just scared and I’m afraid if I don’t tell you this now that I’ll never get a chance like this again!”

You stand, taking his hands in yours. "Just take a deep breath!"

He yanks his hands free of your hold, running his fingers through his hair as he paces away. "I'm about to be the most selfish person on the planet!"

“Topper, just say it! It can't be that bad!" You try to reassure him, the pit in your stomach growing with each passing minute. You can only assume the worst.

“I love you!” Topper bursts out, meeting your gaze pleadingly.

A weight lifts off your shoulder. You thought it was something bad. “That's it? I love you too,” you laugh lightly.

“No!" He stops you. "Not the way you mean it... it’s not the same! I love you!”

Neither of you notice the Pogues hiding in the enclosed patio, watching everything go down.

“I knew it!” Pope announces from his spot by the window.

“Pay up!” Kiara holds out her hand to John B.

JJ's heart sinks when he hears the confession leave Topper. He wants to run for the hills, but he can't help but observe you stand there in shock.

Topper's chest rises and falls rapidly. “I didn’t realize it fully until I dropped you off and saw you with him. I know what I said earlier, that I’m okay with this!" The words fly out of him like a freight train going full speed. “But I’m not! I’ve been in love with you for two years! Before Sarah, during Sarah, after her!”

“Okay ouch...” Sarah mumbles from her spot on the patio.

“I’ve loved you since the moment I met you, I’ve just been too caught up in everything else to notice!" Topper's voice cracks with emotion.

"You tell me this now!" You shout, growing more frustrated with each passing second.

He sighs, "I know, I know, I'm sorry-"

"No! You don't get to apologize!" You snap at him, utterly pissed off and frankly hurt. "You could've had me! You had me, Topper!" You correct as your eyes begin to swell with tears. "You had every opportunity to change the status quo and you didn't! You let me feel like a toy, there to satisfy you when you needed company! Yes, it was fun! Yes, it was great sex! Yes, I fed into the holding and touching, even when you and Sarah were on a break because I thought..." You swallow hard, processing what you're about to say. "Because I thought that eventually, you'd love me!" You break, tears falling down your cheeks. You finally let go of a truth you've been holding in for years now. "If I kept sleeping with you that one day you'd realize that we were more than just friends! Everyone else thought it! But you were caught up on Sarah and then it became not letting Sarah be with John B! I had to break it off after Bermuda because it was killing me! I couldn't take it anymore! I had to begin to move on!"

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm such an idiot!" Topper rushes up to you, taking your hands in his pleadingly. "Tonight, feeling you again, I saw the rest of our lives and I want it! I don’t give a shit about our friends or golfing or the Club or Sarah because none of it matters if I don’t get to experience it with you!” He begs, “so pick me! Be with me! Love me!”

You whimper, unsure of what to do or say. Everything is happening so fast.

"You slept with him?"

You turn over your shoulder to find JJ standing just a few feet away. His eyes glisten under the lights of the tree. He swallows hard, taking your silence as enough of an answer. He nods his head, pressing his lips together to hold back his emotions.

“You’re exactly as everyone says!” He yells, pointing at you aggressively.

In a second, he's sprinting away down the gravel drive. You step forward, ready to run after him, but Topper grabs your wrist.

"Y/N, don't!" He pleads.

You yank your wrist free, before running him. "JJ!" You call, "JJ wait!"

"Y/N!" Topper shouts, running after you.

"JJ!" You beg for him to stop.

"Y/N, wait!" Topper grunts, sprinting.

"JJ!" You struggle to keep up with the boy. Soon, he disappears into the dark woods across the street and you have no choice but to halt, losing all hope.

You fall to your knees on the gravel. The sound of Topper's feet hitting the gravel quickly approaching. You slam your fists to the ground with a scream, hitting your boiling point. How much is a girl expected to take?

______________________________________

Masterlist

Tags: @starkeythinker @bethii1 @thegunnerkelly@cc13723things@hockeybabe87 @jolomez @plutooryectors

103 notes · View notes

12tardis · 4 years

Text

In My Defence, I Have None (Newt Scamander x Reader)

Warnings: brief panic attack mentions Requested: yes @cyborgfromthesupermarket asked for ‘they are in a battle or something and reader gets hurt trying to protect Newt?’ Thanks for the prompt! I hope you like it, I know it’s probably not what you had in mind… Pairing: Newt Scamander x Reader Summary: You get hurt in battle when you throw yourself in front of Newt to save him. Will he finally tell you how he feels or will he lose you for good? Can he fix what he’s done? Features Angry/scared Newt! A/N: I stalled on this for so long because I had so many ideas to drag out the angst and change the ending I hope you guys like it! I know the timeline of the fbawtft book is off don’t @ me Title: the 1 - Taylor Swift - SO PROUD of my bby Aaron Dessner for helping me to see Taylor’s prowess as a song writer. Just imagine the reader singing this all angsty like Words: 4,138 Taglist: @moonkissk7

You were doing your best to fend off bits off falling debris as the building around you collapsed in collateral damage from the heated duel going on between Newt and Grindelwald. You and Tina deflected some falling rubble that was headed for Jacob while Queenie was also busy trying to help Newt.

Time seemed to drag on as you all battled it out for what felt like hours, the duel coming to a head when you flung a pile of bricks at Grindelwald, the man becoming enraged and fighting back at Newt with even more resolve.

You watched on in horror as Newt briefly wiped the sweat that was forming in his brow and Grindelwald took the opportunity to cast one of the unforgivable curses at him.

You saw the whole thing in slow motion as you watched your best friend, the man you had loved for as long as you could remember, push his hair back from his face completely oblivious to the curse that hurtling towards him. Your heart was in your throat and you didn’t even hesitate to throw yourself in front of Newt, screaming his name as you pushed him out of harm’s way.

“NEWT!” his eyes snapped to you immediately when he heard your scream and he felt his entire body run cold as he saw the unmistakable plume of green coming out of Grindelwald’s wand, heading straight for your back.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion for him too as he instinctively cast the knock back jinx at you, sending you back with too much force, causing you to fall into a pile of rubble roughly. He winced at your cry of pain, but he was relieved that the spell had missed you completely, instead dissipating into the ruins around you.

He turned away from you focusing his full energy on fighting Grindelwald, firing a round of rapid spells at the man in his fury. His newfound adrenaline seemed to stun the other man just long enough for Tina to disarm the man and just moments later a flock Auror’s arrived in the station.

Newt didn’t look back at you once as the MACUSA President and the Auror’s arrested Grindelwald, staring the man down until he was out of sight and it was just the five of you left in the ruined station.

Newt turned to face you, seeing Tina and Queenie on either side of you. Tina was dusting the dirt off you while Queenie cast a simple healing charm over the few cuts and scrapes you had.

You were shaking and wanted nothing more than to feel Newt’s safe arms around you after that close call but as you looked back at him you noticed the harsh line of his jaw and the way he was clenching his fists at his sides.

You pushed the Goldstein sisters away from you gently and stepped towards Newt with your hand outstretched only to recoil when he began to shout at you.

“Y/N, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR DAMN MIND!?”

You could have heard a pin drop in the ruined station as you all just stood there staring a Newt in complete shock. He had only ever treated you with the utmost care and respect, not once raising his voice at you.

You had never even heard him curse before and had only seen him angry once before in your entire life. That had been when you’d broken your arm helping Theseus with one of his mother’s Hippogriffs but that time his anger had been directed at his brother, not at you. Plus, it had been fairly easy to calm him down then. With one doe eyed look and a carefully timed hug you had the younger Scamander pacified.

This time though his entire body was tense, looking about ready to snap in two and you could practically hear him grinding his teeth together as an angry flush spread up his neck and to his ears. He looked the complete opposite of the sweet and gentle Newt that you’d fallen for. He was absolutely livid, and you found yourself shrinking under his gaze.

“I-I was...he was,” you stuttered as you stared back at Newt, feeling like a scorned child but then you remembered that Grindelwald had very nearly killed him “I was protecting you!” you said firmly, finding your voice once more as you tried to reach for Newt again.

But that seemed to be the worst possible thing you could have said as he somehow grew even more enraged. “I CAN LOOK AFTER MYSELF!”, he shouted, his voice booming in the crumbling tunnel and then he cut you off before you could even speak again.

“That was completely IDIOTIC! Did you even stop to think for a second?!”

You stared back at him as tears welled in your eyes, threatening to spill. Being one of the more spritely and eccentric Hufflepuff’s at Hogwarts had meant that you were no stranger to being called an idiot or stupid by your peers. You had been taunted with the words for years and Newt had been one of the only people in your life to never throw them in your face.

He was usually the one defending you when people hurled those insults at you. You could always depend on him to cheer you up by sneaking you your favourite snacks from the kitchens and spending his time assuring you that you were clever and incredible. So, to hear him call you an idiot so easily now deeply upset you.

“Hey hey...Newt, come on buddy”, Jacob intervened, touching his friend on the shoulder when he saw your bottom lip start to tremble and the way Newt didn’t appear to be backing down any time soon.

And as you watched Newt’s chest rise and fall rapidly while he continued to stare at you furiously you felt your own anger bubbling to the surface.

“I’m going home!”, you snapped, shaking your head at him as you snatched your wand up from where it had fallen. You weren’t standing for this. How dare he shout at you in such a way when you were only trying to help!

“Good! I don’t want to travel with a liability anyway!” He snapped back at you and your eyes widened because you had just meant home as in back to the Goldstein’s apartment. But he was clearly talking about your home London. It was like an ice dagger through your heart.

Was he really done with you just like that?

You couldn’t hold back your sob as you ran from the train station, too upset to apparate anywhere and Tina and Jacob followed after you immediately. Queenie stayed behind though because she was the only person that could hear how distressed Newt was.

The second you and the others were gone he sunk to his knees, burying his face in his hands and letting out a shuddering breath.

Queenie blinked back her own tears as she heard his thoughts louder and clearer than she ever had before. She could feel the overwhelming sense of fear and self loathing the was practically pouring from him.

She nearly died because of me.

I can’t protect her

I’m not even worth it

“Sweetheart don’t think like that. You are absolutely worth saving”, she said softly, laying her hand on his back and sighing sadly when she only heard another round of self-deprecating thoughts flood her mind.

“Queenie please. Leave me be”, Newt pleaded, digging his nails into his palms as he tried to block her out of his thoughts though he knew it was no use.

Queenie frowned down at him when his thoughts became more centred around the fear he’d just felt seeing Y/N so nearly taken from him. “She loves you you know?”, she whispered, kneeling down beside him carefully and gently hugging him.Newt continued to sit there tensely, not allowing himself the comfort of Queenie’s hug, so she squeezed his shoulder as she got back to her feet.

“She’s loves you and you need to tell her how you feel soon or else she’s never going to understand why you just hurt her the way you did,” she said softly before she too left him there to think on his own.

Newt walked around the city for about an hour after Queenie had left, trying to calm himself down so that he could go to you and salvage whatever was left of your relationship but he kept replaying the image of you throwing yourself in front of him to take the hit of a killing curse.

He knew he probably should have been touched that you cared for him so much, but all he felt was a crippling sense of dread and guilt. He couldn’t live with himself if you died because of him. Heaven knows he hadn’t even stopped beating himself up over you getting bitten by one of the Doxies and that was weeks ago.

His love for you was so profound that he had considered cutting you out of his life in order to keep you safe several times before, but you simply never listened to him. You always sensed when he was closing himself off and you just wouldn’t allow it.

As he wandered through the streets of New York it was the realisation of what he’d really just said to you that calmed him down immediately. The anger made way for complete remorse.

“Merlin, what have I done?”, he whispered out loud, earning himself a few odd looks from passers-by. He’d screamed at you. He’d called you idiotic. He’d let you believe that he didn’t want you by his side in his travels. How far from the truth that all was.

He found himself standing in the Goldstein’s apartment not a minute later, looking away in shame at the looks Tina and Jacob both shot him. He looked back at Queenie desperately and the other woman simply gestured to the guest room, offering him the tiniest smile of encouragement.

Tina appeared in front of him though before he made it even half way down the hallway, jabbing a finger into his chest “If you make her cry again I will break your fingers one by one and feed them to your creatures, Mr Scamander”, she practically growled at him. And Newt couldn’t help but shudder because he knew it wasn’t just an empty threat coming from the older Goldstein.

Tina absolutely adored you. You were the only person other than Queenie that saw through her cold exterior and never complained about her uptight ways. You two had hit it off from the moment you’d met, and you brought out a softness in her that Newt recognised in himself. So, he didn’t begrudge Tina for threatening him one bit but he just wanted to see you and fix what he’d done.

“Tina, I promise I’m going to fix this, just please let me go to her”, he pleaded, willing himself to look the woman in the eye so he could prove he was being genuine. She stared at him with a cold and calculating stare for a few moments before she eventually nodded, stepping out of his way and returning to the dining room.

Newt sighed and continued to the guest room, sucking in a breath before he pushed the door open and stepped into the room, his heart clenching painfully in his chest when he saw you curled up on the bed clutching a pillow to your chest with obvious tear tracks running down your face.

“Go away”, you said weakly, turning away from him on the bed, and closing your eyes tightly. You recognised the look of concern on his face and you knew you didn’t have to worry about him shouting at you again, but you just didn’t have the energy to face him.

He continued towards you and crouched down by the bed so he could be at the same height as you “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry,” he murmured. He was itching to reach out for you and hold you like he usually would, but he knew he’d lost the right to even think about touching you now.

“I don’t want to hear it, Newton” you said starting off strong, but he heard your voice crack clear as day and he felt his own heart crack simultaneously. He’d seen you cry plenty of times before and each time had made his chest ache but to know that he was the cause of your tears this time brought him deep sorrow and despair.

How could he have hurt you so badly? You were the person he loved more than life itself and here you were crying at his own doing.

“Y/N please I- I have no excuses for how I spoke to you but Y/N I need you to know that I didn’t mean a single word I said,” Newt gushed out, still itching to reach for you and sucking in a breath when you suddenly turned to face him, not even attempting to hold your tears back.

“You called me an idiot”, you cried, letting out a shuddering breath “you were the only person that never called me that!” you chocked out and Newt had his own tears in his eyes now, absolutely loathing himself as he watched you.

“And now you don’t even- you don’t even want me around anymore!”, you gasped out and Newt frowned in concern when he realised you were starting to hyperventilate. Usually he would already be holding you close and talking you down.

“You don’t want to be my friend anymore, I didn’t- didn’t mean to make you mad” your stuttering got worse and Newt got to his feet, throwing caution to the wind as he climbed into the bed and pulled you into his arms.

“Sweetheart no,” he said firmly, holding you close in his arms and soothing one up and down your back while he used the other to tuck your head into the crook of his neck. He’d held you just like this numerous times over your many years of friendship, usually when you would wake up in tears from a nightmare. He would sit up with you, murmuring sweet words into your ear for as long as it took for you to relax again and he was just praying it would work in this case too.

“I didn’t mean a single word I said, and I am so so sorry, love. You are so incredibly witty and clever; I have never thought you to be anything less. How many times have you gotten me out of strife with your quick thinking?” He murmured, letting out a breath of relief when you didn’t push him away.

You were clutching at his shirt, you fingers curled tightly into the fabric as if he was going to leave you at any moment. “T-then why were you so mad? Why don’t you want to travel with me anymore?”, you managed to croak out, closing your eyes tightly as you sucked in an unsteady breath.

Newt let out a quiet sigh, pressing the softest kiss to the top of your head “I do want to travel with you. I don’t want to see the world with anyone else. But I was terrified Y/N. I was scared when I saw you fall from that Hippogriff in 6th year and I was scared when I watched you take on that Ridgeback last year, or the time you concussed yourself in Ireland but this was...this was different Y/N.”

Newt let out a long breath, closing his eyes for a moment as he tried to gather his thoughts, still holding you close. Your body was unwittingly relaxing and reacting to the way Newt had you cradled in his arms because you subconsciously knew his embrace meant safety and love after the many time’s he’d held you in the same way. Touching you with the utmost care like he would a wounded creature.

“Y/N...I’ve never felt more terrified than I did today”, Newt murmured seriously as he slowly pulled back from you, gripping your forearms as you gazed back at him. “Watching you, throw your body between myself and that killing curse”, he tensed up slightly at the memory “I couldn’t breathe. For a second there I really thought I was going to lose you having never told you how I really felt...”

He glanced down nervously, and you listened to him closely, your eyebrows pulling together “I don’t understand. I couldn’t just stand there and watch it happen, sure I acted on impulse, but I’d do it again. And I think you’d do the same for me.” you murmured, frowning back at your best friend.

Newt sighed, rubbing a hand down his face as he nodded “Merlin, I know and of course I would. I would do it in a heartbeat. I just...you...I need you to understand what you mean to me.”

He hopped to his feet when you continued to look at him in confusion and he rummaged around his luggage until he found what he was looking for. He sat back down across from you, holding a plain looking book out to you.

“It’s the first draft of my book.” Newt murmured nervously and you gasped in response, wondering why he hadn’t told you about it and why he was showing you now of all times. But as you flicked past the fly leaf the questions died in your throat, because there printed in the middle of the dedication page was your name.

To Y/N,

The love of my life, my soul mate.

You are by far, the most exquisite creature I’ve ever met.

I owe you my happiness and I offer my heart.

Eternally yours, (If you’ll have me and even if not)

N.S.

Newt watched you read it in silence, starting to fidget nervously when you showed no response whatsoever. “I um...obviously if you don’t feel the same way that’s a-absolutely fine! We can forget about this. I just- I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you for months now because I love you , I truly do and the thought of you n-not being around anymore terrifies me and I took my anger towards myself and Grindelwald out on you and-“

“Newt. Stop talking.” You said quietly, still not looking up at him as you continued to stare down at the book in your hands, gripping it in a vice like grip now just to make sure you weren’t dreaming. And Newt shut his mouth quickly, watching you in concern.

He wrung his hands in his lap, wondering if your silence was revenge for how he’d spoken to you today. Maybe you were angry with him and you were trying not to snap. Or maybe you were disgusted, and you were trying to find the nicest way to let him down. That seemed the most likely, since you were the kindest person he knew. Of course, you were just trying to let him down without hurting his feelings too much.

Newt looked back up at you when he heard the quietest sniffle come from you, a few stray tears falling onto the paper of the book in your lap. “Oh, and now I’ve just made you cry again,” Newt sighed, shaking his head at himself clenching his hands into fists “Y/N I’m so sorry. I’m such a fool” but you clapped your hand over his mouth before he had the chance to stammer out any more apologies.

“Merlin Newt just be quiet for a minute,” you sighed and Newt looked back at you with big eyes, trying to talk against your hand to which you raised an eyebrow at him and he promptly stopped.

You let go of him when he was finally silent and you looked back at him wordlessly, making him squirm because he had so much more to say to you. He wanted to ask you if you were okay or if you wanted him to go but as you climbed over to him and sat yourself down sideways in his lap, he found his answer.

You looped an arm around his shoulders, holding the book in your other hand as you read over the dedication again and Newt watched you in wonder, his heart starting to race when he saw a smile grace your features and he slowly lifted his arm to wrap around your waist, holding you securely.

You held a finger to his lips when you sensed he was about to start talking again, fixing him with a warning look. Newt let out a small huff of exasperation against your finger but couldn’t help but smile slightly as he settled back against the bed head, looking up at you in awe.

You sat in silence for what felt like hours to Newt, just taking in the moment. “So...I’m the most exquisite creature you’ve ever met huh?”, you said eventually, smiling down at Newt teasingly, unprepared for the look of absolute adoration he gave in return.

Newt nodded quickly, cupping your cheek tenderly “yes exquisite, enthralling, magnificent”, he murmured seriously, looking you in the eyes with such intensity you forgot how to breathe “kind, compassionate and so excruciatingly beautiful.”

You stared back into his eyes, feeling your cheeks heat as you sucked in a deep breath, leaning into his gentle touch “and I’m...the love of your life?” you asked, peering back at him shyly.

“Yes”, he whispered, his face inching closer to yours “I am entirely lost without you. You are my best friend and the love of my life”, he repeated, smiling adoringly at the smile that broke across your face “being with you feels like coming home and I am utterly enamoured with you.”

You felt tears welling in your eyes again but this time Newt didn’t fret because he knew they weren’t tears of sorrow. You shifted yourself in his lap until you were straddling him, facing him properly as you lay your hand over his heart, “and this is mine?”, you whispered, your lips only inches away from his now.

Newt flushed a deep pink as he lay his hand over yours, knowing you must have been able to feel the way his heart was trying to beat out of his chest, and nodding again “always,” he whispered, brushing your tears away delicately.

You kept your hand on his chest, letting him brush your tears away before you pressed your forehead to his “kiss me?”

Newt closed the gap between you quickly, pressing his lips to yours in the softest most tender kiss imaginable, letting out a breath through his nose as he cupped your face in his palm. You sighed quietly against his lips, completely melting against him as you reached up, tangling your fingers in his hair.

You only pulled back for air, looking back at him with pure joy shining in your eyes “I love you too you know?” You pressed another sweet kiss to his lips, taking his hands in your own and threading your fingers together “my soulmate,” you whispered, glad to see the happiness reflected in Newt’s eyes.

Newt stroked your hair back gently from your face some time later when you were both laying down tangled up together, “Can you ever forgive me for being so awful today?” He murmured, looking back at you and you could see the guilt flash in his eyes again.

“Mmm I’ll consider it if you take me to the markets tomorrow,” you teased before you pressed a kiss to his jaw “in all seriousness though I already have. I know you didn’t mean what you said, you only said it out of fear.”

You snuggled in closer to him, laying your head on his chest and looking up at him as you held a finger up “BUT. If you EVER talk to me like that again I will not hesitate to hex you into next year”

Newt smiled thankfully back at you, lifting your hand and pressing a loving kiss to your skin “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

You and Newt continued to share sweet kisses and words of adoration for the rest of the evening and Tina headed to fetch you both when dinner was served. She also just wanted to make sure Newt was staying true to his promise, but her sister grabbed her by the arm before she could leave the dining room.

“Leave them be, Teenie it’s okay.” The Legilimens murmured with a faraway look in her eyes and a soft smile on her lips, “They’re happy.”

-Masterlist Here-

let me know what you think!

#newt scamander x reader #newt scamander x you #newt scamander x y/n #newt x reader #newt scamander #Newton Artemis Fido Scamander

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tiny-maus-boots · 3 years

Text

Queen of Hearts pt 12

A/N: if anyone is still out there reading...thanks for your patience. always a thank you to my beta and bestie @chloes-yellow-cup for doing the thing on the thing.

12. Nosebleed

“You know when you invited me to the gym, I was expecting something more like Equinox…”

Aubrey chuckled and nudged Stacie’s elbow up and in gently so her wrapped fists were in the right place to protect her face. She blew a lock of dark hair out of her face and planted her weight solidly before throwing another punch at the hands held up as targets for her. It was weak and she knew it. Fighting had never really been her thing. Stacie’s instincts ran to comfort rather than violence and she wasn’t even sure why they were doing this.

“Equinox is a gym experience. It’s for people who work out to be seen. You won’t learn to really throw fists there. Besides, this gym was good enough for my dad…it’s good enough for us.”

Stacie was aware there was a personal attachment to the gym when Aubrey brought out her own keys to unlock the door and let them into the quiet and empty space. She just hadn’t realized what that connection came from. Though, she thought, she probably should have. Her eyes traveled to the painted brick walls with pictures and posters of fighters long past adorning them.

“Your dad trained here?”

Aubrey moved behind her, hands resting on Stacie’s hips guiding them in a pivot, helping Stacie to shift her weight with the movement.

“The power comes from the ground up. When you shift your weight, you bring it up through your legs and into your torso. Like this. Find your balance. It’s one of the first things my dad ever taught me about fighting. Right here in this very spot.”

The warmth of Aubrey’s body against her back was distracting and it made Stacie fumble clumsily. The blonde stepped back with a lingering caress and took up her spot in front of her fiancée to hold up her hands again. This time when Stacie swung her fist connected with a solid slap and she blinked in surprise at how it had felt to land a hit successfully and feel the slight jar of resistance from impact. It was exhilarating and she could see the appeal of boxing. Maybe.

“Whoa.”

“Feels good, right?”

“Yeah but….why are we doing this Bree?” Aubrey’s shoulders rolled in a slight shrug but she remained quiet, a sure sign that she had reasons she wasn’t sure how to share. Stacie dropped her shoulders and ducked low in a weave from the swipe of Aubrey’s hand. She popped back up and punched solidly into the waiting hands, the movements more fluid and sure than before. “Not that this isn’t kind of fun. But. It seems kind of purposeful.”

Aubrey’s arm swiped out again and she ducked. It was rhythmic, almost like dancing and the second she thought of it that way her body went into autopilot. She moved with ease, each punch more solid than the last.

“Two reasons. I always stop here to work out when I’m home. I dunno. Maybe it’s silly but I feel close to him here. My dad. I uh. I wanted him to meet you.”

Stacie’s fists wavered and dropped slightly and Aubrey reached out to nudge her elbows back into position. Her focus sharpened on the task, understanding that Aubrey needed to keep moving while they talked. She blew the same strand of hair out of her face once more and ducked and bobbed again, keeping the same flow.

“Think he’d like me?”

“I think he would have loved you. And he’d be proud…of me. For picking someone good like you to spend my life with. At least that’s how I always see it in my head when I think about him.”

Stacie slowed her movements on her duck and lowered her fists. Her heart throbbed painfully for Bree’s loss. It was pretty clear they had been a tight team, father, and daughter. Aubrey took a deep breath and rolled her shoulders back to square them.

“I really would have liked to meet him. I’m sorry he can’t be with us.”

“You would have liked him, babe. My dad was a big softie, you know. Despite what he did for work, he never let that be who he was. Inside.”

She touched her chest lightly and smiled as her gaze landed on picture on the wall. Stacie turned to look at it and smiled too. Even from across the ring she could tell it was baby Aubrey, tiny fists raised in front of her face as she squared off against a kneeling man with huge hands and kind laughing eyes.

“I see that in you, Aubrey. I know him from the way you love your people, from the way you love me. You’re kinda just like your dad.”

Aubrey gestured for Stacie to bring her hands up again, feeling the need to move around and focus on something else. She gave a slight nod of acknowledgement and raised her fists to start again. For a few minutes there was only the sound of the meaty slap of her one, two punches and the rustle of her clothes as she shuffled through her routine. She was feeling more confident about it and smiled through the next punches before taking a breath to speak.

“So, what was the other reason?”

Slap. Slap. Shuffle. Slap. Slap. Shuffle.

“The second reason has more to do with me getting to watch you working out in those sweats.”

It was hard to hold in her laughter but if she let it go now, she’d mess up her pacing and breathing. Aubrey stepped it up a notch and started a slow revolution around the ring, making Stacie stay light on her feet between punches. It took her another few minutes to get her breathing under control again.

“You’ve been hanging out with Detective Mitchell too much. You’re starting to sound like her.”

Aubrey let out a breathy chuckle when the new few punches landed a little heavier than the ones previously. The blonde caught her wrists on the next pass and brought their bodies together with a strong jerk. Stacie wasn’t at all complaining.

“She’s not so bad for a cop.”

“So that’s the real reason? You really just wanted to check me out?”

It wasn’t a complaint if the result was being held against Aubrey’s chest. Strong fingers flexed on her wrists, tightening ever so slightly and making her heart beat double time. It never ceased to amaze her that just that tiny flex of control could make her weak in the knees. Pale green eyes searched the planes of her face like a warm caress before she released Stacie.

“I always want to check you out. But no, I have reasons for this.” Hands ghosted down her sides keeping them close but not distractingly so. “Things could get rough soon, Alice is a loose cannon. There’s really no telling what she might try to do. I’d feel better knowing that if someone were stupid enough to try to put their hands on you, you’ll be able to make them regret it.”

Oh. Aubrey’s head dipped and she let out a shaky breath. Stacie brought their heads together for a gentle nose nudge. Self defense wasn’t the worst thing she could learn and there was good reason for it.

“That’s an oddly sweet and endearing sentiment. And you’re right. This is something I probably should have learned a long time ago. I just…”

There was something in her nature that made her squeamish about the idea of fighting. It wasn’t the pain she’d endure. She’d had plenty of it to endure before. It was the idea of hurting someone, putting her hands on someone with the intent to cause harm. It wounded something in her. But that was a softness she could no longer afford. Her life was different. She was different. Aubrey seemed to understand and cupped her face tenderly.

“This doesn’t change who you are Stace. You’re just going to know how to protect yourself. In case.”

In case. It was said with such a casual roll of Aubrey’s shoulders and a dismissive air. As if the possibility were a far distant dream rather than a reality of the current situation. Stacie gave and stood taller, falling into stance with focused attention.

“You’re right. This is a good thing and I’ll look hot doing it.”

“Now who’s been hanging out with Mitchell too much?”

Stacie chuckled and put a little extra into her punches as they resumed their movements. After she had settled into the routine again Aubrey switched it up, adding a block and upper cut to the dance. They worked in silence until Aubrey wanted to show her how to do something else. Then the conversation was brief and direct. She didn’t really need it to be anything other than what it was. Stacie just wanted to learn everything she could.

They had started to build up a sweat as they transitioned from blocking and trading blows to grappling. It was a skill she was having a harder time picking up but as Aubrey twisted and pulled her to the ground, pinning her firmly to the mat beneath them, she realized why.

“You’re supposed to be trying to get away, Stacie.”

Aubrey’s weight shifted and Stacie couldn’t help but roll her hips up, half squirm, half grind. She knew she wasn’t the only one of them affected by the intimate position when Aubrey’s pupils blew out leaving just the tiniest ring of bright green showing. It was a little like being caught in the gaze of a very large bird of prey.

“Sorry baby, getting away from you is the last thing I want to do.”

She hadn’t meant it to be a profound statement but something flickered behind Aubrey’s eyes a second before the blonde brought them together in a deep kiss that left Stacie breathless and bemused. Stacie’s hands slid over Aubrey’s smooth, strong back, fingertips sliding under the tight elastic of her sports bra. Muscles tightened as the blonde shifted her weight again to bring a thigh up between Stacie’s legs. Aubrey dove down for another demanding kiss that she oh so willingly gave up and gave into. It was relentless and all consuming making her deaf to the creak of the glass front door swinging open and closed.

“Oh for chrissakes…you said you were gonna work out. This isn’t how I thought you’d be working up a sweat. Not that I blame you.”

Stacie sighed as Aubrey pulled back and glared up at her cousin. He put his hands up and reached into his inner jacket pocket for a pack of gum. It gave them a few seconds to untangle and stand up.

“What do you want Jesse?”

“Pop called an emergency meeting.”

“Fine, swing me by the hotel so I can shower and change.”

“No can do. He wants everyone at the table now. And when Franco says now, he means right now. Everyone is dropping everything to be there so you’ll be in good company. You’re about to see more sweat suits and gold chains than at an LL Cool J concert.”

Stacie bit her lip to keep from laughing at the image. She couldn’t keep the mirth out of her voice, however. “At least you didn’t work up your sweat lifting cannoli to shove in your face.”

Jesse’s lips quirked. “No offense cuz, and don’t hate me for it, but I think I’m kinda in love with your girl.”

“Hate you? I don’t have to hate you Jess…I can just shoot you.”

The laugh finally tumbled out at the mock offense on Jesse’s face. Aubrey laced fingers with her and shouldered the bag they had carried their workout stuff in. The ring of keys jangled heavily in her fiancée’s hand as they walked through the gym and out the front door.

“So, what’s this meeting about?”

“Quincy has news on our eager beaver.”

So…finally they were getting somewhere. Stacie studied Aubrey as she locked the door behind them. There wasn’t a hint of emotion from the blonde, not that she expected there would be but it was still a nice confirmation that there was nothing whatsoever between them. At least not on Aubrey’s side of it.

“Good news or bad news?” It was said with the same cool detachment that was reserved for business matters.

Jesse’s suit clad shoulders rolled in a shrug as he led them to the car and held the back passenger door open for them. “I dunno, all I know is that Quincy came through and Pop called a meeting.”

The door closed on them and they exchanged a look. Well. One way or another they were going to get some solid answers at last. Aubrey took her hand again and held it through the silent, tension filled ride. It was thankfully short but their arrival left Stacie with an uneasy weight in the pit of her stomach. There were armed men at the gate to the drive that waved them in with stone faced efficiency. It hadn’t been that way the last time they had come here. Something had changed and it seemed like the Family was on full alert.

None of them commented on it, they simply got out of the parked car and continued into the house. It was full of unfamiliar faces tight with anticipation. They parted before the trio, giving them access to the dinning room. Jesse stopped and took his phone out and casually dropped it in the lock box he’d carried earlier. Aubrey and Stacie followed suit and pushed into the room to take their places at the table. She noticed there was an extra seat now and settled into with a grateful smile to Uncle Frank. He gave her a wink and clapped his hands.

“Everyone that should be here is here. Quince. Tell them.”

A thin man, wispy looking man pushed his chair back and stood. “I gotta hand it to you kid, when you screw someone, you really screw them. This Esposito is kind of an interagency joke, and she has a hard on to see you taken down because of it. But your guy was right, there’s nothing solid on you. She pitched her case and it got laughed down.”

Aubrey leaned back in her chair and steepled her fingers while she sorted her thoughts. “If she’s running this investigation off books she must be pretty sure she’s going to come up with something.”

Stacie leaned forward unsure if she should speak. “Okay so if she didn’t get the go ahead from her boss who gave the okay for her to still keep going. At the end of the day the FBI is all about billable hours and the cogs of bureaucracy. Someone is signing off on two FBI agents payroll and smoothing ruffled feathers at L.A.P.D.”

Quincy gave her a measuring look, his stiff helmet of hair gleaming in the light as he nodded. “Smart kid. Our contact says someone flagged the report after her boss kicked it. It went straight to the director himself.”

Aubrey’s brows raised at that. If she was such a nobody why was the director of the FBI interested in her? “On who’s order?”

“Senator August Conrad.”

The air left Stacie’s lungs in a rush. Heat radiated from her chest with every heartbeat and it burned like acid in her veins. That son of a bitch. Aubrey’s hand closed over hers and gave it a gentle squeeze reminding her she wasn’t alone in the moment. Stacie blinked once and settled back in her chair, forcing each muscle to relax. Aubrey waited a moment for that news to sink in before she stood and paced around the table with slow deliberation.

“One of the scandals Whitman was involved in implicated a lot of big names. Conrad wasn’t on that list but he introduced his son in law to a lot of people. Probably most of if not all of the people being looked at now. That has to be the connection.”

Big Mike let out a hefty sigh. “How do we know it’s not just because you hooked up with his baby girl?”

All eyes swung to her and Stacie gave the question some thought before answering. “I think Aubrey is right. It does bother him that she’s a part of my life but he’s greedy enough to realize the benefit of having a relationship with a businesswoman like her. He’d only be making a move like this if someone else pushed him into it. Someone has to have leverage on him of some kind.”

Franco stood and placed his hands on the table. His heavy gaze pinned each of them in turn to convey the seriousness of what he was about to say. “How this plays out determines how far we can push business on the West Coast. There is no margin for error where this is concerned.” When he turned to look at her everyone’s gaze shifted too. “Find out who has the squeeze, and what they have on him.”

It wasn’t until that moment that Stacie made the association with Senator Conrad to her father. She had somehow divorced them in her mind as two separate people and now the realization that they were one in the same winded her. She could feel everyone studying her, waiting to see how she’d act to the order. Wondering if it would bother her to be disloyal to her family, to her father. The thing was, August Conrad hadn’t done anything to earn her loyalty. There wasn’t a single instance that she could remember where he’d actually been there for her as a parent. They were little more than strangers to each other.

But did that mean she was ready to spy on him and use what she learned to blackmail him into doing what would be best for the Family?

“I know where to start looking.”

Absolutely.

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thecipherlegacy · 3 years

Text

Comfort and Confessions

A short fic of when Noiren finally confesses to Kenaas. I've been in the mood to write these two lately 💛

Enjoy!

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Noiren clung to his glass as if it were a lifeline. His ruby fingers curled around it, shaking, which caused the amber liquid inside to ripple as if there was a ground quake.

Some thing odd was happening, leaving him confused and distraught. The Jedi he had taken in and began to teach the ways of the sith to, he had really gotten under his skin. Not in a way that made him angry, oh no. Quite the opposite, really. He adored him, trusted him with his life. He had never had a good track record with trusting others, which was why the only two in his ship before the small nautolan showed up was his brother and an HK unit. But he felt this connection, this bond in the force that grew stronger and stronger with this nautolan every passing day.

"Are you going to actually drink that? Or are you going to stare into it until you get a premonition?" The alien in question broke through the man's thoughts. Noiren jumped and made an unflattering sound. He thought he had been alone at the table. But he supposed in a small ship someone would find him eventually. The sith lord straightened back up and re-wrapped his left lekku over his shoulder comfortably to once again hide the scars around his neck.

"I thought you were asleep" he responded cooly. "It's late"

"Hm. Says the man sitting alone in the dark with whiskey" the other man's brow raised at him. His large dark eyes were shining with worry. "I woke because I could feel your discomfort. Your brother felt it as well, but I insisted he sleep."

The twi'lek huffed. "I'll be fine. I'm simply nervous about trying to track down this republic captain I've been ordered to look for." He lied. In response, the small nautolan looked unconvinced and unimpressed.

"You know that I know when you lie, right?" He asked flatly as his fingers drummed in the table, as he tended to do when he got frustrated or impatient. "You've been acting oddly toward me lately. Why? Have I done something wrong?"

Noiren shook his head "No. You're perfect" he sighed, then his cheeks deepened in colour and he tried to correct what he said. "I mean fine- well… not fine, but- ugh. You know what I mean."

The other male giggled wildly at his fumbling. "My goodness, how many drinks have you had?" He asked.

In an instant the glass was up to Noirens lips and he downed the liquor inside. "One, officially" he muttered. "So were you coming out here to actually help me or just make me wish I was drinking alone in the dark in my room?"

The laugher died down and Kenaas pat his arm. "Aw Noiren, I'm sorry. Your fumbling was just adorable." He admitted "talk to me, what's eating you?"

Why did he give him that option again? HE was eating him. Every thought of the small nautolan man was eating away at his body and mind. His heart skipped beats when he was around and his mind clouded. He felt a connection to him in the force as strong if not stronger than his familial bond with his brother. Those big black eyes, vast as the night sky, stared up at him as he awaited a response.

"I'm not sure" came the lie after a seemingly endless and tense silence.

A hand covered Noiren's to attempt some comfort. Such a small hand felt so heavy on his own, and he tore it away quickly as if he had been burned by it. His regret for the action was immediate when he saw those soulful eyes turn away in hurt.

"Ah- I see. I'll stop bothering you, my friend. When you're ready to talk you know where to find me."

Noiren screamed at himself internally to say something, anything, to stop Kenaas from leaving. But instead he sat quietly while the other man left the room with a dejected slump in his walk. He hurt him. "Coward…" noiren scolded himself and poured another glass of whiskey.

This glass went down as quickly as the first. Liquid courage, he thought. After his fourth time pouring a new glass a yellow colored hand gently slid over the rim of the cup to keep Noiren from drinking from it. "I can't sleep while my brother is so distressed." Aidesan's kind voice filled the room. "What happened?"

The sith lord sighed and looked up at his brother. His head was fogged, but he wouldn't say he was drunk. "I upset Kenaas. I don't know what's wrong with me." The older man groaned and hid his face in frustration. "I haven't been able to keep a clear head around him and I feel this weird connection with him, in the force" he sighed. His brother started to chuckle.

"You really don't know whats going on?... Noiren… you're in love with the little jedi" Aidesan stated matter of factly. "Your fumbling, your staring, your-"

"No. No no, that can't be true. I… I can't be in love." Noiren denied quickly. "I swore I wouldn't."

"Wouldn't love? Or Wouldn't love him?" His brother raised a brow at him "you love me don't you? You're kid brother?"

"Yes but that's different! You're family. Romantic love leads to pain. I would be putting down my shield and letting him see my weaknesses. Weaknesses he could easily exploit later." Noiren began to pace, albeit a little crooked and wobbly since the alcohol had made him less stable.

"Brother." Aidesan stopped him with a stern tone. "Do you really think that sweet nautolan would harm you? He apologizes for squashing bugs. Give him a chance. And more importantly, give yourself a chance."

A deep sigh escaped the older one's lips, then he slowly turned to face the other man. "He deserves better. He's pure and gentle. Passionate. He's a healer and a fixer. My soul purpose is to break things and kill people."

As he finished speaking, two gentle hands rested in his shoulders. "Noiren… you're so much more than that, and even if that is partially true, he's a fixer and you're a breaker. You complete each other, right?"

This earned a chuckle that came out as a scoff. "Maybe." He muttered softly as he crossed his arms as if they were a protective barrier.

"Noiren… Go talk to him. Don't let him go to sleep feeling this way."

The older twi'lek sighed dramatically and glanced into the dark hall. "Alright. You need to get some sleep, though." He frowned.

"I will, brother. Let me know how it goes" the younger gave him one more smile, then retreated back to his own quarters on the ship. Noiren sighed again and went to Kenass's quarters nervously. He stared at the closed door. It shouldn't have been that hard to just knock, but that durasteel sheet between himself and the other force user felt heavy and intimidating.

Suddenly the door slid open, startling the sith, and the younger male was looking up at him from the other side.

"Noiren. I can feel your presence you know, we share quite the profound bond" he said as he turned to go back to his bed. "Is there something I can help you with? You reek of whiskey."

"I want to talk to you" The other mumbled. He watched the nautolan sit upon the bed gracefully. Everything he did always looked so beautiful. How had he not realized that before?

"Then speak, my friend. You know I'm always here to help you. I was hoping you would come to chat. You need to get quite the weight off your chest."

Noiren nodded before sitting beside him. "Kenaas…" he sighed as he prepared himself to speak. "when I was a child, on Ryloth, I had two brothers and a twin sister-" he started from the beginning. The younger one's dark eyes widened as he listened. Noiren had never opened up before, at least not to this extent. He always refused to talk about his youth.

"You know my brother, Aidesan. I also have my youngest brother Orcra, who was put into Imperial intelligence, and my poor sister, Arianness… she was sold as a slave. We were taken by the imperials when we were just kids. I watched them execute my parents." As Noiren spoke he attempted to not show how hard it was to talk about his family, but he didn't have to. Kenaas could feel every emotion the other man was feeling. His emotions hit like a wave in the force to the jedi and his own eyes shimmered with tears from the intensity.

"What happened after you were separated?..." Kenaas worried and gently touched Noiren's hand. This time the other man didn't pull away. He knew he was vulnerable. He needed the contact. Noirens chest rose and fell with a sputter after their hands connected. It was as if a direct link was made between them and it hit him like a brick. All of the feelings he had been suppressing, all of the feelings in his companion, the power they both held in the force. It all melted together instantly and he had never felt anything like it.

Once the shock of the new feeling passed he finally answered. "I stopped trusting people." He said. He hadn't realized that he had gotten a little closer to his friend. "The only people that mattered were my siblings. I did as I was told just so I could stay alive and keep my brother alive. That is…. Until I ran into you on Tatooine."

A small smile played the nautolans lips "you imprisoned me on your ship" he reminded him.

"But even then I felt…. Something. Something new, something strange. Something I only share with my family. It was like I knew you. But I had never met you before. And it's gotten stronger and stronger. I can feel where you are in the ship. I can feel what you feel."

Kenaas squeezed his hand a little "I know." He mumbled, then placed his free hand on Noiren's cheek "Even when we first met I felt your sorrow. Your pain. We both needed someone that could understand our hardships. The moment we met a bond was struck in the force. I may not understand why, but I refuse to question it."

The sith leaned into the gentle touch, desperate for any sort of comfort or affection. "I'm sorry I shoved you off earlier… I was afraid" his words came out as nearly a whisper. Admitting to fear wasn't easy for him.

Their foreheads gently made contact. "Hush. It's alright, it stung but I knew you would come to me when you were ready."

There was a brief silence as Noiren took a deep breath, then released it. His nerves were calming under the feeling of his companions gentle and kind aura. For every tidal wave of broken emotions he would send out, the other man's healing soul would calm and help control it by blanketing his fears and doubts in reassurance and compassion. He was the calming moon to the sith's roaring ocean.

"I love you…" Noiren let it out, a broken whisper riding a shaken breath. He hadn't realized his eyes had been closed for so long until he opened them finally to see the beautiful nautolan looking back at him with a smile and blush dusting his freckled purple cheeks.

"I know" he replied gently and caressed Noirens cheek with his thumb. "I love you too."

They sat in a comfortable silence before finally meeting for a gentle kiss. It was inexperienced, but soft, and filled with every unsaid word and emotion Noiren wanted to give him. His whole heart overflowed with his feelings for the grey force user, who could sense every ounce of it. When they parted Kenaas had to wipe away tears that had finally spilled.

"My goodness- you're so emotional and-" he chuckled happily "I never thought anyone would feel so strongly for me" he continued to try and wipe away the waterworks "I'm a mess"

Noiren could feel himself calm down fully now. Everything was out in the open. He hugged Kenaas close and buried his face in his neck. "Most beautiful mess I've ever seen" he sighed. "Would it be appropriate for me to sleep here tonight?"

A hand gently stroked his lekku "please, make yourself comfortable" the other insisted. Once they fully parted, the pair got comfortable in Kenaas's bed. For the first time since his childhood Noiren felt at peace as he clung to Kenaas and drifted off into a blissful sleep.

#mox's ocs #my ocs #my art #mox's art #mox writes #oc: noiren #oc: kenaas #oc: aidesan #nautolan #twi'lek #sith warrior/jedi counselor #swtor ocs #alcohol tw #drinking tw #this one turned out cute im very excited to finally post it #that arts a little old but thats okay

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