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#blizzard please bring him back
war-and-crafts · 1 year
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he is very important to me
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thirteenfoxtrots · 2 years
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if vol'jin does not make an appearance in dragonflight i will not be surprised but i will still cry i miss him sm
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gumycandyyy · 8 months
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୨♡ Winter King HCS ♡୧
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I am ashamed of tumblr for not making more fanfic of this funky fruit.
We got some general HCS and then some romantic ones under the cut! (I went a little overboard with the romantic ones, hehe!)
Gender-neutral
୨♡ General ♡୧
-Man's self care routine is off the charts
-I'm serious, he has like- 80 different bubble bath concoctions.
-Smells like mint
-or some kind of cold scent.
-I feel like he loves dressing up fancy, so he has a closet full of sparkly suits
-maybe even some dresses if he's feeling special.
-Doesn't actually need to wear glasses, he just likes how they look.
-While he loves his winter wonder world, I feel like he'd enjoy rainy weather more than snow.
-He got rid of all his madness and sadness, yes, but I think he'd cry at something especially cute. Happy tears, y'know?
"Why are you crying, sir? Are you okay?" "Oh, it's nothing. *sniff* Just those two rabbits that are cuddling."
-He is really bad at any percussion instrument
-like.. REALLY bad.
-His hands are too delicate for such a garish instrument as the drums!
-He loves playing duets on the piano, but rarely has anyone to play with.
-I mean, he could always concoct up an ice creature to play piano with him, but that's honestly quite dull.
-His favorite movie would probably be an old Christmas movie, like It's a Wonderful Life.
-He gets kidnapped by the Candy Queen so often, that occasionally he brings a book or something snuggly to help him wait for his ice scouts to rescue him.
-He once got so bored while kidnapped that he tried to read to some of the mutilated candy people
-That was the last time he saw his favorite book.
-Safe to say he doesn't bring his favorites anymore.
୨♡ Romantic ♡୧
-Will literally spoil his love interest rotten.
-You want that thing you saw earlier?
-Consider it yours
-You'd like for it to snow outside?
-A sprinkle or a blizzard?
-Literally anything, this man will go to the ends of the universe to get you what you'd like.
-Love languages are definitely gift giving and physical touch
-probably acts of service too.
-Loves dancing.
-Loves dancing.
-Whether it be a slow dance or ice-skating, he will take every opportunity to dance with you!
-He adores short people.
-Good, because he's tall as a giant.
-if you're shorter than him, he will no doubt use you as an armrest.
-He always makes remarks on how cute you are.
-Even if you're only two inches shorter than him.
-If you're taller...
-hoo boy.
-Expect him to be all over you.
-figuratively and literally.
-Will want you to carry him everywhere, sit in your lap, rest against you, whatever.
-Just let him touch you.
-He'll talk about how strong you are, how you'd be the perfect chair, etc. etc.
-He does the stupid "How's the weather up there?" jokes.
-Loves your body, no matter what it looks like.
-You're skinny?
-You're easy to carry around and dance with.
-You're chubby or fat?
-Literally will always be holding onto or resting on part of you. He loves squishy people.
-Somewhere in the middle?
-He could not care less. He loves you regardless of what you look like.
-And he makes sure to emphasize his point by complimenting you endlessly.
-He will never leave your side.
-Even if you need space, he doesn't.
-So why wouldn't you?
-Back to our regularly scheduled fluff-
-Candy Queen hates your guts.
-She thinks you're an obstacle, keeping her from the Winter King.
-No doubt tries to kill you.
-Multiple times. a day
-Her plans are always foiled, but if she gets too close to genuinely hurting you, Winter will be so upset.
"Oh, Dearest, please tell me you're okay!" "You are?" "Phew. I don't know what I'd do if you were hurt in any way."
-His petnames for you are probably
-Darling,
-Dearest,
-My love,
-There are a lot more, but those are the main ones.
-LOVES kissing you.
-Anytime, any way.
-He finds it adorable when his nose bumps your face.
-Favorite place to kiss would probably be the back of your hand.
-He is a gentleman after all.
-Overall, he just adores you.
-And he sincerely hopes you love him just as much as he does you.
Headcanon requests are open for Winter King! Don't be afraid to send an ask, and be shameless! I know I am! (No smut tho. Some spice is okay, however.)
Have some free WK art for coming this far!
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reblog for a beginner writer?
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norrisleclercf1 · 6 months
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How'd the overprotective mafia! Jenson, Mark and Kimi react when someone hurts or hits on their wife who's shy and sunshine like? I am curious what you think.
A/N: Screeching like a bat out of hell! Also I added Sebastian to this because come on, you can't say those 3 and not add Sebby
Jenson:
He's the quiet one where he wouldn't say anything
It was a dinner party at his own house and you were
sitting next to him but talking to some of his men
everyone knew you as this ray of sunshine who'd
get shy and blushy whenever Jenson smiled at you
but anyways, there was this new rookie who was
trying to be smooth on you not caring for the
glares being passed his way as he flirts with you
Jenson is watching make sure he doesn't make you
uncomfortable but he can see the way the guy is getting
annoyed with you ignoring him and just small answers
"Fuck didn't take you to be a stuck up bitch."
the table falls silent as the guy huffs thinking nothing wrong
You cast a look to Jenson, who slowly stands
not saying a word he reaches out and slams the mans
face into table a sickening crack as you cringing
the guy crumples to the floor lying there in a puddle of blood
"Let's go to bed, darling." He whispers holding his hand out
Mark:
Everyone knows that your a shy one
Mark was always towering over you like a shield
he refused to let you be exposed to his world
and tended not to bring work home, though
on rare nights he is having to bring it home and it was one of
those nights where he his bringing his men over
it's late in the night when you wake with a start
the sound of multiple voices has you climbing out of bed
wrapped tight in one of Mark's shirt you poke your head out
hearing his voice and still fogged with sleep you walk to the
office and push open the door not even thinking
"Mark?" The voices stop as you rub the sleep from your eyes
Mark feels this overbearing need to rip every mans eyes out
as they take in your body, his shirt on you and how innocent you
look in this moment
"Kitten, go back to bed." He whispers, holding tight on the burning
anger and jealous choking him
"Yeah sugar, the boss needs you to keep his bed warm so he can fu-"
The man stops talking as Mark moved fast shoving the barrel of
his gun down the man's throat
you stand there, eyes still closed partially unable to see the scene
"Y/n, kitten, please go back to bed. I'll join you soon." Mark's voice
stays soft with you but his eyes burn with rage
"M'kay." Turning and walking away, Mark let's the sickening smile take over
Kimi:
A blizzard attitude that melts under your smile
well known to never damper your smile in front of the boss
as he'd level you with those frozen blue eyes
"Kimi, pretty please?" You beg giving him puppy eyes
Kimi smiles softly, as you lay on his chest, not caring
that his men were watching you both
"Snowflake, we'll go later. Let me finish here." He whispers
kissing your cheek and then nuzzling your neck
Huffing you nod and pull away smiling though
as you knew Kimi could never say no to you
Walking past his men you smile, but stop hearing one of them
mumble something
"Spoiled bitch." They hiss which has your smile dropping
suddenly feeling sorry that you even asked Kimi ]
A warm hand touches your lower back, almost burning you
"Go upstairs and get dressed, we'll go shopping in just a sec."
Your husband kisses your cheek, but his eyes didn't hold any warmth
the door closes as you go upstairs, trying to shake out that man
words to you
"Who said it?" Kimi face void of emotion but his eyes blazed
"Either someone fesses up, or I kill you all? Who said those words that stopped her smile?" Kimi asks slowly filling his gun with bullets
Sebastian:
A hot head in the making that refused to involve you in his fights
there would be fights in front of you, but Seb always shielded you
"Sebby, let it go. Come on." You beg as his men and the rival mafia
started to grow as you try to tug your husband away
"No, he insulted you." Sebastian spits, but you don't care
you can see the anger growing more
"I don't care, just take me home. Please?" You beg clinging to his arm
"Awww your little whore scared?" You don't know who said it
but Sebastian spring free as all hell breaks out
Chaos swarms you and you don't know how
but trying to get close to Seb your smacked right across the face
dropping to the ground, your men freeze as they all stare in horror
"Y/N!" Sebastian yells, suddenly at your side cradling your face
"Take me home, please." Your voice soft as his face crumbles
"Take care of them," He growls in German as he leads you away
he doesn't always need to get his hands dirty to get his point across
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tiredfox64 · 16 days
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Can you write about the reader tagging along with Lin Kuei brothers on a mission and where they are us cold, which the reader hates and gets cold very easily and each opportunity the brothers would find a way to warm the reader themselves?
Ice Can Help
Prior notes: I would complain about the cold but I need to complain about the heat now. Tell me why it’s gonna be 80 tomorrow and almost 90 on Monday 💀
Pairings: Lin Kuei Bros x Gn reader
Warnings ‼️: You shall walk with no fear
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And you thought home was cold. Forget it, you rather take that than this.
The finest fake fur can’t save you right now. Nor any thermal wear that covers your arms and legs.
Yet the brothers walk in this harsh blizzard with ease. Not a single goosebump rises on their arms from the snow that comes pelting at their skin. That same snow feels like it’s aiming constantly at eyes. You’re lucky it’s not sticking to the couple of inches of snow that is already on the ground. If it raises any higher you’ll be doing a weird march just to move forward.
Your teeth clattered together as you hug your body to keep yourself even the tiniest bit warm. You’re constantly trying to keep your snot in but your nose is so numb you can’t tell if it’s still leaking. Why the hell would Liu Kang send you out to help the boys? You already hate the cold. This just feels like torture or some sort of mental training. See how long you can last before you snap.
“What is taking you so long?” Bi-Han yelled at you from a distance.
You didn’t even realize how far behind you were until you looked up.
“It’s hard walking in this weather. It’s freezing.” You answered back.
“It is not. Why did you come if you cannot handle this mere weather.”
“Because I was freaking told to, Bi-Han! I ain’t have no choice!” If Bi-Han is gonna give you attitude you gonna send it back.
Tomas was kind enough to walk over to you to keep you company as you guys kept moving. His arm wrapped around to to bring you close. It’s incredible that he still can maintain his body temperature at a healthy level. You forget that these guys train to handle intense circumstances and weather counts as an intense circumstance. Now you’re grateful that his body was still very warm cause you started leaning into his more than you meant to. He noticed you actions and he decided to check on your temperature by placing the back of his hand against your cheek.
“Are you okay? You’re freezing. You can’t go on while you’re nearly freezing to death.”Did your mother possess Tomas, what the heck is going on?
He brings you into a hug, your face now shoved in his chest area. It actually helps to warm your face since it prevents the snow from pelting you. It gives you the change to warm your nose up so you could breathe properly. You can’t lie you could get used to this. His hugs are healing.
“What now?!” You heard Bi-Han yell once more.
Tomas started explaining that you were horribly cold. Bi-Han didn’t want to hear that complaint again today. Kuai Liang was the one who took it seriously and before Bi-Han could stop his brother from paying any mind to you he was already in front of you.
“You should have told me they were like this. I could have warmed them easily.”
Of course, Kuai Liang would be the best option here. He used his pyromancy to cause flames to ignite, forming a circle around you three. The heat that emitted from the flames was much more pleasing than the harsh cold the wind produced. For extra measures Kuai Liang decided to hug you as well. Him and Tomas basically sandwiched you to help warm you up. Oh and it was working. A moment ago it felt like your cheeks were about to lose feeling and now they are burn up like you had hot coals shoved inside your mouth. This works in your favor. Thank goodness the fur of your jacket helped hide that satisfied smile that naturally produced from this hug session.
The only one who is not satisfied is Bi-Han. Times being wasted and he wants to get a move on. You three seem to be happy just where you are. Even the snow can’t hide the smiles on Tomas’ and Kuai Liang’s face as they look down at you. You did look pretty adorable snuggling up to them. If only Bi-Han could get in on that action. But now’s not the time! Y’all have a mission to get it.
“Fine, if they need to be warmed up let me in so we can be done with this.” Bi-Han started to make his way towards you before Kuai Liang gestured for him to stop.
“No, brother, you are too cold. You will only reverse all the efforts we have made.” Plus, there’s not enough room for another man to cuddle you.
Oh so Bi-Han is the problem now. He’s just about done with this. So they think he will make things worse? He begs to differ.
You started to hear the cracking and squeaking of ice as it starts to formed around all of you. It formed into a dome and soon you were unable to hear the wind blowing. There is no more snow striking you as if it were blades.
Of course, an igloo. Why didn’t you think of that.
“I didn’t know you could do that.” Tomas stared in awe at the icey walls.
“Of course I can, Tomas. Never doubt me again.” He said it like he actually knew he could do this. He just did it out of pure anger.
You were feeling way better than before. You don’t have to worry about hypothermia taking one of your toes. Kuai Liang produced more fire to help warm you up while Tomas used his body heat to deal with the rest of your body. And Bi-Han…ah he’s a little grumpy. Leave him be but thank him for his amazing abilities.
By now you were able to feel every part of your body again. Nothing felt stiff or numb. You were even sweating a little from all the heat that was being trapped in the igloo. Kuai Liang and Tomas were happy to see some color in your face again that didn’t signify you were freezing.
“Thank you guys. I’m feeling much better. Maybe I should have you guys visit in the winter more often to save me some money on the heating bill,” you joked while looking at Kuai Liang and Tomas, “Okay, Bi-Han, I’m ready to move on.”
“Good, great, wonderful, come on!” He yelled the last part at you before kicking open a hole in the igloo.
He was already on the move, ready to get this mission over with. He’s gonna have a nice talk with Liu Kang about sending you out here with them.
You’ll do the same. You’ll let that fire god know that you won’t ever do another mission in the cold weather. You rather stay home with a bunch of blankets wrapped around you than deal with this hell. But you did get a nice cuddle session out of this. This won’t be the last time, you’ll make sure of it.
After notes: The state that I live in has summers that are like hell and winters where you are at the lowest part of hell and the devil is constantly flapping his wings. Maybe cause a sort of devil does live in this state. Whoops. Welp I hope you don’t mind that this was simple and short. Sorry if this isn’t what you want. Now I have to get goin, Adiós!
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imabeautifulbutterfly · 2 months
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Hello friend! I'm in love with your writing!!! 😍😍😍😍😍
Idk if your requests are still open but I'd like to request something if you don't mind!
I LOVED the hurt/comfort/whump fic you did for Hunter. Could you possibly do something like that for Tech x Reader?
Maybe Tech and the reader are on a mission together or maybe they've crash landed somewhere or something. The reader is badly hurt and Tech has to take care of her and treat her wounds and save her and comfort her in his own special Tech way 😂😍
Oh @arctrooper69 what can I say? I mean ... I think a thank you is just not enough. You have made my day with this request, so I took my time to give it the proper respect it deserves. I hope you like it. If it wasn't exactly what you were looking for I do apologize.
Please note that you are always welcome to send in requests. As this is a special request, it will be stored in my One Shots & Mini Series Master List.
The story got a little away from at 1400+ words, but I hope it's close to what you wanted.
And who doesn't love Tech. I love this adorable nerdy man.
Love oo,
His Promise
Warnings: Snow, injury, blood, explosions, crash, grief, fear, anxiety, hurt, fluff, near death, feelings of being a burden, getting in the way, I think that's it. If I miss any, please let me know.
Please note the explanation of Snow, Tech gives, was taken from the National Snow and Ice Data Centre.
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AO3 Link   |   OS & MS Master List |   Main Master List  
The wind was picking up, as the snow piled down and was doing everything in its power to keep you and Tech from being rescued. You looked at the snow as it came down in sheets outside the entrance of the cavern he found, mesmerized by its beauty. 
“It’s beautiful and so calming …” you said slowly, your body already weakened from your injury and loss of blood.
“What are you talking about?” Tech did his best not to let the slowness of your breathing or even the breathless way you were speaking affect him. His anxiety was already high, and his fear of losing you was nearing his breaking point. 
“The snow…” you kept watching the soft flakes float down as they gently landed on the ground, piling on top of one another, almost as though they were unable to survive without the comfort of those around them. 
Tech glanced up to see the blizzard which prevented you both from leaving. As he watched the speed of the wind, he calculated it would’ve been nearly impossible for Hunter to bring the ship close to them. As he looked at the used bandages already soaked through with your blood his fear only grew. You needed immediate medical attention, more than he could provide at the moment, or it would mean certain death for you to be out here any longer.
Frankly, he couldn’t stop picturing the way you lunged forward as the ship crashed. He was helpless to watch you, as your body fell forward against the console, as a piece of the console broke off and jabbed you in your abdomen. It all happened too fast and somehow in slow motion. He could still hear your scream piercing his ear as he pulled you off the console.
He tried to stop the bleeding right away, however when he went to look for the med kit, he realized only too late that it had fallen out of the shuttle when the engine and the side compartment blew. All he had left were his emergency bandages and gauze and they weren’t nearly enough. 
At that moment, he couldn’t care less about how beautiful the snow was or how calming the blizzard looked from inside a cavern, that he only had to find because that piece of osik shuttle decided to have a fuel leak, catching on fire. 
Within seconds he had needed to drag you out of the relatively warm and safe shelter you both had, grabbing what supplies he could before the ship blew up. Thankfully, he had been able to send a message to Hunter when the shuttle crashed initially. So it was only a matter of time before the Marauder showed up, but …
His eyes fell back to the bundle of used gauze, his anxiety climbing as he knew you needed more first aid than he could provide at the moment. You needed the Marauder, you needed his med kit that he carefully stocked and kept safe on board the Marauder. At this point in time, he didn’t care about any kriffing snow.
“Snow is an accumulation of packed ice crystals. The condition of the packed crystals determines a variety of attributes, such as colour, temperature and water equivalent. As weather conditions change, the packed ice crystals can change as well, and this affects the characteristics of snow.”
You chuckled at his ability to pull forth information like it was nothing. Unfortunately the chuckle turned to coughing. Only causing you to dribble more blood out of your mouth, you wiped away what you could. He didn’t need to see that, “Tech …” you coughed again, “turn off your brain for two seconds, don’t think and just look. Just watch.”
He pulled the heater closer towards you, “Stop talking and try and warm up.”
“Tech…” you held his hand, “just look.”
His eyes drifted up your body, till he locked eyes with you. They were pleading for him to listen and to just have him appreciate what you found mesmerizing. He tried to follow your advice, focusing on the snow, but all his mind kept drifting back to was this blizzard that was preventing you from getting the medical attention you needed, so desperately. 
He shook his head focusing back on your abdomen, trying to stop the bleeding. Trying his best to keep you with him. 
“Tech,” you gripped his wrist “… stop …”
“No.”
His tone was firm and full of anger, why did he agree to let you come with him? If he used his brain instead of allowing his feelings for you to dictate his actions, you wouldn’t have been here. You wouldn’t have gotten hurt. Why did you always insist on following him? Why didn’t you just stay behind on Pabu? Simply because you wanted to see the galaxy, and he was excited to show it to you? It was his fault you were here. It was his fault you were in danger. It was his fault he … was going to lose you.
“Tech …” you squeezed his wrist. He removed your hand from his wrist, placing it off to the side as he focused on your wound. He didn’t deserve your touch, he didn’t deserve to have you comfort him. It was his fault you both crashed on this force forsaken planet. 
There was nothing you could do as you watched Tech pull away. 
From the moment you met him on Pabu, the way he worked with Phee as he helped rescue the villagers when the rogue wave was rushing towards the island, and the way he helped make everything more ‘efficient,’ you couldn’t help but fall in love with him. You wanted to learn from him, to listen to him go on with regards to anything and everything. Only problem was you never had the courage to actually utter the words you were dying to. Phee told you time and time again, ‘later’ was never a guarantee, and now as you lay on the cold floor of the cavern you were in, bleeding out of your abdomen, you realized how little time there was left. 
  Tears welled up in your eyes, as you realized you needed to unburden yourself. You needed to tell him what had been pressing on your heart before you didn’t have the strength to, it didn’t help that you were feeling weaker with each passing second. Also didn’t help that you could tell he was angry, actually a more accurate description would be infuriated, more than likely at you.
“I’m sorry.” You offered the only apology you could. “I’m sorry I’m such a burden, even now.” You took in a shuddering breath as Tech stopped moving his hands for two seconds as he focused on your face. “I’m sorry for always pestering you to teach me,” you offered, your voice barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry for not listening,” a tear slid down your cheek, “I’m sorry for putting you in this position. To have to feel responsible for someone like me.” 
He shook his head, his teeth clenched as his anger, grief, fear, and sadness overwhelmed him completely in that moment. He pulled off his helmet and placed it beside him. 
“Stop.” It was his only command.
“Please, I …” you coughed again, trying to not cough on him. “I just want … I need to …”
He cut off your speech as his hand cupped your cheek, “Cyar’ika …” tears welled up in his eyes, “you were … are never a burden.” He couldn’t believe that’s what you thought of him… that’s what you believed he felt for you. He shook his head again as he pressed his forehead to yours. “I have loved every second we have spent together. I made a point to record every moment with you, because they were more precious to me than breathing.”
You held on to his bicep, keeping him close as tears streamed down your cheek, “Tech … I … I don’t want to go… I want … I want to stay here with you…”
“You’re not going anywhere. I just got you …” his tears landed on your cheeks, mixing with your own, “you’ll be okay. I promise.”
“Hold me… please… just hold me until…I can’t feel your arms anymore.”
“I’ll hold you longer than that,” Tech pulled you into his arms, lifting you off the ground as he felt your body grow weaker. Your eyes were closed, your body was growing pale. He was so focused on you, he didn’t hear the voices calling out to him, at least not until he felt Hunter’s hand on his shoulder. He didn’t wait, there were no more seconds to lose. He rushed towards the Marauder with you in his arms, he wasn’t going to lose you. He promised. He was going to bring you back.
AO3 Link   |   OS & MS Master List |   Main Master List 
Tag list:
@liadamerondjarin @badbatch-simp24@spicymcnuggies@lady-ren @firstofficerwiggles @darkangel4121 @discofern @kavecika @monako-jinn-stories @ladykatakuri @avathebestx @theroguesully @furyhellfire66 @carodealmeida @ciramaris @sprout-fics @twinkofthedink @dindjarin-mandalorian @ulchabhangorm @tortor-mcgee @vodika-vibes @clonethirstingisreal
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bluebeary-jay · 10 months
Text
scattered thoughts / sharp focus
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Joel Miller x f!Reader
Summary: Joel is taken away from you and upon finding him almost-dead... something in you snaps ((kinda part 2 to clouded judgment / clear mind, but you don't necessarily need to read that one))
Tags: ANGST, angst with happy ending, near death experiences, Joel has surprisingly little screen time but you'll see he was there in spirit
Warnings: REALLY graphic descriptions of violence, small panic attacks, KINDA torture(?) 😳, choking, lemme know if i missed something
Word count: 7.5K
A/N: i can't believe i've finally finished it! i aimed for a worthy successor to cj/cm aaand i hope i managed but jeez was it hard. also i told myself i won't be writing sth like that again but i kinda have an idea for the final part (would be hurt/comfort 🤭) so let me know if it's sth you'd like to read. anyway as always happy reading!! 💕🥰 comments and reblogs are greatly appreciated, i absolutely love seeing what you think of my fics!
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
You swallowed your tears and rested the chin on your hands, trying to push back the wave of panic threatening to drown you.
“Tell me again.”
Tommy sighed, his own eyes empty and worried.
“I don’t know who those guys were, but they obviously knew Joel. There was a dark man leadin’ them, and I think he had somethin’ wrong with his lip, but it was too far for me to take a good look. The group consisted of five, maybe six people? And I shot one of them, but he appeared to still be alive when they were leavin’.”
You were silent for a couple of seconds, trying to make sense of it all.
“And where did they take him?”
“I reckon to the old ski resort on the top of the mountain. We ventured pretty far from here to investigate these tracks.”
You nodded and steeled yourself, taking a deep, trembling breath and quickly drying your tears.
“Okay. I’m going.”
“You’re not.” Maria leaned over the table, her expression unyielding. “The decision is final.”
“I am going,” you repeated fiercely, slamming the flat of your hand against the tabletop, but Tommy gave you a stern look, which made you bite your tongue. “Look, I get that you don’t want to lose even more people in a rescue mission–”
“This is not what it’s about,” Maria retorted, almost looking hurt by your words. “Believe me, if I wasn’t carrying another human being inside me, I’d already be going after them. But you have to take other things into consideration.”
“She’s right,” Tommy spoke up quietly, though equally irritably, and you turned sharply to look at him in disbelief. “The route to the resort is very advantageous to fall into an ambush. They could shoot us off like ducks and we’d have nowhere to hide.”
“I don’t care,” you ground out, looking from one to the other. “We can’t leave Joel. He’s your family, for goddamn–”
“You think I don’t know that?!” shouted Tommy abruptly, bringing his hand down onto the table, too. “He’s my fucking brother and was family way before you were even born!”
“Tommy.” Maria kicked him under the table, keeping one hand on her belly. Her husband flared his nostrils, clearly agitated by your words, but you were too angry yourself to care right now. You two glared at each other for some time before Tommy clenched his fists and turned around.
“M’goin’ to get some air,” he said gloomily over his shoulder, already at the door leading outside. Maria sighed and looked at you again.
“Please. Don’t do anything stupid, and I swear I’ll send a group out as soon as this blizzard ends.”
“He can be long dead by then,” you answered gravely, really set off by Tommy’s reaction and his words. You tried to will your tear ducts to hold any signs of stress and worry, not wanting to show your friend how broken and helpless you felt inside. “If it was me, he’d already be halfway there to save me, Maria.”
“I know. But just think about it. If something happens to you…” She shook her head. “How do you think I’d be able to look Joel in the eyes and explain why… how…”
She genuinely seemed at a loss of words, and you sighed, rubbing your eyes tiredly.
“I understand where you’re coming from, I really do. But I need to get him home, Maria. I have to.”
With that, you stood up, feeling like you were going to suffocate if you stayed in the room any longer. You didn’t look back even when you heard Maria calling your name softly.
There wasn’t any sense in discussing the matter with any of them – you made up your mind to go and save Joel and there was no way anyone would make you stay. He wouldn’t hesitate to go and get you if anyone dared to lay a hand on you.
You remembered that one time when he killed a group of men who wanted to use you as a bargaining chip to gain entry to Jackson. And how afterward you told him you’d do the same for him, unable to bear the painful and guilty expression on his face.
Now you planned on doing just that.
You were scared – of course you were, you weren’t stupid – and the nerves were practically eating you alive, gnawing at your bones and hurting your muscles from the inside out.
But the worst was the fear of never seeing Joel again. Of something happening to him. And you couldn’t live with yourself if you didn’t at least try…
“I’m coming with you.”
Your head snapped to the side. There stood Ellie – dressed in a warm jacket and a hat that didn’t cover her ears. Her eyes were full of fire, and you recognized the anger and determination in her expression as the same which were almost suffocating you.
Of course she was eavesdropping on the conversation. It was Joel that it was about, after all, her dad in all but one sense.
And suddenly you understood what Maria meant by not being able to look Joel in the eyes if something happened to you.
“No,” you said curtly, walking past her and out onto the street in the direction of your house.
“I’m not asking for permission.” Ellie was right behind you, and the force of her steps showed just how angry and frustrated she was – just like you felt. “I know you’re gonna go after those guys, and I’m coming with you.”
“You’re not,” you repeated more sternly, not turning around to face her. You reached your house and fumbled to open the door. “You’re staying and that’s fina–”
You stopped yourself and sighed, pressing your forehead against the wooden surface.
It was unfair. You were unfair. If those exact words spoken by Maria have set you off so much, you wouldn’t be surprised if Ellie…
“You’re not my fucking mom, remember?” the girl barked angrily, and you let out a shuddering breath, stressed to your limits with everything that happened in the last few hours. “You can’t tell me what I can and can’t do just because you’re older!”
It’s okay. It’s gonna be fine. Everything is gonna be okay.
“I know,” you whispered after a couple of seconds of silence, still not turning around. “I’m sorry.”
Ellie didn’t answer. You repeated your quiet mantra and glanced over your shoulder at her. “But Ellie, I… I can’t let you go. Joel would never forgive me if something happened to you.”
Jesus. Exactly like Maria.
Ellie still looked pissed at your earlier words, and she crossed her arms over her chest.
“Well, you’re not the only one who cares about him, you know?”
“Yeah, I know. But you’re the one he cares about the most.”
Ellie opened her mouth. Closed it and furrowed her eyebrows, but the irritation in her eyes dimmed. You gave her a small, apologetic smile, trying not to burst into tears.
“He’s gonna be fine, you know,” you lied smoothly, opening the door. “And Maria said she’ll send a group to retrieve him as soon as the storm eases up a bit.”
You didn’t even need to look to know that she didn’t believe you. To be honest, you wouldn’t believe yourself either in this situation.
You waited several seconds to see if the girl wanted to say something else, but after a few moments she spun on her heel and went back, not saying anything. You stared after her, but when the thick snow made her figure just a fuzzy shape, you gently closed the door and pressed the heels of your hands to your eyes.
It’s going to be fine. You’ll get Joel back and all will be okay.
You took a couple of deep – albeit shaky – breaths to pull yourself together, and when you were pretty sure you weren’t about to start crying, you made your way into the kitchen. And stopped short.
At your table sat Tommy, fiddling with his thumbs.
“Fuck, Tommy,” you mumbled, trying to calm down your pounding heart. “You scared the crap out of me.”
The younger Miller looked up, but stayed silent. You looked at each other for a few tense moments, but ultimately you sighed and left him in the kitchen, going to your room to get a backpack and another, more fitting, set of clothes.
He was still there when you returned to the kitchen with your stuff, but you didn’t even pretend you weren’t preparing to head out. The man watched silently as you put the backpack down by the door, went to retrieve and reload your gun, and gathered some essentials on the table, not once glancing in his direction.
You were persistent in ignoring Tommy’s presence, but then he finally spoke up.
“We can go before dawn. I’ll get the horses ready and we will take the fourth gate.”
You froze and stopped what you were doing, then turned around and placed your hand on your hip.
“We can’t take horses up there. Not in this weather.”
“We’ll leave them at the fifteenth checkmark. That place in the East where there are so many swallows durin’ spring.”
You nodded, and your gaze softened when you looked him over. Tommy was just as worried about Joel as you were, you knew it. He was just better at hiding it.
“I’m sorry for what I said,” you murmured, feeling terrible that in such a short amount of time, it was a second person you were apologizing to. “But you know I have to go after him. You know that.”
“Fuck,” he swore quietly, sighing. “Yeah, I know. There’s no way I ain’t goin’ either. Just… I just hate doing somethin’ behind Maria’s back.”
You didn’t answer – because what could you say? That he didn’t have to go with you? As much as you wanted to save Joel, pretending not to care about the dangers or anyone’s opinion, you knew you’d probably die if you went alone. But it didn’t mean you were going to ignore all that Tommy was risking by coming along with you.
“You don’t have to, Tommy,” you whispered. “You have your wife to think about, after all. And your–”
“I know,” he interrupted glumly. “Don’t worry. All of us will come back.”
You nodded. You really hoped he was right.
*****
At first, everything was going according to plan.
At least, until Ellie decided to show up.
She surprised both you and Tommy a couple of miles outside of Jackson, probably thinking that it was far enough that you won’t try to send her away.
You tried anyway. You were understandably furious, not only because she didn’t listen to you, but also that she trailed after you both for so long in this weather. Her reveal caused a short screaming match and a couple of nervous tears shed by you, but eventually you and Tommy decided it’d be more dangerous to make Ellie go back to Jackson alone. So she continued with you to the house where you left your horses, then past it and in the direction of the ski resort.
You didn’t know how many people were at the resort, and there were only the two of you – well, three, counting Ellie, but no matter her stubbornness, you weren’t going to let her go in – and an attack was too risky in this situation.
So you decided to sneak in. To distract and draw the kidnappers’ attention long enough for you to get Joel out.  It was still stupidly risky, but it wasn’t like there were much more options that wouldn’t end in those guys killing all of you. The plan was that Tommy would find a vantage point and be on guard to take down any threats with his sniper rifle if you were noticed, while you go get Joel.
Ellie… Ellie didn’t take no for an answer. And as much as you hated that she tagged along on this dangerous rescue mission, you had to admit that she came prepared. Apparently some time ago Joel taught her how to make trap mines and she pitched the idea of planting some up the mountain to create an avalanche.
Well, you and Tommy were both very much against setting off a full-blown avalanche, but it wasn’t a bad idea per se. So it was agreed that Tommy will help her set the bombs in some strategic places while you wait for a signal to go in.
The sneaking in part was surprisingly easy. The people staying there didn’t leave any guards outside, probably because they didn’t expect that someone would actually look for them in this weather, and it seemed that there weren’t that many of them inside like you feared. You had a vague idea where Joel might be, based on the positioning of the people present, so you reckoned it’ll be the wisest to wait nearby.
It took about an hour of hiding in one of the empty rooms (you had to change your hiding spot once, because someone decided to randomly sweep the perimeter) before you heard distant explosions and panicked, angry yells, and then a rumble of the mountain. You suspected a fair amount of snow was falling down the slope, and you prayed that Ellie and Tommy were in a safe place when that happened.
You heard the sound of footsteps getting further away. Then more of it. It was eerily silent, and you counted to ten in your head, before slowly exiting your hiding spot.
Just as you suspected, Joel was held in the lobby, tied to one of the decorative columns, and even though his back was to you, you’d recognize him anywhere, even by hands or the back of his head alone. A quick glance around the room confirmed that there was no one around, but still you preferred to stay on guard. You silently tip-toed to where he was sitting on the floor, mindful of all the debris scattered on the floor and keeping your head low, and breathed a sigh of relief when you finally reached him.
“Don’t move,” you whispered, barely moving your lips. Your fingers touched his wrist and he budged slightly. You angled your face closer to the left side of his head, hoping he’ll hear you better this way. “It’s me, Joel. I’m gonna get these off you, okay?”
Not waiting for the reply, you took out your knife and started to cut the thick, coarse rope binding Joel’s wrists. You winced at the burns underneath, but you managed not to cut him, which was a feat with how tight the ropes were. He was very still, probably not wanting to handicap you.
“Okay,” you whispered when the last of the thick strands were cut through, and you carefully slid the remnants of the rope from his wrists. “Now follow me, Tommy is…”
Your voice died down when Joel’s arms loosely slumped down, along with his head, and a second later his torso started tilting to the side before heavily hitting the ground.
Your heart stopped in your chest.
“No.” The whispered word escaped you when you hurried around him, now not caring about staying hidden. “No, no, no, please…”
You rolled Joel onto his back and only now saw the damage done to him – his nose broken, face covered in blood, a gash under his left ear, and a still bleeding gunshot wound in his arm. He didn’t look dead, didn’t have that lifeless emptiness around him, but his eyes were closed and his chest was still. You put your ear to his mouth, desperate to feel his breath on your skin, but…
No, it can’t be, it can’t…
You couldn’t feel anything.
“Joel,” you said quietly, taking his face between your hands, but tears were blurring your vision. “Come on, please open your eyes.” A choked sob broke out of your throat and you shook your head when he still didn’t even as much as stir. “Love, please…”
That’s when your eyes landed on a small, glass vial lying discarded some feet away. You looked from it to Joel, tears clouding your vision, and scrambled forward to check it out.
As you suspected, the syringe – because that’s what it turned out to be – had the traces of a thick, translucent liquid in it left. There wasn’t any writing on it, but the glass was clean, unlike various other bottles and wrappings scattered throughout the facility. You stared at it for a couple of seconds, then fixed your gaze on Joel again.
Just as the sound of footsteps started to echo down the hall.
You froze and strained your ears to make sure you didn’t imagine it, then took a look around the room. The doors were slightly ajar, but whoever was coming here, they couldn’t see you just yet. Panic seized your insides and you turned to Joel again.
“Sweetheart, please wake up,” you whispered pleadingly, shaking his shoulders and slapping his cheek lightly. “Come on, look at me, open your eyes…"
The steps were getting louder by the second. You tore the glove off your hand with your teeth and tried to very quickly check Joel’s pulse, but either in your panic you couldn’t find it, or the heartbeat was too slow for you to pick up.
You didn’t consider any other option.
There wasn’t much time left, so finally you left him and quietly went to hide behind the door, waiting for the incomer to walk in. Your hand reached for the gun on your belt.
And paused.
There couldn’t be any other option… right? Joel was alive, you just failed to find his pulse. He…
He was lying, still in the place you left him, and you couldn’t see his chest moving. The blood was flowing from the wound in his arm, staining his jacket and the floor… Your hand, the one holding the pistol, was covered in it, too…
Then you did something you never expected of yourself.
The gun stayed in its holster, and you went to grab from the ground one of the heavier pieces of debris you noticed before, a long metal pipe. Your hands tightened on the metal, and your eyes stayed on Joel’s lifeless form. You took a stifled, nervous breath. Then a deep, steadying one.
The person in the hall was really close now. Joel still didn’t appear to be moving or breathing, and it made your own chest feel tight and painful.
He couldn’t be dead. He couldn’t.
But if they did this, if… if he won’t ever open his beautiful brown eyes again, say your name in that entricing raspy drawl…
The doors to your right opened and your face twisted in rage and resentment. Your muscles tensed and focus sharpened.
The man who walked through the door made a noise of surprise at the sight of Joel lying on the floor – and that inhaling sound, that maddening noise seemed to taunt you, because how dared he breathe when Joel’s own breath was stolen from him, when you weren’t sure if it was still there – right before you stepped forward and swung the pipe with all your might.
The man – dark skin, with short hair – fell down with a loud cry when the harsh metal hit him right in the temple. Your eyes scanned his figure for a weapon, and you hit him again, this time somewhere near his stomach, when he made a move to reach for his knife.
“What did you give him?!” you asked with malice and venom that were so alien to you, you almost didn’t recognize your voice. The man’s eyes focused on you for the first time when you kicked his blade away, and his confusion turned to anger.
“Crazy bitch!” he spat, heaving for air, and lunged at you, but the open wound in his skull must’ve slowed him down, because without any problem you managed to raise your makeshift weapon before he could grab you.
Since you met him so many years ago, you always had Joel to watch your back. Now you were alone, but somehow that thought didn’t scare you. It exhilarated you.
An unpleasant, hair-rising crack echoed in the room, followed by the stranger’s scream, when the heavy metal smashed the bones in the forearm.
“I asked… a simple, fucking, question!” you snarled at the man, bringing the pipe down again, aiming for his hand this time. He moved it away at the last second, which enraged you even more, so with a mad, frustrated scream, you smashed his knee, using the pipe’s momentum when it bounced off the floor. “What the fuck did you do to him?!!”
He screamed, loudly and terribly, cursing at you with every shaky breath he took, and–
You felt so unlike you, so… out of your skin, somehow… but you wanted to make him suffer. You wanted to know this inhuman cry of pain that was reverberating through the walls of the resort was your doing and your power over this bastard. Because of what they did to Joel.
Then a loud bang rang out in the air, and you instinctively ducked your head when a part of the door to your side was shot off. You dropped the pipe – no use for it now – and drew your gun, noticing with surprise that your heart was steady and your breath even, as if you didn’t almost get shot just now.
Another bullet was sent in your direction, and a woman’s voice yelled something inaudible, while you stood still and counted the seconds.
Three, two…
In a rapid movement, you came out of cover and aimed at the person standing in the hall, firing twice. The first bullet hit the woman in the arm while the second seemed to burrow itself in her stomach. She fell backwards with a curt cry, and the man lying at your feet roared with rage.
“No! You fucking bitch, leave her alone!!”
Your motions were almost automatic as you put your gun away and picked up the metal pipe again, its end splattered with blood. The man in front of you had to see something in your eyes – despair? emptiness? hatred? – because his face fell and he started quietly begging for you to stop and let him go. At least that’s what you assumed he was saying, because you didn’t listen to him one bit.
“Do not…” you started, unexpectedly calmly, bringing the end of the blunt weapon down. The impact caused his shinbone to break, and you lingered for just a moment to hear the bitter cracks of the shattered bones, “fucking… go anywhere. Don’t you dare move, hear me?”
The man didn’t answer, just cursed and wept in pain. The sound was horrible, but you almost didn’t notice it – or more accurately, didn’t care. Which would be even more concerning if you weren’t aware of the woman lying injured in the hall behind the door, and Joel, still unmoving and cold to the touch on the other side of the room.
Slowly, not hearing the black man’s cries or distant gunshots from where Tommy probably was taking down the enemies, and not caring about the blood of a stranger covering your jacket and pants, you dropped the pipe and took out your gun again. Then you made your way down the corridor, your eyes locked on the woman who shot at you.
She was groaning in pain, clutching at her stomach. When she noticed you, her hand reached for the pistol which lay discarded next to her, but you quickly lifted your own and aimed at her before she touched it.
“Don’t move,” you murmured, which would sound almost soft if it weren’t for the empty look in your eyes. The woman scanned you up and down, and slowly lifted her hands.
“Who are you?”
“What did you give him?” you asked like you didn’t hear her, coming closer to kick away her gun to the far end of the hall. The woman’s eyes followed the weapon, then shifted to you.
“Do you even know what that man did? What is he guilty of?”
“I know. Now answer the damn question. What did you give–”
The door on your left slammed open and you only had time to turn your head before a heavy body collided with you, pushing you to the wall. Your head hit the bricks with an echoing crack, knocking the breath out of you. A man who surprised you grabbed the material of your jacket and slammed you into the wall again, but you managed to grab his hair and yank it hard, which allowed you to step to the side and away from the point of disadvantage that being trapped against the wall was.
The man – taller than you, with a black eye and without one of the front teeth – was quick to recover, however, and catched the wrist of your hand that held the gun, pushing it to the side when you pulled the trigger. From the corner of your eye you could see the woman you shot curling up and covering her head, then trying to scamper away, but the wound in her stomach was a significant impediment.
You fired again, trying to wrestle the gun from the man, but his grip was strong and after a few seconds of struggle he managed to knock the weapon out of your grasp, sending it flying to where you kicked off the woman’s one earlier.
Not sooner than your hands were empty, his elbow collided with your face, hard, and you cried when a gush of blood started pouring from the broken nose and a cut on your lip. Fear washed over you, and sheer luck caused you to duck to the side in time, avoiding a fist to the temple.
You stumbled backwards a few unstable steps, breathing heavily. The guy was smirking, acting like he already won – but you weren’t about to die in this sleazy, stinky place, leaving Ellie all alone and never knowing why they abducted Joel in the first place.
Joel…
“You’ve made a huge mistake,” said the man quietly, taking one, then two steps forward and swinging again. You backed away a second time, feeling your heart pounding in panic and knowing you didn’t stand a chance against a man of his stature.
Finally your luck ran out, and the man managed to hit you in the jaw, making you taste blood on your tongue. Before you could recover, one of his hands shot forward and grabbed you by the throat, and then, still keeping his big hand on your neck, he brought your entire torso down, slamming you to the ground. You hit your head hard and the glass shards on the floor embedded themselves in your skin, but in the next moment the sound of your painful scream was cut short. The grip the man had on your throat tightened, and you started to have difficulty breathing.
Your eyes budged in fear as realization of what was happening dawned on you, and you started to kick and struggle wildly, reaching for your attacker’s face, but he moved out of reach, still putting his whole weight down on you.
Your fists were hitting his forearms, your nails scratching his cheeks, whatever to make him let go. But he didn’t, his hands still squeezing your throat so strongly and crushing your esophagus.
“After I kill you, I’ll go kill your friend,” your attacker snickered, smiling viciously as he watched ice-cold panic enveloping you. “He’s not worthy of keeping him alive that long, anyway.”
Something ignited inside you at his words.
Joel.
You suddenly remembered the many self-defense lessons Joel had given you, so that whenever he wasn’t there to protect you, you could do it yourself. He was always so afraid for your life…
Slowly and with great effort, your fingers crept down, searching for the handle of your hunting knife, while dark spots started to appear before your vision, partially covering the sneering face of the man crushing your windpipe. He said something else – something you didn’t even hear because of the ringing in your ears…
And then with the last bit of your strength, you yanked the knife out of its sheath and buried the blade in the side of his neck.
Several things happened simultaneously: the man cried in surprise and let you go, the woman shouted a warning – too late – and you swung your leg over him, straddling and stabbing the man over and over again. His neck, his chest, his face, you didn’t even see what you were hitting. Screaming your lungs out and burying the blade in him again, and again, and again.
And again.
With an outraged, desperate cry, the woman lunged at you, but the adrenaline coursing through your system made you not even register something cutting deeply the skin of your arm, your veins and muscles giving way. You spun around, tumbling with her to the ground, but quickly managed to pin her down, blocking her arms in place with your knees, and pressing the tip of your knife to her chest.
She immediately stopped moving.
“Last fucking chance,” you croaked with difficulty, your neck bruised and swollen. “What… did you give him?”
You didn’t know if it was the sight of you, bloodied and wounded, the fact that you just violently killed her friend, or something else entirely – but now the woman looked scared.
“Okay,” she whispered, trying not to breathe too deeply, and glanced nervously at the blade pressed against her skin. “Okay, I’ll tell you, just don’t… It was a tranquilizer. Nothing dangerous, we just put him to sleep for a couple of hours. He was putting up quite a fight and the guys were getting antsy that he’ll pull something off before–”
“He’s not breathing,” you rasped viciously, sputtering blood onto her face. The woman flinched and took a shaky breath.
“His heart rate is slowed down, but it doesn’t– it shouldn’t kill him.”
You clenched your teeth, then exhaled. Inhaled.
You have to take a grip of yourself. He is alive. He has to be…
Should be.
The weight with which you had pinned her to the ground became lighter, and the woman sighed with relief when you removed the sharp end from her chest.
“It shouldn’t… kill him?” you repeated emptily, trying to dismiss the pain in your throat when you were speaking.
“No.”
Your head was still buzzing, but you tried to push it to the side, to focus on what was important right now.
“Why… did you take him?”
And just with that one, quiet question, the woman’s expression changed. You were considering letting her go, since you already hurt her pretty badly, but the sudden shift in her behavior set off alarm bells in your head once more.
“He’s a murderer,” the woman said, as if it was the most obvious answer. “A monster that would do everyone a favor if he got put down.”
White, blinding fury flooded your veins and it felt almost as if electricity was cracking above your skin. Your hand held the knife tighter.
‘Put down’, like… like an animal. She was talking about the man you loved–
You weren’t able to stop the hatred and rage flowing out of every pore of your skin. In one swift motion you plunged the knife into the woman’s chest, making her choke and gasp in surprise.
“You cannot call him that,” you spluttered, barely able to speak from the pain. “You…”
And then your hand forced its way lower down, still holding the handle of your weapon. Cutting through the woman’s – now struggling and screaming in agony – abdomen and guts.
They went so far as to abduct Joel, they took him from you, hurt and shot him, wanted to torture him, to make him suffer before they ultimately kill him…
But they didn’t, he can’t be dead, he can’t–
The woman was conscious the entire time as you were ripping her insides apart, and her screams died down only after you reached the navel.
Your vision was blurry and faltering when you stood up, but your heart was still beating steadily. There was an echo of a scream in your ears, though you couldn’t tell if it was your or the dead woman’s voice.
There wasn’t anyone else in the hallway. In the back of your mind you hoped that Tommy took care of any remaining enemies, because if they’d come running here, you didn’t think you’d be able to hear them in time.
Clutching your injured arm, you slowly made your way to the room where you left Joel and the man who attacked you first. Your gun was lying near the entrance and you picked it up before pushing the door open and staggering inside.
The man wasn’t where you left him. Instead there was a big pool of blood, forming into a wide, smeared path leading further into the lobby. At the end of it you saw him, groaning and crawling to the exit.
You reloaded the gun and walked closer. At the sound, the man turned his head and his eyes widened when he saw you.
“You fucking psycho!” he spat, bracing himself on the elbow of his left arm – the only one still working. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?! When she sees it, they’ll come for you, and they’ll make sure that the two of you will fucking pay for it!”
His words were flowing through you as you struggled to keep your vision focused. You felt weird – almost like waking up way too early and finding your body not listening to you entirely.
Then you realized. The hungry, burning anger was gone, the embers of hatred slowly dying out. There was only smoke and emptiness left inside you.
“I don’t care,” you mumbled, not loud enough for the man to hear you, but that didn’t matter – two seconds later he was dead, his brain splattered all over the floor behind him.
Your hand was shaking. Cold crept up your limbs, embracing and almost choking you as you breathed in, out, faster and faster as you finally comprehended what you did.
Your eyes moved down to the man’s indented knee, completely smashed into a bloody mess. The other limb was all wrong, his foot sticking in the opposite direction and no wonder he had to crawl to get away from you, you destroyed his legs, you…
You staggered backwards, your pupils darting to the hallway just for a second before returning to the battered corpse in front of you. The back of his skull was gone now, but how did he stay conscious for so long after you smashed his head with a metal pipe? There was so much blood on it… How much pain he must have felt after you left him?
And that woman… He begged you to leave her alone, and you… you ripped her open…
You moved back, back and further away, before tripping and falling to the floor. Your breaths were fast and shallow, and you reached for your neck, sore and swollen from almost being strangled, trying to will your lungs to work.
They were bad people. They took and hurt Joel, and planned to kill him. You had to kill them, they’d kill you in a heartbeat, they…
It wasn’t like you’ve never taken a life before, but it was the first time that you inflicted pain on somebody on purpose – not in self-defense, but because you wanted to retaliate. It was done in revenge.
You didn’t know for how long you had sat there when you heard someone saying your name. It sounded like… No, it couldn’t have been his voice, he was unconscious, he wasn’t breathing…
Suddenly, Tommy’s face appeared in your blurry field of vision – of course it was him, their voices were so similar, after all – and there was a deep crease between his brows. He looked worried and fearful, and–
“Snap out of it,” he said firmly, shaking your shoulders harder than he should have. Your name fell from his lips when you didn’t answer, and his eyes followed yours to a battered body on the floor. “Look at me. Look at me.” Tommy forcefully turned your chin in his direction, and his eyes were full of sorrow and pain. “You did what you had to do.”
You shook your head, swallowing the tears that streamed down your face. He didn’t know what you did. He didn’t understand what happened here, what happened with you… You yourself didn’t know what happened to you.
Tommy brought you closer to his chest, enveloping you in his strong embrace and the smell of leather and gunpowder. You choked on air, unable to stop the sobs racking your body, and deaf to his words, for the only thing you could hear were cracks of bones, screams of pain, and your own vengeful cries.
It was so loud in your mind that you almost missed a quiet grunt coming from behind you.
*****
Joel slowly opened his eye, then groaned and closed it again. He felt like shit and it was so hard to breathe, but he pushed through the pain and discomfort from the wound in his side, and tried again.
The first thing he saw was the greenish curtain, hiding the rest of the room from him, but judging by the fact that he was lying in bed, alive, with apparently all his wounds dressed, he figured it wasn’t the same place that group of angry youngsters took him to.
Lifting his head and turning it to the other side was a tremendous task, but it was so worth it – because there was you. Sitting in a chair next to him, asleep and with your head lying on folded arms on his bed. Joel smiled softly, but then furrowed his brows as a pang of anxiety shot right through him.
Your face was a mess, with cuts and bruises healing, your brow was split, and one of your forearms had a bandage wrapped around it, now a little dirty around the edges. Joel couldn’t see clearly, but your neck seemed… dark, as if the skin was bruised there, too.
What the hell happened?
He lifted his arm – the tingles and needles pierced his stiff limb – and brushed your cheek lightly, trying to wake you.
“Darlin’...” he murmured, and you stirred. He tried to say it again, louder this time, but his throat was scratchy and he winced at the feeling. There was no need for it, however, because in the next moment your eyes fluttered open and then widened when you took in the sight of him, realizing he’s awake.
“Joel!” Your hands – God, he missed the feeling of them – cupped his face gently, and your eyes filled with tears in the matter of seconds. “Oh my god, baby…”
“Hey, hey, I’m fine,” he breathed out quickly, not wanting to see you cry. “It’s okay, darlin’... I’m here.”
You sobbed with a dazzling smile, your beautiful eyes dancing across his features before you darted forward and pressed your lips to his firmly. Joel could almost taste the desperation and worry in your shaky breaths and tears that fell from your eyes and onto his tongue. He wanted to tangle his fingers in your hair and bring you in closer, but a sudden, sharp pain pierced his arm when he tried to move it, and he hissed into your mouth.
“Sorry,” you whispered and moved away quickly, letting out a broken laugh and brushing the unruly strands of hair away from his forehead. “I’m just so happy you’re okay.”
Joel wanted to ask what exactly had happened while he was out, but before he got a chance, you leaned in again and started softly peppering his face in kisses – first his cheek, then his forehead, then the tip of his nose and his chin. And Joel didn’t have the heart to stop you.
And that’s how Ellie found you both. She gagged when she saw the display of affection, but there was a grin on her face when he looked over at her.
“Gross,” she scrunched her nose. “But I’m glad to see you awake.”
“Yeah, well, I still feel pretty shitty,” he grunted, scanning the kid for any injuries, but she didn’t look any worse for the wear. His eyes strayed to your neck again, and the concern came back double-barreled. “What happened to you, sweetheart? Where–”
“I’ll… go get the doctor.” You stood up abruptly before he could finish, and looked over at Ellie. “Will you stay with him?”
“Yeah. Sure.” The teen shrugged, but now was avoiding Joel’s eyes, and he felt more uneasy and agitated by the second.
“Okay. Be right back, love. Gonna grab you some water, too.” You squeezed his hand and smiled. Joel’s eyes escorted you, and when he made sure you were out of the earshot, he turned to Ellie.
“What happened?”
“Well.” The teen blew out her cheeks and went to take a seat you previously occupied. “You were attacked during the patrol…”
“Yeah, no, that I remember,” Joel interrupted quietly. “They shot me, took me to that ski resort. But how am I here? Did she…”
He trailed off. Ellie looked at the curtain you disappeared behind, then back at Joel. “Listen, I wasn’t there, so m’not sure,” she mumbled quietly. “But after she and Tommy got you out, she was sorta… different.”
“Different how?” he asked sharply. Ellie bit the inside of her cheek, looking away. “Ellie.”
“I don’t know, okay?” she answered in a sudden burst. “She looked like hell. You saw her neck, I think someone tried to choke her, and she had an ugly cut on her leg, a fuckton of cuts and bruises… And the doctor spent hours getting all the glass shards out of her.”
Joel got up as much as he could, feeling a pit of anxiety rising in his chest. Ellie was silent for a while before she spoke again, this time surprisingly softly.
“Remember when you beat the shit out of that soldier when we were escaping QZ in Boston?” Joel nodded slightly – she did, too. “Yeah. She had a similar… kind of look on her face, and it looked… not exactly scary, but alien.” The teen looked up. “My guess is she did some fucked up shit to get to you. Tommy said she’s been having real bad nightmares since then, but he doesn’t want to tell me–”
Ellie snapped her mouth shut at the sound of footsteps, and a few seconds later you emerged from behind the curtain. You had a tall glass of water in your hand and a small, hopeful smile that grew when your eyes fell on Joel’s face.
“I know you’d probably prefer something stronger, but water will do you good,” you said, seemingly oblivious to the fact that they were just talking about you. Joel watched as you carefully sat down at the edge of his bed and put down the glass onto the table to his side. “One of the nurses will come here in a couple of minutes. You were unconscious for a couple of days so they want to make sure everything is okay.”
“I told you I’m fine, darlin’...”
“Please.” You gently took his hand in both of yours, staring at him with concern. “For me?”
Joel looked you over, his eyes lingering on your bruised neck and the bandage around your thigh which he didn’t notice before. Then he glanced at Ellie with worry, not knowing how to approach this problem or ask what exactly happened to you.
Your eyes were a little red and puffy, and he briefly thought about what the kid said: that you have had terrible nightmares, that apparently you went through some sort of hell to save him. It seemed that whatever you had done, it took its heavy toll on you. And he couldn’t bear it.
Joel hated the thought of you risking your life for him, of the experience branding you so deeply that you lost sleep because of it.
Because of him.
The only thing he could do right now was to be there for you. And maybe – just maybe, if he tried hard enough – to do something about those of your scars that he couldn’t see.
He lifted your hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to it, keeping his eyes on yours the entire time.
“Okay,” came his soft answer, to which you smiled with relief. “Whatever you wish, darlin’.”
No snarky remark, no groaning or muttering could be heard from Ellie, and that worried Joel much more than he’d ever admit. He exchanged a worried look with her while you were distracted, drawing patterns on the back of his hand with tender fingers.
“It’s gonna be okay,” he heard you say quietly, though it was unclear whether you were talking to him or yourself.
Either way, Joel squeezed your hand tighter, now feeling oddly afraid of letting go.
“Yes, darlin’,” he confirmed in a soothing manner. “Everything’s gonna be okay.”
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sunkiss3dlily · 3 months
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to you, i'm just a man (to me, you're all i am) part four | joel miller x reader
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Joel Miller x Fem!Reader Word Count: 5916
Summary: Time is running out for you in the fight against David. Joel comes to your rescue.
Note(s): Okay, so now it's become five parts. I should just never set a goal for how many chapters I'm writing because I always exceed it hahahaha but at least Joel and reader are reunited!! I'm not gonna lie this took so long to write because I hated writing for David. He is so creepy and I felt so gross. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed, and I promise this time, the next chapter will be the last haha! Thank you for all the love I'm so grateful! And as always feedback is appreciated, but please be respectful! Please give me any (detailed, please!) requests in my inbox or comments if you have any, I would love to hear them! Thank you so much for reading! ♡
Taglist: @wonwoosthetic @paleidiot @orcasoul @slut4mascss @paqerings @missladym1981 @oscarisaac2099 @stilllivindue2spite @aspecialgreenie @amyispxnk @caitlynsixxx
✮˚. ᵎᵎ 𖦹彡⋆。˚,
The bitter cold stole your every sense of direction in the relentless blizzard, pushing you to stumble aimlessly through the thick snow, much like you had the day before, only this time you were no longer the hunter but the prey.
All around, the storm howled, and your every step was one of desperation in the search for any sign of David and James' group.
"Stay alert, everybody; if this man's not already dead, he's dangerous." David's voice calling out from the other end of the street had you bolting to hide behind a fence, your rifle clutched steadily in your hand. "And the woman too; she can’t be fully trusted, either."
Clutching your rifle, you took a shaky breath, straining your hearing to catch the next set of orders.
“What about the little girl?” James' voice cut through the harsh wind, and a surge of protectiveness swelled within you at the mention of Ellie. You silently vowed not to let any of them get near her—not one step.
“We bring her back with us." David responds. "Her, and the woman.”
"Try it, motherfucker," you muttered, biding your time as they started advancing down your end of the street, where you remained safely hidden, at least for the moment. There was no need to risk wasting bullets and missing a shot; you had to be smart about this.
A loud scoff cuts through the air, and a voice that you haven't heard before rings out: "That woman will kill us all in our goddamn sleep if we let her stay with us."
"Yeah, I agree," James cuts in soon after. "I don't mean to question your sense of mercy, David, but we can kill the man and the woman and just let the little girl go. If we bring that little girl back with us, she's just another mouth to feed."
You peek out, taking your aim and squeezing one eye shut.
"If we leave either of them out here, they'll die," David chastises, still seemingly set on having you and Ellie come back with him.
As if you'd let that happen.
James scoffed, and as the group approached, you could now count their numbers.
Five.
You watched as James bitterly shook his head, and almost instinctively, you raised your rifle, focusing on the moving target. "Maybe that's God's will."
David's head snapped to look at his taller friend, but before he could speak, your first shot rang out.
James practically folded in on himself, the bullet finding its mark right between his eyes. Genuine shock registered on David's face before a darker expression replaced it just as swiftly. The other four members of the group looked around in utter bewilderment, raising their weapons and expressing a mix of fear, anger, and shock.
"Holy shit!"
"What the fuck do we do, David?!"
"They killed James!"
Too preoccupied reloading your rifle, you didn't notice David's eyes settling on the neck of your gun, which was slightly peeking out from behind the fence.
"Split up. Find the house they're staying in and get that little girl back to me alive. I'll take care of the woman."
As the three scatter in different directions, you finally look up, and that's when you notice David approaching the fence, his own gun at the ready, aimed and dangerous.
You feel it before you hear it—the burning sensation as the bullet rips through your coat and shirt, sinking into the skin of your shoulder. The sickening whoosh of the bullet through the air is only heard after. Had your senses been more in tune, perhaps you would have dodged it. Instead, a muffled cry of pain escapes your lips as you slam them together, forcing yourself into a standing yet crouched position. Running along the back of the fence, you do your best to ignore both the pain and the sensation of your blood coating your fingers, compressing the wound as you move, the rifle held limply in the hand of your injured arm.
"Get back here!"
Your legs turn to jelly as you sprint through the snow, heading straight for one of the houses. Despite the intensifying pain in your shoulder, you strive to keep your cool. Bullets whiz dangerously close to your tattered boots, narrowly missing as you move just a fraction too quickly for David's shooting ability.
“It doesn’t have to be this hard!”
Gasping for breath, you reach cover at the side of a nearby house, pressing your back against the cold exterior. The bitter wind bites at your exposed skin as you take a moment to assess the wound on your shoulder, your fingers coming away stained with blood. You reach back, whimpering to yourself as you feel the unmistakable hole in your shirt and coat, realising that, for one small mercy, the bullet has gone straight through.
"I didn't want to hurt you." David's voice echoes chillingly close, urging you to retreat to the back of the house. As you hastily assess for an entry point, he adds with a sinister tone, "You forced my hand."
Despite the searing pain in your shoulder and the fear gnawing at your senses, a twisted sense of relief settles in as you reach the back of the house. The knowledge that it's you who David is pursuing, and not Joel or Ellie, somehow grants you a twisted comfort.
“There’s no need to keep fighting me like this. It’s pointless.”
With trembling hands, you fumble to open the door, your mind racing faster than your jittery heartbeat.
The wooden door creaks open, revealing the dim interior of the house. Staggering under the weight of pain and panic, you stumble inside, the world spinning as you navigate the all-too-familiar surroundings from when you were desperately searching for any first aid for Joel the day prior, so you already know there is nothing here that is going to help you. The urgency of your situation intensifies, and you quickly slam the door behind you closed.
The house offers a brief respite from the relentless blizzard and the immediate threat of David's pursuit. As you move deeper into the residence, your unsteady footsteps echo against the worn floorboards. The muted sounds of the storm outside contrast with the thunderous beating of your heart.
A narrow staircase comes into view, and with each step, your legs feel heavier, like lead. The ascent is a gruelling task, with your battered body protesting with every movement. As you reach the top, you catch your breath, realising the vulnerability of your situation. You're wounded and isolated, and you're at the mercy of your surroundings and David.
Summoning the last reserves of your strength, you push forward, weaving through the upper floor. The pain in your shoulder becomes an unbearable companion, gnawing at your resolve, and your vision blurs. A distant bedroom beckons, and you stumble towards it, guided more by instinct than conscious thought.
With each step, the world becomes more of a blurry haze. You push the bedroom door open with a light swing, revealing your final refuge from the chaos. Collapsing against the far wall, behind a double bed, you sink to the floor, your breaths ragged and laboured. The room spins around you as you succumb to the exhaustion, your body finally finding a momentary sanctuary amid the turmoil.
✮˚. ᵎᵎ 𖦹彡⋆。˚,
The unmistakable echo of a gunshot reached Joel's ears, shattering the relative silence of the basement and snapping him out of the uneasy rest he had slipped into.
It felt like just moments ago that he had watched you leave, resolute in facing danger to protect him and Ellie. The mental image of you willingly sacrificing yourself for their safety wound around his heart like barbed wire, each beat accentuating his feelings of pain and helplessness. Staring at the closed door, he had been consumed by profound desperation, silently yearning for you to turn around and come back to them, to him. But, as the seconds ticked away, it became clear you weren't coming back.
Ellie's eyes had met his, her dark pools of pleading tears watching him as the weight of sleep threatened to pull him under.
"Joel! Wake the fuck up! We have to go!"
Suddenly, Ellie was gripping his shirt, the surge of adrenaline from the shock of it all combatting the heaviness of his slumber. The gunshot's resonance wasn't just a haunting echo of his nightmares about Sarah; it was the stark reality now centred around you. Whether you were the shooter or the one being shot at, Joel couldn't allow himself to stand, or rather lay, by while you faced danger, even in his weakened state.
"Joel!" Ellie repeated, shaking him just as furiously as before. "Fuck, wait a second."
She disappeared from his sight for a moment, peripherals included, and for some twisted reason inside of him, the thought of her leaving too made him even more scared. He couldn't lose both of you.
"Ellie," he called hoarsely.
She was back within a few moments, seemingly fueled by the sound of his voice as she kneeled beside him, syringe and medicine bottle in hand. "Yeah, I'm here. Just give me a minute. I've never done this before."
He held still, barely breathing as the needle pricked his wound once more, not wanting to freak the kid out any more than she already was.
"Ellie," he repeated. Her eyes fell to his as she continued to plunge the syringe slowly, just as she had watched you do so many times. Her dark eyes were still watery and held so much fear that she attempted to hide with her otherwise stoic expression, barring the slight trembling of her lips. "It's...it's gonna be okay."
"Yeah," she nodded, though her gaze fell away from him as if she didn't believe him. "I know."
Silence settled between them, a void that you typically filled. As Ellie withdrew the syringe, returning it along with the medicine to her bag, the echo of a second gunshot pierced the air, prompting them to exchange uneasy glances.
The heavy footsteps from above spurred Joel into action, breaking the inertia that had held him for days. He staggered to his feet, his unsteady legs protesting disuse, and gently guided Ellie into the corner beneath the stairs. Pressing his rifle into her hands, he saw the horror in her eyes. A shake of his head preceded his retrieval of her knife from the bag.
"If anything goes wrong, you shoot and run, alright?" Her mouth opened, but he silenced any objections, his tone unwavering. "No. No questions, no smart remarks. You run."
Joel's voice carried a resolute authority, his eyes revealing a blend of concern and determination. Ellie nodded, her grip tightening on the rifle as she comprehended the gravity of the situation.
The clamour above intensified, muffled voices now accompanied by the crash of furniture in front of the basement door. 
Time seemed to stretch as they waited, breaths suspended in anticipation. As the footsteps finally seemed to reach the top of the stairs and the door opened, Joel whispered one final directive, his voice barely audible. 
"Face the wall."
✮˚. ᵎᵎ 𖦹彡⋆。˚,
A tender touch, brushing hair away from your forehead, coaxes you back to awareness. Initially feeling numb, the haze lifts as you blink away blurriness, and the searing pain in your wound snaps into focus. A cry escapes your lips, and instinctively, you reach to cover the injury, as if the pressure could quell the pain. Surprisingly, a make-shift bandage is wrapped around the bare skin of your shoulder, and as you withdraw your hand, you find no fresh blood, only the remnants of dried staining from before.
A fleeting sense of relief washes over you when you suddenly realise someone is taking care of you; you've been saved.
"You were lucky; I'll give you that."
Anticipating Joel's deep, somewhat soothing tone, the sudden and chilling sound of David's higher voice jolted you. Startled, you looked up and blinked rapidly, only to find the devil himself kneeling in front of you, his hand resting on your cheek.
"Getting the jump on us like that. It was smart." He chuckled slightly, unsettling you further, prompting an instinctive flex of your fingers to search for your rifle. It must have been moved, and you think you can see the handle just behind him on the bed. The sheet on top of the mattress appears to be torn, evidently being what was used to conceal your wound. "I won't say it'll earn you many brownie points with the folks back home, but I understand. I understand why you did it."
You draw in a shaky breath, attempting to breathe through the pain and panic, while desperately searching your mind for any semblance of a plan.
David withdraws his hand from your cheek, replacing it with two fingers on your neck's pulse point, holding them there for a moment. "You know, I was worried you weren't going to wake up at all."
You make your best attempt to shrug him off, disliking the sensation of his cold fingertips on your skin. Despite your weakness, you glare up at him and retort, "You should be more worried than I was."
He smiles with a glint of amusement in his eyes, and you despise the gut-wrenching feeling of vulnerability blooming in your chest at the notion of being stuck in this man's presence. A chuckle escapes him, and he sucks his teeth before raising his hand, causing your head to snap to the side as the back of his hand connects with your cheek, a ring on his finger slashing your cheek upon impact.
Stunned to silence, you manage only a few heavy breaths as blood dribbles down your cheek. Eventually, you compose yourself enough to meet his gaze once more.
David releases a heavy sigh, observing you with a gaze that combines pity and satisfaction as he sits back on his knees.
“I like you. I do."
You glare back at him, biting back a snide comment.
He smiles, releasing a soft chuckle. “You’re so much different from the women back in my village. They’re so docile, complacent, and scared of their own shadows. You, on the other hand, are feral. Violent. A murderer.”
You swallow uncomfortably, unsettled by the excited glint in his eyes as he gazes at you.
“I like that. It’s realistic. A woman who does what she has to do to get what she wants. It’s the only way to survive, right?” David smiles, reaching out to clasp your limp hand that sits on your lap. “We’re very similar in that way. We do what we have to do to provide for the people who rely on us. No matter what, right?”
You fight the urge to snap his fingers in your palm, feeling his thumb stroking roughly over your skin, a poor imitation of Joel's comforting touch from only hours ago.
“You see, I’m not your enemy here.” He whispers in an attempt at a soothing tone. “I never have been. In fact, I am your equal, and in being that, I believe you would make the perfect addition to stand by my side in leading our people through the darkness that this winter has brought.”
You shake your head, but he raises a hand and emits a shushing noise.
“I know. It’s a hard concept to grasp when you’re in this fight-or-flight headspace. I’m sure you feel you won’t be accepted by them for all your sins and for all the heartache you’ve brought to our community, but they, as well as you, will come to understand, in good time, that reformation is indeed possible.” He squeezes your hand tight—so tight that it becomes uncomfortable very quickly. You breathe your way through the pain. “And if you can’t, then you can provide for our community in another way.” He lifts his other hand to lift your chin, forcing you to meet his eyes. “My people are hungry, you see. I wouldn’t be a good leader if I didn't do what I needed to provide for them, despite sacrificing what would be the closest thing I have to my equal. You understand the necessity of that, right?”
A sickening feeling churns in your stomach. Whatever he has in mind for you is likely nothing you want to endure. You bite your tongue, resolved to maintain composure and conceal your fear.
“And then, I suppose, your daughter will be the one to take your place beside me.”
Your entire body tenses, and he seems to notice the fire blazing in your eyes at the mention of Ellie, a light smirk settling on his lips.
Quick to wipe it off, you wrap your palm around his middle finger and tug it back with all the strength you can muster, causing a sickening crack as it breaks, ricocheting around you. He lets out an anguished cry of pain, filling you with relentless satisfaction. As he releases your hand entirely, you shove him backward and use the wall to guide you to your feet.
Rushing for your rifle, your movements are short-lived as you feel his hand wrap around your ankle, grabbing hold of you. Swinging your arm around to hit him, he tugs you forcefully via your arm, causing you to flop face down on the floor beside him.
Releasing angry pants, he flips you over onto your back and uses his free hand to press down on your wound, keeping you down and eliciting a cry of unbearable pain from your lips.
“There it is. There’s that fight in you I like so much.”
You spit at him, aiming directly for his face, and raise your knee to strike him in the crotch. He releases your wound, and you take a sharp intake of breath, readying your hand to deliver a strike to his face. But he's too quick, grabbing your wrist and yanking it hard, exerting so much force that you feel your arm being ripped out of its socket.
A blinding wave of pain overwhelms you, bringing all your struggles to an instant halt. Your pain threshold has been entirely depleted. You're done fighting. It's all too much.
He clears his throat as he shifts to hold himself above you, his gaze a mix of satisfaction and disappointment as he looks down at you.
“Is that all you’ve got in you?” He laughed breathlessly. “I’m disappointed. Underneath all that strong facade, you’re just the same as every other woman. Weak. I should’ve known you’d end up just the same: under my mercy."
Your strength waned, unable to conceal the overwhelming fear as his weight bore down on you, and instead, you opened your mouth, releasing a gut-wrenching scream.
✮˚. ᵎᵎ 𖦹彡⋆。˚,
It was guttural—the scream that tore through the streets—and it sent a shiver down Joel's spine. Ellie was huddled at his side, his arm protectively encircling her, marking the first substantial contact between them. The moment he tensed, he felt her reaction mirror his own.
Joel held tight to Callus' reins in his other hand. Although logic dictated that he and Ellie should be riding towards your safety, the events in the basement lingered in Joel's mind. Forcing two out of three men to reveal your whereabouts, even with Ellie upstairs and out of direct earshot, it had been a traumatic ordeal for the both of them. Joel couldn't deny Ellie the comfort of being close to him after such a harrowing experience. Contrary to his initial fears, it became evident that Ellie wasn't terrified of him; in fact, the very opposite seemed true.
'"That's her," Ellie said through chattering teeth as the biting winds whipped around them. "We have to help her."
Joel nodded, his gaze firm and determined, tugging Callus along once more. "We will. We'll get to her."
Once again, your scream, fraught with fear and desperation, reverberated through the desolate streets. The chilling sound momentarily froze time, leaving Joel feeling utterly helpless about where to go or how to reach you. The haunting silence that followed became almost unbearable, casting an oppressive weight on Joel's chest, which he tried to ignore with every stride he took, Ellie in tow.
Abruptly, just as it had ceased, your screaming resumed, and Joel couldn't summon the strength to look down, yet he could feel Ellie's tears soaking his shirt. Each agonising note sliced through the air, and this time, it seemed to pierce Joel even more deeply than before. The raw, visceral sound of your distress clawed at his heart, dismantling any remaining walls that held back his emotions towards you. He despised that sound—the sound of you in pain, the sound of you scared, the sound of you broken—and silently vowed to do whatever it took to never hear it again.
However, amidst the torment, there existed a perverse sense of gratitude. Your screams served as a guiding force, leading Joel, Ellie, and Callus through the relentless blizzard in pursuit of you. A steely resolve tightened Joel's jaw, determination etched across his weathered face as you fell silent once more, only to start screaming again seconds later. The idea of you enduring suffering was unbearable, and an urgency to reach you surged through Joel's veins, propelling their movements forward through the biting cold.
Reaching the front of the house from which your screams echoed, Joel gently pulled away from Ellie's trembling frame. He tried to ignore the way she instinctively sought to move closer, holding her by the shoulders. "I need you to listen to me, Ellie."
Her face was pale, tear-stricken, and concerned, lacking the strength to argue. She nodded in response.
"I need you to ride Callus to the furthest house away, to the very last one in this neighbourhood, okay? Not one sooner. The very last one."
Her lips parted, wobbling, but your scream from above tore every word from the tip of her tongue. She made her way to Callus, placing one foot in the stirrup before Joel helped launch her onto the horse completely. He held back a wince as his wound ached with every movement, and raised his rifle for her to take.
"I'll come and find you as soon as we're out. You don't leave for anything. You stay right there, hidden, until we come back. Got it?"
Ellie took the rifle, slugging it onto shoulder, before gripping Callus' reins and nodding. "Got it."
"Good." He hummed, stroking Callus' side before meeting Ellie's eyes. "Go on."
She simply sniffled, murmuring, "Let's go," to the horse before she and Callus thundered off down the street.
Joel watched as Ellie rode away, his rifle slung over her shoulder, and as he turned back towards the house, it took him about a second to realise you were no longer making any noise, and it only took half of that time to send him into utter panic.
✮˚. ᵎᵎ 𖦹彡⋆。˚,
The carpet beneath your fingernails was the only sensation you registered as David's hand coiled around your throat, tightening its grip and stifling any more attempts at screaming.
You weren't fighting back anymore. You couldn't. You'd lost it all the moment David had you pinned down and injured. The likelihood of Joel succumbing to the brutality of David's men gnawed at your conscience. Imagining Ellie, now alone and convinced you were lost too, fighting desperately to escape their clutches added another layer of anguish to your already shattered resolve. You didn't want to risk that becoming a truth, and so you just lay there.
Time seemed to stretch with each agonising blink, your eyes lingering shut for longer intervals. As David's suffocating grip on your throat gradually released, you struggled to focus through the haze. His lips moved, likely weaving a twisted soliloquy, but the only sound that reached you was the persistent thud of blood coursing through your veins. Each breath you managed to draw felt like a desperate attempt to refill your lungs, your chest heaving with the effort.
His vice-like grip on your neck finally released, and as you dared to steal a glance downward, all you saw was his hand moving towards his zipper.
You clutched at the carpet, fingers digging in, and drew in a wheezy breath, steeling yourself for whatever might come next.
David's face and body loomed over you, paralysing you with fear. Just as you thought it was all over, the sudden impact of your rifle against the side of his head sent his looming figure crashing to the floor beside you. Through the haze of your vision, you could vaguely make out a blurry figure in a brown coat gripping your rifle and ruthlessly slamming it down repeatedly onto what appeared to be David's body.
Unable to discern many words, you could only catch snippets of angry and pained sounds. Fear gripped you, but in a moment of reprieve, you managed to turn on your side. For perhaps the first time since you woke up, you felt a semblance of relief, as if you could finally afford to breathe again.
Your body ached, and your lungs burned with each precious breath of fresh air, reminiscent of a dog lapping up water on a scorching day. Curled into a foetal position, the only sounds that reached your ears were the haunting echoes of sniffles and whimpering. It didn't take long for you to grasp the painful realisation that those anguished sounds were escaping your own lips.
A hand gripping your ankle jolts you into immediate action, fearing the worst. A distressed wail escapes your lips as you kick out, refusing to glance at the person who has a hold of you. Slowly crawling away, you use your uninjured arm to support yourself, doing your best to fight the searing pain flowing through you.
The hand lets up, and then it moves to land delicately on your back. Gentle and light, it hovers, assuring you of his presence.
Everything seems to move once more in slow motion as you continue to kick out, eventually flipping onto your side and meeting your would-be assailant's eyes once more.
Except it's not David.
It's Joel.
His lips are parted, and he is speaking to you softly. His face is taut with concern, distress, and fear.
"..'s me; it's just me. It's me."
The sound of relief escaping you doesn't come close to the immense relief flooding your insides.
As Joel senses the realisation dawning in your eyes, his expression eases slightly, a fraction of his concern dissipating.
You can't help but avert your gaze, your eyes falling upon David's battered body lying a short distance away. The butt of your rifle, stained with his blood, rests by his side. It's evident that Joel has discarded it and hurried to your aid.
His touch on your cheek is gentle, coaxing you to meet his gaze once more.
"Look at me," he urges, his voice a comforting murmur. "You're okay. You're with me. Just keep your eyes on me. Keep focusing on me."
Your lip trembles. "J-Joel...he…he…”
"I know," he murmurs softly, his face etched with pain as he gently covers your hand with his own on the floor. The gesture makes you flinch involuntarily, and memories of David flood your mind. "I know, honey. I know."
Honey.
The term is uttered with such tenderness, so delicately, that it catches you off guard. His eyes glisten with unshed tears as he regards you with the utmost care, as if he can hardly believe he's reached you in time.
Tears stream down your cheeks, unnoticed, until you feel his arms enveloping you. It's surprising the sheer gentleness emanating from a man hardened by years of violence, his fists having shed blood from countless adversaries. Yet here he is, cradling you as though you're the most precious gift, as if it's the most natural thing for him to do, as though he was born to love and protect you, no matter the time it took for him to realise it.
His hand finds solace in your matted hair, anchoring you to him as you weep against his chest. For a long while, he remains silent, allowing your sorrow to seep into him as if, by some miracle, it might alleviate your pain. You feel a shift in his posture, and then his chapped lips brush gently against your forehead.
Drawing back slightly from the comfort of his embrace, you meet his gaze.
"You're... you're alive," you breathe out softly.
The corners of his lips twitch up a little, and he nods gently down at you. "Your stubborn ass saved me, remember?"
"I... I had to. I couldn't... couldn't lose you," you respond, still teary-eyed. Your gaze darts around frantically for a moment. "E—Ellie? Where's Ellie? Did they get Ellie?"
Joel shakes his head quickly. "We... I got 'em, I swear. They didn't touch her. She's safe."
"They... they were really bad people, Joel," you whisper, a slight desperation in your voice, as if you need him to believe you, though you have no idea why you feel the need to justify it. "Really bad. They... they... the things he wanted to do."
Your gaze starts to drift back to David's body, but Joel gently redirects your focus to him with a tender touch on your cheek, his thumb wiping away the blood from where David's ring had cut your skin. "No, no. Don't look at him, alright? Just keep looking at me and listening, okay? Focus right here on me and me only."
You nod, your attention fixed on him.
“You did good, sweetheart. You did so good. You saved me and Ellie, and…and you’re still here with us. It was always going to be your life over any of theirs. You did what you had to do.”
Weakly, you nod and rest your trembling hand on his arm.
He glances down at your hand, resting his own atop it, and takes a breath. Using the next few moments to assess your condition, he notices the blood-soaked sheet wrapped around your shoulder, his face paling considerably. Then, his gaze falls on the swollen part of your arm where David has torn it from its socket.
He releases your hand and rises to his feet, prompting a soft cry of his name from you, as if he might leave you in that state.
"I'm right here. You're okay," he assures you, reaching down to cup your cheek. "I just need to... I need to help you. You're hurt, sweetheart. Just keep your eyes on me. I'm not going anywhere; I just need to..."
Glancing over to the bed, where the ripped sheet lies, he reluctantly lets go of you and strides over to retrieve it. Returning to your side, he offers reassurance. "See? I'm still here."
You watch him carefully as he tears the fabric apart with his bare hands, studying his every move.
"Joel," you say softly at first, catching his attention only when you repeat his name with a bit more urgency.
"Yeah, what's up?" He responds, turning to you.
"I'm... I'm glad you're here."
His worried expression softens, though concern still lingers in his gentle brown eyes. After a moment's pause, he replies, "Me too, honey." Taking a breath, he continues, "Now, I'm gonna ask you to do something for me, okay?"
You weakly nod your agreement.
"Just stay still while I see what I can do about your arm, alright?" he instructs.
He shakily reaches over to lightly press your swollen, deformed-looking arm, retracting his hand almost immediately when you cry out in pain. The anguish in his eyes mirrors your own hurt, and once the wave of pain has passed, you grasp his coat with your uninjured hand, murmuring your apologies.
"It's okay, it's okay," he reassures you softly, cupping your cheek and meeting your gaze with his intense one. "I need you to trust me for a second, okay? This is going to hurt, but you are going to be just fine, I promise. Everything's going to be okay."
Tears brim in your eyes, but you nod. "I trust you, Joel."
He smiles softly at you, leaning forward to press a kiss on your head before he reaches out and takes your injured arm's hand in his own. With a shaky breath, he asks, "Can you feel that?"
You nod with a sniffle.
"Good. That's good." He squeezes your hand gently. "And you feel that?"
Again, you nod.
He squeezes once more, meeting your eyes. "Still with me?"
Another nod.
Taking a breath, he squeezes for the third time, a nervous expression clouding his face.
It takes you a moment to process his confession as pain overwhelms you. But when you realise what he has said, everything stops hurting for a moment, and a relieved tear slips down your cheek.
He smiles weakly back at you.
And then he tugs.
✮˚. ᵎᵎ 𖦹彡⋆。˚,
"Almost there, sweetheart," Joel murmurs, his hand light on your back as he guides you through the blizzard, mindful of your delicate state. "I've got you."
Your injured arm is cradled in a makeshift sling, and a fresh bandage, fashioned from the same sheet, is carefully tied over your bullet wound. Despite the lingering pain, being with Joel feels like a balm to your soul, as if you're walking on air. The thought of being reunited with Ellie soon fills you with hope, giving you the strength to keep moving forward, despite the weariness weighing down your legs.
Every little noise puts you on edge, whether it's the howl of the wind or the thud of snow against a roof. But Joel is there, a reassuring presence, whispering words of comfort each time you tense up, trying to reach for a weapon and inadvertently causing yourself more pain.
"Hey, hey, it’s okay," Joel assures as you come to reach the last few houses on the road, the sight of horse prints visible in the snow-covered ground. "Look behind us; look around. There is no one here but us. No one is going to hurt you, I promise."
You look around nervously, seeing that he is right. You are simply overwhelmed by paranoia right now.
“No one is going to hurt you,” Joel repeats gently, a change from his usual tone but a welcome one. You've never felt safer.
You nod, scooting closer to him all the same.
The horse tracks lead up to the final house on the road, and Joel is grateful that Ellie followed his instructions this time.
He shuffles as slowly as you need up the short distance of the porch steps, and when you both reach the top and you begin to lose your ability to keep moving forward, he wraps your uninjured arm around his neck and keeps you moving. “I’ve got you. You’re okay, sweetheart. You’re just tired, that’s all. You’re going to rest as soon as we get inside, alright? Talk to me; let me know you’re still in there.”
“Still here..." you assure quietly, though your vision is beginning to blur and darkness is beginning to form in your peripherals.
“Atta girl, stay with me.” He presses a gentle hand over your ear and pushes the other to rest against his chest. He raises his voice, though muffled to you, as he kicks the front door as he has no hands free. “Ellie! Open up! It’s us!”
By the time the door opens, you are halfway through succumbing to the darkness.
©️sunkiss3dlily, 2024.
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roosterforme · 10 months
Text
The Curveball Part 3 | Bob Floyd x OC
Summary: One date with Molly, and Bob knows he's a lost cause. She's perfect and lovely and she seems to want him back. But he's never been with a woman like her, and his insecurity hits him when he wishes it wouldn't. 
Warnings: Fluff, angst, 18+
Length: 5600 words
Pairing: Robert "Bob" Floyd x Female OC (this story accompanies Batting Practice!)
Check my masterlist for more! Thank you to @mak-32 and @teacupsandtopgun for the beautiful banners!
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As Molly led Bob inside to her apartment, he started to get nervous. The fluorescent lights in the building were bringing everything back into focus for him. She had told him to go slow when they were in his truck, but then everything sped up again. 
When she pulled him into the elevator, she pressed him up against the wall as she selected the sixth floor. Then she gently wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Her fingers in his hair soothed him, and he kissed her back. His eyes were closed, and the sensation of Molly's hands moving down his body to the open button of his jeans was almost too much. 
"Let's go," she whispered once the elevator stopped. Her fingers brushed along his abs before she reached for his hand. 
Bob stumbled along after her, heart pounding as she unlocked her door and smiled up at him over her shoulder. But once they were inside, she locked her door and took both of his hands in hers.
"You seem nervous now, Bob," she whispered, pulling him close and wrapping his arms around her waist. She placed both of her palms on his chest and leaned up to press one soft kiss to his neck. "What's wrong?" She gazed up at him without pressuring him to say something before he was ready.
So Bob took a moment to gather his thoughts. "I just... are you sure you want to do this with me? I don't want this to be just one night, Molly. I don't think I could handle that."
Somehow, her gaze softened further. "Bobby. If this is how good it feels to be with a sweet guy, then I've been doing this stuff wrong for a while. Very, very wrong."
"I want to be good for you," he whispered, leaning down to kiss her lips. "So you'll want me."
Molly giggled against his lips. "Bob. I want you. And I don't always do this, okay? I don't. But you..." She stopped talking and moaned, her head tipped back and her lips parted. "You have me so worked up, Bobby. It's been weeks of you teasing me. All the texting and flirting. And I want you."
"I want you, too." Bob's lips met her neck and she moaned louder. His hands were up under her dress, skimming along her thighs up to her butt. She was so soft and perfect, he'd deal with tomorrow's disappointment if it came. But not right now. Because she was pulling his dress shirt off and tossing his undershirt on the floor as well.
"Fuck," she whispered, as if to herself when she kissed his sternum and wrapped her hands around his biceps. "You're so hot." Then her hands were moving down to his unbuttoned fly and unzipping his jeans. 
He tried to think of a blizzard. A snowy day on the ranch in Wyoming. An ice cold glass of water. Anything other than how hot his body felt as Molly's hand slipped inside his jeans. She looked up at him as she palmed him through his underwear and grinned.
Polar ice caps. Penguins. A frozen lake. It wasn't working as she kissed his chest again and slid her hand inside his underwear.
"Molly," he gasped as her hand wrapped around his cock. His hands came up to her waist as he pushed himself against her palm. It felt like he had no control over his body. "Honey."
"Yes, Bobby?" she asked in that innocent voice that would haunt his daydreams for the rest of his life while she stroked him. 
Every coherent response was stolen from his mind as she kissed his chin and then sank down to her knees in front of him. When her tongue ran across her parted lips, Bob groaned. And when she pulled him free from his underwear and gasped, he reached for her cheek. 
"Please?" she asked just before her lips touched his tip. Bob stroked her soft skin and nodded his head. And then she took him between her lips and into her warm, wet mouth. 
"God," he groaned, eyes on hers as she took him deeper until he was shaking with need. Then she sucked on him, every inch of him until, with a soft pop, he was free of the glorious feeling of Molly.
She moaned, "Lieutenant Floyd," and the only thing Bob wanted was more of her mouth. More of her tongue. And then, miraculously, he got exactly what he wished for when she parted her lips for him again. 
The most beautiful woman in the world was giving Bob an enthusiastic blowjob. She took him deep and then sucked on him over and over again. He could see the imprint of his cock pressing on her hollowed out cheeks with every jerky movement. Molly was moaning softly and cupping his balls and licking him all over.
When she took a breath and looked up and said, "Bobby, you're huge," he hauled her back to her feet. 
She looked surprised as he wrapped his arms around her and pressed his mouth to hers. Bob twitched in her hands where she was still holding his length. "I can get you off with my mouth, if you want," she whispered, looking up at him through her lashes. 
Bob nodded, in complete awe of her. "I'm sure you could, Honey," he agreed, swallowing hard. But he knew he wouldn't last another minute with her mouth on him, and he desperately wanted to be good enough for her. Make her feel so good, she'd ask him to stay.
But now she was guiding him back to the oversized armchair as she pulled his pants down around his thighs. He stumbled backwards with all of the fabric bunched around his knees, and he could feel himself blushing as he sat down hard. But then Molly was settling onto his lap, and Bob almost jumped out of his skin as he felt her bare pussy gliding along his cock.
But she just settled there and kissed him softly before adjusting his glasses and telling him, "Your eyes are my favorite color. Not green and not blue."
"Greenish-blue," Bob said at the same time she did, and then she was smiling against his lips as she kissed him and nibbled on him. The occasional moan and wet sound had him rubbing himself up against her warmth as his hands settled on her thighs. Bobby felt like he was flying.
"You have nice hands, too," she whispered, wiggling against him. "Big and rough. But you're too sweet to ever hurt me with them." He let his big, rough hands dig into the flesh of her hips and waist, inching her dress up.
No. This was better than flying. 
"Molly," he groaned, head tipped back and glasses crooked. "You're perfect."
She looked at him as she scooted forward a few inches and smiled. Bob's tip was right there, right at her opening, but she wasn't even undressed yet. He eased the fabric up a little higher, entranced by the view of her slick pussy and his cock.
"It's okay, Bobby. You can take it off."
He nodded as he ran his hands up her body along with the dress, and he saw that Molly had a bouquet of blooming flowers tattooed up along her left side. "That's pretty," he murmured about both the tattoo and her body. She kissed him softly as he pulled the dress up and over her head and let it fall onto the chair next to him. 
Bob's heart stopped beating and a strangled noise escaped the back of his throat. "Oh," he grunted. He'd never be able to speak coherently again. He'd never not have an erection again for the rest of his life. Because just when he thought he couldn't be more turned on, he discovered that Molly had pierced nipples. 
His lips were on her breasts before he could stop himself. He wrapped his hands around to her back and pulled her closer to him as he tasted first her right nipple and then her left.
"Bobby!" Her cry was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard. He'd never encountered anything like this before, but he knew he'd never want anything else. The way the little metal barbells felt against his tongue as he licked and sucked was amazing. And when he met her eyes as he sucked on her, she was biting her lip and whining. 
Then Molly reached behind herself and grabbed his cock. He groaned as she sunk down around him, her pussy wet and tight. Perfect little sounds of pleasure escaped her as she kissed him. Bob cupped her breasts, enjoying the feel of the barbells as he pinched and pulled on them gently. 
"Oh, god," she moaned as she started rolling her hips when he bottomed out. She pushed her fingers through his hair and positioned his head so he was looking up at her face, already pinched with pleasure. "You're fucking huge. Just like your goddamn hands." She was tugging gently on his hair as she rode him so well, Bobby knew he had fundamentally changed in the last five minutes. He would never be the same. 
"You feel better than anything I've ever encountered," he managed, his voice deep and raspy. "Molly." He held her hips as she fucked him. His lips trailed along her neck and down to those perfect nipples again, sucking and nibbling on them. "Perfect," he whispered, dipping his nose down to rub along the piercings. 
He wanted to do the filthiest things to her body. Wanted to have her every single way he could think of. He also wanted her to melt against him, exhausted, sated, and in love. "Does that feel good?" he asked, looking at her as he bucked upward. 
"Jesus, Bobby," she gasped, those pretty breasts bouncing as he thrust up again. He chased them with his lips and his tongue, tugging the barbells gently with his teeth while Molly got even louder. 
She rolled her hips, so tight around him, and Bob realized he could feel the pull of pleasure building in his spine. He wanted this to last all night, but he was close. Molly's hands were grabbing his shoulders, eyes wide as she rode him faster. And when he brought his thumb down along her tattoo and around to her clit, she almost screamed for him.
"Oh! Fuck, Bobby!" she cried. So he stroked her again and again. "Jesus Christ!" She was fluttering around his cock, back arched as he tasted her tits again. 
"You're so beautiful," he muttered against her skin. "Everything." She squeezed him tighter, and he gripped her butt, ready to cum from how good she felt. 
"Oh god, oh god, oh god!" she chanted, voice breaking. "Please!" And then a look of surprise bloomed across Molly's flawless face as she groaned, "I'm about to come." And she did. She clenched around his cock as she shook in Bob's arms. She was whining and keening incoherently. She was bumping up and down on his cock. She was stunning. 
"Me too," he whispered, brushing her nipples with his thumbs and spurting inside her as she leaned down to press needy kisses all over his lips. The way she moved her hips, drawing everything out of him, made him moan her name. He stayed buried deep while Molly's lips brushed along his neck. Her fingers were soft, threading through his hair. And it seemed as though the only thing she could say right now was Bobby. 
-----------------------
Molly just sat there gaping at Bob with her fingers in his silky hair. He was still nestled inside her, his big cock growing softer while he stroked her skin with those beautiful hands. His lips were parted, and his glasses were crooked, and he was just so damn handsome. And most impressively, he made her cum. 
It was unbelievable, really. She never came the first time with a new partner. Never. Not even close. She had to break them in, teach them what she liked, train them. She had to use her piercings as a reward for all the dumb men she slept with just to get them to coax an orgasm out of her. 
But not Bob. No, not Lieutenant Cute Glasses. This man seemed to know exactly what she liked. And she sensed that he knew her nipples were pierced just as much for her as they were for him. 
Molly thought, as she kissed his softly parted lips, that it must have been the angle that did it for her. Or the size of his very attractive penis. Or both. Because that orgasm was delicious. She wondered if he could do it again. She hoped he could. She was attached to him and his glasses and his perfect kisses. She was addicted to his hands and his eyes and the way he talked to her. She couldn't get enough of the way he held doors and drove like an elderly person and got her gas station flowers.
"My flowers," she gasped against his mouth. "I left them in your truck." She wanted them in her kitchen so she could see them when she made coffee in the morning. 
"Oh," Bob grunted, nodding slightly. "I'll go get them for you." Of course he would do that. He was practically perfect. 
Molly eased herself away from him slowly, not wanting to give him up just yet. "Thanks," she whispered. "I love those flowers." She let him slip out of her as she stood, and she could feel his cum running down her thighs as he stared up at her. 
Then his eyes went wide and his jaw dropped. "Molly. We didn't use a condom. I didn't even bring a condom."
She leaned down to kiss the tip of his nose. "I'm on birth control, Coach Cute Glasses. And I trust you."
"Oh," he sighed, brushing his lips against hers. "Okay." 
Then the sight of him standing before her, tall and strong with his jeans down around his knees had her biting her lip and grinning. He looked flustered with red cheeks and wild hair. And just knowing that she was the one responsible for putting him in such a state made her blood hot. 
Oh no. She wanted him again already. She wanted to take him to her bed and do it all over again. 
Bob reached for his underwear and jeans and pulled them up, but his eyes were all over her body. She felt no shame. She never did when she was naked. Was she perfect? No. Did guys lose their minds anyway? Often. 
"I'll go get your flowers," Bob whispered, and she kissed him hard on the lips.
"I'll be waiting."
She watched him scoop up his undershirt and slip it on over his lanky, muscular body. His glasses were still crooked on his face as he dug his keys out of his pocket, and with one more soft look at her, he was gone. 
Molly took a minute to visit the bathroom, and she made sure her makeup still looked okay. Her mascara was a little smudged, which somehow made her look exactly the way she wanted to right now. So she left it. And then she was pulling on Bob's dress shirt and doing the middle two buttons when he walked back into her apartment.
He had fixed his hair a bit and straightened out his glasses, and the desire to mess them up again made her feel like perhaps she was already in over her head. Casey and the rest of her collection of bad boys never made her feel this good. Shit.
Bob's pretty eyes were wide as he examined her from head to toe and back up again. She didn't pressure him to say anything yet. She knew he was the type who really measured his words before he spoke them, and she loved that. It made everything he said feel more intentional and sincere. 
"You're beautiful," he said softly, holding out the vase of colorful, gas station flowers. She took them with both hands and a thudding heart and turned toward her kitchen. She felt short of breath, because Bob Floyd thought she was beautiful. Not sexy. Not hot. Not just right for the night. But beautiful. 
Now she was the one who needed an extra moment to process what she wanted to say as she set the vase down next to her coffee maker. Okay, so she'd ask him to stay. She had to work in the morning, but so did he. She would have to leave early, but maybe he wouldn't mind taking her back to her car. And then if he was free this weekend, maybe they could go out again. She would ask him this time. Oh, a movie would be great. She could snuggle up with him, feed him some popcorn, maybe give him a blowjob on the ride back here.
Bob cleared his throat as she walked back toward him, pushing up the long sleeves of his shirt over her elbows. 
"I'll just...head out now," he said, nodding his head toward her door. Molly's heart sank as he added, "I can get my shirt from you later. Or you can just...keep it." He looked almost as disappointed as Molly felt. What had she done wrong? He was really going to leave. She wasn't what he was looking for after all.
"Bob?" she asked softly as he turned toward the door. "Why don't you want to stay?"
He spun back around as she nibbled nervously on her thumbnail. 
"I mean, you obviously don't have to," she told him. "I just thought maybe you'd want to."
"I do," he replied, quickly this time. "You want me to stay?"
"Mmhmm," she hummed, apprehensive about saying anything else. And then his big hands were at her waist, bunching up the fabric of the dress shirt as he pulled her closer to him. "Stay," she demanded before he kissed her.
"I will," he promised. "Just wasn't sure you'd want me to, Mo."
Mo. Holy shit. Her legs felt suddenly weak as she wrapped her arms around his neck and absolutely devoured his mouth. Desire thrummed through her. Mo.
She tried to convey how she felt through her kisses, because words were failing her. She was more of a physical presence anyway. And Bob was responding to her now, hands sliding lower and kisses getting rougher.
"Do you want to see my bed?" she asked against his lips as she raked her fingers through his hair. Finally he looked just the way she liked again. Messy hair, glasses askew, freshly kissed lips, and awestruck expression.
"Yes. Please," he grunted softly, and she was more than happy to lead him to her room. 
-----------------------------
Bob was in over his head. Molly wouldn't stop touching him and kissing him, and now he was in her bed. And they were having sex again. And it felt too good to be true. And she was beautiful and perfect. Sunny and warm. And she wanted him here. She wanted him to spend the night. 
Her pristine legs were wrapped around his waist, and he was buried deep inside her. "Bobby," she whined leisurely, the pace unhurried now as her fingers combed softly through his hair. When he reached for his glasses, she shook her head and told him no and pouted playfully. "You're Coach Cute Glasses, not Coach No Glasses."
So he kept them on. And that was fine with him, because he could see her with crystal clarity underneath him as she whined for him. Bob brushed those barbell piercings with his lips, and she got even louder. He was already obsessed with how they felt in his mouth, how he liked to play with them while he thrust into Molly over and over again.
"Oh god, Bobby."
"You feel good, Mo?"
"Hell yes!" she cried, yanking on his hair until his lips were on hers. He held her left side, covered in her tattoo while he toyed with those little barbells with his other thumb. She was whimpering and nibbling on his lips as he fucked her. 
"Tell me what else you like?" he whispered, slowing his thrusts. Because he was getting close again. Honestly, he was impressed he lasted as long as he had both times. And this didn't feel like a first date to Bob. He felt like he knew her so well, but he wanted to know everything. 
She moaned and turned her head to the side, suddenly looking bashful. "I like wearing your shirt around."
"You can keep it forever," he told her, and she giggled. "What else do you like?" he asked, stroking her skin with his hands as he tasted her neck. 
"Mmm," she hummed in pleasure. "I like how strong you are, and the way you treat me." She was quiet for a beat while her words washed over him. "I liked it when you called me beautiful."
"You are," he promised. "Everything about you. So, so beautiful." 
With a loud moan, she turned her face to his and kissed him everywhere. His glasses were precariously crooked as he felt the delicious squeeze of Molly's pussy around his cock. He was there, and she was close, so he eased his fingers down to her clit and she squeezed him harder as she came, shaking against him.
Bob's thrusts grew shallow as he panted her name next to her ear. "Molly. Molly. Molly." He filled her up and let his forehead rest on her shoulder, idly stroking her nipple with his fingertips until her little quakes of pleasure subsided.
"Oh my god," she gasped, covering her face with her hands. Then she looked at him in shock as he kissed her jaw and lips before pulling away a few inches.
"Okay," she said, straightening out his glasses but keeping him inside her with her legs around his waist. "The first time, I figured it was a fluke. But now you're really on a roll, Lieutenant."
"A...fluke?" he asked, suddenly concerned. What had he done wrong? 
"Mmhmm," she hummed, stroking his stubbled cheek with her thumb. "You made me cum twice now."
He swallowed hard and let her kiss him, but he was perplexed. "Isn't that a... good thing?"
"It's a fucking great thing, Bobby." Her eyes were bright, and she looked pleased. "I never cum with a new partner the first couple times."
"Oh." It was chemistry. He was sure of it. There was something between them that was making everything even better, and Bob felt it, too. It had to be that, because he wasn't better than other guys. Definitely not in this way. 
"I don't know what you're doing to me," she whispered, kissing his cheek softly, "but please don't stop."
--------------------------
It was late, and Molly was snuggled up in bed with her head on Bob's shoulder. His voice was so close to her ear, and she couldn't get enough of it as she asked him a million questions just to hear him answer.
"What's your favorite kind of fruit?" she asked with a laugh, because he had to know by now that she was just obsessed with listening to him. 
"Granny Smith apples," he replied as she stroked her fingers through his sparse chest hair.
"Granny Smith apples?" she asked, glaring up at him as he smiled. "That's the worst kind!" God, she loved teasing him. He was fucking sweet and perfect. And Molly was already in love with teasing him and making him blush.
"They're good in apple pies," he replied, running his fingers along her bare arm and making her shiver. "I don't like things that are too sweet. Well... except for you, I guess."
"Mmhmm," she hummed happily. "You managed to save your answer at the end there. Good job, Uncle Bob. Now, what's your favorite color?"
"Navy blue."
"Navy blue?" she asked, rolling fully onto his chest. She almost moaned at how good her piercings felt rubbing against his bare chest like this. "Navy blue. Floyd! You're in the navy! You can't pick navy blue!"
"It's been my favorite since before I was in the navy, so it counts, right?" he asked, grinning at her. Oh, he was good at this game. 
"Ugh, you're skating by on a technicality," she sighed, feigning exasperation. "I'm simply too afraid to ask you anything else tonight. You're liable to break my heart if you tell me you like lima beans or hate chocolate cake or something," she muttered, kissing his lips softly. 
She had intended to tell Bob that it was time to go to sleep, that she was tired from the two gorgeous orgasms he gifted to her. But his lips were soft and his hands were big, and they ended up making out for such a long time, that her heart was overflowing with happiness. 
"You're so handsome," she whispered, finally removing his smudged glasses for him and setting them on her nightstand. She kissed the bridge of his nose and his rosy cheeks. "I've been crushing on you for weeks."
Bob laughed softly as he met her eyes. "Molly, you have no idea. You don't even know the half of it. But it's late, Honey. Let's get some sleep?"
When she nodded, he pulled her snug against him once again. "I have to work at nine," she whispered. "My alarm is set for seven, because if I don't get to have you one more time in the morning, I'll be cranky all day at work."
"You have me, Molly," he whispered, lacing his fingers with hers as she yawned. "In so many ways."
As she drifted off to sleep, she could feel Bob's lips on her forehead as he said, "I love you, Mo."
----------------------
Bob ran his soapy hand all over Molly's tattoos. Her laughter and soft moans filled her small shower enclosure as he nipped at her neck. The spray of warm water hit her skin, sending little droplets rolling down between her breasts and along her elegant shoulders. They had just been intimate again in her bed, and Bob had very much so enjoyed the sight of his sticky spend on her legs as she led him to the shower. 
"I could look at you all day," he whispered, and she bit her lip, playing coy.
"I'd let you," she replied, chin high in the air, head back against the tile wall. "Let's schedule that for Sunday?"
Bob groaned as her hand wrapped around his stiffening cock. She kept eye contact with him while she gently, slowly pumped her hand along his length.
"Would be a day well spent," he murmured. cupping her cheeks in his hands and kissing her until she was moaning and squeezing him a little tighter with her hand. "Don't know if I could look at something as perfect as you without touching though."
"Coach Bob," Molly whined, eyes wide. "Don't test me. Sweet guys get shower blowjobs."
Bob could be sweet. Bob could be the sweetest guy Molly had ever encountered. She had briefly had her lips on him there last night, and he knew he wanted more. And he was living for these little games she played with him.
He kissed her lips and told her, "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
"That's it!" she said, shaking her head and dropping to her knees as Bob's back blocked the shower spray. "I tried to fucking warn you, but you didn't listen." Then her lips parted as she took him between them onto her plush tongue, and it took everything inside Bob not to blurt out the same thing he told her last night as she was falling asleep on him.
He loved her. He knew he didn't stand a chance. But spending the night here at her place made it so much worse. So much more obvious. And now she was sucking his dick and nuzzling his balls, and yeah, she was really good at this physical stuff. But that was only part of it for him. Because right now, he just wanted to skip work and spend the whole day with her, doing anything she wanted to do. And Bob never, ever thought about skipping work. 
"Mo," he gasped as she took him deep so that he was seeing stars. He leaned against the wall with one hand and ran his fingertips along the delicate shell of her ear with the other. She looked up at him with her mouth full. Beautiful. So beautiful. 
When he was close, she kissed him along his length and jerked him off, letting him cum all over her face and her gorgeous, pierced nipples. He was panting and out of breath, running his hands along her messy cheeks as she licked him from her lips and stood up. When she started wiping his mess up with her fingers and licking them clean, he groaned and kissed her lips. He'd never encountered a woman like this before. He was shocked by his attraction to her. But he also knew this was the only one he wanted now. 
"Bobby," she whispered against his lips with a soft giggle. "We'll be late for work if we don't focus."
"Well, I can't focus around you, Honey. So you're going to need to take the lead."
She preened at his attention as she got herself cleaned up. She handed him a fluffy towel and reminded him that he could use her spare, pink toothbrush. So he brushed his teeth and watched her put moisturizer on her face followed by a little bit of makeup that made her eyes look even prettier. 
"Everyone is going to notice that I didn't shave this morning," he told her when she ran her fingers along his jaw. "Nat's gonna give me hell. So will Bradley."
"I love that," she told him, kissing his chin.
Then he followed her to her bedroom and watched her pull on some maroon scrubs with her name embroidered on the top. He dressed in his clothes from yesterday, but he left his dress shirt on her bed. He'd told her she could keep it forever. He would give her anything he had if she said she wanted it.
"Coffee?" she asked, leading him to the kitchen like a magnet. She reached for two mugs that were so hideous, Bob figured Everett must have painted them for her when he was younger. And then she filled them both and handed him one. He sipped his black while she added sugar and creamer to hers until it looked almost white. 
And she did all of this like it was her normal routine. Like today was nothing special. And then Bob started to panic again as Molly blew on her coffee and looked up at him. Those gorgeous eyes. Those pretty, puckered lips. He would be devastated. As his eyes caught on the vase of flowers next to the coffee maker, he blurted out, "Molly, I don't want you to go out with Casey. Or anyone else."
"Oh," she gasped as she lowered her mug from her lips. 
"I want to... be the only one," he managed, and he knew he was blushing. He knew he was making a fool of himself, but he was afraid of not saying something. 
She pressed her lips together and that coy smile returned. "You want to be the only one, Bob? The only guy I'm with? The only one in my bed and my pussy?" she asked as she smirked.
Bob was beyond flustered now, but he was also annoyed. He wanted a straight answer as he set his mug down a little hard on the counter and kissed her hard on the lips. "Are you going to see Casey again?" he asked, and he could see his irritated reflection in her eyes. 
"Casey?" she asked, cocking her head slightly to the side. "Who's Casey? Never heard of him."
Bob examined her smirking face. "What does that mean, Honey?"
She flung her arms around his neck and kissed his stubble. "Means I'm not going out with anyone except you anymore, Lieutenant gives-girls-three-orgasms-in-a-row."
He still wasn't exactly sure how he'd managed to pull this one off. But he held her tight and kissed her while he let his hands explore her perfect body over her scrubs. "I like that," he told her with a nod before resting his forehead on hers. "We need to go now so I can run home and change into my uniform." He still had to take her back to her car which was at the tee ball field. 
Molly whimpered softly. "When can I see you in your uniform?"
Bob smiled and promised, "Anytime you want."
"This weekend?" she asked, running her hand along his undershirt. Then Bob remembered that it was Friday. Molly was watching Everett for her sister tonight so that Bob could treat the Team Mom to a drink at the Hard Deck. She had been helping him with tee ball while Bradley was up in Lemoore. 
"Tonight? You want to come to my place after your sister gets home? I won't keep her out late at the bar."
Molly laughed. "You better not, she's a lightweight!" Then she pushed him toward her door and grabbed her bag on the way. "Let's go get my car so we can both go to work so I can get to your place sooner." And that sounded like perfection to Bob.
----------------------
Bob fucks. Thanks to @mak-32 and @beyondthesefourwalls and everyone who bugged me to make Molly and Bob a thing!
PART 4
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@theamuz
@thedroneranger
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princessaxoxo · 5 months
Text
Baby, it's cold outside
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Boyfriend!Sy x girlfriend!reader
Summary: You spend a chilly night by the fire with Sy.
Warnings: 18+ only, nsfw, fluff, unprotected sex (p in v), oral (m & f receiving), fingering, if I missed any please let me know.
Word count: 928
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The powerful winds that were howling outside due to the blizzard caused the air inside your house to feel chilly and the windows to rattle. Sy and you were snuggled together on the couch, enjoying hot cocoa while watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. 
This was his favorite guilty pleasure Christmas movie, as the two of you made it a tradition to choose one and watch it each year. Though the movie seemed corny to you, Sy was laughing uncontrollably and infectiously, making you chuckle as well.
“Looky there, will you finally admit you like this film?” Sy asked and began pampering your face and neck with kisses, making you chuckle louder. “Huh, honeysuckle?"
“Absolutely not, sweetums," he hummed at your response. Then he threw you onto the couch, making you yell, and pinned your hands above your head. "Darlin', I'll convince you that the greatest holiday film is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."
"And precisely how are you going to accomplish that?" you asked, shaking your head. He released your hands and raised his head. With a sly smile, he continued, "Honeysuckle, I could tell you, but actions speak louder than words."
Sy’s whiskers tickled your face while his sultry, smooth lips glided with yours, his tongue gently dominating yours. With attentive moves, he took off your sweater and planted tender little kisses on your shoulder. He grabbed ahold of your breasts, kissing the top of them before reaching behind your back and unclasping your bra. His tongue immediately started to lick around your nipple, switching between both. "Sy." You started to run out of breath.
With a fast motion, his fingers skimmed over the top of your pajama shorts and pulled them off, along with your favorite Christmas panties. After giving your inner thighs a hard smack, Sy moved in and planted a kiss on the tender regions. 
Sy let his shirt fall to the ground after slipping it off. Grasping your thighs with his forearms, he pulled you into his face, split your folds, licked tenderly on the clit, and groaned. As you started to grab and ride his face, he started to lick you like a starving man, thrusting his tongue in and out of your cunt.
Gasping out loud, you were taken aback when two fingers suddenly filled you. As he removed his lips from your clit, you whimpered. But when his fingers accelerated inside of you, the sound of your wetness grew more audible. He curled them perfectly, finding the precise area to give you a cry of joy and make your legs and thighs tremble.
He stood unbuckling his pants and undoing his belt, and you watched, mesmerized. Quickly removing both his boxers and pants.
Stroking his cock, Sy said. “Bring that pretty mouth of yours over here, darlin’.” Eagerly, you crawled towards him, "Open your mouth, stick out your tongue, but don't suck." Parting your lips, you exposed your tongue. And with his cock resting on your tongue, he began to glide up and down while admiring the view of you on your knees for him.
“Honeysuckle–suck.” At his command, you start licking a wet circle around his leaking, bulging tip. “Atta’ girl.” Sy said. He started moving toward the back of your throat. Trying to take in as much of him as possible, you moan along his sturdy length.
Grasping his robust thighs with your hands, you continuously bobbed your head up and down while slurping and moaning on his cock.
Tears began to brim your eyes as you looked up at Sy, “Goddamn darlin’, look at you, so beautiful with my cock down your throat.”
You could feel the muscles in his thighs tensing beneath your hands as his jaw slackened, signaling his impending arrival. Shortly after, you felt his salty liquid spurt into your mouth and down your throat as you swallowed his load.
“Lay back for me, honeysuckle.” He climbed on top of you as you lowered yourself, holding your face in his hands and giving you a passionate kiss. You whimpered as his cock pushed between your creases and then into your cunt with a single thrust.
His thrusts accelerated as you encircled his waist with your legs and lightly scraped his back with your nails. Curving your back off the carpet, you closed your eyes, and Sy said, "Darlin', keep those pretty eyes on me."
When you opened your eyes, the sound of wet skin slapping together, combined with your groans and his grunts, filled the room. You were getting closer to your own climax with every hit of his sac against your flesh.
With your breasts bouncing up and down, Sy reached for your nipple and teased it, bringing you to your orgasm. Sy’s balls tightened at the sight of your orgasmic, stunning face before he filled your cunt with his seed.
You two started trying to get your breath back. A shiver ran throughout your body as his thumb brushed your cheek. Before giving you a kiss, he added, "I'll get us a blanket, honeysuckle."
His ass flexed with every step as he got up from the floor and gathered a blanket, and you couldn't take your eyes off of him. Upon his return, he draped the blanket over the two of you, brushed your hair back from your face, and caressed your delicate skin, which was illuminated by the fire that had slowly lowered in the living room. "Okay, sweetums, the best holiday film is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."
Sy nodded his head, smugly smiling. "Yes, it is, darlin', and don't forget it."
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Taglist: @viking-raider @ellethespaceunicorn @chloe92 @juliaorpll78 @identity2212 @kingliam2019 @beck07990 @shellyshellshell
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wheredidhiseyebrowsgo · 5 months
Note
Are there any "small town Christmas" Sterek stories? You know, since we are coming up on that time on lifetime?
Hi @naturalsneak! You sent this in a looooong time ago. So sorry about that. But it's come back around to that Lifetime/Hallmark movie time again so here it is. Better late then never?
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How the Sourwolf Stole Christmas by Miserable_Swine
(1/1 I 2,139 I General)
Stiles tells the Pack a story about the Sourwolf, a cranky, solitary creature who attempts to thwart the public's Christmas plans by stealing Christmas gifts and decorations from the homes of the nearby town of Beacon Hills on Christmas Eve.
Tis The Season Baristas Fear The Most by stilinskisparkles
(1/1 I 5,470 I Teen)
Scott is hands down the worst barista Derek has ever hired. But it's Christmas and apparently that means something to some people.
(Not) Dreaming of a White Christmas by DuckInterpreter
(1/1 I 8,452 I General)
Stiles is stuck in a blizzard, broken down, and lost. But maybe he's going to end up exactly where he was meant to be.
Coming Home for Christmas by Kampffussel
(1/1 I 16,432 I Explicit)
Stiles is forced to take days off of work over christmas and he decides to spent the holidays back in Beacon Hills. He expects everything but not a flirty Deputy that is way out of his league. And his last case is definitely not going to bite him in the ass on Christmas eve, or is it? Stiles life is a joke to the universe, he is sure.
(or: the one where Stiles goes home for Christmas and finds himself a boyfriend)
Mistletoe Never Lies by CarolineLahey
(8/8 I 19,220 I Explicit)
Derek Hale loves his family, he really does. He just wishes they weren't so determined to set him up. When he finally blurts out that he has a boyfriend, and quickly gives his mother the name of the barista at his local coffee shop as his "boyfriend", he figures that buys him a little peace. He probably should have been paying attention to the part of the conversation where he agreed to bring Stiles home for Christmas to meet the family.
Cupboard Love by mklutz
(2/2 I 32,682 I General)
He’s carefully balancing the sandwiches and the two biggest tupperware containers he could find that both had functioning lids when the front door opens and he almost drops everything right there in front of the stupid fountain.
If that’s Derek Hale, he’s definitely not a mountain man.
Playing Cupid by 13luckystars
(9/? I 38,439 I Teen)
Years after graduating from Beacon Hills High School and moving away from the small town, Stiles is going back for his Christmas assignment from work. The most unsettling part is that he is going to be spending a lot of time with Derek Hale, who he hasn't seen since he graduated, and his twin daughters.
Please Come Home for Christmas by midnitekween
(15/15 I 80,915 I Explicit)
Derek spends the Christmas season with Stiles, but the last time he checked they weren't married with kids...
This is Gonna Take Me Down by CharWright5
(14/14 I 123,386 I Explicit)
Deputy Derek Hale had gone into December believing his biggest issue would be ignoring that giant holiday at the end of it. But with only days left before Christmas, he's now dealing with a meddling sister, a vigilante group killing Supernatural creatures, finding out his partner isn't quite human, and his ex showing up outta nowhere after disappearing three years ago without an explanation. Happy freaking holidays indeed.
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war-and-crafts · 1 year
Text
ngl i liked kalecgos' old model for his dragon form better than his new one
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spirit-girl-nijisanji · 5 months
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I'll take care of you little one~
꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷♡꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷♡꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷♡꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦
Thank you to @myclaire9 for giving me this prompt when I was stuck with writers block and I apologize it took so long, I was dealing with somethings and I didn't have the time or energy to write but I'm feeling better now and I sincerely hope you enjoy the story!
꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷♡꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷♡꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷♡꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦
➼ Pairing - Luxiem x GN! cat/dog reader
➼ Content - Fluff, Luxiem boys being sweethearts, you may interpret the relationship how you would like.
➼ ⚠️ Please remember I only write for the personas you see on your screen. I do not and will not write for the people behind the models. Please also remember that behind the models there are very real people with very real emotions. Please be respectful towards our beloved Nijisanji EN livers and do your best to separate the real people from the persona reflected on your screen. Thank you so much and enjoy the story ⚠️
➼ Summery - You are a cat/dog human hybrid who has the ability to swap between your animal form and your human form. You had been in your animal form for quite sometime during the winter after not having a place to stay. The Luxiem boys find you and take you into their home and attempt to gain your trust especially after you show your human form.
꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷♡꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷♡꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷♡꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦
I WILL DO THE GN!DOG READER X LUXIEM IN A SEPERATE POST I WANT TO MAKE SURE BOTH ARE THEIR OWN STORIES AND ARE ENJOYABLE WHEN READING
Luxiem x GN!Cat Reader
Vox Akuma
It was in the middle of a blizzard, you had been curled up in a drain in a park trying to get away from the cold. You were a hybrid between a cat and a human, you could spend most of your time in your cat form as little black and white cat in order to keep some what warm.
The blizzard has started and your fur was soaked with snow and water. You lay curled up in the drain shivering. Before your ears perked up hearing footsteps, not wanting to move, you lay your head back down and closed our eyes.
Before long, a soothing voice spoke, waking you up from your slumber,
" Hello there darling, what are you doing out here in the cold? " the voice spoke, you opened your eyes and met the crimson red eyes of a raven haired man who looked back at you with a gentle gaze.
He put his hand out wanting to see if you were going to be friendly. You stretched out and sniffed his hand lightly, a pleasant scent gracing your nose before rubbing your head gently against his hand. The gentle smile on his face made it easy for you to be drawn to him and his warmth.
After he confirmed you were friendly, he gently reached into the drain and gently pulled you out, holding you in his arms and wrapping you in his jacket to warm you up. You snuggled into the warmth that spread out through your small body as he carried you back to his home. Bringing you inside, he walked over to his fireplace, lighting it and setting you down in front of it,
" Now you wait right there little one, let me see if I have something for you to eat. " the man spoke with a gentle tone before turning and going into the kitchen to find some food. When the raven haired man disappeared into the kitchen, you switched to your human form, scooting closer to the fire and rubbing your hands together to get warmer before letting out a content sigh after being in the cold for so long, it was absolute bliss feeling the warmth of the fire.
" Little one…? " the raven haired man's voice came from behind you and you froze, holding the blanket he left with you covering your body. He walked closer and he sat down in front of you, looking at the ears that adorned the top of your head, showing you were the little cat he just brought into the house,
" I.. Thank you. " was all you could manage to say to him, " B..but I won't bother you for too long sir. " You said quickly your tail flicking anxiously and your ears twitching.
Expecting him to tell you to leave, instead he gave a soft smile, he set down the bowl of milk down in front of you and gently put his hand on your head, " You don't have to leave little one, I would love to have a someone as cute as yourself stick around. Let me go get you some clothes to put on. " He said before getting up and going to grab something for you to put on, coming back with a pair of shorts and one of his sweatshirts. Turning away to give you the chance to change.
After putting the clothes on he gave you, he turned back around and he gently pat your head, " What is your name darling? " he asked softly motioning for you to join him on the couch in front of the fire place,
" Y/N. " you responded as you slowly moved up and sat beside him, " That's a beautiful name, my name is Vox. " he said back, introducing himself.
It was nice to finally have a warm place to stay, Vox was a nice person so it didn't take long for him to earn your trust and for the two of you to become close.
Shu Yamino
You had just been kicked out of your home into a blizzard simply because you were different than the rest of your family, you were the only one who had cat ears and a tail as well as a cat form you could switch to at any time. You were thrown out in your human form, it didn't take long for the cold to almost completely zap your energy, you had nothing besides the clothes and shoes you were wearing and no jacket of any sort. So you were left walking down the street, knee deep in show, shivering and exhausted.
You had been knocking on doors, begging people to let you in just for a moment to warm up and call someone but you were turned away everywhere you went. Tears of frustration welled up in your eyes as you continued trudging along in the snow. Soon coming up to a house with an open garage, you stopped and looked inside, there were a few blankets stacked on a shelf inside, looking at the house it seemed like there wasn't anyone home and you didn't understand why someone would leave their garage open in the middle of a blizzard. But you decided to go inside to get away from the cold, grabbing one of the blankets and curling up in a corner of the garage.
Inside the house, the purple eyes that belonged to the homeowner had seen you wondering around outside and had seen his neighbors turn you away when asking for a warm place to stay. When he saw your trembling form starting to walk down the street, he opened his garage as an invitation for you to come inside, get one of the freshly washed and warm blankets in the garage so you could find some warmth as well as preparing some hot chocolate and some food to bring out to you.
He grabbed the drink and snacks and made his way down to his garage, opening the door and walking over to you, " Um, hello, I couldn't help but see you outside and I opened my garage so you could come inside to warm up. " He spoke carefully as to not spook you, he watched you stir only to see a little furry head pop out from under the blanket before you turned back into a human turning to face him with wide eyes. Before he walked over and set down the drink and the food he brought out, looking at you with wonder in his eyes while you stared back at him unsure of whether or not to trust him. He soon spoke with a soft voice, " You use magic too..? " he asked softly, his eyes shining with hope before you nodded, explaining what you were and how you were able to shift back and fourth between human and cat. He listen intently, asking questions and showing an interest in you. That made a warm fuzzy feeling creep up into your chest, He had introduced himself as Shu Yamino and seemed to be happy when you timidly introduced yourself. You sat with him for hours, talking and getting to know him. He seemed sweet enough and if he wanted to harm you, he would have done so already. His warm and welcoming aura made it very easy to feel safe with him, He let you have some human food and gave you the warm milk he had brought down, looking towards the open garage door seeing the storm had started to get worse, he cleared his throat and looked at you, " The storm seems to be getting a lot worse, I don't think it would be a good idea to go out again. Sooo I'm asking if you are okay with staying here? " he asked softly, you looked at him and explained that after the storm was over, you would be out of his hair, you promised he wouldn't have to deal with you for long after the storm to which he looked surprised, " No no! I'm asking if you would like to stay WITH me. You wouldn't have been out in the freezing cold if you had somewhere to go right? So I would like you to stay, permanently. Look I know we only just formally met but it would be nice to have someone around during the storm. " He explained. Your eyes were wide as you listened to him, he actually wanted you to.. stay? Wasn't he afraid you were going to do something, that your whole situation was made up? As if he read your mind, he smiled and chuckled softly, " I've seen you around before with people who I assume was your family? I saw they didn't really pay much attention to you and I could hear how they spoke to you so I know your telling the truth about that part. I'm putting a lot of trust in you because I don't want you to feel alone. " He said smiling. His words brought tears to your eyes before accepting his offer, smiling Shu got up went to a keypad and shut the garage door and came back over, offering his hand, " C'mon let's get inside the actual house, I'll get you some hot food and I'll get you some more hot chocolate okay? " he said with the signature v shaped smile you would eventually come to love very dearly.
Luca Kaneshiro
When you were very young, you were adopted by a family with mafia ties. You were only a baby when you were adopted so your feline features didn't come in until later on and that was when the family showed their true colors. They shunned you, saying you weren't actually family because of your different appearance and abilities. Whenever anyone came to the house, you were ordered to change into your cat form and stay out of sight. You learned your family were paid a lot of visits by the boss. You never saw him, you only knew what your family told you:
" He hates cats! " " He'd throw you out if he saw your ears and tail! " " He could never accept you because of your abilities!"
You were afraid of what could happen if he ever saw you. Until a day came where you were told to shift and stay out of sight because the boss was stopping by. You did as you were told and went off into another room. While in the room, you were able to hear the voices in the living room, you could hear the boss's voice. He didn't sound scary, in fact his voice sounded very welcoming. Curiosity got the better of you and you shifted into your human form and you crept out of the room and down the hall, peeking around the corner and you saw him, he was a tall man. A white suit, a white fluffy coat adorned his broad shoulders, he had blond hair and purple eyes. His Australian accent made him sound very welcoming compared to the harsh and cold voices you heard on a daily basis from your family. " I think you know why I'm here. " he spoke to the family and crossed his arms. Each member taking turns speaking while you stayed peeking around the corner listening in, you knew there would be hell to pay if you got caught but you were stuck staring at the man that was the boss. And before you could even realized that the room fell silent, you realized you were staring into the purple eyes of the tall blond man. Before seeing the look on your adoptive father's face, you quickly turned, shifted into a cat and bolted back to the room you were supposed to be staying in, hidden. You could hear the sound of footsteps accompanied by the voice of the blond man, " Who was that and why did she run away? " he asked followed the the jumbled replies from the people you called family. You had left the door open just a crack and the blond man had caught sight of your tiny furry body so he opened the door and flicked on the light, " Since when did you guys have a cat? And why didn't you tell me there was a cat and another person here? " he asked squatting down, you hissed and pushed yourself further into the corner afraid he was going to get angry about you being there. Each member of your family had a different explanation,
" We just got them. " " They aren't friendly and we don't want them to scratch anyone. " " You must have been seeing things, there isn't another person here! " " It must've been an intruder. " None of their stories lined up and you could see the annoyance on the blond man's face, before turning to you and a gentle look came across his face, " Hey there, aren't you a cute little thing. I'm sorry if I frightened you. " he spoke in a calm and gentle tone so he didn't frighten you further. At this point, it wasn't him you were afraid of, it was the furious glares of the family behind him. You wanted to go towards the blond man, his welcoming smile beckoned you forward but the glares of the people behind him, kept you back. He hummed and he scooted a little closer and he spoke softly, " My name's Luca, Luca Kaneshiro. I promise I'm not as scary as I seem, I won't hurt you. " he spoke softly while putting his hand out, with a new found courage, you came forward and rubbed against his gloved hand. The family behind him getting angrier with you the longer you stayed close to Luca. Before he stood up and turned around asking why they lied to him, each family member stammered, stumbling over their words before you decided to shift back into a human being and give Luca a straight answer,
" They're ashamed of me, my appearance and my abilities. " You spoke causing Luca to spin around and stare at you with wonder in his eyes like a child, " Whoaaaaa! That's so cool! " he said looking at your ears then examining your tail. After excitedly looking at you, he turned to the people behind him, " You lied to me and hid someone from me. " he said, his bubbly demeanor disappearing and turning into a menacing stare, your family struggled to give a proper excuse. Finally having had enough of their bull, Luca crossed his arms and spoke once again,
" Then if you are so ashamed of them, then you won't mind them coming with me permanently. " he said to them, you could sense it was more of a demand than a request. Each person in your so called family tried to reason with him and tried to convince him that you were very happy with them which you denied without hesitation. To which he took your hand and pulled you up next to him, putting his arm around your shoulder, " Then it's settled, they'll be coming with me where they WILL be happy. " he said pulling you along. As you walked past, you felt the hateful stares your family gave you before being yanked along by the hand, Luca's cheerful and bubbly demeanor coming back, " C'mon! I can't wait to introduce you to my friends! They'll love you! " He said happily pulling you along to his car. Ike Eveland
Being in your feline form was the easiest on you when you were tired. But it got you into trouble very quickly, after not being able to turn back, an animal shelter had picked you up. And you had been spending most of your time within a kennel where people could come in, see you, interact with you and then decide if you were going to be their new family member. Every family you had gotten were horrid. They mistreated you and you ended up having to escape every time, only to be found and returned to the shelter. With time, you grew very untrusting of anyone and everyone who tried to get close. Weeks at the shelter turned into months and you weren't letting anyone get close enough to you. You would hiss and swipe at everyone who tried fearing mistreatment. That was until HE came into the shelter. You were laying down before hearing the door open and soothing kind male voice spoke to the attendant, you lifted your head and caught sight of a young man, he was wearing heeled boots, he had pale skin, ear length brown hair and green eyes. He spoke about wanting to adopt a cat and was taken along to meet all the cats up for adoption. He went along before his soft green eyes met your untrusting ones. He asked to see you and he knelt down, " Why is this one all by themselves? " He asked, the attendant explained to him that you were brought back multiple times, you didn't trust anyone, hissed and swiped at anyone who dared to get close and it was safer to keep you separate. The man's kind green eyes gazed into yours before you turned away and he spoke, " Well... I want them to trust me because I'm positive I could give them a good home. " he said softly before sitting down right outside the kennel, " I don't care how long it takes. " he added with a smile. The attendant didn't try to stop him, in fact she provided him with treats for you. He would lay them down close enough to you so you could reach them without having to get too close. He spent his time on the floor next to your kennel door, giving you treats and talking to you. You refused to give in, you weren't about to fall for another shit home. But he kept coming back, he didn't give up. He spent most of his days sitting with you, giving you treats and talking to you. Slowly but surely, he began to get through to you, he was able to give you treating out his hand and he would smile wide whenever you felt comfortable enough to get close to him without flinching and running back to the comfort of your kennel.
And after months of sitting on the floor with you, you finally let him pet your head. He was over the moon and you were taken to his home that day. It took a little getting used to but he treated you like royalty. It was then, you weren't thinking about it when you turned back into human form. You had scars from previous homes, your ears and tail gave the man you came to know as Ike Eveland confirmation that you were indeed the timid little feline he brought back to his home. After sitting with him and explaining what happened, what you were and your ability to shapeshift, you told him you were so sorry and you would get out of his hair as quickly as possible. You were quick to get up and before you could bolt for the door, he grabbed your arm and pulled you back, " Don't leave! You being human has not changed anything. I brought you home because I felt you were lonely and needed someone. " he said and deep down you knew he was right. You had grown so close to Ike and you felt safe with him. He sat with you and spent hours convincing you to stay with him. In the end, you caved and you promised to stay with him. And from that day, you were always with him, he treated you like royalty, introduced you to his friends and they loved you. You were so happy and you felt very loved.
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loveshotzz · 1 year
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I have a pretty good one awhile ago but I don't ever see myself writing it.
Reader and Eddie are good friends, Argyle drops by his trailer to buy, and he ends up flirting with the reader. Later reader and Eddie go to a party, Argyle is there, and in sure you know where it goes from there
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Argyle x fem!reader
You can call me names if you call me up
Warnings:18+ Weed dealing, weed smoking, mentions of drinking, slight mentions of hellcheer? (eddie has a crush and we make fun of him for it) kissing, semi public fingering (f! receiving)
Word count: 5.8k
beta’d by @superblysubpar
Authors note: This is my first ever Argyle fic! Thank you @sleepy-princ3ss for letting me write this! I had a lot of fun this one but it’s scary to write a new character so let me know what you think! I also had a good time writing Eddie as our best friend who doesn’t want to fuck us. Wild right? Still, there’s lots of Eddie in here too 💕
The summer heat always feels extra sticky inside Eddie’s trailer this time of year, the stale breeze that floats through his cracked window does nothing to cool you down. Thumbing through the worn covers of the records Eddie keeps in his room you hum along to the last few chords of Ride The Lightning. When the covers of Back In Black and Blizzard of Oz stick together, you grimace as you pull them apart. A crumpled cut of a babe from a Heavy Metal Magazine is the ‘glue’ that was holding them together.
“Eww Eddie! What the fuck?” god, your best friend was gross.
Clumsy loud footsteps bring him to the entrance of his room, bangs sticking to his forehead from sweat, his face flushes an even deeper shade of red when his eyes zero in on what you’re glaring at.
“I - uh,” coughing nervously, he scratches the back of his neck, the chain wrapped around his wrist sliding down his arm, “I don’t - I don’t know how that got there.”
Scoffing with a roll of your eyes you examine it a little more closely, careful not to touch it. The blond hair and the big blue eyes were a dead give away why this had to have been his favorite.
“She kinda looks like Chrissy don’t you think? Like if she got a metal makeover or whatever you’d call this,” snorting when his face turns into a tomato, his own glare takes over his features when he narrows his eyes at you.
“Why are you even snooping through my records, this one just started?” blinking quickly with embarrassment he looks like he’s ready to explode and you’ve never been more pleased with yourself.
Opening your mouth ready to bite back with something that you were sure was going to send him over the edge, the sound of three quick knocks followed by a single fourth one cuts you off before you can even start.
“Who’s that?” confused at his lack of communication with anyone crashing your hang out, he snaps - gesturing for you to step away from his records before he answers you.
He’s halfway out his bedroom door with you quick on his heels when he finally does.
“Jonathan and his friend from Cali are here to pick up real quick,” groaning at the sound of Jonathan’s name, Eddie laughs loudly before signaling for you to shut up with a finger to his lips.
It wasn’t that you hated Jonathan, he was just always such a downer when he’d join in on your smoke sessions.
Opening the door when you cross your arms with a nod signaling you’ll behave, he turns his charismatic Munson charm up to a ten with a wide grin.
“Byers,” giving him a slight bow, he extends his tattooed arm wide inviting them in, “Byer’s friend.”
You see Jonathan first, who gives you an awkward small wave and a tight lipped grin, lifting three fingers you give him the same energy.
“Oh hey man, the name’s Argyle excited to see what kinda weed you got out here,” Jonathan’s cute friend that follows him in was not what you expected as he clasps his hands together rubbing his palms excitedly stepping through the threshold.
Chestnut hair longer than Eddie’s sways as he walks in, the top of it hidden by a flipped bill green cap. Its smooth texture makes your hand twitch, you’re almost positive it’d feel like silk against your fingertips. A big dopey smile graces his full pink tinged lips as his already bloodshot brown eyes meet yours when he finally turns to see you in the hallway.
All the loud colors and clashing designs on his clothes makes the corners of your mouth tug up. Curiosity piqued, you throw him a more flirtatious wave, fluttering your lashes for good measure.
Eddie rolls his eyes from behind him catching onto your antics, but Argyle looks like he’s been turned to stone, frozen in place as he takes in your barely covered frame. Leaning a shoulder against the wall you watch his eyes trail up the uncovered expanse of your legs till he hits the frayed ends of your jean shorts, your spaghetti strap tank top gives him the perfect view of the curve of your breasts barely hidden beneath the thin fabric. Sweat beading off your heat kissed skin.
Clearing his throat he shakes his head when he feels his jaw go slack, glancing worriedly at Eddie who’s already too busy rummaging around the living room looking for his trusty metal lunch box.
“Don’t mind her, she’s just my partner in crime,” waving a dismissive ringed hand in your direction as he digs behind the couch Jonathan just got settled on, Argyle’s face falls slightly at the nickname.
That still didn’t stop him from watching you push yourself off the wall and walk to the kitchen island, sitting yourself on the cleared spot on top. Legs moving to the beat of the music still bleeding out from the speakers in Eddie’s room, you knew he was completely transfixed on you as he rocked back on his heels.
“Got it boys!” cheering himself on loudly, it’s your turn to roll your eyes.
“Only you would lose your lunch box full of drugs Munson,” winking at Argyle after you roast your best friend, his smile turns shy when he looks away.
“Bold of you to insult me when you smoke for free,” squinting with threatening eyes, he flips the lid open, the metal connecting with the wood of the coffee table in a loud clunk.
Sticking your tongue out at him he scoffs before turning his attention towards Jonathan pulling out two different bags of the new strains Rick had just supplied him with.
Argyle watches you both with confused eyes, unsure what to think of your banter as he feels the shift in your stare. The heat of it makes all the blood rush to his cheeks when he dares to meet it. Waving him over, you remind him to actually finish walking in. Eyes going wide at the realization, he looks down as he walks over to stand in the space right next to you.
Leaning his back against the formica countertop, your knee brushes the side of his arm with every small kick of your dancing feet. He smells like the kind of weed that makes you feel bad for whatever Eddie’s about to sell them and a hint of an earthy toned cologne. Dark eyes lifting up to yours, his breath catches in his throat when you meet his gaze instantly.
“Sooo, how’s it going?” purposely nudging him this time, you get a smile to finally break across his nervous face.
“It’s uhh- it’s good, Jonathan’s mom is super nice. Her cooking is shmackin,” giggling a little, he told himself it was because of the lingering effects of the weed they smoked on the way here, not because of the way you sucked your bottom lip between your teeth as you listened.
“Oh yeah, dinner at Joyce’s is always a hit. She really is the sweetest,” eyes crinkling in the corners when you grin at him, he was even cuter this close.
“How long are you visiting?” resting your chin on your shoulder when you look up at him, the height difference is still noticeable despite your advantage. His cheeks turn bubble gum pink at your flirty questioning.
“Just for a few weeks, I don’t want to put them out too much you know? She’s got a full house over there with everyone back,” you catch a hint of sadness in his mellow voice. He missed his best friend, that was more than evident. The thought of only seeing Eddie a few weeks out of the year sounded miserable.
“So you and Jonathan huh? How’d that even happen?” The difference in their personalities was astounding, but even you had to admit that Byers came back from California a little more relaxed. Meeting Argyle you’re starting to figure out why.
“Ahh yeah, dudes was like having a total meltdown at school one day about some stuff with Nancy, I felt bad you know, he looked like someone kicked his dog.” Glancing over at his friend he laughs at the memory.
“So I just showed him the ways of Purple Palm Tree delight and the rest was history.” Smirking proudly when he looks at you, his eyes briefly drift towards your lips curled up into their own grin.
“Finally! Someone got Byers to chill out!” Your praise is loud enough to get a side eye from Jonathan and a laugh from his cute friend.
“It’s super nice of you to come all this way to visit Argyle, I hope you make the most of your time here,” sweetness drips from your words making his eyes grow as big as saucers when he catches the slight invitation hidden inside them.
Jonathan finally speaks loud enough for the whole room to hear, snapping your attention away from the pretty stoner boy.
“Are you guys going to the party at Rick’s tonight?” shoving the bag of weed he just bought in his back pocket, his beady eyes dart between you and Eddie.
Argyle’s still in his own world and Eddie’s got a front row seat to his completely smitten gaze dead set on your face. Despite being annoyed with you all afternoon, you’d always been a good wingman when he needed it. Lips pulling up in a mischievous smirk he wiggles his eyebrows at you before answering.
“We are!”flipping the lid to his lunch box shut with obnoxious force, you’re truly shocked he hasn’t broken it yet with his need for dramatic flair.
The sound of metal clanking loudly snaps Argyle out of whatever lovesick daze you already had him in from just from batting your lashes and showing a little interest. His eyes connect with Eddie's, a sheepish look taking over his face from being caught openly gawking.
“We are? what part-“ Eddie glares at you before cutting you off.
“The party I was literally just telling you about before they got here,” he looks pointedly at the boy shuffling his feet next to you.
Argyle’s eyes stay fixated on the dirty carpeted floor doing his best not to stare, completely oblivious to the way Eddie was trying to help him out, not scold him.
Glancing over at the cowering boy, it’s like a light bulb flashes on top of your head when you realize Eddie was trying to help you get laid.
“Ohhh that party! Sorry, stoner memory you know?” bumping your shoulder with his, your lips twist up in a grin when the chocolate of his eyes meet yours, “Totally going”
The look on Argyle’s face is hard to read as a mixture of excitement and fear cross over his features at the same time. Shifting uneasily, he keeps looking at Eddie from the corner of his eye but he can’t stop the smile that slowly spreads across his soft lips, big pearly whites flashing at you.
“C-cool, I’ll totally see you there,” coughing as he scratches the back of his neck before quickly turning his attention to Eddie, “And uhh- you too man, I’ll uh see you there too!” the last part comes out loud enough to be a yell, his nerves making his voice shake.
“Uhhh, yeah man. For sure,” Eddie’s tone is laced with confusion, eyebrows raised in question as he looks at Argyle like he’s growing a second head.
Jonathan looks at his friend with wide eyes, his cheeks turning rosy from embarrassment from his outburst. Shaking his head, he stands up with a pat on his thighs - giving the universal gesture for ‘it’s time to go’
“Alright, well this got awkward. I think we’re gonna head out, we’ll see you guys tonight,” beckoning his friend to follow him towards the front door, he steals one last look at you before almost tripping over his own feet following Jonathan, flashing you a lopsided grin.
Shutting the door behind them Eddie turns to you with a smirk that you want to smack off his face.
“Look if that’s what you’re into -“ you throw a stray Readers Digest at Eddie before he has a chance to finish teasing you.
“Oh? Would you like him more in a pleated skirt waving some Pom Pom’s for Jason and his goons?” jumping off the counter you go for the jugular, your smirk growing when you get the same hard glare from earlier in his room.
“Listen, Caspian likes who he likes. I’m just the guy behind the wheel,” hands raised in mock defense, you snort rolling your eyes walking away with crossed arms.
“Eddie, your dick isn’t the Prince of fucking Narnia,” his boisterous laugh booms over the music and your glad he can’t see the way your lips twitch up at his antics, butterflies making their way inside your stomach at the thought of seeing Argyle’s goofy smile again again.
——
You’ve always hated parties, especially Reefer Rick parties. Messy and way too loud, it wasn’t just the usual crowd at Harrington's, dodging leering stares around every corner, you cling to Eddie’s arm as a deterrent.
“I don’t know what you were thinking wearing that skirt to Rick’s,” laughing at the permanent look of disgust that was stuck on your face as the two of you weave through the crowd, you turn your head up to stick your tongue out.
“You’re gonna give that poor kid a heart attack,” Eddie shakes his head when he sees the Cheshire smile that takes over your face as you approach the makeshift drink station, “Death by bone - Byers!”
Eddie’s outburst makes you jump when your eyes meet Argyle’s from over the keg on the dining room table, the stoned grin on his face faltering when he sees your arm wrapped tightly around Eddie’s. Big brown eyes only grow bigger when he gets a glimpse of the expanse of your legs and another thin tank top covering your chest like earlier, leaving little for his imagination.
The rosy color comes back to his cheeks when you let go of Eddie as you approach with a smile that seemed to be reserved just for him pretty on your glossed lips.
“Hey Argyle,” breathy and smitten, your own cheeks heat up when the corner of his mouth turns up, lopsided just how you like.
“Hey - wow, you look - wow - yeah you look gorgeful,” stumbling over his words, Jonathan looks exasperated with his best friend already, “I mean gorgeous, err — um beautiful.”
Jonathan raises his eyebrows in a greeting at you before taking a sip from his red solo cup, doing his best to ignore the stuttering mess next to him as he greets Eddie with their dude shake.
Argyle catches Eddie’s passive stare and it only seems to make him more nervous.
“Hey man, you look, you look uhh great too!” stammering a little less, his voice raises a few octaves borderline yelling just like in the living room earlier.
“Careful Argyle, keep smooth talking me like this and I’m gonna think you want me and not my friend here,” Eddie winks with a dimpled grin spread wide across his face before he scopes out the scene of the party. Zeroing in on a home base on the couch in the living room that sat miraculously unoccupied.
“Think I’m gonna post up, you know what they say ‘When in Rome’,” he gestures with his head to the spot to Jonathan, “Wanna join? I got a joint with our name on it.”
“Isn’t Rick gonna get pissed at you for selling at his house?” finally tearing your eyes away from Argyle who’s openly gaping at Eddie, you look up at your best friend.
“Pffft, please. It’s not like he’s not going to see the fruits of my labor, it’s fine, trust me. He’s probably already plastered and passed out on his waterbed anyway,” shrugging off your concern he looks at Jonathan expectantly.
“You good with that buddy?” clapping a hand on his friend's back, Argyle’s brown eyes dart back and forth between you and Eddie, repeating the words “my friend” like he was trying to solve a puzzle.
“Yeah, he’ll protect me from all the creeps won’t you,” grabbing his hand, the heat of his palm is an instant comfort against yours. Sucking your bottom lip between your teeth you look up at him from under your lashes. His cheeks turn the color of cherry blossoms when he finally meets your stare, squeezing your hand gently, he looks back at the two boys finding his nerve.
“Yeah I’ll protect this pretty little princess with my life man,” saluting your best friend, Eddie raises his eyebrows seemingly unimpressed before turning back to Jonathan.
“Ready?” ignoring Argyle’s pledge you snort at Eddie’s casual bitchiness.
“Yeah, let's go. Look, be cool man, don’t take anything anyone here offers you, got it? I’m not taking care of you again like that time you ate the mushrooms you found in the woods,” Jonathan looks a lot like the guy you’d always known talking to his friend like he would his little brother with a finger pointed in Argyle’s face.
“There'll be no mushroom consumption on my watch, Byers,” mocking Argyle’s salute, your antics earn an eye roll from Eddie knowing damn well if the offer was given to both of you, you’d fold.
“Alright! You kiddos, have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” Eddie grabs Jonathan by the shoulders aggressive enough to have his beer slosh over the lid and you were almost positive that annoyed scowl would be stuck on his face all night.
Watching them till they both got lost in the crowd of bodies, you and Argyle finally dare to face each other. The air between you thickening now that you were alone, and he was still very much holding your hand.
“Do-“
“How-“
It was like a cheap rom com the way you both went to talk at the same time, cheeks heating up as you both look at the ground, a new shyness taking over. Squeezing his hand you encourage him.
“You first,” soft and sweet, you swear you his pupils dilate from the way you look at him.
Argyle gets the same expression on his face Eddie does when he’s forced to talk to Chrissy when she comes to buy weed for her friends. He was silently hyping himself up. Straightening his shoulders he clears his throat before the smile that made your stomach do flips graces his kissable lips.
“Can I get the pretty lady a beveregino?”
A stumbling drunk someone knocks into you before you have a chance to give an answer. Flying into his chest he lets go of your hand to grab at your hips, helping you regain your balance. The slurred apology falls on deaf ears when you and Argyle lock eyes from this close, chest to chest his fingers dig into you just enough to notice.
“I’m not much of a drinker, more of a stoner. Wanna go by the lake? I stole a joint from Eddie before we left,” grinning with pride at your sticky fingers, his lips twitch up, eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Woman after my own heart, hell yeah! Let's blow this popsicle stand,” turning you around he keeps his hands on your hips, lips coming close to your ear from behind, “Lead the way my weed smoking goddess”
Goosebumps rise, dancing across your skin at the feeling of his warm breath fanning down your neck as you lead him through the crowd. His hands never leave their spot from your hips, their grip tightening as you get closer to the sliding glass door that takes you out to Rick’s backyard.
Stepping onto the wooden deck he finally lets you go, there’s just a few stragglers outside smoking cigarettes too lost in their own conversation to notice the two of you. The air has lost most of its humidity, leaving the night in a post heatwave glow. The stars gleam bright next to the moon in the clear night sky, reflecting off the water it lights your way as you walk hand in hand down to the lake. Stealing glances at him from the corner of your eye the whole way down, you catch him doing the same thing, both of you giggling every time your eyes meet.
Finding a place nestled next to Rick’s boat house, you were far enough from the party for the loud music and constant chattering to seem like a faint noise in the background. The laps of the water hitting the shore take center stage as you curl your legs under your thighs when you sit like the princess he claimed you to be on the plush grass.
His knee brushes yours when he plops down Indian style next to you, his curious eyes follow yours as you look down at your exposed cleavage. Digging into your bra you pull a perfectly rolled joint with a smug smirk on your face, twirling it around in your dainty fingers he can’t help but throw his head back and laugh.
“I thought chicks only did that in movies, that’s some secret spy shit,.” the smile he gives you makes you want to squirm, “Crafty and beautiful.”
Not used to the kind of confidence he was giving you alone like this, you bite your lip to try and hide your smile as you tuck your hair behind your ears.
“Please, Eddie’s just oblivious,” scoffing, your face feels like the hottest part of the day from words that were sweeter than the ice cream cone you had earlier at Benny’s.
“I think it’s a little bit of both,” winking as he leans back, eyes watching you the way every woman dreams of as you search for a lighter.
“I think Eddie still has the lighter,” the cute pout that pulls at your bottom lip has his fingers twitching.
Holding up his index finger he starts digging through his multicolored jogger pockets.
“No need to worry, I’ve got us covered beautiful,” pulling out a bright yellow Surfer Boy Pizza one, he hands it to you with a lazy lopsided grin.
“My hero,” leaning forward as you snatch it, you dare to press a chaste kiss on his cheek as a token of your gratitude.
His eyes go wide enough to see the whites behind them and that perfect kind of smile that pushes against his cheeks is almost brighter than the moon hanging in the sky.
Scooting closer when you flick the lighter, the breeze that washes over the lake has other plans when it keeps snuffing the flame out. After the third failed attempt Argyle scoots closer, shoulders and thighs touching his big hands cover yours as a shield.
“Thank you,” daring to look at him from this close, his eyes meet yours almost instantly, catching the way they flutter down to your lips and how he has to wet his own after.
Tearing your gaze away, you focus on lighting the joint, the flame catching almost instantly with his help. Twirling it around so it burns even, he lets his hands fall at the same time as you. The palm of yours landing on the top of his, your eyes meeting again as you hollow out your cheeks taking the first hit. He just smirks, not moving an inch, the heat of his body is warm against your skin from this close.
The silence is comfortable as the two of you pass the joint back and forth for a while, fingers brushing purposefully with every hand off. Leaning completely against each other with pinkies hooked between you, he’s the one that breaks the silence when you hit the middle of the joint.
“So have you lived here your whole life?” plucking at the grass next to him he looks up at you with soft eyes as you finish filling your lungs.
“Yep, pretty much. My parents lived in Indianapolis till I was three then moved here for a quieter life,” snorting at the cliche of it, you pass him the joint, “What about you? Always been in California?”
“Yeah, it’s just me and my mom. She’s like the best ever though, so, you know I don’t really need anyone else but her,” taking a big hit of the joint so he didn’t have to elaborate further, you changed the subject.
“Would you ever leave? Like, move somewhere else?” it’s your turn to pick at the grass, the nerves of getting to know a boy getting the best of you.
“What? Like here?” smirking at you when he hands you the joint, your cheeks heat up at what he’s implying.
“No! Don’t move to Hawkins, there’s nothing here,” smiling around the end of the joint you take a hit to distract yourself from his playful stare.
“I don’t know, it seems pretty cool to me so far,” you don’t miss the way his pinky squeezes yours after the sentence leaves his mouth, eyes looking at you pointedly daring you to catch on.
“You wouldn’t survive the winters, I’m sure of it,” looking at him from under the hood of your lashes, your teeth tug at your bottom lip barely hiding your smile when you hand him back the joint.
“What about you? Do you wanna move?” his eyes glaze over when he takes his hit starting to reach the end of it, your bodies buzzing with the high and the excitement of a new crush.
“More than anything, Community College is just really cheap out here and I don’t know what I want to do yet, so the plan is to move anywhere that's not here after I figure that out,” sighing at the thought of finally leaving Hawkins you meet his gaze when you feel the chocolate of his eyes on you.
“I’m going to Community College too! And I also don’t know what I’m doing! Look at us two peas in a pod man,” he’s loud with excitement sending you into a fit of giggles and you lean even deeper into his side as he hands you the joint.
“Just need Eddie hurry it up, he finally graduated but he still has to take two summer school classes. We’re supposed to do this college thing together,” he catches the small frustrated pout you try to hide.
It’s quiet for a minute, the elephant in the room coming back as the sound of the water and crickets fill your ears.
“So you and Eddie like never..?” not bold enough to meet your side eye after the question leaves his mouth, you smirk as you take another rip. Exhaling slowly before handing it back to him.
“We’ve known each other since we were kids so naturally, we tried kissing once. It happened the summer before Junior year,” sticking your tongue out like there was a bad taste in your mouth, the memory makes you shudder, “Too weird, we’re too close.”
Argyle just nods trying to keep his poker face as he takes a hit when he hears that Eddie has actually kissed you before, but you catch on quick.
“Besides, despite the metal appearance,” leaning closer like you were about to indulge in a secret you whisper, “He likes cheerleaders.”
Earning a snort from him the smoke of his inhale flows freely out his nose and mouth as he chuckles at your antics.
“And I like pizza delivery boys, especially cute ones from California,” the weed settles enough to make you feel bold and you watch him freeze at your flirty words.
He slowly meets your gaze, bloodshot eyes scanning your face for any trace of humor but he’s only met with the hungry look in yours staring at his lips, and he swears your brows furrow with want when your tongue glides across wetting your bottom lip.
“Yeah?” his voice cracks when he puts out the remainder of the joint into the ground, angling his body more towards yours.
Nodding, you squeeze your hooked pinky with his silently begging him to give you what you want.
Taking your cue, he leans forward close enough for your noses to touch, the hesitation to fully commit has your lips brushing feather light against his. You can taste the last of the joint as you breath each other in, grabbing a fist full of his shirt when you’ve finally had enough, you close the gap with a satisfied hum when they mold instantly with yours.
It feels like the Fourth of July behind your closed lids, still a month away but the fireworks you swear you feel blur your vision when you lose yourself in him. Begging for more when your tongue swipes across his bottom lip, he groans low when he gives you everything you want. Tongues and teeth clash together desperate like years of pining finally come to an end despite it being less than a day, maybe it was the weed or maybe it was him, but it feels like it’s everything you want and more.
The initial intensity dwindles as you start to move lazy and slow against each other. Taking his time, he savors every giggle and gasp he pulls from you. Your hands find their way into his long hair, it’s even softer than you imagined when your fingers run through it. His hat falls off when you give it a gentle tug at the base of his neck.
Working up enough courage to pull you on his lap, he swallows your moan when you feel the bulge in his pants. The lace panties you wore just for him and the thin material of his joggers is the only thing between you and what’s underneath. Your skirt sits bunched up at your hips with his hands and you can’t help it when you rock against him, feeling every inch of him against your clit.
Pulling you down closer, his lips take a break from yours to make their way over your jaw and down the curve of your neck. Nipping and sucking against all the sweet spots that sit nestled just behind your ear. A high pitched whine escapes you when he applies just the right amount of pressure with his teeth, smiling against your skin, his nose nudges against your earlobe, a soft “Yeah?” sending your nerves down your spine.
His hands make their way to your thighs squeezing at the soft fat before his fingertips drag their way across the expanse of them finding their new home at the curve of your ass. Toying with the sides of your underwear you collect his lips again with your fingers holding onto his chin.
Rocking with a little more force when your tongues meet again, his hands grip you harder making you bite his lip in response.
“You- you can touch me,” your voice is quiet when you dare to say the words out loud, his lips stopping abruptly against yours.
“A-are you sure?” his eyes look black even in the moonlight when they meet yours from over the bridge of your nose.
Nodding against him, you encourage his hand as your lips meet his again, pulling your panties to the side he groans loud into your mouth when he’s met with your slick folds coating his fingertips.
“Holy shit, I can’t believe you’re real,” staring up at you, he’s mesmerized at the way you shudder when the pads of his long fingers rub circles on your clit.
Mewling when he lets the tip of his middle finger poke at your entrance, you dig your nails into his broad shoulders when he finally pushes one in, your velvet walls gripping him hard, pulling him deeper. His hips jut up at the sensation only adding to how good it all feels.
“G- god Argyle don’t - don’t stop please,” your demand comes out as a whine when he adds a second finger, curving them slightly brushing that spongy spot inside of you.
“I like that, I like when you say my name like that,” the pad of his thumb meets your bundle of nerves as you start to shamelessly ride his hand, the need to cum taking over all the bashfulness from before.
“Yeah?”
Nodding against the side of your face he nips at your jaw before taking your lips, the strokes of his fingers becoming more deliberate.
He manages to say, “Do it again” between kisses as he curves his fingers once more, getting him exactly what he asked for.
Kisses turn sloppy as you get closer to your release, your hands leave their place on his shoulders to dig at the roots at the nape of his neck, tugging the way that earned you a moan the last time.
He increases the speed of his fingers, the sound of how wet you are is loud enough to be embarrassing but it only makes him twitch inside his pants as he thrusts up, your mouth falling open against his.
“I’m gonna - god - I’m gonna cum,” pulling his hair hard enough it should hurt, he only pushes himself deeper in response, the new intensity sending you over the edge.
“Yeah? Good, come on let me feel it,” his voice is hardly recognizable the moment those words come out of your mouth. Deep and thick with want, it has your thighs shaking as you drench his fingers, face buried in the crook of his neck you let your orgasm wash over you like a storm.
“Jesus, you look like an angel right now,” his voice comes out like a whisper, almost like he’s saying it to himself.
His hips stop their movements as his fingers slow their pace when he feels your body start to calm down, pulling them out despite the fight of your walls they keep fluttering around nothing from the aftershock.
Your gasp is quiet against his skin when you don’t feel so full anymore. You’re too stoned and too tired to open your eyes when you hear the sound of him sucking his fingers clean.
“You’re sweeter than fucking pineapple, I swear,” chuckling at his own revelation your lips tug up into a smirk finally having the strength to meet his gaze.
“You like pineapple?” you had no idea the question would elicit such a strong response until his face lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Do I like pineapple? Do I like -“ Jonathan’s panicked voice rings out over the lake interrupting the out of body experience Argyle was about to have about fruit.
“Come on guys, Rick kicked Eddie out for selling at his party!”
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zuko-always-lies · 6 days
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Unpopular Opinion: Ursa's parenting negatively affected Zuko
One of the fascinating things about the ATLA fandom is that people are utterly uninterested in analyzing how Ursa's parenting really screwed up Zuko, even though it's pretty clear. I don't mean to attack Ursa here, because I think she had good intentions, but, although her parenting was far better than Ozai's, it contributed to Zuko's many poor decisions.
I've given a broader coverage to values Ursa extols to her children elsewhere. The general point you should take away from that is that Ursa was critical in instilling imperialist values in her children and in teaching them to respect/obey the Firelord.
However, that's not the point I will belabor here. I want to turn to something else. Let's take a look closely at the scene where Zuko tries to perform Azula's firebending routine in front of his grandfather and his father but falls flat on his face:
Ozai frowns at this news. Zuko starts off well, doing the same circular motions as Azula earlier. He manages to produce a small fire blast, which does not impress Fire Lord Azulon. When he tries to create another one, he falls. He gets back up, panting heavily, and tries again, only to fall harder. Ursa gets up worriedly and approaches Zuko to comfort him. Young Zuko: I failed. Ursa: No. I loved watching you. That's who you are, Zuko. Someone who keeps fighting even though it's hard.
The lesson that Zuko learns from Ursa here is that his gift is stubborn persistence and that he should never stop trying to meet the toxic expectations of the Fire Nation royal court and of his father(she also might have inadvertently encouraged the Zuko-Azula sibling rivalry).
How do we know this is what Zuko took away from this? These scenes are paired together at the end of "Zuko Alone," as Zuko struggles to defeat Gow:
In the flashback, Zuko is sleeping in his room at night when a hand gently touches his shoulder. He awakens drowsily to see his mother dressed in a cloak.
Young Zuko: … Mom? Ursa: Zuko, please, my love, listen to me. Everything I've done, I've done to protect you. She pulls the barely conscious Zuko into a hug. Ursa: Remember this, Zuko. No matter how things may seem to change, never forget who you are.
and this scene:
Gow: Who ... who are you? Zuko:My name is Zuko. Son of Ursa and Fire Lord Ozai. Prince of the Fire Nation, and heir to the throne. Old man: Liar! I heard of you! You're not a prince, you're an outcast! His own father burned and disowned him!
Zuko took Ursa's advice to never give up and never forget who he was to heart, and as a result even though he's been burned, banished, and declared a traitor, even though he objectively has no real chance of getting his status and Ozai's favor back at this point, Zuko is still trying to do that and refuses to let go of his long-lost position in the Fire Nation as crown prince. The smart thing to do would be to give up and move on, but Zuko refuses to do that.
We can also turn to what Zuko says to Aang in "The Siege of the North, II":
Zuko: I finally have you, but I can't get you home because of this blizzard. [Stands up and looks outside the cave.] There's always something. Not that you would understand. You're like my sister. Everything always came easy to her. She's a firebending prodigy, and everyone adores her. My father says she was born lucky. He says I was lucky to be born. I don't need luck, though. I don't want it. I've always had to struggle and fight and that's made me strong. It's made me who I am.
All of this brings me back to my main point. Ozai might have been the one who burned and banished Zuko, who abused him and declared him a traitor, who demanded that Zuko capture the Avatar, but Ursa is the one who taught Zuko the persistence that made him chase after legends for three years, that made him take reckless risk after reckless risk, that made him continue chasing the Avatar even after Ozai was having him hunted as a traitor across the Earth Kingdom.
The biggest problem in Zuko's life is that he refuses to let go of his dream of regaining Ozai's favor, that he refuses to accept that Ozai doesn't love and move on and find something better to center his life around, and from what we see Ursa played a huge role in this, because she taught Zuko to never give up trying fulfilling the expectations of Ozai and the court, no matter how many times he failed. Ursa wasn't intending ill, but her parenting had a huge negative effect on Zuko's life.
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cryptidghostgirl · 2 months
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Hello hi- back to my shenanigans again (the one with the fake dating + lobby portal + frozen half the pentagram surely not an OC ahahah anonymous asker) - anyway- heres some MORE angst.
Reader's past lover- died waaay before reader back in their teens because readers mother found out about their not so heterosexual relationship and decided to shoot them both but only killed one- reader escaping and killing her mom in return (let’s name her Charlotte- with mane wolf features- so wolf+fox+deer features a combination! ) and barely moved on after meeting Alastor like years later, yet still haunted by Charlottes dead eyes reader saw when she woke up from some sleepy poison. Now Charlotte is in heaven and reader in hell alongside their radio-lover lover!
Yet somehow- maybe though a very uncanonical accurate meeting where angels go down to see the new hotel after hearing sinners can get redeemed Charlotte (not to be confused with Charlie) is one of said angels and suddenly all those waves of emotions come rushing back and reader can do nothing but stare.
but oh wait! Angels/Winner dont remember their past life so reader goes to her- and shes just “Oh hello! Whats your name? :3” (shes an angel and loves the stars and plants and everything nice can do no wrong) “I-… I guess you dont know me in this lifetime” (AND DOESNT TELL HER THEYVE MET BEFORE because what good would that bring?)
But alastor is also there lurking in the back. watching them- he knew someone was in readers life before him but reader never said more than that. Will readers feelings for Charlotte come back? Will reader stay to the infatuation of murderous acts that Alastor bought them? Will reader choose the pure love that might not spring again?
The infamous blizzard demon overlord! that never dropped their mask around others that always seemed to have the upper hand in any situation, the cold- charismatic- brutal and ruthless overlord- suddenly speechless at the reappearance of someone they used to know. How will everyone react?! “Sweet as a pea, but sharp as a knife- now shocked like the stars have fallen”
GAAAH MY BRAIN IS TOO BIG ANF FULL OF ANGST!!!!! Heres some kisses too: maybe next fic its me x you pookie 😘😘🥰🥰😘😘😘😘
A/N What a wild way to close off a request, I honestly got so much respect for that. I don't do OCs but for the sign off comment, I'll make an exception. Also I am assuming you want this as a part two to Frostbite because she's still a blizzard demon?? Apologies in advance if I got that wrong. Also,, not you quoting something else I've written in your request. That's crazy, thank you so much for the love.
Day Lilies (Alastor x Blizzard demon!Reader x Angel!OC)
Pairing: Alastor x Reader
Part One: Frostbite (Alastor x Reader)
Warnings: Homophobia (from other people and internalized) and murder. Smoking/cigarettes and angst. Always angst. I think that is it, please correct me if I am wrong.
Word Count: 2,969
Master Lists:
Master Lists 
Hazbin Hotel Master List 
Alastor Master List
Click here and leave a comment if you want to be added to any taglists or send me an ask about it.
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The best thing about the Hazbin Hotel, according to some, was the fact that not one but two overlords who had found a home there. The Radio Demon and the Frost. Feared, revered, respected, and making an appearance for the first time in seven long years.
Without Alastor and Y/n's help, Charlie would not have been able to achieve all she had and she was eternally grateful to the pair, even if they were a tad confrontational and violent at times. Deeply in love, indebted to one another in a billion and five different ways, Alastor and Y/n had worked hard for their life in the underworld. As the angel stepped gently out of the portal, following her superior, Y/n felt the pressure of that life as it began to crash down around her.
When Charlie had struck the deal with Heaven to have an angel come down to the hotel to track its progress and assess if any of its inhabitants were worthy of redemption, Y/n had thought nothing of it. Sure, it was a bit irritating but if anything, the deal seemed ripe for entertainment and thats really all she and Alastor were after at the end of the day. She had figured the angel would be some low ranking nobody. She had thought it would be amusing, that they would torture the poor creature, that things would stay roughly the same. Never in her wildest dreams had the notion ever crossed Y/n's mind that the angel might be Charlotte.
Of course, Y/n had known Charlotte must be in Heaven. The girl had always been so kind, so good to her very core. It had just all seemed so far away and now, somehow, there she was, peeking timidly out from behind the seraphim's back.
Charlotte looked different, having taken on some animalistic, wolfish features since her death. Sharp ears sprouted from the untamed mess of her hair, fangs peeked their way out from the corners of her lips but Y/n was sure. It was Charlotte. It was all in the eyes.
"Welcome, Sera." Charlie politely began, taking a step forward.
Normally, such a show of self restraint from the young demon princess would have caused curiosity to spark a fire in Y/n's chest. Now, she just stood beside Angel as Charlie had requested, eyes wide and mind reeling.
"Is this who we will be working with?"
Sera looked at the shy wolf of a girl behind her and nodded her head, gesturing for the girl to step forward.
"Yes." she replied, her voice cold and haughty, "This is Charlotte, she has been with us for a while and we trust her judgment on matters such as this."
"Oh how funny!" Charlie brightly exclaimed, "My full name is Charlotte too but, I go by Charlie. Do you have a nickname you'd prefer?"
"Just Charlotte is fine." the angel softly replied and Y/n's breath caught in her throat.
The girls voice was honeysuckle, it was sticky sweet teen love.
"Why her?" Husk asked and Charlie shot him a glare, "She just seems a little..."
Sera laughed lightly, a caring smile sneaking on to her face.
"She's a little shy, but she is smart. Even when she was alive, she had an ability to read people, to see right through to the essence of their beings."
Charlotte blushed slightly at the compliment, turning away.
The southern sun beat down over head, long grass whipping at their legs as Charlotte, running, dragged Y/n to the center of the field.
"Lottie!" Y/n exclaimed, half laughing, "Where on earth are you taking me?"
Charlotte glanced back at her companion, a mischievous smirk painting her lips that sent bolts of red hot fire through to Y/n's fingertips.
"You'll see."
After a few more paces, they came to a panting halt. Charlotte turned to Y/n, placing a hand gently over the other girl's eyes. With a guiding hand, she lead the blinded girl to a spot a little ways off where she had snuck off to earlier and set up a picnic. There was fresh fruit, Georgia peaches from her family's own orchard, and home made lemonade. Slowly, Charlotte gifted Y/n with sight.
Y/n's mouth fell slightly open as she surveyed the scene before her. Sixteen and in love, she turned to Charlotte, taking both the girl's hands in her own.
"When... how..."
"I know things have been rough at home lately. I wanted to do something to make you smile."
"How did you know? I never..." Y/n cleared her throat, "I never said anything... I nev-"
"You didn't have to. I know you, love. You never have to say a word."
Alastor watched his lover silently from the other side of the group. Charlie had insisted they flank the guests, dragging Y/n away from his side just as the portal had opened. She didn't show it, not obviously, but he knew something was wrong. From the second the portal had opened and the angels had stepped through, she had gone tense, her eyes fixed on the one called Charlotte, the tips of her frostbite blackened fingers tapped against one another in wild thought.
"Well," Sera sighed, looking around at the ragtag group of sinners and demons, "I had best be on my way. I will be back in a few days to pick Charlotte up, please be kind to her over the course of her stay."
With those parting words and a reassuring pat on the angel's shoulder, Sera stepped back through the portal which closed behind her.
"Well," Charlie began brightly, clapping her hands together, "let's do introductions! I am Charlie Morningstar and I run the Hazbin Hotel with my girlfriend, Vaggie."
Vaggie sent Charlotte a wave which she timidly returned. With a deep breath, Charlotte stepped towards the line of sinners before her.
"Alastor." Alastor hummed, grabbing Charlottes hand and shaking it harshly, "A pleasure to be meeting you my dear, quite the pleasure."
It struck Charlie as a bit odd he said and did nothing else but, she made no mention of it. In her mind, Alastor was simply on his best behavior as requested. In reality, he was far too focused on the way a slight flurry of snow had begun to settle on Y/n's sharp shoulders.
"Nice to meet you too." Charlotte replied, extracting her hand from his grip and moving down the line.
Y/n's heart pounded wildly against her chest as Charlotte grew closer. Her tail twitched behind her, flicking back and forth gently, and her breaths grew slightly heavy. Although he noticed the odd behavior, it was impossible not to from his place beside her, Angel said nothing. At long last, Charlotte came to a stop before her.
"Disgusting!" Y/n's mother's voice rang out through the yard, "You are both complete and utter disgraces!"
They hadn't meant to be found out. As far as Y/n's mother had known, Y/n and Charlotte were best friends. Charlotte had come over to help Y/n with her chores, they had been doing laundry out in the yard when Charlotte had playfully flicked water towards her beloved. One thing had lead to another and before long, they had been wrapped up in one another, planting a singular, soft kiss on each other's lips. Y/n felt Charlotte's hand tighten around her own, she took a step forward.
"Don't you dare speak to her that way!" Y/n yelled back, anger burning brightly in her eyes and adrenaline shaking her limbs with wild courage, "Don't you dare!"
Her mother scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"She is a bad influence on you! The devil sent to curse me!"
Y/n's mother stepped forward, grabbing Y/n and wrenching her from Charlotte's grip. Charlotte tugged at Y/n's mother's dress as she dragged her girlfriend harshly into the small house.
"Let her go!" Charlotte cried, "Stop it! We weren't doing anything wrong!"
With a harsh slap to her face, Charlotte was sent to the ground. Her mother threw Y/n through the door, the unfinished wood of the floor sending splinters deep into Y/n's knees as she struggled to get to her feet. Her head had hit the corner of the table in her fall, the world was spinning. Y/n's mother grabbed the shot gun from where it lay beside the door. Just as Y/n managed to stumble to her feet, holding her swaying body up with a hand on the table she had hit, her mother stepped outside and slammed the door behind her, locking it.
Y/n rushed over, trying desperately to wrench it open to no avail. The anger had turned to panic as she heard her mother cock the gun.
"What are you doing!" she heard Charlotte yell and Y/n rushed to the window.
From her vantage point, Y/n watched her mother train the gun on Charlotte who had her hands raised and was stumbling backwards.
"Run!" she yelled, banging her fists on the glass, "Lottie, run!"
"Please." Charlotte was pleading, tears wetting her cheeks, "I promise I wont ever come here again, I wont ever come near her again. Please!"
"Lottie!" Y/n yelled again.
With no regard for her own safety, Y/n punched the glass of the window. The pane shattered around her hand, puncturing her soft skin. Blood, hot and wet, ran down her arm as she pulled her hand back to her side.
"Yeah, you sure as hell wont!" Y/n's mother yelled, her voice thick and low with rage, "You'll be dead!"
Y/n flung her leg over the window sill, shards of glass digging into her as she pulled herself through the hole she had created.
"Lottie!" she yelled again, "Run!"
Her screams were drowned out by the sound of a gunshot. Charlotte held her hands to her stomach, blood pouring from between her fingers. Their eyes met.
"Lottie!"
"And you are?" Charlotte asked expectently.
Y/n shook her head slightly, pulling herself from the depths of her memories. Everyone was staring at her, she had no idea how long the angel had been standing before her. She cleared her throat.
Alastor didn't know what was going on but, whatever it was, he knew he didn't like it. Using his shadows, he appeared behind Y/n and placed a protective hand on the top of her head between her horns. Her hair was damp from freshly fallen snow and Charlotte gasped slightly in surprise at his appearance.
"My dear," he grinned, leaning down to Y/n's ear, "you're snowing."
"I..."
Y/n looked up, her cheeks flushing pink and the heart on the tip of her tail puffing up as she realized what he said.
"O-oh." she stuttered, brushing his hand from her head and the snow from her shoulders as she regained control of her powers again, "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."
The other members of the hotel watched in a mixture of shock and confusion. They had always known Y/n to be cold, to be harsh. They had always seen her devotion to the man behind her as infallible. No one had any idea what was going on but, the presence of the angel stopped them all in their tracks.
"It's quite all right, what's your name?" Charlotte asked again, her voice honey sweet.
Y/n took a deep breath, morphing her features into the closest thing to a kind smile she could muster.
"Y/n." she firmly replied, "I'm Y/n."
Her eyes scanned Charlotte's face intently as their hands made contact. She waited for the shock of recognition, for the tears her Lottie had always been so prone to. There was nothing.
"That's a very pretty name." Charlotte replied, "It sounds like it is from the same era as mine."
That raised some small hope in Y/n's chest. She took a step forward, bringing herself closer to the angel.
"Which is?"
"Oh, I don't know." Charlotte replied, her cheeks flushing pink with embarrassment, "Angels don't get to remember their lives on earth unless they are pretty high in the ranks. I've been told I was from Georgia though, that I died in the early 1900s."
Y/n froze, her breath trapped in her chest, a knife buried deep within her heart.
"Oh." she mumbled out in a broken whisper, "I guess you... you don't know me in this lifetime."
"What was that?" Charlotte asked, leaning in a bit.
Y/n shook her head, letting go of Charlotte's hand.
"Nothing. I... I need some fresh air, I think. If you would all excuse me."
It didn't take Alastor long to find Y/n once Charlie had let him return to his duties in favor of showing Charlotte around the hotel. She stood out in back of the hotel, her back pressed firmly against the wall and a cigarette crushed between her fingers. Shakily, she took a drag.
"What was that about?" Alastor asked, leaning up against the wall beside her and folding his arms across his chest.
"What was what about." Y/n cooly replied.
"Y/n, don't play dumb."
"I knew her back when we were alive, thats all."
"Is that all?" Alastor asked after a moment, "You seemed..."
He trailed off. Alastor was angry. He had always been the jealous type, protective to a fault. He could see how shaken up Y/n was however and so, running a finger over the ring he wore, Alastor took a deep breath.
"That angel, Charlotte..." her name lingered poisonously on his tongue, "it seemed there was something a lot more than just you knowing her."
"I picked these for you." Y/n bashfully stated, shoving a bouquet tied with a rough bit of twine towards the pretty girl beside her, "Here."
Tentatively, Charlotte took the bouquet from Y/n's hand. She held it gently, watching the way the breeze played with the petals.
"Georgia asters?" Charlotte hummed thoughtfully, "And yarrow?"
"My momma didn't used to be poor. She grew up in a rich family, gave it up when she married my dad. Her momma taught her floriography." Y/n's words came out in a big rush, they chased after one another in a breathless flurry of nerves, "It was big in the victorian era for fancy people, all about talking through flowers. She taught me asters symbolized wisdom, faith, and valor and that yarrow was for healing and... and love... besides, I know you like them. You're always staring at them when were out."
Charlotte looked over at Y/n who's cheeks were bright red. She smiled, her eyes shining.
"I love you too." she said, nudging Y/n gently with her elbow.
"Yeah, but..." Y/n sighed, running a hand through her messy hair, "I... god, Lottie! I don't just love you like a sister. Its... I understand if you don't wanna talk to me anymore I just couldn't... I couldn't keep it in anymore."
Y/n looked away, tears pressing hotly at the backs of her eyes. Charlotte's eyes went wide.
"I understand... I won't be mad... I just... I'll leave."
Charlotte's hand shot out, grabbing Y/n's wrist as she pushed herself from the fence they were leaning against. Slowly, Y/n turned to face her. Charlotte was blushing now too and looked away, still holding Y/n tightly.
"I don't..." she took a deep breath, "I don't love you like a sister either."
"It's wrong... it's so wrong... what would my mother say... what would your mother say, I-"
Charlotte cut Y/n off, standing on her toes to press a soft kiss to the slightly taller girl's lips. It was clumsy and foreign. Y/n trembled, her eyes fluttered shut.
"I don't care." Charlotte said, "I don't care."
"Yeah." Y/n sighed, taking a final drag from her cigarette before stamping it out beneath her heel, "Yeah."
"Do I have anything to worry about?" Alastor asked and Y/n's eyes met his.
He had known her long enough, he could see the conflict.
"She was my first love, Al." Y/n admitted, "We were girls together."
"You're my wife."
"It's different."
"Do I have anything to worry about?" Alastor asked again and Y/n looked back out at the sky.
"She doesn't remember me."
"But you remember her."
"But I remember her." Y/n confirmed, her voice cracking, "I couldn't forget if I tried. She haunts me, Al. She has always haunted me, since long before I even met you. Lottie died in my arms, Al. My mother killed her, shot her right in the stomach. I...."
Y/n trailed off into silence. It was more about her life before she had met him than she had ever revealed before. Alastor took a deep breath, conflicting emotions battling behind his eyes.
"What are you thinking about?"
He was trying to keep his cool, to save face. He was failing, anger and a secret fear ate away at the edges of his words.
"Day lilies."
"Day lilies?" Alastor repeated and Y/n nodded, meeting his eyes once again.
"A floriography thing again?"
Alastor knew of Y/n's interest in the symbolic properties of plants. It was one of the only things she ever spoke about concerning her mother and her shadowed past before that night in Mimzy's bar.
"Yes."
"What do they mean?" Alastor sighed, resigning himself to his fate because god, if Alastor knew anything he knew his fate was Y/n. She held his heart in the palms of her hands.
"Love for lovers. Love for mothers..."
"And?"
His heart pounded against his chest.
"And loss of memory."
----
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