#I GOT A TRAUMATIC HEAD INJURY TODAY!!

[gummigoo-cult]

silly gummigoo edit…

also yes I’m posting this on my main too. Why not

[certaimromance]

𝜗𝜚 Holding Us.

Spencer Reid x Fem!reader

Summary: You finally had a perfect date with the guy you like, you even kissed and everything seemed perfect. But suddenly he starts acting weird and you think you know this behavior.

Words: 2,5k.

TW: mentions of trauma, death, injuries (normal warnings in the series). drugs and addictions!!! especially spencer's history with them. angst and also comfort???. spoilers for season 2. english is not my first language (sorry for my mistakes, be kind please).

Note: Next time I'm probably going to write something that might be all fluff, but drama and angst are calling to me.

♡ Enjoy! ♡

The taste of green tea, accompanied by ginger, entered your throat again and you couldn't help but let out a sigh. Your reading glasses fogged up and you mentally cursed yourself for not remembering to take them off sooner. Your mind was elsewhere and the bandage on your right hand made it impossible for you to go about your business normally.

You settled into the jet seat and tried to ignore the pain you felt in your arms to continue reading normally and turn the page, but it was still impossible and not even your favorite hot drink worked as medicine. All the recent events were replaying in your mind like a movie, and being attacked by a serial killer on your first case after a long flu break was worthy of a dramatic script.

Fortunately, Spencer was your partner at the time and helped you just before the unsub could use his knife on you badly and end your life in the blink of an eye. You had cut your hand deeply in the middle of the struggle and Reid appeared to save you when you were lost, even with his few physical skills, he fought the man as best he could and shot him without even hesitating.

You didn't even get a chance to thank him because it all happened so fast and he'd been acting weird since you came back to work after your break. In the ambulance, he barely looked at you when the paramedic finished patching you up, asked if you were okay, and then went back to acting like you were a pest to be avoided at all costs. You kept wondering if you'd done something wrong, because just four weeks ago the two of you had the best date of your lives, even kissed, and now you weren't even acting like friends.

You began to wonder how much could have changed in a week. Everything was fine until you officially went back to work and tried to act normal. You got sick after the date, Spencer was a gentleman and brought you soup and flowers for days, even though he knew you wouldn't let him see you. And then, overnight, you found out that he'd been kidnapped in a case while you were away, and assumed that was why his constant messages and calls had stopped. You came back thinking that you could be a support to him after such a traumatic experience, but instead he avoided you.

“Is everything okay?” Hotch's voice startled you, almost causing you to drop your cup on the floor. He was sitting in front of you and you thought he was asleep like everyone else.

“Oh, you scared me.” You put your hand over your heart and put the teacup down on the table to look at him.

“You haven't answered my question.” He insisted, settling back in his seat and giving you a look that compelled you to tell him everything. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, I was just thinking about what happened and how I didn't get a chance to thank Reid.” You admitted somewhat awkwardly, not wanting to make it obvious that your feelings went beyond friendship, although deep down you knew it was clear. “I've seen him acting strangely, I think he's avoiding me.”

“You should try to talk to him and ask him what's wrong. He saved your life today, that's not something you do by avoiding someone.” Your boss said in a reassuring tone, noticing your great nervousness about the subject. “I don't think he'll have a problem talking to you, and now he seems as thoughtful as you are.” He finished, pointing with his head.

You took the moment to look at Spencer and noticed that Hotchner was right. He looked as pensive and confused as you had been during the minutes you had all been traveling. He was frowning slightly, fiddling with his fingers and looking out the window, even though it was night and there wasn't much to see because of the darkness. You couldn't help but wonder if he was thinking about you.

“I hope you're right.” You murmured, taking another sip of your tea and looking at the papers the man was going through. “Strauss will send me home after this, right?”

“You can't do much with your injured use hand, you need a few days.”

“I'm fine and my other hand is fine, I have not even had to take painkillers. I've got it under control.” You replied tiredly, trying to ignore the pain you felt by making a gesture. “Please don't send me home. I can't anymore, I have to work or I will go crazy.” You added, practically begging him.

“Don't get used to it.” He warned you in a serious tone before continuing. “But I'll talk to her and you stay out of it. You'll just profile and theorize until your hand is right. Nothing more than that and where my eyes see you.”

“You're the best boss in the world, really, I'll buy you a mug that says that.” You said, getting up from your seat and holding back the urge to hug him, knowing it was too much.

“Agent.” He called out to you in a serious tone before you could do anything. “Be careful and tell me if you are in pain...just don't tell anyone I intervened for you or I'll fire you.”

“Understood, sir.” You replied in the same formal tone before heading for the bathroom.

Something inside you knew it wasn't normal for the stitches in your hand to hurt so much, so you slipped into the plane's bathroom as quickly as you could, thankful that most of the team was asleep enough to notice your groans as you moved forward and closed the door behind you. You carefully removed the bandage, seeing that a few stitches had opened up, and pulled the painkillers you'd been given to ease the pain out of the bag, but before you could take any, a couple of knocks on the door made you jump and pray it wasn't your boss.

“Who is it?” You asked in confusion.

“It's me, Spencer.”

You didn't even have to think before you unlocked the door and yanked it open with your good hand.

“Do you want to come in? I was just leaving...” You started to babble as soon as your eyes met his and all the nervousness of a teenager in love appeared.

“I wanted to know if you were okay, I saw you come in complaining of pain.” He explained calmly, lowering his gaze to your hand and watching it with concern.

“Oh, don't worry. I'm fine.”

“May I check?” He asked cautiously, and you nodded a little nervously.

You went further into the bathroom so he could do the same, and he did, taking the back of your injured hand after washing his hands to make sure everything was okay. He touched you so gently that you almost forgot the pain you were in without even taking the painkillers.

“One of the stitches opened up, that's why it hurts. But it's not infected, so they should just sew it up and you'll be fine.” Spencer reassured you while you looked at him carefully.

Incredibly, this was the first time since your return that he had said more than one sentence to you, and he was less than a meter away from you. It made you feel like a fool to be mildly excited about it.

“And how are you? You were the hero who took the worst of it and saved my life.” You pointed as you watched him carefully apply a new bandage to your hand.

As soon as you asked, he pulled away and unconsciously put his hand to his stomach, where the unsub had elbowed him pretty hard in the middle of the struggle. “I'm fine. Nothing I can't handle.”

“Sure?”

He nodded and ran his fingers gently over his stomach, wincing as he tried to hide the pain. You always thought he wasn't very good at hiding things. As soon as he looked into your eyes and saw your worried face, he repeated that he was fine. You raised a skeptical eyebrow, not believing him for a second about his supposed well-being. You had spent enough time with him to know when he was hiding something, just by looking into his eyes.

“You're a terrible liar.” You said, looking at him with narrowed eyes while he repeatedly shook his head. “Then let me see.”

Spencer's eyes widened at your request, but the blush that appeared on his cheeks betrayed that there was more than embarrassment in his expression. He hesitated for a moment, but finally agreed, knowing he wasn't going to get out of this one. He slowly lifted his shirt, wincing as he did so, revealing the large red bruise on his stomach, just above his hip.

Your gaze fell on the large red bruise on his stomach and you gasped, covering your mouth in shock. It was much larger than you had expected and the color much more intense. You reached out tentatively and gently touched the bruised skin, causing him to flinch involuntarily.

“Are you in much pain?” You asked in a worried voice, trying to decipher his expression.

“It hurts a lot.” He nodded slowly, wincing as you touched the sensitive area, sending a shiver down his back. “But I'll be fine, really.”

“Okay.” You whispered, not knowing if it was time to move away from him or not. Not knowing what to do, you spoke again and didn't move. “I wanted to thank you for what you did, I haven't been able to before.”

He seemed surprised by your appreciation, and even more so when you stopped touching him and took a step back.

“I would never let anyone hurt you.” He said seriously, as if it were an oath.

You looked at him for a few seconds to make sure he meant it, and then you looked down at the ground. Something inside of you was screaming at you that this was the time to talk to him and put all your doubts on the table for him to resolve. You needed answers or you would go crazy, and maybe this was the time.

“Spencer.” You called out to him and waited for him to look at you to start talking. “I wanted to ask you what's wrong, if I did something or I don't know, apologize if it was like that, because it's terrible to see you avoiding me.” You began to speak quickly because you were nervous. “And if it's about the other night...our date and all that. I'm really sorry if I made you uncomfortable and pushed you into something.”

“No, you didn't do anything.” He stopped you immediately and tried to touch your face to make you look into his eyes, but he couldn't because of a sudden pain in his stomach and he had to lean against the sink. “The date went well, very well. It was actually wonderful.”

“What's wrong with you, why are you acting like this all of a sudden?” You asked him. You asked him, taking a few steps toward him and noticing that his eyes were on the painkillers you had left on the sink. Then you noticed how dilated his pupils were. “Are you in a lot of pain? Do you need these?”

“I'm fine, I'm not acting out in any way.” He replied, completely ignoring your last question, but still with his eyes on the meds.

“Come on, I know you. I know there's something wrong with you, and you don't have to hide it.” You persisted, trying to understand what was happening to him. You could tell by his body language that he was tense and defensive.

“I said I'm fine.” He cut you off.

“No, you're not, I realized something is wrong.” You tried to approach him because of his erratic behavior. His hands had begun to shake and his fingers were inches from the box of painkillers. “You can trust me, I know you and I'm here for you.”

“You think you know me that well already?” His tone made you feel uncomfortable and invasive. You could tell he was bothered by your implications. “One date doesn't get you that far.”

Ouch, that was a low blow.

“I didn't say that, Spencer.” You said, trying not to sound defensive. You didn't want to start a fight when you were just worried about him. “I just want to help you.”

“I don't need your help.”

You were silent for several seconds, your eyes following his to the painkillers. “But you need these, don't you?”

The trembling of his hands intensified with your question, you could see his pupils seem to dilate even more at the sight of the drugs in your hands, and his breathing became irregular. He nodded several times after your question, desperate to get his hands on them.

“Since when?”

“What?” He asked confusedly as you took the painkillers from his hands.

“You know what I'm talking about.” You looked him straight in the eye with seriousness and much more concern than before. “I know an addict when I see one.”

Your words had hit him like a big bucket of cold water, freezing him in place. He barely blinked a few times before he spoke.

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“We both know.” You took a few steps toward him and took his hands, stopping the trembling in them. “And that means you're not alone in this anymore.”

He could hardly believe what you said. His mind had convinced him that if you found out, you would yell at him, turn your back on him, or report him, and instead...you were comforting him?

Spencer felt unable to look at you, the guilt washed over him. He tried to pull away.

“You...I'm a drug addict, and you're not even mad?”

“I'm not one to judge you, but I am one to help you.”

His eyes widened slightly at your words. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He desperately wanted to protest, to tell you that he was hopeless and completely lost...but how could he? You seemed so determined to stand by his side and support him, even after learning such a painful and shameful truth.

“You won't...leave me?”

“I would never leave.” You gave him a small smile and felt him drop his head on your shoulder and relax. “It's going to be okay.”

Finally, he closed his eyes and let out a choked sob without pulling away. Your words had hit him at a low point, and the reality of the situation had come crashing down on him after he had tried to ignore it for so long. He slowly embraced you, feeling that he would collapse without your support.

“Everything will be fine.”

And you were so sure of it that you saw yourself in the mirror every day.

[ccraccz]

Hello! I saw that wind breaker requests are open!

May I request some fluff for umemiya, suo, sakura and togame please?

I you could please write about how they would react if they saw their crush crying because they were worried about boys injuries please?

Thank you!

YESYESYES SO CUTTEEE!!! Thank you so so much for the request sweets!!! <333

Characters: Hajime Umemiya, Suo Hayato, Sakura Haruka, Jo Togame x reader (GN! since not specified)

Patch me up

HAJIME UMEMIYA

He usually never got this injured

but the gang that had used you and a few other vendors as hostages had knives and bats that had bruised and sliced at his, and his gangs skin.

After the fight, and after he looked over Bofurin to check for injuries, he quickly went up to check on you and some other vendors

Tears stained your cheeks as he fast walked to you, urgency in each step as he grew closer to you

You both locked eyes, and in an instant, you ran towards him, throwing yourself into his chest and wrapping your arms around him, tightly squeezing before tears restarted flowing down your cheeks.

your tears seeped into his white shirt, that was stained with red due to the scratches and slices on his skin

He wraps his arms around you as you sob, mumbling about how your safe and that he's fine

he brings you home, were you patch him up with sniffles and cuddle him for comfort, where he blushes lightly.

Your hold was nice, and warm, and it was so comforting

He felt sorry that you had to experience such a traumatizing situation, and that you had to see him fight and be serious

he closed his eyes, sitting on the couch as the thoughts of today rush through his mind, staying awake in as images of your terror filled face stayed imprinted under his eyelids.

that day, he did not sleep, even in the comfort of your embrace.

SUO HAYATO

he barely even gets hurt in general, so that person he was fighting would have to be very fast and diligent in their movements to even be able to touch him

He had been fighting a group with the other windbreaker first years, and the gang leader had been intently watching them, learning their steps and movements.

Suo was the first one who finished fighting the underlings, not even breaking a sweat, and he was the one who decided to fight the leader

since the leader had watched them, he had learned how to counter his fighting style and more

it took him of guard and made him hesitate in a movement which the gang leader used to his advantage and struck him, cutting his cheek in the process due to him falling on the ground before he jumped back up and fought back

it didn't come to mind until he finished the fight with the help of Sakura that the scene was right in front of you place

so after the fight, you running down the stairs of your place and basically shoving your face into his chest and you basically fall on your knees, loud sobs resonating in his ears

tears fell from your eyes like waterfalls, arms tightening at his waist and fists wrinkling his gakuran

he laughs as he pats your head, telling you to not worry, and that he was fine, a blush on his cheeks

he enjoyed that you worried so much for him, enough to sob at the sight of him 'endangering' himself to help the town.

SAKURA HARUKA

Get used to it

he loves fighting and getting injured is a part of it

its mostly for the thrill of hurt for him

but seeing you freak out about his bloody nose, bruised knuckles, and scratched face makes him tense

his bright red face basically blended with the redness of his blood LMAO

he's so awkward about it as you bandage his fists, patch up his scraped up elbows and cheeks, and clean him up of dirt

big crocodile tears flow down your cheeks as you clean him up, loud sniffles making him look at you

the tears just kept falling as you rubbed your face to dry them up, but they just kept dribbling down your flushed face and soaking up on his black pants as you sat, kneeling before him on the floor of your place after you patch up his scuffed up knee

he makes a face before standing up, making you look up at him as he grabbed you and made you stand up

he then held you close, holding the back of you head to his collar bone with one hand as the other wrapped around your back and awkwardly patted it

he was at least trying to comfort you, and it was working.

JO TOGAME

it was during a festival

a gang had shown up randomly and decided they were going to start some chaos

so they started to robbing food and drinks, destroying the stalls, and even pushing around some vendors

you had been helping out your friends parents in their stall since your friend got injured and their parents were busy selling their sweets as you kept an eye on the hot sugar when you heard the chaos happening a two stalls down

the stall besides yours was being helped by Jo Togame, who had been watching you from the corner of his eye the whole time, a small blush on his face

Togame had hear the chaos happening and asked the vendor to be able to check out what was happening, which the vendor quickly agreed

The male quickly slips on his Shishitoren jacket, the clacking of his geta sandals being loud as he walks towards the ruckus of the opposing gangs show of power

what he got hurt with wasn't an injury from a punch or a kick, but a few scrapes came from how harshly he landed when he tackled the gangs leader, knees sliding on the floor and ripping his loose, monk pants

you had turned off the heat on the sugar and made the last few sweets to be sold before focusing on the fight happening, your friends parents having started to freak out, trying to take care of the elderly around you

you weren't too worried about the people around, more worried for Togame, with how he slid in the rough, rocky ground

the sound of screams and punches were loud, but you could only watch as Togame slowly stands up and tells the gang to scram

you quickly grab the first aid kit that was under you friend's parents stall and rush forward, tears brimming your waterline as you jogs up to him

you grab his sleeve, pulling him to a seat and cleaning his knees and knuckles

you blink, and suddenly your crying, sniffling

Togame blushes, not knowing what to do other than to hold you close

and so that's what he does

he stands and walks away with you, holding onto your sleeve this time and dragging you to a secluded space

the festival was then canceled for the rest of the night

but both you and Togame stick close to each other, looking up at the dark sky that is luminated by the stars and the moon

[anexperimentallife]

EDIT: CRISIS AVERTED, THANK YOU!

Interracial US family w/ disabled autistic dad and toddler needs to get to the US for medical treatment

(New post because the old one was getting LONG with the updates. Details are under the "read more" to save your dash, with updates in the notes.)

TL;DR: If I'm going to live long enough to watch our daughter grow up, we need to get back to the US and get set up in a disability-friendly place where I can use my medical benefits.

Although I was already disabled (autism, adhd, and spine, joint, and head injuries), my health was stable--until four bouts of COVID left me immunocompromised, and utterly destroyed my health (including damage to my heart, blood clots that damaged one eye, neurological and joint issues, etc.), and although we started off fine, we've been hammered with one crisis after another, both medical and financial, that no one could have predicted.

Until we have enough to get back to the US, a chunk of whatever comes in has to go towards medical care that can't be put off, so the sooner we can reach critical mass on that, the better.

If you can help, or reblog, or share the links on other platforms, we'd be grateful!

The "Donate to Little or None" Paypal donation link takes the lowest fees, I think. (Kept the same link from when we were fighting to get our daughter's birth certificate fixed so we could get her citizenship affirmed.)

Then there's Ko-Fi:

And my little sister started a GoFundMe for us!

EDIT: The donation links above still work, but I removed the GoFundMe link.

IF YOU WANT ALL THE DETAILS SEE THE "READ MORE."

(There's more in my "rob gets medical" tag if you want a blow by blow account of how we got to this point over the past few years, but this is the gist.)

HOW IT STARTED:

I moved to the Philippines six years ago, after the deaths of my adult sons, in part to make my disability payments stretch further. Shortly afterwards, I was joined by my now-wife @thesurestthing (also from the US) for what was supposed to be a visit, but which turned into a permanent arrangement.

After I got a contract to license an old story for a mobile game (which tripled our income*), we found out we were having a baby, which was fine, because despite my disabilities (autism, adhd, two spine injuries, traumatic brain injury, a herniated esophagus, joint issues, etc.), my health was stable, and thanks to the contract, we were fine financially as well.

HOW IT STARTED GOING DOWNHILL:

Zoey's pregnancy was complicated, requiring two hospitalizations, and our daughter's birth was complicated, too--requiring a C-Section--which tripled our hospital bill. A few weeks after our daughter was born, the aforementioned contract was canceled without warning. THEN, when we tried to register our daughter's birth with the US embassy, we discovered an error on her birth certificate that left her stateless, and which took nearly two years, all our savings, and a fundraiser (thank you, generous people!) to resolve. Combined with medical expenses, that left us in a lot of debt.

A brief summary of went else wrong (leaving a lot out for brevity's sake):

I got COVID three four times during all this, became immunocompromised, and developed a slew of other medical issues (heart damage, eye damage and temporary facial paralysis from blood clots, persistent infections, a worsening of my joint issues, neurological issues, etc.) as a result of Long Covid.

I've had to be hospitalized a couple of times, undergo surgery, and was on an oxygen machine twice--once for an entire month, while I was bedridden. As of 24 January, 2024, I'm still recovering from my fourth bout of covid, which started at the beginning of October 2023.

There's a lot more, but you get the idea. COVID has completely wrecked my health, including tearing up my immune system.

And yes, I'm as fully vaxxed against COVID as one can be in the Philippines, with all available boosters, but again--I'm immunocompromised, plus they don't have the vax for the newest variant here yet. Zoey is vaxxed, also, and as a result, her bout with covid was extremely mild. El isn't vaxxed yet because they won't give the covid vaccine to kids under five here, but she's been able to share Zoey's antibodies from breast-feeding--which is apparently a thing.

The only way we can see for me to stay alive long enough to watch Eleanor grow up is to get back to where I can use my Medicare and VA benefits**.

WHY SO MUCH MONEY?

First, while we're still here, we need to pay for whatever medical care can't be put off. Plus, since I'm now immunocompromised, we have to get LOTS of vaccinations before we have to spend 24 hours or so in crowded planes and airports.

Second, we're going to be arriving with only what we can carry with us on the plane, and we'll need to get into a place near a VA hospital that I can easily get around in while I'm recovering from surgeries and getting various treatments. We'll need to pick up some secondhand household goods, and some kind of used transportation (because, you know, it's the US, where you kind of need a vehicle to get around).

We'll also need enough on top of my and El's disability payments to get by for a couple of months while Zoey looks for work. And all this is while we're still paying off the debt from the stuff I mentioned above.

So we're figuring that unless we catch some very lucky breaks, it'll probably cost between 20K and 36K altogether.

(We can't simply stay with friends when we get back, because literally every single close friend we have in the US with extra room and who lives close to a VA hospital has cats--to which I have a severe anaphylactic reaction. As in my entire respiratory system shuts down, and I have to be rushed to the ER to keep from dying; this has happened more than once. The only way I can be around cats is if I'm on immunosuppressants, and my immune system is ALREADY compromised, so I CAN'T do that.)

So again, if you can kick in, or reblog, or post our crowdfunding links (or the link to this post) on whatever other platforms you use, we'd appreciate it.

(*When I told social security about it, they said I could keep getting disability, too, because licensing IP rights didn't count as work income, and since it was a Moldavian company, it also fell under a special tax clause for getting paid by a foreign company while living overseas, so no taxes on it, either. )

(**VA benefits--I was a cold warrior in 1980s Germany. It was less than forty years after WWII, there was a lot of sabre-rattling--some of it nuclear--and we were there as a deterrent to prevent in Germany the kind of thing that's happening in Ukraine right now. Disclaimer because I'm tired of people accusing me of "invading" folks in the early 1980s when I was a dumb, heavily propagandized pre-Internet kid fixing generators in Europe. I wouldn't join today even if I could.)

[farfromstrange]

Daddy Issues | Matt Murdock x Reader

Masterlist

Inspired by this song.

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Reader

Summary: There are some scars from our childhoods that just won't heal, like daddy issues will somehow always affect our relationships, especially with men. It's the trauma that makes us afraid. Matt Murdock is a considerate boyfriend and he hardly ever raises his voice, so when he lets his anger out on you, he triggers something in you that you have never told him about.

Warnings: Angst, mentions of child abuse, daddy issues (not the sexy kind), childhood trauma, yelling, crying, small injury (reader cuts her finger), not proofread

A/n: This is entirely self-indulgent. I won't tell you why exactly, but let's just say today was not a good day and I needed to write this to feel better. It helped, for the most part. If you have/had a father who yells a lot and likes to blame you for everything, this is for you. But also basically everyone who's afraid of men yelling at you because you've been traumatized before. This has not been proofread or beta-d. It’s just a silly little comfort fic.

Tags: (people who answered the original idea and I think would enjoy this or asked to be tagged)

@igotanidea @lina-mar @redzie02 @hellskitchens-whore

[not my gif, credits to the owner mentioned under the gif]

In the heat of the moment, some people raise their voices. May it be a fight or a moment of excitement. When we get angry, we often resort to a louder volume and sometimes even verbal abuse. We say things we don’t mean. We wouldn’t be human if that didn’t happen sometimes, although most fights can be resolved by talking civilly. There is no point in screaming when talking like adults is a viable option that won’t hurt anyone. But it hardly ever happens, not when both parties are already worked up to the point of no return.

For you, there has not been a fight or discussion in your life that hasn’t resulted in a screaming match. Your parents often yelled at each other. You grew up like this, the voices of your fighting parents constantly in the back of your head until the day they divorced. And even after that, you figure you started hallucinating their fights whenever the world went quiet around you so you would have some noise in the back of your head.

Your father was the one who screamed the most. He yelled and scolded you whenever you didn’t act according to his standards or made even the smallest of mistakes, didn’t do something or just used the wrong tone with him, something that often didn’t sit right with him.

He always resorted to screaming. The context never really mattered, he just got louder, harsher and he used words that would confuse every kid and make their tiny brains overflow with the guilt they caused. And when you cried, he only waved it off because “there is no reason to cry, I’m just stating the facts”.

It traumatized you in a way many children who grew up in such families understand, and he made you believe that every man in your life has a reason to yell at you, to use you, to abuse you and constantly ask you for things even though you can’t possibly match up to all of their expectations.

You always expect to be yelled at by the men in your life. Even the smallest hint of the disappointment in someone’s voice makes you anxious and more often than not, you start to cry. It’s your defense mechanism. You’re fragile and you get scared easily. A switch gets flicked and you’re suddenly standing in the same house you grew up in, letting your father rain hell down on you because you were too scared to fight back.

The constant screaming made you scared of men, and it made you more careful with what you say or do around others. You tread carefully. You try to please and not to screw up too much, too scared of the consequences and possible negative reactions. In school, you used to do the same, always wanting to please the teachers and when they raised their voices, you often excused yourself and were left shaking and crying in the bathroom. 

Matt Murdock has always been a man with a heavy internal conflict, and that conflict resulted in anger issues and his ever-present catholic guilt. When you met him, he came across as attractive yet dominant, and that scared you a little until you talked for the first time in the middle of a cozy coffee shop and he showed how soft of a man he actually is. He keeps himself locked away and that might make him seem unapproachable, but he isn’t. He’s the kindest man you have ever met, and his heart is set right. Out of all the lovers you’ve had, he is truly the best and most considerate when it comes to your relationship.

He treats you like you’re the universe to him and when you fight, it’s more often bickering than it is an exchange of vulgarities and screams. He takes his anger out on punching bags, not you, and when he hurts someone, it’s often criminals who deserve his wrath. His life is complicated, but it’s easier with you in it. He feels alive, he’s told you, and he wouldn’t trade that for the world, so he always makes sure you’re taken care of and happy before he looks after himself.

There is, of course, the issue with his enhanced senses. He’s blind but his senses are enhanced to an extent that most blind people don’t have. You found out about that early on in your relationship, but there’s never been a doubt in your mind about the love you feel for him, so it was no hard choice to stay.

Though dating the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen comes with its collection of issues. More often than not you have to stitch him up or search him in dark alleys and trash cans because he keeps getting in trouble, and the worry often eats you alive. Still, you comfort him when he’s had a bad day, always, and you make him the spotlight of your life every time. In your mind, taking care of him comes first.

But Matt always gives back. It’s his Catholicism, you’re sure of that. He can’t take help. He has to be the one doing the work and moving mountains. He is God’s disciple and he feels responsible for his city and the people living in it. His blindness feels like a gift given to him by God to conquer all possible battles, and while you don’t really believe in God, you have accepted that part of him with open arms and more often than not join him in his faith because life with him is surely not the easiest.

When Matt Murdock feels overwhelmed, he tries not to show it. He’d rather lock himself away than burden you. He’d rather struggle on his own than put the people he loves in danger or hurt them with his personal struggles and the pain that consumes him.

Matt is patient and he doesn’t care if you screw up, even though you apologize profusely most of the time. He’s patient because we’re all human. We all screw up. That is the principle that he lives by and he makes you feel like you can be more of yourself around him. So after a year, there are no more reservations and you feel a lot more comfortable in your skin.

Until this day, he had never let his anger out on you, and he had never opened his mouth to yell at you in any way. Until that day.

He’s different when he comes home. He finds himself at his wit's end, and he has been ever since that godforsaken murder trial started. When he comes home, you don’t think much of his distance toward you, the denial of a proper kiss, and his grunts as he lowers himself on the couch instead of asking you about your day. You don’t think much until it all goes wrong, and you’re not even sure at what point it does or what you did to deserve this, but there has to be a reason because the man you’re seeing right now is not the Matt you usually get to see.

We all have bad days sometimes, others more often, but this seems deeper than just a bad day at the courthouse. This is not the face of an exhausted man after a long work day that just needs some kisses and maybe a blowjob, or to have sex with his girlfriend in all his dominant glory with aftercare to put the cherry on top. This is not Matt Murdock, this is the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen that comes through the front door, tosses his cane into a corner, and then just falls on the couch like a wet sack of potatoes, his fists clenched as if he is ready to explode any second.

You’ve been taught to tread carefully, so you do. You approach him only slowly because you are worried, you always are. Perhaps it’s the line of questioning that has him exploding in no time.

“You okay?” you ask.

He props his feet up on the living room table and huffs. “Fine,” he says.

“You don’t look fine. Did something happen?”

You’ve brought him a glass of water, which he takes with a curt nod. Something is bothering him, but he won’t talk to you.

“Bad day at work?”

“It doesn’t matter now. I’m fine. I just want to forget that today ever happened.”

“You want some coffee?” you decide to ask instead.

“No,” he says.

His leg starts to bounce. It only does when he is agitated or overstimulated and is trying to deal with the world around him. 

“Do you want me to run you a bath?”

He sighs. “No.”

“We still have leftovers, maybe I could warm them up.”

His tone is harsher this time, “No!”

You blink, a little taken aback by the force in his voice and involuntarily, you start to shake.

“I just want to be alone,” he adds, softer this time. “Can you… you know what, I’m just gonna get changed.”

And like that, he is gone. He disappears into the bedroom and you’re left flabbergasted. You want to ask what’s wrong, but you’re scared. You’ve never been scared of him before. It’s not him, it’s his reaction, and so you retreat into the kitchen. 

Eventually, he comes out again, though he is still missing a shirt. “Have you seen my Columbia sweater?” he asks, the lights of the billboard reflecting off his marble skin. 

“It’s in the washer,” you tell him.

“Why?”

“Because it’s dirty. Matt, what is going on?” You place your mug down and look at him, eyes soft and full of concern.

He only rolls his. “I just want my sweater.” Grabbing the used shirt from the chair at the dinner table, he slips it on. It’s not the fabric he wanted and he tenses up, hating the new sensation already.

“Are you sure this is about your sweater? You’ve been on me ever since you got in.”

“Yes, because you keep asking useless questions.”

“Useless?” You scoff. “So my interest and worry for you are useless?” 

If there is one thing you have gotten good at it has to be defending yourself.

He brushes past you to get a beer from the fridge. “I told you, I’m fine.” He is good at brushing you off because he doesn’t like to admit when he feels weaker than usual.

“You don’t look fine.”

“Oh, my God, then stop fucking looking!”

“Okay, what the hell is your problem?”

He scoffs. “You don’t get it.”

“What don’t I get?”

“Everything.”

“Enlighten me then.”

“It’s not…” his chuckle is bitter. “Well, I guess it doesn’t matter. You’re gonna keep seeing problems where there are none, so talking to you makes no sense anyway.”

What did he just say? You are so confused and suddenly very angry that you forget you are holding a glass. You smash it down on the counter, and, as expected, it shatters into a million pieces. Most of them fall to the floor and right at his bare feet. His eyes darken.

Oh.

Now you are scared, and not in a way that resembles sexy foreplay. You are scared because he is turning into a stranger right before your eyes. Suddenly, all you can see is not your loving boyfriend Matt Murdock, you see the anger of both your father and your stepfather in his eyes and hear it in his voice and it instantly tells you, 'this is all your fault'.

“I’m sorry,” you mumble. “I didn’t see…”

“One night,” he says. He moves out of the kitchen, trying not to step into the glass.

You follow him with wide eyes. “What’s that?” 

“One night,” he repeats his earlier statement. “That’s all I wanted. One fucking night where people don’t prod or- or want things from me. And what do you do? You keep talking and talking, and you don’t even care that I simply don’t want to talk.”

“Matt, that is not fair. I just wanted to-“ the tears start to prick in your eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“Jesus Christ.” And that’s where your strength stops and you retreat into your shell – the next words out of his mouth come so loud, you could have sworn they echoed off the brick walls and shot straight into your eardrums. “For once in your life, stop fucking apologizing!” 

His hand lifts, mostly to underline his words, and with the bottle in his hand he is suddenly so close, your eyes squeeze shut at the gush of wind. You flinch, your entire body caving in on itself. It’s not even intentional, you can’t help it. You’ve been conditioned to expect the worst when someone raises their hand, and Matt has never done it before. 

He realizes what it looks like the second your heart jumps and your blood rushes loudly in his ear. He can smell your sweat, the tears, and the fear that surrounds you. It’s your pheromones that change and something lingers in the air that makes him stop and think, what did I just do? 

He has been so in his head and the city has been loud for hours, he lost most of his patience at the courthouse, and then you’re there all caring and lovely and he can’t help but tell himself he doesn’t deserve it. He doesn’t deserve you. He just wants quiet and to be alone while at the same time, all he wants is you, but it’s too much. It’s all too much.

And now, as you flinch away from him and his booming voice, he snaps back to reality and realizes he made a mistake. He’s never experienced you like this before, and it scares him. 

“Did you just…” he begins, his voice soft and barely above a whisper.

He hears you fall to your knees, the taste of salt thick in the air and your breath shakes with every intake. You bite your lip and you collect the shards, trying to clean up your mess as if he would hate you if you didn’t. You whisper a silent, “Sorry.” And then he hears it. You’re sobbing, you try not to but you are, and it is his fault.

“Did you think I was gonna hit you?” he asks, dreading the answer.

You sniffle, not answering.

You flinched, he heard it, and not because you were surprised. You are scared, he knows. 

He slowly approaches the kitchen. “Sweetheart, talk to me.”

“I just gotta clean this up,” you whimper and you brush the glass together with shaky hands. The tears are running down your cheeks in thick streams and your teeth have gnawed your bottom lip bloody, your throat dry with the denied sobs.

“I just gotta clean this up and then I can make you dinner or something. I don’t… I can fix this. I’ll fix this. I’m sorry.”

It’s your fault, you tell yourself. You pushed him. You deserve this. He worked hard the entire day and you annoyed him. He has every right to do this. In your head, at least. It makes all sense in your head while in reality, Matt has never been more shocked to read your body language than he is now.

He slowly kneels in front of you. “Answer me this,” he says, “did you flinch because you thought I was gonna hit you or because I yelled?”

You shrug, unable to look at him. One of the shards slides across your finger and you hiss, the smallest cut forming and causing blood to pool out of your skin. Still, you don’t stop. You need to clean this up before he gets even angrier at you. In your state, you don’t realize his voice has softened and he no longer stares at you with those blacked-out eyes. He looks sympathetic, almost, but most of all the guilt has spread throughout his features and his heart. He is aching to touch you, but you are scared and shaking and he doesn’t want to hurt you any further than he already has.

He had been so ignorant that he didn’t see the signs before.

“Why are you crying?” he asks again.

You wipe your cheeks. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to push you. It’s my fault,” you say. “I’ll clean this up, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…”

“Hey.”

“No, I gotta-”

“Stop.” His hand is on your arm then. “You cut yourself.”

“I’m sorry,” it’s a mantra you’ve taught yourself to say in the hopes you could somehow fix this before it’s too late.

But it’s not too late. When you finally look up, he’s smiling softly, and his thumb is stroking over your skin in circles. 

“I’m sorry,” it’s his turn to say it. “I didn’t mean to yell at you. None of this is your fault. I was so caught up in my own shit, I… God, I would never hit you. I just- I didn’t think when I raised my hand. I didn’t think what it might look like to you. And I didn’t think when I yelled because I… in my head, I wasn’t thinking.”

Your facade cracks even more to the point you are seethrough and your defenses have fallen completely. You’re a snotty mess, shaking violently in his grasp. 

“I’m trying, I swear I’m trying to be better. Just don’t be angry with me,” your voice is bordering on helpless little sobs, your lips turned downward and God, you are shaking so badly, you haven’t done so since the last fight with your father when you were a teenager. 

Matt’s face softens even more, but there is a pain in there too. He takes a paper towel to wrap around your injured finger and he holds your hand, not sure if he is allowed to touch anywhere else, but he wants you to know he is here and he is going nowhere. He is neither mad nor is he going to break up with you. You try to tell yourself that, but it’s hard with the demon in your head whispering all those awful things into your ear, reminding you that everything bad that happens can only be your fault and that there is no use for you but to destroy and disappoint. But you don’t want to disappoint, you want him to be proud of you. You want him to hold you and tell you everything is alright. But you’re scared and you feel so stupidly guilty for something you can’t even put a finger on. Your bleeding finger.

“Angry with you?” he says. “No.” Matt chuckles, but it’s broken and almost whiny as he does so. “I’m not angry at you, bug. Of course not. I was just angry with the world. I was angry at everything else, but not you. I’m not angry at you. I couldn’t possibly be. I’m sorry, it wasn’t fair of me to take it out on you. I realize that now. And the glass…” he forces you away from the chaos gently, helping you stand up without hurting yourself further. “It’s just glass,” he tells you. “I’ll clean it up. There’s nothing bad about breaking something.”

“But the mess,” you say. 

“Fuck the mess. The whole apartment’s a mess.”

“I’m so sorry! I can clean it. I can clean up, I promise. I just… I’m so sorry, Matt.”

“Stop apologizing, baby, please. The mess doesn’t matter. The apartment doesn’t matter, and the glass does not fucking matter. None of this is your fault. You didn’t do anything but try to help. I had no right to yell at you. And my hand… I would never hit you. Never.” He squeezes your hand. “I love you.”

You hiccup, whimpering when he pulls you away from the glass on the floor and pulls you into his arms. His chin rests on the crown of your head and you mold into him, the tears taking on new speed and wetting through his shirt. He strokes your back, not sure what else to do, and his lips find your temple. “God, I’m so sorry,” he whispers. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that, none of that.”

You cling tighter to him. 

He keeps asking himself the same question over and over again. “Who hurt you?” he asks. It’s a valid question. A fear like that doesn’t just stem from nothing. Something happened in the past to have traumatized you this badly. 

Your breathing eventually slows down, as do your tears, and you look up at him through swollen eyes. His white shirt is wet now, but he doesn’t care, he only hugs you back to his chest. “My father used to yell at me whenever I did something wrong,” you tell him, your voice muffled through his chest, but he understands every word. 

His grip tightens. “Did he hit you?”

“Sometimes, but… I remember that one time I forgot to clean up after myself and he just… he…” The lack of oxygen makes you shudder and you hiccup again, nails digging into his back. “I’m sorry, he just… yelled at me. Sometimes, he’d slap me, but only sometimes. He’d threaten most of the time, but he didn’t do it often. And I mean, I was a hard kid to raise, I-“

“No, don’t blame yourself,” he is quick to cut you off. “You were a kid.”

You shudder again. “Well, I… you know, he blamed me for the smallest of things, so I got used to apologizing and trying to please everyone, but I can’t always do that. I try to fix things, but it doesn’t always work. He used to yell at me every damn time and I just… I get scared. I don’t like it when people raise their voices. It makes me feel so guilty and now I even broke a glass. That’s my fault. I shouldn’t have… you had a bad day, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cry like this. I swear I’m not a baby.”

You move away to rub your eyes. He grabs your face, smoothing the pads of his thumbs over your wet cheeks. The heat has pooled under the skin in an upset blush. 

“Don’t apologize,” he says. “It’s okay to cry. If I’d known, baby, I…” Matt can only shake his head in disbelief.

He loves you more than anything and to see you hurting because of something another man did to you, a man who is supposed to protect you, makes him feel all kinds of things, but none of them positive. 

But his anger doesn’t matter. This is about you. He has to take care of you now, not himself, and definitely not your father. It’s just you on his mind.

You choke on nothing. “He told me I have no reason to cry because he’s just stating facts.”

Matt clicks his tongue. “No, don’t ever think that again. You have every right to cry when you feel the need to.”

“It makes me weak,” you say.

“Your father’s wrong. You’re the strongest person I know,” he says. “And the fact that he yelled at you and blamed you for things that were out of your control… no one has the right to treat you like that, not even your parents, and he should have never even thought about raising his hand against you. That’s abuse. I can’t believe- fuck! Do you understand that it wasn’t your fault? That he had no right to do that?”

“Yes, but… it happened. Maybe I deserved some of those slaps. I mean you… I- I don’t know. It happened, we can’t change it. And who knows, maybe he was right.”

“Stop it! That’s not true and you know it.”

“I know, but-“

“No buts, sweetheart. I would never raise my hand against you, I promise. I’m not like your father. No one should be like him. You deserve so much better.”

“I know you wouldn’t,” you sniffle, “it was just instinct.”

“Shh,” Matt kisses you gently, “I know. It’s like me dodging punches in a fight. It’s a defense mechanism. Your father, I… you’ve never said anything. I would’ve never suspected this.”

“‘Cause I didn’t think it was important. This never happened before. You never yelled before.”

“Oh, sweetie, I’m sorry. You should have told me,” he says. “It’s important to me. The last thing I wanted was to hurt you. I want you to feel comfortable around me, not scared.”

You nod. “And I am, really, it’s just… I thought I did something wrong.”

His smile is soft when he leans in to kiss you again, tasting the tears on your lips. “You didn’t. I let my anger out on you for no reason. You didn’t deserve that. It won’t happen again, I promise,” and he dives right back in. 

You wrap your arms around his neck, relaxing in his arms as his lips move against yours with sweet precision, making you feel lightheaded. He scared you, that much is true, but it was neither you nor his fault and you realize that now, safe in his arms as he proves his devotion to you with a single breath into your mouth. With his gentle touch around your waist he promises never to hurt you, never to let his anger out on you again, and he promises that he will drive himself to hell personally if he ever scares you like that again because he couldn’t forgive himself if anything happened to you because of him. He couldn’t live with himself if he broke your heart or triggered the trauma you brought into the relationship from your broken childhood, and he promises that he will never leave you, never put you second and always hold you when times get hard because people screw up, bad things happen, and you might be at fault sometimes, but so is he and there is no reason to be put down for being human. He wants to teach you that, he wants to help you heal yourself, and you have never felt more in love than at that moment, losing yourself in his lips, eyes and arms.

He breaks the kiss, moving on to your forehead. “If there is anything else I need to know,” he breathes hotly against your already heated skin, and the exhaustion slowly starts to seep into your bones as the shakes and tension subside from your bones, “please tell me before I make another mistake that might trigger you.”

You take in a deep breath, shaking your head. “There is not much else. My childhood wasn’t the best, but that’s okay,” you say. 

He brushes his knuckles over your cheekbone. “Bad enough. Promise you’ll tell me if something else might come up?” He resembles a puppy as he tries to meet your eyes, but he fails miserably.

So you promise him, “Okay.”

“Can you forgive me for yelling?”

Your tears have finally come to a halt. “Yes,” you say. 

“Thank you.”

Your eyes fall on the mess on the kitchen floor again and you go to grab the broom. Matt’s arm around your frame stop you and he gently pushes you out of the kitchen. “Let me clean it up,” he says. “Put a bandaid on your finger and then go lie down. I’ll deal with it.”

“No, I broke it. Please, Matt, let me do this.”

“Not everything is your fault, sweetheart. Besides, you already cut yourself once and with how you’re shaking, the next time you accidentally cut yourself I’m sure you’re gonna cause more damage.”

“But I-”

“Go to bed,” he insists, “I’ll be there in a second and then we’ll cuddle so you know I’m serious when I say that I love you more than life itself.”

The weight and guilt fall off your heart. “I love you,” you tell him. “More than life itself, too.”

It’s not a lie. If there is anything or anyone you love, it’s him, and you’ve never been this in love with anyone before. It’s sickening to the point it hurts, but the pain is sweet and it’s all worth it because with Matt, you can be yourself. 

The past matters just a little less with someone who loves you right by your side, and he would never give up on you like everyone else did before him. 

[psychosith]

Stars Around My Scars

luke skywalker x reader

summary: luke sees you shirtless for the first time since you escaped the empire

warnings: mentions of torture, injuries, nudity???

a/n: guess who’s back from their lengthy, unplanned hiatus? me! i’m back! enjoy this little ficlet while i decide what im gonna write next!

two long months you had been held in a star destroyer, subject to endless torture as the general grilled you on various rebellion happenings. it had destroyed you, body and mind. you thought you would die there, alone and bleeding in the cold cell, until you’d been saved by some rebels in stormtrooper getup. it was tricky, but you managed to make it back to the rebel base and reunite with your boyfriend, luke. he gave you space, let you heal from the traumatizing experience.

through your period of recovery, you continued to aid the resistance as best you could. you met with rebel leaders almost daily to plan attacks and missions, and it was after one such meeting that luke followed you back to your bunk.

flashbacks from your time in the empire’s clutches haunted you, and they were looming particularly large today. you were plagued by the memories, and you longed for the sort of comfort only luke could provide. so you asked him if he would stay in your room tonight to keep you company.

the door to your bunk whirred as it slid open and you walked straight to your closet. the dress shirt you had donned for the meeting was itchy and tight and you wanted to get it off. you grabbed a loose t-shirt and headed to the bathroom to wash off while luke settled on your bed. you had been so comfortable with him before your capture that it felt weird to be showering without him, but you knew if he saw what they had done to you he would be too disgusted to stay with you.

so you would bathe separate from him. you didn’t bother locking the door behind you as you shucked your dress shirt off and made to turn on the shower. the warm water let off a gentle steam and fogged up the mirror. you stepped under the spray when the temperature was to your liking and sighed in relief. a warm shower was just the thing to help you relax. the water washed away all your thoughts and feelings and replaced them with a sense of calm.

you took your time in the shower and by the time you got out your fingers were pruned and wrinkly. you had your back to the door and you didn’t register it opening.

“babe…” your whole body tensed when you heard luke behind you. while you were naked. all your scars were on display.

you felt a calloused hand reach for your hip. “don’t touch me,” you bit out. you couldn’t stand to look back at him, the disgust you knew you would find in his face would break you. “it’s gross, i know. just let me put on my shirt.”

“is that what you think?” luke snatched your wrist before you could tug the shirt over your head. “you think that i find you too gross to look at? that i don’t want to see you naked because of these?”

he traced a scar with his fingertip. “yes,” you said, “i know that’s what you think. don’t tell me, please. i couldn’t bear it if you thought me to horrible to be with.”

“i don’t think that at all.” he took your chin in his hand, turning your head up so you were forced to look at him. “you’re so beautiful, don’t you see that? these scars don’t change that. they just show how strong you are, that you could overcome such a thing. don’t ever think they make you ugly. ever. you’re still the prettiest girl i’ve ever seen.”

against your will, you smiled softly. you didn’t even entertain the idea that he might be lying, for the intensity of his words was too strong to be a lie. he took the shirt from your hands and discarded it, leaving it abandoned on the tile floor.

luke led you back to the bed and laid you down, snuggling close beside you. he pressed featherlight kiss after featherlight kiss to your scars and traced them with the tips of his fingers all throughout the night. in that moment, you wondered why you ever thought he would think you less for the trauma you went through.

in that moment, you had never felt more loved

[praisethegabs]

FREAK

Re2r!Leon x Scientist!Reader

synopsis: Leon is a test subject, a freak. He can't remember the world outside, and he doesn't have any notion of time. All he knows is pain. He doesn't have any hope left. He knows he'll die in there, completely alone, traumatized and scared. Until he meets you, the new leading supervisor.

warnings: angst, mentions of torture, blood, psychological abuse, trust issues, umbrella being umbrella. If you feel uncomfortable with this type of subject, DO NOT read it.

word count: 5106k

a/n: i got inspired by the c.ai bot from driftedlovers and made my own version after weeks chatting with the said bot. dividers are from @cafekitsune ♡

some people survive chaos, and this is how they grow. and some people thrive in chaos because chaos is all they know (unknown author)

Inside the white walls, Leon had no idea how the day was outside, if it was cold, raining, or if it was a sunny day.

He had no windows. All he could see was white every day.

He was there for so long that he barely remembered anything from the outside. His last memory from the world outside was something blue until he woke up inside that padded room.

Now, Leon used to be experimented with almost every day.

He hated when those doctors went inside his room to take him somewhere else. He knew he would feel pain and return to his room with new open wounds, purple marks, and blood. Why? He can't answer.

The only thing he knew was that he was kidnapped by Umbrella. He was their lab rat. A helpless man who was abused and experimented every single day. They didn't care about him at all. He tried to escape a thousand times, but he failed every single one of them.

Today, however, was the worst.

Leon came back from another round of tests and experiments, and he was bleeding a lot. His entire body seemed to be burning with excruciating pain. He was on the verge of tears. He crawled to his bed, his body shaking. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to imagine somewhere peaceful, where he couldn't be hurt or touched by those monsters.

His eyes were about to cry when he heard someone walking inside. He slowly opened his eyes, his heart already beating faster inside his chest with pure fear. He was hoping to be one of the scientists, ready to take him again to the room.

But it wasn't one of the monsters.

"Hey" you said gently at him, your hand holding a first aid kit. "May I?"

You were pointing to his side, he followed your finger to his direction and with those scared eyes, he slightly nodded his head. Leon was taught — in the painful method — he wasn't allowed to talk with the scientists, only to talk when he was spoken to, and he could only say "yes, sir" or "yes, ma'am".

"I'm not gonna hurt you" You smiled very friendly at him, getting closer and kneeling next to his side. "It's okay, you can talk to me. I'm not gonna punish you"

"Who are you?" Leon asked, his voice full of suspicious and fear. You knew he was scared. You actually could tell he was terrified.

"I'm a cool and friendly scientist" You smiled and noticed that his eyes were on your ID, where he could read your name. "I'm the new supervisor. I saw that your ID is Experiment N⁰ One, but I'm not interested in titles and IDs. Can you tell me your name?"

Leon was now shocked. All the time he was in there, no one cared to know his name. To them, he was just a freak, an abomination. A lab rat. But you, you weren't like the others. You were the first person to show him kindness.

"I'm... Leon" he said, and the sound of his own name made him think he almost forgot who he was.

"Nice to meet you, Leon" You smiled again, stretching your hand so he could shake it. You noticed his arm full of scars, new cuts, and blood. "Let's take a look at those injuries, shall we?"

Leon watched you cautiously, his eyes filled with suspicion and fear. He had learned the hard way not to trust anyone in this place. But there was something about your demeanor that made him hesitate. You seemed genuinely concerned for his well-being.

You carefully cleaned and dressed his wounds, your touch surprisingly gentle. As you worked, you noticed the fear in Leon's eyes and spoke in a reassuring tone,

"You don't have to be afraid of me, Leon. I'm here to help, not to hurt." You said gently, using a wet cotton to clean one of his wounds.

You began to clean his wounds with a gentle touch, the antiseptic sting a harsh reminder of his painful existence. Leon winced as you tended to a particularly deep gash on his arm. Then, as if unable to contain his thoughts any longer, he spoke in a soft, broken voice.

"I miss the outside world," he admitted, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I don't understand why they're using us for these cruel and painful experiments. We're humans, not lab rats."

You paused for a moment, your hands still on his injured arm. Your eyes met his, filled with a mixture of empathy and helplessness.

"I know, Leon," you whispered, your voice trembling slightly. "I wish I had answers for you, but I'm just as much a pawn in this as you are. All I can do is try to ease your pain."

Leon went silent again. He had every reason to be suspicious towards you, and you couldn't blame him for this. Although your touch was gentle, and you moved with a quiet assurance that contrasted with the harsh, you could still feel the clinical atmosphere of the facility. Leon couldn't help but be suspicious, a feeling he had grown accustomed to over time.

As you worked, you noticed the fear in Leon's eyes, the deep-rooted mistrust that had taken hold of him after countless experiments and cruel treatment. You paused again for a moment, looking into his eyes with genuine concern.

"Leon," you began softly, "I can see that you're scared, and you have every reason to be. But I want you to know that I'm different. I'm not like the others who have come before me."

Leon regarded you with a mixture of skepticism and curiosity. He had heard similar promises in the past, only to be let down.

"I promise you, Leon, I'll be back to keep you some company. You're not just an experiment here. And I believe in treating you with the respect and kindness you deserve." You continued, yourr voice unwavering.

Leon studied your face, searching for any hint of deception, but he found none. Perhaps it was the sincerity in your eyes, or maybe it was the exhaustion of isolation that made him yearn for human connection once more.

"Okay," Leon whispered, his voice trembling with a mixture of hope and fear. "I'll be here."

"I'll be back, Leon. You're not alone in this anymore." You smiled, a glimmer of warmth in the cold, white, and sterile room.

With that promise, you finished cleaning Leon's wounds and left the room, leaving him with a newfound sense of anticipation and a flicker of hope that had long been extinguished. He was wondering why you were so kind at him because he was betrayed before. He had no reason to trust you.

Leon lay on the bed of his room, the sterile walls bearing silent witness to his torment. The memory of your unexpected kindness lingered in his mind like a flickering candle in the dark. He couldn't help but wonder why you had been different from the others, why you had chosen to treat his wounds with care.

His thoughts churned with suspicion and confusion. The trauma of the countless painful experiments he had endured had left him scarred, both physically and mentally. He had learned to trust no one in this sterile prison, where cruelty was the norm.

As Leon's mind raced, his heart pounded with anxiety. He questioned whether your kindness had been genuine or if it was merely a cruel ploy to manipulate him further. The fear that he had been fooled gnawed at him, twisting his already frayed nerves into tighter knots.

Hours turned into days, and Leon's stress and paranoia grew. He replayed every interaction with you in his mind, dissecting your words and actions for any signs of deceit. But the more he thought, the less he understood. You seemed genuinely different, but how could he be sure?

In the suffocating silence of his padded room, Leon's thoughts became a torment of their own. He longed for answers for a sliver of hope to cling to, but the shadows of doubt and fear loomed large. All he could do was wait, haunted by the uncertainty of your true intentions and the relentless trauma that had brought him to this point.

You were so busy during the weeks that you had no time to see anybody.

You were full with paperwork to do, files to read, and new reports to send to oversight. One file took all of your attention; it was the one from Leon. That said file had every report from the tests he was submitted into and what every supervisor before you did to him. You brought his file to your home. You needed to understand his condition better. All you knew was that he was there for years and he probably couldn't remember his own age. He was taken into the lab at a very young age, and he had no contact with the exterior.

No family, no friends. He was an orphan.

That's why he was the perfect subject for Umbrella. If he died, no one would come crying to collect his body. He had excellent grades at school, and he aspired to be a cop, which was according to his essays; Leon had everything the scientists were looking for, and that's why he was abducted so young. The sad part?

That boy was broken inside and out. His file had pictures of him being tested, naked, and exposed to a lot of painful experiments. They were doing atrocities with him, and now you could understand why he was looking terrified at you.

He was, at one point, drugged and abused. Those scientists under your supervision did a lot of things on him, and the more you read his file, the more disgusted you felt.

As you read through the file, your heart ached for Leon. You had met him only a few days ago, but in that short time, you had seen glimpses of the pain and trauma that haunted him. Now, with this file in your hands, you finally understood the full extent of his suffering.

The decision was clear in your mind.

You had to befriend him and offer him solace and support. In his condition, being manipulated, tortured and abused, hidden from the world, and unable to see the sun, Leon needed someone who wouldn't hurt him, someone who would stand by his side. You knew you had to do something. You needed time.

It was true that you were tired of everything you did for Umbrella Corporation.

Your soul was tainted with the horrors you made in the name of science. At least, you were trying to convince yourself you were doing good, even knowing you were actually drowned in chaos, your mind always remembering you that you were actually hurting others. You hated yourself every day.

You barely could look at your own image in the mirror.

At first, you were happy. After all, you have always been a loyal employee of Umbrella Corporation, working diligently in their research division. It was a prestigious job, one that paid well and provided you with a comfortable life. But it had also demanded your silence and your complicity in the face of questionable experiments and ethically dubious decisions.

But that thought changed after a year.

Suddenly, that beautiful image you had from them twisted into something dark and horrible. You had to face the truth, and it was crushing you.

You felt only shame and guilt. And it was burning you inside, and you couldn't sleep at night. Your conscience was heavy with everything you did for them, and now, you had one small opportunity to make things right. You had a small window, and you needed to act quickly.

After you arrived at the lab, the first thing you did was walk to his room. The security was high, but your ID card let you walk inside without any problem. And he was there. His white clothes had small spots of dried blood, and he seemed to be sleeping. You sighed.

"You came back" you hear him say, his voice surprised, and somehow, he wasn't so scared of you anymore.

"I told you I would come back. I'm sorry if I took long enough" you said, taking small steps towards him, because you don't know if he'll let you get closer.

"Why are you here?" Leon asks, and then you can notice he's fully aware and suspicious towards you. "Why do you care so much about me?"

"Let's just say... I want to make things right" you muttered, more to yourself than to him.

"I don't buy it" Leon looks at you, his eyes full of doubts and fears. Of course, he wouldn't trust you immediately. You needed to earn him first.

"I know, and you have every reason to do so. But I don't mind spending my time trying to convince you I mean no harm" you said, taking another step closer, as your hands lay next to your body to let him know you're telling the truth. "I'm the cool scientist, remember?"

Leon smirked, but it was a sarcastic one.

"All the others told me the same bullshit and look what happened to me!" He almost shouts, his voice sounds angry. "At the end of the day, you are all the same, and I end up bleeding with a new scar"

The tension in the room was palpable, like an electric charge in the air. Leon stood on one side, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his eyes locked in a steely glare. On the other side of the room, you were facing him with a calm determination that belied the storm raging within you.

"Leon, I need you to understand something," you finally began, your voice steady and resolute. "I said it before, but I won't hurt you. I know you don't trust me, but I promise you, I'm not here to harm you."

Leon's jaw tightened, and he took a step back, his distrust evident in every fiber of his being. He had been through too much in his life to simply trust someone, especially someone like you, who was a relative stranger.

"You're just like the others" Leon muttered, his voice a low growl. "And you're here only to bring me more pain"

"I know you've been let down in the past, Leon. But I want to help you. I believe in you, and I'm committed to seeing you well" You took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to break through Leon's wall of suspicion.

Leon's eyes flickered with a mix of anger and uncertainty. He had heard promises like this before, and they had always led to disappointment. He couldn't afford to be let down again, not when so much was at stake.

"Why should I believe you?" Leon demanded, his voice rising.

You took a step closer, closing the physical gap between the both of you, but realizing that the emotional gap was still vast.

"Because I've been where you are, Leon. I've faced my own demons and fought my own battles. I know what it's like to be in a dark place, and I want to be the light that guides you out of it." You said to him, your voice still showing respect and kindness.

Leon's anger seemed to waver, but he wasn't ready to let his guard down completely.

"Actions speak louder than words," he said, his voice softer now, but still laced with doubt.

"You're absolutely right, Leon. I can make promises all day, but it's my actions that will prove my sincerity. Give me a chance to show you that I mean what I say." You nodded in understanding.

As you extended your hand toward Leon, he hesitated for a moment before reluctantly reaching out to shake it. Your hands met, and in that simple gesture, a fragile bridge of trust began to form. You knew that gaining Leon's trust would be a long and challenging journey, but you were determined to prove to him that you are different, that you were there to help him heal, not hurt him.

Two months had passed by since your first meeting, and that day, you told him you weren't there to hurt him.

And every since that day, Leon still had trouble to trust you, despite all the attempts to befriend him. You were trying, and you knew you were getting in there. Slowly, but effective.

Leon had become all too familiar with the routine of his daily experiments. Each morning, they would escort him down the cold, sterile hallways of the facility, his heart heavy with dread. The scientists, faceless behind their masks and lab coats, were relentless in their pursuit of knowledge, no matter the cost.

Today was different, though. As they strapped him onto the cold metal table, he felt a shiver of apprehension. The restraints were tighter, the needles sharper, and the machines more ominous. Leon's breath quickened as he watched them prepare the apparatus, their voices hushed in clinical conversation.

"Definitely a freak" one of them muttered, and the other laughed. "I mean... look at him. Looks like a walking corpse or whatever he looks like"

Leon was also used to the mean comments they made about him. It was easy for them to mock him. After all, they didn't starve the way Leon did. They weren't underweight as he was, and, of course, they had a place to call home, where they could live a normal life — something that was taken from him.

The first shock sent searing pain coursing through his veins. Leon's body arched in agony, his screams echoing off the sterile walls. He clenched his fists, trying to endure the torment, but his willpower crumbled with each successive jolt.

Hours passed, or maybe it was mere minutes, but to Leon, it felt like an eternity. He lost track of time as they pushed him beyond his limits, subjecting him to doses of needles, shocks, burns, and the ice room. The pain was excruciating, and he wondered how much more his frail body could endure.

Finally, they released him from the restraints, and Leon fell to the cold, hard floor. He was drenched in sweat, his body trembling with the aftermath of the ordeal. His mind was a fog of agony, and he struggled to make sense of his surroundings as they dragged him back to his padded room.

As they locked the heavy door behind him, Leon crumpled to the ground, more hurt than he had ever been before. The pain was unbearable, but there was something else too — an overwhelming sense of despair. He knew that tomorrow would bring another round of experiments, and he was trapped in this never-ending nightmare with no hope of escape.

The harsh, buzzing fluorescent lights above Leon's padded room flickered as the heavy door creaked open. Suddenly, you stepped inside, your footsteps muted by the cushioned floor. You carried a small medical kit and wore a look of sympathy that clashed with your usual clinical demeanor. Something that both of you were used to do, since you were promoted to supervision.

Leon lay on the floor, his body battered and broken from the day's experiments. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his face was contorted with pain. Silently, you knelt beside him, your gloved hands gentle as yoi began to assess his injuries.

The room was cold, the sterile walls offering no comfort. You worked in silence, tending to Leon's wounds with meticulous care that seemed out of place in this cold, heartless facility. You cleaned and dressed his wounds, your touch as tender as it was professional.

As you worked, Leon's eyes filled with tears. He had endured so much, and the pain had become his constant companion. But it was your expected kindness that broke the dam. The tears streamed down his face, and he choked back sobs, unable to contain the flood of emotions that overwhelmed him.

You paused in your ministrations, your eyes meeting Leon's with a mixture of understanding and sorrow. You didn't say a word, but your presence alone offered a glimmer of humanity in this otherwise soulless place.

Leon's sobs became louder, and his body was now jointing. He felt pain, and he was truly scared. He couldn't hold his feelings anymore.

"Please, you have to help me. They... they won't stop. I can't take it anymore." Leon's tears flowed freely now as he looked up at you, his voice choked with pain and desperation.

Gently, you set aside your medical supplies and leaned closer to him, your voice soft and soothing.

"It's going to be okay, Leon," you whispered. "I promise you, I'll find a way to end your suffering. You don't deserve this. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure this ends".

"I... I can't do this anymore..." Leon sobs again, not caring with you seeing his tears. He was desperate. "Please..."

You sighed heavily, your heart aching with the sight of him hurt like that. You needed to help him. You needed to do something.

"I'll see what I can do" you whispered, then you wiped the tears from his eyes. "Now, take some rest"

Leon cried until he fell asleep, curled with his blanket. When you saw him like that, you knew you were done with Umbrella and everything they did. Something was forming inside your mind; a plan? An escape route? Where would you take him? How?

You had a lot of questions and, unfortunately, no answers.

Over the next weeks, you started to prepare your escape. You already had your resignation letter written and a safe location to take Leon. You even took a weekend off just to prepare the place to take him. You had medical supplies, clothes, food, and everything you both would need.

It was risky, but you needed to try.

You had secretly collected a stash of supplies over the months, carefully hidden away in the recesses of your country house. You knew the facility's routines and security measures like the back of your hand. You had observed the guards' shifts and the vulnerabilities in their surveillance. You were more than prepared.

This would be the night.

When you went inside his room, he wasn't there. You checked his schedule and saw he was — again — in the experiment room. You had finally reached your breaking point. You couldn't bear to see Leon's suffering continue any longer.

Leon's condition had deteriorated to the point where he could barely move, let alone stand. You knew you had to act swiftly and decisively. You had already obtained a wheelchair, hidden away in a storage closet for weeks, just waiting for the right moment. You walk inside the building, trying to find the right room. Your mind and heart racing with thousand of thoughts.

Until you hear him.

Strapped to a cold metal table, he braced himself for the pain he knew was coming. The first shock hit him like a lightning bolt, searing through his body and causing his muscles to convulse. Leon clenched his teeth, tears streaming down his face as he struggled to endure. The room echoed with his screams, a symphony of suffering that went unheard beyond these walls.

"Stop this experiment now!" You commanded, your voice cutting through the chaos as you burst into the room.

"But... why?" One of the scientists asks, confused.

"I've made a new schedule. He's not going to be tested today" you replied harshly.

The scientists froze, their instruments suspended mid-air. You hurried to Leon's side, releasing him from his restraints with urgency. You spared no time in scooping him up gently, cradling his trembling body in your arms.

"But what are we supposed to do now?" The same scientist asked again, still confused.

"There's another test subject. You can use them" you said, helping Leon stand up.

Saying that, you carried him out of the experiment room, Leon's vision blurred, and he could barely comprehend what was happening. He clung to the sensation of being held, of being rescued from the torment he was passing through.

You took him back to his padded room, laying him down on the bed. You knelt beside him, your expression a mix of sympathy and anger.

"Rest now, Leon," you said softly, brushing his hair away from his tear-stained face. "I won't let them hurt you like this anymore. This will end today, I promise"

Leon tried to mutter something, but he was so tired that his words were beyond comprehension. You went back to your office, just waiting for the perfect time.

You were nervous, and anyone could tell that you were more aggressive than usual, despite the fact that you were always kind to everyone. This plan needed to work, or both of you would definitely die. Your eyes were glued to the watch in your wall, and the time seemed to freeze.

Your heart ached, and you felt anxious.

When the clock finally turned midnight, you knew what you needed to do. Silently, with a heavy heart, you approached Leon's padded room, your pulse quickening with each step. You had prepared a syringe with a sedative, a necessary measure to keep him asleep and prevent him from experiencing any more pain.

Entering the room, you saw Leon lying on the padded bed, his eyes hollow and empty. His frail body was a mere shell of what it had once been, and you couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sorrow for him. You administered the sedative with a gentle touch, whispering soothing words to him as he slipped into a deep, dreamless slumber.

Carefully, you lifted Leon's limp form and gently placed him in the wheelchair. You secured him with the safety straps, ensuring he wouldn't fall during their escape. Then you wheeled him out of the room, moving with purpose through the corridors, your heart heavy with the weight of your escape plan.

As you both approached your car parked discreetly in the shadows, you couldn't help but glance back at the facility you both were leaving behind — a place of horrors, pain, and despair. You had made a difficult choice, one that would change both of your lives forever, but you were determined to keep Leon safe, even if it meant going to great lengths to do so.

With Leon sedated and safely secured in the wheelchair, you carefully loaded him into your car, your eyes never leaving his peaceful, albeit frail form.

"I've got you" you whispered, covering his weak body with a blanket and then closing the door.

The night was a tapestry of stars above as you drove, your eyes fixed on the darkened road ahead. Hours stretched on, the miles slipping away beneath the tires of your car. In the back seat, Leon lay motionless, a fragile figure in the interior, protected by the cozy blanket and the warm air.

Every so often, you stole a glance at the rearview mirror, your worry etched on your face. You constantly checked on him to make sure he was still asleep and unharmed. His breathing was steady, a reassuring rhythm amidst the uncertainty of your journey.

The countryside passed by in a blur of shadowy trees and moonlit fields. You kept driving, the tension in your shoulders slowly easing as the miles between you two and the lab grew. You couldn't help but think about the risk you had taken, the consequences if you were caught, but the determined look in Leon's eyes when he had awakened for a brief moment had given you the strength to carry on.

Finally, you two arrived at your country house, a remote sanctuary nestled far from prying eyes. You parked the car in the driveway and carefully opened the back door. Leon remained peacefully asleep, his vulnerability tugging at your heartstrings.

Gently, she took him from the car to the wheelchair, your arms trembling with the weight of his frail form. You took him into the cozy house, the scent of pine and wood welcoming them. You placed him in a comfortable bed, covering him with a warm blanket.

You watched over him for a while, relief washing over you as you saw that he was still sleeping peacefully. You knew this new journey was far from over, that you both had many challenges ahead, but in this moment, under the soft moonlight that filtered through the curtains, Leon was safe.

As exhaustion finally caught up with you, you settled into a chair in the room, your eyes never leaving Leon's slumbering figure. You were determined to protect him, to give him a chance at a life free from the horrors of the lab.

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains of the country house, casting a gentle glow on the room. Leon began to stir, his eyelids fluttering open. Confusion washed over him as he realized he was no longer in the familiar confines of the lab.

Panic welled up within him, and he tried to sit up, but his body felt heavy and weak. As he struggled, tears welled up in his eyes, and he cried out in despair.

You had been dozing in a nearby chair, tired that you fell asleep quickly, then you awoke with a start. You rushed to Leon's side, your voice filled with soothing reassurance.

"Leon, it's alright. You're safe now. You're not in the lab anymore." You tell him, your voice calm and kind.

"I... I can't believe it," he stammered, his voice trembling. "Is this real?" Leon's breaths came in ragged sobs as he looked at you, his eyes searching for the truth in your words.

You nodded, your eyes filled with empathy.

"Yes, it's real," you whispered. "You're free now, Leon. No more experiments, no more pain."

Tears streamed down Leon's cheeks as he absorbed the reality of his situation. He had spent so long in that nightmarish place that the idea of escape had seemed impossible. But here, in this tranquil room, with you by his side, hope blossomed within him. You reached out and gently brushed the tears from his face.

"It's okay to cry, Leon," you said softly. "You've been through so much. But now, we're going to build a new life together, away from the lab."

As Leon's sobs gradually subsided, he clung to your words, the promise of a brighter future. In your compassionate presence, he began to believe that perhaps, just perhaps, he could leave the horrors of the lab behind and find a life filled with warmth and kindness.

Leon finally felt the sun touching his skin. Finally, he was allowed to see the sunrise and to see the world again.

He was free.

[lovries]

COULD YOU STAY WITH ME?

featuring. the demon brothers (lucifer, mammon, leviathan, satan, asmodeus, beelzebub, belphegor).

summary. you find it hard to sleep at night after a traumatic incident at RAD, you don't really want to be alone tonight, and quite frankly they don't want you to be either.

warning. gn! reader, sharing a bed/sleeping together (nonsexual), hurt/comfort, injury (mammons), using these prompts.

꒰ ♡ ꒱ ─── LUCIFER

After nearly being eaten by a group of demons, you had trouble sleeping— I mean, who wouldn't? If it hadn't been for Lucifer, you would currently be being digested in some demon's stomach! He thought you would be okay, but when he saw how exhaustion seemed to drip from your very being, he realized that your psyche may be a bit more fragile than a demons.

You were getting ready for bed, likely another night of staring at your ceiling to prevent nightmares from invading your sleep. Just as you're about to get under the covers, you hear a knock on your door.

Despite knowing it wasn't the demon that threatened you, your gut wrenched at the idea of him seeking you out. Hesitantly, you opened the door to see... Lucifer. You let out a shaky, relieved breath. "Hah, it's just you... Can I help you?"

Lucifer just stared down at you, his brows furrowed together, a frown residing on his face. He stayed silent for a few seconds, although it felt like several minutes before he finally spoke.

"You don't have to pretend to be fine, if you need me to stay I will."

Your eyes widened a fraction, a bit shocked to hear his words. You sheepishly glanced off to the side. "You don't need to do that-"

"But I will." He was quick to cut off any thoughts of rejecting his offer. "I will, if it's you, I don't mind in the slightest." It was hard for your heart not to skip a beat or two at his genuine and kind words. Inhaling slowly, thinking it over, you open the door for him.

"Well... If its you," You steal his line, and he chuckles, "I suppose I can't refuse." With that, he enters your room, and you had the best sleep you had in quite a while.

꒰ ♡ ꒱ ─── MAMMON

Mammon tsked as he finally finished bandaging up your wounds. Today in one of your shared classes, the professor brought in a dangerous Devildom creature and accidentally lost control of it, which lead to it attacking you.

"Ya should've dodged it." He grumbled, shaking his head. "Havin' me bandaging ya up- I'm The Great Mammon, y'know? I don't got time for this stuff..." Despite his harsh words, you knew he was just concerned for your safety. His hands were shaking the entire time he was bandaging up the claw marks on your arm.

Standing up from his kneeled position, Mammon dusted himself off. "There, all done. I'll be goin' now, see ya tomorrow, human-" However, you caught the sleeve of his jacket and looked up at him with pleading eyes. "W- What are ya doin'?"

"Could you, well..." You felt a little embarrassed to ask, especially since you were usually kicking him out of your room, but you just knew you'd have a hard time sleeping so... "Could you stay? I'm still a little shaken from earlier so-"

He's already slipping off his jacket, throwing it over to where his shoes were kicked off earlier. He shooed you over to the other side of the bed as he got himself under the covers. He was thankful for the darkness of your room, as it hid the blush that was burning his skin.

"I'll be here the whole night, 'kay? Nothin'll get ya while 'm here." You smile softly at him— that smile that never fails to fill his stomach with butterflies. He just rolls his eyes. "I just don't want ya to be complainin' tomorrow about how tired you are, s-so don't get the wrong idea."

"Thank you, Mammon." You press a soft kiss to his cheek, before scooting away to give him more room.

It's safe to say that Mammon was the one who didn't get any sleep that night, not with the way your sleepy voice and that gentle kiss invaded all his thoughts.

꒰ ♡ ꒱ ─── LEVIATHAN

Leviathan only knew one full-proof way to get something bad off your mind; playing videogames! So of course, after you went through something so traumatic at RAD, he invited you over to play a bunch of videogames. It would at least take your mind off of it for a little while. He frowned when you yawned, preparing for you to leave him like you did every night.

Except this time, you don't move from your spot. You can feel his stare, he's basically burning holes into the side of your face. You glance over at him and he quickly looks away, his ears turning red. "Uh, i- if you want to go, you can, don't worry, I know it's not c-cause you hate me or anything. You're tired, right?"

You chuckle weakly, almost in a defeated manner. "Well, actually..." You trail off, eyes trained on the controlled in your hand. His stomach churned at your pause, were you going to say it was because you hated him? that you actually did find him a yucky otaku creep? He shouldn't have assumed just because you claimed you liked him in the past! He flinched as you spoke again, "Can I stay with you tonight? I don't wanna be alone right now."

Levi's breath hitched— this was like something out of a dating sim! If only he knew the right option; well, he'd certainly choose something along the lines of...

"Y- Yeah! Sure, I don't mind." The way your shoulders relax, and relief washes over you, fills him with a small sense of pride. Did he make you feel safe? His heart was racing! His palms were almost so sweaty he dropped the controller, but he managed to hold on. "Uhm, you can take the bed, i- if you want? I can sleep here, or on the ground, or-"

"Or, you could maybe lay with me?" It was comical, the way his face ignited in a bright red blush.

"Ah, yeah! O- Or I could do that!" Please have mercy on his soul.

꒰ ♡ ꒱ ─── SATAN

After what you went through, Satan couldn't fathom the stress and anxiety you felt, so he thought he'd do something nice for you! Perhaps to make you feel more comfortable, take your mind off things, remind you that not all demons are the same.

Classical music hummed softly throughout his room, he reserved his favorite chair just for you, prepared with hot chocolate and a warm blanket, along with several books he knew you'd enjoy.

And that's how you spent your day, reading with Satan, occasionally talking about the novel that you were reading, enjoying the never-ending hot chocolate (he cast a spell so that it'd refill continuously).

It wasn't until it reached late into the night, knowing you should try to go to your room and sleep, that Satan could see how restless you were. He quietly watched as you hesitated on moving— if you asked to stay with him, would he let you?

Satan decided to calm your nerves by asking first, "Do you wanna stay with me tonight?"

You whipped your head over to look at him, shocked that he could read your thoughts— although, after a second, you weren't too surprised. Satan always seemed to know exactly what you were thinking and what you needed. "How do you always know?" He chuckles, scooting over in his bed to allow you some room.

Getting comfortable, you're curled up into his side, and he wants to tease you for being like a cat, but decides against it. "Y/n, please know that you're always allowed to stay here, with me, whatever the reason may be."

He waited until you were fast asleep before closing his eyes himself, a gentle smile on his lips.

꒰ ♡ ꒱ ─── ASMODEUS

Asmodeus was humming a tune to a new song he was obsessed with, doing the finishing touches to his skincare routine, when he heard a knock on his door. He knew instantly that the only one who could possibly be knocking at his door was you.

Throwing it open, he smiled brightly. "Y/n! To what do I owe the pleasure?" He leaned against the doorframe, waiting patiently as you fiddled with your pajama shirt. He had a suspicion as to why you were here; after all, he knew just about everything that happened at RAD, and your little run in with a not-so-friendly creature was one of those things.

"Will you sleep with me?" Asmodeus' eyes light up at the double meaning, chuckling at your flustered face, "I- I know how that sounds, I just mean— I feel safe when you're with me."

My, my, you sure know how to capture this demons heart. Asmo nearly swoons at your words; he makes you feel safe? him? he was certain anyone else would've chosen one of his brothers to keep them safe, but you choose him? You're truly just the best!

"Of course I'll sleep with you!" He winked, he couldn't help but tease you a little bit. Your flustered face was one of his favorite things, you know? When he can tell you've grown frustrated with him though, he puts his hands up defensively. "In a completely innocent, nonsexual way. Don't worry, darling, I know what you meant."

Asmodeus looks over his shoulder, before glancing down at you. "However, let's sleep in my room, my bed is much comfier." You couldn't disagree, his bed was practically a cloud. "Come on, lets get you a face mask before we lay down!"

He most definitely took pictures of you curled up in his arms, fast asleep. And whilst he'd usually post them on Devilgram, he added these to his private photos. Your adorable sleeping face, and the fact you felt most safe with him, were for him to see and know only.

꒰ ♡ ꒱ ─── BEELZEBUB

Beelzebub was coming back to his room from getting his usual late night snack, when he stopped by your door. He thought, maybe if you were awake, you'd be hungry? He wouldn't mind giving you a little snack if you were. He knocked on the door gently, only for you to open the door with tears in your eyes.

"B- Beel?" You try your best to hold back your sobs, not wanting to make Beel worry about you, but it was too late. He pushed past you and entered your room. "Beel? What are you doin-"

He's upset with himself. He should've been with you that day, should've protected you from all those bullies. He looks at you, his heart clenching tightly in his chest. "Tell me what I can do to make it better?" He says solemnly, "I hate seeing you cry." You wipe at the tears, sniffling a bit.

"Can you just... stay here? A- And hold me?" Beel would hunt down every last bully and tear them limb-from-limb if you asked. He scarfed down the rest of his snacks (accidentally forgetting to offer you one) before climbing into your bed and holding his arms open for you.

"Come. You need to sleep." You nod, sniffling a little more, wiping away the stray tears. You got under the covers, and Beel pulled you tightly against his chest, his hold on you firm and comforting. What you thought would be another restless night thinking of the threats and the possibility of them following through on said threats slowly faded with your consciousness.

There truly was something about Beelzebub and his big, strong arms, his warm and loving aura, that made all worries slip away. You finally managed to fall asleep after a few sleepless night.

꒰ ♡ ꒱ ─── BELPHEGOR

Trudging your way to the familiar area, you find Belphie asleep in a pile of blankets and pillows. Your feet had carried you there without you even realizing, only truly knowing when you nearly tripped over a stray pillow. You sigh, you suppose this made sense. Whenever you were having nightmares, you always somehow found your way to Belphegor.

"Mmm..." He stirred from his sleep, sensing your presences. "What do ya want?" He yawns, forcing himself to turn over so he's facing you properly. You sit down, playing with a blanket.

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" You ask, trying to appear nonchalant, but Belphie could tell something was off. If he recalls correctly, Beel said something earlier about an incident that happened yesterday at RAD. Well, if Belphie did remember, he didn't show any signs of it. He closed his eyes, and let out another yawn.

"Yeah, sure, don't care." With that, you maneuver your way under the many blankets, your body soon finding Belphie's and cuddling into him. As much as he wanted to get back to his peaceful slumber, worry was eating at his mind. He groaned, looking down at you. Damn you, making him care about you.

"Ugh... So... Like... Why?" You look up at him, raising a brow at his vague question. He rolled his eyes, "Why'd you like, come to me?" He hates that he can feel his face growing warm. Your own face was heating up, but he didn't notice.

"I don't have nightmares when you're here." Well that's probably because he chases away all your nightmares, but he'd rather die than tell you that. He nods, before going back to his usual lethargic self, lazily wrapping an arm around you and pulling you close.

"Hmm 'kay, well, go to sleep now. and don't even think of waking me up again, got it?" This time you nod. The two of you having an incredibly peaceful slumber.

﹙ thank you for reading! have a wonderful day! ﹚

[thefanficmonster]

Are you still doing Carmy requests? Can you do one where he maybe goes to the the pharmacy with Richie or someone else and he develops a crush on a worker?

Hi dear! Yup I'm accepting requests for all characters from The Bear. Thank you so much for your request! I hope you enjoy the fic 💌

Happenstance

Carmen Berzatto x Reader (Gender Neutral - They/Them) [The Bear]

Warnings: Swearing, Minor Injury, Minor Spoilers for The Bear

Genre: FLUFF

Summary: see request above

NOTE: This fic takes place during season 1

He's driving without a license, sweating profusely. His hands are clenched tightly around the wheel, his eyes tranced on the road ahead as he tries his best to block out Richie's annoying rambling as he wills muscle memory not to fail him now. He never got his license, never really needed to, considering everything was within walking distance in Chicago growing up and whenever he needed to get anywhere further out of the walking radius, transport was always easily accessible. New York too. He can't remember if anyone he worked with even had a license.

Michael and Richie both got their hands on a license and a steering wheel as soon as they could and tried talking Carmy and Sugar into doing the same. The former never showed any interest but still listened to their freely offered lessons just in case the skill of driving could come in handy one day.

Today happens to be that day.

It's been years since these aforementioned lessons took place, though. So, it's safe to say he's struggling.

The day started off like any other, the usual chaotic monotony of The Beef running through the motions. And then, suddenly, it was interrupted.

A man Carmy did not recognize approached the restaurant with a rigid demeanor, hostility written all over his face. Unlike him, Richie was all too familiar with this asshole. He was a debt collector, a grifter almost, one of many breathing down Mikey's neck while he was alive and Richie's now that he isn't.

To be fair, Richie could've approached and maybe even handled the situation with just slightly more tact. But come on now, we're talking about Richie, so of course he didn't.

That's how he ended up here, in the passenger seat of his own car, with a swelling black eye he can't see out of, still yelling stubbornly.

"Cousin, shut the fuck up! You're literally half blind right now and you still wanna argue?! You don't wanna see out of neither of your eyes!?" Carmy finally snaps, the adrenaline and anxiety of the situation getting too much to bear. He has to put up with the loud-mouth next to him, focus on the road and keep them alive with what little memory he has of driving lessons he barely paid any mind to, and be wary of a potential fine and legal trouble if he gets caught.

He can't remember how or who convinced him to drive in the insanity of the brawl's aftermath. He hates whoever it may be, although he did this to himself.

"Oh what?! You're gonna punch me, asshole?!" Richie provokes him further, poking the bear - no pun intended - with a stick.

"Maybe I fucking will if you don't shut your trap!" Carmy's voice booms in the small space in the car, somehow managing to out-yell his cousin who has now miraculously actually shut the fuck up.

They drive in peace for a solid five minutes before a voice once again fills the car.

"Can you pull up to that pharmacy? Grab me some painkillers?"

Given that what's coming out of his mouth is reasonable for a change, Carmy obliges with nothing more than a nod. When the car comes to a stop, he unbuckles his seatbelt with still shaky hands, "Stay in the car. I don't want you traumatizing the workers inside."

He feels a hand give him a light shove as he gets out but he lets it go, retaliating with a slam of the car door before heading inside.

The bell above the entrance dings, alerting the clerk to his presence. They give him a polite nod and smile, greeting him with their standard professional and courteous "Hello, how can I help you?"

"Uh, I'm supposed to get painkillers." He says, suddenly a little flustered. The extent of his life outside the restaurant only involves his commute to and from it. He hasn't exactly had any proper human interactions without the usual workplace yelling and disagreements.

Luckily the pharmacist, who he'll admit isn't helping his nervousness with their attractiveness, meets him halfway in his panic, their warm and comforting aura shining through their smile, "Ok, no problem. What kind?"

"Whatever kind is best for a black eye." His response breaks their professional composure, making them laugh a little before they catch themself, clearing their throat.

"Give me a second." They smile, shaking their head before briefly disappearing out of view, behind a shelf of medication one their side of the counter. When they return, they set down a bottle of pills, an ice cold water bottle and some cloth bandages. "Knock two of these back..." they begin, pointing to the pills, "...then soak the bandages in cold water and apply to the wound. And, lastly..." They take a pause to chuckle, "Drive to urgent care, please."

"All sound advice. However..." A loud honk of a car horn interrupts him, causing him to cringe, "....my cousin is a little particular."

The pharmacist laughs again, shaking their head in understanding, "I see. Well, hope you sort it out." They ring up his pills and tell him the price. Only seventeen dollars, which causes him to glance at them with a quirked eyebrow, evidently puzzled. They immediately pick up on what he's confused about, "The bandages and water are on the house."

Expressing his gratitude with a bright grin and nod, he takes the items and leaves the pharmacy, waving a quick goodbye to the clerk. The smile doesn't drop from his face even once he enters the car to more yelling from Richie, asking what had taken so long. He quiets him down by tossing the products at him, all thankfully avoiding his face and falling in his lap. All the while, he remains grinning like an idiot at the luckt happenstance of finding his new go-to pharmacy.

Who cares that it's forty-five minutes from his place? That's a small distance to travel for a man who believes he might have just developed a little crush.

[whereianonymouslypostfics]

Growing Pains Part 3

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x reader

Word count: ~12k

Summary: Little Nat is almost 13 and school’s a bitch. Retired mob boss turned stay-at-home mom Wanda has to figure out how to deal with bullies at her daughter’s school. 

A/N: Credit to @rianncreates for this fic idea. Enjoy 😘

Warnings: Fluff, teen angst, injury, reference to previous injury/trauma, bullies, and mentions medicinal drug use

When Wanda wakes up in the morning, she can immediately tell that you’d left bed for a while at some point during the night. The faint smell of marijuana wasn’t one that she particularly liked, but she’d certainly gotten used to it over the years. She hated whenever you smoked because nowadays you only did it if you were in a lot of pain. She almost misses the days when you would just kickback, relax and smoke a little or too much with Yelena. The stress she’d felt then at seeing you high was less traumatizing than having to see you in pain.

You stir a little after she does and you sigh as you realize that you’re still very tired. Luckily you get to relax all day today and if you got your way, you wouldn’t have to leave the house at all. When you open your eyes, you smile at the sight of your wife with her beautifully mussed hair and sleepy eyes.

“Morning, Wands. Did you sleep well?”

Wanda smiles as she leans in to kiss you, and you hold her close as you try to force yourself awake. You’re still groggy when Wanda speaks up, and she runs a hand through your messy hair smiling as you grumble a bit.

“I did. What about you? Are you feeling better?”

You nod immediately because your cold trip outside to smoke for a bit had helped a lot. You’d taken Boone with you because you’d practically tripped over him on the way upstairs and he’d wanted to be near you. Wanda smiles at the fact that you had your dog outside with you at 2 in the morning. She sighs as she flops onto her back with a frown. You notice immediately and sneak a hand out to squeeze her side. You stifle a laugh as she jumps in surprise and shoots you a glare.

“What’s on your mind, love?”

You hadn’t realized that Wanda was thinking about last night too, and you quickly tune in to the conversation as you consider what is going on with your daughter.

“Did Pietro tell you what he and Natalya talked about last night?”

Wanda’s fidgeting and playing with the hem of her shirt as she thinks about what her brother had said. He was being a good uncle. What could that mean? Yelena had already said that Natalya had asked for advice but they’d been given no other hints. She frowns when you shake your head before relaying the very vague explanation that your brother-in-law had given you.

“He said that she had ‘girl trouble’ and that he gave her advice. Whatever that means."

Wanda frowns at all of the things this could entail and she forces herself to sit up with a sigh. She half-heartedly fixes her hair as she shakes her head. She shoots you a look that you can’t help but laugh at, and you push yourself up into a seated position before glancing at the clock.

“That’s terrifying to think about.”

You don’t really know what to say because even when you went upstairs to think about it you couldn’t figure out what was wrong. The only real hint you had was the question that Natalya had asked Wanda the other day. Maybe she was lonely and she wanted to figure out how to fix it. You really had nothing and you smile slightly as you lean against your wife with a shrug.

“At least she also went to Yelena.”

You think about your options and you realize that you’re just going to have to leave it be for now. You need to trust Yelena and Pietro, as well as your daughter to handle everything.

“I think we just need to see what happens. Asking her about it will only stress her out and keep her from going to them again.”

Wanda’s still frowning. She realizes that you’re right and that she’s going to have to leave this in the trio’s hands. She’s still trying to convince herself that she shouldn’t feel hurt by this. She was glad that Natalya was comfortable going to her uncles and aunts. She just wishes that she could be that person for her daughter.

“That’s also terrifying to me.”

Natalya is downstairs making a breakfast of heated leftovers when her parents emerge from their room. They all usually sleep in on Sundays, but Nat had woken up early and couldn’t go back to sleep. She’d hung out with Boone and Fletcher for a while before letting the former out and heading to the kitchen. There were plenty of leftovers to eat and since there was more than enough for lunch, dinner, and breakfast, Nat eats some cheesecake and some chicken before she hears her parents’ door open upstairs. She hurries to put the cheesecake back into the fridge, but her moms knew her too well.

“Don’t bother, Little Nat, I’m going to eat some of it too.”

“Please tell me you’re going to eat something else too.”

You’re not even sure who Wanda’s talking to, but you nod anyway before smiling as you greet your daughter in the kitchen. You hug the brunette and plant a kiss on the top of her head before you glance around the kitchen to see if any food was left out. You’re thinking of what you’ll eat for breakfast when Wanda comes up for her hug.

“How did you sleep, milaya?”

You release Nat as you walk to the coffee machine to get your wife caffeinated as quickly as possible. You’re more concerned about what you’ll eat, but you keep an ear open for what your daughter says. You’re grabbing some leftovers with a loaf of bread on top for your wife’s usual toast. Nat’s yawning as she hugs her redheaded mom before pulling away quickly. She shakes out her hand with a scowl as she berates herself for continuing to forget that she’s hurt.

“Ow, I slept well. I just woke up hungry.”

You laugh at this as Wanda rolls her eyes because of course her daughter is hungry. It’s hard to find a time when she’s not hungry, and it actually was a very good indicator when she was younger that something was wrong. It still applied most days.

After grabbing everything you’ll eat for breakfast you leave briefly to go walk the dogs. Rogue and Boone were sitting at your feet and begging with their sad eyes to eat. You let them out for a minute on their own as you fill their bowls and grab their meds. You hurry through your routine of hiding them in wet food before placing them in the designated bowls. Rogue comes in first as usual and he tries to stick his head in his brother’s bowl. You redirect his attention to the other one before looking over your shoulder as Boone comes running inside.

“It’s okay bud. I kept him from eating your breakfast. You’re welcome.”

Wanda can’t help but smile as you have a conversation with your dog before joining them for breakfast. Nat’s already sitting at the table when Wanda sets down her plate and glances at you curiously. She’d already made sure you took your meds this morning, and as she watches you pile food onto your plate, she can’t help but smile.

“All good over there, detka?”

You nod before running over to the table and setting your mostly milk coffee down. You kiss your wife’s cheek before rounding the table to kiss Nat’s too. You know that you both decided not to ask Natalya about what she told Piet and Yelena last night, but that didn’t mean you couldn’t encourage her to mention it.

“Did you have fun last night, kid?”

Natalya is already smiling as she takes a bite of her breakfast with an enthusiastic nod. She waits until she’s done chewing to offer a verbal response, but you’re patient as you run back to the kitchen for your food. Once you sit down beside your wife you are immediately flanked by both of your dogs who are looking for a second meal. You pat both of them on the head before turning your attention to Natalya.

“Yeah! It was great. I loved the food, and Bucky’s present is so cool!”

You stop short of taking another bite when you realize that you’d forgotten about Bucky’s unconventional gift. One glance at your wife tells you that she did too, and now you’re both wondering if she’d taken it upstairs with her. Wanda frowns as she sets down her coffee and tries to figure out where the very large knife that their friend had given Natalya was.

“Where is it, Natalya? I didn’t get a chance to look at it. “

Little Nat is up and running upstairs to grab it before you can even roll your eyes at your wife’s less-than-subtle question. You just watch your daughter disappear before you turn to Wanda with a smile. She shoots you a look that you just shake your head at before continuing to eat your breakfast.

“I didn’t say anything.”

Wanda doesn’t have time to respond before Nat is returning to the table. She luckily stops before running into the table, and she sets the large knife down carefully beside her mom’s plate. You watch as Wanda picks it up and looks it over carefully. She’s less interested in the design and she’s paying more attention to the fact that Bucky seemed to be right. She tugs on the handle and tries to free the knife, but with no success. Natalya’s gone back to her breakfast at this point, but she glances up to see her mom struggling and she shakes her head.

“I tried for a while, Mama it’s not coming out.”

Wanda frowns at this before handing it across the table to you. You sigh as you take the weapon and look it over with a frown. You still can’t believe that Bucky gave this to your daughter. You only try to get the knife out for a few seconds before you shake your head. You hand it back to Natalya but as she goes to blindly grab it you hold it back until you have your daughter’s attention. Nat looks up and you shoot her a serious look.

“You can keep this for now, but if you get it to open you have to give it back to Bucky.”

You turn to Wanda to make sure she’s okay with this plan, but when she just sighs you figure she has no objections. Nat takes the knife back with a smile before taking the last bite of her food.

“Thanks! Do we have any plans for today?”

Despite not sleeping well last night, you’d been on board for Natalya’s idea to spend some time outside. She wanted to walk the dogs up the mountain and regardless of the fact that exercise is not something you want to do today, you suck it up. You and Wanda get changed before heading outside to meet Natalya where she’s sitting outside on the deck waiting for them. Boone and Rogue were wandering around with their tails wagging excited to be going on a walk. Despite being older, they still loved hiking and could go for a few miles before getting too tired. They moved slower, but you did too so you didn’t mind at all. You smile as you greet your daughter and then dogs before turning to your wife.

“Alright, ready to set out?”

Natalya smiles before nodding happily and grabbing Boone and Rogue’s leashes. You don’t usually keep them on leashes when you go out, but you let Nat do what she wants. You figure she’ll let them go off leash a little later. You grab your walking stick from Wanda before you usher her off of the deck with a cheeky smile.

“After you, milady.”

Wanda rolls her eyes but she steps down from the deck before taking your free hand with a sigh. She hopes that Natalya doesn’t want to go too far because she has a date with you and the couch later and maybe her cat. She’d wanted to be lazy today, but she does enjoy seeing how Natalya happily leads her dogs up the path.

“Boone slow down!”

You consider taking one of the dogs from your daughter, but she seems to be having fun trying to keep the duo on the path and walking side by side. You hold Wanda’s hand as you two walk behind your children watching them carefully, but letting them get a ways ahead of you. You turn to your wife as you think about what tomorrow will bring.

“I should be able to leave work early tomorrow so I can drive with you to Nat’s game.”

Wanda smiles at the reminder that her daughter had her first game of the season tomorrow. The two of you had talked to Natalya about her interest in sports early on when she started middle school. Rather you’d had to encourage her to give them a try. She had been very against doing anything that involved other people. She wouldn’t join any clubs, and you and Wanda were worried that she wouldn’t have any friends. When she finally agreed to try and play basketball it only lasted for a week, but she made two friends in that time. Natalya was still friends with both of them, and they were the ones to convince her to try out for softball which went a lot better than basketball. She was a little too inattentive to play such a fast-paced game.

“Okay, just let me know if you’re running late.”

One perk of being an administrator/vet was getting to choose your own schedule to accommodate your daughter’s schedule. You usually worked longer days on Tuesdays and Thursdays so you were free for game nights. You and Wanda made it to every game, and depending on what your friends were up to they’d come along too. Natalya pretended to be embarrassed when her aunts and uncles all showed up and cheered for her along with her parents, but you knew that she secretly appreciated it. She also loved it when Boone and Rogue could come, even if most of the time they sat in the grass and were pet by small children. The last game of the previous season, everyone had come out and Pietro had been so into it that you’d filmed him to show Nat later.

“Pietro will be there, but I don’t know about anyone else. He’ll probably meet us there.”

You nod as you step over some rocks in your path with a huff. So much for staying on the path. You’re glad you brought your stick because it helps with your balance, but it can be a pain to carry. You make sure that Nat and the dogs aren’t too far ahead before you turn back to Wanda with a questioning look.

“Sooo… has she told you what she wants for her birthday yet?”

Nat forces herself to slow down a little bit and she lets Boone and Rogue walk ahead of her. She always forgets how much her dogs like being outside and in the woods. They stop briefly to sniff something and Nat takes a deep breath before looking around curiously. They’ve strayed from the path a bit, and she winces at the fact that she hadn’t even noticed. She’ll get them back on track once the dogs get their noses out of…what was that?

“Guys, come on, what’s so interesting?”

Nat pulls the shepherds back a bit and her nose scrunches up in disgust at the sight of a giant pile of shit. She mutters under her breath before leading the dogs back to the path with a smile. She stops to pet both of them for a bit until she hears her parents’ footsteps behind her.

“Is it okay to let them off leash?”

You smile as you nod and wave the two dogs to run ahead. They both look to you once they’re freed as if asking for permission and you just wave them off again with a sigh.

“Yes, you can go. Be free, but be good!”

The two dogs run off side by side and you smile at the sight of how adorable they look. They’re running so close to each other that they look like one large furry blob with too many legs. They’ve really come a long way from what they were when they first met each other. You’re so glad that they managed to grow close, and over the years you’ve seen them take care of each other in ways that bring you to tears. You don’t realize you’ve spaced out until you feel someone tug on your hand. You look up to see Natalya smiling at you, and you nod in response before letting her lead you.

“Ready, Mom?”

The next twenty minutes or so pass quickly as Natalya chats with you and Wanda about how school is going and her friends. She talks a little bit about softball and what she expects Monday to go like. You’re glad that Natalya has liked the sport more than you both thought she would. Honestly, she was just super competitive and liked the idea of being on a team with her friends more than the actual sport, but still. You were glad that she’d found something that she enjoyed.

“Moms can Taylor and Alyssa maybe come over after the game? For victory pizza?”

You smile widely at this while Wanda sighs in defeat. This was a tradition you’d started with your daughter when she first started playing sports. It was mostly to encourage her to put in effort, and just as it did for you, food was your daughter’s greatest motivator. You’re already nodding at this and you look to Wanda to see that she’s shooting you a look that just makes you laugh. You know that you’re a bad influence, but luckily this is just a seasonal thing, and your daughter eats healthily otherwise. If anything, she’ll get pizza with some sort of vegetable on it.

“That’s a great idea. Now you just have to make sure you win.”

Nat’s about to feign offense and insist that they will definitely beat the team they’re playing tomorrow, but the sight of the dogs running toward them stops her in her tracks. She’s frowning because they usually don’t run home, they usually drag their feet because they’re tired or they don’t want to leave. This is odd. You seem to think so too and you stop in your tracks with a frown before you look between your two dogs curiously.

“What is it you two? Tired already?”

Boone’s whining and Rogue is already trying to herd you back the way you came, and you’re not sure what to make of this. You look out to where they came from and don’t see anything suspicious, but you didn’t really expect to. Wanda is trying to push Rogue away from her, but he keeps rubbing his head on her legs trying to push her back down the path.

“Rogue, stop it.”

When he barks at her you realize that something is up. He only ever barks to get attention and you decide that it might be best to listen to him this time. You realize you don’t have to convince your wife because she’s on the same page as you. She’s shooting her dog a confused look, and when she reaches out to pet him, he mouths at her hand. She pulls her hand back quickly and shoots him a glare but he just whines as he starts to head back the way they came.

“Ow, fine we’ll go. Come on let’s go.”

Wanda turns back to wave you and Natalya with her, but she stops short when she sees that you’ve walked away from them up the path. She opens her mouth to shout for you, but she doesn’t get a chance before you’re turning around and walking back down the hill and reaching out for both her and Natalya. You look mostly calm, but Wanda can tell from your wide eyes that you’re worried.

“Okay, okay. You’re right let’s go. Quickly.”

Wanda frowns but doesn’t hesitate to follow you and Rogue as she grabs Natalya’s hand. She’s a little confused and she speaks up before Wanda gets a chance.

“Wait, why? What’s going on?”

You look behind you before reaching out to pet both of your dogs as they continue on the trail occasionally looking back to make sure you’re following. You then put an arm around your daughter’s shoulders and then one around your wife’s waist before whispering under your breath.

“The dogs wanted to let us know that there is a mama bear with her babies over that hill.”

Wanda’s eyes widen in surprise and she turns to make sure they’re not being followed. Luckily all she sees is green trees, dirt and rocks. No animals in sight. She picks up her pace a little though and you smile before looking to Natalya who’s smiling in awe.

“That’s so adorable!”

Despite thinking this, she knows what her mom is going to say. It’s a good thing that the dogs were with them because stumbling on a family of bears could be a dangerous situation. You’re not sure that your knife hidden in your walking stick would be enough to prevail.

“It is, but we stay very, very far away from them, right Little Nat?”

Your daughter is already nodding as she runs ahead toward her very good dogs with a wide smile. She scratches both of them and kisses their slightly sweaty heads as she praises them for their smarts.

“Yes! You two knew that too, huh? Such smart boys!”

You can’t help but smile proudly and Wanda links her arm with yours as you both watch your children walk ahead of you. Your mind wanders to the other fur child at home and you scoff before muttering under your breath.

“Fletcher would have led us right to them, I’m sure.”

You laugh when your wife turns to shoot you an offended look, but she really can’t argue with you. In her old age, Fletcher has gotten even less tolerable of disturbances in her daily routine. She napped, groomed herself, ate, and chased the balls of dog fur that she found on the floor. She had a pretty good system and the idea of her going outside at all made you laugh. You’re sure that she was too lazy to go far at all. One time Nat was young and accidentally left the door opened, and Fletcher had escaped and immediately run up a tree. You found out later when feathers floated down to the ground, that she’d just gone up there to catch a poor bird.

“Oh hush.”

You and your family arrive home without further incident and you quickly lie down on the couch in the living room with a dramatic sigh. You are going to stay here for a little bit and you ignore the hustle and bustle around you of the dogs getting resituated after a quick drink and a treat from Natalya. You feel someone jump on your stomach and you know without looking that it’s Fletcher saying hello. She digs her claws in you right as you open your eyes and you glare at her before promptly lifting her off of you.

“Ow! Fletcher you little –grrr.”

You shake Fletcher in the air for a bit until she starts to try and get away. You wonder if she’d still land on her feet if you threw her, not that you ever would, but that thought is quickly cut short by her being snatched from you.

“Y/n, don’t be mean to her! Poor baby.”

You aren’t surprised in the least to see your wife standing over you cuddling her cat in her arms. Fletcher’s such a ham and she stretches out all of her legs before rubbing her face on Wanda’s chin. You roll your eyes before sitting up and looking around to see where your daughter is. She’s unsurprisingly in the kitchen getting a snack so you speak in a hushed whisper that only Wanda and her cat can hear.

“She’s full of it. She clawed me that little shit.”

Wanda shoots you a look that you just wave off before you lie back down and reach for the remote. You let your wife fuss over her cat while you find something to watch on TV. You’re not really in the mood for anything dramatic, you just want white noise as you rest for a bit. You yawn as you drop the remote back on the table and get curled up on the couch with a groan.

“Tired?”

You shake your head despite snuggling further into the couch and hugging a pillow with your eyes closed.

“No, I’m good. I’m good. I was just going to stretch out here for a bit.”

Wanda just nods thoughtfully at you, not that you notice, before she sets Fletcher down and looks over to her daughter in the kitchen. It’s about lunch time and Nat’s gotten an early start, but Wanda’s not hungry yet and she’d like to lie down too. She eyes you where you’re sprawled out on the couch and instead of getting possibly elbowed or kicked off, Wanda decides not to surprise you.

“Can I join you?”

Your eyes open immediately and you’re smiling as you hold your arms out for her. Wanda grabs your hands before crawling on top of the couch carefully so she doesn’t squish you. Not that you seem to mind because you wrap your arms around her waist and pull her down so she falls on top of you. She yelps and you laugh as Natalya looks over her shoulder at you two and she just rolls her eyes before turning back to her food. You and Wanda finally get settled and neither of you bother with the TV as you lie on your back with your wife cuddled up beside you.

“Comfy?”

Natalya’s question is answered with a hum from you and a nod from Wanda who opens her eyes to confirm that her daughter is standing over her. She watches her put her food down on the coffee table before grabbing her phone, but she doesn’t realize she’s taking a picture until it’s too late to stop her.

“Natalya, don’t. No pictures.”

This makes you open your eyes and you see that Little Nat is indeed taking pictures of you, and you scowl before turning to hide your face in your pillow.

“Noo, Little Nat listen to your mom.”

“Aw come on! You look so cute! I won’t send it to Uncle Pietro.”

Wanda shoots her daughter a look that makes her laugh but she still nods in confirmation because she doesn’t want to get in trouble. She wouldn’t do something that dumb.

“Don’t you dare.”

Natalya just grabs the remote and sits at the end of the couch so she can still be nearby her mothers but not in their way. She grabs her food and starts to look for something to watch. She’s pretty sure her moms are going to sleep soon, and she might as well after lunch, but for now she’d like some background noise. Maybe she’ll watch a Disney movie.

An hour later, her parents are asleep as she suspected, and she’s still snacking as she watches a Disney movie she’s seen 70 times at least. She is watching her favorite song scene when her phone vibrates on the coffee table. She hurries to grab it so it doesn’t wake up her parents, but they are too relaxed to notice or care. You don’t even stir because you’re the heavier sleeper, but even her redhead mom barely moves at the sound. She smiles at the sight of you cuddling before she glances to the last bit of the song playing on the screen before turning her attention to her phone.

Got us this today.

1 attachment

Nat almost forgot that her friends had gone to the mall today. She had considered going, but she enjoyed the time she’d spent with her parents and dogs today. She’d see her friends tomorrow and then they had a game after school. If they won, when they won, she’d get to have them over for pizza.

Nat looks at the picture of a t-shirt that she’s definitely seen before, but never got around to buying. It was a shirt that had the words ‘two moms are better than one’ on it. She and Taylor had mentioned getting these, but the other brunette had joked about wearing them to school together. Now they actually could. Natalya considers how this would go. She would definitely feel better to have Taylor do it too despite the fact that Stacy hadn’t really bothered her about having two moms. She was a little surprised, but she didn’t seem to care about that detail. She mostly harassed her for being a loner.

Natalya feels the urge to open up to her friend. The transient feeling of courage at the idea of walking into school wearing the shirt makes her type out a text and send it without thinking.

T, I need you to teach me how to throw a punch.

To be honest her aunts had taught her when she was younger, maybe 8, but she hadn’t practiced at all and she’d since forgotten. She knows that her friend will have her back and if she really chooses to go after Stacy, or at least retaliate, she needs to be prepared. She sets her phone down and allows herself to panic for a few seconds about the commitment she’s made. She knows it the right one. Maybe not the violence part, but she has to stand up for herself, right?

Nat’s still freaking out a little when her phone vibrates a couple seconds later. She ignores her movie and texts her friends for a bit mostly to ask about how the rest of their time at the mall went. Taylor seemed to realize that beyond agreeing to do as Nat requested, any other conversation about it should be in person. She didn’t want to put her on the spot or make her change her mind because she wanted Nat to do this. After talking to her moms briefly, Taylor decided that she was going to do everything she could to get Stacy off Nat’s back. She’s glad that Nat seems to finally be on board with it. She’ll just have to see how things go.

Despite the fact that she loved games and would always look forward to them, Natalya couldn’t deny the nerves that always plagued her during her first at-bat or first time in the outfield. She had just finished warming up and the she glances to her friends as they take the field first since it’s a home game. She watches Taylor throw one more practice pitch before the game begins. Taylor gets the ball back from the shortstop before turning to the batter that now waits for her.

The stands were all full and most of them with their fans. Nat's family alone took a whole row, and she smiled at the sight of her moms talking to Taylor's and Alyssa's dad. Her aunts sat beside you and then her uncle Pietro is between Steve and Bucky. They all scattered their arrivals. Her parents arrived first together while Nat and Yelena carpooled with Steve and Bucky. Pietro was later than he'd said he'd be, but he was sliding into a seat beside you before the first pitch was thrown.

After a quick stop beside the bleachers to greet their families, Nat, Taylor, and Alyssa all had to get ready to start. Nat did her best to remind herself to focus today despite the excitement of the first game, and the promise of pizza afterwards. She assumed they'd win and maybe that's why her attention was so hard to win over today.

She doesn't truly realize that she's spaced out until she's hit in the face by a ball. She'd been waiting for Taylor to throw the first pitch, only to realize she had thrown two and this third one was now sailing toward her. Despite her distracted state she'd had her hands up already, so when she spots the ball out of the corner of her eye she can catch it. However it hits her cheek first before falling into her glove, and she curses in surprise as she looks down at the ball with a frown.

"Well that works."

Natalya mumbles under her breath before she throws the ball back to the player at second base who shoots her a concerned look that she's already waving off. She's fine. It just aches and burns. When Taylor gets the ball back, she calls a timeout much to Nat's embarrassment. When her friend waves her toward the infield she shakes her head, but Taylor doesn't accept this. She waves her over and mouths "come here" and Nat finally relents with a sigh. She studiously avoids looking toward the stands, but she already knows she has far too many eyes on her.

"What's up?"

Taylor shoots her a look before glancing at her reddened and patterned cheek. She frowns as she smacks Nat's shoulder with her glove, and shoots her a questioning look.

"Do you want to go ice that?"

As expected, Nat shakes her head and manages a smile that's not too mangled before shrugging. She'd rather not dwell on the fact that she got so distracted so quickly and get on with the game. Taylor gets this and resists looking to the stands as well as she nods and sends Nat back to her post.

"Alright, your funeral. If you can focus and get through the rest of the game without getting hurt, you can have some of my pizza."

Nat's face lights up and Taylor just laughs before turning back toward Alyssa who had to resist the urge to come over too. She knew Nat wouldn't want all of the attention, and she'd rather not have to stand up only to squat down again.

"Really?"

"Yes, get to it."

You cringe and you hear Wanda gasp as you both watch the ball head toward your daughter who you quickly realize wasn't paying attention. Instead of her just missing the ball and having to scoop it up off the ground, it meets her face with an audible smack.

"Oh shit."

You hear your brother-in-law mutter this under his breath and you just nod in agreement as Nat manages to hold onto the ball. Well that's something at least. You only have a moment to wonder if someone's going to address this before Taylor's calling a time out and waving Nat in from the outfield. Your stubborn daughter tries to resist, but Taylor is equally stubborn and you watch as Nat runs in to talk to the other brunette. They have a short conversation before Nat's smiling and heading back. You can see her face is red and looks a little splotchy, but you're mostly worried about her mouth. Specifically if she knocked any teeth loose.

"Of course, she's just going back."

You turn toward your exasperated wife with a small smile as you pat her hand with a sigh of your own. Wanda turns to you and you kiss her cheek before whispering something that makes her roll her eyes.

"So stubborn. She gets that from you, my love."

Instead of arguing uselessly, Wanda just squeezes your hand before leaning against you with a sigh. She's glad that you were able to get off of work early today. You hadn't been sure when your day started because a potential emergency had been called in and they couldn't be seen until the end of the day. You'd been willing to see them then or earlier, but they'd ended up making other arrangements leaving you free to leave right on time. You met Wanda at home and debated bringing your dogs but that was a lot of fur and higher maintenance than you wanted this to be. You figured your many family members and exuberant daughter would be enough to keep you busy.

"Are you thinking about your fur babies?"

You consider trying to lie, but as you watch your daughter's friend make a fairly difficult play look easy you just sigh. You're honestly a little worried about your boys. Rogue is having a lot of trouble walking on hardwood floors, and it takes him a little longer to get up in the mornings. Once he gets going he's better, but watching him slip and struggle to get his footing is hard. You feel bad for him, but he's still a happy, healthy dog otherwise so you just do what you can to help him. There are a lot of carpets and rugs around the house to help him out, but the moment he touches hardwood he slows down. You think about your other dog and how he's better at getting around since he's a little younger, but his hearing is spotty at times. You remember when he could hear you shift in bed upstairs, and he'd come up to try to wake you. Now you could sneak up on him and startle him despite calling out his name.

You forget about these concerns for now as you wait for the third out. Regardless Wanda knows where your mind went because you've already discussed your concerns with her. She knew how difficult it was for you to talk about your fur children aging, and bringing up the subject of them dying made you cry. Despite having Boone longer, you love both of them and hate to see them suffer. You'd already told Wanda that if Rogue gets worse or Boone starts to struggle similarly, you'll need to have this discussion again.

"You know me so well."

Wanda squeezes your hand, but any response she'd had is cut off by the crack of a bat against a ball, and you both look up at the sound. Wanda spots it first and once she realizes it's trajectory is past the infield you both sit up a little.

"Take 2."

You wait to see what happens, and you smile as Little Nat runs to get under it. You had never been particularly athletic when you were younger. You played softball at Nat's age too mostly for something to do, but otherwise neither you nor Wanda played any sports. When you realized that Nat had a talent for sports you didn't feel the need to make her play more than this one. She enjoyed being on a team and playing for the most part, but she never expressed interest in anything else.

Seeing her smile as she chases after the fly ball, you're grateful that she's found something that she enjoys. You're also grateful that when she catches it she doesn't fall on her face. Unfortunately this has happened before. When it's time to switch sides, you get a better look at Natalya's face to see how angry it is. You didn't even realize that Yelena had snuck off to the concession stand until she's placing a bag full of cold on your lap. You jump in surprise and turn to glare at your friend before you hear your wife's voice.

"Natalya!"

That tone coming from her mom makes her stop in her tracks and look around for the older Maximoff. She sees her mom holding something, and she hurries over to her with a smile.

"Food?!"

You and Little Nat's uncles laugh and Natasha rolls her eyes at the predictable question. Wanda just shakes her head before shaking the bag with a pointed look.

"No, ice."

Natalya frowns slightly but she takes it with a nod, and a thank you before darting away. You pat your friend on the back with a smile before sliding over to pull her up with a groan.

"Thanks, auntie Yelena.”

She nudges your shoulder, but when you nudge her back it starts to escalate to full-blown shoving. You grumble under your breath at the blonde who just responds in kind before you hear your wife speak up. She takes your arm to bring you back toward her side and away from Yelena before addressing you both. You’re the only one who looks chastised through, not that you’d expect any different.

“Kids, settle down. Natalya’s up soon.”

You nod obediently while Yelena just sighs dramatically before turning her attention to the field. Not so secretly, Yelena is super into these games and you’re often competing with her to see who can cheer loudest. When Yelena learned that Nat was going to be playing a sport she’d read up on it and bought everything she’d need to practice with her niece. You found it adorable but didn’t dare make fun of her out of fear that she’d stop. You loved seeing how much Nat loved spending time with her aunt, and you didn’t want to do anything to mess that up.

For this reason, you just smile widely as Yelena stands up in anticipation. Leading off is someone that she doesn’t recognize because she only really pays attention to Little Nat and her two friends. This girl is tall and she’s clearly first because she can get a hit and get on base. She sends the ball in between the left and centerfielders and the latter falls just short of catching it. It ends up being a double and Nat’s cheering along with her teammates as she steps up toward the plate. She smiles widely as she hears her family cheering behind her, and she resists the urge to turn around as she steps into the box and lays her bat across it.

“Let’s go, Natalya!!! Crush them!”

Yelena is practically shouting in your ear and you can’t shove her off of you because she has an arm wrapped around your neck. You’re about to ask her to let go because she’s leaning on you a lot, but as soon as Nat’s on base she turns to you with a sigh. She glances to the bleachers beside them that houses most of the away team’s family. She catches some of their gazes, but they turn away quickly so Yelena ignores them for now.

“So, I brought you something. A new strain to try.”

You turn to watch Yelena reach into her pocket and pull out a bag of marijuana. She pushes it into your hand and you mutter a curse under your breath. Despite being grateful, you quickly stuff it in your pocket so no one notices, but as usual your wife catches on quickly. You will have to remember that you have this on you so you don’t lose it because you’re very excited to try it. Your current prescription was okay, but you weren’t above trying new things. You wanted as much control over your symptoms as possible, and since Wanda was aware of this she didn’t give you too hard of a time. That said, your daughter’s game was not an ideal setting for a drug deal.

“Holy shit, Lena not right now. But thank you.”

“Really, Yelena?”

Yelena nods before watching the next person go to bat with a sigh. She reaches out blindly for Wanda who leans away from her with an unconvincing glare.

“It’ll help Y/n, don’t be mad.”

Wanda sighs in defeat before she focuses back on the game. Specifically, her daughter on first base. She’s bouncing impatiently ready to run, and Wanda wonders how the brunette has so much energy. She’s seen her run around the backyard chasing Yelena’s dog and Wanda’s convinced that she could go for hours before getting tired. She imagines that her daughter’s chasing one of her pets as she runs to second. Belatedly, Wanda realizes the ball was hit directly to her destination. Luckily the ball hits the base and bounces off toward the outfield, so Natalya gets there safely. She considers running to third but the outfielder snags it quickly leaving her stuck at second. When Taylor steps up to the plate, everyone but the pitcher and catcher take a step back. The brunette has a reputation of being a consistent hitter, and she often gets doubles, if not triples. She doesn’t disappoint and when the first pitch is a strike low on the outside, Taylor sends it to the fence.

Everyone's cheering and standing up as they watch the rest of the players on base run home. Natalya gets there in plenty of time and she gets out of the way but watches as Taylor rounds second and heads for third despite the outfielder having the ball.

“Run Taylor, run!”

She and everyone else watches as the ball’s thrown when Taylor’s only half way to third. She sees the other player ready for the catch, so she quickly gets down and tries to avoid the tag. She’s covered in dirt but her hand's on the bag before she feels someone smack her with their glove. Luckily the call is made quickly and she gets a time out so she can stand up and brush herself off. Her team and family are cheering for her, and she offers them a little smile and a nod of her helmeted head. Alyssa’s up next and she knows that the blonde will bring her home. She relaxes a little and waits for the wind up of the pitch to get ready to run. She’s a few feet off the bag when she sees Alyssa duck out of the way. Once she realizes the ball is behind the catcher she keeps running and hits home before the pitcher can run up to help with the tag.

“Nice!”

“Get us to 4 to 1? No pressure though.”

Alyssa shoots her a glare but Taylor just laughs before heading to the dugout. She’s covered in dirt and it’s only the first inning, but similar to how Nat’s always hurt, she always goes home covered in dirt stains. She shares some of them with Nat as she hugs the other brunette with a wide smile. She pulls away and is holding up some snacks that Taylor immediately grabs with a grateful look.

“Way to go! We’re one step closer to pizza!”

Taylor rolls her eyes but she can’t argue with what Nat’s saying. Instead she turns her attention to Alyssa who has only been thrown one strike out of 4 pitches. She briefly glances toward the bleachers with a frown. Despite being a lot better than this team, she hopes that the game has at least been entertaining.

Wanda is talking to her brother when you hear the first insult that the other team’s crowd throws. You hadn’t given the opposing team much thought, but hearing their variety of insults makes you wonder if it’s better not to. Your daughter and her friends run out of the dugout back onto the field when the woman speaks up. She’s dressed in a simple sundress, and she has heavy makeup on that’s noticeable even with her sunglasses. Her long red hair is clearly dyed  but you and Yelena are more concerned by her snide comment. You’re unaware that she’s loud enough to catch your brother-in-law’s attention until he responds almost immediately. Your brain is still trying to process what she said and how you could appropriately respond. Pietro beat you to it though.

“No wonder they’re doing so well. They’ve got a bunch of dykes on their team.”

Now your daughter has never explicitly told you anything related to her sexuality, and that’s fine with you and Wanda. You don’t care either way as long as she’s safe and kind to whoever she’s with, and they’re the same to her. The details are less important. You don't know how Taylor or Alyssa’s parents feel, but the looks on their faces is hint enough. They look as confused and pissed off as you feel.

“What did you just say?”

“Excuse me?”

You turn back to your wife when she speaks up. She looks furious and it only takes a few seconds for her to be standing up next to her brother who’s shooting the redhead a glare. She doesn’t seem fazed by it or the nearly half dozen set of eyes on her. She simply elaborates in a way that brings those she’s talking to into it, and specifically blames them.

“It makes sense after all. Dykes raise dykes.”

Pietro goes to get off the bleachers to most likely yell at this woman, but Wanda stills him with a hand on his chest and a stern look. She sizes up the other redhead with a scowl. She needs to be smart and not let her anger make her say something she’ll regret. She sees Taylor’s parents look equally mad but they seem to be waiting to see what she says. She’s not sure if she prefers this or not.

“Can you explain to me what you mean? I’m not sure I get how one relates to the other.”

You wince because you know where your wife is going with this. You aren’t sure if anyone else has caught on at this point, but you’re sure they’re suspicious since they know Wanda’s smart. Pietro is confused though while Nat and Yelena wait in silence to see how this plays out. Steve and Bucky were honestly the only ones paying attention to the game at this point.

When the woman speaks so matter of factly, Wanda has to resist the urge to smile at how well her trap worked. Wanda hates it when people are so blind and bigoted in general, but when that ignorance is directed toward anyone she loves she gets murderous.

“Simple. Growing up around those people makes them more susceptible to falling into similar unsavory ways.”

Nat has to grab her sister’s arm because she’s trying to jump off the bleachers to do who knows what. Steve’s picked up on the conversation at this point and he’s frowning as he turns away from watching Alyssa gets walked. You’re still tense with anticipation as Wanda moves from her seat and steps off the bleachers so she can speak without shouting.

“First of all, Natalya has grown up around many different people.”

She gestures to the annoyed people sitting behind her.

“Most of those people are her family, and yes one is my wife, but the idea of my daughter being influenced by anyone is laughable. She’s her own person, and no one is going to change that.”

She could say more but she holds back because cheering catches her attention. She turns toward the field to see that she’s missed Alyssa getting home, but another batter is tagged out in a double play leaving them with 2 outs. Wanda doesn’t hear a response or at least one worth taking note of, so she heads for the fence behind the batter’s box to watch for a while. She needs a moment to calm down, and she steals a glance at her daughter in the dugout. She’s a little surprised to see her already looking at her, and she offers a smile at her concerned look. She’s always so attuned to her parents feelings so she shakes her head so as not to worry her as she finishes up her game.

“Hey, that was badass.”

Wanda turns at the sound of her brother’s voice and at the same time she notices that you’re talking to Taylor’s parents with a small smile. She’s sure you’re making jokes or trying to make light of the situation, but she knows you’re not saying anything against what she’d done. You feel the exact same way about things as Wanda. You might be slightly more curious, but you would never ask outright. Wanda sighs before she shakes her head and looks back to the field.

“It’s just going to keep happening. Piet.”

Pietro frowns at the thought and the fact that he’s certain that his sister is correct. He’s honestly a little surprised that this is the first time that he knew of, or at least witnessed. Given how open Natalya was to her friends about everything, he doubted that his niece would hide the fact that she had two moms. In fact, he’s certain that she would defend them in any situation like this.

“I know, but all of us will do exactly what you just did. Natalya too. She would probably be less diplomatic about it though.”

Wanda laughs at this despite the fact that she doesn’t want her daughter cursing out anyone. She doesn’t need to get in trouble. She glances back toward the dugout to see that Natalya’s standing up and smiling as she cheers on her friends. She’s so proud of the younger Maximoff that she could cry just thinking about it too much. Her daughter’s become an intelligent, kind person who’s capable of taking care of herself. Wanda couldn’t be prouder.

“I know she will. I just hate that she has to deal with it.”

You shift so you’re turned toward Taylor's parents, and you prop your elbows on your knees with a sigh. You know that they’re still irritated at the redhead who’s looking at them as she whispers to the people beside her. You do your best to ignore it as you smile slightly.

“I’ve always disliked sore losers. Despite occasionally being one myself.”

Leah, Taylor’s brunette mom, laughs quietly as her wife relaxes slightly at your words. You know she’s the one who’s more prone to take offense at these types of things, and you don’t blame her. However, you don’t want the mood to be too ruined. It was the girls' first game of the season and they were winning so far and probably would in the end. You want to enjoy that. You want all of the parents present to enjoy that.

“I’m sure you’re much more gracious when you lose.”

You can’t help but laugh at this as you turn your attention to the blonde. She’s squeezing her wife’s hand in a way that reminds you to check on Wanda briefly before offering the couple a response. Wanda’s talking to her brother in hushed tones, and you can tell that they’re not speaking English based on how their lips are moving. You decide that Pietro has her covered for now and you focus on everyone else.

“I’m afraid Wanda would tell you differently if you asked.”

It’s not until the last inning where Nat’s team is up by 8 that you hear another insult worth noting. Taylor’s pitching and she just needs to hold them for another out before they win. She’s thrown two balls so far and she’s a little stressed because she can feel herself fading. She’d had a slightly violent tag at home, and despite getting the out the runner had slammed into her side in a spiteful yet somehow not ejection worthy play. Taylor had ended up on the ground and now being a little sore had become a lot sore as she continued to pitch. She threw another ball and she had to stop herself from cursing audibly as it hit the dirt.

“Shit!”

Taylor turns her back to the batter and tries to take a deep breath. She’s getting frustrated and whenever that happens she gets even worse at pitching. She looks out toward the outfield where she sees Nat looking at her with a small frown. When she sees she has the other brunette’s attention she gives her a wide smile and a thumbs up.

“Quit flirting and get on with it!”

Taylor tenses in surprise and anger at the words and she’s spinning around before she can stop herself. She looks to the stands opposite of her parents to try and figure out who spoke but she can’t figure out who it is. She decides to just throw the last pitch and get someone on first. She’s confident that if she tries to steal second Alyssa can catch her.

Wanda stiffens at the familiar voice and Taylor’s parents turn to glare at the redhead who they’d hoped had shut up. She ignores their looks and watches with another smile as Taylor throws the fourth pitch that’s a ball with a grimace. She curses again as she watches the girl walk to first and she turns back to Alyssa to catch the throw. The blonde hesitates as she shoots her friend a worried look that she just shakes her head at. She squeezes the ball tightly in her hand as she looks to her coach for guidance. She’s told to just do whatever which she loves and hates at the moment.

She tunes out the cheering from her friends on the field and her parents as she twists the ball in her hand. She can do this. One more out and she’s done. Then she gets pizza. This thought makes her smile slightly and she takes a deep breath as she winds up and throws a pitch right over the plate.

“Strike one!”

Taylor’s smile widens as she sees Alyssa smile before she turns to make sure the runner on base isn’t trying to steal. She watches her out of the corner of her eye as she catches the ball with a sigh. She glances at her coach and gets the same signal before winding up again. She feels her side spasm right before she releases the ball and she grimaces as she nearly doubles over.

She doesn’t throw a strike but the batter was anxious and she swings and makes contact sending the ball between first and second. She should have tried to get it but she can still feel her side throbbing so she just stands in the circle following the ball with her eyes. She watches it reach the outfield and she sighs in defeat when the first runner rounds second.

“Go three!”

Taylor breathes a sigh of relief as the ball is thrown to second and then third just in time for the lead runner to be tagged out. Once the game is called, she doubles over and rests her hands on her knees with a loud groan. She’s definitely getting a lot of pizza for this.

“How are you feeling, honey?”

Taylor offers a pained smile as she finishes chewing her victory pizza with her friends and all of their parents. They’d decided to go to the closest place and gotten the largest table to fit all 14 of them before ordering 5 pizzas. They were all glad the game was over for different reasons, but Taylor was probably the most relieved. Immediately after she’d come to the dugout her coach had been waiting with a bag of ice and Alyssa had promised to have her mom take a look at her side. She’d met them at the pizza place after her shift ended and she’d looked at Natalya and Taylor before they all sat down to eat. Other than being sore, she figured that the duo would be alright. They were young and resilient and she had no doubt that they would bounce back quickly.

“Tired, but good. I’m glad it’s over!”

Nat and Alyssa nod in agreement as they continue to eat their own pizza. Nat was sitting between her parents and Alyssa was next to her mom and Taylor who was leaning on her a little bit.

“Same! I was getting tired and angry.”

You’re surprised by this and you turn to your daughter to ask why she felt this way, but Alyssa beats you to it. You hadn’t realized that Nat could hear all of the insults that had been thrown out by the very sore losers.

“Me too. I forgot how annoying hecklers could be. And uncreative.”

Everyone nods in agreement as their minds go to one incident or another before Wanda decides to change the subject. She doesn’t want to dwell on the annoying woman who she hopefully wouldn’t see again. She takes out her phone and opens her dog cam app before handing it to her daughter. She knows that Nat loves to see what the dogs are up to and since she’d been about to check anyway she figures she’ll let Nat do it.

“Natalya, do you want to check on them?”

Nat immediately knows what her moms talking about, and so do her friends but most everyone else is confused. You understand of course and you smile before watching the brunette excitedly grab Wanda’s phone and quickly look to the screen.

“Yes! How are you doggos?”

Pietro just laughs before he smirks at his sister who’s about to take another bite of her pizza. Conversation continues as he eyes his niece curiously before speaking up.

“Are you sure you should give her free reign of your phone? Don’t you have nudes on there?”

Both you and Wanda shoot the older Maximoff an annoyed glare and Wanda considers slapping him. Instead, she’s surprised to hear her daughter speak up in only slightly choppy Sokovian.

“Ew, that’s gross Uncle Piet. I didn’t need to hear that.”

Wanda shoots her brother a smug look when he struggles to find a response for a few seconds. Although they’re not sure what is being said, Taylor speaks up with a curious look. She mutters mostly under her breath but everyone hears her.

“Do we even want to know?”

Taylor's well aware that despite loving him, Nat’s uncle can be trouble.  He mostly liked to bicker with his sister, but he also made sure to be a good and embarrassing uncle when at all possible. Natalya shakes her head as she continues to look through the many cameras in their house for her dogs. Fletcher was unsurprisingly just lounging on the couch.

“Definitely not. He’s being gross.”

You’re still smiling as your mind wanders to what could be on your wife’s phone. You don’t get very far because Wanda’s hand falls to your leg and she squeezes it as she mutters something that you only nod at.

“Get your mind out of the gutter.”

No promises. You smile and Wanda rolls her eyes while Nat shakes her head with a sigh. She’s spotted Boone who’s walking out of her parents’ room, and then Rogue who’s waiting on his bed downstairs for you all to come home. She shows the phone to her friends, and despite being less interested than her they still smile at the sight of Nat’s pets.

“Now mom’s being gross, but look at the good boys!”

Dinner ends and the trip home seems quick and Nat nearly falls asleep twice in the car. Once they arrive, she nearly runs out of the car to greet her dogs. You go to the backseat to grab her forgotten bag before reaching out for your wife’s arm with a smile.

“How is she still running around?”

Wanda just shakes her head as she follows you inside to find Nat greeting your dogs excitedly. After a round of scratches, both shepherds run toward you in greeting and you smile as you hold out your hand to them. Boone gets there faster as expected, but Rogue still makes good time as he runs into Wanda’s legs. Your wife laughs as she releases your arm and scratches her dog behind his ears.

“Hi good boy. We missed you.”

Both dogs bark in agreement and you decide then and there to take them to the next game. Maybe they’d scare away any hecklers. The dogs follow you around as you complete your nightly routines. Nat sits at her spot in the dining room with her book spread out over the table as she starts on her homework with a yawn. She’s always especially tired after a game, and she struggles to finish up as a couple hours go by and she's constantly yawning or distracted by Boone at her feet or Fletcher jumping on the table.

“How’s it going, Little Nat?”

You’d just finished up answering some emails for work, and after finally remembering to put up your pot, you decide to check on your daughter. Wanda’s cleaning up a mess Fletcher made, but you’re sure she’ll come downstairs soon to start busying herself in the kitchen. She usually makes Natalya’s lunch the night before and if she’s finished with homework, she’d help out. Since she’s finishing up work, Wanda might get started without her but cooking with her mom is one of her favorite activities. She loves spending time with her parents in any capacity, but if it involves food, dogs or movies she’s usually the most excited.

Nat looks up with a sigh before shaking her head and telling her mom the truth. She’s distracted as usual, but for the first time in a while it’s by something specific. She wonders if she should even bring it up given how quickly her other mom had changed the subject at dinner. Maybe she just hadn’t wanted to talk about it in front of other people. Or maybe she didn’t want to talk about it at all. That’s why she’s bringing it up to her vet mom first.

“Slow. I keep thinking about that mom at the game today.”

You had not been expecting this and you’re sure it shows as you frown and sit down across from your daughter with a curious look. You would like to see where Nat’s going with this.

“What about her?”

You’re not dense. You’re sure that your daughter’s thinking about her homophobic comments that she’d shared as the game went on. That said, you can’t say for certain what it is that’s specifically bothering her. Nat’s surprised you plenty of times in the past, and she really was a great reminder that assuming things was just a way to make a fool of yourself. You watch as scowls at the thought of what she’d heard and then been told by her friends earlier today.

She had faced very little backlash over having two moms. Maybe because she kept to herself mostly and no one paid that much attention to her. Or maybe she’d hoped that even young teens wouldn’t be so petty and close minded. The truth that she still didn’t know was that Taylor had played a large part in why no one bothered her. People made the mistake of coming after her first and unsurprisingly she fought back and warded them off from doing the same to her friend.

Nat finally looks over your shoulder as if checking to see of you’re alone before she finally admits what’s on her mind.

“I was just afraid that everyone would be like her, but I guess I wouldn’t know. I don’t remember people bothering you and mama when I was younger.”

You try not to react too much at what Nat says because this is a sensitive subject that you don’t want to mess up. You remember when Natalya was first born and Wanda was still very well-known despite being retired. No one dared to come after them or even look at them wrong after that first year with Nat. Whether this was Strucker’s doing or simply another example of your wife’s far-reaching influence you could only say that you were grateful. 

Occasionally when Nat was 2 or 3, and you and Wanda would venture out together, you’d get stared at some, but that only lasted so long. Steve and Bucky hung out around you three at first because Wanda didn’t want to risk anything happening, but fairly quickly she realized that no one seemed to care about her anymore. It was a strange feeling because Wanda had spent so much time being at the forefront of her business, and as a very public figure she always turned heads and warranted people’s attention and respect.

One day after work, you’d come home to find her in the bedroom with a napping Natalya. You’d been concerned when you realized she was crying, and you’d immediately dropped down beside her and tried to figure out what was wrong. You’d been a little thrown off when she’d told you that she felt invisible. You automatically wracked your brain for what you could have done to cause her to feel this way. When you’d asked, she’d simply shook her head and told you what she meant.

No one pays attention to me anymore when I go out. It’s like they’ve forgotten who I was.

The smile after Wanda had said this clued you in to the fact that your wife was actually happy instead of upset. She’d never thought that she’d be able to walk through life without being noticed, without being a target, but she was and she was thrilled.

Your mind wanders back to the present moment and you shake your head as you shoot your daughter a smile.

“We didn’t really have this problem when we first met. This is the first time in a while for sure. I can assure you that even though there will be more people like her, she’s not the majority, Natalya.”

Nat nods absentmindedly. She believes you but she also wonders how you dealt with something like this. She needs a little advice now that she’s committed to try to get Stacy to leave her the hell alone. She wants to know how her mom would handle this. That said, she didn’t ask this immediately because she’s side tracked by the idea of her parents first meeting. She smiles slightly before tilting her head in a way that reminds you of your wife.

“How did you and Mama first meet?”

You chuckle under your breath as you shoot Natalya a curious look. You reach out your free hand to pet Boone who’s come to sit beside you before tilting your head in response. You don’t notice that Wanda’s finished up cleaning and she’s on her way downstairs when you respond.

“You’ve heard this story many times, Nat.”

The brunette nods in agreement because she certainly has, but she never gets tired of hearing it. She can’t help but adore how her parents just happened to be in the same place at the same time. She also loved how the story changed a little bit each time, and depending on who told it.

“I know, but I wanted to hear it again.”

Wanda sneaks downstairs as you tell Nat about how you two met decades ago. Both of you still thank whatever higher power brought you two together. Wanda occasionally wonders what would have happened if she had given up trying to find you. Would she be married? Or more likely would she be working still? She’s honestly not sure that she’d still be alive, but she pushes this thought aside as she quietly comes up behind you while you’re speaking.

“I still think that she skulked around until she saw me again.”

Despite the truth of your words, Wanda still rolls her eyes in exasperation as she sets her hands on your shoulders with a sigh. She’s smiling when you turn around to face her, and a hand covers hers before you pull her down to sit beside you.

“I did not. I just happened to be in the area.”

You scoff at the ridiculousness of this statement. Something that Natalya may never truly understand. You shake your head before squeezing your wife’s hand with a knowing look.

“Sure, Wands.”

Nat just smiles at her parents’ interaction before she debates telling them what she’d really like to know. She’s felt like she had it handled, but since getting burnt she realizes that maybe she’s just become complacent. She glances down to her hand that was mostly healed at this point with a frown. It only bothered her because it was itchy but she knew better than to scratch at the newly forming skin. Nat mutters something under her breath that her parents don’t hear, and she’s not brave enough to say it again.

“I want to be happy like you two.”

Wanda looks up at the sound, but she can’t make out what her daughter said. You’d been lost in the memory of meeting a beautiful, mysterious brunette, so you’d missed it completely.

“What was that?”

Nat quickly shakes her head before she wipes the tears she didn’t realize were welling up in her eyes. She’s happy for her parents. She feels so grateful to have two moms who love each other and her so much. Even when they’re scarring her when she walks in on them making out or she overhears them talking about nudes. She sighs as her mom walks around the table to pull her into a hug. She sinks into the redhead’s side before hugging her tightly.

“I’m glad you two found each other.”

Masterlist

[hannahbarberra162]

Struck Twice By Lightning, Chapter 8

18+ MDNI

on Ao3

TW - past experience of near drowning described briefly, fighting and violence described.

And the second half is smut. 

Conqueror's haki makes you horny, I don't make the rules.

Once, when you were a child, you nearly drowned. You were collecting red footed limpets to eat for that night’s dinner. They were dangerous to collect because you had to wait until the ocean was calm for a moment then scramble into the jagged rocks and pry the limpets off. You were the best at it among the village children, and you got cocky. You turned your back to the ocean for a single moment to get a large limpet. A swell you didn’t see coming smashed your body - head first - into the rocks. The current was strong, and you almost washed out to sea. Your ribs were cracked when you were resuscitated by your Uncle. You had to heal for months from your traumatic brain injury, the cracked ribs, and your new anxiety around the ocean. It was the most painful experience of your life. 

Until this morning. 

You felt the sun shining into your brain, and your eyes were still shut. You felt like you’d been stomped, grilled on a barbeque, and put into a blender. This was the mother of all hangovers. No, this was the Emperor of all Hangovers, the King of the Hangovers, Blackout D. Runk coming to get you on his crew. You couldn’t even groan, you just rolled over onto your side. That was a bad idea - it had your stomach roiling. You cracked open one eye and saw a glass of water on the nightstand. You reached for the healing elixir and drank it slowly. That seemed like enough movement for now. You decided that as you were not actually a crew member, you didn’t need to work or move or think or breathe today and you were going to stay in bed until your hangover went away or you died from this headache. Whichever came first. You decided to go back to sleep. Partying hard in your thirties sure wasn’t like partying hard in your twenties. 

Waking up later, it was the early afternoon. You felt marginally better, but still like complete and total shit. You sat up and saw another glass of water waiting for you, along with some pills. They were probably left by your guardian angel (Hongo) so you took whatever they were and drank the water. You looked down and saw you were still in your clothes from last night. You felt like there was a film of filth covering you, but you were appreciative that Shanks didn’t undress you. You slowly stood up and peeled off your sweaty, rank, stained clothes and kicked them into the corner with Shanks’s other sweaty, rank, and stained clothes. You dressed and went out to the deck.

Even though it was the afternoon, you were desperate for some coffee. You made your way to the stairs, amid cheers and smacks on the back from your friends. You weren’t embarrassed, but hoped you didn’t earn yourself a new nickname from your escapade. You were waiting by the stove for water to boil for your coffee, contemplating the virtue of abstinence from alcohol.

“G’morning Hooch-y mama,” said a satisfied voice. He was lucky you didn’t have Conqueror’s haki, because you would have struck that asshole where he stood. Twice.

You grunted, not giving Shanks the attention he wanted. 

“I just want you to know that I didn’t make that one up, you did. That’s what you told us to call you last night.” Fuck. Guess the no nickname thing was out the door. 

“How’re you feeling?”

“Great, never felt better.”

“You know babe, that’s the exact same thing you said last night before I had to carry you home.” 

Your face heated up. You kind of remembered the end of the night, but not that much. You were always a drunk talker, so you hoped you hadn’t said anything too emotional to Shanks. You turned to face him and asked with genuine emotion “did I say anything to you last night?”

Shanks dropped his smug attitude for a moment and said “no, nothing really. Just crowed about your victory.” You felt better and gave him a small smile.

“Thanks for letting me sleep in the bed with my clothes on.”

“You tried to take them off, but I wouldn’t let you besmirch my virgin eyes.”

You snorted and poured your now boiling water into your mug of instant coffee. You knew Shanks was deflecting with humor, but it was better than having awkward conversations. You grabbed a roll off the counter and started to walk away. You patted his forearm, and repeated “thanks,” as you made your way back up to the deck. 

~~~~

Days passed quickly while the ship sailed on the open ocean. You and Shanks had started spending more time together, mostly due to him hanging around while you worked. Even with so many years missed between you, in some ways it was like you hadn’t left at all. It was so easy to talk to him, to laugh with him (and at him), to share the joy of sailing and adventure together. 

You didn’t realize how much you had missed him until you were around him again. It was like everything was funnier, brighter, and more exciting when he was around. You and Shanks shared stories of what happened when you were apart, enjoyed verbally sparring, and swapped information about mutual friends. You caught yourself watching him when he wasn’t with you. 

Every night, laying in bed, you would admonish yourself. You needed to protect yourself against heartbreak, you couldn’t be so genial with Shanks. Sometimes you thought he’d changed, but your doubts were too strong. He was charming, handsome, intelligent, and charismatic, but you needed to stand firm in your quest to keep him out of your heart. Yet every morning he would say something that would irk you and you’d start up with him all over, leading to another day spent in his company. It didn’t seem to matter to him what kind of attention he got from you - only that he had it. You knew his game, but couldn’t stop yourself from playing it. 

~~~~~

One afternoon, you were in a store room of the ship, working on your sake. It was going well, and you were pouring the mixture into a shikomi you’d bought. Shanks snuck up behind you, and you almost dropped the whole thing when he startled you.

“What the hell, Shanks?! You almost cost me 6 days of work!”

“Sorry,” he said remorsefully. Of course when it had to do with alcohol, he showed genuine regret, you thought to yourself. 

“What’s up?” you said as you concentrated on pouring the liquidy pulp into the secondary container. 

“Are you really going to leave at the end of the month?” You jerked in surprise. Whatever you’d been expecting Shanks to talk to you about, it certainly wasn’t that.

“Uh, yeah, that’s the plan, Cap.”

“Why?”

“I have a life? I have things I need to do? That was the deal?” You huffed, as you set the container down. 

“Why don’t you stay here with me, with us? I know you’re having fun.”

“I am having fun, but life isn’t only about fun and pleasure.” Shanks crowded you after your response, putting his face close to your own as he backed you against a stack of crates.

“It can be, you know. Pleasurable.” You gulped. He was so close, you were practically kissing. His eyes flicked to your lips, and he licked his own. You heard yourself breathing hard. He put his mouth near the shell of your ear.

“Just promise you’ll think about it,” he whispered, and left. What the hell was that? And why was it working? 

~~~~~

A few hours later and it was evening. You were on the deck, enjoying the breeze and watching the sun start to set. You were thinking over your conversation with Shanks earlier in the day sipping a cup of tea. All of a sudden, Shanks stalked up to you and said,

“To the cabin. Guns are where you left them.”

You didn’t argue and immediately left for the cabin. That tone of voice meant only one thing - there was going to be a fight. You couldn’t see any ships on the horizon, but that didn’t matter. When Shanks was like this, you always listened. You went into the cabin, locked the doors and windows and went for the guns you’d left there a decade before. Someone had obviously taken care of them, they were loaded and ready for use. You sat in the most protected corner of the room, facing the door with a loaded gun. 

Logically, you knew Shanks was incredibly strong. It was easy to forget how powerful he was due to his easygoing and silly nature, but he had been unstoppable when you’d left. You couldn’t imagine what he was like now. You hadn’t done this for a while, but you’d never forgotten the feeling of impotent waiting. This was the one area that always made you feel insecure and weak when you were onboard. You felt like a huge liability for the crew. You could shoot, but nothing like Yasopp or Benn. You were essentially trapped in the cabin, and you had to wait it out. You always worried for Shanks and the crew, hoping none of them were injured or worse, killed. It was stressful and made you anxious, but you didn’t share those feelings. After all, you weren’t even fighting.

You waited and strained to hear noise indicating that fighting had started. It was hard to judge time in the cabin, it felt like each minute dragged on for hours. You did hear the boom of  cannons firing, but nothing hit the ship. The crew was generating a lot of noise fighting whoever it was, but you suddenly felt the force of Shanks’s Conqueror’s haki being released. There was no way to describe the feeling - it felt like you were watching an earthquake swallow a city whole. It was like the snap of a snake’s mouth around its victim, sudden and crushing with no way to escape. You heard the sound of wood ripping in half, like a giant snapped it in two. 

After Shanks’s attack, things wrapped up quickly. You heard the crew decimating the remains of their opponents, and the cries of dying men. This was the part you hated hearing the most. You closed your ears and huddled close to the wall, trying to drown out the sound. You knew what being on a pirate ship entailed but it didn’t mean you had to like it. Eventually, the sounds stopped and you sat up, pointing your gun once more to the door. 

There was a knock, and Shanks said “you can come out.” You got up, and unlocked the door, still holding the gun. Shanks was standing before you, still in a battle state of mind. You put down the gun and swallowed dryly. He was intense and fierce, powerful and severe, a true Emperor. He was brimming with energy needing an outlet.

You knew something about Shanks that not many did. After battle, if Shanks didn’t exhaust enough of his haki, he would be wound too tight. Shanks would want one of three things - to fuck, to drink, or to fight, and in that order. You looked up at him and made a decision. It wasn’t a great decision, but it was the one you wanted to make at the moment. 

You’d had all kinds of sex with Shanks - thousands of times. But post-battle sex was in a category all of its own. Filled with leftover haki, he was dominating and demanding, wanting complete control. The more times you came, the more he relaxed. By the end you would be having romantic, sweet, and tender sex with a sore pussy. Or, you had in the past. This time it would just be casual - no emotional connection, you thought to yourself. You could handle it, you were an adult who could separate physical from romantic feelings. 

You grabbed his face and pulled him down to kiss him on the mouth. He groaned and licked your lips, seeking entrance. You granted it, and he crushed his lips to yours, swirling his tongue around yours. The force and intensity of the kissing had you pressed against a cabin wall. He put his arm over your head, then stopped to look at you. 

“Are you sure?” he asked, tilting your head up. 

“I’m sure.”

“Beg.”

You’d forgotten that part of your deal. You had wanted him so badly for so long. You swallowed your pride. 

“Please, Shanks.”

Shanks didn’t need to hear anything else. He picked you up and you wound your legs around his waist. He tossed you on the bed and followed down right after you. He was on top of you, with your legs on either sides of his hips. He sat up and started working on your shirt, impatient to have it off. You hadn’t had sex with him since he lost his arm, but it didn’t seem to be slowing him down. He tugged your shirt open and glanced down. 

“No bra?” he growled. 

You shook your head, your words lost in your throat. You had forgotten how exacting he was when like this. Shanks dipped his head down and sucked one of your nipples harshly into your mouth. His hand was making quick work of your pants, tugging them down. You lifted your ass to wiggle them all the way down, and kicked them off the bed. He grabbed your ass in his hand and squeezed.

“Missed it,” he muttered. He kept kneading your ass while kissing you breathless. It felt like he was all over you - kissing your mouth, sucking your neck, grinding against your clothes pussy, biting your nipples, kneading your ass. You were already incredibly turned on and could feel your juices wetting the crotch of your tiny panties. 

You reached for your panties and quickly removed them. In that time, Shanks had removed his clothes as well. Shanks was undoubtedly the largest man you’d ever been with. Normally, he’d sink to his knees and tease you for hours, but now wasn’t the time. He lined himself up and sheathed himself in one brutal thrust. You moaned at the pressure as you stretched around him, and Shanks stopped to let you adjust. The pleasant burn didn’t last long, as Shanks began to move and it shifted into pure pleasure. You dug your nails into his shoulders as he pulled his hips down at a wicked pace. Your first orgasm caught you by surprise, ripping your breath away as you came around him. Shanks didn’t even pause, but kept his unsparing pace while you rode your high. 

After you came, he grabbed your ankle and put it on his shoulder. You wrapped your other leg around him, feeling him go deeper. You were highly sensitive from your orgasm, so you closed your eyes. Shanks reached down and pinched your clit, causing you to yelp. He wanted your eyes open, watching him fuck you. His non-verbal apology was gentle circles being rubbed on your clit to soothe the brief pain. You hiked your other leg up, and he leaned forward, pushing your thighs to your chest. With the new position, you felt him hitting your g-spot, causing you to cry out. He kept hitting that spot deep within you, and soon his name was spilling from your lips. You were being loud, but you couldn’t care right now. You were so close to splintering into a thousand pieces, but he suddenly stopped.

“Not yet.”

Shanks pulled out and flipped you on top of him. He was half laying, half sitting, with you on top of his lap. 

“Ride me.” You were helpless to stop yourself from obeying. You knew that if you asked, Shanks would stop. But you didn’t want to stop. You got up on your knees and slowly slid yourself down his thick cock, inch by inch. Shanks wasn’t in the mood for teasing and bucked up into you, giving you his full length. Even when you were on top, he was in control. He pressed up into you as you rode him in small circles. He used his hand to cup your breast, rubbing your sensitive nipples, watching you go up and down on his cock. You used what he gave you to chase your relief, and as you got close you could feel his own pattern start to change. He wanted to come, but wanted you to come first. You obliged the captain, and came apart above him, keening from the sensations. He groaned as you clenched around him and let you ride the waves of pleasure out.

You knew that to help soothe his restless energy he would want you in a submissive pose. Without being asked, you got off of him and got on all fours. You put your chest on the bed and turned your head to the side, waiting for him to enter from behind. You didn’t have to wait for long. Shanks took a lick of your slit with a broad stroke of his tongue as an acknowledgement of your good behavior, making you shiver. Shanks was normally a giving lover, but that would come later. 

He entered you in one smooth stroke, and started pumping hard. He gripped your hip in his hand, pulling you back into him. You might be bruised tomorrow, but the feeling was worth it. He was going at a fast tempo, pushing you to your limit. He was brushing your cervix with every drive forward, making your vision go hazy at the edges. His strokes turned erratic and you knew he was close. He came with a husky groan, filling you with his seed. He gave a few more shallow thrusts, then pulled away from you. He stood up, and offered you his hand. You looked at him quizzically.

“Again.” He was already hard again with your combined juices dripping down his shaft. He was only speaking in monosyllabic words, so you knew he was still in the aftermath of using his haki. Well…since you’d already committed the sin, you might as well continue. You stuck your tongue out and licked the head of his cock gently instead of answering verbally. He hissed when you flattened your tongue and ran it up and down his length, cleaning his cock with your tongue. “Naughty,” he said, but put his hand on the back of your head. He had a small smile, so you knew he’d calmed down a little. It was going to be a fun night -  if you made it through in one piece.

[call-sign-jinx]

Endless Love (Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw) - Chapter 5

summary - Y/N Y/L/N and Bradley Bradshaw have had a rivalry ever since they both attended the same academy. Every chance they took, they always tried to one up each other. One day, Bradley takes the rivalry too far and Y/N ends up in the hospital with serious injuries. Will it make Y/N want to get him back twice as worse? Or will it make her realise that this rivalry between them is childish?

warnings - swearing, enemies to lovers, mention of serious injury, traumatic episodes, reader traumatised from what happened, smut, slowburn, seizures, flashbacks

a/n - hi girlies! sorry that i haven't been posting a lot i got writers block 💀💀💀 anyways, enjoy!! xx

I've finally come back to Top Gun, Mav caught me up luckily. Somehow he pulled some strings with Cyclone to let me stay here. I'm glad me and Mav sorted everything out. I still haven't spoken to my mum yet... It's been 3 weeks since she visited me at the hospital.

It's been kinda quiet since me and Bradshaw decided to stop the whole "rivalry" thing. Minus for the arguments between Bradshaw and Bagman. It's been nice in all honesty. Except for when Bradshaw tried to throw a right hook at Bagman. Fanboy stopped him before he could make contact. It didn't end too badly. They just death stared each other then walked separate ways.

Bradshaw was late to the briefing this morning so the only chair left was next to me. Great, although we're civil, I hate having to deal with his fucking manspreading. It's so annoying.

Bradshaw walked up to the table I was at and sat down. I was shocked to feel that his leg wasn't rammed against mine. I looked down and saw that he had stretched his legs out and crossed his ankles. I quickly give him a look then begin to focus on the briefing.

"Shocked to see how little of an annoyance I can be when we're not arguing?" I rolled my eyes with a smirk as I tried to focus on the briefing. "Everyone's going to the Hard Deck tonight, you wanna join?" I turned to look at Bradshaw, my eyes narrowing, smirk still apparent on my face.

"Bradley Bradshaw, is inviting little old me to drink with you and the others?" I place my hand on my chest. Bradshaw is the one to roll his eyes now. "I'd love to. As long as you don't sing Great Balls of Fire."

"Now that is pushing it sweetheart. there must be a compromise we can come to." he has desperation in his voice, with a little bit of humour.

"You can sing it once then. No girl on your lap or at your side cause that is just fucking tacky." I chuckle as I try to multi-task and listen to what Mav is saying. I'm partly failing.

"Is that your way of saying you're jealous? I'm flattered sweetheart, but British isn't my type. Neither is hot-headed." His tone was all but flirtatious. Maybe I should've just continued to argue with him, because the flirty tone he's using is grating. Like, it sounds nice but really weird at the same time because he's never used that tone with me.

"Absolutely not, never. Just because we're civil now does not mean I'm going to have feelings for you. And girls sitting on your lap or basically grinding against you while you sing Great Balls of Fire is the cringiest and most disturbing thing to even look at for a second. So no, I am not jealous. And FYI I don't go for your type either." I cross my arms as I finish the conversation and bring all my focus back onto Mav, who keeps sending me knowing glances which I send away with eye rolls.

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

Today was stressful. Very stressful. Stressful enough to need a straight double whiskey when I get to the Hard Deck. You wanna know why today was stressful?

Firstly, I was paired with Hangman. Which is annoying as it is but he thought he led the whole thing when it was a team building exercise. And he kept ordering me which got us "killed" by Mav.

Second, my flight suit had a stain on it so I had to try and get it washed after the training exercise. It didn't come out, so I'm going to order a new one.

Third, Bradshaw could not stop with the flirty comments. It was so aggravating. I wish we were still arguing cause he was actually less annoying than this.

And lastly, Mav kept pulling me to the side and asking if me and Bradshaw were a thing. Oh my days! Absolutely not! Never in a million fucking years would I date Bradshaw of all people! I'd date Hangman before Bradshaw. Actually no. I would not. I have too much self respect.

When I got home, I took a hot shower. It was fucking amazing after the day I've had. After I got out of the shower, I dried my hair, did my skincare routine, put some makeup on, and now it's time to decide what to wear. It was between a nice dress Phoenix told me to wear or my tight black shirt with some nice-fitting jeans. I asked Phoenix and she told me to wear the dress, obviously. But only if she wore one too. Not being the only one wearing a dress.

It was a short black dress with criss-crossing straps and a slit on the right leg that goes up to my hip. It was really nice, I've just haven't gotten to wearing it yet.

I quickly put the dress on because I was running late. I grabbed my purse, car keys and vape before going out and locking the door.

The ride to the Hard Deck wasn't too long because I could afford a closer one when I moved here. I parked my car, locked it, then headed to the door of the Hard Deck. Phoenix was outside waiting for me.

When I tell you the whole bar went quiet when they saw me and Phoenix, it would be an understatement. Maybe it was because we were in civvy clothes? But we headed to our group and all the boys eyes were wider than golf balls.

"What's with the eyes? It's not like we're naked is it?" I said, eyes darting between all the lads. They were shocked.

"Y/N, I think it's cause you're wearing that short dress, they've never seen as much skin on you before." Phoenix giggled before dragging me to the bar.

"Hey Penny, two double whiskeys please." Phoenix asks Penny with a smile. As I look around, I see a man. He's tall, blonde hair, greenish-blue eyes, and he's staring at me. I recognise him from somewhere. It's Thomas! I didn't think he'd be here tonight. He said he was going to go home in England for a bit to see his family.

"Thomas?! I thought you went back to England for a few weeks! What yer doing 'ere?" I walked up to him and hugged him, shocked that he was in San Diego but especially in the bar I usually go to.

"Thought yer could use some company, but guess you're already set aren't yer?" He chuckled as he looked to Phoenix then in a different direction, all the lads were death staring Thomas.

"Yeah, guess so. Want a drink? Me and Phoenix just ordered double whiskies." I guided him over to the bar where me and Phoenix originally stood.

"Go on then, one can't hurt." He ordered himself a double whiskey and paid for mine and Phoenix's as well.

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

We've been at the Hard Deck for a few hours and I'm quite drunk, drunk enough to not be able to drive. Which is great, cause I want to go home.

Phoenix and I have been dancing to The Weeknd, Mac Demarco, ABBA, Jerry Lee Lewis (because Bradshaw sang it, yet again), and some other singers that I'm too drunk to remember.

Me and Phoenix are currently dancing to Great Balls of Fire, as per requested to play again by Bradshaw. Him and that fucking song. It's like he's married to it. Or he can't breathe if it's not playing.

As we're dancing, I feel someone come up behind me. I turned to see who it was and it was just a stranger. He had his hands on my hips and began to basically grind into my arse. the fuck?

"Erm, can you not do that mate?" I stepped away from him, closer to Phoenix. He had this strange look on his face. It made me really uncomfortable.

"Come on babe, just wanna dance with you." His smile was sloppy and sadistic in a way. Gave me the shivers. Not the good kind.

"Well I don't wanna dance with you. So fuck off. Freak." I rolled my eyes then turned to Phoenix with an awkward smile.

"Don't call me a fucking freak you bitch!" He grabbed my arm and yanked me closer to him, his breath stunk of cigarettes and Bourbon. I always hated that smell.

"Get the fuck off of me you prick!" I grabbed his elbow and dug into it with my fingers which made his grip loosen, then I kicked the back of his knee which got him to the floor.

"Touch me again and we will have a serious problem, got it?" He nodded in answer, fear and anger in his face. "Get the fuck out of this bar." He got up and walked straight out, the whole bar giving him death stares as he leaves.

As soon as the door closes Bob comes over to us, weaving through the crowd with a worried look on his face.

"You okay Y/C/S?" He looked at me with worry and sympathy. I nodded my head yes.

"I'm fine Bob, he was just a prick who should listen to people. Taught him a lesson, hopefully he'll learn from that." I rolled my eyes as I took a sip of my whiskey. "Surprised I can still do that, I'm fucking leathered." I chuckle as I begin to dance again.

Bob nodded with a small smile then went back to the others. Me and Phoenix continued dancing until she had to go home cause her friend said her dog needed to be taken to the vet. So I was left to hang out with the lads.

"Hey Y/C/S, you alright? You look really bad." I place my hand on my heart and mock offense.

"Wow Bagman, I cannot believe you could say that. To me of all people. I look fucking fabulous you rat." I giggle as Bradshaw laughs. He'd laugh at anything that insulted Hangman so I'm not surprised.

"Seriously though Y/L/N, you look unwell. How much have you had to drink?" Bradshaw had genuine concern in his voice. I also did not know how much I drank.

"Fuck knows, wanted to have a fun time. I was, till Nat had to go home cause her dog is sick. I really hope her dog's okay. Do you think it'll die?" Just as I finished my sentence, Thomas came next to me and placed his hand on my waist.

"Come on Y/N, let's get you home." He began to lead me out until I felt his hand go lower. Last time I checked, he had a fucking girlfriend.

"One, I ain't going home right now. And two, get your hand off my arse cause I specifically remember you have a fucking girlfriend." i poked his chest in annoyance because his girlfriend is super nice, and pretty. Like drop dead gorgeous. And she treats him so fucking well as well.

"Yes you are going home, yer leathered. And she doesn't have to know if anything happens, can just be between you and me babe." That's it. Absolutely not. Not a fucking cat in hells chance.

"Right, you are a piece of shit for that. i ain't going home and I'm moving out. And I'm telling your fucking girlfriend how much of a shit person you are." Thomas laughed, I knew he could be a dick sometimes but this is just too far.

"Come on Y/N. Firstly, where would you even move to? You don't make enough money for even a small shitty apartment. And second, she won't believe you." Shit, she wouldn't. She's literally head over heels in love with him.

"She will." A voice said behind me, I turned to see that it was Bradshaw. I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"And why's that? She's practically wrapped around my little finger." My face contorts to disgust. Jesus, how did it take me this long to realise he is a complete and utter twat?

"Because in Y/N's bag, is my phone, and it's recording. So she will believe Y/N, because there's proof." All the colour drains from Thomas' face.

"So you best fucking leave now. And I'm getting all my shit in the morning." I look at him with anger an disgust, how could he even think about doing that to such a caring and beautiful girl?

Thomas walked out immediately, slammed the door to the bar on his way out. That's when realisation hit me, I'm now homeless.

"Shit... where am I gonna stay? He is right that I can't afford to live anywhere... Maybe Mav could let me stay with him?" I turn to Bradshaw and he looks like he's just got an idea.

"You can stay with me, until you get enough money for an apartment." Although I was very drunk, that sobered me up quite a lot. Bradshaw was offering to let me stay at his place? I mean, we are civil now, but letting me stay at his home? Jesus, he must really mean it about feeling bad about arguing and the crash.

"Are you sure? Because that's a big thing to offer Bradshaw." I looked at him, unsure myself. But why was Bradshaw offering this? Was it out of guilt? Sympathy?

"Yes. You don't have anywhere to stay. Fanboy only has one room and his couch is fucking uncomfortable. Coyote and Hangman most likely don't want to live with you. Payback lives with his girlfriend. And Bob and Phoenix live with Phoenix's mom. And Mav will probably hate you living with him because he won't be able to have any alone time with the ladies he brings home. So I'm the only viable option." Damn. He must have put lot into this for him to just come up with all that.

“Are you 100% sure that you want to do this? Cause I can just find some place to live I don’t wanna intrude init.” I look at him with concern and uncertainty in my voice.

"Yes of course, helping out a friend, init." He faked a British accent as he said "init", I giggled at him as he pulled a face as well.

"Right okay, thank you so much you don't know how much this means to me..." I have a thankful look on my face. "Please could u come with me to pick my stuff up tomorrow? I don't want to go on my own." He nodded yes. "Thank you..."

"Right, let's get you home. You're so fucking drunk." He chuckled as he guided me out of the Hard Deck with his arm round my shoulder.

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

As we got to his house, I began to search the outside. It was quite nice.

We both went inside, Bradshaw helped me as I was stumbling everywhere. He guided me to the spare room and placed me on the bed.

"Goodnight sweetheart." Bradshaw muttered as he got to the door.

"Goodnight Bradshawwwww." I said before quite literally passing out as my head hit the pillow.

[fleckficgirl]

Heartthrob | Arthur Fleck x reader 💗 CHAPTER 10

Summary: Attempting to conceal her checkered past, a young dancer in Gotham (Y/N) lands a job at Ha-Ha’s and finds herself increasingly drawn to a shy, lonely clown named Arthur Fleck.

Warnings: This chapter contains mugging, memory loss, traumatic brain injury. This fic as a whole contains sex, language, violence, mental illness.

Word Count: 3164

Chapter List: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Author’s Note: I’m back! Obviously, it took me sooo long to figure out how to write this next chapter, but I finally got it together. I really appreciate your patience in the meantime & hope you enjoy reading it. The plan is to post more regularly soon (Chapter 11 is almost done).

“Makeup is an art,” Chantelle and Tina had explained to you the night before. “Think of your face as a canvas.”

Despite all their well-intentioned beauty coaching, the cold, hard truth was you still had no idea what the hell you were doing - you couldn’t even keep the differences between moisturizer, foundation and concealer straight in your brain. And after twenty minutes of attempting to “paint” your face like the natural-born Rembrandt they were convinced you were, you’d stared back at your reflection in the mirror and decided you looked like a clown…and not in a sexy-Arthur-Fleck kinda way.  

Exasperated, you’d washed everything off, opting instead for a tiny bit of mascara, lip gloss and powder.

But then there was the issue of your hair. You’d burned your fingers on Tina’s flat iron before managing to get things somewhat under control. But as soon as you stepped out onto the street the rain began to fall, causing your already-unruly mane to frizz up completely by the time you reached the subway.

Chantelle’s handpicked outfit, however, remained the only unblemished element of tonight's ensemble: her tight-fitting angora sweater did things for your non-existent cleavage you’d never imagined possible. You’d be sure to thank her profusely later…even though she thought you were going out with someone else tonight.

You’d never cared how you looked in front of a guy before…but Arthur Fleck wasn’t just a guy. To say he’d gotten under your skin was, perhaps, the understatement of your life: you were becoming crazy about the man.

You didn't know how you were going to survive this date. You could barely hold it together in Arthur’s presence without wanting to reach out and smother him with affection, and the kiss between you earlier today had only solidified your deepest desires. You wanted Arthur in so many ways…ways you didn’t even understand yet. It reminded you of the first time you’d ever rode the Giant Dipper at Amusement Mile: the sensation of your stomach flying up into your throat as you went over that first terrifying drop…a disconcerting mix of fear and exhilaration. Was this what being in love felt like?

***

The bouncer at Pogo’s frowned as you handed him your ID.

“Are you…um…are you alright, miss?” he asked, concern in his eyes.

You were thrown off by the question. “Of course. Why?”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but…have you looked in a mirror recently?”

You shook your head. The jerk was actually making fun of how bad your hair and makeup had turned out. People in this city really didn’t know how to act.

“Wow, you’re hilarious,” you rolled your eyes at him, snatching back your ID. “Can I please go inside now? My friend’s about to go on.”

You pushed past the rude bouncer and entered the club, scanning the room feverishly for an empty seat. Spotting one parallel to the center of the stage, your eyes lit up and you rushed over to claim it. As you sat down, a strange chill ran up your spine as you slowly began to realize: everyone was staring at you. Faces of concern and mockery swam around you, and you weren’t sure why.

Oh shit, you thought. Do I have something on my face?

Unfortunately, you hadn’t brought a compact mirror (Tina and Chantelle had given you a five minute lecture on the importance of always carrying on in your purse), so you couldn’t check. And you couldn’t get up to go to the bathroom because then you’d lose your seat. You shifted uncomfortably in your chair, then glanced at your watch and saw the glass was cracked.

Weird. You hadn’t remembered smashing it against anything on the way over.

Your concerns about your appearance, however, were quickly dissolved as the current act wrapped and the emcee took the mic.

“This next comic describes himself as a lifelong Gotham resident who from a young age was told that ‘his purpose in life was to bring laughter and joy into this cold, dark world.’ Umm. Okay? Please help me welcome Arthur Fleck!”

You applauded along with the rest of the half-faded crowd as relief washed over you. Thank God you hadn’t missed him. As Arthur took the stage, your heart began to throb again. There were simply simply no words to describe how incredible he looked tonight. His red vest. The crisp, white button-down shirt underneath it. The matching slacks.

And his hair. His hair.

You were certain his hair was going to be the death of you. How was it possible that you and that gorgeous hair inhabited the same planet without the entire world imploding?

Arthur squinted out at the crowd before speaking. You knew he was searching for you, needing to see you in the audience, needing to know you were there for him. And you were. When the two of you locked eyes, he smiled. You smiled back at him and everything else fell away. It was you and Arthur again. And nothing else in this cold, dark world mattered.

You didn’t care that Arthur had a laughing episode at the beginning of his act. You didn’t care that basically all his jokes fell flat, either. You didn’t care about any of that. All you cared about was how proud you were of him. So proud, you felt like you could burst into a million pieces.

When he finished his set, you leapt to your feet, clapping and screaming. Arthur blushed from the stage, embarrassed…and pleased. Everyone was staring at you, then back at Arthur, then back at you in dazed confusion. Two weirdo peas in a pod…and proud.

“We’re gonna take a short break,” the emcee announced.

A moment later, you and Arthur found each other at the back of the club.

“You were amazing, Arthur!” you exclaimed as you threw your arms around him.

“I'm so glad you came tonight…” he hummed into your ear. Of course, your depraved mind twisted the meaning of those two words in your head, and you found yourself having to stifle a blushing smile. You felt your body quaver with excitement at being next to him once again.

“Wait a minute…” Arthur pulled back to look at you, shock and concern flooding his face.

“Y/N, what…what happened to you?”

You blinked. “What? Nothing happened to me.”

“You’re…you’re hurt.” Arthur looked you up and down, then lifted your hands to eye-level. Bruises in the shape of what looked like fingers and fingertips lined the insides of your wrists. You frowned at the sight, utterly confused.

“Y/N, who…who did this to you?”

“I’m fine!” you insisted. “I mean…I have a slight headache, but, y’know,  it’s probably just the rain.”  

“Y/N, look at me. Tell me what happened. Can you remember?”

It took a minute for your brain to register Arthur’s question, which you realized was a little strange.

“Well,” you inhaled, trying hard to formulate your thoughts. “I got on the subway…I know that. And I took it all the way to…well, whatever this stop was near here, you know? And then I got off the train and went up the stairs…and then…” you looked up into Arthur’s beautiful eyes. “And then I was here. Watching you perform for the very first time. And I’m so proud of you, Arthur!” you squealed as if you’d seen him for the first time tonight all over again.

“You don’t remember anything else? You must have hit your head.”

“I'm fine!”

“Y/N,” Arthur’s worried eyes blinked at you. “I don’t think you are. I think I need to take you to the hospital.”

“But it’s our big date!” you wailed. “I got all dressed up and everything!”

At that moment, a few Wall Street bro types brushed past and snickered at Arthur.

“Nice set, freak. In case you didn’t get the memo: you’re supposed to tell the jokes and the audience is supposed to laugh…not the other way around.”

"He has a laughing condition, you assholes!" you snarled at them without hesitation.

To everyone’s surprise, the bros paused, thrown off by the fact you’d called them out.

“Sorry…” Arthur interjected, glancing at the dudes apologetically. “She’s…she’s not feeling well.”

Arthur shot you a desperate please-shut-your-mouth-before-you-get-us-both-killed look, but you could see there was a tiny, triumphant smile curling up his lips underneath it. Still, the words were flying out of your mouth and there wasn’t much you could do to stop them.

“Yeah, I’m not feeling well,” you continued loudly, glowering at them. “Maybe if assholes would shut their fat faces and stop acting ignorant, I’d feel better.”

“Okay, you’re coming with me now!” Arthur wrapped his arm around your shoulders and scooted you towards the door. You looked over your shoulder to see them staring after you, dumbfounded. The sight of it made you laugh.

“Y/N,” Arthur pulled you into him as soon as you were outside. “I’m taking you to Gotham Hospital. We’ve gotta get you checked out.”

“No, Arthur!” you protested. You didn’t exactly know why you were so opposed to the idea, but your first instinct was to protest.

“Y/N, please. Please? Just do it for me. Just so I know you’re okay.”

“I’m worried about you,” he emphasized.

“I’m fine!”

“Okay.”

You’d switched it up so quickly, Arthur blinked in disbelief. He cleared his throat, nodding.

“Uh…okay. Good. Let’s go.”

**

“This is not where I expected to end up tonight,” you lamented. Arthur sat next to you, a clipboard given to him by the nurse at the front desk in his lap. He was trying to fill out your paperwork for you.

“Um. Your last name is…L/N right?”

“Yeah” You smiled at him. “How’d you know?”

Arthur blushed. “I…might have looked at your timecard. I was…curious about you. This was before…you know…we became...closer.”

“That’s so sweet! I looked at your timecard, too!”

Arthur stifled a laugh. “What’s your date of birth?”

He patiently wrote in all the answers and brought the completed forms back up to the desk.

“I’m surprised there aren’t more people here,” you observed, looking around at the handful of other patients. “It is a Friday night, after all.”

“It’s only ten o’clock,” Arthur reasoned. “My guess is things get crazier out there in a couple hours or so.”

“I feel like things are flying out of my mouth tonight without any filter,” you blurted. “And I’m not even that angry.”

“I feel like they are, too,” Arthur agreed. “But, that’s okay. I’m glad you agreed to come here. I’m…I’m still worried about you.”  

You narrowed your eyes at him, leaning in. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

Arthur looked a little startled, but he nodded.

“How do you get your hair to look so good all the time?”

Arthur’s eyebrows arched and he laughed.

“I'm serious!”

“No…I'm sorry,” he demurred, looking down at the tile floor. “It's just that nobody’s ever said that to me before.”

“Nobody ever said your hair looks incredible?” you asked. “Like it's the most gorgeous hair in the world? Nobody ever approached you to do shampoo commercials?”

“Maybe that's my true calling,” he joked.

“What shampoo do you use?”

"That's a personal question," Arthur teased as the door to the back of the ER swung open.

“L/N? F/N L/N?” the nurse called out.

You leapt to your feet. “Oh! That’s me.”

“Do you want me to wait here?” Arthur asked.

“Are you kidding?” You extended your hand and pulled him up. “Of course I want you to come. You’re my emotional support clown.”

**

After weighing you, taking your blood pressure, asking if you had any allergies to any medications and all the other boring details that entailed a medical visit, the nurse set you up in an examination room and read through your paperwork, pursing her lips as she centered in on the handwritten scrawl (Arthur’s handwriting of course) that explained why you’d come to the ER in the first place.

“It says here you…think you hit your head?”

“He thinks I hit my head,” you clarified, jerking said head towards Arthur. “I’m still not sure. There’s a big gap in my memory from tonight and I don’t know why.”

“There are bruises on her arms,” Arthur added. “She came to meet me and she looked…disheveled. Like someone had…”

He paused. The nurse looked you up and down.

“You don’t remember what happened to cause the bruises?”

You shrugged. “I can be clumsy sometimes.”

“You’re not…that clumsy,” Arthur murmured under his breath. “I mean,” he looked up at the nurse. “She’s a dancer. She’s…one of the most graceful people I’ve ever seen.”

“Arthur, that is so sweet!” you exclaimed.

The nurse shot you both a skeptical look, then smiled. “Your husband obviously cares for you a great deal.”

“Oh,” Arthur blushed. “I’m…not her-”

“Yes, he’s a wonderful husband!” you interjected, flashing him a slightly maniacal smile. “So protective of me. I couldn’t ask for a better one.”

“It sounds like you might have taken a fall,” the nurse continued, jotting down a few notes on your chart. “But the bruises on your wrists do look like they were caused by someone else’s hands.”

“My watch is broken, too,” you blurted.

“I’m wondering if maybe you were mugged. It happens to women in Gotham all the time, unfortunately.”

“But I still have all my money,” you pointed out, opening up your purse to show off your untouched wallet.

“Maybe you fought them off,” Arthur suggested. It wasn’t a completely outlandish notion. You were known to bring out the feistiness if the wrong people pushed your buttons.

“In any case, we’ll run some tests to check for concussion and other injuries.”

The nurse opened a drawer and handed you a light blue paper robe. “You can put this on. I’ll inform the doctor and he’ll check you over.”

“Thank you,” Arthur said.

“Of course. He should be by in just a minute.”

“What a nice lady,” you said to Arthur after she left you alone. “Don’t always meet people like that around here.”

“Very nice,” Arthur agreed. He cleared his throat. “Um…do you want me to leave, or…turn around while you get changed?”

You blinked, the reality of everything that had happened tonight finally hitting you.

“I just can’t believe this is how tonight turned out.”

“What do you mean?” Arthur asked softly.

“I had a whole outfit planned, Arthur! And my hair and makeup. I wanted to impress you and look beautiful for you tonight.”

“Y/N…” Arthur stood up to face you. “You are beautiful. No matter what. All I care about is that you’re okay.”

You sighed, moved by his sweet words, but you still felt utterly crestfallen and defeated. “I ruined our first date. And your big stand-up debut. I wanted tonight to be perfect so bad…”

“You didn’t ruin it,” Arthur interrupted. “I…” he paused. “Of course I wish none of this had happened to you. This city is…awful. In so many ways.” He paused, taking your hand into his. “But…I just love being with you. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing, as long as we’re together.”

You wanted to kiss him again, but suddenly the door flew open and a man in a white coat suddenly stood before you both.

“I hear somebody got banged up tonight.”

“My guess is you got mugged. Maybe the muggers chickened out before they could actually…you know…mug you. It does look like you’ve got a concussion.”

**

Dr. White’s bedside manner was on the complete other end of the spectrum of your nice nurse’s from a few minutes before, but you’d come to expect that from men with MDs. After performing the perfunctory tests of shining a light in your eyes, examining your body for additional trauma or bruising (none was found) and asking you a few routine questions, he announced his evaluation:

“What can you do for that?”Arthur asked, concerned.

The doctor snorted at what he obviously deemed a dumb question. “Not much. Just wait it out. Don’t go to sleep for a while.”

“What happens if I fall asleep?” you asked.

“You could die.”

“Oh.”

“Your brain’ll heal itself,” the doctor continued. “Might take a little time. Just try to take it easy and don’t be in places where this could happen to you again.”

“You mean the entire city?” you asked, raising an annoyed eyebrow at him. You knew what he meant, but the slight insinuation that getting mugged was somehow your fault didn’t sit great with you.

“What can I say?” Dr. White shook his head and shrugged. “Welcome to Gotham.”

“I’ve lived here all my life,” you informed him dryly. “Gotham’s a jungle.”

“Then welcome to the jungle.”

**

“Are you hungry?” Arthur asked in the lobby of the hospital. It was past midnight. “There’s a diner down the street people seem to like.” He paused. “That is…if it’s not too late for you.”

The way you saw it, you’d stay up all night with Arthur if he’d have you.

“Let’s go to the diner. I could really go for a cheeseburger."

Arthur laughed. “Okay.”

The rain had stopped and the air outside felt crisp and freshly-washed. For a brief moment, it made you forget that the garbage strike in Gotham had just entered its seventh week.

You and Arthur moved through the crowded sidewalk together, stumbling through the endless obstacles of people and garbage. A startling headline caught your eye as you walked past a newsstand, and you stopped in your tracks to read it:  

KILLER CLOWN ON THE LOOSE. LATEST NEWS ON THE MURDERS, PAGE TWO.

Beneath was a drawing of a vampiric clown.

“Can you believe that?” you asked.

Arthur paused alongside you, his eyes wide as he soaked in the headline.

“I watched this on the news last night."

Arthur nodded, pulling out and lighting a cigarette. “They worked at Wayne Enterprises. All three of them.”

You rolled your eyes. “That figures.”

Arthur cocked his head to one side. “What do you mean?”

You continued, lowering your voice. “Between you and me, I actually knew one of them. Back when I was still at college. He was a complete asshole, and that’s putting it nicely.” You sighed. “And if I had to guess, those ‘friends’ of his were cut from the exact same cloth. But it looks like he finally picked the wrong person to fuck with. And I can’t say I’m shedding any tears.”

Arthur nodded slowly, taking in your words.

“I’m sorry,” you stopped yourself. “You must think I’m crazy for talking like this.”

“No,” he shook his head. “I don’t think you’re crazy at all.”

“Three less pricks in Gotham City,” you quipped. “Only a million more to go!”

Arthur threw back his head and laughed. You took it as a good sign: despite the traumatic brain injury and the chaotic night you’d shared, his smile still made you go weak at the knees.

🤍🩷 Thanks for reading. Visit my Masterlist for all my Fleck writing, including future chapters of Heartthrob.

[mediocre-shark-tales]

Fated by the Stars (12)

Straykids ot8 x Reader

Warnings - Mentions of Abuse, Mentions of Wounds/Injuries Traumatic Past, Violence, Swearing, and Mentions of Non-consensual Molesting.

Summary - Sang-Jun finds out you're taken will he stop pursuing you or what?

Masterlist

Finally the heat had broken, I had worried the boys when my heat lasted longer than it should have. They took me to the hospital at one point because it hadn't broken. When the doctor had learned of my past with heats, he soon understood what the problem was. "So based on all the information I am aware of, her natural heat stopped becoming natural. Basically it stopped all together as her first pack alpha forced it to stay on track with his ruts. Since she had gone so long with out the medication I believe her body finally got back into the natural flow of things. It is probably just bad timing, like her heat might have already been about to come on. However she got spiked which sped things up, but her body is not used to the medication anymore. So her heat still came like it planned but that coincided with her forced one. She should break the heat within the week, since we don't know when her natural heat started it's hard to give an exact date." With that the boys brought me back home, their emotions more calm with an expert opinion behind them.

Once it finally broke, they found me crying in my nest. All of them rushing to find out what was wrong. I shook my head when they asked if I was hurt. But instead I told them, "I feel soooo grossssss, I'm so uncomfortable, please help me wash up?" I made grabby hands at them all, waiting for someone to take my offer and help me with my needs. They all chuckled in some way as Chan and Hyunjin stepped forward. "We will give you a nice bath pup, we were about to wash up anyways." Hyunjin said while carrying me. Chan told the others to clean up the rest of the house, Minho and Felix would start dinner. He would ask me before I left the room if they could take down and wash the nest. Which I nodded to with the exception that they must re-scent their specific blanket, or fur once cleaned. They all eagerly agreed and went off to do their specific task while Chan, Hyunjin and I went to wash up together.

Ever since then we have had great day after great day. Even when they had to be gone for work, all was okay, cause we were mated for life. I could feel their emotions and they could fell mine. We were more sensitive to each other, able to find each other quicker. All was good, I finally felt really love, experiencing how an omega should be treated. It was so fantastic.

Today, I was brought to the mall by Seungmin and Changbin. They had the day off and when I asked if I could go to the mall alone they threw a fuss. We came to the agreement that they would take me and wait in the car so if they get anything bad happen then they could get to me quickly. I agreed as long as they didn't look in any of the bags when I returned to the car. I wanted to make them all something nice as a token to our completed bonding. I just loved giving them things.

Walking in the mall, I could feel myself adorning a large smile as I walked through different craft stores buying all the items I would need to complete my project. As I moved on to the next store for more supplies. I happily walked along the hallway, seeing cute couples and family's with kids walking past me. I smiled thinking about one day having a bunch of pups of my own. I wished to birth a kid for each one of my mates, making them happy to each have their own offspring.

However I soon stopped as that acidic smell entered my senses, in front of me stood both Sang-jun and Sang-Hee. I felt my blood run cold, as my body instinctively went numb. It was always better to hide your emotion than suffer the consequences of having the wrong emotion at the wrong time.

I saw them both staring at my shoulders. I had worn a pretty off the shoulder top with a pair of jean shorts. I wanted to show off all my perfectly healed mating marks. I had learned through social media that these were most like trophies in the omegan world. So I wore the perfect outfit to feel cute and show off my bond to my pack.

Yet when these two saw the marks, they were filled with overwhelming anger. Both of them stalked up to me menacingly. It's then that I could feel the anger and fear of my mates, no doubt they could feel my emotions run cold. I'm sure when my emotions had gone numb to them as well they all freaked out. This was good however, as it meant Changbin and Seungmin were running in for me. I just had to hold my ground for a bit.

"So you decided to mate to those worthless alpha's bitch?" I growled back at Sang-Hee. "Say what you want about me but don't speak filth of my pack." Sang-Jun growled at me. However I stood proud knowing my alpha and beta were coming. "It's doesn't matter how hard they hold onto you Omega. We will get you back, even if we have to slaughter that whole pack just to retrieve what is rightfully mine." Sang-Hee looked at Sang-Jun. "Ours you mean." Sang-Jun nodded. "Whatever"

A few years before my escape, Sang-hee had taken a liking to me after experiencing how I would act and submit to Sang-Jun. Thus they promised to share me. Though it was easy to tell Sang-Jun wasn't 100% happy with the outcome. But he knew that it meant two chances for a perfect alpha pup from me.

My confidence began to drop as they were able to pin me to a wall, I was stuck. Fuck. Sangjun had his had wrapped tightly around my throat. Just above the mating marks so all I could feel was pain and loss of breath. "I promise you with my life omega. I WILL get your ass back in my home. I will break every last sliver of hope you have. I will fuck you into my perfect submissive omega that you used to be, and you will give birth to our pups. You WILL be mine, one way or another. just you fucking wait bitch."

With that he let go and they both walked away, when they turned the corner never to be seen again. That's when Changbin and Seungmin finally found me. They first noticed my tears, then noticed the slowly purpling bruise around my throat. it was obviously a hand print and they knew exactly what had happened. They just didn't know who. I wiped my tears as I let myself go numb, forgetting they stood there as I walked away.

I was no longer mentally aware, I went into full autopilot. The boys tried to reach me but soon realized why my bond went radio silent. They allowed me to finish buying my things, carrying my bags for me. Soon I was back in the car, sitting behind them as Changbin drove and Seungmin tried to calm me by rubbing my leg from the front passenger seat.

When we got back home, I could hear Seungmin on the phone. It sounded like group call as multiple voices came through the other end. He talked about me, they were probably all freaking out as my bond was numb. Nothing came from me, I had regressed to the same state I had back in my old pack. Changbin followed with half the bags. We both sat them down in my small art studio, it was a small room they had emptied out and renovated for me. Once they were sat ready to be emptied, I instead walked back out of the room. Changbin following as he shut the door for me. He silently followed as I made my way back to my room. He watched from the doorway as I crawled onto my bed and laid down staring at the ceiling.

I heard him sigh as he allowed me time alone, probably hoping I would come back from the headspace on my own. Yet that is not what happened. As everyone arrived home only two hours later, they opened my bedroom door to find me sat on the bay window. There was enough space for all of us. I sat in the middle, legs tucked up against me as my head and arms rested comfortable onto of my knees. I stared off out the window on tot he beautiful forest horizon. My room had one of the best views as I could watch the sunset.

I could hear them enter the room behind me and slowly come closer. Until finally a few of them sat down on either side, all of the Betas were sat around me. The alphas stood behind me, unsure of how to help their omega.

Hyunjin pulled me into his arms, carrying me to my bed. He laid back against the headboard, leaning me against him. He was hugging me to him from behind as Jisung laid down against my front. Seungmin and Felix each took a side, hugging me together in a puddle. When that barely worked, the alphas began to join them. Each one finding a spot to drown me in the huge cuddle puddle. The first one to speak was Chan, as an idea came to his head.

"Omega is safe now, Pack is here to protect omega." Each one of them felt and saw a small subtle change in me. Almost as if I was beginning to relax into their hold. So everyone began to say different things. Some told me how good of an omega I was for them. Some told me they were here to protect me from all evil. A few explained how they would rip apart anyone that tried to hurt me again. Finally my numbness faded, and I was hit with a rocketing wave of fear, pain, and sadness. I began to cry loudly as they all cooed and tried to hold me tighter. I began to receive kisses, and other wiped my eyes. Some massaged my stiff limbs. But what stood out the most prominent to them was how horse my voice sounded, this is when they knew who ever had choked me definitely damaged my throat.

This sent the alphas into a frenzy as I was ripped from he betas by Jeongin. Changbin sandwiching me against mjeoning for behind as they all asked who had hurt me. It took a moment but I was able to calm down enough to say his name. "s-Sang-jun." It hurt to speak, and that helped me calm down more as it took precedence in my mind. Growls erupted into the room as the boys could only imagine what he must have done or said to me for this kind of reaction to happen.

Yet when they calmed down, they decided it was better to let me experience all their love tonight. The questions could be saved for tomorrow, for now I needed to be reminded of how much they loved and adored me. This was not only for myself, but also them. Most if not all had felt like they failed me, especially the two who were with me. They scolded themselves for not being fast enough with finding me. Only showing up to the aftermath of the event. They would make to make it up to you. Some how.

Chan picked me out of Jeongins arms, handing me over to Hyunjin. He knew the lead beta was best at pampering me when it came to baths and such. "Give her the most pampered and calming bath you can. Then dress her for bed and bring her down for dinner. We want her as comfortable as possible for the night." When can looked around the room he said. "Everyone needs to take a sick day tomorrow. It's time to spoil her for the day again, to remind her she is safe with us." Everyone nodded at his words. The alphas all following him to ago help clean and set the table while also cooking my favorite for dinner.

The Betas all followed with me and Hyunijin into the main bathroom. This one was big enough for almost the whole pack to bath together. But that never really happened, it was usually just a group of us together.

Together they helped me undress, they undid my hair letting it flow down. Then they too all undressed themselves, Jisung was the first one ready and he began to set up the bath. Felix grabbed all our soaps, shampoos and conditioners. Hyunjin picked me up and placed me down into the warm bath with ease.

Then everyone joined us as bubbles surrounded all of us, jisung had made me a bubble bath. They were all trying their best to bring my mood back up. Trying to make me smile fully again. This made me happier, but I don't think I would fully smile again for a bit. I was still experiencing short memories of my past.

The abuse I had taken for years upon years, along with everything I seen done to others. It was beyond devastating. I could still almost feel the pain from everything, all the mental, emotional and physical pain I had experienced.

More tears began to cascade down my face as these memories flashed through my head. Seungmin noticed me first and instantly picked me up to sit in his lap. He held my face into his neck, filling my senses with the scent of him.

This act of his began to calm me down slowly, as my body began to relax he began to kiss along my neck. He kissed specifically his mate mark, giving both of us a sense of euphoria in that single moment. Soon I felt more kiss from the other boys as they each kissed their mate mark. This some how helped me to finally fully relax, the horrid memories fading from my mind.

Now I was being filled with short memories of each mate, moments that made me feel as euphoric as possible. Seconds later Felix began to wash my hair with shampoo. While Seungmin and Jisung washed my body. After that hyunjin had washed himself and took care of my hair for the conditioner. While the others began to wash themselves.

Once all cleaned up, they helped me get out and began to dry me off. Hyunjin helped wrap my hair up in the towel. Once I was dry enough they helped me out of the room and off my my room. They grabbed their own clothes along the way.

Once in my room, I was sat on the extra fluffy grey fur laying on my bed. I was now dry save for my hair which was wrapped up in a towel still. Seungmin sat beside me, rubbing a hand over my back in comforting way while we watched our mates search my closet for clothes.

However besides the underwear, anything else they brought me I was unwilling to wear. "What would you like to wear sweetheart?" Seungmin finally asked after 5 minutes of this. "I want alphas clothes, but I also want to have your scents on them too." I whined. I needed the constant scent of my pack to keep me sane. I didn't want to risk falling into that pit of mental darkness again.

So with that Hyunjin and Felix went to snatch some clothes. When they came back I watched them spilt the clothes amongst the four of them. Hyunjin held Chan's jacket while scenting one half of it so it smelled like both of them. Felix scented Changbins shorts, Jisung had Minho's t-shirt and Seungmin had Jeongin's fluffy socks. Once the items smelled like one alpha and one beta, they helped me dress up. Finally I felt comfortable surrounded by their scents.

With that I was picked up this time by Felix as they brought me into the dining room. I could smell the delicious scent of spicy lamb skewers, with all the most perfect side dishes. I could feel my mouth water at just the mere sight of it all. Around the table stood each of my alpha's. I squirmed in Felix's hold who sat me down confused and a little worried. I quickly pecked his cheek as I went around giving each pack mate a quick kiss.

Without words I wanted them to know that I loved them, that I trusted them. I needed them to know that I didn't care they weren't there at the moment. Because they were there right now and that's all that mattered to me. They wouldn't let me get hurt again so this was okay.

I could feel them slowly relax with my actions, their emotions becoming softer more Lovey-dovey.

I quickly sat down in my normal seat, mall the alphas were quick to sit as close to me as possible. This the Betas were more than okay with after having spent the last half hour together. Immediately to my sides were Chan and Minho, while Changbin and Jeongin were next to them. Chan picked up and passed my plate to Jeongin who sat next to him. Jeongin filled my plate with a few good looking skewers. Minho grabbed my sides plate and had Changbin start putting on a few sides. Once they had filled it up Chan and Minho got to add a few more things as well. Till finally they were satisfied and placed my plates back in front of me.

This I smiled at and began to enjoy my meal, it was easy to notice all the pairs of eyes on me. I sighed in content at the taste of food as they watched me eat, they made sure to keep eating as well. I waited however until I had finished and was full before speaking.

"I guess you all want to know what happened today?" My voice was more timid than I initially intended it to be. "You don't have to say anything if you're not ready to babygirl." Chan spoke first. The others readily agreeing with him.

I took a deep breath before beginning to tell them the whole story. All the way from the beginning so they would understand everything. From the agreement with Seungmin and Changbin about my shopping spree, to the moment they found me in the mall. I stopped there to allow them a moment to take it all in before continuing.

"When I was found I had fully regressed into the instinctual mindset I had back in my old pack. Where it was better to have no emotions than the wrong one at the wrong time. I haven't experienced something like that since leaving that place, but something today just set me back into that headspace. When that happens, if it ever happens again, I never talk unless told to. It will be hard to bring me up from it especially if I regress really far. The days were I would regress way to far, I actually would remember little to nothing about that day." looking around I could angry and sad faces.

In the silence I decided to crawl into Minho's lap, burying my face into his neck as I just breathed in his scent. I felt him hug me tightly as he breathed in mine too. He was first to speak, reassuring me of everything. "We will never let that bastard of a man get to you sweetheart. No matter what it takes you will be ours. We are mated for life, nothing will tear us apart. We love you too much for us to let you feel pain like this again." I heard agreement around the table as Changbin spoke next. "Seungmin and I will see to it that you get the best of the best bodyguards anytime we go out where there is a possibility he may be." Seungmin nodded to me. Then he spoke as well. "If you would like we can also teach you self defense or get you some self defense weapons." I nodded to him saying I would think about the offer.

Soon everyone was calming down, having talked everything out and understanding what had just taken place was good for us. So with my belly full and my mood back to it usual tranquil happiness. I got up dragging the two lead alpha's along. "Movie night with pack cuddles please." I spoke loudly. With that I heard everyone get up and begin cleaning the table off. While the two I had dragged behind me just laughed to themselves.

Chan picked me up seconds later, as he and Minho pecked my cheeks. This earned them a giggle as I returned the kiss to each of them before we finally descended into the pack nest room. I would set up the nest with the freshly scented blankets, furs and even pillows. The other two were to get a movie picked out and then help me finish the nest, before the rest of the pack would join and a soft fluffy movie night full of love and cuddles began.

Masterlist

[foxy-eva]

Handle with Care

Summary: Spencer tries to be there for his wife after a traumatic experience

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader

Category: Angst, Hurt/Comfort

Please read the CW, this story contains potentially triggering topics!  Content Warnings: (16+ for heavy themes) implied/referenced SA (non-graphic), mentions of hospitals, medication and medical exams, description of minor injuries (bruises), behavior responding to trauma, issues with self-worth/self-hatred, crying, food mentions

Word count: 3k

Masterlist

There was a truth I had to learn as a young boy and couldn't shake until I met my wife – Love always brings pain with it.  

My wife was the first person to show me a love that didn't come with the risk of getting hurt. She had the ability to reset my view on what it should feel like to love and be loved. 

However, when I got a call from the hospital earlier today, I was reminded that I had been right all along. 

Love and pain really are inseparable.

When I walked into the examination room I found my wife staring out of the window, not even acknowledging my presence. 

"Hey," I whispered. 

She turned her head to look at me and I forgot how to breathe for several moments. Seeing my loved ones hurting has always been so much more painful for me than any atrocities I have had to endure myself. 

After years of profiling victims there was no need for anyone to tell me what had happened to her, I knew immediately. Without wanting to, I scanned her body language and counted several nicks and bruises on her skin. Her sight fell to her lap and I noticed her eyes tracing the pattern on the hospital gown. 

I slowly stepped closer. "I'm sorry it took me so long to get here. Do you know if they are done with everything yet?"

"They took my clothes," she muttered without looking up at me, "for evidence." 

"I know, love. They have to do that. I stopped at home on my way here to get you something to change into." 

A knock on the door caught her attention. A nurse stepped in to hand my wife several bottles with pills, explaining to her what they were and how to take them. It was obvious that she wasn't able to listen but that was okay. I was here now. I could tell her later. 

The nurse let us know that we could go home and left the room. My wife's eyes found mine, the desperation in her look letting my heart shatter. A single tear ran down her cheek while she whispered, "I don't know what to do now."

I stepped closer to her and reached out my hands but stopped myself before I could touch her. Taking a deep breath, I reached into my bag and placed her clothes right beside where she was sitting on the hospital bed. 

I tried my best to sound soothing when I said, "First, you will put on clothes. Then we'll walk out of here and drive home. And then we'll take it from there. One step at a time."

She nodded and looked at her clothes, hesitating to take off her hospital gown. 

"Do you need help, love?" I offered. 

Her sight fell to the floor right before she mumbled, "Could you wait outside?"

Over the years I had memorized every curve and dip of her body, her skin feeling more familiar to me than my own. I saw her bare form almost every day, be it while brushing my teeth while she showered or when we were lost in each other's arms. She had never even thought twice about shedding her clothes in front of me. 

Until this day. 

"Yes, of course." 

I closed the door behind me when I walked out of the room and waited for her to get ready. When she came out, she intuitively reached for my hand, my heart skipping a beat at the unexpected contact. She didn't let go of me until we reached my car. 

We were both silent on the way home. She seemed too exhausted to talk and I was stuck with my attempt to find the right words to say. I couldn't shake the feeling that I had failed her, that I could and should have protected her from the cruelties of this world. 

What was the point of saving all those people every day when I couldn't even keep the love of my life safe? 

The sound of her sighing pulled me away from my thoughts. I averted the sight from the road to look at her for a moment. 

"I'm sorry I wasn't more careful," she stuttered. 

My lips parted but nothing came out. I focussed back on the road for a moment until I found a space to pull over. I turned my body to be able to face her but she avoided looking at me. 

"Listen to me. None of this is your fault. You didn't do anything to provoke this," I explained.

We locked eyes then and I noticed hers glistening with tears. "But I still should have–"

"No!" That came out louder than I had intended. I tried to contain my anger when I told her, "This is his fault, not yours."

And I will do everything in my power that he won't lay a hand on you ever again, I thought.

She looked like she wanted to protest my statement but decided to not voice her thoughts. "I just want to go home," she said instead. 

We continued the drive in silence and I attempted to swallow down the boiling anger in my chest. Letting her see my disdain for the man who hurt her was certainly not what she needed right now. 

When we stepped into our apartment, she halted in the hallway as if she couldn't remember her usual steps of entering our home. I suggested that she could take a bath and she nodded, following me to the bathroom and watching each of my movements as I prepared the bathtub for her. 

"I'll give you some privacy. Just let me know when you need me."

My wife nodded once more and stared at the door until I had left the room. I lingered on the other side for a while, listening to the sound of her getting into the tub and turning off the water. When I was sure that she wouldn't call out my name anytime soon, I distracted myself by ordering food and tidying up a bit. 

Forty minutes passed without a sound coming from the bathroom. I stood in front of the door and timidly knocked against the wood.

"Is everything okay?" I wanted to know. 

Almost inaudibly I heard her voice a broken "No."

It was the obvious answer. Of course she wasn't okay. 

"What can I do?"

Silence. 

I contemplated just entering the room but then I heard her pleading, "Can you come in?"

I found her cowering in the tub, her arms wrapped around her knees as if she was trying to make herself as small as possible. She didn't look at me when she whimpered, "I can't wash it off."

I stepped closer to her and crouched down beside the bathtub. "I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand," I confessed. 

Her red rimmed eyes found mine and I saw something in her look I had only seen on rare occasions before. 

Rage.

"I can't wash him off," she shouted. 

"You're safe here. He can't hurt you anymore," I tried to remind her. 

It didn't work. 

Her whole body started shaking, broken sobs wrecking through her as she hid her face in her hands. The sound of her suffering went directly into my body and made me feel as if her pain would etch into my bones.

"Can I touch you?"

She didn't respond. She couldn't respond. I placed my palm on her shoulder, squeezing it gently in an attempt to bring her back to me. I knew that my words couldn't reach her but I tried it anyway.

"I'm so sorry this happened. I wish I could have protected you." 

After a while her whimpers simmered down until she was silent. Not even her breathing was audible, making me question the amount of oxygen currently entering her body. 

I tried to reassure her further, "I am here now."

When she nodded, implicitly telling me that she could hear me, I reached for her arms and helped her out of the tub. Wrapping her in a towel, I placed my arms around her still quivering body and held her tightly against my chest. She nestled her face into the fabric of my shirt and I felt her breathing slowly even out. 

Time became abstract while we stood in our shared embrace. It was impossible to tell whether minutes or hours had passed when she started moving again. She silently followed her usual routine after taking baths, putting on new clothes and brushing her hair. I lingered in her presence and followed her into the living room when she was done. 

"I ordered pizza when you were in the bathroom. Can I get you some?"

My wife whispered, “No,” and sat down on the couch. I found my place beside her. 

"Do you want to talk about it?" I offered.

She shook her head and asked, "How was work?"

I raised my eyebrows as I looked at her. "Do you really want me to talk about work?"

"Yes," she breathed and added, "Please."

I thought about what I could tell her about my day that wouldn't be too unsettling. "JJ accidently bumped into Morgan who then spilled his coffee all over my geological profile."

To my surprise she started giggling, the sound immediately warming my heart.  A grin appeared on my face. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," she snickered. "I just imagined the squeaking sound you probably made when that happened."

"Hey! I don't make squeaking sounds!" I laughed in protest. 

She smirked at me and moved closer until hardly any distance could be found between our thighs. Without a warning, her hand made contact with the side of my torso, pinching my skin just enough to evoke the noise she had just mentioned. 

I threw my hands in the air, implicitly pleading for her to stop. "Okay, okay! I'll take it back!"

She let go of me and curled her body into my side instead. I felt the tensions leave her as she felt almost limp against me. The exhaustion after an adrenaline rush was familiar to me and I knew very well that it can feel like no amount of sleep would ever be enough to feel alright again. 

I suggested it anyway. 

"Do you want to go to bed?" 

Her humming sounded like agreement, so I moved with her and guided her to our bed. After placing the comforter over her body, I leaned down to kiss her but stopped in my tracks when I noticed her flinching away from me. 

"I'm sorry," she whispered. 

"It's okay." 

But the truth was that nothing about this was okay. 

When I stepped back into the bedroom after getting ready for the night, she had already turned off the lamp on her nightstand. Usually I would hold her inside my arms until she'd fall asleep but everything about her body language told me not to touch her. 

"Good night. I love you."

I didn't get a response.

My wife got cold easily at night and I had always seen it as my responsibility to keep her warm. It was something so deeply embedded into my subconscious that there was no need for me to fully wake up to reach out for her when my body noticed the absence of her skin against mine. 

It took a second too long for any drowsiness to leave me and realize that I had wrapped my arms around my wife's sleeping body, just like I did most nights. It was her screaming that fully woke me and I let go of her once I noticed her struggling. She basically jumped out of bed. 

Despite the lack of light in the room, I could clearly make out the horror in her look. She was scared. She was terrified. 

Terrified of me. 

I got up and stepped closer to her but still kept my distance. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

She stepped backwards until her shoulders met the closest wall. "Don't…" she whimpered.

She didn't need to speak the words for me to hear them nonetheless. 

Don't come closer. Don't touch me. Stay back.

I didn't dare to move when I asked, "What can I do?" 

"Just… give me some space," she sobbed. "Please."

I stood there in silence for a few moments, contemplating what to do next. Before I could think of anything, she said, "I'll sleep on the couch."

"No." I protested. "I'll go."

She didn't seem to have enough energy to argue with that, instead laying down on her side of the bed once more. I left the door to the bedroom open ajar to be able to hear her from my place on the couch. 

Rest didn't come easy to me for the rest of the night but I somehow managed to fall asleep eventually. The sensation of my blanket being lifted woke me in the early morning hours. My wife lay down beside me on the couch, finding her home inside my embrace. She pressed her body against mine and buried her face into the crook of my neck. 

I let my fingertips draw circles into her back, carefully following the same patterns like countless times before. Her breath was quivering against my skin as she attempted to find comfort in my arms. 

"Sorry I pushed you away," she mumbled against my neck and added, "I love you."

"You don't have to apologize. You were scared, it's understandable." I placed a chaste kiss into her hair. "I love you more."

I felt her smile against my skin before she pressed herself into me even more. With my arms tightly wrapped around her body I secured her position inside my embrace. 

The morning sun started illuminating the room but we kept lingering in this position for a few more hours. I would hold her like that for the rest of my life if she needed me to. I wasn't sure whether she had actually fallen back asleep or just silently tried to relax but I was content to have her close to me either way. 

I took time off work for the next few days, trying to be there for my wife at least until she felt ready to go back to work herself. There was a newfound routine we followed, from going on long walks and cooking together to me holding her when she cried and keeping her company when she couldn’t sleep. 

A couple of days after she had gotten hurt, I was waiting for her to get ready to go on a walk. When she took twice the time she usually needed to get dressed, I cautiously entered the bedroom to look for her. I found her standing in front of the mirror in just her underwear, her brows furrowed as she let her eyes wander over her body. It was the first time I had noticed her actually looking at herself in the mirror. 

As I stepped closer, she looked up and locked eyes with me through my reflection. Not even a second passed and she continued the examination of her skin, her fingertips tracing over the spots she focussed at with her eyes. It took me a moment to realize that she was staring at the bruises on her skin. 

There weren’t that many of them but it was still impossible to not notice her injuries. Over the course of the past few days I had noticed how the bruises had gotten darker in color, a reddish blue turning into a deep purple that almost appeared black in the dim lighting of the bedroom. 

“Are you in pain?” I wanted to know. 

When her eyes found mine once more, they were glistening with tears. 

“No matter how hard I try, I can’t get rid of him.” Her voice broke at the last syllable and I noticed how her bottom lip started trembling. 

Her knees gave up on her, having me reach for her to hinder her from falling. I gently guided her to the bed instead, helping her sit down on the mattress. Tears were streaming down her face and I cupped her cheeks to wipe them away. 

She couldn’t look at me when she sobbed, “It feels like my body is rotting everywhere he touched me.”

“That’s not true. Those bruises will hea–”

“I’m tainted, Spencer!” She interrupted my desperate attempt to soothe her. 

Before I could disagree, she got up from her place beside me and turned her back to me. “Don’t you think I can’t see the disgust in your eyes when you look at my body?” 

The shock her words evoked rushed through me like lightning. I got up and tried to get her to look at me. It didn’t work. 

“That’s not how it is. That’s not what I think,” I tried to explain.

We locked eyes and she seemed to genuinely wonder, “What is it then?”

“When I look at you, I get angry at the man who hurt you but even more than that, I am disappointed in myself for not being able to protect you.” I stepped closer to her until our bodies almost made contact. “Can I touch you?” 

She nodded. 

I let my fingertips tenderly dance over a bruise on her arm while I cooed, “When I see his markings on you, I fantasize about having the ability to erase them with the touch of my hand. I imagine touching you everywhere he did, to rid you of the memory of him and replace it with the sensation of my skin against yours.” 

My hand wandered upwards and over her shoulder. “I wish I could take it away, all this pain. I wish I could leave sparks everywhere my fingertips make contact with your skin, making it shine brighter than all of this darkness.” 

She stared at me with widened eyes and tears still streaming down her face. I leaned down to kiss her cheek, the salty taste meeting my lips. “And when I taste your tears, I imagine that the ocean left saline crystals on your skin after having washed away your sorrow.”

A shy smile appeared on her face when she heard my words. And for the first time since all of this had happened I felt hopeful about one thing.

We would be okay. 

Eventually.  

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[benkyoutobentou]

31 Days of Productivity Reading もう一回！: Day 13

Before: My plan worked! Today I start reading 地球星人 by Murata Sayaka. It’s a bit on the longer side from what I’ve encountered with Japanese books at just over three hundred pages, but from what I’ve heard, it’s weird and gross and traumatizing and sounds like something tailor made for my tastes.

I might not have a whole lot of time during the day to read. Tuesday is book release day, so I’m going to the bookstore to pick up the last volume of Guardian by Priest and while I’m there I might as well study some. Then I’ll probably go with my neighbor again to see her horse, and after that I’ll hopefully be able to go again to the Japanese conversation group.

After: Today was a day of ups and downs. I started by going to the bookstore and studying a bit, then I tagged along with my neighbor to visit her horse Kid. She even let me get on and ride him a bit! I didn’t have my helmet with me so I used hers which was way too big for my head but it’s fine it’s all fine. No more horse related head injuries for me. Then I did manage to make it to the Japanese conversation group, just for an hour, but right as I left my house, tragedy struck. We had a bobcat attack in broad daylight and lost a chicken.

I just read the bare minimum 25 pages because I was pretty wiped by the time I got around to reading. So far it’s not very difficult but that all can change once I get into the meat of the book.