miss squilfstar

mi capitana | a. putellas

summary; you love when alexia wears the captains armband for club & country - she knows it. [SMUT]

🎵 extravagant - lil durk

alexia had rightfully earned the captaincy title for both spain and barcelona a while ago, pushing herself beyond the comfort zone and breaking past her limits to prove her worthiness as a leader. it was no secret that she was one of the greats in the women's game - almost like a female messi - so it just made sense for her to be named captain. when she first informed you she was going to lead spain as well as barcelona it took you a while to understand, being from england and still getting used to spanish after recently transferring to barcelona, but when it clicked in your mental translation you screamed in happiness as she smiled at your shared pride.

you and alexia had met just before the euros campaign kicked off, both of you suffering from long-term injuries made it work better when you were sat next to each other at the spain vs england game, the catalan devastated her team was kicked out after getting so far but happy when she saw how much it meant to you. even if it meant she were miserable for the rest of her life, she would do anything to see you happy, the same goes for you. you both made huge sacrifices for each other at some point and it made your relationship work, being there for each other in the highs and lows and supporting the other in their wins even it it meant you'd lost.

she did it for you during the euros, you did it for her during the world cup.

closer to two years together now, you couldn't be happier, living together in barcelona after well over a year enduring long distance. you had also both been insatiable in the physical touch department, having your partner within reach after going so long without them made it difficult to contain yourselves, so your teammates made efforts to get used to how touchy you and alexia are during club training and even team bonding nights. they believed if it meant they had two world-class players on their side for every match it was worth the disgustingly constant shows of pda.

you had just come off the pitch as a starter for vicky to make a difference in the 75th minute, sitting next to patri and mapi whilst watching the remaining time of barcelona's latest match against rosengard, currently 5-0 up and with martina getting ready to go on it looked like the game would be ending with a 6-0 victory. your eyes were focused solely on alexia and the armband she was wearing.

alexia knew you found everything she did attractive, she felt the same way about you, but for some reason she couldn't do anything that matched up to how you reacted when she wore a captains armband. the dominance that came with assigned leadership was something she most definitely had and judging by the way she was bossing people around, yelling at them on how to play or to pass whilst leading the team, she was fit for the role. when she was stood waiting for a corner to be taken she placed her hands on her hips to catch her breath momentarily, looking around to spot you basically drooling over the way her bicep was bulging out under the armband and the way her legs looked so toned in her shorts- don't even make me comment on how her shirt was skin-tight to show off her physique and toned abs.

"ay, deja de babear por la reina."

"i was not!"

you quickly retaliated after mapi nudged your side with her elbow, maintaining your defensive stature as she raised her eyebroe in response with patri humming inconvinced.

"sure you weren't y/n/n."

deciding to not make your case any worse you smacked them both lightly on their thighs as they chuckled at you, knowing thry were right. could you be blamed though? i mean, the woman is stunning.

the game ended in a 6-0 victory thanks to martina in injury time, just as you predicted, meaning you were still top of your table for the champions league and headed towards winning it again. the entire sub bench got up to make their rounds of the pitch after shaking hands with the rosengard players, alexia quickly finding you and stealing your drink cheekily with a kiss to the temple and mumbled thanks in spanish as you rolled your eyes playfully at her.

"caught you staring, mi amor."

"no clue what you're on about."

you took your bottle from her again and smiled softly as she smirked in disbelief of your denial, knowing the undeniable effect she had on you without the captains armband- nevermind with it. now that i mention it, she was wearing it right next to you, and as much as you wanted to focus on what she was saying you couldn't help but start to stare again now that it was inches away from you.

"mi amor, stop getting distracted."

alexia spoke softly whilst tilting your head up away from her bicep with her fingers under your chin, smiling down at the blush you wore after being caught staring once again. you swatted her hand away and ignored the chuckle she let out when yours wrapped around her clothed bicep to hold onto her whilst walking around the remainder of the pitch, your girlfriend not missing the way your fingers tensed every couple moments to feel how much more muscular her arm was with the armband tightly attached.

whilst you were all getting changed alexia sneakily packed the small piece of fabric into her kitbag and took it home, trying not to burst out into a cocky grin or obvious smirk on the way home when your hand dragged hers over to your inner thigh, not missing the way your legs would press together when she tightened her grip.

"i have a surprise for you babygirl."

alexia spoke excitedly whilst shutting the door behind her, quickly unzipping her back before rustling about for a couple moments and pulling something out before you could turn around to see it, the catalans eyes nodding over to your bedroom wordlessly as you made your way over there with her following close behind. she shut the door and pulled you back into her before you were too far for her liking, hugging you from behind and kissing up your neck slowly so her teeth could graze your earlobe teasingly. her breath fanned over your pulse point to make you shiver as she chuckled at you, her arms guiding you to the bed whilst she removed your clothes alongside her own.

"on your back, niña bonita."

you did as she instructed and immediately noticed the small piece of fabric in her hand as she brought it up beside her face and shook it teasingly, both of you grinning. alexia crawled on top of you and initiated a passionate kiss she knew would have you riled up in a couple minutes time, hands shamelessy roaming your body as you moaned into her mouth when she grazed her thumb over your sensitive breasts. her lips trailed down your neck and body sloppily as she unbuckled your bra expertly before tossing it behind her, teeth coming to the waistband of your underwear and dragging them all the way down your leg, leaving them by your feet on the bed whilst her lips kissed up your legs again.

"ale..."

you breathily moaned with your hands tangling into her hair, tugging lightly as she teased her tongue against your clit whilst dragging your legs to rest over her shoulders.

"give me your hands."

she demanded, smiling as you followed her command immediately. the striker pushed your wrists together by your stomach and moved the captains armband over them to essentially tie your hands together. you whined needily with your hips bucking into her mouth, alexia diving into your heat without hesitation as she flicked her tongue back and forth over your wanting clit before sucking it into her mouth to earn a moan from you. her hands trailed up and around your thighs with a firm grip to keep them open, tongue moving down to your entrance as she prodded it in teasingly and smirked at the whimper she received for her efforts.

"miràme."

your girlfriend mumbled after pulling away for a second, moving back to begin tongue-fucking you in all the right ways as you once again followed her command. her eyes were staring up into yours piercingly, earning another moan from you after you noticed how veiny her hands were around your quads.

"god, alexia."

she picked up the pace and moved one of her hands to rub two fingers over your clit after wetting them in your slick, wanting to drive you towards the edge as quickly as possible to see how fast she could get you off. your hips bucked in time to the thrusts of her tongue as she pushed you closer to the edge in record time, not missing the way you were digging your nails into the armband in a way that said the knowledge of it being anywhere near you was helping you get closer.

your high came out of nowhere and hit you like a brick, back arching as you tightened your legs around alexias head to keep her there whilst continuing to thrust your hips against her face so you knew she wouldn't be stopping anytime soon. after lasting for what felt like a lifetime your orgasm subsided and body relaxed, alexia lapping up everything you gave her before you were whining in overstimulation and attempting to softly kick her away. your girlfriends hands quickly removed the armband as she lovingly kissed all over your body, praising you to the heavens.

"mi niña buena. muy bueña para mi."

"mi capitana."

you mumbled without thinking, still feeling like you were floating after your orgasm as alexia chuckled in response.

"good?"

"demasiado buena."

alexia laughed with you before lying down with her arms wide open, signalling for you to lie on her chest as you gladly did so whilst waiting for the tingling in your legs to go away- you knew you were going to have a second round in a couple minutes time.

Tigerclaw and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Senior Warrior Position AU

In a world where deputies can only be named after their first apprentice has been granted their warrior name, Tigerclaw struggles to keep an apprentice alive long enough to earn their name.

or, a comedy-tragedy AU in which having an apprentice isn't enough — you have to see them to their warrior name, and Tigerclaw cannot fucking get any of his goddamn apprentices to live, damn it.

—

It starts out mostly normally, except for the fact that Tigerclaw hasn't gotten any apprentices to their warrior name, and he needs that so he can accomplish his (very noble, of course) kitty genocide goals. And also be the supreme leader of the world or something. Darkpaw died stupidly, he hasn't had a chance since, and now he's got some tiny thing that's afraid of his own shadow.

Well. It'll have to do.

So naturally this man is so protective over Ravenpaw that Ravenpaw barely even leaves his sight. Firepaw and Graypaw think that this is adorable. Look how much Tigerclaw cares about his apprentice!!

Ravenpaw, of course, is fucking terrified and also slowly losing his mind, just in a different way.

—

"Redtail assigned us to go on a patrol to Snakerocks." "OH NO HE DID NOT. WE'RE STAYING IN THE SANDY HOLLOW WHERE IT'S SAFE."

"Nothing matters more to me than making you a warrior, Ravenpaw. Nothing." And the terrible thing is that Ravenpaw is sure he's being sincere.

—

Ravenpaw disappears and Tigerclaw nearly fucking has a conniption because the timing was all RIGHT and he was going to finally get the position AND HE NEVER GOT HIS DAMN NAME FUCK.

"Do you think I could convince the elders that Fireheart was my apprentice?" "Fireheart was Bluestar's apprentice, as approved by StarClan. You're going to have to wait for the next litter to be apprenticed."

So he begs and begs and gets Cinderpaw and then she accidentally falls into the trap he'd set for a better deputy candidate at the Thunderpath. Fuck.

—

Well. Time to resort to drastic measures.

"I was thinking that Darkstripe would have been a good name. Because he had dark stripes." "Again, Tigerclaw, it's admirable that you loved your apprentice so much, but I cannot grant him a name." "Are you sure?" "Honestly, Tigerclaw, I'm not sure he ever would have gotten a name. Missing quite a few feathers from his nest, that one..." Fuck. The worst part was that she wasn't even wrong.

— Swiftpaw and Brightpaw get mauled by the dogs he set up to happen like right after he got the title and they sprang it before and he's like FUCK NOW WHAT DO I DO WITH THESE DAMN DOGS? His world domination plans literally never come to fruition because he cannot keep his apprentices alive/in the clan/his own.

— "Brightheart counts. She HAS to count." "Actually, Cloudtail took over her training…" [demented noises]

—

Turns out that Ravenpaw is alive and no one — no one — in the Harper Collins Extended Universe is happier than Tigerclaw.

"You're alive! …You deserve your warrior name!" "Actually, I've come to peace with my name and my way of life. I have no need for a—" "GET YOUR FUCKING NAME RIGHT NOW RAVENPAW OR SO HELP ME STARCLAN—" "I know you really wanted Ravenpaw to become a warrior," Barley says gently, "but he's made his decision. It's very kind of you to acknowledge that he deserves it, though. You must have been so close as mentor and apprentice." Tigerclaw's eye twitches. "Yes. Close. Very... close." —

He finally, finally retires as an elder after his plans go absolutely nowhere for years on end. And maybe StarClan is still like "Brambleclaw would be chill actually, we can forget that pesky little law" and Tigerclaw is sitting there like "excuse me what the actual fuck?" —

But at this point Tigerclaw is about as dangerous as Ashfur without a freak forest fire. Which is to say about as dangerous as using a leaf as a weapon. Which is, incidentally, how Darkpaw managed to get himself killed in the first place.

—

"Is this the Dark Forest? This has to be the Dark Forest. It doesn't look like Thistleclaw described it, but it must be. This Clan is all an elaborate punishment meted down by StarClan for my sins." "Tigerclaw, sir, I'm just here to help you with your ticks. See? I have the mousebile right here." "…Yes, thank you, Alderpaw." — Graystripe joins him in the elder's den and he's like, "You know, Ravenpaw thought you were up to some… scheme, back in the day. Crazy, right? You've been a model Clanmate as long as I've been alive." [muffled screaming] "Huh, what do you think that is? It sounds almost like someone killed a rabbit, but they know not to come this close to camp…"

K, congrats again on your milestone! I'm here to request a 3 word prompt sentence--"Don't you dare" with John. That seems quite fitting for him, doesn't it? 😜 Looking forward to reading what you come up with!

Thanks for sending this in, Lee! Oh yes - this prompt absolutely does scream John! I hope you like what I did with it! Also I’m sorry the title’s a little lack-luster…I was bound to use the prompt I’m writing for it at least once though, right? Enjoy! :)

PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

Part of my 3.5k celebration — find other stories here!

Don’t You Dare

John Shelby x Reader

Warnings: none

Word Count: 741

Summary: It’s no surprise that things have to get a little messy on John and (Y/N)’s wedding day.

The night had gone off without a hitch. The ceremony was smooth, no interruptions happened before John and (Y/N) were named man and wife. Then the crowd rolled right into the reception, which was happening on the grounds of the garden they got married in. But of course, something was bound to go a little off-kilter. It just came with the Shelby name.

So when the band leader made the announcement that it was time to cut the cake, and (Y/N) took one look at John’s suspicious smirk, she worried that this might be the time.

Everyone had gathered around the newlywedded couple, who were standing beside the extravagant wedding cake that (Y/N) meticulously picked out. (Y/N) looked around at the smiling faces, glancing over to John before adressing them.

“I wanted to thank everyone for coming to celebrate with us tonight. John and I are lucky to have so many amazing people in our lives…you’ve helped make this the most special day,” she started off, smiling widely before she looked to John, hoping that he’d continue.

“Right,” he nodded, catching his wife’s drift, “we’re happy to have ya!” he added on, holding his glass up to initiate a toast. The crowd followed suit as (Y/N) shook her head, her lips pursed to hide the smile.

She waited for the noise to dull down before she spoke again: “it’s now time to cut the cake,” she announced, earning more cheers from the on-lookers.

She was given a cake cutter, John two plates, and she sent him one last smile before she went about cutting two small pieces; one to put on each plate. She set the cutter down and accepted the plate from John, feeling eager to try the cake that she’d truly been dreaming about.

“Oi! You’ve gotta feed it to each other!” Arthur’s booming voice came from the crowd before the couple was able to get any further. His exclaimation was, of course, met with many shouts of agreement.

That was when (Y/N) looked to John. She could immediately tell by the cheshire cat-like grin on his face that he was plotting something. This was not the time that she wanted things to go off-script. But with each second they looked each other, his grin grew.

“John Shelby…” she started, a warning tone laced into her voice as she raised her eyebrows at him. “Don’t you dare.”

John heard what she had to say, looked down at the cake on his plate and then rolled his eyes, his smirk still ever present as he located his older brother in the crowd. After sharing a brief glance with Arthur, he found (Y/N)’s eyes again, seeing that they were still wide and serious. “I’d never,” he told her, although his grin made her think otherwise.

“Get on with it!” Arthur yelled, obviously becoming impatient with the time they were taking. His statement made (Y/N) zero her intense gaze in on him, silently telling him to knock it off.

“Come on, baby,” John’s voice made her finally break and look back at him, and when she did, she noticed that he had already taken a small piece of the cake into his fingers.

She sent him one last ‘don’t try it’ look before mimicking him and taking a piece into her fingers as well. She held her breath and hoped for the best as they got closer to each other, close enough so that they were able to cleanly place the piece of cake into each other’s mouths. Cheers sounded off around them as they stepped back, smiling at each other.

“See? I wouldn’t try anything,” John said to her as he leaned in to press a sweet kiss to her lips.

“Yeah,” (Y/N) answered, a relieved smile now on her face. She glanced down at the remaining bit of cake that she had on her plate then, not wasting much time to grab it and smear it across John’s face. More excited cheers coursed through the crowd of onlookers as John’s jaw dropped at her actions. “I never said I wouldn’t,” she told him with a grin before leaning in to kiss the icing off of his lips.

John couldn’t do anything other than smile as (Y/N) looked back at him with a smug grin. Hey…she was a Shelby now, this should’ve been expected.

Tagged: @the-anxious-youth @mystcldydrms @look-at-the-soul @mrsalwayswrite @julkaamazing @evita-shelby @lilyrachelcassidy @shelbydelrey @onlydeadcells @peakyswritings @watercolorskyy @strayrockette @peakyduchesss @alexxavicry @stevie75 @dark-academia-slut @zablife @cillmequick @letal-y-poetica @depxiety @shelundeadxxxx @areyenotfondofmelobster @padfootdaredmetoo @crabat-the-queen @sebastianstangirl01 @everythingelseisextra @kmc1989 @papichulo120627 @brummiereader @adaydreamaway08 @kissforvoid @raincoffeeandfandoms @wildheartsalwaysburn @dragons-are-my-favorite @jessimay89 @slaymybreathaway

MASTERLIST

Minamoto Supernatural Detective Agency — April Fool’s Day 2023

April Fool’s! Nah, this one’s the real deal—here’s a translated archive of the event hosted on AidaIro’s twitter during April of 2023.

Day 1

“Hello, you’ve reached the Minamoto Supernatural Detective Agency—” “Oh, it's just you, Kou. Yes, of course.” “All right, I'll see you at 8 PM.”

Click! Booop, booop....

Day 2

Somewhere in the city lies an ultra-famous detective agency that boasts a terrifying case-solving rate...

[Teru] “Welcome, I've been expecting you.” “I look tired, you say? Haha, I've been working on a big case that came in yesterday.” “But I have plans to go on break tomorrow, and I'm used to pulling all-nighters, so don't worry about me.” “You reporters are just as busy, right?”

“I've collected the info pertaining to the Ryokan Case over there.” “Huh? You don't know where I mean? Sorry, I've been so busy that I haven't had a chance to organize everything.” “All my other case files are scattered around... but I won't mind if you search through them for it.”

Various items have been scattered throughout the detective agency. What interests you is the...

POLL:

Old Flier

Strange Magazine

Dirtied Diary ✅

Left-on TV

It's a diary with a cute design. It's terribly dirty, as if someone had dropped it somewhere. You can see a footprint left behind where somebody stepped on it.

Everyday events have been written inside with neat handwriting: “The potted flowers we planted bloomed today.” “Went out with a friend.” “I spotted a cute cat.”

...But the diary entries abruptly cut off, and a message written in another person's hand-writing has been left behind: “Go Away.”

[Teru] “Ahh, that's unrelated to the ryokan.” “A client asked me to locate the diary of someone precious to them.” “I did find it, but as you can see... her work environment was rather poor.” “She set her sights on a new career path, and left to do field research, but I'm not sure where...”

――Knock Knock! “Hm?” “Looks like somebody's here. Is it another job request...?”

[Akane] “Oh, there's a guest here. Hello.” “I came to pick up something I left behind before I leave! I'm going on a trip with my childhood friend!” “A vacation to the hot springs, all by ourselves... I can't squander this. I've finally made it...” “Enjoy working on your day off, Chief! See ya!”

[Teru] “A hot springs vacation with his childhood friend, huh...” “Oh, that was one of our staff members. It seems he's going to be taking some time off, as well.”

Now, where should I check next?

POLL:

Old Flier

Strange Magazine ✅

Left-on TV

A mysterious magazine titled Monthly MO has been left here. There’s a bookmark inside. A special report on cryptids...?

[Teru] “Reports of cryptids at the ryokan are almost never-ending.” “If you go there, try seeing if you can catch one. You might earn some extra pocket money if you do.” “Haha, I'm just kidding, of course.”

Now, what’s next? 🐈The investigation continues tomorrow at 8PM🐈

POLL:

Old Flier

Left-on TV

Cassette Tape ✅

Day 3

It's an old cassette tape. I'll try playing it. ...It's a man recounting how he was spirited away as a child and wandered into a mysterious ryokan in the mountains. He sounds oddly happy about the experience.

“...and that was how I returned to human civilization.” “I'll never forget the girl who helped me to escape from there. Never ever~!”

“She told me ‘you must never come back here again,’ but it's my dream to return one day and be reunited with her.” “If it meant being with a beauty like her, then I’d do anything—I’d even become a cat...!!!”

[Teru] “To be attracted to someone that isn't even human? What a freak.” “I can't relate at all.”

Now, what should I check next?

POLL:

Old Flier

Left-on TV ✅

The 12 o'clock news is on. It appears that the children of the leaders of the East and West yakuza organizations have gone to dinner together. Rumor has it that they're considering an arranged marriage to unite the criminal underworld.

“Now this is just plain dumb. A political marriage, in this day 'n age?”

“Wait, you don't want to get married?” “Huh?”

[Teru] “Wow, they'll make a news report on just about anything.” “I'll change the channel~”

Now, what’s next? 🐈The investigation continues tomorrow at 8PM🐈

POLL:

Old Flier

Old Newspaper Clipping ✅

Day 4

It's a newspaper clipping from 50 years ago. During a national tour, a popular circus troupe had their tent burst into flames in the middle of the night and burn to the ground.

Officially, the cause of the fire is unknown, but on that night, two small figures were spotted fleeing from the scene of the crime. However, there was only one child registered with the circus troupe at the time—a single animal handler, who went missing after the incident. The child was known for doting on his pet black cat.

[Teru] “Rumor has it there's someone at the ryokan who looks exactly like the child who went missing, completely unchanged over the years.” “I wonder what that means...?”

Now all that's left is the old flier.

There's a tattered, yellowed flier lying around—a notice for a lost cat. It appears the cat went missing over ten years ago...

[Teru] “What a big cat. Cute, isn't she?” “They said she was a strange cat who would dance on nights of the full moon.” “Apparently they never found her... but lately, I've heard reports that a cat with similar characteristics was spotted near the ryokan.”

I've finished surveying the results of the agency's investigation. Now, for the final step, I'll ask for information concerning the person I'm looking for. 🐈 The final investigation begins tomorrow at 8 PM 🐈 

Day 5

This is what the person I'm looking for left behind. I've brought it here with me.

[Teru] “About that coworker of yours who disappeared, the photographer...” “So far we haven't found any concrete proof that kid is staying at the ryokan.” “It's possible he might have disappeared of his own free will...”

That's what the guys at work all said. That he ran out on us 'cause the job’s too hard. But...

He'd never go off and leave his camera behind. Something must have happened to him out there...

[Teru] “I see. In that case, you should trust your intuition.” “Even if there's no evidence to support it, there's still a chance he could be there.”

“...And with that, I believe we’ve gone through everything that my investigation turned up.” “So what's your next move? There isn’t much left to do except actually going to the ryokan itself.” “If you hire me, I can tag along and...”

[Teru] “Oh, you're going alone? Since you don't want to bother me when I'm on vacation?” “But you know, they'll probably be less suspicious if we go together... Have you already got a ticket?” “Oh... You're so responsible, Kou. Your big brother is very proud of you.” “Okay, see you. Be careful out there.”

[Teru] “......” “A trip to the hot springs, huh?” “Not like I've got anything better to do. Maybe I’ll go, too.”

📺⚡

BZzT zzzZzZT......

🐈

"Human society brings endless pain and suffering~♪" "The youth of today with nowhere to belong feel nothing but frustration~♪"

"Let the hot spring's waters wash your troubles away~♪"

"And let your bellies be satisfied by our tasty food~♪"

"So come on down—" "To the Bakeneko Ryokan Hanako-tei!" 🐈 The End 🐈

Van Helsing Retold - six

pairings: vamp hunter!reader x vamp!bucky

Summary: Under the cover of night, vampires and their hunters have been at war for centuries, never letting their bloodshed reach the light of day. That is until the wife of a powerful vampire leader, Steve Rogers is murdered and he demands revenge. Y/N Van Helsing is the target of his crusade and she comes face to face with his right hand man, Bucky Barnes.

Warnings: cursing, violence, blood, vampire antics

Word count: 2.4K

Five | series masterlist

Tag list: @emerald-writes @globetrotter28 @vonalyn @cakesandtom @nerdytif @teambarnes72 @crazyunsexycool

disclaimer: credits to original creator/poster of image/gif. found on google/Pinterest

My mother flinches when I say the title that she has probably never heard and it sends a a ripple of hurt through me. She’s here. She’s alive. She…she’s alive and yet she left me with the Guild. She left me. My lungs feel like they’ve been ripped from my body and in their place is a gaping hole that my chest squeezes around, trying to keep itself alive. Sam’s hand darts out and wraps itself around my bicep before I can stumble forward towards her. Another wave of shock and fear rolls in, Bucky’s emotions to be exact.

“I feel like a test of your love is fitting, don’t you?” Steve’s voice cracks through my shock, “I’ll let one of them go if you complete the turning process.”

The moment the words leave his mouth, Bucky crumbles to the ground beside Steve as a result of another vampire jabbing him with a cattle prod. I gasp in pain and crumble too as I watch him fall and Sam grunts in protest from being caught off guard.

“What do you mean complete the turning process?” I manage to gasp out and Steve’s sharp gaze cuts to me and then to my infected hand.

“I can practically hear the venom crying out to be feed,” he casually states as he looks between Bucky, my mom, John, and myself, “so who will it be, Y/N Van Helsing? Your mother who you thought tragically died when you were an infant, the Guild Master who’s hopelessly in love with you, or the vampire that has a soft spot for you?

Bucky growls but is forced to the ground again with another stinging zap of the prod. John makes a noise too but my focus is entirely on Bucky. How could Steve have known? I go over every little memory that I can manage, desperately searching for anything that might explain how he could possibly know. Bucky’s noises of protest are growing weaker, spurring me to look even harder when it hits me; Steve didn’t say that we were mates.

He doesn’t know. He only thinks that Bucky has taken a liking to me but he doesn’t know about our bond and that is something that I can use to my advantage.

I gently push off of Sam and do a mental check of my body; my hand is throbbing now due to the nearby blood but the vial that Bucky had given me earlier is still tucked into my sleeve. Straightening my back and squaring my shoulders, I lock eyes with Steve as I start my negotiations, “If I turn…”

Bucky cuts me off with a pained groan that sounds like he’s trying to say no but the electricity from the prod drowns it out. I force myself to keep my eyes on Steve and I continue, “If I turn, you will let both John and my mom go.”

Steve gives me a bored look and I offer up another condition to sweeten the pot, “And I’ll kill Bucky. Save you the trouble.”

That earns another pained groan and a deep, blood curdling laugh from Steve.

“You’d kill him for me?” Steve asks as he breaks our stare to look down at Bucky. He crouches to his level and disgust drips from his voice, “Did you hear that? She said she would kill you herself if I let the other two go.”

Sam grabs ahold of my elbow and jerks me back, “What the fuck?”

I don’t look at him while I pull the vial from my pocket and tuck it into my fist. Sam curses under his breath when he sees the flash of glass and blood, “what’s the plan?”

“I’ll take him out while you get my mom and John.”

It’s not lost on him that I didn’t mention Bucky and he squeezes my elbow, wordlessly asking me about him. I shoot him a pointed look over my shoulder and he drops my arm. The meaning behind my look is not exactly reassuring or clear, for that matter, but either way, he knows better than to question me. He’s always trusted my judgement and he has no choice but to do the same now.

Steve stands up and claps his hands together before making a show of presenting my mom and John to me, “Go on then Van Helsing. Feed and complete your transition.”

“I don’t suppose you have blood bags laying around?” I ask him while coming to stand before them.

“Fresh is always better,” he winks at me as I fight the urge to scoff at him. The transition doesn’t require more than a drop of human blood but new vampires are known to be violent and implusive. They can’t stop the moment the blood touches their lips and no matter the amount of self control I have now, I know I’ll fall victim to the blood lust if I’m not careful.

I stop in front of John and my mom and look between them as I stall, pretending to struggle in my decision about who to feed from. Bucky is telling me to choose John through the tidal waves of anger and hatred that break across our bond and without a second thought, I do take a half step towards him. His shock is written plainly on his face albeit difficult to see behind the blood and swelling. Of course, he would think so highly of himself as to believe that I might actually feed from my mom over him. However I don’t know her and therefore can’t trust her to keep quiet as I let the vial of Bucky’s blood slip into my hand and kneel in front of him. His eyes flicker to my hand and I quickly whisper for him to look at Sam. The gentle command will seem like evidence of whatever love Steve thinks I have for John but it’s to keep him from growing suspicious and demanding to see what’s in my hand.

I take John’s wrist in my other hand, whispering to him the plan, “On my word, take my mom and run.”

“I’m not doing that Y/N. I’m not leaving you here to get yourself killed,” he hisses and tries to jerk his wrist away. My infected hand, the one that’s wrapped around it, tighthens its grip with a new strength that I can only assume came from the venom. He hisses again although in pain this time and if he had more strengthen himself, he would’ve tried a second time to break free.

Steve’s patience is beginning to wear thin and he demands for me to get a move on it before he slits both of their throats.

“Please,” is the last thing I whisper to John before yanking the cap off of the vial and bringing it my lips but it seems that I’m not fast enough. Steve lets out a monstrous roar as he launches himself at me and rips me back with a fistful of my hair. My hands fly back to try to claw his away as Bucky and I let groans of pain out at the same time. John tries to pull my back but another vampire has grabbed him and as well as my mom.

The sound of glass shattering draws everyone’s attention to the small pool of blood on the ground between John and me. No one makes a sounds as confusion takes ahold but Steve’s grip grows tighter when the realization hits him. Sam curses under his breath from behind us when Steve yanks me to my feet. Moving his hand to wrap around my neck, he pins my back to his chest and his scruff scratches against my cheek as he speaks lowly into my ear, “Whose blood does that belong to, Van Helsing? What vampire was stupid enough to infect you without seeing you through the turn?”

When I don’t answer right away, he squeezes tighter and tighter until I’m tearing at his hands to pull him away. He demands me to answer his question before repeating it.

“Your wife,” my voice comes out in the form of a squeak but he hears me regardless.

“My wife?”

“S…She spit on me as…,” I stammer through the weight of Steve’s grip on my neck, “as… I shot a stake through…her heart.”

He doesn’t make any sudden movements like I had expected and chuckles instead, “So you were the one who killed my mate?”

“Yes and I would do it again.”

He sniffs the air for a moment and then tightens his grip once more as he lays eyes on Bucky who is still crouching on the ground. The vampire behind him has the cattle prod shoved into the juncture of his neck and shoulder, awaiting any chance to shock my mate.

“Do you know what my favorite part of the transition is?” he whispers without waiting for my answer, “My favorite part is that you can still be persuaded. You’re not quite human, not quite vampire which makes you to the most dangerous and perfect weapon I can think of.”

“No,” I mummer in disbelief and he finds great pleasure in that.

“What was that Van Helsing?” he spins me around so that I’m facing him and he forces me to make eye contant with him.

“No,” I whisper louder and it spurs him to gesture to the vampire holding John. The vampire jerks my Guild Master forward and when he is within arm’s reach, Steve swipes some blood form his face with his thumb. I struggle against him, using my nails to tear at his hand and fight as much as I can but it’s no use. I’m not strong enough to get him off of me and the venom is slowly draining whatever strength I do have.

“Whose blood was in that vial?”

The unwelcome familiar wave of complacency overcomes me as I mindlessly answer him, “Bucky’s.”

“Bucky’s?” he parrots with mock shock, “Is he your mate?”

“Yes,” I whisper before he forces my mouth open and wipes John’s blood onto my tongue. A bitter coppery taste fills my mouth and not soon after, a dry thirst follows. It feels as though my body has become immediately addicted to it and it’s been 30 seconds too long since I’ve had my last fix.

“Kill him.”

My body obeys and my mind fades to black as to save me from remembering my next actions.

The transition must have completed itself or completed enough that I get the pleasure of witnessing my chaos because I’m self aware again. Barely but I’m in control of myself again which is more than before. A broken voice from under me catches my attention and I look down as it calls to me again.

“It’s okay.”

I stare with a wild look in my eye at the hard body beneath me. I can hear every movement inside of his body. I can hear every shallow move of his chest and how the nerves in his back are screaming from being pressed into the hard floor. I can hear his lashes as they flutter against the top of his cheek. I can hear the tears that slip down the side of his face and how they splatter on the ground. I can hear as his body starts to accept its fate and it slows.

“It’s okay.”

I can hear the air being pushed from his lungs to his lips as his speaks.

“It’s okay.”

When my eyes finally focus, all I see is the beaten and bloody face of my mate laying under me. The knife I’m holding is pressing into the soft skin of his throat while thin black lines of blood mix with his tears.

“Bucky,” is all I manage to choke out.

His eyes open and even though, he is dying, he still smiles at me.

“Y/n,” he whispers back, “there you are.”

“I can’t…i can’t.”

“I know and it’s okay,” he tells me as my hand presses the knife harder against my will.

“It’s not. It’s not,” I ramble, trying to force my hand to move but stays put, “It’s not fucking okay.”

“When I found you but couldn’t have you and all I had was my dreams, I didn’t care what you were doing. Only that you were with me,” he tells me, “even if you were trying to kill me.”

He lets out a sad chuckle, “it’s ironic that this is how it ends for me.”

My tears start to blur my vision and he gently wipes them away for me, “i wish we could’ve had more time, Y/N. Then I would’ve got the chance to tell you how in love with you I am.”

“Fuck,” i scream.

My knife presses harder. It’s met with little resistance.

“I love you too.”

The turning process didn’t hurt but it wasn’t pleasant. I was hyper aware of every little thing and i became so over stimulated that i threatened to cut my own ears off if Sam didn’t stop breathing so hard.

I think the hardest part was not having Bucky there with me, to guide me, to comfort me, to love me when I couldn’t love myself for becoming what I’d hated for so long.

Sam could only do so much and with no other friendly vamps handy, all I had was myself and the unconscious body of my mate to attend to, a distraction from the burning bond in my chest.

A startled gasp yanks me from my sleep and I blink frantically as my eyes adjust to the lights. Bucky is sitting straight up in the makeshift cot Sam and I scrounged together. He’s looking around the room, taking in his surroundings as he comes to the realization that he’s alive.

“Took you long enough,” I tease him while standing and moving to sit on the bed’s edge.

“Y/N?”

“Bucky.”

He throws himself at me, pulling me into the most bone crushing hug he can manage in his weakened state. Burying his face in my neck, Bucky takes deep breaths in and his body shudders when it recognizes me. I wrap my arms around him too and we stay like this for a while. I’m not sure how long but it’ll never be long enough.

Eternity would not be long enough but luckily we have it so we can at least try.

Undying Legends - Achilles x Princess!Reader

Troy (2004) Oneshot

Requested by Anon 

“Not sure if you're taking requests right now, but when you are...

An Achilles x princess!reader that was captured by a foreign kingdom to be married off and he goes with an army to save her. Forbidden love basically, and he is just smitten with her, and her with him. She has a kind personality, but firmly believes in her own freedom to love(cause they're not supposed to be together) and he admires her for it. Maybe for a dramatic ending, the readers father puts Achilles to death and he accepts it as they weren't supposed to be together, but she puts on a scene like clinging to him so nobody would hurt him. Sorry I have a lot of ideas.

You can think up different details for her capture, or the ending, if you want to. I wrote a lot, sorry."

( I loved to write this, anon. i sincerely hope that you will enjoy it because i loved it.) 

Word Count + 4K

Warnings: Mentions of an abduction to enforce marriage. No proofreading, possible mistakes on my part regarding greek geography. 

Summary: When a princess that fame threatens with turning into the new face of deathly desire gets kidnapped the greatest warrior of all times gets involved on the difficult task of bringing her back home. Historical remembrance of passed incidents regarding many other damisels in distress across the time of heroes seem to point out that fate would leave him no choice but to fall for her. However, unlike the remarkable men that came before him, Achilles is unfortunately aware that his is a woman far away from his reach and strictly forbbiden for him. 

Notes: This post by @creativepromptsforwriting​ served me as inspiration for the dialogue. 

         Prompts  2 -  "You’re so beautiful, it’s hard to directly look at you”. 

                          5 - “ I feel completely safe when I'm with you."

Tags: @mysticaldeanvoidhorse @helie-brain​ @spideyanakin​

Singular heroic works were always more rewarding than fighting for Agamemnon. Achilles found the rescue mission an interesting change that was also good for his image, since it had potentiality to soften the brutal undertones his legend was acquiring. To prove himself as more than the attack beast of that cruel king he needed to triumph on heroic tasks for better causes and the corinthians needed his help. Their city, one of the richest in the mycenaean region, was going through a hard time due to the suffering of their ruler. His most valued treasure was stolen from him, one he would do anything to get back: the splendid daughter that he adored. 

The news didn't surprise the greek world, since the victim was a heavily desired young maiden. The corinthian princess became the next great target once the mythical beauty of Helen got an official owner through her marriage to the spartan king. Before the herds of suitors could start to invade another country all over again one of the many interested men acted quicker than all the rest. The clever king of Athens found his way to kidnap her and refused to return her unless the father would legitimize his pretensions with a wedding officially celebrated at their comeback. Rage unleashed to the indignant details of the story, Achilles accepted the personal begging of the royals and was designated as commander of the corinthian army on the mission. However, not everyone around found that decision fitting. 

A council of the most powerful kings on the Peloponnesus took place in order to decide the common fate regarding a situation that, despite affecting one city, could always end up involving everyone else. Mycenae and Sparta were eager to declare full war, Pylos was calling for discretion while the argive king recalled on his well earned title of heroe to offer himself as leader of the operation alongside the corinthian soldiers. Careless as he was to hear the kings talking, Achilles ignored many warnings about some risks of the task. Most were doubtful, but the sons of Atreus had no self restrictions on openly judging him absolutely incapable of succeeding on his own. The observations,of course, had nothing to do with his skill. 

" The honor of your beautiful daughter is safer with the kidnapper than with this shameless bastard. " The mycenaean king advised the corinthian. " The best for your girl is us burning Athens to the ground. Go to war with me and I guarantee you will still benefit from the strength of his arms but someone will be keeping him under control. " 

" I have orders and I plan to stick to those. " Achilles defended himself, calm and composed as he was rarely seen. " I can stay loyal to my purpose."

" Since when? All you do is disobeying me in ways that are always impossible to predict." 

" Your impulsiveness goes against the requirements, Achilles." Menelaus followed from a less insulting standpoint. " Being impulsive is precisely what brought the athenian king into this madness. He lost his mind for that girl, she is almost as beautiful as my wife. Even my brother over here has reconsidered marriage for an instant the last time we saw her and you know him enough to understand how strange that is. " 

Agamemnon ignored the well intentioned tease to keep his persuasive speech. 

" My dear friend, don't let desperation take over your reason. Achilles is a weapon you can't wield, Diomedes would be a far better choice. If endangering your friends is what worries you because you don't want a king risking his life, take any other of my best warriors. The mighty army of Mycenae is at your disposition. " 

" I am not taking any risks. " The corinthian stated. " If Achilles says he can bring my dear daughter back to me, I take his word. Legends claim him the greatest warrior of our times and I have seen how wars are won or lost depending on his fighting inclinations. Losing is not an option to me, not this time. "

The matter was decided, but the end of the meeting didn't stop the repetition of similar warnings. Less as a king and more as a friend who was in touch with his perspective, Diomedes was the last trying to dissuade him. 

" It's said it took a one week visit for the athenian to decide he wanted to kidnap her, others claim he arrived here with the idea in mind. In either case, be careful. You can lose a lot if she gets under your skin. " 

" I will be like a herald and that girl is a package I'm supposed to carry. " Achilles calmly replied. " There are plenty of gorgeous women in Greece, she is just the one high nobility wants to fight over now." 

The demigod warlord was truly convinced of his position, reinforcing it over and over during the journey against the skepticism of the local soldiers he was meant to command. In the collective imagination formed by bards at the time of heroes there was no way for him to save that princess without ending up wanting to claim her his. As it happened to Perseus in the rescue of Andromeda, or Hercules after meeting Iole, Achilles was expected to develop an unstoppable passion for the captive girl. Not being found of prophecies that wouldn't come from his mother, Achilles simply discredited the claims until reaching Athens. 

The one single battle that was recklessly fought became a tragedy for the city. The king opted for staying trusting of the numerical advantage in his forces, commiting the terrible mistake of underestimating the rival. 

Hopes returned to you, but you weren't feeling entirely good about that. You knew your father and your city would never abandon you, but you couldn't help pitying the athenian men dying prisoners of their king's wishes. Escaping and never having to see him again was all you wanted, but you wouldn't wish death upon persons that were as powerless as you. The people couldn't be blamed for your captor's actions yet they were taking the worse part of the punishment. At first you thought that seeing their suffering was going to show that man his mistake, but whenever you would try to exhort him of doing the ríght thing he would accuse you of manipulations. 

All he achieved with that paranoid attitude was delaying the inevitable, the golden haired heroe found you and sent that king directly to his downfall.

Amazement happened on both sides. You couldn't believe how far the warrior had came for you, easily murdering the man who dragged you there against your will, but he neither could believe your initial reaction to that. You gave some cold comfort to the agonizing kidnapper in front of you. Achilles could tell it wasn't sympathy, just kindness shown to a dying man.

 It was not your beauty, as many men augured, the first of your traits that he found interesting. 

" That man kidnapped you and could have taken advantage of you in more severe ways, he doesn't deserve to die with a smile on his face. " He simply said, showing to have contextually recognized you. " He wouldn't have stopped for anything, you were lucky I am here to make him stop. " 

You glanced at his direction to deliver an answer, but felt unprepared for the encounter with his beautiful blue eyes. 

" His people claim he once was a great king, this unfortunate outcome comes from his previous loss of two wives. Pain blinded him, he wanted to be happy again and he didn't mind the cost to satisfy his wishes." You calmly explained. " I despise him as it is normal for a prisoner to hate the captor, but I can still show respect. " 

The warrior stared at you in silence, as curiously and intensely as you were doing with him. 

" May I know my savior's name? I shall honor it in the highest esteem." 

He couldn't help smiling for you. Even if it was brief, that reaction was the hardest to achieve from him in that sort of context. 

" Achilles, son of Peleus." Was his sweetly delivered introduction. " I'm at your service, princess. It was given to me the task of bringing you back home. "

Not self satisfied with the conflict's resolution, Achilles demanded a real retribution to be given to you before acceding to retree the troops. Formally accepting you as an abduction victim, the main protection mechanism for your honor, the city had to pay with gold to your father. Once all the arrangements were done, you finally abandoned Athens as a passenger on the myrmidon's chariot feeling safe and comfortable alongside him on the triumphant exit. 

Mutual curiosity developed immediately. You were guilty of demanding more resting stops than what was needed on the journey just because you wanted to get to know the mysterious man in a non controlled environment. On his part, he could have been blamed for indulging your requests a bit too often for the same reason. The unusual kindness perceived on his first impression of you amazed him for real and he couldn't stop himself from wanting to know you better. Achilles would show you his softer side with particular dedication given the horror you have faced before and in return you were giving him your trust. 

In the scarce time the travel provided he accomplished what the troubled king lost his life trying. You were spending most of your time with him willingly and happily, refusing to leave his side because of how well he made you feel. The otherwise rather silent traveler would talk for hours with you about anything you wanted. Among other things, you listened to some stories about his past adventures feeling in absolute awe. You even clapped your hands at the end of one, gesture so cute and pure that he began to understand why the ruler of a great city died willingly for you.  

" The humble feat of my rescue sounds boring in comparison. " You commented regarding what you heard. " Sorry for that, although I must admit I am relieved to know my father hired you and you are not part of some aid sent by Agamemnon of Mycenae. " 

The mention of his most hated superior in the chain of command brought to his mind the odd words of his brother. 

" Has he bothered you before?" 

" His generosity always comes with a price. In this case, it could have been me. " You replied, not an affirmation or denial. " Do you know why he wasn't a suitor of Helen? His brother wanted her first and he would never risk upsetting him. Horror tales are being told across the continent about the hate that grew between his father and uncle over his mother. The atrocities committed must haunt him. " 

The mere thought of that despicable old pig trying to get on the top of your suitors list was repulsive to him. 

" Your father is a smart man. " He comforted you. " Nobody sensed the wit past his pain, he rejected all involvement from other kings and sent a man who will never have any ríght to you. I can't ask to get you as payment when we will return to your kingdom, so you are safe with me. Don't expect second intentions. " 

" You have been shamelessly honest and for that I thank you." You answered, holding chuckles. " I can tell it's real, men who act nice for me as a performance think I don't notice... but I do. " 

"... And to think Oddyseus truly thought it was going to end once Helen would be married. It never ends, they just move on to bother someone else. " 

" Greece needs undying legends and she is the biggest in our times, at least after you. " You followed with some intentional praise. " A moving myth built on desire is a problem in so many perspectives. The flame inside those men wasn't ready to be extinguished with her marriage. She can no longer be openly wanted without it constituting an offense to a very powerful king, but Corinth is not that far from Sparta and I am not married yet. Someone has to fill that gap, they want me to be her because they need her but they fail to see i will never be Helen. "

" Being yourself was enough for the fool who thought kidnapping you was a good idea. " 

His casual comment made you chuckle and he internally cursed himself for enjoying it. 

" My father is not like Tyndareus, that's something he figured out quickly. As you know, the most common way to obtain a younger bride is to bribe the father by either buying his consent or threatening him. My captor knew that was impossible and that was why he stole me. The mycenaean king feels confident thinking that when the time comes my father will sell me to keep his scepter because that is what he would do in that position. He underestimate us, my father is not a coward and neither I am"

Achilles felt slightly prideful of your statement and that made him smile. 

" Glad to know I am not merely delivering you to someone worse." 

" I would never allow it, that's what I mean with men not realizing I will never be Helen. There is no man, mortal or divine, that would ever force me to endure a marriage like hers. I would rather die at the flower of youth than living a bitter life submitted to a despicable man I will never love. " 

The passion in your voice awakened something in him and his usual defense mechanism for that sort of feeling didn't help at all. 

" What does a man have to do in order to get your attention and not die trying?" He asked, a cheeky taunt to the whole situation. " Many young heroes, friends of mine that hold more political power than me, would love to know the secret." 

" Good conversation is an excellent start, especially if he manages to make me laugh. " Was your quick comeback. " Saving me from a fate I despise above anything also helps. "

The indirect was too obvious, typical behavior of a young girl who never had much chance of speaking to a man she truly likes. 

" Be careful, princess. I have been warned about this. You shouldn't be playing with fire..." 

" ... Says the man that could have burned the athenian palace by himself just to find me. " You teased back in a lovely tone. " You are an extraordinary man, the warriors of my father would have never gone that far. Your serenity outside of the battlefield is pleasant but intriguing and there is a soft light in your precious eyes that makes me never want to stop looking at you. " 

His glance followed you for an instant and you smirked, a gesture that came up more sweet than provocative because you delivered it with tenderness. 

" You are so beautiful, it is hard to directly look at you. " He complimented you through a confession. " I never had this problem with Helen, no matter how irresistible people say she is " 

The myrmidon did a pause and deviated his stare to concentrate in some random point of the horizon with a very contemplative expression, as if he needed to stop looking you to keep talking. 

" It's not only in your pretty smile, or your soft skin smelling like arabian esences that match perfectly with the sweet notes the breeze gets from your hair when it caresses it. Your courage is beautiful, your passion wasn't written on any warning I received and that must be because no other man has sensed it. I don't know you enough yet I am proud for what you have accomplished. Not only you kept yourself safe until my arrival, you forgave the man who caused you harm at his time of dying just because his people told you a sad story about how he used to be good to them. I would have never done that, kindness as yours would be out of the question if the choice would be given to me. I try to understand you and fail, but there is beauty on that. You are precious: not as a jewel up to be seen, but like a comeback embrace after a long war. " 

Acting on your feelings, you approached him for a surprising hug that he had no clue on how to interpret. Gratitude motivated comfort, perhaps, because it was too early to think of something else. 

Achilles was aware of the effect he had on women and the possibilities of it reaching you. The conversation was crossing dangerous territory because he liked you, but he wasn't expecting you would openly reciprocate so early. 

" Are you comfortable like this? Being so close to me? Doesn't it scare you that I could want to break my pact with your father to take you with me? That's what everyone thinks I am going to do. " The warrior joked as an indirect way to express a real doubt. " They fear that if we get too friendly I will not want to let you go. " 

It didn't bother you in the slightest. On the contrary, you intensified the closeness and laid your head against his chest. 

" I feel completely safe when I am with you. '' You replied almost immediately. ``Maybe I am the one who doesn't want to leave your side." 

Near the time of your arrival you were head over hills for him and he was smitten by you. Firm believer in your freedom to love, a belief that intensified after someone tried to take it away from you, you remained careless for some obvious opinions of the men around you. None of them had the courage to openly call out Achilles, but you could tell some noticed your peculiar favoritism for him. Some of them weren't even surprised, as if you would be following together a path to the most predictable outcome. 

Perhaps you were, but you didn't care because you were falling in love with a handsome hero who effortlessly stole your heart. It wasn't meant to happen, he wasn't planning to win you over. He wasn't there for the rumors, wanting you from before even meeting you like all the others, but only doing his work and you were the one desperate for his attention. 

On his part, Achilles had a personal battle with his impulsiveness. From time to time during the journey he would remember only of Diomedes's advice because it was the only sincere one and it pointed in the ríght direction. To a man so used to follow his heart's desires in any ocassion, hot headed and stubborn as he was, falling for you was torture. Aware of your own infatuation, if you would have been any other woman he wouldn't have tried to resist his crave for you. Biting his lip before daring to kiss you or being careful with his touch to avoid getting intimate were acts he wasn't used to performing, especially in a situation where the romantical tension was clearly mutual. You weren't shying away and that made things harder. Knowing you reciprocated him was the greatest obstacle for his titanic efforts to handle you back at Corinth as untouched as he found you. 

The King, your father, selected him as your rescuer precisely because you were strictly forbidden to him. He counted with his awareness on how impossible it was for him to be with you, but the comments that consistently reached his ears made that faith fade. He had a test prepared for your glorious return, a simple trial he was planning to make him go through in order to measure the danger he feared to have exposed you to.

After the emotive receivement in which your family encounter developed the palace was preparing for celebrations and the enlisting of payment for the leading hero. Your mother, happy as she was to have you back, begged to your father that anything Achilles would want would be conceded to him and he seemed to agree on that. However, he also had the small treasure destined to him ready. Gold, bronze and weapons were the first half of it, but he claimed he wanted to give him a gift that would feel more personal. Since giving him a horse would be pointless, because Achilles had the fastest in Greece, the corinthian king offered a woman.

 The most beautifull concubine slaves were presented in front of all of you so the myrmidon would pick his prize. Powerlessness and jealousy ruined your prior happiness for being back home, since there was nothing you could do against it. The payment was normal and perfectly valid, a common gift for men that want to seal friendship. Achilles realized it was a trap crafted by your father and he sensed some will of emulating the famous trick Odysseus pulled on him when he was a kid. 

If he would choose a woman, he would break your heart. If he wouldn't, he would be exposed. 

" I fought to free a woman, accepting to be paid with another one can be insulting to the suffering of your daughter. " He pointed out after barely looking at the line of girls, an observation he judged neutral enough to not sound incriminating. " Gold and weapons will be enough this time." 

You dissimulated a smile to avoid looking hopeful, but both of your parents knew you too well and the tension was escalating. 

" This is the least I can do for you. Take the one you find the prettiest to your home." Your father insisted. " I can't offer you a wife because the unwed daughters of my friends are beyond your possibilities, but nothing impeeds you from taking a slave girl to be the company keeping your bed warm. "

Your blood boiled to the implications of that comment. He spoke as if, because Achilles was a mercenary, that was all he could aspire to have. You loved your father but despised his attitude and were trying so hard not to confront him. He had no idea of who that man was for real or how insulting his words were. That foreigner he judged fitting only to mantain sexual unions with prisoners of war was the only man you have ever wanted to be with. 

" When I want company I seek it myself. " Achilles defended himself, way more careless than you were for the insults. " That isn't a problem that needs to be fixed. " 

" Don't take me for a fool, Achilles. You know that isn't of my concern. " The king prepared his last strike, revealing his true intentions. " It is my honest opinion that the sight of my daughter has numbed your perception and you can no longer find any other girl desirable. Your wish will never be indulged: even though I am grateful for your services, that is not something I can allow. "

To his signal the women were retired and the room was filled with men of his personal guard on prior orders of restraining the warrior. Achilles picked up his sword, but didn't throw himself immediately on a rageful combat to end with all of them as it would have been expected on other occasions. 

Instead, he looked at his main opponent at the eye with a deathly serious expression. 

" Your daughter is not my mere desire... I am in love with her. If you want to kill me for it, do it, but get at least the decency of fighting your own battle."   

Light peeked through the sorrow saddening your face. It would have been easy for Achilles to fight his way out of there and never come back, but he loved you and he dared to confess it in front of all those people that clearly wanted him dead for it. 

Careless for anything but his safety and eager to show him your love, you stepped in front to shield him with your own body before any of the soldiers could start the battle. 

" If you want to kill him you will have to kill me and all the blood splattered on my name would be in vain. How are you going to explain that to the families of the soldiers that lost their lives trying to save me ?" You called your father out from your secure position. " I will not allow this, father. If there is something the nightmare i endured showed me is that I never want to have my own will to choose be putted in question." 

Abandoning the reprobatory speech for an instant, you deviated your attention back to your beloved myrmidon. 

" Achilles, my heart has chosen you and that is the gift I want to give you. It's mine to give to whoever i want and it will be yours if you want it." 

The sweet confession amused him.

" Princess, I am ready to die for you ríght here and now... How dare you doubt that I want it?"

The Scottish Princess, Finan x Reader, Part 8

Warning: Mature. MINORS DNI. Mentions of violence, sexual themes.

As soon as Conall’s lifeless body hit the ground, the guardsmen loosened their hold on Uhtred and Sihtric just slightly enough for them to harshly shove the guards away and run to Finan, who was knelt down to his knees on the ground, his face in one of his hands.

The men knelt down close to him, Uhtred wrapping his arms around Finan to allow him to sob into his shoulder while Sihtric pried Finan’s sword out of his trembling hand. Osferth then came running, kneeling down to embrace the others.

At this moment you were still a shadow in the crowd, your hands trembling and goosebumps still lining your arms as you gazed at the two dead bodies on the ground. You held no remorse for them…you were simply in shock. Your father was silent until he trudged toward Uhtred’s men, standing over them as they remained on the ground. Your father drew his sword, pointing it to Finan who was now being lifted up from the ground by Uhtred and Sihtric, before shouting to the guardsmen in the crowd of hushed faces.

“Behold, the rightful King of the North!” He shouted, and paused for a moment before speaking again. “Long live the King!”

He said it repeatedly until it became a chant amongst the crowd, one which echoed the grounds of Saltwic.

“Long live the King!!!” Uhtred shouted, shaking Finan senseless with excitement as the other men joined in, jumping up and down and yelling at the top of their lungs with their swords and seaxs being raised. It was then that your nerves settled enough to witness the gravity of the situation, joining in with the chants with such pride and love that you could hardly contain your heart from bursting into flames.

Finan suddenly came out of his battle stricken haze and became panicked, his eyes wide and searching the crowd for you. Once he laid eyes upon you, he ran to you and grabbed you up with such force that he nearly knocked you over before fiercely bringing his lips to yours, not daring to let you go as he cupped your face and looked you over, worried for your current state and relieved when he saw that you were just fine. He kissed you like it was the last time he would.

“Long live the King!”

“Long live the King!”

Aethelflaed joined in with the chants as she stood next to her father, though King Alfred did not, only bearing witness to the ever growing excitement of the crowd and of Uhtred’s men. He now held some semblance of respect for Finan after witnessing such a brutal victory, but the look on his face was that of indifference. His contempt for him endured, perhaps stronger now that Finan had earned his glory.

Constantin came over to the two of you and waited a few moments for your heated passion to fade, and when it didn’t, he cleared his throat to get your attention which startled you from each other. You both turned to face him, not breaching each other's grasp.

“Finan, your father would be just as proud as I am this day,” he said softly, “Will you accept the royal title?”

Finan looked to you first, searching your eyes for an answer. You giggled and shoved him a bit, nodding your head yes eagerly. He bit his lip and met your father’s gaze again.

“I will, Lord King,” Finan said with a nod, “If you’ll allow your daughter to be my Queen.”

Constantin laughed and pulled Finan from you, taking him into his arms for an embrace and shaking him. “That can be arranged, lad!!” 

Even though your happiness was otherworldly in this moment, you realized how much blood had transferred to you from Finan’s embrace and you urgently grabbed him again, searching for fatal wounds.

“It’s alright, lady! It’s only the one on my arm. And perhaps a few other wee cuts on the rest of my body,” Finan chuckled, “I’ll be fine.”

Domnal came over in that moment, introducing himself to Finan as your cousin, the Prince, and the leader of your father’s guard and warriors.

“I have to say, lad… that was the best fight I have ever seen,” Domnal said, “I was worried ya wouldn’t make it, until I saw you finish the champion. You are a true warrior.” 

Finan chuckled and patted Domnal’s arm in gratitude. “Do ya think me worthy of this beautiful angel, then?”

Domnal laughed, giving him a raised brow as he looked at you. “Aye, perhaps you can keep her in check!”

Finan laughed as Domnal embraced him for a hug. Uhtred, Sihtric, and Osferth came over to Finan again, wrapping him in a strong embrace and swaying and singing some sort of battle song that you had no idea the words to, but you loved witnessing their happiness. There they were, your whole family - sprawled out and celebrating in front of you, and you felt relief for the first time in months.

“We feast!!!” Uhtred shouted, Finan being dragged away by him happily as he stumbled from the fatigue.

Amidst the celebratory nature of the crowd, you caught Alfred’s contemplative and unpleased glare. Your father being the perceptive man that he is noticed it as well, and witnessed it as you quickly looked down to avert Alfred’s gaze and rushed to join the others. Constantin took it upon himself to walk over to Alfred who gave him a half smile and a short bow, his previous emotions gone in an instant.

“King Constantin,” Alfred said as he approached.

“King of Wessex,” your father started to say with a nod, “This has not been the journey I expected. But nevertheless, you have my gratitude for summoning us here. I would like my daughter to be betrothed to Finan, and perhaps one of your priests could conduct the ceremony, yes?”

Alfred felt a pain in his chest, a rising anger that made him feel his heartbeat in his ears. “That can be arranged.” He replied, his half smile returning once again.

“Good,” your father chuckled, patting Alfred’s shoulder, making Alfred jump at the strong, forceful pat of his hand. Alfred scowled at your father’s back as he walked away, and excused himself from the crowd as well.

Finan broke away from Uhtred and the other men’s hold, needing to address his wounds and take a moment of calm before joining everyone at the celebrations. Aethelflaed showed the two of you to a room, her servants bringing you both fresh water and cloth for his wounds. You were surprised that he only had a few cuts that needed dressing, but his bruising was substantial already, and you worried for him as you glanced at the deep red and purple bruises on his fair skinned torso.

“Are you alright? Is anything.. broken?” You said as you ran your fingers lightly over a large bruise on his ribs.

“…No, sweetheart. I’m alright,” he said lightheartedly, your soft touches to his skin stirring a heat inside of him. He grabbed your waist suddenly and harshly, pulling you into his body as you chuckled.

“Finan, you need to rest!” You laughed, your hands at his chest and slightly pushing him away.

He chuckled deeply, nuzzling his nose with yours and pulling you even closer. You sighed as he brought his hand to your cheek and his lips to your neck, sucking and biting at the tender flesh and sending goosebumps up and down your arms. He then brought his lips to your ear, his warm breath making your breath hitch as he whispered to you.

“Let me have you, lady. I need you,” he whispered as he searched your eyes. You nodded, pulling him closer to crash your lips together once again.

The heat in your core had already been stirring at his touch, and you would let this man take you at any moment, however he wanted, regardless of the circumstance. You could tell that some of his adrenaline remained from the battle, which sparked your nerves and made you anxiously impatient to receive his battle fevered desire.

Finan rid you of your clothes swiftly, moving on to his as he gazed at you with a deep darkness in his eyes. His grip came down upon you firmly, his hands searching your body until he could no longer wait to sink himself into you. He grabbed you up into his arms, finding a table at the other side of the room and bestowing you upon it, your hand gripping his cock and stroking it as the two of you kissed ferociously.

You moaned into his mouth as you felt two of his fingers stroke against and then breach your wet core, making tantalizingly slow strokes upward to search for the tender spot within. Your whimpers became uncontrollable at his ministrations, as he knew your pleasurable spots well and was generously attentive to your reactions. You felt his cock grow harder in your hand, and Finan bit his lip with a groan and cupped your jaw in his large hand. 

“God, I want you so bad.” He whispered.

You gasped as he entered you, only giving you a second to adjust before giving you a firm pace with his cock, but you were so eager for him that it didn’t matter. You needed him to take you. A loud moan escaped you when he bottomed out, your legs shaking already at the deep stimulation.

Finan smirked. "You like that, princess?"

You nodded with a soft moan, your head tilting back and your eyes rolling back slightly.

 Unbeknownst to you, Alfred had heard your moan from the hallway and took it upon himself to enter the room beside yours. He knew the Saltwic estate well, and knew that many of the rooms had secret areas for spying. As he gazed into your room from a small peephole, the scene before him angered him but his morbid curiosity didn’t allow him to look away.

Finan fucked you relentlessly yet endearingly on the table, your nails digging into his back and his hair as you felt yourself starting to come apart. 

"That's it," Finan groaned, "You're such a good girl for me."

Your whimpers and moans increased with the unyielding pleasure, unable to form your words as you moaned his name. “Finan! Oh my god, I...” 

“I know, sweetheart,” Finan said before letting out a deep moan, biting his lip. “Let it go for me.”

All Finan could think about at that moment was putting a pup in your belly as your walls spasmed around his cock, the spark of your orgasm rippling through your entire body as he groaned at your release. Finan slowed his pace when you fell limp in his arms and captured your mouth in his, stroking your tongue with a deep kiss as he picked you up from the table. He walked you over to lay you gently down on the bed, bringing his hands to cup at your cheeks. Thoughts raced in your head that the rest of your life might look like this and you let out a sigh of relief. He was everything you wanted. Your father loved him and would allow the two of you to marry, a delightful twist of fate that you never imagined could be true.

“Are ya okay?” He whispered, “I don’t mean to be rough with ya.”

You gave him a sweet smile before kissing him again, running your fingers through his hair.

 “Oh God yes, I am just fine,” you giggled, giving him another sweet peck on the lips. “I’m more worried about you. You’re in pain… I can tell.”

“Mm... I’m okay, my sweet girl.” He whispered back, nuzzling your noses together before beginning to thrust in and out of you again, slowly this time. You closed your eyes as you became at loss for words again while Finan whispered praises in your ear and ran his hands over your body wherever he could.

“I love you,” you managed to whisper, Finan interlacing your fingertips with his as he returned the same vow to you, sending you deeper into the realm of complete bliss.

Being a voyeur to your lovemaking enraged Alfred, who stormed out of the room next to you and made haste to his guardsmen to prepare them to ride back to Wessex. Aethelflaed had noticed her father’s behavior, which was seemingly out of place given the celebrations that were starting any minute for Uhtred’s men. Alfred refused to speak to her, and mounted his horse swiftly with Steapa’s assistance before giving him an order. 

“Send word for Earl Haestan to meet us in Winchester.”

Steapa hesitantly nodded, fearing Alfred’s next course of action.

“Better yet… seize her upon nightfall and we will trade her to the Danes.”

Steapa could no longer keep his mouth shut.

“Again?! Lord King, this is madness. I will not do this.”

Alfred glared at him as he raised his voice. “Are you questioning the authority of your King?!”

Steapa shook his head. “Lord King, I beg of you,” he pleaded, “This will start a war.”

“I am aware of the repercussions. A trade will give us an alliance with the Danes.”

Steapa’s eyes grew wide, his frustration evident. “And we should ally ourselves with our enemy?! Lord King, better the Danes be our enemy than all of Scotland and Northern Ireland!”

Alfred looked down in contemplation for a moment. “Steapa, you will do as I command.”

>>> Part 9

Taglist: @gemini-mama @persephones-journey @justanother-sihtricgirlie @alexagirlie @whitedarkmoonflower

@bcon24 @ficnation

Lark

or

And silently loom the shadows of my past

Summary: Tracy loves to cause mischief - but this time she may have just gone too far

“Tracy!?”

Troy shouted his daughters name in the way all parents did when they suspected – more than that, were most certainly convinced, at least Troy was, that their kid had done something stupid. And as all kids that most certainly had done something stupid, Tracy did not answer her father's call. "God damn it," Troy muttered. Normally, he'd be charmed by Tracy's antics − but not when it put others in danger. And she most certainly had – put someone in danger.

She knew better than that. He had taught her better than that, god damn it. What the fuck had she been thinking?! Ok, no, that wasn’t any use, getting angry at her, he thought, as he ran restless fingers through his hair. First he needed to know exactly what had happened – though he could guess. Could guess that Tracy had dared Tom (Deborah’s son. Deborah, who was still standing right next to him, equal parts annoyed and worried) to do something dangerous. Because Tom hadn’t been seen for hours. By anyone, if Deborah was to be believed.

It wasn’t the first time those two had done stupid things – to everyone’s sorrow they seemed to have deemed this the most interesting game among themselves; daring one another to do dangerous, forbidden things. Troy had a feeling that Tracy had started it. Their whole dynamic reminded him uncomfortably of himself and Mike—

“Russell?!”

Russell, unlike Tracy, was quick to follow Troy’s call. Good man. He still wasn’t sure how he’d been lucky enough to find someone like him, but he was glad to. Russell was Troy’s second in command, his most trusted fighter. And he’d earned that title over and over again. Their friendship ran deep – as it tended to do when you’d saved their life and they’d saved yours, over and over again.

Russell came over, his expression telling Troy he was expecting to receive orders. There was a certain tone Troy used when he went into leader mode.

“Any chance you seen Tom?” Troy asked without much hope and Russell shook slowly his head, his eyes sweeping the area. “No,” he said slowly and then, as Troy expected of him, his mind went where Troy’s was, “Tracy…?”

The question didn’t even need asking in its entirety. Troy nodded swiftly.

“We think so. She’s also nowhere to be found.”

Russell didn’t hesitate, radio-ing the rest of their men, urgently.

“We’ll find him,” Troy assured Deborah. She nodded, though didn’t go without a muttered,

“When that boy gets home…”

Troy took this as a good sign. If she could threaten her son, she wasn’t as worried as he’d feared. He, himself, on the other hand, had a very bad feeling about this. Tracy making herself scarce like this meant she knew this one was bad. Or – she was with Tom. On whatever ill-advised adventure they’d cooked up.

And he didn’t know which one to hope for.

They did end up finding Tracy pretty quickly. And it turned out all his instincts had been right and she had done something very stupid. Troy breathed through the urge to grab and shake her, shout at her until she understood what it was their childish games had ended up.

But by the way she looked at him, head tilted towards the ground, her eyes flicking up just for moments at time, looking pointedly away when he caught her gaze, he knew she knew she’d fucked up.

“Where could he have gone?” he pressed out instead, focused on finding Tom, who she’d dared to go outside the fence.

Alone.

He’d made sure all kids were well-trained – but even so, they were not used to being out on their own. No way to tell they wouldn’t panic or freeze in the face of danger. And though for Troy it was second nature to be outside, he knew it wasn’t for the kids. Even if they’d seen walkers up close, he’d also made sure they knew them, knew how they moved, how to incapacitate them, it was still different when they weren’t chained up. When there weren’t adults around.

“Fucking hell, Trace,” he growled – the only way he allowed himself to show his anger – and she shrank back. “Where do I find him?!”

“I… I don’t know…” she finally whispered her response.

God damn it.

God fucking damn it.

These childish fucking games. He’d known where they led to, he’d fucking known. Why hadn’t he put a stop to it sooner?!

He grimaced, wishing he could hit something. Tracy still looked at him with wide, guilty eyes. If they wouldn’t find Tom in time, it’d be on her conscience. He couldn’t let it.

“Let’s go!” he ground out, turning on his heels and stalking away, expecting both Russell and Tracy to follow.

He went for the dirt bikes. Tom probably didn’t get far, but they still had a lot of area to cover, and most of it wasn’t easily accessible by car – that had been by design. So their camp was well-hid.

“Is… Tom going to die?” his daughter asked, voice timid and almost inaudible. He grit his teeth.

“Not if I’ve got anything to say about it.”

And that was that.

Minutes later they were past the front gates, and they wouldn’t be the only ones, Russell had stayed back to organize a larger search party. But he couldn’t wait around for it, not with such a thing hanging over the conscience of his daughter. They needed to find Tom before something else did.

“Any idea where he could’ve gone?” he shouted over the engine noise over his shoulder. He felt her shake her head against his back. “Think, Trace! Anything you two talked about? Anything he said he was curious about?” He tried to jog her memory – if there even was one – while the world flew past them, his sharp eye sweeping the area, again and again – he wouldn’t want to miss anything.

Then, Tracy’s arms around his middle tightened, and he turned his focus back to her, just before she whispered a hesitant,

“Dad… the stream. I think he went to the stream…”

Troy had already turned the bike around, not waiting for her to finish the question, then relayed the information to Russell. Tracy’s grip on him was still tight, tight.

He started at the closest point to their camp, driving upstream. Tracy was leaning to the side, probably so she could watch their surroundings, too. Could catch sight of Tom, if there was any. Hopefully Tracy was right with her guess. Hopefully Tom hadn’t strayed too far.

“There!” Tracy’s trembling voice rang out – firmer now. Troy had already seen it, too, a little dam made out of stray branches in the stream. Something a kid would do. And a bit further away he could see a fresh path trampled into the undergrowth. He tucked his lips under his teeth, a subconscious gesture of concentration, and sped along that path—only to come to an abrupt stop when he saw two figures – fighting. The smaller one had to be Tom, or at least some other kid, not big enough to be an adult. The other was, though, the one pulling and dragging at Tom, while he tried to kick and bite this unknown figure.

So it wasn’t a walker then. A walker would’ve chomped down already. The unknown figure turned their head, just a quick look backwards, before trying to hurry Tom along even more insistently. And for a second Troy thought he knew that figure. Maybe it was the hair, or the build, or maybe the semblance of her profile…whatever it was, for a second he thought he’d seen a vision of his past. Or a nightmare.

For a second he’d thought this was Madison.

He used to see her in every flash of blonde hair, in every slender figure, in every blue-eyed woman… back then, when he’d barely survived her at the dam. He used to see her everywhere for years. But not for a while now. Not in the last few. Not since… Tracy?

But that couldn’t be. It couldn’t be because she was dead, his mind playing tricks on him again. He must’ve been more apprehensive than he’d thought about Tom vanishing like he had, why else would his mind show him a ghost of his past.

All of that only lasted for a second, a slight hesitation, then the gun was in his hand and a shot rang out.

The figure keeled over and Tom ran. Good boy. Tracy started to run, too, no doubt trying to get to Tom, but Troy caught up with her in long strides, putting a hand on her shoulder.

“Stay,” he hissed, and she nodded with wide eyes, chastised. That was why he didn’t want kids out alone, they weren’t yet able to adhere to all the rules, all those things that would keep them alive. Too easily distracted. He pressed a gun into her hand – no way to know if this woman had been alone and he’d be damned if he left his daughter unprotected. Then he ran towards Tom, towards this woman. Whatever she had planned with Tom, he had to know. Had to know if she’d acted alone. If they were in danger.

Tom ran towards him, too, and seconds later was wrapped around Troy’s legs.

“Go to Tracy,” Troy whispered, tone tense. He had no time to soothe him, though Tom looked like he needed it.

Later. There was time for this, later.

The woman was half-crawling, half-dragging herself away from Troy, leaving a bloody trail behind. He was able to block her path only moments later. That stopped her pitiful attempts to get away and she raised her head. His breath caught in his throat and the blood in his veins turned to ice.

“…Madison?” he whispered in a voice that didn’t sound like his.

“You?!” Her voice very much sounded like her. Angry and ready to fight. Though there was a slight tremor in it, too. And when she’d spoken he’d seen her bloody teeth, the blood welling in her mouth. He’d at least damaged the lungs. It wasn’t likely that she’d make it.

He knelt down, to her eye level.

“What the fuck are you doing, stealing kids?” he asked. She glared at him.

“As if… you haven’t done worse.” Her breathing was labored, and she ended up coughing after that sentence. It wracked her body and it looked like she’d lose her balance, fall. He caught her.

“In fact, I haven’t,” he informed her while his arms steadied her. Kids were off limits. Especially when they weren’t doing anything threatening. He couldn’t imagine that Tom had threatened her.

God, this felt unreal. Of course it did. He’d thought her dead. The nightmare of his past. But here she was, alive.

Dying.

He almost felt like moving to stop the bleeding. It wouldn’t help, though. Not for long.

What was she doing, stealing kids?! Was this the same Madison that had whacked him for… for what, actually? Being a perceived danger to her kids? Out of morality?

“… I thought I killed you.”

Of course she didn’t answer his question. Still playing her games, still trying to have the upper hand. Not this time, though. This time she’d lose. Her shirt was already soaked through.

She knew it, too. It was in her tone, still angry but now, now there was surrender in it, as well.

“Next time you’d best stay to make sure, huh? My ability to survive is unparalleled.”

“I will,” she whispered. He almost didn’t understand her, with how much she was coughing up blood. It wouldn’t take long now.

“Why did you try to take Tom? What do you do with the kids?” That was a guess, that she’d taken more. She hadn’t contradicted him on it before. And she didn’t now, either. Instead some of her fight returned and she hissed,

“Why do you care?!”

Hissed it like she didn’t believe he did, and blamed him for it. His lack of caring. He had no intention of getting drawn into her bullshit.

“Does it matter?” he asked pointedly. She was dying after all. He cared or he didn’t, it would be irrelevant to her in a few short minutes. He couldn’t help himself though and added, “Tell yourself… I’ll save them.”

She laughed, short and ugly and he smirked in return. It didn’t last for long because then she was coughing again. Longer this time. He waited for it to ease.

“What happens to them, Madison?” he asked again, serious now. Commanding. She felt her life drain from her. What would it matter if she told him, indeed. So she did, all the while telling herself he’d save those kids.

He’d saved this one from her, after all, hadn’t he.

-The end-

Or more like, the beginning. Of course Troy now sets his eyes on P.A.D.R.E., mobilizing his entire force to save the kids and their parents. And he gets a neat little compound out of it, too. The people from his past he'd run into doing that (e.g. Luciana, Daniel, ..?) could still be assholes to him, but this time most would get around to seeing he has changed. And/or they operate on the principle of 'better the devil you know'.

Jewels made of stardust  

(Poe Dameron x OC! Rhoswen Jewelace.)

Chapter 1: I miss you when we're mad

Words:1041

A/n: I really hope you all love it! I've been writing it for about 2 months so I'm really excited to start sharing it.

“Hey, Jewelace! What the hell was that? You can’t just disobey my orders like that.”  Poe called out after her as the red haired woman struts away from the hanger, and him. Rhoswen stops and turns to him a look of exasperation on her face.

“Oh, I’m Sorry, I Just saved your ass out there! If we had followed your orders we would be dead and you know it. That was too close. I think a little thanks might be in order.” She puts her hand on her hip as she glares at him, her Emerald eyes blazing with fire.

“Thanks? You want me to thank you for that stunt you just pulled?” He’s yelling at her now

“Yeah! I didn’t realize you were stupid and blind. I may not have your title 'commander', but you're standing here because I made the right choice. That TIE fighter was going to kamikaze right into you and if I didn't shoot it down then we would all be star dust.” She stands her ground. Angrier than she's been at him before, and they’ve gone toe to toe on more than one occasion. They’re starting to draw attention. Poe knows he can’t get chewed out by the General for fighting with his captain…again.

“What do I have to do to get you to respect me out there?” he asks, his voice hushed, his tone soft, almost a whisper, but filled with menace.

“I don’t know, try earning it.” She growls at him with venom in her voice, before turning on her heel and storming off, heading for the refreshers as quickly as she can. Leaving a slightly stunned commander in her wake. As she slides past some other resistance fighters on her way in she doesn’t even bother to try to bring a smile to her face. Rhoswen pulls off her jumpsuit as quickly as she could, just wanting to get into the showers and on her way as quickly as possible, wanting to leave as little chance as possible for Poe to catch up to her. She took a quick peak in the mirror before turning on the shower, her emerald eyes meeting her own gaze, it was hard to tell what was dirt or freckles scattered across her porcelain skin. Her chin length red hair clung to her head with sweat and grime. She sighs and turns to finish getting undressed before hopping in the hot shower, hoping the hot water will help distract her from her fight with Poe Dameron.

Poe however stood stunned in the harder thinking over every that just Happened. He and Rhoswen had a very similar background. She was also the child of two Rebel heroes, she had lost her parents at a very young age and had been raised and adopted by the Organa-Solo family. She was about the same age as their Son Ben at the time and apparently Han had a soft spot for her. He had heard all the stories from General Leia Organa. Some stories He was sure Captain Jewelace probably prefer he didn't know.

As Poe finally came to his senses he looked around then decided to wander off to his quarters to get showered and changed before reporting to the General. He couldn't help but think, about her as he walks. They had almost been friends at one point, when he had joined the resistance she was only slightly younger than him, a skilled piolet herself. They had talked for a long time at the beginning, his life on Yavin 4, hers on Chandrila. Her red hair was long then and she always kept it back in a ponytail. She had a sassiness to her that he quite enjoyed.  It seemed like they almost could have been close. But when he was appointed the leader of black squadron they went separate ways for a while, and by the time he saw her again with the determination to lead and fight against the First order, not to mention win the heart of the Red haired girl he was thinking about the whole time they’d been apart. But she had lost her Father. When Han Solo died Rhoswen was never the same, she kept everyone at a distance. No one got close. But that didn’t stop him from trying. That was until she was placed onto black squadron as his captain, his second in command. After that they fought all the time and were never friendly. As Poe sat on his bed he thought about the first time he saw her after he got back from destroying Starkiller Base.

~ Several months prior~

There was a lot of celebrating that night. Starkiller base was destroyed against all the odds. Poe was looking for her, Rhoswen. His red haired conquest. When he found her she was almost unrecognizable. Her signature pony tail cut off, her hair now just cut at the chin she, was at least a couple drinks in and she had been crying. Poe Sat next to her and put a hand on her shoulder.

“Hey…I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone sad about a victory against the first order… you doing okay Red?” He called her by the nickname he had always called her back when they first met. She just looks at him with an empty glare. She shakes her head and gets up, grabbing a jacket off the back of her chair. He recognized it, Han Solo’s Jacket….

“Oh maker… Red! Wait!” He gets up and follows her out of the party.

“Leave me alone Dameron.” She says as tears start to return to her eyes.

“Rhoswen wait…I’m..I’m so sorry about your Dad….” He says as her grabs her hand. She lets him hold it, stopping in her tracks. She couldn’t look at him. All she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and die. Poe knew exactly what she was going though. His other hand going to the ring hanging around his neck. Losing your parent, without knowing that was going to be the last time you see them.

“Just…I just want to be alone Poe.” She says as she pulls her hand away.

“I….Alright.” Poe would live to regret letting her go that night.

~

Masterlist

Next chapter

Tag: @femmeanonymelives

The Finale Collide

It's finally here my friends!! The long awaited finale to Taeyong and Moxy animosity era!! Honestly I'm both hype and scared for this post. Hyped because I'm proud of myself for writing this down and posting it. Scared cause I hope it lives up to the hype but I guess we'll see. Anyways enjoy the finale!!

Legend - April 2018 | English = Bold

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

It started with little comments

“Moxy, could you not play your music so loud at night?”

“Migyeong, maybe shave down a bit of your time in the bathroom.”

“Why aren’t you picking these steps up? You were at the top of your dance lessons right?” 

Each word ground at Moxy’s patience with her new bandmates. 

For months, Moxy had been dealing with the cold shoulder from all her members. Well, most of them. Haechan resolutely ignored the way his hyungs were acting. Moxy frequently found herself greeted by the group's maknae in her room waiting to gossip about their days. Johnny and Doyoung were pulled between the two sides constantly. Slowly but surely it felt like they were pulling away from her too. Missed hangouts were becoming common. The reasons are usually bogus member-related excuses.  

The only time she got some reprieve was with her friends, at gymnastics or at night when all the boys in her dorm were asleep. The makeup noonas have been complaining about her eye bags for a while now. Migyeong figured she had at least a couple more late night snack sessions before managers got involved. 

After a year, 127 hadn’t gelled with their newest member and Moxy felt the ice could break underneath her feet. Leaving her to drown at any second. During their first performance of Limitless, Moxy messed up a move she’d nailed in every practice beforehand. For someone else, it was just debut nerves. For Taeyong, it gave him all the reason to nitpick Every. Single. Move she made. 

“Your arms need to be bent more.”

“You’re supposed to be expressionless Migyeong.”

“Your jump is still a half a second late.”

“It’s right-left-right Migyeong, not left-right-left.”

Those were just the minor ones though. Chain was the most difficult choreography she had encountered. Moxy spent hours after each practice committing the moves to memory. Any time she tried with Johnny, Doyoung or even Donghyuck, She was fine. Hitting every move with the speed and precision required. Her muscle memory vanished in front of Taeyong. One time she was late by seconds, making everyone look off. Another time, Moxy fumbled her footing causing her to bump into Taeil. During this latest run-though Moxy’s head must have been in the clouds. She was so off. She was basically dancing at half speed. By now, Taeyong had had enough.

“MOXY!! We are a week out from filming. There is no way you can keep messing up this choreo. Not after last time.” 

“I slipped slightly during my first performance ever. It never happened again Taeyong!” Migyeong had taken to only addressing Johnny and Doyoung as Oppa. She refused to give Taeyong respect when after all this time he hadn’t earned it. The other members were granted a sunbae or -ssi. Doyoung tried to convince the younger to call them all oppa but Moxy was stubborn. 

“What have they done to deserve that title?” Was her response. 

“Secondly, I know I have it down. Johnny’s watched me nail it several times.” Taeyong rolled his eyes.

“Well Johnny isn’t your leader I am. Now we're all gonna run the dance break until everyone gets it right.” Some of them groaned but Doyoung noticed that Taeyong didn’t look away from Moxy even when addressing everyone. The manager ran the music again. Everything was going smoothly….

Until both Taeyong and Moxy got the quick movements wrong. 

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME MOXY!!” “DON’T LOOK AT ME AS IF IT WAS JUST ME!! YOU MESSED UP TOO!!!!”

“Both of you need to relax.” Johnny tried to diffuse the situation. He and Doyoung walked over to Moxy hoping to smooth out the tension between their leader and their female member. 

“Johnny if he looks at me like I’m the only one in the wrong—” 

“Johnny, we don't have time for this!”

“OH PLEASE! Like you’ve ever had time for me, oppa!” Moxy’s eyes snapped over to their leaders. Her gaze made the older boy flinch. Whispered conversations all ceased. Everyone's attention was on the leader and the girl. 

“I haven’t done anything. For a year! To any of you. I was added to this group. I never expected to be welcomed with open arms. You don’t know me. I don’t know you. And after a year, both statements are still true and I can’t take it anymore!” Moxy points to the closed practice room door, “I walk through that door for every practice scared of the people I’m supposed to rely on. Then that feeling follows me to the dorms where I can’t be myself because everything I do annoys you! The only time I get some piece?! When you’re all asleep. And you wonder why I’m always tired.” Moxy eyes were ablaze. The heat gets to all the males in the room. 

“I don't know what it is about me thats got you so pressed but I am SICK of it. Maybe it's because in all the training you did, I made it in half the time. Maybe I’m so good that you're trying any trick in the book to get me to leave.” Moxy tried to make her way closer but Johnny and Doyoung stopped her. Or at least they tried. Moxy ripped out of their grips, not stopping until she was face to face with Taeyong. “I don’t know and I don’t care. What I do know is if you look at me cross-eyed one more time there won’t be a plastic surgeon in Korea that could fix your face once I'm done.” Heavy breaths left her Moxy as the adrenaline of her anger finally dissipated. The room was left tense

Realizing what she said to a guy older than her, Moxy brought her gaze to the floor. Several of the members thought she was gonna apologize right then (They don’t know what a black woman from Chicago's anger is like.). Moxy shook her head making her way to her bag. She threw her stuff in quickly and before anyone could blink, Moxy was out the door, slamming it in her wake. The slam knocked everyone out of her trance. Taeyong watched as Doyoung and Johnny ran after, calling her name. Moments later, the two walked back in with unreadable expressions. The rest of the members looked at Taeyong carefully, watching their leader's face.

“Let’s run it again.” Was all he said.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Practice lasted hours. Strangely, Taeyong was silent the entire time. His other members kept glancing at each other wondering what was running through his mind. When practice was finally called, Johnny and Doyoung ran to their bag packing their things in a hurry. They got to the door but before they could leave Taeyong voice rang out

“Where are you two going?” 

Before Johnny could stop him, Doyoung whipped around to face his leader. Fury written in his gaze, “To find her. And when we do, we are all gonna sit down as a group and settle this. Because this can’t happen anymore and I’m not gonna lose her.” 

“So you’re finally choosing her over me. Over us? Someone you’ve barely known for a couple months. Doyoung she’s not your family. We are!” Taeyong shouted. Several bodies flinched at the sound. 

“AND SHE COULD BE TOO!” Johnny had enough. His angry voice was like thunder and it made even their leader too stunned to speak up. “Taeyong have you ever given her a chance to be a part of this family? Let me answer for you, you haven’t.” Everyone could tell Johnny was trying to reign himself in. Trying not to yell even though they all felt like they deserved it. “Taeyong-ah I don’t know what's going on in that head of yours. Hell, none of us do because you close us off all the time. But that girl doesn’t deserve this ire from you. She’s good. She’s damn good and you can’t pull your head out of your ass to see it.” 

“Hyung,” Doyoung broke the silence in the air, “Johnny hyung and I have had to talk Moxy out of quitting four different times now. And after what just happened, I don’t know if we can make her stay. So right now me and Johnny hyung are gonna do our best to bring her back.” Doyoung shifted his gaze to the rest of their members. All of them in different states of shame. “You all are welcome to come along. Maybe seeing more than just us will be enough to convince her.” Doyoung watched as the boys he either grew up with or watched grow up all stand still, not knowing which way to go. Do they fight to keep Moxy or do they follow their leader who stood in the middle of the floor holding back tears. Doyoung sucked his teeth, turning his back on his members and gesturing for Johnny to follow. 

Just as they made it down the hall, the door to their practice room opened.

“Hyung! Wait up!” Haechan and Mark ran to catch up. “I’m coming. I don’t want to lose noona.” 

“If Haechan’s going then so am I” Mark added. The two older boys looked proud at the younger members' decision

“So are we.” Jaehyun spoke for himself, Yuta and Winwin. 

“Is he-” Doyoung started to ask but Yuta shaking his head was enough of an answer for him. Johnny corralled the boys to the elevator that just opened. They all piled in and made it downstairs to the waiting car. Johnny gave their manager the directions to where he assumes Moxy is. Just Winwin was reaching to close the door, relief overtakes his face as one last voice shouts

“WAIT!” Both Taeil and Taeyong were running to catch up. Once they arrived, Taeil patted Taeyong on the back before getting in the car. Taeyong was left standing in front of Johnny looking anywhere but at his eyes. 

“You know you and Moxy are a lot alike.” Taeyong’s eyes finally met his, “You both are extremely strong but hide your soft side behind walls. You both don’t know how to let the other in. But you learned to trust us with who you really are. I’ve seen who Moxy really is and you can trust her too.” Taeyong watched as Johnny got in the front seat. Silently he climbed into the back where Taeil and Doyoung left a seat between them. As the car took off, Taeyong tried to apologize to Doyoung but wordlessly, he grabbed his hand with a smile that said It’s okay. You’re here now. That’s all that matters. 

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

When the car arrived, all the boys piled out to see a gymnastics gym in front of them. Taeyong watched as Doyoung approached a girl standing by the door. The two greeting each other like old friends. The mysterious girl waved them all inside, leading them past the main gym and into the stands. 

“I’m so glad you're here oppa. Migyeong’s been here for hours. Only stopping to eat. I tried to convince her to call it a day about two hours ago but you know how she is. I know your dance practices can be long and after this, she’ll need time to rest.” The girl stopped right outside the opening to a section of the stands that overlooked the whole gym. Music was blaring loud enough to drown out any sound. 

“Thanks Jiho. We’ll make sure she rests. Are you heading home?” Johnny asked Jiho. Doyoung led the pack in but Taeyong stayed by Johnny.

“Yeah I got loads of homework. Being a gymnast and a college student was never gonna be easy was it? Tell Thea I went home first. Bye oppa.” Jiho hugged Johnny then bowed to Taeyong before running off. Johnny steered Taeyong inside. 

“Who was that? And whose’s Thea?” Taeyong asked as they walked in. Out on the padded floor was Moxy, hunched over trying to catch her breath.

“That was Jiho. According to Moxy, she used to live in Chicago and they both trained at the same gymnastics gym together. Jiho’s on the track to compete in the Olympics so the only time they see each other is here. And Thea is Moxy’s English name.” Johnny smiled at Taeyong trying to pronounce ‘Thea’ properly. They both took the end seats on the beach and watched as Moxy ran halfway across the mat throwing herself into a dangerous thread of mid-air splits, rolls and flips. While Johnny and Doyoung were used to seeing their friend do these kinds of moves, none of the other members were. They all were flinching and shrieking, scared for their female members' health. 

Taeyong gripped Johnny's hand while he watched Moxy complete another rotation at the last minute, seconds away from crashing onto the floor, “What is she doing?!?! Isn’t this dangerous?” Taeyong’s eyes were wide with terror. Which only added to the amusement in Johnny's eyes.

“For her? Not really. She’s trained to do this. Before she started idol training, Migyeong was a cheerleader. Her favorite part was the tumbling.”

“Whats a cheerleader.” They heard Haechan ask but Mark took over answering the maknae’s question. 

The nine members watched as she bounced around the mat. Sometimes it felt like if they blinked, she’d be in another place that quick. Moxy continued the routine ending in the middle of the mat, jumping in the air and landing on her back in what looked like a rough landing. Some of the members feel out of their seats never seeing someone do a move like that. Johnny had to explain what she did was a death drop and that Moxy was perfectly fine. That didn’t stop the worry. 

With a deep breath Moxy sat up. Her back facing the group. She just sat in the middle of the floor for a while before getting up. She was about to set off the mat when the beginning notes of Chain started playing. She froze at the sound. They all could see the look on her face. Everyone was reminded of Moxy’s mistakes during practice. Taeyong could hear Johnny whispering “You got this. You’ve done it before. You can do it again.” encouraging Moxy to go for it. 

And she did.

What Taeyong witnessed couldn’t be the same girl from practice hours ago. This girl was nailing every move with precision and a groove that couldn’t be compared to anyone. Taeyong could picture how Moxy would fit in their other choreographies 127. Seeing her dance reminded Taeyong of how he felt the first time he nailed a dance routine after years of hearing he’d never make it. When the music stopped, Moxy stood in her ending pose for a moment just catching her breath. Just as the members were gonna stand to clap for her. Moxy crumbled to the mat. Her sobs broken by gasps of breath.

Taeyong was out of his seat before anyone could stop him. 

Moxy curled into a ball as small as she could go. She couldn’t stop the tears from coming. 

Why can’t I do it when they’re watching? When I’m supposed to execute this dance. I can’t mess up again. They’ll kick me out before I can leave on my own word. The thoughts became too much. She’d held them back for so long and in this moment she just wanted someone to come and help. 

Moxy didn’t even register being held in someone's arms until she looked up and met Taeyong’s concerned filled eyes. She tried to move back but he just held her tighter. The longer she sat there more tears came to the surface. How long had he been here? Were the others with him? What did they think? They must think I’m a baby. Sitting here crying like this when they’ve all done this longer than me. They probably been through worse. 

Taeyong’s hand ran up and down her arm in a steady pattern. He still didn’t let go. “You did so well, Moxy” Shock ran through her spine. Moxy leaned back and saw nothing but the truth in his eyes. The walls crumbled one last time as more tears bubbled to the surface. Taeyong just kept rocking her back and forth until she calmed down.

“Sometimes….I’m afraid to fail.” She said, the sound muffled by her face buried in Taeyong’s chest. “If the fans catch a mistake, they’ll latch onto it then Lee Sooman will realize he made a mistake choosing me and I’ll have to start over. I-I can’t do that. I never—” Moxy held back the tears. “Before they told me about 127, I prayed every night to not be in a girl group. I saw what Red Velvet was doing. I couldn't picture myself there. I didn’t see myself in just another girl group competing with all the other pretty girls that have to act like they can’t dance to fit some decade old stereotype. This….This is everything I wanted.” Taeyong watched more tears spill for bloodshot eyes. “I can’t lose this. I can’t lose NCT. I can’t lose 127! I can’t oppa!” Moxy's head landed in her hands, her desperate sobs breaking the hearts of her fellow members. 

Finally, he saw the same desperation that tied them all together. A drive to not lose the family they created. A desire to do this with this team forever. Taeyong pulled her back into his chest. Letting the teardrops land on his already wet shirt. One by one, the duo’s members surrounded them on the padded floor.

“I’m sorry…….I’ve always wanted Doyoung and Johnny in this group. When we debuted without them, I was devastated but we kept going.” Taeyong sat back running his thumb under Moxy’s eye gently. Wiping away the tear tracks. “Then Limitless comes around, they tell us we're getting new members. Doyoung and Johnny walked thru the door. Then you did. It felt like SM didn’t trust us to rise on our own. Like……..we needed a gimmick to push us over the edge.” Taeyong paused warding off his own onslaught of tears

“Being completely transparent, Moxy, you’re everything I wish I was when I became a trainee. You are incredibly talented and your talents supersede you.” Moxy could stop her mouth from dropping open. Taeyong wished he was her. When he was the trainee everyone wanted to be.

“Yeah we all heard about the new female trainee that was giving us old SM rookies a run for their money.” Yuta interrupted with a smirk. The comment brought laughs from all the members.

“You were right back in the practice room. I am intimidated by you. And I let my own pride stop me from saying…….I’d rather see you here, with us than anybody else.” Taeyong laced their hands together. 

“In better words, You're stuck with us now. We're gonna bleed your talent dry, kid.” Johnny said, adding more humor to the heartfelt moment. 

“I’d like to see you try.” Moxy quipped back, the clouds fading away for the sun to come thru. Shining a new light on the 10 member group. They all sat in silence for a moment each one wondering how they went forward from here. Until Haechan broke the ice. 

“Noona what were you doing in here before Chain came on?” Moxy sat up. All the members wanted an answer as well. 

“Oh that was tumbling. It's a part of gymnastics but what I was doing is more like an improv cheer performance. It helps me relieve stress.” Around the circle the boys asked if she could do more. Moxy agreed though the blush on her cheek showed she wasn’t used to the attention. 

Watching his member crowd around Migyeong as she showed off a basic flip for them, Taeyong felt the weight lift off his shoulders. 

We’ll be okay. He thought. For once, he believed it.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Taglist: @alixnsuperstxr / @1-800-call-ria / @sophrodite / @sunflower-0180

Round 2: Sixteenth story for @badthingshappenbingo ~

Title: Never Mess With A Nurse

Fandom: Star Trek (AOS)

Character(s): Robert "Robbie" Scott, Leah McCoy, OCs

Relationship(s): Robert "Robbie" Scott/Leah McCoy

Rating: T

Words: 752

Prompt: Knife to the Throat

Warnings: Violence, Hostage Situation, Major Character Injury, Swearing

(You can also find this story on AO3)

~ Never Mess With A Nurse ~

"I'm going to say this once in a friendly way, you understand that? Let him go."

Robert "Robbie" Scott tried his best not to swallow too hardly. After all, the blade of a sharp knife was pressed quite tightly against his throat.

He definitely hadn't planned for their date to end up like that. It had been supposed to be a nice and quiet evening at a restaurant for him and Leah after a stressful week.

Who could have known that a group of criminals was planning to rob said restaurant on that very evening? And who could've known that they were storming the building right when Leah and Robbie were about to leave?

"Aww, think you can play the hero, honey? Let me get this straight, if you don't want your lover's blood decorating this room, you better sit back down in a chair," the leader of the perpetrators mocked the nurse and nodded towards an empty seat.

If looks had been able to kill, the criminals would have dropped dead that very second. Unfortunately though they weren't and so Leah had to follow the man's order. Reluctantly she stepped over to the chair and sat down.

Robbie furrowed his brows the slightest bit, watching his girlfriend insecurely. There was a dangerous look in Leah's eyes and he didn't know if he liked it.

She seemed to have a plan, he just couldn't tell what it was.

Unfortunately though, the Scotsman didn't have much time to think for the man behind him suddenly started to move forward.

There were four members of the gang. Two were staying close to the front and back doors, making sure that no one tried to escape. Another member was standing next to the counter, ordering one of the employees to unlock the money PADD. It was a PADD on which all payments of the day were collected. With a special device the criminals would steal everything that had been earned that evening.

All of the perpetrators carried phasers with them to hold the scared customers and staff members at gunpoint. As if one hostage wasn't enough...

"Hurry up! We better get away from this place before the cops catch up with us," the man behind Robbie said in a harsh voice. Apparently he was the leader and obviously those guys had already robbed other restaurants that night if the cops were after them.

Maybe willingly, maybe accidentally, the man pressed the knife tighter against Robbie's throat and the Scotsman made a noise, squeezing his eyes shut in pain as the blade started to cut through his skin.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"

The criminal moved closer to his face and from the corner of his eyes, Robbie saw a grin on the man's lips. A cold chuckle followed the words as the guy leaned back again.

"Alright, you asked for it, bastard."

Robbie's eyes widened in shock when he heard Leah's voice coming from behind them. The man holding him slowly turned around, still grinning.

"And what do you think —"

He didn't even get to finish the sentence for suddenly a small dart flew at him, hitting him right in the cheek, right beneath his eye. The guy gave a startled cry, even dropping his knife in surprise as he staggered backwards.

His fellow companions instantly turned their attention to what was going on, however, neither of them was fast enough to stop Leah from shooting darts at them too.

It didn't take too long until all the criminals dropped to the floor, still awake, but apparently unable to move.

A smile was on Leah's face as she stepped closer to Robbie who could only stare wide-eyedly at the man who had hurt him. The leader was lying on the ground, his eyes focused on Leah as she was smiling down at him.

"Never mess with a nurse who creates her own little weapons for self-defense."

She held up what looked like a smaller version of a phaser, then knelt down next to the criminal.

"And never touch her boyfriend."

Robbie only blinked in confusion and surprise. Flabbergasted, he raised his finger to say something when Leah got up again, but she only smiled at him.

"Don't worry, sweetheart, they are fine. The poison paralyzes their muscles, but it doesn't hurt. They just won't be able to move until police arrives."

Robbie dropped his finger and sighed, shaking his head. Leah was just incorrigible.

"Now let me take a look at the cut..."

VG: Moral Eyes

Tazama was no fighter. Over a course of days, plots by the Rogue Trio had become more and more frequent. Annoying the fellow Pridelanders with their obnoxious roaring, breaking the Pridelands' laws by hunting prey on land that didn't belong to them, and ongoing annoucements of their future rule. All of their attempts to cause trouble to the Pridelands have so far been squandered by the Lion Guard. Though, it had been getting harder each time. The Keenest of Sight had been caught in the middle of yet another battle that had broken out between the two lion groups. There was something about a certain member of the Rogue Trio he found herself sympathizing for the more she saw him. It was Jeuri, the youngest member and the outcast of the Trio, given the way he'd been treated and utilized by his coalition of bachelors.

While the rest of the Guard prepared for their gruesome, bloody, and cathartic battle against these creeps, Tazama had watched as the leader, Kiume, had mistreated and belittled the young lion. It had grown gradually worse throughout each fight as she noticed Jeuri seemingly taking more and more interest in the Guard. Kiume was less than pleased with Jeuri's distracted behavior, and began to outcast him. Kiume's appointed right-paw lion, Bo, was not nearly as cruel, but he still stood and watched his younger colleague take the brunt of abuse. Tazama noticed this about them, and pitied the youngest lion. Vitani, similarly, grew annoyed with Tazama's rather inappropriate pacifism, and her teammates' criticisms and impatience grew ever hurtful. She'd always been treated different from her pridesisters, ever since she, along with a young Shabaha, Kasi, and Imara, had joined Zira's Outsiders. She was prone to bullying and teasing throughout her early life due to the inhospitable nature of the Outsider pride, and with a ruthless viceroy who'd enabled their behavior to top it all off. Her pacifism and tendency to favor observation and admiration of the nighttime had gotten on Zira's nerves, so she'd been a least favorite of hers. Her scouting abilities had at least earned her a reconnaisance position in the Pride, which carried over to her place in the Lion Guard that Vitani had given to her. As for Jeuri, it was true he was an easily-distracted young lion. Whatever impressed him overpowered his priorities, such as the awesome powers of Vitani's Roar -- which had been growing ever fierce --, and the compassion he felt from Tazama after a rough defeat from the rest of the Guard. Tazama didn't hurt him. She spoke gently to him, and even sometimes giggled when she saw him. He loved making others laugh. He also could've sworn she'd tried to save him before -- albeit verbally and from a distance. He'd wondered just how much Tazama had liked him... Today, Jeuri had foiled yet another plan to distract the Lion Guard. They'd chosen a poor secretary bird to taunt, threaten, and possibly eat, once again violating the hunting law. But of course, Jeuri had been amazed by the Guard's fighting moves and individual qualities that gave them their titles in the group, accidentally letting the secretary bird escape his grip. He almost wondered what position he'd have if his own coalition was a super team... Omega. His boss said. Omega of the group was the answer. ____ Later, after the mission... "C'mon, ma'am." Vitani began to escort Karani the secretary bird, "It's not safe, here." "Get off my property!" the secretary squawked. Vitani's face fell, "W-What?" "You lions are nothing but trouble!" Karani began to sob, "Look what you all did to my nest!" "Yeah, that's kinda why we need to move you --" Suddenly, the bird began to peck at them. "We just saved you, lady!" said Shabaha. "Yeah, what is wrong with you?!" said Kasi. "LEAVE! OR I'M WARNING THE AUTHORITIES!" "Ma'am, we are the authorities!" Vitani grunted. After several minutes, the Guard scrammed. One dodgy mission they'd almost failed, Tazama acting strange, and now an ungrateful civilian. This entire week had been disasterous, but this was just the udara on top. They all headed to the Lair early that day. ____ Tazama left Pride Rock as the rest of the pride had gone to sleep. She turned to the night sky for solace. Suddenly, she heard rustling in the grass. She saw a figure pacing, seemingly grumbling to itself. It was Jeuri. Jeuri stopped pacing to rub the back of his head, still sore from receiving a handful of smacks upside the head throughout the day, each time he didn't listen or let a plan unravel before him. The large-eyed lioness cleared her throat. "Hi..." "WHOA! DON'T HURT ME! DON'T HU -- " the young lion sprang before realizing who it was, "Oh... it's just you." Tazama squinted, she didn't know if that was an insult to the intimidating presence she utterly lacked in combat, or some kind of compliment to her compassionate nature. "Thank you?" "No prob!" the boy smiled, "What are you doing out here?" "Oh... watching the nocturnal animals come out. Hunting. Pollinating. Chirping." "Huh..." "You?" "Uh... needed some time alone, don't really wanna think about it..." "It's Kiume, isn't it?" "Ah, you saw that. Well... my boss has been kind of hard on me." "Mine, too." "Wait, really?" "Yeah... I've been watching you take a lot of abuse. I've been wanting to get you out of it, but I'm afraid Vitani will cast me out for interfering. I don't think she knows I feel sorry for you, but she's already mad at me for not fighting you, or your friends. The Guard's mad too." Jeuri was confounded. He'd admired the Guard from afar a lot lately, but now they didn't sound as cool as he'd originally thought. "Guess we're just a couple of omegas in our prides, huh?" "Yeah..." the lioness lied down beside Jeuri, "I guess that's a way to put it. Even though that alpha male thing is kind of a misconception." Her brief biology infodump flew over his head, "I guess. But, yeah, we could be losers together, hah." Tazama chuckled too. She thought a while. "You know, Jeuri... there's this time of year in the Pridelands we call 'Kupatana', which is about unity." "Really?" "Yes. If only our prides would care to think about Kupatana for just a moment. Its meaning. Not just unity, but a truce." The two looked up at the stars a while. "Y'know, you're the only one who's ever understood me in any of this. Do you think that... maybe... we could be soulmates?" Jeuri leaned forward bashfully. "Like friends?" "I was thinking, y'know, more than friends?" Tazama blushed all over. She knew that look of hope. The Keenest of Sight was not the type to be assertive, so she had no idea where to start with letting Jeuri down gently. "O-Oh... I don't, um... I don't know how to feel about -- I never really thought... about anyone that way. A-And... you're... a little young for me, anyway?" Her heart raced as she anticipated Jeuri's reaction. She had to say no, but she didn't trust others' reactions to giving 'no' for an answer. Would he yell? Hurt her? Cry? She winced at all the possible outcomes. Jeuri froze before slowly nodding. He looked away. "Um... that's okay." he sighed. Tazama awkwardly turned the other way, "I'm sorry, I've got to go home. I..." "Yeah, it's okay..." Jeuri blinked hard, "Nice, uh... talking to you... See ya..." The Keenest of Sight hurried back to the Lair. Jeuri, frowning deeply as he watched his only chance leave, saw where she'd been heading. The young lion suddenly stopped frowning, realizing he'd been taking in key information as he watched her. In his distraction and fixation on being rejected, he now knew the location of where the Lion Guard had been headquartered. Tazama wouldn't accept him, and the rest of the Lion Guard was apparently cruel and uncaring. It sounded to him like approval from the boss was the way to go... That night, the lion returned to where his pride had been camping out. He told Kiume and Bo that he spotted the Keenest of Sight heading home, and told them that he'd gotten information out of her, in which she told him that Vitani had been the biggest hurdle in their plans, due to her overpowered Roar, and her bullheadedness. ____ The following morning... The Lion Guard was still reliving the ridiculousness that had been yesterday's mission. They'd rant about the Rogue Trio's frequent appearances, and ruthlessly joke about their lame fighting skills and equally lame misogyny. Tazama sat uncomfortably the whole time in disagreement with nearly everything they were saying, especially about Jeuri, until she couldn't take it anymore. "That's it!" she shouted, "Don't you guys think that maybe they're not all bad all the time?" A long pause ensued. Tazama raising her voice was a rarity, for one thing. But her statement, to them, was absurd. "No..." said Kasi. "No way." said Shabaha. "Mm-mm." said Imara. "Do you even hear yourselves? How could you be so closed-minded?" "Taz, don't fall for it." Vitani glared, "Don't become an apologist. That's what they want." "This isn't apologism! I'm just thinking about giving them a chance for once, what about Kupatana?" "Kupatana?!" Vitani scoffed, "Kupatana is for Pridelanders! And have you looked around lately? Clearly, nobody cares about that holiday, right now." "They're literally outlaws, Tazama." Kasi added. The Keenest of Sight blew up. "Okay, you, Kasi? Shut up! Just... Shut up! No one asked you! And Vitani, of all animals, how could you not consider giving others -- especially non-Pridelanders -- a chance? We once weren't Pridelanders, ourselves. We literally would not be a team without the King's acceptance!" The rest of the Guard fell silent, exchanging various looks. Tazama stormed off. She was angry, and justified, but yelling always made her cry. She didn't know if she felt good or bad for snapping at that moment. Vitani sighed heavily after Tazama was out of sight. "Well, that was different of her." Shabaha said, scratching at one paw with the other. "Whatever," Vitani rolled her eyes, "I could use a drink..." ____ At sunset, the Lion Guard arrived at the watering hole, occupied by a diverse array of fauna scattered at the shore. Too dazed to absorb her surroundings, Vitani shook her head and sighed. The herbivores hated her and her Guard even more than before. She glanced to her sides and noticed Tazama didn't join the group. "Oh, no. Look who it is..." Kasi sighed, "The Savannah's biggest day-drinkers, staying for happy hour." "Oh, nah," Shabaha shook her head, "not that bird that chased us out yesterday. Are you serious?!" "We're just here for a sip and we're out of here." Vitani grumbled, marching on. The four lionesses squeezed between the other animals, but not without receiving hesitance and dirty looks from animals who, unsurprisingly, didn't trust them. Their ears picked up on the not-so-discreet gossip Karani had whispered to the ear of her friend, Asinini, the wild ass. "These are the girls I'm talking about. They had the nerve to involve me in the raucous everyone was causing. They tried to rip me out of my own home!" "Pssh, cats." Asinini scoffed, "Always making their annoying fights known. Always thinking they're so entitled to the whole Savannah..." "Picking and choosing who they allow to live, here." the bird added, "Some choices, indeed." Vitani slowly removed her nose from the water and heaved. She wished she could just pounce and make a two-course meal of them right then, but they were subjects who were healthy and in the prime of their lives, and could not be hunted on the spot. Why the Circle of Life hadn't chosen these two, Vitani did not know. She had to hold it in. Last thing the lions need is a violent reputation. "Keep your head down, Vitani." Imara said sternly, "Don't make any waves." Vitani huffed. She observed Imara's undisturbed state, and tried her best to follow suit. Unfortunately, Kasi, too, had picked up on her friend's fuming demeanor. She would not stand for anymore slander of her team. She spoke up. "Lay off, alright? We're just here for a drink." the Fastest scowled deeply. "Shouldn't you be doing your jobs?!" Karani put her wings on her hips. "Shouldn't you be taking your chicks in the divorce?" Kasi spat. "WOOO! GOTTEM!" Shabaha shouted. "Guys, KNOCK IT OFF!" Vitani hollered angrily. Karani scoffed and looked back at her equine friend. "Look, we're gonna leave. Alright?" Vitani spun the other way, "Was getting crowded here, anyway." ____ The four miserably marched to the base of Pride Rock. No animal made being outside bearable, especially lately. It was the last thing they needed for this supposed 'unity' between animals the holiday of Kupatana would bring in a few short days. Certainly none of this nonsense reached the Lion Guard Lair, the only place they sought comfort and safety in... "WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU THREE DOING HERE?!" Everything had been disheveled, even to their standards. The lionesses found themselves making Flehman responses, the place was rank with territorial spray and wildly unfamiliar lion fur. The three rogues ceased their eating and reclining and looked up at the source of the voice. Kiume grinned as he picked at his teeth with a thin bone. "Ah, Vitani. So glad you could join us." he purred, "If it weren't for your little scout friend, we wouldn't have known where to find your little hideout..." Vitani's chest grew tight. Tazama's defiance to help during missions, her incessant questioning of Vitani's leadership, the frequent bailing on the team. Tazama betrayed her... She hoped it wouldn't lead up to this. She grew to doubt Tazama, but she never saw this in her. "Roar at us all you want, you'll just make the ceiling collapse on us all." Kiume gestured all around, "This is a safe place, for whoever's in it." Vitani growled before turning to the exit. "V, what are you doing?" Kasi called to her friend. "Make sure they stay. Just beat 'em black and blue like the usual deal. I'm looking for Tazama." "What are you going to do?" "Have a talk with her," Vitani looked away, "Fire her, maybe..." "What?!" "She really betrayed us, Kasi. She gave our Lair away. Who knows what other ways she's compromised the Pridelands? She might not be good for the team..." Vitani departed, and the remaining Guard blocked the exit after she left, prepared to put on yet another fight with the Rogue Trio, like they'd done all week. The fight was on. Vitani was given enough time to travel far by how long the Lion Guard and the Rogue Trio had kept up the fight. The Rogue Trio spent it dodging all of the Guard's moves. They seemed to be rushing for the exit the whole time, in fact. "I don't get it, I thought you wanted to stay here." Imara said, blocking the way out. "Oh, we'll be back for the Lair." Kiume smiled, "And Pride Rock, and the lands that go with it. But right now, it's not you three we're after." Little did the remaining Guard members know, they'd been cornered right where the rogues wanted them to go. Above them was Jeuri, who'd lithely climbed atop a ledge that had sported a collection of nesting material leftover from Ono's occupation of the Lair. "It's already hard without the Roar to rely on," Kiume looked up, "but you three are also nothing without your Keenest of Sight to look out for you." The Guard noticed Kiume's gaze. They looked up as well, rather too late. They'd been crushed under the falling debris. The Trio seized the time in which the Guard had been distracted to run after Vitani's scent. Kasi stood up first, eyes widening in realization of the rogues' motives. "They're trying to get rid of the Roar..." ____ Vitani was right in thinking to check the trees by Ndefu Grove. Tazama had a usual hiding spot she liked to retreat to for alone time every now and then. She'd especially payed her favorite tree a visit as she felt more and more out-of-place as of late. Vitani took a deep breath. She wasn't sure what Tazama's fate would be in the team. Was distrust clouding her judgment? Would she deeply regret letting Tazama go? How well did she think she even knew her? Vitani cleared her throat. Here goes. "I heard you coming." said a solumn Tazama. "Keenest of all the senses, it seems." Vitani remarked, "Taz? Can I please speak to you?" "Why? Do you plan on treating me like a cub again?" "Cut the drama." Vitani said curtly, "Why did you tell the rogues where the Lair was?" Tazama froze as she quickly put the pieces together. She realized Jeuri had betrayed her in an act of revenge. She thought she could trust at least someone. Now, not even him. Or... was Vitani accusing Jeuri, like always? "I didn't tell anyone anything." Tazama stood her ground, "I didn't know any of this would happen." Vitani narrowed her eyes, "I don't know if I trust you right now." Tazama copied the gesture, "Funny, I was thinking the same thing." "Great, then it's settled." Vitani sarcastically remarked before taking a breath, "Tazama, you are hereby -- " "GET HER!" Vitani found herself being dogpiled by the rogues, whom she'd realized had escaped the Lair. She had been slammed to the ground. Hard. "Come on, boys!" Kiume bellowed, "Cut the head off of the snake, the rest will fall!" Tazama backed away, as she always did with a fight. She watched as the Guard caught up to the rogues. The Guard had been too late, they already got Vitani. The following minutes were horrible. Vitani had made a torch to summon Nuka, but dropped it in the grass, starting a small wildfire where there were dry patches. As the Guard scrambled to put out the flames, the rogues took advantage of the time they were away to overwhelm Vitani. Vitani received deep scratches on her shoulders and wrists as a result of shielding her heart from their claws, and narrowly escaped death as she pulled away from bites to her neck and lower spine before they could get any deeper. The Rogue Trio clearly wasn't afraid to hit girls, anymore. Seeing their leader grow weaker and unable to handle the beating, the remaining Guard members lessened the load for Vitani by singling out Kiume's cronies. Tazama panicked as she looked around. She spotted Jeuri in the calamity. She walked near him, gazing at him in devastation. "Jeuri..." Tazama frowned, "I thought you were going to change..." The young lion slowly turned around as his name was called. He quickly ran up to her, his shame in letting his new acquaintance down suddenly overpowering his need to earn his boss's approval. "Listen, I... I can explain --" SLAM! Tazama gasped, and Jeuri found that the wind had been knocked out of him from under Imara's weight. The bulky lioness held the lanky lion down with a massive paw. "If you're not gonna fight, then just keep watch." Imara grunted sternly, annoyed that Tazama seemed to just be standing around, once again. "Fyuzi!" Vitani called weakly. Indistinguishable from the ever-growing wall of fire surrounding the rival prides, Nuka made his way through the air, launching his spirit into Vitani's being, desperate to save his sister. The Keenest of Sight looked up to her leader's voice. She saw Kiume seizing the opportunity to pounce the heavily-beaten Vitani, now that he and his counterpart were alone since the Guard's paws were full with Jeuri and Bo. Though she was never one to get into a fight, Tazama almost wished she'd pushed Kiume out of the way before he could knock Vitani down. Vitani and Kiume were now plummeting and rolling down a steep ditch, each bouncing off of the cliffsides making up the walls of the ditch until the very final slam to the ground had worsened and added to the count of injuries Vitani had sustained throughout the battle. To top it all off, she'd been the one cushioning the fall. Kiume was on top of her, holding her down. "Where're you goin' NOW?!" Kiume gritted through his teeth, "All alone -- with ME! Once you're gone, this 'Lion Guard' will be history! Once I'm in charge of this dump, your lionesses won't resist me and the guys! They'll be clay in our paws..." Vitani twitched in Kiume's grip. The rogue had expected the usual enraged reaction from the lioness. It was fun making her mad. However... this wasn't quite that. Vitani began to shake, eyes rolling far back, garbling uncomfortably as she felt an invasive possession take over, Vitani's eyes began to glow a bright orange. One would almost swear they saw her eyes bleed into red for a split second, too. To top it all off, her being felt hot to the touch as her chest and throat glowed a hot red. Kiume noticed. "What in the...?" Suddenly, Vitani bellowed a guttural, pained roar. A flash of orange met Kiume's eyes. Before he knew it, his prized mane was set ablaze. "AAAUUGH!" Kiume roared, "SOMEONE! PLEASE! PLEASE, HELP ME! PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT!!" The rogue danced and swatted uncontrollably at the flames that clung to his head. He clambered up the ditch desperately, screaming for help from his fellow coalition. The Guard and Kiume's lackeys ceased their fighting as they watched Kiume desperately yell and run. Seeing no threat from the rogues what with the leader down, the Guard let go of the remaining two rogues. They knew they were going to run in defeat. "C'mon, hurry up! HURRY UP, YOU MORONS!" Kiume barked as Bo and Jeuri scrambled to put out the flames, "ESPECIALLY YOU, JEURI! Come ON, you imbecile!" The direct attack towards Jeuri nearly made the youngster hesitate to help his boss. He huffed, and continued to do as told, though. No one to confide in, now. It had been confirmed that Kiume had been nothing but a tyrant, but he couldn't turn to Tazama. She just sat there and did nothing as everyone fought. He'd finally understood his leader's frustration with his very own fumbling during missions. Maybe he was meant to overtake her home with his fellow bachelors... Tazama stared vacantly. Everything had been her fault. The Guard was mad at her, the rogues were definitely coming back, Vitani was critically injured, Ndefu Grove was partially set ablaze. Kupatana didn't matter, everything and everyone had become more divided than ever. In doing absolutely nothing, she hurt everyone... ____ The Lion Guard's and Rogue Trio's voices echoed in the outskirts of the Pridelands. They'd been words that had already been spoken by the owners of each voice, played back by a certain oxpecker with a drongo-like talent for mimicking everything he heard. He had been listening to the prides for the past two days, the whole time... "Tensions are rising within the Lion Guard." Ngurumo chuckled, "One less hurdle to worry about. Thanks to these foolish rogues. Not what I expected of them, but I like it." The rhino, surprisingly was not worried too much about Jeuri's possible defection, and was rather satisfied in the chaos it brought amongst the lion species. He didn't care who it hurt, they were all lions, and all part of one plan that was done. It didn't matter, for he now had visible evidence to bring for his next plan... ____ ((Author's Notes: Back after a much-needed break where I was trying to kick my finals' asses. VG would've been worked on earlier, but I was just really dedicated to my assignments. It just feels better to work on VG when there's nothing else in the way, and I needed time to think up a strong plot and I'm glad I did use said time. But anyway, with this semester out of the way, this means that production of VG may speed up throughout the summer (with the exception of the week of 4th of July I think, think some kind of road trip's happening that time) In the spirit of Pride Month, we learn that Tazama is aro/ace! But we find that out in a rather melancholic way however We also now know the origin story of Vitani's wounds from this picture from a while ago! ngl when I first drew that picture I'd actually always figured they looked like they came from another lion, but it was just before I came up with the Rogue Trio, so at the time they were just nameless, off-screen rogues. The foreshadowing of their existence long before I finally came up with designs for them is on the walls of the healing quarters of the Lion Guard Lair funnily enough Tooth shape reveal for Jeuri lol. Decided in the middle of drawing that he didn't look distinct enough from other lions so I decided to give him some crooked ones. They're a little unrepresented in media lol (with the exception of being played for laughs. Here they're just... a feature on someone lol). Another thing I did to his design is give him some spots because I thought he looked a little plain Also, an udara is a fruit that grows in the African contintent that I thought was most similar to a cherry. I thought "cherry on top" sounded kinda odd in the TLK universe XD Also I had a little fun using bar-related double-entendres for the waterhole scene lol After a while of sifting ideas around and working them into each other, I finally reached an idea where I want to turn the next 4 episodes into an exploration of each Guard member. So far we watched Tazama become the protagonist, facing her struggle to stand up for her beliefs in the nuances she sees in everyone. From the looks of it, I think we may have an idea who'll be next in taking the lead role next time...))

help please I've discovered the gif of Syuri kissing Utami Hayashishita, and then Utami's post-match reaction, can you please tell me if there was followup, what else happened?!

Oh my goodness anon CAN I EVER (sorry I waited days to respond to this I've been having A Time)

Okay so immediately after the kiss they didn't have any matches against each other for a few weeks until their singles match in the Cinderella Tournament that year. Utami spends this time pining and wondering if Syuri really likes her and Syuri keeps teasing her on Twitter. Syuri eliminated Utami and even though it was just Over The Top Rope it ended up being enough to earn a title match given that Utami also wanted to fight her.

Their first title match was really good, real unstoppable force vs immovable object type stuff. They fight to a 30-minute draw just as Syuri seems to be getting the advantage, lay on the mat for 2 minutes and say they both want to keep fighting and are granted an extension. That 2 minutes was enough for Utami to get her wind back and negate the advantage Syuri had had, and they fight 13 more minutes to a double knockout.

Utami (and her tag partner and perennially friend-zoned bestie Saya Kamitani) challenge Syuri (and her tag partner at the time and perennially friend-zoned worstie Giulia) for their tag belts bc they can't fucking keep away from each other or leave each other alone at this point and it's in the leadup to that match that they have the unbelievably charged staredown you've hopefully seen gifs of that was somehow even more homoerotic than when they actually kissed.

I don't remember specifically what happened in the tag belt match but it's not super important, Syuri & Giulia retained.

They had another match in the 5 Star GP that year and they were both desperate to finally beat the other going into it, fully aware given the year they were having 20 minutes probably wouldn't be long enough, and they were right, fighting to a vicious draw where they both clearly had more left in the tank.

Syuri won 2021's 5 Star GP and with that earned another title shot against Utami. She asked to get her title match not at the next big show, as had been customary in previous years, but at their huge Ryogoku Kokugikan show at the end of the year, Dream Queendom, so she could be as prepared for Utami as possible and they could fight on the biggest stage possible, as she felt they deserved. Because she defers her title shot she has to defend the right to challenge a few times in the interim, but she's on a mission, unwavering and seemingly obsessed with the red belt, and finally taking it from Utami. They request their title match be no time-limit this time for obvious reasons.

They fight for only 33 minutes, the lack of a break at half an hour proving to be what Syuri needed, this time pressing her late game advantage and able to capitalize where she ran out of time before. Syuri is finally the red belt champion, and Utami is crushed.

That chapter of their story pretty much came to a close at that point, but every interaction between them was still like, significant. Every time they face each other it was incredibly obvious how important they are to each other's growth. Utami spends much of 2022 rebuilding herself after losing the belt, sometimes trying to take it easy and recharge and sometimes trying to get her groove back, trying to learn how to be the new leader of Queen's Quest. She also cuts her hair god fuckin bless

They face each other in the 5 Star again, and Syuri is faltering this year. Seemingly every person in her block understandably sees her as a huge target, Utami included. Between the pressures of being in the tournament as champion and leading her new unit, God's Eye, Syuri can't balance everything and prepare for everyone and she's overwhelmed. Utami, on the other hand, comes in immensely prepared for Syuri this time, beating her in just under 15 minutes. (The 5 Star thankfully has a shorter time limit again now than it did in 2021.)

After the 5 Star Syuri has one other defence to get through first, and then accepts Utami's challenge, to make up for her loss in the tournament. To Syuri, she wants to purge the blemish from her record as champion and prove the red belt is unqestionably hers, but she's a little excited to face Utami again. Utami tries to hide it but she's a little desperate to turn back the clock, thinking if she can just go back to who she was a year ago she can handle her current struggles.

The lead up to that match is, god, fucking -

I hate them.

Anyway Syuri successfully defends in another really, really good match. Utami tries desperately to turn back time, go back to the way she fought, the person she was, a year ago. But Syuri's already beaten that person. She peels the layers off of her and fights her with raw emotion, dragging the same out of Utami until she's forced to fight as she is now, scared and uncertain and angry and passionate. Syuri makes her stare herself in the face and then beats her again. But after, she tells Utami she is her greatest rival, and she wants to do this over and over again for as long as they both can. Utami cries.

And as of now, that's where things stand between them, though no stories in wrestling are ever truly finished. They don't currently have reason to go after each other, though they'll never be completely unentangled from each other at this point. They're both leading their units in the upcoming Triangle Derby, which starts in January, and they are in opposite blocks, which means they will face each other. I'd guess the question this time will be whether they face each other on equal footing as two unit leaders who are expected to head their team in the tournament, or if they won't be able to help but have things get personal again. They face each other on the very first show of the tournament, January 3rd.

Arrested

TK Strand/Carlos Reyes (Tarlos)

Owen Strand/Original Female Character

Ratting: Teen

Status: Complete (2,001 words)

@911bingo Square: Saved From a Bad Date

Summary: TK sends Carlos to save Owen from a bad date, and Carlos does, the only way he knows how…

Read on Ao3

Owen’s current companion had been talking for an hour straight, giving Owen plenty of time to regret saying yes to the date in the first place…sure, she was attractive, blonde, busty, and well-dressed, but Owen shouldn’t have let himself be fooled, because she was also self-centered, entitled, and downright boring; things he wished he'd known before she asked him out, and long before they made it to dinner.

“Like, what would she have done if she had been promoted instead of me? Lord it over me you can bet! She claims she has more schooling than me, but what does that even mean? I know how to do the job, so why take a course? I have better things to do with my time.”

Owen nodded along, waving to the waiter to bring another drink. A strong one.

“You’re lucky to be Captain,” she continued on, while Owen scanned the restaurant hoping for an out. A small fire in the kitchen maybe, or someone to heimlich. “No one to boss you around. Like, I feel like I’m still not in charge, even though I am in charge, you know?”

“Well, being a leader is more than a title,” Owen pointed out, the first words he'd spoken since ‘hello’. “You’ve got to earn it.”

Rearing back in her seat, Owen's date was clearly offended. “What is that supposed to mean? I did earn it!”

Owen apologized, and she went back to her original monologue, oblivious to Owen's discomfort, while Owen resumed his survey of the restaurant. Tuning the chatter out, Owen started running practice drills in his mind, nodding at his date every so often, without registering what she was saying. Until…

“Hello?! Did you hear me?” she asked, snapping her fingers near his face.

“Huh? What? Oh, sorry, what was that?” He gave his best smile to placate her.

She rolled her eyes, but he could tell she was charmed. “You’re not paying attention. I asked if we should go to my place or yours after?” She winked at him, and he pretended he wasn’t horrified.

“Oh, wow…” he fumbled for something to turn her off the idea of going home together. “This is only our first date.”

She scoffed, tossing her hair, impossibly long with such body and shine, falling over her shoulders, strands brushing her neck, her cleavage…and damn it! That hair had distracted him before. He couldn’t let it happen again.

“Holy, Owen, this is the 20th century! And we are grown up's, we can do as we please.”

Another hair toss, and then she was drumming manicured fingernails on the table, waiting for his answer.

“Um, it's actually the 21st century, but good point,” he glanced over his shoulder, but the entrance door was too far to bolt. “I just have to hit the men's room, and we'll work out the details.”

Owen was up and moving before she could object, and he shut the bathroom door with a grimace. He needed an out. In New York he might have considered slinking away, having the waiter make an excuse …but Austin was smaller. He would run into Gemma again, she worked at his favorite men's wear store for Pete’s sake! Plus, he was an adult, captain of his own crew! He could tell Gemma the truth…or, he could call someone to rescue him.

He thanked God that he hadn’t left his phone at the table, yanking it from his pocket and dialing TK's number.

TK got his Dad’s call right after he told Tommy he would stay late to help Nancy with the inventory. Poor timing because he couldn’t just leave, but having been on his share of disastrous dates, TK couldn’t just abandon the man either. Obliged to think of something, he told his dad to hang tight, help was coming, at the same time he was texting Carlos to pass the buck. His boyfriend would just be getting off shift, so he could spring Owen on his way home, and maybe pick up take out too.

“Everything ok?” Nancy asked, tearing open boxes, and stacking supplies on the ambulance's bumper.

“All good, my dad just got himself stuck on a bad date,” TK shrugged, slipping his phone into his pocket. “I texted Carlos to go help out.”

Nancy snickered, picking up her clipboard to update her count. “Good that cap is putting himself out there. He's grumpy when he's lonely.”

TK climbed into the ambulance to start packing sterile dressings, gauze, gloves and masks into the cupboards.

“Yep!” TK agreed, “plus he interferes in my life a bit too much. Sounds like THIS one is definitely not THE one though,” he said grimly.

“Got distracted by pretty hair again?” Nancy snorted, and TK laughed out loud.

“Well all he could tell me is that she's blonde, and talks a lot, so sounds about right.”

Nancy picked up another box. “You know, he should just go out with Tommy. Neither of them are good at dating, maybe they'd click.”

Both TK and Nancy paused in their tasks, eyes meeting, before they cracked up.

“That'd be weird,” TK said, catching his breath.

“Yeah sure would,” Nancy agreed.

‘What? Just leaving work…how am I supposed to rescue your dad?’

‘TK? What am I doing?’

‘Are you serious about take out? That place is pricey.”

‘TK? Hello?’

‘TK you know it bugs me when you don’t answer…’

Carlos slid into his car, annoyed with TK's habit of texting, then going radio silent, without waiting for his answer. He had no idea how to extricate someone from a date, and Owen was an adult, couldn’t he just be honest with the woman? All Carlos wanted was to go home, get into sweats, and binge TV until TK joined him…and then he had some other, less PG ideas, about how to finish their evening…but first he needed to focus.

Take-out wasn’t a bad idea because he wouldn’t have to cook…plus if he did this TK would owe him and that was always fun. He thought for a second, tapping his fingers on the wheel, gaze wandering down to the uniform he was still wearing, and it hit him; he was a cop, how hard could it be to force someone out of a restaurant? He was sure his inspiration would work, and if he ordered food on his way over, he could grab it on the way out. Smiling at his own resourcefulness, Carlos put the car in gear, steered his way out of the parking lot and onto the road.

Back at the table, Owen could only pray his son would come through for him. He had stalled as long as he could in the bathroom, and now Gemma was looking pretty irritable…though it hadn’t stopped her from talking.

“My fish is dry,” she complained, glancing around for the waiter. “I’m going to let them know. This place gets such good reviews, but I’m not sure why.”

Owen managed not to groan, instead adopting an upbeat tone.

“Mine's great,” he said, stuffing a bite into his mouth, then talking while he chewed, “You should have gotten the steak.”

Gemma was clearly grossed out, and Owen figured being generally unpleasant would have to be his back-up plan if TK didn’t show soon.

“Yeah, well, red meat is terrible for you,” Gemma informed him, then shrugged. “But I guess it's a man thing. Whatever. Did you decide while you were in the bathroom?” She moved on, leaving Owen behind.

“Huh?” He blurted.

She rolled her eyes for probably the fifth time of the evening, because apparently Owen was slow.

“Your place or mine?” She prompted, giving him the same flirtatious grin that had gotten him here in the first place. Damn whatever hormonal process made him lose his common sense when pretty women looked at him that way.

“Wow, um…” he took another huge bite of his dinner to buy some time, chewing a full twenty times before swallowing. She reached over and put her hand over his, and he suddenly knew exactly how deer felt when the headlights hit them.

“I’d have to say your place,” he finally spit out, defeated. At least she wouldn’t know where he lived this way.

She smiled wide, like an extra creepy Cheshire cat, and he slumped in his chair, wishing for another drink.

“Good choice, Captain,” she drawled, leaning in closer, “At my place we can be as loud as we want.”

TK was going to an earful for this one, Owen swore, after all the things he had done for his son!

“Ha, yeah well that’s me,” he stammered, tipping his drink, hoping for a few more drops of tequila, “always making sound decisions and-"

“Owen Strand?”

Owen was startled by the commanding voice, fumbling his glass, nearly dropping it in his lap. Gemma's eyes went wide, and Owen swiveled in his seat to face Carlos Reyes, in full uniform, stone-faced, feet planted, thumbs tucked into his belt. Owen had seen Carlos in action before, but he didn’t think he'd ever seen him look quite so intimidating.

“Car-" Owen started to greet, only to be cut off by Carlos' raised hand.

“Owen Strand, you are under arrest,” Carlos stated, moving to pull the cuffs from his belt. “Stand up,” he ordered, without a hint of humor.

“Car-officer-I’m sure I have no idea-"

“You are Owen Strand correct?” Carlos questioned, eyebrow raised.

“Yes, I-well-yeah-you know that,” Owen stuttered, eyes darting from Carlos, to Gemma, to all the other faces staring at them.

“I do, and like I said, you're under arrest, so you need to stand up and come with me,” Carlos ordered, and Owen gaped.

“Easy or hard Strand! You decide,” Carlos barked, and Owen jumped to obey.

Catching Owen’s wrists, Carlos yanked them to his back, slapped on the cuffs, and spun Owen toward the door with impressive strength.

“What are the charges?” Owen managed to squeak, and without pausing the frog march, Carlos leaned in to whisper.

“TK texted me. Keep walking and I’ll tell you in the car.”

“Are you freaking serious?” TK couldn’t quite wrap his head around Carlos’ choice to arrest his father in the middle of a crowded restaurant. “You couldn’t have just said his son was sick and needed him? Or, I don’t know, anything but dragging him out in cuffs?!”

Carlos shrugged, dishing food from take out containers onto plates. “Well, I’m pretty sure there’s no chance that woman he wanted to get away from will be calling him now. Do you want salad, or just steamed vegetables?”

TK gave his head a shake, but Carlos did have a point. “Just vegetables,” he answered. “Was my dad mad?”

Carlos slid the plates aside. “No, in fact he thought it was petty funny once we got out to my car,” Carlos grinned, stepping into TK's space, kissing his forehead, cheek, and then his lips, long and slow. “I also think he was impressed.”

“Mmmmn…” TK moaned, reaching around to squeeze Carlos' ass.

“He asked me why I was wearing my uniform home,” Carlos murmured into the crook of TK's neck, “I told him it's because it makes you crazy for me.”

TK squirmed, backing up out of Carlos' hold.

“Wait-ew! Don’t tell my dad that Carlos!”

Carlos gave him a devilish grin, pulling TK back to him roughly. “It's true isn’t it?”

TK melted into Carlos' arms, shuddering as Carlos nipped at his shoulder and neck. “It's true,” he moaned, “So true!”

“Good,” Carlos said, “and now you owe me, so let’s eat fast, then take this to the bedroom. You can be the second Strand I cuff tonight.”

TK’s groaned loudly, the growing fire in his belly doused.

“That was gross Carlos! Now you ruined handcuffs for me!”

Carlos tightened his grip on TK, forgetting about dinner, and manhandling his boyfriend toward the bedroom.

“No I didn’t,” Carlos growled, and with an excited a squeal, TK agreed.

Can you do a Drabble where someone from the team scolds Hetty for what she put Deeks and Kensi through in the past like their separation.

A/N: Oh look, a chance to unload some feelings. Fair warning, this is probably quite different than what you imagined, contains a bit more than a scolding, and is fairly dramatic.

Title adapted from one of Nell’s lines in “Mother”. This also takes place sometime post “Mother”.

***

When You Play God

Nell set a completed set of files to the side, checking over her list. She’d signed off on all the month’s expense and mileage reports while Eric ran some searches, and if she timed it right, she just might have a chance to warm up her coffee before tackling yet more paperwork in between fielding calls with Eric.

She offered him a smile as she held up her half-full mug of cooled coffee, and marched downstairs. Luckily, there was still a fresh pot (god bless Eric) and she filled her cup up, adding a healthy pour of cream.

“Ah, Miss Jones, just who I was looking for,” Hetty said, appearing behind Nell unexpectedly. Nell turned just enough to acknowledge her, picking up her mug of coffee and a stack of files she grabbed along the way. “I need you to find something for me.”

“I’m a little bit busy right now, Hetty,” Nell responded evenly.

“I understand that, but this is important.”

“So is all the work I have waiting for me in OPS.

Hetty leaned back slightly, eyes widening behind her glasses. Nell thought she looked particularly tiny in a her tailored suit.

“Have I don’t something to offend you Miss Jones?” she asked softly.

“Oh no, nothing at all. You just left me in charge, again, without any position real authority while you go off to who knows where,” Nell said ruthlessly, fingers clamped so tightly around her mug, ached. “Do you think you can just pop back in whenever you want and expect nothing to change?”

“I only give as much as I think my agents can handle, Nell. You must know that I care about you and would never do anything to purposely harm you.

Nell made an incredulous sound and spun around. “You’ve spent years manipulating all of us and yet you have the audacity to act like the benevolent parent. Do you even know the damage you’ve caused? The last three years alone, you’ve just disappeared without warning, leaving messes behind, then returning to cause more chaos.”

“Unfortunately, some being a leader requires difficult decisions,” Hetty replied with the same sense of confusion and patience one might reserve for a petulant child. It enraged Nell even more.

“Really? So, when you separated Kensi and Deeks while he had just started to recover from what Sidorov did to him kept you up at night? You let them believe it was because of their relationship. Was that done with good will?”

Without realizing it, her voice had risen steadily, loud enough that anyone walking by would hear, but she didn’t care.

“Let’s not even get into sending Kensi to Afghanistan without telling her why, which ended up in her being kidnapped and tortured.”

Hetty’s mouth dropped open slightly, and Nell felt a dark pleasure at her discomfort. She took a step back as Nell advanced on her.

“What about what you did to Callen and all those other children. Akhos tried to destroy you and everyone around you.” Her voice trembled, now a whisper as he jabbed her finger at Hetty. “Does that keep you up at night?”

Inhaling shakily, Nell crossed her arms over her chest, in a futile attempt to quell the tremors running through her body. In front of her, Hetty hunched, and defeated. Nell expected to feel a certain vindication, but any satisfaction had evaporated.

“I didn’t realize it had come to this,” she said with a shake of her head. “There was one time when you wanted to be like me.”

“That was when I still trusted you. When I still believed that you had our best interest in mind. When I was hopelessly naive.”

“I am so very sorry that I made you feel that way. I don’t suppose there’s anything I can do to earn your forgiveness.” Hetty gazed at Nell, her expression suggesting she already suspected the answer.

“No,” Nell told her simply. “This is the price you pay when try to play God, Hetty. You lose everything.”

Hetty sighed heavily, the closest she ever came to regret, shining in her eyes. “I see. I will let you return to your work, then.”

She turned, moving slowly towards her desk. A heaviness settled in her chest, but she ignored it. “I’m sorry too,” she whispered, sad for what used to be and what could never be again.

***

A/N: As I said, this one got away from me and took an entirely different route from the prompt. It just worked out to give this one to Nell, who seemed so very disillusioned with Hetty.

Thanks for the prompt!