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binint · 1 year

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Dance with you Tonight (Ace Trappola x GN! Reader)

"You're a charmer that's for sure, but I can't stand anymore. Shame I would've danced with you tonight..."

Word Count: 2.5k

Not proofread

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It was finally the day of the prom and everyone was excited, well besides you. Like always, Crowley had piled all of the work onto you and the other responsible students of the school were too busy to help you out so the past couple of weeks have been planning for one, if not the biggest nights of the year.

This event was a bit strange though, with everyone on the island being invited and not just a school-only event. Even more on your plate! How fun for you. During the actual night, you were able to get some students to help you out with check in, food, etc...things that you didn't want to worry about.

Thankfully you had gone out and set up the whole night perfectly with just an hour to get ready before it actually started. The theme of "underneath the stars" might not have been the most original idea, being outside and all, but hey, it was a one student team.

"Do I have to go?" Grim muttered while you were searching for your outfit.

"Yes," you glanced at him before adjusting your hair and accessories. "There is no way that I have been working my ass off for the past few weeks for you not to come and admire the masterpiece that will be tonight."

"Okay fine, but just for the food!" He drooled a bit imagining the platter of tuna he knew you ordered just for him. "I get admiring your work but don't you need a date or something?"

"Well yeah, but I got to make sure that this night goes perfectly and that no problems arise. I might go crazier if I find out that something went wrong."

You finished getting ready and got a brush to start taming whatever was going on with Grim. Sitting on your bed, he crawled over and surprising was pretty calm about it, probably doing so out of pity at your current state.

A little ding went off from your phone, glancing over it and looking at the picture that your friends had sent you with their dates. Ace and Deuce were doing the iconic "prom-train" poses with their dates. Jack and Epel were trying to ruin the picture by making funny faces and Sebek was the one who took the picture.

There was a little heart pang felt when you looked at Ace and his date. They looked cute together! Can't blame him though, you were the one who encouraged him to ask someone out.

Ace: cute aren't we :3

Y/N: Very. How is everyone so far?

Deuce: pretty good! Jack and Epel are taking their pictures now so we are almost done.

Sebek: WE HOPE TO CATCH YOU THERE HUMAN!!! :D

Y/N: Mhm. See ya in a few! :) <3

You sighed and put your phone down finishing your business with Grim. Once done, you gently put him down and looked in the mirror inspecting your appearance. To be completely honest, you were feeling yourself, twirling around and gushing internally about how good you looked. Grim yelled out from downstairs and told you that it was time to go. How Responsible of him <3

The ghosts came out, scaring you a bit but they were quick to apologize and compliment you.

"You look amazing!"

"Oh they grow up so fast don't they!"

"Oh c'here real quick we have to take a photo before you go!"

You playfully rolled your eyes and posed for a picture. They quickly took photos of you and Grim and a few selfies before sending you out. Your pace had started to quicken, almost forgetting the walk from Ramshackle to the venue you had picked. It was truly beautiful, a nice area away from the main city of the island but not too far out from the school. The main venue was nice and roomy, with an elegant dance floor and lighting. Outside was nice and cool with many photo-ops and food lined up yards beyond yards.

Before you even knew it, you had arrived, and just on time. People had just started to come in and you walked up to the entrance, Azul and the Leech twins greeting you.

"Why hello perfect, you look quite stunning," Azul greeted and you smiled back reciprocating the compliment.

"You too look quite attractive yourself Ashengrotto-"

"What about me Shimpy!!!" Floyd had begun whining before clinging onto you.

You had smiled and hugged him. "You're very handsome Floyd, you too Jade!"

"Get off the perfect Floyd, I'm sure that they have a lot to attend to," Jade had explained.

You let go of Floyd and quietly thanked Jade before going in, looking for wherever Grim had snuck off to. Once you spotted him gnawing on the tuna you had placed, you grinned and went to walk around a bit more.

Thunk!

"Oh my gosh I am so sorry!!" You exclaimed looking up at a familiar green haired 1st year. "Sebek! You guys are here already?"

"Hello Human!! It is quite alright do not worry about bumping into me!! I actually just came here alone! I did not want to leave you alone here since I knew that the others would take quite some time to take photos!" He exclaimed. You couldn't help but smile at the nickname "human" that he had given you. Yeah it seemed a bit degrading in the beginning, but the more you hung out with him, the more it became a name of endearment.

"You are quite the gentleman! Could you help me move those boxes over there?"

Without a word he had put the boxes just where you had wanted them. If he were here while you were planning the prom, life would've been so much easier.

"Right here?"

"Yes, thank you Seb."

More people had started to come in and you could hear the music from the ballroom playing and how wonderful it was to hear. Sebek had noticed you humming and took your hand while walking over to the ballroom.

"Human! Will you have this dance with me?" Sebek smiled in a sort of dorkish way and you had grinned back.

"Of course Seb."

You had put you hands around his neck and he put his hands around your waist and together you two followed the rhythm of the music and danced harmoniously. It was nice. After the stress that you've been through the past few weeks, it was nice to relax and dance. Other couples had started to dance as well giving you a signal that the night was starting off well.

What more could you ask for right now? Here you were with your best friend without a care in the world-

"Y/N!!" You heard your name and whipped your head around to look at Azul.

You quickly apologized for the interruption but Sebek quickly brushed off and pushed you away, understanding you still had work to do for the night. A familiar group had started to come in and a certain red-head had been staring at you and Sebek for a bit while you two were dancing. Azul had grabbed your arm and quickly dragged you outside.

"Where do you have the extra wristbands? The line outside is getting longer and there isn't anymore at the front table."

"Oh geez, um, I think they're over here-" Despite trying to act calm, you were starting to panic but its okay! Is what you told yourself. You began to walk over the the storage closet, hoping there had been extras. You quickly looked through the room and grabbed a small boxed filled with the wrist bands. Sighing in relief you quickly retrieve them and hand them to Azul. He responds with a quick thank you before running out to give them out.

Your knees had almost begun to give out and the night had barely even started. Maybe you just needed something to eat. Walking out of the closet, you stepped outside with the hair and all the food, looking delicious as ever. You took a deep breathe before continuing to walk before a few of the hanging lights had gone out. Perfect.

You grumbled before going to the closet and grabbing a box of the extra light bulbs you had and started to replace the few dead ones.

"How's it going Y/N?"

You finished screwing in the last bulb before looking down at Ace, Deuce and his date.

"It's going great!" You were trying to keep your cool, if not in public you probably would've ended up balling your eyes out.

"Need any help there-?" Ace had asked, before you had started to walk away, making sure there were no other bulbs needed to be replaced. It sounded so backhanded, like Ace couldn't believe that like somehow you wouldn't be able to handle everything yourself.

Maybe you were just being dramatic and overwhelmed but either way, you would continue to brush him off throughout the night. Everytime he would try and spark some kind of conversation, you were dealing with something or were being called to deal with something. You were always saying,

"Enjoy the night!"

"I got this! Don't worry!"

"Go out and dance with your date!"

Totally ignoring the lack of a date that Ace appeared to have.

The night went more smooth than you had expected and next thing you knew it was almost the end of the night and time for you announce prom royalty. As you stepped up onto the stage, you looked out to the audience and noticed that everyone was together except for Ace. You two had locked eyes but he quickly broke it, stuffing his hands in his pockets and walking out.

You frowned. Why was he alone? Where was his date? Is he okay-?

Forgetting you were on stage, you quickly announced royalty, gave them their crown and walked down, heading out to find your best friend.

Prom night was almost over, and people were starting to leave. You were hoping that Ace hadn't left yet. As more people started to leave, it became harderto move around to try and find him. You ended up just standing there near the entrance greeting everyone a safe walk home. Many compliments were given to you during this moment about your job and your appearance.

Once the majority of the student body had left, you continued to walk around going outside if you could try and spot your red-headed friend. You approached a slumped figure, on the grass and leaning against the large tree overseeing the venue.

"Hey there stranger. You look quite handsome."

Smiling, you sat next to him admiring his suit. It was a deep red with black accents around the hems. Through the starlight and faint lighting from the venue, you could spot a faint blush on his cheeks.

"Hello to ya too stranger. Do you come here often?"

You hummed "Hm, no but I couldn't pass the chance to talk to someone so handsome."

He began to laugh and threw his head back. "The feeling is mutual," he grabbed your hand and kissed it lightly.

"You are a charmer that's for sure."

The night was quiet and relaxing, and with everyone now gone it really did feel like you two were the only people in the whole world. Not a care in the world anymore.

"You okay there? I saw you walk out," you questioned, "Didn't look too happy."

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be fine? Tonight has been amazing all thanks to you."

"What about your date? What happened?"

There was a pause. The environment filled with silence like if one of you spoke, something terrible would happen. It was tense and despite being outside, you felt like you were suffocating. It wasn't until Ace spoke until you could breathe again.

"It's stupid. If I say it out loud you're gonna make fun of me I know that for sure."

"Oh please, you've seen me at my worst there is so judgment here."

You looked at him and held his hands, the moonlight lighting both of your faces. And you were sincere, there would be no judgement for whatever he did. If he did something dumb to offend them, yes you would be a little ticked off but overall, no judgement.

"I lied. They weren't really a date. It was just one of Epels' friends that wanted to come. I wanted to ask someone out but they were just so busy, I couldn't find the time to talk to them."

You were a little shocked. He had wanted to ask someone out and hadn't told you? That bothered you a little since you two were best friends but then again, you had been busy planning the prom.

"Hello? Who did you want to ask? I could've totally help you out!"

"No, it's okay, I'm sure they don't even think of me that way. Honestly, I try and flirt with them but they just think I'm being friendly. But when Sebek does it-"

"Bek?"

"Yes!" He had suddenly raised his voice and you flinched a bit, not expecting such a tone coming from him. Ace stared at you before getting up towering above you.

"I tried to find the time to ask you. But you were always so busy and never had the time to even really say hi. A-And even today! When I kept trying to find a way to talk to you or get you to dance with me, it was like you were avoiding me. You had the time to talk to Zigvolt and dance with him so why not me! What's the difference between us? What makes him so much more worthy of your attention-"

flick!

You had flicked him hard in the forehead almost bursting out into tears.

"Y/N! What the hell was that for!" He had started rubbing the spot where you had flicked him.

"Y'know, you really are an idiot, but I won't hold it against you."

Ace had stared at you confused before you had took his hand and walked inside the venue. You had ended up leading him to the middle of the ballroom and quickly dimmed the lights and turned on a song going back to him. You had bowed and held you hand out to him.

"May I have this dance?"

Starting to take the lead, you had interlocked your hands together and started to dance.

"I'm sorry if I've been busy, but I would've made time for you if I had known you were going to ask me out."

You sent him a grin laughing at his confused expression

"What?" He tilted his head looking as if he were in his own world.

"I like you too dumbass."

"Oh okay. Thanks."

"Thanks?"

Ace had groaned and tried to hide his face, nervously laughing.

"So you don't like Sebek?"

"Love him as a little brother like figure but I can't see him as a romantic partner."

"Hm..."

Ace had lightly kissed the top of your head and you two continued to dance. The soft jazz was filling up the room with light blues and purples, and you had never felt more in place than you did now. Here you were dancing with your long time crush, alone, without a care in the world. Few other words were spoken throughout the night because what else was needed besides two awkward teens in love dancing while the night was young.

(fin).

masterlist

#ace trappola #ace trapolla x reader #ace trapolla x yuu #twst #twst x reader #twst x y/n #twst x yuu

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faewritesfanfic · 6 months

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Halloween Night

Just a short ficlet I put together of Kore and Bailey hanging out on Halloween while they wait for Eden to get back. This is almost entirely tooth rotting fluff, with a little bit of lore.

Enjoy!

・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・

It was late Halloween night, and Bailey and Kore were sitting on a bench waiting for Eden. Trick-or-treating could be overstimulating at times, and along the route the siblings had planned were several safe spots to pause and take a moment to rest or smoke a joint. Eden had taken a moment alone to run into a nearby store to get himself some water and maybe something to eat. Kore and Bailey had stayed outside to keep an eye on the machete that went with Eden’s Jason costume, and swap sweets.

“You got gummy bears?” Bailey asked, looking over at Kore’s bag. Kore was in her candy corn kitty costume, while Bailey was dressed as Leatherface.

“Mm, I have Gold Bears.” Kore said doubtfully.

“I can still use those. Gimmie.” Bailey motioned with his hand, and Kore handed him the sweets. She felt a little bad for whomever was going to be on the receiving end of Bailey’s plot.

“Can I have that apple in exchange?” Kore asked, pointing.

“You are so weird. Why do you want the apple? I have Flake bars in here.” Bailey gestured to his bag, but got Kore her apple.

“It’s not weird! I just…” Kore took the apple, pouting as she tried to gather her thoughts. “We don’t get a lot of fresh fruit. I feel awful saying it, but the apples are sort of the best part of Halloween for me.”

There was a long moment of silence as Bailey started to feel a vein throbbing in his head. “Fu-uuck.” He growled out at last.

Kore leaned over to get a better look at him. “Are you okay?”

“No, I’m not okay.” Bailey grumbled. “My fucking sister gets decent food so rarely she thinks apples are a treat. Fuck me.” Bailey pulled his Leatherface mask off, and shook his head when he saw the look of worry and apprehension on his sister’s face. “I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at Oakley.”

Mr. Oakley had been the caretaker at the orphanage for as long as anyone could remember. He was an unpleasant, plump middle aged man who’s thinning hair had already gone white. Oakley syphoned all the money he could from the orphanage, but it was never enough for the miserable git. He extracted whatever money he could from his wards, and ruled them with an iron fist. They all had at least one scar that was caused by him, and many was the time an orphan would disappear only for Oakley to scrub all trace of their existence.

Kore wrung her hands nervously, but tried to look hopeful. “He has to let us go once we graduate. He’ll have no excuse then.”

“I dunno.” Bailey shook his head. “Something tells me Oakley’s got another way to screw us over. I can just feel it.”

Kore was quiet for a moment, then scooted closer to Bailey to lower her head and speak conspiratorially with him. “Hey, this isn’t forever.” She said, gently bumping her head against Bailey’s. “We’re going to stick together, and we’re all going to get out of this. By this time next year we’ll all three be sharing a flat. We’re going to be working, and because we won’t have Oakley leeching off us we’ll have all the fruit we want. I can work full time at the spa, Eden was thinking of learning a trade, and you can take that beautiful mind of yours and go to university.”

“You don’t know that, Kore.” Bailey sighed, shaking his head. “Anything could happen between now and then. We’re still not in the clear.”

“Be that as it may, I refuse to live in fear of what might happen.” Kore said with a shrug. “Bailey, if you go through life only expecting the worst case scenario you’re going to drive yourself nuts.”

Bailey leaned back, looking up at the ominously red moon. “Yeah, I know.” The truth was that Bailey always felt like he had to be on the lookout for the next problem his family would face. If something bad happened and he hadn’t seen it coming he felt like a failure. He doesn’t tell this to his sister. It’s a selfish impulse, but he doesn’t want her to worry over him. “Hey, what are you and Eden gonna get up to after this? Unless it’s that. Don’t tell me if it’s that.” Bailey said, casually nudging Kore with his knee in an effort to lighten the situation.

Kore rolls her eyes at her brother, but reluctantly goes along with it. “We found a book of Victorian ghost stories at the library. We’re going to read that, have some sweets, Eden will braid my hair, and we’ll turn in early.”

“Wait, what was that?” Bailey asked, arching a brow.

“Well after all the excitement of tonight it’s best to rest and–”

“No, not that part. Obviously.” Bailey snarked. “The part where Eden braids your hair?”

“Oh, that?” Kore shrugged. “Eden likes to help me brush and braid my hair. It feels nice, and frankly I have quite a lot of hair so I appreciate the help.”

“You two are forty and married. Unbelievable.” Bailey gave a defeated gesture. “Well, don’t wait up for me. Me and some friends are going to go throw rancid eggs at Leighton’s house.”

“That sounds like a lovely evening.” Kore said with a nod. “Remember to put sugar in his car’s petrol tank.”

“Knew I was forgetting something. Thanks.” Bailey leaned over to look in Kore’s goody bag again. “Hey, can I have those jalapeno chips?”

#eden the hunter #kore the gardener #alternate universe #fluff #dol pc #fanfic #bailey the caretaker #kore and bailey being sibling goals #halloween

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imaginingmanyfandoms · 3 years

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Paul's Lullaby | part two

It had been a few days since your attack on the beach. Since then, Paul really didn't like when you were home alone. Or walking to work alone. Or anywhere alone really. It didn't have to be with him, but he needed to know he, or someone he trusted could get to you in time.

He was worried that the leech had caught your scent, and would come back. Sam didn't think so, Sam was under the impression that this person was actually testing their lines, and he wouldn't let the same mistake happen again. You were still waiting for Paul to tell you the whole truth, but you were being patient, as he had been with you. It was clear that whatever it was, was hard for him to say.

Your couch was permanently occupied by Paul, who picked you up from work to drive you home. And if he couldn't make it, he'd send one of the pack, or one of the imprints to pick you up and bring you to Emily's house.

You were cautiously optimistic about where things were going with Paul. There was still some trust issues, but you were working on it together. And no matter how much Embry or Jared talked about Paul's anger issues, you didn't really see it.

Currently, you were at Emily's, sitting on the couch and trying to stay awake until Paul got there. He made you feel safe.

"Have you seen this?" Emily asked holding a newspaper. There were missing people all over Seattle. It's what had Paul working overtime. He was pulling more than his fair share, and you knew that had to do with you. But you didn't understand what.

"Is anyone ever going to tell me what's going on?" you asked, but your tone was light, joking. Emily laughed, and sat by your legs on the couch.

"Paul really is taking his time, huh?" She gave you a sad smile. "He's doing that for your benefit."

"I know, I know," you said. "I'm just really confused. I swear the scenarios I'm making up in my head must be worse."

"Probably," she said. You both laughed this time.

"Well he better snap to it."

"I'm heading to bed," Emily said, patting your leg over the thin blanket. "You okay out here?"

"Yeah, thanks Em. Goodnight," you said.

"Goodnight."

"Wake up honey."

Paul was gently shaking your arm. He was sitting on the edge of the couch, trying to wake you up as nicely as possible. Jared laughed in the background at how soft Paul was around you, but quickly said his goodbyes as he took the night patrol. It takes a tough guy to make fun of someone and then rush out the door. But Paul didn't care.

"Paul?" you asked, finally coming to. "What time is it?"

"Late, it's very late."

"Take me home," you said, holding your arms out to him.

"I like you when you're sleepy, you're very nice." Paul picked you up, and said a quick goodbye to Sam as you closed your eyes again. It made Sam smile.

Paul carried you to his pick up truck, and got you settled into the passenger seat. He even did up your seat belt. You woke up a little more, but your squirming and stretching was the cutest thing to him. He was so enamoured with you. He didn't really care how long it took until you trusted him. Or even if you never wanted to be with him, he didn't care. As long as he got to be around you, he would be fine.

"Let's watch a movie tonight," you said, yawning right after.

"I don't think you'll be able to stay awake," he said, smiling.

"Can we try?"

"How about we watch something tomorrow, after work?"

"Okay," you said, closing your eyes again. "Tomorrow."

You fell back asleep before you got home. Paul was driving slowly, and the cool air was filtering in through his open window. He was listening to some folk band, and the whole thing just lulled you to sleep.

When he parked the truck, he did everything he could to get you into your room without waking you up, and he was pretty successful. But as he was tucking you into bed, you woke up a little. He moved to leave but you grabbed his wrist.

"Goodnight Paul," you said, not letting go of his wrist.

"Goodnight honey," he said, daring to lean down and kiss your forehead. You made a happy sound as you rolled over, getting comfortable in bed.

Paul would've done anything in the world to crawl into bed with you and fall asleep. But he was happy just to be here.

So, Paul went back to the couch. And got as comfortable as he could, and fell asleep, reminding himself that you were safest when he was here. And that he was doing a good job protecting you.

The next morning went better than most mornings. You woke up in a good mood, and decided to make breakfast for Paul. He'd been working so hard to protect you, that he deserved at least a fraction of that devotion back.

You made the lot, pancakes and eggs. A small fruit salad and a plate of bacon. While the pot of coffee finished, Paul wandered into the kitchen stretching.

"Mmm," he groaned, "something smells good."

"I made you breakfast," you said, a smile on your face.

Paul was in love with you, that much he knew for sure. And today he got his first sign that maybe you were at least starting to fall for him too. It was a good day.

"Eat up," you said. "I have to work in a few hours."

"You're going to eat too, right?" he asked.

"Of course I am," you said, stopping before you left the room. You turned on the radio against the wall. It was some band you'd never heard of, but it was nice enough. Paul was already filling his plate, but you went to pour two coffees. "Cream, sugar?"

"Just black," he said, mouthful of food. "Just come sit."

"All right," you said. "But for the record I wanted the coffee."

You chose the chair beside him, instead of across from him, and he took note of that but didn't say anything. You smiled at him, and he smiled back, like he always did.

Breakfast was relatively quiet, you made small talk about what was going on that day, but mostly you just enjoyed the silence. It didn't feel awkward, it felt right. It felt comfortable. When you were done, Paul wasn't. So you carried your plate to the sink, and rubbed your hand across his back as you passed. His breath hitched slightly, and it made you smile, thinking about how different Paul was.

Maybe it was time you cut him a little slack.

When he finished, Paul helped you clean up. And even shooed you away to get ready for work while he did the dishes.

"Thank you," he said, as you walked back down the hallway. He wiped his hands on a dishcloth and dropped it back on the counter. He leaned back, and you couldn't help but notice how beautiful he is.

"Thank you for being here," you said, suddenly self conscience under his intent stare at you. You pulled your sweater sleeves over your hands, keeping the fabric pinched between your fingers.

"I uh, packed up the rest of the fruit salad. I thought you might like to have it at work." Paul had one of your Tupperware containers sitting on the counter.

"And the bacon?"

He looked guilty. "I ate it."

"It's okay!" you said, laughing at his face. "It was made to be eaten."

He drove you to work, and although you missed to walk, you knew you'd get back to it eventually. When he dropped you off, you hesitated to leave. Paul sat patiently, giving you a moment to collect yourself.

"I want the truth tonight," you said.

"Honey..."

"Just, think about it from my perspective. I have no idea what it is I should be scared of, I have no idea where you work or why you're gone all the time. I'm worried about you, and I'm scared."

"I'm scared too." Paul took a deep breath. "I'm scared that something will happen to you. But mostly I'm scared that if you know the truth you'll be scared of me."

"I wouldn't."

"You don't know that," he said, he looked terrified. "You hated me earlier this month. Couldn't even look at me throughout high school and I am so embarrassed about that. And it's going to be even more embarrassing when I tell you everything because then you'll know that we didn't make eye contact from two years attending the same school."

"I'm sure we made eye contact," you said.

"No." He looked at you, and you could see the pain in his eyes. "We didn't." The look on his face made you hurt. It made your heart deflate, and you would've done anything to see him smile again.

You unclicked your seat belt, but didn't move as it sprang back into place. It didn't feel right to leave the air like this.

The heat he gave off seemed to float right into your space, and there was something about his presence that made you feel more settled than you had in a long time. You wanted to touch him, so you leaned across the middle seat, and placed a tender kiss against his cheek.

"Just think about it," you said, sliding back towards the door and starting to get out. You didn't want to leave him feeling sad, but you had to get to work.

"Have a good shift," he said, watching you leave. He hated watching you walk away.

"You too."

Work had been horrible. Your boss was kind of a jerk, and waiting tables had really lost it's appeal. You'd been serving tables in La Push's best diner, but when the new owners took over, it quickly began to lose it's charm. You wanted to buy it when they were selling, but coming right out of high school you didn't have that kind of cash.

You just felt kind of miserable, so when you saw Jared and Kim waiting for you outside, you just felt annoyed. You were under the impression you and Paul had made plans.

"Hey," Kim said, smiling from the passenger seat. You got in behind Jared. "Don't worry. Paul said another hour, tops."

"Can you guys just take me home? I had a long day and I just want to relax," you asked, pulling your upper body between Jared and Kim's seats.

"I don't know, Y/N," Jared said, making a worried face. "I don't think Paul would like that."

"C'mon Jared," you said. "I'll lock the doors, and I'll call you if I get nervous."

"Jared, she wants to go home." Kim smiled at you. You really liked her.

He rolled his eyes and started the car. "When he freaks out on me, I'm throwing you both under the bus."

"He won't get mad at us," you said, "he said himself. An hour tops."

Jared and Kim were actually really great travel companions. Kim always made sure you were included in conversation, and Jared was not afraid to sing at the top of his lungs which was hilarious. They really cheered you up.

And of course, they waited until you were in your house to pull away.

Inside, you were tired, and cold. And you had wanted to spend some time with Paul. But he said an hour, and you figured we wouldn't lie about that. It wasn't too late that you couldn't give him some of the patience that he had given you.

So you spent the time bringing out some blankets, and pillows. When that was done you made some popcorn and fresh lemonade.

Paul should've been there any second. So you just spent some time tidying up the place. You saw some fabric poking out from under on the blankets, and you yanked on it, pulling out one of Paul's shirts. You laughed. Because it seemed rare to even see him in a shirt.

You pulled your shirt over your head, and put on his instead. Your shorts were hidden by his baggy shirt, even baggier on your small frame.

Twigs snapped outside the window, and you gasped. You knew you locked the door, but decided on checking the windows too. Just so you could say that you did. They were all locked. When you walked back into the living room, Paul was standing there - jaw clenched tight just like his fists were. But you could see the restraint. You could tell he was actively calming himself. You took a step closer.

"Don't," he said, voice cracking. He closed his eyes, hating the way you stop dead in your tracks. He didn't want to scare you. "I told you that I didn't want you here alone for a reason."

"I was so tired after work," you explained. "I wanted to sit on the couch and watch a movie like normal people do."

"I am trying to make things as normal as possible for you," he said, the anger was already washed away, but it wasn't gone. Not entirely. "You just have to trust me."

"How can I trust you when you don't trust me?" you said, voice starting to raise with unavoidable frustration.

"You think that I don't trust you?"

"I'm not allowed to be by myself, how else would you like me to interpret that?" You felt tears brimming at your eyes, the confrontation bringing out your anxiety.

"If we're going to fight, I need you to take three steps back."

"For what?"

"Your safety."

"What does that mean?" you shouted. "Are you scared you'll hit me?"

"I would never hit you," he shouted back. "How could you even think that?"

"I don't want to argue," you said, quietly. "I'm sorry I shouted."

He saw the sad look in your eyes, and could've kicked himself for driving you to this. He nodded, prying his eyes away from your sad ones to look anywhere else. He looked at your shirt, for the first time, and even though he was angry with you, he loved the sight. It calmed him down knowing it was you, in his shirt, a couple feet away.

He held his hand out, palm up for you to take. You did, and he guided you, as if you were dancing - not fighting, to the couch. You sat beside him, and he kept your hand in his.

"I need you to really listen to me," he said, his eyes glossing over with the realization that if he loses you, he'd never be whole again. "For now, I need you to follow all my rules. Even when they seem excessive, or dumb. And in return I will explain everything. And I won't keep any secrets from you."

"I can do that," you said. "If you're always honest with me, I'll be honest with you."

"Okay, tomorrow I'll explain everything. You're off, right?"

"Yeah," you said, shuffling over so you could lean your head against Paul's shoulder. "Can we watch our movie now?"

He put an arm around you, and you fit to him. Like you were always meant to be there. Well, technically, you were.

"Yeah, honey. We can watch a movie now."

[if you want to be added to a taglist for this story then let me know :-)]

#imagine #imagines #paul lahote #paul lahote imagine #paul lahote imagines #twilight #twilight imagine #twilight imagines #the pack

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allthingsfangirl101 · 3 years

Text

Too Much–Zac Efron

Zac and I have been dating for six years. Most girls would be irritated that their boyfriend they were living with hasn't proposed after six years, but I wasn't. We've always had a close relationship and a ring wouldn't change that.

Until about eight months ago.

During his Netflix special, we didn't see each other that much. As hard as it was, we made it work. When he came back, things had changed. I couldn't put my finger on it, but Zac was different. He was short with people, he never seemed to smile, and he wasn't as willing to keep a conversation going.

The press hasn't helped either. Ever since people found out about Zac's rehab and accident, they've been trying to get a picture of us or the latest scoop on our relationship. Over time, it's put some strain on us.

I was at home, folding laundry when something on the tv caught my attention.

"Is there trouble in paradise? Could Hollywood's Favorite Couple be headed for trouble? After the break, we'll talk about the Efron Affair."

I rolled my eyes, angrily scoffing as I turned off the tv. I tossed the remote onto the bed and grabbed my purse. I headed to the store, my anger still radiating as I went through the aisles.

Everywhere I went, people were whispering. I saw a few magazine covers that hinted at the alleged affair. From what I could tell, rumors are going around that Zac cheated on me with his costar.

I ignored the looks as I checked out and headed back to our apartment. As soon as I parked outside our townhouse, my car was surrounded. My breath got stuck in my throat as I saw the cameras and the people. I carefully opened my door, not bothering to grab the groceries. I tried to walk inside, but I kept getting stopped.

"Y/N, is it true about the affair?"

"Y/N, are you still with Zac?"

"Why haven't you broken up with him?"

"Do you hate him?"

The more questions that were shouted at me, the more lightheaded I got. I was about to walk away when a reporter grabbed my hand.

"Zac cheated on you," he said, getting in my face. "What are you going to do about it?"

"He didn't cheat on me," I shot back. "It's just a stupid rumor you morons spread because you don't have anything better to do with your lives."

I ripped my hand out of his and stormed back into our place. I closed the door behind me, instantly locking it. I leaned my back against it, a sob getting stuck in my throat.

I struggled to calm myself down, only able to when I heard the news vans pulling away. I kicked off the door right as my phone started ringing. My breath got caught in my throat when I saw it was Zac calling.

"Hey," I answered.

"Hey, babe," he said, sounding strange.

"You okay?" I asked.

"I have to warn you," he sighed.

"About?"

"There's this stupid rumor going around about me cheating on you, but I swear it's not true. I would never cheat on you, baby. The woman in charge of the press for my new movie thought it would be a smart idea to start a dumbass rumor. I'm so sorry, darling."

"It's okay," I said, sitting down on the couch. "I umm. . . I ran into a couple of rumor spreaders after I got home from the store today."

"What?" He asked through his teeth.

"Yeah," I cleared my throat. "They cornered me at the car and wouldn't let me in the house. They kept yelling at me, asking what I was going to do about the affair."

"Oh baby," he sighed. "I'm so sorry. I hate that people never care about what happens to the non-famous partner in the relationship."

"Yeah," I scoffed. "How unfortunate."

"Y/N, I didn't mean. . ." he stuttered.

"It's fine," I cut him off. "Look, I gotta go. I left the groceries in the car when I got ambushed. I should really get them now that those leeches are gone."

"Y/N, are you sure you're okay? I know the rumor is. . ."

"Zac," I said harshly, cutting him off again. My voice broke as I finally said what I've been thinking for a while now. "This is getting to be too much."

"Wait," Zac cut me off, "Y/N, what do you mean? What's getting too much?"

I held my breath, tears returning to my eyes. I bit my lip, knowing that if I say this, it most definitely will change things.

"All of this," I finally confessed. "I'm getting tired of the distance, the rumors, the press. It's getting too much for me, Zac."

"Y/N, wait. . ."

"I'm sorry," I quickly hung up before he could say anything else.

* * * * *

After I hung up with Zac, I quickly walked up to our room and started packing a bag. I called my married friend and told her everything. She didn't hesitate to offer their spare bedroom for me to rethink my relationship in.

I grabbed my bag and my phone and headed out the door. The second I opened the door, my heart dropped into my throat when I saw an out-of-breath Zac on our doorstep. He glanced down at the bag in my hand, the look on his face sinking as he looked back up at me.

"Baby, don't go."

"I can't do this," I stuttered. I held my breath as Zac slowly walked up the steps until he got right in front of me.

"Y/N," he whispered as he looked down at me. "Please, let's talk about this."

"There's nothing to talk about," I said, my voice barely audible. "This is getting to be too much. I mean. . ."

As if on a perfectly horrible queue, a van full of paparazzi pulled up. I heard Zac swear under his breath as he quickly grabbed my hand and pulled me back into the house. I let go of his hand and walked over to the couch—not sitting down—as Zac closed the door, instantly locking it, and closed the curtains.

I quickly looked away from him as he turned around. He took a step towards me, but I took a step back.

"Y/N," he said, his voice getting caught in his throat.

"I know we talked about all of these possibilities when we first started dating, but things have changed so much," I started before he could get another word out. "And I don't think I can handle it anymore, Zac. I mean, rumors are constantly being spread about us. I can't go to the store without being bombarded by people asking way too revealing questions about us. Plus, I feel like we barely see each other anymore. And I can't do that. I can't have a relationship where I get your answering machine more than I get you. It's frustrating and painful and exhausting. And I can't do it anymore, Zac. I just can't."

By the time I finished, tears were streaming down my face. As soon as I finished, a sob got caught in my throat. Without hesitation, Zac took one swift step towards me and wrapped me tightly in his arms.

I continued to sob into his chest as he tightened his arms around me and leaned his head on mine. I started to slowly calm down when I felt him start scratching my back.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, finally breaking the silence. "But if it's any consolation, I don't think I can do this anymore either."

"You can't?" I asked under my breath as I slowly pulled out of his embrace.

He sighed, smiling sweetly at me as he grabbed my hand, instantly intertwining our fingers. I chewed on the inside of my cheek as he led me over to our couch; the same couch we've spent countless hours at night staying up late to talk about random things, amongst doing other things.

"The distance is rough," he laughed dryly, "I'm not going to sugar coat it. I don't sleep much when I'm out of town because I can't sleep without you next to me. Half the time when the director yells cut, I find myself searching the room for you. And whenever I can't find you, part of me. . . I miss you, Y/N. Every day, baby."

Silence fell between the two of us as we stared into each other's eyes. I held my breath as Zac reached up and cupped my cheek in his hand, catching a tear with his thumb. After lingering for a few beats, his hand finally dropped back into his lap.

"So, what do we do?" I asked under my breath.

"I don't want to give up on us," he said instantly. "I know it's going to take a lot of work to go back to how we were, but I'm willing to do it."

"Zac," I said, my voice breaking.

"I will do anything to keep you in my life, Y/N," he continued. "I love you, darling, and I can't imagine my life without you. Please tell me you think we can work this out. Because if you don't. . . I'll fix it. I will fix everything, baby. Whatever it takes to keep you in my life."

I chewed on my bottom lip, struggling to find my voice. It felt like a million thoughts went through my head as I studied the face of the man I'm in love with. It was instantly clear that I never stopped.

"I don't want to break up," I finally said. My cheeks burned when I saw the relief in his eyes. While keeping my hand in his, he reached over with his free hand and grabbed my other hand.

"That makes me so incredibly happy, darling."

"But I can't keep going on like this," I continued. "I'm willing to work through things but I can't be the only one. I understand that your job takes you away at times and it feels wrong to ask you to stop filming but. . ."

"I could meet you halfway," he said quickly. "Or more than halfway if that shows you just how much I love you. I would give up anything and everything to keep you in my life, Y/N. Please, let me show you just how hard I'll fight for us. You won't have to do anything."

"It doesn't just have to be you," I said, a small smile on my face.

"Yes, it does," he instantly corrected me. "I'm the one who's been getting on an airplane at 3 in the morning. I'm the one whose career causes tension. I'm the reason you're followed by the paparazzi. I'm the reason for everything."

I cut him off by leaning over and pressing my lips to his. I let out a small moan as Zac instantly deepened the kiss. The longer we kissed, the faster it got. I giggled, slightly breaking the kiss when Zac grabbed my thighs and brought me over to his lap.

I reached up and ran my fingers through his hair. We moaned as he started massaging my ass. I tilted my head back, squeezing my eyes closed tighter as Zac broke the kiss and started kissing my neck.

"Zac," I moaned, making him pull his lips away from my neck.

"I will do anything to get you to stay, baby," he said between his heavy breaths. "Please, don't leave me."

I reached up, gently grabbing his face in both of my hands. "I'm not going anywhere," I whispered.

"I love you so much, darling."

"I love you too."

#zac efron #zac efron imagines #zac efron x reader

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ashintheairlikesnow · 3 years

Note

I didn't know that you still wrote adsom.. if you're willing to take prompts - and it's totally okay if you aren't - I think I saw an old ask about Holland trying on kell's coat?

Hey, Anon! Sorry, I went to sleep last night just as this ask came in, I think. I took some time to think it over today and here, I have a little something for you. I hope you see it! Sorry again about missing it when it came in.

Holland Vosijk was not a man driven by flights of fancy. He had been, just a little, before Talya and the violent loss of his vision of a world he could simply live in. Now, though, everything but unwilling, unwanted survival had been burned away.

He would have called himself forged by fire, but most things forged become stronger afterward, and Holland rarely felt that way.

He was not a man of whims - he was instead the hand and arm that acted out the whims of his monarchs, his masters, that obeyed the pulse of the curse carved into his chest.

So when he stepped into the inn and finds a very recognizable coat draped over a chair, the urge to pick it up surprised him.

He wasn't aware he could still have sudden thoughts like that.

The coat's owner was up at the bar itself, seemingly three ales deep and working on the fourth, his pretty brother at his side. Holland tried not to look at either of them, hoping he could go unnoticed.

If there was a bevy of whispers, well, perhaps the little princes would assume they were about them, not him.

He stepped slowly up to the table the two must have been sitting at, littered with the empty finished ale cups, half-eaten meals, and the damned coat.

It looked normal enough - luxe soft wool heavily treated, impossibly expensive, in the deep saturated red that all these Arnesian people seemed to take as 'their' color. It was hideously unflattering to the prince, with his pale skin turned too reddened by it, his red hair made to look dull when Holland knew damn well Kell's hair was shining and coppery and gleamed like coins in the sun when Holland very much wasn't looking at him in the slightest-

Stop it.

He had come here to drink himself to senselessness in a world where his monarchs could not trace him, could not pay some citizen to speak of his whereabouts, could not torture some innocent youth who merely saw him pass on the street.

And yet...

He allowed his fingertips to run, just for a moment, along the line of the chair's back through the coat. He felt over a hint of golden thread sewn in along the lapel. Red and gold, pointless sickening luxury in a world grown fat on the magic it stole from a dying one.

In a sudden fit of violence, he jerked the jacket off the chair into his hands. The chair, knocked off-balance, toppled backwards onto the floor with a loud CRACK.

The inn went briefly quiet, and Holland felt two dozen pairs of Arnesian eyes quite suddenly land entirely and only on him.

Including those of the princes.

"Holland?" It was Rhy who spoke first, and drunk or not, the Arnesian prince slipped into an immediate smiling brilliance. Difficult to resist.

Holland, though, had an inborn defense against idiot princes. He, after all, spent his days and nights tortured by an idiot king.

"Have you come by to grace us with your company?" Rhy smiled, tilting his head. His amber-yellow eyes sparkled with the drink coursing through his veins.

If Astrid drank his blood, Holland thought idly, she might get drunk on it.

"No," he said, shortly, and turned, walking outside as quickly as he could, before the faintest blush in his cheeks might become visible, before they could read embarrassment even in his faded skin, his washed-out color.

He made it out into the street before he realized he still had Kell Maresh's coat in his hand.

He couldn't very well go back in and give it back, now could he? Admitting to that embarrassment would be a crime far worse than simple theft.

Instead, he walked quickly, turning left into an alleyway just as he heard the door open behind him and Kell's voice ring out, "Hey! He's got my coat!" with a note of nervous trepidation that had Holland rolling his eyes.

Like Holland didn't already know Kell smuggled between worlds. He'd been tracking him at it for months. Years, even.

That nasty little habit would get the redheaded Arnesian prince in trouble one day.

He came to a stop in a spot of near-total darkness down by the docks, the gentle sound of the river lapping at the shore a soothing balm. The Isle glowed a brilliant red, the usual nighttime sky in London, stars only vaguely visible through its haze.

They had so much magic. How little of it they could have shared and saved Makt.

Holland very nearly threw the coat in the damn Isle to drown the way he sometimes wished he could drown the entire Arnesian royal family before... before that damn whim struck again.

He turned the coat inside out.

The red became white, a white that nearly blinded him, with black thread. He frowned.

"No," He said out loud in the Royal language of Arnes.

He turned the coat inside-out again.

This time it was a pale robins-egg blue, with embroidered birds along the lapel. He wrinkled his nose.

"Absolutely not."

He tried one more time.

The third time, indeed, was the charm - the coat this time was a deep black, so solid it seemed to soak up light entirely. The embroidered cuffs and lapel were white, a series of spirals that made him think of a time long, long ago, when the doors were open to all.

It reminded him of how they once dressed in a London now dead and gone, entirely overrun by magic it grew addicted to rather than tightly controlled.

He sighed and undid the silver clasp for his half-cloak, pulling it off and carefully laying it over a short wrought-iron stair railing for a building next to him. The silver winked slightly in the red light of the Isle.

He slipped his arm into one sleeve and then the other, fully expecting them to be far too long - Kell was tall and lanky, after all, while Holland was far more compactly built, and short like the rest of Makt after a life spent working and fighting for every bite of food left.

The coat fit perfectly, as if tailored only for him.

He looked down at himself, and then up, finding a windowpane where he could see his own reflection.

He looked... Arnesian, almost.

Not quite - his hair was too faded, the deep black of his childhood gone charcoal-gray with the way the world had of leeching magic and life out of everyone. His skin was too pale, his Antari eye stood out like it did everywhere else.

And yet...

"Not bad," Kell Maresh said, and Holland's heart skipped a beat in surprise. It took all his willpower not to visibly flinch.

He instead turned smoothly, slowly, as if he had known the redhead was there all along. "I am glad you think so," He said in a dry voice devoid of sincerity. "It is unkind to follow a man at night, lile prins."

"Well, you ran off before I could talk to you," Kell pointed out, walking towards him. There was a high red spot in each cheek and a gleam to his blue eye that said he was still drunk.

"You could have as many coats as you wished, what is a few gold coins to a prince to replace it?"

"True. But that is my coat. It cannot be replaced."

"It could be my coat, if I wished it to be."

"It's not, though. Plus..." Kell's expression went into a kind of teasing look that made Holland uncomfortable and also oddly... interested in if this was what it looked like to see the Maresh prince flirt. It was awkward. It was endearing. "It is also unkind to steal a drunk man's clothing."

Holland hummed. "I am not a man known for kindness," He said, sliding the coat back off and folding it over his arm.

When Kell came closer - and he smelled of the flowery odd sort of beer they made and drank here, damn near wine. "And yet I think you have kindness in you that you will never express."

Holland stared at him, shocked. Kell Maresh often seemed to have little more sense than the gods gave a goat, and yet...

Perhaps the beer had loosened some kind of wisdom in him. There were stranger, less believable things in the worlds.

He held his hand out for the coat, and Holland, still too surprised to really think, simply handed it back. "Thank you," Kell said. He flipped the coat inside-out twice, until it was back to the color and style he liked, and slipped it on. "Why did you take it?"

"I don't know." It was, for once, a truly honest answer.

Kell considered, and then nodded, slowly. "I'll see you around," He said, stood there awkwardly waiting for Holland to reciprocate the farewell and receiving only silence in return, and then he turned and walked away, back towards the inn and his brother.

Holland watched him go, not quite sure what held him to the spot, but he found himself unwilling to move until the last sight of the other Antari's red hair shimmering with the light of the Isle was gone.

Holland inhaled, and the air smelled of roses, with a kind of steel underneath.

"For some reason," he murmured, "I genuinely don't want them to make me kill you."

Perhaps he could find some other way.

#adsom #adsom fanfiction #adsom fanfic #a darker shade of magic #kell maresh #holland vosijk #agos #acol #ve schwab #some light hinted at kelland here but mostly canon compliant #reluctantly so

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svtshine · 3 years

Text

Unconditionally

pairing: Wonwoo x reader

genre: Angst to fluff, High school!au

type: imagine

extras: Wonwoo edit made by @delicatecy do check their page out! Open to requests ^^

_____________________________________________

Agape

|a•ga•pe•| /n./

1. the highest form of love. Selfless, sacrificial and unconditional love; persists no matter the circumstances

_____________________________________________

Day 1

Wonwoo dragged himself to school and stuffed his hands inside his hoodie pockets, his nose burried under his scarf. He longed to return to his warm bed amidst this cold winter morning. School was restarting and this year he would be attending as a second year student.

He sighed out, watching the cold air turn into white mist around him. There was another thing he dreaded. Maybe not a thing, but a human.

Y/n L/n

You began following him around like a lost puppy sometimes during last march. He never understood why you were so persistent but it annoyed him to no end.

Wonwoo began to hate everything about you. Your irritating smile that greeted him every morning without fail. Your stupid little notes you would slide into his locker telling him to have a nice day. Your voice as you chattered about god knows what. He had never paid any attention to you.

He wanted to be alone. Eat alone, study alone, walk home alone. He just wanted you gone. You were like a pest, a leech that he just couldn’t seem to remove

Wonwoo has shot you down for what seems to be like the hundredth time. Whenever you greet him with a smile, he glared back at you and shoved his locker close making you jump at the loud sound. He would try to purposefully trip you or tease you hurt fully to make you stay away. He even talk bad about you infront of girls hoping you would leave

But you never did. You always greeted him with a smile and talked about homework and stuff. You also prepared or bought lunch for him. Even if he was paired with another girl, you would follow him around

Wonwoo so badly wanted to get rid of you

He closed his locker after getting out his things and was met with the sight of you looking up at him and giving him a big smile. “Hi won, how’s your morning? Have you eaten?”

Wonwoo grunted, picked up his bag and went into the classroom. Thanking the girls that flocked around him would prevent you from coming closer to him.

Forgetting the fact that the teacher assigned you to sit infront of him. He knew you persuaded the teacher to change seats with another classmate. God you were so annoying.

You sat down at your seat and opened up your bag to find the lunchbox you got up early to prepare wonwoo. You weren’t exactly a chef but you wanted to try cooking one whole meal for him. Here wonnie. I prepared all your favourites again” you said hoping he might glance at you once and at least give you an acknowledgment.

Wonwoo paid no attention to you and instead focused on the conversation with some other girls and guys. Your smiled dropped and your heart felt like it received some stabs.

but this was normal

Wonwoo saw your smile drop and turn to face the front. He looked at the lunchbox in front of him. You usually didn’t cook. It was mainly sandwiches or snacks.

He didn’t notice the numerous bandages on your hand.

Day 2

You greeted him again at the lockers. Wonwoo was particularly moody that morning.

“Hi won, did you eat breakfast?” you asked him

“You’re not in the position to ask. Stop being so extra. Seriously just get a life.” He spit out coldly.

You were taken aback. Of course you knew he didn’t like you but he never said anything verbally before.

Wonwoo saw you flinch slightly and for a second he felt guilty. You looked so scared. but to his surprise you smiled brightly at him and replied with an “Okay”

Day 3

“Yah wonwoo, why don’t we prank Y/n” one of the girls asked him

Wonwoo glanced away not liking the sound of it

“You can invite her to a movie and just stand her up. You know like sending a message? She likes you but after this she might just stay away finally” One of the other girls said

Now Wonwoo was interested.

“Just tell her to meet you tomorrow at the entrance of the movie theatre because you have a free ticket”

Wonwoo knew it was a shit move but it might actually make you stay away and stop bothering him

“Fine” shooeing away all the other people before tapping your shoulder.

“Y/n” You smiled excitedly since this was one of the few times he wanted to initiate a small conversation. Wonwoo on the other hand wanted to scrunch his face in disgust at how desperate you looked.

“i have two free tickets to a movie. So tomorrow at 5? outside the theatre?” You bobbed your head up and down.

Wonwoo almost felt bad at how much you were looking forwards to going out with him and even wanted to tell you the truth

But he clenched his fists and put on a small fake smile

This would be his chance to finally get rid of you

Day 4

You greeted Wonwoo per usual.

“So wonwoo, what are we going to watch later?” You waited for his answer as you stood beside his locker

“oh uh” Wonwoo hesitated for a while, “We can decide later”

Luckily for him, the bell rang and the both of you had to return to class.

After school, you rushed back home and found the perfect outfit for the movie.

You took about two hours to find the perfect outfit and reach the theatre on time.

You kept glancing at the watch on your wrist. It was nearly 30 minutes after five and there was no sign of Wonwoo anywhere. However, you never left and continued waiting in case he came late

About 8.10 pm, Wonwoo passed by the theatre towards the library to get some new books. That was when he saw you. The library was opposit the theatre thus it gave him a good view of you

and you wouldn’t be able to spot and follow him

You were blowing into your palms and dressed in an adorable flowery dress. It was getting closer with each hour.

Wonwoo’s glanced at his clock. she’s been waiting her for 5 hours?

He felt bad. He knew how bad of an idea this was but he had never meant to take it that far

But maybe after this she might really leave, won’t she?

He clenched his fists and bit his lip from walking over and telling her the truth

Day 5

As wonwoo took his first few steps into school he mentally thought to himself, in 5, 4, 3, 2,1 and the leech is back.

But he was taken aback when he didn’t hear your cheery voice greeting him good morning. Maybe at the lockers? He convinced himself.

Wonwoo got all of his stuff ready, and prepared himself for your cheery voice greeting him good morning. But as he closed his locker and turned around to where you usually stood, there was no sign of you.

Wonwoo hesitated. Why didn’t he feel happy that you weren’t there anymore?

Why did he feel so empty? like he missed seeing you beside him everyday.

He shook his head and walked to class. Maybe she forgot to catch the train?

Day 8

it’s been 3 days and there was absolutely no sign of you.

Wonwoo twirled his pen around in his hand and stared at the seat infront of him, chin on his hand. Usually he would be able to stare at your hair whenever he was bored, and sure sometimes he’d roll his eyes at how annoying you were.

But now, he sort of missed you.

Wonwoo missed how you would greet him at the lockers in the morning. How you would prepare or buy him lunch. How you always make sure to refill his bottle before and after physical class so that he has enough water to drink.

He couldn’t help but feel the intense guilt from standing you up that day

“Class before we end today’s lesson” the teacher said while packing up his books.

Wonwoo looked up, “Unfortunately, our classmate, Y/n met with a terrible car accident 4 days ago near the theatre. Thus, she’s isn’t going to be able to attend school for a while.”

Wonwoo’s breathing stopped

4 days ago. Near the theatre

He was right there. Watching her wait for him.

The guilt in his chest spread even more. He could’ve done something. Told her the truth. Not fking stand her up?

You’ve done so much for him, and even though he thought you were a nuisance, treated you badly your smile never faltered. You looked out for him unconditionally

Always made sure he was okay before you took care of yourself.

“Once she is allowed visitors” The teacher continued. “i would need a volunteer to pass her school materials and teach her some of the homework”

Wonwoo raised his hand immediately.

Day 11

Wonwoo heard the beeping of the machines wherever he walked in the hospital.

In his hands were your homework over the past one week that you haven’t attended school and a bouquet of flowers. The teacher had informed him your condition had improved greatly over the one week and that he was allowed to visit her.

Finally.

Wonwoo missed you. So damn much. He actually visited your hospital everyday hoping you would be walking downstairs and he would just wait there for a few hours before returning home.

He wasn’t able to catch one sight of you. This was probably how you felt when he stood you up.

Wonwoo finally found your room. He inhaled and exhaled to stop himself for being so nervous. Knocking twice, he heard your soft voice saying it was okay to come in.

He saw you lying on the bed. A book in your hands, your hair in a bun and wearing reading glasses.

You were shocked to the bones. Your parents informed you that the teacher had sent a volunteer to pass you the stuff you missed out in but never in the whole world would you have expected Wonwoo. With flowers as well.

He probably was forced into this.

“Wonwoo, you can just put those down here and leave. I’m sure you were forced into doing this. Thank you” you said gently.

Wonwoo shook his head and sat down on the chair beside you after closing the door

“No”

You tilted your head in confusion. Why wouldn’t he want to leave?

“you’ve always cared for me” Wonwoo spoke

“Greeting me, wishing me a good day, buying or making me lunch, refilling my bottle and even writing down my notes when i fall asleep in class” his voice got less steady with each sentence.

“I’ve never treated you nicely. Always brushed you away, thought you were a nuisance. When you’re the one person who cared for me like no one else.” He looked down. “You always smile at me even if i treat you badly”

You hesitantly took your hand and combed it through his hair, the whole time looking at Wonwoo if he was comfortable with it. But he only nuzzled closer to your palm

“That day, when i invited you to the movies. They asked me to prank you, and thinking selfishly that you would stop bothering me after that, i-i just stood you up”

He took your hands into his. Loving the way it fit perfectly in his palms.

“I’m so sorry Y/n. I’m sorry for not seeing how great you were. For judging your actions and for not caring for you sooner. i got you into this car accident. If i went to the theatre, maybe things would’ve been different. You wouldn’t have had to go through so much pain. All because of me” By now, Wonwoo’s eyes were filled with tears and they fell steadily.

You didn’t say anything, just shifted closer to him and brushed away his tears before smiling brightly at him. “Wonwoo, i forgive you. i’ll always look out for you, you know that. Unconditionally”

Wonwoo felt his heart rate pick up

Day 15

Over the days, you were significantly getting better. Wonwoo visited every single day and brought you snacks that you like. After getting closer this few days, Wonwoo was able to see how great of a person you are.

One day, he was coming into the hospital when he saw you with the children in the reading corner. You read them a book and made sure everyone was engaged. The way you smiled at them, made Wonwoo feel so proud of your kindness.

He would usually see you pushing older residents through the garden and talking to them.

He realised how much he missed of you. How you deserved that much kindness and humility back.

Wonwoo came into your hospital room that one time and you fell asleep waiting for him. You looked so peaceful, so beautiful that Wonwoo couldn’t help but raise his hand and brush away your stray hair before staring at you.

He left a peck on your forehead.

Day 18

You were finally being discharged. The doctors ran some tests and made sure you were completely healed but still had to avoid some physical activities in school.

The whole day the two of you ran to the children’s room and the older residents’s room, handing out snacks and flowers, wishing for their quick recovery.

Everyone hugged you before you left, thanking you for spending time with them.

With the promise that you would return and visit them, you left the hospital, hand in hand with Wonwoo.

Your parents were busy, thus they thanked Wonwoo for helping to see you home.

Wonwoo saw the big smile on your face and finally got up the courage, “So y/n”

you faced him and hummed.

“i was wondering, if, if you know we could come visit them together?” He said, hand in the nape of his neck.

You nodded quickly, happy that he wanted to spend more time with you. You couldn’t contain your excitement and wrapped your arms tightly around him.

Wonwoo carefully twirled you around and chuckled. “and, maybe afterwards, i could really bring you to the movies?”

You nodded, hands on his neck and his on your waist.

“I fell in love with you Y/n L/n, now it’s my turn to take care of you. Unconditionally”

Masterlist

#seventeen #svt #scenario #wonwoo #Jeon wonwoo #Wonwoo x reader #Wonwoo x reader angst #Wonwoo x reader fluff #angst to fluff #School!au #Non-idol!au

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theladyofdeath · 4 years

Text

The Ranch {16}

An A Court of Thorns and Roses, Nesta x Cassian, Modern AU, fanfiction.

Collaboration: @snelbz x @tacmc

Summary: Nesta had spent years in Paris, living her dream and drowning in riches as a gourmet chef, capturing the hearts of the city and its people. But, after her father passes away unexpectedly and leaves his cozy, countryside B&B to his oldest daughter, Nesta is moving back home to the tiny town of Velaris, where the ranch, her sisters, and her father’s unfulfilled dream, awaits.

Sidenote: Being posted between two blogs, it is too chaotic to keep up with a tags list, so all chapters will be tagged with “#TheRanchNessian” & “#SharaCollab”.

The Ranch Masterlist

Cassian stared at the broken window, his hands on his hips. Beau was groaning at his feet, fully aware that something had happened that was total shit. Nesta was cooking breakfast for the guests inside of the B&B. She decided that a daily morning breakfast would be a regular occurrence, and she wanted to make the first morning breakfast a grand occasion.

Even if she hadn’t slept at all the night before.

Every time she drifted off, she was panicking, which meant Cassian had stayed up all night comforting her. Which, he loved doing, loved being there for her, felt it was his duty to be there for her, but none of that erased the fact that he was completely, utterly exhausted.

A truck pulled up behind him and the engine turned off. A few seconds later, Azriel was standing beside him. With a whistle, he said, “Fuck.”

“Yeah,” Cassian breathed. “Just after midnight. Brick flew through the window, Nesta was screaming bloody murder, Beau nearly shot himself out the door and tore his balls off.”

“Maybe he should’ve,” Azriel muttered, stepping closer to the broken window, careful to avoid the glass shards, even though he was wearing his boots. “Tomas did this?”

“Who else would’ve?” Cassian grumbled.

Even Azriel couldn’t argue with that. “Well, let’s put some plastic over it, then I’ll bring you into town to get a new window and help put it in.”

Cassian didn’t have any plastic. If he had, he would have patched it up in the middle of the night. Instead, he had laid a thin piece of plywood over the hole.

“Probably best to just go ahead and get the window,” Cassian said with a yawn.

Azriel nodded and the two of them got in the truck, heading for the main house.

“Aside from that, how was the first night?” He asked, nodding towards the house in front of them.

Cassian blew out a breath. “Good, I think. Nobody called us about anything, but from what I can tell, nothing was done to the house.”

Just Nesta’s small house that the two of them had been occupying.

They parked in front of the big wrap around porch, heading up the stairs. A couple was sitting on porch swing, and they waved as Cassian and Az walked into the house.

There was sound everywhere, people bustling to and fro. It was almost unnerving after the silence of the house for so many months.

“Nes?” He called her name, even though he knew exactly where she was.

“Kitchen!”

Walking into the kitchen, they found the table full, both of food and people in the chairs. Nesta was still at the stove, happily stirring away at a pan of gravy while her guests stuffed themselves.

“Smells great, baby.” He pressed a kiss to her head and she smiled.

Her eyes were lit up. “Thanks. Az, are you hungry?”

“Elain fed me on the way out the door, but I might say no next time.” He was eyeing the spread of classic country breakfast on the table.

Nesta laughed, and turned to Cassian. “What’s up?”

He gently took her hand, rubbing small circles into the back of it. “We gotta go into town. I’m fixing that window today.”

He watched the color leech from her face.

“Please don’t leave me here alone.”

Cassian hesitated.

“It’s fine,” Azriel said, quickly. “Rhys has today off, I’ll pick him up on the way and we’ll get it here. I’ll let you know when we’re back.”

“Are you sure?” Nesta said, suddenly realizing that it took more than one man to get a window into the back of a truck.

“Yeah, it’s fine,” Azriel said, with a genuine smile. “And, uh, now that I think about it, maybe I’ll take a biscuit to go?”

Nesta chuckled, although the light didn’t reach her eyes. She wrapped a biscuit in a napkin and handed it over, then Azriel was off.

Cassian looked around at the guests, chatting happily and stuffing their faces.

“You should be proud,” Cassian said, quietly.

Nesta nodded before turning back to the stove.

“I, um, want your blessing on something.”

Nesta froze before looking at him over her shoulder.

“Maybe we should talk alone,” Cassian went on.

She turned to look at him. “My blessing for what?”

Cassian hesitated, then sighed. “I want to go talk to Tomas.”

“No.” Nesta turned back to the stove.

Cassian gave her a look before walking away, into the laundry room that was off to the side, knowing full well she would follow. Nesta Archeron did not leave conversations unresolved.

She closed the door behind her before asking, “Why the hell would you do something stupid like that?”

“Because he threatened you,” Cassian said, through his teeth. “Because he threatened me, and our guests, and our unborn child, and he can’t do that.”

“You can’t just-.”

“I’m just going to talk,” Cassian said. “Or, I can go to the police for vandalism, but I’m going to do one of the two, it’s your call.”

Nesta crossed her arms over her chest. “I’d rather you fix the window and we pretend this never happened.”

Cassian stared at her. “I can’t do that.”

“You can’t fight your way out of this, Cass!” She said, beginning to pace in the small room. “Fighting with Tomas already ruined your roping career.”

Cassian’s jaw hardened. “I was defending you.”

“And I love you for that, but it doesn’t change the fact that what you did was stupid.” Nesta stopped and looked at him, putting her hands on his chest. “I’ve seen how good you were, you should’ve won that championship. But you didn’t. You let your anger and a stupid decision take that from you.”

Cassian sighed and said, “Make your choice: either I go to the police or he and I have a man to man talk.”

Nesta’s eyes, shimmering with frustrated tears, flicked down to his hurt shoulder. She opened the laundry room door, looking back at him, and said, “At least wait until Azriel and Rhys get back,” before shutting the door a little harder than necessary and walking back into the kitchen.

He felt guilty, but he wasn’t going to let that guilt talk him out of this. He had to talk to Tomas, had to let him know that this wasn’t okay.

Nesta had gone through enough.

She didn’t need to go through anymore.

So, he did as she asked and waited until Azriel and Rhys got back with the window before grabbing the keys without a word and driving himself into town, without so much as a goodbye to anyone.

He was seeing red.

Not only did this man make Nesta throw up out of fear at her own grand opening, but he threw a fucking brick through their window, scaring her even more, then Cassian was the one who got snapped at for wanting to correct it?

That wasn’t going to cut it.

He had finally gotten his happiness and Tomas fucking Mandray wasn’t going to take that away from him.

Cassian drove through town and to the other side, where he pulled onto the grounds of a small ranch. He spotted Tomas right away, working on a tractor just outside of the garage.

Cassian was opening the door before he even put the truck in park. “What the fuck is your problem, Mandray?”

“Don’t have a problem at all,” Tomas said, shit-eating grin on his face. “You got a problem?”

It took everything in Cassian to not hurl that brick back into his smug face. But he’d made a promise to Nesta. He was only here to talk, he wouldn’t start a fight with Tomas.

So instead, he very calmly reached into the truck, grabbed the brick off of the passenger seat, and lifted it up so Tomas could see it. “I think you left this at my girlfriend’s house.”

Cassian promised he wouldn’t start a fight with Tomas Mandray.

He didn’t say anything about finishing one.

Without another word, he launched the brick through Tomas’ workshop window.

“You fucking dick,” he yelled. “I’m going to fucking k-.”

“Heard you bought the old Carlson ranch,” Cassian interrupted. “Had to come give my congratulations.”

He swore he could see Tomas face change color as his own trick was used against him.

Cass continued, “You know, I hadn’t even heard you were back in town until just a week or two before Nesta came home.” He slammed the truck door and moved closer to the shop. Closer to Tomas. “Was that a coincidence or were you hurling bricks through her window in Paris, too?”

“Oh, fuck you.” The tone in Tomas’ voice… that was hatred. Pure and unadulterated hatred. “You think you get to come in, like some white knight? You’re saving the day again?”

Cassian wasn’t able to stop himself as he got in Tomas’ face. “You do anything to put my girlfriend or child in danger, ever again, and I will gladly reenact the ass whooping I gave you back at Worlds.”

His phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket, answering it without looking, knowing who it was.

“Yes?”

“That’s enough. Whatever you’ve said, it’s enough.” She had no idea how wrong she was. It would never be enough. “Please.”

With a deep sigh, he said, “Okay. I’ll be right there.”

Nesta’s relieved voice came across the ear piece, loud and clear. “Thank you, Cass. I love you.”

He stared Tomas down, knowing he’d heard every word of their conversation, and said, “I love you, too, sweetheart.”

He hung up and slipped the phone back into his back pocket. “Don’t ever come on our property again. It’ll be the last mistake you ever make.”

He turned and was heading for the truck, when Tomas spoke up. “Has Nesta ever told you how she found out she wasn't able to have kids? Or, well, wasn’t supposed to be able to.”

Cassian froze. Mostly everyone had guessed that Nesta’s pregnancy was an accident, but her supposed infertility wasn’t a known fact.

He turned. “How the hell do you know that?”

“Who do you think was holding her hand in a Parisian women’s clinic?”

Cassian blinked. “What?”

“She didn’t leave me here, Nazari,” Tomas said, with complete satisfaction that Cassian was caught off guard. “I was with her there, too, for a little while. I was there when we found out she couldn’t have kids. I was there when she cried, when she brushed it off and said it wasn’t a big deal. I was the one who dried her tears. Did she tell you that?”

No.

No she hadn’t.

Cassian’s jaw locked, but he said nothing.

“You’ve been with her for months,” Tomas spat, eyes turning cold, angry. “I was with her for years. She can try all she wants to, but in the end, she always comes back to me.”

“Stop talking,” Cassian warned.

“You sound worried,” Tomas crooned, eyes lighting with satisfaction. “Jealous, even.”

Cassian took a second to think about his next move, even as that anger brewed beneath the surface. He had already broken his window, had said what he had to say, and Nesta’s words replayed in the back of his mind.

Nesta.

Who apparently hadn’t told him the entire story of her and Tomas.

“Just stay off my fucking property,” Cassian said, meeting Tomas’s gaze as he climbed back into the truck, slammed the door shut, and made his way back to the road.

He kept the radio off as Tomas’ words came back to him. Tomas’ words, not Nesta’s. She had made Cassian believe that she had left Tomas here to begin again.

He felt foolish.

He felt pissed.

He took the turn onto the property a little too quickly and fishtailed, spitting rocks in every direction from the little gravel drive.

They were all sitting on the porch, his mismatched family. Rhys was the closest, leaning against the stair railing. Azriel was by the door. Feyre sat on the railing next to her husband. And Elain, sweet Elain was sitting on the porch swing.

Holding Nesta’s hand.

Cassian parked in front of the house and cut the engine. The silence was almost as defeating as the roar of the engine had been. He got out of the truck and shut the door with a gentleness he honestly didn’t think he was capable of in that moment.

Azriel said, “Give me my keys, asshole.”

Cass threw them to him, without looking, and started heading away from the main house, towards his cabin.

“Cass?”

The sound of his name from her lips clanged through him. He didn’t stop walking.

Light footsteps on wood. “Cass!”

Rhys called, “Cass, where are you going?”

He didn’t stop.

Her voice was hurt. “Cassian…”

He couldn’t stop.

Couldn’t stop because he couldn’t bear for them to see the silent tears streaming down his face.

Beau was at his side in an instant, trailing after his master with a soft whine as he made his way down the dirt path. He cursed himself as he angrily wiped at his face, steps hurried, urgent until he made it to his cabin.

Perhaps he should have locked it, but he hadn’t, and the door swung open easily. Beau laid on the couch as Cassian stomped to the fridge and pulled out a mostly full bottle of whiskey.

Tomas had been with Nesta in France?

The thought still echoed in his mind, leaving him breathless.

She would be here soon, no doubt, demanding to know what had happened.

Cassian looked at the bottle, unscrewed the top, and downed as much of the burning liquor as he could handle. He stopped, muttered a curse, and downed some more.

Beau only watched with concern in his pleading brown eyes.

It was only a few minutes before he heard footsteps outside, but the heavy, booted stride wasn’t the one he expected.

The door opened and Azriel came in. Cassian didn’t look up from the knot in the wooden flooring as it shut and Az made his was into the living room. He sat in the chair beside the couch.

“Your pregnant girlfriend is crying her eyes out right now. Any reason you’re not up there talking to her?”

Cassian looked at him then, letting him see the tears shimmering on his own face.

“Shit,” Azriel breathed, genuine surprise written on his face. “What happened out there?”

Cassian stayed quiet for a long moment, looking down at Beau while he fiddled with the top of the whiskey bottle. Then, he asked, “Did you know that Tomas was in France? With her?”

The stricken look on Azriel’s face told him that he didn’t.

“He was there with her for years,” Cassian said, that anger returning, fueling his words. “Living with her. She fucking stayed with him, Az. Which means that I not only lost my career, my dream, for fucking nothing, but that Nesta has been lying to me for months.”

Azriel opened his mouth to say something, but his words failed him.

“I feel like an idiot,” he said, taking another sip from the bottle. “I’m not up there comforting her right now because every word that’ll come out of my mouth will be one I end up regretting.”

Azriel stayed quiet for a few more minutes. Finally, he said, “She’s scared.” Cass looked up at him. “She thinks you did something stupid, that Tomas is somewhere laying in a ditch.”

Cassian scoffed. “Glad she’s so worried about him.”

“She’s not worried about him, you dumbass,” he said, disbelief coloring his tone. “She’s worried about you going to jail.”

Cassian didn’t answer, just took another swig from the bottle.

Azriel asked, “You’re not going to talk to her?”

“Not until I can be sure I won’t say something wrong.” He ran a hand through his hair, it had come loose from the hair tie at some point. “I just need to get my head on straight.”

“She’s carrying your child,” Azriel said, incredulously.

“Right now, all indicators are pointing to me being just a sperm donor so Tomas Mandray can have his perfect fucking life with the woman I’ve been in love with since high school.”

Azriel’s hazel eyes had gone cold. “I’m going to assume that’s the booze talking, because right now, you’re acting like a fucking prick.” He stood heading for the door. “She lied to you, yes, and that’s fucked up, but she didn’t do it on purpose. She wouldn’t do anything to hurt you because she loves you.”

He didn’t say anything else as he walked out, slamming the door shut behind him.

Cassian watched him go, not caring that Azriel was right. He was acting like a prick, but he deserved to be able to act like a prick.

He wasn’t in the wrong here.

He hadn’t fucking lied.

All she had ever told him about Tomas had pointed to the fact that she dumped him after that day at the rodeo, after she found out he was cheating, after Cassian had kicked his ass. And now he finds that all he had thought was complete bullshit? Had she thought she was pregnant with Tomas’s child at some point? Was that how they had found out she couldn’t have kids? Fuck, Tomas knew she thought she couldn’t have kids, a fact that hardly anyone knows.

Cassian felt fucking stupid.

And betrayed.

He finished off the bottle and tossed the glass onto the side table with a clatter, forcing Beau on his feet, instantly alarmed. Cassian pulled himself up from the couch and swayed, nearly falling back over. He steadied himself, though, and took one step forward, trying hard to clear his vision before taking another.

Azriel thought he should talk to Nesta so badly?

Fine.

He would.

If he could fucking make it there.

Cassian threw open the front door but misjudged the front steps. He tripped, and went tumbling down the three, his shirt ripping on his back over the bent wood.

“Fuck,” he yelled, the word slurred as he laid in the grass.

He didn’t feel much pain, though.

Shoutout to the whiskey.

Whiskey was a gift, making his body numb, like he was floating on air. His eyes fluttered open and he was staring up at the clear afternoon sky. The sun was bright, not a cloud in sight.

It was a perfect day.

Full of utter shit.

With a grunt, Cassian pulled himself into sitting position and pushed himself back onto his feet. Attempting to catch his balance, he looked up toward the main house.

None of them were on the porch now, and Azriel’s truck was no longer parked where he’d left it out front. He stood, wobbling slightly, planning to head to the main house, but he sighed.

They couldn’t hash this out in front of the guests, they very first guests they’d booked. No, he wouldn’t do that to Nesta, wouldn’t embarrass her like that, or tarnish her reputation.

So he stumbled to the small house by the river, window still smashed to hell and opened the door.

He wasn’t expecting to find Nesta inside, sitting with Elain and Feyre on the couch.

He cleared his throat, trying to make his intentions clear. Beau scurried off to the bedroom.

Her sisters didn’t move an inch. Feyre even looked like she was inclined to light him on fire.

“I need to talk to Nesta,” he said, making his voice as clear as possible. Neither made a move to stand. He added, “Alone.”

“It’s okay,” she whispered, squeezing Elain’s hand in her own.

Even Elain have him a distasteful look as they passed him, out the door. Cassian closed it behind them and turned to face his girlfriend.

She lifted her chin but said nothing.

“Tell me about France,” he demanded, voice low.

“You’re drunk,” she said, then nodded to his arm. “And you’re bleeding.”

He looked down near his elbow and, sure enough, blood was trickling from a scratch, thanks to his fall down his porch stairs.

“I’m fine,” he muttered. “Now, tell me about France.”

He could see the fear in her eyes that she tried to conceal as she said, “What about it?”

The question had been replayed in his head so many times that it didn’t sound right coming out loud now. “How long was he there?”

She blinked. “Who are you talk-?”

“Don’t bullshit me, Nes.” He leaned against the kitchen counter. “How long was Tomas in France? Hmm? Cause I sure felt like a dumbass when he was throwing your infertility in my face, something your own sisters didn’t even know. Telling me how he held your hand in the clinic and dried your tears and then fucked you to make you forget.”

She’d gone pale, the blood even leaching from her lips, and Cassian thought she might be about to vomit again. “He told you?”

Cassian could feel his heart breaking in his chest, thought he might audibly hear the crack, as she confirmed what he was hoping was a last ditch effort by Tomas to lie and get under his skin. “Sure as fuck did.” He tried to stop his voice from wavering, cleared his throat before he spoke again. But it didn’t stop his voice from breaking as he said, “Why didn’t you?”

Nesta tried to speak but a sudden sob came out instead. Cassian felt guilty for making her cry, but he didn’t show it. “He was there for just under two years,” Nesta said, at last, words quiet as tears streamed down her cheeks. “He came, asking for forgiveness, begging me to take him back, saying he wanted to start again. We had a scare. I...had thought I was pregnant but when we went to the doctor, that was when I found out I couldn’t- couldn’t have kids.” The words were barely audible through her sob, through her heartache. Cassian was breathing harder, but his feet stayed planted, just within the door. “He left me after that, weeks later. I hadn’t seen him again. Not until that day we went into town and ran into him at the hardware store.”

Cassian had nothing to say. She was the one crying, but Cassian just felt numb.

Nesta took a deep, shaky breath. “I’m sor-.”

“You lied to me,” Cassian breathed. “I’m the father of your child, and you fucking lied to me.”

“Cass, don’t-.”

“Stop,” he said, but there was no bite in his voice, only exhaustion from the whiskey, from the lies.

He turned to take a step toward the door, but Nesta was on her feet, her eyes narrowing. Her voice was quiet when she snapped, “Don’t you fucking dare walk away from me.”

Cassian stilled, slowly looking up to meet her gaze. “Seriously? You’re a fucking liar, Nesta! I gave everything to you! Even before you knew I existed, I gave everything to you! I don’t care that he was there, Nesta, if you wanted to repeat your mistakes, over and over again, that’s on you, but you lying about it to me? Making me think it never happened? Well, shit, Nes, if you’re always gonna go back to him, what the fuck am I even doing here?”

“Stop,” she seethed.

“When are you gonna get bored with me and go back to that trash?” He knew it was the alcohol speaking, but he couldn’t stop himself. “It seems to be a trend of yours.”

“You’re being an ass-.”

“Is he gonna be the one my kid calls dad, huh?” Cassian spat, and Nesta froze, her face paling, once more. “Or, were you lying to me about all that, too? Maybe Tomas is his dad, maybe you were fucking him-.”

Nesta’s hand came at his face so quickly that he couldn’t collect himself before her open palm came forcefully in contact with his cheek.

He couldn’t believe the words had come out of his mouth. Couldn’t believe he’d said them aloud. But he refused to see himself as the sole problem in the situation. He may not have been able to hold his tongue, but she was the one who had kept the truth from him.

That slap had all but sobered him up and he needed to go.

He didn’t say a word as he turned from her, walked into the back bedroom and start grabbing his shit, throwing it into a backpack he’d found in the closet.

“Are you leaving me?”

Her voice came from the doorway, and when he turned to look at her, the sadness on her face nearly brought him to his knees. Instead he continued to pack up his bag, grabbing necessities he couldn’t get from main house. “No. Of course not. But I’m staying in the cabin tonight.”

She begged, “Cassian, please-.”

“I can’t stay here tonight,” he said, voice breaking. “I’m going to keep saying things I’m going to regret. And I’m-.” He closed his eyes, fighting the moisture he felt threatening to spill over again. He couldn’t stop the break in his voice. “I’m so fucking hurt, Nesta. You, of all people, you lied to me. I need time to myself, to think.”

He ignored her protests, ignored her tears as he hauled the bag over his shoulder and left, hurrying past Elain and Feyre, who had been waiting on the porch, no doubt hearing every word he’d said. He strode into the cabin and threw the bag down before he started jogging down the path that led to the stables. Behind the stables was an old shed, which he pushed open with his shoulder.

His wood working supplies and a heap of wood laid just inside. He used to do it more, his wood working, before Isaac died, when he’d had more time. He’d sold quite a bit of the furniture he’d made through the years, leaving him with one hell of a savings.

He loved it.

And he was good at it.

And it took his mind off things.

And right now, there was only one thing on his mind.

He worked throughout the night, taking his aggression out on the wood, hacking and chipping and carving and sawing.

He didn’t even know what he was making until it took form in front of him. He just let the wood find itself in his skilled hands.

When the sun was breaking over the trees, he walked back to the cabin, carrying the piece in his arms. He was surprised to find Beau dozing on the front porch, locked out. “What are you doing out here, bud?” He asked, leaning down to scratch behind his soft ears. Beau whined at the door.

He opened the door and immediately knew why Beau had been forgotten outside.

Nesta was asleep on his couch, one of his team roping hoodies swallowing her. He softly closed the door and walked around the room, setting the piece on the wooden coffee table with a thud.

Nesta’s eyes opened and she blinked a few times, before her eyes focused on Cassian.

And then on the small, wooden cradle he’d set down on the table.

Nesta’s eyes slowly trailed up to Cassian’s as she brought her knees up to her chest. “What is this?”

“A bassinet,” Cassian said, his voice low, “and an apology.”

Nesta slowly reached out her fingers to brush along the smooth surface. It was flawless. Her lips parted as she took a deep breath.

“I’m not going to pretend I’m not pissed, Nesta,” he continued, his hands in his pockets, “but I didn’t mean the things I said. I was drunk and I was mad, but I was wrong to say the things that I did.”

She nodded, subtly, still staring at the cradle. Her eyes lined with silver. “It’s beautiful, Cassian.”

She still wouldn’t look at him.

His jaw tightened. He hated making her cry, but this wasn’t a conversation that they could sweep under the rug. He sat down next to her, not quite touching her, but also not far away.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” He asked, voice quiet.

He would keep his temper in check, he had no choice not to.

She just continued to brush her finger along the smooth, curved edge. “Where did you get this?”

“I made it.” There was no bragging, no pride.

“You…made it?” Her voice was incredulous. “How?”

He stood and held it out his hand to her. “I’ll show you.”

He lead her down the path, past the stables and to the workshop. He shoved the door aside and Nesta’s eyes didn’t know where to look first. “Cass…”

“Nesta, please.” His voice broke again. She turned to look at him, leaning against the open door frame, seeing the man in front of her, the man she loved, more broken than he’d ever been. His eyes were lined with silver. “Is there something you need to tell me?”

Nesta’s shoulders sagged as she looked away from him, eyes drifting around his little workshop. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Tomas in Paris. No one knew, because… because I was ashamed of it.”

Her words were near silent, but they filled the little shed. Cassian said nothing, and she didn’t dare look at him again as she went on. “I should have told you. And I’m sorry you had to hear about it from him. But you know, now, Cass. All of it, all my secrets. I continuously went back to a shitty, mentally abusive relationship because that’s what I thought I deserved for so long.”

Cassian couldn’t help the tear that fell from his eye. He blamed it on the fact that he’d gotten drunk and stayed up all night, that he was too old for that shit, but he knew that wasn’t why.

“I have always feared how much you love me,” she whispered. “Since the moment I met you… You’ve been so passionate, so genuine, and I didn’t know how to handle that. Then I learned that you were the one that beat up Tomas for cheating on me… I knew I shouldn’t have gone back to him, Cass, knew I shouldn't have taken him back when he showed up in Paris, but I was weak. And I didn’t care, you know? I didn’t care if I got into a relationship that wasn’t…ideal. I stayed with him because I deserved it after all I’d done throughout the years. My family didn’t talk to me. I pushed everyone away, for the most part. But Tom? He was my only consistency. After he left in Paris, though, I was done. I was content on being alone. And I always feared him, a little bit, even before I knew I had real reason to. He’s a cruel man, and I have had nothing to do with him for years.” She turned to meet him, then, her pale cheeks red and blotchy. “This baby is yours, and yours alone. Half you, half me. Tomas is dead to me, Cass. He haunts my dreams and plagues my memories, but he is not a part of my life or my future.”

Cassian didn’t speak. Nesta knew he was processing, knew he hadn’t ignored her confession, that he was turning it over and over in his head. So instead of interrupting him, instead of distracting him, she began to walk through his shop. There were things of every shape and size, from a towering wardrobe to the tiniest, most detailed figurines. She saw chairs, and platforms, pallets and easels. There were different tools used to shape and sand and manipulate the wood into whatever shape he wanted.

Her fingers were skimming across the surface of an unfinished kitchen table with thick, rustic legs, when Cassian’s voice came from right behind her. “You two are the most important things in my life.” She turned expecting to find him by the door, but he was in the heart of the workshop with her. “I said some shit that I didn’t mean, and I’m sorry.” He tucked some of her loose hair behind her ear. “I was hurt and drunk and confused and…” He sighed. “I’m sorry, Nesta. I love you and I’m so, so sorry.”

“I know,” she breathed, reaching up to cup his face in her hands. “I am, too.”

He leaned down and kissed her, softly, her arms wrapping around his neck as he did so.

“I promise to be truthful,” Nesta said, running her hands down his broad arms. “Always. Every day.” Her fingers stopped and grazed the cut on his arm, just above his elbow.

Cassian chuckled, surprising her. She looked up to meet his gaze, his tired eyes lit with amusement.

“I fell down my porch stairs yesterday,” Cassian mumbled.

Nesta, eyes still misty, broke out in a grin. “Your feet are too big to walk on when you’re drunk.”

“You know what they say about big feet,” Cassian said, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“They come with a cocky attitude?” Nesta asked, her arms resuming their position, hands clasped behind his neck.

Cassian laughed, breathlessly. “Close enough.”

He lifted her up against him, taking a few steps back until he was setting her on an empty spot on his workshop table. His rough hands ran down her thighs as he kissed her again, his teeth tugging gently on her bottom lip.

“I have to go make breakfast for the guests,” she said, quietly, not wanting to ruin the moment, but knowing her duties.

“What time?” he asked.

“Eight,” she said, quietly.

Cassian pulled his nearly-dead phone out of his pocket before shoving it right back in, his lips finding her neck. “That’s an hour from now.”

She laughed, but leaned her head back, giving him better access. Even then, she said, breathlessly, “One more day. Doctor’s orders.”

His hand wove into her hair, tilting her head down. He said, “Fuck the doctor’s orders,” and kissed her, hard, pulling her body against his.

Her arms tightened around his neck.

The hand that wasn’t tugging on Nesta’s hair lifted the hem of his sweatshirt she wore. His fingers skimmed along her back, every pass going lower and lower...

She wasn’t wearing anything beneath the hoodie.

He pulled back, eyes wide in surprise.

Her lips were swollen from his kisses, but he could see her cheeks redden. “I might have been planning to apologize myself. Yours was just better.”

“I don’t know, yours looks pretty good…” he mumbled, his thumbs brushing over her peaked nipples as he palmed her breasts. “The fact that you’re wearing nothing but boots right now is, like, the center of every fantasy I’ve ever had.”

Nesta laughed quietly as she wrapped her legs around Cassians waist and pulled him into her. She tugged on his shirt until his chest was bare and her fingers were exploring him hungrily.

They skimmed over that red, angry scar, barely eliciting a reaction from him. Just a slight pull of air through his teeth.

“Does it still hurt?” The words were a whisper, the early morning quiet this far from the city.

He shook his head. “No. It’s actually pretty numb now, just sore sometimes.” He took her hand, gently pressing the palm down over his chest, rather than her fingers above. She could feel the steady beat beneath his skin. “This is the only thing I feel there now. And it’s yours.”

A slow smile captured her lips as she kissed him, passionately, her mind empty of all thoughts except for one: how much she loved this man before her. Even with all of his imperfections, his anger being at the top of that list. But she knew that he loved her just the same.

With hasty fingers, she undid the button that held up his jeans, fully aware of how hard he’d become.

It had been a while.

Too long.

The low groan that escaped his throat as she undid his zipper told her as much.

He reached between them, wanting to work her slowly, to have her falling apart on his hand, to…

“You’re already soaked, sweetheart,” he breathed.

As if it were explanation enough, she tossed her head back and said, “I need you, Cass.”

That was enough for him.

He surprised her though, not by roughly slamming his cock inside her, like she expected - and wanted, truthfully - but by dropping to his knees and feasting on her.

The moan that left her was louder than it should have been. Anyone in the area would have known precisely what they were doing. But neither of them could really be bothered by anything taking place outside of the small workshop.

Within those walls, it was just the two of them, and that was all that mattered.

His tongue swept between her folds, hungrily, and found her clit with desperate expertise. With her slender fingers tangling into his hair, Nesta’s body clenched, overwhelmed by the pleasure he was giving her.

If this was the way they made up, perhaps they should fight more often, Nesta thought. Over something small, miniscule, but she’d make a scene if this was the outcome.

She whispered his name into the silence, putting every emotion she could fathom into the syllables, that one word. Cassian gripped her ass, pulled her closer into his mouth. His fingers would surely leave marks, ones she gladly welcomed. Her legs wrapped around his neck, her boots hanging down his back, the thick, worn leather grazing his bare skin.

He worshipped her with his tongue, touching and biting and kissing until Nesta was a whimpering mess.

Her back arched and she groaned, the words rushing out of her on a heavy breath. “Cassian, gods, please, don’t stop.”

He obeyed, one of his thumbs rubbing slow, torturous circles on her clit while he fucked her with his tongue. He groaned as she shuddered, her legs like a vice around his head, his name like a reverent prayer, repeated over and over again.

She was on the edge, hardly managing to hold on as Cassian's mouth fell away, leaving her suddenly cold and bare, and just as she was about to protest, he was thrusting his cock into her, being anything but gentle. His pace was quick, steady, rough, his hands still holding onto her ass as his head fell back, his long, damn hair hanging loosely, brushing along his shoulders as his eyes rolled back into his head.

Nesta leaned back, trying to find something to hold onto as he shook her body with his, leaving her off balance. She found nothing but the hard table beneath her, but Cassian's grip tightened against her skin as he cursed, brutally, beautifully.

“Fuck, I’ve missed your body,” he said, panting heavily. He looked down, watching as she unraveled around him. Her breasts shook and Cassian couldn’t take his eyes off of them.

Nesta leaned back on her elbows, letting her head roll back. “Baby. Hold on, wait, wait,” she said, sitting up and gently pushing his chest.

He froze, loosening the grip on her ass, but holding her tighter to him. “What? Are you okay?”

She pushed him back and he shuffled back, jeans still around his legs. She hopped off the table and turned around, rising up on her toes and lifting her ass. She looked over her shoulder at him, wiggling slightly.

Cassian nearly came at the sight of her in those boots, bent over his work bench, everything on display for him.

He hesitated, but not because he didn’t want to, but because he wanted to drink the sight in before him for as long as possible.

But she was waiting.

And he wouldn’t make her wait.

He took her ass into his hands and positioned himself just right before pushing himself into her, slowly. A long, quiet moan fell from her body as her back arched and her ass lifted further, and Cassian reached around her, one hand finding her breast, the other rolling a slow, taunting finger over her clit as he found a slow, steady pace, thrusting his cock into her. He breathed in her scent as his teeth found the back of her neck, nipping at her skin.

“I love you so much,” Cassian breathed, resting his forehead between her shoulder blade. He pressed soft kisses up her spine until his mouth was by her ear. “Fuck, marry me, Nesta. Be my wife. Make me the happiest fucking man in the world.”

She gasped lightly and reached backwards, grabbing for his hip. He slowed and stopped, cock filling her as he paused with his hips flush to her ass, and she looked back at him, whispering, “What did you say?”

He brushed the loose hairs off her face and caressed her cheek softly. “Marry me, sweetheart. Not because of the baby, not because I think it’s the right thing to do. But because I love you. I will never love anyone the way I love you. It doesn’t have to be right now, it doesn’t even need to be soon after the baby comes, just…” He pressed another kiss to the middle of her back. “Say you’ll marry me, Nesta.”

Her breathing was ragged as she swayed her hips, a gentle movement that forced a moan to fall from his lips, muffled against the skin of her back.

“Of course I’ll marry you,” she breathed. “There’s nothing I want more. Soon, later, whenever. Yes, yes, yes.”

He kissed her neck, and down her spine as the breaths she took grew shaky, pulling out slowly as he did so. Then he slammed his hips into hers and she cried out his name as that pace resumed, his mind a mess of beautiful things and chaotic emotions that could only be brought on by the woman before him.

His future wife.

“I’m close,” he grunted, his fingers digging into her hips. “I want you to come with me, baby.” She whimpered, her head resting atop the table. “Let me feel that perfect pussy come on my cock.”

“Please, Cassian, please,” she panted. “I love you, I love you, I love you.”

Her knees began to quiver and Cass slipped his hand around, furiously rubbing her clit and it was only a matter of seconds before she was shattering around him, his name falling from her lips in a breathy moan.

Cassian’s heart was pounding inside of his chest as he spilled himself inside of her, his eyes falling shut as his head fell between her shoulder blades, his breath heavy, hot, against her skin as he moved in her, riding it out. For a moment, neither of them said a word, neither of them moved. The silence was filled with panting breaths and soft curses.

Nesta could feel his heart thrumming against her back, wild and alive.

Her knees still shook, ever-so-slightly, and when he pulled himself out, she had to bite her lip from whimpering from the absence of him. Cassian gently pushed on her hips so that she'd turn to face him, and when she did, his hands met her abdomen in a gentle, tender touch. Then he met her gaze, and his hazel eyes were soft, thoughtful, not at all like they had been only moments before - wild, reckless.

He kissed her, slowly, and whispered against her lips, “I love you.”

Her arms wrapped around him, burying her face in his chest. “I love you, too.”

They cleaned up in silence, Cassian helping her pull the oversized sweatshirt back over her head. They were walking back towards the cabin when Nesta yawned and said, “I need to go make breakfast.”

Cassian kissed her forehead and said, “Go sleep. I’ll handle basic breakfast and let the guests know that we’ll be unavailable today.”

She nodded and rose up on her toes, kissing him. He watched her walk down the path before he turned and made his way up to the house. As he got closer he took a deep breath and realized he was smelling bacon cooking.

He entered through the back door, finding Feyre and Elain feeding the guests. He blinked. “Uh, good morning.”

Feyre refused to look at him. Elain sighed and asked, “Did you two make up?”

He looked at the clock above the stove. “Just spent the last hour and a half doing just that, yeah.”

“Gross,” Feyre mumbled, but she shot Cassian a smirk and he knew that he’d been forgiven.

Yesterday would not be forgotten. No, it was a very important moment in the story of who they were, but it was a day that would be treated as a lesson.

It was also the day that Nesta agreed to be his wife. But they didn’t need to know that yet.

#thesharatag #sharacollab #collab #theranchnessian #acotar #fanfic #mocern au #ranch au

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gumnut-logic · 3 years

Photo

He waited until they made it home, the cockpit of Two stinking of wildfire smoke despite her filtration systems. No doubt it was leeching off their uniforms and it sunk into everything.

Throughout the rest of the mission, Gordon had kept an eye on his brother. He knew he would hide a missing leg if he could and if he wasn’t entirely focussed on watching out for Virgil, it could have been easily missed. the subtle flinches, the shortened breaths, the way he didn’t turn fully to join in the tired discussion on the way home.

After it happened, first chance he got, Gordon commed John to give him the lowdown on Virgil’s condition and begged his big brother not to notify his eldest brother.

“Gordon, Scott needs to know.”

“Not yet, please, John. Scott is under enough stress, let me handle this one.”

The silence at the other end of the comline was enough to give Gordon hope as he galloped the pod towards the old dam wall.

“It’s a question of safety and whether he is fit to fly. His respiration and heart rates are up. He’s obviously in some pain. His blood pressure is steady and there is no sign of bleeding...yet. This could endanger his life.”

Gordon swallowed. He knew what Scott would do if he found out. “Keep an eye on him, then. Just don’t tell Scott. He doesn’t need to worry.” He didn’t need to worry about Virgil telling Scott anything. The man rarely admitted to injury unless he had to. “You monitor him from up there. I’ll co-pilot home.”

“Scott will not be happy if he finds out.”

“You let me worry about that. I owe Virg this.”

“You’re scared Scott won’t let him launch with us.”

Of course he was. “We can’t launch without him, John. I’ll look after him, I promise.”

His space bro had grumbled some more, but eventually let it slide with some dire threats if Virgil’s health deteriorated.

A few words to Alan and the incident was secure for the moment.

Of course, Virgil then picked the damn crablogger off the forest floor. Having seen him move an entire tanker, something that weighed so much more than the old logging machine, it seemed a small thing, yet the tanker had required everything Two could put into her rear thrusters. The crablogger was relying on Two’s VTOL which, while strong, had nowhere near the shove of those rockets sticking out her tail.

Two struggled and Virgil with her. John pinged Gordon twice, concerned about Virgil’s blood pressure and the strain he was under. If Gordon was honest, his own blood pressure skyrocketed at the news, but he hung on. Don’t tell Scott.

So it was with some relief when Two picked up her pod and Gordon was finally able to re-board the green behemoth and check on her pilot himself.

Virgil’s hands were steady on the yoke as they turned for home, but he was pale and his breathing faster than it should be. He looked exhausted.

“Hey, Virg, want me to take over? This was a rough one.”

The raised eyebrow glare he received in answer was a very clear negative.

Stubborn idiot.

So it wasn’t until Two finally settled on her turntable and wound down to silence, that Gordon was able to take his bull-headed brother by the horns.

He waited that extra moment for Alan to skedaddle out of the cockpit and start working on the module reset, before tackling Virgil head on.

“So are they broken, cracked or just bruised?”

Virgil’s head turned on his neck so fast, Gordon was surprised he didn’t hear it snap. “What?”

“Virg, I’m not an idiot. I’m the one who shot you with the magnetic grapple. I saw what it did to you.”

His brother closed his eyes. “Don’t tell Scott.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it. Even pinged Johnny to stop him from following procedure.”

“He knows?”

“Of course, he does. Your suit screamed at him.”

“But Scott doesn’t?”

“Not from me, Alan or from Johnny.”

“Oh, thank god.” Virgil wilted where he sat, head falling into his hands with a groan.

Gordon almost commed Scott right in that moment. It always hurt to see a brother hurt, but the bigger the brother the scarier it was and Virgil was one of the biggest. He swallowed and took it on. “Okay, we gotta get you checked out.”

A ragged breath. “I don’t think it is too bad.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” He climbed out of the co-pilot’s chair and offered his brother a hand. “C’mon, Virg.”

Virgil pushed his chair back and with the upmost care, leveraged himself out of it.

A wince and a couple of words under the man’s breath and they made their way to the infirmary.

Alan was waiting there for them.

“Alan!” Gordon hissed at his brother. “You’re supposed to be covering for us with the module.”

“I just want to see if Virgil is okay.” His little brother’s blue eyes were wide with worry. “I saw what happened, too.”

Virgil sighed. “I’m okay, Allie, I promise.”

“But what if you can’t come with us?”

Virgil straightened and strode over to Alan, his two big hands landing on those much smaller shoulders. “Nothing is stopping me from going to get Dad. I’m not staying behind.”

Gordon swallowed behind him, knowing that if push came to shove, it would be him that burst that bubble. God, please let Virgil be okay.

“C’mon, Virg. Strip and up on the bed. Alan, go be the distraction I told you to be.”

Alan’s lips thinned and he glared a little, but it was more worry and sad than anger. “You let me know as soon as you can.”

“I will, just go! Scott will be back soon and if that module is still sitting there in that condition, he’ll start asking questions we can’t answer. I’ll be down to help as soon as possible.”

“Okay, okay, I’m going.” His hand brushed over Virgil’s arm and squeezed gently as he walked past. He didn’t say anything, but the intent was obvious.

Virgil’s eyes followed him. “Thanks, Allie.”

A small smile and he was gone.

“Strip, Virg, we gotta get this done before Scott gets back.”

-o-o-o-

Virgil had a lump in his throat. He was caught between what was right and what he wanted.

He shed his clothes down to his undershorts, noting every movement, every spark of pain.

The magnetic grapple had caught him side on, flipping him into a mid-air roll and flinging him across the ground. The exo-suit took most of the impact, but his body strained against the padding that could only take so much.

As he climbed up on the bed, every damned bruise on his body complained.

“Shit, Virg.”

He straightened on the edge of the bed and looked down at himself. Yeah, it felt pretty much like that.

His right arm had some serious complaints about its treatment as the impact point. Again, the exo-suit claw had taken the brunt of the force, or it would have been likely he’d be missing said arm, but the bruising was blatant, mottling an outline of the suit’s contact points. His shoulder wasn’t happy at the wrench it had received either.

But none of that compared to where the arm of the exo-suit had collided with his torso and hip. The padding was there, but as a lower point of stress on usual use, it was thinner and his ribs had taken a beating.

He was reminded with every breath.

“Lie down and let the scanner tell us what the damage is.” Gordon’s expression was ever so worried.

Lying down hurt. Gordon helped him get horizontal.

Virgil let the breath from his body escape and relaxed ever so slowly into the mattress. “Ow.”

“No kidding.”

Gordon hit the sensors and a holographic version of Virgil’s innards appeared above him.

A moment as Gordon studied the readouts.

Virgil held his breath.

“Oh, thank god.” Gordon wilted beside the bed. “You tough bastard. Lots of bruising, but nothing broken.” A frown. “No wait.” Virgil sucked in another breath. “A crack. You’ve cracked a single rib.” An exhausted sigh. “Hell, Virg, you’re black and blue, but mostly in one piece. It’s a damned miracle.”

Virgil closed his eyes in relief.

And his exhausted body took the opportunity for what it was and attempted to drag him under.

“Hey, don’t fall asleep here. Only a few more minutes. Just need to make sure I double check everything.” His aquanaut brother played the medbed’s controls to run a variety of scans. “You’re going to need pain relief.”

“I’ll manage.”

“Manage to hide this from Scott? You know him. He’ll freak.”

“I’ve had worse.”

Those brown eyes looked down at him in concern. “Virgil, we’re going into space. You know as much as I that we will be out of our comfort zone.”

“I can handle space.” A frown. “Are you okay?”

A glare. “Of course, I’m okay. I’m just saying that it is space bro territory, not ours. Both of us will be outside our specialisation. That in itself will require extra thought on a daily basis. Not to mention that this is about Dad. The next few days are going to be anything but restful. With these injuries on top of it all and the need to keep them from Scott...there is no shame in the need for pain management.”

“I cannot face this fogged out of my brain on pain pills.” He pushed himself up into a sitting position, his legs sliding off the side of the bed.

Ow, god damnit, ow!

Gordon grabbed him, helping him up. The holograms blinked out.

“At least take some paracetamol. It won’t mess with your head.”

He sighed and everything hurt. “Fine. Give me the damned pills.”

It was a sign, obviously, that Virgil didn’t get up and get them himself. The next few days were going to suck big time.

Gordon dug through the cabinet, came back with a box of pills and handed them to Virgil. “Be kind to yourself, please.”

Virgil sighed, taking the box with resignation. “Thanks, Gordy.”

An arm wrapped gently around his shoulders and he found himself subject to a Gordon hug. “Sorry I had to shoot you.”

Virgil let his head drop gently against Gordon’s. “Had to be done. Thank you.”

“John, Alan and I will be keeping an eye on you.”

“I figured.”

“Look after yourself. I don’t want to have to tell Scott.”

“Neither do I.” Hell, it wasn’t just about whether he would be allowed to go on the mission. The thought of adding injury to the worry Scott already had... “I’ll do my best.”

“Your best is pretty damned good.”

Virgil smiled just a little. “Family trait.”

Gordon snorted and pulled away gently. “Get your clothes on before eagle-eye gets home. Cover those bruises up. Look after that rib.”

“Thanks, Gordy.”

“Anytime. I’ve got to go cover for you with Alan. Go hide in your room and let the Terrible Two tackle our authority figure.”

“Don’t do anything stupid.” Okay, so technically he was used to being part of that authority.

Gordon grinned. “Trust me, Virg.”

Flat glare. “Yeah, sure.”

“You wound me.” A mock hand to his chest. “And after I shot you to save you. This is the gratitude I get.”

He ducked out the door before the pillow could hit him.

-o-o-o-

Whatever the Terrible Two did, it worked. Scott returned after taking the rescue scouts home and no doubt getting caught up in reminiscing about his own days as the leader of their pack. Scott never did anything by halves and his career as a rescue scout was a prime example of starting at the bottom and taking out the top by conquering it. The man was a hard act to follow and Virgil was well experienced in that following thing.

It was a good thing, though. His big brother came back happy for the first time in ages. Scott was sentimental to some extent. He liked to look back.

Looking back at their father was fast becoming looking forward.

Virgil crawled out of bed for the debrief. He kept up the facade of happy and healthy despite the looks three of his brothers managed to throw him on a semi-regular basis.

He snuck out and went to bed early, claiming he had a project he was working on. The next morning, he wondered how the hell he was going to do this.

He could barely move.

He was shirtless, on his belly and everything just hurt.

Hell, damn, how?

“Lie still, Virgil.” Gordon’s voice was quiet.

“Gordy?” His voice was morning rough and muffled by his pillow.

“Stiff as a board?”

“Ow, yeah.”

“I can help with that. Give me a second.”

“What?”

But then something wonderfully warm touched his back. It was moist and smooth and god, it gently rubbed out the stiffness.

Virgil groaned into his pillow.

Gordon snorted. “I finally get to return the favour for all those post swim meet rubdowns you so kindly did for me.”

Another groan. It hurt, but god, the relief...

Gordon worked gently over his back and arm, some fragrant cream allowing his hands to slide smoothly across his skin.

“How does that feel?”

A grunt.

Another snort. “Don’t bother going back to sleep, Brains has gone over Two and will be reporting his findings in the lounge in half an hour.”

Shit.

Virgil flung himself out of bed and everything moved.

Including the room.

Gordon grabbed him. “Hey, slow down, give yourself a moment.”

He scrunched his eyes closed. Breathing still hurt like hell. Maybe he could hide in his studio for most of the day and curl up on the couch there.

“Here.” He opened his eyes to find Gordon offering him a couple of pills and a glass of water. “It’s only paracetamol, I promise.”

At this point he was almost willing to try the harder drugs. Wordlessly he took the glass and the pills and threw them down his throat.

“Thank you, Gordon.”

“Not a problem.” But his brother’s eyes were assessing him. “You sure you can do this?”

A single nod. “I have to.”

A hand landed on his shoulder and squeezed gently. “I want to check you out again today. Alan is going to drag Scott out to the sensor bank on the far side of the Island at two o’clock. You meet me in the infirmary?”

Another single nod.

“Grab yourself a shower and I’ll have some breakfast ready for you downstairs. If you can make it past Grandma, Scott should be a breeze.”

Virgil groaned.

“Yeah, well, that’s the deal. Hopefully one day we will be able to look back and share this story with a laugh, but right now, you’ve got to get through this without endangering yourself or anyone else.”

“Thanks, Gordy.”

“You’ve already said that. Just remember this next time Scott comes to you with blue hair looking for me, yeah?” And his goofy little brother grinned at him.

Oh, right, he might be paying for this forever.

A small smile.

It was worth it.

-o-o-o-

Half an hour later when the good news that Thunderbird Two had survived the mission better than he had, came through, he definitely was elated enough to throw himself off the couch and offer Brains another hug.

But he was ever so glad when the man refused it.

They were going after Dad.

Finally.

The determination in his big brother’s eyes was a fire that burned within them all.

And together they could do this.

-o-o-o-

Read the sequel.

#thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds fanfiction #thunderbirds #Virgil Tracy #Gordon Tracy #Alan Tracy #episode tag #firebreak #nuttyfic reblog

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frostedfaves · 4 years

Text

Tactical Village

Pairing: Jake Peralta x fem!reader

Summary: Y/N gets a little jealous on Tactical Village Day. Rewrite of 1x19.

Word Count: 1.7k

Warnings: mentions of gun use

Tactical Village Day. A national holiday at the nine-nine, and everyone had a different reason for celebrating. Rosa was out for blood, simply because it was in her nature to be. Terry had the stress of raising twins locked, loaded and ready to be released. Amy wanted to prove her skill level to the captain and check out the new handguns (but good luck getting her to admit her obsession with 'finger feel'). Jake wanted "Coolest Kill" and a children's karate trophy. Truth be told, all I wanted this year was to want Jake less.

It's exhausting being friends with the person you're hiding your feelings from, even more so when his best friend Charles thinks everyone is in love with Jake and overthinks all of our interactions. I'd fully planned to spend the day perfecting my tactical skills while listening to Jake explain the extensive backstory of his character as a friend. Then fate decided to throw a monkey wrench into that plan, and unfortunately for me, she was attractive.

"I'm so sorry," Jake awkwardly laughed, letting go of her arms after saving her from falling. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine! I...wait, Peralta? Jake Peralta, hi! How have you been?" I couldn't fight the rolling of my eyes as she flipped her hair over her shoulder with a tilt of her head, grinning.

"I've been good, yeah!" He noticed her eyes flicker over to me and turned to introduce me. "Y/N, this is Nikki Becker. Nikki, this is Y/N L/N, my friend and fellow detective from the nine-nine."

"Pleased to meet you, Y/N." She shook my hand lightly before practically tossing it aside, never once taking her eyes off Jake. "I'm so glad we found each other again! We were best friends in the academy."

I glared at her as my arms found their way across my chest, locking together. "I thought Rosa was your academy BFF, Jake—"

"People can have more than one best friend," she quickly cut in, finally looking at me with a sickly sweet smile and eyes that could kill if they'd given us real bullets.

"Sure." I turned and walked over to where Rosa stood, smirking as I approached her. "Don't say anything," I quickly mumbled as I huffed out a frustrated breath and she chuckled.

"Why not? You were clearly winning."

"What?" I saw her eyes trained on something else and followed them to see Jake joining us.

"Hey, Y/N! Ready to check out those handguns now?" Before I could respond, we were also joined by Nikki.

"Jakey! They have this new gun that attacks through sound that's supposed to be really accurate. Come check it out with me!" she insisted, tugging on his arm as he looked to me with a raised eyebrow.

"It's fine, I'll go with Rosa." I held a smile as he finally let her drag him away until they were completely out of my sight, turning to Rosa with a sigh. "Let's not even talk about it. I don't want Charles to hear."

"He's gone to get a 'cafe con leche', so we've got about ten minutes. But if you really don't wanna talk about it we can draw some hair on the targets, grab some brand new weapons, and pretend we're damaging the vocal chords that produce that stupid voice of hers." I laughed and followed her outside.

The rest of our field testing and target practicing time went by smoothly...for Nikki, at least. She spent most of the time latched onto Jake like a long-haired leech while I spent my time shooting targets until they were covered with thick layers of paint, constantly running out of bullets every time I heard her vomit inducing giggle.

"Dude, are you alright?" Amy questioned when I slammed down an empty gun and reached for another one.

"Perfectly fine, Ames," I replied without looking at her as I shot five straight bullets into the poor target's head.

"Okay, I think you've had enough practice." She turned the safety on and took the gun from my hands, setting it back on the table I got it from. "What's going on with you?"

I parted my lips to answer her, quickly closing them again and turning to glare at giggly Nikki and oblivious Jake as he showed her how to handle a new assault rifle. Feeling sick to my stomach, I faced Amy again and tried hard to paint on a smile that she wasn't buying.

"Why don't you just save his and what's-her-face's time and tell him how you feel?"

I sputtered out a laugh. "Tell him how I—what? You're hilarious. No, I've decided to take a page from Rosa's book. Wait until I'm on my deathbed and then tell him how I feel...or felt. I don't know who I'm gonna like by then. Point is I can't get rejected when I'm dead."

"Y/N, that's ridiculous! You're really going to risk what could be the start of a great relationship? You and Jake talk about everything."

"This is different. There's a very real possibility that telling him how I feel could ruin the whole friendship and I'm just not ready for that, okay?"

She sighed. "Alright, I get it. But at least try to act like you're not imagining that girl's face every time you shoot a weapon." She gave me a quick pat on the shoulder and moved over a bit to work on her own target.

"No promises," I told her as I picked up the gun she took from me earlier.

We were now in our training simulation. Sneaky little Amy insisted that she should do perimeter security with Rosa and Charles because she thinks we would "kill at being the assault team, no pun intended". I think it was just her way of saying "tell Jake how you feel".

Luckily Jake was too involved with perfecting Rex Buckingham in all of his signature move and catchphrase glory to give me a chance to bring up any kind of feelings to him. I was especially thankful I had my back to him when he told me some little fact Nikki told him earlier, because I simply couldn't hide my grimace at the mere mention of her name.

We'd just approached the end of the hallway when shots rang out before I could react. I eyed the paint in my hair and on the wall by my head, frozen in place as Jake took the perp down.

"No one shoots a mate when Rex is around," he proudly stated in his accent with a grin, instantly letting it fall when he turned to me. "Hey, are you okay?"

I closed my eyes tightly before opening them and meeting his. "Okay, so I was going to save this for my deathbed someday but apparently I can die randomly in a hallway. So here goes. I like you. I have for a really long time and it sucks being friends with you and not being able to say anything because I don't want to ruin what we already have. But it sucks even more not being able to have more with you and definitely watching you and clingy Nikki together sucked the most."

He looked at me for a second with an unreadable expression, about to respond just as he was cut off by our radios.

"Peralta, L/N. Hostages in room 409, armed suspects."

"We'll talk later," he assured me with a small smile as he took off down the hall, and I couldn't tell if I should be worried or relieved.

The excitement of a perfect run and setting the course record along with the odd situation of Jake using Scully's move kept the squad occupied all the way to Shaw's. I hadn't had a moment alone with him since my big hallway confession and I only grew more anxious with time.

"Three shots of Jack Daniels, please." I kept my eyes on the liquor bottles as I waited for the bartender to come back, aware of Amy coming to sit next to me.

"Celebrating or drowning your problems?" she joked and I simply rolled my eyes at her. "Okay I'm sorry for setting you up like that but I just didn't want to see you struggle so much."

"Well good news for you. I don't think I'll be able to struggle anymore if Jake never talks to me ever again. I've officially scared him off."

"I promise you haven't." I froze in place again as he slid onto the stool on my left. "Hey Santiago, can we get a moment alone?" He waited until Amy disappeared before speaking again. "About what you said earlier—"

"Jake, it's okay. Whether you wanna keep being friends with me or if knowing I like you is too much to handle, it's okay. Really. Whatever you decide, I'll find some way to—"

Warm lips landed on mine and I closed my eyes instantly. I waited until his arms wrapped around my waist and found a place to rest my hands on, wanting to confirm that I wasn't imagining a second of this. My eyes fell open again when he pulled away, a little wider this time because I was still slightly doubting what this means.

"I know that probably wasn't the clearest answer so I'll say this. I'm sorry that I let Nikki ruin what was supposed to be a fun time for us, but I can't say I regret it because she helped me find out something I was too scared to ask you on my own." He smiled and pushed his fingers through my left hand. "I'm also really glad you didn't wait till your deathbed to tell me because I would prefer to start being your boyfriend now."

I pulled my hand away and lightly shoved his shoulder. "Take me on a date first, clingy." I grinned and he laughed, quickly handing over some cash to the bartender and holding up one of the shots.

"To the start of something more."

I tapped my glass to his. "To something more."

"To something more," Charles added, grabbing the third shot and tapping it to ours. He downed the drink and pulled us both into a hug before we could react. "I can't wait to babysit your children."

Jake and I made eye contact and nodded, ducking out of the hug simultaneously and locking hands as we walked off. When we were far enough away, we toasted again and drank, staring at each other with possibilities of the future reflecting in our eyes.

#queue #jake peralta #jake peralta x reader #jake peralta x fem!reader #jake peralta imagine #brooklyn nine nine #brooklyn 99 #brooklyn nine nine imagine #brooklyn nine nine x reader #b99 fic #b99 imagine #b99 x reader #b99 fanfic

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astringofmadhousefloozies · 3 years

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Ghost Wedding: The Remix

So, uh, here’s the first actual fanfic I’ve written, and the first full length piece I’ve written in literal years. I wrote it for my own amusement, after weeks of eating up various bits of TWST lore and scenes and going “But, how would the whole Ghost marriage story have gone with a Yuu who was more like me a goth bisexual disaster?

What follows is a series of vignnetes, starring a Yuu who’s the only girl in NRC, with deeply questionable taste, told in the second person. Please let me know if you enjoyed it, I crave positive feedback and like when other people enjoy the things I like.

Contend warnings for blood, body horror, emeto, coarse language and pretentious word choices.

You've been here a while. En-Arr-See wasn't precisely a safe place, what with your dorm being a condemned hellpit of tetanus and black mold, and powerful magicians having mutagenic psychotic breaks only curable by kicking their ass so hard it flies out their mouth. But certainly, it wasn't boring, and you'd made friends. You had your scrappy ginger Ace in the hole; your serious mamas-boy Deuce; your funny little not-a-cat Grim. Hell, you even have your Horned Boy, he of the poison-coloured eyes that never seem to leave your face when you talk about fun things like books and music and the moral imperative of dissolving the monarchy. And, you were on speaking terms with a good chunk of others. So, when your favourite little robot came up to Crowley, yelling something about ghosts kidnapping his brother, you took his hand and said, "Ortho, show me what's going on." After all, you won't let anything happen to Idia. You have plans for him yet.

~*~*~*~

Some beauties might launch a thousand ships, and in your (objectively correct) opinion, while Idia's beauty wouldn't lead to a ten year siege of Troy, he'd certainly convince everyone attending Whitby Goth Weekend to haul off into the sea with a beat of his lashes. The first time you'd seen him, you'd simply stared in slack-jawed awe. He was luminescent; even leaving behind the fiery hair that flashed and swelled behind him, his eyes were a bright clear amber, and his skin translucent, with his own blue veins serving as the detailing in the marble. Add in the deeply circled eyes and the bluish discolouration of the lips, and the figure he presented was arresting, astounding, more beautiful and unreal than anything you'd conjured up after staying up all night reading ghost stories. "Magnificent," you'd said to yourself, and if your friends gave you a strange look, well, fuck 'em. They have no sense of beauty or taste.

Unfortunately, the intensity of your gaze proved too much for him, and he'd fled. You'd had no time to pursue the object of your infatuation either, class would soon begin, and Grim was yelling. Later, then. There's all the time in the world to ask after the fine young man with the lamplight eyes.

~*~*~*~ "Oh no," you said when Ortho showed you the video. "She's really hot."

Grim gawked and Crowley raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you take from this?"

"You're the one with an all-boys school. What's a girl like me to do when a pretty girl pops up?"

"She's a ghost, Yuu."

"That's the best part."

"My brother-"

"I'll help you, dear." You set a hand on Ortho's shoulder. "He must be so frightened, right? I'll do what you need."

Before anyone could say anything else, a racket started up outside, and things got a little busy.

~*~*~*~ "Do you mind if I sit?"

Idia looked up at you. starting at the intrusion. His face was awash in blue from the conjured screens around him, his lips gone black. "...Why?"

"Tables are full. I'd rather not eat standing." He didn't explicitly say no, so you settled across the table, a few chairs down. He made a fascinating tableau as you picked at your lunch, flicking through and typing at the screen. Lines of code, schematics for all sorts of tech, occasional comics all flit across the pane of light in a million shades of blue. Until...

"Could you pretend I'm a bug?"

You squinted. "What." What the actual hell did he mean by that.

"Pretend I'm not here. I'm beneath notice."

You stop for a moment and smile, faint enough that he can't see the devil in it. "You want me to treat you like an insect."

"Yes." Hard to see in the light, there was a small twitch by his temple, a barely perceptible shake in his long fingered hands.

"Alright." With that, you slide down the table to directly across from him, settle you chin in your hands, and stare at him unblinkingly.

"?!?!?" The squawk he made was undignified and deeply, deeply endearing. "What are you doing?"

"You asked me to treat you like an insect." You smile at him, full of mischief and good cheer. "So I'm looking at you very closely. I'm taking in every sweet action, and delighting that the day has conspired to put something so wonderful in front of me."

Oh, who would have thought that this blue boy could turn so pink! As he pulled his hood up, you chuckle and move back to your tray. "I'll let you be," you say, and did indeed, for the amount of time it took him to close up shop and flee back to the depths of Ignihyde. When you waved at him as he went by, he nearly tripped in his haste.

~*~*~*~ "Stop laughing."

The boys did not listen.

"May others show you the kindness you've shown Idia if you're in a bind."

"You're just mad because she's gonna kill your-"

"Grim? Shut the fuck up. Now; who's helping."

After a chorus of 'no's, you drag your fingers through your hair. "I hate all of you so fucking much right now... Ortho, your ideas?"

Ortho's idea was deeply enticing but Crowley would not have the school leveled, and thankfully, the two of them threatened and guilted the others into helping. You'd have to say thank you later, but god, then Crowley might think you actually liked him instead of just finding him funny, and who needed that in their life?

"Alright, so... A plan?"

~*~*~*~ As badly as he might've liked to have escaped, there was only one empty seat in the class, and it was by him. So, Idia threw his hood up, along with his headphones, and started blatantly ignoring you.

"Idia." Silence.

"Idia." A faint grunt and he turned away from you.

"Shroud," you intoned in the most sepulchral tone you could, setting you hand in his field of vision. He whipped his head at you, the fire in his eyes nothing compared to the changing colours on his head.

"WHAT."

You raise your hands in supplication, trying to still your racing heart. "I'm sorry dude. I wanted to ask where you got your screens?"

"My screens?" His eyes flicked back to his schoolwork, hovering in the air. "I made them myself."

Your face lit up in awe. "That's amazing dude, holy shit. How'd you do that? It's a damn miracle."

"Ah... well..." Two sides warred within him - pride that someone recognized his tech genius, and his deep seated anxiety that anyone trying to be nice was just fucking with him. Fortunately for both of you, pride won out. "It's certainly something complicated for a magicless normie like you to understand." He raised a questioning eyebrow. "Do you really want to hear?"

You fixed him with a level look. "Never call me that again. Now, start like I'm five and go from there."

He stared back at you, and you stared right back. "Indulge me, Idia."

He gave you a smile full of sharp, crooked teeth, and while you tried to still the palpitations the sight of them gave you, he started with very basic theory, and went from there.

~*~*~*~ "You are not going to seduce the ghost bride, Yuu."

"Why the hell not?"

"You're a girl?"

"You're kinda plain."

"You're fat."

"She's probably straight?"

You point in turn at Leona, Azul, Vil, and Kalim. "So?, no I'm plenty hot actually, get fucked, and... Okay, That is a good point. But Kal, you have no idea how many straight girls I've managed to kiss."

"I think you'd die, Shrimpie," Floyd said as he flopped heavily over your shoulders, giggling as you attempted to untangle yourself. "And you're short."

"Yeah, but you have no idea how hot I am when I'm actually try- Shut up, Vil - Like, I clean up so good you guys. I even made a suit a couple weeks ago -"

"That's convenient? Weirdly so?"

"I found suiting that wasn't moth eaten and decided to have fun, at least-" You finally escape from the noodly arms of Leech the Wild One. "Let me suit up and show you? I can be so sexy, you guys. Come on."

In answer to the confused silence, you took your keys out of your pocket and chucked them at Deuce's confused face. "Adeuce! Grim! It's on the vanity in my room!"

"But ghosts?"

"Say you're clearing out things so that we won't bother... No, actually just go the balcony way."

"You can't unlock the balcony from the outside without a lockpick, it only locks from the inside."

A moment of silence. "Lilia, what the fuck?"

He shrugged. "I moved everything two inches to the left once to see if you noticed."

"I wasn't imagining things?!?"

This'll take a moment to sort out, and the clock is ticking...

~*~*~*~ You truly liked the woods! Green and quiet. Full of things that crawled and scurried, little friends that squeaked and croaked and hissed. The occasional precious treasure of a small bone or edible mushroom. So, you were quite surprised when you found Idia, miserable, crouched beside a fallen log.

"... Skipping gym?" Going by the uniform, the most likely answer. "Or did you finally realize that outside doesn't always bite?"

He scowled at you, and you stifled a giggle when you realized that yes, he was actually covered in bug bites. "They should replace this with a mall."

"You hate malls. Too many people." You reached out a hand, and pulled him to his feet. Idly, you wondered if he'd let you try and fit your hands around his waist, but thought better of asking.

"Game stores are alright. No one bothers you in one, or in arcades. And." He stopped, as he brushed the dirt from his legs, before continuing in a mumble you only got the gist of.

"Me and Ortho will be your big, scary guard dogs?"

"... Who'll notice me with both of you?"

"Everyone." Because he's the most beautiful person in the room, and they'd be mad not to look. "Because you show up so rarely. It makes it all the more noticeable when you are out, so everyone pays attention." You held out a hand. "I'll take you out the back way so you don't get in trouble."

No dice. He held his hands in close. "I'll just follow."

"Alright. Why'd you go out this far in the woods with no map, anyways?"

"There's no cell service..."

"Clearly, we need to turn your blood into a wi-fi signal, instead of liquid sugar."

He huffed, but he did follow you, and was actually approaching a good mood once you escorted him through the Ramshackle gates.

~*~*~*~ "Hey, what did I miss?" It took entirely too long to get a single lock of hair to to a perfect insouciant flip over your forehead, even with the eternally stylish Sam's help.

"She's slapped everyone who went to propose, and when she does you're paralyzed for 500 years."

"Christ," You say as you adjust a pin on your lapel. "We have to get Idia back, he'll get what? A week before he gets the hand."

"She's so fussy!" yelled Grim. "You have to sing and have a dog and she hates poison flowers."

"Clearly, she has no taste." Honestly,you thought her taste was just fine, what with thinking Idia was the finest of the bunch. He was very princely, if your tastes ran to exquisite corpses with the personality of a neurotic goblin. "Who wouldn't want poison blossoms?" Tie? No tie? Tie? No tie? No tie. And unbutton. Leona wishes he had this chest.

"We know she has no taste because she chose Idia."

You chose to ignore that, and clapped. "Okay, Round Two!"

~*~*~*~ The truest tragedy of this school was that it was all boys. Not that boys were bad by any means, you certainly enjoyed them, but... girls. Tall girls! Short girls! Busty girls! Petite girls! Butch girls! Femme girls! Fat girls! Girls!

So many kinds of girls, and you, in all of your plump and handsome glory, were the only girl in an entire high school. Welcome to hell.

You accepted no gifts that came unvetted. You had friends ward the everloving bajeezus out of your dorm room. Grim was more than happy to test your food and drink for tampering, but it was exhausting. You at least knew that any food you ate at the Mostro Lounge was clear, but that was only because everyone was too damn scared of the eternally hovering Floyd to try anything while there.

So, you eat a lot of vending machine snacks.

You've been standing there for fifteen minutes, trying to figure out the best combo with your limited funds, when someone coughed behind you.

"??? Oh, hey Idia." You stepped aside while he shuffled up to the glass and peered in. "Anything to recommend? I got this." You waved your bill in the air.

He only looked at you a moment before looking back at the machine. "That won't get you much."

"Ah, don't I know it. But it's all I got."

He still wasn't looking directly at you, but a smile started to creep across his face. "Get your bag."

"Wha-" He was already tapping out a beat with the keypad, blue sparks flying from his fingertips, the machine starting to groan and shiver. With a final note, the snack machine gave a final heaving shudder - and every single snack fell to the bottom of the machine.

He was so proud as he smiled at you, reaching down and pulling a single bag of gummies from the spilled mess. "You first."

And, as you stuffed your schoolbag and pockets full of thieved goods, praising his genius, his cleverness, his skills, he just glowed.

~*~*~*~ "I guess you were ahead of the game, Yuu. She hates that no one's dressed up properly. And..."

"And? You raised an eyebrow at Ace.

"You do look stylish. But you need backup."

"Of course. You'll all rescue people while I distract her!”

"But what if she slaps you?"

"You'll step in if that happens. But we have to dress you all up."

"Did you makes spares?"

"No." Tragic, everyone would look so cute in summerweight green wool. "Let's ask Sam, he's got everything."

~*~*~*~ "Okay, Ortho, you see?" You held his back to your chest, and raised your hand in front of his face, palm away from him. As you wiggled your fingers, you could see movement on the back of your hand. "Those are tendons. Those, and the muscles, are what move the bones, make your hands move. If you put your fingers here," you say as you place his fingertips over the moving lines, "you should be able to feel it."

"I do! They go up and down. What's the popping?"

"That's my faulty joints, we'll cover those another day. Now," you flipped your hand over, and moved his fingers to your wrist. "You feel that?"

"That is your pulse! It's not as string as it should be."

"I'm not always in the best of health. So, Ortho. My hand moves by muscles and tendons when I think of it. My blood moves through my body, one beat at a time, and you can feel it. Right?"

"Right."

"You," you say, as you take Ortho's other hand. "Your hand moves by motors and servos, when you think about it. Electricity and magic moves through your body, in beats so fast we can't perceive it, and it's as measurable as my pulse."

"... Because I am a robot."

"Because you are a bit different. But we're both alive, we're both real, just in different ways." You turn to look at Ortho directly, and he looks back at you with yellow eyes that are actual, real lamps. "Don't let anyone ever say you're not real, or alive, or good enough, just because you're different."

And though you can't see it, you can feel Idia smiling from the corner of his room.

~*~*~*~ Alright. No more time for memories, only the here and now. You've got a heart full of love, a pocket full of ring, and a head full of stupid. You're as prepared as anyone else who went in. Start on your left foot, and...

"Hello? Excuse me?" You make a cursory knock at the doorframe before stepping in. "I heard there was a wedding."

The bride - Eliza - whirled on you, and stopped. She was even more of a vision in person, airy translucence and fine, sweet features currently arranged in confusion. "Ah- Yes! I'm getting married to my darling Prince Idia! Right away, so-"

Not if I have my way about it, you thought to yourself as you arranged yourself in a perfect bow, one hand behind your back. You pretended not to notice Idia trussed up with rope, but you filed the sight away for later. "How wonderful. I wish you only happiness. But it must wait."

Before she could get her hand ready, you straightened and fixed her with your best smile. "My dearest princess, I cannot let this happen until I dance with the most beautiful person in this room. It would be improper to do so with a newlywed, and I cannot know peace until I dance. Would you be so kind, my fair princess?"

She was still baffled. "Aren't you a girl?"

You keyed up the brightness. "I am, and I dance very well. Would you indulge me, my dear?"

You could see her considering it. "You... are rather princely. Can you lead?"

"Of course. May I?" Again with the bow, and to your delight, she returned with a flawless curtsy. Hand in hand, you began.

~*~*~*~ It was delightful, to dance with this silly ghost girl. Everywhere your bodies touched, from her hand in yours to what would have been a fine chest, but was instead a clean and elegant ribcage festooned with pearls, heat seeped away and left only a chill as cold as clay. Her footwork was flawless, considering she no longer had feet, and she was so easy to chat with. She asked you about your dog (none currently, but you'd love to have one, and there was Grim in the meantime), your singing, (little voice to speak of, but that was what vocal coaches were for), and why you wanted to dance with her (because when would the chance ever come again? Unless fairest Eliza considered her for forever and a day.)

"But what of dear Idia?" She'd almost looked towards where Idia no longer was, having been unknotted long ago, but you drew her back in before she could notice the chaos around her.

" 'Dear Idia', though as beautiful as the moon in the sky, has cold feet, my love. He's afraid of dying. But I? I'd cherish you for all of eternity." You leaned in closer. "I am not afraid of dying, beloved. To journey with you through realms beyond mortal reach. I can think of nothing more exciting than to cross the barrier to the other side, hand in hand with you. In the words of a fine sir from my home, 'to die by your side/the pleasure, the privilege is mine'. Please, please consider me, please..."

Here's how it should have gone: She said yes, and you put the ring on her finger, and all was well. But you'd awakened such a sweet hunger in her, she could not wait for propriety. Instead, she grasped your face and kissed you with the passion of five hundred years search, found.

~*~*~*~ It was so pleasant at first, that you couldn't help but return it. When had anyone ever kissed you with such passion? But quickly, the chill began to overtake you. It could have been bearable, but after that was pain. You started to shake, uncontrollably, as every nerve in your body was scraped away with a rusty blade, and as you weakly tried to push away, as blood began to flow from your eyes, your mouth, every pore and orifice, she still would not let go. All you could think was it hurts it hurts it hurts hurts hurts hurts hurts and, as you slipped to a grey place beyond where pain could touch you, you barely noticed the cacophony around you, or something hurtling towards the two of you from the corner of your eye.

Something blue.

~*~*~*~ When you finally woke up, through a drugged and painful haze, you couldn't tell where you were. When you jolted up, the pain of it sending you into a nauseated fit of blood-flecked coughing, a familiar yelp sounded, and you turned to see Idia, little the worse for wear.

"You're up, uh..." He fumbled something onto the table, behind his back. "I."

You just looked. At him, at the surroundings. A hospital bed, with gifts and flowers (most filched from the wedding venue, but someone had stuck Jade's poison blossom into a vase and set it in the far corner). Idia was the only one present, seeing as it was the middle of the night.

"Ortho's getting things you might need. I... I hate hospital scenes..."

"Hurt's over.” You tried to settle yourself more comfortably, failing miserably. “Here comes the comfort." You reached out a hand, as he looked anywhere in the room but you.

"Idia." Silence.

"Idia." More silence.

"Shroud." He hesitantly placed his hand in yours, tinting pink as you pulled the sleeve up. The sight of it made you gasp. His fine wrist, so small even you could put your fingers around it, was mottled with deep bruising, blacks and purples set so deep into the skin that there was crusted blood on the surface, despite being unbroken. It was so, deeply, incredibly...

Beautiful. It was all you could do, not to press your lips to his wrist and taste his pulse as it flitted under his skin. To clean the blood away with your own tongue and cover the marks that your hungry ghost princess had made with your own teeth. Not hers. Yours.

Really, no wonder you'd been so enchanted with Eliza. You're cut of the same cloth.

"It must hurt."

He jerked his hand away, making you both wince. "What the hell is wrong with you? They only reason you're not dead is everyone pouring so much healing magic into you that it exhausted almost everyone. I." You could see flickers and flashes of orange sparking along the full length of his hair. "I'm not worth dying for. Why?"

What do you tell him? That it was the right thing to do? That you wanted to prove that you could woo a pretty girl? That you didn't want him dead? That you were a possessive bitch that couldn't stand the idea of someone else having him, even if unwilling on his part? All were true, but what do you say?

It proved a moot point, as when you opened your mouth to say something, anything, something shifted within you, and the only thing Idia received was a gout of blood square in his face.

~*~*~*~ After you'd slept, you reached for your phone in the thin morning light. Your friends where texting well wishes and condolences, and explanations of what happened after you went down (It seemed Idia had tackled Eliza clean off of you, and after some chaos she ran off with her retainer, rending this entire day moot). Even more interestingly, you found a text from an unknown number:

- I'm still mad at you.

You huffed to yourself, and after a bit of thought, start to text back.

- Dude I'm so sorry about the uh. blood puke. - I'll pay for cleaning - Also you know, you could have just asked for my number a long time ago? - Like a normal person? - Who doesn't break into phones to steal said numbers while I was unconscious next to you, what the fuck dude - That's not what this is about though. - You've got every right to be mad - That whole day was traumatizing, and you didn't deserve any of it - I'd rather sort this out in person but if text is easier for you right now we can do that - One last thing though

You stopped, and thought Do I actually do this? and went what the hell.

- I still need that dance I went in to get from you

#twisted wonderland #twst fic #twisted wonderland fanfiction #ghost wedding #my writing

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jangmi-latte · 4 years

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❞𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞... ❝

➻ content: cute little hedgehogs and a pouty dorm leader!

➻ warnings: extra diabetes!

➻ comments: diamond and clover..good job..

➵ this has actually been in my fridge for quite a while now, might as well cook it. this was supposed to be my first meal but, i must admit i got lazy. well here you go! a baby riddle!

It was Saturday. Saturday morning, to be precise. The students could finally rest and calm down from the tons of requirements the teachers would always bombard them with. Except, Heartslabyul. The dormitory founded on the severity of the queen was not having the rest they wanted.

Especially Riddle.

The wailing redheaded boy was having a tantrum in Trey's arms, the taller male bouncing the younger as he waited for Cater with those tarts. Somehow, the strict dorm leader had turned into a toddler. The cause? A simple error during alchemy class.

Floyd has broke a vile of an unfinished potion which sent the liquid to fly everywhere. Mostly hitting Riddle at some point. Everyone was unaffected, yet Crewel was having doubts unto why there wasn't any outcome from the potion.

Until Trey went to Riddle's room, worrying since Riddle does not usual get up this late in the morning. Hence, seeing the naked little baby that now replaced the prefect's bed.

"Shhhh... It's okay,” soothed the obviously worried Trey.

He has taken care of his younger siblings before, surely this isn’t a hard task. He has gotten small clothes and dressed him up in a pajama onesie. Yet, he was wrong. Riddle isn’t calming down at all. They tried giving him toys–probably all came from Sam’s shop along with the clothes–yet he just threw them away. Ace made it worst by pinching the young boy’s cheeks and teasing him a lot. That’s how Trappola ended up kicked out from the dorm again. Deuce volunteered on alerting Professor Divus about what happened and he hasn’t come back yet.

Just luckily enough, Riddle’s magic hasn’t gone bonkers.

“Let’s head outside.” The vice prefect picked up a ball to keep Riddle distracted before heading outside to the Rose Maze. Students stared in either in awe, surprise, or just simply stared dumbfounded at the sight of Riddle. Yes, he was adorable indeed.

Upon arriving at the Rose Maze, little Riddle was placed on a blanket, that Trey had some students lay out for him, still whimpering and hiccuping from his small tantrum, “Agh...” Trey scratched the back of his head before sitting beside him. Riddle was looking around with those big teary eyes of him, as if he was getting accustomed to new surroundings. The taller male sighed and wiped the toddler’s wet cheeks, “What am I supposed to do now?” he mumbled to himself as he looked around the maze.

At least Riddle had calmed down now. All was heard from him were little hiccups, sniffles, and...giggling. Trey looked over and the sight made him smile and chuckle. A hedgehog has found its way to the blanket and Riddle finally found a small playmate. The pink hedgehog waddled around him while he clapped his hands and giggled loudly. He looked so happy. His small chubby hands carried the hedgehog, cooing and babbling to it like he was trying to say something.

Then a click of a camera was heard.

“Awwww!” Cater cooed as he gave Trey the box of tarts before crawling over to Riddle. This boy is WAY different from the Riddle they all knew. Cute, giggly, cuddly, you name it, that was this Riddle, “You–” Cater carried the young boy and placed him on his lap, took the hedgehog in the other as it squirmed, “are so cute! Though I do hope you don’t remember all of this. I don’t want my head chopped off,” chuckled the third year.

Riddle whined as his eyes stayed glued on the little creature on Cater’s palms. He made grabby hands while babbling, “Hedgie...!” he babbled and kicked his legs around. Cater’s lips formed into an ‘o’ before handing the hedgehog to the little kid, though still keeping a hold of it. Riddle was back to his happy little self again as he patted the hedgehog, “Trey can he stay like this forever?!” squealed Cater.

“I don’t think so,” Trey responded with a chuckle

It was already evening, and Deuce still wasn’t back. Trey and Cater were already tired of taking care of Riddle. Why? He was very stubborn and wanted to rummage the pantry full of sweets. Against the rules? Definitely. They’re hoping he wouldn’t remember ANYTHING.

“Riddle, please just eat it.”

Cater scratched his head while Trey tried to feed Riddle his dinner. It was pumpkin pasta, made by the vice dorm leader himself, “Come on Riddle,” he groaned. Little boy was being stubborn, pushing away Trey’s hand and yelling a small, ‘no’. Why? He wanted macaroons. Cater was waving a small bunny plushie in front of Riddle but it wasn’t working, “Look at the bunny, Riddle!” he sang. Riddle took the bunny, hugging in tightly in his arms before Trey shoved the spoon in his mouth.

With a big angry pout, Riddle chewed on pasta while attempting to give Trey a glare. It was too cute that Cater took a picture of it.

“Trey-senpai!” Deuce called as he ran inside Heartslabyul’s dining area.

“You’re finally back.”

“I’m sorry. I had to help Professor Crewel with the ingredients while he checked on the other students who were splashed with the potion. It was just Riddle-senpai who turned into a baby.” Deuce gave the bottled liquid to the third year. “He needs to drink the whole potion to work though,” he whispered since Riddle was staring at him with those cute big silver eyes of his.

“He doesn’t even want the pasta. How are we going to feed him that?” Cater interjected as he carried the little toddler that’s still staring at Deuce.

“Bring Ace in to distract him?”

“No that’ll make him angry and he’ll cry again. I’m too tired to deal with two kids.”

“Ah!” Cater realized. “There’s milk in the fridge. Maybe we can pour the potion in a bottle? That wouldn’t ruin the potion’s mixture right?”

Trey nodded, too tired to even think, “Let’s feed it to him once bed time comes. Deuce, once we’re in Riddle’s room, bring Ace in. Thank you for your help.” Trey placed the leftover food on the sink. He’ll deal with it later.

Riddle babbled, pointed at Deuce while squishing the bunny in his hand. The first year awkwardly waved at his prefect while Cater grinned, “Do you want to carry him Deuce-chan?” Cater walked over to the male, making the younger to immediately shake his head, “N-No thanks Cater-senpai!” He dashed away.

Shrugging, Cater looked over at Trey, “So...”

“Bath time?”

“Please make it easy, Riddle...”

“Op wit chu ed! (off with your head)”

“That was so cute!!! Say it again!”

“Don't! Just be thankful his magic didn't work!”

A wet floor, two wet third-year students, and a calm Riddle.

Remember when Trey pleaded for Riddle to be calm during bath time? It didn’t go exactly as the third year wanted it to be.

Once Riddle was in the tub, it was like every single thing was new to him. He was fascinated and always wanted to touch it. He surely was quiet when he was placed in the tub. Well-behaved and patiently waiting for the two to do whatever they plan to do to him. Until he felt water did start splashing his arms up and down. He was giggling and squealing that Cater had to hold his arms down. Trey was already drenched, his glasses were already left on the sink, and was the one to clean him up.

Rubber duckies and the loofah were Riddle’s distraction since he loves dipping them under water. He would whine when the loofah runs out of bubbles, he tried eating one, and Trey would have to squeeze some liquid soap on it before he starts crying again.

If Riddle’s doing this on purpose, they would beg for him to just use his unique magic on them than letting them suffer this babysitting job.

Once they were done bathing him, Cater dried him off, Riddle’s still holding the loofah, and zoomed into his bedroom. Deuce had volunteered with the milk and potion. He was able to mix it in a bottle and taste tested it, it tasted the same. “Okay now you’re dressed.” Trey had dressed Riddle up in his sleep clothes this time and not pajama onesies. No one wants to hear their recovered dorm leader yelling first thing in the morning just because he’s naked, right?

It looked so big on him that Riddle flapped his arms and giggled. Another photo for Cater’s gallery, “Now–” Trey placed Riddle under the sheets, the bunny plushie beside him, and the little boy snuggled and yawned. “time for bed, Riddle.”

Deuce gave the bottle and Riddle’s lips latched around the nipple as he eagerly sucked. All three students watched as his eyes slowly drooped down until it was completely shut.

How relieved they are.

Once the bottle was empty, Cater took it as they all prepared to hide away all the baby stuff they bought, “Let’s just hope it works...”

The next morning came. 8:00 am.

Trey had got up, and almost immediately, dashed to Riddle’s room. As he entered, a relieved sigh was heard from him as he leaned on the door frame.

“What day is it Trey?”

“Sunday.”

“What?!”

Ah, finally, he’s back!

Trey walked over to seventeen-year-old prefect and sat on his bed, “You don’t remember?” “Remember what exactly?!”

He doesn’t remember a thing. Riddle was overly confused, but he didn’t feel entirely odd. What happened really? Was he asleep the whole day yesterday?! His thoughts were running wild and Trey just snickered, “Yes, you were asleep the whole day. We were worried about you.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up then?!”

“We tried. It might’ve been the potion that Floyd dropped.”

“That leech–!”

“Don’t worry. It’s handled already. Come, I’ll prepare breakfast. You need to recover.”

It’s best he doesn’t know about a thing.

Everything went smoothly that morning. Trey made sure not a single student spoke about Saturday’s events. Cater would hide his phone and Deuce kept his mouth shut. Riddle was back to normal, which means everything will be as well. The two babysitters were relieved that they can finally rest.

But they forgot one thing as the doors of Heartslabyul were slammed open.

“Ah! You’re not a baby anymore!” Ace yelled.

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soundsgoodfeelslikeshit · 4 years

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Wrong Direction

Loosely based off Wrong Direction by Hailee Steinfield

Summary: Everyone knew JJ wasn’t a relationship person, but they thought that changed when he met Y/N. JJ promised to love Y/N unconditionally, but Y/N feels as if the whole relationship was fake and she was manipulated.

................................................................................................................................

“Hey are you okay,” John B broke you out of your trance.

You looked around and noticed that Kie had pulled up to chateau and they were waiting for you to get out of the car. You gave a slight nod.

“Yeah just ready to relax and have a beer.” you laughed.

“I’m gonna go help JJ and Pope set up the fire. They said they were down on the beach already.” John B said.

“Alright I’m gonna go grab some beers,” you said running up to the chateau’s door.

You picked the cooler up and started to load the beers into the cooler. You thought for a second and then grabbed some fruit and a few snacks to eat. You smiled as you closed the cooler and started to walk out the door. Your eyes caught a pair of lacy underwear that made you a little curious if Sarah and John B had been getting a little frisky, which made you laugh.

“Don’t worry guys, I’m here we can start the party.”

A series of laughs erupted as you set the cooler down and handed out beers.

“Come ‘ere.” JJ said making grabby hands at you.

You sat down on his lap and he pressed a kiss to your head.

................................................................................................................................

“I can totally outdrink you, Heyward.”

“Yeah, you can’t even have one more drink before you pass out.” Pope smiled wrapping an arm around you to stop you from falling.

“Wanna bet?”

With a slight nod from Pope, you were racing to finish the beers the two of oyu had in your hands.

“Totally finished before you.”

You did a little dance and then stood and nearly toppled over. With a giggle you walked towards the log JJ had been sitting on earlier. You scrunched your face and then looked towards the chateau.

“Wh-where’s J,” you asked through a hiccup.

“He got a call he said was important.” Kie said sitting next to you.

You smiled and nodded.

................................................................................................................................

“Good morning my beautiful friends.” Kie yelled waking everyone up.

You groaned and turned back over at the sound of her voice. You had started to drift back to sleep when you were casually yanked off the couch. Your eyes searched for the culprit as you glared at Pope.

“Sorry we got a day on the marsh to get to.”

“I think I’m gonna go home. I’m not feeling too well.”

You met JJ’s eyes that looked worried and confused. You gave a slight smile and motioned you’d call him later.

You weren’t sure why but you felt something was off. More so with your relationship than anything else. You stepped outside and began the short walk back to your place. Your thoughts were clouded and you couldn’t tell why. Sure you and JJ had moments where there was fights and JJ took it too far and tore you down a little bit too much, but that was easily over. During the fights you felt as if you were on your tiptoes but it never helped, you could never reach J’s ego. You didn’t dwell on fights because you both said things impulsively and most the time your words meant nothing. Something just felt wrong, like there was something hidden.

Trying your best to shrug everything off you decided a nice hot shower was exactly what you needed. You spent almost two hours in the shower and decided that was enough time. A ringer alerted you that you were getting a call. You hurried to your phone to see it was Kie.

“Hey,” you greeted as you searched for some clothes.

“Hey you feeling any better?”

“Yeah I took a shower and it helped a lot.”

“Oh also you are a leech! JJ’s body is covered in hickies.”

“Haha must’ve gone overboard.” you fake laughed.

“Alright I’ll catch ya later! I’ll shoot a text before we go back to the chateau so you can meet us there probably. JJ said he’s gonna go check on you so he left.”

“Alright see ya Kie.”

You ended the call with tears in your eyes. You had suspected this for so long, but you wanted to believe he was out sleeping alone. This couldn’t be happening. You had painted such a happy ending for your relationship, but now it just felt like you were falling in the wrong direction.

You finished pulling your clothes on and marched to your car. You needed to find J and you needed to get answers now. You started to drive towards his house ignoring the voice saying to not go. You pulled up very quickly and could already tell he wasn’t there, so you tried the chateau next. You weren’t surprised to see he was there. You ignored the anxiety coursing through our veins and opened the door. There was a trail of clothes on the floor leading to the spare bedroom. This was where you were supposed to turn around and act like you never saw anything. You’d turned your head to the times when he’d get to flirty with people at parties. Opening the door you could never have expected what you say, you could’ve never prepared yourself.

JJ was naked with another girl beneath him, he barely looked up when the door opened until he saw it was you.

“Baby, it’s- it’s not what it looks like.”

“Yeah because you didn’t tell Kie and all of them that you were coming back to check up on me, right? You aren’t with ANOTHER GIRL?” you screamed.

“I’m so-”

“Save it, how long?”

He just stared back at you with pleading eyes.

“HOW LONG?”

“6 months” he mumbled.

“Yeah go fuck yourself, actually I guess just fuck her right? Since that’s what you’ve been doing.”

You walked out of the room slamming the door behind you and trying to fight the tears that threatened to leave your eyes. As you were about to leave the chateau JJ decided to chase you out. You just glared at him as you saw everyone else walking up from the docks.

“Hey how are you feeling? I’m glad you could make it tonight.” John B said smiling.

“Yeah I’m feeling pretty sick. I was just leaving, nothing that I want to see anymore. I’ll make plans with the three of you later. Only if there won’t be a cheater present.” you smiled wiping the tears from your face.

“Y/N/N please”

“Don’t, you don’t get to call me that anymore. You loved me with the worst intentions huh? I couldn’t even see you through the smoke, J.”

“I love you.”

“If you loved me you wouldn’t have done this. I don’t know how this ever felt like Heaven. I don’t hate you, no I couldn’t if I wanted to. But I do hate all the hurt that you put me through, and I blame myself for letting you. I already knew J, I just looked away and acted like I knew nothing was happening. We were heading in the wrong direction a long time ago.”

I said sending one last sad smile to the other pogues before leaving.

#jj mayback x reader #jj maybank #jj obx #obx jj maybank #obx jj #jj maybank imagines #jj #obx cast #obx #obx netflix #outer banks #outer banks imagines #outer banks preferences

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bradie-valentine · 3 years

Text

To Live in a House That is Haunted

By Bradie Valentine

The afternoon sun bakes me through the windshield as I drive towards Leah’s house. She hasn’t answered my texts in a couple of days. Not that unusual for her, even before this silence. And yet I’m still on my way to check on her. We’ve been basically inseparable since we bonded over our family troubles in grade three and this is the longest we haven’t seen each other since then. The quiet from her side of our friendship has gestated long enough.

When I pull up to her house, a wave of unease washes over me. The house looks almost the same as it usually does, but just slightly off. The grass is way too long and I can see a pile of mush near the mailbox, the storms of summer turning her mail into pulp. As I head towards the house, parting the long grass that tickles my legs, I notice the stack of oak she bought a few months ago. The wood is bloated and full of wet rot, another victim of the January showers.

Don’t get me wrong, Leah has always been quiet, reserved. But this is different. Besides the occasional ‘I’m still alive’ text, I’ve barely interacted with her in the past two months. I can’t exactly blame her though. I can understand why she hasn’t been feeling very social. Her husband, Brian, died two months ago; the death of Leah’s voice immediately following.

I was with her that day, the day cops turned up to deliver the news. We were in the lounge room, chatting about Leah’s upcoming carpentry projects when there was a knock at the door. Leah answered it, there was some muffled chatter and then a sorrowful screech, like an animal caught in a trap. I leapt up from the couch just in time to see Leah collapse in on herself. The strong statue of the woman I knew, reduced to a pile of discarded tissues; delicate and tear soaked.

It was a freak accident that killed her Brian. A bump on the head at work. Rushed to the hospital, and he was dead on arrival. We found out later that the knock had popped a massive aneurysm that was nesting between the folds of his brain.

I take a deep breath and rap on the door a couple times but Leah doesn’t answer. I pause for a few seconds, knock, pause again, and knock again. I pull out my phone and text her, a drop of sweat trickles down the back of my neck. The heat and worry working together to slick my skin. I try calling too, but the phone rings out. Usually I wouldn’t bother worrying over Leah, but since Brian, grief has metamorphosed her, leeching both her light and strength. I think I should go, maybe come back later, but then I notice the sound of music. Leonard Cohen’s deep voice emanates from within the house. I try the handle and it’s unlocked, as soon as I open the door I get hit with the foulest stench of my life, even worse than when I used to get paid to wash down animal cages at the local vet. The stench clogs my nostrils and makes my mouth water with pre-vomit saliva.

I call out to Leah and get no response in return. Covering my nose, I start down the hallway, passing picture frames filled with photos of the happy couple. I call out again and I still don’t get a reply. Oh god, I should have come sooner. As I approach the bedroom, I hear a buzzing. I can’t place it for a second, and then I realise, it’s flies, a swarm of flies.

It’s all making sense, her favourite album playing, their wedding anniversary is coming up. The stench of sickly sweet death crowding the hallway. Leah has killed herself and now a horde insects are busy getting comfortable in the rancid warmth of her lifeless corpse.

I brace myself, a few steps and I’ll be able to see the bedroom, the carnage Leah has made of herself. And then I hear a laugh, Leah's laugh. The fear mixes with confusion and I’m so disorientated, I stumble the last couple steps forward and then I see them.

Leah is lying on the bed, holding Brian’s hand. It takes me a second to realise that the swollen form on the bed is indeed Brian. The flies have made their home here a while ago. There is a split in Brian’s belly where the gasses of rot have burst him open. Maggots spill off Brian and wiggle across Leah, like they can’t even tell anymore where the death ends and the living begins.

I turn away and run for the kitchen. My stomach is roiling and lurching. I only make it halfway and end up vomiting on the floor. Bile and this morning's toast exploding from my mouth.

“Hi”

I look at Leah. She’s knobbly and bony where she used to be muscular. There’s a stain down the left side of her night gown. It’s yellowy thickness let’s me know it’s broken down fat that has leached out of Brian and onto her. As if he was trying to offer back some of the bulk that weeks in bed have taken from her.

I’m still gagging when she starts talking.

“I dug him up, after the funeral. I brought a shovel with me.”

“Why?”

“I was getting ready for the funeral and all I could think about is how he would be so lonely in the ground. You know how much he hated being without me.”

“Leah, this is fucking crazy, you know that right? I love you but holy shit. You need help Leah… you need serious help.”

She just turns away and walks back to the bedroom.

“Leah, stop! I’m serious.”

She doesn’t listen to me. I follow her down the hallway and watch her climb into bed next to the mass of degrading flesh in a burial suit.

The liquid of his body has seeped into the mattress and the carpet beneath their bed. No one is ever going to be able to scrub him from the carpet or the floor below. An oily stain has spread up the wall above him, a halo made from his desecration. Brian now has a permanence he never had before. I wonder for a second what will happen to this house after they’re gone. Who would even want it now?

“Go away,” She says.

“Leah please”

She stays silent, just staring at Brian’s empty face.

“This is beyond fucked up, I’m getting you out of here. If… if you don’t come with me, I’ll call the police. They’ll be able to drag you out”

There is another long pause, and I almost think she has forgotten I’m here. She’s so clearly out of it.

“Please… please just let me say goodbye” She finally replies, “I need to say goodbye. I didn’t get to say it last time, please“

She leans in close to the bloat and starts whispering. I feel like I’m watching something I shouldn’t. I head for the front door, for fresh air. As I’m walking through the house, I realise all of the pictures on the wall that used to be of parents and cousins and nieces have been replaced.

They’re all of Leah with Brian’s body. All taken in the house. In one, Brian is propped up on the couch. Leah is sitting straight, like she’s posing for a portrait. The self timer on her phone capturing a record of her depravity. The photos all vary in poses and states of decomposition. The latest one I find is of them in bed. Brian already shiny and slick, his body bloated and gnarled. Leah has an arm around him and her head on his chest.

The front door is calling to me, fresh air and a reprieve from the incessant vibration of insect life. I reach for the handle when I notice the frame right by the door. The photo is of Leah, Brian and I at their wedding. It was Leah's favourite of the night, the three of us caught in laughter together. I sigh and head for the lounge room instead, climb the couch and slide open the window, pressing my face to the fly screen, breathing deeply the outside air.

The light tap, tap, tap of Leah’s steps announce her presence in the hallway.

“It’s okay now,” she says, “I got to say goodbye. We can put him back and no one has to know. You don’t have to call the police or anything.”

“Leah, you dug up his body, I can’t just pretend like that didn't happen.”

“Please! If anyone finds out, they’ll put me away. I don’t want to be alone. I lost Brian, I can’t lose everyone else as well.”

She’s just standing there in her yellowed nightgown, hands wringing each other. Leah looks so young, so helpless, like she’s in third grade again. Actually, she reminds me more of myself when I was in third grade. Unsure, broken, needing someone to look after me. Leah was the one who took care of me then, she was my person. Now I have to be that for her.

“Alright,” I say, getting up from the couch, “you get the gloves and aprons, I’ll get the rope.”

Standing in the bedroom, decked out in aprons, gloves, and face masks, we stare at the pile of flesh on top of the mattress. Assessing the best course of action, I really stare at Brian. Once a man, a great man at that, he is now somewhere between human and object. Tender and fragile, a bag of rot. Meat, past its use by date. A spoiled egg, one sharp prod and he’ll pop like a runny yolk. We have to be gentle.

Next to the bed, we lay the blue tarp I grabbed from the shed across the floor. Leah climbs up beside Brian, the movement jostles him, shaking the fluid filling his skin, wobbling like an oversized hot water bottle. Bracing myself over the tarp we grab his arms and pull him towards the ground, our fingers sink into his raw sausage meat arms. He slips from our hands a couple inches from the floor, with a wet slap he hits the ground. We rear back, and Leah spews a startled cry. The gash in Brian’s stomach yawns wider and a rush of melted organs spill from his open body; a thick grotesque puff of odour erupting with it. Following closely behind, a swarm of flies and maggots escape his bodily cavity, startled from their reverie.

Shocked still for a moment, we spring to life and scramble out of the room and slam the door shut. Leah slides to the floor, moaning and crying.

“What do we do now?” She asks me.

Dropping to the floor, I gather her gently into my lap. Trying not to think about bits of Brian swill getting all over me, I pat her matted hair.

“We take care of you now, the way you took care of Brian, the way you’ve taken care of me. Whatever that means.”

“Okay,” she says, “okay.”

Once Leah is soundly asleep, I dial triple zero. The operator seems a bit surprised by the situation I describe.

“My friend dug up her husband’s dead body and had been living with it for two months, can you send an ambulance over?”

“Uh, yeah. Right away.”

Once again, Leah and I are startled by a knock at her front door. I’m the one who answers it this time. Leah stands at the end of the hallway, she must look frightening to these strangers. Gaunt and covered in sludge, sticky with the putrid stench of the death that was stewing in that once pristine bedroom. They’re gentle with her, she goes with them willingly. We finally get outside, the freshness of the crisp air disorientating. Leah stops and turns to me.

“I’m sorry for bringing you into this,” she says.

“Anytime,” I say.

We both laugh a little bit.

“Leah?”

“Yes?”

“You’ll be okay. Eventually, things will be better.”

“I know,” She says, “will you be okay, without me around?”

I think it’s a joke. Her, also trying to lighten the mood. I answer her seriously anyway.

“Yes, Leah. I think I will.”

#shortstories #shortstory #bradievalentine #originalwork #originalstory #writer #author

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alitaimagines · 4 years

Text

“so i made my tinder available to the dudes in Germany and holy SHIT, how come no one ever told me they were so hot there???? one of yall didn’t message me and let me know.”

character: ludwig beilschmidt / germany

fandom: hetalia

song recommendation: hold up - beyonce

You looked at Alfred betrayed. A girl was sprawled on his bed with the two of them only noticing you when your bags hit the floor. The blond whipped his head around and his face contorted to one of mortification.

"Alfred," You whispered, "Alfred, what did you do?" you asked mortified.

The girl laid in bed not saying a word. You were only gone for a world conference and Alfred threw the three year relationship away just because he didn't see you for two weeks.

You immediately picked up your bags again and went back towards the door. Alfred quickly ran out of bed and tumbled down the stairs. You weren't fast enough considering you were carrying the luggage you had.

"Let me explain," Alfred exclaimed as he tried to grab your wrist. You didn't let him speak nor did you let him grab your wrist, "Explain what? That you cheated on me? That you decided to fuck another girl all because I was gone for two weeks? You can say anything right now and I won't believe a word."

Alfred tried to say something but nothing came out, "If I knew that you were just waiting for me to leave, you could have broken up with me a long time ago," Alfred grabbed your wrist again, "I didn't mean to cheat! I got drunk and it just happened," he tried explaining.

You gave the boy a laugh, "Alfred, you cheated on me. Imagine if you had gone to a world conference, came back, and seen me in bed with some random person. Better yet someone like Arthur, Gilbert, or Matthias?"

Alfred knew you had a point but not only did you have a point, he would have been livid beyond belief if he caught you doing the same thing. You didn't give Alfred another word as you called an Uber. You slammed the door shut and knew you just had to get as far away from Alfred as possible. You managed to book a hotel and called anyone willing to listen.

After you explained everything to Liz, she was ready to fly to the states, and kill Alfred right there. She knew that you weren't necessarily close to Alfred in a political sense but you were tied to him in a few political trades.

"What are you going to tell your boss?" Liz asked as she tried to tread lightly on what she told you, "Yeah, he didn't mind it. As long as our trades remain in tact, I'm allowed to do whatever I please. This might be a little over board but do you mind if I visit you for a few days? I need to get away from Alfred and I could use a vacation."

Liz immediately screamed out yes, "Of course. Book the flight now! We can meet up, go out and have fun. Roderich has been getting on my last nerves lately so please!"

You smiled as you finally wiped the final tears that had fell, "I'll see you soon. Once I get back from vacation, I'm going to have to find a new house, new everything."

"And that's a problem that you'll deal with later. For now, you're coming over and forgetting everything that just happened," Liz exclaimed, "I'll see you in a few days! Don't forget to bring cute clothes!"

Liz hung up the phone and you immediately started to look for flights. You were hoping on a flight the following morning. You didn't even want to be the same state as Alfred. He was calling, texting, messaging you, everything that was used to contact someone, he used. You ignored the messages, the calls, and realized that you would have to get a new number once you got back.

You got to Liz's house early in the morning. After she welcomed you inside, she escorted you to one of the many guest bedrooms and let you sleep until you woke back up refreshed. She hadn't told anyone you were coming over so it came off as a surprise to Roderich when he seen you.

"Did you come to just visit or?" He asked as he felt Liz kick him underneath the table. You gave her a smile realizing there was no reason to beat around the bush, "No, not really. Alfred and I broke up and I needed to get away."

Roderich gave you an 'I'm sorry' look as he stood up from the table. Shortly after, you heard the loud mouthed Prussian slamming Roderich's door open, "Alfred cheated on you? With who! What's their name? Was she another country?" Liz grabbed the nearest thing to her and whipped it at him, "Gilbert, enough. Just shut up for once," Gilbert did as he was told.

"Let's go. I'm sure you want to get out and actually do stuff. We're all planning on going to drinking later so for now, we can go to all the shops I've been dying to go to," Liz said as she kicked Gilbert once more, "I just need to use the bathroom."

You nodded, "I'll wait for you outside. The small breeze feels nice." Liz went to the bathroom as you made your way outside. Once you got outside, you realized that Germany was sitting on Liz's bench.

"Hey Ludwig!" You said as you finally got his attention, "What are the Germans doing on this end of town?" Germany shrugged, "Gil wanted to come and bug Austria for a bit. What are you doing here? You're usually with the Western countries."

You sighed, "Alfred and I broke up. I wasn't really in the mood to be around him so Liz invited me to visit her for a few days," Ludwig gave you the same expression Roderich did.

You couldn't lie, Ludwig was attractive. Extremely attractive. He wasn't exactly your type. The few nations you did date, they were exactly like Alfred in terms of personality. Ludwig was completely out of your dating range, "We're all going out drinking later so if Gilbert is planning to go, you should come with."

"I'll see." Was all he managed to say as Liz walked out of the house, "I'll see you later, I guess."

You nodded as Liz ushered you to the car.

The night finally fell as the group of nations made their way to the bar. You weren't necessarily dressed in something fancy or cute but considering you weren't planning on seeing Alfred until you got back, you didn't have the chance to grab anything cute or sexy for that matter.

"So, this is the time to get drunk, bring a guy back home and to see you walk out in the kitchen in the walk of shame," Liz said as she tried to hype you up, "If Alfred did it, you're just as allowed to do it yourself!"

You knew Liz had a point. While the two of you just broke up and you were still very much in love with Alfred, you knew that it wouldn't hurt to finally have fun. Alfred technically wasn't allowed to drink in the states so going out to clubs or bars wasn't an option nor a date idea.

"I guess. Just dont expect me to leech onto someone tonight. I came here to have fun and drink with all of you," Liz gave you a look before she started laughing, "Yeah right! I seen the way Germany looked at you. The two of you would look great together!"

Before you could answer, Roderich, Gilbert, and Ludwig finally found the both of you. All of them were in their uniforms which wasn't out of the usual but you felt a bit self aware as you and Liz were the only ones dressed up.

"What's that? Is there a bottle of Jack calling my name? I think so!" You exclaimed as Gilbert couldn't help but laugh at your enthusiasm to drink, "Come on Liz, I already see the bottle and it's looking at me."

You grabbed Liz by the wrist and ordered the entire bottle of Jack Daniels. Liz was impressed. She never took you as someone to drink darker liquors but considering you hardly drank, no one besides the allies ever seen your drinking potential. You walked back to the table and slapped the bottle in the middle.

"To friends and break ups!" You said as you poured everyone a shot. They all grabbed the tiny glass as they cringed at the bitterness, "Oh come on! I know you Europeans drink more than beer!"

Gilbert laughed, "That's because you hang out with those allies. If you would've been around us more, you'd know we can out drink any of you!" You gave him a look as you grabbed the two shot glasses and filled them to the top, "We both drink until it hits the middle of the bottle and after that, two mug of beers, each."

Gilbert took on your bet as the two of you downed the second shot. Liz and Roderich looked at you in disappointment as Ludwig tried to talk Gilbert out of it. You poured the third shot and slid it to him as he tried to drink it without spitting it back up. You poured your fourth shot and started to pour Gilbert's as he looked slightly red in the face.

"Aw, Gil! Don't tell me you feel the buzz yet," Gilbert shook his head no as he gulped down the fourth shot. Although he tried to drink it, he felt the burning sensation in the throat, "No fair. We stop here and we drink my preference of beer now!"

You allowed him to get the beer he so dearly needed and soon enough, he came back with eight different mugs of beer. Four went to each of you and you cheered with him before you started chugging them back. You could tell the disappoint from Liz and Roderich soon faded into interest. Ludwig on the other hand looked at you like he never looked at any girl before. He never met someone who was able to handle their alcohol like you did.

"And done!" You said with a bit of a slur at the end. "Am I tipsy? Yes. Am I drunk? Not yet but that isn't stopping me!" You looked at Gilbert who looked like he was on the verge of passing out, "Come on Gil! Let's get some more!"

Just as you were about to grab the Prussian, Liz took your hand, "I need you to take one drink of water. One glass and you're free," You gave Liz a pouty face before you took the glass of water from her hand and chugged it down, "Okay! Let's go!" Just as you stood up, you felt yourself tripping.

"Let's go," Ludwig sighed as he grabbed you by the shoulder and directed you to the bar. You ordered four mugs of beer, two for you and two for Ludwig. You hadn't seen him drink a single mug of beer.

"Oh come on, Lud! You haven't drank any!" You said as you handed him one. He was hesitant on drinking it but before he realized what you were doing, you shoved the beer once more and he finally gave in.

That was your tipping point. You slowly felt the drunk feeling overcoming. You were able to tell that Ludwig wasn't as tolerant to alcohol like Gilbert was but that didn't stop you from continuing to drink with the other German.

You heard the starting beat to 'Edge of Seventeen' by Stevie Nicks playing in the back, "JUST LIKE THE WHITE WING DOVE, SINGS A SONG THAT'S ACTUALLY SINGING!" You sang into the salt shaker on the table. "Come on! I love this song!" You grabbed Liz by the wrist and dragged her onto the dance floor.

Liz wasn't one for dancing but considering how drunk you were, she wasn't planning on letting this opportunity go to waste. Just as the music switched, you heard 'Hold Up' by Beyonce playing. Liz turned to you as she seen the small tears hitting your eyes. She had never seen your emotions change so quickly.

"Can't you see that there's no other man above you? What a wicked way to treat the girl that loves you. Hold up, they don't love you like I love you."

Not only had Liz seen your tears pricking your, she heard the raw emotion in your voice.

"How did it come down to this? Scrolling through your call list, I don't want to lose my pride but Ima fuck me up a bitch. Know that I kept it sexy, know that I kept it fun, there's something thats missing, maybe my head for one."

Liz grabbed your hand as she took you back to the table. Gilbert was getting a kick out of the entire fiasco as Liz continued to hear your horrible rendition of such a great song.

"What did Alfred do to her?" Ludwig asked Roderich as he seen your face with tear stains, "He must've done something horrible for her to feel the way that she does."

Roderich didn't know if it was his place to tell your business but considering you were a: too drunk to care and b: he knew the story, he figured he didn't have anything to lose. Roderich also didn't have any idea as to why Ludwig cared about the breakup considering he hardly butted his head into someone else's business.

"She found Alfred sleeping with another girl the day when she got home from a world conference," Roderich explained, "She nearly lost her mind and all Alfred said was that the reason why he slept with another girl was because he got drunk."

Ludwig was taken by surprise. He would have never expected someone like Alfred to do such a thing like cheat on someone.

"Wow." Was all Ludwig managed to say as he continued to watch you sing.

You woke up the next morning with a massive headache. You had no recollection of what happened the night before but before you could have a second though, you felt a giant weight next to you.

You whipped your head to see who it was. You could have expected it to be Gilbert considering he was the one you were drinking with all night but you noticed the messy blond hair next to you. There was no way you slept with Ludwig.

"WAKE UP SLEEPY HEAD!" You heard Gilbert's voice scream as he walked into the room. You growled as you felt Ludwig wake up in a jump, "HOLY SHIT, WEST! YOU ACTUALLY SLEPT WITH SOMEONE!" You wanted to cover your head in shame as Roderich and Liz ran into the room.

"Holy crap! Good for you, ( your name )!" Liz said enthusiastically as she gave you a thumbs up. Roderich gave a deep sigh as he walked out of the room, "I had no idea the two of you landed in bed together!"

You threw a pillow at both Gilbert and Liz as they got the hint you were sending them, "Ludwig, I'm so sorry. I have no idea what happened last night and considering you look like you're just as hungover as I am, it doesn't look like you have any idea either."

Ludwig laughed, "I don't know either. I mean, clearly something happened if you're in my t-shirt and I'm completely undressed," You laughed as you tugged Ludwig's shirt to cover you up some more. "I don't regret it. Whatever happened, happened but I'm dying of thirst and I'm sure you are too."

Ludwig followed you to the kitchen as you seen a small note on the table.

"Gilbert left and so did we. Roderich and I went on a lunch date so there's food in the fridge, I doubt you want food but it's there if you want it."

"They went on a date and your brother left," You explained as you handed the German the note, "Now after this, I'm going back to bed and hopefully I don't throw up any of the Powerade I just drank. Listen, I'm not saying that I don't like you but let's give this a try in a few months. I need time to get over Alfred but in a few months, we should go out on a date."

Ludwig was taken back. He wasn't exactly an expert in the romance area but he didn't have anything to lose.

"Sure!"

After your night rendezvous with Ludwig, you went back home and slowly started to fix yourself. You moved your things out of Alfred's place and slowly got accustomed to living on your own country again. It wasn't weird or out of the ordinary considering you traveled between the states and your country more times than you could count but now that you weren't together with Alfred, you started to reconnect with the country you represented.

Slowly and surely, you started to contact Ludwig again. He was still the shy man you slept with that night but you made sure that you took it slower than usual. You weren't looking to jump straight into a relationship but you weren't necessarily trying to lose Ludwig.

He took you out on a few dates in Germany as he showed you all the greatest sights in Berlin. You learned all about the history of Germany and vice versa.

You weren't necessarily trying to hide the fact that you were seeing Ludwig but once it got to the ears of a certain American, he was livid. Alfred wasn't expecting you to stay single forever but he wasn't exactly expecting you to be dating Ludwig of all countries.

You looked at yourself in the mirror before starting to fix Ludwig's tie. The two of you had to attend a gala that your bosses were making both of you attend. Going to galas or fancy dinners weren't exactly your cup of tea and you were able to tell that it wasn't Ludwig's either.

"Well, I think we clean up nice!" You mentioned to Ludwig as you wrapped your arm around his waist, "We should've color coordinated considering we're each others dates."

Ludwig dug into his dresser as he pulled out a tie that matched your dress, "I bought this one in case you mentioned that." You couldn't help but laugh. You took off the black tie and slipped on the lavender colored tie, "See, now we match."

The two of you made your way to the ballroom where the gala was being held. Countries were talking amongst each other as you noticed Liz, Roderich, Gilbert, Vasch, and Lilly talking to each other.

"Oh my god, you guys look so cute together!" Lilly squealed as she noticed the two of you holding hands. Liz nodded as she gave you a discreet wink. "I doubt any of you are drinking tonight considering the incident that happened the last time the two of you drank together."

You felt your face turn red as Lilly tried to figure out the incident, "Ludwig, I'm getting a glass of wine. Do you want anything?" He muttered a mug of beer as you made your way to the bar with Liz and Lilly.

"Have you seen Alfred?" Liz asked as she tried to look for the loud mouthed blond, "I heard he's coming but I haven't been able to spot him anywhere. I also heard that he found out about you and Ludwig."

You shrugged, "As if I care if he finds out or not." Before Liz could say anything, she seen something flashy on your middle finger. She quickly grabbed your hand and seen the small diamond band.

"EXCUSE ME? WHAT THE FUCK! EXPLAIN!" Liz screamed as she startled Lilly and got the attention of a few countries, "The two of you haven't been dating that long! What the hell is up with the ring!"

You sighed as you asked Lilly to excuse the two of you for a second. You grabbed Liz by her wrist and took her to a small corner. You weren't looking to have everyone find out about the small gift Ludwig had given you.

"Shut the hell up!" You whispered, "He just gave me this ring as a gift for our eight month anniversary. He didn't exactly give me a reason as to why he bought it but he did say that I could take it anyway I would like. I'm taking it as a promise ring and that's it! Now if you scream about this again, I will kick your ass."

Liz tried to contain her squeal, "That's so sweet! I never took Ludwig as the kind of man to give a girl a promise ring but it's so adorable! You look great with it on! Just wait for Alfred to find out! He's going to lose it!"

You rolled your eyes as you got back to the bar and grabbed the glass of wine and made your way to the group of Euro's. You noticed that Gilbert was with Matthias and Alfred. Doing what? You didn't exactly want to know.

"Bro, you suck!" Gilbert screamed at Alfred as he pointed over at you, "You let someone as hot as her get away! What is wrong with you?"

Alfred felt like decking Gilbert right there but he wasn't exactly trying to cause a scene, "Is that a ring?" Matthias asked as he noticed the flashy diamond on your middle finger, "He already gave her a promise ring?"

Gilbert nodded proudly, "West gave it to her last week. I had no idea until he told me about it this morning!"

Alfred didn't say a word. He was beyond words but considering he was the entire reason as to why the two of you broke up, he didn't have any reason to upset about it. He noticed the way the German had his arm protectively around your waist. You were leaning against him as he watched you take a couples photos with Roderich and Liz.

"You really are an idiot. She’s hot and now she's with my brother!" Gilbert said as he continued to rub it in Alfred’s face, "Now you get to see her happy and who knows, maybe she'll be a German relative soon!"

Gilbert intentionally sought out to rub it in Alfred’s face and the American knew it. Maybe it was payback, maybe it wasn’t. Whatever Gilbert’s intentions were, he knew Gilbert held a point. He was an idiot for cheating on you and to see you so loved up in the arms of another man really upset him but this was all his fault. Alfred messed it up for himself and he couldn’t justify trying to ruin what you had with one of his so called enemies.

ALITA

#hetalia #hetalia x reader #hetalia imagine #germany imagine #germany x reader #ludwig beilschmidt #ludwig beilschmidt imagine #ludwig beilschmidt x reader #aph germany #aph germany imagine #aph germany x reader

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opossumisst · 4 years

Text

Redemption AU Chapter 1: Fateful Encounter

finally trying to write my Troy redemption AU stuff featuring my OC Azriel heyyoooo pls be gentle its my second time writing A Thing

* dialogue in [brackets] are in Eridian “ A-Are you sure dad’s okay with us going this far, T-Ty?” Troy huffed as he tried to keep up with his sister’s pace. “Course he is! Besides, if we see anything scary, I can just carry you and we’ll run back home!” Tyreen slowed down, allowing her twin to catch up. She flexed a cheeky bicep at Troy, reassuring him that she’d be able to run while having him on her back. The DeLeon twins were out exploring the vast lands of Nekrotafeyo. By 8 years old, Tyreen had already learnt to leech the force out of small nekrobugs and plants, so they wouldn’t go hungry so easily in places they haven’t been. It was also easy to make their way back home from the trail of husked plants left behind during their explorations. “You think we’d find some Eridians today, Troy?” Tyreen pondered with a skip in her step, curious as to what they would discover during their journey on that day. “But mom said the Eridians d-disa-disp… they’re gone-” “Who cares what mom thinks! She’s...not here anymore either.” Tyreen stopped skipping. Troy glanced away, remorseful that he even brought mom up. “Let’s just… Try to see what we can find this time, yeah?” She quickly changed the subject, the chirp in her voice returning.as they continue their trek through the flora.

-- It was a rest day for one Azriel Titana Kha’va. The young Eridian princess had no lessons for the day, and was left sitting by her balcony gazing at the sky, something she found herself doing more often the older she grew. The kingdom was lovely, but quaint. Visiting the same places grew boring; she was longing to see what was outside the walls that kept everything out of the last remaining Eridian faction in Nekrotafeyo. The elders warned her of unknown dangers that loomed beyond; but all she ever saw was the beautiful turquoise auroras that painted the lavender sky that seemed to lead her to a trail she wondered where it ended, the fauna that roamed the open grasslands and the mountains shrouded by the Nekrotafeyan fog. She was living in the lap of royalty, but every day felt like the same. She wanted to experience something different. She wanted to experience the greener grass on the other side.

Her daydreaming was interrupted by the sound of her pet Nekrobug rattling the cage. It was behaving more eratically than usual. “[Tifaya?! What is wrong with you today!]” Az exclaimed as she rushed over to the cage, but before she could reach over and secure the lock, the Nekrobug had burst out, zooming past her and out of the balcony. Az watched as her beloved pet raced into the turquoise tracks in the sky. She wasn’t going to let Tifaya just fly off like that. Thinking on her feet, she grabbed a bunch of linen from her room and tied them to form a makeshift rope, long enough for her to climb down the balcony of her room and out of the castle premises. She was young but Eridians developed much quicker physically and intellectually than their Human counterparts. Trying not to alert the guards, she snuck past the back entrances and the gates when she had the opportunity, thankful that she was still small in stature compared to the giants that the adults of her species grew up to be. The escape eventually was a success, save for accidentally knocking a pot over and causing a mess in the corridor. A clearly calculated distraction, of course. Stepping foot outside the kingdom for the first time, Az laid her eyes on the new horizon, and continued her pursuit for her winged companion. -- “I’m hungry…” Troy mumbled, placing his hand over his stomach as it grumbled. They had been walking for almost an hour and he was growing weaker without sustenance. Tyreen had only been able to leech tiny bugs; her powers weren’t strong enough to absorb bigger organisms that had resided in the jungle they’d just wandered out of. “I’ll find something soon Troy… I promise.” Tyreen quickly reassured her brother. If only they hadn’t travelled so far away from dad. She was growing a little concerned that she’d never be able to find any food and no one would come to their aid… ..Until a slightly bigger than average Nekrobug flew past the twins. A spark of determination lit in Tyreen. It was a big enough animal to provide food for both her and her brother and she was going to hunt it down. “T-Ty wait up!” Troy was struggling to catch up to his sister, who was running around in circles trying to catch the Nekrobug fluttering around her, seemingly taunting the small children for not being able to capture it. “Almost…. caught .. y-” Tyreen’s gaze was too focused in the sky where the Nekrobug was flying around to notice her surroundings. Instead of lunging at the insect she had collided into something else.

Some-one else. Az emerged from the bushes only to be pounced on by what she thought was a small animal. She instinctively swatted away, causing Tyreen to scream in retaliation. “What gives!-'' Ty yelled, but paused as she saw the figure towering in front of her. Ethereal ash grey skin with lavender bioluminescent markings coursing through her limbs in a symmetrical fashion, covered in garb that resembled the ancient humanoid statues in the ruins she and her brother had seen around the vault where they resided. Electric purple eyes that seemed to glow through choppy white hair that fell to her shoulders. Whatever this being was, she wasn’t human. Ty heard the weird alien kid mumble something in a foreign language, albeit with a disgruntled tone, followed by a low, ominous growling behind her. “T-Ty… You’re too fast-” Troy heaved as he trudged towards his twin just in time as the noise grew closer. Az raised her finger to her lips to hush the twins. She took on a more defensive stance, ready for what was about to appear.. ...a Mantakore burrowed out of the ground behind the twins, growling viciously and reared its bladed appendages. Why weren’t they doing anything? Az stared at the twins who were slowly inching away in fear as soon as they noticed the creature, not wanting to make any sudden movements. Why weren’t they summoning weapons or trying to fight back? Impatient, she took things into her own hands. “ [GET DOWN!] '' Az roared, diverting the attention of the Mantakore towards her, and the twins confused briefly by the unfamiliarity of the words she spoke in. She charged towards the beast, pushing the twins out to safety as she digistructed a basic pole from the glowing circles of her palms -- A natural ability for Eridians was to be able to materialize objects from their hands -- swinging it at the Mantakore and swiftly evading its hits. She had never fought such a beast, but she had read enough about it from her tutors to know its weak points and attacks. Mantakores were slow and easy to avoid, or so she thought. She was too focused trying to parry its limbs; she hadn’t noticed its elongated bladed tail striking, nicking her in the arm. Az yelped in pain as she jumped back before pouncing once more in retaliation, this time aiming to strike the pole straight into the beast’s mouth as it opened it to let out a roar. The Mantakore fell to its belly, legs sprawled on the ground too weak to get back up.

She hadn’t killed it; she wasn’t sure if she could. Mustering up the courage she hesitantly positioned the pole near it’s brain, ready to slam down and end the creature’s life- “Wait!” Tyreen interrupted her as she walked over towards the dying Mantakore. She had been at the side tending to Troy after they were both suddenly pushed aside by Az to protect them from the beast, and had suffered a pretty bad graze to his knees.

Az stood aside as Tyreen took her spot, placing her palm on top of the beast’s head, where her pole would have struck. That’s when she noticed the smaller girl’s arm; the blue markings she originally thought were a mere fur patterning of the species she assumed the twins to be started to glow as her hand touched the surface, seemingly disintegrating the creature in front of her. She could only stand in place and stare in awe as Tyreen finished the job. Tyreen walked back to her brother, who had been sitting at the same spot, leaning against a rock. Az observed that he looked paler and thinner than her sister, and tried to follow Tyreen to him, only to be blocked off by her. Noticing the fragile state Troy was in she felt bad for shoving the two out of the way so aggressively. “Don’t. Come any closer.” Tyreen shielded Troy from Az, clearly cautious of letting a stranger near her vulnerable brother. Bending down, she grabbed his wrist and his markings started to glow as well; this time a crimson red. “[I’m sorry]” Az mumbled. Troy sat up.

“Was that…. Eridian?” His eyes lit up. “ [We are human.]” Leda had taught him a little bit of Eridian; it was his favourite thing to learn while he was confined to his bed on his sickest days. “H….Human?” Az gasped. She knew minimal English, but she knew that was the language most Humans spoke. “Damnit.. I’m all out of energy, Troy. Sorry.” Tyreen cut their conversation, glow fading from both the twins’ arms as she stood back up, slightly dizzy from the energy transfer. It was enough to heal the scrape on Troy’s knee, but not enough to get him back up to his feet again. “Energy…I give” Az fumbled around hoping the twins could understand her, and proceeded to carefully approach Troy, assuring the twins that she wasn’t going to harm either of them. “B-but you’re injured too-” Troy pointed out at the cut on her arm, blood trailing down. However, she seemed to ignore his remark and wanted to tend to him instead. She reached out her right hand, only to be met with awkward silence. “Uh…” Troy attempted to break the tension. He was missing his right arm all the way to the shoulder, and in its place was a worn out leather bracer strapped to his chest. Az quickly corrected her gesture with slight embarrassment and instead placed cupped Troy’s only hand in both of hers; a warm sensation started flowing into Troy’s arm as Az’s markings glowed white. He felt energy surge back into him. She was a tree of life, offering her fruit to the starving animal.

#my art #my writing #troy calypso #tyreen calypso #oc:Azriel #borderlands 3 #au #redemption au #borderlands #bl3 #canon divergent au #art #writing #fanfic #alternate universe #calypso twins

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