#i just put the letters in places until it tells me i made a good word | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

yelenasdiary · 2 months

Text

Forbidden || Chapter I - Welcome To Blisswater

Pairing: Yelena Belova x Bishop! Reader.

Summary: Just outside of the small town of Blisswater, lives two young sisters, Kate & Y/n Bishop. It's hard not to know who the Bishops are, Kate is the eldest by a year. She is a beautiful young woman, smart, protective and is known to have a talent in using a bow. Y/n, she is shy but quiet as some would say but nevertheless, she holds her own talents and can often be seen tending to the animals of Bishop Ranch. One evening while Kate is out hunting to make some money, Y/n is surprised with an unwanted guest, Yelena Belova. A bounty Hunter from Drybellow who has taken shelter in the young Bishop's barn after being wounded from a gun fight.

Struggling to keep money following, Y/n has no choice but to take the bounty hunter's offer of $5 a day if she is able to help the woman recover. During Yelena's stay, the two grow closer, a little too close if the wrong pair of eyes were to see them.

| No Warnings, I don’t think? | 3.6K |

Forbidden Masterlist

"I'm leaving Lucky here with you" Kate, my older sister said as she entered the dining room, "I'll be gone for a least two days at the most. Will you be okay to handle things here?" she asked. A few, long months ago, our parents went on a business trip and are yet to return. Kate and I have been left to run the ranch and keep money flowing until they return, although we haven't heard from them, not even a single letter. My worries for them are endless. "Of course, I will be" I smiled before taking a mouthful of the porridge I made for us.

"Do you need anything from town before I go?" she asked while putting her bowl in the sink for me to wash later, "no, I think we have everything we need. Just be safe, please" I looked to her. "Always, rabbit" she smiled. Kate has always called me rabbit, ever since we were younger. It comes from when my adult teeth were still coming through, they reminded her of a rabbit's front teeth when they would nibble on their food. "I'm just going to go get Arrow saddled up then I'll be on my way" she added before walking out the back door.

I'm used to Kate leaving for a day or two, she goes off hunting for us while I tend to the ranch. We have 3 cows, 5 pigs and 6 sheep! All of which have names of their own, of course. I've been saving some money to buy a couple of chickens so we can have our own fresh eggs. My father said we'd get some but that was before he and mother left on their trip. Today seems like it will be an easy day, feed the animals then off to the general store for my shift.

"Alright, you know the rules" Kate spoke as she returned from saddling up Arrow, "father's rifle is in the case under your bed and please, don't let any of those wandering men stay too long! You can't trust everybody just because they say they've had a long day" she adds. "Yes, I know! You don't need to remind of that every single time, it was just once. Besides, Mr Lang has some very interesting stories to tell" I replied. I wish Mr Lang would return; his stories were almost unbelievable.

"I guess I don't need to remind you to get some more coffee and canned peaches after your shift then?" Kate rolled her eyes at me as she tucked a few canned goods into her saddle bag. "You just did" I replied, sarcastically. "Let's go Lucky! We don't want to be late" I patted my right thigh after placing my used bowl in the sink for laters problem. "Hey!" Kate stopped me just as I was leaving the kitchen, "be safe, okay? If you need anything Mr Barnes is only a call away" she reminds me, again!

We have a bell that Kate brought, it's rather large. I am to ring it if I'm in any trouble and Mr Barnes, the Salon owner, will come over and see what the matter is. Im not exactly sure how he's able to hear the ringing sound from so far away, we've done a couple of test runs and so far I haven't had the need to use it.

"Yeah yeah, how about you be safe? I can't do everything around here if you go missing too!" I smiled softly at my older sister, she knows I'm joking. If anything were to happen to her, she knows I'd be okay…I guess.

Lucky follows me around everywhere, especially when Kate goes off on her hunt. He'll come to the general store and wait outside by the door until I've finished my duties. Mr Wilson doesn't mind, he loves Lucky and even asked Aunt May to bake some of her famous cookies that everybody in town loves, she makes a little extra and dog friendly ones for Lucky. Everybody calls her Aunt May, not really sure why though, I think it's because she's such an aunt to everybody. Almost like a grandma that cooks everybody's favorite treats for the tea party.

The walk to town is always peaceful. In the warmer seasons, it can be rather hot but on days like today when the sun is just starting to peek over the mountains from afar, the wind isn't too cold and the birds sing their morning song, it's relaxing and maybe I tend to take smaller steps just to soak up the morning fresh air before I stay inside for most of it.

"Good morning young Y/n!" A rather tall and very muscular man smiles to me, it's Thor. Nobody actually knows why his name is Thor, considering it's a very unusual name but he's very lovely. "Good morning, Thor! Keeping well I see" I replied with a friendly smile as Lucky and I slowly make our way past the Salon. "Oh, you know me! Can't resist the great liquor that is served here" the most likely drunken man chuckles. It's barely 7am and he is drinking. I guess that's a hobby for most people around here.

Blisswater isn't a town for much entertainment, you have your basics. The Saloon ran and owned by Mr Barnes, the General store ran and owned by Mr Wilson, the doctors office with the only doctor within miles, Mr Banner. The gunsmith, Mr Barton owns and supplies Kate with discounts on arrows and sometimes ammunition for us. Mr Fury is the towns barber, my father wasn't a fan of him but when he was desperate for a cut, he had no choice but to see him. Then there's Sheriff Rogers, T'Challa the friendly banker, Peter the newspaper boy (by the way, he's love for me isn't exactly a secret!) and Mr Quill is the towns blacksmith.

So that's all there really is to know about who lives in and around Blisswater, it's a small town. A town where everybody knows everybody, and word travels faster than you can blink! We all look out for each other here and most don't take kindly to newcomers. Sometimes we have outlaw gangs come passing through, they spend the night at the Saloon, get drunk and make a mess of themselves before pushing on by the afternoon. The walk-through town the following morning is usually a sight of Mr Barnes boarding up the windows of the Saloon from their drunken fights.

The bell rings loudly as I open the door of the general store, and I'm greeted with Mr Wilson's warm and welcoming smile. "Good morning, Mr Wilson!" I smiled.

"Please, Y/n, call me Sam! I've known you long enough" he chuckles before reaching down behind the counter for the plate of Aunt May's famous cookies.

"I'm sorry, it's habit! I see Aunt May has come early this morning" I wandered up to the counter taking one delicious treat. "Lucky's biscuits are back here as well; did you bring him this morning?" Mr Wilson, I mean, Sam asked. "Of course! Kate is out today and left him all to me" I took a small bite out of the homemade goodness. "Parents off again?" he questioned, I nodded lightly. I miss them so much.

"Well, I've got the perfect job to keep your mind distracted. How about you watch the store today?"

"Alone? Me? Are you sure?" I asked with a mouth full of cookie.

"Yeah, I have a couple of things that need my urge attention. I wasn't going to open today but I think you're ready for this. What do you say? You can even bring Lucky inside if you want" Sam smiled proudly. I thought about it for a moment while I finished my morning treat, it can't be that hard, right?

"Sure! I can hold the fort as they say" I replied with a smile, wiping the crumbs from my lips with the back of my hand.

"I'll be back before closing, earlier I can. If you need anything, slip out the back door. I don't need to tell you this, I know" he chuckled, "Bucky will be around if you need anything" he assures me. I guess that's the handy thing about having your store next door to a saloon. "You're starting to sound like Kate!! I'll be fine, I have Lucky! What's the worst that could happen?" I raised a brow.

"Right" my boss smirked, "well you already know where the stock deliveries are, and you know your main duties. Just don't leave the store unattended" he reminds me, I playfully rolled my eyes at him as he stepped away from the counter. "Stop stressing, Sam, the store will be fine. Go do what it is that you need to do" I hoped the door, patting my thigh for Lucky to enter.

Mr Wilson left as Lucky made himself welcome in the store, I closed the door and treated Lucky to his own biscuit before starting to restock the shelves.

——

"Good afternoon, Y/n!" A familiar voice sings louder than the bell as the door fly’s open. "Peter! How are you?" I smiled softly as I was greeted with a smile of his own. "Oh you know how it is, busy busy!" He chuckles, "I ran into Mr Wilson earlier, he mentioned you were here alone today so I thought I'd come by and see if you, uh, needed anything" he adds. A hint of red fills his cheeks while his eyes struggle to stay connected to mine.

It's no secret that young Peter Parker has a crush on me, the entire town knows it. Although he is a very sweet young gentleman, I guess I've just never found myself interested in him in a romantic manner. In fact, I've never really thought about anybody in a romantic manner now to think of it…

"You're very sweet, Peter. Thank you but things are pretty good. I've had no troubles today and please, thank your Aunt May for the cookies and Lucky's treats!"

"Oh, you're welcome! You know Aunt May, always baking" Peter chuckles once more. I could sense a hint of nerves in his voice and the redness in his cheeks grew deeper. "Peter, is everything okay? Do you need a drink? Some water?" I asked with a concerned frown. "No, no. I'm more than fine, thank you. It's just, it's getting a bit wild out there and I thought I'd walk you home later when you're finished here. Don't want you getting sick or anything" he gives me another soft smile.

"It's meant to rain?" My frown only grew bigger as I looked out the window. Dark gray skys covered the town and beyond, distant flashes of lighting lit up the darkness for a moment. Wind blew the dry leafs onto the Main Street, horses stomped their hoofs with every crack of thunder that could be heard from the far, far distance.

"Well shoot!" I sighed.

"Did Mr Wilson tell you when he'd be back?" Peter asked.

"Sure hope it is soon, I have the animals I should move into the barn before the storm arrives"

"It doesn't seem like it is far off. Maybe I could watch the store for you? I wouldn't mind at all"

"You're very kind, Peter but I'm not sure if Mr Wilson would appreciate me leaving the store in somebody else's hands. I know you wouldn't ruin the place or steal from him but he is trusting me today and I don't want him to think otherwise" I explained as I watched the dark clouds darken, it'll be a big storm by the looks.

"I'd be more than happy to make sure your stock is in the barn then" he offered, I turned to him and kindly shook my head. "I'm sure Mr Wilson will be back soon. Thank you again Peter, you're very kind. If you don't mind, there's a few things I should really get done before Mr Wilson returns" I smiled softly, hoping not to have hurt the boy's feelings.

"I plan on having supper at the Saloon, if you need me, I'll be there" Peter smiles before leaving the store.

For the rest of the afternoon, I cleaned the store and did some stock take and made sure the store was exactly how Mr Wilson would like to have it when he returns and just my luck, he returns before the storm hammers down.

"Y/n, thank you for all your help today!" He walks into the store, placing his hat on the coat rack. He looked rather dirty; a nice bath would be in order for when he gets home if I didn't know better.

"You're welcome, Mr Wilson! I'm sorry to leave in a rush but I really need to be getting home before the rain starts" I grabbed my things, Lucky following closely behind me.

"Of course, you best be safe now"

I rushed out of the store, glad the rain hadn't started pouring down as yet but it was coming. You could smell it, the thunder got louder, the lighting got closer and the wind got stronger. The main street was quiet as people already began to make their way indoors until the storm pushed over.

"Come on, Lucky! We haven't got much time!" I patted my thigh lightly before Lucky and I began to race home.

——

The rain soaked the dry ground as expected and Lucky and I were able to get the animals into the barn before it came down heavy. I left a lantern in the barn just so I could keep an eye on it from the house, Kate hates when I do that, says it's a waste of resources but she'll thank me one day for it.

"How long do you think she'll be this time Lucky?" I looked towards him as we both rested by the fire. He tilts his head at me as if he truly understands what I am saying. We listen to the rain dance on the roof and wind whistle outside while the fire cracks and keeps us warm. It's nights like this that I wish Kate wouldn't go off hunting, it's most lonely at night. But I know we need the money, just until mother and father come home.

"Come Lucky, let's check the barn" I stood up from my mothers rocking chair, and wandered over to the window. A frown creeps upon my brows when I notice the lantern, I left behind earlier in the night was gone. I rushed to my room and grabbed the rifle under my bed, grabbed my father's thick coat, a lantern and headed for the backdoor with Lucky right beside me. It was only a short walk from the house to the barn, but the rain was quick to soak me in its gift to the ranchers. Slowly, I pushed the large wooden door open, my rifle tightly in my grip. Lucky entered first, sniffing the ground for anything that didn't belong while I slowly followed behind him, one foot after another.

Only a few steps in and I saw the lantern I had left behind, in the corner where Kate's horse would've been stabled. "Come out! I have a gun and I am not afraid to use it!" I called out, keeping my distance. Lucky walked quickly over to the empty stable slot, growling. "I said come out!" I repeated.

"Don't shoot" a thick Russian accent came from the corner of the barn, "I won't hurt you, just call off the dog, please" the unknown voice added.

"How can I trust you? You're a stranger in my barn! I have every right to shoot you"

"Trust me, if I were here to harm you, you'd already be dead"

I took a few small steps closer to them, Lucky stood his ground and continued to growl. I wasn't going to tell him to back off just yet. "What are you doing here? Do you always just welcome yourself into other people's properties like this?" I asked.

"You ask too many questions" the voice replied, "call the dog off, please" they asked once more.

"Lucky, back!" I called once I laid my eyes on the intruder. A young woman, maybe no older than me. Blonde hair that was braided and she certainly didn't seem to dress how most women dress. Beside her was her gun belt and holster, her hat placed freely beside them. The woman was covered in blood, her right hand pressed tightly against her left shoulder. "You're hurt" you spoke softly while keeping my rifle pointed at her.

She chewed her bottom lip and nodded, "I'll be gone by morning, I just need a place to stay for the night"

"How can I trust your word?" I asked. The woman smirked like I had just made a joke, an odd joke if my question was funny to her.

"I know better than to kill a rich small-town girl" she replies causing me to frown at her words.

"I am not rich girl. So, if you planned on robbing me later, you would find nothing, I can assure you of that"

She chuckled, "well, maybe not rich but you are well off than others. Besides, I have no interest in robbing homesteads"

"You know nothing about me" I snapped, pointing my rifle at her a little higher, aiming for her head. "Get off my property!" I demanded. Lucky growled once more, showing the unknown intruder his sharp canine teeth.

"Maybe we could come to a deal. It seems money is a touchy subject to you, yes?" The blonde hissed in pain when she moved her right hand even the slightest inch. I didn't reply, my eyes were drawn to the amount of blood her hand was covered in. "I'll pay you" she spoke, gaining my attention once more, "$5 a day. If you help me. I'll give you the first three days right now if I could move my hand but as you can see, if I do that, I will bleed out" she offers.

"Once I have recovered you will never see of me again, I give you my word" she adds. $5 a day would really help Kate and I and by the looks of her wound, she could be here for weeks. "I know you're thinking about it but I do not have time for you to think" her thick Russian accent brings me out of my thoughts, I nodded as I slowly lowered my rifle.

"We best get you to the house then"

----

"I'm sorry if that hurt" I spoke softly to the blonde as I bandaged her up, after pulling the bullet from her wound and cleaning the area with alcohol, she suggested cauterizing the wound with a lit candle. The smell of burning flesh is something I will never forget. "Don't stress, I've experienced worse" she looked to me with a soft smile.

"How did this happen anyway?" I asked as I started to clean up the mess. I offered the woman my room until she was back on her feet, and I hoped Kate wouldn't have noticed when she came home.

"Just a little miss understanding with an outlaw. I'm a bounty hunter" she informs me.

"A bounty hunter? That's a little strange for a woman to be doing"

"Well, sometimes women just do a job better"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. It's not often I meet women who aren't following the rules of society" My eyes dropped, I knew my comment offended her.

"You should travel more; you'd be surprised on what or whom you might come across. What's your name?" She pulled the covers up over her, making herself comfortable on my bed.

"Tell me yours and I'll tell you mine" I looked to her once more. She chuckled, "I'm Yelena, Yelena Belova. Your turn" she replies. I walked towards the bedroom door, my hands full of rubbish from cleaning her wound, "I'm Y/n, Y/n Bishop. I'll get you some water"

"Bishop" Yelena repeated, "your father is Derek Bishop?" she questioned. I nodded slowly, "you know him?" I asked. Yelena shook her head, "no, just heard of him in passing. Water would be great, thank you" she watched as I walked out of the room. Her tone made me question if she was telling the truth; did she know my father? Maybe she knew where my parents were?

Lucky followed me to the kitchen, I grabbed two cups of water and returned to my bedroom, placing one glass on the wooden beside table next to my lantern. "You should get some rest; I'll make breakfast in the morning" I looked to Yelena who reached for her coat that sat at the end of the bed. "As promised, the first three days" she says before handing me $15 dollars in 1 ten-dollar bill and a 5 dollar bill.

"T-thank you" I smiled softly, "do you like coffee? I could make some in the morning" I asked.

"Never start the day without one" she smiled, "goodnight, Y/n" she added.

"Goodnight" I walked towards the door, "oh, I hope you don't mind" I turned to face the blonde stranger once more, "I'm going to lock the door, you know…for safety" I added nervously.

"I thought you would. I understand, I need to gain your trust" she nodded slightly.

"If you need anything, just call out. I won't be far"

"Thank you, again" Yelena smiled once more before I closed the door, making sure it was locked before making my way to Kate's room.

If you want to be on the taglist for this series, please see the masterlist. It's link at the top of this post.

#fanfiction #yelena belova #marvel #yelena belova x reader #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff #wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff x reader #Kate bishop #kate bishop x reader #forbiddenau

161 notes · View notes

moony-mari · 10 months

Text

1:58 am - lando norris

Lando norris x fem!reader Summary: 1:58 am the time he walked out of your life or 1:58 am the time he walked back into your life Warnings: hurt/comfort. angst. fluff. max is max fewtrell, italics are flashbacks a/n: put my playlist on shuffle and started writing! Hope you like it send me requests if you want an idea to be written!

☆☆☆☆

1:58 am the exact time he walked out of your shared apartment leaving you alone, tears cascading down your face as you wondered why he went away.

Your knees gave out as you sank to the couch, tears blurring your eyes as you opened your phone, your heart clenching as you looked at the photo of lando that lit up the dim room. Immediately you opened your email drafting a letter of resignation to send to all the quadrant members.

Placing your phone down, you began to walk around the apartment, memories flooding your mind

The rain hit the windows harshly causing you and Lando to look at eachother “we're gonna get soaked” he laughed. You'd gone out for dinner and decided it was a good idea to walk to to the restaurant completely forgetting how brutal the UK weather can be

“I guess we'll have to run home. You wanna race me lan?”

“You don't stand a chance” he smirked at you as he took your hand and led you to the door.

He was right, you couldn't win,completely drenched hair dripping you finally caught up to him trying to catch your breath ”you could've let me win arsehole”

“Where's the fun in that baby” he took your hand, and as if on queue music started playing from the car parked on the side “let's dance”

You're not much for dancing but for him you did. And so you danced in the rain, laughing like a bunch of idiots. Lando pulled you in for a sweet kiss which you gladly reciprocated, until you jumped the honk of a car breaking you apart.

“Do you want to come home or are you just gonna keep standing in the rain all night?” max called

“Oi you muppet you played the song didn't you? You should’ve shouted us before”

“Believe it or not i actually like you two together so i gave you a cute moment don't worry i got pictures and videos so i expect a thank you”

“Thank you max” you giggled at his antics and pulled lando to the car

You placed the frame face down not wanting to remember anymore, the hole in your heart only growing as you continued to roam through the dark halls, leading to your bedroom. Checking your phone one more time pleading for a message a call anything to tell you that he was okay and that he was coming home

☆☆☆☆

Nov 20th was the date. 2 weeks. 14 days. Complete radio silence. Your resignation had not gone down well. Max showing up to your place pleading with you to come back saying Lando was an idiot for what he did and how you shouldn't throw 3 years of hard work at quadrant because Lando was being a dipshit. Ria and the boys spammed you with messages.you told them you’d finish all the videos scheduled this year but after that you were done. You couldn't work with him anymore.

How could you go back? 9 years of friendship and a 4 year relationship down the drain like it meant nothing. you’ve been there since the beginning. You held him while he cried and celebrated with him after a good race. But most importantly you loved him. You thought he loved you too.

Dread consumed you as ria dropped off your abu dhabi paddock passes reminding you that quadrant scheduled a video filming the last race of the year from the mclaren garage. You had no choice but to go. It was work after all. So you packed your bags (full of Lando's hoodies that still smell like him) , got on the plane and checked into your room on wednesday night.Declining offers to go out because you knew he'd be there and you weren't ready to face him yet.

Saturday rolled around (too quickly) and you were getting ready to go to the paddock to watch quali. The Mclarens had been looking unbelievable this weekend, the progress they've made throughout the year clearly showing with both of the drivers being at the top in both fp1 and fp2. Your mind wandered to the possibility of Lando winning a race. Your heart clenched. A knock on your door brought you back to reality. “Are you almost ready, love quali is starting in 30 minutes? The cars waiting in the lobby ” ria spoke through the door. You grabbed what you needed and headed out.

As predicted, Oscar finished fp3 in p1 with Lando just behind. Your heart rate was skyrocketing as you walked closer to the McLaren garage.Max knew how hard this was for you so he pulled you aside “i've known you for 9 years. I know when you're not okay. I know this is hard but this is the last time you'll be with us. Forget lando. I mean quadrant. Aarav, steve, ethan ,niran, ria, me the people you've spent the last few years with building this brand so enjoy yourself. I may be Lando's best friend but you know you'll always have me.”

Tears pooled in your eyes as you hugged him pouring everything into it not being able to answer him verbally. You wiped your tears and continued to walk to the garage with Max next to you.

Luckily Lando was already in the car when you got there so you settled into the familiar garage missing the feeling of watching live from the garages. Quali went past in a blur and now all you could focus on was Lando's car going round the track setting purple sectors all around. Screams erupted as he crossed the finish line and secured pole position. Hugging all your friends and fully embracing the moment.

Lando soon made it back into the garage and Max gave you the heads up so you could go back to the hotel. You knew you'd have to face him tomorrow but maybe tomorrow you would be ready. You settled into bed and hoped you would be okay and drifted off to sleep.

Loud knocking woke you up. Looking around for your phone you checked the time. 1:58 am. Walking up to the door thinking it was just ria you pulled on a hoodie and opened the door.You wrong. Lando stood on the opposite end of the door. Bags under his eyes and his cheeks more hollow than you remembered he just stood there defeated. Until he finally broke the silence that consumed all the air around you

“Can I come in?”

#idk if i like this #f1 #formula 1 #lando norris #lando norris x reader #lando norris x you #f1 x reader #f1 fanfic #f1 fanfiction #f1 fic #f1 imagine #f1 one shot #f1 x you #lando norris fic #lando norris imagine #lando norris angst #lando norris fluff #mclaren f1

523 notes · View notes

gyll-yee-haw · 3 months

Note

Might I make a humble request? How about a virgin reader having her first time with Jake, and there's lots of nervousness and they go slow... just thoughts that won't leave me alone. Thank you!

Hii, baby! I've selected your humble request to be our Valentine's Day Special ❤❤ thank you so much for inspiring me! Hope you love it <3

Warnings: virgin!reader, virginity loss, masturbation (f), dirty talk, praise kink, size kink, innocence kink, creampie, Jake being the sweetest bestest bf ever... happy valentine's day everyone 🌹

Like 3.2k words

---

You and Jake had been dating for a few months, and today was your very first Valentine’s day together. You were beyond excited, especially after waking up to flowers and a sweet letter being delivered at your door.

He had been working a lot lately, but that night… he was all yours. You had plans for dinner and all.

You spent all day getting ready. You wanted to look breathtaking for him. Bubble Bath, moisturizing, perfume… you did it all. And finished by putting on the dress he bought you himself. It was simple and hugged your body in the right places. Jake had taste.

Your efforts were worth it. When he picked you up later that night, he was blown away by how beautiful you looked. It was almost too much for him. He could feel himself getting flushed just standing in your presence. Your beauty got him weak in the knees, he was just so in love with you.

—

Dinner was very nice. It always was. No one made you laugh quite like Jake did. No one would hear you talk for hours and never lose interest. With him it was so different… the biggest proof was that he never took advantage of you. Most guys would do anything to get you in their bed as soon as possible, but not him. He was waiting for the right moment.

If we’re being honest… Jake wasn’t in a hurry at all. He wanted you, he wanted you badly. But he enjoyed having a relationship like yours… so different from all he ever had. So slow and pure. Every single detail proved that you loved each other for who you truly were.

You, on the other hand… well. The word wasn’t hurry, it’s just that you felt ready. You trusted him. You craved him. Especially after nights like this. All you wanted was to go home with him and just… do what other couples do.

And tonight seemed like the perfect night. It was a special occasion, you felt confident with the way you looked… something about him removing the dress he bought for you… it just felt right and you couldn’t stop thinking about it since you put it on. And that’s why you were planning to bring it on tonight.

"So... not long until Road House premiers, huh?" You smirked. “Are you excited?”

"Oh God…" He laughed nervously. “I haven’t been this excited for a movie in a while.”

“I know… I can tell.” You laughed too. “I’m so proud of you.”

He grew a little bit emotional hearing you say that. Your support over the last months had been crucial. He would never be able to thank you enough for it.

He squeezed your hand, looking at you with a soft smile. You knew that was a good night to admit to him how you felt… the chemistry between the two of you was strong enough to give you the courage.

"You're... so beautiful." he said, as his eyes traced your curves and he took in all of your features.

"Fuck." You whispered to yourself.

"What’s wrong, honey?" He leaned in towards you.

"Can I tell you something?" You asked, staring at his lips at this new proximity.

“Always, baby.” He said sincerely.

“I’m losing my mind over the promotional pictures and videos… I… can’t wait for the movie, of course, but it’s just… God, you look so hot.”

“Wow, thanks, baby.” He laughed, taking a sip of his wine.

“No, you don’t get it…” You looked down at your plate. “I feel… all warm inside, you know…”

“Hmm…” He started to understand where the conversation was going, but decided to tease you a little more… he wanted you to say the words. “Well, that’s normal, baby, I’m your boyfriend.”

“Yeah… guess you’re right.” You realized the game he was playing. And you would play it too. “Sometimes… while you were away I just had to take care of it. Alone in my room. Of that warm feeling, I mean.”

“How?” He felt like his heart was pounding out of his chest.

“Had to touch myself.” You admitted. “Pretending you were right there… always thinking of you.”

"Yeah? Well, you're a good girl for it." he whispered in your ear.

"Am I?" You felt… good about the compliment. He had never spoken to you in that tone before.

"Oh... you don't even realize. You're a perfect girl. I’m happy to know you’ve been taking care of yourself… feeling good." His hand went to your thigh, caressing it slowly. “And thinking about me. I’m truly honored to hear that.”

The hand on your thigh, the voice in your ear, the words he was saying…

"Jake..." You whispered to him. "I... need... hmmm..."

"What do you need, my love? Do you need some loving? Attention? Do you need me to take care of you?" He asked, with a smirk.

"Yes… want you to take care of me, fuck... can we please go to your car?"

His eyes lightened up immediately.

"Of course, honey." He replied with a smirk.

Jake made sure to leave a fat tip on the table before standing up and guiding you to his car.

He opened the door for you, before taking the driver’s seat. You started to feel nervous again, and he noticed it.

“Do you feel uncomfortable, honey? I promise you are safe. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

"I'm... I'm just nervous" You admitted. "But I do want you... I need you"

"It doesn't have to be tonight." He assured you.

He brushed a strand of hair behind your ear and looked at you with so much warmth and affection.

"Will you kiss me?" You asked, almost whispered.

He didn’t think twice, bringing his face closer to yours. The kiss was sweet and gentle, as a symbol of how things would be with him when the time came.

His body was tense. He was probably more nervous than you. Terrified of pushing you over your comfort zone. If anything, tonight had to be perfect.

"We're going to take our time with this.” He promised. “And I'm going to make sure that everything is perfect for you, okay?"

He kept kissing you slowly, hand back on your thigh.

"I'm so lucky to have you." You smiled against his lips.

His fingers brushed your inner thighs, making you spread them automatically.

"Will you tell me when to stop?" He breathed heavily, eyes growing darker.

"Yeah… not gonna happen…" You chuckled.

He laughed, shaking his head.

"Will you help me? You’re not away anymore…" You smiled, maintaining eye contact while you pulled your underwear down slowly. His face was priceless… he knew that he had to keep his composure in order to stay in control of the situation, but…

You parted your legs, giving him a better view. "So wet, see? It's what you do to me."

"Oh my God..." He whispered, running a hand down your thigh. You almost couldn't believe that this was actually happening.

"Jake? Have you done it too?” You asked as your fingers started to work slowly on yourself. “Pleasured yourself thinking of me?"

"Fuck, baby, so many times…” He admitted. “You turn me on like no one else ever has."

"Fuck..." You moaned, working a little faster as you tried to imagine what he looked like doing that.

He just couldn’t believe the scene before his eyes… His innocent girl… It was like a fantasy coming to life and he barely had the words to describe how he felt.

"You’re beyond perfect, my darling." He said, eyes glued to your pussy.

"Will you touch me? Please…?" You gave him your sweetest doe eyes.

His face was nothing but desire as your fingers were replaced by his.

"I want to touch you... all over your body... feel every inch of your skin..." He whispered. "Make you feel so good..."

His fingers started to move faster and your hips bucked against his hand. The noises you were making had him throbbing in his pants.

"You like it when I touch you, love?" He asked sweetly. “Are you gonna cum for me? Show me how pretty you look when you cum?”

"Keep going, oh my god..." You nodded desperately.

He leaned in closer, kissing your neck.

"I'm so close, Jake... please, don't stop..."

His heart was racing… he wanted to please you so badly. His fingers went faster and the eye contact made you break.

“Jake! Oh fuck…” You gasped, feeling your orgasm wash over you.

He watched as your breathing went back to normal, a big smile on both of your faces.

"Are you okay, love?" He took your hand in his, bringing it to his mouth to give it a kiss. “You did so well for me, I’m so proud of you.”

"I can't believe how good that was..." You sighed, almost dreamy. “It was… different from when I do it… so much better.”

"You deserve the best, princess.” He assured you with nothing but love in his eyes. “I told you I'd take care of you..."

"But…" You struggled to find the words.

“What, baby?” He chuckled. “Need anything else?”

“I… well…” You smiled shyly. “I wanna go all the way. With you.”

—

It all happened too fast... but somehow not fast enough. You needed more. You needed to belong to him like you never belonged to anyone before.

Next thing you knew was that you two were on his bed, you straddling him.

"Yeah? You wanna be a good girl and sit on my cock, sweetheart?"

"Yes..." Your brain was absolutely shut by the possibility, you weren't thinking very well...

But then it hit you... you weren't that sure what to do... for fucks sake, you had not even touched a cock, ever. How were you supposed to do that? Oh God, he would absolutely hate it... you can't afford for him to hate it, not with the thousands of girls who wanted to be in your place.

"Are you okay, baby?" He could see the doubts and worries on your face. "Remember we don't have to do this now. Only when you are ready. I would glady end the night here if...

"No!" You weren't even trying not to sound desperate anymore. "I want you so bad, Jake... I'm just... not sure if I wanna be on top, you know? I..."

"Don't worry about that, honey." He said, sweetly, stroking your arms reassuringly. "Tell me how you want it."

"Hmmm..." You couldn't maintain eye contact because you were a little embarrassed. "I mean, when I imagined this, I always... I mean, it doesn't have to be, if you think it's lame and borning, I... I mean..."

"Talk to me, baby. Clearly." He grabbed your chin very gently, making you look him in eye. He had the kind of smirk that indicated he already knew what you wanted. "We have to be open with each other, you know. So we can make it work. There's no reason to be ashamed of anything. Whenever you have any kind of wish, I want you to tell me, okay? Want you to ask me nicely. I'll do whatever you want, as long as you say the words."

"Okay." You smiled shyly. "Can... can we just go missionary? Only this time, I think... it would be less scary."

"Who told you missionary is lame and boring?" He couldn't contain his laugh.

"I don't know... the internet?" You laughed too. "I was just trying to impress you."

"Oh, sweetheart..." He said very sweetly. "There's nothing in the world I would prefer right now. Wanna be able to kiss you and watch every single expression and little sound you make for me, yeah? Don't wanna miss a thing."

You could feel your skin burn. God, you needed him.

"Will you take off your pretty little dress for me?" He asked, as he unbuttoned his shirt.

You didn't think twice.

He had forgotten by a brief second that your underwear was lost somewhere in his car, leaving you now completely naked on his lap.

"Oh baby..." He stopped everything for a moment. To look at you in a way no man ever looked before. And not because you never had sex before... that look wasn't lust, it was passion. "You're so fucking beautiful... lay on your back for me, I don't... fuck, I can't wait much longer."

You giggled at how much he sounded like a fool for you. He was insanely in love.

You did as he said, and watched eagerly as he removed the rest of his clothes. Your eyes widened as you saw his erection. It made your mouth water. You couldn't believe it was about to be inside you.

"Jake..."

"Yes, sweet thing?" He asked, worried.

"Need you." You whined.

He chuckled, laying on top of you.

"You're adorable, did you know that?" He said, giving you a quick kiss. "Are you ready, my love?"

"Yes, ready." You nodded.

Nervousness came back to your belly as you felt him brushing the tip of his cock on your folds.

"We'll start slowly, okay? Tell me if it's too much, please." He pushed the tip inside and lost a bit of posture. "Fuck, you're so wet..."

He started trusting like that, just the tip. Slowly. Moaning because of the way you squeezed his girth so tightly.

"Please, talk to me..." He asked. You had gone silent without noticing, just because you were enjoying it more than you could have imagined.

"Jake... it feels wonderful..." You smiled at him. "So good..."

"Yeah?" He smiled back. "Can I get a litte deeper?"

You nodded excitedly. Oh... so there was it... the pain people talked about. But it wasn't too much. You could take it. You were proud of yourself.

"Good girl..." He praised, keeping the movements slow. "Almost all the way in, angel."

"That's..." Your eyes widened. "That's not all?"

He would have laughed, but he had to use all his strength to hold himself back and not cum right there. It was only your first time and you had already unlocked 2 new kinks for him: size and innocence.

"We can... well, I can stop here, if..." He was looking for the words, but the look in your eyes had him losing it.

"No..." You frowned. "Want all of it."

"Are you sure, baby?" He asked, and you nodded. "Fuck..."

He probably wasn't even halfway there, because if felt like an eternity for him to push the rest inside.

"Such a brave little girl, taking me so well..." He said, kissing your neck, hands squeezing your tits, all he could do to make you relax.

"Hurts a bit..." You admitted.

"I know, angel." He continued the kisses, still not moving his hips. "But it's gonna feel good, I promise."

"Hmmm...Jake..." You felt your eyes fill with tears.

"What is it, baby?" He looked at you absolutely heartbroken. "Did I hurt you?"

"No..." You tried to explain something not even you understood that well. "I just want you so bad..."

"Baby!" He chuckled. "You don't have to cry... I'm gonna give you absolutely anything, you understand me? Fuck... gonna make you feel so fucking good... can I move now, princess? You think...?"

"Yes, Jake... what you...hm... what you were doing before felt so good."

"I know." He pulled out half of his cock, pushing it back again, watching your face. "Felt so good for me too... you're squeezing me so good I..."

"Do that again." You interrupted him.

"What?" He repeated his movement.

"Fuck!" You moaned. "You're so deep!"

"Y/N..." He felt like he was the one who was about to cry now. "You have no idea what you're doing to me..."

"Am I turning you on?" You chuckled.

"No, baby, you turn me on when you give me that pretty smile, when you kiss me... right now you're driving me insane." He admitted. "Do you think... I can go a little faster than this?"

"Yes..." You nodded, taking a deep breath.

"Fuck, baby, thank you." He moaned, hips starting to actually thrust now.

It was surely a lot more painful than what he was doing before. But the way you felt so full... the way you slowly began to get those goosebumps when he hit a certain spot...

"Princess?" He called. "Are you feeling good?"

You nodded, huge smile on your face. Jake couldn't help but kiss that smile.

"Yeah?" He continued. "Fuck, I'm feeling so good... we gonna keep it slow for today, okay? Nice and slow..."

You were dying to discover new sensations with him, but you were grateful for taking it slow for now.

"But..." You said, a little worried. "Do you think... do you think it's enough?"

"What do you mean, love?" He asked, hips keeping a nice pace.

"Is it... enough for you to cum?" You asked shyly.

"Oh my sweet girl..." He moaned. "Forget all you read online, okay? I don't need to be mean and hurt you... I'm feeling so good right now, I'm actually holding it back... don't want it to end."

"Don't want you to hold it back." You furrowed your eyebrows.

"Yeah?" He bit his lip, trying to keep calm. "Will you do something for me, angel? Before I let go, I want you to cum one more time, do you think you can do that?"

"I don't know..." You panicked a little. "It feels very good, but..."

"I know, baby." His lips went back to your neck. "Want you to touch your sweet little clit like you did earlier in the car... do you think you could do that?"

You nodded, hand going down, looking for your clit. It was so swollen at that point, that just a gentle brush of your fingers sent electricity through your body. And Jake's cock somehow felt bigger...

"Fuck, baby!" He seemed to feel that too. "You have no idea how good it feels when you squeeze me like that... fucking need you to cum..."

"Hmmm..." You moaned as you started to rub it really good. His words alone where sending you to the edge.

You began to get spasms as you felt yourself getting really close. Everytime it happened, Jake would let out the hottest grunt in the world. You felt like crying again.

"Jake..." You moaned, all your body tensing up.

"Do it, sweetheart, cum for me now, please..." He accidentally started going a little faster. Not as fast as he wanted, but faster than before.

"Jake!!!" You gasped. "Don't stop, don't stop, I... I'm gonna cum..."

"Yes, princess, fucking cum for me, cum for me... shit."

The way you screamed his name and squeezed him sent him to another dimension.

"Baby, I'm gonna cum, fuck, is that okay?" He asked trying to hide his desperation. "Don't think I can pull out, you're squeezing me too good..."

"No! Don't pull out..." You replied, absolutely cock drunk. "Keep going!"

Oh man, that did it for him. He grabbed the sheets so hard, still afraid to hurt you. Then, with a deep thrust, he lost himself inside you. Gave you every last drop of his release, not being able to hold back his loud grunts.

"Happy Valentine's day!" You said excitedly, watching him trying to catch his breath. "Did you like your present?"

"Fuck..." He collapsed on your chest. "It was the best present ever, my sweet angel."

#jake gyllenhaal #jake gyllenhaal x reader #jake gyllenhaal fanfic #jake gyllenhaal x you #jake gyllenhaal smut #jake gyllenhaal imagine #jake gyllenhaal x y/n

160 notes · View notes

dreamwritesimagines · 11 months

Text

Garden of Secrets [30] - Lunaria

A.N: Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback and support my loves, it made my whole week, you’re amazing!❤ I hope you’ll like this chapter as well, and please don’t forget to tell me what you think, thank you! ❤

Thanks so much to @theskytraveler for helping me with the chapter!

Summary: After arguments comes sincerity.

Warnings: Regency era society and social rules, some gender specific language and terms, mentions of trauma and violence, angst.

Word Count: 5000

Series Masterlist

Any married couple would tell you that fights were normal in a marriage.

You knew that, but this whole silence was beginning to feel more and more like the end of the said marriage.

You and Benedict hadn’t talked to each other since the night of the dinner party at Lady Margery’s house, and you and Benedict were getting quite good at sharing the house without even talking about it. You wouldn’t have known he was actually staying in the house if you hadn’t paid attention to the occasional sounds of door closing and the footsteps.

You didn’t know when you had learned to recognize him from his footsteps alone, but apparently it had happened somewhere along the line.

You knew Benedict had left an hour ago because you had seen him pass through the garden from the window of the library. You had been so immersed in your book that you didn’t even notice the familiar carriage pulling in front of the house until you heard Teddy’s voice ringing through the hallway.

“Y/N?”

You turned your head and put your book down, then rushed out of the library to go downstairs.

“Teddy?” you asked as he ran to you, clutching a couple of flowers in his arms and you let out a laugh, then hugged him.

“Hello there,” you said and smiled at your aunt as you saw her at the end of the hallway. “And hello auntie.”

“Hello my dearest,” she said, coming to kiss your cheek. “We figured we could pay you a quick visit on our way to the pastry shop.”

“I’m glad you did,” you said and took the flowers from Teddy. “These are beautiful Teddy, thank you!”

“They’re from your garden,” he said helpfully and you nodded your head.

“Mm hm, I recognized them,” you said and held his hand so that you all could go to the drawing room. “Pastry shop then?”

“Yes and then we will go to the park,” your aunt said. “So that I can meet my friends and Teddy can play with his friends.”

“The weather is pretty nice,” you mused and turned to your maid. “Paula, could you bring some lemonade and biscuits please? Thank you.”

“Of course ma’am,” she said and left the room, and you hugged Teddy sideways as he sat beside you.

“How is uncle?” you asked your aunt and she heaved a sigh.

“He is alright.”

“Any um…” you trailed off and stole a look at Teddy before clearing your throat. “Any letters?”

“None,” she said with a smile. “I told you, there’s no need to be worried.”

“Seems to be engraved in me by now.”

A maid walked in, carrying a tray and made her way to you to place three glasses of lemonade as well as three plates of biscuits on the coffee table. You thanked her as Teddy grabbed his glass, then took a huge sip.

“Is Benedict home?” he looked up at you and you heaved a sigh, then shook your head.

“No my sweet, he left an hour ago.”

“When can I make more sculptures?” he asked and you tried to smile.

“Whenever you want,” you said. “Is it alright if I help you though?”

“Not Benedict?” he asked, his brows furrowing slightly. “But he knows so much about art.”

You nodded your head.

“Benedict has been working on a new painting lately,” you whispered as if giving him a secret. “He’s a bit busy but we can do it together?”

He thought for a moment, then his head whipped up.

“I could teach you!” he said as if the thought just hit him and you let out a laugh.

“Exactly!” you said, “It would be fun!”

“Benedict is working on a new painting?” your aunt asked and you looked up at her, then nodded your head.

“Yeah,” you said. “He’s been…he’s been busy.”

She raised her brows, her eyes searching your face as if she wanted to see whether you were telling the truth but the gong of the clock on the wall made her turn her head.

“Oh I’m going to be late,” she said and got up from her chair with you following her suit. “We’d better go, come on Teddy.”

“Alright,” Teddy pushed the biscuit into his mouth, making you bite down a smile and he came to hug you.

“I’ll see you later,” you said, pressing a kiss on top of his head before you hugged your aunt. She hugged you back, then pulled back to look at you better.

“Y/N?”

“Hm?”

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

Your stomach did a painful flip but you managed to offer her a small smile.

“Of course,” you assured her. “I’m fine.”

She heaved a sigh and kissed your cheek.

“We’re having tea as soon as possible.”

“Works for me,” you said and watched her and Teddy walk out of the drawing room to make their way downstairs. Your smile dropped and you let out a breath, then sat back down on the sofa again.

“Great,” you muttered to yourself. “Today should be fun.”

Towards the afternoon, Lottie had sent you a note, asking you to join her for a picnic but you had written back, saying you weren’t feeling your best. It wasn’t a lie at all, you really didn’t want to see anyone, instead all you wanted was just burying yourself into the covers and ignore the outside world.

But apparently you wouldn’t be so lucky.

You were so lost in your thoughts that you didn’t even notice the approaching footsteps while you laid on the sofa, your gaze fixed on the fireplace until someone cleared their throat by the door, making your head whip up.

“Josie?” you asked and pushed yourself up off the sofa to stand up. “What are you doing here?”

“Came to see how you were, obviously,” she said and entered the drawing room. “Not well as I can tell.”

You rolled your eyes. “Did auntie talk to you?”

“No, why?” she asked. “Should she have?”

“No, it’s just—” you motioned vaguely at outside. “She came by for a visit today with Teddy.”

“And?”

“And nothing,” you said. “She seemed worried about me for some reason.”

“Could the reason be that you were staring into nothing like a corpse by any chance?” she asked you and you shot her a look.

“I was just in deep thought, don’t dramatize it.”

She frowned slightly, then shook her head.

“Anyway,” she said and went to the armchair to sit down. “Has there been any other letters sent from hell and its biggest demon?”

“Auntie says no,” you muttered, pressing your palms into your eyes before lowering your hands. “But I don’t know. I’ll have to talk to uncle to make sure.”

Josie hummed.

“What about you?” you asked. “How have you been?”

“I’m fine,” she said without so much as any hesitation and you tilted your head.

“Josie.”

“What?”

“Come on,” you said. “Don’t do that to me at the very least.”

“I really am fine,” she said. “I’m married now, he cannot do anything to me. The days he would threaten to either sell me to a brothel or send me to the madhouse are gone.”

A shiver ran down your spine. “But if they speak to anyone—”

“Andrew is a respected lord who inherited his respectful father’s title and wealth,” she said. “Father is a no one. There’s nothing he could say that the ton would believe over our word.”

You started pacing in the room.

“I suppose,” you said. “But even if they do come here, we’re not telling Teddy.”

Josie shook her head fervently. “Of course not. He will not know or talk to them.”

You could feel the tension coming back to your muscles as the throbbing in your wrist returned, and you rubbed at it, gritting your teeth.

“Why doesn’t he just die?” you spat. “He was coughing like crazy when uncle took me and Teddy in years ago, he spends most of his days drunk, why doesn’t it just get to him already?”

“Trust me, I’m looking forward to that day,” Josie said. “I’ll celebrate it.”

“If he so much as tries to get Teddy like he said in that letter—”

“He’s not going to do that,” Josie said. “None of us will let him.”

You massaged your temples and huffed out a breath.

“What did Benedict say?” she asked you and you turned to look at her, then pursed your lips.

“That’s not important right now.”

Josie sat up straighter.

“What?” she asked. “Wait Y/N you have told him, haven’t you?”

“No because I don’t need to,” you said. “I can handle it if they come here.”

Josie gawked at you in complete silence, then a dry laughter spilled from her lips.

“You’re jesting,” she said. “Surely you are jesting.”

“Why would I tell him?”

“Why would you not tell him?” she hissed at you, jumping on her feet. “What are you going to do if father decides to come here? And the staff hasn’t been told—”

“I’ll tell them.”

“And if he walks up to Benedict on the street?”

“I doubt father even knows I’m married,” you said. “There’s no reason for Benedict to—”

“There’s every reason for him to know!” she said. “If you don’t want to give him the details, fine! But you need to tell him especially if they decide to come here, you know what father is like—”

“I can handle father.”

Josie threw her hands up in exasperation. “Have you gone insane?!”

“I don’t need Benedict’s help,” you said tersely, shrugging your shoulders and Josie heaved an impatient sigh.

“If you’re doing this because you two had a small lover’s spat…”

You narrowed your eyes at her. “Josie.”

“You had a fight, is that it?”

“That’s not important.”

“It is important if you’re going to make stupid choices because of it!” she snapped. “If it were any other time, you know I wouldn’t push you to do anything but if mother and father are in fact coming here, you’re going to need all the support you can get.”

You scoffed. “Sure, let me just go and cry to Benedict because what? Father is coming here?”

Josie raised her brows. “How’s your wrist?”

The anger rushed through you so fast that you didn’t even have the chance to remind yourself it wasn’t Josie you were angry at, just the memory itself and how it managed to make you feel helpless every single time.

Not to mention, your and Josie’s fights would always be fiery, ever since you two were little.

“Fuck you, I’m not going to listen to this,” you growled and Josie’s gaze turned into a glare as you walked past her toward the door.

“No?” she asked, making you whirl around on your heels before you got to the door. “If you don’t want people to ask you questions, maybe don’t act like a little girl throwing a tantrum.”

“I’m not!”

“By keeping the one person who you’re actually close to in the dark?” she snapped back. “The one person who can actually protect you as far as the ton and the law are concerned? For God’s sake, you’re married—”

“It’s a sham, Josie!” the words left your lips before you had the chance to stop them. “Wake up, will you? It’s a sham, it’s not real! None of this is!”

That got her to stop talking and if you weren’t so exhausted by the nervousness and anger rushing through you for days now, you would have stopped talking as well but you were nearly hysterical at this point.

“We’re not in love,” you said, breathing fast. “The only reason why we got married is because people saw us together, alright? He knows it, I know it, even goddamn Anthony knows it! And everyone around us is so gullible that they believed we were in love because what? We pretended to be just to spare their feelings? Honestly Josie, I’d expect you of all people to be smarter than that—”

“What?”

The different voice that reached into the room came from behind you from the door and you turned around to see Lottie staring at you in shock. Your breath got caught in your throat and you swallowed thickly.

“Lottie…”

“Your butler let me in, I wanted to see if you were alright after your note but—I—” she stammered, tears rushing to her eyes. “You both…you all lied to me? All this time?”

“No,” you said quickly. “No it’s just complicated, I didn’t mean—”

“Excuse me,” she said and turned around to rush downstairs, a curse leaving your lips before you rushed after her.

“Lottie- Charlotte!” you called out as she stepped outside with you following her. “Please, can we just talk?”

“That rumor Lady Whistledown mentioned,” she said, turning to look at you better. “That was true?”

You ran a hand over your face. “It’s not exactly—”

“Y/N,” she insisted and you heaved a sigh.

“Things between me and Benedict are complicated.”

“But you didn’t get married because of love?” she asked. “You got married because someone saw you two together, unchaperoned?”

You paused for a moment and she raised her brows.

“Y/N?”

“…You could say that,” you admitted after a beat and shook your head. “I know how it sounds, but we didn’t want to upset you—”

“Thank you so much for that,” she said with a sad laugh and you pinched the bridge of your nose.

“Lottie…” you said, following her as she walked to her carriage. “I’m sorry, I really am. I didn’t want you to find out this way.”

She looked at you for a moment, then swallowed thickly.

“I’d say you didn’t want me to find out in any way,” she muttered and got in the carriage before you could say anything else, then the coachman drove away, leaving you there.

You groaned, that heaviness in your heart getting even worse as you watched her carriage disappear into the road and dug your fingernails into your palms before you looked up at the sky and let out a scream, the birds in the nearest tree flying away. You huffed out a breath, then turned around to see Josie leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, and her brows raised.

“I’m glad you got it off your chest I guess,” she said. “Now, want to tell me what the fuck that was about?”

It took you almost an hour to fill her in on the details of everything that had happened. Even if you still felt incredibly bad for how Lottie had found out, -and how you had kept it from Josie- it still felt sort of relieving to actually share it with someone. Josie sat beside you on the stairs that whole time and it was only when you had finished telling her everything that she heaved a deep sigh, leaning back on her elbows.

“Fuck.”

“Mm hm,” you said. “Sounds about right.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

You scoffed a laugh. “Look me in the eye and tell me you would have let me marry him if you knew why that wedding was happening.”

“Of course I wouldn’t have let you!” she said. “That’s exactly why you should have told me!”

“And then?” you asked. “You know how the ton would have been like.”

“Who cares about those idiots?”

“A scandal would have affected uncle and auntie as well, Josie.”

“Scandal or not, I think uncle and auntie would want you to be happy.”

“I am—it’s not…” you massaged your temples for what felt like the hundredth time today. “It’s complicated.”

“It really isn’t,” she said. “If he forced your hand—”

“He didn’t force my hand,” you cut her off. “No more than I forced his hand at least. I wanted to kiss him, he wanted to kiss me…It’s only because people saw us together that it got to this.”

“And you’re sure he didn’t plan this?”

“I know he didn’t,” you said. “Trust me, I’d love to be able to blame someone but Benedict is not to blame.”

“Neither are you.”

You clicked your tongue.

“I don’t know about that,” you said. “I could’ve walked away.”

“So could he,” she said and you heaved a sigh, then shrugged your shoulders.

“I don’t know,” you repeated, running a hand over your face. “God, it feels like I haven’t slept in years.”

Josie bit at her lip, deep in thought before she turned to you.

“Clover?”

“Hm?”

“Technically speaking, this marriage is invalid,” she said. “No consummation.”

“So?”

“Would he apply for an annulment?”

Your heart dropped to your stomach but you frowned, shaking your head.

“I don’t think so.”

“Would you?”

“I’m not going to apply for annulment,” you brushed her off and she sat up straighter.

“Then we could leave whenever you want, you can come with me and Andrew and Bess—”

“I’m not going to do that Josie,” you said and she scoffed a laugh.

“Why not?” she asked. “If you’re worried about a scandal…”

“That’s not why,” you told her. “Not really.”

“Does it have something to do with the fact that you kissed him?” she asked and you shot her a look.

“Don’t,” you said. “Seriously. It was just desire and I’m pretty sure anything he may have felt for me is long gone after that fight.”

“And yet you want to stay for some reason because you want to make yourself suffer?”

You heaved a sigh.

“No I—I’ll think about it,” you lied to her. “After this whole mess is over.”

“Alright,” she said and stood up. “I’d better go but are you going to be okay?”

“Sure thing,” you said, waving a hand in the air before standing up as well. She pulled you into a hug, then kissed your cheek.

“I’ll kill you if you hide things from me again,” she said, drawing a chuckle out of you before she walked to get in the carriage. You lingered there for a moment as the carriage drove away and you shook your head slightly, then walked back into the house.

You were still so tense that you couldn’t even bring yourself to have dinner even if you would be all by yourself. Benedict was still outside, so even though you knew there was no way you could get a wink of sleep, you still went to your bedroom. The sky was dark already, your room only illuminated by the moonlight and the flames in the fireplace. You took out the pins in your hair, then massaged your scalp and heaved a sigh before putting the flowers Teddy and your aunt had brought you on the windowsill so that you could air dry them, but as soon as you did, the carriage by the stone road caught your attention, making you frown.

Ah.

That had to be Benedict.

You had just placed all of the flowers when the knock on the door reached you and you looked over your shoulder.

“Come in?”

Benedict opened the door and stepped inside, and you frowned at just how rigid his whole body looked.

“Can we talk?”

“About?” you asked and he took a deep breath as if reminding himself to be calm.

“Did you do it on purpose?”

“You might want to—” you started but then the idea hit you, making you stop for a moment. “Ah. Lottie?”

“Yeah,” he said. “So did you?”

You gawked at him and scoffed a bitter chuckle. “Why would I do it on purpose, exactly?”

“Because you’re angry at me for some reason?”

You could feel the anger rushing through your system so you gritted your teeth.

“Contrary to what you seem to believe, I don’t go behind people’s backs when I’m angry at them.”

He raised his brows, disbelief etched in his features.

“Sure,” he said. “So it was what, a coincidence?”

“Well you seem to have all the answers,” you bit back. “I’m sure you can answer that on your own as well.”

“Y/N.”

“What?”

“Why would you tell Charlie that?” he insisted. “She’s angry at me and Anthony because apparently you decided to tell her he knew as well.”

“Oh well that’s devastating,” you deadpanned. “Because I spend all my days trying to make sure everything I do makes Anthony’s life easier—obviously I didn’t know she was here! She’s angry at me too, or has it escaped your notice?”

“Then how did she—”

“Because she was apparently there when I told Josie, but I didn’t know.”

Benedict stared at you. “Wait, Josie knows as well?”

“Lapse in judgement, we were having an argument,” you said and Benedict blinked a couple of times.

“Y/N, I thought we agreed we would keep it to ourselves,” he said. “We told everyone—”

“I have more to lose than you if it gets out, Benedict!” you snapped. “You don’t have to remind me what I already know!”

He took a deep breath as if reminding himself to be calm.

“We’re married,” he said, motioning between you two. “We need to be on the same page on things like these.”

“Oh now you remember we’re married?” you asked with a bitter laugh. “You can act like a bachelor and spend a whole night partying and doing God knows what without so much as letting me know—”

“I did let you know!”

Your voice rose before you had a chance to stop it; “Oh sorry, how nice of you to invite me to the party as a second thought!”

“I already told you nothing happened!”

“That’s not the point!” you snapped back, “The point is that you told me we would talk and we didn’t because you were too busy having fun at a party!”

Benedict shook his head. “You told me it wasn’t important!”

“Because you—” you started but your body automatically flinched back when Benedict’s hand shot up to run it through his hair, a gesture you had seen him do over and over again but in the heat of the argument, it was enough to make the rest of your sentence get lost in your throat.

Benedict’s hand froze in the air as the sudden panic rushed through your veins, the flash of various memories shooting through your head but even through the haze of absolute fear, in some corner of your mind you knew.

That was then, not now.

That was not going to happen again, not with him.

Benedict stared at you before he held up his palms, all the fire of the fight and anger gone from his gaze.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said, his voice so gentle and soothing that your throat tightened. “I promise you.”

You blinked back the tears and nodded. “I know.”

“I would never—”

“Benedict, I know,” you cut him off and let out a bitter chuckle. “I believe in you on that at the very least, trust me. It just used to happen a lot whenever anyone moved too fast around me, it’s involuntary.”

Benedict swallowed thickly, his eyes searching your face before he very slowly lowered his hands as if trying not to make any sudden moves. The panic retrieved from your body like a wave at the shore and you heaved a sigh, then leaned back to the wall before slipping down to sit on the floor.

“I can leave you be if you’d like,” Benedict said softly. “Do you want me to go?”

You scoffed a dry laugh and patted the spot next to you. Benedict lingered there for a moment, then made his way to you to sit down on the floor beside you, leaning his back to the wall while you pulled your knees up to your chest, resting your chin on them.

“But you…” he paused for a moment. “You know I would never, right? Really?”

“Yeah,” you said. “I know. I don’t know how, but I know.”

“Okay.”

You stared at the moonlight spilling over both of you through the window before you ran a hand over your face.

“Benedict?”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to get an annulment?”

That made him turn to look at you better, his brows furrowing as you shrugged.

“Technically speaking, this marriage is invalid,” you quoted Josie. “We never consummated, so…We could get an annulment.”

He stared at you. “Do you want to get an annulment?”

“I asked first.”

If it were any other time, it would have made him smile at the very least but not this time.

“No,” he said. “But I won’t force you, I’ll never force you into anything so…Do you want one?”

You shook your head.

“No,” you admitted. “No I don’t.”

A silence fell upon you and he leaned his head back to rest it against the wall before stealing a look at you.

“So this is marriage huh?” he asked and you felt a sad smile curl your lips.

“Yeah,” you said. “A never-ending emotional torture.”

“Well you did warn me, so…” Benedict mused and you nodded your head.

“I really did,” you murmured, twisting your wedding ring around your finger. “Jesus I’m exhausted.”

A bitter chuckle climbed up his throat.

“I know the feeling,” he rasped out. “Can you um—can you sleep at night? Because I can’t.”

“Not at all,” you said. “And I can’t really focus on anything. Can you?”

“I need to,” he said. “I need to be focused on something all the time, otherwise…”

“What?” you asked after a beat and Benedict shook his head.

“It’ll catch up to me otherwise.”

He didn’t need to specify what it was, you knew it very well because it was the same thing that had been twisting your heart for the last two weeks.

The wave of pain that was so strong that if it managed to get to you, you weren’t sure you’d be able to stand.

“It’ll turn into hate one day,” you said, your voice determined as you nodded your head to yourself. “It will. It’s a marriage, it has to turn into resentment and one day we will wake up and we’ll hate each other.”

He tilted his head. “Do you really believe that?”

“I want to believe that,” you said. “I hope it does turn into hate, I’m better at it.”

“Dear God, it would be so much easier,” he murmured and you nodded.

“Exactly,” you croaked out as the burning in your eyes came back but you bit at your tongue, fixing your gaze on the wall.

“Can I ask you something?” Benedict asked and you glanced at him.

“Sure.”

“I’ve always wondered if you…” he trailed off. “Do you regret it? That night at the gazebo?”

“Do you?”

“I asked first,” he quoted you, a ghost of a smile appearing on his lips and you smiled back, then shook your head.

“No,” you said. “Do you?”

“Not a single second of it,” he stated and a nearly hysterical giggle escaped from your lips.

“You know, Lord Easton said something the other night,” you said and sniffled. “And I have a theory about this whole thing.”

“I’m listening.”

“Call it artist and muse, call it desire, whatever it is,” you said. “I’m beginning to think maybe it was fate.”

“You don’t believe in fate,” he said and you thought for a moment, then shook your head.

“Well, I don’t but think about it,” you said, wiping at your nose with the back of your hand, then turned sideways to see him better. “We kept tempting fate even if we knew we weren’t supposed to and—be completely honest with me, can you imagine yourself being married to someone else?”

He grimaced. “Not without a shudder and a nightmare to go with that idea.”

“Exactly,” you insisted. “Even after everything. So we’re—we’re not star-crossed, we’re not each other’s promised but maybe we’re something else completely different than all that.”

“Like what?”

“Maybe we’re just doomed to torment each other.”

He blinked a couple of times as if trying to wrap his mind around it and you sniffled again.

“Does it not make sense?” you asked, sitting up straighter, your eyes locked in his. “Neither of us regret that night even if it would make perfect sense if we did, both of us could walk away right now, a luxury no other couple in the ton has, and yet…”

“Yet here we are.”

“Yeah,” you muttered. “Yet here we are. Doomed to torment each other, in this life and beyond.”

He hummed. “That’s a relieving thought.”

You turned to shoot him a look of disbelief. “The idea of being tormented is relieving?”

“Compared to the idea of not having you?” he asked. “It is. I can take the torment from you, just not…just not your absence.”

A silence fell upon the room and you rubbed at your eyes, then dropped your hands to your lap.

“Well then I shall haunt you,” you managed to say. “Even after death, like in those awful stories. If we are to torment each other, we will not be free of each other. Dead or not, no absence.”

A sad smile crossed Benedict’s lips and he held up his pinky.

“Do you promise?” he asked and a teary laugh climbed up your throat, then you looked up at him.

“What?”

“Do you promise to haunt me?”

You blinked back the tears before they could blur your vision, then stuck your nose in the air.

“Do you promise to haunt me back?”

Benedict tilted his head. “Do you want me to?”

“I do,” you said without any hesitation and hooked your pinky with his. “Whoever goes first will haunt the other. Deal?”

There was no sign of hesitance in his eyes, only determination as he smiled slightly, making your heart skip a beat.

“Deal.”

Chapter 31

#benedict bridgerton #benedict bridgerton x reader #bridgerton #bridgerton x reader #regency fic

864 notes · View notes

didi-writes · 6 months

Text

♡ 𝆬 teacher! William Afton x reader

characters : 2497

warnings : big age gap (reader is around 20 and William is in his 40s) , teacher x student relationship, mentions of rough home situations, use of darling nickname, non-consensual kiss

notes : not proofread, sorry for any grammar mistakes! hope you enjoy anyways ♡

fluff + gender neutral reader

He sighs, putting down the papers he was grading and turning around in the chair. He faces the classroom, everyone busy chatting or doing whatever. William coughs and stands up, the classroom falls silent and he smiles slightly "I'll be handing out everyone's test from last week now. Let's all overlook it together, hmm?" He says and starts to hand out the papers. Giving each student their test back, William walks over to Y/N, placing the paper down onto their desk. "Meet me after class, please?" He asks, in a low but calm tone. They nod at him and pick up the paper, Y/N's eyes scanning across the letter filled paper, a big red F marked at the top of it.

They sigh and look back up at William again, who has now returned to the front of the classroom. "If any of you have any questions while I explain all the questions that were given on the test save them until I'm done, yeah?". William Afton, was Y/N's history teacher, he was fairly older than themselves. Y/N wasn't necessarily bad at history but since things at home had been rough they didn't get the chance to revise all the topics that were discussed in class at home, and so failed the test this time.

As William stood there explaining the questions, Y/N stared at him. Noticing how his tone of voice was calm and low, the way he stood there awkwardly in his brown pants and light vest, the dark purple tie tied around his neck. Y/N started to blush slightly as she stared at the man. William put his hands into his pockets and let out a long sigh "Well then, any questions?" He all of a sudden says, causing Y/N to flinch a bit and return back from their daydreaming. Nobody in class says anything nor raises their hands. William nods and turns around to walk back to his desk, sitting down on the chair that stood by it. "Well then..." He says, looking up at the clock hanging on the wall behind him. "School's almost out, why don't u all do some studying until the bell rings" he says, the class all nod and do the exact opposite. Y/N sat there fidgeting with their fingers, turning to look outside of the window.

A few minutes pass until suddenly the bell rang, everyone quickly got up and left the classroom, leaving just Y/N and William behind. "Well then Y/N, care to explain this grade to me?" He speaks, getting up from the chair and closing the door to the classroom. He walks back and sits down, Y/N gets up from their desk and walks up to William's desk.

"Uhm...i guess I just didn't study, sorry" they awkwardly reply. William nods slowly and let's out a low hum "All of your other grades were rather good, what made u not study?" He asks, his facial expression serious as he stares into Y/N's eyes. "It's....really none of your business to be honest Mr.Afton" they blurt out, a bit louder than a whisper. William's eyes widen a bit and he chuckles "If you tell me I may be able to help. You don't want to redo the year now, do you darling?" He says, the 'darling' catching Y/N off guard. They look at him, cheeks blushing slightly as they shake their head no. "No....its just been rough at home, I haven't been able to study" Y/N replies rather quiet and looks away, letting out a soft sigh.

William understandingly nods and stands up, he places a hand onto their shoulder, his height towering over Y/N's. "I'm here for you, do u want to talk about it?" He says, calmly. They look up at him, tears prickling at their eyes. Y/N starts sobbing, William gets caught off guard but quickly wraps his arms around Y/N as reaction. They continue to sob, William gently strokes their back with his big hand "shh..its okay" he says and continues to comfort them. Y/N pulls away and wipes their tears away with the palm of their hand. William smiles softly at them and reaches his hand up to their cheek, helping Y/N wipe their tears away.

He looks down at them, not thinking and leaning in, kissing Y/N on the lips. They freeze, in shock of the sudden kiss until William pulls back. "....sorry, I didn't think straight, this is..this is wrong" he blurts out, backing up a bit. Y/N slowly shakes their head "..it's alright with me" they softly whisper. William looks at them, a soft blush coating his cheeks after having kissed them. He grins and nods "then, meet me here again tomorrow after your last period. You should be going now, darling" he says. Y/N nods and quickly makes their way out of William's classroom, looking back once more and smiling slightly at the man. They close the door and let out a soft sigh, releasing it was wrong to want him but not caring anyways.

thanks for reading,, have a good day or night ᰔᩚ

#william afton #steve raglan #william afton x reader #steve raglan x reader #fnaf x reader #fnaf movie x reader #fnaf movie #fnaf #five nights at freddy's #fnaf william afton #fanfiction #springtrap #matthew lillard #fluff #teacher x student #fnaf fanfic #fanfic

246 notes · View notes

chrisbitchtree · 1 month

Text

Dear Younger Me

My piece for the @harringrove-relay-race!!!

I'm now passing the baton on to @oopsiedaisiesbaby! I can’t wait to see what you’ve written!

4k - M

***

When Billy’s therapist had first assigned him the project, to write letters to his younger self detailing the twists and turns his life would take, and how he’d somehow managed to navigate them and get to a place where he could truly call himself happy, he’d laughed, because frankly, it sounded like a waste of time.

He knew he was happy and successful, so what good would it do to tell the long gone, scared, angry seventeen year old version of himself about it? But the more he wrote, filling page after page with his messy scrawl, the more he felt that he could let go of all the hurt and pain of his youth. It felt good. So good, in fact, that he’d allowed himself to be talked into giving Steve the letters to read.

Now though, as he stands on Steve’s front porch, he feels a really strong urge to run. It’s too late though, he’s already rung the doorbell, and he can hear Steve’s approaching footsteps. There’s no way he’d get back into his car and out of sight before Steve opens the door. He takes a deep breath, holding the stack of letters in front of himself.

“Hey Billy,” Steve greeted him, a grin spreading over his face, looking unfairly sexy, shirtless on this hot summer night. “To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from you at 10pm on a Tuesday?”

“Uhhhh,” Billy replies, almost chickening out and saying he was in the neighbourhood and in the mood for some company and a beer, knowing Steve won’t ask questions, good guy that he is, but he knows that its important for Steve to read the letters, for Billy to let him in, if he ever wants to be more than friends with the man. Steve’s made it clear that he wants Billy, so the ball is firmly in Billy’s court. So, he takes another deep breath and hands the envelopes to Steve. “I want you to read these. Or my therapist does. But I do too. Just read them, okay, pretty boy?” With that, he walks away before Steve can answer.

***

At first, Steve’s confused when his doorbell rings at 10pm, and then he’s excited when he finds Billy on his front porch. They usually hang out pretty steadily, grabbing beers after work, having BBQs with Max and Lucas, watching endless movies, and hiking in the woods on the edge of town, but lately, every time Steve asks Billy to do anything, he claims that he’s busy working on a project, but won’t tell Steve any details about it. He’s starting to worry that Billy’s trying to freeze him out.

His excitement turns back to confusion when Billy hands him a stack of envelopes, telling him to read what’s inside of them, but he does as he’s told, grabbing the beer that he’d cracked open just before the doorbell had rung and taking it out to the backyard, turning on the patio lights so he can read.

He pulls a small stack of papers from the first envelope, unfolding them to find a letter.

“Dear younger me,

I know you’re upset right now. It’s not easy leaving your friends, your school, the ocean, the only home you’ve ever known behind to move to the middle of butt fuck nowhere. I won’t lie, it’s going to suck at first. Neil’s been with Susan long enough that he isn’t putting a show on in front of her anymore. He’s going to yell and threaten you and get in your face.

Starting at a new school is going to be terrifying, and it’s good to put on a brave face, to not show fear, but try to remember that it’s ok to admit that everything isn’t ok sometimes. Even if it’s just to yourself, curled up in your bed late at night. Let the tears fall, I promise you’ll feel better afterwards.

It won’t be long until you meet Steve Harrington, the king of Hawkins High. You’re going to be such a dick to him, and he’s going to spend a long time hating you for it. You’re going to spend a long time hating yourself for it. You’ll eventually work your way to friendship, but you’ll save a lot of time if you don’t spend your entire senior year of high school treating him like he’s dirt on the bottom of your shoes.

Because you can’t manage to get your head out of your ass, Steve’s going to push, rightfully so, and you’re going to pull, until the tension’s going to come to a head at Harrington’s graduation party. The night’s going to start with the two of you throwing barbs back and forth and end with you on your knees in the Harrington’s pool house, Steve’s cock between your lips. You’re barely even going to stay long enough for him to finish cumming, to scared to see what’ll happen in the aftermath, but you really should. Tell him how you feel about him, tell him that the way you treated him all year was an act, a way to protect your heart, and his response just might surprise you. You never know.”

Steve has to stop reading for a minute, his face flushing as he thinks back to his graduation night, how good Billy had looked on his knees, looking up at Steve as his tongue swirled around the head of his cock. He remembers how strong the urge to run his hands through Billy’s hair had been, but it had seemed too intimate an action, so he’d resisted, as hard as it had been. He’d wanted to reciprocate, but Billy had fled the scene before Steve could even catch his breath, not to be seen again for three years, until Neil and Susan Hargrove had died. He picks the letter back up, curious to see how it will end, and what will be in the next one.

“You’re going to blame yourself for a lot of what comes after. You’re going to tell yourself that if you’d stayed, if you hadn’t hightailed it back to California while the ink on your diploma was still drying, if you’d stayed, even just for Max, and nothing else, or if you’d finally stood up to Neil for once, things would have turned out differently. Please try as hard as you can to be kind to yourself. I promise you didn’t cause this, that nothing you could have done would have stopped Neil from being an asshole.

Love,

Billy”

“Dear younger me,

You just found out that Dad and Susan died, and you’re going to have a lot of mixed emotions about that. Relief that Neil can’t hurt you, can’t hurt anyone anymore, grief, as you mourn the dad you never got to have, regret, that you weren’t there to take the keys out of Neil’s hands that night when he drank too much and decided that Susan was cheating on him instead of going out to a girl’s night at the bar, sadness, for Max, who, at only seventeen, has no parents left, only has you to take care of her, when you can barely take care of yourself on the best of days.

It's going to be tough, I’m not going to lie. You and Max are going to fight about anything and everything. She’s going to blame you for this, and it’s going to take a long time for her to apologize, and it’s going to hurt, even though you blame yourself too.

You have to stay strong, though. Strong for yourself, and for Max. You need to put down the bottle and find a good job so you can take care of Max and yourself. It’ll be hard to even make yourself get out of bed most days, but you have to grin and bear it. I promise it’ll eventually get easier, even if it doesn’t seem like it right now. It’ll all be worth it when you see her walk across the stage with her diploma.

Love,

Billy”

As soon as he’s one reading the second letter, Steve folds it up and slips it back into its envelope and takes out the third letter, eager to see where this is going, to find out why he’s being asked to read them. He takes a sip of his beer and settles in for the long haul.

“When Max is twenty one, she’s going to call you and tell you that she’s dropping out of college to work at the garage with you and help you work towards your goal of buying it from Mr. Dennis when he retires, and you’re going to feel like a failure, like all your hard work, all the hours you put in at the shop to help pay for her education are going to waste. You’re going to fight long and hard about whether she’s fucking up her life, and you’re going to say a lot of things that you regret, but you need to remember that she’s an adult now, and she’s smart, and she knows what’s right for herself.

You won’t want to admit it, even to yourself, but you know you’re going to be happy to have her back where you can keep an eye on her, instead of way out in Boston. There’ll be growing pains at first, as you both get used to living together again, but it’ll be nice to have someone else around the house again.

And be nice to Lucas when Max has him over. He’s a good guy when he’s not being a smartass, and trust me, you’re going to need him later. Show him a little respect, and you’ll save yourself a lot of embarrassment later.

Love,

Billy”

“Dear younger me,

Two years after you finally take over ownership of the shop, just as you’re really starting to feel like the place is yours, Max is going to beg you to let her renovate the attached luncheonette and run a small diner and bakeshop out of it.

You’re going to resist for so long, finding a million reasons why she shouldn’t do it. The kitchen requires too much work, there won’t be enough customers for it to be profitable, she should be doing something better with her life than planting her roots so firmly in Hawkins. You worked hard so she can get out, and you don’t want to enable her sticking around.

Trust me, it’s going to be easier if you just give in. She may be stubborn, but she’s right, the place is going to be a huge success, and you’re going to wonder why you didn’t let her have at it sooner. That is, until two weeks after the diner opens, on the night of the launch party, Max is going to get drunk and take your motorcycle out and crash it.

She’s going to survive, but just barely. It’s going to be a very long road to recovery, and that’s where the thing I mentioned earlier about being nice to Lucas will come in. He’s the only one that’s going to be there for you in the early days, when you’re trying to keep two business afloat and be at the hospital with Max. He’s going to take a year off from school to work in the diner and the garage when you need to be with Max and be with Max when you need to be at the diner and garage. You’re going to be each other’s rocks when it gets to be too much, and you’re going to be embarrassed about how you treated him before if you don’t stop treating him like shit right now. I know I’ve already said this a lot, but trust me.

Love,

Billy”

“Dear younger me,

I know that more than anything, you’ll want to make sure that Max’s diner stays open, that it’s there for her when she gets better, but you’re too stubborn to ask for help, and too busy to have it open enough hours in a day to turn a profit, so you’ll think about throwing in the towel and just focusing on the garage.

Tired and frustrated, you’ll head to Chicago one evening to blow off some steam at a bar. You’ll think to yourself that you’ll just go for a few drinks, and maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll find someone to take to whatever shitty hotel you can find a room in for the night, but instead, what you find in there, or rather who you find in there, is going to change everything for you.

Standing near the bar nursing a bottle of beer is Steve Harrington, looking every bit as pretty as he did back in high school. You’re going to try to turn around and run like the coward that you are, but Steve’s going to spot you before you can head out. Caught, you’re going to let him buy you a beer and sit and catch up.

He’s going to tell you how he feels lost after dropping out of law school, a failure in his father’s eyes, how scary it is to not feel that much more mature at twenty five than he did at eighteen. You’re going to tell him about your dad and Susan, and Max’s accident, how it feels like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, with no one there except Lucas to occasionally lighten the load.

He tells you that drinks are on him for the night, and he orders another round, and another and another, until you’re both shitfaced and stumbling towards his nearby apartment. On the way, you tell him that unless you get some money fast, you’re going to have to sell the diner, and then you forget you said anything as he asks if he can kiss you in the elevator.

You’re going to have a moment of panic, as Steve presses you up against the door of his apartment and runs his lips all over your throat, about whether this is the right thing to do or not. You think that it might be best to turn around and forget this ever happened.

Don’t. Stay, have fun with the hottest guy you could ever hope to be with, and create enough jerk off material to last you the rest of your life. Ever the gentleman, he’ll ask if he can take you to bed. You’ll both lose your breath laughing as he tries to carry you there and fails miserably, and you’ll smile to yourself every time you think about that moment.

Once you get to his room, you’re going to have to fight the urge to do all the work. You keep telling yourself that Steve deserves to be worshiped, but he’s going to insist that you sit back and enjoy it, and you should listen to someone else for once.

He’s going to do things you didn’t even know someone could do with their mouth, leaving your moaning, hands twisting in the bedsheets, and your eyes will roll back in your head as he fucks you six ways to Sunday. Afterwards, he’ll clean you both up and hold you in his arms while he snores softly in your ear, and you’ll think about how nice it is to be taken care of, that you could get used to it.

By morning, you’ll have talked yourself out of it. You don’t deserve this, you don’t have time for this, it’s too much, you’re not enough, and you’ll sneak out before Steve wakes, feeling like an idiot as you walk back to your car with your hair all stuck up in the back, knowing that everyone giving you side eye as they walk down the sidewalk with a coffee and a briefcase knows what you were up to last night.

You’ll be embarrassed, but relieved that you got out of Steve’s place without having to have an awkward morning after conversation. You’ll open up the shop for the day and put all your energy into working on the cars and running into the diner to check on Lucas and the lone waitress in between appointments, but no matter how hard you try, you’re not going to be able to take your mind off Steve, how he looked the night before, looking down at you with his big brown doe eyes as he asked you if it felt good. Part of you is going to wish you hadn’t left his place, but you know it’s for the best.

The days will keep marching on, until a couple weeks after you have your run-in with Steve, when you’ll get a call from the bank. You prepare yourself for the worst, sure that they’re calling you to tell you that it’s time to give up the diner, but no, they have a potential investor, and they want to meet with the two of you.

You show up at the bank feeling ridiculous in your one pair of khakis and your best button up, and of course, the first person you see when you enter the bank is Steve Fucking Harrington, grinning wide at you as he chats up a teller. You want to turn around, but you can’t, because this idiot is your only way to keep the diner alive.

When you ask him why, why he would do this for you, when you’ve just been an asshole to him. He says it’s not for you, it’s for Max, and for Steve himself, because his dad apparently has no problem writing a huge cheque to invest in the diner if it means that Steve won’t be sitting idle any longer.

You’re not going to be sure how involved Steve plans on actually being involved in the day to day running of the diner, but you definitely don’t expect him to show up two days later, apron and baseball cap on, ready to work his first shift. He’s going to suck, dropping plates, burning food, forgetting to dress burgers before they go out to hungry customers.”

Steve has to laugh at how right Billy is. He was just about the worst waiter and cook to have ever worked in a restaurant. He had no clue what he was doing, and there were many days where he was surprised that Billy didn’t kick him out, no matter how badly he needed the help, and there were a lot of other days where Steve was ready to throw in the towel, but he’d kept with it, determined not to give up on this like he had on law school, and he liked knowing he was lightening Billy’s load, even if it only got him groans of frustration and sighs of despair in return. Over time, he thankfully got better at both tasks, finding that he was actually a pretty good cook. He picks the letter back up, eager to get through the rest of the shortening stack.

“I promise the shitty times will end though. Soon, you won’t be able to imagine the place without Harrington there, telling bad jokes and bringing you coffee when your eyes start to droop in the evening, after you’ve had a long day at the shop and the diner, and then still need to go check in on Max.

Eventually, Max will be released from the hospital, and you’ll be happier than ever to have Steve around, to help Lucas moderate arguments between you and Max, while you get comfortable giving Max small freedoms, and she comes to understand why you’re so scared to let her out of your sight.

When Lucas finally has to go back to school, Mrs. Sinclair will try to step in and pick up shifts at the diner, and at first, you’re going to push back. You don’t want to take any more time and energy from that poor family, and you’re sure she has better things to do than do Max’s bidding as Max sits on a chair behind the counter telling her what to do.

Steve talks you into letting her stay, though. You need the help, and she’s willing to give it, and it’s another lesson in accepting that people care about you and Max and letting them help you. Between Mrs. Sinclair, Steve, you, and Max, as she starts to get stronger, along with Erica Sinclair waiting tables after school and on weekends, replacing your waitress who decided to go back to school, the diner actually starts to turn a profit, based on great food and fast, friendly service. When Lucas comes home for Christmas, he jokes that he can’t recognize the diner with more than a couple customers in it. For the first time, you’re going to feel like everything will be ok.

I promise you, things only keep getting better from here.

Love,

Billy”

“Dear younger me,

Now that you have your professional life somewhat under control, of course, you’re going to turn your attention to your personal life for the first time in a long time. I can tell you it won’t be easy to take that first step and finally accept that you need therapy. Nobody wants to admit that they need help, so it’s going to be a long battle of talking yourself in and out of it, but I can also tell you that once you commit to going regularly, and putting in the work to help yourself, things are going to be so much better.

You’re going to rush into things with Steve, but it’s important that you take time for yourself, to figure your shit out first. If Steve want this as bad as he’s been saying he does, then he’ll respect that you’re not ready yet, and wait until you are.”

Steve takes another sip of his drink, shaking his head at his own behaviour. To say he badly wants a relationship with Billy is the understatement of the century, and he’s far from quiet about it, confessing almost daily to Billy that he’s crazy about him, wants to date the heck out of him, hold his hand when they watch movies, make him dinner, tell anyone that’ll listen that Billy is his.

But for all of his enthusiastic rambling, he’s more than willing to wait until Billy’s ready. He doesn’t want to rush things, because he wants Billy to want it as much as he does, wants his heart to truly be in it. He doesn’t want Billy to date him just because it’s what Steve wants.

Over the past year, Steve’s come to learn that Billy’s not only literally the hottest guy Steve’s ever seen, he’s also selfless, caring, hilarious, hardworking, and secretly sweet, and Steve needs him like he needs air, so yeah, he’ll wait. He continues to read.

“My best advice for when thinking about Steve gets to be too much. Take a deep calming breath, a cold shower, or if that doesn’t work, think about seeing the ancient librarian at the public library naked. That should be more than enough to cool you down.

Love,

Billy”

Steve picks up the last letter, and slipping it out of its envelope, he unfolds it, noticing that it’s a lot shorter than the rest.

“Dear future me,

I know you’re panicking right now, sitting on your couch, biting your nails and nursing a beer, while you wait for Steve to read through the letters that you handed him tonight. You want him to know that you’re ready now, as ready as you’ll ever be to let him in, let yourself be loved and love him in return, and you can only hope that he feels the same way as he did this afternoon when he told you that he can’t wait to wife you up, whatever that means. Try to calm down. It’ll be ok.

So, hey Steve, if you’ve gotten this far, I’m ready. Bring your jammies, and we can have a sleepover. I promise not to run in the morning, and if you wake up early enough to make me cum a second time before breakfast, I’ll make you pancakes before we head into work.

Love,

Billy”

Steve slips on a pair of sandals and grabs his keys, running so fast for his car that he doesn’t realize until he’s halfway down the driveway that he’s not wearing a shirt. It doesn’t matter though. He’s gotta see about a boy.

#harringrove #billy hargrove #steve harrington #billy x steve #harringrove fic #chrisbitchtree writes #harringrove relay race

90 notes · View notes

pendarling · 4 months

Text

Letters & Masks

Villain was never interested in the identity of Hero without the mask, but watching them feign a look of confidence encouraged the criminal to give Hero a little scare.

They circled Hero's body as they sat on the floor with their wrists and ankles bound together.

"Never thought you'd end up in this position?" Villain mused. Their steps halted in front of the other, and they knelt to take a good look at their face.

Hero smiled softly, "It's not too far off, actually."

They blinked momentarily until they understood the explicit but subtle message. Villain's eyebrows raised, "Very funny,"

"I'm even funnier if you got to know me aside from fighting me now and then."

"Well, that mask of yours would be a great first step." They stood up and dusted their pants, "but I can tell you're committed to that part."

Hero watched their shoes click away over to the other side of the room, where they then picked up a blade. It was smaller than the average kitchen knife and looked similar to a sword if they were honest; intricate shapes and detailed patterns blended into fuzzy lines as Hero tried to focus on it from a distance.

"Are you going to torture me with that? It'd be a shame to get blood all over it." They sighed with a half smile.

Villain chuckled deeply and inspected the tool in their hand. "Oh no, darling, this isn't for you." They lifted a letter and cut it open gently, "You really think so negatively of me? I'm much kinder to my prisoners."

Their hand pulled out a piece of paper, which they read; the room went silent shortly. Hero was grateful as they let their embarrassment settle down. Obviously, Villain had no evil intentions, at least not to the degree that would be directed at them.

"What does it say?"

Villain was amused at their attempts to keep up the conversation. They quickly folded the page and gazed back at Hero as they sat patiently on the wooden floorboards.

"Someone is already coming to look for you. Aren't you excited?"

Hero stared at the red envelope. Villain lifted it to place the letter back in and squinted their eyes. "Huh. I think I know that person," They tilted their head to see the insignia better.

Their nemesis gazed at the location their eyes were fixated on and found the small label on the corner of the envelope. They shook their head, "You seem to know a lot of things, Hero."

"No. I do know them."

"How?"

"You know how you were asking me earlier about who I am under the mask?"

Their curiosity peaked, and suddenly, Villain felt themselves focused on Hero's words.

"They saw me without it."

A subtle shift in the air alerted Hero to something relatively unfamiliar from Villain's aura. They glared at them and remained quiet, "bullshit."

"I would never lie." They pushed.

It was a tension they didn't think they'd experienced before, but Hero knew they might've just made Villain jealous, and it was a little too late to put the fire under control.

"I-it wasn't anything though." They softly laughed with dismissiveness.

"When?" Villain approached guardedly. Their presence presented a threatening message.

Hero scooted back slightly, but their back had already hit the wall. "Last…" shouldn't they lie? It happened last year, but if Villain knew they could keep secrets from them for this long, they would interrogate them forever for every minute detail they could barely recall.

Their nemesis bent down closer now, right next to their side and fiddled loosely with the letter opener. Its sharp edge reflected the light to the corner of their eye.

"When??" They repeated impatiently. "Or are you playing games with me again, because Hero, if you are—" the blade tip slipped under the mask. "I swear to God…" they trailed off and left Hero to finish the sentence.

Their eyes didn't meet the other, and they stared ahead with slight concern, "I was just kidding-!" Their smile came out awkward, "Jeez, you really are gullible to believe all that," Villain pushed the blade higher, and Hero gasped as the metal grazed the edge of their eye, "O-okay! Okay! Okay!" They nervously made eye contact with Villain. "It wasn't like I wanted to. It just suddenly came off."

"What? The wind did it?" Villain's lips curled into a smile, not buying an ounce of Hero's desperation.

They nervously shifted their body, although part of themselves feared that moving any more would make the blade cut into their skin. Villain wouldn't let that happen, would they?

"No... it was... forcibly removed." They anxiously breathed in rapid, short breaths with eyes darting back and forth from the knife to Villain's eyes.

Villain moved the knife from underneath the mask, their jealousy simmering into something sympathetic at their words. They firmly pressed down on the cold tool against their skin by the flat end. Hero only then realized how warm their face was. "You know I'm not the type to do such things." They murmured.

An eventual relief ran through them, yet, at the same time, a sense of comfort unexpectedly entered. They weren't opposed to it, but the fact that it was Villain had made them briefly question their morals.

Their skin slightly tingled as Villain's agonizingly slow pace of the knife rounded their jawline and moved downwards from their neck until it came to rest on the bare skin of their collarbone. Another inch more, and they'd be cutting into their suit.

Hero's heart ran. Their gazes were still locked in a silent conversation. A flicker of choices delivered itself to Hero; one of the thoughts suggested something out of line, something they didn't want to believe they would even attempt.

How could they...?

Or... maybe they would dare?

As much as Hero tried, they couldn't help but lean a little closer. Just enough to let their lips graze but still deny it any satisfaction. Villain stayed still, although they admired the courage with a knowing look. They could feel their captive's hesitation overtake them with such a heavy decision.

Villain was better at commanding, so they sorrowfully abided when they pushed Hero away, forfeitting their battle.

"Let's not forget our roles here, Hero."

They stood up, the floorboards creaking as the sound followed Villain back to the desk with the crimson letter. They opened a drawer and set the small tool into it before seating themselves on the desk in an attempt to collect themselves. Hero noticed their breathing turn harsh; the letter in their grasp, whether out of anger at the information they'd revealed or not, they weren't sure.

What they did know was whatever thoughts made it into Villain's head had managed to convince the Villain to rip it into several pieces and toss it into the trash.

~~~

MASTERLIST

#enemies to lovers #pining prompts #fluff prompt #writing prompt #villain x hero #cute prompts #hero x villain #writing #angst prompt #imagine your otp #heroxvillain #jealous villain

141 notes · View notes

herrscherrofyatta · 2 years

Text

Let you break my heart again

Tighnari x reader

angst, no gender/pronouns are used to describe reader

summary: Tighnari snaps at you after seeing you put yourself in danger without realizing it

part 2 part 3

Frustration and sadness.

That's what you felt as you frown at the sight of Tighnari speaking with a blonde haired traveler, he seems to be happy while explaining many of the plants in the forest.

That smile he's giving her, one you never saw when he was with you.

Sighing, you grip your fist before turning back around and walking back to the forest without another word. Once a good distance from Gandhara village, you place your hand just above where your heart was located at, brows furrow at aching feeling you were experiencing.

Your face turned into one of pain as you grit your teeth, letting out a shaky breathe.

"it hurts."

You say before falling down, crouching as you cover your face.

Being in love with Tighnari hurt so much.

You couldn't handle it anymore.

Letting out a shaky breathe, you pull out a letter from your pocket, you had sent a letter to a girl named Yun Jin in Liyue Harbor, you met her once while visiting the for the Lantern Rite since you were originally from there.

You asked if you could join her trope and it took a while for her respond but she said you were more than welcome too. Wanting to share this news with Tighnari, you went to find him only to see him with the blonde traveler that seem to take his interest these days.

You wanted to go but you had a role here in the forest, since you were a child, you took in interest in singing and have gotten every good at since then.

Luckily, thanks to the vision you received, you were able to take care of plants with your vision and voice which you were more than thankful for.

"Okay! Stop being sad over a boy!" You slap your face as you stand up and walk to the area you were supposed to heal.

Making yourself comfortable on the soft grass, you sit down and relax, focusing on the plants around you as take a deep breath and let your voice flow through the wind.

—

Once seeing the traveler off, Tighnari went back to work.

Spending a few hours patrolling and clearing out a few withering areas, he heads back to the village only to come across the area you were supposed to take care of.

He knew he wasn't supposed to interrupt your work but he got curious, you never really did like cleansing while people watched as it made you very nervous.

Last time you tried to show him, it ended up making things worse but you wouldn't know he would be there if he stayed quiet.

The sight of you sitting on your knees on the grass made him stop in his tracks as he stayed hidden.

It was pretty quiet until you stood up, eyes closed before opening them slowly, faded e/c eyes instead of your bright ones.

Was this part of the cleansing ritual?

He thought but turns out he was wrong when blood began pouring from your nose the longer you did the ritual as you wince slightly.

He quickly ran over to you as you fell to the floor, holding your head as he kneels infront of you.

"Tighnari?" He hears you mumble before noticing the are you two were in.

His eyes widen as he pulls you up, "you idiot," he says as you look at him confused.

"were you trying to cleanse a withering area by yourself?!" He shouts, making you wince at how hard he was gripping your arm. "You know if you see one, you come back and report it, not take care of it yourself!"

You look around to see it just a few steps away, you didn't notice it before.

"I-it wasn't there when I came earlier!" You try to tell him but you're shut down as he pulls you roughly by the arm, "you have to believe me!"

"and that's precisely why I don't want you out here, you don't pay attention to your surroundings!"

"Tighnari-"

"You're worse than Collei, you're useless—" he froze at his words, slowly turning to look at you. Your eyes were wide as you stare at him, lips parted slightly.

"Wait, I didn't mean it like that." His grip on your arm loosens up and you take a step back, disbelief all over your face as takes a step forward.

"Y/n, you know I didn't mean that—"

"you're right," you say, holding your aching arm as you look down. "I am useless, it was stupid of me.....to think I could make a difference here."

His breathe hitched at this as you quickly walk past him heading back to the village with your head down.

Being in love with Tighnari only brought you misery.

Masterlist

#genshin impact x reader #genshin x reader #genshin impact #tighnari #tighnari x reader #tighnari x you #tighnari x y/n #𒆜let you break my heart again𒆜

2K notes · View notes

lainczgf · 5 months

Text

FIRST ENCOUNTER

PAIRING: thomas shelby x reader

SUMMARY: Takes place in season 1 of peaky blinders, you are grace’s sister. She was hiding something from you, so you followed her to where she works, the garrison. When you run into someone Grace has been hiding you from.

WARNINGS: age-gap (reader early 20s), no smut.

A/N: It’s a fluff nothing much is going on, but I think I am going to turn this into a series, comment and let me know what you think. If I should or not.

SONG: West Coast by Lana Del Rey

In a blink of an eye everything changed, you along with your sister Grace lived in Galway for awhile. Until one day your sister put news upon you that you’ll be moving to Birmingham for some time. You left everything behind, your friends, your things, the memories. You both were starting anew, you never recieved an answer as to why you had to leave your hometown. Grace would avoid the answer to that question many times, she was always leaving the house her job, which she never talked about. Grace overall seemed extremely overprotective especially since moving to Birmingham, she would always bring up these so called “peaky blinders” what a funny name. She would tell you to do what you got to do and come straight back home not getting distracted by anything else, or don’t go out at all. Which scared you, you needed answers. A conversation wasn’t going to get you the answers you need so you had to take matters into your own hands.

You were reading a book as you sat there on the couch, Grace was gathering her purse, curious to where she was going. “Where you going?”

“Work.” She replied keeping it short, you nodded your head.

“Grace,” She looked at you. “Where do you work exactly?” She paused her movements and hesitated to answer that question.

“The Garrison.” The Garrison. You asked what that was. “It’s a really good job I help doing finances for important people, an office job.” She gave you a smile, and you returned the gesture. She came up to you placing a kiss on your forehead and hugging you.

“Stay home I won’t be out too long okay.” You nodded your head and she opens the door, but stops to turn to you. “Don’t open the door for anyone alright?” You nodded quickly shooing her away and she smiles, while shutting the door behind her, leaving you alone.

You quickly drop your book beside you on the couch, running towards the window, opening the curtain slightly. Seeing where Grace was going you waited until she was no where in sight, today was the day you’ll find out what she is hiding or at least find out where she works.

You wore a collared white shirt, with a blue skirt and a black sweater, and putting on your shoes. You stepped outside the house, the gloomy chilly weather hitting you as you stepped outside. You made your way down the steps, and made your way to where you saw Grace heading.

You got lost after a few minutes of wandering around, you had to ask someone for help. You look around and see this man with his back facing you.

“Excuse me sir?” He turned to look at you as he smoked his cigarette. “I was hoping you can tell me where the Garrison is?”

He started laughing, you were confused at his reaction. “What is a pretty lady you going to the Garrison for?”

“I don’t think that’s any of your concern,” You grew impatient, just wanting to know where the place was. “Now please can you tell me the Garrison is at before I grab that cigarette of yours and burn it against your skin.”

He puts his hands up in surrender and huffing out smoke. “You go down that street there,” he points as you look at his gestures, as he continues to give you directions.

You thank him and make your way to the Garrison. The more you kept walking you felt more out of place, there was men everywhere that were looking at you like your candy. You saw a group of men come out of a building all drunk, laughing and causing chaos. You look up from the building they came out of and in big written letters it said ‘THE GARRISON’.

You took a deep breath and made your way through the big brown doors of the Garrison. Upon walking in there were loud chatting, many men sitting down at tables drinking their hearts away. This didn’t look like an office job that Grace mentioned. There was a sea of people in the place, smelled like alcohol everywhere making you scrunch your nose. You look around and see a glimpse of blonde hair, with a red sweater, you took a few steps closer and stop in your tracks.

It was Grace, serving drinks to a couple of men who looked that if they drank anymore they would pass out. She hadn’t seen you yet since she had her back turned towards you, you clear your throat. “This doesn’t look like an office job Grace?”

She quickly turned towards the direction of your voice, and her eyes widened upon seeing you.

She excused herself from the men, and made her way towards you. She reached you looking infruriated that you didn’t listen to her. “What are you doing here?”

“Grace you’re a bloody barmaid? YOU LIED.” You said loudly, she shushed you quick pulling you away from the middle of the pub, trying to not get the attention of the men, and bringing you near the far end of the bar counter. “Are you going to explain why you lied?”

“Please, Y/n go home and I promise I will explain everything to you.” She put her hand on her temples, stressing out.

“No Grace,” You shake your head and she is shocked. “I am done being kept in the bloody dark. This clearly doesn’t look like a fucking financing job or an office doesn’t it?”

“Y/n you can’t be here there’s dangerous people here,” You scoff.

“Please Grace I’m not falling for your stupid warnings, you clearly just want me to leave.” She grabs your arm tightly and you try to pry her hand off your arm.

“Leave now.” She said sternly, trying to take you out the pub, but you kept fighting against her tries.

“No I’m not leaving until you tell me everything.” You were both causing a scene that everyone around you were now looking at you. Screaming at you two to fight.

“WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?” Everyone stopped their cheering and screaming. Grace stopped and sighed, while closing her eyes. “You need to leave now Y/n.” she whispers at you, you shake your head.

“Fuck,” She said under her breath displeasingly. You were confused at her reaction.

The sound of footsteps got closer towards your direction, and you look behind you. You saw a man who looked a few years older than you, dressed up in a nice black suit, and a newspaper boy hat. He had light blue piercing eyes, and the most intimidating stare ever, his presence seemed powerful, but overall he was quite handsome. He looked at you up and down no emotion on his face, then looked at Grace.

“Who are you?” Before you had the chance, Grace stepped beside you and he looked at her.

“My sister, she was visiting me today.” You scoff at the lie she came up with, he glanced at you at your sudden reaction.

He turns around towards everyone who was surrounding you three. “Everyone go back to what you were doing. Nothing to see here.” Everyone does as they are told, and he turns his attention back to you two standing before him.

Grace grabs your arm pulling you beside her, you shake off your arm away from her. “I hope it’s not a problem, Mr. Shelby.” He stayed silent looking at us, and shook his head.

“Just don’t cause any more ruckus in my pub Grace, it’s quite simple.” She nods her head and you scoff in disbelief. The fact that he was setting orders to your sister, you couldn’t stay quiet.

“We weren’t causing a ruckus, your people are just nosy sir.” You challenged him. Grace looked at you with wide eyes and shushed you. He looked at you amused that you dared to speak back to him.

“Excuse her, Tommy." He took out a cigarette from his pocket, and placed it on his lips. He took out his lighter from his back pocket, then lit up the cigarette, and inhaled the smoke, all while looking at you. Usually if someone talked back to him, and challenged him he would put a bullet between their head, but he found you amusing instead.

He was intimidating, his stare is intimidating it felt like you were staring not his soul, but at the same time he looked quite attractive while doing so.

Grace got called over to serve some people. “Stay here don’t leave when my shift is done we’ll go home.” You looked at her as she left, leaving you alone with Tommy.

You looked at him as he observed you, he was curious about you. His stare was so intense that you had to look else where.

“I’m Tommy Shelby,” He said and you glance at him.

“I figured,” He chuckled softly, tapping off the ashes on the bar counter with his finger.

“You’ve got quite a mouth eh?” You’ve always been more opinionated than Grace, she was more of taking everyone’s shit. However, you were the complete opposite you weren’t going to take everyone’s shit and stay silent.

“Is that a problem?”

He smoked before answering. "No woman has ever spoken to me the way you do."

"Well I'm not most women Mr. Shelby." All he did was stare at you with an amusing smile. The way his name rolled off your tongue did unexplainable things to him, he was interested in you.

"I'm guessing you haven't heard then eh?" You look at him confused at his response, before he can even manage to get a word out, Grace cuts into the conversation, with her purse on her right shoulder.

"Tommy can I get off earlier, so I can take her home, I don't want her waiting for me late at night here." Tommy stares at you and purses his lips, then nods upon Grace's request.

She thanks him and Grace grabs your arm gently leading you away, not giving him enough time to say bye to you. You both make it out of the Garrison, making your way home in deafening silence.

After minutes of walking you both made it home, and before you can go to your room, Grace speaks to you. "Why did you go against what I said?" She said calmly which was quite intimidating, and you pulled your hand away sitting on the living room couch.

"You want the truth or a made up lie dear sister?" You sarcastically smile at her, and she sighed in annoyance.

"This isn't a game Y/n." She kept her cool.

"Well then, I wanted to know the whole truth as to why I have to be locked up here as a prisoner everyday, I didn't come with you to Birmingham out of the blue just to be a fucking prisoner," She opened her mouth to speak, but you cut her off. "I wanted to see where you worked and clearly that financial job you said was a fucking lie, so, instead of lying some more tell me the fucking truth I want to know everything. Why can't I be roaming the streets like a normal person or hang out with my friends?" She stayed silent and took a seat beside you.

"I can't tell you everything, but trust me everything is in control," You rolled your eyes. "All I can tell you is that I was trying to protect you from the peaky blinders." You furrow your brows in confusion.

"The man you met, Tommy," You nodded your head. "He is part of the peaky blinders, him along with his family and a couple other people they are apart of this gang, he's the leader of the gang."

"They are dangerous people they aren't as nice as they seem, HE isn't as nice as he seems, they kill people. I was protecting you from encountering them, but now you've caught HIS attention." Your mouth has gone dry and you regretted going out today, you felt guilty for not listening to her.

"I understand that you want to protect me, but I can't be a prisoner here," She looked down at her fingers. "I won't go to the Garrison no more, but I want to be able to go out to the cinema with my friends."

she stayed silent looking at you, you sat there pleading with your face. "Fine." You smiled and gave her a huge hug, as she hugged you back slightly laughing. "Don't back on your word then."

"I promise I won't."

However, that little encounter wouldn't be the last, it was just the beginning.

Originally this was going to be a fluff one shot, but I think I'm turning it into a sequel, what do you all think? Also I just finished school so I'll be able to write the ideas, I've been having recently. Next thing I'll be publishing is this Diego lainez x reader x Sebastian Cordova one shot! Stay tuned.

#cillian murphy #lainczgf #tommy shelby #peaky blinders #fanfic #fluff #peaky blinder imagine #thomas shelby #x reader

111 notes · View notes

twignotstick · 2 months

Text

Broken Brothers (and How to Fix Them)

Part 3 💜 | Part 1 <- 🧡 | Part 2 <- 💙

Note: This story is based on @cupcakeslushie 's Empyrean Weeping au. These characters are not my own, and this story is in no way canon to the main story. I wrote this as my love letter to the story and the characters. Especially April :)

Tags: Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, ROTTMNT, Donnie & April, April & the Turtles, NOT MY CHARACTERS, Empyrean Weeping AU, recovery (hehehehehe), talking it out because we're adults, skating, social avoidance? idk how to tag that

Warnings (if there's anything I should add here, tell me please!): yelling, some violent actions

Words: 2,065

Summary: April was able to figure out her first brother easily. Now, she gets three more, with a couple more issues to worry about.

----------------------

One brother was already a lot. He was sweet, if a little violent. April was content with one brother.

Then she found out he had two more. Lost in their youth, taken away, never to be seen again. Suddenly, one wasn't enough. April wanted three brothers.

So she got them. One by one, she welcomed her new brothers into their home. She helped them feel safe and welcomed. And, in turn, they helped her learn her place as a big sister.

Now, four? Four whole brothers? That was pushing it.

Donnie was a wild card. Some days, he'd bounce around madly, blabbering about whatever “improvements” he'd made in the lair (always putting Splinter on edge, yet he could never find any problems with whatever Donnie did, probably because his brothers did damage control before he could catch it). Other days, he'd literally hiss at April until she left. Not just left the lair; left the sewers.

This day was supposed to be one of those days. Donnie was visibly shaking with all the pent up energy in him. The brothers had apparently had an “intervention” with Donnie after the previous night, when he had almost broken a major support beam in the lair just so he could collapse it on April. Now, he wasn't allowed to show violence to April in any form for a whole week. In exchange, he'd be allowed to take a single blood sample from each of his brothers, which was the weirdest trade April had ever heard. But Donnie really wanted it.

And boy, was it hard for him.

“Did you see that?! Did you see? I totally landed that one!” Mikey yelped, shaking on his skateboard.

“Good job, big man.” Raph stepped up beside him, lightly touching Mikey's shoulder and making his eyes widen as he tried to maintain his balance.

Mikey had been wanting to practice his skate tricks, and Raph wanted to make sure he did it in a safe environment. The skate ramp in the lair was perfect. Even if they were just practicing kickflips at the bottom, it was safe and contributed to good vibes.

While Raph and Mikey stood at the bottom, April, Leo, and Donnie sat at the top with their legs dangling beneath them. Well, April and Leo's legs were dangling. Donnie was perched up like a frog, knees thrown out to the sides and his hands curled on the edge of the ramp. Leo, of course, was between him and his self proclaimed mortal enemy, absorbing as much murderous intent as he could. It was a lot, to put it nicely.

“Do you think he'll ever actually get to use the ramp?” Leo asked, enjoying the spectacle of his youngest brother getting properly babied by his oldest.

“Four is definitely tough enough to survive a fall from this height,” Donnie responded cheerily. “His shell is the best of all of us. A human, on the other hand, would likely get severely injured if they were to be shoved off the edge.” His face grew the slightest grin at the imaginary violence.

“Watch the language.” Leo raised a brow to Donnie. “And it's Mikey, remember? Not Four.”

“R-right!” Donnie stammered, patting his hands on the side of the ramp. “Four is Mikey.”

“No, Mikey is Mikey. His name isn't Four, and it never was. Just like my name isn't Two, Raph's name isn't One, and your name isn't Three. You're our brother. Donatello.”

Leo was getting slightly agitated, and Donnie- or maybe Three- was starting to fidget and rock back and forth. It was clear that Leo wanted Donnie to just give up all this number talk and act like their childhoods hadn't happened. But that was just an impossible task. April could tell that this situation would be quick to spiral.

“Hey, uh, Leo?” April asked, getting his attention.

“Yes?”

“Betcha can't do an ollie.”

Leo turned fully to face April. “A what?”

“I-it's a skateboard trick…” Donnie said, causing Leo's attention to whip around again. “F- Mikey showed me a couple days ago.”

“Oh.” Leo's brow ridges tightened as he whipped back to face April. “You think I can't pull some stupid skate trick? You are so on.” Leo slid down the ramp, using his carapace like a sled. “Mikey! Give me your board!”

Donnie watched him slide down with wide eyes. “Has he… ever skated before?” He asked, mildly concerned.

“Nope. Never even touched a board.” April smirked. “He's gonna be stuck down there for at least an hour.” She looked over at Donnie, who was gazing down at his brothers with a lost glaze over his eyes.

“You wanna go join them, Donnie?”

The softshell's neck popped as he snapped to glare at April. The murderous intent that had been building suddenly channeled into his face, and he growled before standing up and stomping away swiftly toward his recently decorated room.

April glanced down at the three brothers having fun, then pushed herself up to follow the one who wasn't.

“Wait, Donnie! What's wrong? I-”

“Stop.” The turtle hissed, not turning around to face her.

“Stop? Donnie, what did I-”

“I SAID STOP IT! STOP CALLING ME THAT!” He pressed the heels of his hands into the sides of his head.

“What do you mean? Just tell me what's-”

The turtle turned on his heel in the doorframe. “JUST LEAVE ME ALONE! I don't know how to put it in a way your STUPID HUMAN BRAIN WILL UNDERSTAND!” His face morphed into a manic grin. “Goodbye! So long! Sayonara! Toodaloo! GET OUT OF MY FACE!”

The door slammed shut, and April was left breathless.

----------------------

April came back the next day to a much quieter lair. The boys were keeping space from each other, whether consciously or not. Raph was wandering around, trying to act like everything was okay. Leo was training in the dojo. Mikey was spending more time around Splinter than he usually did.

The final brother was still locked in his room.

April decided to join Mikey to bring him his second meal of the day. The first one, a small plate of rice, was still outside the door, now cold and dry.

Mikey knocked lightly, barely tapping the door with his knuckles. “Donnie?” He whispered. “I've got more food for you. It's your favorite- flavorless mush! I tested it myself, no taste at all. I promise!”

The offer was met with silence.

Mikey sighed and let his shoulders slump, backing away from the door. “I just don't get it,” he muttered pathetically. “He hasn't even come out to pee, April. Do you think he's just peeing in a cup? Or a corner? Does Donnie have a pee corner that we don't know about?”

“Mikey, it's okay.” April grabbed his shoulder. “First of all, yes, he probably does, and that just means we get to bond over cleaning his room when this is over. Second, you shouldn't have to worry about this.”

“I'm so sorry, April.” Mikey looked down to his feet. “I don't know why he hates you so much. Maybe if we hadn't-”

“Don't apologize,” April interrupted. “If anyone needs to apologize, it's me.”

Mikey looked back up at his big sister with wide eyes. “Why?”

She sighed. “Because I did something wrong.” April took the food from Mikey's hands. “I'll get him to eat. I'll text you if things go super wrong, but otherwise, ignore any loud noises. I have a feeling this might get… violent.”

Mikey puffed his chest. “Roger, roger!” He saluted and rushed down the hall, supposedly to find Raph and warn him of April's plan before he could start panicking.

April stood next to the door. “Hey, bud,” she started. “It's April. I've got your food, and I'm not gonna leave until you let me in to give it to you.”

After about two minutes of just standing there and getting no response, April sat down. She would say something every few minutes, just to remind him she was still there.

48 minutes later, the lock clicked.

April opened the door slowly. Glancing around the room, she could see the state of disarray it was in. Clothes carpeted the floor, as well as abandoned scrap projects. The turtle was cloaked beneath blankets on his bed, only his bright eyes glaring out at the invader.

She left the door open and stood to the side, getting just close enough. She didn't want him to feel threatened or trapped. She placed the (well cold by now) food next to the growling blanket pile and backed away. Waiting a second, just until he proved he would actually start eating, she spoke.

“Why don't you want me to call you Donnie?”

The pile shifted. “You just… you just can't.”

“Why not?”

“...because Splinter gave me that name. It's my name as his son. As Raph, Leo, and Mikey's brother. Not yours.”

April was about to pose a question, but the softshell suddenly sat up and started showing his anger. In the action, he also revealed the red marks growing on his arms from squeezing them.

“Because I don't care how much time you spend around us. I don't care how much One likes you, or how much Four draws you, or how much stupid stuff you watch with Two! You aren't related to me. It's scientifically impossible. We don't share any genetic material. You aren't my brother!”

With frazzled eyes, he turned and grabbed April's collar, bringing the two face to face.

“And you are most definitely not my sister.”

He shoved April away and sulked back in his den. The girl decided to take the violent outburst as an invitation to get closer, and sat on the edge of the bed.

“...that's okay.”

She only got a sniff in response.

“I don't need to be your sister. Or your brother. All I want is to be your friend. And if that means I call you something else, that's okay. Just tell me what you want me to call you, and I'll do it. Maybe I can call you Purple like Splints has been. Or I'll call you Three, if you really want me to.”

The turtle, Donnie to some, showed his face, keeping the blankets wrapped around his shoulders. His fingers were digging into his upper arms.

“And I know you might not like me, but I'm not going anywhere. Your brothers like me, and they'll be upset if I go away.” When she saw the softshell's grip tighten, she quickly added, “And I know that if they had to choose, they'd pick you. But they don't have to. They don't want to.”

The turtle stared aimlessly in front of him. “...I don't… I…”

“I can just not call you anything if you can't decide. Y'know, just call you ‘dude’ and stuff.”

His shoulders lifted higher, touching the sides of his chin. “That… that works…”

April smiled wide. “Great.”

The two sat there, just accepting each other's company. Donnie's tight posture slowly loosened, and April focused on making sure his breathing was even.

This poor boy had never known true family. He had never known learning to trust people and taking them in. He had never been taken in. This concept, choosing family, was so foreign. Because to him, family wasn't something you could choose.

April would never allow that. Never again.

“...sooo, do you have a pee corner?”

“What?!”

April held her hands up defensively. “Mikey said you haven't come out to pee! I just wanted to know if you had a pee corner!”

“No?! Why would you automatically assume I have a pee corner?”

“Because you haven't come out of your room to pee! What, do you have a pee cup instead?!”

“No!”

“Then what have you been doing?!”

Donnie pointed to a spot in the room, and April looked over to see a very D.I.Y. toilet, made of scrap metal welded together. (She could recall that Donnie's welding materials had been taken from him weeks ago.) “I hooked it up to go straight into the tunnels,” Donnie boasted proudly. “I even dug the holes myself! Digged? Dug.”

“...yeeeah, we're getting rid of that,” April grimaced.

“WHAT?! WHY?!”

“YOU KNOW VERY WELL WHY.”

----------------------

[In time, Donnie would let April call him by his name. And, in time, he would learn that his name was his, and his alone.]

○●○●○●○

And that's it! Totally! April has started on her long journey to fixing all of her broken brothers! She has NO OTHER BROTHERS THAT HAVE ISSUES, why would you ever think that 🟥🐢

This part gave me quite a few problems. Knowing that the "Maps" comic is probably going to explore April and Donnie's relationship, I was a little scared about making assumptions. Also, you don't realize how difficult it is to write someone who isn't all there until you're actually trying to do it. Eventually I just said "screw it, if he's out of character, its fine". So now we're here :)

ALso, no one tells you how motivating and powerful the high you get when someone you look up to praises your work is, I thought this would take me WAY LONGER to finish 🤡

aanyway, congrats to all the tmnt au comp winners, again. Can't wait to see who moves on from here :D

Part 4 -> ❤️

#tmnt #tmnt au #tmnt fanfiction #teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt #save rottmnt #unpause rottmnt #tmnt separated au #separated au #tmnt au propaganda #tmnt april #tmnt donnie #twig writes

147 notes · View notes

rise-my-angel · 9 months

Text

Heart of the Great Wolf

14 - Only The Cold

Paring: Jon Snow x F!Baratheon!Reader (Slow Burn), Robb Stark x F!Baratheon!Reader (Past)

Length: 15.5k

Warnings: angst/hurt comfort, slow burn, implied/references to rape, threats of torture and violence, graphic description of blood and gore, mentions of forced marriage/pregnancy, character death, execution, slight canon divergence

Notes: Things uh.... happen in this chapter, whoops. Any hoo, how we all feeling about Robb being put with the label of Past? Anyone's heart hurt yet? Previous Chapter Here, Series Masterlist Here.

The last time she had seen you was years ago. You had been gone for so long that she wondered if she’d even recognize you. Her mother had shouted at her multiple times to calm down, and as she travelled the edges of the walls but Shireen refused to come down until she saw you. The cliffs of Dragonstone were tall and dense, dark and jagged and made it hard to see when you didn’t know quite where to look, but she just kept wandering to find the right vantage point.

Shireen almost cried the day she got your letter that you’d be coming to visit before returning to King’s Landing. It was almost her nameday and you wanted to be there for it after missing so many. You two wrote all the time, constant ravens sent back and forth to make sure neither felt without their sister, and she almost ran down Maester Cressen trying to find her mother to tell her the good news.

By the time she saw you, Shireen ended up running towards you with no hesitation or care for her mother calling her to stop. Shouting your name, you brightened up in an instant. A smile on your face as you climbed off your horse, you knelt down as she practically jumped into your arms. Holding the other tight as you joked that she just have been busy building her strength in her spare time.

She could still recall you running your hands down both sides of her cheeks like you had been trying to memorize the differences in the time spent away. Neither of you had even returned to the castle for supper that first day, spending all your time out on the rough cliffs as you pointed to her where some of the tunnels were hiding under the rocks.

“Can we go in there? Mother would never let me if I asked her to take me.”

You had laughed, hoisting her up in your arms before placing her down onto a taller rock so her head was level in height with yours standing. “Let’s make a deal, the next time I’m here we will go exploring together. But you have to promise me you’ll keep it a secret. Some of them can be dangerous, but that’s where all the pretty ones are. Purples and reds the deeper we go.”

For a long time she was holding you to that promise. She researched all about dragonglass to make sure she could prove to you the next visit that she was prepared. Then father returned home unexpectedly, closed the Island from any outside visitors, and not long after that, was war.

Having to get used to the idea that father was King now, and that made her a princess. Shireen could live with that, but she often wondered if you were calling yourself that. What you were doing or where you were as they were all back home preparing for father to take the throne. Then she found out you were a Queen. Your husband was called the King in the North and that made you the Queen in the North, but it meant you were the enemy now.

She hated it, all of it. Father loved you, but he spoke of you like a traitor and mother often commented that you were as guilty as that “thief who manipulated her away from us.” Shireen had been caught on a bad day, yelling that it’s fathers fault you were on the other side of a war and didn’t speak to anyone for days.

She would read your letters, the last one you sent telling her you promise you’d go to the next tournament and write to her all about it. Promising that when you’d return to the North you would find a way to get Shireen to come visit. Meet your husband and the other Starks. Shireen would read it and hate that she didn’t know if you were alright.

It wasn’t fair, the last time she saw you it was so exciting, you spent your entire visit together and now you were a Northern Queen fighting a war that father was going to fight against you in. Then the letter came, and she knew something very bad had happened by the look on the Onion Knight’s face.

Now though, she was so nervous to knock on the door. Mother and father didn’t want to talk about you after everything but it wasn’t fair. They knew so much more about your life before you died and Shireen was left in the dark. First you were married, then you were a Queen, then at war with father, and then you were dead. But none of that told her anything about you that brought her comfort.

The knock was so soft Jon almost didn’t even hear it. One of the first things he realized about being Lord Commander was how much of his life was to be spent staring at numbers on a page that made him want to fall through the floor. Calling for them to come in, the last person he expected poked their head through the barley open door. “Princess,”

It made him smile a little, how adorable yet bashful the girl was. If he looked hard enough, he wondered if he would be able to see how much you and Shireen looked alike from when you were that age. She slinked in quietly before looking to the work on his desk, “I’m sorry they said not to bother you- I can leave..”

Shaking his head, he put aside some of the things in front of him. “Not a bother at all, what can I do for you?” The way she hesitated was full of a doubt, as if the little princess didn’t know if she should even bring whatever it was, up. Jon’s tone quiet as he stood, pulling a chair closer to the other side of his desk. “At least come in a little, it’s cold out.”

Nodding, she walked in as Jon looked out the door with curiosity before closing it. He didn’t imagine she was just allowed to walk around on her own, but instead of saying anything about it, he amusingly thought that perhaps helping Baratheon girls break their strict parents rules might be a pattern of his. But when your name came out of the girls mouth it made him pause, an unpleasant skip in his heart that he had to endure. Her eyes a little hazy as she wrung her hands in her lap. “You knew her, right? In Winterfell?”

“I did.” His voice felt raw, walking over to sit more in front of her. You had told him all about Shireen, the degree to which you loved her always made Jon look at you with such adoration and now that he saw her in person, it wasn’t fair it was like this. “She was a friend.”

Her eyes flickered up to him and for a second, it looked like she doubted him like the way Arya used to when he insisted the same thing to her. “I-” Looking away for a moment she glanced around the room to find any distraction but none came. Her eyes came back in a sharp look almost like an accusation, “Does anyone really believe you when you say that?”

Taken back a moment, Jon looked at her trying to see the tethers in her mind connect before admitting anything. This specific set of Baratheons served to constantly keep Jon on his toes it seemed. “I think I’d be in a lot more trouble if they didn’t.”

“When my mother first told me she had gotten married, I thought it was to you.” Jon didn’t move and neither did his heart beat or lungs breathe. But he certainly didn’t want to react as such in front of a child who clearly needed someone to just be there for her right now. “I figured it out eventually but it didn’t make sense to me. She talked about you all the time, wrote about you, and then father just tells her to marry someone else and now neither of us ever saw her again.”

Swallowing a pain in his throat, he tried leaning forward to speak gently to her, “Your sister was doing her duty, it didn’t matter what me and her might have wanted. She always did what she was supposed to do in the end.”

As she looked at Jon, it was clear he could see you in her and it made him almost feel worse. Every since their arrival, you were all Jon could see and hear. He had his own duty to do, especially now, but you haunted him now in ways you didn’t when you were alive.

“Did it hurt? Having her marry your brother?”

There was a lot on her mind, young enough as well that she seemed to jump from topic to topic without being able to find the core of what she wanted to say. But Jon suspected maybe she didn’t really have one thing to say, maybe she just wanted to talk to the one person you knew better then her or her parents.

He could see you clearly. You looked so beautiful that day, like you belonged right there only Jon watched from the wrong side and the next day that was all he would ever see of you again. “Yes, it did.” Jon didn’t know if being this honest was a good idea, but he thought Shireen needed it. “I knew her since I was ten, loved her just as long and then I watched her marry my brother. I wanted them to be happy together, I didn’t want her or Robb to be miserable but watching her marry the brother who always got everything hurt a lot.”

Some part of Jon wondered, if you had still been out there, would he say yes to being Lord of Winterfell just for a chance to see you again. But he had to give that up. He had a duty to the Night’s Watch, especially now as Lord Commander and there wasn’t even anyone out there anymore who cared if Jon returned home.

Being made a Stark wouldn’t change the fact that he spent most of his life as the bastard in the background. The North mourned Robb, not him.

“Father doesn’t like to talk about her. Used to say she was a traitor, but then Lady Melisendre would tell him that she was coming back. Would say she would return home and bring the wolves with her.” His eyes narrowed ever so slightly. There was very little Jon liked that would come out of that woman’s mouth. Made him nothing but uncomfortable. “She was supposed to come home, and I was supposed to be an aunt and now everything just feels wrong without her.”

He could see your stomach soaked in blood, and he felt sick once more. He hoped Shireen didn’t know anything about how you died. He wished he didn’t know how Robb had died and it haunted him everyday knowing that he only lost his life because his own men betrayed him. “It always does when you lose someone you love. It’ll always feel wrong without them here anymore.”

“Does it ever get better?”

With a sad half smile he ran a hand over the girl’s hair. “I’ll go to you first to let you know, when I find out myself. Now come on, let’s get you back to where you need to be.” Standing her up he gave her a look with a raised eyebrow. “Because I’m certain it isn’t supposed to be here.”

Before reaching the door Shireen turned to him, “Could..would it be okay if I hugged you?” That time Jon’s smile was much easier and more gentle towards her.

“Can’t say no to a princess, now can I?” Kneeling down to her level, it broke his heart how much she just sunk into him. Like all her energy left then and there as he ran a hand over her hair. If the weight of losing you, losing almost his entire family felt like this to him at his age he couldn’t imagine how much it hurt her. “She knew you loved her, and she loved you more then anything. Remember that.”

She may still have her parents, but he knew what losing your siblings felt like and the girl was too young to deal with all of it on her own. People like Jon, like Stannis, could handle their grief because they had a duty to do regardless of it all.

He wasn’t dealing with it particularly well, the anger inside him slowly festering to something unhealthy but now he was Lord Commander. Even if he was Lord of Winterfell, he had a duty that wasn’t mourning the dead no matter how much he wished he had the chance too.

For a moment finally on his own, he looked over the main courtyard of Castle Black. Watching your father rule, becoming a leader of his own, he wondered for a moment what you were like. He could easily imagine the kind of king Robb would’ve been. Easy to see him fall well into leadership, and as much as he told you to be happy with him, Jon still couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.

You probably made a beautiful Queen and he wished he could’ve seen it. He too wondered, would you be proud of where he stands today? Would you see the man you loved if you could see Jon now or was he falling too angry and jaded to be worthy of that anymore. It was hard to tell.

The air was cold as snow continued to fall all around. Thick snowflakes came down heavy and hard in the night and now a chill was in the air that shivered the whole body. Still, you didn’t find the bother to dress for it. Everyone else coming to accept the cold of winter had arrived and yet you stood in the bare minimum and cared not for the freezing on your skin. Not that the Bolton’s would let you even dress warm anyways. Just something to force you weaker.

Being given some free range to walk the castle did nothing to improve your mood. Your body still screamed at you for how sore it was, and your mind wanted to plunge to it’s death at the bottom of the stone walls you were resting your forearms over. No one looked at you like you belonged here, and other then the torment of the Boltons, it was just pity you found.

Not a soul was fooled that you were anything other then a walking prisoner and yet this madness of assuming you would be the key to having a claim to the North continued. Lord Tywin Lannister had been murdered, shot with a crossbow by his own kin. With both Tyrion Lannister and Sansa separated on the run, there was no Lannister to inherit the North from the Boltons and now it laid on their feet to secure their own future.

The crown’s strength was in Tywin Lannister and now with him gone, the realm was likely a mess of no one knowing what to do, so the North was left to be subjugated in the fear of it’s new wardens and nothing to protect them. None would protect you here either. If you jumped now, none would care for your death because none other then the people here and now would even know anything changed from the last words of your spoken death.

Slowly slinking up next to you was a figure you’d been trying very hard to ignore. Since being given a tiny bit of freedom of being able to walk around parts of the castle she had appeared more and more with a watchful eye and fake sweet words that you bought for none. She had the same glint in her eyes that her lover did and you wanted no part in falling for her tricks. Myranda was the daughter of the one of the kennel masters and the one you knew was the only girl vile enough to have found something of Ramsay’s affections.

Theon seemed highly uncomfortable around her as well, and you could only imagine any part she’s played in his own suffering. So far, she had tried to manipulate you into trusting her but has grown tired to failing in that endeavour. You didn’t fall for it nor did you care too. “Don’t you look much prettier all dolled up in the snow. I wager the boys all loved going for rounds with you, didn’t they?”

Your jaw set as you continued to look out to the cold outside. Wondering how long the snow would fall like this, if soon the entirety of the North would be encased in it until you froze to death. Coming up to you, her back leaned against the stone edge as she trailed her eyes judgingly over you. “We really should spend more time with each other, I’ve heard so much about our Queen in the North but she doesn’t know me at all. Shouldn’t a good queen know her people?”

Your voice was flat as your nails dug into your palms. “I can’t be a Queen if I’m dead, so I suppose that means I have no reason to care about knowing you. We aren’t friends, and you don’t want to be either.”

Running a hand over the shoulder of your dress and down the long sleeves, she hummed to herself with a fake pout. “I’m hurt, here I thought you’re time out of those cells would’ve made you so much happier but you’re as grim as the rest of winter aren’t you?” Her gloved ones mocked the growing freezing you felt on your bare skin, threatening to turn colours if you kept them out much longer.

The sigh you let out was deep. “Did you want something Myranda, or did you just come here to annoy my peace and quiet?” The glare in her eye narrowing said she did not like that attitude one bit.

Turning to face the same way she leaned against you, one arm sliding across your lower back before pulling you into her side, her voice gratingly high pitched in your ear. “I can see why he likes you, got some bite in you after all. Of course, he bites worse but you already knew that.” The cut on your lip still dark as it was trying to heal over. “Always loves making a mess when he fucks, little servants cleaning up after our nights in for a shock. Wonder what kinds of messes he leaves with you, suppose, lots of blood I imagine. The more you fight the more he likes to see you painted with red I find.”

Your insides shuddered, trying not to think about it. Trying not to think about what kind of people the Bolton’s were in general that none close to Ramsay saw anything wrong with what he was doing. Part of you wondered if this was a form of revenge from Roose himself. Many times over you and Robb adamantly refused any mistreatment of prisoners, any torture he put forward. You had stood by Robb as he executed Rickard Karstark for murdering two teenage boys being held prisoner.

He knew what was happening, every day you would see him and as he sat next to his wide eyed wife who lived in a bubble like nothing could hurt her. You sat next to Ramsay who spent every night finding new ways to mock you, and his hands wandered to the point you couldn’t scrub hard enough later to make the feeling of his touch leave you.

The only time you could handle it, was if he made you bleed a little more then normal and your mind would jolt you back in time, back to seeing Robb raise his hand from your stomach soaked in blood, or back to the faint, distant memories of grey eyes that have now forgotten about you, and it seemed to black your mind out for long enough to keep away from what was happening. This was not the person you were supposed to be.

This wasn’t the person anyone raised you to be, or the one the people you loved, loved about you. This was a hollow shell that didn’t know how to fight back or find any reason to why you should. Soon enough winter would fall too heavily on the North and you’d be trapped here hoping that you could kill yourself before they marry you to Ramsay.

It wasn’t an honourable end, but you wouldn’t dishonour how much you and Robb loved each other by having the man after him be the monstrous son of the one who murdered him and his own unborn son. You hoped Robb and his father didn’t look at where you were now, and hate you for being so weak. Maybe it was too late, maybe they already hated you for it. Maybe the North hated your memory for letting this happen to their King.

Maybe if only you died that night, if Robb had lived, things would be okay. Things could be okay. He was a strong leader and incredibly handsome, he would’ve found a prettier wife with mocking red hair to make him far happier and they would’ve been ruling from the North by this point. You could’ve died that day and maybe none of this would have happened.

You didn’t deserve to be the one who lived, it was Robb who deserved the world and more. It was him the people chose as King, you were just a footnote in history and seeing you dangle in front of the Boltons as a prisoner would only show the remaining North that you were pathetic without the Starks to protect you. A feeling of cold rushed passed you in the wind, and you remembered that day Ser Barristan helped you escape.

He was wrong, whatever worth he saw in making sure you were alive was wrong. You should’ve just stayed there. Let Joffery and Cersei take your head and the world would wage war and move on without you there to ruin everyone’s lives. You couldn’t save your people, your husband, and you couldn’t even save your son, what kind of wife, what kind of queen were you really?

It was Myranda’s hand trailing down to grasp the sides of your dress, pulling them up as she tilted her head down that brought you back. “How’s he left you looking I wonder, think we’d match if we compare? Of course I thought you’d be used to it by now, fucking all those wolves must’ve roughed your cunt up something good, didn’t it?”

Your palms begun to bleed you dug your nails into them so sharply, the muscles in your neck almost trembling from the high kicked nerves inside of you. You could endure everything from the Bolton’s, but you didn’t need to add to the list by reacting, you didn’t need to add to the list by slamming this girl’s head so hard into the stone walls in front of her that you shattered every bone in her pretty face.

But her slimy voice just kept tempting something so furious inside of you the more she talked. “Just how many of those Stark men did you fuck? Spent an awful lot of time with them, didn’t you? Not that I blame you, rough Northern men must be a real treat for such a dour little Southern girl like you.” Leaning her head against the side of yours you felt that fury desperate to be uncaged. “Do the wolves fuck like wolves? Probably why Ramsay just can’t wait for the wedding to take you.”

It was a mistake to let loose, but your voice was speaking before your brain had a chance to stop you from spitting it out. “What about you? Spend an awful lot of time with all those hounds, they probably have taught you a thing or two about how to take it.”

The hand on your dress dropped and you turned to face her as she did you. “Roose Bolton is only keeping you around so you can give Ramsay an heir. The North mourns you as they do their precious King and having you show up with a Bolton baby? Gives them the perfect leverage over them, that’s all your alive for.”

You swallowed your rage as you felt your stomach burn in the remnants of the wounds scarred across them. You refused to let that happen, it wasn’t fair, that couldn’t be what the gods replaced your son with.

“That’s the only reason you’re even alive, isn’t it? Ramsay needs you, or at least...just the parts of you that can give him an heir. And only until you’ve given him a boy or two, then he’s finished with you. I know he has incredible plans for what to do with the rest of you once he’s done, I’m sure it’ll be so much fun to watch. But I don’t have to just watch do I, after all, he doesn’t need such a pretty face and pretty body to fuck a baby into you now does he?”

Her nails reached up to scratch along your neck as you leaned into the others space as if ready to attack her at any moment, your eyes looked back without the fear that her counterparts pulled from you. You didn’t fear her, just the men she totes around with, the only thing that even made her scary was them. But here? You wondered how quickly you could jump off this ledge before men came for you if you did anything right then.

Only, you didn’t, and she didn’t. Instead Theon’s voice from afar interrupted you. “Apologies, my lady, your father is looking for you.” His attention given towards Myranda, only causing her to glace between him and you before smiling.

Leaning in so felt her breathe on your face, “I’ll make sure to come up with some fun new ideas for that pretty face of yours later.”

You didn’t realize how tense your muscles all were until they ached in relaxing once she disappeared from view. Theon didn’t move towards you, only staying in place as he always did. Everyday it was the same, both of you found new horrors to set you right back to where you started, only slowly building up what you both once were when totally alone.

Looking back out to the snow around you, you inhaled a shaking breath before turning your head slightly to the side. “At least come where I can see you, if you’re going to stay at least.” He tried denying, saying he was fine before you interrupted. “It’s not fine, you’re not my servant just come here so I don’t have to shout.”

Coming up beside you slowly, Theon always stood just a little taller when you were alone. Sometimes it was easy to forget he was actually taller then you, with how hunched over his was in the presence of his captors. Both of you looking out into the place that once felt like home, but now served as a cell to mock you with.

“It’s my fault. All this, you, me, it’s my fault.”

Theon’s brows narrowed as he looked down to the stone below before back to the sights. You didn’t give him any chance to respond before you let it all out, feeling almost breathless. “If I didn’t let Roose talk us into sending Ramsay after you then you wouldn’t have...none of this would’ve happened to you then. But I did, I let him talk us into it and...this is worse then anything Robb would’ve ever wanted. He never wanted this, no one deserves what they’ve done to you. And I’m sorry.”

He looked at you with wide eyes, ones that spoke more then he felt in years by now that you didn’t even see. Your own in pain as they looked out as you spoke again. “It won’t ever fix what they’ve done, but it’s my fault. And I’m sorry.”

It took him a good few minutes to speak. You hadn’t expected him too, but you needed it to all be said anyways. When he did, his voice was full. Quiet, likely only audible to you but it sounded more like the Theon you once knew then the entire time you’ve been in the hands of the Boltons, and certainly one of the only times you think he found the bravery to call you by your name anymore. “I..I don’t blame you, either of you. I never did. I knew Robb would want my head for it, I knew it and I did it anyways and..neither of you would’ve wanted this. That’s not who you are..why you and him were so good leading beside the other. You were both firm, but not cruel. It’s not your fault this happened to me..it’s mine for ever betraying you all in the first place.”

You sighed deeply, “Theon no one deserves this. No one. And if no one’s around to take responsibility for it, then I have too.” Your hands let go of your palms, sitting together flat across the stone as you were quiet for a moment. “None of this would’ve happened if it were Robb. If he lived instead of me, he could’ve won the war by now. He would’ve..we promised never to leave the other. That we would stay together no matter what but I’m here and he’s not.”

You paused, and for once, you let the sting in your eyes turn to small droplets down your cheek. “I can’t stop seeing his face. The way he looked at me when he realized what was happening, I’ve never seen Robb look so... horrified before...he thought he was losing everything and he did. He lost the war, his life..his son...” Your voice cracking at the word.

“He lost everything, only for me to live and do what? Fail to carry out the very thing we spent years fighting for? To stay locked up in what used to be his own home, letting the men who killed him ruin everything we did? What kind of Queen let’s this become her King’s legacy?”

Theon leaned forward a bit, almost resting the way you were albeit a bit more awkward. “You didn’t have a choice.” Turning to look at him more to the side, you couldn’t quite convince yourself of what he was saying. “I did and I chose to...”

Voice low, you barley whispered out, “Why? Why did you do it?”

The winds blew around you from how high you were, the chills running across both of you hardly dressed to handle how much the cold had dropped down the past few days. “I wanted to impress him, my father. Prove I was still his son, do what Ironborn are supposed to do. Was easy to forget I was just a prisoner until he reminded me..”

Your head dropped, sighing deeply. “We’re prisoners now. This,” your hand gestured around you, “is us being prisoners. The Starks...they treated you like one of their own...as best they could.” Finally moving, you turned to see him properly, still hints of the man you once knew were still in there. “People like us, we don’t get happy families. We found more family in the Starks then we did with our own fathers and sometimes that means it’s the family we’re supposed to choose.”

You could better see that day in King’s Landing, and where you ended up. “I could’ve gone to my father. Everyone expected me to, but I didn’t. I came back here because this was the family I vowed myself too and so did you. Maybe not at first, but that day you did. You laid a sword at Robb’s feet and swore yourself to him like I did.”

The hurt in him was deep, but it was in you as well. None of the tone was blaming or even harsh, just a whispered truth that you both chose a duty to serve with the people who showed you kindness, not just the ones related by blood.

It was as Theon looked to you, a new stinging mark on your cheek from the other day still slightly visible, and the memories of what he was forced to watch. That night was particularly brutal. “If he marrys you, he’s going to do everything he can to get you pregnant.”

Your eyes were narrowed but sharp as they looked forward. The height here was high enough probably, but you knew there were far more options you could turn to. “Yes he is. But I won’t make it that far, I can’t.”

Something almost distressed tried to creep up in his voice, “He’s not going to-”

“I know he won’t. But I will. I won’t let my last use be for someone like Ramsay, or for Roose either. I can think of a lot more ways to end things myself then they could to stop me. No one knows I’m even here, right? No one would even know if I died a second time.”

His voice was almost inaudible as he spoke. “I would know.” But you heard him, and he knew you did. The quiet between you was thick as he didn’t plead for you to change your mind nor did you want him too. If the gods only gave you two paths now, you would choose the one that led you into the darkness yourself before the other caught up. “He won’t get any better, you keep fighting him.”

Hard to say why, but there was a lightness in your tone. If you had the energy to describe it, you might have realized it was the bare bones of a joke as you tilted your head. “You’ve seen what I look like under this now. It can’t get much worse can it?”

The wide eyes on you, as the tone beside of was that of a man years ago that would banter and argue with no meaning behind it but jest, and you suspected not even Theon knew where it came from. “For your face it could. Be a shame.”

You looked at him with an incredulous expression, before something slipped out of your mouth with as much shocking ease. “Still would look better than you, Greyjoy.”

In this place, as stripped down and torn apart as these people had made you both, it was sure an odd little sight as you and Theon for a few moments, just stood there and laughed. For a few mere seconds, you were back all those years when you could tease the other mercilessly and still walk it off to a normal life beyond it.

The laughs didn’t last long, nor were they very hard but it was at least it wasn’t another moment of tormenting misery. A moment that it seemed, was enough to begin awakening more of Theon Greyjoy then he had sensed in years.

Enough to know that if it was only the two of you left, he couldn’t lose you. If you were here, he might be able to find and stay Theon, but without? There was only Reek, and the pain Ramsey would put Reek through in anger for losing their so called key to the North.

He said no, it took a good part of Jon to say it but he swore a duty to the Night’s Watch and now as Lord Commander, it was on his shoulders to lead them where he knew it needed to start going. It was strange though, something twisted inside of him as Stannis took in the answer. He’d seen that exact reaction before.

A distant coldness, a disappointment that feels like they’re watching potential being thrown away and left to freeze at the end of the world. The King didn’t argue, and he respected Jon’s choice without trying to debate him on it, but it also felt exactly like when Jon confirmed to you he was joining the Night’s Watch. You didn’t fight him or get angry but you made it clear that you felt he was worth more then just this.

He didn’t like thinking about it, the idea of would you be as disappointed with him as your father now was. For so long there was noise beyond noise masked in horror within his head, and so much of it came down to fighting this battle of duty for the Night’s Watch when he was seeing the true threat looming over.

A threat that only one man seemed to understand. The King had asked him, “Why do you think I abandoned Dragonstone and sailed to the Wall, Lord Snow?”

Jon had merely said, because he answered their plea for help. “You came because we sent for you, I hope. Though I couldn’t say why you took so long about it.” The smile Stannis gave him reminded him too much of you, you had such a similar smile whenever it was you Jon’s bold wit was directed towards but it was so much more rare on the man before him.

Jon wouldn’t know, but in that little moment, Stannis was truly finding many things about him that made him understand why he would mean so much to you. You didn’t speak on him so directly, but the more he worked alongside him the more he saw the things that you would’ve seen in him.

“You turn down my offer, but you’re certainly bold enough to be a Stark. Yes, I should have come sooner. If not for my Hand,” directing attention towards Ser Davos behind him. “I might not have come at all. Lord Seaworth is a man of humble birth, but he reminded me of my duty when all I could think of was my rights. I had the cart before the horse, he said. I was trying to win the throne to save the kingdom, when I should have been trying to save the kingdom to win the Throne.”

Gesturing North, he gave him one last look. “There is where I’ll find the enemy I was born to fight.” His eyes narrowed in thought for one last moment, “If my lone duty is to take the throne, then I shouldn’t be here, but I am because this is where I am meant to be. But if you say your duty is here and only here, I will respect your decision.”

Almost in passing before he left, Stannis turned once more. “You have many enemies in Castle Black. Have you considered sending Alliser Thorne elsewhere? Give him command of Eastwatch by the Sea.”

The gods were unknowingly cruel to Jon as he responded, almost in jest. “I heard it was best to keep your enemies close.”

Stannis only said one thing before parting, “Whoever said that didn’t have many enemies.”

It was then as Jon was left in his thoughts, did he see Ser Davos pause before staying behind in his office. “He sees something in you. It might not be apparent from his tone, but it’s the truth. He believes in you.” All Jon could do was apologize for disappointing him, he had too much to think about to know what else to say, but the man was not yet done.

Olly closed the door once more as Ser Davos sat down. “The King is a complicated man, but he wants what’s right for the Seven Kingdoms.”

It was that duty he spoke of, and yet it was the thought once more that Stannis was not the only Baratheon who would be disappointed in his stubbornness. “I’ve sworn to stay clear of the politics of the Seven Kingdoms.”

Humble birth he was said to be from, and it made sense to Jon. Ser Davos had a quick and commoner tongue and lacked a usual stern formality Jon had seen in many men that would be like him. “Have you now?” Turning back slightly to Olly, he promoted, “How does the Night’s Watch vow go again? I bet you’ve got it memorized since you got here- not that bit, the bit at the end.”

Jon knew it was complicated of a situation for Olly to be thrown into after the kind of life he had not so long ago, but he saw the dedication in his eyes as he spoke the words already deeply ingrained in Jon’s own head. “I’m the sword in the darkness, I am the watcher on the walls, the shield that guards the realm of men. I pledge-”

“Okay, that’s enough.” Ser Davos turned back to him with a look he could tell knew what was already forming in his own mind. “The shield that guards the realms of men. That’s what you swore to be. Now I’m not a learned man, but the best way of helping the most people might not be sitting in a frozen castle at the edge of the world. It just might mean wading through the muck and getting your boots dirty, doing what needs to be done.”

Jon started to understand why the King kept him by his side. Certainly more blunt and honest then most lords Jon knew would be. “And what needs to be done?”

It took him a moment to answer, just looking him over trying to figure something out that Jon couldn’t recognize. “Roose Bolton didn’t just murder your brother, and it wasn’t just your brother’s wife he murdered either. That was the King’s own daughter. She and Robb Stark tried reasoning with him, put aside the fighting for Kingdoms to face the threats that really mattered, I tried to tell him he was making a mistake by turning them down. And now they’re both dead.”

He didn’t like feeling so stripped down in front of people, leaving him with something so raw that it could be seen if looking too closely in his eyes. “Asking me to leave the Night’s Watch won’t change that.”

“No.” Davos nodded, “But it means letting the North think no one cares about them. Your brother had said the North won’t have Stannis as their King and meeting enough of you I’m inclined to believe that. I’m not telling you if you should accept his offer or not. But I do think it’s worth thinking about how the Bolton’s murdered the only hope the North had, and as long as they continue to rule it, the North will suffer.”

He stood up, giving Jon one last look. “Just one man’s opinion.”

And as Jon gathered the men later, after he finally did one thing to start that list of things that needed to be done and took Janos Slynt’s head, he looked up to where Stannis had watched. Realizing he saw that very kind of firm pride he imagined in your eyes, but in your fathers. He was haunted by your eyes in every Baratheon he came across anymore.

And later, as he finally went to Tormund Giantsbane with what to many would be an unpopular idea, Jon understood what made Stannis work as a King. Many in Castle Black were going to despise this idea, and yet it was just another on a long list of things Jon knew needed to be done.

The Bolton’s weren’t out of his mind, not at all. But if he was going to help the North he needed to start somewhere. He needed to start with the North right in front of his eyes. But what they found when they got to Hardhome, only pushed that thought even closer to the front of Jon’s mind.

Their numbers were too great, and the North that was Jon’s true home would be the next stop of those unprotected and forgotten about. If Jon only let his duty care about the Night’s Watch, it begun to feel more and more like that would mean accepting he didn’t care about the people of his real home, and Jon knew all too well in his heart how opposite of the truth that was.

King Stannis would soon move out, make his way through the heavy snow of the North with plans of attack to slowly take out Bolton controlled land, and eventually make a move on the Bolton’s themselves with or without Jon. Leaving behind his wife Selyse, and his daughter Shireen behind with the sure promise of himself and Ser Davos of keeping them safe.

Though, in Jon’s adding frustrations of his days, he did greatly wish the King took Lady Melisendre and her constant need to preach these ominous visions of her one god, south with him. He could only have Olly force her to wait outside his office for too many hours, so many times in a row.

You had been finally given a chance to sleep for a little bit. Not given much of a chance by Ramsay at night but during the day you found pockets to rest alone. Only this time, you had awakened from a nightmare that haunted you with bodies upon bodies of the dead. And just as you looked to see a tall figure of ice with crystal blue eyes, so did the bodies stand beside it and all shined blue together. You had almost woken in a dreading panic from that, but then came Walda to walk with you to supper.

And you thought of that dream of bodies standing beside one another not a second longer.

Most times in front of the others, he was treated mostly like a servant. Yet something today had Ramsay looking at Theon and feeling an incessant need to talk and torment. Your new place in the dining area was sat next to Ramsey as if you belonged there as Walda did across from you by Roose’s side.

You wanted to feel bad, for how much she tried reaching out to you and how little you gave back but everyday she spoke to you like this situation was normal, like it was okay. When in truth outside of the Bolton’s own men here, most people in Winterfell who saw you could see the marks, the cuts, the bruises and the strain of mental anguish weighing you down and sinking your eyes further into the abyss. The people of Winterfell outside those of the Bolton’s, weren’t fooled as to what they were doing. But they could only do so much to stop it, meaning none.

You were being dragged through blood and fear only to be thrown to the hounds when no more use was found of you. Only, that wouldn’t be for years at this pace of life. That would take much longer then you could endure.

Walda’s call of your name drifted your thoughts to the present. Your blank stare towards the plate you barley touched drifted up to hers. “Are you excited for it? The wedding? Roose tells me we’re planning on moving it up soon, right?”

Your blank stare sunk into your stomach with a weight as you looked at him, “I wasn’t aware of that.”

To your suprise, the man next to you spoke with his own suprise in his voice. “I was not either, father. When did you decide this?” You weren’t fooled by the fake tone of pleasantry, and nor was the other Bolton.

Raising an eyebrow at his son, “The snow came in harder then we expected, we aren’t expecting another storm like it anytime soon but needless to say it would be far more convenient to have the wedding while it’s still a walk to the Weirwood and not a hike.”

You didn’t watch the odd staring match between him and his father as you bit your tongue harsh to keep yourself steady, even sitting. Ramsay next to you faking a smile, “A winter wedding will be quite delightful, far more Northern then those dry summer weddings. I can’t imagine Winterfell looked quite as nice as it does now the last time you were wed here.”

Taking a sip of the drink in front of you, hating how the wine they gave you was too harsh and thick to swallow at the best of times, worse now as you felt your throat close up. “I think Winterfell is lovely in any season.”

Ramsay knew you were trying to play nice, trying not to glare or spit back at him and you knew it only amused him further. A hand on his heart with such fakeness you could smack off his face, “Of course, my lovely bride. Still so soon, truly a tragedy what happened to your husband it must still hurt even now. But fear not, we must make new memories together, won’t we?”

Looking at the other side of the table you could see a stillness in Theon as he was faced away.

“You know what, my bride,” Looking to you as you barley peeled your eyes over to him and found the normal cruelty in his pale blues. “No one really knows your here, and with almost all of both your families gone, it seems we have no one to send you off, do we?”

Just more of the world you had no idea of, who was left, or where, or if anyone really was around or were you truly trapped alone here? Trapped with the Boltons until you found your own way out. “If it is just me, perhaps I don’t need any one to.”

Ramsay’s smile growing vile and cruel. “Now we can’t have that, tradition is tradition. Keeping those upheld are just so important wouldn’t you say?” Looking to the other side of the table with that same grin. “Now, you spent much of your childhood here didn’t you? Grew up around the Stark boys and their friends and whatnot? Then I suppose that Reek here, is the nearest thing to kin that you have.”

He called Reek, and you watched Theon turn around with a startle as he looked unnerved at Ramsay still looking at him with painted glee. “You will give away my bride. Someone has to, what better person?” He looked to you and then the table, “Good?”

Theon’s eyes found yours. He wouldn’t give you away, because you both knew you would take anyway out of this tortured existence as soon as you could should that time arrive. Roose’s voice was dismissive and somewhat annoyed in the back as you both still looked at the other. “Yes, yes very good.”

A dead acceptance in yours, and something almost pleading in his before you broke it. Ramsay pleased with himself, “Wonderful.” You would end yourself still haunted by how much he talked endlessly it felt like.

Roose looking past his son, to his wife and then you. “Walda and I have some good news as well. Since we’re all together.” His eyes were curiously on you, watching closely for something inside you to react.

Looking at the pair of you, with a happy little smile on her face she announced, “We’re going to have a baby.” And you felt everything sink. Right down to the pit of your stomach as you felt the sharpness of the wound in there scream and burn. Nothing spilt there, but you could feel the blood pooling and a loving set of deep blue eyes horror stricken and broken above you.

A weight in your throat wanted to throw up the little you had even consumed, as you felt almost lightheaded. Roose’s eyes were on you, because he knew that was the first thing he took from you and Robb. The act that set off the terrorizing night you wished ended you then beside his own dying body. If you looked at Roose’s waist, the dagger sat on his person even now. Never touched, but soaked still, in three distinct bodies of dried blood.

Looking up to Walda, there was a pureness in her. She was excited, thrilled. You truly wanted her to be, she didn’t deserve your ire towards what the man next to her took from you. A small smile on your face as you nodded. “That is good news, I’m happy for you. Sure they’ll be beautiful.”

Roose twisted that knife inside you once more, only his eyes were glancing to the suddenly very still and quiet Ramsay. “From the way shes carrying, Maester Wolkan says it looks like a boy.” You wanted to scream, you wanted to throw everything off this very table and shatter it all into pieces that he was just mocking you with exactly what he stole.

Exactly the thing he kicked the massacre off with, that ended with shoving the knife soaked with your blood and your unborn child’s blood into Robb’s chest before it was all over in seconds. He took that from you and now demanded you just give the same to his own son by force, watch Walda have with glee what you only were given a few short months to experience.

You couldn’t do it. You couldn’t do this anymore, you needed out and in the slightly proud of himself glint in Roose’s eye you wanted the chance to take them out with you. You would die anyways, the gods have already saw fit to punish you. Send you to a living hell for the cost of your sins and maybe it wouldn’t really matter if you shoved a knife into at least one of their throats before doing yourself final.

Maybe part of you truly did die that day with Robb, beacuse what was left didn’t feel human. It just felt like a torturous agony that dragged you along until you were left to die once more but with more guilt and shame then ever possible.

Whatever compelled both of the parties there that evening, it was for different reasons yet the same idea behind both. They never noticed, or perhaps the only one who would have noticed said not a word of it. It stayed hidden as long as you could but now it was tight in one hand as you found not yet the bravery to do it. It wasn’t who you are, or once were, to do such a thing but maybe you’d leave the North ever so slightly better off if you did.

Only the second person who was outside that study, was the only person who wouldn’t turn you in for it, not now. Your eyes met Theon’s as you both were against other sides of the stone wall, his wide and pleading yours a pleading of your own but to just let you do this.

He shook his head but you swallowed. Tilting your gaze away to the empty hall beside you with a sting in your eyes. If not now, when? Or why not? The men inside, having no idea what kind of silent argument of action was just outside that door as they spoke. Loud enough for them to hear without the two inside knowing.

Roose speaking of Ramsay’s mother, having you look to Theon with eyes glossing over to ask why should you stay here to men like this. “She was the miller’s wife. Apparently they had married without my knowledge or consent. So I had him hanged, and I took her beneath the trees where he was swaying. She fought me the whole time, she was lucky I didn’t hang her too.”

Theon shaking is head as you felt your stomach twist more. The scars you already had would get worse and you yearned to be a wife hanging beside her husband in place of one more day of this. He was ready to step forward, take that knife from you but at this rate he also knew you were desperate enough you might slice at him with it if he tried to stop you.

“A year later she came to my gates with a squalling baby in her arms, a baby she claimed was mine. I nearly had her whipped, and the child thrown in the river.” Your head fell back onto the stone, your hand shaking but fallen lower down to your legs as you looked to Theon. He said he would know if you died, but is this even an existence?

“But then I looked at you, and I saw then what I see now. You are my son.”

This was your punishment, given to men like this. Men who bonded over what a father did to his mother and neither finding anything wrong with that. It was no wonder Ramsay turned out the way he did, something of being born to a man like Roose clearly did not grace him with skipping the worst of his traits.

You were supposed to just have your children, and love them regardless of any man your husband might be. That’s what Cersei had told you all those years ago when you first bled, but you weren’t strong enough to endure whatever this marriage was. Not strong enough to be used for children and separated from them before you could know who they were.

You’d had enough of that already and the scar to haunt you. But just as you and Theon looked like you had no other idea of what to do, the words that came out of Roose’s mouth sent water down your spine and woke up senses you forgotten.

“Stannis Baratheon has an army at Castle Black.”

Your heads both turned. Your lips parted as you almost slumped over but whatever woke up in you, woke up in Theon as well as inside the words continued. “Jon Snow is their Lord Commander, and if he chooses to join forces? Then the road to King’s Landing will take them both right through Winterfell. Meaning it’s only a matter of time before they find out the girl’s alive.”

It was like two names that hit you and your head spun around from the impact. Your father wasn’t just near, he wasn’t just in the North. He was at Castle Black. Castle Black, with Jon. You had no idea why but you could only see the last time you two saw each other truly. Parting ways on the Kingsroad as he left North and you South, your insides screaming to go back with more then just heartache.

Only enough sense in you to walk away as Theon followed. Finding an alcove out of earshot and eyesight you looked up at him and he you. Before you could even say a word, he whispered first. “Go back to your room.”

Your head shaking in confusion, “What? Theo-”

Grabbing your forearms, it leaned down to look at you. “Please, just do it, go back to your room and don’t go anywhere.” His eyes glancing to the knife if your hand, “Or do anything. Please.”

You wouldn’t know he felt bad the urgency in which he just shoved you down the corridor, but something in him started to stir and he needed to make sure that the desperately broken part inside of him wouldn’t talk himself out of it.

Shutting the door to the room you now had to call yours, you pressed your back flat against it as you leaned your head back with a thud breathing heavily. When was the last time you saw him, dreamt about him? Nothing of him was in your mind for so long, only in tiny pockets until now where it was as if that was all you could see or think of.

That day, in the middle of the camp as Catelyn told you about when he got the pox as a baby, you wrote it off as something else, panic, anxiety, anything but something you couldn’t comprehend but you have no idea the image you were seeing. Someplace far North, high as if he were up on the wall and the redheaded woman you tried not thinking about. But it was more then that, for a moment, you felt like you both saw the other.

Like that delusion was real and now all you could think about was what you had even looked at. Why did it remind you of those dreams, dreams of the cold, and eyes blue like crystals that shook you to the core. For so long you were plagued by images in your head, dreams in your sleep that you either forgot or wrote off but ever since that day at the Twins?

They never came back until..until the dream you had today. In fact it felt as if nothing came back with you except for the blood and the hellish nightmares of that night. Like what happened before that night did not exist and you found nothing inside of you to remind you until this moment. You could barley breathe almost, sliding down to the ground your eyes shut resting your palms against them.

What was happening to you, is this what those dreams all felt like before you just couldn’t recall in this state? The confusion perplexing you further as you tried to think in any reason your father would be anywhere near the Wall. He had never even been in the North and yet he brought an army. A year ago you would been on top of all this kind of information, but now you felt like a child who needed everything explained.

The world moved too fast without you. And everyone in it. The noise inside was too much, your hand on it’s own accord reached up, running over where your scar was underneath the fabric of your dress as you recalled the looks people gave to you. The ones Theon did, the way Maester Wolkan looked shocked and in almost fear.

Gods above you had something else at play but you couldn’t come up with anything to connect these scattered pieces towards. And Jon. Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, a whole life for him passed without you, a life that you weren’t sure it you’ve seen parts of or not but it sure felt like it. A life that you didn’t know if you had a place in, but you didn’t truly have a place since Robb.

That was your problem, shuffling from torment to torture with no spot in the world you belonged in anymore and maybe no one could fit you in it. You weren’t even just different people now, you were worse. The things you’ve done and how far you’ve dropped from such a life you may as well not be the same person Jon loved all those years ago.

If he even thought of you, you’d be shocked. Why would he ever have once you were out of the others life? Your mind ranted and raved as it tried to quell itself but it felt like thoughts, images, flashes of things and dreams you’d long forgotten smashed into your eyes one after the other.

It took a while, convincing yourself to stand up. Tucking the knife away into a pocket of your dress as you sat gently down onto the bed. The nerves buzzing in your blood had long worn off, and much exhaustion was left. You were too tired, to weak, your body and mind pushed too far to handle any much more, slowly your eyes drifted shut and you barley remember moving just enough to lay out on the bed before passing out finally.

You barley heard the sound when it slid under the door, but you heard the knock that followed it. Startling yourself up onto your palms, you looked around in confusion for a moment until the slip of paper found it’s way to your vision. Standing up slowly, you eyed it with deep suspicion before kneeling down. Opening it slightly you didn’t recognize the scrawl but the words still neat enough to make out.

“Back gate to the woods go now.”

Heart picking up just a few paces, you gently opened the door but found none there. No one there watching or even a sound nearby to be heard, it seemed to be rather late at night but no one around at all was strange. Looking down at your dress, it was hardly made for the outside but as you looked down the hall with a shaking breathe you wondered how much time “go now” truly was giving you.

Nothing to bring but what was on you, any possessions mostly stripped from you at any given chance leaving your little room with nothing you found use for. The halls were quiet, and the sparse guards still around were either alone and easy to navigate around, or in little groups distracted to the side as the moon was too high in the sky to assume folly was afoot.

You almost hesitated. The outside was right there and not a soul was there to watch or guard you as you would walk out, something that none would question years ago but now made you already feel the punishment to follow getting caught. But the cold seen on your heavy breathe flared into the night as you looked around. Nothing but snow, and near the edge was the small wall separating you from the clearing below and the woods ahead.

Why you were told to come here, you couldn’t figure out until you realized it was a trap. An arrow swishing by your head and landing strong into the wooden pillar beside you, making you turn around and the game made sense suddenly. Her dark eyes and conniving smile plastered all over her face as she held up the bow, arrow now aimed at your head as you paused. “Now what’s a little wolf like you doing out here all by herself?”

Your breathing felt heavy, lungs tight inside you but you kept a roughly even tone. “I couldn’t sleep, wanted to have some fresh air.” Your heart hurt as it pounded in your chest.

Tsking, she smiled more with a slime across it. “So you what, got dressed in your day clothes, boots and came all the way to the other side of the castle to do so?”

What could you even say, you wondered if she was just vile enough to send you a note herself to get you to go running in a game of hers. Hunting not just animals was indeed a favourite of hers and Ramsay’s you knew too well. You were just played a desperate fool like a weak little animal running from her cage.

Stepping forward slowly, Myranda glanced you over. “Ramsay has just been so focused on you, I think he’s actually spent more time in your bed then I have his.” Your bit your tongue as an unpleasant shiver ran down the length of your spine. “It isn’t fair, I actually make him happy. You don’t see him leaving scars like that on my pretty face, do you? So why does he spend so much time with you before you’re even married?”

The marks still healing on your cheek, one on your jaw that was more fresh and a cut on your lip that reopened every other day. She had none of the sort. “Maybe you’re spending too much time with the hounds, starting to smell like one.”

Her grin grew as she looked almost impressed. “Look at her, our Queen still has some bite in her. I can only imagine what you were like before Ramsay broke you in, almost a shame I’ll cut your tongue out before I have a chance to see more of her.”

Stepping closer still, you could feel the weight of the knife in your pocket. But getting to it would be slower then she would be at just releasing that arrow in you here and now. What would your plan even be after that? Hide? He wouldn’t be any sort of forgiving for you hurting his favourite willing bed warmer. You were on your own without a plan, and you were sure she wanted it that way.

“Roose needs me as a mouthpiece for the North. You do anything to get in the way of that, he’ll punish you next.” Her eyes narrowed at you, almost contemplating for a second.

Only, she just shrugged. “At least I can take it.” Watching as she turned the bow down slightly you could feel the rushing in your veins as it aimed to where you knew the mark on your stomach was, you hit a sore spot so she would hit your biggest. Only, instead of her arrow releasing with it’s strength, it loosened as she stumbled forward.

The swish of an arrow was heard, but you could see as she knelt over, it was in her back. A place you could feel radiate on your own. Right where the Frey’s had shot one at you when trying to fight back against Roose as you were on the ground.

Your eyes darted up, and her head turned back with a cry of pain she yelled. “You fucking-” Only the figure let another one out before she could say anymore and cut her off with a second shot right beside the first. It wasn’t a tortured man named Reek you saw, but the sharp eyes if exasperated face of Theon.

Always a good shot he was, and even in his state now, he looked at you with a determination you hadn’t seen since marching into the Westlands with him and Robb at your side. Looking up at you with a vile anger, you could see her face flushing as Theon approached from behind. “You little slut, you steal my lover and have his pathetic creature shoot me in the back like a coward?”

In a split second, you felt something that hadn’t been there in so long but the memory of doing so still fresh in your own muscles. You were bleeding out on the ground, and with a knife as unmemorable as the one finding itself crawling back into your hand? You remembered lunging up at Roose Bolton only to be knocked back as an arrow was stabbed into your upper arm and one to your back knocked you down entirely.

This time was in the reverse order, and perhaps, a little more violent then you should’ve done but it was an instinct you took the second Myranda moved to lunge up at you, a yell of some kind of alert on her tongue before you moved as well. The sounds in her mouth drowning through the blood as you shoved it with a shaking hand deep into the bottom of her mouth.

Your hear raced and your hand so tight on the knife it made your muscles cramp up, eyes wide as she choked on the growing blood and the sounds failing to come out beyond it gagging. Letting go of it she fell back, and you were stuck watching. Realizing what would happen when he finds out, when he finds out what you did and it was only going to get worse.

Theon grabbed your upper arms, forcing you to look at him calling your name. “Look at me, we’re going to jump down?” You think you said something in confusion but the words didn’t hit your ears as your mind raced through what would happen to you, fighting with the images in your head of life and dreams you only just remembered. “The fall isn’t far, but we have to jump right now.”

Tugging you with him, a hand still on your forearm he seemed to sense you were on some kind of autopilot. The fall wasn’t bad, only really hurting the parts of you that still ached dearly. Your backs pressed up against the stone wall for a second until he knelt in front of you.

More Theon Greyjoy then you ever remembered since seeing him again. “We have to run, okay? We have to run now, you know what he’ll do when he sees what we’ve done.”

You shook your head, the panic and rush in your heart fogging your mind until he shook you, physically shook you to look at him firmly calling your name, “Theon we can’t, where would we-”

Then the fog felt like it left in him. His voice without stammer, but an urgency he needed to pull you into, he knew the shock you felt but he needed you as much as you needed him. “North. We run, we go north, and we find Jon. Jon’s at Castle Black, he’ll protect you, you know he will, but we have to leave now.”

The sounds were enough to start either drawing attention, or your missing presence caught other attention and soon they’d find her. Your face firming as you tried calming the racing in your heart, he looked at you with one last pull. “Do you remember when we were teenagers? When the Starks would have us run through the woods like a game?” You nodded, your brows furrowing as it all hit that it was now or never. “It’s just like that. Only this time, we’re the ones who know these woods better then they do. Do you trust me?”

Holding a hand out to you, you felt less like a beaten down prisoner and like the fury that one existed in you to push forward. You nodded, “I do.” Grabbing his hand as Theon pulled you up to your feet.

Sounds only increased behind you as you took off. The cold of the night and snow on the ground was horrible and bitter, but you and Theon took off as fast as you could manage. The trees whipping by you as yelling and the barking of hounds started to gather at the castle but not once did you and him slow, and not once did either of you let go of the other.

Ramsay would hunt you, but he pushed you both too far to let it stop you. Your dress long making you stumble in the thickest layers of snow, Theon never once let you on your own. Grabbing you and pulling you up until you went you could both feel the burning in your lungs.

The Boltons kept you both weak, underfed, beaten and with as little as you could need to survive but the need to survive alone, now was stronger then the withholding they forced onto you both. So many years ago you and Theon would compete in these very woods to who was a better shot or who could find the best places to hide to hunt bigger game and now it was you two who were the game.

The hounds grew louder, and as you approached the wide running water of the river you paused. Looking at the water and back, only Theon didn’t pause. Whatever awoke in his heart refused to give up now. Turning to you, “We have to cross it, it’s the only way to throw off the hounds.”

The water was waist high at the deepest and your freezing bodies shook and stabbed at you in the pain of how cold it was, but you both pushed along, both keeping a hand on the other as Theon led you through that freezing agony. Looking back, you could hear the barking closer and he looked to a small alcove that was just out of easy sight. “We can’t outrun them, we have to hide.”

Turning to him with doubt for a second, but he looked behind you and pulled you himself. Both of you all but throwing yourselves into pushing up against the snow and dirt. Crouched in the freezing water as you shook, pressed up against the other, arms linked as you both knew you couldn’t make a single sound.

You couldn’t stay in this kind of water for long, but you had to. The scent would have lost the dogs but they could still see or hear you if you ran now. Instead of you had to stay there. Making it to Castle Black like this was impossible, and you both knew you would have to run as far as you could to find anything like a horse.

Your eyes found each other as the sounds of the hounds barked all around the other side of the river and yelling about where you two were, yelling about Ramsay’s orders kept you locked in a fear as you tried not to make a sound or even let go of the other. You’d have to stay there as long as the men and hounds were in earshot, but not a second longer.

If what Theon and you heard was right, Roose Bolton would know there was only one real place you could go and it would take days to get there. Neither of you knew who in the North would serve the Boltons regardless of who you were, you needed to find anything or anyone, take a horse and just go right until you reached the wall.

But as long as you both were there in the river, you couldn’t move. Only freeze in the water.

The morning shined early and Roose Bolton was not in the mood for the sunlight beaming in the windows of Winterfell. He was unbelievably angry. “Everything I have done for you, and the way you repay me is to let my most valuable prisoner run free into the woods?”

He may have been the only person who could stand there and lecture Ramsay without any kind of fear in his eyes. He knew exactly what his son was, and he was angry he let him play these games for so long. Even now, trying to come up with an excuse. “She’s weak, she’s afraid and all she has helping her is Reek. I have a team of men that have been after them since they escaped, my best hounds with them. They won’t get far.”

Roose leaned forward, palms braced against the table as he stared his son down. “They’ve already gotten far. How long do you think it will take them to get out of your hounds reach, how long until they find help? We don’t have the North unified under our rule, that was why I needed her.”

Ramsay’s arms crossed his chest as an anger inside him boiled up, “No one even knows shes alive and they think Reek is a traitor, what help are they going to find out there before they freeze to death?”

Voice was even but Ramsay no doubt knew what kind of danger lurked behind his father’s glare. “If you cannot bring her back to me, alive, what do you think is going to happen? All they need is to find one person who can give them a horse, and where will she go then, Ramsay? Tell me. Where would she go when finally on the back of a horse?”

He didn’t like feeling so lectured, and he knew he didn’t want to say anything in case he only added insult to injury, but he was missing the point. “Stannis has already started moving South, the land we control is already preparing to war with him. She wouldn’t risk it.”

Roose breathed in deeply. Pushing up from his palms to walk around the length of the table. Coming to step in front of his son. “I needed her because she is Robb Stark’s widow, she was the North’s Queen and they would have joined me if we had her. She spent half of her life in Winterfell growing up around the Starks, I didn’t need to keep her away from Stannis Baratheon.”

Ramsay knew better then to give that kind of attitude, and yet the calm and quiet tone in his father’s voice only rubbed salt in. “Who would help her, then father? Tell me. Half of the Umbers came to our side, the Karstarks came to our side and they would soon turn her in before helping her, where is she to go in this weather that you are so worried about?”

“I watched men for three years underestimate Robb Stark, and it wasn’t until I shoved a knife in his heart did his enemies realize how dangerous he had been. I wasn’t about to make the same mistake. I wanted to keep her a secret because there’s only one person who will bring a war right to our doorstep for her.” His eyes narrowed at his son who didn’t speak a word. Only seethed in a rage at how much his father was looking at him as a failure.

“Jon Snow is Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, which means he has the skill and the leadership that the North saw in his brother. And he was that girls closest friend, so I ask you again. What do you think he will do, when he finds out that not only is she alive, not only were we holding her prisoner, but what do you think Jon Snow will do when he finds out the thing’s you’ve been doing to her?”

Ramsey hissed out trying to contain his emotions. “You’re the one who murdered his brother, shoved a knife into her stomach.”

But there was no doubt who was going to be the subject of true rage. “And you are the one who spent months beating, torturing, and raping her. I let you play your games with the heir to the Iron Islands, but I should never have trusted you with her. She was a valuable hostage, and now she’s on her way to Castle Black.”

Walking away from him, Roose’s voice echoed more through the quiet room. “Without her you won’t be able to produce an heir, and without an heir...” Turning to his son with a mocking lift of an eyebrow, and tilt of his head. “Make sure we get to her before Jon Snow does, otherwise let’s hope the Maesters are right about Walda carrying a boy. Losing your bride isn’t something worthy of a true Bolton.”

By the time Ramsay had returned to his own quarters, the anger had built to a point that the men around him knew was destructive. He didn’t tell his father what he was doing, and maybe if he was more sound of mind he could convince himself that this idea was a mistake.

His writing was erratic, and stammering and full of delusions that his father would never let send out, but he wrote it, and as he sent off that letter, paper tinged in a pink, he thought nothing of the consequences.

The little boy kept staring, peeking above his bowl of soup or around the corner to watch you.

By a days afternoon, you had came across a little farmhouse. Hoping to stop and rest to catch your breathe, you were spotted by a dog barking at you incessantly. Standing in fear, you and Theon tried putting an arm in front of the other only for an apologetic man to come around the corner.

“What in the are you yapping at, it’s the middle of the day-oh.” Pulling the dog back as it calmed the man was a bit lanky and a soft face that held laugh lines built from years. “Normally I’d ask what you’re doin’ on my land, but I’m more curious as to why in the gods you both look like you’ve been through hell and back.”

Glancing at each other, you raised an eyebrow. Not so far from the truth but a little too complicated to explain. “Brigands. Came burned near everythin’ we had didn’t have nowhere else to go.” It had been too long since the will power to stay so stone faced and not laugh hit you like this. Gods bless Theon for having enough in him to come up with anything.

Shooing his dog off, he stepped forward to you both, nothing on him in your quick glance that was any kind of a weapon. “Seven hells, nothing but trouble since those Boltons took over. You two look like you could use some food in you.” Pausing as he glanced at Theon, “Maybe a wash would do you good as well.”

A worry sat in both your stomach’s but as a little boy called out to his father, the man shouting back he’d be a moment, you and Theon relaxed a tiny bit. “Just a few hours, and we go.” You nodded in agreement before taking up his offer.

His home was small and cozy, only a few rooms and not much space but it was well built and quite warm with the fire. Telling you about how his wife passed giving birth, his older son lost fighting for the King in the North. Theon and yourself swallowing hard at such a passing comment, as he contiuned saying it’s only him and his boy now. Clothes he had given you both were clean, and left something to wash up. “Apologies lass, my wife was more of what they’d call short and stout. Hope you don’t mind wearing some my sons old clothes, probably warmer then that dress of yours anyways.”

The pause between you as you both were left alone, you looked at Theon before turning away slightly and pulling your dress off, awkwardly grumbling. “Nothing you haven’t seen before at this point, I suppose.”

He didn’t make a single move to undress with you in the room, and you both knew why he wouldn’t. Adjusting the dark and slightly too large and thin coat, you cleared your throat. “We’ll stay until it gets dark, then we need to keep moving before they have a chance to catch up.”

Nodding, he looked around with a very stilted embarrassment. “Saw a few horses coming in, should be able to get you to Jon in a few days on one of them.”

Before you left you looked at him one last time, “Listen. You didn’t need to help me. You could've left on your own or just stayed back and let them do all this to me, knowing it’d be safer not to get involved. But you didn’t, you risked your own life to help me and I won’t forget that.” His eyes said more then the silence in the air. “You did a lot wrong, so did I. But...you’ve paid for those many times over now. Even before I got there, you paid for your sins and them some. I just...thought you should know that.”

You had guessed it was the scars still scattered across your face the boy kept looking at. Luckily the man, Dane, he was called, asked no questions, seemed to believe your story enough not to consider the dirty details his business and you were thankful. A pit in your gut made any words difficult to come out, and certainly as well from the much cleaner Theon who emerged.

Two bowls sat down in front of you both, steaming warm. “Not much of a cook, but it’ll get you through the night well enough. Gods,” Sighing heavily as he dropped down to the other side of the table himself. “Nothing but shit after shit with those fuckers in charge. Bunch of backstabbers, them and those Frey’s for what they did.”

Your chest felt sickeningly weightless, trying to eat without your eyes shaking off any agony which could be spotted within them. Theon was better at talking, always was at the least. “Heard the Lannisters were the one’s behind it.”

Chuckling, Dane shrugged at you both. “Wouldn’t shock me, first they put that bastard of theirs on the throne then they murder our King and Queen in cold blood? Cursed, whole of them are if you ask me. Murdering them after bringing them to a wedding, feeding them? What happened to this place we can’t even go anywhere without watching our backs.”

Focus on the table you told yourself, don’t think about it, don’t see the blood and stop feeling the twisting in your stomach at the memory of it all. He and Theon talked around you, until the small boy tugged at your pant leg.

Your head whipping down almost in defensive motion until the boy held up a a little paper flower to you with bright eyes. Reaching down gently you whispered, “Is this for me?” He nodded so shyly running to his fathers side as soon as you grabbed it’s stem.

Heart warming a tad, Dace chuckled. “I’d watch yourself, lad.” His eyes on Theon as he nodded to you, picking his son up onto his lap as the boy whispered something to his father. “Says you’re pretty like a queen.”

Melting into the floor felt like an option, your gaze on the paper flower, it wasn’t well made, or even impressive but it was all the boy had you guessed. Especially now that winter was truly coming. He hugged his dads neck but looked at you, hiding when you smiled at him gently with a “Thank you.”

It was tucked away in the pocket of the coat over you, safe and sound. Not at all missing you that this might have been the smallest yet sweetest thing someone had done for you since...well since Robb. You could even see his reaction, those bright blue eyes and charming smile at a little boy presenting his wife with a flower.

Theon took charge of the conversation once more, you could see how hard he was working to try and fit in, trying to act normal when truthfully you both hadn’t been like any normal human being in at least a year. And as the night progressed, it got just a little bit easier.

The boy about to go to bed, looking to you before running to his room. Smiling, and without thinking of it, you slowly stood up. Kneeling down in front of him and giving him a small kiss on the cheek. “Maybe next time we see each other, winter will be over and you can give me a real flower.”

You stayed knelt on the ground as you and Theon were left alone for a while in the main room. Your hands finding themselves on your thighs as you almost traced the mark. In another life, you could see the boy looking far more Stark, in the free fields of Winterfell and dark curls around his head instead of where you were.

Hiding in a strangers home from the men who ruined both of your lives, the lives of the North. Dane offered you both his son’s old room, telling you to feel free to sleep in a bit, “Look a little less terrible in a few hours, will ya?”

You both felt bad, sneaking off, taking a horse, but you had no reason to stay here. If the Bolton’s men found you here, they’d kill these two without hesitation. So in the dead of night once more, you both left. Theon pulling you up behind him as the winter air truly started to chill in your bones once more, but it was less panicing and heart racing then last few nights.

“Take three days or so if you ask me. Maybe less if we don’t stop for the night.”

The North felt empty, like most were too afraid to come out anywhere now that it’s control was granted under fear, fear and the murder of the one man keeping the peace. They could include you all they wanted, but you were alive and nothing was any better for the people.

You were alive, and still, you found it difficult to think about where your place was anymore. But you and Theon knew one thing, make it to Castle Black or not, you both stuck by each other’s sides from now on. Birds of broken feathers flock together, or whatever that saying went, you knew abandoning the other after this escape wasn’t an option.

The raven came in, a paper tinged in pink and a letter scrawled out in mania. Addressed to Jon Snow, he had opened it with no idea what it could be, but he did in fact, recognize the flayed man sigil of the Boltons on the seal. As long as the Boltons ruled the North, Jon couldn’t protect any of the North outside of the here and now.

But as he read the letter, and his heart sent into a swirling mess? Something that denied involving himself in the politics of the realm faded out then and there.

“Your false King is dead, bastard. He and all his host were smashed in seven days of battle. Their heads upon the walls of Winterfell. Come see them, bastard. Your false King lied, and you stole from me.”

Your name. Jon read your name, and the heavy grief of your death turned into a burning lie told by those who killed his brother. Killed his brother and said they killed you. But no, you weren’t dead, you were with the Boltons. And even worse, was kept so close to Jon for so long, forced into something else entirely.

“You stole my bride from me, bastard. And I want her back. I want my bride back. I want the false King’s daughter, I want my bride, and you stole from me to take her all for yourself. Send her to me, bastard and I will not trouble you or your black crows. Keep my bride from me, and I will cut out your bastard heart and make her watch.

Ramsay Bolton, Trueborn Lord of Winterfell.”

On one side of the wall in the final break of day, you and Theon could see it. The structure said nine hundred feet in the air. Covered in sleek ice and almost purple in colour during the morning hours of the sun. As you approached though, something inside you felt sick.

Something felt wrong, and something about the way the men at the gates looked hesitant to let you in made you feel like you could faint. Theon had declared your name, widow of Robb Stark, daughter of Stannis Baratheon and Queen in the North. Here to see the Lord Commander Jon Snow.

The looks were worried, and some almost looking devastated at you. The front gates to Castle Black opened, and you couldn’t stop feeling that something was horribly wrong.

The air too, smelled faintly like smoke.

On the other side of the wall, it was still the pitch black dark of night. The man he should’ve sent away, the one he was told to, started it all. Others joined, but it was his face specifically that held the true weight of the actions. The face of the man who had fought him since day one. Most of the faces besides his, some had tears, some regret and most only watched unable to do such a thing themselves.

“I want my bride back,” his thoughts only repeated over and over. The men he knew, some too well, looking at him as Jon fell to his knees, confused. “I want my bride back,” He could still see you in his mind.

His voice whispered, the only thing he could speak out in the stabs against his chest. “Ghost..” The fading dark washed over him, and as his own brothers tearfully put the last knife through his heart, Jon Snow barley felt the pain.

Only the cold.

#jon snow x reader #robb stark x reader #robb stark #game of thrones #asoiaf #a song of ice and fire #jon snow x you #robb stark x you #jon snow imagine #robb stark imagine #jon snow

178 notes · View notes