#And we have officially struck a nerve on him

[helaintoloki]

the other Hargreeves siblings being absolutely teary-eyed on the day of y/n and Five’s wedding. they like to think of her as an adopted member of the family, because she’s gone through so much with them, gotten so close to death in multiple occasions while trying to save them. after everything, they never thought to see her live out the happy life she deserve, much less getting married to Five.

a/n: i am a sucker for found family tropes and wedding pieces so this was fun for me to write

warnings: none i think ? mostly fluff

Your stomach feels as if it’s tied into a million knots, and you can’t bring yourself to even touch the plate of fruit Klaus had fetched for you to nibble on as you got ready for the big day. Allison works diligently to perfect your look despite her insistence that you should have just let her hire a professional to get the job done, but you were adamant about keeping everything as simple as possible. Neither you nor Five wanted some big extravagant mess when it came to your ceremony, and if it had been up to you both you would have just settled for a courthouse marriage, but his family wouldn’t have it. You were finally becoming an official Hargreeves, and they deemed it necessary to celebrate with a proper wedding and reception despite the fact that there really would only be about ten guests at most.

You met Five in the apocalyptic ruins of the world while scavenging for food. Despite everyone you knew and cared about perishing in the gale of fire that blanketed the earth, you had miraculously survived. Call it pure luck for being at the right place at the right time, but you had been searching for a flashlight in your underground basement when the moon had been struck, and the reinforced steel structure of the room had kept you from suffering the same fate as everyone around you.

Neither of you trusted each other in the beginning, but you both were smart enough to realize that sticking together was necessary for your survival, and so you put aside your differences to travel the apocalyptic wasteland together. That’s not to say there weren’t times when you got on each others nerves or wanted to strangle him with your bare hands, but with time your partnership evolved into an actual friendship, and perhaps it could have evolved into more if not for the constant distractions that arose during your fight for survival.

Allison accidentally poking your eye with a mascara wand interrupts your moment of reminiscing, and she merely gives you an apologetic smile when you shoot her a look of annoyance in return.

“I told you we should have hired a professional,” she reminds you matter of factly only for you to lightly swat her hand away.

“And I told you I wanted to go down to the courthouse and pick up a sheet cake at the grocery store,” you counter with a raised brow. Sensing defeat, Allison relents with a small sigh and takes a step back to look at her masterpiece.

“You’re right, I’m sorry. It’s just our family doesn’t get to do these sorts of things very often, and it’s not every day I get a new sister.”

Your shoulders slump guilty at her admission, and you find yourself now feeling less combative against her than you initially were. Though you mentally are in your 50’s and no longer see a need to have a big wedding to marry a man you’ve known for basically your whole life, you still physically look like a young bride, so it’s only natural for Allison and the rest of Five’s siblings to want to treat you as such. From what Five has told you along with the stories that have been recounted in your presence, their lives have always been less than normal. You of all people can relate to that- growing up in an apocalypse, becoming a glorified secretary for a time-ordinance bureau while your only friend is out on assignments, risking your life to save the world, ending multiple apocalypses. The list could go on forever. They’re only trying to experience normal family milestones, so who are you to get in the way of that.

“No, I’m sorry,” you relent with a remorseful sigh. “I know you’re just trying to be nice, and I’m grateful for how quickly you and your siblings have welcomed me into the family despite how unconventional this all is. I really appreciate it.”

“Good, I’m glad you see it my way,” Allison teases playfully before finishing up the final touches on her masterpiece.

“Knock, knock,” Klaus singsongs from outside your dressing room before letting himself in. Proudly holding up the plastic wrap bag from its hanger, he announces, “Here I am with the dress, and as promised, nothing happened to it under my watch.”

“Thank you, Klaus,” you smile gratefully only for him to return the gesture with an affectionate pinch of your cheek.

“No need to thank me, sweetheart. I’m just so excited to finally have a little sister!”

“You know I’m technically older than you right?” You retort with a raised brow only for him to press a finger to your lips.

“Shh, don’t ruin this for me,” he gently corrects you before pressing a kiss to the crown of your head. You don’t miss the way his eyes begin to water at the sight of you with your hair and makeup done, but you’re kind enough not to point it out. Klaus had been the easiest of Five’s siblings to warm up to, always treating you like one of his own and roping you into his mischief despite your fiancé’s protests. The Seance couldn’t even count on one hand how many times you had been there to lend a shoulder for him to cry on when his addiction became too much or offer a supportive hand when his siblings had been less than eager to do so. He adored you, and he could nearly burst with pride at finally being able to call himself your brother.

“Alright, we have thirty minutes left to get you into that dress and down that isle,” Allison announces with a determined clap of her hands before snatching the dress from Klaus. “Are you ready to officially become Mrs. Hargreeves?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” you announce with a resigned sigh before immediately being pulled every which way by the two siblings to finish your ensamble.

You can’t wait to get this over with.

~~~

“You nervous?” Viktor whispers with a gentle nudge to Five’s side. Quiet chatter drifts through the air as the handful of guests that are present make conversation to pass the time before the ceremony begins. Neither of you exactly have big families; Five has only ever had his siblings, and your family isn’t exactly supportive of your choice of groom. It’s an intimate affair, but you both prefer it that way.

“Hardly,” he scoffs indignantly, though his need to readjust his tie for the millionth time says otherwise. Five knows that this probably should have happened sooner and promoting you from his partner to his wife has been long overdue. He was honestly surprised you had said yes when he’d finally bit the bullet and asked the question. He loved you, cared for you in a way he never thought possible and in a way that honestly wasn’t quite like him. But you were different, and he hadn’t risked it all trying to end multiple apocalypses just to not marry you once the world was finally safe.

“I’m glad you’re happy, we all are,” his brother notes with a kind smile. “She’s good for you, and she’ll be a good addition to the family.”

Five can’t argue with that. It honestly pains him to think about just how many times you’ve thrown your own life on the line for not just him but his siblings as well. You’ve been there for them even when it wasn’t your responsibility, when they technically weren’t your family yet, even when Five himself wasn’t the best brother to them all. While Five could at times be brash or crude, you were patient and understanding, and this balance helped make their team stronger. You’d make a fine Hargreeves; he wouldn’t be standing here today if that weren’t the case.

Behind the wooden double doors you nervously readjust your veil as you wait for your cue to enter the room. Diego holds your bouquet patiently on your left while Luther fluffs out the skirt of your dress for you on your right. Having no real family present for your big day, you were left without anyone to give you away to your new husband. Diego and Luther had both been eager to throw themselves at the chance to be at your side down the aisle, constantly at each other’s necks arguing over who deserved the right more. Of course, as the bride it was you who got the final say, and the choice couldn’t have been more obvious. You picked them both.

Both men had been put through a lot by your fiancé, from having to carry his drunken form out of a library to dealing with his fits of rage at their inability to meet his deadlines for important tasks, but they had always been kind to you despite the unorthodox nature of your relationship with their brother. Luther had taken several bullets for you before, and Diego hadn’t shied away from being a supportive shoulder to cry on whenever you and Five couldn’t see eye-to-eye. It would feel wrong not to have them both by your side, and they were honored.

“You scared?” Diego questions after noticing your tight grip on his bicep when the music begins. He has to hold back a wince from the way your manicured nails dig into his arm and distracts himself by handing you your bouquet.

“A little,” you answer honestly, harshly swallowing down your nerves when Luther opens the doors for you to walk through.

“You’ve got this,” Diego encourages after pressing a chaste kiss to your temple. “If anyone is brave enough to marry my brother, it’s you.”

“Brave or maybe a little insane,” Luther adds under his breath.

You can’t help the small huff of air that pushes past your lips in response to his quip, but you’re given no time to respond as your soon-to-be brother-in-laws escort you to your awaiting husband.

No one can deny how absolutely breath taking you look in your elegantly simple wedding gown, your smile nervous as you make your way towards Five who looks so handsome in his perfectly tailored suit. All day you’ve wanted nothing more than to see him, but now that you’re here you find yourself full of nerves and anxiety.

Luther and Diego give you away at the end of the isle (not without sternly warning Five to take good care of their new sister), and you finally find yourself face-to-face with the man you’ve loved for years.

“You ready for this?” He whispers under his breath as Viktor begins his officiant speech, subtly reaching for your hand to give it a reassuring squeeze.

“This won’t be the worst thing we’ve done together,” you note cheekily with a shrug as you hide your smile behind your bouquet, and Five can’t argue with that.

Though his siblings have been better at showing their excitement for this day than you or Five combined, you’d be lying if you said you weren’t happy to finally be marrying the boy who had been by your side through thick and thin, good and bad, and life and death. Perhaps your love story was a bit unconventional, but unconventionality is a Hargreeves speciality.

You’re going to fit right in.

[ellecdc]

Hi Elle I would love a lil fic with pregnancy scare with Sirius?

thanks for your request! I hope I did it justice <3

Sirius Black x fem!reader who has a pregnancy scare [1.3k words]

CW: pregnancy tests, stress over possible pregnancy, reader is of the mind that she doesn't want to be pregnant (right now or ever is up to interpretation)

It was almost a welcome reprieve to know that the nausea you were currently experiencing was the effect of nerves and not…other reasons.

You hadn’t been nauseous, that’s not why you were here - here being perched on the edge of the bathtub after having urinated into a cup and following the instructions of the pregnancy test now sitting on the bathroom counter as you waited your allotted five minutes. 

You had been late - that was why you were here on the edge of a bathtub as you waited for the piece of plastic to tell you whether or not you were…pregnant. 

Your cycle had always been like clockwork - you could sometimes expect your period down to the minute (an exaggeration, of course, but still) so by the time you were three days late you were officially panicking. 

You didn’t know what you were going to say to Sirius; you wondered if the test came back negative if you would need to say anything at all. Well, other than a warning that the two of you should be more careful going forward. 

But before you had a chance to consider your options, you heard the door to your flat open followed by a quick “hey doll!” as Sirius returned from a pickup game with James.

You called out a quick “hey” in return, wincing at the crack in your voice as your throat was taught with anxiety.

You could hear him following the sound of your voice up the stairs before bodily slamming into the bathroom door that he clearly expected to be open.

“Did…did you lock the door?” He asked incredulously, giving the handle a shake as if to prove his theory. “You did lock the door!”

“Sirius, there are locks on bathroom doors for a reason.” You replied, earning you a derisive scoff.

“Not in our house there isn’t! What’s the deal?”

“There’s no deal.”

“Uhm… There's clearly a deal. Let me in.” He stated simply.

“Sirius, what if I’m pooping?”

A pause.

“Are you pooping?”

You paused in return.

“Come on babe.” He whined dramatically and you could hear him lean heavily against the door. “Why’re you shutting me out like this?”

And you knew from his over dramatic tone that he was only teasing you, but his words struck a nerve.

“I thought we were in this together?” He lamented, and your resolve broke.

You were partners, you were in this together as he said. And you supposed that this affected him just as much as it affected you, even if it didn’t feel like it right now.

You reached over and unlocked the door, holding your breath as you watched him open the door.

“There you are! I was getting wo- what’s going on?” His usual salacious persona falling immediately when he spotted you on the edge of the tub. “Baby, are you okay?”

You had your hand over your mouth as your chin rested in your palm, and you nodded the best as you could as your eyes flooded with tears.

“Baby.” He cooed. “What’s-” his questioning cut short as his eyes surveyed the bathroom and fell on the test.

The silence felt suffocating as he gathered his own thoughts, eyes glued to the test as if he was worried it would disappear should he look away from it.

He did finally - look away from it, that is - in order to look at you; his expression oozing both shock and sympathy. 

He rushed forward to press a forceful kiss into the side of your head as if he was trying to give you strength by means of his lips before he turned and fled from the bathroom.

You could nearly picture his every move as you listened to him flit around your bedroom; he disposed of his gym bag in the closet before stripping off his sweaty clothes, slipping into fresh clothes before tying his hair up and spaying some cologne on his person - you teasingly complained of him smelling like sweat one time when he didn’t shower immediately after a game, and he’d done the same thing ever since. 

He reappeared then, seemingly out of breath but with a look of pure determination on his face. Fuck you loved him so much. 

“How long has it been?” He asked you quietly, though his eyes were on the test. 

You tried to clear your throat and wiped away a few tears that had escaped your waterline. “I…don’t know, probably about five minutes now.”

Sirius nodded his head and stepped towards the counter, holding the test in his hands with the gentleness one would use to handle a baby bird. 

And he didn’t say anything. 

“Siri?”

He looked over at you with furrowed brows and an unreadable expression that had you standing in record time to rip it out of his hands.

Positive. 

No.

“No…” You let out in a breath, shaky hands dropping the test and causing it to clatter in the sink as you quickly fell to your knees.

“No no no.” You chanted as you dug through the lower cabinets for the box of tests you thought you’d only need to take one of and ripping the package open so violently that they all came flying out. 

You started pulling the tabs off of the ends and following the instructions you’d read previously, thankful you didn’t have the wherewithal to dispose of your previous cup before.

“Hey, hey, babe, hang on. Y/N, slow down.” Sirius encouraged gently, placing a hand on each of your shoulders as he stood above you, watching you start three more tests. “Slow down, it’s alright.”

“It’s not alright.” You whimpered, trying and failing to place the lids back on them with shaking hands before a set of tattooed hands took over for you.

“It is alright; it’s okay.” He murmured. “We don’t need to rush.”

He lined the tests up on the counter beneath the positive one before sitting on the ground with his back against the tub and pulling you in between his legs. 

“It’s alright.” He whispered into your hair, and the two of you sat there in silence; the only sounds coming from the street below you, your breathing in sync, and the occasional sound of his hand drawing lines up and down your arm. 

You’re not sure how much time had passed, but Sirius seemed to be of the mind that the two of you would sit here until you felt ready to check, so you sucked in a breath and stood on shaky legs. 

You stared dumbly at the four tests, one old and three new, as if it were a particularly difficult maths equation.

“Baby?” Sirius murmured softly before standing to join you, reading the results over your shoulder as his hands returned to your sides. 

“Okay?” He whispered into your neck as he draped himself over you, your eyes welling with tears again for a new reason.

“Okay.” You agreed.

“It was probably just a false positive, yeah?”

You nodded quickly and wiped at your eyes before turning in his embrace to hug him back.

“I’m sorry.”

He swayed the two of you back and forth as he rested his cheek on your head. “What’re you sorry for?”

“Stressing you out over nothing.” You explained, earning you a hum of disagreement. 

“Wasn’t nothing.” He said simply. “And you shouldn’t have had to stress out about it by yourself; I’m sorry.” 

“It was my fault, I didn’t tell you.”

He pulled back enough to take the side of your face in each of his hands as his grey eyes flit between yours as he stared at you imploringly. “Promise to tell me sooner next time? Please? Whatever the outcome, we’re in it together, yeah? We’ll do it together.”

And though you weren’t sure exactly what the future held for the two of you, you had to agree that together sounded like the best way to do it.

[ijustliketoreadstuff]

The life Lila wants

It's interesting when Lila drops her persona and shows true emotion. Her desire to be admired isn't just a need for attention, she is desperate to be seen as a treasure among society. Lila lies about having everything, but in reality, she has nothing. 

Lila has always been good at getting what she wants through lying and maintaining those lies, but all her adventurous travels and life of fame was still just that, a lie. However, by working for Gabriel, she was able to make a big part of her lie a reality by becoming a model for the Agreste brand, then later an avatar for the alliance rings, allowing her to be recognized by the world and finally obtain the fame she always spoke of, all in exchange for acting as Gabriel's spy into Adrien's life and committing to separating him from those Gabriel considered "bad influences", specifically Marinette.

Naturally, in "Emotion", the moment she discovered from Kagami that Gabriel saw her as a common stone, rather than a diamond worthy enough to go to the diamonds dance, an event where Gabriel invited the rich and powerful along with their heirs and heiresses, Lila felt wronged. Despite not being related to Gabriel, Lila had deemed herself someone who was entitled to be viewed on equal grounds as the prestige's people Gabriel invited, and since her agreement with Gabriel involved being brought into a world of high society, Lila had assumed she was now officially part of that world by becoming an image of the Agreste brand and had to be upheld in the same regard as Adrien, Kagami and Chloe.

The realization that Gabriel never viewed her as a treasure within his company, but rather someone who was no different than a common perfume bottle his company advertised, struck a big nerve with Lila. She detested being treated like someone who could be easily forgotten and discarded. However, it was her ongoing attempts to repeatedly contact Gabriel about going to the Diamonds dance that made her whole mysterious background even more questionable, as we have never seen her show such concern for not being included in something.

Lila's background continues to elude everyone, but her determination to ensure she is recognized as someone who is far more valuable than a perfume bottle or any normal person for that matter, feels like she is actively seeking out a means to escape her true life, whatever it may really be, and permanently become the girl she spoke of in her lies. We may not know much about Lila's true life, but the fact that she always refers to herself as someone who has accomplished so much and is recognized by so many, does leave the impression that Lila has a dislike for her true identity and what little her real life has provided for her.

Added note: No, Lila does not hate Marinette because she is jealous of her life. Lila hates Marinette because she is a threat. Marinette wants to expose Lila and refused to adhere to Lila’s demands to stay quiet and not get in her way, so now Lila aims to ruin her life.

[actuallysaiyan]

Kinktober Day 2: Hair Pulling(So lovely, it feels so right...)

warnings/kinks: jealousy, hair pulling, creampies, unprotected sex, mentions of breeding, impregnation, reader is married to Kyojuro, mentions/allusions to drinking, vaginal fingering, biting. word count: 1.1k pairings: Kyojuro Rengoku x Fem!Slayer!Reader teaser: “What I do with my wife has nothing to do with you! I thought we could have a nice meal in peace, but of course, you had to go and get drunk.” Kyojuro barks at his father, a look of disgust on his face. taglist: @beneathstarryskies @loki-love @witchofcustom @dreadsuitsamus @pyrofanatic @butterflieskeepcominback

It’s your wedding anniversary and you and Kyojuro have decided to head to his family home for dinner. You’ve been planning this dinner for months, knowing that it will bring joy to his father and his brother. While you and Kyojuro are quite busy being Hashira in the demon slayer corp, his father and brother live a good life at home.

You and Kyojuro had been childhood friends, and slowly became sweethearts. It just became so easy for you two to fall in love with one another, and with the terrifying incident that almost cost Kyojuro his life, you two decided to tie the knot after that. It just seemed natural for you two to get married so that you could forever preserve your love.

Tonight was the two year anniversary of your marriage. You didn’t have any children yet, but you knew that soon Kyojuro would be wanting for the two of you to officially settle down and have kids. It just never seemed like the right time. But you begin to wonder if maybe tonight that Kyojuro might make the announcement of the two of you settling down.

As you both enter the Rengoku home, you’re quickly greeted by the sweet face of Senjuro. The in-home maid, Ichiko, is in the kitchen putting the final touches on dinner. Shinjuro seems almost nowhere to be seen, and you hope he’ll be on his best behavior tonight. You know how much it would mean to Kyojuro to have his father be sober for this celebration.

“Senjuro, where is father?” Kyojuro asks as he guides you and him into the home.

Senjuro frowns, “Well, he was in the kitchen about thirty minutes ago, but he’s not here now.”

You all know what this means. Shinjuro definitely went to get drunk. You sigh as you realize that this could have disastrous effects on this wonderful celebration you had planned.

And oh boy, did it turn badly…

“Why haven’t you impregnated your wife?” Shinjuro booms from the head of the table, a sour look on his face.

You nearly spit out your drink, “Father…please, Kyojuro and I are quite busy with being Hashira.”

Shinjuro grunts, “That’s no matter. You should have at least a few children by now! I impregnated Ruka the night we consummated our marriage.”

Your husband, who’s been quite calm this entire meal, slams his fists against the table and stands up. You’re startled by his demeanor, which is usually calm and collected, but clearly his father has struck a nerve.

“What I do with my wife has nothing to do with you! I thought we could have a nice meal in peace, but of course, you had to go and get drunk.” Kyojuro barks at his father, a look of disgust on his face.

Shinjuro scoffs, “Pfft, I’m the one who should be angry. You’re a disgrace of a son.”

That’s when you stand up and you take your husband’s hand and you lead him away. Both of his and his father’s tempers are so dangerous right now, so you know it’s best to just pull Kyojuro away from the scenario and have him calm down. Shinjuro doesn’t always mean the nasty things he says.

Once inside the private room, Kyojuro has you pinned against the wall. His kisses are heated and passionate, but you try to push him off so you can take a breather. This is all so intense and you know it’s because tensions are high.

“Kyojuro,” you moan between his fiery kisses.

He growls and you feel his fingers tangling in your hair, pulling you even closer to him. You whine at the sudden pain, but it’s making you so aroused. He’s never really this rough with you, so you know it’s because he thinks he’s got a point to prove.

“Gonna get you fucking pregnant,” Kyojuro mutters between your kisses. “Don’t care if he fucking hears me,”

These words resonate deep inside you and make you realize that his father’s words have really struck a nerve. Your cheeks heat up when you realize just how serious he is about all of this. With you pinned against the wall, Kyojuro pushes your skirt up over your hips, and he’s so quick to rip your little panties to shreds.

“Listen to me, little flame,” Kyojuro says as he presses wet kisses to your jawline and neck. “You will be pregnant once I’m done with you.”

“Kyo…” you whine, but he’s not having any of this protest.

With his long fingers still tangled in your tresses, you know that he’s not going to be taking this easy with you. He’s going to be so rough and leave bruises and marks so that he can prove to his father that he is more than just an adequate lover. 

Your eyes roll back as you feel his teeth sinking into the flesh of your neck. You never knew that he could be this animalistic, but you were enjoying every step of this. Your heart is pounding in your chest as he tugs harder on your hair, pulling your head to one side so he has better access to your neck.

“Oh my little flame,” Kyojuro grunts, “you’re so precious to me.”

 With one of his hands still tangled in your hair, the other one shoves itself between your thighs. You let out a surprised yelp as he pushes two of his long fingers into you, barely giving you any time to adjust to all of this.

“You’re so wet, my little flame. I think you like it when your husband is rough with you, yeah?”

His words are affecting you more than you’d like to let on, but there’s no sense hiding it from the man you adore so much. You nod at his words, and this is rewarded by another harsh tug of your hair.

“No, say the words,”

You swallow hard, taking a deep breath. You look into his beautiful eyes and you know there’s absolutely no malice there. Only heated passion and true love. 

“I like it when you’re rough with me.”

The words almost seem strange on your tongue, but it’s the utter truth. You enjoy this so much. It’s exciting like nothing else. Kyojuro has always been a passionate lover, but he’s never really this rough. So this change of pace has you wetter than most times.

His fingers pump in and out at a rapid pace, making you moan and squirm under his hold on you. Kyojuro watches carefully at your reactions, and once more he’s pulling on your hair. You let out a loud moan and you clench around his fingers, making him smirk.

“I think you’re prepared enough, sweetheart.”

He hoists you up on the table in the room, and he undoes his pants. Without another word, Kyojuro enters you roughly. His hands tangle in your beautiful hair, keeping you so close to him as he begins pounding himself into you.

“You’re not leaving this room until you’re dripping with my cum…”

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for exposing my sister-in-law's secret during a fight?

Ok, this one is going to need a bunch of context.

I (29F) started to date my fiance F (31M) when I was 26. While he is the sweetest person ever, his family is a bit difficult and it was hard for me to fit in. They are a very traditional family of Japanese descent, very rich too, and his mother MIL (60sF) had a dream of seeing all of her three sons married to other rich girls of Japanese descent. I am white and from very humble origins, so I was not very well accepted at first. The thing that bothered me the most was the constant comparisons to my brother in law BIL's (34M) wife SIL (33F), who is rich and of Japanese descent. I was deeply in love with F and decided to fight for my place in his family; I started to take Japanese classes and ended up really good at it, and I was also the one who took care of MIL after her appendicitis' surgery. She recognized my hard work and we became closer and closer, at the same time she realized SIL didn't make the same effort for her and the family as I do, and she started to be very vocal about how I was her favorite daughter in law and how SIL should do better and try to be more like me. Suddenly, the tables have turned and SIL was the one being compared to me, no the other way around.

Of course she didn't like that at all and started to antagonize me and criticize every small thing about me. She would complain my dog would bark too much (which she did, but SIL was a little mean about it), and when my dog died, she made a comment about how finally she wouldn't have to hear her barking anymore (that stung a lot since I loved my dog with all my heart and she was like a baby to me), she would also complain about my apartment every time she visited me, saying it was too cheap (as I said, I come from humble origins) and her newest topic of complaining are my earrings: I like to wear cute and funny earrings (only at work and family gatherings, I don't wear them at social events or anything like that) and she always talks about how I'm too old to wear them and how tacky it looks. F and I noticed she's been progressively meaner the closer we get to our wedding (three months from now) and think she's trying to scare me away before I become an official part of the family.

One last piece of context: some months ago, F told me in confidence about how 6 years ago SIL's brother and sister in law died in a car accident and left an orphaned boy of 4 years old. SIL was the little boy's only family, but she refused to take him in saying she already had too much work with her own son (who was also 4 at the time). That didn't go well with the family; MIL and my father in law (who was alive at the time) assured her they would help with the kid and she would have all the support, but she simply didn't want the boy, so he was sent to the system. That was something MIL never forgave her for, since family is everything to her, and it was something only MIL, BIL, SIL, F and his younger brother knew. He told me that in confidence and asked me to not tell anyone. I promised I wouldn't.

Now for the actual situation.

Our last family dinner was one of F's cousins' birthday, so all the extended family was around. No kidding, I think there were around 60 people there or more. SIL, once again, decided to mock me about my earrings (little cherry earrings, very cute) and talked again how I was to old to wear them, how they were kid earrings etc. I've been tolerating her bullshit for so long now and after her comments about my dog's death, I was more sensitive than usual, so I snapped back and said that it's not because she dresses herself like an old lady that I have to do the same. She got angry at that and a proper fight started; we saying worse and worse stuff to each other while everyone stopped to watch. It ended up with her mocking my upbringing and calling me a gold digger, accusing my of only being with F for his money. That really struck a nerve because I heard that before at the beginning of our relationship and it always hurt my feelings, since I genuinely love F. Before I could even think about it, I said: "At least I'm not a heartless bitch like you. How's your nephew doing, by the way? Oh, you have no idea, right? Since you put him in a fucking orphanage!"

She got speechless after that and left the place, went straight to her car with BIL and went home. I didn't hear from her or him since them. F is furious with me since he told me that in confidence and now all the extended family knows SIL's secret. MIL doesn't care at all; she never got over what SIL did to that little boy and it's been a while since SIL isn't in her best graces.

Now that I'm calmer I feel a little guilty for exposing SIL like that, but she was always so awful to me that I can't really feel that bad. Mostly, I feel bad for BIL, with who I always had a good relationship and even defended me back in the day when the family didn't accept me very well. Now he's not talking to me either and, as far as I know, he's also not talking to F.

So, AITA?

What are these acronyms?

[drakaripykiros130ac]

They are so desperate to promote their political agendas, that they are trying to turn everyone into gay/bi etc. Game of Thrones was spared. Wouldn’t have stood a chance if it came out now.

Can you imagine the nerve to force Rhaenyra to have an affair with someone like Mysaria of all people? This woman is a devious wench. She was never meant to be a confidant. She was the female version of Larys. Rhaenyra only tolerated her because Daemon was the one who insisted that she would be helpful. But she certainly wanted her husband’s ex-mistress out of her life.

This makes as much sense as the whole invented Rhaenyra/Alicent bullshit.

The way I see it go down in the writing room: we need to have two women kissing already. Don’t care who. Let’s toss a coin.

If they were that desperate, why didn’t they pursue a relationship which made sense from the start, like Rhaenyra and Laena?

Can they just come out and say that this show is only loosely inspired by the book? Or just cut ties with it officially? GRRM has already cut ties with the whole lot of them who ruined his work (don’t blame him).

There are two things which are absolutely canon:

1. Daemon was highly possessive of Rhaenyra. Man or woman, he would have struck down anyone who tried to touch her (those believing he would be okay with this are delusional).

2. Rhaenyra would have never cheated on Daemon. She loved him too much for that.

What they did this season is much worse than the first. Way worse. And this is not just me talking. It’s GRRM as well, who has not been shy about making his feelings on this whole thing quite clear. He went from “the show tells us what actually happened” to “the show and the book are two separate canons”. I rest my case.

[97keanu]

Digital Angel

Premise: In chapter four, we finally reconcile these two nerds into speaking again. A new deal is struck, and our two hackers might just be able to find love along the way. That is, if Neo can quell his new obsession with watching you without your knowledge…

Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Slowburn, eventual smut, loser!neo, perv!neo, goth!reader, hacker!reader, reader is trying to forget Neo existed, Neo is not going to let that happen, enemies to friends to lovers, stalking, obsession, themes of loneliness and longing.

Words: 2.4k

Read chapters 1-3 here! Be added to Neo’s taglist here!

Last night’s rain has begun to tame the heat of Chicago, which you now walk down without a care in sight. You bounce on platform heels that come up just under your knees, hair teased to delightful extremes, and a black lipped smirk that has strangers moving out of your way. You were sick of being holed up in your apartment for so long, waiting on some half assed ‘knight in shining armor’, or should you say, trench coat. Even though it still hurt that Neo ghosted you, after a few weeks, you had to move on. It was more important than any hacking case he sent you tonight, you needed to feel like yourself again, first and foremost.

You enter Club Hel and greet the bouncer, who of course asks where you have been. You shrug and give a nonchalant answer before moving towards the call of the dance floor inside. Nine Inch Nails blasts through the speakers, Reznor whispering all sorts of filthy things he would like to do to all who can listen. You find the beat in your body and join the other gothic souls trying to get lucky on a Friday night.

You grind into a girl who has bright purple hair and a lip piercing, she laughs along with you as you kiss along her neck and hold her hips into yours. Tonight was all about having fun, you’ve decided. Not to think about Neo and his stupid cute face and the way he has avoided you for so long. You instead, turn your attention to feeling the fishnets on the thighs of the girl dancing with you, and soon enough the wind changes and you’re happily dancing with someone else.

That’s what you liked about being here. That you were so free. Free to do what you pleased, enjoy others' company without even saying a word, perhaps even quell that deep pit of loneliness that has opened inside you with a kiss from a stranger. You do just that as someone else pulls you in, letting their drunken lips taste yours, red lipstick meeting your black ones.

You have no idea that while you forget your inhibitions, the person whose attention you want most is watching from the balcony…

———

Neo knew you were coming out tonight. He saw you getting ready through your webcam, and broke down and checked your IM’s to see where exactly you would be. That’s why he’s standing here, holding some kind of red liquid he doesn’t even really want to drink in a cheap black goblet. He leans his elbows on the balcony’s edge, looking down at the dance floor, watching as your lips connect with another’s. A part of him is pissed seeing this kind of behavior. He wants you all to himself, that much he has come to understand. The other part of him is turned on by watching your form move, tight black latex dress holding your curves better than any dance partner, the color glistening under the red lights.

Neo knows what he has to do. He has to get your attention, but he was never a good dancer. Or at least, he had never tried, he should say. This type of crowd was a place he had never been invited to before you, so the idea of going down there, working his way through the sweaty bodies, until he could plant himself there to grind against your lovely form, was a nightmare. He tried not to let his nerves get to him, instead watching you.

Despite initial jealousy, he knows he can’t be mad since you two aren’t officially dating, nor have you been on an official date whatsoever, no thanks to him. He was the one who got scared, who got too close to your flame that the warmth frightened him off. What could he expect from you? To have you wait forever? You were never the type, that much was easy to see. Instead, Neo finds himself appreciating that you kept doing what you do, being yourself in face of his rejection. It was really quite sexy actually.

He watches as you’re sandwiched between two other women, screaming out the lyrics to Love My Way by The Psychedelic Furs, full of life and laughter. Neo considers leaving, not ruining your night, letting you have fun with people your own age and all but forgetting about him besides the hacking projects you two complete together. Even that, he could try to turn away from, if it meant you more happiness. It was clear how down the whole situation had made you, too many nights spent all alone in your room, too many nights coming home early when you should have been out.

Letting you go would be the right thing to do.

But Neo has never done the right thing when it comes to you.

———

Your fair share of drinks have been bought for the night, and you feel the world around you move hypnotically. Your thoughts are lost in heavy bass and droning music, songs that you love coming on so you can shout your heart out without shame. You had almost forgotten that hole in your heart that had been consuming you the past few weeks.

That was until you felt a new pair of hands snake around your hips, fingers enjoying the feeling of the latex on your dress. You grind into the stranger as you have been doing, letting them feel your ass against them. To your surprise, they react differently than the other club patrons have been to such a move. Usually, you were being fondled and groped deeper when you invited it in such a way, but instead, the fingers of this stranger linger, slowly moving down your dress to touch your exposed thighs, almost marveling at how soft your skin feels there. Everything was perfect until you turned to see who this unusual, mysterious stranger was, your drunken eyes going wide with the sight.

There, in his best gothic attire(which wasn’t saying much), stood Neo. You looked into those dark eyes of his and could see there was caution there as well, as if he was unsure of how you would react to finding out your dance partner for the last minute or so was him.

“What are you doing here?” You blurt out over the speakers, confusion bringing your thin eyebrows together.

“Only place I knew you frequented.” He responded plainly, walking a bit as if to offer to find a better place to speak, knowing that a talk was in order.

You watch as he begins to move through the crowd of writhing bodies, and for a second you consider not following, letting him go after how cruel he’s been to you. Instead, you stomp after him on your platforms, wobbly after so many drinks.

You feel frustrated as he moves from you, making you physically chase after him now, not to mention ruining your night of fun away from thoughts of him by simply just being here. You two finally make it to a nearby booth, a few discarded drinks still sitting there, but Neo moves them to the side. You sit across from him, your chest bared and waist tight from your latex dress, putting you on almost full display in front of him. You hope he doesn’t think you dressed this way just for him to see.

“Look, I think an apology is owed…” He begins, looking around as if he’s nervous to be seen talking to you.

You almost scoff in his face. Who does this guy think he is?

”Um, yeah, I think it is,” you say bluntly, the liquor making you madder than you probably have a right to be in this situation. “You totally ran out on me.”

Once again, the thought that you two aren’t officially dating, so he doesn’t technically owe you anything as such crosses your mind. You throw that thought to the wind, you’re too pissed to care about the ethics of it all.

Neo hears your words, the tone in your voice, and looks down, fiddling with a black napkin that was sitting nearby. He opens his mouth to speak, his shoulders moving towards his ears as if to protect himself. He doesn’t know what to say, that much is clear.

“I just…” He tries to get out, but nothing more passes through his soft lips.

“Just? Just what Neo? Didn’t care if it hurt that you left without saying anything? Didn’t even want to come check on me at all? Just want to order me around to help you with your hacking, which I still haven’t seen a lick of pay from by the way.” You add the last part as an insult to injury here, crossing your arms underneath your breasts with a huff.

Not checked on you? If only you knew…

Neo clears his throat and puts a hand into the inner pocket of his trench coat. He pulls out a small, black bag. He passes it over the expanding space between the two of you on the table, then taps his fingers against it.

You say nothing, taking the bag and opening it. It was filled with cash, and from your short look through, enough to cover your rent for a few months or more. It was fair, for the work you’ve been doing. Your eyes glance up to where he sits nervously across from you.

“So, what? You grind up on me in the club just to hand me what you owe?” You say with snark.

“Hey, I seem to remember it was you who was doing the grinding.” He pipes back, holding up his hands in defense.

And in that second, you’re drunk enough to laugh out loud at the look on his face and the whole situation. This seems to calm his nerves for a second.

“Well, thank you, I guess,” You finally say, getting ready to stand and leave, seeing as there isn’t much else to talk about if he isn’t willing to talk about it.

As your hand moves across the table when you try to leave, Neo’s large one wraps around your wrist.

“Wait,” He starts, deep eyes looking into yours, a sense of pleading coming from him.

“You have every right to be mad at me. I shouldn’t have left when I did, and I especially should have reached out to you for more than just work after that night. I’m sorry.” He closes his eyes as he talks, as he’s afraid to see what your face will betray to him from being so open.

You say nothing, watching his eyes open, unable to contain seeing your reaction for that long, and you crack into a smile.

“Okay, okay. You’re forgiven,” You sit back down across from him. “But, I want to add a condition to our agreement.”

Neo nods along as you talk, almost ready to agree to whatever terms and conditions you have so long as you’re not mad at him anymore.

“And that condition is?” He says with wide eyes.

”That condition is,” You drag the moment out, looking down at the table before the confidence to say what you want comes. “I want us to be friends.”

Neo blinks, then blinks again, as if he hadn’t heard you right.

“Friends?” He says, as if the word is a foreign concept.

“Yep,” You say with a nod, holding out a black manicured hand across the table. “Friends. I want us to be able to talk to each other whenever we like without all the awkwardness. And I would appreciate it if we could go and hang out with each other sometimes.”

Neo’s hand nervously slides into yours, as if he’s afraid of what he’s gotten himself into.

“Go out together, sure, we could do that sometime.” He says, then looks down at the table. “But why?”

Now, it’s your turn to be confused.

“What do you mean?” You tilt your head, curious as to why he would ask such a thing.

“I mean,” He sighs out, then looks around again before speaking, then leans in. “I mean, why do you want to hang out with me? I’m hardly the type you usually go for if your dance partners for tonight were any hint.”

“I don’t ask my dance partners to go out with me during the day…Usually.” You say with a laugh, trying to make him understand that what happens here isn’t as deep of a connection as he thinks it is.

“But, I’m like ten years older than you, at least. And I’m not super into all this,” He waves a hand to the environment around him. “Goth-y kind of stuff. Not that there’s anything wrong with it…”

“I’m sure there’s a baby bat hiding in you somewhere, Neo.” You tease him, leaning forward as you speak. “Besides, I don’t care if you like the stuff I like. I just want someone to talk to…”

You don’t know if it was the liquor that made you comfortable enough to say that last part, or if your overwhelming need for true connection had finally come to a head, but you’re glad you said it. After you did, Neo sank back into the booth, thinking the whole thing over, before leaning in once more.

“Okay. Friends. I think I can manage that…” he says with a smile, a genuine smile that sneaks up to his eyes, makes his ears move with a tinge of delight at the concept.

“Friends it is.” You hold out a hand, and he takes it once more. “Now, as friends, let’s get our ass out on that dance floor!”

You yell with glee as Neo lets you pull him along back into the crowd, anger in each other forgotten. The promise of having a genuine connection with someone in this city was enough to sedate both of you into a more blissful night.

Still, you couldn’t help but kick yourself a little. You knew you wanted to be more with him, knew that you touched yourself just last night thinking of him, his name falling off your lips sweet like honey. But there was no way you could admit that this early. You still had no idea if he felt the same way.

[lcandothisallday]

Wedding Season - Jack Harlow x f!reader

Summary: Jack is invited to an old friend’s wedding and he’s been convinced by his friends to bring the girl he hates as his plus one.

It was a rather chill summer day for Jack. He had gone to the studio earlier in the day which allowed him to have a relaxing rest of the night. So that’s where he was now, chilling in his living room of the apartment he shared with Urban while the both of them ate the takeout they ordered.

Earlier in the month, both boys were invited to an old high school friend’s wedding back in Louisville and neither one of them had the heart to say no despite their busy schedules. Now there was only a couple days until the wedding and Jack felt like an absolute loser for not having a date.

“You bringing anyone to Colton’s wedding?” Jack asked Urban before he scooped up a mouthful of mashed potato to eat.

Urban couldn't help but smile. “You know how I started talking to Nia again?” Jack nodded, showing that he was listening as he chewed. “Yeah...invited her as my plus one...gonna try to make things official with her after the wedding,” he explained.

Jack groaned, “fuck outta here, man. You letting me ride solo on this one?” he half joked in question. Urban only shrugged with a laugh. “Not my fault you ain't got anyone at the moment...or you know...you could always ask y/n to be your date,” he suggested cautiously. 

Upon hearing that, Jack scoffed. “Bro--y’all gotta stop bringing her up I swear,” he muttered. “We have never and will never get along,” he persisted arrogantly.

“She’s Nia’s best friend--”

“And what does that have to do with me?” Jack asked in annoyance. “You just want to get on Nia’s good side but I’m the one that’s gonna end up suffering.”

Urban furrowed his brows before he scoffed. “You’re so fucking dramatic bro. I don't even understand what happened for you to hate her so much,” he tsked. “It’s like you were in love with her one minute during high school--wanting to ask her out for junior prom-- and the next you hated her guts. But whatever man. If you wanna be the hottest rapper out there and still not be able to cop a date then that’s up to you,” he shrugged.

Jack rolled his eyes before he let out a defeated sigh. “I’ll think about it...but no fuckin’ promises,” he mumbled.

__

You stood in front of the mirror, staring and picking apart your appearance in the dress you had chosen for Colton and Grace’s wedding. It was an outdoor wedding and so you dressed in a simple silk-like dress that hugged your body perfectly and the colour complementing your beautiful and glowing skin. Despite knowing you looked good, you couldn’t help but be nervous.

“You need to stop picking apart your look,” Nia spoke up matter of factly, noticing your nerves, as she applied her gloss. She looked absolutely stunning as well, her dress choice also being the most perfect look for her. Urban was going to be hella impressed to say the least.

You let out a sigh. “I’m not I’m just--I don’t understand why Jack asked me to be his plus one,” you frowned. “I feel like it’s some cruel prank,” you mumbled, smoothing down your dress anxiously. 

“Well I mean people change,” Nia pointed out. “So give it a chance. Maybe this is him trying to make amends,” she offered, ever the optimist. “Now come on! We’re gonna be late!” she exclaimed, grabbing hold of your hand before the both of you stumbled out of the apartment with your heels clicking behind you.

As you arrived to the venue, you were in complete awe of the setup. It was beautiful--from the grand archway, down to the details in the flowers that stood as centrepieces on each table. 

You took in a breath as you scanned the venue, noting how you were met with familiar faces from your high school days. “This...is gonna be a long ass day. I can already tell,” you whined, your friend humming in agreement.

“There’s Urban,” Nia breathed out with love struck eyes, causing you to giggle. “Ooooh your man looks good,” you teased, causing her to blush madly. “Shut up,” she mumbled while still blushing. “He’s not officially my man...yet.”

When Urban finally set eyes on you and Nia, he started approaching with Jack dragging behind him reluctantly. Truth be told he was nervous. He hadn’t seen you in quite some time and the last time he spoke to you, it was full of hostility.

Urban immediately pulled Nia aside, whispering in her ear and complimenting her in all the ways he should, leaving you and Jack standing alone.

“Hey,” he mumbled in greeting. “You uh...you look nice...I guess.”

You smile awkwardly and begin to anxiously play around with the rings on your fingers. “Thanks. So do you.”

As the night progressed, the tension between Jack and you seemed to linger in the air. Despite the polite exchanges and forced smiles, there was an underlying current of animosity that couldn't be ignored. It was as if both of you were tiptoeing around a minefield, waiting for the first explosion to occur.

After dinner, the DJ started playing a slow, romantic song, and couples began to take the dance floor. Nia and Urban shared a loving glance before swaying together, lost in their own world. Feeling a mix of discomfort and curiosity, you and Jack found yourselves standing near each other.

Jack cleared his throat. “Do you want to dance?” he asked. You shook your head. “Not really,” you responded quietly, causing Jack to audibly scoff. “God you’re such a bitch,” he muttered, running his hands through his curls. “I don’t know why I’m even trying.”

Your eyes widened as you took full offence. “I’m the bitch?! Oh I’m sorry for not wanting to dance with the guy who’s always been an asshole to me! If I remember correctly--you’re the one who blocked me out of the blue!”

“Don’t act like you don’t know why y/n.”

You scoffed. “Actually why don’t you enlighten me because I don’t remember ever doing anything to you to make you hate me so much! I liked you and I thought the feelings were mutual—”

“They were until I overheard you telling your friends you thought I was ugly and that I was stupid for trying to pursue a rap career,” he mumbled.

Hearing that made your heart sink to your stomach. “Jack,” you sighed. “You weren’t supposed to hear that,” you say softly. “Because I didn’t actually mean any of that—”

“Then why did you say it?” he asked, his voice quiet and almost quivering. “I really fucking liked you and I know I always played it off like I’m a confident motherfucker but that crushed me.”

Your heart absolutely broke at hearing his confession. “Oh Jack—I only said that because Tina was a bitch and she noticed you and me getting closer and she started saying that someone as likeable and popular as you wouldn’t romantically go for someone like me. She also said that the two of you had started hooking up and it wasn’t long before you would’ve started dating so I had to back off and the only way to protect myself in front of her was to make it seem like I never cared about you from the start,” you explained softly.

“She’s a liar. I never fucked around with her like that—”

“Yeah well how was I supposed to know?! She was the blonde skinny popular white girl—and I was me—I guess it just made sense to me,” you sighed.

Jack groaned, “well that was up to me to decide don’t y’a think? God—I just wish you would’ve just told me or something.”

“Yeah well can’t change the past now,” you muttered sarcastically under your breath but loud enough for him to hear.

Jack licked his lips in thought before a small smirk started to make its way onto his lips. “You’re right…but we can definitely influence the future,” he hummed, taking your hand and pulling you onto the dance floor.

The slow romantic song was still playing so he took the opportunity to take both your hands and place them on his broad shoulders before his own rested against your hips, leading the dance with gentle sways.

Your cheeks were on fire at the entire interaction, but you welcomed it easily, thankful that he was the one that was able to take charge.

The both of you swayed in silence, you choosing to look anywhere but his eyes while he stared intently at you, loving the chance to admire you up close.

“Jack…I really am sorry. I never meant to hurt you,” you whispered, the guilt eating you alive.

“I don’t think I stressed enough earlier how beautiful you look,” he mused, looking down at you with his charming smile.

You can’t help your own smile making its way onto your lips. “Jack.”

“Y/N,” he mocked back teasingly.

“I was being serious!” you laughed.

Jack rolled his eyes playfully. “Isn’t it obvious that I forgive you already?” he asked with a raised brow, his hands giving your hips a squeeze.

You shrugged. “Just want the confirmation.”

“If you let me kiss you would that be enough confirmation?”

“Yes,” you whispered timidly, a blush overtaking your cheeks.

As the words left your lips, Jack wasted no time in closing the distance between you. His hand cupped your cheek gently, his touch sending a shiver down your spine. And then, his lips met yours in a soft, tender kiss.

Time seemed to stand still as you melted into the embrace, the animosity of the past melting away with every lingering touch. The world around you faded into the background as Jack deepened the kiss, his other hand finding its way to the small of your back, pulling you closer.

When you finally pulled away, breathless and with flushed cheeks, Jack rested his forehead against yours, a contented smile gracing his lips. "I've wanted to do that for so long," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

A genuine smile spread across your face as you looked into his eyes, seeing a mixture of vulnerability and hope. "I wish I had been honest with you from the beginning," you confessed. "But I promise, I'll make it up to you."

Jack's smile widened, and he brushed his thumb gently across your cheek. "I believe you," he said softly. "We both made mistakes, but we can start fresh--starting with a proper first date?"

“I’d like that a lot.”

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

I have literally read all of your completed fics and read updates from you immediately so sorry for the insane ask but I'm genuinely to excited for a normal one

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🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮🔮

🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

Because I'm intrigued as to how you'll do it 🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼

And for fun 🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟🧟

AHHHH THANKS! THAT IS SO KIND!!!!!!

Here we go! I love a challenge!

93 for ⚡ (we shall see if I have 93 left, if it's a bit short, it's because the chapter ends):

---

Overall, almost everyone who matters is there. 

There’s one thing that does happen at the party that has ended up falling under Buck’s list of demands. His wishlist of things he wants for their wedding, that he has tried to be consistently vocal about to assuage Eddie’s nerves. Though, this one has nothing to do with Eddie. So he can’t exactly demand it. But he’s been waiting anxiously to ask for it for a while now. 

He waits for a quiet moment. Bobby is taking a stack of empty plates from the backyard into the kitchen. It’s a stroke of luck that no one else seems to be in there right now. Buck excuses himself from a conversation with Sophia and Adriana - who are partway through mercilessly teasing Eddie - to follow Bobby inside. 

“Need any help?” Buck asks, closing the sliding glass door behind him. 

“It’s your party,” Bobby protests. “You’re not supposed to do the work.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

Bobby rolls his eyes. “You can help me scrape plates.”

“Thank you,” Buck says.

He walks over to the kitchen garbage to begin his chore.

“You having a good time?” Bobby asks, tone sincerely inquisitive. 

“I really am,” Buck says. “Thank you again for throwing this. It… Well, honestly it sort of never occurred to me anyone would ever want to do this for me.”

Bobby frowns. “Of course we wanted to. Athena and I, we’re thrilled for you and Eddie.”

“I know,” Buck says. “It’s a silly thing to be surprised about, I guess. I mean, you also did that party for me after my leg, and… And yeah. Thanks, I guess. For wanting to.”

Bobby nods. “It’s my pleasure, Buck. Really.”

“I have something I was hoping to talk to you about,” Buck says, looking at the plate he’s scraping rather than at Bobby.

“Okay? Shoot.”

“So, you offered to officiate like you did for Maddie and Chim.”

“I did,” Bobby confirms. 

“But we asked Hen to do it, instead.” Buck continues. 

“Oh.” There’s a slide edge of disappointment in Bobby’s voice, but he covers it well. “Well, I guess that makes sense.”

“Only because, I was hoping maybe you’d just… Well, maybe you’d stand with me, instead?”

Bobby pauses. Buck feels a peel of nerves. He’s not sure why. He has thought about it several times though, and he really can’t imagine Bobby saying no. 

“Stand with you?” Bobby asks after a moment.

“Mhm,” Buck confirms nervously. He still won’t look at Bobby. “Um, you know… We aren’t inviting my parents, and… And we won’t have a wedding party, I don’t think. But Eddie wanted Chris with him and I… I guess I just wanted you and Maddie.”

Bobby inhales. “I’d be honored, Buck.”

Buck finally looks at him. There’s a strange, almost teary expression in his eyes. 

“Yeah?” Buck asks. 

“Yeah,” Bobby nods.

“Thank you,” Buck smiles. “That… That really means a lot to me, Bobby.”

“And to me.” 

Neither of them says any more on it than that. But Buck is fairly certain he understands. That they both understand. 

“You should get back out there,” Bobby says. “You’re half of the whole point, you know.”

“Ah, come on. Eddie can entertain everyone himself. He loves that.”

“Go on,” Bobby insists. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Okay,” Buck nods. He puts down the plate he was scraping. “I’ll see you soon.”

As he’s walking out of the house, Buck is struck with the incredible difference between where he was a year ago, and where he is now. What the past looks like, versus what the future is looking to be. He feels incredibly warm. 

---

Okay ^^^ that was 89, so close! This chapter will likely be fully published before this ask is answered haha.

153 for 🚨... Honestly this might finish this chapter too damn...:

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IF YOU SAW THIS WITH ALL THE TAGS I AM SORRY I TAGGED THE WRONG THING AND POSTED IT TOO EARLY! I WILL ADD TO THIS! DON'T HAVE THREE TUMBLR TABS OPEN AND DRINK!

[allelitewrites]

(This is my first story and I honestly don't even know if I'm doing this whole thing right but...)

A Subtle Warning

Word Count: 1630

Relationship: Hangman Page x Reader

----------------------------------------------------

Tonight was just like any other Wednesday night. My boyfriend and I arrived to the venue a few hours before doors opened for the weekly episode of Dynamite. I thankfully wasn't booked to do anything for the night. I was only thankful because a rest was very much needed. Adam however was in the middle of a pretty personal feud with Swerve Strickland. Their whole thing wasn't supposed to be personal at first. The initial intention for it to just be apart of the wrestling business. One person wanting another's position. However, things changed when Swerve had brought up that Hangman was walking away from his issues. Walking away from his issues like he had from the Elite and I some years ago. It was a low point that he typically didn't like to talk about and that night, Swerve really struck a nerve.

Hangman and I found our way into The Elite's locker room. The EVP's temporarily absent due to a creative meeting. We set our things down before taking a seat next to each other on the cheap couch. He and I leaned into each other. With the way his calloused fingers were tracing along my skin, I could tell he was nervous. "I hate signing contracts on TV." Adam mumbles as he lets out a large sigh.

I turn my head and plant a firm kiss on his large shoulder before leaning my head against him again. "Just go out there and do your thing." I reassure him as I twist at one of the bracelets resting on my wrist. I can feel him nod as his hand finally starts to decrease the amount of shapes it was drawing. "Try not to let him get to you."

"Well, Y/n, it's kind of hard when he's sitting right across the table from me with a disgusting smirk as he mocks me."

I didn't even have a response. I hate contract signings just as much as he does. They were a stupid excuse to get publicity and a chance to manipulate your opponent on a golden platter. To me, you shouldn't need a set up situation for you to get to your opponent. Everything you do should be in the ring. Without a table and without chairs. Contracts should be signed in the back. A response came to mind but I wasn't able to share it as Kenny, Matt, and Nick came back into the room, instantly complaining about how long and boring their meeting was. Adam sat up straight and let his large hand rest on my thigh. We weren't huge on PDA, especially not around our friends.

A few hours later...

For whatever reason Tony Khan decided to give Adam and Swerve the main event. All for a contract signing that would probably end up with tables flipping and chairs being thrown. I was sitting anxiously next to Matt as the Elite watched the segment go down. Renee Paquette table side to officiate the signing.

Strickland was chewing Adam up, not even giving the blonde headed man a chance to speak his own words. Eventually, he started to talk about how different he and Hangman were from each other. Almost as if he was offended by being compared to the cowboy. "What's a farmer to a mogul, huh?" Swerve asks, making Adam furrow his eyebrows. "What's a cowboy to an outlaw? What's a buckshot to a kill shot?"

I chewed at the inside of my cheek. I could see Adam's gears in his brain moving at a hundred miles per minute just through the television screen in the locker room. He was keeping his cool, never breaking eye contact with the man across the table from him.

Finally, Swerve put his microphone down. For the first time tonight, Adam was given the opportunity to speak his thoughts. But, he didn't start the way I expected him to. First, Adam calmly mentioned the things Swerve had said to him in the weeks prior. However, the thing that caught all of us off guard as Nick and Kenny settled in their spots around the room was that Hangman thanked Swerve. Adam thanked him for reigniting a flame in his body that was long burnt out. He explained how something was up with him. Something that a person really couldn't explain.

The crowd was so invested in every single word that either man let slip from their lips. Letting every single sentence set in, expanding their thoughts to multiple different things. Things that hadn't even realized they didn't really notice at first. A slight stir could be heard as Adam spoke of a dark cloud that he'd felt was hovering over him every single time that he showed up to work.

"And then sure... sure. The sun would shine. I beat Jon Moxley in a Texas Death Match." Adam proudly brags. I caught him taking a pause to look at Renee, who drew her lips into a line at the thought of the brutal match her husband had gone through with my boyfriend. "I reunited with my friends in the Elite. I was able to rekindle my relationship with the absolute love of my life. And it felt like I should've been the happiest man in the world. But every time I started to smile. That little black cloud came back and it started to rain."

I couldn't help but smile at the fact of him calling me the love of his life on national television. Something I could never get used to him calling me. In the good way of course. He continued to speak before addressing how the fans who supported him so dearly deserved to see more from him. And when he decided that he spoke enough of his mind to get his point across, he picked up the pen and signed his name on the dotted line.

An evil laugh was heard. A laugh that echoed through the building. Adam was caught off guard. Looking up to see Swerve looking like he was having the time of his life. Looking like he was having a good time. Looking like this whole thing was a simple joke to him. The crowd quickly canceled him out, a chant of 'Cowboy Shit' echoing through the seats of the arena.

"That was beautiful. But, quite frankly, that was the most pathetic thing I've ever seen." Swerve chuckles before insulting the crowd's home team. Earning an array of boos. He continued on to speak about how he was fueled to take Adam's position in the company before Hangman had heard enough. Tired of hearing how Swerve believed Adam was handed everything in his career which couldn't of been more untrue.

Hangman stood up, the anger coursing through his veins finally reaching a boiling point. "If you think you have what it takes to fill my boots... you don't."

Swerve matched his energy also standing up across from him. But he didn't speak a single word. Instead he froze to look Adam in the eye once more. And just when Adam thought it was over, Swerve rose his and and slapped the cowboy across the face. Adam turned around and leaned on the ropes behind him as Swerve picked up a microphone yet again. "Hey. Hey, hey Hangman. You seem to not think of me as a threat. You sure as hell better watch your back... or maybe you should tell your friends... actually, no. You want to make this personal? Fine, we'll make it personal. You better tell your hot girlfriend to watch her back."

Adam didn't even hesitate, raising the microphone he still had in his hand to his mouth.

"If you touch her... I'll kill you."

Swerve let out a long sigh. Finally he got the hint that Hangman wasn't joking. Threatening me... someone Adam cared about so dearly was the final nerve that Swerve could've hit. He leaned over and signed the contract.

In that split second, I saw Adam clench his fist and I knew he was going to swing. However, I didn't expect what he actually did.

Using the pen Adam formerly used to sign the match contract, he stabbed Swerve's hand. I watched as Strickland screamed in pain. He pleaded as my boyfriend refused to let go. I booked it out of the room. Rushing to get into the guerrilla position. I intended on meeting Adam there. After that... I had no plan, I was left with whatever my first option would end up being.

He forcefully pushed his way back through the curtain not seeing me at first. But when I walked up to him and put my hand on his bicep. He spun around and I could see relief wash across his face. He pulls me into his chest and holds the back of my head. I can feel his heavy breathing and I can hear his heart beat at the speed of a thousand race horses.

He pulls away to kiss the top of my head before firmly grabbing my hand. Not even whispering a single word. He rushes me through the hallways before pushing me into an empty room that he surely scouted out before the show. As soon as I shut the door he crashes his lips into mine, his hands grabbing greedily at my top. I wrap my arms around my neck before tilting my head back to get a good look at his face.

"What?" He asks.

I smile and push a golden curl out of his face. "I just wanted to make sure that I heard you right. Did you say you would kill him?"

A smirk crawls onto his face. His ocean blue eyes staring directly into mine. "With my own two bare hands, sweetheart."

[makriiii]

Caught IV (Arthur Morgan × f!reader)

Word count: 4.5k

Authors notes: I had some fun with this chapter, so I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did writing it! Double spaces again, I'm sorry. 😭

Warnings: 18+, angst, cursing, gun violence, alcohol.

Pt1! or pt5!

Ao3 or wattpad!

♡

Caught IV

Arthur held you forcibly still in his embrace. Your own gun held directly to your temple, his gloved hand over your mouth to keep any pleas for help completely unable to escape.

You patted him with your elbow, soft at first then you got more rough as to tell him you werent going to pull anything, despite that he kept his hold on you firm.

You wanted to run into camp, no doubt, to feel a sense of security and familiarity, to be back with your own group and not in the hands of that man who stripped you of everything. Yet, you knew too well what would happen if attempted.

Your mind flashed with multiple possibilities. What were they playing at? There was no way they'd gun down this entire camp, and if they did talk their way into the middle, they surely wouldn't get to kill Colm before all of you racked up bullets in your flesh.

"What're we doing about the pisser, Morgan?" Bill asks lowly, "One by the tree."

Arthur liberates you, nudging you off to the side and out of his way. "Let's get closer." He takes the lead, the other three not far behind him.

The pine needles and soft dirt under Arthurs boots masked the sound of footsteps as he crept closer to the man doing his business, whom took a blade to the throat shortly after.

Your face twisted into pitied cringe, what a degrading death that must be. Now despite refraining from using a gun, the drop of the man's body and his guttural last breath had the other two men shooting all too fast.

"Now we got a real fight. Come on!" Hollers Bill, everyone covering behind thick trunks. Arthur yelled something back that you couldn't quite discern from the blasts.

Your body lurched, your entire chest lie nearly lined with the ground, avoiding the small metal projectiles thatd no doubt hit you if you stayed unwitting and frozen.

Completely unarmed and not much one for hand to hand combat, especially against trigger happy O'Driscolls struck you with a different idea entirely.

Escape.

You were unbound by any ropes and no longer under the watchful eye of Dutch's gang.

The thought only held you for mere seconds, the shouting and firing kept you out of your thoughts. Arthur and his two pals made concerningly quick work of your O'Driscolls. This base not long before mimicking the old mining site.

Dutch's gang had tenacity, you could admire them for that. But because of them, you had nothing. No gang - pretty quick here - no money, not even your own guns, hell even your horse was holed up in their camp, hardly in your possession.

You groaned in defeat, you really didn't have anything to lose.

As sly as possible, you rushed for the men Arthur just took out, fetching their guns, the handles of which still warm from their grasp.

"Give up, O'Driscolls. We got you beat!" Arthur barked, reloading his rifle.

You felt slightly dazed by the sight of them, the fact that you could join them just as good, not made better by Arthurs words. You shook it off, swallowing your nerves and crouched for a tree.

You felt complete when you had a gun firm in your palm, the ability to protect yourself. It revived you some after all these demeaning days. The familiar feel of the gun's hammer under your thumb, clicking into place once you pulled it back.

You yourself officially joined the gun fight.

The recoil of the double barrel pistol was somethin fierce, sending a shockwave up into your mostly out of commission bicep. Being out of the game for a good week and a half had both your hands keeping the gun steady enough to be a good aim.

Two of your gang members flanked Bill, your limited bullets landed fairly, both of them dropping before Bill had any more trouble.

He wrung his head in your direction, clearly afflicted by your help, but he was too busy to care, returning his vision fixed ahead.

Your face burned and your heart ready to burst with the swift influx of adrenaline that nearly felt as though it replaced the blood that coursed through your veins.

You had only so many bullets, so you cautiously moved up to the front lines for better aim.

Men all around you shouted and yelled out amongst the sharp sound of bullets, yet with each of your shots, the shouts lessened.

"That's it." John huffed out, "They're turning tail!"

A final shot rang out, and much to your delight, you hadnt accumulated an even number of bullet wounds.

You got up warily, meandering over to the center of camp, where the rest of your acquaintances, at best, stood.

"Leave 'em. Colm's still here." Arthur waves off the escaping O'Driscolls. A fleeting thought of joining them ran through your mind.

This was the second time you'd witnessed all your own gang members brutalized. By the same people nonetheless.

"Gonna check the cabin." Arthur added, trooping over to the cabin's closed door. Every step closer really sunk in the reality that this now was the end of the O'Driscolls, have there be a not so sober Colm inside.

You circle around with Arthur, straying slightly behind as to avoid any more small flying lead pieces.

Before he even reaches up for the rusty knob. The door flies out, smacking Arthur's whole front, effectively rendering him on the ground. A man you didn't recognize as Colm stepped out, looming over the fallen Arthur.

He stood at the entranceway, brandishing a shotgun and laughing in a maniacal manner, a drunken craze.

A piercing shot lands square through the man's diaphragm. His gun drops, his hands clutching at his chest as he trips over Arthurs legs, stumbling to the side of him.

A vaunt whistle blows from your lips with that shot, some of your long departed pride returning after missing all those shots in that cold forest.

Arthur grumbles in response to your display of ego, getting up while he does so, quickly scanning the inside of the cabin.

You could tell by his clenched jaw and his tense fists that this day wouldn't mark the disbandment of the gang you called your own for years.

Keiran stood mere feet from you, seemingly standing behind you as some sort of shield, far more petrified than what you could understand.

Arthur storms over, waving an accusatory finger and giving the evil eye to both of you. "You set us up!" He snarls. "Come here."

Both you and Keiran took a step back, at his angry tirade.

"What?-" Keiran stammers, stumbling forward, never seeming to move farther than where you were at.

Arthur steps no more than arms length from you both. "You set us up." He repeats, his patience running thinner than a strand of hair.

"No, I didn't!"

"You did, Colm O'Driscoll ain't here!" His hand flies up, a gun meeting both your faces.

"He was here, I swear.. I sw-" You give him a soft pat, to comfort him at the very least.

"If we was settin' you up, we wouldn't have saved you." Your arms were raised lowly, yet again staring down the barrel of his - well, your gun.

Bill and John slide down the hill behind you, joining the small congregation where you and Keiran were held at gunpoint. "It's a good point, Arthur." Bill agrees, chuckling at Arthurs unbridled anger.

Arthur exhales deeply, some of his rage leaving him through that release. He stands, considering. His eyes filled with irritation that calmed the longer his gaze was fixed on you.

"Alright then, go on, get out of here. Both of you, and I won't kill you."

You thought on it, but now you had a X on your head. Both you and Keiran just stood there, awkward as can be.

Arthur murmured under his breath, he took a stomp towards you, turning you around and pushing you off in the opposite direction. "Get lost."

"Get lost?" You couldn't refute his words before he already started talking again.

"Im lettin' you run away, now get outta here!" He waves his hands in an attempt to shoo you off as if you were some chickens.

"That's as good as killin' us." Keiran admonishes, he was fearful. No better a position as you. "Colm'll lose his mind about this!"

Keiran was good at negotiating, for what all you could tell.

"So?" A hearty scoff comes from Arthur, he cared none at all.

"So, I'm one of you now!" He claims, glancing at you. "I don't know about her..."

Now you felt stuck, were you really to join them, as Keiran tried?

"Give me a break." Arthur thins his lips, squinting at you both.

He throws his hands up, shaking his head. "Alright, but I'm warning you." He walks forward through both of you, Bill and John taking that as a cue to walk back to their mounts.

"Oh, I know." Keiran knew all too well, but he hesitated. "You get the cash?"

You had forgotten about the cash, that hadn't even crossed your mind.

"What cash?" Arthur asked with little trust or interest.

"There's usually some cash in the chimney." He points back inside the cabin, scuttling up the steps.

Arthur stops him, turning him back to walk with John and Bill. "I'll check it. Rest of you boys get to camp, quick."

"See Arthur? I aint so bad." Keiran teases, catching up with the first two, leaving you and Arthur behind.

Arthur leaves the porch and enters the cabin, ignoring his remark. You followed in shortly after, seeing as you would have to travel back with him.

"You know, I think I'll take my things back as a thank you." You suggest, your boots clicking against the wood floor. The first time you'd been in any sort of building since Colter.

His disgruntled mood only seemed to heighten yours.

He searches the cabin interior for anything of worth before reaching the chimney, blowing you off for a few moments.

"They're pretty nice guns, O'Driscoll. Might have to decline."

"They're mine because of that reason, and quite frankly, I'm no longer tied up by you-"

"Is that suppose to be a threat?" He interrupts, making his way to the shotgun mantle over the chimney.

You instantly started regretting your choice to save him.

"What if it is?" You drift over to the desk in the center of the room, sitting on the polished wood facing him, spinning your newly acquired gun with your fingers.

"How's walkin back to camp sound to you?" He retorts, not seeming so bothered as he inspects the shotgun.

"Does shooting you in your arm sound any better?" You began, he eyes you with a look of boredom.

"I'll leave you as good as the rest of your ragtag gang." His words as nonchalant as could be.

"You got me kicked out of my gang, Arthur. You'd be leaving an innocent lady as good as the 'Oh so terrible O'Driscolls.'" The back and forth kept getting more heated, both of you refusing to stop adding to it.

"Oh," he laughs mockingly. "So that's how it is? Suddenly you aint a 'terrible' O'Driscoll?" He slings the shotgun over his shoulder, nearly rolling his eyes.

"I aint an O'Driscoll if I'm not a member, isn't that how it works?"

"Colm might still have you, you're his special girl or something if I recall."

"Is that why you keep sayin O'Driscoll? Cuz you think I got his last name? You that dumb?"

"No, you just seem to enjoy suckin up to him." His voice strained in the middle of his sentence as he bent over to pat the inside of the chimney. Fine gray powder clouded around his hand and arm, a smoky scent filling the messy cabin.

"Hardly the case." You shake your head in annoyance. "Think you're just mad that I managed to rob you - the robbers - and almost get away with it."

"If I wasn't there shooting for you in the first place, you wouldn't have been able to get anything." He reasons, now stepping closer to the desk you sat on.

"It was good team work, just extra steps, I suppose. I think I should get some compensation really." You nod, agreeing with yourself.

He stands contemplating your words with that sarcastic look on his face. "Nah, those few extra steps cost you. You'll be lucky to get your guns back." He shrugs, drawing out one of your revolvers to admire and reload right in front of your face.

"Real classy Morgan." You look to the side, refusing to give into his antics. "You better be glad you're big, that's the only reason people are scared of you."

He sucks in through his teeth, "So, you scared of me then?"

"Scared as I am to insult you." You were close enough to flick his hat off if you stood up, and flicking it off was exactly what you did. His hat flew up and off his head before he could grab it. An annoyed scolding came from him as he bent to retrieve it.

"Let's get going, can't stand you any longer, a whole ride back is enough." You abmly stroll out the door and back in the direction of Arthur's horse you rode in on. You could hear his quick pace behind you to catch up, his spurs rattling with each stride.

"Can say the same for you, y/n." He pats your unwell arm with a bullish force, making you flinch to the side in pain.

"Goddamn you Arthur Morgan, playin with me like that when I have a gun?" You hiss, comforting your upper arm with a gentle hand.

"You woulda' done it already if had any bullets left." He sneers, so full of himself that man.

-

You were quick to hit Arthurs arm from behind, reminding him exactly what you wanted as soon as he's to dismount and hitch his horse. Your guns, your gun belt, saddle and everything you had inside those saddlebags.

He said he would at least, all that much you weren't quick to trust.

Before he even pulled to a stop, you slid off the back of his horse, stretching. A small fire lit inside you again. You knew exactly what you were going to do tonight.

You promptly met your mare, who didn't seem ill-taken care of despite the situation. You were thankful and you were sure she was too, showering her with all the affection she had missed for these past days.

You sat and pondered there with her, allowing her to graze next to you. Horseshoe overlook. You'd been here a time or two, enough to know where the town of Valentine was, your memory being jogged by your ride with Arthur.

Least closing in on evening now, and you could feel hunger slowly climb from inside you, the adrenaline from the hour previous only now subsiding enough for you to feel your body's needs. You were just waiting on Arthur to gather all your things.

You sat criss-cross on the grassy soil underneath you, looking into camp. You were still skeptical to go much nearer than where you had been tied to all those days. You felt unwanted and that wasn't only a feeling, it was reality.

Allowed no more than five minutes with your thoughts before Arthur finally arrives with all your things gathered and dumped on the ground in front of you.

Your brows knitted together at his act, but you ignored it, taking it as a chance to be annoying instead.

"Thank you, dearly, errand boy." You grabbed your belts and guns as you rose up, solace in your favorite items back on you for good. "I'd appreciate more work from you like that."

Your hand returns your hat back to the top of your head before he speaks, clearly not so happy.

"Shut your goddamn mouth, sweetheart." More than discontent you now thought, snickering as you heaved your saddle off the ground.

"Don't be so brash, really." You brush him off, packing your horse with your saddle. You slung on your saddle bags, checking them, Half hoping that some semblance of money from your attempt still laid in there or even what you had initially. Nothing. You peered back to the vexed Arthur across from you.

"You know, you could buy me some drinks. Since I aint even got the money I had beforehand from the robbery in here." Your attempts with reasoning now had him even more stuck up.

"No. You're on your own woman." His arms crossed, the hat atop his head almost covering his eyes completely.

"Tsk. Real snob that one." You curse to yourself, tightening the girth before fitting your foot in the stirrup.

You mounted your girl, once again reunited under the same saddle you had ridden in for so long. It excited you and she could feel it. A giddy little prance from her as she turned in the direction you desired.

Straight to Valentine before the days done. You figured you'd have to stick up some poor fella you found along the way for some cash, lest you would be there having to barter your measly and limited items for some tiny morsel.

-

Arthut had come after all, not with you, no, he strayed behind at least a good hour. You squinted at him from across the room, but now you weren't even so sure that was him over there. He looked much too strange.

You hardly kept still in the bar seat, the piano music around you seemingly getting ever louder, but it didn't bother you.

You sat and exchanged a few hearty laughs with the men in the seats beside you who offered to pay for your drink after you never found anyone to properly stick up.

This was damn near the most fun you'd had for months, tears pricked at your eyes with every joke that was told or added to and you could hardly control yourself.

"Whatcha got there? 'Nother drink?" You felt your arm droop out. You reached for it further and further, but the old man leaned away from you as he took a big swig from it.

Your hand caressed the floor, the barstools towering over you, dangling feet and long legs swinging in every which way. A barely noticeable hint of pain felt from your elbow and side. It was like laying down in a forest, your mouth slightly agape as you examine the moving trees above you.

You lied there a moment before you lifted off the ground just as magically as you had ended up on it in the first place. The two men you drank with had pulled you off the wood together, however this led them to their own date with the planks. Stumbling and swaying, their arms flailing in different directions.

You wheezed and wheezed so much it hurt, holding onto the counter top of the bar as to have some balance that your body took away with every moment your eyes stayed open.

The one with a handlebar mustache and a bowler's hat seemed to get closer and farther once he finally returned to his feet. You grabbed his arm to pull him to safety. As for the other, he was behind you, beyond your help.

You hunched over the countertop, using your upper body to keep you straight in the room that was anything but straight, everything was so distorted, it gave a new look to everything around you.

"Jus... whatcha you doin... there..?" The one with a hat asked you from his barstool, even sitting he had trouble staying upright, his hand fisted into the wood to stay somewhat still.

You looked down, back to him drearily and back down again before you finally hiccuped in response, not sure what you were doing either.

"How 'bout 'nother drink?" You put your pointer finger out as to call the bartender over. Your two buddies hooped and hollered from aside you, doing their utmost to raise their arms and cheer.

"I think you've had enough for tonight."

The clearest words that came out of someone's mouth tonight. They didn't hardly make any sense to you.

"That's ridicu-lsh.. 'm haven't had.. enough..." You chided, your barmates stood up for you, scolding the sober one to the best of their ability.

"You 'bout'a get haaam-mered!" The one behind you, half bald with overalls gripped your left shoulder, and much to your delight, that aching pain was gone!

"Chrissst... you 'n me BOTH good buddy!" The bartender hands you a reluctant glass, and by god did it taste the best of all.

Not two drinks in before you got knocked over by the one proclaiming you were about to get hammered. Your arm still up in the air as you observed him slumped on your shoulder, past out beyond all comprehension.

Then you felt another hand on you, your head slowly moved round to where it came from.

"You..." You huffed at him. "Gonna drink wit' me... now?"

He examines you but for how long you could hardly tell, your eyes were on the ceiling, the chandelier, everything but Arthur's face.

"I wouldn't say no?" He giggles at your question in a way you'd never heard before.

"You said no!" You argue, though not angrily, you couldn't imagine feeling like that now.

"Cuz... you're a Driscoll."

"Again?" You looked ever so surprised. "I knew... Colm'd come 'round." You chuckle, trying your utmost to hunch over and grab your fallen glass.

Before you knew it, he was sitting right next to you, like a big brick. You liked it. Holding both your arms on his back and letting your head hang, a small rest period.

"So," you start, patting his back to get his head to turn to yours. "You gon'... get me that drink?"

"I need one… more than you." He shakes his head, to which you put your hand on top of to stop him from shaking it. Didn't look quite right.

"Nooo, you dont. Quit foolin' 'round."

He pushes your arm off, his hat going with it, falling the opposite side of the counter. His eyes drooped, swaying further from his nose and then much too close, narrowing his eyes at you.

"Awwh... see now, why'd… you go and do that." He starts dragging himself over the counter to retrieve his hat. You helped by pushing him firmly with your palms to his ass. He swatted at you with one hand but your efforts not futile, he slid fully to the other side with a loud thump.

"You can't be back here, Sir!" You couldn't quite tell if he was yelling at you or not. Did you look like a sir? You weren't back there.

Arthur pops back up, hat back to its normal spot. You clapped at his bravery, though he was quick to climb back over the counter whilst he got shooed off by the bar tender.

You helped pull him back over, his hands clasped your wrists as you pulled with all your might. Much to your terror, he didn't let go when he reached his tipping point. You were yanked down with him, wincing as your head made contact with the floor.

"Goddamn it, god damn… you more like it." Struggling to get back up, you grab Arthur, using him as leverage, effectively pulling him back to the floor.

"Yeahh... hic." His eyes blinked as irregular as a frogs. "There ya go!"

Once you finally made it back up, you held onto your bowler hat boy, only not so for much longer once you put his hat on your head, yours long gone.

You patted his arm with long sweeping motions, your typical motor skills didn't seem so inclined to work efficiently.

"Dance? Let'ss dance.. but not him." You wave to Arthur a seat away from you. Arthur? He wasn't there. You swiveled your head around, though your eyes weren't so quick to act, lagging behind when you tried locating Arthur.

Your buddies expression changed into one of slight anger. The most he could possibly muster.

"Hey you mist'r... you buzz off..." he demanded, slamming his hand down weakly on the counter top. His anger directed at the wrong man. You egged him on nonetheless, happy to have someone else finally on your side.

-

You held onto each other, swinging your legs out haphazardly with your best pal, the one who hadn't gone and was sticking it out with you.

His inner leg would swing right, your outer leg, in. It was a wonder you hadn't fallen over yet, a shared wonder amongst all who watched and cheered you on.

You coughed hard with every chuckle that left you, other bar goers joined in as well, much to your delight.

Your eyes deceived you so many times that night you had to be looking at an apparition of that snide man.

You scanned him, but instead of being annoying, he joined in next to you. Course your rivalry at a stand still, albeit you were only half sentient, anymore than that and more fists might've been involved.

You danced with Arthur, your bowler buddy, at times the floor even. You soaked it all up like you did the booze, returning to the counter with Arthur, another request fulfilled.

"Artur..." you slap his side enough to get his attention. "Out... there... outsside."

He looked too confused, so you hooked your arm in his, having him follow along best he could.

"What?"

You landed on the swinging door in a feigned sense of something you could lean on, both you ending up on the floor again.

You sat for a second, before the wavey door opened again. Caught staring at the thing that came out.

"Damn, ya'll stink." An insult as he stepped over you both, he said some other words too, you think.

Arthur tripped the man as he strode through, your eyes widening as he went down. He yelled maledictions out, turning for Arthur who had a grand time with this.

"Oh... shit." you drawl in a long, tired breath. You glimpsed at your gun, drawing it out, half expecting it wouldn't work to ward off the man, but it did. He turned back and left with a hurry.

Arthur kept laughing, which made you start laughing at the spontaneity of all this.

Eventually, you got up, taking on the staircase that swayed like the ocean's tide, Arthur not long after you, traveling down the road to some obscure part of town. Haphazard mumbling and incoherent words all the while.

That's how you concluded the night, your first free night, exploring in a drunken haze with the man who not only doubled as your captor but also your liberator. The one who shot but saved you. More irony than what you could care for as of now.

[ashbrat488]

Candy - Chapter 15

Word Count: 888

Cassidy finds out what Joe has been up to and what Lloyd and August have obtained as a present for her...

MINORS DNI

Lloyd carefully laid out fresh clothes on the bed for Cassidy and pointed towards them when she walked into the bedroom. "Get dressed, pumpkin."

Cassidy regarded both Lloyd and August with a sense of trepidation as she slowly began to change into the provided black leggings and t-shirt. She draped her arms across her chest, perching herself on the edge of the bed as she contemplated the situation. After a few moments, curiosity got the better of her, and she couldn't help but inquire, "What's the deal with these videos?"

Lloyd and August exchanged a brief but loaded glance before August's expression turned stern. Lloyd then handed a tablet to Cassidy with a mixture of hesitancy and concern. "Here you go."

Cassidy held the tablet in her trembling hands, her heart racing as she pressed the play button. The video that unfolded revealed Joe in an intimate embrace with a brunette woman, their connection undeniable. She watched in stunned silence as the scene played out before her eyes, her emotions shifting from disbelief to anger, and eventually to a deep sense of hurt.

As the video continued into more explicit territory, she turned away abruptly, her cheeks burning with embarrassment and frustration. "Fuck..." she muttered, her voice quivering with a mix of emotions. The screen eventually went black, replaced by a series of photos capturing Joe and the same woman at various spots around the city.

A nauseating feeling churned in her stomach, and Cassidy couldn't bring herself to look at any more evidence of Joe's betrayal. She let out a long sigh and handed the tablet back to Lloyd, her shoulders slumping as she tried to process the overwhelming revelation. "Alright, I get it. Is that my present? A cheating boyfriend? Because honestly, I wasn't that attached to him."

August responded with a chuckle, lifting her to her feet and sealing their conversation with a passionate kiss. "Now, you can officially be mine..."

"Auggie," she playfully warned, raising an eyebrow at the nickname he was beginning to grow fond of.

Interrupting their intimate moment, Lloyd posed a question that compelled both of them to shift their attention to him. "Do you trust us?"

Her reply came hesitantly. "Not really..."

August flashed a grin, his eyes moving from Lloyd to Cassidy as he asked for her trust. "Trust me, doll. Can you do that?"

She sighed, her reluctance slowly giving way as she accepted the pair of tennis shoes handed to her by Lloyd. "Alright. What about my dress?"

August chimed in, suggesting they leave it behind temporarily. "Just leave it here for now. I own the hotel anyways..."

Cassidy laughed, lightening the mood, and playfully struck August's shoulder. "Of course, it is. No wonder you managed to track us down so quickly." Then, her teasing gaze shifted to Lloyd. "Did you choose this hotel solely to piss him off, Lloyd?"

Lloyd, with an unapologetic grin, shrugged as he maintained his smug demeanor. "Perhaps. Now, let's hit the road, pumpkin."

Cassidy was led into a dimly lit warehouse, flanked by Lloyd and August, her anxiety growing as they guided her toward a looming metal door. "What is going on?"

August's voice carried a soothing tone as he gripped her hand gently, aiming to calm her jittery nerves. He sighed, his concern evident. "I mentioned to Lloyd that maybe we shouldn't involve you. But maybe you could use some closure. If it becomes too overwhelming, you can leave anytime, alright?"

"Closure? For what? Leave what? What is this all about, August?" Her questions grew more frantic, her voice trembling with a mix of confusion and impatience.

Lloyd decided to chime in with a chuckle, injecting a touch of levity into the situation as her gaze turned to him. "Well, you see, I might have taken a little peek into your past. And—"

"You did what?!" Cassidy yanked her hand away from August, her panic spiraling as her heart rate skyrocketed. She breathed heavily, her panic mounting, while both men looked back at her, now with a sense of sympathy. "What do you know?"

"Everything, Catherine," Lloyd replied softly as she groaned and silent tears flowed down her cheeks, faster than she could wipe them away.

August, however, reached out and gently clasped her hand, preventing her from retreating further. "Your decision to recreate yourself means nothing to us. To us, you are Cassidy. Cassidy is all I want. But..."

"But... what?"

"But, when we learned about what you had gone through... what he did to you... we couldn't just stand by..."

She groaned at August's heartfelt confession, her chest tight with emotion. She brought a trembling hand to her chest and took a cautious step back from them. August then guided her to a chair, and she slumped into it, her head hanging between her knees. "Just take a deep breath."

"What's behind that door?"

Lloyd's answer was cryptic yet inviting. "Why don't you come and find out, pumpkin?"

She hesitated for a moment, uncertainty etched across her features. Eventually, she stood, taking Lloyd's offered hand, and reluctantly allowed them to guide her toward the imposing door. Her throat constricted with apprehension as August pushed it open, and her breath caught when she saw her stepfather, Travis. He hung there, his arms suspended above his head by chains, his head drooping between his shoulders. His clothing was in tatters, and a long, gruesome gash marred his torso, staining his shirt crimson. "What have you done..."

Chapter 16 Candy

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[secretlythepits]

Telling the Kids

We keep pushing it off. Waited for a birthday to pass. Waited for the birthday weekend activity to pass. Waited for the busy day to pass. Last night we we supposed to, but there was a basketball practice we had forgotten. Also, we were both exhausted from long days. Husband works up his nerve at 9:30. No, that’s too late. We can’t tell them this and then send them to bed.

Maybe over the weekend so they have time to process it? he suggests.

I need a friend to take our kid when you have your biopsy next week. I need to be able to talk to people, but I can’t say anything until the kids know because we can’t risk their friends overhearing something before we talk to them.

Maybe I should do it alone. After school. Otherwise it will be so late. I’ll be the one talking anyway.

Ok. But I want to make sure you don’t say—

The word I’m going to use is “serious.” The cancer is back and it’s more serious this time. You have tests that will give us important information and then the doctor will tell us more specifics. I won’t say stage 4 because they can google that. I will answer questions truthfully.

Ok, that’s fine. You do it.

________________

Today is Tuesday. Our son has an important Algebra test on Wednesday that I have been begging him to study for. If I tell him today, will that impact the test? He also told me about a hothead friend who seems to be itching for a fight and trying to get everyone else involved. I asked him what he thought his friend should do and he was level-headed and practical about it. I warned him about being inadvertently caught in the crossfires and told him to remove himself from a situation if his friend starts talking stupid. But now I worry, once he has this news, will he want to jump into aggression to let steam out? He has never been in a fight. He lifts weights but is aware that he has a smaller stature than other guys. Kids’ emotions usually come out sideways.

Right now, as I type this on my phone, early in the morning, a backhoe is tearing up the street in front of our house. A bulldozer approaches and the backhoe pushes the broken asphalt into his front loader. Dump trucks and rollers will come by soon. We are getting a new street.

There were many, many years when this would have been the highlight of the year. My boys, who loved trucks, would have been outside in their footie pjs, star struck by the worker guys. For weeks or months, they would have re-enacted the job with their Tonka trucks.

Simpler times.

The juxtaposition of what would have been the greatest thing to ever happen in their little boy lives and the impending news that will mark the official end of their childhood—

Is more than I can bear.

But bear it, I will.

Wednesday or Thursday or next week or when the tests come back or after the school year or after the beach trip…

At some point, maybe hours from now, maybe days, I will muster up the courage to say:

Dad’s cancer has come back. It’s more serious this time.

[run-me-through-but-not-like-that]

i check your account way too often… but I have to see if anything new was posted! (✧ω✧)

as adorable as Izzy teaching reader how to sword fight is, how about a reader who’s already very skilled with a sword? like they spar and Izzy isn’t really expecting much but the reader is really good. it’s been a while since he’s been able to just enjoy a friendly match with someone since most of his fights are official duels or during raids?

thanks for all your super fun stories

A Friendly Duel:

The Co-Captains had finally managed to get Izzy to train the crew in sword fighting. He wasn't happy, especially when Stede referred to it as a 'bonding exercise', but Izzy knew that it was for the best. Most of the crew was useful, he might as well try to make them even slightly capable during a raid.

It was a little nerve-wracking, Izzy staring all of you down, preparing for the crew's first lesson. The first mate had decided on starting with one on one sparring with each of the crew, wanting to get a baseline of what they already knew and how skilled they each where.

So far, it wasn't looking good.

At least a couple of them could hold a sword and vaguely make the right movements, none could land a hit or effectively parry an attack though. Well, Jim had gotten a hand up when they pulled out their knife. Izzy had just given them a tired look and reminded them that they were supposed to be learning how to use a sword, but he at least complimented their initiative. Jim only rolled their eyes before stepping down, Frenchie step up for his turn.

Frenchie was fast on his feet bit his arms were far too loose, he was practically just waving the sword around. His footwork showed that he had potential though.

The bard finished his turn with a huff, Wee John telling him that he wasn't that bad, as he dropped himself down onto a barrel.

You were up next.

Unsheathing your sword, you spun it around in your hand, getting a feel for its weight, before getting into your fighting stance.

Izzy assessed your form before nodding, a glint of approval in his eyes, before he struck. You parried the attack with a finesse that surprised him before countering with a lunge of your own.

After a couple of minutes delighting in the familiar sound of clashing metal, Izzy took a step back. His head tilted to the side curiously, a small smirk playing on his lips.

"Surprised?" you asked, cocking an eyebrow at him. The crew may not have been the best pirates, but you knew your way around a sword fight.

"Pleasantly so," Izzy nodded before lunging forward, nearly catching you off guard. Still, you evaded.

"Give him hell!" one of the crew shouted as your sword clashed against his.

Jumping back, you flashed Izzy a smile and lunged forward again. Of course, he deflected.

The two of you continued like that, going back and forth. The crew cheered, rooting for you, enjoying the show. You danced around the deck together, sparks in your eyes and feral grins on your faces.

The crew had been so focused on the fight that they hadn't even noticed that Izzy was smiling until now. Actually smiling.

You had noticed it though, having to keep a close eye on him to avoid getting cut up by his blade. He was grinning, teeth on display, sharp and threatening. But the look in his eyes was almost playful.

Truth be told, Izzy was enjoying this. For once aboard this damned ship, he was actually having a good time. You were smiling too, having the time of your life, feeling the adrenaline running through your veins.

Izzy couldn't help but get lost in the dance. It had been so long since he had sparred with anyone like this, it reminded him of when he and Edward were still learning in their younger days.

This wasn't a real fight, no real consequences, just sparring. Playful, friendly. He didn't have to worry about the dangers of a raid or meeting the wrong end of a blade.

The crew's cheering faded away, there was nothing but the two of you and your swords.

"This is getting rather...intense. Should we intervene?" Stede asked, leaning into Edward, keeping his voice low. The rest of the crew seemed to be enjoying the show but he didn't want you to get hurt, he knew how Izzy could be.

"Definitely not. Iz loves this shit, they're having fun!" Edward was grinning as well, watching his old friend enjoy himself for the first time since they stepped foot on the Revenge.

Stede pondered that for a moment, turning back to the scene of you and Izzy chasing each other around the ship with a surprising amount of grace. It did look like the two of you were having fun...he had never seen Izzy smile before but he certainly was now. He wouldn't get involved.

The duel came to an end as you managed to pin Izzy's sword down and he caught your wrist, pinning yours down in return.

"...call it a draw?" you asked.

A smirk played on his lips for a moment, he looked younger when he seemed happy. "I can live with that," Izzy nodded, respect in his eyes, as he released you, taking a step back and sheathing his sword. You smiled, sheathing your own sword. "I think you can be excused from the crew's lessons, at least until they're on the same skill level as you. We're going to have to work from the beginning," he assured you, ignoring the displeased mumblings from the crew.

"Sure, but if you ever need an assistant teacher, you know were to find me," you offered. Izzy nodded, tempted by your offer. Having somebody else who was competent at these stupid ass lessons might actually make the whole thing more tolerable.

Either way, he was hoping this wouldn't be the last time he got to have a duel like that. He already felt lighter, younger.

Maybe next lesson, Izzy could use you to show the rest of the crew specific techniques. Maybe he'll ask if you want to some training outside of those lessons...

"Alright, Spriggs. You're up!" Izzy turned back to the crew, watching the scribe shift, unsure. Surely, Captain Bonnet would get him out of this whole thing.

"Don't kill him, Iz!" Edward called fondly, clasping a hand over your shoulder in a friendly manner.

[plothooksinc]

“I have already looked at the reports.” He hadn’t liked them—set something niggling as off, more than the lack of information. “She’s only listed as the mystery driver. Not even a physical appearance, which tells me it’s a deliberate obfuscation. Political.”

Which meant she was either with a company that Sumitomo had close ties with, or she was media.

“ED One will have a description, surely,” Kenshin said thoughtfully. “They can’t find her if they don’t know what she looks like.”

Media.

“I am officially not with ED One and that information will be closely held.” Aoshi answered on automatic, thinking back to earlier that morning, tension curling around his nerves.

“I know that.” Kenshin sounded patient, offering him an understanding smile. He must look tired. Was tired, if he was stating the obvious. “We already have a description. I saw her myself. I’m just more curious that Sumitomo struck it from the record.”

Megumi’s eyes on him were more curious than distrustful now, and he wondered how much of his unease was showing on his face. He almost didn’t want to ask. But--

“Then share it.” His voice was flat. They both knew. He needed to know. “Who else are we looking for?”

[evilwriter37]

Vigcup Week 2023 Day 2

Freedom Comes on Violet Wings

Prompt: Dragons

Rated: teen

Warnings: none

Pairings: Viggo/Hiccup, Hiccup & Toothless

Word count: 2,702

Summary: Continuation of Day 1. Hiccup helps Viggo train the Skrill.

The air was crisp, but bitterly cold. Parts of the calm sea were covered in ice floes. The wind whipped this way and that, almost rising to a shriek in some places, like a Night Fury in distress.

Luckily, Toothless was in no distress. He, Hiccup, and Viggo were flying towards the last place they'd found the Skrill, and Toothless didn't seem to mind the extra weight of another rider and that rider's wheelchair. They'd strapped it on tightly so as not to lose it. It was an invention of Hiccup's that had taken him long to make, and it was valuable to Viggo and his mobility. Losing it would be horrible.

Viggo rode behind Hiccup, his immobile legs strapped to Toothless as a form of holding on, and his arms were wrapped around Hiccup's waist. It had taken some help from the other Dragon Riders to get him in the saddle, and Fishlegs had been the one to give him the final boost up.

Viggo liked flying with Hiccup, even though he couldn't hang on with his legs himself, even though it was a process to get him in the saddle.

It made him feel free again.

Because, with his injury, he felt anything but free. He couldn't move his body from the waist down, and he had chronic back pain from the arrows. One had struck directly into a nerve, and now, all that nerve knew how to do was scream.

But Hiccup helped him. He had helped him and was continuing to do so. It wasn't out of a sense of duty or loyalty.

It was out of love.

"Are we almost there?" Viggo asked. He was having a good day pain-wise, but it felt like he had fog in his brain. Thinking was like slogging through mud, so he wasn't quite sure how far away from the Skrill's island they were. He recognized some of their path, but not all of it. It was hard to concentrate.

"Yeah," Hiccup responded. He twisted around to look at him. "You feeling okay?"

"Chipper," Viggo responded. And he was. Today was an exciting day.

Hiccup was going to try to help Viggo officially train the Skrill. They'd bonded closely during the mission that had rendered Viggo paralyzed, and Hiccup wanted him to have a dragon of his own.

Viggo didn't want to admit it, but he wanted a dragon of his own as well. He felt a slight twinge of jealousy over the bond Hiccup had with Toothless, and the Riders with their dragons. He hadn't realized just how close they were until he was living among them. The bond was amazing. It was like they were married to each other's souls.

Viggo didn't know if he had that in him. It was only recent that he'd gotten true feelings for others. It was like Hiccup had flipped some sort of switch in him. He'd gone from uncaring, unable to connect with anyone, just seeing them as pieces to be used rather than human beings with their own lives--to caring deeply about someone, and learning to care about others. He didn't feel cold or asocial anymore. He felt real human connection for the first time in his life, and it was incredible.

But could he gain that sort of deep connection with a dragon?

He hoped so.

"This is the one!" Hiccup let him know as he directed Toothless to angle downward for a landing. The island looked quite different when not in the middle of a blizzard.

But still, it was cold, and Viggo adjusted his thick leather gloves on his hands. Getting frostbite was the last thing he wanted.

Toothless landed rather lightly on the frozen ground, not wanting to hurt either of his disabled riders. Hiccup got off, and then he stood there for a moment, hands on his hips.

"What are you thinking?" Viggo asked.

"That you should probably stay on Toothless till we find the Skrill. The terrain wouldn't be good for your chair."

Viggo nodded. That made sense. He also didn't want to tire himself out rolling the chair along himself, or tire Hiccup out by having him do it. Luckily, Viggo still had a great amount of strength in his arms, and pushing himself in the wheelchair wasn't hard at all.

Physically, at least.

Mentally, he wished he could still be walking, that he could use his legs like anyone else. He was grieving what he'd lost, just like how he'd grieved the loss of sight in his left eye.

Life had not gone easy on him, had it?

They headed into the forest of pine trees, the wind rustling them from side to side, making the pungent odor of the trees drift around them like a fog. It was a nice smell. Viggo liked the scent of pine quite a lot.

"How are we going to find the Skrill?" Viggo asked as they traveled.

"Well, I found footprints," Hiccup said. He pointed to the ground, and Viggo realized they were following a trail. "Maybe once we get closer, he'll recognize you're smell." Hiccup paused, put a hand to his chin. "Or... she. I didn't get a good look at anything, if I'm being honest."

Viggo chuckled. "I'm sure they will find us then, if we're already tracking them."

Hiccup nodded, and they continued on through the trees.

After some time, a very familiar screech reached their ears, and the beat of wings came from above. They looked up to see the Skrill descending.

"She," Viggo said. After years of dragon hunting, he was good at telling the sex of the beasts.

Hiccup nodded in agreement. "She."

The Skrill landed in front of them, folding her wings and sniffing the air. She appeared rather calm and curious.

"Let's get you off Toothless," Hiccup decided. "That okay?"

Viggo nodded. He wanted to be as close to this dragon as possible.

So, Hiccup came over and began undoing the straps that held the wheelchair to Toothless' back. Once that was down on the ground, he went to undo Viggo's. The Skrill was circling around them a little, but not in a threatening manner. She was merely curious to be seeing them again.

Viggo felt better once he was in his chair. He rolled himself over to the Skrill.

"She remembers us," Viggo said, seeing the intelligence and recognition in her eyes. He smiled, but then it dropped. He realized that this territory was all new for him. He was completely lost on what to do next. "Now what?"

"Well, she'll need a name," Hiccup said. "And you have to show her that you trust her."

"Elding," Viggo said with no hesitation. He turned from Hiccup to look at the dragon. "Yes, I think that shall do nicely." He'd been thinking about her name since Hiccup had brought up the idea of bonding with her. "How do I show her that I trust her?" Because he did. This Skrill had helped him: she was the reason he was alive as much as Hiccup was.

Hiccup came close, took Viggo's hand in his, and pulled off his glove. The air nipped at his fingers like teething Terrible Terrors. 

Once his hand was uncovered, Hiccup had him hold it out to Elding, palm open towards her.

"Wait, I need to touch her already?"

"It'll work," Hiccup said. "I promise." He let go of Viggo's hand, leaving the next movements up to him and Elding. He met her gaze, and then her eyes drew towards his hand. She came close, sniffed him; he felt her hot breath glide over his fingers.

Viggo waited with baited breath. He wondered if he would have to make the first move, but how would that show trust? No. He had to wait for Elding.

Viggo breathed out a huge breath as she stepped forward and pressed her snout against his hand. He was familiar with the feeling of scales, but not necessarily on a living dragon. This whole experience was new to him.

He found himself smiling, mouth open, teeth showing. His and Elding's breath fogged in the air together, intertwining.

This would work.

Viggo would have his own dragon.

---

It was two weeks later that Elding let Viggo onto her back. It had been difficult getting her back to Dragon's Edge, and she lived more secluded from the other dragons. At first, she hadn't slept near Viggo even, only present for meal times and bits and pieces of training.

That had changed, however, as she and Viggo grew closer. The night before, she'd dared to come into Hiccup and Viggo's shared hut and sleep near the bed. She was confused by their kissing, and Viggo and Hiccup had laughed at her watching them.

They'd figured that that morning would be perfect to get Viggo onto her back.

It was the same process that they used with Toothless, and Fishlegs had to help again. Elding was a little wary around the other Dragon Riders, but was growing used to them and their dragons as well.

Elding let them saddle her with the custom saddle Hiccup had made, let them strap Viggo's legs onto her. She seemed nervous and twitchy though.

"It's alright, Elding," Viggo said in his best soothing voice. He rubbed a hand along her neck, and she made an odd humming sound that Viggo had learned was her way of showing pleasure.

"You guys make a good match," Astrid admitted, arms crossed.

The Riders had come to help out and watch. They had begun to drop their animosity towards Viggo, though Astrid still clung to hers rather tightly. Viggo didn't blame any of them for their feelings towards him; he'd done absolutely terrible things to all of them.

"Hiccup, you sure you shouldn't have given him a Gronckle like Dagur?" Snotlout asked. There was a bit of disdain in his tone.

"I think Elding is right for him," Hiccup said, tone firm. He patted her neck confidently. "Viggo, you ready to fly?"

Viggo gripped the handholds on the saddle. "I think so."

Hiccup smiled. "Good." He went and mounted Toothless, who was literally wiggling with excitement. "Let's go."

Toothless took off, and Viggo didn't have to do anything to make Elding do so as well. She took the cue and was in the air.

Viggo bent over Elding, holding on tightly. He was having a bad pain day with his he back, but he couldn't miss this opportunity of Elding putting her trust in him.

Once they were high up, the trees on the Edge specks beneath them, Hiccup spoke.

"I'm sorry about Snotlout. He can be kinda mean sometimes."

"Nothing I can't shake off," Viggo said. He looked down below. He was used to being this high up now, after flights with Hiccup, but it was exhilarating to be the one in control.

It was frightening too.

"Don't look down," Hiccup directed. "Watch me and Toothless. You can't direct Elding with your legs, so you'll have to use your arms."

Viggo nodded. Hiccup turned and began flying, pulling Toothless in an arc to the right. Viggo was grateful for Hiccup taking his partial blindness into account. Flying to the left would be difficult for him.

The flight was silent as Hiccup flew along ahead of Viggo, looking back every once in a while to make sure he was copying his maneuvers. Viggo was a little shaky at them, not performing them as smoothly as Hiccup, but who could blame him? This was his first time riding a dragon of his own!

And it was incredible. The wind whipped around him like he was dashing through shards of ice, but the cold didn't matter. He felt free, like he wasn't tethered to his body or the earth, trapped like he had been since the mission. 

That was how Viggo had felt: trapped. He couldn't do things on his own, not the way he had before. He needed help with some of the smallest things, and some of the most intimate things. Luckily, Hiccup didn't seem to mind any of it. It had been awkward at first, of course, when Viggo had needed help relieving himself, but now, it was just part of their daily routine.

He felt trapped in a scarred body that wanted nothing more than for him to suffer. His back hurt, his face hurt, he couldn't walk, he could only half see...

But none of that mattered right now. Right now he was flying. Right now he was free.

Viggo did something he hadn't done since he was probably twelve... He whooped with joy! He urged Elding to go faster, and pulled up beside Hiccup. The longer he was out here with Hiccup and Toothless, the more confident he felt on Elding's back. It was like she could anticipate his movements. It was incredible having a living being beneath him that could fly and free him.

"It's awesome, right?" Hiccup asked, a huge smile adorning his beautiful face. His cheeks and nose were red from the cold. Viggo wanted so badly to kiss him.

"Incredible," Viggo breathed. He pet Elding on the neck, and she looked back at him. If dragons could smile, or at least give the idea of a smile, she did. She was happy with him, and that made Viggo's heart soar.

"Well, we can't stay out here forever," Hiccup said sadly. He looked back at Dragon's Edge. They'd gone rather far over open ocean. "I can't feel my nose."

Viggo laughed, lifted a hand to check if he could feel his. Nope. Nothing. Heading back inside and resting near a warm fire would be a grand idea.

"Your nose is cute," Viggo told Hiccup, and then he pulled Elding around in a turn to the right, and headed back for Dragon's Edge.

---

Viggo sat in front of the fire in the clubhouse, his back resting against Elding. He was on the floor rather than a chair, as Elding had wanted to come in with him, clearly wanting to be close to him.

For now, it was just Hiccup, Toothless, Elding, and Viggo in the clubhouse. The rest of the Riders were out doing other things. Unless they'd patrolled today, they hadn't felt the bite of the winter air so high up.

Viggo held out his hands to warm them. It felt good to gain feeling back in his nose and fingers. For a brief moment, he thought that the feeling would come back in his legs as well, that they were just numb from cold and not from a horrible injury that he'd never truly recover from.

But still, he couldn't feel them, couldn't move them. At least Hiccup had helped him arrange them comfortably so that his back wasn't hurting as much. He'd also made him some willow bark tea for the pain.

"Hiccup."

"Yes?" Hiccup looked up from the book he was reading. Viggo beckoned him over with a hand, and he sat beside him, snuggling close and resting his head on his shoulder.

"That's better," Viggo breathed. He rested his head against Hiccup's, wrapping his arm around him.

For a few moments they were silent, just breathing together, enjoying each other's company.

"What did you think of flying?" Hiccup asked.

"It was amazing," Viggo said. He smiled. "I adored it."

"Good." Hiccup snuggled closer, wrapping both his arms around Viggo's waist. He was nice and warm against him. Elding grunted, then wrapped her tail around the both of them.

Toothless rumbled from across the room, while Viggo was still looking at Elding in awe.

"Of course you can join us, bud!" Hiccup exclaimed. "Wouldn't be a proper cuddle pile without you, now would it?"

Making a chortling sound that was close to laughter, Toothless padded over, and laid down in front of them, curling himself around them, his tail almost wrapped around Elding's. The two had grown close just as Viggo and Elding had.

"Thank you, Hiccup," Viggo said after some time, squeezing him tight. This was probably the most relaxed and happy he'd felt in his entire life.

"For what?"

Viggo kissed him on the top of the head. "For everything."