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violettelueur · 3 years

Text

RYŌMEN SUKUNA || HIS LITTLE SONGBIRD

| featuring : ryōmen sukuna ft. itadori yuji and fushiguro megumi from jujutsu kaisen

| warnings : grammar errors and light mention of alcohol

| form : imagine (with she/her pronouns)

| word count : 2411

| published : 02 december

| request : I just finished reading Sukuna with so who good at singing and I love it❤️ After reading this, it makes me think of another possibility for reincarnation au. What if the so got reincarnated but instead of Sukuna actually met them in person, he found out that the so is now a famous singer, so their songs can be heard all over japan. Itadori went a store and their song was played which Sukuna realized it was his little song bird’s voice

| barista’s notes : hi hi guys~ sorry for the really late update today and that is because i fell asleep the second i got back home from school ʕ ㅇ ᴥ ㅇʔ classic barista violettelueur and what makes it lowkey worst is that it’s 2:20 am right now.....for a little information that might be helpful while reading this, i was listen to BLACKPINK - Don’t know what to do (JP Ver.) while writing this, so that is going to get a little mention on this imagine ʕ·ᴥ·　ʔ other than that, i hope you enjoy you cup of classic black coffee (jujutsu kaisen request!) have a wonderday day and please come back soon!

The sounds of the strings being plucked to construct a beautiful melody filled the spring air with its euphoric sound as the pale pink cherry blossom petals graceful fell from its branches giving a beautiful sight to behold, while the crowds of men in the garden celebrated with red sake plates in hand that was filled to the brim with the sweet alcohol that was being consumed in a rapid rate.

However, as much as the King of Curses wanted to disrupt the little gather for his own sadistic pleasure, the melody that was playing in the air captivated him to pause his wicked thoughts and desires and demanded him to appreciate the music the was being created by the lone female that was at the centre of the ocean of men - who were laughing drunkenly while some observed her from afar.

The lone female on her knees, while her eyes were set on the musical tool that was set in front of her, was delicately but masterfully plucking the thin transparent stings to create a tune that no other person within the gardens could recreate - not even the other talented musicians that were also present within the large garden. Eyeing the beauty that was charming almost everyone within her presence, the King of Curses slyly came closer (but out of sight) to gain a closer look at what was going on.

“Who is she?”

“She’s the only daughter from the prominent L/N family, they’re are known for their musical talents and from the rumours, that is certainly no lie,”

“Is she married? I can imagine having her playing for me every day with that beautiful melody,”

However, before one of the males of court nobility could even answer the question, an elegant but powerful voice echoed throughout the garden causing everyone to swiftly turn to the direction of the angelic voice, only to suddenly find that it was that lone female in the middle of the garden singing with the alluring tone that she had created herself - leaving everyone in a trance to the grace that was beautifully presented to them.

“I need to make her my wife,”

“I’m afraid that is easier said than done, my lord. From what has been going around, she has refused all of the men that have proposed their hand in marriage, there isn’t a reason that is known for this that can answer everyone’s confusion,”

“What do I need to give her? Money! Power! I have plenty of that,”

“She has rejected all of the noblemen that have come her way, no riches could ever convince her and I’m surprised that her family also agree to her antics”

Listening from a distance, Sukuna couldn’t help but become intrigued by what was being said. Many women in this time would have jumped on the chance to marry someone from a higher status let alone be married off quickly, yet here you were singing and playing like you have all the time in the world with no worries or fears that could distract you. You were at peace, while he was the destruction.

Somewhat still in a trace, it was suddenly cut off once the final string was pulled causing there to be absolute silence to fill the space leaving only the wind to cover the lack of sound before a loud parade of claps were heard as the emperor - who hosted the party - stood up with pride written all over his face. Standing up from your position, you have a light smile before bowing to show your gratitude to being allowed to play in such a prestigious event as you then made your way to the other musicians to pass them on for the next performance.

“Y/N! That was amazing, you never disappoint,”

“I have no idea what you saying, I messed up on the second to last note when I hit the wrong string, ha what am I doing to do? That is going to extremely bother me for the time being,”

“Stop being such a perfectionist! None of the sorcerers, noblemen and emperor knows that, so you’re fine,”

“Thank you and shouldn’t you really go, is it not your turn?”

“Oh! My apologies, I’ll meet up with you later,”

With your friend running off to continue with musical performance, you stood in your spot as you watched her go further into the distance leaving you to soak in the sunray that was gently providing a warm glow to your complexion as the deep purple of your kimono also brightened up leaving it somewhat of a lavender shade. Taking a deep sigh, you looking up to admire the cherry blossoms that were in bloom, only to see a figure settled on one of the branches with his ruby eyes set upon you, even though the man was hidden very skilfully within the plethora of petals you could sense him from a while away, but before you could even voice out your confusion.

“Ah, there she is! Miss L/N,”

Displaying a face of irritation on the rude disturbance - leaving Sukuna to display a face of amusement instead - you turned around to find two men standing in front of you with one that seemed to be of younger age compared to his counterpart making you come to the realisation that it was a son and father - leaving you to mentally groan in annoyance as you instantly knew where this little conversation was going.

“I want you to met my son, he is -”

“I’m sorry, but I am not interested in his hand in marriage nor his companionship” you immediately interrupted the noblemen, causing both of the men to look at you in complete shock as they didn’t expect you to figure out their intentions so soon after only a few words exchanged.

“But my dear, this is an amazing opportunity for you to-”

“Become someone with a higher nobility? Don’t make me laugh, I rather become a peasant then spend the eternity of my life bound to you,”

“What is it that you desire for your hand? Wealth? Power? Prestige? You name what you desire and we will provide!”

“I’m afraid that what I desire is impossible for you to provide me, my apologies”

“What is it that you want, woman?! Who doesn’t want what I can give you within an instinct?” the son soon erupted in anger at this rejection, still in utter confusion on why you were so adamant on not wanting to wed him.

“Entertainment? Can you provide that? You see, you noblemen always offer what you have already stated to me and that may sound very enticing to another but, you all are so boring,”

The two noblemen looked at you with astoundment in their eyes as well as Sukuna, who was cunningly listening from above on where you found him - the King of Curses didn’t want to confess this to himself but he was confused on what you trying to demonstrate here with you little speech.

“You are so so boring, you men expect me to play and sing for you every single day like a bird in a cage, yet I get no entertainment in return from you? Isn’t that quite unfair? You have no talent yet you want to be greedy, what ridiculous idea is that? It’s almost laughable in my opinion,”

Sukuna almost burst out laughing from what you artfully expressed to the two men that were in front of you as he also could relate to what you were saying. The sorcerers that he had fought and killed with his bare hands were all boring with no hint of excitement from any of the battles he had faced and here you were expressing the same distaste - they were boring. All of them.

‘Well, well little songbird, I got your attention, now you have mine,’

ꕥ

“Sukuna?” you called out in a hushed surprised tone, as you unexpectedly found him sitting comfortably on the wooden corridor outside your room. Even since that little encounter back at the garden party, you have been seeing the special grade curse looming about here and there within your personal space, causing you to one day to finally acknowledge his presence that was constantly around you, only leading up where you both were now.

The excitement of these secret meetings that you both had late at night was the entertainment that you were looking for. The excitement of being so secretive with the man you desired to love but couldn’t to the outer world was the entertainment that no nobleman would ever provide you. It was the fact that this romantic link between you and Sukuna was forbidden that excited the both of you. This was the entertainment that you both desire.

“Hello, my little songbird,” Sukuna greeted you with a smirk before gently grabbing your hand to pull you down to his height - well more rather below his height - to meet eye to eye with you. “Didn’t you miss me?” he then teasingly asked, causing you to look away in a bashful expression because you knew that he knew what your answer was going to be. However, pushing your pride aside, you slowly wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him into an embrace which then led him to place a hand on the back of your neck, holding you in place as he savoured the warmth that you were providing him.

“Where have you been? I was worried,” you stated to him, and even though it was a laughable comment to him since what was the point in worrying about him, he couldn’t help but appreciate the foreign concern that you had for him - it truly warmed his heart that you were here with him. “I was busy, now why don’t you sing for me, my little songbird, I do miss the sound of your sweet voice,” he declared to you before placing a few light open mouth kisses on your neck leading you to let out a soft moan of pleasure which seemed to put a smile on the curse’s face.

“What would you like for me to sing to you then?” You asked as you used your hand to gently run your hand through his hair which caused Sukuna to become relaxed and lower his guard within your embrace - the only time he allowed himself to do so and the only person that was allowed to see him in this state.

“Anything. Anything that you sing for me is enough”

To be held in your arms was what Sukuna always wanted and desired every day of his life, to hear your voice was something that made him forget about the world just like back at the garden party and the elegance that you embodied while playing the Koto was something he could never get out of his mind. You were his safe haven. His little songbird. However, that was 1000 years ago.

ꕥ

Residing within his vessel, Sukuna began to wonder what could have caused him to start to reminisce about the past when clearly he couldn’t do anything to bring you back with him. You were gone. You have passed. There was nothing he could do even as a powerful curse himself to bring your back onto his arms and let you sing to him.

However, what could make do for now was the song that was annoyingly playing within the music store that his vessel - Itadori Yuji - decided to visit as it seemed like he was interested in what was new with his friend Fushiguro Megumi. Slowly, the King of Curses could hear the music beginning to fade, indicating that it was the end of it before another quickly began to play to replace the ending song.

Unlike the other song, this one was softer in tune with something being strummed in the background - just like how you would strum the strings of the Koto when he would ask you to play it for him to admire - to which was then sung on top with a female voice. Disinterested, Sukuna began to dissociate himself with the song that was now playing until another voice came in with the song, suddenly leaving him in a trance like the one he was back 1000 years ago at that garden party.

Sitting up from his position, he intensively listened closer making sure that his ears didn’t deceive him from what he thought he heard.

“Oi brat! Who is singing that song?”

“Ha? What do you want now?” his vessel replied, surprised and annoyed at the sudden appearance of the curse that was inside him.

“What does Sukuna want now?” Fushiguro asked, slightly worried about what was happening and what could happen at this moment and time since they were in a public place filled with people.

“Answer the question before I rip your heart out again,” Sukuna threatened, slowing becoming impatient and desperate for an answer leaving Itadori no choice but for once cooperate with the special grade curse.

“From what I believe, it’s a group song called ‘Don’t know what to do’, I believe there are five girls within that group,” Itadori explained before he quickly stopped within his track to see a screen playing a stage performance of the exact same song being played in the store. “Yeah! There is the group, they are really well known in Japan since they’re are touring there, I think the youngest is the same age as me and Fushiguro” to which he pointed at a girl that he was explaining about.

Looking at the scene through Itadori’s eyes, Sukuna began to observe each and every single girl that was dancing on the stage before he paused his view on a certain girl that Itadori pointed, who was dressed in a white off the shoulder crop top that was long-sleeved with a white skirt paired with white trainers that matched with the rest of the girls within the group.

“Little songbird?” he quietly muttered, not believing what was presented in front of him at this current moment in time.

There was no doubt about it, that was you on the screen singing and dancing to a song that he slowly began to love once he heard your voice. You truly looked angelic as you gracefully danced across the stage somehow managing to maintain a stable singing voice that never disappointed him. You were back.

His little songbird.

#jujutsu kaisen #jjk #jujutsu kaisen imagine #jujutsu kaisen imagines #jujutsu kaisen x reader #jjk x reader #ryomen sukuna #sukuna #jjk ryomen sukuna #jjk sukuna #ryomen sukuna x reader #ryomen sukuna imagine #ryomen sukuna imagines #itadori yuji #itadori yujii #jjk itadori #fushiguro megumi #jjk fushiguro

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parkersharthook · 3 years

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Love For All

Peter Stark-Rogers & Stark-Rogers!reader (twins)

warnings: mentions of drinking/being drunk, pretty fluffy

1.8k+ words

series masterlist

a/n: happy pride month (lol I queued this in february just so I didn’t forget to post it) anyways im bi and pls know my page is a safe space for everyone 💗💜💙

Fluffy piece where Tony and Steve are chosen as the grand marshalls for the pride parade and it becomes a family affair.

“this just in, you all officially have the coolest dads in history!” Tony bellowed as he dramatically entered the common space, Steve right behind him with a plethora of eye rolls.

Right as you were about to protest, Bucky chimed in, “neither of you are my father.”

“with the way I’ve saved your sorry ass? Might as well be.”

“saved my sorry ass? Oh Stevie, have you forgotten who pulled your ass out of every back alley fight you got into? Or have the years 1932 to 1941.”

“I did not start a fight in 1932!” Steve argued back, hands placed firmly on his hips.

“bullshit! 5 years old, playground 2 blocks over, Arthur Williams.”

Steve frowned slightly, “damn I forgot about that.”

Beside you Peter snorted, “you got into a fight when you were 5?”

“Wow darling, you came out of the womb with righteous indignation didn’t you?” Tony added with a small smirk as he moved to rest against the back of the couch.

Steve threw his hands up in defeat, “oh haha laugh it up. Yes I’m old, yes I’m stubborn. Can we please just go back to how we’re cool?”

“Wait before that, back to the ‘not my fathers thing’ does this mean you see yourselves as the team fathers? Because if you’re adopting more people, I want in!” Clint said cheerfully.

“Sorry we capped out at four.”

You stuck your tongue out at Clint with a little ‘ha ha’ because you were mature like that. “anyways… why do you think you are the coolest dads? I wanna get my rebuttal in soon.”

Tony bopped the back of your head playfully as he dropped a very rainbow piece of paper into your lap. Peter instantly leaned into your space to read it. You pushed him back with a shove to the forehead. “relax nerd I’m gonna read it out loud.”

“hurry up I’m getting antsy.” You threw an unimpressed look at Clint who had practically crawled into Bucky’s lap to get closer, not that Bucky minded.

“Chill.” You smoothed out the paper and held it up, “All hail the next Grand Marshals of NYC Pride, Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. We are happy to formally announce the two superheroes and super husbands as our fearless leaders of the float parade this year.”

“That’s the public announcement they put out, turn it over to read the letter they sent us.”

“Dear Mr. Anthony and Steven Stark-Rogers, we are so excited to welcome you into our NYC Pride Parade family. As this year’s appointed Grand Marshals it is both our duty and pleasure to pass the Pride Baton over to you. Included in this letter you will find the rules and expectations of our Grand Marshals, as well as what is permitted for first floats. We would love if you extended this invitation to your entire circle of family and friends to join you in the parade and on your float.”

You put the paper down and tilted your head back to stare at your dad, “you? Grand Marshal? Really?”

“What’s so shocking about that?”

“umm…. You’re old and not cool.”

Bucky sputtered a laugh beside you as Tony bopped you on the head again.

“Was this your way of telling us to come to pride with you?” Peter asked.

Steve shook his head as he flopped into a nearby loveseat, “actually this was our way of telling you that we need your help coming up with ideas for the float and how to decorate it. But of course we want you to join us on the float, we’ll be inviting the rest of the team as well.”

“I’ll help decorate but Bi-derman is making another appearance this year.”

Tony slapped his forehead, “can you take your old suit at least? The paint was a bitch to get off last time.”

Peter rolled his eyes, “the old suit chafes.”

You grimaced, “I hate this conversation.”

“I think you should do a dog themed float, Lucky can be our mascot.”

Bucky sighed, “of course that’s your suggestion.”

“what about the history of pride? Recognizing the Stonewall Riots and the two black transgender females that started it all. Plus then we can also advocate for Black Lives Matter. Make it clear that to support one, you have to support the other. Educate and entertain.”

Tony smiled, “that’s not a bad idea y/n.”

Steve looked at you with hopeful eyes, “are you willing to help organize and coordinate?”

“can I invite friends to help?”

“yes.”

You smiled, “then yes.”

------

“when I said organize and coordinate, I didn’t mean take over the conference room we use regularly for avengers meetings.” Steve said with a deep sigh

“it’s the only one with a vending machine.” MJ helpfully pointed out, taking another large bite of her pizza slice.

“yeah it was the only way to get Clint to sit through meetings without leaving to get food.” Steve explained as he stepped into the room and took in the large array of papers everywhere. The four teenage girls that occupied the room were all busy with one thing or another, looking intense and determined.

MJ snorted, “figures.” Her hand ghosted over the page again, dragging the pencil with it and creating another addition to her sketch.

Steve’s brow furrowed for a moment and he took a step closer to get a better look, “is that me?”

MJ nodded coolly but offered no other explanation. Betty huffed a laugh, “we’re trying to design both you and Mr. Stark crown-like head pieces.”

“crowns?”

You rolled your eyes, “Pops, you really do only hear what you wanna hear. Crown-like head pieces. I know dad would go for a full ass crown but I knew you wouldn’t and we want you two to match.”

Steve studied the photos of celebrities that were projected on the wall. “and that?”

“The 2018 Met Gala. Theme: heavenly bodies. There were a bunch of great head pieces that night, we’re using it for inspiration.” Gwen supplied, “let us know if there’s any you like.”

“I wanna go in a Cardi B direction.” You stated without taking your eyes off your computer screen, you’ve obviously already committed every possible headpiece to memory.

“don’t taint his selection with bias!” Betty cried

MJ waved her off easily, “there’s no way he knows who Cardi B is.”

“thanks for the confidence MJ.” She just smiled cheekily at him.

“I think he should choose something like what Frances McDormand was wearing.” Gwen stated with a small smile

MJ laughed, “as much as I think that would look amazing, there’s no way he’s picking that.”

“who’s this?”

You barely had to glance at the photo to recognize the red and gold dress and of course the iconic headpiece, “Black Lively.”

“Okay well I like that, it’s simple.”

“what about…” Gwen drawled as she typed something and new photo, a larger one, took over the whole wall, “Something like SZA’s?”

Steve took a step back and grimaced slightly, “it’s kinda… big.”

“But if it were smaller?” Gwen pressed politely

“I suppose.” Steve glanced around at the four girls. “You guys have a lot of stuff planned.”

“Oh yeah.” You looked up with a big grin, meeting your dad’s eye. “It’s gonna be great.”

“You’re not designing us costumes too are you?”

“Well Tony specifically said not too and that he already had something planned.” MJ said before eyeing Steve up and down with the critical eye of an artist, “But we could design something if you wanted us too.”

“No, I kinda of already have a plan too.”

You rose a questioning brow, “oh yeah? Please tell me you’re not going to be wearing something boring.”

Steve rolled his eyes at you and obnoxiously bumped his hip into your side as he walked out, “I’m not clueless on how to dress for Pride. Plus, I like dressing up for it, it’s fun. And it’s not something we got to do back then. I’m planning on taking full advantage.” And with that he walked out dramatically and closed the door.

Betty laughed slightly, “ten bucks that he paints the shield.”

Gwen shook his head, “No way. I think he’s gonna wear one of the flags as a cape.”

MJ clicked her tongue, “I know for a fact he’ll be wearing his ‘trans rights are human rights’ shirt.” Pause. “and probably his rainbow pants.”

You looked at MJ with a perplexed expression, “why do you know about my dad’s rainbow pants?”

MJ smirked slightly, “he wore them to pride a few years ago. Plus, me and peter talk about things. You’re not the only Stark-Rogers twin I hang out with.”

Gwen obnoxiously nudged Betty with her elbow and a large wink, “Oh yeah… she talks to Peter.” MJ scowled at the two as you snickered behind your hand.

MJ grumbled slightly, “let’s just get back to work.” It was silent in the room until the three other girls heard MJ mumble, “I never have to deal with this at college.”

You burst into a fit of laughter.

------

Pride was without a doubt a 100% success.

The float looked great. The area had already been swept for trouble. One Grand Marshal was moderately drunk. And Everyone was dancing and partying. Perfect.

Even the float attendees looked great. Clint was the brightest of the all. With no shirt on, glitter all over his chest, a rainbow tutu around his hips, tight purple booty shorts underneath, knee high socks with the pan pride flag on them, plus his signature purple converse… he looked good.

You’ve been snickering every time you catch Bucky not so subtlety looking Clint up and down. But that being said, Clint was doing the same to Bucky because he had someone managed to get the stoic and whiney super soldier into a rainbow button down. Nothing else, as that wasn’t Bucky’s jam. He paired the shirt with simple jeans but you were sure that he would be covered with glitter later.

Peter had been swinging around the parade, his first Stark suit now painted a vibrant pink, purple, and blue. Plus there was a large, messily painted on heart over where the spider sat in the middle of his chest.

You and all your friends had taken up the dance floor on the float, and if you said so yourself, you all were killing the dance moves.

Tony was more than tipsy because Bruce was on babysitting duty tonight for Morgan, so he let himself go and lean heavily against his husband, who just grinned at him all lovingly.

In the end, it was a good day. You threw beads and candy to the crowd, joining them at times for drinks and dance parties. You laughed endlessly with your friends and your family. And yeah… it was a good day.

Plus, all your friends had been correct.

Steve wore his trans shirt in solidarity with the ongoing movements and the float.

He wore his rainbow pants because they were “super fashionable y/n” and to support everyone.

He painted his shield purple, blue, and pink to show off his own sexuality and support Peter.

And he had a pansexual flag tied around his neck to match with Tony’s pink, yellow, and blue shirt.

He looked great.

#marvel #spiderman #reader #peter stark rogers #peter parker #superfamily #reader insert #peter parker & reader #peter parker fanfiction #peter parker imagine #superfamily fanfiction #superfamily imagine #reader fanfiction #reader imagine #marvel fanfiction #marvel imagine #stark!reader #stark-rogers!reader #emma writes

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gallavictorious · 4 years

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Given the growing gentrification of the South Side, sooner or later someone – a magaine, website, whatever – will probably want to write a LGTB+ guide to the neighborhood; what's good, where it might be unsafe to be out and proud, etc. So, a small bunch of brave twenty-somethings hop on the L and starts hitting up the local pubs and bars, and soon enough they find themselves in The Alibi Room.

It's afternoon, probably, so the place isn't packed, but there's a few regulars lounging in their usual spots, having their usual beverages. None of the intrepid explorers are Cole levels of eye-catching, more's the pity, but they've all made efforts to be obviously gay – they're here to gauge how well that is received, after all. A little pride pin, maybe, stuff like that. Please understand that I don't actually know enough about the US and the South Side to determine if this type of excursion would ever happen and whether it'd be suicidally stupid or maybe just classist and condescending if so. Either way, and for the purposes of this meta ficlet, a small group of LGTB+ peeps walk into a bar –

Tommy and Kermit stare a little, probably, but likely no more than they'd stare at any outside intruders. Kev says, ”hey, guys, what can I get you,” and the group starts to relax a little because while the place seems to be a proper shithole, homophobic aggression doesn't seem to be amongst its many questionable qualities. So they order drinks and don't make fools out of themselves by asking for anything fancy and it's all pretty chill. One of them braves the bathroom, and instantly regrets it. Kev is his usual friendly self and asks if they live around here and, when he learns that they do not, what brought them? They're happen enough to tell him and he gets all enthusiastic both about being gay in general (blowjobs! sandwiches! oh, kev... ) and about being gay in his bar (we love gays here, we have a strict policy against harrassement of gays, and of women, we're not even the rapiest bar in Chicago anymore) and he's kinda clueless, but it's oddly sweet, you know?

Enter Mickey, who does a little thing with his face when he sees the group: ”Jesus. This a fucking Pride parade?”

He's not actually being that nasty about it, just a little curious and probably suspicious of what looks like fucking hipsters, but it's Mickey so to anyone who doesn't know him it sounds nasty as fuck. Also, has has a certain presence, you know, and those tattoos, and our group of gay explorers are starting to think that maybe this wasn't such a great idea after all.

”Hey, Mickey,” Kev calls quite happily as he immediately moves to pour a beer for his one-time business partner. ”This is Jacob and his friends, they have this websited called Out and about, and they're writing this article about gay friendly bars on the South Side.”

Uh-huh. Mickey knew it. Fucking hipster bullshit. He snorts into his beer. ”Yeah? The fuck they're doing here then?”

Kevin looks appropriately hurt. ”We're gay friendly.”

”Fuck you being gay friendly. I almost got killed coming out in this shithole.”

”That's – ” Kevin throws a panicked look at our gay explorers, who are sitting there staring at Mickey, wide-eyed and confused and desperately trying to parse what they'd just heard. This rough-looking, foul-mouthed South Side thug is gay? ”It was his dad,” Kev tries to explain. ”It was a family thing, nothing to do with the bar. Terry doesn't even come here anymore.”

That much is true. He hasn't, not since just after the wedding, when he walked in alone only to spot Ian and Mickey having a quiet date night in one of the booths and the whole place fell into deep silence as Mickey and Terry locked eyes. Ian's hand found Mickey's arm, grounding him, holding him back. Seconds were added to seconds and you could have heard a pin drop. Then, a good number of the patrons climbed to their feet and stood just facing Terry, and Kev said ”sorry, man, looks like the place is full right now. Come back another night, maybe?” and Terry's glare could have killed but he just said ”I don't drink where they let in fucking faggots” and left. Maybe the Alibi Room is gay friendly, or maybe it's just ready to – once in a great while – step up for one of their own.

The gay explorers never get to hear this story. (What business is it of theirs anyway?) Ian walks in, and he smiles a little curiously when he sees the pin-adorned strangers, but doesn't say anything as he takes the seat next to Mickey and leans in for a quick peck: ”Hey.”

”Hey,” Mickey says, perfectly content to completely forget about any and all gays that aren't his husband. ”How's work?”

But before Ian has the chance to reply, one of the group speaks up, a little shyly, a little awestruck. ”Uh. I'm sorry. Are you... are you gay Jesus?”

Ian starts, unsure how to respond to that, but Mickey has no such qualms. ”No, he fucking ain't your gay Jesus,” he snaps, standing and grabbing Ian by the hand. ”C'mon, Gallagher, let's get out of here. Smell of rainbows and fucking soy lattes making me sick.”

This doesn't strike Ian as a horrible idea so he doesn't protest, even as he shoots our gay explorers a vaguely apologetic look. They exit, pursued by neither bear nor cub.

Kev turns to the somewhat stunned group, plastering a wide smile on his face: ”So. Another round?”

#i'd apologize for this nonsense #but i'm not actually sorry #maybe a little sorry for calling the alibi a shithole #but it IS #i mean love it but it IS #i'm absolutely the moron who'd make a fool out of myself by asking for craft beer btw #so if i appear to make fun about clueless people slumming it #i'm really only making fun of myself #also wondering what the group end up writing about the alibi?#'beer and food is shitty by the bartender is really nice and kind of hot #all patrons except the gay ones seem pretty friendly'?#gallavich #kevin ball #terry milkovich #tw: slurs #tw: homophobia #ficlet meta #my stuff

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tiny-smallest · 3 years

Text

day one - pride

Rating: G Characters: Henry and Bendy Warnings: none Description: Henry reflects on the definition of labels and belonging in certain spaces.

Also on AO3!

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WHO'S READY FOR THE INK DEMONTH 2021 I SURE ONCE AGAIN TOTALLY WAS YEP DEFINITELY NO LAST MINUTE ANYTHING HERE LET'S GO

Doing writing prompts again because this year has been A Lifetime and I just don't possess the ability to draw this time so let's go let's get stupid get weird enjoy the misadventures of a specific au of of Bendy and the Ink Machine where the toons are their own people in a world they still don't entirely understand and the people who love them who try to help them navigate it.

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Henry was used to a surprising amount of things to interrupt his day first thing in the morning. Easily numbered in the hundreds. His children were toons; there was no end to the amount of crazy nonsense that they could get into when he was asleep, and that was disregarding the fact that Bendy usually slept until noon.

Sure, he was the Troublemaker In Chief. That did not mean the other two were paragons of holiness, no matter how much Alice tried glowing her halo at him while she and her brother gave him the saddest, biggest, shiniest puppy eyes. And that didn't even take into account how much trouble they could find, no mischief intended.

He'd seen smoldering breakfasts, pancakes on the ceiling, saran wrap around the kitchen archway, demonic rubber chicken noises from a saxophone that had a part replaced with the noisemaker from the novelty prank toy...

(He still didn't regret letting Boris chase Bendy for that one without intervening.)

With all that, being immediately accosted by three toons hanging off his legs the second he came down the stairs and all trying to talk to him at the same time did not magically get any easier to withstand.

"Whatever it is, it's a no until I get my coffee," he drawled as he attempted to walk with them hanging off him, the three of them dragged along with him. It was with quite some difficulty that he got to the kitchen counter.

"But Henry!" Bendy whined, "we only got a few hours to get ready if ya say yes! We need every second!"

"For what?" he yawned, pouring a cup from the machine.

"You don't know what day it is?" Alice was surprised enough to actually let go, and she dusted herself off like the lady she was before standing up.

Instantly something cold grabbed Henry's heart and squeezed. "Uh- no I...?"

Had he forgotten someone's birthday? No, it was summertime; Bendy was a winter 'birth' and Boris and Alice were spring and fall. An anniversary of some kind? Quick think what are you forgetting you useless-

"How!?" Bendy gaped at him from down below. "It's been all over the news fer weeks!"

Well okay now he was just thoroughly confused. "I um-"

"The parade, Henry!" Boris's tail was thumping gently against the floor; he was not trying one tiny ounce to hide his eagerness. "The parade that's today!"

"Parade-?" It took just one more nanosecond of thought before it clicked.

"Oh you mean the-!" And they wanted to go to it.

Well, he shouldn't be surprised. This would be the first parade they'd get to see, wouldn't it? And it was nice weather out. And it would be bursting with color, which the toons were darn near obsessed with.

He took a contemplative sip. They weren't human; god even knew if they had any sort of sexuality at all. Could they even feel that stuff? The urge to- do anything like that? Wouldn't that technically make them asexual? That was the word, right?

Well, human or not, that would solidly mean they belonged there. Queer was queer, regardless of species, right? Hell, even if they'd just started asking themselves those questions, or wanted to support the fans of theirs who fell under that giant umbrella, they were valid for being there.

"Sure, I can take you."

Both boys cheered, lifting their arms to do so and releasing his legs. He quickly took a step away from them, but their joy had them leaping to their feet anyway and he watched as they bounced around the kitchen, slowly draining his coffee and trying to curb his smile when he was actively drinking.

It was a hard task.

Their excited chatter melted pleasantly into the background as he took the time to drink and try to shake his brain awake the rest of the way awake like shaking out an old blanket to coax out the wrinkles. Their enthusiasm always made for the perfect background noise.

"What colors do you want?"

"I dunno! There's so many! I don' even know what label I fit in-"

"I saw you checkin' out that guy the other day don't think I didn't!" The wink and nudge from Bendy sent Boris blushing so hard the poor wolf's face turned nearly as black as his fur.

"I was hopin' you hadn't-"

They were all quick to consume breakfast, and Henry retreated upstairs after telling the toons to come get him when they wanted to leave.

He settled comfortably in the limitless, timeless space of art before reality came knocking with Bendy's distinctive tapping at the door, pulling Henry from the space inbetween something and nothing as he set his pen aside. "Come in, kiddo."

When Bendy stepped in with what was unmistakably a rainbow flag on his cheek and extra face paint he knew he was in for a time.

"Oh uh- what's that for-"

"For you!" Bendy said with a giant grin. "Who'd ya think?"

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah well- I uh-"

Bendy didn't slow down. "Anyway the others are about ready to go but they sent me up here to get your flag on while they finish up- now why they trusted me with the paint I got about as much an idea as you but hey I'm not gonna complain-"

"Aw that's- that's sweet kiddo but I sorta figured I'd just be-" How to say this. "Dropping you off...?"

Immediate confusion. "What? Why?"

"Uh well- I mean-" He fiddled with the pen- when had that ended up back in his hands? "You guys- you have a space there, you know? I'm not sure if I-"

There was now a puckered frown on the little devil's face. "Not sure if you what?"

"Well I mean- I don't exactly- belong, now do I?"

The frown multiplied its intensity by about five. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Aw jeez. He really did not want to discuss this with his kid, as much of an adult as Bendy was. For many reasons. "Uh well- you know-" He gestured, as if hoping that would somehow pluck the answer from the air and implant it in Bendy's brain without having to give voice to it, setting the pen down in the process so he’d stop playing with it. "I'm not exactly- I mean-"

"You like guys." Bendy's voice was so sure that Henry knew making any sort of denial was futile. And also kind of stupid. Why would he deny that to his own son? No of course he wouldn't.

"Well I mean- I married a woman, didn't I?" he finally blurted out.

Unimpressed blinking as he drew closer to stand beside the desk. "Yeah they got a word for that. Several actually. Most popular ones are bi and pan, so which colors is it gonna be?"

"No no I mean-" God he was probably blushing. His face definitely felt way too hot. "I uh- I mean I- I like guys, yes-" great brain thanks a ton totally needed that heart rate spiking why are you acting like that's scary this is our kid- "but I- I married a woman- I like women- more often?"

The blinking was now confused.

"Uh-" How to phrase this. "If- if we split it into a pie chart- it's probably like... thirty-seventy in favor of women?" He ran his fingers through his hair and down the back of his neck again. "I'm- not that I'm any great catch but like, if I was in any way qualified to be in the dating pool again, I'd be way more likely to end up with a lady."

The unimpressed look was back. "And?"

It was Henry's look to be surprised. "And- and that means that, you know- I'm not really-"

"You like guys."

"I- yeah?"

"And you're a guy."

"Kind of a given at this point."

"So you're a guy, and you like guys, and just also happen to like girls too. We got names for that." He gave Henry's shirt an appraising look. "Gotta say the bi colors would complement your clothes best. If you want pan colors I'm gonna have to ask you to change. As your official fashion consultant."

Henry snorted. "My what?"

"Listen Dad I love you but I ain't about to let you walk into that parade wearing like, a pineapple hawaiian shirt or nothin'."

Henry banged a fist lightly on the table and pointed at him. "Liar! You wore the exact same thing just the other day!"

"Yeah but that was to the beach, not a parade."

"Literally when have you ever cared about not being a fashion disaster."

"This time, when Alice'll actually kill me otherwise."

"... Okay you got me there."

Bendy grinned. "So, bi colors or pan colors! Or somethin' else? I think there's other ones too."

He opened his mouth, closed it again and then opened it. What the hell. "... Bi colors, I guess."

"Yesssssss I was hopin' you'd say that." He hopped over onto the table like he'd suddenly become a bunny.

"Oh you were, huh?"

"Listen, the pan folks got pretty colors, but I'm always a sucker for a sunset," he said as he pulled out the pallet he needed. Henry sighed and shook his head, the smile ruining his effort to look exasperated.

"Well. Sunset me then, I guess."

"You got it boss!" Bendy said in maybe the worst mafia minion accent known to mankind.

It was barely five minutes of Bendy painting lines carefully on his cheek before he whipped out a mirror.

"Tah-dah!"

Henry blinked at himself in the mirror. He tilted his head, something shifting inside his heart that he had no name for, no way to voice.

The once proud look on Bendy's face was swiftly dropping. "... I didn't mess it up, did I...?"

"No- no, no." Henry tilted his head. "I uh..."

Bendy's worried browlines screamed anxiety to him.

"... I guess I just look good in a sunset," he said quietly, seeing the little corner of his reflection's mouth turn up as if in some sort of hazy dream.

Better than I thought.

#bendy and the ink machine #the ink demonth #batim bendy #batim henry #batim boris #batim alice angel #henry stein #batim henry stein #strike up the band au #my writing

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delimeful · 4 years

Text

or set your teeth against my throat (1)

warnings: vampires, blood, injury, violence, abduction, non consensual blood drinking, depressive thoughts, mild hypnosis, murder mention

Vampires, Roman was finding, seemed to have an even more shit sense of hospitality than he’d previously assumed.

Maybe it was ungenerous of him, considering this was the only coven he’d interacted with up close and personal, but he wasn’t really feeling particularly generous at the moment. When he’d been cornered, isolated from the rest of his pack, he’d expected a quick and valorous death, fighting to the last. Not… this.

Another rock made contact with the bars of his cage, the clang of stone on metal vibrating around him. His ears twitched down to flatten against his skull without his input, and he snarled low in his throat as a jeering laugh rose from the crowd.

As if it wasn’t bad enough, being taken hostage for whatever nefarious purposes they had in mind, bound and muzzled like some common animal, no, they had to parade him through the streets and batter his cage with pebbles and glass and whatever other projectiles the bloodsuckers thought fitting to torment their captive audience with.

None of it could get through the enchantment on the bars, so he wasn't struck, but it was still rough on the ears. And his feelings.

Not that they cared. That was probably the point, actually.

Gathering his resolve, he forced himself to remain still and unflinching as another shard of rock hit the cage and spun away, clenching his hands to keep them from trembling. None of this mattered. It didn’t matter what they did to him, because he would not break. He wouldn’t tell them a single thing about his pack, not one scrap of information.

He would die first, and without regrets.

As it turned out, the coven-- Kin of Æternam, they called themselves-- didn’t seem to care for information. Not a single vampire spoke to him as he was moved further and further into the town, and he couldn’t exactly initiate a conversation himself with a gag in his mouth.

Instead, he watched, and found to no surprise that he didn’t like what he saw.

He’d known many vampires were nomadic, but it was one thing to distantly know and another thing entirely to see the human town around them, half the houses smoldering and the other half looking uncomfortably ransacked. He could see the dark splatters of dried blood along walls or among the dirt, though mercifully it seemed like it had been long enough since their invasion that any remaining human bodies had been cleared away.

Roman didn’t risk interacting with humans often. He knew the tales that were spread about werewolves, and the last thing his tiny pack needed was an angry mob on their tails. Even with his reservations, though, he would never wish something like this upon them. Upon anyone.

The Æternam vamps walked among the ruins casually, as though this was everyday scenery, and Roman supposed that for them, it probably was. Simple routine; find a human settlement, feed to their unbeating hearts’ content, hold revel, and then depart again. Rinse and repeat.

It was enough to turn his stomach, and he was almost grateful when his view of the town was blocked off by their entry into the large stone fort that loomed over all else. Almost.

His opinion of the place went downhill as soon as he saw the ostentatious throne and the vampire sprawled across it, both placed on a literal gilded pedestal. Dark raven hair, corpse-like skin, and glowing red eyes painted the picture of the archetypal tyrant vamp. He found himself strangely disappointed by the lack of originality in the man’s presentation. If he was going to die to a bloodsucker, couldn’t it at least be one with a sense of style?

One of the attendant vamps pulled the door of his prison open, and Roman lunged against his restraints with all his might, snarling past the muzzle. The attendant flinched back, but the iron cuffs that bound him held firm no matter how hard he strained. The vampire on the throne laughed, the way one might at a child throwing a tantrum.

“Oh, you are a spitfire, aren’t you? All the better.”

Roman tried to convey how much this guy’s villain aesthetic sucked with his heated glare alone. He was pretty sure Virgil could have created a better evil persona than this guy in his sleep. At age twelve. While feverish. It was sad, really.

The platitudinous prick-- Roman instantly decided to alternate between very clever and very rude nicknames for the guy in his head-- beckoned, and the attendant unlocked the chain keeping him bolted to the floor of the cage. They proceeded to grab the connecting bar between the cuffs locked around his arms and maneuver him up the steps to the pedestal with probably more force than strictly necessary.

Roman had been riding in that cage for hours, and as such, had time to prepare for a lot of potential scenarios. He grew more and more tense the closer he got to the trite enthroned bastard, mentally readying himself for what was likely to be at best an assault on his person and at worst, a horrifying and gory death.

Instead, he was steered to the side of the throne, and then shoved to his knees, at which point he realized that a horrifying and gory death might not be so bad after all. Because now the attendant was locking his cuffs into a new platform, one that was designed to force him to stay hunched over and kneeling at the side of the throne. He growled, prying at the restraints, but there was little give in the cuffs. He was stuck like this, practically on display for the world to see.

“Perfect, right where a mutt like you belongs,” Vlad the Contemptible smiled sharply, as though proud of his pitiful insult.

Were all vampires this insufferably smug? Like, was it part of the package, along with the dumb looking fangs and the tacky glowing eyes? He was glad that werewolves had eyes that merely reflected light, like the respectable, well-designed creatures of nature they were.

It was possible that Roman was rambling, mentally, a little bit. He wished desperately that he could protest the indignity of it all, denounce these freaks and their humiliating tactics, but in this state, there was little he could do but glare impotently.

The bloodsucker seemed entirely too content to ignore him and his glaring hatred entirely for the next few hours, which confused Roman at first. Clearly, he was still alive for a reason, and he felt as though he’d done more than enough waiting to learn about his fate at this point. Plus, his knees hurt.

At the very least, the pain in the neck on the throne next to him seemed like the type to gloat, so why wasn’t he?

As dusk fell, Roman got his answer. More and more vamps filtered into the wide stone hall, filling the space with their corpse-cold bodies and idle chatter. Once the last bit of sun had faded over the horizon, the Toothed Tyrant slowly straightened up in his seat, drawing all the eyes in the room to him. This was what he’d been waiting for.

What was the point in gloating about your evil deeds without an audience to lavish you in praise for it?

“Kin of mine. As I’m sure many of you have noticed, we have a... guest with us this evening.”

Roman shivered as those icy, glowing gazes moved towards him, jeering or morbidly curious or hungry. He pulled at the chains once more just to have something else to focus on, the shift and clink of the metal drowned out by his rapid heartbeat in his ears. He wondered if the vamps could hear it, too.

The pitiful excuse for a villain was still talking. “... fullest potency once the full moon hits, and our hunt will decide who claims such a reward.” His half-lidded gaze slid over to Roman. “A beast like this one has engaged in plenty of hunts before, I assume? Though, probably not as prey. I’m sure it’ll get used to the sensation eventually.”

Even with the gag, Roman could snarl as fierce as any wolf, and the rumbling growl emanating from his chest made some of the closer vamps lean away.

It didn’t seem to have any effect on the worst human leech of them all. He just smiled in a satisfied sort of way before rising to his feet. “What a rebellious spirit. Perhaps you should save that for the hunt, mutt?”

Think up some new nicknames, you absolute bore, Roman thought at him, just in case those rumors about vampires reading minds were true.

The vamp walked closer, until he was at the edge of the platform and Roman had to crane his head back to see his face.

“Let’s give us both a taste of what’s to come, then.”

Without pause, there were suddenly hands on his shirt, dragging him upwards until the restraints threatened to dislocate something. One moment, he was nearly face to face with the vamp, meeting those eye-searing red pupils. In the next, his vision blurred as sharp pain shot through his neck.

The vamp had sunk its nasty fangs in on either side of his jugular, not deep enough to kill him, but enough that it would only take the slightest twitch of the head for his throat to be ripped right out. His body kept frozen even as he began to choke, his mouth tasting of iron and salt.

There was nothing he could do. He couldn’t escape, couldn’t attack, couldn’t even die until these monsters allowed it. The more he fought and resisted, the tighter their grasp on him would become, and the more he would suffer. It would be better to just give up now, save himself the trouble.

(Why am I… That’s not right--)

Roman only realized the vampire was withdrawing when those sharp teeth finally pulled away carelessly, causing a new wave of pain to roll through him. He automatically tried to reach for his throat, to stem the bleeding, but his bound hands could barely rise a few inches. He bent his head down instead, his pride stinging silently as a cacophony of mockery sounded all around him.

Once his fingers touched flesh, however, he could only feel shallow cuts rather than the gaping wounds he knew should be there. He coughed wetly, and red splattered across his hands, but he could breathe once more. However bad the bite had been, it had healed near instantly.

Of course. It was beginning to sink in that they wouldn’t let him perish that easily.

The vampire king was speaking again, eyes brighter than before, and his words blurred together and slipped away from Roman’s understanding. He could only notice the smear of deep red on the vampire’s face, and shudder where he lay as a chill set into his bones.

Time passed in a haze, marked by the constant flurry of vamp activity in the fort around him, the occasional meal to keep him alive, and his connection to the ever-waxing moon.

He felt a faint sense of concern about the way days seemed to slip away, and also about how far away and hard to grasp the concern itself felt. There was something seriously wrong when the growing light of the moon felt more like an approaching deadline than a relief.

The one other thing marking the time, he would much rather forget. Every night without fail, no matter how he fought, the same vampire would drag him up and plunge dagger-like teeth into his throat, leaving him drained and weak on the cold floor afterwards.

Roman wasn’t a fool; he knew that the bites were the reason he felt so exhausted and fuzzy. He just couldn’t do anything about it. The feeling of helplessness only grew stronger and stronger after each night, and slowly, he began to lose the will to fight the dreary feelings off.

By the time the night before the full moon hit, hope was hard to find.

He was slumped awkwardly against the ground when the door to the chamber creaked open, and the noise jolted him out of his dozing as quick as anything. His muscles went rigid and tense.

The head vamp hadn’t drank from him yet today, having left in the middle of the day with an extensive entourage for… something. It had probably been mentioned in earshot-- they weren’t very careful about what he did and did not hear-- but Roman hadn’t been paying enough attention. Maybe they were scouting out new territory?

Regardless, he had sort of been hoping it would keep the bloodsucker out of his hair for long enough that he could recover even just a bit before… before he ran out of time. So much for that.

To his surprise, there was no trace of the vamp’s normal arrogant strides. In fact, there was barely any sound at all. Roman could only tell that someone was approaching by the shifting of shadows and that dusty undead smell.

Suddenly, there was a cold palm on his arm, and he jerked up with a jagged snarl, his mind screaming at him to do anything to prevent being bitten again. The palm was yanked away instantly, and Roman could see the silhouette of the vamp before him.

It definitely wasn’t the head vamp. Smaller, and with curled hair that reflected the torchlight. He couldn’t see his expression, and his mind still screamed dangerous. His growl increased in intensity as the vamp extended a hand again, but he’d called Roman’s bluff: he had no way to defend himself in the restraints. Whatever the vamp was going to do, he couldn’t stop it.

The vamp’s other hand rose, and Roman couldn’t stop himself from flinching.

It made it all the more surprising when he heard the clank of a key in a lock. His eyes shot open, and to his disbelief, the chain connecting his cuffs to the platform went loose, no longer attached. A moment later, the vamp’s hands were on his cuffs, but rather than grab them and drag him, there was another clank.

For the first time in days, fresh air grazed his wrists. His hands were free.

A surge of adrenaline hit him, and he twisted quicker than the vamp could react, pinning him to the ground with a knee to the abdomen and a hand over his throat. It would keep the creature from getting enough air to call out an alarm. With his other hand, he immediately tore at the muzzle, his nails going claw-sharp to tear through the straps. He spat the remnants of the wretched thing out, and turned his attention to the vamp.

Cold hands curled over Roman’s own, like he wanted to pry the hand off his throat, but other than that, he wasn’t struggling against Roman’s hold. Oddly enough, his chest was rising and falling in an uncanny mimicry of panicked breathing, and even his eyes seemed oddly dark for a vamp. Roman would have thought him a human if not for the unmistakable fangs.

His grip tightened at the reminder. “You’re not getting any more blood out of me,” he growled, his voice rough and crackly. His whole body felt out of practice. If he stood up and bolted, he risked falling flat on his own face, and if he turned and the vamp lunged…

No. Easier to just… just vanquish the vamp so he couldn’t do anything. One less thing to worry about during his escape.

He lifted his other hand, claws pinched together as a makeshift stake. The vampire twitched once, his mouth opening briefly as though to speak, and then seemed to slump. His hands stopped tugging at Roman’s fingers around his neck, and he pinched his eyes closed, bracing for the blow.

Roman frowned. Was this a ploy for sympathy?

He could feel the way the vamp trembled under him, unnaturally lifelike.

… It was an effective one. Shit.

He lowered his hand slowly, loosened his grip, waiting for the moment the stranger dropped the ruse and lunged. It didn’t come. He just kept waiting for Roman to hurt him.

He abruptly felt a little sick to his stomach. He let go of the vamp’s throat. The guy opened one eye slowly, like he thought it was a trick.

“If you get up from this spot, if you even twitch before I’m out of this building, I’ll make sure you regret it,” Roman threatened, a growl under the words and his lip curling up slightly to bare his teeth. “You won’t get mercy twice.”

The vamp’s expression did something complicated (Confusion? Relief? Disappointment?) but when Roman scuttled back, he stayed laid out on the floor, not moving a muscle. Roman let a breath out slowly, some of the tension fading from him. “Well… good. Keep doing that.”

He could practically hear Virgil sighing as his awkwardness overwhelmed any menace his threat might have instilled. It wasn’t his fault he was off-script, okay? This vampire was… weird.

Roman shuffled back a few more steps on weak legs, and then, once he was sure he was far enough away, he let the shift wash over him like a warm breeze. Four unsteady legs were better than two, and if he leaned a little on his instincts, his inner wolf would make his gait mostly smooth. It was a small but invaluable aid as as he sprinted down long, musty halls until he was finally, finally out of that cursed fortress.

Roman was so relieved he could have cried. He was still weak, and his head was still foggy, but he didn't stop until there was finally trees around him and dirt under his feet. As he collapsed, the night air still tasted like victory.

#sanders sides #vampire au #fantasy au #ts roman #ts patton #blood tw #violence tw #hurt/comfort #more comfort next chapter lol #writing #my writing #bthb #or set your teeth against my throat #osytamt #werewolf au #this ones a little dark and sad at first but this is only the first chapter!#murder mention #ok i think thats everything #im tired im taking a break for the rest of the day

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lovely-necromancy · 3 years

Text

A Cure for Insomnia CH.7

DISCLAIMER: Anything said about the Warrens in this work of fiction is not fact and more of an opinion. Not a skeptic just not a fan of their protocols and practices. I am not accusing the Warrens of anything in this work nor am I stating to know what actually happened in any of their cases. If you want to form your own opinion the podcast And That's Why We Drink has done multiple segments on their case files and given multiple reasoning for certain aspect of the cases.

If you didn't care that's fine I'm just trying not to get a defamation case.

Finding yourself lost to the humdrum of another by gone weekend and in the midst of a dull Monday morning is where most people start praying for some excitement. But when the excitement is debating the possibility of a stalker, you'd gladly take another lack luster week than deal with this bullshit.

And debating the possibility is the wrong thing to say. It's more accurate to say you've been contemplating what the proper steps to take in this situation are. Going to the police, or rather the Sheriff, is out because of how fucking useless they are when there's not a suspect present or Blue's Clue style trails for them to follow like breadcrumbs.

While David's surprising reappearance does stick out, you have no evidence to pin this to him. Then with all your knowledge on true crime and the likely hood of suspects it tends to be the first one who you've encountered in the stories. And that would point to Tim since you met him right before these shenanigans started but you were with him last night at the mini mart and even lost those fifty minutes together. So, there's no possible way Tim broke into your home and placed a book on your coffee table.

Then there's the issue of the book. You noticed it missing instantly because Toby had taken something from its shelf that you then went to put back. But it gets placed on your coffee table after you left, but not after you left the first time to take Toby home. Which was before you'd even notice the book gone. They were watching you, and knew you saw the book missing. You had to figure out how they were watching you. In case it was cameras you had changed in the dark of your closet today. And thankfully you've had practice showering in the dark before.

You really need more proof that you are being stalked and soon. The sooner you get that the sooner you can involve Big Jo. You'd thought on this all of yesterday on what you'd do and who you'd ask for help and the Cowells seem like your best bet in terms of stopping the stalker. Though that's only after you have proof. While Big Jo will help you out in a heartbeat you know it's more of a save his own skin down the line type of help and not out of the kindness of his heart, without proof he'd only humor you for a little bit. Not to mention if the stalker knows you're on to them at this point they could stop making it obvious, they'd get stricter with themselves, leave less evidence of their presence behind. Meaning it'd take longer to to get proof to catch them and even longer for you to feel comfortable.

Which is why you shoved away the idea of couch surfing until this blows over. If they were watching you at your house what would stop them from following you somewhere else. And if that happened and your friends got targeted or hurt you don't know how you'd live with yourself knowing you brought that to them. Or the other alternative of the stalker psychologically fucking with you and making you look crazy to your support system in this town before ultimately taking you down.

An even bigger reason as to why you suspect David. He'd been the first to start talking about Bambi's “wanderlust” before she disappeared. She'd laugh it off when people commented on it, but never really made mention of wanting to leave. He got it into everyone's heads that she wanted to get out of Kepler. To travel yeah, but she loved this town, she said it was home, she'd never leave without saying something.

When you came into town she'd been your first friend in years. You'll be the first to admit that you latched on to her but she quickly got you out making more friends with the residents. And even when you started hanging out with Hollis, Jake, and Kirby off planning events and deep diving for obscure movies for Saturday Night Dead she'd still talk with you everyday while she worked.

You really miss her.

Even if it wasn't David behind this, if this stalker was the person behind whatever happened to Bambi, you'd catch them. Not for peace of mind but so she'd have justice. It's what she deserves.

“uugggggggggh” you're pulling out your hair as you lay face down on the counter.

“I've never read The Book Thief but I didn't think it was supposed to be a frustrating book.” Nate says as he stops his dusting of the shelves.

You'd been “reading” the book your stalker left for you to find. Hoping you'd find a clue somewhere within it's pages to point to a suspect. But you've combed every page and not even the slightest mark had been left.

“Sorry I...I just have a lot of thoughts right now.” You say looking up through your arms that are now draped over your head.

“Want to talk?”

“Not now.”

The concern and uncertainty behind his gray eyes gives away his skepticism.

“Well, I'm here if you need.” a gentle reminder.

“I know and I appreciate it!”

Nate returns to his cleaning, sometimes it's like he was programmed to be productive. Most times actually. And you turn back to your book, having found no clues you decide to actually read through it. After all it is one of your favorites and maybe it will serve as a distraction from this whole mess. Help you calm down some.

An hour into your reading you're so engrossed in the story you hardly notice when the bell rings signaling the entry of a customer. If it wasn't for Nate calling out you'd have missed them completely.

“Hey welcome to Book & Nook.” the sound of his voice bombing through the quiet store front, startling you.

You look up at the right moment to catch sight of a furry black and brown rear going down an isle. Connor! Oh wait don't get too excited he has to be on duty to be here.

Now knowing that Brian has a need for the service dog too, you decide to wait and see who has Connor today. If it's Toby you could have a nice chat but if it's Brian you could be polite. Maybe thank him for helping with your episode the other night. Discretely of course, Nate would worry if he knew you had a panic attack. He'd probably assume it was due to the stress of the previous week and might force you to take some time to yourself. And that's the last thing you'd need if you were being stalked.

You really need to come up with an action plan. Keeping in mind that the stalker may not leave clues or escalate for a while it's probably best if you start getting active around town. Planting your roots deep and saying “hey I'm not going anywhere willingly”, but like subtly, y'know. Maybe start making habits about obsessively getting receipts even for packs of gum so if the last person who sees you is a cashier maybe they'd remember the strange interaction and might be able to help police find your body quicker.

God why does this all have to be so frustrating? And why you? Who stalks the mentally ill person who does nothing put listen to horror podcast and watch paranormal and true crime shows? Do they want to be harmed? Do they want to get caught. Oh for fuck's sake, that's another rabbit hole of possibilities.

You could've ignored the chime of the bell, but you most certainly couldn't ignore the boisterous voice that rang through the store. A welcomed distraction from your current mental struggle.

“What's up bros and non binary hoes?” Jake walks through the store like he owns the place, carrying a picnic basket over to the counter. As much of a Chad move it is Jake's a really nice guy he just has too much natural swagger in everything he does. It's probably the snow boarding showman in him.

“Jakey!” A very much welcomed distraction. Jake can always cheer you up with his “rad” antics and laissez faire attitude.

“What are you doing here?” while some of the stunt crew occasionally comes in for a book or to chat with you during your shift. Jake's never been one of them. You want to make the joke that the guy never learned to read but you've seen him actually read the manual that came with the new heater they got installed at the lodge. More of a practical reader than a for funsies reader.

“Sup YN, came to show you the picnic set ups that got in.” he places the basket on the counter and his hands give a jazzy effect for emphasis. What a dork.

“You missed the reveal at Saturday Night Dead, so I thought I'd stop by and let you see the final product before we finalize everything next week. After all 'Pride Picnic' was your idea, makes since that you should get the final say.”

With all the excitement of the past week you'd forgotten that it was already June. And you all had been planning a picnic for pride instead of a parade this year. So, and to quote yourself here, “Even the quiet queers can celebrate.” You guys had been planning this practically since you met. Seeing as you'd pretty much solidified a spot in Kepler's LGBTQIA+ community and planning committee. Really it was just the usual suspects for Saturday Night Dead; The Hornets, Hollis, Jake, and Kirby. But The Hornets, Hollis, and Jake were the extroverted types so when you mentioned a picnic to include the introverts or even the closeted of the community Kirby jumped at the idea before they could argue. Which they hadn't, everyone had been psyched for a change of event and for something that was more of a big block party than a traffic jam for the small town.

“Well?” you ask with anticipation nearly killing you.

Jake can't help his excited huffed laughter, kind of sounds like the 'boof' of a dog. And in one grand motion he opens the wicker basket revealing the lovely Pride set. It was a typical eight person set including stackable cups, forks, spoons, knives, flatware, and even bowls. One of item of each was assigned a color, going through the rainbow from pink all the way down to violet. It'd been a bit of a battle for Hollis to get the manufacturer to include pink and violet for some reason but they'd managed to persuade them enough. Probably pulled the influencer card and the company's marketing team caved instantly. But it got done, so yay to sell outs. One thing that'd been unanimously agreed on was having the modern flag incorporated. Which when you pulled out the thick durable blanket, was a vision that you couldn't have ever dreamed up. It wasn't a flimsy cover that was so thin that you could see through, but it wasn't the rough texture that most thicker blankets tend to have. And it was ginormous. But then again the basket was supposed to fit eight people per. Meaning the blankets would have to be eight person as well.

“Dude it's perfect.” you really didn't need to say anything, Jake could see your excitement from the stimming sway you were currently doing. But you took no notice of your stim as you stared in aww at the basket before you.

“Are non committee members allowed to see?” Why even ask when you're already craning your neck for a peak.

You and Jake share a look before rolling your eyes and waving Nate on over to inspect the Pride Picnic box.

“Woah you guys did great on this.” Nate says as he undoes the wrap around the cups to give one a tap. When it gives the tap tap that only ceramics make he nods in approval at the quality.

“Hollis was the lesion with the manufacturer so it was in our favor from the start.” Jake responds, not only were these baskets ordered at a heavily discounted rate due to bulk buying but add on the influencer discount and yea it pays to be an extreme sports streamer. So the man was allowed to be proud of his partner.

“Blankets don't leave a lot of room for food though.” you note with a pout.

“Yea we noticed that Saturday too,” you may have been pouting but Jake looks like a whole kicked puppy. “But we have an idea for that...at least for the picnic.” wow human labradors bounce back fast.

“Everyone brainstormed and we thought doing like a potluck style picnic for sides and deserts, then Barclay said he'd take care of main dishes.” That did sound like a good idea but with the turn out you were expecting you weren't sure. Especially with the time frame being two weeks. It's such short notice.

“Jakey, we're talking like block party amount of people, maybe like half the town max here...won't that be too much for him?” He'd already donated so much for you to even be able to order all these baskets since this wasn't a city sanctioned event. Sure everyone in the committee chipped in for a basket each or in some cases splitting one, but the majority of funds came from Barclay even if he said it'd be a donation from the lodge to add catering to his plate it was all too much.

“He'll be fine, he offered. And you haven't seen the lodge in the winter. Barc's used to it.” despite his confidence in the mountain of a cook, you think you'd stop by the lodge this week and offer a hand.

Nate and Jake get side tracked on discussing the details of the picnic while you struggle to fold the huge blanket. Having to step outside of the counter to get better leverage. When two large hands come from either side of the blanket and stretch it more. Jumping back from the blanket like it burned you. Amused hazel eyes meet yours as the blanket lowers until you can make out Brian's grinning face, your pretty sure that's the most genuine look he's had.

“Sorry, looked like you needed some help.” he's still grinning and while it isn't mean spirited, the lack of any sheepishness let's you know he's not really sorry. He'd been trying to at least give you a little scare, the fuck boy.

“Hey...ya thanks.” you say making to grab the bottom of the blanket and lift it up.

The two of you fold the blanket back up in no time with a weird synchronization for two people who never said a word. You just followed his lead and in no time the blanket was placed on the counter by Brian. Nate and Jake lost in conversation on the other side of the store, from what you can hear Nate's telling Jake about the faucet in the backroom that won't stop leaking and Jake offered to help.

“Mind if I have a look?” cocking his head towards the basket.

“Oh go ahead.” You don't see any harm in letting him have a look, if he was a homophobic dick who'd trash the box it wouldn't make sense that he gave you a ride. Or help you fold a pride flag picnic blanket up.

Thinking back on it he knew a proper gender neutral substitute. Even if he wasn't an ally in the sense of actively participating with the queer community he was in the sense of his awareness and knowledge. You've already extended an offer to Tim maybe Brian would appreciate one too.

“We'll be having a Pride Picnic this year in place of a Parade. Anyone for it is welcome to come.”

“Yea I think I heard talk of a potluck, right?”

“mmhmm” just as you go to nod your tic kicks in and your neck snaps left then right, “Barclay, he runs the Amnesty Lodge, he'll be cooking the main dishes. From what I hear we'll have most dietary restrictions covered.” Brian's brow furrows a bit as he tilts his head to look at you, before he straightens it back.

“That's right you haven't been here long.” he says it stoically and more to himself.

A comment like that should send your mind racing with thoughts of you stalker, but Toby could've just as easily mentioned it. Brian seems lost in thought after this and you take the time to look elsewhere, and see Connor who's sitting at Brian's side staring up at him.

Mindlessly you start to push your thumb into your palm with the other fingers on that hand rhythmically. Brian has Connor, and Toby said it was for seizures. Is it rude to ask how he's doing right now? You two have only spoken once, sure he helped get you to work and home but you'd argue that Toby did most of the work in both those cases. Not to mention you'd had breakfast with Toby and got to actually have a conversation and learn about him. You'd maybe said seven sentences to Brian since meeting him. It would definitely be weird to ask if he was ok.

“You ok there su- YN?” you note he did correct himself from calling you 'sugar'.

Shaking yourself out of your thoughts you look up confused at him.

“Uh...yea why?”

“Your hand.”

Looking to see what he's talking about you see you've just been pressing your thumb into your palm fingers dancing along in a rhythm you've long since forgotten the origin of. Cracking you thumb a few times and flexing your fingers you look back to Brian.

“Sorry just thinking, that happens sometimes.” you interrupt the silence before it has a chance to settle, “So...yea...everyone's welcome to the Picnic. Dogs too on or off duty. It's next Sunday just show up to Amnesty Lodge at like ten thirty in the morning and then everyone's hiking on over to the Archway. It's a great clearing and big enough to hold everyone.”

“I'll talk ta the boys 'n see what they think.”

“Ok cool cool, and when I said next Sunday I did mean next Sunday,”

“And not this one, gotcha.” You give him a smile which he returns.

Maybe this fuck boy look a like wasn't so bad...or he was just used to Toby's masked expressions. Still too soon to tell, he might still turn out to be a fuck boy in personality too.

“Do I check out here or...” you've only just noticed the four books on the counter.

“Oh yeah sure thing.”

Once you're behind the counter you have a clear view of the books that Brian's brought over Ghost an American History of Haunted Locations, Bell Dame, Deer from Hunt to Table, and lastly the first book in the Magnus Chase series. Odd collection but you yourself would read three out of four of them so you really can't say much.

“Oh have you read Percy Jackson or the Kane Chronicles?” making small talk isn't your strong suit but if you can find a fellow Riordan fan you'll make the attempt.

“What? Oh, oh nah, these are for Toby. He's working right now but wanted me to pick some new books up for him.” you make a note to try to talk to Toby about the series in the future. If he is a Riordan fan you can't wait for him to get to the Trials of Apollo series. “But 'e's read Percy Jackson, so is this next?”

This man has no idea the can of worms he just unleashed upon himself.

“No. Now has he read just the Percy Jackson series, or has he also read The Heroes of Olympus books?” He stares blankly at you.

“He's read whatever Percy Jackson was in the title of.”

“Ok, c'mon.” swiping Magnus Chase from the counter you make your way to the fiction YA section. Placing the book on the empty spot it came from you glance the shelves before finding The Lost Hero.

“This would be next, there are five in this series,” you pass the book off to Brian so you can point back to the shelf, “Then he'll have the Kane Chronicles, Magnus Chase, and Trials of Apollo series to look forward to. Book counts in each are three, three, and five.”

“So....Heroes of Olympus,” you nod at his pause, “five books in the series, Kane Chronicles three, Magnus Chase three, and Trials of Apollo five. Got it.”

“If you need help grabbing the next title just get me I've got it memorized from how obsessed with the Riordaverse I am.”

“Big reader?” he asks with a smirk.

“Not at all, just a found a good writer. Toby would probably like Neil Gaiman's work too. Maybe Diana Wynne Jones.”

“I've tried to get 'im to read American Gods but he just won't have it.” well this is awkward.

“I was thinking more Good Omens and Coraline.” Yea so this is a silence. Best make haste. To the counter!

Checking Brian out for the proper next book in the series, plus those other three, you forego the attempt at small talk. However, this is Kepler and you live in the radio quiet zone...the dial up internet doesn't make this a fast check out on your electronic register.

You remember two of the other books had been paranormal, might be worth a shot to bring up Saturday Night Dead in an attempt to stall for the register.

“Did Tim let you guys know about Saturday Night Dead over at the Cryptonomica?”

“Yea, somethin' bout cheesy horror movies right?”

“mmhmm, normally they're the good kind of bad but this week kick starts months of horribly awful kind.” the computer has finally loaded.

“Jeez YN do you want people to come to the show or not.” Jake's laughing so he can't be angry that you're insulting the upcoming movie list.

Scanning the books through you don't look up when you state, “I just have the personal opinion that you shouldn't prey upon low income families and sell their nightmares for profit then run.” you do look up after bagging the books to say, “Allegedly. And your total's thrity-five o'seven.”

“What's the movie?” Brian inserts his card into the chip reader.

“Insidious.” you and Jake said it at the same time, but in two totally different tones.

“Not a fan huh?” smirking bastard, he is a fuck boy you decide.

“The movie's fine, the case file and the people who inspired it are not.”

Brian's removed his card and opens his mouth, probably to egg you on even more when Jake throws in his two cents.

“Yeah yeah YN. Hollis told me all about the powerpoint. How 'bout we save this rage for Saturday. It's only a couple weeks.”

“Jake....there are at least 10 Amityville movies.” That shakes his mood.

“...what?”

“There are three Annebelles, Conjuring, and Insidious movies. Don't forget The Nun, La Llorona, The Haunting in Connecticut, and by the time we finish all those, there could be another Nun movie or The Crooked Man will have come out.” it's so matter of fact and you dare any of them to challenge you on this. Sad thing is you aren't even sure if those make up all the case file movies. But you do know it's a majority of them.

“For someone who hates these people, you sure know their movies.” Nate calls from his stool as he resumes dusting. God damn him and his uncle ways.

“Nah I get it, lay all the facts out so it's easier to see the lies and deceptions.” Brian supplies the other two men. Reaching out for his receipt he smiles down at you...a bit more genuine you note. Like the one you saw earlier. You are on a roll with this guy.

Like a Vespa it hits you. The reason Brian seems so familiar and so frustrating. The reason he gets under your skin with just a look. You should have caught on sooner but you'd paid so much attention, or not enough attention, to everything around you both. Looking at his face you hand him the receipt. It isn't real. He isn't really him. He'd been lying. No not lying, acting.

Just as he crosses the threshold you call out, “Your mask is really fucking irritating!”

Through the windows you see him pause as your words catch up with him, and you watch as he turns to make eye contact with you. He smiles again, and it's a nasty thing. A twisted smile mixed with...not ill intent but definitely not a friendly grin. His hazel eyes have a lively gleam in them. And you understand what that smile means.

The game is so on. Fuck boy.

#OMFS is that how you do the keep reading bit now #I'm so fucking sorry ppl #ticci tobyx reader #ticci toby #ticcitoby #timothy wright x reader #timothy wright #timothy wright x brian thomas #brian thomas x reader #brian thomas #masky x reader #reader insert #creepypasta fanfic #A cure for insomnia

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iamtheempress · 3 years

Text

Highly Motivated~

Lets Talk: part 2

A week is all it took, alot faster than Dabi expected.

The league took her in as one of their own and it was comforting to say the least, just as comforting as any detached homicidal family could be to someone who was nothing but sweet and a change of pace… almost innocent in a twisted sort of way.

Toga had taken a liking for her almost instantly, Chiaki's charming and womanly disposition really stood out to her and grit drew her in quickly; gossiping and having another woman around made Chiaki feel a sense of camaraderie, a sisterhood almost, made her heartache to see her little sister again.

While still under the watchful eye of the men of the group, the same men she fought against with the other UA students and under the same monicor of being labeled a pro hero… so the wary behavior was quite understandable. Kurogiri had made it very clear she was to stay within the hideout until further notice to figure out what the hell to do with her, to quell Shigaraki's nerves and to act as the designated healer and if god forbid anything happened.

Chiaki obliged respectfully, head low and a sweet little smile on her face-unlike Himiko’s whose toothy grin was unmistakable and sinister to everyone- granting her a bit of positive attention from the men of the group after she displayed the extent of her quirk and its versatility.

That notice went up about 2 days into her stay in the hideout, this being exactly what Dabi had wanted from the beginning, he knew just the tip of the iceberg of what this girl could bring to the group.

Her assistance was needed in the worst way possible, upon receiving contact from Compress she was notified that Spinner and Twice were injured the day after she had shown up.

Twice being worse for wear than Spinner. She ordered him to lay down in the living room of the hide out, after complying to do as she says he lain back and watched her, his vision shifting in and out, with gentle hands and a deep breath placed a hand directly on an open wound that punctured his lung, which in all reality should have killed him.

By some miracle it didn't- and she spent 50 minutes concentrating on making sure he was healed up, relaxing him with a hot towel and the most comforting tone of voice she can muster, within what felt like several hours, she healed the puncture wound and had made sure he had the ability to breathe, even keeping a conversation with him talking about anything and everything, sometimes talking about her family and sibling.

Impressed with her quirk he commended her and thanked her profusely, calling her an 'angel' of all things, making the ex pro brim with relief and exuding pride from every orifice, Dabi remaining close to her to see her in action. Also because she had a natural radiant pull to him he couldnt put his finger on, he chalked it up to her being so sweet and generous to a bunch of nightmarish degenerates like the league.

Shigaraki, on the other hand, kept his distance, eyes trained on her like a Tiger to prey who knew of his whereabouts, skeptical and wary of her in general, a hero turned villain in such a short time is jarring, he couldn't trust it- to say the least, but she had to fit into work with them.. when she was around his dialogue with her was short and curt, staring too long at her made her feel nervous, he liked that, knew her place with them in the league and where she stood as a villain.

It was a particularly long Saturday night, the rain coming down like a monsoon, some members of LOV had just returned with their spoils after robbing a convenience store of all their food and necessities, Toga had taken advantage of her quirk to go 'shopping' as a nobody student from UA for new clothes, disguises, and snacks for her new friend.

Toga was cryptic about this surprise since the moment Chiaki woke up that morning, she had insisted on hanging out with Chiaki to take her attention from the tall dark and handsome man who had yet to return since Twice was still gone with him.. Toga stood outside of the bathroom, keeping her ear pressed flush against it listening to her try on clothes.

"Chiiiiaaaaki-chan? Put your new threads on yet, beautiful?" Toga called to her getting changed in the bathroom, she had taken the liberty of 'borrowing' a couple hundreds of dollars worth of clothes for her to wear so she's not wearing only the hoodie she came in.

"Almost.. did you have to get me a pushup bra?" She chirps behind the door pulling the tube-topped romper up her body and snapping on her chest, a simple but… really expensive looking purple, white, and yellow flannel shirt she pulled on, followed by kitted out combat boots with metal plating on the toe and heel, some shiny steel running up the sides as well whether for aesthetics or for actual combat she didn't know yet.

"Well ya know Dabi and I need something nice to look at too, hun. Who knows maybe if you put out more maybe you'll get lucky"

Chiaki snorts loudly, while Chaiki and him were not that serious yet...she shares his bed and even goes out of her way to make sure he's healed and ok when he returns which was twice this week alone, it was a welcomed sort of comfort he never knew he needed, a sense of being and safety, that sort of life is very fleeting. Especially for criminals like him and he knew this, he didn't have any plans of making her anything more than his accomplice, a partner in crime for when the day comes where he leaves the League.

Chiaki exits the bathroom in the outfit that fit her too well, her long two-toned hair down, she actually killed the look pretty nice.

Toga’s eyes widened and a giddy look on her face sprawled from ear to ear, the girl bounced over to her and took her by the hand.

"oooo! You're such a looker! I think the girls here could be showier but I can tell you want to leave a little to the imagination, I think Dabi would like to see more skin~" she winks and gives a little tug to the front of the suit, the new little pieces of Jewelry that were given to her hung just shy of the swell of her chest tinkled at the movements

"I mean like i guess. I can’t just parade around with them on full display, how much of a spectacle do you want me to be?"

Chiaki says as she notices Himiko staring right over her shoulder and up Chiaki gulps and whips her head around to see Dabi, dripping in water looming behind her like a shadow, his thumbs thrusted into his front pockets, arching forward as the shirt clung to his front from the rain as well as his spiky inky black hair to his forehead, all while grinning like a Cheshire cat down at the woman he shares his room with.

"I wouldn't mind that, little mouse." His sweet velvety voice humors her and chuckles to himself moving to loom above the woman, examining her pretty face for any sign of protest as his hand slid into his pocket and one into his wet hair.

Chiaki blushes brightly as well as Himiko thoroughly enjoying the little trap she set up, Himiko's hand finding her own cheek and winking devilishly.

"Hehe oops! Mighta saw him the whole time behind ya, Chiaki-chan~ my bad! Seeing you flustered is super cute anyway.. Ill see you two later." the little homicidal girl turns on her heel and trots away "you suck Toga."

She calls out tucking platinum-blonde hair behind her ear and crossing her arms over her chest, foolishly avoiding the bright blue eyes that bore holes through her head.

"So...Toga went 'shopping' for you? That's sweet.. I’ll remember to look for things in your size when I’m out again." Chiaki lifts her head and cocks a brow at him and gently pokes a finger into his chest, the white tee he sported always looked as if it was about to fall off him from how low the cut is.

"Oh c'mon now, you wouldn't know what i'd like to wear if it hit you in the head, your clothes look like they'll turn to cinders at any moment" she pulls the loose tee from him and lets it stick back to his belly. “Pff.. when they're not soaking wet like i went for a swim, maybe.” He chuckles “How the heck could men even walk around like this and not feel uncomfortable.. I get even a little water on me and I feel like I need to change." He stands back and wrings some water from his shirt out onto the floor, listening to her words and keeping mind of how her voice dips when she questions him like a mother worried for her child's health.

“Unlike women i don't have a reason to cover my chest all the time, not that i'm saying i've looked or anything but that sweatshirt you came in didnt do you much justice.” His voice remained flat and his lips lined straight as if he didn't just make a jab at the fact she's physically ‘gifted’.

“It was raining that day and i wasn't about to take a whole wardrobe with me, and I can't tell if your being charming or an ass” Dabi’s eyes remained trained on the woman before him, pretty sapphire eyes that made her nervous, they were occasionally void of emotion but when he looked at her she saw some little twinkle in his eye, like he had plans for her he just didnt know what for yet; another reason why she's so sweet and chummy with him.

“Could be both could be neither, got a problem with that, mouse? I could just go around shirtless all the time” She rolls her eyes and leans all the way back and her brain flashes back to the first and only time she's seen him shirtless, the first night they met and she stayed in his bed.

The rest of the nights she would go to sleep without him to accompany her, his little solo missions going without her knowing where he was or when he would return; he did however return and when he did he would watch her sleep with the tv on and watch whatever movie she had on.

Getting to know her interests while she slept was easy to do, sitting up late and having a cigarette, making fun of the way she snores and mumbles in her sleep. Down to looking at the 8 gold earrings in her ears, little gold hoops that hugged her lobes from the top of her ear to the bottom. This sort of thing was a part of his plan to get to know her alittle bit more, his future accomplice.

The strange young ex-hero raised hundreds of questions for him.

"But of course I think you would have a problem with that,” He commented, startling her from her thoughts, he shook remaining water from his choppy black hair and glowerered down at her with a heady look in his eye, whether it was actually him becoming flirtatious or joking around is left up to debate, maybe ti was just to mess with her and make her flustered. “I wouldn't want to.. 'be a spectacle'... a man has to leave at least 'a little to the imagination'." He chuckled darkly, his smile returning to his face to make her more flustered then she already is.

Chiaki’s face became more flushed pink, Dabi closed the gap, and left only about a foot or so between them both, the gesture purely meant to make her nervous and give him all her attention, since she seemed momentarily distracted.

Despite the height difference she had an impact on him he couldn’t overlook, both with her quirk and her charm. Chiaki had an appeal to her that was new and one he wasn't even close to becoming bored of.

He didn't know much of her yet but he desperately wanted to break down those walls and get to know her at her most raw, have some control over something in his life, something consistent.

"I dont think wet clothes… constitutes as little to the imagination, Dabi.." she feels her heart get momentarily caught in her throat.

Dabi looked her up and down, his hands anchored on either side of her head making Chiaki's eyes widen and a blush creep up her neck, his face dipping down abit closer to fluster the woman before him

“Hm.. so you’re saying you’d prefer to see me shirtless more, eh?" His head dips down just slightly, his intense blue eyes never wavering from her own. "Th-Thats not what i meant! I mean I have looked but… cant blame a girl for looking, Dabi..." She rises to her tippy toes finally working up enough courage to kiss him, Dabie remained unmoving but parting his lips with his eyes half lidded, before the moment is cut short by Kurogiri placing a hand on her shoulder and pulling her attention from Dabi in a snap.

“Huh?” She jumps and looks the second in command in the face with a blush. “Our leader has returned and has some injuries that needed to be tended to. See him immediately.” He commanded and left her shell shocked for a moment, eyes flickering from Kurogiri back to Dabi, embarrassment coursing through her veins and she wished for a split second she could fade away and vanish like her mom's quirk allows her. Dabi rose back up and sneered, peering down the hallway to where Kurogiri left. “it's about damn time he asks to see you.. Talk about timing huh?” He rasps and backs away from her.

“I-I'm sorry we can-” He shakes his head, with a light chuckle. “Not now, little mouse, besides…” He pinches her soft cheek between his thumb and index finger, she closes her eye and his hand flattens gently against her face, long fingers with calloused pads graze over her skin and the cold staples touch her cheek.

“I dont think your ready for me yet… dont need you making a mistake and ruining this little companionship we have going on so far,” He holds her chin when he sees the look of sadness wash over her eyes. “Hey.. im not rejecting you, silly little mouse. We sleep in the same bed for fucks sake.. Besides.. We have alot to talk about after your done with...the flaky motherfucker upstairs…” His thumb swipes her bottom lip and he pulls away. “Pretty lips like yours need to be savored, appreciated in time…now.. go to him before he bitches and moans…” He growls and uses the heel of his hand to bump out a cigarette and light it with his fingers.

She turns on her heel red in the face and trots to the opposite side of the building to the door with the most… dust on the floor.

Chiaki contemplates how she holds her fist to knock and raps on the door, her sweet voice calling to the evil hidden behind it. “Shigaraki? It’s Chiaki… Kurogiri sent me to take care of your wounds.” She goes to open the door only to be met with resistance to the doorknob and it being opened quickly, a leering face hovering inches away from him, followed by white and blue toned hair. He was a lot less intimidating than he presented himself to be. She couldn’t describe it properly..

“Oh. It’s you…” He turned his back to her, the blood seeping through his shirt as he staggered back into the half-darkened room a hunch to him. “I told Kurogiri I’m fine but if he’s going to.. Make a big fucking deal about it...get in here and shut the door, Ikeru...” He commands and she follows him.

The tall gangly man striding right in and sitting on the edge of his bed moving his controller to the side, he had a tv on with a video game paused awaiting him with heavy metal coming from the tv itself.

She looks around and furrows her brows when his shirt is lifted above his head, a loud hiss comes from his chapped lips.

“God.. dammit… shit stings.. Augh you better be worth the trouble…” He groans, moving and wincing, she kneels on the bed behind him and within seconds he’s got the controller back in hand. “Just relax. I know what i'm doing, Tomura..” she cracks her fingers and a soft glow emits from her palm as she looks over the wounds in his back.. They were fatal at best.

Deep gunshot wounds and even some exit wounds from his front. “How the hell are you not dead..” She says placing a hand on top of the open wounds earning a snarl and a loud expletive.

“FUCK! Warn me when you do that!” She recoils her hand as he whips his head around. His high pitch grating voice startling her and shaking the room almost, the look of fear in her eyed as he flexed his hand open and close. She looks down and nods her head apologetically. “I wont do it again ill let you know, Tomu-” she starts and lifts her head to look at him and he interjects. “Its boss to you.. Got it?” His voice becomes grave, she takes in a breath and offers a weirdly out-of-place smile.. “Yessir.”

His whole body cringes at the very sight of her being so calm about the situation.. His attention is redirected to the tv screen and hes back to playing his game. “Im gonna touch that spot again, boss.” He groans annoyed already, she warns and places that hand on his back and he flinches instinctually from the contact. She watches over his shoulder, him playing a violent video game, his character decked out in the most overpowered armor and weapon he can find. She lets out a breathy chuckle watching him struggle with a boss and get killed, he cracks his jaw and shakes his head. His free hand going to his neck to scratch in frustration.

“I used to play that game a lot. Still do actually. You do know there’s a dual axe weapon on top of the spire to face that boss right. Greatswords don’t do shit to him.” She boasts behind him, concentrating all her energy straight into his back. Shigaraki’s eyes grew wide and he turned his head slowly to look at her.

“You play videogames?” He stared wide eyed at her, Chiaki shrugs and smirks.

“Yea, played alot while i was in UA.” She chuckles and it only makes him narrow his eyes and slowly turn his head back around, his tongue sucking his teeth and paying attention to the screen as he went in the direction she mentioned. “Other hands going for your back.” She states, Shigaraki grunts and furrows his brows as her other hand meets his hard back, his musculature was strange; skinny but dense muscles.

He claims the dual axes and checks their stats and he nods and leans a bit back into her hands. “Thanks…” He mutters and goes to face the boss he was struggling with, succeeding after the first round and he snickers awkwardly and goes back to complete silence. “Y'know probably would have dusted this controller had you not told me that.” The ex-pro beamed and her very essence radiated from her to the point Shigaraki shook and raised his shoulders in a weird feeling of discomfort. The positive energy was all too unfamiliar to him, he noted this being a part of her quirk, making him cringe.

“Thank you, boss, happy to help.” He scoffs and feels her wipe the dried blood away. “Heh. Shut your mouth, don't be an ass kiss, bitch.” he growled and when she pulled her hands away from his back she shot back at him with a laugh “Not so much an ass kiss more of which just bein genuine.” “GENuine...that’s new,” He laughed, his high pitch voice dropping an octave as he puts his controller in his lap as a cutscene starts up for the next level.

“If you couldn’t tell already, I'm not so much...used to people being nice or…*genuine*. Mostly used to people being conniving and doing for themselves.. The amount of people who joined us to try and do something idiotic is at best impressive and fucking stupid… coming in trying to call shots to people who already know what they want and know where there going.” She listened sitting beside him on the bed, his voice straining when he spoke of people doing things for themselves, his fingers flexed and curled when he looked at her, she knew what disaster those very hands can bring.

It made her wary and extremely aware of her own mortality.

“When Dabi mentioned you about a couple months ago, we couldn’t find a damn thing about you… why is that?” He sits back and his voice wavers in the sentence emphasizing words to make her wary. She did her best to not bend or falter.

“You're not like AllMight or any of the other pros so why couldn’t we find a damn thing on you...You're out in the public eye every time we looked up news coverage of you. Everything seems surface level, your name, age.. hero name..hell we’ve even fought you on numerous occasions, almost had all 5 fingers around that neck of yours.” His eyes were staring at her beyond the long hair.

As if analyzing her face for any sign of any irregularities, she caught his eye and almost jumped out of her skin.

"Well, Im 19 and i was like.. Not even a year into the whole pro hero thing, I worked for the heroes society as something fresh and new.” She rubbed her palms together nervously, Shigaraki nodded his head looking forward.

“i guess you could say, since i am kind of young to be a pro I had this demeanor of being easy to manipulate so they sought me out for big trafficking rings and elaborate mafia rings, find escape convicts to bring back to Tartarus or other Quirk Prisons. I was roped in to be the ‘beacon’ for the agency or me to round them up on my own and bring em in, and with my dad… being a fuckin awful person and a vigilante and my mom being one of the retired pros from America, they wanted to ‘make a new face for heroes’ or whatever..” His entire back was arched forward, hunched to the point where the vertebrae in his back shown through the dense scars that litter his flesh, Chiaki bared her truth and admitted while she put up her hands, showing herself to be vulnerable in the situation, Shigaraki is the most wanted criminal out there anyway, and most volatile as far as lethality goes.

“I came at my own volition and I hope that.. You find my presence positive in your league, and you find me more than just a ‘private nurse’ and send me out every once in a while, I mean hell I don't even know where we are!” Shigaraki absolutely preened externally, his chest puffing up.. If she was an asskiss-or as good of an accomplice as she entails, he keeps that thought on the forefront of his mind.

“Don't press your luck. We will find a place for you and you will see plenty of bloodshed, and as far as our whereabouts right now stands,” He turned his head and lifted it back as he directed his focus to the television once again, his red eyes blank and face deadpan, he let out a rumbling breath his chest rising and a wolf line grin spreads across his face, his lips splitting as his teeth ground back and forth. “Before you get to chummy with your boss... “Let's keep it that way, Ikeru Chiaki…” He cracks his fingers long fingers.

It’s within an hour that Dabi has become antsier, waiting for the woman he's been bunking with to exit Shigaraki’s room, he was seated in the main area where the fully stocked bar was, peering up the stair case for the little woman, no such luck yet.

He tapped his cigarette and took a long drag of it and turned back forward to look at his reflection in the bars mirror behind the bottles, contemplating if she found solace with Shigaraki over him. It actually made his blood boil as he closed his eyes and put his forehead in his hand, pushing the emotion he was desperately trying to drown out.

Puffing the smoke from his nose he opened his eyes to see Toga standing close to him in the reflection of the bar mirror, it made him jump.

“Did you see what's been on the news on repeat?” Toga asked him, grabbing his arm and lightly shaking him.

His eyes were bored and flat.

“No.. more about us I assume.” He put it between his two tone lips and took a shallow inhale, “No its about Chiaki-chan!” Dabi raised an eyebrow and snuffed out the cigarette, he grabbed the remote and turned on the television hanging up in the bar, the 32 inch tv clicked to life to show the news anchor man with a picture of the hero in her normal gear, In bold text beneath the anchor “PRO HERO WITCH GONE MISSING: DAY #7”

“The search for the pro hero is still ongoing! She was reported missing in the middle of the night from her friends who came to talk to her, after the fight that morning with the villain known as ‘BlueFlame’ where they were seen to be on common ground, before the building collapsed killing 5 people,” Dabi focused on the tv screen as Spinner, Compress, and Twice entered the room watching the screen of that day. “ the new infiltration specialist is of much importance to the hero society and has a hefty reward for her return alive, her father Negate, offers no word on her return besides the statement ‘she won't be happy to see me’-” Dabi tuned everything else out and stood up from his chair.

“Infiltration Specialist… you think perhaps she'd be working against us?” Compress asks Dabi who continued to stare at the staircase. “I don’t think she would betray us like that… she has no idea where we are anyway..” After a moment of agonizing silence, he had one thought in mind, and then a foolproof plan, his face remained stoic and unwavering.

Infiltration specialist. His interest in her is only blossoming.. Beautiful, fresh faced, and new to him, his intentions may be malicious in the long run none of those malicious plans ever involved going against her… in fact he saw her at his side...made his heartthrob in his chest, making him stumble briefly.

He makes it to the door and before he could even knock he heard a familiar female voice curse from behind the door, followed by the bed creaking. His eye twitched and he leaned his head against the door.

“Goddammit did you have to have the biggest one…” She questioned Dabi's imagination going into a tailspin, he brought his head from the door with his brow furrowed, his head moves closer to the door to confirm if what he heard was actually what he thinks is going on beyond the door. “Bitch, you know i wouldn’t be the best without it...now hold still and this will end quickly.”

Shigaraki chuckles followed by the bed creaking and him cursing. “Fuck you!” She whines and Dabi pulls his head away from the door his vision going red and his fists clenched as he swung the door wide open only for his heart race to slow down and his hands stopped burning blue as he focused on a shirtless Shigaraki leaning his elbow on Chiaki’s shoulder as they played that goddamned video game.

“Oh hey Dabi! Sorry, i didn’t come out sooner, Tomura gave me another controller-god fuckign damn you and your stupid ultimate!” She cusses as she loses against Shigaraki, miserably at that… Shigaraki groaned loudly as he pinched his brow, grabbing a shirt that she gave him that he neglected to put on. Shigaraki puts his controller down and turns to look at him. “What do you want.. Better be good for barging in like that, Dabi…” He glowers teeth clenched tightly in his jaw, punctuating his name.

“So that wasn't…- anyway, so when you were a hero… you were an Infiltration specialist… That's why we couldn't find anything on you. Right?” she nods and tilts her head confused

"y-yeah how'd you know that? I only just told Shigaraki." She questioned, Shigaraki's eyes flickering over to her, knowing this already.

"Your secret is all over the news." Her eyes widened and she blunk quickly watching Shigaraki turn on the other tv and flick to the news shown her face and the news caster. "Ill tell ya.. if you were still a hero id say your cover was blown by whatever shitty agency revealed to the world that your a covert type'a hero, sucks honestly." He tsks and returns his attention to Shigaraki, a knowing grin spread slowly across his face.

"What the hell are ya lookin at me like that for, eh?" Shigarakis eyes narrowed and his voice became raspy and on edge.

"I have a plan… and this little ‘pro’ is at the core of that very plan." Shigaraki tilts his head and looks to her his jaw tightening once again. "Can you two plan… not in here… if you're thinking how I think your… thinking… i'd like to dwell on it.." Chiaki moves from near Shigaraki to Dabi’s side, his eyes following her, a little glimmer of pride rose in his chest when she stood mere several inches from his side, her presence really is something, and damn sure didn't want her positive energy anywhere near Shigaraki of all people.

"You almost said think again, did you?" he bit his tongue and scratched at his neck. "Grr… Get the hell out." He points to the door.

Within seconds Dabi was back at the door and holding it open for her,. Shigaraki sat back down and spoke up, his high pitch voice catching her attention and annoying Dabi.

"Chiaki."

She turned to look at his head half turned, as he starts up again. "Ill need another player two sometime so don't be a stranger, bitch.” He let out a noise something close to a chuckle as Dabi closed the door back on him. Shutting the Leader away in the other room.

“You have a plan involving me, you say?” She bumps his arm and follows him down the hall, side by side, who tucked his hands again in his pockets, his eyes trained ahead and unblinking like hes analyzing his plan in front of him. “Mhmmmmm, but you have to keep it between you and me for now, got it.” He says beneath his breath, slowing down to keep pace with her, he notes how much smaller he is compared to her.

”Yessir! As long as i can actually do something ill be happy with it.” She chirps, almost excited, excited to be a part of something then just being a nurse. Dabi hums at her exuberance and pushes the door open for her, getting a good look at her back as she walks right in; her flannel fluttering behind her.

“Hm, don't get used to saying that, i might like it.” Dabi turns on the light and points her to the rolling desk chair where his computer was set up. “Step into my office, Witch, I have some questions for you.” She rolls her eyes at the mention of her hero name and plops down into the rolling chair of his desk, her legs cross in a very womanly fashion as he starts to pace infront of his bed. “Alright you have my attention what the hell do you need me for.” She asks moving the seat back and forth rotating her waist and facing forward to occupy her brain as she stared straight ahead at him.

"First." He stops and extends his pointer finger up, not meeting her eyes just yet, his voice still remaining flat and unreadable.

"I need abit more information about your, specialty here…” His eyes flicker over to her, his hands facing upward and looking to the calluses on his fingertips. “How in the hell have we not heard of this infiltration unit. Is it that covert that there's actual heroes in the agency dont know about it.” He questions facing her entirely, he leans against the desk, absentmindedly rubbing his fingers together as if they were covered in dust.. “As far as I know.. I'm the first one they indicted into the program. Again, due to my age and my quirk its kinda easy to give people a good idea about me but most of the time i dealt with kind of simple minded characters.” She states, her eyes looking at his hands, mildly distracted by how much larger he is in comparison to her.

Dabi openly flexes his hand allowing her to see the way the staples pull at his textured flayed flesh to his normal hand, hes much closer in fact she has to look almost fully up at him. His entire body silhouettes the white light behind his head, making him look more sinister to the untrained eye, his face however read genuine curiosity, not a sign of threat anywhere on his face.

“Mind telling me why you haven't turned tail and ran when you met them all.. Any sane person would have split the second they saw any of us.. No less Shigaraki.. you know what they have done, you saw the very day that we met what all of them can do… and you stayed and spoke to them on common ground… even fuckin introduced yourself.” He broadly gestures the same hand up into the air and lets it fall back down to his hip with a thump. She listened to him speak.. His voice soothed her in the strangest way imaginable, that and Dabi kind of liked to hear himself talk. “A pretty face mixing in with abunch of grimy villains.. Most of us driven by Stains ideology like some cultish fanclub gone awol..heh.. Hell you even got mixed up with the zombie man of all things.. Like a beauty and the beast type bullshit…” Dabi leans his head back and she watches his adam's apple bob in his throat as he clears it, his chin lolling back down to make eye contact with her, again making her feel small..

“I had thought it would take months for them to accept you as their own but… you fit in like a missing link, your gonna make this plan act quickly and i can feel it!" he grinned widely to the point where the staples on his mouth strained and it pulled at the flesh of his face.

“I do however would like to know: You are being real with me are you? I can trust you with everything I am about to ask of you..” She took a shallow breath and nodded, "O-of course! I haven't done anything to prove otherwise! I dropped all communication and everything with everyone i knew hell even my old friends from UA to be here.. And you already heard my whole thing with why I wanted to join." He pointed right at her and nodded his head, almost solemnly.

Dabi's eyes shut and he took a deep dramatic breath, "Y'see, this whole thing still makes me hesitant and i don't want to be hesitant with you.” He dragged her and the chair away from the desk and to the center of the room to draw her attention to him as he sauntered around her hypnotically. “Do you, my lil mouse have a single bad bone in your body..” He spins the chair with her in it as he circled her like a shark in blood infested water, she would sometimes look to his gnarled and scarred arm.

“Answer me.” She snapped his fingers in front of her face, she shuddered and her attention was once again drawn to sapphire blue eyes as she gulped her dry tongue. “Not as much as i would like to admit… no..” She looks down away from him, feeling like a fraud in the face of professionals. “That doesn't change how you see me right?” He halts fully and grabs her shoulder a large hand engulfing her hard musculature.. Her eyes floating back to his face as if magnetically. “Just a bit, not negatively of course, mouse, hell i wasn't born bad.”

His fingers gently entwined in her light locks, letting his fingers thread through her thick hair slowly each wave going through his fingers slowly as he noted the cold shiver when he allowed it to flutter back down to her shoulder.

“I need you to understand: when I send you on this mission you will come back to *me* with a motivation, a purpose, while it may not be like everyone else here, where most of us are natural born psychopaths and dregs of society, failures, monsters... You will be our little eye into the hero society, to throw a wrench in their plans in the worst way… our wildcard.” He promised her a week ago HE will bring out her potential.. Is this truly where it began? A moment of happenstance where her position as a former Pro can benefit her.. She barely registered the fact hes encircling her again.

“So.. what exactly is this idea..” She finally questioned him.

“Getting to that, mouse, getting to that...We have a person in the top 5 who is actually a part of us..A silent partner if you will, You might know him actually from working in your field.” He states bluntly, her eyes widened at the notion.. Top 5… who the hell.

Before she could even ask, she was cut off. “He has no idea you are even here, he has no idea you're even a blossoming little villain… for all he knows you're a scared little hero who went missing for a long time…He doesn't even come to the base if that says anything about him.. He needs to prove his worth before hes able to join us.. As the number 2 pro hero he needs to stay at arms length.. For our sake and the bases sake..”

Hawks.

“Winged hero.. Hawks?” She gawps and goes wide eyed. “The very same..” he sparks up a cigarette and places it betwixt his lips, he dragged her chair to the edge of the bed and sitting down as his knees framed her legs as he spreads his long legs out, he flicks her forehead, in a teasing fashion, making her pout cutely.

“We have our reasons as to WHY he can't come to the base.. Being number 2 hero publicly being that reason and we can't risk everything to bring bird brain here or our goose is cooked, so to speak.” He chuckles and takes a drag of the cigarette, blowing the cloud out of his nose like a dragon.

Dabi leans forward flicking ash on the floor, maintaining eye contact with her as he drops a bombshell on her.

“My plan is to return you to the Heroes.”

He says flatly and it makes her head jolt back, her eyes widening and her heart clamoring to her throat.

“Really?” her voice raises a pitch as she cocks a brow, a cute little nervous gleam in her yellow eyes made him almost lose it laughing. "Yup. I'm going to hand you off to Hawks in 2 days and make it look like you were kidnapped, fucked up that big brain of yours, and on the plus side your little friends will be very excited to see you again i'm sure… the big shots will be asking you questions.. Getting intel from you..”

She looks him over confused. “Isn't that bad though?” “No because you don't know where the hell you are… and.. You have been in the confines of these walls all this week.. Just answer them.. Just don't mention your wanting to become a villain.. Youll look crazy and they will stop questioning you..” He grins knowing exactly what could come from this.. His eyes hungry for the moment she realizes the heroes are nothing but scum of the Earth..

“Are you my mouse?” He tilts his head and raises his eyebrows feigning innocence. “I'm your girl…” He grins widely and takes her hand “Hmph, i knew you were.. Thats my lil mouse…”

The following day came and went, bringing about the evening and Dabi fleshing out his plan to Shigaraki who welcomed it but internally, he fucking loathed it now that hisnew found friend will be missing in action, however if its to get what they desired and to pinpoint locations on where the heroes reside, privately...It was underhanded. Conniving, and mostly her idea.. She knew where to go and how to get there.

After rejecting smokes for about an hour between the villains who sat around and listened to the new recruit eagerly mention how this was her specialty and she wont let any of them down, the mischievous gleam in her eye really captivated Dabi and drew him closer to her.

At some point early in the evening, hard alcohol was busted out and drank at the bar and Shigaraki was piss drunk passed out on his bed, his shoe stuck in the door frame and what looked like his shirt lain on the floor, the only one looking to be untouched from the obscene amount of booze being Compress and Kurogiri..and for the most part Dabi, whether it be high alcohol tolerance or being ‘designated villain wrangler’ they will never admit what it was.

Chiaki was buzzed.. More then buzzed, three sheets to the wind... Never touching alcohol or hard liquor in her life, it felt freeing, except for the fact the entire building was moving around like a ship at sea and she never got her sea legs.. Dabi on the other hand had a much higher alcohol tolerance then her, practically providing the young woman bottle after bottle of Fireball.

The first shot she described as the hottest thing she ever drank, only for Himiko to make some snide comment about something *Else that could be hot that she can drink*, then another about how sweet and warm her blood will run after some liquid courage in her veins, all while twirling her knife between her digits.

Dabi quickly shut her up with a glare and a menacing threat. Soon she killed the entire bottle with Dabi, leaving it forgotten on the bar as she stays clung to his hip, and for the most part his jacket. He didn't mind, he dragged her up the stairs and scooped her up bridal style when she tripped at the second stair, avoiding her googly eyes that lolled back and forth in her head, he kept her head against his chest with ease, his destination his bedroom, to keep her at ease and keep her under his control.

While walking to the bedroom he stepped over 3 passed out versions of Twice, one piled on top of the other and one folded down the staircase upside down; that being the actual Twice..Compress nodded to Dabi. “Still not fully knocked out?” He chuckled and dragged Spinner by the ankles into his room. “She was like me when I got plastered the first time… except she kept her clothes on… and didnt barbeque the bar.. Or fucked the barmaid.” Dabi jokes, making the pie-eyed young woman slur something that sounded like a laugh, it made him smile.

He pushed open the bedroom door only to see the little woman look up at him and giggle in a slur. “Heh.. heheheh! Dah-Dahhbiii..” She reaches up to his face and misses entirely, her arm plapping the side of his warm face, his eye blinks and he raises his brow comically . “May i help you, you shitfaced lil mouse.” He lowers her to the bed, her eyes blinking slowly and her eyes going drowsily going back and forth in the room.

"Why aintchu fucked up.. you drank almost wha I had" she inquires her voice fumbling to make it passed red raw lips. Hereyes trained on Dabis knees as he stood point blank infront of her, her googly eyes focused on the White belt under his white shirt.

"Self control, mouse.. and you kinda lost it after your second shot." She was shrouded in darkness for a split second before her head popped out of a black hoodie hole that smelled like burnt fabric, she moved her arms into the sleeves and noticed it wasn't like the one she came in.

She sniffed it and fell backward to the bed, as Dabi stepped away to disrobe his clothing in a room with an open door. "Mmm.. smells like you.." she murmurs, loud enough for him to hear and make his eyes widen, blood surged through his veins getting a wicked lil idea.. "oh it does?" He calls out leaving that room shirtless and now dressed in sweatpants only. "Y'smell like sulphur and-" she takes another whif staring up at the ceiling. Hugging this oversized hoodie to her, he dimmed the lights with a flick of the switch beside him. Leaving one other light on. "Pork? Like.. musk too" he laughed loudly at this causing her to jump. "Thats burnt flesh. Humans smell like pork when fire is strong enough to cook it." Her eyes narrowed at the statement. "Huh.." was all she could muster from her lips. "Dabi.. yknow how easy it is to make people feel good when your me.. super easy.. my quirk i guess is kinda like wiiiiiiildfire." She mocked his voice and flattened her legs out to the end of the bed; he paid mind to where he sat as he sunk down on the other side of the bed facing away from her as he turned on the tv for a movie.. some white noise wouldn't hurt. "Do ya care if i take this suit off." She mumbles as in her drunken state she fumbles to pry off the body suit from under the sweater. He paid no mind to her thinking she was just mumbling to herself.

Dabi chose a movie and flattened his hair back for a moment with his free hand, cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders from side to side. He saw the suit hit the arm of the couch and blunk just realizing what that was. Then another article followed it. Her bra.

Dabi amusedly chuckled and turned back to see the doe eyed drunken young woman sipping from a sake bottle she found in his room, sith her legs concealed beneath the blankets.

He tsked and took it from her hands "dammit.. had to find my stache did you, mouse.." he scolded her and capped it, a scowl when he found it only about 2 shot glasses worth missing from the bottle.

"whaat! I cant have more?" He turns his head to her half expecting her to have food in his bed and only meeting the sweet drunken face of the ex pro, hair all disheveled and some strands of hair in between her pretty pursed lips. This attraction and want was still fresh to him. He assumed it was part of her quirk that made him feel like this, all warm and fuzzy inside.. another weird feeling that made his stomach feel queasy, couldn't say he didnt like it though.

"Would much rather not have someone die from alcohol poisoning again in my bed *again*, please…" he tosses it between his hands and stows it under the bed again. "No more."

He states firmly when he brings his head up she's in the center of the mattress and looking at his skin "take a picture, mouse, it lasts longer." She shuffles closer to him and touches his back making him jolt, his brows furrow, absolutely not expecting not even her to touch him where he couldn't see, his very body getting warmer to the touch, at the very point she's touching.

Almost like in self defence. "D'sit hurt?" Her voice is blunt and almost not even close to a full sentence but he understands drunk speak clearly, he looks at the back of his hands "no. Some spots are more sensitive than others." His voice lowered, almost solemnly, old scars that have long healed on lean dense muscle.

She pulls her hand away when the heat becomes too much, he hears her squeak. "Don't touch open flames.. might get burnt lil mouse.. i get too much in me and I could lose control of my quirk." He laughs and moves back to be with her, as she shuffles back beneath the sheets.

"Don burn me like that puleaase" she pouts and flops into the pillows. "Pfff. Wouldnt imagine wanting to unless you have a thing for that." He winks down at her and pushes bright blonde locks from her face and pulls some strands from her lips.

A wet pink muscle darting out to wet her alcohol dried lips, he watched almost transfixed on the pretty woman in his bed. "Your eyes are prrretty" she draws out the word pretty and a blush creeps across her face, dreamy eyed staring at him. Dabi rolls his eyes and throws an old shirt at the light switch to turn off the light, shrouding them both in semi darkness. "Shuttup." He grumbles, keeping the distance between them reasonable.

"M'serious, when we first met i thought you were really my type, very sweet and charmin’." He humors her and props his head up on his hand, looking into her pretty yellow eyes, only visible by the light from the tv.

"Tsk..Stop butterin me up.. Makin me feel like less of a villain and more of a softy.” He scowls and the light from the tv illuminates her once again, she pulls the blanket further up her body making the sweatshirt hike up her thighs abit out of Dabis sight. “Y’kinda were though hehehhe!” She giggled, Dabi humored her to hopefully shut her up. “Its the rugged handsome look or is it the monster look?" She looks away from his face for a moment. "Would you believe its bofadem." He scowls and his eyes narrow again, a growl in his throat, not satisfied with the answer, he doesn't know if he likes an honest drunk all that much..but her flirty behavior was not going to be left alone not by a longshot. "I's an added bonus too. Also your not too bad lookin shirtless." she reaches out to touch his flesh where his collar bone is burnt, with a breath and an irritated growl he snatches her hand, all her attention then turning to his massive hand that caught her small one.

She looks abit hurt when he rejects her advances to touch him, but calms down thinking she's going too fast.

He sighed and allowed her to look his hand over, unbothered by the fact she's several inches away from him, he analyzed her eyes for any discretion that she could be bullshitting him about his looks.

It's why hes the most antsy and guarded.

She turned his hand over and dragged her fingertips and nails slowly down the lean forearm, his eyes twitch and his hand splayed open at her touch, graceful fingers moving independently in a dance for her eyes only; all the while, surrendering control of his arm unto her to see what she will do. "Y'know..I cant heal.. ol scars.. can only heal fresh ones.. wish i could help ya out with these..." Her voice is tepid and gentle, only for his ears to hear, it wasnt feigning innocence, it was innocent. "I know what you can do mouse-" He makes an attempt to sooth her. “Im multitalented..i only use my talents on the people i like.. And i like you alot..”

Chiaki slides her hand up to press their palms together. A giant hand dwarfing her own by how simply long his fingers were. Callused and hot like the rest of him, he controlled himself enough to not produce too much heat where she will pull away. He truly didn't want that..

He can feel her pulse hammering in her fingers as he gently curled his fingers bending hers backward slightly and looking back down to her. God the way she looked at him drove his mind in circles, not like a monster, a killer or anything negative.. But someone she adored..

Eyes glazed over in bewilderment. "Hmm.." she hums sweetly, like honey upon his ears.. "what?" He asks "yer hands are be yoo tiful.." he puffs hot air out of his nose. "I feel like your perceptions of beauty are skewed from your binge, mouse…" he teases and she laces their fingers together in a sweet gesture that stuns the Villain in his place, her lips found the juncture of the knuckles of his hands and kissed them lazily, the intimacy and sweetness of the moment lost on him.. He slept with plenty of women, used them and kicked them to the curb.. This one was different.. It sparked something in him..and didn't go out. Like a trick candle on a cake.

"Hey, hey.. don't start something mouse.. not in the state you're in.." he grumbles and stares down at her, not making any attempt to stop her.

"Why cantchu let me dote on you.." she pouts keeping the back of his hand to her face. His face grew closer to hers the smell of straight alcohol still lived rent free on her breath, "i want you to be conscious to what you and i do… hear me? Its below me to take advantage of you in a state where you can't remember and run.." his voice is grave and serious, it almost makes her frightened if not for the fact hes holding her hand so tightly.

She nods and shifts her body weight closer to him, he hears her yawn, she releases his hand after another kiss to the scarred flesh. He clears his throat and brings himself over her with just his torso and looks down at her, the covers only covering his back, but from here she can see the extent of the scarification to his neck and chest and just how extensive it was.

“See. don't look comfortable when you're in that position.. you dont want to be shit faced and being taken advantage of..” She shakes her head and opens her glassy eyes. “Not r'lly...” He nods and lays back down beside her, "thought so.." he pokes her cheek and pries his eyes from her.

“Sleep. We're going tomorrow.” He yawns and before he could say another word or even look her in the eye, she was asleep. 100 percent zonked out and asleep. He sighed and smirked warmly, he moved to the center of the bed beside her and touched her leg with the pads of his finger tips.. They gently dragged across the smooth flesh of the outside of her thigh to her knee, he became more brave and repeated the motion with his whole hand, slower.. gently digging his fingers into the meat of her leg for a moment. "What the hell did you do to me, Chiaki.." he mumbles, his hand taking in her warmth and radioactive positivity from her quirk ripple into his hand like electricity.

“Fuck..” He cursed and leaned forward to press a gentle smooch to her forehead..pulling her body close to his, falling asleep with her in his arms.

The morning came and with that.. so did Chiaki's unbelievable hangover, Dabi heard the girl shuffle to the small bathroom he had, he could tell she was crawling, unable to even stand and threw up violently the door to the toilet cracked as she emptied the contents of her stomach. With that he knew his day had just begun as he swung his legs out of bed and stood up, following the sounds of an esophageal exorcism taking place, and laughing at her expense. "Too much booze, hon?" He asked as he held her hair up, collecting pretty long locks in his fists as she got sick, it was almost too sweet for him to do this. He loomed above her.

"Yup… fuck that sucked.. head hurts.." he chuckled and helped her to her feet. “Don't remember a damn thing of what happened last night do ya.” He raised a brow and turned on the sink letting her wash her face off abit. Cold water replenishing the color to her cheeks. “Not a damn thing...wanna remind me please?” She asked gargling water from a bottle he handed her and spitting some out in the sink to clear her breath abit. “Well if you havent noticed you kinda took off your pants and uh.. Your bra is on my couch.” He tugged the sweat shirt that almost showed off her perky asscheeks to him.

Her hands darting to the end of the sweat shirt and her eyes going wide. “Did we-” She asks red in the face, her eyes darting to him in the mirror. “Nooo.. I said it last night, its below me to take advantage of someone like you.” She sighed and nodded her head turning back to him. “Thanks…” Dabi rolls his eyes and turns on his heels quickly.

"No gettin soft on me today, alright mouse? Cmon get dressed. We got things to do today.." he ordered, his tone changing quickly.

The rain was pouring. Just as hard as she met Dabi, thunder roared over head as he summarized the plan over with her, provided her with an implant in her ear to record everything, down to the whereabouts and specific names and places.. Fool proof was an understatement, with her status it was the perfect storm.

“How long will I be gone from you all..” She asked as he bound her wrists to her back tightly, making sure to make it look uncomfortable, as much as it pained him to see her wince in pain. “As long as we get the information we need.. And we'll come get you, mouse, why.. Sounding a bit nervous.” He asks leaning over her shoulder, guiding her into a cellar and securing a blindfold over her eyes, allowing Dabi to guide her wherever the hell he needs her to go.

“Kinda. I know this is precautionary but is this necessary?” She asked, hearing a loud wrought iron gate opening and then followed by a vault door, entering a sewer system with water running down the center of the drainage system.

“If they break you and get where we're at, there's no coming back, mouse. I should be asking you how the heroes interrogate their capture shouldn't i..” He jokes and holds her arms making sure shes walking forward, every so often his hand touches her back, keeping her warm using his quirk effectively in the cold, she moved closer to his side and found his arm hooked over her shoulder, his face still emotionless.

After about what felt like 15 minutes of silent walking they found themselves at a busted out hole in the wall, big enough for bodys to worm their way through.

“Easy does it..” he mutters, pushing her through the hole to the outside world.

The only thing indicating to her it's the outside world is the telltale sound of wind whipping around followed by fresh rain on her face. “Cmere, we're here..” SHe followed the sound of his voice and allowed him to guide her into a building. The creaks and moans of the old establishment made her wary and nervous, He stopped her directly inside of an old gas tank, hollowed out from neglect and time passed. “Can I take this off now.” She whispered so her voice wouldn't carry. “Hmhm.. of course.” he undid her blindfold and was greeted with his face again. “Happy to see me?” She shrugged. “Perhaps.. When is he coming..” She asked as he looked to the old burner phone he kept on hand. “10 minutes.. I always show up early, hes more than punctual.. It's borderline annoying.``

He states stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Well when you're called the fastest hero you kinda have to live up to those expectations.” He rolls his eyes and waits patiently.

“Gonna miss me?” He scoffs and replies deadpan at first. “Like the flu, nah im joking.. I will. Your company changed the group significantly. Quirk or not your...different.” He winks at her, she shuffles to him to rest her head on his chest, making it a mock hug, he puts his palm on her head and ruffles her pretty dark brown tresses up top.. “Heh.. god your always affectionate huh.. First you get me to appreciate you then you get Twice, Compress, Fuck even Spinner.. Shigaraki was a bit of a shock to the system.. Thus why we got all fucked up that night.”

He laughed enough to where she saw the staples separate from his mouth for a moment. “Anyway.. In a couple of days… I'll give you your burner back.. And we can chat if ya miss me that much..heh, might even go ‘shopping’ like i promised ya, getcha somethin nice to wear when you get back.” He half pulls the burner phone she used earlier a week ago from his pocket.

There's a gust of wind and feet tamping on the metal beams above their heads. Dabi raises his finger to his lips and leaves the confines of the empty tankard and looks right up at the hero.. The two exchanging a look before hawks can swoop on down, the longest feather in hand and eyes narrowed.

“Took ya long enough.” Dabi spoke up his hands leaving his pockets. “It's been hell the past week and a half, I don't want to hear it.. You have been avoiding my calls and everything. What gives.” Hawks questions annoyance and exhaustion plaguing his speech. “I don't have a clue what this problem would be, but in regards to your calls, let's just say we've been busy.. Couldn't really speak amicably with the rest of the League up my ass.” He chuckled much to the hero's chagrin, the tired look on his face said it all.

It was perfect. “If you must know.. Since that one little dust up in the business district with that Nomu and you.. We haven't seen Witch..” Dabi rocks back on his heels upon the mention of the ex-pro.

“Ah… Witch.. That pretty lil piece of work.” He chuckled sinisterly, as the feather rose to his neck,an intense scowl splashed across the pros face, Dabi outturned his hand, threateningly. “Ah ah, Hostile already?” Hawks eyes narrowed, like he was at his wits end with people as of late. “Shes been gone since then.. My allegiance with you and the league still stands but the fact shes gone without a fuckin trace since she last saw you makes no sense, where the hell does a PRO go without a trace and all signs lead back to.” Dabi interjected, raising his brow and tilting his head back psychotically. “Back to us huh? Awfully presumptuous of you heroes..”

Dabi let his head drop forward and he raised his brow and cocked his head, confused on why the normally level headed hero would be so high strung. He ‘poked the bear’ and asked. “You mentored her, I assume? Were you two love birds.” Hawks scowled. “No. she was my partner for a bit if you must know so the workload wasnt as hectic as it has been lately. But now with crime rate so high the damn commission wont get off MY ass.”

Dabi boredly pushes the feather blade away. “Tsk.. seems were in the same boat… but in regards to your lady friend i may know something” He turned on his heel and grabbed her from the tank, exchanging one last look between them before Dabi turned her out to see Hawks. The pro took a step back and his face went white, like he saw a ghost.

He went wide eyed, . “Holy shit, kid.”

~~~~~~

Authors note: Ive decided unanimously im making a fucking series and im gonna have fun with it. Enjoy Chiaki shes my gal uwu

#dabi #league of villains #dabi x oc #shigaraki x oc #toga x oc #twice #spinner #mha fic #im fucking VIBING #it was supposed to be a fucking drabble #but i decided to make it a series k.

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sergeant-donny-donowitz · 4 years

Text

Rogue Whisper (Donny Donowitz x Fem!Reader)

Requested by @marlenemarauders

A/N Reader is Jewish & Polish

TRIGGER WARNING: Holocaust/Death

@owba-chan @war-obsessed @inglourious-imagines @tealaquinn @struggling-bee @frozenhuntress67 @kwyloz @sodapop182 @marlenemarauders @what-the--curtains @taikawho

Let me know if you wanna be added to the IB or OUATIH taglists! :)

_________ ***1939*** Only your eyes were visible, peering over a scarf that belonged to your mother, and under a wool hat to keep you warm. It was the only thing you had from home, now. You scanned the unknown. Your heart raced. Everything ached. Most of all, your heart. Words could not even begin to describe the heaviness... All you could do was run, and never look back. The same prayer running in your mind, sunrise to sunset. Even in the dreams you did have, you found the same words racing through your mind, in an attempt to find some solace. "Reisepass." 'Passport' The nazi sitting at the table demanded without so much as looking up.

After so many days running, the words were now muddled, as the skies were blurred with your tears. You could not speak.

You blinked, and hesitated for a moment too long. He looked back up, his barking "Reisepass!" You were hardly able to whisper, your heavy eyes burned with rage now that there were no more tears, "Tut mir leid." 'I am sorry.' Your voice was so quiet at that point, he didn't even notice your accent. He looked at the picture on the document, then looked back up at you. "Dein Name? Alter?" 'Name? Age?' Some day, you could tell someone your true name, but for now, you only repeated the details that had been forged to save your life. Your heart shattered leaving Poland and your family behind, but if you turned now to find a sign of them, it would all fall apart. All of this would be in vain. You took a breath, and looked at the nazi, as you gripped the gun hidden in your coat. It would have to wait. Some other time... He looked at you then back at the passport as he brought down a stamp. Your heart skipped a beat. "Nächster." 'Next.' ***1943***

The basterds were sitting around a fire, talking about rumors and stories they'd heard during the war. Hugo took a long drag from his cigarette before remarking, "There are others like me." He spoke with certainty, but added nothing else. He didn't need to. The basterds believed him. He had always been a man of few words. Those that he did say were always enough.

But this time, he had something more to say. He looked up, as if he could see his memories come to life. When he was in prison, he'd heard a rumor. Something that was terrifying the nazis stationed all over Europe. "Whoever it is, is not part of any rebellion or resistance that we know of, but seemed highly skilled. Trained." He took another drag from the cigarette. Omar looked up, smirking a little. He was always skeptical of these stories. Frankly, he didn't believe half of what was said about Hugo until he met him. "By who?" Hugo shrugged, "No one knows. A rogue soldier, perhaps. But whose soldier, was the question. Sightings and killings started in Poland, in 1940, or '41. It depends on who you ask. They were always the same. A sniper." "So it's some Polish kid who didn't think the resistance was enough and went rogue." Hugo shook his head, "Nazis almost caught whoever it was. Someone claimed to have shot them, and maybe that was true, because there was no more signs of the sniper in Poland." Omar shrugged, "So the sniper got away and might've died. Or someone's lying." "They would have found a body, asshole." Donny muttered as Wicki passed a bottle of whisky to him. "And woulda fucken paraded it around to scare people from rebelling too." Hugo nodded, "Maybe. But after that, there were nazis killed by a single sniper all over Slovakia, then in Bohemia, a few in Berlin, Paris, and back. Whoever it is started to move around, so nazis all over Europe were scared." "This sniper got a name?" Aldo asked, intrigued with the idea of finding such a talent. He did, of course, pride himself in having an eye for that kind of talent. "The story goes that the Polish resistance called the sniper Szelest." Hirschberg looked up groggily, "What the hell's that?"

"I don't speak Polish." Utivich straightened up, furrowing his brows, with a quiet 'Hm...' His grandmother was from Poland, and he remembered a thing or two. "It means a whisper or rustling. Something like that."

Aldo nodded with a sly smirk, "Not too shabby." **************

Some time passed, and the basterds had gotten into some trouble. Honestly, it was looking a little grim, as their mission was botched and they were all being held at gunpoint by nazis. The nazis' taunts stopped cold, as they all heard something like a whisper in the winter wind that snaked through the tree branches. "Wer ist da?" 'Who's there?"

There was silence then, as snowflakes began to fall again, covering that morning's fall. The nazi stepped away from his group, again demanding to know who was there, only to be met with a new sound, familiar to every single soldier in the war. The sound of a gun. The unmistakable sound of a sniper. One, two, three, four shots. Seven dead nazis. One left alive, but screaming in pain as a bullet sliced through his hands, forcing him to drop his weapon. He whispered shakily, through a terrified sob, and wide, ghostly eyes, "Szelest..." Hugo turned around quickly, searching for any sign of a sniper, but found nothing. Smitty, Hirschberg, and Omar circled around, but also saw nothing. Aldo called out, "Hello?!"

The only response was an echo. The last surviving nazi whimpered, blood trailing from his hands, smearing on the white snow that caked the forest ground as he crawled, desparately trying to reach his gun. Wicki saw, and stepped on his hand, causing him to scream. Wicki paid no attention, he looked to his lieutenant, waiting for orders, "Aldo?" Aldo was still looking intently at the distance, thinking aloud, "Whoever it is must've known we like leavin' a witness too...If that sniper don't come out, why the hell else would they leave one of 'em alive?"

Smitty nodded, as he took a coat from a dead nazi, shuddering from the cold, "Sounds right to me, sir." Aldo nodded, "Yeah..." He turned around, seeing that all his men were alright, he said "Donny." "Yeah?" "Go 'n see if you can find anythin' about our, uh...friend." Donny nodded once with a sly smirk, "Sir." and trotted off into the hazy white distance, looking for any leads. There were no footsteps... The snow had fallen just enough to cover any up. There was nothing left behind. No trace, not even a... He heard a branch creaking, though the wind had turned to nothing but a soft breeze. He looked up slowly, and saw a figure sitting on a high tree branch, bundled up in clothes meant for trekking through snows like these, with a scarf covering the face. "Hey." Donny grumbled at the lack of response, and shouted, "HEY!" You turned slowly, and looked at him. "Why're you hiding from us?!" You shook your head. You? Hide from the basterds? Ridiculous. "Why didn't you...Why aren't you talkin'? What's-" He trailed off. He had so many questions.... And he realized there was a chance you might not even speak English.

He stammered, trying to scrap together all the words in other langauges he knew. And there wren't very many of them. "Uh...Bonjour? Parle français? Oder Deutsch? We have a guy that uh...Wir haben zwei...uh guys...who can....Uh....Polish, right? Ah fuck...uh...Szelest? That's you, right?" You sighed and leaned against the cool tree bark, "If I were to hide from you, I'd pick a better place than this." His eyes widened, and he tilted his head. He didn't expect to hear a woman's voice. Frankly, he didn't expect yo hear you respond to him at all. He smiled a little, "Guess you're right...So uh, what the fuck are you doin' up there anyway?" "Cleaner shot." He mused with a grin, "See anymore nazis?" Still, he looked up at the great height you'd climbed, wondering how you could have done that in the middle of winter without your hands freezing off, or you slipping. You shook your head. Both of you were silent for a moment, until you tossed something down at him. You threw his baseball bat to his feet, hitting the snow with a thud. He looked up at you, and you said, "I believe this is yours."

He picked it up, without taking his eyes off you, "So you do know who we are..." "There aren't many people in our line of work, sergeant." "So you know who I am?"

You lowered your scarf away from your face, instantly feeling the blisteringly cold air. "Anyone who steps foot in these woods should." He laughed, "Ain't that the goddamn truth, kid." Though he snuck as many glances at you as he could. You noticed, but said nothing. "Look, my lieutenant wants to ask you some questions. Mind comin' down?" In restrospect. Donny would realize how strange that moment in his life was. Talking to a girl with a sniper up in a snow covered tree in the middle of a war? Then again... he'd remember what it was to see you for the first time, and he'd remember what it was like to feel love at first sight. Then, he'd reason it would've been crazy not to talk to you. Back in the present, your response was simple, clean cut, like your shots. "I work alone." "Oh that a fact?" He spoofed, and you crossed your arms, leaning back against the tree. He grumbled, "Look, I know you been followin' us around. There's been one or two shots lately that we can't account for." "You boys are sloppy with your work." "Maybe you can help?" He looked up, genuinely hoping you'd give them a chance. And maybe you would... You jumped down from the tree, landing in the snow expertly, and started heading to the site of your latest kill. Donny was completely in awe, never having seen anything like that in his life. He found himself running after you after being stunned for a moment by all that you were. "So uh...I heard they call you Szelest." "Yes, sir."

"Donny." He was almost insulted that you didn't call him by his name. You glanced at him, and it was clear to him that you were hesitating. "Call me Donny," He smiled kindly. It was the kind of smile you hadn't seen since before 1939. "Yeah..." That smile entrapped you. It took you somewhere safe and warm for a brief moment. "Yeah, Donny." You turned, and kept marching through the snow. The war was far from over, and you still had bullets. "Hey wait a minute!" Donny trotted after you again, wondering why you walked with so much intent, determination. You were quite a bit shorter than him, so it amused him to see you walk that quickly. "Yes?" You half turned, but didn't really look at him. He expected you tell him your name, but upon second thought, he remembered that names in your line of work were prizes. They could be bought and sold, exchanged in trades and deals. One name for another. Still, it was silly, since you knew who he was. "Oh, what? You think I'm gonna tell a dead nazi what your name is?" You laughed. And that was the most at ease Donny had seen you. The most alive. You nodded, with a sigh, agreeing only because he was one of the basterds. "Y/n." He smiled, instantly engraving your name in his heart, "What..." It took him a moment to put himself together, "What rank are ya? What army are you really with?" You looked at him with a sly, amused grin. "Oh...shit...You're not even a rogue soldier. You're just...you're just-" "Good at what I do," you kept walking. "Why?" You stopped in your tracks. You lowered your gaze to the snow below with a sigh. You hadn't spoken to anyone in the past four years or so, aside from classified exchanges of information with a resistance here and there, or asking for a room in a hostel. That was all. It was odd to actually speak to someone, and someone as infamous, inglourious, and...absolutely stunning as that American sergeant. Well... A few words slipped. A few more than you would've liked. "I'm Jewish and I'm Polish, and I haven't been home in years." The one time you were able to go home after your escape, you did not find your family. You did not find anyone. But you knew what had happened. You knew you'd never find them again. That was all you needed to say. Donny put two and two together, and his grip around his bat tightened, his knuckles went white, though his heart sank as he murmured, "Hey..." You shook your head. "There was nothing left for me there..." That was when you started your work. You took your vengeance on those that took everything from you. That was the first rumoring of a rogue soldier, a lost whisper in the winter wind that brought death to nazis and vengeance to thousands. That was where it began. Donny understood. He kept quiet, which he didn't do very often, and walked with you to the team in silence. The cold was beginning to cut your dry lips, so you pulled your scarf back up. You knew that nazi was still alive, so you also pulled your hat down to hide as much of your face as possible. If there was one thing you didn't need, it was for the nazis to get a description of you. The nazi now had a bloody mark on his forehead, and raised his eyes deliriously when he heard your boots pressing on the snow. "S-s-Szelest..." he sobed and stammered in fear when he saw you approaching, sniper behind your back. You turned to the man with the scar on his throat, hands on his hips in accomplishment, and a blood machete. He turned to Wicki, "Wicki tell that shitface nazi fuck to go 'fore we let our friend here have at him." Wicki didn't even finish translating before the nazi ran off. Aldo sniffed some tobaco, and asked, "You the one they call Szelest?" You nodded. He offered you a cigarette but you declined. "You a damn good shot, you know that kid?" "Thank you, sir." He didn't even bat an eye when he heard your voice. Nothing really surprised him after all he'd seen in his lifetime. "Now...I know you got a lot to offer, aint'cha?" You took off your scarf, and adjusted your hat. "Good set of skills like yours are hard to find. We're down a few men, now..." He took off his own hat out of respect for Andy, Michael, and Simon, "We'd be damn lucky if we could count you as one of us. Now, kid I know workin' alone's got its merits, but I wanna know if you wanna go pro." The rest of the basterds stood still, eagerly waiting to hear your answer, though none more than Sergeant Donny Donowitz. You smirked, and that was answer enough. You marched with the basterds through the forest after that, to a hideout of theirs. By the time you got there, the sun had set. You all ate whatever scraps of food were around, and called it a night. You stayed outside a while longer, by the dying fire, having long befriended the cool and cruel winters. Donny walked by from the east, where there was a river. He'd just taken a bath, and was heading into the hideout. "Aren't you cold?" you mused, as you looked at him through the few embers that were rising. He shrugged, "I'm from Boston." "Does it snow so much there?" He tilted his head, realizing maybe not everyone in the world knew a whole lot about Boston. "Yeah," He smiled a little, as though he could see his neighborhood in the distance, "Yeah, it sure does..." He sank down by you in front of the fire with a sigh. You noticed he'd taken his bat with him, even to the river. You were looking at the names that were written on the surface. He noticed, and handed it over to you. That would shock any of the basterds, who knew to never touch his bat... Frankly it shocked Donny himself, but he couldn't help it, as he explained why those names were there.

"You wanna write some on it?" You smiled, and nodded once. You wrote names of your family there, and gave the bat back to him. L/N. His eyes wandered over the inscription of your last name, then back to you. He smiled, finally knowing your whole name. Y/n L/n. Just another kid fighting in a war that should have ended long ago.

Something about that moment...something about you, the way you looked at him... It seemed to flip a switch in Donny's mind. In that moment, when you gave the bat back, his hand grazed over yours. And in that moment, you became the most important thing to Donny. He couldn't change the past, but he'd make damn sure no one else ever hurt you again. In that moment, the world was at your feet. You glanced away, and cleared your throat, trying not to let him see your world changed in that moment. You took your scarf, and handed it to him, "You'll freeze." In that moment, all he wanted was to give you the stars. He took your scarf, and his smile was warmer than any fire could ever keep you. His eyes were brighter than any star in the sky, "Thanks, kid." You both sat together, silently. By the time the moon was in the middle of the sky, he was holding your hand, and he swore to himself that when the war was over, he'd never let go.

#Donny Donowitz #donny-donowitz #donny donowitz x reader #donny donowitz imagine #aldo raine #hugo stiglitz #Inglourious Basterds #inglourious basterds imagine

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dango-daikazoku · 4 years

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had a long dream where i was married to this guy that turned out to be a super powerful monster, so strong that after i told him i wanted a divorce he broke my arm just from grabbing it

his whole house was full of monsters, the maid was a zombie, the gardener was a werewolf, the butler was some kind of all-seeing guy that could answer three questions a day thruthfully, no matter the question

i couldn't get a divorce for some reason, my husband wouldn't allow it so i assumed i was needed as a sacrifice or something

i went online and found a monster helping agency and told them everything, a week or so later a chubby guy in a Hawaiian shirt and this skinny little blond guy showed up at the door pretending to be my friends from college, i invited them in and toured the house, which was actually for them to plan an escape route

when we were in the lower movie room my husband came and got suspicious because the two people smelled like monsters, but i introduced them as my old pals to try and make him relax

i pretended not to know they were monsters and went to get drinks from the kitchen, i don't know what happened but when i got back the two were slightly pale and my husband looked like he had a fun time and left when i got there

the two monsters explained that he was just testing them to see if they were a threat and because they were so weak in comparison to my husband he left them alone, they assured me that they would get me out, no human should be living here, they said

the whole plan went into action, i pretended that i would be going out to see my friends for a big class reunion party, dressing up in my most expensive clothes and jewelry (all gifts from my husband of course) and didn't pack anything so he would think i would be going out for a few hours at most

he seemed to know i was nervous and i tried to brush it off as something about not having met in a long time, and when i tried to leave by having the butler drive me my husband said that he would drive me there, something about needing to show me off

when we got to the building where the reunion was held i saw actual friends from college, i was so happy that i ran out and hugged them and spun them around, it was surprising to see at first but i guessed that the monster company had gotten all this together to help me make a real escape, i was going to meet up with them later because they were currently at my husbands house trying to get my stuff out

my husband seemed to believe it was a real reunion and came over to introduce himself, we all talked for a bit and then my friends insisted that he stay for the reunion, it was a class reunion but wasn't limited only to people that attended the class

i could almost hear my all the plans shattering to pieces, i had to get my husband back home somehow, but before i could say anything he declined saying this was an event for me to enjoy myself, and he would wait at home

i was overjoyed and said that me and my friends were going to have a swell time watching scary movies and bad comedies, both of which my husband hated (probably because he knows real monster and also has no sense of humor)

after the party it was arranged for me to go and stay at a hotel with a friend while she would call my husband and say i was drunk and resting in the hotel room, but in reality those friends were in on the whole thing and would be getting me on a plane to go to Europe, their acting was so amazing that i never knew they were in on it

they assured me that i was making the right choice, my husband came off really creepy to them and the fact that he refused a divorce made them into my biggest allies

meanwhile, at the my husband's house he ignored the call about me because the gardener smelled intruders, they didn't know it yet but it was the skinny little blond guy from the monster company, his ability was to turn invisible, he wouldn't make a sound or give the smallest hint to anyone that he was there, even if they were looking for him, although it couldn't completely get rid of his scent

he was walking around gathering all my important stuff and about to leave with it all when my husband approached him by the door, he couldn't see the invisible guy but sensed that he might be there and attacked instantly, piercing the invisible guy through the heart and crashing through the front door

the hawaiian shirt guy was observing everything from half a mile away, and almost blew his cover by gasping, but my husband, although he heard it, brushed it off as a passerby because it was far away

he threw the invisible man's corpse into a large furnace, but seemed to sense that there was someone else, he looked around but there was nothing, so he asked the butler how many people had come to rob the house, and the butler answered 'three'

my husband realized that there was another invisible person that came along, the guy he killed held a lot of valuables but it turns out that he had a twin sister that had already run off, carrying my stuff to the airport, with how strong my husband was they knew there was a possibility that they would die, so they planned for that event too

a huge chase was set off, the werewolf gardener leading the way to smell me out, but i had already left on a plane, so they chased me there too, while the werewolf disguised himself as a big red dog

eventually i was found by the werewolf, he told me my husband was at a base nearby and waiting for me to come back, since i didn't know the gardener very well i tried to get him on my side, saying that my husband didn't love me anymore and it was torture to stay by his side, and told him that as a human i couldn't be near him without being hurt by his strength, it was best for me to run away and never come back

this big werewolf gardener was actually a big sap with a heart of gold and told me that he would help, so we eloped! we eventually got together and made fun of my now ex-husband by misleading him, such as leading him to a pride parade while we were actually hiding and watching him become mistaken for an awkward closeted gay man, or giving him hints that i had gone to a nearby bank only for him to find that it was an entrance to an underground sex dungeon, or giving fake tracks to a maternity clothing store and trying to make him think i had bought clothes there because i was pregnant, then to see the cashier question him and watch him (through the security camera) as he explained i had run off with another man and he had come here to find me, so all the expecting mothers in the store snapped pics and spread bad rumors about him (because of course he came off as a weirdo creep to most non-humans)

it had a great ending lmao i was having so much fun with a new buff werewolf boyfriend

#dream journal #long post

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egg-emperor · 5 years

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I feel that in a lot of fan portrayals the common theme (other than the whole deal in my previous post) is that Eggman seems to have his villainy downplayed to purely soft and friendly with a secretly good side where he desires to do things that benefit other people

For example, things like this right here:

- are things that would really only happen with an Eggman like Mr. Tinker, unless Eggman in his regular conscious state was playing an act.

I mean before I even continue taking about Eggman in general, in IDW this is made clear with Starline's words in the first pic and Cubot's in the last one. That isn't usual for his personality.

That was the whole concept of Eggman doing all these nice things as Mr. Tinker, because it was so unbelievable to Sonic and the others that he had genuinely changed. Because it's not in common character for him.

The thing about Eggman as his true self is that he would only do any of that to play up an act. Again, IDW is actually saying that for me there with the speculation of him playing a trick too, something I'm glad they recognize.

Sonic and his friends suspect it because they're aware of his cunning ways and constant trickery, but when he's putting on a show to anyone else he can convince them easily with his charm.

That is when I personally find Eggman doing such things interesting, not so much if it's being presented as something that he would regularly do as his genuine self. This works because it isn't expected.

Also when Sonic tries to give Shadow reasons on why Eggman really could be a changed man, he brings up events where Eggman only get involved because the world that he is a part of was at stake. Not because others would benefit from it. Because it needs to be there for him to conquer after all!

And I dunno, maybe it's just me but when I see how official Eggman:

Contains living breathing woodland creatures within the shells of his robots as sort of like his cruel way of improving nature itself with his technology

Manipulates people into doing his bidding, tells them all sorts of lies and shoots down any suspicion they have with more lies for as long as he can. (Examples being Knuckles multiple times and Shadow throughout ShtH 2005)

The way he'll drop people he's using without a single care the moment he's done using them or they fail him, instantly and easily. (Metal Sonic, the E series, Infinite and multiple others in various media)

His treatment towards the E Series robots and how his previous doubts to Gamma being as good as Beta went out the window - saying that he KNEW that Gamma would do better despite previously placing his bets on Beta. And of course the way that he completely tossed the rest of them out for failing to complete their task.

The way he blasts the moon in attempt to get everyone in the world to submit to him, his plan to hold Amy hostage to trick Tails for the emerald and attempting to kill Sonic - all in the same game.

How he doesn't care about the very damaging effects on places and people that the plans he carries out has as long as everything isn't destroyed completely so that it's still there for him to conquer

How he enslaved the Wisps and the Zeti too - need I say more?

Taking all of that into account, (and those are just some game canon examples at that) I'm really not sure if we're looking at the same guy or not.

He isn’t secretly a good guy or anything in official material, yet it's common that people will say that Sonic villains that they think appear more evil - such as Mephiles, Infinite etc - are 'better' than him because Eggman is apparently a harmless joke that isn't capable of any evil impact at all, despite everything I just mentioned above.

Please keep in mind that I'm not saying that no fan content can ever contain or explore him doing anything that doesn't match canon- because I'm sure people can make that interesting. I'm just saying that this seems to be commonly presented as if Eggman is really like this in official material.

But also what I really want to see more of is things that canon Eggman does best:

Parading around with his big ego, taking pride in hatching his plans, his large confidence and snark when he carries them out, the way he taunts Sonic, tricks and messes with others, strikes fear into the hearts of those affected by his plans and the lack of empathy he seems to have for anyone that happens to get caught up in the effects.

And again, I'm not saying people aren't allowed to explore different outcomes with fan work, that's part of what makes creating your own content fun in the first place, to decide what happens for yourself. But to me, evil is fun to write and villains being evil and exploring their motives behind the things they do is interesting. It's personally my own favorite thing to create content of and I wish it was a more of a common thing.

#idw sonic #analysis #my post #hits #I want it I breathe it my soul needs it #dr. eggman #dr eggman #eggman #dr robotnik

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allyvampirelass29 · 4 years

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Blood Moon: Scene 4

A Vampire Diaries Special Edition Fanfiction By: Allyssa J. Watkins

He took another drink, as he watched her sip slowly from her glass, her fingers curled elegantly around the stem. Upon the shocking revelation of him tagging along on their little Spanish Excursion, he was sure the magic would have ended, that this...…. experience so delicately crafted, this place where anything could happen, would shatter, the blood red sky falling all around them, finished. But not only was this sin forgiven, it was his pain that she had felt, his agony that she had sought to soothe instead of her own wounded pride. My GOD, what WAS in this French Princess' blood?

She took another sip, and swirled the blood red elixir around in the crystal glass, as she leaned back on her elbow, tossing back her hair, looking over at Klaus, seeming to wonder the same thing.

"You know, there's something I've always admired about you, Klaus, and no, it's not your sparkling conversation."

Klaus smirked, looking devilishly chuffed, with a knowing nod of his head towards her. "I know...… apparently, I'm beautiful, and quite sexy, which I did not know until this eve."

"Shut up, yes, you did."

Klaus chuckled, finishing off his glass, dabbing at the corner of his lip with his thumb. "Alright, yes, but I had no idea I held such beauty in your eyes."

"C'mon, don't make me mad, you had to know...… It was always there, even when I wanted to burn you alive...…"

Her laughing voice ended with a twinge of the escaped truth, sending chills through his whole body, and he slowly took her glass, setting it next to his empty one.

"Hey, I wasn't done-"

"You'll get it back," He chortled softly, moving closer. "That is, if you behave." He arched one of his red blonde brows, slowly brushing one, especially tantalizing raven curl, hanging in her defiant eyes, and he felt beckoned by their stoked fire.

She moved closer too, delicately fingering his silk tie, untucking it from his waistcoat, running her fingers all the way up the length of it, to his neck, his breath getting heavier and more pleasurable the higher her fingers climbed.

"Are you sure you want me to behave?" She whispered dangerously, the sparks flying and dancing in a flickering sway in her eyes, and he closed his own in defeat, his mouth falling slightly open, with the intensity of her affect, that unvanquished heat, setting fire to the night, defying the dark in dizzying trails. Admit it, Talia. You always want to burn me alive.

She toyed with his tie, loosening the knot, and then caressed her way up his scruffy neck, running her nails teasingly across his skin, watching his eyes open, the blue dawning like a gentle sky, no cloud of conflict in sight. His fingers tingled as they reached for hers, not forceful, or demanding, they were hopeful, and full of ache, caressing the back of them, as they came to a rest, still touching his neck.

"Tell me...… What could you possibly admire in the faulted crooks and chasms of so flawed a character as mine? What admiration of this faded and cracked visage, painted a thousand years hence, and left war beaten, deceptively unchanged, could flower in the fiery heart, I broke with such unyielding fervor...…. Tell me."

Natalia looked at him with a sad, little half smile, and he trembled as she touched his lip, running her finger along the perfectly, sculpted edge. "Niklaus...… How can you be so arrogant and yet regard so mean your own immortal beauty? This face...…. It's my every frustration, my every spoken curse and temptation, my every fought feeling. I HATED you for being so beautiful, this face...…. it's torture, because it's all I see, okay? Past, present, future, there is one fixed point, and my GOD, sometimes I wish it wasn't, but it is YOU. It's always been...…. I don't see the cracks in the paint, the aged lines, the way you do...…. Think about every masterpiece you've ever seen, and you just try to tell me, they're not more transfixing for it...… If given the choice between an ORIGINAL Degas, see what I did there, and a freshly painted canvas by some nobody, you know what I'd choose...…."

Klaus smiled fondly, his surfacing affection bleeding through his imposing features like water colours on parchment paper. "You always had the most unfettered love for Degas, didn't you?" He said softly, breathing her in, as her fingers curled around the curve of his face, her thumb rubbing soft against his cheek. The Muse admiring her Painter. "You could have been a dancer, Tal, the way you move, the lines you create with your body, painted by Degas himself, the crown jewel of his masterful works...…"

"I'd rather be your masterpiece," She whispered intimately, kissing the side of his face, circling her thumb over his cheekbone. How many times had he called her that, crowed to Elijah, shut that degenerate Damon up with it, used those exact words to threaten his enemies, and targets, showing her off shamelessly, but never...…. not once, had she called herself as such. His masterpiece. His triumph. He shuddered against her lips, with the full effect of her voice cloaked silkily over those words, admitting it, not just to him, but to herself, and he replayed it again and again in the wildfire haze of his mind, the painting he'd done of her, rivaling Degas himself, flashing in a red, ravishing, reverie. You are my masterpiece, Natalia, not just in function, but in form...…..

"Now, STOP interrupting me...…" She giggled, and the colour rose in his own cheek, as she batted his face playfully to the side.

"What I admire about you, Klaus Mikaelson, believe it or not, has nothing to do with your roguish good looks, or those damn sexy blue eyes."

"Please, do go on," He teased deliciously, making his sapphire eyes bigger, his lip curling up into a sneaky smirk, and she laughed, her own eyes luminous. "Shut up! I will hit you again!"

"I'm sorry, can you just say, "damn sexy blue eyes," again? I think I hallucinated it." Klaus' smirk broke into a laughing grin, the spell of the Blood Moon unbroken, caught up in her wonder, her willingness to let the fire fall, to laugh and jibe, and let him come closer.

Natalia scoffed in mock indignation. "Ughhhh!!! I take it back. More like DAMN irritating!!!"

"Tell me!!!" Klaus' boyish laugh betrayed his commanding guise, his attempted stern brow perfectly wrecked.

"Alright, alright, GOD, two hundred freaking years, and nothing has changed, you're still just as impatient!!!" Tal tried to look angry, but she broke into a laugh too, gently resting her head on his shoulder, and he instantly pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her as tight as he could, scrunching his eyes closed as he kissed the top of her curly head.

"Stop stalling."

"Okay, fine...… It's Katherine."

"Katarina?" The name stung on his recoiled tongue, tasting the poison, the rancor of that willful, wanton of a woman's name, choking on it, spitting it from his mouth, his hatred seething from his flared nostrils. "Ahh yes, and you were worried about me killing the mood, were you? I am disturbed in this curiosity but WHAT about my vendetta against the Petrova Whore could possibly be amorous in your eyes, My Love? For five hundred years, I have failed to capture her, failed to kill her, even though I fall asleep with dancing visions of her demise, raking my relishing claws against her spindly neck, gutting her prostitute body as such even Jack the famed ripper would envy...….. I admired him so much, before I surmised he was Stefan. Such a pity.

Natalya looked up at him, smiling, amused, but it was faint, the sadness, the frailty, overwhelming her expression, so much so, that she looked...…. impossibly human. Breakable. He loved it, and he hated it.

"You...… You were the only one, Klaus, the only one...…. who didn't fall for her transparent tricks, her playgirl ploy, the only man ever, in five hundred years, she couldn't seduce, couldn't steal with flirty eyes, and revealed skin..... You should have seen him back then...… Damon, yes, the guy you're so worried I want more than you, the guy you won't admit that you're threatened by...…." Natalia choked on her sob, half angry, half hurt, and Klaus looked back, the guilt glimmering in his eyes.

"You weren't there, you didn't see it...…. The way he paraded her around..... the way she had him wrapped around her little finger, sneaking into his bed, moments after he had bid me goodnight with a kiss on my cheek...… Pledging forever to me, but planning it secretly with her, finding their forbidden pleasures, even after she had just finished defiling his brother. I could feel it between them, the second I met her, and he didn't even try to hide it..... That stupid grin on his stupid face, rushing to help her into a carriage, touching the small of her back, gripping her hand, like he'd never let her go...…"

"Talia……" Klaus whispered, the pain constricting his chest. He'd never once thought about it, what it must have been like for his Spanish Rose, to be betrothed and in love with a man that was not so secretly disgracing her honour.

"You. You never fell for her. What IS it about that spoiled, bitchy, caked on face!? Even Stalwart Elijah, with his donned morals, and starched ethics, he was powerless against her promiscuous charm, or maybe he just couldn't resist turning a bad girl good...… He was always a sucker for a good redemption story." Natalia scoffed, and then her eyes gentled, cradling the back of his handsome, kingly curls, stroking them, as he stared lovingly down at her, his eyes soft, steady, calm. "But not you. You were better than that. The discerning artist."

"Let me tell you a story about the runaway whore, formerly known as Petrova," He whispered deliciously, his blue eyes agleam with mischief.

"Please," She groaned, laying her head further back, exasperated. "Tell me it ends unhappily ever after?"

Klaus smirked at her cleverness, his eyes pained as they fell over her, daring her sadness to again grace her face, wishing with all his prowess as hunter, he'd have killed Katherine before ever this startling beauty had awoke in this world to be her victim. I should have saved you from her. I should have stopped it happening...….

"Katarina Petrova is a lie." Klaus whispered, brushing the back of his hand against Tal's smooth cheek. "She'll be anything you want..... for a night. She leaves nothing to the imagination, luring weak-minded men, and forgiving fops with redemption fantasies, like my brother, to their eventual deaths or tortured madness. She's a plastic, flashy, bait, and oh watch the masses swarm to impale their greedy mouths on her hook. But beneath it all, My Darling, beneath the bad girl bravado, bratty little scathes, suggestive smirks, and the less than there outfits, beneath the over zealous eye make-up, and the stench of vodka and gaudy florals, Katherine Pierce is an empty shell...….

There's nothing inside the barely wrapped package. She's shimmers in all her tasteless glory, presents herself as something to be pursued, lusted after, only because...… She cannot convince herself she's anything but an arm ornament. She can lie, beguile, homewreck to her black little heart's content, but it doesn't fill the emptiness, for there is one other besides myself, Katarina cannot fool. Herself. Katarina Petrova died in the fourteenth century, and even with her newly minted vampire upgrade, forgot how to live, how to feel anything beyond the physical, the tragically shallow. All she has to offer is her flimsy flung body, her shiny hollowed shell, and once you've cracked that open, there is nothing left of her. She disintegrates. She's a mirage, nothing more. A trick of the eye. The girl everybody takes to bed, but nobody wants in the morning...……"

Natalia collapsed against his shoulder, tears streaming from her eyes, the pain of the past summoned from the depths, she'd tried for two hundred years to drown it in. He brought his forefinger, under her chin, and gracefully, lifted her lovely head, his eyes intense, and severe.

"That boy is a fool...… who will always prize the gratification of the now, over the wooing and the winning of a truly beautiful soul...… It is nothing short of sacrilege that your name should ever be uttered in the same breath as hers...…. Natalia...…." He released her, standing back up, lowering his formidable frame into a humbled bow, arms outstretched. "Do not praise me for what is only natural to the naked eye. You are a GODDESS even among the immortals."

Natalia stared back at him, her dark eyes glistening, wide, and dazzled, and he sank to the ground, slain, resting his forehead against her knee, like a sinner before a virgin saint. "But I too am a fool, Red Queen, for taking two hundred years, to confess to you my affections. In truth, my own crime is that much more damning than even the salacious sins of your fickle fiancé and his malignant mistress."

Natalia stood up at once, frenzied, grabbing Klaus' forearms, and urging him back to his feet. "No!!! No, Klaus, don't you DARE say that...…. Damn it, you have NEVER hurt me, like he hurt me!!!! I know why you withheld your affection, all that time, I know why you kept it a secret...…. Look at me!!!! I'm an unstoppable force because of you. Your masterpiece...…"

"You left me......." He said solemnly, pulling away from her arms, his face hardening. "I must have hurt you far more carelessly than even your cavalier musketeer, because you left, and you didn't even say goodbye. Tell me. Tell me, it was Elijah," He pleaded, almost angrily, his voice shaking, uncertain. "Tell me he convinced you to go, begged you to stay away from me, tell me it was his doing, and not yours!"

Natalia shook her smoky curls, concealing these far too honest tears, staring down at her satin high heels. Why do we do this? Why do we torture each other, right when we're both finally happy? It's been plaguing you hasn't it? You impossibly cryptic man, why didn't you say anything before!? Why are you asking me THIS now?

"You told me...… never to lie to you." She said calmly, crossing her arms over her chest, as Klaus looked back with another hard expression, though she could see the tears threatening to fall.

"Why did you leave me?" He asked again, his voice unwavering, his lip protruding with his own indignation.

"Oh my God, how many times can we have this same conversation? Don't do this, Klaus, don't ask me that, not here, not now, don't ruin it when it's this good, this perfect? Are you so self-destructive? I told you! I didn't want to be the Mikaelson Pet Project anymore, I'd lived my whole life under someone else's roof, someone else's rule, and I wanted to be FREE, I wanted to go where I wanted to go, be MYSELF, on my own!!! I did what was best for me, even if it wasn't what you wanted!!! GOD forbid I do anything outside of the damned Sire Bond!!!!"

"WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME!?!?" Klaus roared, the threatened tears falling, his face red, his hands shaking, and she stared back with tears in her own eyes, the fire quelled, her voice a gasping, fragile sound.

"Because...… I was in love with a man that didn't love me back, and I'd rather go through the absolute hell of losing him, than do that all over again, give so much of myself to someone that didn't want me, couldn't love me...…. I'm not perfect, but I don't make the same mistake twice...…"

Klaus' eyes widened, his brow pulled back, surprised and devastated with the revelation, his tears streaming in silent trails from his eyes. "You thought me...…. indifferent?"

Natalia cried harder, her dark eyes flashing fire, smoke through the mist. "I would have BEGGED for your indifference."

Klaus' chest shuddered, the reverberating sound thunderous, and he ran to her, grasping each side of her face, the felled tears lingering wet on his lips, both of them bathed in the fading crimson light, the colour withdrawing.

"I understand...…." He whispered, tasting the salt as he spoke. "I was...….. in a prolonged distemper. But I assure you, the ravages of my soul that stemmed from my violent adoration of you, could not in any sense be deemed indifferent."

Natalia scoffed, wiping her eyes, but she relented to his touch, and let the sensory memory of the night's previous advances frolic across her skin. "I'm sorry, did you just say, distemper? Are you freaking kidding me? You were a REAL piece of work back then, and you know it!!!!"

Klaus cracked a bashful smile, his eyes guilty and pleading. "I was, wasn't I? Well, I needn't tell you........ much has changed."

He plucked up her glass, and what remained of the bloodwine, handing it carefully back to her. "I'm not that same man, Natalia, and you know it. My paper mask has come off, burnt away by your fire. My masquerade has ended, for good this time. This is my true face, my desire unmasked. I want to give you everything, the Blood Moon, the bloodwine, every luxury you were denied back then, everything I denied you, including my own miserable heart, I offer you now. Live with me, Talia. Live with me...…"

"You CRAZY, lunatic hybrid!!! You've finally LOST it!!!" She stared back incredulous, her fingers trembling against the glass, and she shivered before she drank deeply, knocking the rest of it back.

"Talia, listen to me now, it won't be as it was last time, there is no call, no dire, immediate urgency to make you stronger, you are the warrior, hell, you are more than the warrior I'd always dream you'd be!!! I will be perfect, I'll be a saint, you can come and go as you please, just live with me? I'm a boyfriend, you said it yourself, and although I've never been one before, boyfriends live with their girlfriends....." He blurred intimately close, hands on her hips, his eyes almost manic.

"Klaus!!! Are you HEARING yourself!? How drunk are you!? Rebekah and I would KILL each other!!! It would be a DISASTER!!!" Tal shook her head vehemently, disturbed by this outburst, shivering again as his warm hands moved against the satin hanging from her hips.

Klaus moaned, his voice a whimper. "Oh now, you're just making me want it more. No fair teasing. Kill Rebekah if you fancy it, for God's sake, toss the whole lot of them out, I don't bloody care, as long as you're there...… with me."

"You're serious?" Natalia shook her head again, stepping hesitantly back, overwhelmed, as he continued to caress her hips with a rising fever, kissing under her jaw. "Imagine it, Darling, everything you could ever want at your fingertips, lavender-vanilla scented jacuzzi baths every morning, decadent feasts, the crème de la crème of blood, and the best of the alcohol, all the sumptuous, silken dresses you could ever wear, I am desperate, tell me...…. Tell me what will coax you, and I will move heaven and earth to procure it."

"Klaus, wait, slow down-"

"I've done my waiting, two hundred years, no more waiting, Tal, for either of us, more doing, living, lavishing!!! If you would feel more at ease, I'll have a room of your own prepared to your tastes, exactly as you would like, I need you Talia, I've always needed you, I need my girlfriend, My Goddess."

"Okay, first off, we both know we'd just lock ourselves away in your room, so spare whatever decorator you plan on berating to make mine perfect. And no fair, dangling the temptation of daily lavender-vanilla jacuzzi baths, you know I can't resist those, that's totally cheating!!! Also, you can call yourself my boyfriend, okay, but don't get too excited, Sire Mine, because we're not like going steady or anything. Item? Yes. Committed relationship? Try no. I don't do those anymore, for good reason. I'm not going to live with you, Klaus, that was never the deal. As....…. tempted as I am, and actually completely charmed by your offer, you know, since you made it sound like heaven, and as much of an incentive as it would be, getting to kill Rebekah and all, we aren't there yet...… Not even close."

He nodded reluctantly, taking both of her hands, rather loving how defiant she could be, deny something no matter how irresistible the enticement. "Might I propose a counter offer, a compromise?"

"Klaus-"

"One night...…." He whispered, his voice full of intrigue, the whimsical sound beckoning to her, as he kissed the back of one hand, and then the other, his eyes tender, and shimmering. "One night, and I'll never ask again. You said I made it sound like heaven, Tal, let us even being the wicked creatures that we are, know heaven for one night."

Natalia bit her lip, fully expecting everything inside of her to scream no, there being only a thousand reasons why this could NOT happen, and yet the hallelujah of yes' chorused through her entire being. Oh my God. I can't believe you talked me into this! You, being all vulnerable, and adorable, surrendering yourself, erasing my old scars, did you really just kneel at my feet? I'm supposed to hate you. Why...... don't I hate you?

"Yes. One night. Nobody finds out."

Klaus' brow slanted forward salaciously, slowly bringing her hand from his lips. "As you wish, Mi Reina...…."

Natalia couldn't help herself, she broke into a very warm, welcoming smile, Klaus' perfect Spanish accent melting away all the objections she couldn't right now remember. I love it when you speak my language, Mi Hambre.

"Una noche." She whispered softly, her eyes melting back into that inviting candlelight, clasping both of his hands, pulling him closer.

"Una noche, Bellísima," He whispered back flirtatiously with a wink, clasping her hands tighter, and kissing her fingertips, never taking his eyes from hers.

They left the moor, hand in hand, disappearing like shadows into the swirling mist, and the surrounding ruins of Noirbloom Manor looked less and less like remnants of a fire, and more like a hallowed acropolis. Klaus chuckled, softly at first, and then with more confident mirth, and Natalia marveled at the drastic change in him, even from hours ago. Who WAS this Madman!? Her Sullen Sire had been by the Blood Moon transformed. Had she- had she never seen Klaus this happy before?

"What, what is it?" She asked, exasperated, fighting her own laugh, and her heart stopped as he spun her around, without hesitation, sending her blood red skirts in a floating satin trail, every which way.

"Going steady...… such a mundane, hateful term for something as passionate and volatile as love. I don't want anything so sensible with you...… I want...…. madness. I want to be scarred, marked by it. These humans love for their lifetimes, but do they feel anything rivaling our own racing blood? Only a vampire...… can love you forever."

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

#doms1kchallenge #xxwritemeastoryxx #undercover lovers #niklaus mikaelson #klaus mikaelson x oc #tal #vampire diaries #blood moon #noirbloom

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thatfairyfangirl · 5 years

Text

Part Of That World Chapter 10

The bitter chill of winter began nipping at the autumn air as the crowds gathered below to watch the annual thanksgiving day parade. You, however, were nice and warm in the tower, face pressed against the glass of one of the windows watching with childlike wonder at the spectacle below. You could remember watching as a child always wanting a better look. And no look could be better that eye to eye with the giant balloons. Bucky turned glancing back to you with a chuckle and a shake of his head as he worked on stirring the filling for the pumpkin pie. Somewhere deep down he had to admit the childlike wonder held on your face right now was endearing. “Hey gills for brains you going to help with dinner or what?” He asked in a tone that told you he was joking with you.

“Screw that. I'm looking Mickey Mouse in the eye!” You called back.

“And that's great Ariel,” Tony said as he snuck a taste of the stuffing, “but it's time to pick secret santa.” With a roll of your eyes you pushed yourself from the window and dug your hand into the hat filled with names. As your hand rummaged through along with everyone else's you could feel the strong fingers of Bucky brush against yours. For a brief moment your eyes met as fingers pulled away from each other, clutching small scraps of paper with names scribbled on them. Bucky looked down to the paper, his heart not sure if it wanted to sink or do back flips as he read your name. You, however, grew a wide smile as you read Bucky's name, having the perfect gift in mind.

Christmas season in New York was nothing if not a whirlwind. Before anyone knew it the tree was trimmed and the city was covered in a blanket of Carols and Christmas snow. You sat at the table, enjoying the peppermint mocha creamer Tony had picked up for the day as you held back a laugh from seeing Bucky in his santa hat. “Hey robo arm,” you said softly between sips, watching him pour his own mug, “merry Christmas.”

He smiled as took a sip, removing the hat from his own head and placing it on yours. “Merry Christmas sharkbait.” The two of you shook your heads amused at the exchange.

All of the Avengers were adorned in their most festive attire as they gathered in the common room, boxes in hand. You both smirked playfully at each other as you exchanged boxes. Somewhere deep inside you were glad you picked his name, you wouldn't have known what to get any of the others. But seeing his face light up at the shiny paper and bows you almost felt bad. The smile on his face faded as he stared at a box filled with magnets and a note that read 'for your arm’. You grinned a shit eating grin up to him as you picked up the one shaped like a banana and stuck it to his shoulder. “There, now you're The Winter Monkey.”

“You're a little shit.” He couldn't help chuckling as he plucked the magnet from his arm. “Open yours.” You tore the paper to find inside an array of shells in all shapes and colors. “Now you don't have to feel so homesick all the time.” He chuckled at the joke.

But the Atlantean in you was less amused and more shocked by the display. Did he know what this means? “I...I have to go.” You stammered clutching the box to your chest as you rushed to your room.

“What the hell Bucky?” Clint exclaimed before going after her. “Hey?” He knocked gently on her door. “You ok?”

“No...yes…” you opened the door, looking up to your friend with sullen eyes. “I don't know.”

“What's up? Did he get you a dead fish or something?” He asked with a chuckle in an attempt to lighten your mood. You shook your head, showing him the box of shells. “Okay? I don't get it.”

With a sigh you set the box down and gestured for him to come in. “In Atlantean culture giving shells is somewhere along the lines of giving your sweetheart a flower.” You moved to your dresser, delicately picking up a small shining white spiral shell. “It means 'hey I like you, let's get together.’” You cradled the shell as if it was the ocean's personal gift to you. “My mom gave this one to my dad. It was my favorite story when I was a kid.”

Clint nodded seeing now why you were so spooked. “I'm pretty sure Bucky was just trying to make a mermaid joke at you.” He assured you as he rested his hands on your shoulders. “How would he know about mer-culture?” He asked pulling a laugh out of you.

~ ~ ~ ~

The next few days you couldn't so much as bring yourself to look at Bucky. He began to wonder if it really offended you that much. Even as they sat around the table planning their next mission you cradled in your hand your mother's shell. Sure, on one hand you were sure he didn't mean anything by it...but on the other hand you wondered if you were starting to wish he did.

“(Y/n)?” Steve asked snapping you out of your thoughts. “You good with this plan?”

“I'm sorry, what?” You asked as you looked up to Steve.

He once again explained that a diplomat from Wakanda was going to be aboard a river yacht for a political party,T'challa had requested they go in as back up. “You and Bucky will pose as party guests to keep a closer eye on him.”

“What? Why Bucky? What about you?” You asked with wide panicked eyes.

“Too tight. Besides, the shield will be too dead of a give away why we're there.”

“Clint?” You asked turning to your friend.

“Sorry kid. Me and Sam are your eyes in the sky.” Clint answered.

Steve looked between you and Bucky sternly. “Look. I don't know what's going on between you two this time but it's ending now. You're working together.” You both nodded.

~ ~ ~ ~

You grumbled to yourself as you struggled with your dress, wondering to yourself how people wore these things. “So are we going to talk?” Bucky asked through the door, already ready and starting to grow tired of waiting. “Or at least are you going to let me help you?”

“Fuck off Barnes. Definitely not in the mood for any of your nonsense right now.” You snapped defensively. Your eyes closed as the gravity of your own words weighed on you instantly, knowing this was neither the time nor the place for another petty argument.

“What the hell is wrong with you? I got you shells! It's not like I went out of my way to insult you like you did to me!” He barked back, his pride hurt. “Just let me help you put on the damn dress before our guy gets killed and we're not there to stop it.”

“You don't know that! You know nothing about where I'm from!” You screamed back as you finally got the dress on.

“What Maine?” He barked back finding himself getting heated over this. “You know what?!” You swung the door open your hair pinned up in a classic style matching the aqua and silver dress exquisitely. “WHAT?!” You demanded, leaning partially out the door. The dress was very streamlined, yet flowed the further down it went, no doubt hiding weapons holstered to your legs...as if you'd need them on a yacht like this.

Suddenly he was caught off guard. Suddenly, even through the folds of your brow created in anger you looked so perfect, as if he had gone back in time. “You're lovely.” He sighed, stunned by the sight of you, wondering if you knew the dress was stylized after one Ginger Roberts wore in an old Fred Astaire flick.

You stood there a moment blinking in surprise. That was nowhere near how you expected that sentence to end. Your eyes narrowed looking over him trying to find the angle he was playing at but all you could think of was how dashing he looked in the suit with his hair tied neatly back. With a shake of your head you pushed the thought to the back of your mind. “Don't try to flatter me Barnes. I won't be made a fool of tonight dancing with you.”

With a raised brow his head tilted a bit. “What do you mean?”

“I can't dance.” You admitted looking over to the wall, not ready to face him.

With a sigh he tapped on his comlink. “Hey Hawkeye everything quiet out there?”

“Like the grave. What's up?” He answered, just a voice in your ear.

“Maelstrom is having trouble with her dress. Can you buy us an hour?” He's taught girls to dance in less.

“You got it. Honestly I'm starting to think T'challa might have been a little paranoid calling us in.” Clint answered before shutting the com off.

“You could have just said so.” He said as he stepped in close, wrapping an arm around you. For a moment you struggled against him, trying faintly to push him away. “Stop...just once, trust me.” He assured you taking a step closer, nudging you to take a step back as he gently moved your hands around his waist and shoulder. Soon you conceded to the movements he made, allowing him to lead you in a simple waltz. Now you could see the side you saw Halloween night...charming and gentle...this was the side you liked.

~ ~ ~ ~

Clint and Steve both stood in the common room pacing the floor, well past 3am. The mission had been over for hours yet you and Bucky were nowhere to be found. Until you came strolling in with Bucky's arm around your shoulder. “What the hell happened to you two?” Steve snapped with a tone more worry than anger.

“Uhh… after the all clear we decided to go out dancing.” Bucky answered as you slipped from his arm.

“Sorry Steve. We should have checked in.” You added before moving to head back to your room, opting to deal with this fall out later. Right now you were too exhausted.

“No!” Clint snapped following you down the hall. “You don't get off that easy little mermaid!” He said as he caught up to you by your door. “What's going on here? Last I heard you two hated each other. You never shut up about how awful he is and now I’m waiting up for you to finish your after mission date with him”

“Date? No we were just having some fun…” You glanced down the hall toward Bucky’s room. “You really think it was a date?” With a groan of frustration Clint hit his head lightly against the wall.

Meanwhile back in the common room

“So you going to tell me what's going on here pal?” Steve asked with a half grin as he folded his arms.

“Nothing is going on Steve.” Bucky answered with a blissful smile. "(Y/n)'s never gotten to go dancing before...turns out she likes it."

“Oh come on Buck I know that look.” Steve insisted, refusing to believe him for even a second.

“We just danced.” Bucky assured his best friend with a smirk before turning to head to his room.

#bucky #bucky x reader #Bucky Barnes #bucky barns x reader #Winter Soldier #winter soldier x reader #Avengers #avengers x reader #marvel #marvel x reader

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firelordizumi · 5 years

Note

Dunno if you already talked about this, but why do you hate toa? I'm not a fan either, just wanna know what you think

hi anon i sent your ask to issy and we had a very long rant about it just for you

toa could’ve been a great series had it been executed better. i’m not sure if issy ever posted it on here, but she once mentioned to me how interesting it would be had the plot of toa centered around octavian, in which he wasn’t killed in hoo and apollo is forced to reevaluate his time as a god and the monster he essentially created. rick’s known for being the author that turns weaknesses (such as adhd and dyslexic, a poc, gender fluid, gay) into strengths, but in the trials of apollo, none of that is there. that being said, his apollo/lester and meg aren’t all that interesting.

when i read toa, i was able to get through it because i thought apollo was an interesting character. his narcissism and confusion about humans was funny, but i later realized it was solely because rick has a knack for first person writing. meg is powerful, but she’s a bare minimum character. neither meg nor apollo can be loved on their own, and they’re not strong enough to carry toa by themselves. thus why rick is relying on nostalgia in order to make his money. rick’s kinda known for his iconic characters. when you mention rick riordan, your mind instantly goes to characters like percy jackson, annabeth chase, grover underwood, piper mclean, jason grace, so on and so forth (i didn’t forget hazel and frank i swear). rick is capitalizing on nostalgia. the trials of apollo is lazy writing. it is series he brought to life not bc he enjoyed it, but because it was giving him so much coin.

this fandom (and i can give you text posts for proof) just want to see percy jackson in a book. people don’t care about rick as a storyteller anymore, and thus the stories he is capable of telling. people are obsessed with percy and percy only. rick knows this. rick wrote the kane chronicles without any mention of the pjo characters, and it was INCREDIBLE, but no one gave a shit about carter and sadie until they appeared in a miniseries with percy and annabeth.

rick riordan is an idiot when it comes to consistency and timelines and accurate representations of poc (i’m talking about the feathers and the kaleidoscopic eyes, for starters) but he tries. not hard enough, but he goes to those pride parades, he makes an effort to include those characters and though he doesn’t execute it well, he is a good person. but he’s not stupid when it comes to knowing what will make him the most money. he has a marketing team, publishers and he was a teacher, too. the man knows people just want to see percy’s name and don’t actually care for an original story. he’s going to find ways to milk out percy’s story and people will keep eating it up because we can’t put our nostalgia aside long enough to realize that hey, maybe stories that end are beautiful too.

because percy jackson’s story needs to end, man. his name no longer appearing in a rick riordan book does not mean the pjo series magically disappears. hoo will not suddenly vanish. percy will live forever. but his story is not worth telling forever.

plus, rick just did a lot more work by making the roman emperors the antagonists of this series. i have a post around here somewhere, but i just believe that the emperors being roman, and helping fund the titan war would have been a great basis for the roman demigods. it would’ve flowed better, made more sense, etc. overall, toa is just sloppy writing. meg and apollo aren’t characters i care too much for, the plot is too forced, and i just feel like he’s writing it to make money because he can include percy in it.

#can i answer anything concisely? no #sorry this might be all over the place i am so angry #critique tag #anonymous #ask me anything #if i lose followers for this just know im never going to stop #i mean everything i said

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avengemebucky · 5 years

Text

Beatle Fever

A/N: I really love The Beatles and this era of history so it was really fun writing this! I’ve been on a super long hiatus but with summer finally beginning, I hope that I can finally begin to crank more stuff out. Hope you enjoy!

W.C.: 3952

MASTERLIST

“She’s still not over it?” Steve leaned over to Bucky as he rummaged through his messy locker.

Y/N was just a few lockers down from the boys, dressed fully in black, from head to toe. It was a stark difference from her usual colorful pencil skirts.

Bucky huffs and shuts his locker.

“I mean, I get it. J.F.K.’s… passing… was rough on all of us, but it’s been- what? Five months? She’s got to snap out of it. I miss my best girl.”

Bucky let the last part of his confession trail off as he and Steve walked to their next class. He never could have imagined Y/N being this devastated by the whole ordeal.

The young couple stared blankly at the television, Y/N clutching closer to Bucky than he’d ever recalled.

“This… this is nuts.”

That’s all Bucky could say. The images that kept looping on the screen were too early to have any true meaning to the two. The footage of Jackie reaching behind the Cadillac for her husband’s skull had repeated for what had to be the tenth time. Walter Cronkite was explaining the situation over the scenes, repeating the small portions of information they already knew:

John F. Kennedy, America’s youngest and first Catholic president was killed during a parade in Houston, Texas. Death through a shot to the head.

“Buck, he was supposed to change the world.”

Bucky looked down at his girl and saw tears in her eyes. He didn’t know what to do to help Y/N at that moment. He knew how much Kennedy meant to her. He couldn’t count all the Saturdays Y/N had chosen door to door campaigning over dancing with him in support of the politician. The number of weekends she’d even convinced him to come help trailed out of sight. Because of her, he’d had grown fond of the Bostonian.

Not bearing to see the same grotesque spray of red one more time, Bucky turned off the television. Y/N stayed, eyes blank glued to the television. Their shock only allowed silence in Y/N’s small living room as both continued to stare at the television set, not knowing what to do.

With a sharp breath, Bucky slipped off the couch to kneel in front of Y/N. Taking her face into both hands, it took a startling amount of time to finally catch her attention and bring her back to reality.

“Baby it’s going to be okay. This… this has happened before, hasn’t it? In our past? I know you know it has.”

“I know but-”

“Tell me when it’s happened before. Specifically”

“Well…” She sniffed and broke from Bucky’s glare to concentrate. Even at her lowest, she was always the A+ student. His A+ student.

“Abraham Lincoln, after the Civil War… Ford Theatre, I think?” She bit her lip, taking time to collect herself before a little spark finally returned to her eyes. “John Wilkes Booth actually shot him in that theatre because he acted-”

Bucky shook his head. “Sweetheart, I love that big brain of yours but my point here isn't for you to give me a history lesson. What happened after Lincoln was shot?”

“Andrew Johnson took office.”

“And life went on, and everything turned out to be okay.”

Bucky took her in his arms and held her close. He didn’t know whether his message got across but knew that he needed her in his arms. Bucky stayed on his knees and Y/N slouched over in their awkward embrace before finally parting.

Y/N smiled sadly and sniffled, wiping away a few tears that happened to escape. Bucky wiped them away and tried again to assess her feelings. She understood that he was trying to console her but she knew better than thinking things could be normal once again.

“Buck, being okay isn’t the same as being back to how things were. We’ll never be the same… “

Bucky shook his head and tried to interrupt her but Y/N stopped him before he got the chance.

“We’ll never be the same without him.”

Her hoarse whisper was all she left him as she walked up to her room. Bucky sat silent and broken in her empty living room.

Y/N’s line still haunted Bucky then, five months later. She was by far the smartest person that he knew, arguably even more than Bruce Banner. If the smartest person was this pessimistic about a tragedy as monumental as Kennedy’s fate, he didn’t know what to believe anymore.

The bell marking the end of fifth hour woke Bucky out of his trance. He grabbed his bag and ran after Steve to lunch.

“We still meeting up with the girls today?” Bucky asked as he finally met Steve’s pace.

“Yep! Haven’t heard any different.”

When the boys finally reached the cafeteria, they didn’t expect the large hoard of girls crowding near the back corner nor the two girls pushing past behind them, running towards the commotion.

Steve and Bucky, dumbfounded, found Clint at their usual table, without Natasha. He seemed to almost be as confused as they were.

“Clint, where’s Natasha? Don’t you two always walk together?”

Steve tried to poke some fun at Clint’s obvious crush on the redhead but he seemed completely unbothered, still consumed by the growing group of chittering girls.

“Don’t be too quick, Rogers. I wonder where your two gals could be…”

Steve quirked his eyebrow.

“What, you think Peggy and Y/N are in that?” Steve incredulously emphasized, not taking any of the girls giggling in the back of the room.

“Wouldn’t be too quick to assume, pal. It’s all over the news. I think they’re calling ‘this’,” Clint motioned his head toward the girls, “‘Beatle Fever’.”

“What the hell do bugs have to do with our girls not meeting us for lunch?” Bucky quipped.

Clint laughed. “You have no idea…”

Having enough of Clint’s elusiveness, the two boys ventured their way to the back of the cafeteria to see for themselves. Steve and Bucky fought their way through the crazed girls, still not understanding the purpose of their current congregation. They were packed together like sardines. Some of the unlucky ones near the back were forced to stand on tables to get a clear view of whatever everyone was watching.

When they finally reached the epicenter of the girls, they found the capture of their attention:

A small television, no more than a foot wide, the cafeteria staff used during their down times throughout the day. The girls seemed to have taken the set hostage, all clamoring around about the boys on the screen.

“Who are they?” Bucky whispered to Steve, seeing no difference between the four men who kept appearing on the screen, with identical long haircuts and black suit and ties.

“You two have to be kidding, right?”

Pepper Potts, who had happened to be standing by the two, piped in.

“They’re The Beatles! John, Paul, Ringo and George?”

The boys gave her no reaction or realization to the names and she was extremely unimpressed with the two.

“They’re from England and they’ve been on the top of Billboard’s weekly for at least three weeks. Where have you two been? Living under a rock, or too busy with football?”

Bucky scoffed at Pepper’s jab but Steve elbowed him.

“Pepper, have you seen Peggy or Y/N? We can’t seem to find them.”

She pointed just across the opening surrounding the television and the boys instantly found the objects of their search. Peggy was giggling like the rest of the girls, complimenting whichever band member she’d already found a liking for. On the other hand, Y/N sat silently, awestruck with her head in her hands, not taking her eyes off the screen for a second.

“Sorry Barnes, but your girl’s got it bad…”

Pepper smirked as she followed Bucky’s line of sight to his steady, totally transfixed by the Brits.

Bucky scoffed, but knew deep down that Pepper was right. He’d only seen Y/N’s eyes that bright once before when her ACT score came back as a perfect 36. He’d helped her study for the entire previous month and she gave him one of the greatest kisses of his life when she got the news about her score.

Steve and Bucky thanked Pepper and parted towards the girls. They struggled but eventually got the Peggy and Y/N back to their lunch table. When everyone was finally settled and their normal lunch routine began, Steve and Bucky shared a look only they two understood.

We’re screwed.

It started with buttons. Magnetic buttons of Paul McCartney hanging in Y/N’s locker, buttons of McCartney littering her book bag and eventually on her denim jacket. The same denim jacket that housed Bucky’s new pin he’d gifted her after she’d lost his last one down the drain. Bucky hadn’t really been bothered by Y/N’s new “hobby”. Sure, he was a little jealous some dofus with a name like Paul was special enough to catch this much attention from his girl, but he still was her number one. He just didn’t really understand it.

“Nice shirts, ladies.”

Steve had meant for the comment to be snarky but Peggy and Y/N didn’t seem to catch his drift. The girls were wearing almost identical shirts of what had become to be known as the Fab Four, running down what looked like the streets of London. Other than the corresponding kiss stain over John Lennon for Peggy and Paul McCartney for Y/N, their shirts would have looked exactly the same. Bucky rolled his eyes.

“Thanks, Steve! I’m really glad you said that, you’ve reminded me of a special announcement Y/N and I have to share. We’ve got to dress the part as…” Peggy trails off as she turns to Y/N giddily, the latter sharing the same if not more giddiness from the news as Peggy.

“Vice President and President of our school's chapter of the International Beatles Fan Club!” Y/N announced giggling and triumphantly as she slung her shoulder over Peggy’s.

Steve and Bucky both gave each other a look before turning back to their girls.

“I’m President and Y/N’s my Vice because of her duties with the Academic Decathlon.” Peggy filled the boy’s silence with pride.

“I really wanted to head the group, but I didn’t think I could handle it. I know Paul would understand, though…” Y/N and Peggy both laughed as she looked down at her shirt as if talking to the man on her clothing.

“Doll… really? You’re talkin’ to him like that in front of me?” Bucky was joking but it wasn’t hard to see there was something deeper running through Bucky at the moment.

“Oh come on, Buck. I’d never have a chance with him. Let me have my fun.” Y/N stuck her tongue out at him but he quickly chimed back in.

“Oh no… If he got one look at you, he’d try to steal you away from me.” Bucky reached across the table and grabbed for one of Y/N’s hands, taking it in his own and bringing it to his lips for a kiss.

Y/N’s cheeks blushed and Peggy awed over Steve’s fake gag.

“I guess it’s just that I don’t get it. You’d always made fun of all the girls who’d gone googly-eyed at Elvis or any of those goofy crooners. What makes these dorks different?” Bucky asked Y/N sincerely.

Y/N wasn’t quite sure how to answer. She took a while before replying to her boyfriend.

“I don’t quite know. Things are just different, I guess!”

Y/N shrugged and threw her hands up without a care in the world. The bell signifying the end of lunch rang throughout the cafeteria and the girls parted from Steve and Bucky towards their next class.

Even as she was walking away, Bucky recognized a light shining through Y/N as she talked to Peggy. It was a light he hadn’t seen in what felt like months. He had caught glimpses of it before when she had reorganized her pins on her bag or straightened her coveted shirt.

Bucky scoffed and laughed to himself as things finally clicked.

Steve waited at the cafeteria door until Bucky arrived.

“What are you laughing about?”

“Nothin’.”

Never thought some British punks could bring my girl back.

“How could I dance with another

When I saw her standing there…”

Bucky snuck up behind Y/N, singing into her ear as she tended to her locker, wrapping his arms around her waist and swaying a bit.

“Bucky, come on. We’re at school.” Y/N tried to scold Bucky for his public display of affection, but the smile peeking through her attempt of scolding let Bucky know he was off the hook.

“Man… I’d really thought the song reference would’ve softened you up.”

Bucky kept her in his arms and slipped in a small peck to her cheek just to see the hue of pink he’d become infatuated with.

“Buck, I love the attention, I really do, but I have to go to the fan club meeting. It starts in five minutes.” She returns his previous affection with a kiss of his own on the cheek as she snuck her way out of his arms.

Bucky caught Y/N’s wrist before she completely slipped away.

“Before you go… I’ve got a surprise for you.”

Bucky handed her a white envelope and received a perplexed look in return.

“Buck, what’s this for? It’s not my birthday and our anniversary was just last month.”

Bucky smiled shyly, kicking at the ground.

“Just open the envelope, doll.”

As she opened it, she only got more confused.

“Two train tickets to New York City? I don’t understand...”

“I just got a call from my cousin Maurice, last night. Remember how he got a job on that Ed Sullivan show?”

Y/N didn’t quite get where Bucky was going, but she nodded her head.

“Yeah, it’s a sweet gig he swung. I still don’t understand…”

Bucky took a deep breath and prepared himself for Y/N’s reaction.

“Well, he called me late last night saying that Ol’ Eddie booked a band Tuesday night for the Friday show. He got me and you tickets!”

Y/N scrunched her nose, still not picking up the hints Bucky was dropping.

“A Friday night show in New York? I don’t know Buck, I usually study-”

“It’s a pretty cool band, doll.”

“But for a two-hour train ride? Who’s cool enough-”

“A band you really like, doll.”

“What band’s worth all that trouble?”

“Y/N, I got us tickets to the Beatles!”

Everything went quiet for Y/N as she stood stiffly in front of Bucky.

Bucky definitely wasn’t expecting this reaction. He waved his hand in front of her face a few times but got no reaction or change from her previous expression.

“Jesus, did I just break my girlfriend?”

Bucky laughed dryly, realizing the scene Y/N was causing with her statuesque posture in the middle of the busy school hallway. He apologized to a few passer-byers before turning back and taking Y/N by the shoulders.

“Doll, you’re going to get to see that punk Peter or Paul you like so much… just don’t leave him for me, okay?”

The mention of Paul brought Y/N out of her stupor and Bucky’s ending joke was drowned out by the deafening scream Y/N let out. All the students passing sent looks and annoyed glances.

“I’m going to see The Beatles?!”

She almost beat her previously volume and Bucky was quick to shush her.

“We are going to see the Beatles.”

Y/N jumped into his arms and he almost didn’t catch her in time. When he put her back down, Y/N was shining brighter than Bucky had truly ever seen before and it left him speechless.

The two had a habit of getting so caught up in each other that they’d be in their own universes. This was a prime example and neither Y/N or Bucky saw anything else but each other in the crowded passageway.

The bell rang for the hour and the couple was thrown back into the school hallway they were standing in. Y/N squeaked, realizing what the time was.

“I’m gonna be late for the meeting! Call me tonight, Buck!”

Bucky watched as Y/N ran down the crowded hallways skipping every so often. He laughed at her childish antics. A warmth suddenly spread throughout his chest at the sight. A feeling similar to leaving a cold movie theatre to a hot summer night or putting on a just dried sweater. He’d never let her know but that same red hue flooded his cheeks as he watched her run down the hallway, bumping into multiple strangers with her happy distractedness.

His girl was back, better than ever, and he had the Brits to thank.

“Buck, baby pinch me, please. I want to make sure again.”

Bucky rolled his eyes at Y/N and pinched her forearm again as they waited in the audience of the Ed Sullivan show.

“You’re not dreaming, doll…”

“I know Buck, I’m just- I’m freaking out!”

Bucky would be lying if he didn’t say he felt the same. It wasn’t the performance starting in a half hour that was raising his blood pressure, it was the inevitable craze that would rip through the heavy crowd he and Y/N were currently standing in. Bucky never really liked big groups of people, large quantities of crazed teenage girls even less.

He and Y/N had already made a plan if they lost each other during the show including a meetup place and a mini bottle of mace Y/N had refused to take from Bucky that he’d slipped into her purse during the train ride over. He wanted to know that his girl was safe if anyone tried to mess with her.

“I kind of am too, doll…” Bucky replied shakily to Y/N.

“Really? I can’t believe it! You’re finally a groupie like me?” The excitement of the show had clouded Y/N’s usual detection of any sarcasm or deeper meaning to Bucky’s reply. He couldn’t blame her but needed to get some fresh air before the true chaos ensued.

“Babe, I’m gonna smoke a quick one, kay?”

“Bucky… You’d said you quit-”

“I know, doll. I’m just stressed, is all. I can barely handle you when you go full-fledged ‘member of the Beatles Fan Club’, I’m not sure if I’m ready for a room full of gals just like that or even more so.”

Y/N realized the situation for Bucky and nodded her head.

“Just promise me you’ll be back before the show begins.”

��Of course, sweetheart.”

Bucky gave Y/N a quick kiss on the cheek before beelining to the side exit of the theatre. The cold air of the night was tangible relief for Bucky as he took a few deep breaths of the city air. The exit had led him to an empty alley cutting into a side street. Other than the few technicians still working on the lights and the stage for the performance, the alley was completely free of people.

Bucky pulled out his pack of cigarettes and lit one up, inhaling and exhaling the stress reliever.

God, he hated boy bands. He wasn’t a music snob, he actually liked a few Beatles records. It’s the craze they cause he disliked. Some of those girls won’t be in their right freaking minds when the band starts. He’s going be in the middle of all of it with Y/N. For Y/N.

A sudden door opening stopped Bucky’s inner rant as he watched four identically dressed men pile out into the alley from a separate door than he’d exited from before. One with far less traffic flow.

“Ah, George! Ya really done us in now!”

“Georgie forgot the cigarettes?”

Two of the men were clearly bullying one, who had his hands up in the air in protest.

“Oy, it’s not my fault. Paul there was too busy flirting with the birds to remind me!”

The shortest one who hadn’t spoken a word finally chimed in dopely.

“Boys, why ya fightin’? I brought mi’ lighter!”

“Ringo, what the hell ah we goin’ to light up if we don’t have any smokes. You bloke-”

Bucky stands a bit starstruck as he watches the men bicker. If it weren’t for the clear name dropping, he wouldn’t even have realized the group arguing so childishly in front of him were The Beatles.

“Hey… um I have a few extras.”

The group of four fall silent as they all turn in Bucky’s direction, not even noticing then man smoking there until now.

“You not goin’ to kidnap us if we smoke w’you?” Ringo, the shortest, said wearily.

“Ringo, don’t be so full of yourself. No one wants to kidnap ya!” John joked and Ringo sarcastically laughed along.

“Thanks, mate. We really appreciate it. It’s a big show we’re about to put on.” Paul is the first to approach Bucky and gladly takes one of his cigarettes from the pack. Ringo lights it and it isn’t too soon until all the men are smoking happily in the alleyway.

“I’m here for your concert actually,” Bucky confessed as he stomped out his cigarette.

Ringo visibly tensed and was berated once again by John, clearly reminding him that no one would ever want him enough to kidnap him.

“I’m here for my girl, she loves you guys a lot.” Bucky took his picture of Y/N out of his wallet and let the boys pass it around amongst themselves.

“Wow… she’s a looker. You’re real lucky, lad.” Paul patted Bucky on the back,

“Actually, Paul, you’re her favorite.”

“Really?”

“Don’t try anythin’ Paul. We met the man here in an alleyway. He could beat ya up quicker than any of the lads in Liverpool ever did.” George joked and Paul agreed.

The band stomped out their cigarettes and headed back inside seeing there was about fifteen minutes left until the show.

“Here, mate. For ya girl. You’ll be the best boyfriend in the country.”

Ringo handed Bucky his lighter as the band made their way back inside for their sound check. They left as soon as they came and Bucky was again alone in the alleyway.

Leaning back against the wall, Bucky pinched himself. That couldn’t have just happened. He couldn’t have just shared smokes with the band. The lighter in his hand was proof enough that the event had actually happened but he couldn’t wrap his head around it.

You’re no better than those groupies inside, idiot.

Bucky chided himself as opened the door back into the venue in a daze.

“I’m glad you made it back in time! You had me worried there for a second!”

Y/N laughed as Bucky silently approached her from his smoke break. Sensing something wasn’t quite right, she turned her full attention onto her boyfriend. His eyes were squinted, straight ahead and had a bit of blush to his cheeks.

“Buck… are you okay? You look a bit pale.”

He remained silent for a while longer, fiddling with something in his hands. Frustrated because she felt like he wasn’t paying attention to her, Y/n snatched out whatever was in Bucky’s hands. She inspected the silver lighter that he’d been holding, reading the engravement R.S. on the lid.

“Buck, answer me please-”

“I think I just met the Beatles.”

“WHAT!?!?”

Hope you enjoyed! Sorry for any mistakes/things that don’t sound write. My writing may be a little rough around the edges. Requests are always open!

#bucky #Bucky Barnes #bucky fanfic #bucky barnes x reader #Steve Rogers #steve rogers fanfic #steve rogers fic #Avengers #avengers fic #avengers fanfic #avengers fanfiction #avengers au #BUCKY AU #steve and bucky #steve au #avengemebucky

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thenovelartist · 6 years

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Second Chances, Chapter 22

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Red was her color. He swore she stole the breath straight from his lungs every time she answered the door dressed in a red blouse or red skirt or red dress. This time was no exception in an adorable blouse and pencil skirt that was enhanced by a thick belt showing off her thin waist. There had to be at least three different reds in that little number plus the red ribbons falling from her half-updo.

“You are going to kill me,” he said, his voice a bit breathy.

She snorted. “Flatterer.”

“I’m dead serious,” he swore. “You look absolutely adorable, and I all I want to do tonight is show you off. Because there have to be very few men in the world who get to parade around with a woman as stunning you.”

Her cheeks turned yet another shade of red. But his were burning, too, so she wasn’t alone. “I’m serious,” he repeated.

She bit her red lip—honestly, how many shades of red could this woman be wearing yet still look completely put together—and looked up at him with brilliantly blue eyes shadowed by a thick curtain of long lashes. “Thank you,” she whispered. “That’s very sweet.”

He held his hand out for her to take, then led her down the stairs to his car.

“Where are we going tonight?” She asked. “You never told me.”

“A place I don’t go often, yet very much enjoy.”

She quirked a brow at him. “That doesn’t narrow it down.”

“Well, maybe I want it to be a surprise.”

Her smile grew and her eyes sparkled with playfulness. “All right.”

He started the car and braced for her new favorite habit: resting her hand on his knee. Tonight was no exception. Her hand found his knee within moments of him pulling out of the parking space.

When he got to a stoplight, he plucked her hand from his leg, holding in gently in his own. “You love distracting me, don’t you?”

She cocked her head in feigned innocence. “I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about.”

He smirked and shook his head at her. Her smile widened. He pressed a lingering kiss to her knuckles before placing her hand back in her own lap.

She hit him with a flirty smirk that would have knocked him off his feet had he been standing, and then she tapped his nose in a way that completely stopped his heart. “Green light.”

For what? He then turned to look at the light, only to see it shining bright green to go. He put his foot to the gas all while his cheeks were burning.

Her hand found his knee again and squeezed. He sighed. She chuckled.

No matter how much she tormented him, he loved that woman.

He parked the car in the street, then walked hand in hand with Marinette to the restaurant he had planned taking her to.

She gasped. “There’s, like, a month-long waitlist for this place.”

“I know,” he said. “I’ve had this planned for at least that long.”

Her blue eyes were wide as she stared at him.

He smiled, pulling her hand up to his lips. “Only the best for my lady.” He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.

She then gave him the softest look he could imagine. “Thank you. It’s… wow.”

“That’s what I say every time I see you.”

He could tell a blush was crawling across her cheeks, and he took pride knowing that he was the one to do that to her.

Dinner was delicious. They decided to share their two entrees between them, as was slowly becoming their custom. He decided her entrée was the better dish, but she liked his choice better.

“We’re a pair, aren’t we?” he joked.

But her smile was sweet. She reached across the table to place a hand over his. “Yeah. I like us.”

He grinned so wide his cheeks hurt.

He reluctantly took her home. He never liked parting with her, and he hoped that sometime in the near future, he wouldn’t have to.

They got to the door, and Marinette herself looked like she didn’t even want to touch it.

“Marinette,” he said quietly, drawing her attention.

She leaned closer. “Hmm?”

“You should know,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close, “that I love you.”

The words clearly caught her off guard, but he felt those words were long overdue.

Slowly, her surprise morphed to something softer, sweeter, happier. “I love you, too,” she whispered.

His grin was wide and so happy. He was so happy. He wasted no time laying a kiss on her lips.

She was quick to join him, reaching up to wrap her arms over his neck and grab his hair to pull him closer, closer, closer until she was practically flush against him and their lips were firmly locked.

Four, five, six kisses later, Adrien pulled away to press his forehead to hers. “I love you,” he repeated.

“I love you, too.”

He squeezed her tightly, a smile splitting his face in two. “I don’t want to let you go. Ever.”

“I know,” she agreed. “I don’t either.”

He gave her one last squeeze, then placed a firm kiss to her forehead before forcing himself to let her go.

She pouted as he backed away, yet she still pulled her keys from her purse to unlock the door. “Goodnight,” she said.

“Goodnight.”

“Text me.”

“I promise.”

She smiled, then walked inside, officially ending their time together.

Until tomorrow.

…

“What’s wrong?”

Marinette jumped from her skin. She whipped around to see Adrien directly behind her.

“You practically slammed that oven door,” he commented. “And have been storming around the kitchen since I got home. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she dismissed.

He scoffed. “Yeah, I believe that.”

“Really,” she countered. “Nothing. Just… nothing.”

Adrien boxed her in against the counter. “Marinette,” he said. “Please don’t lie to me.”

She shrugged. “Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”

“If it’s bothering you, of course I need to concern myself with it.”

The sincerity in his voice surprised her.

“What’s wrong?”

She sighed. She couldn’t counter him. “I’m just worried about crossing paths with Sabrina tonight. That’s all.”

“You don’t have to be here,” he said.

No, she didn’t. He’d told her many times throughout the week that she didn’t have to stay for dinner. That she could just take a portion of dinner for the night and be on her way before Sabrina came. Yet, it didn’t feel right to leave. “I’m staying,” she quietly said.

“Okay,” he said. “I would like if you did.”

“You always like when I do.”

“I do.”

How his forehead found way to hers, she didn’t know, nor did she know how her hands found themselves on his shoulders. Probably the same way his hands found their way to her hips.

“I should finish dinner,” she whispered.

“Okay,” he said. He leaned forward to place a peck on her lips. “Thank you, Marinette. I very much appreciate that you made dinner tonight and that I’m very proud of you for staying.”

She smiled.

He pulled away to let her finish dinner. She was far more relaxed, happily making her way around the kitchen to finish preparing dinner while simultaneously cleaning up, but a knock on the door sent Marinette on edge again.

No matter how hard she tried, she really didn’t feel prepared to see Sabrina again.

And when she turned around to greet her, she knew she wasn’t prepared, but it was too late to back out.

“Hi,” Sabrina said, her tone betraying just how uncomfortable she was, as well.

“Hi,” Marinette said, giving an awkward wave.

“I haven’t seen you since we graduated. How’ve you been? I mean, besides um…” she quickly grew abashed. “I heard of that… I’m sorry.”

“Thank you,” Marinette said. “I’m becoming okay again. You?”

“Good,” Sabrina said. “I’ve been good.”

And that’s about as far as they got.

Thankfully, Emma came scampering down the stairs. “Marinette, look—” She instantly froze in place upon seeing Sabrina.

“Emma,” Adrien said, kneeling down next to her. “This is Miss Sabrina. She knew you when you were really little.”

“Hi Emma,” Sabrina said, bending over. “It’s very nice to see you. You’ve grown up so much.”

Emma just waved, then scampered over to Marinette and hid in her skirt.

Marinette’s heart swelled. She placed a comforting hand on Emma’s head.

Dinner itself was a little awkward. Emma stayed close to Marinette while Adrien and Sabrina tried to keep conversation going. Marinette did her best to be mature and add to the conversation, but it wasn’t easy. Emma herself was very quiet, only speaking when spoken to. It was clear she was uncomfortable. She didn’t open up like she had when talking to Marinette’s parents for the first time, but at least, she was polite.

After dinner, Emma quickly retreated to her room.

“I’m going to check up on her,” Adrien said. “I’ll be right back.”

Leaving Sabrina and Marinette alone.

“I’m sorry.”

Sabrina’s words caught Marinette off guard. “Pardon.”

“Chloe and I were so horrible for you for no reason,” she said. “And I’m so sorry for being so mean to you.”

Marinette blinked, absorbing her words. “Thank you,” she said.

Sabrina gave her a small smile and nodded. “It’s long overdue.”

“I forgive you,” she said. “Nathaniel forgave you and Chloe a while ago. Without him, I don’t think I would have let it go as quickly as I did.”

“Thanks,” Sabrina said.

A small silence slipped between them, but it wasn’t as tense before.

“I’m glad you’re here for them,” Sabrina started. “For Adrien and Emma.”

“I’m happy to be here for them, too,” Marinette said.

“Adrien says you two are dating.”

Marinette paused, but she couldn’t disagree. “Yeah. We are.”

“He seems really happy about it.”

“I am, too,” Marinette said. “It’s… hard learning how to do this again, you know?”

“I’m sure,” she said.

“But it’s… it’s good.”

“Good,” Sabrina said. “Emma seems to really like you, too.”

Marinette’s heart warmed. “Yeah,” she said, almost dream-like. “She’s so precious. I was so hesitant to take on Chloe’s daughter, but… Emma is the best. I love her.”

Sabrina’s smile grew. “I’m sure Emma’s name isn’t lost on you.”

“It’s not,” Marinette said.

“Chloe was always jealous of you,” Sabrina said. “She always wondered how you could be so happy and wanted whatever you had that made you that way. I’m not saying that’s an excuse to why she treated you the way she did, but I’m saying that’s why.”

Marinette paused upon realizing her words. “What?”

Sabrina nodded. “Yeah. So when she overheard you telling someone one day what you wanted the names of your kids to be, she couldn’t help stealing one.”

Marinette completely froze as her mind slowly processed her words.

“Sorry,” Adrien said, reappearing in the kitchen. “Emma kinda hid herself away in her room.”

“That’s fine,” Sabrina said. “I understand. It was just so nice to see her again. She’s so much like Chloe, but I can see you in her, too.”

Adrien grinned, but Marinette saw how pained it was. “There are days I see nothing but Chloe in her and it kinda blows my mind.”

Sabrina nodded. “I think it’s time I took my leave,” she said. “Thank you so much for having me over. And thank you for dinner Marinette. It was delicious.”

“Thank you,” Marinette said. “It was nice to see you. And I’m not just saying that.”

Sabrina’s eyes brightened. “It was nice getting to see you, too.”

Adrien saw Sabrina out the door while Marinette began cleaning up. She had removed all the dishes from the table by the time Adrien returned. “That went very well,” he said.

“It did,” Marinette agreed. “Surprisingly.”

She could feel the smile Adrien was shooting her, and she pointedly avoided eye contact.

“I see what you’re doing,” he commented.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She peeked at him out of the corner of her eye, and she saw just how big his smile was.

And that’s when he shifted, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind and pressing his face into the side of her head. She giggled.

“I’ve got the dishes,” he said, pulling her away from the sink.

“Adrien,” she warned, though her smile was growing.

“Hmm?” he hummed innocently.

“Let me wash my hands at least.”

He froze, then released her. He didn’t hover far, though, ready to grab her and pull her away again.

“I have to do those at sometime, though.”

“They can wait until morning.”

She sighed.

And that’s when Emma came patting back down into the kitchen. They stole a quick glance at each other before turning down to Emma. “It’s almost bedtime,” Marinette said, kneeling down before her. “Meaning you are going to need a bath.”

“Do you want me or Marinette to help you?” Adrien asked.

Emma looked back and forth between Marinette and Adrien, her smile pressed into the back of Plagg’s head. “Marinette.”

“Okay,” Adrien said with a grin. “Marinette will give you a bath and then we can read a story afterwards.”

“Okay.” With that, she scampered up the stairs.

Adrien playfully tapped her hip. “Go on. I’ve got the dishes.”

She gave him a smile. “Fine. You win.”

He gave her a proud, winner’s grin that made her laugh.

After the bath, Emma settled on her daddy’s lap in the middle of her bed. But that was only after Marinette joined them.

Adrien read one chapter then Marinette read another. After that, the book was closed, much to Emma’s disappointment. Still, she crawled under the covers as Adrien placed Plagg and Tikki around her. “Goodnight, Emma,” he said, giving her a hug.

“Goodnight, Daddy.”

Then it was Marinette’s turn to collect her hug.

“Goodnight, Mommy.”

Marinette froze again. She struggled to find words. “Why do you think I’m mommy?”

“Because you’re just like mama bear in the book,” she said. “Daddy’s papa bear, and you’re mama bear, just like I’m little bear.”

Her heart felt like it was being yanked around inside her chest, and her smile was warbly. “I can’t be your mommy, Emma,” she started.

Emma’s excitement immediately disappeared.

“Because,” Adrien jumped in. “Mama bear is married to papa bear, but Marinette and I aren’t married, so she can’t be your mommy.”

“Why not?” she whined. “I want a mommy.”

Marinette’s heart was breaking into little, tiny shards at this point. “I’m sorry, Emma. I’m not your mommy.”

With a cry, Emma flopped down on the bed and buried her face into Plagg’s head. Adrien shushed her, and Marinette tucked her in.

“Mommy,” Emma cried.

If Marinette’s heart wasn’t shattered beyond repair beforehand, it was now. “Good night, sweetheart.”

“Mommy,” Emma whined one last time as Marinette forced herself out the door. She shut it, only to hear a new round of tears start up. Adrien was leaning against the wall, his eyes shut and head back. Marinette just stood guilty. Emma didn’t understand. She couldn’t. Yet Marinette felt like one of the mort horrible people to walk the face of the earth for doing this to her.

“I think,” Adrien said, finally turning his head to look at her. “We need to talk.”

Marinette simply nodded her agreement. She followed Adrien down to the living room. She took a seat on the couch, him following suit. They need to have a heart-to-heart, only neither knew what to say.

“I didn’t want to have to make this decision right now,” Adrien finally said, “for your sake. But I know Emma, and she’s not going to stop calling you mom so easily. And I… I’m sorry, but I can’t let her believe you’re mom if…”

“I know,” Marinette assured. He didn’t need to finish. “She’s not even five, yet. She doesn’t understand. Nor will she understand if I become her mom figure and then…” She couldn’t say it. She couldn’t finish that sentence.

But Adrien nodded in understanding. He reached out and grabbed her hand. “So here are my cards on the table,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze and looking her straight into the eye. “I’m not dating you just for the sake of dating. I’m absolutely pursuing you with the intent of marrying you.”

Somehow, those words sent her heart thundering in her ears. She swallowed hard as her vision grew blurry. Wedding. Marriage. A life with him.

A new last name.

Her chest felt tighter by the moment, and she couldn’t tell if it was fear or excitement or some other emotion or some insane mix of all the above. She just didn’t know.

“I know what we have is… well, not quite new,” he said. “But it is fragile, and I know we are taking it slow because you’re still in the healing process, and I fully respect that. But…” Adrien sighed. “I don’t know how to approach this.”

“I know what you’re saying,” she said, her voice weak and whispery. “I understand and agree and…” she swallowed. “I know that Emma comes first,” she said. “I know that Emma doesn’t understand. But I know… I know I either need to be mom or I need to walk out of her life right now. I won’t get that girl’s hopes up, only to crush them in the end.”

They sat in a long silence, the reality of it very heavy. Marinette felt as though the world was on her shoulders because this wasn’t only just deciding if she wanted to be a mommy to Emma. This was them deciding where their relationship was going to go. Marinette felt like it was still too early to call it, but sadly, this was the definitive line. And it was all on her shoulders. Adrien had made his intentions perfectly clear. Now, it was her turn.

“You at least have the weekend,” Adrien said, his voice quiet. “Think it over.”

“I’ll try not to keep you waiting,” she said.

“I appreciate it.”

…

Sleep didn’t help. In all honestly, she felt like she’d been hit with a sack of bricks when she woke. The world was on her shoulders, and she’d cried herself dry last night.

She forced herself up and barely made it to her desk.

Where Nathaniel’s ring lay.

The sight was nearly enough to make her break into tears again.

She’d spent a good portion of the night awake. Wide awake, her body jacked on adrenaline and anxiety and excitement and who knows what else. One moment, she felt like she could move forward, the next she was reminded that moving forward meant Adrien would be her second husband, which felt like replacing her first husband, and she really hated how cheap it made the term ‘husband’ sound when Nathaniel had been so much more than something she was just shopping for or trying to replace and—

She reached for a tissue and immediately broke into tears.

She didn’t know what to do. There was a little girl who loved her enough to call her mommy and a man who treated her like a queen and she was held back by a man who had adored her but was no longer in her life.

The grief books didn’t offer any help to what one was supposed to do in this situation.

She didn’t make it downstairs until well into the morning.

“I was wondering when you’d be up,” her mother said. “It isn’t like you to slee—what’s wrong?”

Marinette plopped down at the table, a pitiful smile flashing across her face. Nothing escaped her mother’s notice. “Emma called me mommy last night,” she whispered weakly.

Her maman paused, then slowly came over to take a seat at the table. “And?”

Marinette bit her lip.

Maman place a hand over her daughter’s arm in comfort.

“I can’t be her mommy,” Marinette began, her voice warbling with tears, “unless I marry her daddy. And… I’m not…”

Before she could burst into tears, Sabine stood to wrap her daughter in a hug. “Oh, sweetheart.”

“I just… I don’t know,” she cried. “I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.”

The tears now flowed freely. Sabine didn’t let Marinette go until the tears finally began to slow.

Eventually, Marinette calmed enough for Sabine to let go. “I only have the weekend,” she said, wiping tears from her eyes with the heels of her hands. “I have to decide because I’m not going to go back if I’m not going to be Emma’s mommy because I just can’t do that to her.”

“Marinette,” her mother warned. “It’s too late. You are Emma’s mommy in her eyes. You leaving is still going to hurt her. It just won’t allow her to grow any more attached.”

Marinette felt absolutely sick to her stomach. “I… I never thought…”

“You’d become her mommy?”

“Yeah.”

Sabine patted her arm. “I knew you’d become close to her,” Sabine said. “When you started this job, I knew you’d be a fantastic nanny. But as time went on, I noticed how attached you got to her, and from your stories, I could tell she was getting attached to you, too. And then you finally brought her over for the Christmas party, and I saw the way she interacted with you. She looked up to you like you were her mom already.”

“I love her,” Marinette admitted. “She’s… she’s so precious and I love watching her learn and grow and going on adventures together—”

“You love being her mother.”

Her words gave Marinette pause, but she couldn’t deny them. “Exactly.”

Her mother gave her a knowing smile. “Then that’s not really what this is about, is it?” her mother pressed. “This is about your relationship with Adrien.”

Marinette bit her lip. “He said he wants to marry me,” she told her. “And somewhere in my mind, I knew that.”

“But Nathaniel,” her maman finished.

Marinette nodded.

“Marinette,” she began. “You know that you two don’t have to get married right away like you and Nathaniel did. For now, you are slowly taking in the fact you are in a relationship, and you’re letting that relationship bloom. And that’s okay. The question shouldn’t be ‘are you ready to marry him’ but instead ‘can you see yourself marrying him’? Can you see a life and a future ahead? That’s the question you should ask yourself and answer.” With that, Maman stood and pressed a kiss to the top of Marinette’s head. “And when you answer that, then you’ll know what to do.”

Her maman was halfway out of the apartment when Marinette spoke up. “But what if Adrien and I don’t work? What if we break up down the line.”

Sabine turned to give Marinette a doubtful look. “I seem to remember a young bride on her wedding day who was breathing into a paper bag, terrified that she was too young to be married and wondered if her marriage would last.”

Marinette blushed bright red.

“You know what makes me so certain you two aren’t going to break up?”

Marinette shook her head.

“The fact that you already are a family.” With that, Sabine walked out the door.

Leaving Marinette to think heavily about her words.

#second chances #miraculous ladybug #fanfiction #dadrien #dadrien au #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #emma agreste #sabrina raincomprix #fluffy #Of straight out fluff and cuteness #and then I will break your hearts #sorry not sorry

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