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captains-simp · 3 years

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Carol Danvers ~ Impatient Acts: Part 2 (Consequences)

Part one

Carol Danvers X fem!Reader Smut

Word count: 5,129

Includes: choking, brat taming, face slapping, spanking, whipping, degrading, bondage, gagging, vibrator, edging, strap, overstimulation, anal and praise

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Buy me a coffee ☕

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"I'm cumming, I'm cumming!" You practically scream as you clench desperetly around the strap as you cum hard on the toy, shaking in pleasure as some of your white, sticky liquid escapes around the sides of the toy and spreads across your thigh as you clench them together after pulling the strap out.

You hadn't even regained your breath when Carol speaks her final words that night.

"You're going to regret that."

My Captain has ended the call.

You grinned as the memory of that night played through your mind for the hundredth time that day.

As you fiddled with your keys, trying to find the one to your front door, you considered what toy you would use later on. Since you had broken Carol's number one rule you had found yourself doing it again and again without her knowing (mainly due to the overwhelming fact she hadn't called you since).

Despite getting a release that night, it had made you even more sexually frustrated as Carol's threats seemed to follow you everywhere.

You figured if you were going to get punished for breaking the rule once, you might as well break it as much as you wanted because it wouldn't make a difference.

When you stepped into your house you were still under the impression that Carol wouldn't be back for at least a few more days. You hadn't expected her to be sitting in your house waiting for you. And you definetly underestimated how pissed she would be when you saw her again.

Before you could even think about what you would make for dinner you felt a strong presence behind you that slammed you against the wall before you could react.

You winced at the pain of the shock to you ribs and were thankful for your instincts to turn your head to the side so the wall only collided with some of your cheek.

You hadn't even been able to comprehend these issues when the all too familiar intruder pressed themselves fully against your back and wrapped their hand you had come to memorize like your own around your throat.

The intoxicating scent, glimpse of blonde hair, strong hand with slim fingers and especially the feeling of the covered bulge between her legs that couldn't press itself any further against you told you who it was.

"Hey...Carol." You greeted with a grin as best you could with your restricted airways.

Her hand was locked in an iron grip around your throat. Her fingers dug into the side of your neck so firmly you could feel her fingernail breaking and marking the skin as they pressed down on a vital part of the blood flow around your neck.

Combined with her palm threatening to crush your airways with one movement ignited a fire between your legs.

The pressure of both of these actions made you feel undeniably light headed. Carol reduced her force to allow the blood in your neck to continue towards your head when she spoke. After all, she needed you conscious for what she had planned.

"You don't get to call me that right now, brat. Not after what you've done." She said, the bitterness in her voice sending chills throughout your body that you weren't ready to take seriously yet.

"I'd say I'm sorry," you started with a smirk, "but I'm really no-" Carol didn't let you finish. She spun you around, too quick to stop, before slapping you harshly across the cheek.

You were taken aback by the shock and sting across your cheek, not expecting Carol to be in such a sadistic mood so soon.

She turned your body again towards the stairs this time and shoved you in that direction.

"Move." Was all she said before slapping your ass as a warning not to disobey.

You climbed the stairs as quick as you could but stumbled a couple of times, still recovering from the shock of being slapped so hard. Carol chuckled mockingly in response, making you cheeks burn with embarrassment.

You tried your hardest to recover from this though, trying to maintain your bratty nature as long as you could, knowing that was always what got the best performance out of Carol.

Once you stepped into your bedroom you wandered towards the bed, not sparing Carol a single glance despite your whole body fighting to see the anger filled expression that always ruined your panties.

You could hear her walking purposefully towards you. You could smell her familiar scent that overtook your senses. You could feel her hair tickling your neck as her hands glided over the waist of your blouse.

You couldn't stop yourself tilting your head to the side ever so slightly and stepping back to be against her.

Carol clearly didn't appreciate the gesture. She placed a strong hand between your shoulder blades and forced you onto the bed on your stomach.

Just as you went to move to get up in protest, Carol pinned your shoulders down with a painful strength you were futile to fight against.

She knelt one leg on the bed to lean over you and didn't hesitate to grab at the front of your blouse between your skin and the bed sheets.

There was no grace or sensuality to her movements, only a cold, silent annoyance.

Once she had a hold of the fabric, your girlfriend ripped you blouse apart without a second thought and tossed it across the room, some of the buttons scattering to places you would probably never find.

"What the hell?!" You object, frustrated by the loss of one of your best blouses.

"Quiet." She spitts before yanking at your bra, damming it to the same fate as your blouse.

You huffed quietly, both of you knowing she could have just as easily unhooked it rather than destroy the cloth.

You knew it was a way for Carol to get her point across. You had made a big mistake and you were going to regret it.

She gripped under your bare bicep to pull you up the bed so your face was hovering over your pillow. You turned it to the side to see what Carol was doing, just as she hooked her fingers under the area of you trouser waistband that was just above your ass.

She pulled them down without looking at you, only focusing her attention on your ass that was now only covered with you thin panties.

She gave the smooth skin a sudden slap that made you clench your thighs together tightly, your body fooling itself by thinking that would make any sort of difference against Carol's plans.

The captain then wandered towards your closet, leaving you to watch the empty doorway in anticipation as you lay waiting.

Your eyes widened in shock mixed and undeniable fear as she reappeared, holding a dressage horse whip in her hand. She wouldn't really use that on you...would she?

Carol chuckled darkly as she saw your fearful gaze. Your plans of continuing your bratty acts were jeopardized as soon as you saw the whip.

You whimpered as she arrived at the side of your bed and looked down at you with a now stoic expression.

Holding the whip firmly in her hand as she towered over you was enough to make you want to beg for forgiveness.

The captain radiated power and control, making you start to realise her threats weren't empty and that everything you had done you really would regret.

"Carol..." You whispered as you gave her a pleading look, ashamed that you already wanted to give in and make everything right.

"I've been saving this for a long time, you know? It's only for punishment when my main rule is broken. I always thought I would never have to use it on you. But you're starting to be too much of a brat, a brat that needs to learn her place as a whore." She explained stoicly as her hands wandered over your ass, dipping under your panties.

"I'm sorry." You whimpered as she moved onto the bed just behind you.

"Maybe you are, but that's not enough. You need to learn your lesson." Carol taunted. "If you want to prove you're really sorry you're going to take your punishment and thank me for it. Then maybe I'll stop once I've broken you into a begging, shaking, pathetic mess." Poison dripped from Carol's tone that filled you with dread.

"Tell me, how much of a slut have you been while I was away? I just don't believe you've only disobeyed me once." Of course you contemplated lying. You knew the more she knew the more she would punish you, but if she found out you were lying to her...

"A few." You whispered, afraid of how Carol would respond.

"Specify."

"Maybe...5 times?" You knew how many orgasms you had brought upon yourself, but you were so afraid to tell her.

"Maybe?"

"6?" You started to tremble.

"Don't lie to me." She gripped your hips harshly, her nails digging into your skin, before lifting them up so your ass was lifted up and displayed to her.

You automatically pulled your legs under you, knowing the position she wanted you in and hoping that by coorporating she would have some mercy.

This was proved wrong when she brought her hand down harshly and smacked your still clothed ass, despite the barrier there was still a present sting.

"13." You admitted and clenched the sheets beneath you in a tight fist in hopes of having something to help you through what was to come.

It was a number you had taken some form of pride in before Carol had forced you out of your bratty state. Now you were filled with embarrassment and despair, wanting nothing more than to take it all back and be praised for being a good girl for her.

"Such a slut." Carol growled before a sharp crack sound echoed throughout the room.

It took you a moment to understand what she had done, your body automatically registering it as shock to protect you. But the pain soon made its presence known and you burried your head into the pillows to muffle you cry.

She had whipped you. It hurt more than any other punishment you had ever received and you knew it could only get worse.

Carol's hands ran over the stinging skin before pulling you panties down. You bit your lip and closed you eyes as tight as your grip on the sheets.

"Then I think 13 strikes will suffice."

She had barely finished her sentence when Carol struck you again. This time you lurched forward and cried out loudly into the pillows while pulling the sheets close to you.

"Th-thank you." You whimpered, tears brimming in your eyes as you turned your head to the side to speak audibly.

You couldn't see her of course, but Carol was grinning sadistically at the sight of you. Your clear signs of pain encouraging her to struck again, and again and again.

You struggled to speak after each strike from the whip, but forced yourself to between sobs, not wanting to prolong the punishment or make things worse for yourself.

As much as pain always turned you on, this was a new kind that was almost unbearable. You needed easing into this level of pain, yet you felt as though you had been thrown in the deep end with no ladder to help you out. You would later figure out that was what made the punishment so effective.

After 6 strikes Carol paused to admire the stripped skin on your ass. It was already raw and sensitive to the touch. She almost felt sorry for you, having to endure the pain for a lot longer and being shown no mercy. But brats had to be put in their place. You had to learn.

"Only 7 more." Carol chuckled. Tears streamed down your face as you felt Carol's hands brushing over your broken skin.

"I'm sorry." You sobbed, lifting your head slightly. "I'll never do it again...just please...I can't take anymore." You begged pathetically beneath her.

"You're going to take this punishment or I'm going to be even more disappointed in you. This is all your own doing." Carol spoke without empathy or any emotion, making sure you knew she wouldn't stop.

She picked up the whip and brought it down on your broken skin. The intense sting felt different and told you these strikes would be etching deeper into your flesh, drawing blood to the surface only to be slapped away by the whip when it returned.

It was an unbearable pain. When you weren't thanking Carol or crying in pain you were begging her to stop, everytime thinking the next strike would hit your soul.

When Carol had finally struck you for the last time you collapsed into the bed, your legs no longer able to hold you.

You hadn't noticed her leave, but she must have as you became aware of more objects being placed near the end of the bed. You wanted to peer down in curiosity, but also knew whatever she had was for your punishment and would only bring you more dread.

Carol held your waist and moved you onto your back so you were looking up at her. The feeling of the sheets against your broken skin made you flinch in discomfort but was almost forgotten when Carol placed her hands on you cheeks to wipe away your tears. It was the only loving gesture you would get for the time being.

"Do you still want your Captain's forgiveness?" She asked, knowing the answer but wanting you to say it.

"Yes." You breathed out. "I'll do anything, I'm sorry I-" Carol cut you off by placing a finger over your lips.

She grabbed a pair of black, leather cuffs from her collection on the bed and before she could even reach for your hands you were placing them at the headboard for her.

She showed no signs of consideration of praise for the act or even recognition, but on the inside Carol was gleaming at everything you did. Your desperation to please her made her want to praise and pleasure you for hours. She had to remind herself of what you had done to end up in this situation. Reminding herself to give you the punishment you deserve for being a dirty slut.

Next, she spread you legs wide apart and cuffed each ankle to each side of the bed, stopping you from closing you legs or even rubbing your thighs together for friction.

It was then that Carol brought your attention to the vibrator in her hand. Without a word, she turned it on full and pressed it against your folds. Your leaking arousal and wanton for the vibrations allowed your lips to part for the toy and quickly engulf it into your needy pussy.

You moaned in pleasure and closed you eyes, surprised Carol was giving you this pleasure but not going to question it.

She watched your facial expressions with a satisfied smirk as she pulled her sweatpants down to reveal the sizeable strap on you hadn't yet seen.

She thought you looked so beautiful blissed out from the toy, your back arching to present your breasts and peaking nipples to her as your thighs strained against the restraints.

Her gaze was especially focused on the wetness seeping out of you, telling Carol just how much you wanted her.

"You don't get to cum until I give you permission." She stated before going to straddle your stomach.

Your eyes flickered open before widening at the sight of a new strap on just inches away from your face.

It was the largest one you had ever seen on Carol and figured she must have bought it on her trip as you had never seen it before.

However you weren't given a chance to ponder on this as she was instantly pressing it against your lips.

You opened your mouth for her compliantly and were quickly made aware you were going to struggle with the girth as well as the length.

You had your mouth as wide as you could manage and yet the strap still struggled to fit, stretching your mouth in an uncomfortable way you hadn't experienced before.

Carol watched every feature of your face as you struggled to take the strap. Not missing the look of hopelessness of getting it in as well as fighting back the distracting pleasure building between your legs. You wouldn't last long with the vibrator and you would never be able to fit the strap on in your mouth.

"I thought you wanted to make it up to me. If you can't even suck my fucking cock how will you manage it in you other slutty holes."

You tried to protest against the strap, assure Carol you could take it and try not to worry over the stretch you would experience in other body parts later on.

Carol smirked at your attempt to communicate with her, not being able to hold back further comments to provoke you.

"You really think you can take this?" Carol asked with a smirk and mocking tone. You tried to nod your head in response, painfully aware you barely had the tip in and was already struggling with it and the buzz between your legs.

"If you insist." Carol bit back a laugh as she thrust her hips towards you, the strap forcing itself into your mouth and surpassing you gag reflex in an instant.

Your eyes pleaded with her as you realised you really couldn't take the strap.

"You wanna keep going?" Carol taunted, knowing you were now physically incapable of shaking your head no.

The more you pleaded the further she sunk the strap in. You gagged and choked around the toy, eyes watering as it hit the back of your throat.

Your arms and legs desperetly struggled against the restraints as Carol finally pushed the strap in entirely.

She locked eyes with you the whole time, especially when she pulled the strap out slightly only to ram it back into your mouth to make you gag violently in protest.

Meanwhile the vibrator never faltered in its buzz that was electrifying your whole body. You knew you were edging closer and closer to that sweet release and that Carol would put you through the torture of having to hold your orgasm at bay, something you almost always failed at.

Your mouth and throat ached and you were vaguely aware of the trail of saliva travelled down your chin and either side of your mouth, you body attempting to lubricate your mouth and toy to ease the process but only adding to your humiliation.

Carol continued her bruising pace of fucking your drooling mouth as she smirked down at you sadistically, memorizing every detail of your blissed and pained face. The two sides of your battled against each other, not knowing which to give in to.

When your body finally fell limp in defeat you heard Carol chuckle as she pulled the strap out of your mouth, which apparently hurt just as much as it going in.

The moment is was out you gave a loud whorish moan, telling Carol you so desperetly needed to cum.

"What do you say?" Carol teased as she started to rub your clit in tight circles with her fingers, relishing in how much your wetness had spread.

"Please may I cum, Captain?" You begged and whimpered, desperate for your release.

"Hmm," Carol mused as she fiddled with the vibrator while listening to you struggle to hold off your orgasm. "No." She said simply before pulling the soaking vibrator out and turning it off.

Before you could whine in protest Carol looked at the vibrator in annoyance.

"Look at the fucking mess you've made, slut. Getting your whorish juices all over my toys and bed. Disgusting." She stated bitterly in an attempt to hold back how much she was internally gleaming at the mess while being able to humiliate you.

"I'm sorry." You apologised as Carol moved over to you again, slowly spreading your thighs as she positioned herself between them.

You looked down in silence, as to follow her lead, and watched the huge toy attached to Carol wander up your thigh.

You both knew you needed preparation for something that size. That on any other occasion Carol would have whispered sweet nothings into your ear as she introduced you to new sizes and girths.

But you were being punished. Everything was different. There would be no preparation for you.

"Captain..." You whispered as she lined up the strap to your still soaking entrance.

Carol ignored you as she placed her hands firmly on both of your thighs, keeping them spread for her merciless attack that was to follow.

"Be a good girl and take my cock, baby. Then maybe I'll start thinking about forgiving you." She said as the strap stroked your folds, nudging at your lower lips and separating them.

You held your breath as Carol pushing the tip inside you, instantly reminding you of the substantial girth.

You attempted to move your legs in response, automatically wanting to close them to prevent any more of the strap entering you. But Carol's grip on your thighs tightened and she held you down firmly.

In a silent concentration, she pushed her hips forward and the strap followed, stretching your walls for its entrance making you moan out and pull against every cuff restraining you.

"Ah! Captain!" You protested as she thrust further inside you, not being able to see that she was entranced by the show your wet pussy was giving her. Your outer lips opening more and more for the intruder, almost folding back on themselves as your wetness was heard around the toy, there being no space for it to leek out but still being present on the outside from earlier.

Your pussy ached as the strap sunk deeper, pushing against your walls and you having no way to stop it.

Just when you thought maybe it was in entirely, Carol gave one final thrust and the strap thrust against the back of your pussy with so much force it was bruising.

The girth and length was still clearly too much for what you were built for as it continued to push against every side of your cunt, especially at the back where it was threatening to rip through.

You moaned over and over, struggling to form words and accomdate the brutal strap. You were overwhelmed with pleasure and pain, hardly able to handle either never mind both.

You panted and drooled, not having any control over any of your body, only being a puppet for Carol to command.

She pulled the strap out slightly, only to slam it back in with force that made your whole body jerk and shudder. She pulled out more the next time, as though giving you a moment to prepare before thrusting the toy back into your still unprepared cunt.

It was as though your walls retracted every time she pulled out, making her re-entrance just as painful as the last.

Despite this, in the brief moments the strap left you your whole body yearned for it back, feeling completely empty without it.

"Your cunt's taking my cock so well, so desperate to be filled up by me." Carol chuckled to hide her moans.

Her pace never faulted, never giving you a break. Every thrust was just as hard as the last, leaving you a moaning and shuddering mess beneath her.

Her nails started to dig into your flesh as she pounded the strap into you.

In a flash, her left hand left yourself thigh and planted itself next to your head, gripping the sheets tightly and taking her fucking with a new vigour you didn't know she was capable of.

You were practically screaming everytime the strap hit the back of your pussy. Somehow Carol was able to tilt the strap at the last moment to slam against your g-spot, like it was trying to break through a barrier.

"You feel how deep my cock is inside you, slut? You want more?" You could only moan in response, not being able to vocalist with words how much you needed her.

You desperately wanted to cling onto her back as you approached your high. The feeling in your lower stomach increased and you could only moan louder in response to it, your pussy clamping down on the strap as it prepared itself for its release.

"C-Captain!" You wailed as your whole body tensed up.

You came with a scream of her name, clenching around the strap and gasping out for air. Your hips rolled, your back arched, your eyes clenched shut as you saw blanks and your pussy shuddered as it squirted your cum out of it, your now stretched hole allowing some of it to dribble down around the strap and onto the bed.

Carol could hardly contain her moan as she felt your cum spreading on both of your thighs.

She didn't give you a chance to recover. You were still being punished and Carol was far from done with you.

Her pace was unrelenting and merciless, fucking you through your high and into another orgasm.

"You clench so nicely around my cock, so needy. Do you want more?" She taunted, knowing you could barely respond and not caring if you did - unless, of course, you called the safe word.

Your body was at war with itself. You squirmed beneath but also bucked your hips up to meet her thrusts. You could focus on nothing but the intense pleasure between your legs, the pain there being long gone but Carol's nails still dug into you.

You didn't know how many orgasms she had ripped from your body. You were hardly aware of the drenched sheets beneath you. You failed to notice the hungry, lust filled look Carol was giving you through every single one of your orgasms she tore from you.

"Too much...I...can't..." You tried to say as you moved against the restraints. You were being overstimulated and it was beginning to become too much for you for you to handle.

She finally slowed her pace to a stop and pulled the strap out completely, leaving you panting on your back while she adjusted the restraints at your ankles. Even wiping some of your cum off her thigh and sucking it into her mouth when she had her back to you and you weren't looking. Not that she had to be secretive of course, your mind was blank after the fucking you had just gotten.

You only realised Carol had undone the restraints at your ankles when she flipped you onto your stomach, back into your previous position. You whimpered at the vulnerability as Carol lifted your ass into the air and spread your legs as wide as they could go before cuffing them in place again.

You had hardly gotten your breath back went you felt Carol behind you, pressing the strap against your ass.

You gulped as you realised her intentions, knowing the stretching you received prior would be nothing compared to this.

"I'm sorry Captain!" You pleaded. "I'll never touch myself again, please! I'm sorry!" You cried in a final attempt to avoid the punishment or at least have it eased.

Carol ignored you and placed a hand on both of your cheeks, spreading them for the strap that inserted itself into you.

You whined and stared down at your pillows as you felt the strap penetrate your ass, thankful for the cum still on the strap acting as a kind of lube.

The ache and stretch become apparent almost straight away. You whined louder as Carol pushed on and held you in her hands.

You tried to squirm away but your attempts were futile and you could only endure the pain of the strap breaking down your barriers.

She continued pushing onwards deeper and deeper inside you as you body betrayed you and started to clench around the uncomfortable intruder and make yourself tighter.

You continued to plead, beg and whine when Carol pushed the strap half way in.

"What's that? You want more?" Carol chuckled darkly before thrusting the strap in entirely and making you scream in protest as the pain shot through out your body.

There was a moments silence before Carol pulled the strap out and rammed it back in mercilessly, giving you no chance to adjust.

The sound that followed with each thrust made you blush in embarrassment and moan loudly, hearing your cum mixing around your ass.

"Captain!" You cried out as she pounded the strap into your tight ass and even gripped a handful of your

hair in one hand making you yelp.

You moaned and screamed into the air as she continued her onslaught, punishing you at a bruising pace you wouldn't forget anytime soon.

The sadistic blonde then forced your ass down so you were laying flat on your stomach on the bed before Carol thrusts into you again, her pace instantly picking up where it left off.

Your sounds were now muffled by the pillow under your face from Carol continuing to grip your hair and as a result, keep your head down.

You could feel your high approaching and with no way to speak this to Carol you only moaned louder into the pillow.

With a few final, harder, deeper thrusts, Carol ripped a final orgasm from your body that had you go limp on the bed.

When she let go of your hair you turned your head to the side and closed your eyes to focus on your breathing.

Meanwhile, Carol undid all of cuffs and put the strap on the floor before crawling up the bed to lay down on her side facing you.

"You did so good for me, baby. I'm so proud of you." She cooed as she stroked the hair away from your face and tucked it behind your ear.

You were moments away from falling asleep but you still managed a weak smile at the words made your heart fill with joy.

"Such a good girl for me." She whispered as you closed your eyes. "I'm going to apply some cream while you sleep, baby." She assured as her hand rested inches away from your wounded ass. "And when you wake up we'll take a nice, warm, bath." She promised before kissing your forehead lightly and watched you fall asleep.

#captain marvel #captain marvel imagines #captain marvel smut #captain marvel x reader #carol danvers #carol danvers imagines #carol danvers smut #carol danvers x reader #marvel #brie larson

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randomshyperson · 3 years

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LEFT BEHIND - WANDA MAXIMOFF X READER - #02 "R.I.P to My Youth"

Summary: The one where you lived in the apartment under the Maximoff family in Sokovia, or, your journey as a Sokovian civilian to Avenger.

A/N: So, chapter two is here. Honestly, this story is a mess in my head haha but somehow people are enjoying so i'm sharing. Good reading!

Dictionary for this chapter: dvornyaga - mutt || chuma - plague/brat || Prostite, mem - sorry, ma'm || Vor - thief || printsessa - princess || skuchnyy - annoying ||

Series Warnings: (+16) Violence, fighting, cursing, civil war environments, abuse of power, assault, torture, underage kissing, psychological torture, substance use, mention of assault/fighting of children, smut, kissing, teasing, insinuation of sexual and moral harassment, verbal offenses. Chapter warnings: Underage kissing, violence.

Words: 3.268 K

All Works Masterlist || Read on AO3 || Part One || Series Masterlist

//-//

Chapter Two - R.I.P to My Youth

Sokovia, 7 years ago.

You ducked quickly when you noticed the punch coming toward you.

"Stand still, dvornyaga!" Said the teenager trying to hold you by the shoulders, but you slipped out of his hands, dodging under his arms and starting to run.

The boy rushed to catch up with you, but you were smaller, and fit into places he couldn't get into. Rolling into a crevice in one of the abandoned factories, you laughed as the boy and his friends shouted angrily at you, unable to follow.

Your joy died the second you turned the corner. The nursemaid from the orphanage waiting for you with her arms folded.

"Running away from chores again, chuma?" The woman asked angrily. You ducked your head, walking over to her. As soon as you reached her, she pinned your ear between her fingers, causing you to grumble in pain as you were dragged into the building.

"Prostite, mem." You tried to apologize, but the woman would not listen, and then pushed you inside.

"No dinner for you." She informed you by throwing a broom into your hands. "Get upstairs and go clean the roofs now!

You climbed onto the rooftops with a grimace, softly cursing all the sisters as witches.

When you arrived, you noticed that there were already other orphans there.

"Good afternoon, Vor." Pietro greeted wryly. You approached him to help him carry one of the tiles.

"Stop calling me that." You retorted, but Pietro just laughed, thanking you for your help afterwards. "Why are you here?"

"I broke Nikolai's nose." He told you, and you looked at him reproachfully.

"And you let them catch you?" You asked. "You used to be smarter than that."

"Shut up." He grumbled humorously, waiting for you to finish sweeping the area you were in to return the tile to its place. "And what did you do this time? Are you going to tell me that Madame Pavlova caught you robbing the church again?"

You laughed, finishing sweeping and going back to helping Pietro lift another tile.

"Church money is for the poor." You retort. "I'm poor, how can I steal what's mine?"

"Keep this up and you'll be in jail as soon as you get out of here." A voice spoke behind you, startling you a little.

"You're so nosy aren't you, Wanda?" You teased the girl, and she grimaced at you before looking at her brother.

"What are you doing up here?" Pietro asked before Wanda could speak again. The girl crossed her arms, watching you guys work.

"I brought food for you two. But with this hostility, I think I'll stay downstairs."

You and Pietro exchanged giggles.

"Sorry, Wanda." You asked in unison, making the girl smile. She looked around to check if there were no priests, or nuns, or orphans staring at you from the window pane below before taking some bagels and bread from a wrapper inside her blouse pocket.

"Is there any possibility that you will stop stealing and behave yourselves?" Wanda asked slightly irritated, and you exchanged a look with Pietro.

"Unlikely." You replied, making him laugh. Wanda looked at you reproachfully. "Don't make that face, printsessa. This is stealing too.”

"Don't call me that." Wanda complained between teeth. But you smiled, because you noticed the slight reddening of her cheeks. "And I wouldn't have to steal if you two would stop causing trouble."

"Or maybe you could let us starve next time." Pietro retorted wryly, and ended up getting slapped on the shoulder by his sister, making you laugh. "Sorry, that was stupid."

"You two are so ungrateful." She grumbled turning to leave. You and Pietro exchanged a look, worried that Wanda was angry. But she gave you two one last look before turning away. "Tomorrow, wake up early. I want to show something."

Wanda went down the roof next, and you exchanged a smile with Pietro before turning back to work.

//-//

Wanda poked you in the ribs and you turned your head quickly. You, she and Pietro were ducking behind a car, breaking curfew, and probably some passing law, since you were in an abandoned building.

"They arrived last week." Wanda said to the two of you, looking in the direction of the back door of the building. There were three men in suits talking in the doorway, and casually looking around to see if they were alone. "They stay there all day."

"What's suspicious about that?" Pietro asked.

"Do you guys remember those kids who disappeared last week?" Wanda asked and waited for you and Pietro to confirm before continuing. "I found the orphanage uniform in the dumpster from the building. What if they are picking up the orphans?"

"You said they speak german, right?" You retorted with a question. When Wanda confirmed, you made a thoughtful face. "What if they are Nazi doctors? They could be trying that supremacist shit again."

"I think we should leave." Pietro said next. "Before they see us here."

"Yeah, come on." Wanda agreed before taking one last look at the door meters away from you, the men were entering. Neither you or Pietro notice that one of them looked directly at the girl before closing the door.

//-//

Pietro advanced against you with his fists raised, but you ducked and shoved him in the ribs.

"Well done, Vor!" He spoke contentedly, sounding surprised. He took two more steps toward you, but you dodged, and threw your arms against his waist. You both laughed as you both fell back onto the grass. Pietro rolled you on the ground to get on top. "You can't let them knock you down, little one."

"I'm the one who knocked you down, asshole." You retort humorously, trying to get up. But Pietro is heavy on you.

"I'm letting you win, obviously." The boy says with a smile. You hate that Pietro has grown so big as to win in fights, but at least he helps you learn to fight with the kids on the street. Which was funny, since Wanda always told you to run.

"Oh, really?" You hit back and then raise your knee hard, hitting him in the balls. Pietro lets out an exclamation of pain and falls beside you to the floor, whimpering. You feel bad at the same moment. "Shit, I'm sorry, Piet." You ask, but let out a giggle, watching him gasp in pain.

"What are you two doing here?" A voice suddenly asked, and you looked forward to find the high school monitor looking at you two reproachfully.

"Shit." You grumbled already hurrying to get up and lift Pietro quickly, who seemed to fight the pain to follow you.

"Maximoff! I should know." The woman spoke annoyed, hurrying to cross the railing. You and Pietro were skipping calculus class in the usually empty area behind the gym. But before she finished crossing, you and Pietro were already running away, laughing at the curses the woman yelled at you, and something about detention for a month.

By the time you stopped running, you were in the city, in the alleyways of suburban Sokovia.

Pietro punched you under the shoulder the moment you stopped, and when you grumbled he said it was for the kick.

"Are you hungry?" You asked as you massaged the spot of the punch.

"Yes." He replied looking around. Some people looked curiously at you two, probably because you came to the scene running, but you ignored it.

"I'll get us some food." You let him know and then you are already walking away to the fair area a few meters ahead. Pietro rolls his eyes at the smug expression you cast at him before you put the cap of your jacket over your head.

//-//

"What have you two gotten yourselves into?" Wanda asked angrily, throwing her backpack on top of the torn armchair. You and Pietro took your eyes off the card game to look at her.

The little crib you set up in one of Sokovia's condemned buildings was cold and damp, but it was the closest thing to a home where no one cursed, or order any of you to clean and do any tasks, so it was your favorite place.

Usually the three of you would run away from the orphanage and school as much as possible to stay around here, but then Wanda started actually studying and you and Pietro didn't.

"Sorry, Wands, calculus isn't really our thing." You grumbled to the girl. Wanda approached you with her arms crossed.

"But athletics it is, I believe." She retorted. "If you keep skipping class, you'll get kicked off the team. The guidance counselor told me to warn you two, and she talked for half an hour, so thanks for that." Wanda grumbled ironically, and you kicked Pietro lightly to get him to stop laughing.

You reached out for the paper package you left in the corner of one of the armchairs.

"Maybe this will improve your mood, printsessa." You said as you handed the item to Wanda. She looked tired, and grimaced, grudgingly thanking you. She smiled weakly when she realized it was food. "I saved some bread for you too."

"You two need to stop stealing." She warned, but took a bite of her food. You shrugged, and returned your attention to the game.

"If we had enough food, I wouldn't need to steal anything." You retorted, and Pietro murmured in agreement, while Wanda frowned slightly.

"You could get some work, too." Wanda argues and you laugh, rolling your eyes.

"We've had this conversation a million times, printsessa."

"Stop calling me that." She asks annoyed.

You rolled your eyes again, and made a move. Pietro sighed slightly, since he was losing.

"I can call you skuchnyy, if you prefer." You retort humorously, and Wanda slaps you on the arm, making you and Pietro laugh.

"If you keep stealing, you'll end up in jail! Or worse, killed." She then adds, and you exchange a look with Pietro.

"Only if we get caught." The boy says and you hold back a laugh, seeing Wanda's disapproving look.

She lets out an impatient exclamation, and starts eating in silence. You focus on the game again, knowing that this discussion would happen again. Wanda would always complain that you were stealing, out of pure concern, and you and Pietro would continue to ignore it, out of necessity.

//-//

Sokovia, 6 years ago.

Gasping and out of breath, you kept running.

"I'm going to win." You heard Pietro shout excitedly beside you, running as fast as you.

"Shut up." You shouted back, but Pietro actually reached the finish line first. You laughed, though, trying to normalize your breathing as you sat on the ground.

Coach walked over to the two of you next, past the small crowd of students who were watching the race celebrating Pietro's victory.

"That was excellent, Maximoff." Congratulated the coach with a handshake. Pietro smiled embarrassed, and you laughed at his face.

"Come on, I'll buy you lunch to celebrate." You told the boy as soon as you stood up, and the coach had left. Pietro threw his arm around you, and you pushed him away. "Get off, you're sweaty."

He laughed, and you parted your ways in the locker room. After taking a shower, you found Pietro already wearing his regular clothes instead of his athletic clothes, but he was not alone. There was a man in a suit talking to him.

As you approached, the man looked at you and waved his hat before turning and leaving.

"What was that?" You asked curiously, but Pietro had a grim expression on his face. "Piete, are you okay?"

"Yeah." He says looking away from yours to the paper in your hands. He puts it away in his pocket before you can read it. "I need to talk to Wanda. Rain check on our lunch later."

"Okay." You mumble confusedly, watching Pietro walk away quickly.

//-//

"Pay attention, no one must see you. Go in quietly, place the packages, and leave without being seen." Warned the man in front of you. You swallowed dryly, but nodded in agreement.

You exchanged a glance with Pietro and Wanda before turning to enter through the small gap in the railing, one of the new commercial buildings on the other side.

Now that you were older, the protest groups accepted you at the marches. You and the twins had been participating for a few months now, and they were usually peaceful walks. But then one of the leaders learned that you could fit in small places, and here you were, sneaking into one of the new buildings that took the place of one of the apartment complexes, looking for the exact spot to place the packages that the group handed you.

Even though you were nervous, you made it. And it was only when you were outside that you heard an explosion much bigger than you expected.

When you saw one of the security guards with a bloody head, shouting in Sokovian for the vandals to be stopped while the rest of the protesters shouted and held up their placards, everything seemed to get a little muffled for you, and you could only focus on the powder marks on your fingers. Stumbling away, you ran.

//-//

Sokovia, 5 years ago.

"You two have lost your minds!" You exclaim in surprise and irritation, taking yourself off the wooden bench you were sitting on. Pietro and Wanda look at you with confusion.

"I told you she wouldn't understand." Pietro grumbles and you look at him with indignation.

"Really?" You retort. "Of course I don't understand, Pietro! You've both gone crazy for good!"

"Keep your voice down!" Pietro retorted angrily, getting up as he looked around. No lights had come on downstairs, so no one from the orphanage was awake. "We're doing this for Sokovia."

"Tell me how offering yourself as an experiment for German Nazis helps Sokovia?" You retorted angrily and Pietro sighed impatiently. "I can't believe you two are actually thinking of doing this."

"What do you think will happen next week when we turn eighteen, heh?" Pietro asked aggressively, and you clenched your jaw. "We'll be kicked out of the orphanage, and we'll be on the street. If we didn't have food before, imagine after that!"

"I can get us food!" You exclaim with tear-filled eyes, but Wanda gives a dry laugh.

"You're not going with us." Wanda retorts and you look at her wide-eyed. "You're going to stay here, where you have a roof and a meal, and we're not going to waste the opportunity to change things in Sokovia."

You looked at them incredulously.

"I can't believe you are going to die for your ambition."

Pietro crossed his arms, looking at you seriously. You looked at Wanda, but she looked away to the floor. Shaking your head, you ran your hands through your hair.

"We are doing this for our country." Pietro stated seriously. You disagreed with your head, feeling your throat close up from emotion. But you did not cry. "Some of us are willing to risk whatever it takes."

You give a dry laugh at the provocation. Pietro was only saying that because you stopped participating in the rallies, ever since the protests got more violent and your colleagues started damaging property, stealing, and there were even rumors of fighting that ended in killing.

"Yeah, Piete, you're right." You retorted upset. "You and Wanda want to die in a cell with needles in your arms, lying that this is for Sokovia and not to get revenge for your parents. But don't expect me to stay and watch."

You accuse bitterly before turning and walking off the roof, your tears flowing as you reach the floor below, but you don't stop walking.

//-//

"What are you doing here?" You asked as soon as you raised your head, your gaze shifting from the vegetables at your feet to the girl in front of you. It had been a few days since you had argued with the Maximoffs, and you hadn't spoken to any of them since.

"I came to say goodbye." Wanda said simply, and you rolled your eyes, getting up from the ground and shaking some of the dirt on your fingers.

"When are you two leaving?"

"Now."

Ignoring the feeling that has formed in your stomach, you just grumble in agreement, turning your back on Wanda, because you don't want her to see you cry.

"And what's this now?" You retort as you sit on the edge of the roof, looking out over the city. "Did you come to tell me that you guys are going to remember me or some sentimental shit?"

Wanda laughs softly, and you hear her footsteps approaching, until she is sitting next to you.

"Well, we've been friends for eight years, I thought I should say goodbye." She says looking forward. You want to swallow the urge to cry, because you don't want them to go. But there is nothing you can do.

"Okay, Wanda. Goodbye then." You retort bitterly, looking down at your hands.

"I wanted to give you something before I go." Wanda adds softly, and you turn your head to her to ask what it is, but as soon as you do, Wanda breaks the distance, her lips meeting yours in a sweet kiss.

You sigh in surprise, and Wanda pulls away.

"S-sorry." She says breathlessly. "I shouldn't..."

But you kiss her again. Properly this time. She is grateful that you hold her around the waist, because then she doesn't fall off the roof when she completely melts from the touch of your tongues together.

You pull away to take a breath, leaving your foreheads together. The urge to tell her not to go anywhere is stuck on the tip of your tongue, and before you can let the words escape, someone is clearing their throat behind you.

"I can't believe you kissed my sister." Pietro complains in a mixed tone of teasing and annoyance. But there is no anger in his gaze. You and Wanda move away embarrassed. "We have to go."

Wanda nods in agreement, and looks at you one last time before standing up, walking over to Pietro.

The boy nods to you before leaving. And when the roof is empty, you let the tears stream down your face.

//-//

As soon as the twins left, you joined the protests again. It kept you distracted now that you were alone. And since you hated so much free time without your friends, you ignored the way that you now always ended up with bruised hands and sore throats after every march.

You got some of your fellow protesters to help you keep an eye on the building that Wanda and Pietro were staying in, and when they stopped coming out of there, you knew something was wrong.

Two weeks without hearing about the twins, you could no longer sleep from worry. You imagined that whatever those men were doing to them would take time. But you also didn't expect that your friends would disappear.

So here you were, sneaking around the abandoned floors to find some clue to where the hell they were. You knew you shouldn't be here. It was their choice, and they knew the consequences. But you kept walking.

Hearing a metal noise, you felt your heart race and quickly hid behind a wall. But no other sound came, so you thought it was safe to move.

Another noise, and a sharp pain in your neck a second later. And then you blacked out.

//-//-//-//

Tag list> @imapotatao / @aimezvousbrahms/ @ensorcellme/ @helloalycia

@mionemymind / @abimess / @stephanieromanoff / @yourtaletotell / @tomy5girls / @justagaypanicking / @thegayw1tch / @idek-5 // @myperfectlovepoem // @HELLOALYCIA // @ENSORCELLME // @AIMEZVOUSBRAHMS // @drpepperobsessed // @sighsam // @olsensnpm

// @sxfwap // @table57 // @madamevirgo // @causeitswhatjesuswouldfreakingdo // @emptysince18x // @xastrydx

#wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff #wanda x reader #wanda x you #wandaxreader #wandaxyou #wanda maximoff x you #wandamaximoffxreader #wanda x yn #avengers #avengers imagines #marvel imagines #bucky barnes #bucky barnes x reader #Left Behind #pietro maximoff

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dragon-kazansky · 3 years

Text

Made with love | Helmut Zemo

Chef Zemo AU! 👨‍🍳

Gender neutral reader

Collage by @realremyd

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Part 12

You had called Wanda immediately after you were dressed. You asked her to meet you at Escorpión Morado as quickly as she could. She said she would be there with Nat right away.

The doors were open when you arrived, Sam having come in early to reorganise the bottles and boxes from behind the bar. He welcomed you as you entered, but could clearly see something was up.

"What happened?"

"I think Helmut just threatened to kill Stark."

"What!"

You sit down at the bar and catch your breath. Sam fetches you some water and then leans against the shiny new bar to listen to you.

"What happened?"

"Helmut explained everything about Tony and Heike. I listened to him. I'm not worried about Heike, Helmut proved to me he loved me and I'm not going to leave him like she did. This morning Strange came to important an gave this bullshit letter to me. Helmut read it, got pissed, and stormed off, telling me to meet him here. He said he was going to kill Stark."

"He won't kill him."

"Are you sure? He was so angry, Sam."

James comes out from the back and sees you both talking. He comes to stand beside Sam.

"What's up?"

Sam explains everything.

Wanda and Natasha show up about ten minutes later. Everyone but Helmut was present. Once everyone was caught up, Sam made everyone coffee and you all waited.

An hour passes by.

Thirty minutes later the window cleaners you hired show up. You let them get on with it.

Another hour.

"I have to call him," you pull out your phone. Wanda sits next to you, placing a hand on your shoulder.

There had been no word from Zemo and you were worried sick.

It rings.

And it rings.

He doesn't pick up. You drop your phone on the bar and bury your head in your hands.

Wanda rubs your back gently.

Natasha stands by the door and looks out. She watches the square. It's quiet, not even the locals were pottering about, but it was first thing Saturday morning.

Then, as if they knew Natasha was going to be waiting, someone comes around the corner and enters the square.

Heike. She's coming here.

Natasha pushes off the door and enters the restaurant again, coming to stand beside you.

"That woman is coming."

You sit up, spare a glance at Sam who stands in front of you, and then slowly turn in your seat. Your eyes narrow on Heike as she enters the restaurant.

She's dressed in a pencil skirt and blouse, small nude heels on her feet. She looked she was here to do business.

You stand from your stool. Wanda and Natasha flank either side of you. Sam stands up straight behind the bar and Bucky crosses his arms.

"What do you want?" You hiss.

"To talk to you."

"How unfortunate, I don't want to talk to you, so bugger off."

She clenched her jaw.

"Don't talk to me like that."

"Or what?"

"You should be nicer to people you don't know," she says, keeping her voice level, but you knew you knew you were irritating her.

"I don't have to be nice to wicked women who go around breaking hearts. He was in love with you."

"He told you?"

"Yeah, he did. We don't keep secrets."

"Evidently," she rolls her eyes.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Helmut came raging a storm at The Iron Grill this morning."

"Where is he? Is he still there? What happened?" You ask, urgently.

Her blank expression doesn't change.

"He's fine. They both are. Helmut punched Tony again. If he does that a third time there will be a lawsuit."

"Where is he?" You demand.

"I don't know. He left and I came straight here."

"Well, leave."

"Don't you want to hear what I have to say?"

"Not really, no."

She glares.

"You're appalling."

"Me?"

"Yes, you." She looks you up and down. "Ugh, what does he see in you?"

You didn't have an answer for her. You have no idea why you stood out to him, not really. You had just caught his attention one day and that way it.

"A kind, amazing, human being who values my thoughts, feeling and most of all, my cooking."

You look behind Heike to see Helmut.

You run quickly across the restaurant and jump into his waiting arms. He holds you to his chest tightly, kissing your temple.

"Helmut, you're OK!"

"Of course I am."

"An hour, you said.'

He cradles your face between his big warm hands.

"I know, I'm sorry, darling." He kisses your forehead.

Heike coughs into her fist.

You don't look at her, just bury your face in the crook of Helmut's neck. He keeps his arms around you as he looks at her.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to tell Y/N how much happier they would be if they took Stark's offer, and to try and convince them to convince you to sell the restaurant over to Tony. You're only going to lose in the end."

You shake your head against his shoulder.

"No, you'll be the losers here."

"You sound quite sure."

You lift your head and look at her.

"I am. We have put a lot of effort into this restaurant and we're going to prove it this weekend," you tell her.

"Is that so?"

You nod.

"On Monday the invites will be sent out. By Thursday the restaurant will be complete. On Friday the grand opening will happen. Sokovia will remember who was here first, and who they should be supporting."

Heike looks unimpressed.

"You should be careful what you say."

You smirk.

"You should be careful who you mess with."

She scoffs and turns to Helmut.

"We could have been great."

He narrows his dark eyes at her.

"Remind me again who left who at the alter."

She looks like she's about to throw a tantrum. Quickly, she turns on her heel and leaves.

You watch her go.

Once she is out of sight you wrap your arms around Helmut's neck and pull him down for a kiss. He returns the gesture eagerly.

Wanda smiles softly at the pair of you.

When you pull away, your brush your fingers through his dark hair and look at him.

"There's still a lot to do before we re-open."

He nods.

"I know. We better get started."

Wanda claps her hands and gestures to a box she had set in the table.

"These are the invitations, thought you should check them before we send them off."

You walk over and open the box.

You smile.

The card is a rich purple and the lettering is gold. They're perfect.

"Send those asap!"

She nods and closes the box.

Natasha presents to you another box, this one a bit bigger.

"I picked them up just as you asked."

You open this box and smile. You reach in and pull put the fabric which sits inside. You unfold it and hold it up.

"Aprons?" You hear James ask.

"Brand new aprons."

You hold one out to Bucky, hand one over to Sam, and then you turn to Helmut. His fingers brush against your as you hand it over. He smiles.

"Put them on!"

Helmut chuckles and puts it on, tying it securely around him. The aprons were black, Escorpión Morado sewn into them, and their names too.

"You had these made for us?" Helmut asks, looking up at you.

"Yes."

"Where's yours?" He asks.

You smile and turn back to the box.

"Right here."

Helmut takes the apron from your hands and gestures for you turn around. Slowly, he puts it on you. He ties it securely around you.

You turn around and show him.

"Beautiful."

You smile.

"Handsome."

He grins.

"We look good!" Sam states, looking at each if you.

Helmut smile as he faces you all.

"We don't have much time left. I'm counting on all of you to help make my father's restaurant the great place I remember it being when I grew up."

You smile proudly at him.

"Let's put Escorpión Morado back on the map!" You cheer.

The others cheer with you.

Helmut holds your hand as you reach out to him and he pulls you in for another kiss.

Sokovia will remember what this place once was, and Tony Stark won't see it coming.

@namethathasnotbeentaken @belle82devart @cathrin2405 @lieutenantn @wilder-fangirl @latenightartist-author @lucky-luck-lucky @hb8301 @charistory @thatoneartgalsstuff @thesuitkovian @malkaviangirl @zemosimp420 @realremyd @the-chaotic-cow @lostghostgirl94 @zafiro-draco @lazygurl05 @pinkcutiepiee @goddessofmischief03 @whovianayesha @myybebe @awesomesauce-abbie @that-stupid-head-tilt-thing @swooning-for-mc-avoy @nonamec0s @apparrio @scuttle-buttle @alex-the-nb @my-blood-is-maple-syrup @greeneyedblondie44 @somethingthatsaysbubbles

#marvel #zemo x reader #helmut zemo x reader #helmut zemo #au #baron helmut zemo #zemo #tfatws #chef zemo au

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hwrryscherry · 3 years

Text

The one with the New Year’s Eve

characters: HARRYxMODEL Y/N

blurb: It’s Dec 31st, 2020 and this is the first time since they started dating that Harry and Model Y/n won’t be traveling for New Year’s Eve but an outing to the Rockfeller Center may be all they needed.

word count: 4.6K

author’s note: HI GUYS!!!! So first of all I wanna say MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone🥳🥳 I know I've been MIA BUT I had a major writer's block and it felt so bad and I couldn't finish this blurb even though I was trying so hard. Anyway, here it is and I hope you like it as much as I do. I also want to say that the reason why I closed my requests it's because we're starting a new year and I want to release all of my requests before receiving new ones. I'm excited for 2021 and I hope it brings all the peace that 2020 didn't. And I'm also very excited to see where 2021 will take Harry and Model Y/N's relationship🥰 Anyway, Happy New Year everyone, I'm so grateful for the support I've been receiving about my writing. I see all of you and I appreciate all of you. THANK YOU!!!♥️♥️♥️♥️

— Can I wear this? — You’d ask looking at Harry while holding one of his dress shirts that was light bluely, with some navy blue strands in it up in the air showing it to him. It's an old shirt, though. You remember buying it for Harry in your first year of dating and you also remember probably wearing it more than Harry himself.

Harry was sitting by the couch on the living room of your NYC apartment. After spending such a magical time with your families in the French Alps, you both decided that spending christmas with your family was more of a priority than going on your annual new year's trip and that's the reason why you and Harry decided to come back to the USA and after being in LA for so long, New York just felt like the perfect choice. You like Los Angeles, but New York hit different. You loved everything about NY, and you loved the memories and story you created to yourself in NY and that's why you'd choose NY over LA without thinking twice.

Anyway, Harry was in the couch using his personal phone what made you assume that he's probably talking to his mom or Gemma because it's already 2021 in London and Cheshire, and unlike him, you had already sent Gemma and Anne a text earlier today because they knew that you took hours to get ready even though you're not even preparing to be "glamurous".

Harry had his pink velvet pants on and a white shirt over it, and only complementing with his vans. Not the old "white" one with the pink shoelaces that he wore everywhere, including in the Vogue cover. Tonight he was wearing the good traditional vans. That one, that is black and have the Vans icon in white. And you couldn't smell from the spot you were but you could assure yourself that he was smelling like heaven, as he always does with his perfect hair that has just been washed, his freshly shaved beard and his nails, that even though wasn't painted by a professional, you can be proud of your job and honestly, so could Harry, because he really loved that you did his nails for him and even matched with yours. Otherwise, you were using a black baggy jeans and a bra because as always, you were procrastinating for too much time and had to get ready when Harry was already ready. A typical night out for both of you.

Harry lifted his head to analyze your figure in front of him and the cloth piece you had in your hands as he listened to your voice and question directed at him.

— Sure! — He answered your question getting his attention back to his phone right after speaking. You sighed and calmly walked towards the man on the couch and sit besides him what brought his attention to you. You rested your right hand upon his thigh and then rested your chin on his right shoulder and stared at the boys captivating green eyes.

— You're alright? — You asked with a low voice tone giving the boy a tender smile. Harry looked kinda sad, not sad, he seemed a bit down and whenever you noticed he looked like this you would usually get worried about him because you just care and love him so much that you never want to see him in anyway but happy.

— Yeah, I am! — Harry said, but it sounded more like a whisper or a murmur and you kept your gaze at him waiting for him to tell the truth and he sighed letting out a chuckle. Sometimes he'd just forget about how great you knew him. He'd look to his feet upon the grey carpet of your living room and then back at your face on his shoulder — Just feel bad, ye' know? If we were in other circumstances we'd be with our friends or family having the most fun in some place around the world — He'd tell you as he widens his eyes a little and you felt his muscles tense under your hands — It's not that I won't have fun just with you, love — He'd now complement making you let out a small chuckle at his words because of course you understood exactly what he was saying even though you didn't say anything yet — It's just different, like, there won't be having any shows by the Times Square and all that stuff and I wanted it to be fun for you.

— So...you're worried about me not having fun tonight? — You'd ask him with an ironic tone and raised eyebrows lifting your chin from his shoulder and staring at his face. Your mocking expression and tone was based on the irony f the situation because earlier today you were talking to him about how most of the times that you were together you just felt like you could be stuck in a room with him forever and it would be the funniest thing you've ever done.

— Kinda! — He'd murmur deflecting his gaze from yours until he listened to you let out a giggle which made him look immediately at you as he tried to understand why you were laughing and if you were mocking at him for being that worried about something very silly.

— Harry...how could you even think that? I’ll always have fun with you! — You'd say lively with a smile on your lips and then take a deep breath while you finished forming the words you were about to say in your mind — It's been such a long and hard year and we had some amazing moments and some really bad moments but we're here. We're alive, we're healthy and most of all, we're here together and believe me, even if the world ends by the time that clock turns midnight, there's no other person I'd rather spend the end of the world with — You'd say making a little fun of the "end of the world" conspiracy that you've read previously on that same day and couldn't help giggling with Harry as you'd hear that same angelic sound coming from his mouth. You'd take your hand that was upon his thigh and grab his hand taking it to your lips giving a slight kiss to it feeling the cold metals of his rings against your cheeks and then you gave him a tender smile — Don't worry about it, it'll be great! It will be more than great, it'll be exquisite!

— Alright, alright! — Harry'd say with the cutest smile on his face. That type of smile that you could feel his happiness through it. Now he took your hand to his lips and gave a peck in it — You should finish getting ready though, weren't you the one that was dying for pizza and burgers? — Harry’d tell you mocking at the fact that you've been talking about wanting to eat pizza and burgers from NYC for the past three days in a row and how annoying you were being about it. And with his comment you'd fastly stand up with the shirt in your hands and look at him with a cheeky smile in your face.

— I'll go, I'm sorry for being the best girlfriend in the world and use my time to comfort you! — You'd say ironically as you walked back to the bedroom listening Harry's laugh and a "You're forgiven" being loudly said by your boyfriend.

— By the way, I don't think you should go out only with that shirt because it’s freezing outside! — Harry said on a loud tone from the living room and you'd look up to the big glass window in your bedroom and realizes that he was right. It was probably 32 °F outside and only this shirt wouldn't make you warm enough, so you'd walk to the closet placed in your bedroom and take a dark grey long sleeve blouse and dress up before complementing with Harry's dress shirt and taking out of the closet your brand new leather jacket that you gained from Gemma on christmas day, remembering how perfect it was becase Gemma knows you well enough to know that you'd love it when she bought it. And lastly, you put on shoes that looks more like boots. And finally, with your jacket and your bag in your hand you walked into the living room after turning off the bedroom light.

You were completely ready when you'd step in the living room with your phone in your hand getting all the attention from Harry that immidietely stoped using his phone to admire you. One of the things that Harry most loved in you is that you don't need to put on the most glamurous outfit or makeup to look stunning and you knew that. You knew that you were beautiful in your own way and if you felt like glamming up, you'd be gorgeous and if you didn't feel like it, you'd still be gorgeous. Harry admired your tomboy styled outfit. He'd admire how your hair fell upon your face as you finished typing on your phone and how you'd use your hand to put a strand of hair behind your ear, giving to him the vision of your gold earrings that was also a previous birthday gift from him. He'd admire the fact that both of your nails were painted the same color because you only had one good nail polish to use so you'd go out matching nails color. He'd admire how the delicate golden rings on your fingers would sparkle because of the light in the room and he'd notice too how your face looked pretty with the small amount of makeup you had putten on your face for the night and he could only imagine how great you smelled now with the one perfume you use since the day he met you and he'd remember how much he loves that scent. He loved everything about you. He loved even the small things about you that stressed the shit out of him. He learned to love your annoying habits just as much as he loved the precious little things about you.

Harry would stand up from the couch putting his phone on the inner pocket of his black coat as he walked towards your distracted self on the phone. You'd only notice him when he'd stop right beside you looking at your figure. You'd stop looking at the screen of your phone and lift your head up a bit to see the man's smiley face beside you. He was silent and it seemed awkward so you'd let out a chuckle and frown a little at him.

— What are you doing? — You'd ask him holding a mistrusting look on your face as you waited for him to pronouce anything as a response.

— I just think that you look really pretty and I love you! And your hair looks really pretty, though — Harry would say quietly with a tender smile on his face as he listened you murmur a "aw, thank you, love!" with the biggest smile on your lips. He knew how much you loved when he compliments your hair so he'd do it often just to make you smile this big. He'd use his hands to cup your face and lean in a little to give you a peck in the lips — Let's get going! Where do you want to go first?

— Honestly, I wish we went to The Greens at Pier 17 because it looked really cute this year in the pics I saw — You'd tell him as both of you walked towards the door and left the apartment walking to the elevator as you both put on your masks. Your apartment was situated in East Village so depending on the place you'd choose to go, it would take you a while to get there and that's the reason why neither of you had enough patience to drive in NYC, specially on a night like this one because the traffic in New York can be considerated out of this world.

— Isn't it open? — Harry would ask pressing the elevator button to take you to the lobby of the building and feel as the elevator started to go down with both of you in it.

— No, it was between 6 and 10pm, I guess! — You said pressing your back agaisnt the elevator wall as you felt it going down. It's crazy, but whenever you enter a elevator you think about what would happen if it starts collapsing, yes, it's weird — But all I want is to eat a pizza from East Village Pizza because I haven't eaten it in ages — You'd complement letting out a chuckle feeling the elevator stops at the lobby floor.

— Alright, we can go eat pizza and just hang out! Will you be meeting Bella? — Harry said as the elevator door opened giving both of you the iluminated vision of the streets lights coming through the big glasses in the front of the building. You and Harry walked past the porter and both of you smile at him and waved before leaving. You both are very familiar to Toby, the porter of your building and that's the reason why you'd wish him a Happy New Year before leaving, and you also have lived in this building in the past 5 years probably.

— No, she’ll spend it with her family. They’ll all spend it together because of the baby, I guess — You'd answer him feeling the freezing air run through the skin of your face at the moment you'd step in the street. You'd notice the wet floor underneath you because it rained the entire morning and the beginning of the afternoon, there was no resting sign of the snow that happened some days ago but you could definetly still notice the past rain, specially because of all the christmas lights that iluminated the streets now.

You and Harry walked your way to the East Village Pizza because it was really close to your house which at this moment seems amazing but it's not. It takes you a lot of control to not dine their pizza everyday though. Pizza it's pizza, if you don't like pizza you can't even be consideraded a human being, just saying.

You and Harry could notice the few people leaving their houses as you walked, and some of them were already by the streets though. The thing is that the big New Year's Eve attraction in New York is the Ball Drop in Times Square and this year is not allowed to have a crowd in there so the streets wasn't completely crowed and honestly that made you feel a little better. It's just that paranoic feeling that when you're around a lot of people you start thinking that one of them is infected, probably everyone during this pandemic had felt like this at some point.

By the moment you and Harry arrived at the pizzeria and ordered your slices of pizza Harry couldn't hold back his laughs at your liveliness that you also couldn't hold back for finally eating your pizza. The place wasn't as crowed as it used to be at this time of the night and that's why you and Harry could take a sit in one of their empty tables. You and him would talk about silly things. You both would talk about the ending of Gossip Girl that you had just watched this afternoon because it was shocking to both of you. You'd talk about the songs you just added at your playlist and you'd talk about what you wanted to do tomorrow on the first day of the year.

— I don't accept any other plan that you can make but if it's to stay cuddling in bed with me all day, love — Harry would say and you'd giggle at his words. He had a point though, because you couldn't imagine anything better to do tomorrow than stay cuddled up in bed under the heavy blankets with him all day long; maybe watching a movie or starting a new tv show together as you just finished gossip girl, you'd probably starts Bridgerton because you have already read the books and you loved it. And then take as many naps as you wanted. It sounded perfect and he knew you just couldn't resist to it.

It didn't take too much for both of you to eat your pizza slices and as you ate it, Harry would take tons of photos from you all smiley eating your pizza while dancing to a random song that was playing in the background of the pizzeria. Harry loved to take random pics of you and he'd do it everytime he had a chance, which was quite often. But he did it because this way, whenever he was away and his heart ached missing you, he could go on his gallery and see all the random pics he has from you and in some way feel closer to his girl and god, so did you. Even though none of you shared the millions of photos you'd have of each other's in your phones, it felt so good to have them with you whenever you needed it to make your hearts warmer.

...

— Alright but, do you think that Brad and Angelina slept together before or after he and Jen "broke up"? — You'd randomly ask Harry as you both left the cab that was taking both of you to the Rockefeller Center because a walk from East Village to Rockefeller Center would be a hell of a walk. You both felt the christmas lights on your faces and your eyes were glowing because of them and you couldn't think of a prettier thing in this moment. It wasn't your plan to celebrate the New Year's Eve in New York and actually, the last time you've celebrated it in this city was about four years about before you even met Harry. And honestly, it just feel really cool to go ice skating in Rockfeller Center and then later go dinner somewhere and starts 2021 with a person that you really loved and appreciate on a city that you really loved, and maybe this wasn't what you planned but it was what you needed.

— They definetely were! — Harry said almost immidietely making you let out a loud laugh over his comment. You love when Harry gets into his gossiping mode, it's probably the best thing ever. He doesn't do it much when he's sober, but when he's drunk he'd just say everything you ask him and that's usually really funny, expect for sometimes when he'd tell things that are supposed to be a secret — Just look at their movie together. You could see the sexual tension and no one will convice me otherwise!

— I know but he had a sexual tension with all his co-stars! Don't you remember Legends of the fall? He had a sexual tension with his brother's fiancé that later marries his other brother — You'd argue back to him as making your point. You and Harry are definetely the "Netflix & Chill" type of couple, and as in quarantine you stayed home, you and Harry watched tons of movies on netflix and you'd always take your time to discuss them pretty often. Movies, music and books are the things that fullfill both of your souls the most and that's the reason why you'd often get caught up on discussing the things you've saw.

— It wasn't sexual tension, it was chemistry. It's different, love! — Harry'd argue back throwing his arm upon your shoulders as you both walked closer to the small line of people that were waiting to go ice skating. And you'd stop walking as realizing that you and him just arrived at the right spot and as you waited on the line of the ice skating, you had your back pressed on Harry's chest as he hugged you from behind to take the cold away as you talked. It was a nice time where you could just catch up about your thoughts while admiring the christmas lights and the people on the rink, and if you must confess, laugh a little about the people that couldn't ice skate. Harry told you about his plans to release the Treat People with Kindness music video tomorrow and talked about working with Phoebe Waller-Bridge and had to deal with your drama about not meeting her for what it seems like the millionth time, but you did make it pretty clear to him that you were so excited about the video because you haven't watched it yet because you wanted it to be a new year's surprise to you. You told him about how you missed walking the runaway and everything you want to do in 2021 in your professional career and also personal life, like the books and movies you wanted to read and watch and the places you wanted to visit.

Anyway, it didn't take you long to get on the ice skating rink, and it also didn't take you more than two minutes to start regretting it. You were clearly not the best skater in the world. You weren't even 50% good; reasonable, would be the right term. And so, when you didn’t have the ability to move gracefully and lightly across the ice, and instead had to skate by holding on to the bars or Harry's arm and then after, having Harry insisting on trying to let you skate alone and then having you to crash into on the floor, Harry couldn't help but laugh. The boy laughed so hard, in a way where he couldn't even breathe properly from laughing so much, and you couldn't contain your own laughs either. Of course, Harry helped you up and then asked you a thousand times if you were okay and you hadn't been hurt, but the scene was just too fun at the moment not to laugh and you'd admit it.

At around 11:20 pm, you both retired from the skating rink as your time was up and then, you walked away from the short line to the ice skating rink getting a little far away from the line. You used your right hand to move some strands of hair from your face as Harry carefully looked at you.

— You're sure you're alright? — Harry asked one last time making you glare at him with an annoyed look at your face becase he had already asked this about forty times now. He'd shrug his shoulders and put his hands inside the pockets of his black coat — Alright, you're fine.

— I am, love! — You said wrapping your arms around yourself while moving your head to look around you before getting your gaze to focus on Harry's face again — Should we go to a restaurant? Because it's almost midnight! — You asked Harry that looked the time as he took his phone off his pocket to see that the clock indicated the time to be 11:25 pm.

— Yeah let's go! And it's cold here! — He'd say wrapping his arm around your shoulders as you both started to walk again. The things is that near Rockefeller Center, there was plenty of cool and great restaurants that of course you had no idea if they were or not open but it didn't cost you to go check and that's why you'd walk around it to see — Oh, let's go to Bill's Bar and Burger. I want nachos and fries so bad — Harry would say as he stopped walking abruptly in front of the restaurant making you to gaze at the place and then at him.

— Oh my god, yes! — You'd nod at him as you both walked inside the place. You've been in it before and the menu was spectacular, the burgers were so amazing and the place was really cool, though. It had a dark wooden floor and tables and big glass windows that gave you the perfect vision from outside and at the moment you both entered the space you noticed that it wasn't extremely crowed but it had a few people. The televisions in the walls transmitted the Times Square New Year's Eve performances and you sat at the table in the corner of the wall with a padded accent.

You'd take a look at the menu and order. Harry'd order a alcoholic beverage, unlike you that'd go with a coke because if your boyfriend went wasted you needed to take him home and take a 6'0 foot taller man home after few drinks can be quite hard. You'd order fries and nachos for Harry because he just eats fish now and then orders a chicken burger for you and then some milkshakes because you were going to eat all that you wanted as it was the last day of the year.

While your orders were being prepared, you and Harry talked about the christmas trip with your families and how funny it was. You'd talk about how the hell could you both forget about the christmas presents and how thank god you could find good new presents in the last minute. Harry would probably tell you about a life story of his starting by "in my epoch" sounding like he was forty years older than you because he knows that this pissed you off. He's three years older. It's not like it's a lifetime. But you'd find fun on his stories, just like he does to yours because even though you're younger than him, you both came from different sides of the world. From completely different families and cultures and it's so cool to share your experiences with each other. With the time, you and Harry learned that everyone had something to add in your life. Something about art, or about bad feelings or good feelings. Something about love, about friendship and jobs and opportunities. You both would reflect about how you just find things and people in life that makes you whole. You grow older and start noticing what really matters. You and Harry always travel on New Year and this year you didn't and being there, on a bar in New York just with each other having the most fun as you shared your stories, made you realize that it's not about the trip or the journey. It's about the person you have on your side as you doing those things. It's about having someone that you love at your side to share the good and the bad and after a hard year, you're lucky for having each other and getting out of it stronger than ever.

When the countdown started, everyone in the bar starting to count as well. You used your phone to record both you and Harry as you both counted. The camera caught the big smile perfectly that you and Harry had on your faces, and it actually caught the cheese from the french fries that Harry was previously eating right in the corner of his mouth but we don't have to focus on this part just yet. When the clock turned midnight, the entire bar screamed happily and you and Harry turned to each other with the happiest smiles ever, hugging each other sharing the "Happy New Year" and then sharing your first kiss of 2021, just as you both did three years ago when the clock turned midnight entering 2018 and you both shared the first kiss of your life. You've been kissing since then.

#hwrryscherry #harry and y/n #harry styles and y/n #harry x reader #HARRYxMODELY/N #harry styles x reader #harry styles x you #harry styles au #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles imagines #harry styles imagine

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graveyarddirtseries · 3 years

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Graveyard Dirt & Salt

Chapter Nine

From out of the tall, un-managed grass of the laid waste cotton field they were riding in, a ghost, a sort of shadow rose up, then another and another. Three of them, blood on their faces from a fresh kill, eyes wide at the approach of another meal.

“You're gonna grow roots sitting there.”

For six days Annie had seated herself right in front of the wrought iron gate and stubbornly refused to move. For six days she screamed whenever someone would try to move her. Sure she came to eat when food was ready and certainly she made a trip to the hastily constructed privy when she had to and she slept in her bed, or rather laid there all night until her rage wore her out and she fell asleep.

But when she wasn't eating, shitting or sleeping, she was sitting in the same ass groove worn into the grass and sullenly staring out at the world beyond the gate.

Easing down beside her, the Lieutenant peered down the same worn cattle trail she was peering down and sighed.

“You know where Halloween pumpkins come from?” He asked the girl.

She seemed to ignore him.

“They used to be turnips, you know. Was a fellow named Stingy Jack, you know him?”

Again Annie seemed to ignore him.

“Well, anyways this man was a rotten sort, used to play all kinds of tricks and schemes, loved to drink. Anyways, one night Jack is at the bar, drinking and he runs out of money. Well, old Jack he wasn't ready to turn in, but at that moment the Devil comes by, checking up on the sinners at the bar and old Jack says to him 'I'd sell my soul for one last drink'.

The Devil thinks this is an easy one and turns himself into a sixpence – do you know what a sixpence is?”

Annie shrugged.

“It's like money from England...well, I think this story is Irish, but...do you know where Ireland is?”

Annie was still.

“Well, anyways, the Devil turns himself into a coin for Jack to buy his last drink with, but old Jack is a wily sort of old bugger, so he buys his drink and then steals back the Devil coin and shoves it into his wallet next to a silver cross he had been carrying, trapping the Devil in his wallet.

The Devil cried out 'let me out, let me out!' And Jack said he would if the Devil promised not to return to claim his soul for ten years.

Well, ten years pass and Jack is out walking on a dirt road one night and the Devil comes up to collect what's owed.

And old Jack says, 'I'll go, but first you have to get me an apple from that there tree'.

The Devil huffed and stomped his hoof, but figured it was easier that fighting old Jack, so he hops up into the tree to get Jack an apple.

As soon as the Devil is in that tree, Jack takes out his pocketknife and carves crosses all around the trunk of the tree, once more trapping the Devil.

'Let me down, let me down!' Shouts the Devil.

'I will, but you got to promise that you won't take my soul from me until I die of old age', says Jack.

The Devil, getting irritated at this point, huffs and agrees.

Well, some years later, old Stingy Jack dies and he gets to the gates of Heaven and Saint Peter says, 'no, can't come in, Jack. You were mean and drunk, and you cheated and you tricked people. You can't come in.'

So old Jack goes down to Hell to see if he can get in there. It's cold and lonely wandering the earth as a spirit and Hell is very warm.

Well, the Devil himself comes to the gates of Hell and he says 'no. I don't want you here, Jack. You're mean and spiteful and too tricky for even Hell.'

Old Stingy Jack considers this and finally asks the Devil, 'well, what do I do then?'

And the Devil says, 'you go back where you came from and you walk the earth'. And he throws an eternally burning ember from the fires of hell at Stingy Jack.

And old Jack he puts that ember in a hollowed out turnip he had in his pocket and he walked the earth. They say to this day old Jack is out there, tricky and sly, wandering the earth with his Jack O'Lantern.”

Annie sniffed to hide a small grin that was threatening to break on her face.

“Benny's like Jack,” she whispered.

“He sure is and he will always trick the Devil.”

Annie gazed back out at the cattle trail, her big, dark eyes taking in the world beyond the gate like a raven perched on the branch of a tree.

“When will this all be over?” She asked him.

The Lieutenant was startled. He thought maybe Annie knew that this was how things were now, but then again she was just a wee thing. Small and young.

“Oh, sweet pea, this is how things are now. There is no over.”

She was quiet, soaking in this information, before she said, “I just want to go home.”

“Where's home?” He asked.

Annie frowned, her face still.

Somewhere outside the wall a bobwhite warbled it's funny little shriek.

The child beside him stood up and took a small step towards the gate.

“I'd stay away from the gate, sweet pea,” the Lieutenant warned her, also getting to his feet.

Again the bobwhite shrieked and Annie hurried to the wrought iron, pressing herself against it to peer out. She tweeted back, a sweet little trill that the Lieutenant couldn't place.

From out of the bush lining the cattle trail, Benny emerged, still dressed in the cassock and grinning, hands up so Sister Dymphna on the wall wouldn't shoot him.

“Good morning,” he greeted casually.

“No shame in coming back defeated,” the Lieutenant teased cautiously, mildly panicked that the man had returned so quickly. Had he been forced to give up their position? Was he compromised?

“Hey, Cordelia,” Benny greeted the child at the gate, reaching through to tickle her cheek.

She pulled away quickly, angry at him for leaving her.

Catching Sister Dymphna who was descending from the wall to open the gate, the Lieutenant held her off from her task for a moment.

“Why are you back?” He asked the shorter man.

“Well, I scrubbed the mission, but...I brought gifts.” Benny explained.

“Guns?” The Lieutenant asked.

Benny grinned. “Sort of. Just...take it easy, okay?”

“Alright.”

“Okay, it's clear, come out!” Benny shouted over his shoulder.

The Lieutenant dropped his shoulder enough so he could slide his rifle off if he needed, as out of the woods came nine people, all of them with their hands up. He still instinctively dropped his shoulder further, preparing for trouble.

“Who are these people?” He hissed at Benny.

“They're friends.”

“You brought people back to the convent?!” The Lieutenant snarled. “You compro-”

“Calm down,” Benny said. “I wouldn't endanger Cordy. She's the only one I like. These people and us have one thing in common. We want this woman stealing group dead. Now let us in.”

The Lieutenant held Dymphna back again, putting her behind him, where Annie was being shoved too.

“I ran across them in the middle of gunning down a group of these men who were trying to steal a couple of their women,” Benny explained. “Let us in. Please? We need to talk.”

“They leave their weapons outside the gate.” The Lieutenant bartered.

“Sorry, but no.” One of them said. He had a voice like the thick black smoke of a forest fire, the kind with embers and a danger.

Studying his marine gear, the Lieutenant asked, “are you a fan or a real marine?”

“Corporal Angel Delgado, I was posted at HQ, I know of you, Lieutenant Vancoughnett.”

“Delgado?” The Lieutenant racked his brain, there were enough marines at HQ that he could only catch the taste at the tip of his tongue on who the man was.

“Hey, Cajun,” Benny said firmly. “Look at me.”

The Lieutenant looked over at the fancy man.

“Trust me, okay? You want these people inside.”

“It's not my convent,” he finally said.

“I'll get Mother Mena,” Dymphna offered, she tried to take Annie with her, but the girl collapsed on the ground in non-violent protest, becoming dead weight.

Benny chuckled. “I taught her that.”

The Lieutenant remained quiet, taking in everything he could of the group of people behind Benny. Delgado was a marine, so he assumed the woman to his right was as well. There three other women, four men. They didn't look very threatening, they looked tired and hungry and two of them had instruments strapped to their backs.

Mena sidled up beside him, as quiet as a kitty cat and eyed them for a moment, before saying, “welcome. You can come on in. But this is a place of peace, please be mindful of that. Dymphna, please get the gate.”

As the gate was opened, Benny strode inside, the others following him slowly. As they passed the Lieutenant, one of them, a young man with dark hair sort of puffed up his chest at him with a smug grin and kept walking. The two with the instruments brought up the rear, both of them tipping their hats to him politely.

The Lieutenant made sure the gate was locked and secured, and Dymphna was back on the wall, before he followed the group, heading for the church Annie sullenly walking beside him.

Inside the church, he took a seat in the back with Annie, feeling like it wasn't his rodeo anymore. The convent was Mena's, the group was Benny's, he was just muscle, he supposed.

Benny, ascending the pulpit, grinned down at the others. “Good morning,” he said like a priest preparing to begin his sermon, and as he was dressed, the Lieutenant almost could forget the purpose of them being there. “Alright, let's get into it. Abbess, I missed you. You look cute in that yellow blouse, did the Lieutenant find it for you?”

“The point, please, Mr. Malone?” She insisted.

“Long story short, these people are in need of shelter, a home. In return they've agreed to help us find these men who have been stealing women. And they've already given us a peace offering.”

“Which is?” The Lieutenant asked.

“We have a prisoner, tied up in an upstairs closet in the farmhouse nearby, he can give us what we need to get these men. The position of their camp.”

“Are you seriously having a fucking meeting without me?” Grayson burst into the church, along with several of the nuns.

“That was faster than I hoped,” Benny murmured. “Hey, Grayson, I see you're still alive.”

“Fuck you, Benny!” Grayson shouted, storming down the aisle.

As he passed by the young, dark haired man from the new group, the other young man reached out and grabbed Grayson by the back of his shirt, yanking him down hard and holding him there.

“Shut your face, you're in a church, dipshit,” the dark haired man ordered. “Go on, Father.”

Not quite liking this man pushing around Grayson, the Lieutenant stood up and moved to rescue the boy, taking him back to sit at his side.

“Go on, Benny,” he said.

“Well, that's pretty much it. We have a good chance to get back Haley, Laila, maybe any other woman who've been taken by these men and in exchange, the nuns get some company here at the convent. More guns, more people.”

“Less food,” Mena added calmly. When everyone turned to look at her, she stood up almost meekly and made her way to the pulpit, crossing herself quickly before Jesus, before moving to stand beside Benny. “Less space. I certainly hope your friends are willing to work.”

“We won't freeload,” Delgado assured her. “These walls look nice enough to keep us invested in the place.”

“I'm saying,” Mena continued, “we of course will provide shelter and aid, but if we want to winter in contentment, we'll need to bring back more food to supplement our garden and our coop.”

“If one of the new group can help me hunt,” the Lieutenant began, “we can dry some meat for the winter months.”

“Yo!” The dark haired young man said.

“You can't hunt, Kane!” The young man with the glasses who sat beside him said.

“Can you, Auggie? No? Then shut the fuck up.” Kane said.

“Greene and I can help hunt,” Delgado said.

“Well, protein is a good start, but we'll need vegetables, fruit. Our peach tree does what it can, but it won't see us all through the winter.”

“We can find farms that have trees and visit them come harvest time,” the Lieutenant offered. “And any canned food we come across will be brought back to the convent.”

“You sound like you're in, Cajun,” Benny said.

“I have to admit, I'm attracted to the idea of more capable guns around here, but...no offence, I know nothing of these new folk.”

“We know nothing of you either, Lieutenant,” Delgado said.

“Whatever happened to jarhead brotherhood?” Benny asked.

“Well,” Mena broke in. “If we can all manage to get along, then I have no problems with newcomers. But I have a few rules we need to keep to here. This is Holy Ground, my nuns won't be assaulted or have vulgar language or actions taken upon them. I won't expect you all to tend to mass, but you're welcome if you want. Please respect that this is a convent first and foremost.”

“Jesus,” one of the woman from the new group murmured.

“Guess that'll put a stop to your weekend catting, huh Saph?” Kane teased.

“Keep your head straight,” the woman named Saph warned him archly.

Mena waited for them to calm down, before saying, “well, if we can oblige each other's rules, then I don't see why we can't provide sanctuary. We'll celebrate our union tonight with a meet and greet of sorts.”

“A meet and greet?” Delgado asked, his tone was a little more accusatory. These new people were decidedly rougher around the edges than the Lieutenant and the nuns were, it was clear.

Mena sort of shifted nervously under his dark eyed gaze. “Uh...well, I don't...I'm not sure what to call it in the end of days. I'm sorry.”

“No, I – I wasn't being mocking, I'm sorry...we've been in a completely different land than you. It'll take a while to get civilized again.” Delgado said hurriedly, sounding almost embarrassed. “I think a small...thing might be good to mingle our group with yours. Get everyone accustomed to each other.”

Mena nodded. “Alright, then. Now, do any of you need medical treatment or...I see you're pregnant, darling. Do you need prenatal care?”

“I've got my vitamins,” the pregnant woman said. “Thank you.”

“Our people are in good shape, Medicine Man Jack keeps us running,” Delgado said. “We just need some sleep somewhere safe. And food would be wonderful. But don't think we're planning on just sitting around, we will work for that food. We'll chip in on chores.”

“You have a doctor among you?” Mena asked.

“Forensic Pathologist, actually, Jack was in the army as a surgeon too, so he's good at wear and tear fixes. Nothing major, so I hope no one needs brain surgery or open heart.”

“Maybe he wouldn't mind working with our Sisters Mary Monica and Mary Claire, they both have some nursing and hospice training, I'm sure they could benefit from more training.”

The man with the wide brimmed, black hat nodded his agreement. He wouldn't have been the one the Lieutenant would have guessed to be the doctor among the group. Especially with the banjo on his back and the almost Amish fashion he wore on his slender frame.

“Why don't you introduce yourselves, Corporal? So we know who we're bringing in to our flock?”

“Pfft,” Kane – the dark haired young man exhaled.

“We...uh...have pressing matters, another time maybe,” Benny interrupted, motioning to the Lieutenant to join them as he hopped down from the pulpit, heading for the door.

“I will not be blown off, Mr. Malone,” Mena argued, following him down the aisle, everyone, literally the entire two groups, following as well.

In the rush of the crowd, the Lieutenant scooped up Annie, who was still sulking, but allowed herself to be carried instead of getting crushed. He didn't like how fast it was all moving, not that he wasn't used to fast paced, only that he was still a little shaky on his trust with these new people.

Grabbing hold of Dymphna just outside, he eased Annie down and whispered, “keep your eye on these people while we're gone, yeah?”

She nodded.

“And tell the others to keep their weapons on them, they don't have to be menacing, just...cautious.”

Again she nodded. “Will we be okay?”

“I'm eighty percent.”

“Eighty percent yes or no?” She called after him as he hurried to catch up with Benny and Delgado at the gate.

He side eyed a few of Delgado's people, who were milling around awkwardly nearby, as he passed.

Mena joined them just as the Lieutenant did and the four of them stood for a moment at the gate.

“Where are you going?” Benny asked her.

“With you.”

“Not outside the walls, Sister.”

“It's Abbess, please? And I have just as much right to be in on all of this as you, since you decided to start playing fast and loose with our convent supplies. No offence,” she added to Delgado sweetly.

“A little taken, but I get the frustration.” He replied.

“No.” Benny insisted.

“I'm not even going to talk to you anymore,” Mena stated, frustrated.

“Get your weapon, yeah?” The Lieutenant told her. “We'll wait.”

Mena narrowed her eyes at him.

“I promise. We'll wait,” he assured her, grabbing Benny by the hem of his cassock.

As Mena scurried off, Benny yanked his cassock hem back and said, “she can't come. Absolutely not.”

“Why?”

“Because I promised to let this asshole go if he told us everything, so we're going to just let him walk then shoot him dead.”

The Lieutenant glanced in Mena's direction. “Well, shit. We can't leave without her now, she'll kick us all out.”

“Why does she want to come anyways? Have you been letting these nuns loose?” Benny demanded.

“They're free to come and go as they like and...yeah a few of them have been coming with me on hunts and such, I thought it would be best to get them used to the outside world.” The Lieutenant said. “And what the fuck does it matter to you? They need to toughen up.”

Benny nodded angrily, agreeing with him, but clearly not liking it. “Fuck...shit. Yeah they do.”

“What do we do then?” Delgado asked.

The Lieutenant exhaled, he didn't know. This was Benny's fucking mess.

“Okay, we get the information from him, I walk off with him into the woods and strangle the fucker.” Benny said, removing his cassock, possibly to prevent anyone from catching him by the hem again.

“Or,” Delgado added calmly, “we just interrogate him in a room away from her. Shoot him and say he lunged us.”

“That's easier. That'll work.” Benny said, suddenly snapping at the Lieutenant. “Why are you looking at me with a face like a slapped ass?!”

“I'm not,” he argued lightly.

He was, but he wanted to argue a bit. It was an entirely different plan set in motion now. Not a bad plan, just an entirely different one. And, yeah, maybe he hated that it wasn't his plan. Maybe he was a little pissed that it was the fancy man who saved the day for once.

Instead, he turned to Delgado, who was gazing at him with calm, almost thoughtful brown eyes.

“Are your people gonna be okay here on their own?” He asked.

The Corporal nodded. “They're adults.”

“That pregnant one looks young,” the Lieutenant said.

“Hazel, yeah she's our youngest, sixteen. She's a good kid though, quiet and doesn't complain.”

“Who's the father?” The Lieutenant went on with his interrogation dressed up as concern.

Delgado eyed him calmly, before saying, “no one in our group, if that's what you're thinking.”

Mena returned, her giant kitchen knife in hand, empty rucksack on her back. “Ready,” she said.

“Stick close,” the Lieutenant said to her. “Remember what I told you.”

She nodded.

“It's kind of neat, we have three horses stashed in the barn to take back to the convent and everything,” Benny said as they entered a bedroom at the top of the stairs in the farmhouse.

“These men have hor-” The Lieutenant stopped short as a moan came from the closet.

All four of them stopped in their tracks and just stared at the white door.

The moan came again and it wasn't human. Still the four of them just sort of stared in disbelief at the door.

“Hey, dipshit!” Benny finally shouted at the door, kicking it lightly.

The door shuddered in response as the man on the other side threw himself at it, letting loose another familiar moan.

“Shit,” Benny swore, stepping back, circling in a quick pacing motion, before stopping.

Delgado placed his hand on his hip. “He's dead.”

“Fuck!” Benny swore louder.

The door rattled again.

“I knew we should have gotten the information out of him last night!” Benny yelled. “But you wanted to wait!” He pointed at Delgado. “Now that asshole is fucking undead from a stomach wound and we just lost our lead!”

The Corporal blinked at him. “You asked me to offer up my people to fight for you. I wasn't going to do so on blind faith. Sorry, Abbess,” he added kindly to Mena.

She reached out and touched his forearm warmly.

Kicking in the door, slamming it into the uggie on the other side, Benny leapt on top of it and beat it with his fist for a good long time, before pulling out his pistol and shooting him until the clip clicked empty.

Everyone was quiet, their ears ringing in the small room from the shots.

Mena, who had covered her ears at the sight of the gun, lower her hands and looked panicked at the Lieutenant.

“I'm sorry,” Benny apologized, standing up, much calmer than he had been, running a hand through his hair and putting the greasy strands back in place. “That was unfair of me to blame you, Corporal.”

“It's fine,” Delgado said. “But we'd better get moving, those shots will have gotten us some attention.”

“Let's the horses and get the fuck back,” Benny said softly, almost as though he were ashamed of himself or the situation.

The Lieutenant actually felt bad for the man. He was just after these men because they posed a threat to the survivors of the area, namely his nuns, but Benny had lost someone to them. Benny didn't seem the type to make honest-to-god connections with people, so it seemed like when he did, he was attached for life.

He clapped Benny on the back as they left the room, trying to comfort the poor man.

Benny was quiet, but didn't shove his comforting gesture away, just sort of slumped his way down the hall.

“Ever been on a horse, Abbess?” Delgado asked as they saddled the creatures as quickly as they could.

Mena shook her head. “No.”

“Me neither,” he said. “Guess we'll both learn something new today.”

“Cajun?” Benny asked. “You ride?”

“Never.”

“Fucking Cajuns,” Benny replied, swinging up onto his horse easily. “Just like riding a bike.”

“These bikes bite, don't they?” The Lieutenant asked, eyeing his horse warily.

Benny's horse whinnied and side stepped in agitation at the new, unfamiliar rider and Benny almost fell off.

Laughing, the Lieutenant attempted to copy Benny's movements up and into the saddle, adjusting himself down below to a comfortable position, before turning to offer a hand to Mena.

She was already being hefted onto Delgado's horse by the Corporal, sitting in front of him, holding the horn nervously. So he instead pulled Marie off his shoulder and holstered her into the fancy rifle holster attached to the saddlebag.

“Alright, little kick to get them going,” Benny instructed. “Pull this way to go this way, pull this way to go that way, pull both back to stop. If your horse gets spooked, it's probably because of a snake or the undead, hold on like hell and they'll get you away to safety, but they may buck and if that happens? Eight seconds.” He added with a grin at his own joke. “Yup!” He nudged his horse into a trot, out of the barn.

“Fucking Texian,” the Lieutenant cursed, nudging his own horse to follow.

“You know I used to be better at this,” Benny murmured as they rode, keeping to the woods, not deep enough to wear the horses out with rough terrain, but deep enough to avoid the living.

“Riding?” The Lieutenant asked.

“No, tactics. You retire from the army, you get fucking twenty pounds fatter, you sit at home, you watch daytime television, your mind rots and then this happens and you fucking fail at the only thing you were ever good at.”

“We all grow older, Mr. Malone,” Mena said softly. “You did what you could.”

Benny was sullen on his beautiful black and white paint.

“I don't know you well, Father,” Delgado said. “But...I wouldn't have done anything different from what you did.”

“Thanks strange marine,” Benny said almost sarcastically.

“Hey, Texian,” the Lieutenant offered, hoping to cheer up the poor little fancy man. “You got yourself a horse and...isn't that all a cowboy needs?”

“Fuck you, Cajun,” Benny murmured. It was without feeling and quite unlike him. “I'm out of bullets, I'm out of ideas. I don't know. Maybe it's time to die.”

It was a joke, but a dark one and no one else was laughing.

“How about one yeehaw while you're on that horse?” The Lieutenant kept pressing, knowing he was getting somewhere with the teasing.

Benny's eyes shone a little in amusement, though he still looked disappointed.

“Just a soft one? For me?” The Lieutenant went on.

“I'll give you a fucking yeehaw,” Benny grumbled. Turning to Mena, he said, “I have to admit, Abbess, I'm shocked at you. I thought you'd jump up my ass and stay there about that man back there.”

“About how you allowed him to die?” She inquired archly.

“So you are mad?” Benny asked with a small, almost proud smile.

“Mr. Malone,” she began in that way that the Lieutenant knew was her gearing up to scold. Both Benny and the Lieutenant also geared up, bracing for the blow, and even though he was new to their dynamic, even Delgado seemed to steel himself in preparation.

But she didn't follow it up with anything.

Abbess of the Veil of Tears of the Sacred Virgin Convent, Mother Mena, petite and polite, just sat on the horse in front of Delgado and gazed long and hard at the horizon before them.

The Lieutenant was peering at her from his own horse, and Benny dropped over his own saddle horn to peer past the Lieutenant to join in on the staring.

Both men exchanged a curious look at each other, before Benny prodded, “Abbess?”

“There's so much death and dying in this new land,” she began softly, all fire gone from her tone. “I can't bring myself to care much.”

There was a second, only a beat really, before Benny said, “well, now, that sounds like the tone of someone who's defeated!” His loud, overly friendly, almost mocking voice rang off of the surrounding hills and hit back at them hard. It was too plastic, too fake. Just like the Lieutenant, Benny didn't like to hear Mena sound so...apathetic and it must have chased his own defeated attitude off.

Yelling, scolding, even a sermon, was better than this apathy from Mena.

“Dead,” Delgado warned, just as his horse nickered uncomfortably, prancing closer to the Lieutenant's.

The smell was in the air, something rotten, something that wasn't just an old stump in the woods.

Slipping down from his horse, the Lieutenant tossed his reins at Benny and said, “get the others back to the convent. We need to protect the horses.”

Mena struggled against Delgado's arms, and hopped down too to join him.

He didn't have time to tell her to get back on the horse, just pulled her behind him.

She welded her knife though and while she obeyed his wordless order to get behind him, she peeked out from around him to keep an eye on the rapidly approaching dead.

Benny and Delgado were long gone and it was fine, the Lieutenant was used to this new land, but he didn't care for the fact that Mena had to hop down with him. She would be one distraction he didn't need.

But she was here and today seemed as good a day as any for her to learn the hard way about the dead.

Kicking the first one to reach them square in the chest, he sent it back into the others hard, the one at the back collapsing.

Among the snarls and almost hisses of the dead, he heard Mena gasp and chanced only a quick glance over his shoulder, to find the grass rustling to their right as well. More dead.

“Run,” he commanded her, killing one of the uggies that lunged at them with his own knife, before shoving her hard in the direction the grass wasn't rustling in.

She screamed as another of the dead came out of the grass, toppling her and sending them both into the grass to disappear.

With no option, as the uggies were at his heels, he swept into the area the two had tumbled and stomped hard on the uggie's head as it struggled to get to its feet beside Mena who was laying on the ground.

She leapt up and joined him in running towards the woods, but not before punching at one of the dead that had caught up with them. It sent it off course, but didn't topple it. They were so close to the trees, but he knew they wouldn't make it, the dead were already grasping at the backs of their shirts. Grabbing Mena by the upper arm hard, he shoved her ahead of him and stopped, allowing the five dead to topple him, letting his feast be the distraction she would need to escape.

He kicked and punched hard at the group, stuffing his marine issued boot into the mouth of one that was at his legs, preventing it from biting, trying to avoid being bitten by the others using his knife to block any mouth that was thrown at him. It was a battle he was losing fast, there were too many. One of the uggies dropped to the ground heavily beside him, then rapid gunfire and the rest were dropping fast. Scrambling back and away from the pile of dead, he looked himself over for a bite, the action happening too fast for him to notice anything.

Mena was at his side, helping him up, her knife black with the dead's blood.

“Come on,” she urged him, yanking him towards the woods.

Just inside the tree line Delgado had stationed himself up in a tree and was holding his hand down to them to help them up into the old oak. He was so fucking welcome into the group at that moment, hand held down to them, rifle in his other.

Mena first, the Lieutenant ensured that, pushing her up, before following.

“Did they get you?” Delgado asked.

Still looking over his arms, in the safety of the tree as more dead emerged from the grass to gather below, he shook his head. “I don't think so.” He checked and rechecked for a bite, hands shaking. It was close, too close. He had been so damned careful, but that was...it was too close.

“You're lucky you were heading for me,” Delgado murmured, between taking shots at the uggies. “You would have been dead.”

“Thanks,” the Lieutenant breathed. He assumed the man had jumped off his horse as well, sending Benny on to the convent. And he was fucking grateful for the other marine.

Sitting on a branch above them, Mena was quiet.

Reaching up, the Lieutenant tweaked at her booted foot, trying to put her at ease, comforting her the best he could.

“You okay?” He asked her between shots.

She nodded, wide eyes on the dead below them.

“It's okay,” he said. “There can't be that many, Delgado has the ammo to put them all down.” Unless there's more out there and they're all coming to the sound of the shots, he thought, but kept that to himself. It was only then that he realized he didn't have Marie on his back and remembered putting her on the fucking horse in the rifle holster.

Great place for her, you fucking couyon.

There was only five or so left, so he turned to Mena.

“Once these uggies are put down, we have to climb down and run like hell,” he ordered, feeling like the CO he was once more. “There could be more headed this way, we stay close together, we don't stop running until we hit the convent or some kind of shelter. Do you understand?”

She nodded.

“Yes?” He urged needing an auditory agreement that she understood his orders.

“Yes.”

Three more left and the Lieutenant tried hard to ignore the way his branch was cracking under his weight, only three more. It gave out at two left and despite him trying to grab another branch, he fell straight down with the branch, collapsing on one of the uggies below hard. So hard he heard the poor uggies ribs crunch. Delgado shot the last one as he stabbed the poor dead woman in the eye and put her out of her misery, before getting to his feet shakily. He was getting too old to fall out of fucking trees that was for damned sure, but he was grateful for the uggie that broke his fall.

Jumping down, Delgado gave them cover as the Lieutenant reached up and helped Mena down. Then the three of them ran as a unit, into the woods, away from the tree and the tall grass.

Keeping Mena in front of them always, the Lieutenant found Delgado keeping pace with her, hand holding her upper arm. The man had flawlessly moved into the proper position for protecting a civilian from gunfire and for a moment the Lieutenant was a marine again. It was nice to have that trained companion who knew how protocols worked.

They moved through the woods as fast and as carefully as they could, before they stumbled into the clearing where the lagoon for the convent was. They weren't far, but coming up the ass end.

At the sight of the wall, the Lieutenant actually exhaled the breath he had been holding and with Delgado's help, they boosted Mena up onto the wall first, before the Lieutenant stooped down for the other man.

Once all three were on the wall, they sat down and just took a moment.

He looked himself over once more, paranoid a little now that he had been bitten, but he saw nothing but scratches from the branches of the tree and a few dings from the fall. His ankle hurt a bit, but he would be back to one hundred percent in a few days.

“Any battle you can walk away from, huh?” He asked Delgado.

The other marine looked at him with his serious, dark eyes, before a small, almost bashful, dimpled smile spread over his face.

Giving one last, dramatic exhale, the Lieutenant hopped gingerly down from the wall and held his arms out for Mena, but again, Delgado had beaten him to her, easing her down, his hands holding hers, before he hopped down himself.

“You alright?” The Lieutenant asked Mena as they walked around the church.

She nodded, pale and drawn, but seemingly alright.

Grasping hold of his hand before they could emerge from the five foot space between the church and the east wall, she pulled him back into the shadows and peered up at him sombrely.

“Thank you,” she said sincerely, brown eyes so wide and so sweet as they gazed up at him. They were so dark and eternal in the shadows of the church that he swore he could see stars sparkling in them. “I'll never forget how you were prepared to die for me.”

Delgado, sensing he wasn't supposed to be there, just sort of slunk off, leaving them alone.

The Lieutenant didn't know why she was thanking him. He never understood the gratitude. He was trained to save lives, to protect, it wasn't just killing and war, though those were the unsavoury aspects of it. He was a marine, he joined to save lives. His life didn't matter, he wasn't a family man, he didn't have any reason to be alive other than protecting this convent and its people.

Mena, he supposed, more than any other. She was more important around here than him. She had nuns that needed her leadership.

Not good with serious talk, with real emotions, he chucked her playfully on the chin and said, “you did good out there, kid.”

“Lieutenant,” she began, but he was already heading out from behind the church.

Benny came up to them, smiling at first, before calming himself and saying, “gotta play hero, huh? That's gonna get you killed someday.”

“It was almost this day,” Mena stated.

“How's my horse, fancy man?” The Lieutenant inquired with a grin.

As they rounded the church, standing in front, heading for the gate, the Lieutenant noticed Delgado standing with his people in a tight circle, the survivors from his group having hardly moved from where they had been left.

Making a straight line for the new group, the Lieutenant found some nuns also heading in that direction, knowing they would get filled in there.

“So are we being asked to leave then?” One of Delgado's people asked.

“No,” Mena answered for the marine. “We aren't making anyone go anywhere. We still have the agreement than you'd help us in dealing with these men and to be honest I would never turn away anyone who needed shelter and safety here. I just ask that you pitch in with chores. Have you been offered tea or water?” She asked.

They nodded.

“Have you been fed?”

They shook their heads.

Mena frowned, but only offered the nuns with them a small, withering glare, before saying, “well, then let's go inside the cloister and get you something to eat. We can have an early lunch.”

“I'll have to skip hunting today,” the Lieutenant said. “Until the area is calmed down, somewhat. All the shooting and commotion probably scared away the game anyways.”

“Good,” she said. “You can work on digging us another privy hole.”

“Latrine duty, huh?” He asked with a small grin. “For saving your life?”

“For being reckless,” she replied coolly.

He nodded, properly stripped down. “Alright.”

“I can help with that,” Delgado said. “Jack, Billy? Let's get you working with the nursing nuns.”

“That would be Sisters Mary Monica and Mary Claire, they're in that building over there. It's the infirmary, but first your people eat.”

As Mena led the new people away, the Lieutenant watched their retreating backs, the gears in his mind already turning.

“Why's she's pissed at you?” Benny asked, coming to stand with him.

“I don't know,” he lied.

“Well, enjoy the doghouse, dipshit,” the shorter man scoffed, heading after the others.

“Why are you mad now?” He called out after him.

Benny turned in his tracks, walking backwards. “Because you didn't need to jump down from your fucking horse. We could have outrun the dead. You have a hero complex or a death wish. And you need to fix your shit!”

“So what? You wanted us to run the horses here and lead the dead to our door? Was that your plan?”

Benny turned around and scowled darkly, folding his arms. “Is this about me bringing these people here?”

“Look,” the Lieutenant began diplomatically. “We both fucked up today. Let's call it a scratch match.”

“We need to get our shit together,” Benny agreed.

Exhaling a sigh, the Lieutenant knew Benny might be right.

#graveyard dirt & salt series #novel #sorry it took me so long to update #thought no one was reading this anymore #shout out to #gothamsgaygirlgang

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post-futurism · 5 years

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What do you think of the 2010s as a whole and how do you think the 2020s will be like

Sorry it took me so long to answer this! I thought it was such an interesting question that I wanted to wait until I could think beyond simply the fashion angle but I don't really have much of a comprehensive take in the end... I am pretty much gonna talk about fashion, music and media~

Fashion

I think one really interesting part about the 2010s was that high waisted pants never went out of style? Like in the 2000s it was very much daggy to wear high waisted jeans, particularly mom style jeans but now they're the default, such that you can't even find low rise jeans in stores anymore. It's really interesting that the high waisted pant has stayed in style for so long, same as skinny jeans.

Also the 80s style of the late 2010s is still dominating fashion stores (aka fashion available to the masses) and only recently (1-2 years?) has 70s style clothing come in. I see the early 2020s continuing with the 70s wide leg, loose blouse look, again high waist will stay in. I hope that fashion stores will ironically bring in 20s style clothing but ultimately I think the delicacy of 20s style dresses, flapper dresses, and the layers of men's flamboyant suits would probably not be emulated for a long period of time simply because it's too old fashioned. I think like the frills of the 50s/60s, elements of 20s style clothing will be fused with current trends, but yeah, it won't last. (I'd like to be proved wrong!)

Music

Early 2010s music, from my experience, saw some genre innovations like Crystal Fighters making dubstep folk, crossing through to the revival of jungle music in mid 2010s. The fusion of folk and electronica was really key in the 2010s. So much was happening in the electronica scene from the 90s into the 2000s and with more artists coming on the scene, more innovative genres were cropping up. Interestingly with the popularization of dubstep, it somehow killed itself and drum and bass in the mainstream music industry. Trap and techno took it's place. Another huge movement was vaporwave and its numerous niche subgenres.

2020s I think will keep continuing on this line. Again with more people making music, more of the same and more innovation will occur. I'm obviously a big fan of electronica so I'm more invested in that journey, but I think overall more musicians of various genres will cover environmentalism as song themes, as bands like foals, king gizzard and the lizard wizard, hælos and others, already have in 2019.

Also it looks like the 2020s will see the revival of old disbanded bands/DJs coming out of retirement, like honestly some of the festival lineups for 2019 really had me thinking I was looking at one from 2007... Bands are also gonna be doing like album anniversary tours of their big hits 10 years ago. Honestly, bring it on...

Film/TV

We all know that it's the golden age of TV shows in the 2010s. Netflix dominated the market, making new shows and reviving old cult favourites and even getting like Germany and Iraq and France and Korea and Japan etc etc to make tv shows exclusively for Netflix which was really neat! But now in this late stage of the decade we're seeing more and more streaming services lining up, such that people who didn't pirate or used to pirate before are now starting to download shit again. I think that we'll see a decline in not necessarily the quality but the range of TV shows available in the 2020s.

I personally feel that in the latter half of the 2010s, indie films haven't been as good or even available? Like so many of my favourite indie film makers haven't made a film since 2011 or have started making tv shows kind of thing. I hope that in the 2020s -unpopular opinion- we get less long form (and quickly cancelled) tv shows and more short form miniseries and/or films.

I'm guessing that at some point in the 2020s some company is going to want to reboot Harry Potter as a 12 seasons tv show or something. I can see that happening. And obviously following history, more 80s, 90s, 2000s classic tv shows will get rebooted a la Sabrina the teenage witch, etc.

Other than the arts, I think that the 2010s was marked with a lot of social, political and environmental worries, much of it only being somewhat addresses at the end of the decade. 2020s should feature more protesting for environmentalism, more connectivity with indigenous rights, and in hand I think more people going for vocations that will help other people? Like I think specifically for Australia, it's hard to even Be an artist in any form. There's just no support so if you have the option to go to uni, it's going to be more like studying things to help change what a shitshow of a world we're in? Not to say that art and music etc don't play an important role, but I think those positions in society are increasingly only going to be taken by participants with existing wealth. So I'm that sense, also, I think artists, musicians, etc will really suffer in the next decade.

Yeah that's about as much as I've thought of! Thanks for the interesting question!

#replies #long post #again so sorry it took me ages to reply #feel free to add on!

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rambleonwithrosie · 6 years

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Hello my lovely thirst babies! (It's what I call my followers)

For all of you new followers hi! Welcome! Enjoy the music and stay for the cute dish that is Queen's drummer.

All you previous 200 followers know that when I hit a milestone of 50 I always do a 50 questions type thing.

This one is gonna be all Queen!

(Also thank you everybody for sending a post from 0 to 500 notes in roughly one day!)

Opinion on Freddie Mercury calling himself "Mr. Farenheit"? It's adorable and almost like a little play on words with his birth name of Farrokh

Early 80's porn star Freddie or late 80's suburban dad Freddie look? Well I guess dad Fred because I'm not a stache person and the less facial hair and the shorter the better!

Stone Cold Crazy or I'm Going Slightly Mad? Tough choice but I'm Going Slightly Mad is the one I heard first and it's one of my favorites off of Innuendo. Sheer Heart Attack would be a great album even without Stone Cold Crazy

If Freddie asked you to house sit for him would you do it? Unless the cats are somewhere else no. I'm allergic and prejudiced against cats.

Satanic Prawn Onesie from It's A Hard Life music video or Disco Ball Red Devil Romper stage costume? Anything is better than the 800 eyed abomination

Get Down Make Love or Body Language? Get Down Make Love because at least musically it has some quality even if lyrically it's utter garbage (well if you chop off the first part it's not the worst)

Freddie in I Want to Break Free video or in Radio Ga Ga? Radio Ga Ga outfits always win. Plus other than the blouse I personally wouldn't wear anything Fred has on in I Want to Break Free

Opinion of Delilah? I think even if I actually liked cats I'd still cringe at it. As it is I definitely do not enjoy it

Bohemian Rhapsody or Bicycle Race? Oooh see Bicycle Race was my fav as a kid but BoRhap is legendary... I guess Bicycle Race because nostalgia and Star Wars!

Favorite 70s Freddie outfit?

Fat Bottomed Girls or Tear It Up? Ooh. Tear It Up. It's so delightfully naughty and grinds so hard. It's my dirty jam

Brian song you would really go all-out air-guitaring to? Tie Your Mother Down

Sail Away Sweet Sister or 39? I love the nerdiness of 39. But Sail Away Sweet Sister speaks to me and the main character of the novel I'm writing a lot. So gotta be SASS

"Hammer to Fall" or "Headlong"? Hammer to Fall probably. It's such a power jam. Not that Headlong isn't. It's also less dirty and it's on one of the best Queen albums ever

Favourite Brian solo? Oooh. Probably Tie Your Mother Down (I honestly can't recall if it has a solo. I just know it slams really hard and I live for that intro)

Briana in "I Want to Break Free" or Death in "It's a Hard Life"? Aghh. I love sassy Brianna but death is the only remotely sane looking one in Its A Hard Life

Favourite Brian solo song? I don't know a lot so Driven By You I guess

If you could spend a weekend with Brian, what would you do? Take nature hikes and talk about music and C S Lewis works and play with hedgehogs if at all possible

Would you rather stargaze with Brian or study in a science library with Brian? Stargaze for sure. I love it anyways and then he'd know all this brainy stuff that might put me to sleep but would still be fascinating

Favourite photo of Brian? I want his shawl thingy. Glam bastard.

Is Deaky one thicc bih in your opinion? He is certainly the thickest member of Queen. Have you guy's seen his apple bottomed ass of perfection?

If you could redo John's hair for Radio Ga Ga how would you do it? Maybe spiky with gel or something. Anything to reduce the electrocuted squirrel look

Describe John Deacon using 5 foods? Celery. Tall and kind of forgotten but essential. Onions because he's so savage at times he could make you cry. Hazelnuts because his hair and he's earthy and complex. Cheese because you are what you eat. And cherries but the tart pie kind not the sweet ones.

Where would you take Deaky on vacation? Hmmm. Some place with not a lot of people. I feel South America somewhere. Maybe a beach or to Patagonia

Favourite Deaky song? You're My Best Friend timeless and sweet

If you could give Deaky a new nickname what would it be? Salty the Hermit Crab

Favorite Deaky facial expression? His soft blushy sort of modest smile. Especially in the 70s.

Favorite photo of Deaky?

Favourite Deaky outfit?

Favorite salty Deaky face?

Which Monty Python sketch does Roger remind you of? The Encyclopedia Salesman because he could charm his way into somebody's house and sell them anything like the time he bs-ed that he was a Hoover vacuum salesman with I want to say John

Favourite harmonising by Roger? Probably Somebody to Love. He adds so much to those harmonies. And when they do it live it's even more noticeable but in a different way

What kind of car do you think I'm In Love with My Car is about? Whatever it is I see it as red. Probably a red Ferari. Or that's what I see and I'm sure Rog wouldn't have said no to one of those

You can have Roger do one of the (metaphorical) things to you that he mentions in "I'm in Love with My Car", what do you choose? Well giving him a thrill while my radials squeal does sound pleasant 😉😍😈

Favorite Roger Taylor solo work? Original composition it's probably Let's Get Crazy off of Fun In Space but if we're counting songs he covered Racing in the Street HANDS. DOWN! It's my fav song all time now. It and Brandy by Looking Glass

If Roger was an accessory, what would he be? Sunglasses of course 😎😎😎

"Modern Times Rock and Roll" or "Loser in the End"? Modern Times Rock N Roll. That song is not long enough. I love it.

You can talk to Roger for the rest of your life or have one night of passion with him, which do you choose? This is torture... but you didn't say I couldn't make out with him @squeezemylemon so trap there. I'm gonna talk to Rog and make out with him but no night of passion sadly. I'll still be happy kissing and chatting and being friends with a side of inspecting each other's tonsils with our tongues 😉😁😂

Favourite stage outfit of Roger's?

You can have a three-way with two different Rogers... 1) Do you do it? 2) Which Rogers (photo examples are encouraged)? Not my thing but I'm such a thirsty bitch for Rog that in this case hell yes. Sign me up for this sandwich right here

Brian or Freddie singing "'39"? Brian all the way baby. He has that perfect folk singer type voice

Which songs from other bands best describes each member? Brian is Bowie's 'Space Oddity'. Freddie is Elton's 'Rocket Man'. Roger's anthem has to be 'Big Spender' even if musically the style isn't him, musically he's Dancing in the Dark by Springsteen. John is Beethoven's 5th Symphony or The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel but don't ask me why

The members of Queen as characters from the Muppets? Hmm. John is one of the salty old guys from the audience. Roger/ina is miss Piggy because he's such a diva. Bri would be Kermit for somehow patiently dealing with Piggy!Rog. And I had to Google the other Muppets and found one named Pepe the King Prawn and if that isn't Freddie Mercury I don't know what is

The members of Queen as the Avengers? Brian is Director Fury (he counts as an Avenger right?) John is The Hulk, Freddie is outrageous Iron Man of course and Roger is Hawkeye full of sass quips and sex appeal

Queen as cake flavors? Freddie is Cherry Chocolate. John is Lemon. Brian is a really dark chocolate that probably has coffee flavoring to it. Roger is strawberry.

Queen as Classic Hollywood actors? I weirdly want to say Freddie as Clark Gable but I think he's more Douglas Fairbanks. Brian is Lawrence Olivier. John is William Powell. And Roger would be James Dean (he counts right?)

FMK: Rogerina, Briana, Frederika? Fuck Rogerina obvs. Briana is a suitable housewife. And as usual poor Fred gets killed. Sorry.

Which song would you have liked to have been around the composer as they created it? Well as much as I want to say a Roger song I'd be too busy distracting him for that to work so I'm gonna say Brian writing Dragon Attack

Favorite album art/cover? The Game. 1980 Rog in leather is my sexuality. Otherwise I'd probably say Sheer Heart Attack

Who or what is the (not actual) love of each band member’s life? Freddie's was the 4000 cats. Roger's amore is cars of course. John is in a committed relationship with cheese on toast. And Brian is a slut who while he's married to Red Special he goes around having affairs with badgers and faucets/taps

Thanks again @squeezemylemon and @zestysexmachinefromzanzibar for helping with all of these questions!

#funster & fruitcake #queen #followers #250 followers #queen blog #personal #50 questions

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not-close-to-straight · 6 years

Text

*Christmas* (Chapter 16)

CHRISTMAS MASTERLIST HERE

Enjoy :)

**********************

{{Christmas Canon-- this is one of my favorite songs EVER and i listen to it via ipod while shopping to keep myself from getting all… idk crazy christmas shopper? And to keep from hearing how rude other people are to retail workers. Anyway, it seemed appropriate for this scene lol}}

“Oh I love this song.” Pepper said absentmindedly as she and Natasha moved through the mens section of the giant department store.

“Really?” Natasha wrinkled her nose. “It seems a little screamy and guitar-y for Christmas music.”

“Yes, I find it helps me center my rage and keep that holiday spirit going strong.” Pepper answered calmly and Natasha laughed out loud and shoved her lightly.

“Pepper, you don't have any rage.”

“Oh I don't know.” Pepper pulled a sweater in warm charcoal and held it up critically. “There’s a reason I wear shoes that double as weapons, hm?”

“Stop.” Natasha rolled her eyes. “Really? A sweater for Rhodes?”

“You’re buying a sweater for Clint!” Pepper defended. “How is this any different?”

“I'm buying a sweater for Clint because if I don't buy him clothes he dresses like he’s homeless.” Natasha explained. “And we have an agreement that as long as I buy it, he has to wear it.”

“So what's with the super fitted work out pants with juicy written across the butt?”

“Pepper, darling, have you seen that man do lunges? It's amazing. I buy work out pants to encourage him to work out. I buy them super fitted because you know… lunges.”

“Gross.” Pepper giggled. “I don't need to know about the juicy part.”

“Mm.” Nat shook her head. “You really really don't.”

*******************

(this video is christmas lights in tune to TSO Carol of the Bells so you know… seizure warning?? It's a cool video though, watch if you can!}}

“I love this song!” Clint slid into a power stance, working his fingers like he was playing a guitar. “Trans Siberian Orchestra is so cool!”

“This is just noise.” Bucky frowned up at the ceiling. “Christmas music is supposed to be… pianos.”

“There’s pianos in this!” Clint argued. “You can hear it right there! Bum bum bum BUM BUM BUM BADA BUM BUM BUM BU--mmph!”

“Enough.” Steve said firmly, his hand over Clints mouth. “We can hear the music, don't need a note for note remake courtesy of Hawkeye Records.”

“Missing out.” Clint muttered and shrugged Steve off. “Alright, I've got to go… somewhere. And buy Natasha things, so you guys do whatever it is you need and I'll---”

“Where are you going?” Sam tilted his head curiously. “What--what are you buying? Can we come too?”

“Nope.” Clint shook his head adamantly. “No way. I'll just be a few minutes.”

“No wait, now I want to go.” Bucky elbowed Steve, prompting him to nod. “I mean, what if it's something I want to buy Tony?”

“I'm pretty sure all Iron Man wants for Christmas is some Winter Soldier Booty.” Clint deadpanned, eyes twinkling when Sam shuddered. “So go buy something awkward to wear for him, and I'll be right back.”

*********************

“Okay, I've been wrong before--” Nat slid her fingers under the bra strap and adjusted it quickly. “But I'm about a thousand times more sure that Rhodey is going to want this versus a sweater, no matter how soft the sweater is.”

“You might be right.” Pepper admitted, turning in the mirror to admire the way the pale purple lingerie sat against her skin. “But it doesn't really seem like a Christmas present for him if I'm the one wearing it.”

“I suppose so.” Nat stripped off her own shirt and reached for the matching set, turning so Pepper could get the hooks for her. “But I mean… he’s not going to complain, right?”

“Not if he ever wants to see me naked again.” they chuckled together, then Pepper said-- “I think I'll get this, and the one in the darker blue, but I still need an actual gift. What do you buy someone who gets all of his toys from his forty-year-old- and- yet- somehow -twelve- years- old best friend who happens to be a genius inventor?”

“Isn't he super into Star Wars? I thought they were releasing a platinum collection of the series or whatever.” Natasha offered. “That would be fun, right? You could sit through like eighteen hours of bonus features.”

“Kill me.” Pepper put her own bra back on, reaching for her blouse. “But I suppose I could always casually change into the purple set about fifteen minutes into the first one, right?”

“Right.” Natashas green eyes met and held Peppers gaze through the mirror. “Too bad I'm straight, hm? You’re quite a catch.”

“Another life, Tasha.” Pepper winked. “Another life.”

**********************

“Sammy boy, how was your date with Val?” Bucky asked as they wandered through the food court of the mall. “You aren't walking funny or anything so--”

“Do you think just because we’re in public I won't rip that arm off you and beat you with it?” Sam narrowed his eyes. “Thin ice, Frosty.”

“Calm down girls.” Steve’s voice dropped into his Captain tone. “Bucky, quit being aggravating. Sam--” Steve grinned. “Did you use enough lube when she topped you or---?”

“I'm going to kill you.” Sam chucked his sandwich in the trash. “The hells wrong with you guys?! We just went out and had a few drinks and kissed it up a little! Not a big deal!”

“How was the kissing?” Steve prompted.

“Aggressive.” Sam muttered, and Bucky had to walk away so he wouldn't laugh.

“How are you doing with Thor gone?” Sam changed the subject. “When’s he gonna be home?”

“I don't know.” Steve finished his water and dropped the bottle in the recycling bin. “Um, he said a few days. But on Asgard that is just… who knows? Could be a week.”

“He’ll come home to you.” Sam comforted. “He’s crazy about you, and everyone knows it. What are you getting him for Christmas?”

“What are you supposed to get a god?” Steve asked pointedly.

“I dunno, what are you supposed to get a Valkyrie?” Sam returned.

“Why are we dating people literally from old mythology?”

“Because they are so pretty it physically hurts us?”

“Damn straight.”

********************

“Sir, have you finished your Christmas shopping for the entire Tower?” JARVIS interrupted Tony's reading.

“Nope.” Tony frowned. “I can't figure out what to get Bucky. Any ideas?”

“Based on my observations of Sergeant Barnes and how much time he spends observing you, I would suggest either something to draw more attention to your lower anatomy, or wearing nothing at all.”

Silence for a full minute while Tony tried to pick his jaw up off the floor.

“I'm sorry, J, did you just tell me to give myself naked to Bucky as a present?”

“Based on my observations and how much time Sergeant Barnes spends observing you--”

“Yeah I heard all that.” Tony interrupted. “Tell me, J. Did I program you with too much personality, or are you just becoming self aware to the point of encouraging hook ups and naked time?”

“You programmed me originally to help you with any and all things, Sir. As time has progressed my duties have moved from opening doors when you stumble home drunk, to helping power your Iron Man suits and now to making sure you are happy and healthy with the man you have chosen to be your partner.”

“My god, I programmed you sweet, didn't I?” Tony sighed and went back to reading. “Well if I can't manage to find a good present, Bucky just might get me with a bow for Christmas.”

“I'm sure Sergeant Barnes will be thrilled, Sir.”

**********************

“All done?” Sam asked as Clint rejoined the group with his arms full of blandly wrapped packages. “With your incredibly boring presents? Clint, what did you buy her? Amish tools?”

“Hey you know what?” Clint scowled at him. “When you have managed to keep a smoking hot, insanely dangerous, super smart, borderline terrifying, foxy, fiery redhead happy and satisfied for seven years, THEN you can judge me for how I wrap presents, alright?”

“Clint!” Natasha and Pepper, their arms full of bags, spotted the boys then and headed their way. “Baby are these all for me?” Natasha cooed approvingly, kissing Clint for a long minute. “From my favorite store?”

“Maybe.” Clint teased and they kissed again.

“How does he do it?” Sam asked, tilting his head back so only Bucky and Steve heard him. “I mean honestly, what is that?”

“It's true love.” Pepper whispered. “It's true love and it's amazing. The things fairy tales are made of.”

“What's up, Pepper?” Steve asked and she sighed.

“The last store we went through served mimosas and I had four.”

“Come on.” Bucky took her bags from her with his right hand and bent and swooped her up with his left arm. “I'll carry you.”

“Oh my!” Pepper giggled and snuggled into Bucky's chest. “No wonder Tony has an arm kink!”

“What?” Bucky nearly dropped her and Pepper shrieked. “Did you say Tony has an arm kink?”

“I didn't… not… say it.” she said slowly. “Don't tell him I told you?”

“Come on lightweight.” Bucky picked her back up and jerked his head for the other to follow. “Lets get you home.”

**********************

That night Tony leaned over to get his tablet off the coffee table, but Bucky moved faster, reaching with his left arm to grab the table and pull it closer, the gears in his bicep whirring and clicking as it re-calibrated to get the appropriate strength.

“Oh my god.” Tony muttered and crossed his legs to hide...well, maybe he just wanted to sit with his legs crossed.

Bucky smirked about it.

*******************************

#ncts christmas #winteriron #clintasha #shopping #christmas presents

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annaphoenix1994 · 3 years

Text

Horseshoe Overlook - Americans at Rest

Minnie looked up from cleaning her rifle to the sound of hoofbeats, relieved that it was her father finally returning home after being to town all day. "Ya get lost?" She questioned with a grin, teasing him.

"I might have," Her father replied, stopping Trace at the hitching post outside the cabin. "I met a feller and we got to talkin' and I lost track of time." He explained.

"Did you talk the poor man's head off?" She chuckled.

"No, he actually liked talkin' to me. He didn't talk much of himself though. Just another ear to listen I suppose. Real nice feller. You'd like him!"

"Is that so?" She scoffed.

"Sure is! He looked a little older than you, but was real polite and charming. You would've fallen in love with his eyes," He explained, knowing his daughter was soft for blue eyes. Jameson was always a man who remembered another's face. In his time, it was crucial to remember a familiar face.

Minnie's heart fluttered as she immediately thought of the "man in blue" back on the Cornwall train. 'That's a one in a million chance it was him' she thought to herself, frowning in disappointment. "So, that's what you do: playing matchmaker for your daughter!" She laughed, shaking the memory of the man's blue eyes from her mind.

"Nah, I just met him while I was having a drink and we got to talking. He reminded me of you, so I immediately brought you up." He explained.

"You didn't tell him my name, did you?" She rose her brows.

"Of course not!"

"Good," She smiled. "I'll go make some dinner," She said as she stood to her feet before stretching by raising her arms above her head. "You still play your banjo? You said earlier that you missed playing."

"I haven't lately. Say, you wanna sing with me later?" He suggested.

"Of course, pa," Minnie smiled. "Give me an hour to make dinner." She assured as she walked into the cabin after getting the provisions from Trace's saddlebag. She caught a glimpse of her father staring off into the distance again like he had done earlier, worried about something happening. She sighed as she knew sooner or later, he would have to be under supervision twenty-four seven. She made her way to the chest at the foot of her bed, pulling out a dark blue skirt to compliment her cream-colored blouse. She tied her apron around her waist as she made haste in getting dinner prepared. Dusk was soon approaching as she lit a lantern to flatter the inside of the cabin while her father lit the lantern that hung from the porch.

"I'll be right back!" He announced from outside. "Goin' to go put Trace up!"

She nodded as she looked at him through the window, rapidly stirring the heated corn kernels, mixing cream and flour in them as it was heating up, making creamed corn as she waited for the camp bread to rise as they cooked on a cast-iron skillet.

"You comin' in for dinner?" She asked as the food was finally ready. It wasn't much, but it was definitely a bigger meal than what was typical: creamed corn, camp bread, celery sticks, salted beef, and potato slices.

"This looks great, dear!" He applauded as he sat across from her at the small table. She smiled as she set his prepared plate in front of him as well as the skillet of camp bread in the middle of the table just in case they wanted more.

"Thank you," She replied as she poured him a tin cup of water before pouring her own as she sat down to join him.

"How long you plan on stayin'?" He asked.

"What kind of question is that?" She furrowed her brows.

"You know exactly what I'm askin'. You know I hate talkin' about this, but I need to know." He replied, his mouth full of creamed corn.

She sighed, "I don't know. We have quite a bit of money for now, so I don't think I'd be goin' anywhere any time soon." She assured him, sighing a breath of relief as she saw him smile at her response. She could tell it made him happy to hear that as well as she, but she knew she would have to leave sometime soon.

Their conversations were brief as they ate, grateful that they were able to eat a meal this big compared to the simple diet of beans, camp bread, and dried fruit. During their meal, she couldn't help but notice how fidgety her father was, which wasn't normal for him unless he was eager to do something.

"What's eatin' at you, pa?" She asked.

"When I was talking to the feller I met, we got to talkin' about how we used to be in church. I miss playin' my banjo while you sing. It brings back so many memories. Wanna go play?" He asked, his grey eyes pleading for remembrance as he was desperate to ignore the awful gut feeling he had of things about to take a turn for the worst.

She smiled, "I haven't sang in years..."

"That don't matter. You know you'll feel better if you sing. Takes stress off ya!" He suggested.

"Alright, fair enough! You got me!" She chuckled. "Let me clean these plates up first. I'll meet you out on the porch." She said. He nodded as he slowly stood to his feet, grabbing his banjo as he walked to the front porch. She grew excited as she heard him tune up the instrument, knowing that he was eager to play as it was one of his many talents. Brief thoughts came back to her from when she would sing in the choir at church growing up, looking at her father for comfort to ease her nerves as he played the banjo while the church group sang. In a way, she needed this as much as he did.

She wiped her hands on her apron before removing it, grabbing a bottle of whiskey to take with her to soothe her nerves, even if she was just singing in front of herself and her father. "Alright, what song should we do?" She asked, sitting down in the rocking chair next to her father.

"Wayfaring Stranger" to start out. It's slow and I know I'm a bit rusty." He chuckled.

"I don't know if I remember the words!" She giggled.

"You will, dear," He assured. "You ready?"

She nodded as she gulped, closing her eyes, waiting to hear the soft strums of the banjo to get the rhythm of the old song.

I am a poor wayfaring stranger Traveling through this world alone There is no sickness, toil nor danger In that fair land to which I go

I'm goin' home to meet my mother I'm goin' home, no more to roam I am just goin' over Jordan I am just goin' over home

I know dark clouds will hover o'er me I know my pathway's rough and steep But golden fields lie out before me Where weary eyes no more will weep

I'm goin' home to meet my father I'm goin' home, no more to roam I am just goin' over Jordan I am just goin' over home

youtube

"I told ya!" He cheered her, chills erecting on his forearms. His daughter really had the voice of an angel. "What about "Cruel World?"

"I'll see if I can remember that one! That one's new!" She chuckled, feeling more confident as her natural talent came back to her.

Cruel, cruel world, must I go on? Cruel, cruel world, I'm moving on I've been living too fast And I've been living too long Cruel, cruel world, I'm gone

This big ol' world sure got me running 'round I heard a voice that said, "Just settle down" And with the moonlight as my guide And with this feeling deep inside I know now that I am homeward bound

"Should we do another?" She asked, taking another shot of whiskey to calm her rattling nerves. It felt as if every other problem in the world has faded away, even the gang lurking in the distance, waiting to make their move.

He smiled as he strummed his banjo once more, his mind searching for the next song to suggest, but his mind was boggled by the irritable gut pain he kept getting, feeling like he was being watched.

"What have we got here? A party?" A man said from horseback, holding his lantern up. Minnie's eyes widened as she stood to her feet, standing in a protective stance in front of her father.

"Mind your business," She snarled.

"Oh, I am, darlin'. You see, I have a reason to be here tonight,"

"Yeah? And I have a reason to shoot you if you don't leave right now!" She warned, raising her brows.

The stranger chuckled, "Ha! I don't see that happenin'," He said as a few more men appeared from the perimeter.

'Me and my big mouth,' She scolded herself.

"Dear, I believe your sins have come to get their due." She heard her father say.

That sentence stung her heart, but she knew he was right. "Get inside," She said.

"What're you gonna do?" He whispered.

"Don't worry about it. They look like bounty hunters. They just want me-"

"Oh, we don't just want you, but this house. Ya see, your buddy needs a place to stay-"

"Your buddy will have a hole in the ground to stay in. Not here, so get lost!" She hissed.

"Get lost, huh?" She heard a familiar voice say.

Colm O'Driscoll.

"Shit," She mumbled. "You heard me," She said, making her voice stern. She never wanted her father to be involved in her ways of being an outlaw, but she came to peace with the fact that he would eventually.

"You're right, I did. Loud and clear. Now you hear me: we're takin' your home. We need a hideout. Now if you want to live with your pa here, I suggest you move aside and let us in," Colm explained.

"Over my dead body!" She snarled.

Colm shrugged his shoulders, taking his pistol from his holster, pulling the hammer back, "If you say so," He said, pulling the trigger, except his aim wasn't on her, but her father.

With a grunt and thud, he landed on the porch. She immediately knelt down to him, holding his head in her hands, crying uncontrollably, apologizing to him, "I'm so sorry! I'll never be able to forgive myself for this!" She cried, her tears blurring her vision. He tightly gripped her hand, using his thumb to rub the top of her hand. "Never be sorry. It's how the ways things is," He panted. "I love you,"

"I love you too," She cried, bowing her head to where her forehead was resting on his. "Give momma a kiss for me,"

He chuckled quietly, "I know she's a-waitin' on me!"

"Get her outta my sight!" She heard Colm demand. She tried her best to fight the two men grabbing her, pulling her away from her father. "Dump him in the wagon right there!" He demanded, pointing to the unusable wagon sitting a few yards away from the cabin.

Both of the men gripped her harshly by her arms, dragging her away from her now-deceased father. Her body was numb and her brain felt stunned while her vision was blurred by her tears. Her heart was broken.

Both of Colm's men drug her into the cabin, using a stiff rope to tie her wrists around the thick cot post before tying her ankles together. "Where should we start?" Colm asked as he walked into the cabin, scavenging the food that had previously been prepared.

"Don't think there ain't shit here, boss." One of the men said.

Colm smirked, "Oh, there's somethin' here. Search every cabinet and chest," He directed. The men nodded as they followed orders. Minnie shut her eyes and turned her head as she felt Colm's presence tower over her, his rough hand gripping her jaw and turning her face towards him. "You got prettier," He whispered, evident of the bourbon he had been drinking. "You think you could get away with threatenin' me like that?" He mocked.

"I still can," She spat. "There ain't much you can do to me now. I got nothin' better to live for."

"Very cooperative, Miss Barlow. Congratulations, you'll be livin' your new life in prison after we have ya turned in. That's a mighty fine bounty you got on your head." He said.

"'Bout as big as the one on yours," She replied, pursing her lips. "I'd rather rot in prison than sit and hear your bullshit words," She opened her eyes to stare into his, taunting him. He clenched his fingers harder against her skin, wanting to make her wince, which she didn't. He didn't want to admit that she was as tough as nails as he was going to do everything in his power to make her crumble.

"What're you gonna do? Hit me? So big and bad." She mocked. Without a response, he did just that, smacking her clean across the face twice, slightly splitting her lip.

"You're gonna wish you didn't piss me off." He said, roughly pulling her closer to him, his lips centimeters from her cheek.

"Likewise."

───※ ·❆· ※───

A few days later...

Arthur took a long draw from his cigarette as he walked through the saloon in Valentine, scanning the area for Javier and Charles. He remembered that Hosea had said they had been going back and forth to Valentine since arriving at Horseshoe Overlook, haste to get a drink almost every night. He put out the cigarette with his boot, walking over to his fellow gang members, chuckling as they were trying to get in between the sheets with the local working girls.

"Hey! Alright, here we go!" Javier cheered as he had talked one of the working girls he had his eyes on to take back a shot of hard liquor he had paid for. Javier had always been one to try too hard to get women. "Oh, Arthur! Come here, come here!" He said, grabbing him by the shoulder. "Come over here, I want you to meet our friends,"

"Please to meet you," Arthur said, not interested in getting to know these women, although he couldn't keep his eyes off of the younger woman's oversized breasts. 'No wonder Javier wants a go at that,' He thought to himself.

"Well ain't you just the tough as teak mountain man," The large-breasted woman flirted, her eyes scanning him up and down, biting her lip at his strong build and broad shoulders.

"Oh, you be quiet, Anastasia, anyone can tell this one is a pussy cat!" The other woman teased.

"Exactly, yes he's a pussy...cat," Javier said, bringing back the attention of the women to himself. "Ain't that so, Arthur?"

"Whatever you say," Arthur replied, standing back to look at the women up and down like they did to him. "How much you cost, anyway?"

"Well ain't that a nice way to talk to a lady," Anastasia flirted, resting her elbows on the bar as she leaned back.

"Oh, I didn't know I was talkin' to a lady," Arthur sneered, thankful that they got offended.

"Excuse me," Anastasia said, embarrassed, gesturing for the other girl to follow her, Charles attempting to graze her arm as he was almost heartbroken that she was leaving.

"Well, I must say, you got a fine way with the women, amigo," Javier sighed.

"Yeah, a regular dandy and a charmer," Arthur chuckled, now leaning against the bar. "Where's Bill?" He asked before taking back a shot.

"Oh, man, I dread to think about it," Javier replied, taking a drink for his own. "Hey hey hey, there he is!" Javier pointed to his now-drunken friend, staggering through the saloon doors, accidentally bumping into a fellow customer.

"Hey! Watch where you're goin'!" Bill spat, pushing the man away from him.

"Take it easy!" The local replied.

"Is he about to kiss that guy or punch him?" Arthur questioned, taking another shot as he knew he was about to get his knuckles bloody.

"Oh, and we have our answer!" Javier said, taking the lead and attacking the man that punched Bill.

Arthur sighed as he prepared his fists by cracking his knuckles and rolling his shoulders as he made his way to an opponent, delivering a few good blows before being punched himself, making his anger peak.

"Let's just shoot these bastards!" He heard Bill yell as he was growing more agitated that he was receiving more punches than delivering.

"Don't think that's a good idea!" Arthur grunted as he used the pillar to slam his opponent's head, knocking him out cold.

"Ain't there no men in this saloon?" Bill teased as three men had him cornered, two holding each of his arms as the third was delivering blows to his abdomen and face. Arthur groaned as he grabbed the man by the shoulders, turning him around to hook him square in the jaw, sending him staggering until he fell backward, holding his face.

"What the hell is goin' on down here?" A gruff voice said from atop the staircase. Arthur's eyes widened at how big this man was, secretly hoping that he wasn't going to have to fight him. 'With my luck...' He thought.

"No, Tommy, stay outta this!" The bartender pleaded as he took shelter behind the bar.

"Come here, you little greaser!" Tommy mocked, his attention on Javier.

Javier shook his knuckles as he attempted to throw a punch at him, Arthur following closely behind before being struck from behind by a man with an old wooden chair, wrapping his arms around Arthur's neck, using his elbow to squeeze.

"Get the hell off me!" Arthur grunted as he used his elbow to deliver a few strikes to his abdomen. Once he was weakened, Arthur escaped from his grip, using everything he had to throw a solid punch to the man's temple, knocking him out cold.

"He ain't gettin' up from that!" Bill chuckled. "Javier needs some help, Morgan!" He said.

Arthur rushed to Javier, whose face was being implanted into the wooden table closest to the window.

"Hey, tough guy!" Arthur yelled, grabbing Tommy by the shoulders, pulling him off of Javier before punching him in the stomach. Tommy pursed his lips before grabbing Arthur's jacket collar, striking him in the cheek before effortlessly throwing him across the table. "You want some too, huh?" Tommy mocked as Arthur struggled to get up, trying to catch his breath. Tommy gripped his jacket, using his body to almost throw Arthur through the window, tumbling into the muddy street below.

"Come on, pretty boy," Tommy mocked, marching down the three steps that led out of the saloon.

"You're kiddin' me, pretty boy?" Arthur questioned as he staggered to his feet, mentally preparing himself for another brawl.

The men boxed for a good few minutes before Arthur finally had the final say, straddling Tommy as he repeatedly delivered multiple blows to the man's face, wondering why he wasn't out cold yet. If it were up to him, he would've shot him by now.

"Stop! Stop! Please!" A bystander intervened, putting himself between Arthur as he was sure he was close to splitting Tommy's skull. "Please, I beg you. Stop. Come, sir. You won the fight already, surely that's enough?" The man suggested.

"What business is it of yours?" Arthur growled.

"No business," The man replied, coughing as he spit bile from his mouth. "No business, sir, but please, I beg you-"

Arthur had enough, pushing past the man as he quickly tended to Tommy. Arthur grabbed his shoulder as it was aching more than any other limb, making his way to the general store to have a seat on the bench outside, not even noticing Dutch's presence.

"Making new friends again I see, Arthur," He heard a familiar foreign voice say.

"Look who we found sniffing about," Dutch said, introducing the gang's longtime friend, Josiah Trelawny, a former member of the Van der Linde gang and Englishman. By how Arthur noted how he was dressed, he wasn't the only one giving him the odd look of 'this man is a long way from civilization.'

"Josiah Trelawny," Arthur said.

"The very same!" Dutch chuckled as Josiah did a bow, introducing himself.

"Well, well," Arthur said as he took a seat on the bench. "I thought you'd gone to New York?"

"And miss all this glamour?" Josiah replied in his sing-song voice. "You must be joking!"

"How are you?" Arthur asked as he now stood up to walk off his aches as sitting only seemed to make it worse.

"Quite well indeed," Josiah replied. "I went to Blackwater looking for you gentlemen. You're not very popular down there it seems," He explained. "Ah Javier and Charles! I've missed you! And Bill looking as well as can be. Gentlemen, always a pleasure!"

"You're right, we ain't too popular in Blackwater," Dutch nodded as the men seemed to be gathered in a small circle to talk about future plans.

"We left a lot of money there," Arthur said to Josiah as he was now sitting on the steps to the general store, finding the steps more comfortable than the bench.

"And young Sean it seems," Josiah added, referring to the young, cocky Irishman who had been with the gang and captured by the lawmen in Blackwater.

"Sean? You found him?" Dutch asked.

"Yes, I have!" Josiah nodded. "He's being held by some bounty hunters trying to see how much money the government will pay them. I know he's in Blackwater, but there's talk of him moving," He explained.

"Well, if we step foot in Blackwater well, then we're dead men for sure," Arthur warned, groaning as a sharp pain entered his jaw as he almost struggled to stand up.

"They'll be Pinkertons all over the place, but if he's alive we gotta try," Dutch said.

"Yeah, of course,"

"It's you they want, Dutch," Josiah warned.

"Always is. Charles, go find out what you can, carefully. Josiah, take Javier. Arthur, go get yourself cleaned up. Join them when you're ready," Dutch commanded.

"Well, what about me?" Bill asked, walking with Dutch as he dismissed himself.

"Well exactly, what about you?"

"W-What does that mean?"Bill questioned.

"Ah, Bill. Come on,"

Arthur shook his head as he made his way to the barrel of water in the alleyway, quickly cleaning his face before heading to the hotel to pay happily for a piping hot bath and a warm bed to stay in.

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