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omiscurls · 3 years

Note

Diluc, zhongli and childe reaction to their s/o breaking up with them after something they said, maybe after a week or so after they argument they think the s/o forgave them but they break up instead? I WANT THE ANGST

consequences

plot: reader decides to break up with the character after not speaking to them

contains: diluc, zhongli, tartaglia (idk how am i going to do this to my special boy but ill try my best)

warnings: angst, breakups, implied past toxic behavior

a/n: OH MY GOD THIS WAS SO HARD- I DONT HAVE THE HEART TO BREAKUP WITH PEOPLE

diluc

hopeless thoughts ran through your head as you fought with yourself about wether to enter angel’s share or not, hand halfway through to the doorknob. your mind hadn’t been made up just yet, you were still in between two very different scenarios - the urge to forgive him for his hurtful words growing stronger each day, as anger and other emotions subdued to loneliness and the feeling of a part of you missing, ever since the two of you stopped talking.

your mind flashed back to the exact moment when you looked into diluc’s eyes, always so soft and calm for you, forming a way of anger he never expressed towards you before. to the feeling you got right then and there that this man is not the same one you’ve met and fell in love with.

the process of coming to terms with that conclusion was as painful as the first strike of his angry glare, and even though he seemed to have realized the weight of his words right after saying them out loud, no matter how hard you tried, you could not erase them from your memory.

one strike of that pain, one memory of that night was enough to make you go through with your plan, door to the bar opening with a little screech.

it was like just another late afternoon, with charles tending the bar, knights and townsfolk filling the hot room, and the smell of alcohol traveling through the air.

“hi” you said to the bartender “is master diluc around?”

charles, busy with his work, quickly replied that he’s out back, opening a barrel. you nodded and went where his directions guided, pushing open yet another door to see the back of the man you loved, looking just as always from this angle, working over said chore. he didn’t even seem to mind the fact that someone walked in on him working.

“diluc” you said with a sigh, and he almost immediately turned around, tools falling from his hands and onto the ground.

“darling, hi” he replied quietly, walking over to you but stopping half way, eyes set to analyze your expression, figure out what was going on in your mind. “i’m glad you’re here safely, i haven’t heard from you in over a week” he added cautiously, as if weighing every word before deciding to say it out loud.

“well” you sighed again, once again going over wether you should actually break things off right then, mind taking pity on his troubled expression, tired eyes, on the obvious eyebags that were much more apparent than before, a sign that he didn’t catch too much sleep. “i had to come to terms with what i’m about to say”

he wanted to tell you he was sorry, he really did, but words didn’t seem to come out of his throat. obviously he was sorry, it was a bad day and he meant none of what he said, but you knew that, right? you knew he always cared for you and loved you… right?

he wasn’t the best with words, hence, the idea of apologizing with a gesture after you were done teaching him his lesson came to mind. a brilliant idea, one could never go wrong with a thoughtful deed for their significant other, just give him one more chance.

“and my conclusion is, we need to take a step back and… reevaluate things in our lives. i’m not saying this is the ultimate end, but what you’ve said, and how you’ve said it made me realize…”

you were making a good point. you were talking about your feelings. he should listen, but the only thing he heard was the blood pumping through his veins, and the two single words

the end

so there won’t be another chance? he won’t be able to prove himself? what do you mean, the end? the best thing that ever happened to him in his sad life was coming to an end because of him? but he was so careful, he treated you like his treasure, because that’s how he truly felt, like his lifeline, something he could never lose…

and all it took was one sentence too much, one glare too intense. for the first time in what, six, maybe seven years, his eyes began to water, as he blinked the tears back at a rapid pace.

“… and that was a shitty thing to do. i hope you know that. i don’t know if i had anything else i wanted to say, perhaps i did, but… that’s all. see you around, i guess” you mumbled, loosing confidence in what you were saying, taking one last glance at his lost eyes before turning around.

turning around from him, from the love of your life, was perhaps the hardest thing you ever had to do, and yet you did do it.

before you could reach the door again, though, a cold hand caught your forearm. your eyes met his, with just a glimmer of hope that he would magically say all the right words and somehow make you stay, you didn’t want to leave, yet knew you had to. if you wanted to preserve the respect you had for yourself, you had to leave.

why were you giving him time to say something?

his helpless gaze seemed to speak with a thousand words, begging, pleading you to not leave through that door, but as much as his lips did part, not a single word left.

he couldn’t say anything to hold you back, and you ripped away from his grip, turned, and walked away.

and just like that,

he was all alone, again.

he was gonna need a drink.

zhongli

tears flooded your vision, blurring every details of zhongli’s face, causing you to only see a pale color palette, instead of your favorite person, ever. maybe it was for the best, maybe it would make it easier, you thought, but that was a foolish thing to hope for.

even through the salty tears, you could make out his eyes, it’s glow never failing to guide you, and comfort you, now seeming to burn their way through you, through your body and soul.

“you’re stuck in another love, zhongli, we both know that!” you exhaled a bit louder than you intended to, the outcome sounding more like an accusation than a fact. “how can you ever say you love me, when it’s so obvious, and so apparent, that every time you look at me, you see someone else? you HOPE for someone else?”

you could only wish the words you spoke didn’t come out as a complete mess, because of those tears you were constantly choking on. desperation seeped through your voice, as the feeling of helplessness rose every time you looked at your lover and at the anguish, and confusion he presented.

how could he make this so hard? it’s not like you’ve presented some statement he didn’t know already, right?

you hoped your eyes would say all the things you didn’t trust your voice to. you hoped he’d somehow hear how all you ever wanted was to be enough, was to meet his standard, how it tore you open that every time he said <i love you> his eyes wandered everywhere but onto yours, how all his touches seemed absent, how all his compliments were truly about some other face, some other smile, some other kind soul.

the worst part was, how could you blame him? how can anyone, ever, blame someone for being in love, of all things? love was something beautiful, and once you’ve experienced it, you’re drowned in it forever, and don’t even want to see the surface again.

love is beautiful. when you’re the one who’s receiving it. love was beautiful, to you, too, when you loved how his wisdom flew through his words, how his kindness hugged your spirit, how his aura brought you comfort. you loved his eyes, you loved his cheeks, his lips, every single detail of his skin.

the love you felt made you complete, made you warm, until you finally realize the thing you should’ve seen much sooner.

that you were merely a mirror for him to look at someone else, someone long gone.

suddenly all the warmth you felt was directed back at you, burning you inside, making you wish you never felt it in the first place.

“aren’t you gonna say something?” you whispered.

his long fingers found their way to your hand, but you snatched it away.

if you fell onto his charms now, you wouldn’t be able to get out once more.

his breath hitched as he gathered himself to speak

“i want nothing more than to love you” he said, although quietly, it rang through your ears like the loudest of screams.

you scoffed.

“we both would’ve wanted that, then”

“and i’m sure i can, if you just—“

now, laughter was all that you were capable of letting out.

“zhongli, you can’t train yourself to love someone. and even if you could, then how do you think that would make me feel? like i’m so unlovable you had to force yourself through it to grow accustomed to a feeling similar to love?”

“that’s not what i—“

“that’s what it means! let it go, please, please just… let me go” you sighed, standing up from the bench over at liyue harbor that you were sitting on. the sun has begun to set on the other side of the sea, and you couldn’t help but notice, it would’ve been the perfect date.

“i do sincerely hope you’ll find someone who’ll love you just the same” he finally stated, as he gave up on trying to make you stay.

“why?” you chuckled “so i could make them suffer the same way you made me?”

tartaglia

(archons give me strength)

you found nothing but guilt, looking into the endless ocean trapped in his eyes. for the first time in forever, they glistened, but not with a spark of joy, like you always hoped they would, they shone a sickly shine, caused by a thin layer of tears, that didn’t dear to spill over his porcelain cheeks, almost as if afraid of making contact with the ruthless face of the number eleven of the fatui harbingers.

he could’ve easily been crying if only he let himself go. he would’ve been in tears, sniffing and coughing, but he just… wasn’t. he held those tears in the gates of his eyes, as if his life depended on it.

the guilt you found inside them, wasn’t his, but yours. you felt guilty, watching this composed, confident man fall into pieces right before you, crumbling before your sight. why were you doing this? you seemed to forget all those terrible things you’ve heard just from the way his irises begged for forgiveness and brows furrowed in inexplicable sadness.

but you couldn’t, no, this time you couldn’t.

“my word” you swore on dear life you’d burst into tears if your voice shook right now “my word is final. we’re over. and that’s… that’s it. you need to understand that there won’t be another chance.”

the moment his lips parted, you knew you were lost.

“i have told you so many times already, but i will say this as much as i need to, it will never happen again! i swear, on everything i love and everything that i am, i swear on life itself, i won’t ever let that happen again! you know i won’t! come on, i promise you, if there’s anything you can say about me is i do keep my promises, don’t i? darling, please…”

“promise yourself to heal and become better, first” you stated coldly, watching faith disappearing slowly from his fixed look.

“im sorry, you know i am, im sorry, im sorry, im so fucking sorry!” a scream left his throat as desperation took over both reason and self-respect.

“sorry isn’t gonna cut it”

“then what will? i’ll do anything, anything in the world, anything to prove myself to you. i get that you can’t love me, i understand that, but please, let me win your trust again.”

he said unnaturally calmly, compared to what he did before, and you got concerned immediately.

i understand that you can’t love me, his words rang through your head. oh god, what were you doing? guilt stroke again, right at where you felt your heart to be.

right when you wanted to turn around and leave, he must’ve sensed that, and pulled you into a tight embrace. not suffocating, as they often describe it, not toxic and desperate, but… as loving as every other hug you’ve ever received from him. as calming and grounding, even though you could feel his heart racing. he didn’t refuse for you to leave, he didn’t trap you.

you understood after a while,

he was saying goodbye. all the love trapped inside his heart seeped out onto you, all his feelings surrounding and engulfing you.

“let me promise you this” he whispered, voice shaking painfully “the next time i’ll see you, i’ll be a better man. someone you will be able to be proud of, someone worthy of both your trust, and love. i won’t stop until i’ll be enough for you to look at me without the disgust and fear you have now. i promise. i’ll be better.”

“until then, then.” was the only thing you were capable of saying before leaving.

as soon as the door shut behind you, you rested against a wall and covered your mouth with a hand, unable to hold your tears any longer.

you heard a cry through the door. so he does have some feelings left, after all

your daily reminder that requests are open [here]

#genshin angst #genshin impact #diluc angst #zhongli angst #childe angst #diluc x reader #zhongli x reader #childe x reader #genshin headcanons #genshin impact x reader #gender neutral reader

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tipsylorie · 3 years

Text

Dream Project Pt. 3 {title in progress}

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

A/N: Hola everyone, here is part 3 but not yet proof-read. I hope you will like it nevertheless...

Word Count: 2.7K

THE NEXT DAY

Liviana drove herself to office due to the driver’s message early in the morning that says he will be late because of an emergency. Upon arriving the buildings parking lot, instead of her driver, it was her assistant who was waiting with a worried look.

“Why the long face baby boy?” This is the thought that has been running through Liv’s mind when she saw her assistant, and this made her laugh. It took a while for her to compose herself so with a long face, she just remarks as she exits the car, “Why the sad face Jer?”

“Why are you laughing though?” Jayceon asked with a growing grin, but Liv just dismissed it by saying ‘nothing’. So he continues to inform his boss, “It turns out that your driver for today had to rush her wife to hospital earlier so there won’t be anyone to drive you.”

“This won’t do, I have to get these cakes delivered and to check the situation in Paradigmia.” Liv said with worry written all over her face but then she suddenly smiles, “You do have a license, right?” She asked the young man who responses with a nod. “Then you’ll drive. I just have to get some materials in my office.”

Jayceon sees Liviana walking towards the car and anxious on how his driving should be. Because the only one who he was able to drive are his friends. Heck, his parents don’t even know that he can since he has always been provided with a driver and an assistant. It didn’t help either when Liv chose to seat beside him after she arranged the materials and cakes at the back seat. “Why are you sitting here instead of over there?” Jayceon nervously asked as he points to the back seat diagonal to the driver’s seat as where bosses should sit according to some according to etiquette.

“Well, I am not really used to passenger seat being vacant. Don’t worry Jer, this is perfectly normal and please just treat me more as your friend instead of your boss. It will be more comfortable that way.” Liv informed her assistant.

Jayceon smiles as he was happy hearing how humble his business partner is, so he proceeded saying, “Ok then Liv, buckle up and enjoy the ride!”

It was an internal chaos in Jayceons mind since he doesn’t really want to go to his habit of over speeding and to scare Liviana however his childhood acting lessons had paid off since he was able to act composed and relaxed while he’s driving his temporary boss. Okay, so if you’re wondering about Jayce’s early life, his mother well like all Asian mothers are, enrolled him in all extracurricular activities she could come across. Therefore, ever since in the age of 4 he had already experienced EVERYTHING, from sports to performing arts.

Upon arriving to the Academy’s main branch, Liv immediately went to her friend Anne’s office. “Annie! Been so long, I made you some cupcakes!” She enthusiastically greeted her friend.

Anne was a little bit puzzled by the sudden visit, “What’s up? Why the cupcakes?” She asked. However, Liv just gave her a questioning look as a response and it only dawned on her that it was their friend’s birthday. So, the look at her face was so funny as if she experienced horror while saying, “OH MY GOSH! How could I forget?”

“Don’t worry Anne. Just message her later or maybe give her a visit after your working hours. It’s just a 30-minute ride so… It’s up to you.”

“Well, if it is up to me, I will just take a half day off and go to her but yeah cannot do that because my boss would be mad.”

“Ha, I know what you’re trying to do, well just so y’know as your boss I would totally not mind however I know how keen you are with your work so I reckon that you will finish today’s job and just go to her later after working hours.” Liv said the last words with a tap on Anne’s shoulder then left her office.

As they left, Anne just snickered on how her long-time friend never failed to read her like an open book.

On their way to Paradigmia, they stopped at a gas station since Jayceon found the need to pee. So Liviana just waited in the car. Jayce always has the impulse to buy something since he finds this satisfying. When he was about to pay, only then he realised that he left his wallet in the car’s compartment that is in between the driver’s seat and passenger seat. So, he hurriedly opened Liv’s door side in a rush, and tried to open the compartment and reached it and however this fell on the backside and without thinking Jayce climbed on top of Liv and once he reached his wallet he exclaimed, “Yes! Finally got it!”

This woke Liv up and her eyes widened in surprise. Jayceon just froze and stared to her eyes, and he had the urge to gulp just to somehow slow the rapid beating of his heart. To snap him back to reality, Liv asked, “What are you doing?” in a concerned voice and was trying hard not to jump to conclusion since as far as she knows, the guy in front of her was gay.

Jayce or in Liv’s perspective, Jer stepped back to not cause any alarm and calmly said, “I was just trying to reach for my wallet,” showed the wallet in his hand, “because I have items waiting in the counter of that 7-Eleven.” He pointed to the convenience store in the side of the car.

“Oh okay, but you know you could’ve used the other door, right?” Liv asked genuinely.

“I didn’t think of that earlier since I was in a rush. I am so sorry about that.” Jayce apologised. “I promise it won’t happened ever again!” He subconsciously emphasised as his eyes asked for forgiveness.

In Liv’s perspective, she cannot stay mad to this adorable guy in front of her. “Fine, just never ever do that again to me or to anyone ever again.” She informed her employee.

“Pinky swear! Brb just gonna pay for those food! Thank you, Liv!”

As Jayce ran back to the convenience store, Liv thought it was really odd for Jer to stare at her like that. However, she just dismisses this immediately and went back to her nap since she knows it will be a long day in Paradigmia.

“Hey,” Jayce said as he tapped Liv’s shoulder when he sat at the driver’s seat. “You want some peanuts? It’ll help to lessen your sleeping.”

Liv slowly opened her eyes and looked at the bag of peanut he was holding, “Yes, that would be great.”

As Jayce prepped himself to drive, he asked a last question, “What did you do last night that made you this tired today?”

“Well obviously the cake made me use all my remaining energy last night. I don’t know maybe I had a tiring dream.”

“You also believe that? Despite not remembering the dream?” He asked and she just nodded with a faint smile as a response. “So glad that I am not the only one.”

After few more minutes they finally arrived to the apartment of Julie. Liv asked Jayceon to grab the balloons she prepared at the backseat. “You had balloons? Why haven’t I seen it?” He asked in amusement. “Well, maybe I unintentionally intentionally hid it?” This just made the pair chuckle as the guy grabbed the balloons, the lady handled the cakes.

“After centuries you’re finally here!” Liv’s best friend, Julie exclaimed as she hugged her while holding the cakes.

“Careful! My masterpiece!” Liv yelled.

“Sorry but that will not even last a day in this household.” Julie rebuked. This resulted to the three of them laughing.

“Did Anne tell you she’ll be here later?” Liv asked her good friend.

“Yeah, she felt so guilty of almost forgetting and thanked God when you thought of leaving some of your wonderful cupcakes in her office and she has time to prepare.” Julie nonchalantly informed Liv.

“So, what do you prefer, stay here while we wait for her or let’s head now to the hotel I already booked for tonight?” Liv asked.

Julie replied after some thinking, “Well, I think my family will still visit here shortly to give cakes and such, so maybe wait for Anne in here.”

With Julie’s response, Liv faced her assistant and informed him, “So, if you want to take a rest you can go to the hotel first. I am sending you know the voucher for your room, and by just showing this to the reception, I think you’ll be assisted to your room immediately. Just leave the car and keys since we really do not plan to get wasted so I’ll just drive us there and I’ll just let you know once we arrived there. Is that okay?”

As Liviana is explaining her proposition, Jayceon cannot help but take notice on how she always has the tendency to worry about everyone around her ergo, planning everything tediously beforehand. He admires this but at the same time feel sorry for her since she has the kind of person who loves to smile despite the truth that deep inside, she is already drowning. He can see this because she tries so hard every single time as if it is always her life on the line. He wishes that somehow he can help her to loosen up a bit and be true of what she truly feels. (A/N: Jayceon has taken a lot of Psychology modules in undergrad as a hobby that made him enjoy analysing human behaviour and Liviana has been one of the most interesting person he has met.) So after listening to Liv, he answered, “Yep, sure thing! That all sound great! So I guess, see you tomorrow?”

“Yes, Jer see ya! Thank you for the help. Ooh I almost forgot, I also set aside these cupcakes for you.” Liviana said as she gave the 3 pieces cupcakes in a sealed tray.

“Thank you Liv! Really appreciate it! Bye!” He remarked as he waved goodbye then got inside the taxi they messaged.

~Jayceon in the hotel~

Jayceon went to the counter which the receptionist immediately recognised him as his family being the co-owner of the hotel. In which he was greeted immediately with a bow and for the employee to immediately ring for the Executive Manager. Jayce then quickly tried to explain his stuation in the most discreet way possible. Telling him to stop his manager from coming because most probably him having prior commitments with his work. He just asked for the receptionist to give him the room stated in the voucher and instead to have Liviana Voss in the most expensive room available during her stay and charge her with only the amount the room she booked. So just like that, Jayce had his staff to put Liv in the Premium Suite Penthouse which is technically a room with rooms and a second floor that has a direct access to the rooftop.

Jayce was pretty proud with what he did especially on how smart he think it was. To have Liviana be one of the lucky winners in an online booking event that never existed. After feeling content, he took a nap to make sure he will not miss any updates from his “boss”. But didn’t miss the beat to take a taste of the cupcake after dinner. He can surely tell that it was made with love.

~Meanwhile in Julie’s Household~

“So, who was that guy? He looks so good! Do you have a thing with him?” Julie prompted with the question she has been holding until that guy left.

Liv answered with a grin, “I knew it! I can already sense your questions like once we both entered your house. And the answers would be: first us my assistant; second, yep he is but not interested with girls; and finally, I think no?”

“Omg, you do have! Spill!” Julie enthusiastically ordered.

“But it is your birthday! Why talk about me? We need to focus on you getting older!” Liv claimed.

Julie tried to explain, “Still, I am the birthday girl, so you need to let me use my power card for today of you to just share about this matter, please?”

“Fine! I love you so much that is why I am letting you use the card.” Liv gave in.

Julie was delighted with this by saying, “YAYYYY! BEST BDAY because of the BEST TEA!” But then suddenly interrupted with her family entering the house with their spare key. This made Liviana laugh so much that Julie’s family can see her almost rolling off the ground literally but thankfully she was able to stop herself. Julie’s family only stayed for like 2 hours since they also have some stuff already planned.

Once they left, Liv and Julie cleaned a little bit and wash the little number of dishes. Just right after they finished, Anne already arrived, and this made Julie happier since Liv can share the tea to the both of them at the same time. Liv’s narration went like this:

“Well, I was taking a nap since I was really exhausted with the baking and decorating so I really do hope you guys will love and like it. So, while napping I can feel that something is different, and I can see him staring at me adoringly? I guess, it was really weird because I felt something. It also feels like an eternity and still his position being on top of me didn’t change and remind you that the seat was declined so it was really awkward and I can also see his change in demeanour of somewhat being manly like more than so he normally is and he also gulped that really sent shivers to my spine. Just overall – WEIRD.”

Julie and Anne just looked at each other because they have the same idea. So Julie slowly proposed their idea, “Liviana, don’t you think it is time to consider that he is not gay? As we both can already sense with the vibes whenever the two of you are in a room, you guys act like high schoolers interacting with their first love like that is literally the aura the two of accentuates.”

Anne added, “Also this is nothing like the chemistry thingy back when we tried to ship you with someone in junior high instead this thingy right now is something that everyone can call sincere and genuine.”

Liv was really quiet with the insights her friends are telling her but all she managed to reply is a joke, “Okay guys, you two could really write a million-seller fiction right now.”

Anne just retorted as she and Julie are already used to their friend always being in denial which is the total hundred percent reason why she still never had any boyfriend, “Whatever Liv, just don’t tell us we didn’t inform you. I know that you know that there is a possibility with what Julie and I are saying. So please, don’t resist it anymore because you also need to find a partner too at some point.”

“Wow, our youngest just scolded me. Yes Ms. Annie, will do. So can we now finally celebrate Julie’s birthday?” Liv asked warily.

“YAYY!” The two girls exclaimed, and Julie shouted, “Movies and cupcakes!”

“Speaking of cupcakes, where did you put the cupcakes, I gave you Anne?” Liv asked.

Anne replied, “I have the half of them in my house and left some to my mother’s because you know how much she loves your cooking and baking!”

Liv responded, “Yes of course, I am glad she still does.” She asked, “Julie, what movie do you want?”

“Ugh please, let’s not do that, we will spend like an hour just looking for a movie, guys just pick a number up to 10.”

“Three!” Liv exclaimed.

“Five!” Anne yelled.

“Okay the Liv, just choose the eighth one while pressing the arrow down keys in the remote control.”

“We got, Force of Nature, a 2020 film. Is that okay?” Liv asked as she manages the TV.

“Yup!” Julie replied while she takes the cupcakes to a plate and placed the cake in her refrigerator.

“Sounds great!” Anne responded as she handled the flavoured drinks. They all agreed to get drunk once they arrived at the hotel.

After the movie, the cupcakes also ended. So they cleaned up and prepared their things for the second party in the hotel.

Re-blog for part four!

Lemme know what you think…

#2pm #2pm imagines #lee junho #lee dahee #ceo #kpop headers #kpop imagines #kpop scenarios #kdrama #kpop industry #original fiction

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lunaserenade · 3 years

Text

Entangled

Gif by @dornish-queen

Masterlist

Part Eleven of the Meet Me at Sunrise Series

Previous Chapter: Haunted

Next Chapter: Exposed

Author’s Note: Thank you to @icanbeyourjedi , @reddead-trash and @sugarontherims for tolerating me while I overthought everything I wrote for this chapter.

Beta reading dream team: @violentcosmicsymphony and @briefgalaxycat <3

Paring: Marcus Pike x FBI Agent!Reader

Words: 2k

Warnings: Swearing, violence, mentions of blood.

Summary: The team rallies together after a traumatic incident.

“I have an officer down, I need paramedics immediately.” Your voice shook as you rattled off your address to the 911 operator. Snatching a blanket from the couch you reapplied pressure to Marcus' wound, the pain bringing him back to consciousness with a yelp. You gave him a weak smile “Marcus I need you to stay awake. Paramedics are on the way. I-... I'm sorry, I should have disarmed him, I thought I had and I-”

“Baby, I'm okay.” Marcus let out a whine as he tried to sit up and gingerly reached to touch the back of his head, a faint smear of blood from when Pearce slammed him onto the floor. “I'm not going anywhere.”

“Says the man bleeding in our living room.” You let out a slightly hysteric laugh at his lack of concern to his own wellbeing. The seven minutes it took for the paramedics to arrive were easily the longest minutes of your life, and you clung to Marcus' hand as they went to work. Once he was loaded on the stretcher, and you had waved off the medics who were trying to tend to your cut cheek, you followed them downstairs and into the ambulance.

“See honey? I'm going to be fine.” Marcus gave you a weak smile. “It was only a light stabbing.”

“... I'm going to let that slide on account of the blood loss.” You gave his hand a squeeze and pressed your lips to his knuckles, the sound of the ambulance siren ringing in your ears as it raced toward the hospital.

-------

Standing in the ER waiting room you knew you must look like something out of a horror film: hair wild, a shallow cut across your cheekbone, and your hands still covered in Marcus' blood. You could feel yourself trembling as you awaited Regina and Maddox's arrival, they had been your first call after Marcus' father. You had promised to keep him updated but it did look like Marcus would be fine as he had insisted the entire ride to the hospital. You heard your name, turning to see Regina, her wife Amber, and Maddox at the Emergency Room entrance. Regina was at your side in an instant, it wasn't until she wrapped her arms around you that the true gravity of the evening hit you, your chest heaving with sobs. You barely registered Amber attempting to clean the blood off your hands with wet wipes from her purse as Regina whispered soft reassurances into your hair.

“Mads, go see about getting us back there to see Pike. Flash your badge if you have to.” Regina said to the younger agent as she surveyed your face, the cut across your cheek had finally stopped bleeding. “Hon, what happened?”

“Ioan Pearce. He was waiting in our apartment when we got home. He must have been following us this week... I should've known... This is my fault, I brought Marcus undercover with me. If it wasn't fo-” You felt yourself spiraling quickly.

“No. You need to stop. This is Laurent and Pearce's fault, no one else's. Tonight, we make sure Marcus is alright. Tomorrow we tie up these loose ends and get Pearce in cuffs.” Regina reassured you.

“Cuffs... body bag, same difference.” You muttered.

“And that's why you probably shouldn't be joining us.” Regina laughed as a nurse came out calling for the group of you, you could finally see Marcus.

“I'd love to see you try and stop me.” You said with a smile, although your words were deadly serious.

-----

Marcus was sitting up on the edge of the bed in the ER, freshly stitched up, and he looked instantly relieved when his eyes met yours. You immediately rushed into his arms, silent tears streaming down your cheeks as you saw the bandage on his abdomen and buried your face in his shoulder.

“-‘s my fault. It’s my fault you’re hurt. I can’t live without you.” You whispered against his neck and felt him shake his head.

“Sweetheart, I’m alright. They’re even going to discharge me soon.” Marcus looked up, noticing the rest of the crew for the first time and gave them a smile. “Ten stitches, nothing vital hit, and a bump on the head. All I really need is a change of clothes and sleep.”

Needing to see for yourself you peaked at his torso, your fingers ghosting over the dressing covering his stitches. Marcus pressed a reassuring kiss to your forehead, his hands drifting to your waist.

“We’re glad you’re alright, boss. We’ll catch this psychopath.” Maddox said from beside Amber and Regina, handing Marcus a fresh shirt to change into.

“I reached out to the office, let them know what happened. They posted officers outside your apartment, I told them they’d have to wait until tomorrow for a full statement. Tonight, the two of you need to rest.” Regina said, squeezing her wife’s hand, relieved to see Marcus relatively unharmed.

“Gina, thank you. For everything.” Marcus said sincerely.

“We’re family, we always take care of our own.” She said with a fond smile.

-----

The search for Ioan Pearce was on, and undeterred by push back from the higher ups you and Marcus insisted on being involved. Pouring over CCTV footage and any new leads on Pearce’s whereabouts. It'd been a week since the break in and though he wasn't fully healed yet Marcus was relentless in his pursuit, but they were getting close. Maddox and Regina had been staking out a location that was a possible safe house for Pearce and his associates, they were sure he would surface any day now. You were camped out on Marcus' office couch with Regina, Maddox was dozing off at his desk but none of you had the heart to wake him. The effort he was putting in tailing Pearce's associates was admirable, and he seemed to have a natural knack for going unnoticed while trailing a suspect.

“I think he'll finally give in and end up at that safe house any time now. He's assuming we've lost any trace of him and he's starting to get cocky. He'll let his guard down and that's when we'll strike. I've got people watching the safe house twenty-four hours a day now, so I think we should all be prepared to move as soon as he's spotted.” Marcus said from his desk, giving a small stretch and wincing lightly as it tugged at his stitches.

“I agree, I think Pearce is getting impatient. That’ll be his downfall.” Regina said, buried in Ioan Pearce’s file trying to see if there was anything she missed that could finally end this.

“I'm just ready to put this bastard behind bars like Laurent.” You said with a small huff as a half-asleep Maddox poked his head into the office.

“My CI just called. Pearce should be going to the safe house in the morning.” Maddox said as he rubbed at his eyes.

“Fantastic! Then I want everyone to head home and get some rest. We take this guy in, come morning.” Marcus said with a smile.

As everyone packed up and headed out for the night Marcus wrapped his arm around your waist. You stood on your tip toes to press a few soft kisses to his jaw. Finally, this nightmare was almost over.

—-

The early morning sun was beginning to creep across the sky as you prepared for the raid on Ioan Pearce’s safe house. Considering how deeply personal this mission had gotten for you and Marcus you both agreed to take a back seat and cover the back door. Regina, Maddox, and a small team would breach the front door to apprehend Pearce; You and Marcus would cover the back door in case he tried to make a break for it.

“I won’t lie, I’m a little disappointed I won’t get to lay hands on this creep.” You gave Marcus a small smile as you adjusted your earpiece.

“As long as we finally get this guy in cuffs, I'm happy.” Marcus said as he adjusted the Velcro straps of your bulletproof vest.

“Breaching door in 10 – 9 – 8” Regina counted down over the earpiece as she prepared to break into the front of the house. You planted your feet and held your gun loosely in your hand, Marcus at your side as you covered the rear entrance. The shouts and sound of the front door breaking echoed loudly in the otherwise silent neighborhood. You could hear scuffles coming from inside the house when suddenly Maddox's voice came through your earpiece.

“He's heading for the back! He's running!” Maddox shouted.

Ioan Pearce burst through the back door and putting your full body weight behind your shoulder you slammed into him, knocking him off balance and to the ground roughly. In an instant Marcus had him flipped onto his front, handcuffing him while reading him his rights. Marcus looked up at you and smiled. It was done, this insane case was conclusively solved and everyone involved in custody. Maybe now the two of you could finally relax.

------

That evening after an early celebratory dinner and drinks with the rest of the team you walked hand in hand with Marcus down the path alongside the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall. The stress of the last few months with this case hanging over both your heads was settled and maybe the two of you could relax, if only for a little while. You would have never thought you would be where you were today when Marcus had finally asked you out nine months ago, in this very spot no less. He was particularly contemplative tonight, but it was a comfortable kind of silence. Just happy to be in each other's company as the pair of you strolled quietly, the purples and pinks of the sunset streaked across the sky behind the Washington Monument as you reached the end of the Reflecting Pool. Tugging Marcus close, you snaked your arms around him and tucked your head against his chest. Marcus smiled down at you and pressed his lips to your hair, but his nerves were starting to get the better of him.

“Mmm I can't wait to get home. We can curl up on the couch with a movie.” You pulled back to look up at him and smile. “Maybe have a glass of wine and an early night.” Giving him a suggestive eyebrow wiggle you captured his lips in a lingering kiss.

“That sounds like a perfect night in.” Marcus said and paused for a second. “Before we head home, there is something I need to ask you.”

“Of course honey, anything.” You replied with an adoring smile.

“I know we haven't been together for a long time, but I do know that my life is better with you in it. I love you and I can't see a future without you next to me.” Marcus took a deep breath, reached into his pocket, and dropped to one knee. “Sweetheart, mi corazón, will you marry me?” He gently took your left hand and held out a simple but beautiful cushion cut engagement ring with a thin platinum band. Your heart was pounding, eyes welling up as you grinned down at Marcus. It was never a question; your heart truly was his and had been from the moment the pair of you had sat here that early morning watching the sunrise.

“Oh Marcus, yes! I can't think of anything I want more than to spend the rest of my life with you.” Your hand trembled slightly from excitement as he slid the ring onto your finger. Marcus stood up quickly and kissed you deeply, holding you tight to his chest.

“I love you. I love you so much.” He said reverently between kisses, you could feel his smile against your lips. You had both been through so much recently and now? Now a new and amazing chapter of your lives was about to begin, and you couldn't wait to see where it would take you.

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rekrappeter · 4 years

Text

Good Enough || s.r

pairing: spencer reid x fem!reader

warnings: overthinking | cursing | low mood | insecurities | lmk if I have missed anything ♡

word count: 1.9k

a/n: thank you for the love on my first fic, I hope this one loves up to expectations. i pretty much just wrote this in order to comfort my own insecurities so maybe other people can relate. my requests will always be open ♡

That evening your phone had gone off every couple of minutes, blasting your obnoxious ringtone over and over again; yet it was still on your kitchen counter where you left it that morning. You refused to pick it up, not wanting to look at the numerous text messages and missed calls that were on the home page. It was Sunday and your boyfriend was due to return from work, but over the last three days that he was gone, you had fallen into an awfully big hole of overthinking.

Seventy-two hours was a long time to have your brain constantly telling you that you weren’t good enough for the man that you called your boyfriend, Spencer Reid. Take away the few hours that you were sleeping in between, the last three days have been nothing but torture for you. Hence, the reason that you were ignoring his phone calls. He had just finished a case with the FBI, the last thing he had to deal with was you being low and insecure. It had taken six months for these feelings to start surfacing within your mind but once you started shedding the tears, there was no going back.

Spencer sighed in frustration, his phone indicating that he was running on low battery. He quickly clicked into your name again, watching the phone dial your number before the screen went completely black. Spencer hissed a number of curse words that gained the attention of his male companion, who was sitting closest to him in the bullpen. Derek’s brows creased together and he dropped the pen that he was playing with to focus his attention on the young doctor.

“You ok, kid?” He asked, turning in his office chair to face Spencer’s desk.

Spencer looked up from his dead phone that he tossed by his pile of files, his curls hanging loosely over his face. His mouth opened and closed for a minute, reluctant to get advice from Derek before he shrugged it off. “Nothing.” He simply replied.

Derek hummed in acknowledgement, “Very rarely do I hear Dr. Reid curse, but if you would rather me get Penelope or JJ to question you, I can do that.”

“Please don’t do that,” The skinny brunette whined softly, weighing out the options in his head before deciding to trust Derek on this one. “It’s Y/N. She hasn’t been answering my calls all day.”

“Ah, girl problems.” Derek teased, his pearl whites gleaming under the bright lights in the bullpen.

Spencer groaned, standing up from his desk. “Forget about it.” He snapped, starting to pack up his belongings to head home for the night.

“Kid, I’m joking. Look, you’ve been gone for three days. Just pop by her apartment on your way home, okay?” Derek suggested which earned a grimace from Spencer, “Bring flowers, tell her you missed her.”

“I did miss her.” Spencer sighed, his hand brushing his hair from his face.

“Exactly. You have been going out for six months, it shouldn’t be strange just dropping by.”

“Um, okay… Thanks, Derek.” The younger boy replied, forcing a shy smile in his direction.

Spencer started walking out of the combined offices before Derek’s voice halted him, he looked over his shoulder. “Behave, you minx.” This only resulted in Spencer rolling his eyes and stalking out of the room towards the elevators. On the way to your place, his thoughts began to linger, maybe it was a bad idea just to show up. He shouldn’t be this nervous going to be his girlfriend’s house but deep down, he knew there was something wrong. You always replied to his messages and never once sent his calls to voicemail. His thoughts started to jump to different conclusions, did he do something wrong and not realize it?

The sudden silence was oddly irking you; your phone had stopped ringing and you didn’t notice that you were taking comfort from your ringtone until it was gone. You couldn’t say you blamed Spencer for giving up trying to contact you, it wasn’t your intention on keeping him on the ropes all day. It was just that you weren’t sure that you were going to be able to answer the phone and pretend like everything was fine. You couldn’t pretend anymore that you lived up to his standard; he was the most intelligent man you have ever met, with a number of PhDs and BAs, and you just about got your BA degree. It was silly for you to compare yourself to an actual genius but it was more so the fact that he deserved someone that he could hold an actual factual and statistical conversation with; not someone that had to research nearly everything that he brought up.

The empty feeling in your stomach from not eating all day came alive and you climbed out of bed, catching a glimpse of yourself in the mirror. Your eyes were puffed and your hair was a bird’s nest, the fact that overthinking caused you to look and feel like this made you even sicker. You had just reached your kitchen door when the sound of your doorbell blasted around the apartment, grimacing you knew exactly who it was going to be. You weren’t expecting anyone else to appear at your door at eleven in the evening.

You slowly walked to the door, your sock-clad feet sliding across the wooden floors. You peeked through the peephole and your heart soared with the sight of an exhausted looking Spencer standing there, a beautiful bouquet of flowers in his grasp.

Opening the door, you hid half of your body with it but worry immediately covered Spencer’s expression. “Hi…” He said, his voice soft and he tried to step forward but you didn’t budge the door, “What’s wrong?”

“Spence, I just want to be alone for a little while.” You whispered, avoiding his begging honey-brown eyes that were drooping. His heart tugged at the sound of your voice croaking, and it confirmed his theory that you had spent hours upon hours crying. “I’m sorry-” You attempted to close the door but Spencer stuck his foot in the way and you sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to let this drop.

“I can’t leave here knowing that you’re hurting. Let me in, talk to me.” Spencer begged, and you couldn’t deny him entry anymore. It killed you seeing him looking so worried. As soon as Spencer stepped foot into your apartment, he wrapped his arms around you. The flowers brushed the back of your head and you collapsed into his embrace. He was warm and you were thankful that he was wearing a grey sweater, it felt soft against your skin and when you breathed in his scent of coffee and cotton detergent, you felt grounded again. His lips pecked into the side of your head, a hand coming up to caress your cheek as he pulled away. “Why are you crying, princess?”

“I’m not crying now…” You replied, a pout evident on your face.

“Why were you crying?” Spencer corrected himself, no hint of the worry lessening on his features.

“I… It’s nothing.”

“Clearly it is something. Tell me.” Spencer pushed, his thumb rubbing up and down your cheek gently. You sighed, your eyes closing which resulted in a tear escaping down your cheeks, running onto his fingers. “Oh, baby.”

“Spence…” You started, reaching to cover his hand with yours and you peeled it off your face. “I have spent the last three days thinking and thinking and thinking…”

“About what?” Spencer wrapped his fingers around yours, a feeling of heaviness erupting in his stomach.

“You deserve someone so much better than me-”

“Don’t start, Y/N, please…” Spencer’s head dropped, sadness radiating from the pair of you.

“No, no, let me finish. Please.” You begged, he nodded in response and watched as you took a shaking breath in. The rant that you had created in the shower two days ago flowed off your tongue in one breath. “You deserve someone that matches your personality more than I do, someone that reads more books or watches old films in different languages. You need someone to challenge you in an intellectual way and I… I just can’t do that. I’m average when it comes to general knowledge, hell, I don’t even know what my IQ is. A… And I don’t want you to wake up one morning bored and regretting ever starting this.”

Spencer whimpered softly, stepping closer to your shaking body. You avoided eye contact again but he reached behind you to place the flowers on the locker and he cupped your face with both of his hands. “Look at me.” He snapped softly, it was forceful but filled with love. He used his thumb to wipe the fresh tears away.

“Spence…”

“No. Listen to me. The last six months have been the happiest days of my life.” You tried to object but he shushed you, “Listen to me.” He repeated, squeezing your face slightly and you sunk into his touch again. His lips were trembling but they remained their pink shade similar to the tint in his cheeks. “I don’t want someone to challenge me, I challenge myself enough. I want someone that makes me laugh, makes me happy, makes me feel like a kid again. You bring out a side to me I didn’t know even existed, you brought light back into my life and I enjoy teaching you things. I don’t want you to recite the whole Bible for me, I don’t need that. I just need you, I need you being happy and yourself because I love you and you are too good for me.” Spencer whispered the last sentence, and he sucked in a breath.

“You’ve never said that before.” You replied, your heart beating rapidly against your chest.

“I never thought I’d make you feel that you’re were not good enough.”

Your heart sank at his words, regret cursing through your veins. “It wasn’t you, Spence. It was all up there.” You muttered, pointing to your head and for the first time that evening, Spencer shot you one of his smiles. The one that showed that he understood.

“Just promise me one thing.”

“Anything.” You replied, wrapping your arms around his torso.

Spencer smiled at the gesture and brought his lips down to yours, connecting them gently. Your eyes fluttered closed, embracing every erupting feeling that he was setting off. His hand slid into your mess of hair, bringing your closer and he deepened the kiss. His tongue danced around yours, and you were melting into him with every passing second. Just as a moan escaped passed your lips, Spencer pulled away. “Talk to me if you ever feel like this again.”

You nodded in response and he was happy with that. Spencer untangled himself from you and picked the flowers back up, he walked deeper into your apartment but you stood there, your eyes following his every move. “Spencer,” You called out before he disappeared into the kitchen, he turned to look at you, his eyes sparkling and he waited for you to speak, “I love you too.”

The smile he returned sent your heart soaring and he shook his head, a chuckle erupting from his stomach. “I know.”

🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻

please please please let me know what you thought of this! It’s my first s.r fic so I would love some feedback!

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winterscaptain · 4 years

Text

fear itself.

Aaron Hotchner x Gender Neutral Reader

a/n: part two of the 100 arc! this installment covers the events of faceless, nameless. i am living for the feedback! please keep it coming. i can’t wait to hear what you think as we go through this (very emotionally wrought) section.

words: 4.5k warnings: canon-typical violence, language, hospital setting

summary: four hours of sleep and aaron’s missing. what else could go wrong?

masterlist | a joyful future masterlist | requests closed!

4:02am “Just got home, so I’m calling like you asked. Shoot me a text when you get back to the apartment, if you aren’t already asleep. Call me when you’re up and we can work on that Nebraska consult, maybe in the early afternoon? Goodnight. Sleep well.”

8:13am “Hey, it’s me. I know I’m not supposed to be worried about you, but we were called in a half hour ago and you’re still not here...so...give me a call when you get this. Bye.”

8:48am “Hey, it’s me, checking in again. You’re probably still asleep, but I’ve never known you to sleep more than seven hours...so if I don’t hear from you by eleven I’ll drag you out of bed myself.”

9:51am “We’re headed to the crime scene. Garcia’s sent you the address. I know JJ’s been calling you too, so just...I dunno? Call us back? Bye.”

10:20am “If you’re getting these and ignoring me, I hope you know you’re taking years off my life right now.”

11:08am “Um...Call me back. I’m starting to worry. Well...not starting. I’ve been worried. But I’m getting...really worried.”

11:37am “Aaron please call me and let me know you’re alright. You’re scaring me.”

+++

Needless to say, it’s been a weird day. Why you expected anything else after that wretched Canada case and four hours of sleep, you have no idea.

You had a horrible dream last night, on top of everything else. The image of Aaron broken and bleeding beside you hadn’t left your mind since it first appeared in Foyet’s kitchen. You tried to shake it off every time, but it was persistent.

We’ll worry about that later.

You check the time again, trying to ignore the weird feeling in your gut.

Where is he?

Your phone rings and your heart leaps. Guilt (and a little bit of embarrassment) pricks at you when you’re disappointed to see Emily’s name on your phone. You answer.

“You have to get down here.” Her voice isn’t frantic, per se, but the urgency is undeniable.

“What’s going on?”

She takes a breath. “I just got off the phone with Garcia - I have crime scene techs and SWAT on the way to Hotch’s apartment, and I need you here.”

All the blood in your body seems to rush into your head, and you lean heavily on the nearest object - the dining room table. “What?”

“I - I don’t know. All his stuff is here and there's -” She stutters for a second. “There’s blood on the carpet, broken glass, and a bullet hole in the wall by the kitchen. No Hotch.”

An eerie kind of calm washes over you, and you straighten, making eye contact with Derek. “Okay. Let me just -”

Derek gets a call, but keeps his eyes on you. “What’s goin’ on, Baby Girl?...What do you mean ‘Emily just called SWAT to Hotch’s apartment’ what -“

You break his gaze as he nods at you and turns to the rest of the team. “Emily, I’ll be right there. Don’t go anywhere.”

+++

You make it to the hospital with Emily. You flash your credentials and it gets you exactly where you want to go.

When you see him, your breath catches. He looks awful - drawn and small and wrapped in what seems like miles of gauze. Emily grabs your arm, but you’re not sure if it's for her benefit or yours.

This is, after all, your worst nightmare come to life. A little chill crawls up your spine. This whole thing has you feeling six different kinds of scared.

The nurse lets you into his room, telling you he’ll be out for another hour, at least. “He needs the rest.”

Emily leaves you to retrieve coffee. You take the opportunity to sit beside him and slide your hand under his, careful not to disturb the IV. Your hand shakes - whether from anxiety, fear, fury, or all of the above, you’re not sure.

“If you die, Aaron Hotchner, I’ll kill you.”

You hear a little laugh from the doorway and you pull your hand from him. Emily shakes her head, two cups of coffee in her hands. “You’re fine. I'm not going to tattle.”

You squint. “Tattle?”

She rolls her eyes. “You’re so clueless it’s almost cute, but he’s worse.” She throws her head toward Hotch with a fond smile, handing you your cup of coffee.

+++

The rest of the team arrives in a flurry a little while later, and the nurse has to warn them off as Aaron starts to wake.

They quiet down, surrounding his bedside. You haven’t moved, making it your mission to keep your eyes on him at all times.

His eyes flutter before closing again. “Where am I?”

“You’re in the hospital,” you say, keeping your voice quiet and steady despite the tightness in your chest.

“How did I get here?”

Derek gets that one. “Foyet drove you.”

Aaron takes a breath. It’s shaky, and you imagine he’s in a lot of pain. Emily leans forward, looking for his eyes. “Can you remember what happened?”

He tells you, slowly, about how Foyet broke into the apartment, waited until he was home with his guard down, fired a shot, and then...He trails off. A heavy breath leaves him. “What did he take?”

You have an answer. “There was a page missing from your day planner, the Bs from the address section.”

He closes his eyes and his breath grows faster, his heart rate increasing. After a moment, he collects himself and asks Emily, “What did he leave?”

“I don’t know.”

“He also leaves something with his victims.”

Emily shakes her head. “I looked through your entire apartment. Nothing felt out of place.”

“Where are my clothes?”

“Right here.” You reach over, grabbing the bag and removing his bloody shirt with only the barest moment of hesitation. He reaches for the envelope of his personal effects and you press it into his hand, saving him the effort.

Tears prick at your eyes as you watch his hands shake, opening his wallet. He’s eerily quiet, and you catch a glimpse of a photo, tucked into the fold.

Haley and Jack. There’s blood on it. You recognize it from the desk in his home office space.

No.

Aaron’s come to the same conclusion, falling back on the pillows with a look you can only describe as defeated. It scares you. You swallow, pushing your tears back.

That’s the last thing he needs right now.

“Haley’s maiden name is Brooks. I always listed her in the Bs in my personal information in case it fell into the wrong hands.” Your hand, like JJ’s, has fallen over your mouth.

Oh.

Of course.

Of course, he keeps her under Brooks. All he wants to do is keep her safe.

You hope, one day, that someone will love you that much, will want to protect you with the same ferocity, will think of you before anything else.

You could only be so lucky.

He swallows and continues. “He knows where they live.”

Derek makes assignments. You’re to stay right where you are, while the rest focus on locating Haley and Jack.

When it’s just the two of you, he closes his eyes again. “I don’t know what I’m going to do if -”

“They’ll find her. They’ll find Jack. They’ll be safe.”

You have to believe it, too. They’re too important to you, to central to your life, now

He shakes his head, his eyes cracking open. “Why didn’t I just take the deal?” Clearing his throat, he continues, his voice a little stronger, but still rough. “He told me I should have. I never thought -” He cuts himself off.

You hand him a cup of water, and he takes it gratefully. Idly, you note he hasn’t looked you in the eye yet.

“Do you want an answer to your question?”

He doesn’t answer you, looking across the room.

You lean into his eye line. “You didn’t take the deal because you have the most integrity of anyone I’ve ever known. Anything he does is on him. It’s not on you.”

“But,” his voice breaks and the smallest of tears falls out of his eye. It tracks down his temple until you gently wipe it away with your thumb. “But I could have stopped all of this.”

“No,” you whisper. Your hand lingers on the side of his face. “No. He’ll be this way wherever he goes. The only way you change that is by catching him, Hotch.”

He finally looks at you, his brown eyes exhausted, hurting, and bloodshot. You card your fingers through the hair at his temple, putting the oxygen cannula back over his ear. Soon, he closes his eyes again, his vitals evening out as he falls asleep.

“We’ll get him, Aaron.”

A few tense minutes later, your phone buzzes in your pocket. When you see the caller ID, a shot of adrenaline zings around your body. “Haley?”

Your name is a sigh of relief in her mouth. “SWAT scared the hell out of me and I just - I don’t know.”

“Oh, Haley I’m so sorry. I should have gone over there with the team but -“ Derek knew my stress wouldn’t be useful.

“No, no. It’s fine. They’re getting Jack from a friend’s house, but they told me what’s going on. I’ll see you when I get to the hospital. I just -“ She laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “I just freaked out.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I’ll see you soon.”

“I’ll see you soon. I love you.”

Your heart pulls. “I love you, too.”

She hangs up, and you stuff your phone back in your pocket.

Aaron wakes again when you pull a case file from your bag, but you’re not sure it’s your doing.

Shit.

He looks around a little frantically for a moment, still disoriented. You rise and cross the room, finding one of his hands.

“Hotch, it’s okay. You’re still in the hospital.”

“Haley?”

You nod. “They got her. She’s safe and she’s on her way with Jack.”

He finally relaxes, sinking back down into the pillows. “Thank you.”

You nod and resume your place on the other side of the room, patting the back of his hand as you let him go. He’s quiet, if not a little fidgety. You look at him for a minute. He takes a talking breath.

“After the first one, it kind of goes blank.” His breath is still a little unsteady, and you take your chair next to his bed again. “There were nine, apparently.”

Your breath catches. It’s not new information, but it’s still raw, sharp-edged.

Awful.

He swallows. “He taunted me.” His eyes beg you to understand, to keep him from flying off the rails.

“He’s a bastard, Aaron.”

He levels you with a withering stare. No shit.

“I know you know that, but it’s worth repeating.”

“I don’t want -“

You interrupt him, knowing exactly where he’s going. “You’re not going to become a victim. You aren’t a victim.”

“I don’t want Haley to -“

You press a hand to his arm, mindful of his bandages. “One day at a time. They’re safe today.”

His lip quivers and his voice leaves him in a whisper. “That’s not good enough.”

+++

Eventually, Haley arrives looking a little worse for wear.

Her haircut’s really cute.

The thought almost makes you laugh.

Of all the things to notice...

You startle a little as you remember where you are and rise, ready to give them space. She waves you off, giving you permission to stay.

“How do you feel?” She asks.

Aaron sits up a little more, not without effort, and says, “I’m gonna be okay.”

That’s not what she asked, stupid.

He continues. “Did they explain to you what’s happening?”

She nods. “They said the marshal's service is taking us straight from here and putting us into protective custody.” Her eyes meet yours, and you dip your chin. She’s right.

Aaron apologizes to Haley for the first of what you imagine will be many times.

Her lower lip disappears between her teeth. “Do you know where they’re gonna take us?”

“No,” you answer. “We don’t. And that’s the point.”

“I can’t know where you’re going,” Aaron adds. “If you have any contact with anyone, he can track you.”

That shocks her a little, and you can see she’s getting upset. “Jack has school. He has friends. I have a job now. I have -” She cuts herself off.

“I know.” He levels a steady, solemn gaze upon her. “And I’m sorry. We will catch him and you’ll come back.”

She looks at you again. “Are you sure we’re in danger?”

You nod, almost imperceptibly, and Hotch answers. “Yes.”

“And what about you? Are you gonna be safe?”

There it is.

She does love him.

You knew that, of course. Seeing them together during visits at home or out to dinner or otherwise in the presence of that other, that was never in question.

Your heart tugs.

Twenty-five years...

“He wants to see me suffer. Knowing that my son is out there and that I can’t see him is better than killing me.”

Haley wets her lips and swallows.

That’s her tell.

You figure she’ll burst into tears pretty soon. It was only a matter of time, and you don’t blame her in the least. You’ve had tears threatening you all afternoon, and this wasn’t even happening to you.

“Jack wants to see you.”

Aaron’s jaw gets a little tight. “I want to see him, too. I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”

You hear what he can’t say, too. I don’t want to scare him. I don’t want him to see me like this.

“Look,” she says, exasperated. “I know you’re trying to protect him, but you both need this. Please.”

He nods, resigned. “Okay.”

Haley looks over and offers you a shaky smile, trying to break the tension. “He also asked me if you’d be here. He’ll be thrilled.”

That almost does you in. “So will I,” you tell her, meaning every syllable.

With another brisk nod and wipe of her face, she leaves the room to retrieve Jack. Aaron sits up a little straighter and you help him. He tries to suppress his wince, but fails.

“Do you need another round?”

He shakes his head. “I’ll be fine.”

“Just let me know.” You settle back into the corner, the case file in your lap.

Haley and Jack return, and she brings him to Aaron’s side, lifting him up onto the bed.

Aaron meets his eyes and tells him that he’s okay, giving him a little preparing for what’s about to happen. “But, what do I tell you whenever I go away?”

“That you love me.”

You hide your face, looking out the window as tears finally fall from your eyes. Haley’s eyes are on you and you know it. You wipe at your face and take a quiet breath before turning back, pretending to pay attention to the case in your lap.

In your periphery, you can see Aaron looking over Jack’s face as if to memorize it, as if he doesn’t already know every plane, every curve, every angle of his son’s face. “More than anything in the world.”

They exchange a few more words before he brings him close and kisses his forehead. You glance up, and they look so alike in their profiles it almost makes you smile. Haley’s crying, too, and she meets your eyes.

Something passes between you, but you don’t have a name for it.

You don’t need one.

Haley takes a breath and tucks her hair behind her ears. She redirects Jack’s attention to you, and his eyes light up. She helps him scramble off the bed and he books it around the bed to you.

You close the case file and open your arms to him. “Hi, bud.” It’s hard not to scare him with the feverish way you hold him close, your fingers wound in his hair.

There’s a failed attempt to avoid thinking about the uncertainty of the future, when you’ll see him again.

If ever.

Stop.

The pair of you lean back for a minute, and you brush his hair away from his forehead.

“Are you going away, too?” He asks.

You shake your head. “I’m gonna stay here with your dad.”

“Are you going to keep my dad safe? I’m going to keep Mom safe.”

It’s Aaron who looks away this time.

“Of course, my love.” You offer him something you hope looks like a smile. “We always keep each other safe. We’re a team, like you and your momma. I’m so proud of you.” You check in with Haley, who’s looking away, the back of her hand swiping at her cheek. When she turns back to you, you tilt your head a little.

Want a minute?

She nods.

You stand, Jack still tucked against your chest. “I think,” you say, as he sits back in your arms, “Miss Emily and Miss JJ are back and might have something fun for you over there.” You tip your head toward the waiting room. “Wanna go see?”

He nods, leaning back into you and playing with your collar. You pat Aaron’s knee and squeeze Haley’s shoulder with your free hand as you pass.

Aaron watches you go, your low murmuring comforts to Jack lost in the ambient hospital noise. When you find JJ and look back, giving him a small (if not a little watery) smile, he looks over at Haley, guilt closing up his throat.

“I’m so sorry, Haley. I promise, when this is all over, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

She gives him a half-smile and sits on the edge of his bed. She reaches for him, and he takes both of her hands in his. There’s silence for a moment as they sit together. She studies him.

While it doesn’t bother him (she has been looking at him for nearly twenty-five years, after all), he does feel more exposed under her gaze than he’s used to.

“You should do something about that, one of these days,” she says, looking over her shoulder. You’re still visible in the window, talking to JJ while Jack is still glued to you. His little arms are tight around your neck, his head tucked under your chin.

Aaron’s brow furrows, but the EKG picks up the increase in his heart rate, much to his embarrassment. “What are you talking about?”

Haley laughs, a light, watery, delicate thing, and turns back to him. It almost brings a smile to his face. “Do you think I don’t know what you look like when you’re head over heels, Aaron Hotchner? After eighteen years of marriage and twenty-five years knowing you? Give me a break.”

His jaw grows tight, but he holds her gaze.

“You used to look at me like that, you know.” A little smile plays at her lips and she looks down, almost shy. “Still do, sometimes.”

“I love you, Haley.”

She squeezes his hand. “I know you do.” A sigh leaves her and she looks over her shoulder again, just catching a glimpse of you and JJ out in the hall with Jack as you go scavenging for something sweet. There’s a little smile at the corner of her mouth when she turns back to him. “You are so loved, Aaron.”

“I don't…” He huffs, frustrated. “I don’t feel -”

“I’m not saying you have to do anything, but it might do you some good to just…” She sighs, throwing a hand up in a kind of searching gesture. “I don’t know, be honest with yourself. Think for a minute.”

His teeth worry the inside of his lower lip as he thinks about it. He does care about you. But love?

He thinks of the way his chest feels too small whenever you laugh, the way he always goes above and beyond to make sure you’re safe in the field, how he looks for you when you’re out of the room, how he looks for you when you’re in the room.

The way you are with Jack brings him to his knees every time. The sound of his son’s laughter under your tickling fingers never fails to bring a smile to his face.

You’ve helped him heal what seemed like an insurmountable chasm between him and Haley, and though it’s not perfect, it’s better than it would ever be without you.

You always take a second to straighten his tie and ensure his suit jacket lays flat across his shoulders before leaving the plane, just like he always takes time to count the rounds in your magazines or tuck your tag back into your shirt collar.

He always feels so warm under your fond and attentive touch. With a little bit of alarm, he hopes you feel the same under his. Safe. Cared-for.

Loved.

Oh.

Oh no.

He knows the realization is clear on his face when Haley laughs again, surprising them both. She swipes at her eyes again, clearing any remaining tears. “You know, I can’t say I’m surprised you didn’t know, but it’s still funny, even with all this.” She shakes her head. “You haven’t changed much, have you?”

His face breaks out into a little smile as he looks back at her. “Oh, quit.”

“I’ll never quit giving you hell, as long as we live.” Haley reaches out, pushing gently against his shoulder. He takes the shove like a champ, even through the ache in his chest and abdomen, thankful she’s not treating him like he’s made of glass.

“Don’t I know it.”

They look at each other for a minute before Aaron sobers, the mirth evaporating between them. He already misses her. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for all of this. I’m hoping it’ll be...temporary.”

“I do have a life, Aaron. And Jack…” She sighs and her eyes fill with tears again.

“I know. I’m sorry. I wish there was another way to keep you safe, but -” He cuts himself off, knowing there’s nothing he can say.

She swallows again. She already misses him. “How am I supposed to keep him safe when there’s nobody I know to help me?”

He sighs, but speaks with conviction. “Haley, you’re strong. You lived with me in this job and you’ve practically raised Jack all by yourself. You’re a great mother.”

Haley’s actively crying now, trying to stem the tears with her fingers. It’s not working. After a moment, she collects herself. “Can you catch this man?”

“I will catch this man.”

+++

When she leaves Aaron’s room, you bring Jack to her. You take a moment to lightly fuss over them both.

Her blue eyes find yours. “Take care of him, please?”

You nod. “I will.”

“He needs you.”

She says it with a simple kind of conviction that makes your chest pull. You put a hand on her shoulder, trying to communicate everything you can’t say into your touch. “He needs you more.”

“No, he doesn’t.” Her lips twist in an odd sort of smile and she wraps you in a hug and kisses your cheek. “I’ll see you soon.”

You hold her tight, Jack trapped (and whining a little) between you. “See you soon, Hales.” You pull back, looking deeply into her eyes. “We’ll get him.”

The U.S. Marshals arrive, and you have to let go of each other. You press a kiss to Jack’s forehead and tell him you love him one more time, and wait until they’re in the car and out of sight before you break down.

You don’t know where he came from, but Derek wraps around you, catching you before your knees hit the ground. You don't know what you’re crying about, really.

It could be the overwhelming task of catching Foyet.

It could be Hotch in the room down the hall with nine stab wounds to his chest and abdomen.

It could be the indefinite absence of your dear friend and her son - a boy you love more than anyone except maybe -

Nope. Don’t go there. Not now.

Sobs wrack your chest, and your head hurts and your throat is sore by the time your body lets you breathe.

Derek’s there the whole time, rubbing your back and keeping your face hidden in the crook of his neck and shoulder. “It’s gonna be okay, kiddo. It’ll be okay. He’s okay. We’re gonna catch this son of a bitch.”

“It’s just so much, Derek.”

He sighs. “I know. I know.”

+++

“Did you hear what happened this morning?”

You’re woken by Dave’s voice, coming from the doorway. Cramped and crunched into the corner of an uncomfortable chair, you stretch and what feels like every joint in your body cracks.

“No.”

When did Aaron wake up?

You look over at him and he glances at you before returning to Dave, who’s leaning on the door frame.

“We had a situation. Unsub had already killed two people. Said he was gonna keep killing unless a man used his son as bait.”

“What happened?”

Good question.

Belatedly, you realize you’ve neglected your case duties all day in favor of holding vigil over Aaron’s bedside. The weirdest part about it? The rest of the team let you.

Why?

“We kept the boy safe. Worked the profile. It was a happy ending.”

That’s good, at least. One fucking happy ending today.

It’s like Dave’s reading your mind as he asks Aaron, “Do you know why I’m telling you this?”

“Yes.” Aaron’s gaze is impassive, but there are universes behind his eyes.

“No other group in the world could have pulled off what yours did in a matter of hours.” Dave checks in with you, and the corner of your mouth lifts.

Sorry.

He shakes his head just a little. No sweat, kid. You did your job.

“I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Dave, but -”

Dave cuts him off. “We’ll get Foyet.”

“I promised Haley I would get him. But the truth is, if he stops killing we have no way of tracking him. He stopped killing for ten years just for the pleasure of watching Shaunessy’s life fall apart.”

He’s crying again, and your heart breaks. You’re surprised Dave can’t hear it crack all the way across the room.

“What’s Jack going to remember about me in ten years?”

No.

“Hotch, look at me.” You rise from your chair and sit on the edge of the bed, careful not to disturb his position. He turns his head just so, his brown eyes locking onto yours. “We’ll get him. We will get him.”

We have to.

+++

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#aaron hotchner x reader #hotch x reader #aaron hotchner imagine #criminal minds imagine #criminal minds x reader #criminal minds fanfiction #aaron hotchner #criminal minds #hotch #tali writes fanfiction #tali talks cm #a joyful future #shut up tali #a joyful future fanfic

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imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl · 4 years

Text

The Perfect Bad Boy (Pt. 15 of 18)

Pairing: Billy Hargrove X Reader

Word count: 3 K

Summary: Working as a lifeguard in the Hawkins Community Pool, you try to fit in after moving from New York. Things were going pretty well when you notice you've been under someone's stare. Billy Hargrove, Hawkins' bad boy, has been staring at you since day one. You never intended to have anything to do with him, judging by the reputation he has. But Billy won't leave you alone, determined to show you his feelings are different this time...

As if your heart flooding you with confusing feelings wasn't enough, there are weird, strange animals lurking in the woods... But those have to be just part of the wild live of the woods surrounding Hawkins... Right?

<- Previous part (14)

Next part (16) ->

{Stranger Things Masterlist}

Missing

There are seven holes. Seven. But they aren't seven different nests, they're tunnels, with seven openings to the surface of the Earth. You only know that because Eleven spent the whole night focused on finding them, seated in the living room of Joyce's place, a piece of fabric covering her eyes. The map from before remained on the floor beside her, and she reached out to draw where the tunnels reach. You barely had any sleep, just the pair of hours you slept with your head on Billy's shoulder, seated on the couch, but someone's voice woke you up.

Relief fills your heart when the morning comes. During the night, you could only think about those things lurking around. After a quick shower, and using one of Eleven's shirt, you go to the kitchen and decide to have breakfast there, where you can be alone. Eating a bowl of cereal, you run a hand through your hair, trying to understand how are you going back to the pool today and act like none of this is happening.

“Hey, princess,” Billy says, coming into the kitchen. Hair is still wet and wearing only his jacket. “Are you ok?”

“I'm trying to be.” Pushing the bowl away, you watch as he makes himself the same meal you had. “Wondering how am I going to work today.”

“Wanna stay here? I can tell Anthony that you're sick. If he even shows up.”

“No. It'll be worse if I stay.” You're confused, not sure what's the best or what's worse. But at least in the pool you'll have something normal going on.

“Hey, you two,” Joyce says as she comes in. Her voice gets your attention, and when you look at her after exchanging a glance with Billy, you see that Hopper is right behind her, arms crossed and eyebrows furrowed together. “How are you two doing?”

“Uhm... Good.” It sounds like a question. Joyce sits at the table, with Hopper standing behind her. He has the chief face on, and you have no idea why. “Everything alright? Are we in trouble or something?” Gesturing at you and Billy, and cross your legs, an eye on the clock because you'll still need to stop by home to get the swimsuit.

“No, of course not. It's just that the kids were talking about something and–”

“Are you two living together?" Hopper speaks up, swallowing Joyce's words. She gives him a hard stare, and there's some kind of conversation going on through facial expressions that you can't understand.

“Yes.” You answer, not sure why you're in this situation in the first place. You feel like you're having the talk with Diane all over again. Diane. You have to call her, just to make sure everything is alright. “Why?”

“There were some rumors running around that–”

“That Billy Hargrove got some chick pregnant.” Hopper again. But this time Joyce slaps his arm.

“We agreed you'd let me do this.” She whispers.

“Then just get to the damn point.” He snaps back.

With wide eyes, you look at Billy. He doesn't seem bothered by this, peacefully eating his cereal. There's a smile on his lips that he tries to hold back, but you know him far too well now. You can see it. He's having fun.

“Look, guys, Uhm... These rumors started after I fainted on the pool, but it was from heat exhaustion, so...” Deciding to just end whatever this is, you speak up, kicking Billy's leg and whispering to him. “Say something.”

“(Y/N), honey, do your parents know about that?”

This makes you laugh, but then you remember Joyce doesn't know about your relationship, or better saying, the lack of it. “No, and I don't plan on doing that. But my aunt Diane does.”

“And she allowed it?” Hopper takes his time pronouncing every word as if this is absurd. “You're lucky you're not my daughter.”

“Hopper, just...” Joyce mumbles, her voice fading. “We just wanted to make sure you guys are... You know... Going somewhere with this. Living together is something really big and important to do.”

“I'll only say two things.” Billy finally makes his presence known, getting up and throwing his bowl in the sink. “First of all, I'm planning on marrying (Y/N). Second, we better go now or we'll be late. Again.”

There's a weird buzz in your ears as Billy takes your hand and starts pulling you with him. Joyce and Hopper have wide eyes, mouth half-open, in shock. You're not that different, and all your body is able to do is keep following Billy outside and to his car. You're silently looking through the window as he drives, but you're doing that on purpose, just to get back at him for saying that out of the blue.

“Aren't you gonna say anything?” He asks parking in front of the house.

“Absolutely not.” Stepping out of the car, you don't wait for him, heading inside. “If you really wanna do what you said, I'll patiently wait until you propose, Hargrove.” Turning around just enough to wink at him, you bite back a smile.

You're quick to get ready and manage not to be late. The song is blasting when Billy pulls over on his parking spot, and the moment the song is gone, you hear the chattering, noticing three police cars.

Your heart skips a beat when you leave the car, taking a deep breath. “Hey,” Billy calls, taking your hand. “Let's check what happened before jumping to conclusions, ok?”

“Ok.” Holding his arm, you move to the entrance, where a small crowd gathers. Hopper is here, and by the messy way of his clothes, he had to run over here. He immediately notices you and Billy, a sad look on his face. And that's when you see Monica, running a hand through her hair, tears glistening on her cheeks.

“Mon?” Calling, you let go of Billy and runs to her. Monica breaks a little bit when she sees you, and you're quick to hug her. “Mon, what happened?”

“It's Jason. My cousin is missing, (Y/N).” She cries on your shoulder, and you close your eyes tight because the first thing that comes to your head is probably what got him. The Demodogs. “He went out yesterday to buy dinner a-and his mom called mine saying he was taking long and...” You pull away, holding her hands. “...that was early evening yesterday. And he's still missing. The family spent the whole night looking for him and–”

“Mon, I'm sure we'll find him.” It's hard to lie. It's even harder not to break down in front of her. “Maybe he felt bad and fainted or something like that. We'll find him.”

“I hope so.”

“I'll drive you home, ok? Billy can keep the pools safe for one day.”

When she nods, drying off some tears, you make your way over him, who's talking to Hopper. He probably already knows, but you try to keep a straight face.

“Come here, princess.” He opens his arms and you don't even hesitate, hugging him tightly. “I'm so sorry. But we'll find him. The party is already aware of everything.” Whispering on my ear, Billy places a kiss on the top of your hair.

“I...” Getting rid of the single tear that escaped your efforts to hold it back, you pull away. “I'll take her home, she's very shaken. Can you just keep an eye–”

“Keep an eye on the kids, of course.” He bends over to kiss you, and your arms, almost automatically, move to be around his neck. “I'll pick you up after work, ok? I love you.”

“I love you.” It still makes you blush to hear those words, but you absolutely love to say it back. After one last kiss, you part ways.

Monica talks as you drive to her place, sharing memories with her cousin. Some of them you already know, but you don't stop her, laughing and making silly comments, trying to keep her mind away from the fact that Jason is missing.

Your mind also starts remembering. Obviously, you didn't have all the time around Jason that Monica had, but he was one of the first people you met when you got here. He's always smiling, carrying his siblings around, always complaining, but always happy to be with them. Jason is funny, even when he's the only one who actually gets his jokes.

Jason is missing.

Demidogs need a lot of food. An almost 6 feet tall male human has a lot of meat.

Shaking your head lightly, you push these thoughts away. No breaking down now. Monica needs you strong, to keep her strong too. Her family is either at Jason's or still looking, so you're alone. Both of you stay seated on her bed, and you give her your shoulder when she starts crying again. He's gone for one night and she's already losing it... If anything bad happens...

Her parents return home a couple of hours later, thankful to you for taking her back home. You drag her into the living room, turning the TV on this random movie and trying to convince her to pay some attention. You can hear her parents in the kitchen, making lunch, but you also hear when her mother cries, the low, cracking voice as she talks to her husband. It's getting hard by the minute to stay here, pretending you don't know what probably happened, but if you cry, if you start doubting Jason is ok, Monica will break apart.

A knock on the door, an unusually loud and frenetic knock, gets your attention. Looking over your shoulder, you see as Monica's father goes to answer it.

“Hi. Is (Y/N) here?” You hear a feminine voice, and you soon recognize it's Nancy.

Excusing yourself, you get up. “Yes, she's–”

“Hey.” You go to the front door, seeing Nancy and two cars in the sidewalk, many eyes looking at you. “Something wrong?”

“Sorry, but we need you. Uhm... Maxine is sick. We need to have a doctor check on her.”

“What?” You exclaim, running a hand through your hair. “Mon.” Calling her, you quickly make your way back to the living room. “I'm so sorry, but Maxine is feeling ill, I have to go. But I promise I'll call you later, ok?”

“Sure. Go help.” She says, nodding and clearing her throat since her voice is all clouded by her crying.

“Stay calm, honey. Jason is alright, I'm sure.” Another lie. You shouldn't make promises you don't know if you can keep. Giving her a quick hug, you run outside, muttering a goodbye to Mon's father as Nancy does the same.

“We'll go looking for him.” She says in a low voice as you move toward the cars. “We don't stand still when shit happens.”

Her choice of words makes you raise your eyebrows. You never heard her saying anything like that. “Thanks.” Muttering, you seat shotgun in Steve's car as she goes to Jonathan's. There are four kids on the back seat, fighting for some more space. You're happy to see Max is alright. For a moment, you thought she was really sick.

You park in the woods, and there are already some people here. Everyone but Hopper, because he has to be in the official search party, and Billy. God, you wish Billy was here.

“Alright, let's do this,” Mike says, and he freely starts separating you in groups. “Eleven and Will with me. Lucas, Jonathan, and Robin. Uhm... Max, Steve, and (Y/N). Joyce–”

“Why are you messing up the groups, man. I wanna go with Max.” Lucas complains and Mike rolls his eyes. “Groups of four, as usual.”

“Since when?”

“Alright, just gather in groups, c'mon, guys,” Joyce says, eyeing both her kids until they go to stand by her side, alongside Nancy.

You move to stand with Max and Lucas, and after playing rock, paper, scissors with Robin, Steve comes to your group. You raise your eyebrows at him, trying to get why they had to use that method to choose a group. “Nobody wants to be with these two lovebirds.” He says when he's close enough.

“That's something I can understand.” There's no doubt Max and Lucas are into each other, but they're constantly fighting. It's funny to watch, actually.

“Let's get started then, guys. Be careful, pay attention to the radios, and let's find Jason.” Joyce announces, taking over Hopper's role in this.

And everyone starts moving, each group in a different direction. You're going to the holes first, just to check, and then you'll cover a specific area. Max and Lucas are once again responsible for the map and walk a couple of feet ahead.

“Hey. Take this.” Steve gets your attention, taking the bat from his backpack and handing it over to you. “I know Jason was a close friend of yours. Sorry this happened.”

“Yeah.” You lay the bat over your shoulder, careful not to entangle your hair in the nails. “I really thought it couldn't get any worse but life proved me wrong.”

“I remember when Will went missing. I was a total jerk back then so I didn't really care.” You glance over to Steve, and he has an apologetic look on his face. “They found the body and there was a funeral. But the body was fake and Will was fine in the end.”

“Someone should make a movie out of that story.” You mumble, taking a deep breath. “Do you think Jason could be in the... Upside Down?”

“No. According to Eleven, no portals were open. The Demodogs just made these woods into their new home and are doing what it takes to survive.” Through the corner of your eyes, you see when he almost slips, opening his arms slightly to regain balance. “Don't laugh.” He says, but you're already chuckling. “Anyway, wherever he is, he's here.”

“Why don't we tell Eleven to just use her powers and find him. Wouldn't it be easier?”

“These woods are huge. And we usually just do that when it's the last resource.” Lucas answers.

“We don't like pushing her. It always brings back sad memories.”

That's something you can understand perfectly. “We do it the old way then.” You've seen how complicated it is. Eleven's nose wouldn't stop bleeding while she was figuring out the tunnels, and after while blood came out of her ears too. As much as you want to find Jason, you'd never ask her or the party to do something just so you'd feel better. They're in it far longer than you, so you trust them to make the decisions and set the pace. “I just hope he's alright. He's Monica's cousin, and she's worried to death.”

“Yeah, I get that.” It doesn't go unnoticed how Steve doesn't make false promises as you did with Monica. He doesn't say he's ok, that you'll find him. Running a hand through your hair, you take a deep breath, confused between having hopes or just expecting the worse. “So, changing the subject.” He speaks again. “You and Hargrove. I never thought Billy would actually fall in love.”

A smile comes to your lips, and you're thankful for having something else to think about. “Yeah. It took a while for me to believe that but he... He worked hard.” Involuntary, your hand goes for the necklace, fingers playing with the earring.

“Joyce and Hopper were saying something about marriage...” It sounds like a question, and you give Steve a glance, giggling. “They were trying not to let anyone hear them but Hopper doesn't really know how to whisper.”

By the heat spreading through your cheeks, you know you're blushing. Could it be real? Would Billy marry you? Is he really considering such a thing? “We spoke about it, Uhm... Twice, I think. But not a real conversation, he just spilled it out.”

“Holy shit, he's going serious with you then.” He playfully elbows your arm. By what you've seen and by what Max told you, Steve usually grows protective of everyone since he joined the party, and you think it's cute. He's like everyone's babysitter. “Send me an invitation, would you?”

“I will.”

“You–”

Maxine's yell cuts him short, getting your attention as you notice you have fallen behind. Immediately, you and Steve start running towards then.

“Man, that's...” Lucas says as Max hugs him, eyes tightly shut.

You're about to ask them what the hell happened when you follow Lucas' scared stare.

It's a weird sensation when you're brain refuses to take in the information. When your eyes, focused on something, are blind. And your ears are deaf and the wind blowing doesn't touch your skin. It's like you're not there.

Jason's body is stuck between a big rock and a dead tree. His torso is opened up, and there's nothing inside.

As there's nothing inside Jason anymore. He's empty. Body and soul. There will be no laughter leaving his lips, no more jokes, no more arms to carry his baby siblings around. Nothing. Just flesh and bones, both ripped apart.

“(Y/N).” You're sure it's not the first time you hear someone calling your name, but you're not even sure where it comes from.

You only move when an arm pulls you, and you feel it around you. “We have to go. C'mon.” Steve says, and, far and distant, you hear static, and voices, coming from the radio. “(Y/N).”

“I need Billy.” It's the only thing that comes to your head, and you find a way to force the words out of your throat.

“Alright, let's go,” Steve says, and you're only set on motion because of his arm around your shoulders.

Everything is a blur. You notice people moving around, and some of them come to hug you as they start regrouping near the cars. Nodding and thanking their kind words, you remain silent, arms crossed, the image still burning in your brain.

Jason's rib cage broken open, the blood staining his clothes and the ground around him. His head twisted in an awkward way, neck probably disconnected from the body.

“Let's get moving. She wants to talk to Billy.”

“The pool will close in an hour. Take her home.”

“No, she's scaring me. We need to take her to Billy.” Max intervenes, and Steve pulls you to his car. You let Max seat shotgun, feeling better in the backseat where you can curl into a ball, knees pressed against your chest as the landscape passes by.

It reminds you the first time you saw that thing. You were trying to beat Billy, driving back to your place. Maybe, if you had gone to the police station the next day, let them know something was out there, you could've avoided this. But who would believe you? You didn't believe it either. What are you going to tell Monica? After saying things would be ok, that they would find Jason alive and well when you knew being out in the woods all night long probably meant he'd become Demodog's meal.

You knew it, yet you lied. Vain hope is the worst kind of hope, and that's what you gave her.

“(Y/N).” Steve gets your attention, touching your shoulder. “We're at the pool.”

Blinking a few times to wake up from the stupor, you bolt out of the car, making your way to the entrance. It's crowded today, but you don't see faces, you just see obstacles.

It finally starts kicking in.

You went to find Jason, and you did. But instead of the dear friend you so easily grew to love, you found a dead, empty corpse. The tears threat to overflow as you rudely bump into people, making your way through the pool. At a distance, you see the moment Billy finally notices the commotion, his eyes quick to find you. By the way his face changes, the way he takes off his sunglasses and jumps to the ground, shoving people out of his way, you must be looking terrible.

But you don't care. Billy is everything you need, the only thing you see and you know you can break down in his arms. You just need to reach him, and when you do, you collapse against his chest, not able to hold back the tears anymore, the sobs building up your throat as you hold onto him.

“I'm so sorry,” Billy mumbles in your ear. He knows. How could he not?

You suddenly feel him lifting you up, and you hide your teary face on the crook of his neck. Seconds later you're at the locker room, and Billy screams for the other girls to get out as he puts you down, seated on one of the benches.

“I'm so sorry, (Y/N).” He repeats, kneeled before you, thumbs coming to dry off some tears, just to make space for more.

“I saw him. H-he was all eaten, Billy. His body was-his body was wide open and everything was gone–”

“Stop, stop.” He begs, pulling you into a hug. “You don't have to tell me, not now.” Nodding, you take in his scent, feeling safe, secure, despite the terror creeping under your skin. “I'll take you home, ok?”

“No.” You mutter, pulling away just enough so you're foreheads are touching. You don't know what comes to you, but this has to be said. This feeling has to be let out. Not after, not tomorrow. Now. Maybe it's the fact that you saw death for the very first time. You just need to let him know “You're my home.”

@chloe-skywalker @dpaccione @dreamin-of-dacre @funeral-7 @uncookspaget @youhavemyfantasticbeasts @halloweenbitch2764 @redlovett @multific @shinydixon @nikkixostan @clockworkballerina @nope-thanks

#imagine billy hargrove #billy hargove x reader #billy hargrove fanfiction #billy hargrove x y/n #billy hargrove imagine #imagine stranger things #stranger things imagine #stranger things fanfiction

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idiopath-fic-smile · 4 years

Text

more 1950s lesbian amis

continued from this.

in which grantaire makes coffee, and a friend.

“Good morning,” said Chester. “Is that a new dress?”

It was not. Grantaire looked up warily from her sketchpad. She wasn’t good-looking enough for this to be anything but a ploy.

“Do you need something, Chester?” she asked in her sweetest voice, all cotton candy fumes.

“Secretary’s out this morning,” he told her. “That’s why there’s no coffee yet.” And there, it all clicked into place.

Grantaire schooled her face as blank as she could make it; if she was going to reach his conclusion, he’d have to drag her there.

“Thank you but I picked up a cup on my way here,” she said, nodding at her half-empty styrofoam cup. After last night’s disaster at the Musain, she had been unable to even imagine the L ride to the office without a fortifying blast of caffeine.

Chester stared meaningfully; Grantaire stared back, meaningless.

“Grantaire,” said Chester, as if talking to one very stupid, “do you think you could brew us a pot?”

Grantaire blinked. “Does this normally fall to the staff cartoonist when the secretary’s away?”

Chester made a suppressed sound of deep irritation. He spread his hands, appealing. “Listen, I could struggle through trying to make coffee for the office and no doubt poison everyone trying, or you could do it, and add that homey little touch I know all the fellas would appreciate.”

Homey. It was not a word you’d apply to Grantaire’s garden-level one-bedroom, which boasted stained wallpaper and a stove straight out of the Coolidge administration. Homely, maybe. Chester was the one with a home, and a wife, and a fat little baby and the money for a comfortable life.

“It’s only fair to divide the work according to natural aptitude, sweetheart,” Chester was saying, and it was the sweetheart that snapped Grantaire like a rubber band, that word deployed like a pat on the head, like penny candy for a crying baby, like a scrap of baloney to a dog, like it could only ever be the bitterest pity or the cruelest joke in concert with Grantaire’s face, with Grantaire’s entire being.

“‘From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs,’” she murmured in an agreeing tone.

“Now you got it,” Chester started, then frowned.

“Karl Marx, Chester,” said Grantaire. “Keep up, or someone might need to place a call to ol’ Joe.”

Chester’s entire countenance soured. “This is why you should leave it to the men to make the jokes,” he said, “and stick to what you can do--”

Grantaire stood. “I’ll make the coffee,” she said.

“There,” said Chester, “did that need to be such a production?”

The “Golden Ratio,” according to a high school Home Economics course which Grantaire had frankly passed by the skin of her teeth, was one to two tablespoons of coffee for every six ounces of hot water. Grantaire remembered this by virtue of having gotten it wrong many, many times. She was no good with math but the machine took thirty-six ounces of water, which meant the ideal amount of grounds was somewhere between six and twelve tablespoons.

“Stars shining bright above you,” Grantaire hummed under her breath, measuring and dumping coffee grounds into the filter. One, two, three, four, five.

Grantaire had gotten it wrong in high school because nobody in her house drank coffee. She hadn’t discovered the jolting benefits herself until her first year of art school, as the deadlines began to pile and the available time to meet them began to wane.

“Night breezes seem to whisper, I love you,” Grantaire hummed. Six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

If there had been a way to brave the choppy academic waters of work and criticism without chemical assistance, that path had been invisible to Grantaire. She had tried, she had cried, she had turned down “diet pills” that the other girl in her program swore by only because Grantaire figured her own figure couldn’t afford to be more unflatteringly stick-thin.

“Birds singing in the sycamore trees--” Eleven, twelve. Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen.

The scrutiny and the pressure tempered the freedom of those heady days away from her parents. The expectation that Grantaire was only studying art as a way of killing time, until some charitable man came along to marry her, unless the poor dear simply couldn’t find anyone--she had found a survival strategy of her own, a roughly stitched-together patchwork of sarcasm and wine and more sarcasm, and coffee brewed so thick and strong it barely qualified as liquid.

“Dream a little dream of me.” Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty. Grantaire went ahead and dumped in the rest of the bag.

Grantaire was making shaky progress on her first deadline when Douglas stopped by her desk.

“Listen,” he blustered, “is this some kind of a joke?”

“Hm?”

“Your coffee’s undrinkable, it’s--” he faltered as Grantaire took a long swallow of the tarry substance in her mug. It was gritty and bitter, but by the standards of her art school years, only qualified as “medium dark.”

“Doug,” she said calmly, “if it’s too strong for you, you’re free to add plenty of milk and sugar.” She took another sip, meeting his eyes all the while.

He spun on the heel of his expensive dress shoe. As he stormed away, she could hear him mutter, at a passive-aggressive volume designed to be just-barely audible, but audible nonetheless, “No wonder she doesn’t have a man yet, can’t even make coffee right.”

“Grantaire?”

She looked up. The secretary was back from wherever she’d been, apparently.

“Hello,” said Grantaire, hoping that if she kept a friendly enough countenance, the secretary might not notice that Grantaire did not remember her name. “Are you feeling better?”

The secretary smiled, polite. She was young but plain, although not as plain as Grantaire. “Thank you, it was my mother, actually. She’s a little under the weather so I stopped home to bring her some soup and heat it up for her.” Grantaire nodded as if that kind of filial duty was a part of her daily life, too.

“Well, I hope her condition improves soon.” “Thank you, that’s very kind.” An awkward pause began to bloom. Into it, Grantaire blurted, “Sorry if you had the coffee today.” “Oh,” said the secretary, “no, no, I drink tea.” Of course she did, thought Grantaire. She had the look of someone well acquainted with the proper use of a cup and saucer. She lowered her voice slightly. “Douglas informed me all about this morning’s coffee maker adventure.” She lowered her voice a little more. “In some detail.” “Yes, I must have lost count spooning in the grounds,” said Grantaire blandly. “I can’t imagine how it slipped my mind.” “I can,” said the secretary with a crooked smile. Somehow, with both eyes wide open, she gave the impression of winking. “Say, Grantaire. I don’t suppose you could take your lunch break with me? There’s a park across the street, it’s very quiet. Private.” Grantaire nodded. “Good,” said the secretary. That crooked smile again. “My name is Combeferre, by the way.”

“You know, I saw you the other day,” said Combeferre as she neatly removed a packet of celery sticks wrapped in waxed paper from her lunch bag. “Did you.” Grantaire ran through her mental list of places she’d been over the past several days. If she was very, very lucky, maybe Combeferre simply meant that she’d glimpsed Grantaire at the Jewel, picking up some groceries for her tragically empty fridge. Combeferre glanced around the park in a very natural, off-hand way. “At the Musain,” she said. Grantaire’s stomach dropped. She could feel her grip on her turkey sandwich going white-knuckled. “Chester and Murray, such a pair of jokesters,” she said at last. “I suppose I was being hazed last night--” “No, I saw you last Thursday,” said Combeferre quiety. “By yourself.” Grantaire hadn’t been in there for more than forty-five seconds. Had all of Chicago seen? She felt something bubble up inside her. “So,” said Grantaire, trying to match Combeferre’s even, calm voice. “Is this blackmail, then? I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until I’ve gotten my first check, I’m a bit light at the moment.” Combeferre blinked. “Oh dear,” she said, “oh no, you misunderstand me completely. I saw you from inside.” “You were there?” said Grantaire, feeling very dumb for not having picked up on any sign of Sapphism earlier. There was nothing obvious in her manner or dress. The comment about stopping home to see her mother might have suggested she was still living with her parents, and thus unmarried, but plenty of girls did that. Of course, not every woman of a woman-loving bent chose to broadcast it to the world like that short-haired Amazon in the bar restroom. Combeferre’s hairdo and clothes were no doubt chosen for hiding, like Grantaire’s. “Do you have plans this weekend?” Combeferre asked, and Grantaire attempted not to look entirely pole-axed. Was this a pass? Grantaire felt no immediate pull, but, wretchedly, she realized she was lonely enough to consider it. She raised her eyebrows. “You see, I belong to, um, a social organization,” Combeferre continued, unaware. “We could use some new members, and it would be so nice to know someone else at work--” “Is it a book group?” said Grantaire. “A tupperware exchange? A cat appreciation society?” Combeferre smiled. “I do like cats,” she said. “No, we’re. Hm. The Chicago branch of a group of like-minded individuals who find ourselves on a slightly divergent path from the majority of mankind. It’s a very relaxed, informal thing. We’re meeting at the apartment of a friend for spaghetti dinner on Saturday. I can give you the details if you’re interested.” “And you’re all women?” Grantaire said. “We are,” said Combeferre. What the hell. It wasn’t as if there was a line of people waiting to make Saturday night plans with her. “Alright,” said Grantaire. “Wonderful.” Combeferre gave her an address, although Grantaire didn’t know the city well enough for it to mean much without a map. Her eyes briefly scanned the park again. “And I should add that you don’t have to use your real name,” she said. “In fact, I think most of us don’t.” “Some tupperware club you’re running, lady,” said Grantaire, and Combeferre half-laughed. “I was going to leave you a note,” said Combeferre, “on your desk, explaining everything in advance, but then my mother was sick and there wasn’t any time.” “If anyone saw what you wrote,” Grantaire started. “In shorthand, of course. None of the men would understand.” “I can’t read shorthand,” said Grantaire. “I took a course on it but that was about the time I realized my future would need to be elsewhere.” “I was going to be a physician,” said Combeferre dreamily. Grantaire turned to face her. “I had the grades, you know. Biology was my best subject, and I enjoy helping people.” “What happened?” Grantaire asked uneasily.

“Oh,” said Combeferre. “I had a marvelous professor. I’d asked him to write me a recommendation, and he pulled me aside and explained that if I’d have to do twice the work for half the respect, which was of course the truth. I considered nursing, but a life of emptying bedpans and dodging the head doctor’s wandering hands didn’t appeal.” “So instead you empty inboxes and dodge Richard’s wandering hands,” said Grantaire. “You’ll fit right in with my friends,” Combeferre said with another smile. “I’m sorry about what my friend said to you last night. She has an excellent heart and is a key part of our set, but she can be somewhat severe.”

“Do you mean the Hippolyta who cornered me in the powder room?” “Undoubtedly,” said Combeferre. Then, “oh, and definitely don’t call her that!” “Wouldn’t dream of it,” said Grantaire.

#eXr DOB

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jay-and-dean · 4 years

Text

Firefly Chapter 3 : Nine and Twelve years old

By Roonyxx and Jay-and-dean

Pairings : future Dean x reader ?

Summary : 40 years in Hell, but he didn’t spend all this time all alone, he had her.

Prepare to know what happened during those years Dean never talks about. To immerge yourself in Hell, only lit by the mysterious kid growing here…

And to see some of your favorite villains again : Crowley, Lilith, Lucifer… And also Sammy and Jack…

Serie Warnings : Hurt!Dean, Hell (torture, even if we tried to not give it graphic descriptions, creepy demons, blood, violence), swearing, angst, future fluff and smut.

This story is in both Reader’s POV and Dean’s POV

Wordcount : 4880

Note : This is our second collaboration. We can’t both edit the same post, so we decided we would post 1 chapter/2 each, like we did for Same.

We both worked as much on this story and it’s the result of both our brains but also both our hearts.

Please, if you want to show love for this story, don’t forget we were together in this.

This story will be around 10 chapters and we intend to edit it every Saturday if nothing delays it.

Firefly Chapter 1

Firefly Chapter 2

Jay’s Masterlist

Roonyxx Masterlist

—————————————————————————————

Reader’s pov

She sighed, putting the notebook down on the marble table.

“Once more” the demon ordered, weirdly scratching his chin, or rather the skin of a middle-aged lady that didn’t suit him. “I want you to know this by heart.”

“Why” Y/n frowned. “What is the point of all that ? You’re not even a real teacher ! You make me learn things that have no sense !”

A wicked expression appeared on the demon’s face, betraying him despite that ridiculous disguise.

“Oh I’m begging you little shit, disobey again. Punishing you is the only good part of this stupid job.”

“You’re not allowed to hurt me” she smiled with contempt. “Crowley would end you, and Lilith…”

The demon suddenly got up, grabbing her by the hair to throw her where the chains were. Immediately tying her like an animal in a circus. She tried to fight him, already regretting her words.

“I’m allowed to cage you.”

“No no no…” she instantly begged.

Last time he had done that, he left her chained for four days and no one showed up, he was the only one coming every day.

But today, she was going to know if Sammy told John about the college letter. After several bad days in a row (days when Dean couldn’t talk, wasn’t in his cell or she couldn’t get there), she couldn’t resolve to be locked again.

“Let me out !” she groaned. “Let me out or I SWEAR !”

But the demon kept smiling, seeing the now warded chains redden without breaking.

“Please…” she finally begged, falling on her knees. “Please, I hate those chains.”

“Prime numbers” the demon just stated coldly. “Until two thousand.”

“Two” she swallowed, looking down. “Three, five, seven, eleven, thirteen…”

She limped in the corridor, holding on to the bloody walls with tears in her eyes, and Mister Teddy Bear against her.

After making her start again ten times, the demon had thrown the keys at her with a satisfied smile before he left. But of course, he had given them all but one : the one holding her ankle ; just to laugh, thinking at her false hope.

And after tugging at it furiously for an hour or more, something had finally broke. Not in the chain... but in her ankle.

Dean’s cell wasn’t so far now, she would make it. And she would be brave and heal, just like he did, every single day. She turned left and limped to his cell, a cold sweat dripping down her back, and finally pushed the door with a light smile.

Her smile faded.

She was too late or too early, or Alastair just lost his temper again. Almost nothing was left of her friend. Blood and guts, pieces of bones....

For the first time in her life, she looked away, turned around on her purple foot and left a tear fall on her cheek. Hell was an unfair place and, for years, she had just accepted it for was it was, because she knew nothing else… But now her child innocence was slowly dying, and her hate growing.

She sat on the corner of the room, making herself as small as possible, her back on what was left of Dean, holding her teddy bear against her.

She could wait.

After a while, she could hear the little whimpers that left his mouth, a sign that he was back together.

She turned around to see him : He was panting, his clothes clung to his sweat drenched body. His eyes were still closed, not ready to face her yet, if he even knew she was there.

She took her injured ankle and heaved it up off the ground to turn completely to him, a hiss leaving her mouth. It wasn't totally healed yet, which made her frown. She was used to injuries only lasting a few minutes, an hour eventually… But this one was bad.

His eyes opened, he probably heard her.

“H-hey Firefly…” he sounded hoarse.

She wiped her tear and tried to give him her best smile, but she couldn’t. Hell was weighing down on her more and more every single day, she now saw how wrong it all was. How her friend suffered every single minute down here.

“Hey…” she said a little bitterly, as she waved the arm of Mister Teddy Bear.

His eyes raked over her, but he didn’t really seem to see her yet. They looked void of anything. He heaved himself up with his arms, his back now resting against the wall. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut and opens them again. His pupils adjusted to the darkness that surrounded them. He once again took her in, frowning when he saw her cradling her foot.

“Y-You’re hurt ?” He sat up more, his hair sticked to his sweaty forehead.

She shrugged, she would heal anyway. It’s nothing compared to what he is going through. For the first time in her short life, she thought of the act of torture, for real, not just like something that existed and filled her world, but like something absurdly cruel… Before she could really come to any conclusion, he spoke again, his voice worried like it was more important for her to be hurt, like for him, it was just the way it was… Was it ?

“Does it hurt ?” he questioned her.

She shook her head no. It did hurt, but she didn’t want to worry him, she just wanted to know more about Earth and try to take his mind off everything.

He let his head rest back against the wall.

“Where were we ?” He still had some trouble breathing, she could see it in the way his chest moved. “Oh yeah. The college letter, right ?”

She nodded, yes ! Was Sam gonna tell their dad or not ?

“Right…” he took a deep shaky breath, and she couldn’t say if it was from his body still being broken, or from that weight on his chest, he always seemed to have when he talked about his father. “So at first Sammy didn’t tell our dad, because well, he knew dad wouldn’t like it. He knew I didn’t like it.”

Of course he didn’t, she thought, he needed Sam. And being alone with his father really didn’t seem fun… For a second, she wondered what would life be with a brother or a sister. But she will never know, her own father made it very clear that her “accidental” life was enough bother.

“I didn’t want Sammy to leave” he continued. “He’s my baby brother. I gotta look out for him.”

He fell silent suddenly, apparently strangled by emotions, a tear rolled down his face. Her own stomach felt tight, the love Dean felt for his brother always moved her deeply.

She moved a little closer and put her teddy bear in his lap, she knew he felt lonely. It was part of the torture, the loneliness… She felt it too.

He wrapped his hand around the small, dirty bear with a tender smile, almost amused.

“Thank you.” He looked down at the bear as he continued. “He is the reason I’m here, you know. Sammy died and I… I couldn’t let that happen, so I made a deal. My life for his. I would do it again in a heartbeat. He deserves a happy life.”

And he didn’t ?

He was tortured every single day, just because he saved his baby brother ? That sounded… wrong.

She knew a few reasons people would give up their soul. Money, success, fame... She never understood why those reasons exactly, these things didn’t mean anything down here. Those souls, they never lasted long on the rack.

But sacrificing your own soul for Love, those were the good people, the ones that really didn’t deserve to be here. Dean was one of them.

She looked up at his face, his eyes were watching nothing in particular, but she could tell by the thousand emotions passing on his face, that he was lost in his memories.

“Sammy loves fireworks” his thumbs brushed over the blood stained tummy of the bear. She frowned at him.

“Do you know fireworks ?” He finally looked at her.

She crossed her legs, noticing her foot was healed, and shook her head no. It sounded a little dangerous to her.

“It’s a tube filled with chemicals and when you light it on fire, it shoots up in the sky and makes a colorful explosion. Many people use it to celebrate a holiday” he half smiled. “Fireworks can be blue or red, gold, green, any color you want.” He reached over to give her bear back. She took him and placed the broken toy back in her lap.

A smile came upon her face, that sounded like something she would like.

“I hope you can see it one day, well night, you can only see it at night, because light only shines in the dark. This one time I got a whole box of fireworks, i was like 19 maybe. Sammy was 15. We had some rough hunts, one after the other and I could see it was wearing down on Sam, and it was the 4th of July.”

She didn’t dare telling him she had no idea what it meant, she was used to know only a part of what he was talking about.

“Dad forbid it, but I disobeyed. I wanted to make him smile, he was so happy…” he smile faded. “I wonder how he is now. ”

She wanted to get him fireworks, she wanted to make him smile. No, she had to make him smile, if it was the last thing she did.

“Sorry, I was talking about the letter, I just… I just remembered night sky and...” he swallowed. “At least Sammy can still see night sky, stars. You never saw stars, Firefly, right ?”

She gave him a light smile, that seemed to make him curious.

“Did you ever see the sky ?”

“I…” she started but didn’t finished her sentence.

How dangerous was it to speak ? For him ? For her ? For Crowley and all the “people” she knew even if she hated them all. They had made her swear.

She looked around and turned her ankle to make sure it didn’t hurt and wasn’t broken anymore. Then got up on her feet.

It was the very first time since she knew Dean, that she saw him totally healed and, above all, not chained. His body just got whole again so it was free from the iron nightmares.

She took a deep breath, and thought hard for a second : What if Alastair came here and… What is the worst that could happen if she got caught breaking Hell’s number one rule ? They would torture him… They already did that the best they could. They would probably lock her up and never let her out…

She looked at him for a long time, searching his confused face.

“Are you okay, kid ?” he asked in a frown.

“Come” she finally answered, offering him her tiny hand.

Dean’s Pov

He stared at her palm, trying to process what she just said. He had never escaped this room, and the few times he got out of it, a demon just took him just next door, for unknown reason.

“You…” he said but she just kept offering her hand.

Dean was scared. He was terrified even. Years of constant torture and humiliation had made him extremely sensible to threats ; and right now, all he could think of was Alastair’s voice telling him he hadn’t done the worst he could do yet, that some places in here could make him say yes in a heartbeat, but that it was funnier this way.

He hesitated. Alastair would be furious if he found him out… But her eyes were shining, and her hand didn’t shake at all. Something so strong was radiating from her.

He got up, and just being on his feet felt weird now. No chains, no broken knees… His hand reached hers and she closed her surprisingly soft fingers around it, smiling so wide her pretty teeth showed.

The first three or four steps he took felt extremely weird, like his body remembered how to be active, move… There was something so alive about walking.

After balking a second before the door frame, he finally got out of his cell, led by the little girl in a fancy night blue dress, that seemed to fear nothing.

“Where are you…” he started.

But she turned to him, cutting him with panicked eyes and a finger on her lips. Then she shook her head “no”, making it clear that they had to be silent.

Dean was thorn. His eyes kept roaming everywhere, and yet he didn’t want to see anything. Hell was not just a word now for him, and the screams and begging was slowly triggering some serious panic attack deep inside of him.

His hand started to sweat.

The little girl stopped in her tracks, frowns and turned to him. Her big eyes searched his face, she obviously could feel how bad he was. She tugged at his arm making him bend a little on her, never letting go of his hand.

“You stay silent” she whispered close to his ear. “You never leave my side, I know the way…”

It somehow helped.

He had no idea who she was, but what was sure was that this tiny lovely ghost knew what she was doing.

They kept walking and he started focusing on her, and only her, forgetting the arms trying to reach them and this horrible smell of sulfur, forgetting the burning hot and the freezing cold…

The way she moved was totally amazing, fast like a rabbit then careful and slow like a hunting cat, stopping to hide behind a column before a demon even showed up, like she knew Hell’s clockwork perfectly. And it calmed Dean a little : watching her move was like watching a dance.

After long minutes avoiding many dangers, they entered a very long corridor with no doors but an incredible cathedral ceiling. Dean didn’t think he would see anything like this in Hell, anything somehow beautiful… But his Firefly was really like a beacon in the eternal night.

“No demon” he whispered.

“No…” her little voice answered, echoing on every tall walls. “This place is empty and useless, they say.”

“Useless…” he repeated, not really understanding.

At the end of the corridor, a huge door appeared, high like a house, thousands of symbols carved on it, and two huge marble gargoyles guarding it.

“They lost the key” she whispered even lower, guiding him to the door.

“What is on the other side ?” he asked, his breathing short with a mix of fear and hope.

She stopped, and suddenly let go of his hand to plunged her small fingers in the hole where the head of her teddy bear should be. She bit her lip in concentration, searching in the foam.

A little smile appeared on her face, and she started pulling at something.

A key.

She took it out cautiously, blowing on it a little to take off the foam dust stuck on the weird yet beautiful key. It was way too small for the giant door, and yet, she got on her tiptoes to reach the little lock he hadn’t notice.

The little girl looked behind her a last time before she made one of the huge parts of the carved door move open.

“Come” she said.

Carefully, he slipped inside the room and his breathing got stuck in his lungs while she slowly closed the door behind her.

The room had no ceiling. It was made of four black walls that Dean wasn’t even sure were there because of how dark it was. And above them… The sky.

The shadows of trees and and leafs in the night and between them : the stars. Exactly like he remembered it. It must have been a peaceful night of summer, because the temperature was perfect, no burning hot and no painful cold… Just a soft breeze was gently caressing his skin and he could have swore he could distinguish the thousand characteristic smells of nature, of a forest.

A tear rolled down his face, falling in his ear as his chin was up, eyes glued to the sky, the stars and the moon.

It was like the room was both in that forest and out of it, or under it, like his Firefly and him were in the bottom of a well, open on the universe.

He felt her hand wrap around his wrist and turned to her for a second. She was as fascinated as him, her big wet eyes reflecting the moon, and her hand shaking a little.

“What is this place ?” he asked, but she only shrugged, never looking away from the crescent moon. “That’s where you saw the sky, Firefly” he understood.

She nodded.

They stood here, close to each other, her small hands holding his wrist on her right and the key on the left. Tears rolling down his face, and shaking his chest in silent. Not another word was said.

After a moment, she slightly tugged at his arm, and his heart sank. How could he go back to torture now ? How cruel was it ? But he couldn’t let her get in trouble, and maybe… just maybe one day she could take him here again.

He wiped his tears and followed her without a word. The second she closed the door behind them, the harassing heat was back, and the dreadful smell was the only thing surrounding them again.

She closed the door behind her and hid the key back in her teddy bear, making sure it was on the bottom of it. Before she could start to walk back to the horror of his cell, he turned her small body to him, and sink on his knees to hold her.

“Thank you” he breathed out. “Thank you so much.”

Her skin was cool despite the suffocating heat, like it didn’t affect her at all, and no sweat was on her soft arms or back.

She hugged him back hesitantly, wrapping her hands around his neck, and he felt her nose shyly closer to his skin, like she needed to know how his skin smelled.

He let go before her, and get up on his feet, murmuring something about going back. She took his index finger and led him like she did on their way here.

Dean was lost in his thoughts. About life, about Earth, about the sky and the stars, memories of not appreciating it enough, of that time he told Cassie that just watching the sky was boring…

That’s why he didn’t feel her finger let go of him in an instant.

“Dean winchester !” a horrible demon voice groaned.

He looked up and started shaking. The beast was wearing it’s real form, twice taller than him, with horns coming out where his eyes should have been, and extremely long claws at the end of his too big fingers.

“How did you get out !” the demon half yelled.

Dean looked around : Nothing. No clue of his Firefly presence, or that she even was there once.

And while the beast was dragging him by the arm harshly, he wondered if it was possible that his mind was beginning to make things up...

Alastair was furious, even angrier than he ever was. Hitting his face again, he kept asking :

“How did you get OUT ?”

But Dean didn’t open his mouth, not once.

When that demon that had found him entered, holding the little girl by the neck, Dean had two really strong contrary feelings at once : The infinite joy of now being sure he didn’t dreamed that, and the devastating pain of seeing her struggling against that giant monster.

“Boss, we found her hiding. You think she might have helped him ?” the demon said, making the walls tremble.

“Oh yes she might, I’m pretty sure she did…” his torturer answered with a wicked smile.

Y/n’s pov

The demon dropped her to the floor of the cell.

“Oh girlie, you are in so much trouble now.”

She saw Dean cowered against the wall, already bruised and bleeding. Arms wrapped around his body to protect himself.

He tsked his lips in a way only he could, making her shiver, and hold on to her broken toy.

“Leaving your room AND taking my pet,” an eerie grin showed his yellow teeth, “You’re in for it now.” He motioned with his two fingers to the demon to handle Dean.

She couldn’t let that happen, it was her fault, Dean shouldn’t pay the price for her disobedience. She ran to stand in front of Dean.

“No.” She said, looking up at the monster, challenging him.

He laughed at her and she clenched her little fists and planted her feet. She knew she couldn’t stop the torture, but right now, she couldn’t let it happen. The smell of his neck still clear in her mind, the sight of his happy tears falling on his face…

“You’re gonna stop me, child ?” he bent, to face her, his long sharp teeth inching towards her face.

She held her head high, looking him in his black eyes with rage and took a step forward, the demon moving backwards. Her breathing got faster and she felt her anger burn her skin.

He looked down at his feet apparently surprised that with every step she took, he moved more backwards, his long nails scraping over the floor, leaving deep crescents behind. He reached his arms towards her but he couldn’t reach her, like there was an invisible wall between them.

Waves and waves of fury pulsated through her, making her feel tall for once, making her feel strong…

“I-Impossible” he gasped.

Her grin grew wider, her hair started floating around her again.

But it didn’t last...

A immense power violently slammed her back into the wall as Alastair stepped forward. She fought back the best she could but he didn’t even break a sweat.

“You’ll need a whole lot more juice to over power me, girlie.”

He stood straight before her. His power crushing her, her breath cut short. His grin made her feel sick as his eyes travelled over her with contempt.

Her eyes widened when he grabbed her bear clutched tight in her hand from her.

“NO !” she yelled.

Her arms fought his power, reaching out for him, but with the flick of his wrist she was pinned against the wall once again. She was fighting him with everything she got. Eyes a flare, vibrating from the power inside of her.

She could see Dean in the corner of her eye, he looked… scared. Was it of her ?

“You disobey, you pay.” Alastair said as he held Mister Teddy Bear, his eyes turning white as he set the bear on fire.

“N-No…” tears rolled down her face.

Her stuffed friend was the only thing that fought her loneliness, her only true friend, they had been through so much together.

As she started sobbing, seeing the quick fire of Hell turning Mister Teddy Bear to ashes in seconds, she felt her heart sink in her stomach. Her nights would be so much lonelier now with no one to hold. But her days too, everything would be empty.

The light in her eyes died down as did the flame. Mister Teddy Bear, reduced to a pathetic heap of dust…

“Stop crying, you’re nine years old, that’s too old to have a toy.”

Alistair patted his hands together to get rid of the black ash. But in his hands was not only ash. Shining on the floor, a little reddened by the flame : The key. His eyes widened.

“Where did you get this?!” His hand grabbed her by the throat, his power pushed down on her, making the wall behind her crack under it’s force. “WHERE ?”

“L-let her go” Dean coughed, his breathing short, but Alastair ignored him, and the other demon stepped on his chest.

She kept her mouth shut. She had snatched it off of Crowley one day when he had pissed her off, hoping it was a key to one of her chains. But it didn’t fit…

It looked different from a normal key. It was gold, a circle with a hook on top of it and three long teeth that looked it would never fit in any lock. But if Crowley kept it, it had to be important. So she tried every lock of Hell.

“You STUPID girl, you just earned yourself an eternity of chains and horror” he sneered at her.

“It already is my life” her tears had stopped by now.

This key seemed like a big deal, Alistair was not one to lose his temper so easily. He put it in his pocket. Turned his head toward the beast crushing Dean’s ribs with his weight.

“Take Dean to my room, it will be one Hell of a session” he winked towards the bloody man struggling to breathe, toying with his prey, as the demon dragged him out.

Y/n didn’t wave this time, her eyes fixed on the pile of ash on the floor.

“And you” he fisted her hair, making her look up at him. “Let’s give you a taste of real Hell.”

___________________________

She walked carefully in the corridor, holding her long, puffed-out muslin dress up to keep it away from the blood and dirt.

The cold air was biting her wide cleavage, upper back and neck because her hair was held in that tight bun. She could feel the freezing gold at her wrists and neck, and hanging from her hair. Her shoes were tight and high, she hated them.

Her steps resonated against the stone walls, but she knew no demon would be around.

She needed to see him, just once, since they had played with her like a doll since this morning, and she didn’t have a second for herself.

When she pushed the door, he was held by chains again, but whole, curled up in the corner, his clothes seemed to have been mostly burned, and a heavy smell of smoke was making the air barely breathable.

“Dean” she said.

He looked up and his face lit up, his widened eyes reflecting her fancy appearance.

“You look like a princess” he groaned with a voice still croaky.

“You won’t see Alastair tonight” she assured him.

“Is there a party ?” he scoffed, visibly bitter like he somedays were. “Have fun.”

“No one will visit tonight Dean” she repeated again, not knowing what she could add to that.

Then she turned around in a light sigh. He had every reason in the world to be that bitter, there was nothing more to say. But the second she was going to pass the door, he spoke again :

“Don’t let them hurt you, Firefly. You fight back if they touch you…” he cleared his throat. “You look amazing.”

She entered the ballroom with that indifferent pout on her face she kept there all the time lately. Her sad feature hidden behind that disillusioned mask she wore every single day.

The room looked like the throne room of a rich castle, and all the demons were hiding their vileness in human bodies, dressed fancy, with smiles on their faces. But they didn’t fooled her.

They stepped aside to let her enter, turning toward her in whispers. She walked in, her back straight, her hate making her back shiver under the noble lace.

“There she is” a voice came from the crowd.

And the first demon of all, in the body of a tall blond lady appeared, she was the only one wearing a dress more sophisticated than her own.

“Lilith” Y/n curtsied slightly, clenching her jaw.

The demon took her face brutally in her hand to look at it with contempt and nodded slightly.

“Maybe you’re right, Crowley” she admitted, letting go of her face and turning her back on her. “Maybe your accidental offspring could be a bride or a toy for our Lord when he rises.” she turned to Y/n again to look one last time from head to toe, and muttered low. “But I’m glad I won’t be here to see that.”

When Y/n turned to walk far from that evil shrew, she came face to face with Alastair, and goosebumped appeared on her skin.

“Happy twelfth birthday, Girly” he smiled and she swallowed the angry lump in the throat.

“Y/n !” Crowley called, probably trying to get her away from his own enemies like he always did, not to protect her, but to avoid the humiliation of seeing the Ace in his hand being despised by anyone stronger than him.

She turned to him, but felt Alastair’s hand grasp her wrist harshly. He bent next to her ear and she could smell his fetid breath.

“I hope you die.”

Next Chapter on @roonyxx‘s blog

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stargaze-issei · 4 years

Text

ᴅᴀʏ 𝟽; ғᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇ sᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ

-> semi eita.

𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭; post timeskip!semi begins to have feelings for his neighbour, a skillful drummer.

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬; a few curse words, mentions of alcohol.

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭; 1.5k

𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞; fluff.

↳ main masterlist

opportunities didn't lack in tokyo, it was so overwhelming that you didn't know where to start looking. back in you little town there was no such a thing as unknown, you were well aware of all the possible paths you could take back there, which led to you leaving searching for new experiences. your family was against it, to say the least, they saw you as a little girl who needed to be protected, who would protect you when you were far away from them? but your mind was set, so you packed your clothes, your drums would have to wait a bit until you found a steady place, put some things in boxes, and spent as much as you could in a somewhat nice apartment in the middle of tokyo.

since then had been two months, and finally, your precious musical instrument were about to arrive. just as you thought about it, the doorbell rang. you jumped from your place, thrilled to see you most beloved belongins, only to find your neighbour, who seemed to have had an intense night.

"don't look so sad to see me, angel" he greeted, gaining a smirk from you. once you grew familiar with his messy looks and flirting way of being, he turned out to be a really nice person.

"do you need an aspirin, semi?" you ignored his words, moving aside to let him in "aren't you something from the goverment? are you even allowed to party like that?"

"too many questions and no aspirins, y/n" he had this habit of visiting your place, despite never letting you into his home. you stuck you tongue out, making him laugh a little, before going to get medicine "and i just stayed up late with the band, the drummer left and we have shows coming up" you could feel the tiredness in his voice even from rooms appart.

"i'm sure you'll find someone" you tried cheering him when handling the promised pill, he just smiled before taking it without water "you're going to choke"

"you worry about me?"

"i don't want your dead body on my carpet, there's a difference" he winked at you, like you had said the complete opposite.

with semi that's how it worked, you'd be lying if you said you had never taken his constant flirting a little too serious, maybe hoping such a handsome man would be interested in you, but you knew there was nothing else than his personality. still, he had a way to make you feel comfortable, being the first person to gain your trust in less than two months. sometimes you'd hang with people from work, or others musician you had known along the weeks, but they didn't make you feel the way semi did.

"okay, princess, imma get going, i have to finish some papers for work" he got up, arranging his clothes "unless you wanna do something else" his tone indicating what kind of activities he referred to made you giggle.

"go work, i won't take you in if you get fired" between other jokes from both, he finally left your appartment.

you were left with a fuzzy feeling in your stomach and a not so subtle blush in your skin, damn be semi and his easyness to make you feel weird.

a few hours passed until your bell rang again, this time being what you were so desperately expecting. it took you less than half an hour to set your drums in the almost empty living room, you chekced the time at your phone, the ladowner had said you could be as loud as you wanted before eleven p.m. on work nights, in the bulding were mainly musicians, so it wasn't weird to hear a trumpet at breakfast, followed by a loud electric guitar and a hundred other things.

your hands moved on their own when they held the drumstick, letting all the emotions you had been bottling up the last couple of months. the sound drowning your ears, nothing else mattered there. a few apartments away, semi caught on a different sound, a sound he hadn't heard before in the building. someone was playing drums, but to say they were playing them didn't feel right, it was something else. he could feels this person's feelings, exactly what they were trying to pour into each hit, none of his past drummers had made him feel that way.

he got up of his couch, leaving his laptop by his side, ready to follow the sound to its source. whoever was playing had to be a professional, maybe he could make them join his band, he sure hope he could. with that sound, there were few things his group couldn't achieve.

there must be something wrong, he thought, because you didn't play drums, and somehow the sound came from inside your apartment, were you playing a record? no, he could feel the vibrations through the door, there was an actual person playing actual drums. how could it be? he had been there two hours ago, he knew how small the rooms were, the only place you could fit something as big was the living room, but there was nothing. had he been too focused looking at you that he didn't notice it? it wasn't his fault, you were wearing home clothes, he always loved how pretty you looked on those.

semi knocked on the door only to feel stupid after, there was no way you'd hear him with all that noise. he started to look for the spare key you hid under the rug, getting his fingers all dusty before finding it. what he saw when he opened the door took away all the words from his mouth. your eyes were closed, little hints of sweat covered you face and neck, while your hands and feet move frenetically making and incredible harmonic melody.

when you opened your eyes, semi was standing in front of you, mouth half-opened. you, by instinct, threw a drumstick towards him, who on earth enters another person's apartment without even having a key? you just don't do that on a woman, for god's sake.

"what the fuck are you doing!?"

"don't throw a fucking stick at me!"

"don't do... that! fuck!"

"you never said you played drums!"

"you never asked!"

"stop yelling at me!"

"i'm sorry!"

both stared at each other, silent for a moment, before bursting into laugh. you went to hug him, excusing a meeting, and he happily accepted between his arms. he sat in the island of the kitchen, while you headed to get a beer for both. semi was smiling, sort of proud of the made discovery, but totally forgetting what he wanted to ask you.

"you're really good" said the singer after a while.

"i hope i am, i've been playing since i was ten" his eyes opened in shock, drinking from his bottle, that was quite a long time.

the sweat from before still stained your skin, and the sun from the window made you look like you were shining. you took a zip of beer, and he actually thought on getting over his insecurity and just go kiss you.

semi saw you the day you moved in for the first time, struggling with carrying two boxes at the same time. he offered you help, not because he instantly fell in love with you, he was just feeling kind. you, at the beginning, had been reluctant to letting an strange man into you apartment, but to leave your things outside in the open, like waiting for someone to steal so little you had, was bigger than anything. you were surprised by how nice semi was, despite of his look of a homeless musician, which he kind of was. after that, he would invite you to his rehearsals, or accompany you to do groceries, found any excuse to be near you.

he thought to be around you was better than being alone in his house, stressing over idiotic details, with you, he felt calmer, like back in his highschool days, when everything was within the reach of his hands. yeah, he had come to the conclusion he felt a lot of things towards you, still rejecting the word love.

"i- you- um, band?" the lack of connectors in his so called sentence made you grin, "would you like to play with us?" he finally asked, looking at the floor, suddenly flustered.

playing with semi was something you had thought about a lot, his voice was so angelic, your mind often wondered on which tunes could go along with it, with which guitar tone.

"oh, uh, yeah, i would" his smile grew wider, unconsciously realizing how much time together you would spend.

"maybe we could go on a date, someday, um, if you want to" it was cute to see semi blushing, playing with his fingers, not being able to even look at you.

"i would like that too, semi" while you talked, he lifted his head to face you, his eyes shining in excitement, had you really said yes?

semi stayed at your place that day, talking, getting to know you, drinking beer. he thought you were so interesting, he could have stayed listening to your for even more hours. you were excited to let semi into your life, and semi was more than eager to feel a part to you.

⌙ 𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 🥳

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girlwithshipsshitshow · 3 years

Text

Part 27

SATURDAY MARCH 21ST, 2020 EIGHT AM, FIVE HOURS UNTIL GRADUATION.

(Misaki Smiled up at Usagi as the older man fixed his tie, he'd gotten better at doing it himself, but every once in a while, he wanted Usagi to fix it for him. The sea blue suit he picked out really brought out his green eyes, Misaki grinned once, Usagi ruffled his hair).

Misaki: Hey!, I just brushed my hair, what are you doing?!

Usagi: Nothing, you just look cute, that's all.

Misaki: Well, (he blushed), thank you. You don't look too bad yourself.

Usagi:, (Grins. He was wearing a black suit, with a red dress shirt and black tie with a floral pattern). Thank you, Misaki.

Misaki: (Nods), Do you have your speech ready?

Usagi: (Pulls notecards out of the inside pocket of suit), Right here, I don't need it memorized do I?

Misaki: (Puts hand on Usagi’s arm), How many speeches have you made before? You've earned this.

Usagi: I realize that, but this is special, it's you.

Misaki: (Blushes), Well, It's going to be okay, you can do it.

Usagi: I'm just upset about what we need to do after.

Misaki: Right, (he groaned), well it's going to be okay.

Usagi: Are you sure?

Misaki: No, but it has to be. (he glanced at his watch), We should probably eat a quick breakfast, we have to run.

Usagi: (Nods), okay, right…

ELEVEN AM, 1 HOUR UNTIL GRADUATION

(Misaki sits in Usagi's car, at the back of the school, where everybody should be for already. The older man clasping his hand).

Misaki: I have to go in, you need to let go of my hand.

Usagi: Just a few more moments.

Misaki: (Giggles), I'm already running late. What if someone sees us?

Usagi: Let them. (He grins, pulling Misaki towards him, kissing him hard).

Misaki: (Moans in Usagi's mouth), Usagi, (pulls away), I absolutely have to go, (he says in a sweet whisper).

Usagi: I-

Misaki: (Brushing hair out of Usagi's eyes), I'll see you later, (beaming, he opens the door). I love sweetie.

Usagi: I love you too.

(Misaki sat with his head in his palm, it was nearing the conclusion of the graduation ceremony and Usagi was about to be introduced on stage to deliver his speech, later students would receive their degrees).

Dean Takatsuki: Now I would like to introduce someone very special talent to the community, a local young author, Akihiko Usami, who's here to talk about his starts and how he got to where he is today, hopefully, some of you will he will inspire some of you.

(Usagi stands grinning, of course, he's all glowing, which makes Misaki laugh to himself, the guy hates this stuff, it's amazing how he can pull himself together so quickly. There's cheering from the girls making Misaki feel embarrassed, he doesn't want anyone fawning over Usagi. He hated when it happened).

Usagi: Thank you, Dean and Welcome students, (He shot a smile at Misaki, causing his heart to race), after four long years of studying hard you've made it to this day, late nights and lot's of caffeine I'm sure a lot of you never thought you would make it, you all should be proud. As a young author I've worked hard to get where I am, lots of sleepless nights, I started writing when I was a young kid; I got discovered at sixteen, but even I went to get a degree in law school. My point is, I have always loved to write, it's never something I thought I was going to do, but I'm glad I am doing it now. Discover your passion now, even if it's not what your degree is in, you always have time to find your passion, it's not too late, that's why I'm here today, thank you. (He grins, looking at the dean, who was in shock. The students, though, are cheering. They hung on to every word Usagi said; he had them right where he wanted them). Dean?

Dean: Misaki Takahashi, Congratulations!

Misaki: (He nervously walks on stage to get his diploma, shaking the dean's hand, then walking over to Usagi to shake his).

Usagi: You did it! (He whispers close to his ear).

Misaki: I know, (He breathes, his voice shaking, Usagi's fiery breath on his ear makes him nervous).

Usagi: I'm so proud of you.

Misaki: I-I, (He gulps, Misaki was the last name, but he still was holding up the end of the ceremony). Usagi, I have to go. (He pulled his hand away). I'll see you later.

(Usagi's eyes flicked as Misaki pulled away going back to his seat, he flashed Misaki a half-smile, his heart raced again. He was hardly aware when the dean said "congratulations graduating class of 2020" but threw his cap in the air, anyway. Walking out of the auditorium, he leaned against the wall near the bathrooms, waiting for Usagi. The two would walk together to meet with their family outside the school to have a meal somewhere after that Usagi and Misaki will go home and tell the world about the two of them).

Usagi: (Wrapping his arms around Misaki, gently kissing his neck). Hey.

Misaki: Mmm, Hey. You know, it's probably a dumb idea to do this here. People are everywhere.

Usagi: (Pulls away, looking at him), You're cute.

Misaki: (Rolling his eyes). Stop, we should find our family.

Usagi: (Grins, taking his arms away from Misaki to reach for his hand), Our family, I like that sound of that, let's go.

(The two started out of the auditorium, as it excited them, they ran into Hiroki, the last person Misaki would want to see on a day like today. He looked shocked to see them).

Hiroki: Akihiko, w-what are you doing here?

Usagi: they asked me to speak at Misaki's ceremony. (He clutched the boy's hand tighter, smiling at him).

Hiroki: Ah, well, I'm speaking soon. The ceremony for my department starts soon.

Usagi: Well, it was good to see you. (He started down the steps, pulling Misaki behind him).

Hiroki: A- actually, Akihiko? I knew you were going to be here today and was hoping to catch the two of you before you left.

Usagi: Oh?

Hiroki: I um, (He stepped closer to the two men), I heard you guys were getting married).

Misaki: (Looks around blushing), yeah we- we are.

Hiroki: I wanted to say congratulations. I've known you all this time, and I never thought you would settle down.

Usagi: Yeah, well it's Misaki, I'd die for him, He's my everything.

Hiroki: I know, I'm happy for you two.

Usagi: Thank you.

Hiroki: See you around, Akihiko.

Usagi: I'll see you Hiroki. (The two watched as he entered the building, giving one last nod).

Misaki: What was that?

Usagi: That was the end of a friendship, I think.

Misaki: I'm sorry.

Usagi: (They contained down the steps, he smiled at Misaki), Everything's okay, as long as I have you, (Usagi put his arm around Misaki), Let's go find our family.

Misaki: Okay.

Takahiro: Guys! Over here. (He waved at them from the parking lot, standing a couple rows away from Usagi's car, Mahiro was in his arms, Manami stood beside him, a small smile on her face).

Manami: Misaki! Congrats! (She hugged him when they arrived).

Misaki: Thank you.

Manami: So, what are we doing for Lunch?

Misaki: Oh, Usagi made Reservations at IMI.

Takahiro: Isn't that place expensive?

Usagi: (Wrapping his arms around Misaki's waist), Yeah well, it's a special occasion.

Misaki: (Grins, placing his hands on Usagi's. every time they went it was special, but this was different because the entire family was going. He turned his head, looking at Usagi), How much space did you rent out?

Usagi: (Chuckles), Don't worry, I only got a table big enough for the seven of us?

Misaki: So, (Scuffs), Still a private room?

Usagi: Of course I did.

Misaki: Well, should we get going?

Takahiro: (Smiles, he is still uncomfortable with the whole situation, but trying to get used to it, the two are going to be together for the long haul, but he just wants his little brother to be happy, so he needs to get used to it).

Manami: Yeah, Let's go! (She clapped her hands together, smiling), Usami, should we follow you?

Usagi: Sure, and uh, Eri and Isaka are meeting us there.

Takahiro: Why?

Usagi: Well, they're kind of my friends, and they wanted to be here, but couldn't make it so they'll be joining us for lunch. Is that okay? (His tone was sharp).

Misaki: (Pulls away): Can I drive? (he smirks, reaching his hand out expecting the key).

Usagi: Absolutely not, you may have graduated, my I'm not letting you drive.

Misaki: Give me one good reason.

Usagi: Because I like to drive you.

Misaki: (Blushes), Okay. (he takes Usagi's hand), Let's go, guys! You're going to love this place!

Sato: Mr. Akihiko, I'm shocked to see you here with a group, Usually it's just you and Mr. Misaki.

Misaki: Heh, Sato, every time we come, and you serve us I tell you, please just call me Misaki. (He smiled), Anyway, today's special. I just graduate, and I'm here celebrating with my family.

Isaka: Oh, Chibi, you consider me family! (He pulled him into a side hug, leaving Misaki gasping for air), That's so sweet!

Misaki: (chocking) Not you! (Pulls away).

Usagi: (Points around that table), Well you already know Misaki, beside him is Isaka I'm sure you know him, then Eri, Takahiro, Misaki's brother, Manami his wife, and Mahiro their son.

Sato: It's nice to meet you all, and Isaka, good to see you again, (He leaned closer to him), Your secretary called I was told to limit your alcohol intake.

Isaka: HE CAN'T DO THAT!

Misaki: (Pat's arm), It's sweet that your boyfriend worries about you.

Isaka: (Blushes), You're lucky you're Akihiko's person.

Misaki: (Takes Usagi's hand), I know!

Sato: Do you guys know what you would like to order, or do you need a moment?

Misaki: I think Usami and I will get our usual, but I'm sure my family still needs some time to look over the menu.

Isaka: You two are so boring, always getting steak.

Misaki: You always get the chicken.

Isaka: Well, Usami is paying today, I'm getting the Sauteed foie gras.

Misaki: (Snickers).

Isaka: What?

Misaki: Oh, nothing now. Sato, please give him that.

Usagi: (whispering), Misaki, aren't you against that dish?

Misaki: (softly) Oh yeah, but once he finds out what it is he won't eat it, also you're not paying for his food, I can't wait to see the look on his face when he has to pay for it.

Sato: Actually we don't fatten it the way they usually, it's not harmful-

Misaki: Okay, but I don't like how it is typically fattened when the dish is made prior, it bugs me.

Usagi: Misaki and I will share the Wagyu beef sirloin steak with a side of garlic rice. And a bottle of red wine, (He glanced at Isaka and Eri), You two want in?

Isaki: Sure!

Eri: Maybe a glass, I'm driving that Idiot. I'll also take the Fish of the day.

Sato: Perfect.

Takahiro: I can't decide. What do you recommend?

Sato: The shrimp is good, I love the Mushrooms though, depends on how hungry you are.

Manami: Want to share the steak and shrimp?

Takahiro: No thanks.

Mahiro: I'll share the steak and shrimp with you, mama.

Manami: Okay, the two of us will get that.

Takahiro: I'll do teriyaki shrimp.

Sato: Okay, I'll bring out a round of waters for the table, grab the wine, your orders should be out in about fifteen to twenty minutes.

Misaki: Thank you.

(Sato gave a smile, walking towards the bar to collect the drinks and place the order).

Misaki: So, thanks for lunch.

Usagi: (Places arm around Misakis chair, pulling him closer), You're welcome, I'm just glad this day finally came. It felt like twenty years.

Misaki: (laughs) I know, I'm glad I made it, I don't think I could've done it without you. (He glanced at Usagi from underneath his eyelashes).

Usagi: Are you kidding?! I'd be dead if it weren't for you!

Misaki: (Grins), Ah, I don't know about that.

Eri: He would. Misaki, you are a godsend, for real you being his assistant is amazing huge stress off my back.

Takahiro: You're going to be his assistant? That's that job you found? Riding Usami's coattails?

Misaki: No, it's not like that, I'm doing it to help Eri and Isaka.

Takahiro: Really? Beca-

(Sato brings over the wine pouring glasses for the ones who wanted it, he then passes out water, nods then quickly leaves).

Eri: Trust me, Misaki is doing it to help US.

Takahiro: So find someone within the company.

Isaka: Please, everyone knows him, no one will work with him, and it's not like he'll work with anyone.

Eri: Usami is the most motivated with Misaki, he enjoys working more if he's around.

Isaka: Trust me, it's awesome working with the person you love.

Takahiro: What if someone finds out about them?

Usagi: I believe we already told you that after Misaki graduated, we would tell.

Misaki: Yeah, that's going to happen today, Takahiro, and before you say anything, this was my idea. I want people to know.

Usagi: We want people to know, I'm tired of hiding him from the world. He just wanted to wait until he graduated so there wasn't a lot of press around.

Takahiro: (Takes a deep breath), Okay, so now what?

Misaki: We eat lunch, you go home; we go home, and Isaka and Eri help us via Instagram that we're getting married and have been in a relationship for four years.

Usagi: Then, whatever happens, happens.

Misaki: (Grins), Our trip is after that! Three weeks of pure bliss! (Sighs), It's going to be amazing! You, me, and the beach!

Eri: Rose and I get to meet you and the end!

Misaki: Right, but until then-

Usagi: (Raises his glass), Too two weeks of pure bliss.

Misaki: (Raises glass), Hear hear!

(Misaki paced back and forth in front of the couch, everyone was ready but him, it was a big deal coming out like this. He was ready, he really was, being nervous was normal, he was going to tell over ten million people that he was getting married to a best-selling author. He smiled, clasping his hands together).

Misaki: Okay, I think I'm ready. (He plopped down beside Usagi, grinned at him, then shook his head), No, I'm not. (trying to get back up, Usagi grabbed his hand, pulling him down).

Usagi: Hey, (He took his face In his hands, softly stroking his cheeks), You can do this. I know you can, I'm right here with you, I want everyone to know that you, Misaki Takahashi, are the love of my life, and I'm going to marry him. If you don't want to do it today, we absolutely do not have to. But I figured if we talk about it now, and tell all my followers, we can just get it out there, and relax on our trip. (He shrugged his left shoulder), Then maybe we can do a proper interview when we get back.

Misaki: (Sighs, nodding as he pulled Usagi in for a hug), Okay. I'm really nervous though.

Usagi: (Rubbing Misaki's back), I know you are; You don't have to talk if you don't want to.

Misaki: 'Kay.

Eri: You guys ready?

Misaki: (Pulls away from Usagi holding his hand, he faces the phone Eri is holding); I think so.

Usagi: You can start it.

Isaka: Okay, (Looks at the phone), but she already did.

Misaki: What?

Eri: Well, that entire speech Usagi gave, I thought it was sweet, so I caught it.

Usagi: Well, I guess I need to say that this man is my fiance, (He nodded at the camera), Last time I went to live I said I would introduce him, here he is. Misaki is absolutely amazing, sweet, a splendid cook, always there for me.

Misaki: Stop, you're amazing too, you're kind, you always think about my feelings. You always know the right thing to say.

Eri: Uh, questions are coming in, do you want to answer any?

Misaki: Maybe a few? We need to get going.

Isaka: Oh, I always Love this question... 'how did you guys meet?'

Usagi: I was his tutor to help him get to college, I also knew his brother, and he ended up moving in with me.

Misaki: Then we fell in love.

Eri: There's clearly an age difference. How many years?

Misaki: Does it matter? How does that affect you?

Usagi: Misaki... We are not answering that question, next one.

Isaka: When did you first know you were in love?

Usagi: About six months after I started tutoring him.

Misaki: Um, maybe a few months after he started? But it took me many, many months to realize it. It scared me to say it, and it scared me that if I said it, I would lose him. Opening yourself up like that is a big deal, especially when it's your first love. Or when the people you love, you get scared you might never see again, so it was hard for me to let him know my genuine feelings, even though he always knew for him to really know, that was huge.

Usagi: Misaki, (Wraps arms around his shoulders), I love you so much. (Pulls him in for a side hug).

Misaki: (Side smile), I love you too.

Eri: I think that's a good place to end. Thank you, everyone, for joining. (She placed her phone on the table, smiling at the two), That went well.

Isaka: I think so too, Now what?

Misaki: Can one of you drive us to Jr Kamkar station?

Isaka; Eri: You do it!

#junjou romantica #junjou romatica fanfic #misaki takahashi #misaki x usagi #usagi x misaki #usami akihiko

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frostmarris · 4 years

Text

Ensnared

ZetsuSaku - Monster Hunter AU

notes: this was supposed to be a drabble for an ask request but i got hella into it and 7500 word later, here we are

enjoy!

: :

She's on day five of her cross-country trek, with no actual sign of the beast besides the aftermath of its attacks. Normally she sticks to bounties on monsters she's familiar with - rabid werewolves, feral vampires, giant ogres, and demonic beasts - but the Royal Council in the capitol city has promised her a hefty sum for the head of the creature that's ravaged eleven villages already.

Well, not her personally. It's a general bounty that any monster hunter can cash in on, but she knows a majority of the hunters who had initially set out have either been killed or abandoned the quest altogether. She's been tempted to quit as well since it was a full two weeks of tracking and following other hunters' trails before she finally caught up and then another week of hunting when the trail went cold.

But the bounty is a price she couldn't say no to, so here she is, a full kingdom away and still at least an entire day behind her quarry.

There hadn't been many first-hand accounts of the beast's attacks but, from what she's been able to gather, it sounds like some sort of forest spirit. Sprouting from the earth itself, commanding the plants to do its bidding, and always disappearing into the woods once it has had its fill of destruction and makes its escape.

However, last time she checked, forest spirits don't tend to eat humans.

Sakura clicks her tongue to urge her horse onward, peering out from under the hood of her cloak to watch the trees that lined the sides of the road, searching for movement. The fae blood in her veins sing at the presence of Danger in this forest and she's not one to ignore her instincts.

She'd left the small river village - the location of the creature's latest attack - yesterday morning and had crossed the plains to reach the forest to the west. Reports from the village survivors had claimed that the monster had gone south-southwest, bypassing the plains entirely to disappear into the woods, but Sakura is thinking further ahead. The nearest settlement lays here to the west, with not a single town within a week's travel southward. She'd been mapping and tracking the trail of carnage enough to note that, while the monster's path wasn't straightforward, it was undoubtedly heading to the ancient Faewood forest - one of four on the continent - on the other side of the mountains.

Her father hails from the eastern forest - where the trees are taller than castles and wider than houses, with red bark that smells like honey, blue-green leaves bigger than her head, canopies that are always blooming with flowers, and roots that rise out of the ground to make bridges. She grew up in the Spring Court with her fae father and human mother until she eventually set out on her own, taking up this business of hunting monsters and visiting lands she'd never even heard of.

To the west lies the forest of the Fall Court and, while she'd love to see the canopies who's colors rival those of her home, she intends to stop the beast before it can disappear into the Faewood.

Her calculating has been meticulous. She's measured out how much time passes between attacks and accounted for distance between villages, arriving at a rough estimate of how fast the beast can travel. Having figured out how much ground it can cover under a certain amount of time has led her to the conclusion that she'll have a full two and a half days to bunker down in the village ahead before it makes its arrival. If it's traveling purely through the forest that surrounds the southern half of the plains, it will take it a while to reach the town, giving her enough time to prepare.

All she has to do is make it to the village by nightfall and wait.

: :

Sakura settles down for the night in her room at the inn, satisfied with her prep work thus far. She's planted several of her spy poppies around the perimeter of the village, tiny dots of red amongst the browns and greys of buildings that will warn her of any signs of approaching magic. Her weapons are sharpened and her belly full with her first warm meal in two days, the dining hall and tavern below still loud with the evening's patrons.

She'd met with the village leaders shortly after stabling her horse to warn them of the attack she's expecting in two days' time, finally convincing them after she had shown her extensive mapping of the monster's previous sightings. They would announce a curfew in the morning to give their citizens the best chances of staying safe without eliciting a panic and had given Sakura their permission to set up her traps.

The creature's attacks always came at night, with its victims caught unawares as they travel the streets of their home. Oftentimes there were multiple kills, as one meal a night didn't seem to be enough to satisfy its hunger, but it had yet to break into any homes or buildings.

So, as long as none of the villagers stayed out past the impromptu curfew, there should be no casualties.

She lays restlessly under the covers until, eventually, she manages to fall asleep, dreamless but peaceful and undisturbed until morning. Sakura awakens with the sun and is quick to dress and set out to search the town and its surrounding woods to get a better lay of the land. The villagers give her a wide berth, but she's used to it and pays them no mind, instead focused on making sure she knows every nook and cranny and path in and out of the town.

The monster would likely come in from the south, but she wants all of her bases covered, unwilling to let the beast escape her blade.

She takes her lunch in her room, prepping her tools and supplies to lay her traps later that evening, when the townsfolk are in their homes and less likely to bother her. Her sword never leaves her side out of paranoia as she works by the light of the sunset and the moon as it rises and she eventually returns to the inn once she's satisfied with her work, a little frustrated to find a few too many patrons still hanging around in the tavern. Sakura had hoped the villagers would take the curfew seriously, but at least they weren't out on the streets.

Still, she would shadow them once they were finished with their merrymaking, ensuring that everyone got home safely. Her traps wouldn't activate without her magic, but she didn't need any curious drunks disturbing her work.

So, Sakura takes up a seat in the corner of the tavern, keeping to herself as she eats her dinner and maintains a watchful eye on the rambunctious guests. They mostly avoid her, only sparing a few side-eyed glances, but one of the men is drunken enough to stumble towards her table, his grin a little too friendly and his words too slurred. She's polite in her refusal to join him at their table and ignores his attempts to persuade her as she suddenly stiffens, her gaze becoming far-off as her poppies call to her.

There's movement in the woods north of the town, the scent of the supernatural caught on a breeze and carried to the flowers she'd planted. They sing in a language none of the humans can hear, warning her of something approaching through the trees.

Sakura stands abruptly and shoves past the drunkard, headed for the door to the tavern and looking to the innkeeper with a serious gaze.

"Lock the doors and stay inside," She calls, the fierceness behind her green eyes leaving no room for argument. The innkeeper pales as she draws her sword and the drunken man, now a little annoyed at her dismissal and not seeming to feel the changed mood in the room, approaches her, calling her a few rude names.

She places a delicate hand on the center of his chest and forcefully shoves him back, sending the man halfway across the tavern and onto the bench at his companions' table. They all stare at her with wide, shocked eyes and she turns, nodding to the innkeeper as she steps out onto the street. The doors are hurriedly shut and barred behind her and she slinks into the shadows, headed for an empty cart next to the blacksmiths. She hops onto it with ease and leaps higher still to access the rooftops of the town, running near silently across shingles and thatched roofs until she arrives at the northern edge of the village, where her poppies are singing the loudest.

She crouches low in the shadow of a chimney, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she eyes the trees. It's too early and the wrong direction - had she miscalculated the monster's traveling speed? Had it decided to circle around the village and come in from the opposite direction? Perhaps it was smarter than she had first anticipated.

Sakura is completely still for about five minutes until she finally sees movement, her expression becoming even more confused as she spots a wolfbeast through the trees, its grey fur catching the moonlight through the occasional break in the canopy.

Her eyes are the only things that move as she watches, catching sight of another huge wolf, slinking quietly through the trees and brush, and then a third and a fourth. Her eyes cut up to the moon to confirm that it isn't full, but these wolves are too large and oddly shaped to be normal animals.

It's a pack of feral werewolves, too far lost in their transformations to turn human ever again, and they're headed straight for the village.

Surely this wasn't the beast she'd been tracking for nearly a month. She'd been so sure it was some sort of forest spirit based on the reports she'd heard - a creature of the woods, its body split between black and white with golden eyes full of hunger.

But, as Sakura watches the pack cross through the less wooded area and into the small northern wheatfield, she notes that one of the wolves is pure white. It's an odd coloring, yes, but not exceedingly rare.

Her bewilderment grows when one of the beasts exits the tall wheat stalks and she sees pitch-black fur and golden eyes.

She's still unsure if this is what she’d been hunting or just a very strange coincidence, but Sakura isn't about to let the pack attack the village.

Still hidden in the shadows, she watches three of the wolves climb the low stone wall and pass the buildings to enter the town while the fourth, the white one, disappears to circle the perimeter. Her poppies keep her altered to its location and Sakura follows after the pack as they head down one of the streets, searching for a villager still out late. She runs across the rooftops from shadow to shadow as clouds pass over the bright moon, a twitch of her finger making the mimic bells down one of the alleys ahead begin to jingle.

They chime with the sound of laughter and the wolves take the bait, their ears twitching as they head in the direction of what they presume to be a pair of drunks returning home. Turning a corner, they enter one of the side streets and crouch low, almost as silent as Sakura's steps.

The laughter is coming from around another corner some 30 feet ahead and they approach their presumed prey cautiously, ready to make a quick kill and not alert the sleeping town. Normal wolves would typically go for the livestock, but the past lives of the werewolves makes them crave human flesh, desiring that which they have lost.

They've obviously picked up the scent of the bedsheet Sakura had snatched from the inn before the staff could take it to be cleaned and they draw closer to the alley corner, a low growl building from the black-furred leader. She crouches on the roof of the building at the corner and waits until they've reached the intersection, barely giving the pack a moment to realize the alley with the laughter is empty before she sends a burst of her magic and activates the trap they're standing on.

The wire netting hidden under layers of dirt between the cobblestone path springs to life, fully ensnaring one of the smaller werewolves and part of the one with black fur. The third wolf managed to jump aside to avoid the trap and Sakura clicks her tongue in annoyance when the leader manages to free itself before the sharp wire can fully constrict. The dark red blood that splatters on the ground is proof that it had at least been sliced up fairly well and the fully trapped wolf howls in pain as the netting tightens around its restrained body.

Before the two beasts can try to assist their packmate, Sakura leaps down to land on it and, in one fluid motion, stabs her sword through the top of its skull. It instantly falls still and she removes her blade as the two werewolves roar, standing tall on their hind legs in a mockery of their lost human forms. They charge and she flips backward to avoid the swipe of a huge clawed hand, the rest of the street they'd been traveling on at her back and the alley to her right.

Her poppies warn her that the white wolf is coming to answer the pack's call and she ducks to avoid the snap of a snarling jaw, kicking out her leg to swipe the grey-furred wolf off its feet. She swings her blade and manages to catch its belly as it turns and scrambles back onto its paws, screaming in pain as the silver threaded through the core of her sword reacts with its flesh.

Werewolves can recover from even the most gruesome wounds when they're dealt by normal blades, but silver is the one thing they can't heal from.

It clutches at its middle, a burning ache filling its body from the touch of silver, and lunges wildly at Sakura. It's lost in its rage and pain and attacks without caution, growing more furious as she dodges its claws and fangs. The black wolf manages to circle around to her other side and swipes at her back, catching her off-guard and ripping through her cloak, leather brigandine, and tunic to reach her flesh.

Sakura curses and twists away, ducking low and diving into a roll to put some distance between her and the pair. She pops up into a defensive stance with her sword raised, rolling her shoulder and flinching at the pain shooting up her back. The cuts aren't too deep, but werewolf claws always sting.

Fortunately, she can deal with a few scratches - it's the teeth she has to worry about.

She hears the white wolf approaching from behind and leaps upwards just in time as it sprints at her angrily, backflipping in the air to bring her boots down on its back. The force drives it to the ground and she plunges her sword through its shoulder, missing its neck by inches.

Sakura grins viciously as it screams, but the wolf she'd nearly gutted tackles her with a burst of unanticipated speed, its head barreling into her stomach and knocking her off its packmate before she can remove her sword. They both tumble and roll backwards, landing in a heap, and jaws snap at her face as Sakura tries to get on her feet again. Her weapon is still buried in the white wolf's shoulder and she snatches the dagger holstered on her thigh, ignoring how the grit of the stone street irritates her injury.

The grey wolf is on top of her, its eyes glowing with fury as she braces her feet against its chest to keep its jaws from reaching her and ripping out her throat. Her strength surges with a burst of magic and she kicks it off of, her body rolling and twisting until she's got one boot firmly planted on the ground and her other knee braced under her. She swings her arm upwards as the werewolf lunges and stabs her dagger up through the bottom of its jaw, grunting under the weight of its body as it collapses. Sakura quickly shoves its corpse off of her and returns to her defensive stance, brandishing her silver knife.

The remaining pair of beasts - the stark contrast between their fur is rather haunting in the moonlight, she notes - stare angrily at her, the white wolf clutching its mangled shoulder and blood dripping from the other's maw from where the netting had caught it. She pants as she unclasps her cloak, letting it fall, and all three hunters watch each other, waiting to see who would make the next move.

Sakura's gaze flickers to the side to spot her discarded sword, too far for her to grab before they could reach her, and she clutches her dagger tightly in her fist. Her body lowers slightly as she tenses and the wolves growl in fury, their fangs bared and their gazes dripping with malice. She turns on her heel moments before they drop to all fours and she sprints down the street, listening to the wolves racing after her.

She avoids the residential area and cuts through the market, less concerned with a few broken crates, to head for the west edge of the village. Sakura dives over a stall, the cloth canopy hanging over it brushing against her back as she flies through the opening and lands with a roll. She glances back as she hears the wolves simply barrel through it, sending splintered wood flying, and keeps running. Following the main road that cuts through the center of the town, Sakura spots the west entrance and urges herself to run faster, needing to get closer to the woods.

She can feel hot breath on the back of her neck and she drops to the ground suddenly, ducking and curling to roll across the ground for a quick second before she kicks her legs out as the white wolf looms over where her body had been. It's caught off-guard mid-lunge and Sakura’s kick to its chest sends it flying into trees, crashing into a sturdy trunk as it gives a pained yelp. It lands upside down with its back against the tree and Sakura springs to her feet, avoiding a swipe from the black wolf.

The white beast is still while she slices her dagger at the remaining packmate, ducking and dodging its attacks but not landing very many hits herself. An uppercut to the chin catches the wolf by surprise enough for it to stumble backwards, giving Sakura enough room to spin into a roundhouse kick. Her leg connects with its side and it's sent into a different set of trees from the force, its body smashing right through a large sapling. The other wolf seems to have regained its senses but, before it can get back on its feet, Sakura drops into crouch and slams her palm against the earth.

Thick vines burst out of the forest floor, quickly ensnaring the werewolves. They wrap around their limbs, chests, and necks, binding the black wolf to the sturdy trunk of an oak and dragging the white one to the ground. Each vine they manage to get their teeth around or break with sheer strength is replaced with two more, completely restraining the monsters until they're immobile. She lets out a relieved sigh and stands, watching as the wolves roar and howl their frustration.

Sakura turns, knowing the vines will hold true while she retrieves her sword, and heads back into the village. The commotion of her battle has woken most of the town and lights begin to appear behind shuttered windows, a few brave villagers peeking out of their doors to see Sakura passing by. None fully exit their homes, still wary of danger, but they begin to grow curious enough to more openly watch her as she finds her sword from where it had been discarded and heads back to the west entrance, her expression grim. The werewolves are right where she left them and their growls turn ferocious at the sight of her blade, realizing her intentions.

She heads for the white wolf first, its gaze too focused and intelligent for her comfort as it lays pinned to the earth, completely still and staring at her with fury. She's only a few feet away when it suddenly shifts, it's face turning just barely more human as its fur thins enough for actual skin to peek out.

The partial transformation, a last ditch effort that likely took a lot of willpower, shrinks its body a full size, allowing it just enough time and space to pull free from the vines and lunge at Sakura. It can't hold the transformation long and almost instantly returns to its wolfbeast form, its claws skimming Sakura's shoulder as she dodges as quickly as she can, caught off-guard.

She's knocked off balance and lands on her back, one hand firmly planted on the ground and her fingers curling into the dirt. The white wolf leaps at her and a thick tree root surges out of the earth at Sakura's silent call, spearing the beast through the chest and exiting out the other side in a spray of blood and flesh.

The werewolf's horrible scream is answered by a roar from the black wolf, still pinned to its tree and forced to watch as the tree root drives through its packmate's chest to dig back into the ground. Thoroughly immobilized but still living despite the hole in its body, the white wolf screams and claws at the root, its gaze frantic and furious as it watches Sakura rise.

She pants, holding a hand to her shoulder, and approaches carefully. As she straightens up, she brandishes her sword in both hands and takes a breath.

Sakura twists her torso and swings, decapitating the werewolf with one clean slice.

There's an enraged roar from the black wolf and she's startled when it manages to break through its bonds with sheer strength, dislocating one of its arms in the process and likely breaking one of its legs, judging by the horrible snap Sakura hears. Her connection to the vines was broken when her hand left the earth, so there's nothing to try to snatch the wolf back again and she drops into a defensive stance, cursing under her breath.

The wolf stands, panting and staring at Sakura with furious golden eyes as it clutches its still-limp arm. Bloodlust is radiating off of its form as it watches the hunter that killed its pack and she glares back, ready to end the fight.

But she's surprised when it suddenly turns and disappears into the woods, leaving Sakura to chase after it through the trees.

Sakura curses again and breaks into a sprint, but, three hours of hunting later, she's lost its trail and is forced to return to the village, frustrated with her only partial victory.

She's unaware of a different set of golden eyes in the trees, watching her every move.

: :

The village leaders may be convinced that the werewolf pack was the monster she'd been hunting, but Sakura isn't so sure. Even if she had miscalculated when it would arrive -

(Which she did, she just didn't know that yet.)

- it still didn't explain the dissimilarities between the reports she'd heard from the other villages and the monsters she had fought last night. It didn't make sense.

And there was still the problem of the lone wolfbeast that had escaped.

So, Sakura stays an extra four days in the village, routinely checking the perimeter and searching the woods for any signs of danger, in case the forest spirit finally makes its appearance or the black wolf returns. The villagers become less wary of her but she still tries to keep her distance, admittedly flattered by the gifts she finds outside the door to her room.

On the morning of the fifth day, Sakura finally packs to leave. There's been nothing out of the ordinary and she worries that maybe the creature she'd been tracking had skipped this village entirely and gone to wreak havoc in another. It would be another four day's ride to the next town and she didn't want to waste more time waiting for something to happen. She's supplied with more food than she needs and is given quite the send-off by the thankful villagers, their calls and cheers making her smile under the hood of her cloak.

Her horse seems eager to be traveling again and he breaks into a canter once they're on the road, the village eventually disappearing behind the trees. Sakura rides all day with just a quick break around midday for lunch, unable to keep her suspicious gaze from traveling to the woods lining the road. It's well into the evening when she comes across an obstacle on the road and she dismounts to inspect the massive fallen tree blocking her path.

It's too tall and wide for her to risk trying to guide her horse over so she leaves the road and enters the trees to the right to look for a path around. Several smaller trees had been crushed under the huge oak and she doesn't find the base of the trunk until she reaches the river, clicking her tongue in annoyance. The current is too rough and the water too deep for her to cross, even on horseback, so she backtracks and tries the left side of the road.

The canopy of the oak had landed in a large thorny thicket, the wall of brambles rising above her head and extending out further into the forest. She isn't sure how far off the road they have to go to find a way around it, but going through is certainly not an option. Even the shortest of the thorns are two inches long and, as she's in unknown land, there's no telling if the plants were poisonous.

Sakura kneels in front of the dangerous brush, her horse standing just a few feet behind her, and presses a hand to the earth, hoping to convince the plants to part and allow them safe passage. To her frustration, however, the brambles refuse to budge and she sighs, standing and turning to grab her steed's reins.

She follows the edge of the thorny wall on foot, growing more concerned the deeper into the woods she's forced to travel. It's not a straight line, fortunately, and the bramble begins to curve upwards, giving Sakura hope that she'd reach the end of it soon. It's half an hour until she finally finds a break in the thicket, the thorns thinning out enough for her to carefully guide her horse through with a sigh of relief. They barely make it five steps before there's a sudden rustle and groan behind them and Sakura spins around to find that the hole in the bramble wall has closed, barring off the way they'd come. The thicket seems to shudder, brandishing its sharp thorns, and Sakura steps back, wary and angry.

The forest seems to come alive with sounds now, a breeze dancing through the canopy overhead and the trees groaning as their branches bend and wave in the wind. Each rustle makes her horse more and more anxious and Sakura struggles to calm him, speaking softly and keeping a tight hold on his reins. It's more than just the noise frightening him - she can feel it too, that disturbing aura that had fallen over the woods, filling Sakura with worry as well. She tries to keep calm and her gentle words seem to eventually do the trick and he settles down, shaking his head nervously but not trying to pull free any longer.

She lets out a relieved sigh but barely has a moment to relax before a sudden loud snap to her right startles her horse enough for him to rear back with a frightened whinny. Sakura leaps to the side to dodge the flailing hooves as they land heavily on the forest floor. The horse breaks off into a run, heading deeper into the forest and leaving her behind as she scrambles to her feet with a curse.

Sakura races after him with only a moment of hesitation, not wanting to get lost in the woods but unwilling to lose her horse. She manages to keep him in sight but, when the brush grows too thick, she reluctantly picks a tree and climbs its trunk with unnatural ease. Carefully running along the branches and leaping between them, she manages to recover the distance she had lost and follows her horse through the canopy, aiming to get ahead and drop down onto the saddle.

The trees of her home were much larger and sturdier than this forest and she'd grown up with little worry of something breaking under her weight as she traveled by treetop, assured that she would never fall.

But these woods are small in comparison and there are too many thin and flimsy branches, so her pace is slower and more careful than she would like. Still, it's the only chance Sakura has, so she continues on, startling when a branch suddenly moves under her foot.

A branch trips her and she's falling before she realizes what had happened, reaching out blindly to try to find something to grab and stop her descent as smaller branches scratch at her face.

(She'd later be annoyed when she comes to the realization that the larger branches actively moved away from her hand.)

Something grabs her ankle and stops her just feet from the forest floor, her leg aching slightly from the sudden halt. Sakura glances up in surprise to see a vine wrapped around her boot but, before it fully registers, the vine suddenly loosens its hold and she's dropped the rest of the way, landing with a yelp. Hissing as she sits up and rubs at her sore neck, Sakura freezes and hurries to her feet as she hears something rustling through the brush around her. She'd landed in a relatively clear area but the canopy of leaves is thick overhead, blocking out most of the moonlight except for the stray beam here and there.

There's the crunch of leaves and the snap of a twig and her hand flies to her hip, startled when she doesn’t immediately feel the hilt of her sword. She looks down in shock to confirm that her sword is missing and glances up at the canopy overhead in horror, spotting her blade, scabbard and all, caught in the branches.

Sakura's attention snaps forward once more as she hears movement ahead of her and she crouches defensively, her other hand slowly moving to the dagger still strapped to her thigh.

She stills entirely as a pair of golden eyes appear in the darkness, her heart pounding in her ears and a cold pit dropping in her stomach. The eyes are unblinking as they stare at her and the forest falls unsettlingly silent. Sakura's breathing sounds too loud in comparison and she holds the golden gaze, unwilling to look away for even a moment.

Nothing moves for a full minute but her dagger is in her hand within moments as the creature suddenly surges forward and breaks through the brush. She'd been expecting snarling jaws and black fur but is met with sight of a more human-shape, a blur of black and white when it passes through the rare beam of moonlight.

In the second it takes Sakura to raise her knife, a thorny vine snaps forward from behind to wrap around her wrist, making her gasp as her arm is yanked backwards. She twists to dodge the tackle from the creature and the vine gives a sharp yank, leaving her shrieking as it pulls her arm at an odd angle and twists. Forced to drop her knife, Sakura turns and spins to right the angle of her arm and catches a glimpse of the creature disappearing into the brush again.

She hurriedly grips the vine wrapped around her bloody wrist, hissing at how the thorns seem to grow to dig deeper into her skin, and bares her teeth as she sends a surge of her magic through it. It burns and shrivels at the intense energy, the length wrapped around her wrist turning to ash while the rest of the vine quickly pulls away to slink back into the darkness.

Sakura's hands burst into a green glow as she quickly heals the worst of her wounds, the cuts from the thorns still stinging. Panting, she glancing around cautiously but, as she moves to grab her knife, she's yanked backwards as something catches the end of her cloak.

She lands hard on her back and is dazed slightly when she hits her head, but the feeling of her cloak being pulled and restricting around her throat quickly brings her to her senses. Sakura glances up and back, panicking, and sees the thorny bramble from earlier clutching the end of her cloak, dragging her backwards into the brush. Her shriek is choked and cut short and she scrambles to undo the clasp around her neck, leaping away and gasping for breath as she lands on her knees.

But she's not given a moment to rest as something tackles her from the left, gold eyes appearing as she's knocked hard onto her side. Large hands find her shoulders and she's forced onto her back, sharp, pointed teeth catching the moonlight as the creature looms over her in a crouch.

Claws dig into her shoulders, making her hiss, and Sakura takes in the sight of a mostly human face - half black and half white, split right down the middle. she can't resist her shudder as it lowers its face to drag its tongue over the exposed skin of her neck. Up from her collar and over her jaw to her cheek, catching blood from one of the scratches from her fall.

For a monster that eats human flesh, its breath smelled oddly like pine.

The grin that spreads across its face is terrifying and Sakura manages to pull herself out of her frightened stupor, tucking her knees against her chest and rolling back on her shoulders until she can slip her legs up between their bodies. She wraps them around its neck, ankles locked behind its head, and squeezes, twisting her hips sharply to throw it off of her. It seems surprised by the action, growling angrily as it rights itself, and Sakura rolls into a crouch, having put a bit of distance between her and the monster.

It sits up on its knees, moves one leg forward to plant its foot in a half-step, and raises its hands, fingers clawed and curled inwards. Teeth bared, vines suddenly surge out of the darkness behind it and dart towards Sakura with frightening speed, covered in wicked looking thorns.

Sakura drops from her crouch to her knees and slams both of her hands onto the ground with an angry scream, demanding the forest to obey. The vines stop their assault just inches from her face and Sakura stares past them to glare heartedly at the black and white creature. It seems shocked that she'd managed to wrestle control from it and those golden eyes stare back at her.

It pushes its body forward slowly to test her strength and the barrage of vines in front of her twitch but don't otherwise move. They stay locked in the stalemate and Sakura takes the moment to look the creature over more thoroughly.

Besides its odd coloring and the sharp teeth and claws, it looked almost completely human. Most of its - his features are lost on the black half of his body but she can clearly make out the sharp jaw and high cheekbones on his white half. His ears are pointed at the tips, much like her own, and his messy, grass-green hair is kept short and shaggy. She's surprised to find him actually partially dressed, his black pants likely hiding a multitude of bloodstains in the darkness of the forest.

His head tilts as he inspects her just as closely for a few moments before that grin returns and he presses forward again, still knelt several feet away from her and unable to regain control of the vines.

Sakura's mind is racing for an escape from this situation but she's startled when he suddenly speaks

"You smell of the forest," Comes his voice, his tone surprisingly soft - until he continues and his voice takes a raspy, harder turn. "But you taste like human."

Disturbed, Sakura barks out a sharp reply.

"Who are you?" Her eyes narrow, sweat beading on her brow and her fingers digging into the dirt from her desperate attempt to maintain control of the vines still pointed at her. "What are you?!"

His expression turns curious before his eyes light up, his grin stretching unnaturally far across his face.

"You wish to know me? Give me your name and I'll tell you mine."

Sakura's eyes narrow and her lips curl in a dry smirk, her own green gaze glowing briefly in the dark.

"Nice try, but I won't fall for that." Her fingers dig deeper into the ground and the vines pull back from her slightly, surprising the odd monster. "I was raised in a fae court - those old tricks won't work on me."

He blinks for the first time since he'd attacked her, his grin falling but his lips still parted just enough for her to see his teeth. His hands lower and the bloodlust that had been radiating off his form disappears almost entirely.

"You're like me," He says incredulously and Sakura nearly stumbles forward as the force she'd been bracing her body against to keep the vines in check suddenly dissipates.

Her eyes go wide for a moment before she catches herself and her expression turns furious.

"I'm nothing like you, monster." She hisses, digging her hands harder into the ground until they're mostly buried under the earth. She sends the wave of vines racing back at him, barreling into his chest and sending the faecreature flying backwards into brush.

Sakura can't spot her dagger anywhere but her sword is still caught in the branches overhead so she sends another surge of magic into the earth, the nearby trees shuddering and untangling their branches. Her weapon falls free and she leaps to her feet, quickly catching it and breaking into a sprint as she spins around to face the opposite direction.

She's undoubtedly lost and her horse is gone for good but she needs to get out of this damned forest.

Her breathing is haggard from her panic and she runs as fast as she can, desperate to put some distance between her and the strange monster. Just enough for her to get a brief moment of respite before she faces him again.

She won't return home empty handed.

Sakura barely realizes her screaming instincts aren't her frazzled nerves before something suddenly charges out of the darkness to her right and slams into her, a vicious snarl filling her ears and rough fur against her face. All she sees is a blur of black as she crashes into the ground and tumbles with her assailant on top of her, sharp claws digging deeply into her back.

Through her scream, all Sakura can think is 'Great.'

She manages to kick the familiar werewolf off of her, only a little satisfied at the sound of its ribs crunching from the force, but it takes a chunk of her flesh for its efforts. Sakura manages to get her feet under her and lets out a shout of frustration, unsheathing her sword and keeping ahold of the scabbard with her free hand as an impromptu weapon.

Panting, she can feel thick rivulets of blood dripping down her back to puddle under her on the forest floor and she grits her teeth. A bright green glow bursts from her back for a partial healing, trying to at least stop the bleeding, and she watches the wolf as it crouches low and slowly circles her, fury behind its gold eyes.

She's feeling drained and nearing exhaustion, but Sakura refuses to die here.

When her vision just barely starts to swim, she abruptly cuts off the healing and turns, keeping the werewolf in her line of sight. Its hackles are raised and its claws dig into the dirt as it slowly walks around her on all fours, its eyes wide and feral.

Sakura ignores the pain in her body and brandishes her sword, her gaze darting from its shoulders to its paws to its eyes to its legs, searching for any tensing of muscles or signs that it's about to attack. Its back claws dig a little deeper into the earth and she braces herself, ready to dodge and defend when it strikes.

The wolf lunges forward and rears up on its hind legs as it sprints at her, a ferocious growl echoing through the forest and the beast just a couple feet away when a blur of white and black tackles it from the side, sending both bodies careening away from Sakura and into brush.

She stands there in shock for a moment before she races after the two monsters, finding the faecreature pinning the larger werewolf to the ground. His teeth are buried in its throat and the wolf rakes its claws angrily down his back as it tries to kick him off. Both beasts are snarling and growling as they rip into each other and Sakura is unsure what to do. She startles when the wolf finally manages to get a good grip on him and flings the faebeing over its head in her direction.

Moving on a whim, she lunges to the side and catches him with her scabbard-holding arm. When he looks at her with that split-color face, gold eyes full of surprise, she simply nods and rights him. A furious roar pulls their attention back to the wolf and it charges in a wild, unguarded attack.

Almost simultaneously, Sakura and her unlikely ally drop to a knee and send a flurry of tangled vines flying out of the forest brush behind them, his hands raised while her palm is slammed against the ground. The barrage of strong vines hit it square in the chest and wrap around its torso before the wolf can be sent flying backwards. They constrict tightly around its throat and the werewolf howls as the thorns dig deep, brought to its knees as the vines thoroughly restrain it.

The faecreature stays in place, his fingers curling inwards, and Sakura rises with a stony expression, a breeze dancing through the forest to blow her escaped hair back as steps forward. She drops her scabbard to wrap both hands around the hilt of her sword, forcing her breathing to be even as she stands to her full height despite the wounds in her back. The wolf gives one last enraged roar and she strikes, stabbing her blade forward and into its maw to punch through the back of its skull.

It instantly stills after one last choked growl and Sakura yanks her sword back out of its mouth, her shoulders slumping as her exhaustion begins to set in. The vines slowly release their tight hold and disappear back into the earth. She turns and isn't sure if she should be relieved or worried to see the black and white creature standing behind her, looking over her intensely.

"...thanks," She eventually says, giving him one last nod before starting to make her retreat. She was too tired to fight anymore tonight and she wanted to get away before he decided to try to kill her again.

"Wait," He calls and Sakura curses herself for pausing and glancing back. He holds out his white hand, her dagger resting on his palm.

"You dropped this."

The raspier voice makes her shudder but she turns, lips pursed as he smiles at her.

She honestly shouldn't have been so surprised when, as she reaches to retrieve her knife, his other hand darts out to snatch her wrist. Sakura hisses under her breath and tries to pull free, but his grip is strong and he pulls her a little closer, golden eyes searching her face as his smile falls.

"I'm Zetsu," He says, his voice soft and full of a yearning she doesn't understand. His grasp around her wrist is gentle despite its strength and he reaches his free hand up to caress her face, his touch light and delicate and too familiar for her tastes. Zetsu's thumb runs across her cheek and he brushes a few stray pink hairs away from her face, pulling her closer still.

"Please," He whispers, begging almost desperately as both of his voices speak at once. "What is your name?"

She can't seem to bring herself to look away from his gaze, her struggling stopping as she stares up at the strange being. She wets her split lip, blushing when the movement makes his eyes flicker down to her mouth, and finds herself reluctantly answering.

"I'm Sakura."

#zetsusaku #sakura haruno #sakura fic #monster hunter!sakura #thirrinwrites #thirrinfic #i got so damn into this i knew i was fucked when i started adding Lore #hope you like it anon!#the other requests wont be NEARLY as long as this one sorry

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fireinmoonshot · 4 years

Text

REBEL ONE SHOT / EPILOGUE | A FIELD OF FLOWERS | ARMITAGE HUX x READER

Summary: Three months after the end of Rebel, you and Armitage spend a blissful afternoon together in a field of flowers on a surprisingly sunny Arkanis day, bringing to light things you’ve been wondering about for months. Pairing: female!Reader x Armitage Hux Fandom: Star Wars Word Count: 2286 Warnings: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER SPOILERS, toothrotting fluff. A/N: SURPRISE! As a little gift for Star Wars Day – May the Fourth be with you all! – I piped out this little baby this afternoon. Basically, for those of you who read and loved Rebel a few months ago... here’s a sneaky sort of one shot, set three months after the final chapter! I had so much fun writing this and revisiting these two. I truly hope you enjoy it and that you’re all having a wonderful day celebrating Star Wars. May 4th is basically over here in Australia but I rewatched A New Hope this afternoon and my love for Star Wars is stronger than ever. I hope, in these crazy, rocky times, this little piece of writing will bring some sunlight to your days! (I also tagged those who I had in my taglist for the original parts, just on the chance some of you would want to read this since you wanted to be tagged for the original!! :))

READ THE ORIGINAL FIC – REBEL – BELOW!

Armitage is smiling. That’s the first thing you see as you round the bend and come upon a large field filled with white and yellow flowers. He kneels in the middle of it, the sun beaming down upon him and making his red hair look even brighter than usual. The rain had subsided for the morning and the flowers in the field that were usually weighed down with rain and surrounded by mud are thriving in the warmth the sun provides.

What really stands out, though, is the small village child running circles around him.

The boy’s mother stands beside you, a smile on her own face as she watches her son enjoying his time in the sun. Arkanis rarely ever had days without rain, and when it did, no one remained in their homes at all. You’d taken to going on a walk with her, a woman who’d become your friend over the last three months since you’d made Arkanis a kind of home, and Armitage had insisted he’d be okay to take care of her son while you walked.

She turns to you as she sees them playing. “I mean no offence when I say I doubted him before,” she speaks. “But he certainly seems to have proven himself. I’ve never seen Rhys so happy around a man who isn’t his father.”

You watch as the boy stops running in circles, clearly dizzy, but despite the dizziness, proceeds to leap right into Armitage’s arms. The force knocks Armitage, laughing, back into the flowers behind him.

While rare, and though you had heard his laughter before, it still ran through you with a beam of shock every time you witnessed it and every time you swore you fell a little bit more in love with him.

Leaving the First Order, taking your hand, had done him more good than either of you had imagined.

The boy’s mother looks back towards them. “Have you thought about children?”

Briefly, you scrunch up your nose. The cursed question, it seemed. You had, though. Both of you had had versions of that conversation, though they had ended at the exact same point every time, and you weren’t mad about it. Armitage was honestly terrified of becoming a father out of fear of unwittingly becoming like his own. He’d promised that if the time ever came, he would try his best not to be like his father, and he’d made sure you knew that. But then he’d admitted a worse fear – the fear that in some distant part of the universe, an inkling of the First Order remained. One that would, when your child grew up, reemerge. That it would do just what his First Order did. Take children from their parents and force them into being stormtroopers, or worse.

It had been hard for him to admit that fear, and you’d seen that as he said it. While you preferred not to think about possibilities like that, you understood his fear. And so you’d come to a simple conclusion: maybe. Maybe one day. But if that one day never came, that would be okay too. And both of you were entirely okay with that one day not being today or tomorrow or the next day.

Today, tomorrow and the next day were reserved for the both of you and you alone.

Still, the sight of Armitage playing with Rhys in the field thrills you immensely, and not just because of how lovely it is to see him with a child he clearly cares for, but also because of how happy it makes him.

He’d been filled with more happiness than you’d ever seen over the past few months on Arkanis, and you were grateful for that. You knew he’d lived a life with very little joy before he took your hand, and so he took extra pleasure in the little joys that seemed to follow him around like a not-so-pesky bug on Arkanis.

You shrug a shoulder and turn to your friend – Dina. “Not yet,” you admit, lying to her in your answer but knowing it’s for the best. Prying eyes still followed you around here on occasion and you didn’t need more on baby watch. It had only been three months, after all. Virtually no time had passed. “It’s still early days.”

She nods understandingly and doesn’t seem to want to say anything else on the matter, so slowly you break away from her and begin to walk towards Armitage and Rhys, still playing in the field. Rhys has moved to sit atop Armitage’s chest and is yelling about how he’s “taken down the big, scary monster” and you’re glad to see that childhood fun on a topic like that didn’t seem to bother Armitage.

He clutches at his chest. “No, no – he got me! Rhys got me! I’m–”

“No, the monster doesn’t know my name.” Rhys drops the act for a second to tell Armitage of this crucial fact before jumping straight back into his games.

You watch as Armitage blushes a shade of bright pink for just a second before continuing to join in with Rhys on his game. It’s only when Rhys eventually looks up and sees his mother wandering a few steps behind you that he pushes himself off of Armitage’s chest – rather forcefully – and begins sprinting towards her.

Armitage stays lying in the grass as you reach his side.

“Does the monster want to lay in the grass forever?” You ask, looking down at him.

His hair is messy, just like you’d seen it many times before. He’d given up on using hair gel months ago and you’d gotten used to the messy, floppy hair it was sometimes. You particularly enjoy how messy it would be after a nights sleep. He did not. And the beard he’d grown during his time on Ajan Kloss had gotten rather messy when he slept too. It was part of the reason he’d shaved it off, and while you miss it sometimes, a slight scruff still remains that makes him look not quite as clean cut as he had when you first met him.

Gone were the days of tight fitting, ironed First Order uniforms, and here were the days of slightly baggy t-shirts and trousers that weren’t as flattering as he would have liked them to be.

Not that you cared.

“Would the princess be mad if the monster did stay in the grass forever?”

“Not at all. But she would be lonely.”

You hold out a hand to him, and his smile returns as he takes it and accepts the help to stand. He brushes himself off as soon as he’s standing, removing some of the grass from the field from the back of his shirt before looking at you.

It’s quite impossible for him to stop smiling around you.

And he still hasn’t quite gotten used to being with you always.

He leans down to press a quick, chaste kiss to your lips before reaching down to take your hand again. With your spare one, you reach up quickly to brush a stray petal out of his hair before you walk over to Dina and Rhys. He’s talking excitedly about his afternoon with Armitage, and Dina is listening deeply.

“She asked me if we’d thought about children before, you know?” You mutter up to him before you get too close. “I think people are starting to get suspicious of us.”

Armitage raises his eyebrows. “People should, frankly, mind their own business.”

You nudge him gently. “People are just curious. They’re a tight knit community. There are kids all over this place. And we’re a new, young-ish couple that are without children. They probably think there’s something wrong with us.”

“Perhaps they should look closer to home.” He shakes his head.

He rarely ever thought about his own children. But only because it wasn’t something that was necessary to him right now. He had you, and he had the other children who lived around him that seemed to like him, strangely. He had been thinking of something else, of course… but you didn’t know about that.

He’d been thinking about it ever since you attended a wedding in Arkanis a month and a half ago. Wondering what his own would look like, if he were to have one. Wondering what you would look like in a dress like the bride at that one had worn. Wondering how he would look in a suit like the groom had worn. The thought had kept him up late at night more than he’d like to admit.

The both of you reach Dina and Rhys and she looks up at you.

“Rhys was just telling me what good fun you had,” she speaks directly to Armitage. “Thank you for taking care of him, love. If you’re up for it, next time we go for a walk, you might look after him again? Only if you’d like to, of course. No pressure here.” She looks at you and it doesn’t take you long to catch her double meaning.

No pressure here for you to have your own children when you can babysit mine.

Armitage, though, is thrilled. He smiles. “If Rhys will have me back, I’d be happy to.”

Both Rhys and Dina beam at that, and soon enough they’re off, wandering back down the hill and through the small woods towards the city centre.

You and Armitage hang back. From this field, you can see half of the city in the distance, but from the other side of it, you have a perfect view of the hills and ridges that cover the planet before the lake, not too far away from here. Armitage lets go of your hand just so he can wrap an arm around your back as you wander back towards the flowers, wanting to take advantage of the sun while it lasts.

Facing out towards the hills, you and Armitage happily settle back in the flowers. Armitage sits behind you, and you lean back into his chest, the warm sun beating down on you. For a few moments there is silence.

Then, Armitage speaks.

“What do you think we could do to deter those who wants us to have a child?”

You can’t look up at him, but you furrow your eyebrows in confusion anyway. “I don’t know if there’s anything we can do. No matter what we do, people will still wonder. Even though it’s only been a few months, they’ll still wonder,” you admit. “They know how serious we are about each other. Not much would deter them.”

Armitage huffs softly. “What about…” He hesitates. Never in his life had he ever been in a position to discuss something like this with anyone before, though he supposed that the likelihood of there being a good time to discuss it was slim. “No… never-mind.”

“No, what is it?”

“What about…” He hesitates again, and then sighs. “Would marriage deter them?”

You’re spinning around to face him half way through the word marriage, unable to keep the shock and surprise off of your face as you meet his eyes. “You– marriage?”

He nods nonchalantly. “Would it?”

”I– probably not, no. It’d spur them on even more, I think.”

Armitage screws up his nose and shakes his head, disappointed. “Oh.”

“What… what makes you ask that? What makes you think of it?”

“I don’t know,” he shrugs. “Ever since we attended that wedding I’ve wondered.”

“Wondered… what?”

He meets your eyes and smiles slightly. “What it would be like to marry you. It’s a luxury I never allowed myself to think of before. Marriage. One I never wanted to, one I never thought I would get a chance to even dream of. But I heard stories sometimes, heard people in the First Order, those who worked there, sometimes mentioning husbands or wives. I always allowed myself a luxury of curiosity, but not a curiosity about my own life. About my own possible wife.”

You try and look for the right words to say, but none that come to mind seem to be right. Instead, you lean up and kiss him softly and gently, letting your lips linger for a little longer than usual before you pull away.

Armitage’s eyes are sparkling as he looks at you after. “What was that for?”

“I think I’d like to call you my husband one day.”

His lips twitch. “We could do it, if you’d like.”

“People would be even more invested in us having children, though.”

“I’d get better at ignoring them.”

You’re unable to stop yourself from snorting in laughter at him. Sometimes he surprised you in his kindness and sincerity, and other times he was just like the Armitage you’d met on his ship months ago. Just as cold, just as unfeeling, but different – always with an undercurrent of warmth. This was one of those moments.

“You don’t think it’s too soon? To get married?”

He shook his head. “If there’s one thing I learnt after taking your hand and letting you save my life, it’s that life is not long enough to wait around for things you know you want.” He swiftly kisses you once more. “And I can guarantee I’d like to call you my wife even more than you want to call me your husband.”

You narrow your eyes. “I don’t know… that’s a pretty heavy bet…”

“It’s one I’ll win,” he assures you happily.

He’d had the odds against him for much of his life. This time, the odds were in his hands, and he was going to do with them whatever he pleased. This time, that included marrying the love of his life.

–

TAG LIST: @agirlinherhead, @songforhema, @sleep-paralysis-demon @midgardian-witch @capcrayon @redsacrament @wlucyw @the-dream-catch3r @petalduck @hopesxxhigh @treblebeth @burritonee @acaprioglino @rebelspykim @iwritefanficnotprophecies @ahsfan23 @erys-targaryen @tazzclegane @ibikus @seafrost-fangirl @percivalgravs @chewle @j1224 @livy1391 @drowsebaby @lafy-taffy @sleepy-blossom @memys-art-stuff @pink-pirate @sophiasescape @whovianayesha @theserenityspace @rageofpatroclus @hanyasnape @pancakefancake @esperanzavelez @shoochi @iirelynn @we-all-are-strange @empressoftheundergroundsun @carisi-sonny @fredd-weasley @kxte-p @oneandahalfeggs @watercolour-sloth @thekeywordisbalance

#rebel #armitage hux #armitage hux x you #armitage hux x reader #star wars #star wars x reader #star wars x you #general hux #general hux x reader

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five-hxrgreeves · 3 years

Text

I Won’t Back Down - Five Hargreeves x OC

Word Count: 3,244

You can stand me up at the gates of hell But I won't back down I'm gonna stand my ground Won't be turned around And I'll keep this world from dragging me down

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Pt. 4- Waking up to Ash and Dust

Lola didn’t know what woke her but she groaned and opened her eyes, lifting her head from where her cheek stuck to the page she’d been writing on before she’d fallen asleep. The basement was pitch-black, her candles having been burned out while she’d been resting. Unbothered, the brunette stood, stretched, and made her way to the wall where she knew the light switch was. After patting the guessed area, her hand hit on the dimmer and flicked it up. Nothing happened.

She moved it up and down several more times and the room remained completely dark. Frowning in confusion, Lola guessed that they’d lost power during the night for some reason. With no windows in the basement, it was impossible to tell what time it was or if a weather event had happened. Shrugging, she stepped twice to the right and placed her hand on the banister to guide her steps up the stairs. Only- she hit her head even halfway up.

”Ouch!” the girl yelped, rubbing the sore spot on her head. What the hell? The ceiling was never this low before! There were fifteen steps from the door to the bottom of the basement. Lola had only gone up ten.

She pushed on the supposed ceiling tentatively. No movement, “hey, guys? Mom? Dad?” she called, hoping someone would hear.

There was no way the ceiling was caved in, right? How would that even be possible? Maybe her uncle was pulling a prank on her and had stuffed obstacles down the stairs so she couldn’t come up.

“Uncle Ed? You’re really very funny! Haha!” she tried, hoping it would convince him to help move the stuff.

Then, something shifted and movement by her feet made her jump, causing her to yelp. There’s no mice down here, idiot. Her mother would never allow that, so what had fallen by her foot?

Still in pitch-blackness, Lola made her way back down the stairs until the was on the last one. Gripping the banister carefully, she moved her foot into the empty space below the final step until she hit what had fallen. Bending over, she was surprised by the weight of the item.

Lola moved the object between her hands, feeling the roughness and shape of it. It wasn’t any sort of object used for a prank, she determined. It felt like a part of her house. But how could that be right?

Stay calm, Lola, she told herself, there’s a reasonable explanation for this. Maybe mom decided to renovate the upstairs, started this morning, and forgot you were down here? That seemed a little far-fetched. What about school? Her mother always checked the basement if Lola wasn’t in her room and it had to be around the time she had to get ready.

Dropping the loose object, the girl made her way back up until her head brushed the blockage again, “MOM? DAD?” she yelled again, straining her ears for an answer.

What the hell happened last night? Or early this morning, she supposed. She called for her parents several more times, all of which went without response. Turning, she sat down on the seventh step and buried her face in her hands, the sudden coverage of her eyes making no difference with the black of the room.

Okay, she thought, you know the basement. What could you use to help you?

There were drills and electrical cords so she could drill herself out but she’d never used the tools before, her mom would go nuts and there seemed to be no power. She had candles, so she could burn her way through but if it was mostly cement on top of her that wouldn’t help. Paint was useless and so were light bulbs. She doubted there was something useful in the holiday section. Did they have a pick axe? Those couldn’t be so hard to use. Or maybe an anvil and a hammer.

That would take longer but didn’t require electricity and her mom might be more okay with that.

What if it caves in on you, though? she considered, biting her lip as she tried to puzzle around it, what did people use to prevent cave-ins? Some type of support, she supposed. Did they store plywood in the basement? Was that even strong enough?

Stay calm, Lola, you can do this. And besides, she was jumping ahead of herself. Surely her parents would notice and dig her out? Maybe there wasn’t even that much blockage and it just seemed like a lot. It probably just was a rotten prank her Uncle Ed had cooked up but she couldn’t see her mother being okay with her being late for school because of it. Still, she didn’t want to jump to conclusions so she stood and made her way back up the stairs, calling as loudly as she could, “MOM? DAD? UNCLE ED?”

There was no telling how much time had passed but no answer came as Lola’s voice tired out. After her 839th call, she gave a final cough, turned, and sat down, bending her head slightly to accommodate the small space. What now?

Surely it was past school’s starting time. Her uncle and father would be at the store and her mother would be at the library starting her shift. Lola sighed and strained her eyes into the blackness, hoping it would reveal an answer of what happened. It didn’t, of course, but she wasn’t sure what else to do. Maybe her voice wasn’t loud enough? The thought suddenly occurred to her and part of her favorite, well-memorized story came back to her: Liesel hit the lid of a paint can. Maybe her paint cans weren’t as useless as she thought.

After sliding down the stairs feet first and lowering herself carefully by her hands, she stood and made her first step to the left. Suddenly, she was very glad she was a counter. There were exactly twenty-seven and a half steps to the paint section of the shelves from the bottom of the stairs. Carefully counting them out, she arrived in the correct place and took the top paint can after feeling around for the handle. Then, with another fifteen steps, she made her way to the hand-held tools and felt along the second shelf for a hammer, pleased when her hand grasped the worn, wooden handle.

Turning, Lola counted the total forty-two and a half steps back to the stairs and went up again to the blockage. Placing the paint can on the last available step, she swung the hammer down, hard, on the lid. It let out a resounding clang which was loud in the dark stillness and made her flinch in surprise. Shaking off her prickle of fear, she repeated the action several more times.

The girl jumped when something slightly wet splashed on her and she gingerly felt the spot where it landed on her shirt. Oops.

The lid had dented after so many hits and now it had finally given, the most recent contact had splashed the sent the wet paint flying. She swallowed nervously. How many paint cans did they have? How long would she be stuck here? Clearly, no one was coming to help. Lola supposed she should have waited until her parents would actually be home but the thought hadn’t occurred to her until now. Besides, who knew how long it had been?

The thought made her shudder slightly, the idea of days passing without being released not sitting well with her. She loved the basement but even she didn’t want to live out the rest of her days here. I need light, Lola thought, slightly frantically.

She shook herself and took a deep breath. As well as she knew the space, losing count of the steps wouldn’t help her. She descended the stairs again and stepped left, this time counting out eleven steps. Her hands found the candles and matches blindly, relieved when she felt that there were twenty-five in all. She would still conserve the light, though. Just in case.

Lola repeated her path in reverse and sat on the third step, carefully holding one slim, long candle between her legs as she prepared the lighter. There was a spark and the match caught, causing her to quickly set it to the wick and shake it out, relieved to keep some of the darkness at bay. Holding the light aloft, the brunette stood from the stairs and in twenty-one steps she reached the far wall where a wine cellar of sorts stood embedded into the cement. The space was tiny and hand-dug, extremely cold in the winter and less so in the summer but was an additional food storage area for long-term items. They didn’t usually keep it very full but there were several packages of canned drinks, two tubs of ice cream, some frozen dinners and a case of water.

The girl now took stock of the items, checking that each one she thought was in there actually was and was reassured that she would be able to survive down here for some time, if it came to that. She hoped not. Lola had zero practiced survival skills and what she knew only came from books like Hatchet which wouldn’t truly help her here.

She wasn’t an idiot; rationing her food should start immediately and she needed to go as long as possible without eating or drinking to make it last longer. Going to the bathroom would be a challenge, but she’d dedicate a spot and hope for the best.

Stop it, idiot, Lola thought suddenly, you’re acting like you’re stuck down here. You probably aren’t.

Still, she couldn’t help but think what if she was? At least the couch could act as her bed and the rest of the time would be spent trying to free herself.

She sighed and exited the food storeroom, at least you don’t have to worry about homework right now. Your teachers will understand if you miss because you’re trapped in a basement. Hopefully.

Okay, she thought, if worst comes to worst, you’re pretty well off. There’s definitely no need to panic. Nope, none at all. Think: what would Liesel do? WWLD? She wouldn’t panic- well, she did at the sight of her dead-

STOP. Don’t think like that. The point is, she didn’t panic when she was trapped in her basement. People came to help. The same will happen for you. You’ve always wanted to be like her, remember? Now’s your chance.

“At least this will make for an interesting section in my autobiography,” Lola commented aloud and instantly shook her head, stop it, talking to yourself is a sure sign of insanity. It had only been a few hours at most, probably eight.

The uncertainty of exactly how many made her shudder slightly.

The next day- or what she assumed was the next day- she tried the same routine, calling her parents’ and uncle’s names for as long as she could before her voice gave and then resorting to banging on a paint can until it, too, gave. Lola used some of her light to count exactly how many paint cans she had, which were fifteen. A little over two weeks and she’d used two already.

They could help her keep track of the estimated days. To keep herself busy, she also partitioned out her food into servings so she wouldn’t eat a lot at once, even if she was really hungry. Her stomach was already starting to growl but she pushed through knowing it could get worse.

Another obstacle she realized she had was that there was no running water, not that the basement had a sink. There was no way to keep her hands clean or wash herself and she cringed at the thought of becoming disgustingly dirty.

The next guessed day came and Lola was entertaining the idea that something had gone very, very wrong outside. She’d sat for several hours next to the cave-in and heard nothing. She allowed that the pile on top of her was too thick to let sound through but it seemed that she’d hear police sirens or something as they swarmed over the collapsed house.

The thought made her heart twist in her chest. What about her parents? Were they hurt? The only explanation that there could be was the house collapsed, but surely they hadn’t been inside when it happened? They were probably worried out of their minds right now about her. Lola wished she could send them a message that she was okay.

An idea had crossed her mind that she could tap out an SOS out on her paint can lid but she didn’t know Morse code and had tossed the idea aside. The brunette was glad that she had rather weak olfactory senses and couldn’t easily smell herself but she was sure that after three days of not showering, she must stink.

You stink to high heaven! her mother would say. Lola had never missed her as much as she did right now and she wished she could have been more understanding about her mother’s reasoning for things. The next time she gives me chores or scolds me, I won’t ever complain again.

Two more days passed without much change. Lola still lived in darkness most of the time, worried about running out of light. It was surprisingly easy to stick to food rations. She’d never been a big eater but she wasn’t a small eater either. She chalked it up to the fact that she could count each serving.

Her first time going to the bathroom without a toilet had been awkward and messy but luckily they did store toilet paper and trash bags on the lower part of one of the shelves so at least she could clean up. The couch was a fine sleeping place and only creaked a little when she shifted around.

After spending her obligatory hours trying to get help, Lola would then shuffle, shuffle, shuffle her cards, over and over again to keep the panic at bay, the action familiar and comforting. In the dark, she would try magic tricks which proved to be difficult as she couldn’t see the result. Then, she returned to counting all fifty-two of the cards, reassuring herself that they were all there. Her writing fell by the wayside as she focused on keeping herself calm and definitely not panicking.

After approximately one week, Lola was starting to feel the affects of being stuck in the dark for so long. Sleep had become more difficult and she instead lay awake for hours, staring into nothing as she lay on her side on the couch, the cushions pressed against her back. It was easier to operate without light now, too. She still counted her steps whenever she moved around but her ears seemed sharper- the ringing of the paint can lid proved that- her touch seemed more sensitive and it seemed like her smell had improved, too, because she was definitely stinking.

Lola wished she had a change of clothes at least, but she was out of luck. The only possibility of new cloth was Christmas tree skirts and that wouldn’t help her since she didn’t have needle and thread- not that she was even a fashion designer, but she could have figured something out.

Sometimes, when she stared at nothing for long periods of time, bright spots would enter her vision or strange, geometric shapes would pop up. Then, she would blink and they would disappear. The thought of seeing things terrified her and Lola made an effort to keep her eyes physically closed instead of just peering into the darkness.

By the beginning of the second week, sleep had suddenly come back. Lola thought she was just closing her eyes in short spurts but in reality, they were closed for many hours. The paint cans helped keep her from misjudging how many days she’d spent in isolation and the food rations did too, slightly.

The panic that had threatened to overwhelm her had ebbed, only poking at the back of her mind every so often. Lola could feel that her body had become weaker, too, even though she spent many hours pacing the edge of the space, counting out all 900 steps. It was clear that no one was coming to help her but she couldn’t bring herself to stop hoping. Even as she lost everything else, something told her to press forward and keep believing someone would come.

She’d been speaking to herself more and more too, to cover up the awful silence that persisted in the darkness. She’d often just recite parts of her autobiography, sang song lyrics she'd memorized or she’d spend several hours reciting The Book Thief as a way to help calm her as her panic increased. One time, in her rotations, she’d turned on the third corner and had stopped for a moment, eyes wide, as what looked like a monkey on a unicycle juggled in front of her, complete with flashing circus lights and music.

Lola’s mouth had dropped open and she’d let out a crazy, slightly maniacal laugh before she rubbed at her eyes furiously in disbelief. The darkness had promptly returned, leaving her to shiver fearfully on the spot.

On the twelfth day, according to her paint cans- not that she actually knew for sure anymore- something changed. Lola hadn’t been expecting it, of course, and had gone on with her usual routine. Then, in one of her circuits of the basement, she heard something, out of the ordinary from the sounds she was used to- not that there were many. Her pulse picked up. Was someone trying to kill her?

“No, stupid,” she said aloud, her voice raw and hoarse from the hours she spent yelling, “you’re dumb. There’s no one alive. I think we’re alone now.”

The words didn’t make sense but then nothing much did these days. When had she started speaking in plural? Still, the shifting continued.

Creeping slowly up the staircase, the brunette paused next to her already set-up paint can. It certainly sounded like someone was out there. The girl looked down the dark staircase, thinking about her remaining food and liquid supply which was now rapidly dwindling, her shrinking amount of candles, paint cans and matches, her wrinkled, used deck of cards and came to a decision.

At first, her banging went unnoticed on the surface until the shifting stilled above her.

“Hello?” the sound was faint and muffled, clearly she was hearing things.

Lola continued her banging, hoping that maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t.

The shifting resumed but it seemed more purposeful now. The sound came again, “hello? Is anyone there?”

Bang, bang, bang came the answer, the brunette continuously hitting the lid. A chink of brilliant light appeared above her head, making her shut her eyes in pain.

“Hello? Can you hear me?” it was definitely a voice, a young one, too.

Then, the hole opened wider, wider, and wider until bright light came pouring into the dark space. Turning up her face but closing her eyes, Lola tried to look up at who had come for her. Maybe she was dead and the light was from heaven.

The answer was the exact opposite as the voice spoke again, this time disbelief clear in the tone, “what the hell?”

#The Umbrella Academy #Umbrella Academy #five #five hargreeves #five hargreeves x dolores #5 #five hargreeves x oc #five hargreeves x reader #Five x oc #five x reader #five x dolores #human dolores #dolores isn't a mannequin #dolores #pre-tua #apocalypse #hargreeves #tua five

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chappedandfadedvds · 3 years

Text

Dec 18th, Friday 05:28

Jens waited. Patiently watched the slow rising and falling of the half uncovered bare chest of the boy next to him. It was soothing to see the ease behind the movment.

He was uncertain when exactly he had woken up, given the everpresent darkness of the winter. But he couldn’t have gotten much sleep. That was quite evident in the heaviness of his eyes. At least it must have been a little more than the last couple of days. Not that it didn’t fell awfully short of a proper rest.

With a sigh on his lips, he let his gaze wander up his boyfriends chest, past the dip above the collarbone that gave way to the curve of the slim neck he knew blind. Jens had buried his face in it more than he could count by now.

His eyes reached the jawline and then the chin and lastly the lips, slightly parted. His boyfriend was just very faintly snoring. A smile dared to cross Jens, until his boyfriend stirred awake, Lucas’s eyes blinking open with a low groan.

The alarm had rung.

“I’m sorry.”

The whisper came fast over Jens’s lips, faster than he had anticipated, leading Lucas to turn onto his side. Only to face Jens with an odd confusion at the first words exchanged this early friday morning. However last night must have caught up with Lucas, as it visibly dawned on him how they had left off.

A deep frown graced his boyfriend’s face.

Jens had turned yesterday’s argument over and over again in his head, unable to find peace with it when it painfully accurately ended up the way it did every single time. He hated his past self so much. Therefore Jens had vowed to be a better person, better than with everyone he had been before, and just apologise right away. It had worked last time Jens had fucked up. He prayed it would be enough this time around as well.

Lucas hadn’t gone home. His boyfriend had stayed. Jens had felt the weight dropping from his shoulders the second he had seen the younger boy already fast asleep upstairs in bed at half past eleven. It must surely count for something, right?

“It‘s okay. I absolutely understand why you were so frustrated. I really should have just done it.”

Jens decided that he didn’t deserve his boyfriend.

“No, it is not okay. It isn’t your responsibility. It’s mine alone. My house, my things. You helping out so much shouldn’t be the norm. And more than anything, I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that, especially over such a small thing.”

The two boys fell quiet again for a long second after Jens’s apology. He didn’t believe he should be let that easily of the hook. He should do more than say a couple of words. Jens was sure he had hurt Lucas with his anger over forgotten laundry.

“Thank you.” Jens breathed out. This was really what he wanted to say all along.

“For what?”

“Being here?” Jens replied unsure of what exactly made him feel all the things he felt, when he constantly found himself looking at Lucas. Overly grateful for very stolen glance he got, without getting caught by blue eyes staring back.

“Being you, really. Thank you for staying.“ Jens took another deep breath before he continued. „Thank you for not leaving me. I don’t think I could have managed the last couple of weeks without you. And thank you for just accepting all of it. I’m afraid I wouldn’t have done the same if the roles were reversed, to be honest. And to know that feels shit.”

It was true. The moment he came to acknowledge the conclusion Jens had reached last night, after he had joined Lucas in bed, with a mind racing lacking a goal, had been shattering. Jens wouldn’t have stayed around his previous girlfriends. Jens hadn’t stayed around for Robbe, when his best friend needed him most, without a mother and home to stay.

He knew he wouldn’t have stayed for Lucas if it had been the younger boy’s mom instead.

If he hadn’t already cried as much already, he certainly would have again as he had watched the dark shadows of the branches outside his window. Without tears, he only felt hurt, until exhaustion lead him to fall asleep.

“Well, aren’t we lucky then, that I am the one to help you out.” Lucas said as a matter of fact, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Maybe Jens could cry now? He felt like he should, given his heart was beating fast and loud up to his throat.

“Are you like godsend?“ Jens asked into the space between them. „Honestly. Did you cut of your wings or something. Because I seriously don’t understand how you showed up at my doorstep the moment I needed you most. A person to lean on, to trust. I don’t get it.”

Lucas just laughed back at him, amused by the crinkling of his eyes, as his eyes were still focused on Jens. He felt genuinly dumbfounded at the reaction. He knew it didn’t sounded cool or well worded, but still, it was the most honest he could be at the moment. How else was he able to convey his feelings in a better, more accurate way?

“Sorry.“ Lucas quickly apologised, calming steadly down. The smirk never left. „You are just so cheesy. What movie did you get that from?”

“My own. I’m writing it as we speak.” Jens teased, his confidence brought back, after he had to endure to have been laughed at. Jens couldn’t help but join in on the pleasant joy his boyfriend showed. Perhaps it was a little funny. It almost made him forget about last night. He hoped it would do the same for Lucas. He prayed his boyfriend could forget about it as fast as he could forgive Jens.

„You didn’t know shit about me in October. And when you found out, you somehow decided that this would be a great first relationship experience to have? Why, Luc? Why?“

It was a question Jens had asked himself so often til now, it was burned into his skull. He just couldn’t believe a person to be capable of glossing over the fact, that this was a miserable thing to get oneself into. Willingly on top of it.

„I don’t know. It just felt right, I guess.“ The younger boy said with a shrug of his shoulder.

Jens just decidedly stared at the boy in wonder. Again the voice inside his head reminding him that he didn’t deserve his boyfriend. This was gonna become a common thought, Jens feared.

Lucas didn’t apparently minded the fast pace of change between them. Screaming and hurting in one moment. Forgiving and joking in the next. Because Lucas simply leaned over, kissing Jens out of his stupor, before the younger boy got up.

„Come on, you can’t be late to school two days in a row.“ His boyfriend stated and Jens unfortunately had to agree, as he watched Lucas throw on a hoodie and socks.

„Lucas?“ Jens called for him, as the boy was up and almost at the door, to leave for the bathroom. Jens wasn’t sure where the drastic need suddenly stemmed from. It was the wrong time for it. It really was. Especially after yesterday and everything Jens had done and said. This morning hadn’t been long enough to let the boys forget about it. But Jens just had to say it out loud. Let Lucas know, before the younger boy would leave the room. So Jens sat cautiously up from his spot on the bed, biting his bottom lip.

„Yes?“

„I love you.“

He could see the moment it hit Lucas, as the boy paused in his movement. The hand raised to open the door, but never grabbed the knob, instead hovering between the wooden plane and the boy’s body, as he turned slowly.

Jens shouldn’t have said it. He strongly believed to have been right in his assumption, until Lucas’s face lit up in adoration, a grin reaching from one ear to the other.

„I love you, too.“

And then the younger boy opened the door and left.

Jens just fell back into the pillows, too bewildred to get up right away.

He could probably take another minute. He needed to take another minute.

__ __ __

tagged: @odi-et-amo85, @tayspots

notes are in the tags somehow... thanks for sticking around!

#week 8 #wtfock #skam #vds #jens stoffels #lucas van der heijden #chapped and faded #all onboard the rollercoaster #honestly you should know that I resolve fights quickly #for now #i just think that people sometimes get too emotional and start fights without meaning too #and i don't want to live in a world where it just constantly ends in breakups #be they short or long termed #fuck that #my relationships always resolved conflicts rather quickly #hope you can see that as well #and understand ehy I'm writing like this #also christmas trip is coming up #i need fluff!!!!!

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marvinswriting · 4 years

Text

Meeting borrower art freaks au

Fuck.

My head hurt so bad.

The world was spinning.

I'm gonna die.

I know that much.

I think I sprained my ankle.

I'm not stupid. Weeks without water, proper food, or shelter doesn't bode well.

Has it even been weeks?

Maybe its only been days.

I don't know anymore.

"Janis, while you were borrowing we came to a conclusion."

"What conclusion, Regina? Did I do something wrong?"

I laugh bitterly to myself at the memory. It was slowly becoming day as I pushed myself through the tall grass. A new day, with the sky turning beautiful blues with some pink far off. Just like the day my roommates kicked me out.

"We think you're a lesbian. We can't live with a lesbian. What if you do something?"

That accusation made me feel dirty. I'm twelve, why would I even think of something like that? It didn't matter to Regina.

"Gretchen and Karen agree. You need to leave. It shouldn't be too hard to find a new house."

Regina was my childhood friend. We were taught how to borrow together. Everything I learned Regina learned too. We found Karen and Gretchen together, we picked a house to live in together. I've never been alone before.

Until now.

My stomach growls, it feels like its caving in on itself.

My throat is dry but I know better than to drink from the dew on the grass.

I'm following a fence. Don't know how long I've been but I am.

I need to lean on the white painted wood to walk.

My movement is sluggish and my limbs are heavy.

My ankle is killing me.

Birds fly overhead and I freeze. If one of them were to swoop down I'd be done for.

I don't have the weapons to fight back, let alone the energy.

The fence ends.

Where do I go now?

There are two houses. Neither looks appealing. Besides, how would I find a way in?

Regina and I got lucky last time.

I'm out of house hunting practice.

I just want to lay down.

The word sways again. I'm gonna die.

I know a lot of borrowers don't live till old age. But I always thought I'd at least make it to my teenage years.

The sky is total blue at this point. The night time creatures are gone for the night but I don't feel safer.

There's a willow tree in front of me, I don't see it through the grass but its flower clumps are scattered around.

Are they edible?

I don't test it.

Maybe it'd be easier to just give in to the exhaustion.

To fall asleep and not wake up.

Maybe an animal will find me.

Maybe a human will and I'll be an internet craze for a bit as people try and debate what I am.

I push a clump of grass to the side. The tree.

It's huge, as most things are to me. I look up, ignoring the way the world spins, at the trunk that seems to go up for miles. There's moss at the base of the tree, in between the roots.

I give into the exhaustion and sit down. It's soft.

I lay on my side letting my eyes close.

I've reached the point of fatigue where my eyes burn when I close them. I squeeze them shut anyway.

My body seems to catch onto the fact that I've given up.

Everything is numb, I don't even feel my ankle anymore.

"I'm sorry this had to happen, Janis."

No, you weren't, Regina. My health was never your priority.

My limbs feel heavy as the need for sleep sets in.

The rustling of plants around me is almost calming.

My brain is no longer worried about what caused the noise, or what potential danger I could be in.

The calm I felt should be worrying.

It wasn't.

There were footsteps. Not heavy ones like humans. Like a borrower.

Oh cool. I feel like that should connect in my brain, warn me of danger, tell me to get up and fight, but it doesn't. I don't have anything world stealing. If they want to kill me, they can.

The footsteps seem to walk past before halting. "Hello?"

Its a boy. He sounds young. Maybe my age.

I don't respond.

I don't even move.

"Are you okay?"

No.

I don't say it though.

I don't want to de, I've just accepted the fact.

I'm alone. My roommates kicked me out. My childhood best friend though I was a creep who would do something. Just the thought of the memory makes me curl in on myself tight.

The movement from me is all mystery boy needs to know I'm alive.

"Do you need help?"

He's walking closer.

I don't respond.

I can feel myself drifting into sleep. I don't think I could move if I tried.

There's a muffled hello?

Is this what dying feels like?

It's peaceful.

Arms are scooping underneath me, lifting me up.

I can't fight it.

I don't try to.

The boy is warm.

I'm cold.

This feels nice.

The first continuous thought I have is, I'm not fucking dead.

Too much pain to feel dead. Everything is sore. My head hurts.

My eyes are still shut.

I don't try and open them yet.

I try and remember what the fuck was going on.

Regina cut me out.

She made it clear I wasn't wanted.

I was left for dead.

That boy-

I sit up suddenly, my hand shooting to my head in a vain was to stop the world from spinning. I was in a bedroom. The matchbox underneath me was soft and the room looked decently lived in.

Was I- in the boy's house?

Did he save me?

He didn't have to.

"Hello?" I called out tentatively.

My voice sounded as awful as I felt. I froze, listening. Footsteps approached the room as a boy with brown hair stepped in. He looked my age, maybe older.

"You're awake." He states. It's not a question but there's disbelief in his voice like he unsure it'd happen. "I'm Damian."

"Janis." I say, watching Damian hoover in the doorway. Was he scared of me? Or did he not want to scare me?

"You were unconscious for just under a week," Damian explains stepping into the room. "It's about eleven at night right now, sixth day."

Six days?

No wonder he was surprised to see me awake.

"Oh," I say softly. We kinda just glance at each other for a while. Damian's hair falls slightly over his eyes. His clothes look well taken care of, which is a sign of living pretty well as a borrower. I used to look like that. I probably look like a fucking mess now.

Damian coughed awkwardly. "Well, I gotta go borrow now. I'll make it quick but in the meantime feel free to explore around the area. I'd stick close with that ankle of yours though."

That ankle?

I watch as Damian leaves without waiting for a response. It's quiet for a while, and I just lay there.

Why did Damian make sure I was okay?

He could have just walked away and let me die.

I swing my legs over the side of the bed and I'm instantly reminded why Damian mentioned my ankle.

I hiss, immediately lifting the pressure off it.

It's banged which- it definitely wasn't before.

I only knew this boy for five minutes but- if he didn't have good intentions- then why go through all this to make sure I'm okay?

I leave the bedroom, using the wall to support the other half of my weight.

Damian is right, I don't make it far before collapsing on a chair in what looks to be the kitchen/storage area. I was still concerned about Damian's motives, but I wasn't exactly nervous.

Why not just leave me for death if you don't care.

I sit in silence for a while, the sounds outside the walls and occasional creak keeping me company.

It's been a while since I've been inside. Damian's space was about the same size as my old one. But he lived alone and I lived with four other girls.

"I'm back!" A voice calls.

"In here," I say. I can talk easier now.

Damian enters the room. "Ankle okay? I didn't want to mess with it too much before you woke up. It felt weird to like-" He turns up is palms but I get what he's saying.

I was unconscious and he was a stranger.

"Thank you," I say softly.

Damian nods and begins unpacking his supplies. "Ever since I've found you, I've had one question. What happened to you? You're clearly dressed as you lived comfortably. So how do you end up on the verge of death at the base of a weeping willow?"

I shrug. A total stranger doesn't need my sob story. I can tell him later if it comes to it. "Long story short, I was house hunting. Roommates decided they didn't need roommates anymore. After almost a year together. It was sudden and I wasn't prepared to be outside with no food or water."

Damian's mouth forms an 'o' but he doesn't say anything. He silently passes me what I think is part of a grape from where he was cutting food. "Well, if you want- and feel free to say no, you can stick around here for a while. At least till that ankle heals. I wouldn't mind a roommate, it gets quiet around here. Even if it's temporary."

"Until my ankle heals." I agree.

I smile at the newly placed bed.

After four months of carefully dancing around the topic of if I'll be staying, Damian and I finally agreed to officially be roommates. I bounce on my toes, ankle fully healed, as Damian pushes the matchbox into place.

"Ta-da!"

"Yes!" I cross the room, throwing my arms around his neck. "Thank you."

Damian ug me back, his arms squeezing around my sides. "Of course. I'm glad to officially have a new roommate."

Even in four months, Damian has shown me more love and support then Regina had done since birth. The second my ankle was healed we started borrowing together. The arguments and tension I had borrowing with my old roommates was gone.

Damian could do a simple wave of his hand and I knew exactly what he meant.

I hug him tighter. "No, really. Thank you."

fun fact: i was writing this while giving bear ides for her most recent fic @realmisspolarbear @smallsoysauce @musicallygt @sourishlemons

#borrower art freaks au #borrower janis #borrower damian #i just love them

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