#It’s been a weird few days so I just really appreciate your presence

[makoodles]

ミ the mightiest

part one | part two

🍓 pairing: neteyam x human fem reader

🍓tags: nsfw, aged up neteyam (obviously), jealousy, alien cultural misunderstandings, oral sex (f receiving) vaginal sex, size kink, voyeurism, brief na'vi oc x reader, mentions of reader sleeping with other na'vi men

masterlist

reblogs are always enormously appreciated!

notes: adult neteyam art created by the incredibly talented @cinetrix, whose work motivated me to write for adult neteyam in the first place!!

It was just a fluke, you tell yourself. A moment of weirdness that had come about because… because…

Okay, so you can’t really explain it.

You don’t like Neteyam! You never have! The sight of him appearing while you’re mid-rendezvous with Txetyo (the same man he had interrupted you with only a few days before!) should have sent you into an angry tailspin. And yet, you can’t forget the pulse of excitement that had throbbed low in your belly when you realised that he was standing there watching you.

Really, you should have been the one to speak up. But it was like your brain had switched off, like all your rational thoughts had gone on a temporary leave of absence; why else would you have stayed silent instead of stopping Txetyo and drawing attention to Neteyam’s presence?

Just like after your last confusing encounter with Neteyam in the healing hut, you end up sticking close to the human outpost for the next week.

It’s probably a little cowardly to hide instead of facing your problems head on, but you don’t care. You avoid Neteyam, you avoid Txetyo, you avoid any of the guys you’ve had flings with before because even the sight of them reminds you of what had happened that night in the forest. Inevitably, that leads to you avoiding the village entirely.

The outpost is as boring as ever, but it’s better than facing the mortification that’s no doubt awaiting you in the village. But at the very least, it’s not lonely.

Spider is kind enough to keep you company in the outpost for the first few days, though you quickly wish he wouldn’t. There’s not much to do, and Spider never deals well with boredom.

“Quit that.” You grit out, your eyes sliding sideways.

Spider is sitting next to you, drumming his fingers insistently on his thighs. He sighs, rolling his eyes up towards the ceiling and leaning back on the lumpy couch you’re both sprawled on.

“This is mind-numbing.” He complains, throwing his dirty bare feet over your thighs. “It’s so boring here. I don’t think I’ve ever spent this much time inside in my whole life.”

“You don’t have to be here.” You remind him, shoving his feet off you.

Spider sighs, swinging his legs back to the ground so he can sit up properly. “Right, sure. I could leave you here alone to mope all day by yourself in your dank little bedroom. Or you could tell me what’s going on with you.”

You grumble, and avert your eyes. Okay, so maybe your avoidance has been a little more obvious than you had intended. You’ve barely missed a day in the village your whole life, and yet in the last two weeks you’ve spent most of your time hiding out in the outpost.

“Nothing’s going on.” You say, and it rings hollow even to your own ears.

Spider purses his lips. He seems pointedly unconvinced, and stretches back on the couch with his arms across the back of the headrest.

“So it has nothing to do with whatever the hell happened when you went off with Txetyo during the hunt celebrations?”

You almost wince, but manage to keep your expression neutral as you stare at your knees. “Nope.”

Spider hums. “And I suppose the fact that Neteyam very conspicuously disappeared into the forest about ten seconds after you left is also unrelated.”

That cracks your composure, and you take a shaky breath as you glance sideways at Spider’s face. He doesn’t look like he’s judging you or anything; he’s just waiting patiently for your answer, a single eyebrow raised.

“I don’t wanna talk about it.” You mutter, avoiding his eyes.

There’s a long pause, and then Spider huffs out a sigh and tilts his head back to stare at the water-stained ceiling up above you. You feel a little bad about keeping secrets from him; usually you and Spider act as each other’s confidants by virtue of the fact that the two of you are humans the same age amongst all the Na’vi. But this whole mess with Neteyam is something that you’re struggling to wrap your own head around – you don’t want to start explaining the whole mortifying ordeal to someone who was as good as your brother.

“Lo’ak’ll get it out of you.” Spider says confidently.

You groan, covering your face with your hands. “Please tell me he’s not coming over.”

“He’s worried.” Spider protests. “You’ve been acting super weird, dude.”

“He’s nosey.” You correct.

Spider shrugs, unable to argue that point. “Well, whatever.”

It’s as if speaking his name summons him, because the shoddy linoleum floor creaks behind you as a big nine-feet-tall body steps into the room. You catch a glimpse of bright blue skin out of the corner of your eye and groan, tipping your head back against the back of the couch and closing your eyes.

“Seriously, I am not in the mood to be interrogated by the Idiot Brigade today.” You complain. “Can’t you come back and bother me another time?”

There’s a pause. And then, a low voice filled with amusement says, “Am I a member of this “idiot brigade?”

That is not Lo’ak’s voice.

For a moment, you don’t even turn around. You just breathe slowly, your eyes shut tight. Maybe if you don’t turn and look, Neteyam will just vanish from your presence as if he had never spoken at all.

But instead of Neteyam’s spontaneous disappearance, you get Spider shifting on the lumpy couch beside you before climbing to his feet. Your eyes shoot open at that, and your head whips around to stare at him in disbelief.

“Where are you going?” You hiss, already reaching out after him.

Spider stops, hesitates, his eyes flicking between you and Neteyam. He looks as though he would rather be literally anywhere other than here; you know the feeling.

“Uh… I’m gonna go find Lo’ak.” Spider mutters, his eyes darting around cagily. “Seems like you two probably need time to talk some things out.”

Before you can even protest that, Neteyam is stepping forward, marching his way around the couch. You sit up, properly startled now, realising that your window for escape is rapidly narrowing.

“Tell Lo’ak not to come.” Neteyam says simply, stepping nimbly around the couch so that he’s in front of you. It’s like he knows that you were thinking of an escape, because he tilts his head as a subtle smile tugs at his mouth.

“Yeah. Got it.” Spider sounds a little strangled, sending you a look that you can’t quite decipher before turning and scampering out the door, letting it slide shut behind him with a quiet thud.

You stare at him for a long moment, your mouth hanging open like a moron. Neteyam just stares back, his expression even, as though he’s waiting for you to speak first.

You swallow thickly, then push yourself up so that you’re standing. It’s a weak attempt to put yourself on a more even level with him, but it fails as you find yourself eye-level with his damn belly button.

“What are you doing here?” You snap, though it comes out a little weaker than you had intended.

Neteyam doesn’t answer immediately. Instead he gingerly lowers himself down onto the ancient lumpy couch that you and Spider had commandeered for yourselves from the desolate wreckage of Bridgehead. He’s almost comically large for it, his knees bent awkwardly up as he settles back, the springs creaking ominously.

“You have been avoiding the village.” He says simply.

And… oh god, you can’t stop staring. It’s stupid, because you’ve known Neteyam your whole life, you know what he looks like. But it’s like your eyes are taking him in differently now. You hadn’t spent much time with him as kids; you were always chasing after Lo’ak, Kiri, and Spider, and Neteyam usually maintained a distance as he trained under the guidance of his parents. And then he was gone, departed for the reef villages, only to return after the worst of the war years had passed.

But it’s different now. He’s a man, his shoulders broader than ever and his muscles more defined than is typical of the Omaticaya warriors – no doubt thanks to his time in the reefs with the bulkier Metkayina.

Your mouth is a little dry; it’s not a good time to be reminded that you find big, muscly Na’vi men really, really attractive.

“Yeah.” You say, your voice scratchy. “Uh… I’ve been busy.”

Neteyam’s hairless brow raises in an unspoken gesture of doubt as he leans back into the couch. Your eyes dart down nervously over his abdomen. Each sculpted abdominal muscle speaks of his physical prowess and the sheer discipline and dedication to his training, and his slim waist is accentuated by the woven battle band around his waist. Fuck, you want to touch his belly.

You can hardly believe that you had this man’s cock in your hand, or that he had been grunting and fucking your fist. Maybe you had hallucinated that. Looking at him like this, taking in his big amber eyes and strong jawline and high cheekbones, you’re reminded rather harshly of just why he’s one of the most sought-after men in the village by the unmated Omaticaya girls. It seems unlikely that he’d ever lower himself to allow himself to be touched by you.

And yet, you know you hadn’t hallucinated him standing only mere feet from you in the forest, watching intently as Txetyo had railed you into the mossy ground.

As if he knows what you’re thinking, Neteyam speaks again. “Avoiding Txetyo? I do not blame you.

You almost choke at that. Good lord, the audacity of this man. He knows perfectly well that you’ve also been trying to avoid him, judging by the smug look on his face.

“No! He- he wasn’t so bad.” You protest, though the words ring unconvincingly in your own ears.

“Tawtute, you’re so tight!” Neteyam gasps mockingly, lowering his voice into a dude-bro register that decidedly does not sound like Txetyo. “Fuck, you’re so wet, I’m gonna cum—"

You squawk, hastily stepping forward to swat ineffectually at his shoulder. “Will you shut up, that’s not what–“

Neteyam grabs at your wrist when you smack his shoulders, his long fingers wrapping all the way around you before tugging. You stagger, pulled off balance as he tugs you onto the couch beside him. You end up with your limbs in an ungainly sprawl as you attempt to collect yourself beside him, flustered behind belief. He doesn’t let go of your wrist.

“And he– he made me finish, so.” You say lamely. You’re sitting next to him. Why are you sitting next to him? You should be trying to shove him up off the couch and shoo him out the door.

“I’m pretty sure you made yourself come.” Neteyam corrects, his head tilting. His glossy braids spill over his shoulders, colourful beads clicking together. “Which wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t there, by the way.”

“Excuse me?”

“Just pointing out the obvious.” Neteyam’s smug little grin is growing, and he leans in a little closer. “I don’t think you were enjoying it at all until I showed up.”

You gape at him, stunned.

“I- you-!” You stammer, your breath catching from the sheer swell of your indignation. Who does he think he is, showing up here all muscled and gorgeous like this only to embarrass you?

“Speak for yourself!” You finally manage to splutter, trying to sit up on the couch; Neteyam’s grip on your wrist prevents you from going too far, so you give up and resign yourself to being stuck beside him until he grows bored of tormenting you. “Txetyo was– That was pretty much par for the course. I mean– it wasn’t unusual, sometimes that’s just how sex goes–“

Neteyam sits up straight, so suddenly that it startles you. His brow is furrowed, his eyes flicking rapidly over your face as though he’s trying to assess if you’re being honest.

He’s… he’s leaning in rather close to you. You blink at him, but don’t move back. It’s so rare for you to be around Neteyam without your respirator mask acting like a shield over your face, and you feel a little naked now without it.

“That was a standard experience for you?” He asks, and his voice has… changed a little. That smug amusement on his face has vanished, replaced with what looks like bewilderment.

You scoff at his surprise, rolling your eyes. “Shouldn’t you know what my standard experience is? You’ve interrupted enough of them.”

He doesn’t respond to your snarky remark. He just stares at you as if he’s examining you, and you shift awkwardly on the couch, unsure in the face of his scrutiny.

“What, you’re surprised that all men aren’t sex gods?” You ask a little testily. “They want to experiment with a Sky Person, and I like sex with Na’vi men, so… win-win.”

Neteyam just frowns, pulling back a little. “No, that’s not… I don’t understand. Why do you spend time with them if they are not successful in pleasuring you?”

Boy, is that a loaded question. You don’t want to explain to Neteyam that it’s not really about sex, that it’s more about a pathological need for physical connection and comfort, especially when you try your very hardest not to think about it yourself.

“Maybe I’m just hoping one of them will really impress me.” You mumble, a little sourly. “I guess I’ll keep holding out hope.”

Neteyam’s ears flatten, pressing low against his head as his eyes widen a little. He shifts, his body looming over you like a big blue behemoth as the couch springs squeal beneath his weight.

“I could.” He says. “Impress you, I mean.”

You snort, glancing up at him with a wry sort of smile that falls off your face almost immediately when you see the look on Neteyam’s face. His expression is perfectly earnest, his jaw set and his pupils dilated with an odd sort of urgency that you’ve never seen from him. He… he doesn’t look as though he’s making fun of you at all.

“What?” You croak, blinking.

And then you realise what all this about. Neteyam is always so determined to prove himself, to be the best at everything. He’s always pushed himself beyond his limits and worked himself to the bone to be stronger and faster and wiser, to be a better leader and a better hunter and a better fighter. You probably shouldn’t even be surprised that now he’s decided to prove that he’s better than his peers at fucking you, too.

“This is just a competition for you, isn’t it?” You scoff, yanking your wrist out of his hand. He shifts forward on the couch then as though preparing to catch you if you move to run, but you’re not making any move to leave.

“No. They are not worthy competitors.” Neteyam scoffs as if the question is absurd. “This is to prove to you that you have been wasting your time with men who are not capable of pleasing you.”

You scoff again, but it’s a much weaker sound this time. “I–”

“You have bad taste in men, paskalin.” Neteyam murmurs, shuffling closer on the ancient couch.

You stare up at him, your breath catching a little in your chest. God, he’s so much bigger than you. You hate that it’s making your body heat up, and you feel yourself growing wet as he leans in close, smelling like fresh water and the forest.

“Are you going to let me?” Neteyam whispers, reaching out to trace a finger along your jawline. “Let me prove myself.”

You should say no. You should tell him to leave, to get out. You should absolutely not feed into his own ego by fucking him.

“Yes,” You breathe stupidly. “Okay.”

You’re expecting him to grab you immediately and flip you around onto either your back or stomach; in all your previous experiences, you’ve gotten right down to it with your partners. But to your surprise, Neteyam leans in and holds your hips with his big hands as he presses his mouth to yours in a kiss.

Kissing is not something that you’re used to; the Na’vi you’ve hooked up with have stayed clear of the human outpost, unlike the Sully kids who had paid frequent visits, which means that all of your sexual encounters have occurred in the forest or in empty corners in the village with your respirator mask firmly attached to your face.

Now your face feels naked and vulnerable, and you gasp shakily against Neteyam’s mouth when he leans in and kisses you firmly.

It’s slow and deep, at first. All-consuming. It lights a fire in your gut, which expands and spreads throughout your body.

Neteyam doesn’t just kiss with his mouth, either. He kisses with his hands, his whole body. He clutches you to him, holding you close even as the force of his kiss bends you backward, your body pressing into the raggedy couch cushions.

At the same time, it’s all you can do to concentrate and respond to the kiss itself, your attention stretched and strained by the feeling of Neteyam’s hands running over you, stroking your sides and clutching your neck and squeezing your ass.

“Hah,” You gasp out when Neteyam’s lips slide sideways to find the corner of your jaw. His mouth is hot against your skin, bruising, and you’re embarrassingly wet already, just from a little kissing.

Fuck, he’s a good kisser. That’s so annoying.

You run out of breath too fast, and you have to gasp. Neteyam breaks the kiss for barely even a second, and shifts some of his weight to his elbows as he follows you down onto the couch, nuzzling and nipping at your jaw before returning to your mouth.

There’s a hand on either side of your head during that blink-and-you-miss-it break in the kiss, but then he moves his big hands to hold onto your face like they’re afraid you’ll escape, and now they don’t want to let go at all. One of his hands cups your jaw, the other clasping around the back of your neck and tilting your head farther back, deeper into the couch, opening you up. You think about the fact that he can thread his fingers together behind your head with his palms pressed to your cheeks and nearly moan like a whore into his mouth.

Neteyam’s eagerness surprises you. The kiss is messy and graceless and airless and greedy, frantic and full of teeth, and you can only roll your hips in reflex, in mindless desperation, in a feeble attempt to buck, your mind repeating a refrain of yes holy shit holy shit YES. You can’t even squirm, because holy hot fuck Neteyam is heavy, and he’s got every inch of you covered and owned.

God, have you always been this easy? Just kiss you, feel you up a little and want you enough and you’ll end up happily whimpering under someone on the couch? Even someone like Neteyam, who you’ve been so resentful of for so long?

You spread your thighs, and Neteyam’s narrow hips slot into place like a damn puzzle piece. Neteyam hums a small laugh and pauses, pulls back an inch or so, gazing steadily at your lips and smoothing the tips of his thumbs back and forth over your cheekbones. He takes a moment to fumble with his respirator and takes a deep breath before dropping it and leaning down to kiss you again.

“Oh, fuck.” You whimper, your eyes fluttering shut when his hips roll fluidly against you.

You pull back from the kiss, just enough to get a look at his face. His eyes are a little clouded, his lips puffy and spit-slicked. He looks dazed, and there's a thin line of saliva connecting your mouths together. His brow scrunches in a frown, as though you pulling away from him is a personal offence.

Oh god, you think. I'm so fucked.

The hand that had been cupping your cheek releases you, slides down your body as well. Your breath hitches when he passes over your breasts, drags down the plush skin of your belly, before reaching in between your thighs to cup at your pussy over your clothes. His hand tightens, grabbing you. Cunt, pubic bone, the whole shebang, all of it right there in the palm of Neteyam’s shockingly big hand.

“Bedroom.” You gasp, your head spinning as he just holds your cunt over your denim shorts. “Bedroom now.”

Neteyam grins, and wraps his arms around your waist to haul you into his arms before he lifts you off the couch and practically staggers down the hall. His excitement surprises you, and you cling to his neck as he ducks his way through the corridor.

Mercifully the outpost is quiet today, with most of its human occupants out in the forest or in the village – that means there’s no one around the witness the sight of Neteyam’s enormous blue ass squeezing himself in through the small doorway of the closet-like bedroom you’d claimed for yourself, with you dangling from his arms like a doll.

You’re still breathing hard when Neteyam clumsily gets the door shut before placing you on your squeaky old bed, following you down on it. He’s careful not to crush you with the bulk of his body, instead resting his weight on his forearms where they’re planted on either side of your head.

The consideration makes something squirm in your belly, and you reach up to intertwine your fingers at the back of his head and pull him down to resume kissing him.

Neteyam rolls his hips into yours, and you can feel the thick ridge of his erection pressing into the seam of your shorts, right over your clit. The sound you make is absolutely humiliating, and you will deny ever making it until your last breath, but you twitch as you try to catch that exact same friction again.

And fuck, kissing like this may be new to you, but you never want to stop. You didn’t even know that kissing with tongue could feel so erotic; Neteyam’s hands are on your face again, angling you this way and that way and however the fuck Neteyam feels like angling you, and goddamn he must be doing it just because he can.

You try desperately to remember any little kissing tricks you’ve learned and draw a pathetic blank. Luckily, Neteyam seems intent on showing off. His creativity is more than enough to occupy you both, and you’re too busy being excruciatingly horny to really be self-conscious anyway.

Besides, your next exhale is a chest-rattling groan, and if Neteyam’s immediate grunt of approval and slow thirsty grind against your trapped body is any indication, then you're doing just fine by his standards.

But then, to your absolute distress, Neteyam pulls away.

“Hhh — Shit! Shit, hang on. Shit.” Neteyam hisses, turning his face away and levering himself up on his arms. He’s breathing hard, and the sound of the English curse words falling out of his mouth in that strained tone of voice has your thighs squeezing together pathetically.

“What?” You ask, your voice sounding dazed and stupid even to your own ears.

Neteyam huffs out a few centering breaths and then shakes out his head to clear it. He fumbles for the respirator, takes several deep gulps of air before dropping it again. He angles his hips away from you for a moment, breathing steadily.

“Why’d you stop?” You hate the way the words come out as a whine; you feel as though you’re losing your mind, as though you’re actually going to die if he doesn’t keep kissing you.

Neteyam breathes out a quiet laugh, sounding a little disbelieving as he drops his forehead down to rest on your shoulder.

“Fuck.” He whispers, but he doesn’t answer your question. Instead, he pushes himself down your body, sliding between your legs.

When he tugs your shorts, you lift your hips eagerly to help him shuck your pants off. As he’s tugging at your panties, you work on yanking your oversized pyjama shirt off you. It feels as though the two of you are descending into a frenzy, touching and kissing and tearing at each other like animals.

When you’re naked beneath him you shiver, staring up at him in eager anticipation. You wait for him to come back up and kiss you, to take his own loincloth off and stick his cock into you, but he doesn’t. Instead, his head bullies its way in between your thighs.

“No,” You whine, making a face. You don’t want him to waste time with eating you out when you’re ready now. “Just put it in.”

Neteyam shoots you a reproachful look as though he thinks you’re acting crazy. “You said you would let me please you.”

“But–” You frown, feeling a little ridiculous for having this conversation when his big head is blinking up at you from between the pudge of your thighs. “You don’t have to. I don’t enjoy getting head all that much anyway.”

But instead of changing his mind, that just makes him snort as though you’d told a damn joke.

“Let me show you, syulang.” He whispers, turning his head and brushing his lip over the soft skin of your inner thigh. He kisses you there, and then sucks a hickey-like bruise into the squidge there.

And damn, you can’t turn him down.

“Fine.” You sigh, a little irritated, and spread your legs wider so that Neteyam can muscle his way in.

He grins as if he knows something you don’t, grabs your legs and pulls them so your thighs are hanging off his big broad shoulders. You can feel his warm breath ghosting over you between your legs, and you prepare to lie back and let him lick you down there until he deems you’re wet enough to start fucking you properly.

But then he actually gets his mouth on you, and… oh. Oh.

You tilt your head back, staring at the ceiling with wide eyes. That feels… better than you had expected, actually.

Each of Neteyam’s movements are calculated, precise. He laps against your clit, then closes his lips and sucks. You nearly yelp, but manage to tamp down on your reaction and merely wheeze instead. Neteyam points his tongue and presses inside of you, sucks and licks like he’s actually eating something. At one point, he even bites, and you jerk so hard that you accidentally grind against his face.

It’s not like any of the head you have ever received. You’ve enjoyed it before, sure, but it’s never felt like this, and it’s definitely never made you come. And yet, to your honest surprise, you can feel a familiar coil of tension beginning to build deep in your abdomen.

“Oh god.” You breathe, sounding a little bewildered.

You feel his tongue against your clit again, hardly noticing that his hands are gripping at your ass until he yanks you forward as he buries his whole damn face between your legs. His fingers return, delving into you, deep and searching. His mouth works against your clit and it feels like you’re being squeezed between the kinds of pleasure, worshipped and wrung out and attacked all at once.

“Neteyam,” You gasp like a fool. “Oh, what the fuck, it– Neteyam, hang on, it’s too–”

Neteyam is still devouring you, sucking hard and persistent until you cry out. You try to clench your thighs around his head as he laps at you like a man starved, but his hands are still on your thighs, locking you in an iron grip, keeping you spread wide for him, and you can hardly breath because every time you think to try and take a breath his tongue is moving over your clit again and he’s sucking against you.

Your head swims, and you wonder why on earth you had been so resistant to allow him to make you feel good like this. Fuck, have you just been getting really bad head this whole time? You didn’t even know it could feel like this.

Your heels are digging into his back, and the closer he brings you to the edge the harder your thighs clamp around his head. He barely seems to notice the force you’re exerting, merely groaning to himself everytime you squeeze tighter.

Your thoughts splinter and unravel, and you can do nothing but buck uselessly against his hold, desperately chasing more of his lips and his tongue.

“Oh god, oh god, oh god.” You chant, eyes squeezed shut tight as you whine.

He's just so good with his tongue, and you’ve never felt like this in your life. It feels as though you can't breathe properly, as though you’re melting from the inside out. None of those awkward, fumbling sexual encounters with those other Na’vi ever had you feeling like this.

Your breasts are heaving with the effort it takes just to breathe through the white hot pleasure crashing through you, and you stare down at him with wide eyes as he suckles again at your clit. When he sees you looking down at him, he throws you a cheeky wink as he laps at you.

You let out a helpless, gasping laugh at him, your hands clenching compulsively in his braids. Your giggle has him pulling back a little so he can look up at you properly; the grin he shoots you is extra shiny thanks to the fact that the lower half of his face is covered in his spit and your own slick, but he looks dopey and happy.

You manage one word, on a long and broken moan- “Please!”

Neteyam laughs quietly, the sound vibrating through his lips and into your pussy, but then his tongue is on your clit again, sucking you into his mouth, and you’re shattering around him as he finally pushed you over that edge you’ve been teetering on.

You keen and shake violently, spasming around Neteyam’s fingers and jerking into his mouth, coming so hard that you see black spots in your vision. Neteyam doesn’t let up, pulling broken moans out of you with tongue until you’re writhing.

You squirm and whimper until suddenly it’s too damn much, and then you’re reaching down to push at Neteyam’s neat braids to try to get away from his relentless tongue. Damn, he’s acting like he’s hungry for you, like he’d swallow you whole if he could. He doesn’t let up until you’re begging him to, albeit wordlessly — whimpering and shoving at his face, trying to arch away from the too-sensitive touch.

Finally, Neteyam relents. He lowers your legs from his shoulders and you practically crumple, going limp against your mattress. Neteyam’s face is wet and shiny, and he looks ridiculously smug. You’re still trembling, throbbing with the aftershocks.

“Mm, you sound so pretty.” Neteyam murmurs, his words coming out muffled and almost slurred as though he’s drunk.

“Fuck.” You whisper to yourself, staring at the ceiling with wide eyes as you struggle to catch your breath.

Neteyam hums, pressing kisses all over your pubic mound and lower belly. He seems so damn pleased with himself, pushing himself up your body so that he can nuzzle into your neck, pressing sweet nipping kisses to your throat.

His breathing is a little strained, and you grab blindly at the respirator hanging around his neck before bringing the mask up to his face.

“Breathe, Neteyam.” You gasp out, still a little breathless yourself.

He grunts, as though irritated over something of secondary importance, and takes a couple of deep breaths before dropping the mask again. His pupils are blown so wide that his iris is barely visible, just a thin ring of gold around a pool of black.

You laugh, panting and overwhelmed at the sight of his shiny face, and reach up to wipe his slick face with the palms of your hands. He huffs a quiet laugh of his own, turning his face towards your hands and nuzzling against you like an oversized cat.

“That was… that was better than I expected.” You say, still struggling to collect yourself.

Neteyam’s smile turns a little sly, his teeth flashing as he kisses at your palms. “Impressed?”

And you can’t help but laugh at that, feeling as though this whole situation is spinning around far beyond your wildest imagination. Fuck, he’s really giving his all to this, just to prove to you that he’s superior to the other men of the clan.

“Not yet.” You whisper, biting your lip and hoping that he takes it as the challenge/invitation you mean it to be.

And luckily he does, his smile only growing.

“I should keep going then.” He murmurs, his hands stroking up your sides.

He gently caresses both breasts, a little knead of big, rough hands that can cover much more than just one tit and you love it. Your back arches as you shiver, revelling in how bizarrely gentle he’s being with you.

“Yes,” You whisper eagerly, your legs spreading further until the muscles of your inner thighs are burning with the strain of it. “You definitely should.”

You reach out to tug at the band of his loincloth, your fingers actually trembling a little as you try to unknot it at the sides. Neteyam’s own breath hitches, and his much more nimble fingers reach to help you untie it and draw it away.

And fuck, now he’s naked too. You sit up eagerly, peering down between your bodies to try and catch a look at him properly. You may have touched him that day in the healing hut, but it’s completely different seeing him.

He’s big. So big. All the Na’vi are big when compared to you, of course, but this just… it feels different, because this is Neteyam. His cock is the same pretty blue shade as the rest of him, decorated with darker stripes and pretty glowing tanhì. Your heart thumps recklessly at sight of it twitching towards his belly, and you reach out towards it eagerly.

Your small fingers wrap around the hard length of him — he’s too thick for you to comfortably hold in one hand, but that doesn’t seem to matter because he groans appreciatively anyway when you run your fingers down his length and then back up, feeling warm and sticky precome gushing from the tip to coat your fingers.

“Ah!” Neteyam groans breathily, his hips rocking as your hand slides up the long, velvety length of him. “Fuck… so good.”

You feel like you’re burning up, your skin sweat-slick and far too hot. The weight of his cock in your hand has your head spinning; you want him inside of you, stretching you wide and fucking you deep. If he fucks as good as he eats pussy, you feel like you’re in for a very good time.

“C’mon,” You breathe, writhing a little. “You– you promised me that you’d.. That you would…”

“Mm, I promised I’d make you feel better than Txetyo ever could,” Neteyam finishes for you, leaning in to kiss your neck. “You like ‘em big and stupid, huh? That’s why they can’t please you, syulang.”

You toss your head back, your eyes fluttering shut as his sharp canines drag over the sensitive skin at the side of your throat. Fuck, maybe he’s right. None of those guys have ever made you feel this good before; you don’t think you’ve ever been this slick and eager in your whole life.

“God, you have such a big head,” You huff, quivering. “Maybe you’re big and stupid too.”

He just laughs at that, a dark chuckle that has your nerves buzzing, and leans down to nip at your shoulder hard enough to make you jerk beneath him. “I am not like Txetyo, or Art’alak, or Pewalsku, or Urtiltey.”

You scoff, before reaching up to push hard at his shoulders. You’re not actually strong enough to shift him, but he pulls back obediently, falling back to lay on his back on the bed. You rise up on your knees then, looming over him as he lays flat.

The way Neteyam is looking up at you, it’s like he’s seeing god. If he could worship you with just a look alone, he is. It’s a little overwhelming, and you feel something deep in your stomach knot just at the sight of him looking at you like that.

“Prettiest little thing I’ve ever seen.” Neteyam whispers, reaching out to grip at your hips, guiding you into straddling his lap.

You don’t think anyone has ever talked to you like this, or looked at you like this. You hardly know what to do in the face of his attention, so you revert to what you’re familiar with; you settle yourself against his lap and grind there, feeling the length of his cock glide along the seam of your cunt.

It feels as though your belly has been set alight, and you take a slow breath as you rock against him. His lips drag from the base of your throat up the length of your neck, then he nips gently at the hinge of your jaw. The softness of his breath against the sensitive skin of your throat elicits a shiver from you, and Neteyam’s hands pull you closer when he feels your reaction.

You make a soft sound against his mouth when his fingers clench tight around your hips. His hold on you encourages you to grind down against him. It's not as though you really need the encouragement, but the way his eyes darken as he stares up at you is enough motivation for you to tilt your hips and grind down just like he wants you to.

"Fuck." He breathes, his eyes going half-lidded as he tilts his head back against your bed to watch you move above him.

Heat is growing alarmingly quickly in your lower belly and at the apex of your thighs, and you tremble over Neteyam as you use your grip on his shoulders for leverage. The soft sounds of pleasure that are pulled out of his throat every time you roll yourself against him send sparks through your entire nervous system; it feels as though you just can't get close enough to him.

Your patience runs out, unable to keep up the teasing; Neteyam seems to feel much the same. When you raise yourself up, chest heaving, Neteyam grabs at his cock and holds it still to allow you to settle against it, the head notched against your entrance. He glides over the opening again, pressing in the barest amount. You can already tell it’s going to be a stretch. Neteyam is thick, and you want it in you, want to feel it pressing you open.

You clench around the head of his cock, trying to pull him in, and Neyeyam groans.

“You’re—” He starts to say, his big hands clutching at your hips. “Shit. You’re tighter than I even imagined, paskalin.”

The idea that he might have imagined this is almost more than you can take, and you surge forward to kiss him again, your mouths clashing clumsily.

“You—you thought about it?” You manage to say, your words coming out a little muffled as he sucks at your lower lip.

He just rumbles a laugh, as though your question is ridiculous, and doesn’t even bother answering. Instead he places one hand securely under your ass, the other adjusting himself—there’s a short, sharp burst of pain as you felt him start to push in, just the tip and your head is spinning. Your nails are digging into his shoulders but if he feels anything it doesn’t show.

He kisses your cheek and then pushes in a little deeper as his mouth falls to yours once more—swallowing up your sharp cry as another inch sinks into you, and you feel like you’re splitting open.

Fuck, you feel as though not grabbing lube was probably a mistake; you were too cocky, too confident in your ability to take him, so sure that he’d be as adequately satisfactory as the other Na’vi men you’ve been with.

He goes in and in and in, pressing farther into you than you even thought was possible. The stretch and the pressure inside you is glorious, so tight that you can barely even flex around him. His mouth is open, each breath escaping him quickly, and you can see your own amazement reflected back to you on Neteyam’s face.

You dig your nails into his shoulders to offset the pain radiating through your core as he shoves himself deeper into you, chased by another wave of warmth as his free hand move between you, thumb settling gently over your clit.

“Ohmygod,” You gasp, pleasure mixing with that burning ache. You squeal, but your noises are half-moans as you try to rock your hips against his hand even as you try to ease the feeling of his girth inside you.

“Ungh..” Neteyam groans into you shoulder as he rocks another inch into you, until you’re sobbing and moaning by turns. “Oh. Fuck. Txetyo didn’t deserve this, syulang. Didn’t know what to do with you.”

You whimper in his grip as he just holds you there, buried to the hilt, thumb still working at your clit and sending frissons of electricity up and down your spine.

“Feels good,” You slur. “You feel good.”

Neteyam pulls out half an inch and fucks back into you from below, making your breath hitch. “Yeah?”

“So big,” You gasp. “I-I want—"

“I know, I know. I’ve got you,” Neteyam rumbles, his full lips brushing gentle kisses over your temple, right in your hairline. “Take what you want, lovely girl.”

And you do, rocking your hips and taking one of his enormous hands to pull between your legs so he can continue to rub at your clit with his fingers, so he can feel all the ways you’re leaking onto him as you lean forward to run your own hungry mouth along his collarbone, his pecs, as your hands grip his shoulders to try and lift yourself up and onto him over and over again.

It doesn’t take long for that coil in your belly to swell, sweet and hot. It’s as if Neteyam is intimately familiar with the way you want him to rub your clit, how you want it pinched but only just so between two fingers, as if he’s been taking fucking notes all those times he had walked in and interrupted you. It doesn’t take long until you’re trembling and squeezing impossibly tight around him, taut like a violin string.

It’s like Neteyam is puncturing your lungs, and every time he fucks into you, you respond with stupid sounding little ‘ah’ sounds.

“Ah, ah, ah!” You gasp, teary-eyed and desperate. Neteyam’s mouth is parted, his eyes wide. They flick over you quickly, drinking you in as you ride him.

Your movements are slow to build, but gradually you establish a steady, desperate rocking. It doesn't take long for you to realise that grinding in his lap feels better than raising yourself all the way up and down. Distantly, you feel little guilty — you know that grinding and rocking in his lap in the way that you are feels better for you than it does for Neteyam, but he doesn't seem to mind. He's watching you with a rapturous expression, his arms urging you closer so that your sweat-slicked chests are pressed close together and your foreheads are resting against each other.

You find a rhythm that both satisfies and stokes you, riding him with abandon as your thighs clench tight around his narrow hips. Neteyam’s hands slide from your hips down over your lower back, worshipful as they drift lower to clutch at your ass and use his grip there to help lift you up and down.

You ride him with mindless intent. His fingers dig at the meat of your ass, his mouth dropped softly open as he fights to keep his own breaths even — it takes a long moment for you to realise that he's fighting to keep himself still and to stop himself from thrusting wildly into you. His restraint and the realisation that he's really allowing you to have all the power in the exchange strikes you hard. You’ve never felt any real sense of agency in sexual intimacy until now, and the realisation that he's being so considerate of how you’re feeling only contributes to the intensifying of those flutters in your belly.

The rush builds in you, relentless, mounting with every jerk of your hips. There would be no catching your breath until it broke.

You rock on him, hard, hard and fast and there, there it is, that’s it — that perfect deep unfurling. A moan rises from the depths of your chest as you gasp at it, your body trembling. Neteyam just stares up at you, mouth open, eyes gone wide and dark.

The wave crests, the world explodes around you, a kaleidoscope of sensation as you come undone in his arms, trembling even as he keeps sliding home into you. You keep moving over him through the ebb of it, through the helpless little sounds that break from his throat. You’re still shuddering when he reaches up to take a firm hold of your waist. As though he can't help himself, his hips thrust up into you.

“Yes,” Neteyam hisses, his flat nose all scrunched up in a feral sort of pleasure. “That’s my girl.”

You tremble, gasp-moaning as your joints turn to jelly. Your orgasm very slowly gives way to thunderous aftershocks that rocket through your body every few seconds, shuddering your whole frame in intervals.

"Fuck," He groans, his breathing gone ragged. "I'm going to-"

He doesn't even finish his sentence before he seems to lose some of that iron control he's been exerting; his hips jolt up into you, and then again, until he's thrusting up into you with a sense of urgency that's almost breath-taking. All you can do is cling onto his hair and bury your face into the crook of his neck, attempting to muffle the embarrassing little gasping sounds that you’re making into his skin as his fucking into you prolongs the breath-taking pleasure of your orgasm.

You don’t fuss when his big hands use his grip on your ass to lift you up himself, fucking up into you and letting loose. Then he's shaking, stilling, spilling himself inside you, and you watch eagerly as his face goes slack and relaxed.

You don't go still immediately. Your hips keep rolling slow and steady as you tremble against him, chasing that feeling of molten shivery pleasure that's still burning in your belly even as it starts to turn into almost unbearable oversensitivity. It's not a fully conscious movement, as you’re moving mostly on instinct, and after a few moments Neteyam takes a hold of your hips to slow you to a stop.

He stays inside you like this for what feels like an eternity, spent and nestled deep inside you as you sit in his lap, slumped against his large strong chest.

"Oh my god," You whisper eventually as another pleasant shudder jolts down your spine. It feels as though you’ve been kicked in the chest, as though the breath has been knocked out of you entirely to make room for the lovely floaty lightness that's beginning to fill the space between your ribcage”

"Mm." Neteyam hums quietly, his fingers tightening in the soft flesh of your hips as he tilts his chin up to brush his lips over your sweaty temple. "Alright?”

No, You think, with no small amount of panic. You’re absolutely not alright. Neteyam may have just been fucking you to prove a point, because it’s always been so important to him that he’s perfect at everything he tries his hand at, but it feels as though he’s just cracked you wide open. You don’t think anyone will ever make you feel as good as he just did.

When you don’t immediately answer, one of his big palms cups the back of your neck so he can tilt your head back, and he leans down to kiss you again. He sucks your swollen bottom lip into his mouth so he can worry at it while you whine, toes curled where you tucked them under your legs, balanced on his thighs.

"Impressed?” He murmurs into your ear, his warm, dry hands stroking soothingly over your sweat-dampened skin.

You laugh despite yourself, and it comes out breathless and broken. “Fuck. I—yeah. Yeah. I’m impressed. Asshole.”

Neteyam’s expression brightens, his ears twitch back as his smile grows. He leans in and kisses you again, once, twice, then three times in quick succession, and out of the corner of your eye you see his tail coiling lazily against your sheets.

“Feel like I need to lay down,” You say. “For a week maybe.”

Neteyam just chuckles as you slowly lift your hips; when Neteyam slides out of you a soft sound of loss escapes from his mouth. You sympathise — you feel uncomfortably empty now that he's no longer nestled inside of you, but Neteyam is already gathering you into his arms and flopping back onto your mattress with you all curled up ontop of his chest.

It all feels so natural — you’ve never cuddled after intimacy like this, and you never would have imagined that Neteyam would allow you to do this. But it seems like he craves physical touch as badly as you does, because it feels as though his hands are everywhere as he holds you.

"Don't look so pleased with yourself, dickhead." You grumble, though you’re already relaxing under the pleasant warm weight of his hands

Neteyam’s smile only grows. "Why shouldn't I be pleased with myself? Have I left you unsatisfied?

You groan loudly, before burying your face in the pillow. The worst part is that it's true — you’ve never felt so satisfied in your life. You think that you could close your eyes and cheerfully float away on a cloud, but you don't want to suffer the humiliation of admitting that.

“I’m satisfied.” You admit, mortified. “It— yeah. You won that stupid competition. Well done.”

That has exactly the effect you had expected it to have; Neteyam’s chest puffs up where you’re laying across it, his eyes crinkling up as he grins. God, he’s so fucking smug.

You manage to swallow down your embarrassment so that you can ask the question that’s been knocking around your head since the first time he had kissed you.

“Can we… do that again, sometime?” You mutter, keeping your face pressed into his chest so he can’t see the vulnerability on your face.

Neteyam’s chest rumbles in a deep laugh, and his large palm settles between your shoulderblades.

“Whenever you want, yawntutsyìp. We have all the time in the world.” He murmurs, nuzzling his face into your hair. “Where ever you want. Here, the forest, my hut in the village—”

You laugh, blinking in surprise at his eagerness. You guess he must be absolutely pussy-whipped right now, which is pretty sweet.

“Next time we mate, we’ll do it in the forest so Txetyo can find us.” He says, and you can feel his teeth against the top of your head when he grins. “Let him watch as I make you scream again.”

"I did not scream!" You snap, embarrassed, reaching to smack at his chest. But then his words actually parse in your head, and you push yourself up quickly on top of his chest so you can look down at him, wincing a little at the ache between your legs.

Neteyam obviously catches your wince because he frowns and one of his hands reaches for your thigh, but you grab at his wrist as you gape at him.

“What the fuck did you just say?” You blurt.

That must have been a slip of his tongue. Every man you’ve been with before has been so damn careful to avoid the term mating, obviously terrified of you somehow getting the wrong idea; they made it painfully clear that it was just fucking, with no strings attached, because you were small and exotic and apparently the tightest thing they’ve ever gotten to put their dicks into.

Neteyam blinks owlishly, as though confused by your response. “What?” He asks, before his face relaxes. “Ah, it’s only the thought of me watching that does it for you?”

“No, it—” You blink at him. “You said… you said next time we… we mate.”

“Yes.” He says, wrapping one big arm around your waist to tug you back to him, as though he doesn’t like the fact that you’re shifting away. “I enjoyed mating here, where I can kiss your face, but it is very...”

He pauses then, and glances around your room. For the first time, you see it through his eyes; it’s small and dingy, the electric lights buzzing and flickering as they run on the ancient generator that Norm and a couple of the other older scientists had dragged from Bridgehead. Even though he’s gotten comfortable cuddling you on your bed, it’s far too small for him; his legs are hanging off the end of it, his feet flat against the floor. Compared to the fantastical natural homes of the Na’vi, your little bedroom seems like a shithole.

“You will be more comfortable in my hut in the village.” Neteyam says decisively, using the arm wrapped around your waist to pull you closer to his chest again. “I wish to take you in the forest, at Vitrautral, as is tradition.”

“Mating.” You repeat, just to check if you had heard him right. “We—that was mating.”

“Mhmm.” Neteyam’s hum sounds casual enough, but you can see the ridiculously pleased wave of his tail in the air behind him. “I told you that you were wasting time with those skxawngs, but I did not mind waiting for you. I did not like hearing them talk about you, about how you felt and how they pleased you, but… I knew I could prove myself a better prospect than all of them.”

“But—” You’re still struggling with this, staring at him with a bewildered expression. “But it—that was sex. It wasn’t—”

“I will take you to Vitrautral tomorrow, and mate you properly,” Neteyam murmurs, and you feel his big chest rumble beneath you in a pleased purr at the idea. “You do not need any other now. Yes?”

It feels almost too good to be true. Almost. Because damn, you want that so badly that it actually aches. After so many years of craving intimacy of any kind, it seems shockingly unlikely that it’s being offered by Neteyam, the very personification of an Omaticayan golden child. How have you gone from getting fucking in empty corners and deep in the forest to having the Olo’eyktan’s son talk about mating you?

You think of the herbs and plants he always brings to the healing hut, the bones and fibres he forages, the food he brings you after hunts. You had always thought he was just shoving how great he was in your face, but now all of that is starting to rearrange itself inside your head. Was he seriously just trying to impress you?

You laugh a little disbelievingly, and Neteyam’s arm tightens around you.

“I have a necklace,” He murmurs, nuzzling against your forehead. “Made with freshwater pearls from the ocean. I was going to give it to you earlier but—we got distracted. It is in my tewng—”

“Get it later,” You whisper, clinging to his chest. You’re so comfortable, you don’t want to move, just in case the moment slips away forever. He made you a necklace. Fuck, he made you a necklace! You’ve only ever seen Na’vi mating gifts from a distance; the thought of receiving one is beyond anything you’ve ever imagined.

Neteyam’s chest seems to swell, his expression brightening the moment you cling to him. He hugs you close, his purr now reminiscent of a damn chainsaw as he curls his whole big body around you.

Taking a chance, you do something that you’ve always sort of wanted to do, ever since you found out what it was; you reach behind him and take his kuru in your hand, feeling the thick, glossy protective braid in your fingers.

Neteyam shudders under you, his rumbling purr stuttering a little as his eyelids flitter, his eyes going dark. He doesn’t stop you, watching you with lightly parted lips as your hand closes around the most sacred, sensitive part of him.

“This is okay?” You whisper, your vulnerability clear in your voice.

“Of course,” He whispers back, as though the moment is a soap bubble that could burst at a slightly raised voice. “It is yours, syulang.”

Emboldened, you drag your fist down the glossy braid until you reach the end, where the glowing tendrils that make up the exposed manifestation of his nervous system. The fleshy pink tendrils writhe in the air, and you watch in eager amazement. You’ve only ever seen diagrams of this part of the Na’vi anatomy, and you want so badly to touch it.

“You can play with it all you want,” Neteyam murmurs, and his voice is breathless.

You breathe a laugh, glancing up at him with a little grin. His pupils are blown, his lips parted, his chest heaving. You want to gnaw on his ribs, swallow him whole; he’s so cute.

“I’ll save that for tomorrow,” You whisper, the words ringing like a promise.

Neteyam looks briefly disappointed, before his mood is promptly buoyed at the thought of mating you again at the Tree of Souls, as he had promised you. He buries his face happily in your neck as you pet absently at the protective braid covering his kuru. It’s a non-sexual touch, and yet he goes entirely boneless, purring up a storm as you stroke your hand over it.

“Told you those others could not please you, paskalin,” He murmurs, his words slurring a little as his eyelids flutter with every soft touch to his kuru. “Told you they did not know what to do with you.”

You roll your eyes, but you can’t help the fond smile pulling at your mouth.

“Mm. You did. Guess I needed someone like you, huh? A mighty warrior?” You say, teasing him with that silly little nickname he always called himself when you were a teenager. At the time you had thought he was so annoying, but now, looking back… you’re willing to admit it was pretty adorable.

Neteyam’s drowsy face pulls up in a sweet smile, his flat nose brushing against your collarbones. It seems like he’s pleased you remembered, or maybe he’s pleased that you’re impressed with him.

He kisses your neck, then mumbles sleepily, “The mightiest.”

[dilfartist]

Missed - short (pt.2)

Pairing; Yandere Las Plagas Leon Kennedy x reader

Synopsis; it’s the week after Leon’s attack and the scientists examining and aiding Leon, need your assistance.

Reader description; Female/GN

Word count; 1k

TW; Dead dove do not eat, non-con, there isn’t really a smut scene, depends on how you interpret it, nonconsensual touching, messed up shit, ooc Leon. NSFW. Also tagged everyone who wanted to be tagged but its acting weird so few may not be notified.

!Reblogs and Comments are greatly appreciated!

Nothing seems real to you anymore.

Your boyfriend working for the government was more than enough news to handle, but Leon obtaining some parasite, becoming one himself understandably tended to hurt your head.

After last week's events, you come by daily. While they did request this of you, you would have done it anyways.

Every day you wake then drive straight to the facility holding him; never missing a day. And with each passing day, he grows worse. His body changed, sprouting more veins than the last time you saw him. He looks lifeless. His baby blue eyes are now a piercing ruby color, that stare into your soul.

Leon as a person has altered. He’s more touchy, touching you anytime he can. Leon doesn’t care for your opinion, or consent on the matter. Not anymore. Aggression is a main part of his personality now. While Leon was rarely aggressive with you, it still terrified you to see him throw a tantrum and nearly rip out a security guard’s throat because you wanted to leave early.

His presence alone has grown suffocating. And You’re starting to get uncomfortable just being around him.

And the experimenters monitoring Leon aren't helping. They only ever approve of you around to gather intel. Sometimes they’ll guilt you into staying in his enclosure, observing his actions on the other side of a double mirror. Other times they’d full-on pay you to spend five or more hours with Leon. Of course, you’d have no issues if Leon acted like his old self. But that was the issue. He wasn't himself anymore.

It’s currently two o’clock and you’re attending Leon’s daily visits.

“We have one more experiment we’d like to run on Leon, but we need your help to explore what we’d like to explore.”

You nod, observing Leon from the other side of the double mirror. Leon sits crisscrossed next to a large television watching MTV mindlessly, gnawing on a slice of pizza. Leon sports grey sweatpants and a slight sauce messy white tee.

You turn your head finally providing your attention to the scientist beside you, “What is it?” you questioned.

She fixed her glasses to look down at her clipboard, “Well, Leon has been very emotional lately. We’d appreciate it if you’d go inside and just talk with him.”

You lift an eyebrow looking at her septically, “Is that all?”

She nods. “Yes, that is all. You know he only communicates with you.”

“Alright then.”

You enter Leon’s isolation when the door slides open. Leon’s room contained paper-white walls, an extensive mirror, both a couch and bed on opposite sides of each other, a television, and a bathroom area. It felt like a zoo enclosure.

Leon took a minute to glance your way. He was too captivated by the flashing images on the television. Wanting to get the interaction over with, you called out for him. “Leon.”

Leon’s eyes darted in your direction. “(Name)!” he jumped up, jogging over to you. He hugged you tightly, running kisses up and down your neck. You're frozen in an awkward position, “Hey, missed you too, Lee.”

Leon ceases his kissing, pulling away from your neck to look you in the eyes. “Been wondering when’s the next time you’d visit.”

You chuckle, “I visit every day, Leon.”

“It feels like an eternity when you're not around.”

Leon and you lay on the couch, Leon resting his head on top of your chest. You held him close, staring at the ceiling. For abeat there was a pregnant silence, the both of you focusing on each other’s company. Then Leon spoke. Leon asked about your life: how was work? Was anything new happing? Any recent drama. He yearned for a bit of normalcy. Wanted to forget about Spain. Just wanted his main reflections on you.

Since Leon’s trip nothing was the same, not for him. Not for you. While, yes, his normal life ended after the raccoon city incident, he managed to somehow have a- what would you call it? Semi-normal life. Living with you at least.

But now it was gone. The las plazas had terminated any chance of normality for Leon. And if by chance the government’s scientists somehow cured Leon of his parasite, he’d still be left with the side effects of retaining the Las plagas for as long as he did.

Leon’s body had changed in such drastic ways. And his main concern was the upsurge in his libido.

Hours and hours he’d fist his cock, mulling on the times you’ve sucked his cock. No matter how hard, how fast, or even the time spent he couldn't stop. It hurt too much if he did. The other day the pain didn't go away until he fainted from exhaustion. He needed you. He needed to stuff you so bad it physically pained him.

His mind was barraged with thoughts of breeding your sweet pussy. Leon wasn’t the idea of having kids with you, honestly, it thought about a lot. However, this was different. It was an obsession now. Thoughts on breeding you made him cum so quickly, it became his number one fantasy.

Laying here listening to your rambling on the next-door neighbor's fight last night, his nose picks up an ambrosial smell originating from you. You smell sweet. Oh so, so, so sweet.

Leon’s ears ring, deafening him. His eyes focus on your clothed thighs. How he missed the plush skin he used to lay on after a hard week of work. More than that, he missed planting kisses on them; earing drawled out moans of his name.

Almost like an instinct, Leon’s rough, calloused, hands griped your hips. You halt and looked down at him with curiousness. Uncertain of his next actions, you press your hands against him. Worriedly you utter his name, “Leon?”

Leon refuses to acknowledge the call of his name. His main priority being his cock beginning to stiffen in his sweats.

You swallow nervously, endeavoring to pry his hands off. “Leon, please take your hands off me.” you plead in a stern manner, to come off more as a command.

Leon shakes his head. “No,” he responded, voice trembling. “You have no idea how much I need you, (Name). It's torture not having you stroke me.” he nearly moans at the last part. He climbs up the couch to be face to face.

Leon’s eyes held an immense dose of desire as he looks at you through his eyelashes. “Please touch me, baby,” he whines. “Want ‘ya so bad!” he grips your hand, placing it near your mouth to plant a kiss.

You glance at the mirror, silently pleading for assistance. Comprehending Leon’s increase in strength, kicking him off wouldn't be an option since his grip on you tautened. “Leon, stop!”

Quickly you thought of a method of escape. You acted, moving to the side for your body to decline to the ground. Both you and Leon fell to the ground, dragging cushions with you. Immediately you are on your feet, dashing to the door. You slam your fist against the metal, bruising them in the process. You could care less. Your shouting so loud your throat starts to sting. Yet there’s no reply.

You know there are people out there! You saw at least five before entering.

Then a thought comes to mind. Did they plan this?

Leon yanks you out of your shock, slamming his body against yours. Your nose whacks against the metal, prompting a whine of pain. Akin to a vampire, Leon laches on your neck, trailing kisses up and down. He sucks, bites, and drags his tongue over the marks as his hand travels down the slit in your pants.

“Sorry, baby, can’t deny myself any longer!” he apologizes, surprisingly genuinely. You accept your fate, sobbing silently to yourself.

On the opposite side of the mirror, a group of scientists observe the interaction. They all have their clipboards out, noting down every action, movent, and emotion. A Handful of them watches in revulsion while the scene unfolds in front of them. Others treat it as any other experiment, having no sympathy for you. After all, they have no idea if you’re the worst person in existence or not.

There's one thing for certain. They’d be investigating the pregnancy of a human mother and a parasite having father.

Tagged

@fbiopenups , @athanasia-day , @leonskndy , @ineedrealfriends , @destinys-dreamer, @carlosluv3r, @connorsoddsock, @sl33paholics , @explosiongamora , @idiotuvu-blog , @tarcroach, @mikeywaysghost, @jinna-aka-ninja , @lovelysserafim, @jujupia , @lomaeuwu, @briefwinnerpersonaturtle , @sammy213ui , @stella-fleurets, @elliellielliesgirl

[softie00]

SAFE

pairing; lee know x reader

warnings; fluff, cute bf minho, teasing, jokes, reader feeling tired and drained, use of jagi, going in nature, flowers, words of affirmations, kissing, very cute minho!!

word count; 1-2k

summary; you haven't been feeling the best these days, feeling drained as each day comes. but your cute boyfriend minho has something planned for you, hoping it'll help bring some ease.

a/n: something for myself and i hope for those who also have been feeling this way❣

Drained. You've been feeling this way for quite some time, not knowing why. The busy days at work, interacting with a bunch of people, making reports and handling all sorts of deadlines at once just makes you want to internally scream.

When was the last time you've had no interruptions? You probably don't even remember.

But you do know that once you reach to the comfort of your home, it stops. Seeing your beautiful boyfriend minho just brings you so much inner peace. It may even sound weird but whenever you struggle to sleep in the night time, you shift your focus fully on Minho's sleeping face.

How peaceful and adorable can one look just sleeping away? You've always thought angels only existed in heaven but how lucky are you to have one besides you.

Yes, only an angel could look this beautiful.

He isn't even aware how you thank those from above for delivering his sweet ass to you. A person who brings ease by just watching his face, being in his presence feels like a big warm hug, removing all kinds of negativity away.

You plant a kiss above his head, just before you fall asleep.

The routine begins once again. Getting up in the mornings are always the worst. Minho leaves earlier than you since his schedule is a lot different to yours. Though some days like today, you had wished to feel his lingering warmth right beside you for extra few minutes.

You gain the strength to finally get up and do your routinely quick shower, which has also felt like a chore. Once your done and you've put on your fresh clothes, you make your way down to the kitchen to have a quick little breakfast before you leave for work.

Just as you make your way to grab the milk from the fridge, a sticker note is placed above. You brows furrowed ahead before you read.

Wanna know a fun fact?

Octopuses have three hearts

And they still couldn't love you as much as I do ;)

If only Minho was here to see how hard you was smiling right now. Til this day, you're not used to him professing his love in various ways, almost immediately making you flustered. It's almost in sync when he does these things, particularly on the days you feel drained.

You love his silly little jokes and sometimes you question how he even comes across certain things but hey, it made you smile.

Like always.

You really needed to hear this today. Words of affirmations are so important to you and your boyfriend almost never fails to deliver. He really knows the key to your heart.

Oh Lee Minho, I fucking love you

Surprisingly your day wasn't as bad. It helps even more to know you have the weekend coming up, finally some break. But really thanks to your boyfriend's sweet words that instantly changed your mood for the day. Feeling a lot more loose.

You arrived at home as usual but was surprised to see Minho present. During the time at work, Minho cleaned up the place and made it look a lot more presentable. You appreciate his kind gesture as you were just about to approach him.

"Hey jagi, you're back."

Minho embraced you with his both arms, a warm feel arises as inhaled in this comfort. His fresh soft scented body wash still lingering over him, a scent that brings you to comfort.

"I missed you," You respond back. ever since the morning and even the past few days, you've missed having Minho around you for longer. But due to his work, he's been waking up a lot more earlier often leaving you alone.

"I missed you too, jagi." Minho replies, his hands squeezing you tighter. A part of him feels guilty that he hasn't been around much but he will change that very soon.

The hug felt like it just got rid of all your worries and distress of all them days you've had. If there is one place someone had asked you where you'd stay, the answer would be in Minho's arms.

Minho pulls aways first, causing you to frown but immediately plants a kiss to your head.

"Go get ready, we're going out today." Immediately you eyes open, surprised at his words.

"Where are we going?" You asked, part of you actually feels like a kid as the excitement grows. Minho watches your eyes for your reaction, just as he expected. They lit up almost in quickness, something he had missed seeing before.

"Somewhere, now go" He quickly brushes off. Only to make you get even curious.

"But-"

"Go. Now" He demanded.

"But where-"

"Jagiiii don't be stubborn please, just get ready. Pleaseeee" He begs sweetly, gently pushing you towards the door because he knows your ass won't stop questioning, which makes you giggle hearing how cute he sounds already.

"Okaaaay fine!" As you laughed to yourself getting inside the room.

You've been questioning Minho for the past 30 minutes and yet he still isn't giving up to tell you where you're both going. You look outside the car before opening up the window all the way down, letting the cool breeze hit your face.

How long has it been since you've just closed your eyes and felt some fresh breeze?

You almost forgot how calming it makes one feel. You breathe in and out, all thoughts of the days slowly becoming smaller and smaller until they are left to cease in your mind.

The feeling of nothing. No sadness, no anger, no frustrations, no worries, no stress, no nothing.

Just you being present, having the love of the life right beside you and some really cool breeze hitting your face.

This is what you've missed having.

You don't even realise that you've finally reached your destination, having your eyes still closed until Minho calls out.

"Jagi," He admires how peaceful you already look, his hand moves through the hair on your face, "We've arrived."

The sensation of his hands wake you up, not realising you almost fell asleep. You slowly opened your eyes and watched ahead. You have no idea what this place even is and before you even ask more, Minho already opens your door with his hand reaching for yours.

You don't remember when was the last time you've even visited nature. Nature was always a place you'd end up in whenever you needed a breather. Though these past few days, you couldn't even get yourself anywhere.

Normally you'd raise a comment on how much longer you'd need to walk. In places like these, it feels never ending.

You allow yourself to just feel. Let the wind fall through your skin, your hair as it flies away softly, let the birds sing to you and let the trees embrace you. Hand in hand with Minho, who seems rather ecstatic at the beautiful trees ahead as you both walk.

It feels peaceful.

As you both keep walking, there's fields of beautiful flowers that have blossomed, filling their love all throughout the way. Pink. It's such a pretty colour isn't it?

And before you could even say that, Minho beats you to it.

"Wow, I've never seen this many pretty flowers in my life." He says in amaze and you agreed, "Me too, they're beautiful."

Minho immediately engulfs you in a hug, like he's trying to protect you from something. "Jagi I think we need to hide you away from them," Which made you feel a bit confused to why.

They're only flowers. So harmless you thought.

"But why babe?" You questioned.

"Right well, you see how pretty they are right?" He explains as he goes on, "And how much space they've taken up?" Which you nod to trying to understand what he's coming at. "I fear them being within your presence they may end up taking away my beautiful flower, too."

Your heart melted. Stop. No. How much more cuteness can you take from this man?

"Minhoooo," you whined out, smiling like crazy, "Why are you cute and also are you actually jealous of a bunch of flowers-" you almost laughed.

"How could I not be! They also recognise beauty to, don't they?" He pouts cutely, and your heart is fluttering so much right this moment. You can't believe you've found someone who's this adorable.

"Exactly, so in that case," You grab on to his hand and move away from the flowers. "I'd have to protect my flower too." In which Minho immediately blushed with a cute smile creeping in. God, he is so cute when he gets shy too.

You both venture off until you finally stop to the end. The hills. You didn't realise you both had climbed all the way up here, which to be honest was worth it. You walk hand in hand, mouth dropping at the amazement of how beautiful this hill is.

It feels like your on top of the world right now. Seeing everything from above and below. The gorgeous fields that are formed within this place, the different type of flowers, the greenery. The people, the lights as you watch the city running in fast speed. Perhaps, you may have been on speed to. Not having a chance to actually slow down and just breathe.

Reminding you of the times you would often walk off to nature. Something you've actually missed doing. It brought you so much peace and only today you've realised how badly you needed to see this.

You don't realise when Minho has actually sat down, leaving you to fully embrace this lovely view on your own. He knows how badly you needed this and to be alone for some time.

Which you appreciate so much. You notice he isn't beside you and you make your way towards him, sitting down on the benches present.

You both listen and immerse yourself in the silence. Well not so much until the birds begin to hum, sending a lovely melodic sound to your ears. You don't know how long its been to just stay still. Quiet. No sounds of people nagging you, no one expecting you to do anything, just you two alone, in this world.

Allowing yourself to feel the earth for once.

"I'm proud of you."

Is all you heard as you break out of a trance. You look next to you as Minho watches you with intently with a soft look, his hands brushing above yours.

"I'm proud of you for existing today." The words seemingly hit your heart and before you could speak, he stops you. "I'm proud of you for waking up each day despite being tired of life. For taking a shower, for eating your food even on the days you don't feel too. For going in to a hell called work. For dealing with a bunch of humans that drain your energy and on top of the workload. For faking your smiles in order to show you're fine when really your crumbling inside. For gaining the strength to perform for people and society when all you want to do is hide. He utters, causing you to breathe slowly as you take in all of his words.

You smiled, with teary eyes, "Thank you so much Minho." You feel loss at words. No one in your life has ever seen you this closely to notice such things about yourself. No one. Not even your past lovers did.

But Minho? Oh, he's special.

Now you realise how Minho started doing more things at home, not allowing you to do anything. This goes to making food for the two of you, to cleaning up the place and washing up. Even those times where he would sneak into your showers, which you had thought was for other reasons. But no, you was wrong. Because each time he came in, he smothered your scalp with shampoo with his gentle finger tips, slowly massaging away the worries of the days. He picked up the soap and let his hands work through your body, all whilst he gave you kisses. It felt so comforting and you couldn't even think of anything else. It made it easier for you not to feel exhausted when you have him beside you.

And you never even thought of that, until today. Now.

Minho has always noticed. And he's always shown that through his actions.

Immediately you wrap your arms around him as you continue to sob, "I'm sorry I didn't even realise those things-" which he shuts you off right away.

"Listen jagi, you shouldn't need to apologise at all. It's my job and responsibility to care for you. I don't do these things out of pity, no. I do it because I love you, so much that I just want to make life easier for you." He breathes, "We can't control how we feel but what I can do is make things feel easier even if its little. And honestly this is so effortless for me because I love you. I want to care and do things for you." He emphasises.

You cry even more, letting your tears flow below him at his words. To be loved this way was always what you dreamed. You had thought these things only exist in movies, which only was proven wrong when you first came across Minho.

Minho removes your arms and faces you directly, brushing off the tears with his fingers gently, "Shush. It's okay. You're safe now. With me." He smiles, planting a kiss right above your lip.

You chuckled and leaned into the small kiss, placing your mouth on to his. His lips felt ever so soft.

You both leaned back to the bench, cuddled up just before Minho asks you something. "Jagi?"

"Hm?"

"I know you always love admiring my face, even right now haha. But am I that handsome that you watch me sleep too?" He teased watching how completely flushed out you looked when the shock runs through your body.

"Minho what the fuck-"

He did not just say that. Wait, how does he know you watch him?

"No no jagi it's completely fine. I'm just so handsome to look at, so I can't blame you," He smirked making you feel even more flustered. Great, cats out the bag now.

"This is so embarrassing" You screamed, trying to hide yourself away from him. How weird does that sound that someone watches you sleep? But you don't do it weirdly, it's just become an habit over the past few days. It just instantly makes you feel better and yeah.

You huffed as you got up trying to escape until Minho grabs on to your waist and pulls you down to his lap, "Why are you running away?" He looks further into your eyes. Even though you've been together for time, his eyes still feel so intense, reading through every thought in your mind.

"Hmm? Shy now?" He continued to tease you further, only for you to hit your palm against his chest. "You're unbelievable." You sighed out as you chuckled. "You know what, they shouldn't have dropped you down yet." You thought back to your whole theory on Minho, your boyfriend being a whole angel from heaven who accidentally fell.

Minho only looks at you confusingly before he laughs, planting another kiss on your cheek, "Who?"

You giggled to yourself, "Nothing." And kissed him on his cute nose, watching his puzzled adorable face.

"But jagiyaaaaaaaa."

copyright ©2023 softie00

[koneko-pi]

You spoil me rotten koneko

What if Fuegoleon x wife s/o telling him she's pregnant? Just all kinds of headcannons about how he is during the pregnancy and labour and how he is after with the baby? Imagine Fuego having a soft and pudgy little daughter😭(ft. Disgusted but happy nozel at how mushy Fuego is being)

I'm still getting used to the whole head cannon concept! I think this came out as a weird inbetween of headcannon and fanfic but i hope you like it nonetheless!

Female S/O x Fuegoleon

Innocent headcannons

900+ word count

Telling Fuegoleon was fun. The most fun you have probably had in a long time. He was really good about surprises, and smart enough that you could actually play little tricks for him to think about, and watching the look on his face as he figured it out made it just as much fun for you as it had been for him.

A while back, when you two had first gotten married, you had bought two small lion stuffed toys. You weren't a child of course but they had your heart immediately when you saw them in that store window, so you snatched them up and brought them to your husband. You joked about how one was you and the other was him, a lion and lioness pair. He appreciated the gesture and gift of course and ever since the two toys had sat neatly and tidy on the guest couch within his office.

Now almost a full year later you were skipping excitedly down the hall of the Crimson lions base to get to his office, a small paper bag gripped tightly in your hands.

You'd greet a few of the squad mates who greeted you back, some jokingly calling you their Crimson Lion Queen.

Inside the office Fuegoleon would be surprised about your visit. You'd quickly close the door so the others wouldn't eavesdrop, and he happily greeted you with a kiss on the cheek.

"What brings you here, my love?" He would ask you. While he did adore your visits there was also the understanding this was work time and he had his image to uphold as a strict captain.

"I'm just bringing this here!" You held the bag up, and he in turn would raise an eyebrow in confusion. "I was too excited to wait for you to come home. Besides, it belongs here!" You spun around. He would hear the sounds of the bag as you pulled something out, made your way to his couch and put something down.

He joined you and saw you had added a smaller lion toy to the pair that had already made their home in the corner of the sofa.

"A third one?" He asked curiously.

"That's right!" You nodded confidently. "It felt appropriate."

He continued to look confused. "But why would we need a third one?" Was it Leopold, who else could it be? After all there was you, him and the third was-

It suddenly dawned on him. His eyes went wide and your grin grew wider too as you watched him. He had figured it out. His head whipped to face you and the excitement brimming from your body was all the answer he needed. He snatched you up so fast and all the mages in the base could hear your excited laughter.

-

Your first pregnancy was not easy. And Fuegoleon went above and beyond to take care of you. His squad was understanding and helped fill the void that was created by his more regular absences now.

You found yourself weaker and more tired. Your body would ache all over and for most of it you found yourself bed ridden. But it wasn't as bad as it could have been, Fuegoleon stayed with you as much as he could. Leaving for work later on days he went in, and coming back as soon as he could. He would use his magic arm to alleviate the sore muscles of your back, feet or cramping in your stomach. His gentle heat was such a blessing.

He would eat his meals with you in the room, and even do his paperwork in bed. And while it wasn't ideal you still appreciated the hard work he did trying to stay with you. Just his presence alone was a blessing, as not all nobles would bother to go this far for their spouses.

And contradictory to other nobles again once the Little bundle of joy came into the world Fuegoleon spent all the time he could with her. He didn't hire a nanny or anything like it, he wanted to spend time with you and his daughter.

The nights were rough, the little girl screaming at the top of her lungs early in the morning, but that was not something that would deter Fuegoleon. The ever dutiful husband would take care of her issues, even if it meant sitting up for hours at a time in the middle of the night so that she would calm down. Sometimes it was ONLY with him she would finally fall back asleep, as the heat he naturally generated gently lulled her into a drowsy and safe space.

He would lay with her on the bed, play with her and talk to her about his day or all the great things she could have someday, as he would give her whatever she wanted. Within reason of course. Tell her to be careful of Mereoleona but Leopold was ok. Little baby would kick her feet with happy giggles, not understanding a word Fuegoleon was saying but be excited nonetheless and it brought the biggest smile to his face.

He was not the kind of man to bring her to work, but that did not stop friends, family and squad mates from stopping by to congratulate you and see your baby girl.

Nozel would even visit, on account that Fuegoleon would talk often about the little girl he had just had and loved to spoil. Watching Fuegoleon pace around the room, bouncing his baby and talking nonsense to her to make her giggle was a whole new side that Nozel never wanted to see.

Fuegoleon would insist Nozel should hold her but, for his own reasons, Nozel declined. Settling for just watching his friend be soft with the happy little lion cub in his arms. And then mildly disgusted watching the prideful and manly captain being so gushy with the baby. Is this what parenthood is like?

[oneeyedgrimes]

Beat This World.

Summary: you were inlove with Daryl. you had been for a while but you hid it telling yourself you’d tell him one day, one day too late.

Tw: major character death, angst, pinning, all that good stuff.

ELLO TUMBLR This is my first time writing here I just needed to write for my husband because if I didn’t I would COMBUST. this DEFINITELY isn’t proof read as I started this at 2 and it’s 4 now so if there’s any errors don’t be afraid to let me know, constructive criticism is always welcomed and appreciated, enjoy loves!

You had always noticed Daryl. Since the day you stumbled upon the quarry, you’d been by yourself for who knows how long and when you finally found the group, he was the first person you laid your eyes on, pointing his bow ready to shoot and end your life at anytime and the only thing you could think was how pretty his eyes were in the sunlight.

From then on you found yourself trying to get to know him more, sitting next to him when the group would cook the squirrels he found, trying to get him to teach you how to hunt. The two of you even found yourselves up late unable to sleep and you would find eachother and just sit and look at the stars and that was all the both of you needed, you’d barely speak on nights like that you’d just soaked up each others presence.

By the time the group found Alexandria you and Daryl’s relationship was better than ever, though with the recent loss of Beth after just finding out she had been alive, watching her die infront of him Daryl had been more closed off, but you understood, ofcourse you did, so you gave him space, made yourself busy working on things around Alexandria.

But soon distance became barely seeing each other, and that only made your heart ache for him even more, you so desperately wanted your bestfriend back even if that was all it would be, even if you wanted him to yourself, even if you did want to feel the feeling of his lips on yours, you would take what you could get.

You’d finally found Daryl sitting on carol’s porch sharpening his knife, you stopped just before you came into his view and just looked at him, seeing him up close after not seeing him for so long, it felt like you’d fallen inlove with him again right there and it hurt.

“ Daryl can we talk please? I get it if you’re too busy but I really just wanted to talk to yo-“ Daryl looked up at her the slightest bit of a smirk sitting on his lips before he cut off your rambling “ hey, I ain’t ever ta’ busy for ya’ wha’s up” Daryl’s attention was fully on you and now you were nervous.

“ I miss you. I’ve barely seen you since we got here at this place and everything’s so weird and these people look at me like I’m some kind of alien and I know you’re working and doing things to keep people safe and this may be selfish of me but I miss you and I want you to be around more” Tears prickled at your eyes, whether it was from frustration or genuine sadness you didn’t know. Daryl looked up at you and and sat the knife down and brought his finger up motioning you to come towards him

“ c’mere,” You looked at him and slowly walked over to the porch sitting next to him blinking away the tears now feeling embarrassed you let your emotions get the best of you. “ why ain’t ya’ tell me ya been feelin’ like tha’ i woulda’ done som’ ‘bout it” Daryl guided your head to his shoulder, his voice a soft tune he only ever used with you. “ because i.. you were busy and I didn’t wanna bother you and I just..”

You trailed off going silent realizing you’d almost said something you’d probably regret, and Daryl just pulled you in closer wrapping his arm around you “ I’m sorry I ain’t been checkin’ on ya, I’m gon’ try an’ be around more, can’t promise nuthin’ but I’m gon’ try”. You got your friend back, and that was more than enough for you, even if your heart screamed to tell him what you really want.

It was a few weeks later, and Daryl did what he said he would, he was around a lot more and he kept you company whenever he could, and you were the happiest you could be. You were both sitting on Carol’s porch eating whatever cookies she made that day when Rick walked up to the both of you asking if you guys were up for a run with a few others from the group, you agreed and went to get ready.

As you walked inside your house you told yourself you’d tell Daryl how you felt when the two of you were back from the run, you thought of how you were going to do it as you finished putting on your boots and grabbing your bag putting a few water bottles in your bag. Daryl came and got you walking with you to the gate helping you into the car and you laughed looking at him thru the window “ thank you mister strong man” He looked at you with a straight face though you could see the tiniest smirk on his face “ stop.” He told you as he got into the car nodding to Rick as he pulled out of the gate.

Everything was going fine, they found a few cans of food and some bottles of body wash in a nearby store, you turned your back for just two seconds, you saw a toy you thought Judith would like and you smiled and reached on your tippy toes to grab it, at the same time a walker turned the corner from behind the shelf and fell onto you knocking you down to the floor, you reached for your knife but couldn’t reach it, atleast not before the walker sunk its teeth into the side of your hip causing you to let out a scream as you finally got your knife out of the holster plunging it into the back of the walkers head pushing it off of you as Daryl came running to you.

“ wha’ tha’ hell happened “ Daryl kneeled infront of you he saw the walked beside you and looked back at you all the confusion on his face gone “ you ain’t bit are ya’?” He looked up at you waiting for your answer, his face falling a bit when he saw the tears building in your eyes, his face now filled with worry as he looked down seeing your hand covering your side, he gently moved your hand lifting your shirt revealing the bite “ no, no you can’t fuckin’- this ain’t fair! You can’t leave me y/n you can’t” Daryl’s voice became wobbly and his lip quivered, something you had only ever seen a few times “ I’m sorry d, it all happened so fast I couldn’t get my knife out fast enough” You looked at him squeezing your waist tighter, your own lip started to wobble. “ you know what’s funny? I was gonna tell you that I’m inlove with you after we got back from this run, was gonna take you to my house and take you up to my room, and I would let you lay in my lap and run my fingers thru my hair and tell you how I’ve been inlove with you since you held that big crossbow at me” you laughed regretting it after as you started to cough harshly, Daryl just stared at you his eyes wide in shock “ I’ve loved ya for a while y/n a good long while too. Wasted all dis’ time when we coulda’ been ta’gether”You smiled finally letting the tears fall

“ we would’ve been a match made in hell dixon, will you be okay?” You ask him holding his face in your hand that wasn’t covered in blood “ Hell no, I don’ know how i’ma go on without’ ya. “ “ you’re strong I know you are, you’re gonna live for me and you’re gonna be okay I know you will I love you Daryl.” “ I love ya’ too girl.” “ then beat this world for me Dixon”

You smiled at him with the last bit of energy you had before your eyes shut and your movements stop completely, daryl sits there almost as still as your own lifeless body before he pulls out his knife stabbing you in the back of the head and sits with you for a few more seconds before he stands up picking up your body laying you in the back of the car as he calls the rest of the group, and they all see it on his face, so they don’t ask. They have a makeshift funeral and Daryl dressed up in his best button down he has, and when he goes to his room and it’s late at night and it’s quiet and you’re not there to fill the room, he doesn’t cry but he whispers into the air

“I’m gonna beat this goddamn world for you .”

[lvlyghost]

Salvation II

Pairings: John Price x F!Reader

Summary: after a few months since his last visit, john finally gets the chance to see the girl.

Word Count: 1.2k

Tw:angst, fluff, slightly suggestive (not really) but just in case, mentions of abduction but nothing too explicit. kate shows up bc we stan🫶🏻 john being a softie 🥹✨💞also not proofread🐸

A/N: omg i can't thank y'all enough for the love the first part got🫰🏻🥰 I hope you like this part as much! Please remember english isn't my first language, corrections are appreciated as usual🩵

Masterlist✨ | Part I | Part III

The soft sound of rain outside the house, lightning and a thunder shake the windows. Carrying two cups of hot cocoa in both hands as she walks where John is waiting for her in the living room. He's scrolling through his phone and immediately puts it down when he sees her. A soft smile makes its way to his lips.

She figured she'd make something warm for them to drink. The rain had come pouring down unexpectedly at the fair, which made them run to John's car to no avail. They were soaking wet by the time they reached the automobile, laughing and enjoying the presence of each other.

"We should take a bath before we get sick."

He had suggested, as soon as she opened the door. John had tried to shield her with his coat and beanie, although it could only do so much. Her teeth were chattering, still never losing that damn smile he had grown fond of.

So here they were now, engulfed in their pajamas ready to get some rest. The stuffed otter was placed on the sofa across from him. She handed John the mug to which he thanked and took a small sip.

"Probably not as good as your Earl Grey but..."

"It's perfect, love. C'mere." He pats the empty spot next to him. She obliges, crossing her legs as she sits. A comfortable silence falls between the two for a moment when the sky rumbles again.

"Doctor said once I'm able to go back to social life I should try to go on a date you know?" She began, shaking her head as if the mere idea was delusional. Her thumb absentmindedly tracing the rim of the mug. "Get to know people. She called it healing." She scoffs. "As if it was that easy."

Taking a sip, John watches as she bites her lip. He can't help it but a strange feeling sets in his gut.

"Is that so crazy, sweetheart?" She turns to him, studying his features with a small frown. "You deserve to be happy. Every single day, you deserve that and much more."

"I... I-" she stutters. "What if they think I'm weird John? I can hardly be myself. What happens when they ask about my life? I'm scared. Every time I close my eyes I'm back in that place..." she glances up to the ceiling, glossy eyes threatening to mimic the pouring rain outside. "I'm never going to be normal. Never going to be whole again...-

"Are you afraid of me?" He interrupts her, forcing her to turn to gaze at him. Swallowing saliva, she meets his bright blue eyes. He's dead serious. The cup long forgotten as he had placed it on the small coffee table. She shook her head.

"You saved me. You've seen what I've been through, and no,..." she stops him when he opens his mouth. "I know you've read the files. You must've in order to know what you were getting yourself into, John. And not just you but your team. And every time you look at me I see it. You were there when I testified... no one knows better than you... nobody knows me better than you." She's choking on her own words when she's finished, tears streaming down her face.

John wastes no time, pulling her into his lap as she hugs him as if her life depends on him.

It probably did.

Sobbing and hiding her face in the crook of his neck she feels the pain, the tension, the agony subside; John holds her small shaking frame against his body. He was often scared to touch her even if it was something so innocent like a hug. Something like this. Even when he wanted nothing more than to be near her. Be the one to shield her from the bad dreams, when the memories of the atrocious life she was forced to endure came to haunt her. He's tracing soft circles on her arm in an attempt to soothe her.

"I could never be afraid of you." She assures him.

-

"Do you know how many people I had to call?" Kate asks him not waiting for a response. Both looking at the girl sitting in the room behind the tinted window. "Twelve."

"I get it Kate." He grumbles. "Thank you. I owe you." He crosses his arms not losing sight of the girl he recently rescued. "I just wish they had given her more time to heal. She's in a bad shape, can't they bloody see?"

"I was thinking the same, but the clock is ticking. We can't afford to lose more time."

He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. He's barely gotten any sleep since the mission. She had held his arm the entire ride back. Squeezing with all the strength she had left in her system

"What's gonna happen to her once this is over?"

Kate side eyes John, wondering why he cares so much.

"The NCA will take over from here. Most likely be put under witness protection and given a new identity. Just like the rest of the survivors."

"Hmm." Grunting he takes a step forward.

"John?" She quirks a brow.

"I might just need one last favor."

"Of course." She rolls her eyes feigning annoyance. "This is gonna cost you two tickets for the soccer game next week."

John turns to her.

"You mean the football match?" He politely corrects her.

"I meant what I meant."

"All I remember that morning is I was getting ready for high school. Said goodbye to my grandmother and left. We lived in a complex of apartments with an underground parking lot. She had an old red cavalier that belonged to my grandfather. Last thing I recall is opening the door and then nothing. Just... nothing for years."

-

She feels John standing up from the sofa carrying her body in his strong arms. She doesn't have to look, just know he's taking her to the bedroom. Before he can lay her down on the mattress she gets off of him. Bare feet touching the cool wooden floor. John is about to ask what's wrong. Maybe he made it look like...

She kisses him on the lips. It's quick and it takes him by surprise. Her cheeks flush and eyes go wide, he smiles fondly.

"Do that again." He prompts her.

"Will you stay with me tonight?" She asks with pleading eyes.

"For as long as you want me to." She grabs him by the neck and pulls him down to her level.

"It's okay John. Even if I have ghosts I know you'll make them disappear."

That's all he needs to hear. His hands find her waist, all doubt gone. All this time he was terrified that he'd scare her, not wanting to make the first move. John respected her and wanted the girl to feel safe around him. That's why now after hearing those words he lets himself feel her. The soft edges of her delicate skin. Her labored breathing.

He kisses her soft lips, hand coming up to caress her cheek and then, right there he knows she's let all her walls down for him. Letting him in, see all the parts she thought would have to bury for eternity.

He ought to do the same for her. He has his own ghosts. John needed salvation too. Perhaps in a different way.

And if anyone ever dare to try to harm her, taker her away from him...

He'd kill them all.

[mylostloversbookmarks]

thank you!! My request is: Joel x female reader. Age gap. They met after Joel and Ellie arrived in Jackson, they started to know each other, at first they kept it a bit like a secret but then, when things started to get more serious, they didn’t hide anymore. Things got so serious that after a while (not immediately, like a year or two) Joel asked reader to move in with him and Ellie.

Ellie loves reader and she’s more than happy that Joel found his special someone. Could you add a scene where reader is with Ellie one afternoon and they see Joel with a woman, acting really intimate, which connects to reader’s thoughts about Joel being a bit weird the previous days. She thinks he’s cheating on her, also because the woman is really close and intimate to Joel in that situation.

She wants to leave before he sees her but Joel notices her presence, tries to talk to her but doesn’t deny the accusations at first, (so a lot of angst!!!) which makes reader think she lost the love of her life.

They don’t talk for a few days and try to ignore each other when possible, despite living together. Ellie is sad and suffers from this situation. Joel loves reader too much to ruin things so he puts his pride aside and tries talking to her. They eventually talk it through, he was not cheating (choose whatever the alternative to that is!!) maybe a little fluff at the end or also something else? You choose!

also, if you have any rules or have triggers about something that I requested please let me know and change the story how you need to.

And I’m extremely sorry if this request is too long and detailed.

thank you!!!

Guiding Lights - a Joel Miller one shot.

Characters - Joel Miller x Reader

Word Count - 8.7K

Warnings/Tags - 18+ only Minors dni. Typical canon language, Swearing, Angst, Fluff, Alcohol consumption, , Sus!Joel, Soft!Joel, insecurities, suspected cheating, no actual cheating, I think thats all?

A/N - @addictedtotlou This is my first ever fic request and I cannot thank you enough for sending it through, and also for dropping into my inbox to let me know it was you that requested it! I'm sorry it took so long but I hope you enjoy <3

Feedback, Reblogs and comments are always appreciated!

You often find yourself reminiscing on the day you met Joel and Ellie, it feels like forever ago now, though it has only really been a few years.

The winters in Wyoming were never kind, but that year, Mother Nature had been particularly cruel. Strong winds and vicious snow blizzards reduced visibility to almost nothing. You had heard those posted to the lookout stations talking over lunches and complaining about how bad the conditions were getting.

So in a bid to keep the good folks of Jackson safe, Tommy and Maria decided to double the number of patrols around the commune in an attempt to keep an eye on the horizon for any potential threats who could be hiding just beyond their sights.

Needless to say, it had been a rather slow work day in the Tipsy Bison, with the usual counting and re-counting of stock, checking on the latest brew of beers and whisky, ensuring everything was going as planned, and cleaning of the already immaculate bar, all finished in record time.

Expecting the usual after-work rush that never came, you sent the other two bar staff over to the mess hall to see if the kitchen needed any help with preparations for tomorrow's meals.

As the two said their goodbyes over their shoulders, you heard one of them mumble a shocked "What the hell?"

With your interest piqued, you stepped out from behind the old wooden bar and crossed the floor to the large square windows at the front of the building. Your eyes followed their gaze and watched as the afternoon patrol crew filed through the large wooden and steel-clad gates of the commune.

You waved as a few of your regulars passed you, a few tipping the brims of their ten-gallon hats. You quickly realised what had drawn your colleagues' attention when your eyes landed on two new faces in the middle of the crew.

The first newcomer was a man; he wore a thick brown winter coat and jeans that looked like they could stand up on their own, and you could see the toe of his work boot was mended with what looked to be duck tape. His eyes were sharp and focused, darting around him as if in search of someone or something.

Instantly, he gave you the impression of someone who had been on the road for quite some time. Having been there yourself, you felt a surge of sympathy for him, but you were still wary of him, not knowing why he had been brought inside the walls.

The second was a girl, whom you assumed to be the man's daughter; she was small and looked to be in her early teens. Strands of her tawny brown hair peek out from under her winter hat. big, bright eyes, taking in her surroundings in wonder, while the man stared straight ahead. The girl seemed to be unaware that all eyes were on her, from those who stood on the street to others standing in shop windows, just as you were.

You followed the other barstaff out to the porch and offered the girl a small smile as your eyes met, she quickly looked away without returning it. It wasn't often that Jackson took in new people, opting to keep off the radar to try and protect what you had here. Maria was on this afternoon's patrol and had no doubt made the call to bring the two into the commune.

As the crew passed, heading further into the small town, you saw the man's head snap to the left, and he opened his mouth.

"Tommy!" he shouted, his deep, booming voice ringing in the silence. In an instant, he was off his horse and running in the direction of the scaffolding that had been put up to repair some of the damage to a neighbouring building.

You watched on in stunned silence as the two men ran towards each other, unsure of what the newcomers intentions were, but before you had made it down the two steps of the porch, the man wrapped his arms around Tommy and began laughing, disbelief colouring the sound.

The two men stood embracing each other, both breathless from laughter, and you knew immediately who the newcomer was. This was Joel, Tommy's brother.

Tommy had spoken of him before; usually after one too many whiskies at the bar, he would open up to you about how guilty he felt about staying off the radio. He would say things like, "It's only a matter of time before he comes looking for me, Y/N; what am I supposed to do? Turn him away?" and "One thing about my big bother is that he's persistent."

You had always offered words of understanding and comfort and almost always cut him off and sent him home after those conversations, knowing that no good could come from him drinking any more alcohol.

Part of being the town's main bar tender was also being a listening ear whenever someone needed it, but with Tommy, it was different. He and Maria had become your closest friends, and you would always be there when either of them needed you, working or not.

You always got the sense that something had happened between the two men that couldn't be fixed. As you watched the brothers reunite, you realised that the thought couldn't be further from the truth.

Maria caught your eye as she dismounted from her horse and jerked her head to the side, beseeching you to join her. You nodded at her and crossed the road to where she was standing, hitching her horse to one of the many posts dotted around town.

"Maria, is that who I think it is?" You asked her quietly, not wanting to draw attention to the conversation.

"Yeah, it is," she spat. "I don't know how the hell he found us out here." She continued, venom dripping from each word.

You knew that Maria had never actually met Joel, but from the stories Tommy had told you both in the early years, she knew what he was capable of and decided then and there that she did not like him. You, on the other hand, had a more objective outlook on things.

You were not involved in the same way Maria was, of course; she and Tommy were married after all, so you could understand her reservations when he opened up about his past with his brother and the things they had done and what they thought they needed to do to survive.

The problem was, Maria had been in Jackson longer than you and Tommy and therefore had less of an idea what a brutal hellscape it was outside the walls. Maria wasn't stupid; she knew that it was dangerous, but it had been so long since she had to live like that, to really be surviving, not trusting anyone you met along the way, not knowing where your next meal was coming from, or if you were going to make it to worry about the next meal.

You, on the other hand, had lived that life for longer than you would like to remember, and though you didn't have innocent blood on your hands, they were far from clean. So you could sympathise with Tommy and the demons that clearly kept him up at night. So you felt the hatred that Maria has for Joel was a little unfounded.

"I'm happy he found him again," you admitted, unable to help the undercurrent meant by your works. What you really wanted to say was "This should have happened a long time ago if you had let him respond to Joel's calls on the radio" Meeting her narrowed eyes, you saw a flash of anger in them. No doubt you will get an earful for that comment later.

You knew what she was going to say: that Joel wasn't going to fit in here in Jackson, that Tommy was better off without him, and that you should keep a safe distance from him. But she didn't have the opportunity, as Tommy was already walking towards the two of you.

Joel had walked back to where the girl waited on her horse; a worried, almost disappointed expression crossed her face as he gestured towards Tommy. You watched as he gently helped her down from the animal, making sure she was steady on her feet before the pair followed behind Tommy.

"Y/N, Maria, ah… this is my big brother, Joel," Tommy announced, his tone a mixture of pride and nervousness.

"Hey, it's good to finally meet you; I've heard a lot about you." You smiled kindly at him; he nodded once in response, his expression guarded.

"I'm Ellie! It's nice to meet you," the girl chirps cheerily before shoving her elbow into Joel's ribs. "Joel, say hello," she all but hissed at him, which makes you chuckle.

"It's lovely to meet you, Ellie." You beam.

"It's, uh, good to meet you," he managed quietly.

Two years later...

A loud knock at your front door startles you. Your hand flies to your heart as you curse under your breath. Who the hell would be calling on you at this hour of the morning?

You pad down the hallway and open the door to find Joel standing there, hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans, shifting his weight from one leg to the other. He seemed keyed up, and your heart drops to your stomach; something must have happened.

"Hey, is everything okay? Did something happen? Is Ellie alright?" You squeaked at him, the panic rising in your chest causing your voice to go up an octave.

"Yes, darlin, everything's fine, Ellie's good; don't worry; I just need to talk to you about something, that's all," he assured you in his thick Texas drawl.

"Everything's good… but you need to talk to me about something at 6 a.m." You questioned him dubiously, arching an eyebrow at him.

"I promise everything is fine; I have morning patrol and was hoping I could catch you before I head out," Joel explains, the ghost of a smile playing on his plump lips.

"Ah, okay, that makes sense, sorry; c'mon, handsome." You laugh as you open the door for him to enter and close it after him.

He follows you down the hall into the small kitchen, lingering in the doorway and studying you. You can feel his eyes roaming your figure as you pour him a cup of coffee. Strong, black, no sugar—just the way he likes it.

Turning with the mug in your hand, you let out a breathy laugh at the sight of him. He looked wired, far too awake for this hour of the morning. Was he sweating?

"Joel, baby, are you alright?" You ask curiously as you hand him his coffee and take your usual seat at the end of the dining table.

"Yeah, I just…I wanna ask you something but I don't know how" he confessed sheepishly, his large hand coming to scratch nervously at the back of his neck.

"I'd like to think you know me well enough by now to know you can ask me anything." You said it with a smile, hoping to calm whatever was causing his nerves.

"Yeah, no, I know, I just don't want to freak you out; there's no pressure, and I understa-"

"Just spit it out, Joel." You interrupt him. In the two years you had been with Joel, you had never seen him struggle for words with you, and it was making you anxious.

"Okay," he huffs out, pulling the dining room chair out so he could sit facing you. He takes a long drink of coffee before continuing, and the suspense is killing you.

"So I was speaking to Ellie, and you know we both love you; hell, sometimes I think she likes you more than she likes me!" He chuckles fondly: "Look, we've been seeing each other for a while, and now that everyone knows, I think it would be good, you know, f-for Ellie if she had a…I dunno, like a mother figure on a more permanent basis." The words were falling out of his mouth like an avalanche. He desperately hoped he was making sense, but you still weren't understanding.

"Permenant basis? What do you mean?" You ask, confusion clear on your face, making him laugh again.

"Yeah, like on an everyday basis," he enphasises. Urging you to grasp the meaning of his words.

"Okay, um, I mean, yeah, I think that's a great idea. I love that kid. I will tell her about making an effort to hang out every day." You promise him sincerely and are touched that he thinks of you as a mother figure to his daughter.

"That's not really what I was thinking, baby; I mean, on a permanent basis, like you would live in the same house." He husks softly, his eyes searching your face for your reaction, and his heart sinks to his boots as he watches your brows knit together.

"Did you have another fight?" You ask him, reaching your hand up to stroke the side of his face, your thumb lingering on the heart-shaped patch of his beard where the hair refused to grow. "Ellie's always more than welcome to stay here when she likes, but Joel, I don't think her moving in here is the answer."

He takes your hand from his face and holds it between both of his; he huffs all the air from his lungs and slowly takes another deep breath. Straightening in his chair, he locks eyes with you.

"I knew this would be an easy ask, but I didn't imagine you making it this hard on me," he says exasperatedly, huffing out another loud laugh.

"I don't understand." Confusion layers your tone, and you are sure your face is doing the same.

"I'm not asking if Ellie can move in with you; I'm asking if… if you would like to move in with us Y/N" He admits. His brown eyes are soft and lingering on your face, and his thumb is tracing small circles on your wrist.

This was not the conversation you were expecting to have over your morning coffee; your brain was barely functioning, and your mind started to race. The last two years of your life, with Joel and Ellie passing by before you in a blur of colours and memories.

You had sympathised with Joel's struggles to adjust to life in Jackson, and given that you worked in the only bar in town, he quickly became a familiar face. You ignored Maria's warnings to stay away from him; after all, she didn't know him from Adam, and you felt it was unfair to judge someone on the things they had done as the world fell apart overnight.

So, slowly but surely, you found yourself at work, hoping each night that he would stop in so you could get to know him better, and he always did. Always opting to sit at the bar, despite there being plenty of more comfortable booths to sit at.

At first, it was always you who initiated the conversation, asking him how his day was, how the patrol had gone, and how Ellie was fitting in, and you listened tentatively to what little information he would give you. Until eventually, after a couple of months of the same routine, he started to open up to you.

He would ask you how you were, how your shift had been, if you had a good day off, and on occasion he would let slip that he "missed you yesterday" when he called in for a drink on his way home from patrol, only to be disappointed that you were nowhere to be found.

It made you giddy; he was on your mind constantly; it made you feel like there was a swarm of butterflies in your belly, but you thought it was only harmless flirting as there was a considerable age gap between you both, with Joel being in his fifties and you in your early thirties, you didn't think Joel would be interested in a relationship with you.

But how wrong you were! After a couple of weeks of late-night drinks after the bar had officially closed, Joel had bitten the bullet and asked you out, though he asked if you wouldn't mind keeping it between the two of you as he didn't know how Ellie would react to him seeing someone and you gladly accepted.

You understood that Ellie was and always would be his first priority, and you admired his unwavering dedication to her, especially after finding out that Ellie wasn't his blood relative; he had taken her on as "cargo," as he affectionately put it. As a way to get one step closer to finding his brother, but she had worked her way under his skin, much like she did with everyone she met. It was so difficult not to like her. With her quick wit and foul mouth, she never failed to make you laugh. She was definitely his daughter, blood or no blood.

The thought of Ellie brings your mind back to the question at hand: should you move in with them? Was now the right time? Was Ellie even okay about this? Did she even know Joel had asked you? Each question raced through your mind until your mouth found one it could form words around.

"What does Ellie think of this?" You asked Joel intently, reading his face for any signs of worry or panic at your question, but there were none to be found.

"I mentioned to Ellie a few months ago that I thought it would be nice if you were around all the time, and she agreed, and then I sat her down yesterday and told her that I was thinking of asking you today, and she was all for it. I don't want you to feel pressured in any way, though; it's okay if it's too soon; you can say no, and we won't be offended in the slightest!" Joel assures you, his voice is low and genuine.

He lifts his right hand to the side of your face and gently brushes the hair out of your eyes, his calloused thumb stroking back and forth as you lean into his touch, allowing your eyes to fall closed. Taking a deep breath, you throw caution to the wind.

You close your eyes, taking a deep breath, your voice drops to a whisper. "Yes, I'll move in."

Suddenly your body was moving, and not by its own volition; your eyes were still closed, so your brain was having trouble registering what was happening. When your eyes flashed open in surprise, you were caught up in Joel's arms, spinning around your small kitchen with your feet no longer planted on the floor.

"Joel!" You squeal through breathy laughter, placing your hands on his broad shoulders to steady yourself.

"Are you sure, baby?" He asks, his eyes sparkling with delight.

"Yes, I'm sure handsome, but I have one condition!" You warn him, arching a fluffy brow.

"Name your price, sweetheart," he smirks at you through the whiskers of his full moustache.

"I get to tell Ellie," You beam back at him, your hand rests on the back of his neck, fingers scractching lightly at the curls that have formed there.

"I think she'd like that," he ghosts against your lips, lightly brushing his nose against your own until you lean up and crush your mouth to his.

Three years later...

It has been a hectic few weeks for the community in Jackson, working through yet another savage winter. You were just through the middle of it, and the end was in sight. The snow storms were not as frequent and the winds were not as wild.

Work has been keeping you busy. You are still the main bartender at the Tipsy Bison, but much to Joel's dismay, you have also picked up a few patrol shifts to lend a hand to Tommy as a few of the older patrol crew stepped back into other work duties due to ill health.

It has felt like months since you and Joel have spent any quality time together, despite living in the same house and working in the same community. Whenever you were both home, he seemed distant and preoccupied, as if there was somewhere else he wanted to be. You tried to engage him in conversation, but he would only give you short answers before retreating into his own thoughts.

At first, you thought that he might just be stressed out from work duty or the weather, as bad as it has been, but as the days turned into weeks, you started to feel a growing sense of unease. You have never seen Joel act this way before, not with you at least, and you don't know what to do.

You miss his closeness; the late-night conversations at the bar while you finished up your shift—all of that has stopped, and no matter how many hours you spent trying to figure out why, you always came up blank.

So needless to say, you were looking forward to spending some quality time with Ellie this evening to help take your mind off your worries. You had stood under the shower for longer than you intended, just enjoying how the steaming water rolled down your tense frame.

With a sigh, you shut off the water and wrapped yourself in your towel, headed into your bedroom to get dressed, and you couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude that the house had heating, an especially rare commodity with the world's current condition. Jackson really was a paradise of sorts.

"Ellie! C'mon kiddo, we're going to be late for the movie!," You shout from the bottom of the stairs, shrugging into your winter jacket.

Movie night Fridays have quickly become a tradition for you and Ellie, especially now that the winter has rolled back around and it's too cold to spend much time outdoors.

"Alright, I'm coming; Jesus, keep your hair on!" Ellie mutters as she makes her way down the stairs, where you wait for her.

"We only have 20 minutes before the film starts, and I know you're going to want to get snacks, so we've got to make tracks." You laugh as she rolls her eyes at you.

"Alright Mom," she mocks, sarcasm dripping from each word.

"You're such a little shit, you know that, right?" You tell her fondly with a warm smile.

"I know, it's all part of my charm," she grins.

"Ah, I see, and does Dina know all about your charm?" You playfully jab her ribs with your elbow, wagging your brows up and down.

"Ugh, you're so annoying; you know that, right?" Ellie counters, always so quick-witted.

"I know, it's all part of my charm," You repeat her words back to her, earning another eye roll.

The two of you leave the house and trudge out into the snow; thankfully, the blizzard has calmed, and now fat, fluffy flakes of snow flurry around you like something from a movie scene.

As brutal as they can be, you have never seen anything more beautiful than Jackson in the winter. It was like something you would see on a postcard of a ski village in the French Alps, all timber buildings and string lights illuminating the small town.

On Friday nights, the mess hall was turned into a makeshift movie theatre for the youth that lived in the commune, offering them some respite from the grind of daily life. It was complete with candy, drinks, and, of course, pop corn.

At first, Ellie hadn't seemed all that interested in going, not knowing many kids her age, but after a lot of coaxing and the promise that if she didn't like it, she didn't have to go again or even stay for the full movie, Though she quickly found her feet with Dina, the rest was really history.

"Where's Joel tonight? I thought he was going to come with us." Ellie asked curiously.

"Oh shit, I meant to tell you earlier; he said Tommy asked him to cover the evening patrol tonight, so he can't make it." You explained, not really sure why Tommy needed him to cover after already doing the afternoon patrol, but it must have been important, so you didn't give it a second thought.

You and Ellie walk in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the peaceful walk through town. You were about to ask her how she was getting on with her work detail when she came to a standstill.

"I thought you said Joel was on patrol tonight?" she demanded, her face contorting in confusion.

"Uh yeah, Ellie, I just told you that." You confirm, your own confusion mirroring hers.

"Then what the fuck is he doing in the bar?" She fumes, gesturing behind you to the window of the Tipsy Bison.

Sure enough, there he sits at the bar with Jenna. Joel was nursing a whisky, and she was playfully peeling back the homemade label of her beer bottle. They are sitting in the corner booth by the window, leaning towards each other to the point where their heads are far too close to be appropriate.

In that moment, your breathing stopped. Your stomach sank to the floor, and an overwhelming sense of panic and dread began to claw viciously from your chest up your throat, resting heavy on your tongue.

"Are you okay?" Ellie asks nervously, not really sure what to do or say in this situation. It could be nothing, but even to her, it definitely looked like something.

"Y-yeah, I'm good. Ellie, why don't you go on down to the mess hall, and I'll meet you there in a few?" You tell her more than ask, your eyes never leaving the window.

"No way fuck that I'm staying with you!" she demands, her eyes growing wet around her long lashes.

"No, Ellie, I need to talk to Joel; I will catch up with you in a few, okay?" You meet her eyes and nod in the direction of the mess hall. She only nods in response; your tone is final as she turns on her heel and storms towards the makeshift movie theatre.

What the fuck is happening right now? You trusted Joel; it never bothered you when the ladies in Jackson would bat their eyes at him or when their glances lingered a little too long. You took it as a compliment; hell, if you were them, you would stare too.

Your relationship was built on a foundation of honesty and trust from the very beginning. You have told him things you have never shared with another living soul, and he has done the same with you. Never in your life did you think you would be lucky enough to share a connection with someone the way you have with Joel, let alone after the world had ended.

And now here you stand in the middle of town, watching the man you love cosy up with another woman in plain sight, not even having the decency to try and hide it from you.

You stand there for another few minutes, watching how he leans across the table to talk to her, laughing and caressing his arm in response. It sets fire to your blood, and you can feel it moving like molten lava in your veins.

You're moving before you realise you have made the decision to do so, your feet carrying you furiously forward, up to the short creaking steps and through the entrance to the bar, and then there you are, looming over their table. Your eyes bore holes into his skull. He jumps in his seat and scrambles frantically to hide the notebook that was sitting open on the table between them. You didn't pay it a second glance.

"I didn't realise the bar needed patrolling this evening," you state pointedly at him, ignoring Jenna, who is doing everything she can to avoid eye contact with you, fidgeting in her seat, and clambering to get her things together. Grabbing her coat and scarf from beside her.

"Hey darlin, I thought you and Ellie were heading to the movies." He asks, his voice rough with his attempts to hide his nerves.

"We were on our way there when she saw this cosy scene from the street." You gesture with your hand towards the table, your voice icy as you let your hand drop to your side with an audible slap, which made Jenna flinch.

"I think I'm going to head out…" Jenna murmurs in a small, quiet voice, still avoiding your gaze.

"That is a wise decision" You agreed without taking your eyes of Joel.

She throws Joel a cryptic glance before clambering out of her seat and quickly making her way to the door, shooting Joel an apologetic glance over her shoulder, which only fuels the rage bubbling up in your throat.

"What the fuck?" You growl at him, doing your best to keep your voice under control. The last thing you wanted was to cause a scene. Especially not at your workplace, regardless of whether you were on shift or not.

"What's wrong with you?" he asks, genuinely confused by your anger.

"Please tell me you're joking," you seethe.

"What? I can't have a drink with a friend." He scoffs, incredulous.

"Seriously Joel? Since when have you had to lie about working to have a drink with a friend?"

"Don't you think you're overreacting just a bit?" he countered, avoiding the question.

"No, I really don't think I am. How could you do this? How could you do this in front of Ellie?!"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Joel huffs back at you, his eyes never leaving yours.

Your eyes begin to prick with anger fuelled tears; the feeling of betrayal rips through you, leaving you exposed to his hard gaze. You can't take any more of this. It feels like the room is closing in around you. That you will suffocate if you don't leave right now. You look at him once more, and the fact that he hasn't denied it or assured you that this is anything other than what you fear it to be ,allows your world to crumble around you.

"Alright," you manage in a broken whisper that comes out as a choked sob.

With that, you turn and bolt for the door, desperately gasping for air but unable to get enough to fill your lungs. You have to brace yourself on the railing of the porch. You can feel his eyes on you as he watches you leave from where he sits frozen at the table, but he makes no move to follow after you.

Willing your legs to move, you push off the railing and slowly make your way to the mess hall, slipping in just as the movie is starting. You can see Ellie is sitting in the middle of the crowded room, and she has saved you a seat beside her.

You make your way to the restroom, taking in your reflection for the first time that evening. Your face is red and splotchy from crying, your eyes puffy, and your lips swollen from your teeth worrying at them. With shaking hands, you reach out to turn the tap on, splashing the icy cold water over your face as you try to make sense of what has just unfolded.

You knew Jenna; she is one of the few people trained in blacksmithing in Jackson, but you had never been especially close with her. She would frequent the bar and chat with you about her work day and vice versa, but that was the extent of your relationship with her, and you have never seen Joel interact with her. It just didn't make sense; why would he throw everything away for a fling with someone who lives in the same commune? Did he really think you wouldn't find out?

You do your best to shake the thoughts from your head, focused on spending the rest of the evening with Ellie, you will do everything in your power to shelter her from this. So with a deep breath, you put a smile on your face and left the restroom, smiling and waving politely at familiar faces as you made your way to your seat, stopping by the makeshift concession stand to grab Ellie some popcorn and a soda on your way.

"Hey, I've got you some snacks, kiddo." You whisper to her, not wanting to interrupt the film.

"Thanks, are you okay?" She murmered with a small smile. Taking the snacks from your outstretched hands.

"Yes, of course everything's fine; there was a mix-up with the patrols, so Joel didn't have to work tonight after all." You reassured her softly.

It cut you to the bone to have to lie to her to cover up his indiscretion because you didn't want her to think any less of him. He is her world, and she is his, and you wouldn't be the one to jeopardise that.

It cut you to the bone to have to lie to her to cover up his indiscretion because you didn't want her to think any less of him. He is her world, and she is his, and you wouldn't be the one to jeopardise that.

You weren't really sure what movie was even playing tonight, so lost in your thoughts that it was just a blurry hum in the background. Ellie had to nudge your shoulder several times to tell you that the movie had was over. Glancing around to find a steady stream of people filing out of the mess hall.

"Sorry, Ellie, I'm just a bit distracted tonight; work has been so hectic recently, and I have so much to do when I open tomorrow." You do your best to laugh it off. Hoping that she will let it go and that she wasn't being as observant tonight as she usually is. The girl misses nothing.

"It's okay, the film was a repeat anyway," she shrugs, not pressing you on the matter, though you know all too well that the questions will come eventually.

"Shall we head home? It sounds like it's getting pretty rough out there," you noted, as another howl of wind wipped around the wooden building.

"Sounds good; I want to have a shower before Joel uses all the hot water again," she ribs in a peel of bright laughter that sends warmth radiating through your now hollow chest.

When you reach the house, you find it in darkness. Joel hasn't made it home yet, and although you are beyond angry, you can't help but worry about him. Of course he can look after himself, but it isn't like him to be out this late if he wasn't on patrol.

The seething voice in the back of your head reminds you that he could be with her. You try to push those thoughts out of your head, but they linger like a dark cloud, casting a grim shadow over what was your perfect - or as perfect as it could be - life.

"I'm going for a shower and then head to bed, you okay?" Ellie asks, once again pulling you from your thoughts.

"Yeah, of course, kiddo, no worries. Do you need anything? You want some tea?" You offer as you head to the stove and place a pot of water on to boil.

"No, I'm good. Thanks though, g'night!" She calls over her shoulder, and then you are alone in the small kitchen.

"Night kiddo," You call quietly to her as you reach for the herbal tea blend that you and Ellie grew in your little garden last summer.

As you wait for the water to boil, your mind starts to race with worry and anxiety. You can't help but think of all the possible scenarios that could be keeping Joel out this late, and the thought of him being with another woman makes you want to break things. You have tried to push those thoughts out of your head so many times this evening, but they keep creeping back.

A few hours later, you are sitting in one of the armchairs in the living room, desperately fighting to keep your eyes open, but in the end you give up, gently placing your book on the coffee table and removing the blanket from your lap. You look at the clock on the wall, and it's just after 3am.

You pad into the kitchen and leave your mug in the sink, too tired to wash it now; that's tomorrow's problem. Heading up the creaky stairs to your bedroom and crawling into the cold sheets. It feels wrong going to bed without Joel by your side, but he is god knows where right now, so you lean over, turn the bedside lamp off, and sink into a restless, uneasy sleep.

You wake to the wintery morning sunshine seeping through your bedroom window. Instinctively, you run your hand across Joel's side of the bed; it's unmade but cold, so he did come home last night, but he was up before you, which is unusual.

Instinctively, you run your hand across Joel's side of the bed; it's unmade but cold, so he did come home last night, but he was up before you, which is unusual.

Slowly sitting up in bed, you stretch your tired bones, sore from your restless few hours of sleep, and swing your legs out of bed. It's only 7 a.m.; you don't usually open the bar until midday, so you have plenty of time to get ready.

You slink down the stairs, careful not to wake Ellie as you do so. Heading into the kitchen mid-yawn, you stop in your tracks as you find Joel standing at the stove, hovering over a pot of boiling water on the closest ring to him.

"Mornin'," he husks without turning; he must have heard you yawning with his good ear to the doorway.

You ignore him, knowing full well that it's petty and childish and ultimately will not resolve anything, but with the way he behaved last night, you feel the cold shoulder is justified.

You both continue with your morning rituals in silence. It was awkward and uncomfortable, but you didn't know where to begin broaching the subject, and the more you stewed over it, the more you felt he should be the one to open the conversation with an explanation, but if you were being totally honest with yourself, you were beginning to worry that you may have jumped to conclusions.

But when you thought about the way they were huddled together, her hand on his arm, and the way she tipped her head back in laughter at each thing he said, the pit in your stomach grew. As did the silence between you.

Things went on like this for days, with the two of you skirting around each other and avoiding eye contact. Only speaking to each other when absolutely necessary, like dinner times, and giving each other your work duties for the week.

You could see the effect this was having on Ellie; she has been especially quiet the last few days, so once Joel leaves for work, you sit with her on the couch and try to get her to open up.

"Ellie, is everything okay?" you ask, trying to keep your tone light.

"I don't know. You and Joel have been acting weird lately, and it's making me tense." She shrugs, not meeting your gaze.

You take a deep breath, knowing that you can't keep avoiding the issue. "Yeah, we've been having some problems. But it's nothing you need to worry about, kiddo."

"It doesn't seem like nothing," she retorts. "You guys haven't spoken in days. It's not like you."

"I know, Ellie. I just don't know how to fix it." You sigh.

"Maybe you could start by talking to him," she suggests.

"It's not that simple, Ellie. There's a lot going on." You shake your head.

"Well, maybe it would help if you talked to me about it," she offers.

"Thanks, Ellie. But it's not something I can really discuss with you. Just know that Joel and I are working through some things and we'll get through it." You smile softly at her, grateful for her kindness.

She nods, not looking convinced but not pressing the issue. You sit in silence for a moment before she stands up. "I'm gonna head out for a bit. Need to clear my head."

"Okay, kiddo. Be safe," you say, watching her leave.

You're left alone in the quiet house, the weight of your problems still heavy on your shoulders. You know Ellie is right; you need to talk to Joel. But the thought of confronting him is daunting, and you don't know if you want to hear what he has to say.

What if he doesn't want you anymore? What if he's not happy and hasn't been for a while?

You decide that enough is enough. After work this evening, you are going to speak to him and attempt to clear the air, hear his side of the story, and try to move forward, if not for the sake of your relationship but for Ellie. It's not fair to have this weighing on her shoulders; it's not her fault, and you hate seeing her unhappy, and you know that Joel will feel the same about his if nothing else.

The workday drags on uneventfully; the only thing standing out was that Jenna had come to the bar for the first time since that evening. She gave you a small smile, and you returned it with a polite nod. You were at work after all and took it upon yourself to remain as professional as possible.

Jenna approaches the bar and orders her usual, which you pour for her without issue, though it makes your skin itchy to be this close to her.

"Have you spoken to Joel yet?" she asks quietly. Wiping her fingertips across the bartop.

You stare at her blankly; the audacity of this woman boggles your mind.

"No," you respond curtly.

"Okay, well, when you do, come and find me. We'll have a lot to discuss." She states matter-of-factly, the ghost of a smile playing on her lips.

Before you have the chance to give her a piece of your mind, she is walking away from the bar, her long auburn hair swishing to her lower back. What the fuck is her problem?

You try to get through the rest of your day without dwelling on the conversation you had with Jenna, focusing more on the impending conversation you are going to have with Joel this evening. Thinking about what you were going to say to him, how you were going to explain how you felt, and how hurt you have been over the last few days.

You lock up the bar and head towards home for the evening, taking a little more time than you usually would, feet dragging, dreading the fight that would likely ensue once you had spoken to him. You tell yourself you will keep a level head, but you know deep down your temper would not allow that to happen if he gave you some bullshit excuse.

As you approach the small, snow-covered pathway that leads to the back porch of your home, you pause there, unable to bring yourself to go inside. So you take a seat on the second step and watch the flurries of fluffy snow as they make their way through the air to join the pillowy blanket that covers everything in sight.

You sit there for what feels like hours. Jackson was always quiet; it needed to be in order to keep what you have here safe, but as you sit in the darkness, the only light coming from the dim porch light and the light seeping through the thin linen curtains from the living room, it feels eerily silent and still. The sound of the backdoor creaking open made you jump. The heavy footsteps that followed, however, were all too familiar.

"You gonna stay out here all night?" He asked quietly, his voice low and soft.

"No, I was just… well, I don't really know what I was doing." You offer a small laugh, void of any humour.

Joel takes a few steps and groans loudly as he lowers himself to join you where you sit. He is quiet for a few moments until he finally speaks.

"I wanted to say that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the other night and how it must have looked. I'm sorry for not explaining to you then and there what it was; I didn't want to tell you, and I still don't really. But I promise you on my life that it is not what you think it is, Darlin," he says softly, regret heavy in his tone.

"I don't understand Joel; I just want to understand what the fuck has been going on," you pleaded, hating how desperate your voice sounded.

"I know, baby, and I'm going to tell you. I just didn't want to ruin the surprise. I also didn't want to tell you without speaking to Ellie first, but I spoke to her at dinner, and now she understands." He assures you, his hand coming up to brush your cold cheek for the first time in days, and it was impossible not to lean into the heat of his palm.

"Okay, so now everyone knows but me, why were you all cozied up with Jenna? Why did you lie to me about going to work?" You challenged him, removing your face from his touch.

"Hold on," he huffs, shifting his weight to one hip as he fishes for something in his back pocket before continuing. "It will make more sense once you see this, or I hope it will at least," he offers as he hands you a beaten-up, leather-bound note book.

"What is this?" You ask him, you remember seeing it on the table in the bar the other night.

"Would you just open it?" he sighs, rubbing his hand through his patchy whiskers nervously.

You do as he says and open the notebook, and what you find takes you aback. The notebook is filled almost front to back with little sketches of rings and little notes about different metals and gems in his familar handwriting and another that you don't recognize.

"Wh-what is this?" You repeat, stunned. So many thoughts racing through your mind and you are beggining to realise that you have completely misread the situaiton the other night.

"I know I was going to have to tell you about it eventually, you know for your size and all but I was planning to do that after I asked you…but then with the other night I wasn't sure what to say and I was kind of pissed off that you where angry at me, I didn't stop to think that you weren't in on the secret and what it must have looked like to you," Joel's hand came to rest on your knee squeezing reassuringly as he explained the circumstances that lead to what you saw in the bar.

"I have been meeting up with Jenna over the last few weeks, she's the only blacksmith in Jackson that used to make jewelry…specifically engagement rings," he paused allowing his words to sink in before finishing his explination.

"We've been trying to figure out how to make you one, what metals mix well from what I have found on supply runs, whether to hold off if I could find a stone or a gem, or if we could make it without one,"

You stare at him, a mix of astonishment and disbelief washing over you. The pieces start to fall into place, and you realize the truth behind Joel's actions. The anger and hurt that had consumed you begin to melt away, replaced by a flood of emotions, the most promanent being embarrassment.

"You were planning to… ask me?" you stutter, your voice barely a whisper. The weight of your accusation hangs heavy in the air as you struggle to comprehend the situation.

"Yeah, I was. I've been saving up for months, looking for the right opportunity, and I wanted it to be a surprise. Jenna's been helping me because she's skilled at crafting intricate pieces. I wanted to make something special for you, something that would last a lifetime." Joel nods, his eyes filled with sincerity.

Tears well up in your eyes as the realization of your mistake dawns upon you. You reach for Joel's hand, intertwining your fingers with his. "Oh, Joel, I'm so sorry," you say, your voice trembling. "I jumped to conclusions without knowing the whole story. I never thought…I feel like such a peice of shit, I'm so sorry"

"It's okay, darlin'. I should've communicated better, explained everything to you beforehand. I understand why you were upset." He squeezes your hand gently, his thumb caressing your knuckles.

"But why did you lie about going to work?" you inquire, still wanting to grasp every detail.

"We thought it would be best if we kept it a secret until it was ready. And I didn't want you to suspect anything. I wanted the proposal to be a surprise, and I was afraid if I told you I was hanging out with Jenna, you'd figure it out before I had the chance." He shrugged.

"Joel, I can't believe you're doing this. You've put so much thought and effort into making something special for us. I don't deserve it. I don't deserve you. I have been so awful to you over the last few days," You let out a shaky breath, your heart filled with a strange mix of relief, shame and joy.

A soft smile graces Joel's lips as he brushes a strand of hair from your face. "Don't say that, sweetheart. You deserve the world, and I want to give it to you. I love you more than anything, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Tears stream down your face now, but they're tears of happiness. You lean in and rest your head on Joel's shoulder, feeling the warmth of his presence envelop you. The weight of the misunderstanding lifts, leaving behind a newfound sense of trust and appreciation.

"I love you too, Joel," you whisper, your voice filled with sincerity. "I'm sorry for being such a bitch and for overreacting. I should have known you'd never do anything to hurt me."

"Hey, we all make mistakes, darlin'. It wouldn't be the first time I've got pissed at you for something I misunderstood now is it?." he chuckles quietly, pressing a kiss to the crown of your head.

"I guess no ones perfect," you echo his laughter leaning into him further.

As you sit together on the porch steps, surrounded by the beauty of the snowfall, you realize that the snow isn't the only thing that's melting. The icy barriers that had formed between you and Joel are slowly thawing away, leaving behind a comfortable quiet.

"So, now that the cats out of the bag, will you…?" he asks his deep voice thick with emotion.

"Will I what handsome?" You look up at him teasing, your eyes twinkling.

A playful grin tugs at the corners of Joel's mouth as he meets your gaze. "Will you marry me, my beautiful, stubborn, and occasionally misunderstood partner in crime?" he asks, his voice laced with a mixture of nervousness and hope.

Your heart skips a beat at his words, and a surge of excitement courses through you. You pretend to ponder his question, a mischievous glint in your eyes. "Well, I don't know, Joel. I mean, after all that's happened, can I really trust you with my heart?" you tease, a smile playing on your lips.

Joel feigns a look of hurt, placing a hand dramatically over his heart. "Oh, come on now. I've endured snowball fights, kitchen mishaps, you and Ellie ganging up on me and even your questionable taste in movies. If that's not true love, I don't know what is."

Laughter bubbles up from within you, and you lean in closer, pressing your forehead against his. "Joel, you are my love and my rock. Of course, I'll marry you," you say, your voice filled with so much love.

In that peaceful moment, wrapped in the calm of the snowfall and the safety of his strong arms, you realize that there will be silly arguments, misunderstandings and cold shoulders, but you will always find your way back to each other. You let out a sigh of contentment as Joel presses silent kisses against your head, happy to sit here forever wrapped up in him.

Knowing that Joel and Ellie will forever be your guiding lights.

[russellsppttemplates]

If you let me show you (Charles Leclerc)

Years later, your's and Charles' hearts are still longing for eachother and, perhaps, it was meant to be all along

Note: english is not my first language.

Thank you so much to everyone who likes and reblogs, your feedback is appreciated, and while I'm not actively taking requests, I am writing some blurbs when I can so if you have any ideas or concepts that can be written in a small amount of sentences and you want to share, feel free to do so!

Tw: past breakup

"As usual, thank you for listening to the podcast", you began closing off the recording for you newest episode of your podcast, taking your headphones off once you were done and your editor gave you her thumbs up, "That was really good, Y/N. I think people will enjoy it a lot", she said as you smiled, proud of how far you got. The idea of creating your own podcast while you finished your degree was just something to keep your mind off of school, despite it being about what you studied since it was something you enjoyed, but it had quickly grown to join other people who, like you, enjoyed the topic. You had gathered a small community that you were very grateful for, especially when it allowed to go to bigger events like TedTalks and sit and talk, as well as meeting them.

Checking your phone for your e-mails, you noticed a new one from someone you had never received anything from before, "what is this...?", you muttered under your breath before letting your finger tap the screen to open it, revealing what looked like an invite to an event, looking at the top to see that you had been sent it a few days ago and, scrolling down, finding out that you had to confirm your attendance until that afternoon, "did you get this?", you showed it to your editor, "nope, but I've heard of other people who come here to record that they've been invited too", she smiled. "Are you plann-", she was interrupted by the sound of your phone ringing, an unknown number calling, "yes?", you said, "Hi, this is from Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco. How have you been, Y/N?", a seemingly kind man on the other side of the line, "Hello, I've been good, and you?", you said as you looked at your editor, "sorry to bother you during the day, but we've had some issues with our communication channels and are not receiving the confirmation from the people who are attending, and we just wanted to confirm wether or not you are joining us for the evening", he said as you panicked opened the e-mail again, checking for more details about this event, "Oh, you're also allowed a plus one, I don't think your e-mail said that due to the glitch we had", he offered as you looked at your editor one last time, her showing you a dinner she had with family on that night, "yes, I can confirm my presence. Just me, no plus one", you said as you heard him type, "Good, thank you! Since our communication channels are not working properly, is it okay if, in case of any new information, I contact you through here?", he asked before you confirmed, bidding eachother a good day and goodbye before ending the call, "this is a very surreal thing", you heard your editor said, now propped by your laptop as she look at the e-mail, telling you all about why they had decided to invite you, your contribution to spreading scientific knowledge in a simple way and accessible to everyone bring the number one reason, "who knew, hm? My weird little podcast about academia getting me t-, oh, wait, this is a red carpet?", you looked further, noticing their dress code advice section, "what did you expect from the Fondation? Some burgers and fries?", she teased you, "I thought it was, like, an intimate thing, small thing. If I'm going to this, who else is?", you mused while your editor only snickered.

.

After having your friend help you pick a dress worthy of the event, you dropped it at the dry cleaners, which is where you found yourself in the morning of the event, ready to pick it up while the lovely lady went to get it outback when a younger employee asked "I'm sorry, but you are Y/N, from the podcast, right?", she asked as you nodded, "I've heard your voice through these so many times I recognised it almost immediately", she said as she pointed to her earbuds, "I'm very happy that you listen to it", you said as you noticed your dress, clean and ironed being set on the counter, "may I ask what this is for?", she said curiously before who you figured was her grandmother set the bill for you too, "dear, that's not nice for the costumers, sorry about my granddaughter", she half scolded her, "no, don't worry. I'm going to an event tonight because of the podcast", you explained as you paid, smiling before leaving the store and bidding goodbye.

Arriving at home, you tried your best to remember and replicate how Pascale taught you to do your hair, the curls coming out looking like you were from a different era, silently praying they would drop while you fid your makeup. You put one the dress and added your accessories before shaking your curls, moving to put on your shoes and coat just in time for the car they had sent to pick you up and go to the event, "is this your first time?", the driver asked, "yes. Do you notice it that much?", you giggled, "not at all. Just I know I would have recognised you otherwise", he explained, "do you know anyone who is going to be there? It is a big help, so I've heard over the years", he offered, "I don't think so", you mused, "I'm not sure who's invited to be honest", you giggled again, nervous that you should have done your research, "usually actresses and actors, singers too usually, people from non profits, other members of TV shows. Oh, and how could I forget, some drivers usually go too", and it hit you. How did it not hit you before? Charles could be there too, and you not seen him in person in the longest time. Last time you saw him was a few months after you broke up, and it pained you to be in the same room as him, and while you did nothing but be polite to eachother, you couldn't deal with that, somehow always managing to avoid any gathering where he would be. Did you watch his races? Yes, every weekend one had been on you'd take your time no watch it, never breaking your promise and supporting him whenever you could, however you could. Knowing how it would bother you stayed out of anything related to his personal life, only knowing little bits you picked up from interviews and, since he was pretty private, there hadn't been anything related to his relationships, so were you about to know something more? Was he bringing a plus one with him? "Don't need to get nervous, dear, from all my years of this, people are usually very friendly and before you know it, you're already friends", he smiled sweetly, oblivious to the actual relationship you were worried about.

A woman dressed in black guided you on what to to once you arrived, telling you when to stop and pose for some pictures, despite your insistence that 'I'm here for my voice, I don't think people will need to see my face really", giggling and comforting you until you felt comfortable enough, "See?! Stunning, chérie", she smiled before her phone beeped, prompting her to tell her colleague, "Charles is arriving just now, could you go to him, please?", before helping you to the other spot where you would do an interview with someone who also had a podcast that, despite being a bigger creator, treated you with the utmost kindness, "thank you so much for taking some time and giving us your story on getting to where you are today", he said as you shook his hand one last time, thanking him before walking back to the carpet, spotting Charles posing too. And then your heart started doing somersaults, almost like it never stopped doing then anyway.

Charles followed the woman in a black suit as she told him where to stand, smiling in almost all the directions someone called him from before he noticed you, sitting in a high chair with a pair of headphones on your head. Were you here? Your podcast was successful, he knew that much since he contributed, but he did not expect you to be here. How long had it been? Two, maybe three years? You had managed to go to his F2 celebration, just as friends, before, as he now recalled, never setting his eyes on you in another form other than pictures on Instagram or your voice from the podcast episodes.

He was about to head to you when a young fan, who happened to be attending with his parents, asked for his autograph and a picture, "whenever we are home, me and mama and papa watch all your races, you're one of Monaco's pride!", the boy who was no older than ten said excitedly, prompting Charles to open his blazer's button before crouching down to pose with him. Getting up and wishing everyone a good night and event, his eyes looked for you in your emerald green dress, now finding a gentleman in the chair you were sitting previously. Heading inside the venue, he greeted some people before he noticed you looking at something on your phone and confirming it on the indicating plaques, looking a but confused before you looked around and your eyes locked in his, "h- Hi, Charles, Hi!", you said as you greeted him, your movement so automatic that you didn't even think about hugging and pressing a kiss on each cheek of your ex-boyfriend, thankful that he seemed to want to do the same, "Hi, Y/N, how are you?", he said as he looked at you properly. And you looked even more beautiful, despite looking like the same girl he had fallen in love with all those years ago."Are you here alone, too?", you said and immediately wanted to take it back, feeling like you had nothing to do with it, "I'm on my own, yes. C'mon, let's go through here", he said as he guided you on the other way you were thinking of going, leading you to the big room where all the tables were and finding out that the table you'd be sitting in was next to his, "if you need anything, call for me, yes?", he said as he looked for reassurance, "you're going to do great, I just know it".

The evening was beautiful, getting the opportunity to listen to all the projects and ideas people were developing and over all having a good time, and while you enjoyed it, you needed to get some air, excusing yourself from the group and heading to one of the outside gardens, a glass in hand as you took in all that had happened for you to get here. You had never dreamt of this opportunity to come from something as simple as you sharing your thoughts outloud, finding people on the receiving end interested in what you had to say, and to be here was something you still couldn't make out, "may I?", you heard a familiar voice you could recognise anywhere, seeing Charles coming to sit next to you on the stone bench, "it's amazing how many inspiring people are here today, no?", he began, really not knowing how to approach you. You were here alone, so it wasn't like he was crossing a line, he hoped, remembering some conversations he heard in the last group gathering where one of your close friends admitted that you were single still, "and somehow I ended up here, too", you mused before looking at him, his eyes never failing to calm you down and rile your heart up at the same time, "of course you did. Your work is amazing, it's only fair they recognised it", he let slip, "how do you know that?", you quirked your brow as you took a sip from your glass, "I listen to it. Every Thursday I go and look for the new episode", he admitted, "I still don't understand half of the things you defend and explain, but you make it so engaging and, and I miss your voice. I miss you", he said as he looked up at the starry sky before he let his hand crawl along the light stone and nudge yours, your pinkies lacing eachother. You looked at him, a small blush on your cheeks, "thank you, I- I watch all your races too, even the ones that are broadcasted at daft o'clock in Europe", you said before sighing "you know why we did it that way it was", you said, remembering the day you and Charles decided it was for the best that you should go your separate ways.

"I love you so much", Charles said as he held your hands in his, "I love you so much and it is why I think we should do this", he reasoned, although the tears in his eyes, matching your own, reflected the genuine hurt you both knew was dawning on each of you, "I never want to be the one making you hurt, not in a short time or not in a long time", you sniffed, squeezing your eyes further to slow down the tears, "I love you with my whole heart and I'd never want you to hurt, either of us to hurt", you finished as you gave him one last hug, relishing in the feeling of having his arms around you, "you'll always have my heart, Y/N Y/L/N", he said kissing the top of your head, "and it will always be yours to keep".

"Was it really though?", he said, snuffling closer to you while still not touching you more than before even though his skin longed to feel yours, "I don't know, Charles, I really don't know", you said. You didn't like to admit it, but every now and again, you would entertain the thought of what could have been if you had stayed together. How your days could have been if you had him to come home to, or having to travel to races to see him, hear his laughs in person instead of through a screen. It would have been like you had predicted, crazy schedules, long periods away from eachother, but the effort to make it work would have been worth it to have him with you. As you were about to say that to him, you heard heels clicking on the floor, "sorry to interrupt, but the fireworks are going to go off now, I thought you might like to see them", one of the ladies that had helped you in the red carpet said as you both got up, "thanks for letting us know, we'll be up shortly", Charles offered before she walked away while you two followed her, "Would you be willing to come to my place tomorrow?", he asked as he finally laced his fingers in yours for a few seconds, parting when you reached the door, "okay", you said before you were ushered to different places in the crowd.

Arriving home later that evening, you were taking all your makeup off when your phone pinged, seeing a text from Charles, surprised that after all these years he, like you, had kept your number, "Even though we did not spend that much time together today, I know for a fact that I missed having you around and being near you. I hope you have a goodnight's rest", could be read on your screen.

.

"Thank you for coming here. I would've gone to your place but I didn't know if you wanted me there, and besides, I don't want all the attention that it could draw that way around to you", he said nervously, "No need to rub it in that you're more famous than me, Charles", you teased slightly, wanting to clear up the tension in the room that your nerves were not exactly helping, "I mean it. Thank you for agreeing to come and talk", he said before taking a big breath, "yesterday sparked something in me, and I'm not sure it was a spark again moment, I think this has always been here", he admitted, looking qt you in the hopes of getting you to speak about your take on it, "I-, I felt the same", you gulped, "but can we do this? I think so b-", you were interrupted by him, "all those years ago, we said we wanted to focus on our careers, grow and not have to worry about it. And, while I think it could've been good, there's no way to know that the success we have it due to that. Can you imagine having me next to you on your graduation? Signing your contracts? Because every weekend I imagine you sitting in that hospitality, working on your laptop before coming to watch me race and congratulate me, or be the only person in my driver's room to calm me down after a bad race", he admitted, "I know you don't owe me any of that and if this is one sided then I don't want to make you feel guilty about it, but I needed to let you know", he finished as he looked at you. Sighing, you launched your hand to meet his, "I miss you, and I want to have you with me, to get home and see you there, even if it is only every now and then. But I don't want you to feel guilty that you're not here, or that I feel like I'm not enough", you said and he giggled, "Mon ange, you are more than enough. And I'll be the luckiest man alive if you let me have you in my life again. We'll take things slowly, but please, let us go back to how we were", he pleaded as he saw you smile, "mon coeur, we are going to be better than ever".

[roosterr]

guardian angel ✹ ch 2

note: hello hello, I'm back again with more nikolai! I hope yall enjoy the continuation of this story, since I wasn't really planning on it when I wrote the first part and honestly i'm not sure how to feel about it lol anyways ENJOY!!

pairing: nikolai x gn!reader

word count: 3.1k

no use of y/n, no description of reader

I've retroactively given reader the callsign 'kilo 0-9' bc just referring to them as sergeant all the time felt a bit weird lol.

summary: the culmination of your efforts from your last mission leave a lot to be desired, but you're prepared to do whatever it takes to get your objective done.

warnings: canon-typical violence, fluff, soft nik, english speakers attempt at russian,

ao3

[one] || [three]

the night is quiet, calm – a rare moment of peace in the chaos that appears to be your life. the night air is cool, a welcome contrast to how sweltering the day had been; no matter how much time you spend here, it seems you'll never truly get used to the urzikstanian sun. it's the early hours of the morning now, the sun would be rising soon which meant you'd be back to work in a few short hours.

as you gaze up into the starry abyss, your mind in the clouds, you fail to notice the sound of footsteps approaching from behind you. a presence in the corner of your eye startles you back to reality, snapping your head to face them as your heartbeat picks up.

with a small sigh of relief, you realise it's nikolai, sitting down beside you and mirroring the way you're leaning back against the low wall behind you. he regards you with an easy smile, and now your heart is racing for an entirely different reason.

"i didn't mean to scare you, милая." he chuckles, stretching one leg out and resting his elbow on his knee. there's so little space between you, you can feel the warmth radiating from him, and it takes a great deal of restraint to stop yourself from shuffling any closer.

"it's alright, i was just spacing out." you smile back, feeling the tension leaving your body at the sound of his voice. it's almost unnerving how quickly he's managed to worm his way into your heart, but it's been so long since you've felt such a connection with another person that you can't bring yourself to be bothered by it.

"why are you out here so late? other than to admire the view, of course," he says, gesturing to the sky above you. a moment passes as you watch the stars, appreciating the calmness of the night.

truthfully, this mission had you at your wits end, you could practically feel the grey hairs sprouting from your head with the amount of stress this was causing you. but it was almost over – you just had to push through the home stretch, and then you could finally rest.

"i just couldn't sleep." you murmur. looking back over to nik, you're surprised to find him already looking at you, an incredibly soft look on his face. "what brings you out here?"

"admiring the view." he says, holding your gaze. in an instant your face is on fire, the cold of the night long forgotten.

"stop it…" you mumble with a smile pulling at your lips. you place your hands on your burning cheeks, turning your head to look at the ground in front of you as you attempt to calm your heart.

there's another moment of silence between you, a comfortable break in the conversation where you simply bask in each others presence. it had been a long time since you'd felt like this with someone; with most people, you feel the need to fill the silence, to keep talking or they'll get bored of you, but not with nik.

"something on your mind, милая?" he nudges your foot with his own, bringing you out of your thoughts.

"it's nothing, just had a long week is all…"

"дорогая," he tuts, grasping your hand that rests in your lap to bring your attention back to him. you meet his eyes again as he continues, "you're not fooling me."

a weak sigh escapes you, "everything's just… a lot, right now." you admit, you gaze dropping to where your fingers are interlocked.

"i understand," he lets go of your hand, bringing his arm up around your shoulders and pulling you closer to lean against him. "i will always be willing to listen, if you need to talk."

"thanks, nik," you give him a warm smile, and lean your head against his chest. "i appreciate it."

"of course, милая."

✹✹✹

"if this deal goes through, there's no telling what kind of damage they'll do, how many innocent people will be hurt." farah has a serious glint in her eyes as she speaks, her hands planted firmly on the table where she stands at the head of it. you nod your agreement, sliding the map you'd drawn out closer to her.

"according my intel, our target – kattan – will be meeting with a potential buyer here tonight." you scan the various documents laid out in front of you, brows furrowed. photos, e-mails, files, logistics, all of which you'd collected on the op you'd gotten back from only yesterday, all amounting to the meeting happening tonight. it had taken a lot to get this intel, but despite how much you'd gathered it still felt like you were in the dark and it frustrated you endlessly.

as your gaze travels between the three others, you find yourself lingering on nikolai standing opposite you. the conversation dims to background noise in your mind as you study him, aviators perched on his nose, his black hair pushed back out of his face, his–

"so what's the plan, 0-9? roll in and take 'em out, quick and quiet?" alex asks, crossing his arms over his chest. you blink, feeling your heartbeat increase as you break your gaze away from nik. alex raises his brow, subtly, and you know he'd caught you staring.

"no, these guys are cautious, we have to secure the shipment first, or they might bolt." you reply, shifting your weight from one foot to the other. "i have an idea, but you're not going to like it."

all eyes turn to you, and suddenly you're sure this is a bad idea, but you refuse to back down; this is too important.

"tell us," farah urges you, her eyes shining with something hopeful. you swallow thickly in the pause before you continue.

"the buyer is anonymous. kattan only knows their name, not what they look like, or their voice," your eyes dart between farah, alex, and nik, keeping your voice steady as you gauge their reactions.

"you're not..." alex doesn't finish the suggestion, already giving you a firmly disapproving stare.

"i'm going undercover as the buyer. it's the only way." it's a statement, you leave them no room to argue with your decision; but, as expected, the others aren't pleased with the idea.

"no, absolutely not–"

"like hell you are–"

"ерунда–"

the room devolves into shouting and various protests, but you only shake your head at their arguments. no words from them could change your mind, despite your own reservations about how dangerous this could be.

"sergeant, with all due respect, i cannot allow you to go through with this." farah stands up straight, meeting your eyes with a defiant look not dissimilar to your own.

"this is too dangerous, милая, there must be another way." nik's expression is partially hidden by his sunglasses, but the sharp downturn of his lips told you he wasn't going to let this go either.

"what else can we do? we have no idea where the shipment is, and we don't have time to find it ourselves." you respond, an exasperated tone in your voice as you gesture to the intel laid out on the table. "with all due respect, commander, this is our best option, whether you like it or not."

"we know nothing about these people, how they operate – this mission is not worth your life." farah crosses her arms over her chest.

"and what about the lives that'll be lost if i don't do this?" you argue, throwing your hands out to emphasise your words and the deep frown on your features, "we don't need to know everything, we just need to know enough. and everything we've got here? that's more than enough. i can do this, commander."

farah curses under her breath, turning away from you with a conflicted look on her face. the tension in the room is palpable as you await her decision, the silence between you nearly suffocating.

after a minute of contemplation, farah finally turns back toward you. "are you certain about this, nines?" she asks, fixing you with an intense stare.

"positive." you reply, a similar determined look on your own features. she nods, and looks across the files covering the table.

"then like you said, it's our best option." she picks up your map, "alex, you will go with them. park close by, stay in the car and provide backup if needed."

"commander, i insist that you let me go with them." nikolai speaks up, stepping around the table to be next to farah. 

"no, captain. we need you here," she spares him a glance and shakes her head, handing the map to alex. his frown deepens, and despite having no intentions of backing out, you can't help but feel a little bad.

"but–" he begins to argue, but farah simply shakes her head again as she brushes past him on her way out of the room.

"don't worry nik, i know what i'm doing, and so does nines." alex follows behind the commander, giving nikolai a reassuring smile and a pat on the back as he passes by.

he doesn't look convinced, however, clenching his fists at his sides with the same conflicted expression still lingering on his face as he watches them go. with a light sigh, you come around to stand in front of him, reaching out and placing your hand on his upper arm. he looks back to you, removing his sunglasses and hooking them on his collar.

"we'll be fine." you let your hand trail down, closing around his fist and giving him a gentle squeeze. nik's expression softens, his hand unfurling and gripping your own.

"between you and me, it's not alex i'm worried about," the lopsided smile he gives you is sweet, but you can still sense the apprehension behind it.

"you don't think i can do this?" your question is intended to be teasing, but the way he reacts says that it went over his head. his eyes widen, and he gapes for a second before he responds.

"нет, of course i do," he takes your other hand in his, bringing them up to his face and pressing his lips softly to your knuckles, "i cannot help but worry for you, моя дорогая."

the familiar feeling of your heart skipping a beat disrupts your train of thought, your mind focusing solely on the feeling of him on your hands.

"i'm– you're– i'll be fine, nik." you stutter, cheeks burning as you refocus yourself. you were convincing yourself almost as much as him; even though it was your own idea, and you were more than used to being in deadly situations, you were still on edge.

"i have no doubt, милая." he smiles, genuinely this time, and your chest blossoms with warmth at the sight. "come back to me, alright?"

you allow nik to bring you into a hug, his arms curling around your waist as yours do the same. with your face hidden against his broad chest, you're glad he can't see the anxiety written into your expression.

"i will." you whisper, feeling his arms tighten around you. it's an empty promise; this mission is volatile, and you know there's never a guarantee that you'll make it back, but perhaps having something – someone – to come home to will give you the strength you need to get through this.

✹✹✹

the drive there is uncomfortably silent. the fifteen minutes it takes to arrive at the location feel more like hours, neither you or alex saying a single word as he drives through the deserted streets. if you were on edge before, now you were hanging by a thread. you leg bounces with pent up anxiety, an attempt to try and calm yourself down as you gaze out the window into the darkness of the night.

at last, alex pulls slowly into an alley a block or so from the meeting point, and looks over to you as he cuts the engine.

"you remember the plan?" he asks, brows raised and eyes serious. you shoot him a look as you adjust your earpiece.

"keller, we've been over this." you huff; and you have, more times than you could keep track of – you could probably say them in your sleep by now.

"just–" he stops himself, the tension of the situation clearly getting to him as much as it was you, "humour me."

"i get them talking, convince them to show me the guns, then you come swooping in and we take them down together. happy now?"

"i am," a small smile tugs at his lips, "be careful, nines."

"relax, i got this." you smile back before looking back out at the street in front of you. only a moment passes before you see a figure passing by, slow and on high alert. "that's our buyer."

although you didn't know what he looked like, there was no mistaking his nervous, almost paranoid, demeanour along with the hood low over his face. you and Alex share a look as you quietly exit the car and make your way towards him. having noticed the two of you, he was frozen in place, his eyes wide and face covered in tattoos that indicated some sort of gang affiliation.

before he gains the sense to run, you lurch forward and grab his arm, twisting it behind his back as alex covers his nose and mouth with a rag doused in chloroform. after a moment of struggling, his head slumps forward and his body falls limp in your hold. you and alex grab him by his arms, dragging his dead weight over to the car and piling him into the back seat. 

with a nod of affirmation to alex as he secures zip-ties around the man's wrists, you cover your face with a black surgical mask and begin you walk to the meeting point. you lift the hood of your sweatshirt and shove your hands into your pockets as you shuffle along the road.

you round the corner, head on a swivel looking for any sign of danger just like you'd seen the real buyer do minutes before. all you can do is pray that your target doesn't see through the act. through the darkness, your eyes lock onto two people hovering next to a dark van, and there is no doubt in your mind that they're who you're here to meet. 

it's only when your a few feet away from them that you can finally make out their faces – you recognise kattan, standing slightly ahead of his comrade, but what you don't expect is the spark of recognition when your eyes land on the second man. a chill runs down your spine as his face comes into view.

baranov; the head of a smuggling ring, and someone you're acutely aware is supposed to be dead.

you hiss a curse under your breath. he won't recognise you, will he? you're certain you've never shown your face to him, but people like him always have their ways, don't they? you stop a little further from them than necessary, just to be on the safe side.

“you’re late.” kattan growls, his eyes dark as he assesses you.

you click your tongue, “would you prefer i be followed?” you keep your voice low, gaze darting between the two of them and your surroundings. baranov stays silent, regarding you with a look so sharp it could kill. the uncertainty of whether or not he recognises you makes your ‘paranoid buyer’ act feel all too real.

“you have the money?” kattan asks. he takes a small step toward you.

“not so fast,” you hiss, taking a step back to keep the distance between you, “i need to see the product first.”

baranov and kattan share a look, communicating something without words, before turning back to you with their icy glares. after an incredibly tense pause, kattan backs up towards their van, his eyes never once leaving your form. he grabs the handle of the side door and slides it open, gesturing to the inside with his other arm. 

“get in.” his tone is blunt, irritated. it takes you a moment to understand what he means, but you feel your mouth run dry when you realise.

“what?” you utter, your voice noticeably weaker than before. despite your best efforts to conceal your fear, it feels as though they see right through you.

“nines? what’s going on?” alex questions, his concern evident. you don't answer him, uncomfortably aware of the two sets of eyes burning holes through your head.

kattan gives a sharp sigh. “the guns are with our guys. you want to see the product? get in.” 

“i’m not going anywhere with you.” you seethe, furrowing your brow in a glare to match his own.

“...0-9?”

he clicks his tongue, sharing another look with baranov before turning back to you. “then, you’re not serious.”

“no, i am.” you take a step forward, holding your arm out when he begins to slide the van door shut. “...fine, i’ll go – but if you try anything, i’ll make you regret it.”

“no, no– hey! you don’t go anywhere with them, okay? screw the mission, get back here, now!” alex is frantic now, trying to get through to you, but all you can think about is baranov; how he should be dead, and now you know he's not, you need to make sure he is by the end of the night. “farah will understand, this isn’t a failure. just call it off, nines.”

"then stop wasting my time." kattan spits, climbing into the back of the van as baranov watches you with that same ice cold glare.

"i have to do this, alex." you whisper, careful to make sure the other two don't hear.

"no! do not get in that van, nines, if you go with them, i can't follow, it's too risky!" this might be the most panicked you've ever seen – or rather heard – alex, but you already knew what you needed to do. you'd known since you first learned about this meeting those days ago.

with a steadying, almost inaudible sigh, you climb into the van after kattan. the cold dread that settles in your stomach as the door slides shut threatens to crack your stoic exterior, but for the sake of the mission you hold yourself together.

alex is still talking in your ear, but his words fade into static as baranov drives the van further away from where he's stationed. this place was a ghost town at night, not a single other person on the streets until the sun lights the sky; meaning any attempt to follow by alex would be incredibly risky. you just had to hope that the others would be able to track you, and you hadn't just doomed yourself by going with kattan.

forgive me nikolai, i will come back to you.

[melloxxoo]

Cheater! Diluc x gn! Reader (Reader x venti?)

TW: Cheating, Mature Language, Diluc hurts reader, abusive relationship, just angst with some fluff at the end

Summary: Diluc comes home late yet again with the same excuse. You are tired of him lying to you and decide to go to your friend venti for the night but Diluc seems to have a problem with that.

This is my first fanfic I’ve written hope you enjoy it <<33

Diluc comes home late again.

“Where have you been?” You asked.

"Out. With my colleagues. Just out." Diluc looks away, unable to meet your eyes.

“Oh…alright” You nodded suspiciously.

This is the 5th time he’s come home late. Your starting to think that he had been seeing someone behind your back but you didn’t want to bring anything up yet.

"Why? Jealous?" Diluc's voice is mockingly sing-song, dripping in mirth.

“Why would I be jealous? Do I have a reason to be?” You asked curiously

"Nah. You're fine. You're fine." Diluc smiles, but it isn't really a smile. It's creepy and unnerving, and it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

“Okay then….” You say a little uneasy. He’s been acting weird for the past few days, coming home reeking off alcohol. You just thought it was because he worked at a winery that he would come home smelling like wine but it started getting worse. He came home one night absolutely wasted and when you asked him about it he beat you. It was the first time he ever did something like that to you…

“I should head to bed. It’s late.” Diluc’s gaze is on you the entire time; he feels dangerous and threatening and it makes your gut sink.

Your heart beats quickly, and your unable to relax. You want an explanation, but he’s not giving you a straight answer, and your just uncomfortable in his presence. You decide to go to your friends Venti’s house. Venti has always been with you when you and Diluc had arguments, you both knew each other for a long time and your one of the few people who know about his archon secret.

“I think I’m gonna stay at venti’s house for the night.” You say out loud wanting Diluc to hear you.

“You’re what now?” Diluc has his brow raised in a mixture of confusion and offense at the news. His eyes narrowed and his voice is sharp and cutting.

“Why would you want to do something so foolish? I’m here. I’m not going anywhere aren’t I?”

He leans in and you can smell alcohol in his breath. The smell is harsh and sour, it makes you scrunch your face in distaste.

“Umm…well I promised him I’ll go over to hang out since I haven’t seen him in a while..” You said while looking down at the ground, to afraid to meet his gaze

"...Hmmm." Diluc's tone is skeptical, and there is a hint of suspicion in his voice.

"You wouldn't be cheating on me, would you?" He says, arching a brow. “No one would blame you if you did, but I'd appreciate an explanation." His voice is sharp like it was before, and he stares at you intensely.

“There’s nothing going on with me and venti…and plus you come home late almost every night why are you so concerned?”

"..." He pauses, and for a moment, just a moment, he looks guilty. But it quickly goes away, replaced by a smirk. He laughs, and it is not a happy laugh. It's condescending, cold, and dark, and you feel like something has just gone horribly, horribly wrong.

"I thought so. You're no better than any of those other thristy whores after all. I should have known." His voice is cold, and he leans in closer. He grins at you, and it is not a grin of joy or of mirth; it is a cruel, mocking smile.

Your eyes widen at his words, “what are you talking about Diluc?”

"You're just like all the other whores in this damned city. You'd do anything and everything to get something out of someone else." His eyes are hard, and he steps even closer. Your back is to the wall as he leans in, and his voice is dangerously low, a furious undertone lacing every one of his words.

"A cheat. A seducer, I should've known; you're just a cheap whore." He pauses, and he scoffs at the thought. The utter disgust in his voice is palpable.

“I told you I’m not cheating on you!! What makes you think that!!?!?!!” You say now pissed off at his words. Why is he saying all this?

“If anything I should be the one assuming your cheating on me!!”

You stare each other down, and something finally snaps within you; something finally breaks beneath all the weight. All that frustration, all that hurt and anger that had been building and building and building...it all comes out at once.

"...You son of a--"

You lash out without warning and slap your boyfriend. His eyes go wide, and he stumbles back, shocked and surprised at the hit. His face is hard, his eyes are narrowed, and his jaw is clenched. What do you do now?

“You come home late every night. You never answered my calls or messages, and you always come home with the same stupid story!!” You yell at him “And then you try to say I’m cheating on you just cause I want to hang out with a friend???”

He looks stunned and taken aback by your tone, but he also looks angry and offended, like you have said the most offensive and blasphemous thing to ever cross his mind. He's angry, and he's hurt, and he points a finger in your face, and you feel a wave of fear and apprehension wash over you.

"How dare you."

He leans in, and you swear he's about to hit you. There's this animalistic, savage sort of rage in his eyes, and you can't help but fear him at his present state.

You flinched at his expression, he looked mad as hell

"Don't you speak to me that way."

He grabs your shoulders, and you gasp in shock and surprise, feeling the coldness of his skin on your own.

He stares you down, and the look in his eyes leaves you scared and confused.

"You should know your place."

“W-why are you acting like this?”

“Like what?”

He glared at you and squeezes his hands into fists at his sides. You can hear a low, deep growling coming from his throat, and for a split second, it sounds almost animalistic and primal.

“Don’t you EVER speak to me that way! Don’t you EVER question my actions!”

He grabs your wrists forcefully, and when his eyes meet yours, you feel an icy chill that makes you shake from head to toe.

It’s as if he’s looking at you with utter contempt.

Your mind goes wild as you build up the courage to blurt out..

“I KNOW YOUR CHEATING ON ME YOU STUPID BASTARD”

He lets out a low growl, like that of an angered animal. He seems like a completely different person in this moment, a completely cold and inhuman sort of savage.

"How dare you," he rasps, his voice is cold, harsh and terrifying, his tone is mocking and sharp, and his eyes are filled with the blackest sort of contempt you have ever seen in a person.

"I swear I'm going to make you regret this. You'll regret ever speaking to me like that." He glares, and he squeezes your wrist so hard it starts to hurt.

You struggle against his grip, “LET ME GO M*THERFUCKER!”

He's strong, he does not let you break free, not even for a second. He twists your wrist painfully, and he raises his other hand, raising his arm to strike you across the face.

"I should beat some decency into you!" He cries, and he sounds absolutely furious, absolutely insane.

You scream from the pain , “STOP IT!!”

“WHY SHOULD I!?!!?! YOU DESERVE THIS YOU BRAT!!”

He screams, his voice high and shrill in contrast with all his previous rasping whispers. You swear he sounds like a madman as he continues to twist your arm.

His anger has escalated to a point past understanding. He lets go of your wrist and balls his fist. You can hear the sound of his knuckles cracking under the pressure, and when he goes to punch you, you duck as quick as you can.

You kick him as hard as you can in his leg and make a run for it. He cries out in pain as you escape from the situation and dash for venti’s house.

You arrive at Venti's house with a pounding heart, tears streaming down your cheeks, but you're finally safe.

At least, you think, you are safe.

But then, your phone goes off. You're afraid to check it, but you grab your phone out, and your heart sinks as your palm begins to sweat.

It's Diluc's number, and he's calling you.

What do you do?

You decline the phone call immediately and knock on venti’s door.

"Huh? Oh, it's you."

Venti opens the door, his usual cheery self, a smile spread across his face as he looks down at you. His eyes go wide, though, as he notices how disheveled and upset you are, that you're crying and out of breath.

"What happened?" He looks concerned, stepping aside and opening the doors for you to come inside. "Did something happen with Diluc?"

“Quick lock the door!” You say as you rush inside.

"O-okay."

Venti shuts the door behind you, and he quickly finds the key and locks the doors. He turns back to you, confusion and concern mixed on his face.

"W-what happened? Did Diluc hurt you?"

“He’s gone insane venti! Just because I found out he was cheating on me and I confronted him…he hurt me venti!!” You cried

"N-No way..." Venti's eyebrows furrow, and he looks at you with worry and concern. You can feel his warm gaze as he looks down at you. His eyes are soft and kind and comforting, and you can't help but let out tears at the simple show of affection and compassion.

"Are you okay?" "You're safe here," he says, and it's clear that he means every word of it.

“I don’t want to be with him anymore..I can’t keep letting him do this to me. Every night he comes home late and always comes home with the same stupid story. It’s like he doesn’t care about our relationship anymore..”

"He...he comes home late every night?" Venti tilts his head, a puzzled look on his face. He looks down at you, his head tilting to the side. His eyes are warm as he stares down at you, and before you know it, he pulls you into a hug; it's comforting and it's warm.

"Come Here," he says, his arms holding you gently but firmly, and you feel like you're going to just melt."I'm sorry that happened to you. You didn't deserve that.”

You hug him back “What should I do venti?”

He pulls away and looks down at you seriously, a thoughtful expression on his face. And then, his face softens, and he gives you the faintest hint of a smile.

"I think..." He takes your hands in his own. "I think it's time for you to leave him."

The look in Venti's eyes is soft. He's looking at you with the utmost compassion and care. You can tell he truly, truly means what he is saying. And then you realize...he's been there for you more than Diluc ever was.

“But he’s not gonna let me go that easily..it’s like he’s a predator looking for his runaway prey, like something went loose in his head..”

Venti looks troubled, and once his words sink in, he bites his lip in thought.

"That... That's a problem. Are you sure you don't have a way out of this?" He looks at you with a pained expression, his eyebrows furrowed in concern. He's not just thinking about your feelings; he's thinking about your safety, and he's wondering how you can make a clean break from this, how you can rid yourself of Diluc's presence, of the threat of his rage and the potential for violence.

“He literally almost tried to kill me venti!”

You sighed “,He got mad at me when I mentioned going to your house….like he was jealous…but he has no right to be jealous when he’s the one cheating!”

Venti is silent for a moment, and then, he nods, as if he finally made up his mind.

"You need help to get away from him." He says, and he stops holding your hands in his, and he looks at you with a determined expression. "I'll come with you to his house. We'll pack up your things, we'll get you out of there, and then maybe you could come to stay with me for a while, until everything blows over. I won't let anything happen to you."

“Isn’t that too risky? I’ll just buy everything back-“

"No, no, it'll be okay." Venti takes your hands in his own again, and then he gives a reassuring smile that you can't help but return, no matter how much your heart feels like a rock in your chest.

"Look...I'll... I'll be with you. Diluc is going to know I'm there. It'll be okay." He offers this with a reassuring nod of his head, and he smiles once more.

You trust him. You can't help but feel like he'll keep you safe.

“Alright…”

"Good."

Venti smiles, letting out a small sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry you had to go through all of that today. You deserve so much better. I'm glad you came to me."

It's strange, isn't it? But somehow, he's never done you wrong; he's never hurt you. And yet...you're so scared of the idea of seeing your boyfriend again. It's an odd feeling, isn't it?

“I trust you venti. You really care about me so much, I appreciate that a lot.”

"That's whyI'm here, for you." He gives a reassuring nod, and he smiles at you. It's a tender smile, a reassuring smile, and it's a reminder that you're in good hands, that you're safe.

"We'll get you out of there. We'll make sure you're safe, okay?" He takes your hands in his own, holding them warmly, and the feeling is reassuring. There is so much warmth coming from his touch, and you can't help but let your heart slow down even just a little bit.

“Okay”

For a moment, he looks serious and determined, his eyes looking straight into yours, and you can feel a quiet kindness in them. It's almost like he's going to fight the whole world on your behalf, and you're glad that he's on your side; he's got your back, he's there for you.

“No matter what, I'll help you, okay?" He asks, a sincere, comforting expression on his face. You feel a tiny bit less lonely and a little bit warmer with him around.

“Thank you venti..” You say as you smile at him softly.

"Of course." All of a sudden, his tone switches, and his whole demeanor changes; his face hardens into a mask of indifference. His voice sounds cold again, and it's as if the Venti you know is gone, and in his place, he's replaced with a cruel, callous, and calculating man.

"Come on," he says, and he pulls you out of the house.

He walks you back to Diluc's house with no further explanation needed nor spoken. He opens the door and lets you go inside.

"Let's pack up everything, okay?"

“Okay…” You are a little scared of what is bound to happen if you stay in the house for too long.

"Are you going to be okay?"

He asks, a genuine question, a concerned look in his eyes. His voice is soft, comforting and warm, and you can't help but feel a sense of security when he looks at you like this, like he cares for you. You feel safe when he's with you.

If only you could feel this level of security with your boyfriend, but it's clear that Diluc is no longer someone you can count on. You're lucky to have Venti, who you know will keep you safe no matter what.

“Yeah…”

"Let's get your things then," Venti says, and he holds out his arm for you to hold, his eyes soft and his tone gentle and warm. He's looking at you with an understanding and compassionate expression as if saying, “It's going to be okay. You will be okay. I'm here for you."

He lets out a deep sigh, and he smiles kindly. You trust him, and you take his hand, and the two of you head into the house.

As you walk into the house you look around. The house looks horrible, it looks like Diluc went ballistic after you left and destroyed the place…

"Oh my god..."

You can't help but feel shocked and horrified by the sight of Diluc's house; it looks like a hurricane just passed by. The coffee table looks smashed, the lamps look shattered, everything is in absolute disarray.

Venti seems horrified too, and he looks around in disbelief at the destruction. "What happened here...?" He looks at you with concern, but it's clear he's horrified by what he sees.

“He must’ve went on some type of rampage after I ran away…”

Venti hums in agreement and he shakes his head, his eyes filled with disbelief and disgust. He looks at you and nods gently, and a look of determination crosses his face.

It's clear that he wants to protect you so much, that he wants nothing more than to see you happy and free. And he's going to do everything in his power to make that happen. “Alright, let's get your things,"he says with a small nod. He looks at you with a small smile, and his eyes are so warm. You nod as you guys continue till you get to your shared room with Diluc. It was also destroyed, but it looks like he wasn’t at home right now. He probably went to go and look for you.

You pack up all your different things into a duffel bag you found in the closet. You saw a broken portrait of you and Diluc together when your relationship was actually stable, it made you want to cry. What went wrong with you two?

You continued to pack up all your valuable stuff. You took one last look at the destroyed room and sighed.

“Lets go venti.”

Venti nods as you both travel outside the house. You sigh a breath of relief, “I won’t be going back there any time soon..”

"You won't have to,"Venti nods, his voice gentle. “You'll be with me now. And I promise, you'll be safe. This anemo archon will protect you.”

He smiles, a kind, sincere smile, and he looks at you like you're the world. What did you do to deserve this?

You smile, a genuine smile, and you nod. You are safe. You are free. Now, the only place you have to go is forward.

[songbirdseung]

off limits / kim sunoo

As you admired from a far with eyes filled with love and adoration, you feel a quick pain in the back of your head. You look over to your side where your best friend who just slapped you. "What was that for?!" you slightly push her and go back to looking at the gorgeous view 8 feet in front of you.

"Maybe stop staring at my brother like you're completely in love with him?" Your best friend sensed you had a crush on her sibling since the day she introduced you to him during a family get together she so happened to bring you to.

Her brother in question, Kim Sunoo. He was currently back home from his idol duties and luckily for you, you were crashing at your best friend's house for the week. So, you had a whole week to admire your little happy crush.

Your best friend rolls her eyes and huffs, "Honestly, Y/N, it's been like this ever since you met Sunoo. I can practically see the hearts in your eyes whenever you look at him."

You blush furiously and try to deny it, "What are you talking about? I don't have a crush on Sunoo. I'm just… appreciating his talent and good looks, that's all."

Your best friend gives you an incredulous look before letting out a knowing chuckle, "Sure, Y/N. Whatever you say."

As you continue watching Sunoo from afar, you can't help but sneak glances at him whenever you think your best friend isn't looking. His smile, his laughter, his charismatic presence—it all makes your heart flutter. But you know that pursuing a romantic relationship with your best friend's brother might complicate things, so you try to keep your feelings in check.

A few days pass, and you spend more time with Sunoo and your best friend's family. You find yourself growing closer to him as you share stories, inside jokes, and even engage in friendly banter. Sunoo is easy to talk to, and his warm personality only makes your feelings for him grow stronger.

One evening, after dinner, you and Sunoo find yourselves alone in the backyard, sitting on a swing set under the starry sky. The atmosphere is relaxed, and you seize the opportunity to open up.

"You know, Sunoo," you begin nervously, "I hope you don't think I'm weird or anything, but I've really enjoyed getting to know you this week."

Sunoo smiles warmly at you, "Y/N, I've enjoyed spending time with you too. You're a great person, and it's been fun having you around."

Encouraged by his response, you take a deep breath and decide to share your feelings, "There's something I need to confess, though. I… I might have a tiny crush on you."

Sunoo's eyes widen in surprise, and then he starts to laugh softly, "Well, that makes two of us, Y/N."

Your heart leaps with joy as you realize he feels the same way. The two of you share a sweet, genuine moment under the stars, knowing that your feelings for each other have brought you even closer. The world around you seems to fade into the background, leaving just the two of you in your own little universe. But your moment is interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.

You turn to see your best friend walking towards you, clapping her hands and wearing a playful smirk. "Well, well, well, what do we have here?" she teases, her voice filled with amusement.

You and Sunoo quickly separate, feeling a little self-conscious about being caught in such a intimate moment. You exchange a sheepish glance before you both start to laugh.

Your best friend joins in the laughter and takes a seat next to you on the swing set, her teasing tone still evident. "I always knew there was something going on between you two. You couldn't fool me!"

Sunoo smiles warmly at your best friend, "Sorry for not telling you sooner. We didn't want to make things awkward."

She waves off your apology with a grin, "Oh, don't worry about it. I'm thrilled for both of you. Just promise to keep the mushy stuff to a minimum when I'm around."

You chuckle and nod, feeling grateful for your best friend's understanding and support. The three of you continue to chat, sharing stories and laughter under the twinkling stars.

In the days that follow, your relationship with Sunoo deepens, and your best friend couldn't be happier to see the two of you so in love. She becomes your biggest cheerleader and offers you both advice and support as you navigate the joys and challenges of your newfound romance.

As the week comes to a close, you realize that this unexpected journey has brought you closer to not only Sunoo but also to your best friend in a way you never expected. From that point on, your friendship with Sunoo takes on a new dimension, blossoming into a beautiful romance that you never expected but always secretly hoped for. And as the days pass, your best friend couldn't be happier for both of you, realizing that love sometimes finds its way even in the most unexpected places.

[mycurrent-hyperfixation]

Take A Chance On Me - Chapter One (Eddie Munson x Reader Series)

Series Summary: Corroded Coffin is lacking only one thing that could help them win the upcoming Battle of the Bands; original songs. So when a new band comes to town with a lead singer that looks all too familiar and a repertoire of original songs up their sleeves, Dustin concocts a plan that will get you to spill of your songwriting secrets to Eddie. It’s just a few dates, right?

Next Chapter

Masterlist

Word Count: 4.5K

Pairings: Eddie Munson x Reader, Eddie Munson x fem!Reader

Tags: fluff, 10 Things I Hate About You AU

A/N: First of all, I just wanted to thank everyone that’s supported my work so far. This post was going to celebrate reaching 500 followers but in the time it’s taken me to edit we’re barrelling towards 600. Also, just want to say that I love and appreciate all of your comments! I would love to respond to each and every one of them but I don’t since Tumblr doesn’t allow me to comment from my secondary account and I don’t want it to look like it’s someone else that’s commenting. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I love each and every one of you and I hope you enjoy this series. I’m planning for it to be about 10 chapters but knowing me I’ll probs go over that.

The first time that Eddie Munson saw you he was quite certain that his soul left his body. 

It was during his senior year—his first one that is—and the interaction had been so painstakingly mundane that he couldn’t quite help but wonder why the memory still remained so clear within his mind. The day had been sunny, the wide expanse of sky unobstructed by clouds so that the heat had been quite relentless as it beat down across Indiana. You had been walking down the hallway, a stack of books held tightly to your chest with a bag slung across one shoulder. A smile—like it almost always was—was placed gently across your lips, framed delicately by stray pieces of your hair that had fallen from where you had tied it up. You had been wearing a dress, something with flowers on it if Eddie remembered correctly that seemed to compliment your smiling disposition so perfectly.  

He had felt you before he saw you. Partly because your presence was practically electrifying but mostly because you had accidentally bumped into him, your shoulder crashing against his arm as you had been passing in the hallway. It hadn’t hurt, not really, and yet Eddie had scowled anyway. But then as he had turned towards you, your eyes flickering up to his for just a moment as you were pulled from your conversation, he found whatever words he had been about to utter die upon his lips. 

“Oh, sorry,” you quickly said before continuing on your way. 

Eddie, for once in his life, had been left speechless.  

He had stared at you as you had traversed the rest of the hallway, knowing quite well that he was being weird and yet finding himself incapable of stopping. His arm had continued to tingle for the remainder of the day and it oddly brought a smile to his features at the feeling of it.  

The second time Eddie saw you—this time sitting within the cafeteria as you chatted idly with a girl beside you—elicited a similar reaction. And it had continued to do so with every subsequent sighting of you. But once Eddie had seen you it was like he couldn’t stop seeing you; a blur as you rushed down the hall, a fleeting image of you leaving the cafeteria. And even after you had graduated and left Eddie behind without ever having uttered another word to him after that day in hallway, Eddie could swear he could still smell the intoxicating scent of your perfume when he was browsing in his favourite record store or dropping off some tapes at Family Video.

The most recent of Eddie’s out of body experiences occurred on a Friday night. And just like every other Friday night in Hawkins, Eddie was bored. It was raining—because of course it just had to be raining—so that thick sheets of water pelted against the roof of the trailer, drowning out the music that Eddie kept having to turn up. A trail of smoke drifted lazily from his mouth, dissipating in the air above him.    

“This blows man,” Gareth said from beside him. 

“You blow,” Eddie replied.   

“We should go and do something,” Gareth continued, unperturbed. “I hear there’s a new band playing at the Hideout tonight.”   

“A new band and they’ve managed to score a spot on the Friday night set list?” Eddie furrowed his brows. “Who are they? Metallica?”  

“Who cares who they are?” Jeff said. “At least it’ll give us something to do.”   

“Who cares who they are?” Eddie responded, his voice now serious as he leaned forwards on the couch. “Might I remind you, Jeffy-Boy, that we are a mere two weeks away from the Battle of the Bands and now there is suddenly a new band in town.”   

“W-we could,” Mike began from the corner. “We could go and check them out to scope out the competition.”   

“Like a reconnaissance mission!” Dustin added enthusiastically.   

Eddie squinted at the two boys before taking a long draw of his cigarette.   

 “I like your thinking, Wheeler. I knew your bass skills weren’t all that I kept you around for!”   

Eddie jumped up from the couch and slapped Mike across the back, causing the boy to lurch forward from the force. Mike winced, bringing his hand up at rub at his shoulder.

Eddie, now with a wide smile upon his face, turned to stand before the rest of the group, cigarette hanging lazily from his lips. As he looked upon them his smile turned into a devilish grin.   

“To the van!” Eddie announced before leaping towards the door without a backwards glance, stubbing out his cigarette in an ashtray before collecting his keys as he went. The rest of the boys turned to each other briefly, a shared look of regret passing between them before they eventually followed.  

The Hideout was busier than Eddie had ever seen it, the parking lot so full that they had to circle it twice before finding a spot.    

“This is ridiculous,” Gareth said. “Who are these guys?”   

“Whoever they are, it looks like we have some real competition on our hands,” Jeff responded as the line for the door came into view; a line that extended well into the parking lot. On any other night, Eddie would not have had the patience to wait in such a line. But now, with his interest most certainly piqued, he was determined to get inside. So they each piled from the car, the chill of the night greeting them instantly as they begrudgingly joined the queue.  

Eddie was well aware that his face had at some point morphed into a scowl. But in that moment he seemed incapable of ridding his features of it, nor did he particularly feel like doing so. It was cold, it was wet, and a slight sprinkle of rain had begun descending around them which was most likely only going to weigh Eddie’s hair down. With a sigh, he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket as he watched Mike and Dustin bounce around to keep warm.  

But even once they had managed to get inside, Eddie’s scowl still remained. For the throng of people was so dense and so compact that at first none of them could see much into the venue anyway. The shouts and the cheers coming from the crowd were so overwhelming and so annoyingly deafening that at first Eddie could barely hear what was being played. He considered for just a moment the possibility of simply turning right back around and leaving. But then the crowd slowly started to dissipate and he found his feet moving forwards of their own volition.

“Is that...” Jeff began.   

“ABBA?!” Gareth finished. “And sung by...”   

“Girls,” Mike and Dustin said in unison.   

And then all at once it was like the crowd seemed to part so that Eddie had an unobstructed view of you on the stage. You had your eyes closed as you sung, the blinding lights somehow glowing against your skin. Your head nodded slightly along with the beat, your fingers working effortlessly over the strings of the electric guitar in your hands. And even though it had been years since he had seen you, even though he was starting to forget the smell of your perfume or the way you looked at him that day in the hallway, Eddie still felt his soul leave him for just a moment, maybe ascending upwards so that it had a better view of you upon the stage.  

“Is that…?” Mike asked Dustin.  

“I think so,” Dustin responded. And although Eddie could hear them he couldn’t quite bring himself to care what they were talking about.  

Because then your eyes opened and they fixed immediately onto Eddie’s.   

“Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight. Won’t somebody help me chase the shadows away,” you sung, offering Eddie a small smile that had his breath hitching in his throat.    

“They’re kinda good!” he heard Mike yell over the crowd.   

“Like, really good,” Dustin added, but Eddie barely heard him, his concentration unable to move from you. You flicked your head back slightly in an attempt to get the hair out of your face, and Eddie so wished he could reach out and brush it away for you. Your skin seemed to glow under the blaring lights, a light sheen of red covering your cheeks that was undoubtedly a product of the heat in the room.

After what felt like a lifetime, you tore your gaze away from Eddie’s to glance down at your guitar, an action Eddie was wholeheartedly grateful for, because in that moment he found himself suddenly able to breathe again.

He watched on enraptured as your fingers ghosted over each string fluidly. And although the sight of your masterful playing stirred something within him, it was your smile that he seemed incapable of looking away from. You smiled out towards the crowd; you smiled back towards your bandmates; you smiled at seemingly nothing at all. And with each one Eddie became transfixed by the curve of your lips and the shine in your eyes so that only moments after he had gotten his breath back it was leaving him once more.

There were three other girls on stage, Eddie finally registered only after you had turned back to look at them a multitude of times, each of them consumed in their own instruments. The girl closest to you looked exceptionally familiar, her short hair hanging slightly messy around her face as she swayed to the beat, another electric guitar in her grasp. The girl on drums had red hair, her whole body moving along with each movement of her sticks. The girl on bass had dark skin and quite the unemotional face as she played, her body practically rigid as her fingers strummed each string.    

But then you were turning back around and Eddie found himself quite unable to register anything else in the room. Not the crowd of people around him, not the children that were technically under his care. For him, in that moment, there was simply you. 

“Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight. Take me through the darkness to the break of day,” you sung, finishing the last few notes of the song.  

Eddie had never enjoyed ABBA. Although he had, in truth, never actually listened to them. They were no Ozzy Osburne, no Dio, after all. But for just a second in that moment as the song came to an end, Eddie wished that he could hear more, if only you would sing it.   

The crowd erupted into cheers as you smiled back widely, joining in on the applause as you turned around to face your bandmates.    

“Thank you, thank you,” you said into the microphone as the crowd began to die down. “Unfortunately, the night is nearing its end.” An eruption of ‘boos’ filled the room. “I know, I know, but everything good must come to an end. But we have a little surprise for you guys tonight before we finish!”   

The crowd cheered again and you waited patiently for it to die down before continuing.   

“You guys liked our original song so much last week that we’ve written a new one for you!”   

This time the crowd’s cheers were so deafening that Eddie had the urge to cover his ears.   

“This one’s called Let Me Down Easy.”   

The girl on the drums lifted her sticks above her head and tapped them together four times. In unison, each instrument came alive, as you looked back at each girl and they looked towards each other, your lips mirroring each other's smiles. You turned back around, brushing your lips up to the microphone.

“You want someone who wants you for who you are.

I want someone to try and let me down easy, easy tonight.”   

Eddie’s eyes went wide at the sound of your voice this time; for although he had heard it only moments before, something felt different about this rendition. It was almost as if now, singing your own lyrics and playing your own chords, something had been renewed within you. It was practically electrifying, so much so that Eddie couldn’t quite seem to help himself as he began to bop his head along with the beat. Your eyes closed again as you became absorbed in the song, your body moving to the music so that your hair swayed slightly around you. A smile was seemingly plastered to your face as you sang, a smile so soft and so genuine that Eddie found he couldn’t tear his eyes away from it.   

When your eyes reopened, Eddie found himself momentarily unable to breath at the pure electricity that seemed to fill the room. 

“Honey it’s no secret that with matters of the heart

I’m reserved, I’m irrational and rarely ever start.” 

Eddie felt something stir within him; something that told him that he should listen carefully, something that told him that your heart was buried within those words and he would have to dig if he wanted even a piece of it. He hung on to every word, to every strum of your guitar, with rapt attention.

And then you were dancing, your hands moving effortlessly over the strings in your hands as you turned to look at your band mates once more, singing to them instead as you forgot the crowd. You were consumed in the music, consumed in the story, your hair moving around you as you danced. You turned back around, your eyes finding his once more.

“You want someone to want you for who are you.”

Eddie held his breath, quite certain in that moment that you could see right through him.

“I want someone to let me down easy, easy tonight.”

As your fingers washed over the last few strings and as the song came to an end, Eddie found himself wholeheartedly disappointed that he hadn’t arrived at the Hideout sooner. For just like when he was coming down from a high, he craved another hit of you.

“Thank you everyone and have a lovely night!”   

The crowd was deafening as the lights began to fade, your attention immediately turning to your band mates as you talked enthusiastically with them.    

“Shit,” Eddie said to himself.    

Whether his sentiments were voiced because of his severely decreased chances of winning the Battle of the Bands or because he couldn’t quite get the image of you out of his mind, he wasn’t altogether too sure.  

---

The first time you saw Eddie Munson was sometime around junior year. 

But the first time you really saw him, the first time your eyes locked onto his and you found yourself unable to look away, was during one of your gigs at the Hideout. The gig was just like any other although the crowd was particularly large that night, a sea of eyes staring back at you so that sweat dripped from the back of your neck. For most of the set you spent the majority of your time either turning back to look at your bandmates or closing your eyes if only to briefly get the image of all those people staring at you out of your mind.  

But then you had opened your eyes and scanned the room just like you had done so many times before, and it was like your gaze was drawn to his. His eyes, so wide and dark, seemed to swallow your own. A mound of hair encompassed his head, messy and untamed, framing a face that was angular and yet soft. His tall frame was dressed almost entirely in black save for the denim jacket worn atop his leather one, patches from several bands sewn into the fabric. 

Your eyes drifted down to where his hands sat by his sides, large silver rings covering each finger. At the sight of his index finger tapping along against his jeans to the beat you couldn’t help but gaze back at him and smile, not altogether sure whether he even knew he was doing it.  

In the end, you had to force yourself to tear your gaze away from his. You turned briefly to look back at Robin who smiled back at you, Vicki all consumed by the drums and Meg as stoic as ever. 

You allowed yourself to look at Eddie only a few more times during your set, and each time you did so you instantly regretted it for averting your gaze from him always took a monumental effort. But then you were finishing your last song and you were panting and you were sweating and you were so looking forward to leaving the stuffy venue that in the end you completely lost sight of him. A few people came up to the stage as you were packing up to congratulate you, but none with captivating brown eyes and a mane of messy hair.  

“I swear I was going to shit myself on that stage,” Robin said when you were packing the equipment into your car. The night air was cool as it touched your skin, the silence of the carpark calming. 

“The crowd keeps getting bigger every week and I don’t know how to deal with it,” Vicki added. 

“We could take a couple of weeks off from performing if you guys want. I know it’s overwhelming, especially with the competition coming up,” you said, gently placing your guitar into the boot of your car. 

“Well that’s the thing,” Robin said with a smile. “If we’re going to blow those judges away, we have to practice.” 

“It won’t matter what we do. We’re girls so the judges won’t score us high,” Meg, ever the pessimist, said. 

“Oh Meggy,” Robin said, slinging an arm around the stoic girl. “Your faith in us instils so much confidence in me. Now stop with all the moping, and let’s get some milkshakes!” 

Robin practically flung herself into the backseat of your car, followed quickly by Vicki who smiled up sweetly at the other girl as Meg opened the passenger door. You couldn’t help but smile at the two girls from where you could see them through rear window, chatting idly between each other. 

With a sigh, you turned to glance around one last time at the empty carpark before rounding the car to open the driver’s door.  

---

“We’re totally screwed,” Jeff said as they left the venue. 

“They weren’t that good,” Gareth responded. 

“Were we watching the same band?” Mike said. “Cause they absolutely ruled!” 

“Well, maybe they’re not competing in the Battle of the Bands,” Gareth conceded. 

“I’m pretty sure they are,” Dustin said. 

“And how would you know?” Gareth questioned. 

“Well Steve is friends with Robin and Y/N and I’m friends with Steve. Plus I heard them talking about it last week at the video store.” 

Jeff let out a groan of disappointment.  

“What do you think of all this, Eddie? You’re being hell quiet,” Gareth said, pulling Eddie out of his reverie. His gaze had been lingering on the doors of the Hideout, hoping that maybe he could catch one last glimpse of you before he left. He had wanted to talk to you after the set, but even before he had managed to work up the courage to carry himself over towards you, someone else had beat him to it; a guy with cool hair and cool clothes and a cool smile that he had directed up towards you to where you were packing up on the stage. And of course you had smiled back, responding politely to whatever the guy had said to you, perhaps partly distracted as you continued to pack away as you did so, your back half turned to him. But maybe in the end it had been for the best, Eddie thought, for in truth he had had nothing to say anyway. 

“I think they were good. I think they’re good enough to win the competition,” Eddie said as if it were an obvious statement. He opened the driver’s door to his van and hopped in, the boys doing the same as they piled into the back.  

Gareth rolled his eyes. “Oh God, not you too.” 

Eddie forced his gaze away from the Hideout and turned back to smile at his friend. He twisted the keys in the ignition as the engine roared to life. 

“But we’re also good enough to win. We just have some worthy competition now, so it’ll be all the more satisfying when we beat them.” 

Gareth let out a howl of laughter as Eddie sped out of the parking lot.  

“But we have much to discuss, boys. We need a plan of attack,” Eddie said seriously. 

When they eventually returned back to Eddie’s trailer, the boys were forced to sit upon Eddie’s couch as he paced before them, seemingly renewed with his usual excess of energy. His hands were clasped together under his chin as he paced, his mind deep in thought as the room remained quiet, no one wanting to interrupt whatever it was that was happening inside of Eddie’s mind.  

“Right!” Eddie finally declared, causing each boy to jump slightly. “I think it’s quite obvious that those girls we saw tonight were good. There’s no point in denying that. But if we’re going to beat them in this competition, we must have a battle plan. Dustin!” 

Dustin sat upright. 

“How well do you know those lovely ladies?” 

“W-well,” Dustin began, clearing his throat before continuing. “Steve is like best friends with Robin who was the lead guitarist-” 

“Robin Buckley!” Eddie loudly interjected, clapping his hands together dramatically. “I knew she looked familiar.” 

Dustin waited a few seconds to make sure that Eddie’s outburst was finished before he continued.  

“Yeah, that’s her. And then Y/N is the lead singer. She’s friends with Steve and Robin. She’s always hanging out with them at Family Video. S-she,” Dustin hesitated, “she used to be my babysitter as well.” 

Eddie’s eyebrows quirked upwards, a wicked grin splitting onto his features.  

“So you know her well then?” 

“Y-yeah, I’d say so,” Dustin said.

“We’ve also been on a few…adventures with her,” Mike added, earning him a scowl from Dustin.

“She plays D and D?” Eddie asked, surprised.

“…no,” the boys said in unison.

“Well what about the other two? The bassist and the drummer?” Eddie asked. 

“Um, the drummer is Vicki, I think. Robin talks about her sometimes. And then I don’t really know much about the other one.” 

“She looked scary,” Mike added.  

“That she did,” Eddie responded. “But we know enough about the other’s so that we shouldn’t have to worry about her. Now, boys, what is the one thing that these girls have that we don’t?” 

Mike, Dustin, Gareth and Jeff looked towards each other. 

“Boob-” Gareth began. 

“Music related!” Eddie quickly interjected before sighing. “What do these girls have in their music that we don’t?” 

Again, the boys looked towards each other, but this time they were unable to answer. Eddie sighed again, bringing his thumb and forefinger to rest upon the bridge of his nose in frustration. 

“Original songs!” Eddie finally revealed. “They have original songs.” 

“We have original songs!” Gareth exclaimed. 

“We have original chord progressions. We don’t have lyrics and we don’t have anything that’s actually finished.” 

“Well how are we supposed to write lyrics when none of us know how to?” Mike questioned. 

“Well, Wheeler, that’s what leads me to our game plan. We need someone to teach us,” Eddie responded. “Henderson, do you know who in that girl group writes the lyrics to their songs?” 

Dustin furrowed his brows for a moment as he thought through the question. 

“I don’t know specifically, but Y/N is always writing in a notebook that she always has on her.” 

“Well then there we have it, boys. We need to find the secret to writing original songs which means we need to infiltrate that girl group.” Eddie turned to look at Dustin with a quirked eyebrow.  

“No no no, Munson, I’m not going behind Y/N’s back to help you win this competition. She’d literally kill me if she found out!” Dustin hastily objected. 

“Oh come on, Dustin,” Eddie pleaded.  

“Well considering I’m not in the band I really have no incentive to help you,” Dustin said, his lips upturning slightly into a devilish grin. 

Eddie groaned. 

“Oh God, Dustin, not this again. Fine! You can be the band’s manager!” 

A wide smile erupted onto Dustin’s face. He leapt up from where he was sitting before patting the cushion, gesturing for Eddie to take a seat. With a large eyeroll and a slight scoff, Eddie begrudgingly sat down.  

“As band manager, I have to let you know that this so-called plan that you have concocted is flawed,” Dustin said. 

“It’s-” Eddie began. 

“It’s flawed,” Dustin continued, “because you don’t know Y/N like I do. Sure, I can try and squeeze her song writing secrets from her, but I promise you I wouldn’t get very far. What we need is for someone to get close to Y/N. Intimately close.” Dustin turned to Eddie and wiggled his eyebrows.  

“What are you-” Eddie tried to say before he was once again cut off. 

“I’m saying that Y/N is...reserved.” 

“She’s literally the lead singer in a band. How reserved can she be?” Jeff said. 

“I’m sorry, Jeff, do you know her?” Dustin questioned. Jeff remained silent. “No, I didn’t think so. What I’m trying to say is that she doesn’t open up to a lot of people so she’s not going to spill her secrets to just anyone, not even me. So someone,” Dustin wiggled his eyebrows at Eddie once more, “has to get close to her.” 

“And how exactly am I supposed to get close to her?” Eddie questioned, the image of that day when you had bumped into him in the hallway flooding his mind.

“I don’t know, maybe talk to her,” Dustin responded sarcastically. “Take her out on a few dates. Get her to open up to you.” 

Eddie furrowed his brows. “I don’t think-” 

“That’s a great idea!” Gareth interjected.  

“No, I-” Eddie tried to say once more. 

“Come on man, it’s just a few dates. It doesn’t have to be anything serious,” Jeff added.  

“If you date her does that mean we get to go to more of her gigs?” Mike questioned excitedly. 

“I-” 

“So you’re perfectly happy for me to do all of the dirty work,” Dustin began. “But as soon as you have to put in some effort you don’t want to do it.” 

“Hell, I’ll do it,” Gareth added. “You never know, I might even get luck-” 

“Fine!” Eddie exclaimed, silencing everyone else in the room. “Fine, I’ll do it. Just a few dates. Nothing serious.” 

Eddie brought his hands up to rub at his temples, the beginnings of a headache throbbing in his mind.  

“That’s only if she doesn’t reject you,” Jeff snickered.

---

Songs Used: 

- Let Me Down Easy by Gang of Youths

---

Taglist:

@alicetweven​ @juggernort​ @theh3aven​ @manamitoyota​ @mimiluvsualot​ @cherrypieyourface​ @kaqua​ @c0untryclub​ @goldencherriess​ @emotionaldreamer​ @givemethesleep​ @milkiane​

[illfoandillfie]

please could you write something with Ben getting home really late after being away for a few months for filming, and his plane was delayed or like he lost his luggage so was late and reader had planned something for him (can be smutty or not idm) and she's asleep when he gets in, feel free to end it however you want :)

Blurb Advent 2023: Day 12

Thank you for this request! I love writing soft Benny things so this was perfect

Warnings: Absolutely none other than the usual minimal editing reminder.

When you’d started dating Ben he’d made it clear there would be times when he wouldn’t be at home. He’d been nice but blunt about it, on maybe your fifth date, listing off things that might keep him away - late nights at industry functions that you wouldn’t always be invited to, days where he’d be gone from morning to night to do press for his projects, even overseas travel, sometimes being away from home for months at a time. It seemed almost rehearsed, like he’d had the conversation with others that had either been scared off by it or hadn’t been able to prove their mettle. But he’d explained, a little more gently, that he needed to know you were okay with a relationship that could become long distance at a moments notice. You couldn’t blame him for being upfront about it. He was in his thirties, possibly looking for the woman he could settle down with, a relationship that would last. It was kind of sweet if you considered he was just trying to save everyone from wasting their time on a relationship they weren’t going to be comfortable in. But you assured him there was no need to worry. Clingy had never been your brand and you could handle being alone. Ben had smiled at that and admitted that sometimes the distance was what he struggled with most so he’d be calling and texting all the time and he really wanted someone more stable than him at home so he wouldn’t feel too bad about leaving them.  

It quickly became clear you were a good match not just when you were together but when you were separated too, and within the year you’d moved in together. The first time Ben was away after that was the first time it was noticeably weird. You’d had about a month to adjust to living with someone. You’d gotten used to his presence in your bed, his food in the fridge, his voice always audible from somewhere in the apartment. And then suddenly he was gone. It was strange, just the quiet he’d left. But you were fine. You got to spread out, take over the whole bed. You chose what to watch on TV, you chose what to eat when you couldn’t be arsed cooking. The apartment felt bigger when it was just you in there. And it wasn’t like he was entirely gone. Ben was affectionate at the best of times so he never missed a chance to text you or send you a video from whatever gorgeous place he was filming in, reminding you he loved and missed you. So, it really wasn’t all that difficult to adjust to him being gone and the longer you were together, the more Ben worked, the more normal it seemed. It was just something that happened every now and again.  

Part of the routine you developed whenever Ben was away for longer than a couple of weeks, especially if he was returning from overseas, was to do something nice for him when he got back. You’d quickly worked out that the travel alone exhausted Ben, not to mention he was coming back from periods of constant work, sometimes with a crazy fitness routine on top of the acting, never getting as much sleep as he needed. So you liked to do something to treat him a bit – a massage before bed, a nice bath bomb, a good meal. Anything to help him relax, maybe fall asleep faster. And to show his appreciation, as well as how much he’d missed you, Ben was very affectionate. He’d pull you in to cuddle on the couch, play with your fingers as you tried to eat, drop unexpected kisses on you. And after a couple of days of excessive cuddliness, and sleep, Ben would feel back to normal and everything would return to how it had been before he left.  

This time was no different. Well, there was one difference – Ben wasn’t there. You’d had it all planned out. The ingredients for dinner were in the fridge, you’d made a playlist of soft songs as background noise while you ate and caught up, you’d bought some lavender scent for the diffuser in the bedroom. But then, Ben had called to let you know his flight was delayed. Not a big problem, he’d just be an hour or two later than planned. An hour or two later he’d called again to say his flight had been cancelled and he was waiting in line to get on a new one. A happy text had come through with the new flight details. But then it too had been cancelled. Ben couldn’t get a clear answer on what the problem was, but it all added up to him spending an uncomfortably long time in an uncomfortably overfull airport lounge waiting to find out when he could get on a plane. He’d kept texting you, updating you when he heard something, swearing in frustration when there wasn’t any news.  

By the time Ben finally landed in London it was around two in the morning and it took another half hour to get home. So, you were well and truly asleep as he was letting himself in, kicking his shoes off in the entrance so he wouldn’t wake you. The dinner you’d been preparing was still unmade in the fridge, there was no music playing, and the scent of lavender had dissipated entirely. But he didn't need any of that to help unwind this time. Ben was practically asleep on his feet. He’d managed a couple hours shut eye on the plane but the stress and anxiety of all the delays kept him awake longer than he’d have liked. Exhausted, he kicked off his pants and shirt, leaving them where they fell, not even bothering to find pyjamas before he climbed into bed. You were in the middle of the mattress, having spread out entirely in his absence, but you stirred as the bed dipped and shifted, recognising it was Ben without needing to see him or be fully awake. Ben groaned softly as he got comfortable, wrapping himself around you, his nose pressed to your neck.   “Missed you,” was all he managed to say, barely even hearing your sleepy hum of agreement before he drifted off. 

[myreygn]

HELLO I SAW WHAT U SAID ABOUT DEMON SLAYER (THAT YOULL KISS ME LMFAO) BUT I WANTED TO ASK FOR MAYBE LEE ENMU??? YEAH IK HE JUST IS SO UNDERRATED IN THE TK COMMUNITY- idk why I’m yelling sorry but I need Lee or ler enmu anything pls 😭 my love for that man is indescribable and HE HAS LIKE NO TK CONTENT and that makes me sad awawaw but anyway have a good day or night or whatever time it is for u <333

Unhand me!

summary: Akaza allows himself to take a day off from the mission he was assigned and decides to stay at Mugen train - surely he and Enmu can avoid each other for the time being. Only that Enmu seemingly has no interest in avoiding Akaza and Upper Moon Three isn't one to turn down a challenge.

an: HI I'M SORRY THIS TOOK ME SO LONG ALSO PLEASE YELL AS MUCH AS YOU WANT WE SUPPORT YELLING ON THIS BLOG- okay good news is i finally finished it and i had a lot of fun with it, i also learned to appreciate enmu more during the time i had this in my inbox and finished the manga so i feel like i was able to write for them a lot better than i would have been three months ago! thank you for the request - i went with akaza's pov for this one because i find his easier to write than enmu's, i hope that's okay ^^ it's set somewhere between s1 and s2, enjoy!

wordcount: 1765

tagging: @giggly-squiggily because i stole your rui/akaza-dynamic and @duckymcdoorknob because it's your husband <3

warnings: it's an akaza pov so lots of swearing!

¸¸♬·¯·♩¸¸♪·¯·♫¸¸¸¸♫·¯·♪¸¸♩·¯·♬¸¸

Akaza was exhausted. Which was ridiculous, considering that demons, let alone Upper Moons, shouldn’t even be able to feel something as mundane as exhaustion. Yet this stupid mission managed to- no, it wasn’t a stupid mission, there was no way he could even think that when there was so much as a chance of Muzan-sama listening in on his thoughts at that very moment. 

A noticeable shiver ran through Akaza’s body and he jumped through the opening in the train’s roof (whatever purpose a damn skylight on a train had but alright). It would probably be best to just not think about this mission at all for a few hours. He had worked hard these past few weeks, he could take a day off. And while the company of Lower Moon One certainly wouldn’t be his first choice in any other situation (except maybe if it was between them and fucking Douma) the train they had brought under their control would do as lodging for now. Especially because it was in the engine shed which meant that there were no people around to disturb him and enough space to get away from Enmu in case they got too annoying.

Akaza slouched down in one of the seats, not bothering to open his eyes when he felt a poorly covered presence approaching. “I’m just crushing here for today, don’t make a fuss about it.”

No answer, but the presence was still there. Okay, weird, but it was undoubtedly exactly who he thought it was and he wasn’t gonna open his eyes for Enmu of all people. A little voice in the back of his head started squeaking about how disrespectful the lower ranked demon was being but honestly, Akaza didn’t have the energy to scold them right now. Who cared anyway, it was just the two of them and Enmu knew very well that Akaza could obliterate their ass within two seconds, so whatever.

He crossed his arms behind his head, leaning back and enjoying the silence. Well, while it lasted.

Tap.

Nope. Absolutely not.

Tap. 

He was not gonna sacrifice his peace of mind for whatever bullshit Enmu was up to.

Tap tap. Taptaptaptaptap- 

“GAH!” Akaza felt his eyes fly wide open and his foot crashed into the floor next to his seat at something squeezing his knee. A few quick tapping noises and a soft snicker that seemed to come from the walls rather than from the hand that sat patiently in the middle of the gangway, an aura of fake innocence and smugness to it that would’ve driven Akaza up the wall on any other day.

Today though? Maybe it was really only because he was so fed up with this not at all stupid, so much fun mission that he had been trying to complete for weeks now but he had to admit, he felt rather… playful. Daki and Gyutaro had plenty of playfights whenever they all came together and although he’d rather walk straight into the sun than admit it out loud, there was always a sting of jealousy in his chest watching them. He had no one he could do that with - these days he hardly ever came across anyone who a) matched his strength enough for them to actually do something like that, b) had the guts to challenge him and c) didn’t make him want to rip his own head off whenever they opened their mouth. Fucking Douma, honestly.

And sure, Enmu was only a lower moon but they still matched two out of the three necessary criteria, so maybe it was gonna be fun. The hand tapped the floor with its index finger and a mouth appeared on it, stretched into a wide grin. Fuck it, why shouldn’t he play along.

“You have balls, I’ll give you that.” He lunged forward, missing the hand only by a mere inch or so. Hm. Surprising enough. Of course he hadn’t used his full speed but he still had planned on catching the hand. Little fucker was quick - that, or he was more exhausted than he had thought. Maybe both. Probably both.

“That was a good one, Akaza-sama!”

Heavens, he didn’t need this creepy thing giving him compliments- “Hey!” In the brief second he had been busy thinking about how weird it was to literally talk to the hand (he had seen Enmu pull the talk to the hand move on one of the other lower moons once and begrudgingly admitted to himself that that had been pretty cool), said hand had lunged forward to squeeze his knee once more. That brave move brought an end to its attempt at a reign of terror though.

“Gotcha!” Akaza held the hand up by the fingers, pressing them together in a way he hoped wasn’t too painful - he was still having fun and didn’t really want that ruined by Enmu getting hurt and inevitably becoming horny over it - and smirked at the struggling limb. “What do you think you’re doing, huh?”

“Oh, I thought we were playing a little game,” Enmu chirped through the hand’s mouth (hands shouldn’t have mouths, jeez, Enmu was so weird), “Akaza-sama seemed so down on the bench, I thought I might as well try to cheer him up.”

“By sending your creepy hand to squeeze my knee?”

“Yes!” The thumb wriggled excitedly and Akaza was glad he was holding the other fingers hostage so he didn’t have to see them do it as well. “Douma-sama told me about Akaza-sama’s knees being quite, hum, sensitive, I wanted to see for myself!”

“He said that, huh?” Akaza felt heat boiling in his stomach but he couldn’t really tell whether it was anger or horror at the prospect of Douma spreading this particular weakness of his around like hot gossip - not that a vast majority of demons could manage to utilize it against him if he didn’t want them to. Still. Fucking Douma. “Did he tell you what would happen if you got busted by me?”

The hand seemed to stiffen a little at that and Akaza couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle. “That’s what I thought. Tell you what, if you show yourself right now I might go easy on you.”

Silence. He lifted the hand to eye level. “Alright. You brought this upon yourself.”

A shriek echoed from the train’s walls and Akaza felt the corners of his mouth pull up in amazement. All he had done was gently scratch at the soft skin right where regular humans had their artery. “If your wrists are this bad, what about the rest of your hand?”

“Wahait, wait, Akahaza-samahahahaaa!”

Akaza snickered to himself, relentlessly dragging his blunt nails over Enmu’s wrist. (Enmu’s hand’s wrist? This was Enmu’s hand, right? He wondered whether they carried substitute hands in their pockets.) “I am waiting, waiting for you to come out so I can look at your face while I annihilate you.”

There was no real bite to his words and he was sure Enmu could tell - otherwise they would’ve probably thrown themselves in the dirt in front of Akaza already, begging to be left alive. Not that Akaza had the authority to kill the last remaining lower moon just like that but Enmu probably didn’t know that, and honestly, they didn’t need to. He was allowed to keep at least a little bit of his threatening exterior.

Although how threatening could he seem, standing in an empty train and tickling a detached hand? Probably not very, but whatever, looking threatening wasn’t the top priority right now. The top priority remained getting that little weasel Enmu to leave their hiding spot and if he had to bring out the big guns for that, then fine, he’d bring out the big guns.

“AIEEE! Ahahahakazaha-sahahama! Nohot thahahahat!”

Enmu was losing it now and the whole train vibrated as if shaken by their high and shrieky cackles. Akaza allowed himself an evil chuckle. There was something very satisfying about hearing that normally melodic and breathy voice brought to such loud and, dare he say it, ridiculous noises. Especially considering that he wasn’t really doing much aside from gently scribbling over the palm of the hand - as he knew all too well from countless humiliating interactions with Douma, a light touch was often enough to really get someone screaming and Enmu didn’t seem to be the exception to that.

“Ahakazahaha-sahahamaha, unhahand mehehe!”

“Oh, you think you’re really funny, huh?!”

“NAHAHAT THEHE PAHAHALM!”

Growing more hysterical by the second.

“PLEHEHEHEASE!”

Hilarious.

“You know what to do if you want me to stop.” Akaza smirked to himself when a low thud behind him notified him of Enmu’s long overdue surrender and he stopped his attack on the hand to turn around to an absolutely demolished looking lower moon. As soon as he took his fingers off, the limb went limp (Ha ha.) and he gave himself a moment to relish in the sound of Enmu desperately gasping for air. “There you are, you little freak. So I guess that means I win.”

“Ehe, indeed you do. Well played, Akaza-sama.” Enmu got on their knees and grinned up at him, cheeks flushed and lips stretched into a pleased smile; a smile Akaza found himself returning, much to his surprise. “May I have a turn now?”

The upper moon hesitated for a moment. Pausing and really thinking about it, this was beyond inappropriate, but then again… it wasn’t like Muzan-sama didn’t already know about the tickle fights amongst his Kizuki. And even if Enmu went on to tattle about this to Douma, well, it wasn’t like Douma didn’t know about Akaza’s tendency to goof off with the lower moons as well. Or at least his tendency to goof off with a former lower moon. 

Akaza felt the ever so slight hint of a sting in his chest; he knew he shouldn’t, but damn, he missed Rui. He remembered their tickle fights, their games of hide and seek, Rui demanding piggyback rides. And grief was such an embarrassingly human feeling to experience, but to call it anything else would be a lie. For a moment he wondered whether Rui missed him too, watched him even - wouldn’t Rui want him to do this? He could almost sense the kid nudging him from the afterlife - Do it! I haven’t seen you laugh in a while! And Enmu was still there, still looking up at him so expectantly and fuck it, why the hell not! 

“Bring it on, sleeping beauty.”

Maybe it was okay to feel a little human every now and then.

[saphirered]

It is incredibly late (or early?) Where i live so excuse me if this is rambely.

I got an idea for a Lucien/Mollymauk/Kingsley request. And im Hoping once i have it out in the open I'll be able to sleep.

Basically Lucien and the reader were partners when his soul was scattered the same happened to the reader. They both woke up being buried with no recollection of who they were. Once they meet each other in the Mighty Nein they start getting closer a relationship forms they both feel a sort of pull towards one another. When Molly dies the reader doesn't and Lucien remembers the reader but they don't remember him but they feel the same sort of pull they felt for Mollymauk. Once Lucien is actually dead the reader dies of Wounds sustained but again wake up in a grave with no recollection. They meet Kingsley and again there is this sort of pull.

(basically to really quickly explain my idea, the reader's soul got shattered as did Luciens but their souls are forever linked they are meant to be with each other which is why through every revival they feel a pull towards each other)

Again i am so so sorry if this is weird but it's late and i felt the need to get this out and you were the first person i thought of because I've been reading your Mollymauk oneshots for the past few hours.

Good Morning, good day, good night! I love this concept and hope I did it justice and lived up to expectation. Enjoy 😘

He remembers it well. Your first meeting. Or supposed first meeting. Specifically it was your first meeting in this life. He remembers your whispers to the goblin and the ragged wizard when the fated group later becoming known as the Mighty Nein would first meet too. He was his charming self with his angel at his side ready to pull more patrons to the carnival. The carnival had been his home ever since he first looked up at the sky and saw the stars and moons. The moment he set foot in that tavern, something felt so eerily similar to that emptiness. That something was you. He should have run, Molly should have run while he still had the chance but he couldn’t, or wouldn’t. He’s a stubborn one after all and not even his own instincts could tell him what to do. Sure, who knows? You might be dangerous but you’re not dangerous to him. You’re just… lovely. He’d never even said a word to you. How about he changed that? 

“And you? We’d be honoured to have your esteemed presence, my dear. The cards say I should show you your fate, are you willing to see it?” Despite his typical grin and charm you didn’t fall for his ways so quickly. You simply huddle within yourself crossing your arms and making yourself small to take off attention. You’re so used to moving through the shadows you’ve forgotten what it’s like to live in the light. 

“I’m not that big a believer in fate I’m afraid, but thank you.” That voice sent shivers up his spine. Like a beautiful song that could bring him to tears. Something within himself, he doesn’t know why but it speaks to relief and comfort. 

“You should, you should, you should. Look at the reading I got!” The blue tiefling Jester bounces up and down and you curve a smile. Hesitation. He can work with that. 

“For you, love, I’ll even do it for free. Whether you believe or not, I think you can appreciate the irony in holding your fate in your own hand by card, no?” He winks. You cover a snort. 

“Fine. I’ll draw a card.” You hold up your hands in surrender and cringe when Jester squeals interposing between the two of you excitedly. He could kiss that tiefling for unknowingly being his wingwoman in that very moment. Molly fans out his cards holding them in one hand and with a dramatic bow offers them to you face down letting you pick on. Your fingers brush over the surface until you settle on one and pull it from the deck. He rises fully and equally dramatic. You roll your eyes but fight a smile turning the card towards him. 

“The Moon and the Mirror! The first card that ever called to me. One could say our fates are intertwined.” He winks and that smile breaks through when you shake your head in disbelief. 

“I think you say that to everyone.” You retort. You’re unsure whether you mean it or not. Something from the moment the literal and figurative peacock set foot in this tavern there has been something that just changed. Something fell in place. If the world was wrong before, it was right now. It doesn’t make any sense and yet it does but you can’t explain it. It just is. Part of you is frightened. Another part, so deeply rooted wants to indulge. It’s as if this tiefling has the answers to the questions you didn’t even know you had. 

“Only to beautiful stories.”

“Beautiful stories?”

“That’s what the Moon means. The moon represents beautiful stories. Even when the clouds cover, the moon’s still there. Whether people see it or not, that’s a different thing. Your story is yours, even if you hide it, wrap it in layers and disguise, doesn’t mean it’s not there.” You take in a noticeable breath. That’s what he was looking out for. He’s spot on. You’re carrying a glamour of your own to cover this past of yours and that’s okay. He’s not telling everyone his life story. Okay maybe he is but none of them are true. Even if it were, nobody would be able to tell the difference. 

“And the Mirror then?” You raise an eyebrow attempting to deflect. He’ll play along. 

“So you are interested in your fate after all.” 

“Well you do make it sound so alluring.” You lean onto your elbows. Oh he likes you. Molly is done for. He likes you a lot. He could get used to your company. 

“You are far too kind. The Mirror faces us with the truth, as bitter as it may be sometimes. Even the shadows reflect in the mirror. A reveal awaits on your horizon. It’s up to you if you’re ready to face it.” You take in his words. Something has changed. You just don’t know what or why but this tiefling may just have something to do with it. Is this fate after all? No. Just life, or so you tell yourself. 

————

You loved him. He was torn away from you far too soon. You loved him and when he left, with him he took your heart. Your world is bleaker without him. When you visit the places of your memories together, they replay in your head. When you’re in your room and the door opens, you wait for that lavender tiefling to walk in boasting about his latest sham or in various stages of undress, showering you in affection until you tell him you’ll vomit from his ridiculousness. Even the times you were at odds. You’d give the world for just another day with him. Molly died. You’d held his body as he grew cold. You stared into those ruby eyes but nevermore saw the life in them. You closed them and so your world dulled and never fully recovered. They say it gets easier with time and it does. Life moves on and it’s easier to go along with the motions as time passes but there’s not a day you don’t miss him. Not a day goes by where you don’t think of him. Sometimes at night when you wake you look at the sky, look at the moon and talk to him. He might not be there but you like to pretend he’s watching sometimes. 

It turned out you both had similar stories. You’d never even gotten the chance to fully tell him yours. The two of you had lived focussing on the lives you had now as opposed the earth you crawled out of and that haunted loneliness you awoke with. You can’t help but wonder that feeling, that emptiness is as close a feeling you got these days. You continued with the Nein while he lay buried. Or used to. Molly died but someone else returned in his stead; the one who ended up in the grave he crawled out of in the first place. Molly is dead and now with that face walks a man who can never be him. You’ve seen him-Lucien in flashes of visions before, faded memories that make you frightened of the past you never lived. It’s not your past after all. Someone else lived it in the body you now call yours. The person before is dead and gone. Same as Lucien should have been. It frightens you because what little you know, you know not what your predecessor was to Lucien, or who they were in general. What if he wants that version back? What if that version comes back? What if you cease to exist and this other person takes over? 

But then you met the devil himself. Lucien, what a curse to know him. He shares the same face as your Mollymauk but he is not the same. They share some traits, some little habits you recognise. Each and every one is a dagger to your heart. You think he noticed too. He called you by that name, the one that was never yours. It must have just slipped because the horror in your eyes had given you away. He quickly corrected himself. He didn’t call you by that name again but you swore you could hear it like a whisper upon the cold breeze of Eiselcross sometimes. Like molly Lucien is charming but everything about him is with a darker undertone. When he is charming it feels like a predator coaxing a prey right between their teeth. When he smiles it’s belittling or a calm before the storm, something laced in a fury you cannot begin to comprehend. Despite all of this, that same pull remains. That same pull that brought you to Molly, it calls you to Lucien. You don’t want to get close. Fire burns after all and you have a feeling Lucien is an inferno in disguise. 

Lucien can’t help himself though. You once meant the world to him. Well not you-you of course. The version of you he lost in his own demise. When he drew his first breath yet again, and you weren’t there. He’d have pulled you from the soil himself, dragged you right out of hell. You weren’t there. Someone else had taken your place. Someone new. A new you. The similarities are uncanny. The way you talk and move, it’s like a warped mirror and every time he gets a spark of hope that you might still be in there, he’s proven wrong. You’re not the person he knew. You’ll just have to be another means to an end at best. Another nuisance at worst. That doesn’t make it any easier. He’s not felt alive in his time beyond the veil but now you’re here so close yet so far away, he feels alive like never before, not since he got separated from you. You’re a candle and he’s the moth. He refuses to get burned. 

Then it comes down to it. A fight. He gave you a chance. You picked your side. You joined the Mighty Nein and abandoned him. You made your choice. He’ll deal with the ashes. He takes no pleasure in ending you but no matter what version; you’re a stubborn one and incredibly loyal. You had no loyalties to him, not anymore. Why should he hang onto his loyalties to a ghost? He let it all go even though that sounds easier than it was. It burned him to hurt you. With each injury he inflicted, he felt every single strain, each scream and cry of pain shattered his very soul into fragments. It’s alright or so he kept telling himself. He’d bring you back once this is over; the real you, the true you and the one he held so dearly. He’ll have you back. Not this fragment. 

Something within him shattered when he delivered that killing blow. You fell to your knees. You looked at him and he just saw sadness. You looked at your friends but he couldn’t care less about them. He took a good few hits in his distraction as that damned fragment you had grown attached to gained a little more control than he allowed. He watched the light drain from your eyes, your friends tried to rush towards you as you fell to your knees. You couldn’t breathe anymore. Lucien could feel something crack when you hit the ground and remained unmoving. He tried to move on and deal with your companions. In the end it would mean his own demise. They were too late to get you. When he fell, he met your eyes; never shut. Lucien would be dead. 

————

The Mighty Nein tried to resurrect you. It didn’t work. Not twice would they be so lucky. They took your body, had a funeral in true Mighty Nein fashion, and laid you at rest in the Blooming Grove to be watched over by Caduceus. They grieved you but their lives continued. Kingsley didn’t understand who you were. They tried to explain, explain who you were to Mollymauk. He got it. For some bloody reason he completely understood. When he first saw you you were dead and something within him felt missing, despite being surrounded by love in his resurrection, a piece of a puzzle he could not comprehend never truly fit together. When he saw you, he knew the missing piece had to do with you but the dead don’t just rise and the ritual had failed. You were truly gone. No one saw but for some reason tears did fall when the firbolg performed the burial rites. He didn’t even know you so why was he crying over you like he lost someone so near and dear to his heart? Like he lost a piece of himself. 

One night on the ship far off on the ocean with his captain and trickster partner in crime; the life he’d grown quite used to, something changed. Something in the very air he breathes. The world got a push in the right direction. He didn’t know why or how but somehow it made sense. Some tether pulled him back to that graveyard, told him to go there. Not long after, Jester was freaking out and the wizard was summoned; they had to get back to the mainland fast. They had to get to the Blooming Grove. No one had told him and despite this being the perfect opportunity to commandeer the ship he had longed to captain for himself, he couldn’t just let them go without him. He had to come along. He did. 

From the moment Kingsley stepped into that forest temple, where he saw a shellshocked individual seated on a stool staring into the abyss covered in dirt and a blanket, whatever piece of him he missed from the moment of his resurrection, returned and fell into place. That void within suddenly wasn’t so empty anymore. You hadn’t been responsive until his entrance, or so Clay had told them all. Kingsley approached you. You stared at him with such wonder and a recognition he must have held too in his first moments of life. You felt it too. Everything just made sense. You reached for him, just a finger, trembling and hesitant. The pad of that finger pressed against his cheek. There wasn’t much force behind it but were he standing instead of on his knees already, he might have fallen then and there. 

“M-Mo… Moon… Moon.” It took you some time to get the word out. 

“Moon?” Kingsley asked you though he did not expect a response. It took him while too to truly get to his senses and given the hour and your current state, you must have freshly crawled out of your grave. He feels sorry for you. 

“Moon.” You affirm and place your palm flat over his heart. You tap it. “Moon.” He looked towards the Mighty Nein for some explanation. The one he got, that might as well have broken his heart a little. And should you return to your senses, whoever you might be, he’ll be happy to hold it over your heart your first word implied you found him beautiful. 

This might just be the beginning of something beautiful. One thing is for sure. This’ll be a fresh start. You get to decide who you want to be. Like him you’ll be loved no matter what. He’ll make sure of it.

[lostinlewis]

In Another Life...

Rating: Soft, Angst

Words: 2350

It was hard to describe the emotions that ran through you, a lifetime of work finally being honoured by the very best in the industry, and fans that appreciated you so loudly, ones that you had acquired with little exchanges of soul crushing angst, along the way too.

The exhibit of your work was nearing its final few hours now as you felt the weight of the weekend finally begin to lift from your shoulders. Clutching a glass of wine you had taken from the waiter in the corner before he left the room, you allowed yourself a few moments to take in all that you had achieved.

The exhibition room was the largest the museum had, white walls that held framed displays of your words. Some long paragraphs that had resonated with the audience from the jump, other more unique sentences, sentences that you had written behind the mist of tears that flowed in abundance, sentences that told the world of your pain whilst your face told them of nothing but bravery.

It was as you stood in front of a line you favoured the most, a line that came from deep within your soul during one of the darkest periods of your life, a line you can still picture the scene of you writing, 3am in a London hotel drunk on room service champagne and day old mascara decorating your cheeks, you felt the cool room get warmer.

It was as you stood reading the sentence over and over again, mouthing the words as if you were revising them for a test you had later, that you felt a presence beside you, someone joining you to view the display, someone who had warmed the ice of an empty room within seconds of being inside of it.

“Maybe, just maybe, in another universe there is a version of us that made it.”

You could have been mistaken for it being the emotions of the weekend mixed in with the emotions of the text you read that made you confuse the voice that read the words out loud for the very person it was written about. 

It couldn’t be, could it? After all these years, what were the chances it was him?

“Do you think there is?” 

It was him. There was no mistaking that tone of voice, that unique tone, the unicorn of a British accent that was mixed with an American twang, it was him, after all these years, it was really him. 

“What are you…why?”

It was as you looked at him that you felt the room begin to spin. He barely resembled the man you had fallen for all those years ago, he had a beard now, and longer hair to match too, but it was definitely him, the baby cow eyes with eyelashes you always envied confirmed to you that it was really him. 

“I read an article about you this morning, it said you were in the city…I couldn’t not come, I tried but I couldn’t stay away.”

The honesty in his words was unexpected, he was never a liar when you knew him but he was also never a man who was quite so free with his thoughts. The years had changed him, the many years in which you had missed, had shaped him into a man that you always saw deep within him.

“This is…this is so…”

“Weird? I know, it’s weird for me too. It’s been a long time, a hell of a long time, but look at you…”

Lewis’ eyes drew down your body in a way that made you immediately shy. You thought to yourself of all the many outfits you would have chosen to wear had you had some warning of his arrival, a million different looks you would have gone for to impress him, but you knew you were being foolish, he was the past, there was no reason to satisfy the gaze of the past. 

“You look great too. I heard you’ve been quite successful at that racing thing you always loved?”

For the first time in fifteen years you both shared a breathy laugh at the understatement of the century; success didn’t quite do his achievements justice, really. 

“You could say that, but so have you. Best selling novelist? You always did love to write yet you always told me you lacked inspiration. I’m so glad you found it, eventually.”

The smile hadn’t quite lifted from your face, you tried to shield it a few times as you let the glass hover over your lips, sips of wine that was now too warm for you to enjoy, allowed you a little shy retreat from pouring your heart out in just a smile. 

“I guess I should thank you for that really, it all started in the aftermath…in the aftermath, well in the aftermath of you.”

Lewis’ smile dropped and you knew what that meant, no matter the turbulence that your relationship had, and it had lots, he never wanted to hurt you, so to hear he had done that so perfectly it had inspired multiple stories, made him feel awful. 

“I’m sorry for what happened, for letting you go…”

An apology he owed you, one that you also owed him, the breakdown of your relationship was equal parts your fault as it was his, yet you couldn’t quite bring yourself to return the courtesy, pride wouldn’t let you.  

“...the truth is that losing you is still my biggest regret.”

“We were kids, Lewis. We both made mistakes, we both had no idea of what we actually wanted. It was a long time ago, a lot has happened since then…”

His smile was back, a half smile that resembled relief more than it did happiness as he made eye contact with you once more. 

“That’s the tragedy of it really, so much time has passed. I've been to so many countries, I’ve been in so many rooms full of people, but not a single one of them could make my heart race the same way you did…”

Your eyes grew wide at his admission, sure he was the easiest man in the world to find out about had you wanted to, but you had known better than to ever seek that information out. Long gone were the days in which you chose to break your own heart, ignorance had remained quite a blissful existence. 

“You never settled down? You never married?”

There was a look of shame in his eyes as he thought of his answer, a look of familiarity of questions he had been battling from the media - and his mother - his whole adult life. 

“The truth is…well, you are still the first person I want to call when I am happy, and when I am sad. I couldn’t do that to another, I couldn’t give them a part of me knowing I would never be able to give them the whole of me.”

“Lewis, that’s silly…it was…we were so long ago now.”

The way in which he shook his head in disagreement was almost heartbreaking, you felt an urge to wrap your arms around him, to comfort him, to tell him that he was free now to find another to love him, but you couldn’t.

You couldn’t do that for him because the close contact would have been unbearable for you but mostly you couldn’t do that because you were selfish, despite how you insisted and portrayed a woman who would give someone everything she had if they needed it, with Lewis you were selfish, you always had been.

The thought of him loving another, the thought of another woman waking with those arms you had found so much comfort in, wrapped around her, another woman finding peace in a man who had once been your own, tortured you more than any other thought. 

Lewis made you the woman you were today in many ways, he taught you strength, he taught you self love, he taught you courage to chase dreams you had held secret forever, but he also taught you selfishness and greed. You had never quite had your fill of Lewis, and forever you would feel hard done by in that regard.

“Mummy, mummy!”

The little girl's voice startled you both as she appeared like a whippet in the room, running over to where your numb with shock body stood next to the man she never even knew existed, yet he was the man who was the biggest part of your life before her. 

“Hey sweetie.”

Your daughter wrapped her arms around your legs, it was about as high as she could reach. She was too young to realise what this moment was but as she stared at the stranger who was causing the tension she could feel in the room, she could sense his importance somehow.  

“Daddy said he’s going to take us all for ice cream, are you almost finished?”

You had never regretted your children, you loved both of them more than you ever thought possible, but selfishly in that moment you wished your daughter would leave, you wished that she would grant you an extra five minutes with your past, you hoped she would find her way back to your husband, to your son, to the world that was now your present and your future, and just wait for you to finish with your past.  

They had you all the time and they would have you in the future, surely they could spare a few minutes for the past?

“Go be with your family.”

You could hear the pain in his voice as Lewis stared down at the little girl that resembled the greatest love of his lifetime, so much so it shook him to his core. 

He was right, you knew it. What you were doing right now was only opening old wounds that had long scarred over with tissue that was just strong enough to hold you together, whilst also being so fragile that the littlest thing could tear you apart once more. 

“I’ll be right along, sweetie. Go tell Daddy to find the best ice cream shop in town, we are celebrating after all.”

The little girl ran back through the door in which she appeared, leaving you alone in a room so large that even a whisper created an echo, with a man whose presence made you want to scream a thousand sentences of heartbreak he had inspired. 

“Thank you for coming, Lewis…”

Never before him and never after him had you met a man whose face told of his emotions with ease, he could never really lie, his eyes would tell you all you needed to know in the wrinkles that decorated them. 

You could see it in the way his smile, although wide, was not quite wide enough to make it believable as it didn’t reach anywhere near his eyes. He didn’t want you to leave, he wasn’t happy to send you back to your family, but you could also see the pride of the young man you fell in love with all of those years ago, being matured into the man he stood before you now, a man who put everyone before himself, a man who loved even when he knew it was fruitless, and with you it was exactly that. 

He took your hand and you jumped in your spot a little, it had been fifteen years since you were held by him, it was long enough for him to feel like a stranger now yet he didn’t, you knew him, your body knew him, and as he brought your hand up to his lips to kiss it, you closed your eyes to wish him to never ever stop. 

“In another life, beautiful. In another life I would be waiting in the car for you. In another life I would have never let you leave.”

It was hard enough walking away from Lewis the first time you did it but this time was ten times harder. The first time you had hope still that it was temporary, that somehow fate and the gods you prayed to would guide you back to him, but this time you weren’t so foolish. 

As you walked away from the man you had never quite gotten over, you turned back to look at him for one last time. 

“Lewis…”

You called out to him as he faced the words you had written about him so many years ago, asking him to look at you for the final time. 

“...what you said about another universe, I know that it’s true, I know that I will love you in this life, in the next and the one after that too.”

You didn’t linger to see if his smile reached his eyes this time, you couldn’t face him any longer and as you made your way out of the room, through the now empty building, and headed towards the car that carried your life now, a single tear rolled down your cheek, a tear that symbolised the remnants of the feelings you had for the man, the feelings that quickly held at your jaw before falling to the floor of the museum. 

It was quite fitting actually, that not only were you leaving Lewis behind as you walked through the huge glass doors that evening, that you were also leaving the feelings that you had harboured for him there too. 

It was time to move on, it was time to recover and it was time for you to accept that not all love stories end in a happy ever after, some love stories are chapters rather than novels, and whilst your Lewis chapter would certainly be one of your favourites in this lifetime, it wouldn’t be your best selling novel, that was an honour held for the man who had taught you how to love again and the children that had shown you a love that was unconditional.

And besides, Lewis always had your next lifetime to try and make your story last longer than a few lines.