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loveharlow · 21 days

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SEVEN [THE INBETWEEN] - IN LOVING MEMORY

PAIRING ‧₊˚ JJ Maybank x Fem!Reader

SYNOPSIS‧₊˚[2.9k] A week after John B and Sarah were lost at sea, you and JJ navigate a new living situation and unsuccessfully avoid the inevitable grief process, leading to a private memorial as you honor a fallen brother.

WARNING(S)‧₊˚ swearing, mentions of death, grief avoidance

NOW PLAYING‧₊˚

A/N‧₊˚ I think these little 3-chapter pauses between each season are gonna be my favorite things because it focuses sooo much more on just TR and JJ <3 but this first one really focuses on their grief over John B

˗ˏˋ series masterlist ˎˊ˗

IT’D BEEN A WEEK SINCE JOHN B AND SARAH DISAPPEARED. Shoupe said that the department wasn’t calling the search off just yet but you knew they weren’t looking. There’d been no updates, no boats out on the water — it was as if the entire station had retired.

Metal clanked against wood as JJ set the wrench down on the work table — music playing lowly in the background as the blonde worked on your car. The two of you were in John B’s Surf Shack at The Chateau, the car halfway pulled in so JJ could work outside of the heat, but the sun was relentless. The hood was flipped up as the boy inspected and toyed with the parts — sweat dripping down his forehead from his damp strands of hair, shirt long abandoned as he stood only in a pair of army green cargo shorts and his signature worn-down, unlaced combat boots, shark tooth dangling from his neck.

“Are you gonna keep staring or do you wanna help?” JJ asked, leaning his hands on the exterior of the car, eyes squinting from the sun as he looked up at your figure that was sitting on top of the worktable, feet swinging as you watched him.

“When I tried to help, you told me to, and I quote, ‘sit my unhelpful ass down somewhere’.” You reminded the boy, cocking your head as you took a sip of the beer you’d retrieved from the house.

“Maybe because when I asked you to hand me the box end wrench and you handed me a pair of pliers?” He sassed back, standing from his leaned over position and walking closer to you, snatching up his own beer and taking a long swig.

You shrugged. “Same difference.”

“Hate to break it to you, princess, but no it's not.” JJ chuckled, leaning against the work table. His eyes drifted down to where you were scratching your ankle as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. “I told you like ten times to stop scratchin’ it. It ain’t gonna help.” He reprimanded, setting the beer down and taking your ankle in his hands, leveling it in front of him.

You groaned as he swatted your hand away. “But it itches, so bad.” You whined. “Probably because you did it with a needle and pen ink.” You pouted, both of you inspecting the small, scraggly ‘P4L’ tattoo on your ankle. “How come yours doesn’t itch?” You asked, referring to the matching tattoo the blonde had done on himself.

“It does.” He told you, pulling out a small thing of vaseline from his shorts and scooping some up on one of his fingers. “I’m just not a pussy.” He joked, side-eyeing you as he gently applied the jelly over the artwork.

Just then, Marley came running into the shack, almost knocking JJ off of his feet. You bursted out into a fit of laughter as the blonde steadied himself, staring down the dog. “You fuckin’ mutt…” He muttered, letting your leg swing back towards you gently.

“Hey,” You warned, plucking his arm. “Watch it, or I’ll have her piss on your pillows.”

“Yeah, yeah…” He waved off, walking out of the shack and into the afternoon sun. "I'm takin' a breather from your piece of shit on wheels. That thing needs way more than TLC..." He told you over his shoulder. You quickly hopped off the table and followed after him, whistling for Marley to follow your lead.

"Don't blame my car because you have the skills of a mechanic from Craigslist." You defended as JJ led you all the way down to the boat pier behind The Chateau, both of you sitting down on the wood, kicking off your shoes to let your toes hit the water. Marley laid down behind you two.

He chuckled lightly before you fell into silence. That’d been happening a lot lately. It wasn’t uncomfortable, though. In the week you and JJ had been learning to live together at The Chateau, you’d grown to just sit in silence with him. Quiet mornings, lazy nights. Neither of you had to speak or force a conversation — just bask in the company of one another, knowing you still had someone.

There were days like this — where things seemed almost normal, but only for a moment. But then it was as if you’d both simultaneously realize that nothing was normal and it probably never would be ever again, that realization never failed to cast a cloud over the atmosphere.

John B was gone. He wasn’t on another marathon from DCS, he wasn’t out cleaning boats to keep the lights on at The Chateau — he was just gone. And something inside of you felt so empty. Ever since you were kids, toddlers, it was always you, John B, and JJ. And even when you made each other mad or sad, you always came back together in the end.

Now, it was just the two of you. Sure, you had Kie and Pope but that was different. John B was their friend too but there was a deeper grief that they couldn’t understand. But JJ could.

“You remember, in third grade, when John B asked out that girl and she told him no ‘cause he had cooties?” JJ asked, a small smile on his features as he stared down at the water. You laughed, shaking your head.

“And when he tried to hug her she screamed and the teacher gave him a lecture about consent.” You laughed, looking up at the sun. “But maybe he needed it. I remember after, he apologized and shook her hand instead.”

“She still wouldn’t go out with him, though.”

“You wanna know something funny?” You asked, turning to face him as he looked at you. “I ran into her when I moved to Figure Eight. She lives on the lower end now. It’s so crazy because she ended up getting chlamydia from some guy and then passed it to his best friend.”

“Holy shit.” JJ laughed loudly, his bright smile on full display. You wished to see his smile like that more often. JJ usually tried to seem happy and carefree, but it was a sight to see when it was genuine. As his laughter died out, he had a look of contemplation on his face.

You nudged his shoulder to gain his attention. “What're you thinkin' about?”

He bit the inside of his cheek for a moment, eyes scanning your face. You didn’t know what for. Then he reached into the pocket of his shorts, hand fishing around for a moment before he pulled out something — a pastel green dog collar with a heart shaped named tag. He laid the object out in his grease covered palm and extended it over for you to see.

Your eyes fleeted between the collar and his face, a look of nervousness as he avoided your eyes. Taking it from his hand to hold in both of yours, you huffed out a laugh. There were ridges on the edges, as if the fabric of the collar had been hand-cut. “...Did you make this yourself?”

“Yeah, it’s nothing.” He dismissed, scratching the back of his neck and attempting to seem nonchalant about the gesture. “I wasn't doing shit, got bored. If you, uh, if you turn it over-” You wasted no time, flipping the name tag to the other side, eyes landing first on the ‘if lost, please call…” note then drifting lower to see ‘P4L’ engraved in the metal beneath your phone number.

“Um, yeah that.” JJ finished. “It’s honestly nothing. It's fine if you think its stupid, I just figured-”

He never got to finish his nervous rambling as you pulled the boy into a hug. His arms staggered before hugging you back, going around your waist and almost pulling you into him. “Thank you.” You mumbled into his neck. "And it's not stupid. I love it." You could feel small tears leaving your eyes and making home on his sweaty skin, you just hoped he didn’t notice.

“Are you crying?” He asked, pulling back from the embrace and taking your face in his hands. “Oh, shit. Please, don’t cry.” He panicked, using his thumbs to wipe the tears from your cheeks, leaving grease trails behind in their wake, the gesture making you chuckle sadly.

You don’t know what made you cry. You hadn’t cried in a full week. “Sorry, sorry...it's just that everything is so messed up.” You sniffed. “I wish I could go back to last year. Before my dad died, before all that shit with Rafe, before my mom became someone else, before John B...” You choked out, trying to remove your face from his hands but he wouldn’t let you. “If finding the gold means losing the only people I have left one by one, then fuck it.”

“We don’t know if he’s, y'know.. they’re still looking-”

“No, they’re not.” You scoffed. “They just don’t want to tell us that. Because if they do, they know we’ll start looking for ourselves and they’ll have four more dead kids on their hands.” You doubted, struggling to hold back more tears. JJ simply used his hold on your face to pull your head into him. Something about the gesture made you burst out into sobs, muffled by his chest. Most people would find such a genuine, serious gesture from JJ Maybank odd or rare. But in all your years of knowing him, JJ understood emotions better than most people, he just lacked the ability to show them sometimes.

He was there when they found your dad’s body, all of your friends were. The police only let you through because you were his daughter but when the wind blew the tarp off of his bloated, pale body, JJ was the only one who threw all caution to the wind and ducked under the caution tape, weaved through like ten police officers and caught you before you fell to your knees in the sand.

JJ was one of the most empathetic people you knew, but he’d never cater to his own needs as much as he did for others.

“I miss him, too.” He said solemnly, taking a shaky deep breath. “Believe me, man.” He scoffed, but his voice wavered prompting you to lift your head to look up at him, sniffling. “Bree was my brother. I can’t even tell you how many times he was just there for me. He got me out of a lot of shit and I always gave him shit for it. He would always tell me he just didn’t want me to end up like my piece of shit father and I was always such a dick about it. I knew it was because he cared but I…” He sighed, wiping the stray tear that had fallen from his eye with the butt of his palm. “I just wish I had been a better friend. I know I get us into a lot of shit and I’m impulsive and-”

“You were a good friend.” You cut off his monologue of martyrdom, sitting up straighter to look at him directly, using one hand to cup the back of his neck as you spoke. “John B loved you. Yeah, he might’ve gotten a little pissed whenever you got all trigger happy-” You joked, eliciting a small laugh from JJ. “-But he always understood that’s just who you are. He always cared about you all the same. He would’ve done anything for you.”

“And now he’s…shit, he’s gone.” He sniffed, wiping under his nose as he avoided your eyes, a frown on his face. “And I don’t have anyone like that anymore.”

“You have me.” You smiled pitifully. “I may not be a six-foot, brunette male who's oddly obsessed with bandanas but I think I can fill his spot. Make it work, somehow.” You joked playfully.

JJ scoffed, shaking his head. “Nah, you have your own spot.” He told you, his blue eyes finally finding the courage to meet yours again. “No one could replace Bree. Or you. You were the two people I never wanted to lose in life. And now he’s gone and I don’t know what I’m feeling or what the fuck to do about it because I’ve never felt it before. And sure, I want to fight for him and get the gold back but now I’m scared that that might mean we lose someone else and I don't know what I’ll do if the person we lose is you.”

You shook your head, pressing your forehead against his. “You’ll never lose me. Even if I’m not here.” You reminded, fingers scratching at the hair on the nape of his neck. “And even if John B is gone gone, he’s still here. Probably telling us to grow a pair, right now.” You chuckled despondently, both of you somewhere between laughing and crying.

All of a sudden, a wet, rough tongue hit the side of both of your faces — Marley apparently feeling left out from the exchange. The action had the two of you pulling apart, shielding your faces from the attack of dog kisses. She was like a light, her typical high energy making you feel just a little less sad inside. “Alright, alright…” You said, lightly pushing the dog back as she panted and wagged her tail so fast it made her whole body wiggle.

Just then, you realized you still had JJ’s gift clutched in your palm, peering at the object before beckoning Marley to come closer and commanding her to sit. She was still panting, mouth open and tongue out as you buckled the collar around her neck, adjusting it to fit and spinning it so the heart tag sat where it was supposed to, her name engraved in JJ’s handwriting.

As soon as your hands were off of her, she turned her attention to JJ, burying her head in his lap and rolling over on her back, wanting the blonde to rub her stomach. It was like she knew he’d made it for her.

“She must like you.” You said, voice a bit scratchy now.

JJ shrugged, caressing the animal’s stomach with a small smile on his face. “I guess she’s alright.” He trailed off playfully. You admired them for a moment, the sight making your nerves settle in a way they hadn’t been able to in the last seven days.

For a moment, everything was calm. This was peace.

“Hey, JJ?” You piped up, the boy’s eyes leaving the dog as he looked at you in a questioning manner. “I know we’re waiting on Kie and Pope to actually memorialize JB but would you want to do something, just me and you? Not to leave them out or anything, I just thought we could, I don’t know, mourn him differently. He was a part of us.”

He pondered on the idea for a moment before nodding. “Yeah… yeah, I think he’d like that.”

You simply nodded in response, getting up from the dock to go into The Chateau, not even bothering to put your shoes back on. Entering the house, you looked around for something that sparked an idea on how you could honor John B. You spotted an empty glass bottle — write a note and send it out to sea? No. That didn’t seem right.

Still looking around, your eyes found two tealight candles on the coffee table, untouched and never lit. You hadn’t recalled them being there before. Picking up the two candles in one hand, you headed back outside, the sun beginning to set and casting an orange hue over the water in front of you the closer you got to JJ and Marley.

Sitting back down, you handed one of the candles to JJ. “Just something small.” You told him, the blonde taking the small candle from you and reaching into his pocket to retrieve the lighter he typically carried with him. Marley had her head in his lap, less energetic than she was just minutes prior. Her big, puppy eyes just watched the two of you light the candles as the sun got lower in the sky by the minute.

“Should we, like, say something before we let them go?” JJ asked, eyes on you.

“It’s up to you.” You shrugged. Just then, Marley got up from his lap, running through the grass and to the trees. You didn’t bother to chase her, she always came back.

JJ’s fingers of his free hand drummed on his thigh as he thought. When he finally had something, he shifted his weight and held the candle carefully in his hand. “To Bree.” He started, voice shaking. “My best friend, my brother, and the unluckiest guy I’ve ever met. I promise to not pimp your shortboard.” He said, looking at the flame swaying from side to side, before looking at you, waiting for you to say something.

Your nerves jumped a bit, not really knowing what to say. You figured something was better than nothing. “To John B. One of my greatest friends, my trauma twin, and the best DCS fugitive I’ve ever met.” You spoke, looking out at the sunset.

“Love you, man.” JJ finished, reaching his long arm down to gently set the candle on top of the water, watching it slowly drift away. You followed his lead, having to bend down a bit further to let the candle hit the water safely. Both of you sat silently, watching the two miniscule flames drift further out with the waves. You wondered how far they would make it before they went out.

Suddenly, the patter of paws came running back, Marley wedging her way between the two of you with a stick between her teeth. The dog got dangerously close to the edge of the pier you were sitting on before letting the stick drop from her jaws and hit the water, sitting down between you and JJ as she panted.

You heard about cats leaving gifts for people of significance, maybe this was her version of a candle. The action made you and JJ look at each other before laughing and hugging the dog in sync. She reveled in the attention, tail wagging ferociously.

You and your friends had a long way to go before anything would feel okay again. But just having each other was enough, right now. You couldn’t rush grief. You’d just have to let things take their course and hopefully one day, John B wouldn’t be such a sad memory.

feedback is appreciated! thanks for reading.

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britany1997 · 11 months

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Let’s Motor

I genuinely wasn’t expecting the response to Rev Your Engines that I got, I was feeling very insecure about my writing when I posted it and I’m crying that y’all loved it so much😭 (read part one here)

I’ve also decided on subsequent fics to indicate when I won’t be writing any more parts, so this will be the final part to this series:) hope y’all love it!

Pre-read by my motorcycle expert adopted brother @pixielostboy 🥰

Poly! Lost boys x GN motor expert reader

🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇

You rolled out from under your 1953 Buick wildcat, smearing your hand across your face as you attempted to wipe it clean of oil.

When you’d finished your shift for the night, your boss was kind enough to let you use the shop’s tools to fix up your own ride.

The tune ups were going well, but you still took your Harley to work instead, hopeful you’d run into the strange group of rockers from a few days ago.

You checked your watch and sighed. Lately you’d tended to drag your feet, just in case the biker boys did drop by, but after days of waiting, you’d finally decided they weren’t coming.

That is until you heard the familiar mumbling of four motors pulling up behind you. You chuckled to yourself as you pulled a bandana from your back pocket to wipe your brow and turned around.

Your face fell as you realized the sight in front of you was not the four weirdos you were hoping to meet again, but another group of leather clad bikers.

You sighed and turned back to pack up your things.

“Expectin’ someone?”

You whipped your head around to lock eyes with a smirking Paul, leaning against a broken down truck one of your coworkers had been fixing up.

“Hello again,” you raised an eyebrow as you wiped down your tools, “where ya been?”

“Been busy sugar,” he explained, “didn’t mean we didn’t wanna come.”

Your lips turned up against your will as you shrugged in reply, “maybe I wanted to see you guys too.”

Paul’s face lit up at your words.

“Why didn’t I hear your bike pull up?” you asked.

“Got one of those silent mufflers, bike don’t make a sound,” he told you.

Your brow furrowed in confusion. Silent mufflers? “What?”

“Kidding babe, just didn’t wanna move the bikes from the boardwalk, I uh walked over.”

You scoffed, “isn’t it like a five mile walk?”

Paul rubbed the back of his neck nervously, “yeah I uh, I walk fast.”

You snorted, “whatever Paulie, you want a ride back on my bike?”

“Yes please,” he sing-songed as he practically skipped over to your side.

You mounted your Harley before Paul slid in behind you. “Hold on tight yeah?” you told him.

“Don’t gotta tell me twice sugar,” he said as his arms slid around your middle. He squeezed your sides gently causing you to flinch.

“Maybe not that tight,” you laughed.

Paul moved his hands to rest on your hips as you nudged up your kickstand with your heel before reving your engine and taking off down the road.

The short drive to the boardwalk gave Paul’s hands many opportunities to wander from your hips, but luckily for him you didn’t mind too much.

You parked your bike to the side of Max’s video as both you and Paul slid off and walked toward the three other boys loitering near the pier.

“Well, well, well,” David smirked as he took a drag, “just couldn’t stay away could ya?”

You scoffed in mock offense, “excuse me, but this one,” you jerked your thumb towards Paul, “tracked me down at work for you idiots.”

David threw his cigarette to the ground and stomped it out, “maybe we needed you to fix up one of our bikes again.”

You snorted, “they look fine to me.”

Dwayne rolled his eyes, “sorry about him, we really did just want to see you.”

You blushed as your gaze fell to the gorgeous brunette man’s shoes, “I kinda wanted to see you guys again too.”

“Wanna race?” Marko blurted out, bouncing on his heels in excitement.

Your head snapped up, “race? Race where?” you asked.

“Hudson’s bluff,” David spoke up, “you know it?”

“Yeah I know it,” you paused for a second, “what does the winner get?”

“A kiss from you,” Paul said smirking, as he leaned an elbow on your shoulder.

You rolled your shoulder, causing his elbow to slide right off you, “and what do I get if I win?” you asked.

“Four kisses,” Paul winked.

You rolled your eyes, “if I win I want…” you trailed off as you thought to yourself.

A lightbulb went off in your head, “I want that,” you decided as you pointed at David’s long black trenchcoat.

David’s jaw dropped, not usually one to be caught off guard, “…you want my coat?”

He regained his senses, “absolutely not, no.”

You pouted in mock sympathy, “scared you’re gonna lose Davey?”

He scoffed, “never.”

You shrugged, “then you’ve got nothing to worry about right?”

David bit his lip and weighed his options. There were four of them and only one of you. How could one little human beat four vicious vampires? You didn’t stand a chance.

David smirked and stuck out his hand, “deal.”

You smiled as you shook his hand, “alright then.”

It didn’t take the five of you long to clamor onto your bikes and line up parallel to each other.

“You’re going down,” Marko whispered from the left of you as Dwayne counted down.

You smirked, “we’ll see.”

As soon as Dwayne bellowed “go,” you were off.

You whipped through the beach, kicking up sand as you rode and making a mental note to clean your wheels later. Paul and David had an early lead, with you and Marko not far behind.

Dwayne trailed behind the four of you, but you suspected it wasn’t for lack of ability but more to teach David a lesson. Either way, you appreciated it.

As you turned off into the forest you pulled past Paul, flicking a wave in his direction as you left him in the dust. You smiled as you heard a soft gasp behind you from the shocked blond boy.

You leaned forward, your brow furrowing as you accelerated until you were neck and neck with David.

“Give up? You could still keep your coat,” you taunted him, keeping your eyes trained on the road.

“Not on your life.” he spit through gritted teeth.

“Suit yourself,” you replied as you pushed forward on the throttle, weaving in front of David and pulling up at the edge of the cliff.

David pulled to a stop in disbelief, “you…how did you…” he sputtered as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.

You smiled, “increased the size of my rear sprocket by two teeth awhile back, helps the bike accelerate quicker,” you explained.

“Why didn’t you say anything babe?” Paul inquired as he parked next to the two of you.

You shrugged, “you never asked,”

“Pretty smart if you ask me,” Marko admitted as he joined as well, “I woulda done that too.”

“Looks like you’ve got a jacket to hand over huh David?” Dwayne teased as he came around to David’s side, playing with the hem of the coat.

David’s face flushed red as he realized. He moved to take the coat off when you stopped him, placing a hand on his.

“No need,” you assured him, “the look on your face is a good enough prize for me.”

David grumbled as the other boys dissolved into fits of laughter.

“You’re a good time babe,” Paul nudged you with his elbow, “we live just down there if you’d like to come in for a drink,” he offered smoothly as the others exchanged knowing glances.

“Sure,” you smiled, “I could go for a drink.”

🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇

Taglist❤️:

@pixielostboy @bloodywickedvamp @6lostgirl6 @anna1306 @misslavenderlady @sidefanficaccounttohidemyshame @paulxbathbomd @peachpixiesstuff @ria-coolgirl @flower-crowned-lady @lostboys1987girl @ghoulgeousimmaculate @feardot-com @softchonk @gothamslostboy @arenpath @bitchyexpertprincess @memphiscity69 @kurt-nightcrawler @solobagginses @mickkmaiden333 @arbesa-mind @warrior-616 @consuming-karma @dwaynedelight @vampirefilmlover @its-freaking-bats @dwaynesluscioushair @hallotonia

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sumeru-academy · 1 year

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M.U.S.E Event Case 009. Kokomi x Female Reader

◇ Report submitted by: Moderator Angel on ▇▇▇▇.

temporary paralysis, reader almost gets stabbed in the nose

CASE FILE. MUSE-009

CLASS. MERMAID

SEVERITY. 3/10

DESCRIPTION. The fishermen of Watatsumi island have been complaining of a mysterious sea creature slashing their nets whenever they go out to fish. Every time they reel the nets up, they always come up empty with nothing but a gaping hole, the faint shimmering of pearlescent pink scales, and no fish. Villagers have taken it upon themselves to call for a monster hunter to remove this unknown creature.

“Ugh, sushi? No thanks.” You waved your hand dismissively at your coworker and eyed the mission board instead. “You go on ahead. I think I’m gonna take another job for some extra cash.”

“You sure?” Your coworker Thoma only stared at you in disbelief. It had been ages since you last took a break for dinner, and he was half tempted to change his dinner plans to something you did like in order to get you to take a break for once in your life. He can’t help it! He’s worried about your workaholic attitude!

“We could…go to that other restaurant you like so much. Don’t their rice bowls sound tempti–”

“This one!”

Thoma watched as you tore a job listing off the board and smiled with newfound glee. “Heh, ironic you brought up sushi beforehand, Thoma, cuz this job is an aquatic creature.”

“Ah…a merperson?” Thoma broke into a cold sweat at your excitement. “You really want to go to the coast at this time of night?” He worried over you like a mother who couldn’t let go. “No silly, the island I’m going to is at least a day’s trip away, I need to prepare some equipment tonight before I go.”

“Oh phew. So you can go to dinner tonight?” Poor Thoma sounded like an excited puppy.

“What? Dinner?” You literally laughed out loud at his statement. “Oh Thoma, you jokester!”

Thoma was in fact, not joking.

“Y/N don’t give me that tone, you haven’t had a decent meal in over six months!” He held up six fingers to further accentuate his statement. “Everytime I come over to your place you’re always munching on those smiley face fries, or snacks you bought at the corner store. It’s not healthy!”

You stared at Thoma’s outburst and frowned.

“I like those smiley face fries.”

“No!”

Thoma grabbed your hand with the paper and balled it up in his fists. “Listen, if you let me treat you to dinner this once, I promise I’ll come over and help set up your equipment for this job.”

“Gaaaaaaasp. Really?” Wow, Thoma really is the ultimate best friend. “Deal! Also I’m ordering the most expensive thing there.”

“As long as you eat properly…” Thoma sighed. “Now let’s go get this job approved for you.”

The journey to Watatsumi island was a short yet very tedious one. It required you to rent a motorboat off the pier and sail yourself to the secluded fishing village of Watatsumi island on your own. The waves did not seem to want to work in your favor as your tiny little motorboat was tossed back and forth for the past few hours and caused you to become sick upon reaching Watatsumi’s docks. Your poor, iron-stomached bravado being torn to mere shreds as you got off your dingy little boat with legs wobblier than a newborn lamb. Locals of the village looking at you in pity with how green your face looked upon arrival.

“Thank goodness! You must be the monster hun–”

“Yeah yeah just give me a second…”

You screwed your eyes shut whilst you got your equipment off the boat. Willing the seasick headache to go away as you had a job to do and the quicker you did it, the quicker you could get off this island.

“Erm, do you need some help, miss?” One of the men at the dock asked timidly.

“Sigh. Half this stuff can explode and half this stuff can poison you. I’d rather not risk a dead man on my name after this.” You seemed so tired already after your time at sea and you didn’t even get to see what kind of monster you were dealing with. “Just let me handle this, I’m a professional.”

“O-Of course Miss monster hunter.”

Upon getting the last briefcase off your barely functional rowboat, you exhaled a sigh of relief and looked around at the shoddy fishing village before you. The whole place not looking too good as it looked like it went through fifty rounds of thunderstorms before you got there.

‘I thought they were only suffering from a major food crisis…’ you pondered, taking in how the dock itself had holes in it. ‘Not good. The whole place is practically falling apart.’

“I thought the Watatsumi fishing village was a prosperous one…?” you voiced out loud, eyes widening when one of the ceiling tiles of a nearby shop fell off. Holy cannoli, this place was held up by toothpicks!

“It used to be,” the timid man from before sighed. “But then we ran out of fish to sell on the mainland. Our main source of income now is whatever we can sell from our homes.” Your nose scrunched up at this reveal and you couldn’t help but feel guilty for lashing out at him earlier. “The situation has gotten this out of hand?” You watched as people began loading up wagons with household furniture to sell.

“Unfortunately.”

‘All this just because of one pesky sea monster…’ you scoffed and grabbed your stuff to head for the motel. ‘How annoying.’

“Timid boy,” you called for him to come and gestured to your bags beside you. “Take my stuff to the inn. I’ll be doing some investigating before taking any course of action.”

“B-But I’m not a bellhop!”

You threw a small sack of coins behind you and watched from your peripheral vision as he stumbled to catch it. “You are now. That should pay you plenty.”

“Ah–! Miss monster hunter!”

“Don’t worry! I’ll be back soon!” you waved your hand dismissively and made your way deeper into town. The poor man left to handle your equipment, even though you said not to earlier.

‘B-But she said they could explode and poison me…!’

“Over here is the cove where we do most of our fishing.”

After wandering around and speaking to a few fishermen, they led you to a wide cove on the edge of Watatsumi and showed you the damages caused to their nets by the unknown anomaly. “As you can see, these nets that were casted out not too far from here were violently slashed to threads after just being underwater for a minute. I mean, what could cause such destruction?!”

“May I see the nets for myself, Mr. Fisherman?”

“Do as you please, you’re the expert after all.”

He handed you one of the tattered nets and watched as you inspected it closely, catching bits of shimmering pink scales caught in the threads of the thick rope. ‘Hm…these scales…’ you plucked one off its knot and held it up closer to the sun. ‘Pearlescent, light in color, nearly translucent, rounder…’

You chuckled and handed the scale over to the fisherman. “You’re lucky this creature isn’t too serious. It’s not a siren or sea serpent of any sort, just a young merperson.”

“A merperson? You could tell?” The fisherman seemed in awe at your professionalism. “Of course, I can even tell that the merperson we’re talking about here is a young one. Judging by the scales, they’re much firmer and smoother compared to older merfolk who have brittle and rougher scales.”

“Wow, you’re incredible!” The fisherman boisterously laughed. “I woulda assumed it was some sort of rainbow fish judging from the glittery pink.”

You shrugged and gestured to the pile of discarded nets behind, trying not to let your ego get the better of you. “Can I check the other nets too? I need to ensure that it’s the work of either one merperson or a whole pod.”

“Pod?!”

You ignored his surprise and walked over to pick up one of the discarded nets, holding them up to examine the scales and sure enough, they were light pink and shimmery just like the one you plucked. ‘Only one merperson?’ you were amused at the idea of a single merperson doing so much damage to one town. ‘Now this is interesting.’

“S-So?” The fisherman looked anxious at your ongoing silence. “Is it bad?”

“What? Oh no, of course not!” you burst out laughing and tossed the ruined net aside. “I can determine that this is the work of only one merperson. For whatever reason, they moved into the cove and have started slashing your nets for food or whatever reason I’ll come up with later.”

The fisherman exhaled a sigh of relief and patted your shoulder in assurance. “Phew, so you can get rid of it?” he asked with a toothy grin.

“Tch, of course I can!” You flicked his hand off your shoulder and grinned an egoistic smile. “I’ve beheaded literal sea serpents before, this’ll all just be a walk in the park.”

“Hahaha! I knew our village chief would only hire the best of the best!” the fisherman –who was already getting a tad bit annoying to you– slapped your back with a big muscly arm and nearly sent you flying. “Oh whoops! Sorry, I forget my arms can send people flying sometimes. Whoopsies!”

You groaned and waved off his apology to keep searching around the cove for clues. Unknowingly attracting the attention of two curious blue eyes peeking at you from underneath the pier.

‘Scary pretty lady…’ its pupils following you in both admiration and fear.

After getting a quick walk –not really quick, it took two hours– around the cove and analyzing your area for a bit, you decided that now would be the best time to strike as the sun was high in the air, and the sky was as clear as the water. Wow, the people of Watatsumi really knew how to take care of their waters!

“Agh, I can’t wait to get out of here,” you tossed your equipment in yet another dinghy row boat and went over to untie the ropes latched onto the pier. “Then Thoma can treat me to some more expensive food and I can eat like the queen that I am.”

You began daydreaming about all the restaurants you would drag him to once this job was over, and thought about possibly taking up that vacation week you haven’t used yet to take some quality me time and unwind. Maybe Thoma was right, you did tend to overwork yourself even though you complained often about having to do so much work. You didn’t even understand it yourself yet somehow it always happens.

‘Ugh. I hate when Thoma is right.’ You chewed your bottom lip in frustration when the knot holding your boat in place wouldn’t come undone. ‘But I also wish he were here to help me get this STUPID KNOT UNTIED–’

SPLASH!

Your body froze when you heard a loud splash coming from the water and a wet ‘plop’ coming from the very edge of the dock. The dock you were currently stationed at was one that wasn’t frequently used by the village, so there was practically no one in sight as it was just you, your boat, and whatever just came out of the water just now.

“Wh-What the fu–” your eyes widened when they raised to see a young mermaid woman adoring pastel pink hair to match her equally pastel pink tail. Light blue tips that matched the color of the sky and a soft expression on her face that could mimic that of a doll.

‘IT’S THE MERMAID! THE MERPERSON THAT SLASHED THOSE NETS. THAT PINK TAIL MATCHES–’

You instinctively reached for your dagger on your thigh strap only to wince when something black and spiky launched into your left ankle. Your face drained of any color as your limbs felt weak and limp, paralyzed like something was shutting off all your nerves and forcing your body into hypersleep.

“Wha…What the–” you quickly collapsed at the sight of a black sea urchin stuck in the skin of your ankle, piercing through the cloth with ease and seeping its toxin deep within its veins. “Did you just throw a sea urchin at me?!”

Luckily you could still breathe, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to talk.

“Human women are so pretty…” the mermaid ignored your question before doing the scariest shit possible and slithering towards you with her arms helping her crawl. A scream trapped within your throat as you wanted to keep your pride and dignity intact as a high-ranking monster hunter.

‘I’ve dealt with eldritch horrors, haunted manors, possessive demons and cult-like behaviors. YET A CRAWLING MERMAID FREAKS ME OUT THE MOST–’

You tried willing your arms to pluck the sea urchin off your ankle and kill the woman before she reached you, yet the toxins flowing from the urchin in your leg refused to let your muscles cooperate. Honestly, it felt like you were one of those helpless horror movie protagonists! “Ah shit. I will NOT meet my demise to a low-leveled, pastel princess, glittery pink mermai–”

And then she was on top of you, grabbing your face with her webbed hands and laying all her tail weight onto the lower half of your already limp legs. “Human women also make a lot of noise. Strange.”

You could only stare at her eyes in shock, fear, and confusion as you were half expecting her to tear off your face with her teeth at this point. Which, upon closer inspection, seemed relatively dull despite being of an omnivorous species.

“Ah…of course we do. It’s only normal for humans to scream when in danger…” you were spouting nonsense at this point, wow; you really were scared half to death. Never in your life were you put in such a vulnerable position before, and by a mermaid no less! “Now can you please get off me? I don’t want to die from this…”

“Die? Danger?” The mermaid woman blinked slowly at your words. Almost like a tortoise as she seemed to take a while to comprehend what you were saying. “I don’t understand. I am not dangerous.”

You scoffed and looked down to the sea urchin still stuck in your ankle. “That urchin you threw to paralyze me says otherwise…”

The mermaid turned her head to stare at the creature lodged in your foot before turning back to stare at you some more. “It was a necessary sacrifice. How else am I supposed to get close to you?”

“Close to me?!”

She suddenly nuzzled into your neck, breathing in that dry scent that only humans seemed to carry. “Yes. I’ve been watching you traverse the cove all afternoon. You are one of the prettiest human women I’ve ever seen so I followed you.” She looked up at you again and reached up to pet your hair. “I wanted to touch your hair. It looked nice and soft.”

“Well, you’re doing it now…” you spoke with a shaky sigh as the mermaid fell into comfortable silence on top of you. ‘Hm, she doesn’t seem to be too dangerous, plus she’s capable of decent human speech. Best case scenario is that I can negotiate with her into a relocation. That way I don’t have to go through the effort of killing something again.’

“H-Hey…mermaid woman,” she hummed in acknowledgment but continued petting your hair. “Do you think you can remove the sea urchin in my leg? I want to talk to you.”

Her blue eyes moved down suspiciously, seemingly picking apart your words like a vulture to a carcass. “But you may hurt me. I’m not a threat, but scary lady can be.”

‘Oh so I’m the scary lady.’

“I promise I won’t hurt you,” you sighed, shutting your eyes in the process and lying flat on the ground with your neck bared, a common sign of submission in the monster world. “You can even check me for weapons and remove them if you wish.” ‘No big deal. Once she removes the urchin I’m free to move and defend myself even without a weapon.’

“Really?” the pastel mermaid looked at you with curiosity before unsheathing your dagger from its pocket and holding it up to the sky to examine. “So, I can take this?”

“...Sure.” You winced at how lightly she was handling it. Honestly, a mermaid with a dagger was even more dangerous and you regret ever showing her where you concealed it. “Hm, okay!” she smiled and threw the dagger over the pier while you screamed in agony.

Mental agony.

“Why did you throw it?!” you shouted, tears brimming at the sound of it plopping into the water.

“You said I could remove it.”

“Remove it, not throw it away!”

You were honestly crying at this point. Of all the monsters that could have destroyed your sanity or make you cry, it was a mermaid of all things.

“...Don’t cry.” The mermaid reached a webbed finger up to your lashes and wiped the brimming tears away. “Human women crying sounds awful.”

“Sniff, gee thanks…” your ego was practically nonexistent at this point as you found yourself being comforted by the same mermaid that scared the shit out of you. “That dagger was expensive, you know. It’ll be hard to get another one just like it.”

“...If it makes you feel any better,” the mermaid crawled back to remove the urchin in a quick, painless tug, all sense of relief and feeling flowing back to your veins as your body went back into overdrive. “I’m sorry…”

“Oh my gods…” you felt like you could see the stars once the toxins deployed in your veins had vanished. “I can feel again!”

“I’m sorry…” the mermaid got off you and raised her arms to cover her head. “Please don’t turn me into a fish filet!”

“What? Ew no!” you made a disgusted face at the accusation and recoiled out of cringe. “Why would I want to eat something that is anatomically half human?”

“Eh? But mermaid tails are a delicacy in the monster market,” the mermaid held onto her tail like it was the most precious thing in the world to her. “I heard that monster hunters capture mermaids to sell them to butchers. I don’t want my tail cut off!”

“...Gross.” You stuck your tongue out at the description. “Look, I promise you, I don’t even like seafood. Plus, the thought of mermaid seafood makes me want to gag.” Though you were already gagging.

“...Really?” she looked at you with pretty doe eyes and you had the strange yet tolerable urge to hug her. “I mean it. I just want to ask you a few questions, that’s all.”

“That’s…it?” she looked skeptical and was hesitant to relax her body around you.

“That’s it.” You confirmed, assuming a natural, relaxed stance and letting the creature know that you weren’t a threat. Well not anymore, at least. “Feel free to slither— er, crawl away if you feel uncomfortable.” Hah, that was a lie. Of course you were still going to chase her down, you were a monster hunter and this was your job.

“Oh, alright.” The mermaid leaned back on her tail and stared at you to continue. “I will answer your questions.”

“Good. Can I ask for your name first though? I’d like to put a name to your face as I’m already getting tired of referring to you as “the mermaid.””

“Kokomi.” She answered softly, fiddling with the tips of her hair as she began getting nervous all of a sudden. “Sangonomiya Kokomi.”

“Ko-ko-mi,” you tested out her name on your tongue and smiled when she flinched at your voice. “I like it. It’s cute and it suits you.”

“Ah…thank you…” Her cheeks turned a somber shade of pink as she fiddled with the webbing between her fingers. Eager to get this ‘interview’ over with as she wanted to ask you some questions in return.

“First of all Kokomi, I’m sure you’re aware by now that I am a monster hunter, yes?” Kokomi nodded and ushered for you to continue. “Well, I was hired by this village to get to the bottom of a strange creature who has been slashing the nets of fishermen and letting the fish escape. When I investigated the destroyed nets however, I found these.” You held up a handful of pearlescent pink fish scales from your pocket and smirked, noting how Kokomi froze in place once she saw them. “They are pretty much identical to the scales on your tail, yes? So tell me Kokomi, was the creature who kept slashing the fishing nets your doing–”

“I’m sorry! It is all a misunderstanding!”

Wow, that was quick.

“Hah! So you did do it?” you confirmed. Kokomi’s face all red from the interrogation as she was embarrassed from breaking so easily. “Yes, but I promise it wasn’t for any selfish reasons!”

“How so? Defend your argument!” You were about to go all Ace Attorney on her ass.

“I didn’t eat them! I swear! I just cut the nets so that they can be free! They deserve to be free!”

“What?!’

“Fish are friends! Not food!”

Kokomi’s face had puffed up in pride and anger as she continued to rant about how people shouldn’t eat fish. When she saw her poor fishy friends getting scooped up by giant nets nearby, she just couldn’t help herself! You couldn’t believe it, you pretty much found a vegan mermaid activist!

“You cut them so that the fish can be free…?” you worded slowly, letting her passionate speech sink into your mind. “That’s…it?”

“Yes! I don’t want any more sea creatures suffering!” she huffed, crossing her arms and looking like an angry pomeranian more than anything else. Wow, you can’t believe you let yourself get scared half to death by a monster who didn’t even eat meat. What a stab to your pride.

“But Kokomi, the people of this village need to eat and sell the fish they catch. It isn’t fair to them if you keep depleting their resources.” You gestured behind you to the fishing village not too far away and frowned. “That place isn’t going to last more than six months at this rate. The people will be forced to abandon it.”

“But…” Kokomi frowned and tucked her tail underneath her arms. “My friends…”

Shoot. Are her eyes watering?

“Sorry Kokomi, but it’s unfair to those who need to eat certain things to survive. I’m sure you understand, most merpeople are omnivores.”

The tiny ‘sniff’ coming from Kokomi’s nose made your heart pang with guilt. God, why does this one peculiar monster have to be the reason you cry? It was really making you annoyed. “I know…” Kokomi mumbled, “I just hate seeing them in pain. I can’t help myself!”

And that’s your ticket to a solution.

“What if you didn’t have to see them in pain?” You offered, a smile playing upon your lips as your plan was now set into motion. “Wouldn’t it be nice to live somewhere where you didn’t have to see the fish getting hunted?”

“I’ve thought about it but I don’t want to leave my friends to suffer without me!” Kokomi whined, “Besides, there’s a mean pod of dolphins on the exit of the cove so I can’t even leave! They’re all bullies.”

Ah. Yeah, dolphins are bitches.

“So you’ve tried leaving the cove before?” You questioned.

“Sometimes, but I’m always chased off by that angry pod. A mermaid on her own is no match for a feisty group of mammals like them.” She began picking at her scales and seemed to frown at the memory like a distant flashback. “I actually never lived in the cove in the first place. The dolphins chased me here and kept me here for a while if I recall.”

Hm, so this place isn’t even her home. Everything's just falling into place for you!

“How would you like to go home then?” you smiled, “I was sent here to get rid of the fishing problem and I think I know of a way to help both parties.”

“You can take me home?!” For a moment, Kokomi’s eyes lit up like glow sticks. “I…Wait– you can’t…”

Your brows raised at her sudden shift in tone. “Oh? Why not?”

She pushed her two fingers together and giggled nervously. “Aha…I may have been banned from my group after trying to get everyone off their fish diet… That’s why I left in the first place…”

Oh my God…

You nearly threw yourself off the pier. Ashamed of the fact that THIS was the monster you almost shit yourself over. “You got yourself kicked out for being an over aggressive vegan?” you clarified. “If that’s what I am then yes, yes I was.” She sat there all too innocently as you screwed your eyes shut at such a ridiculously overly-stupid (and cute but you didn’t want to admit it) story. Half tempted to just get up and leave at this point because you were in disbelief at how absurd everything was.

“...Okay, listen up Kokomi. I will help you get out of this cove, only if you agree to stop slashing fishermen nets everytime you see one. Deal?”

“You’ll help me leave?!” she exclaimed excitedly.

“Only if you promise not to disturb the fishermen ever again!” You quickly added. “And remember, you can’t force your beliefs onto other people. So if you join another mermaid group to live with, you cannot, absolutely CANNOT force them to give up their omnivorous diet.”

“...Okay!” Did she really agree that quickly?! “As long as the fish in this cove are safe and protected.”

“Uh…sure…” you bit your lip at yet another blatant lie you just told her. I mean, what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. “I promise nothing bad will happen to the fish in this cove.”

“Ahhh, thank you scary pretty lady!” Kokomi grinned.

“It’s Y/N.” You corrected, patting her pastel hair before getting up. “Well, tonight is when I plan to finish up this mission, so if you want to go pack up anything before leaving I suggest doing it now.” Kokomi paused for a second before nodding in understanding. “Okay. I’ll be ready by tonight!” she exclaimed. “This is so exciting! I finally get to leave the cove!”

“Yes yes, very exciting. Now, I’ll be here when the sun sets in a few hours, once it’s dark enough I’ll be able to sneak you around through town in order to get to my boat. Sound good?” Kokomi nodded enthusiastically. “Very good! Thank you scar– Y/N. Thank you Y/N.”

“Of course.” You responded, turning your heel before hearing a splash behind you.

“Careful timid boy, this is precious cargo. If you drop it, I may reduce your tip to only fifty.”

“Dollars?”

“Cents.”

He started handling the giant cooler you two were carrying with much, much more carefulness now. Treating the heavy cooler like it was a giant chest of gold before reaching the docks with your tethered motorboat still attached. “Easy now,” you ordered, carefully placing the cooler onto the boat before wiping off the sweat from your brow. “Phew, you and I make a good team, timid boy. You sure you don’t want to be a monster hunter?”

He shook his head so hard it almost dislocated his neck.

“Hah! That’s alright, you’d make a better bellhop anyways, timid boy.” You got the last of your equipment (that you didn’t even need to use, mind you) onto the boat and started untying the rope holding your boat in place.

“Are you sure the problem has been resolved?” the timid man asked you, “It’s just…you did it all in one day. You didn’t even check into the inn I put all your luggage in!”

“Puh! I’m just that much of a professional,” you assured. “I’ve been doing this business for years, I assure you that the fishing problem is solved and that your village will prosper once more. Hunter’s word.”

For once since your time on Watatsumi island, you saw the timid man smile. “Th-Thank you miss monster hunter!” he exclaimed, “Your generosity shall be paid tenfold! If you ever come to visit anytime soon, I promise to treat you to dinner!”

“Pfft, you’re too kind, timid boy,” you smiled, “However, I must be going now as I’d rather not be out to sea for too long…”

“Are you sure you can traverse the sea at this hour?” he gulped. “It’s all pitch black out there…”

“As long as I have my eyes, I’m good,” you chuckled, relying heavily on your tremendous eyesight as every trained monster hunter had the honed ability to see in pitch darkness. “Farewell Mr. Timid Boy, it was nice chatting with you.” You tossed him another sack of coin before finally untying your boat and getting on before drifting off. The man who helped relay information to you waving for as long as you could see.

“Can I come out now?” Came Kokomi’s muffled voice as you chuckled and popped the lid open from the cooler. “Yes, my helper is gone now. It’s just the two of us at sea.”

“Ah…” she propped her whole body up from the cooler full of water and looked around at the empty space around you. Nothing but night sky and water filling the void as the only things in sight were the boat, your equipment, and you.

“The sea is so quiet from the surface…” Kokomi murmured, seeming in awe at how smooth everything looked.

“Trust me, it wasn’t like this in the morning.” You groaned. “I think I almost puked up my breakfast…”

Your eyes lit up at the reminder and eagerly dug into your satchel to fetch a small container of Tupperware. ‘Food! I forgot I haven’t eaten since this morning. I’m practically starving!’

Kokomi looked perplexed at the little piece of plastic only to grow more intrigued when a very tasty smell emerged once you opened it. She was curious, she had never seen such a strange contraption before and was tempted to ask you what it was before laying her eyes on a strange —yet very delectable looking— food in the shape of a smiley face.

“Scary la— Y/N, what’s that?” She asked curiously. Her nose twitching at the smell as the Tupperware had succeeded in keeping your food hot all day.

“Ah, my lunch. I was supposed to eat it while on my job to find you, but I forgot once you came so abruptly.”

“It smells good…” Kokomi mumbles, her tummy making an awkward rumbling noise and causing her to frown. “Ah…sorry.”

‘Cute.’ You took note at how she balled up her tail to cover her bare stomach as if that would muffle the noise at all. “There’s no need to be embarrassed, it’s just your body telling you that you’re hungry. It’s only natural.”

You picked up one of the smiley face fries in your container and handed it over to the starving mermaid. “Here. It’s made up of mostly starch so it can be quite filling.”

“What is it?” Kokomi immediately shoved it into her mouth and nearly screamed at the burning sensation on her tongue.

“H-HOT—!”

You held your hands out for her to spit into and couldn’t help but laugh at her exasperated face. “You’re supposed to blow on it before eating. I thought they would have cooled down by now but I guess not…”

“Ugh…I’m just not used to hot food.” Kokomi murmurs. Which is understandable considering that the ocean can be pretty cold and you doubt that the merfolk need to cook in order to survive. “It hurts my tongue…”

“Here, let me blow on one for you.” You picked up another smiley face fry and blew on it gently to soothe the whispering steam. “Try it now.” You lifted the morsel up to her lips and watched as Kokomi hesitantly bit into it with the caution of a newborn kitten. Barely even chewing, her eyes lit up at this strange new flavor –although it’s literally just salt and potato– and began reaching over to hastily grab another one from your lap.

“Like it?” You chuckled.

“It’s so good!” she exclaimed, grabbing another before blowing on it like a candle. “What is it?!”

“Fries.”

“Fries!”

She shoved it in her mouth and dove for another before quickly swatting her hand away. “Slow down! You’ll choke if you eat too fast!” She pouted at your quick reflexes and resumed chewing at a much slower pace. “Whth aw thfese mfade of?” she asked through a mouthful of potato.

“It’s made of a type of root vegetable we have on land. It’s called a potato.” You smiled, using your thumb to wipe away some of it off her face. “It’s so good!” she beams after swallowing her bite whole. “Is all human food this good?”

“Most of them, yeah.” You found yourself enjoying your time with Kokomi as the two of you exchanged face fries and chatted about what kind of foods you most enjoyed eating. Your heart swelling at the fact that you finally, finally found someone who enjoyed the same tastes that you had. In your face Thoma! Smiley face fries are delicious!

“Oh! I almost forgot!” Kokomi shouts abruptly as she suddenly digs through her bag to fish out something long and pointy. “I have a gift for you, Y/N.”

“You don’t have to do that–” you tried assuring before nearly getting your nose speared by something long and pointy. Goddammit, this was the second time today that Kokomi almost made you scream.“Of course I do! I feel terrible about throwing your dagger off the pier so I wanted to make it up to you!”

“I adore you for your generosity, Kokomi but please don’t hold something pointy so close to my face.” You sputtered as the tip of the object was dangerously close to landing you in the infirmary.

“Oh! Sorry.”

She carefully turned it over and handed it to you so that you could grasp it safely by the handle. Heart still racing from the encounter as you tried to compose yourself to appreciate her gift. “So? What do you think?”

As you looked down at the long, bone-like blade in your hands, you ran your fingers through the rough and textured spine of the handle. The ‘blade’ part of the weapon having tiny little jagged roots that jutted out downwards so that if you were to stab something, the jagged edges would hook onto the flesh and make it extra painful to pull out.

“It’s a stingray dagger! Us merfolk usually use the skeletons of animal parts as weapons since they make useful daggers and swords. Of course, I polished this dagger from an already dead stingray, I’m not a barbarian!” Kokomi explains. “I felt bad since you lost your original dagger, and although this might not be comparable to it in terms of quality, I wanted to get you a temporary replacement.”

She bows her head respectively as a small blush seeps onto her face. “I hope you don’t mind…”

“Woahhh…” you breathed out in awe, tracing the cool patterns on the weapon. “It’s beautiful, Kokomi. Thanks! I’ve never seen or felt anything like this on any weapon I’ve held before.”

“Ahhh, that makes me glad!” The pinkette grins. “Perhaps I'll sharpen an identical one so that we can match.”

“That’s…” Oh gods, that’s so cute. “You– You can do that, yes. I won’t object to it.”

Kokomi giggles at your reaction and the two of you enjoy your ride in comfortable silence.

“Thomaaaa!” You called out as your boat drew closer to the mainland. “Thomaaaaaaaa.”

“Y/N…who’re you calling to?” Kokomi asked worriedly.

“My best friend, Thoma! He’s going to be helping me move you to your new location. Across the mainland and somewhere where you won’t be able to witness fishermen hunting your friends.” As your boat cruises closer you could make out the faint outline of a tall man waving at you from the dock. That unmistakable ponytail of his being the key giveaway to knowing it’s your friend from afar.

“Over here!” He called out through the fog, shining a bright flashlight so you could dock correctly beside the pier.

“A human man?!” Kokomi exclaims, eyes wide before diving back down into her cooler and tucking herself in to make herself as small as possible. “Ah, Kokomi what’s wron—“

“Y/N! Eyes ahead!” Thoma called out sternly, causing you to remember your original mission and focus on steering the boat correctly. “Sorry! I got distracted a bit…”

Pulling up to the side of where Thoma was currently standing, you killed the motor and got up to leave before feeling a cold hand catch yours.

“…Kokomi?”

“You aren’t leaving me with him, right?” She asked timidly, unsure of being left alone with a human stranger without you. “Ah, of course not. Thoma is just helping me carry you, that’s all.”

“…Okay.” Kokomi mutters, hesitantly letting you go so that you could toss the rope to Thoma and have him tie your boat to the dock.

“I got your message,” Thoma chuckled. “You really cleared a mission in under a day? That’s a new record for you.”

“Oh please, I’ve dealt with easier missions than this.” You grinned. “It just so happens that Kokomi is easier to negotiate with than fight.”

“So that’s her name…” Thoma looked over to the balled up Kokomi and she shot him an angry face in return. Not liking the strange new human as he was not only a stranger, but a stranger that was taking up your attention!

“Hah, she looks like she’d shred me to pieces…” Thoma laughed nervously. “If looks could kill, I’d be in her stomach by now.”

“Nah she won’t do that. Kokomi doesn’t eat meat. Or, fish meat, I guess.” You assured, failing to notice the grim look overtaking Kokomi’s usually innocent features.

‘No, but I would shred him for you, Y/N.’ Kokomi seethed. ‘Feed him to my fishies and sell his bones to use as mermaid clubs—‘

“Anyway, did you get what I asked for, Thoma?” You asked, cutting the conversation short.

“Er…not exactly…” Thoma winced, gesturing to a wheelbarrow behind him.

“THOMA—!” You nearly bashed your head against the floor out of frustration. “I told you to bring me a pickup truck so we can drive Kokomi much easier!”

“I couldn’t find my keys…” Thoma mumbled. “So I found this wheelbarrow in my shed and figured I could use that.”

You wanted to cry.

“What’s a wheelbarrow?” Kokomi asked out of the blue. Oh right, she was still left in the dark about all this.

“Er…Sorry Kokomi but since Thoma left his brains at home he forgot to bring something very important to transport you in. So now we have to carry you in this.” You pointed to the brown wheelbarrow behind Thoma and held your breath for the inevitable disdain on Kokomi’s face.

Only…there was no disdain.

“I get to ride in that?!” Kokomi squeals.

“You’re excited?!” Both you and Thoma exclaim.

Kokomi practically splashed around in glee. “I’ve never written in a human land vehicle before! It looks so fun! It even has wheels!” She lifted her arms up like a toddler asking to be picked up. “I want to go in!”

You and Thoma looked at each other, before a smug smile made its way onto Thoma’s face. “Glad to know she’s not crabby about it unlike someone I know.”

He chuckled when you rolled your eyes. “Whatever Thoma the Tank Engine, as long as Kokomi is comfortable.” You walked over to Kokomi’s raised arms and put them down to carry her a different way. Her face growing confused as she thought you were picking her up from under the arms.

“Sit up, I’m carrying you in a much easier way.” You explained, waiting for Kokomi to get in an arched sitting position before sliding your arms under the midsection of her tail and the back of her body.

“Ah—!” Kokomi did not expect you to princess style carry her out of the boat and walk over to the wheelbarrow like a knight in shining armor. Her hands reaching desperately to cling onto your neck as she fathomed the thought of you carrying her around like this all the time. ‘Wow, Y/N is actually really strong…!’

“There you go…” you grumbled softly as you gently set Kokomi on the wheelbarrow. The mermaid easily feeling comfortable inside despite her tail hanging off the side due to its massive size. “Are you comfortable?”

“Very.” Kokomi confirmed. “Push me. Please.”

It sounded more like a demand rather than a request, but you indulged in her anyway.

“Of course, Thoma; you could just drop my equipment at my house, thanks.”

“Wait, I thought I was coming with you?” Thoma queried.

“You were if you had brought the pickup truck I asked for so you could drive it. However, since you didn’t, I will be personally escorting Kokomi on my own.” You gripped the handles of the wheelbarrow and began jogging to give Kokomi the ride of her life. Her voice squealing at the feeling of air on her face whilst you waved goodbye to Thoma.

“You know where my house keys are! See you in a few hours!”

“You better repay me someday, Y/N!”

You only laughed at his obedience and indulged yourself in Kokomi’s angelic laughter and squeals. Raising her arms high up in the air as if she were riding a roller coaster.

“Land air feels great!” She exclaims, shutting her eyes and letting the wind blow at her face. “It’s so much more fragrant and crisp!”

You weren’t entirely sure what she meant by ‘crisp’ but you were enjoying her happiness nonetheless.

As the two of you cut through some scenic paths and nature’s residence in civilization, you and Kokomi played a game which involved her pointing at something random, and you telling her what it was.

“What’s that?”

“A tree.”

“What’s that?”

“A rabbit.”

“What’s that?”

“Another tree.”

As tiring as it was to entertain the curious mermaid, you could tell she was getting tired as her eyes started drooling adorably and her speech started getting slurred. Your heart hammering at the sight as even you had to admit that the tedious creature was a bit adorable.

“Is that another tree..?”

“Nope. That’s a bush.” You chuckled, peering through the horizon and spotting the other side of the sea in front of you. An empty beach that no one ever used so that the two of you could say your goodbyes in private.

“Here we are,” you spoke gently, pushing the wheelbarrow carefully down the hill and traversing from gravel to sand. The smell of salty seawater coming all too familiar to you once more as the previous smells from the forest were a memory no more.

“It’s so pretty…” Kokomi gasped, her eyes stirring back awake when you set the wheelbarrow to a stop to gaze at the ocean in front of you. A sunrise now peeking up from the horizons as you had spent all night traveling on foot with Kokomi. “This is where I will live?”

“If you choose to. You can practically live anywhere you can swim to.” You chuckled.

“That sounds a lot better than the cove already…” Kokomi sighed, looking back at you with glossy, blue eyes. “I think I’m ready to go now, Y/N.”

You smiled.

“Alright then.”

As you moved to pick up Kokomi once more, she gripped onto your neck again before planting a small kiss against your cheek. An action that caused you to nearly lose balance and drop her before you could even reach the water.

Luckily, your hunter instincts stopped you from doing so.

“Ah— Kokomi?!” You were blushing. Why were you blushing?!

“Thank you for this, Y/N. Even though this is your way of getting rid of me, I’m still grateful.”

“But I’m not getting rid of you Kokomi.” You waded into the water until you were waist deep and set Kokomi down to swim. “If anything, I really enjoyed your company. So much so to say that I even like you as a person.”

Kokomi, now submerged in cold water, had tears in her eyes that could easily be mistaken as seawater. “You like me?” She grins.

“You’re tolerable. Yeah.”

She smiles when you look away out of embarrassment and pets your hair in comfort, your face only burning up even more. “I like you too, Y/N. I hope we see each other again soon.”

She grins one last time and you’ve committed that smile into the very corners of your memory.

“I promise to always be nearby.”

With a cute little wave, she slides from your grasp and takes off with the strength of a feisty orca. Jetting off with a speed you could only hope to see again in your dreams.

But maybe this parting wouldn’t be too bad. As you watched Kokomi swim deeper and deeper into the sea, you felt the faint, bittersweet tang of remembrance as you recalled all the fun times you had with the little mermaid. A somber smile on your lips as you reached into your pocket and pulled out the little stingray dagger she gifted to you on the boat.

“Even though you’re out in the big blue sea by now…” you felt each sharp bristle against your finger and grinned at the thought of her making a matching set. “I think you’re still right beside me.”

And who knows.

Maybe you’ll see her again…

#mod angel 🎐#m.u.s.e.#kokomi x reader #sangonomiya kokomi x reader #genshin x reader #kokomi x you #genshin x you #genshin imagines #genshin fanfic

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pbandjesse · 1 year

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I took an accidental nap after work and woke up at almost 8. Not ideal for fixing my sleep schedule. But I really needed it. I hate when I get so tired I get dizzy. It is not fun at all.

Today was a pretty nice day though. I slept pretty well. And I woke up and was excited to wear my green jumpsuit for St Patrick's day. I was messaging Laura all morning about Irish stuff. Superstitious stuff. Facts. It was cute.

I made a bagel to bring with me. And was happy to drive in. It was a good day. Beautiful out. Not as warm but still comfortable. I am hoping it is just going to be a beautiful and cozy spring.

I said good morning to James when I got to the museum. And went to start getting things together. I walked the tour route. No one else was there yet except for Rosia. I went to ask James to scratch my shoulder blade for me and that's when a bus pulled up?? It was only 904!! No one should be there yet!! Nothing was ready! No educator's were here!!

I went outside to say hello and it was my group. Shit. When I came inside Jessica was literally running through the musuem. She was uspset. Why were they already here? I suggested we set up a scavenger hunt. So me and Rosia went to get that. Adam came and grabbed a table to help. And I would get that handed out once the girls were all inside.

This was all 7th grade girls. And they were super sweet. So really it could have been worse. They would spend almost the next hour working on the scavenger hunt and just hanging out and taking pictures. So the educators could just take a breath and get everything ready. It really could have been a whole lot worse.

We had tours first. I went and got my little group and we had s pretty excellent tour. They were fun and had great questions and insight. We stopped at the car to take pictures. And at the pharmacy because one of the buildings at their school is named for the same pharmacist, Dr Bunting. So that was really neat.

We went to restoration next to do balls and track. And Cindy did a pretty good job for her first one. There was some mixing up of info and some ways she could slow down, the story telling aspect. But the girls got it and even the teachers made a team to build their own. It was fun. And I got to mostly chill to the side and work on my knitting and just enjoyed the hour.

They had lunch next. And I was honestly starving. I have been trying to make breakfast at home more but I never get this shakey when I get McDonald's breakfast. So I had my pasta and felt better.

I went and made sure my cannery was set up the way I wanted. And then got the girls to come to sit down. And it was a good cannery. I felt like we were running to fast though.

My intro was a couple minutes short. But it was fine. The first shift was for sure short though so I decided I would make my middle longer. But it we ended the second shift to early we were going to be in trouble. So I set a timer. And my shuckers we're getting in line to be paid spend the 4 minute mark. Which made Michael think it was time to call it. I told him to wait because we were only 5 minutes in. And he was like oh okay. But there was miscommunication upstairs and so some people got paid way to early. I let Jessica know about the confusion and we would figure it out. We would be left for 15 extra minutes after the stores. But they were fine.

During the stores I got everything set away and cleaned. And then once everyone was done we headed out. I took the other half of the tour group to take pictures at the car. Some went with their teachers to stand on the pier. And then it was time for them to go.

Except they didn't. Instead they went to the gift shop but then they were off.

I went upstairs to clean oysters. And ended up having a fabulous conversation with Jordan, Gaby, and Cindy about modern vs contemporary art and told them all about some of my favorite artists. Like Felix Gonzalez Torrez and Mike Kelley and Richard Serra. And they really like me just get in deep with my explanations and it was so nice to talk about things I'm so passionate about.

At 3 we were done. And I went and sat with James until they were done all their bookkeeping and closing stuff and then we headed home.

I got really tired in the car. And when we got home all I wanted to do was eat dinner. But that would take a bit. Even if it was mostly quick foods. So I had some angel food cake and candy and hung out in the couch. I drew a steel worker bear but he just looks like a construction worker. Ah well. Still cute.

James finished dinner and we laid on the couch. Eventually though I wanted to sleep. And moved to the bedroom. And fell asleep really quickly.

While I was out James accidently locked themself out of the building. Thankfully a neighbor let them in. And I woke up a quarter to 8 pretty disoriented. I am feeling better now. I have spent the last two hours laying in bed with James and watching videos and it was a good day.

I have nothing to do tomorrow. So I am going to clean the apartment and make art. Fingers crossed it is a wonderful day.

Sleep well everyone. Take care of yourself!!

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elxgantcaptain · 1 year

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🔮

See into my muses past! Send 🔮 and I will write a drabble of a memory that your muse gets to see into. [accepting]

"Goodbye..." It was like an echo on the wind, carried with a single breath and tossed across the sea. In a series of dry waves and the sound of crashing water the memory came, heavy with guilt and sad farewells...

A busy dock, ships planted across the piers and anchored, some ready to sail. Men and sailors and naval offices patrolled its grounds, loading and unloading cargo, reeling in fish and catches for market, orders were shouted and warnings came for heavy loads being craned down to the people below.

Amongst the crowds however was one quiet moment of farewell, others had already loaded onto the gangplank whilst a young man stayed behind, in a fresh uniform, ready for sail. Before him was a small, elderly and plump old lady who was frantically straightening his coat.

"I do believe its straight enough, Elinor," younger James chuckled and yet the lady still fretted, her smile faltering along with her hands as she lowered them away from the man's front. James's face deflated a little upon seeing her own so sad.

"Oh, I just don't like the idea of you being so far away from home, you WILL eat properly, won't you? God help me when you come back and I find you've turned into a twig!-"

"Now, now," James chuckled and took her hands in his. "I promise I will, last thing I want is for you to turn me into one of your hats."

The elderly lady's smile returned, if only weakly and for a short moment, feeling tears enter her eyes and she lifted a hand to pet his cheek softly. "Oh... If only your father could see you now."

The response from that was a slight twinge of a frown across James's face and her averted her gaze for a moment. Even now when he was leaving to travel at sea for at least several months his father did not come. Not even a good luck or a message was sent.

"Ohhh, you've all grown up in a blink of a bleedin' eye!" She drew away, taking a handkerchief out from the sleeve and dabbed her eyes with it in an emotional panic.

"Ha... Not all that much..." James assured her and lowered the hankie, brushing away a tear with the tip of a finger.

"Oh James, boy, look after yourself my little rover," She drew him up into a hug and James allowed himself to sink into her loving embrace, closing his eyes and attempting not to let the tears fall for the one person whom truly loved him and would truly miss his departure.

"AHEM- Now then, shoo! They're calling for you!" Elinor drew away, noticing the sad, tearful look in the boy's eye and wiped his eyes with her handkerchief. "Take it and stop blubberin' like a babe and be a big strong lad! Go on! Be off with you!"

As his fingers brushed away from hers, he held the handkerchief close in hand, waving back as she flittered her hand in farewell and he watched her even as the ship left the channel and he could still hear her voice carried on the wind.

"Goodbye James! Goodbye!.... Goodbye.... Goodbye....."

#grandvizier #drabble #this is the source of that handkerchief jafar found~

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the-gift-of-submission · 2 years

Text

Inside a Submissives Soul

Dear Diary -

My life feels like one big struggle of a mess right now. My therapist says I'm a going through a 'burnout', not from work, from life. Something has changed in me and I can feel that I am still changing. Therapy leaves me raw, I realise that's the whole point, we are digging around at things to pick apart and as much as I've always known I've put myself second in pretty much all situations and circumstances, now its time to put myself first. Unfortunately that means I have to make people in my life aware of this and consequently it will cause them a great deal of hurt and upset. It's so damn hard, I feel selfish and guilty for the fact I am to put myself first. My therapist says the burnout could lead to a nervous breakdown if I don't take care of myself properly and give myself the time and space I need. I'm not entirely sure what time and space means.

He is aware of everything I am facing. Although things could be far worse than they are, it still heavily weighs on my shoulders and I often feel I can't cope. I'm low, anxious and numb. He offered to help with time and space, he suggested a short break away and that's what we did. He picked me up at the weekend and took me to the coast and took care of me whilst I was able to switch off. My whole life I've been taken care of but not the way he takes care of me. He gives me what I need and he also gives me what I want. I feel eternally grateful for his presence in my life. I am thankful of the very fact he chooses to be around me even with all the difficulties he is currently facing. I'd be so lost without him.

He is concerned that he may need to give me time and space for me to be able to work through things, he is concerned he is impacting on my choices, he is concerned over much of what is going on but its not him, I don't need time and space from him. If he goes away, if he leaves, I know I will just break completely. He gives me validation, acceptance, trust and honesty, he gives me what no one else does in this f***ed up world, he gives me everything I need and want. I don't need to think around him, my head stop spinning, my heart stops hurting, my soul feels at peace when I'm with him. Everything stops, everything feels good, I feel good, I feel better. I can breathe, I can rest, I can just be.

The weather was lovely whilst we were at the coast. It was peaceful, even though it was busy in the town, I was OK. We walked through the busy streets holding my hand, he treated me to a tea and cake, we walked along the pier to the very end, stopped to appreciate the view whilst chatting, the wind was strong but it was nice and walked all the way back before stopping off to grab some food shopping for our overnighter. We moved alittle further down the road, closer to a village on the edge of the town. It was quiet, it was perfect. We walked along the beach, he kept finding glass that had been tumbled over by the waves over time, I ended up doing the same with him. He said it was like a form of meditation, keeps you occupied and distracted from your own thoughts, he's not wrong. I very much enjoyed everything he had us doing. It was very much needed. Sand between my toes, him holding my hand, we talked, we laughed, even the quiet moments were a comfortable silence and they were, well, everything. We sat for a short while, again, content and peaceful in my surroundings, sometimes, life can't get much better than this. The chill picks up as the sun is on its way down to set and he prompts us to head back to the van. We had a bite to eat and talked for a while as night time kicked in before getting comfortable for bed sometime later.

Our time together wasn't about anything other than our friendship and having the time to be away from all the s**t we are battling with in our lives. I have joked previously about us being just 'friends', I think it's safe to say that is a foundation but it is not something that our relationship is limited to. There were moments of closeness, the odd kiss, lots of hugs and holding hands or my arm would link through his. I may be assuming things here but when we laid in bed, we snuggled and I'm almost convinced I can tell when he's feeling things, feeling the need to be closer in some way. His body language and breathing is a give away, the internal growl was present.

We drifted into sleep, I dosed on and off throughout the night, I was hoping I would be able to sleep fully as it's been hard to do so along with being unable to eat properly. I was comfortable nontheless. When the light from dawn came I was pretty much awake. I looked over to find him looking at me. We snuggled some more. Needing to switch sides from the 'dead arm' feeling down one side of our bodies. I moved over him and we snuggled the other way. As he spooned me I could feel his member against my butt cheeks, he was hard. I pushed back slightly to be a tease. He was just as much a tease and he knows it.

Before long he moved his free hand into my panties and started to gently rub at me. His fingers know how to hit the spot, keeping rhythm, occasionally changing things around and it felt so good, that good I immediately wanted to release. It was slow, sensual and my god it works like a charm, I can feel my insides tightening and my legs shaking. I wish I could when he tells me to, his 'cum', 'get it', his 'let go' and his count down from 5. I become so infuriated by my inability to do as he says without hesitation. I wish I knew what holds me back, it's there, it just won't release. It took me forever but he didn't quit, he kept going till I eventually came. It was a strong one, took me what felt like forever to come down, I twitch and spasm after my orgasms, my body goes through aftershocks for some time after. I rolled over to face him, he moved onto his back, he was supposed to get up but my hand had to return the favour. Gripping his member with my hand, feeling him grow between my fingers, he became rock solid rather quickly, he seemed to be enjoying it too.

'Take off your panties'. I know he means business when he says things like that. Off they came and he moved over the top of me. Reaching down between us to guide him into me, yet again, I was ready for him and yet again, I immediately wanted to climax. He has said, not in these words, that his self restraint when it comes to his release is a challenge. Apparently, I am tight. I very much take this as a compliment and I can't help but grin, it's a very smug grin knowing he has to fight to hold himself back, he is very much wanting to work on this, I think he holds out very well indeed but I have some self satisfaction there about it to say the least.

He tells me to cum, I am already there, it ripples through from where he is inside me, outwards up to my head and down to my toes. He keeps going, he never let's up and I'm never sure I can't take anymore after how intense my climax runs over me, he makes me question my ability to handle myself. Not long after he says to cum again, I respond yes, it's there, I can feel it. I am able to multiple but they often become weaker the more I do. This was just as strong as the first from when he was masturbating me and the first from him penetrating me. I fall of the edge as climaxes take over, this time it really takes over and I can't stop, as he keeps driving in and out of me, my orgasms echo through me over and over. I lost count after about 4 and I'm pretty sure it was just one continous flow and the intensity just increased and decreased as time went on. He is now ready to release and he does so, I've noticed his release set mine off too, one final big bang the intensity comes to a stop. Holding for a moment, we are covered in sweat and both wearing a satisfied smile on our faces. We have also made a mess, mainly my fault, he tells me not to worry, rolls me onto my side and he moves off to clean up. I'm quite capable of sorting it out myself but he tends to just do it and leave me to recuperate alittle, I find this incredibly sweet in how attentive he is with me at times. When he comes to clean me, the cold, whether it's expected or not catches me off guard and I always flinch, he always seems amused by this. I'll find a way to get him back one day.

After him sorting both of us out, he gets dressed and goes out for 10 minutes or so. I freshen up and get myself comfortable, I am whacked so I lay on the bed. He returns with a cup of tea and cake for breakfast, I am warmed by his gesture. Still feel quite tired, I get myself snug with his duvet, we chat for some time. Most of our meets, he knows I struggle with back pain and he often gives me a massage to relieve the ache and tension I feel pretty much all the time, I am just used to it but damn he really knows how to help it. After playing masseuse, he gives me abit of a spanking, whether he is just being generous or it is for the fact I am alittle cheeky with a foul mouth at times. If he genuinely didn't like it and told me to stop I would, so far he never has. Anyhow, my ass cheeks have a nice shade of pink I can carry around for a few hours until it settles. He doesn't like leaving marks but my skin seems to be quite sensitive.

After further attempts of trying to get me up and out of bed, I am just so content and really quite tired, I realise I need to and I will do, just not quite yet. He talks to me about experiences at the clubs he has attended over the years for a while, I love listening to him about anything he talks about. He knows I very much would like to attend a club in the future, I am just very nervous about it at present and feel I need to get myself together in a number of ways before I attend. He has said he will accompany me in whichever fashion we feel appropriate at the time so ensure my safety and aid with the guidance I will need.

I am listening to him but I can also feel something is amiss within myself. I try to contain it, I don't know what he picks up on but when he asks if I'm OK I tell him I don't know. He asks me a couple of questions about how I feel when we play, if I go fuzzy, which I do in different ways. He asks how I feel after, when he's not around, I tell him I feel abit sad but I put that down to the fact that I miss him. He suggests that I may be experiencing sub drop, I am aware of this and I try to take care of myself during these times to the best of my ability. I start to get upset, I've never allowed myself to cry infront of him before nor did I want to anytime soon, I don't want my darkness to impact his. He comes to cuddle me in bed, my tears grow, he rests his hand on my face to help me feel enclosed, a way to make me feel safe and it helps but the tears are getting worse. I feel so much upset and hurt, everything that's been going on in life rushes back into me, I have have go back to it all in a few hours, I really don't want to, I don't want my time with him to end again and I'm fighting to keep it all tucked away, I don't want him to see me at my worst. I'm unable to calm myself, he tells me to let it out but I am refusing. In the end its no use and it all floods through me, and onto him, quite literally, he needed a new tshirt. Through it all he held me close, he gave me tissues, he spoke to me. Support like this never goes amiss. This for me brings a type of strength that solidifies our relationship in whatever context it may be. I don't let anyone see my darkness like that, he's been aware of it but he's never physically seen it. He was my rock through it all. It takes a while but I calm, it eases and I begin to pick myself up enough to move forward.

It is time, yet again, to head back to reality. Takes a couple of hours and we talk through the things we are facing. He is trying to understand where I am at and remains neutral in playing 'devil's advocate', which I find ever so respectable. He has opened up to me like never before recently and I have honoured he feels he can do so, I want to support him in everyway that he does me. Eventually we arrive back to reality and after saying out thank yous and goodbye for nows with a hug and kiss, off we go to face it all again. The time away with him was beyond needed, the whole point was so I could breathe, enable myself to switch off and maybe be able to think more clearly. As much as I am dealing with what I can, much of it is about biding my time, getting on my feet to become independent and self reliant.

I hate the fact that I pine for him, it makes me feel weak and needy but at the same time that just reminds me that he means such a great deal to me. I wouldn't change what we have together for anything, I hope we grow to have something more in time but at the very least, this is and would be enough if we are to stay how we are now. I just hope I get to see him again real soon, I hate being away from him, I really do.

The weekend, even with things looming in the background, for me, it was perfect, felt special and was very much needed. I hope this is something I can do again in the near future even if it's just me jumping on a train and seeing where it takes me. Obviously the company I've had this weekend would be much nicer. To not have have think, just to be able to breathe. I am eternally grateful once again for his time and support at such a crucial time in my life. I will hold this close to me for a long time coming.

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health-mastery · 2 years

Text

Chapter 5. The Concealed Threat.

In this chapter I will explain the concealed threat in its simplest form, which means without any mentally presented ideas. Some very nasty effects can be experienced by the targeted person. For the first example I will give you a cheat that was done to me to cause me to urgently need to vomit. My husband said this was a common party trick of inhumane people. In this case the introduction was made just about an hour or less earlier. I have discussed this introduction in the previous chapter. It took place in the carpark of the restaurant where a woman, whom I thought was a friend, had invited me for lunch.

The pier restaurant was full of people, but we found a table as some people were leaving.

This, my late husband had said could also have been arranged. That is to say it may have been part of the plan. The people leaving may have been her associates. They may have only been holding the table in a most convenient spot. They may then have moved to another part of the restaurant, maybe even at the bar, “to watch the proceedings” he had said “and get their own kicks out of what was happening”.

We had ordered some coffee and then some pastries for lunch. I was fine having had my coffee but almost as soon as I had eaten my first pastry, I felt an urgent need to vomit. I had no choice but to turn around and vomit in the barrel pot of one of the many palms in the restaurant that was near our table.

My friend appeared concerned and then suggested maybe the pastries were not agreeing with me and that maybe I should order something else. I ordered a grilled sandwich, which I have never had any problem with before. But, once again, no sooner had I swallowed the last mouthful of my sandwich when the same thing happened again. This time I got up to try and make it to the ladies toilets, but halfway to the toilets I again needed to vomit. And it was so urgent that I vomited in the barrel pot of another palm.

I didn’t feel unwell, but I thought something was wrong, so I said to my friend that I will catch a taxi and go home. I told her that she should stay and enjoy her time at the restaurant. She wouldn’t hear of it. She insisted on driving me home. So, I gave her some money for my share and she paid the bill at the counter. I waited a short distance away and saw nothing untoward. Together we then went down to her car. Little did I suspect at that time that there would be a third episode of vomiting on the way home.

She fussed a bit with something in her glovebox, but soon we were off. As we drove down the main road I noticed that she was preoccupied with something behind us because she was constantly looking into her rear vision mirror. However, I thought maybe some car was too close behind and she was worried about it. I didn’t give it much attention.

Then, as we approached some shops, she said:

“oh, I just remembered I need to go and buy a newspaper. There is something I need to look up.” I knew her parents had some property that was for sale so again I didn’t see anything amiss. She parked and went into the news agency and within about five or ten minutes she returned and we were on our way again.

She turned off the main road and down a long street where she would be doing a right-hand turn that would take her to my street. As she approached the street into which she would turn I had again another urgent need to vomit. This time all I could do was to open the car door slightly and the coffee and water I had drunk just before leaving the restaurant sprayed out of my mouth like water out of a fire hose and onto the street.

Again my friend looked very concerned. I didn’t feel unwell though, so I told her not to worry. She dropped me off at my house and left. I went inside my house and decided to have another coffee. I drank that cautiously, but I was okay. I made myself some toast as I was hungry. I had that and again I was okay. An hour later, two hours later, I was okay.

I had dinner and I was okay. It was sure mysterious why I had three vomiting attacks that day.

I hadn’t forgotten about this matter so when my late, psychopathic husband was talking to me about the underhanded foul game play I asked him about it. He told me that a concealed threat would have used on each of the three occasions and that the threat would have been made imminent.

Certainly, I knew from the biology I studied at university that if a person perceives of a strong external danger, their digestive system, among other things, will be immediately declined. This is part of the fight or flight response. This is basically what my husband was saying when he had said:

“if a person had only just eaten when a serious threat is made, the contents of his or her stomach will be immediately ejected.” Then he went on to say that this was a party trick that was used by evil people because it can cause major embarrassment for the person affected..

“How can a threat be made that serious as to cause someone to vomit?” I asked. “Never saw anyone that in any way looked threatening” I said.

“She only needed to give a ‘get ready to shoot’ signal as soon as you had taken the last bite” he replied, “for you to become extremely affected”.

“A signal?” I asked quizzically. “I never saw her give anyone any signal” I said emphatically.

“Oh you would have seen the signal” he said with a grin, “but” he emphasized “you would not realized it was a signal”.

As he spoke, he touched his nose and then ran his fingers through his hair. “Something ordinary” he announced. I recalled then that she had moved her long hair aside from her face. This though was not uncommon for her to do. However maybe on that occasion she used it specifically as a signal. Then grinning my husband added “if the person becomes suspicious and talks about it being a signal, of course they will be called paranoid” and burst out laughing. Then having recovered from his laughing bout he said “a signal to get ready to shoot makes the threat looming. It would arouse a strong fight or flight response in the target, without the target even realizing it.”

“So fear without realizing it is fear” I cried.

“Yes”, he replied. “This is the great advantage of a veiled or concealed threat” he told me as if lecturing me again. “if the introduction is done well, then the person has awareness, but the awareness is vague. They have no knowledge about that awareness as they had dismissed the information about it in the first procedure, the introduction” he said.” He laughed and then explained, “criminal intent is all that is needed. But” he emphasized, “if such intent is upheld while doing something ordinary and not obvious, then the target is at a great disadvantage” he added showing openly a lot of satisfaction in what he had said. I stared at him for a while and then asked

“So the criminals would have to have been in the restaurant?”

“Of course” he replied raising his right arm up above his head. “They would have been the two arguing in the carpark”. He took a sip of his tea and then added “the incident in the carpark was planned. Once you and your friend” I shuddered at the word ‘friend’ as he continued. “had left the carpark and headed for the restaurant above, they would have followed you, probably hard on your heels. And” he added, “they would have positioned themselves somewhere nearby, at a close range” he explained. “You said that you were sitting with your back to the bar. So the logical place would have been at the bar. And as your friend sat facing the bar they could see her and watch for her signals. So, when given the signal to get ready to shoot they were in the choice position” he said casually then sipped some more of his tea with abandon. Anyone would think he had been talking about some everyday ordinary event.

“I wasn’t aware of anyone following us up to the restaurant” I said.

“They would not have followed right behind you” he laughed, “but in any case the incident with the people just leaving and her grabbing the table, could have also served to draw your attention. So, anyone walking behind you would have been able to do easily, without been seen. They could have easily stopped at the bar and ordered some drinks. Even if you saw them, you wouldn’t have recognized them as you never saw them at close range. And at the bar they would be seen as just people in the crowd” I stared at him again and then curious I asked,

“and what would be a signal to shoot?” I wanted to hear what he would say.

“Oh” he said straightening himself up. “She would have done something sudden. For instance, she could have jumped out of her chair and started to brush her clothes as if some coffee or something accidentally fell on her.” I was shocked when I heard this because at one point when I had waved my hand around as I was talking in my typical Greek manner, she grabbed her coffee cup and made some remark about “you don’t want me jumping up and having to brush the coffee off of my clothes” or some remark like that. I had laughed it off at the time. Now, it sent shivers up my spine.

“So, there would have been a signal to shoot arranged too?” I asked.

“A signal to shoot would be arranged, but it is almost never given” he said. It is done, but one in a million or less. It is done” he said “because we want the threat to be real. If it can happen, then it’s real”. He spoke formally and then gave a wave of his hand. “But”, he added, “while the criminals would be seen and maybe even caught, they can’t be tied to the chief offender. It would be ticked off as a case of random violence” he added casually.

“They can’t?” I asked incredulously.

“There are methods” he added stochastically “that evil people use, which help distance them from the crimes that may be done”.

“Distance them from the crimes” I echoed hardly able to believe what I was hearing.

“Yes” he said. “A go-between can be used to summons the crims. So you would have to know all the people that both parties knew in order to make any connection. And even then” he stressed, “it would still be difficult because the go-between would not be anyone known to both parties. They may be a once off accidental meeting, which makes it hard to say that they are known, even if they can be tied to either party. So, what if both parties happened to talk to the same stranger on some occasion, especially in some public place and at different times”. I will be discussing the inhumane people’s methods and their networks in a later chapter.

“I still have a problem with the ideas that she could have used criminals to threaten me” I said. “It would cost a lot of money. I know she doesn’t have that sort of money” I said.

“She can hire criminals for a very small amount in this way” he said “but even if they were to shoot, it still may not cost anything extra” he told me with a grin.

“Now you are talking riddles again” I complained. “You mean to tell me that some criminal would shoot and go to jail for it and not want any money? That’s ridiculous” I exclaimed.

“Remember” he said, “these are ex-crims. They got out of jail as their term ended, but their whole life and all the people they know may be in jail. So doing another crime gets them back in to continue their old life in jail.” I found this rather odd but I didn’t think it was worth discussing any further, so I turned once more to the events of the day.

“Okay” I said, “I can see how she could have been able to threaten me in the restaurant and enough for me to urgently want to vomit, but what about on the way home? How on earth can she threaten me when she was driving?”

“Well”, he replied. “From what you have told me it appears that the last concealed threat was hurriedly planned.

“Hurriedly planned” I echoed.

“Her preoccupation with the cars behind” he began, then looking at me seriously he said “you said she was constantly looking into her rear vision mirror”

“Yes” I confirmed.

“Well” he said, “she was most likely keeping a watch while she was driving, waiting to see when the crims were right behind her. Then she could give the signal to move to the curb and park her car. They would have done likewise, where ever there was parking, either behind her or in front of her. They would have then followed her into the news agency”. I listened mystified. This was like the plot of some Alfred Hitchcock movie. “You would have been none the wiser” he said “because this would have been the last thing you could have expected.

“So they went into the news agency to plan their next move?” I asked.

“In a news agency they sell road maps. She only needs to get the right page and indicate the street she would enter and where she would turn right. The right hand indicator signal could be agreed upon as the ‘get ready to shoot’ signal. That wouldn’t take long. Five minutes or so!” He explained. I was dumbfound but listened hard as he went on.

“They would have gone on ahead” he said, found the street and waited at the place where they could see the traffic and where she would be indicating a right hand turn.” I took a deep breath but said nothing.

“Once they saw her indicator to turn right, that’s it, that’s the signal. All they need to do is open a glove box where a weapon would have been placed.”

“And what would be a ‘go-ahead signal’ to shoot?” I asked hardly wanting to hear his reply.

“Oh”, he said casually again, “an accidental beep of her horn. That may call attention, but it would not be seen as anything odd, anything suspicious” he replied. ”

The concealed threat can be used in other instances as well. For instance, as I will discuss later, it can be used to decline immunity with respect to infections, which means the person will end up with a problem as their immune system will not be sufficiently operative as to address the infection or at least not address it efficiently. In the case of excessive inflammation, which I will also discuss in a later chapter, the concealed threat is used with the idea of damage done. In Covid 19 for instance, where there are severe symptoms and cytokine storms or in other words excessive inflammation, the ideas of “dangerous virus doing damage” or “you got the virus, it’s doing damage in your lungs or heart or brain” etc., may be being mentally presented by someone related, closely enough related and of course inhumane, with some agenda. I strongly suspect that pneumonia is not due to any infection at all but due to ideas as the ones I just mentioned.

Another area that a concealed threat can cause problems is in reproduction and fertility and it can be used to cause a pregnant woman to have a sudden miscarriage.

The concealed threat is mostly used with mental suggestions but before I can explain that I have to discuss a little about ESP and telepathy and then another introduction, which is an introduction to what he kept calling the ugly evil creature within. This is the real aspect and not the mask, because it takes a conscious being to address another conscious being in the Mind. So in the next chapter I will begin the discussion on telepathy and ESP in preparation for the use of the concealed threat together with ideas mentally presented.

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robininthelabyrinth · 3 years

Note

I'm pretty sure this is prompt four. Jiang Cheng/Qin Su - Jin Rusong as heir to Lotus Pier

ao3

Jiang Cheng heard the news in pieces, scraps of wild rumor and gossip repeated a hundred times over, but he still refused to believe it until he actually saw the official announcement.

Jin Guangyao had divorced his wife and sent her back to her father’s house, along with their son.

“Is he insane?” Jiang Cheng asked his second in command, who only shrugged helplessly. “Putting aside the fact that I’m certain that he loves her madly, putting everything else aside, Sect Leader Qin is influential and powerful, and a strong supporter of his father – no matter what happened between them, surely someone as pleasant and compromising as Jin Guangyao could find a way to work it out?”

Jiang Cheng had only met Qin Su a few times, always at Jin Guangyao’s side. He’d heard about how she’d fallen for the dashing young man that turned out to be Jin Guangyao and sworn to marry him, no matter the obstacles; he’d heard how they’d managed to overcome every storm, fight the wind and rain, and eventually made it to their marriage bed.

They’d even had a son together, little Jin Rusong; he was Jin Ling’s best playmate.

And Jin Guangyao was kicking him out? Kicking her out?

Absurd!

Who did he think he was?

And yet, contrary to Jiang Cheng’s expectations, Sect Leader Qin did not immediately explode, or, rather, within a few days, he did, but not in the way anyone had expected. Everyone had joked that he would find Jin Guangyao and strangle him, and he really did physically attack someone – but not Jin Guangyao.

He attacked Jin Guangshan instead.

It was as if he’d gone mad, red-eyed like Nie Mingjue in the throes of his qi deviation; he’d charged at Jin Guangshan, his old friend of thirty years or more, right in the middle of Jinlin Tower, and swiped at him viciously with his sword, cutting a gash in his chest as the surprised Jin sect leader darted back too slowly to wholly dodge.

What could be done? The Lanling Jin sect guards could not stand silently by with such provocation – they counter-attacked at once, and Sect Leader Qin did not survive. A little later, and it was discovered that he had never intended on it: his sword was laced with poison.

Sect Leader Qin died, but he took Jin Guangshan down with him the underworld.

The rumor mill exploded.

Everyone was talking about Sect Leader Qin’s motivations – the suspicious timing of the divorce – Jin Guangyao’s now inevitable ascension to the seat of Sect Leader Jin –

Only Jiang Cheng thought about Qin Su, who should have been ascending right beside him. It had been her father that had died, after all.

Laoling Qin was far enough away from Lanling Jin that they were still mostly independent, and they were close enough to the Qinghe Nie that Jiang Cheng could pretend that he’d only made a short detour on a visit directed towards Nie Huaisang, that notorious purveyor of gossip; luckily enough, Nie Huaisang remembered their old friendship and was more than happy to help cover his tracks.

When Jiang Cheng arrived, the house was already decked out in mourning. Qin Su greeted him, eyes red and swollen from tears.

“I’m sorry,” Jiang Cheng said awkwardly, then flinched when he realized he probably should have said something in greeting first – they really didn’t know each other well enough to skip over all that.

Nevertheless, Qin Su nodded, forgiving him the slip-up before he could even retract it. She was gracious and gentle, kind and quiet, economical and thoughtful – a consummate hostess. The wife of Jin Guangyao could not afford to be anything less.

Former wife.

Jiang Cheng’s gaze danced around the room, searching for something to say, and then abruptly he noticed – “There are two deaths in your household?”

“My mother took her own life,” Qin Su said, her voice dull. She tried to suppress it, but tears gathered in her eyes again. “Shortly before…”

Whatever it was that Jin Guangshan had done that had driven Sect Leader Qin mad, it had involved his wife, Jiang Cheng thought, and then abruptly he turned pale as he put two and two together. He’d never doubted that Jin Guangyao had adored Qin Su, so why would he divorce her?

Unless…

Jin Guangshan had a reputation.

Qin Su laughed a little, a bitter sound. “Everyone will know, soon enough,” she said wisely, seeing that Jiang Cheng had figured it out. “I don’t blame my former husband at all; he acted as he ought to in every respect. It’s only my poor A-Song…I can’t imagine what his life will be like from now on.”

Jiang Cheng looked helplessly at her. To lose not only your parents, one right after the other, but your husband, your reputation, and next even your son…

“Marry me,” he said suddenly, and Qin Su stared at him. “If Sect Leader Jin’s assault were recent rather than ancient, it would have provoked the same result. The only reason anyone might suspect the truth is because of the timing of your divorce – if there’s a reason given for that, people won’t think twice about it.”

His words had come out all in a rush, smashing together like stones tossed around by a waterfall; he hadn’t thought of the idea until right this moment.

“Are you suggesting I admit to adultery?” she asked. Her eyes were as round as the full moon.

Jiang Cheng shrugged, a little helpless. “Your reputation is gone,” he pointed out, wishing he knew how to be kind or tactful. “Adultery or incest – it’s the same either way for you. But for A-Song…”

To be the son of an adulterous woman was disgraceful, but such things happened and people generally looked the other way, as long as the real father was powerful enough.

It was better than being a child of incest.

“But what of your reputation?” she asked. “Sect Leader Jiang, you can’t. I won’t let you injure yourself for my sake.”

“Not for you,” he said, though maybe it was, just a little bit. The loss of your parents, the loss of your whole life, everything you’d ever believed – who could understand that better than him? “For A-Song. He’s Jin Ling’s best friend.”

Qin Su had always been kind to Jin Ling, he thought. She didn’t need to be, could just tolerate him the way most people in Jinlin Tower did, but she really seemed to like him…

It occurred to him suddenly that Qin Su met all of his requirements for a bride: a beauty from a good family, obedient, economical, with a mild personality who wasn’t too loud and wasn’t too talkative, who was good to Jin Ling…

“How’s your cultivation?” he asked abruptly. “Do you know how to cook?”

“Mediocre,” she said, blinking at him. “And I’m better at baking, I think. I like making sweets.”

“Good,” Jiang Cheng said, relieved. “That’s – good. I’m glad. Will you marry me?”

Qin Su bit her lip. “Let me think about it?”

Thoughtful, he added to the list. Cautious, not reckless.

“Take all the time you need,” he said.

She came back to him two shichen later. “What happens to A-Song?” she asked.

“I’ll adopt him as my own,” Jiang Cheng said. “Or he can keep the surname Jin, if you prefer. And if Lianfeng-zun agrees, which I think he will – it’s his birthright, after all.” Too many times over. “Jin Ling lives with me sometimes; they can grow up as cousins, the way they should.”

Qin Su nodded, lips trembling a little. “You won’t regret this?”

“I might,” Jiang Cheng admitted. “But I’m probably not going to marry anyone else, and I’m willing. Are you?”

“I am,” she said, and smiled at him. Her eyes were still red, and the smile shaky, but it was something. “Thank you. I…no, never mind.”

“If we’re going to be married, you’re going to need to learn to ask things of me,” he reminded her.

Qin Su wiped her eyes. “Yes, but there’s asking reasonable things, and then there’s asking to alert my former husband before we announce our engagement.”

“Oh, no, that’s a great idea,” Jiang Cheng said, immediately relieved. “If there’s one thing Lianfeng-zun knows, it’s how to manage an announcement of that sort of magnitude. We should definitely tell him.”

Qin Su’s smile this time was stronger.

Nie Huaisang pulled a few strings and got Jin Guangyao to come over to the Unclean Realm, and when he walked in and saw Qin Su, he flinched. Jiang Cheng could see on his face that he still loved her, and he felt bad for him – not enough to stop, but still.

“I see,” Jin Guangyao said, hearing the plan. His expression was surprisingly neutral – thoughtful, but not as upset as Jiang Cheng would have expected. “It’s not a bad idea. And you don’t even need to admit to adultery, either.”

“We don’t?” Jiang Cheng asked, surprised.

“We can say that my marriage with A-Su broke down after my father’s actions - painting them as recent, rather than ancient,” Jin Guangyao explained. “I didn’t feel I could oppose him, she had no choice but to do so – it was an irrevocable breach. You came to comfort her, having met her during your visits with Jin Ling, and her sect is in need of support…you can say it developed naturally from there. It might not work to quell the rumors, of course, but it would at least provide a way to save face in public…Leave it to me.”

“Thank you, A-Yao,” Qin Su said quietly, and he smiled at her, pained.

“Just be happy,” he said to her, then looked at Jiang Cheng. “Treat her well.”

“I will,” Jiang Cheng promised, and took her by the hand. “I swear.”

It was a few years later. Nie Huaisang sat beside Jiang Cheng.

“I think he killed my brother,” he said, playing with his fan. “I’m going to destroy him.”

Jiang Cheng stared at the newest memorial tablet in the Lotus Pier, his hands clenched into fists with knuckles turned white.

“Good,” he said, voice savage. “I’ll help.”

#mdzs #jiang cheng #qin su #jin guangyao #nie huaisang #my fic #my fics #I'm sorry

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judeswhore · 3 years

Note

something inspired by the new pics😭 maybe first date with mase and getting ice cream

still not actually over those photos they’re the cutest things ever

cinder toffee - mason mount

Mason held his arm out in front of him, dramatically welcoming you up the steps that led to the miniature fair ground that was settled on the beach pier as though he owned the whole place himself. He flashed you a grin, tilting his hand so you could thread your fingers through his. The two of you had just come from having dinner and it was Mason's bright idea to get ice cream from the fair.

"They have the best ice cream in Portsmouth." He'd argued as you left the restaurant but he didn't really need to convince you, you weren't ready to finish your date just yet. It was your first date with Mason, even though the two of you had been friends now for a few months, seeing him in date mode was now your new favourite thing.

The pier was full of kids and families and you had to practically glue yourself to Mason's side to keep from being separated. He kept getting looks from people and you tensed slightly at the prospect of being bombarded by fans. Mason seemed at ease though, thumb brushing over your knuckles as he pointed out different things to you.

"I used to come here pretty much every weekend. I'd save all the money my parents gave me through the week just so I'd be able to go on the Twister." He grinned down at you, bending a little to brush his lips over your ear. "Had my first kiss behind the candy floss stand."

"Hoping for a redo?" You arched your brows at him and Mason smiled down at you, eyes glinting in the sun.

"Maybe not behind the candy floss stand." He pulled you to a stop in front of a little ice cream shop, fingers sliding from yours. "What would the pretty lady like?" You shook your head at him, moving over to read through their options. Mason stepped up behind you, chest against your back and your heart leaped when he brought his arm around you to press his finger against the board.

His bicep was right beside your face and you could feel the heat of him against you, your mind short circuiting for a few seconds when you got the slight whiff of his aftershave. Your eyes travelled down his arm, soft skin and slightly bulging veins, before you settled on his finger.

"Their cinder toffee is incredible."

"Yeah?" He hummed a reply against your ear, his breath fluttering your hair and you shivered in response, managing a brief nod. "Okay, what do you want?"

"Don't worry, I've got it. Wait here, yeah?" He squeezed your hip as he stepped around you and headed into the little shop. You took the moment alone to let your eyes wander along the pier, taking in the flashy lights of the few rides and the row of little sweet stalls, including Mason's beloved candy floss stand.

Your eyes snagged on a ball toss stand and it had your lips tilting into a grin. Mason returned with two cones of cinder toffee in his grip, handing one to you with a smile. "Prepare to be wowed." He told you, already taking a bite from his own ice cream.

"What happens if I don't like it?"

"This would be our first and last date." You shoved his shoulder lightly.

“Like you’d ever be able to find someone like me again.”

“True, what other person enjoys eating jalapeños from the jar?” Mason flicked the end of your nose which you scrunched up as you swatted him away.

“Lots of people actually.” You fell silent for a few seconds as you licked at your ice cream. Mason watched closely, eyes focused completely on you.

“Thoughts?”

“Pretty impressive. Maybe on our next date I’ll take you to the best ice cream parlour in my home town.” Mason grinned, hand reaching for your face so he can rub his thumb over the corner of your mouth.

“I’ll hold you to that.” You stepped in front of him, walking backwards so you can keep your eyes on his.

“Win me a shark?”

“Sorry?”

“On that ball toss game.” Mason’s eyes slid away from yours, snagging on the game stand before falling back on you.

“Come on then”

The two of you finished your ice creams while standing just off to the side of the stand, Mason’s body angled in front of yours to stop the cold sea air from biting at your bare arms. He paid the ticket man for five balls before stepping back and wiggling his eyebrows at you.

“Watch and learn, sweetheart.” Your stomach dipped at the term of endearment and you leaned against the podium.

“Are you as good with your hands as you are with your feet?” Mason’s throw went crooked at that and he missed all together, eyes darting back to your smirking face.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.”

“Maybe I would.” Mason shook his body out, sending you a glare that basically said “behave” before aiming again. And he’s Mason fucking Mount so of course he got it on his first try, smirk tugging at his own lips as the ticket guy handed a shark plush teddy over the counter.

Mason held it against his chest, cocking his head at you. “Gonna name him after me?”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because I just won him.”

“Hmm, no, I think I might name him Bruce.”

“Bruce?” Mason passed the teddy into your arms, watching you like you’d gone mad. “Who names a shark Bruce?”

“Are you kidding me? It’s the name of the shark in Jaws.” The two of you are pressed against the railing of the pier, Mason’s body pressed snugly against yours.

“Why do you know that?” He asked, brushing your hair back off your face. You shrugged you shoulder, leaning over to gaze over at the ocean.

“I like Jaws. You gonna let me beat you at that basketball game?” You pointed to a hoop game a few feet away from the candy floss stall. Mason grinned.

“Bring it on.”

#england nt #chelsea fc #football #football imagine #money mase #mason mount #mason mount fluff #mason mount fanfic #mason mount one shot #mason mount blurbs #mason mount fic #mason mount blurb #mason mount imagines #mason mount imagine #mason mount x reader

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fuchsiagrasshopper · 3 years

Text

Saturated

Author’s Note: Here it is, the long awaited one-shot that ended up a mini story in length. This wasn’t a planned idea, just something I went with and this is the result. I know this fandom is starting to shrink due to the show ending, but I hope those of you still here are having fun!

Masterlist

Summary/Pairing: Ivar x Reader In which Ivar thinks he’s found a daughter of the goddess Rán

Wordcount: 9642

Warnings: Language, Angst, Smut NSFW

The night was warm and still when Ivar made his way down to the stretching shore. It was a difficult trek the older he became because he had to wade through the sand that seemed to double his weight and sap his strength. After all that effort, he was reminded why he put himself through such a trial when he came into the blessed solitude. When he was a boy he had found an old fishermen's dock that was no longer used, and it was a quiet place he could go without being bothered. Sometimes he would look out at the water and imagine all the lands that were waiting for him to bring them terror and glory. When he was feeling less ambitious after drinking with his brothers, he would lie back on the creaking boards of the dock and gaze at the stars and wonder if the gods were watching in forethought.

His mother told him it was the sea that would take him from her. Her eyes would grow empty yet full of sadness, and he could only watch without being able to comfort her. Ivar wanted to journey, and he assumed his mother's vision meant that either it was by ship or drowning that he would be taken. When one entered a longboat to go raiding, the chance of a storm crashing down was always a possibility, but it was a risk worth taking for honor and legacy. He loved his mother, more than anyone, but he could not stay in Kattegat forever. His fate was out there waiting, and he needed only to extend his hand to take it.

A sudden movement in the water broke his focus and he looked out over the dock to the rippling surface. His eyes adjusted, and he thought his mind had gone when he recognized the whites of a pair of eyes staring back at him. There was a person in the water, bobbing just to their nose above the surface. At first, Ivar reached forward with his hand. They must have been frozen to the bone in the frigid sea. Kattegat's waters never warmed, even in summer.

When he looked at his hand cast forward, he felt foolish. With his useless legs, he couldn't swim. His upper body strength might support him a moment or two, but then sink and be wrapped under in the weeds before he could take a breath. He withdrew his hand only to find the eyes were no longer where they should have been.

Ivar scooted closer to the edge of the dock, searching the black water for the face he thought he saw. He rubbed at his eyes. Perhaps he hadn't slept well enough, or maybe he had ingested something spoiled during the last meal. He chose to believe his senses were sharp. They had kept him alive this long, and while trying to match his brothers no less. His eyes did another sweep of the shore before he called out, "I know you're there. You should know you cannot hide from a son of Ragnar."

His legs that dangled over the pier were parted, and a figure came straight out from the water to rest its arms on his thighs. Ivar flushed when he saw the figure was womanly. A beautiful and terrifying face, with large silver eyes, peered up at him. He had mistaken you for a woman, but you were something more. The hair that tangled down to your waist dipped into the water, and below was not a pair of legs kicking. Black scales with a pearlescent shimmer. You were one of Rán's creatures, or perhaps a daughter to the goddess herself.

"Ragnarsson," You spoke, and he was struck dumb by your voice. "Few may hear the siren's song calling."

Ivar's eyes shot to your hand as it trailed up his leg. Your nails were long, and there was a transparent webbing between your fingers. What surprised him even more than your strange claws was how gentle your touch was. It was a caress barely felt through his trousers.

"Who are you?"

You smiled. "I am (Y/N)."

"I am Ivar."

"I know you," You replied, and your sweeping hand switched to cupping his cheek. "You have your father's eyes and spirit."

"You know Ragnar Lothbrok?" Ivar asked while leaning into your touch. Your hand was warm despite the brisk waters you waded in.

"I know many faces of your home. I like to watch and learn from your people. Your father was a gazer too, but his eyes were to the horizon. You search the stars and night sky."

When you began to pull away, Ivar grabbed your hand and brought it back to his face. "Do you know my brothers?"

"I have seen them, but my song does not reach their ears. You are unique."

Ivar simpered. He could hear what his brothers could not. While they were off in barns and clearings, playing under the skirts of thralls, he was alone in the quiet of the night with a goddess. The sea had chosen him, though youngest and deformed.

"Why have you sought me out?" He asked, desperate to have his hopes confirmed.

"I wish to talk with you, and learn more of your kind. But we must always meet under darkness, for many of your people would rather hurt me than trust me."

Ivar knew why. Fishermen told tales of beautiful women taking sailors to the water, down to the sea bed of Rán's hall, never again to surface. He did not think you had the malice to do such a thing to him.

"How do I know you'll return? Is this even real?"

He couldn't help the creeping doubt from springing forth, and you flashed him a look of pity before plucking the knife from his belt. That got his attention, and he lurched forward to reach for the thing, but you held no ill intent. Instead, you pulled your hair over your shoulder and cut free a length to give to him. It was softer than any wolf pelt, and he clutched it tight to his chest.

"Giving a lock of hair to another can be one's undoing, so believe that I will return or curse me should I ever be treacherous," You said, and you slid his knife back into place before dragging your hand down his thigh. His cock gave a twitch, and your grin told him you knew. "Farewell Ivar."

You slipped back into the water like a needle through silk, and he was only able to catch a glimpse of your tail before you disappeared into the deep.

ooOOoo

Ivar went back to the dilapidated dock every night, and true to your word you would be there waiting in the water. You only approached once he took his place at the end of the pier, and Ivar would keep his legs apart so you would come rest between them. As you spoke of things unimportant, he would weave his hand with yours, playing with your fingers and the thin membrane of webbing. You would return the affections with little pets of your own, and you always left a kiss to the corner of his mouth before parting.

The lock of hair you had given to him was always with him. He had braided it together into a bracelet that he wore everywhere on his wrist. If his brothers thought anything about it, they never voiced such concerns. Ivar presumed they figured he had found his own thrall to be with, and as distracted as they were with Margrethe, they didn't dig further into his affair. His mother had noticed the thing as well, and always she would give it a long stare. Ivar always anticipated her to ask, but she avoided mentioning it as if it were a matter too delicate to speak of.

Ivar wished he could bring you to meet his family if only to brag to his brothers that you had chosen him. But he knew that could never happen. They would fear that you were a deceiver after his life, and his mother would have you killed to keep him safe. She probably would never let him near water again.

"Ivar," You called, clasping both hands on either side of his face. "Your mind is elsewhere tonight."

"Sorry," He said, looking away momentarily. "I just was thinking what it would be like to live our lives together."

"Come with me to the water," You suggested, and you gave a small tug on his arm that scooted him closer to the edge. He almost let you drag him in before he grew hesitant and pushed back.

"I can't swim like this," He said, scowling at you and then his legs.

"I will keep you safe." Ivar searched your face for any deception, but he only saw your smile. "You don't trust me?"

"I do," He said quickly. "But I…"

You heaved yourself upwards on the dock until it was just the tip of your tail whipping strokes in the water. Ivar caught your bare torso against his chest, and he flushed as your breasts pressed up against him. You were practically sharing the same air, noses brushing together as you steadied yourself in his arms. Your eyes met and you breathed a laugh that eased his previous concerns.

"We won't go far. I just want to show you that your legs aren't the burden you think they are."

You weren't pleading, and Ivar was intrigued by your suggestion. He gave you a short nod, and that was all it took for you to wrap your arms around him and haul him down into the depths. Your strength was surprising, but the admiration was banished from his mind the moment the cold water soaked straight through to his blood. He thrashed his arms, grabbing for purchase at imaginary aids that weren't there. When he tried to let out a shout, he swallowed saltwater. The sea was going to take him, just as his mother feared.

No. You were there, and you had never left. Like a spark to wood, Ivar was enveloped in a new warmth, and he floated to the surface with your arms around him. He took his first breath of air, but his throat was raw and he sputtered and choked. Your lips closed over his while he continued to cough, and it was as if you pulled all of the water out from his lungs. He didn't know if it was a real kiss, but he wore a shy grin as you pulled away.

"Breathe," You instructed. "Breathe, and look up at the stars you love."

Ivar first looked back at the shore and realized you had kept your promise. You had only taken him out far enough so his feet wouldn't brush the sandy floor. He then craned his neck up to the sky and found the familiar sight of his stars. They were the same out in the water as they were on land, a comforting thought for when he would one day sail away from home. The sky would always be there.

"Lie back and let the water hold you," You whispered in his ear from behind.

Ivar didn't know when you had maneuvered around to his back, but he continued to put his faith in you as you guided him down gently into the water. He was lying face up with his body floating across the surface weightless and free. You joined beside him, and together you shared in the silent night, bathed in the moonlight with the motion of the sea carrying your bodies. Ivar forgot for a moment about his broken legs. Drifting there beside you, he felt whole.

"You didn't answer me before," He spoke up, and you watched him with curiosity. "About us living our lives together. Is it possible?"

"There are those of my people who have given up the sea's blessing to live on land. Some may even live among your kind, though I doubt you would recognize them."

"How did they do it?" Ivar was sure even the dumbest farmer in Kattegat would have noticed a child of Rán flopping about.

"When my people choose to live a life as a land dweller, they simply have to go ashore. The blessing of the sea will fade, and in place will be a soft and weak human body, " You explained, and you turned your eyes away from him. "But the sea is vengeful and she hates those who leave her waters. Once the blessing fades, we can never return to her currents, or else we would be reduced to nothing more than foam that settles into tide pools."

If you were to be together you would have to give up everything you knew to be with him. Ivar wanted to ask this of you, but he was afraid of your answer. Being a prince as well as his mother's favored son meant he never had to work for anything. What he wanted he got, and always in plenty. If you refused him, he feared the rejection and what his reaction could be. He wasn't beyond forcing you out from the water onto dry land if it meant keeping you for himself. Better to not ask now. It was too early to demand so much from you.

He heard you shift in the water, and you were at his side again while supporting his back with your strong hands. "You don't want to ask me?"

Ivar shook his head. "Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow."

"I know you will soon, Ivar. It's in your eyes, they darken with hunger."

"What would you say if I did?"

He let out a shiver as you righted him back into your arms, holding him in your embrace that let him know you were in control. "I would say that you could also give up your life to be with me. Right now, I could take you down there, and you would never again have to worry about dragging yourself upon the land."

The idea of never having to crawl again was tantalizing, something he had always wished for, and yet...even if he was with you, he knew he wouldn't forget all that he would leave behind. He wanted to show his people he could lead and conquer better than any man, even without working legs.

"I couldn't," He murmured.

"Then it is good I did not ask, and nor will you ask it of me. We will take comfort in the joy we have now, and forget everything else."

You met his eyes with your own. Silver, just like the treasures that were brought back over from raids. Ivar refused to fluster under your gaze, even though your peering felt like a piercing dagger. He wanted to appear self-assured, and not as some young lad who needed you to hold him. He pulled you close and planted a clumsy but heartfelt kiss. Your lips were cold but your mouth was warm, and he tried to keep up with your feverish pace as you devoured everything from the kiss.

When you clapped your hands on his cheeks, Ivar could feel himself trembling, and he knew it wasn't because of the kiss. Your mouth left him, and he tried to find your lips again. You placed a finger to his mouth to stop him and gave him a shake of your head. "You are like ice. I've kept you here too long."

"Not long enough," He retorted before sneaking another kiss on you.

You laughed while gently prying him back. "You have your father's confidence."

"Good, maybe you can find out what else of his I have." He gave you his best wolfish grin.

"We'll have our time," You promised, and you secured an arm around him before starting to swim back to shore.

The water seemed to grow colder as you glided through it and by the time you made it back to the pier, Ivar couldn't control his shivering. You urged him up onto the dock, and your concern had made you grow quiet. Ivar didn't mind that you fretted over his well-being, but he missed your smile.

"How will you make it back home?" You asked while looking over him to where the edge of the town was barely visible through the treeline. It was a long way off.

"I've travelled further," Ivar excused, though he had his trepidations. His damp clothes were sticking to him, and his hair felt like grass after the thawing in spring. The cold made his muscles tighten, and he wasn't looking forward to pawing at the ground with stiff hands.

"Go now, while you have the moon's light to guide you."

"When can I see you again?" It was becoming more difficult each time he had to leave you, and his thoughts revolved around when you could be together.

"I'll come back until I feel you no longer wish to see me." You reached your hand out to him, and Ivar took it, bringing it to his chest.

"That will never happen."

What he was saying must have been madness. Maybe you were Rán's daughter, and you had him under a spell. If you did, he didn't care. He would gladly stay under your enchantment. It was a warmth all his own, and a happiness he didn't have to share or contend with his brothers over.

"Goodnight my love." You placed your lips once more on his hand before returning to the sea.

Ivar did not watch after you as he usually would. It was a luxury he couldn't afford. The desperation to get inside by a fire drove him to turn towards home, and he struggled through the terrain as fast as his dragging would get him. He only passed by drunks and stragglers that did not give him a second glance upon realizing who he was. Ragnar's youngest son, the cripple. No one important.

He huffed his way up the stairs of the Great Hall, nudging on the doors with his shoulder until they parted. A low fire was burning in the pit, and his mother was asleep on her throne. She was still all done up from the last meal, and he realized she must have waited up for his return. His guilt propelled him forward, and he went towards her instead of his room. Careful not to wake her, he collapsed on the furs at her feet where sleep found him quickly.

Ivar didn't know how long he had been asleep, but he was startled awake by screaming. It took him a moment to realize it was his voice shouting, and he had jack-knifed into a seated position, clutching at his lower right leg. He knew he had broken a bone, and his mother, who was alert at his side, knew it as well. She called for two able-bodied guards to take him back to his room, out of sight of the thralls who had now gathered. None of his brothers were about, and he was relieved to be spared the humiliation. The weakness of his body during moments like this was only for his mother and the healers.

He was placed down onto the fur-covered palette in his room with one of the guards already off to fetch a healer. His mother was already trying to soothe his agony with her words, and as she brushed the hair on his forward she grew a frown.

"You're burning up," She said, feeling his forehead and then his chest. And your clothes are damp."

He swatted softly at her hand, frustrated with her observations but with never enough ire to cause her any harm. "Go away."

"Ivar, where do you go? All of these nights you leave my sight and no one knows anything about it." She plucked at the bracelet of your hair on his wrist before he jerked it out of her reach. "Who is this woman you see?"

"Get out, please," He begged. Tears stung at the corners of his eyes, and he didn't know if it was from the fever or the pain in his legs.

He was spared any further argument from her when the healer entered with three other thralls to assist. With soft voices, they were able to make her leave, at least until they finished addressing his fracture. Ivar would have felt awful at banishing his mother from his side if he could summon any other thought that wasn't about the hurt he was feeling.

The trek back through Kattegat had proved to be too much, but he didn't regret the night spent with you. In the water under the stars, and in your arms sharing kisses was where he wanted to be. He kept those thoughts in mind as the healer got to work on setting his leg in place, slathering it in a warming salve before wrapping it tightly in bandages.

"My Prince, you will need to stay in bed for the next few days to give the bone time to mend."

He gazed up at the rafters of the ceiling with contempt. How was he supposed to stay put knowing you were out there waiting for him? He couldn’t let the time pass and risk losing you, but he would need help.

"Go and bring me Ubbe," He instructed one of the thralls who shuffled out of the room at his request.

The healer continued to try and force some foul brew down his throat that he cursed her for at every turn of his head. Ivar knew he was notorious for being difficult to treat, but this healer had stuck through the bad times at his side. He admired her tenacity. If the situation was reversed, he would have given up on himself a long time ago.

After he had taken a large enough dose of the revolting stuff, he was left alone. The medicine made his head foggy, and he drifted in and out of consciousness while waiting for Ubbe to arrive. His eldest brother was best suited for the task in mind because he was soft when it came to Ivar's condition. Hvitserk didn't care about his legs either way, and Sigurd made a point to disparage him at every turn so he was definitely out of the running. Ivar guessed they had to all be out to the hunter's cabin. Following the commotion he had caused in the morning, one of them would have heard about it by now if they had been in town. It was nothing new really. He was used to being left behind.

Just as he was about to slip into another fitful bout of sleep, his door was forced open and in came his brother. He looked out of breath from running at least half of the distance back. Poor, gullible Ubbe.

"What happened?"

"The usual," Ivar started to explain as he forced himself to sit up. "Another broken bone."

"Mother says you also have a fever," Ubbe retorted as he took a seat at the end of the palette.

Ivar groaned. He hadn't estimated that his mother would be playing watchdog. "She got to you already?"

"She's worried about you."

"What else is new? She always worries about me," He grunted out as his leg twitched in pain.

"It's not just her this time. We all are concerned. You disappear at late hours and you're always tired. Even Hvitserk has noticed, and haven't you realized that Sigurd no longer says anything to you? For him, that's practically a defeat."

Come to think of it, Ivar couldn't recall the last verbal sparring match he'd shared with his third brother. Had his time with you sapped him of his usual energy?

"I need your help with something."

"Alright," Ubbe agreed with a nod of his head. "What is it?"

"When night falls, I need you to go down to the water. There's an abandoned dock if you follow the shoreline westward. Wait there and call for (Y/N), and tell her what has happened to me."

"Is she the woman who gave you that?" Ubbe asked while indicating to the bracelet on his wrist."

Ivar nodded as he began to twirl the thing around. It meant more to him than an arm ring. It was proof you had chosen him. "She's a daughter of Rán."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see for yourself when you meet her." He smiled something Ubbe couldn't understand.

"Feel better, brother," Ubbe said softly as he made his exit from the room.

Ivar could feel the headiness of the brew still working, as he was pulled into visions of you. Together you danced under the moonlight. He could recall the feeling of working legs even though he'd never had a pair before. You glided with him in his arms, but Ivar could not see if it was feet you stood upon or you had somehow managed to balance on the tip of your tail. The strangeness made him privy to the knowledge it was just a dream, but he allowed himself to be carried away in fantasy regardless.

Sometimes his mother would pop inside to have a check on him. Her long hands caressing his forehead and pushing back his hair made him feel like a boy again. The worry on her face had settled now that he was no longer writhing in pain. They only shared in a handful of words while the healer continued to tend to him. It was their special connection, a bond she did not have with his brothers.

When night came and darkness fell, Ivar sat himself up against the wall and waited for Ubbe to return with word of you. It was the first time in a long line of sneaking away that he didn't escape to go find you. A strange emptiness filled him at the thought, and he rubbed at his eyes to combat the sleep that threatened to take him. He couldn’t miss the update about you because he had fallen asleep.

A thin stream of silver light poked through a cut out in the roof of his room, and he imagined you in the water beneath the stars. He wondered what your reaction would be to learning of his injury. Concern he hoped, and not pity or regret for the night they had shared.

As Ivar's thoughts began to spiral out, he was relieved from further gloom when the door opened. Ubbe had returned, and he had on a perplexed frown that furrowed his brow.

"Well, did you speak with her?" Were the first words out of Ivar's mouth.

Ubbe shut the door behind him before coming further into the room. "I called for (Y/N) and waited on that pier, but no one ever came, Ivar."

He took a moment to juggle that information in his head while Ubbe looked on with worry. You never showed. Had something happened to you? Perhaps you were riddled with guilt about taking him in the water or you had seen Ubbe from a distance but did not approach. That had to be it. His brother was a stranger who did not hear your song as he had.

"I have to go there."

Ivar threw the furs off and started to twist to the side. His broken leg protested the rapid movement, and he grunted through his struggle. Ubbe was already at his side pushing him back. He latched onto his brother's arm and tried to shove him off, but even his upper strength had waned and he ended up flopping back down like a lifeless fish.

"You can't leave this room like that," Ubbe scolded. He took a seat down beside him, preventing him from trying something foolish again. "You'll end up losing that leg entirely."

"What's that matter? I'd be no worse off than I am right down."

Ubbe sighed. "I understand you care about this (Y/N), but I don't believe she would want to see you harm yourself this way."

Ivar knew you wouldn't. That's why he had to see you again and be surrounded by your love. "You could take me there."

"We'd never make it past the throne. Mother has seen fit to have eyes on who comes and leaves your room. I think she is looking for the woman to blame."

"(Y/N) won't come here," Ivar said and he could see the confusion on Ubbe's face, but he didn't elaborate. "I've probably lost her forever now."

"If she truly cares for you, she'll still be there," Ubbe argued, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "When you are well enough, I promise I'll help you back to the dock."

Ivar knew from past experiences that it would take many moons before he'd be fully healed. His eyes closed as angry tears threatened to fall. Why had the gods cursed him with these horrible limbs? The faults of his parents should not have fallen onto him. It was a cruel fate.

When he didn't continue to speak, Ubbe must have assumed he had fallen back asleep. He crept back to the door and exited the room as softly as a mouse scuttles through the kitchen.

Once he was alone, Ivar opened his eyes and took off the bracelet from around his wrist. He held it close to his lips, feeling the silk strands as he kissed the braided band. Maybe you could sense him reaching out. He decided to keep it enclosed in his hand and across his heart. If you were calling out, he would feel you in his sleep.

ooOOoo

In the many days that went by, Ivar became more frustrated with his leg. His broken bone was mending, but not fast enough that he was allowed out of the great hall. The slow progress had him taking out his anger on everyone, and they must have felt as trapped in with him as he was feeling about being locked up.

After a brief appearance to sit down to a meal with their mother, he had not seen his brothers again. This time he could admit he was to blame, and that they made the smart decision to cut and run back to the cabin. He had made the meal as uncomfortable as he could manage out of some need for vengeance. While they were free to run about Kattegat with their thralls, he was stuck in bed with wrinkled healers painting noxious salves on his body. He couldn’t be with you, so he chose to be spiteful.

Even his mother began to show signs of being fed up with him. Her smiles were now close-lipped, and she would linger by the door when she visited to make a hasty exit. He had yelled at her only once, and it had to do with her wanting to leave him just like everyone else. Ivar knew that wasn't true, and the moment she let out an anguished sob he had apologized.

Rather than continue to hurt those around him, he knew what he had to do. His leg was well enough that he could crawl again, and if he secured it tightly in his leather bindings it should protect the bone from any trauma as he moved. He had to get down to the pier himself and find you again. The call from the sea had him more desperate for water than a man dying of thirst. No thrall or guard would dare refuse him, and even his mother would not be able to stop him from going. He was doing this for her as well, even if she wouldn't see it that way. After causing her tears, he wouldn't be the reason for any more of her sorrow.

He needed the light to travel, so he began the trek from his room when the sun had only just begun to kiss the horizon. Much of the activity in the great hall had died down once the last meal had been served, and many of the thralls had already gone off to the barn. His mother was not on her throne. Ivar smirked at his good fortune and made for the doors as fast as he was able. Once he had them nudged shut behind him, he began his descent down the stairs. It was the most difficult part of the journey, guiding his body down feet first so his leg wouldn't bounce on every step down.

By the time he had cleared the treeline, the sun had set further and shadows were popping up in every corner. Ivar was more winded than he would normally be due to being bedridden, and he was mindful that he would have to work on building back the strength he had lost. But none of that mattered now. The dock was in sight. He had made it. He went together well with the solitude of the place, and when he sat perched on the end the creaking boards welcomed him home.

"(Y/N)," Ivar called out while searching for any ripple in the water. The surface remained still as glass, and he frowned while giving your name another shout.

Perhaps it was still too young in the day. He waited for the complete pitch of night to hit while letting his mind run wild with all the things he wanted to tell you about. It would be like a reunion of two lovers, and he couldn't fathom how one could be separated from their woman while gone on raids. Of course, his mother and father detested one another's presence, so it must have come as a balm to be away from one another.

The clouds parted from the moon, and one by one the stars surfaced in the sky. He called for you again, then held his breath to listen for any break in the water. Instead, he heard the crunch of footsteps behind him, and over his shoulder, he saw Ubbe approaching.

"I figured you would try coming back soon," Ubbe said once he stood at his side. "How's the leg?"

"Stiff," He replied tersely. "What do you want?"

Ubbe took an uninvited seat beside him which caused Ivar to shift over. There wasn't nearly enough room at the edge of the dock for both of them, and the wood groaned with the added weight.

"I never told you, but I've been coming back here every night after you sent me to search for (Y/N)."

Ivar frowned. "Why?"

"Because I saw how important it was to you to get that message to her, and I wanted to help. I might not be able to take away your pain, but I will still be your legs where I can."

Ivar looked at his lap as the heat built up in his face. He never knew how to take to his eldest brother's kindness. None of the rest of them had it, but from Bjorn's mouth, it was said that he inherited it from Ragnar.

"She never came back, did she?"

Ubbe shook his head. "She must only come for you."

"I don't think so," Ivar said as he looked out at the water. "It's been too long, and I've missed my chance. I don't think she'll come back."

"If she cares for you as you do her, I'm certain she'll be back."

Ubbe's words floated off him as he gazed down at the black water. He was struck with an irrational idea to force your hand if you were near. Before his brother could react, Ivar threw himself off the dock and into the water. It wasn't deep this close to shore, but it was enough that he began to sink. Ubbe was quick to follow, and Ivar tried in vain to bat away his saving hands. He was so desperate to have you come back that he would risk drowning. What a fool.

"Idiot," Ubbe cursed as he dragged them both up onto the sand. "What were you trying to do?"

Ivar turned his head away as he coughed up water. He felt embarrassed by what he'd just done and angry that it didn't earn him anything more than soaked clothes. "You wouldn't understand."

"I don't understand, and you won't help me to," Ubbe said, and his tone lightened from annoyance to mild irritation. "I need my little brother back. The one who's smarter than me at every turn, and doesn't make me fish him out of the sea."

Ivar started to laugh. It began in a quiet snicker and grew deep from his belly until Ubbe joined him. Neither of them knew what the humor was in the situation, but Ivar felt it was better to give in to the urge. He wanted to forget you weren't there, and giggling like a child with his brother in the sand was a good way to accomplish that.

"Should we head back?"

Ivar gave his leg a tug with his hand. "The bandage has soaked through and is starting to fall off. Guess I'd better have it looked at."

Ubbe crouched down beside him and indicated for him to climb up on his back. "C'mon, it'll be faster."

For once Ivar didn't argue. He couldn’t benefit from another disagreement, and he didn't want to be in wet clothes longer than he had to. Ubbe or Floki were the two he trusted most to support him. Hvitserk had dropped him one time, and he refused to let that happen twice. Sigurd never offered.

Once he was secured up to Ubbe's height, they started back home. He chanced one last look over his shoulder for as long as the water was in sight, clinging to the idea that you would spring up from the depths. The only movement out there came from the wind and the tide.

Neither brother spoke another word, but Ivar suspected Ubbe knew he had taken that last glance. How could he not? He wasn't ready to give up on you or accept the idea that you had abandoned him. Thoughts of you being in harm came to him, and he to banish those away because of the helpless feeling they gave him. You were a daughter of Rán, and the sea couldn't hurt you. Repeating it enough times had to make it true. As they journeyed through the night back to Kattegat, Ivar clung to the hope of seeing you again, and his thoughts warmed him up and dulled the pain until he found rest.

ooOOoo

Time passed by for Ivar and the pain in his legs dulled back into its usual ache. With his bone mended he could return to training with his brothers, and hunting up by the cabin. While his physical injury may have healed, it was not so for the throbbing in his heart. He had gone for sparse visits to the abandoned dock again, with each ending in the same sorrow until he had decided to give up going back. What's more, your bracelet that he had never let out of reach had vanished one day. Perhaps you had never been real, and he had dreamed you up.

What more could the gods take from him? First, it was his legs, then his father, and recently he was drifting from his brothers due to their infatuation with Margrethe. It was his mother he looked to as his constant, but she had grown distracted by visions. It was now common practice for her to disappear to her room after the last meal, when not so long ago she would be the last to leave with a chalice of wine. All of this left Ivar alone, and his thoughts had become unbearable. He needed something to dull the noise, a distraction.

More than anything Ivar longed to keep up with his brothers, and that's when he decided he wanted to fuck a woman. He approached Ubbe with the request to convince Margrethe. She had a pleasant face, and she didn't resemble you. If she had taken three of the other sons of Ragnar, he should be no different. Ubbe appeared torn when he first asked but did agree, and Margrethe was hardly in a position to refuse.

Now that the moment was approaching, and he was being brought over to the cabin by boat, he wondered if he would be the one to refuse. From what he'd always seen, men loved to hump a beautiful woman. It's what led to his parents' affair and marriage. So what was wrong with him that as he grew closer to the destination he felt ill? Ubbe certainly wasn't sharing the sentiment. He wore a dumb grin and was humming an old song to himself.

"You're happy I'm about to lay with your woman?" Ivar asked.

Ubbe laughed. "Margrethe isn't my woman, she's still a thrall. But I am happy because this is a good day for you, brother."

The day is still young, Ivar thought with a bitterness that was ingrained in his bones. Was sex such a powerful thing that it would shift who he became? Other than to have children, Ivar never dwelled on the matter. He'd never had a lover, and the closest he had come to obtain such a relationship was with you.

The boated jilted back and forth as it hit shallow water. Ubbe tied off by a tree before coming to fetch him. He was to be carried by his brother to his first tryst with a woman. Not nearly as humiliating as crawling he supposed, but the difference was negligible.

As they passed through the threshold of the abandoned cabin, Ivar stole a look around the place. It smelt like fire and driftwood, and there was a bed that had been piled thick with furs. The flame burning in the hearth let him know that Margrethe was already there.

Ubbe deposited him down on the bed and turned to get a look at him. "I'll leave now so you can be ready for her. Relax and enjoy yourself."

Ivar swallowed. That was easy for any of his brothers, they all had working parts. A handful of times he had felt his prick twitch and stiffen, but it was never a long event and he had never dared to try to take himself in hand. It was silly, but he was afraid of his cock.

He began to disrobe with haste, not wanting Margrethe to walk in on him without his trousers and his legs exposed. Once he was free of his garments he threw the heavy furs over himself and clutched them at his waist. All he could hear was his heart pounding, and he kept his chin tucked into his chest, straining to listen for the woman in the cabin.

She came to him from behind in light, cautious steps. Perhaps she was nervous, or his trepidations had seeped into the air and spoiled the mood. Ivar resisted the urge to peek until she stood at the side of the bed. When he glanced up he saw that she wore a fisherman's net as a veil. Her features were distorted, but he could make out the subtle difference that alluded to her being anyone other than Margrethe.

"(Y/N)?" He whispered and hoped.

You lifted back the thin mesh from your face, and you put on a dazzling smile. Ivar had never seen a better sight, not the first sacrifice of spring or the storms of Thor could hold a candle up to you. You donned a crisp white gown that was cinched at the waist with a strap of brown leather, and your hair was a wild tangle of waves. He had never seen you without your sodden tresses.

You took your first step to come closer, but you lost your balance and fell onto the bed in his awaiting arms. This was where you belonged.

"Shit," You cursed, pulling back enough to look him in the eye. "I was supposed to be beautiful and graceful, but these legs are too light. If I run fast enough, I'm sure I could soar like a bird."

"You have legs?" Ivar exclaimed while pulling you onto the bed beside him with all of the strength he could summon. "Let me see."

You swung your legs across his lap, careful not to rest any weight on his thighs. He hitched the skirt of your dress up to your thighs, exposing the new flesh. His hands didn't know where to touch first. This must be the work of the gods. In place of your magnificent tail were two gorgeous limbs that he was happy to smooth his hands over. You wiggled your toes, content to observe Ivar as he studied you.

"How is this possible?"

"I told you my people can choose to abandon the sea. Now I'm a soft creature like you," You said while giving his arm a playful squeeze.

He caught your hands before you could pull away and placed a kiss on each of them. They no longer had the webbing or claws, but there was a strength to them that he could feel under your touch. "Where did you go? I tried so many times to find you, and I even sent my brother."

"You had your life up here, and I had mine below," You said as your eyes grew vacant. "When I did return to the surface, I could no longer find you. All of these things left unsaid caused us to miss each other."

"Then why are you here now, like this?"

You reached for his wrist, finding it bare. Ivar knew what you searched for. "You no longer have my precious gift. Did you think I turned treacherous?"

"I misplaced it. I would never have thrown it away, even if I thought you'd left me."

"I know," You said as you ran a hand down his bare chest and over his heart. "You were in more pain than I understood that night. The blue in your eyes."

Ivar tensed. "How did you learn about that?"

"Your mother told me."

"My mother…" Ivar knew his mouth was hanging open in question, and he snapped it shut to regain composure.

"She found your bracelet. It was her voice I could hear beckoning me to the land. She must be a powerful woman to do such a thing."

You didn't have any animosity in your voice, but Ivar couldn't help but feel angry for you. His mother had taken your life from the sea by force. He had considered the heinous deed himself for a time, but he would have never risked your resentment. What if that came to pass now that the unthinkable had happened?

Ivar couldn't keep himself from looking at you now. He wouldn't let you go a second time. "She said the sea will take me. Perhaps you are meant to stop that from happening."

"Or maybe I am the sea," You said, shifting your hips as you hovered over his lap. With a firm shove you had him down flat on the furs, and he nearly lost his air as your thighs squeezed at his waist. "Come to take you myself because I couldn't stand the thought of that Margrethe touching you."

And then Ivar realized...Ubbe had known he was taking him to you. You had been on land long enough to learn to walk and find out about his pathetic setup with the thrall. His face flushed and he turned his head to the side before feeling your fingers grasp his chin. You tilted his face back around, and he saw only tenderness.

"I know the weariness from being alone. My heart has been there as well."

"You'll stay?" Ivar knew he sounded a touch petulant, but he did not want to suffer another morning with you vanishing.

"Until the gods bring you home and the sea turns me to froth, I will remain by your side, Ivar Ragnarsson."

He didn't know who's lips touched first, but when your mouths connected, it was like being awash on the deck of a ship. You were a cool drink of water with the tang of salt, and Ivar threaded his hands through your hair. The more his hold tightened, the more it pulled him in like reeds in a marsh.

You withdrew slowly, and you held his gaze, even when he wanted to look away from the thrill of what you'd just done. With careful hands, you shed the veil from your head, and then the dress, all collecting into one pile on the floor with his garments. You were naked before him. All of your scales were gone in place of smooth flesh and pleasing curves. Ivar knew he was gaping at your breasts, how they rose and fell with each rapid breath you took. As you gave a coy grin, you peeled back one corner of the furs and slithered your way in beside him. You pressed up against his side, and his body went taut as you tangled your legs with his.

"Is this alright?" You asked while your toes brushed up and down his shin.

"Yes," He said as a puff of air escaped him.

It was stifling hot under the covers, and your hand seemed to sear his flesh as you dragged it up to his thigh. Your fingers just teased next to cock before brushing up his abdomen. Ivar shifted, his hand reaching yours to halt your motions.

Your eyes flashed to his, and you smiled with patience. "Tell me what you want."

"I…" He paused, unable to form the words, and he could feel himself losing his nerve. With a tighter grasp, he took control of your hand and brought it back down to his half-hard prick. "I just want you."

"You have me," You murmured back as your hand began to fondle his shaft. He continued to grow in your hand, and Ivar let his eyes roll back at the feeling of you working him. His cock had never been so stiff, and his free hand clutched at the furs as he tried to recognize everything he was feeling. Fluid was beginning to bead out at his tip, and he struggled to push you back.

"S-stop," He sputtered.

You pulled back with a shy expression, and you were breathing just as hard as he was. You enjoyed what you could do to him. "Are you alright?"

Ivar bobbed his head, not sure if he agreed or not with your question. "I was losing control too soon, and I haven't even touched you yet."

"Is that all?" You rolled yourself on top of him, pushing back the furs while the cold air of the room pebbled your nipples. Ivar looked up at you in awe. "Touch me then."

Your slick center was rubbing on the base of his shaft now pressed up against his stomach, and he could feel his hips give a few practiced ruts. He saw the flash of delight in your eyes, and you hummed out a moan that was as long as a horn that bellowed in war.

"I'm still adjusting to this new body," You panted. "I've never felt like this before."

Ivar felt a strong sense of pride for bringing you these new experiences along with him. Even though he lacked the skill, he had a newfound confidence that had him reaching for you. His hands felt rough and clumsy against your untouched skin, squeezing and pawing to see how much pressure to apply and where. Your breasts were soft and pliable while your backside was firm and rounded, and you leaned further into him as he grasped onto your cheeks. You placed a wet kiss in the hollow of his throat that had him moaning. He wondered if you could hear his heart racing.

"Please," He choked. "I need to feel you."

Your hand reached down between your bodies, and you pulled back to watch his face as you clutched his cock. Lining it up with your slippery center, you brought your cunt down to the hilt. Ivar was under no delusions that he would last long or immediately be worthy of infamy in bed like his brothers, but being surrounded by your wet heat, he thought he'd cum right then. As you sat up straight to readjust, he let out a gasp. You did too, only when his eyes cracked open to get a look at you, your eyes were shut and your face was screwed up in pain.

"What's wrong?"

"Is it supposed to hurt like this?" You whimpered, hands grabbing at his chest. It seemed everything about your human body was new.

"For human women, it does the first time." He wrapped his arms around you and spun you down onto the bed with himself still connected between your legs. It would be difficult for him to manage this way long, but it would be better for you this time. "I've got you."

Your eyes were blurry from unshed tears, but he could feel you relax in his arms as he began to set a slow pace. On the first withdrawal of his cock he could see a small amount of blood seep out which he regretted feeling thrilled about. You were his now, and he was yours.

The strength in your legs was unmatched, and as you grew more comfortable you squeezed at his waist with your knees. He knew his end was already in sight from the tightening in his balls and the burning in his gut. You had thrown your head back, hair tousled and mouth open to show your sharp teeth. It was the only telltale sign that you weren't a human, and he bought his lips down on yours to explore the fangs with his tongue. You teased back with little nips, and you gave a harsh tug on his hair that separated him from the sloppy kiss.

"Fuck," He breathed out, and his hips began to lose rhythm. "I can't go much longer."

You ran a hand meant to soothe down his back, but it only spurred him on. His hips snapped at a frenzied pace with his thighs smacking against yours. Nothing could stop him chasing the feeling of his release, and with a few more pumps he felt himself empty deep inside you with a profane groan. All of the strain he'd put on his arms to keep from balancing on his legs gave out, and he collapsed on top of you. Your hot skin stuck to his, and he could feel you twitch beneath him.

"Sorry," He whispered embarrassedly. He rolled off of you and his cock made a wet pop as it slipped out from your folds. "You didn't get to finish."

You rolled onto your side to look at him, still breathing fast and on the precipice of your release. "Forget that. This was about you getting to enjoy me tonight."

Ivar shook his head as he turned into you. "But I want you to enjoy me as well."

His hand dove for your core, chubby fingers fumbling around in your wet pussy that was now a mix of your blood and his cum. This was the first time he had felt a woman's warmth, and he watched your reaction as he felt around your lips and the tiny bud at the top. When he stroked over it with his thumb your legs jerked and you whined. He continued to swirl his digit around the nub while experimenting with varying degrees of pressure. You were now experiencing his love for you, and he could read what you enjoyed most with how expressive you were with your body. He settled into a comfortable pattern, and your hand shot down to join his when he hit a perfect cadence.

"Yes...there," You cried.

Ivar plunged his longest finger into your depths as you began to wither and shake. He could feel your pussy clamp down on him as you came, and he knew he wanted to feel that on his cock next time. Your eyes blinked rapidly as you started to calm, and he withdrew his hand, only to bring it to his mouth for a taste. You watched him in rapt attention.

"A warrior tastes the blood of his enemies in battle, so should he not also taste his lover's in bed?"

You brought your hands back together with his and pulled yourself against his chest. "If the gods willed it, then let it be so."

You laid in silence together, and Ivar felt your little puffs of air even out as you fell asleep. He pulled a fur over the both of you, the fire had long gone low and the night air colder. Indeed the gods must have willed it. Ivar now knew he was favored by the gods above all other sons of Ragnar. You were a daughter of Rán, and you had chosen him. His mother knew it as well, or else she wouldn't have summoned you back into his arms. In his heart, he had already forgiven her for taking the bracelet.

The sea had come to take him, and he had gone willingly into the mouth of the current. It was comfortable there, like a never-ending waterfall over rocks beating him down onto your altar. You opened it up and took him in, and now you were both drenched.

The cabin grew cold and black, and Ivar went to sleep beside you that night with the comfort that the stars still shined overhead, and that when dawn came he would not have to face another day without you.

Taglist

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#ivar x reader #ivar x you #ivar the boneless x reader #vikings #history vikings #ivar the boneless #ivar smut #ivar ragnarsson #ivar angst #vikings imagine #vikings ivar #ivar lothbrok

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matbaerzal · 3 years

Text

Swedish Summer | J. Markstrom

A/N: This is for the fic exchange that the lovely @antoineroussel put together! I got @bqstqnbruin , I hope you like this ❤️ Summary: You spend your summer in Sweden with Jacob and it brings up a few memories. Warnings: None that I can think of... A few Swedish words?? Words: 1,6K (it's a short one I'm sorry 🥺)

Italics = flashbacks

"I don’t think I ever want to leave this place" you murmur as you lean your head against Jacob's shoulder. Your eyes are set on the view of the sea from the sunroom of the cabin you'd rented for the week. You'd only just arrived and just placed your bags in your room before sitting down. It had been a long drive to get here, so the last thing you wanted to do was unpack.

It was your first time in Sweden, your first time meeting his family - there were a lot of firsts. After two weeks around his family, you both decided that you needed some alone time together. His family had been great, like better than you could've imagined, but you felt a little overwhelmed and he could spot that from a mile away.

"The cabin or Sweden?" he laughs.

"Sweden" you smile, looking up at him.

"Yeah?"

You see the excitement in his eyes, he'd been nervous to ask you to come visit. He knew it was a big step, but he was more than ready to take it, and he thought you might be too - but the "what if's" always played with his mind.

You'd been hit by the harsh reality that the season was ending soon - which meant that Jacob was eventually going to go home to Sweden. He could see how quiet you got, which gave him a little hope that maybe you'd say yes to his pending question. "Time will fly by," he tries to promise, and you huff out before he continues. "but I was thinking maybe you could come with- or I've been meaning to ask you"

You're taken aback by his question at first not sure if you heard him right or not, the look you give him is nothing but puzzled.

"It's only if you want to, of course- I don't expect you to just up and leave everything to come with me to Sweden-"

It's like his rambling woke you up, and you don't have to think it over before you say "I'd love to, of course I'll come to Sweden with you Jacob."

The excitement he'd had then, once you said yes resembled the one he had right now. And his heart swelled at how comfortable you felt in his home country, with his family - you fit right in.

You lean up and kiss his cheek before laying your head back on his shoulder, basking in the sunlight, listening to the waves of the ocean.

"Wanna go for a swim?" he asks, nudging you softly.

"Do you think it's gonna be cold?"

"We can check once we're down there"

"Alright, I'll go get changed"

---

The water was perfect, just warm enough to go right in, but still, a refreshing break from the sun, cooling your skin. He'd jumped right in from the pier and you'd taken the ladder, needing to dip your toe in the water first.

After swimming around each other for a bit you'd ended up back by the ladder with you seated on one of the steps and him between your legs holding on to the ladder with one hand, the other tracing patterns on your skin.

The softness in his eyes was a familiar one - one you saw every day when he looked at you.

He's sure of himself when he leans in and captures your lips in a sweet kiss.

There'd been a time when he wasn't sure when you'd first met and started seeing each other. He knew he liked you, he knew he wanted to kiss you, to hold you, to be yours. He didn't know if you felt the same, however.

"Can i kiss you?" he whispers.

He was so close you could feel his breath on his face as he spoke, and you'd been ready for him to kiss you when he'd moved closer. His question took you by surprise, knocked the air out of you - here's this confident, handsome, kind man and he's asking if he can kiss you as if he's not sure.

Instinct takes over and before you know it you're nodding - "kiss me, Jacob"

His lips felt as if they were made for kissing yours from the first time you kissed, even though he'd been cautious - testing the waters. But now that you'd both gotten to know every in and out of each other, it was shocking you ever did anything but kiss. His hand wrapping around your waist - just the way you like it. Your nails softly scratching his scalp - just the way he likes it. Your tongues teasing each other as you deepen the kiss.

---

You dry off in the sun together and Jacob gets up before you to make some dinner before you finally unpack all of your stuff. You follow him shortly after to help out, moving around together in the unfamiliar kitchen to find all the things you need.

After dinner, you're both too full to even think about unpacking and you end up on the couch, forgetting all about it until you head to bed. A groan leaves him when he sees the bags you left on the bed - "shit, should we just leave it till tomorrow?" he tries

"Then we'll never get it done" you sigh, walking over to unzip your bag.

"Yeah, alright" he follows your lead, bumping his hip into you playfully before opening his own bag. You help each other hang and fold your clothes, and you would've been done in a few minutes if he didn't keep distracting you by grabbing your hips, kissing your lips, and ticking your sides.

It reminded you of how he acted whenever you spent a weekend at his place when you first started seeing each other. He was always so happy to have you in his space, acting as if slowing you down would make the time slow down too. He'd especially distract you when you were packing your stuff back up - as if the weekend wouldn't end if you never packed.

"Don't go" he almost whined as you zipped up your bag.

"You know I have to, all my stuff for work is at home"

"Just bring it here next time then, I'll even drive you to work"

"It'd be too much to bring back and forth all the time"

"So don't"

"What- you just said-"

"No, I mean don't bring it back and forth, leave it here"

"What do you mean leave it here?"

"Move in with me," he says as if it is the most obvious solution to your problem.

And it made complete sense to you too, you spent every moment you could at his place. There was no need to weigh the pros and cons, you knew you wanted it straight away.

"What are you thinking about, Älskling?"

"Us" you smile and he hums, asking for you to continue to which you tease him about how he always used to distract you - "old habits die hard, I guess" you giggle.

---

You could swear it's the middle of the night when he wakes you, your eyes struggling to open as he whispers in your ear "baby, wake up, I gotta show you something"

There's a dim light coming from the window, and you're barely awake as he wraps the duvet around you and helps you out of the bed. The air is cool as you step outside, the birds chirping as you make your way to the pier.

By the time you get there, the sky starts to slowly change colors. You'd been too tired to notice what was going on until now, your eyes blinking to take in the sight of the sunrise. You lean into his side as he wraps an arm around you. Even though you could easily fall back asleep in the comfort of his embrace you can't take your eyes off of the way the sun colors the sky as it starts a new day.

"Love?" he murmurs as if to check if you're awake. All you can manage to reply is a hum. "C'mere" he tilts your chin to look up at him and kisses you softly.

"Jag älskar dig" he smiles

"I love you too"

There's a sudden serious look that crosses his face, not in a bad way, but in a way that tells you he's about to say something important and it sharpens your attention as he looks into your eyes.

"When I first met you I was afraid that my life, my busy schedule would make us drift apart. I wanted to hold on to you for as long as I could, and could only hope that you would do the same. But now, now I know that it's you and me - it's us."

He pauses, and you take a deep breath after having unconsciously held it while he spoke, hanging dearly on to every word.

"I've been waiting for the perfect moment to ask you, but I've realized that every moment I spend with you is perfect"

"Jacob-" his glossy eyes match your own as your voice trembles. You know what he's about to say and you know your answer, holding it in until he finally speaks them.

"Will you do me the honor of marrying me?"

Your mouth is agape, but the words you want to say don't seem to come out as you look at him.

"The ring's inside- I forgot to bring it, I didn't know I was gonna-"

"Yes, of course" you interrupt his rambling, "of course, I'll marry you"

He'd been waiting for the perfect moment and your think to yourself as you melt into each other that he couldn't have picked a better one. There'll be a day when you share your love for your family and loved ones to see, but this moment right here is just for the two of you.

#jacob markstrom #jacob markstrom imagine #jacob markstrom fic #nhl imagine #nhl fic #op:w #hockey rpf

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ao719 · 3 years

Text

A Night to Remember

Happy 100 weeks @wackydrabbles! 🥳 I am participating in this weeks challenge with the prompt This is huge - we need to celebrate!

A/N: Thank you to @dcbbw and @burnsoslow for prereading!

Word Count: 1992

Warnings: Very mild language, but other than that, none.

The Soho penthouse elevator door slid open; Catherine and Gideon stepped out, followed by a sullen Reyna shuffling behind them. “Well, I’m glad Vince is alright,” Gideon said as they stepped into the kitchen. “I’ll give him hell for putting you in danger once he’s recovered; I can’t exactly kick his ass while he’s down.”

“It’s ‘kick him while he’s down,’ dad,” Reyna mumbled.

Gideon casually shook his head. “Not this time.”

Reyna slumped onto the stool at the counter and pressed her forehead against her palm as she heaved a sigh; Catherine rested her hand on Reyna’s shoulder. “You’ve been looking forward to it for so long, Reyna. There’s no reason you can’t still go and enjoy yourself.”

Reyna shook her head. “There would be nothing enjoyable about going alone.”

“Do you want to come to Miami with us?” Gideon asked.

“No. I’ll just … stay home and wallow. Alone.” Reyna stood and walked towards her room; Gideon and Catherine shared sad smiles.

****

Liam glanced at his watch as he finished dressing; he wondered if Reyna was home. She told him it was senior week; he didn’t understand what the hell that meant, but he knew she didn’t have school because of it, and she’d been out almost every day this week with her friends.

Ever since his birthday ball last month and his realization of how strong his feelings for her truly were, Reyna had been on his mind more than usual. He knew it was one-sided, however, so he tried -- and failed -- to brush it off.

Liam sat at his desk, figuring he would try to call Reyna before starting his day. He opened his laptop and hit the video call icon; he felt his stomach flip when it started to ring. Reyna’s face appeared on the screen a moment later, and Liam smiled; his smile fell when he noticed her red-rimmed eyes and tear-stained face. “Rey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Reyna sniffled as she wiped her cheeks. Liam cocked his head to the side and gave her a knowing look. “It’s so dumb,” she shook her head.

“Tell me anyway.”

“I … I can’t go to my prom,” her breath hitched.

“Why?”

“Because my date is an idiot, and he can’t go … so now I can’t go,” she sniffled.

“What happened?”

Reyna took a breath in an attempt to collect herself. “I was supposed to go with this guy, Vince. A bunch of us were out yesterday when his dad called to let him know he received his acceptance letter into Brown University; it’s a prestigious school and the one he really wanted to get into. So he was all excited and said, “this is huge - we need to celebrate!” So we decided to spend today at Coney, and we rented jet skis. I was riding with him, and he was trying to show off and started messing around. He wasn’t paying attention to what he was doing or where he was going, and the corner of the jet ski hit the concrete slab of the pier, threw me off, and he managed to crush his ankle between the concrete and the jet ski. It broke in three spots, and he has to have surgery …”

“You’re lucky you didn’t get hurt, Rey!” Reyna forced a halfhearted smile as she wiped her cheeks; leave it to Liam to be more concerned about her safety than anything else. “So, just because he can’t go, why does that mean you can’t go?”

“I mean … I could. But all of my friends have dates … I don’t want to ruin anyone else’s big night by third-wheeling it.”

“What exactly is prom again? I don’t understand these things you guys do in the States.”

“Imagine a ball … that’s pretty much what it is, just with less pomp and circumstance … to commemorate the end of senior year.” She looked down at her hands in her lap. “It’s fine. I don’t need to go,” she said quietly.

Liam chuckled, and she looked back at the screen as he offered her a sad smile. “Then why are you so upset?”

“Because prom is like a rite of passage, Li! It’s something my friends and I have talked about all year. It’s supposed to be this amazing night to remember …”

Liam looked away from the screen for a moment; in the background, Reyna heard someone tell him that he needed to go. He looked back at her and gave an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Rey, I have to go meet with my father. But I’ll call you later, ok?”

“Ok,” Reyna nodded.

*******

On the day of Reyna’s prom, she spent most of the morning lying in bed until her parents called from Miami to check on her. Gideon informed her that he had enlisted her aunt to keep her company for the day. Reyna insisted she was fine, but Elsie showed up at the penthouse just before lunch and dragged her out anyway.

Reyna hadn’t heard back from Liam since he called her a couple of days ago. She knew he was busy taking a few meetings for Leo, who was away on a diplomatic trip with Constantine, but she wished she could talk to him; he would tell her to stop sulking and crack a joke about why she should be glad she was missing her prom.

After a day of retail and mani-pedi therapy with Elsie, Reyna suggested they grab dinner, but her aunt insisted she get back to the penthouse. Reyna was confused since Elsie had practically forced her to come out, but she shrugged it off.

“Thanks for taking me out today,” Reyna said.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. Now, get inside,” Elsie shooed her with a grin. Reyna gave her a curious look before entering the building.

As the elevator made its ascent to the penthouse, Reyna couldn’t help but think of her friends at that moment; they were all at the Conrad by now, their night just beginning. She sighed as she slumped against the metal wall of the elevator. When the doors opened, she stepped out, carrying her shopping bags in both hands. She froze when she saw a figure round the corner, and her eyes went wide.

“Liam?” Reyna dropped her bags and rushed towards him; she squealed as their bodies collided when she jumped into his arms.

“Hey, you,” Liam chuckled.

Reyna drew back from their embrace to look at him. “What are you doing here?”

Liam couldn’t contain his smile as he set her back on the ground. “I have a surprise for you.” He took her hand, guiding her down the hall to her bedroom. When they stepped inside, Reyna turned to look at him. “I need you to get dressed.”

“Where are we going?”

“Not far,” Liam smiled. “And you need to wear that.” He nodded his head to her closet.

Reyna turned to see the unworn garment she had stuffed away the other day now hanging on the door; she looked at him with her brows furrowed in confusion. “My prom dress?” Liam nodded with a smile. “Why?”

“Stop asking so many questions and just get dressed.” With that, Liam left her to change.

****

A short time later, Reyna emerged from her room. Hearing her come down the hallway, Liam turned to look at her; his eyes widened as a smile split his lips. She gave a little spin, and his eyes traveled over her; she wore a powder blue backless A-line gown. He had seen her dressed up countless times before, but in that particular moment, she took his breath away. “You look … wow, Rey …”

Reyna smiled as she looked him over; he had changed into a pair of black dress pants and a white dress shirt complete with a tie. “You changed, too.”

“Of course,” he grinned. He could see the confusion in her expression and offered his arm. “Come with me.”

Liam guided Reyna up to the private rooftop terrace of the penthouse. When they stepped out, Reyna was met with soft music, and her eyes widened. Liam had it decorated with flowers, candles, twinkling lights, and white and gold balloons. “Liam,” Reyna choked out, “what is all this?”

“I was going to offer to take you to your prom, but when I talked to your parents, your mother informed me that you had already given your ticket away. So … I decided to create a prom for you …” Liam offered her a smile and turned, grabbing something off the ledge. “My research on proms told me I should give you one of these.”

“You did research?” her voice cracked, and Liam nodded and took her hand, slipping a white rose corsage onto her wrist. Reyna’s vision was blurred as she looked up at him. “Liam, I …” She trailed off, finding it hard to speak over the lump in her throat.

Liam smiled as he brushed a tear from her cheek. “I know it’s probably not the prom you had envisioned, but-”

Reyna cut him off with a shake of her head. “It’s not … it’s better,” she tearfully smiled.

Liam took her hand and gestured to a nearby table that was set for two. “My research also told me there’s typically a dinner involved before the actual prom.” Reyna glanced around the decorated terrace, still in shock, as Liam guided her to the table; he helped her into her seat before taking his own. He lifted a large cloth off the center of the table to reveal a pizza box from her favorite pizzeria, and Reyna let out a laugh as she wiped the tears from under her eyes. “It said fancy dinner, but this seemed more -”

“Us,” they said in unison and smiled. “Jinx.”

“It’s perfect, Liam. All of this --” Reyna motioned around “-- I-I can’t believe you came all of this way … and did all of this for me …”

“I just wanted you to have your night to remember.” Liam smiled, seeing Reyna’s eyes glistening in the soft terrace lighting. “I do have something your prom wouldn’t have had, however.” Liam reached down next to him and lifted a large bottle of Cordonian apple wine with a grin. “They wouldn’t serve you this.”

“Definitely not,” she giggled as Liam poured them each a full glass.

****

After consuming the entire pizza and two glasses of wine each, Liam loosened his tie and stood from his seat as a slow song started to play. He offered Reyna a lopsided grin and his hand. “Dance with me?”

Reyna took Liam’s hand, and he led her to the center of the terrace; he gave an exaggerated bow, and she laughed before looping her arms around his neck as his arms wrapped around her waist. She rested her head against his chest as they started to dance.

Reyna still couldn’t believe that Liam had made the long flight from Cordonia just to make this night happen for her. She swore any time she was with him, those secret feelings she held since she was 16 grew, but this made that unrequited love she had for him even stronger. This was one of those moments that, if she could, she would capture and hide it away just to relive it.

Reyna glanced up at Liam, unable to stop her smile as he returned his own. She perched on her tiptoes and pulled him down, pressing her lips to his. It wasn’t anything they hadn’t done before: a kiss under the guise of alcohol to mask their true feelings. Liam pulled Reyna closer, so there was no space left between them as they became lost in that one perfect moment. When she drew back, she stared up at him, reminding herself that they were just friends.

“Thank you, Li,” Reyna whispered.

“For what?”

“For giving me a night that I won’t forget.”

Liam smiled as he stared down at her. “I’d do anything to make all of your nights like this, Rey …”

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

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luminnara · 3 years

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Goddamn, Shit-Sucking Vampires | Lost Boys x OC CH 1

Summary: Vera is an unusually vicious bloodsucker who's never stuck in one place for very long...until a mysterious feeling pulls her right to the murder capital of the world: Santa Carla, California. Now, she needs to figure out why exactly she's there, where she fits in amongst the boardwalk's nighttime denizens, and how to cope with her own personal vampire-related problems. Poly Lost Boys/OC, starts just before the movie

Also posted on AO3

My requests are open!

Chapter one | Chapter two

Warnings: Blood, gore, smut, all that good stuff

Vera had been to a lot of cities, some of them twice, some of them three times, some even more, but none of them were quite as unique as Santa Carla. The boardwalk was crawling with lost souls, kids with nowhere else to go, and she was one of them; no family to call her own, no real friends, barely any possessions…Vera was a wanderer, a lone soul, a lost girl. She drifted from town to town, hanging around for a day or two if nothing interesting happened before moving on...and honestly, nothing very interesting ever happened.

Sometimes she took the bus, if she had the money from odd jobs or pick pocketing her meals, but for the most part, she was left to her own devices. She traveled on foot when she had to, avoiding major highways unless she was feeling up to a fight. During the day, she took refuge under bridges if she was broke, or motel rooms if she had a little cash. If she felt particularly frisky, sometimes she even managed to seduce locals into helping out, but for the most part, she only had herself as company, traveling by night for no reason other than an insatiable wanderlust and nobody else to spend her time with.

Nothing had ever held her in one place. She had started traveling a long time ago, when she realized she had no reason to stay in her hometown. Plus...people started to grow a little bit suspicious when they noticed too many bodies cropping up. The world was changing, and for someone like her, it was best to stay on the move.

After that, it became a habit, and she got used to wandering and never having a place to call home. Did it ever bother her? Sometimes, when she was resting, it did. She could stop and look at the stars, with some kind of foreign aching in her chest, but it was rare that she thought about it. It had started up years ago, and she had forced herself to get used to it. She had never found any cure, and while she lingered around the east coast, it had finally dulled to a strange, quiet pain. A constant throb in her chest, next to her heart, some kind of strange tightness that she was happy to forget whenever she could. It was becoming more frequent, though, as she neared California, and she chalked it up to the fact that she had been alone and hungry for far too long.

She would have to do something about that soon. She hated feeling hungry.

Vera hopped off the bus when it stopped in Santa Carla, a coastal town that boasted a crowded boardwalk and just the kind of nightlife she needed. From the road, she could see the bright lights of a Ferris wheel and even a roller coaster, and she couldn’t help but smile. She had always liked fairs and carnivals. They were fun and exciting, and good places to pickpocket. Plus, the chaos made it easier for her to go unnoticed.

At the bus stop, she was greeted with boards and telephone poles covered in missing persons ads, and it was an oddly comforting sight. She would fit right in.

“Murder capital of the world, huh?” she said to herself, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. She had seen the graffiti on the back of a big WELCOME TO SANTA CARLA sign on the way in, and the flyers only added to the town’s reputation.

Yeah, this place was worth checking out.

The pier was bright, neon signs and carnival rides lighting up the night. Kids and adults alike were enjoying their summer, stuffing themselves with treats or screaming their way around the roller coaster. It all looked fun, she had to admit, and maybe once she had a chance to grab some cash she could hang around and enjoy herself. She could use a break from running constantly, and she was finding that the boardwalk was already making her happy.

As she walked through the crowds, Vera spotted every kind of person, from middle aged parents toting along a family of four to dirty vagrant children to punks to a couple of weird kids lurking around the comic book store. There were pizza places, cotton candy carts, all sorts of dine in restaurants and bars...Santa Carla seemed like it had everything, but mostly, it was a good place for someone like her to spend some time.

She sat herself down on a railing, trying to ignore the hunger pains she was feeling as she people watched. Beyond the homeless kids and the weirdos, the boardwalk was full of partygoers, and it looked like summer vacation was in full swing. There were a million smells in the air—cigarettes, weed, funnel cakes—but none of them really caught her attention. She let out a sigh, leaning her chin on her hand. She hated being indecisive about dinner.

“Ugh, Surf Nazis,” a woman whispered to her friend as they ran by.

“Gross,” the other wrinkled her nose.

Vera looked past them to the men that were shouting about their asses as they left and she snorted.

“What’s wrong, girls?” One of them yelled.

“Come back, we’ll show you a good time!” Another cackled, tossing an empty beer can over his shoulder.

Vera rolled her eyes. Disgusting, pathetic creatures, all standing around a trash can as they smoked. They smelled awful, she realized with a wrinkle of her nose, and it wasn’t just from their smoke. They were nasty, leering at girls and laughing loudly with each other when the women they were bothering scampered away.

Well, they weren’t her first choice, but at least she had found a meal.

She hopped off the fence and sauntered in their direction for a moment before turning, giving them just enough time to notice her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw them perk up, and before long, all four of them were following her through the crowd, shouting profanities as she made her way down to the pier.

“Hey baby, where you goin’?” one yelled, jogging to keep up with her pace.

Vera looked over her shoulder. “Down under the boardwalk...unless you’re chicken.”

She heard a chorus of hoots and whistles and grinned to herself. Men were so easy.

“I call first dibs!”

“I wanna piece of that ass!” Another yelled.

They always did. Vera was a short girl, only around five feet tall, and stocky. She carried her weight in her legs, giving her thick thighs and a round butt that could never quite stay covered by the denim shorts she loved to wear so much.

Boys liked the way she looked. They liked how she seemed so easy to grab, so soft, so touchable. As the Surf Nazis followed her down the rickety stairs to a secluded spot under the boardwalk, their hands were already moving, unbuttoning pants and reaching for Vera as if they were entitled to her. She smiled sweetly as she backed into the shadows, cooing for them to follow, grinning sickly when they obeyed. They always did, like lambs to the slaughter, never clever enough to recognize her predatory gaze and dangerous movements until it was too late.

Sometimes, if they were lucky, they could catch a glimpse of her bra or panties before it was over, but tonight, Vera had little patience for the dirty fingers that tried to pull her shirt off and her shorts down. Their faces leered down at her, even in the darkness, grunting as they palmed themselves through their pants.

She gave them a second to enjoy it before her lips twisted into a sick grin and she reached for them, nails like claws and teeth like fangs. The air was suddenly filled with the sound of their screams, but the waves crashing against the sand drowned the grisly noises out. As she tore into them, she laughed, loving the way they were so terrified now that they had completely lost any sense of power over her.

Boys always liked the way she looked, until she was covered in their friends’ blood.

-o-

David was having a boring night.

His boys were under control for the time being, lounging on their bikes next to him. Paul and Marko were laughing loudly, occasionally punching each other just for the hell of it, and Laddie was reading a comic as he clung to Dwayne. Star had decided to stay home for the night, and nobody was complaining about that; at the thought of her, David growled to himself, grimacing at the reminder of the troublesome bitch. Max had wanted a daughter and a good mother for Laddie, and what had they ended up with? A mopey, whiny little cunt who refused to kill and feed like everyone else.

Feed...damn, he could go for a snack. He could practically taste blood in the air as he thought about grabbing a bite, fangs threatening to lengthen. He hadn’t even thought he was that hungry, but now that he was thinking about it, it was bugging him, and when David got the urge to feed, there were very few things that could stop him. The hunger would sometimes gnaw at him the way it did a newborn, and even Max was occasionally put off by it. It was something he expected from a younger vampire, like Marko, maybe, but David? His appetite could be insatiable, truly monstrous in a way that most others’ weren’t.

The boys picked up on his hunger and he heard a few growls of agreement before he nodded for Dwayne to take Laddie back to the cave. The kid was never allowed to go with them when they hunted, and Dwayne was capable enough to grab something for himself if he didn’t catch up with them. Ever since Laddie had gotten his pesky little hands on their bloody wine bottle, they had been stuck with him, and if Dwayne hadn’t turned out to be so good with the kid, David would’ve been irritated beyond belief.

It all worked out, though, and Laddie fit in well with the rest of the group. David just had to keep reminding himself to be patient.

“Anybody catch your eye?” Paul asked as his brother took off down the beach with their youngest member.

“Absolutely fucking no one.” David sneered.

The tall blonde straightened up to sniff the air. “Get a whiff of that, though…”

David paused, mimicking Paul. He was right. There was a metallic scent on the breeze, the sweet smell of fresh blood. It made him thirsty, and as he led Paul and Marko down the boardwalk, it only grew stronger.

“Shit,” Marko mumbled as they started down the stairs to the beach. Once they had broken free of the crowd, the scent had hit them like a train, and even David was having trouble controlling himself.

“Careful,” he warned, voice coming out with a ragged, heavy breath.

Murders happened in Santa Carla all the time, and not only because of the Lost Boys. It was a rough place, full of drugs and vagrants, and the violence only helped them blend in. Someone had probably gotten themselves in trouble under the boardwalk, and at this point David was just hoping that the killer was still around to sate his hunger. They never fed from corpses, so stumbling across them never yielded any good results unless they were in the mood to rip them apart for shits and giggles.

David was not in the mood.

He led Paul and Marko off the stairs and through the sand, hurrying now as the blood filled his senses. It was so fresh, and there was so much of it...this wasn’t normal, even for the murder capital of the world. What kind of sadistic human would cut someone up enough to spill so much blood? What the fuck was going on under his boardwalk? Sure, it was something he would do, but other than his boys, who could possibly be that brutal?

It was in the shadows of the pier that he finally got the answers to all of his questions.

Just like the blood had, her scent hit him like a freight train. He could tell Paul and Marko were just as confused by the way they stopped and hissed, fangs already out as they looked down at the bodies littering the sand. It was a gorey scene, throats and stomachs ripped open, Surf Nazis gutted with their pants down.

And in the middle of it all, she had the audacity to glance up at David, and then completely disregard him as she turned back to her final victim. She wasn’t worried in the slightest about the three males, and that pissed David off a little. When he would have snarled a warning at her insolence, he found himself distracted instead, head tilted and lips parted as he drank in her scent and checked her out.

She was wearing shorts that barely covered her bloody legs, ratty combat boots on her feet and an equally ratty denim vest over a ripped up black shirt. Her ebony hair was cut into some sort of shaggy mullet, falling around her shoulders. It was long and wavy and glossy, but tousled and messy, no doubt thanks to feeding.

He could only stare in shock at the black-haired girl that was feasting on a Surf Nazi. He couldn’t decide if he was angry at someone else hunting on his turf or happy to find a real female vampire, one that wasn’t stupid and whiny like Star, but the one thing he knew for sure as he took a step towards her was that he was just the tiniest bit turned on.

Paul and Marko could both smell the tiniest hint of their leader’s arousal, and it excited them. They weren’t used to supernatural girls, and the thought of getting a turn with her was enough to make the air heavy with the scent of lust as they followed David.

Paul let out a low whistle behind him. “Shit, first time I wouldn’t mind bein’ a Surfer. I’d take a little of that sugar right now, know what I’m sayin?”

The vampiress lifted her head from her victim and smiled, drunk on blood and high off the hunt. “I don’t usually share meals, but I’ll give you the rest of this one if it gives me a free pass back outta here.”

Paul tensed to take her up on the offer, but David stopped him. “Free pass?”

The girl sat back from the still-whimpering Surf Nazi, blood running down her chin. “Figure you wouldn’t want me in your territory. Sorry. Didn’t realize anybody else was here, else I’d have been moving on already.”

David smirked. “No need, sweetheart.”

She furrowed her brow.

“It’s feeding time, boys. Grab a snack.” David grinned, allowing Paul and Marko to surge forward and rip into the Surf Nazi. He watched with a twinge of annoyance as Paul turned from his meal and pressed his bloody lips to the girl’s, but that annoyance turned into surprise when she kissed back, albeit lazily.

She smiled as her lips moved against his, a hand moving to tangle in his wild hair. Fire tore through Paul and he growled, pushing her down until her back hit the sand and her chest touched his as her breaths turned into frenzied pants.

Hands ran down her sides, hard nails digging into her skin as Paul nipped at her lower lip. With a whine, she arched up against him, tugging at his hair until he snarled.

“Paul,” David growled a warning.

Paul sat back up with an irritated grumble, licking his lips before plunging his fangs into the Surf Nazi and leaving Vera alone.

David had to admit, he had never met a female vampire that wasn’t stuck in limbo like Star. They seemed rare, or at least they were around California, but Max had always told him that girls of their kind were a special breed. He was already feeling a tug toward her, some kind of something pulling at his chest whenever she moved, and before he knew what he was doing, he was crouching down to suck up the last few drops of blood while his boys turned their attention to the killer.

“What’s your name, beautiful?” Marko asked, playing with a strand of her hair.

“Vera,” she answered with the sweetest voice either of them had ever heard, practically a purr.

Paul sighed, leaning in again. He was head over heels already. “What brings you here to our little corner of the world, Miss Vera?”

She blinked, and they were fucking mesmerized by those lashes and those hazel eyes. “Just passing through, boys. Don’t wanna step on any toes.”

Paul groaned. He wanted her to stay. She smelled amazing, and when she had returned the kiss he hadn’t even realized he was giving her, he felt jolts of electricity shoot through every part of his body.

He wanted more.

“Damn, babe, you’re breakin’ my heart,” he said, holding her face so that he could lick blood off her chin.

“No fair,” Marko nudged his brother. “I want a taste…”

David looked up from the drained corpse, listening as his boys slurred with love drunk voices. Max had warned him about females, about those with foreign sires. They could trap you in a web of lust, keep you dumb and happy there for as long as they wanted, rob you blind and kill your entire family...but somehow, he got the feeling that Vera wasn’t even trying to fuck with them. There was no misty, foggy sensation that would signify magic, no eye contact, no focus. As he rose to his feet, he realized he was walking towards her of his own accord, the only spell being that strange, unspoken one that kept pulling him to her.

He had an inkling of what it could be, but he didn’t dare get his hopes up.

“Got a place to stay, darling?” He asked as he shoved his boys out of the way and knelt before Vera.

She leaned toward him, a sweet smile on those bloody lips that told him she was confident enough in her ability to handle them all. She was calm, completely in control of herself, even when faced with three healthy male vampires. Her eyes were half-lidded, long lashes fluttering whenever she blinked.

When her tongue slipped out to lick blood off her lips, David’s eyes widened at the sight of something he had never seen before. It was split in two, each side moving of its own accord easily. Paul let out an eager noise, Marko shoving him with his shoulder to try to get a better look. Vera just laughed at their fascination, pulling her tongue back into her mouth and smiling.

David could feel her breath on his cheek as she took in his scent and he couldn’t help the shiver that went up his spine. He wanted to touch her, to kiss her better than Paul had, to fuck her and hear his name on her lips. He wanted to show her how strong he was, to impress her, to prove himself for some reason. He would kill a hundred surfers if he had to, if it would grant him her favor. He would sit out in the sun and burn himself if it meant he could be hers.

He had never felt this way about anyone, and it was pissing him off.

Vera laughed to herself. She could smell his desire, and she knew that it was because of her. Just like those Surf Nazis, these vampires wanted her, but at least she liked this little pack. What’s more, that aching in her chest had stopped when they showed up, and she had a feeling she knew why.

It was a little bit terrifying, though, and she wasn’t about to stop and think about it.

“What are you suggesting?” She asked, brushing her fingers along his cheek, a smear of blood following.

“Stay with us,” he breathed, blue eyes locked with hers.

“Darling, I don’t even know your name,” she quipped, never shifting her gaze.

“David,” he said with a slight growl as he felt himself getting lost in her eyes.

“David,” she repeated, voice soft and breathy. Her hand moved to cup his cheek and he leaned into it, nose twitching as he smelled the fresh blood in her wrist. It was sweet, sweeter than any blood he had ever encountered before, and all he wanted to do was sink his fangs into her flesh and get a taste.

Vera heard a sigh and finally took her eyes off David. The other two were watching, just off to the side, staring hungrily at their leader and the new girl.

“And what about you two?” She asked, hand sliding down to the side of David’s neck to keep him in check. She was confident enough in herself to handle him, but at the same time, he put her on edge. There was no way she was going to let her guard down around him yet.

That was the thing about female vampires, though; they had the uncanny ability to always put on a facade, and Vera was no exception. David made her nervous—they all did, honestly—but she wasn’t about to let them know that.

“Paul,” the tall blonde said quickly, rushing forward as if he would die without her touch. He pressed his nose against her throat, breathing her scent as if he was starving.

“Marko,” the smaller one followed, desperately reaching out to touch her hair.

“Paul,” she purred, earning a growl. “...Marko…”

Another growl.

They acted like they needed her, all three of them, but they were behaving themselves. She had no doubt that if she gave them the go ahead, she would be naked within seconds, but for the moment, they were listening to her. She had never experienced something like this before; usually, other vampires ignored her, or threatened her until she left their territory. These boys seemed to adore her, and she had to admit, she liked it.

“Paul, Marko,” David said roughly. “Clean up so we can go home.”

With a groan, the younger two did as they were told, dragging Surf Nazi corpses into the ocean before wiping their hands and faces clean.

“You’re their leader,” Vera said, more as an observation than anything else. “Are you their sire?”

David smirked as he helped her to her feet. “Depends on how you look at it.”

She raised an eyebrow. “There’s only one way to look at that, David.”

He melted when she said his name, leaning in to catch another whiff of her scent. It was sweet, like honey, sticky and sick, and all he wanted was to drown in it. “What have you done to me, Vera?”

She smiled and took his hand, raising it to lick blood off of his fingers. “Nothing on purpose, I promise.”

“Whatever it is, I don’t mind,” Paul suddenly grabbed her from behind, arms snaking around her waist as he buried his nose in her black hair, inhaling deeply and letting out a happy sigh. The feeling of her there in his arms, pressed up against him, was enough to make his fangs slide out again, and he couldn’t help but swipe his tongue up the side of her neck.

David snarled, snapping only inches from his brother’s face. “Behave.”

“You say as if you are,” Vera snorted, giving David a gentle push and easing her way out of Paul’s grip. “But you boys are all very sweet. I don’t mind the attention.”

“Oh, you have our attention, sweets,” Paul whistled as she turned and bent over to wash her face and hands at the water’s edge, giving them all a good view of her ass. A low rumble rose in David’s throat as he appreciated the sight, and Marko echoed it.

“So greedy,” Vera mocked as she straightened up again. “Are you this nice to every bloodsucker that hangs out on your boardwalk, or is it just me?”

“Just you, that’s for sure,” Marko said, almost cackling.

“The others aren’t so delicious,” Paul cooed with that signature laugh.

“Oh, aren’t you a charmer?” Vera said, walking back to them. Now that her arms and legs were clean of blood, they could see that she was covered in tattoos, and David wondered if she had them as a human before she was turned, or if she had found some way to make the ink stay in her regenerative skin.

Paul gave her a cocky grin and David rolled his eyes. His brother was such a flirtatious bastard. He was a lady killer, literally, even more than David was, but Vera didn’t seem to mind his advances. She seemed comfortable with Paul, taking it all in stride.

It made David just the tiniest bit jealous.

“Come with us.” He said it more as an order than an offer, extending his hand out to her.

“Unless you got somewhere better to go,” Marko joked.

“And there ain’t nowhere better,” Paul snickered.

“There aren’t too many places to hide from the sun on a boardwalk,” Vera snorted. She was finally coming down from her high, the thrill of the hunt fading again and giving way to her less monstrous personality. “I was going to have to find a good spot anyways…”

Now that she wasn’t operating solely on instinct, she could take a moment and think about her situation. Three male vampires, none of whom had tried to kill her for stealing prey in their territory, seemed to be absolutely obsessed with everything about her and wanted her to go home with them. One had even kissed her and she had kissed him back, because it had felt so right. She allowed them to touch her, to taste her skin, to share her meal. They were stronger than her, and they outnumbered her, but she still felt like she was...in charge?

David, the definite leader of the little pack, was looking at her hopefully. His face was stony, but she could see excitement in his blue eyes, and when she smiled, there was a spark of something in those irises.

“Just don’t kill me in my sleep,” Vera joked as David took her hand and began leading her back up to the boardwalk.

“No promises,” Marko leered as they followed.

“You look good enough to eat, babe,” Paul growled playfully, lunging forward to cop a feel of her ass.

Vera only laughed, but David snarled dangerously at his brother, moving his arm to Vera’s shoulders and pulling her against his side.

“Relax, you big angry beast,” Vera said with a grin, raising her hand to his chin and giving a teasing scratch.

David huffed and Marko hooted with laughter. “Damn, she’s way more fun than you, David!”

“I dig this chick,” Paul snickered.

“You better share her,” Marko whined.

David smirked as they climbed the stairs back up to the boardwalk. Could he manage that? He only ever shared things with his brothers, but even then, he was terrible at it. Vera had some kind of magnetic pull on him, yeah, and his mouth watered at the thought of keeping her around, but Marko and Paul were both obviously into her...and she was into them.

She was into all of them.

He needed to talk to Max. He honestly hated having to ask his sire for help or advice, and he avoided it whenever he could. Max had never been very nurturing, despite wanting everyone to act like a big family. It worked out for the boys, sure, but Max was…not a great father. A patriarch, yes, always seated at the head of the metaphorical table, but he was cruel and cold towards David, and he had been from the very start. He thought they all needed a stern hand to keep them in check, and David didn’t like that.

Still, Max let them run free, and he knew more than David did about their own kind. He was helpful, sometimes, in his own way, and his son was going to have to defer to him. He had questions about Vera, about the pull he felt toward her, and Max was the only one with the answers.

As they returned to the boardwalk and joined the crowd of humans, Vera was pleased to see that the sea of people parted for the boys. They stepped aside, glancing with mixtures of emotions at the little pack. Girls looked dreamy, parents grabbed their children, Surf Nazis raised their lips in sneers. Was it because of their reputation, or did the humans somehow know that they should be afraid of the predators that stalked Santa Carla? She hoped it was both. She hoped that these boys were wild and rowdy enough to rule this boardwalk, and she hoped that they liked her enough to keep her around.

She glanced up at the sky, a few stars twinkling despite the light pollution from the city. For the first time in a long time, she wasn’t itching to hop on a bus or hitch hike to the next town. For once in her life, Something was occupying her mind, and the wanderlust was giving way to another, completely foreign feeling. The ache in her chest was gone, but it was replaced by a strange, burning, almost longing that she had never felt before. It was almost similar to the emotions she experienced during bloodlust, but she was in control of herself. Her fangs weren’t poking through, her eyes weren’t shining...she was happy and her hunger was sated, so where was this coming from?

She was still avoiding the one train of thought that would bring her to the right conclusion. It was just too much to consider, especially with everything happening so quickly all of the sudden.

They came to a halt when they reached their bikes, Dwayne already back from dropping Laddie off. From the looks of it, he had grabbed a bite on the way, jeans stained with fresh blood that the humans would just assume was from a fight.

Vera stopped. There was another male here? She was finding it hard to believe that she had stumbled across a pack of four males without any females, but she couldn’t smell much in the way of estrogen on them. It was just odd; vampires didn’t usually live in bachelor groups like these, but she supposed it wasn’t entirely unheard of. It was just strange that they hadn’t found any girls they wanted to keep around for all eternity.

Most people got lonely eventually. Maybe these four were all actually lovers...but she hadn’t seen any marks that would mean they were claimed, and she hadn’t smelled or sensed anything that would lead her to believe that they were serious.

Odd.

The one leaning against the bike was tall, long dark hair falling around his shoulders and a curious, but serious, expression on his handsome face. She felt frozen under his gaze, uncharacteristically nervous, like a deer in the headlights. It was like he could see right through her, and she didn’t know if she liked that or not.

“Dwayne, this is Vera,” David said as he tugged her along. She found a way to make her legs work again and followed, letting a smile curl its way onto her lips when Dwayne bowed his head to her.

“And she’s tough,” Marko said, bouncing over to his bike.

“And she’s gorgeous,” Paul took her hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss as he passed her.

“I can see that,” Dwayne said, his voice deep and smooth, a seductive smile on his lips.

David narrowed his eyes, but tried to hide the movement with a smirk. “Keep an eye on her. I’m going to visit Max.”

“Oh, I’ll keep both eyes on her,” Paul winked as he beckoned for her to sit behind him on his motorcycle.

David rolled his eyes, desperately trying to not make a scene. “Control yourself. I’ll be back.”

He pressed a kiss to Vera’s head, inhaling deeply before leaving her side and stalking off down the boardwalk. He could already feel his sire tugging questioningly at his consciousness, curious as to why David was so eager to speak to him. His son had always been good at blocking him out, keeping his mind locked down unless he needed something or there was trouble that called for Max’s attention. The others were more open, but Max didn’t have as strong a link with them, and while David was supposed to be his prodigal son, he was so...secretive. Private. Closed off. For him to be willingly heading to the VideoMax store for anything other than annoying him or hitting on Maria out of boredom, something very important had to be going on, and Max was beyond itching to know what it could be.

“Who’s Max?” Vera asked, joining Paul to perch on the back of his bike.

“David’s sire,” Marko answered.

“A grouchy old bloodsucker,” Paul grinned.

“He runs the video store. He hates it when we crash.” Marko laughed.

“But...that cashier is pretty cute,” Paul said, thinking of Maria. “I’d love for a bite of—”

He was cut off by the breath leaving his body when Vera wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head against his back.

Marko hooted with laughter at his brother’s reaction and Dwayne let out a chuckle. Paul was absolutely speechless, and Vera wasn’t even making skin on skin contact with him.

Until she felt him tense, smirked against his back, and slid her hands under his mesh shirt.

If Paul could blush, he would have. He would have been a shade past tomato red. The feeling of her fingers running over his abs was all he could focus on for a moment, and all he wanted was to kiss her again, feel her again, maybe get a little tongue action...

“You’re supposed to behave yourself, Paul,” Marko taunted as he caught a whiff of the lust in the air and felt his brother’s excited thoughts.

“Yeah, yeah,” Paul snarled. “I don’t need this shit from you.”

“I’m just repeating what David said,” Marko said defensively. “You’re the one who can’t keep it in his pants.”

“Well, aren’t you just the perfect little angel?” Paul shot back. “I’m the one with a goddess on his bike, might I remind you.”

Marko scoffed, lip raised in a nasty little snarl. “Not for long, Paul!”

Vera smiled as they bickered. Paul’s arousal hung in the air, but she didn’t mind; in fact, she liked it, and she hugged her arms around him tighter as he squabbled with Marko. She was eager to get back to wherever it was that they called home, and she was eager to sleep surrounded by them and feel truly safe for once. She was used to being alone, and she wasn’t scared of it, but she was always on edge, always ready to run or fight. It made her a light sleeper, and the concept of not having to worry was more tantalizing than any of these boys were on their own.

#goddamn shit sucking vampires #the lost boys #lost boys x reader #lost boys x oc #david lost boys #dwayne lost boys #paul lost boys #marko lost boys

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markosmate · 3 years

Text

taken away

Pairing; Marko x Emerson!Reader

Summary; Moving to a different state with your younger brothers and mother just to live with your grandfather was hard enough, but falling in love with a vampire and then watching your brother do the same thing? Much different story.

Warnings; strong language

au:// Woohoo y’all part 4 and we’re finally getting into the good stuff, only two more chapters till the smut ;)

Part 3 - Part 5

“Where you going, Star?” My eyes snapped up to the owner of the voice, and they temporarily widened when I realized it was the same man the girl had left with the night prior. Apparently, her name was Star. His gaze was sharp, a silent warning that she better not defy him and proceed to get on Michael’s bike.

“For a ride. This is Michael.” She explained softly, gaze never leaving the mullet man. My own gaze flicked away from the conflict and towards my right where not even two feet away sat Marko, sitting atop his bike, and eyes already on me. He grinned a devilish kind of smile when my eyes met his and he sent me a small wink when I couldn’t bring myself to tear my eyes away for a good few seconds.

“Let’s go.” Michael’s voice broke me out of it as he continued to try and get Star to leave with him. It didn’t work.

“Star.” Mr. Mullet warned. My eyes flicked between him and Star as she finally gave up and stepped away from Michael’s bike, grabbing the man’s shoulder and hoisting herself onto the back of his bike. I raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding the dynamic of whether or not they were together.

Once Star was seated comfortably and the dark-haired biker pulled the small child onto the back of his bike, Mr. Mullet turned his attention back to Michael. “You know where Hudson’s Bluff is? Over-looking the point?”

Michael scoffed a bit and shook his head. “I can’t beat your bike.”

Mullet grinned deviously and revved his engine. “You don’t have to beat me, Michael. You just have to try and keep up.” Before any of them made a move to leave, his gaze flicked to mine. “You’re more than welcome to tag along, doll. Wouldn’t want to leave a girl like yourself here alone.” And despite everything screaming in my head that I would be crazy to leave with these guys, and that I promised myself I wouldn’t associate with them and would turn in the other direction if they even glanced at me, I nodded.

His face lit up in an arrogant smirk and before I could even make the move to mount the back of Michael’s bike, Marko locked his gaze onto mine. “You could ride with me sweet thing, I’ll keep you safe. Promise.” There was a teasing tone to his words, and I rolled my eyes at his stupid pet name, but accepted his invite nonetheless. I hated riding with Michael, he was always jerky with the steering and switching between going way too fast and way too slow. These dudes couldn’t possibly be worse drivers than him, no matter where they were taking us to.

I pushed myself up and off the railing and walked around the side of his bike. I didn’t miss the victorious smiles the two long-haired blonds sent each other, but I chose to ignore it. I grabbed his shoulders and hoisted myself up onto the seat behind him. He looked back over his shoulder with a sly grin and whispered quietly to me. “Hold on.” I listened to him, wrapping my arms tightly around his torso and holding on for dear life as they set off.

The four bikes sped down the boardwalk, weaving between crowds of people and almost hitting a few concession stands, and finally the boys all quite literally jumped the staircases onto the beach sand. They must have done that a thousand times, because Marko was able to steady the bike as soon as it hit the sand and he kept going as fast as possible without ever making a move to slow down. I lifted my face from being buried in the back of his shoulder and turned my head to see how Michael was holding up.

He seemed to slow his bike to a stop at the top of the staircase, hesitating and debating his options, before eventually opting to rev the bike down the stairs. His back tire kicked out as he hit the sand, but he quickly balanced the vehicle back out again. Once I knew he was safely traveling behind us, I turned back around to face the direction we were heading in. The boys seemed to be riding in a kind of diamond shape so they could all make eye contact with each other if need be. From my spot, I caught sight of Star turning to catch a glance of Michael before turning to face forward and grin happily as the boys cheered.

I loosened my grip on Marko’s middle slightly, but not too much because I liked being this close to him in a weird sort of way. He turned his head to cheer with Paul who was laughing his ass off on his own bike a few yards away. I laughed and pressed my cheek to his shoulder blade to watch the ocean as we drove across the entirety of the beach. Soon the bikes moved into a line instead of the previous diamond, and we were speeding through the wooden stakes of the pier and swerving over a dirt path leading through the woods.

Finally, we emerged from the woods into a large cloud of fog, something completely abnormal at this time in the night and near this close to the bluff. I hugged myself closer to Marko as he, and the two other bikers pulled off to the side to let Michael and Mr. Mullet play a rather dangerous game of chicken leading towards the edge of the point.

At the last moment, Michael laid down his bike, skidding to a stop just before he plummeted over with his front tire hanging inches off the edge. Mullet braked his bike just in time, and he and Star stared out over the edge down towards the waves crashing against the bank. Marko and the two others quickly stopped their bikes as Michael stood sharply and whirled on Mullet.

I quickly stood from the bike and moved off to the side to get out of the boys’ way. The three bikers pushed themselves off their bikes, laid them down to the ground, and quickly moved closer as Michael ran towards Mullet. “What the hell you doing, huh?”

“No!” Star’s short scream of protest cut through the air as Michael pulled his fist back before punching Mullet clean across the face. The three others of the group quickly grabbed ahold of my brother and yanked him backwards, but he reciprocated just as fast and used both arms to shove back the dark-haired biker and Marko on either side of him.

He pointed at Mullet and began speaking once more. “Just you, come on! Just you.” He repeated, glaring Mullet down as the biker turned to look back at Michael with an eerily calm grin. “Come on, just you.” Michael mumbled again as Marko turned to grin at the other blond at his side.

“How far you willing to go Michael?” He mocked, watching with calculated eyes at Michael’s next move. Mullet gestures for his three friends to head down into the cave, and they all disperse from the three and begin to move their bikes so they’re out of sight. Before I can even try to make my way over to Michael to check if he’s alright, a pair of arms wraps around my waist from behind and swings me for a short moment. I let out a short squeak of a laugh, deciding that the chances of it being Marko are very high and there was no need for me to panic at the contact.

The wind blows hard from behind us, and a few locks of curly hair are blown forward across my shoulders. That confirms it, I note to myself.

After Michael’s and Mullet’s bikes are hidden away with the others, the eight of us make our way down a set of stairs that lead to an opening in the rock. The dark-haired boy leads us, a large burning stick in his hand that he uses to light a couple of fires around the cave.

The glam-rocker dude jumped down the last rock hand-in-hand with the young child. “Rock bottom, bud.”

“Yeah.” The kid laughed along, moving off to the side towards a large radio speaker. Marko gripped the loop of my jeans, pulling me to jump off the last rock and land next to where he was standing. I tore my eyes away from where Michael was to look at the curly-haired boy next to me. He was watching what Mullet was doing, not looking me in the eyes, but a smirk curled his lips when he noticed me staring.

As Mullet began explaining the history behind the cave we were in, Marko scooped a pigeon up from where it was picking at crumbs, and held it against his check as he pulled my belt loop to have me leaning against one of his legs. “Not bad, huh? This was the hottest resort in Santa Carla about 85 years ago.” Mullet’s voice echoed through the cave as glam-rocker leaned down to grab the heavy radio from the kid. “Too bad they built it on a fault. In 1906, when the big one hit San Francisco, the ground opened up, this place took a header-” He clapped his gloved hands together loudly as he walked around the fountain and in the direction of the corner where Marko and I stood. “- right into the crack. So now it’s ours.”

“So check it out, Mikey.” Glam rocker teased from on top of the fountain, busying himself with lighting a blunt. The guys all laughed at his teasing, before Mullet turned to where Marko and I were standing.

“Marko,” Said boy immediately stood a bit straighter, shifting from foot to foot and loosening his hold on the pigeon and I. “Food.” Marko gave a short nod, letting the pigeon go and turning to me. He jokingly kissed my cheek before whispering a little too softly into my ear.

“Be back soon, sweet thing.” When he pulled back he was sporting a large Cheshire grin, and he winked as I smacked his hair with a small laugh before turning and hopping back up the rocks we originally came down.

Now that he was gone, I couldn’t make myself look occupied and avoid contact with any of the other boys. I watched as Mullet held the blunt glam-rocker had given him up to Michael and offered it to him as an appetizer. Michael declined, and while Mullet’s attention was diverted I analyzed everyone else to see who the most approachable was. I decided on glam-rocker, shyly moving over to the couch he was seated on and plopping down next to him.

He grinned at me when he saw me make myself comfortable. “Hey, babe. Nice to meet you.”

I smiled back at him and gripped the hand he was offering to me, shaking it firmly. “Ivory.”

He laughed, almost a disbelieving kind of laugh, before locking eyes with me again. “Oh, we already know. Marko told us. I’m Paul, that’s Dwayne,” He pointed towards the dark-haired one sitting on the furniture opposite of us who sent me a small smile and tiny wave. I waved back before keying back into what Paul was saying. “And that’s David. You might wanna start calling him his name, I don’t think he takes too kindly to just ‘Mullet’.”

I felt my face flush and my eyes shot back to lock onto Paul’s. “Oh no, have I been calling him that out loud?”

I don’t remember calling him that out loud at all to be completely honest, but Paul grinned back at me like he knew something that I didn’t and went right along with it. “Oh yeah, definitely. Like three times, if I’m telling you the truth.”

I shot him a bewildered look before laughing. “Well, great first impression for the scary one I guess.”

Paul chuckled along with me. “Hey, you’re after Marko right now, if there’s anyone to be labeled the scary one - other than David - it’s him.”

I shrugged at his words. “My feelings for the blond can’t be helped.” I quite enjoyed this little banter we had going back and forth, it was flowing easily and I enjoyed being able to have an ongoing conversation with someone without it turning awkwardly quiet halfway through. After a little more banter between Paul and myself, footsteps echoed across the rocks and Marko jumped down into the cave.

“Feeding time, come and get it boys!” He called out voice echoing.

“Alright.” Paul cheered quietly as Marko carried the large box towards where David was sitting in his wheelchair.

“Chinese... Good choice.” David complimented when he saw the food inside the carryout box. Marko handed a container to David, before turning and tossing one to Dwayne.

“Over here bud.” Paul called out and Marko tossed one to him as well. The curly-haired biker then pulled out another container and leaned over to hand it to me, shooting a small smile my way when I thanked him.

I leaned back against the couch, Paul at my side, and watched as David opened up the box of rice in his hands. He took a bite of it before leaning over and offering some to Michael. “Guests first.”

“No.” Michael politely declined, holding up his hand and shaking his head softly. “You don’t like rice? Tell me Michael, how could a billion Chinese people be wrong?” David questioned, his joke causing the other boys to laugh at Michael’s expense. Mike snorted quietly before leaning over and excepting the rice, pulling the fork out and taking a bite.

I shifted in my seat, pulling my knees up to my chest and watching as David grabbed another box from Marko’s hands. A weird feeling filled my chest as I watched David look up at Michael instead of continuing to pick at his noodles.

“How are those maggots?” David’s voice suddenly broke the air and my eyebrows shot up. Michael looked up at him, eyebrow quirking and eyes filling with confusion.

“Hm?”

“Maggots, Michael. You’re eating maggots, how do they taste?” Michael rolled his eyes at what David was saying but looked down at his box nonetheless. I followed in his steps and brought my gaze down to my own box. Rice, that’s all that was in mine. My eyebrows furrowed and I lifted my gaze over to Michael’s box and had to physically fight myself against gasping aloud. Maggots wiggled around each other, almost completely overflowing from the container. Mike’s eyes widened and he threw the box to the floor, leaning to the side to spit out the creatures while the four boys laughed and Star protested against what was going on.

Mike reached up, and grabbed a piece of rice from his lip before looking back down at the box. We both stared in disbelief as the contents spilled on the floor weren’t even close to resembling maggots anymore - now all that sat there was the same rice in the rest of the boxes. “Sorry about that. No hard feelings, huh?”

“Nah.” Michael shook his head, obviously trying to play it off cool as I switched my gaze between the spilled rice and David, who shoved his chopsticks into the noodles he was holding. How had he done that? I had clearly seen maggots rummaging in the take-out container, but the next second they were back to looking like parcels of rice.

Suddenly, David leaned over and offered Michael the box of noodles in his hand. “Why don’t you try some noodles?”

I watched Michael physically recoil from the offered food and I was almost scared to look down and see what it was this time. “They’re worms.” Michael wasn’t lying, I caught a glimpse of the box before David pulled it back to himself and there were, indeed, clumps of worms twisted around each other.

“They’re worms.” David snorted in disbelief, rolling his eyes and collecting a few on his chopsticks.

“Hey, don’t eat that-” Michael tried to protest but shut his mouth when the only thing that was wrapped around the chopsticks and getting stuffed into David’s mouth were a tangle of noodles.

David swallowed his food, before looking back down to Michael with a small satisfactory smirk. “They’re only noodles, Michael.” I stared at the platinum blond in admiration, how had he managed to make both of us actually see something that wasn’t really there? How had he managed to make both the maggots and the worms seem so realistic?

“That’s enough.” Star spoke clearly, trying to get the boys to listen to what she was saying.

“Ah, chill out girl.” Paul shushed her from beside me, clearly enjoying the show David was putting on for them at Michael’s expense.

Suddenly, David’s cold eyes turned to me. He smirked, and gestured Marko over to him.

Marko leant over, letting David speak quietly into his ear and letting his eyes lock onto mine as the leader spoke. He nodded a bit, breaking his gaze from mine, dropping his food onto a small side table, and turning and walking over to an old, dusty collection of drawers. I watched him intently, feeling in that moment like I could live the rest of my life completely content if I could just watch Marko do absolutely anything. He reached into a drawer and pulled out a large bejeweled bottle with red liquid swishing around on the inside.

He carried this bottle with both hands and made his way back over to David’s side, handing it over to his leader as gently as possible. Everything became silent, and Star made her move to stand over to the side of where Michael was sitting against a broken fountain. Marko maintained his spot beside the platinum blond, but this time his eyes stayed on me - regardless of if mine returned his gaze or not.

David popped the cork of the bottle and raised it to his lips, taking a large gulp of the liquid and letting his eyes roll back into his head in pleasure after swallowing it. My eyebrows furrowed as I watched the interaction unfold. He opened his eyes, now a faint bloodshot, and locked them immediately with Mike’s.

“Drink some of this, Michael.” I didn’t like the feeling I got in my chest just then, a deep unsettling feeling that shook me to my core and made me want to run up and out of the fallen hotel and hightail it home. Judging by Michael’s expression, he obviously didn’t have even close to the same idea I did. He watched David with interested eyes as he spoke his next few words. “Be one of us.”

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