#Edmund tolleson x reader

[sweetandabitspycho]

Next fict's will be, probably not going to be in this order.😂 let me know if you want to be tagged in anyone.

Rhaenyra Targaryen second part smut.

Eric Draven soul mate fluffy.

steve mcgarrett fluffy.

Ratched Netflix Edmund Tolleson fluffy and Huck Finnigan fluffy!

[shesclearlya3]

Dangerous Woman (p.2)

pairing: Edmund Tolleson x Fem!Reader

word count: 3,312

warnings: language, oral sex (female receiving)

hey everyone! i know the reading list for this at the moment is rather small. i just wanted to apologize for such a long wait in updates. mentally my health has been horrible and i lost a lot of interest in writing. i hope this isn’t too bad considering i know part one was posted months ago. in april, my god!! hopefully with getting this chapter out, i can start writing more stories again! i hope you enjoy and thank you so much for your support and patience. one more part will follow!

part 1

1.

Mildred Ratched had her eye on you and Edmund.

There was something about Nurse Dolly that Mildred did not like. She was pretty close to figuring out exactly what was wrong with that beautiful blonde girl with bright red lips. It was at the tip of her tongue.

Finally, Huck had given her the answer she was looking for. A nurse sexually pleasing a patient was beyond anything Mildred ever heard in her life. Especially her brother.

Mildred needed to protect her sibling; he did the same thing for her all those years ago. It was time to return the favor. If there were any chance that the love and affection of a woman could help him, Mildred figured she could use it to her advantage.

Mildred arrived at seven am on the dot. She placed her things in the designated cubby and quickly walked to the main lobby to watch for your arrival. If things went her way, and they usually did, you'd have an arranged meeting with Edmund at twelve o'clock sharp. Huck was helping, but he wasn't entirely aware of the actual reason for this meeting. As long as Betsy Bucket was kept distracted, this would go off without a hitch.

When you arrived, you wasted no time in completing your duties. You were punctual. Mildred liked that; Edmund had told her he loved your kindness. And when he thanked you, your eyes had a sparkle in them, as you felt joy every time you felt appreciated by the patients. You were a genuine person with a heart in this industry. Years of patient abuse and management neglect had yet to tarnish that fire deep inside you.

About ten minutes to noon, Mildred had sent Huck your way, asking if you would assist them in helping a newly admitted patient to the washroom instead of delivering meals. When Mildred arrived, she watched as the guard tried to cuff her brother after putting his shirt on. "Leave them off," she ordered.

"Edmund," Mildred welcomed, watching as the guard stepped off to the side, planning on watching the encounter. She turned her attention to him, "You're dismissed." Mildred said politely.

The guard looked startled, his eyes shifting curiously between Edmund and Mildred. Edmund rubbed the tender skin of his wrists where the cuffs chaffed him. He was handcuffed in the shower, and the water was cold, resulting in him jerking multiple times, trying to get away.

"Yes, ma'am," the guard said, ducking his head as he left them alone. Edmund watched Mildred maintain a sickly sweet smile, waiting until the door slowly clicked shut.

"What's going on?" Edmund questioned. The cold water had made him uncomfortable and a little on edge.

"No need to be afraid," Mildred said, closing the distance between them. She eased the wrinkles in Edmund's tight-fitting white shirt. He watched her in confusion. "There's someone I would like you to talk to. But, not for long, Nurse Bucket will have our head if she found out."

Edmund still looked very confused. He assumed that person would be Nurse Dolly. He liked her enough. Dolly seemed kind and knew how to use her hands. Edmund hasn't had the physical touch of a woman in years. It was enjoyable, but he knew it was nothing more than a sexual favor.

There was a knock on the door, and Mildred stepped back, a slight smirk on her face as she approached the door. Edmund couldn't see who was on the other side, but his look of bewilderment was quickly replaced with a smile when you appeared, eager to help.

You were now the one confused, watching as Mildred smiled at the two of you before quickly shutting the door. The sound of the lock clicking made your heart beat faster. You knew it was locked but didn't want to risk upsetting Edmund by trying to open the door. You definitely were not afraid to be there with him, but it was against the hospital's protocol. You knew very well Nurse Ratched was aware of that.

"It's you, y/n," Edmund said happily. You then turned to look at him, noticing he wasn't handcuffed in those ridiculous shackles. As far as you've heard, Edmund continued his excellent behavior and had not once attempted an escape. You knew his reputation was dragged through the mud just by his crimes alone. You just felt standard cuffs would suffice just as much.

"Edmund, it's wonderful to see you," you said a little too enthusiastically. You frowned, realizing you sounded like a fangirl who hoarded newspapers with him on the cover, desperately wanting to meet the handsome murderer.

"I didn't expect to see you," Edmund said, taking a hesitant step closer. It's as if he was testing you to make sure he didn't scare you. You didn't budge, only smiling at him and tugging on your fingers nervously. "Mild- I mean Nurse Ratched said I'd have a visitor, but I assumed it to be Nurse Dolly.."

You weren't the most sociable person at the hospital. However, gossip about the incident had traveled fast. You couldn't be angry or offended that another woman had an interest in Edmund. After all, you two were barely friends. Friendly, of course, but acquaintances. It's an act you personally wouldn't have done with a police officer right in the other room, but you didn't judge Nurse Dolly one bit.

"I'm sorry to disappoint," you said jokingly.

Edmund understood you were joking but felt the need to say, "I'd rather talk to you."

You were taken aback by his bold statement. You felt your face turn red as Edmund watched you curiously. He liked you very much. You were exceptionally kind to him right away with no judgment of him and what he's done. Edmund didn't regret what he did to those people. They deserved it. But standing here with you could almost make him wish to turn back time.

"That's very kind of you, Edmund.." you said. The distance between the two of you couldn't make the tension building up evaporate. "If I'm honest, I wasn't expecting to see you. I think we both got set up."

Edmund loved your honesty. He took a few timid steps closer, just waiting for you to realize who you were now locked in a tight space with and to start screaming. You didn't, though. Instead, you maintained your cool, despite him noticing the way you twiddled with your fingers. It was just a nervous habit you've always had and didn't necessarily relate to Edmund himself. He watched you intently, his green eyes smoldering at the sight of you.

"You're not afraid of me?" he asked, remembering the first time he ever met you. You denied then you weren't afraid of him. This time wouldn't be any different, right?

"No," your response was quick and honest.

"I'm glad," Edmund said, giving you a gentle nod. He was smiling again, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. They were tired.

There was a spark in the air between you. You could feel it, almost as if it were a vibration. Edmund was admiring you fondly, knowing you were already his favorite part of this dreadful place. You had no idea of what Nurse Ratched's intentions were today. You assumed Edmund's word of mouth of how nice you were to him was the main reason. But you were clever; there had to be a deeper angle than that.

"You know about Dolly and me?" Edmund asked his voice so low you had to strain to hear him.

You told him you'd never lie, "I have. Though it's not my business, things just travel like fire, unfortunately."

"I hope you don't look at me any differently because of it," Edmund said, now frowning, "I persuaded her to do it. I haven't felt a woman's touch in so long.. Or really anyone, for that matter, but I'm not like that. I like you. You're nice to me."

You were at a loss for words. You often had times when you explained yourself too much, so you understood what was probably happening here. You felt a flutter in your chest because he seemed to like you enough that he didn't want you to think poorly of him.

"You're still human," you said, and he almost looked to be in tears at your statement, "There's nothing wrong with wanting to feel something. Maybe the approach was a little.. unorthodox."

"You're brilliant," he complimented, his feelings completely genuine. "Have I mentioned that I like you?"

You couldn't contain the giggle at that. Edmund smiled again, this time his eyes crinkling when he heard the sound of your laugh.

There was a timid knock on the door, and you knew that meant that time was about up. Edmund was saddened by this, and you immediately felt the same. He reached a cautious hand up to your face, his hand slowly encompassing your neck. You felt your breathing stutter, but not out of fear.

"You're really not afraid?" Edmund said in awe. You shook your head, knowing deep in your heart you weren't. He couldn't believe it. After the way he was treated when he was arrested, the way other doctors and patients looked at him around here, surely you'd be terrified? The media was most certainly not kind to him. He snuck a few peeks at the papers, still plastering his face on the front cover after being caught for nearly three weeks.

Edmund slowly released his grip as the door opened. Nurse Ratched came in, shutting it as she watched the two of you. You felt arousal stir in your belly after feeling his hand on your neck. You cleared your throat, stepping away from him as Edmund turned his attention to Mildred, looking as if nothing happened.

"Thank you, Nurse (y/l/n)," Mildred dismissed you, and you nodded with a smile before hurrying out of the room.

2.

Your meeting in the washroom with Edmund was not the last.

Every day the past week, for ten minutes, you and Edmund would talk in the washroom. Nurse Ratched made sure to keep an eye on the door, so nobody tried to get in. Nurse Bucket had come close one time, trying to prepare the room for one of the older female patients. Mildred lied, saying the room was under maintenance until further notice.

"Of course, can't count on anything to work in this damn place!" Nurse Bucket said with a huff before stomping off in the direction she came.

Edmund had your trust, and you had his. The first few days were spent with both of you talking fast, trying to find out as much about each other as possible before the ten minutes were up. The conversations put a bright spot in your day, especially knowing you were the only real interaction Edmund was getting. It made you feel good.

It was Friday, which meant all patients who could not bathe themselves would be in and out of the washroom all day. Mildred already had a plan, which wasn't difficult at all. Before you left for the day, you'd bring Edmund his dinner, and Mildred would coax the security guard out of his post for some assistance. You and the guard were friendly, so you both agreed he'd trust you enough to be alone with Edmund for about ten minutes.

Mildred had passed you the final tray with a smile. You took it gladly, unable to hide the pep in your step as you headed to the basement. The natural light from outside quickly disappeared as you walked down the windowless hallway before knocking on the locked door that separated the isolation cell from the rest of the hospital.

"Good evening, (y/n),"

"Good evening, sir," you replied with a smile.

You were barely in the room when the panicked voice of Nurse Ratched came from behind you, asking the guard to please hurry and assist her as one of the patients was behaving violently.

"I should really-"

"There's no time for that!" Mildred said, and the guard didn't bother to argue, quickly taking off in a run after her.

You shook your head. That was almost too easy.

Edmund had already heard your voice and was excitedly waiting at the front of his cell. He was always eager for your time.

"(y/n)," he smiled brightly, his hands wrapped around the cell door. "It's almost time for you to go home, isn't it?" he asked.

"Edmund," you replied in greeting. "It's almost 5:30. This is the last time you'll see me until Monday," you sighed playfully, sliding his food tray into the slot. He took it before setting it down right away. He was more into you than the food.

"That's a shame. I'd love to be able to accompany you home. You're the best part of my day." Edmund said, his tone immediately becoming flirty. You were used to this, as Edmund was very fond of you. You reciprocated in your own way, and he was very appreciative you seemed to like him as much as he liked you.

"I enjoy our time together," you admitted. Edmund smelled good; the laundry was distributed this morning, and you could smell the fresh linen.

Edmund reached for his tray, grabbing the napkin that was threatening to fall off. When he righted it, however, a silver key clattered to the floor. You both froze at the sight of it.

"Is that?.." he began slowly.

You knew just by looking at it, it was the key to his cell. Your legs started to tremble, thinking of unlocking the door, allowing Edmund to take you in his arms and-

"(y/n)?" Edmund's voice drew you from your thoughts.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" you asked.

"If I unlock it, would you come in here?" he asked.

Despite having the key that could lead to his freedom, even if only temporary, he only wanted to use it for you to be close to him.

You nodded slowly, "Yes, but we'll have to be vigilant. We can't risk getting caught."

Edmund nodded, handing you the key, and you quickly unlocked the gate, sliding in carefully, leaving it partially cracked for an easy escape.

You were now so close to him you could smell the generic body wash he used earlier. Edmund smiled at you, and you quickly tucked the key in your waist pocket, knowing Mildred would need it back.

"Aren't you going to eat?" you asked playfully, pointing to his tray of stew.

"Yes, but not that," Edmund responded.

Your cheeks flushed at his statement. Edmund slowly reached for you, and you wasted no time in moving into his embrace. He placed his hands on your hips, your stomach touching his. He stared at you intently, and you found yourself getting lost in his green eyes.

"Edmund.." you whispered.

"Is it okay if I kiss you?" he whispered back.

You didn't bother responding, only leaning forward and allowing your lips to touch. Edmund eagerly responded, his fingers digging into your hips as the kiss got deep. You hadn't kissed a man in over a year. The last one sucked, as the poor guy was half drunk when it happened.

Edmund was very skilled, his lips giving you that perfect satisfaction, but teasing there would be a lot more to come.

After a minute or so had passed, Edmund pulled back, his hands gripping you so tight your skirt bunched in his hands. You were breathless, staring into his eyes as Edmund gazed at you in awe.

"How much time do we have left?" Edmund asked.

"I-I'd say about six minutes?" you said, not at all confident in your answer.

"That'll be enough time." was all he said.

"What?" you asked before gasping when he fell to his knees, pushing you back to where you were leaning against the cell wall for support. Edmund bunched your dress skirt in his hands, pushing the fabric up until your underwear was exposed. You took it from him, allowing him to yank the undergarment down quickly.

This is NOT how I expected this to go.

Edmund looked up at you, his eyes pleading for you to give him permission. You nodded, sighing as his hands gripped your thighs, pressing quick kisses to your leg, before he leaned up, bringing your wet pussy to his mouth.

You had never received oral in your life. Your sexual partners were assholes, to say the least. It was something you wanted to try but couldn't bring yourself to ask a man to eat you out. It was almost embarrassing, in a way.

Edmund gripped the back of your thighs in his hand, allowing one leg to raise up, resting a foot on the edge of his small bed. You whined, your fingers gripping your skirt tighter, yanking it up higher to expose the top of his head buried between your legs. The leg supporting your body started to shake.

He ran his tongue along your slit, gathering the juices that were already spilling out due to your arousal. Edmund's grip on your raised thigh increased, attempting to keep you upright, as it was proving difficult the more he teased your entrance with his tongue. He only had a few minutes, so he quickly raised his head just enough to where he could lap over your clit.

"FUCK," you hissed when he shook his head, the movement causing your toes to curl when he hit just the right spot on your sensitive clit. The sounds of Edmund sucking it into his mouth caused your chest to tighten, allowing a hand to release your skirt before tangling in his short black hair.

Edmund was immensely enjoying the feel of you tugging on his head, bringing him impossibly closer to your pussy. He hadn't done this in a long time, and he realized quickly that he missed it. Edmund was falling in love with you, and he wanted to make you feel as good as you made him feel.

Just with his tongue.

You called his name softly, and Edmund felt his jeans tighten while he continued to slurp, making the sound unnecessarily loud just to continue getting a reaction out of you. Your hands tangled so tightly on his head he winced, but he didn't give a shit that he may leave this eating-out session completely bald. It just proved to him you were enjoying it.

Your legs were shaking uncontrollably, and it was just seconds before you couldn't hold on anymore. Edmund sighed against your wetness as you came into his mouth, your clit so sensitive that his tongue still circling your clit became too much for you to handle. You cried his name, almost sobbing when he finally pulled away, running his tongue along his wet lips, a satisfied smirk on his face.

You released the garment, feeling it swing back into place. Your cheeks were bright red, and it felt the temperature had risen thirty degrees than before. Edmund was still smirking at you, wearing your cum on his face like a trophy. You liked this arrogance already.

"You're a dream (y/n)," Edmund said, watching as you managed to stand upright despite your legs trembling. "Let's do it again on Monday."

taglist: @unadulteratedlandsoulshark @wittysunflower @ejs398 @fanfiction-and-therapy

[plus-size-reader]

Certifiable

Edmund Tolleson x Plus size!reader

Word Count: 1910 words

Warnings: none

Summary: Edmund tracking down the reader, a girl he used to love

—————————————————————————————————

You never thought you’d see him again.

After all, the last you’d heard, Edmund was on the run after breaking out of Lucia State Hospital in California. The chances of him ever even remembering you were slim, and the chances of him coming for you were even slimmer.

You doubted he could track you down if he wanted to, seeing as you’d moved around quite a bit in the time he’d been locked up at the psychiatric hospital.

He wouldn't know where to look, and you weren’t even sure why he’d want to.

...But there was no use denying what you could see with your own two eyes.

Right there, standing in front of you, plain as day, was Edmund Tolleson.

You had a million questions, each one more important than the last, and not one overriding your overall desire to run into your home and lock the door behind you. In the time since you’d last seen him, Edmund had really lost it.

This wasn’t the loveable young man you’d fallen in love with. No, he was a wanted criminal, a convicted felon and if they found out he had come here, you would surely be on a list somewhere, if you weren’t dead before that.

There was no good way this would end.

Still, you couldn't will your legs to move. As desperately as you tried to turn away from him and pretend you hadn’t seen a thing, you couldn’t make yourself do it.

He was really here.

It was impossible.

“Long time no see” he called, somehow managing to keep a low profile even though everyone in California knew exactly who he was and wouldn’t hesitate to call the police if they saw him.

There was no point in hiding.

He wasn’t in California anymore.

“What are you doing here?” you asked, your voice little more than a pathetic whisper, caught in the back of your throat. Never in your wildest dreams had you imagined seeing him again, and even then, you never thought it could really happen.

This had to be a dream.

You had finally lost your mind and it was only a matter of time before those men in white coats came to collect you. That would be a much easier reality to accept than the one you were currently stuck in.

He couldn’t be here.

“You know, I was real surprised you didn’t come and visit me. I missed you” he hummed, continuing on as if you hadn’t said anything at all. Edmund’ had more than enough time to think about what he would say to you if this time ever came, and it was important you heard him.

There was no telling what you had heard about him in the time since he’d been gone, and the less you really knew, the better.

Really, he was only here for one thing.

Edmund wanted his girl back.

He wanted you back, real bad.

“It’s a little hard to visit when I didn’t know where you were '' you reminded, finding yourself unable to hold your tongue, even in these most unsavory circumstances.

You couldn’t help yourself.

One day, you were happily waiting for him to come back, and the next, you hear over the radio that the man you love has been arrested for multiple murders. Murders, and of priests no less.

It wasn’t as if you were just going to jump at the chance to go and see him after that.

“Would it have really mattered? Would you have come to see me if you knew?” Edmund countered, well aware of the answer before the words even left his lips. You surely thought that he was a monster.

Just like everyone else did.

The fact that you had once cared deeply for him wasn’t going to change the fact that he had hurt all those people, and that he was a wanted criminal. Nothing was going to take away from the terrible things he’d done.

Not even the way his eyes twinkled as he looked at you.

It was just like it used to be and for a moment, you found yourself almost forgetting the horrific circumstances under which you were meeting again.

“I heard you got a new girl, I’m sorry about what happened to her” you hummed, once again changing the subject from your own feelings for him. You didn’t want to get into any of that with him, not now.

It wouldn’t change a thing.

The news of Edmund breaking out of Lucia the first time had been music to your ears, because whether you wanted to admit it or not, you didn’t want anything to happen to him.

If it didn’t matter, you wouldn’t have followed the radio so closely after catching wind of the murders he’d committed. Any sane person would have just closed that part of their life off and never thought of it again.

...but clearly, you weren’t as sane as you would have liked to think you were because you were still entertaining this conversation at all.

“Yeah, me too”

There was a sadness in Edmund’s voice as he thought about Dolly, and the Bonnie and Clyde relationship they had shared. It was over quickly, but left a lasting impression on him that he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to shake.

She was special.

So were you.

That was why he was here in the first place. There was no way Edmund could live another day without you, the first girl he’d ever loved, now that he was free.

“I thought about you, every day when I was in there” he sighed, as if thinking back to all those days locked up like a caged animal. Knowing that you were out there somewhere, just waiting for him to come find you, was what kept him going.

He needed you.

“What do you want, Eddie?” you huffed, finally breaking down to the point where you just had to get it over with. Clearly, he came here for a reason and you just wanted to know what that was.

Surely, there wasn’t anything left of what you’d had before.

He had gone off and butchered people, he hurt people and if that wasn’t enough which it certainly should have been, he was currently on the run. There was no way you could have what you’d had before he ran off.

There was no way you could have anything anymore.

However, the male in front of you had yet to give up hope. He knew that deep down inside of you, there was always going to be love for him, and all he had to do was bring it to the surface.

He had never stopped loving you, and nothing was going to keep you from loving him back.

That was just the way you were.

“I want you baby, just like I always have” he confessed, closing the space between your two bodies until you could smell the musk rolling off of him. For the first time in months, he was right here.

You could reach out and touch him, and nothing was physically keeping you from doing that, but you just couldn’t.

It wasn’t right.

Every night, you went to bed hoping that Edmund would come to his senses and come find you so that the two of you could be together again but you never thought it would actually happen.

You never thought he would be standing in front of you, like nothing had changed.

If anything, you expected to bring him up in a memory many years from now, in front of your grandchildren or something. Surely they would get a kick out of the story of how you once loved the man they called the Clergy killer.

You weren’t supposed to ever see him again.

“What am I supposed to say? You’re a killer, Eddie” you reminded, feeling sort of foolish even saying it out loud. Surely a man who had taken as many lives as he had was well aware of what he was.

Still, it just seemed like he was forgetting.

If nothing else, he was assuming that you had forgotten.

“Darling, I made a mistake. You know I love you”

It was exactly what you should have been expecting from him. It was real and raw and emotional, tugging at your heartstrings in just the right way.  Just hearing him say it nearly broke your heart, but it wasn’t because you didn’t believe him.

It was because you did.

You knew that no matter what he did, Edmund had always loved you.

He wasn’t manipulative by nature, and didn’t have it in him to lie to you. Even when he was bad, he’d always been honest about it and even now, you found it hard to turn a blind eye to the way your stomach fluttered as he spoke.

He loved you.

Right now, standing in front of you, it was clear that he really, truly loved you, but that didn’t make it any easier to make sense of what he was asking of you.

You had a life, a job, and picking up and joining Edmund on his life of crime just didn’t seem like something you wanted to do. If your mother could see you now, she would be rolling in her grave.

...But it would be a lie to say that some part of you didn’t want to go.

Some part, no matter how small, wanted you to take Edmund’s hand and never look back but you just weren’t sure if it could work. It had been so long now, and so much had changed.

How could he even be sure he wanted you anymore?

“This is absolutely insane. Do you even have a plan? Where will you go?” you asked, doing your best not to give him, or yourself, any hope that you were going to accept the lunacy he was offering.

If you did, there was no telling what you would get yourself into.

Though, you knew that if you didn’t, you would always regret it.

All your life, Edmund had been what you wanted. From the moment you met, you knew that wherever he went, you would follow him and for a time, you had. There was nothing else in the world more important to you than him.

You just weren’t sure if you were quite ready to follow him into whatever this was.

“Don’t I always have a plan? Just get in the car, and I’ll take care of everything else” he grinned, well aware that he had already won you over. He could feel it in his gut and for once, it seemed like he was right.

This was going to work.

You were going to come with him, and as long as he had you, the rest would find a way to work itself out.

He was sure of it.

“Edmund Tolleson, you are certifiable” you decided, allowing yourself to stop worrying just enough to pull him into your arms, kissing him for what felt like the first time in a lifetime.

It was going to be messy, and difficult, but he had a point.

He had always taken care of you. All you had to do was trust him to do it one more time and everything was going to work out. 

If nothing else, you were together and that was all you’d wanted for a very long time.

[queenoftheweh]

Hey! Is anyone writing imagines for Ratched?

More specifically for Edmund Tolleson or Huck? If you are and you see this could you please Tag me in the next thing you write for them?

[shesclearlya3]

edmund tolleson x fem!reader coming up tomorrow!

[shesclearlya3]

hi any edmund tolleson x reader coming up? I’m trying to find em anywhere and your writing is sooo good🥺😩

Hi love!

I actually have a few pieces planned out for Edmund x Reader! I have been slacking with getting any writing done the past few months, unfortunately. But your ask helped give me some motivation so keep and eye out the next week or so. Sometimes I just need a little push. Thank you for your kind comment 🥺 it means a lot.

[shesclearlya3]

Dangerous Woman (p.1)

pairing: Edmund Tolleson x Fem!Reader

word count: 2,821

warnings: none

part 2

1.

"Nurse y/l/n, could you follow me?" Nurse Bucket asked you politely.

You glanced up at your post at the front desk. It was your second week on the job at Lucia State Hospital. Your main job was being a receptionist, and you were a little miffed at being appointed to such a mundane position. You were new but just as capable as anyone else.

You eagerly stood up, always excited at the chance to leave your desk. Nurse Bucket tapped her foot impatiently as you smoothed your dress down, approaching her with a timid smile.

"Nurse Dolly is sick, we need you to help pass out meals, follow me." the older woman set a quick pace down the hall. You hurried after her, passing Huck, who grinned at you. You smiled in return, and he fumbled with the covered tray in his hands, a dollop of mashed potatoes falling to the ground.

You heard the voice of Nurse Ratched behind you, politely scolding him for his mishap.

"What floor, Ms?" you questioned as Nurse Bucket opened the door to the stairwell. She was in such a hurry that the door smacked you in the back when you followed after her.

"You're going to the basement!" she exclaimed, her voice reverberating off the walls. "Then you're going to come back upstairs and help Mr. Finnigan finish."

You slowed your walk, the sound of her clicking heels temporarily distracting you from voicing your thoughts. Nurse Bucket realized you were no longer following, turning to give you an annoyed look. You did like her for the most part. However, she tended to be slightly abrasive, and often times it was directed towards Nurse Ratched. You always tried to play on her good side.

"Is there a problem, Nurse y/l/n?" she asked, crossing her thin arms over her chest.

"We don't have any patients in the basement?" you questioned.

"Ah, yes, I'm aware you may not have been filled in," Nurse Bucket approached you, "Ms. y/l/n, have you been paying attention to the news? Mr. Edmund Tolleson is our newest responsibility. Of course to protect our other patients, we've placed his housing far away from everyone else."

You did, in fact, know that the infamous Edmund Tolleson, the Clergy Killer, was at Lucia. You've never seen him in person; you never left the desk, for heaven's sake.

"There's a security guard that will greet you. Rest assured you'll be perfectly safe." she waved you to continue following, and you did. At the end of the hall, a covered tray sat on a table. She handed it to you, and you took it obediently.

"Just come up when you're done, Nurse," With a timid smile, she left you alone.

Your hands shook as you approached the entrance to the basement. You could see the security guard at his desk, reading a novel. You felt safe knowing he was there. Of course, you weren't particularly freaked about meeting Edmund. He never killed women, so why would you need to be afraid?

Of course, it's easier said than done.

"He's that way," the guard said kindly before pointing to the gun sitting on his desk. "You're perfectly safe, ma'am."

"Thanks," you said, slowly walking through the large doorway. There was one occupied cell, and you could hear the small grunting noises of a man. Your mind immediately went to the dirtiest places, but as you grew closer, you saw he was just doing push-ups.

Edmund Tolleson looked up at the sound of your flats. His intense eyes locked on yours, and you found yourself frozen in your spot. All your previous thoughts flew right out the window.

He stood up, not a smirk or anything slightly conceited on his face. Edmund looked genuinely curious to see you.

"You're not Dolly," he said, his voice deep yet slightly strained from his exercising.

You found for a second time that day, you couldn't speak.

Edmund could sense your nervousness. He didn't like that. He'd admit he had been expecting Dolly, but he immediately liked you.

"Could I have my food?" he asked you.

Your feet were no longer frozen. You stepped forward, sliding him his food. Edmund watched you, taking the tray and setting it down, his eyes not once leaving yours.

"You're very quiet," he commented. "You're scared?"

All you could do was a slight shake of your head.

"Your silence tells me otherwise," Edmund replied. He bent over his bed, fetching a plain white shirt. He slid it over his head before sitting down before his tray. "You could leave, I'm used to it."

You quickly left, knowing later you would regret being so callous towards him. It was clear he just wanted someone to talk to him.

You heard about the crime scene. He's a criminal!

The next day, once again, you were given the task of delivering Edmund his meals. His breakfast was quickly dropped off as he was taken out of his cell to be bathed. You spent all morning preparing a short speech apologizing for being rude the day before. As you ate your own lunch, you repeated it in your head several times, knowing he'd be back in his cell for his second meal.

When the time came along, you grabbed his tray and set off towards the basement. You took quick steps, already knowing you were behind and Huck would be sweating by the time you came back upstairs.

The security guard greeted you as you walked past, and you returned the gesture. Your heart was racing the closer you got to Edmund's cell.

You could do this. Edmund seems to be polite.

This time Edmund was lying on his bed, his hand relaxed across his stomach, staring up at the ceiling. His hair was slightly damp from his shower, and his jeans had a fresh rip above the knee. Edmund glanced over when he saw your figure from the corner of his eyes. He shoved himself upright, seemingly pleased to see it was you again.

Your hands started to shake as he stood up. You were surprised to see the excitement in his eyes. You assumed he'd be upset at the sight of you.

"Nurse y/l/n," he said, smiling as he approached you. You were surprised he knew your name, sliding him his tray.

"I asked about you," Edmund said proudly. "I heard you'll be replacing Dolly for a few more days."

"Yes," you found yourself responding, much to your surprise and Edmund's excitement. "Dolly isn't feeling well."

"You do know how to talk," Edmund set his tray down on a small table. "Interesting."

"I'm sorry about yesterday," you blurted out. "I apologize for my rudeness, it was very unprofessional.." it wasn't quite what you had prepared, but at least it was something.

"I'm not a monster," Edmund said thoughtfully. "I wouldn't hurt anyone that doesn't deserve it."

You nodded, unsure if you should be even more frightened or relieved that he wasn't interested in hurting you.

"I hope you don't mind my curiosity," Edmund said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "Are you seeing anyone?"

You were taken aback by his question. You thought he'd probably ask you to sneak some extra food or maybe something to keep him occupied in his lonely cell. You giggled after a moment of silence, and Edmund frowned at your reaction, assuming you were laughing at him.

"I'm not seeing anyone," you said, pressing a delicate hand to your chest. "I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you, I just didn't expect you to ask."

Edmund seemed to feel better after that, and you realized he didn't seem like a bad guy. The way they described him in the papers, you expected him to be horrible to absolutely everyone, all day, every day.

"Uhm, I'll bring your dinner before I leave for the day," you said as he sat down on the rickety chair in the corner of the cell. "Enjoy your meal, Edmund."

"You're leaving?" he asked, frowning at you from his chair. You paused, one foot extended out. You stood straight, smoothing your skirt down.

"I have to go back upstairs and help." you replied smoothly. "I'm sorry, Edmund."

Edmund pouted, reaching for a piece of bread on the tray. "Okay."

You quietly left, feeling bad for having to leave him in his lonesome. The guard was too busy with his novel to even acknowledge your presence as you went through the doors. It must be horrible being by yourself twenty-three hours a day. Most of the other patients got to converse with one another; go outside for an hour or two when the weather permitted. But Edmund was down here, all alone, with nothing to do whatsoever.

2.

After three days of helping Huck, Dolly was back, which meant you were posted at the front desk again.

Despite not having a lot of time to talk with him, you and Edmund had a little friendship growing. Nurse Ratched was known to visit Edmund on occasion and soon made a kind - yet out of character remark to Dr. Hanover on your behalf. He invited you into his office as you were leaving for the weekend.

Dr. Hanover made the point to say your presence at the hospital has created a "lasting impact" on the patients. They liked you, and because of that, you were being removed from the front desk.

You were so pleased, shaking his hand as he instructed you to study Nurse Bucket the following Monday for your new job duties. Huck had just arrived when you were walking out, already congratulating you on the news. Nurse Ratched had a bit of a soft spot for him.

When Monday arrived, you put on a clean uniform, making sure your hair was pristine, and opened the new tube of ruby lipstick you bought over the weekend. You were excited over what the day would bring.

Upon arrival, Nurse Bucket was impatiently waiting for you. The moment you walked in the door, she thrust a clipboard in your hands, instructing another nurse to take your jacket and hang it up in the lounge. You had to run to catch up, finally reaching her as she threw open the doors to a large utility closet.

"Dr. Hanover seems to forget that I am a busy woman," Nurse Bucket said, grabbing a large wad of folded towels before kicking the door closed. "I don't have time to babysit you the whole day. When Huck gets in, you'll be training with him."

You nodded, giving the list a quick look over. It was stuff you already knew; hospitality etiquette, what to do when, always do what's in the patient's best interest.

"For now just make sure every patient's room isn't a mess. We can't keep a housekeeper to save our lives." Nurse Bucket rolled her eyes before taking off in a half-run down the hall when the sound of a woman screaming startled the entire floor. "Put her in the bath!-"

You figured this was better than nothing, so you spent the next twenty minutes checking in on patients, occasionally bringing someone their medication when it was requested by Dr. Hanover. Dolly was back, now sitting in your usual seat with a slight pout as she looked over the morning paper.

Finally, Huck arrived for work, and you were relieved to see him.

"Hey, y/n," Huck said. The two of you have decided to skip the formalities.

"Huck, it's nice to see you," you smiled.

"Did you hear the news? I've been promoted to Orderly!" he grinned, rubbing his hands together as a fellow doctor pushed an elderly patient in a wheelchair. "I knew my hardworking was going to pay off eventually."

"Congratulations, Huck!" you said. "That's amazing. I'm assuming that means I'm taking your place, then?" you asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Huck gestured for you to follow. "It's the basic stuff, I'm sure Nurse Bucket gave you the low-down."

"If by you mean a clipboard, then yes." you laughed.

Huck grinned, "Exactly. You're real good at delivering meals already, but since I'm training you, I must overlook your progress for the rest of the day." he said sarcastically.

Huck was a fun person to work with. He was very kind and one of the most patient people in this facility. You weren't too keen on having to re-learn what you already knew, but Huck always made it worthwhile.

Before you knew it, it was eight in the morning, just in time for breakfast. You and Huck took a cart each, starting on passing food on the first floor. Most of the patients took it gratefully, while a few others refused to eat it. An older man named Mr. March smacked the tray from your hands. Scrambled eggs and toast flew all over the place, and he began to yell about the government watching his every move with robotic birds outside.

You knew it wasn't his fault, but you were glad to leave his room when they had to sedate him.

"You got Tolleson?" Huck asked, already carrying his tray.

"Of course," you nodded, and he handed you the food. "You'll be upstairs?"

"I'll meet you there in ten minutes." Huck smiled, and you parted ways. Nurse Bucket had intercepted him, her eyes locked on your back as you went downstairs. You assumed it was just to report if it were time to demote you already.

You only had ten minutes, so you set a quick pace down the hall. You were excited to see Edmund after your weekend. He was always glad to see you.

You passed the guard, who was half asleep on his chair. You quietly crept by, and as you grew closer to his cell, you could hear Edmund humming.

"Special delivery, Edmund," you said, stopping in front of the door.

Edmund was startled, and you had caught him in the middle of changing. His blue jeans were hiked around his waist, his hands paused as he was just buckling them; Edmund was shirtless, but you managed to divert your eyes and meet his.

"y/n, pardon my indecency," Edmund said, quickly buckling his pants. "I had a late start today.. the guards here, they're extremely rude."

"I'm sorry, Edmund," you frowned. He approached you, and you completed your trade-off. "I wish I could help you."

"Do you mean that?" he asked, curiosity getting the best of him.

"I'd never lie to you." you shrugged. Of course, as a nurse, you only had the patient's best interest in mind. You hating lying to anyone, patient or not. But you genuinely wished things could be better for Edmund. He never caused a scene, never disobeyed anyone while he's been here. Yet, they still treat him as such.

"Oh.." he nodded. Edmund lifted the lid, silently observing his breakfast. "You see, I thought that I could trust Nurse Dolly. She hasn't been down to see me at all today. I don't understand why people lie."

You really didn't know Dolly that well. She wasn't the most talkative to you, and you never bothered to try and be her friend, either. You heard she was real nice. But knowing Nurse Bucket, Dolly probably hasn't had the chance to visit, even if she wanted to.

"I'm sure Dolly is just busy, I kind of.. got promoted?" you frowned. "I don't know if that's the right word. I've only been here a few weeks. I have Dolly's job now."

Edmund was interested, tilting his head to the side as you wrapped your hands around the cell bars. "Nurse Ratched had said some nice things about me to Dr. Hanover."

"Nurse Ratched?" Edmund repeated, a sense of familiarity in his voice. "I told her about your kindness when she visited me last. That was kind of her."

You nodded, "I have to thank her when I see her."

"There'll be no need for that," the curt voice of Nurse Ratched startled you.

Edmund had seen her coming, so he didn't react like you did. You jumped, dropping your hands from the bars and stepping back like you'd been electrocuted. Nurse Ratched was smiling, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Nurse Ratched, I was just-."

"Delivering food, I'm very much aware, Nurse y/l/n," she finished for you. "I see this is a bad time. Edmund is meeting with Dr. Hanover when he has finished his meal."

Edmund looked uncomfortable, not giving you another glance as he sat in the same old chair, digging into his food with no silverware.

"Nurse y/l/n, you're dismissed." Nurse Ratched said kindly, and you nodded, ducking out of the room quickly. Mildred Ratched was relatively new, but Dr. Hanover seemed to like her a lot. She didn't seem the type to be messed with, either. The same with Nurse Bucket, you didn't want on her bad side.

You just hoped Edmund would be okay.

a/n: i know this was a day late, but i had a lot of re-writes! this is only going to be a three part series, so if you want to be added on my ratched!taglist, please comment below! i'll be writing mainly for edmund right now, if anyone has a request!