#my heart aches from all the violence and sadness I have seen
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📸: voguearabia
“These are but a handful of the doctors, journalists, and photographers who are risking their lives day and night to bury the dead, heal the wounded, and show the world the horrors raining down on Gaza.”
From top to bottom:
Plestia Alaqad, Journalist
Motaz Azaiza, Photographer
Youmna El-Qunsol, Journalist
Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah, Surgeon
Dr. Mohammed Al Ghoula, Doctor
#I know that this is a stray from my usual content but I can not stay silent while the Palestinian people in Gaza are being murderered#my heart aches from all the violence and sadness I have seen#the world has continuously failed them with their silence but today i refuse to allow my own silence to be complicit in their genocide#free palestine#free gaza#gaza#palestine#gazaunderattack#save gaza#vogue#vogue arabia#pinkresurrection
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forever yours
pairing: haechan x (f) reader
genre/warnings: smut (lots of it), horror, graphic depictions of violence, mentions of blood, major character death, mentions of suicide, oral (m/f receiving), unprotected sex (don’t be silly, wrap your willy!), exhibitionism
summary: Thirst for exhilaration and a stupid dare brings you, your boyfriend Haechan, and your friends to the eerie camping grounds of Chimera - the name of a town rumored to be occupied by a number of vengeful, lurking spirits. But nothing is as it seems in this ghost town.
word count: 23k (see what had happened was…)
a/n: Halloween is gone but I just could not pass the opportunity to finally write a Haechan horror fic. as always, feedback is appreciated!
There was blood in your mouth.
A tart, pungent taste followed. Your tongue ached, crying with agony.
You pivoted around and groaned, “What the hell?”
As it turned out, the culprit was no other than Winter. And you were less than pleased to be met with the sight of your own best friend giggling in your face.
“You should have seen your face,” Winter teased, laughing to the point of tears.
You only rolled your eyes. Curse her and her stupid shenanigans. October was official and Halloween was fresh in the air and given so, she would be a constant of mischief.
Fortunately for Winter, she was your best friend. If not, you would not have hesitated to give her a very large piece of your mind.
You whined, “You made me bite my tongue.”
Your boyfriend, Haechan, snapped out of his fury-induced trance long enough to pull you close and ask wrathfully, “You’re hurt?”
“Just a little,” you admitted with a grimace. Now, it hurt to speak. You swayed on the heels of your feet to press a placating kiss to the corner of his lips and say, “Don’t worry, baby. I’m okay.”
Apologetic, Winter frowned and told you, “I’m sorry, bestie. I’m sure Haechan will kiss it better. Seeing as you were a total of two seconds from swallowing each other’s tongues and all.”
Like she was a fly, you swatted her away and sent her off snickering incessantly. Your boyfriend was most likely turned off by now, all things considered. You were about to kiss before Winter screeched, “Bug!” and effectively gave you the scare of your life.
You were in the middle of nowhere, after all. Chimera was a ghost town with a very tiny population and even fewer tourist attractions because anyone who valued their life would not dare explore the haunted hell town.
Not to mention you were in the woods. You were on creepy-crawly territory. A stupid, childish dare brought you to the wicked. Last weekend, Jaehyun instigated a game of truth or dare for old times sake, and dared you all to stay a weekend at the haunted camping site. So the story goes. Neither of you were adamant believers in ghoul tales.
At one point in his tetchiness, Haechan’s expression began to teeter between devilish and sinister, and a very gray area existed there. His dark eyes glared into the distance, although your best friend had already sauntered off in hounding of her next victim.
Very rarely did your boyfriend wind up on the suffering end of vexation, but having his time with you interrupted would never not do the trick.
Every time without fail.
Nevertheless, you couldn’t blame him, but it made your heart swell with sadness. Alas, jam-packed work schedules and even less time for yourselves, your time together nowadays was limited. You came home to each other every night, but grueling days of work meant you were often sound asleep by the time he arrived.
Sometimes, you would bring work home with you and stay up late, but Haechan would be snoring by the time you finally finished up and crawled under the sheets of your shared bed.
This put a bit of strain on not only your relationship, but your friendships. Which was part of the reason you agreed to the stupid dare in the first place.
Obviously, it still wasn’t just the two of you, but you’d make it work. You had to. Alongside your best friend, her boyfriend, Jaehyun, was here. Like hell he would send the love of his life into haunted woods without him there to protect her. As well as Ten and Yuta.
Your boyfriend was still displeased. A part of you was comforted by his protectiveness over you. Still, you wanted to soothe him before all hell broke loose. Bracing a hand on your boyfriend’s chest, you consoled, “Baby, I’m fine. I swear.”
Your lover was aflame, though the sweet sound of your voice made him soften. Only a little. He made sure you were flush against his body. “Promise?”
“I promise,” you replied, grinning from ear to ear. And sending his heart gravitating towards the moon. Then, you purred, “How about we go let off some of that steam in the cabin?”
Haechan smirked and you knew that you had your boyfriend back. “I like the way that sexy brain of yours thinks.”
Giggling, the two of you raced to the cabin.
Your new home for the weekend was a tiny wooden cabin that was surprisingly very warm and comfy. There were three in total, each surrounding a campfire area. A lake was not too far off and cleared for safe swimming. And there were a couple of trails nearby.
For an avowedly haunted campground, it was beautiful as far as you’d seen. There were vibrant wildflowers scattered everywhere and the water was crystal-fucking-clear. The sound of nature - leaves rustling in the wind and squirrels clambering up tree branches - was pleasantly therapeutic.
Now, you were thinking about morning sex with Haechan, moans masking the sounds of birds chirping.
The sight of you rushing to your cabin, nearly tripping over twigs in the process, was nothing short of comical. Though you found slight humor in your desperation, there was a rationale behind your every move. Above all, you couldn’t remember the last time you and your boyfriend had sex, and you were in need of a refresher.
The kind of refresher only good dick and loving could give you.
Haechan very nearly kicked in the door. You let out a cry of surprise when he jerked it back in place with his toe and flung you against the surface, kissing you none too gently.
You lingered there for a long while, making out in a hot, messy battle to conquer. Your chest heaved breathlessly, moans dangling from your lips in departure as you sucked each other’s tongues with pleasure. For a second, you pulled back, bringing your lips to that sweet spot on your boyfriend’s empty neck. For now.
When he made a sharp noise and swiftly lowered you to the bed, you knew you were in for one hell of a fucking.
It went without saying that this was going to be a far cry from a typical round of love-making. Your boyfriend was going to fuck you until every inch of the forest knew his name.
At the sight of you fumbling with his pants, Haechan chuckled and gathered your hands in his, teasing, “Slow down, baby girl.”
“Fuck me,” you heaved, as if the air had suddenly gotten thicker. Your eyes begged for him to give what you desperately craved on behalf of your body. “Hyuck, please.”
Your boyfriend gave a shake of his head, donning the most taunting smile. “Not yet,” he said, chuckling. It was nothing short of delightful to hear you beg for him, but he needed to savor you. It had been too long. “Not before I get a taste.”
Not a second later, your core throbbed, obviously excited about something now. Haechan was quick on his feet and between your thighs in the time that it took you to blink. Your panties disappeared with a yank, quickly tossed into oblivion. Your body shivered in anticipation, knowing what was to come. Haechan ate you out better than anyone to date.
You got comfortable, laying sprawled and vulnerable. Your boyfriend was in a temporary trance, eyeing your glistening cunt with sheer admiration. You could feel the heat of his breath there, making you tingle with want all over.
Haechan could feel himself twitching in his pants. Fuck, you were already so damn wet. Though that was nothing new. There was something about making out with your boyfriend that could arouse you like nothing else.
Before he caved, Haechan made sure to tease, “Be careful not to scream. Your tongue will hate me.”
That made you roll your eyes, identifying your boyfriend as his usual cocky self. Though for good reason. No man had ever made you scream much like him. “Try not to make me scream. Everyone will hate us,” you quipped.
“No can do, baby. I’m a natural.”
With a shake of your head, you shook with laughter. Granted, there was a good amount of feet between each cabin, but when at your boyfriend’s mercy, you were loud enough to wake the worlds below and above.
Ever the tease, Haechan lifted his lips and kissed his way from your belly down to the vertex of your plush thighs. You made a noise, noticing he’d skipped between. He nibbled at the edges, rendering you impatient and weaker. You could only writhe and whimper, aware that you were being tested. Or toyed with, for that matter.
Then, your lover went to town, having his fill of riling you up. You shuddered, eyes closing the very second his tongue muscled in your slick folds. Every muscle in your body was taut with tension. A kind of tension only concocted over time by a lack thereof to be broken loose.
There was a catch in your breath when Haechan lapped at you without holding back. He was a creature of desire, fingernails clamped harshly into your unfurled thighs. You were already moaning, already crying his name. There was no limit on him, none on pleasure when with him. You could already sense the tension dwindling in place of a different kind; the ecstatic variety.
Though you had been inclined to watch the view, your head angled back in a soft sigh, flush against the pillows. It was a talent how effortlessly Haechan could dismantle you. More or less. The language of your body was indefinitely etched into his memory.
“God. Oh my fucking…,” you gasped, sentence interrupted by an ensuing moan. This was only the beginning and yet already you were undone.
Haechan tasted your arousal on the very tip of his tongue and let out an unrestrained, beast-like growl of pleasure. In your mind, it almost seemed fitting. He lapped at you like a ravenous creature. But in his mind, you were the one to blame. You always had to taste so damn sweet.
You fisted locks of his hair in your fingers, back arching when he targeted your sensitive bundle of nerves. Your body was aflame, and you could feel the blood pumping through your veins hotly. “Don’t stop. Baby, please don’t stop,” you choked, promptly reduced to whimpers of pleasure. And cries of your lover’s name.
A vortex of pleasure consumed you, tossing you unceremoniously around the eye. Your thighs and toes tingled, a sign that your entire body was very much awake and alert. It came to life at Haechan’s touch, turned on at the way his tongue pivoted on your clit and penetrated your tight hole. There were sparks broiling under your skin, ignited everywhere.
Haechan slid two fingers inside your pulsing cunt and your eyes promptly rolled to the back of your skull.
For whatever reason, he was grinning from ear to ear. This was far from his first rodeo, and after years of this relationship, he had the once-mystery of your mind and body completely unraveled. No matter how much you tried to writhe away, overstimulated by the pleasure, there was no such thing as escape.
He liked watching you squirm as if you had anywhere to flee, bracing his palms on your naked thighs. He liked watching you involuntarily arch your back and rock your hips into his mouth with greed, your systems entering shutdown. Even more, he liked that he made so much of a mess of you that you could hardly seem to tell what you wanted anymore, but the arousal dripping from your cunt was a telltale sign of desire.
Just like magic, weeks of stress were long-forgotten. Haechan singlehandedly set you at ease and riled you up all the while. Tears of pleasure welled in your eyes and you clamped tightly around his fingers.
You never knew pleasure of this capacity existed before your boyfriend. He brought you to a different sphere and back, took you higher than you’d ever been. Darn the world. Your boyfriend showed you the universe and made you see every star visible to your eyes. No one had ever made you feel like this.
Which was not unbeknown to Haechan. When you began to explore your sexuality together, you detailed your past sexcapades very thoroughly to him. None as sensational as those with your boyfriend. As it turned out, they all lacked one thing in common; a partner with as much devotion to your satisfaction as your own.
They treated pleasuring you like it was menial drudgery. Not Haechan. Even now, he was ignoring the way his cock twitched between his thighs, aching to be freed. Your pleasure was paramount and he would not rest until he made you come.
He wanted to be the only one you needed and proved to you every single day that you were destined to be together. And you were content with that. You wondered how on earth you’d finally been lucky enough to find a guy that loved you as much as he loved himself. There was no one else for you, you knew that in your bones. Everything felt meant to be with him.
Unshakable and intangible. You wouldn’t have it any other way. This was a boy you would die and give your soul for.
And also wanted to suck the soul out of.
“Haechan, please. Fuck. Please,” you whimpered meekly, without a shred of idea of what you were even begging for.
Though Haechan knew. You were simply so predictable to him by now. He learned to recognize when you were near, all of the glaringly obvious signs, given that you were not subtle in the slightest. With you grinding into his mouth, it was no secret you were on the verge of a sweet release.
Haechan let his fingers pull the weight and clamped his teeth into the core of your thighs, then growled, “Come on, my pretty girl. Let go for me.”
Your dear boyfriend became ruthless at light speed, devouring you whole with his tongue like he wanted to leave not even a crumb of you to remain. His fingers were double kill, strumming you to ecstasy.
Your body submitted to his commands, because of course it did. Haechan dominated you. Even if you wanted to disobey him, it was your body’s natural choice to comply. Every inch of you was owned by your lover and he had no intention of giving it back. Not that you wanted it. You took delight in handing him the reins.
You were unstill, shaken with orgasm. There was a sharp tingle, swelling up your spine and closing in all over. It was too much. Your pussy throbbed, kneading his fingers hotly and you gave one final cry of his name before your body caved in to destruction, instantly going limp.
Though you were overwhelmed, you should have known Haechan was far from finished. Never one to stop at a single orgasm, your boyfriend ate you out until you physically could not take it anymore, making you shudder with unalloyed pleasure over and over and over again.
And given how long it had been since your boyfriend’s head had been between your thighs, you weren’t necessarily complaining.
Your chest was heaving and you were clinging to whatever remained of your breath for dear life when he eased up. Your most intense orgasms were always due to a combination of your boyfriend’s relentlessness and your extreme pent-up stress or sexual frustration.
“You screamed a lot,” Haechan said, sucking your arousal off his fingers and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
You fought a tiny smirk. You always loved the way he looked with your arousal coating his plush, pink lips. Instead, you rolled your eyes and retorted through ragged breath, “Fuck you.”
Haechan casted a smug grin and didn’t hesitate to scoff, “I’m sure you want to.”
Damn it. Now you were absorbed in the thought of him fucking you within an inch of your life. “Please… I can’t wait anymore,” you begged, core still aching no matter how many times he pleasured you. He made you insatiable.
“I could never tell my pretty girl ‘no,’” Haechan crooned, inching in on you to scoop you in his sun-kissed arms. You giggled when he surprised you with a kiss. “I’ll take care of you.”
As always.
True to his word, your wonderful boyfriend began to shred himself of his clothes. With your voluntary assistance, of course. You gaped open-mouthed at the sight of his thick cock standing at attention against his stomach, lost for words and short of breath.
Never passing up the opportunity to tease you, Haechan chaffed, “Baby, close your mouth. You’ll catch flies.”
Heat wafted over you. Your voice was small, “Haechan…,”
“Shh. I know, baby. I know,” he whispered.
Your lover kneeled between your thighs and you spread them for him instantly. Haechan smirked at how pliant you were. He never needed to ask, because it was simply second nature for your body to bend to his every will.
He tapped his cock against your folds, asking, “How rough do you want it?”
“Break me,” you rasped without a second thought.
Haechan grinned, full of mischief.
He pushed in nice and slow, never wanting to hurt you. He lowered his head and met his lips to yours, kissing you as if it would distract you from the feeling of being slowly but surely stretched open. “Open up for me,” he hissed, pulse pumping at how tightly you gripped his cock, on the border of something vice-like.
“You’re so… so big,” you choked out, anchoring yourself in the sheets with your nails.
“Mm. Yeah?” Haechan asked, the slyest of smiles on his lips. “But you can take it. Isn’t that right, baby?”
You bobbed your head and your mouth parted, passing a soft moan.
Haechan thought you wrapped around his bare cock too good, too withering and tight. He was sure pleasure of this magnitude only lived between you and him, irreplicable. Even so quickly you were making short work of him, leaving him with shackled self-restraint and half a mind to destroy what was left of you.
You forwent the condoms roughly half a year into the relationship. Which was two and a half years ago. Though you took birth control pills and had no intention of becoming pregnant any time soon, if you were to have anyone’s baby, you knew it would only be your boyfriend’s. Thoughts of carrying his baby and raising a child together in your home plagued your mind, and you smiled from ear to ear.
Your boyfriend glanced at you through his lashes and an invisible string tugged his heart at the sight of you. “What’re you smiling about?”
“You,” you said with hesitation. “I love you. And I want to love you forever.”
“Funny thing to say to the guy that’s about to wreck you.”
You rolled your eyes. It would kill him to be serious even for a second. You added, “He’s also the love of my life.”
Haechan softened. Only a little. “I love you, too,” he whispered, touch betraying his affectionate words as his fingers found purchase at the flesh of your hips.
A grimace painted your face as Haechan sank his nails deeper and deeper.
From that point on, Haechan fucked you as if he loathed all there was about you, save for your body. He kept a brutal pace, seemingly fucking you fuller and fuller of his cock with every passing push. Over your soft moans, you could hear his hips meeting yours with a loud, resounding thwack, and your cunt gushing hotly.
Upon his death-grip, your lover’s name dangled from your tongue in dangerously sharp cries, sweet as honey and thick as tar. Your fingers scouted his biceps, desperate for some kind of anchorage. Haechan let out a dangerously low growl and you immediately tightened. For as long as you’d known him, your boyfriend had always been somewhere in the gray area between sadism and masochism.
When asked about it, he told you, “There’s no such thing as pleasure without pain, baby. A very thin line separates the two.”
As twisted as it sounded, you agreed.
The bed and your bodies performed in league to fill the void in the cabin, the former creaking with every reverberating slap of the latter meeting together.
You were unapologetically vocal, but Haechan too sang his praises when balls deep inside you. At first, you were pleasantly surprised by his unabashed responses. Most of the guys you’d been with prior would stifle anything above a throaty groan. But when your body talked to him, he spoke back even louder.
Your boyfriend never hid his affection for you. You were the reason he breathed everyday and he would let his body tell you as much.
Haechan clamped his tanned arm around your throat and you whimpered. The chokehold was tight just enough to not harm you, but still have you begging for breath. He gave you nowhere else to look but his dark eyes, gleaming darkly with lust and lust only.
He was all you could see. More specifically his eyes. Yours were locked there, unable to glance away. The only time they were out of sight was whenever your vision was peeling off at the edges by inevitable darkness.
Haechan cocked his head a little, observing his creation. You were coming apart at the seams, eyes widened and lips parted, trying to take in oxygen. “Hard enough for you, baby?”
“Harder,” you managed to croak.
Your boyfriend shook his head and laughed. Though nothing surprised him anymore. You took whatever he gave you with an insatiable kind of greed, as if there was no such thing as enough where he was involved.
Even when sated, you only kept coming back for more.
His pace was hard and unabating. A sharp cry split your lips when he bit your neck, nibbling at the flesh as he roughly fucked you into the mattress. You were unstill, a depthless well of ecstasy. Pleasure knew no boundaries. It was too greedy. It took, consumed, and it dominated.
Haechan was right. There was a thin line between pain and pleasure and you were somewhere in the middle, teetering in between.
The entire room was scorching. You soaked in the sight of sweat beading at your boyfriend’s forehead and gushed hotly around his cock, limbs locked together like a cluster of vines, hot skin on even hotter skin. Haechan’s grip on your throat slackened to hear you moan clearer when his tongue laced into you instead.
You sweltered. And were positive that you would die. What a marvelous way to die, you thought humorously. With the love of your life by your side. You would have it no other way.
Your back arched and you rocked your hips into his, desperate for more heat and friction. Only he could give it to you.
That was how Haechan could tell you were close and he brought his fingers to your wet sex, strumming your swollen bundle of nerves. He was almost there and he wanted you to finish together. You cried out his name, clasping his biceps.
“Cum. You know you want to,” Haechan hummed tauntingly.
Your legs wrapped around his hips to draw him deeper inside. There was something about being at the brink of climax that rendered your entire body weak. Every piece of you was tempted into doing whatever he desired; whatever his heart desired. You wanted to please him. More than anything, you wanted to make him proud.
Haechan clamped his hands around your throat anew and that was all it took to finish you. Your mouth opened, crying his name as you finally crossed the threshold of orgasm. The tingles returned, prickling with the warm, pumping blood through your limbs.
You gripped his cock and he came in turn, filling you to the brim with warmth with a sweet, high-pitched moan of your name.
Haechan glanced over at you. He never got enough of the look on your pretty face when you shuddered, still throbbing and milking his cock dry until he eventually stilled inside you. You heaved for breath and his eyes soaked in your whole body, barely fighting a smile as he noticed all of the bruises and marks leftover.
He never wanted to hurt you, but subconsciously, there was a part of him that found twisted pleasure. It meant you were his. He owned you, but you owned him. Every inch.
For a while, you both only laid there, smiling and laughing at each other. Then, Haechan swooped you into his arms and muttered into the crook of your neck, “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
You beamed. “I love you.”
“I love you more,” Haechan replied, pressing the lightest of kisses to your lips.
“No, I love you more.”
Haechan whined, “Jesus, woman. I love you more, and that’s final.”
The two of you continued to bicker as if you were teenagers in love for the very first time. It reminded you of the early stages of your relationship, stealing and prolonging time before the other had to leave by initiating an “I love you” battle.
As the years passed, you learned to savor every moment you had together. Time became scarcer by the day. It was not to be had when you were two adults with heavy workloads.
Your boss made it his mission to call you into work even on weekends. Before he died, at least. That was a couple of weeks ago and needless to say, you were not very disappointed.
“Rest in hell,” you remembered your co-worker saying. To which you quipped, “No rest for the wicked.”
Haechan crawled back into bed with you after you were both all clean and the two of you fell asleep in each other’s arms. You could hardly remember the last time you had. It was always him after you or vice versa. Never together.
This haunted campground trip would ironically prove to be a nice oasis in a busy stage of your lives, it seemed.
A shrill scream penetrated the night and you were jolted awake.
Haechan wiped at his tired eyes and his voice was thick with sleepiness, “Is that Winter screaming in terror, because of Jay, or was that Ten?”
You nudged your boyfriend. “No, that’s definitely terror. The last time I heard that sound was when Winter walked in on Yuta taking a piss.”
“They all scream like girls.”
“You scream like a girl.”
Haechan whined, “Whose side are you on?”
Laughing, you shoved the duvet off your bodies and said, “Come on. Let’s go make sure these woods aren’t actually haunted.”
“Or worse - Yuta didn’t forget to zip the bathroom door,” he quipped.
You snickered.
Your boyfriend caged you behind his body, insisting that he wanted you to flee in the presence of any actual danger, and he led you outside the cabin. A shroud of fog hung near the ground. The sky was darker than the last you’d seen, perpetually mistier.
Haechan sauntered over to Yuta with you in convey and asked, “What’s with all the raucous?”
“Winter’s idea of a spooky Halloween,” Yuta said dryly, hands at his hips.
Your eyes rose and you saw Winter pointing fingers and snickering at a dismayed Ten, hairs standing on end. You figured he must have been the latest victim of her scares.
Ten’s chest heaved as he yelled, “You are not funny!”
Winter stuck her tongue out, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Damn right. I’m hi-fucking-larious.”
Jaehyun walked by, chuckling, and announced with a bag of marshmallows in clutch, “Time for s’mores.”
At the mention of s’mores, the six of you huddled together around the campfire like children at the distribution of sweet candy. Danger dissuaded none of you. Each of you were intent on treating this as a typical camping trip. Per your boyfriend’s idea, your phones were in a cardboard box in Ten and Yuta’s cabin for safekeeping, there were plenty of outdoor activities to keep you entertained, and you were going to spend the weekend bonding together.
Chimera, as wicked as it may have been, was eerily beautiful. And its nature was on another level.
“Calories,” Winter squealed rather fondly, clapping excitedly.
You soured the mood and said, “And cavities.”
Winter shot you a glare and had she not been on the other side of fire, she would have leapt over and nudged you in the elbow.
Instead, your best friend replied coolly, “Don’t worry. I packed Jay and I’s toothbrushes. I sent a reminder in the group chat, so I hope you guys didn’t forget.”
“I came extensively prepared,” Ten said, snatching a graham cracker from Jaehyun and shoving it in his mouth. Much to Winter’s amusement and Jaehyun’s chagrin. “I brought toothbrushes, books, water, ear plugs, flashlights…”
Haechan interrupted, “Ear plugs?”
Ten scoffed, “Oh, yes. You and your girlfriend and Jaehyun and Winter are notorious for going all night. I’d rather die than hear those two getting dicked down.”
“You’re just jealous,” you snapped lightheartedly.
Ten reached for a marshmallow and defended himself a little too swiftly, “Oh, honey. I get dicked down on the regular, but you guys have fun.”
Yuta leaned into your ear from the right and whispered, “And strapped down by you in his dreams.”
“I heard that,” Ten hissed.
Yuta played innocent and said, “Heard what?”
Your boyfriend heard it, too, but he only pressed a sweet kiss to the corner of your lips, rubbing it in Ten’s face.
For his comfort, the topic changed.
The treats began to cook at long last. Haechan made you a s’more, seeing as you were a camping amateur, and you merely watched with fondness twinkling in your eyes. You were so out of your mind in love with your boyfriend that even the simplest of gestures made your heart swell with warmth.
For the second s’more, Haechan guided you. You stuffed a marshmallow on the tip of a roasting stick and he held your hands in his as you held it over the fire. “Not too close. You don’t want it to catch on fire,” were his words, a certain concentration in his eyes tempting your heart to leap into the wavering flames.
Ensuing was a treat of chocolatey goodness.
Your friends were laughing and telling jokes over the campfire and somehow you became so engrossed in the conversation that you didn’t notice your third marshmallow was burning until it was too late. “I burned my marshmallow,” you announced with a frown.
Yuta had finished up with his, but out of the kindness of his heart, offered to switch. “Have mine,” he insisted.
“You’re too kind. Thank you,” you replied, appreciative.
Then, you glanced over to your boyfriend, though he was still chattering with the rest of your friends. For a second, you thought it went unnoticed, but he laced his fingers through yours without a word and that was the end.
You smiled. He was nothing like any of your past lovers. They were over-possessive and controlling, demanding your constant and undivided attention. Haechan, at worst, was a little clingy.
He never got jealous over tiny, harmless gestures. The bar was so goddamn low, but finally having a normal guy made you prone to constant comparisons. He was totally chill when you were in the company of male friends and the only time he ever got upset was when you were hurt.
Which was completely understandable. Instead of seeing you as an object to own, it represented his genuine respect and care for you.
He’s the one, you thought with a stupid smile on your face. Even your parents agreed and were already calling him their son-in-law. Most people you dated prior didn’t even make it past the front lawn of their house.
“Did you guys know that Chimera is actually named after a Greek mythical creature?” Ten asked, ever the bookworm.
Jaehyun insincerely sneered, “Nerd.”
Ten ignored him with a roll of his eyes and continued, “In Greek mythology, the Chimera were fire-breathing creatures that appeared as a lion with a goat head on its back, and a snake for a tail.”
Haechan asked curiously, “Isn’t it also genetic mutations?”
“In biology, yes,” Ten said matter-of-factly. “It refers to organisms with several different genetic complications or DNA molecules with sequences from different organisms done by laboratories.”
“Wow. What a way to take us back to high school,” Yuta teased.
You shook your head, intrigued. “No, no. I’m interested. Ten, continue.”
Ten flushed a little and his voice was quieter when he added, “Chimera also means a creature of the imagination. It’s something you dream of, but it’s a tantalizing, unattainable desire.”
Winter chimed in, “I’ve heard stories about Chimera. These woods particularly.”
“Me, too,” Jaehyun said. “The gruesome deaths, the questionable suicides. No wonder nobody wants to come out here, as beautiful as it is.”
You retorted, “Then, what does that make the six of us?”
They laughed.
“I heard a girl killed herself in these very woods,” Yuta said, voice low over the crackling sound of fire. “But rumor has it she was actually slaughtered.”
“In the early nineteen-eighties. I remember,” Ten replied, slightly unnerved.
Haechan snickered. “You weren’t even born yet.”
“I read a lot.”
That was obvious.
Winter whispered eerily, “They say that sometimes you can still hear her footsteps dragging across the dirt, lurking in the night’s darkness.”
Perfectly on cue, there was an eerie sound from the woods and you couldn’t convince yourself that you were the only one to hear it because each of your heads whipped around all at once. Haechan instinctively coiled an arm around you, prepared to protect you even against the soul of a girl that killed herself forty years ago if he could.
Or maybe she really didn’t commit suicide. Maybe her killer painted her death as a suicide and now she was seeking revenge on humankind for not seizing the murderer.
You immediately scolded yourself for being so silly. There was no such thing as ghosts or monsters. You believed in one evil and it was the human race. It’s probably just a squirrel or something, you reassured yourself. A squirrel with painfully inconvenient timing.
Glancing between your boyfriend, Jaehyun, Ten, and Yuta, you said, “And what the hell are the four of you sitting around for? You’re the men! Go investigate.”
Ten was purely dismayed by the mere thought. “And because I’m a man I should be sacrificed to the devil? Absolutely not. This is how people die in horror movies. They go around poking their nose into places they have no business when they should be running for their lives.”
“Let’s go together,” Haechan said, throwing you all assertive glances.
There was some reluctance, but you all begrudgingly agreed. As they say, no man left behind. Haechan still kept you flush to his chest, as did Jaehyun with Winter. He had his burly arms coiled above her hips.
“There’s no girl in the woods,” Yuta murmured under his breath. But you heard him through the thick, strained silence.
Jaehyun quipped, “Who knows. Maybe there’s one for you and you’ll stop showing my girlfriend your penis.”
Yuta retorted, “She’s the one that walks in on me. Maybe your girlfriend wants to see my penis.”
“Please be quiet,” Winter whined.
Jaehyun, on a mission to be the world’s greatest boyfriend (and a few places behind, in your biased opinion), silenced himself on command and tightened his clasp below her ribs. He wasn’t all too convinced that there was a ghost in the woods, but he wanted to ease her. It was far more likely that you were all overthinking the sound of some animal minding its business.
Your boyfriend had the exact same idea and held you even tighter. Whenever in the face of danger, his first instinct was - and would always be - to protect you. Only over his dead body would he allow harm to come your way.
But even in his soothing embrace there was still a sinister energy that plagued you, alerting you that there was something amiss here. Fog blurred your vision and darkness wore at it, making it difficult to see clearly.
Ten was prepared as always and turned on one of those flashlights he had mentioned earlier. He handed it to your boyfriend, the one currently leading your pack of six.
Ever courageous, he led each of you through the night’s wilderness, your pulse thumping in your body the entire time. For whatever reason, the fear in you was unshakable. You had no clue where it emerged from, but it completely unnerved you.
A sound of twigs snapping stunned you all and Haechan shone the light at a tree where the noise seemed to come from, just quick enough to see a squirrel scurrying up a tree trunk. As far as any of you could tell, it was the same tree the first noise sounded from. Haechan assuringly declared, “It was just a squirrel.”
Your breaths came easier. Exactly what you suspected, but it would never hurt to be one-hundred percent sure. Though even with that burden off your shoulders, unease still penetrated you.
Jaehyun, Yuta, and your boyfriend seemed fearless, while Ten and Winter were relieved that they’d been frightened over nothing. But you were still not entirely convinced.
Was it only you?
The rumors and spooky stories are getting to my head. That’s all, you consoled yourself. You’re in apparently haunted woods. Woods alone are scary enough, haunted or not. And this is your first time. Fear is natural.
Each of you turned around and headed back to the campfire you hadn’t dared strayed too far from and sensing your unease from a mile away, Haechan pressed a kiss to your cheek. “Don’t be scared, baby girl. If any monster pops out, it will have to get through me before it hurts you,” he whispered softly in your ears.
“I don’t want you to get hurt, either,” you huffed, voice muffled as you put your head in your boyfriend’s chest.
“Don’t worry about me,” he told you sweetly. “I’ve been told I resemble a bear. The worst-case scenario is one attacks the trashcan and I have to communicate with it to discourage it.”
“And what if it’s a wolf?”
Haechan tightened his hold on you, purring, “Well, I’ve also been told I’m big and bad.”
You snickered. Leave it to your wonderful boyfriend to melt your worries away with his equally brilliant humor. He made you forget why you had even been so scared in the first place, all by kissing you and making you laugh.
The six of you decided you’d had your fill of spooky stories for one night and retired to your cabins for bed. You heard more than a couple of noises from the cabin across from you - Jaehyun and Winter’s - and promptly wished you would have also had the brilliant idea of bringing some noise-cancellation headphones.
Fortunately for you, your boyfriend was a self-proclaimed genius (and maybe once or twice you fed his ego and agreed), and had an even better idea. He fucked you so hard that you tuned out the rest of the world, unable to hear anything over both of your own moans.
In the morning, you woke up and took your time to crawl out of bed. Haechan had worn you out and you could still feel the soreness in your thighs from the night before. Not to mention the gentle morning sex you dreamed of, moans soft over the sound of birds tweeting quietly.
It was closer to afternoon when you finally went outside and got some sunlight. Everyone was in their own atmosphere. You ate breakfast and listened to mother nature for a while.
There was a lake walking distance from the campground and one of the boys called out your name, boarding two three-person canoes. You recognized the voice as Jaehyun’s and he asked, “Wanna go canoeing with us?”
You mulled it over, but noticing Ten’s eyes on you was all the discouragement you needed. Each of the four boys were aboard, including your boyfriend. Ten was as dear a friend to you as the other two, but that was it. No part of you wanted to make things even more awkward and strained in the friendship than they already were.
Though you and Haechan may not have dropped any comments, Ten’s lingering eyes were definitely not lost on either of you. Besides, being with a bunch of guys was not your idea of a vacation well-spent. You refused to leave Winter alone at a potentially haunted campground.
For that reason, you had a feeling that Jaehyun was only asking to tease Ten, but you declined the offer nonetheless and said sweetly, “I’m good. I’ll stay and keep Winter company. You guys have some brotherly bonding time.”
The boys told you to have fun and you bid them likewise.
You immediately scouted Winter afterwards and found her taking pictures of wildflowers. Unnoticed, you decided to slowly creep towards her, but your fun was ruined when she said without turning around, “I know you’re there. You can’t beat the master at her own game.”
You frowned.
Winter turned around, smirking at the fact that she’d caught you with your trousers down. “What’s up, bestie?”
You flopped against a blanket she’d sprawled across the ground. “Do you think Ten likes me?” you asked, fidgeting.
“As more than a friend? Definitely,” your best friend said, coming to join you. “Jaehyun told me the boys are going canoeing. I can only hope Haechan doesn’t try to drown him.”
You knew she was only being funny, but the thought made you shiver. Of course, you knew your boyfriend well and he would never. The trust you had in each other was all needed to comfort him and to know that you were all his was more than enough.
He could be possessive, but not over-possessive. He liked to stake his claim to you, holding you and kissing you in front of people so they knew you were his, and leaving visible marks on your neck in your alone time for the same purpose. He never demanded your complete attention, as much as he adored being in the center.
Tiny gestures never made him feel bitter. You had no painful memories of your boyfriend’s jealousy. The opposite, rather. He fucked you extra hard until he felt better.
You fought a smirk. At worst, he was a little meaner than usual. But damn it did you like it when he was mean and rough.
You defended your boyfriend and said, “My boyfriend is an angel. He doesn’t get jealous.”
“Your boyfriend is a Gemini. Duh, he gets jealous,” Winter argued teasingly, seeing dead through you. A silent understanding passed between you. She liked the jealousy sex, too. “He was so mad at me yesterday.”
“That’s because he was angry. Not jealous. You hurt me and he hates when I’m hurt.”
“Whatever,” your best friend replied, fondling with her camera that Jaehyun bought her for her birthday this January. “Wouldn’t it be funny if I reviewed the pictures and I saw a ghost?”
You grimaced. “That’s one way to put it. For sure.”
“Okay, maybe not funny. But I don’t think these woods are haunted. I believe the stories about the suicides and murders, but evil spirits? That’s a humongous stretch.”
Never mind yesterday’s confidence. Now, you only shuddered. Though you wanted to agree, there was something about these woods that rubbed you the completely wrong way. And it wasn’t only the tales of ghosts. There was an intangible kind of fear ready to consume you. No matter how badly you wanted to, you couldn’t put your finger on where it stemmed from.
That was unnerving to you. Only the weekend before, you were more than excited. There was no telling what traps laid waiting in Chimera, much less its woods, which made you all the more determined to unravel its mystery.
Now, you wanted to leave the knots as tangled as they’d been discovered.
“I guess,” you told Winter. If she thought nothing of the environment, then there was a chance you were overthinking it all.
Winter heaved a pleased sigh. “It’s hard to imagine anyone could taint such a beautiful place with blood,” she said, gesturing around to Mother Nature’s handiwork.
“That sounded strangely poetic,” you replied, feeling as if you were in some sort of murder mystery novel.
Winter snickered. “As my favorite writer once said, ‘believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see.’”
You gave your best friend a look and asked expectantly, “And what does Edgar Allan Poe have to do with anything?”
“Nothing.” Winter shrugged her shoulders. “I just found it fitting.”
You laughed a little. In spite of its reputation, Chimera was by far one of the most beautiful places you had ever seen. Unsurprisingly, however, that alone wasn’t enough to attract tourists. When you checked the campground website, you ironically noticed they used its hauntedness as promotion to lure campers.
Clearly, it was working.
You found it interesting that Chimera was predominantly grass and trees. There were some signs of civilization, as you’d notice on the way to the campground, though mainly towards the center. Areas placed on the periphery of the town were especially rural.
For instance, the woods. Wildflowers consumed your vision and you understood why Winter was at peace here. You bit your lip. You didn’t want to be a buzz kill, but asked quietly, “Do you ever get the feeling that something you fear is hiding in plain sight?”
Winter nudged you gently. “What do you mean?”
“It’s just… I don’t know,” you exhaled frustratedly. “Something about this place keeps me on my toes.”
“Do you think that girl was killed here?”
You shrugged, trying to feign some semblance of nonchalance. “I think it would be easy to kill anybody here and get away with it. Think about it. There’s a lot of empty land to cover. Easier to live off the grid. You could be abducted from the mainland and no one would ever find you.”
“Okay, you’re thinking too hard,” Winter quipped with a wince. “I get why you’re scared, babe. But I also think you’re supposed to feel that way. For obvious reasons. What you need is a little distraction.”
That made you well with curiosity. “Like what?”
The second the boys were back from canoeing you and your best friend made a beeline to boyfriends, as if you couldn’t wait another. Winter had insisted only moments ago that good dick was all the distraction you needed and as badly as you wanted to make a spiteful argument, you had none to offer.
But you also wanted to simply talk to Haechan for a while. Not only was he a lover, but a friend wrapped into one. Your boyfriend had a natural ability to abate your fears, but he was also someone that would listen to them and help you wrap your head around them.
You fought a snicker at how badly that made him sound like a therapist. After this trip, you had a feeling you might’ve needed one.
Haechan sensed there was something off even from the other side of the lake and coiled an arm around below your ribs as soon as he got a chance, asking, “What’s wrong?”
Your eyes flickered. “How’d you know?”
“Gut feeling,” Haechan said with a shrug. “I know when my baby’s suffering. Talk to me.”
Your heart promptly ricocheted against your ribcage. You glanced around. Jaehyun and Winter had already snuck off to their cabin for some loving while Yuta and Ten were chattering about whatever, but you still were in need of some privacy.
You slithered into his arms and murmured, “I wanna be alone. With you.”
“There’s a nice little two-mile trail over here. Takes you around and back from over that way. We could shortcut it and be back in about thirty minutes or take the long way and come back in about sixty.”
“Let’s do it,” you said, gesturing for him to lead the way.
Going deeper into the forbidden woods was not your idea of resolving your fears, but the marvelous landscape gave you little room for complaints. Plus, being there with your boyfriend was almost romantic.
There was something about all this beauty that made you fear what was cloaked beneath.
Haechan was very patient with you and for a while you both walked in silence, absorbing your surroundings until he said, “Ready to tell me what’s on your mind?”
“I don’t know what it is, really. But this place gives me the creeps and I can’t explain why. It just does.”
“It’s not just the reputation, is it?” Haechan asked, seeing right through you.
It was almost scary how perfectly Haechan could piece you together. Nobody had you more figured out than he did. “You read me so well,” you murmured.
Haechan chuckled. “I call it the fear of the unknown. You don’t know what’s out there, so anything could be out there. The shit we fear is often the same shit we can’t control, and that’s why it scares us.”
“Does the unknown scare you?”
“No,” Haechan said, but draped an arm over you as a reminder you weren’t alone. “I like unpredictability. Anything could happen. But I understand why it terrifies some people.”
You teased, “Then, what are you afraid of?”
Your boyfriend’s tone and response in general was a hell of a lot more sober than you were expecting, “Stagnation and routine. I hate being confined to patterns. You already know that, though.”
That you did. Haechan mentioned he was considering switching jobs solely because he wanted more flexibility in life. The pay was nice and so was the insurance and paid vacations, but something had to give.
You supported him wholeheartedly, of course. Haechan never minded change and would have no problem adjusting, plus only having weekends (and scarce vacations) to each other was a ginormous test of your patience. He wanted more out of life. If he couldn’t spend it with you, then he saw little point.
“Is that all?” you pressed. He was brave, but not fearless. The reminder was very warm to you. And strangely comforting.
Haechan said without hesitation, “And losing you because of them.”
Damn it. Now, your heart was racing. It was no question how your boyfriend managed to sweep you off your feet. He was full of endless charm and sincerity. There was a kind of passion to him about you that was undeniable and never questionable.
You abandoned your self-restraint at the campground and rose off the heels of your shoes, meeting your lips to his. He had to be out of his goddamn mind if he thought he would lose you any time soon. There was no way in hell you would be capable of replacing him. In a world without your boyfriend, you would rather die lonely.
There was also something about learning your boyfriend’s fears that took the edge off your own. Maybe whatever they were rooted in was much simpler. This place spooked you because of the reputation attached. That was all.
And now that you were making out with your boyfriend, his heavy hands on your hips, you really couldn’t have given less of a damn about these woods.
He had the same idea and pulled you over by a tree. For a second, you clung onto your mind long enough to wonder what in the hell you were doing. Then, you lost it just as quickly. There was nothing but trees and plants out here. And maybe a couple of animals that would soon be traumatized. With the coast clear, you were welcome to be as reckless as you liked.
Haechan instructed, “Knees.”
You wasted absolutely no time in scrambling to your knees, what was left of your mind too warped to give a damn about the twigs crunching beneath your kneecaps. As always, you wanted to pleasure him and make him proud. Whatever the price may have been, you’d gladly pay it. No matter the sacrifice.
Your boyfriend was amused, though not at all surprised when you hurriedly reached for his pants, tugging them down before he got the chance to give the order. You wanted to taste that big dick down your throat.
There was something about Haechan’s size that made your mouth water and gape, ripe and ready, though also left you clenching around nothing at all. Obviously, you’d seen it a number of times before, but the element of surprise was a constant, non-changing factor. Damn it, you would never get tired of his cock.
Haechan noticed the dazed look in your eyes and smirked. He tapped his cock against your lips and said, “Do you got it, or do you want me to fuck your throat?”
“I’m going to suck the soul out of you,” you said with an unwavering kind of confidence.
Haechan gave a snicker. He fisted your hair behind your head and you swiftly got to work, wasting not another second to swirl your tongue around the base of his cock. You liked riling him up, liked taking your time to draw him between your lips and you knew your boyfriend liked it, too. No matter how much he bitched and whined.
“Fuck,” Haechan whined when your tongue teased the tip. He was hard as bricks, which took pretty much nothing to happen whenever you were involved.
You took his noises with delight, doing your best to ignore the tireless thumping between your plush thighs. As a distraction, you finally drew him inside your mouth, steadily swallowing him inch by damn inch as a measure to prevent yourself from gagging. Your cheeks were hollowed, breath entering through your nose.
Haechan’s grip on your hair tightened as he hissed, a telltale sign you were doing something very right. Your mouth was so unfathomably darn warm around his size that he was beginning to lose his mind, but to be frank, he lost it the very same day he met you.
A part of him used to hope that you would give it back, but insanity was a close friend of his now. Or maybe it was the dormant monster living eternally inside him, roused by you for whatever reason. And it was ravenously hungry.
A kind of greed came over and dominated you, possessing you to suck him like you genuinely intended to suck the soul out of him. As many times as you’d done it before, there could only be so much of his soul still there, though not pleasure. Pleasure was forever and always. “Just like that,” Haechan moaned, basking in the heat of your tongue pressed to his cock.
His praises only spurred you on. There was nothing you liked more than knowing how good you could make your boyfriend feel. Between the two of you lay a ride-or-die bond that nobody else would ever fathom. Even you somehow couldn’t comprehend how or why he drove you so crazy. You only knew you would do unspeakable things to please your boyfriend and sucking him off in the woods was far from the most bizarre thing on the list of shit you were willing to do.
You made eye contact with a traumatized rabbit for a whole second and it was all you could do to keep yourself from laughing and spoiling the mood. You gripped the base of Haechan’s cock, sucking him and stroking him all the while.
None of this should’ve had you dripping the way it did, but you could feel yourself only getting even wetter. You gagged a couple of times (with his size, it was inevitable) but never stopped, a sting of tears in your eyes forming out of twisted pleasure.
Haechan liked looking down and seeing you on your knees way too much, his dick in your mouth and your tear-stained face glancing back up at him. Fuck, you knew what it did to him when you looked at him like that.
Like a pretty little thing warped completely by him.
“I’m gonna cum,” Haechan said, tugging your hair. You hissed, but as he once said, there was no pleasure without pain. Nowhere did you say you didn’t get a thrill out of the sting. “Shit, baby. Are you gonna take it?”
You bobbed your head, humming around him and having a laugh smothered when he promptly made a noise of pleasure. He always wanted to last longer, but you made short work of him. A weakness if he knew one.
Noting that he was close to his peak, you pulled out all the stops to bring him to sweet release as quickly as possible. You loved witnessing your boyfriend disentangle, loved when he was running on empty without an inch of self-control. Haechan was at his worst here, rutting against your mouth to meet your pace with a roughness that never ceased to make you gag.
He was fucking your throat nice and hard, pulling your hair to use as he so pleased until the pleasure became so great that he couldn’t hold back anymore, a wave of warm cum painting your tongue. He never stopped fucking your mouth until his orgasm passed completely, high-pitched moans making you pulse rapidly. You swallowed as much as you could, not wanting to dirty your clothes and leave evidence of your lewd behavior.
Haechan pulled out eventually, chest undulating as he recovered from his orgasm, though he never forgot to ask, “You good?”
You nodded, wiping saliva from your mouth with the back of your hand.
“I hope you’re ready to get fucked,” Haechan said, helping you to your feet. Which made you snicker. If fucking in the woods was crazy, you were both out of your goddamn mind in love.
You moaned when Haechan kissed you again and you grabbed his cock in your palms, stroking him hard anew all the while. The longer you waited, the less you could ignore the fire igniting between your thighs that ached to be taken care of.
Haechan shoved you against the tree after a while and didn’t bother to slide your panties down, only slipping them to the side, courtesy of your skirt. Your palms dug into rough bark and he instead cuffed your wrists in his own hand, tightening them at your backside. He steered his cock to your entrance with the other, your arousal making it all too easy to skid right inside.
Your moans were instantaneous. Haechan stroked deeper and deeper until every inch was utterly nested inside your sweet cunt, his cock disappearing inside. He took pleasure in stretching you open, because even after fucking you time and time again, your cunt never seemed to get any less tight. He always had to coax his way inside, no matter how wet you were.
“Haechan,” you stammered, mouth hanging wide open with moans of his name.
As much as he liked hearing you moan his name, Haechan clamped his palm over your mouth, smothering your sounds while still keeping your arms locked behind your back.
Though you and your boyfriend had admittedly had sex in a number of places, some debatably strange, the middle of the haunted woods undoubtedly took the cake. The view was nice. You had to admit that it was somewhat romantic being fucked by your boyfriend against a tree while staring at an array of vibrant plants and pretty skies. And being out in the open aroused you a little more than it should have.
Your body shuddered when he released your wrists to cup a palmful of your breasts, slipping his hand beneath your shirt and his finger kneading your nipple. “You’re so beautiful like this,” Haechan exhaled. Even now, he sometimes struggled to comprehend that he could call someone as beautiful as you were his, but he would be damned if he let anyone snatch away his girl.
You listened contentedly to the sound of Haechan’s low groans of pleasure and sticks being crumbled beneath your toes as he pounded into you roughly, your fingernails finding purchase in the tree’s gnarled surface. All you could do was whimper, rooted in place and left to take all he gave you.
Haechan hit a deep spot and you cried into his palm, a weakness making your head spin with dizziness. He simply had a power over you, goddamn it. Your body could never get enough, a depthless well of lust and arousal in the face of your boyfriend.
As if he could hear whatever your muffled voice said in the crook of his palm, Haechan’s pace quickened, fucking you tirelessly with a passion that could never be sated. You wallowed in the sound of his hips slamming into yours with a sharp, wet slap. There was no denying what was happening if anyone made the unfortunate mistake of walking by.
Fortunately, your only company were harmless animals and possibly a couple of wandering ghosts.
The harder you were fucked, the harder it was to stand on your own. Haechan took and took from your body but left a crushing kind of pleasure that rendered you weak and another indescribable feeling, smothering you with the unknown sensation. But instead of fear, it aroused a dangerous curiosity within you.
“So good for me,” Haechan moaned, draping his lips over your already mark-stained neck. Your entire body was nearly coated in dark bruises ensuing after a long session of fucking and sucking and love-making. “You always gotta feel so damn good.”
His palm slacked on your mouth and you whimpered, “Baby, too much.”
Haechan slowed himself for a second and asked, “Do you want me to stop?”
You shook your head and ironically whimpered at his slower pace. God, no. You wanted Haechan to fuck you numb.
He snickered and picked back up his quickened rhythm. “That’s my girl,” he praised, pressing a kiss to the side of your neck. “Take it for me, baby.”
Never had your body ever felt so stimulated and alive, every muscle taut with pleasure. It was a lot, but you took it like a champ, loving the way your boyfriend’s thick girth filled you up, hard and stiff. Fire set you ablaze, heat igniting at the vortex of your thighs and shooting through you like a bundle of fireworks. You were smothered by heat, scorching all over.
Your bodies were on autopilot, sweat beading at the surface of your skin and making your clothes adhere. You were sticky with sweat and arousal and eventually bits of Haechan’s cum, the part you were most excited for. The thought of your boyfriend emptying his balls into you alone was more than enough to make your walls clamp around his cock, wanting to literally milk him dry. You moaned in anticipation.
“Want you to cum,” you whimpered, body thumped forward with every heavy thrust inside you. “Baby, please. I wanna make you cum.”
Haechan bit his lip when he heard you beg. Why did you have to be so damn sexy? It was the perfect way to bring him over the edge. “Gotta take care of my girl first, baby,” he whispered sweetly in your ear.
As soon as those words escaped his mouth, you finally noticed how close you were, body under pressure and ready to snap. You could hardly even stand upright on your own, knees very liable to giving in (and more sore than you could notice over numbing pleasure). You were prepared to be broken beyond reclaim.
“Baby, I…”
“I know,” Haechan shushed you with a sweet peck to your cheek. “I’ve got you, baby. I’m right here. Let go.”
That was all you needed to hear before you couldn’t fight release anymore and it toppled over, draping over you in totality. You came so hard that tears began to well from your eyes, your hands desperately clinging to the tree bark, bruises ready to form all over. Haechan brought his palm back over your mouth quick enough to smother a prolonged, sated scream.
He whispered praises in your ear even your body slackened, limp against the tree but still letting him use you as needed. You were trembling with anticipation, restless as you waited for him to fill you to the brim. “Baby, please,” you begged. “Fill me up. Fill me up...,”
Haechan developed a ruthless pace now, absorbed in your desperate chants and the way your pussy pulsed around his cock, endeavoring to trigger his climax. He was tangled in the heat of you, dangerously close and gripping your hips so harshly you whined, “Fuck,” into his palm.
Soon enough, listening to the sound of your sweet voice and muffled cries got the best of him and Haechan’s hips stilled inside, cock twitching with orgasm and promptly releasing hotly inside you. He gave a long hiss while you sighed pleasantly, satisfied at long last.
Your boyfriend cleaned you up while you rested against the tree, feeling lightheaded. He ensured your skirt was in place and brushed off tiny specks of dirt that had clung to your knees. Haechan, as always, was restless, but you were still trying to catch your breath from the hell of a nut that he had only now given you.
And you could feel his release still warm between your thighs, caught in your panties.
You were as fucked out as you looked and he wallowed in the darkly arousing sight of you, evidence of what happened etched across your face no matter the length you went to hide.
Haechan fought a sly grin and asked, “Ready?”
You nodded. But when you went to walk, you reeled. Tomorrow was Sunday and that morning you would be kissing these woods goodbye, but you had a feeling your boyfriend would leave you too sore to work come Monday.
Not that you were complaining. You could only wonder if that was part of his master plan.
“Disgusting,” Winter sneered lightheartedly when she noticed you limping back to the campground.
You rolled your eyes. “Oh, please. I’m sure you and Jaehyun gave the boys a lot to raise hell about while we were gone.”
Jaehyun, directly beside his girlfriend, pulled her into his arms and said, “Hey, it’s not my baby’s fault she’s loud.”
Winter hummed in agreement. “Right. It’s his.”
“Who’s disgusting now,” you remarked with a playful grimace.
Haechan - for once in his entire life - was silent, too focused on helping you to a shower. He only chuckled a little and ushered you away to take good care of you.
You felt a hell of a lot more refreshed once you cleaned up and had a change of clothes, though ironically energetic. When in need of a nap, Haechan fucking the shit out of you plus a nice bath usually did the trick (although the bathroom luxuries were limited outdoors), but somehow you were given a burst of energy.
Though not too long ago you were spooked by what lay in hiding in these woods, there was now a rain cloud of dread and sadness hanging over you when you realized this trip would be ending all too soon. You were having way too much fun in the company of your friends and boyfriend. The last thing you wanted was for it to end.
This place was growing on you. And now that it had, it was almost time to leave. The goddamn irony. 
You stepped outside. Jaehyun and your boyfriend were firing up the grill and Yuta was talking to a squirrel (you would rather not ask), meanwhile Winter was strangely nowhere to be seen. But Ten was at the empty campfire, spectacles sitting on the bridge of his nose as he flipped pages of a rather thick novel.
You chuckled. It was almost endearing. Some things never changed.
Your contemplative face was on. The conversation would have to be had one way or another. That much you knew. Your options were clear, though dull. Either address the elephant in the room, or create a rift in your relationship with willful ignorance.
So, you hauled ass right over to that campfire.
Ten was startled by your sudden presence and given the circumstances, he was prepared to give someone an earful over the unannounced interruption, but swiftly silenced himself when he noticed it was you who’d come to his side.
You winced when you noticed his jumpy reaction. “Sorry. Did I scare you?”
“No,” Ten lied and put his book face down. “What’s up?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to talk.”
That kindled his interest. “Oh?”
“Yeah,” you replied nonchalantly. “What are you reading?”
“This book about the cycle of darkness and light. It’s in German. It’s about how the light replenishes what the darkness steals, but the darkness will always undo it again regardless.”
That genuinely piqued your curiosity. “Sounds deep.”
“Oh, yes. There are plenty of figurative details about hope and hiding your quote-unquote darkness to other people. The author likens human beings to the moon. We all have a dark side, but other people only see the lit part of us,” Ten said, and you beamed at his enthusiasm. “The part we want them to see.”
You leaned over to notice the novel was indeed in German. And impressed that he could comprehend it nonetheless. “Do you have a hidden dark side?”
“‘We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others, that in the end, we become disguised to ourselves.’”
“François de La Rochefoucauld,” you replied, recognizing the quote.
Ten stared at you, wide-eyed. “You know?”
You nodded with a smile. “He also said, ‘true love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and few have seen.’”
Ten went dangerously silent and you knew you’d struck a sore spot, but you weren’t done applying pressure.
You continued, “You’re a really good friend, Ten. And a great guy.”
“Don’t.”
You cocked your head. “Don’t do what?”
“Don’t be nice! Don’t be you,” Ten whispered frustratedly, standing to his feet. Which you did suit. “Do you know you’re the only person in this world who’s never laughed at me?”
It was your turn to be quiet now. Tension had a heavy hand clamped over your mouth.
“You’ve never mocked me. Never made fun of me. The only time you’ve made me feel less than someone else is when you and Haechan got together. Even then, none of it was your fault.”
Grabbing his hand, you crooned, “I’m sorry.”
That only exasperated Ten even more and he swatted your hand away, though careful not to hurt you, and hurriedly scooped his things into his arms. “Just stop. Don’t let me down gently. You’ll only make it harder on me.”
Ten stormed off before you could get another word in and you merely stood there, riveted in place. You glanced around and were relieved that nobody seemed to notice, but a sour sensation broiled in your gut as you wondered if you’d only rubbed salt in all the wrong wounds.
For fuck’s sake. Maybe it would have been a better idea to wait until you’d left the campground. At least then you wouldn’t have potentially ruined his whole trip.
Jaehyun passed out hotdogs as they were coming off the grill and everyone gathered together for an early dinner, but Ten was still nowhere to be seen. Yuta came to their shared cabin and offered him food, but he denied it, sulking all alone.
“I mean, shit. What did you do to him?” Yuta asked you once he returned.
You gave him a hard glare and ignored the question. “You guys should be nicer to Ten. He’s a little sensitive right now,” you scolded, then turned to face your boyfriend who was sitting directly next to you. “You, too.”
Haechan threw his hands up. “Yes, ma’am.”
You gave a prolonged exhale. It was no secret Ten had a mean crush on you, though you had denied it for as long as possible. Now that you’d confronted the issue at hand, it blew up in your face. For that reason, there was another unsettling feeling coming alive in the pit of your stomach, making your skin crawl.
But this time, you knew why. Ironically, you couldn’t tell if that was worse.
Nothing else was seemingly out of place and the evening carried on as usual, but you were definitely on edge. The shorter days meant an earlier sunset and by the time the sky dimmed pitch-black, most of the others had retreated to their respective cabins, in favor of escaping the approaching threat of bloodthirsty mosquitoes.
Except for you and your boyfriend, who approached you carrying two glasses of champagne and handing you one.
You accepted the glass and gave him a look. “And what are we celebrating?”
“Making it through the weekend. Alive,” Haechan joked, taking a seat next to you.
“Mm. You know what champagne does to me.”
He nodded, like that was the whole point. “Yeah. I expect your hands to be all over me in five minutes tops.”
You snickered and sipped from your glass quietly. Haechan placed a cool hand on your thigh, a stark contrast from the raging heat of the campfire crackling merely inches away from you. The sensation was very welcome.
There was no one around save for you, your boyfriend, and a large number of still trees. Haechan was usually full of conversation, but he was too preoccupied in drawing circles on your bare thighs, caught in how much he loved them. You smiled slyly. The feeling was mutual. Your boyfriend had some thick ass thighs.
Then, your thoughts were dark, and you frowned at the reminder of the terrible dread reeling like a vortex in your belly. “Ten likes me.”
“No offense, baby. But I think you were the last person to figure that out.”
You frowned. “I think I always knew, but I didn’t want to accept it. Because I value the friendship him and I have and I didn’t want that bond to be broken. I still can’t really believe he has feelings for me.”
“I don’t see what’s so surprising,” Haechan said, glancing up from your thighs to look you plain in the eye. “You’re a likable person, babe. I say the guy has taste. Too bad you’re already mine.”
Your lover more or less played compassionate, but you could tell he didn’t actually feel too bad about the situation. Or much of anything for that matter. Funnily enough, that kindled a kind of uncertainty in you. “Doesn’t it make you angry?” you asked curiously, threading your fingers through his bright head of hair.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Why would it? I already know you’re all mine,” Haechan reasoned. “I don’t need any affirmation because I know I own your mind, body, and soul. It’s like I have you under a spell.”
Maybe the champagne had you under a spell, because you swore he looked even better than normal, skin glimmering courtesy of the crackling fire. You could see an identical inferno irate in his pretty brown eyes, blood-hungry and spiraling alarmingly out of control. You knew damn well you were playing with fire, but for whatever reason, you were dangerously in love with the burn.
Your lover’s lips attacked you and you submitted to his touch, within the firing line of danger. Your hands found his body promptly, desperate for warmth, and Haechan smirked because he had predicted as much.
He could never scare you. The more you uncovered about him, the deeper you fell into some depthless pile of doom.
Haechan coiled one arm around your backside while the other skirted between your thighs, grabbing a feel of your clothed arousal. You moaned, already getting wetter. “You do realize this is our third time today alone?”
“What can I say? I’m addicted to you,” Haechan said, kneading between your thighs and watching your lips fall with a pleased exhale.
You kept touching and sucking each other until Haechan inevitably got a little too riled up hearing your sweet moans and gently pressed you against the thick log, a blanket already draped above. Strangely, time seemed to move slower, like the whole world was frozen over and there was no one else there. Nobody to interrupt your reckless fun.
A tinge of heat blossomed inside your chest, rapidly spreading elsewhere when your boyfriend plucked your shirt and bra and started to kiss his way down your breasts. You clasped your palms on his shoulders, soft little sighs still doing a number on him as he nibbled at your flesh, cock growing harder.
Just thinking about all the many times Haechan fucked you into oblivion had you in a drunken stupor and you begged demurely, “Please, baby.” There was nothing you weren’t willing to do if it meant he would stop drawing out the inevitable, no matter how good his kisses were.
Haechan swore loudly and shoved a hand down your shorts, breaking the barriers and feeling your arousal coating his fingers. Did you always have to be so impatient and wet? Your head tipped back with a moan, body arching against his touch.
You whimpered in surprise when Haechan brought you to a stand to sweep the blanket over the grassy ground and again when he pulled you to the surface, grabbing your shorts by the band and promptly tossing them aside. Haechan made sure you were far away enough from the fire not to be a safety hazard, but close enough for light and warmth.
Not that you need very much of the latter. Your boyfriend touching you kindled sparks in your body hot enough to make you sweat all over.
Your boyfriend hungrily stripped you both of your underwear and then lined his hard cock at your entrance, slippery with your own slick. In your mind, an eternity seemed to pass before he winded inside, and you clung tightly to your breath before you lost it forever.
Haechan leaned below all the while, leaving a trail of sweet kisses up your stomach. You moaned loudly, arching into his touch, somehow feeling an elated sense of pleasure. You were blatantly more aware of his cock pressed deeply into your vice-like cunt, and your legs locked around his hips, pulling him even deeper.
There was something new. Drunk sex with your boyfriend was always fun, but it wasn’t this. It was sloppier. It was teeth accidentally clashing and giggling into each other’s mouths.
None of that was happening. Instead, every sensation was a million times more unrestrained and for a second you wondered if you were making it all up in your head or if your boyfriend was simply that good at pleasuring you.
The thought disappeared as quickly as it had come, because you were too distracted by Haechan’s warm breath on your neck, tickling the flesh as he whispered a bunch of sweet nothings into your ear, full aware that it would bring you over the edge. You felt like a mad woman, unsure of anything and everything except for how perfect it felt to be in your boyfriend’s arms.
“You feel so good,” Haechan moaned into your ear, and if you hadn’t already spiraled out of control, you sure as hell had now.
“Fuck. God, Haechan,” you whimpered, too overwhelmed. How in the hell could he feel so good? Every inch of you was sensitive, but every sensation was heightened. “I fucking love this.”
You were half-tempted to pinch yourself to determine if you were lucid dreaming, but then Haechan dug his sharp nails into your hips and you instantly knew there was no denying you were very awake.
Haechan poorly stifled a snicker and watched the bounce of your breasts as he stroked deeper and deeper. A wavering orange hue casted over your body and highlighted the irrefutable evidence of pleasure on your pretty face, courtesy of the campfire.
Lord have mercy, you were beautiful. Nothing made him prouder than being able to call you his girl. No woman before you had ever left him so love-struck, so downright in love. You made him crazy in a way that he would never fathom, but what he did know was that he was in over his head and not even death could part you.
A thought crossed your mind and incited a lustful greed within you, and you grabbed Haechan’s bicep, whimpering, “Haechan, stop.”
That pulled him out of his little pleasure-induced stupor and Haechan ground to a halt, quickly scanning your face for any sign of discomfort he might’ve missed in his trance. Needless to say, he came short of answers.
“I wanna be on top,” you explained, making him pull out and lay beneath you now. “Just sit back and relax.”
Haechan submitted to you because for fuck’s sake, he was out of his mind in love with you, and whatever you wanted he would give you. You could cry for the moon and he would steal it for you. No questions asked.
You switched positions to straddle his body, reaching for his cock and steering him to your entrance. Haechan moaned when he was fitted back inside, and your hands slipped to his chest as you eyed him, having the perfect view of his face tensing with pleasure of all kinds.
Had you not been interrupted by a moan, you would have giggled. Your fingers pranced around his sensitive nipples and Haechan called out your name, palms seeking anchorage at your ass. You were both obviously driving each other insane, in a war to see who could take the other off their hinges.
Haechan watched you bounce on his cock and it was the most beautiful sight in the world to him. Your mouth parted with blissful sighs and soft moans, your bodies an amalgam of sticky coats of sweat and hotness.
“I love you,” Haechan blurted through ragged breath, but goddamn was it true.
“I love you, too,” you moaned in the midst of fucking yourself on a very hard dick. And trying not to lose what was left of you. “Shit. Holy fuck.”
Haechan involuntarily thrusted up to meet your motions, matching your quick tempo. You could feel and hear the blood pumping rhythmically in your head, your pulse thudding. Each of your breaths were quick, like you could hardly breathe through the thick tension of pent-up love and desire between you.
You simply couldn’t stop, couldn’t get enough of the feeling. You couldn’t fathom why it was so goddamn good. Even Haechan had to notice you were riding him harder than usual, chasing satisfaction with a craving that could never be satiated. You felt like an animal, wondering what it was that made him feel even better than you thought possible.
Every insignificant detail was zeroed in on. Did he always have those little scratches on him? And had you been the reason? Your eyes fell up his neck and down his torso and you bit your lip smugly, noticing all the marks you’d left behind.
“Baby, I’m so close,” you whimpered, rocking harder.
“Come on, baby. You’re so beautiful,” Haechan groaned, close and throttled by the tension. You were closing in on him, wrapping around him so tightly and driving him to climax.
The muscles in your thighs tightened and slackened, and you bounced to the rhythm of the pulsing between your legs. Haechan reached for your hand and laced his fingers through yours, wanting to be thoroughly connected with you through every moment of your orgasm.
He uncontrollably rambled some more praises in your ears about how good you felt and how beautiful you were, and you couldn’t stop yourself from coming, teeth clamping into your bottom lip to stifle a loud cry and way too immersed in pleasure to notice the pain. Your throbbing cunt and smothered cries prompted Haechan and he released inside, still fucking you back until he rested with a long exhale.
Your body went limp, crashing at his side. Looking at the sky, you could see stars, but when you closed them, they were still there.
Haechan immediately started to kiss you and you kissed back, tasting ecstasy on his lips. Your boyfriend cradled your body, whispering, “You did so good. I’m so proud of you.”
You remembered giving a soft little sigh of pleasure and Haechan taking the liberty of redressing you.
Everything after that was a blur.
When you woke up, the sky was still perpetually dark, but you were in bed. You turned to your side and came to the eerie conclusion that you were very alone. Haechan was nowhere to be found.
Maybe he’s just using the restroom, you reasoned. Yeah, okay. That happened. For your comfort, you decided to wait up until he returned.
Half an hour later, Haechan was still a no-show. That was when you began to suspect there was something far more sinister at hand than a visit to the bathroom. You crawled from under the sheets and slipped on your shoes, determined to investigate the matter yourself.
There was a pounding in your chest. Where could Haechan have disappeared to for thirty minutes in the middle of the night?
Except for anywhere. He could be anywhere in these goddamn woods and you would never find even a trace of him. A cool dread plagued your body and you wrapped your arms around yourself, praying your boyfriend was somewhere safe. You had a strange gut feeling that something heinous had happened and it was all around you, suffocating.
You crept outdoors and oddly enough, noticed Yuta seated at the campfire. You remembered making love to Haechan there, because the memory was still fresh. For some reason, it felt like moments yet days ago altogether.
Why was it still lit at this hour? More significantly, what was Yuta doing there so late?
“Yuta?” you called out. 
No reply. He was stiff as a boulder. You approached him stealthily, wanting to believe he was only playing an evil trick on you.
When you could finally get a front view of him, you cried out in a blend of surprise and terror.
Nothing could have prepared you for the gruesome sight of Yuta’s lifeless body. You shrieked and screamed until your voice could barely muster a murmur. For a good while, you only stood there, muscles stiff with shock. Tears silently began to drip as they gathered at your eyelashes.
You forced your eyes away from Yuta. His face had been burned so badly that you could hardly recognize him. The skin was disfigured with marks, wrinkly and apparently rotten. You noticed the purple lines around his wrists and his slashed throat and hoped he hadn’t been burned alive.
You refused to look at him, refused to touch him. You cowered away, repulsed by the consuming stench of blood clogging your senses. Feeling nauseous, you turned over and knocked over two near-full wine glasses in your wake, bending your knees. It made you want to throw up.
This could not be happening. You rubbed your eyes, like there was a chance sleep and your tears were making you delirious. A bitter taste parched your tongue as you prayed this was only a ghastly dream. You would not accept this as reality. You didn’t want to believe Yuta was - completely and irrevocably - gone.
But regardless of how hard you tried, your body scorned you, refusing to wake up.
This was a living nightmare.
For some strange reason, there was a canoe approaching the shoreline and you made a beeline for the lake, too blinded by your need for answers to pause and ask yourself why there was somebody paddling at this hour.
“Haechan?” you called out shakily.
Nothing. Where could he have gone? The night was far too dark for you to piece together who was on the canoe. Which was unnerving.
Dread hit you tenfold when it dawned on you that Haechan could have been anywhere, slain and blood-splattered like how you discovered Yuta.
Tears made your eyes burn. There was no way in hell your boyfriend was dead. But none of that explained what happened to Yuta. And were the rest of your friends okay?
Why did nobody hear you scream?
The growing questions only made you tremble with mystification. You couldn’t for the life of you comprehend why anybody would want to do something so unspeakable to Yuta. He had been nothing but an incredible friend to you for years and a wonder to everyone he met.
Anger briefly numbered you to your fear. Yuta didn’t deserve to die. Not in such a cold-hearted, brutal manner. Nobody did. The look on his face when you found his body was permanently etched into your memory. He had been burned beyond recognition. The damage was irreversible. Even if he somehow survived the burns, there was no way to undo the distortion.
Your heart had never been so heavy. There was a possibility the wound to his neck killed him, but there was also a fair chance it only damaged him enough to render him unheard.
What if Yuta tried to scream, but nobody heard him, either?
You should have known coming to this haunted city was a fatal mistake. The rumors of people slaughtered in Chimera should have been more than enough to dissuade you, but you each were too goddamn stubborn.
Look what that had gotten you. A dead friend, a missing boyfriend, and an uncertain status on the rest of your number.
The uncertainty about the rest of your friends only made you even sadder. Had they somehow slept through Yuta’s death, too? Or were they victims to a similar fate?
No. That couldn’t be the case. Because if it was, then why had you been left untouched?
Surely, there were no goddamn miracles in this godforsaken place.
You wracked your brain trying to remember what happened. For some reason, everything was fuzzy and disoriented. You recalled the whole day up to a point. Haechan and you fooled around in bed until you finally roused. Then, you had breakfast. The boys went canoeing. You went to annoy Winter with your paranoia.
The boys came back and you went on a hike with Haechan only to fool around some more. Then, you returned, took a shower, the boys fired up the grill and you had a conversation with Ten. He froze you out and stormed into his cabin for the night.
Everyone ate dinner without him, they eventually left, and you spent the night fooling around with Haechan under the moonlight.
Then, everything else went black. You didn’t remember getting into bed with Haechan, but you assumed he carried you there. Your eyes got too heavy after orgasm and you seemingly passed out.
That was strange. And maybe too much of a coincidence. But Haechan would never do anything to hurt you. Would he?
Don’t be silly, you chided. Haechan loves you and he’s fucking missing right now. Instead of questioning him, you should be trying to find him before it’s too late.
You didn’t even let yourself wonder if it already was too late. Haechan was not dead. Anyone could leave you, but not him. Not the boy who promised you forever and then some.
Haechan was the common denominator, but Ten was the missing piece. You hadn’t seen him since you tried to turn him down gently and there was no telling if he ever came out the cabin since. He may have been in his feelings, but no anger could prompt him to do this. You were certain.
You were certain about all of them. But if not them, then who did that leave? A ghost?
Your heart raced quicker than ever before as you bolted to the lake, and you halted dead in your tracks when your feet landed right at its murky edge. The sky was still too dark for you to make out the body on the canoe. You squinted, but you couldn’t even see a body at all.
Tall, thick trees covered the border of the lake. Moonlight filtered through some of the branches, though unfortunately, it didn’t come close to illuminating the canoe. You glanced at the water and saw a pair of eyes staring back at you.
And they weren’t your own.
For a minute, you couldn’t move. You went stiffly rigid, attempting to convince your brain that this was only a figment of your delirious imagination. But the wide pair of eyes didn’t move. They didn’t even blink.
Fear flooded back into your body, bleeding thickly out of you, and you lurched back with an eldritch scream. Everything happened so damn quickly. Your back hit the trunk of a tree and the branches rattled. A body plummeted violently into the cool water, but you didn’t register the splash, veins pumping icy dread instead of warm blood.
You didn’t investigate, slumping against the tree and pulling your knees to your bosom. You cried hot tears, because you recognized those eyes. They were the same ones you always caught staring at you. They were the same ones that looked at you with hurt and heartbreak the last time you’d seen them.
Now, they looked at you with lifelessness. And they unmistakably belonged to Ten.
“I’m sorry,” you cried, as if he could hear you. “I should have left it alone. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I didn’t mean to make things worse.”
There was no word to describe the depth and darkness of the feeling that plagued you now. You shuddered, an imagined nipping wind numbing you beyond the surface and to the very fucking core. It was brutal and ruthless.
Every inch of your body was bitter with pain. You were so dizzy with shock and consternation that you couldn’t even stand. Your head ached from crying so damn much.
You felt like you had done this to Ten. He was even harder to move on from. Your last memories were anything but happy and you could only picture the ache and longing absorbing his features, the hurt crushing the impact of his voice.
Nothing made sense to you. Ten fell for your gentleness, but resented you for letting him down gently. You wanted to understand him. You wanted to make things better, but you failed and now you would have to live with that mistake forever. Because it was too late to undo.
“I thought I was doing the right thing,” you croaked quietly, voice absent. “Now, I’ll never be able to. Please forgive me.”
Every breath you took was pained. You could barely speak without your voice cracking. There was no welcoming feeling. Especially not the self-loathing that swallowed you whole and throttled you. Everything you felt was cold and lingering, dark and unfurling.
You must have spent an eternity sitting there sobbing your heart out, mourning your dead friend, because you only stood to your feet when you heard the sound of something meeting the shoreline.
The canoe. You had forgotten all about the damn thing and frowned when you saw nobody. You walked over and had your blood already not been icy, it would have run cold.
Jaehyun laid sprawled across the canoe, completely soaked, like he had toppled over into the lake.
“Jay,” you gasped, shocked. This whole time you had been calling out for a dead body. He was ghostly pale, hair stuck to his skin.
You made the decision to reach over, careful not to rock the canoe too much in case you tripped over, and felt for a pulse. Even a weak one. Anything that proved he wasn’t gone.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Jaehyun was ruthlessly still. His body was like ice and in your head, a temperature of a negative degree. You accidentally left a bloody print on his arm, recouping your hand when you begrudgingly accepted he was no longer breathing and there was no chance of him ever doing so again, and crept back over to the shore.
Just when you thought you had no more tears left to cry, they fell again, mocking you. You could dimly see your reflection, your tear-stained face a complete mess.
That was the third dead body. With each one, you loss more and more faith that any of your friends were okay.
But there was still Haechan and Winter.
That made you confused. Jaehyun would never leave Winter by herself. Especially not in the middle of the night in dark, haunted woods. How in the hell did he get on a canoe by himself?
The whole reason Jaehyun even came on this trip was to protect her in case this place turned out to actually be haunted. Was Winter okay? Jaehyun would never let anyone harm her, if there was anything he could do. They would have to get through him before they got to her.
Maybe they did get through him.
Rage warmed you and gave you life again. Whoever did this would pay. You would find them and seek sweet revenge. But first, you needed to confirm whether or not your boyfriend and your best friend were alive.
Now that you thought about it, Haechan would never leave you alone, either. It simply wasn’t in his nature and didn’t make sense. Not even a little bit.
When presented with a perceived danger, Haechan’s first instinct was to grab you and keep you sheltered in his arms. When you were frightened for your life, Haechan never failed to soothe you, promising you he would go through hell and back to keep you safe.
That wouldn’t change all of the sudden. He was no coward. Now, your heart hurt, wondering if he had given himself up to protect you too.
You turned around and made a beeline for Winter and Jaehyun’s cabin. You needed to find her. You needed to know she was okay. Together, you could get the hell out of here, but not before you found your boyfriend also.
The campground was the same as you’d left, still as lifeless as before with Yuta’s corpse by the campfire, and you weren’t too sure how that made you feel. You darted to the right, immediately charging straight towards your best friend’s cabin.
There were no lights on. The only source of light was the campfire burning in the center. It gave you hope that Winter may have been sleeping peacefully, oblivious to all that happened.
But unlike you, Winter was a light sleeper. Wouldn’t she have noticed Jaehyun crawling out of bed or something?
You frowned. You didn’t know what happened. Jaehyun could have sensed danger outside and went to investigate. He could have kissed her forehead and urged her to go to sleep.
You shook your head and slowly opened the door, ignorant of the blood print you’d left on the knob, pulse speeding at the eerie sound of it pushing open. The darkness made you wary. You couldn’t even be sure if she was on the bed.
For assistance, you turned on the light, and breathed a little in relief when you noticed a figure slumped under the sheets. But why was her head below the comforter? Winter never slept like that. Something about it being too hot and too hard to breathe.
The relief you felt was short-lived. Dread returned and you inhaled and exhaled deeply. A part of you didn’t want to know if your best friend was dead or not. But she was too still. Like she wasn’t even breathing under the covers.
You plucked the cover off her face and trembled. There was fresh blood on her chin, rolling down her lips. And a fork in her left hand. And you had a sneaking suspicion that you knew why.
Gently, you opened her mouth, and when you saw that a piece of her tongue was no longer there you had a painful moment of realization.
Your heart broke. It didn’t split down the middle, but broke into millions of pieces. Winter was dead. But you knew damn well Haechan was still out there somewhere, good and well.
You grabbed Winter’s lifeless body in your arms and cried into her shoulder, oddly comforted by the fact her body was still warm. Everything made sense now. This was all your fault.
Nothing was a coincidence. Winter frightened you and made you bite your tongue. Then, you found her with a fork in her hand, a piece of her tongue removed. Yuta gave you his marshmallow when you burned yours. Then, you found him with his face burned without a lick of mercy.
Ten always stared at you. He was always watching. He looked at you with a kind of adoration in his eyes. You found him staring into his own reflection, body slumped on a tree.
And Jaehyun offered to take you on a canoe ride with the guys. You found him sprawled across that very same canoe.
“I did this to you,” you sobbed, grabbing her hand. You bristled when you noticed blood on her fingernails, knowing it wasn’t her. Winter fought to protect her damn self.
And you knew who attacked her.
You were so overwhelmed. You had never felt this many emotions at once before. Especially not this intensely. You were wounded and betrayed. Angry and regretful. Frightened and loathing.
For a moment, you only cried in Winter’s warmth, holding her hand and blaming yourself for everything. You begged her to wake up. You begged her to smile and tap your arm, screaming, “Just kidding!”
This had to be a prank. This had to be some cruel joke that you were the butt of, a trick at your expense. You wanted everyone to open the door one by one and laugh at you for falling for such a stupid scheme, but you knew in your heart it wasn’t true.
You saw the very real marks on Yuta’s face. You saw the lifelessness in Ten’s eyes. You felt Jaehyun’s non-existent pulse. Even now, you could feel the warmth slowly leaving Winter’s body.
Eventually you pulled away, wiping your eyes with the back of your hand. You saw the blood on the sheets and frowned. That hadn’t been there before. Only then did you notice the blood dampening your clothes.
How long had that been there? Was it from one of the bodies?
No, because I only touched Jaehyun. And he clearly drowned, you thought. But pushed the thought of Jaehyun’s drenched body out of your head as quickly as it came.
There were more pressing matters at hand. You needed to get the hell out of here. And you needed to do so alive. Someone had to be the bearer of bad news. Someone had to tell your friends’ parents that their worst nightmare had come true.
You found the courage to leave your best friend there and crept outside the cabin. Your phone was in Ten’s and Yuta’s. Goddamn it.
The sight of Haechan emerging from the woods made you grind to a halt. You were scared for your goddamn life. You had no idea what your chances of survival were, but you got it now. Why you had been spared from your friend’s fate.
The Haechan you loved was not the man staring at you from afar. The Haechan you’d come to know was not the man approaching you. He was somebody else. Somebody you were not familiar with and did not know how to handle.
Adrenaline thumped in your head. You had a choice. You could flee or you could fight.
For now, you decided to play dumb.
“Baby,” you called out, colliding into his cold arms. “Everybody’s dead! Are you okay? What happened to you?”
Haechan stared at you unrecognizably. You knew you were looking danger dead in the eye. There was no warmth in him, no life. He had blood stains on his clothes and scratches on his face.
From Winter, you bristled inwardly. You banished the thought, knowing your cover would be blown the longer you thought about how he had preyed down your friends.
Haechan coiled an arm around you and said simply, “It’s not my blood.”
“Not your blood?” you repeated slowly, pulling yourself away. “Then, whose blood is it?”
Your boyfriend only smiled. “I think you know the answer to that, sweetheart,” he said sweetly, but you knew only venom was inside him.
You wanted to scream. There was no deceiving him. You could tell he already knew. Haechan read you like an open book and you knew he would never not have you all figured out.
Giving up deception, you cried, “Why?”
“Because you’re mine,” he explained with a gentleness to his tone, approaching you despite picking up on how adamant you were on keeping him at arm’s length. “Don’t you see? Everybody wants to keep us apart. We can be alone now.”
“Haechan, nobody was keeping us apart,” you said, unable to justify his actions.
“Yes, they were,” Haechan argued. “Like the old geezer at your job. He worked you too much and paid you too little. I was doing you a favor.”
You paused as you processed his words. He was talking about your boss. The same boss that mysteriously died a couple of weeks back. You put the pieces together.
You gasped, “You killed him?”
Haechan scoffed. “Don’t give me that look. I know you hated the guy. I remember the smile on your face when you told me your boss was dead.”
“Yuta, Ten, Winter, and Jaehyun weren’t keeping us away from each other,” you hissed, using rage as your fuel and hatred as your anchor. “They did nothing to us.”
“They were nuisances. You spent too much time with them. You’re better off without them anyway, baby. Winter hurt you and laughed in your face. I mean, what kind of best friend does that? Of course, I had to eliminate the bigger threat before I got to her.”
The bigger threat was Jaehyun. He would go to the ends of the earth for Winter and you could tell from the moment he was introduced to you. You gave him the golden stamp of approval for a reason.
Jaehyun would protect Winter until he had nothing left to give. You had no idea how Haechan took him down, but at this point, you didn’t want to know. It made you well with pain. You hoped they met again in the afterlife and in the next one with a much kinder fate.
Haechan continued, “Yuta was too comfortable. I didn’t like how he talked to you. He always got too close, leaning into you and shit. I had enough. And Ten definitely wanted to take you away from me. I know you saw how he looked at you.”
The pressure in your heart was building. You couldn’t breathe. You needed a pulse. The whole world was upside down. “You said… you said it didn’t make you angry. You told me that you didn’t care about those kinds of things. I thought you were different.”
“Don’t you dare compare me to them,” Haechan chided, stepping closer. You stumbled and he caught you in his heavy arms, not letting up even when you tried to swat him away. “I love you better than your exes ever did. They didn’t care for you, baby. They could never love you like I do. Nobody can.”
Struggling in his arms, you screamed in his face, “My exes didn’t kill all my fucking friends!”
Haechan started to laugh. You gaped at him and his audacity. There was no kind of levity in this situation and yet he was humored. You knew now that your boyfriend was a goddamn psychopath.
You managed to slip away from him by grace of his distractedness and barked, “What the hell is so funny?”
Haechan explained through bursts of laughter, “Do you think I could have killed four people by myself? We did this together, baby. Just look at yourself.”
You reluctantly did as told. That was when the blood on your clothes finally made sense and you started to feel dirtier than ever. Was your friends’ blood on your hands? That would explain the blood on Winter’s sheets.
Unable to endure the pain, you dropped to your knees, losing the strength to stand. The blood was everywhere. It stained your palms. Now, conscious of its presence, you were hyper aware that you were covered in your friends blood and the feeling was akin to being dipped in acid.
How could you have only now noticed? You were too frenzied searching for your friends, searching for a spark of life in this desolate city.
You clung to denial, chanting through sobs, “No. No, no, no.”
“Shh,” Haechan sang, pulling you into his embrace gently. He had stopped laughing, but this was a man incapable of empathy. No matter how convincing he was. “We’re finally alone, sweetie. No one to steal you from me.”
You hated yourself for not loathing the way his body felt around yours. There was a big part of you that wanted to go back to a couple of hours ago, when you thought it was only him and you in this world, and you had no idea the traumatic experience you’d have only hours later.
That made the world stop. You found peace for a split second before hell peeled the corners of your vision again. Your head rose up, and you looked Haechan in his empty, dark eyes.
Had you imagined the spark there? No. You had to look deeper. There was a fire there, a web of temptation, desire, and viciousness. That was what you saw in him. It was passion, but you had mistaken it for a different kind.
“Haechan?” you called out.
Your boyfriend said pleasantly, “Yes, my dear?”
“Did you put something in my champagne?”
“Yes.”
At least he was honest. For once.
“You spiked my drink,” you began, voice cracking. “Because you knew I would never agree to your sick ways in my right mind.”
To your dismay, Haechan didn’t deny the accusation, only giving you a sickening smile and stroking your hair gently. Like your whole world wasn’t upside down now. He, like this was some kind of joke, merely said, “Ahchoo.”
You bristled with a vicious wrath. Haechan was out of his goddamn mind. He didn’t give a single fuck about what he had done and frankly, you’d had enough of trying to converse. You needed to get out of here immediately and seek help. There was no way you would play along with his twisted delusion.
A chimera.
Your heart stopped when you once again came to the brutal realization that your phone was trapped in Yuta and Ten’s cabin. You knew Haechan would never let you get away with a phone call. If you could even make one. In the middle of nowhere, there was no such thing as Wi-Fi or service.
Plus you were surrounded by acres of trees and water. Where the hell would you go? The main road would be too damn obvious even if you somehow managed to get there. And without a car, you were positively out of luck.
Haechan’s tone was saccharine, but there was only poison in his voice as he leaned into your ear and warned, “Whatever you’re thinking; don’t you fucking dare.”
You glared Haechan dead in the eyes, adrenaline coming over you, and you gave him a smack across the face.
Then, you leapt up and bolted into the woods. Haechan only laughed when you slapped him, but you didn’t turn around, and you damn sure didn’t stop. Fucking psycho, you sneered. 
You vanished into the thick trees, now grateful for the darkness, though time was running scarce. Daylight would be approaching soon. Shock made you lose track of time. There was no telling how long you’d spent losing what remained of your sanity.
You were a livewire, blood pumping in your ears. The sound of twigs snapping behind you made you hyper aware of Haechan’s manhunt and you knew he wasn’t far behind, but you never gave up. Your legs ached from the lack of oxygen, but your white flag was still lowered. You would never give him the satisfaction of surrender until you knew you’d done all possible to save yourself.
Your lover called out from somewhere behind you, “You can run, baby - I love a chase - but you can’t hide.”
The rage blindsided you. He was the epitome of a nightmare dressed like a daydream. How could you not have noticed? This was the man you spent every spare second of your day with. How could you not have seen him for the creature he truly was beneath the surface?
Haechan liked the hunt. There was still a chipperness to his tone even as he followed the noise of your feet scurrying through those dark, wicked woods. He was evil. He was a monster. But you knew now that the villains of this godforsaken town were not ghosts or spirits - they were the very people you trusted with your life.
Tears blurred your vision and shock made the world swivel. You refused to be another rumor. You refused to be reduced to another campfire story. You would fight for your life up until your very last exhale.
“Where do you plan on going, darling?” Haechan asked, tone welling with concern. “There’s nothing or no one out here for miles. You’ll die out here before you find someone to save you.”
You slammed into a tree and swore louder than you would’ve liked, knowing Haechan was hot on your trail because you could hear him chiding you for being so clumsy.
“But you didn’t die out there,” said your therapist.
You bobbed your head. “I got back up and I ran,” you told her, shuddering as you were forced to place yourself back in what was easily the worst day of your goddamn life. “He was so close. I ran into the daylight. I was in those woods for days. I had nothing. No food, no water.”
“You had resolve,” the therapist corrected. “Because of that, you’re here to tell the story.”
You nodded a little, because you only barely survived. You genuinely thought you would die that night. If not by Haechan himself, then eventually hunger or dehydration.
“Why does this always happen to me?” you cried. “Every time I fall for someone, they treat me like a possession. But I never thought it would go this far. How come I didn’t realize until it was too late? I even…their blood is on my hands.”
The therapist stopped you right there. “He took advantage of your trust and adulterated your champagne without your knowledge to make you easier to manipulate. You said it yourself. He knew you would never agree in your right mind.”
None of her consolation helped. Half a year had passed since the most traumatic event of your life. The wound still felt fresh. You could still hear your friends’ voices and see their faces following you everywhere.
And knowing that their blood was on your hands made things even worse. You could hardly live with yourself. None of this would have happened if you would have never met Haechan, if you would have never given him the time of day. They would still be here, living their lives.
It wasn’t fair that only you and that monster survived that day. You despised yourself for giving him access, but you loathed him for what he took from you.
For what he took from them.
She asked, “Have the nightmares stopped?”
The nightmares started a little after that weekend and hadn’t ceased since. They would return to you every single night as you slept, more or less the same as before. You would be running for dear life as Haechan hunted you down. The setting was never the same. Some nights, he would chase you through a labyrinth of trees. Others, through a never-ending hallway. No matter the setting, he would hunt you until he finally caught you and leapt over you.
But only once he uttered the same four words in your ear would you wake, “You’re all mine now.”
They were simple, but they never failed to creep the living hell out of you.
You shuddered. “No. But they’ve become less frequent.”
“And why do you think that is?”
You shrugged. “I don’t know. It happened after I started spending time with this guy.”
That piqued her interest. “New boyfriend?”
“Not really,” you replied, the mere thought making you tremble. “I’m talking to this guy - Mark. He’s really sweet and I do like him, but I told him I’m not ready for a relationship. Frankly, I’m not sure if I ever will be again. But we still spend time, because I like his company.”
“That is a completely normal response after being exposed to a traumatic event. It may cause you to be emotionally distant, self-protective, and wary of others intentions. It is a difficult part of the process of healing and learning how to navigate through life as you did before.”
Though you already knew the answer, you asked, “Will my life ever be the same?”
“Not likely,” the therapist told you honestly. “This is a new beginning for you. You’ll be learning to shed your old skin and adapt.”
You frowned.
The therapist concluded the session not much later and you went home. Therapy was new for you. Ironically enough, it was never your idea. Instead of pressuring you into explaining what the hell happened to you, Mark suggested you tried therapy.
To think of the boy sitting at home waiting for you was bittersweet. You sincerely enjoyed spending time with Mark, but you simply couldn’t bring yourself to be vulnerable with him. Like the therapist said, you were being self-protective and wary of his intentions. No matter how hard you tried, you knew you would never be able to trust the same way again.
It made you feel as if you were keeping Mark’s heart chained away. Mark was gentle and the one to suggest you take things slowly, but a godawful feeling plagued you whenever reminded he was waiting for the girl he always wanted. And there was a chance you could never be that girl.
You wondered what he saw in you. What he saw in a girl so broken that she couldn’t bring herself to love anyone. Did he want to take advantage of your vulnerability? Was he the same kind of evil as the ones before him?
Love was a wager, but you had no more of yourself to give.
As you stepped inside your car, you monitored everything around you and likely quadruple-checked the backseat. Ever since that fateful day, you were hyper aware of your surroundings. You may have escaped Haechan, but that didn’t mean he would never come back to stake his claim to you.
You drove, obsessively checking your rear-view mirror. Nobody was following you, but you could never be too safe. You were more wary than usual today. There was something in the air.
Or maybe you were just extremely paranoid. That was more plausible.
You hated driving through town. There was a song on the radio and it reminded you of Winter, because she would burst out singing whenever it came on. Jaehyun would be sure to duet with her. You changed the station.
Then, you passed by a bookstore. That was where you met Ten. You remembered the very second your hands touched the same novel, fingers brushing against each other’s, and the glare you both exchanged then said loud and clear that neither of you would be backing down. But when he learned you had a copy of a book he’d been tirelessly hunting for, he let you have it and you promised to swap later.
Unbeknownst to you, Ten freaked the hell out that night when it hit him that he had unintentionally scored a very pretty girl’s number.
It was over for you when you saw the lake sitting at the side of the road. Yuta would meet you there for an afternoon jog whenever you had the spare time. Your friends would argue it was too romantic, but Yuta never gave a fuck what other people think. You were close, but he knew where you stood and Yuta would rather die than bone you.
Tears threatened. Why couldn’t you get them out of your head? The guilt was eating you alive. You wanted your life back. But you tainted the chance of normalcy the second you caught a monster’s goddamn eye.
As soon as you got home, you noticed another car parked in the driveway. Mark’s car. He asked if he could come over earlier to see you after your therapy session. You told him, “You know where the spare key is.”
It was definitely frightening, but you wanted to trust Mark. He displayed no suspicious signs, no red flags. Then again, neither did Haechan. And everyone knew how that story went.
No happy ever after.
There was an overwhelmingly strong aroma of sauces and spices hitting you square in the nose the moment you stepped inside your house and there was a trail of roses predictably leading from the front door to the dining room. You cocked a brow. Since when did Mark learn how to cook? This was the same boy that could barely make instant noodles without burning you both alive.
“Mark?” you called out.
No reply. Which was odd. Mark couldn’t wait to see you.
You hung your coat and followed the trail of rose petals as that was obviously what you were intended to do. The sound of old school romance music began to play even louder the closer you inched and you shuddered at how much it reminded you of Haechan.
When he was bored, he would turn on the speaker and sing his heart out to you, making you laugh at how he danced and gave you a five-star performance.
The memories used to make you smile fondly. Now, you were a well of unadulterated fear.
Even this specific song tore you down. Haechan loved Michael Jackson more than anyone you ever knew. As far as you were concerned, Mark was more of an old school rap guy.
You finally approached the dining room and your heart ricocheted at what you saw. There was Mark, bound to a chair with a gag in his mouth. And Haechan stood there with a twisted smile on his face as he saw you, holding a gun to Mark’s head.
“Mark,” you gasped, knees buckling.
You could hear Mark whimper faintly, though his voice was muffled. He looked at you with total fear in his eyes and you were more than apologetic, the self-loathing returning as you knew the innocent life of yet another person would ultimately be destroyed because of you.
Haechan playfully whined, “What about me? I’m here, too.”
“You fucking monster!” you screamed.
Your now ex-boyfriend switched on a dime and pointed his gun at you, sneering, “Sit down.”
With a fatal weapon pointed to you, you quickly complied, finding a seat at the table. You noticed there were two plates there, each at the head of the table. Mark was forced to sit at the side.
Because he had no part in this game. He was only another nuisance, as Haechan had put it in his own terms. Another obstacle to be eliminated. Tears stung your eyes.
Your ex was delighted by your submission and took his seat at the other end of the table, facing you, but he kept his gun tucked close. You couldn’t ignore the plates in front of you both. Only God knew how long he had been waiting for you. You knew he wanted you to play into the fantasy you’d obstructed six months ago, however, your ex-boyfriend was anything but deterred.
“I’m glad you finally made it. Mark and I were waiting for you to join us,” Haechan said, as if this was some friendly gathering and not a hostage situation. “Although, he was an unexpected guest. But it’s no biggie.”
You sat there and pleaded, “Haechan, please don’t hurt him. This has nothing to do with him. You want me? Just take me. Leave him alone.”
Haechan’s tone was lighthearted despite the betrayed nature of his words, “Wow. You like him that much? I thought I meant something to you.”
“That was before you slaughtered our friends like a beast,” you hissed, seething.
Haechan corrected, “More like a pack of wolves. Everything we do is a group effort, baby. We’re a team. We’re in this together. There is no you without me and no me without you.”
You met Mark’s eyes and instantly knew what he was thinking. This guy is a total psychopath.
He could tell this was what you had been hiding and you were aware. You had never discussed your trauma with him at length and Mark never made you feel any pressure to. Now, he understood what had you so scarred.
You called with disdain, “Donghyuck.”
Haechan ignored you calling him by his government name and changed his tone, feigning woundedness, “I can’t believe you tried to replace me, baby. You even told him where the spare key is. Did you actually think I wouldn’t come back to take what’s mine?”
“I’m not yours, Donghyuck,” you told him, words dripping with vitriol. “And I never will be again. You had your chance and you blew it.”
“How could you say that?” Haechan asked, eyes wide and dark with an emotion you had no intention of understanding. “After all I’ve done for you. All I’ve done for us so that we could be alone together. I love you so much.”
For a second, you were at a loss for words, then explained, “This isn’t love. This is obsession. You need help.”
Haechan furiously snapped, “I need you. And I will stop at nothing to have you.”
Your ex-boyfriend stood to his feet and you entirely expected hell to break loose, but you were thrown for a loop when Mark tackled him to the ground, somehow unraveling his ropes while Haechan was distracted by you.
Mark screamed at you, “Run!”
You hesitated. You didn’t want to leave Mark there alone to die. The past six months had been spent trying to recover from the blood on your hands and you couldn’t go through that torture. There was a chance you would lose another part of your sanity that you barely had as is. But Mark gave you a look and you bolted out of there.
As soon as you slipped out the front door, you heard a gunshot echoing and trembled, but you never stopped running. Your phone was in your car. You glanced around, expecting at least some of your neighbors to be concerned by the noise, though no one came.
Your brows furrowed. There were cars parked in most of the driveways and this was a notably safe neighborhood. How could nobody care?
The moment you got to your car you collapsed in relief when you saw your phone and immediately tried to dial the police, but strangely, your phone had no connection. You threw your head back frustratedly and nearly screamed at the top of your lungs.
You didn’t even want to ask what the hell was going on. Haechan had returned to resume unfinished business, and this time, he would not leave empty-handed.
Your only other option was to go find help and you felt a twinge of worry sitting in your stomach when you realized that entailed leaving Mark by himself. You had no idea what was happening - or had happened - in that house.
Without any other options, you searched for your keys and froze when you remembered that you’d left them in the pocket of your coat. Which you had hung up inside.
You heard the front door creaking open and exhaled in relief when you realized it was only Mark, escaping unscathed. For now.
Mark was heaving for breath and incredulous when he noticed you only standing there. “Why haven’t you left?”
“I left my keys inside,” you explained frantically, running into his arms. “I tried to call the police, but it didn’t work. And nobody came outside after the gunshot. I think he did something.”
Mark made a face because despite both your cars parked in the driveway, he didn’t have his keys, either. “We have to go right now. None of us were shot. He’s going to come looking for you any second now,” he said, grabbing your hand and yanking you down the street.
You could hardly match his long strides, but adrenaline gave you a surge of strength. Between your feet and your pulse, you couldn’t decide what was quicker. Your heart was thumping so loudly you swore Mark could hear.
The curiosity consumed you and you asked through ragged breath, “How’d you get out of the ropes?”
“Five years of summer camp in a row,” Mark explained. “I never thought learning how to untie knots would benefit me, but look at God.”
Noticing how tightly he was holding your hand only made you weaker. You hoped and prayed you would come out of this unscathed. Not only you, but Mark too. You couldn’t lose another person at the hands of your psychopathic ex-boyfriend. The guilt and self-hatred would consume you. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I didn’t mean to drag you into this,” you cried.
“We’ll talk about this when we’re safe,” Mark told you, clearing another corner.
You heard Haechan’s smooth voice calling after you, but his tone was downright spine-chilling. He was out for blood. Mark held you closer to his chest as you both sprinted down the sidewalk, praying to god Haechan didn't know where you’d gone.
It was downright odd. Why was no one there but you three? The weather was perfect for an afternoon walk with your dog around the neighborhood, but there was nobody. Not even someone tending to their garden or taking out the trash. And how had no one bat an eye at the piercing sound of a gunshot?
Wondering if it was a coincidence or if there was something much more nefarious at work made your head spin. The emptiness was unnerving. You couldn’t comprehend how Haechan could have gotten the entire neighborhood to evacuate, but you had underestimated him once. You weren’t keen on doing so again.
Having Mark there to support your weight was the only thing keeping you from dropping to the ground in surrender. You were just so tired. You were tired of running, tired of mustering the strength to rouse another day only to be haunted by guilt and regret. It was close to consuming you. And there would nothing of you to remain. You were running on empty. Your body was exhausted, but your mind was worn thin.
“Come on,” Mark said, noticing your strength dwindling. “You can do this, baby. We can get out of here.”
Mark ground to a halt to face you and softened when he saw your eyes. He could tell this had ruined you. He would never know the girl you were before Haechan alas broke you.
There was an uncanny resemblance between now and your nightmares. Haechan was hunting you down like an animal, hot on your heels. Only now, you had Mark to protect you. But deep inside, you knew there was nothing that could stand in Haechan’s way when he wanted something.
Mark cradled you in his arms when you slept and kept the monsters under your bed away. But this was the real thing. He couldn’t save you. No one could.
It all just happened so fast.
A loud snap rended the air and the very next second, Mark was crouching on the asphalt, stomach gaping with blood. He was wide-eyed, a hand cupping his stomach.
“Mark!” you screamed.
You dropped to your knees, crouching beside him, and tried desperately to keep the blood from leaving him all too soon. But there was so much. The sight of the deep color staining your hands only made you nauseous with deja vu.
Mark was weak, still on the sidewalk. He couldn’t scream, but you could see the pain in his pretty eyes. It thoroughly devastated you.
“Don’t leave me. Please, Mark,” you begged, tears stinging your eyes. But you couldn’t hear yourself speak. You couldn’t hear yourself think. You were so fixated on Mark slowly fading away beneath your fingertips that you didn’t notice the presence behind you until it was too late.
Haechan’s voice was saccharine but his eyes were welling with ire, “He’s not going to make it, darling. There’s no one out here to help him.”
You ignored Haechan, plagued by fear or hatred or all of the above. Watching Mark die would be too overwhelming. At least you had no recollection of your friend’s deaths. Seeing Mark take his final breaths would kill you too. “Keep your eyes open for me,” you told Mark, noticing he was going cold. “Keep them open!”
Mark was struggling, but he tried for you. You could feel the last piece of you die as he fought for his life and you sat there, unable to do anything to keep him stable. He was dying. He reached for your hand with his trembling arm and squeezed with all the strength he could muster.
That angered Haechan and seething with rage, he coiled his arms around you, pulling you away from Mark.
You kicked and threw your arms back, screaming at the top of your lungs, “Get your hands off me, you sick son of a bitch! You’ve taken everything from me! I fucking hate you!”
Haechan was unbothered, only cooing, “You don’t mean that, baby girl. One day you’ll understand that everything I do is out of love for you.”
Mark was coughing up blood now and the sight was horrifying. Tears rolled down your cheeks. You were in so much pain, covered in wounds only you could see. You could only imagine what Mark was feeling now as he took his last breaths.
Mark called out your name faintly and said with the last of his strength, “Thank you for being the best thing to ever happen to me.”
You screamed in agony and grief when Mark’s eyes shut on you. You begged him not to leave you. Though he was only unconscious, you knew you’d seen and heard the last of him.
Your pain was converted to anger and you thrashed in Haechan’s arms, only wanting Mark’s embrace. “Let me go,” you shouted, trying to escape. But to no avail. Your hands burned with his blood. Every inhale was agonizing. “Let go of me!”
“Shh,” Haechan whispered, swiping a trail of tears from your face. “Don’t you see? He was trying to come between us.”
Haechan still kept you close by, but finally released you. You kneeled to the ground, too overcome by dizziness to stand. Your mind was screaming at you. Your heart was pounding. Every piece of you was so dead yet alive altogether. You could only scream, wanting to take your friend’s fate for them.
Nobody heard you. There was nobody there. You cried and raged, but save for you, Haechan, and Mark’s lifeless body, the whole neighborhood was empty. You were alone in your pain and suffering and nobody would hear you cry.
“Why?” you turned to Haechan and screamed, lips trembling. “Why do you keep doing this to me?”
Haechan pressed his lips to your ear and told you with no hesitation, “Because there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
Had you not already dissolved into tears, you would have. Life as you’d known it was forever gone because of this man and it had become unbearable now. There was no way you could live with yourself anymore. The guilt was overpowering. You were being self-protective, but Mark had died to protect you. Winter, Jaehyun, Yuta, and Ten had died at your expense. The feelings that plagued you now were simply too much for the human mind to handle.
Your palms hit the ground, scuffing the asphalt. Your body was limp with defeat. There was no fight in you anymore. He had broken you.
“You win,” you croaked, surrendering. “Whatever this game is, you fucking win. I can’t do this anymore.”
Haechan beamed, all too excited by those words. “I knew you would come around.”
Haechan cradled you in his arms and you let him. You had no more strength or will to fight him. He had milked you dry. You only sat there unmoving, wondering where you’d gone wrong. If this could have been avoided or if Haechan destroying your life was merely inevitable.
Pain throttled you, hands clamped bruisingly around your neck. You cried and screamed until it was out of your system and your voice no longer worked. Haechan endeavored to soothe you the whole time, stroking your back. Even your tears were precious to him. He hated to make you cry, but one day you would understand why this needed to happen.
For now, he had won. You said it yourself. There was a big grin on his face as he claimed victory.
“There, there. It’s time to go now, babe,” Haechan cooed, lifting you into his arms. He liked that you still instinctively wrapped your arms around your neck, and he stared into your eyes, in love with the beauty within them. “You’re all mine now.”
“I’m yours,” you repeated back quietly, accepting. “All yours.”
A single tear slipped down your cheek.
#haechan smut#nct 127 smut#nct smut#nct dream smut#haechan x reader#nct imagines#haechan imagines#nct x reader#nct#nct scenarios
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When You're Gone (Reupload)
Characters: Satoru Gojo, Suguru Geto, Nanami Kento
Reader: Fem!reader
Warnings: Angst, readers death, violence, blood, swearing, pet names
Context: The reader ends up dying due to missions/illness. This is their reaction after you are gone.
Word Count: 3,109
A/N: Hello my sweets! Unfortunately, I got locked out of my old blog account, so I had to make a new one! So, chances of you having seen this before are high as it's on my old account! (I am so sad about it honestly). But I am going through all my old accounts posts and reuploading them here! I hope you can still enjoy my works!
Part 2
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Gojo
Gojo stood there with his eyes wide and mouth slightly open as he listened to Shoko give him the news. "Gojo… I'm so sorry." She whispered, unable to make eye contact with her old friend. He said nothing; all Gojo could do was stand there, his body trembling as his sapphire eyes trailed towards the open door behind Shoko, whose lips were still moving. There, through the small opening, he could see it. The table in which your now dead body lay unmoving and cold. 'She's right there…' Gojo thought while his fingers twitched, eyes wavering.
Shoko, who hadn't been able to look at her friend, slowly lifted her eyes only to stare in shock at what was before her. Gojo stood there not uttering a single word while tears leaked from his eyes. Shoko took note of the blood dripping from his lip as he unconsciously bit down on the tender flesh. "Gojo you-" He was gone Before she could finish her sentence. Three days later, he watched as your body entered the ground, or at least what was left of your body. "They say it was a special grade curse. It came out of nowhere and killed her comrades and the other sorcerers with her." Someone whispered. "I heard that Gojo was supposed to accompany them but got busy with another mission." Another added.
Gojo stood silently before your grave, his eyes masked with a blindfold. Though he appeared like he wasn't listening to anyone, he was. He listened to everyone at your funeral, ensuring that no one had bad-mouthed your name in his presence. 'Good…your name is still clean, my star.'
About a week after your death, Gojo requested to go on a mission due to his eagerness to get back into the field, so soon after your death, rumors began to spread amongst the sorcerers. Some said that Gojo was running away, while others claimed he never cared for you. As these rumors spread back home in another area of the country, Gojo stood in a deep crater; blood littered the space around him as curses kept coming from all directions. Gojo stood there, his usual sunglasses perched on the bridge of his nose.
He let out a deep breath while stepping forward, his body wobbling as if he wasn't fully aware of his movements. "Enough…" He whispered, his voice filled with venom. The curses paid him no mind while charging towards the sorcerer, each one determined to end his life. Gojo grits his teeth; if his jaw were to clench more, it would break. "Just hurry up and fucking die! All of you!" he shouted, tears running down his face. Gojo's eyes, usually so clear and bright as day, were bloodshot and contained a dark hue. "Die! Die! Die! Dammit!" He screamed as loud as he could while annihilating every curse.
Gojo's mind was blank of all rational thinking, his breathing heavy while his chest ached with each movement he made. "Why do you keep taking them from me?!?! What did I do to you, dammit?!?!" Gojo cursed all the gods, his heart unable to process any more pain. An image of you flashed through his mind. You were so beautiful as you stood in front of him. Your body language was everywhere as you shyly avoided eye contact with him.
"Haha! What's got you acting all shy like this? Am I that handsome that just standing next to me is too much?!" He cried out dramatically while pretending to shy away from false embarrassment. You stood there with a pout while looking up at your childish boyfriend. "Oh, shut up! As if!" Gojo just laughed while you punched his chest. You looked at him with a slight frown on your face. "Why do you always do that?" Gojo hummed, looking at you with a curious brow. "You always let me touch you…why?" Your question caused him to look up in thought before he smiled. "Don't know! I guess I love you that much!" He laughed, watching the giant blush cross your face as you looked away.
"A-anyways, Here!" You yelled, shoving the neatly wrapped gift towards him. He looked at the present, slightly surprised, before smiling as he happily snatched it from your hand. "Oh~ What's this~?" he sang while carefully unwrapping the gift. He smiled, seeing the glasses case, remembering how he had mentioned needing a new pair of sunglasses almost a month ago. He carefully opened the case, noting that this was the brand he loved. You were always so thoughtful and careful when it came to details. He loved how your eye would twitch whenever he purposely forgot an item you needed for events or cooking.
"So you won't complain anymore." Your words snapped him out of his thoughts as he looked at you. You stood there with a slight pout as you nervously messed with your fingers. "You keep forgetting so…I thought it would be a nice present." He felt his heart flutter as he watched you grow embarrassed, the blush on your face making him want to smother you in kisses. "Awe! My Y/n is the sweetest and most thoughtful!" He gushed while picking you up bridal style. You just screamed at him, face red, "I-idiot! Satoru put me down! I hate you!" You cried out while he just laughed.
Gojo stood there panting while the last curse vanished before his eyes. Just then, the bridge connecting his lens snapped, causing the sunglasses to fall from his face. He quickly caught them in his hands, staring down at the broken pieces. Tears formed in his eyes again as he bit his lip before falling to his knees.
"How am I supposed to get new glasses now, Y/n? I can't remember anything without you."
_______
Geto
Geto ran through the hospital corridors, screaming your name as he pushed past anyone in his way. His heart clenched when he turned the corner and saw his friend hunched over while sitting on the waiting bench. "Satoru! Where is she?!" Geto cried as he reached his best friend. Gojo looked at him with a pained expression as he slowly went and stood in front of your boyfriend. Gojo made sure to take in his friend's current appearance. Geto stood there, hands on his knees as his body heaved heavily with each gasp of breath. His hair started falling out of his usually kept bun while his eyes strained and filled with fear. It pained Gojo to see his best friend looking like such a wreck, and for good reason.
"Suguru…" He spoke in a defeated voice, tears pricking the corners of his eyes. Getos's heart stopped when he heard his name. he could feel his knees shake as he reached for his friend. "Hey…come on." He started as he gripped Gojo's uniform, his knuckles turning white. "She's fine, right, Satoru? She's really strong, remember! So she has to be…fine…" Geto trailed off as his mind processed the wet feeling on his hands. His body stiffened as he slowly looked down at the clothing he held in his fists. There, he noticed the blood staining the fabric. Tears started to spill from his eyes as he shook Gojo while screaming. "No! No! No! You promised me, Satoru!" cries echoed throughout the empty hall as Geto fell to his knees.
"You both promised me you'd be fine." Those words stung the blue-eyed sorcerer, who couldn't help but fall to the floor with his friend as he held him in his arms, mumbling apologies after apologies. "Tell me this is just one of her jokes, Satoru… It's one of her fucked up jokes." Geto continued to cry as loud as he could, unable to accept your sudden death. The next day, Geto had you cremated and brought you back to your shared home. You had no family and had always talked to him about how if you were to die first, you wished to be turned to ashes so you could still be near him. "What a stupid thing," Geto whispered as he sat on the floor, hugging your urn like it would vanish instantly, just like you had from his life.
________
Weeks went by, and no one had heard anything from Geto. He stayed locked inside his home, his eyes void of emotion as dark circles lay under his eyes from the immense lack of sleep. He sat on the floor of your shared room, scanning all the clothes and items that littered the area. His eyes felt so dry from all his tears within the last few weeks. He let out a small groan as he pinched the bridge of his nose before taking note of the small hairpin in his hand. It was a black hairpin with gold flakes splattered around it, a small crescent moon resting at the end with two small star chains that hung off it. He remembers seeing you always wear it, claiming it was your favorite.
"You know I can always buy you a new one, right?" Geto asked as he sat on the edge of your shared bed, his arm resting on his knee as he placed his chin in his palm. "Huh? What are you talking about?" You asked your boyfriend, a questioning look on your face. You were never one to ask for anything, nor did you like it when people bought you things, which was tough for Geto as he just wanted to spoil you. "The hairpin…you wear that one all the time. Don't you want a new one?" You just looked at Geto with a slight smile on your face.
"I don't mind wearing this one all the time! Besides, it's my favorite one!" You laughed, a slight hue on your cheeks while you went and gently touched the hairpin. "It's so beautiful and brings me joy…p-plus it reminds me of someone." With those last few words, Geto's ears twitched as a sly grin crossed his face. "Oh~ and do say who that someone is, my little angel~" Geto teased as he went and grabbed you by the waist, making sure to pull you back onto the bed with him. You just squealed as you laughed lightly, hitting his chest.
"Suguru! Stop it, you dummy!" Geto closed his eyes in bliss, loving how your laugh sounded so angelic to his ears. "Gosh, I love your laugh." He whispered as he hid, nuzzled into the crook of your neck. You blush, a slight smile on your face as the hairpin makes a little noise while you move to kiss Geto. He hummed as you pulled away before you started playing with each other's hair. "I love your hair… It's so pretty." You cooed, giving a strand a small kiss. Geto blushed before doing the same to yours. "I love yours as well."
Geto sat there, tears falling from his eyes once again as he clenched the hairpin in his hand, bringing it towards his lips and placing a shaky kiss.
"Y/n…my angel… who's going to play with my hair now…I wanna place this hairpin in your hair once again."
________
Nanami
Nanami stood there, eyes wide, as he held your hand in the hospital bed. You had been diagnosed with an incurable illness when you were very young. He knew this when he first asked you to be his girlfriend. He had thought that the disease wouldn't kill you for a long time as it had been over ten years since you had been diagnosed. He was such a fool. About five years into your relationship, your condition took an immense turn for the worse, and you were left bedridden with a time limit of only three months. Nanami couldn't believe you would be going through his life so suddenly. You, his precious flower.
He had made sure to visit you every single day, minus the days when he was forced away on missions that you would fight him to go on saying things like, "You can't stop saving people and doing your job just cause I'm sick Kento! That's so unattractive!" You would huff while pointing a finger at him. Nanami would flinch as if he were struck with an arrow by your words before setting off the next day to complete the mission as fast as possible. Each day, he would bring you gifts like flowers, books, desserts, you name it. Each time he did, you would scold him, saying things like 'I don't want you to regret spending your money on me.' or 'Kento darling! Just seeing your handsome face is enough for me!' He knew you hated receiving gifts, but at the same time, he loved seeing that soft smile that crossed your face each time it would process in your mind that he was thinking of you.
"Kento darling?" You whisper while your boyfriend lies with you on the hospital bed, his head resting on your chest as his arms wrap around you tightly. "Yes, my flower?" He lifted his head just so his tired eyes could meet your own. You smiled at him as you raised your hands to gently hold his cheeks, your thumbs rubbing the dark circles under his eyes. He instantly relaxed at the feeling of his eyes fluttering shut. "Have you been getting enough sleep?" Kento opened his eyes and saw your frown, causing him to let out a small chuckle as he went and kissed one of your wrists. It was true he was losing so much sleep, but he couldn't help it. Not having you next to him in your shared bed was killing him.
"I'm sorry, my flower…you know I can't lie to you." He whispered before nuzzling his head back onto your chest. You pout at this while resting a hand on his head, carefully running your fingers through his soft hair. He knew you hated when he overworked himself and wouldn't get proper sleep, but it was the only thing keeping him together. "Don't worry… I'll get some sleep right now." He whispered before shutting his eyes, drifting off to your heartbeat. "Kento…please take care of yourself for me." You would whisper once you knew he was fully asleep.
_______
Kento held your hand, tears falling from his eyes as the nurses rushed into the room, one of them gently trying to push him away. He couldn't hear a single word anyone was saying as he gripped your now cold hand, refusing to let go of your soft skin for the last time. You just lay on the hospital bed, a faint smile on your face, while Nanami was pulled out of the room, screaming your name. After your funeral, Nanami completely submerged himself in his work, refusing to take any time for himself or others. Gojo would make sure to stop by to at least annoy Nanami into eating and drinking any of the snacks he would bring to ensure his friend would not suffer from starvation or dehydration.
"Nanami~ I brought you some delicious sweets from this shop I really liked~ Try 'em ~" Gojo sang as he danced into Nanami's office with a plastic bag. Nanami let out a deep sigh from his desk as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Placing his pen down, Nanami slowly lifted his head to look at Gojo, dark circles under his eyes. Gojo whistled, hand on his hip as he placed the bag in front of Nanami with a small thump. "You look like shit." Gojo laughed, earning a low grunt from the man who was already opening some of the snacks given to him. "Hey I'm gonna be going out tomorrow with Itadori if you would like to join us. It's my treat, so at least consider it!" He laughed, giving his friend a thumbs up.
Nanami just hummed, already deciding in his head that he wouldn't be going. Gojo just smiled as he went to leave while giving a lazy wave. "Get some sleep, will you?! Y/n wouldn't be too happy with you right now!" Nanami frowned at the mention of your name being used to guilt him into sleep. He finished eating some snacks and placed the rest aside for his dinner tonight. He rubs his eyes, leaning back in his chair, as he loosens the tie around his neck. He glances down at his desk, staring at the small photo of you happily smiling while wearing that sundress he always loved seeing on you. He smiles slightly at the memory before shaking his head.
He sits in his chair, preparing to focus only on his work. 'Energy pills,' he thinks to himself, having remembered keeping some stored in his bottom drawer from when he used to work all the time before he had met you. Nanami reaches into his drawer only to discover a small sleeping kit neatly placed on everything else. Nanami looks at it, surprised, before noticing a small note slip out from behind. He carefully picks the letter up while inspecting the sleeping kit. "Did Gojo slip this in here?" He mumbled to himself, unimpressed with his childish friend. He sighs as he opens the note, only for his eyes to widen at the familiar handwriting.
My Darling Kento,
Are you surprised? I knew you would be! I had Kiyotaka slip this into your desk to prepare for the future. I'm sure by now I have left this world along with you, my darling, who cherished me like no one else could have if my life had more years. I'm sorry to have caused you such stress, and I know you would scold me for apologizing. I do not regret anything from what we shared. You filled my life with joy, making this illness seem like some crazy thing I made up! I know you are probably working so hard right now, and I want to remind you to take care of yourself, Kento. Even though I am no longer by your side, it would hurt me to know I have caused you so much pain. Please find more happy memories, my darling Kento. I love you so much. Sleep well~
Kento gripped the corner of the letter, feeling it crinkle under his fingers. His giant tears dripped down his face, some landing on your handwriting, causing small smudges. Nanami quickly tries to rid his tears while gritting his teeth before letting out a loud yell as he sweeps everything off his desk, gripping his head as he cries, looking down at the photo of you.
"That's not fair Y/n…you should be making more memories with me."
#jjk#fanfic#fanfiction#jjk x reader#jujutsu kaisen#jujutsu kaisen x reader#gojo x reader#geto x reader#nanami x reader#nanami kento#gojo satoru#geto suguru#x reader#female reader
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Which part of me wasn't good enough?
Art by myangtao on twitter
So most people voted for me to post unfinished drabbles as they are so that's what this is: an unfinished drabble. I wrote it back in august of last year and it was for a collab from a user called bluexiao but that month was very agitated for me, I had lots of family things including helping my grandma recover from a surgery so I never submitted it on time :( And I still can't come up with an ending, so if you like it leave a comment and tell me how would you like it to end. Shall we add some comfort to this story or we leave ig at full angst? Lemme know your thoughts.
"Which part of me wasn´t good enough?” the little puppet had cried, looking up to the distant figure of his god. His creator, the mother who never recognized him.
“Don’t worry, dear boy, for you were always enough for me” you said to the puppet, tending your hand with your heart in it for him.
There was a brief moment of silence.
“Too bad you were never the one I wanted to mean something for” he said bitterly, averting his somber gaze from you.
You retreated your hand with your wounded heart inside of it back to your chest, which ached sharply.
“It’s okay,” you said with a trembling smile on your lips, hiding your pain “It’s normal” you still try to offer him some comfort “We are all not enough for someone we want to please with all our might at least once in our lives”
The silence was so deafening you could hear his uneasy breath. Tears started pricking your eyes, threatening to fall, but you held them in with all your strenght.
"Life can be so cruel sometimes" You muttered and he shooted a glance at you, filled with rage "We always pursue those who don't care about us and we despise those who would die for us," you lamented "Even now, this is the first time you finally look at me, and you do it hatred," you averted your gaze, quickly catching a tear with your thumb, hoping he didn't see it.
Your hands on your chest tend to your wounded heart, trying to soothe its feeble sobs.
The puppet huffed heavily through his nose, observing you with contempt.
"Why would I even look at you?" He barked, with the same lack of mercy he had learned from his mother.
You shook you head gently.
"I just wanted to dry your tears and give you all the affection I felt for you inside this heart." you whispered, said thing still glowing in the center of your bosom "It's not much, but it's all I have." you said, caressing it gently, waiting for it to heal.
His frown didn't leave his face, but this time he glanced at your treasure with interest. That was a heart? The relic he had been meant to hold but was deemed unworthy of?
Was that one yours?
"What would you have done with it? What's in it for me?" He asked cautiously, staring while pondering what to do.
A modest but tender smile perched on your lips.
"I would have hugged you, and craddle you in my arms and told you how much you mean to me. How much I love you with this little heart of mine."
Would that make him feel whole?
Was that all he needed? Would that heart fill the void in his chest?
If there was a possibility, no matter how fleeting it was, he had to have it.
"Prove it." he demanded with the authority he always believed his divine creation bestowed him, as if ignoring the fact that his cheeks were still stained with trails of tears.
You opened your arms for him, your heart shining brighter just by the thought of finally embracing him.
He observed the thing marveled. He wouldn't admit it, but it was far more fascinating than any divinely created machinery he had seen in his long and sad life.
He was ready to tear it away from your chest with a merciless strike of his sword.
But just as the thought was crossing his cold and desperate mind, all his violence was kept in place by your arms.
His eyes widened, shocked. You had closed the gap between the two of you to hug him.
He stayed immobile, unable to process your action, trying desperately to grasp all these new and strange sensations.
The warmth of your body, the softness of your skin, the smell of your hair...the sound of your heart.
He couldn't bring himself to close his eyes when his face was snuggled in your loving chest, your hands caressing his head with immense fondness.
The puppet had never experienced something like that.
After a lifetime of neglect and violence, it was shocking, it was confusing. So he stayed still, unable to process it but unwilling to let go. Bathing in the warm light of your heart.
Since he could not pronounce any more words, you decided to tell him the ones you had wished to tell him for a lifetime.
"You were always enough for me, dearest boy. The sweetest and most beautiful flower," you said, your cheek nestled on his hair.
"Why?" The puppet protested, tears of anger streaming again down his face. Those words were much more than those he wanted to hear from his god, from his mother. And that was the hug she never gave and would never give him.
Then he recieved the most beautiful gift, even if he was unable to appreciate it.
"Because I love you," you admitted, planting an adoring kiss on his head "I always have and I always will..." he grabbed your clothes as if about to push you away to protest "It doesn't matter if you don't love me back, it's okay. It's normal, sometimes our love is unrequited. We both know it very well don't you think?" you smiled at him.
"Why?" He complained, still nudging his head in the sun that was your chest "Why, if you know it? She said it," he cried again, his tears wetting your clothes "I'm fragile, and weak, and I have a hole in my chest that makes me feel empty! I'm not a god like her and I'm not a human like you! You should stay away from a puppet like me!" He exclaimed, taking out his anger on you again.
"If I had a heart like this..." he murmured, his hand making his way up to the center of your chest, where your relic was still shining. The thought of stealing it from you crossed his mind again.
But you stopped him again, cupping his face in your hands to look at him in the eyes.
"You feel a hole in your heart?" You asked, booping his nose with yours.
"Yes!" He whined, squirming in your grab trying to get away.
"And it hurts?"
"Yes!" He barked.
"And it makes you feel like you are empty inside?" You insisted.
"Are you deaf...?" He exclaimed.
"And does it make you feel lost and unlovable, and makes you wander lost through life, from one place to another because you feel you don't belong in any place?" You asked.
"Yes!" He shouted at this point, annoyed by your questions.
"Then what you have in there, my dear boy, is a human heart." you said, pointing the center of his chest with your finger.
He stayed still for a couple of seconds, staring at you, unsettled by your words.
"You are lying." he said, but it was more for himself than for you "You are lying to me." he, repeated, frowning at you in distrust "Look at yours! It's so clean, and warm, and it's shining! And you are so sure about what you want, even if you are insane for even thinking about getting near me!"
"That's because I don't deny it, and I take care of it." you said with a gentle smile "Mine also made me wander through lots of places, and has taken me back to you. And it hurts too. You made it hurt when you rejected it," you admitted with a tint of blush on your cheeks. "But I don't deny that pain, I let it hurt and take care of it to heal it, see?" You point at the mended cracks on it's surface.
"I made that?" He asked, looking closely at the healing wounds of your jewel "Even without my sword?" You nodded "And you're still willing to give it to me?"
Maybe there was no need to steal it from you.
You closed your eyes and sighed. You nodded again.
"Only if this time you accept it." you said, stepping back to cut the hug and taking a hand to your chest.
He wouldn't admit it, but he hated to let your arms go.
"I'll take it, for I was made with no heart and the one I was destined to yield was denied to me." he said, hypnotized by the green light of the treasure you were about to gift him.
You gently shook your head and looked at him with a tender smile. He wouldn't listen to words. He had to see it by himself.
You took your heart delicately and then you stretched it to offer it to him.
He took it with both hands, impatient and desperate, his tears finally drying.
It glowed intensely, warmly, it twinkled between his fingers, as if it was overjoyed of finally being with him. You observed him with a smile again.
But when he took it to his chest, nothing happened. It didn't fit. It didn't enter.
"Told you it wasn't going to work," he said, a knot tying his throat tightly. He was tempted to throw it away in anger, but he still held it to his chest where the hole ached sharply.
You shook your head, enveloping his hands in yours. He lifted his gaze to look at you.
"I told you," you whispered, leaning close to him, trying to comfort him with your warmth "It's because you already have a heart of your own. All you've been looking for was always inside of you." he shook his head too, unwilling to believe you, closing his eyes shut to avoid dropping more tears.
"It's just a hole." he cursed.
"Shh..." you hushed his angry cries, taking your lips to his forehead "It feels like a hole like any human heart. Because you have been denying it and starving it. You have to find it and feed it."
You wrapped an arm around his shoulders. He was getting used to your touch. Then you used you other hand to press your heart to his chest.
He leaned closer to you. The light was warm and cozy.
"See?" You said, pointing at his chest with your glance.
Sorry to cut it but this is all I've got to this drabble, if you got any ideas on how to end it lemme know😅
#scaramouche x reader#fanfic#genshin impact#genshin x reader#genshin x you#genshin fanfic#writing#scaramouche x you#scaramouche#reader insert#kunikuzushi#genshin fluff#scaramouche fluff#scaramouche angst#genshin angst
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Chris Motionless x Reader
Shades Of Purple
Part 6: Orchid
Warnings: Language, mention of Ronnie Radke, some angst, hurt/comfort, fluff
Taglist: @skulliecadaver-blog @witchyweeb34 @cookiesupplier @raydenrrobertson @sakuracyberhex @beaker1636 @lyschko666 @black-damask1999 @synthetic-wasp-570 @jilliemiw86 @tearfallpixie @vinyardmauro @thatchickwiththecamera @bloody-delusion-expert @th0ughts-pr4yers @zuberweirrd @bxrnthyfears
Part 7: https://www.tumblr.com/talialovesmiw/744126039822925824/shades-of-purple
Part 5: https://www.tumblr.com/talialovesmiw/743496965745229824/shades-of-purple
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Y/N’s POV
“Chris?” I called out, walking down the hallway as I looked for Chris. I hadn’t seen him since this morning after he left my room, and now it was getting really late.
I was really concerned about him. Something was clearly bothering him and it hurt that he wouldn’t tell me what was on his mind. I didn’t want to see him upset, my heart ached seeing him like that.
I remember the look he had in his eyes when he hugged me. They looked so full of pain, sadness and even…guilt? Could he have been feeling guilty about drinking my blood last night? God, I hoped he wasn’t. I was the one that offered my blood to him and reassured him countless times that it was okay. Hell, I’d allow him to do it as many times as he needed. I wouldn't mind if it meant I was helping him. I just wished he would talk to me.
“God, where could he be?” I groaned. I was getting really worried now. I couldn’t find him anywhere and it was frustrating! I was really starting to wonder if something had happened to him..
I leaned against the wall, slumping down as I sighed heavily. What if I caused something to happen? Did I push too far? Did I make him uncomfortable by having him drink my blood? What if him drinking my blood turned out to be a mistake?
No, it couldn’t be! I was helping him, he even thanked me and said he never felt better. I was doing a good thing. I pulled my knees to my chest and closed my eyes. “Please just be okay, Chris..”
“Miss Y/N? Are you alright?” Someone asked. I looked up to see Madison in front of me, looking at me with a concerned look on her face.
“Madison, hey…” I said, getting up from the ground. “Have you seen Chris anywhere?”
She shook her head. “No, I haven’t. I haven’t seen him all day. Perhaps he’s locked himself in his office to get work done?”
“I checked there, he wasn’t there. I’ve looked everywhere for him. I think it might be my fault that he’s not here.” I said quietly, a hint of guilt in my tone.
“Your fault? Why, what happened?” Madison asked with confusion.
“I’m not sure if you were aware or not, but Chris wasn’t eating for quite a few days.”
“Yes, I knew. I even scolded him for not getting proper meals.”
I chuckled a little, “So did I. I was really concerned about him. When he came back one night, he looked sickly due to not eating, so I offered to let him drink from me.”
Madison looked shocked. “Did he?...” She asked slowly.
“Yeah, last night.”
Madison covered her mouth and looked away, a nervous expression on her face. ‘Oh…oh dear…”
I cocked a brow, “What?”
Madison shook her head. “Chris swore he wouldn’t touch a single drop of your blood. He was very insistent about that too. He seemed very against the idea of drinking from you.”
“Yeah, it took quite a bit of convincing. He was afraid he was going to hurt me. But I told him it was okay and that I’d be fine. He was very hesitant, but he did drink my blood. He was very attentive with me during the whole process and even stayed with me for the night to make sure I was alright.”
Madison crossed her arms. “I’m honestly really surprised he actually did it, especially considering his past experiences with drinking from those he cared about.”
I looked at her with confusion. “What do you mean “his past experiences”? What happened?”
Madison looked away, rubbing her arm. “Oh my, I’ve said too much. Forget I said anything.”
Wait, was Chris hiding something from me? What was going on?
I stepped closer to her. “No, tell me what you mean. What happened with his past?”
“That’s something I think Chris should tell you. I have no right speaking for him on that.” Madison sighed, looking down. “It’s very personal and painful for him.”
I furrowed my brows and frowned. “That’s the thing. He doesn’t seem to want to talk about anything. I think that’s why he’s not around. I think he’s hiding somewhere. I just want him to talk to me is all! I feel like he doesn’t trust me..” I admitted, hugging my arms.
Madison offered me a sympathetic look. “I don’t think it’s that. I just think he’s worried you won’t like what you hear.”
I sighed. “If he’s not going to be open with me, I’m not sure how he expects us to get closer. Communication is important.”
Madison nodded in agreement. “Oh definitely. You see, it’s...been quite some time since Chris was in a romantic relationship. His last…didn’t end well. It’s been so long because I believe he was afraid to let himself love again.”
My heart hurt for him at the thought of him denying himself love. He deserved to have someone love him. Now I really wanted to be there for him.
Madison smiled a little. “I was actually the one to convince him to go to the auction. I told him he had the chance to find someone there. Now here we are with you. He seems to really care about you.”
I returned her smile. “Becca said the same thing..”
“Go look for him now. I have a feeling he’s around here somewhere. He needs you, whether he’ll admit that or not.”
“I will. Thanks for the talk, Madison.”
She smiled at me. “Anytime. Let me know if I have to keep his ass in check.”
I laughed, “Noted. I’ll see you later.” I said, waving at her before I turned away.
…………………………………………………………
Third Person POV
Chris had been in the same room the whole day, hiding himself away. He was so distraught over the reminders of his past.
The damn necklace had haunted him with the memories of his last love. The reminders that he had hurt Lena over and over. The reminder that she thought he was a monster…
The little diamond rose charm still sparkled the way it did when he first had it made for Lena. The clasp on the back had a small charm on it that had read “Eternally Yours”. He had really thought Lena would be his soulmate, his forever. How foolish was he for believing that? Surely a monster like him didn’t deserve to have that.
Truthfully, he was hiding because he was afraid to talk to Y/N. He was afraid of opening up to her, he was afraid that if he told her of his past, she’d be horrified. She wouldn’t trust him anymore, she’d be afraid of him! What if she decided to run away and never come back? He was so afraid of losing her that he figured it was best to keep her in the dark about it. At least for now.
God, the more that he thought about it, she was just like Lena. They both cared so much about his well-being, insisting that he drink from them both. They had similar mannerisms and everything..
In fact, she shared similarities to all of the women that he had fallen for. He could see a little bit of her in each of them for different reasons.
And that hurt. It really fucking hurt.
Now it seemed she was becoming a reminder of his mistakes too. No, he shouldn’t be thinking like that! It wasn’t her fault, she had just wanted to help him. And boy did she. Fuck, the way she tasted…
“No, enough of that shit. The more I think of her blood, the more I’ll crave it..” He muttered, running his hands through his hair. That was the problem though. He couldn’t stop thinking of her taste. She was addicting…
Maybe he was better off hiding away from her forever. That way, he’d be protecting her from himself. He couldn’t hurt her if he couldn’t get to her, right? Yeah, he’d just let himself stay in here and rot.
Y/N walked down a few more hallways and was about to walk up the stairs to the balcony before she heard what sounded like soft sobs coming from the door behind her. She turned and pressed her ear to the door. It was Chris, he was crying…
She carefully opened the door, cringing a little at how loud it creaked. “Chris?” She called softly as she approached him.
His head whipped behind him as his eyes landed on me. His eyes were bloodshot and red, and his face was tear stained. “L-little dove, what are you doing in here?” He asked, his voice sounding raspy and tired from crying. Y/N’s heart ached at the sight of him like this.
“I was looking for you and I heard you crying..” Y/N said, now in front of him. “Why are you crying?” She asked, looking at him with such worry.
Chris looked away. He was so afraid of opening up to her. “Listen, don’t worry yourself over me. I-it’s not a big deal, I-I’m fine-”
“No. Don’t pull that, Chris. You’re crying, something is clearly wrong. I want to help you Chris, but I can’t do that if you’re going to keep me in the dark like this.” She scolded him. She took one of his hands in hers and looked up at him with pleading eyes. “Please, let me be here for you. I care about you and I hate seeing you like this.”
“You’re only going to be scared of me if I tell you..” He whispered, feeling more tears forming in his eyes.
Y/N took both of his hands in hers. “No, I won’t be. Madison told me you have a hard past. I’m willing to listen. I can handle it.”
Chris finally looked back at her, “Promise you won’t be scared of me? It’s intense..”
Y/N gave his hands a gentle squeeze. “I promise.” She said with a gentle smile.
Chris took a deep breath before looking down. “There’s a reason I was so against drinking your blood. I’ve had really, really bad experiences with a lot of blood. I can become heavily addicted to the taste of human blood, especially if I really enjoy the taste. Whenever I drank from my past lovers, I got addicted to their taste. I-I got so hooked on their blood to the p-point I was blinded by greed, selfishness and c-cravings. Because of that, I-I ended up h-hurting them in the end..” As he spoke, tears slid down his face and eventually, he broke down and started sobbing.
Y/N pulled Chris into an embrace, rubbing his back soothingly. It all made sense now. He didn’t want to drink from her because he was afraid of hurting her like he hurt people in his past. He didn’t want her ending up like them.
“Shh, it’s okay Chris..” She whispered as he hugged her back tightly. He shoved his face into her shoulder, sobbing heavily as he clung to her.
“N-No, it’s not okay Y/N. I h-hurt so many people in the past because I c-couldn’t control m-myself!” He cried. “I-I don’t want the same thing happening to you. You’ve been s-so kind, you don’t deserve to be p-put through that. I-I should’ve never drank from y-you because you tasted fucking amazing. Y-you should leave me here s-so that way y-you won’t get hurt..”
Y/N pulled back a little to hold his face in her hands. “Don’t you ever say such a thing like that! If you hadn’t had my blood, god only knows what could’ve happened. I could’ve lost you!” She could feel tears of her own pricking the corners of her eyes, the idea of losing Chris upsetting her. She gently wiped Chris’s tears away with her thumb. “I’m not going to leave you either, Chris. I never will. You can’t keep thinking I’m going to end up like those girls if you don’t give yourself a chance.”
He sniffled. “T-that’s the thing. These cravings can c-come out of nowhere, and they’re hard to control. I-I hate to admit this, but I’ve thought about your b-blood so much already. I’m a monster, Y/N. I always will b-be. I can’t forgive myself…”
She shook her head. “You’re not a monster. You’re anything but a monster. You can’t keep beating yourself up over mistakes you’ve made in the past, you’re never going to get better that way. I’m not saying you have to let go of your past, but you have to come to terms with it and move on, become better for yourself.”
She was right again. Chris couldn’t keep punishing himself with that stupid necklace. He couldn’t keep believing he was a monster. He just had to learn how to control himself. He couldn’t have any more of her blood, that was for sure. He could handle that. He only had it once, so it would be easy to get over.
“No more drinking your blood though. Not under any circumstances. I don’t want to risk getting any more addicted to your blood than I already am.” He stated firmly.
Y/N nodded. “That’s fine. I just want you to get better. I want you to be okay, physically and mentally.”
Chris smiled a little. “I will be, in time…”
She smiled back at him. “I’ll be here for you, every step of the way. You don’t have to go through this alone.”
He pulled her back into another hug. “You really are an angel, you know that? You’ve been so wonderful to me, I don’t know how I can thank you.”
Y/N smiled. “Thank me by getting better. Not only for me, but for yourself. Do you think you can do that?”
Chris nodded. “I…I will. I can’t keep beating myself up. I can’t change the past, but I will become better.”
Y/N couldn’t help but smile more. This was a step in the right direction! “Exactly. This is already a great start, Chris. I’m proud of you.”
He pulled away a bit, looking at her almost in disbelief. “You are?” He asked, a bit surprised.
Y/N smiled warmly at him. “Yes, I am.” She said, hugging him one more time. “You’re going to be okay Chris. I know it.”
Chris let out a small chuckle before wrapping his arms around her, holding her against him. “Yeah, I am. I’m going to be okay..”
They stayed like that for a few more moments before Y/N pulled away. “Did you eat anything today?”
Chris shook his head. “No..I haven’t had much of an appetite. I’ve been in here the whole day, I honestly didn't care about eating.”
She frowned. “Please go eat something. It’s important that you have something in your system.”
“It’s close to midnight though. I don’t want to miss our balcony date, little dove..”
“The balcony can wait. You need to eat. I can wait for you until you get back.”
Chris frowned. “Are you sure you don’t mind missing the stars tonight?”
She smiled gently at him. “It’s not a big deal, I can see the stars any night. I’d rather you eat something.”
“Alright, I’ll go out. But please don’t wait up too long for me, okay?”
“I don’t mind waiting. I’m not that tired honestly.”
Chris nodded. “Alright. I’ll be going then.” He said as he stood up. He pressed a kiss to her cheek, “I’ll be back soon.” He said before he left the room. Y/N blushed, holding her cheek.
“I’m so relieved he talked to me..”
…………………………………………………………
Y/N’s POV
It had been hours now, and Chris still hadn’t come back. Usually when he went out, he’d be back after an hour at the most. It had been more than that and I was starting to worry that something had happened to him. I was sitting by a window, leaning my head against it as I gazed out into the night, praying that he was okay.
Madison approached me and sat down next to me. “Did you manage to find him?”
“I did. He told me everything about his past. I’m so glad he did as well. I think it was good for him.”
She nodded. “I agree. It wouldn’t have been good for him to keep it all bottled up.”
“I don’t want to think about what might’ve happened if he didn’t tell me..” I murmured, looking out the window. “He’s been out hunting for a while now. He’s been gone for hours.”
Madison glanced out the window. “That’s strange. He should’ve been back by now. He never takes hours to hunt. I hope he gets back soon, it’s supposed to start snowing any minute now.”
I bit my lip. “Do you think something might’ve happened to him?”
“I’m not sure..” She put her hand on my back as she looked at me with concern “But you should get some rest, it’s really late. He should probably be back in the morning.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep knowing that he’s out there in this weather.” I stood up and started walking to my room. “I’m gonna go out and look for him.”
Madison’s eyes widened and she started following me. “No, that’s not a good idea. It’s freezing outside. The woods are expansive and with the snow, I’m afraid that you’ll get lost.”
“Chris could be lost or even hurt right now! I have to make sure he’s okay, Madison.” I said as I walked into my room and put on a warm coat and boots.
“Are you certain that you’ll be okay out there? I could send someone with you.”
“I’ll be okay, I promise.” I said, giving her a smile.
Madison crossed her arms and gave me a small smile. “You’re extremely brave Y/N. You really must care a lot for Chris.”
“I always will. Nothing will change that.” I said confidently, now fully dressed and leaving my room. “I’ll see you later.”
“Be safe, Y/N.”
…………………………………………………………
Madison wasn’t wrong about the woods being expansive, it went on for miles! One could easily get lost in a place so massive.
Not too long after I started searching, the snow started to come down, and it was heavy. It was not making my search any easier. The large snowflakes made the visibility awful, so it was becoming harder to see. Being mid-January in Pennsylvania, it was freezing as well. I wasn’t going to turn back though, I had to find Chris.
“Chris? Chris, where are you?” I called out as I moved through the forest. “Are you out here?”
A gust of cold wind hit my face and sent shivers down my body, despite my layers. “God damn Pennsylvania weather..” I grumbled as I shielded my face with my hands.
The snow was coming down even heavier now, and I could barely see a thing. It was only becoming colder it seemed, and the wind was howling. It was so strong that it was starting to move me in the opposite direction. I was trying my best to move against the wind, but it was becoming more and more difficult. With one more powerful gust, I was knocked to the ground.
“Fuck!” I cried out. As I stood up, another gust hit me, knocking me down again as a swarm of snowflakes hit me in the face.
“Chris! Where are you?!” I tried yelling again, but it seemed pointless. He wasn’t around..
“Damn it Chris, where are you..” I whispered. I was getting scared now. I was freezing and more than likely lost as well. And what about Chris? Where the hell could he have gone? Was he safe? This wasn’t good, at all..
I sighed heavily, the wind calmed down for a moment which gave me a chance to stand up. I got up and brushed the snow off my body. I was about to turn when I heard something behind me. It sounded like footsteps!
“Chris??” I said in a hopeful tone as I whipped my head around. My heart sank when I saw what it was, or rather WHO it was…
“Huh, wasn’t expecting this now..” Radke chuckled darkly, slowly approaching me. “Hello, pretty.”
“Shit..” I mumbled under my breath. Now things were REALLY bad. What was he even doing out in these conditions? Was he insane?? “W-what are you doing out here?” I stuttered, my tone hostile.
“I need to eat, can’t just starve, even with crappy weather conditions y’know.” He said in a sarcastic tone. I took a few steps backward, trying to create some distance. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, any more steps back and you’ll fall into that lake behind ya.” He said, pointing behind me. I turned my head and gulped. There was in fact a large frozen lake. I looked back and he was in front of me now.
“I really gotta thank you, you’re making my night so easy now.” He growled, snatching my arm roughly with one hand and grabbing my chin with the other. “I’ve got myself a meal now..”
“Let go of me!” I shouted, struggling to rip my arm out of his grasp.
“Oh, I think you misunderstand something here..” Radke cooed, “You and I have got some unfinished business to attend to, sweetheart. You were supposed to be MINE.”
“Well I’m not yours! You don’t get to touch me!” I spat, glaring daggers at him. He grinned a sadistic grin and laughed maniacally which made my blood run cold.
“That’s because you were stolen from me. I’m just here to take what was supposed to be mine.” He whispered darkly. “Now you’re going to be a good girl and let me have my meal..”
My breathing intensified and my heart was going at a lightning speed as I felt his head dip to my neck. I continued to struggle, trying to break free but it was useless.
“Quit struggling. Stay the fuck still.” Radke grumbled, his lips attaching to my neck. He was going to kill me, wasn’t he? Was this how it was going to end?
“Get your hands off her!”
#motionless in white#miw#miw band#motionless in white x reader#x reader#fanfiction#miw fanfic#fluff#light angst#hurt/comfort#vampire au#chris motionless imagines#chris motionless fanfiction#christopher cerulli#chris cerulli#chris motionless#chris motionless fic#chris motionless imagine#chris motionless fanfic#chris motionless x reader#shades of purple fanfiction
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summary: your life with Obi-Wan if Anakin had never turned
Obi Wan x Reader
Daze
As you stepped out of the transport you were met with the sweet smell of flowers and fresh smell of the countless trees and heathlands. The warm sunlight immediately tickled your face, a smile instantly forming on it. Distantly, you heard the soft burble of waterfalls.
Of the countless planets you’ve seen as a Jedi, Naboo had to be your favorite. It was not only the captivating beauty, but mostly the safe feeling it provided you. Like a warm embrace.
Obi-Wan watched you, his eyes dilating at seeing you so content. That was his only goal in life, to make you happy.
He looked down for only a second, dragging his eyes from your radiant smile to the luggage he was holding in his hands.
A smile of his own formed on his face when his eyes moved back to you. This was it, a new and fresh beginning.
The seemingly ever lasting war that had brought you all so much pain, suffering and sadness had finally come to an end, the Republic was as strong as ever and everyone lived in peace again.
Peace, that was what the Jedi had always stood for. Obi-Wan had watched as they had lost their ways during the war, the Jedi had no longer been keepers of peace, but partly the reason for violence.
Even though he was a part of the council, he didn’t agree on many things they did. And most importantly, he didn’t agree on some of the strict rules.
Why were attachments forbidden when yours had only made him happier, stronger, more focused?
Why would they forbid something so beautiful like love? A feeling consuming your whole body and mind, happiness shooting right through you.
Oh- how much he loved you. His heart ached in his chest at only the thought of his love for you, so deep, so pure, so real.
He was swiftly pulled out of his thoughts as he heard the giggling of children close to him.
And as his eyes moved to the platform, he watched little Leia and Luke running to you at full speed.
You had to bite your lip from smiling so much, kneeling down and opening your arms. And as they both made impact with you, you almost fell down at their strength.
You laughed as you pulled both of them as close to you as possible, stroking Leia’s head softly. You had only seen them a few weeks ago, but they had both grown so much.
Both let go of you at once, grinning up at you mischievously. “How have you both been?”, you questioned, now stroking Luke’s head once.
“Great!”, Luke chirped in, but Leia had something to add very soon. “Apart from my annoying brother, everything’s been great.”
You couldn’t stop yourself from laughing and watched as Luke shot you an angry look, running up to Obi-Wan to hug his legs. “That’s the thing about boys, they tend to be annoying a lot.”, you rolled your eyes, clearly referring to Anakin and Obi-Wan.
“Oh is that so?”, a too familiar voice asked and you stood up quickly, grinning up at Anakin. You had to hold back your laugh as you saw the visible dark bags under his eyes and his ruffled hair.
Padmé, who stood next to him, seemed to be looking just fine, as beautiful and effortlessly beautiful as ever.
You hugged them both quickly, before you decided to talk to Padmé for a bit.
Out of the corner of your eye, however, you watched as Anakin and Obi-Wan hugged each other, your heart immediately melting at the sight.
“Are you excited?”, Padmé wanted to know. “More than anything. The only place I’ve ever known is the Jedi temple, I can’t imagine how life as normal citizens will be like.”
Padmé shrugged her shoulders. “I promise, you’ll both love it.”, she began. “With the way this man looks at you, you’ll certainly be in safe hands.”, she continued and you felt your cheeks warming at merely the mention of him, your Obi-Wan.
You felt Obi-Wan coming closer to you, his hand swiftly brushing yours, asking for permission to take it. You instantly opened your palm, intertwining your fingers with his. Warmth spread through your body at just the feeling of his hand in yours. There had to be no hiding anymore, you could love him in public and he wasted no time in showing everyone that you were his.
“Gross.”, Anakin’s eyes moved from your intertwined hands to your face, imitating a disgusted look.
You smacked him lightly, glaring at him. “If you want us to babysit Luke and Leia tonight, you better take that back.”
You watched Anakin’s eyes as they widened, a panicked look appearing on his face. “I’ll take it back. Everything. We need that break.”
You giggled and Obi-Wan could swear it was the most beautiful sound in the galaxy.
He leaned down to whisper something in your ear, his sweet breath tickling your skin. “Since when are they so big and since when can they talk?”
“That’s what I was thinking!”, you whispered back, your gaze moving to Luke who was being chased by Leia.
“Come on, we’ll take you to your new home.”, Padmé and Anakin began to walk away from you and as you moved to take a step, too, Obi-Wan took your arm and stopped you from moving for a second.
You immediately turned to him, your eyes locking with his beautiful blue ones. You would never get used to the color.
What caught you off guard, though, was the longing look in Obi’s eyes as he looked back at you.
You watched him gulp, nervousness written on his face. You quickly intertwined your force presence with his, soothing him just a little.
“If-“, he began, his voice breaking at the end. You watched as he took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a second before regaining his courage.
“If we get settled and we both find a job and earn enough money to live- of course- would you consider-“, he began, his eyes moving to your lips only once.
“Would you consider having this, too?”, he moved his head to Padmé’s and Anakin’s. “Building a family?“, he finished, his eyes hopeful.
“Of course only if you want to, and if you are ready. If you don’t want children at all, we don’t have to, the only thing I want is you in my life-“
You interrupted him by placing a hand on his face and it was only then that he saw the tears building up in your eyes. “There’s nothing else that I want.”, you whispered.
Obi’s eyes dilated immediately, his heart racing in his chest. He moved his eyes to your lips once again and caught them in a sweet and soft kiss.
His eyes opened widely, the sound of a sandstorm outside awaking him from his dream.
His heart dropped at that.
A dream. It had only been a dream.
The cave he was living in was dark and smelled musty, he hadn’t changed his clothes in a while and he was sleeping on the stone hard ground.
Tears instantly rushed to his eyes when he truly realized that it had only been a dream, so very distant from reality.
It had felt so real, your hand in his, you in his arms where you belonged.
This is where you should be right now, laying in his arms and cuddling with him to sleep.
Despite of everything that had happened, you still should be with him, living in a small hut on Tatooine.
If you were with him, he wouldn’t be sleeping at a place like this, he’d work ten jobs to provide a happy and fulfilled live for you. He’d give everything to you.
You were supposed to be with him, he was supposed to protect you, always protect you. You shouldn’t be laying dead in the Jedi temple, you should be by his side.
He threw his fist against the stone ground in a fit of anger, probably breaking some bones in the process.
He had always known that he didn’t deserve you, didn’t deserve you loving him back. Surprisingly, though, you did love him back.
The universe, however, didn’t allow him to be happy. He was destined for infinite sadness and he was well aware of it, but he had always hoped that his future contained you, in any way possible.
The universe didn’t allow him love, though.
He pulled his knees closer to him, letting a sob out at just the thought of you.
He missed you, so so much. It was as if a part of him was gone, his heart ripped out of his chest. It was yours and you had taken it with you when you died.
“Please, darling, give me a sign, anything.”
He was met with nothing.
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Coffee Chats and Heroic Rescues
Steven Grant x gn!neighbor!reader (no use of y/n)
Word count- 1.7k
Warnings- fluff, minor violence, allusion to past assault/abuse but nothing explicit, protective!Steven, mutual pining, hinted appearance of Marc and Jake
Notes- Part of the Neighbor Steven Grant series but I wrote it to stand on its own too. I was really exciting to write this one, and it addresses some of the things I hinted at in earlier parts! Enjoy!
Reblogs/follows/asks highly appreciated!
@flightlessangelwings-updates is my update blog to stay up to date on when I post, follow that too and turn on post notifs
~
“Hey Steven!” your cheerful voice broke him out of his thoughts as he made his way through the hallway.
He was tired; it had been another long day at the museum. And while Steven loved working there, large tour groups were always draining. His feet ached and his stomach growled from having been behind the counter of the gift shop his entire shift with no break. He was sure he looked a mess and he felt the bags under his eyes weigh heavily on his face. But when Steven looked up and saw your smiling face, everything melted away.
“Hey neighbor!” he waved back at you.
Steven loved when your paths crossed, and living right next door meant it happened a lot. The day you moved in brought a welcome and unexpected light into his life. And though you lived in separate places, Steven felt a comfort at hearing you rustle around on the other side of the wall, as if you two were roommates.
And you… Well Steven was the most handsome man you had ever seen. And his kindness made your heart flutter in your chest. You had the feeling he had his own inner battles that he fought, but then again so did you. It was a subject neither of you brought up, though, and you were just happy to have a friend closeby.
“You look exhausted, Steven,” you closed the gap between your bodies as you rested a hand on his face. You took in a deep breath as you felt him tense under your hand, “Would…” you cleared your throat as you buried your nerves, “Would you like to come in for a coffee?”
Steven was sure he was dreaming as you looked at him with those beautiful eyes of yours. His skin warmed under your touch and he fought to keep his composure. He stuttered for a moment as he tried to form his words clearly, “I-I’d love to,” Steven’s face relaxed into a soft smile as you did the same.
“Great,” you breathed as you dropped your hand and gave his bicep a squeeze before you broke away, “Come inside!” you gestured to your door a few feet away, “It’s much neater than last time you saw it,” you chuckled nervously.
The last time Steven saw your place was the day you moved in weeks ago. Boxes laid out everywhere, but he didn’t judge; moving was hard. He didn’t hesitate to rush over and help you as you struggled with a box that was too big for you and there was an instant connection there. Since then, the two of you chatted in the hallway in passing as you came and left from your places. But Steven always longed for more.
And so did you…
From that day, a new routine started. At least twice a week, you would invite Steven over to your place and have coffee or tea and just talk. There was a pull there that Steven felt, as if the two of you were meant to meet. And talking to you was a comfort unlike anything else. Your bright smile lit up the room and made his heart pound in his chest. Yet, Steven couldn’t help but notice a sadness behind your eyes at times too. As if you reached out to him because you needed his company just as much as he craved yours.
And then came the day where it all came to a head and all of Steven’s intuitions rang true.
It was later than usual as Steven made his way into the elevator and up to his floor. He had texted you and let you know he would be late for coffee night, profusely apologetic as the museum stayed open later for a special event. When you didn’t reply, alarm bells rang in his head, and he rushed out as soon as he could. He had texted you again when he was on the bus home, but again you didn’t reply.
Shouts from down the hall echoed from the moment the elevator doors opened and immediately Steven’s heart sank. Even in the dim light of the hallway, he saw the outline of a large, burly man with his hand wrapped around your wrist. You had a pained expression on your face as you struggled to break free and you slapped him as hard as you could with your other hand, but it was no use.
Without a second thought, Steven bolted down the hallway and shouted in what he hoped was an intimidating voice, “Hey! Back off, wanker!”
You darted your eyes over to him and Steven couldn’t help but exhale deeply when you looked relieved to see him. “Steven…” you breathed.
“This doesn’t concern you, dickwad,” the man spat before he turned his attention back to you.
“Let go of me,” you tugged at your arm again.
“Actually, I believe it does,” Steven mustered all his courage and tried to pry you out of the man’s grip, “This is my neighbor, and I will not stand this treatment at all!”
“Steven…” a small tear formed in your eye at how he stood up for you.
Tensions ran high and rage boiled in Steven’s blood until he couldn’t think straight and suddenly he blacked out.
When he came to again, you and Steven were in his flat, two mugs of tea in his hands. You sat at his counter with your face buried in your hands. He inhaled sharply, not remembering how you got there or what happened, but he collected himself and told himself it didn’t matter for now. What mattered was that you were safe. You must have felt him staring at you because you lifted your head and met his gaze, and Steven hated to see you like this with red eyes and tears down your cheeks.
“I’m sorry you got involved,” you sighed as you wiped away your tears.
“Don’t be,” his voice was filled with compassion as he set a hot mug of tea down, “Here.”
“Thanks,” you mumbled as you wrapped your hands around the mug, embracing the warmth. You sighed as you looked up into Steven’s eyes, “Thank you.” His presence truly was a comfort, to know that you weren’t alone and there was someone good out there who would help you. And you felt safe with him, you trusted him.
Steven sat down and pulled his chair next to you, “It’s nothing. Just… Helping my neighbor.”
You gave him a sad look before you felt the need to explain yourself, “That’s my ex… He’s the reason I moved here. I was trying to get away from him… I guess it wasn’t good enough though since he found me,” you sighed.
The urge to rest his hand on yours overwhelmed him, but Steven was scared to touch you. He came to his own conclusions on why you went to such lengths to run away from that man, and as much as he wanted to offer you comfort, he was scared that it would backfire. After reaching and pulling his hand back several times, he lightly touched the back of your hand.
You gasped as your eyes went wide, but you made no attempt to move. Encouraged, Steven laid more weight on top of yours and gave your hand a light squeeze. A heavy exhale of relief escaped your lips and Steven gave you a soft smile.
“I’ll always be here for you,” he whispered your name, “Whatever you need, I’ll help you get rid of that shithead for good.”
That made you laugh, and for the first time all day, you relaxed, “Thank you, Steven.”
He wasn’t sure if he imagined it but your eyes flashed down to his lips for a brief second.
“Hey, it’s like I told you,” he smiled back at you, “I’m right next door.” Before he could stop himself, Steven snuck a glance down at your own lips as they parted to let out another heavy breath. He recollected himself and added, “We’ll figure this out.” And I’ll protect you…
Your smile lit up your face the way Steven always loved to see, and it made his whole body relax as you spoke; “Right where you always are,” you listed your mug up, “Cheers, neighbor.”
“Cheers… Neighbor.” Steven kept his true feelings buried for now; it wasn’t the right time to say anything. For now, he would just be there for you when you needed him… as your trusty neighbor.
You stayed late into the night until Steven was sure your ex wouldn’t come back. And even as he watched you go back to your place right next door, he stood watch in the hallway for some time. Steven waited until he was sure no harm would come to you, and only when he was certain did he go back inside and lay down in his own bed. But oh how he wished he could have asked you to stay and keep you wrapped up in his arms. Steven didn’t want to cross that boundary with that, though.
Although, if he’d asked, you would have said yes.
That night, Steven had an interesting dream. In his dream, he donned black leather gloves and drove over to your ex’s house where he beat him until he couldn’t speak.
“You’re going to stay away now, yes?” dream Steven asked in a low and threatening tone.
Your ex’s blood dripped from his mouth as he lay beaten and bruised on the floor, “Y-yes.”
“I better not see you around again,” dream Steven gave him one last kick for good measure.
The next morning, you knocked on his door, and Steven leapt out of bed, worried you were in danger again. He pushed through the soreness in his body, as if his dream actually happened, and even without a mirror, Steven knew he had large bags under his eyes. But, his weariness melted away when he met you on the other side of the door, your expression bright and cheerful.
“Steven,” you explained as you pulled him in for a big hug, “I got a message saying my ex decided to move away! He won’t be around anymore!” you exhaled deeply, “That means I don’t have to move.”
The smile that lit up Steven’s face was strong enough to wash away the pain and the undereye bags, “That’s wonderful!” He had never been more relieved in his life, “I didn’t want to have to deal with new neighbors,” he chided playfully.
“Me either,” you lit your lip, “I’m rather fond of the one I have.”
Me too… Steven thought.
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the bodyguard- din djarin
DIN DJARIN X F!ROYAL!READER [SERIES]
summary: the princess quickly learns how skilled her protector is.
warnings: short-ish chapter. violence, sword-fighting, lots of gwaine content, unedited
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ੈ✩‧₊˚. ii. a warning *.ੈ✩‧₊˚.
You stare at the night sky with a sigh and fold the schematics back up again. You click the hidden crevice and place all your plans into the opening of the round table.
“Do you think it’s wise to keep such confidencial plans here?” Gwaine asks from his spot on the floor, near the corner by the window.
“I have nowhere else,” you give him a tight smile.
Gwaine furrows his eyebrows. “With the entire castle at your disposal?”
“You and I both know the castle is filled with people who don’t have its best interests at heart.”
“And what of Senator Dameron?”
You look at him sharply. Still on the outs with him, you can’t help but wince at the mention of his name.
“Forgive me, was I too forward?”
“No, not at all. You know Phex is like family to me. But he’s been overbearing lately. Far more so than usual. I feel like I’m suffocating.”
“He’s protecting you the only way he knows how.”
“Really? You ask him that?” You snap in a moment of sudden frustration.
Gwaine stares at you silently. The sounds of the insects reel you back in.
“I…” you sigh. “Forgive me. You don’t deserve the brunt of my frustrations.”
“You’re forgiven,” says Gwaine simply. “I understand. Or I try to understand as well as I can.”
“I know. Your council is much appreciated, Gwaine. You’re truly one of the only people I have left.”
He gives you a sad smile.
You walk over to the window, the aged wood creaking under your footsteps, one of the only structures in Eiria that pre-dated the reign of your late parents.
From here, you can see the lights of the entire city. Vibrant golden buildings, some as tall as skyscrapers you’d once seen on a trip to Coruscant.
You gaze upon your home, trying to spot your balcony from here but you were too far out.
The sound of iron against iron steals your attention away from the palace.
“Can never put down your work, can you?” You’re only teasing.
“It’s my life,” he shrugs, still sharpening the two swords he’d had strapped on his waist.
“What’d you say we get a duel in? I haven’t held a sword in months,” you sigh.
“I’d be much too frightened to fight a Princess,” Gwaine chuckles.
That’s funny, you think. You’ve knocked me on my ass more times than I can count.
“Much too frightened to lose, perhaps?”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Well, winner gets the pride. Pass it over.”
Gwaine tosses a sword at you a bit recklessly. You catch it with ease.
You both circle each other, getting into position.
“Prepared to lose?” Gwaine loosens his shoulders.
“To you?” You narrow your eyes. “Never.”
You make the first move, using both hands to strike your blade against his. You don’t bother holding back, knowing Gwaine, with all his years of welding and training, could take your full strength with ease.
He effortlessly blocks your attack, hitting back with his own. You pivot, trying to throw him off but he’s too good at what he does. He’s barely breaking a sweat, but it’s great practice for you.
You’re on the offensive until he decides to take it up a notch, lunging and striking your blade with grace. You do your best to block every attack, arms aching and a sweat breaking at the crown of your head.
“I’m feeling quite prideful already,” Gwaine laughs, slicing through the air near your neck and sending you a few feet back. You’re thankful you decided to wear your trousers. The fabric of a dress would’ve caused you to trip and lose.
“Don’t get too comfortable.”
You decide now’s the best time to use a trick Gwaine himself had taught you. An empty fade is what he’d called it, falsely jumping back before leaping forward to reclaim your spot on the offense.
Gwaine laughs and there’s a different type of pride in his eyes. You smile back, feeling quite proud of yourself despite your exhaustion…
If there’s one thing you know however, it’s that this duel is going to be over very soon. As competitive as you are, you knew it was never going to be a fair fight. Gwaine has an equally strong will but his skill far outmatches yours.
He proves you right, using an incredible amount of strength to knock you off your feet. A yelp escapes your lungs as you slam into the ground, his hand pressed between your shoulder blades to lessen the impact. He follows you down, keeping his body a respectable distance, but still, the false edge of his blade presses lightly against your neck.
Just as you were about to slam your hand down in defeat, eyes crinkling from amusement, a flurry of movements send your heart into near cardiac arrest.
Gwaine is thrown off of you, his blade landing by your feet and a scream of his own echoing within the abandoned tower.
You gasp, scrambling up to your feet to find Gwaine pinned against the floor with a boot to his chest. A blaster is aimed right at his head and at the other end of it…
The Mandalorian.
“Stop!” You cry in desperation, running over to the two and recklessly grabbing onto the Mandalorian’s forearm. The beskar cool against your palms.
“Gwaine is a friend. He’d never harm me. We were practicing!”
The Mandalorian doesn’t look at you, doesn’t even acknowledge the fingers that grip his armor tightly. He only holds the blaster even tighter, hidden eyes trained on his target.
“Consider this a warning.”
“Please—”
“Friend or not, no harm is to come to the Princess under my watch.”
Gwaine looks between the blaster, the Mandalorian’s other hand which was resting on some hidden weapon on his back, and you.
Slowly, he nods and by some miracle, the Mandalorian lowers his weapon, finally turning towards you.
His helmet makes a subtle up and down movement and you stare back into the black visor, heart still racing uncontrollably. You tear your hand away from his arm, realizing your death grip was hurting you more than him.
You kneel by your friend. The Mandalorian’s words replay in your head.
“Your watch? Where the hell were you all this time? Gwaine and I have been out here for hours,” you say as you help Gwaine up.
“I haven’t left your side since this morning,” the Mandalorian says tonelessly. His blaster is still in a tight grip by his leg.
“Is that so?” You ask sarcastically, but really you’re having a small internal panic. Had he been following you this entire time? Were you really that unobservant?
Or maybe the Mandalorian was much better at this job than you originally gave him credit for.
“It is, Your Highness. I must insist we return to the palace now. It’s just before midnight.”
You suppress a groan, grabbing Gwaine’s sword off the ground and handing both back to him reluctantly. The Mandalorian stands by the creaky staircase expectantly, helmet trained on you.
You give Gwaine an apologetic look, feeling horrible about your protector manhandling your oldest friend in such a way.
He smiles at you as if to tell you that he’s fine. It doesn’t ease your guilt.
With heavy feet, you begin to drag yourself to the exit, walking past the Mandalorian with a heavy throat.
Your fun was over, overshadowed by his abrupt and violent entrance. Your anger with him was simmering away however, knowing he was just doing his job… In some ways, you find yourself relieved someone so qualified is looking after you. Especially with the rumorous threats to your life lately.
“Fed your horse by the way.”
Both you and Gwaine jerk back in surprise, staring at the Mandalorian as if he grew another head.
“Nyla’s a nice name.” He adds casually. As if he wasn’t showing you the first signs of humanity since he arrived.
You look over the Mandalorian’s shoulder, who’s behind you at the top of the stairs — you’d only taken one step down — and make eye contact with Gwaine. His eyes are as wide as yours.
You whip back around, taking two steps at a time. Against your best efforts, an amused grin spreads from cheek to cheek.
Maybe the Mandalorian wasn’t just a faceless hunk of armor after all.
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Dark Betrayals Part Thirteen
Sebastian 🔺️F!MC 🔺️ Ominis
It's time for MC and Daisy to leave, Sebastian has revenge on his mind, and Ominis must make a final farewell. Chapter Master List
Triggers: violence, panic attacks, murder, death
Chapter Thirteen - The Last Dance
The delicate strains of violins filled the hall, a cultured backdrop to the low murmur of voices, as the Wizarding World's finest pure bloods and supporters mingled and sipped from fancy fluted glasses. Dressed in their finest dress robes and observing immaculate etiquette, MC eyed them with mild disgust. These distinguished ladies and gentlemen appeared to be cultured and polite, but underneath, they were no different than the most basic savage in the street. She had seen most of these simpering guests attending the duels down in the tunnels, their faces flushed, and voices baying for blood as spells cut through the space.
Marvolo was in his element, chatting with guests and ensuring everyone had a full glass, his smile smug and cold. He couldn't help showing MC off to his fellow cohorts. His star duelist, who was currently sitting at the penultimate slot on the league table, and his future sister in law.
His eyes gleamed as he took her arm and presented her to those he was rubbing shoulders with. "This time next week, MC will be my champion," he boasted. He eyed them slyly. "You may want to start placing your bets now."
MC forced a smile onto her face, nodding and agreeing whilst knowing full well that those bets were pointless. This time next week, she would be long gone from here. The pretence was starting to make her jaw ache from forcing the smiles, and she was glad to be returned to Ominis and his much gentler touch and presence.
Ominis greeted the guests with handshakes and polite nods of his head, accepting their congratulations and introducing MC to these so-called family friends. She could see the strain around his eyes and mouth and held his arm tightly, hoping to ease his worries with quiet murmurs of support near his ear. It was the closest they had been to each other in days, and she felt the sting of sadness as she realised it would be the last time they would be together.
Mr and Mrs Gaunt looked almost regal in their fine robes, Mrs Gaunt wearing a glittering tiara in her hair and an elaborate locket around her neck with the Slytherin 'S' set into it. An heirloom by all accounts. MC found it rather over the top for her own taste and just smiled politely when it came time to shake hands and listen to their approval of the marriage.
Finally alone with Ominis, MC sighed and wished she could lean her head against him, a weariness washing over her, and she stroked a hand absently over her stomach. Ominis slipped his watch from his pocket and tapped the face with his wand, nodding. "It's just after 9," he said. "Two hours."
"Would you like to sit down and rest for a bit?" MC asked.
Ominis shook his head. "I'd rather not." He tilted his head, thinking. "Would you like to dance?"
MC looked up at him, her heart skipping a little beat. As tired as she felt, how could she say no to that? "I would love to."
Ominis led her out onto the dance floor with ease and took her in his arms, his hands placed respectably on her body as they began to sway to the sounds of the band. There were other couples dancing around them, but MC paid them no mind. She merely watched Ominis.
He was flawless, meeting each step and guiding her through the dance, his wand still in hand to aid him with both of their fingers entwined around it.
"I truly am sorry, Ominis. For everything that has happened," MC said quietly. "I never wanted to hurt you, and it pains me that I have. I know you may never forgive me, but just know, I wish you happiness."
"I just hope you find whatever it is that you are looking for," he replied. "Promise me you won't waste this chance, MC. Don't get caught up in darkness and end up trapped by someone else like Marvolo. Make the most of the fresh start to do something that fulfils you."
MC felt her throat tighten with emotion, his words ringing through her mind and coming up against the truth, the future that was growing inside her belly. It wasn't just herself she had to think of now. "I will do my best, Ominis," she said.
They twirled, the full skirt of her black gown flaring out. She squeezed his hand, her lips trembling a little. "I shall miss you," she said truthfully.
"Not now, MC," he whispered. "Not yet."
She swallowed back her tears and felt the gentle caress of his hand at her back.
"For now, we just dance," he said. "Goodbye comes later."
....*....
Two lackeys stood in the corridor near Marvolo's office, slouching and chatting, their eyes widening, and both of them straightening up as Sebastian strode towards them. Appearing as Marvolo, he kept his cold smirk in place and narrowed his eyes at them.
"Did Sallow drop the gold off this evening?" He asked icily.
The lackey that Sebastian had made sure to greet as himself earlier nodded. "Yes, sir. Saw him myself. He was here about 7, I reckon."
Sebastian gave a curt nod. "Good," he said. He ushered them both into the office and closed the door. The two lackeys gave each other curious looks as Marvolo/Sebastian moved to open the safe.
"I need you to do something for me," Sebastian said. He took out the bags of gold and started piling them on the desk. "I can't hang around, I need to get back to my brother's engagement party. So, I will get to the point. Go and track down those lackeys that are double agents, you know, Benny Cripps' little spies."
The lackey's looked at each other. "Whatcha want them for?"
Sebastian gave them his best stern glare. "I want you to kill them."
They both gaped, watching as Sebastian began to stuff all the gold into the enchanted pocket of his robe, making it obvious that he was taking it all, every last bag of Benny Cripps' money. He put his hand in and took out some coins, and handed them out to both lackeys. They took them uncertainly.
"Hunt those spies down and kill them," he ordered.
"But...er...won't that start a turf war, sir?" One of them asked nervously.
Sebastian smirked. "And?"
"Benny don't take no prisoners, Marvolo, you know that," the other one said.
"Neither do I," Sebastian said coldly. "Are you questioning your orders?"
Both lackeys immediately shook their heads. "No, sir, of course not. When do we do it?"
Sebastian tucked away the last of the gold and smiled. "Around 11pm should be about right. Oh, and don't mention this to Sallow. He is too loyal to Cripps. His card is marked lads, and he is mine for the taking. Understand?"
The lackeys both nod again, and Sebastian dismissed them. A quick glance at the clock told him he had an hour to change back into himself and then go and fetch Daisy.
With a turf war breaking out between Benny's gang and Marvolo's, that should keep them busy for a while. Sebastian patted his pocket smugly as he made his way back to the room where he had stashed his clothes. With this amount of gold, MC and Daisy would be able to start a proper new life with a bag for himself for his troubles. And with the seed planted that Marvolo was going to take him out, his disappearance would be assumed as him being dead. Sebastian almost chuckled to himself. Marvolo was obsessed with gold and power, and this would hit him right where it would hurt.
Those lackeys would blab about Marvolo stealing that gold. They were all two faced and out for themselves. Once Benny Cripps heard that Marvolo had swiped the gold and started taking out his spies, then there really would be trouble. Sebastian was glad he would be long gone by the time the proverbial hits the fan.
....*....
As the minutes ticked towards 11pm, Ominis felt his restlessness grow, his fingers fiddling with his wand. MC kept putting reassuring hands on him, but every one of her touches merely reminded him that she was going within the hour. He needed to hold it together.
Finally, he took her arm and led her out onto the paved terrace at the back of the hall, the night air chill on his face. "Time to go, MC," he said.
He had picked up the tones of sadness in her voice tonight, her soft words as they had danced making his heart ache. He would miss her too, terribly, but wasn't sure he could find the words to express it.
"Then let's go," she murmured. She held on tight to his arm and he could feel her trembling. He focused his mind, and with a crack, they vanished from the terrace.
....*....
The street was dark, the shadows long and smothered by swirling smog as Sebastian hurried along, Daisy clutching his hand. She was dressed in the most modest gown he had ever seen her in, her pretty little face void of excessive makeup, her hair neatly pinned. He had wrapped her in a dark cloak all the same, though, the fabric dragging along behind her small frame. He was worried she might trip and fall, and he kept a tight grip on her tiny hand.
He felt sick. His stomach was churning with nerves, but also, the transition back into himself had left him exhausted and drained. He'd had to take a minute, using one of Garreth's restoring potions to get him back on his feet.
Sebastian paused a moment, pulling Daisy into an alley to let them both catch their breaths. He pulled out his wand and muttered the locator charm. The deep tug pulled at him, and he closed his eyes, savouring the feel of it. MC was still wearing the necklace, and then, the tug shifted sharply, pulling in a different direction. He opened his eyes. Her and Ominis had left the party.
"We need to get moving," he whispered. "I can Apparate us. It will be faster."
Daisy grimaced. "I aint no good with that vanishing crap you lot pull. It makes me proper sick."
Sebastian smirked. "Yes, it's not the most pleasant feeling, but it gets you places fast. We need to get out of here, Daisy. MC is waiting for us."
Daisy looked up at him. "She loves you, you know," she said. "I hope you got a plan in that pretty head of yours for tracking us down after all this."
Sebastian lifted his eyebrows in surprise. "Can't bear the thought of not seeing me again, Daisy?" He teased.
She smirked and slapped his arm. "Just make sure you find us," she said. Her face grew serious. "MC is going to need you, whether she will admit it or not."
Sebastian frowned. "What do you mean?"
Daisy shook her head and took hold of his arm. "Never mind," she said quickly. "Come on then, handsome. Vanish us the fuck out of here before I change my mind."
....*....
The area of King's Cross in London was no longer the genteel and affluent area that it once was. The lovely houses there had made way for industry and the railway over recent decades, the industrial boom hitting the hardest on those who dwelled in the city.
Now, the area was factories and small dwellings for the workers of such industry, and for those who worked the railway. Amongst the few remaining larger houses was one of the last properties remaining to the Gaunt family in the city.
Ominis stood in the main living space, what little furniture remained draped in sheets, while MC changed out of her dress and into more comfortable travelling attire. He pulled his pocket watch out and tapped it with his wand. Ten minutes past the hour.
"Where the devil is Sebastian with Daisy?" He hissed. "It's taking too long."
He heard MC's sturdy boots as she stepped across the room. "I'm sure he will be here any moment," she assured. But he could hear the nerves in her voice. "I hope whatever he had planned to do hasn't gone wrong."
The whipping crack of someone Apparating in came from outside the door, and Ominis turned his head. "Maybe that's him," he said. He reached out to catch MC by the arm as she moved towards the door. "Check before you open it. Just in case."
Nerves were making his breath shake as MC stepped slowly towards the window. While this house was rarely used, Marvolo had eyes everywhere, and he didn't want to linger here too long. Sebastian would start the fake trail at King's Cross Station, while the girls would take the Floo to Southampton docks. Everything would be alright if they stuck to the plan, he assured himself.
MC confirmed it was indeed Sebastian and hurried to open the door. The clatter of feet signalled their arrival, and Ominis held up his wand, the shadowy outline of Sebastian and Daisy coming into the room.
"What took you so long?" He snipped.
"Sorry, that's my fault," Daisy said. "I ain't keen on that vanishing trick."
Ominis well remembered after their trip to his family home with her. He turned to Sebastian. "Well, did you pull off your secret deed?"
"It's all kicking off as we speak," Sebastian said. Ominis could hear the grin in his tone and frowned.
"What did you do?" MC asked.
Sebastian's shadow shifted and he began to pull something out of his robes. "Open up your bag, MC," he said. "I've got a gift for you."
MC and Daisy both gasped, and MC swore softly. "Are you crazy?" She hissed. Ominis heard the slap of an arm and Sebastian's grunt. "Marvolo is going to kill you!"
"What is it? What has he done?"
Ominis felt a wave of dread as Sebastian filled them in on his little trick. Marvolo was going to be incandescent with rage over this. Ominis put a hand to his forehead, exasperation at Sebastian's tendency for chaos making his head ache. "You do realise that I have to stay behind with my brother, don't you? Are you completely mad?"
Sebastian shifted closer, the familiar waft of cinnamon and citrus reaching his nose, and Sebastian took his hand, placing a heavy cloth bag into it.
"This bag is for you, old friend," Sebastian said. "You don't have to stay behind. Use it however you wish to, but I would rather you used it to get out of your family's clutches as well. You deserve happiness as much as MC does."
Ominis went rigid, stunned at this gesture. He should hate Sebastian for having such a hold on the heart of the woman he loved, for being nothing but an absolute pain in his neck, and for causing so much disruption and darkness. But it seemed he couldn't, because just when he thought he had washed his hands of Sebastian for good, he would pop up with this kind of gesture, with words that showed the love and generosity behind the chaos.
Ominis swallowed thickly and nodded, taking the bag of stolen gold from Sebastian. It felt heavy in his hands, and not just from the coin. "I will think on it," he said stiffly. "Thank you."
The sound of MC's tears reached his ears. A gentle hand touched his arm. "Do it, Ominis. Get away from them, live how you want to."
Tears burned the backs of his eyes. "We shouldn't linger. It's time, MC. You need to say your goodbyes."
He grunted as she threw her arms around him, squeezing him tightly. As much as he wished to hang on to his control, he couldn't, burying his face into her hair and holding her just as tightly. There were no words that could explain the ache in his chest, the pain of her leaving, and he just held her against him, savouring the softness and her scent.
As she pulled back from him she pressed the engagement ring into his hand. "Save this for someone worthy of you, Ominis," she whispered. "I mean it. I wish you happiness."
He opened his mouth to speak, to tell her that he doubted there could ever be anyone else, when the front door blasted inwards. Splinters of wood bounced around the room accompanied by Daisy's scream.
"Well isn't this a touching little scene," Marvolo said strolling in. "Hello, little brother."
....*....
They had been so close. Freedom was but one Floo trip away, but this bastard just couldn't leave them alone. MC felt fury twisting up her insides as she held her wand up towards Marvolo Gaunt, who stood there in his fine black robes, a cold smile on his handsome face.
Behind him stood one of his lackeys, a scruffy, thin faced rat of a man, who quickly darted forwards to grab hold of Daisy. Daisy whimpered, her eyes darting from Marvolo to MC as they faced each other down.
Slowly, Marvolo slipped out his own wand and held it up towards her. MC chuckled, the sound not humorous in the slightest. "Are you going to face me in a duel, Marvolo?" She taunted. She narrowed her eyes at him, hating him with everything she was. "I'll fucking kill you."
He shook his head, lips twisted in a mockery of a smile. His eyes darted to one side, where Sebastian was also standing with his wand held up. "Oh look, it's lover boy, coming to the defence of his little darling," Marvolo taunted. "I wouldn't. Do it, Ed, hurt her."
A scream sounded from behind MC, and she spun, eyes wide. The lackey had hit Daisy with a spell, not Crucio, but one that had her rigid and screaming. MC lifted her wand, but two things happened at once.
Marvolo cast towards a distracted Sebastian, who was flung backwards into the wall, thick coiling ropes that looked like snakes wrapping around him and binding him tightly, his body trapped against the faded wall. His wand clattered down onto the floor, and his face twisted with rage.
The second thing was a spell cast by Ominis, a strong stunning spell that hit the lackey in the face, sending him sprawling backwards over a sheet covered table. Daisy staggered and landed on the floor, sobbing. Ominis was with her in two strides, bending to help her up.
"Oh, for goodness sake, Ominis," Marvolo growled. "Why the fuck did you do that? She's nothing but a dirty, Muggle whore."
MC shook with fury and turned her wand back on Marvolo, casting a curse towards him that he blocked with surprising ease. He side stepped, assuming a duelling stance.
"I will fight if you want me to," he goaded. "But I am much more interested in finding out what is going on here. Ominis, dear brother, you purchased two tickets for a ship recently. The question is, who for? Which two of you four are making a run for it? Don't tell me it's the secret lovers? You wouldn't help them run, would you little brother?"
"Don't tell him anything," Sebastian said, struggling against his bindings.
Marvolo shot a basic cast Sebastian's way, making him grunt and go rigid. MC cast again, a Diffindo that Marvolo deflected, and it sent deep gashes through a settee in the far corner. He cast back towards MC, a flurry of spells lighting the space between them as they circled each other in the room.
"It's over Marvolo," MC said. "I'm done doing your bidding. My debt is paid."
He chuckled. "I dont think so."
MC cast again, dodging and blocking, surprised at how good he was. Then he shot another cheap cast towards Sebastian, and this time, he screamed. MC flinched, distracted, and then she was hit, thrown backwards onto the floor with a thud and a roll.
Daisy shouted, tearing herself from Ominis' grip where he had been holding her at the far side of the room. She hurried towards MC. "No, stop!" She cried. "The baby!"
MC froze, her eyes flying up to Daisy in shock. The room fell silent, the laboured breaths coming from her own mouth sounding far too loud to her own ears. Daisy cringed, her eyes full of apology. MC knew why she had done it. Daisy was protective of the baby, determined that it would get a good life with people who loved it, her own loss a hole that would never be filled.
But she had just announced it to the three men MC had been desperate to keep it from.
"What baby?" Marvolo demanded coldly.
MC couldn't move, half sitting up, leaning on her hands, her gaze flying to Ominis who was holding his wand up towards her, face utterly pale. Her eyes then turned to Sebastian, who was staring at her, eyes wide.
Daisy glared up at Marvolo, her eyes blazing with hatred. "She's pregnant," she snapped.
Marvolo stared at Ominis. "Is this true, Ominis? You told me you were on a potion."
MC felt tears slipping from her eyes as she looked at Ominis. He was shaking his head, his brow furrowed. "I...I do take a potion," he said. His voice was strained. "I never stopped taking it."
"I'm sorry," MC whispered.
Daisy got up and stood in front of her, hands on her hips. "No, you don't apologise, MC," she said firmly. "Not for this."
Marvolo turned his furious gaze towards Sebastian, who had gone limp, staring at MC in disbelief. She met his gaze, begging with her eyes for him to understand.
"You!!!" Marvolo yelled. "You did this!"
Marvolo lifted his wand, the curse bellowed from his lips with wicked intent. "Crucio!"
Both MC and Daisy screamed, MC scrambling up to her feet, grabbing for her wand. But Daisy, brave, selfless Daisy. She jumped forward and placed herself between Sebastian and Marvolo.
"No!" MC screamed.
The curse hit Daisy full pelt in the chest, the blinding red light filling the room along with the ear shattering sound of her scream.
MC stood frozen, transfixed, as Daisy convulsed under the blast of that curse. Her eyes were rolling back as that horrifying scream split the air. MC was taken back to the night when Marvolo had taken her, and they had witnessed Marvolo torturing his lackey. She was sent back even further to a darkened chamber below Hogwarts, and Sebastian casting the very same curse on her to get them out.
"No," MC said. She shook her head in denial at what she was witnessing. Daisy was not magical, she had no strength for this, it was too much and Marvolo's intent was vicious. MC shouted louder.
Of course nobody could hear her. Sebastian was shouting, Ominis was shouting, and Daisy kept on screaming, even as the blood began to trickle from her mouth as she collapsed to the floor.
It was a matter of seconds but they seemed to stretch and stretch until time had no meaning.
Marvolo released the curse, breathing hard, and MC moved to aim, murder in her heart. Her ancient magic began to surge and flicker. She vaguely heard Ominis calling her name, but it faded out into the background. She would tell him she was sorry, but she wouldn't mean it. Marvolo needed to die.
But she wasn't quick enough. Marvolo uttered the devastating words in a cold, calm voice, and a flash of green filled the room.
"Avada Kedavra."
Daisy was silenced. Her body went still, no more convulsions as she lay there, staring at nothing.
A blast of red shot past MC's shoulder and hit Marvolo, a swift Bombarda that sent him slamming into the wall with a sickening crack. He slid to the floor in a heap, and MC could still hear Daisy's scream ringing in her ears despite the quietness that now filled the room.
....*....
Sebastian stopped fighting against the bonds, shock filling him. How had this all gone so terribly wrong? He stared down at Daisy's lifeless body, the green light, and the muttered curse, triggering dangerous flashbacks from that night in the catacombs all those years ago.
Sweat beaded on his brow as his chest tightened and fluttered with panic, a roaring sound in his ears, and he fought to get air in his lungs. Memories swamped over him, and he fought back the vomit that was threatening to push up his throat. He looked up at the ceiling, his eyes registering the cracks in the plaster, but his mind was reeling as he tried to get a hold of himself.
He heard Ominis speaking, the familiar voice grounding him a little as he sucked in deep breaths.
"No, no," MC muttered. "Not Daisy. No!"
Sebastian looked back into the room, his eyes focusing on MC as she dropped to her knees before Daisy. She reached out a hand that shook, and she carefully brushed strands of hair from Daisy's white face. Trickles of blood ran from Daisy's mouth and nose, her eyes were red too, and Sebastian was sure that the killing curse had been a mercy.
Daisy was a Muggle. She was small, and she would have had no chance against the violence with which Marvolo had cast that curse. Her insides were probably ruined, and that alone would have given her a slow, painful death.
A death that had been meant for him.
His chest tightened even more at the look of horror and denial on MC's face. The pain in her eyes was shattering. Daisy had died trying to protect him. He felt tears well up and he blinked them furiously back.
MC began to moan, a distressed sound that turned into shaking sobs, her hands pressed to her face as she rocked with her grief. Ominis winced and moved towards her, his hands hovering as though to hold her, but he pulled back. Sebastian cleared his throat, his own arms aching to hold MC.
"Ominis," he croaked. "Get me down."
Ominis turned, wand out. He hovered it over where Sebastian stood and then muttered a few words, a charm spiralling out from his wand that released Sebastian's bonds. Sebastian shook himself and bent to snatch up his own wand, the sound of MC's crying filling the room.
Sebastian stared at Marvolo on the floor, a cold fury gathering in his stomach. His fingers flexed around the handle of his wand as he ran through a myriad of black curses in his mind. He could make that man suffer, make him wish he had never laid eyes on Sebastian or MC.
"You need to leave," Ominis said. He grabbed hold of Sebastian's arm. "Get her out of here, now."
Sebastian gave him a dazed look and pushed his fingers through his hair. His dark thoughts slunk back into the corner of his mind, and he turned to gaze at MC. "Give her a minute," he muttered.
MC was bent over, her arms wrapped around Daisy's limp form, sobbing. He swallowed thickly, his thoughts returning to the day when he heard that Anne had died.
So much death.
"We may not have many minutes to spare," Ominis said. "Marvolo could come round any moment, and who's to say he hadn't sent for back up that could arrive without warning."
Ominis had a point. Sebastian tried to focus and looked up at Ominis. "Where shall I take her?"
Ominis shoved his hand into his robes and pulled out an envelope. He held it out, and Sebastian took it. "Two tickets to America, the ship sails tomorrow from Southampton. Go with MC, take her away from here and...please, look after her. Take care of her and your baby."
Sebastian gulped, his eyes flying back towards MC. Bloody hell, yes, the baby!
"I had no idea," he said shaking his head. "She didn't say a word."
"That doesn't matter now. All that matters is that you both are leaving here, now!"
Sebastian shoved the envelope in his pocket and moved towards MC. He put his hand on her shoulder. "MC, we have to go," he said gently.
She shook her head. "I can't leave her," she gasped.
Ominis bent down to her and reached out, his hands gentle as they sought out her face. He cupped it, his thumbs brushing away her tears with tender strokes. "Listen to me, MC," he said. "You and Sebastian must go. I will take care of Daisy. I will see to it that she is properly buried and cared for. But, you need to run as planned. Sebastian will go with you."
She gulped looking up at him, and Sebastian fought back more tears at the look on her face. "But the false trail..."
"I will cover your tracks." Ominis winced. "Something I should have offered to do all along, I suppose, but it matters not. Go and live, MC. You and Sebastian. Promise me."
She nodded. "I promise."
"Good girl," Ominis said.
Sebastian and Ominis stood. MC pressed a kiss to Daisy's head, laying her carefully down on the floor, and then stood with them. Ominis pressed her into Sebastian's arms. "Go," he insisted.
Sebastian held MC close and felt his stomach twist with loss as he gazed at his old friend. Once they had left, he would be all alone and facing the wrath of Marvolo. He reached out, grabbing Ominis by the shoulder. "Come with us," he blurted.
He had no idea where this was coming from, and it sounded crazy to his own ears. Ominis gaped and then pulled back shaking his head.
"No, I shall stay. I will cover your tracks and see to Daisy," he said. Then he hesitated. "Perhaps send word once you are safe. But don't put names on it. I would like to know you are alright."
Sebastian frowned, his gaze dropping to Marvolo on the floor. "What about your brother?"
"Let me worry about that," Ominis said. "You two worry about getting to safety. I...I shall bid you farewell."
MC gripped the front of Sebastian's robes, her head leaning against his chest, eyes shining with tears as she looked at Ominis. Sebastian held her tightly.
"Goodbye, Ominis," she whispered.
Sebastian took a breath and gave Ominis one last long look. "Goodbye, old friend."
Sebastian squeezed his eyes shut, thought of the nearest Floo point, and Disapparated.
....*....
After the crack of Disapparation, Ominis released the breath he had been holding, and allowed a moment of silence to fill him up.
They were gone. Sebastian and MC were gone.
He fought back the wave of sadness and grit his teeth. There was still work to do.
Lifting his wand, he scanned the room in search of his evil brother and spotted him laying on the floor. He stepped a little closer and lowered his wand down towards Marvolo's head.
As a boy he had been forced to perform terrible acts to prove his worth to the family. This brother had coaxed him, bullied him, tortured him and belittled him his whole life. There was no love lost between them, and yet as Ominis stood there wand out, he still could not bring himself to destroy Marvolo.
This man had committed heinous acts, had hurt those that Ominis cared for, and murdered that poor girl in cold blood right before them. Marvolo knew about the baby. He knew Sebastian and M were running, and once he found out that the gold was all gone, his rage would explode.
Marvolo must never remember what occurred in this room. Needs must. Ominis focused his mind and aimed with purpose. "Obliviate!"
He then turned to repair the room, ridding it of evidence of them being there, before pausing by poor Daisy.
The bravery of this Muggle girl amazed him. To stand before Marvolo like that and then jump in front of the curse was beyond pure nerve. It was love. Pure and simple.
Ominis now needed to repay that sacrifice, and he knew just how to do it. He bent to scoop Daisy up into his arms, such a tiny thing she was, a tiny thing with a big heart.
....*....
The ocean breeze tugged at her braided hair, and she lifted her face to feel the little sprinkles of salty sea spray on her cheeks. The sky above was purest blue, no smog, and no city filth clinging to her skin. Just fresh sea air, the constant thrum of the ships' huge engines below their feet, and a strong chest at her back.
MC leant her head back against Sebastian, her hand sliding along his arm to press against the back of his hand that was settled firmly over her stomach. Less than a few hours had passed before his natural protectiveness had extended to the life growing inside of her. If he was near her, and to be honest, he hadn't left her side, his hand was on her stomach. After the initial shock, Sebastian was already in love with his child.
MC felt safe. But her heart ached for Daisy. The loss of her was a hollow cavern in her chest that kept threatening to consume her. She could only hope and trust that Ominis was alright and had taken care of things back in London.
They had been at sea for four days now. It wouldn't be long before they docked in New York. Nerves fluttered in her belly, and she held Sebastian a little tighter. He kissed her temple and leant his head against hers, his hand caressing her stomach.
"We will be alright, I promise," he murmured.
MC nodded and turned to look up at him. The ocean breeze tugged at his unruly brown hair, and the sunlight had brought out the freckles across his nose. His face was harder these days, leaner, but she could still see glimpses of the boy behind the shadows in his eyes. They both carried shadows and dark burdens, but when she was with him, they didn't seem so heavy.
She smoothed her hands up his chest, sliding them around his neck before pressing a kiss to his mouth. "I'm glad I have you with me," she said softly.
Sebastian smirked, his fingers brushing against the silver heart charm on the necklace he had given her. "It was never in doubt," he said. "I promised I wouldn't let you slip away from me, MC, and I intend to keep that promise."
Hope flared in her heart, a flicker of flame that she dared to cherish. "Forever?"
Sebastian's smile was soft. "Forever."
This isn't quite over yet!! One more chapter to come 😁💜 To be continued...
#hogwarts legacy fanfic#sebastian sallow#mc x sebastian sallow#ominis gaunt#ominis gaunt x mc#blueraineshadows#dark betrayals
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Of Dragons and Maelstroms
Themes and Warnings: slow burn, enemies to lovers, blood, violence, explicit language, sexual violence, period-typical misogyny, sexual themes, smut, tension, marriage, jealousy, pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, attempted sexual assault, breastfeeding, major character death, divergent timelines
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the House of The Dragon/Fire & Blood/Game of Thrones characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used nor do I claim to own them.
Chapter Six
Maera, now fourteen, had thought that her first visit to King's Landing had been enough to last her a lifetime. Yet, the ravens had come once again, bearing the royal seal that she knew all too well. It was a second summons to the capital, this time for a much different reason. Her heart sank as she read the words on the parchment — Princess Helaena's wedding to her own brother, Aegon. Arriving at the Red Keep, Maera found herself surrounded by the bustling preparations for the grand occasion. Gowns of silk and satin flowed like water through the halls, and the aroma of feasts being prepared for the week-long celebrations hung heavy in the air
The “joyous occasion”, as some would call it, could not fully overshadow the underlying tension that lingered between Maera and Aemond, which became evident to everyone at the keep who attended dinner on the first night of celebrations. Lord Wylde had once again reminded his daughter of what he expected of her. And she obliged, because her friend, the princess, needed her more than ever.
Maera had always been protective of Helaena. Observing Helaena's growing distress as the day drew closer, Maera found herself by Helaena's side more often than not. She helped her companion prepare for the grand event, assisting her as she slipped into her extravagant wedding gown of gold and green. The gown's silk and lace seemed almost a cruel mockery of the constrained life Helaena was about to embrace.
Dismissing the maids, Maera fully took in the breathtaking site of the princess in her wedding dress, overshadowed by the storm cloud of unhappiness evident on her face. “Helaena," Maera said, gently grasping the princess’s hands in her own. "Are you truly content with this union? Aegon's reputation precedes him, and I can’t stand idly by and watch this if this is not what you want"
Helaena's violet eyes, so often filled with a mixture of shyness and sadness, met Maera's concerned gaze. She hesitated before replying, her voice soft but unwavering. "My family's commands are my duty. I must do as they wish and fulfill my role."
Feeling the urgency of the situation, Maera leaned in close, her voice a whisper. "Helaena, Dreamfyre awaits you in the dragonpit. We can go to Essos, start anew. Leave the crown and the shadows of this place behind. You deserve a life of your own choosing."
Helaena's gaze met Maera's, a mixture of longing and resignation in her eyes. She spoke softly, almost as if to herself, "I have seen it. Fate is a cage, and we are but birds with clipped wings”
Maera's heart ached at Helaena's words. She understood the pressure that weighed upon the Targaryen princess, but she couldn't shake off her fears. Aegon was known for his cruelty and his tendency to indulge in all manner of vices. Maera wanted to protect Helaena from the storm that awaited her, but she knew the limits of her influence.
The Great Sept of Baelor stood resplendent in its grandeur, adorned with hundreds of flowers and the sigil of the royal house etched into almost everything Maera could see. Guests from across the realm had gathered to witness the union of two Targaryens. The air was thick with anticipation, and Maera's eyes never left Helaena, who was walked down the aisle by Aemond, as the King was too ill to complete the task. Aemond too seemed troubled by this union and as Maera looked at the royal family, she could not see one happy face aside from King Viserys, who seemed to be delirious from milk of the poppy. As she reached the High Septon and the alter, Helaena stood beside Aegon, a vision of ethereal beauty in her wedding gown. Searching the sea of faces Maera locked eyes with her old, now distant friend Aemond. The pair locked eyes and exchanged a brief but knowing look, before turning back to face the royal couple.
The princess's face was a mask of detachment, her gaze distant and unfocused throughout the ceremony. Aegon looked as though he had already consumed a barrel of ale as his eyes were glassy and uninterested. As the vows were exchanged, Maera's heart clenched with every forced smile Helaena wore, every step she took as though burdened by invisible chains. Maera yearned to reach out and offer comfort, to tell Helaena that she didn't have to endure this torment, but her words would be futile against the weight of duty.
The celebration that followed the union was a lavish affair, the halls filled with laughter, music, and the clinking of goblets, despite the unhappiness of the newly wed couple sat upon the top table. But the deed was done before the Gods and could not be taken back. Maera knew that her role as her friend would be to stand by Helaena, regardless of the challenges that lay ahead.
Late into the festivities, as the moon hung high in the sky, Maera found herself standing near one of the grand windows of the Great Hall. She wore an off-shoulder gown of her house colours, turquoise with gold detailing that swirled like tiny maelstroms. On her chest sat her mothers sapphire necklace, which Maera tended to wear when she needed her mothers strength during times of turmoil. She held a glass of wine in her hand, her gaze fixed on the dance floor below. Amidst the twirling couples, her eyes found Aemond.
Wearing the same deep green, almost black doublet, detailed with the three-headed dragon sigil on the buttons, and black trousers that he wore during the ceremony, he stood at the edge of the dance floor, now towering above his peers. His once short wavy silver hair was now just past his shoulders, half tied back in a simple updo, his expression as distant as the stars in the night sky. Maera's heart ached as she watched him, the familiar pain of his coldness seeping into her once again.
Summoning her courage, Maera set her glass aside and made her way toward Aemond. The skirts of her gown swished gently with each step, the sound lost amidst the music and laughter. As she approached him, she took a deep breath to steady herself.
"Prince Aemond," she said softly, her voice carrying more determination than she felt. As she bid him a small curtsy, he turned to face her, his violet eye meeting hers with a flicker of surprise before his expression once again settled into an impassive mask.
"Lady Maera," he acknowledged, his voice devoid of warmth.
“I trust Vhagar is well?” Maera said bitterly, as if it was the beast’s fault that her friend had faded away into memory.
“She seems quite content with me as her rider. Although it is not something I would expect you to understand, my lady” he replied, a sarcastic tone evident.
Maera's heart pounded in her chest, her resolve bolstered by a few glasses of wine. She looked up at Aemond, her green eyes locking onto his. "Ever since that night, when you claimed Vhagar," she began, her voice trembling slightly, "you returned to the Keep a different person. Cold, distant... even cruel at times."
Aemond's lips curled into a sly smile, a hint of arrogance in his gaze. "I am a prince," he said, his voice carrying an edge. "I have duties, responsibilities. More important than...” he looked her up and down, “childhood friendships."
The bitterness in his tone stung like a slap, and Maera's frustration boiled over. "Your duties don't excuse your behavior," she retorted, her frustration bleeding into her words. "You used to be my friend, Aemond. We were inseparable, and now you treat me as if I'm beneath you."
Aemond's demeanor remained unchanged, his gaze unwavering as he shrugged off her comment. "Times change, Maera. We all grow and evolve."
Maera's voice wavered as she fought to keep her composure. "Your ego has certainly grown along with it," she snapped, her words sharper than she intended. "You act as though claiming a dragon has elevated you above everyone else. I thought you were different. But no. You're no better than your idiot older brother, who uses his little influence as first-born son to get what he wants" she stepped closer to him, not breaking eye contact with him for a single second. “And what a shame that even with the largest dragon in the world, you still won’t gain his level of influence either”
Aemond's expression darkened, his jaw clenched. "Watch your tongue" he hissed. Maera held her ground, her eyes blazing with intensity.
"No, Aemond," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. She wanted him to hurt, as he had hurt her. "I do not recognise you. All I see in front of me is a stranger with one less ally in this place…and one less eye to see with”
A flicker of anger crossed Aemond's features, but he quickly masked it. "I have nothing to prove to you," he said icily, his tone final.
The weight of their estrangement hung heavy in the air, and Maera's eyes welled with unshed tears. She turned away from Aemond, her heart aching with a mixture of sorrow and frustration. Without another word, she stormed away from the dance floor, her steps quickening as she sought refuge in the quiet corridors of the Red Keep.As she walked away, her mind replayed their conversation, the harsh words echoing in her ears. She had confronted Aemond, poured out her feelings, and yet his walls remained unyielding. Tears finally spilled down her cheeks, and she wiped them away with the back of her hand. The castle that had once been a place of wonder and friendship had now become a reminder of the painful chasm that had grown between her and the boy who had once been her closest friend.
Thank you so much for reading! Comments, feedback, likes, and reblogs are greatly appreciated 🖤
#aemond fanfiction#aemond targaryen#aemond x oc#chapters#hotd aemond#hotd fanfic#hotd helaena#house targaryen#house wylde#jasper wylde#maera wylde
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HII I LOVE YOUR FICS ❤️ CAN I REQUEST A PART 2 OF “MY OWN MIRROR” IF YOU CAN. THANK YOU 🫶
My Own Mirror
Pt 2 of this fic, since I love feeding y'all. AND TY SM AWW
TW: Mentioned past child abuse, mentioned past brief descriptions of domestic violence
There was another long stretch of silence, just as unbearable as the first if not more painful.
Shouta's tired eyes scanned the balcony, his eyes traveling from the weed to the makeshift roof. He shook his head, muttering to himself how the top was prohibited as well. He seemed deeply uncomfortable, the whole situation was something so out of his depth that even being here was painful.
"Do you even wonder? Do you even care?" Her voice was still wet, the waterworks still coming down her face, just at a considerably slower pace.
Shouta looked back at her, the young girl in front of him, with a sense of sadness and pity she'd never seen on him before.
"All the time. I...regret....not coming back for you, all those years ago, even now. I can't bear to look at you without being angry at myself." He admitted, head low and hands shaking.
Suddenly, a sense of realization hit the younger Aizawa like a ton of bricks. This whole time, Shouta was angry at himself and took it out on her instead of mourning the loss of his family. It made it more painful when both of them realized when they took into account that they both were just carbon copies of their late mother.
They both shared the same sharp nose as her, the same slightly curly jet-black hair, and the same hooded and dark eyes. Hell, even your erasing quirks came from her side of the family. Her quirk was that anyone who was within 20 feet of her would have their abilities damped, and when it was activated, low and behold, her eyes would glow.
"I'm sorry that I was never there. Father just...made it so impossible to even share the same room as him. I've regretted every moment that I left you behind with that man. I thought that now you were coming back to me was some sort of divine punishment. I've been the hardest on you because I couldn't bare to watch you fail too." Shouta's voice was tense, strained as he tried to hold back his own tears. He quickly brought a hand to his mouth, pulling down the skin of his face as he tried to will away his tears.
"All I ever wanted was to be with you. I always looked up to you, you escaped, and you made a better life for yourself like no one else in our family had." She admitted, a true admission of feelings from the depths of her heart. Her stance was still aggressive, feet spread apart and shoulders hunched as she protected her stomach. The more this painful conversation went on, the more her stomach ached. A trait from her fathers.
"I'm so sorry, you've had to suffer so long alone." Shouta looked away, pain etched into the very creases of his face.
Her teeth clenched as agony wracked her entire body, and she too avoided eye contact, not able to bare the look of vulnerability on her older brother's face.
"I-I.. don't have to..anymore now though, r-right?" Her voice cracked.
Shouta looked up at her once more, a sad surprise written on his face. His eyebrows furrowed down, and a sad frown pulled on his mouth. "N-no. No. Not anymore." He rested his arms uncomfortably at his side, and suddenly she rushed into his arms. His younger sister hugging onto his stiff form so tightly it almost hurt.
He relaxed in her hold and brought an arm to gently cradle her back.
___________________________________________
The afternoon was shining brightly, the sun setting made everything glow in an orange hue. The sounds of birds cawing and children laughing and chattering were heard all around U.A., a common thing for the high school.
Two people walked side by side with one another. An outsider might assume it was the result of a weird quirk, the people at U.A. thought it was a man and his daughter, but very few people knew the truth.
"So what does it mean again?" The younger sister asked black thick hair in a messy ponytail. Her long hair had been cut to a comfortable pixie cut, she had never really liked it long. Her once lanky form had been filling out slowly with her time at U.A. now that she had access to a proper diet and constant exercise.
The older brother sighed, tired eyes rolling once more. His hair was shoulder-length with a messy sort of fringe. "I have a foster parent certificate. I can house children in need of homes, and it shows I have the qualifications to do so. I can also adopt children of my own. But for our situation, I am merely acting as your temporary guardian until you turn of age." Shouta Aizawa sighed, turning to look at the younger Aizawa.
"Finally! Jesus, it took them long enough." She huffed, the same hooded eyes looking back at him. Her arms crossed over her strong chest. That was one thing that was different between them, while Aizawa was lean and quick, his younger sister was more built and stocky. Like their parents were.
"It's a long legal process with the necessary precautions. It would be foolish to just allow anyone with this license." He said, stating the facts per usual.
"Okay yeah sure, but it didn't have to take so damn long." She muttered angrily, lips forming a pout.
They walked to the teacher's dorm, and she awkwardly waved at all her mentors lounging around in the safe space. Some were caught off guard and scrambled to do something productive, while others just lazily waved at her back.
___________________________________________
"This is..kinda sad." The little Aizawa admitted, wandering around the older Aizawa's dorm. She immediately went to snooping and started rummaging around his few belongings.
"I didn't bring you here to judge me. My decorating is fine the way it is. No need to over-clutter my living space." He murmured grumpily, going over to the open kitchen to start a pot of coffee.
"Sureee. So, do I have to live with you now that you're my legal guardian?" She asked, her voice giving way to nothing of how she truly felt about that.
Since the two had started to build a relationship together, there were many bumps in the road. The biggest and foremost was their personalities. The older Aizawa acted like their late mother, her emotional unavailability and neglect are what shaped his apathetic nature and rather tired attitude. Whilst the other had grown up with their angry and headstrong father, his anger and physical abuse turned into her stubborn pride and unmovable nature.
Though that proved to be difficult to navigate at first, it soon turned into their own song and dance. Almost reminiscent of how their parents were with one another. But instead of screaming matches that turned to physical violence, they turn to angrily stare each other down.
"You don't have to if you don't want to." Shouta said, wary of what her response will be.
The youngest turned around, a determined grin on her face. "Guess I'll have to move all my stuff in here before the weekend ends, huh?" Her hands were on her hips, proud of her revelation.
He sighed and shook his head in mock disappointment, but a smile found its way to his lips. "If that's what you want." Shouta turned around to pour himself a cup of coffee.
"I see you smiling asshole!" His sister laughed, joy filling her teasing voice.
___________________________________________
Tag list :>: @hitokor
#my hero academia#aizawa shouta#bnha shouta aizawa#bhna#mha#mha fanfiction#aizawa fluff#shouta aizawa#hes a dork#SORRY GUYS I CANT HELP BUT MAKE HAPPY ENDINGS#im so happy so many people wanted a pt 2 omg#just two traumatized sillies
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Hiii since i saw ur requests open i have a request for obey me brothers :>>
So how will the obey me brothers comfort mc after her crush just rejected her
( well i prefer fem mc tbh but if u don't do them u can go with gn :") )
Omg we love a bit for heart break 😍
The brother's comforting MC after rejection.
A/n: this is the first time I wrote in a while so be nice to me please 🥲 this was also kinda rushed because I got lazy especially with the twins! Also I didn't read over my writing so...
Warnings: language, violence, men!!!!
Lucifer
After he got done working he wanted to spend some time with you, that's when he found you crying on the front steps.
His heart swelled seeing you upset and he wasted no time going to comfort you.
He sat down next to you and pulled you into him.
After you calmed down he wiped your tears and placed a hand on your cheek "it hurts me to see you so upset. MC tell me who did this to you" he says softly
" it's stupid.. this guy I was really into rejected me.."
He told you he understood and you shouldn't be ashamed of your feeling.
He rubbed your back until you were ready to go inside.
He would keep an eye on you just to make sure you were okay. He'd want to be the first person to comfort you and the first person you go to for anything. He would try extra hard to make you happy.
Mammon
He was waiting in your room when you got home. The look on your face said it all. You'd been crying.
He flew into action! Pulled you into his arms "MC, what happened?? What are ya crying for?"
You sighed "it's no big deal.. the guy I like rejected me. I'm already over it" you were in fact not over it and it showed.
Mammon was pissed! You were the most amazing person in the three worlds! How could anyone not love you?!
"ya serious?! I can't believe this! You are the full package! How can he not see that!" Mammon went off. He wanted to go find the guy but his focus was on you right now. He sat you down and started thinking of ways to make you feel better. "There there.. how about we steal Lucifer card and go on a shopping spree!"
After attempting to comfort you he left you with Asmodeus as he was going to find the guy! He knew you would be pissed if you hurt him but he didn't care! The only reason the guy made it out untouched is because Lucifer showed up just in time to stop him.
Later he would ask if you were okay often. You'd be the first person he'd go and see in the morning! Not like you weren't already.
Leviathan
You found yourself in Levi's room watching him play games. He kinda felt something was off with you. He thought you were mad at him because you seemed colder.
He found out over a text from his brother's group chat
Asmodeus: hey, Lucifer can you get our douchebag brother? He went to go beat up Mcs crush."
Lucifer: what a headache.
He looked up at you confused "MC, do you know why Mammon would be beating up your crush?"
Seeing your eyebrows twitch made him cringe. You must be super upset at him!
"are you serious?! I can't believe mammon some times!!" Your harsh tone scared him
He realized you were upset and sat you down next to him "MC, What happened if you don't mind me asking.."
You sighed "this guy rejected me so now mammon was going to beat him up." After saying that your face softed into a sad look.
He felt so useless! You were sad and he could do nothing to help
"I'm sorry MC. I wish I could do something but I'm just a useless utaku."
You guys ended up comforting each other until you got tired and went to bed
Satan
He was there and seen the whole thing. He seen the way you looked at him in front of your RAD locker. He watched as you shyly played with the rim of your jacket as he spoke pretty words into your ear, and he seen your face dropped as he rejected you in the most douchebag way he'd ever seen.
Satan seen RED! He wanted no more then to rip him apart in front of everyone, but when his eyes fell on you... His heart aches. The look of pure heart break you have has him pulling you away from the crowded school halls to a empty class room.
He spent no time pulling you into his chest and rubbing your head. He felt as his shirt began to get wet as you sobbed into him.
"Shhh... Shh... I know MC... You don't have to tell me anything... I already know..." He spoke oh so lovingly.
We swayed with you, rocking you so sweetly until he consuld you enough for the two of you to go home. The whole walk home he was holding your hand and making sure you were okay. You guys stop in front of the house of lamentation.
He kissed your hand then your forehead " sorry, darling I have some unfinished business that needs tending. I will be back in less then ten minutes. I promise." He says leaving you on the front steps.
Later he returned to see you've gone somewhere and his phone buzzed.
Asmodeus: hey, Lucifer can you get our douchebag brother? He went to go beat up Mcs crush."
Lucifer: what a headache
Satan laughed to himself
Satan: lol I beat him to it
Asmodeus
He was trying the new skincare products he got online when mammon budge in with MC.
He practically threw MC in his room.
"hey would you watch MC for me?" Mammon said. he looked like he was in a hurry.
"I don't need to watch MC because they aren't a dog! Where are you even going?!" Asmodeus shouted confusedly.
"I'm going to beat up the guy MC likes!" Mam said as he hurried away.
MC groaned and sat on Asmos bed. "So are you going to tell me what that was all about?" Asmo raised his eyebrows as you.
"I got rejected.." you said looking down at your feet.
he couldn't believe what he just heard!!! He knew all about the guy you like! He knew you were going to ask him out today because he was the one who told you to go for it!
"MC!!! Are you serious!!" He shouts jumping up from his seat. "I am so sorry!" He wraps his arms around you tightly. He is all over you, pecking your cheeks with kisses and rubbing your back "you deserve better then him anyways! He was such a douchebag! Speaking of douchebags" he texted the group chat
Asmodeus: Hey, Lucifer can you get our douchebag brother? He went to beat up Mcs crush.
After that he pulled out his get over a guy self care package
He ran you a bath and started moisturizing your face and putting a cute face mask on you. Massaging you back and telling you how amazing you are.
He's making sure you won't focus on a stupid guy and you'd focus on your beautiful self❤️
Later you went into Levi's room
The twins
It was getting late so you eventually left Levi to go to bed. Walking into your bedroom you sighed thinking about the drama you ran into today..
You lay down under your sheets and close your eyes tightly while you try to hold back your tears.
"Mc?" A voice startled you out of your thoughts. You opened your eyes to see belpie all tucked into your blankets.
"oh my god belpie! You scare the living shit out of me! What are you doing here?" You ask as if you didn't want him here.
"sleeping..? beels in here too" belpie points to Beel in the corner awkwardly eating "Hi MC :)"
You sigh "guy I had a day so I'd love if I can get some sleep"
"why do you think we're here." Belpie says pulling you into a cuddle "I heard about what happened and me and Beel wanted to come cheer you up!"
Beelzebub walks up to the two of you and hands you a pizza bagel "want some?" He ask with a cute smile
Beel spent the time feeding you and telling you how much you mean to him and belpie was just talking shit about the guy you like.. to be honest it made you feel better. You fell asleep shortly in their arms
#obey me leviathan#obey me#obey me shall we date#omswd#obey me hc#obey me hcs#obey me satan#obey me lucifer#obey me mammon#obey me asmodeus#obey me belphie#obey me belphegor#obey me beelzebub#obey me headcanons#obey me headcanon#obmswd
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A Light Touch
Fem Reader x Eustass Kid
CW: language, assault, violence, sexual themes and situations, implications of non-con, loss of limbs, blood. 18+ Only.
Chapter 1 - Table of Consent -
Chapter 16: Benefactor
You stayed down in the basement for hours. You could hear the crew working upstairs to clean up the glass and start repairing the house. Your emotions were all over the place, and you weren't having an easy time trying to organize them, let alone process them.
Your heart hurt, it ached so deeply you almost wanted to rip it from your chest just to have a moment's relief. You couldn't heal it, there was no physical wound to mend to bring some sort of relief.
Eventually Emma came down with a tray of food. She didn't say anything until she was sure you had seen it.
"I'll come get it later, but I wanted you to know that you can go back to your room if you want. Or, well, anywhere in the house." There's sadness in Emma's voice and so you know the whole rest of the crew knows.
"Thanks." You respond, pulling the tray close as she leaves.
The food's warm, and it makes you feel a little better. You hadn't had a chance to eat before all hell had broke loose, and you hadn't realized how much it was making everything else sink into you.
You had no idea what you were going to do. The only thing you knew for sure was you needed to think really hard on it before you made any decisions, and sulking in the basement wasn't going to help. Not that you didn't have a right to be angry, but you didn't want to make any decisions because of your anger.
First thing, you wanted a shower, and clothes that were clean. Clothes that were actual clothes too, being in your pjs felt like a depression move and you didn't want that either.
You got up, tray in hand and head upstairs. You come out of the basement carefully, not because you're worried about another attack, but you don't know how much glass is still on the floors, or where Kid is. Right now, you're not sure if you want to see him.
He had left earlier without a word. You didn't know what expression was on his face since you couldn't bring yourself to look at anyone. You didn't know if it mattered right now, since you were still raw.
You see Killer in the kitchen, cleaning up and prepping for dinner. When you set the tray down, he turns in your direction.
"Thanks Em— er." Killer freezes in place. It's almost funny to see a guy as big and intimidating as him be so shook up by you.
"Thanks." You say, knowing he had made the food. "I'm going to my room. I... just need to think on stuff."
"Let me know when you're hungry again." He says evenly. There's a twitch in his body like he wants to reach out and say something more, but he doesn't.
"Where is he?" You ask with a sigh.
"Out. You won't run into him in the house." Killer assures you.
You nod, and head up to your room.
The stairs feel big. The open space in the middle of the staircase feels empty. The higher up you get the colder things feel. Like there's a series of walls closing between you and the entire crew with each step you take.
The window in your room is boarded up with thick planks and metal bars. Aside from the basement it might be the safest place in the whole house right now. Stepping into the bathroom, even the few small windows in here were reinforced.
You could feel your body relax.
A long shower and a longer soak in the tub were the beginning of what you needed. You used all the little creams and oils you could get your hands on and just let your mind wander. Water made it easier to think. Made it easier to be relaxed while you thought. Made it more comfortable to feel and cry, and you didn't know why it worked that way, but you were grateful for it.
When you came out of the bathroom and got dressed you realized you were far less angrier than you had been earlier, which meant you could start to sit down and think about what had happened.
And what you meant to do.
Before you could really let yourself dig in to your thoughts, your phone rings. It wasn't a number you had saved, and your stomach knotted immediately.
After a few rings it stopped, and a moment after that you got a text from the same number.
Unknown: I'm not Vander Decken, Miss (Y/N).
You look at the text in disbelief before picking up the phone and texting back.
You: Who are you?
Unknown: A benefactor. A friend of your father's.
You: I don't know who my father is, how can you? How could I even trust what you're saying?
Unknown: I have proof, but the validity of my relationship to your father is not why I'm reaching out to you. I wish to help with your stalker issue, Miss (Y/N).
You: Why now?
Unknown: I had promised your father I wouldn't directly interfere in your life. However, that brat Kid isn't handling this well enough, and I felt the need to intervene more directly.
Your brows knit. Only you were allowed to be angry at Kid right now, who did this asshole think he was bad-mouthing your "it's complicated" status update?
You: Kid's done a lot for me.
Unknown: I could do more.
You: who are you? And don't give some vague benefactor bullshit.
You: Wait, did you pay my hospital bills?
Unknown: I did.
Unknown: Go find that blonde cook of his, and then call this number. I won't divulge who I am over text, young lady.
Your blood nearly froze you in place. There was a level of knowledge coming from this unknown number that unsettled you deeply. You were also certain that it was best for Killer to know about it than for you to keep it secret, so you took your phone downstairs with you.
"Killer!" You called out, assuming he was in the kitchen. Sure enough he stepped out into the landing of the stairs as you came down to meet him. You scrolled your phone to the start of the texts and handed it to him. "Read this."
Killer's eyes were usually hidden by his hair, but you could see the light in those baby blues as the scowl on his face. He handed the phone back to you.
"Call it."
"Sure," you prompt the phone to call the number associated with the texts and after a couple rings a velvety voice fills the air between you and Killer.
"Miss (Y/N), and Killer, how nice to hear from you."
"Who are you?" You ask again, but when you look up to Killer you see his scowl deepen.
"He's a Warlord." Killer says, and you're impressed at how steady his voice is.
"I see my reputation is intact. I am Donquixote Doflamingo, young Miss (Y/N), and your father was my right-hand man."
"...What? Wait what? A Warlord?! You're a Warlord!" You nearly drop the phone, but Killer catches it as your legs buckle and you sit down on the floor with a thump.
"Indeed. Your father-."
"No. No." You put your hands up even though he can't see you. "Absolutely not. I don't want to know anything. I have enough on my plate right now, I refuse to hear one word about my father."
"... Very well. Then to the matter at hand," he says, emphasizing the last word in a way that made you flinch. "The day after tomorrow a limo will arrive at your apartment. You, young lady, will be there, and I will guarantee that it will be safe for you to be there. At that point you will do me the courtesy of making a decision."
"Eh?"
"Get into the limo and I will protect you, not only from your stalker, but from the weight of your heritage. You will want for nothing and have all that you could desire, but you will forfeit any alliance with brats like Kid and his generation. You will be a member of my family and your loyalty will not be split."
"If I don't get into the limo?"
"Then I will not intervene in any way with your life - personally or professionally." His voice isn't disappointed, and something about that unnerves you.
"What if I don't show up at all?"
"I would advise you to not snub a Warlord, young lady. You are family enough that I'm willing to give you an option, don't insult me for it." There's an edge in his voice that twists your stomach and makes your face go pale. You can almost feel the hand at your throat from the words alone.
"She'll be there." Killer says, the assurance more for you than Doflamingo.
"Indeed. Take today and tomorrow to think it over. You won't have to worry about any disturbances slipping through the cracks in the meantime. Go outside and enjoy a proper taste of freedom, Miss (Y/N)."
The line goes dead, and you just sit there for a few long minutes. After a moment, Killer sits on the floor with you, setting the phone between the two of you.
"Kid's going to blow a gasket." You say finally.
"Yup."
"Killer?"
"Hm?"
"I have questions."
"I will answer what I can."
"So you're not just a crew or gang. Y'all are the Kings of the South Blue, like how they call Luffy and his crew the Kings of East Blue."
"Yup."
"Hookay." You let out a breath and lay down on the floor. Kings were contenders from the world making their way through Grandline Metro to find the One Piece. It's why there were so many Devil Fruit users in the 600 sq km of the city. The city's underbelly was a gauntlet and took people years to get through.
Some Kings became Warlords - either because the World Government scouted them, or because they applied for the position by doing something meritorious in the eyes of the Government. Some Kings became Emperors, but that was a nearly impossible feat because the Emperors themselves were so entrenched.
Most Kings died or retired when they realized they had bashed against their dream to the point of defeat.
Kid didn't strike you as someone who quit. As a matter of fact, you were pretty sure you knew how he lost his arm. He was either going to find the One Piece, lose the race to it, or die in the attempt.
Suddenly, you were angry that Luffy and the others had educated you on all this when they were trying to recruit you.
If you became a part of Kid's crew, you'd face Luffy and the others eventually.
"Fuck." You stare up at the ceiling. "That explains a lot." You sigh. Eustass would need to fly under the radar in order to keep his foundations stable while he pushed into the city. Eventually the Marines would get mixed into things but the longer you could avoid them the better your chances.
If he had outed himself as a Devil Fruit user on the traffic cameras to save someone he didn't know, he would've sacrificed everything the crew had worked for to that point. It wasn't just a matter of having to register and pay some fines.
Even if it was just registering and paying fines, he didn't know you from the next faceless rube when the accident happened. He had no reason to risk his growing empire for you.
"Who's Doflamingo's right hand man?" You ask after a long silence.
"I don't know who is now," Killer replies. "But a year ago it was a man named Vergo."
"I'm guessing he didn't retire."
"I heard he had been posing as a Marine for a long time. Something blew his cover and he died." Killer explains.
"So then for a few months Doflamingo consolidates his losses, and eventually decides to - I guess - pay homage to his friend and tosses his daughter a bone in the shape of a really lucrative job offer." You grumble into the air. "Except a drunk guy rear ends her on the way there and utter chaos ensues."
"I don't think you're wrong." He agrees. "Doflamingo is fanatical about family, he probably wanted to do more."
Tears slip down the side of your face, but you're not sobbing. There's no pain in your heart, and you're not even sure you're truly sad, but a single thought sits in your heart as the errant tears dry on your face.
"Both my parents are dead." You say softly to no one in particular. "I never expected I'd meet my father, but... the finality of this feels heavier than I thought."
"Sorry, (Y/N)." Killer offers after a long silence.
You breathe in and let out a sigh. "It's okay. Mom did her best. I guess in a weird way, my dad did too. Sounds like he had the backing to do whatever he wanted, and that at least explains why mom was so paranoid. In the end though, he let her raise me like she wanted."
You stared at the ceiling for another long minute. "What in the hells am I going to do?" You were muttering to yourself more than anything as you sat up. "I hate to ask you this, but can you tell Kid about this? I still need to think on some stuff before I can, um... y'know."
"Sure." Killer stands up, dusting his jeans off. "Hey, uh, look I don't know that I have a right to say this, but um..."
"Fire away, Killer." You prompt, standing up as well.
"I've known Kid almost his whole life. He's gonna push you toward Doflamingo. I shouldn't say that, being who I am, but I feel like you have a right to know it won't be because he wants to."
"Being who you are?"
"... I'm his right-hand, (Y/N). It's not my place to sabotage what the Captain decides."
"Your secret's safe with me." You assure him, starting your long trek back up the steps to your room.
#A Light Touch#eustass x reader#one piece eustass kid#one piece fanfiction#reader insert#eustass kid x reader
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School!au, heclie. part 2/?
One day Charlie pisses off Manny, and he waits for him after school and beats him up. Lonnit had gone through a similar experience in his previous high school... for some reason he was always seen as a nice punching bag. He sits on the curb, beaten and sad, his bike lying next to him, and he doesn't want to go home because his mom will get upset again. Hector watches him from the sidelines for a while, silent, and then, cursing his curiosity (and his crush, but he hasn't realized it's a crush yet; it's just that when Charlie walked into class, all so light and warm, in those silly glasses and a tie, his heart skipped a beat or two, and he somehow felt an urgent need to drink some water), he heads straight for him.
Hector helps him up and listens to him, walking with him all the way home, and this is... strange, of course. He's never done anything like this before. Anyway, yes, this is his first love, and he's confused. Charles looks grateful and smiles.
Because of him, Hector is late after school and comes home later than he should, for which he gets punished. But he doesn't worry about it; he's sure that even if he had come on time, his mother would still have found something to punish him for.
He and Charles begin to communicate little by little. Hector listens to everything Charlie tells him. He's always quiet, but he shows his interest in other ways: for example, defending him from Sherman, or taking him to some of his favorite places. At the same time, he can't help but notice that Charles communicates not only with him, but also with Mark, and it... oh, it makes him feel terrible, though he can't understand why.
He must have been acting too obviously tense during their walk after school that day (Lucinda is at work, he can take his time getting home), and Charles asks him what happened, expectantly getting no answer. Lonnit sighs. "Hector, really, what's wrong? Don't be silent, I beg you, say something," he says, trying to look Munday in the eye. The brunet stubbornly averts his gaze, his lips tense.
Charles still manages to stand up so that Hector looks at him, and Lonnit smiles softly, looking at him with a puppy dog look. Munday sighs. "Why were you talking with Mark?" the question sounds a little harsh and rude.
Charlie blinks in surprise. "Because he's my friend," he shrugs. "And you're my friend, too," he adds, smiling.
Hector is not satisfied with being a friend "too". He wants to be the only person Charles needs. But he doesn't say that, of course. He remains silent and smiles nervously.
He continues to occasionally watch from the sidelines how Charles interacts with others, with Mark. And he notices to himself that he is most disgusted when Charles is touched. When Mark hugs him, pats him on the shoulder, rubs his hair. It all makes Hector just clench his fists and turn away proudly with his lips pressed together. And in the evening, it makes him imagine how he could have touched Charles, too. But he wasn't used to this appearance of feeling, so he couldn't found bravery... he wanted to hint, somehow, so that Charlie would do it himself...
One day they were sitting together in a secluded place near the school - one of the ones that Munday had shown Charles - and Lonnit was saying something about his day, and suddenly he mentioned that Mark had taken his picture. To Hector's confused look, Charlie explained that Nestor was learning how to take portraits, and Kate and Jamie were busy and couldn't help him, so he agreed to lend a hand.
It was as if Hector had an itch under his skin. He wanted to ask if Mark had touched his face, but he knew how stupid and inappropriate that would sound, so he just kept quiet.
After a while, Lucinda snapped at him and slightly exceeded the usual level of violence that Hector had managed to adjust to, and so the next day the guy just looks and feels like a nightmare. His shoulder blades ache, his head hurts, and his arms are pierced with pain from any fleeting rubbing against the fabric of his shirt.
"Hector, are you okay?" asked Charles at one point when they were already sitting in their place after school. "You look just... especially pale? Maybe I should walk you home?"
"No!" says Hector somewhat sharply and a little more emotionally than he would have want.
Charlie looks at him anxiously, and then suddenly reaches out and gently touches his shoulder. "Hector, I... heard some rumors about your mother," Lonnit timidly begins. Munday's defenses kick in and he pulls away sharply, wrinkling his nose at the mention of Lucinda. Charlie looks at him sadly. "Look... I get that you don't want to talk about it, that you don't want to feel vulnerable and all that, but Hector... I'm your close friend, aren't I? You can trust me," he says, looking up at him with honest, puppy-dog eyes.
Hector presses his lips together, feeling utterly powerless in front of that stare. He looks away somewhat bashfully. "I don't like to talk," he says, and he hears Charles sigh sadly. Munday thinks for a few moments, and then suddenly lifts his shirt somewhat twitchily, showing silently the marks on his back. He holds the fabric for a couple of moments while Charlie silently examines his bruises, and then puts his hand down, letting the fabric cover everything up again.
"Oh, Hector... that's terrible, did you... did you go to the nurse? Look, I can get some ointment for the bruises tomorrow, that should help, though in general I'd rather you go to the police with it, but I'm already guessing you won't, so... yes, the ointment," he says anxiously quickly.
"Hug me," the words suddenly come from Hector's lips, quite spontaneously, out of place. He doesn't immediately realize what he's just said.
Charles doesn't seem to realize what he has just heard either, but after a few seconds he readily stands up and approaches him, first gently touching his shoulder to make him turn around and then enclosing him in a warm, gently hug.
Hector feels odd and a little embarrassed. At first he just keeps standing there, somewhat awkwardly, not hugging his friend back, but then Charlie suddenly touches his arm and guides it a little higher, clearly hinting. Munday hesitantly places his palms on his back, and Charles exhales with a smile, relaxing a little, and begins stroking Hector's back. "You'll be fine, Hector," he says, resting his head on his shoulder.
Munday is suddenly struck by a completely irrational fear, and he abruptly squeezes Charles's body in his arms, pulling him closer, and he groans a little surprised.
"Whoa, whoa, okay, boy, it's okay, but you're about to strangle me... we should cuddle more often, right?" utters Lonnit with a smile, but Hector keeps squeezing him like if Charles pulls away, he'll die. In the end, Lonnit just resigns himself, letting him do it.
He just hopes that Hector will feel better. And it works.
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My personal headcannon is that the Ais were aware of the paradise protection protocol. It was installed in them after the professors went paranoid. However they hated it. Being forced to hurt... possibly kill another against their will. It destroyed their relationship with the professor. They felt so betrayed... the professors were also racked with guilt. In a lonely and desperate gambit... the professor called in the ai for repairs. The ai walks in... head low... still hurt. They give over access to their systems. Asking the professors to please remove the protocol.
Instead their memory of the installation was wiped, and the code hidden. It worked out... for the professor. As without the memory the Ai once again was happy and friendly. They were friends again. This... was a good thing for both of them. At least that's what they tried to tell themselves.
Tldr: why don't the ais know about the paradise protection protocol? Because their memories got deleted.
Ooohh It is definitely like Turo to do such a thing! Man is so scared to be lonely, he doesn't hesitate to wipe whatever inconvenient memory off his AI. Of course, not without feeling extremely guilty and wrong about it.
When AI Turo starts being friendly again, the Professor is relieved, trying to convince himself what he did wasn't a big deal. After all, AI Turo was made to stay by his side, their friendship has always been an illusion; anytime he would worry about him, anytime he would ask how he was feeling or helping him doing his daily tasks... it was nothing but coding.
cw // mild violence, bad language, self deprecation, self harm
AI Turo: ...Professor?
Turo hadn't realise it, but those thoughts had brought him to tears.
AI Turo: Professor... are you alright?
He felt the robot placing his hand on his shoulder, while looking at him in worry.
His heart started aching; it felt so real, how could that have been nothing but code?
AI Turo: Why don't you sit down a little, I'll handle everything.
Turo shook his head, tears still streaming down his eyes.
Turo: I did something terrible to you.
AI Turo: I can't... recall.
Turo: I wiped off your memory, that’s why you don't!
His sadness quickly turned into anger as he moved the other's hand away.
Turo: It's not the first time actually - he confessed, suddenly gaining a weird confidence - I've been doing it since the very first day, anytime I needed to.
The robot looked impassive, none of what he said stopped him from being concerned.
AI Turo: You should be taking a good rest, Professor. You haven't slept properly in weeks.
Turo: STOP! Stop doing that!
Turo brought both hands to his head, pulling his hair.
Turo: You... you don't understand! You should be hating me!
AI Turo: Why?
Turo: I betrayed you, That’s why! But I guess... that's part of your programming as well.
His tone drastically fell lower as well as his arms, weakly swinging to his sides.
Turo: Right... you can't harm me in any form, can you? How coward of me... HOW! FUCKING! PATHETIC!
The Professor started to repeatedly hit his head but it didn't take long before the AI could stop him, holding his wrists so hard it indeed felt painful.
AI Turo: you're wrong, Professor. I can harm you...
The man looked at him, shocked to see the sudden change in his AI counterpart. Never before he had seen such an anger in his usually kind eyes, that slowly got back to that state the moment he finished his sentence.
AI Turo: ...I just don't want to.
He released his grip enough so Turo could still feel his touch, a gentle one this time, and somewhat warm.
Turo: W-why though... I'm such... I'm...
Stammered the Professor, tears streaming down his face again, words trapped in his throat.
AI Turo: because I love you, that's why. And I care for you. I genuinely do... no matter what.
The robot held him tight, allowing him to consume his emotions on his chest until he was so tired he fell asleep. He then gently carried him to bed, where he would have taken the rest he needed.
#ask box#I just realised your ask wasn't Turo oriented I'm sorry#I just happen to think about him first#but I love Sada too#professor turo#turo#turo pokemon#ai turo#pokemon#pokemon violet#Pokemon scarlet#pokemon scarlet and violet#professor sada#sada pokemon#sada#ai sada
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all along there was some invisible string (tying you to me)
Summary: mike gets vecna’d two times but he’s prepared the second time (spoiler: his homosexuality is in fact not prepared) based on this post by the lovely @aemiron-main !!!
warnings: internalized homophobia, swearing, mike wheeler being oblivious, a little angst like if you squint, violence, will byers being sad, mike being called out on his shit, this being my very first fic ever (no we’re not counting my 2 year old unfinished larry fanfic on wattpad), canon being my little bitch and tears so so many tears
If you wanna read it on ao3 click this!
This wasn’t the first time it happened, although it doesn't make it any less terrifying whatsoever. He sat as close to Will as their body heat allowed (even though he’d want to be pressed closer than that), the couch sinking into their asses as Will asked about Eddie. The one man that Mike knew if given the chance would love Will, would care for Will, would not forget Wills birthday. He would love Will and it would be painless, nothing would ache; not like Mike Wheeler and his stupidity and not Will Byers for being a victim of his stupidity.
This is all what would be going through his head if Mike could stop staring at his childhood best friend’s lips that is. The glossy anxious-bit lips had him mesmerized, he knew he shouldn’t be doing this. But as he looked down every few seconds he should have been reminded of why he grew apart from Will, why it was painful to look into his eyes at the airport. He should know that his lips are simply a glossy reminder of why he can’t have what he’d give up everything for.
Everything including Will.
He’s decided to never make that mistake again, after seeing how much it affected Will and how he was his everything and in return Mike treated him worse than nothing. The way that he hurt Will because of how he felt, the pain he went through, the tears that were shed because of him, Mike simply deems himself as unforgivable because of it. Maybe if Mike loved him less he wouldn't hurt Will so much. If only he could feel less.
His thoughts were interrupted when a darting gaze from the other turned into a silent accusation before he vocalized it.
“What’s wrong with you?”
"W-what?"
Mike morphed into a deer in headlights, he immediately looked into Wills eyes and where there was usually a warm beach hidden, instead it looked..
disgusted?
"Don't think I don't know what you're doing, where you're looking, how you're violating me Mike."
Will leaned forward, a sneer twisting his face into something Mikes never seen on him before. Mike shifted himself far from Will to prevent whatever the fuck is happening at the moment.
"Will its not-"
"Bull! Do you know how disgusting you are? How could I ever like you, why would you ever think that? You knew about the rumours and what everyone said didn't you? And thought I'd be a fucking homo.
Like you."
Mike shut his eyes and murmured no repeatedly because, no that's not true. It can't be true. He's not taking advantage of him, not his best friend. He knew who he was, how he was, he couldn't.
He can't.
Right?
"I know what you are Mike Wheeler."
That voice, it was dark he could feel the lights flickering under his eye lids but hearing the voice that wasn't Wills. It wasn't the boy who he tried to bury down in his heart multiple times, wasn't the boy who knew about him and was going to leave him. Hearing that voice was the single thing that made him open his eyes.
It's what they all described, what he's seen a handful of times, he fell backwards scrambling back up to run away, run anywhere but here.
It was Vecna.
Mike was up and running, he shouldn't be as scared as he was and not wanting it to show he yelled fiercely so he would hear.
"What the hell man? Will would never say that to me, and whatever you're talking about is bullshit! You're a sick fuc-"
He was cut off because lo behold, Vecna was in front of him leaning forward with a terrifying glint in his eyes.
"What do you think Will would say when he finds out Mike? When he finds out why you ignored him for a year. Why you cant look at him? When he finds out why you and eleven really broke up Mike? What happens then?"
Mike fell at the sudden presence, and the weight of his words kept him down. His eyes widened and as his mind screamed to tell him to interrupt and deny but, his lungs wouldn't let him.
"What would they say of how you were with Eleven while you were a fucking fairy? When they find out you couldn't be a man. Will would hate you, he probably already does. Why do you think he's awkward around you? Why he can't be himself around you? Because he knows Micheal, and why would someone like Will be with someone who constantly hurts him?"
Mikes palms grasped at the carpet he currently was on, about to flee as he heard his voice. He turned and saw Will standing with the same expression as before.
"Why would I ever feel the same way? With a disgusting fairy like you?"
Then Mike heard it, as if someone above heard his dying prayers, he heard the familiar voice of Bronski Beat. He closed his eyes desperately trying to make all of this go away, trying to forget how his fears have been confirmed. He closed his eyes and tried to pay attention to the tune.
"Mother will never understand why you had to leave.
But the answers you seek will never be found at home.
The love that you need will never be found at home."
The first thing he saw when the wondrous tune of Smalltown Boy became louder and louder were those beach hidden eyes, this time frantic and pointed. By instinct he flinched and looked away as soon as he opened his eyes.
"Fucking hell Mike!"
The oh so sweet voice of Dustin let him knew that he was actually okay as he clutched the carpet below him
'That wasn't real, Will doesn't know.'
He just shut his eyes in relief but couldn't get out what Vecna said out of his head, because what would Will think of him.
A freak.
A fairy.
Pervert.
Shoving all of that below him he tried to catch one glance at Will before he allowed himself to actually pay attention to Dustin, and this time Will looked away with a firm look on his face.
Mike bit back a frown as they helped him back up.
*
A happy memory.
Thats the advice Lucas gave, the only thing that helped Max for a small amount of time before she..
Before she ended up in the hospital unconscious just barely breathing.
It was the only piece of advice he has to stall Vecna if he doesn't have Smalltown boy on him, so he made sure to have his happiest memory in mind.
Before the upside down, before Will went missing, before they met El, before his parents started fighting, when he didn't have a worry about a damn thing. The fresh scent of grass with the old creaky swing. And in the centre of everything there was a small boy with a shaggy bowl cut with a pair of suspenders and a question Mike asked that changed his life.
However, for the better or for the worst is still unknown.
It was the moment that changed everything, because of that moment Mike has his person. The person he could talk to about anything, the person he could always confide in, the one person he'd love forever. And maybe, if Mike could be less of a coward maybe, just maybe they could go back to that. And then he wouldn't be able to hide how much he cared, how much he longed for Will, to just touch him again. Oh how'd he kill for everything to go back, just back to that moment.
Although at the moment he, Will and Lucas were sat in an abandoned apartment waiting for Robin and Nancy to come back with some apparent 'information' they have on the upside down. Although he couldn't get what Vecna said out of his head, what will said-- no, what the illusion of Will said kept his eyes towards Lucas. Although his foot kept hitting the heel or Wills foot, feeling brave he stole a glance at Will and he gave back a slight smile.
This is okay.
He smiled a bit in relief but it was all short lasted until they heard loud shouting.
Oh shit.
A bunch of Jason's goons after he died have been blaming everyone that was in Hellfire, and have been wanting them all dead since. Before even registering that he, himself was in trouble he looked back at Will.
Fuck.
Screw him, but Will, he wasn't involved with Hellfire at all, but having 'zombie boy' with two members of hellfire is not going to look good. Mike knows exactly what they're gonna think and how their practically catholic cult wouldn't even hesitate to hurt Will. By instinct he grabbed Will's arm and gripped Lucas' shoulder and they all ran as fast as they could by his expression he hopefully conveyed for not a word to be spoken because if they hear them, then they would be in a shit load of trouble.
However, that didn't stop all their whispering to each other, "how the hell did they find us?"
Will turned to Lucas, "I don't know but we have to hope they don't have Nancy and Robin."
And although they were whispering it didn't stop them all from cursing like sailors.
They were met by two doors and kept on hearing the voices getting closer and closer, which they all concluded was pretty fucking bad. He was about to say how Lucas go one way and he and Will go another but Lucas beat him to it.
"I'll go with Will and shit, Mike you go left."
Mike gripped his fists tight and before he could say anything, Lucas grabbed the arm Mike was holding on to of Wills and left. Then Mike hearing the voices get louder scrambled to open the door and run inside trying not to think about either of them.
Mike grabbed chairs and started pushing them in front of him, and as his instict kicked in he knew he has to find somewhere to hide. He willed himself to think, because c'mon where would they not look, where could he fit, where could he hide?
His gaze fell on a couch.
There was a huge couch almost pushed to the wall and the space in between-- he knew at that moment that he'd hide there. He shoved himself on the wall and sat with his knees up and as he was about to grab his headphones and make sure Vecna wouldn't be able to get to him he froze.
It's not there.
Mike was fucked, he was utterly fucked, he left it on the couch, the only thing to prevent him from Vecna is gone. They probably found it and he bets on his mother that the christian cult have it. He closed his eyes and just hoped for the best because fucking hell he might get vecna'd and the people who are gonna find his body are a bunch of goons who've bullied him for fucks sake. He just hoped Will has his, because if anything happened to Will again, frankly Mike doesn't know what would happen. He can't even imagine it. A world without Will is something that's just impossible to Mike. The hold that Will had on him almost has him choking, it was so tight he wouldn't be surprised if he started bleeding.
Then he heard loud footsteps, he couldn't tell who it was but he knew for a fact that is was not Lucas nor Will.
"I know you're in here, you little twerp."
Mike closed his eyes the second the door opened and he appeared, Patrick was walking around and he could almost imagine the sneer on his face.
"You know Mike, I'm gonna fucking kill you."
Mike shut his eyes harder,
'it'll all blow over,'
Patrick won't be able to find him and then he'll just leave and Mike'll be with Will and find Nancy and just, be safe. He needed to make sure his trembles didn't get any louder than it was. He had to think happy thoughts after all with the painting that Will showed him, he's the-
"You're not a leader Mike."
"You're a coward, someone in the way, and nobody even needs you anymore."
What.
Someone does need him, Will needs him, his mom needs him, he's helpful.
Right?
He's not useless, he means something to someone-- to Will, to the party right?
"Wills dead, man. and you're useless ass did nothing."
No. He's lying, he- no.
No.
No.
No.
He got up, he opened his eyes, because what the fuck, who the fuck does this guy think he is? They wouldn't kill Will, him maybe, Dustin probably, but Will? He didn't do anything wrong.
He never does anything wrong.
He looked up and was supposed to see the annoying sneer and leather-man jacket on Patrick but instead he saw,
He saw what he should've thought, who he should've known, who he has no protection against.
Vecna.
"Wi-, Wills not dead. He's safe, safe from you."
He wanted to be confident but, there was also the chance that he left his walker just like mike and Vecna got to them first. God no, he can't. He wouldn't have right? Will he's not, he didn't do anything. FUCK.
He looked at him through his tears and balled up his fists because he's lying, he's bulshitting him. It's not real, none of this is fucking real.
"Oh you mean with his protection?"
With that being said, Venca pulled a broken pair of headphones and shit, a broken walkman and he can see in Wills bright handwriting, "boys don't cry."
No.
"That protection? It was by the couch along with yours Mike. And now I'm gonna kill you like I killed him."
He looked down and saw that the couch just, disappeared and as he saw everything getting darker than it was when he got here he remembered what he was supposed to do.
He remembered what he's to do in this exact situation, and then after Mike thought, he'll get out and find Will, and just apologize for everything. For the van, for his shit excuse of a hug, for when he couldn't look at him. For everything, and he's going to apologize to him, he's going to talk to him. Because he's alive and he's okay and so is Mike and he's gonna fucking apologize.
He has to live for that,
For Will.
He shut his eyes, and just let his heart swarm his head with his safe place, the best moment of his life, his happiness.
Take him to the one person that means everything to him, when they both became truly happy.
He ignored everything Vecna was trying to say and let his mind take him to Will, to his everything.
He thought of the yellow swing, the grass, the smile on his face that was so wide it hurt, the beach eyes, his hair going from side to side. He thought about Will, his hands holding the swing, and Will telling him later how much he doesn't like going on swings, his blue sweater, his brown shorts, his chipped tooth. The parting in his bangs from the bowlcut, the twinkle in his eyes, the heart shape formed on his smile, the sun that radiated out of him. He thought about the smell of grass, the smell of Will and how he giggled that day with Will because he smelled of perfume. He told him it was his moms, he smelled like sweat so he wanted to try the perfume.
He thought about everything during that day. When they built a sandcastle, not when he was riding his bike knowing Will was missing. He thought about when he told his mom later how awesome Will was and not about when he hugged his mom because Will was dead. He thought about the sight of other kids playing around them at the playground, not the sight of Wills dead body. He thought about everything Will was, of how Will is, of his smile or his own smile of how that day changed his life.
He embraced himself into the hold that Will has on him, he let himself be selfish and think about his love for Will, and the day he found his best friend.
His soulmate, how he's been tied to Will by some sort of invisible string, and of how he's been gripping onto that string and he didn't think of that string falling apart at the possibility of Will not holding on anymore.
Mike opened his eyes and he heard nothing, the booming voice of Vecna was gone and he looked around and saw grass, a yellow old swing and though no children were here Mike couldn't be happier, he escaped Vecna.
He took deep breaths, closing his eyes gently, trying, begging his heart to calm down because he was okay for now. That was interrupted when he felt eyes boring into the back of his head and he almost deflated because he found him so soon. But thats not what he saw though.
He saw that stupid plaid shirt and that god damn bowl cut and Mike blinked because, why is Will here.
No, it's an illusion.
He heard a faint, "Mike? Is that you?"
All thoughts went out of the window and all Mike could think about is, Will Will Will.
That was Will, those beach eyes and the hunched up shoulders, and holy shit.
Mike felt like he was going to have a break down, "Will? is- is that you?"
Mike didn't need to hear his answer, he went running, as fast as he could because he's alive, he's well. Will was okay, He was okay. He's alive.
Mike couldn't see, but Will was running too, he was running for his life, because he was told Mike died but he's here and he's, gosh. Will missed Mike.
They collasped onto each other but they didn't care, hands were everywhere searching for some sort of proof that this was real, that they had each other.
Mike knew, there was no doubt it was Will, his broad shoulders his floppy bowl cut, the twinkle in his eyes and those long fingers searching Mike's torso as they wouldn't let go. Mike held on to his shoulders as tight as possible, his vein was popping out from his grip but oh my god he's okay.
Mike felt weak with everything that happened as it hit him harshly, his knees bucked and he fell alongside with WIll and they both were on their knees holding each other.
"Will, I, I'm sorry for everything, for not knowing about anything, for treating you like shit, for not looking at you, for being different and I want to say sorry please I just, I need you Will."
He looked directly at Will and saw the tears in his eyes and knew he looked the same.
"Will I'm going to make it right, I can't lose you fuck, I need you here and I'll do anything for that please, I'm sorry for everything and anything I don't know about."
"Mike-"
"I just, I lo- need you please. I need you to be okay and I'm too selfish for you to be okay and not have me in the picture, I need you Will, so much."
Will muttered a small, 'you idiot' and just brought Mike back into his arms, and hugged him and hugged him and hugged him to make everything disappear.
Every time they argued, every time they looked away, every saddened moment in their lives; they hugged to make all of it disappear.
They broke apart hearing a small giggle from behind them, Mike reluctnatly broke apart from Will momentarily and saw what made his heart warm.
He saw a little boy in a blue sweater, brown shorts and strong womens perfume.
And Will saw a little boy walking up to the other boy, in a tank top and jeans with the brightest smile anyone could ever see.
They both saw the smaller Mike held out his hand to a wide eyed Will, "Will you be my friend?"
"What?"
"Will you be my best friend?"
"I have to think about it."
Mike looked confused and crossed his small arms and tilted his head and when he was about to complain he heard a squeak, "All done, okay I'll be your best friend even though I dont know who you are."
Mike clapped and smiled even harder and Mike sitting on the sidelines now remembered how much smiling that hard hurt.
"YES! I've never had a best friend, wait why do you smell like-- not how I smell?"
Smaller WIll giggled a bit, "you wanna know a secret?"
"I LOVE SECRETS!"
"It's actually my moms perfume."
"WHAT?!"
At that, the present Mike snorted a bit and Will looked a bit embarrassed, as they both stood up, looking at each other.
"I know I'm here because this was my.. but was this, is this..?"
Will didn't finish his sentence and Mike looked at him and took a bold risk and gripped his hand, "this was my happiest memory Will; you, me, the swing and Joyce's weird smelling perfume."
This time Will snorted and held on tight to Mikes hand as much as he was.
As Mike looked over at the smaller versions of them, he knew he and Will were still tied together by some invisible string and hoped the string would pull them together, for the rest of their lives.
He knew they were going to be okay, even when they shouldn't be.
#holy shit a month later#well 20 days#but same thing#im actually proud of this#also posted on ao3 well im gonna post but its there !!!#when u see this#okay tags#byler <3#byler#stranger things#byler fanfic#taylor swift#will byers#mike wheeler#vecna#st4 byler#i know what you are michael#i know what you are mike wheeler#will byers x mike wheeler#byler tumblr#mlm#mike x will#will x mike#will byres#be gay make byler canon#byler fic#okay thats it im done#aaaand its midnight#well isnt that just lovely
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