#and she is in deep shit 24/6

[vanhelsingapologist]

leave my heart to the damned as you build me a bed in the earth

[snowysosturn]

Fire & Desire - Matt Sturniolo Finale

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24 Part 25 Part 26 Part 27 Part 28 Part 29 Finale

Pairing: Y/n x Matt Sturniolo

Summary: Y/n has always clashed with Matt. Despite working for Chris’s clothing brand and being close with Nick, her relationship with Matt has always been tense at best. While being forced to be around each other more, their animosity turns into something deeper. Can they overcome their differences, or will their fiery emotions tear them apart?

Warnings: angst, tension

I stand there, frozen, not knowing how to feel. I’m confused.. upset.. Angry? Was this planned? Am I the idiot here, or is Christina just being a complete weirdo?

Judging by the looks on the boys’ faces on stage, it’s definitely the latter. Nick’s eyes widen, and Chris immediately turns to Matt, his expression somewhere between confused and concerned. The whole crowd starts buzzing, some gasping, others laughing, waiting for Matt’s reaction.

But how Matt responds to this? That tells me everything I need to know.

He shifts his weight, glancing at the screen where Christina’s face is still on display. For a moment, he doesn’t say anything, just looking at her with an unreadable expression. Then, he lets out a dry laugh and leans into his mic.

"Wow. Uh.. bold move. Really bold move."

Chris covers his mic, turning slightly away to hide his laughter, while Nick just mutters, "Ain’t no way" under his breath. The crowd? Losing their minds, some gasping, others laughing, a few already chanting “Nooo way”.

Matt tilts his head, as if considering his words carefully, but I can see the smirk creeping onto his face.

"Christina, I gotta give it to you, you are persistent. Really committed to the bit, huh?" He pauses for dramatic effect, the crowd eating up every second. Then, he shrugs. "But listen.. I think we both know this isn’t some sort of rom com. No dramatic third act reunion, no ‘I’ve changed’ moment. That ship? Yeah, it’s not just sailed, it sank. And I, for one, am not tryna go deep sea diving."

Chris fully doubles over laughing at that, and Nick lets out a low whistle. The audience erupts, a mix of cheers, gasps, and “Ohhh shit” reactions.

Matt leans back from the mic, shaking his head with a smirk. "Appreciate the confession, though. Real brave of you. But me? I’m real good where I’m at."

He doesn’t say my name, doesn’t need to. His eyes flicker toward where I’m standing in the wings, just for a second. But it’s enough.

Christina forces a laugh, nodding like she’s unbothered, but I see her face drop for a split second before the screen cuts away.

And just like that, I exhale.

Matt handled that perfectly.

He lets out a quick laugh, shaking his head as he steps back toward the mic.

"Well, damn.." he says, rubbing his jaw like he’s trying to process what just happened. "I thought I was the one with the surprises on this tour, but clearly, I got that wrong."

The audience erupts, some gasping, others laughing. Nick and Chris are both grinning like they can’t believe what just happened.

Matt exhales, still smirking. "Uh, yeah.. that definitely caught me off guard. Not exactly what I had in mind for tonight, but hey, at least y’all are entertained." He tilts his head toward the crowd.

There’s a pause, and for a second, I wonder if he’s going to say anything serious. But then he shakes his head again and glances toward Nick and Chris.

"You know what? I was gonna drop my own surprise tonight, but I think I’m gonna save that for somewhere a little less.." He gestures toward the big screen, where Christina’s name has finally disappeared. "Chaotic."

The audience loses it, cheering, laughing, shouting out guesses about what his actual surprise could be.

Chris claps Matt on the shoulder, still grinning. "Yeah, I think that’s a solid call, man."

Nick just shakes his head and mutters, "Only on this tour."

The boys wrap up the show section and transition into the meet and greet. As they come off the stage, Matt makes a beeline straight for me. His face is pale, his jaw clenched, he looks like he’s just seen a ghost. And honestly, I know exactly what’s haunting him.

Before he even gets a word out, I sigh. "Matt, I know."

His brows knit together. "I swear I didn’t know she was gonna do that. What the fuck is she even doing here? That was-"

"I know" I cut him off, reaching for his hand instinctively. "You handled it really well. You didn’t entertain it, you didn’t make it weird.. if anything, you made her look dumb."

Matt lets out a breath he must’ve been holding, nodding slightly. "I just-" He shakes his head. "I didn’t want you thinking for a second that I had anything to do with that shit."

"I didn’t." And that’s the truth. As messy as things got before, I trust him now. Christina pulling something desperate like that only confirmed how little of a shot she really had.

His shoulders relax a bit, but I can tell he’s still frustrated. "You sure?"

I squeeze his hand. "Positive."

A flicker of relief crosses his face before Nick calls over from across the room, reminding him they’ve got a line of fans waiting.

"Go" I tell him, nodding toward the meet-and-greet area. "We’ll talk later."

Matt pulls me in for a quick but meaningful kiss before he heads off toward the meet and greet area. But just as he’s about to walk away, he suddenly stops, turning to one of the tour staff.

"Hey" he says, voice sharp. "Make sure Christina’s barred from all future shows. I don’t want her pulling this shit again."

The staff member nods immediately, and Matt doesn’t even look back, just nods in satisfaction before finally heading off to greet the fans.

I let out a breath and shake my head. As much as tonight rattled him, he handled it exactly how he needed to.

I catch his eyes one last time before he disappears into the crowd. "I’m gonna chill out on the bus for a bit while you guys do meet and greets" I call over to him.

"You good?" he asks, concern flickering across his face.

I nod. "Yeah. Just need a second to breathe."

He hesitates like he wants to say something else, but Nick pulls him along before he can.

I take that as my cue to slip out of the venue, heading toward the bus. A break sounds nice, but the truth is, I just need a moment to let everything sink in.

As I walk through the parking lot, just trying to get to the bus and clear my head, I hear someone call my name.

I freeze.

Is this bitch ever going to leave me alone?

I turn, and sure enough, standing by a car with her arms crossed and an infuriating smirk on her face, is Christina.

"Running off so soon?" she taunts, tilting her head. "Figured you'd want to stick around after that little show."

I exhale sharply, clenching my jaw as I stride toward her. "Are you actually out of your mind?" I snap. "Pulling that shit in front of thousands of people? What was that supposed to accomplish?"

She shrugs, feigning innocence. "I just told the truth. I still have feelings for Matt. And I think, deep down, he still has feelings for me too."

I let out a humorless laugh. "Yeah? Thats why he had security make sure you're banned from all future shows?"

Her smirk falters, but she recovers quickly. "Oh please. That’s just because you’re in his ear. We both know if I had more time, I could remind him of what we had."

My blood boils. "Christina, you lied about him sleeping with you. You’ve been manipulating situations from the start, and now you’re embarrassing yourself in front of thousands of people? Move on with your life."

She takes a step closer, lowering her voice. "You really think he’s done with me? Just like that?"

I don’t hesitate. "I know he is."

Her nostrils flare, and for the first time, I see it, she’s pissed. She was expecting me to crumble, to doubt, to let her words sink in and ruin what Matt and I have been rebuilding. But instead, I’m standing my ground, unshaken.

I take a step back, done with this conversation. "Stay the fuck away from us, Christina" I say firmly. "Whatever fantasy you have in your head? Let it go. Because Matt already did."

As I turn to walk away, Christina scoffs loudly. "Yeah, keep walking. That’s all you’re good at, right? Running after Matt like a lost little puppy."

I stop dead in my tracks. Oh, she wants to play.

I spin back around, crossing my arms. "You’re hilarious, Christina. Truly. It’s so funny how you’re out here, standing in a parking lot, after humiliating yourself in front of thousands of people, still trying to convince yourself that Matt gives a single shit about you." I tilt my head mockingly. "While I’m the one on the tour bus."

She narrows her eyes. "You think just because you’re with him now, it means you won?" She lets out a bitter laugh. "I’ve known Matt a lot longer than you have, sweetheart. He always comes back to me."

I snort, actually snort at the delusion. "Oh my God, you sound exhausted. You must be so tired from running all these mental gymnastics. Matt doesn’t have anything to go back to, especially not some desperate, lying, washed up one night stand who has to publicly confess her ‘feelings’ just to get his attention."

Her face twists in anger. "I am not desperate."

I let out a dramatic gasp. "Oh? So it was just, what, a casual public confession? Just for a laugh? Just throwing shit out there, hoping it sticks?" I take a step closer, lowering my voice mockingly. "Face it, Christina. You played yourself. You thought you could stir up drama, and instead, Matt shut you down and made sure you’d never pull this shit again." I smirk. "You’re not competition. You’re not even relevant."

Her mouth opens, then shuts, her hands clenching into fists. I can practically see the steam coming out of her ears, and it’s hilarious.

And with that, I stride toward the bus, feeling lighter than ever.

I shut the door behind me, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I lay back on the bus, pulling my phone out and mindlessly scrolling through TikTok, needing something to distract myself. But, of course, the algorithm is already on it. My entire feed is flooded with clips from the show, Christina’s confession, Matt’s reaction, and everyone’s very vocal opinions on it.

I tap on a video with the caption “NAH THIS WAS WILD” and watch as the camera captures the exact moment Christina’s name popped up on the screen. The crowd collectively gasping, people whispering, a loud “oh hell no” from someone in the back. Then there’s Matt, standing there stunned before recovering with his usual sarcasm.

I swipe to the next one. A fan recording from their seat “Matt’s face is FRYING ME, bro did not expect that at all.” The camera zooms in on him blinking rapidly before laughing it off, shaking his head.

Another video: “POV you just witnessed the most desperate confession in real time” with a slo mo clip of the moment Christina’s face popped up on the big screen, followed by someone yelling "Girl, be so for real."

I actually let out a laugh at that one.

Then I come across a reaction video. A girl sitting in her bedroom, mouth open in shock. "No, because Christina actually thought she ate with that confession. The way Matt shut that down and then looked off to the side.. Anyone else think he might have a girlfriend??"

I shake my head, almost laughing, I wouldn’t call myself his girlfriend. Not yet anyway. I continue scrolling past more and more takes, all dragging Christina to hell and back. The internet is not on her side.

I smirk to myself, locking my phone and tossing it beside me. Looks like the world knows what I already did, Christina just played herself, and there’s no coming back from that.

I get a buzz beside me and I glance down at my phone, seeing Matt’s message light up the screen:

"Can you come to my dressing room? Chris needs help with something."

I stretch, letting out a small sigh before pushing myself up from the couch. Chris needing help? Shocker. I slide my phone into my pocket and step off the bus, making my way back inside the venue.

As I turn the corner, I spot Matt standing outside his dressing room door, shifting slightly on his feet like he’s waiting for me.

I narrow my eyes. “You good?”

He nods quickly, a small smirk pulling at his lips. “Yeah. Just.. got one more surprise in me today.”

I raise an eyebrow, but before I can ask, he grips the handle and pushes open the door.

My breath catches.

The entire dressing room is decorated, soft fairy lights strung up along the walls, scattered rose petals on the floor, and in the center, the words “May I Be Your Boyfriend?” spelled out in red balloons.

I freeze, my brain needing a moment to catch up. “Matt.. what-?”

He rubs the back of his neck, looking suddenly nervous. 

I turn to him, still stunned, my heart pounding. “You-” I swallow. “You did all this?”

“Well, Chris and Nick helped a little” he admits, glancing at the setup. “But yeah.” His voice softens. “I wanted to.”

I look around again, taking it all in, warmth spreading through my chest. After everything, after the chaos, the drama, the absolute mess of the night, he still made time for this.

I turn back to him, eyes meeting his. “Yes.”

His lips part. “Yeah?”

A grin tugs at my lips. “Yes, I’d love you to be my boyfriend.”

Before he can say anything else, I grab the collar of his hoodie and pull him into a deep kiss, feeling him smile against my lips as his arms wrap around my waist.

Matt pulls back just enough to look at me, his forehead resting against mine, a lazy grin playing on his lips. His hands stay firm on my waist, like he’s making sure I don’t go anywhere, not that I would.

“I’m glad you finally found the place you belong in my life” I murmur, my voice just above a whisper.

His expression shifts, something softer settling in his eyes, like he’s soaking in every word. His fingers tighten slightly against my waist. “Me too.”

I nod, a small smile playing on my lips. 

Matt exhales a little laugh, shaking his head. “Took me long enough, huh?”

I chuckle, nudging my nose against his. “Better late than never.”

He grins, then leans in again, capturing my lips in another kiss, slower this time, more deliberate. Like he’s savoring it. Like he’s making up for every moment before this one when we weren’t in this position together.

And in that moment, I know we’re exactly where we’re meant to be.

a/n : and thats all from me on the fic front for now!! (explanation here) i will miss writing but hopefully ill be back sooner than later! ive now 3 30+ part series done in 7 months and i cant thank you all for the love and support on them all, even the silent readers!! I cant believe the F&D era is over already but thank you all for sticking around and reading the last 12 weeks! im not leaving the app ill still be here so my inbox and messages are always open!! i love to give advice or just yap so you know where to catch me!! If you would like to be on the taglist for future fics when im back writing interact here!

lots of love,

Snowy <3

taglist : @mattybearnard @sturn-33 @ncm9696 @yourfavsturniologirl @crazy4jewel @sodakid1234 @stupendoustreewinner @lovealwayssturniolos @matthewsturniolosss @m4ttsmunch @loveexxx @ilusa @starkeyszn @wonnieeluvvr @dylnblue @valxrieq @maggot3647 @cigarettecemetary @ribread03 @chrisstvrns @bandasaruswrx @noplaceissafeanymore @amexiass @witchofthehour @mattssgf @jetaimevous @v33angel  @ivysturnss @urmom69lol @ashlishes @watercolorskyy @sturnioloshottiekay @amelia-sturniolo3 @imjusthereforthesturniolosmut @pvssychicken @alizestvrnss @chrisstxrnsaxe @sophand4n4 @vickytaa @marrykisskilled @bxtchboy69 @yourfavsturniologirl @julisturn @sydneyylainn @sophia-77n @trevorsgodmother @sturnslutz @yourmother29 @girl24cherry @astronea @pinkdyit

[kujiba]

||MAY THE LAND CONCEAL YOU, DEAR GRACE||

୨୧ — ꒰ gn!reader | they/them prounouns | Sagau | cultish behavior

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 6

A/n: I had a good shit today so I'll bless you all with a new chapter ( not proof read, correct me in any mistakes)

Jean's clear sapphire eyes gawked at the sight of an empty room, it's walls barely hanging by a thread, an attempt to keep everything in it's place; it's reason being directed towards the widely open area that leaves to the vast outside world.

Her lip's trembled with outrage by how their prisoner (Name), had breached through their defenses and escaped under their noses without anybody noticing only till the last second. Jean's fists tightly curled up into a ball, a fire starting in her heart that will not extinguish till her target is brought to justice.

Only imagining how that person could be running around freely in their lives without any consequences daring to come back and tear their life down made Jean's stomach twist and turn out of disgust.

5 hours till (Name)'s execution.

5 hours till they could find (Name).

Jean's mind had been put on a road, a road she will follow till the end of her lifetime, she dared not to look back at her actions and consequences. For her heart knew what must be done in order to preserve justice among the townsfolk, among her people and friends.

Her gloved hand made it's way to the hilt of her sword and drew it out towards the crumbling barrier "Hunt down (Name)! Issue every individual to hunt for them in the land. Those who successfully capture (Name) will be granted a reward of 2,000,000 Mora" Her voiced boomed around the thick interior, the knights accompanying her gladly followed and raised their own swords as well "Kill the fraud! Kill the fraud! Kill the fraud!" They chanted all together, a declaration of war happening towards one individual.

"Kill the fraud under any circumstances!"

!!!!

"Ugh why do I have to do this again?" You grumbled under your breath with irritation as you wielded a plain sword you had gotten for free from the system tightly in your hands. By your side was the system, navigating you through your needs to grow more powerful and stronger.

MISSION:

Kill 50 slimes [24/50]

Kill 50 hilichurls [12/50]

Kill 3 Ruin guards [0/3]

Rewards: advance to level 25, unlock 4 star weapon, +1 level up to talents

You scowled at the words displayed infront of you, of course it had to have all sorts of missions... You disliked it but deep inside you knew no other choices were displayed infront of you. Taking a deep sigh the tip of your sword met with the strange liquidity substance of an hydro slime, piercing it to death. The details were very much more advanced than you had seen from the game, every move; you felt it. This wasn't a dream, the blood you've taken from hilichurls wasn't a dream, being locked away was definitely not a damn dream.

'No.. What am I thinking, I have to focus on completing this stupid mission' You sighed to yourself contemplating whether or not you're finally safe. Turning your blade against another pack of slimes who had spawned from the ground, you dashed towards the creatures and shredded their bodies into small fluids that fell onto the floor, some also getting stuck on your sword much to your dismay.

As your focus shifted to cleaning off the translucent fluid on your blade the system suddenly began going haywire, loud and consistent beeping echoed through the screen as you were forced to face it to find out what is making that unpleasant sound come from the screen.

" WARNING! WARNING! DANGER IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING [INITIATING AUTO MODE] "

A bright crimson text presented itself on your face, the words reflecting against your eyes as you tried to comprehend what the system was trying to do, your lips quivered trying to find words to say to mutter but only a deaf silence came. Your silence quickly faded as you let out a cry, you felt a sudden strong ache on your shoulder as if something had pierced through you (it didn't help it felt like it was burning too).

Looking to your side your pupils stopped at a blazing wooden arrow had penetrated your own shoulder, crimson liquid trailed down your clothes staining it whole while your own knees decided to give in, dropping to the ground. Round droplets of tears falled down your cheeks for the pain had reached through your brain at lightning speed, your palm grasped the wound tightly, an attempt to stop the bleeding.

"Agh, who..." You managed to mumble out those two words out of your unsynchronized breathing, a pair of (E/c) pupils darted around the vast green land to wiggle out the source of the one who attacked you.

It barely took a second till your sight landed on a familiar brunette at a distance, her gloved hand gripped her bow tightly as she summoned 3 pairs of arrows, aiming directly towards your direction. You were quickly alarmed by the girls actions, your mind quickly flooded with a thousand questions as to why Amber had suddenly attacked you for no reason.

"Amber?...." you whispered out her name and quickly regretted it seeing as her expression stiffened even more: "Shut it. Don't ever say my name out of that disgusting mouth of yours" She stated out her words loud and clear, you could barely even gather any of the previous amber you know and love deep in your heart. The throbbing pain in your shoulder muscle only covered as a nuisance at your disposal, you peered down at your legs that were covered in dirt and small ounces of blood that came from your shoulder.

You hesitantly looked back at amber to see what she was doing only to find out she had been gathering the knights at favonius towards your direction. 'SHIT! SHIT! System!' your desperation reached through the system, begging it to help you in this situation. You shutted your eyes tightly, hoping that you would only hear the systems voice the next moment and not Amber's or any of the knights of favonius.

A familiar voice rang out inside your ears that let you breathe a sigh of relief

[INSTALATION COMPLETE, ENTERING AUTO MODE]

The Ai like voice were very last thing that went through your mind before your vision began to fade along with your consciousness. You felt your body didn't meet the solid ground yet but only remained standing, your mind wondered on events that were taking place while you weren't in control of your own body.

The sounds that you could vaguely differentiate were the sounds of Jean's roaring voice along with rapid footsteps coming your way, you only hoped deeply that once your eyes flutter open again, you will be in a much safer area and far away from mondstat.

✧✧✧

Jean's gloved hand tightly held the hilt of her sword, it's blade reflecting against the golden and copper colored mixture of the sky around them. A small wind blew past her blond locks making her sapphire eyes and stern expression ever the more clearer.

Beside her was the knights of favonius, that included Kaeya, Amber, Lisa and Noelle. Jean's gaze shifted to noelle as she mentally shook her head at the young girls decision to come along. She would've much preferred Noelle to be out of this hunt/battle but the maids persistence was rock solid, she had stated herself 'My loyalty to the knights of favonius is as strong as my love for the creator. I will not let some foolish scoundrel get away with this.'

With a final nod, Jean straightened her back and pointed the tip of her blade towards the direction of (Name), her expression cold as ever towards them: How could she not afterall? This was certainly not a first for someone to suddenly step up and declare themselves as the creator just to gain power and control everyone. Her lips scowled lowly with her gaze piercing through (Name)'s skull.

"Imposter! I, the acting grand master Jean declare you an enemy of Mondstadt. You dare to fool us again with your pathetic tricks? Your head will be displayed at the center of Mondstadt, to show and warn any of your other repulsive companions" As her voice boomed across the vast land her followers roared in agreement, declaring that (Name) was a dunce for even attempting to step inside their borders.

(Name)'s head only hung low facing the ground, their expression unclear but Jean took that as a sign to take charge, she putted her blade infront of her face flat and quickly turned it vertically, she soon casted her ultimate "Wind, hear me!" the very same time she announced her burst a glowing circular anemo field surrounded the knights of favonius as small little dandelions floated in the air.

The anemo field casted as an attack buff for the party as many began charging towards (Name)'s direction. Kaeya being the fastest one and summoned his own ultimate "Don't get a frostbite" he smirked, raising his palm in the air, a glowing white emitted from his hand which then summoned large cryo icicles around his body, those icicles which almost pierced (Name)' s limbs if they hadn't swiftly jumped back and dodged them all.

"Heh, Dodge this!" Kaeya thrusted his sword towards (Name) as the same pure cryo icicles came out of his blade. (Name) was about to dodge once again to avoid Kaeyas attack but noticed how he was smirking the whole time, why was he smirking? (Name) felt someone's gloved hands touch their back: that was because Lisa who had abruptly appeared behind (Name) had her hand on them.

Without a second, a sudden surge of electricity flowed through their body top to bottom, (Name)'s body having some small little violet electrical effects. Lisa hummed in satisfaction, her lips turning upright as she backed away from them "Aha, How dirty." She expressed teased in such a mocking voice towards (Name), after all they were another fraud attempting to cheat through the top.

"Nice one, Lisa" Kaeya added then began clapping both of his hands together "I'll leave the rest to you, Noelle" Kaeya's slate blue eyes fixated on the young maid behind him who only gave a affirmative nod "Time to clean up." Noelle brought out her claymore which then started to quickly glow with a beautiful golden color at her words.

(Name)'s automatic system were slightly damaged by the electricity given by Lisa, but thankfully recovered enough to catch the young maidens claymore in mid air.

Noelle gasped in bewilderment, that action also shook Kaeya, Lisa, Jean and the other knights of Favonius to their core "You..." Noelle muttered to (Name) with her hands slightly shaking "Are you actually?-...." yet Noelle couldn't finish what she was trying to say before getting thrown away by (Name)'s brute strength alone.

She stumbled over the grass and used her claymore to keep balance, her eyes never taking off (Name)'s figure for even a second.

(Name) used the opportunity immediately and ran away from the knights of favonius while they on the other hand were trying to process what just happened.

Jean tightly held the grip of her sword with a face full of confusion and hatred towards the unpredictable individual. Jean bit her lip with her gaze on the area where (Name) previously was, with a long sigh she letted go of her blade, the item fading into small little yellow particles.

"They're still injured. They can't run for long." Jean maintained a stoic expression towards the knights of favonius, yet deep inside, her burning flame of hatred towards (Name) only kept growing by the second.

Kaeya nodded his head to Jean's words and also made his sword dissapere in the meantime. Even though (Name) successfully escaped Kaeya couldn't help but smile "Oh poor Imposter, they should've just complied and come with us" He shook his head in dissapointment of their actions "Now you will have to face the wrath of my dear brother."

The knights of favonius weren't the only people after you, every inch and corner of Mondstadt has people bloodthirsty for your blood to be spilled on their territory. The woods, the caves, the mountains, each one of those have people ready to attack incase the Imposter comes for protection and shelter.

But no one could compare to the absolute beast a certain redhead becomes in the night, where he swore to spill the Imposters blood in his hands and leave their flesh to be ravaged by the animals. His siganture weapon The Wolf's Gravestone, a long and heavy claymore with its design having a crimson red and dark shaded black with rough textures. It's color would shine brighter in the night sky where the moon would reflect it, only those who were killed by the holder could witness the beauty of the weapon and the murderous son of Master Crepus; Diluc Ragnvindr

...

You lowkey felt that all of what happened was just you being high while dreaming cause one; why are the characters you cried, sweat, and worked so hard for trying to hunt you down like you were in the hunger games.

And two, why the heck did you woke up in a dark cave with so much injuries!? It hurts like shit! You would've thought the moment you got your conscious back from the system you would be safe and sound. CLEARLY, alot had happened when the system was taking over your body.

As you were brainstorming ideas on possibilities and attempting to remember how to be like Katniss everdeen a blue screen popped up beside you once again, this time it showed your current stats

...

LVL 17/25

Max hp: 500/1,237

Atk: 234

Def: 100

Elemental mastery: 1,000

Max stamina: 240

Crit rate: 30%

Crit damage: 90%

Energy Recharge: 400%

"... what the hell" Your mouth dropped seeing how fast your stats advanced so much, all that after grinding for 2 hours!? Has the system finally took pity on your sorry ass and gave you a blessing?!

Aside from that your brows furrowed slightly at your health. Your hp bar is currently at orange since your body took alot of blows, classic game design.

But all that aside, it was definitely shocking to see your previous low level stats ascend to higher numbers by only using like 20% of your own body power. And with just that simple buff, maybe you'll let the system live another day..

[System entering automatic shut down after overheating, Duration: 2 Hours]

You take everything back.

'Curse you system! How dare you take over my body and make me wake up like I've just been at war!!' Your hands tightly balled up, clenching tighter and tighter by the second a clear vein popping out of your forehead with it bulging slightly.

Out of frustration the side of your clenched hand met with the surface of the cold, solid ground of the eery cave. The sound echoing throughout the interior of the place growing smaller and smaller by the second,

You quickly regretted that decision though since your hand hurted like hell, the skin turning slightly red because of the impact received from the ground below.

You brought your swollen reddened hand closer to your chapped lips to blow on it carefully, you're severely dehydrated and starving, not to mention the never ending stinging of the wounds on your body you received from the fight.

If you were honest to yourself. Sitting inside a dark and empty cave with nothing but the deafening sound of silence was uncomfortable. The system would return after 1 hour and 29 minutes, so you just had to find out a way to survive without it for a while.

You'd grown used to hearing small little 'ping!' from the system and getting flashed with a bright blue screen on your face. But now it's just you and well... You.

Your (e/c) eyes glanced towards your vision dangling from the side of your hip. You took notice on how it weirdly was glowing all of a sudden, isn't this when a characters burst is charged up?

Unfortunately.

You cannot press Q or any button to just automatically cut into a burst animation, Actually are you a 4 star or 5 star?...

"Dang I think I broke it." You mumbled to yourself while your index finger slightly scratches your cheek, the system was a jerk since it refuses to give you a simple guide on how to do this and that.

Your body shuddered like a leaf as a cold harsh wind blew inside the already dark and gloomy cave. Stands of hair flew towards your face making you looks more haggard than before, but you still protectively turned your back to face away from the intense breeze.

Bringing your legs closer to your chest to emith warmth around your freezing and shaking body you leaned the side of your head on the stone wall then began slowly itching more and more towards the darkness to make a distance from the cave gate since it looked like it was beginning to rain heavily tonight.

To cope with your issues and problems, you instinctively began ranting inside your head with your expression full of dissapointment and annoyance

''Damn reincarnation, nothing good happened! All I got was getting kidnapped then hunted down?!''

If you could freely activate your dendro vision things would be much helpful for you!! But NO your skills are locked away from the system, you're unable to level up or grind to ascension since the knights of favonius and people of Mondstadt could be everywhere!

If bitch was a person they 100% must be fucking with you.

But then, your ranting came to an abrupt halt as the sounds of footsteps began closing in on you. Footsteps that didn't seem to be a mob nor group, but instead coming from one person.

You felt a cold sweat drip down your cheek with multiple scenarios racing through your mind gathering every and any possibility that could happen once they found your hide out.

You quickly covered your dendro vision using your own clothes as a coverage since it was still glowing brightly throughout the gloomy cave, and being the only source of light aside from the radiating moonlight high above the jet black sky with many stars accompanied by it.

"If I can't see them then they can't see me." You internally thought to yourself and quickly took advantage of the caves darkness, using it to cover and blend in with the surrounding area and hide from whatever is out there.

You hoped to yourself and prayed that it was just some random npc who doesn't give a single fuck about you and let you off the hook, what you DESPERATELY don't wish for is some vision holder coming out for you, especially a certain blonde, brown and red haired trio.

"If you can see me through this darkness then you must have some sort of 24/24 vision or something" you lamented in your head while dozing off to some random school memory you had in your past that was until two large pair of black boots stopped directly infront of the caves entrance making you freeze and mentally shit yourself.

"WTFF!! I know those shoes anywhere! Since I worked my ass off to buy that very skin!!" Your mouth dropped to it's lowest seeing as they began to slowly move towards where you were hiding at. You immediately shifted positions quickly and as quietly as you can, using both of your hands to hide any loud breathing or sounds you might accidentally let out.

Your eyes shrinked while eyeing their gloved hand feeling around the pitch dark area you were previously sitting in. Your only choices now was hope they don't find and grab you before ending your right there and then, or make a run for it.

Second choice not looking so good huh

"You can't see me, you can't see me" You repeated endlessly to yourself while trying to stop your body from shaking like a leaf that just got blown over by a strong gust of wind. The person eventually retracted their hand from the dark and took a step back and towards the caves entrance making you sigh in relief.

Your eyes that were ungulfed in darkness looked towards them, their hair color not being much clear to you since you guys were inside a cave without any source of light other than the caves entrance, with a small nod you unconsciously formed a small smile "Thank goodness... Now just go awa-" But that happiness quickly dissolved for you felt a gloved hand roughly grab you by the collar of your shirt and threw you to the caves entrance where the moons light shined down on your body, revealing your presence to them.

"Fuck!..." You cursed under your breath and letted out a rugged cough since your lungs were having a hard time inhaling some air.

Your (e/c) pupils met with a pair of the same black boots that were in the cave that made your breath hitch and stop for a moment, this was your end and you knew it. Out of all the people you had to encounter, you were met with the intense stare and fury deep inside the red heads heart.

Your lips quivered with a severe feeling of fear rush through every part of your body, barely making out his name you desperately did not want to believe in;

"Diluc?..."

3rd Person Pov

There were many stories floating across the nations of Teyvat, Diluc wasn't an exception since his father, Crepus, frequently reader him and Kaeya a small story before bed. A story about a god who was seen as the glory and perfection of the people living in teyvat.

Soft looking (Hair color) locks that glistened under the moons luminosity and was said to feel like brushing your fingertips through a valley of soft fabric, a beautiful body that was carved out by the gods with their own hands to produce what they call 'perfect' for a person; they had carved for 5 months and 20 extra days to slowly built the base for their grace without a stop since they were afraid to even make the smallest mistake for such a large responsibility.

Dilucs vermillion eyes gazed down on (Name) and studied their features from a distance. In all of the stories he had read there was never a same picture for what their grace looked like as they took on many forms throughout their rule. Yet for some reason, What diluc imagined his grace to look like was oddly on point with the person sprawled down on the ground with their hands and pants now dirtied from the soil below.

But no matter what the person or cause, Diluc had come to a conclusion when their grace left. That they had abandoned them all. And he, existed to purge and exterminate anyone who defies his god.

"Don't call me like that you pest" Diluc blurted out towards (Name) which made their eyes widened and their eyebrows wrinkle together, "What?" they muttered with confusion evident in their voice.

Diluc clenched his teeth together and held his tounge back from saying anything unnecessary "It was an idiotic move for you to step inside mondstat territory you fraud." Dilucs right foot stepped forward as yellow particles began to form near his fingers and created his signature weapon, the wolves Gravestone "Burn."

He swung his claymore forward and unleashed a ginormous blazing pheonix that would burn anything in it's path, and that ultimate was coming right towards (Name)'s direction.

"Shit!! Wait! Hold on!" (Name) panicked vigorously as they felt their skin heating up by the second. (Name) attempted to bolt out the way but suddenly felt their left leg get trapped by something, looking down their mouth dropped seeing as they were caught in a bear trap specifically used for hunting boars.

"NONONO SYSTEM!!" (Name) desperately shouted while the phoenix slowly got closer and closer to (Name) making them feel hopeless at the current situation.

**Ting!

''Given conditions have been met, automatically unleashing burst,,

An AI voice rang throughout (Name)'s ears making them hiss and groan in pain, their dendro vision that was covered through their clothes fabric shined brighter than ever making Diluc himself stunned by its glowing aura, one that he had never seen before.

"My grace?"

Just before the blazing pheonix could reach (Name), long ropes made out of strong roots emerged from the landscape and formed a protective shield around them, blocking (Name) from the incoming attack and further damage.

Before Diluc could get back to his senses and spam his burst, even more roots resurfaced and wrapped around Dilucs arms and legs tightly making him groan and drop his claymore to the ground making a loud 'clang!'

(Name) stared at the situation dumbfounded by its power, they shakily looked over to their vision that was now flickering and barely remaining it's iconic glow

"Holy shit I'm op"

They huffed in amazement, slightly terrified yet proud of their new found power even beginning to get sidetracked of their current messy situation.

Diluc stared at (Name) who had sparkles inside their eyes as they were practicing on doing it again but unfortunately failed miserably,

Without even Diluc knowing, his gaze softened at the sight of the joyful individual. It was like watching his own fantasies he had made as a child play out in front of him like a show he yearned his whole life, a dream where he would watch his grace enjoy their life to the fullest with him always being by their side.

But just now, a small blaze ignited deep inside his heart. It wasn't hatred connected to them, but hope. Hope that there was a possibility that the person standing across from him with roots and veins protectively around their body... Was his grace?

Without a moment of hesitation Diluc easily ripped apart the veins that were holding him back and landed on the ground swiftly making (Name) shriek at the sight of the red head slowly making his way towards them.

He stopped when he was only a small distance away then crouched, he kneeled at (Name)'s presence with a soft expression evident on his face though inside he was holding himself back for a rush of excitement and adrenaline coursed through his veins.

"Welcome back my gra-"

[Fixing complete, automatically teleporting you to the nearest statue of the seven..]

(Name) stared at the screen in absolute horror making Dilucs expression shift to one of confusion. He was about to say something till he also made a look of horror since (Name)'s body started to slowly fade away

Terror and anxiety replaced whatever diluc felt at that very moment, were they going to dissapere once again? You can't. He won't ever allow it

"YOUR GRACE!!"

Diluc charged forward, the tip of his fingers about to reach (Name) but they were already gone before he knew it. Diluc dropped to the floor with beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, (Name) had just been teleported away by the system and diluc had to go find them again before the others get to (Name) first.

But the system had surely made a mistake. Because surely they purposely didn't teleport (Name) to INAZUMA where they saw death themselves right?

"Maybe if I pretend I didn't see them then they won't see me.."

And what's with the person that looked like them sitting on top of a statue looking all high and mighty? That's way too dangerous.

...

"I'm so fucked"

[wlwsoccerfics]

Missing(SarinaWiegmanXTeenDaughter)

Warning: mental health struggeles, Diabetes

Summary: it's your first Camp, the next morning you are Missing and everyone is worried. Especially your Mom.

Camp was a big deal for you. You were 17 years old and got called Up to the England Senior Squad. You had to read alot of shit online about you just being picked cause of Sarina being your mother. Spoiler alert, If at all this made things more difficult for you. Cause your Mom was keeping an extra eye on you. You also got offered to Play for the dutch national Team. But since you were born in England you decided to Play for them.

After Team Dinner on arrival day you went to bed. Sharing a room with Jess Park. When she was asleep around midnight you grabbed some of your clothes. Put them in a Backpack and sneaked out. Leaving the Camp Training grounds. You had your Phone turned off right now.

When Jess woke up the next morning around 6:30am she thought you already went to have breakfast. So she didn't worry just yet. That changed two hours later when your mom walked into the conference room with a concerend look on her face.

"has anyone seen y/n?" Your Mom asked. Jess frowned.

"not since Last night. She was gone when i woke Up around 6:30am." She stated.

"i am worried. I just checked your room and she took some of her clothes and all of her Insulin gone." Your Mom explained. "And her Phone is turned off. Has anyone noticed anything different about her?" She wanted to know. Cause even though you are Here as a Player for the First time, all the Girls have known you for a few years now.

"we haven't seen her and haven't noticed anything." Lucy said softly.

"she also was acting normal before we got here!" Leah stated. Your captain became like a big sister to you and she was your teammate at Arsenal. You made your debut there two Seasons ago.

"let's find her." Alessia got up from her seat. She also became a big sister to you. You even lived with her sometimes when your parents weren't Home.

"yes let's do that!" Tooney said.

They made little groups and went to look for you. You currently were sitting in a 24 hour Diner. Sipping on a Coffee. Your Mom went there after looking for you for an hour because Alessia knew you liked that place. She took you there a few times.

"y/n, thank god you are here!" Your Mom said softly.

"Mom, what are you doing here? Leah, Alessia..." You whispered out. Wiping away some tears.

"are you kidding? You ran away from Camp. We all were worried sick! Sarina was close to calling the Police!" Leah stated. She obviously looked pretty stressed. Same with Lessi and your Mom.

"i am sorry. Le & Less. And Mom... I didn't mean to scare you!" You answered. Sighing softly to yourself.

"well why did you leave in the first place?" Your Mom wanted to know.

"excellent question. Was about to ask the same!" Leah stated.

"okay, maybe let her explain." Alessia told them.

"thanks Lessi!" You replied and took a deep breath before speaking up again. "Have you been online recently? People say that i am only Part of the Lionesses because of who my Mom is! That Hurts. It really messes with my head." You admitted and then teared up. They all frowned.

"y/n... don't believe those people. They are just jealous and probably very unhappy with their own lifes. That's why they look for other people to tear down. those Keyboard Warriors think they are untouchable and can be mean whenever they want to be. It's to make themselves feel better about things." Leah told you. Alessia nodded her head softly in agreement.

"yes everything Leah said is true! You are so talented and deserve to be a lionesses." Alessia replied. Your Mom spoke up now after listening to Let & Lessi Talk.

"Leah and Alessia are right, my Girl. You deserve to be here. I don't make decisions lightly. You know that. I expect the best No Matter what." Your Mom let you know. It was true. You did know that. Those words from the online Community still hurt.

"i know...deep down i know... But it still Hurts Hearing that!"you admitted.

You walked back to Trainings camp, everyone was waiting on thr Trainings Pitch for you, your Mom, Lessi and Leah. The England captian has texted them about why you left and they wanted to make sure that didn't happen again.

So when you walked onto the pitch Grace pulled you into a hug. You happened to love hugs from Grace. Grace was giving the best hugs out of all of them honestly. She also happened to be one of your favorite people. Like ever.

"don't let anyone Tell you that you don't belong, cause you belong. You are one of us!" Grace stated.

"Clinton is right Kid." Lucy said and ruffled your hair. Which you quickly fixed again.

"thank you." You told them and offered them a small smile. Hugging Grace back.

"yeah they are right! And don't ever Run away again, please!" Jess Park told you.

"i agree with Jess! You scared the hell out of us!" Aggie let you know.

"thank you Girls for telling her how good she fits in!" Your Mom said softly and smiled at them. Practice started a little bit later and you gave it your all. The Trainings Video on the Lionesses Channel had Lots of nice comments about you and it made people realize that you in fact did deserve your place there.

Later that day you sat with your Mom in the conference room, just the two of you. You watched her Work on some Game Plans.

"i am sorry for running away, Mom!" You spoke up. Biting down on your bottom lip.

"you know i was really worried about you. Especially when you Phone was turned off. I thought you had one of your Low blood sugars or something like that. It was quite scary!" Your Mom said and placed a hand on your arm. Giving it a gentle squeeze. You hugged her and didn't let go for a while.

"i didn't even think about you being worried. I should have known you were concerned. I promise i won't do that again and won't just turn my Phone off anymore." You answered. She held you close. Kissing the top of your head.

"that's appreciated sweet Girl. Cause no matter what i will always worry about you." Your Mom explained. "Cause that's what moms do!" She added.

The two of you sat there, hugging eachother for a little while longer. Just enjoying eachothers company.

[alwaysthebiggerbear]

Thankful - Soldier Boy x Female Reader

Summary: It's Father's Day again and you have an extra special present for Ben this time around.

Pairing: Soldier Boy x Female!Reader A/N: This is a sequel to the prompt response "You're safe now, I'm here". All unbeta'd. Warnings: smut-ish (18+ - minors DNI); explicit dirty talk; breeding kink; language; a little fluff; Soldier Boy being Soldier Boy; Ben is one kinky motherfucker (or is it me? 🤔) Word Count: 7135 First posted on here: 6/16/24 dividers by @firefly-graphics

Hearing giggling and running around in the other room, you couldn’t help but smile and roll your eyes good-naturedly. “Ellie, Lilli,” you called. “Keep it down, please. Daddy’s still sleeping.” The girls giggled again which made you shake your head as you focused on plating the scrambled eggs you had just made.

Warm arms suddenly snaked around your waist and gently pulled you back into a solid chest, making you gasp quietly. “Daddy’s already awake,” a deep voice grumbled into your ear before lips were pressed to your skin underneath. You shouldn’t be surprised that you never heard him coming. Damn Supe skills.

You set the pan down onto the stove and rested your head back against Ben’s shoulder, hugging his arms and closing your eyes. You let out a sigh of contentment as you enjoyed the kisses he was placing to the side of your neck and your smile grew. “Mmm, how’d you sleep, baby?”

“You know,” he murmured against your jawline, making you laugh. 

You turned in his arms and wrapped yours around his neck, seeing the dirty smirk on his face. “Can’t say I’m sorry about that.” You lifted up on your toes and kissed him with everything you had. You weren’t the least bit surprised when his hands began wandering with one ending up taking residence on your ass and the other at the back of your neck to push you further into him. You couldn’t help but moan as his tongue mercilessly plundered your mouth, bringing back memories of him kissing you this deeply last night after he’d brought you to orgasm with his fingers alone for the first round and you just had to have a taste. The thought of that, of everything his body had done to yours following that kiss, had you suddenly aching with want and need — always need. You didn’t think you would ever get enough of this man.

His hand had just lowered from your neck to grab hold of your breast when you were suddenly interrupted.

“Daddy!” Your daughters yelled excitedly in chorus. 

You both immediately broke away from each other, gasping for air. “Shit,” Ben muttered under his breath as he quickly moved his hands to more respectable areas on your body. You shot him a look and he gave you a half-hearted shrug. While he was better about the language these days, that didn’t mean he still didn’t let certain words fly every now and then which your girls would suddenly pick up and make their favorite word of the day. 

Ben seemed more concerned with something else right then, though, and hurriedly moved you in front of him before turning to face a beaming Ellie and Lilli. You could feel something beginning to poke you in the back and you had to bite your lip to keep from snickering. “Hey, how are my princesses this morning?”

“Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!” Ellie yelled. 

Not to be outdone, Lillian (or Lilli as you all usually called her) yelled even louder. “Happy Fahdder’s Day!”

You couldn’t help but chuckle at your youngest daughter. She was only three but she definitely took after her father in the competition department.

“Awww thank you.” Completely forgetting his predicament, Ben crouched down and held his arms out, the girls running willingly into them. You smiled as you watched them kiss his cheeks and then squeal in laughter as he tickled them. This right here was your family and you couldn’t be more grateful. Who would have imagined when you had sought out Soldier Boy for protection once upon a time that it would lead to this? That he would one day become the most important man alive to you? That he would become the father of your children? Not you, that was for sure, but you couldn’t be happier with how things had turned out.

When Ben let up on the tickling, Ellie informed him breathlessly, “Daddy, we got you a present.”

“You did? You know I love presents.” He smirked up at you, full implication in his eyes, and you rolled yours. Yes, Ben loved getting presents. Christmas was a thing and you made sure to go all out for his birthday every year. You always gently teased him that he was high maintenance but you knew it wasn’t really about anything materialistic. 

He had gone overboard on Ellie’s first couple of birthdays and Christmases and it had worried you because you didn’t want her getting spoiled. You didn’t want her getting the wrong idea on what those days should be about. They should be fun and full of joy, yes, but twenty two presents for a two year old? Really? She couldn’t even count yet how many boxes there were. What would happen when she could? Would she start keeping track, always expecting more with each year? Would you be raising a version of Dudley Dursley then?

After a pretty hefty argument the night of Ellie’s third birthday party while you were both cleaning up, you finally got it out of him why he went overkill on the gifts. Not only did he enjoy seeing her face light up when she opened up one of the boxes but he never had that growing up. Even though his family was well off, he received one single gift a year for Christmas and it was always something that was appropriate for his age but not a toy. For example, when he was ten, he received a tie. The same went for his birthdays. Though his mother always did something special for him on the side, his father couldn’t be bothered. The tough son of a bitch had even had the nerve to tell Ben that Santa Claus wasn’t real after he heard his son answering his mother on what he wanted from the man in the red suit that year. Then he had the nerve to insinuate that Ben was stupidly naive for believing such a “silly little story���. Ben was five .

Sometimes you wished you could bring his old man back and kill him again when Ben eventually disclosed things to you like this. Sometimes you also wished you could go back and shake his mother by the shoulders and ask her what she had been thinking by staying with a man who treated her and their son so poorly. Now being a mother yourself, as much as you loved Ben (and you loved him deeply), if he ever started treating your children or you in a similar manner or worse, you’d do whatever it took to get all of you away from him. You often had to remind yourself that it was another time when these things occurred and your husband hadn’t been born only four decades ago though he appeared as if he had been. You kept your thoughts to yourself, of course; you knew how much Ben had loved his mom. He had named your first daughter for her after all.

When he was done speaking, he still wouldn’t meet your eyes (something that usually happened whenever he shared his past with you like this) and you could see he was about to change the subject or make light of it with a badly timed joke. Anything to keep him from feeling vulnerable for too long or appearing weak in your eyes as he had once put it (and you’d done your best to kiss that silly notion right out of his head though it hadn’t worked). So instead, you immediately kneeled in front of him and took his face into your hands, forcing him to look at you.

“Baby,” you gently said. “I get why it matters to you, I do, but we just need to make sure as her parents that we do the right thing, raise her the right way. So, how about we cut the amount of gifts you get for her in half? At least for now. Just until Ellie is able to count that high. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to raise Kidzilla. Besides, Operation Terrible Twos was more than enough, don’t you think?” You nearly shuddered at the memory. You loved your daughter with everything you had, but whoa, that had definitely been a challenging time for all three of you. 

You smiled when he chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ve got a point. Almost lost the war on that one.”

“What’s this? Soldier Boy admitting he was almost defeated in battle? By a two-year-old?” You teased.

“Hey,” He picked you up and set you down on his lap, making you straddle him. “You almost didn’t make it through that battle, either.”

This time you did shudder. “But I did. We both did.” You nuzzled him and whispered, “Ben, I’m proud of you. I don’t think I tell you that enough, but I am. You’ve been through a lot, you’ve made mistakes, but you’ve come out the other side and you’ve made major strides. I know you said you would do things better than your father back when I first got pregnant, but you really do. Every single day and I am so beyond proud of you. Ellie and I are very lucky to have you, baby.” You placed a kiss on his nose; you had meant every word.

His green eyes stared into yours and for the first time in a long time, you couldn’t immediately read him. You saw the love and adoration you always saw whenever he looked at you or Ellie but this time, it took you a minute to determine that what you were seeing was something similar to awe or reverence. And that shocked the hell out of you.

But you didn’t have too much time to think about it because right then he leaned in and kissed you, ripping your clothes from you with one swift tug, and stood up, turning to carry you to the bedroom and ignoring your irritated huf into his mouth from yet another outfit you would need to replace. It was obvious that he had decided the cleanup from the party would have to wait until the morning and you weren’t exactly complaining.

You had been a little more gentle with him that night and provided whatever comfort and silent reassurance you could. Your touches were tender, soothing, and loving. You were convinced that Lilli had been conceived that evening; she had arrived nine months later, almost to the day.   

The same daughter that now had her hands all over her father’s face, trying to smush it in different directions for some reason. You watched as Ben patiently (and quietly) let her do what she wanted and this time, you were the one staring in awe. Ellie then asserted herself and hugged Ben closely, interrupting whatever playing around Lilli had been doing, which caused your youngest daughter to immediately yell out the demand, “Kiss, Daddy!”

“Okay. Kisses for my princess,” he laughed, and kissed her head before turning and kissing a frowning Ellie’s. “And kisses for my other princess.” Ellie’s frown immediately turned upside down and she hugged her father again. It was too cute and you swore it made your heart grow three sizes in a matter of seconds. Whenever you thought back to how you almost hadn’t escaped Vought’s clutches when a price had been put on your head, rather than let it paralyze you with dread as it had back when Ellie was born, you now let the gratitude wash over you. If they hadn’t, you would have never met Ben and you wouldn’t have the family you did now. You weren’t sure if there was a higher power up there watching over all of you or not but regardless, you were thankful all the same. 

You may have also snuck a quick picture of the scene on your phone before quietly clearing your throat. “Alright, how about you guys go get your present ready in the living room and give me a minute to talk to Daddy?”

“Okay, Mommy.” Ellie eagerly nodded and let her father go, hurrying out of the room. Lilli did the same, determined to get to the present first. You shook your head, smirking as you watched. That competitive drive was going to be a problem when they got older if you didn’t find some way to nip it in the bud and soon. But for now, it was harmless and damn cute to boot.  

Ben took a seat at the breakfast counter and gave you a nod of thanks, sipping the coffee you had just placed in front of him. “So what did you need to talk to me about without the girls around?” He waggled his eyebrows in suggestion.

You stood before him, leaning against the counter and gracing him with a knowing smile. “I have a gift for you, too.”

A salacious grin formed on his handsome face. “Oh, I know you do.”

“Nope, not that. That comes later, if you’re good.”

He leaned forward in his seat. “Actually, you’ll be coming later, if you’re good,” he promised in that deep tone he knew did things to you. Sure enough, you could feel that all-too familiar need begin to throb through you once again and you ruined your panties for the second time that morning. And the bastard knew it, too, because his nostrils momentarily flared and his grin immediately grew. He moved a little closer, like a panther closing in for the kill, and murmured, “I can still smell us . You’re leaking a little of me out of you right now, aren't you?”

His words had your body involuntarily clenching down on nothing as you tightly held onto the counter in front of you. If you had some of Ben’s strength, you were convinced your fingers would have dug into the marble. You pushed out a tiny breath and your body then relaxed, immediately releasing more wetness into your underwear. 

“Ben,” you choked out in a whisper. “Oh my…God.” You quietly gasped as another gush escaped you, fully soaking you.

His nostrils flared again and in an instant he was by your side. “Fuck,” he growled into your ear when his hand skirted past your sundress and into your panties to confirm that he was right. “I hope this is my present. You know what? Fuck that, I’m going to give us both a present. I’m going to fill you back up and you better not let me leak out this time, dollface, or I might just take it as a personal challenge to our record. Then we’ll be pushing double digits no matter how much you might want to tap out.” Ho-ly fuck, double digits? Was he crazy? You’d have to wear a damn diaper for the next two days not to mention how sore you would be. But you had to admit, the thought was an extremely hot one for a second.

One hand of his was gently urging you down onto the counter while the other was quickly undoing the drawstring on his sweatpants, the hem of your dress lifted above your ass and your panties ripped off of you. One more second and he would be deep inside you, rutting into you fast and hard, and making you cry out as he sped you towards your release.

You still had enough presence of mind to remember that you had two little ones in the other room waiting on you and now was definitely not the time for you and Ben to get into an all-morning fuckfest. As much as it pained you to do, your brain cleared some of the lust fogging it up and you used your hand to push back at his waist. He immediately froze, his hand wrapped around his dick, and looked up at you. 

“Not right now,” you nearly squeaked out, making you clear your throat. “The girls are waiting on us.”

He glanced in the direction of the living room, back at you, your ass, his dick, you again, and then back to the living room. “Fuck,” he hissed, slipping himself back into his sweatpants, tying the drawstring and adjusting himself as much as he could. “Okay. You’re right. I lost my head for a second but you’re right. I’m glad we didn’t…” He didn’t finish the thought and he didn’t need to. You didn’t want to think about what your girls might have walked in on if you hadn’t stopped him. How would you ever be able to explain that one to your six-year-old and three-year-old? That Daddy and Mommy were just playing a new game? Or he’d found a new spot to tickle you in? Tickling you…inside… Fuck. No, you weren’t going to think about that last part.

Ben gently cleaned you up with your torn panties, forcing you to bury your teeth into your lip to keep a moan at bay. He then tossed them into the trash and lowered the hem of your dress down, and carefully picked you up and placed you back on your feet, turning you to face him. He appeared a little troubled and you knew he was beating himself up much like he had back when Ellie had walked in on you when she was three.

You were pregnant and you were horny; Ben…Ben was always horny. He had you on your bed, near the edge (in more ways than one), and he stood over you, grunting with each slow, hard thrust into you. He controlled himself every time you two had sex so he didn’t hurt you, especially when you were pregnant, but you also liked a little roughness and he liked seeing you take what he gave you. You loved watching the muscles underneath his skin move as he fucked you like this (as you repeatedly told him, he had a body that was built to fuck to which he cockily told you he already knew that and proceeded to go about proving his point) and he loved keeping his eyes on yours with neither one of you looking away. The exchange would sometimes be so intense as he worked you both up to that edge that not a word was said, not a sound was made other than his grunts and echoes of the slams of his hips against your thighs and ass, and usually your orgasm would take you by complete surprise when it hit.

And it just so happened that this time around, your daughter had woken from her nap earlier than expected and climbed out of her bed to come find you. Because you and Ben were in the zone, you hadn’t heard your bedroom door open a little wider. Even your husband’s Supe hearing had missed it, his intense focus on you and what he was doing to your body. He had your legs up over his shoulder and he grunted particularly loudly on one rough shove into you and you couldn’t help but let out a cry. He smirked and began to pick up the pace, slamming into you faster, knowing you were close. The bed was creaking so loudly it sounded as if it were about to break. It wouldn’t have been the first time. You gripped onto the sheets and held on, biting so hard into your lip you could taste blood. Your daughter was still sleeping and you couldn’t afford to yell out a litany of expletives as the pleasure continued to swell inside your body. You were going to have to hold a hand over your mouth when you came. When suddenly, both you and Ben heard a crying sound that neither of you made.  

You both turned to see your daughter standing there, tears streaming down her young face and looking frightened. “Mama,” she sobbed. You had never moved so fast in your life, immediately pushing Ben away and grabbing his t-shirt off the floor and throwing it on. Ben muttered a curse and quickly covered his lower half with the blanket that had been tossed aside. You had hurried over to Ellie who was a hiccuping, sobbing mess and held out her arms to you. You picked her right up and began speaking to her in soothing tunes, telling her everything was alright. You briefly glanced back at Ben before leaving the room, seeing the same disturbed expression on his face that you were seeing now. After that incident, he hadn’t touched you for at least a week and he blamed himself for not hearing her little feet pattering down the hall to your room. No matter how you tried to reassure him that it was a blameless accident and Ellie would be fine, telling him you doubted she would remember anything since she didn’t understand what she had seen, he still kept his hands to himself for a while. And it took a few days for him to be able to look your daughter in the face again.

It also took him a little while after that to relax back into sex with you and be fully present, not half listening for any sounds of your daughter waking up at night and wandering down the hall or him insisting that your body be covered in some way in case he needed to quickly move away from you. You understood his concern, his guilt, his shame, his mortification even, so you were patient with him and did everything he asked to help him feel more comfortable. Once it became apparent that your daughter wasn’t going to wake up in the middle of the night or if she had a nightmare he would hear her cries first, he eventually ripped your nightie off of you and went to town. 

“I fucking missed these,” he growled, making you laugh, before sucking a nipple into his mouth.

So, remembering all of that, you decided to lighten things up. “I’m going to need that one in writing.”

He arched a questioning brow down at you.

“I’m right? I don’t think you’ve ever said that. I want it in writing.”

Ben smirked and tenderly rubbed his nose along yours, curling an arm around your waist to hold you to him. Crisis averted. “Good luck getting it because it’s never happening.”

“Oh, it will. Especially when I show you the present I have for you.”

He placed a kiss to the corner of your mouth. “That really wasn’t my present?” He murmured, sounding disappointed.

You couldn’t help but smile. “No, that’s your later present. But this,” You reached behind you and grabbed something you had hidden under a newspaper. Yes, Ben still insisted on reading actual papers, and yes, you actually paid a few hundred dollars a year for the subscription. Well, the CIA did to be more precise but you still thought it was ridiculous. Though right now, you couldn’t care less; you were focused on Ben and this private moment between you. “ This is your present from me.”   

You urged him to open his hand and you placed the little device into it. His eyes widened when he saw what it was and glanced up at you to be sure.

You nodded, smiling. “Happy Father’s Day, baby.” 

He tossed the positive pregnancy test onto the counter and picked you up, making you squeal as he hugged you tightly to him. You had just managed to wrap your legs around his waist when he began kissing you nonstop, smiling as you laughed in between kisses. Eventually, you both needed air. “How long?” He panted.

“Not sure. A few weeks? I have to call the doctor tomorrow to make an appointment.”

His lips covered yours once again. “Christ on a cross, we’re having another one.” He froze then and pulled back, staring at you. “Christ on a cross, we’re having another one,” he repeated, this time his tone sounding a little more daunted. 

You playfully slapped at his shoulder. “Yes, we are. Don’t act like this is a surprise to you, buddy. This is what you wanted. We’ve been trying to knock me up for the past two months and we know just how potent your sperm can be.”

Once Lilli had turned three, you agreed to start trying for another baby and Ben held you to it. If he could get five kids out of you, he would. Considering you were the one carrying all said kids and actually pushing them out of you, you compromised to three, four at the most. He hadn’t liked that of course, but you told him after your possible fourth kid (more like your third), if he wanted to go shack up with another woman and get her to carry more of his kids, he’d be welcome to it. He’d scowled at you but pulled you close, making you sit in his lap with a blanket covering you both as you watched Band of Brothers on Netflix. 

“Well, this is boring as shit. Thank Christ they sent me over when they did, where the real fighting was,” he muttered in your ear a couple of minutes later, placing his drink on the side table. You were about to correct his skewed perception of the popular TV series when he lifted you up a little, yanked your yoga pants down, and urged you to sit back down on him (his fly now miraculously open). You did and the feeling made your eyes roll back into your head, and you couldn’t help but let out a soft moan. “Fuck,” he groaned into your neck. “As if I would ever leave this pussy. It’s mine, it will always be mine, and I belong right here.” He thrust his lips a little for each word and you gasped, reaching back to hold onto him. “You got that?” He growled. You eagerly nodded and attempted to turn your head to kiss him but he moved away. “Uh uh. You’re going to sit there, full of me, and you’re going to think about what you said.”

“About the kids?” You gasped when his hips slightly bucked into you at the word. “I’m not backing down on that.” It had been hard enough to get him to agree to a three year spacing in between said kids. If he could have his way, he’d have you barefoot and pregnant every chance he could. You had to explain to him how that wasn’t good for the female body and how doctors were now recommending spacing out pregnancies to give women time to recover. He hadn’t liked it but he had begrudgingly agreed, not wanting to do anything that might cause you harm, though he still thought sometimes that the doctors were full of shit. “Population control. That’s all it is. Guaranteed.” You had simply rolled your eyes at that one and took the win.

“No. The other thing you said,” he murmured, glaring at you before taking a sip of his drink.

“About finding someone else to knock up to get your other fifteen kids? I wasn’t kidding.”

The scowl deepened and he bucked his hips a little harder, making you gasp again. You laid your head back on his shoulder and attempted to kiss him once more. He leaned in as if he was going to give in but then quickly turned back to the TV. “Like I said, you’re going to sit here and think about that for a while.” A few minutes of tense silence later, he finally broke it. “You’re the only one I want to knock up with my kids — three, five, ten — doesn’t fucking matter. I told you I’d stick around the first time and I meant it.” His jaw tightened. “I’m not that guy anymore.”

You suddenly realized just how callous your words had been however unintentional. At face value, you had half been kidding, half been serious. You didn’t really want Ben to go off and have another family with someone else, for various reasons. You always got an unpleasant gut clench anytime you noticed Ben checking out another woman when you were out and about, young or old. He’d give you a smirk and say “Just looking in the store window, doll. I’m not planning on going in and buying anything.” To which you would shoot him your most lethal glare and not allow him to touch you that night. Eventually, he stopped looking — or at least didn’t make it so obvious — and those arguments soon dissipated into the past. Now, your words had not only unintentionally brought it all back up but you had also unintentionally reminded him about a part of his past that he didn’t feel represented who he was anymore. Sure, he’d told you about the fuckboi phase in his life, sometimes in excruciating and unwanted detail, but he had also told you that once he settled down with you and started building a family, he was eager to leave those days behind him. Much like the moniker Soldier Boy. He didn’t mind it when you mentioned it in jest like you had earlier, but other than that, he didn’t like you using it period. Well, not until you introduced one very sexy night of roleplay where you were the damsel in distress turned thankful rescued party who was willing to do anything to show her gratitude and he was the superhero doing the rescuing and benefitting from that gratitude. Thankfully, Elena and Maggie had agreed to watch the girls that one weekend because it certainly had been loud and rough and dirty . But other than joking or sex, you were asked not to call him by that name, especially in your girls’ hearing. Not until he deemed them ready to hear about his golden superhero days. 

And now, he was mad at you. You let out a quiet sigh and then performed an around-the-world spin that would have made your old horseback riding coach proud. Well, maybe not in this situation. You grabbed Ben’s chin and forced him to look up at you. “I know you’re not,” you assured him. “I just meant I can’t have a dozen kids, Ben. I want to give you the family you want, that we both want. I do, but we have to be realistic here. That’s all I meant,” you finished in a whisper, pecking his lips. “I don’t ever want you with anyone else. You said this is yours?” You ground into him to make your point, eliciting a deep groan from him. “Well, this ,” You clenched down tightly on him, making his breath hitch and his hands fly to your hips. “This is mine . You got that?” You finished in a growl.

His eyes darkened considerably and you knew there was no way now that you were making it through the episode you had been plodding through earlier; you knew what was coming next. That look said everything.

Sure enough, “Yeah, I fucking do,” rumbled out of his chest and in the next second you were on your back on the couch with him pounding away at you. Things had gotten a little…primal that night, to the point where he even told you “If you were a Supe, this house would no longer be fucking standing, I’d make sure of it”, but you had given him your reassurance, he was no longer mad at you, and you were back on the three kid goal with a possible fourth. 

So, this was now your third pregnancy. You knew his heart was set on a boy; for his sake, you hoped this one would be the one he wanted so badly. While you had said you might be open to a fourth kid down the line, you had to wait to see how this pregnancy went first. The one with Ellie had been pretty much what was expected for a first pregnancy. Lilli’s, though, it had been a rough first trimester but thankfully it began to ease up near the middle of the second trimester and then was all smooth sailing from there. But the morning sickness had been horrible, almost violent even. There were many days you were down for the count where Ben had to pick up the slack with Ellie and you’d even had to call in Elena and Maggie as reinforcements, much to Ben and Maggie’s chagrin. So, needless to say, you wanted to see how this pregnancy, labor, and delivery went first and how juggling three kids under the age of ten between you and Ben would go.

“I know,” he groaned, bringing you back to the present, and dropped his head down to your shoulder. “Just… three kids.” 

“And you wanted ten,” you laughed.

He lifted his head and smirked right at you. “Still do. But I know we agreed to four—”

“Three, with a possible fourth,” you corrected.

“Four—”

“Ben, I swear…”

He chuckled and cupped your cheek, kissing you. “I’m just happy, sweetheart.” As if that was a valid explanation for him continuing to troll you on this topic.”Guess we don’t need to worry about you leaking me after all.”

“Oh no, we still need to worry.” You quickly glanced down underneath you, hoping nothing had dripped out onto your kitchen floor. Not to mention, Ben might need to change his pants now. “We actually need to change really fast before we go in to see the girls because you need new pants and I am not walking around everywhere like this, making a mess.”

Ben turned with you in his arms and headed towards the hall. “Mmm, I like it when you make a mess. All fucking over me.”

Your cheeks heated and you blew out a harsh breath, blowing a wayward strand of hair out of your face. “Ben,” you hissed. “You’re not helping.”

He laughed and made a right turn into your bedroom, carefully depositing you on your feet. His eyes darkened as he watched you slip a fresh pair of panties on underneath your dress. You turned to find he had already changed and naturally, he was already tenting them. “Oh my God, Ben, you have got to get that under control. You can’t go out and see the girls like that. Jesus.”

“You could help with this, you know.” He pointed to his crotch. “It’d be faster.”

You shot him a glare. “Seriously? Didn’t we just go through this? Besides, I’d tell you to think of your grandmother in the shower, but knowing you…”

He made his way over to you, a roguish smile on his face. “I’m kidding, doll. Relax.” He slapped your ass, making you squeak in surprise, and grasped it tight in his palm. “I fucked another baby into you,” he boasted proudly. “I got to be honest, right now I don’t know whether I want to fuck you some more or I want to hold you.”

You arched a brow up at him. “Hold me?”

“I don’t want to take my fucking hands off of you,” he elaborated, a hand sneaking down to your still flat stomach, rubbing gently, and the other gripping your chin and staring into your eyes. “This is the best fucking Father’s Day gift you could have ever given me, doll. Thank you.”

You could see that he meant it. You knew he would be happy. You could also see the familiar fire burning in his eyes that you’d seen the other two times you had been pregnant. Nothing put him in a perpetual state of constant arousal than knowing he had been successful in knocking you up. The guy had a serious breeding kink but truthfully, so did you. Which had worked in both your favor twice now (Ellie hadn’t been planned, not officially anyway). You knew exactly what he was talking about with the hands thing, though, because you usually wanted your hands on him some way a lot of the time and even more so when you were pregnant. Which is why the next ten to twelve hours were going to be beyond difficult, especially if Ben was intent on teasing the crap out of you. But you had no choice but to get through it.

“You’re welcome, baby.” You quickly kissed him and then stepped away, taking his hand in yours and intertwining your fingers. He went to speak when you held your free hand over his lips. “Don’t. Elena and Maggie are visiting Elena’s father today. It’s a two hour drive, each way. We’re not calling them.”

His shoulders slumped slightly and he frowned in disappointment.

You couldn’t help but laugh at the pout staring back at you. “We can do this. Tonight, you’ll have me all to yourself and as a Father’s Day bonus, I will call Elena tomorrow and see when she’s free.” You shot him a wink and just as you’d hoped, the dirty smirk was back on Ben’s face. 

“Hope she’s free for the next two days because you won’t be,” he growled and playfully slapped your ass again.

“Uh huh. We’ll see. Now, seriously, we’ve got two other kids waiting for us and they’re excited to give you their gift. What do you say we go in there and see what they made you?”

He stopped short. “They made me something?”

“Yep,” you confirmed, leading him out of the bedroom. “They worked really hard on it, too.”

“It’s not going to be some fucking cheap shit from Ellie’s school, is it? Something I’ll have to hang on the fridge and pretend to like every time she’s in the room?”

You dropped his hand and swatted his arm. “Ben! Don’t be such an asshole,” you hissed. “Your daughter loves you and you should be honored if she did.”

“I know she does but that fucking hippie school she’s in doesn’t.”

“It’s a perfectly good— No, you know what? I’m not doing this with you again.”

Ben slowed half a step and his eyes immediately glued to your ass. “Good because I’d rather be doing something else with you again, doll. You have no idea how fucking hard I want to ride you right now. Love that ass.” 

You ignored him and his chuckle when you hurried your steps before the predictable slap could happen and silently flipped him off before entering the living room. The girls glanced up, their young faces brightening when they saw Ben appear behind you.

Ellie and Lilli both held up a sign they had made touting Ben as the Best Daddy Ever. “Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!”

“Best Daddy!” Lilli yelled.  

And just like that, Daddy Ben was back, grinning wide and gathering his girls up in his arms when they ran over to him to give him a hug. You watched with a smile as Ellie read something she had written in class with her teacher’s help about her daddy being her hero. You pretended you didn’t see Ben’s eyes glistening for a brief moment. You held a hand over your mouth to contain your laughter when Lilli handed him a drawing she made him that had lines and all sorts of shapes in different color markers. He barely kept his expression in check.

“Uh, what’s this, Princess?”

“Daddy!” Lilli pointed to the picture and beamed. 

Ben’s eyes briefly snapped to yours and you crossed your arms, arching your brows expectantly. 

“I love it, Princess,” Ben told Lilli. “I can’t wait to hang it up on the fridge. But you know what I love even more than this drawing?”

“What?” 

“You,” he growled before picking her up and covering her face in kisses, making her giggle. Ellie rushed over and threw herself on his back, hanging from his neck. He carried them over to the couch and started tickling them. Their giggles were loud and their joy apparent, and Ben’s laughter was deep as they attempted to tickle him back and smother him with their own kisses and hugs. At one point, he managed to glance over at you and you gave him a warm smile before turning to leave. 

“I’m going to finish up breakfast for Daddy. Do you girls want pancakes or waffles?”

“Both!” Ben and Ellie answered simultaneously, making you laugh and the girls giggle again. You quickly looked back over your shoulder and it didn’t surprise you in the least to find Ben’s eyes trailing after you or when he said a moment later, “Girls, I think we should go keep an eye on Mommy. You know she can’t be trusted near any open flames. What do you say?”

“Yeah!”

“Mommy!”

You rolled your eyes at his open flames comment but your smile also grew; you knew what he was up to. Sure enough, after you had set Ellie and Lilli up with easy tasks and you were mixing the pancake batter, arms wrapped around you from behind and warm hands rested on your stomach. Ben buried his face into your neck, your skin being softly tickled by his beard. You reached a hand up to run your fingers through his hair and he let out a small sigh, hugging you even tighter. 

Eventually, you had to move away to wash your hands and check on the girls, but he went with you. He only broke away to flip the pancakes for you and handle the waffle iron so you wouldn’t have to. When you were pregnant with Ellie, that kind of overprotectiveness used to drive you up a wall but by this pregnancy, you were used to it. It made him feel better and it helped you out; that was fine by you. 

When you all sat down at the table to eat, he pulled you into his lap, ignoring your glare, and dug in. While you all discussed what to do for the rest of the day, you felt Ben’s hand back on your stomach, his fingers gently caressing the area. When he said something that made the girls laugh, you smiled. This was your family, right here: the two beautiful little girls who watched their father with such adoration as he talked, the man who was currently rubbing your stomach and winking over at you with that smirk, and the little one inside you who you all would meet in the next year. As you took it all in, you couldn’t be more thankful for breaking out of the Vought fold and seeking out its spurned OG superhero when you did. You wouldn’t be sitting here right now if you hadn’t; none of you would be. Your hand gently covered Ben’s and it prompted him to look over at you. You leaned down to place your forehead against his, closing your eyes with your smile in place as you felt him place a kiss on your nose. More than thankful. 

A/N: Sequel coming soon...

[morgana-larkin]

Alright, here's part 5 of 'Just Tired'. I have to say that I was very happy and surprised that someone asked me when this was coming out and it made my entire week so I want to thank whoever sent that! I just have to that in this part, shit gets real. Not edited in the slightest and I hope you like it!

On another note: I seem to have reached my limit of amount of links I can add to a post so I'm splitting up my Melissa fics. I'm splitting up the one shots and the series fics.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24 Part 25 Part 26

Just Tired - Part 5

Warnings: Manipulative relationship, swearing, two small masturbation parts

Words: 2.6k

You look down between your legs and see a mess of red hair as she eats you out. You feel all the sensations she’s giving you and you can’t help but moan out her name.

“Melissa, right there.” You say breathlessly and she looks up at you and you both lock eyes. You feel as you get closer and closer to an orgasm, you’re right at the edge. Melissa goes to do one more suck on your clit and then your eyes snap open. 

You look around, breathing hard and realise that you’re in your room. Once you regain your senses you notice that it was your alarm that awoke you from your very pleasant sex dream of you and Melissa. You honestly didn’t know that you’d be having sex dreams about her but she’s just that captivating to you, who knew you’d like stubborn fiery women but it honestly doesn’t surprise you. You shut off your alarm and then you feel wetness between your legs and sigh. You get up and hop in the shower. You bring back memories of the dream and give yourself an orgasm in the shower.

“Second orgasm I’ve had to give myself because of this woman.” You mutter to yourself as you try to control your breathing. You then quickly get ready, grab your things as well as your helmet and head out the door.

Melissa is lying awake in bed, she didn’t get much sleep last night as she realises that she might be developing a crush on you. She hears her alarm go off and she quickly goes to turn it off and then goes back to staring at her ceiling for a couple minutes. She then gets up and goes in the shower. She lets the hot water pour over her and she takes a few deep breaths. Even though she might be developing a crush, she can never act on it as she’s married to Joe, even if she’s slightly tempted to act on it.

She then starts trailing her hand down in between her legs and finds her clit. She starts circling it and she lets out a moan at it feeling so good, better than if Joe was doing it. Melissa closes her eyes and feels how good it feels, how she feels her orgasm building quickly. She leans on the shower wall and keeps feeling the pleasure build until she’s right at her peak. Suddenly you flash in her mind and then her orgasm rushes through her. She takes a few seconds to catch her breath and then she realises what happened and she covers her mouth.

“No no no. I can’t have feelings for someone else.” She mutters and grabs her hair. Then a few tears stream down her face and she covers her eyes with her hands as she cries for a good minute “It’s just all the compliments, it’s just nice to hear them, that’s all. I love Joe and I’m his wife, and that’s the way it is.” She mutters and then a thought comes to her. “The damn bastard who hasn’t given me a compliment since I married him.” She says and throws the bar of soap at the wall out of anger. “If you won’t give them to me then I’ll get them somewhere else.” She says as she calms down. She then finishes her shower, gets ready and gathers her things before she hears a knock at the door.

“Hey Mel-” You start to say before you see her outfit. She’s wearing her iconic black leather pants and a green shirt that may be too inappropriate for school.

“Cat got your tongue?” Melissa says with a smirk. 

“Don’t you think that shirt might be too low for school?” You ask her and she shrugs.

“I’ve worn it to school before.” She tells you and then she winks at you before she walks to her car. “Come on, let’s go.” She says and gets in her car.

“It might be too low for school but it looks really good on you.” You tell her after getting in and she smiles at you. 

“Thanks hon.” She says and then drives you both to work. “So what have you got planned with your kiddos today?” She asks as starts driving to school.

“Oh so much fun. They’re gonna do a family portrait, whatever that looks like to them and they’re gonna present it to the class.” You say excitedly.

“That does sound like fun, and what would your family portrait look like?” She asks and you look at her.

“Oh, I’m not doing it, I’m not a great artist.” You tell her and she can tell there’s something more.

“Not all the kids are either but they’ll still have fun doing it, so can you.” She says and you look down and Melissa glances at you. “You don’t have to tell me about your family but if you want then I’m all ears and maybe I’ll even throw in one question that I’ll have to answer.” She says and you look at her.

“What question?”

“Whatever question you want to ask me.” She says and you look at her.

“You said maybe, so that’s not a certainty.” You say and cross your arms.

“Alright, you can ask one question that I have to answer if you tell me about your family.” She tells you and you think about it.

“Ok deal.” You say and hold your hand out. She quickly shakes it when it’s safe to do so. “My family wasn’t great.” You start with. “They’re religious and they didn’t support me when I came out. They tried to get me to be straight, to be normal, but I kept fighting with them everytime. The day I turned 18 I moved in with a friend and went to school to be a teacher. I was able to make enough money to move here with that roommate and I never heard from my parents after I left them.” You tell her and she quirks an eyebrow.

“And after all that you’re still…sane?” She asks and you chuckle.

“I’m able to be myself, that’s what keeps me sane. If I’m not able to be myself then what’s the point of being me?” You say and Melissa looks everywhere but at you for a good 30 seconds as she thinks about what you just said. 

“That’s a good point.” She finally says and you hum.

“Ok, now I get to ask my question and I know exactly what I want to ask.” You say and turn to her. “You might not like it though.” You add and she gives you a weird look.

“Alright, what is it?”

“You said you married Joe because you love him, but why are you still married to him when he doesn’t treat you as he should?” You ask her and she furrows her eyebrows and her jaw drops.

“What?” She asks.

“Do you really not see it?” You ask her and she stops at a red light and looks at you. 

“See what?”

“Out of everything you’ve told me and what I saw on Saturday, he’s not nice to you.” You tell her bluntly and she looks away as the light turns green.

“You’re wrong, he loves me.” She says and she gulps.

“Is that what you keep telling yourself?” You ask, really pushing it as she turns into the parking lot of the school.

“What are you really asking me?” She tells you angrily.

“Why are you married to someone who doesn’t treat you like a queen?” You ask plainly and her eyes widen in shock. “You’ve told me he doesn’t touch you, apologise when he should, or even compliment you.” You add and you see her continue to just stare at you in shock. “You never told me he doesn’t compliment you but with the way you take compliments when I give them, I figured that part out myself.” 

“I don’t need all that stuff to have a happy marriage.” She simply says and then gets out of the car and you follow her.

“Melissa, I might be overstepping… a lot, but what I saw on saturday, it looks like…well, like manipulation.” You say to her face and she looks in your eyes and sees no lies.

“What? I’m not being manipulated.” She says and looks taken back.

“That friend I mentioned who I moved in with when I turned 18, she was in a manipulative relationship without knowing it but another friend of hers found out and helped her and she told me all about it.” You say and she sighs. “It’s easy not to see it because manipulators are good at making the victim think they’re in a loving relationship.” You tell her and she walks away from you and into the school.

“I don’t want to hear another word from you for the rest of the day.” She tells you as you catch up with her. “Got it?” She asks and points a finger at your chest.

“I’m sorry if I overstepped but I’m worried about you.” You tell her.

“Worrying about me and having some sort of crush on me are two very different things.” She tells you and continues walking to the break room.

“What makes you think I have a crush on you?” You ask her and she looks at you, rolls her eyes and scoffs.

“You’re very obvious, kid.” She says and then enters the break room.

Everyone else is able to sense some sort of tension between you and Melissa as soon as you both enter but everyone is smart enough not to bring it up, due to two of them fearing Melissa and the other one thinks it’s too early to be solving anything right now. Barb ends up stopping you in the hallway after you bring your kids to the caf and she drags you to her classroom.

“Barbra, what is it?” You ask her as soon as she closes her door.

“What is going on between you and Melissa?” She says, straight to the point.

“Nothing.” You tell her and she gives you a look that says ‘really?’ “Ok, I may have said some things to her on the way to school that maybe I shouldn’t have.” You say and don’t look her in the eye the entire time.

“What did you say to her?”

“May have mentioned she might be in a…manipulative relationship.” You tell her and look down. “I saw her and Joe on Saturday and it was so clear that she’s in one.” You defend yourself and you hear Barb sigh.

“She is in one.” She confirms and you look at her.

“What?”

“I’ve known her since the very start of her marriage with him.” She says and sits in her chair. “I tried to get her to see it but she’s stubborn and she kept defending him.” She tells you.

“How do we help someone who’s in one, especially when they don’t know it?” You ask her and she looks at you.

“From what I read, drop hints and hope they’ll figure it out.”

“I just dropped the biggest hint of all by telling her plainly and she still can’t see it.”

“Give her time, Melissa is smart but incredibly stubborn and I know it’ll be on her mind. You planted a seed in her mind.” She says.

“I planted a seed but she doesn’t want to speak to me.”

“People in these relationships get defensive as they don’t want to see the truth. She’ll forgive you one day.” She tells you and you sigh. You then get up and open the door and see Melissa there about to knock.

“Melissa!” You say in shock and her jaw drops and just stares at you. Barb looks at the door and sees the two of you just staring at each other for a few seconds.

“I came to see Barb.” Melissa tells you softly and you nod before you walk around her and go to the break room.

“I guess it’s advice day today.” Barb mutters as Melissa watches you walk away. “What is it, Melissa?” She asks her and Melissa snaps out of her trance and goes into Barb’s classroom.

“I saw you weren’t in the break room so I brought your lunch and I want to talk to you anyway.” Melissa tells her and hands Barb her lunch. 

“What did you want to talk about?”

“Y/n said the craziest thing to me this morning. She said I was in a manipulative relationship with Joe.” Melissa says and scoffs before looking at Barb.

“And what’s the issue?”

“Well it’s crazy, I think I would know if I was being manipulated, much less my husband.” Melissa says and paces around the room.

“Do you even know the signs of manipulation?”

“No, what for?”

“How would you know you were being manipulated if you don’t know the signs?” Barb asks her and Melissa freezes.

“Hang on, it sounds as if you’re on Y/n’s side in this.” Melissa tells her.

“Melissa, there’s no sides here, we’re just looking out for you to make sure you’re happy.” Barb tells her carefully.

“Well I am happy so there’s no need to look out for me, unless you're so unhappy in your marriage and you’re looking to take down a happy marriage to make yourself feel better.” Melissa snaps and then storms out while cursing in italian. 

Melissa ends up not speaking to anyone for the rest of the day and blatantly ignores you while she drives you to her place. Whenever you try to talk, she turns up the music and sings, you just gave up after a few attempts and looked out the window.

“Get your damn bike and you can bring yourself to work tomorrow.” She tells you while not looking at you and then enters her house while slamming the door.

You let out a sigh before you go get your bike from the backyard. You roll it out, put on your helmet and then ride home. Melissa watches you from the window as you take off on your bike and she lets out a breath before she throws her sunglasses across the room in anger.

“For fuck sake!” She yells out before she just collapses on the couch. She was starting to open herself out to someone and they’re just trying to tell her what to do. She then thinks that you never told her to do anything, simply stating a worry, Barb too. Why would they both be worried she’s in a manipulative relationship when she’s not? Then she remembers what Barb says about signs and she gets her phone out. She then googles what the signs are in a manipulative relationship. “This will definitely prove I’m not in one and it’ll show them.” Melissa mutters as she clicks on a site and reads them out loud. “Gaslighting, passive aggression, silent treatment, love bombing, guilt tripping, isolation, threats, with…withholding affection, triggering insecurities, confusion, lying and blaming, blame shifting, frequent apologies to the manipulator.” She reads outloud and then she looks into each of them. 20 minutes later she looks up from her phone with a few tears running down her cheeks. She then stand up, grabs a pillow and begins to hit the couch with it over and over again. “SON A FUCKING BITCH!”

Taglist: @esposadejoyhuerta 

@imaginesmultifandoms 

@idonothingalldays-blog 

@sexysapphicshopowner 

@dvrkhcld 

@lilfartbox1

@ricejucie 

@unicorniusfallapatorius

@a-queen-and-her-throne

@sleep-deprived-athlete

@og-kxsh-420

@sasheemo

@midnight-lestrange

@dashbag-art

@morgananyx

@schmentisgf

@cblanchetts

@that-october-night

@schemmentigfs

@italianaidiota

@ambessas-doll

@ankhsta

@olderwomenenthusiast

@ackleybloodybridge

Let me know if you want to be added!

[mrsfudd]

Beuckers does it best-Part 4

warnings: arguments

      2 weeks later

We were about half way in me and Paige's little one month agreement and it was going great. We haven't had sex yet but something tells me it's coming soon. She takes me on 3 dates a week, small and big. They were all amazing. I had at least 7 of her hoodies now and she was slowly building a collection of my clothes. We slept together most nights except the ones where she had games. Since her and the team like to go out, I just chill at home with Sarah. Even when we are separated it never feels like it, we text and facetime 24/7. The only problem about us is that barely anyone knows about us and we are stuck in this dumb "talking stage". 

"Y/N, are you here baby?" Paige called out as she walked into her dorm.

"Hi bae, how was practice" I said stretching. 

"Good, but it's better to be back here with you" Paige said as she pulled me in by my waist and gave me a deep long kiss. 

"I missed you" I said in between kisses. 

"Hmm I missed you more baby" Paige said while picking me up, holding me by my legs and butt. 

She carries me over to the bed, puts me down and is now towering over me. She starts kissing me as she climbs on top. Paige starts to feel me up. Then her phone rings. 

"Hold on mama"'Paige said while getting up. 

" P-paige please" I said while trying to grab on her. 

" Patience baby" Paige said as she chuckled at my needy tone. 

All month its been patience this and patience that, I understand waiting is good but Paige doesn't understand that I have needs. She such a tease. I cant stand it. Ill admit in the beginning it was kind of hot but know Im seriously touch deprived. 

"Who was it" I asked with a slight attitude. 

"KK and the girls, we are going out to lunch for team bonding." Paige said while looking for a hairbrush. 

"Oh, okay." I said crossing my arms, I saw Paige give me a quick glance. Thank god some attention. Now I needed her to do was follow through.

"Whats this attitude mama, Ill be gone for 2 hours at most. Whats the problem?" Paige said. 

I just suck my teeth and get on my phone. Paige rushes over to me, slaps my phone out my hand, and grabs my neck. Yes Paige, this is exactly what I wanted. 

"I know what you're doing Y/N, cut the fucking attitude before you do something you regret". Paige said sternly. 

Me and Paige spend so much time together that shes studied all my body language. 

                                 6 hours later.

Paige is back from hanging out with the girls and is checking up on some homework and Y/N just got back from all classes. 

"Sarah, you here?" I yell out, I cant stand Paige right now. 

"Hey Y/N, I missed you girl, you've been at Paige's for days" Sarah said

"I think I forgot that relationships thrive on being able to be apart. If I miss her too much I only have to take a step. She'll be fine for a night." I said to Sarah. 

Sarah looked up at me and gave me a smile then blew me a kiss. She knew she had taught me well. 

She knew the freshman me who would cling onto any girl she met. Sarah helped me have healthy relationships and I needed to remember it's no different with Paige. 

 It was 11 pm and I had a morning class. I texted Paige goodnight with a red heart.

                                     8:45 am 

I woke with Paige holding me. 

"Paige, what are you doing here" I groan. 

"I couldn't even think about falling asleep without you by my side Y/N, don't pull no shit like that again." Paige said while rubbing her eyes.

I wasn't mad, I was honestly relieved. It shows that Paige feels the exact same as me. Paige got up and we both decided to shower together. I got dressed and headed out for my class while Paige stayed in bed. 

                                        4:02 pm

After all my classes, me and Sarah had caught lunch together. Now I was back in my dorm with Paige. 

"Baby what have you been doing all day, you've been in bed all day" I asked Paige. 

"Nothing mama, it's my day off. Im lucky to be able to spend it in your presence." Paige said even though her eyes never left her phone.  

"Paige what are you looking at?" I said while jumping on her. 

It was me. She was making a collage of all our pictures together. 

"Aw Paige, whats this for" I ask. 

"Nothingg, we just look so good together." Paige told me.

I knew she was up to something.

[boybandbaby]

The Sweet Escape Part I

911 AU (Prince!Evan Buckley x Fem!Baker!Reader)

series masterlist

word count: 2283

warnings/tags: mention of death/character death, toxic parents, forced/arranged marriage, implied misogyny, buck 1.0 behaviors, cussing, eventual non-friend (wouldn’t say enemies) to friends to lovers, reader’s kind of mean, reader has a grandma

note: this is a mini series I’m working on, sorry for any royal inaccuracies

─── ⋆⋅ ☾⋅⋆ ─── ⋆⋅ ☾⋅⋆ ─── ⋆⋅ ☾⋅⋆ ───

Like clockwork, every morning you packed a box full of fresh baked bread and loaded it onto your vespa for delivery to the Buckley Palace. For many years, your grandma’s bakery, The Finest Flour, provided a daily drop off to the palace of a variety of breads and pastries.

Each morning at 6am, you traveled the short but grueling distance up the path to the royal gates. Almost every day, weather permitting, you made it to the gate at 6:15am. You were let in after a small security check where you would meet the Queen’s secretary. She would greet you with a kind smile and guide you to the kitchen's back door that led you down into the basement kitchen. After setting all the items on a small display board, you would bid the cooks goodbye and wish them luck on their day.

You began delivering at the age of 15 after your mother had died. Your grandmother asked you to take over the task before you went to school. Now at the age of 24, you have mastered the routine. The only thing that got in your way most days was Evan Buckley, third child, second son to the King and Queen. He was never supposed to be in the kitchen to begin with but as a young, rambunctious child, he would often neglect his royal duties and explore all areas of the castle.

During your teens years, he would annoy the shit out of you by moving a loaf of bread you had spent minutes placing just right. The Queen had instructions on which baked goods could touch others and at what angles she wanted them on the display board. You could never decide who was more annoying, the Queen or her son. After many years of dealing with the Buckley's, you decided it was the Queen.

When you turned 18, Evan went off to college which left you in quiet silence while you worked. You’d never admit it out loud but you missed having someone your age to talk to. By talk, you mean debate and argue with. But then when Daniel unexpectedly passed two years later, Evan dropped out of school to prepare for his future duty as King.

After the mourning period, Evan, now known as Buck to his friends (which he always said you were but you beg to differ), would stop by the kitchen to see you. He had grown into his personality, still wild and reckless and very outgoing.

Over the years, he gained a reputation of being a ladies man. He also became more flirty and cocky around you. This is when your dislike for him truly began. Deep down, you know it was because you had a crush on him but on the surface you were disgusted with his behavior.

You tried to avoid looking at him or even saying a word to him when you did see him but he always got under your skin and pushed enough buttons to get you to speak.

Today, as you make your way into the kitchen and to your surprise, Buck's sitting on the table, eating an apple and talking with his mouthful to the head chef, Bobby. When he sees you, he smiles wide and wipes his chin of the juice dripping down.

“What are you doing here?” You groan as you place your box of goods onto the table. “Shouldn’t you be off somewhere being an ass?”

“What? I can’t be an ass in here?” He smiles, nudging Bobby. Bobby shakes his head before going back to cooking morning breakfast. 

“Haven’t seen you in a while, figured you got yourself into some trouble.” You shrug before grabbing a pair of gloves and the wooden board you always use for your display. 

“Missed me or something?” He grabs a pair of gloves and begins handing you items from the box as you place them on the board. You hate how helpful and sweet he's being.

“I wouldn’t say all that.” You roll your eyes. “Can’t you go bother someone else?”

“He’s already bothered me to my limits, it’s your turn now y/n.” Bobby chimes in.

“Hey! I don’t bother you. I’m just trying to learn how to cook, you know when I have a future partner, I’d like to be able to cook them a nice warm meal.” He defends.

“You? With a future partner?” You fake gasp. “That would mean you’d have to keep it in your pants long enough to keep someone around.”

“I keep it,” he emphasizes the ‘it’, “in my pants, alright?”

“Okay, sure.” You scoff. “Bobby, I brought an extra danish for you and Athena. Hope that’s alright.”

“That’s great, thank you.” He smiles. “You want me to make something for you and your grandma to go?”

“No thank you, we had bagels this morning. Maybe tomorrow though." You smile and wave, tossing the gloves into the trash.

“You’re not going to say goodbye to me?” Buck smirks, following you up the stairs and out of the kitchen’s back door. You roll your eyes again before grabbing your helmet off the seat. Buck steps forward and grabs the straps before you can. 

You know you should slap his hands away, take a step back, even yell at him but you don’t. You make eye contact with him as he pulls the strap under your chin. He clicks the lock into place and runs a thumb along your chin. His eyes flicker from your eyes to your lips then back up. “You’re welcome, y/n.”

You blink before stepping back, nearly knocking your bike over. “Whatever, Buckley. Don’t break any hearts today.”

He laughs before he walks backwards back to the kitchen, hands clasped behind his back. He watches you drive off and thinks how badly he wishes it was tomorrow morning already. When he reenters the kitchen, Bobby gives him a pointed look. 

“What?” He asks, offended at the look. 

“Don’t get any ideas, Buck.” Bobby sighs, watching as Buck grabs a croissant off the display.

“What?” Both Buck and Maddie yell. 

“We think it’s time that you find a wife. You’re about to turn 25, Evan.” His mom says in a soft voice.

“He’s hardly ready to be a husband.” Maddie defends.

“What does that mean?” Buck asks her.

“Nothing Buck, I just think you’re too young to be married.” Maddie rubs a hand on his back. “Look at my first marriage, I was young and believed I was in love and things turned out bad. I’m not saying that will happen to you. I just want better for you, I want you to marry someone you love, not someone who just comes along or who is forced upon you."

"Bad is an understatement, Maddie." Buck rests his elbows on his thighs and dips his head between his arms, running his hands through his hair.

“In a few years, he’ll be King and it’s time to start preparing for that day. If you find a wife now, it’ll take less stress off of you later.” the Queen approaches him and raises a hand to his cheek, lifting his head. “You’re in your prime, Evan.”

“He’ll find a wife. And soon.” The King finally speaks. “We’ll have a ball, you’ll go and by the end you’ll have picked someone we see fit for the role.”

“So, really you’re choosing who I marry then?” Buck nearly growls.

“If that’s what it takes to get the job done, then yes. End of discussion.” His parents turn to leave the room and exit without another word.

Maddie and Buck are stunned in silence, even more so when hours later, they’re informed invitations have been sent for a ball happening in three days.

Buck knows there’s no going back now. There’s no changing the course of his life after this. The girl he wants can barely stand him and if there’s anyone he wants at the ball, it’s you. Did you even get an invitation? Would you even want to come?

He’s always liked you, even through the hookups and small town rendezvous, you’ve been in his mind. For a while you weren’t in the front, shoved deep down and far back but still in his mind nonetheless. It’s a shitty thought, he thinks. To shove someone as special as you to the back burner while he slept with random girls. 

You could never like him though. To him, you were too good.

Pushing his thoughts to the side, he decides to take action. After changing out of his attire and into something more casual, as casual as he’s allowed, he grabs a bag and slings it around his chest.

Just as he’s exiting the palace, he hears an all too familiar voice. “Where are you going, Buck?” 

“Just going for a stroll in the garden.” He slowly turns around to face the Sergeant of the Royal Guard.

“Nice outfit.” She points out. "This is a interesting path to take to the garden."

“Thanks, figured since it was a nice day, I’d double down on my attire. Well, I’ll see you around.” He waves, giving a close lipped smile.

“Hold on.” She holds a hand up. “Where are you really going?” When Buck opens his mouth, she stops him. “The truth this time.”

“I was just going to go into town. Only for a moment.” Buck pleads with her.

“You know, you’re not allowed to leave the palace. That’s the rules.” Athena raises an eyebrow.

“Please, I’ll be back within the hour. I’m going down to the bakery. That’s all.” He tries to give her puppy eyes. It works.

“Take Eddie with you.” She sighs and turns her back. Buck smiles triumphantly before he heads off.

“Okay, so your plan is to invite y/n to the ball and magically get her to fall in love with you so she can be your wife and future queen?” Eddie laughs as they walk down the stone path into town.

“When you say it like that, it sounds crazy.” Buck shrugs, “I mean essentially that would be the best case scenario.”

“And worst case?” Eddie nudges his side.

“She doesn’t come and I’m forced to marry someone I don’t know.” Buck groans. “Ugh, this is the worst! My parents are literally the worst. I don’t understand why they won’t let Maddie and Chim take over. They love Chim.”

“Your parents are old school.” Eddie raises a brow.

“I wouldn’t say old school.”

“Well, I was trying to be nice about it but yeah old school isn’t the term I should use to describe them.” He laughs. “Come on Buck, we’re almost there and these boots are killing me.”

A few minutes later, you hear a bell ring signaling a new customer. “Welcome in!” You shout from under the counter, that dang coin you dropped is somewhere around here.

“Hello, would you like a sample of our new chocolate banana loaf?” Your grandma’s soft voice says from above you.

“That sounds great, thank you!” You hear his voice. You peek just over the counter to see Buck and his best friend and bodyguard, Eddie enjoying the sweet treat. 

It’s only a moment before your grandma recognizes Buck. “My apologies sir.” She begins to curtsy. 

“No need for that grandma, he isn’t king just yet.” You roll your eyes, slipping the coin into the register. “Didn’t bother me enough this morning, you just had to come to the bakery?”

“Y/n!” Your grandma scolds you, slapping your arm lightly with a hand towel.

“She’s right, no need to curtsy for me ma’am.” Buck smiles sweetly. “But y/n actually, you do have to bow to me. And that’s an order.”

“In your dreams, Buckley. Are you going to order or just stand there looking stupid?” You rest your elbows onto the counter.

Eddie snorts a laugh before meeting Buck’s eyes. “Go!” He whispers, hands at his sides but one of them rapidly moving back and forth, urging Buck to invite you to the ball.

“Actually, I came to invite you to the ball this weekend.” Buck steps forward.

“And why would I go to that?” You cross your arms over your chest, shifting your weight to one leg.

“It could be fun.” Buck shrugs, going shy. “We don’t hang out as much as we used to. Figured you could be my guest.”

“Hang out?” You laugh, “We,” You point between the two of you. “Have never hung out. I go to your home for work while you get to play around and do nothing all day. We, Evan Buckley, are not friends.”

“Y/n, that’s enough.” You grandma scolds. 

“That’s okay, ma’am.” Buck coughs. He pulls an envelope out from his bag. There’s tension and awkwardness in the air mixed with the smell of cinnamon and sugar. “Well, in case you change your mind.” He steps forward to slide the envelope on the counter. “Thank you for the sample.” He smiles at your grandma before dropping his head down, chin to chest. 

He exits with his tail between his legs before Eddie bows at the hip to you both, then follows after him. You hear the bell above the door ring and then your grandma sighs. “Was that necessary?”

“Grandma-” She shakes her head and heads to the back. You close your eyes, frustrated and annoyed and now stressed about your grandma's disappointment. You take one peek at the envelope before shoving it into the front of your apron. 

Whether it’s the sad look on Buck’s face or the insistence of your grandma, something tells you to open it. You’ll decide later on when you can clear the thoughts in your head.

─── ⋆⋅ ☾⋅⋆ ─── ⋆⋅ ☾⋅⋆ ─── ⋆⋅ ☾⋅⋆ ───

next part

[rinniessance]

BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE ༊*·˚ - leon kennedy x fem!reader x satoru gojo

leon kennedy has been announced mia after 24 hours of no contact. high brass doesn't care that you only came back from a mission a day prior, injured no less. when you're dispatched to spain, the last thing you expect is to get a special kind of rescue mission.

this is my entry for @rinhaler's gaming collab - MASTERLIST 🎮

꒰ warnings: nsfw - mdni .ᐟ.ᐟ resident evil au. kind of following the plot of resident evil 4. aphrodysiac sex, unprotected sex, pet names (it's my staple <3), oral sex (f receiving), slight dacraphyllia, squirting, two dicks in one hole, cream pie. forgive me if i forgot any tags ໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১ // word count: 5.8k ꒱ ꒰ notes: we love pure self-indulgence in this house .ᐟ.ᐟ tagging @mymegumi and @lilacliliess because they support my delusions about fucking two blue eyed men:3 ꒱

it’s been uneasy 24 hours in the D.O.S headquarters – ever since leon kennedy stopped responding to any attempts at communication, he’s been announced MIA this morning. given the sensitive mission of retrieving president’s daughter, the urgency to dispatch someone for another rescue is being pushed by the high brass, sending everyone on a search to find an agent capable enough of handling the job. as it turns out, out of dozens of people working in this forsaken organization, you’re the only one qualified.

“are you shitting me, hunnigan? i just came back from the mission last night. did you not see the stabbing wound?” for dramatic effect, you raise your t-shirt, showing freshly bandaged area where the deep cut resides. coming into the work this morning, the most stressful part of your day was expected to be the tons of paperwork you would’ve had to go through – yet as soon as you stepped into your office, you were greeted by leon’s handler, bearing the news from your superiors.

“sorry, you know it’s not up to me. whatever the president says goes.”

“are there literally no one else in this entire building who can be ordered to go instead?”

slumping over your desk, you put your head on top of your folded arms – it takes everything in you not to scream. your own mission was already problematic enough: bioweapon developers have become exceptional in making new B.O.Ws deadlier and deadlier, and knowing leon’s resume, there is a very high chance he was sent to deal with the worst of it.

“you’re one of the few partners kennedy has had while working for D.O.S. you know how he operates; it makes sense they are sending you.”

you know there is no point in arguing – if it’s been decided by the president, you have no choice but to go. it doesn’t mean, however, you can’t be irritated by the whole situation.

“do i at least get paid overtime?” you sign with exasperation, sulking deeper into your chair, hearing hunnigan let out a breathy chuckle.

“maybe if you bring golden boy’s ass back in one piece.”

“great. can i at least go home and make sure i didn’t leave the kettle on or something.”

“you’re not getting out of it, agent,” she says with a smile, and you can only groan. leon will be paying for all your meals for the next 6 months. “the helicopter is already waiting, actually, so you better gear your ass up and head to the helipad.”

“more amazing news.”

hunnigan only pats you on the shoulder – nothing she can say will make this situation suck any less – and leaves the room, letting you wallow in your misery.

“can you just fucking die already?” you yell in pure annoyance, trying to shoot the same person for the third time (you aren’t sure you can call these things human anymore). when the creature finally goes down, hopefully once and for all this time, the view in front of you is grotesque: hideous tentacle sprang out of the poor man’s head when you shot him between the eyes; it keeps moving, taunting you to waste more of your ammo. still holding onto your gun, you cautiously approach the body, slightly poking it with your boot – it doesn’t stir anymore. a sigh of relief escapes your lungs.

“just what the fuck is going on here,” you quietly mumble to yourself, looting any useful items nearby.

you arrived in spain this morning. surprisingly, leon made it easy enough to retrace his steps – he stopped by the local law enforcement which in turned let you know two of their men also went missing after they escorted kennedy to the area of interest. no one volunteered to come with you once you acquired the location of the small village somewhere north of here – apparently people have been going missing in the mountains for a while now – which was fine by you. everything you needed was the car you could use, and you were on your merry way.

in your 5 year long career as a government agent, the kind working in anti-bioweapon divisions, you’ve seen a multitude of… monsters, for lack of a better word. nothing could’ve prepared you for what you’ve witnessed when you arrived at your destination though: villagers turned into something sinister, creatures with no will of their own. you noticed it right away: their bulging veins pulsing with black viscous liquid, eyes shadowed with madness. what a surprise it was that when you finally started shooting them (hey, they started it), mandible-like limbs, shape closer to tentacles, with eyes growing out of them, erupted from their dead bodies, as if a swarm of crazy cultists wasn’t already enough.

you quickly glance at the still convulsing body on the ground, parasitic tendrils clinging onto their last living seconds; just looking at it makes you want to vomit. the smell of puss, heavy in the air, doesn’t help your desire to empty the insides of your stomach. you do not know what causes them to mutate, and you make a note to avoid any unknown substances – you also log a mental check not to get bitten by one of them (just in case).

after escaping a village, getting access to this stupid castle trying to find stupid stupid leon kennedy (you’re sure that what s. in leon s. kennedy stands for), you overheard some of the cultists talking about two prisoners on the basement level. leon and ashley? the goal now is to figure out how to get to the basement (and why does it always have to be the basement).

with careful precision, you finish analyzing the room you found yourself in – it’s a storage space of some kind, and nothing about it is particularly helpful to you. letting out a deep sigh, you sit down to re-collect your thoughts. wandering around this castle with no purpose will only stall you further – and time is something you do not have luxury of wasting.

just as you were about to get up from the chair, you knee bumps into something underneath the table. bingo. you quickly try to search for a keyhole or a puzzle piece to fit in to open the hidden compartment. but the gods are smiling down on you today – it only takes a simple click of a lock for the secret drawer to unlatch. before opening it, you stand to the side (the gunshot wound would mean deaths of all parties you’re trying to get out of here), and slowly push it forward with the knife.

“no way.”

the gods are smiling down on you– inside the drawer you don’t find a loaded shotgun, a poisonous smoke or anything else aimed at taking you out. instead, you find yourself looking at the map. something akin to relief makes your hands tremble as you unfold the treasured piece of paper, looking at the building blueprints, as fresh as if this was drawn yesterday.

tracing the way down to the basement level, you try to decide the easiest and shortest way. some of the rooms might require a key, deducting it’d be smarter to stick to the main rooms which are less likely to be locked. shoving the map back into your side bag, you reload the gun and slowly leave the room, looking for any signs of being followed. making sure the coast is clear, you start your way down.

leon, you better be still fucking alive.

leon wakes up from another torturous nap. he doesn’t know how long it’s been: could be 2 days, could be a week. to keep his sanity, he keeps trying to count the meals they bring them, figuring out the passage of time. why is salazar even feeding them? they’d worth more to him dead.

“good morning, sunshine.”

leon groans as soon as he hears the voice coming from his side. he doesn’t need to turn his head to know that satoru gojo is, despite the circumstances they found themselves in, still smiling.

“god, do you ever stop talking? they should starve you,” leon sighs heavily, and leans against the wall. his arms hurt – they have been cuffed to the ceiling this whole time, and the constant chatting from his unwanted companion makes this situation ten times worse.

“oh, common, don’t you have faith in your government? or you’re not important enough to rescue?”

“i might not be but the girl definitely is.”

it seems to shut satoru up, even if for a moment. his comments did make leon wonder if the headquarters organized the search party yet – more time they spent here means more time for the cult leaders to complete whatever it is they want with ashley. him and satoru have been infected with las plagas parasite too, their time is running short.

sighing deeply, gojo also slumps against the wall. both men can feel… whatever they were infected with moving inside their bodies, crawling their way into their brains. satoru is not sure what makes him and leon so special, but no signs of any infection have been visible yet. he wonders if it is a waiting game now: waiting for the moment they start losing their minds. what a sight that would be.

just as he was going to make another comment about their current predicament, both agents hear gunshots coming from the hallway, just outside the prison cells. blood curling screaming follows, rippling through the air, the unknown person emptying their clip into the guards until the room is engulfed in the oppressive silence.

to leon’s great surprise, and a great relief he must admit, it’s not a crazed guard running through the doors this time around – instead, two locked-up agents are met by your face. you hold your gun out, hand outstretched in front of you, ready to shoot the last remnants of the infected. it’s only when your gaze meets leon’s and you don’t identify any immediate danger, the gun is lowered, and you are rushing towards the cell.

“holy shit, it’s nice to see a familiar face,” leon cannot help but smile at the sight of you standing outside the cell bars, trying to break the lock.

“you won’t believe but the feeling is mutual. one too many mutated cultists, and even i started missing your ugly mug,” you throw back, returning his smile. your eyes move to gojo. “who’s that?”

“his partner.”

“no one.”

two men say that in unison, exchanging a heated glance afterwards.

“okaaaay,” you drawl out, “i don’t really care, you can bicker later. what we need to do it we need to get the fuck outta here like right now.”

you rush to uncuff the men with the keys you stole form the guards you shot earlier, and wait until they are able to push themselves on their feet.

“i am satoru gojo,” mysterious blond introduces himself properly, and extends his arm. you shake his hand and mumble your name back. you don’t know why but he makes you nervous.

“okay, all formalities for later. both of us are infected with that new plaga parasite, we need to extract it immediately,” leon interrupts the intense staring contest you entered with satoru, making you snap your attention back to him.

“well, then you’re in luck. i passed something that looked like a laboratory on the way here. it’s not too far either, only one floor up.”

“okay, great, no time to waste.”

kennedy steps out the room first, you and gojo following close behind. you’re on full alert – it doesn’t matter that you just took half of the castle down, somehow, new infected keep popping out like bunnies out of woodwork. it doesn’t take long the three of you to reach the desired destination, lab laying just behind the door straight off the stairs.

you cautiously look inside – no one seems to be here. after entering the room, you stand on guard while satoru and leon are looking for anything that might look like the cure. it seems that gods are smiling once again on you today because leon is able to find the last two vials of the vaccine sample. you have never seen him grinning so widely – it would’ve been almost heartwarming if not for the grim circumstances all of you ended up in.

before they can inject themselves with the medicine, the door swings opened and you’re thrown into the shelf, located on the opposite side of the entrance. multiple bottles with unknown substances fall on top of you, one of them breaking and infusing the air with a white powder. before you realize what happened, you inhale the mysterious concoction, immediately bursting into a coughing fit.

“fuck, are you okay?” leon yells your name somewhere from the side, and you try to wave him off. gojo is distracting whoever rammed through the doors, shooting the gun you presented him back in the prison cell. it takes exactly three more headshots for the mutated cultist to drop dead, and you’re pushing yourself off the ground and back on your feet. satoru is eyeing you suspiciously – you’re too busy brushing off your clothes and getting your breathing in order to notice.

“common, jab yourselves with the vaccine and let’s go, we have no time to lose,” you say with coarse voice. leon is also looking at you with worry but decides not to mention anything. both men inject themselves with the medicine, hoping and praying it’ll work, before rushing out of the doors and back on track to find ashley.

running through the corridors of the castle, you can feel yourself getting weaker – there is a sheer layer of sweat covering your spine, goosebumps are dancing on your skin, and a very familiar heat is pooling between your legs. your head feels heavy, you’re barely able to string two coherent thoughts together so you resort to slowly trailing after two men who haven’t stopped arguing about the next course of action.

“i don’t care what you came here for, satoru. i have my rescue mission that still needs to be completed,” leon sighs heavily as he pushes through the heavy doors into the next room.

“sure,” the other blond man quickly agrees, “but don’t you think you government would say ‘thank you’ if you helped securing the source of this outbreak?” gojo questions as he follows leon through the doors. you want to weigh your opinion in but before you can open your mouth, as you cross the threshold of the room, you trip on your own feets and send yourself flying towards the floor. the loud bang makes both men turn their attention back to you.

“god, are you okay?” leon’s by your side in mere seconds, supporting you by the elbow so you can get up. the waves of his body heat wash over you, and you want nothing more but to curl into his body and kiss the spot underneath his jaw. has he always been so handsome? you’re so concentrated looking at leon, you don’t notice satoru standing near you now. he touches your forehead, and it takes all of your willpower not to moan. fuck, his cold hands feel so nice on your feverish skin.

“shit, she’s burning up.”

“you think it’s because of whatever substance she inhaled back in the lab?”

“i don’t know, everything’s possible.”

two agents move you to sit on the table in the corner of the room – they can clearly see how foggy your eyes are, a layer of milky mist dancing across your vision – and leon’s fingers find your pulse point. this time, you are not fast enough to stifle the low whine that escapes your lips. at any other time, you’d be dying of embarrassment but now your body is begging for release, and you’re ready to do anything to get it. anything to soothe the ache building up in your throbbing clit.

“’m so hot…” you mumble as you start taking off tactical t-shirt, baring your sports bra to the two men in the room. “and it really hurts.”

satoru and leon look at each other before they look at you – kennedy will have to work with you in the future so he’s really trying not to look at your perky nipple, shape visible through the fabric, unlike gojo, who’s taking in your current condition with almost sick satisfaction.

“where does it hurt?” satoru asks before leon is able to butt in. as if wanting to confirm his suspicion, you take his hand and guide it to your sex, cupping it.

“here.”

leon is not even able to react before gojo is lunging forward and capturing your lips in a bruising kiss, making your head bang slightly against the wall. you let yourself moan into his mouth, satoru greedily claiming all the sounds to himself. it’s not nearly enough to pacify your accelerated heartbeat, but it’s still making you shudder. you’re spreading your legs to accommodate gojo’s tall frame – but before he is able to move any closer, he is thrown back by leon; loss of his warmth makes you whine.

“what the fuck do you think you’re doing?” kennedy hisses through his teeth, moving away from you and towards gojo.

“what does it look like? don’t pretend like you don’t know this is exactly what she needs right now,” satoru spits back. you think they continue arguing but their voices are being drowned out by the ringing in your ears. heat spreading through you sets everything on fire, and your pants join your t-shirt somewhere on the floor in your desperate attempt to relieve yourself of this scorching feeling. your partner notices it and sharply turns to face you.

“what the hell are you doi-” before leon can finish his sentence, you wrap you legs around him and press your body into his.

“leon, please…” you sob, hot tears pooling in the corners of your eyes, beads of salty water wetting your eyelashes and blurring your vision. hearing your pathetic plea, voice thick with lust and desire, looking at your tears-stained face, mouth slightly agape, and watching your lips, red and messy from satoru’s kiss, glistening in the moonlight – everything about you now screams ruin me and leon is not a strong enough man to resist it.

“what are you asking me to do, sweetheart?” he whispers against your lips in a teasing tone. his switch is almost jarring but you don’t have the brain capacity to mull over his sudden mood change. he moves his hand between your legs now, touching your pussy through your panties. leon’s fleeting touch is sending shivers down your spine, and you culr yourself into him more, whining and panting against his mouth. “jesus, she’s so fucking wet already.”

“i told you, didn’t i? she needs someone to stuff her full of cum,” satoru’s dirty talk comes somewhere from the side. too distracted by leon’s deep blue eyes, gojo’s touch makes you tremble in surprise and turn your head towards him. looking at his face, you’re met by baby blues – it felt like being thrown from the ocean into the endless skies. you think men with blue eyes will be the death of you.

gojo leans down to capture your lips again, re-exploring the sacred geometry of your kiss, while leon is planting wet kisses along your jawline. you mewl in euphoric pleasure, their touches soothing to your burning skin, and you’re completely giving yourself away to the bliss rolling over you in waves. leon’s digits are teasing your clit through the fabric of your panties, and your hips instinctively buck into his hand, making him chuckle into your neck.

“she’s dripping, gojo. i bet she can take both of us unprepped,” leon says to the other agent, still busy with sucking on your lips, invading your mouth with his tongue. at his words, you shiver under men’s bodies, tingling sensation rushing through you.

“i want you in my lap, pretty girl,” satoru whispers against your lips, and you jump off into leon’s arms so the other man can sit on the table first. you move to climb on top of gojo, legs on either side of his thighs, ready to ride him, but your partner’s strong arm stops you from turning around.

“nah-ah, let him hold you spread open for me, i want to taste you first,” leon breathes against your ear, teasing the sensitive spot, making you quiver in his hold. you turn yourself towards gojo and see him grinning as he beckons you with two fingers to come closer. when you end up in his arms, he spins you around, his chest to your back, and makes you sit between his legs on the table, opening you up.

satoru’s masterful fingers unclasp your bra with ease while leon makes a quick work of your panties, shoving them into his pocket, unbeknownst to you. who knows how your relationship will work out after this – he needs something to remember this moment by. you are now sprawled completely naked for the two men’s hungry gazes: your cheeks are flushed, mouth shaped into a perfect “o”, short breaths escaping your lungs – you are truly a sight to behold. gojo wastes no time in cupping your breasts with his hands, trailing his lips on the side of your neck, sucking in hickeys as part of his claim.

kennedy gets on his knees in front of you, looking up into your eyes. gojo’s fingers are playing with your hardened nipple, making your hips buck upwards – right into leon’s mouth. his first languid swipe of the tongue comes just as satoru pinches your sensitive nubs, and you cannot help the pornographic moan escaping your lips.

“jesus, doll, who knew you’d sound so pretty,” it’s gojo’s voice against the shell of your ear, making you shudder. one of his hands keeps massaging your boob, twisting the nipple between his digits, while his other hand goes all the way down and spreads your folds for leon’s easy access. he hums in appreciation, and starts flicking his tongue up and down, drawing tight circles on your clit, sucking on it when he feels your legs tighten around his head.

agent’s movements make you squirm in satoru’s hold, dropping your head against his shoulder as leon continues eating you out. you’re absolutely incoherent now – your fever never dropped so your muscles are aching, toes curling in anticipation of the long awaited release, as you continue moaning through quick breaths.

“finger her.”

leon follows gojo’s command immediately, shoving his middle digit inside, while still lapping at your pussy. your walls clench against him almost instinctively, intrusion sudden but not unwelcome – he groans feeling the embracing heat of your cunt.

“fuck, she’s so fucking tight.”

gojo keeps your legs spread, you trying to close them around leon’s head as he keeps up his assault with his tongue. he’s nibbling on your clit, putting extra pressure with the tip of his tongue, licking it back and forth in quick succession, before flatting it to lick between your sticky folds, all the way down to the drooling hole. leon adds a second finger now, setting up a merciless pace – he is curling his digits in a heavenly way, able to hit the soft, spongy spot inside that makes you see stars and your pussy throb; you gasp loudly.

“i wish we had a phone to record this. you look so divine.”

you clench at gojo’s words, making leon groan. he’s now playing with your tits, rolling your nipple, tugging at them to add the painful sensation to the lit-up nerves. your desperate moans are bouncing among the walls, and gojo decides he wants to hear the squelching sounds of your pussy around leon’s fingers and his tongue’s wet sounds as he sloppily eats you out so he shuts you up with a kiss.

you feel your tummy begins tensing up as two men continue their ministrations: it’s satoru’s hot mouth on yours and his hands squeezing your tits, fingers playing with erect nipples; it’s leon’s tongue lapping at your pussy, precise circles on your clit and his digits scissoring you at a perfect speed, hitting the nerve bundle that rushes to send you over the end. your legs start shaking and you grab onto satoru’s arm around you to ground yourself.

“nnggh-…” you whimper into gojo’s mouth, and he finally lets you catch a breath. “’m so close,” you sob again, “’m gonna cum.”

“yeah, you want to cream all over agent kennedy’s face?” satoru taunts you from behind. “that’s so unprofessional,” he makes a tsk sound with his mouth and squeezes your cheeks to look at him.

“we’re feeling generous today, i think,” he quickly throws a glance down at leon, who only smirks as his tongue keeps licking and sucking at your clit. satoru looks you straight in the eyes as he slowly drawls his next words, “you may cum.”

the orgasm washed over you in glorious waves, rattling your entire existence. you’re scrunching your eyebrows, mouth agape with a sinful moan, as your thighs clasp around leon’s head. you’re quivering in gojo’s hold, his hands forcing your hips down, pressing them more against kennedy’s face. the latter doesn’t stop his onslaught, lips suctioning around the throbbing pearl, fingers still curled at earth-shattering angle. you try to move away but neither man lets you.

“uh-uh, where are you trying to run away? let him drink everything.”

and everything does leon kennedy drink – agent is lapping at your juices like a kitten at a fresh bowl of milk, now substituting his digits with his tongue as he keeps fucking in and out of your needy cunt. ministrations don’t stop, not even when your moans turn into little sobs as your body starts feeling overstimulated. your puffy clit is now ruined from satoru’s finger pads playing with it.

both men can feel your form shaking almost violently, gojo’s gathering your falling tears with his tongue. leon’s finally pulling his face away from your sex, standing up to look at your ruined state.

“god, i only ate her out and she already looks fucked out,” he chuckles to the other blond man, and moves to stand between your legs.

“let me taste her,” before you can react, gojo’s grabbing leon by the back of his head and capturing his lips in a heated kiss. trapped between a rock and a hard place, you can do nothing but observe the most passionate display of carnage you’ve ever witnessed – they were slobbering over each other’s faces, and it made your pussy clench around nothing. god, you can’t wait to fuck them both.

“she’s sweet, just how i like them,” satoru smirks against leon’s lips, turning his attention back to you immediately. “common, princess, you’re going to have to ride me if you want both of us.”

you’re quickly climbing on the table, straddling him. kennedy situates himself right behind you, warmth radiating off him like in suffocating waves. you’re trying to unbuckle satoru’s jeans to free his heavy cock, still trapped in confines of his boxer briefs, but leon smacks your ass, sending you forward into gojo’s embrace. it stings, the outline of his hand already forming a bruise, and you’d be mad if you pussy lips didn’t flutter at the slap.

“you’re taking too long, sweetheart,” you hear satoru, both men undoing their belts and zippers before you can, pulling out their leaking cocks. from your position you could only see satoru’s hard dick as he stroked himself near your aching hole, but what you’ve seen was enough to make you almost scared – gojo’s dick was long and blessed with a perfect curve, just upwards, one thick vein running prominently from the bottom of his shaft ending just before his mushroom head. you’re sure leon’s looked just as pretty.

“you haven’t said a word. you wanna ask nicely for what you want?” you hear leon behind you as he’s pushing you forward again, right into satoru’s chest, and teasing your waiting cunt with his thick tip – the mixture of his spit, your slick and his precum is dripping down satoru’s cock from where he’s positioned just underneath you, and the messiness of it all makes leon groan.

“please, i want your cocks inside me… please,” you sob out again, vocal cords heavy with tears.

“i think this will be our reward for saving us, how about that, huh?” there is a teasing tilt in satoru’s voice, and you grab at his shoulders, mewling like a needy animal in heat.

“yes, yes, anything,” you’re blabbering with teary voice, making men hard at the mere image of you: a capable agent reduced to a cock-drunk slut, an image that makes their cocks twitch.

leon grabs gojo’s member, giving it a couple strokes, surprising the white-haired man but hearing no complaints. his thumb is playing with the drooling slit of his tip, beads of pre-cum decorating the entrance to his flushed dick, and kennedy can’t help but smirk at how blissed out satoru looks. he’s guiding his heavy and red cock inside you, while his other hand rests on your waist. gojo’s forcing your hips down while bucking his up, and he fills you up in one long thrust.

“ah!” you cry out, biting your lip to the blood, metallic taste in your mouth almost overwhelming on top of the mix of pain and pleasure burning through your body. you’re whimpering into satoru’s mouth, while his hand is running soothing circles on your back.

“here you go, such a good fucking girl. taking me in so well, huh? all it took is one thrust, so perfect,” he’s blabbering against your skin as he starts sinking in and out of your sloppy hole. looking down, you can see the bulge in your tummy, and it makes you purr – you not only feel him splitting you in two, you are able to witness it. his reddened tip is meeting your cervix in a bruising kiss, and god, he’s making you fell so good.

you’re so lost in the rapturous sensation of gojo’s huge cock pushing against your gummy walls, you don’t notice leon’s presence behind you – he is grabbing your hips with one hand while his other is jerking his dick, prepping himself to enter you. his tip is near your whole when you finally realize what’s he’s trying to do.

“no! no, it’s too mu- ah!” he doesn’t let you finish before he start pushing himself inside, sliding alongside satoru’s heavy member, making the man grunt.

“fuck, feels so tight and warm,” you hear behind you as kennedy sets a punishing pace, sheathing himself into your abused hole. they are stretching you out to heavens, leon looking at your gaping cunt with pride. it’s fluttering and clenching around their huge cocks, your walls spasming in pleasure as their lengths are grinding against your soft spots. you can hear your pussy queefing, and the filthy sounds of skin slapping against skin add to the dirty symphony.

“ngg, ngg- feels so, so goo-” you’re unable to finish your sentence as they keep bouncing you on their cocks, manhandling your body however they seem fit. you’ve never felt so full – both men keep drilling into you, like you’re no more than their little personal toy to play with. satoru grabs you by the back of your neck, biting at your lips, sloppily making out with you, while leon grabs your hair, forcing you back on his dick.

you can feel both cocks twitching inside you, approaching climax evident by their shallow breathing, moans hitching at every thrust of the hips. your walls are tightening around their cocks, and men’s whimpering and groaning is sinful to listen to, yet they are determined to make you climax first.

“common, gorgeous, cum around our cocks,” gojo hoaxes from underneath you. leon pushes your hips even closer into satoru’s body, your clit now grinding against his pubic bone, and it’s making you teeter on the edge of your bliss.

your bladder feels pressure you’ve never experienced before as gojo’s cock pressing against it from a perfect angle. leon is digging his fingers into the plush skin of your ass, rutting in and out of you, pushing against your back walls. all of your nerves are on fire, exploding fireworks in your brain, sending all your pleasure receptors into the overdrive. as your second orgasm washes over you, you’re left trembling in the men’s arms, leon’s chest against your back, your sweaty tits against satoru’s broad front.

“that’s a good girl, look at how cock-drunk you are,” you can hear them chuckle between themselves, not slowing down for a second. leon can see the white creamy ring enveloping the base of his cock in a soft embrace – it’s making him lose last of his slipping composure as he starts thrusting extra hard, thus speeding gojo up.

you bounce like a rag doll on top of gojo, having no semblance of control, being completely used by two agents. the pressure in your bladder comes back, and you throw your head back – your body continues quivering uncontrollably as you start sobbing again, tears drawing salty rivers on your cheeks, result of your body riding into stimulation. before you know it, something warm and so fucking wet starts gushing out of you. you want to look down, but men react first by groaning, voice impossibly thick with lust and awe.

“fuck, baby, didn’t expect you to squirt this much. so fucking filthy, i bet you waited to do this the whole time,” gojo grunts from underneath you, and you can only purr in response. it only takes couple more thrusts before leon and satoru synchronize their orgasms, shooting the ribbons of cum inside your womb, painting it pearly white, fucking it in warm and cozy. the squelching sounds ricocheting among the walls are nothing but sinful, and your cheeks flush red from the realization of what just transpired.

as both men pull out of your abused, stretched out hole, the combined mixture of all the fluids trickle down your thighs, making you groan in disgust. now that aphrodisiac has been fucked out from your system, you can’t even bring yourself to look them in the eyes. you hurry to pick up your clothes, but your legs give out underneath you – you’d end up flat on your ass, if not for leon who caught you mid fall.

tension in the air is palpable, electricity dancing on your skin is able to set everything on fire again. you’re ready to break the silence when satoru speaks first.

“you know, kennedy, next time you want to touch my cock, you don’t need to bring a woman between us.”

he leaves the room before either of you are able to force a reaction, and you wish you’d left both of them for dead instead.

© rinniessance do not steal, plagiarize or translate my works. do not recommend me on tiktok, thank you

[ssweeterthanfiction]

Wait for your love.

content warnings (for the whole series): mentions of drugs and alcohol, age gap, gaslighting, billy being TOXICCCCC, mentions of suicide/suicidal thoughts, mental health issues

↳ currently playing ;

Midnight's Regrets - 1978

1:56 ——————•———— 3:24

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In July of 1978 Y/N made her reappearance.

Y/N: "I was gone for about a year." "And for the first 6 months, I was focusing on getting myself together. I got clean and started writing again." "I was slowly putting together a small album. I had told myself that if I wrote about change and forgiveness, I could heal." "I had heard...rumblings that the band was preparing to release a new album, but I had tried to stay away from the media." "That was until this...one interview came out." "I forgot...who was interviewing the band, I just- I remember being on the phone with one of my friends and I had the radio on. It was just playing in the background, but then I heard a familiar voice." "I told my friend that I would give her a call back. So I hung up the phone and turned up the volume on the radio." "It was Billy. He sounded...drunk. Really drunk. And- I wanted to stop listening, but the minute he brought up my name, I couldn't." "He called me selfish. Said I used him. That I didn’t care about the band, that I just wanted to be bigger than all of them." "He said it- he said it so cruelly. And the worst part was that some of the fans believed it." "I- I didn't know how to react. I was just- angry." "Here he was calling me selfish and say that I used him, while in reality, he put me through so much."

Her voice shakes, and she takes a deep breath before continuing.

"And then, as if that wasn’t enough, a month later, I see pictures of him in a magazine with some girl who looked like me. Like, exactly like me." "It hurt. It really hurt. All those times that he told me I was replaceable, that he told me that I was just another pretty face and that he could have any girl he wants, it all felt- it all felt real when I saw those pictures."

Karen: "Oh, the lookalike? Yeah, we all noticed it. It was... unsettling, to say the least."

Graham: "We told him it was weird, but Billy being Billy, he brushed us off. Said we were imagining things."

Warren: "Nah. That wasn’t imagination. That was some next-level shit."

Y/N: "At that point, the album I was working on? It wasn’t about forgiveness anymore. It wasn’t about love or hope. It was about him. About the anger, the betrayal, the heartbreak. About every time he let me down and every time I let myself believe he wouldn’t." "I didn’t want to make an album that just said, ‘This is what you did to me.’ I wanted to make one that screamed, ‘This is what you’ll never do to me again.’" "The funny thing is, I didn’t write it for him. I wrote it for me. But I knew he’d hear it. I knew he’d know. And I wanted him to feel every single word."

  🎶 .·:*¨🎶💋🎶¨*:·. 🎶

You were at a radio station to make your first step back into the spotlight, everything was ready to go. You just hoped that he would be listening.

You watched the show host stop the music to speak into the mic, "And now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a very special guest with us tonight. This guest has been out of the spotlight for about a year, and now she's back to tell us what's been going on in her life" "Please, give it up for Y/N L/N!"

The sound of applause fills the studio as you slide into the chair across from the host, offering a small, nervous smile

"Y/N, welcome back! I have to say, a lot of people have been wondering where you’ve been and what you’ve been up to. So, let’s start there. How are you feeling?"

"I feel..good. I’ve been focusing on myself, my health, and really just trying to find myself again."

"Well, you’ve certainly been missed. Your fans have been waiting for this moment for a while now. What made you decide to step back into the spotlight?"

"Honestly, I think it was time. I needed to disappear for a bit to figure out who I was outside of everything else. But I missed making music, missed connecting with people. It’s why I started in the first place. So, here I am."

"So...I hear that you have a special announcement for us, something you've been working on while you were gone."

You laugh, "Ah yes! Um...this is something very special to me. And I'm so excited to everyone to listen to it. So my brand new album, Midnight's Regrets will be in stores...tomorrow at midnight."

"An album? Wow you must've been busy while you were gone! Is there anything you can tell us about it?"

"Midnight’s Regrets is…probably the most honest thing I’ve ever written. It wasn’t the album I originally set out to make....but sometimes life takes you in a different direction. It’s raw, it’s vulnerable, and it’s everything I needed to say."

"Now is there....anything or anyone that inspired this album?"

"It's...really just about the past few years."

"Well, I can’t wait to hear it, and I’m sure your fans feel the same. Y/N, thank you for joining us tonight. It’s so good to have you back!"

"Thank you! It feels good to be back."

  🎶 .·:*¨🎶💋🎶¨*:·. 🎶

Karen: "We were in the studio just hanging out and we heard her voice. Billy told Graham to turn up the volume and everything just went quiet."

Graham: "Billy tensed up when she said she was releasing a new album. Like visibly tensed up."

Warren: "Nobody said anything for a while. It wasn't until the lookalike came in...."

Eddie: "No one liked the lookalike. She was rude, entitled, and just nothing like Y/N. Honestly I don't even think Billy liked her. He was just using her to fill Y/N's spot. Which was still fucked up."

Daisy: "Billy left with the lookalike for a while. This was normal he'd leave with her, they go and probably hook up and then she'd come back attached to him. Warren bet Eddie 20 bucks that he was gonna break up with her. Eddie bet 40 against it." "When he came back this time...the lookalike was nowhere to be seen."

Warren: "I asked him where she was...And then he mumbled something like 'she's gone'." "Eddie slipped me my 40 a little while after."

Y/N: "I walked out the the interview with my stomach in knots. I was so nervous for the release, I really was. I was nervous about how people you react to it, I was nervous about what the press would say..." "And I was nervous about what Billy would think of it." "I remembered how I felt listening to Aurora. I was just...in shock and in awe because it was the best album that the band created." "I was just hoping Billy would have a similar reaction to my album."

Eddie: "We all stayed late at the studio that night. We ordered pizza, Warren ran out to get beers and soda, and then at exactly midnight on the dot, Teddy came in with two vinyls." "He placed them both on the table and said 'Listen to the one on the right first' and then he left."

Karen: "Billy was just, staring at them, he didn't move. So I grabbed the first one and opened it."

Y/N: "I wrote a sort of prologue to be put on the inside." "Midnight is the hour where everything feels raw. The highs, the lows, the moments you wish you could forget but never do—they all come alive under the quiet of the moon. This album wasn’t supposed to exist the way it does now. It was going to be a story of forgiveness, love, and second chances. But life has a way of rewriting your narrative for you." "These songs are a reflection of everything I’ve carried: the heartbreak, the betrayal, the anger, and, most importantly, the resilience. They’re not just about what happened to me—they’re about what I refused to let define me." "I wrote this for anyone who’s ever felt shattered and wondered if they could ever put themselves back together. I promise, you can. I promise, you will." "And to the one who broke me: I hope you’re listening. Because I always have."

  🎶 .·:*¨🎶💋🎶¨*:·. 🎶

As Karen finished reading the prologue, a haunting silence took over the room. She carefully placed the record on the player, the soft hum of the start up began to play. Taking the tracklist in her hand, Karen read from it, "First one is...How to disappear."

The soft beat of the song filled the room, then her vocals came in.

"It sounds like her older stuff" Graham says.

A hum of agreement went through the room.

Then the next track began to play.

"Happier Than Ever," Karen says.

The soft strumming of guitar filled the room, it was angelic sounding. Billy didn't say anything, your voice sounded gentle, almost a whisper, as sing about being happy alone, about finally finding yourself. But then the shift happens.

"You call me again, drunk in your Benz. Driving home under the influence. You scared me to death, but I'm wasting my breath. 'Cause you only listen to your fucking friends."

Everyone went quiet.

"She fucking went there" Warren whispers to Eddie.

They all looked over to Billy who was looking down, his hands balled into fists.

"'Cause I'd never treat me this shitty. You made me hate this city. And I don't talk shit about you. Never told anyone anything bad. 'Cause that shit's embarrassing, you were my everything. And all that you did was make me fucking sad."

Billy's thoughts were swirling, he felt a mess of regret and anger, not towards you, but towards himself. He treated you like shit, and now he was hearing how you truly felt.

 The track ended with the sound of crashing drums and a wailing guitar, leaving the room in a tense, suffocating silence. Before anyone could speak, the next track started, immediately shifting the mood.

The upbeat melody of 'love is embarrassing' filled the room.

"Loser who's not worth mentioning. My God, love's embarrassing as hell"

"It's catchy" Warren says, smirking drumming his fingers to the beat.

Before the group could fully process the last track, the next one began. The smooth, upbeat sound of 'Read your Mind' filled the room. 'Feather' had the same effect.

Karen tilted her head, listening closely. "She’s experimenting. This is different from anything she’s done before."

"I bet you those two will be the ones that the radios pick up." Eddie says.

Graham looks over at Billy, "Billy, you good?"

He doesn't say anything, he just grunts and nods.

As the next track begins to play, everyone had expected it to be another pop song, but nothing would prepare them for the whiplash of what was about to play.

The track opened with a slow, deliberate rhythm, a distant, echoing sound that seems to pull everyone’s attention into the quiet before your voice cut through the tension. It’s raw, soft, yet layered with emotion.

Karen’s face tightens as she listens, and she glances around at the rest of the group. Eddie's usual smirk is gone, replaced with a furrowed brow.

"Fell in love for the first time. With a friend, it's a good sign. Feelin' off when I feel fine. 21 took a lifetime. People say I look happy. Just because I got skinny. But the old me is still me and maybe the real me. And I think she's pretty."

Warren, who had been tapping his foot along to the previous tracks, suddenly stops and sits up straighter, the weight of the song sinking in. "Shit…" he mutters, his voice barely audible. "This one’s…heavy."

The song continues, and the production swirls around your voice, adding layers of echoing distortion, mirroring the chaos and confusion in the lyrics.

"I never did you wrong. And my, my patience is gone. And I, I never did you wrong. I loved you for so long"

The song begins to fade out, leaving an unsettling quiet in its wake. No one speaks immediately. Everyone is still processing the shift, the unexpected vulnerability.

The next 5 tracks, vampire, pretty isn't pretty, making the bed, the grudge, and logical, are like a punch to the gut for Billy.

"You can't love anyone, 'cause that would mean you had a heart"

"I could change up my body and change up my face. I could try every lipstick in every shade. But I'd always feel the same. 'Cause pretty isn't pretty enough"

"Another day pretendin' I'm older than I am. Another perfect moment that doesn't feel like mine. Another thing I forced to be a sign."

"And I doubt you ever think about the damage that you did. But I hold onto every detail like my life depends on it. My undying love, now I hold it like a grudge. And I hear your voice every time that I think I'm not enough"

"'Cause loving you is loving every, Argument you held over my head. Brought up the girls you could have instead. Said I was too young, I was too soft. Can't take a joke, can't get you off"

Every word, every line, every lyric, it hit Billy. He hurt you, badly. And now everyone would know how badly he did.

The room was silent.

Graham moved to the record player and stopped it. "Maybe we should take a break." he murmurs.

Billy shakes his head, "No- no let it keep playing," he says as his voice cracks.

The opening notes of 'Clean' began to play. It was vulnerable like the last few tracks, but it felt more hopeful.

"It sounds clean...does that make sense?" Warren says, hoping to lighten the mood.

"Ten months sober, I must admit. Just because you're clean, don't mean you don't miss it. Ten months older, I won't give in. Now that I'm clean, I'm never gonna risk it."

The words strike a chord in Billy. He knows there's a double meaning. You're sober, you're clean of drugs, but you're also clean of him.

The sparkling beat of 'Bejeweled' then filled the room, everyone’s heads snaped up, and for the first time in a while, there’s a slight tension breaking in the air.

  🎶 .·:*¨🎶💋🎶¨*:·. 🎶

Karen: "While we were listening to the album...I think we were all just a bit worried with how Billy would react to Better Than Revenge."

Warren: Laughing "Yeah, I mean, I knew it was coming. You can't hide something like that forever."

Daisy: "Y/N asked for our help. She needed something that felt raw, something real. We couldn't say no to her."

Eddie: "I think we would've gotten away with it if Billy didn't have such a good ear."

Graham: "The minute it started playing, I knew he knew. I mean open a song with Warren playing drums? That's a giveaway automatically."

Warren: "What can I say? I didn’t hold back." he grins "If she needed something to match the fire, we gave it to her."

  🎶 .·:*¨🎶💋🎶¨*:·. 🎶

As the song blasts through the speakers, the energy in the room shifts. The aggressive drums hit, then the guitar riff, and Billy’s jaw clenches as he hears your voice.

"He’s not a saint and he’s not what you think. He’s an actress, He’s better known for the things that he does, On the mattress."

Billy’s eyes narrow, his fists tightening at his sides. The words feel like daggers. But it’s not just the lyrics. The way the song sounds, the drums, the guitar, the bass, everything. He knows that sound.

He grabs the lyric book and flips it open.

Track 14- Better Than Revenge.

His eyes scan the page, and there on the bottom of the page Graham, Warren, Eddie, Karen and Daisy are credited as part of the production of the song.

"What the hell is this?" he says, throwing the booklet onto the table. "You guys helped her with this?"

The room goes quiet, the song continuing to play in the background.

"She came to us Billy. She asked for our help." Karen says.

Billy's voice rises, sharp, accusatory and a little hurt. "And none of you thought to tell me?"

Eddie steps forward, arms crossed defensively. "We promised not to."

Billy scoffs, "You all took her side. You didn’t even think about how this would make me look."

"This wasn’t about sides, Billy. It was about making sure she didn’t feel alone in this. You had your chance to make things right, and you didn’t." Karen says, glaring at him.

"I didn’t-" Billy starts, but Warren cuts him off.

"You didn’t do anything, man. That’s the problem. You're getting mad over what? The fact that she come to you?" Warren says, "You hurt her, you can't expect her to come to you for help."

The song fades out, leaving a tense silence in its place. Billy was fuming. But he couldn't find it in himself to leave.

The final song on the first vinyl began to play.

Billy sat back down and took the lyric booklet back into his hands, track 15- Out Of The Woods.

The sound was different, everything about this whole album was different.

"The rest of the world was black and white. But we were in screaming color."

Billy began to really listen to the lyrics, the way you described everything was so...perfect. Like he could really picture everything.

Graham speaks up. "She’s not pulling punches Billy, she’s not out to destroy you. She’s trying to make sense of it all. Of you. Of herself."

"To move the furniture so we could dance. Baby, like we stood a chance. Two paper airplanes flying, flying, flying. And I remember thinking."

"It’s not just about the bad, is it?" Billy murmurs, his words just loud enough so they could hear him.

Daisy shakes her head, "No, it’s not. It's about the good, the bad, the messy in-between. She's just telling what you guys had."

The final chorus plays, "Are we out of the woods yet? Are we in the clear yet?" echoing over and over again, sounding haunting and hopeful all at once.

  🎶 .·:*¨🎶💋🎶¨*:·. 🎶

Daisy: "When we finished the first record...it was just quiet." "We were all feeling different emotions." "But I have to say, I was fucking proud of her. She- she took something so horrible and turned it into a masterpiece."

Karen: "We were confused why there were two different vinyls, but after Graham took a closer look at the jacket of it, we realized the second one was the deluxe version of it."

Graham: "On the inside of it, it said there were 4 additional tracks. So I took the first one off and then put the second one on." "I sat back down and read the song titles...and I knew we were in for another ride."

  🎶 .·:*¨🎶💋🎶¨*:·. 🎶

Nobody speaks, they only listen. And the lyrics, once again, hit Billy like a fucking bus.

"Cause you kiss me and it stops time. And I'm yours, but you're not mine…"

Billy rubs his face with both hands, his fingers tugging at his hair. Everything rushes back, the whispered promises, the unspoken words, and all the ways he let her down. He slams his hand against the armrest of the chair, his frustration barely contained. "Jesus Christ."

"Why'd you have to make me love you? I said, 'I love you.' You say nothin' back."

This hits Billy like a freight train.

"She's- She's making me seem like the bad guy!" he scoffs, "After I wrote Aurora for her- after I poured out my entire heart on a fucking album for her!"

"Billy, shut up and listen to the lyrics!" Daisy shouts, "You fucking hurt her! You only wrote Aurora because of the fact you hurt her! She's allowed to feel how she wants to! She's allowed to feel angry! She's allowed to feel sad! So just- listen to her lyrics!"

Billy finally shuts up. He leans back in his chair and the next song starts up.

The echoes of 'Is It Over Now?' fill the room. And then...

"You dream of my mouth before it called you a lying traitor. You search in every maiden's bed for something greater"

"When you lost control. Red blood, white snow. Blue dress on a boat. Your new girl is my clone"

"If she's got (y/c) eyes, I will surmise that you'll probably date her. You dream of my mouth before it called you a lying traitor. You search in every model's bed for something greater"

"I was hoping you'd be there. And say the one thing. I've been wanting. But no."

Billy's head was now in his hands again. His heart feels like it's sinking to the bottom of his chest, his mind spiraling with thoughts of all the mistakes he made. And then before he could fully collect his thoughts, the next song starts playing.

While the opening notes of 'I Wish You Would' started to play, Billy's heart skipped a beat.

"I wish you would come back. Wish I'd never hung up the phone like I did. I wish you knew that. I'd never forget you as long as I'd live. And I wish you were right here, right now. It's all good. I wish you would"

"I wish we could go back. And remember what we were fighting for. Wish you knew that. I miss you too much to be mad anymore. And I wish you were right here, right now. It's all good. I wish you would"

"We're a crooked love. In a straight line down. Makes you wanna run and hide. Then it makes you turn right back around"

"You always knew how to push my buttons. You gave me everything and nothing. This mad, mad love makes you come rushing. Stand back where you stood. I wish you would, I wish you would"

Billy’s chest tightens as the final line rings in his ears. He wishes, too. He wishes he could take it all back, wishes he could undo the damage he caused. But hearing the lyrics, hearing your regret, he knows it’s too late for that. You're not coming back, not in the way he wants. The realization washes over him, leaving him feeling hollow inside.

But then the sparkly distorted intro of 'Karma' starts playing.

"This is the last one" Graham says as he reads off the vinyl jacket.

It was a catchy song, similar to 'Bejeweled', it had that glittery sound.

Billy knew it was another song directed towards him, but when he heard "Cause karma is my boyfriend" his heart sunk.

Boyfriend.

Boyfriend?

A wave of jealousy, mixed with deep regret, crashes over him, had you moved on?

The song keeps going, and with every line, Billy’s heart breaks a little more.

“Karma is the guy on the screen. Coming straight home to me.”

He could hear the smile in your voice, he could hear how happy you were. He was happy you were happy, but he wanted you to be happy with him.

The song ends, and Billy looks at everyone.

"So...guess she's moved on." he says.

"We don't know that Billy" Graham says, "She could've just- written it because it rhymed or something..."

Billy shakes his head, "No...that's not like her. She doesn't just write out lyrics for nothing."

Graham looks over at Billy, his expression filled with a mixture of concern and frustration. "I’m just saying, man, we don’t know for sure. We don’t know what’s going on in her head. She could be trying to move on, or she could just be putting her feelings into music. You can’t take everything in her songs at face value."

Billy scoffs, rubbing his hands over his face, trying to scrub away the frustration that’s been building up for hours. "No, Graham. I’ve been around long enough to know when she’s really saying something. And she’s saying something. She’s telling me, loud and clear, that she’s moved on."

"She’s telling you that she’s moved forward, not necessarily on. There's a difference." Daisy says in a defensive tone.

"Moved on- moved forward- same shit. What difference does it make?" Billy says, getting up and pacing the room. "I wrote Aurora for her. It was for her. All of it. I thought- I thought it was going to be enough."

"You can't just expect one album to fix everything Billy" Karen says, "You hurt her, badly. An album won't fix that."

Billy remains silent for a moment, processing everything they’re saying.

But then his attention went back to the record player as it started to play this awful sounding static.

  🎶 .·:*¨🎶💋🎶¨*:·. 🎶

Y/N: "On the jacket of the vinyl for the deluxe version of Midnight's Regrets there were only four new tracks listed."

"There was really five."

  🎶 .·:*¨🎶💋🎶¨*:·. 🎶

"Graham, why didn't you turn the player off?"

Graham walks over to the player, "There's still grooves, there's another song."

Not even a second later, the room is filled with the haunting opening notes of a new song.

Everyone stands in silence and confusion as the song plays.

"You were born bluer than a butterfly. Beautiful and so deprived of oxygen. Colder than your father's eyes. He never learned to sympathize with anyone."

"I don't blame you. But I can't change you. Don't hate you. But we can't save you."

"You were born reaching for your mother's hands. Victim of your father's plans to rule the world. Too afraid to step outside. Paranoid and petrified of what you've heard"

The words pierce Billy's already broken heart, he can't hold it in anymore. He feels the tears trickling down his face, and when he looks around, everyone else has tears too.

Your voice is so hauntingly beautiful, they've never heard you like this.

As the song fades out, they can hear what sounds like crying under all the instrumentals.

The silence afterward is deafening.

"Billy…" Graham says, his voice breaking the stillness.

"I fucked up," Billy whispers, the words barely audible. "I don’t know how to fix it. I don’t know if I even can anymore."

A/N: HOLY FUCK THIS WAS A LONG CHAPTER 😭 anyways I HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOYED!!!! this was honestly so like stressful to work on cause of the lyrics BUT I PULLED IT OFF I THINK! anyways next chapter will probably be out sometime next week and hopefully the next chapter of GOU will be out by sunday night or monday night!!

heres all the songs from readers album (IN ORDER) -> 1978 album

[rowretro]

𝕄𝔼𝕋𝔸𝕃 𝕄𝔼𝔼𝕋𝕊 𝕃𝕆𝕍𝔼

✧taglist✧: @baevsxii @nikisdubblchococake @lilyofhoon @cakuqe @lvyelleee @caithefly @manooffline @rishki

✧warnings: Yandere themes, toxic themes, unhealthy love, mentions of blood, manipulation(?), shirtless-ish riki

♡synopsis: Nishimura Riki. The Robot created by Yang Jungwon himself, a robot that is insanely human like, inside and out. No one could tell he was a robot. However, the Robot had possessed demonly powers, from Satan himself. So I guess you could see it's a half robot. Yang y/n, the younger sister of Jungwon finds herself stuck to this robot 24/7 no matter what she tried, he will always be by her because she's his muse, his world, his love, his obsession.

(PART 6)

✧��✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧

"NO! YOU AREN'T COMING WITH ME WEARING THAT.... WE'RE GOING TO A GODDAMN SCHOOL RIKI WEAR NORMAL PEOPLE CLOTHES." Y/n yelled as the robot stared ahead coldly, dressed in an expensive suit, one'd think he were a rich CEO, but the sunglasses and the way he stands beside y/n makes him look like a bodyguard. "I'm simply dressed for the occasion sweetheart. My job is simply to protect you not to sit in a lesson I don't need to learn things I already know." Riki said as the girl sighed

"Don't call me sweetheart that's creepy... plus I don't need protecting, I'm only going to school." Y/n reasoned as Jungwon blinked. "Yeah but you do remember. that, from that exact school, one of the so-called students tried to kill you right?" Jungwon asked as he got ready for work "Oh yeah, yeah, but you do remember that, that exact student got his head popped off his body by this so-called body guard-" Y/n added as the male sighed. "Well you returned unharmed right? and there's a gang on the street that are too high out of their minds to even remember the exact crimes they committed-" Jungwon added as the girl frowned at him

Y/n fiddled nervously with the hem of her skirt as the robot drove them to school. "Can you at least keep your hands on the steering wheel?..." she asked as the robot continued driving, not even turning to face her "I don't need to." he coldly said as y/n blinked. Eventually, the drive came to an end as Riki pulled up into the car school's car park. "NI-KI bo- I-I mean Riki... you seriously don't need to come in with me..." Y/n said one last time, the robot just left the vehicle, and opened the car door for her.

Upon arriving at school, students had already started chattering amongst themselves, gossiping as they saw this handsome, stunning, tall man walk beside y/n, her hand in his. Something about his aura was both alluring yet unsettling. Yet it didnt stop the girls from twirling their hair and checking him out, they needed to shoot their shot.

Upon arriving in class, the robot stood beside her, hands by his sides sunglasses on, Suit perfectly neat. "seems we have a guest... please sit down-" The teacher simply said as Riki remained "Im purely here to keep my fiancee safe." Riki simply said as the students started murmuring. Y/n took a deep breath before turning to him, nudging him "Riki sit down... you're embarassing me-" she said as the male did just that, taking his glasses off.

Clearly it was a pretty stressful day. Teachers holding back every inch of annoyance, towards this male, who isn't even a student, yet has the need to interrupt and correct every tiny, human mistake, and answer every question like a nerd. But he found it boring. "I never knew robots feel bored... I always thought they're boring-" Y/n pointed out as Jungwon rolled his eyes, poking her with a metal robotic arm he had in his hand.

"Of course he feels shit, he's like half robot, half living human demon thingy- plus robots aren't boring." Jungwon defended as y/n rolled her eyes "Get a real girlfriend, or build yourself one. Then you'll get that there's better things than metal dolls." Y/n sassed as Jungwon rolled his eyes. "Ill find a girlfriend when I feel like it, the last 2 used me for money, and none of the girls you chose me actually have an interest in relationships." As y/n nodded, not dragging the subject along longer.

Riki blow dried his hair as y/n sat in front of the mirror, doing her skincare routine, and fiddling with her make up every now and then. "Why do you use makeup when you're already pretty enough?" Riki asks as the girl blinks, turning to him "Because I love doing it, it makes me pretty, sure, but it's very theraputic, and gives we something to do when Im bored" She explained as he nodded. "Can I do your hair?" he asked.

✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧♡✧

[d1xonss]

Desert Rose

Series Masterlist ~ Seasons 1-6

✧ Media : The Walking Dead

✧ Pairing : Daryl Dixon x OC

✧ Status : Ongoing

Warnings : Mentions of blood, death, gore, swearing, sex, violence, etc.

Prologue ~ When a zombie apocalypse breaks out and wipes over half of the population, Rose is left alone to take on this new world as it unfolds. She knew it would be difficult, for things to not work out the way they once did, turning in ways she never would've expected. But what she really didn't expect was to come across more survivors like her. Not only that, but the journey that would come right along with it.

Disclaimer ~ This is a fan fiction I wrote that follows the TV show The Walking Dead, Seasons 1-11. This mainly follows the entirety of the plot of the show, but there will be little changes here and there that I've added on my own. There may be some disturbing topics in some chapters, but there will always be a warning at the top before you read. I don’t own any of the characters in the series except for my OC. As of now the story is not complete, but there will be weekly updates. Let me know if you would like to be added to the taglist!

Hope you enjoy!

Character Moodboards

Spotify Playlist

Season 1 ~ Moodboard

Chapter 1 - Introductions

Chapter 2 - Who the Hell are You?

Chapter 3 - Common Ground

Chapter 4 - Black and Blue

Chapter 5 - Decisions

Chapter 6 - Metallica

Chapter 7 - Uncharted Territory

Chapter 8 - Panic Room

Season 2 ~ Moodboard

Chapter 9 - Sophia?

Chapter 10 - Darkness

Chapter 11 - The Farm

Chapter 12 - Cherokee Rose

Chapter 13 - Hey Stranger

Chapter 14 - Thank you

Chapter 15 - Close Calls

Chapter 16 - It Ain't Like That

Chapter 17 - Guitar Lessons and Confessions

Chapter 18 - Gone

Chapter 19 - Goodbye

Chapter 20 - Stay

Chapter 21 - An Unwelcome Guest

Chapter 22 - Scars

Chapter 23 - Broken

Chapter 24 - Good Mourning

Chapter 25 - The Herd

Chapter 26 - Democracy

Season 3 ~ Moodboard

Chapter 27 - New Beginnings

Chapter 28 - Stranger Danger

Chapter 29 - Shit Happens

Chapter 30 - Three Little Words

Chapter 31 - Happy Birthday

Chapter 32 - Avoiding Me

Chapter 33 - Woodbury

Chapter 34 - To Love is to Let go

Chapter 35 - Hey Jude

Chapter 36 - Endure

Chapter 37 - Who We Are

Chapter 38 - Hard Times

Chapter 39 - Going to War

Chapter 40 - The Deal

Chapter 41 - Peace

Season 4 ~ Moodboard

Chapter 42 - Wildflower Wildfire

Chapter 43 - The Honeymoon Phase

Chapter 44 - Simplicity

Chapter 45 - All Good things Must come to an End

Chapter 46 - I’m Here

Chapter 47 - Infected

Chapter 48 - In Sickness and In Health

Chapter 49 - Blood runs Thicker than Water

Chapter 50 - Bring me to Life

Chapter 51 - Liar

Chapter 52 - We’re Okay

Chapter 53 - The Pretty Purple Clip

Chapter 54 - Claimed

Chapter 55 - Moonshine and Memories

Chapter 56 - Alone

Chapter 57 - Found

Season 5 ~ Moodboard

Chapter 58 - As Deep as a Wound

Chapter 59 - The Priest

Chapter 60 - Just Married

Chapter 61 - White Crosses

Chapter 62 - Sweet Tragedy

Chapter 63 - Death’s Deaf Ears

Chapter 64 - The Rain

Chapter 65 - A Friend

Chapter 66 - Just the Beginning

Chapter 67 - Alexandria

Chapter 68 - Adapt

Chapter 69 - We’ve all got Jobs to do

Chapter 70 - The Party

Chapter 71 - Spaghetti Tuesdays

Chapter 72 - Owl Sculptures

Chapter 73 - Bring your Gun to Work Day

Chapter 74 - Do it

Season 6 ~ Moodboard

Chapter 75 - What Lies Ahead

Chapter 76 - Trapped

[snowysosturn]

Speeding Car - Matt Sturniolo Part 9

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24 Part 25 Part 26 Part 27 Part 28 Part 29

Pairing : y/n x Matt Sturniolo

Summary : After six years with your boyfriend Alex, you start to mentally check out. At a UCLA party, Alex reconnects with his childhood friend Emily, who proposes a double date with her boyfriend Matt. Your attraction to Matt grows as he pays you the first real attention you've had in years, sparking a complicated emotional journey.

Warnings : MDNI, guilt, thoughts of cheating (I dont condone), building resentment, controlling nature, jealousy, light use of pet names, mentions of injuries to wrist and ribs

Matt’s POV

The drive home from Y/n’s apartment was quiet, too quiet. The only sounds were the rev of the engine and Emily’s soft breathing as she dozed off in the passenger seat again. The drive went by in a blur, and I couldn’t shake the sinking pit in my stomach. My mind kept circling back to the moment in the living room earlier. The moment we almost kissed.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, trying to push the thought away, but it was useless. All I could think about was how close we’d been, how the world had seemed to shrink down to just the two of us. What would’ve happened if Nick hadn’t checked his phone at that time and came in? Would we have crossed that line?

The worst part was that I wasn’t sure I would’ve stopped it. In that split second, it felt right, like something inevitable. But why? I loved Emily, didn’t I? Then why did it feel like I was being pulled toward Y/n by some invisible force, something I couldn’t control.

And then there was Alex. Seeing him so affectionate with Y/n in the hospital had evoked something deep inside me. He was the one she was supposed to be with, the one who made her smile, but all I could focus on was how he had hurt her earlier that night. The way she had prepared everything, put in so much effort, only to be let down, saying she was used to it. It made me angry. Y/n deserved better than that. She deserved someone who wouldn’t take her for granted, someone who would appreciate every little thing she did. Someone who would never put anything above her.

But I wasn’t sure if that someone was Alex. Shit, I wasn’t even sure if that someone was me. But the idea of Y/n being with anyone else, especially someone who didn’t see her worth, made my stomach turn.

I glanced at Emily, who had shifted slightly in her seat, murmuring something in her sleep. She looked peaceful, innocent even, but her words from earlier were still repaying in my ears.

“Did you two come here together?”

The suspicion in her voice had been clear, and it had thrown me off balance. Why had she reacted like that? Would it have really been so strange for me to “pick up” Y/n on the way to the hospital? Or was there something more beneath the surface, something neither of us had dared to say out loud?

We pulled into the garage of my place and I cut the engine, the sudden silence in the car almost deafening. Emily suddenly woke beside me, her eyes fluttering open as she groggily took in her surroundings.

“We’re home” I said softly, unbuckling my seatbelt.

She nodded, yawning as she fumbled with her seatbelt. “Thanks for looking after everyone Matty.” she mumbled, still half asleep. When did she ever call me that?

As we made our way inside, Emily stumbled a bit, her steps unsteady. I caught her by the arm, guiding her up the stairs and into the house. Luckily, Chris was sleeping in Nick’s room, so the noise wouldn’t wake him. The familiar space of my home should have comforted me, but instead, it felt suffocating. My thoughts were too loud, too chaotic.

Emily collapsed onto the couch, her head leaning back as she let out a deep sigh. I hovered nearby, unsure of what to do with myself. Part of me wanted to escape to my room, to hide from the mess of emotions swirling inside me, but something kept me rooted in place.

“Matt.” Emily said suddenly. Bluntly. Her voice slurred with exhaustion and alcohol.

“Yeah?” I turned to face her, noticing the serious expression that had crossed her features.

“I don’t want you and Y/n hanging out alone together. At all.” she said, her words cutting through the fog in my mind.

Had she caught on?

“It’s different with me and Alex. We’re childhood best friends. But with you and Y/n..I don’t know, it just feels.. off.”

I stared at her, the weight of her words sinking in. “Emily, what are you talking about? We’re just friends” I said, but even as the words left my mouth, they felt hollow, unconvincing.

She shook her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I don’t like it, Matt. I know it’s never happened before and I never want it to happen. I will leave you if you do.”

There was a tightness in her voice, a seriousness that made it clear she wasn’t just speaking out of jealousy or drunken paranoia. She genuinely didn’t want me spending time with Y/n and that realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

“Okay” I said quietly, my mind still reeling. “I’ll respect that.”

Emily nodded, satisfied, before closing her eyes again and drifting back to sleep on the couch, the same place that Y/n was sat only hours earlier. But I couldn’t move. I just stood there, staring at her, trying to make sense of everything that had happened tonight.

Why was I feeling this way? Why was it Y/n’s face that kept flashing through my mind, her voice that replayed in my mind? And why did Emily’s request, something that should’ve been simple and easy to agree to, feel like I was losing air?

It wasn’t until I heard a creaking noise come from upstairs, probably Nick going to use the bathroom, that brought me back to reality.

As I made my way to my room, I couldn’t humble the feeling that things were changing, that something had shifted in the dynamics between all of us tonight. And I wasn’t sure if any of us were ready to deal with the fallout.

Lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling, all I could think about was Y/n. The way she’d looked at me in the hospital, the sadness in her eyes, and the way my heart ached seeing her hurt. What was I supposed to do with that? All I could do was replay the events over and over in my mind, the demons in the dark. The tension between what I felt for Emily and what was building with Y/n pulling me in two different directions.

In the end, I wasn’t sure where I stood with either of them anymore. All I knew was that things were more complicated than they’d ever been before, and there was no easy way out.

Y/n POV

I woke up the next morning to the sound of Alex groaning beside me. His arm was in a sling, his face showing discomfort as he tried to shift positions. The events of the previous night flooded back, hitting me like a tsunami. The hospital, the fight, the drive home with Matt. The way we almost kissed. The way Alex clung to me, a mix of drunken affection and painkiller induced haze, it all felt distant now, like something from a dream.

But this was my reality.

I pushed myself out of bed, forcing the thoughts of Matt to the back of my mind. I had more immediate concerns. Alex was hurt, and with a sprained wrist and bruised ribs, he was out of football training for the foreseeable future. It also meant he couldn’t do much for himself, and that I had to step up. Whether I wanted to or not, I was now his carer.

"Morning" I whispered as I leaned over to check on him, my voice thick with sleep.

"Morning" he mumbled back, his voice groggy and weak.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I got hit by a truck" he winced as he tried to move his injured wrist.

"Try your best not to move too much. I'll get you some breakfast."

I got up, quietly changing out of my pyjamas and into something more practical. I wasn’t thinking about Matt, or the tension that had lingered between us the night before, I couldn’t afford to. My focus had to be on Alex.

My work schedule had to be changed completely. I called in to let them know the situation and that I’d need to have certain shifts for the foreseeable, making sure I could be home when Alex needed me most. It meant taking the less favorable hours, either really early mornings or really late nights, but it was what had to be done. There was no other option.

I spent the next three weeks catering to Alex’s every need. I made all of his meals, helping him dress, driving him to and from campus, and even doing his assignments. It wasn’t just exhausting, it was draining. Every time I looked at him, I remembered how he’d brushed off our plans so easily, how he’d prioritized everything else over us. But now, here I was, putting him first like always.

Emily dropped by the apartment a few times. It was strange seeing her after everything. She was bright and bubbly, the same as ever, like nothing had changed, but I couldn’t help feeling like she was being extra nice to me. The three of us hung out together in our apartment, Matt unheard of. I tried to keep things light within the trio, but there was an undertone of something else, something unspoken between us. I led on to be normal, to smile and laugh, but it was hard. My mind kept wandering, and I found myself glancing at my phone more than usual, hoping to see a message from Matt. But there was nothing. Radio silence. It confused me, the way he’d pulled away.

Did he regret what almost happened between us? Did he not like my company after all? The last time I saw him he told me he was there if I ever needed anything, but now, when I felt more alone than ever, he was nowhere to be found.

It hurt more than I wanted to admit. I thought back to the way he’d looked at me, the softness in his eyes, the way he’d listened when I talked about my struggles with Alex. It had felt like he understood, like he cared. But maybe I was wrong.

I had to realise I had more important things to focus on. Alex needed me, and that was all that mattered. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. But in the quiet moments, when it was just me and my thoughts, I couldn’t help but wonder..

Why did Matt’s silence hurt so much?

Why did it feel like I’d lost something I never really had?

a/n : two parts in less than 24 hours let’s gooooo, emily’s basically barred matt from seeing the reader :/ butttt i know what happens next and yous don’t heehee

taglist : @muwapsturniolo @anitahunt @sturnfannn @jayde510 @chrissfavhoe @babyalliah-777 @v33angel @urmom69lol @willowrites @ribread03 @2muchofaslvt @sturnsaver @sleepysturniolo @jcsturniolo11 @jessie-essie @hoeforchrizz @mynbbys @sturniolopanini @mattsturnxoxo @delicatechrry @t77te @sturnsyaper69 @hotdismylife @maggot3647 @ivysturnss @noplaceissafeanymore @mattssgf @hottiirr @maethem0nth

*also v v sorry if you tagged tagged in this 30 million times my taglist is still acting tf up (if u have a newer account or don’t post at all it’s not giving me an option to tag you :( )

[wordy-little-witch]

I am now hip deep in the Edge of Midnight campaign from legends of avantris and lemme tell you some shit -

1) I would lay down my life for Jericho Sticks without any hesitation. Torbek and Jericho are my sons now, no takesies backsies.

2) Lethica and Marius are so perfectly aligned to be end game lovers but I personally adore the idea of them being queerplatonic if only bc it's funny to watch people be confused and I think Lethica would adore that.

3) you can pry the concept of Briggsy having a some kind of magical fantasy cellphone equivalent from my cold dead hands - sending stone or smth idfk - and he's been keeping his buddy/boyfriend Torbek updated on all this like "Becky you would not BELIEVE what happened today-" ((listen I know the flirting bit between them in the yuletide one-shot was a feycurse but leave me alone it's funny as fuck))

4) briggsy @ jericho in ep 24 appropos nothing: Jerry, maybe we have to kiss ((sad, silly twinks with Literal Darksides are his type /j))

5) I have a friend-crush on Nikkie and I will never recover

6) I have an unyielding NEED to have Jericho get a final hit on a boss and yell yeehaw

7) I know stylistically Jericho doesn't have "skin" but I personally hc that his clothes aren't effectively his skin, he has a burlap body - and he has "tattoos" in the form of embroidery. It started when he had to stitch up his own cuts and stuff and he just kept it up.

8) Only Yorgrim has any constant sense of cooking in an actual kitchen-like setting. Farryn, Marius, and Briggsy can do journey or on-the-road cooking, but it's never.... great. Lethica burns everything somehow or gets the bright idea to 'experiment', and it's never good - she's fine if she's got clear end goals. Jericho is understandably skittish around fire due to his body and straw, but he is the closest to being able to cook well and do so semi regularly.

9) Virgil is a weird mix of a hater and lowkey overprotective. He does hate being imprisoned, but also he's kinda bound here so he HAS to keep this disaster of a bard safe. He refuses to admit he might have a soft spot. He is Stressed.

10) Farryn doesn't get the appeal of Girls Nights, but Jericho does!!! They join Lethica for some fun relaxation. Briggsy once asked why Jericho was allowed since he's also a dude, and Lethica just responded "he's allowed to be there - on account of him being a scarecrow and not a literal man after all." It's an inside joke which later has to be explained - Jericho is nonbinary but doesn't rightly care about stuff like that.

11) Yorgrim is the group dad, no I will not explain.

12) sometimes after a battle, Lethica and Marius will help stitch up some of Jericho's tears. Farryn may also add in random flowers she finds around because it makes him happy.

13) Briggsy is small but mighty. The only person he has yet to pick up and carry is Yorgrim - he swears that one day that tombstone will be gone and he'll be able to do it. It's all the rock's fault, he's sure of it.

Spoilers under the cut (caught up to present)

OKAY so I am caught up completely and have decided that Canon is not important leave me alone

• Yorgrim did not die - he got wounded heavily but survived.

• Farryn almost got taken but they got to her in time. She is mute for a time due to injuries and trauma - idk if she ever talks again bc we could use more sign language in the world. Maybe it comes and goes, fuck if I know, idk and idc

ONWARDS TO SILLIES

• Lethica strong armed her way into giving Jericho The Talk after he revealed he had no idea what a penis was. Scarecrows cannot blush, but apparently his fiendish glow can ebb and flow and he glows much MUCH brighter when he's embarrassed - she tries so hard not to laugh.

• Adella and Jericho btw are simply besties. His "crush" on her is a friend crush and Phillip just finds it painfully cute. ((Also -> Jericho has mommy issues and Adella always wanted a son/nephew/little brother. Peaceful alignment))

• Dark Mode Marius is a colossal flirt but still a giant dweeb. He's cool and suave until someone flirts back - then he's a mess.

• Briggsy is very happy with his Kannon & makes "shooting my shot" jokes at every and any opportunity

• Yorgrim, with his reward, manages to finally lay many souls tonrest but he still carries the tombstone on journeys - just not constantly now. He still believes he must pay penance, but it's a little easier to share the burden.

• Farryn, with her own reward, has not chosen to activate it yet. Something tells her to wait, to bide her time and remain. She does, however, get a little more at ease with the others. She and Jericho have come to an understanding, too - that being they they are a package deal, no takesies backsies, and they refer to each other as twin, much to the confusion of many, many, many people. WLW and NBLM solidarity.

• Jericho is pining HARD for Marius, but he's absolutely terrified of damaging the friendship so everyone is watching two oblivious dummies look longingly into each other.

• POLYAMORY POLYAMORY POLYAMORY

• Marius grows rather fond of Virgil, and the sentiment is very much NOT reciprocated bc this angry knight vampire is not good enough for his vessel and he's mad about it.

• Yorgrim: I've only had my friends for a few days, but if anything happened to them, I'd kill everyone in Druskenvald and then myself.

• I fully expect for Jericho to somehow befriend an enemy in disguise, not realize, and accidentally fuck up the evil plan with the powers of puns, music and friendship (/j)

• the first time the party sees Jericho presenting more feminine, he's been lended one of Lethica's dresses after his own clothes got torn up and the rest are being washed. Marius has a nosebleed and faints. Briggsy is staring somewhat respectfully. Lethica is trying valiantly not to laugh. Farryn and Yorgrim regret not dying when they had the chance.

• Marius: i cannot have a relationship because I have sworn to follow the duchess of sin

Lillith: whoa hold up, Do Not use me as an excuse to avoid the cutie pie over there. Besides, he has a demon. I'm queen of hell. I can make a small exception.

Marius: shit

• Briggsy Bi Icon: OH if ONLY Jerry here had a DASHING KNIGHT to SAVE THEM from this PERILOUS INCIDENT

Jericho: captain, I'm just getting off of a horse??

Marius: no no Briggsy has a point, no maiden should be unaccompanied or unassisted. Allow me-

Lethica&Farryn: We Know What You Are

• Yorgrim is watching all this inter party flirting and is definitely wondering if he's gonna have to have an aside with everyone about flirting tactics and communication skills. Briggsy is making it worse by enabling everyone.

• Farryn gets some sweet, succulent healing, that is all.

[trishxtrix]

The Bench Across the Street

AO3

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 |

Summary: What if Abby is hurting and forcing Frank to take benzos to “control” his ADHD?

What if few hours after the argument, Frank is brought to the ED on a brink of an overdose and some unexplainable injuries.

TW: Abuse, Overdose, Suicide Attempt

Tags: Dark!Abby | Frank whump | Frank-centric | Miscommunication | Abusive!Abby | abusive relationships | threats of violence | implied/reference child endangerment | is this considered AU? | spousal abuse | men can be victims of abuse too

——————————————————————————————————

Frank

I never realized how loud silence could be until I spent three days locked in a room made of it. The walls in psych are thicker than they look. Thick enough to drown out everything except for yourself. And maybe that is the point, that the worst noise you’ll hear in here is the one coming from your own head. The one that doesn’t stop just because the door locks from the outside. 

72 hours. 

It sounded short when they said it. Hell, every time I sign someone to be put on the mandatory 72-hour psych hold, it sounds short. But it wasn’t. Every hour felt like it was days long. Even with the routine meals and check-ins, it still felt like it was days in between. 

Mia had visited, as promised. Routinely, before the start of her shift, after her shift, and on her lunch break when she worked day shift. She kept me updated on the latest gossip, passed along the well wishes, and at one point played messenger for Robby when I turned him away. I wasn’t ready to talk to him yet. Deep down, I understood why he reacted the way he did, but in my hindbrain, it felt so deeply unsettling that Robby wouldn’t hear me out or let me explain my situation to him. 

Now I’m just waiting to be discharged. A nurse knocks gently before stepping in,

“Dr. Langdon? Discharge is ready when you are.” he says, setting a bag of things on the desk.

I nodded “I’ll push the call button when I’m ready.” 

I waited until the nurse had left my room before opening the bag. It had my hospital badge, wallet, and phone, as well as new sets of clothes and a note from Mia ‘Thought you might want these back and be more comfortable with these rather than clothes from the donation bins.’ I sigh in relief at the idea of actual clothing.

I’m sitting across from  the discharge counselor, his smile like warm wax melting down his face. Voice all gentle as if trying not to startle me. “Frank, we’ve completed your hold. You’re medically cleared for discharge pending a safety plan. Can you tell me where you’ll be staying tonight?”

“I’ll be staying at Mia’s for a bit.”

He nodded, making a note “She’s listed as your contact, she also already signed you out and is waiting at the employee parking. This is all just for formality’s sake.” 

Of course she is. She’s the only person that has been consistently safe. So consistent that it's starting to feel more like home, or what it used to feel like before Abby had become what she is now. But with Mia it’s different. She is home in a way people were when they’ve seen you at your worst and still show up.

As I sign the final page, the counselor reappears. “There’s a follow-up appointment scheduled with Behavioral Health. You can cancel or reschedule depending on your preference, but I’d recommend sticking with it—at least for now.”

“Right, of course.” 

“If at any point you feel unsafe, here,”—he slides a laminated sheet towards me—”these are 24-hour crisis contacts.”

I nod with a soft “Thank you”  pressing the laminated piece of paper in my pocket before following the nurse out of the hospital. 

Mia

“You look like shit,” I say, not unkindly, when I see him.

Frank snorts “I’m aware. Hospital showers do not leave nothing to be desired for.” 

I open the passenger door, “C’mon, let’s go before they find another reason to keep you.” He slides in slowly, like he’s bracing for impact even when there isn’t one. I wait until he’s buckled before getting into my car myself. 

We’re ten minutes in before either of us says anything.

“Thanks.” Frank says, barely audible

“For what?” I asked genuinely confused

He hesitates “For showing up.”

“Always, you don’t even have to ask.”

He’s quiet for another beat, watching the traffic lights flicker past “I thought you’d be mad.”

“I am,” I started “but not at you. Never could be in your situation.”

His head turns slightly, looking surprised and hesitant “Who then?”

“Take a wild fucking guess Frank.” 

That gets a huff of something like a laugh. It fades quickly. “Is it okay I’m coming to your place?”

“It’s more than okay. I’ve got a guest room, stocked fridge, and a TV with questionable taste in late-night shows. You’ll fit right in.” I say already thinking if I had put everything away properly. 

“What about your neighbors?”

“They mind their business. Or I remind them to.” I answered with a shrug

He nods again, the smallest thread of tension easing from his shoulders. I keep my eyes on the road, not wanting him to feel pressured “Frank, when we get home we will need to talk about your options. I have a few things lined up. Just options and you don’t have to take any of them if you don’t want to.”

His voice is hoarse. “What kind of options?”

“Legal. Custody. Temporary housing if needed. Remember the people I had you meet? Captain Morales, the social worker, Cynthia, and the lawyer I told you about the first day of your hold.”

He flinches like the word custody cuts deeper than expected. “I don’t want them caught in this.”

“They’re already in it Frank,” I say gently, “now you just have to choose how they come out.”

~~~~~~~

Frank

Mia’s apartment smelled like citrus cleaner and coffee. It was quiet—no hum of TV in the background, no kids running around, no city noise leaking through the windows. Just stillness. Not the same kind of stillness in the psych ward, or when Abby got tired of hitting me. It’s the kind of stillness that didn’t ask for anything. The kind I hadn’t had in years.

I hovered awkwardly just past the door, hospital-issued duffle bag still in my hand, even though Mia had already taken my coat and kicked her shoes off like this was just another Tuesday. For her, maybe it was.

I didn’t move from the doorway, like I was still contemplating on whether I wanted to run.

“Frank,” Mia added, her voice softer this time “you’re safe here. You can breathe.” 

I nodded, but my lungs didn’t quite get the message. They still felt tight, like they were waiting for the next scream, the next slammed door, the next demand I couldn’t meet. Mia nodded, thankfully not saying anything about the small panic attack I am having.

“Bathroom’s to the left,” she said, nodding towards the hallway as she locked the door behind us, “your room’s straight ahead. Sheets are clean. Closet’s empty. Ignore anything weird in there—I used it for overflow”

“Overflow,” I echoed shakily. “That’s comforting”

She laughs and walks ahead into the kitchen, her eyes drifting across the apartment with practice subtlety. She adjusted a book spine on the shelf that didn’t need adjusting. Nudge a photo further behind another one. Quiet, easy movements—casual to most people, but I knew what it looked like when someone made sure nothing incriminating was left out.

“You hiding something?” I ask as I follow her in.

She didn’t miss a beat “Depends. You planning to dig through my tax records?”

“Not unless you’ve got mob money stashed under the sink.”

She shot me a look over her shoulder “Mob money goes in the freezer Frank. Honestly. Amateur.”

I actually laughed. Or maybe it was just a cough with humor behind it, but still—it felt like the first one in days.

“Relax,” Mia added, opening the fridge “just don’t go poking into the blue file box in the hall closet.”

“What’s in it?”

“Blackmail. Obviously.”

My eyebrow went up “You’re kidding.”

She pulled out a container of pasta and waved it like a trophy. “Leftovers. You haven’t eaten, have you?”

“Not since the dry toast at psych.”

“Then this’ll be a five-star experience.”

We sat at the small table—too small for dinner parties but just right for two tired people pretending to be okay. The pasta was mediocre but it was warm and Mia didn’t make me talk while I ate. 

“I’m not gonna break.” I said eventually, mostly to the table.

“I know,” Mia said “but even stones crack, you’re allowed to feel like you might.”

After we finished eating, I helped Mia clear the table. It felt weird not being told to sit down or stop fussing. She let me move, quietly stacking plates, rinsing dishes while she handed over utensils like it was normal. Like we’d done this before. 

She leaned against the sink once we were done, arms crossed, eyes watching—not sharp, but focused. Like she was waiting to see when I’d ask for the other shoe to drop.

“Okay,” she said finally “let’s talk through what comes next,” 

I nodded, slow. The sleeves of the hoodie I was wearing bunched at my wrist when I sat down again. Mia grabbed her phone from the counter and joined me, unlocking it without a word. No notes. No clipboard. No lecture. Just her and the soft click of the screen unlocking. “You remember the name I gave you? Reeva Morrow?”

“The lawyer.”

“She’s expecting a call once you’re ready. You don’t have to decide today, but she doesn’t take many clients. And when she does, she clears the field.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means Abby won’t be able to bulldoze this through a courtroom. Reeva knows how to fight fire with smarter fire.”

I swallowed and looked down at my hands in my lap. The sleeves of the hoodie I decided to wear were too long. I liked that, it felt like extra protection.

I stare down at my hands in my lap. My voice felt small. “She’s good?”

“She’s lethal,” Mia said softly but firmly, “and she knows how to handle cases like yours—abuse, control, custody. She’s been on both sides of the system. She knows exactly how it fails people like you and how to force it to listen.”

I nodded slowly “Okay.”

Mia glanced at her phone again, “Captain morales has also been updated on what happened.”

I looked up at that, surprised and cautious, stomach twisting. “Is she doing something?”

“She’s waiting on you,” Mia looked up from her phone. “You give the greenlight, she starts the process for opening a formal domestic violence case. But not before.”

I nodded slowly, the knot in my chest tightening. “So she’s not doing anything yet?”

“Not officially,” Mia said, voice calm, “but she’s not blind, either. She’s got people keeping an eye on things. Quietly. There’s a neighbor near your house Morales trusts. Someone at your kid’s school district. Patrols that drive past a little more often than usual. Just eyes. Nothing invasive. No one knocking on doors.”

I stared at her “All of that’s just…happening?”

“She owes me,” Mia said, simple as breath, “and she believes you.”

I look down at the table. That felt heavier than I expected it to be. “She’s not doing anything where someone could see,” I muttered, “Abby’s careful.”

“That’s usually how it works,” Mia agreed, “Until someone’s dead or destroyed. We’re not waiting for that. But if she slips—even a little—Morales will know. And when you’re ready to move, she won’t waste time.”

I nodded, still milling on what she said about Morales when she added, “Cynthia’s in the loop, too.”

I glance up at her, brows furrowed.

“She’s waiting for the same thing Morales is,” Mia said “for you to say when.”

“The social worker?”

“Yeah. She’s ready to start filing. Emergency custody petitions. Protection requests. Resource assignments. But she’s not going to file anything until you give the word.”

I lean back, exhaling through my nose. “Everyone’s just waiting on me.”

“Not waiting on you to perform Frank,” Mia started evenly, “just waiting for permission to help.”

I didn’t respond to that. I didn’t have the energy to. I looked toward the front door, toward the bag I’d dropped there when we walked in. “She’s going to start asking questions.”

Mia stayed quiet.

“She knows I was placed on a 72-hour hold and that’s done now. Maybe a few more if she thinks I was kept under review. But it’s not indefinite. She’ll expect me home.”

“She won’t be wrong to expect it,” Mia said softly, “that’s how these things are written on paper. Unless something is filed, she has legal right to your location. To demand you return to the shared residence. If you don’t…eventually that becomes a problem.”

“I’m not ready for anything,” I started, “to file. To fight. I can’t go back to the house, but I’m not ready to light the match yet either.”

“I know.” she said. No judgment. Just steady acceptance.

“Then what?” I asked “How long can I stay here before it looks like I’m hiding.”

Mia hesitated for the first time since picking me up. “A few days. Tops. After that, she could start calling the hospital, asking for updates or discharge papers. If she calls the police with a missing persons concern and your name’s attached to a psychiatric hold…it’s messy. It draws attention we don’t want. Not until the paperwork is filed.”

My mouth felt dry. “So I’m on borrowed time.”

“You’re not alone,” she said again, firm but quiet. “But yes. Borrowed time.”

I didn’t speak. I didn’t move.

“Frank, you don’t have to decide tonight but you also need to know that waiting too long costs.”

I nodded. Not because I agreed, but because it was the only thing I could do that didn’t feel like drowning.

Mia

He didn’t say anything else after that. Just sat there in the hoodie I bought him, sleeves too long over hands that looked like they didn’t know how to move anymore. His eyes were distant, but not gone. Just bracing for the next collapse. 

I didn’t press. Instead, I stood slowly and gave him the smallest smile I could manage without feeling like a liar. “I’m gonna start on dinner. Bathroom’s yours if you want a shower. No rush.”

He gave me a nod—barely—and I took it for what it was: the closest thing to permission. I stepped away and let him be. I cleaned first. Not because anything needed it, but because I did.

There is a specific kind of quiet that fills the space after someone lets you see their bruises. Not the skin kind. The kind that sits in the air, in their words, in the way they won’t meet your eyes when they say they’re not ready. So I wiped the counters even though they were already clean. Refolded the throw on the couch. Pushed a few books deeper into the shelves and nudged a thin manila folder just far enough behind a stack of old journals that it wouldn’t catch the wrong kind of attention. A burner phone I hadn’t used in a year sat dead at the back of the kitchen drawer. I slipped it into a cloth back and tucked it behind the rice canister. Just in case.

Frank wasn’t looking for anything, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t find it. 

I moved with muscle memory more than intention. Started a slow simmer on the stovetop—rice, onion, garlic, broth. Comfort food. Something warm that didn’t require energy to chew. I threw vegetables into the oven without measuring, tossed herbs like I had all the time in the world.

And every few minutes, I glanced towards the hallway. Not because I didn’t trust him, but because I knew what it looked like when someone was on the edge of deciding whether or not to stay. 

In the living room, I moved a few books from the bottom shelf to the top. Paperbacks with creased spines and underlined margins. One had notes from someone I hadn’t spoken to in years. Another still had a faint smear of dried blood in the inside cover, tucked between pages like a memory I never wanted to revisit. 

That one went into a drawer. Locked.

I didn’t have to hide who I’d been, but I didn’t need to lay it bare either. Not yet. Not when he was still trying to hold onto the ground under his own feet.

I checked on the food. Tasted the rice. Salted the broth. Poured water into two glasses even though I wasn’t sure either of us had the appetite for more than a bite. 

Behind me, the shower started running. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and leaned against the counter, hands braced on either side of the sink. 

It was borrowed time. We both know it. 

But for now, he was safe. That’s enough for now.

~~~~~~~

We ate in silence. The food was simple—soft, warm, filling. I didn’t say anything, and neither did he and for once that felt okay. He didn’t have to talk. I didn’t need to fill the quiet. We were just there, breathing the same air, sharing the same table. Frank picked at his plate, maybe because he didn’t like it or maybe because he was still eating like he had to ration something. Time, maybe. Or safety he hadn’t quite convinced himself was real yet.

When he reached for the second serving without looking up, I didn’t say a word, just set the spoon down and let him take what he needed.

After dinner, he helped clear the table again. Quiet hands, careful steps. Like he didn’t want to disrupt the space he was in. Like he was afraid it’d vanish if he made too much noise.

I let him help. Then I told him I had a few messages to follow up on and gave him a more guided tour of the apartment. He nodded his thanks in that low, guarded way of his, and disappeared in the guest room.

I didn’t check on him. I didn’t hover. I just listened as the door clicked shit and the room fell quiet again.

The clock on the wall read 9:41 p.m. late, but not late enough for anyone I needed to talk to. I grabbed my phone and curled up on the couch, blanket pulled around my shoulder and got to work.

First text went to Reeva: He’s out. In my care. Not ready to file yet. Building confidence. Will update soon.

Her read receipt came in seconds later. No reply. Typical.

Then Captain Morales: Not ready to report yet. He knows she’s waiting. Watching. Please keep background ears up until I ping otherwise.

The dots popped up right away

[MORALES]: Understood. No noise unless he calls it. You’re doing good, Mia. Let me know what you need.

I stared at the screen longer than I meant to before swiping over to Cynthia. He’s stable, settling in. Not ready to move yet. Will need guidance on initial documentation once he’s ready to speak. Will coordinate.

The response was slower, more careful.

[Cynthia]: I’m here when he is ready. No pressure. He’s lucky he has you.

I didn’t reply to that one. I tossed the phone onto the coffee table and sank back against the cushions, exhaustions settling behind my eyes like fog. I let the silence stretch. Let myself feel the ache behind my ribs that had been sitting there since a patient accidentally hit me.

Then I sat up, suddenly alert 

“Fuck.”

I’d forgotten to bring up the pitt.

His job.

Frank’s return to work hadn’t come up once—not at dinner, not in the list of legal steps or safety nets. And it should’ve. It mattered. He was still technically employed, still expected to show up. Still part of the system that could chew him up all over again if he didn’t make the next move carefully. 

I rubbed both hands over my face, hard. That’s the thing with triage—you handle the bleeding first. You don’t think about the paperwork until later. But later was coming fast, and Abby would be expecting him back soon if she hadn’t started calling the psych department asking questions.

Tomorrow. First thing in the morning. I’d bring it up with him. I exhaled, grabbing a drink and putting a movie on. 

The ice in my glass had melted into something soft and watered down. Whiskey, mostly. Not enough to dull anything, just enough to hold the edge. Some old movie I’d seen a hundred of times played quietly on the TV, the dialogue washing over me like static. Something black and white. Noir, maybe. Two people arguing in raincoats about a love that had already lost its chance. 

My eyes drifted closed without permission, heavy from the day, the week, and honestly the life I’d chosen to carry. Just for a second. Just long enough to forget the tension behind my ribs. I was on the edge of sleep—just about to give in—when I heard the soft shuffle of footsteps. 

I didn’t open my eyes right away. Just listened. I’d know that walk anywhere now. The kind that tried not to take up space. Like he was afraid even the floor might tell him to go back to bed. 

He didn’t say anything, just stood near the edge of the living room, waiting. Like he wasn’t sure if this counted as intruding. I cracked one eye open and looked at him. He was still in the hoodie and sweats. The sleeves pushed up, hair was a little damp, and expression was unreadable but I could see it in his posture: too much noise, not enough quiet.

“Couldn’t sleep?” I asked, voice low, the words half-melted with fatigue.

He shook his head “Didn’t even try.”

I sat up slowly, adjusting the blanket over my lap and nudging the glass on the coffee table “Couch is open,” I offered “If the bed feels like too much.”

He hesitated, “You were asleep.”

“Half-asleep. Quarter, maybe.”

He hovered for a second longer, then stepped into the room. He didn’ sit at first—just stood with his hands in his pockets, watching the flicker of the movie for a few seconds “Bogart?” he asked, squinting at the screen.

“Bacall.”

He gave a faint, tired smile. “They always looked like they were about to kill each other.” 

I huffed a laugh, “They probably were.” 

He sat down on the far end of the couch, not too close, but not far either. We didn’t look at each other, just at the screen. The silence felt less avoidance and more like an agreement.

I reached for the blanket and wordlessly passed him the other end. He took it without a word folding it over his lap. 

“Used to watch movies like this late at night,” he said after a while, “when the kids were finally asleep, when I needed a reason to stay awake a little longer.”

“To avoid her?”

He didn’t answer.

Didn’t have to.

The screen flashed. Black and white shadows. Rain on pavement. A woman lighting a cigarette and leaving someone behind. 

“I forgot to bring up the pitt,” I said quietly

He made a face, “I figured I’d already be pulled from rotation. I mean—” he glanced at me, “after everything. Psych hold. Attempt.”

“You weren't,” I said simply.

His brow furrowed. “That’s not possible.”

I tilted my head, “Not common, no. But not impossible.”

He stared at me for a long moment, “What did you do?”

I took a breath, then let it out slowly. “I made sure certain people knew the details that mattered and not the ones that didn’t”

“You pulled strings.”

“I…reminded a few people why a rushed decision wouldn’t look good for anyone.”

He sat back, staring at the ceiling now, processing. “So I’m still on staff.”

“You’re still on staff,” I confirmed, “still on the schedule. Nothing public, no report to the hospital board. HR flagged it as medical leave. That’s it.”

He rubbed a hand over his face, “Jesus.”

I didn’t say anything. 

“I thought…I don’t know. That I’d come out of the ward and find myself shut out. Locked out of everything.”

“I wouldn’t let that happen,” I said. “Not before you had the chance to decide what comes next on your terms.”

Frank turned his head slowly, looking at me—not suspicious. Just curious. A little disbelieving. “You really got that much pull?

I gave him a tired smile and turned my eyes back to the screen “Let’s just say,” I murmured as I down the rest of my watered down drink, “some of the board remembers who I was before the white coat.” 

I felt his gaze linger, but I didn’t look back. 

He didn’t ask. He could have, but he didn’t.

And maybe that is why I trust him with the kind of silence most people didn’t deserve.

[tgmsunmontue]

Season to Taste - 36/42 WIP

Explicit Hangster - Celebrity Chef Bradley and Naval Aviator Jake Seresin who have a relationship spanning the globe before they realize how tightly bound they are to one another.

PROLOGUE/1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (interlude) 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 (interlude) 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 (interlude) 31 32 33 34 35

CHAPTER THIRTYSIX

                “Okay. Listen up. My boyfriend is in town. I’ve got him on the chef’s table. Now… he fucking auto-condiments. It’s a character flaw, but also it’s so very much him that I don’t think he’ll ever stop. So… don’t get your hackles up worrying about it. Or worrying about what I might think. He’s either added ketchup to everything I’ve made, or said it’s too sweet, or that his mom and grandma can make it better… I don’t think he’s actually ever paid my cooking a compliment now that I think about it.”

                His staff are all looking at him in undisguised horror and Bradley knows he’s probably exaggerating a little, because Jake has been plenty complimentary, but he also knows what he likes and isn’t ever afraid of letting Bradley know in no uncertain terms.

                “Oh, also, he doesn’t really know quite how famous I am. At least I don’t think so. We met a decade ago and he knows me as Leonardo, so he gets to call me Leo or Leon or Leonardo if he’s really pissed off.”

                Jaws lower even further toward the floor and Bradley grins at them all.

                “Yeah, I know. I’m in a good mood. My boyfriend is in town. Let’s have a good service okay?”

                “Yes chef!”

…            …            …

                “How did it go?”

                “Fuck…”

                “Again? Seriously? Bradley!” she punches him on the arm and she doesn’t hold back any strength and he flinches away. “What does he do? Suck your brain out of your dick?”

                “Uh…” he not sure whether to confirm or deny, because the weekend had been… illuminating. And amazing. And exhausting both physically and a little emotionally, just with them talking about more things which they might like to try out.

                “Ugh! It’s your funeral. Just tell him over the phone, or through Facetime. I think this is going to be a bigger deal for him than your fame and fortune.”

                “I know! Which is why I want to tell him in person!”

                “Well next time you see him I’m coming as chaperone to make sure it actually happens. You keep beating yourself up over it and it’s not good for you.”

                “I know…” Bradley says, and from the look Vi is giving him he knows it maybe isn’t contrite enough. “I’m… I do know. Sorry. I’ll try to not let it bother me, okay?”

                She snorts at that and rolls her eyes, but Bradley knows he’s forgiven when she rests her head on his shoulder as their plane takes off.

…            …            …

                Jake looks at the email attachment and pulls a face.

                It’s fine.

                This is the life he signed up for, and he’s been spoiled the last few months with being stationed at Fallon. It’s not the closest he could be to Leo, but he’s still seen him fairly regularly. It’s been really nice and he knows he’s going to miss him even more than usual. He rings in his lunch break, know Leo will be deep in the prep stage in the kitchen. He never thought he’d understand so much about how a restaurant is run, but he could listen to Leo talk about it for hours. Has listened to Leo talk about it for hours in fact.

                “Jake! He’s just stepped out front. We didn’t want to ignore the call though… how’s it going man?”

                “Uh, Kieran right?”

                “That’s me! And don’t worry, I know you’re probably on a time crunch. I’ve sent someone to fetch Bradley.”

                “Thanks. I appreciate it. And I’m going good. You know. Pretty standard…”

                “Lather, rinse and repeat right? Same here. Same shit, different day!” Kieran says, the last few words a little louder and he hears other jeers and laughter, has met most of them now and they’re Leo’s squad. He’s glad he has a good bunch of people working with him.

                “Get back to work you bunch of reprobates…” Leo says, his voice loud and clear and happy and Jake can’t help the thrill at hearing his voice. “Hey…”

                “Hey. Uh. Can you give me a couple of minutes?”

                “Of course,” Leo says, and Jake can tell from the change in sound that he’s no longer on speaker, that Leo is moving somewhere quieter. “What’s up?”

                “I got new orders. Direct to Kitsap, then Ronald Reagan for about five months.”

                “Shit.”

                “Yeah. I know you’ll get you hand on the manifest and meet me when you can. Just… I’m going to miss you.”

                “Yeah. I’m going to miss you too. So much.”

…            …            …

                It’s fine.

                Not the end of the world.

                The first few months slip past quickly enough.

                It is grating that he can’t meet Jake in Brisbane when he has leave. The entire crew are slated to take part in the Talisman Saber, which Ice has been telling him about, because he’s involved now that he’s the COMPACFLT and Bradley tries not to think about telling Jake that. He’s going to be seeing Jake when he’s got shore leave in Japan, when the Ronald Reagan berths there after it has done whatever it needs to do in the Pacific Ocean. Bradley can, and will, finally tell him all about Maverick and Ice and he can stop waking up in a cold sweat thinking about Jake being hurt and upset that he didn’t tell him. He runs his finger over the gold band on his finger, knows that the ring he bought Jake is hanging around his neck right now wherever he is and it makes him feel grounded somehow, despite their distance.

                His phone rings then and he startle a little, not expecting anyone, a little wary when he see Ice’s contact name showing. Since finding out how much it hurt’s Ice to talk Bradley has insisted on video calls where Ice can type out what he wants to say. The fact that he’s calling is… worrying.

                “Hey Ice…”

                “Bradley…”

                The scratchy rough pitch does nothing to lessen the tone of Ice’s voice has his knees shaking and he grabs for a chair and lowers himself into it. Is reminded of the time Mav told him about Ice’s cancer, but right now he has Jake somewhere in the Pacific Ocean… Don’t go borrowing trouble a little voice in his head whispers, and it’s been a while since he even remembered his mom saying that.

                “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

                “Maverick is missing.”

                He feels relief flood through him, quickly followed by guilt in equal measure, that it’s Maverick Ice is ringing him about and not Jake. Shit. Mav is Ice’s though, and while he might still be cautious around Mav he doesn’t want Ice hurting. And he doesn’t ever want Mav dead.

                “What? How?”

                “He was flying…”

                “He… Did he crash?” Bradley asks, because how is he missing if he was flying? A plane is pretty fucking thing to go missing. “Or is the plane missing as well?”

                “I…”

                “Shit. Sorry. I know you can’t talk much.”

                “Classified.”

                “Of course it fucking is… Do you think he’s alive?”

                “He’s Maverick.”

                Bradley lets out a long annoyed sigh, because that shouldn’t be an answer, or an end to a line of questioning, and yet…

                “Yeah. I guess he is.”

THIRTY SEVEN