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sourwolf-sterek32 · 3 months

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The Dirt (Your Version)

Summary: Meeting Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee was a coincidence. Being friends was a choice. But falling in love with them both was beyond your control.

A rewrite of The Dirt with all the highs and lows of Mötley Crüe from your perspective.

Pairings: Nikki Sixx x Reader, Tommy Lee x Reader, Nikki Sixx x Tommy Lee x Reader

Word Count: 4.1k

Trigger Warning- self-harm, mentions of past child abuse and cancer

Previous Chapter

Chapter 19- Truth comes out

"Who did this to you?" Nikki questioned, his fingers brushing over the dark bruise around your neck.

It had been a long time since you had heard that protectiveness in the bassist's voice. It had been a long time since you had seen him. And an even longer time since he had touched you like this.

"It doesn't matter." You sighed.

"Was it Vince?"

"What? No! He would never hurt me. Never." You insisted and Nikki nodded, his brows furrowing as he brushed his thumb over the bruise carefully.

"Tell me who and I'll fuck 'em up."

"It was my father and Vince already fucked him up."

Nikki's eyes widened in surprise knowing you hadn't been in contact with your father since you were a teenager. Nikki had questions. You could tell that he had many questions to ask but seemed to be holding himself back.

His sea green eyes were watching you worriedly. The last time you saw each other was that day at the studio. The day Vince had quit, and you walked away.

The guilt of that weighed heavily down on your shoulders. Mötley Crüe were finished. It didn't matter that they had a new singer, the band was over the moment Vince left and it was your fault.

"If you want me to leave. I'll leave." You whispered.

"I don't want you to leave, princess."

Just hearing that old nickname bought tears to your eyes and you lowered your head so he wouldn't see them fall. Nikki Sixx had seen you cry too many times to count over the years. You didn't want him to see you cry anymore.

"Come inside. Can I get you a drink?" Nikki offered. "I'm sober, so there's not many options."

You smiled, heart swelling with pride hearing that.

"Water is fine."

He disappeared in the kitchen, and you walked over to his couch and sat down hugging your knees to your chest. Nikki returned shortly after handing you a glass of cold water which you took with a small smile.

"It's not that I'm not happy to see you after all this time, because I am. But what's going on?" Nikki asked worriedly.

"Skylar died."

"Oh, fuck." He sighed heavily the shock of that information hitting him hard. "I'm so sorry."

You fiddled with the glass of water as Nikki walked around the couch and sat down beside you.

He asked what happened. You told him about the tumour and cancer that spread through the little girl's body. He asked about Vince, and you told the truth. Your brother was a mess but was trying to get himself better.

The two of you sat together in silence after that, Nikki trying to process everything while you sat there fiddling with the empty glass trying not to cry.

Grieving was hard.

Whether it was for your own baby or someone else's. Grief in general for a lack of a better word... sucked.

The suckiest part about it was how lonely grieving made you feel. And yeah, sure, your family had been mourning the loss of Skylar. But you've been mourning the loss of your own baby too because you had never really allowed yourself to grieve that unborn child until now.

And then you'd felt angry at yourself for it because that was in the past and Skylar had just died. Your little niece had just died, but you weren't only thinking about her. And that made you feel guilty. And then that guilt turned into anger. And you were angry at yourself for being angry because dear God, it wasn't like they had died on purpose, but it happened, and you couldn't save either of them.

So, you were angry.

You were angry at the world because it kept spinning after those horrible deaths. And you were angry that you were still living when Skylar had her whole life ahead of her and your own baby never got to draw its first breath.

But you know what? You'd take the anger, the sadness and the guilt because the only reason all of that existed within you now was because love existed first. Because it still existed in you now. And you knew that if you had loved Skylar less or never found out about your pregnancy, things would be easier, but you didn't want to live in that world.

So, yeah, you had a lifetime of those sticky grief feelings ahead, but you welcomed them with open arms because you had four years of love with Skylar and a couple months of knowing about your baby and that will always, always be worth it.

"Shit, princess."

Your head snapped in Nikki's direction to find his sea green eyes swimming with tears, and you very quickly realised that you had just said all of that out loud.

"Can I hold you?" He asked, wiping his teary eyes.

"Please."

Nikki shifted closer on the couch before wrapping his arm around your shoulders, pulling you gently into his side and kissing the top of your head. You buried your face against his chest and squeezed your eyes shut not wanting this moment to end because you had missed this. You had missed him so fucking much.

Nikki eventually let go of you, saying something about needing to piss before he disappeared leaving you on the couch. You were pretty sure that the bassist just needed a moment alone to compose himself because he hadn't allowed himself to mourn or grieve over your unborn baby until now either.

You reached up and rubbed your thumb over the scars and cuts on your wrist thinking about your brother. Thinking about Skylar. Thinking about Razzle. Thinking about your unborn baby. Thinking about everything.

You were so lost in thought you didn't hear Nikki approaching until he sat back down beside you causing you to nearly jump out of your skin at his sudden presence. His shoulder was touching yours and you quickly shifted your bracelets to cover the cuts.

You leant your head against his shoulder, the two of you remaining quiet for quite some time, but you didn't need to fill the silence. That was the nice thing about Nikki, he could appreciate silence when others wouldn't. Not needing to speak just for the sake of talking.

He kissed the side of your head and squeezed your hand for comfort, knowing how everything was taking its toll on you.

But he didn't know everything. He didn't know about those dark thoughts that still haunted you. He didn't know about the cuts hidden beneath your sleeve.

"Let me see your neck." Nikki suddenly said, speaking up for the first time in a while.

He hooked his index finger under your chin tilting your head up as you lifted it off his shoulder. You hadn't had a chance to look in the mirror and see the damage yet, but by the frown forming on Nikki's face, you knew it wasn't great.

"Does it hurt?"

You shook your head and gently touched the angry purple and blue finger shaped bruises with a small wince, "I'm fine. It only hurts when I touch it."

Nikki didn't seem happy with that answer. His frown only deepening as he inspected the marks carefully.

He shouldn't care about you though. Nikki should be angry at you for what happened in the studio. He should be furious. He shouldn't be worrying or caring about you. You didn't deserve it. You didn't deserve him.

"You should hate me." You whispered.

Nikki's eyes met yours, "what? Why?"

"I'm the reason for Mötley Crüe's downfall. It's all my fault."

"It's not."

"It is!" You answered a little louder than you meant but you couldn't help it. "I mean, fuck, you warned us at the start, Sixx. You said hooking up with me would jeopardize the band and now look what happened."

"That's not on you."

"It is."

"It's not. That's on all of us." Nikki insisted and you knew there was no point trying to argue with him on this.

You sighed, "I should go. I-I don't know why I came here. You have your own life... I'm sorry."

You stood up from the couch but before you could walk back towards the door, Nikki suddenly reached out and grabbed your hand stopping you.

"Don't go." He said, his voice nearly pleading as he looked up at you with gentle sea green eyes. "It's getting late. Just stay here tonight. You can take the spare bedroom. Please. Just don't go. Not like last time."

You hesitated for a moment as you glanced over at his front door before looking back at him and nodding in agreement. Nikki's shoulders relaxed instantly, and he gave your hand a gentle squeeze before he showed you to the guest bedroom.

Given Nikki Sixx's track record with girls, you were expecting him to try make a move or convince you to share his own bed, but to your surprise he was a complete gentleman. He had matured a lot since the last time you saw him. So much had happened since then, yet for some unknown reason, Nikki still cared about you.

You ended up sleeping on the couch that night because the mattress in the spare room had a very distinct scent of urine on it. Underneath the black sheets were multiple yellow stains and although they appeared to be old, the smell was definitely there, so you retreated back to the couch.

It wasn't so bad. You had slept in worse places especially while on tour with the guys. So, a blanket on a leather couch was actually pretty good in comparison.

You laid there staring up at the antique looking ceiling fan above you in the dim light unable to fall asleep. Your mind wouldn't shut off. You kept thinking about Skylar which then turned into thinking about Vince and what your father had said.

Your entire life had been a lie.

Vince wasn't your brother, and your father wasn't even your real father. And your mother... she killed herself after giving birth to you. Did she not want you that badly? Did she really think that leaving you with that abusive piece of shit would be better than whatever she could provide? Was a bullet to the head the only choice she had?

Your mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions as you laid there squeezing your wrist feeling the calming sting of the cuts.

You must have fallen asleep sometime though because the next thing you knew, your eyes were snapping open, and you sat up gasping for air.

A gunshot echoed in your mind. Your mothers blurry figure falling to the ground in a pool of her blood. Your fathers angry voice screamed in the background somewhere. You could still feel his hands around your neck choking you.

"Y/N, hey. Just breathe. You're okay, just breathe." Someone's voice suddenly said, but through the haze in your head you couldn't figure out who the voice belonged to let alone trying to focus on breathing.

You couldn't breathe. It was like your father was still choking you. All the air had gotten sucked out of your lungs and there wasn't anything you could do about it. You could feel your chest tightening as you buried your face into trembling hands trying to calm yourself down, but it wasn't working.

A small voice in the back of your head was telling you that you were having a panic attack, but that little piece of information did nothing to help.

"Hey, hey, hey. Look at me. Y/N, look at me."

Somehow you forced yourself to lift your head and your eyes locked with familiar sea green ones. Nikki was looking at you in worry, but you just shook your head unable to shut your brain off as the lingering nightmare flashed through your mind on repeat.

"It's okay. Deep breaths. Y/N, princess, just breathe. Copy me, okay?" Nikki instructed, kneeling down in front of you as he took in an exaggerated deep breath, and you mimicked him before he released the breath slowly and you did the same as he repeated the action.

It took a while, but eventually you managed to get your breathing under control. Your heart was beating out of your chest, your body shaking, but you were breathing. Small victories.

Nikki was kneeling beside the couch watching you worriedly and you only just realised that he was shirtless. Has he been shirtless this whole time? How the fuck did you miss that little detail? Or big detail because Nikki had definitely been working out since the last time you saw him. His chest and arms were more muscular than you had ever seen them.

You rubbed your face with trembling hands trying not to think about his attractive body before you slowly sat up on the couch with a heavy sigh.

"Shit, I'm sorry." You whispered, realising that he had just witnessed you totally freak out.

"You don't ever have to apologise to me."

"Did I wake you?"

"No. I was already awake."

It was a clear lie to make you feel better, but you appreciated it. Nikki didn't move from beside you though. His hand was hovering over your arm like he wasn't sure if he should touch you right now or not.

"Are you okay?"

Nope. Not even remotely okay, but were you going to admit that? Absolutely not.

"Yeah."

Nikki didn't say anything after that and you were pretty sure he saw straight through your lie, but he didn't call you out on it. He was good like that. He understood not wanting to talk after nightmares, God knows he was riddled with his own demons in his sleep too.

"Do you want to be alone?" He asked eventually, breaking the silence.

You shook your head because the thought of being alone with your thoughts sounded like hell.

Nikki simply nodded before he stood up and sat down on the couch beside you leaving a respectable gap between you to give you some space.

You traced your fingers over the bruise on your neck thinking back to what your father had said.

"Is it hurting?" Nikki asked worriedly watching you touch the bruise gingerly.

You shook your head, "no. I'm just thinking about something he said before he, uh, strangled me."

"What did he say?"

"That he's not my real father. Said my mother dumped me on his doorstep as a baby and then killed herself."

"Jesus." Nikki swore softly under his breath not knowing what else to say to that.

You remained quiet for a moment biting your lip fighting back tears you could feel coming. You were so God damn sick of crying.

"It means Vince and I aren't even related." You whispered.

Nikki must have heard the crack in your voice because he turned on the couch to face you properly. The only good thing about your childhood was having Vince as your big brother. But it turned out that he wasn't even your brother at all.

"There's more to family than blood, Y/N." Nikki said gently, hesitantly resting his hand on your shoulder. "I know that better than anyone."

You sighed with a small nod wiping the tears from your eyes before they could fall, and Nikki squeezed your shoulder comfortingly.

Vince had said that it didn't matter. He said that you were still his sister no matter what, but it still felt wrong knowing your entire childhood and sibling bond had been bought up on a lie.

"You and Vince, you're family. Nothing is going to change that."

You glanced over at Nikki and smiled softly needing to hear that more than anything, "thanks, Sixx."

Neither of you spoke for a while after that. Nikki flicked on the television giving you a much-needed distraction from your thoughts. He switched the channel to MTV and lowered the volume down while he leant back against the couch and kicked his feet up on the coffee table.

"Why were you sleeping on the couch?"

"Spare bed smells like piss." You answered honestly glancing over at him.

Nikki sighed, "that would've been Slash. He's peed on that bed a few times. Sorry, I thought it was clean after the last time."

You screwed your face up in disgust which caused Nikki to smile before he turned his attention back to the television and the two of you fell into comfortable silence after that.

An hour or so ticked by. The clock on the wall across the room indicated that it was nearly six in the morning. Nikki had fallen asleep beside you a while ago. His head was tipped back against the back of the couch, his hair covering the side of his face as he snored softly.

You watched the bassist sleep for a few minutes before you quietly slipped away and made your way outside through the back door.

It was still dark outside and the view from his back porch was stunning. His house was on a hill at the far side of town and overlooked the entire city. The lights of Hollywood shone brightly in the distance, and you leant against the porch railing taking in the stunning view.

You rolled the sleeve up exposing the cuts along your inner arm that were now on full display as you glanced down at them in disgust. The skin was painted with a mixture of fresh and old cuts, some healed and scarred, others bright red and fresh.

You covered your wrist with your hand and squeezed welcoming the pain as the fresh cuts started to sting, but it wasn't enough.

The pocketknife in your jeans felt like it was burning against the fabric before you reached into the front pocket and pulled it out.

Your hands trembled as you flicked the blade out. Dry blood stained the stainless steel as you pressed the tip of the blade against an unmarked section of skin on your wrist.

Tears started to burn in the back of your eyes as you sliced through the skin like it was butter. Bright crimson blood instantly rose and trickled down onto the railing you were leaning against. You watched the droplets fall. The cut stinging as the outdoor air blew against it and you closed your eyes, trying to calm yourself.

The pain grounded you.

It was fucked up, you knew this was fucked up, but you couldn't stop. It was the only way you knew how to cope with everything.

The sound of the backdoor opening startled you out of your thoughts. You hastily tucked the knife back into your pocket and pulled your sleeve down trying to hide the blood and cuts.

Nikki hovered in the doorway, but you didn't dare look over at him because you had a sinking feeling that he had seen everything.

"Y/N-"

"I just need some fresh air. Go back inside." You said, barely even recognising your own voice.

"And leave you out here to cut yourself?" He questioned bluntly.

Yeah, you thought.

But you didn't dare say that out loud though. And Nikki didn't leave.

Suddenly, he appeared beside you and his hand grasped your shoulder gently. You tilted your head up at him, but he didn't look at you, his wide eyes were glued to your arm that you were trying to hide, but clearly not very well.

You glanced back down and there was no mistaking the crimson stains soaking through the fabric of your sleeve.

Shit.

"How long?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "How long have you been cutting yourself? Days? Weeks?"

"...more."

You didn't look at him as you spoke, not wanting to see the disappointment and pity on his face.

"Fucking hell." He whispered to himself.

Nikki let go, you could no longer feel his touch on your shoulder, and you fought the urge to reach out and stop him from leaving. Instead, you looked back out at the city lights watching the sun that was now slowly starting to rise along the horizon.

You listened closely for footsteps, but never heard any. Why wasn't he leaving?

A few tense seconds of silence ticked by before Nikki let out a loud exhale and leant down against the porch railing beside you.

"Princess, look at me."

You expected to hear him sound mad, to sound angry or pissed off, but he didn't. He almost sounded sad.

"Please. Fuck- please, Y/N, look at me." He practically begged.

Reluctantly, you lowered your hands from your face and glanced over at him through teary eyes and had to do a double take when you saw his own eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Seeing Nikki on the verge of crying was all it took before the flood gates opened. A violent sob escaped your lips as you cried, Nikki's expression breaking.

"I-I'm sorry. Please... please don't hate me."

Nikki's arm was instantly wrapping around your back, resting across your waist and pulling you into his side which just made you cry even more as you leant into him.

"No, no, sweetheart. I don't hate you. I could never hate you." He insisted, holding you tightly.

"I'm sorry. I-I... I'm so sorry." You whimpered, burying your face against his chest.

"it's okay. Shh, it's okay. It's okay."

He kissed the top of your head gently and just held you while you cried. You had been trying to hide your pain from Vince for so long, trying to be strong for him, but now, you allowed yourself to let your guard down and show your true feelings for the first time in what felt like years, knowing you were safe in Nikki's arms.

Eventually, Nikki lowered his arm, and you sniffed rubbing your face with trembling hands trying to calm yourself down.

He pulled out a red bandanna from his back pocket before he grabbed your arm and began to carefully pull up your sleeve. Nikki paused for a second when he got a look at your inner arm properly for the first time. A soft gasp escaped his lips, and you fought the urge to pull your arm away from him.

It was too late. He had already seen it. The damage had been done.

"Fuck, princess." He swore softly under his breath.

He pressed the bandanna against the still bleeding cut and neither of you said anything while he kept his hand pressed down on your wrist with the bandanna to slow the bleeding while you stared out at the view.

Nikki was staring down at your arm with a frown plastered on his face which was better. A frown was better than tears. You could deal with Nikki being mad at you. Anger you could handle.

"I-I didn't know... I never knew things were this bad." Nikki admitted, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."

"I was the one that walked away."

"I should have called."

"I'm not your responsibility, Sixx." You whispered, wiping the tears from your eyes with your free hand. "I'm sorry. You shouldn't have to deal with my shit. Not after what I did."

Nikki let out a deep exhale, "what happened that day in the studio wasn't your fault, Y/N."

"We both know that's a lie."

"What happened. Everything we did... I would do it all over again."

Your eyes widened in surprise and Nikki smiled softly.

"If I could go back in time, I'd do it all again."

"Nikki-"

"I love you, princess. I didn't get a chance to say it that day, but I do."

You shook your head, fresh tears spilling from your eyes because you didn't deserve his love. You didn't deserve any of this.

"You shouldn't." You whispered still shaking your head. "You should hate me for what happened. You should hate me for this." You pulled your arm free from his grasp, the bandanna sticking to your wrist as you held it up for him to see.

"This doesn't change how much I love you. Y/N, hey, hey. Princess, look at me."

When you didn't move, he lifted his hand pinching your chin with his thumb and index finger and raised your head gently until you were forced to look at him.

"I'm serious. This doesn't change anything. I love you, Y/N. The next time you feel like this, come to me. I want to help. Let me help you."

You simply nodded, not trusting your voice at the moment as a fresh wave of tears resurfaced at Nikki's kindness causing his expression to soften before he pulled you into a hug.

"I just want you to be okay." He whispered, placing a gentle kiss to your forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too." You answered, and you meant it.

You and Nikki had started out cautious of each other. You were his singer's little sister, and he was the mysterious bass player who seemed to hate you.

Somewhere between that first meeting at Rock Candys gig all those years ago and to this moment now, the two of you had broken down each other's walls and had fallen in love without realising it.

Next Chapter

MASTERLIST pinned to profile

If anyone wants to be tagged just let me know

A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long.

I just had to work 10 days in a row with 4 of those days on call after hours too (I hated it) but I finally got a few days off and I am already editing the next chapter which will be posted in a couple of days.

I hope you are all still enjoying this story. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments ❤️

#motley crue #nikki sixx #tommy lee #nikki sixx fanfiction #nikki sixx x reader #nikki sixx x you #tommy lee x reader #tommy lee fanfic #motley crue fanfiction #motley crue x reader #vince neil #mick mars #the dirt #douglas booth #mgk #colson baker

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ledalasombra · 1 year

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The Granddaughter

Chapter 1 - Reunion

The motorcycle cut through the city traffic passing through different scenarios from the fashion district to the noblest region, stopping in front of the big gates of the Wayne mansion. She rang the intercom looking at the mansion in front of her through the gate.

“How can I help you?” She was slightly startled by the sound of the intercom that didn't take long to be answered.

“Ahn... I'm here to see Alfred Pennyworth? Sorry, this was a little awkward” She took a deep breath, removing her helmet “My name is Marinette Pe… Marinette Dupain-Cheng, I am here to talk to Alfred Pennyworth.”

Marinette can hear the sound of something breaking on the other end of the line, frowning “Monsier, is everything alright?

“Marinette? When did you arrive in Gotham?” There was a pause and she sighed lightly “Enter and follow until a little after the main entrance. There is a place where you can stop the bike. I'll meet you there.”

“I'm on my way...” she replied, giving a slight smile, knowing that she managed the feat of surprising him. She replaced the helmet quickly, redirecting the bike to the indicated place, looking with great admiration at the whole place. The front gardens and the mansion building were beautiful. She removed her helmet after getting off the bike, attaching it to the bike and grabbing her purse afterward.

“Grandpa!” She said, hugging him next with a wide smile on her face and her eyes full of tears “it's so good to finally be able to see you!”

Alfred smiled as he hugged the young woman in front of him. She was so much like her mother Julia that he felt as if he had been given a new lease on life.

“I didn't know you were coming to Gotham... Sabine and Tom didn't tell me anything. Let's go inside, I'll make us both some tea, and in the meantime we'll talk and I'll finish up dinner.”

“ Can I help you?” she smiled while holding his arm “ This place is amazing grandpa! So much to be inspired by... The architecture, the details and that garden! Wow, that place is beautiful!” She spoke with eyes shining like a child, as they walked through the halls of the mansion.

Alfred gave a slight smile at the enthusiasm of the granddaughter he hadn't seen in almost a year. And despite the long time without seeing each other, the bond between them was strong. They constantly spoke through voice and video calls, she sent constant photos about everything that happened in her life and Alfred was happy about that. Everything he lacked with Julia, all the closeness and trust he would have liked with his late daughter, he gained with his granddaughter. Not even the distance allowed them to be separated or absent from each other's lives. Though only Bruce knew of her existence, they shared a unique family bond. He would have liked to be physically present in Marinette's life, but he knew it wasn't fair to make a 4-year-old child live in the chaos that was Gotham, the chaos that was the Wayne family.

When they reached the kitchen, Alfred indicated a chair for her to sit on, immediately putting the water on to heat, then bringing all the material to prepare tea for both of them.

“And then, mademoiselle, to what do I owe the honor of your visit? Why didn't you say you were coming to Gotham? I would have picked you up at the airport” he asked sitting down opposite her, she immediately took his hand. Alfred smiled at the gesture, knowing how much she liked and asked for physical contact.

"If I had, it wouldn't have been a surprise." her smile fell quickly, becoming slightly anxious “shouldn't I have come? Oh, I'm interfering with your work, aren't I? Oh my god I should have warned you and not just knocked on your employer's door...”

“It's okay my dear, I'm sure Master Bruce won't mind. He will certainly want to meet you” she said patting her hand lightly, seeing her expression calm down.

“I came to see how you were doing and to give you the news that I've moved on to the University of Gotham” she said extremely excited about the matter “and I start classes next month! I arrived in the city two days ago and it's been so busy. Everything is so different around here...”

“I thought you liked living with Sabine and Tom? I thought you were going to do Esmond, as you commented several times…”

"Paris has been my home for years, but I can't stay there after everything that's happened... With the whole Hawkmorth affair and I don't have that many friends to lock me up there..." Marinette looked at her grandfather with sad and tired eyes, taking a deep breath. She had already told him everything she could and what had happened to her from the beginning. Alfred was her only blood family, all she had that was related to her mother. For years, even apart, she formed a relationship of trust and friendship with her grandfather, telling him practically everything. She trusted him as much as she trusted Tikki and hoped that one day she would be able to open up to him the only part of her life he wasn't yet aware of.

The young woman took a deep breath, hearing the noise coming from the kettle and getting up “let me prepare it. I brought an herbal preparation that my old Mandarin teacher taught me. I know you don't like just any tea, but for some reason whenever Master Fu made it for me I was reminded of you.” she said as she walked over to the stove, bringing the kettle over to the table, failing to notice how her grandfather made her back stiff and tense with the comment.

Alfred watched his granddaughter take a can from inside her bag, opening it carefully, giving a slight sad smile with the memory that came through the aroma of tea. She put a little of the mixture on the porcelain, adding the water next, looking at the clock so that she wouldn't waste the preparation time. He was intrigued by the name quoted by his granddaughter. It couldn't just be coincidence, but he saved that information for now.

“And what happened to him?” he asked seeing her give a sad smile.

“He passed away in London together with his wife 2 years ago. I visited them from time to time, they were quite old.” she sighed looking at the clock again. “According to him, the secret of a well-made tea is not only the herbs used, but also the time for it not to become bitter and, above all, the energy we put into it when we prepare it. He helped me a lot when Hawkmorth came along, especially with my anxiety attacks. He helped me with some self-defense classes as well. In return I helped him with the massage shop schedule and some shopping.”

Alfred drank some of his tea and smiled. It tasted great and took him back to a past he hadn't told anyone about. He looked at the can that was on the table, smelling the herbs, realizing in his memory the same preparation he hadn't seen since his youth. He took a deep breath looking at his granddaughter weighing what he should say or not, taking her hand he saw her eyes go towards him.

“When I was in the war many years ago, before I met your grandmother Marie, I met a man named Wang Fu.” He paused, watching his granddaughter hold her breath, “he made that same tea and said that, like everything else in life, nature requires balance. For a good tea, we need good leaves, which require time and patience, the latter being a virtue. I confess that this was a quality I lacked at the time” he smiled slightly at the memory “We met a few times, until one day he found me seriously injured. He took care of me for 3 days until I was able to recover.” she paused, adjusting her posture, “Fu was a rather peculiar man, you might say. He followed the war from afar, although he tried not to intervene. In those three days that we were together, I met his fiancée, Marianne. She was part of the French resistance, just like her grandmother.” He paused with a sad look on his face, patting his granddaughter's hand lightly, "He gave me a second chance, which completely changed the course of the war."

Marinette took a quick breath at the two words spoken by Alfred and he couldn't help but show his surprise when he heard what her granddaughter mumbled. “Sass?” she spoke Kwami's name almost instinctively, bringing her hand to her mouth right after. She saw Alfred smile slightly, placing her hand between his two.

“Certainly he was very agreeable company for several months, until the war was over. Wang Fu said it was too dangerous to remain where he was and left a few days later with our mutual friend.” he smiled slightly patting the hand he was holding “We kept in touch after many years. It was Fu who told me about the existence of his mother, Julia, who until that moment was unknown to me. He was a great friend and is an irreparable loss.” Alfred make a pause, looking Marinette in the eyes “But what intrigues me at the moment my dear is how you met him and know that name.” he said letting go of her hand, hearing a faint alarm coming from the direction of the oven. He got up then to check on dinner.

Marinette was speechless upon hearing her grandfather's story. She held her teacup in both hands, trying to center herself and think of what to say. At least that explains the protective aura coming from Alfred that she always felt when she was with him. She takes a sip from her tea, and close her eyes quickly, sucking in air and concentrating. When she opened it she could see Sass's aura around her grandfather, letting a tear flow. Alfred, like Luka, was one of the true holders of Sass, which explained so much on her mind. She got up going to the island in the middle of the kitchen and pulling the bench to sit down, seeing the door open then, turning her attention to the person who entered.

"Alfred, I'm going to need..." Bruce stopped talking as soon as he saw that Alfred wasn't alone. He adjusted his posture giving his charismatic smile, watching the young woman who was sitting, apparently talking to the butler. "I didn't know I was interrupting, sorry Alfred."

Alfred finished removing the dinner that was almost complete from the oven, seeing the door open and hearing Bruce come in, he sighed deeply, shaking his head, and approaching his granddaughter, putting his hand on her shoulder.

“Master Bruce, let me introduce you to my granddaughter Marinette Pennyworth Dupain-Cheng. Mari, this is Bruce Wayne. Every male in our family has worked here at some point.”

Bruce flashed a wide smile that Marinette found forced, but ignored in favor of Alfred. However, what bothered her was the aura that emanated from him. She closed her eyes briefly, taking his hand towards the man in front of him, giving a slight smile.

“It is a pleasure to meet you Mr Wayne. My grandfather spoke a few times about you.” she said squeezing his hand.

“The pleasure is all mine, Miss Dupain-Cheng. Alfred told me about you, although he is very secretive about his own family.” Bruce responded with great enthusiasm, which made Marinette tilt her head slightly and Bruce slightly raise his eyebrow.

"Marinette, please behave yourself..." Alfred caught her attention with a slightly raised eyebrow, looking at her and then at Bruce. His granddaughter just sighed, looking at him.

“I'll ignore it this time. I have to go, I have dinner with Uncle Jagged tonight and if I don't make it on time, I'm sure I'll get several calls from him coming to the restaurant.” She saw Alfred nod, realizing he recognized the name from conversations they'd had earlier. She went to the table, picking up her bag and stopping again in front of Bruce who looked at her intrigued. “It was a pleasure to finally meet you. I hope we can talk more properly next time” She gave a slight smile and turned her attention to Alfred. “I need to use the restroom before I go.”

“As soon as you leave the kitchen, it's the second door on the left.” He watched her leave, turning his attention back to Bruce, “Master Bruce, I'm going to ask you two important things: the first is that you be original with her, Marinette can see right through all this media act. Second and most important, my granddaughter has had some very difficult things in her life and I would like you to make a big effort not to start an investigation into her life. She is a strong and very sensitive person, you will realize that over time...”

#mlbxdc #mlb x dc #dc x mlb #daminette #damian x marinette #maridami #maribat #marinette x damian #damianette #damimari

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buckyshairstylist · 7 months

Note

Aww, your tony is so precious, can you write a very happy dad tony spoiling his pregnant wife?

Tony Stark x Fem!Reader

Summary: Tony is truly the best husband Y/N could ask for.

CW: pregnancy, mentions of food, fluff. Not edited.

WC: 1,348

AN: Sorry it’s taken so long to get this done! College classes and work has taken up all of my time and I finally found a free moment to finish this. I hope you enjoy it and I’m so sorry for the wait, anon!

To say that Tony was surprised to find you sobbing in the middle of your bed was an understatement. He’d left you alone for fifteen minutes — long enough to shower to wash off all the dirt and grime that came with his occupation — and now you were on your bed, sobbing.

“Honey, what’s wrong?”

You sniveled miserably, looking at him with tear-filled eyes. “I just love you s’ much, Tony.”

Tony ducked his head to hide the small laugh, masking it with a cough. He made his way to the bed, climbing onto it and gently pulling you against him.

“I love you too, dear.”

One hand rubbed up and down your arm, the other resting on your swollen belly. You sobbed into his shirt, clinging to him.

“Don’t leave.”

“I would never leave you, honey,” he assured you, pressing a kiss to your hair.

“…Tony?”

Tony hummed in acknowledgement.

“Will you rub my back, please?” you requested, wiping at your eyes. “God, I’m such a mess.”

“It’s normal. Just… lie down for me.”

You huffed but did as you were told, awkwardly maneuvering to where you could lie down. Tony helped as much as he could, one hand pressing against the small of your back. Tony laid directly behind you, his hands instantly moving to your shoulders.

“You’re the best, y’know that, Tony?”

Tony smiled at you. “Of course I am, baby. I’m Tony Stark.”

“Rhodey says you’re Tony Stank.”

“He is never gonna let that die,” he huffed, working at the tight muscles in your back. “God, honey.”

“What?” You turned your head slightly so you could hear him better.

“Your muscles. They’re so tight. Stress isn’t good for you, you know.”

“I know, baby, but stress is normal for me,” you reminded him.

“Honey, stress isn’t good for you or the baby. Heck, it’s not good for you even if you’re not pregnant! Don’t make me install a protocol where Friday has to snitch—“

“Don’t you dare, Anthony Stark.”

Tony giggled. You huffed, gently (or rather, lazily) swatting at him.

“I can’t believe you’d even suggest it.”

“Alright, since the protocol is a no, how about I find someone to keep you company?”

“Tony, I swear—“

“Just someone to keep you company when I’m gone.”

You hesitated, thinking about the potential victim of that scheme. Realizing who Tony would volunteer for the position (and who would happily take it if asked), you sighed.

“Tony, do not bring Peter into this.”

“I never said Peter. You did. And it’s a brilliant idea.”

“No.”

————————————————————————

“Hi, Mrs. Stark!” Peter chirped as he entered the penthouse, waving.

“Hey, Peter,” you smiled kindly at him. You took in his appearance and quirked a brow. “Lab day?”

“Yeah. Mr. Stark wasn’t in the lab, though, so I came up here.”

You hummed, grabbing a second mug out of the cabinet.

“You want some hot cocoa?”

“If it’s no trouble, Mrs. Stark.”

“It’s no trouble at all, Peter. And you don’t have to call me Mrs. Stark. Y/N is fine,” you reminded him, though you’ve nearly given up on him ever using your name.

Peter smiled cheekily. “Okay, Mrs. Stark.”

You groaned playfully, earning a laugh from the boy that had stolen both yours and Tony’s hearts. Peter had one of the strongest support systems in the world — you just weren’t sure he was aware of that.

“How have you been?”

You placed a mug in front of him as you huffed. “I’ve been okay. Emotional, but only Tony gets to deal with it.”

Peter snickered.

“How about you?”

“I’ve been great, Mrs. Stark! Aunt May—“ Peter launched into a rant, rambling about everything that had happened since the last time you saw him. You listened attentively, interjecting where appropriate and responding to the conversation.

Tony stepped out of the elevator around the time he started to tell you about the new Lego set he’d been working on with Ned.

“Underoos, kid, I’ve been texting you for the last twenty minutes.”

“Oh! I’m sorry, Mr. Stark. I’ve been talking to Mrs. Stark.”

“I can see that,” Tony smirked. “Change of plans, kid. It’s now movie night.”

“Oh, okay! I, uhm, are you sure, Mr. Stark?” Peter asked uncertainly.

“Positive, Pete. What are we thinking for dinner? Pizza?”

“Yes!”

“That’s fine, Tony,” you smiled at him. Tony smiled softly, giving Friday the order to order the pizzas from your favorite pizzeria.

“Hey, Pete, why don’t you go grab some blankets?”

Peter nodded and took off down the hallway.

Tony moved to where he stood beside you, pressing a kiss to your cheek. “C’mon, Mrs. Stark. I think some cuddles are in order, don’t you?”

You ducked your head as you felt your face heat up, a smile flitting across your lips.

“I think so, Mr. Stark.”

“You know, I went out today. It was supposed to be just to get a part for the car I’m working on, but I ended up seeing some things that I thought you would like and some things for the baby.”

“Tony—“

“Let me finish. They’re already in our room, they’ve been put where they won’t bother you. You can look at them whenever you want, you don’t have to do it today. But I think you’ll like it.”

“Tony, I’m happy with you just being here. You don’t have to buy me things to make me happy—“

“I know that,” he sighed. “I like to buy you things. You’re important to me. You should have everything that you desire, even if it’s something as ludicrous as the moon.”

“—and you know we have more than enough baby stuff, Tones.”

“This—you are the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me, honey. And our baby? That’s the best gift. I’m so grateful for you and for our baby, I’ve just—I’ve got to spoil both of you. So let me spoil you, and let me spoil our baby. It’s not gonna break me.”

After a few seconds of silence, the two of you merely watching each other as the silence dragged on a few seconds too long, you smiled at him.

“Well, I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to you spoiling me a little bit. But don’t spoil the baby too much, Tony.”

“I would never do such a thing,” he denied instantly. You scoffed. “What, you don’t believe me?”

“Not really, no.”

Tony snorted. “Fair. C’mon, I wanna show you this really quick. It’ll take Pete at least another five minutes to find the best blankets.”

You giggled, knowing that Peter would probably find every blanket he could before deciding which ones were appropriate for movie night.

“You know… I know that you purposely sent Peter up here.”

“I did not.”

“You did, Tony. You’re testing the theory you mentioned last night. Don’t bring Peter into this.”

“Peter’s already involved, Y/N,” Tony reminded you dryly. “He’s our unofficially adopted son, remember? Therefore, he’s our child’s unofficial older brother.”

You hummed as you followed Tony down the hallway, fingers entwined. Tony gently tugged you into the bedroom, where you noticed several bags dropped in one corner.

“Don’t worry about those. Some of it is genuinely for the lab.”

“It better be, Tony, or I swear—“

“It is, I promise. Now would you come over here? I want to see how these pajamas look on you.”

“Pajamas?” You raised a brow. “Like really soft pajamas?”

“The softest for my beautiful wife,” Tony beamed at you. “I saw them and I thought you would like them. I’ll show you the crib I bought later.”

“Tony, I thought we promised to do that together.”

“Baby, trust me, you’ll love it.”

He handed you the pajama set he’d mentioned, desperately hoping to take your mind off of the crib. You ran your hands over the material — soft, fluffy, and warm. You wasted no time in changing, much to your husband’s amusement.

“There’s my pretty girl,” Tony murmured, pressing a kiss to your lips. “C’mon. I’ll rub your back while we watch the movie with Peter. I’ll show you the rest later.”

“Tony—“

#tony stark x fem!reader #tony stark x y/n #tony stark blurb #tony stark x you #tony stark fluff #tony stark x reader #marvel #marvel cinematic universe #iron man #tony stark #tony stark fic #mcu fic

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yandevee · 6 months

Text

Johnny Cage × Reader

Chapter 2

You're a fan girl but he kinda likes it because the attention

You have several questions and a cartoonishly embarrassing moment...

"So where am I exactly...?" I really tried not to push but I'm slowly going insane.

"You are, for whatever reason, at Wu Shi Academy. Here, we have carefully selected warriors train to be the best version of themselves. My name is Liu Kang, and you are Y/n. Yes?" We came across a shady but vibrantly pink tree that he decided to lean himself on.

I squint at his relaxed figure. "How do you know my name..."

"It's my duity to know. You may not understand why, but you are here for a reason, one that I regret to inform you is not something I know."

This whole thing seems like something straight out of a fantasy action film. Warriors? Training? Guy with glowing eyeballs? Yeah...I'm not following. He knows my name but not why I'm here. Or maybe he has an idea but doesn't want to share that hypnosis with me.

"Let's get you something to eat. You look famished, and we are nothing without hospitality. We can have a bath drawn for you and some fresh clothes waiting." He put a firm hand on my shoulder and led me up a stone staircase.

---

The bath is warm, and I'm not used to taking baths anymore. If I'm being completely honest with myself, I am ashamed of how I look. It's hard to be clean when you don't have a home to shower at, even harder to have clean clothes to cover my bruised and stiff body.

Warm water coats my body like a blanket, and the porcelain room smells like sweet florals. I don't even know how I'll be able to live with myself after being reminded how nice it is to be dirt free.

Whoever set this up for me had meticulously placed soaps for me to use along with some body oil. I feel bad refusing the kindness, so after I scrubbed my body of the impurities, I coated myself in a thin layer or the scented oil.

There was a small wooden bench next to the door with some neatly folded garments for me to slip into, but as I'm pulling the black tank top over my head I hear a soft knock at the door.

"Uh! Just one moment, please. I'll be out in a sec, sorry if I took too long." I can't deal with the stress of anyone seeing me. It's a nice bathroom, but there is ZERO lock.

I finish pulling on the pants, seemingly the same orange uniform that I saw on the men that were outside.

A gentle feminine voice rang through the door. "Take your time. My food is not going anywhere." I shly open the door and peak out to see a eldery woman, holding a jade comb. "I forgot to set this out for you, dear. Here you go, when you are ready, just follow the stairs back down and outside, I'll be waiting there."

"Wait! Thank you for all of this...um"

"You can call me Madam Bo"

---

At the bottom of the steps, she was waiting with Liu Kang. They were discussing casually, and all I got from the conversation was him thanking her for making dinner along with her saying something about visiting.

"I hope everything fits you well." Liu Kang regarded my clouthes and giving me a steady offer of his hand. I took it hesitantly as my feet met the stone path before nodding and letting him go.

"Yeah.. they fit perfectly. The bath was very nice, thank you both, but I don't understand why you insist on all of this for a stranger."

Madam Bo placed a hand on my back as we started to walk. "Can we not simply want to be kind?" She playfully taunted me.

---

There was a big table set up, and many of the men that had finished their training for the evening were sat at the table, conversing.

When they saw us walk up, all of them stood and gave a generous bow. Liu Kang dismissed it with a smile and wave of his hand, and they continued as they were.

"How are your champions Liu Kang?" Madam Bo asked the god-like man.

He let out a disgruntled sigh and palmed at his face. "They are doing well honestly, still need more training. Raiden and Kung Lao are excelling of course."

"Of course indeed! After all the learned from the best." She let out a playful scoff as Liu Kang continued on.

"Kenshi and Johnny seem to be at each others throat. Not in a sinister way, but they definitely have an underlying rivalry. We should be seeing them here shortly." Hy ears perked up at 'the J word, before that I was trying to be respectful and not listen in on the semi-personal conversation.

"Huh? Johnny?" I felt my limbs tingle in excitement, I wasn't paying much attention, but obviously, it can't be the same Johnny I'm thinking about. That's close to impossible.

"You know Johnny?" Liu Kang raised a eyebrow at my words. Don't do it Y/n. Don't. Oh god I can't not talk about the greatest actor of all time.

"Well I don't think it's the same Johnny that you are thinking of but, I'm like the biggest super fan of Johnny Cage, the actor. Sorry if it's completely off topic!"

Liu Kang opened his mouth for a short moment but closed it and gestured me to continue. I have never actually been given the opportunity to talk about this interest of mine and felt like I was going to explode from the excitement of sharing it with someone.

"He's only the absolute greatest actor of ALL time. Single handedly, the coolest and funniest famous person I have ever had the blessing to see work! He does his own stunts and fighting scenes and that kind of dedication to the craft of cinema is hard to find now and days!"

He widened his eyes at my fast-paced rambling and glaced behind me before opening his mouth but being cut off.

"AND it's downright terrible that he hasn't gotten any roles lately! He's just so hard working, and you can tell he puts his soul into his work and actually enjoys it! Not only that, but I heard that his wife divorced him, which is absolutely crazy because who in their right mind wouldn't want THE Johnny Cage! He's talented, funny, sweet, caring, AND not to mention gorgeous. Like, is she blind? Is she out of her absolute mind? Not that I'd be able to ever get the chance to tell him this, but he doesn't deserve that. Johnny deserves someone to appreciate him for how he is, and it's criminal that someone like HIM gets divorced. If I had it my way, he'd be praised every damn day for the work he does! If I ever had the chance, which I know how super unlikely that is, I would give him just that. Wait, that sounds creepy. I swear I'm not one of those insane stalker fans-"

"Y/n. You are very passionate about this and thank you for trusting me enough to share your interests but-"

I felt a tap on my shoulder. Wait, what? I turn around and see Johnny the fucking Cage looking down at me with a totally not subtle smirk.

"Glad to know I still got it. So about you praising me every day pretty lady?"

---

You faint. YOU FUCKING FAINTED!!!

Oooo cliff hanger!!!

I'd like to point out that I am, in fact autistic and so I am writing the reader with neroudivergent tendencies. Like in this particular case, info dumping!

If you don't know this, info dumping can happen when a neroudivergent individual gets excited at the mention or opportunity of discussing a topic of interest. This intense interest in a topic is called a special interest! Hope you guys enjoy the read!

#johnny cage #johnny cage smut #mk1 x reader #mk1

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miradelletarot · 2 months

Text

I Wanted to Be Angry | AU - Sagora & God!Gale One Shot

I was super in my feels a while ago, and started writing this. Finally finished it, and decided to share it here. It's also on AO3 if you'd rather read it there. While these are the same characters as my The Weave and the Vines Series on AO3, this is an Alternate Universe ending for them. It's sad. Get tissues...or hug a pillow. Tags: OC death, major depression, very angry Astarion, minor mention of blood, and Astarion is rather foul with Gale at one point. Like I said. Big Angy. Snippet: “I need to be more than ‘fine,’ Sagora. I could be great. A perfect being to guide others in their ambitious pursuits. There’s far more out there for me. I know it. I’m sure Mother and Tara will understand.” Word Count: 3,089 Fic below the cut

He just…left.

Walked away. - - -

“Sagora, My Love…I’m sorry. But, if I don’t do this – I’ll never know what could have been.”“But, Gale –”“– If I am fortunate enough to succeed, I’ll come back for you. I promise.” His demeanor was cavalier, smug even. As if his action was as simple as taking a stroll to the market, and choosing a loaf of bread. These trifles of mortal life seemed all too beneath him now.“Come back?? Gale, what about Waterdeep? Your mother? Tara?? What about me? I don’t want what you want. I told you that. You’re fine as you are.”“I need to be more than ‘fine,’ Sagora. I could be great. A perfect being to guide others in their ambitious pursuits. There’s far more out there for me. I know it. I’m sure Mother and Tara will understand.”“They won’t. I don’t. After all that we��ve been through? The plans we made…you’d throw it away just like that?”

“No, Darling, of course not!” He braced his hands on her shoulders. “I’m just paving the way for even better plans, that's all.”She stood there. Blank. Her mind was a blur of all the words he said in an incoherent fog. Gale gave her a small pat on her arm, pulling her out of her daze. All she saw next was him walking away. No kiss goodbye, nor a hug…not even a wave. He simply took a step and vanished, everyone staring into his direction in disbelief.

- - -

Sagora punished herself by traveling to Waterdeep without him. His mother and Tara deserved to know, though with what little she knew of Tara, she imagined that the winged feline was already well aware of Gale’s decision. Still, she felt responsible to his family somehow.

By the time she arrived there, it was clear Tara already shared the news. Sagora would have been surprised if she hadn’t. Morena wore black, her face veiled as if Gale had been deceased. Though, the way he left felt so abrupt he might as well have been. They all grieved the loss of the man they knew – the son, the friend, and the lover.

Morena handed Sagora a tarnished key with silky purple ribbons attached to the end. “Here, my dear. Stay as long as you like.” She asked Tara to guide her to Gale’s abandoned tower as they embraced and parted ways.

***

It was a picturesque front step with iron railings, ornate wooden doors, and wispy, overgrown vines clinging to the stonework. She slotted the key into place, and with a click she opened the heavy door. Immediately, the smell of parchment, dust, and sandalwood wafted in her face. Tara quietly walked beside her as she slowly perused each room, only speaking up to give information or guidance on her stay. The last room at the top of the stairs was the only room she knew – the room Gale showed her on their first romantic night together.

“Thank you for your help ,Tara…but – I think I need to be alone now.”

“Of course. Use this should you need anything.” She pawed at a sending stone that sat on a nearby table before flitting her wings, and leaving the tower through the terrace. Sagora sank to her knees, and wept. Everything smelled like him. He was everywhere within these walls. Every book, decoration, and piece of furniture had been touched by his gentle hands. It was as if she was touching a fragment of his soul left behind. By the time she reached his bedroom, seeing the very real bed of the illusion he once conjured for her, she collapsed into the mattress, moaning and whimpering with no more tears left to cry. It didn’t seem possible after all this time, but somehow, his scent still lingered on his sheets. There was even a stray hair on his pillow. She pulled the pillow against her, cradling it the same way she would hold him with her head on his chest. She clutched it tighter, breathing him in, and finally drifted into a deep, grief-stricken slumber.

***

Astarion arrived in Waterdeep about two months after Sagora’s arrival. Gale had mused about his tower enough on their travels that he was able to find it without too much trouble. A dull, brassy name plate embossed with ‘Mr. Gale Dekarios’ was the confirmation he needed of his successful arrival. The delicate vines were now thick, and burrowed into the cracks of the masonry, damaging the once pristine tower. Astarion found it odd that some of the vines had thin tendrils sneaking their way past the gaps in the door.

He knocked. No Answer. Again. Still nothing.

The lock on the door resisted his attempts at first, but his usual finesse with locks made it easy enough for him to covertly wiggle the mechanism free, and invite himself in. He stepped inside, shrugging off his winter coat, and scanned the room before him. The scene was nothing like Gale had described on their adventures. The floors, walls, and everything between had been shrouded in leafy vines. Some thick, and hardened, clinging to the floor. Others were newer, but devoid of any vibrancy. Not a single flower in sight. Thorns pricked into the delicate pages and covers of his books, papers strewn about, and decorations displaced. Not surprisingly, a statue of Mystra lay crumbled and broken beside Gale’s desk. What was once Gale’s sanctuary, had now become an overgrown forest – sad, and abandoned.

“What in the bloody hells…Sagora??” She mindlessly walked through the room. She was pale, gaunt, her shimmering auburn hair now a dull and matted tangle. No longer was her hair beautifully braided. It hung lifelessly, overgrown and unkempt, like the vines that choked out the walls and books they hung on. Out of her flesh, grew more vines that dragged along the floor with every step she took. Fresh and dried blood congealed around the roots that protruded from her body. In all his years, he had only read of this phenomenon. The Decay. It was merely the stuff of legend, but here he was, standing before a druid who had renounced her magic and her god, allowing shadow and grief to consume her before she painfully succumbs, and returns to the earth. She didn’t even regard Astarion when he rushed to her side, abandoning his coat to the floor. There was horror in his gaze, his words caught in his throat, rendering him speechless. “I’ve got letters.” she croaked, still never looking away from the path she made in the floor from her pacing. She strayed mindlessly to the desk, retrieving a small bundle of sealed letters addressed to each of their friends.

Astarion grasped her shoulders, and angled his body to look in her eyes. They were milky, and glazed over, drained of almost all of their color. “Sagora, where’s the cat? And Gale’s mother? Why haven’t they come for you!?” She stared blankly beyond his form. “Dead. Tara first. Morena next. Too sad.”

“Why in the fucking hells didn’t you come back then?! You idiot!”

“…Sorry.” He sighed. “We need to get you out of here.” He tried to tug at her arms, but her feet planted firmly to the ground beneath her. “Sagora, come on. We need to get you help.”

“No.” She slowly walked past him, almost disregarding his presence, and stepped out onto the terrace. Astarion followed close behind, afraid she might jump. Instead, she sat in Gale’s favorite spot as twilight set into the sky above.

“Everyone’s got a letter.” Her words were painfully slow, and forced. “You got two.” Astarion looked down at the bundle, and found two envelopes addressed to him. One, was a beautifully written ‘goodbye’ outlining their time together, and how she cherished their friendship. The other was a set of instructions for her inevitable end. He was not often one to get emotional, but knowing the cause of her consuming grief was enough to bring forth hot, angry tears that brimmed his crimson eyes.

“Can you see the stars?” Her willingness to speak surprised him a little, but it was better than her staring blankly into the void in silence. “Yes.” He spoke softly, more gently than before. He sat beside her, a book the only thing creating distance between them except for the tangled foliage that hung from her body. ‘The Art of the Night,’ etched in gold leaf along the spine, was one of the few books in the tower that hadn’t been consumed by the decay she created.

“I’m glad.” They sat in silence for a while, Sagora still staring blankly at nothing. While winter raged outside, the terrace remained warm – a lingering enchantment Gale had left behind.

“Astarion…”

“What is it, Darling?” “Thank you."

He took one of her hands into his, she was icy to the touch, colder than even himself. Hastily, he searched the tower for the warmest blanket he could find, and draped across her shoulders, though something deep in the pit of his stomach told him it would be for naught. He pulled her in close, arms protectively encircling her wilting frame. His breath hitched as he noted the sound of her weakening heartbeat as it progressively slowed to a dangerous rhythm.

“I’m glad…you came.”

“Of course.” He whispered, wanting to hear her fragile, shallow breaths, his only assurance that there was still some sign of life deep in her bones.

“A–sta–rion?” “Yes?” “Can…y-you…still s-see…t-the stars?” “Yes. I can.” He nodded, his lip quivering trying to bite back his tears.

Sagora’s lips curled into a faint smile. “G-g-ood. I’m so gl-aad. Th-thank you.” She rested her head on his shoulder, and released a gentle sigh as the life that remained slipped away. Astarion shifted, cradling her head so he could gaze at her, but there was little to see. Her soul was gone, and all that remained was an empty shell of the woman she once was. She was gone.

***

The party was meant to be a celebration, a way for the heroes to gather, and share stories of their lives after the absolute. While they did their best to celebrate Sagora’s life with drink in hand, and a song in their hearts – something they knew she would have wanted – a thick cloud of grief and anger hung in the air. As everyone threw back one drink after the other, sharing tales of her heroism, and friendship, a radiant light materialized from the heavens. A familiar figure descended before them, shimmering, his silvery exterior almost reflecting the moonlight.

“Ahh, what a quaint gathering! Though, I’d forgotten just how many different smells there are in the material plane.” The ethereal figure gazed around at the decor and celebration.

“Gale…” “Astarion! How good of you to recognize me! Though, I’m a bit surprised you could handle my intimidating presence so easily.”

“It’s not that fucking intimidating…” Karlach’s gaze was hot, and her infernal engine flared. “Oh, well, perhaps not for one as foreboding as you, Karlach. Lovely to see you’re back from the hells.”

“Wish I could say the same.” She scowled, as did the others, all gazing at Gale angrily.

“Hmm. I’m sensing some hostility. Surely, my presence isn’t that commanding. We’re here to celebrate, are we not?” His smug grin was the last straw for Astarion. Every word Gale said was pompous, and brimmed with arrogance.

“Gale, do us alllll a favor, and fuck off will you?”

His brows furrowed. “I hardly think I am deserving of such hostility, but no matter. I can see how my new appearance could make you all ill at ease. I’ll leave as soon as I find Sagora. Is she here yet?” Astarion clenched his fists hard, his eyes widening, and breathing ragged. “Ohh…Oh, she’s here, alright.” He reached for a large, potted tree sapling that sat on the table, and one of the envelopes Sagora had left with him. With a hard shove, he thrust the sapling into Gale’s shimmering chest.

He held the plant, examining it for a moment, puzzled. “Very funny, Astarion. Where is she?” “She’s there…in your hands. I hope you can find a sunny fucking spot to stick her in.” Gale sighed, his tone increasingly more irritated. “You’re a lot more childish than I remember. If she doesn’t want to see me, then just say so, so I can leave.” “SHE CAN’T SEE YOU, YOU FUCKING TWAT! SHE’S DEAD!” Gale’s face went blank. If the color could have drained from him it would have. The words rang in his ears, and he hoped he heard them wrong. “She’s…what?” “Dead. She’s dead. Died in YOUR tower, by the way! By the time I made it to Waterdeep, I found her just in time to hold her in my fucking arms as she drew her last gods damn breath. Left alone to her grief after your mother and cat died.” Gale breathed in sharply. Before he could utter a sound, Astarion continued his rage-filled tirade. “Every book, every surface, all of it consumed by her vines! Her grief LITERALLY grew around her! They grew out of her body, draining the fucking life from her! YOU KILLED HER!” He stepped closer to Gale, nearly pressing against him, and an angrily pointed finger in the face of the God of Ambition.

“I hope you’re happy with your choice. Now you get to live with it. For eternity.” Astarion gritted his teeth, his breaths shaky and wild. As he started to walk away, he spun on his heels to face Gale once more. “Don’t you dare spill a drop of that soil. Her ashes are in there. You did this to her, now you can be responsible for her. For some fucking reason, she still wanted to be with you. Now she can. Don’t forget to water her, either.”

Gale stood, frozen, staring at the small sapling in his ethereal hands. He was too busy becoming a powerful god to concern himself with the trifles of mortals that he even disregarded the ones who loved him the most.

He grazed his fingers along the top of the soil. Its earthy smell was strong, stronger than he expected it to be. He set the sapling down on the nearby table, and opened the letter. He rubbed the parchment between his fingers to remind himself what it felt like. The texture was familiar, but fleeting, unable to truly recall the sensation he used to know so well. His mind buzzed as he tried to find focus on the words in front of him while he felt the hot stares of those who he once regarded as friends.

Gale,

If you’re reading this, it means I am no longer among the forest and the wolves. The day you left was the day I pronounced you dead. It was the only way I thought I could cope with how you walked away from me. How cold you were. How very misguided.

I traveled to Waterdeep, hoping to at the very least apologize to your mother for failing her…for failing you. She was dressed in black when I arrived, already informed of your folly by your dear friend, Tara who thankfully took pity on me instead of clawing my eyes out.

I wanted to be angry. I wanted to hate you. But, I just couldn’t let you go. My heart wouldn’t let me. Your mother handed me the key to your tower, and allowed me to stay there as long as I wished. I only meant to stay for a day or two, but something held me within these walls.

I wanted to forget you…to move on. I wanted to return to my grove. But, I just kept crying. It didn’t help that Tara had disappeared. Days went by before we found her curled up in a hiding spot she must have made for herself under the porch. She went there to die. No goodbye. Losing her and you so closely was all too much for your mother though. At least I got to say goodbye to her, and beg for her forgiveness. It’s my fault you left. I didn’t say the right things to make you stay. Maybe I didn’t love you enough. I wasn’t convincing enough. Perhaps I could have tried harder. I filled my days with endless wondering if there was more I could have done to keep you.

I miss you. Your smell, your laugh, that adorable smirk you always gave me. I miss the way you touched me. I miss your hands, and the way they explored my body when we made love. You were always enough for me. I only wish I had been enough for you.

You were right about one thing though. The gods don’t care about us mortals. Mystra showed you that, and then you showed that to me. I gave up Silvanus. I refused to give him more of my power. Power he doesn’t need. He’ll just take it from another unfortunate soul. He doesn’t care about me. I don’t know if he ever did.

It’s getting harder to see now. Perhaps he’s punishing me for abandoning him, or maybe it’s The Withering. It doesn’t matter now. It’ll be over soon.

I hope you got what you wished for…that Godhood was all you wanted it to be.

I hope you know that I’ll miss you. That you still hold my heart. Even as I succumb, and condemn myself to the Wall of the Faithless.

I love you. Always.

- Sagora

Gale’s hands trembled as he held the parchment in his ethereal hands. His composure was slipping, the veil of his foreboding stature was falling away, and there was little to stop it. He briskly gathered the sapling with a hushed apology to his former companions, and blinked away, returning to his realm, which feels heavier…emptier than it did before Withers sent for him.

The odds of reclaiming her from The Wall were insurmountable. For as formidable as Gale was, he was no match for Kelemvor, and would surely cease to be if he were to dare enter The Death God’s realm, and disturb the balance.

So this is it. ‘Gale’s Folly.’ The God of Ambition, doomed to grieve for an eternity, and suffer the consequences of his actions.

He gazed sorrowfully at the sapling before him, carefully rolling one of the leaves between his fingers.

“Forgive me…my love.”

22 notes · View notes

zomboys-blog · 3 months

Text

how i long to feel your touch.

summary: y/n’s big movie is premiering and she couldn’t be more excited, she loved everything about the movie and almost everyone she worked with, however one of her cast members just happened to be her exes new girlfriend which led to her ex coming to the premiere.

pairings: jenna ortega x fem!reader

spoiler: angst? jealousy

really short Drabble!!!!

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Y/N looked beautiful as she spoke to an interviewer who had been asking about her newest movie, unbeknownst to her a crowd had gathered behind her, all her cast members doing interviews and taking photos. y/n was finishing her interview when she was interrupted by cameras flashing immediately all in one direction, out of pure curiosity she turned to look at who had just walked in but they were already looking at her.

Y/n’s breath hitched and she felt her heart stop for a moment as she stared at the new arrival, jenna ortega. They continued to make eye contact for a moment until their moment was interrupted by jenna’s dear girlfriend, ava.

Ava had ran up to jenna and gave her a kiss, they laughed and spoke to one another with the most endearing look on their faces, y/n could feel her heart break even more than the day that they had broken up. Y/N apologized to the interviewer and left to the restroom near by to take a breather.

y/n stood their in the mirror wondering where it all went wrong, the memory of jenna breaking up with her grew like a migraine in her head, she remembered their relationship as a bad one. Consistent arguing, no communication, and cheating. For some reason, she could only remember the good parts as of right now. Sneaky kisses inbetween scenes, cuddling in their trailers, watching their films together, and spending their days off together, y/n tried to forget by seeing other people but no one was ever like jenna. She hated herself for thinking that way.

Y/N wiped the tears that threatened to fall out of her eyes and walked towards the exit. The door swung open, barely missing y/n.

“im so sorry are you-“ jenna spoke quickly before pausing as she realized who she almost hit. “oh, hello y/n i haven’t seen you in a long time” jenna said refusing to make eye contact, y/n looked down at jenna with a stare that showed how much she longed to hear jennas voice again, without thinking y/n word vomited, “whyd you do it?”

jenna was caught off guard by the sudden question, “what are you talking about?” y/n could see the confusion mixed with a want to know more in jenna’s eyes, she regretted asking the question but couldn’t back out. “whyd you break up with me jen? we were perfect together, you were all i ever wanted, i wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. I changed for you jen. And you threw it all away.”

jenna’s face faltered from the sudden raise in y/n’s voice. “i’m sorry y/n i really am, i wanted nothing more than to be with you but the consistent arguing was too much, i loved you i really did. I don’t think we should be talking right now, my girlfriend doesn’t take a particular liking towards you.”

“Oh my god your such a fucking push over now, all your girlfriend does is boss you around, your pathetic. You say you loved me but told everyone else you wanted to leave after the first month? we were together for a year you asshole! no one in their right mind would do that to someone they love. Your a coward and i regret the time that i spent with you.” Y/n couldn’t believe herself, she didn’t mean for it to come out so harsh but she couldn’t help it, she felt a mix of emotions and so did jenna.

“im sorry y/n i don’t know what else to tell you.” jenna spoke as tears fell out of her eyes.

“it doesn’t matter anymore. goodbye jenna.” y/n took one last longing glance at jenna, she wiped jenna’s tears before walking around her and leaving the bathroom.

jenna couldn’t stop herself from crying even more after hearing y/n call her ‘jenna’ she hadn’t heard that in a long time, she didn’t know how much she needed to hear it though. She realized her mistake but knew it was too late by then.

“goodbye y/n/n”

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

y/n/n = your nick name

the end

yayayay

sorry btw i got real lazy near the end

based off real experiences 🧟

#jenna ortega #jenna marie ortega #jenna x reader #jenna x y/n

19 notes · View notes

allkordelia · 1 year

Text

Keep Me in Your Thoughts (6)

King Viserys and his council were just finishing up their meeting when the double doors opened revealing princess rhaenys, she walk in with a cool look on her face as the man around her look her way.

"Princess Rhaenys. What a pleasant surpise." Viserys said with a hint of nervousness in his voice, he heard through vines that his younger cousin, rhaelle, ran away from home to essos leaving her childern in the hands of her parents.

"King Viserys, I hope I didn't get you in a bad time." He shook his head as the men started leaving expect the hand of the king who sat in his seat watching both King and princess.

"No, no. Of course not, dear cousin. What do you need." He said with smile, rhaenys stare at him for a moment wanting nothing more than to punch that smile off his face. But, she restrained herself and glance over to otto who was watching them.

"I was hoping to speak with you in private, cousin. It is very important." Before, Viserys could say a word, otto spoke up making rhaenys give him a annyoed look.

"I am sorry, princess. But, the king is very busy with wedding and other business, maybe another–" Otto was already by his King's side, when the Viserys interrupted.

"You can take care of it can you otto, it been a while since I spoke to my favorite cousin, I trust you fully to handle the wedding planning." Viserys said with a grin as he pat the man on his back, rhaenys looking over at Otto who wore a small smile but you can see that he was deeply annoyed by the king's words.

"Yes, of course, my king, princess." Rhaenys watch him bow before walking towards the double doors and out of the room.

"So, what is it that you had to tell me, dear cousin–" Rhaenys didn't think as she wind her hand back and slap her cousin across the face, making him snap his head to the side with a low hiss.

"You bastard. How could you do this to her." Viserys held his hand out to his loyal guard to stop him from restraining his cousin, he took a step back out of shock as he look in the fire pit of his cousin's eyes.

"Rhaenys–" he started.

"No, you don't get to talk. I didn't come here to hear you talk, I came here so you can listen." Viserys stare at her with his mouth pursed.

"I trusted my daughter to you I ask you and aemma to look over after her, I ask you to treat her as if she was your own..." Rhaenys voiced weaved with emotions, "But, you both used her for your own sick gain to get a son."

Viserys stood in front of her with a grim look, he couldn't not deny it, he used his young cousin as a concubine to get a son. When Rhaelle first became pregnant with Otto's childern, he was proud of her like a father should be to his daughter, but when she birth triplets, two boys and one girl, viserys proud feeling grew to be envious at how he and his wife tried for so long to have a son. It was the gods who blessed lord otto hightower, hand of the king with three beautiful childern, all healthy and strong, while the king and his queen couldn't even birth a girl. He felt it wasn't fair, it wasn't fair that he couldn't get a heir, it wasn't fair that the woman he love couldn't give him what he wanted the most.

"Tell me, cousin." She said bitter, "Was it worth it? Was it worth destroying our family–" she couldn't finish her sentence as he stood there like a tree, rhaenys anger was making her go blind the more she look at him.

"By the gods, I held you in my arms when your mother died. Just like you did me when my own lord father passed, we grew up togther....you were like a brother to me...." Viserys look at her with sadness in his eyes as he came closer to her.

"And you like a sister to me–" Viserys says, moving his hand to her elbow only for her to slap it away.

"And yet you did this to me, to her, you destroy my daughter and for what? For a son you can't even claim." She shook her head as she put her hands togther in front of her face.

"I am sorry." She look at him with red eyes as she held back her tears, "If I had the power to take it back, I would in an instant." He said, rhaenys let out a humorless laugh as she move her white hair out of her face.

"No, you wouldn't. You like to think that but you wouldn't, ao jeldan nykeā tresy sīr badly bona ao ossēntan aōha own jorrāelagon syt ziry." He look back at her with a hurt written on his face, as she stare back with no hint of care. You wanted a son so badly that you killed your own love for it.

"That shows me the type of man who are, viserys," she glanced away from him and left the chambers with viserys stating after his cousin with grief.

Rhaenys haven't seen her daughter in weeks, but she have been getting letters from her now and then. Rhaelle makes sure to tell her mother how things are going in her new home, while rhaenys in turn keep her in the loop about what is going with her childern. She tells her daughter about her eldest sons along with her brother became squires under Corlys. That news made Rhaelle worry especially with the fight in the stepstones but she knew that they were too young to fight, so nonetheless she was happy for her boys. Rhaelle's mother also made sure to mention that she got her lord husband to call off the arrange marriage between valaena and boremund, rhaelle was glad to hear such things, as she wrote to her mother about how she was still settling everything in her new home for the childern.

Rhaenys sense something was wrong when she didn't hear the childern, she look up from the letter her daughter sent and turn to her opened door still hearing nothing. She folded the letter and put it in her pocket in her trouser before walking out of the room. She walk downstairs to see her husband looking at the display in front of him, her childern and grandchildren were in a group hug, when they pulled away she saw that valaena and laena were in tears.

"What's happening? What is wrong?" Rhaenys was at the last steps when her husband came up to her, Coryls was still mad at his wife for letting their daughter leave home. But, Rhaenys made it known to him every day that it was his doings that drove her away, because of this he had to reweigh everything he thought was right for the family and soon realize that he took it too far. The sea snake was never one to admit he was wrong for what he did, and he be lying if he said he didn't miss his eldest child.

"It seems my brother and the dragon prince underestimated the Triarchy and their fearless leader, we sail to Dwarfstone soon." Rhaenys look over her husband's shoulder to look at her grandchildern, aeron was looking sadly at his sister as she wipe away her tears, corwyn rub her sister back in comfort, he look composed but you can see by the way he held himself that he was nervous and bit afraid.

"Corlys. They are still boys–" Rhaenys stress.

"I know. But, they are my squires, they will spend most of their time cleaning armour and tending to horses than doing any fighting, they will be fine." Rhaenys look between her husband and the group of childern, before she gave her husband a quick nod. Even through she was still worried, she didn't wish to argue with him, she still was angry at him about what he put their daughter through, but he was still the man she love and the last thing she wanted was to argue before he go off and fight a war that none of them may come back from.

They heard chatting from behind the double doors making them look over to see their grandson with a similar bag like his brothers and uncle, the two handmaids that accompany her daughter here wall behind trying to convince the young lord to stay. Coryls and Rhaenys meet their youngest grandchild in the middle of the room as he drop his bag to his side with huff, before he look up at them.

"Where do you think your going, child." Rhaenys says with her hands on her hips as she look down at the small boy, the young boy look at his grandmother a determined look as he spoke.

"I'm going to war with grandfather," Rhaenys raise her brow while corlys wore a small smile.

"Is that so, little dragon." The young boy nod making corlys get down on one knee to be at his grandson eye level.

"I am sorry to say, you are too long to go with me and your brothers, you will have to stay here with your grandmother and sisters." Baelor frown at his grandfather's words, corlys put his hand on his shoulder with a gentle squeeze.

"But, I have another job for you." Baelor perked up as corlys picked him and carried him over to the throne, he sat his grandson on the seat and lean back.

"While, I'm gone you will rule in my stead, I trust you be a fair ruler." Baelor look at his grandfather with a bright smile and nodded, "Good and I hope you won't mind your grandmother helping you, just be careful not to give her too much power." Corlys whispered to his grandson making the little boy giggle before nodding, the double doors opened again to reveal a guard. He announced the ship was ready to set sail, Corlys gave a swift nod before baelor jump off the throne as corlys held out his hand for the small child to take, rhaenys smile at the small boy taking his other hand and move towards the doors. She look over her shoulder to see laenor aling with his sister and corwyn following behind them, she caught a glimpse of valaena and aeron talking before the door closed behind them.

"Here I got you something." Aeron dig in his pocket before getting out a necklace, valaena brows shot up at the well crafted locket, "I was waiting for our nameday to gift it to you, but I doubt the war will be over by than so happy earlier nameday, sister." Valaena look at it in his hand before looking back at him in surpised.

"Where did you get it?" She asked, she was never given something so beautiful.

"A well back when father took me and corwyn to Oldtown, I saw it and...I thought of you." He said a bit sheepishly, Aeron told her to open it as he handed the locket over to her, valaena look at him before glancing down in her hand and opening it. A wide smile spread across her lips at the drawing inside the locket, it was one of hers, she has a talent for drawing and one of her best ones were portraits of her family. In the locket was a portrait of baelor on the left side and aeron and crowyn togther on the right, she remembered drawing them back in spring when they were outside in godswood.

"Do you like it?" Aeron asked looking nervous between her and the locket, he was a bit reluctant to buy it for her in the beginning, since it seems like the type of gift one gives to a significant other. Well, that what his father said when he asked to but for valaena.

"Do I like it? I love it. This is the best gift anyone gaven to me, thank you brother." Aeron cheeks grew warm when his sister wrap her arms around his neck for a hug, he smile and hug her back holding her tight.

"I wish I could have gotten you and corwyn a gift," she said guilty as she pulled away from her brother, he wave his hand at her in dismissively.

"It's fine. You still have time to find us something when we get back." Valaena turned her gaze to the locket in her hand as her thumb caressed the bronze flower on it.

"If you make it back." She mumbled sadly, aeron gave his sister a sad one sided smile as he put his hand on her shoulder.

"Do not fret, dear sister. The Mother will look after us and bring us home safety, you should not worry yourself it's not good for you." Valaena seem to relaxed at the mention of the mother making Aeron move his hand, "and besides our mother will come back soon, and you won't feel so alone anymore. " Valaena roll her eyes annoyed.

"Yeah, right. She's probably in Essos right now with her legs spread opened with a line outside her room." She spat, Aeron gave his a disapproving look, he knows that his brother and sister have every right to be mad at their mother for leaving, but to talk about her in such a way is unjustified.

"Do not say that she is still our mother," she scoffed.

" What kind of mother does what she did, she cheated on father and had a baby with another man. She has destroyed our lives and reputation, our father was right to break ties with her." Aeron look away from his sister, he knows what his mother did and how she went about was wrong, but it's hard to hate her when he knows what she been through.

"I hope she never comes back, she's a disgrace and a whore." His head snap back to his sister.

"Watch youself, little sister." He glared at her as she glared back.

"Why do you do that? Why do you keep defending her. Aren't you angry or atleast ashamed to be her son." Aeron clenched his fist before walking away from his sister, he was halfway down the steps when he felt a tug on his sleeve. He snatch his arm away making valaena stumble forward and having aeron to turn around and catch her, he held her arms for a moment before letting go after she regain her balance.

He asked if she was okay making her nod, she move her braids over her shoulders before looking at her brother. He stare at her back seeing the anger and sadness in her green eyes, he took a step back making his right foot be on the next back as he stuff his hands in his pocket.

"You can be angry at mother all you want, valaena..." he says, making her look at him, "but the fact of the matter is mother isn't entirely to blame for all of this, maybe you and corwyn should put some of that blame on father as well." Valaena watch with a frown when he walk away, she huff and held her gown as she walk up the steps back inside the castle.

She went to her room to look outside where the docks were to find her twin brothers boarding a ship, aeron was wrong she thought, mother was the problem father was always there for them, aeron was wrong he doesn't know what his talking about. The thought of their father who spent half his time between the king and his childern should share the blame for his wife wrongdoings seems rather ridiculous, she shook her head before looking down at her locket that she had around her wrist. She felt the burning sensation in her eyes as she restrained herself not to cry, she move away from the window and laid in the middle of her bed on her stomach. She used her sleeves to wipe away the tears that escape, she hated to cry more so than she hated that her angry got the best of her causing her to miss sending her brothers and grandfather off. She hope that Aeron was wrong about their mother coming back, she hopes that she never comes back from whatever she's at.

Valaena was in her room pacing nervously with her nails between her teeth as she chewed in them, she had sent a letter to her father yesterday after a letter came from her grandfather not too long ago. The war has taken a turn for the worse, they are losing men and ships expeditiously. It seems they are in the need of more men, but the rogue prince won't ask his brother for help, if you ask her it sounds like another temper tantrum.

She been sending letters to her brothers to make sure they are alright, she found out two days ago that aeron and laenor will be heading on dragonback to Bloodstone to join the fight. She been praying constantly since they went away, and it seems the mother has no time for her pleads for her family safe passage back home, but it seems the mother wish to send her to an early grave since hearing about how her grandfather for some reason decided to put corwyn on a ship with vaemond. One foolish man and one foolish boy who wants nothing more to make a name for themselves, even if it means they have to die to do it.

"M'lady." She took her nails out of her mouth before turning towards her door quickly to see Meya looking at her warily, "Your things are pack and your father's ship has been seen on the docks." Valaena let out a shaky breathe before giving a curt nod, she turn to her nightstand and grab her locket.

"Lady Valaena, maybe we should talk about this maybe even go get your grandmother." Meya stop in her step as she walk behind valaena in the hall, the young girl face her with a stern look.

"There's nothing to talk about. I have made my decision, and if you breathe a word to this to my grandmother. I'll have your tongue remove. " Valaena snapped, before swiftly turning back around and stalking to the stairs towards the hall of nine, the moment her feet hit the floor, a servant opened the door to announced the arrival of her father before moving away to reveal him. She smile at him as she walk towards him.

"Father, I am so happ-" Otto held up his hand stopping her from coming any closer.

"Your letter sounded urgent, valaena. I hope you didn't make me come all the way here to see me, you know your sister is heavily pregnant with the king's heir." Valaena frown as she swallow her welcoming words to her father.

"N-no, of course not. I would never–" he interrupt her again.

"Speak up, you know how I hate when you mumble." Valaena cleared her throat before speaking.

"Apologies, father. I know you are busy, but I have a request to ask of you." He raise his brow at her making her go on, "...you know what's happening in the stepstones and you know they are losing terribly–"

"If you are asking me to tell the king to send men to there death to help your grandsire and the disgrace prince the answer is no," she shook her head at his words as she tries to tell him what she needed for him.

"I see your mouth moving but nothing important is coming out, so I will take my leave." He turn on his heel about walk out when valaena move in front of him.

"Father, please. I wish for you to take me to storm's end for a marriage arrangement with boremund baratheon." Otto furrow his brows at his daughter's words, he look at her for a moment thinking.

"No." He went to move, but valaena got in his way.

"Father, please. My brothers are out there. Your sons are out there. Please, do it for them, I do not wish for the stranger to take them so soon." Valaena pleaded to him, the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs made valaena cringe and pray to the new gods that it wasn't her grandmother.

Her head turn to the stairs to see her grandmother with meya right behind her coming down the stairs, "What is the meaning of this?" Rhaenys says coming towards them.

"Grandmother, I–" Valaena started only to be cut off by her father.

"Princess Rhaenys," he bow his head towards her as she look at him with a look of loath, "I came to see my daughter, can't a father come see his daughter or is that a crime now here on driftmark." He snided looking at the princess, rhaenys let out a snort as she came up beside valaena.

"Of course not, lord hightower, but since it been a couple of months since she last seen you. I say that this visit was overdue." He hummed with a tight lip smile.

"Well, I am a busy man, she knows this don't you my dear," he look over at valaena who nod making him look back at rhaenys, "especially now that alicent is pregnant with king's son." He said proudly, rhaenys stare at him blankly.

"Congratulations, but my question has still gone unanswered." She said turning her gaze to her granddaughter making the young girl look away toward the floor.

"The child has ask me to accompany her to storm's end to meet with lord baratheon for a marriage arrangement." Rhaenys look shook as she turn valaena's head to look at her.

"A marriage arrangement? Valaena, what have I told you already–" the young girl remove chin from her grandmother's grasp.

"There's no one else who will help!" She exclaimed, for the past couple of months, rhaenys have been trying use her wealth and influence to get lords to help, but none have answered her plea, "This is the only way. " Valaena turn her father with a look of desperation.

"Father, I promise to the old gods and the new, that I will be a faithful wife and I will bring no shame upon our house, if you help us. Please." She beg, he look at her before looking at the princess who stare at her granddaughter with a sad and worried look.

"Fine."

"No." Rhaenys said as valaena look relieve at her father, "My dear girl, I beg of you, do not do this. I will write to your mother and she will come." She says looking at the young girl.

"It's been a year now, she's not coming, she was never going to come back. I will restore my honor by marriage, this is the way." She said serious, rhaenys opened her mouth to say something when otto cut in.

"You can not stop her from leaving with me, princess. I am her father after all." Rhaenys clench her mouth shut in anger knowing he was right, otto look at valaena asking her about her things making her look at meya.

"Already on the ship, m'lady." Meya says a bit shock about the whole ordeal, valaena nod feeling a bit nauseous before looking back at her grandmother.

"Goodbye, grandmother. When you see me again I will be a married woman." Valaena look at her father who held out his arm to take, rhaenys watch powerless as he lead her out of the hall.

"Princess Rhaenys, should I send a raven to Lady Rhaelle." Rhaenys turn to the handmaid before nodding, meya bow her head before quickly leaving the room as rhaenys stood all alone.

Otto was climbing the stairs to the cabin where he found valaena on the floor near the fireplace playing some sort of necklace around her neck, he close the door behind him making her look over at him out fright before settling down.

"We close to Storm's End–what did I tell you about slouching," she straighten her up making her father humm, "Now get up and let me see you." Valaena grimace on the inside, as she move to get off the floor, she could already sense the snide comment he was going to throw at her. Valaena stood up straight wearing an old dress from alicent while being covered by a dark green cloak.

"If only you had your older sister perfect posture, maybe the dress wouldn't hang off you like rags." He criticize making her case her eyes down, he sigh before telling her to come closer.

When she walk to her father as he sat at the large table with his books scattered around, he hook his finger under her chin so she would look at him.

"Do you remember what I told you to do when we get there?" He asked.

"Say nothing and let you do all the talking." He smile before giving her chin a gently squeeze before letting go.

"Good girl." She gave him a half smile before it disappeared when the ship rock causing her to balance herself on the table, otto grumble under his breathe as valaena look above them at the ceiling.

"What is this?" Otto hissed making her look at him to see her staring at her chest where her locket lies.

"Just a small gift from Ae–" she stop midway as her father snatch the necklace from her neck causing the cord to break, "Father!" She exclaimed shock as her hand went to her chest, she look at her father and saw the anger evident in his eyes.

"Why do you have this?" He held the locket in valaena's face, she gap her mouth open and shut confused.

"I-it was a present for my nameday....father what are you doing, No!" She rush towards him as he threw the locket in the fireplace, she got on her knees using the fire poker to receive the locket. She hiss when she pick it up making her drop it again, otto watch in dismay before grabbing his daughter my the arm pulling her up.

"Father, you're hurting me." Valaena says in pain as he roughly sat her in the chair and move getting a large book to throw down in front of her, she glance down at the book, she knows it, she read multiple times to her father whenever he in one of his mood.

"Read." He states as he glare down at her.

"Father–" he move to open the book on the same page he always has her read when she was living in the red keep, "Father," She beg only for him to slam his hand against the table making her jump.

"Don't let me repeat myself." He glance at the book, "Read." Valanena warily look at the text on the page, she sigh as she read out loud the passage of how the gods oppose the use of incest between father and daughter, mother and son, and brother and sister. She reading the same text since she was nine year old, she never understood why her father made her do it. And she never questioned it.

Otto sat across from her as he did some work, he always knew there was something going on between Aeron and Valaena. He refuse to allow his childern to part take in the targaryen tradition, even though they do not carry his name he still would never allow his blood to mix togther to create a abomination. When Aeron show him that locket he persistently told him to find another present, one that didn't look like a lover giving his sweetheart a sentimental gift. He always sense that they had an connection for one another, he never saw it between valaena and corwyn, their relationship were more big sister and little brother. But, her and aeron felt like husband and wife in way, since they were the oldest they looked after the youngest of the childern, while him and rhaelle were busy doing there duties. It made him sick, he knew he was partly to blame for it, he gave her too much freedom. He hope he could craft her into another obedient daughter like alicent but she had too much of her mother in her to do so, one of the reason he caused him to start treating her different than his eldest daughter. It was wrong of him he knows that but he needed to break her, he needed her to crave his approval like alicent did and it work.

Her knows her going to storm's end would benefit him greatly, especially when the time comes when he need allies in his corner.

@beggarsnotchoosey @cleverzonkwombatsludge @green-lxght @stormgirlfriendd

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aelfheimerandrobots · 4 days

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I finally finished it!! I've been working on this thing off and on for the past- oh dear god it's almost been a year?! *sweats* I am... SO sorry. Life just really got away from me. Anyway it's done!! I really loved doing a masculine corset for once ...though I don't think I'll continue the trend of super complicated backgrounds like this one. It's honestly the main reason why this took so damn long lol.

#Ratchet #corset series #transformers fanart #maccadams #valveplug

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canirove · 1 year

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Kylian Mbappé Imagine | five

Little summary: This is a request by @maetheh here on Tumblr. You are on a long distance relationship with Kylian after meeting in the country where you live (in this case Spain). You would like to live together, but you are still studying and moving isn’t possible at the moment. But just at the moment... Hope you like it and thank you for reading! ☺️💜

Masterlist

“Hola, churri.”

“I regret teaching you that word so much” I say, rolling my eyes. “Why did I do it?”

“Because you can’t say no to this face” Kylian smiles. “And it is cute, I like it.”

“It isn’t cute.”

“It is.”

“Whatever. How was training?”

“Cold and miserable” he sighs.

“Here it is sunny. Look” I say, moving my phone so he can see through the window.

“Urgh, I hate you.”

“Sorry” I smile. “But if you moved here, you could also enjoy the sun.”

“Stop playing agent” he laughs.

“I am not playing anything, I’m just stating a fact. The weather in Madrid is better than in Paris.”

“Maybe. But you are also trying to convince me to move there and sign for a certain team.”

“Atlético de Madrid? Never. I don’t hate you, Kylian. I love you.”

“And I love you too” he smiles. “But stop playing agent. It isn’t working.”

“Shame” I sigh. “You would look so handsome in white…”

“I already wear white.”

“But it isn’t the same. Ours is more… pure.”

“Yeah, pure. Like you, uh?” he smirks.

“Oh, shut up.”

“Now is when I would tell you make me, and you would kiss me and probably show me how pure you are.”

“But we happen to be 1.000 kilometres away. When are you coming back to visit me?”

“I was there last week!” Kylian chuckles.

“I know, but I miss you.”

“And I miss you too” he pouts. “But people are already gossiping, wondering why I am constantly spotted in Madrid.”

“You are having secret dates with Florentino.”

“That’s what they probably believe, yes” he laughs. “But you know, you could also come visit me. You know I don’t mind paying for the flight.”

“I know, and I’m very thankful. But my final exams are around the corner, and I must start studying. I don’t need a certain French guy distracting me” I smirk.

“Giroud? He also distracts me, though how not to when he looks like that” he sighs, trying to hide a cheeky smile.

“You are the worst, Kylian” I laugh. “But I already knew he also distracts you. I haven’t forgotten about the day we met at that party, about how we both were looking at him as if he was this God that had come to earth to bless us with his presence.”

“I still don’t know how you paid me any attention that night” he chuckles.

“You were the only one who spoke some Spanish. And in case you didn’t know, you yourself also happen to be really hot.”

“Oh, stop it. You are gonna make me blush.”

“That was my goal” I smirk.

“But now you’ve made me remember our first date, when I took you to that restaurant that supposedly made the best paella in Ibiza, and it actually sucked. If I was there, I would take you out for lunch.”

“If you lived here…”

“And if you lived here…”

“What?”

“I mean… why not? We are always talking, or to be 100% accurate, you are always teasing me about moving to Madrid and signing for Real Madrid. But we never talk about you moving to Paris.”

“Maybe because I don’t speak any French?” I chuckle.

“But your English is amazing, way better than mine. You could survive with that while learning French.”

“Ok, and what about my studies, uh? I haven’t finished my degree yet.”

“But if you pass these next exams, you’ll only have to do an internship to finish it, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then come do that in Paris.”

“Like an Erasmus?” I laugh.

“Something like that” he shrugs.

“Kylian, I already told you. I don’t speak any French, only the few sentences you’ve taught me. And if I’m being honest, I don’t truly believe they mean what you say they mean.”

“You wound me, my dear” he says, dramatically putting a hand on his chest and making me laugh. “But if my plan works, you won’t need to speak much French.”

“Your plan?”

“Come do your internship at PSG.”

“What?” I say, my phone almost slipping from my hand.

“Your grades so far have been amazing. That alone should make them consider you as an intern. But you also happen to speak Spanish and English fluently, which would help you communicate better with the players and understand what they may need. And, you also happen to know a certain player who could put a good word in for you.”

“Kylian…”

“C`mon, think about it. You’ll be doing your internship in one of the best football teams in the world, and learning from some of the best physios out there. Imagine how cool that would look on your curriculum! And it would mean being together. For real. No more facetime calls that last hours and falling asleep until your phone falls in your face. You could be falling asleep on my shoulder before I take you to bed.”

“That last part sounds lovely” I smile.

“Everything sounds lovely if you ask me.”

“How long have you been thinking about this? About me moving to Paris with you?”

“Since the first time I came back home after visiting you. I missed you so much that I thought: I must find a way to make this work for both of us.”

“And that doesn’t involve signing for Real Madrid.”

“Exactly” Kylian laughs. “What do you say? Would you think about it?”

“But me being there… What if it affects you? What if people start spreading lies, saying that your performance isn’t good because of me?”

“That won’t happen. If there is something affecting me, it is not having you here next to me each morning when I wake up.”

“Aww, Kylian.”

“Will you think about it, then?”

“I will. But once I’m done with my exams.”

“Of course, perfect. You focus on nailing those, and then we’ll discuss when you are moving to Paris.”

“I haven’t said yes yet” I chuckle.

“But you will. You have the same smile you had when I asked you out and you said you weren’t too sure about it.”

“Do I have a smile that says all that?” I laugh.

“You do, churri.”

“Please don’t call me that ever again. If you do, I am not moving with you.”

“Ok, ok” he laughs. “What about gorgeous?”

“That sounds much better.”

“I love you, gorgeous.”

“I love you too, Kylian.”

#kylian mbappe #kylian mbappe imagine #kylian mbappe x reader #kylian mbappe fanfic #football imagine #football fanfic

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maramirror11 · 6 months

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Reminiscences of the past

This is my Darling's POV throughout those 3 years they were separated from Makarro. Thank you @haradasaya for being the beta reader!

TW: Slight mentions of eating disorders.

I hope you enjoy it!

Pronouns: They/Them

As I was washing the dishes, I realized that it has been a week since I last saw my husband. The day after the feast, he left to continue his work. Now, the Guardian is locked up and there is no one capable of interfering. Nonetheless, I'm worried.

He hasn't come home nor contacted me at all. I know he can lose himself in his work, but not like this. I know him, he hasn't been taking care of himself.

I have this feeling that something is wrong. So, I'm writing them down to help me understand.

Lately I wonder why I am going along with all of this. It's not like I don't want my throne back, but it feels like he's hiding something from me.

I need to remember when all of this started…

…

It was an awful full moon night. I got the new evidence after my case became cold. Even if it was a trap, we needed to try. My dearest Makarro said we'll reunite at the shipping yard. I ran as fast as I could but someone followed me.

When we got reunited with my dearest, we finally solved our case. My brother Kayble admitted that he was responsible for my threat letter and the senator hired the assassins.

Since we found out about this, Kayble sent Makarro to a place called Black Site. He was being sentenced for kidnapping and high treason. I tried to explain that I escaped and took refuge with him. But Kayble didn't listen. As he was taken away, we both promised we'll see each other again.

My brother knew if the citizens found out about the real story, the government reputation would fall. So, he wanted to make sure no one could speak about this incident.

"Don't take him away" "Let him go!" I kicked and screamed as I was dragged into the carriage.

As always, my orders were ignored. After a year and a half, I was going back "home".

It felt like an eternity on the ride back to the castle. We arrived a few hours before the sunrise. I stayed in a cell until Kayble finished the preparation to spread the news.

Early in the morning, he announced my arrival at the castle’s balcony in front of all the people present.

"Dear citizens. As you know, the heir of Manas disappeared a long time ago. Our hearts prayed to the Guardian for their safely return to us"

"As your prince, it was my duty to find and bring back my sibling…"

He narrates the story of how he found out I was kidnapped by an evil wizard and bravely rescued me.

I was behind him, inside the castle, during his speech. As he finishes, Kayble turns around, extends his hand and makes a gesture for me to come out.

At first, I decided I wouldn't go out. He took everything I loved, why would I follow his plan?

Suddenly, I heard the cheers from my people, happy for my safety. They were screaming my name and begging me to step out. I couldn't refuse to see them. Slowly, I went outside smiling and waving my hand.

I carefully chose my words.

"My dear citizens, I'm sorry for upsetting you but thank you for keeping me in your prayers. I'm honored to be able to see you again. May the gods bring us a better future for our great nation" As the sound of applause got higher, I went back inside.

It wasn't hard, being part of an aristocratic family, acting was a basic skill. But, I wasn't aware that would be the last time I'll feel like I had a choice.

Afterwards, my brother escorted me to my new bedroom. When we arrived, all my stuff was already there. My bed, bookshelf, jewelry box, etc. Except that something was bothering me. Why would he change my room?

When I stepped inside, I heard a click sound behind me and realized the door was locked.

“You should be thankful I even let you live. Enjoy your stay, dear sibling”. Then he walked away.

I immediately tried to open the door with all my strength but I couldn't, not even shouting and hitting would do something.

It didn't work before but I needed to try. While I was away, Kayble built this room and prepared it to prevent any possible escape. Yet that didn’t stop me.

After that day, I had many escape attempts. But, there was little I could do with just one small window and a door with locks on the outside. It was me against the entire castle guards and servants.

I wanted to test them at first, so I tried the predictable ones. Run away whenever they open the door, carve my way to another room, convince others to help me, and more.

Then, I started to create more elaborate plans, but never got too far. Later on, the security knew practically all my strategies and made it impossible for me to come up with new ideas.

In the end, I decided to take some time to observe and analyze any new opportunity instead of rushing it.

…

I was in that cell, or bedroom as they called it, all day. The only exceptions were when I needed to be present for an event and then back to the same place. Just like an animal you take out of their cage for display. A big cage filled with precious items, but a cage nonetheless.

What bothered me the most was that I barely had people visit me. I got used to having someone to talk to and be my real self. Then again, I had to be on high alert.

Servants came from time to time. They'll come to clean and bring me new clothes or food. However, they were ordered not to talk to me nor give me anything else, they were being watched all the time.

The only one who stayed enough time was Kayble, but his visits weren't exactly pleasant.

"That's the summary of the last reunion. You know you could've left this place a long time ago, right? All you need to do is follow my instructions"

"..."

"Since you insist on being so stubborn, I guess you need more time alone”

Then, he’ll leave me again.

My father never said anything, when he wanted to see me, I'll go to him. I'm not sure if he knew about this or not.

I don’t know how I kept myself sane. I was left alone with my thoughts all day.

How did we end up like this?

After everything, how Kayble, my own brother, could do this to me? How couldn't I see this coming?

Was my dearest all right? Was he even alive at this point?

Would he like to see me again? It’s my fault that he’s in prison.

HOW can I LEAVE this place? Can ANYTHING GET BETTER after this?

My routine was sitting on my bed and trying to find answers. However, that only made it worse. So, I tried to keep my mind occupied.

“Alright, I’ve finished reading my book today. I couldn't have predict the ending, it’s just the fifth time I read it”

“The sun is already going up? I’m just halfway through my writing”

“Talking to myself isn’t that bad actually. Still, I wish I was with my dearest, at least we’ll find a more interesting topic than guessing clouds shapes"

Sadly, everything became dull after a while.

Even when my body was occupied, I had this persistent question on my mind.

How did my little brother turn into this monster I don’t recognize?

The coldness in his eyes when I was captured was terrifying. I've never seen him with so much hatred.

He used to be so kind. After our mother died, I practically raised him and taught everything since our father was occupied with his duties.

"Are you free to play a match of wingball? Father said he's too busy"

"Of course Kayble, but don't be mad at me when I win. You know I'm a great player"

…

"You won again?! You'll see next time, I'll win for sure!"

I'll give everything just to play a match with you like the old times.

"One day I want to be like you!" He used to tell me. I can't help but get emotional every time I remember those moments.

Even as grown ups, we had our differences but we got along well. He always looked down to himself, unable to see how amazing he is and looked for validation from others.

Unfortunately, he found it with the other leaders when our family took the position of heirs after Mazzel died and all her children escaped.

Even with that, I still can't believe he was ready to make me paranoid. Be afraid to die at the hands of assassins if that means I’ll do what he wants.

There was a small part of me that hoped we'd get along again, but everyday Kayble shows me how impossible that dream is.

I wonder if we were a normal family, everything could've ended differently.

…

My life took a drastic change when I became the heir of Manas. I am from an aristocratic family, our title had a lot of weight in Tyrannis.

I was trained in everything an heir needed to know. Etiquette, how to walk properly, what to say to get my way and infinite resources to do anything I want.

Even so, I felt that I could do more to help others. That’s the reason I specialized in healing magic and potions. At that moment, it was the only thing I was able to do. Now, I had the opportunity to make a real change.

But my problems started when I worked with the other leaders. We’ll have our differences, they want to continue the traditions which means they are afraid of the new possibilities outside help can provide.

Mazzel's consequences are worse than we thought and we really need to ask for outside help. However, my words, despite my title, were irrelevant. I was alone with my beliefs, no one was brave enough to go against the prince.

...

It was destiny that all the events that happened after the reunion. Receiving a threat letter was the best and worst thing that happened to me.

On one hand, I was aware of the real intentions of someone I worked close by. On the other hand, if I didn’t escape, I wouldn’t have found the love of my life.

I knew I couldn't trust anyone inside the castle for help. Then I remembered these rumors about a brilliant detective who wasn't associated with the MCPD. Since I had nothing to lose, I went looking for him.

Even with his rude introduction, he didn't look like he had bad intentions. I can judge people pretty well, he seemed like someone I could trust. His name is Makarro Aetherward.

I ended up staying in the detective’s house while we investigated the case. Surprisingly, we got along and quickly it became my home as well.

It was unreal how happy I was there, it felt like someone took a huge weight from me. Sure, I needed to learn how to cook and clean for myself, but I was free.

No more being bossed around by the others nor be worried about pleasing everyone. I could truly be myself.

Also, Makarro's company was pleasant. The best moments of my day were when we could spend time together, mundane things turned out as fun experiences.

Cooking became my new hobby, making food and then tasting it with him is something I couldn’t trade for anything. How his face went from faking a smile to actually enjoy it, was enough to try my best the next time.

“Do you like the new recipe? It's from my books”

“This is really good, I'm surprised” His face lit up when he put the spoon in his mouth.

“Oh, so you didn't like my food before? You were lying to me?” I put my hand on my mouth as dramatic as possible.

“No! That's not what I-” He quickly shakes his head.

“Oh, you are so gullible” I couldn’t contain my laugh any longer. He can't do anything but look in defeat with a smile.

“Don't worry, I know my cooking wasn't the best. Honestly, those spices make the difference”

When I felt comfortable enough, I started to re-decorate the house. It screamed “I don’t live here because it feels lonely” and didn’t feel like a home someone would like to return.

I started with some plants, not flowers because I’m allergic to pollen, then vases, paintings and my own stuff. Even if I barely got outside, hanging out together at home felt like a dream I didn’t want to wake up.

I went outside mostly when I helped with cases but I enjoyed myself every time, even when we ran for our lives from the assassins. Normally, it'll be scary but I felt safe with him. I knew together we'll find a way out.

Later on, he told me I brought color into his life, and so did he to mine. After a couple of dates, we got together officially.

My favorite ones were when we went to dance, both outside and inside the house, it was just us in the world.

For that year and a half, I forgot how cruel it was back at the castle, what it was like to be invisible. Sometimes I wonder if it was better if I never ran away, at least you could've been safe...

…

I thought I could handle being alone with nothing but my thoughts but I was wrong.

There was nothing I could do but to walk in circles in my tiny room.

After a while I started to feel that they’ll try to eliminate me again, despite doing everything right. When I thought I was being paranoid, I remember that they, in fact, tried to kill me.

I had nothing but my brother's empty words, with the promise to keep me alive. At the end of the day, their mission is the same. As long as I live, they can’t do what they want.

Perhaps they will be more cautious, the next time it could be an “accident”. It is easier to tell people I died because of food poisoning. Also, everything I eat is served by them.

I ended up eating less and less until I stopped eating all together. At the same time, I asked the staff to stop coming to my place. I couldn’t take any chances, so I cleaned up myself.

It kept me occupied for a while. Maintaining my room clean and organized felt like I cleansed my own mind.

…

I got weaker and weaker with time, my hopes of going outside were fading. I could barely get out of my bed and I didn’t have a reason to do it either.

The dust started to pile up, my wrinkled clothes stayed on the floor and the window was covered with a curtain.

I could only hear the sound of my own breathing and sometimes, a few steps outside. There was nothing new to experience, even the hunger couldn't bother me. There was nothing but my thoughts.

And suddenly, I got the realization that nothing will change even if I get out. It shattered the few sanity I had left.

All these negative thoughts plagued my mind until the idea of finally doing what they wanted crossed my mind. Tears slowly fell down on my face as I accepted my defeat.

Being a puppet for someone was my greatest fear and it was closer to becoming inevitable. After many months, I still couldn't find a way out and staying locked up wasn't a great plan either.

I was thinking of explaining to my brother my change of mind, when a sudden breeze moved the curtains. The sunlight came right to my face, interrupting my plan.

Reluctantly, I got up and slowly approached the wall.

"I don't remember the sunlight being so bright"

When I was about to close the curtains, I stopped and looked outside. I could see the city, people doing their normal routine.

They still have hope for the future even with the war scars on them. They deserve it and I know for sure my brother won’t give them that. No one in this castle cares for them.

But I do.

I care and CAN make that future happen.

I felt a boost of motivation. I took out the curtains, cleaned my bedroom and organized my stuff.

At that moment, I swore, even with my last breath, I’ll do my best for them. Not only that, also my dearest is still looking for me.

I need to get myself together, we’ve promised to see each other again and I don't break a promise.

I needed to be stronger, I wouldn’t let them down. But, in order for me to do that, I had to start eating once more. Still not everything on the plate, but enough to give me energy. Just one step at a time.

…

Who knew three years went by until I got to see my love and freedom again. It was like any other day, I was sitting on a chair reading when Kayble visited me.

Once again he tried to convince me to follow his story. Then he dropped the phrase that I feared the most.

"I most definitely HATE YOU"

At that moment, my heart shattered, I knew there was no going back to how we used to be.

But I couldn’t show him my emotions, I had to keep my ground. My unwavering gaze stayed focused on his eyes as I desperately tried not to cry.

When he left, I heard a familiar voice. It came from the shadow next to my window.

It was my dearest Makkaro! I could barely believe my eyes. I was ecstatic, he was alive! I wanted nothing more than to give him a big hug.

But when I tried to approach him…

"Wait, no, don't move"

I stopped. Wasn't he happy to see me?

"Did you betray me? Was my love a game to you?"

I couldn’t see his face, but his voice was enough to know his feelings.

At first, I was in shock, does he really think I'm capable of that?

Then I realized, the story my brother created probably traveled to the place he was trapped.

"It's not true, my dearest" "I love you… I really really missed you" I could barely contain my tears.

He sounded relieved. Despite that, I couldn’t get close yet. It was until he got into the light that I understood. To say that he looked horrible was an understatement.

He had bruises, scars, burn marks. WHAT did they do to him? I was looking at an undead. He was more dead than alive.

At the moment, he just said they did terrible things to him, and even cried.

I couldn’t do anything to comfort him, still, what could I even say? He suffered because of me and no amount of words could take his memories away.

He told me how learned necromancy and escaped. That was impossible, necromancers lose their minds almost immediately and yet he sounded mostly like he used to be.

Finally he mentioned the Karmic Touch, a curse upon necromancers. Anything in contact with skin, it melts. The only exception is a protection spell.

He asked me if I could accept him like this. I didn’t even think twice and made the protection spell right away.

I immediately ran to him and we hugged tightly. It has been so long since the last time we could be together, I didn’t want it to end.

I could feel how slim he was. I have no idea how he could keep himself standing.

Suddenly, we heard noises from outside and were brought back to reality. We weren’t safe and he offered to escape in his own way. He asked if he could kidnap me. My dearest has the worst choice of words in the worst moments, and I love it.

"Are you asking me to marry you?" I said with a grin and tears of joy.

He confirmed.

"I'd love to"

Then we made a vow. I’ll take any chance to be with him again, even if I need to leave everything behind.

I won’t abandon him again. Besides, there is nothing left for me here. He is my new home.

After that, we teletransported to a safer location while destroying the room with fire. We arrived at this place far away from the castle when I saw it, a talking skeleton.

Certainly, I should've expected that but nothing really prepares you when you see it. His name is Frank, a friend of Mak. Despite the way he talks, he seems trustworthy.

And my new life began.

…

After writing down everything we went through, I remember. We've been through hell to get where we are now. There are sacrifices we need to do to get what we want.

I know necromancy surely will take over my dearest someday. But this is the reason, even if it's just a small chance to save him from this and get enough strength to change the future of my city, I’ll take it.

But the uneasy feeling hasn't gone away completely.

I should check up on him.

The End.

#goodboyaudios #good boy audios #audio rp #audio roleplay #gba #gba moth #gba makkaro #I can't believe this is my first fanfic #My Darling actually uses she/her but I didn't realized I was writing they/them and stayed like that #Since GB never stated what happened in Darling/Gienne POV I thought to give it a try #I love Darling/Gienne #She's my favorite GB listener next to Faithful #I think she can have an interesting backstory #From her life before she became heir to her relationship with Kayble #And the reasons to keep up with Mak's plan

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zuffer-weird-girl · 1 year

Note

Can we get a fanfic of Kai’s so loving cars. And wanting to do late night drives, every night. So he just gets Chrono to do it, but this time angel wants overhaul to drive her. And she falls asleep and kai carries her back home 💞

"I still don't get the appeal of wasting the gas of my car." He muttered while handing you the keys without actually looking at you, eyes remaining still on the job pops asked/demanded for him to do.

"Don't know. But for me is relaxing even for some reason, besides you know how I like cars." You smiled while wiggling the keys in your hand, on it it had a very small and cute Keychain of a crow you had found on the city once and gifted to him. He had replied with a number expression and to anyone else watching they would have thought that by his reaction he was gonna or thrown the gift away or just hide it in some place.

But he didn't. Even if he didn't used as much, he put the Keychain along with the key of his car.

"I'm shocked." He replied in dry sarcasm as you rolled your eyes at his usual mood.

"You sure you don't want to go?"

"Get Chronostasis to drive you, I have to finish this atrocity the old man asked me to do it."

"I hate taxes too my dear-" you kissed his temple quickly before hopping off his office, sadly missing the way he brushed the tip of his gloved fingers on the place your lips have touched with the most soft and tender look. His mood immediately softening a bit.

Just a bit.

"Love?"

"I know that look. You just on a drive yesterday. The answer is no, Chrono is not even here for God's sake. You know how nuch you're actually polluting thr planet?" He groaned while taking off his jacket and tie right afterwards.

"Dramatic." You heaved a sigh before stepping closer to him "I actually wanted you to take me for a ride silly."

"Why exactly?" He arched an eyebrow until you caressed his cheek lovingly and with the most radiant and beautiful eyes he ever saw.

"Don't get me wrong, I like Kurono and all but... I just want to have some time with you. I'm sorry, I know how much you actually hate going out... but just for tonight can you take me on a ride? Just this once? I promise I won't bother you any longer love."

He immediately cursed himself. For both allowing his barrier to broke down and for being so damn weak a woman.

His woman.

"... grab a coat then. Is very cold now that os almost eleven p.m..." he watched a smile grown on your face and immediately desdpanned when instead of one of your many coats, hobbies and jackets you grabbed his.

"Well come on! We don't have all night!" You cheered happily on the doorway as he simply heaved a sigh and searched for other jacket or coat to slip on, and on his way to the outside of the house grabbing the keys with a scoff.

It was peacefully quiet. The streets were only illuminated by the street lights and some God knows who houses that were still awake. His hands were starting to get cold on the wheel, his gloves being no use for winter protection, and he was starting to get some sorta of paranoid that some rival of the yakuza was following your guys at every damn black car he found on the dessert streets.

But that dammed smile of yours made him think... that it was worth it... that smile that he swore made his chest beat twice as faster than normal even after being on a relationship with you for long.... he was a foul to neglect that smile for even once.

How can someone like him could have the luck to score someone like you was beyond his recognition.

"Are you satisfied?" He muttered nonchantly while keeping his eyes on the road while you yawned.

"Just a few more blocks ..."

"You're falling asleep on the car (Y/n)." He muttered in a matter of a fact tone as he took a minute to watch you blink slowly while scooting closer in yourself to get more comfortable on the passenger seat.

"Am not." You mumbled with a pout as he couldn't help but chuckle at your stubbornness.

"Yes, yes you are." He replied and got into a minor battle with you in those sentences just because you refused to admit you were about to fall asleep... even with your eyes closed.

"You are falling asleep. .... " he found strange how you didn't reply like the recent minutes until he noticed you had finally took yourself into the dreamland "Tsk.. we didn't even finish the block you demanded of you brat."

The words were supposed to be a scolding. A acid one... but he scrunched his nose at hearing himself... he sounded so... soft, so calm, so mushy even...

So in love with the person right next to him.

He made a turn on a street and headed right back to his house, thanking mentally that no one else was around to greet you both and that the sound of the gage opening didn't woke you up.

Turning the engine off he sighed, golden eyes washing over your figure as he frowned... he was always called heartless by others, but for some reason he didn't had the courage to wake you up to announce you were both home.

"Damn you for making me this way..." he muttered to himself, standing up and closing gently the door and going after your side... his hands were delicately moving until he found your seat belt and clicked mindfully enough to grabbing just to prevent on hitting on your face like he saw it happened one time.

His left arm scotted behind your back while the right gently placed itself behind your knees, easily and carefully lifting you up with a huff as he bumped his shoulder on the door to close it... his right hand fidgeting to find the button that would lock his car only to fail miserably as he gave up with a sigh and made his way inside his home.

Kicking his shoes off on the entrance he made sure to be carefull enough that not even a hair of you touched any furniture, wall or doorframe.

He finally reached your shared bedroom and placed you gently on your side of the bed, being carefull to take his jacket and your own shoes off with the most care in the world just to nit wake you up from your slumber.

A sigh once again left his lips as he went to put the clothes and shoes away before returning to you and sitting on the edge of the bed just to see your sleeping face even closer... a now naked thumb made its way to your cheek and brushed a few strands of hair of yours away from your face as you snuggled closer to the bedsheets and pillows.

"I love you..." he muttered in the dark and peaceful room before lowering himself down to kiss your lips so tenderly, he made sure to enjoy the second but also ever the careful to not wake you up "I love you, even if you made me drive for one hour." He smirked at hearing you mumble on your sleep before nuzzling his nose on the top of your head.

Only on the dead time of the night he felt free to make those actions with you, and he knew how bothersome it could be to have a partner like him.

But you put up with his actions and demands and proclaimed your love for him loud enough that you could shout it to the rooftops if you wanted, your words not his, while he was more reserved but also just as much as a foul for you.

"I am going to make sure both of us have a long shower by tommorow morning. This will be a exception only because you're just gorgeous when you sleep my dearest." Kissing your lips one more time he made himself comfortable behind you on his side of the bed and dropped a arm on your waist, bringing you impoosibly closer to him as he breathed in on your scent pleasantly.

"Perhaps I should stop asking Chrono to drive you... I want to be the only man in your life to have this privilege on watching a goodness as yourself being this adorable at the same time as breathtaking."

He always fell asleep faster when you were with him...

And this time wasn't any different.

#overhaul x reader #chisaki kai x reader #overhaul #chisaki kai #bnha x reader #bnha villains #bnha villains x reader #zuffer writings #kai chisaki x reader

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emotionalcadaver · 11 months

Text

Part 13: Dance of Darkness

Fandom: Peaky Blinders

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x Grace Burgess x OC

Summary: Their day starts with a funeral, and somehow it only gets worse from there.

Word Count: 3,389

Notes: I am so sorry that it’s taken me so long to get this out! I’ve recently been juggling finishing up college, family visiting, some health issues, and my other stories so things have been a little chaotic. But I hope you enjoy this next installment! No warnings.

Masterlists: Main • Series • Fic

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Chapter 1: Bird of Doom

Lucy tugged her black coat a little tighter around herself to protect against the chill of the wind that brushed lightly over the graveyard. Her eyes fixed dully on the pile of dirt that sat beside the open grave, every once in a while flicking over to glance at Ada, holding little Karl close to her. The priest’s words were little more than numbed mumblings. Nothing that he had to say was of much value to Lucy anyway.

She supposed that there was something twistedly funny about the whole thing; a priest standing there, speaking of God and heaven and eternal souls, when the Devil was standing right there over the grave, hands crossing in front of him, head bowed just enough so that his hat hid his eyes in its shadow. So that no one could tell if the orbs with which he used to see were red or blue. His shoulder brushed against hers, an eternal, warm comfort in the otherwise harsh coldness of Birmingham.

When the priest had finished speaking, Tommy took a few measured steps forward and cleared his throat, giving a brief, yet heartfelt speech about his late dear friend, Freddie Thorne.

Thunder rumbled. Esme and John’s baby was crying. The black veil that was covering Polly’s face flapped in the wind. Every once in a while, Ada’s chin would tremble; the only evidence that she was fighting back tears.

Lucy had to give her credit for how well she was handling the whole thing. Perhaps Tommy’s little sister was actually much stronger than she had ever given her credit for.

The ceremony ended with them each taking a handful of dirt in their hands, tossing it into the grave to splatter onto the top of the coffin already settled in the hole. Taking a step back for the next group to toss their handfuls of dirt in, Lucy trailed behind Tommy and Ada towards the exit of the cemetery. Ada had her arms wrapped around herself, while Tommy spoke to her in a quiet voice, trying to convince her to come back to Birmingham. Ada ignored him, instead focusing on the unfairness of the wealth he had acquired over the years. As if he needed to feel guilty of the rewards he’d more than earned through years of hard work and diligence.

“So now they’ve made you ashamed of us, eh?” Tommy cleared his throat, raising his cigarette to his lips. Lucy sighed, linking her arm with his in what she hoped would be some form of comfort. Much as she understood where Ada was coming from in a way, she didn’t understand why she had to be so harsh with the rest of the family when they just wanted to help her. Not to mention that all she ever ended up accomplishing was hurting Tommy’s feelings, hard as he may have tried to hide it.

Polly came up behind them, interrupting to give an update on Karl, who was off playing with his cousins. She smiled through her veil, then took a step forward. “Ada. Are you coming home?”

“I’m going home,” Ada corrected. Tommy was looking down.

“It’s alright, Pol. We make Ada embarrassed.”

“That’s not what I said,” Ada snapped back.

“You didn’t have to,” Lucy said. Tommy tightened his grip on her in silent warning, and she locked her jaws shut before she said anymore while Tommy tried to explain to Ada the potential danger she would be in during the expansion in London. She wasn’t convinced.

“The expansion means it’s gonna be dangerous to be a Shelby in London for a while,” he shot a look at Ada that was notably concerned, particularly for him.

“Yeah. Well, I’m not a Shelby anymore. And I’m not a Thorne now either. I’m free.”

“I’m not sure that argument is going to be persuasive with the gangsters in London, Ada,” Lucy tried.

Ada looked at them all. “I’ve got to get Karl home.”

Polly reached out to her as she walked past, but then pulled her hand away. Tommy had his lips pressed together, drawing in a slow, deep breath, worry etched into his face like stone even as he told Polly he would get some of their men to watch Ada’s house until the danger was over.

It had started up raining, big fat droplets splattering down onto them from the sky. A man on a motorbike had come roaring up the path, speaking urgently to Arthur, who began to walk promptly towards them, gesturing to Tommy, who moved to meet him halfway. Lucy went to follow, but not before she heard Polly muttering under her breath.

“Till the danger passes. That’ll be the bloody day.”

∗ ∗ ∗

“You’re really sure that you don’t want me to come with you?” Lucy fretted, crimson painted lips rubbing together with worry.

“Yes, love, I’m sure,” he said, trying hard not to let her fussing irritate him too much. She was just worried; he couldn’t exactly begrudge her that. “I need you to begin organizing a clean up and refurbishment of the pub. I don’t want it to be out of commission for very long.”

Her arms were crossed over her chest. “Alright. I’ll make the calls.”

“I’ll meet you after,” before he could step out the door, she took a step forward, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. Tommy rubbed her back in what he hoped was a soothing manner.

“Don’t die.”

He bit back a laugh. “I won’t. Promise.”

Stepping back, she pecked him once quickly on the lips. “Okay.”

Tugging his hat on, he stepped out the door and began walking briskly down the road, pulling a cigarette from his case and setting it between his lips, lighting it. She’d been a little more clingy than normal, as of late. He wondered if it had something to do with Freddie. Perhaps his rather sudden death had affected Lucy more than he thought. Or maybe it was the knowledge that soon they would be heading back into London. And London for Lucy held a lot of conflicting, dark memories.

It wasn’t like he particularly minded. And if being closer to him made her feel safe, he wasn’t about to scold her over it. But this particular meeting was one that he needed to attend alone.

The explosion at the Garrison while they were at the funeral had taken him by surprise and put them all on edge. He was hoping that this meeting would reveal at least some answers as to who was behind it.

Then he could send Lucy to cut their eyes out.

∗ ∗ ∗

He spent the entire walk back to the office stewing, his frustration only mildly dissipated by the time he threw open the big double doors to his office. Lucy was sitting at the round table near the fireplace, scribbling at some papers.

“Oh hey, you’re not dead,” she said, greeting him with a chaste kiss after he’d shut the doors behind him.

“Funny,” he grumbled dully, walking to the desk at the far end of the room, tossing his hat onto the wood surface and collapsing into the chair behind it. Lucy came around, hopping up to sit on the desk in front of him, finger trailing over his arm.

“It didn’t go well?”

He just grunted, one hand holding his cigarette, the other snaking around her waist, and she laughed in a combination of delight and confusion as he pulled her from the desk to instead sit straddling his lap, burying his face in her neck. She smelled like cigarettes and her perfume, and when her fingers petted through his hair and massaged at the nape of his neck, he allowed himself a brief reprieve of peaceful contentment. Amazing, how she could almost instantly make him feel better with just a simple touch.

“It’ll be alright,” she said. Tommy nodded, leaning back from her neck to look into her deep green eyes. He would tell her about the new situation with the Irish and the assignment they had forced upon him in a moment. For now, he just wanted to bask in having her nearby. Allow her presence to soothe his irritable mood and shot nerves.

“The information you gathered about that Irene O’Donnell and her son came in handy,” he informed her.

“Oh, good.”

“I need to make a call,” he reached for the phone, pulling it from its cradle. Lucy made a move to get off of his lap, and he tightened his arm around her waist. “Just where do you think you’re going, eh?”

She laughed again as he pecked a kiss to her jaw while he tucked the phone against his ear.

“This will just take a minute,” he promised. Lucy nodded, body resting more heavily against his chest as she got more comfortable.

∗ ∗ ∗

She sat on a stack of crates beside Tommy, legs swinging. He was leaning against the crates, eyes staring out the opened entrance of the garage. Neither of them said anything, both just silently brooding over the task that the Irish had assigned to them.

Well, technically to Tommy, but he’d gotten permission to bring her along. And it wasn’t like she was going to just leave him to carry out the assassination on his own.

They both snapped to attention when Moss approached them.

Tommy mumbled a few orders to him, handing him a wad of bills from his pocket.

Moss pocketed the cash. “I’ve got some information you might be interested in. No charge. An old friend of ours is coming back to the city. He’s, uh, just passing through, he says,” as he continued to describe this ‘old friend,’ Lucy’s blood grew cold, jaw clenching. Moss bid them goodnight, and they both watched as he walked away. Lucy hopped down from her seat on the crates.

“He can’t mean who I think he means, can he?”

Tommy pressed his lips into a thin line and Lucy groaned.

When she’d heard from her sources of information that Grace had shot Campbell in the leg at the train station, she’d laughed for about a solid five minutes. When she’d told Tommy, he’d grinned, eyes dancing with silent mirth and approval. It was the least that the old bastard had deserved.

She’d hoped that the multiple humiliations, both public and private, that Campbell had suffered during his stint in Birmingham would mean that he would be reluctant to show his face in the city again.

Apparently not.

“Is it just me, or is our list of potential problems growing by the day?” she asked.

“No,” Tommy said, tossing his cigarette to the ground. “It’s not just you.”

∗ ∗ ∗

They arrived late to the family meeting on purpose. Half the time John or Arthur were late anyway; they might as well get a taste of how fucking annoying it could be.

The hum of Polly’s voice was the first thing Lucy heard as Tommy held the door open for her to step into the betting shop, but when they strode into the room, everyone went silent. Polly had been staring at Esme tactfully from where she was standing near the double doors. Esme was seated on the stairs, a book in her lap.

“I’m told only family are allowed to speak,” she said. Lucy felt her eyebrows lift. News to her. Eyes snapping accusingly to John, he met her look with a stubborn glare. It was no secret that if John had it his way, Lucy would probably have gotten her lips sewn shut by now. Jackass.

“Everyone’s allowed to speak,” Tommy disagreed. “On your feet, Esme. Let’s hear what you have to say.” John cleared his throat, shifting from foot to foot. “I speak for our household. So, could–”

Tommy fixed him with an ice cold, stern gaze. “John, this company is a modern enterprise and believes in equal rights for women,” Lucy didn’t think she’d ever loved him more than she did in that moment. He looked back at Esme, again encouraging her to speak.

She put her book aside, bracing a hand on the banister to raise herself up to stand on the staircase, towering over the rest of them. “I’m not a blood member of this family,” she started. “But perhaps, indeed because I’m not a member, I can see things in a different light. So I’ll get to my point–”

“That would be nice,” Polly ground out. Lucy felt a sudden rising desire to slap her. These people. They really seemed to have no appreciation for how cold and unwelcoming they could be; how difficult it was to actually become a member of their inner circle. And how intimidating it was to speak to them all the way that Esme was. Of all of them, Tommy was the only one who had actively accepted Lucy into the group with open arms. Still, after years of nothing but loyal service, the others froze her out.

It was hard not to be bitter about it.

Esme spoke in her soft, low voice. About the things she had heard about London and the wars that were forged down there between the gangs. “London is just smoke and trouble, Thomas,” she concluded.

“‘Thomas?’” Polly quoted incredulously. Lucy rolled her eyes. That was his name, wasn’t it? Or did Polly think that she was the only one who had the right to call him by it? Tommy leaned his shoulder against the doorframe, watching Esme closely as she spoke.

“Thank you, Esme,” he said, taking the glass of whiskey Arthur offered him from over his shoulder. “Firstly, the bang in the pub had nothing to do with London. Understood? The bang is something I’m dealing with on my own with Lucy. Secondly, we have nothing to fear from the proposed business expansion so long as we stick together. After the first few weeks, nine tenths of what we do in London will be legal. The other tenth is in good hands. Isn’t that right, Arthur?”

“That’s right,” Arthur concurred.

“Some of you in this room have expressed your reservations. Fair enough. Any of you want no part in the future of this company, walk out the door,” Tommy gestured. Lucy glanced amongst them, waiting. “Right now,” he was staring specifically at John. “Go and raise your chickens. For those of you with ambition, the expansion process begins tomorrow.”

At that, Polly started. Arthur brought his glass to his lips, smirking.

No one moved towards the door.

∗ ∗ ∗

“Polly. Give me the combination.”

She ignored him. Straightening, he shoved his hands into his pockets. He supposed that she was overdue to have another fit with him about the way that he was running things. But still, the last thing he had wanted to hear when he came in to open the safe was how he should have spoken to her first before making decisions about the expansion. Or to be questioned about why he had gone to the Black Lion pub.

Oh, and she had changed the combination to the safe. Probably just to annoy him.

Why, why, why did they all insist on making everything so bloody difficult all the time?

“What happened to the pub is Irish business. We’re in a situation where, for everyone’s safety, it’s best if some things remain undisclosed.”

Polly looked up at him, setting down her pen. “You’ve told Lucy.”

Tommy sighed. “Lucy’s helping me with it. But there’s no reason to get the rest of you involved.”

“But you tell her, and not me?”

He looked at her, levelly. “Yes.”

Polly’s jaw twitched, but she thankfully didn’t push the matter anymore. “So why tomorrow?”

He internally counted down from ten, and then told her, again, his plan to head into London while all the bosses were at the races. The Italians and the Jews had been at war for months, and the Jews needed allies.

“Yeah, but we don’t,” Polly shot back.

“We need a foothold at the southern end of the Grand Union. The Jews control Camden Town.”

“How do you know all this?”

“Lucy has eyes and ears in London. They’ve been providing us with information.”

“Information that you trust?”

“Lucy’s information is rarely bad, Polly. She does good work. And she knew the current leader of the Jews during the time that she lived in London. She didn’t know him well, but she knew him. That gives us an angle in.”

The expression on Polly’s face was fearful and suspicious as she fretted. Afraid that he was going to get himself killed. Probably even more afraid that he was going to take the whole lot of them down with him.

Still, he tried to explain. To get her to understand.

He was pretty certain that he failed, in that regard.

“Now, please, open the fucking safe.”

Polly looked away only for a moment before standing and going to the safe. “You know it was a fine speech you made in there, about this company believing in equal rights for women. But when it comes to it, you don’t listen to a word we say.”

He looked away, keeping his jaws locked tight. He listened to Lucy. He listened to her advice and her opinions all the time. But he doubted that would count for anything to Polly and her absurd, undying hatred of the woman who was both his lover and his assistant.

∗ ∗ ∗

“Love, are you okay?” Lucy was curled up in the seat by the fireplace, glass of whiskey balanced loosely in her hand against her thigh while she watched him where he was seated at his desk.

“I’m fine,” Tommy mumbled without looking up. “Why?”

“You’ve been quiet. More than usual.”

Sighing, he set his pen down, leaning back and rubbing at his eyes. “It’s nothing.”

“Did Polly say something to you?”

“Polly always has something to say to me these days.”

“Mm,” she angled her head in agreement. Resting his knuckles against his lips, Tommy examined her.

“Lucy?”

“Yes?”

“I…you don’t think that I don’t listen to women, do you?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“I mean…you don’t feel like I ignore your opinions, do you?”

“What?” she looked truly stunned. “No! Never!” she unfolded herself from the chair, striding across the spacious office to him in a quick few paces. Setting her glass down on the desk, she smoothed her hands over his hair. “I’ve always felt like you listen to me. Even when we disagree or you decide to go against my suggestions,” a rare occurrence, admittedly. They were so often on the same wavelength when it came to most things, business and otherwise. She shot him a knowing look. “Polly just thinks every idea she’s ever had is pure gold. If you’d listened to her, the company wouldn’t be even close to what it is now and she’d still be buying secondhand jewelry and telling fortunes on the side to make an extra buck. I’m not saying she doesn’t have good ideas or insights, but she’s not always as irrefutably correct as she tends to think she is.”

Tommy hummed. “Yeah. You’re right,” he leaned his head against her, feeling the steady thumps of her heart through her clothes. “Thanks,” with a sigh, he decided now might be as good a time as any to bring up the other thing Polly had said to him that had been prickling in his head since their meeting. “She thinks it’s Grace’s fault.”

“What? How?” Lucy stiffened at the name, and with his ear against her chest he was able to hear the way that her breath caught in her lungs.

“Who knows? She seems to believe that I don’t trust any women now ‘cos one betrayed me,” he tipped his head back to stare at the ceiling, as if the answers for how to deal with his aunt were written up there somewhere. “She says that I should just forget about her.”

Lucy started unconsciously fiddling with the plain gold rings that adorned her hands, staring at a spot on the wall. Her eyes contained the same lost, pained expression that he was sure crossed his own every time he thought of Grace.

“Easier said than done.”

Thank you for reading! Please consider leaving a comment, reblog, or like. I always appreciate feedback and love getting the opportunity to interact with you and hear your thoughts!

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#tommy shelby #tommy shelby x oc #peaky blinders #lucy winters #lucy winters x tommy shelby #my ocs #my fanfiction #dance of darkness #fanfiction #lucy winters x tommy shelby x grace burgess #tommy shelby x grace burgess #tommy shelby x grace burgess x oc #grace burgess x oc #grace burgess #grace burgess x lucy winters

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