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barbiedragon · 3 months

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HOTD: Aemond Targaryen x twin!reader

Castling Series

Rating: M (minors DNI)

WC: 2.5k

Warnings: pregnancy, sex, dirty talk

A new life begins at Dragonstone as you bond with your dragon while carrying Aemond’s babe

*comments/reblogs are appreciated

A salubrious warmth had settled over Dragonstone. The ancestral seat had been gifted to you and Aemond in the aftermath of Rhaenyra’s triumph over Aegon. Eventually, it would be inherited by Rhaenyra’s surviving son, Aegon. The fate of young Viserys was still unknown, but you held hope that the boy might yet be found. For now, you focused on the peace settling over the kingdom and the time you spent with Aemond and Naela. Your fingers brushed over the swell beneath your dress, delighted that you were with child again. A muted roar vibrated through the air, catching your attention during a walk on the beach.

You gazed up at the rocks, shielding your eyes from the sun as the bright beams illuminated the dragon’s scales—iridescent blues and greens with shimmering golden talons and dazzling ambers blooming between her spikes. You had not seen this wild dragon before, though not unusual as Grey-Ghost rarely appeared.

“She finds her hiding places amongst the rocks, preferring to keep her distance. The keepers have spotted her with Silverwing a few times,” Daemon announced, Naela’s small hands wrapped around his fingers as she waddled along the sand.

“Does she have a name?”

“I’ve heard the keepers call her Drimmi, a play on the Valyrian word for clever since she’s managed to illude them many times. I believe her to be one of Silvering’s hatchlings, though it is hard to be sure.”

Drimmi. Udrimmi rina (clever girl). The babe shifted in your belly as the dragon perched on the cliff's edge.

“She is mine,” you whispered as her amethyst eyes remained locked on your form. Whisps of gray smoke flowed from her flared nostrils. Fire prickled your skin, burning deep in your blood. The bond was calling to you—Ñuhon (mine).

“I do believe your mother intends to claim herself a dragon,” Daemon informed Naela, who giggled in response as he lifted her into his arms.

“After I attend to this little one,” you smiled, fondly stroking your daughter’s rosy cheek.

“Mayhaps we’ll find an egg for you, donus rinus (sweet girl).” Daemon cooed, and Naela squealed her response.

A new era dawned as fresh clutches were found more frequently on Dragonstone, much to the delight of Daemon and the keepers. Rhaena’s hatchling, Morning, grew stronger by the day, though it would take time before she could mount. You had long lost hope of having your own, but now you knew she was simply waiting when the time was right, and you were ready. Butterflies fluttered in your tummy as you headed inside with Daemon and Naela. Aemond was seated in the Stone Drum at a large, ornate desk.

Naela’s bare feet slapped against the stones as she rushed over to him, her chubby hands tugging on the sleeve of his black tunic. A small smile curved across his lips.

“Have you come to tell me about your day?” His tone was dulcet as he lifted the small girl into his lap. She babbled mostly nonsense at him, though a few words managed through.

You smiled at their interaction, rubbing your belly as Daemon bent to kiss your cheek. Most of his time was spent by Rhaenyra’s side, serving as her hand to ensure her claim and quickly rectify those still in her path. Your cheeks turned hot from his touch; while your heart would forever belong to Aemond, you oft felt a spark for Daemon at times. He had been the one to help set you free, to make you stand firmly on your feet, and helped you gain what you had truly wanted: Aemond as your husband. You supposed a small part of you would always belong to him.

“I must return to King’s Landing. I shall visit soon,” he said, patting Naela’s head before he departed. The roar of Caraxes filled the air a bit later.

You nuzzled Naela’s cheek before passing her off to her nursemaids before drawing Aemond’s hand into your own. “I have found my dragon, idañus (twin).”

He tilted his face, raising an eyebrow as the sunlight caught on his sapphire eye and sparkled. He needn’t worry about frightening the weak-hearted ladies at court any longer; he could be himself in Dragonstone, so he rarely wore the patch within these walls. He would be declared Commander of the City Watch in the turn of two moons, and your heart skipped a beat at the thought of him donning the gold cloak. It seemed he was more his Uncle’s son than his father’s.

“Have you? I will miss you riding on Vhagar with me, but I am happy. It is time you claimed your own,” he murmured, his thumb tracing over your knuckles.

“I’m happy you think so. I was hoping you would assist me tomorrow in claiming her,” you grinned.

“Do you think it wise in such a state?” His hand pressed to your rounded belly.

“Many of our ancestors rode while pregnant, including our sisters. I believe I shall be quite safe with you and the keepers by my side.”

“Mmm, then you will have your dragon on the morrow.”

Later that evening, you emerged from a warm bath and applied jasmine oil to your skin, paying extra attention to your belly. You did not bother dressing but simply warmed yourself in front of the roaring fire as you enjoyed the feeling of the crackling heat against your shimmering skin. You ran an ivory comb through your damp silver tresses.

“My, this is quite the sight to be greeted by,” Aemond smirked as he entered the chambers.

You preened at his words, giving him a coy smile. “You are overdressed, husband. Allow me to remedy that.”

You stepped closer, your fingers working quickly to undo his clothing. As his chiseled, pale flesh came into view, you felt a familiar throbbing between your thighs. Your hand smoothed across his lithe body as your lips hungrily claimed his neck. An insatiable need flowed through you, and you needed him. You felt his cock stir against your thigh, and soon you were tangled in the sheets. His hot breath tickled the back of your neck as you carefully rolled onto your side, the meaty curve of your ass rocking against his stick cock. His hand delved between your thighs, slowly dragging his fingers over your wet cunt.

“Are you desperate for me, idañus?” he hissed into your ear, his hand delivering a firm slap to your rear.

“Yes, I need you,” you whimpered.

“Beg sweetly, idañus,” he taunted, one hand cupping your full breast as the tip of his cock teased your entrance.

“Please, please, I feel as if I might go mad if I do not have your cock soon, idañus!”

A dark chuckle spilled from his lips, his hand moving from your breast to your hip as he sunk deep inside you. You mewled happily at the feeling, clenching greedily around him.

“You’ve become quite spoiled lately. When our babe is born, I shall have to take you in hand,” he purred, his words sending sparks through your lower belly.

Pleasure spun through your head, making you dizzy as you lost all comprehension for words, merely mewling and moaning as if you were a wanton whore populating Silk Street. All you wanted at this moment was your brother-husband’s cock, allowing him to take you apart on it. His chest pressed tightly against your back as one of his legs rested over yours, letting him sink deeper inside. His large hands kneaded your breasts before one cupped your belly while he sharply thrust his hips, hitting the spot inside you that made you scream with pleasure. His flesh slapped against yours, the slick wet sound spurring you on, and a few moments later, you drenched his cock.

He remained inside you, tenderly stroking your hair as he murmured words of praise in your ear while tenderly caressing your belly. Your mind felt cloudy as you melted in his arms, feeling one with him. Sleep overtook you quickly and you did not rouse until the bright sun streamed through the windows. You frowned, noting that Aemond was not by your side, but he did have duties to attend. Your ladies entered, and you instructed them to help you dress in your riding habit, tailored to accommodate your pregnancy. You arranged to break your fast in your chambers, enjoying a light meal of bread, hard cheese, blackberries, and sweet clear wine. Excitement dulled your appetite, but you had to ensure the babe was provided nutrients lest you receive a scolding from Aemond.

“Prince Aemond has requested you join him by the Dragonmont, princess,” Lady Mya stated, giving you a curtsey as she entered before tasking herself with braiding your hair.

“Very well, I shall join him a moment. How fares Naela this morning?”

“In her cheerful disposition, she is a delight, princess,” Mya beamed.

“I will visit with her when I return. You all may remain here unless you wish to witness me claim my dragon,” you smiled.

“I’d rather not thank you for the reprieve, princess,” Lady Aennesa murmured, turning pallid.

You felt in good spirits as you ventured to the base of the Dragonmont, Aemond waiting with two dragonkeepers as Drimmi flew above Blackwater Bay. You watched in awe as she swooped toward the water, diving her massive back claws into the sea to secure a squid. She devoured it with a simple snap of her jaw. While the keepers fed the dragons housed in King’s Landing, the ones on Dragonstone hunted, which you supposed contributed to their larger frames. Drimmi landed on the beach, lowering her head, her nostrils flaring as she picked up your scent in the air and slowly moved closer.

“Go to her,” Aemond encouraged, pressing his hand to your lower back.

You supposed a bit of nervousness was to be expected; dragons were dangerous creatures, after all, but you weren’t frightened. You felt peace as you approached her calmly and extended your palm toward her.

“Rytsas, Drimmi (hello),” you whispered.

She seemed to study you intensely before pressing her muzzle against your palm. Fire coursed through your veins as you stroked her scaled flesh. Flames sparking under your fingertips; as you realized her amethyst eyes were almost the same shade hue of yours. Time seemed to stand infinitely still as you both took each other in. A rider becoming one with their dragon. A sacred bond that was not easily broken, only through death. She was your mount and laid claim to you as much as you did to her.

She lowered closer to the ground, one winging pressing against the sand as she signaled for you to mount her. Carefully, you climbed onto her wing, mindful of your belly, before taking hold of her spikes as the wing lifted you higher. Steadily, you swung a leg over her back as you judged a stable area to ride until she was properly saddled, carefully avoiding her spikes.

“Sōvēs, Drimmi (fly),” you commanded, holding tightly to her as she lifted into the air.

The wind whipped at your cheeks as she soared around the island. You had been on the backs of Vhagar and Caraxes, but this was an entirely different feeling. She belonged to you; it made you feel powerful. Euphoria blossomed through you, and you felt your heart beat in time with hers. Aōhon iksan se ñuhon iksā (I am yours, and you are mine). You enjoyed the short flight as Drimmi landed on the beach, lowering her body so you could dismount. The dragonkeepers bristled, calling out commands to her as they herded her toward the caves. Aemond wore a broad smile as he took hold of your gloved hands.

“You did well,” he praised.

“Thank you,” you beamed, nuzzling close to him as his arms wrapped around you.

Naela sat before the fire; a ruby-scaled egg hugged close to her chest as you cradled Tygar in your arms. You lifted his downy silver head to your nose, inhaling the sweet, milky scent. Jaehaera sat next to you, her small legs dangling over the edge of the chair as she worked on her needlepoint. She proved to be skilled at it, just like her mother. Your heart ached for Helaena and her sons. Rhaenyra had approved your request to take Jaehaera to ward with you and Aemond on Dragonstone shortly before birthing Tygar. Morghul had taken well to Dragonstone, growing rapidly as Jaehaera adjusted to her new accommodations. Naela was taken with her, following her around as if she were her elder sister.

“Might we return your egg to the warming chambers, sweetling?” you smiled at Naela.

“No,” she pouted, hugging it tighter against her.

“Alright, it may keep you company tonight, but on the morrow, we must return it in hopes that it will hatch soon,” you reasoned, and she nodded, silver ringlets falling in front of her violet eyes.

Tygar yawned before snuggling his face into your chest. He seemed of sweet temperament like his sister, and his birth had been relatively easy, with Aemond dutifully at your side the entire time as you welcomed his son into the world. Rhaenyra insisted on an extravagant name-day celebration once he reached a year. You were shaken from your thoughts by the sound of Aemond’s boots.

“Kepus!” Naela squealed, gently placing her egg on the hearth before rushing into Aemond’s arms.

He scooped her up, placing a kiss upon her cheek. Jaehaera glanced up from her needlepoint, giving him a warm smile.

“The hour of the bat approaches, yet I see we are all still awake,” Aemond chuckled.

“We were enjoying the fire's peace and warmth, but I suppose it is time for bed,” you smiled.

“I will see the young ladies to their maids,” Aemond offered, and you nodded your thanks.

“My egg, Kepus, my egg!” Naela huffed, her tiny arms reaching towards it.

“Yes, we mustn’t forget your egg. How silly of me to forget,” he hummed, scooping up the red egg in his other arm. Naela quickly drew it close while Aemond offered his hand to Jaehaera.

“Good night,” Jaehaera whispered, kissing your cheek before taking Aemond’s hand.

“Nigh nigh, Muñus,” Naela yawned, her purple eyes drooping with sleep.

Your heart warmed at the way she lisped over the s. You wish both girls a pleasant slumber and sweet dreams as they went off with Aemond. You were not ready to hand over Tygar yet, so you moved to the bed, resting against a pillow as you cuddled him against your breast. When Aemond returned, he settled in behind you, cradling you and Tygar in his arms.

“He has your nose,” you murmured.

“I believe you have the same nose,” Aemond teased, nuzzling your temple.

“I suppose I do,” you chuckled.

“He is rather perfect, just like Naela.”

You nodded your agreement. “As their future siblings will be, one hopes.”

“How many shall we plan for?”

“Certainly not thirteen,” you scoffed.

“We are in agreement there.”

“Mayhaps two more. Four seems a good number,” you smiled as Tygar grew heavy in your arms.

“Indeed it does.”

You allowed your eyes to close while in the warm embrace of your husband with your son nestled close. Drimmi’s boisterous bray filled the night air, bringing a smile to your face. All was exceedingly well.

Tag list: @watercolorskyy @the-wonderland-madnesss

#fae's writings #aemond targaryen #aemond targaryen x reader #aemond x fem!reader #aemond x reader #aemond x you #Aemond Targaryen x fem!reader #hotd fanfic #hotd aemond #hotd smut #aemond smut #aemond targaryen fanfic #aemond targaryen smut #aemond targaryen imagine #aemond imagine #castling series #aemond x twin!reader #aemond x twin

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joelsgreys · 1 year

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a safe haven l one

Post Outbreak! Joel Miller x Female Reader

series masterlist l next chapter

summary: After the events in Salt Lake City, Joel and Ellie are back in Jackson, Wyoming to start a brand new life in the safe haven; Ellie has a difficult time fitting in and adjusting in the community, but she finds a friend in you; Joel meets you for the very first time and strange new feelings instantly take root.

warnings/tags: 18+ ONLY, MINORS DNI. JACKSON ERA. AGE GAP (no specific age is mentioned, but reader’s in her late 20s/early 30s and Joel is 56). reader is basically an OFC but story is written in reader format and her physical descriptions are kept as vague as possible. i have my own face claim for her, but i will only ever share it under cuts and with disclaimers. reader is married, Ellie plays a very important role in the series, hints at her strained relationship with Joel but this will indeed be a fix it fic because he deserves it, okay?

word count: 8.1k

Jackson, Wyoming | June, 2024

Joel’s deep, dark brown eyes linger on you from across the town mess hall with sheer, almost unabashed curiosity. Then again, he doesn’t even realize that he’s staring.

It’s about half past twelve, the designated lunch break hour in Jackson, and the larger scale eatery, which for the last couple of years has been run by an older man named Seth and his two surviving adult sons, is alive and well, buzzing loudly with obnoxious, overlapping chatter.

The hall is almost over maximum capacity, packed to the brim with several members of the steadily growing community who had stopped in for a quick bite to eat before having to resume their daily work duties around the settlement. Or at least, a majority of them had, anyway. Others shamelessly try to milk their lunch hour for all that it’s worth and more, dragging it out and extending their allotted free time for as long as they possibly can before having to return to their scheduled tasks around the commune. They float about the place, socializing as if the mess hall had suddenly turned into The Tipsy Bison, the bar right across the road that’s also owned and operated by Seth.

Somehow, by a stroke of sheer good luck, you’d managed to find yourself a smaller, unoccupied table nestled against the wall, away from all the hustle and bustle. It’s tucked away over in the furthest corner of Jackson’s busy and bustling makeshift canteen, near where the aluminum double doors that lead back to the kitchens are propped wide open for the mess hall staff who were coming in and out to replenish the dishes at the buffet.

You’re sitting at the table alone, your plastic lunch tray surrounded by an absurd amount of open books that Joel had very little choice but to assume came from the town’s modest, but decent sized library that he’d seen nestled between the schoolhouse and the old church, right behind Main Street. In between delicate bites of oven baked chicken and roasted vegetables harvested fresh from the gardens, you reach up and take the blunt, worn yellow pencil that’s tucked in the space behind your ear, using it to scribble on the notepad in your lap before putting the pencil back in its designated place. Although you’re clearly working through your lunch break today, that doesn’t stop you from being interrupted on several different occasions by numerous individuals—friends and familiar faces all approach you with hopeful expressions, eager to join you and keep you company.

Sure, the hall is full, but there’s still a number of available seats still left at other partially occupied tables nearby, bigger tables that aren’t crowded with books like yours, tables whose occupants aren’t busy working, studying—doing whatever it is that you’re doing. It becomes apparent to Joel that you’re something of a hot commodity around here. He can’t quite put his finger on it, but there’s just something about you that reminds him of the sweet and popular small town girl his favorite country artists would sing about back in the day. The kind of girl with a magnetic presence and irresistible charm—the kind of girl that anyone can fall head over heels in love with in one way or another.

There’s something almost too endearing about the gracious way you offer up just the most saccharine smile and apologetic doe eyes as you point to your books, politely declining every offer for companionship that comes your way, saying something he can imagine to be along the lines of, not today or maybe another time. Eventually, after a while, you’re finally left alone to bury yourself back into whatever it is that’s keeping you occupied that you can’t even have your midday meal in peace—you’re so engrossed in the task that you don’t even notice the older, salt and pepper haired newcomer who’s been blatantly staring at you from his table over on the opposite of the hall for the last several minutes.

It’s not the first time Joel’s seen you around.

He still vividly remembers the moment when he’d first laid eyes on you several months ago during the winter season.

It had been the morning after his fight with Ellie, after she’d confronted him and he had been forced to fess up about his plans to hand her off to his younger brother, Tommy—he’d asked him, pleaded with him, to get her to the Fireflies in Colorado. Joel’s mind had been in an all out raging war, his heart torn between doing what he’d felt was best for Ellie and what he truly wanted, which was to remain by her side and get her to where she needed to be himself. But how the fuck could he do that when all he’d managed to do in the few months prior to their arrival in Wyoming was fail to protect her over and over again? Sure, Ellie was a teenager, now closer to being an adult than anything else, but she was still a child, one who needed to be protected, kept safe. She needed somebody who could get to where she needed to be in one piece, and Joel had come to the conclusion that, as much as he wanted to be that person, he simply wasn’t capable. Slower, older, his hearing getting worse and worse as the days go by, he feared he’d only end up getting her killed if she continued on with him, a scenario he fucking refused to let happen at all costs. He wouldn’t hold another child’s dead body in his arms, not again.

Following a very long and sleepless night of tossing and turning, Joel had pulled himself out of bed just after sunrise that morning. After getting dressed, he’d quietly slipped out of the house and made his way down to the horse stables, hoping he could leave the commune as soon as possible and without notice from Tommy—and especially without notice from Ellie. It’s not that he had wanted to leave without saying goodbye to her, but Joel knew he wouldn’t have it in him to follow through with the decision he’d made about parting ways with her if he saw her face again, not a fucking chance. And so there he’d been, in one of the stalls at the stables, saddling up the horse he planned to steal and take off on when you’d walked by, flashing him a warm and friendly smile, probably assuming he was just another patrolman getting ready to head out for the morning shift.

Joel had just stared at you, lips pressed together into a tight, thin line with an emotionless expression on his hard, stony face.

Of course, you were nothing more than a complete stranger who didn’t have the slightest clue as to what was going through his mind. You couldn’t have possibly imagined what was happening to the tortured older man you’d just encountered, the way his inner turmoil was a single thought away from tearing him apart from the inside out. You’d probably just thought he was rude for not smiling back, or at the very least, offering you a courteous good morning.

He’d almost forgotten about you since then.

Almost.

It’d been rather difficult for him to forget all about the prettiest goddamn fucking face he’d ever seen since the world ended two decades ago—not even after all of the events that followed that fateful morning.

The next time Joel had seen you was on his second day back in Wyoming. He and Ellie had made a trip down to the produce market on Main Street to pick up some vegetables and jarred preserves to stock up the kitchen pantry of their new, forever home. He’d caught sight of you as you made your way down one of the aisles towards the sweet potato bins with a brown, woven basket hanging from one arm and a reusable shopping bag draped over the other. Before Joel even realized that he’d been staring, your kind gaze met his own from across the market and you smiled at him again.

Still just as warm, still just as friendly. And you were still just as fucking beautiful as he remembered.

Much like that winter morning in the horse stables, Joel didn’t smile back at you.

Two for fucking two—surely you must have thought he was a mannerless asshole at this point. He honestly wouldn’t blame you if you did. He’d think the same.

Tommy, who had made it back from leading his morning patrol group just in time to join him for lunch, waves a hand in front of Joel’s face, looking thoroughly amused. “Maybe we should find you a goddamn camera,” he teases, letting out a small chuckle once he’d finally managed to break the older Miller’s trance, garnering his attention. “Y’know, so you can take a picture. It’ll last a hell of a lot longer.”

Joel scowls at his brother, though he says nothing.

He can’t very well deny that he’d been caught openly gawking.

“Shut up, Tommy,” is all he can come up with before taking a large bite of seasoned carrots, heat flooding his face. The way Tommy’s looking at him, with that mischievous glimmer in his eyes, it reminds Joel of their younger years, when Tommy would make it his mission in life to do anything that would cause him discomfort just for his own kicks.

“Hey, I don’t really blame you, y’know.” Tommy reaches over for his glass of sweet iced tea and picks it up, taking a long and refreshing sip. Smacking his lips together, he casually shrugs his shoulders, shooting Joel a knowing smirk over the top the glass as he comments, “She’s certainly a sight for sore eyes, ain’t she, big brother?”

“Watch it. Don’t think Maria would appreciate you sayin’ that kinda thing ’bout another woman who ain’t her,” Joel warns, cocking an eyebrow at him. His brother hadn’t always been the most faithful of partners in his first life, but Tommy truly seemed to be head over heels in love with his wife. Hearing him talk about another woman makes Joel wonder if perhaps remnants of his playboy ways still lingered behind even after twenty years. With Maria having just found out she was expecting his child, Joel certainly hopes that isn’t the case. “Eyes to yourself, asshole.”

Tommy shrugs again. “Ain’t no real harm in just takin’ a quick peek every once in a while,” he muses, although there’s a joking edge to his tone. Setting his glass of iced tea back down onto the table in front of him, he leans back into his chair and glances over at you. He lets out a long, low whistle, another smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “Oh trust me, I get it, Joel—hell, every man around here gets it, fuckin’ single or not. She’s a real fuckin’ beauty, she is. But I should probably go ahead and warn you now that it’s best you don’t go gettin’ any ideas when it comes to that one.”

Before Joel can even stop himself, he finds himself asking, “Why’s that?

“Well for starters, that girl’s damn near half your fuckin’ age, you old fucker.”

Joel flips him off.

“Besides that, she’s already spoken for.”

“She’s got a boyfriend.” It’s a statement, not a question.

“She’s got a husband,” Tommy corrects him. “She’s a married woman, Joel. And here’s the real fuckin’ kicker. She’s married to Jackson’s only doctor.”

Joel snorts, rolling his eyes. “A real doctor? Or just some fuckin’ clueless prick who claims to be a doctor?” he questions, shoving another forkful of his carrots into his mouth.

The younger man laughs at the bitter skepticism, knowing that it’d come from a place of envy more than anything. “Real, Joel. The guy’s around my age, give or take a couple years. He was finishin’ up his medical school residency when the outbreak first happened, at least that’s what Maria says,” he explains. He notices the confusion flash across Joel’s face and continues to elaborate. “Two of them go way back, went to the same college before she transferred out to another school for her law degree. Maria came across him and his group one day while out lookin’ for supplies. She said he still knew his stuff after all these years and decided to bring him in as the community’s physician. He looks after everyone around here. Delivers the babies, stitches up wounds. Hell, I broke my arm in a stupid ridin’ accident last summer and he set the bone right back into place, had me good as new within a few weeks. S’a miracle we’ve got someone like him around here.”

Joel glances down at his plate, twiddling his fork between his thumb and his index finger. He would have been a goddamn dirty liar if he’d said that finding out you were a married woman didn’t bother him.

And to a fucking hero doctor nonetheless.

That only makes it sting a little harder.

Tommy immediately picks up on his brother’s disappointment in hearing the news about you being taken and softly kicks his shin with the toe of his boot underneath the table. “Y’know Joel, there’s plenty of other single women around here. Pretty ones, and real nice, too,” he informs him with a small smile. He pauses and then offers, “If you’re interested, I could introduce you around. Maria has this friend, her name is Esther and she’s a real cute blonde—”

“That’s the last thing on my fuckin’ mind,” Joel grumbles out in reply. He tightly shakes his head. “I just fuckin’ got here, Tommy. Besides, I’ve got Ellie that I need to take care of. We’re both tryin’ to get used to this place after bein’ out there on the road for so long. We’re still in the middle of gettin’ ourselves settled. The kid’s my priority right now—my only fuckin’ priority. Not meetin’ someone.”

Not wanting to push him too far, Tommy goes along with the subject change. “Speakin’ of Ellie, how’s she been doin’ by the way? Haven’t really seen much of her since you two got back.”

Joel hesitates, momentarily unable to meet Tommy’s eyes.

It’d been a couple of weeks now since the events that took place back in Salt Lake City.

Since the hospital.

Since the Fireflies.

Joel had certainly thought once or twice about confiding in Tommy about what he had done. How he had ruthlessly and without a single ounce of mercy killed all of those people in the hospital, how he had shot Marlene dead at point blank range—how he had violently and single handedly stopped what had most likely been humanity’s only chance at potentially finding a cure for the cordyceps infection by preventing the Fireflies from operating on Ellie and performing a brain surgery that would have killed her.

Joel doesn’t regret it, nor does he regret the choice he’d made on Ellie’s behalf.

He would do it all over again in a fucking heartbeat if it came down to it.

He doesn’t carry guilt over having done what he’d done, but he does carry the guilt of having lied to her about it after it was all said and done. He felt awful for looking her in the eye and swearing to her that everything he’d said about the Fireflies was true when it wasn’t. Ellie claimed to believe him, but he knew better than that. She was smart, too fucking smart for her own good. She might not have known the extent of it all, but she knew for certain that Joel wasn’t being entirely forthright about what had gone down in Salt Lake City while she’d been unconscious.

From that moment on the mountain, things had been quite tense between them. That conversation instantly caused a rift in their relationship, but Joel could tell she was doing her very best to force herself to fully believe that he was still a person she could trust, a person she could put her faith in. He took an odd sense of comfort in knowing that her forced efforts to keep believing in him had to have meant something good.

She didn’t want to give up on him or on their relationship.

Joel exhales a heavy sigh, finally answering the question. “Not too great,” he admits, quietly. “I’m real worried ‘bout her, Tommy. It’s been a couple weeks now since we’ve been back and she still hasn’t made one single goddamn friend around here. She doesn’t fuckin’ talk to anyone, barely even talks to Maria.” He sighs again, tiredly rubbing the side of his face with his free hand. “She spends most of her time hidin’ out in the stables with the horses. She would rather be around them than other people. She can’t live the rest of her life like that. I try to tell her she needs to put in more effort on her part, but she won’t fuckin’ listen to me.”

“Just give her some more time, Joel. After everythin’ that poor kid’s been through in her life, it ain’t a big surprise that she’s strugglin’ a bit to fit in around here, y’know?” Tommy notices the way his older brother’s jaw clenches and he offers him a look of sympathy. “Look, I know Ellie means a whole lot to you and if I were you, I would be real worried ’bout her too. But just give her a little more time to adjust. She’ll get there, I know she fuckin’ will. She’s a real strong kid, big brother.”

“Yeah, I know she is,” Joel murmurs in agreement. “Hell of a lot stronger than someone her age should have to be.”

“She’ll be just fine,” Tommy reassures him. “She’ll find her place here, Joel. Just wait. You’ll see.”

“I sure as hell fuckin’ hope you’re right.”

You relish the feeling of warm sunlight hitting your face.

Summer’s just beginning in Wyoming, and after a particularly long, cold and cruel winter that swept the western state this last year, you couldn’t have been more thrilled to see that warmer weather is well on its way.

At least, for now you’re thrilled.

Winters in Jackson were god awful, but summers could be just as brutal, if not worse.

Clutching the strap of your old, but sturdy brown leather satchel bag securely over your shoulder, you hurriedly make your way across the settlement from the mess hall and back towards the horse stables, the place you commonly referred to as your second home—it wasn’t all that much of a joke, seeing as you often spent more time there than you didn’t. It’s now after lunch hour, and there’s still plenty of work to be done before the end of the day rolls around, most of it which would undoubtedly trickle into the next day.

Being the only veterinarian in the community, there was always more than plenty of work to be done every day. Too much work to be done by one single person alone. Often, you find yourself feeling quite overwhelmed by it all. You feel like you’re completely in over your head, and it leaves you wondering if you’d made the right decision by taking such an enormous responsibility into your hands.

Then again, it’s not like you’d been given much of a choice. In a way, it had been expected of you.

Prior to passing away from illness two summers ago, your father had been the veterinarian who looked after the animals. Even though you hadn’t been trained professionally like he had, your father decided to spend the final years of his life teaching you to the best of his ability and with what little resources he had available. After all, Jackson was going to need someone to step up and take care of the animals when he was gone—particularly the hoses. Even as his physical health worsened, he used every last ounce of strength he had left in him to prepare you to take over for him when he died. Thanks to him and all he’d done for you, you certainly knew a thing or two, but the job was still daunting, even after all this time of being in practice on your own without him there to guide you like before.

Keeping the horses healthy to begin with made your job a hell of a lot easier, but when a horse became sick or injured, that was when your knowledge and your skills were truly put to the test. Horses were how everyone traveled when in search of needed supplies, how patrolmen and women moved around while they were out and about on watch keeping the community safe against the infected and against raiders. Horses were one of the most important, most precious resources the commune possessed. They kept everything going, everyone moving, and you’d be fucking lying if you said that being the sole person in charge of caring for them didn’t put a tremendous amount of pressure on your shoulders.

Sensing your doubt, Maria Miller often assured you that you were the best person for the role—the only person for the role. “The apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree,” she had complimented you over coffee at her place the morning after you had successfully removed a bullet lodged into the shoulder of one of the horses that had been injured while Tommy and his group were out on overnight patrol. They’d stumbled across violent and armed raiders, and luckily everyone had made it out unscathed with the exception of Tommy’s beloved black horse, Ranger. You recalled being pulled out of your bed in the middle of the night to tend to him, the first serious case you had to take care of without your father’s guidance. Thankfully, the stallion’s injury hadn’t been life threatening, and you were able to patch him up within the hour. After just a few weeks of working with Ranger and putting him through physical therapy, the horse made a full recovery and both Maria and Tommy couldn’t have been more thrilled with your work.

Still, you still continued questioning your own abilities, but it didn’t really matter in the end. Both Maria and Tommy decided to assign you as Jackson’s equine veterinarian, pulling you from your previous job, which had been helping Seth make sandwiches at The Tipsy Bison.

You rush into the stables, making a mental list with the names of all the horses that you still need to check over for the day, including the group of horses that had just arrived back from that morning’s patrol. You make your way down to the very last stall which is serving as home to a stunning, chestnut-brown pregnant mare.

“Hi there, Stella,” you coo sweetly, beaming at the beauty. “Hi, my gorgeous girl. How are you doing today, sweetie pie?”

“I would be doing a hell of a lot better if I could have one of those apples in your bag,” a voice answers, startling you slightly.

Peering around Stella’s body, you catch sight of Ellie laying down on a small bed of hay in the furthest corner of the stall. She’d made something of a pillow out of her backpack, kicking back as she flips through her favorite superhero comic book for what had to be the hundredth time. She offers you a silly, lopsided grin the minute she takes a glimpse at the baffled look on your face. “Howdy.”

“Ellie,” you sigh her name softly. “What in the world are you doing in here?”

“Living my best life,” she deadpans. “What else does it look like I’m doing?”

You try but mostly fail, in hiding your laughter at her quick witted sense of humor. “Ellie,” you say her name again. “You can’t just hide out in here with the horses every single day, you know,” you point out, dropping your heavy satchel bag onto the ground. Stella lowers her head and gives it a sniff, no doubt smelling those apples you always carried around with you.

“Wanna bet?” The teenager quips with a small joking smirk as she sits up, tossing her comic book to the side. Bits of hay stick out of her brown hair, which she always keeps tied back in a messy ponytail.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in school with the other kids?”

She rolls her eyes. “I already went to school. Back in the Boston QZ. FEDRA’s finest, dude.”

You don’t know all that much about Ellie Williams—nor about the brooding older man that she’s here with, Joel Miller. The only thing you do know is that Joel happened to be Tommy Miller’s older brother and he acted as Ellie’s guardian. Initially, you’d thought he was her father, but Maria had told you that he had no familial relation to the girl, a fact that took you by complete surprise.

Their arrival in Jackson back during the winter season had the entire town talking—but by the following morning, the pair were gone, not to be seen again for several months until their return towards the end of spring just a couple of weeks ago. Rumors flew once the word of their return had gone around, but in reality, no one had the slightest clue about where they had gone or why they had left the safety of the commune’s walls in the first place. Not even Maria, who had failed in getting her husband to talk. She swore up and down Tommy knew something she didn’t, but he refused to spill his brother’s secrets, even to his own wife.

Like everyone else in the tight knit community, you were curious about Ellie, and you were especially curious about Joel. You’d seen him around a couple of times before, but hadn’t had the chance to meet him yet. Still, even without having spoken a single word to him, you already knew he wasn’t anything like Tommy, or anyone else you’ve ever encountered, really. A man of very few words, he kept to himself, just like Ellie did. Still, Joel knew he needed to find his place and pull his weight in Jackson just like everyone else, and once he began working patrol alongside Tommy, he finally began engaging with other members of the town.

Reluctantly so, but at the very least, he was trying.

Ellie, on the other hand, avoided everybody at all costs. Everybody, that is, except for you.

Since their arrival, Ellie chose to spend her days in the stables. She’d hang out with the horses while reading her comic books or listening to tapes on some old Walkman she had permanently borrowed from Tommy. Despite a hectic schedule that kept you busy, you eventually started taking the time out of your day to talk to her. It had started off with light chatter about the most trivial of things—how the day was going, whether or not the weather was nice outside, what had been served for lunch in the mess hall that afternoon. Ellie seemed almost annoyed with you at first, but after a couple of days, she’d quickly started warming up to you and by the end of the first week, she had started following you around the stables, joining you wherever you needed to be. The girl had taken a liking to you, but she was still quite guarded and careful, as if she were still testing the waters, figuring out whether or not you could be trusted.

You don’t mind that, though.

Little by little, simply by being kind to her and making the genuine effort to get to know her, you’re slowly beginning to chip away at her layers. There was still quite a long way to go if you ever wanted the teenager to completely open up to you, but you didn’t mind that either.

You’d be as patient with her as you needed to be.

You walk over to her. “Listen Ellie, as much as I really enjoy having you around me all the time, you really do need to make friends, you know.”

She blinks. “But you’re my friend.”

Even as you rephrase yourself, you can’t help but smile. “Friends your own age,” you remark, tucking the loose lock of your hair that had fallen loose from your dutch braid behind your ear. “You know, my husband, he has a niece named Dina. She’s about your age. I could introduce you to each other if you'd like?”

Ellie furiously shakes her head. “No.”

“Ellie—”

“Everyone around here looks at me like I’ve got two fucking heads or something. She probably fucking will too,” she mumbles. She pulls her knees up to her chest and wraps her arms around them. “I’d have an easier time fitting in around here if I was a fucking clicker.”

Chuckling, you gently shake your head at her.

By now, you’d pretty much gotten used to her rich and colorful vocabulary.

You crouch down in front of her. “Look Ellie, I know how hard it is not to fit in with others.”

“You?” Ellie blows a loud raspberry in complete disbelief. “No fucking way. I don’t believe that for one fucking second, sweet cheeks.”

“Hey, in case you didn’t know this, I haven’t always been this age,” you remind her, lightly swatting at the side of her knee with your hand. “I was fifteen once too.”

“Yeah, and you were probably little miss fucking perfect, just like you are now.” She rolls her brown eyes at you in a teasing manner. “I bet everyone just loved you.”

You swat at her knee again. “Oh, stop that. That couldn’t be any further from the truth,” you reply, wondering where this child had come up with the idea that you are, or had ever been perfect. “I was still living in one of the quarantine zones with my family when I was your age, Ellie. We were living in the Alburquerque QZ for quite a while before it got overrun by the infected. They had schools and everything, just like in Boston. My mother was a nurse, so she had the privilege of enrolling me in one of their better schools, a preparatory school—she had the hope that I’d become an officer so I could have a chance at a decent life.” You pause, noticing a strange glimmer flash in the girl’s eyes, but when she says nothing, you continue on, “So I got the absolute pleasure of going to school with a bunch of kids whose parents were officers and important higher ups in the zone. And let me tell you something, the world may have gone to complete shit, but teenagers can still be fucking assholes.”

Ellie throws her head back and laughs loudly. “Whoa! I never thought I’d hear you curse. I thought you were too fucking prim and proper for that.”

“I’m not all that prim and proper,” you counter, grinning at the way she continues to cackle. “Besides, spending all this time with you might just have me cursing like a fucking sailor by the end of the week.”

“Fuck yeah it will,” she agrees with a nod.

You grin again, but when your eyes meet Ellie’s, it falters slightly.

Ellie hadn’t told you much of anything about her past, but one thing was for certain—the young girl had been through hell and back. You could see it written all over her face, even when she smiled and even when she laughed. The traces of terror, pain, and trauma were quite subtle, but they were very much present and in recent nights, you’d find yourself lying in bed, wide awake and wondering what all this poor child had gone through in her life. Thoughts about what Ellie had seen, what and who she had lost in this world haunted you.

She’s different.

What she’d been through made her different.

It set her apart from the other children, especially those who don’t know what it’s like to live a life outside these four walls.

It pained you to know that she felt ostracized when you were willing to bet your life that whatever had happened to her, it hadn’t been her fault.

Ellie Williams wasn’t your responsibility—you hardly know her. But you already care about her. An inexplicable soft spot for her had found its way into your heart from your very first interaction with her. If there’s anything you can do to help her ease into this new way of life, you’ll gladly do so without hesitation.

“So then,” Ellie finally says after a minute, looking up at you. “Is it, uh, is it alright if I keep coming to the stables to spend time with you and the horses?”

“Of course.” You rise to your feet and glance at Stella. “But only on one condition. You have to help me out with the grooming. I’ve been really short handed lately and could use the extra help. Deal?”

She jumps up to her feet, eagerly nodding her head. “Deal.”

Joel dumps his plastic tray and used dishware into the designated dirty dish bin before shoving his way through the doors of the mess hall. The air outside is still relatively cool, it’s crisp and fresh—but the temperatures are sure to get a hell of a lot warmer now that summer has officially arrived. Not that he minded.

He keeps his sights set straight ahead of him, doing his best to avoid eye contact with anyone who so much as even throws a glimpse in his direction.

People seem to be getting to him, but oftentimes, he still feels like a pariah. It’s almost like he’s some fucking feral stray cat that Jackson had adopted and taken into it’s home, willing to tame him, but still afraid that he could start tearing shit up at any given moment if they didn’t keep a close enough eye on him. He could handle that, though. It’s his Ellie he’s worried about. Between the survivor’s guilt she’d been dealing with on a daily basis and the way she was looked at in the community by everyone, Joel feared for her well being. He could only hope that Tommy was right about her just needing time and that eventually, she’ll find her place and he’ll have the chance to give her the most normal life possible under the circumstances.

It’s the very least Joel could do for her after all she’d been through in the last year—after what he’d done, how he had lied straight to her face. He fucking owed her that much.

Ellie deserved happiness, and he would do just about anything in his power to give it to her.

Joel arrives at the horse stables and makes his way inside. “Ellie?” He calls out her name. “Ellie? You in here?”

That’s when he hears her voice.

“Wait, what? Stella’s pregnant? I didn’t fucking know that!”

Rounding the corner into the very last stall, Joel sees Ellie standing there, her tiny little hand on the muzzle of a brown horse. In her opposite hand, she’s holding a mane brush. She isn’t alone.

He’s surprised to see you standing there beside her, your hands planted on your hips. You’re wearing a pair of well worn light wash blue jeans, the legs tucked into a pair of weathered black riding boots whose soles are completely caked with muck. Joel remembers you wearing an oversized, long sleeved red flannel shirt back in the mess hall, but it’s now off and tied around your waist, leaving you in a thin, cotton white tank top—the material fits snug on your frame, and Joel tries his hardest not to stare at the patch of bare skin that peeks between the hem of your shirt and the waistband of your jeans.

Christ.

You’re even more beautiful up close.

Fuckin’ get a grip, Miller, he thinks silently to himself.

“She sure is,” you reply to her question with a wide grin. “We just found out about a week ago and believe she’s about a few weeks along. We’ll have a sweet new baby in a year.”

“What? No fucking way!” Ellie exclaims, looking thoroughly excited, but bewildered by the fact. “Horses are pregnant for a whole year? Holy shit man, that’s fucking nuts!”

“Well, for eleven months,” you clarify for her, giving Stella a gentle, but firm pat on her muscular neck. “This is Stella’s first one. We’re hoping for a smooth pregnancy that reaches full term, but sometimes babies decide to come a bit sooner than expected.”

Curiously, Joel’s lips part and his eyes widen slightly.

He can’t fucking believe it.

Ellie hadn’t spoken a single word to anyone in two weeks and yet here she is, engaging with you so easily and so effortlessly, cracking the first genuine smile he’d seen since they had fed that giraffe back in Salt Lake City. More than that, Ellie is being herself, cursing up a storm and all, and you don’t seem the slightest bit bothered by it, not like the other adults whose jaws would drop in utter horror at her use of such foul language.

Joel wills himself to move and steps inside of the stall. He lightly clears his throat. “Ellie.”

You and Ellie both turn around, glancing in his direction.

“Joel? What are you doing here?” she asks, her smile fading slightly.

“Lookin’ for you. It’s lunchtime. Y’need to go eat somethin’ kiddo.”

She holds up the brush in her hand. “But we were just about to—”

He stops her with a stern glare. “Lunch. Now. Go.”

“Fine,” Ellie huffs and rolls her eyes at him. Picking up her red and tan backpack from the ground, she hands you the mane brush and stomps out of the stall, roughly shoving into Joel’s shoulder as she pushes past him without another word.

Joel glances at you, a sudden wave of awkwardness washing over him. Just as he’s about to politely excuse himself and leave, you speak.

“You’re Tommy’s older brother, right? Joel?”

He nods. “Yeah. I am.”

Stepping away from Stella, you walk over to Joel and introduce yourself, extending a hand for him to shake.

Your name is as beautiful as you are and it sounds heavenly when he repeats it, rolling smoothly off his tongue. He takes your hand in his own and the contrast between the two is stark. Your hand is soft against his rough, small compared to his large, but somehow still an all too perfect fit.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Joel.” Your eyes find his, meeting them in a way that makes something inside of him that had been sleeping for decades now stir itself awake—it’s a feeling that’s too foreign for him to pinpoint.

Realizing he’s been holding onto your hand longer than necessary, he drops it and takes a step back, lightly bumping his back against the stall door. “I’m—uh, I’m real sorry ‘bout Ellie,” Joel apologizes to you after a minute. “I know she’s been spendin’ a lot of time in here. I hope she hasn’t been botherin’ you or gettin’ in the way of things. If she is, I’ll have a talk with her.”

“No, no. Of course not. She hasn’t been bothering me at all,” you quickly assure him without missing a beat. “I’m usually in here alone, so it’s actually been really nice having her around. I enjoy her company a lot.”

“You do?”

You toss him a puzzled, but amused look. “Is that so strange?”

Joel places his hands on his hips and leans back against the stall door. “Ellie’s been havin’ a little trouble,” he confesses. “Adjustin’ to life here and meetin’ people. She, uh—she ain’t like all the other kids around here, y’know?”

“I know.”

His eyebrows raise to his hairline—exactly how well had you and Ellie gotten to know each other already? What all had she told you? What did you know about her?

What did you know about him?

Joel tries to mask the concern on his face.

“I was just talking to her a little while ago. I told her I know how hard it is being a teenager and trying to fit it in with the crowd, even in a world like this one.” You let out a humorless laugh and shake your head, the ridiculousness of what you’d just said sounding sillier out loud than it had in your mind. “It’s even harder when you’re just so different.” You detect the way that your statement triggers something of a negative response from Joel—the way his eyes darken in a flash of anger and his nostrils flare slightly tell you he doesn’t take all too kindly to anyone talking negatively about his kid. Ellie being different is something that he already knows, of course, but hearing it from someone else isn’t easy for him, and it certainly isn’t welcome. It puts him right into protective mode and you don’t blame him, not in the slightest. You hold your hands up and reassure him, “There’s nothing wrong with being different, by the way.”

Joel sees the sincerity in your eyes that go hand in hand with your words and his defenses switch off almost as quickly as they’d switched on. “There isn’t,” he agrees with a careful nod of his head. “Nothin’ wrong with it at all.” He clears his throat. “M’sorry, I didn’t mean to—it’s just that I don’t really like it when people start runnin’ their mouths ‘bout my kid, that’s all.”

Waving a hand, you assure him, “No need to apologize at all, Joel.”

Little by little, he starts relaxing. Taut and tense muscles that have been wound up for years and years are suddenly beginning to loosen. All it’s taking is being in your presence and talking to you. Joel suddenly understands why Ellie’s taken such a quick liking to you.

You’re unlike anyone that either of them had ever met before. You’re bright and you bring about this warmth—a different kind of warmth Joel hadn’t felt in so fucking long. It feels like seeing the sun for the very first time after spending years and years trapped in a cold, cold darkness.

He glances around the stall. “So, uh—what’s the deal? You one of the stable hands around here or somethin’ like that?”

“Something like that,” you repeat after him, a tiny grin tugging at the corners of your mouth at the way he speaks with a heavy, but still incredibly charming Southern drawl. “I’m the veterinarian here in Jackson.”

He chuckles. “Y’mean, those still exist?”

“Sort of. My father used to be the veterinarian here,” you explain to him. “That was what he did for a living before the outbreak happened. We lived in New Mexico on a horse ranch when I was growing up—he started off as a stable hand and then he went back to school to become an equine veterinarian. When we got here a few years ago from one of the quarantine zones, he told Maria what he had done for a living before this and he was asked to care for the horses in exchange for our place here.”

“And you?” Joel can’t help but wonder out loud. You seem quite young, can’t be older than your late twenties or early thirties at most, which would still have made you a child when the outbreak happened. “No offense darlin’ but you seem a little bit too young to have gone to vet school before shit hit the fan.”

Darlin’.

He doesn’t mean to call you that. But it’s too late—and you don’t appear bothered by it.

Instead, you laugh, and the sound is like a gorgeous melody he could listen to on repeat for the rest of his life if given the chance. “No, I definitely did not go to veterinary school. Actually, my dad taught me everything I know.” You speak fondly of him as you continue to say, “He educated me. Well, as best as he could considering the circumstances and all. He gave me a ton of books that I could read and study from, but most of it was hands-on training. He tried to teach me all that he could before he died a couple of years ago.”

Joel frowns. “Oh. Sorry to hear ‘bout your dad.”

“It’s alright. You don’t have to be sorry.”

He peers at you, wondering what had happened to him.

“He died of illness,” you tell him, as if having read his mind. “Cancer, we think it was, but we obviously can’t know for sure without proper testing. And before you say it again, you don’t have to be sorry.” You cross your arms over your chest, tilting your head at him as you change the subject and ask, “So, how are you settling in?”

“S’been alright, I reckon. Real different from what I’m used to—from what we’re both used to,” Joel answers, referring to Ellie.

“I can imagine it is. It took me a while to get used to this place when I first got here too. It’s such a different way of life, especially when you lived under FEDRA control for so long,” you empathize with him, sighing as you drop your arms back down at your sides. “You stay just a couple of houses down from Tommy and Maria, right?”

“Yeah, we’re two doors down in the brown and greenish lookin’ unit.”

“I’m in the light blue and white cottage right across from them,” you inform him, your pretty eyes twinkling as you give him a smile. “I guess that kind of makes us neighbors, doesn’t it?”

Joel’s stomach somersaults.

If you didn’t stop smiling at him like that, there was going to be a problem.

“It does,” he manages to say. Remembering Tommy’s warning from earlier, he decides it would be best for him to leave—and the quicker, the better because he’s beginning to notice how fucking easy it is to fall under your spell. He pushes himself away from the stall door. “I should probably get goin’ now. Got evenin’ patrol,” he says. “Listen, uh, I really appreciate you spendin’ time with Ellie and bein’ so kind to her. Thank you for that.” He gives you a small grateful nod and turns on the heel of his boot to leave the stall.

“Joel?”

He stops dead in his tracks, his back stiffening slightly.

The sound of your soft voice saying his name is sweet like pure, raw honey.

If he isn’t careful, he’ll become addicted to it—he fears he already is.

Swallowing harshly, Joel turns back around to face you. “Yeah?”

“We’re having this big get together tomorrow night in the barn that’s right across the way,” you say, jabbing a thumb over your shoulder. Through the small round window in the stall, he can see the very barn you’re talking about. “We do it every single year on the first day of summer. We do it for the kids more than anything, but everyone comes out.” There’s a subtle hint of shyness to your tone. “I’m not sure if Tommy or Maria have mentioned it to you yet, but there’s going to be a big barbecue, drinks, and even dancing. The whole nine yards.”

Joel has to bite back a small scoff of disbelief. “You serious?”

“Hey, the world might have ended, but people still know how to get down and party,” you joke. You observe the genuinely perplexed look that crosses his face and giggle. “I know it must sound really bizarre. But it’s a lot of fun and it’s a great way to really get to know the folks around here. I think it would be great if you and Ellie both came.”

“Ain’t too sure if it’d be Ellie’s thing. Or mine,” he admits, raking a hand nervously through his hair at the thought.

“You won’t know unless you give it a shot, Joel.” You gift him with another brilliant smile that just about makes his heart stop inside his chest. “Please?”

Joel hardly knows you.

Hell, up until five minutes ago, he hadn’t even known your fucking name—how is it possible that he can’t say no to you? A complete fucking stranger?

He thinks about it. He doesn’t like the idea of having to interact with anyone outside of his patrol duties, but if going to the damn thing means seeing you again, then he’s willing to at the very least give it a shot.

“Maybe we’ll both stop by for a bit and check it out,” he finally replies, exhaling a sigh of defeat.

“Great!” You beam happily. “I’ll see you tomorrow night, then!”

“I’ll see you tomorrow night,” Joel repeats, giving you one last nod before turning and leaving the stall.

As he leaves the stables and heads home, he can’t help the way the corners of his mouth threaten to turn upwards at the mere thought of seeing you tomorrow night.

Shit.

Yeah, he’s in fucking trouble.

#joel miller fanfiction #joel miller series #joel miller x reader #joel miller x female reader #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x y/n #joel miller x you #joel miller x original character #joel miller x oc #joel miller pedro pascal #joel miller fic #pedro pascal characters #joel miller hbo #fic: a safe haven #fic: ash

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landograndprix · 6 months

Text

「Feel the magic ๛ l.n」

part ix

✧.* while the fans question your friendship with Carlos, you and lando have never been better

✧.* they are my babies your honor 🥺 google translated spanish. this is a psa for the people who wanted to be on my taglist but never got tagged, i didn't forget or ignore you, I simply am unable to tag you and therefore removed you from the list feel free to ask me again so I can take a look at it. Taglist is open Love ya ❤️

✧.* prev part - next part

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y/nusername posted to their story

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y/nusername

liked by albon_pets, cecilemoulin and 189,673 others

username oh..you're coming home with me 😻

view all 378 comments

y/nluv how many cats did you see so far?

y/nusername at least one!

y/nluv that's so many!

Hannahh this is indeed heaven 😭

norry4 get dash, leo and lola a new sibling!!!

carlossainz55 saca los gatos de tu maleta (get the cats out of your suitcase)

y/nusername no puedes detenerme 😉 (you can't stop me)

carlossainz55 oh, puedo 😉 (oh, i can)

sharl16 just some shameless flirting in Spanish 💀

landorfour lando reading this 😐😐

yourfriend1 te convertirás en la loca de los gatos (you will become the crazy cat lady)

yourfriend2 ¿Cuantos te vas a llevar a casa? (how many are you going to take home with you?)

norrizz comments being hijacked by the spaniards 😭

cecilemoulin you're going to need a bigger house if you're going to adopt a bunch of cats.

landonorris we don't need another cat..

landoscar WE?! y'all live together already?

bott_ass c'mon dad, what's one more kid?

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y/nusername

liked by carlossainz55, landonorris and 203,102 others

y/nusername wedding season' 💍

view all 444 comments

hamilt44n 100% sure the garland in the last picture was y/n her idea 😂

yourfriend1 same dick forever season

lan4lan so is Carlos going to be your date to this wedding?

julieeeexo I've been a wedding where I got put with a date I'd never met before, nothing special going on if Carlos does end up as her date..

lan4lan Carlos and y/n actually dated though, it's weird

julieeeexo and they've been exes for a while without any of us knowing I think they're good.

carlossainz55 don't cause any trouble

yourfriend2 sabes que ella es la mayor alborotadora 🤪 (you know she's the biggest troublemaker)

y/nusername Por supuesto que sí, ha vivido con ello durante años 😉 (of course he does, he has lived with it for years)

yourfriend2 ¡Eras mucho peor entonces, pero todos lo sabemos y lo amamos! (you were much worse back then but we all know and love it!)

carlandooo yall worried about this wedding and Carlos and y/n being each other's date meanwhile I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to survive the day I'm going to hear y/n speak spanish 🥵

landonorris it's hot for sure

carlandooo STOP ITT 😭

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landonorris

liked by y/nusername, maxfewtrell and 627,672 others

landonorris let's gooo

view all 1,872 comments

norry4 jesus...

mrsnorris my day's been blessed for sure 🥵

y/nusername y'all seeing this? 👀

norrizz we definitely see this bestie 😭

maxmaxmax afraid you have to share your man with all of us :((

sharl16 I'm not a lando girl I'm not a lando girl I'm not a lando girl I'm not a lando girl I'm not–

landofooooour 😍😍😍

y/nusername now the question is: where was my invite, where was my front row seat to all of this?

y/nlandoo girlie, you and I both know you wouldn't let that guy continue working out if you were there

y/nusername you right..

lan4lan everyone: still asleep and hungover after last night's party. Lando:

y/nusername jesus christ

landonorris stop it, you're making me blush

norrizz 😭 😭

norrislando lmfao y/n acting like she doesn't see this man half naked everyday 😭

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landonorris posted to their story

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Feel the magic taglist: @celesteblack08 @mrsmaybank13 @cha-hot @judesgfirl @roseseraj @kissesandmartinis @jpg3 @amulhermaisfelizdomundo @marialovesf1 @silkenthusiasts @luvrrish @laneyspaulding19 @emily-b @formula1bby @buckybarnessweetheart @strawberrychita @iifloweringnightsii @buendiabebeta @jjsprobablywrong @babyvinnie @mishaandthebrits @hockeyboysarehot @ironmaiden1313 @justdreamersdream

Lando taglist: @beatricemiruna @simp-for-fictional-people @landossainz @christianpulisic10

Everything taglist; @thomaslefteyebrow @hopefulinlove @smoothopz @softboystarkey @honethatty12 @cixrosie @parkersmjs @ireadthensuetheauthors @celestialams @be-your-coffee-pot @heli991113 @kodzuvk @reality-is-a-con @80sloverry @bibissparkles @myescapefromthislife @lanando4 @elliegrey2803 @ravisinghs-wife

#lando norris x reader #lando norris x you #lando norris x y/n #lando norris #lando norris fanfic #lando norris smau #lando norris au #lando norris imagine #lando x reader

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wifeofsnowbaird · 3 months

Text

You Can't, You Can't Catch me Now I'm coming like storm into your town

Part 1/Part 2/Part 3/

Masterlist

[Mentor!Coriolanus Snow x time-travel, hg-era, tribute!reader x toxic!Finnick Odair (in the Peacekeeper era)]

Warning: gore, blood, gun and knife violence, serious injury, death, physical assult, possibly non-con...as I said, maybe...

Summary: You are a rebel, the last chance of the rebellion against President Snow. You're told to go on one last mission to kill the man who massacred Panem. It took you years to understand your mission when you became [name] Lily Baird, starting from the age of five till before the reaping day of the 10th Hunger Games.

The day you began your plan to destroy President Snow before he became the villain he was meant to become.

'Both sisters, Lucy Gray and [Name] Lily Baird are a part of the Covey, and though they have been chosen as tribute for both District 12 and 9 because of our own mistakes, we hope they will stay safe.'

You knew about [Name] Lily Baird, named after her because your mother was inspired by her fiery personality and strength, but now you realize that you were transported to a time before the Baird sisters died, one of sickness and one because of Coriolanus Snow himself.

'I will kill you, President Coriolanus Snow.'

The reason you had volunteered to kill Snow was the debt your parents had owed him. They had cried and pleaded with the Peacekeepers to have some more time but they refused to react. Most District people had been forced into poverty and needed money and the Capitol granted them ways to gain some, but unfortunately, it was a loan that kept on growing. This started with President Snow’s reign and imposed slave labor on many of the people living in the poor Districts like 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.

Your parents had died in those situations, your father being forced into the coal mines and your mother transported to District 8 to work on Peacekeeper uniforms.

Both were killed by the very people they worked for.

‘[Name]! Are you ok? The train was very harsh…’ A bright-eyed girl-Lucy Gray- bent over you to wake you up from your sleep. The sun shone through a slit in the ceiling, highlighting your bronze skin as you moved.

She grinned over to you while sitting on the floor, eyeing you as you moved.

‘I loved your song, [Name] Lily, it was magical.’

You suddenly gasped, how did you…faint on stage?!

The small girl beside you nervously smiled before she extended a hand in your direction.

Lucy Gray motioned over to the extended hand and introduced you to her.

‘That’s Wovey from District 8, and I’m sure you know me!’ Her grin widened.

‘Of course I do, Lucy Gra-’

‘District 9 girl tribute, it’s time to meet your new mentor since Plinth’s son wanted your apparent sister, so your mentor is now Coriolanus Snow.’

Lucy Gray frowned, slight fear shining in her gaze. You bent your head to whisper in her ear a quote which should gift her strength.

‘Don't let them sense your fear or they will laugh with joy…’

And that is true defeat…

You had woken up in [Name] Lily Baird’s body 13 years ago, when the original [Name] Lily Baird was adopted by Lucy Gray's parents. It hadn’t taken you long to understand how to survive in the Covey after the...deaths...of your adoptive parents because you had lived in 12, the poorest District.

But you had never understood what happens in the Hunger Games besides the fact that most tributes wish they were dead.

‘Get out.’

A disgruntled Peacekeeper snatched you from the floor and pushed you toward a man with analyzing blue eyes. He smiled at you and offered a gorgeous white rose.

‘So this is Coriolanus Snow…I take it back, Haymitch was right, he’s hot-no, focus, [Name]!

You grimaced at the rose and snatched it, scratching his hand lightly. His smile faltered a bit but once he noticed her flaming face his smile returned, brighter than before.

‘So is this the only thing you do?’ You elaborated once you noticed his furrowed eyebrows.

‘Bringing me roses, is that your only skill?’ He glanced at your hand gripping the rose before straightening to reply.

‘I’ll do my best to take care of you,’ You looked annoyed once you heard that and he noticed before you could even form a thought as if he wanted you to view him as a man worthy to be your mentor. ‘And I’ll make sure to keep you safe.’

You rolled your eyes before catching the movement of his hand gliding through the tresses of his platinum blond locks.

‘I’m sure you will, Coriolanus Snow.’

Until I kill you.

‘Tigris,’ The blond-haired woman hummed, her adept fingers quickly stitching one of Grandma’am’s old shawls. ‘I think my tribute is in love with me.’

She paused, glancing at the blue-eyed man sitting beside her.

‘Why…why would you think that?’

‘She…trusts me, to keep her safe at least.’

Tigris chuckled, careful not to wake the Grandma’am at such late hours.

‘Do you want her to be in love with you? Because it seems like you have an infatuation with the singer.’

He focused on the scratch she’d marked him with.

‘Maybe…”

#tom blyth #tom blyth imagine #ballad of songbirds and snakes #coriolanus snow x reader #president snow #hunger games #coriolanus x reader #corio snow #coriolanus fanfiction #coriolanus imagine #coriolanus snow #coriolanus snow smut #coriolanus x you #corionalus snow #coryo #coryo snow x reader #coryo x reader #yandere coriolanus snow x reader #young coriolanus snow

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criesinliess · 1 year

Text

━APRIL 2023; susan's recs

FATE: THE WINX SAGA

━━RIVEN

i’m jealous of the way @imkylotrash

hold my girl @↑

call me back @randomimaginesforrandompeople

scared to death @↑

little sister @↑

one-on-one @novawrts

HARRY POTTER

━━GEORGE WEASLEY

it takes two @ickle-ronniekins

━━ DRACO MALFOY

just friends — masterlist @bwbatta

━━FRED WEASLEY

selfish @george-fabian-weasley

━━OLIVER WOOD

blind to it @heloisedaphnebrightmore

MARAUDERS ERA

━━SIRIUS BLACK

all your fault @heloisedaphnebrightmore

absurd ideas @↑

crimes of jealousy @↑

gentle seduction @↑

cause i don't want you like a best friend @evermoreal

━━JAMES POTTER

five times james wanted to kiss you and the one time he did @moonlitmeeks

hey, james! @heloisedaphnebrightmore

LOCKWOOD & CO

━━ANTHONY LOCKWOOD

knight in shining armour @givemea-dam-break

the poltergeist @↑

jealousy @↑

how to dance @↑

hidden by the new stars @↑

stunning @vi-trying-to-survive

you can hear it in the silence @tangledinlove

just another love song @↑

pretty boy @maraschinomerry

GRISHAVERSE

━━KAZ BREKKER

he just sounds like that @amsgrey

of antidotes @honeyfict

dense @↑

love language @genyakosstyk

dive into the waves below @↑

of kings @yelenasbraid

everything @theowritesstuff

deathly fever @webslinger-holland

another dream @↑

take it slow @amsgrey

━━NIKOLAI LANTSOV

yours no more @theowritesstuff

wanting was enough @genyakosstyk

OUTER BANKS

━━RAFE CAMERON

dating john b's sister @a-aexotic

midsummers @butgilinsky

blueberry pancakes @↑

tension @↑

and isn't it just so pretty to think? @folkloreslovechild

heartbroke bitch; guess you really did it this time; kiss for kiss, heart for heart; a crack in the glass @fandomxpreferences

dirty litte secret @↑

passenger princess @sunraies

cupcakes and rainstorms @↑

fair play @laiiaaa

dancing with our hands tied @forevermoreharrington

━━JJ MAYBANK

hot for a pogue @butgilinsky

the last year @↑

the part where you kiss me @laiiaaa

THE BEAR

━━CARMY BERZATTO

sink in @nymphlamp

TOP GUN: MAVERICK

━━BRADLEY 'ROOSTER' BRADSHAW

delirium @kyber-crystal

head in the clouds @↑

MARVEL

━━BUCKY BARNES

the last first kiss @witchywithwhiskey

almost believing @intrepidacious

insomnia @↑

first date, last night @↑

not even a little @↑

heal me, baby @↑

━━STEVE ROGERS

moving on @intrepidacious

━━LOKI LAUFEYSON

clouded judgement @heloisedaphnebrightmore

silly misgardian @↑

SCHOOL SPIRITS

━━WALLY CLARK

hopes and fears @general-fanfiction

i want to help @anthemabby

STRANGER THINGS

━━STEVE HARRINGTON

love her too @divine17

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proseover-bros · 1 year

Text

FOR THE ONES WE LOVE | CH. 1

FANDOM: The Walking Dead

SERIES: For the Ones We Love

STATUS: Ongoing

ERA: Prison

PAIRING: Eventual Daryl Dixon x Female Reader (No Use of “Y/N”)

CHAPTER ONE: Backseat Driver

WORD COUNT: 2k

SUMMARY: Daryl Dixon gets much more than he bargained for when his motorcycle breaks down while out on a run. Miles from the prison, he has no other choice but to hot-wire a car he comes across on the side of the road, only to discover that he wasn’t the first person to get there.

RATING: Mature

WARNINGS: Language, Mention of Attempted Sexual Assault, Symptoms of PTSD

SERIES MASTERLIST

A/N: While I’m not new to writing fanfic, this is my first attempt at Tumblr fanfic, which is somewhat different than what I’m used to. I have a whole backstory dreamed up for this character (she’s a nursing student who escaped from Grady Memorial after it was overtaken by Dawn and Gorman), but I know from what I’ve read of Tumblr fanfic, self-insert fics are preferred. This is my first attempt at that, so any constructive criticism is welcome. Please let me know your thoughts on the story as well. I have several chapters already written, just trying to decide what format to proceed with/if there’s an audience for it.

“Wow, thanks for that.”

At the sound of an unfamiliar voice coming from behind him, Daryl Dixon’s eyes flew to the rearview mirror as you sat up from where you’d been lying in the backseat of the car he’d just hot-wired. The all too familiar noise of a hammer clicking into place sounded as you lifted your arms, aiming a revolver directly at the back of his head.

With the way you trained the gun on him, combined with the intense gaze in your eyes, he knew that you’d shot it before.

Of course you had.

A woman, alone in this world?

There was no way in hell you could’ve survived as long as you had not knowing how to use a gun.

Daryl cut the engine and raised his hands. “This your car?”

You shrugged. “No, but I was here first.”

“I got it runnin’, that makes it more mine than yours.”

“I was getting to that.” You said defensively.

“Bullshit.” Daryl scoffed. “Ya don’t know how to hot-wire a car.”

“How do you know?”

“‘Cause ya ain’t that kinda girl.”

The stranger’s assumption pissed you off, but what pissed you off even more was the fact that he was right. Before he came along, you’d been close to having a full-on meltdown when finding the car just a few minutes earlier, only to discover that the keys were missing from the ignition. There’d been a hell of a lot of abandoned cars that you’d passed during your travels over the past couple of weeks, because apparently even after a goddamn apocalypse, nobody left their keys behind.

And who was he to pass judgement on you? With his Harley Davidson vest, greasy hair and the ability to steal a car in the first place, this guy was lucky you’d given him any warning at all. Although you hadn’t spoken to another human being since escaping the hospital, and were beginning to think you were missing even the most trivial of conversations, you had quickly come to the conclusion that human interaction was entirely overrated.

Especially with this particular human.

“How the hell do you know what kind of girl I am?” You practically growled.

Daryl hesitated, knowing that he ought to tread lightly, yet somehow his mouth decided to run off anyway. “Just do.”

Your eyes widened as you lunged forward to press the barrel of the gun to the back of his skull. “You don’t fucking know me.”

Dumbass, Daryl scolded himself.

What was he thinking, arguing with someone who was pressing a loaded gun to his head? After all this time spent fighting to survive, did he have a death wish all of a sudden?

With his hands still raised, Daryl nodded, his senses finally returning to him. “We can change that. I’m Daryl.”

Suddenly, a memory of your mother warning you not to talk to strangers appeared as the man introduced himself, and you had to bite the inside of your cheek to keep from laughing. After a few seconds, you lowered your gun and laughed out loud, no longer able to keep it inside.

The entire situation was absurd. You were running on zero sleep, hadn’t eaten anything in days, and hadn’t spoken to another soul since you’d left Atlanta. It was the most inappropriate thing in the world to be laughing in your current situation, and yet you couldn’t stop.

Daryl hesitated. He thought he might be okay at handling a pissed off woman — but a crazy, pissed off woman?

Might as well shoot myself now.

“Ya crazy or somethin’?” Daryl found himself asking.

You laughed harder at his question, leaning against the backseat as your sides started to ache. “Or something.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Ya gotta name or not?”

Once regaining your composure, you peered over the passenger seat and noticed the large crossbow that he’d laid down while working on getting the car started. You also noted the backpack slung over his shoulder with several arrows sticking out through the flap. “Give me your arrows and any other weapons you have. Maybe I’ll tell you then.”

“Don’t wanna know that bad.”

“Hah.” You rolled your eyes, aiming the revolver at his head once more. “Wasn’t asking.”

With an irritated grumble, Daryl shrugged off his bag and handed it over. There was a brief pause while he rummaged around in his pants and pulled out a pistol, extending it to you handle first.

“No knife?” You asked suspiciously.

He cursed under his breath, but a few seconds later you had a hunting knife to add to your collection as well. Finally satisfied, you met his eyes in the rearview mirror and told him your name.

“You alone?”

“Looks like it.”

The silence between the two of you clung in the air like smoke. Daryl kept his eyes glued to you now that you had all of his weapons, minus his crossbow, which was useless without the bolts.

He didn’t pride himself on much, but one of the few things that he’d always felt he excelled at was being a good judge of character. The woman in front of him was young, probably mid-twenties, and pretty. In Daryl’s experience, pretty women were absolute bitches, but not necessarily dangerous. Even so, he couldn’t brand you with that particular title just for pulling a gun on him. You were only protecting yourself.

“Mind lowerin’ that thing? I did give ya all my weapons.” Daryl reasoned.

You paused, but reluctantly lowered your gun, your eyes locked on his as you sat it down on your lap.

“How’s that?” You asked.

“Depends, can I turn around without havin’ to worry ‘bout ya blowin’ my head off?”

You stilled at his words but found yourself slowly nodding your head in agreement.

When Daryl turned all the way around to face you, you held your breath. The last time you’d been this close to a man, it was Gorman, and he had tried to assault you.

The world had been a dangerous place for women far longer than it had been for men. Men may have recently had to learn what it was like to fear strangers now that the world had ended, but it had aways been something to fear for women, which made it twice as frightening these days.

As you studied Daryl, you noticed that he had lighter facial hair than that on his head, and pale blue eyes. With his intense gaze and bare biceps, he had a rugged air about him that you had a feeling he’d always possessed. He seemed like the kind of man who didn’t need an apocalypse to know how to fight for his life.

The two of you remained as you were, staring at each other for a tense moment, sizing each other up and down as you both tried to decide whether or not the other was a threat.

“Lay down.” Daryl grunted.

“What?” You blanched, your hand moving towards the revolver once more.

“Down!” He hissed.

Jumping over the partition dividing the front and back sections of the car, Daryl slid to his knees, tucking himself in the floor space behind the passenger seat, his hands clutching you by the elbows as he pulled you down, tugging your body flush against the backseat cushions.

When Daryl grabbed you, your first thought was a vile one, but your grip around the gun relaxed ever so slightly when he landed beneath you rather than on top of you.

“What the fu—” You cried as you both lurched forward, a series of bangs sounding at the rear of the car. Rather than finish your crude sentence, you cut yourself off when Daryl’s hand covered your mouth. Feeling your jaw tense against his palm, he raised a finger to his lips when his eyes met yours, slowly easing his hand away as a horde of walkers appeared from a clearing in the woods by the side of the road.

You both remained that way for what truly could have been hours, the only sound being your heavy breathing and the groans of the horde as they trudged along either side of the car like cattle. When the noise finally died down some time later, Daryl held a hand out to signal for you to wait, then eased up on his haunches ever so slightly, peering out the front windshield to find that the horde had wandered off up the road.

Once given the all clear, you slowly lifted your body from the backseat, your hand instantly going to the side of your neck as you attempted to work out the kink that had formed there from laying in such an awkward position.

“Jesus.” You muttered.

Remaining where he was for fear that you’d think he might try something now that he was in close proximity of his weapons, Daryl kept his eyes on you for a few silent seconds.

“Look, I know all about wantin’ to be alone, but no one can make it alone now. You can keep my weapons, even hold your damn gun on me while I drive, but I have a camp a few miles back. My bike broke down, s’why I was lookin’ for a ride, but I can take ya someplace secure. I’m with a group of people back at a prison.”

“A prison? Really?” You asked curiously.

Christ. Was that actual hope in your voice? Had the last year not completely crushed you of that?

“Yeah.” Daryl nodded. “There’s eight of us. Men, women, a boy, and a baby.” Nodding towards his backpack, he continued. “Open it.”

Cautiously moving your hand to his backpack, you unsnapped the top and drew back the flap to reveal several tins of powdered baby formula. Running your fingers over the lids, you hesitated, your eyes slowly returning to Daryl. If this was some kind of trick to get you to come along, it was pretty elaborate.

“I just gotta ask ya three questions first.” He said.

With your curiosity getting the better of you, you shrugged your shoulders. “Go for it.”

“How many walkers ya killed?”

“Walkers? You mean, the living dead freaks that have taken over the world?”

Daryl nodded.

“I don’t know. Who keeps track of that shit?”

Daryl had to admit, at least to himself, you had a point. But it was one of the questions that Rick insisted on asking newcomers, and he wasn’t about to start breaking his rules for anyone.

Seeing that Daryl wasn’t willing to budge on the question, you sighed as you thought about it. “A dozen, at least.”

“How many people ya killed?”

Your mind instantly went to the lifeless eyes of Gorman and Dawn.

“Two.” You answered, without a hint of remorse.

“Why?” He asked.

You stared at him, expressionless. “I’m a woman and I’ve pretty much been on my own since the world ended. Why do you think?”

Daryl stared right back at you, and in his fierce blue gaze, you knew that he understood you completely.

“All right, let’s go.”

“That’s it? I passed?” You asked, surprised.

“Looks like it.” He grunted, using your choice of words from earlier and earning a small smile from you because of it.

“Okay.” You agreed. “I’ll ride back here, and I won’t hold my gun on you . . . unless you drive too slow.”

“Pfft.” Daryl scoffed as he climbed back over to the driver’s side and began to work on restarting the car. “Don’t gotta worry ‘bout that.”

CHAPTER TWO

623 notes · View notes

sarahsmi13s · 8 months

Note

sarah! babe! congrats on the big 400. if anyone deserves it, it's your sweet soul!

ok my (first?) request is obviously Iceman because we all know what era I'm in. I 1000% need this to survive, just so you're aware.

"Is there a reason you're naked in my bed?"

Pumped for you and can't wait to see what you churn out for this even! Big love! <3

i'm so so sorry it took me so long to get to this girl! thank you so much for celebrating with me!

pairing: tom 'iceman' kazansky x kerner!reader warnings: language, smut, unrequited but requited love, let me know if i missed any word count: ~1.5k a/n: i will most likely expand further on this in the future once i've caught up on some other works ❤❤ prompt: "is there a reason you're naked in my bed?"

Why did your brother have to invite his pilot on your family trip? His incredibly hot, but annoying pilot.

Though, he was your big brother… it was his job to get under your skin.

You had originally had a beach trip planned with your friends, but a storm rolled in the day you were scheduled to leave and your friends decided it would be better to reschedule. So after you did that, you headed up to the mountains with the idea to surprise your family.

And that’s how you ended up walking in on… this.

“Ummm, is there a reason you’re naked in my bed, Tom?”

You tried to avoid looking directly at him, even though your brain had taken a photo of the sight before you could look away.

“Your bed? Last I checked this was my room.”

He stayed in the same position on the bed as he looked you over, not at all embarrassed about being completely exposed. His head rested against his arm, the other draped over his sculpted abdomen.

You didn’t respond, afraid you’d stutter and embarrass yourself further than the obvious blush covering your face and neck.

“You gonna stand there with the door wide open or come in and close it?”

You chose the latter and tossed your bag down before closing the door. “You know, this is actually my room, considering it is my family's cabin. This has been my room since I was 7.”

Tom scoffed a bit and propped himself up on his elbows, “And last I checked, you were supposed to be at Myrtle Beach.” He got up, securing a blanket around his waist to give you the opportunity to actually look at him. “Which is why I’m in here and not sharing a room with your brother.”

You crossed your arms and focused on his blue eyes, which didn’t actually help you at all. The icy orbs causing your thoughts to just slip out of your mind.

“W-well, there was a storm that was gonna last a few days, so we-we rescheduled.” You mentally kicked yourself. You sounded so unsure of what you had just said. And it had been the truth.

Tom tilted his chin up, his sly expression already telling you he didn’t believe you.

You scoffed and picked your bag up, “You know what, I’m just gonna sleep on the couch.”

As you hand touched the door knob, Tom’s hand covered yours, “Wait…” You brushed his hand off, “It’s fine, Ice.” You opened the door, “I’ll sleep on the-”

Tom’s large hand pushed the door shut, holding it closed. “You’ve never called me by my call sign before.”

You kept your back to him, “Sure I have.”

“No, I would remember.”

“Why is that something you would remember? I’m sure I’ve said plenty of memorable things.” He got close to your ear, “Because you’re the only person I prefer to call me Tom.”

Ice practically purred the sentence into your ear. The gravel in his voice came from deep in his chest, causing it to rumble against your back.

You let out a shaky breath, your face heating up, “This isn’t funny Ice. If you’re trying to get back at me for something, can’t you like dump ice on me while I’m in the shower or throw me in the lake while I’m fully clothed? Just don’t do this…”

“Y/N-” “I’m already embarrassed, please don’t rub it in.”

He rested a hand on your shoulder and carefully turned you around, making you look at him. “I’m not, I swear.”

You didn’t look him in the eye, afraid that if you did he would just laugh at you.

Tom sighed and tilted your chin up, “I know how you feel about me. You’re not good at hiding it…” You closed your eyes, hating the vulnerable position you're in because your body is on fire. “And maybe I’m too good at hiding it.”

Your eyes shot open, looking directly in his icy blue eyes in search of the truth – trying to find that harsh critical glaze that waited for you to slip up, for you to make the mistake.

But it was gone, the glacier of his irises had melted and all you saw was oceans – warm, loving oceans. Any trace of Iceman was gone, melting away to show Tom Kazansky.

He’d hidden his feelings for too long, he needed you to know. Your brother told him the day he invited him out on this trip, he should tell you because he was tired of seeing your love sick gaze on his pilot before watching it turn sad when he got hit on. And he had planned to, but you announced your plans to go to the beach and his plan got shot down.

But now here you were chest to chest as he confessed his feelings for you in nothing but a blanket.

“Kiss me,” you said breathlessly, lids drooping as you looked from his eyes to his lips.

He grinned and pressed his lips to yours, cupping the side of your neck as he pressed you into the door and made you drop your bag.

That hand immediately buried itself in his hair, the other trying to pull him closer by the small of his back. He locked the door with his free hand before pulling you in by the belt loop of your jean shorts, not caring if his blanket fell.

You pushed away from the door, to go towards the bed, but he pushed you up against the wall. With the movement, the blanket fell from his waist

You pulled back from him, panting as you looked down, “I feel overdressed now.” He smirked and his hands went to the button on your shorts, “I can fix that.”

His lips attached to your neck as he worked your button loose and pushed your zipper down. His teeth nipped at your pulse point, drawing a quiet moan from your lips as your shorts were hastily pushed to the floor.

Tom wasted no time pulling away and getting on his knees to pull your underwear down your legs.

Panting, you peel your shirt off and undo your bra clasp. You looked down as Tom began to kiss your thighs, nipping every other kiss. But before he could lift your leg over his shoulder, you tilted his chin up.

“As good as you most likely are, I need you inside me.”

“Shit~” He groaned before standing and pushing you flush with the wall, kissing you deeply before pulling away. His hands went to the backs of your thighs, “Jump.”

You don’t hesitate and jump, wrapping your legs around him. “Please Tom~”

He smirked before bringing his thumb to your clit, rubbing languid circles as he lined himself up.

He looked back into your eyes, making sure you still wanted to do this before you went too far.

“I want you, Tom.”

The only four words he needed to hear before he was pushing into you, circling your clit the whole time.

The stretch was uncomfortable for a moment, but the gentle pleasure of his touch helped balance it out.

Once he was buried to the hilt, he kissed you gently but passionately as he waited for you to relax around him.

You relaxed into the kiss immediately, your crossed ankles bringing him closer to you. You moaned against him as his cock twitched and your walls fluttered. “You can move now~”

He nodded, lips hovering over yours as he braced his forearms on the wall and started to move.

“You feel so good~”

“Tom, fuck~”

A small grunt left his lips as your moans vibrated against them.

His movements were slow, but calculated. He didn’t want to rush this, he wanted you to feel it all.

And you did. Your senses seemed to be in overdrive.

You could feel the pulse and the heat of his cock with every roll of his hips. You could hear the grunting and the groaning as he tried to keep quiet. The scent of sex and his shampoo was all you could smell.

“Tom, baby, faster please~”

He nodded and pulled away from the wall.

His arms wrapped around you, one hand going to your hair as he kissed you. He took a few blind steps to get to the bed and lay you down on it.

You both managed to get to the middle of the bed, barely breaking the kiss.

“You’re so beautiful~”

You smiled under him, “So are you~”

He smiled back and pressed his lips to yours, rolling his hips.

“Oooh Tom~”

“You wanted faster… but I want to do this right~” He rasped out, interlocking his fingers with yours and moving your hands above your head.

You looked up at him, eyes wide and chest heaving. “I’ve been craving you since we met… it only amplified when I got to know you…”

You giggled and kissed his lips, “Is that why you were naked in my bed?”

“That’s exactly why I was naked in your bed~”

thank you for joining me for this event! ❤ i hope you enjoyed it @valmare ! and again i'm so so sorry it took so long to fulfill this request!

#vinny's 400 #tom iceman kazansky x reader #prompt event #💌 we just got a letter #valmare <33 #controlled chaos squad #iceman fic #tom kazansky fic #tom kazansky x reader #tom iceman kazansky #kerner!reader #top gun maverick #top gun 1986 #top gun fanfic #top gun

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ddaz3d-and-cc0nfused · 2 years

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༉‧₊˚. 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐤 || 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐱𝐨𝐧

― pairings: daryl dixon x bimbo plus size!reader

― era: early season 9

― summary: you needed more clothes, and daryl was more than willing to spoil you.

― warnings: literally nothing! it's just fluff and the reader being very dense :`]

― wc: 1773

⋆ a/n: i loved writing this more than i love air, so i hope you guys enjoy this because i know i do.

masterlist | AO3

In any other lifetime, Daryl would’ve ignored girls like you; the ones that weren't as bright, that always had a question, that never knew what was going on, practically having a head filled with air. How you were still alive when Daryl had first met you was beyond him, because you were definitely the type that wouldn't be able to survive the apocalypse. He should've left you to die, but he quickly learned that your presence had easily brought joy to the group.

At first, he stayed away from you, but it was as if you flocked to him, following him around like a lost puppy. Anyone else would have been annoyed with the way you stuck to him— even though he'll never admit it— he liked that you always needed his help, that he was the first person you sought out. He quickly became your protector; you almost ran into a door? He's placing a hand on your shoulder to lead you the right way. You can't figure out why your gun is out bullets? Your gun that had miraculously disappeared is now back and the chamber’s loaded. Out of your favorite pink lip gloss? There's a new tube waiting for you on your desk. He always hovered, he always knew what you needed, and he made damn sure he could provide for you.

It wasn't hard to figure out that he was in love with you, and many people found it amusing— especially the leaders of the kingdom, and Alexandria. You were total opposites, and maybe that's just what Daryl needed.

Now here you were, practically fuming because of your lack of clothing. With Rick honoring Carl, and Daryl being his right-hand man, you weren't able to go out shopping. It's not that Daryl didn't trust the others to take you out, you were the one that actually preferred him there— mostly because you felt a lot safer with him— but also because you needed his opinion on what clothes you should get. Even if you liked it, you wanted him to like it too, because he was your boyfriend, and he would have to see you wear them everyday.

You must admit that Daryl had ended up dictating most of your wardrobe; from your perfume to certain shirts, and pants, and sometimes down to your bra and underwear. It wasn't like he had insisted on it like some control freak, but he knew it was something that would make you happy, so he obliged.

You huffed sadly, looking at your black-to-pink clothing ratio— which was unmistakably Daryl's. You had no idea when he would come home, and you were starting to get fidgety. Back before the world fell, you loved to shop, it was your favorite past time, practically robbing the poor stores blind with your friends. You stood there in your hot pink tank top, your underwear having the word ‘Baby’ bedazzled across your ass— Daryl had begrudgingly allowed you to take it home when he heard the excited squeal you let out when you saw the pair, which was one out of the many in the pack.

Your bedroom door opened, causing excitement to course through your veins as you turned around to look at your favorite archer, the man setting his trusty crossbow against the wall. You could see the crown sticker you had put on the handle of it, Daryl always threatening to rip the “stupid” thing off— even though you both knew that he ended up gluing it on there.

“Baby!” You squealed, practically throwing yourself on him. He pulled you flush against his body as you showered his face in never ending kisses, smearing your lip gloss all over his forehead, cheeks, and lips. “You're home! Oh, I've missed you so much!” He chuckled fondly at your enthusiasm, hands falling to the exposed skin of your waist, which was a product of your squirming.

“I missed ya too, sunshine.” You pulled your face away from his so that your arms were looped around his neck, peering up at him through those pretty eyelashes of yours. “So, I was thinking that my closet was looking like it needed more clothes.” He raised an eyebrow, his lips tugged up in the corners in amusement. “Is that so?” You nodded with a big smile on your face. “Yep! And I need you to come with me.” He looked conflicted as his left hand reached up to caress the side of your face.

“I dunno.” You gave him the best puppy dog eyes that you could muster, pouting your now barely glossed lips. “C'mon, D. It's been so long since I've been on a real shopping trip, and wouldn't it be a good time to go on a date?” He let out a defeated groan. He couldn't say no to you, he hated that he couldn't, and he also hated how you knew and took advantage of it.

“Alrigh’, we'll go tomorrow.” You let out a happy noise as you showered him in affection once more. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” You all but cried. “You're the best, bear.” You were the only one that was allowed to call him ‘’Bear.” You had claimed that it sounded familiar to Dar, which was another nickname you had gracefully given him. “Don’ go shoutin’ that.” You giggled, placing a peck on his nose. “No promises, Bear.” You teased.

As the next day came, you were up early, your body thrumming in enthusiasm as you thought of finally getting out of the walls for a while. You wiggled out of Daryl's unconscious embrace, the older man rolling over onto his back where you took full advantage of straddling his waist. You dragged your hands down his bulky chest, running your fingers through the patch of hair on his chest, down over his peck to trace around the tattoo that laid inked there. You bent down, your still shirt covered chest pressing against his, placing kisses from his lips to his neck, nibbling softly on the skin.

“Bear…” You whined softly, “You've gotta get up. You promised.” He groaned, large calloused palms resting on your full thighs. “Well good mornin’ to ya too.” You joined your lips together softly, Daryl closing his eyes so he could be surrounded with everything that was you. As you broke off the kiss, your peered into his eyes, Daryl looking into yours with admiration of his own.

“Alrigh’,” He sighed, “’M gettin’ up.” You cheered, landing one last kiss on his pursed mouth, bouncing off of him to find something to wear.

The ride to the store was nice, your arms wrapped tightly around his waist. As he assisted you getting off of the bike, you couldn't help but ask, “Bear, does my makeup look okay?” Even when it was the apocalypse, you still liked to do your makeup. His thumb came up to gently wipe off some pink eyeshadow that had fallen onto your cheek. “Ya look beautiful.” You smiled at him, your body flushing. “Ya ready?” He asked, holding out his hand for you to take. “Mhm.”

He had made sure every square inch of the store was cleared before allowing you to even step foot inside, insisting that you wait outside of it. When his sweep was done, he had reappeared to come and get you, tugging you inside and into the clothing section.

“Dar, look at all of these dresses!” You announced in awe. You gently touched the material, twisting the fabric between your fingers before letting go.

The next hour consisted if you throwing things in Daryl's awaiting arms, the man hauling around the items until you had reached the dressing rooms. You took all of the clothes out of his arms, Daryl collapsing in a chair with a disgruntled, but yet relieved grunt.

“’M too old fer this shit.” He all but complained.

As he watched you disappear behind the old curtain, he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of normality. He knew for a fact that if the world still functioned the way it did, he would have never carried around clothes, or allowed someone to call him bear, or even touch his prized crossbow. He couldn't help but think that maybe— just maybe —you would be doing this with him if the dead had stayed dead. If Merle could see him now he'd call him pussy whipped for a skirt. He could almost hear him say it, a chuckle exiting his body at the thought of his older brother’s crude teasing.

The air got lodged in his throat as he watched you model a pair of low-rise denim shorts. He could see the tattoo above your ass on your lower back clear as day, three stars sat above either cheek.

“I figured these would be good for when it warms up.” You have him one last twirl before awaiting his approval. “Yea, it looks good. 'Real airy.” You giggled in satisfaction. “I know right?!” You disappeared back into the small room before popping back out in a light pink no strap tube top, even lighter pink feathers lining the top band above your breasts.

“What do you think?” You asked, a glimmer in your eye in your eyes that clearly states that you loved the thing. “Can that thing even be considered a shirt?” He snorted, but it was all just teasing to ruffle your feathers— no pun intended. “Ya look like a flamingo.” You whined at his faux insults, throwing him a weak glare. “Dar, don't be mean! I like it.” He blew out an overdramatic raspberry before focusing back on you.

“I like it. 'Would look good with that skirt I saw ya throw at me.” Your head perked up as if you were the one that had the idea yourself. “You're so right!” You rushed to squeeze to the skirt on, not even bothering to shut the curtain as you bent over.

Today, your panties read, ‘Sweetheart.’

It went on like that for what seemed like hours before you had finally left the store, the clothes that you wanted being shoved into old bags that Daryl had found— which he inevitably ended up carrying as well.

“Thank you so much for today, Bear.” You said tiredly. You fell face first onto his firm chest, breathing in his earthy scent. “Ain’ no problem, darlin’.” He wrapped his arms around you, his hands still clasped with the baggage.

You leaned up, pressing a sweet, glossed kiss to his cheek, smearing the product on his scruff, a feeling that Daryl will always welcome.

ೃ⁀➷ my lovely taglist!: @alina02

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hotvintagepoll · 26 days

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Propaganda

Theda Bara (Cleopatra)—One of cinema's first female sex symbols. Nicknamed "The Vamp" due to her looks. The OG Goth Girl. She would be HUGE on Tumblr if she were around today!

Helen Gibson (The Hazards of Helen series)— If you voted for Buster Keaton, VOTE FOR HELEN GIBSON! This woman threw herself onto things, off of things, under things, and over things (mainly trains and horses). She started in Hollywood as a trick rider and stunt double, eventually headlining a series of action films called “The Hazards of Helen.”

This is round 2 of the tournament [EDIT: YES IT SAYS ROUND 1 IN THE POLL. OOPS. IT IS ROUND 2.]. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman. (remember that our poll era starts in 1910, so please don't use propaganda from before that date.)

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Theda Bara:

She was simply nicknamed "The Vamp". Her sex appeal and typecasting was so intense that people actually thought that she lounged around half-naked and seduced men left and right in her free time.

She is one of the most famous and enduring faces in silent film and yet only 6 of her 43 films survived the 1937 Fox Vault Fire! 6! Think about what we could have had!

*Theeee* celluloid blueprint for both goth chicks and sexually-manipulative women--her persona was that of a "vampire", in the sense that would eventually be shortened into "vamp", although in truth she blended both definitions beautifully. Alas, the prints of most of her back-catalogue were lost to a studio fire in 1937, but enough survives to clearly demonstrate the fantasy of enticing danger that she was so kind as to serve us.

my favorite goth icon i want her gender

She's the original Vamp and first film sex symbol! She said: “The vampire that I play is the vengeance of my sex upon its exploiters. You see, I have the face of a vampire, but the heart of a feministe.” Many of her films were banned or severely cut by state and city censorship boards due to her revealing costumes and suggestive acting. She even sued the Chicago Funkhouser censorship board to let her film Cleopatra be shown in theaters. Riots broke out in theaters during showings of her film Kathleen Mavourneen. In contrast to her film persona, her private life was pretty quiet. She grew up in Cincinnati as Theodosia "Theda" Goodman, the Jewish daughter of immigrants, and had one happy marriage that lasted 30+ years until she died at age 69.

Helen Gibson:

#helen gibson #theda bara #hotvintagepoll #fuck that old woman #ladies 2

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bengiyo · 28 days

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23.5 Degrees Ep 3 Stray Thoughts

Last time, the school allowed them to restart the astronomy club, but many students believe in the superstitious rumors about the club, and refused to join. Ongsa and Sun joined the club, and Luna was eventually able to convince Aylin to join. Ongsa continued to fret over lying about her online identity to Sun, and ridiculously threw her phone away in the garbage. However, after much strife, she got her phone back and reconnected with Sun in her Earth persona. Meanwhile, it seems that Mawin may have a crush on Tinh. We left at Ton saying he and Ongsa dated before, and now I am working on my gameplan about how Euro can still win and be paired with AJ. I am also shipping the teachers.

Three days? Does Ton really get around that much??

Ton is so much. Oh my god.

I tell you these kids stay filming each other in ways I am not comfortable with. I am glad I came of age before this era of surveillance because I would not have survived.

Classic gay behavior: managing an organization’s finances to be closer to your crush.

Sorry, Ongsa. Now all of Thailand thinks you’re straight.

Blossom, what does Ongsa’s romantic history have to do with your debt? You better pay what you owe!

23.5 please don’t let me down on Mawin. Big Gay Boys need love, too!

Oh, Mawin, are you really ready to face the consequences of rule breaking for dick?

I’m invested in Aylin’s search for connection.

Hold on! Sun is a sports gay!

I am never going to complain about a silly pratfall in this genre. That’s a requirement.

This poor dog always looks like he’s hot.

They really didn’t think this sneaking into school thing through once the school president’s cousin was interested.

They really let Tinh film them breaking school rules. How silly is that.

The sisterhood of the traveling pants has arrived at the school.

Wow. They really fell on each other twice this week.

Look at the security guard being reasonable.

Ton is too much.

For a second I thought they were going to throw the teacher over the balcony to his death.

Hiding in a closet? It’s where many of us first meet and connect.

The finger touch with the light in the background was a really nice touch (ha!).

Alpha is a real one. She's maintaining discipline and giving her boy a shot with Tinh at the same time.

I don't know if Blossom should be feeling smug with the state of her game. At least she's being a good sport.

"Every girl would be into you if you were a guy." Sun, sidebar.

Oh ho! Chaoren knows about Ongsa's crush. She seems like she meddles. This is good for us.

I'm having a lot of fun with this. I was chatting with @ginnymoonbeam earlier when I had to pause about how specific this show feels for the lesbian experience and how that gaze is impacting even the male stories. I love how effectively Milk is playing a loser, and a lot of the GMMTV boys should be taking notes.

#Ben watches #23.5 the series #23.5 degrees #thai gl #gl series

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onyourhyuck · 2 years

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Unbreakable Promise: Meet Me In Another Life. | Johnny Suh.

prologue- “I’ve been waiting for you. Searching for you.” + “I’ve been here all along.”

summary: Johnny made a promise to find you when you reincarnate in another body. He waited years to find you on his search. When searching for your reincarnation, he meets a young girl in need of help. Will he fall in love again?

tw- fox!johnny x human!y/n. Smut. Romance. Joseon era sorta. Angst (many angst moments.) fluff. Dom!johnny. Y/n gets her shit railed tbf. Hitting it from the back. Hair pulling. Mention of master x servant relationship. Johnny calls her mistress. Johnny is a LOYAL BF.

note- KINkTOBER FIC.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Do you know what’s the most dangerous thing for a Mountain Fox Spirit to ever encounter? It is a young beautiful woman that makes his heart quench and fall in love.

Foxes are undesirably romanticist. They devote themselves to one person forever, even in life and death they will not find someone else to love. They shall die alone or with you. The foxes who are meant to be servants to serve one master are undoubtedly loyal to the bone and will not hesitate to kill millions for only just one person. They can be blinded by love all they wish, even if it meant the god of calamity shall murder him on the path. If it meant to have karma debt in the next life, so be it, everything will get better when you live next to the one you love and wish to keep thousands upon thousands years forever like the moment. However obsession can’t get you anywhere but a dead end.

Johnny made an unbreakable promise to his lover and master. He was unable to protect her from the sudden death by an arrow to the heart, killed by the selfish village folks. Painting of her crying face, dirty by the charcoal and hair ruffed up when he squeezed it right to his chest once her last breathe was ‘I’ll see you in my next life.’ lives rent free in the fox servant’s mind. Her voice, he wants to listen to it again. Oh how much it kills his heart. It hurts to live without your lover, he feels like he is being killed and put back alive while surviving in this ridiculous world.

If it wasn’t for his promise, the promise that he swears to abide with his life, if only if he didn’t make it he would’ve ended himself and follow you into the afterlife. Quite extreme right? But it’s the truth. The pain of surviving and staying alive while your lover for life is gone from earth and in the afterlife waiting to be reincarnated, it is insufferable. Hardest pain he’s ever went through.

“I promise i will find you, reincarnate please. I will find you no matter what.”

The man wearing the traditional Joseon era hanbok with the black loose hair flipping through the fingers, he sits down by the very traditional house resting on the mountains away from civilisation to bother him. It is rising above the village down there. The typical joseon house has a small bath section for anyone to use, multiple slide door rooms and they sleep on the floor. The fox looking up at the round sun blazing like a hot fireball today, made him close his eyes until he moves to sit under a shed.

“Did god of sun have to make today so hot, darn it.” Johnny cursed, sighing out.

“Oi fox did you get the cabbage like i told you to.” The old hunch lady with a cane approaches the young man, poking him by the cane annoyingly. She cackled when Johnny grunts flicking the cane away from him. He would reveal the large basket of cabbage he had carried on his back from the village and up the long mountain hill pathway, in this forsaken raging heatwave from the sun.

“Ahh I see you did.” She coos as she takes the cabbage basket, humming happily. Johnny watches her as he clicks his tongue. “Old hag you always make kimchi. Why?”

The elderly woman turns to the fox. “Because it’s good. Don’t you like my kimchi?” She asks as she sat down on the wooden floor, breaking apart the fatha the leaves in miniature pieces.

“I do like it but why don’t you make something with meat.” He gushed. It’s hard living with only vegetables, at this point he will go back to his vicious meat eater days where he ate human liver.

“Meat is expensive. Fox if you’re hungry just go and hunt. Isn’t that in your nature?” The woman replies back and he pouts, disappointed by the stereotype. “I’m classy, not like those savage foxes. I prefer a cooked meal by you granny.”

“Tch some useless fox you are. Maybe you spend so much time in civilisation with humans that you forget you’re a bloody fox.” She points out as if analysing Johnny’s whole life he’s lived. Johnny clicks his tongue. “My master was human. I adapted to her ways, I don’t plan on changing if that’s what you’re asking me to do.” He chides defensively and the Hag let a short lived chuckle at the boy who was so eager on staying in he past, in the past where his master lived on as an alive being and not a dead corpse. Johnny has kept things the same, the traditional house has your room untouched, the hanboks she wore were clean and kept away in the clothing pile. The things she loved to eat were still stacked and bought. Johnny simply did not want to move past your death, even if it was thirty five years ago. When his master has died he lived alone for five years until he met this old grandma on the street slums of the village, though she wasn’t just some old lady, she was a shaman. The old soul has sacrificed herself for immortality, simply to live forever as an old shaman soul, leading people into the light. The shaman could recognise who he was. She saw Johnny’s ears and nine tails, simply because she herself isn’t human.

“Sheesh. You rather live in the past.” She had respond back in a blunt tone, washing the cabbage kimchi in the bowl. He didn’t reply but mentally he agreed. Johnny was scared and too heartbroken to move past the death scarring him every night.

“I know you searched for her while you were in the village too. How did that go?” Shaman asked and Johnny was brought back to the time earlier he was searching while shopping, technically not slacking off but at the same time he was multitasking two tasks. Looking for your reincarnation in public while shopping the kimchi cabbage. The fox would lure girls that had similar face structure to you or that gave him a vibe it might be your reincarnation. But everytime he went and checked, stripping the left side of the hanbok to reveal the shoulder, there was no bite mark. It wasn’t you. None of these girls were you. By the time he had checked, he had to run away because the girls were screaming pervert.

In his defence Johnny did not care if palace guards patrolling the village would arrest him, in all honesty he could breakout and leave never to be found again, however it would be a hassle for him to be caught anyways. Humans are very persistent people. The times he was frustrated and down to see how none of these were your reincarnation, he began to wonder if you were even reincarnated. Johnny begged the gods in the sky to tell him if you were reincarnated and they all replied with a yes. They had no reason to lie to him about this. Surely, you are somewhere roaming here. He just doesn’t know where.

Johnny flings up in sudden movement when the sharp ears twinkle around to the sound of a panting voice as if it were running at high speed with the background voices of guards rushing towards her it seems. Johnny’s eyes avert from the side looking at the grandma. “I’ll be back old hag. See ya.” Johnny shouts leaving the porch as he ran to the helpless girl to help her out. But curiosity has died quickly when the girl would be met with the traditional house, in front seeing the muscular handsome man in the navy blue white hanbok and a seared swordsman sword. She rushes to the six foot man, gasping. “Help me please they are looking for me.” She cried looking behind where no sign of them except the loud ranging voices becoming louder and louder indicating that they were coming closer to them. Johnny looks down with an apathetic gaze. “Why should i help you?” He grumbles pushing the girl away from his body when she had held his right hand desperately. She flings down on the ground, coughing out the dust from the sand stone floor. “Please! I ran away . They will bring me back to him.” She pleads. Johnny couldn’t help but wonder what this young girl did so badly to be chased by guards and soldiers. He tilts his head, sighing.

Tears ran soon streaming down her cheeks, those Pearl shape eyes with deep emerald green mixed in with brown ache watching the man who was about to walk away and leave the helpless girl get arrested. But when those tears drop down like blood from his master’s body, he was reminded of the crying face the dead lover made when she had died. Johnny with widen eyes, Stops on his tracks . Why did he get this flashback with you?

“Get inside the house.” Johnny commands, lifting your frail body on the feet. Your hanbok would be lifted as you ran into the house. The man stands where the guards have appeared finally, rushing in. Johnny pulls out the sword, body silhouette glowing with a yellow outline leaking out the power of the nine tails.

Sword pointing to the army of soldiers, in a swung and a gentle step in the air, a single slash stows towards the soldiers flinging them on the ground unconscious. Wind breeze echoes through them. The power of the air and fire fox, never underestimate Johnny suh, the mountain spirit.

He turns shaking his head at them, tutting to the unconscious bodies. “Oh dear god. This couldn’t really went the easier way if you hadn’t stepped in my territory.” Johnny would say with a scolding tone. The girl gasped averting the man to look at her.

“You have tails and ears!” You point out as they were wiggling in the yellow outline. Johnny looks down to the clean shining sword before pushing it back to the sheath, he comes forward . You saw the ears and the tail disappear and immediately flinch when Johnny held your wrist tight.

“Forget this happened.” Johnny said as his eyes turn golden yellow. You blink at him, whispering. “Uhm...you’re hurting me.” You point out lightly as you look down to the tight wrist hold. Johnny banally let’s go, confused why the hypnosis and memory erasing did not work on you; eyes went back to deep black colour, as he clears his voice.

“Well this is stupid.” He murmurs under his breath. “I saved you. I hate being in debt to people, so this is the only time i help you, human girl.”

“Right. I’m sorry for the trouble. Uhm.” Johnny walks away midway my sentence as i shout out with my hand out for a handshake. Seemingly the man was quite blunt and uninterested at first— the sudden change of heart made you wonder what made him help you, a stranger running away from the soldiers. “My name is y/n!” You exclaim shakily with your hand out, looking down at your palm waiting for him to take him it. Johnny raises an eyebrow, as if he were analysing y/n from head to toe. The man lightly pulls his hand forward grabbing yours with a shake. He then lets go.

“Johnny.” He replied quietly.

────⊱──────⊰✯⊱──────⊰────

“Come on eat as much as you want!” The elderly beams as she fed you more and more, seemingly this felt like a fever dream. lovely warm grandma was feeding you, your saviour was on the left side of the wide open room protesting from feeding you a lot as well as saying how you shouldn’t be staying here and go back to the village where you came from. But the grandma retorts with disagreements. Seemingly Johnny didn’t like arguing with the grandma. He respected her, despite being years older than her.

“I’ll eat to my hearts content then, granny.” Y/n smiles digging into the lovely kimchi and soup. It was warm, salty with the kimchi and it felt healthy. The rice she gave you was amazing too. It was a first time you had such a big meal in your life.

Johnny from afar would be observing the young girl with an aching feeling of regret, why did he get such a bad feeling from you? The fox bites on the beautiful print fan (in other words called the Shan.) in his palm flicking back and forth the beautiful night starry air, a complete difference from the horrible heatwave earlier. Johnny blooms to glare at the grandma who watched him with a warning gaze.

“Why was the soldiers chasing you exactly?” Johnny interrogated coming in closer to look at you, dropping the wooden curve spoon into the soul as you turned to realise Johnny was now closer to you, watching your face to see the reaction. Y/n clears her throat. “You could say i was forced into something and i refused.” You tell and the grandma lets out a soft sigh.

“What did the soldiers do now. They are the most corrupted people here aside the royalty.” The elderly spat .

Johnny scoffs. “What were you forced into?”

“I was told to sleep with a customer. He was quite rich and powerful in the place I worked out. I refused when he tried to strip my hanbok out and I ran. Then the guards were chasing me.” You shrug it off when the memory replays in your head , like a haunting dream ready to scar you for the rest of the life. Johnny hums. “So aren’t you going back home?” He throws impatiently, Johnny earned himself a slap behind the head from the grandma.

You drop your mouth a little without a sound leaving, looking away with a stammer. “I will but can you let me stay at least for two nights? I’m scared to go back so early. I doubt the soldiers will stop looking for me tomorrow.”

Johnny stares blankly thinking what to answer with, if it’s only two days then perhaps he could make an expectation on letting y/n stay; either way it is not like the old hag will let him push the young girl out this late at night back to the village when she has no family relations to anyone whatsoever. He isn’t that cruel, even though he is cold and quite a blunt person like a solid rock. He will never put a girl in danger unless crossed. Johnny stands up with a shrugging bounce to the shoulders made. “Only two nights. That’s all you are getting.” The fox warns.

You exclaim happily with grateful eyes, you bow your head in the ninety degree angle before lifting it to stand up holding Johnny’s hands with yours. He saw the way your face instantly lit up, glowing light and stars born in those so-familiar eyes. The way your smile was this dark gloop of fear and sadness overthinking your safety, cracking in to the familiar winsome grin. Her smile was like a sudden beam of sunlight illuminating the nightfall darkness outside. Outshining even the mightiest god of sun and light. Where did this feeling of comfort, warmth and familiarity come from you? When did he feel this amount of same kindness and compassion. The same facial expression, eyes smiling too; why was it you?

“Thank you so much, Johnny! I promise I won’t cause trouble. You’re a kind fox.” Y/n laughs a little with a soft echo in her voice. He blankly stares, body frozen like a statue standing still . Your touch melted him if he were ice. The man flinches away his hands from your hand grasp, retracting it back to his chest. He softly nods, quietly murmuring. “Whatever i’m not cruel enough to kick you out and even if i did do that, the old hag would curse me probably.” He points out eagerly at the elder woman who sent daggers to him. Y/n felt the way he was very closed off, almost as if he was scared to become close to you, but why? The girl tilts her head, the same warming gracious smile stays on her face . “I’m still grateful. Thank you.” You tell him with genuinely.

As shield of Earth the night is given upon celestial clock. Gates of heaven and hell soon open releasing endless spirits to wander the land amongst humans. Night deepens each forest brown to the hues that are my soul-song, animals coming out of hiding no longer afraid to reveal the longitude to Mother Nature. On this night the natural black hugs the stars as a mother would to a newborn child when born, the floating little rocks shining bright above the sleeping humans in the village and the wide awake fox resting on the porch next to the small rising lake and a ticking cat waving paw with a shrine and a picture. A cold night, a lucid moon, heaven's eyes shine in the black as divine watchful mother seems like the only thing that never changes to Johnny. Every decade passing he has witnessed many moons that look the same, lonely in the sky, bright as day. Stars coming and going whilst the icy breeze grows angrier.

Johnny could never sleep even if he tried to. Perhaps it was in his genes to not be able to grow fond of the dream land. Only once he could ever feel the symptoms of tiredness. Only once. The house becomes dastardly quiet whenever the mortals go hit the hay, but Johnny finds comfort in it as much as he finds pain in it. Why is it that the darkness covering the night time starts to make you reminisce on the deepest pit of your worries? He can’t ever escape it no matter how much he runs or tries to no longer think back on it, his heart always finds a way to entangle itself on the hauntingly image of his dead lover. Though gods punish him for ever losing a master— it is considered a crime and disgrace for the fox spirit community. Johnny fell from the social status but he does not care. Johnny fell harder when the image of his dead lover and master in his arms grew cold like the North Pole.

The room available for Y/n to use was the only room filled with women clothing and bedding. Quite a large room for one person as if it were a royalty bedroom made just for the finest of women alive. Y/n was born in a poor setting from the beginning, an orphan to be exact so coming across a room like this left you in a stumble, wondering if it was okay for you to even sleep down on the bed like a normal person. But somehow your heart ached seeing this setup. The clothes freshly washed and hang made you want to sob. The feelings of nostalgia hit like a tsunami emerging from the earth’s cracking ground. You couldn’t explain why, so you shrug it off and went to bed. But when you fell into your subconscious the same old routine came.

The same old nightmare chases you anywhere you stay reside in. The inner child version of you cried on days like this to yourself, holding knees to the chest, pinching the your forearms to remind yourself this was the reality and your nightmares were not. The eight year old you would of stayed up all night, becoming an insomniac; child you slept on the day and stayed awake in the night. Sixteen year old you would become numb and cold revisiting the nightmare every night, you bought sleep medicine hoping it might perhaps help you sleep easier, if any it made the dream worse a ten thousand fold. But now, you are twenty years old. A fully grown adult who has experience this long lived nightmare dream for over nineteen years without a single night of hopeful dreams.

Red. Everything ran red. Sharp pain hits the chest like a wooden stake to the heart was cutting your body open like a flat pillow stuff feathers, as if you were nothing but a lightweight rock stomped on. Blur voices and tears align, as did image of fire spreading like a running carriage filled with cattle’. - Female voice screaming dents you in fear as your body wrinkles in the bed, pushing off the duvet cover as well as blankets off, whimpers breathily intake the entire room.

In that moment, eyes snap open as the body jolts up. The young girl pushing back forth the straight long dark hair backwards, drenching with cold sweat along the forehead, dropping on the traditional dress you wore all day, Underneath the clothing were a pounding heart. Y/n looks around the room cautiously extremely paranoid, eyebrows raised to the roof as eyes wide like charcoals, mouths trembled out a sigh and the hands wrap themselves into an hug. Y/n embracing her own body as a self comfort to soothe the situation down, you make mini pinches on the forearms to check if this was the reality. Indeed it was when the small pain strikes you. “It was just a dream,” The girl said to oneself.

The sudden urge to quench the thirst from the dry closing throat, the young woman gets up on two legs leaving the room quietly. Y/n makes her way forward until stopping as the bright blue moonlight shining soon illuminates the man underneath it with one hunch leg, slouching against the wooden pillar to the traditional korean joseon house entrance. The man with the loose blue navy white hanbok, to his only company were a teapot set and white bolder like cups. She comes forward slowly, but stops when the man’s voice strikes her; he knew she was coming even if he has never look towards her direction. He was facing forward into the melancholy distance.

“Can’t sleep, Y/n?” Johnny utters with a husky tone catching the trembling you off guard. The girl purse her lips into a thin line and sits next to the fox spirit softly nodding out a hum. “How’d you know?” Y/n asks and the man turns to look at her.

He points out, like it were a factual reasoning. “Fox ears make it hard to block out noises.” Y/n’s lips open faltering out an ‘oh. Right.’

Silence took a left completely crashing the moment and both of you like a truck. Johnny seemingly found comfort in it but you on the other hand struggled to be quiet, multiple questions form a novel because you seem to want to know more about the man who looks both sadden and lonely when watching the moon ahead. You can’t put your finger on why and what it was causing Johnny to look that way. It draws you in however, as if he was a magnet.

You hush out when beginning to speak once again. “Why can’t you sleep?”

Johnny reaches to the half full cup bringing it to the plum pucker lips and sips the herbal tea. “Are you always this chatty, Y/n?” He grumpily throws.

Your lips seal together like an envelope. Knitting eyebrows forward at the shady comment he has made. He might not be interested in you as much as you are into him but despite the pushing your presence kept marching on. You’re determined to get to know Johnny as a person. Your round eyes squint at the fox. “No. Only when I want to be. Does that bother you?”

You gently ask and Johnny goes to agree. “In a matter of fact yes. Why do you keep talking to me?”

“I want to get to know you more.” Y/n replies. The reasoning were so simple for mortals but for Johnny it felt like cheating, cheating on his dead partner and master. Foxes don’t feel the urge to make friends with other mortals, not unless it were other fox spirits. He can feel the persistence from you, something that was familiar with mortals.

He grimly stress, gritting the canine teeth at you. “I am taken.” Johnny tells you. Y/n’s jawline cracks at the sudden words as you pause, putting your hands to your chest as you spoke, defensively.

“I don’t mean it like that!” Y/n scowls. Johnny scoffs mentally, sure you don’t. Mortals are such easy sinners and to fall in love, in no doubt are you interested in him romantically. Even if you’re not aware of it, Johnny knows you will in the end at the friendship.

“Oh please save me your sappy story. Humans are hopeless romantics it’s unbelievable. I cannot be your friend.” Johnny states.

“Fine, don’t be my friend. But at least make a conversation with me since we both can’t sleep.” You compromise in which the fox said nothing, you took it as a yes. The silence came back but soon broke when johnny finally speaks first, starting the chat. The man gave in to answer your question out of nowhere, catching you ultimately in a surprise.

Johnny sighs. “I don’t sleep. except once.”

“You didn’t sleep at all except one time?” You gawk loudly with a short hitch. Johnny nods putting the empty cup down. “Whoa. Here I thought I was the biggest insomniac.” Y/n impressively said back.

On the man’s face a charming smirk begins to paint clearly, he flashed you a mugging grin with one eyebrow raised, mischievous eyes glint at your doe-ish fluttering eyelashes.

“Why can’t you sleep then, miss insomniac number two.” He casually asked,

You shift not exactly expecting him to follow up with a question you never really spoke of to anyone before. The girl puts the straight hair behind the ears, blowing on your lips as you complement wether you should tell him at all. Johnny watches the uneasy expression you, as he looks away to the moon. “Forget I asked. I didn’t realise it was a touchy subject.” Johnny hollows with simple understanding putting you at slight ease, but then you didn’t want to exactly stop talking. You softly whisper.

“It’s not that I’m uncomfortable. I just don’t know how to explain it.” You start and Johnny listens well and keenly at your voice he surprisingly finds relaxing. The man turns to look back at you. “You see, I only dream the same reoccurring nightmare all my life. I never had a nice dream before. No one knows this before, you are the first one that have asked me why I can’t sleep.”

There was something so saddening about the way you have lived all along this time to Johnny, he couldn’t put into words why he seems to take minor pity but at the same time a protective approaching manner to want to keep you safe and at ease. What exactly was it about you that makes him so sensitive about the bad scenarios and things that could happen to you so easily and why does it piss him off? It’s been so long that someone else has made an effect on him. The fox shifts watching the way you spoke about your situation, with carefree patience and comfort. For someone who has suffered from the moment of being born into this deadly world era you take comfort in the pain you experienced and you find safety in it too. This is what makes you strong in Johnny eyes though. You aren’t afraid to be vulnerable or to be sensitive. You are like a tapestry, no matter where you are placed; rough or smooth pathway. You will always get through it.

“I wonder what it is like to not dream. For at least a night, I wish to just sleep.” You murmur openly and Johnny smiles at your words. “For someone who was born into nothing, you are pretty good of a human.”

Your lips curve upwards smiling back at the man, tilting your head as you brought your legs to the chest. “For someone who said they don’t want to be friends, you listen to me rambling. You’re a good fox.” You praise reaching with your palm, stroking the soft raven hair flatly. Johnny’s face grows a light orange reddish colour heating the cheeks, the fox ears flicker in an appreciative manner to the solely actions of your soft warm hands pressing and running through the hair to pet the man. Johnny’s eyes waver like the sea at shore backwards and forwards, lips pucker as they stare to question you. The praise lift his dead heart to beat again. Johnny embraces the nostalgia in the moment,

He swore he heard his dead master’s voice over yours just now. The way you praise him was in so many ways similar to the way his dead lover did so. Your hands felt identical and you both look like twins. Johnny felt tricked, oppressed into being met with you. But still, he felt uneasy if he was right about you.

“What are you doing, Y/n..!” He exclaims quickly as he jolts back, holding your wrist in his hands to pull you forward. The girl’s body stumbles back losing balance instantly, she fell over his lap, face forward inches away from Johnny’s lips and the chest pressing right on to his own. Johnny felt the lingering scent obsess the nostrils entirely. The fox ears capture your breathing hitch on halt, your heart thumping like his own right now and his body felt an electric strike setting a small ember inside. Both your faces were barely a gap away from pressing together, but what brought Johnny into a catastrophe was the way his eyes lean down to your glossy peachy lips wanting to take a taste of them. But he can’t. You aren’t his reincarnation he was looking for.

That’s what he thought until the left hanbok came loose falling on the side revealing a faded bite mark deeply inscribed into the woman’s body. She let out a shocking gasp as the bare nude shoulder and dainty collarbones block Astounding man’s view. He darkly and deemly seeks an answer, catching you by your shoulders now, he had you placed on the floor underneath him. The woman’s figure was pressed down into the wooden floor like a sliced wooden log, crushingly laying underneath the heavy weight from the fox straddling the body. Hands gripping y/n’s shoulders tight like the life depend on it. Johnny’s glaring eyes fixated on the scar you hid on your left shoulder all along. Memories coming into his head like a flood.

“Please reincarnate, Y/n. I will find you with this mark made by me.”

The flashback ends with your mortified face watching Johnny warily wondering why he was deathly staring at the old mark you never knew why you got it in the first place; you just had it from birth you suppose. He breaks out softly.

“How did you get this mark, Y/n.” Johnny commands with a look that killed you inside. You become silent all of the sudden, the courage to answer the man above you, keeping you trapped, it was scary to respond. Johnny only became aggravated by the shock, it felt almost surreal to him so all he felt was tricked. He couldn’t believe it was real. The paranoia inside Johnny made him so angry, he wondered if he was projecting the thirty five years searching for you all along onto you. When in reality, he’s crumbling. He’s a broken somebody. “How did you get this mark, Y/n!” He screams, hands shaking the woman’s body up and down before dropping her flat on the wooden floor.

The girl flinches closing her eyes, exclaiming in a scream back at the man. “I don’t know! I had it since I was born. You happy?” You grunt out when Johnny was overcame by his own silence. The man falls backwards, off your body as he rests flat, letting out a soft scoff. He finally found you. The five stages of grief was not enough for Johnny, he needed at least twenty stages of grief to cope with. You sit up pulling on your hanbok covering the left side. Johnny looks down hanging his head low.

Y/n slowly stands up rushing back inside the bedroom, closing the sliding door shut. Johnny was left in his own presence, wondering what he’s just witnessed. Surely, it couldn’t be you. But it was his bite mark, the exact same bite mark from the canine fox teeth. Johnny shakes his head in his hands, rubbing the eyelids heavily.

He sobs clenching his hands together. “It was you all along.”

What hurts the most is not the that it was you who was his longing lover’s reincarnation. What hurt Johnny was that even though he told himself so many times that he was ready to meet you, to see you, that he cannot wait another year searching for you only to be hit with a dead end. In reality he wasn’t ready to see you reincarnated. You were both different but similar at the same time in this reincarnation. Johnny couldn’t tell you that you’re his reincarnated lover, hell-, how will he explain that to you? It hurts that he wasn’t ready to accept the fact that you out of all people, cannot remember him. But he remembers you like it was yesterday.

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Morning arrives as a mother's gentle hand, inviting the dreams of night to enter the day. Golden threads of morning sunshine plants on Johnny’s face, scrunching in many wrinkles in irritation. The nine tailed fox sat up half asleep and half awake, rubbing the eyelids to fully open them in a clear view, the man let out a soft yawn. The grandma came into sight immediately, jump scaring Johnny literally to fall backwards, hitting the wooden pillar unexpectedly. He forgot he slept on the floor at the entrance like a guarding dog.

“Ow! Old hag did you have to be so close to me when i open up.” Johnny complained forward as he points at the old woman who glares clicking her tongue. “You drank the entire fermented alcohol. Do you know how expensive this is? Darn it Johnny. “ the grandma scolds like a family member would to another. Johnny let’s out a soft nod. “I’ll just get another one easily. Relax.” He adds before standing up walking to the porch where he watches the distance. Village happens to be wide awake in the acute shining sunshine, this time it was the right amount of heat and breeze. In the distance caught Johnny’s eyes to manoeuvre to the direction of a girl wearing familiar expensive silk dress.

He gapes at the sight rushing towards the young girl with long black straight hair and fair skin, back turned on him he couldn’t see her face but when he approached the girl who was gardening in the forest, hunch on the knees. Johnny stops pulling a hand by the shoulders turning the girl to face him, he were met with Y/n. The same pondering expression on Johnny’s face overloads Y/n’s foresight, she blinks uncomfortably, feeling terrified as last night was quite scary. Johnny this time felt more calm and compressed, but he was left stunned. It was only just you wearing his master’s and lover’s clothing because you couldn’t of kept the dirty ones on— but when you wore them, you look spitting image of her. Johnny shakily release the top of his hand from your left shoulder, looking away he clears his throat. “Sorry. You looked like someone I knew.”

Johnny backs away and you nod softly without saying much. Only new questions were born upon old questions you needed answers to when you were with Johnny alone. It’s draining for your overthinking physically and mentally.

The situation dynamic has shifted from last night and it made you self conscious about it. Previously in the day when Johnny and Y/n met for the first time he wasn’t interested in you, in fact he was shooing you every opportunity he had with you alone. You were the one chasing. But now that you stopped chasing after last night’s incident because you were scared of what he was doing . Johnny became the chaser at the end. He keeps thinking of you as his master and servant when in reality you aren’t her exactly; you were her in your previous life. But not anymore and Johnny cannot grasp the concept. It’s like seeing the same people with different alter egos. The similarities kill him however, every similar thing you do was the exact thing you did in your past life. Johnny was only more deluded by these things.

You sigh openly as you begin to softly pat the soil into the seed hole you planted forming a small oversized flat soil ground to keep it the seed to grow and securely stay. “Why are you still here?” Y/n asks, quite bluntly this time.

Johnny shifts on the side with a surprise flinch, rubbing the behind of his head. Why did he feel so little when he was with you? Perhaps the stern voice you’re using on him makes him think even more of you as his master. As his one and only sole priority. Johnny stammers. “I’m just… watching you. You got a problem?” He throws back.

You clench your jaw together. “Maybe. You are suddenly really clingy to me. Yesterday you weren’t.”

‘Yeah but yesterday I didn’t know you were her…’ Johnny would thought.

It’s true. He completely changed overnight. He was more caring with you, more considerate. Not once did he make a kick out joke, it’s as if he wants you to stay here permanently. Johnny would’ve usually glare at you with his resting apathetic face, but now he looks at you with beaming relief eyes with happiness and warm love at the same time. It was weird, to see him smile at you and speak to you without needing to put any effort like you once did. You wonder, what changed him?

Ever since he saw that mark on yours on the shoulder, it was like a switch in him flipped.

“Y/n. Do you believe in reincarnation?” Johnny softly asks on the side as you dig up the soil with your hands. You stop when the man held your hands together softly where he positions your hands to his direction, the hem of your hanbok sleeves were about to get dirty if you continued gardening that way. Johnny rolls the pink sleeves up, you watch his attentive gaze and actions before he lifts his eyes from the done sleeve and looked at you.

You softly shrug. “Maybe. Im not sure, i used to believe spirits weren’t real. But here I am speaking to a fox spirit.” You lightly said going back to gardening, digging up the hole with your hands. Johnny smiles watching you. The fact that maybe means a lot to him. He’s whipped for you.

“It’s true. Reincarnation can happen.” Johnny urges and you open your lips in slight waver. “How exactly does reincarnation work? Why do people get reincarnated.”

The whole process of reincarnation is an iffy one to explain because it is quite a complex thing to do and to understand. Johnny himself wasn’t quite sure at first when he were a small cub. The underworld god, Hades, controls the living who have died (therefore he chooses if they reincarnate or not.) Johnny met Hades once, after his past lover and master died with the arrow to the heart her soul was taken by a boat crossing the lake into the underworld. Johnny did anything and begged the grim reapers (workers for hades) to take him to see your past life self once again. To which the grim reapers agree only for a few seconds he could see her. In reality Johnny could not restrain himself and he pleads to Hades to let her reincarnate no matter what.

To be able to reincarnate in the next life once you die, you have to have a balance between karma and the sins you have gained. It would be a better task if you didn’t sin at all, the more likely you are to reincarnate. But since it was his master who has died, aimlessly Hades took it as a shameful dead for a fox master to die so tragedy. It took fifteen years to reincarnate you. Johnny Thirty five years overall searching for you. He met you in your new reincarnation form where you are twenty. Johnny definitely got lucky though, some reincarnation can put you into a whole another gender and appearance, same gender and a different appearance or perhaps an animal even. But he knew hades would reincarnate you as a human. He just didn’t know what gender you were going to be. But no matter what gender you would be, Johnny will love and serve you, his feelings would not change.

“People get reincarnate into their next life because it was either to pay the karmic debts which will make them learn a lesson for hard life. Or… someone has begged the underworld god for you to be reincarnated again.” Johnny explained. “You see, I’m waiting for someone to be reincarnated.” He told and you look up at him, pondering. “My master and lover. She died and I’m searching for her.”

You stop whatever you’re doing as you slowly lean backwards resting on a large boulder rock. Johnny watches you with ease, as he is quite tall. The man witnessed your soft hair blowing past the breeze, reveal your neck and the beautiful pink and white hanbok, your hair lightly styled with help of granny in the house. Johnny’s feelings for you only increased, you were a spitting image of her.

She teasingly adds. “So you’re not taken but you’re waiting for her.”

Johnny pouts dropping his keen expression earlier. He turns his head away, crossing arms. “I am taken. Even if she is not here, I am not single.” He points out and you click your lips together forming a snickering grin. “Oh you must really love her Hm? Loyal like a dog to a bone.” He heard you state and his ears flicker to your voice he so loves hearing.

“Foxes can only love one person. Romantic is it not?”The fox remarks catching the young girl by the question as she approaches him where he stayed resting underneath a tree.

“I find it sad.” Y/n dryly said with a gloomy sigh. The young woman could only imagine in her head like a novelty poem, if her lover was left behind waiting for her to be reborn, it would make her sad to think that someone so devoted has spend their entire life searching eagerly. Johnny felt his hand subconsciously moving to embrace Y/n but he stops himself, restricting on being physical with you; you don’t remember him. As much as he remembers you.

“Sad? How come Y/n.” Johnny spoke after a moment of self reflection, holding out on the body. You walk around freely by the forest entrance, as the man behind you follows slowly, like a duckling following a mother duck.

Y/n sympathetically trails with a voice resembling the waves from the ocean, emerging and submerging anything in its way. Johnny felt like he becomes stuck when surrounding by you, as if he were choking on your unpredictable words . Johnny never felt entitled to make you sad. But he made an unbreakable promise to you. “If I were the one to be reincarnated. I wouldn’t want my lover to wait for forever. I feel like that would pain me to think, so many years go by and my lover was there letting life go by until I was found.”

“It sorta made me sad putting myself in his shoes.” You add finally, turning on your heels to watch Johnny from who was behind following you. He stops on the tracks as he was met with a soft smile, shunned him like a running horse crashing into him to fall on the ground helplessly. He hotly smiles. “You’re far too kind for this world, Y/n. But do not worry. I don’t plan on waiting much longer, I’m sure she’s out there somewhere.” Johnny carefully sways as he held out Y/n’s hands.

The moment came short lived but the young woman felt the warmth from the hands erect in her skin, casually wanting you the coldness to dissipate. Heartbeat skipped a beat when the charming fox did not break eye contact, as much as you wished to break it yourself you couldn’t do it. Johnny was far too quick to break the silence, as he casually and slyly comments into the light breezy air. “I heard there is a lunar festival going on right now. Do you want to go there with me?”

‘He’s asking me to go somewhere with him…’ you thought. Y/n wasn’t sure what this feeling of a sparkling connection between you was but, you surely felt like you knew this man for a long time even though you only met him yesterday. The young girl softly nods with a soft cheerful smile in response.

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The festival was our collective soul in song, music and dance. It was the colours of our brightest joys and what weaved us together. To people this specific celebration was to honour the living into the next year, it was like a happy warm get to together in the village. Chatting voices and music play on repeat making it unable to hear a single voice from afar, the pleasantly music runs into peoples eardrums causing many to dance together. Walking by the market stands in a line where it was much more safer and comfortable, it was talkative and the music from distance could be heard at a tolerable safety. No one was dancing on this side of festival making it more or less cramping. The villagers dress up into flamboyant prints and masks. The market stands were a variety to chose from.

Johnny would notice Y/n running towards one stand in particular catching the girl’s enlarge curiosity, the moment she stops, Johnny runs to follow up to her. They stand in between a food stand that welcomes the customers through a strong sweet syrup smell and cinnamon. The fox leers closer when seeing the child-like excited expression on you, it was like this was the candy store making you look so giddy.

The woman at the stand beams forward at the girl and the man. “Oho would you like some dango?” Johnny gives a short nod. “Yes one for the young girl here.”

Y/n wows when the woman pulls away joining the behind as she takes out one of the warmly coated pink green and white dango on the stick; the brown warm syrup leaking down until it was swirl back up. Y/n grabs the dango, jumping up and down. Johnny bows his head as he paid a gold coin, soon following you when you disappeared to walk forward on your own.

You pull one dango in your mouth, blowing on it in your mouth as it was far too hot with the syrup, but it was awfully sweet and addicting. You smile happily chewing on the sweet snack. “Do you want to try, Johnny?” You’d ask catching the fox on the side staring right at you in awe.

‘She still has the sweet tooth.’ Johnny thought endlessly before you pulled him by the question to reality.

“I’m not really a fan of sweet things.” Johnny mentions and you pout stopping in your tracks as Johnny walks a few inches in front as well stopping when he noticed you no longer walking side by side. He turns to you tucking hands on the front hips. He wore a black traditional hanbok, carrying the sword sheathed on the right side to the gear attach and his loose hair slightly wet as he showered for this event. You wore a white sparkle hanbok shining underneath the moonlight in the black sky, hair tucked into a curl-like high bun and hair jewellery attached. You stopped with a sulking gesture when he refused, puffing out your rosey cheeks and your eyes watching him with displeasure. Johnny let’s out a small sigh coming forward to you with his giant-like height he leans down halfway biting into the stick. He took the middle dango gritting with the fox-canine teeth and pulls backwards no longer leaning down.

He chews on the hot dango and you smile instantly, he caught you off guard when he watched you as he bit on the dango and ate it, somehow the intense gaze made your heart thump again. Y/n felt her cheeks become flushed the more she thought about her heart pouncing like a wildebeest. She clears her throat when Johnny mentions, “Too sweet.”

“Do you prefer savour foods more?” You ask back as you continue to walk side by side and the man calmly remarks back. “I prefer meat to be honest. It’s not wether sweet or salty. I just like something hearty and full.”

“Ahh I see. Then let’s go here!” Y/n suddenly exclaims grabbing onto Johnny’s hands as she pulls the six foot man with her to another stand. This time it was a man grilling meat on sticks. Different types of meat. You saw the man’s expression widen like a temple opening, mouth dropping quick in awe as he eyes the meat viciously in hunger. The man chuckles pointing out, “alright young man it’s not going to run away.” He teased.

You chuckle as Johnny practically stomps on his feet cutely. You could only imagine him wagging all the nine tails in unison and the ears prickle with excitement if he had them on. You point at the long stick with the excessive meat in.

“One of this please sir.” You politely gesture. The man nods with a smile as he pulls the stick towards the man. Johnny puts on a gold coin for the man. “Have a nice day couple!” He cheers and you jump at the words when leaving, about to reject the idea to stop forth from confusing the market stand owner, Johnny wraps an arm around your shoulders lightly, as he noms on the meat graciously.

He cannot remember when it was the last time he had a taste of beautiful soft and tender meat cooked to perfection. The granny back at the house only makes kimchi upon kimchi. Johnny swore if he saw another vegetable he might lose it and go savage like back in the days when he did not have a human form. Johnny looks over to the beautiful girl residing him, as he puts the stick to the girl.

“Here take a bite.” He encourages as you stop and look at the meat on the stick. When you lean down to take a full bite of one, you chew on and hum satisfied when he waited patiently for your response if you’d like it or hate it. Johnny felt a relief of happiness and love rush in when you said it was good.

You smile watching the full moon ahead, sighing happily. “The moons beautiful tonight.” Johnny looks at you as he hums softly. “It is isn’t it.”

You turn to look at him but Johnny looks away clearing his voice . The man walks ahead as you smirk, was he watching you? The playfulness enrages more when you comply forward, Teasing the fox with both, joking manner and a little hint of flirting.

“I saw you looking at me over there.” You point out and Johnny scoffs. “I was watching the moon whaddya’ mean?”

You smile watching the grumpy expression on the man and you couldn’t help but chuckle. He’s so cute and see through, you can read right through him and you don’t know why. The connection between you was only growing stronger and stronger, it’s as if you knew him for so long. Johnny stops suddenly when he turns to the left, you pause stopping but the man turns to you urgently.

“Stay here. I’ll come back. Wait here.” He quickly said as he rushes away out of your sight. You stand there blankly as you turn around, pursing your lips into a thin line.

‘What could he be doing right now?’ You thought impatiently.

Your impatient cuts short when Johnny comes back calmly you unlock your arms that were together crossed and Johnny reaches for your hands with a short smile. “Here I thought this could help you.” He states when he reopened your hands the gift he had bought for you makes your body melt from the considerate loving gift he rushed to get you instantly. It’s the fact that you were on his mind, that makes you blush like a young teenage girl.

You look up exclaiming with a soft awh leaving the lips. “It’s a dream catcher!” You shout and he nods happily.

“This way you can sleep at night with good dreams only” Johnny told you with an abrupt smile. Y/n looks at Johnny before embracing the man tight. The warm embrace of your smaller arms against his wrapping the body like this cloud over the moon. Your hug has woven our souls in a way that is a forever bond. Johnny gets filled with hopes, only his love grew more for you and the hug has proven its feeling aloud. The man wraps arms around you back, slowly and carefully to not squeeze too tight. You pull away with the upmost happiest beautiful smile. Johnny never knew until now how much he loves your happy expression and smiles, he wants you to only smile and be happy forever.

“Thank you Johnny.” You say with gratitude and he shakes his head. “It’s nothing don’t worry.”

“Let’s go somewhere quiet, fireworks will start soon.” He beams now remembering the time and Y/n would soon be dragged with a hand intertwining with hers, pulling the girl with a short run to the unknown place where the fox is taking her to.

The grass beneath the shoes felt alive as it were waving forth motions on the nightfall cold breeze intergalactically perusing on the two who rest on the mountain edge hill perfect to sight see all the fireworks shot with an arrow forward the more they wait the anticipation rose and Y/n let’s out a soft sigh of content.

You were never this happy before. Perhaps you’re at your happiest when embraced by the friend next to you. But can you even call him a friend when you have these indescribable feelings for a man who is waiting for his dead lover to reincarnate? You could only hope it was you to be reincarnate. Johnny sways forward as he points out with eyes sparkling.

“It’s starting.” Johnny said to you as you turned your head to the front watching the beaming loud fireworks sparkling in the night as they combust and explode. Your face lights up at each explosion in the sky leading with many colours escaping above the both of you. Johnny couldn’t help but watch your intensive face on the side, admiring you at a close distance.

You’re just like you were before he first met you. Johnny took you to the same festival a long time ago. You had the biggest sweet tooth, you begged and pleaded him to try the candy floss and once he did Johnny was hit with exact the flavour he despised but even though he hated it so much, he was glad he could make you happy and you were smiling exactly like that then. He took you to see the stars because back then fireworks weren’t a thing, as you were stargazing Johnny took the courageous movement to kiss you softly as the stars were shining above and a shooting star fell. She wore different clothes. Different hair. Different makeup. But you look the same in his eyes when you watch the fireworks unable to look away, Johnny felt the sudden urge to kiss you just like he had then.

Following the instincts inside Johnny raging to do it right now, when he had moved his face closer you were quick to turn around and he paused a moment, inches barely from capturing your lips, the heavy warm breathing escaping the fox’s mouth left your heart beating suddenly again as you felt it in your throat. You gulp thickly thinking why did he stop suddenly? You really wanted him to kiss you right now. But it was as if the man was scared, scared to kiss you wondering if you’d reject him. Your hands latch on to Johnny’s hanbok collar suddenly causing the fox to jolt forward when you pull him with ease, the gap closes thanks to your bravery, you crashed your lips on his and Johnny swore he melts by the sudden confidence you had and he had not. He didn’t remember your past life ever being this confident, in fact she was quite mysterious and timid. But in this life time, you are confident and a Ray of sunshine easily going and content. You are also wise and compassionate, something you will always have no matter how many times you’re going to be reborn.

You took a control for a while until Johnny recovered where he suddenly puts a hand behind your head deepening the kiss until the way his tongue slips inside with almighty merciless strength, he had your tongue beneath him as he was exploring inside and out leaving no space unattended. Fox canine fangs were rubbing on the bottom lip making a soft ragged breathing come out, he heard loud and clear making him feel some type of way, with you loudly breathing it was a way for him to see you were enjoying yourself as much as he was too, as you did something flash in your eyes even when you had then closed a small taint memory came across your head, a woman identical to you wearing different hanbok with a familiar man next to her . Johnny shortly pulls away when noticing the way you struggle to keep in oxygen and you blush heavily as did he. The tan skin he has with a deep reddish colour as you had a light pink spreading fast like a disease on your skin.

He pulls away but rests forehead together, keeping the hand on your head from behind that left you comforted. Your eyes flutter open at the same time, he was met with your trembling oversized pupils dilating as you face the hungry lustful eyes with love rushing to the surface. Your mind wonders back to the flashback of an unknown memory you had unlocked with the kiss.

You stammer softly in which Johnny found endearing and cute. “I…I’m sorry i forgot you were taken.” You deeply said with regret. Your eyes depressingly linger down on the ground, watching the grass as you were unable to face Johnny. He probably holds this against you, your feelings against you. Little did you know Johnny was reaching forward to hold your face to face him directly, your eyes connecting once again.

“I’ve been waiting for you. Searching for you.” Johnny earnestly states with such loving words coming to your realisation it’s you who he has been looking for all along. He came back to you, to reclaim what he loves and belongs to him as much as he belongs to you. The master he’s patiently devoted his life and will never regret doing so. Y/n shakily places the cold hands over his, softly chuckling with teary eyes forming. It makes you sad to think that you made this man you love in both lives wait for you but now you’re not going to do so.

“I’ve been here all along.” You respond well reconnecting the soft lips on to yours, lovingly kissing the man first as a tear or two ran down your cheeks.

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Love spread across the wooden flooring of the traditional house. Everything reeks of sex and sweat though it comforts the two in their own stuck reality they have created. Two bodies launching together as one. It was like the perfect combination made, a lock to a key that fits perfectly and only the only perfect fit. Hanboks scattering on the floor as the woman’s bedroom aches at the weight forced. Y/n was on all fours arching at the front pillow, with one arm covering the mouth as it become endangered to let the escaping mellow moans out to attract attention, the fox thrusting behind had little to no intention on becoming slow and softer— those thirty five years pent up waiting for his lover to reincarnate he now has her underneath him where he’s going to show exactly how much he has missed his master. His mistress. His owner. The sole devotion he will serve.

The skin to skin contact brought back old memories as well as new memories being born. Johnny himself felt ascended into heaven with happiness he couldn’t hold back even as much as you told him to, he cannot do that. He can’t bring himself to calm down. The thrusts were irregular and messy, hitting all sorts of places inside you that yourself never knew you could hit. Being a virgin as well, the situation was not ideal but the way he expressed it was. You knew how much you kept him waiting, you wouldn’t want your virginity to be taken by anyone else but Johnny. Your servant. Your lover. The man you’ll love in your present past and future.

He held your stomach underneath with a flat palm, bringing you closer where the lustful fox completely indulgent into giving everything begins to scrape his mouth over the bite mark on the left shoulder. You hum softly as he kissed your jawline then the neckline and then softly plants a longing wet kiss onto the mark on the shoulder. “I’m glad you have the mark still.” He huskily said as you carefully trail. “Please give me a new one.” You engrave a demand that he could no longer refuse as Johnny smirks above a clean freshly skin on the right side, within a minute a long grazing sharp impact breaks your skin cracking it as he bites you. Your lover pressing on your back to lower down and fall face front to the pillow.

The pain dents you open with pleasure, as the sadistic fox pulls away licking it clean in satisfying manner before he proudly pounds open the soaking pussy of yours beneath him. He whispers sweet nothings such as ‘I missed you so much you had no idea.’ Or ‘I will not leave your sight at all.’ Some where incompetent groans that left your ears ringing on repeat.

With a hair pull you tug on your face front as he captures you on your lips softly, a complete contract to the way he let go off everything becoming a salvage animal. The sophisticated Johnny who was gentle and soft has disappeared but a small shadowing hint told you he was still there when he gave you this soft loving kiss on your lips, as he slows down with his cock twitching inside you, you came to a conclusion he was close to climax.

He was so focused on making you come earlier he completely forgot about his own release. Johnny was way too focused on you, on making you feel pleasure rather than himself and it’s always been that way; he wants to make you feel satisfied and experience it first because he can always wait. You are his priority. When he has released in you letting out a soft moan enough to break the kiss between you, you sigh of relief and at the warm liquid filling you full.

Johnny whispers in the air. “I love you, Y/n. I want to marry you.” His words came off as a surprise, a pleasant one. You turn around as he lingers above you weakly, caressing your face as he wraps both into the warm duvet covers. Pulling you into a small spoon in his chest where your face buried itself. You smile unconsciously pulling the man closer by his own waist too. “I love you too Johnny. You sure you want to marry me though?”

You’d ask as lifting your head meeting his eyes you raise your eyebrows jokingly and teasingly. “I thought you were taken.” Y/n spat out and Johnny couldn’t help but blush unbelievably.

“Yeah by you.” He points out with a soft stutter. You smirk kissing his forehead lovingly before brushing back the long black hair. “Okay let’s get married then. When?” You question and Johnny hums out.

“Next week?” He said back.

“This week.” You state back with a smile.

Johnny grins squeezing you into the embrace tighter. He definitely will never let go until morning, maybe he won’t ever let you go from this embrace with the intentions. “Tomorrow!” He finalised and you chuckle.

“Tomorrow then.” You softly say. “I love you, kind fox.”

“I love you, y/n.”

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@onyourhyuck please refer from translating copyrighting and plagiarising my work thank youu! Reblog this fic and follow me for more updates it helps a girl out <3

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