heroesdeath

[heroesdeath]

It happened after the hallway.

He just nodded looking her in the eyes, slow and silent, when the words left her mouth. They sat heavy somewhere in his gut. But he'd known. Somewhere deep down, he'd suspected it.

No satisfaction crossed his face. No smugness. No raised brows or clever comebacks. He didn't feel proud either. Just… a little responsible, in the way a man does when he pours gasoline on a house that was already burning. She would’ve walked eventually, that much was clear. He'd just happened to be the last push.

Gabriel had seen this story before. Hell, he'd tailed enough couples to know the shape of it by heart. But always from the outside. Always through a camera lens, or across a parking lot.

Without saying a word, he reached into the drawer beside him and pulled out a small box of tissues and quietly set them on the desk between them, nudging them her way before leaning back again.

He stayed quiet until she had finished. Just let her be. Let her feel.

In that moment, he wasn't the detective. He wasn't the man from the hallway either. He was just someone who gave a shit.

She didn't owe him her grief. But she gave him a piece of it anyway. And for that he felt respect. Respect for taking the kind of step most people couldn't. He'd lost count of how many clients came to him with hearts already broken, desperate for evidence they'd then pretend not to believe when he handed it over. Clinging to a thing already rotted through.

"You don't sound like a fool," he finally said, voice quiet but firm. "You sound like someone who cared. And sometimes... Sometimes you care more than the other person ever did." He paused, just long enough to draw a breath. His gaze drifted for a moment, as if he was remembering something or someone. "That's what hurts the most. That's the part people don't tell you about." No one tells you how much leaving can break you just as much as staying. He looked back at Amanda again. "That's not foolish. That's... human."

He leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on the edge of his desk now. He looked down only for a second, rubbing the edge of his thumb against a scar on his hand. "You don't have to apologize. Not for talking. Not here. I was the one who asked."

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, more wry than teasing, but there was a softness behind it. "And now you're making me look like I'm good at this emotional support thing."

Of course she was going to get exactly what she wanted. Other than the one thing she wanted most in the world, Amanda was used to getting her way. Maybe it was thanks to the combination of her good looks and sharp wit, or maybe it was her status as Mrs. Weston Ryder. Either way, there was no doubt in her mind that she’d ultimately come out on top, one way or another.

Just when it felt like they were getting somewhere, Gabriel had to bring up the topic of her divorce and the reasoning behind it. Part of Amanda immediately wanted to jump on the defensive, keeping her true emotions bottled up inside as she presented herself as a headstrong, confident woman to the outside world. Fortunately, the more rational side had stuck around long enough to remind her that he deserved at least a little bit of the truth, if for no other reason than the simple fact that he’d played a significant role in the whole thing. Regardless of what was about to come out of her mouth next, there was a moment or two of hesitation as she gathered her thoughts and decided how best to word the mini confession.

“It happened after the hallway.”

A point was made to maintain eye contact now, wanting to be certain he understood that everything she was telling him in that moment was the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. There was no telling him what he wanted to hear or trying to boost his ego to make him seem more vital to her than he truly was. No, her explanation was messy and raw, much like the way her life had felt for pretty much as far back as she could remember.   “Being with you made me finally feel something again. You lit a spark in me that I didn’t want to fizzle out, and it ultimately gave me the resolve to take that next step and be done with him once and for all. It might’ve taken me a little time, but once it hit me, I filed for divorce and started packing that day.”

Unfortunately, Weston had chosen to come home and walk in on her in the middle of it all, and while it certainly wasn’t the way she’d originally meant for him to find out, maybe it had happened for a reason. Maybe it was somehow for the best, because he’d loosely been given a taste of his own medicine, in a way. He’d emotionally walked out on her years ago, and there she was physically walking out on him.

Memories that had chosen to come flooding back caught her off guard, leaving Amanda swiping away at a tear with the back of her hand as she offered Gabriel a hint of an apologetic smile for falling apart in front of him. She could pick up the pieces on her own, but it was nice to have the comfort of someone familiar to lean on, even if that someone was the man she’d cheated on her then husband with. Oddly enough, Weston had once again only stepped out emotionally, while his wife had eventually allowed herself to do so physically.

Oh, what a tangled web they’d woven.

“I guess I just wish it didn’t hurt so damn much, you know? I wish I could just forget about him – out of sight, out of mind -, but I’m beginning to realize it’s not that easy. Nothing’s fading or healing with time. I can’t believe I let him do this to me. I can’t believe what an idiotic fool I sound like right now. It’s like you said, you’re not my shrink. I shouldn’t be dumping this all on you. I apologize.”

[heroesdeath]

Like this if you have older muses, a lot of my muses are in their 40s so I'm looking for muses around the same age. I'm also looking for people interested in crime fiction.

[heroesdeath]

Don't want money, just someone who wants my company. 💕 @heroesdeath

[heroesdeath]

I updated my wanted opposites list in case anyone is interested. You know you can always poke me if you feel like having affiliated OCs, I have a few pending so I'll be messaging people about them.

[heroesdeath]

PEDRO PASCAL Vanity Fair | July - August 2025

[heroesdeath]

Gael García Bernal in Holland (2025, Mimi Cave)

[heroesdeath]

"Alright. You'll get what you want." He nodded and took one last look at the file, scribbling something on a little notebook he had next to it.

"You really know how to motivate a man, huh?" He muttered mostly to himself. His lips curled just slightly at the corner of his mouth.

Gabriel tapped his fingers on the file as there was still something he meant to ask, thinking carefully about his next words. "So the divorce," he started, his voice low and non judgemental, not even surprised. Just plain and simple as if he was asking for another detail in a regular case. "That happened before or after the hallway?" He could have found out the answer by himself but that didn't sit right. Not with her. Not with what they'd shared, however brief or blurred the lines had been.

"I know, I know," he said, raising one hand slightly, a kind of concession. "None of my damn business." He said rolling his eyes, as if he could hear her already telling them at him. "I don't plan on giving you the full shrink treatment. I just-" He stopped himself and scratched his jaw as if that could save him from what he had just started. Then, he let out a slow exhale. "How're you holding up with all of it, anyway?"

He didn't dress it up. Didn't lean in with fake concern or try to joke his way around it. He just let it hang there between them. A rare crack in the armor, if she felt like sharing anything with him.

The remark about her choice of perfume caused Amanda’s eyes to narrow, yet her response was nothing more than a simple shake of the head. She knew better than to reward him with anything verbal. No, that would only give him more ammunition, and then she’d never hear the end of it.

Truth be told, she wasn’t expecting very much from the search, yet that didn’t stop her from wanting Gabriel to find even the smallest of missteps, whether it be somewhere within his oil company or better yet in his personal life. It wouldn’t surprise her in the least if he wound up trying to nurse his broken heart with a woman who was either supposedly almost exactly like her or possibly even half his age.

Either way, she just needed some proof that he was entirely miserable since she’d left. Given how things had ended between them the one time she’d decided to drop in at the bar he’d frequented ever since she’d known him in an attempt to gather it herself, it’d become more than obvious she needed an unbiased third party to do the real dirty work.

“Not that my sleeping habits are any of your business, but I sleep just fine at night.” The words were slipping from the tip of her tongue before she’d even had time to realize it wasn’t necessarily a literal question. “I just want to know what he’s getting himself into now that we’re divorced, and I don’t want the sugar-coated version from our children or any of my former in-laws.”

Then again, it couldn’t hurt to start up a little game of her own. Mirroring Gabriel’s movements, Amanda leaned back in her own chair a little, mischievous grin lining her lips to match the gleam now present in her eyes. “Find me something interesting and maybe, just maybe, our real second date will be a night to remember at my place.”

[heroesdeath]

I'm trying to keep all my new starters/threads like Sabrina Carpenter, short and sweet 😂💋

[heroesdeath]

@soullesstrouble said: ❛ no offense, but you look terrible. ❜ / soph to eli

Eli was more asleep than awake to think on a witty come back, but honestly? She was absolutely right. They all were in shambles. And he felt exactly the way he looked like.

"Bloody hell, Soph. Don't ever hold back, will you?" He tried to sound offended but to tell the truth, he was way past used to her bluntness. He actually fancied it. "What would we do without our number one hater?" He laughed. Everyone else seemed to tiptoe around them now that they were more noted, but never Sophie. Blessed her little free-spirited New Yorker heart.

"We were in the studio 'til four, and some bugger," he said as he gestured dramatically angry at the universe, "Thought it'd be brilliant to take the piss at us and scheduled a press shoot at eight."

[heroesdeath]

Plus the one tumblr didn't let me upload

These are my guys

[heroesdeath]

[heroesdeath]

I'm finally online. I'm going to try to answer to as many asks as possible. Thanks for your patience!

[heroesdeath]

Late Night Wanderings Sentence Starters

“What are you doing out this late?”

“This part of town isn’t a good place to be at this time of night.”

“Now what’s a pretty thing like you doing in a place like this?” 

“You do realize what time it is, right?” 

“Where are you going at this hour?” 

“The sun isn’t rising anytime soon, you know.” 

“Do you know where I am?” 

“The city looks different at night.” 

“This street is very dark…” 

“Why don’t you come stand in the light?” 

“Are you lost?” 

“I got turned around in the dark…” 

“This isn’t the time to go wandering around.”

“Only fools and trouble come out to these parts at this hour.” 

“Looking for trouble, are we?” 

“A little late to be shopping.” 

“Just coming back from the bar?” 

“Think any of the pubs are still going to be open?” 

“Trouble lurks around every shadowed corner.” 

“Woah! I didn’t see you there!”

“Where did you come from?” 

“What are you doing here?” 

“A bold move to show your face here in the shadows of night.” 

“Go home.” 

“It isn’t safe here at this time of night.” 

“You’re being watched.” 

“What are you doing still up?” 

“Looking for something?” 

“I like walking when the streets are empty.”

“It’s dangerous to walk at night alone.” 

“I know where I’m going.” 

“The trees are kind of spooky…”

“Did you hear that howl?” 

“Was…was that an owl…?” 

“This path is scary at night…” 

“The woods is no place a __ after dusk.” 

“Oh you poor soul, wandering lost in the forest under the new moon…” 

“You can’t see the stars from here…” 

“This is the witching hour.” 

“Dark beasts lurk here. Be cautious.” 

“Stay on the road!” 

“Talking a midnight stroll along the beach?” 

“The ocean is so mysterious at night…” 

“What brings you to the pier at this hour?” 

“What dangers lurk in these dark waters, I wonder.” 

“You’re going to get yourself lost one of these days.” 

🌙+ your own

[heroesdeath]

Before he could even open his mouth, Maria was in his arms. For a moment, he just froze. Like he didn't know what to do with it. With her. Her arms around him. Her face tucked into the crook of his neck like she belonged there.

"Careful," he murmured against her hair, his voice low and quiet. He held her back just as carefully. One arm wrapping around her waist like she might break again if he moved too fast. The other still gripped the bouquet. "The nurses'll scold me if they see you squeezing your emotional support idiot too tight," he said in an effort to bring lightness to the moment. The kind he was too good at.

When she finally pulled back, he took a half step just to look at her properly. It was good to see the color back on her cheeks.

"I, uh… I wasn't sure you'd want to see me," he admitted. "I've been coming every day. But they wouldn't let me in. ‘Friends and family only,’” he added, mimicking the front desk nurse's voice with a dramatic eye roll.

Then, more softly, he held out the flowers.

"Oh yeah, I got you these. They're not great, but… they were the second prettiest at the shop." His attempt at humour was self-deprecating, but there was something earnest in it. "I hope you're not allergic to roses. I didn't think about that before buying them but hey, bright side, we're still at the hospital."

He gave a crooked smile and rubbed the back of his neck, maybe the balloons that said ‘Get Well Soon’ in Comic Sans would have been more appropriate...

"Come on. Let's get you home, yeah?" He added after a second. "I'll hang back, or wait outside, whatever you need. Just… figured maybe it'd be easier if you didn't have to go back in alone."

Since leaving her family Maria had never really felt terribly lonely. She had moments, but she always reminded herself there was a reason she stayed alone. And, she had her books. Mountains of them, a never-ending supply or worlds to fall into, of characters to surround herself with. School also helped. After spending a day with boisterous third graders she was too tired to do anything but read.

Sitting in the hospital bed, day after day, Maria felt alone. More alone than she'd ever felt in her life. She was tired, scared and in pain. Every new person that came through the door set her on edge and where was Gabriel? Gabriel who'd brought this all on. He was no where to be seen. She figured he'd realised how deep the rabbit hole went and decided he wanted nothing to do with any of it. Yet even as anger swelled in her, there was something about his words as she was slipping out of consciousness. Like he'd actually cared.

The blood loss had been bad but the knife hadn't hit anything vital and so four days after she arrived, she was ready to go home. Instructions to take it easy, instructions to have someone help her.

Maria didn't have the heart to tell the nurses that she didn't have anyone. That until she was allowed to shop on her own she was probably going to have to live on deliveries. She didn't have the heart to tell them that she had no family, no friends, she was entirely alone and therefore taking it easy would be, for the most part, easy.

When she stepped out of the doors, wearing donated grey sweat pants and a sweater, hair scraped back into a ponytail and her bag, the last person she expected to see was Gabriel, and yet there he was. He couldn't be here for her though, not with those flowers and yet he was walking towards her.

The dam in her faltered and then broke. When she met him, she didn't wait for an invitation, she wrapped her arms around him and just clung to him for a minute. He was probably only here out of guilt, or because he had questions. It probably wasn't anything to do with caring about her but right now she didn't care. She just needed to feel like somebody might care, to feel like she wasn't entirely alone.

[heroesdeath]

Not me watching a show with Tony Dalton while I should be sleeping.

[heroesdeath]

the bait... double like

[heroesdeath]

One of these days I'm gonna make a list of the fragrances my muses wear because that's so important to me and my characters. This goes for this blog and insidemyblood too.