#People coming to her to ask for the help of the so-called ~Angel of Compassion~ or anything of that sort | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

thebiggerbear · 9 months

Text

"I hate you." "You have a weird way of showing that." - Anael Prompt Response

Summary: Anael calls you to pick her up after she leaves Cas back at the Emporium. Having just come off of a rough hunt, you're really not that inclined to be at the angel's beck and call.

Pairing: Anael x Female!Reader; Anael x Female!Huntress Reader

A/N: Prompt from @creativepromptsforwriting (#941). For Anael's version of this prompt response, I had quite a few ideas that got written but just didn't seem to work out for one reason or another. Eventually, I settled on this and the more I wrote it, the more it felt right to me. So, I hope it's okay.

This is meant to take place right after 14x17.

Unbeta'd so all mistakes are mine.

Warnings: mentions of drug-like usage/using behavior; implied sex; mentions of child death

Word Count: 4186

Taglist: @avada-kedavra-bitch-187; @rieleatiel

Anael Taglist: @nancymcl; @brightlilith

"I hate you." "You have a weird way of showing that."

Soldier Boy version ✨ Beau version ✨ Dean version ✨ Jenny version ✨ Jason version ✨ Tom version ✨ CJ version ✨ Rachel version ✨ Alec version ✨ SDV Leah version

Your phone started to buzz on the table and when you glanced at the screen, you let out a snort. You seriously contemplated letting the call go to voicemail but you figured that would be more trouble than it was worth in the end. You swiped up on the screen and held the phone to your ear.

“Yeah,” You greeted.

“It’s me.”

You rolled your eyes. “I know. What do you want?”

You heard her scoff on the other end. Good, maybe she was finally getting the message. “Wow, bypassing the small talk and getting right to it, huh? Why, I’m doing well, Y/N, and thanks for asking. I’m so glad I called.”

You wiped your hands on a rag. “Cut the crap, Ana. You and I both know you wouldn’t have called if you didn’t need something. So, what do you need?”

She was silent for a moment and you could just imagine the scowl on her face. “I need a ride,” she sniffed.

“A ride?” You nearly laughed. “Last I checked, you’re an angel. Can’t you, you know, fly wherever you need to?” You knew you were being a bit of an ass but you didn’t care; it was better this way.

“You know I can’t fly.” You could practically hear her eyes roll through the phone. “And even if I could, with everything that’s going on right now, it’s better to keep a low profile.”

“Michael’s gone, Ana. Well, that Michael anyway. You don’t need to worry anymore,” you assured her, a bit of compassion leaking from your tone. You couldn’t help it; you’d seen how unsettled she’d been after Michael, who was wearing Dean Winchester at the time, paid her a visit. She’d almost looked scared and as she told you all too often, angels didn’t get scared. It had taken some coaxing (not as much as you expected though) but you managed to finally get her to do the right thing and call Sam Winchester to give him a heads up about his brother’s location as well as Michael’s plan. That was the thing about the angel you were currently on the line with. She talked a big game and pretended she didn’t care, she appeared to only be interested in money, couture, and having the table tilted towards her. However, you knew differently.

For instance, when she counted money, yes she was committing the amount to mind, but she also did it as a nervous tic (which was weird for an angel to have). While as a super-strong celestial being she could brazenly count her money anywhere in front of anyone and never worry, she never did it in front of the people she was helping. “Bad for business.” That’s what she’d told you when you first asked but you noticed that she counted the same bills that she had counted an hour beforehand and the amount hadn’t changed. There was something comforting to her about having the cash in hand, whether because she had been smart and made it on her own, or it gave her a sense of freedom from the existence she had known previously as well as instilling a feeling of value within her. Before she’d been a button pusher and punished for asking questions; now she was a self-made businesswoman and her own boss, answering to no one.

She also appeared to be vain and completely full of herself, thanks to her vessel’s beautiful looks and how she presented herself through the actual Jo. Though through your association together, when she believed you and the others weren’t looking, you caught her healing a hurt child or a sick old woman without asking for any form of payment. You’d gotten to know her and you believed there was a good side to her, when she wasn’t being self-serving that is. But then again what did you know about celestial beings?

Which is what had you straightening up and clearing your throat quietly, removing all softness from your voice. “So you can get someone else to pick you up, hell take an Uber for all I care, but I’m in the middle of something and I can’t just drop everything to come get you whenever the hell you decide to call.”

Silence.

You tossed the rag you had been using onto the workbench. You had been changing the oil on your car, having just arrived back from a particularly brutal case the night before. Maintaining the classic car you drove, keeping to routine, that was your own source of comfort. You waited for her to respond to you, most likely some snippy yet witty reply. Most other hunters might not be willing to risk pissing off an angel, but Ana was no ordinary angel and you weren’t any other hunter. You two might not have the bond Dean Winchester had with Castiel, but you and Ana seemed to share an understanding. Well, most of the time.

“How bad?”

“What?”

“How bad?” She repeated. “The case. How bad was it?”

You hung your head, pressing your lips into a thin line. She definitely knew you more than you gave her credit for. “Pretty bad,” you mumbled.

“Your crew?”

You let out a breath. “Still all accounted for. Though they’ll be taking a well-earned short vacation for the time being.” The truth was you all needed a breather after that.

“Y/N.”

“Yeah?”

“Come pick me up,” she urged, not sounding so demanding this time. “I’m not that far from you.”

This wasn’t a good idea. “Ana, I don’t—”

“Come see me,” she coaxed softly. “You need me, I can tell.”

Your reflex was to automatically protest her words. “I don’t need—” But then you thought about how you hadn’t slept a wink since what happened and how you’d had to consistently bury yourself into something to occupy your mind, trying not to think of the sound of the kids’ screams or how they’d looked after. You also thought about how you were running on fumes, hanging by a thread, and you were struggling really hard to put this one behind you.

“You do,” she insisted, almost as if she heard your thoughts.

You thought it over for a moment. You really could go for a drive, to try to clear your head if for nothing else. But at the same time, you wanted your space and company was the last thing you wanted, especially hers. She had a way of seeing right through you; you supposed it was her being an angel and all. But right now all you wanted to do was curl into yourself and retreat from the world until things in your head made sense again (because the world never would).

“Y/N,” she tried again, her tone still gentle yet also letting you know she wasn’t going to let this go. The more you resisted, the more she was going to push. Even if she did indeed have to get a ride from someone else. You could almost guarantee, somehow, someway, she’d be on your doorstep before the night’s end.

Fuck it. You sighed and moved over to the sink to wash your hands. “What’s the address?”

You watched as Ana approached the old pick-up you’d chosen to drive instead of your car, opting to stay lowkey, and she got in. Her brown eyes were intent on you from the moment she settled into her seat. You knew she could see just how broken you were after last night, how you were barely hanging on, and you hated it.

“Find us a place,” she commanded.

You shot her a look. “Ana…”

“Find one.” Her tone brooked no argument.

You flashed a glare over at her but shifted the truck into gear regardless and did as she said. You knew she wouldn’t let up until you did.

You coasted to a stop and put the truck into park before turning it off. You had found an inconspicuous spot at what looked to be a park for bike riders, power walkers, and wanderers alike. There appeared to be a pond in the middle and ducks were floating along the glassy surface that was studded with flowers and lilypads. The wind rustled through the trees and the sun was just starting to sink down behind the mountains, painting the sky in hues of pink, purple, yellow, and orange — a marriage of shades of color that Man had not been able to replicate entirely, leaving Nature as the sole artist to achieve that palette. It was beautiful and all you could think about was how the family you’d tried to save would never get to see a sky like this ever again (or any sky for that matter). It poured salt into the wound when you spied two young children running around, laughing, as their mother playfully chased after them, smiling wide. You hoped they would stay as happy as they were in this moment and that they would never know the horrors that you knew all too well, that they would never know what existed in the shadows of this world around them, just waiting to gobble them up and snuff them out.

“You’re not injured,” Ana determined, her penetrative gaze still roaming over you. “Not physically at least.”

Your eyes flickered to hers and you gave her a look, but you didn’t say anything before you turned back to the sunset.

You felt her hand begin to cover yours and you moved it quickly away, shifting uncomfortably in your seat. “Ana…”

“Y/N.” She sounded completely unfazed by your pulling away, so much so that you turned to look at her. She was focused on you, her eyes never moving from yours, as she reached out to you. “Let me help,” she urged.

“Ana, I don’t think—”

She huffed out an impatient breath. “That’s your problem. Stop thinking.” She slid closer to you in the bucket seat and her hands framed your face. “Let me help you,” she murmured before leaning in and placing her lips over yours.

As expected, a warm tingly feeling shot through you from where her lips and hands connected to your skin. It was almost like that warm feeling you get in your gut after taking your first shot of liquor that feels like fanning an ember back into a slow-building flame. Though this particular warmth was now throughout every single inch of your body, touching every single cell of your existence. And it grew and grew until a huge wave of warm and light washed over you. Once it did, your head slowly fell back against the headrest and a bright blue-white haze covered your vision. You could see Ana smiling down at you, from her perch on your lap that she had somehow moved into during the kiss. She looked even more beautiful in this light though you still couldn’t see past the face of Jo to Ana’s true form. That disappointed you a little though you expected it. She had told you some time ago that you would never be able to see it, that it was dangerous to humans if they tried and could even prove fatal. It still didn’t mean you didn’t want to see a glimpse of it though someday. You had no idea why you wanted to see it; you just did.

Ana moved some loose strands of hair out of your face. “There. Feel better?”

“Mmm.” You slowly closed your eyes, enjoying the feelings coursing through you. “Much.” It was true. You felt like you could jump out of the truck and go run a 5K or climb the highest mountain without having to take one single break. You even felt like you could swim the English Channel. It was amazing what a little angelic grace could do to the human body.

“Good.” She laid her hands against your cheeks and forced your gaze up to meet hers. You noticed that she was inches from your lips again. “Now, take me somewhere nice.”

The nicest place ended up being a motel on the edge of town (the best room they had of course, one that the clerk assured Ana was cleaned regularly while he looked clearly annoyed that she had the nerve to ask) where you holed up for the next day or so. It was a blur of moans, tender caresses, and grace injections as you’d come to refer to them. Each time you were about to crash, Ana would take your angel blade and cut a tiny slice on the skin of her neck that immediately glowed bluish-white. You loved it when she did that because you would latch your lips to that spot and consume the little bit of grace you could get before the wound closed, and she would arch her back before prettily moaning into your ear, gently holding the back of your head to that spot.

You weren’t a grace junkie as Ana liked to call you sometimes but you couldn’t deny that when she offered up trace amounts of grace like this, especially when you needed a boost, you absolutely took it. In your line of work, with what you’d see on the daily, how could you not take it when offered? The thin thread you’d been hanging on now felt as if it wouldn’t snap so easily, like it had been fortified in steel or something. But at the same time, you hated yourself for allowing the energy into your system, allowing her to be the one to feed it to you, though you would never take it from any other angel.

One of the rare moments in between injections, Ana was laying next to you, holding herself up by her elbow, her head in her hand as she studied you. You were on your back, staring up at the ceiling.

“Feel like talking about it now?”

You briefly glanced over at her, huffing a laugh, as you folded an arm behind your head. “Is that what this was all about? Getting me to talk about it?”

“You were in pain,” she defended.

Your eyes met hers and you could see the tender concern behind them. It always caught you off guard, the genuine care she seemed to have for you. That certainly hadn’t been the case when you two first met. It seemed like a lifetime ago when you’d held an angel blade to her throat, demanding to know where a certain rogue angel was located. And now, here you were…in this very weird space otherwise known as your working relationship.

You supposed she was right; you had been in pain, in a way. You turned your head to stare back up at the ceiling, not wanting to look at Ana for this part. “It was a Rugaru. It got to a family before we could stop it.” You briefly squeezed your eyes shut, not wanting those images to come back. “It was feeding on the two small kids when we got there. The parents were already gone. The screams, Ana…” You shook your head. “We killed it right there. But, um, it was too late for the kids.” You wiped a stray tear that had made its way down your cheek. “They hadn’t even made it to double digits yet.” You clenched your jaw. “We should have figured it out and gotten there sooner.”

Ana tenderly brushed hair away from your face. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“Yeah, it is,” you whispered. “Any other hunter would have picked up on what they were dealing with and saved that family.”

“Okay, first off, that’s not true. Second, you were not the only hunter there. And third, who’s to say if other hunters had been in your place that they would have been able to save the family?”

“They would’ve. Had it been the Winchesters, they definitely would’ve.”

Ana gripped your chin and turned you to look at her. “Don’t do this to yourself. The monster killed that family, not you. And you put an end to it so it will never hurt anyone again. You hunters do more for this flawed world in a week than most people do in their lifetimes. You do more than angels or Heaven or God himself even. You put your life on the line every single day to help people you’ve never met before, to keep them safe. You stand in between them and the monsters. You don’t get paid, you hardly get any thanks, you see some of the worst things that most humans will never see, and yet, you still continue to do it.”

“Isn’t that the job? Saving people, hunting things?” You teased.

She frowned down at you. “Don’t do that. Don’t make light of what I’m saying because you feel uncomfortable.”

“I’m not,” you insisted. “I just…” You threw up a hand, shaking your head.

Her expression softened and she stroked your cheek. “You’re a good person, Y/N, and a good hunter. Don’t ever doubt yourself. You can’t save everyone though you try. By killing that monster, you saved many families. Don’t forget that.”

You pressed your lips together and dropped your gaze. You knew she meant well and she was right, you couldn’t save everyone, but it still was going to take you some time to get past this one. You weren’t the only one feeling that way, either. You weren’t entirely sure if all of the hunters in your group would be coming back, two individuals in particular. They’d been the ones to tend to the kids and hold them as they died while you and the others took down the Rugaru. You couldn’t blame them if they decided to hang it up after this.

Ana gripped your chin a little tighter, making your eyes dart up to her face, and you watched as she studied you, appearing to be contemplating something. Before you could ask what she was thinking, she slowly leaned down and pressed her lips to yours. This time, though, you didn’t feel any grace coursing through your skin.

She pulled away after a few moments and you stared up at her in confusion. Giving you a tender smile, she trailed her finger along your jawline. “I like you, Y/N. You’re one of the better humans I’ve met since I’ve been down here.”

“You like me?” You asked in disbelief.

“Does that surprise you?”

“Um, yeah? I thought you couldn’t stand me most of the time.”

“Not most of the time, just sometimes. I certainly can stomach you more than any other human.”

“Wow. I feel special.”

“You should.” She ran her finger down the bridge of your nose to the tip. “Do you think I go around giving my grace to just anyone?”

“Well, there was Lucifer.”

“That was different,” she snapped.

“You heal a lot of people, which I’m all for by the way.”

She leaned back in. “But they don’t get it directly from the source and they don’t get the perks I give you,” she finished right above your lips before kissing you again. This time, you could feel grace being infused into your skin and running rampant through your system. When she broke away from you, you opened your eyes to find that familiar bluish-white haze covering your vision. It was like seeing in 20/20 vision, only a hundred thousand times better.

Ana ran a finger along your lips and as always, you could feel the touch that much more, sending tingles through your body. Glancing up at her, you started thinking about other touches and how they would feel magnified like this. Then you remembered what some people usually did to feel alive again after seeing death and how fleeting life could be.

Within seconds, you were sitting up and you grabbed her and moved her to your lap, very aware that she had let you do it. You saw her smirking down at you as she framed your face with your hands.

“You know, you say you like me but I’m wondering just how much.”

“Oh really?”

“I think we should find out.” You yanked her closer against you and she shook her head, smirking even wider. You tugged the back of her hair, forcing her to arch her neck and she let out a tiny gasp. You knew it was more for theatrical effect than anything else.

“Don’t forget, this is Mulberry silk,” she warned you. “You get blood on it, I’ll kill you, no matter if I like you.”

You used your free hand to place a finger to her lips. “You’re talking way too much. All I want to hear out of this mouth right now are the pretty sounds you make or you begging me for more.” Normally, unless you were in the bedroom you didn’t talk like this, but you could feel the grace fueling everything deep within you, even your ego.

“I won’t be begging.”

“You will,” you whispered into her ear before nibbling on the lobe. “I’ll make sure of it.”

You grabbed the angel blade and created a tiny slice in her skin, seeing the grace peeking out at you from within. Ana placed her hands on your shoulders but she didn’t resist as you swiped your tongue over the wound. “I hate you,” she finished in a moan.

You huffed out a laugh when you felt her pull you closer, her fingers winding into your hair to hold you to her. “You have a weird way of showing that.” You dropped the angel blade on the floor and moved in for the kill.

You had been right; not only did you get Ana to beg, you felt everything a hundred million times more than you normally would. And she had been right; not only did she like you, the shattered glass littering the room and the car horns blaring outside when you were finished proved just how much.

You licked your lips nervously as you parked the pickup, your body having returned to its normal state less than an hour ago. “Listen,” you started. “That was a one time thing.”

Ana turned a smirk onto you, knowing full well how this little back and forth went between you afterwards. “No. It wasn’t.”

“Yeah, it was.”

She turned in her seat to fully face you, laying a hand on your shoulder. “It wasn’t the last few times it happened and it won’t be the next few times. Not to mention we have another motel we nearly destroyed.” She squeezed your shoulder. “I know you don’t want to admit it to yourself, but you like me, too.”

Your jaw tightened and you glared at her, but kept quiet.

She leaned in and you didn’t stop her when she kissed you, no grace involved this time. “Now, you go enjoy your well-deserved break from hunting. Me? I’ve got some business to take care of.” She inclined her head towards the church you were dropping her off at, the sign welcoming Sister Jo, the faith healer. “I’ll call you when I’m finished.”

You watched as she got out of the truck and turned back to you, resting her hand on the open window ledge. Her smirk was cocky, knowing, but her eyes appeared a little softer when she trained them on you. “Until then, Y/N.” She shot you a wink and then walked away.

You watched as she made her way into the church. You thought over what she said. Yeah, you liked her, but you weren’t about to admit that to her. It didn’t matter if she admitted it to you first. She was still an angel, a fallen angel who lied when it suited her and money was the name of the game for her. At least on the outside. But the Ana you’d gotten to know over the last year, ever since you’d crossed her path in your quest for revenge against one of her fallen brothers who had murdered your hunting partner…she was different and she was who you liked. You just wished…well, that things could be different. That she wasn’t an angel and that you could have met some other way. But no matter what you wished, this was your reality and there was no changing it. Ana was an angel and you were having whatever this was with one. If your old hunting partner could see you now…

You shook that thought out of your head and started the pickup, driving away from the church, headed back to your place. You told yourself for the millionth time that the next time Ana called you, you wouldn’t pick up. But a part of you knew that you would, and this scenario would play out again, as it had many times before. You knew she was right and you hated her for that. The disappointment you felt at yourself knew no bounds.

You switched on the radio, picking a familiar song and choosing to get lost in the music instead of your thoughts. Until then.

Please let me know if you would like to be tagged for this character.

dividers by @firefly-graphics

banner by @cafekitsune

Main Masterlist

Main Tag List Submission Form

21 notes · View notes

goldeneyedgirl · 9 months

Text

TwiFicmas23 Day 10: Hybrid AU

Good evening! I had my first drink in a hot minute tonight and it has hit me like a battering ram, so we're doing this fast because I am definitely feeling the effects.

Tonight's is some old Hybrid; it'll be pretty obvious why this ended up being archived (and I honestly don't know if this counts as Hybrid or Hybrid baby-verse).

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy it!

tw: mention of miscarriage

After the Cullens left, I was kind of at a loss. I know they hoped Bella and I would stick together, but that didn’t happen.

Simon and Dad were sympathetic and let me mope around the house a bit. But I was exhausted. I was sleeping sixteen hours a day when I had the opportunity and still felt like I had pulled an all-nighter. My schoolwork was fairly average but enough that no one called Dad. I managed to scrape enough energy together to help plan Cynthia’s fifteenth birthday party, and then Thanksgiving.

It was Christmas Day when I figured out what was wrong with me. I was exhausted all the time, and eating ridiculous amounts of food but still looked like a prisoner of war. I got out of bed and went into the bathroom, getting on the scales to find out that I’d lost another two pounds. Simon would notice soon, and I had no idea what to tell him.

And then I spied Cynthia’s box of tampons on the shelf, and I had to brace myself on the counter for a moment. My period was a rare and unwelcome visitor, and hardly a trustworthy indicator of anything but... it made sense.

“Oh, Alice, honey, this arrived for you a couple of days ago,” Simon said, plucking a small box from under the tree. It was still in its mailing box, with my name and address typed on the label but no return address or indication of who it was from.

Inside was a small black jewelry box, and for a second, I thought perhaps Jasper had sent me something. I hoped he’d sent me something. Even just a letter would have fixed everything.

I ripped into it, and the contents spilled into my lap, and it took me a moment to understand what I was looking at. It was a silver sun charm on a black ribbon, with smaller stars dotted along the band, though one was missing.

It had been my mother’s. I remembered her wearing it; she'd never taken it off. I could see the stain of blood on the ribbon, the frayed edge where the knife bit into her, and for a moment, the room swam.

“Who is it from?” Dad asked curiously.

I put the necklace down with shaking hands, trying hard to act normal, and plucked the card up. It was black too, with a white crest – the shield, candle, and compass of the Benoits, the Latin motto running along the bottom – Ex Deus Veritas. Truth in God, coined by the Order.

On the back of the card, the message was short.

Our best wishes of the season to you and your family, Mary-Alice.

Meaning: we know where you and your family are.

The bag I packed was like so many others. Basic, warm clothing; my first aid kit, a new phone I had bought in Port Angeles, money. I had ordered a ton of gift cards over the internet, since they weren’t traceable. Nothing sentimental was meant to come with me, but in the end, I saved a photograph of Jasper and I to my new phone.

And then I left Forks.

it sounds all fun and luxurious to say I ran off to Hawaii.

The truth was, Mexico would have been way better but with the vampire and Order problem down there, I chose the one place in America you are least likely to get cornered by a vampire: Hawaii.

Specifically Paukaa, which was home to less than 600 people. I was nothing more than another post-high school traveler who decided to stay. I rented a tiny one-room place from a family and got a job at a café. It was quiet and safe and I settled into a mind-numbing existence.

I hadn’t contacted anyone back in Forks or even checked my email. As far as everyone was concerned, Mary-Alice Brandon had disappeared for the last time – I half-hoped they’d declare me dead.

I was Mary Hale here.

It was a little embarrassing, yes, taking Jasper’s fake surname, but it kept me hidden because I doubted anyone would think to run a search on that name. And none of the Cullens called me ‘Mary’ anyway.

It had been a few months. The hardest. When the test came back positive, I had tried to find the Denali clan in Alaska, to pass on a message to the Cullens. To find help.

I got close - so close. I made it to Anchorage after almost two weeks of traveling; I didn't have a lot of money, I didn't want my fake I.D. questioned too much, and I was terrified I was being followed and kept double-backing and waiting to throw any stalkers off my trail. I was pretty sick by then, but I was certain I would make it. Hell, I'd broken into the Cullens' before I'd left and found a map in Carlisle's study that had helped me narrow down the Denali home a lot.

Then I woke up in the Anchorage ER with the news I’d collapsed on the street and miscarried.

I didn’t know what to do with that information.

I probably should have gone home to Forks and my Dad and pretended it had never happened. Or actually tracked down the Denali clan and demanded they get me in contact with the Cullens anyway. But the Benoits knew where my family was, and I just couldn’t. I didn’t want to see anyone I knew before ever again. I didn’t want to look them in the eyes and have to explain everything. I didn’t want to be Alice Brandon anymore.

So I didn’t. As soon as they released me from the hospital, I bought the first plane ticket to Hawaii. Actually, it was the next scheduled flight. They could have flown me to the moon, and I didn’t care.

That had been in January. It was now August, and it seemed surreal to me now. It felt like a movie I’d watched. Sad, but distant. It was easier to pretend it had happened to someone else, and just focus on each day. I had enough problems to deal with - I still hadn't managed to gain back any weight, probably because I was a shitty cook living on a diet of orange juice and minute-ramen; I barely made enough to cover my cost of living and had no particular way of getting a better job; and I barely slept, plagued with nightmares.

And now I was dreaming again, the truth had slammed into my head. Bella was in so much danger. Victoria was coming for her with a newborn army, and the Cullens were long gone.

I couldn't stay away and let Bella die - let that newborn army descend upon Forks without warning.

If nothing else, I had to protect Bella. And my family. Worst-case scenario, I could trade myself for the safety of others. I could try and take Victoria, though she would most likely win, especially when I was so weak and out of shape. Death sounded very peaceful.

Maybe I’d see my baby there. And Mom.

I didn’t tell anyone I was coming home. I told the café I had a ‘sick family member’, and I didn’t know if I’d be back. I gave the same story to the family I rented my place from. And then I packed up, bought the cheapest airline ticket I could get, and went home again.

When I slept on the plane, I realized the Cullens had come back to Forks. Bella was better protected than I anticipated, but they still didn’t know what was coming for them. Not to mention the danger that Simon, Dad, and Cynthia were in.

I didn’t look like much. My hair was shorter than I had ever worn it, and I was the thinnest I had ever been - that was including the years I spent in the hospital and on the street. Dark circles had set up residence underneath my eyes. I was wearing the only pair of jeans that I fitted me, and they were wearing thin. My sweater had shrunk, leaving a bare panel of skin between my waistband and the frayed hemline. And my sneakers were held together with hope and super glue.

Rather than go home and deal with Simon and Dad, I went straight to the Cullens.

It was Esme who opened the door, blinked and gasped, pulling me into a hug I couldn’t return.

“Oh, Alice, where have you been?” Esme pulled away, smoothing my hair back from my face. “We’ve all be so worried! Come in, Jasper is going to be over the moon to see you.”

I managed a quivering smile as Esme drew me into the house, into the living room where everyone was gathered, everyone’s eyes on me.

“Alice…” Jasper went from standing in the corner to at my side, pulling me into his arms, my body stiff as I reluctantly curled against him, breathing in his scent of forest and books and something indistinguishably him. “Darlin’, where have you been?”

I just shook my head. If I spoke, I’d start crying and I’d never stop. When Jasper pulled away, he must have seen that in my face and reached up to cradle my cheek. “Are you alright?” he murmured and I let out a shuddering breath.

“You’re in danger,” I managed, pulling away from Jasper reluctantly. “Victoria is returning, she’s in the area and she has her eye on Bella. And the Benoits are coming – to destroy you, the Quiluetes, and my family.”

An hour later, Esme had put a plate of food in front of me, looking worried. I was eating, my stomach twisting at the invasion of food that wasn't bought at a convenience store.

The pasta was good, but I couldn’t enjoy it.

Dad and Simon had been so grateful that I was home, there were no questions or accusations. Just more food, a shower, and bed. Simon had checked on me half a dozen times, looking so worried.

I slept badly, shallowly, my dreams twisted around the baby, the hospital. Terror and pain that I didn’t know were memories or imagined suffering. I dreamt of blood and misery, and woke up screaming twice – the first time, I wasn’t even awake when Dad came in to try and sooth me; I woke up with him half-rocking me, smoothing my hair back and trying to calm my sobs and screams.

“It’s going to be okay, sweetheart,” he murmured.

“I wish I had died,” I sobbed, half-asleep.

“Oh, honey, don’t ever say that,” Dad said.

He managed to get me back to sleep, my hair sticking to my clammy face, before I woke up screaming again, and Simon managed to get me to take something, leaving me in a soupy state that at least kept me quiet so everyone else could sleep.

I didn’t stir again til nearly dawn, my dreams blood-splattered and full of desperation. The drugs left me boneless and vulnerable, and when I finally opened my eyes, I couldn’t scream or call for help or do anything but lie there, staring at the ceiling. My hand lay on the pillow beside me, but I stared at it as if it wasn’t even mine.

I ended up dozing a little; clearly enough that my visions kicked in – I could see Carlisle, Esme, and Jasper arriving at the house, Dad and Simon looking grim. Well, Dad looked miserable and old. Simon had this professional nurse ‘this is bad’ face on.

“How is she?” Carlisle asked, after they were invited in.

“Broken,” Dad murmured, looking worn out and distressed.

“Screaming night terrors,” Simon clarified, putting his arms around my father’s shoulders. “I ended up giving her some Valium – we’d get her back to sleep, and minutes later, the screaming would start again.”

“You drugged her?” Jasper demanded, a dangerous look in his eyes.

“We didn’t have a choice. It was Valium or I called 911,” Simon said gently. “I couldn’t treat someone for trauma in my own house at midnight. Hell, I couldn’t treat someone for trauma without a doctor present. The Valium prescription was one of Alice’s when she arrived. And she needed sleep.”

“She kept telling us she wished she had died,” Dad added. “Over and over again. It’s all she would say.”

Esme and Carlisle looked shaken, but Jasper had just shut down entirely.

I managed to drag myself out of bed, and into the shower, but eschewed clothing for a clean pair of pajama bottoms and tee, running my fingers through my hair. It needed to be washed.

My chest felt tight as I sat down in front of the food Simon had made for me. Simon was still cooking, with Dad, Carlisle, Esme, and Jasper gathered around the island with me.

I felt hollow and exhausted as I considered the plate of fruit and yogurt, along with two slices of toast. I managed a small bite and felt the cool cloud of Jasper’s gift seeping into myself, not bothering to resist.

“Where have you been, Alice?” Dad asked gently.

I flinched, and then rearranged my expression again, poking some melon with my fork. “Away,” I said softly. “Somewhere safe.”

“You weren’t safe here?” Simon asked.

I brought another bite of food to my mouth to avoid answering the question; I didn’t want to say it, but they were all watching me.

“Not anymore. Not after Christmas,” I mumbled into my fruit.

Finally, I gave up. I got up and left the table, padding up to my bedroom, where my backpack was. The folded piece of paper was filthy and crumpled, but still legible, thankfully.

No one was expecting me to return to the kitchen, clearly. I slid the folded paper across to Simon and Carlisle.

Jasper would be disgusted with me. That I’d only gotten sick because he’d left me and I had been trying to find them when they didn’t want to be found. I always knew I was twisted up and ruined inside, thanks to Mommy Dearest, but this was the proof. I had had an opportunity to give Jasper the one impossible thing, and I had fucking failed.

I missed him, I needed him. He was my other half, the lost fragment. And in two short steps, I was curled in his rather startled arms, my face half-buried in his shirt.

It took Simon and Carlisle only a moment to decipher the medical shorthand, and Simon looked up at me in horror. Carlisle just looked so sad. I let out a shuddering breath, breathing in Jasper’s scent, and waited.

“Oh, kiddo,” Simon said, looking heartbroken. “Alice, why didn’t you tell us?”

“What?” Dad said, squinting at the paper.

“Alice, have you seen a doctor since?” Carlisle asked kindly. I shook my head.

“Okay, you need to be checked out, as soon as possible,” he said.

I didn’t have any energy left, and went back upstairs. It felt like cheating, to have Carlisle and Simon to tell everyone, to do my dirty work. But the idea of voicing those thoughts, those words, made my stomach twist tightly.

My bed was cool and smelt like home. It was good to be here, to be back. That was what I was telling myself.

#alice cullen #jasper hale #jalice #ficmas #ficmas23 #my fic: hybrid #my fic: hybrid baby-verse #no more drinking before ficmas posts - my newest rule #angst

15 notes · View notes

aquietwritingcorner · 7 months

Text

Presumed Dead

Title: Presumed Dead Day: Febuwhump 2024, Day 23 Prompt: Presumed Dead Fandom: TMNT 2003 Word Count: 1995 Author: aquietwritingcorner/realitybreakgirl Rating: T Characters: April O’Neil, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello Warning: SAINW Summary: Going through Shredder’s stronghold was a disturbing process to begin with. But one unexpected discovery answers decades old questions and brings a little hope. Notes: Haha, playing with some of those Peter Laird original SAINW ideas again ^^; ff.net || AO3

_________________________

Presumed Dead

April should have learned long ago not to presume anyone was dead. Unless she saw the body and had it confirmed—like with Splinter, with Casey—then she really needed to stop making presumptions that people were dead.

She had almost lost her family that way. After the final attack on Shredder—one in which she watched the Shredder get atomized—she had presumed that the remaining brothers were all dead. It was only by sheer luck that she had somehow found Stockman still alive, although not Hun, and he had informed her that the brothers still had a chance. She had already called in backup to come and go through Shredder’s stronghold, so when they got there, they had immediately done what they could to save the brothers.

In the end, they had found some pods that looked as if they were for either for healing or stasis and, put the brothers in them. They didn’t know if it would work, but they did know that if they did nothing, the brothers would die, so it was worth the risk.

And then the work of freeing the Utrom slaves and fighting back against the human opposition had begun.

That had been months ago, nearly a year at this point. The freed Utroms had turned on their captors, and the rebels and the people had joined in. Anyone who had joined or worked for Shredder of their own volition was thrown into jail, if someone didn’t kill them first. Some were just as enslaved as the Utroms, and for those, more compassion was had. The freed Utroms had sent some people back to their own home world, to free it, now that it was possible, trying to make sense of and recover from the decades-long rule of the Shredder. They had, as soon as they were able, sent back help, including doctors that were able to save the turtles, although they still had to spend time healing.

All of that had taken nearly a year. It was only now that they had the time to really go through the stronghold. It was a strange, disturbing task. Shredder had kept all sorts of things as trophies, from the most famous artwork and rarest items of a planet to the bodies of his enemies, taxidermized like some sort of animals. He had storehouses of food, and clean, unspoiled water. The technology that was within the stronghold was amazing, and a lot of it was already being used in the wider world, to try to clean it up.

April had faded from her leadership position as old leaders who had experience had risen up to try to restore order to the world. April didn’t mind. She had never wanted to be something like that anyway. All she had wanted was a free world again. She had that now, and so she spent her time focused on the task of dismantling the Shredder’s stronghold. She had a whole crew working on it, and, sometimes, the guys joined her too. It wasn’t always easy, but they were settling into their new normal.

And then it all got turned upside down.

It started when Angel had stumbled up to her, face pale, and grasped April’s arm.

“April, you’ve got to come with me!” she said. She looked around, noting the other turtles there, too. “All of you!”

“Angel? What is it?” April asked, grasping Angel’s arm in return. Angel was a seasoned fighter, battle hardened. Nothing much shook her. But whatever this was, it had shaken her deeply.

Angel just shook her head and pulled April along beside her. April followed, and the boys dropped what they were going and followed. Angel took them down corridors, back into what they were learning were Shredder’s personal rooms. They had found the most twisted things here, and April’s heart sank into her feet as Angel pulled her along, moving quickly and urgently. Whatever Angel found, it couldn’t have been good.

She led them down a few hallways and through a few doors, snapping at some people to clear a path before she brought April and the guys to a stop in front of a glowing cryotube.

And that was when April decided that she should absolutely never presume someone was dead.

She heard the sharp intake of breath behind her and turned to see the brothers staring at the container, their eyes wide.

“No way,” Mike breathed out.

“Is—is that—” Leo said.

“Donnie…” Raph said, stepping forward and putting his hand on the container.

“We found him,” Angel explained. “We almost missed this room, because it was hidden, but when we found him, I knew I had to go find all of you. The Utroms say that he’s in a cryogenic sleep. It looks like he was frozen alive, but—and here’s the kicker—he’s still alive. They think they can revive him, although they want to do it on one of their medical frigates and not here.”

“Yes,” Mike blurted out. “Yes! Absolutely!”

“You mean, he’s alive,” Leo said. “He’s alive and he’s been alive this whole time and we just didn’t know?”

“Bring him back,” Raph said. “He deserves to be alive again.”

And so, the decision was made.

An Utrom medical frigate had been in orbit above Earth for the better part of a year now. Donatello’s cryotube was transported to it. Tests were run and simulations thought through. The brothers never left his side, and April seldom did either. She couldn’t help but reflect on just how scared Donnie looked in there—or how young. After all, this was a Donatello from thirty years ago. And not, presumably, the one that had visited them.

Very quickly, the tests were finished, and the process was ready to begin. The Utroms were very careful, not sure what the long-term effects of being in cryogenic stasis this long would be. He was brought out of it, and then put in a bed to wake up slowly, his brothers all gathered around him.

“He looks so young,” Mike said, staring at Donnie.

“That’s cause he is,” Raph said.

“He got taken when we were seventeen,” Leo said. “From what I can tell, he doesn’t look any older than that.”

“He doesn’t,” Raph said.

Mike stared at him. “So. All this time when we thought he had abandoned us… when we blamed him... He was really Shredder’s prisoner all along.”

“When you blamed him, Mike,” Raph said. “I never thought he abandoned us.”

Mike tensed. “I don’t think so, Raphael. I remember you throwing a fit and yelling about how he left and how stupid it was!”

Raph tensed in return. “That was different!” he said, sweeping his arm around as if to prove his point. “I was talking about whatever it was that got him in trouble, not him just up and leaving us of his own free will!”

“Same difference, isn’t it?” Mike yelled back, squaring off against Raph. “Either way, he left us!”

“Guys cut it out!” Leo’s voice cut through the argument, and both brothers turned their ire on him.

“Nuh-uh, Leo, you don’t give me orders—”

“Like you have room to talk—”

“No!” he said and pointed towards Donnie. “No, I mean, cut it out, and look!”

That shut both brothers up, and the two of them looked towards the bed. Don was starting to let out little noises, like he was trying to wake up. April watched as his brow furrowed and his beak scrunched up, his head turning from side to side slightly. Everyone in the room seemed to be holding their breath.

After a few seconds, Don opened his eyes. He blinked them a little bit, as if trying to focus, before a look of confusion settled on his face. He looked down at himself, and then, finally over to the side.

“Guys?” he said, sounding confused. “Where am I?”

For half a beat, no one said anything. And then Leo stepped forward, falling back into his leader role as if it was only natural now that all four of them were together again.

“Take it easy, Donnie,” he said. “A lot has happened.”

Don’s eyes widened as he took in Leo, and he tried to sit up, only to overbalance and nearly fall off the bed. In a flash, Raph and Mikey were both there, sitting him up again. Don pulled in a sharp breath as he looked at his brothers.

“What—what’s happened?” he said, and April could hear the confusion and the fear clearly in the young voice. “You all look so old and—And Leo, your face. Raph, your eye. Mikey… your arm.” He shook his head. “I don’t—April?”

His eyes landed on her, and she smiled at him. “That’s me, Donnie.”

Don swayed in their grip again, and the brothers steadied him. “I don’t… I don’t understand. What’s happening? And why do I feel so lightheaded.”

“Probably because you’ve been in cryogenic stasis for over thirty years,” Mike said. “You should lie down.”

“Over thirty years?” Don said, staring at them all. “I don’t—how?”

“What’s the last thing you remember, Don?” Leo asked him.

Don looked thoughtful. “Well…”

Slowly Don started tracing his memories, going over how he had seen a sensor out when he was up late, and had gone to fix it, only to be ambushed and taken prisoner by the Foot. He’d been captured and thrown before the Shredder, but after that the memories were a little fuzzy and incomplete. He was fairly certain that he was interrogated, and he was sure it went on for multiple days. And then he was treated well, and his injuries tended to. The last thing he remembered was being put in to that cryotube, and knowing he had no way out.

The brothers and April explained what had happened to the world since then, how Shredder had taken it over, how the family had fallen apart, how the resistance had come together, and how the Shredder was finally beaten.

“There’s—there’s so much,” Don finally said, after they all sat there in silence for a few minutes. “To me, just last week we were playing Mario in the lair, and now I wake up and I’m in this—this—this post-apocalyptic world where nothing is right, and I find out that my family fell apart, and my father was killed because I wasn’t there.” He ran a shaking hand over his face. “I don’t even know how to process this.” He frowned. “And I can’t stop shaking.”

“That’s probably some cryosickness,” April said. “With most people it fades with time, although I don’t think anyone’s ever been in there as long as you have.”

“I don’t recommend it,” he murmured. He looked up at his family. “So, what now? What happens now?”

The three brothers shifted uncomfortably, so April took the lead. “Well first off, mister, you’re going to stay here and make sure that you’re all good. No one knows the effects of being in cryostasis for as long as you were. And second of all,” she glanced at the other turtles in the room. “I think you four have a lot to talk through.”

“We can’t deny that one,” Raph said.

“That’s the truth,” Leo muttered.

“Then you’d better get to it,” April said. “You’ve got a second chance. I suggest you take it.”

Mike glanced at the floor and then up again, his gaze quickly bouncing from Donnie to April. “Yeah,” he said. “We can try.”

April nodded. “Good. I’ll leave you four alone,” she said. “I’ve got some more work to do.”

She left the brothers then, knowing that they had a long, hard road to go down, with decades of built-up resentment and issues. But if anyone could get past that, her boys could. And April could only hope that it would lead to a better future for them all.

#Febuwhump2024 #FebuwhumpDay23 #TMNT #TMNT 2003 #TMNT 2k3 #SAINW #TMNT Donatello #tmnt april o'neil #tmnt leonardo #tmnt raphael #tmnt michelangelo #tmnt fanfic #tmnt fan fiction

7 notes · View notes

kerink · 2 years

Text

so i relistened to 219 and am ready to talk about it

cecil first asked What do I not know, that I should know? and pulled the 12 of birds, followed by 3 listener questions

lets talk about the imagery in the card. scarecrow, multiple types of birds, yarn, and innards. scarecrows represent depression. blue jays represent cockiness/arrogance/overlooking, falcons represent focus on goals and ambitions, and pigeons represent taking blame for the actions of others as well as gossip/news. pumpkins represent being open and receptive. yarn can represent distress caused from monotony. and innards represent compassion.

taken together i think we can make a clear argument this card is trying to tell cecil he's unaware of how his positive qualities have turned into negative ones (Likely this is a pumpkin, but it evokes an open wound.) and that his actions, or inactions, are hurting himself.

this is further underscored by cecil following this card up with 3 letters from listeners (the first of whom being named robin [which represent sacrifice]) calling him and carlos out on either doing nothing about janet or accusing them of colluding with her.

cecil believes this card represents him being pulled in different directions (loyalty to his town, and to carlos) and that if people know he holds no power, that he can't do anything, they'll assume he's sided with the enemy and turn on him.

cecil then asked What do I know that I should not know? and pulled the shadow of the leopard, followed by discussion of doubles and their relationship to their counterpart

the imagery for this card is black leopard and the colors blue and grey. leopards represent the overcoming of obstacles however a black leopard represents that you're trying to hide or conceal your true self. blue represents protection/freedom and grey represents balance.

it's interesting cecil doesn't try to interpret this card despite it, theoretically, being something he knows. i don't have to say it though, right? the calm, comforting smile of the primary leopard seeing shelter and a mate, compared to the fearful or violent posture of the shadow. the sun and moon imagery, the connection between them despite Is the shadow the leopard’s shadow? Or is it a different entity entirely? Or is it an alternate version of the leopard?

it's kevin, right, we can all see that? especially followed up with dana, kareem, and fink forming a what? doubles support group? and kareem and fink going to lubelle for help and she tells them accept that you… are simply you.

in triptych kevin muses about what his life would have been like if things had been different for him, about his connection to cecil that could have been and never was. (he also briefly touches on this in one of the patreon bonuses)

and cecil replies: A counterpart that never was. A friend that I never had. A life that was never lived.

there's almost a radical acceptance to this card, that we must accept ourselves as we are despite the hardships that come with it.

finally cecil asked What is not knowable at all? and pulled the 5 of rakes, followed by discussion of cecil's lack of father and a callback to the redwood forest

rakes symbolize taking direction in your life, and the number five symbolizes curiosity and change

if you know me you know that i believe bedtime story was about cecil, and this card is pointing there for me as well. the core tenant of bedtime story was there was a boy who was so curious about the world he couldn't pick a direction in his life, he was then tricked by an angel into becoming a tree.

we already have a strong connection linking cecil to trees from it sticks with you but now we have a boy who looks exactly like cecil hiding in a pile of leaves.

But why five rakes? And only one boy? mr and mrs palmer, cal, abby, and cecil makes five

particularly following this up with a callback to cecil's possible father (ala it doesn't hold up)

cecil's past and his family ARE unknowable to him, and whatever dark secret his past contains and whatever is buried, he'll never find out

#wtnv #wtnv spoilers /#wtnv meta

101 notes · View notes

melonsmagic · 11 months

Text

So I got this tattoo 10/14 and just now am I finally looking up the significance of 13 and I'm like 🥺🔮😍 at the spiritual meanings / magical meaning of 13. And I wanted to share what I found :)

The number 13 has strong vibrational energy and can be a signifier of change. As it's blessed with divine feminine energy, it also earmarks shifting cycles and can celebrate the end of one era and the start of something new. The number 13 can signify growth which is why it is sometimes seen during difficult times. Life can be a rollercoaster, and rough patches are inevitable, but this number reminds us that by keeping a positive outlook, we can come through to the other side of these tough times and take the cycle of lessons that can lead us forward.

One of the big messages behind angel number 13 is all about nurturing positive energy and not letting a bad experience, toxic people, or unnecessary tension drag you down. Instead, this number asks you to channel your all-important energy toward recognizing the good things. When we foster a positive mindset, we are more awakened to the beautiful life we are living, and we become a magnet for manifesting the things we need and want.

But now I'm also going to look up the numerology. :P

The number 13 is also a highly self-sufficient number which means you are the main driver of your own fate and hold a lot of power over your direction.

(I realize I need to know my numerology that'll be a different post I guess...)

The law of attraction reminds us that what we think, we become. Our thoughts are more than fleeting - they can help us to create our reality. Therefore, if you are constantly thinking in negative spirals, you are more likely to wish bad things into being or to attract bad energy. The same goes for spinning positive energy. Angel number 13 is all about hard work, love, compassion, and manifesting change. If you see this number, it means that now is the right time to be looking carefully at where your thoughts are leading you, and maybe now is the right moment to tap into those psychic abilities to help bring your dreams to fruition.

🌜Moon significance 🌙

Moon Phase and Crystal Pairings:

Different moon phases might call for specific crystal energies. Here’s a quick guide:

New Moon: Black Tourmaline for grounding and setting intentions.

Waxing Crescent: Citrine for motivation and taking action.

First Quarter: Red Jasper for courage and overcoming challenges.

Waxing Gibbous: Amethyst for spiritual growth and intuition.

Full Moon: Moonstone or Clear Quartz for amplification and celebration.

Waning Gibbous: Lapis Lazuli for introspection and sharing wisdom

Last Quarter: Smoky Quartz for releasing and detoxifying.

Waning Crescent: Rose Quartz for self-love and relaxation.

Crystal Moon Elixirs:

Elixirs are waters charged with the essence of a crystal, and when made under a specific moon phase, they can pack a powerful punch.

Place a cleansed crystal (make sure it’s safe for water immersion) in a glass of water. Let it sit under the moonlight overnight. The next day, you have a lunar-charged crystal elixir ready to be consumed or used in rituals.

And listen these past few months have been rough. So to read this article and know this is the meaning (not that it's unlucky cause fuck that. But I also love the twisted dark of it too). Plus I think these two messages are just good reminders to myself. :)

And also hey look at my tattoo it also has the moon in it. I can tell you all about her cause you know why she is my girlfriend. She is also a divine feminine spirit 🌙

2 notes · View notes

roman-catholic-mass-readings · 2 years

Text

2nd March >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Thursday, First Week of Lent

(Liturgical Colour: Violet: Year A (1))

First Reading Esther 4:17 I am alone, Lord, and have no-one but you.

Queen Esther took refuge with the Lord in the mortal peril which had overtaken her. She besought the Lord God of Israel in these words:

‘My Lord, our King, the only one, come to my help, for I am alone and have no helper but you and am about to take my life in my hands.

‘I have been taught from my earliest years, in the bosom of my family, that you, Lord, chose Israel out of all the nations and our ancestors out of all the people of old times to be your heritage for ever; and that you have treated them as you promised.

‘Remember, Lord; reveal yourself in the time of our distress.

‘As for me, give me courage, King of gods and master of all power. Put persuasive words into my mouth when I face the lion; change his feeling into hatred for our enemy, that the latter and all like him may be brought to their end.

‘As for ourselves, save us by your hand, and come to my help, for I am alone and have no one but you, Lord.’

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 137(138):1-3,7-8

R/ On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart: you have heard the words of my mouth. In the presence of the angels I will bless you. I will adore before your holy temple.

R/ On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

I thank you for your faithfulness and love, which excel all we ever knew of you. On the day I called, you answered; you increased the strength of my soul.

R/ On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

You stretch out your hand and save me, your hand will do all things for me. Your love, O Lord, is eternal, discard not the work of your hands.

R/ On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation Joel2:12-13

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God! Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks – come back to me with all your heart, for I am all tenderness and compassion. Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Or:

Psalm 50:12,14

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God! A pure heart create for me, O God, and give me again the joy of your help. Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Gospel Matthew 7:7-12 Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find.

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. Is there a man among you who would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or would hand him a snake when he asked for a fish? If you, then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

‘So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

2 notes · View notes

rainsmediaradio · 9 months

Text

RCCG Open Heaven For Teens 21st December 2023 – You Are Watched.

TOPIC: You Are Watched. Read:HEBREWS 12:1-3 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Memorise: Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of weaknesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

TEENS OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THURSDAY 21ST DECEMBER 2023

Every Christian is called to run a race that is personal, therefore, no one will help you run your race. Our memory verse for today makes it clear that we are surrounded by witnesses, which comprise of saints who achieved great feats on earth for God: they are watching all our moves. Some of them were mentioned in Hebrews 11. Therefore, the truth is that how you run your race matters because someday, you will be a reference point. I planned to visit our Church in Philadelphia some years ago. The pastor-in-charge, who was very excited, broke the news to her family immediately she got home. Her younger son asked if I would come to their house, and she replied with a ‘yes’. Then he said, “I am in trouble; the moment Pastor Adeboye enters this house, he would know every bad thing I have done.” The boy had forgotten that God was in that house. God is everywhere, and He sees everything. So, my child, run your race with this mentality because God and a cloud of witnesses are watching you even when there is no one around. OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 21 DECEMBER 2023 KEY POINT In your ‘private moment’. you are watched by angels, a cloud of witnesses, demons, and the Trinity. Invariably, you don’t have any private moment. OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 21 DECEMBER 2023 HYMN HYMN 15 – ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS 1. Onward, Christian soldiers! Marching as to war, Looking unto Jesus, Who is gone before; Christ, the Royal Master, Leads against the foe; Forward into battle, See His banners go. CHORUS Onward, Christian soldiers! Marching as to war, Looking unto Jesus, Who is gone before. 2. At the name of Jesus Satan’s host doth Ilee; On then, Christian soldiers On to victory! Hell’s foundations quiver At the shout of praise: Brothers, lift your voices, Loud your anthems raise. 3. Like a mighty army Moves the Church of God: Brothers, we are treading Where the saints have trod. We are not divided, All one body we One in hope and doctrine, One in charity. 4. Crowns and thrones may perish Kingdoms rise and wane; But the Church of Jesus Constant will remain: Gates of hell can never ‘Gainst that church prevail; We have Christ’s own promise- And that cannot fail. 5. Onward then, ye people, Join our happy throng; Blend with ours your voices In the triumph song: “Glory, praise and honour, Unto Christ the King”, This, through countless ages, Men and angels sing. OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 21 DECEMBER 2023 BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: JAMES 1-5 Read the full article

#OpenHeavensForTeen

0 notes

kathyprior4200 · 10 months

Text

Heavenly Boss S1 E6: Lying Inductees

The two agents stood and stared in disbelief as the portal closed and the blue light vanished, a blue compass symbol blinking away.

“So, what now?” asked Agent Two.

“What now?!” Agent One beamed with his hands out. “We finally got the evidence we needed to be taken seriously!”

With a swoop of his hand, he cleared a space in front of him. Among the ruined bloodstained pipes, he typed rapidly on a keyboard. Four camera screens lit up after static appeared. The first one showed Blitzo and Moxxie fighting the agents, the second one displayed Millie fighting with her ax. The third showed Loona fighting a guy with a curved sword and the fourth showed in red, Stolas appearing in his demon form, the agents cowering.

Under the flickering rectangular ceiling light, the two agents smiled and put on their sunglasses at the same time.

Agent One paused the screens, showing the faces of a smiling Blitzo, Moxxie in the background, Millie with an ax, Loona with teeth barred and a regal Stolas in battle. The screens faded as “no signal” appeared on them in green.

“Nobody in corporate is ignoring this,” said Agent One before letting out a dark evil laugh.

Agent One typed in a series of passwords and found the emails of several corporate members. After sending the videos, they proceeded to upload said videos to YouTube, with the title, “WOW! Camera Footage of Real Demons Attacking Our HQ! #D.H.O.R.K.S-4-Life.”

They smiled and looked at each other again. Now that their camera feeds had been sent out, they figured their lives would change for the better.

Then they looked around the debris-filled room, littered with the bodies of their fallen agent comrades. Agent Two had a bloody lip and Agent One was battered in the face. They frowned.

“So...do you think we should call those demon scum back to help clean up this mess?” asked Agent Two.

“Certainly not!” Agent One cried. “Didn’t you see that terrifying owl demon? He was this close to killing us on the spot! Besides, they won’t be coming back.”

Agent Two grinned a bit. “Indeed, not! And those demons won’t be coming back for good once the military and government hunt them down!”

“In Hell?”

“First on Earth, if any more show up,” Agent Two replied, brushing off her shirt. She began to lift up debris and move it around. Agent One swept up dirt and glass shards on the floor, trying not to gag at the stench of the fresh corpses.

Agent Two continued. “Then perhaps we’ll develop technology advanced enough to travel to their world. Perhaps we’ll be able to deflect their dark magic using powerful ray devices. Hmm…do you think we could eventually give tours of the afterlife dimensions?”

Agent One almost tripped over a fallen pipe with a gasp. His eyes were wide under his shades. “Nonsense, Two! It’ll be very hard to fight off hordes of demons in the first place! Not to mention the angels will probably take care of them.”

“So there are angels as well…” she mused.

“Of course. Didn’t you hear the reports? ‘Yellow Sheep Cherub Saves My Life After A Boulder Fell On Me.’ ‘Got Drunk On Holy Spirit Water; Angels Comfort Me.’ ‘Saved From Wild Animals, Hope That Sheep Survived.’ ‘God Is Real; His Angels Hold The Secret to Immortality!’”

“That last article was the most interesting,” remarked Agent Two. “It makes sense; if the cherubs can keep healing and blessing people, humanity can live long lives and not have to worry about a bad afterlife.”

“Until now, that is,” Agent One mentioned. “That’s what they wanted us to think before. But now that we know that demons and Hell exist, this changes everything! More than likely, it was Heaven’s way to keep people brainwashed to hide the truth about the sufferings and exterminations the sinners have to go through! If humans were to know about all that…”

“…Then they’d think it was unfair. They’d question their life choices more, be less stupid and berate the elite angels for hiding the truth and separating their family members into the ‘desirable’ and ‘deviant’ categories.”

“Heh. Even in the afterlife, social class and elitism still exist.”

“I’d love to know more.”

“Me too, Two, but right now, we gotta get this place cleaned up. Our monitors and cameras cost hundreds of dollars, ya know!”

Agent Two sighed. “Great. Now we’re broke.”

Agent One winked. “Not broke. Woke!”

With a roll of her eyes, Agent Two got to work. They both strained and cleared away all the debris on the floor before burning it outside. Afterwards, they stared in disgust and despair at the bloodstained walls, hallways, floors and ceilings. Standing in the dilapidated hallway, a lone light cover hung haphazardly from the ceiling as sparks flew from a flickering fluorescent light. The industrial gray hallway looked more grimy and uninviting than ever. Flies began to buzz around the bodies, flesh turning blue and black near the lower areas.

“Now, whose gonna get rid of the bodies?” asked Agent One.

After a pause, they both pointed at each other and yelled, “Not Me!”

“Why should I have to do it?” asked Agent Two.

“Because I’m number One!”

“First is the worst, second is the best! That means you gotta do it,” she sang.

Agent One folded his arms. “No way. Ladies first!”

“Man up and do it, One!” she barked.

“You’re a strong lady. Surely you can handle the job.”

“How uncouth for a gentleman to think that!”

They both pondered in thought, pacing back and forth until…

“Let’s settle this with good ol’ Rock Paper Scissors!” said Agent Two.

“Best 2 out of three.”

“No. Just one round.”

“You’re no fun.”

They held out their hands in fists and faced each other. “Ready?” asked Agent One. Agent Two nodded. “You’re so on.”

They both chanted, “Rock, Paper, Scissors…” as Agent Two said “Shoot!” a moment later.

“Hey, no fair!” said Agent One. “I had Rock, you had Scissors; you can’t just switch to Paper!”

Agent Two smirked. “You were supposed to do yours at the fourth ‘Shoot’ instead of at ‘Scissors!’”

“How was I supposed to know that?! Rematch, now!”

“And say ‘Shoot’ this time, One!”

“Urgh. Fine.”

They both did Rock Paper Scissors again. Agent One won the first round and Agent Two won the second round. It was a tie between them.

“This is ridiculous,” sighed Agent Two. “Can’t we just do it together?”

“Not without finishing the last round. Besides, I don’t wanna get sick.”

“We’ll get sick for sure if we just leave those bodies there. Or don’t move somewhere else!”

“Where else can we go? This is the only D.H.O.R.K.S. (Demon Hunting Organization of Rad Kooky Suckers) station around here.”

“It’s not a station anymore,” said Agent Two. “More like a gravesite.”

“Oh? You scared of ghosts now? Wanna switch careers and be a ghost buster? Who you gonna call, hmm?” asked Agent One.

Agent Two smirked. “Your mom, like that demon said.”

“My mom’s dead!” Agent One cried, running his hands through his short brown hair. “Stop mentioning that!”

“Okay, sorry, sorry,” said Agent Two, holding up her hands. “Maybe it would’ve been safer to focus on ghosts instead of demons.” Agent One took some deep breaths and sniffed.

“Yeah, and update our passwords, too,” Agent One remarked as they headed back into the dimmed green room with the array of cameras. “I mean, why not make the password “1337” or “A.A.H.W.” or something. Who came up with “11111” for the keypad anyway?”

Agent Two gave him a look and raised an eyebrow. “Uh, you did. It’s all in the number, One.”

“Oh damn it, you’re right!” he scowled.

“Hmpth. At least my password of six 6s for the outside door was cool! Because demons.”

Agent One rolled his eyes. “Yeah, sure.”

The two of them made it into the room and stared at the screens replaying Blitzo, Moxxie, Millie and Loona on their various killing missions on Earth.

“At least we still have some evidence,” Agent Two mentioned as the screens blinked on and off.

“Yes,” agreed Agent One. He narrowed his eyes, facing his comrade. “Now…to finish this, once and for all!”

Agent Two narrowed her eyes in return. “You don’t have to tell me twice!”

They held out their fists, getting ready to begin their final Rock Paper Scissors match…

Just then, they heard a rumbling noise and what sounded like a cat screech from outside. Agent One turned and lifted away the blinds from a barred window. There was a dark figure moving outside in the alley.

“Great Scott!” Agent One gasped. “I think the police found us!”

“You’re kidding,” Agent Two replied, scratching her short light-colored hair. “How could they have found us?!”

“Maybe because we burned the debris outside,” said Agent One, “…when you could’ve burned the bodies as well.” He gave her a stern look.

“Why would I disrespect their families?” she asked. “Surely they’d want to see what happened to their brave agent loved ones.”

“We’re supposed to remain covert from everyone.”

“Sure, and we have a public YouTube account for that exact purpose!” Agent Two shot back in sarcasm.

Agent One shook his head in frustration. “Once they find all the bodies and our location, we’ll be arrested for sure!”

Agent Two turned her attention to the cameras and smiled. “Not if we can prove that it was the demons who killed all our comrades!”

“Seriously, Two? Everyone still thinks were crazy kooks! No one will believe us yet, least of all the police.”

Agent Two waved a hand and made a “psh,” sound. “Relax, One. Once we show them the evidence, we’ll get off scot free in no time!”

She stood, confident with her hands on her hips…just as a low groaning sound was heard…

“Get down!” called Agent One, leaping onto her and rolling her out of the way. Agent Two yelped in response. With a loud, ear-shattering crash, the monitors and screens collapsed to the ground, right where the agents stood moments before. The room filled with dust, sparks and the foul metallic odor of machinery. The screens were now broken and detached from the wall, leaving nothing but exposed wires and dark gaps in the wall. A posture of a stern green haired lady agent called Snake from Zoophobia hung on another wall, staring at them as if she knew they had made fools of themselves. Another poster showed a suited agent with glasses eating green and brown wheat cereal, holding an invisible spoon in his hand as the caption read, “There is no spoon. Seeing isn’t always believing.”

Agent Two gasped as Agent One crouched over her, using his body as a shield. They stared at each other for a long tense moment, briefly lifting up their sunglasses to stare into each other’s eyes.

Then Agent One asked, “You were saying about the evidence?”

Agent Two groaned loudly in frustration, hoisting herself up. “Come on, One. Let’s give ourselves up. Or flee. Or for starters, see what the commotion is about.”

“Don’t forget your weapons.”

“Roger that.”

They brushed themselves off, grabbed their stun guns and headed out of the building.

“You’ll still have to dispose of the bodies,” Agent Two whispered to him.

Agent One sighed. “We don’t even have proper protective equipment for that.”

“Yes, we do. It’s in the storage closet.”

“And where is that?”

“That pile of rubble over there.”

Agent One stared in disbelief at the charred remains of the cleaning supplies. “God, why?!”

0 0 0

It was still dark out when the agents wandered outside. There were several open dumpsters and a rolled over trash can from the previous battle. Agent One heard a cat meowing and chasing after a rat. The cat purred as he chomped down onto the rat and pained squeaks were heard.

Agent One gulped. “This ain’t a good idea. Youse think we’ll get mugged or robbed?”

“Quit bein’ such a wimp,” Agent Two whispered. “We do stuff like this all the time. Why you scared now?”

“That owl demon may be watching us.”

“He’s gone now,” she hissed. “We can’t let one setback deter us from searching for other supernatural paraphernalia.”

“Youse saying there are worse demons out there?”

“Hopefully not on Earth, but I’m also talking about other spirits.”

“Do you think…I could communicate with my mom?” Agent One asked hopefully.

“Nu-nuh,” she shook her head. “Remember that last time we tried to use that Ouija board during our Haunted High School party?”

“Yes…”

“Absolutely nothing happened that night. It was pretty boring.”

“Oh.”

“…but I always felt like something was watching us for several days afterward. Could explain why we had such bad luck after burning the board…”

“Why were we so stupid?”

“Don’t ask me. Ask yourself.”

“Hey, shut up.”

“You shut up.”

“Shhh!” Agent One shushed her. “Remember, we can’t be seen!”

His foot caught onto a turned-over, garbage can. With a “whoa!” he stumbled and face planted onto the littered ground with a loud crash, his feet in the air.

He groaned and picked himself up as Agent Two held in a snicker.

“Excuse me, number one, but you’re currently being the loudest.”

“I said shush up, Two!” Agent One seethed, brushing away garbage from his hair and clothing. He straightened his logo on his suit, a white D over a red triangle. “Go scout our surroundings. I have a feeling we’re getting close.”

Agent Two chuckled again before scaling a nearby wall with rungs on it. She made it up to the rooftops under a full moon, stalking through the night like a black cat super villain. At last, after a few jumps, she peered over the edge. Taking out a near transparent drone device, she pressed a button and the device beeped. After a moment, the device beeped again, with the words “Portal Sighted,” on the small screen.

“Agent One,” she spoke through a walkie-talkie. “I found a portal up ahead. At 1:00.”

“I did, too. 13:00,” he replied.

‘What does that mean again?”

“It’s military time for 1:00.”

“AM or PM? And is the portal ahead or behind you? Wait what time is it, anyway?” she asked.

“Just…follow my lead,” Agent One sighed.

Agent Two jumped gracefully from the roof, landing on her feet near Agent One.

Just then, the agents heard voices coming from a nearby corner up ahead. They crept closer to the sound, guns drawn. They saw dark shadows dance on the wall…shadows that did not appear human-like at all.

Agent One held in a gasp. “It’s the horned demon-scum!” he breathed.

“They’re back already?” asked Agent Two.

“They’ll be sorry they messed with us.”

They listened to the voices ahead.

“I’m telling you sir, there’s a dangerous cult on the loose. Heard rumors that they hunt down creatures that aren’t human. Why’re we here anyway?”

“Because a messenger told one of our own that they were on the loose again. And by ‘they,’ I mean the crude assassins.”

“It’s always them, isn’t it? No wonder the cherubs got so stressed out. I’ve never cared much of mortals and especially not those creatures from down below. Our superiors grow more suspicious of us each day. If we don’t come back with something to prove…”

“We will this time. We have to. Our lives and the lives of humans depend on it…”

“Wait, sir, I heard something…”

Just then, Agent One and Agent Two appeared into the light.

“Freeze, demon scum!”

The figures appeared as well, aiming glowing staffs.

“Freeze, satanic cultists!”

The four individuals took several looks at each other, taken aback. The agents stared at what appeared to be creatures wearing white clothing. Both had dark teal faces (the taller one had part of his face black), pointed ears and eyes in shades of dark blue with white pupils. The shorter one had black hair and wore a white suit with a teal bow tie. He wore matching pants and white boots with teal at the tops. The taller elf barred his unusually sharp white teeth.

“Who are you humans?” he asked, his voice having a slight echo to it.

“We’re agents, thank you very much,” said Agent One. “And who are you demons?”

The smaller elf scowled. “How rude of you to say.”

The two elves, Tirred and Docile spread out their white feathery wings, white glowing spiked halos appearing over their heads.

The two agents stared in amazement. Agent Two gasped. “Wha…hold on…you’re angels?!”

“Obviously,” Docile shrugged. “Are you that dangerous Satanic cult we’ve been warned about?”

“Goodness no!” Agent One cried. “We’re D.H.O.R.K.S.”

Tirred snickered as Agent One explained, “We’re a secret organization that hunts down paranormal activity, specifically demons. We don’t work for any demon.”

“Good!” said Tirred. “Now please move along. We have some fugitives to catch.”

The elves walked forward but stopped when Agent Two grinned and aimed her gun.

“Hold up…you’re angels, yes? Hmm…perhaps you could help us convince more people that angels and demons are real. And you could let us study you…that is…if you want to live!” The agents grinned evilly.

The elves stood unfazed. “Look lady,” said Docile, “We’re on a very serious mission and we can’t afford to stay with some random kooky organization of occultic nerds…”

“What did you just say?!” bellowed Agent One in anger.

“I appreciate you trying to protect Earth…”

“And those cherubs do to!” added Agent Two.

Docile lowered his head. “They fell to Hell.”

“Oh dear.”

“Anyway, we have no business in collaborating with you…” Docile began.

Thud.

A dart from one of the agent’s guns hit Tirred on the neck.

“Ha!” cried Agent Two. “You guys aren’t going anywhere!”

Without taking his eyes off of the agents, Docile held the stumbling, mumbling Tirred with one arm. As Tirred’s eyes fluttered closed, Docile muttered a chant. Tirred’s body lit up blue, and his neck steamed up, the dart melting away like wax. The wound closed up and the light faded. Tirred opened his eyes and shook his head as he stood back up. Agent One fired another dart, but Docile caught it expertly with one hand. He crushed it in his fist, letting the pieces fall to the ground.

“Oh, a smart guy, huh?” asked Agent One. “Too bad we got you cornered.”

But the elves weren’t cornered at all. From behind them, several portals opened up. One led to the Heaven the elves came from, one showed the familiar crimson red sky of Hell and another led to a place with a much darker sky. Docile turned to see his colleagues Timmid the elf and Sunna the brown heavencat waving from the heavenly side of the portal.

The agents gasped too. “No way! Heaven and Hell do exist after all!”

“Wait a second,” Docile said, his face a look of concern. “I thought you humans only believed in angels.”

“Not anymore we won’t!” said Agent One. “We believed in demons for a while now. Demons won’t last long once everyone knows!”

“I mean, I’m all for humans learning to not become sinners and gradually learning about the existence of demons. Heaven is elite and full of lying hypocrites after all…” Docile began.

Agent Two chuckled. “Oh, it won’t be gradual! We just sent footage of the demon scum attacking our headquarters to the government!”

Docile stared in pure shock. Glowing eyes appeared on his wings and his teeth shone in the night. “YOU FUCKING WHAT?! You just potentially endangered the living world and the afterlife worlds! I’d have an urge to cleanse your filthy souls with a holy dick in your dumbasses…”

Tirred stared agape, as did the agents.

Docile turned toward Timmid and Sunna as the agents inched closer.

“Shit, close them!” Docile called.

A fearful Timmid chanted a psalm from the Bible in her hands. All the portals shrank until they became nothing. Docile briefly got shocked by a blast from Agent Two. “Wait! No!” cried Sunna, reaching out a paw, but the portal had already closed.

Docile and Tirred leaned back against the wall. The agents had their guns drawn. Now the elves were truly cornered. Flashes of blue lighting hit the elves, shocking them.

“Surrender angel clowns, and we won’t hurt you anymore,” said Agent One.

“Back off you tuxedo-wearing freaks,” Tirred spat. Both of them winced at the pain and tried not to go under.

“That was pretty badass,” said Agent One.

“Super badass!” Agent Two replied with a pose.

As the agents were about to aim their guns again, the elves disappeared in a flash of light.

“Hey, where’d they go?” asked Agent Two as they looked around.

In a flash, the two elves teleported behind them.

“What the…” Agent One began before he was knocked against the wall with a swing of Docile’s staff. Agent Two whirled around to punch Tirred, but she missed as he ducked. Tirred knocked the gun out of her hands and landed several karate kicks. Agent Two wheezed in pain before she was knocked to the ground as well. The two agents crawled backwards in terror and pain until their backs met the wall. The shadows of the elves passed over their faces as they crept closer.

“You mortals made a careless mistake, abruptly introducing demons to mankind,” stated Docile. His staff glowed purple and angelic choir music began to play from it. The melody and harmonized chants floated around, caressing the agents’ ears. It was so beautiful and ethereal that the agents were suddenly fine with letting themselves be embraced by sleep. They felt strangely safe in the presence of these angel strangers.

“M-Mother, is that you?” breathed Agent One, his head lowered, eyelids drooping.

“Before we erase your memories, how about you tell us where your hideout is and how this whole mess came about,” said Docile.

Tirred grinned evilly. “And since you love demons so much, you’ll tell us where we can find I.M.P.”

The agents’ worlds faded into black.

0 0 0

Back at the E.L.F. office, Timmid buried her face in her hands. “No! No, no, no! We were so close.”

Sunna stood with concern on her face, vastly different from her usual sunny outlook. Instead of her usual white dress with a sun on it, she wore blue pants and a white short sleeve shirt with a black cross on it.

“D-did you hear that? Our boss just swore out loud! Plus, he used innuendos and euphemisms. He never does that! That means it’s serious.”

“Oh no, he’ll be banished from Heaven for sure!” cried Timmid.

“Technically he only did it on Earth, but…”

“What’re we gonna do?” Timmid wailed.

“Open it again,” Sunna deadpanned.

“I-I’m too sacred. Since Docile isn’t here, I don’t open it unless…”

“Open the bucking portal, now!” Sunna yelled, picking up Timmid by her shirt. She then let go. From a clean emergency backpack, Timmid collected a few bottles of holy healing water and took out a large sword with the sides sharp like a chainsaw. It was teal blue with a white cross in the center. On the hilt, she pressed a curved Christian fish button and the weapon lit up in white flames.

“Nice,” Sunna smiled, who had transformed into her African American human form.

Timmid felt more courageous as she stepped out of the portal…

…into the quiet empty night. Sunna followed.

“They aren’t here!” she exclaimed in distraught.

Sunna sniffed the air and ground. “Smells like they went this way. Come on, let’s catch those horrible twins!”

They raced off into the night and easily found the remains of the D.H.O.R.K.S. building. They climbed over rubble and debris, carefully avoiding exposed wire and pipes along the way.

0 0 0

Agent Two’s eyes slowly fluttered open. She looked around and saw that she was in a dim room…the same room where they had interrogated the imps. She looked down with a gasp. She was tied to a chair with rope, while Agent One was tied to another chair behind her.

A figure leaned in and shone a light onto Agent Two. “Finally awake huh? Little mortal?” It was the grinning face of Tirred, wearing Agent Two’s sunglasses. Docile stood on the other side, wearing Agent One’s sunglasses. Agent One slowly woke up as well.

“My, my, how the tables have turned,” mused Docile, as he adjusted his sunglasses, his wings folded behind him.

“Agent Two? Where are you?” he slurred.

“Behind you.”

“Touching my butt?”

“No, I’m tied up.”

Agent One looked down and strained against the ropes. “Dammit, I am too!”

“No, you’re One,” deadpanned Agent Two.

Agent One looked around. “W-where are the bodies?”

Docile mentioned to a still-working camera that showed the elves carrying the agents through the rubble. They were shown tying the agents up before moving off to the side. Docile and Tirred held hands, lowering their heads in prayer at the litter of bodies. Light shone from their forms and staffs, making the screen shake. Through another portal, a looming angel with a pale gaunt face, sunken black eyes and long black hair appeared on the scene: Azrael. All the corpses were lifted into the air, the wounds healed before they all vanished into the air. Azrael gazed darkly into the camera before vanishing in shadow. After much of the building was repaired by more magic, Docile collapsed in exhaustion, Tirred watching over him. Several hours had passed.

Docile smashed the screen with a fist.

“Aw man, that was entertaining evidence!” cried Agent One.

“I thought angels could bring back the dead,” said Agent Two.

“No one can, not even the cherubs,” Tirred mentioned.

“Well technically, if a human dies, ourselves or the cherubs could revive them from death provided it occurs a couple minutes or less after they die,” Docile pondered. “Doesn’t explain why sinners can revive themselves in Hell…”

“Getting off topic again, sir. Interrogation, remember?”

“Right.”

Docile cleared his throat. “Those bodies you saw have been magically transferred to a nearby gravesite, each under separate sheets. The families of the fallen will be notified of their deceased loved ones telepathically by Gabriel before dawn. It will be assumed that your organization, which will now be revealed, led to the kooks challenging each other to death in combat and that there was an argument over the existence of demons. Until humanity is ready to admit their faults and have more courage, they cannot know of demons’ existence.”

“Ha!” barked Agent One. “It’s already too late!”

“Even so…” said Tirred. “Your agents are now in Hell.”

The two agents shuddered.

“Now we never kill unless the threat is too great,” stated Docile. “And we could easily erase your memories right now. However…we have some questions for you kooks.”

“Stop saying that!” barked Agent Two.

“Quiet,” hissed Tirred, shining the light in her face, making her flinch.

“Tell us, agents,” said Docile. “Who do you work for? The Illuminati?”

“It’s more like the SCP Organization mixed with A.A.H.W. mixed with Men in Black mixed with the Matrix, mixed with…”

“Direct answer, please!”

“It’s D.H.O.R.K.S.!” said Agent Two as Agent One burst out laughing.

“It’s not funny!” Tirred yelled. “How did you humans get all this technology in the first place?” The elves shone the light back and forth over the agents.

“Also, why are you hunting demons?” asked Docile.

“When did you show up here?” asked Tirred.

“Alright, I’m gonna stop you right there,” said Agent One as the elves moved the light back in place. “First of all, we just woke up from a very peaceful dream…”

“And a very nasty shock,” added Agent Two.

“…and I’m still feeling woozy, so I’m gonna request you to fetch us some coffee before we get into this.”

“It’d better not be iced,” growled Docile. “That stuff sucks.”

Agent Two added, “I’ll have a pumpkin spiced latte with four ounces of gluten-free soy milk, make sure it looks nice and orange and smells like pumpkin, only use organic ingredients in the process…and I ain’t white but I can enjoy pumpkin spiced lattes any time I want. Be sure they don’t use my real name and spell my number wrong on the cup, not like “To,” or “Too,” I hate that. Might as well throw watermelons into the faces of racists and watch them gleefully eat it off like hungry entitled monkeys…”

“Enough!” Tirred screamed as both agents doubled down in laughter. “I’m not giving you idiots coffee!”

“Need I remind you that you are at our mercy now,” Docile said coldly. “Tell us when you last saw I.M.P.”

“Who?”

“The assassin demons you caught on your cameras!”

“Those demons ransacked our headquarters then left to Hell after a scary owl demon king transported them there!” called Agent One.

“An owl demon…from the first Hell,” pondered Docile. “Must’ve been Stolas of the Ars Goetia. Be thankful it wasn’t the other Stolas; you would’ve been bird food.”

“You don’t even know who we are,” said Agent Two.

“Who are you?” asked Tirred.

“Your worst nightmare!”

The agents cackled again.

“We can easily look into your heads if we have to,” Tirred warned.

“Oh, are you sure you want to peer into our thoughts, angels?” asked Agent One with a smirk. “They might be very dirty.”

“I learned my brief swearing from Samael,” Docile deadpanned. “I can handle a little dirt.”

“Did Sammy get kinky and torture you, too?” asked Agent Two before Docile grew red in the face in embarrassment.

“It was a horrible experience!”

“I bet he secretly liked it. Even angels get kinky too,” mocked Agent One.

“Shut up, you ungrateful sickos!” Tirred snapped, patting a fuming Docile on the shoulder. “We’re not getting kinky with you humans!”

“It’ll be a rainy day in Heaven before that ever happens!” scowled Docile.

“Well, we’ve been studying how similar angels and demons really are,” said Agent One. “Why not try it out for ourselves?” Tirred and Docile flinched back in disgust.

“Don’t let them get to you, sir,” said Tirred to Docile, pulling him to the side. “They’re just trying to mess with us.”

Tirred looked over at a separate room with controls. Then he looked at Docile with a smirk. “So, the humans want to play games, huh?” he spoke in a low voice.

“Uh, I don’t like what you’re thinking, Tirred…” he whispered.

“If we can’t get answers out of them, we’ll just try another way.”

Tirred led Docile out of the room, closed the door and then arrived at the control room. Tirred grinned and pushed his fist onto the glowing green “Truth Bomb” button.

“A taste of their own medicine!” Tirred beamed with a chuckle. Docile looked on in worry.

0 0 0

“Oh man, what do we do now?” sighed Agent Two.

“Keep trying to escape, I guess,” Agent One replied, struggling to no avail.

“I’m sure someone will try and rescue us,” said Agent Two. “I bet corporate is on their way right now. Or maybe the angels will feel sorry for us and let us go. I hope so.”

As the green fumes entered the room, Agent One spat, “You and your idealistic nature. You never listen to my ideas. All it is with you is, ‘One, you’re no fun.’ ‘You’re a serious one, One, let me be in charge.’ How unprofessional and pathetic.”

“Pathetic?” Agent Two asked. “You’re the one who threw that tantrum when those demons insulted your mother! Without me around, you would’ve given into your impulses long ago.”

She glanced down. “Crap! They’re filling the room with the truth bomb!”

“Urgh! I knew we never should’ve trusted those angels. The supernatural can never be trusted!”

“Then why hunt for demons in the first place?”

“Because they distracted me from being with my mother. On a mission, you and I fought with a few dark spirits that had chased us after we burned that Ouija board. And what happened next? She died before I had a chance to say goodbye.” Agent One bawled in tears. “I wanted to dedicate my life to the government, to be in a position where my nerdiness and desire to save others could come in handy. But mostly I just wanted the money! It would’ve helped me a lot to expand on my Dorks and Dweebs card game!”

“I’m so sorry, but it serves you right for burning it.”

“It was your idea. Why are you fascinated by demons anyway?”

“Because men like you ain’t good enough. I wanted some excitement! Oh sorry…”

“Excitement?” Agent One asked. “You mean you were attracted to me like I briefly was to you?”

Agent Two said, “I was before I discovered I like women and science better. Just the thought of me dominating a succubus makes me feel…”

She sighed happily before reeling back in disgust. “What? Ew! Why’d I say that?!”

“I can’t believe you!” cried Agent One. “Maybe that demonic owl possession got to you too much.”

“I thought I was gonna die! But briefly when it was inside me, it kinda felt…good…when I was out of my head…Oh no, forget what I said!”

“Oh Two, I’ve said so many lies to you!” cried Agent One as they both bawled.

Tirred chuckled as he ate popcorn from a bowl and drank a soda. “This is gonna be a good night!”

“God dammit, Two, this is all your fault!” shouted Agent One.

“How is this my fault?!” Agent Two asked in anger.

The two agents then experienced hallucinations.

Agent Two

Agent Two awoke to the sound of an overhead humming fan. The world morphed in front of her, changing from a dimly lit room into a larger room with a wooden floor and coverings with red square outlines on them. Black and red punching bags hung on chains and a nearby gong with the organization logo on it reflected light off a wall. The dojo room had several people in white karate uniforms practicing with each other. One of them chopped a pile of blocks in half with his hand. She glanced down and noticed that she had a white uniform on as well, only the belt was rainbow colored instead of black.

“Agent One? Are you in here?” she called. She peered out through a window and saw that they were hovering in space. A shooting star whizzed by, and a flying glittery star cat meowed with sparkles in its eyes. Red roofed Japanese temples hovered in the background.

Very soon, traditional music began to play and the attendees in the room stood at attention in rows.

“What is this music?” she asked. “Is this a prank, because I swear to Amaterasu it is…”

“It is no prank, Two,” said a voice with a low accent used by a stereotypical spy.

Walking through the space was none other than Agent One, dressed in a golden uniform with a black belt around his waist. The other attendees put their hands together and lowered their heads as Agent One passed them.

“One? What’re you doing here? And why do you sound like that?”

“Because you’re as high as a rocket!”

Agent One then lowered his head and bowed. Agent Two did the same.

“Shall we begin?” he asked. Agent Two nodded.

The attendees stepped back and made a large circle for the agents. The agents circled around with tension, judging the other’s moves. Before she could blink, Agent One was in front of her, sending out a kick that almost made her fall to the ground. She recovered and did several kicks and punches of her own. After getting Agent One in the side, he maneuvered backwards to dodge her offensive kicks.

Agent Two then groaned as a hard fist landed onto her abdomen. She seethed and continued to press forward.

“You’re losing focus,” Agent One remarked. “It’s affecting your technique.” The attendees stared at her with judging eyes.

“I never lose focus,” she retorted with several arm thrusts. She held up an arm in front of her face as his fist made an impact. It sent her jaw throbbing.

“How could this be?” she sang.

“What is this pain?

I’ve never tried ecstasy, THC or cocaine

It’s a bad trip, A wastashi no!

Of course someone like you would show!

I speak in honesty

Please do not judge me”

“I will not,” Agent One harmonized as he spun a pole weapon in the air.

“Not trying to divulge too deep

In this strange sleep

But first of all…

Kuso kurae!”

“What?” Agent One growled, advancing forward.

“This is just typical, well two can play at this game,” she sang, as both their pole weapons clashed.

“Why must you try and dominate everything?” asked Agent Two. “Am I just second best?”

“Because your life is all a test,” replied Agent One in song.

“Why does it seem like a recurring thing that you alienate with your toxic routine?” Agent Two asked.

“Constant work in the company, that’s the way it all goes,” he replied.

“But your true reasons, nobody knows,” she said.

For a while, they realized that they were equally matched. For every offensive attack one of them did, the other easily did defense. Eventually, the attendees chorused in song and a spotlight shone on the two agents from above. A large Yin-Yang symbol appeared below them, Agent One on the black and Agent Two on the white.

“Why must you feel ashamed and blue, Two?” sang Agent One.

“I’m scared of rejection, I can’t fathom,” replied Agent Two.

“Why must you imagine that pretty lady in front of you?”

Agent Two found herself on top of a dark-skinned lady with bat wings that appeared. “It gives me an erection and orgasm…hey!” The woman vanished.

“I’ve been a kook, it’s true,” Agent One said as they stood back-to-back, weapons in hand.

“You’ve been a kook, it’s true,” Agent Two harmonized, head lifted slightly.

“Don’t hide your feelings inside, embrace your abilities with pride,” said Agent One. “And know that I won’t always win.”

“That you won’t always win,” she harmonized.

“Through any kind of weather, we’ll always be together,” harmonized Agent Two and Agent One as they faced each other, practicing at ease with smiles of a colleague friendship.

“Yin and Yang, Moon and Sun

Separate but whole, Two become One.

Once we’re back as ourselves once more

I’ll be a better partner than I was before”

“So long as we don’t step out of line

Or get killed by the divine,

Everything will become

Fiiinneee!”

Agent Two felt better as a gong sounded three times and her world turned black.

0 0 0

Agent One

Agent One’s world swirled in a dizzying array of psychedelic colors. The walls appeared to breathe and soon faded into rainbow swirls. As he blinked his eyes, demonic sigils and voodoo symbols flashed in and out in bold colors. The sounds of wind and the faint rumblings of machinery were heard.

Just when he thought he couldn’t take it anymore, black spots danced before him, and a ringing sound briefly chimed uncomfortably in his ears. After his world turned dark, he thought he was awake.

But at the same time, he was somewhere else. Somewhere else that appeared familiar.

Glancing down, he saw he was wearing a tan-brown suit that looked like a ghostbusters costume. It had plastic ray guns and tools in the belt around his waist. His arms and legs were covered, and he wore clunky boots as well. His sunglasses were missing, replaced by cheap-looking red goggles.

Surrounding him were metal industrial walls, a high darkened ceiling with flickering tubes of light overhead. Propaganda signs read in bold letters, “Do Your Job!” “Eyes Forward. Don’t Ask Questions.” “Be The Best At What You Do.” “You Belong To The State, Not Vice-Versa.” “Unity With Purpose, Join Today!”

“What is this place?” he asked. His voice was swallowed by the darkness ahead. He felt himself being sucked forward into another room. The windows overlooked a city at night.

Sitting behind a towering black desk was a large man in a black suit with a bald head. Sunglasses covered his face and the name tag on his desk read William Fisk.

“King Pin, sir?” Agent One exclaimed.

“You should know that I always speak first. I must ask you, how long have you been working for corporate?”

“Several years, sir.”

Several other agents appeared beside him. They glanced at his garb and rolled their eyes. Agent Two appeared with her head lowered, strangely in a regular suit.

“You and Two would have held great positions in this company…had you taken your duties seriously.”

“But we have, sir,” said Agent One. “We filed all 1,337 of your papers detailing Project G7-29. Your past experiences dealing with spices, drugs and home movies will never reach prying eyes.”

“Yet…” King Pin said, clearing his throat. “My boss says you and Two have been parading around town, babbling out conspiracy theories about demons. Any reasonable person would focus on keeping this company in the green instead of obsessing over fantasy creatures.”

“They’re real!” pleaded Agent Two. “We can prove it.”

“All you have proved is that you two are incompetent, superstitious, unprofessional, and downright eccentric.”

“Kooks! Kooks!” chanted the other agents, laughing and pointing at them.

“But sir!” protested Agent Two. “If we can prove the existence of demons, it’ll change everything! We could get the supernatural on our side and who knows how strong we could get. Science infused with demonic magic could have incredible potential. Worlds could be conquered, and the mysteries of the afterlife will be revealed.”

King Pin scoffed. “I doubt that. Tell you what…you won’t be fired. You’ll just be demoted. Until I see results, get out of my sight!”

Agent One yelled as he fell through the dark, the laughter from the agents ponding in his ears. Agent Two then fell down with him, but her face morphed into the same monstrous grin she had when she was possessed by Stolas. Her black nude body was covered with bloodied gray feathers. She leaned seductively on a floating white D.H.O.R.K.S. sign, staring into his soul. She cracked her neck.

“Are you ready to be dorks, demon hunter? ‘Cause you’re in for a wild ride!”

Agent Two let out a scary laugh as her figure morphed into a demonic shadow with several red eyes.

Agent One heard a woman’s voice call out his name…his real name.

“Mother?”

A white woman with short brown hair wearing a blue dress reached out to him. “Help me, son!”

The shadow demon morphed into a virus as a bunch of 19s flashed in the background. She coughed up blood as the demon virus imbedded black tendrils into her.

“Mother!” Agent One cried, firing his weapon at the virus to no avail. The virus morphed into a laughing red demon with a pitchfork, knocking Agent One back. Crestfallen, he briefly stared at the lifeless face of his mother, before she faded into black ash.

“No, no, no!”

His bulky costume turned back into his suit, and he soon found himself entangled by wires. The wires slithered like snakes, wrapping around his legs and arms.

“Get off me!”

He tried desperately to escape, to scream, to struggle, but the silver strands held him down. Some wrapped around his neck, pinning him against a green wall with a spotlight overhead. An invisible crowd laughed at him from below…and walking into view were the four grinning members of I.M.P.

“How’s that for demon scum, kook?!” chuckled Blitzo as he aimed his flintlock pistol at the helpless gaping agent.

A shattering blast flooded through him, and the world went black.

0 0 0

The agents woke up and became more alert as the last of the fumes cleared away.

“Do you remember what you said to me after my first day with the company?” Agent Two asked Agent One.

“Not really.”

“I remember. You told me I did a good job. And that you were proud to work with me. I felt like you wanted to say something more judgmental, but…you said that because I needed it.” Agent Two turned her head to look at Agent One. “And it helped.”

Agent One stared downcast. “Look, I’m hard on you sometimes because I know what you’re capable of, Two. You shoot and sneak around well. You’re an expert at computers. And I’m too dazed to think of much else.”

“Thank you, One.”

Just then, Timmid arrived into the room.

“Hello?” she called. “I’m looking for someone named Docile.”

“That would be me,” Docile called, stepping into the room with Tirred.

“There you are! I thought you were tied up by the agents,” said Timmid.

“Long story short, those agents are a bunch of dorks,” Docile remarked, shaking his head.

Sunna followed Timmid into the room and waved.

“Sunny?!” cried Docile, hands on his head. “It’s dangerous here!”

“Let’s get out of here before more sinners show up!” Sunna called, now back in heavencat form.

“Oh no, the gangs all here again,” groaned Agent One.

“Anyone who wants to keep the agents tied up, say ‘aye!’” called Tirred.

Everyone except Sunna and the agents said “aye!”

“No, please let us go,” cried Agent Two. “We’ll do anything!”

“Excellent! Let’s erase your memories of your deeds to start,” said Docile, stepping toward them.

“Or maybe we could possess them and make them amend their sins,” Sunna suggested.

“Like that wouldn’t be totally suspicious to the humans,” Timmid muttered.

“Can angels possess humans and demons?” asked Agent One.

“I guess anyone can possess anything,” Agent Two responded.

Just then, there was a flash of light from outside.

“What the heaven was that?” Docile asked.

“Oh no, it’s the police I bet,” said Agent Two in concern. “Ready to surrender, One?”

“Not really.”

The walls were suddenly blasted apart by a sudden array of gunfire. The angels dodged the blows and knocked over the walls with a wave of their staffs.

They soon found themselves surrounded by robotic figures holding automatic rifles and other advanced weaponry. The cyborgs appeared to be wearing all white clothing plus white sunglasses over their eyes. Their skin was ashen gray.

“D.H.O.R.K.S. location discovered,” announced one of the robots. “Surrender now, enemy agents.”

“Who the heaven are they?” Docile asked.

Agent One gulped. “We forgot to tell you that corporate has another company not as much on the fringe.”

Just then, two regular people stepped forward. One was a man with dark skin, dark blonde sleeked-back hair and white sunglasses over his face. He wore a dark pink suit with a white necktie and black undershirt. The logo pinned on his suit was a black C over an upward pointing blue triangle. His comrade was a white-skinned woman with white sunglasses, curly short black hair and a lavender colored suit with the same logo. Agent Negative One and Agent Negative Two.

“At last, D.H.O.R.K.S., we finally found you. As agents of C.H.A.R.M.E.R.S.,” called Agent Negative One, “On behalf of corporate, we nearby order you all to stand down. Members of D.H.O.R.K.S. are arrested for plotting conspiracies, doing dark unethical drug experimentation, and distilling fear of demons among the populace.”

“But demons are real, I’m telling you!” cried Agent Two.

“You always were a good-for-nothing lunatic,” scoffed Agent Negative Two to Agent Two. “Lost in your own head and believing in nonsense instead of doing actual government work with real purpose. Plus, I remember you were so fat in school.”

Agent Two looked hurt. “Brat.”

“Not to mention putting the lives of your fellow agents in danger and using tacky old medieval weapons in your trainings,” chided Agent Negative One.

“The Edo Period was badass, and you know it!” fired Agent Two.

“Dammit, you’re right,” Agent One said with a small smile.

“Those guys bullied us a lot in school,” Agent One mentioned to E.L.F. with a scowl. “Those preps always liked to pick on the ‘weird’ kids.”

“Enough talk, dorks!” bellowed Agent Negative One. “You’re coming with us.”

“And so are you, cosplaying freaks!” added Agent Negative Two to the angels.

“But we’re angels,” said Sunna, spreading out her wings.

“Angels, demons and spirits must perish before humanity,” said Agent Negative One in a monotone voice. “The truth will remain hidden for the greater good until it no longer exists.”

“Or they’ll do the bidding of our race forever,” added Agent Negative Two. “It is the only way humans will know peace and be able to spread their influence across the galaxies.”

Docile and the others glowered at the random cold agents. He turned to Agents One and Two. “Just this once.” He waved his staff and the rope fell off of them. The two agents grinned, stood up and took out their guns.

“All-right, angelic teamwork!” Agent Two whooped. “Let’s kick some robotic ass!”

“Foreign enemies of all earthly beings (and human enemies of corporate), prepare to meet your doom!” droned Agent Negative One.

“We’re not humanity’s enemy!” called Timmid to no avail. The battle soon began.

As the shots from gunfire rang out, Agent Two did graceful leaps into the air, knocking down several robots. Agent One fired a stun gun, shocking robots before they could do any damage.

“Perish, dorks!” called Agent Negative One, before he narrowly dodged a blast from Docile’s staff. Sunna raced around the rubble and dirt, swiping her paws at the robots and hissing in newfound fury.

Meanwhile, Timmid was screaming and crying as she waved her flaming white chainsaw sword.

“Why am I doing this?!” she cried as she sliced several robots in half all at once.

“Tir, cover me!” called Docile, as the two elves shot blue blasts at the surrounding robots.

“Yes, sir!” Tirred replied.

A robot was about to take Agent Two down from behind, but a blast from Agent One’s gun knocked the robot back.

“Some charmers they are,” Agent One scoffed.

Taking out a sword, Agent Two sliced another robot agent and reflected back bullets with rapid twirls. Soon, she was jumping and flipping in the air as she avoided blasts from Agent Negative Two’s stun gun. After knocking the gun from her hand, Agent Two faced her foe in rapid hand to hand combat. Agent One and his counterpart fired rounds at each other. Agent One managed to graze his foe’s shoulder, and he seethed in anger.

“You need a blessed tipped rifle?” Docile asked Timmid. He was drinking water from a flask.

“No thanks,” she called.

“How about some holy water?” Docile pulled out a small bottle from his pocket.

“Sure!”

Timmid took the bottle from Docile and gulped down the water. Her wounds were healed, and her energy was restored.

“Thanks, Docile,” she called, tossing the empty bottle aside.

“No problem. All this fighting makes me thirsty.” Then he glared at the robotic agents and growled with a strange grin. His right eye briefly had a white X glowing over it. “Thirsty for the cleaving of your sinful souls!” He rushed at the enemy, kicking and striking at any he came across.

Just then, after the majority of the robots had fallen, more of them arrived in a marching formation from a nearby landing helicopter with the C.H.A.R.M.E.R.S. logo on it. Docile was shocked out of his more vicious leftover Exorcist mode as a bullet fired from Agent Negative One grazed his arm.

“Oh, come on!” groaned Agent One, before the tired crew was surrounded once more.

“Ha! You criminals aren’t going anywhere now!” called Agent Negative Two in triumph. The two D.H.O.R.K.S. agents raised their hands in surrender after their weapons were kicked away.

Before she gave the order to take down the agents and E.L.F., a rustle of wind blew around them. The ground slowly started to shake, and a portal appeared in the darkness.

“Who dares threaten my fellow citizens?” rose a dark voice.

“Who said that?!” ordered Agent Negative One.

A fierce gust of wind blew back the robots and the counterpart agents. An angelic sigil glowing crimson appeared on the ground underneath the portal. Several robots blinked to life; their eyes teal in the dark. From their empty mouths emitted the gut-wrenching sounds of strained breathing and dying moans. Their fake flesh faces almost looked human, despite their zombie-like appearances. Dim golden wings covered with eyes and mouths appeared from the portal hole, showing a four headed creature: one head an eagle, one head an ox, one head a man and the other head a lion. The side with the man’s face let out a screeching roar at the enemy agents, causing them to whimper out loud.

The cherub creature morphed again.

With awe and terror, Agent One, Agent Two and E.L.F. stared into the vast form of the angel before them…

…Black long span feathery wings with glowing stern red eyes. A monstrous ghostly face with sunken black eyes that appeared to glow and stand out like black holes. Stringy long black hair blowing in the wind. Faces screaming and contorting in pain covering the visitor’s towering body like an abomination. The deadly glint of a scythe in the being’s hand. A horrible stench of death surrounding all sides…

The C.H.A.R.M.E.R.S. agents screamed and ran for their lives, fleeing in a helicopter.

The darkness cleared and in a swoop of a shadow, there appeared…

“Azrael?” blinked Docile in surprise. “Wha…hold on, how did you know we needed help?”

“I have my ways,” he replied. “I sensed a carnage of death on Earth thanks to Gabriel’s somber message. Now can you elves explain how in the world you got caught by humans?”

“Actually,” Docile began, “It was kinda the other way around.”

“Doesn’t matter. If you get in trouble, I get in trouble and then Samael would be involved too. We don’t want that. You little elves really need to be more careful down here!”

“So not, ‘up there?’” Timmid asked.

“Okay, sir,” said Docile. “We’re sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“Good. Fortunately, most people do not believe the word of demons by those kooks over there. But now that they know, it’d be best to erase their memories of this trauma.”

“But…they already sent camera footage as evidence to the government,” Docile sighed sadly.

Azrael looked worried. “Oh dear. Even erasing their memories won’t do them good at this point. Humans knowing about demons so abruptly…could change everything.”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell them,” Docile muttered, mentioning to the agents.

Azrael cleared his throat. “Now, let us be off. We shall discuss the matter further with Gabriel and the Principalities.”

Azrael waved his hand and a portal back to the E.L.F. office appeared.

“Thank the lord,” sighed Timmid in relief. Tirred was covered in blood and metal. “Good riddance humans,” he spat as he stepped through. Docile and Sunna followed.

The Angel of Death was the last to step through. Before vanishing, he glared at the cowering Agent One and Agent Two with a sharp scythe in his thin hand.

“You have a meeting with your fallen colleagues…and with ME very soon in this century.”

His words promised death and the agents bawled into each other’s arms in a terrified huddle.

Soon, Docile, Tirred, Timmid and Sunna were back in Heaven. The portal closed, leaving the agents stunned once again in the night air.

“So, what now?” asked Agent Two.

“What now?! We now have even more evidence we need to be taken seriously!” exclaimed Agent One. “Plus, we just dodged a bullet…twice!”

The agents smiled and put on their sunglasses again.

“But One, we have no video feeds of the angels.”

Agent One spotted something glinting on the ground and picked it up. It was a small cracked empty bottle of Holy Spirit water that Timmid had left behind during the fight. Almost invisible to the eye was “E.L.F.” written in cursive near the bottom of it. He wrapped his hands around the bottle, a dark glint in his eyes.

“Doesn’t matter,” said Agent One with a dark chuckle. “Just wait until corporate finds out about the existence of not only demons…but alternate universes! Hahahahahahaha!”

#heavenlyboss #2phelluvaboss #2phazbinhotel

1 note · View note

jellyfitzjelly · 2 years

Text

Tempus Fugit

King Kal-el of Krypton waits impatiently for the man he left back on Earth.

For @supermanstoddlerleash | AO3 (coming soon)

🌟🌟🌟

He had left everything behind. His people sung his praises and honored his sense of sacrifice. They revelled in telling his tragic love story: a lost son of Krypton on a foreign planet; a life spent unaware of his royal heritage; a man with the same vocation helping him build a better world; a love born out of mutual respect and deep trust. But then his people called for him, for they needed a leader of the House of El, and so he came, leaving behind his love and his life on Earth. A beautiful story.

Kal never told them the truth. He never would have left had Bruce not asked him. He did not do it out of duty. He did it out of love. He had never understood why Bruce had been ready to sacrifice their love.

"We will see each other again, Clark," Bruce had promised.

Kal had held onto that promise like a lifeline. They would see each other once more. In the meantime Kal had married a noblewoman he respected, though he had no fondness for her. He could see in her eyes that she loved him, and the fact he could not even spare her some affection kept him up at night sometimes. Even the birth of their children did not bring him closer to her. When he would see Bruce again, then he'd have closure. Perhaps, then, he would be able to love her.

A delegation of the Justice League called. Kal had felt his heart ready to burst. Finally, Bruce had come to see him! Finally, they would see each other. And perhaps, though Kal knew this was only a wishful folly, Bruce would stay here with him. Perhaps he would help him rule, Kal having always relied on his steadfast compassion and strong values to navigate the turbulent times they had gone through.

The spaceship docked, and Kal sprung forward, uncaring of protocol and etiquette. Batman emerged like a dark angel out of Paradise, and Kal would have kissed him right here and there. He went to him, hugging him tightly, breathing into his smell.

Kal froze.

A dawning horror crept on him as he staggered backward.

"No," he choked out.

It was a nightmare, a bad dream from which he was going to wake up. Batman looked uneasy.

"Hello Kal," he said with a different voice (a wrong voice). "It's been a long time."

"Who are you?" he asked (he pleaded, please be Bruce, where is Bruce).

"I- I'm Nightwing. Dick? You remember me, yes?"

He pushed back the cowl, but like in a dream, Kal did not recognize the young man he had known: this Dick was nearing middle age.

An awful, dreadful realization descended upon him, like a great cold wave sweeping him off to the abyss.

"No," Kal whispered. "Nonononononono."

Dick looked at him with great sorrow, having known ever since he had stepped foot in this spacecraft what kind of shock he would give to the man once called Superman.

"I am so, so sorry Kal," he said slowly, carefully.

"No!" he bellowed, reality catching up with him.

Bruce had lied. Bruce didn't come.

(Bruce was dead.)

He had promised him. He had told him they would see each other once more.

Bruce, you liar.

History would later pinpoint this encounter as the descent of King Kal-El the Mad into tyranny. They would say that his paramour had broken his heart by refusing to stay. Some, more astute, would point out that perhaps it was simply that King Kal-El realized to his detriment that time did not pass the same way on Krypton that it did on Earth. For all their speculations, it did not change the fact that the man who had once been the hope of his people had become the worst tyrant they had ever known.

#superbat #batman #superman #bruce wayne #clark kent #dcu #mine dcu #my fanfictions

83 notes · View notes

boldlyvoid · 3 years

Text

Amethyst you so much

Summary: Spencer has had a crush on Y/N since she started working at the bau. She only ever works the night shift after a case, handling all the aftermath gracefully. one night, Spencer stays back and they strike up a conversation about rocks, causing their feelings to dig a little deeper.

Warnings: pure fluff, weed mention, hurt/comfort, grief and mourning

Word Count: 6.4K

Read on Ao3

Late nights at the office had become his thing since Gideon left.

He couldn’t bring himself to go home some nights without a game of chess, a cup of coffee, and the ambiance of the post case staff working. He would’ve had no idea about what goes on after they close a case if he didn’t stay behind most nights.

The phone rings almost every 10 minutes, and it’s always answered by the sweetest voice. The fax machine never turns off, and the most beautiful girl in the world is always running around placing papers in different places.

He’s been smitten with her since she started here, 2 years ago. Never seeing much of her since she was switched to the night shift, always wanting to just watch her from afar, never speaking to her unless he needed to.

“Yes, again we are so sorry for the door,” he can hear her voice from the back corner of the room. “Agent Morgan will be paying for that out of his paycheck, don’t worry, Mr. Kennings. We’ll be sure to remember your hotel when we’re in the area again. The FBI has a very generous budget for overnight cases. Of course, you have a good night too.”

She hung the phone up harshly and let out a deep sigh. He turned around to see her face in her arms, resting against the desk. She looked done, completely fed up. He would be too.

She looked up then, noticing that he was making eye contact with her. She awkwardly smiled and waved at him, “sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry,” Spencer replied. “We asked for the key, I should have stopped him from kicking it in.”

She laughed then, walking over to his desk so she didn’t have to yell across the room. She sat on the corner of his desk lightly, “why do you stay every night?”

“Oh, um,” he wasn’t prepared for this. She had never talked to him before. She was barely able to even look at him when she used to place papers on his desk 2 years ago, now she was on his desk.

“I don’t like to bring the work home with me, it’s better to destress here before I go to my apartment,” he answered, half honestly.

She nodded slightly, “I get it. Luckily I go home in the mornings so the sun helps me feel better.”

“Going home in the dark isn’t fun,” she lightly smiled up at her.

“Do you want a coffee or anything?” She asked softly, “seeing as I am still your assistant as long as you’re here?”

He laughed lightly, “I would, but I’d like to join you in the staff room for it?”

“Okay,” she stood, straightening out her shirt as he stood as well.

He held the doors open for her, letting her walk out first, still smiling as she waited in the hall for him. Never being anything less than 1 foot from him for some reason, and he didn’t mind in the slightest.

“Do you like your job?” He asked lightly.

“Oh yeah,” she laughed. “It’s like customer service on crack. Have you ever had to explain to someone why you can’t pay for the cracked foundation after Agent Morgan’s ransacked a place?”

“I honestly never thought of who has to deal with the aftermath,” he awkwardly admitted to her. “I’m so sorry.”

She couldn’t stop laughing as they entered the kitchen, “it’s fine. I never have to apologize on your behalf, it’s everyone else who seems to be reckless. Sometimes I feel like it would be better if I came along to babysit.”

“That would be helpful,” he smiled softly as she entered the staff room.

He watched as she took a new coffee filter out of the cupboard. Emptying the coffee pot with ease, rinsing everything before adding the water and scooping in the grounds. He was mesmerized by how fast she was able to do it, then again it was sort of her job.

“What mug would you like?” She turned to him with a smile that made his heart skip a beat.

“Um, the purple one, if it’s there?”

“You really like purple, huh?” She teased him, standing on her tippy-toes to reach the mug for him.

She placed it on the counter before grabbing a white mug, it had a bumblebee on it, “bee happy” written along the top. It was perfect for her.

“Purple is a stress-reducing colour,” she explained. “When I was a kid my parents painted my room purple so that I’d sleep better.”

“I’ve always been drawn to it.”

She leaned against the counter while the coffee pot started to percolate, “Probably because of your anxiety, coffee doesn’t help that.”

“It’s in my DNA to be like this,” he tried to joke, knowing he succeeded when her smile crept back onto her face.

He was on a mission to keep seeing it.

“For someone who spends a lot of time with dead bodies, creepy places and bad people, you sure are a mousy little thing aren’t you?” She teased him.

“I also love Halloween, go figure.” He’s not sure where the confidence came from, being able to make light-hearted jokes like this was only easy with the team.

Which she technically was a part of. He’s seen her almost every single day for 3 years, slowly being able to get comfortable enough for this very moment.

“What else are you into, outside of here?” She asked honestly, making his heart swell as no one else had ever asked him before.

“Lots of things,” he sighed. “I love to read, I’ll read anything. But mostly I enjoy far-off worlds. Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Sherlock mostly.”

“No supernatural?” She gasped. “Sacrilege, honestly. What kind of nerd are you if you don't support supperwholock?”

“That's the show with the monster hunting brothers right?” He tried to recall it to his mind.

She nodded with a pressed-lipped smile, “it’s bad but in a way where I can’t stop watching every Thursday, they just introduced an angel who is pretty gay. Star Trek is cool too, I guess, I was raised by Trekkies.”

“My mom was into Doctor Who.”

“Mamma’s boy,” she teased him slightly, returning her focus to the coffee as she poured the now finished brew into their mugs. “She was nice when she came in that one time, I made her a very sweet coffee just like yours.”

He reached for the sugar then, poring a generous amount into his mug with a grin, “how much do you like?”

“the same amount,” she couldn’t help but laugh. “I hate the taste of coffee, but it keeps me awake.”

He poured the sugar into her mug as she places a spoon in each. Allowing him to stir his own before picking it up finally. Holding the warm ceramic in his hands, it was almost as warm as the feeling in his chest when he looked at her.

He’s felt it for a long time. He’s been caught staring at her by Derek, JJ even tried to get him to give her his number. Which she already had for when she calls him into work in the middle of the night. They knew he had a crush, he did too. He just didn’t know what to do about it.

“Come to my desk, I want to show you something?” She asked softly, avoiding eye contact as she walked towards the door.

He followed, like a lost puppy, all the way back to her desk. It was always neat, he always looked at it when he made his way up the stairs to the briefing room. He could even see it from where he sat at the table sometimes. Always wanting to see her leave in the mornings.

She had a collection of rocks that always changed, he loved the blue one the most but it wasn’t there currently. She had all new ones since the last time he looked.

“Here,” she hands him one. It’s brown and gold, the colours moving and shifting as he turns it with his fingers. The gold running through it like a beautiful wave.

“what’s this for?”

“It’s a Tiger’s eye, for good luck and happiness,” she smiled. “Keep it at your desk and maybe it’ll be easier for you to relax when you come back?”

The butterflies in his chest were swirling then as she looked up at him with pleading eyes. Wanting him to take it, wanting him to feel better. Caring for him.

“Thank you,” he barely whispers, clearing his throat softly. “It’s very nice of you.”

“You’re always nice to me, so,” she shrugged.

They sat down then, he dragged his chair from his desk over to hers. Sitting in close as she explained all the meanings to her rocks. He listened carefully, getting to examine each one as she spoke.

“This one is Jade, it’s for balancing emotions and allowing compassion so I don’t scream at everyone on the phone,” she laughed as she placed one in his hands. Her fingers brushing his palm softly.

It was a beautiful green stone with a thin white line running through it, separating into 3 directions as he flipped it over, “it’s beautiful.”

“I know some people don’t believe in this stuff,” she started to get embarrassed as she placed them all back on the shelf. “But I’ve always thought; if the moon, which is just a rock, can control the water, and humans are 70% water, then who’s to tell me the moon cycles don’t control my emotions and these smaller rocks can’t help problem areas?”

“You’re not wrong,” he shook his head softly as he thought her words over. “People depended on the stars and planets for guidance originally, as well as rocks and herbs for healing, just because it’s outdated doesn’t mean it doesn’t work?”

“Thank you,” she smiled. “No one has ever agreed with me that easily.”

“Anytime you want to talk, I’ll just be over there,” he pointed at his desk. “And I’m a phone call away?” He swallowed sharply at his boldness, trying to stay calm as he awaited her answer.

“I do have your number,” she smiled, reaching out to place her hand on his. “But you should go home, I’m sure you’re chilled out now.”

“Yeah,” he agreed, staring at her hand as they touched. He lightly wrapped his hand around hers, holding it slightly, running his thumb over her knuckles. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“And every day after,” she whispered, tilting her head as she smiled at him.

This was going to be interesting.

—

Penelope was always dragging him out. She would take him shopping, to dinner, to the movies. She was like his big sister, dedicated to making sure he wasn’t always cooped up or trying to retreat into a fantasy life.

She kept him busy.

She had 4 bags in her hands as they walked down the street, peering into the store windows to see what else she could possibly be interested in taking home for someone. That’s when they passed the natural health store.

He stopped in his tracks, seeing all the different rocks on the wall accompanies by little cards that described how they could help. He opened the door and rushed inside before Penelope even noticed he stopped following her.

“Good afternoon!” The shop owner called out to him. “How can I assist you today?”

“Um, the girl I like has a rock collection,” he says softly, knowing Penelope is behind him listening. “Crystals more specifically, I’d like to get her some?”

“Well, you came to the right place,” the man beams, escorting him to the wall of rocks. “What is she like?”

“Wonderful,” the words are carried out of his mouth on a sigh as he thinks about her. “She’s confident and nice, and caring. She’s always positive and just so lovely.”

“I’ve got you,” the man starts picking rocks off the wall and placing them in his hands.

Spencer follows him to the desk where he lays down a handful of rocks, Penelope is shockingly quiet as she stands beside him, staring at the collection. She’ll be full of questions later, all of which he is terrified of.

“This is a rose quartz, pretty basic love, beauty, anti-depression stone,” he pushes the pink and a green rock towards him. “Serpentine is for new adventures, observation and insight. I have a feeling you’re up for an adventure with her?”

Spencer nodded enthusiastically, “I like that one. It would be better to get her some rare ones, some that have to do with friendship, new beginnings, or opportunities?” He tried to explain his feelings as best as he could. Not knowing if he sounded dumb for a change.

The man smiled wide, “here,” he dipped below the counter and dug out a box. “Chrysocolla is literally for new beginnings, love and opportunity.”

He hands Spencer a vitreous, raw blue stone with small green marks running all through it, it’s beautiful like her. “This is perfect.”

“I’ll throw in a Kiwi Jasper as well, it’s for being by someone's side, support and trust. As well as a Ruby in Zoisite it symbolizes finding the joy in life with someone,” he hands Spencer two equally beautiful stones, prepping a bag and wrappings for all of them.

Spencer lays out the 5 stones he picked out, watching him wrap them with care before placing them in a bag. He rings everything up, Spencer pays and before he’s even out the door Penelope is pouncing on him for answers.

“Who?!”

He can't help but blush and stutter, trying to brush past her and continue walking down the street. “You can’t hide forever Spencer, who is she?”

“How do you know it’s a she?”

“You literally said so?” She looks at him like he’s an idiot. “Come on? I won't tell anyone!”

“Y/N.”

The gears are turning in Penelope's head as she tries to place a face to the name, knowing she’s seen her somewhere, “From the office?”

He nods softly, “the one Derek bullies me for staring at?” He clues her in more as they walk.

“He also bullies her for staring at you,” she adds with a smile. “She’s going to love those, when are you going to give them to her?”

“I was thinking about just leaving one on her desk every day? Maybe with a note for why I picked it?” He really wants to woo her, she’s too special to just flirt with.

“She’s going to love that.”

—

Sure enough, he walked into work every day for the next week, placing a rock on a sticky note on her desk. He was never around when she was able to see it, only knowing she got it when he'd arrive at work the next morning with a note reading 'thank you ♥︎ ' on top of his files.

He thinks about her all weekend, planning how he'll give her the last rock as he takes the elevator up that morning. Only to see her sitting at her desk, phone pressed to her ear as she tried to talk someone out of suing the FBI, she looked absolutely miserable. Just a casual Monday morning for her, almost at the end of her shift.

He rushed over to his desk, putting all his stuff down to dig one of the rocks from his satchel. Picking the Kiwi Jasper for today, he grabbed a pen and a sticky note and wrote her a little note.

“Always here if you need to talk, -Spencer ♥︎”

He walked over to her desk, she was still talking so she didn’t notice him until he was right there, she looked up at him with a thankful smile.

“Yes sir,” she answered the person talking to her. “Can I call you back after I speak to the chief? thanks.” She hung up on him, turning all her attention to Spencer.

“I know you know it's been me leaving these, but I brought you in another one,” he says softly, placing the rock in her hand and sticking the note to the shelf where it would end up.

“oh my gosh, Spencer?” She placed her free hand on her heart as she looked at the rock.

“You looked upset?”

She stands and pulls him into a hug, he can feel all the eyes on him as he holds her back, letting his chin rest on her shoulder as she squeezes him.

“Thank you,” she whispered as she pulled back, awkwardly smiling at him as she also noticed everyone staring.

“Always,” he smiled back, hand still resting on her arm. “Um, I have a case I need to get to.”

“Of course, good luck,” she smiled.

He pulls the tiger's eye out of his shirt pocket, showing her that he still had it, “kinda hard not to have good luck with this.”

She bit back a smile, her eyes gleaming as she took a deep breath through her nose. Releasing the same feelings he was keeping inside, allowing both their butterflies to swarm out together.

—

He loved when they had cases in Virginia. Being able to stay in the bullpen and work was relaxing, it was easier to think where he felt safe.

He was working on the geo profile all alone, a huge map stretched across a clear case board as he laid a yardstick across it. Drawing a thick red line with marker over it, in his own little world as he worked away.

He doesn’t realize she’s standing there too until she’s lightly pressing her hand on his back.

“Hey,” she whispers softly. “It’s 10 pm, thought you’d like a coffee?” She places the purple mug on his desk with her purse, turning her attention back to what he’s doing.

“Thank you, I’m almost done here,” he says softly, finishing the red triangle he was making on the map.

“I’ve always found it fascinating how you do this,” she complimented him. “You’re so careful.”

“Like baking, it’s an exact science,” he smiled softly.

It made her giggle slightly, placing her hand back on his back as she moved in closer to look. He wanted her to stay there forever, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to focus. He tried his best to steady his hand as he finished the line.

Putting the yardstick back down and turning to her, she doesn’t move her hand, instead, softly moving to rest on his arm as she stands close to him. “How are you?”

He feels nervous for some reason, it’s not like she hasn’t been this close to him before. It’s just that she’s close and she smells wonderful and he wonders if her lips would be a better wake-up call than the coffee she brought.

He realizes he’s staring at her lips when he licks his own, “I’m good,” he furrows his brow and clears his throat with a nod.

She smirks at him, “how come you’re the only one still here? Hotch said it could wait till tomorrow?”

“I was waiting for you,” he admits, “but I got carried away setting this up, I never heard you come in?”

“Cause I didn’t,” she scrunches her nose slightly as she straightens her stance. “I saw you working hard and went right to get you a coffee.”

“You’re wonderful,” he blushes as the words slip out, trying his best to keep eye contact when all he wants to do is kiss her.

She pats his arm slightly as she backs up a little, grabbing her bag from where she set it on his desk. “I’m going to set up for the night, come talk to me before you leave?”

“Of course,” he says as she walks away, letting out a small sigh as he realizes just how badly he wants her.

He never gets to talk to her before he leaves, she’s on the phone when hotch comes storming in. Saying something about another body and making Reid leave with him. He’s busy for 3 days straight, thinking about her with every free thought he’s able to squeeze in.

He carries the rock from her in his pocket everywhere he goes; in his pants beside his keys, in his bag with his books, in his breast pocket, over his heart, behind a bulletproof vest. Feeling it press against his chest, a part of her keeping him safe where ever he went.

They finish the case with minimal damage, Spencer specifically making sure that Derek leaves all the doors on the hinges for Y/N’s sake, cleaning up any messes they make so she won’t have to hear about it over the phone. They all notice that he’s doing it for her, quietly appreciating the fact that Spencer is happy for a change, that there’s a glimmer of hope in his eyes again.

He arrives back at Quantico 30 minutes before her shift starts. Everyone else is packing up for the day while he sits at his desk, reading to occupy the time before she comes in.

Only she doesn’t.

30 minutes pass and she’s nowhere to be seen, it’s only 9:02 by the time he starts to panic. Wondering if she’s okay, hoping she’s just in the elevator or grabbing a coffee that’s actually good, somewhere outside of the office.

“Reid,” he hears Hotch calling him from his office door. “She just called in, her grandmother passed away last night so she won't be in.”

“Oh,” he furrows his brow, looking at him with confusion. “How did you know?”

“Penelope,” he smiles. “She’s still here too, and she knows where Y/N lives.”

“It wouldn’t be weird to go see if she’s okay?”

Hotch just smiles at him again, “go see her, Reid.”

Getting her address from Penelope felt a little weird, but she writes it on a sticky note for him and he’s out the door before she can even pry into what he’s going to say. Which is good, because he doesn’t know yet.

It’s late, but he stops by the little rock store on his way to her house. Seeing the lights still on and the same man from before behind the counter.

“Welcome back,” he’s overly cheerful for it being so late. “How did she like them?”

“She likes the ones I’ve given her so far,” he smiles, looking over the wall himself this time for the right one.

Scanning past every emotion and affirmation known to man as he looked around, picking out a beautiful pink Rhodonite for healing grief, supposedly acting as a hug from emotional troubles. And a Rainbow Moonstone for inner peace, harmony and strength.

“She’s lost someone recently?” He asks as Spencer places them on the counter.

“Her grandmother,” he says softly. “These are good, right?”

“They’ll be perfect, we also have amethyst bracelets, they’re good for healing and drawing in positive energy,” he points towards the small display of bracelets. Small purple stones separated with small gold beads.

He picks up 2 of them, placing them on the counter as well.

“Is she still just a crush?”

Spencer laughs lightly, “unfortunately.”

“She might be more after this,” he smirks, ringing him up. “I’ll give you a 2 for one deal on everything, I have a feeling you’ll be in a lot.”

Spencer thanks him as he pays, picking out a small purple bag for the rocks and bracelet. Placing one on his own wrist before leaving. Also picking up some cookie dough ice cream and a card at the corner store just beside her apartment. Remembering all the times Penelope, JJ or Emily has mentioned it being the best ice cream for crying.

He takes a very deep breath before knocking on her door, hoping to every god out there that she doesn’t find this incredibly inappropriate and weird.

“Spencer?” He hears her voice before she even opens the door, looking out the peephole at him.

She whips the door open, eyes puffy and swollen as she looks at him in shock. She’s in a big sweater and shorts, tears dripping down her cheeks as she shakes her head at him.

“I thought you could use some cheering up?” He awkwardly smiles, holding the ice cream up for her to see.

She wraps her arms around his middle, burying her face against his coat. Still crying as she holds him, he holds her with his free hand, shushing her as he presses his cheek to her head.

She pulls back with a sniffle, “come in,” she offers with an arm out, ushering him inside the small room as she closes the door.

He takes his shoes off, handing her the ice cream so he can take off his coat and satchel too. “This isn’t weird right?”

“Not at all,” she laughs slightly through the awkwardness. “You don’t know how much it means to me that you care this much.”

“I brought something for you,” he says as he struggles to dig everything out of his pocket.

He hands her the card and the little purple bag, seeing the overwhelming glance grow on her face. Her eyes grew wide as he mouth opened, speechless.

She opened the card first, reading the passage about grief that was already provided. Dealing with grief was something Spencer knew too well, adding something a little special to the bottom of the card.

“To live in hearts we left behind is not to die,” -Thomas Campbell. As long as you remember her, with a smile on your face and love in your heart, she will always be with you ♥︎ Spencer

She wipes her tears with her forearm, placing the card on the counter beside the ice cream before she opens the bag. She pulls out the bracelet first, absolute shock on her face.

“Spencer?” Is all she can say, in a high squeak as she shakes her head at him.

“I didn’t want you to be sad,” he says softly, stepping into her space and placing a hand on her arm. “I love seeing you smile, and I thought this could help.

He takes the bracelet from her grasp and places it over her hand. Resting it on her wrist softly, straightening it out against her sweater as she notices the matching on over his shirt sleeve.

“Oh this is so cute,” she swoons. “thank you, really Spencer.”

“And there are some rocks for grief healing in there too, one is supposedly like an emotional hug which should heal the grief and sorrow, and the other is more for inner peace and harmony,” he rambles away, not wanting her to miss anything.

She pours the rocks from the bag, into her hand, looking them over silently with a smile, “they’ll look great on my desk.”

“The purple looks nice on you too,” he compliments her, watching her eyes drift up to him.

She places the rocks on the counter before wrapping her arms around him once more. This time he’s able to actually hold her back, tight as possible as he rubs his hand over her back.

She smells like home, clean laundry and happiness. She’s soft and warm, he holds her perfectly against his chest, like she was a missing puzzle piece that someone finally found under the table, she fits into his life like she was supposed to be there.

She kisses his cheek softly before she pulls back, causing him to pull her into a real kiss on impulse. Connecting their lips as she sighs into the contact, melting into his grasp as she kisses him back.

Her lips are soft, fitting between his own gently as she breathes him in. Her hands reach up to grip his cheeks, kissing him again and again, placing pecks to his lips and cheeks with her eyes closed as he giggles.

“Thank you,” she whispers against his lips, “for everything.”

“I’d do anything for you,” he whispers back, kissing her one last time before she pulls away.

“I was actually about to smoke some weed on the fire escape and probably cry some more,” she laughs lightly. “would you like to join me?”

“I’ll stick with a bowl of ice cream,” he smiled awkwardly.

“Nice one,” she laughs as she opens the ice cream.

“What?”

“Oh, you didn’t even get the reference you made,” she laughs lightly, “to get high you smoke a bowl, so…”

It makes him smile, “I'm a comedian part-time.”

He makes her laugh again, loving the sound of her giggle replacing the tears. “Why aren’t you this funny at work?”

He thinks about it for a little, watching her scoop the ice cream into two bowls, “it’s a little hard to make jokes when people's lives are on the line, I know everyone else does but I get too focused.”

“They probably wouldn’t appreciate your jokes even if you did make them,” she says as she handed him a bowl with a spoon. “They’re kind of mean to you, in a family way but it still sucks sometimes to overhear.”

She walks into the living area then, grabbing a few blankets and opening the window to the fire escape. Crawling out to sit on the ledge, waiting for him.

“I don’t mind it,” he says as he finally sits down beside her.

She places the blanket over their laps, both of them sitting criss-cross applesauce as they ate.

“Do you like your job?” She asks him, just like he once asked her.

“Most of the time,” he nodded as he got brain freeze. The cold air, the cold ice cream, everything that was catching up to him as he scrunched his face up at the feeling.

She laughs at him only a bit before she’s also attacked by the brain freeze, holding the vein in her neck as she chokes out another laugh, trying to warm up the blood going to her head so the pain would stop.

They’re both just a mess of giggles together, unable to say any words as they let it all out. She leans her head on his shoulder lightly as they calm down to just soft chuckles. He presses his cheek against her head.

“Thank you, Spencer,” it sounds like she’s crying a bit. “My grandma was a lovely woman, she’d be glad I’m laughing right now.”

He reached out a hand for her to hold over the blanket. She interlocked their fingers softly, both cold from holding their ice cream bowls.

“If she was anything like you, I’m sure she was the most wonderful woman,” he says softly, not intending to make her cry but having a feeling he might.

“Would you be interested in holding me on the couch while I cry?” She asked softly, tears in her eyes as she looked up at him.

“Whatever you need, I’m here for you.”

—

He’s late for work the next morning.

Waking up to the smell of coffee, opening his eyes to a strange view. He’s on a couch he doesn’t recognize in a room he doesn’t know too well.

Then he remembers, they ended up cuddled up on the couch. He wakes up to the memory of her on his chest, crying softly as they listened to some music, he ran his hand over her back while she went through it all, blessed to have his support.

He fell asleep under her at some point, waking up alone with a blanket laid over him. He sat up to see her in the kitchen, pouring coffee into a travel mug.

“Good, you’re awake,” she smiles at him. “Coffee is ready, I uh, I have this button-up shirt from a guy friend, if you wanted to wear that to work today? So they don’t think you stayed here?”

“That’s smart,” he replies as he rubs the sleep out of his eyes.

Getting up, he uses the bathroom, changes and takes that coffee from her. He’s not expecting her to kiss him on the lips at the door, but she sends him off to work like an old housewife.

He doesn’t want to pull away from her, keeping her pressed against him as he leans in for 4 more kisses before she finally pushes him out into the hallway with a laugh, “get to work!”

“Fine,” he sighs, “are you going to be in tonight?”

“Yeah,” she smiles, “funeral is in West Virginia next week, so I’ll be in until then.”

“I’ll see you later?”

She nods slightly with a soft smile, “you’ll be seeing a lot of me soon, Spencer.”

“Good,” he winks at her before heading down the hallway and towards the street entrance.

He sighs as he walks outside, resting his back against the apartment complex door, taking a moment to think about everything that just happened, the night of company and the wonderful send-off.

It was something he could get used to.

He rushes into the briefing room when he arrives at Quantico, sitting down with his coffee and pretending he wasn’t late. Listening carefully to JJ’s presentation of the case as he flips through everything he missed already.

“Wheels up in 30,” he heard Hotch say as he zoned back in. “Nice of you to join us, Reid.”

“I know that travel mug from somewhere,” Derek said as he stared at Spencer, who was taking a sip to avoid the awkwardness.

“Hmm?” He played dumb.

“That’s Y/N’s. She washes it every morning when she leaves to go home, I see her do it every morning,” his eyes open wide. “Holy shit.”

“Isn’t that the same tie and slacks from yesterday?” Emily teased him as well.

“Her grandma died, I brought her ice cream and slept on the couch okay?” He all but yelled, flailing his arms slightly so they’d all back off.

Derek reached his fist out for him to pound it, “good man.”

Then Penelope noticed the bracelet, “did she get you that?”

He sunk his hand into his pocket then, “no.”

“What?” Emily and JJ asked in unison, straining their necks to try and get a good look at what she was talking about.

He nervously held his arm out for them, showing them the purple bracelet resting over the sleeve of his shirt. “I got one for her too, it’s for healing and peace. It’s what she needs right now.”

“Oh, so you love her,” Derek smiles as he teases him. Making everyone else in the room swoon slightly.

“Okay and?”

“Oh my god!” Most of them shout at him, embarrassing him to no end. He was so glad she wasn’t at work this morning or else she would be able to hear this from her desk.

“Did you kiss her?” Rossi pries, asking what everyone else was thinking.

He scrunches his face, pushing his glasses up slightly as he clears his throat, “a few times.”

“Is she your girlfriend?” JJ kept the questions coming.

“Not yet,” he said softly. “Kinda weird to walk into her apartment while she cries to say ‘hey sorry about the death in your family, want to date me?’”

“Yeah,” Emily agrees, shrugging lightly. “At least she knows you like her now, it’s been what? 2 years?”

“2 years, 3 months, 17 days and 43 minutes,” he confirms with a small nod and pressed lips.

“Gross,” Derek teases him.

“The plane is leaving in 10 minutes,” Hotch cut into their fun.

Making them all gather their things and continue the interrogation in the elevator, and eventually on the plane, and in the police precinct. Even Penelope called him in the middle of everything to bug him about her.

The questions were never-ending, everyone wanted to know how they even started talking, who made the first move, how he plans to ask her out. They were relentless, he almost regretted admitting to anything.

They bug him all throughout the day, all the way until they’re arriving back at the BAU late that same night. He almost doesn’t want to go back to the bullpen and see her with all of them, knowing they were going to follow and say something.

She’s waiting in the hall when the elevator doors open, a pressed-lipped smile on her face, “bad news.”

“Another one?” Hotch sighs, “have Garcia send us the info. Be at the table in 10.” He pushes his way out of the elevator, passed them all as they stare at Y/N.

“Hi?” She awkwardly waves at them all, showing off the bracelet on her wrist.

“See ya, Spence,” JJ and Emily say as they matt his shoulder, dragging Derek and Rossi towards the bullpen doors.

“Sorry,” he apologizes for them softly, stepping into her space.

She wraps him up in a quick hug, keeping one arm around his waist as she guides him towards the bullpen, “it’s fine, they’re going to have to get used to us being together.”

“Together?” He repeats her words.

“I only cry on my boyfriend's shoulders, if you're up for the title?” She teases him softly, pinching his side as they walk towards the doors.

“Can I frame “Dr. Spencer Reid, Y/N’s boyfriend” beside my Ph.D.’s?” He keeps his hand on her shoulder, holding each other slightly as they walk towards her desk. He felt like one of those kids who wouldn’t let go of their girlfriend's hand in the school hallway, attached to her at the hip.

“I’ll make one for you while you’re gone,” she laughs lightly.

They stop at her desk where he sees all rocks he got her collecting on the shelf, as well as a cup of coffee and his favourite kind of donut.

“Thought you deserved something nice too,” she says as she nudges his side.

He kisses her on the cheek as a thank you, “you’re welcome,” she smiles to herself. A feeling of pride growing in both their chests.

“See you later?” He asks as he picks up the coffee and donut, walking away slowly as she smiles at him.

“Come home to me safely, Doctor Reid,” her voice is just loud enough for everyone in the briefing room, where everyone is waiting at the window, watching them, deciding to put on a show in return.

He stops on the steps to look at her softly, “I’d fight a thousand unsubs to come home to you.”

“I’ll leave the light on,” she blows a kiss at him, making him blush a deep red.

He waves, making his way up the steps and into the briefing room. A smile on his face, heart thumping in his chest, all the support in the world swarming around him as everyone patted him on the back.

That tiger’s eye really did bring him good luck and happiness, and her name was Y/N.

#spencer reid #spencer reid smut #spencer reid fanfiction #spencer reid fanfic #spencer reid imagine #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid x y/n #spencer reid x you #spencer reid self insert #spencer reid request #criminal minds smut #criminal minds imagine #one shot #fluff

860 notes · View notes

oseytorvan · 2 years

Text

A Matter of Perspective

Hiccup and Astrid are often called opposites, and this is exactly what allows them to develop as personalities next to each other. It's no secret that Hiccup and Astrid seem to "adopt" each other's strengths – Hiccup becomes more courageous next to Astrid, shows courage, stubbornness and determination. Astrid, next to Hiccup, learns to control her emotions, to be more tolerant and merciful towards herself and others.

Many Hiccstrid fans know about this "role exchange", but few people noticed that it happens literally in EVERY episode of the fifth season. At least in its beginning. See for yourself:

1 episode. Living on the Edge

In the first episode, Hiccup faces a difficult choice. On the one hand, he is worried about Garf's injuries and wants to ease his suffering. On the other hand, it is necessary to deliver amber to the Edge as soon as possible in order to save the island from a volcanic eruption. What should be done? Leave the dragon to die to save the Edge, or help Garf while losing the island? In this difficult situation, Astrid comes to the aid of Hiccup – she takes on some of the responsibilities. And here's what's interesting: Astrid leaves Hiccup exactly the mission that will help him develop leadership qualities. Given Astrid's strong sense of duty and Hiccup's boundless love for dragons, one would assume that Hofferson would go to protect the Edge while Hiccup takes care of Garf. Instead, Astrid changes roles with Hiccup – so that their missions have a good effect on their characters. As a result, staying with Garf, Astrid develops qualities such as caring and compassion. Protecting the Edge, Hiccup strengthens the skills of a leader and a warrior.

2 series Sandbusted

I will ask you to notice one detail: Hiccup chose a wonderful gift for Astrid, but forgot that the locket needed a chain to wear it. Astrid spends a lot of time and effort trying to find the perfect gift for Hiccup, but forgets that the main thing in a gift is sincerity. In this series, Hiccup learns to look at things from a more practical side, while Astrid begins to understand that practicality is not the main thing. How does this happen? Hiccup comes up with a clever plan to lure Sandbuster into a trap, but the dragon finds a way out. Astrid and the gang search the whole island in search of Hiccup and Snotlout, but all attempts are in vain. Do you see what I'm getting at? To succeed, Hiccup and Astrid have to change the angle of view. To get out of the cave, Hiccup has to work physically – build a cage, climb a fragile heap , show strength and courage. In order to find Hiccup and Snotlout, Astrid has to be smart and imaginative, think outside the box.

4 series. Snotlout's Angels

Performing a mission to save Snotlout, Hiccup takes on the "dirty" part of the operation: he must distract female Razorwhips, covering the girls' backs. Astrid negotiates with the Wingmaidens and saves Snotlout, developing her diplomacy skills and learning to cope with anger.

Of course, this is not all the cases when Hiccup and Astrid change roles... But hey, how much proof do you need to understand that Hiccstrid is the perfect couple?

#httyd rtte #hiccup rtte #astrid rtte #astrid hofferson #hiccup and astrid #astrid and hiccup #hiccstrid #hiccstrid rtte #hiccstrid analysis

24 notes · View notes

tainted-wine · 4 years

Text

The Spring Bird Survival Guide

Hawks x Reader (NSFW)

(So many of you have asked for a part two of my rutting Hawks fic. I gave in! I have no idea how this holds up compared to the first, but I hope you enjoy!)

Read Part 1 if you haven’t! This takes place directly after those events!

Words: 10k (WHOOPS)

Warnings: None, except for an absurd amount of scene transitions that hopefully don’t get too confusing.

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

Tuesday

The chorus of songbirds can be heard right outside of Hawks’s window, their small shapes dashing past and making the peeking sunlight flicker across the bedroom. It sounds like it’s gonna be a beautiful day. He’d be elated, if he wasn’t feeling so ill already.

The fever and itch were coming back, like a hot rash that he couldn’t scratch because it was inside of him. He was really hoping to never feel such a hellish sensation ever again.

He slowly peeled the thick sheets off, making sure not to disturb his bedmate as he sat up. There’s no way the quirk’s effects were returning, is there? Last night, the feeling had only gotten weaker with every passing hour. Now it has returned, not in full force, but once again difficult to ignore. He peered over his shoulder to check on his guest.

You were still sound asleep, worn body supported by pillows all over as if you were in danger of falling apart. While Hawks was healing that night, your aches had only gotten worse. He at least managed to convince you that you were in no condition to drive back home and the safer choice was to stay at his place. You were still wearing the clothes he gave you, while he himself donned only a cozy pair of pants. Such a shame that you didn’t take kindly to his request to sleep nude together. Seriously, what was even the issue? He’s already seen every inch of your body, and in every angle possible.

Every hot, sweaty, mouthwatering angle possible.

The internal fire suddenly rushed to his groin, making him slap a hand over his mouth to muffle a groan. He shouldn’t be around you in this state; might as well get up early and prepare for work.

The moment he was on his feet and stretching, a buzz was heard on the nightstand. Your phone vibrated against the smooth wood as it lit up and revealed the caller’s name.

Ah, the good ol’ deputy.

What that nagging old man wanted was between him and you. It wasn’t Hawks’s right to force himself between whatever matters the two of you had to discuss.

Those facts aren’t going to stop his nosy ass, however.

The phone was snatched from the stand without a second thought, the hero walking out of the room as quickly and quietly as possible before answering. “Mornin’, sir,” Hawks greeted. You were the only ‘superior’ he could toy with; any unruly behavior around the actual important people came with a high risk of punishment. Taking his frustrations out on you has been a blast, but after the bind you freed him from yesterday…

“Hawks? May I ask what you’re doing with your handler’s phone?” The deputy questioned.

‘I completely wrecked her last night. The poor lady didn’t survive.’ He considered the joke for a second, but decided that the stuffy bastard wouldn’t appreciate it. “She’s still snoozing. Yesterday was pretty rough on her. I think she deserves a little slack.”

“That’s not for you to decide,” he said sternly, like he was offended that Hawks dared to make a suggestion. Hell, he probably was. “Well, since you’re here, I suppose I can ask you directly. How are you feeling? Has the quirk worn off?”

His wings flapped and fanned himself. “Oh, so much better, sir! You guys have the best solutions to everything, don’t you? Never doubted you for a second.” Truthfully, if his moral compass was more stable, he’d say that offering an unsuspecting woman to him like some maiden sacrifice was just a little twisted. He can’t help but wonder if he would have refused if he was thinking straight at the time.

“Very good. So you are not feeling any lingering effects? Do your usual rutting symptoms feel stronger at all?”

“Eh…” Hawks hesitated. Should he bother trying to hide it? If there’s anything he’s learned from his mentally taxing undercover work, it’s that half-truths are often the best answer. “Feels like it’s still floating around in me, but nothing to worry about. It won’t be getting in the way of my work.”

“That’s great to hear. We don’t want you hurting your image with any more of your brutish displays in public. Please keep those special traits to yourself.”

That made his lip twitch. It really shouldn’t bother him. The Commission has always expressed their distaste for his more animalistic habits, but fuck, would it kill them to at least show some pity when it’s his very own instincts that are causing his suffering? “You got it, sir.” His calm response didn’t betray his irritation.

“And if you do start having issues, then I recommend that you turn to your handler again. In fact, I was calling to inform her that we have found a more competent individual to replace her.”

Oh. That’s…ouch.

“Really? I kinda like her,” Hawks admitted. It’s pretty awkward to be discussing your possible termination on your phone during a call that was meant for you.

The deputy gave a dry laugh. “Of course you do. She has absolute zero control over you. I was hoping you were mature and disciplined enough to not take advantage of her inexperience, but I suppose I was expecting too much of you.”

Yeah, he kinda was, honestly. No argument there. “So sorry, sir. I won’t let it happen again.” Maybe.

“You better make sure of it. As I was saying, we’ll keep her around in case you are in need of more relief. Once your hormones have stabilized, I will give her the news and you will be rid of her.”

Hawks actually snorted from just how fucked up that plan was.

The cruel man ignored the sound and went on. “Can I trust you to stay quiet about this? I’d rather not have to deal with any constant badgering for however long this goes on.”

‘Totally! There’s no need for her to know that she’s only being kept around to be my fucktoy and then get fired immediately afterwards.’ Man, what an organization that he works for. Too bad they have him whipped and incapable of defying them. “Your secret’s safe with me, sir.”

“Good. Well, this call didn’t go as planned, but it was satisfying enough. I’m expecting you to remain in top condition during your duties. Do not disappoint us.” He hung up without waiting for Hawks’s response.

The winged man didn’t even notice the perspiration quickly coating his body until the phone nearly slipped out of his slick hands. As he returned to his room and placed your device back where it was, he couldn’t help but watch your sleeping form.

You were always cute, he’s not gonna lie about that. Finding new ways to embarrass you on the job became a new type of thrill for him. Your blushful glares never got old.

But he never thought that he’d see you like this, or the state that you were in yesterday. His mind was barely there as he was shrouded in that prankster of a villain’s quirk, but he could still feel you all over his extra sensitive feathers. He was practically drowning in you at the time.

The smell of your arousal. The taste of the glaze on your pussy. The sweet songs of pleasure. The look of overwhelming bliss on your face.

Your soft skin, and your hot wet opening that he wanted to invade over and over again…

“Keigo?”

He doesn’t know when you woke up, or when the hell he crawled into the bed with his face so close to yours that he could feel your breath. “Uh…”

“Are you alright? You’re looking feverish again. And…” You looked down in concern, and Hawks followed your gaze to see the full erection that totally snuck up on him.

“Whoa! Sorry about that! Little guy doesn’t know when to quit.” Hawks scooted away, trying and failing to hide the tent in his pants.

You attempted to sit up, only to wince and settle back down. “Dammit, I can’t believe how much I’m hurting from yesterday. This is embarrassing.” You groaned and snuggled up to the many pillows.

He couldn’t resist planting a kiss on your forehead, ignoring how the brief contact made his hardness twitch. “Sorry, angel. Really wish I wasn’t such an animal back there. Just stay still; I’ll get you some fresh water for your painkillers.”

You look like you wanted to say something, but decided on closing your eyes and trying to relax instead. “Thanks.”

He was already rushing out of the room, heading into the kitchen to fill the empty glass while considering dowsing himself in the cold tap water.

Why, why the fuck was it coming back? Just looking at you was making his vision foggy again. It can’t be his rut; it never made him this excited before. He didn’t have the courage to return to the bed, alternatively placing the cup onto a hardened feather and floating it back to you. He stayed where he was, leaning against the sink and wiping at his face. The heat remained at a manageable level as long as he kept his distance from you, but he wanted to stay close. He had to stay close and protect the woman he was now mated to.

Wait, what?

“Keigo?” He heard you call out and was pulled from his confusing thoughts. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

Hawks gave a laugh that didn’t sound all that convincing to his own ears. “Bad news, babe. I think I’m still a horny bird,” he confessed.

There was a pause. Maybe you had taken a sip. “I don’t know if they told you, but when the deputy explained your…situation, he said that the symptoms of your rut will probably be amplified until it’s over.”

Ah, the old man did mention that over the phone. He only had about a week of his yearly phase left, but if this all means intensified aggression and arousal, not to mention the attachment to the lady he just banged for several hours…

This was going to be a very difficult week.

“Babe?” He said just loud enough for you to hear.

“Yes?”

“…I really fucked up by not taking my meds, didn’t I?”

He didn’t exactly hear your sigh, but it was still felt through his wings. “I’m afraid you did.”

Yeah, this was all his fault. This bullshit would only be half as painful if he was still taking his stupid hormone medication like he has been for years. Not only do these unrestrained imbalances feel foreign to his body, but Libido’s quirk practically put them on steroids.

The medicine’s side effects don’t sound all that bad anymore.

—————

Hawks had already eaten a slice of leftover pizza by the time you finally mustered up the strength to get up. The feel of your entire lower body cramping made you whimper and stumble.

He was already scrambling back in to catch you and hold you up, his high body temperature startling you. “Thank you,” you said wearily.

He froze for a second before jumping back, the sudden loss of support almost making you fall anyway. He wordlessly strutted over to his wardrobe, withdrawing a fresh pair of underwear.

You looked away when the pants were pulled down and his hardness sprang free. He’s not just going to ignore that, is he?

“Keigo, do you need to…do this…again?” You asked, tuning out the throb of your muscles.

He chuckled as he began to dress himself . “You are not up for more sex, baby. Don’t even act like it when you can barely stand.”

You huffed. “You’re getting really hot again and you shouldn’t go out feeling like th—”

“Nope.” His boner is covered again, somewhat. He stares at the obvious protrusion before shrugging and retrieving his hero outfit.

Even with your aches, you had the grit to push on. “As long as you go slow, I can probably handle it.”

“Mmmm, can’t promise that,” he murmured while momentarily detaching his wings in order to squeeze into his tight black shirt. “The second I’m inside you, I might lose control and shatter your pelvis.”

That’s horrifying, but… “I trust you.”

“I don’t trust me.”

“Keigo…”

“And don’t get too attached to that name, dove. Can’t have it slipping out in public.”

“I wouldn’t do that. I’m not stupid.”

“Could’ve fooled me, since you’ve offered me your tender pussy twice already. Do you want me to pound you into mush?”

“Language, Hawks!” You strictly reminded him, undeterred by your wobbly legs as you tried to remind him who was in charge.

Hawks shot you a look, his face crinkled into furrowed eyebrows and a crooked grin, a look that screamed ‘Seriously?’

“Listen, ma’am, wood happens. I’ve dealt with it plenty of times like any other guy, so I’m telling you that I don’t need to bang to get rid of this.” He pulled up his tan loose pants, the bulge not as obvious, but still visible. “But if you really insist on ordering me to fuck you silly, be my guest.”

You weren’t exactly going to do that, it’s just that Hawks was acting so unfazed by his strong arousal, but his body was very clearly telling a different story. His breathing was heavier than necessary, and every time after he made eye contact with you, it’s like he had to spend a minute to compose himself. However, if he’s confident that he can endure…

“Fine,” you sighed, watching him suit up with more interest than you cared to admit. You hobbled on out and into the kitchen.

“Need help, granny?” You heard him offer. “I can fly you to your place if your legs still aren’t working.”

“I’m fine,” you grumbled in annoyance at both him and your uncooperative limbs. The fridge was yanked open and you frowned at its contents. The pizza and chicken wings were the only real food he had, the rest being sugary snacks or microwave meals. Looks like ‘keeping a healthy diet’ will have to be added to your Hawks Maintenance list.

The flaps of wings were heard behind you as Hawks headed for the door, fully geared up and ready for hero work. “Welp, you’re a big girl that can handle yourself. Drive safely, babe. Can’t wait to hear what you have to nag me about at the office.”

“Hmph,” you gave a smirk of your own when you turned away from the humming microwave. “Probably about the next mistake you make for all of the internet to see.”

He waved dismissively and opened the door, the morning sun illuminating him with an enchanting glow. “Come on, have some faith in me. I’ll be careful.”

Crimson wings spread as he steps outside, but the door closes before you can watch him take off.

—————

Buzzfood.com

HAWKS SPORTS STIFFY ON THE JOB

Written by Yuki Burushito

Now, I know that I’ve been posting enough Hawks-related articles to last a year, but can you blame me with all the weird behavior he’s been exhibiting this month? You probably think that I have a boner for the guy, but let me tell you this: one of us has a boner, and it isn’t me.

Everyone’s favorite hawk was hiding a woodpecker in his pants today. The best part is that it apparently lasted hours, given that it was mentioned in several incidents throughout the day, but the clearest example was when he subdued a mugger at noon, which was filmed by a bystander and is already making the rounds across the web.

Yet another extreme apprehension from Hawks—though it doesn’t top the beating he gave to that frisky peacock—I sure didn’t expect the fast-working hero to swoop down on a fleeing thief and slam him into the ground. I’m certain that a few feathers would have done the job just fine. When the pinned mugger felt Hawks Jr. poking at his back, he lifted his busted face off the ground and screamed, “Is this shit turning you on?!”

While everyone is currently having a field day with that meme-able clip, the answer is most likely no. Hawks was hard before the mugging occurred. Since I’ll probably be writing about him again by...I don’t know, tomorrow, I’ll cut to the chase. You have probably heard the theories that Hawks is experiencing some sort of rut.

Well, it’s time for me to come out and say that I fully support those theories. “But Mr. Burushito!” I hear you say. “If this is something as regular as a rut, how come he’s never acted this wild before?” My answer to that is: I have no idea. He’s still a rather young man; maybe whatever sexual cycles his body possesses have only started appearing recently.

Honestly, you can never be sure with mutant types. Their bodies never make any damn sense.

“I take offense to that last sentence.”

You didn’t react to Hawks’s comment as you both read the article on your phones. After seeing multiple images of ‘Hard Hawks’, as he’s been nicknamed, taken by several random civilians and shared on their social media accounts, you knew it was only a matter of time before these petty news sites decided to take a bite out of the fresh meat.

Maybe this was your fault for trusting the hormonal bird that was currently seated in front of you while you stood across his desk. The only reason you aren’t scolding him right now is because he already looks so damn miserable. He had removed his protective headphones and visor right after finishing his patrols. A desk fan was turned to its highest setting, blowing directly into the hero’s sweaty face as he tried his hardest to focus on the small screen in his hands. He hasn’t looked at you since you’ve entered the office, but distressed or not, there was a certain matter you had to discuss.

“The deputy apparently called me this morning,” you started, ready to see how he reacts.

You notice him tense for just a second as he continues to scroll through whatever it is he’s looking at.

“It says that I had taken the call, but I sure don’t remember that. What I do remember is that you were awake before me.” Your hands were on your hips, waiting for Hawks to answer to your unspoken accusation. “Well?”

He still stared down at his phone, but it didn’t seem like he was actually looking at anything, his mind elsewhere. “Yeah yeah, I talked to him,” he admitted groggily.

You’re more angered by the fact that the deputy never bothered to call you back, leaving you in the dark from whatever he and Hawks had discussed. “So, what did you two talk about? You know, during my call that was meant for me?”

Hawks finally laid his glassy eyes on you. The energy surrounding him was drastically different from this morning and it made you just a tad anxious. Your body truly didn’t feel up to it when you offered him more sex this morning, but you knew it would be better than him reverting to another delirious state. “In a nutshell, he wants us to keep fucking until I’m better.”

Your eyes widened in shock. “What? He didn’t think it was important to tell me about this?”

He leaned far back into his chair and smiled, beads of sweat trickling down his neck. “Guess not. But hey, you’re doing your job anyway, already serving yourself to me the minute you see a hard-on.”

You glared, considering storming out of the room and calling that asshole immediately. “I don’t appreciate him expecting me to be your personal whore.”

“I know, I know. He’s a real douche, isn’t he? How about we both blow off some steam?” He was already scooting out of his chair and making his way around the desk. “I’m just making one mistake after another. Shoulda just said yes to you this morning. Never pays to be a nice guy, does it?” His voice was sounding rougher with each word, like his throat was changing into a sandpaper tube as he stopped right in front of you.

You trembled, making the mistake of looking down and spotting the erection that was very much still present.

For the sake of your still-burning body, you might need some time to mentally prepare for this. “Alright…but before we leave, just let me—”

“Leave?” Two hands clasped onto your shoulders hard, holding you in place. The raptorial eyes held yours captive, stirring up a heat within you despite your unease. “We’re doing this right here, right now.”

“Wha-I-but-” Your stutters were ignored as he turned you to the desk and bent you over, your back muscles screaming in protest. All of his weight was pressing into you, his deprived cock pushing against your ass.

“And everyone’s already left for tonight, so it’s just you and me.” He’s eagerly yanking your pants down then does the same for his own.

His fingers wasted no time in groping your sex, the swipes against your folds triggering a steady flow of slick arousal. There should be no one else in the building at this time, but your paranoia still makes you clap a hand over your mouth as you gasp from his sinful touches.

“Mmm, already getting wet for me?” He cooed behind you, his breath feeling like heat emanating from an open flame. “My brave little hen, willing to take as many poundings as she can.”

That’s a pet name you haven’t heard before. Teeth scrape across the space between your neck and shoulder while the head of his cock lubricates itself along your fleshy petals. When he pierces you with a strong jab of his hips, the light nips on your skin become a full-on bite, muffling his own cry. For you, however, the sharp sensation of being filled so suddenly combined with the pain of his teeth pinching into the crook of your neck had you wailing through your hand.

He was already setting a quick pace, giving your bitten area a few apologetic licks before leaning back to properly grip your hips and plow you. Your entire body was rocked forward with each impact, the harsh stroking of your inner walls bringing forth a raw pleasure that you admittedly missed.

But that wasn’t enough to ignore the resurging aches all over you. Your sensitive ass cheeks have become very familiar with slapping against his abdomen, every pleasurable collision also shooting pain up your lower back, and his probing dick was showing no mercy to your delicate insides.

“Haw—ah, Hawks! You need…you need to slow down!” You quavered.

The only response was a series of savage pants and growls as his violent movements continued, informing you that all of his sense and reasoning has disappeared once again. You remember the warning he gave you this morning, and fear that his quip about breaking your pelvis may have been more than just a joke.

You try to twist yourself just enough to see his face and speak to him more directly, but a hand on your back shoves you hard onto the desk, leaving your breasts and belly to scrape against the wooden surface. At least you weren’t fully stripped for this.

How the hell did this happen so fast? He was speaking just a minute ago! Do the after-effects of Libido’s quirk ruin Hawks’s mind that quickly the second his dick touches a pussy?

A moan was being ripped from your throat with every thrust as he upped the speed and force. He was showing no signs of stopping, and your thighs were beginning to cramp. The mixture of colorful pleasure and throbbing pains was making every inch of you shake. His fierce sounds were becoming distant—even with your legs on the verge of giving out and your back muscles crying, you welcomed the fog of bliss that was ready to carry you away.

Your poor legs finally crumpled like frail sticks, only for the frustrated animal behind you to lift your hips up until your entire body was on the desk, arms now dangling over the edge. There was only enough time to reposition your numbed limbs into a low doggy position before Hawks was climbing onto the desk himself, crouching over you and wasting no time in continuing his pummeling.

“Haw…ah…nngh…” Your feeble attempt to speak was quickly squandered. The new angle allowed him to easily strike your more sensitive spots, making your moans even louder. The desk jolted with each powerful jerk of his hips, the feral hero’s wings extending and flapping in sync with his thrusts, papers flying off the desk from the gusts of wind. Through all of the soreness and delightful trembles, you wondered what the current scene looked like to a spectator—the sight of this delirious bird beast, sounding a loud lustful tune of primal urges and carnal desires as he hysterically claimed you.

Your eyes roll back as the hot ripples in your core grow into pulsating waves, Hawks’s unwavering strokes prolonging the intoxicating climax as you quiver under him. You thought you heard a sound from the staggering desk—a snap—but your mind was too far gone at the moment to care.

Hawks tried desperately to keep pumping through your tightening walls, but your delicious grasp on him was draining his stamina. You were gripping the edge of his workspace for dear life, the orgasmic throbs still wracking your body as he rabbit fucked you, ready to fill your womb with the load that has been prepared since morning…

It all happened in slow motion...the sound of wood and metal breaking, the weightless feeling of falling...you had registered it all just a second too late. Your abused body dropped with the collapsing desk, Hawks’s weight crashing down on top of you while papers slowly floated toward the floor. Both of you laid there in agony, the chair somehow falling over and onto Hawks for added insult. A few groaned words revealed that the winged man was fully aware again.

“Augh, fuck…my balls.”

—————

Wednesday

“Here’s all of the completed paperwork, Hawks sir!”

Hawks beamed at the intern entering his office with a stack of papers. “Ah, thanks, Springer! You’re a real lifesaver, ya know that?”

The aspiring ‘Bouncing Hero’ hopped excitedly on his peculiar coiled legs as he handed over the documents. “Thank you, sir! I’m always here whenever I am needed.” He bowed respectfully. “Although, I just…forgive me for feeling the need to remind you, but please do not forget that I took this internship to do hero work, not to sort and fill papers.”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t forget,” Hawks assured him, taking the cursed heap of papers. You were usually the one that he shoves all of his office-related tasks on, but whenever you were preoccupied, he would pass the burden onto a trainee that was too starry-eyed to acknowledge that they were being used. Yes, he feels a little bad, but his hatred of reading endless forms was too strong for him to care much. “I gotta test your patience and comprehension first, then I’ll be taking you out into the field with me. You’re doing great!” He bullshitted with a smile.

Springer perked up at the words. “Of course! I’ll keep doing my best!” His eyes kept drifting to the large empty space in the room. “Sir, what happened to your desk?”

Hawks looked over at the open spot, feigning surprise as if noticing it for the first time. “Oh, right. I banged my handler on it ’til it broke.”

“…”

The teen searched the man’s eyes for several long seconds, looking for something, before bursting into boisterous laughter. Hawks joined in with his own chuckles.

“You’re very funny, sir! But I don’t think she would appreciate such a joke. Whatever happened, I hope you get a replacement soon!” He bowed again before walking—well, more like skipping out of the room.

Hawks’s smile didn’t fade when he was alone again, wondering where to place the heavy stack in his hands.

Sometimes the truth makes for the best lie.

—————

Pleasing Hawks when he was a drooling horndog was a challenging test of endurance, but at least it was simple and straightforward. All you gotta do is let him mount you and brace yourself.

But that option was currently out of the question. Your entire body was just too damn stiff and sore, every single movement feeling like the impaired motions of an unoiled tinman. Nevertheless, you still needed to get rid of Hawks’s brand new boner.

So here you were, back at his bed and kneeling on the floor, shyly licking at the swollen rod in your hands. You weren’t the most experienced at this, paying close attention to his noises and responses that came with every action from your fingers and tongue. Hawks was watching your performance with an agitated glare, which was just a tad troubling and added extra pressure.

You licked the prominent vein on the underside of his dick, tracing it up to his bulging head before taking him into the hot cavern of your mouth. He groaned through painfully clenched teeth; he seemed to be enjoying it, yet it looked like his frustration was only growing.

Not yet deterred, you began to suck at him, head bobbing up and down while your hand jerked the extra inches that you couldn’t take in. Your other hand gently held and caressed his enlarged sack, heavy and full of cum that refused to be freed into your mouth. His cock was twitching wildly in your throat, so he has to be close, right? Ignoring the burning in your back and….everything else, honestly, you placed all of your focus on engulfing as much of him as you could, tongue swirling all around him until he inevitably gives in.

But a hand grabs your head and yanks you off of him with a wet surprised gasp.

“Stop…stop…it’s just getting worse.” He choked in a broken voice, staring down at the impossibly hard and red erection.

You wiped off the saliva that had run down your chin. “Why won’t you cum?”

His thighs trembled from all of the unreleased tension; you rubbed them to hopefully calm him just a bit. “Fuck, I…it’s like I can’t do it unless I’m…dammit!” The sudden beat of his angry wings spooked you.

You drew a deep breath. You really weren’t up for this, but leaving him in this state would be too cruel. Not to mention it was putting him in a very sour mood. Hoisting yourself onto the bed (with a few pained whimpers), you faced away from him and lowered your upper body to rest your arms, your ass raised and ready for him.

“You know, Keigo,” you started casually, as if you weren’t laid out in such a compromising position. “When I took this job, I imagined the countless situations I could possibly end up in. I was afraid I’d get caught in the middle of some villainous scheme, like a hostage situation. My silly fangirl side imagined going on dates with my favorite hero. The list of scenarios went on and on.”

The man behind you didn’t say anything, so you kept going. “And yet, ‘presenting myself to Hawks so that he can hump me senseless’ was not on that never-ending list.

He gave an awkward laugh, still sounding as if his throat was constricted. “You don’t have to, babe. I can…I dunno…”

“Just fuck me already.”

Hawks said no more and took hold of your rear. “I’ll try to take it slow. I’ll try.”

He tried and failed. Once he penetrated you, he completely lost himself again. By the time he was satisfied, every fiber of your being was dimmed and immobilized. He helped you get tucked into bed that night.

—————

Thursday

“Please, sir. I’m quite concerned for my health. This would be easier if he was away from the excitement of his work.”

After mulling it over, you had decided to be the one to reach out to the deputy, since he didn’t seem interested in calling you again anytime soon. Your original plan was to brave through the fury of Hawks’s dick until this damn rut ended, just like the deputy intended without your say in the matter.

But when you had to visit the doctor for your pains today, and you walked out with a fucking crutch under your arm, you realized this was all a bit much.

At the moment, you were trying to negotiate for letting Hawks take at least a day or two away from work. The deputy didn’t seem convinced. “Hawks once managed to keep working for an entire day with a broken wing and no visits to the hospital, and you mean to tell me that he should rest just because he has the hormonal urges of a teenager?” His snobbish ass questioned.

“This is—!” You inhaled sharply through your nose, catching yourself and lowering your voice. “This is much stronger than that, sir. Without getting into detail, I have withstood some back-breaking nights.” You consider telling him about your recent hospital visit, but the remaining shreds of your pride wouldn’t allow you to share that. Even you didn’t want to believe that Hawks has literally fucked you until you couldn’t walk.

You heard him snort in your ear. Ugh. “Doesn’t sound like anything a steady dose of painkillers can’t fix,” he dismissed.

You gave up making him understand your suffering and tried something else. “Sir, Hawks has faithfully served the Commission since he was a child. He has become one of the most accomplished heroes this generation has ever seen. His skills and dedication have done nothing but help the Commission become a more positive icon all over Japan. Don’t you think such a loyal and hard-working hero deserves at least one day off?”

“No.”

Well, shit. “…Alright, um, thank you for taking the time to hear me. I’ll get back to my duties.”

“Yes, that would be great,” he said listlessly before hanging up.

What an asshole.

—————

“What happened?”

Hawks’s words carry a dangerous tone when he sees you enter his office with the help of your walking aid. It makes you pause.

Going by the sharp yet troubled look in his eyes, you could tell that the tone wasn’t directed at you. ‘Did someone hurt you?’ That’s what he was really asking. His concern always warmed you. “Nothing, I just…” You hate reminding yourself that this even happened. “The pains were getting really bad.”

It takes a minute for those words to sink in, then his eyes widen in some sort of amazement. “Oh.” A flurry of feathers fly off of his wings and form a small floating cushion in front of you. “There, have a seat. Don’t want you hurting anymore than you already do.”

You eye the levitating seat before approaching and lowering yourself onto it. It was like a soft yet firm pillow, and you didn’t miss how the feathers seemed to all shiver, red barbs shaking rapidly as you adjusted your rump.

“Thank you,” you said while resting the crutch onto your lap. Once you were comfortable, you looked at the hero and the brand new furniture between the both of you. “I like your new desk.”

“Thanks. This one is pure steel, much more durable.” He winked.

You return it with a roll of your eyes. “Wonderful. Anyhow, I want to discuss a local hero event coming in two weeks. Your presence would do well to—” you noticed that he was snickering, lips pursed in a strained effort not to fully laugh. “Did I say something funny?”

He shook his head while short amused breaths still escaped him. “I’m sorry, I know you’re hurting and all, but…” He was cackling now, hunching over the desk as he struggled to explain. “I can’t believe I put you in crutches!”

Your face burned with both embarrassment and anger at how hilarious he found the situation. “Hawks…”

He coughed and noisily cleared his throat. “Sorry, I promise to keep it in my pants from now on.” A mischievous grin was plastered on his face. “I mean, I don’t wanna put you in a wheelchair next!”

With a wheeze and happily flailing wings, Hawks keeled over onto the desk with his face buried in his arms, the laughs muffled but still going strong. You just watch with a frown, listening to his mumbled joke about how ‘once you go hawk, you won’t be able to walk’.

What an asshole.

—————

Saturday

Hawks was definitely getting better. You could tell with each passing day, taking mental notes on how he was having an easier time holding your gaze, or how he was able to stay close to you without growing in his pants. Thank god, because your body was still recovering. Another round of wild sex will only cripple you further.

That’s why the incident currently being reviewed on television was filling you with dread. You sat in the main room of Hawks’s house, the house that you practically lived in for nearly a week, watching coverage of the recent attack at the Fukuoka City Mall. The footage of various species of birds flying into the shopping center and swarming the unsuspecting civilians was almost comical, the colorful animals squawking loudly as they snatched every shiny valuable in sight.

A man with the head of a macaw, apparently going by the villain name of Parakill, stood at the center of the chaos, chirping excitedly as his fowl goons showered him in jewels and baubles. His robbery was cut short when small red blurs whizzed into the scene, pinning the criminal onto the floor and chasing around the army of birds until they surrendered their stolen goods. You weren’t prepared for the deafening chorus of tweets and shrieks when the winged hero stepped into the camera’s line of sight.

The restrained villain was cawing and screeching angrily, most likely commanding his birds. You couldn’t see Hawks’s face clearly due to the distance and quality, but you could still make out the intimidating glare as his wings slowly spread out into their full span, each individual feather looking slightly sharpened. Any bird that made a move was quickly poked with a red quill, each and every one of them eventually staying in place while uttering quiet submissive peeps. Parakill’s look of rage slowly morphed into one of fear. Once the danger was surely dealt with, Hawks called for any lingering citizens to leave the area while he retrieved the villain.

You were still in awe as the news switched to another story. Some sort of dominance was asserted there. You weren’t sure how, but it definitely happened. The worrying part was that tapping into his primal instincts like that has probably riled him up. Christ, he’s probably rushing over right now to fuck you into the mattress again.

Only about thirty minutes had passed when you hear the twist of the doorknob and the front door opening. You stand in anxious anticipation. How disheveled and hungry is he going to look? Is he going to jump you on sight?

But the Hawks that walks in is…composed, his face free of tension and layers of sweat as he spots you and offers a friendly smile. “Sup.”

You’re too stunned to give anything more than a “Hey” as he walks past you and heads for his room.

It’s a miracle. No sexual excitement after such a tense encounter with not only a villain, but another male bird mutant? Was he truly getting that much better? There wasn’t enough certainty to approach him while he was changing, so you stayed on the couch and stared at the large screen until he chose to come out on his own.

You were still channel surfing by the time he was strutting over in his loose and comfy clothes, plopping down onto the couch with a wing outstretched and tucking itself behind your back. You gulped—not sure what he had planned for you.

“Relax. You’re acting like I’m gonna eat you,” he teased, watching you flip through the TV’s guide.

“You’re not? I can’t be too sure after what happened today.” You turned to him, watching his keen golden eyes shift and meet yours. The gaze wasn’t glassy. It wasn’t predatory. “You really feel alright?”

“Haven’t felt this good in the past two weeks. It’s nice to be a civil human again.”

You relaxed a bit and shuffled in your seat, fully aware of how his wing was wrapped around your shoulder like an affectionate arm. “About the attack at the mall…” You began. “What exactly was happening there?”

“What, you mean what I did to the birds? Parakill was trying to sic them on me.” He straightened up with a grinning face that radiated pride. “So I rearranged the pecking order. His birds don’t answer to him anymore.”

Your eyes widened in disbelief. “You didn’t. You can do that?”

“Sure can! It’s not that hard. I mean, don’t think that I have a bunch of attack birds at my command now. Animal control took them in to be relocated, not to mention some of them were illegal exotics.”

“Ah, that’s…impressive.”

“Heh, remember this, babe,” he leaned in until his lips were grazing your ear, his lowered voice and hot breath making you shudder. “I’m always the top bird.”

You shake off his flirting and try to keep your composure. “Right, of course. I’m just really glad that you’re getting better.”

His wing pulled you in for a tight hug that made you squeak. “All thanks to my sweet hen of a handler. Couldn’t have gotten through this without you.” He heard your pained grunts and instantly released you. “Whoops, sorry.”

You rolled your stiff shoulders and sighed. “It’s fine. You’re not the only one who’s getting better. Just do me a favor and try to forget that I was ever this sore from sex.”

Hawks laughed softly as he took your hands in his. The gesture surprised you after experiencing days of rough and impatient touches. “Hey,” he was almost whispering, forcing you to lean in closer to hear him. “It’s been a wild week. My mind’s been all over the place and I’ve put you through a lot. And…” He looked away with his brows pinched in a pained expression, troubled over something you didn’t know about. Before you could ask, his face drew closer, until your foreheads were pressed together. “Mind if I do one more thing with you?”

You were completely lost. You didn’t understand the sudden tenderness, his somber mood, or why he was talking with some sort of finality to his words.

“Let me take you to bed.”

The fuck?

“Keigo,” you leaned away from him, paying no mind to how you already missed his warm closeness. “I said I was getting better, but I’m not that much better.”

He shook his head, bringing your hands closer to his chest. “No, not like that. Just…I wanna do this properly with you for once. Some nice, regular sex. Hell, doesn’t even have to be full-on sex, I just want to…feel you.”

Your eyebrows raised. “Feel me?” You repeated.

He nodded eagerly with a big-ass smile. The normally cheeky young man was acting so genuine right now.

It was hard to say no to that.

“Alright.”

Hawks said no more, pulling you up on your feet and taking you to the room you both have shared for several nights. He was quick in removing your clothes, peeling each article off smoothly before doing the same to his own. The mood felt so different from your other intimate meetups that you couldn’t help but feel modest all over again.

Calloused hands were gently pushing you down onto your back, and you watch as the handsome man above opens up his wings, his eyes closed as if entering a trance.

“Whenever we fucked, I never felt like I was really there,” he recalled out loud, looking more relaxed than you’ve ever seen. “I could feel you, see you, hear you, but it’s like my body was moving on its own. I was in the backseat of my own head.”

With a deep inhale and exhale, he stared down at you with a look of desire, but not the savage kind. You’re not quite sure what it was…maybe the look of a lover.

Fingers traced your face, trailing down your cheek, brushing your lips, and skimming over your well-marked neck. “Now I finally get to feel you however I want.”

Your breath caught in your throat when his lips made contact with the flesh right over your pulse, planting a few light kisses before mouthing at your neck, the random swipe of a tongue making you gasp.

His open wings twitched in response at the small sound. He was trying to savor every single one of your reactions. That’s intense.

He was in no rush, mouth moving down slowly and stopping to observe the bruise near your shoulder. “Damn, I bit you hard. That’s…when we were in the office, right?” he asked.

You hummed and nodded. “Don’t worry, it wasn’t as painful as a fully grown man falling on top of me after ramming me through a desk.”

Hawks chuckled at the memory while rolling your breast around in his hands. “Man, that really crushed my nuts. I swear my voice was a pitch higher for the rest of the night.” He laughed into your tits, licking at the squishy mounds as he took in each of your shivers and moans.

“Maybe, but that was probably just from you crying about how you could no longer give me chicks.” Yeah, that was a weird time.

“Shh, that didn’t happen,” he denied.

“Yes, it did. I had to hold you as you sobbed.”

“Lies.”

“You were worse than I’ve ever been on my perio—ah!” A bite on your nipple silenced you.

Hawks shot you a playful glare, daring you to say more. When your mouth stayed shut, he gave a satisfied purr and sucked at the same perky bud, soothing the sting before moving on to the other.

You felt relaxed; this was all so much calmer than what you have gotten used to. While you won’t deny that his feral side was as pleasurable as it was tiring, at least you can finally take the time to breathe and soak up what he’s doing. Judging from his vibrating feathers, he probably felt the same.

He licked down your stomach while his hands ran down your sides until they reached the purple finger-shaped blemishes on your hips. He winced at the sight. “Ouch.”

“Yeah, ouch.”

He nurtured the marks with his mouth, careful not to apply too much pressure and cause any pain.

“You don’t have to be so delicate,” you hesitantly tell him. “The day you were under the quirk’s influence, you uh, you were doing the same to the bruises on my back…felt kind of good.”

His lips curved into a devilish smile. “Oh, so you like a little pain? My innocent little hen?”

“Shut up,” you said with a blush. “It’s your fault that I’ve felt everything but innocent lately.”

“True, true. I didn’t mean to open you up to the wonderful world of rough play.” His mouth closes around a bruise and sucks hard, shooting a sharp pleasurable burn that traveled straight down to your core. “Ooooh, I felt that.”

You can only whimper as he laps at the sensitive area, but part of you wants him to bring that scary jolt of pain again.

“I wanna know,” he says between licks. “Just how much did you enjoy me letting loose on you? How many times did we do it the first day?”

A few more kisses are laid on your hips before he continues his descent. Your breath quickens in nervous excitement when he nestles his head between your legs, face dangerously close to your hot sex.

“Come on, hen. At least give me a guess.” He turns to your thighs and showers them with timid pecks.

The sheets beneath you crinkle under your death grip. “Don’t know…lost count after the seventh time,” you admit through gritted teeth.

“Aww, what a shame,” his mouth wanders further inside your thigh. “Do you know how many times you came?”

“I don’t know. A lot.”

He bit into you and enjoyed the resulting yelp. “Mmmm, definitely a lot. Enough to knock you out. So sad that neither of us remember just how thoroughly I wrecked you.”

His naughty lips are just an inch away from your nether ones, your breath quickening in anticipation. Hawks looks up at you, most likely enjoying the view of your heaving chest. But he does well in reminding you how much of a bastard he is by switching to your other thigh, subjecting you to another round of kisses.

“Keigooo,” you whine pathetically, feeling your aches as your muscles tense from the teasing.

“Hold on, I’ve got more questions. What was your favorite position?”

“What?”

“Come on, you’ve got plenty to choose from,” he licks the sweat that was beginning to coat your skin.

Both your embarrassment and his tongue were making it very difficult to answer. You stammer over your words while his mouth moves inward, but once again, he stops at your mound.

“You really can’t think of one?” He gives you a ridiculously sad face—large puppy eyes and a puckered bottom lip—it would have looked more innocent if he wasn’t so close to your most private area.

You realize that he wasn’t going to take any further action until you gave him an answer. “I…when I’m on my hands and knees…” You swallow despite the dryness of your throat. “…and you’re on top of me…”

“Ah,” he sighs, and you feel his thumbs part your outer lips like a damp pair of curtains. He stares down at the pussy that he has battered more times than either of you can count, and yet it drips for him even now. The feel of a single finger running down your wetness makes your entire body jerk. “You like it when I mount you like a dog?”

“Yes,” you choke.

He blows on your quivering cunt. “What do you like about it so much?”

“I…you…I don’t…”

“Do you just love feeling like an animal too? Love it when a crazed horny guy humps you into the floor?” He finally indulges you with a long lick from your hole to your clit, and the hot muscle already has you moaning. “Is that it?”

“Ah…maybe…” You answer, and he rewards you with another lick. Listening to his questions was becoming a challenge.

“Hmm, would you love it if I fucked you until my bed gives out? You’re a pretty expensive girl to mess around with,” he jokes. He then dives in, sloppily making out with your folds that have been begging for more gentle attention for days.

Your head thrashes against the pillow. His licks and sucks were both pleasurable and soothing against your beaten pussy. You were finally freed from his powerful stare when he closed his eyes and fully concentrated on eating you out. He alternated between sucking loudly on your velvety folds and lapping at your opening, sometimes dipping his tongue inside so that he can feel your walls attempt to grab him.

The building pressure in your belly has become an old friend at this point, but that doesn’t mean you weren’t excited whenever it arrived and begged it to explode and bring you back to that lovely state of euphoria. Hawks’s mouth was moving more fervently as he drank in more of your juices, as if your nectar was intoxicating him. His deep moans rattled your insides while he smacked his wet lips against every inch of your womanhood, giving your swollen clit a smooch before sucking hard.

“Mm…oh god…Keigo, please…”

He growled with your bud still in his mouth, blinding you with the electrifying pleasure that was only enhanced by the sudden intrusion of two fingers in your throbbing cavern. The slow inner massage guided you to the top where stars burst in your vision, each orgasmic throb bringing forth a shameless moan. The stimulated wings fluttered from the overwhelming pleasure surrounding them, Hawks giving light licks and kisses until you were back down to earth.

“Fuck, that was good,” he said breathlessly, as if he was the one that just got sent to heaven. “You felt amazing, so nice and clear.” His wings finally folded behind his back as he straightened himself and wiped his glistening face.

You were ready to drift away into a happy slumber until you saw Hawks move to get off the bed and spotted the very familiar hardness that was bobbing with his movements. “Wait! You’re…” Your eyes dart from his face to his erection.

“Don’t worry about that; fapping works again!” he told you cheerfully before changing to a devious smirk. “What, did you wanna watch or something?”

“No,” you snapped a bit more loudly than intended. “I…want you inside of me.”

He froze.

“You sure?”

“Very.”

He crawled back between your legs—clearly trying not to look too eager—and was already aiming his cock at your opening. Your nod of approval was all he needed to push inside and damn, that was one hell of a face and moan he made.

You reflexively braced yourself for an immediate pounding, but the throbbing length just stayed there, twitching in response to every pulse from your surrounding walls. Hawks appeared absolutely fascinated by the sight of him sheathed inside of you before looking up to your face, eyes filled with a warm lust, not the unfocused kind that you have gotten used to.

He pulled out slowly and pushed back in at the same speed. “Ooooh, fuck, baby. So hot…so tight…” He murmured with a broken groan. The lazy thrusts allowed you to feel every inch of him stretch you, his veins rubbing against you for added texture and stimulation. Your hypersensitive pussy appreciated the easy pace, and even better, it was also working for the hero above you.

His hips gradually sped up overtime, but never into something rough and aggressive. It was more like a grind, his abs rippling with every deep push. His flushed face has gotten dangerously close to yours, allowing you to watch the pulsating pupils of his avian eyes.

The only time he ‘kissed’ you was on the first day, though a more appropriate description would be that he simply smashed his mouth against yours. Now, as you stared at his parted lips while hot breaths blew onto your face, you had a strong desire to finally give him a proper one.

Good thing Hawks was a damn mind reader, because he brought his lips down to yours right after you finished the thought. They were soft, softer than you expected from a guy that flew at high speeds all day. Then again, he was also a sex symbol that needed to take care of himself.

His mouth was clearly more skilled than yours, so you let him take the lead, lips molding perfectly against yours with playful licks. The added intimacy sped up his hips and raised his volume, his entire mouth engulfing yours as he moaned into you. Your tongue found his and engaged in a frantic dance. He’s tensing up; you give him some encouragement by wrapping your arms and legs around his sweaty form, giving the base of his wings a few rubs. Your mouths part to catch your breaths, a strand of saliva linking your tongues together

“Cum inside me, Keigo.”

“Oh fuck.” Your words have him pumping erratically into you, but you’ve dealt with worse. He buries his head into the crook of your neck, whimpering at your legs that keep him locked in place and urging him to release his creamy essence as deep inside you as possible.

His trembles are powerful, but even better were the cracked whines vibrating against your neck as he emptied himself into your womb. You never get tired of watching his wings lifelessly drop whenever he wears himself out. You cradle his spent body—it’s all so similar to the first time he took you, except this time he moves just a little to the side to relieve you of some of his weight. He doesn’t move you for another round, he just relaxes into your cuddles.

“Thanks,” he says softly, already close to dozing off.

You’re not sure what exactly he’s thanking you for, but it makes you smile anyway. “You’re welcome.”

A wing stretches over you as a blanket, the warm soft feathers doing well to pull you into dreamland as well. Hawks’s heavy breaths tell you that he was already out.

You close your eyes. It looks like you both managed to survive the worst rut of Hawks’s life. This sure as hell wasn’t what you signed up for, but looking back, it wasn’t that bad. Except for the crutch. The crutch never happened.

As sleep claimed you, you wondered what the future had in store for you and the winged hero.

—————

Monday

“I just got fired.”

Hawks flinched at the news, scratching at his back awkwardly. “Aww man, that’s…oof, what a shocker.”

For some reason, his surprise didn’t sound very real. But you were way too upset at the moment to question it further. “Well, I guess it’s more like a demotion. They’re still allowing me into a position I have more experience in. It’s probably back to desk work for me,” You sighed, pacing back and forth across the office in a desperate attempt to expel some of your anger. “But I can’t believe this. I can’t believe that he basically kept me around to be your fucking fleshlight, and then threw me away after you were satisfied!”

Hawks shrugged with an apologetic look. “It really sucks, babe. You can’t forget: the real studs are the Commission. No one fucks more people than them. A lot of us are a one-time use to those guys. I’m just lucky enough to have a longer expiration date than most. Or unlucky. I dunno.”

You didn’t either, honestly. Hawks deserved better. “They’re such assholes, yet here I am ready to keep working for them. I so badly want to say ‘fuck you’ and leave, but…” You trailed off.

Hawks finished your sentence with a smirk. “They pay too well?”

Your head lowers in shame. “Yeah.”

A wing pats you on the back as he laughs. “I’m not judging, angel. That’s probably what keeps most of the guys around.” He steps closer to you, gently taking your chin to tilt your head back up. “I’m gonna miss you though. Whoever they send to watch my ass next isn’t going to be half as fun as you.”

The comment warms you. You take his hand and pull it further up to your face, letting him cup your cheek. “Thanks, but I was pretty bad at the job. They would have kicked me down sooner or later.”

He came in closer. “True, you sucked. But you’re the first handler I got to know so well. Inside and outside.” His chuckle is hot against you before he locks his lips to yours. The kiss becomes more heated than expected—he’s tugging at your lip and thrusting his tongue in and out of your mouth in a way that makes your thighs press together. You tear yourself away from his face, breathless.

“Hawks…?”

His tongue slowly runs over his upper lip. Goddamn. “Sorry, little hen. I was just hoping you’d like a nice goodbye gift. I can give you more, if you want.”

You’re so pissed off at yourself for throbbing in response to his offer.

He pulls you back in and takes hold of the waistband of your pants. “How about it? Wanna get to know my new desk a little better?”

The sounds resonating from the office that morning scarred Springer.

#bnha #smut #hawks #keigo takami #hawks x reader #keigo x reader #keigo takami x reader

5K notes · View notes

scripturiends · 3 years

Text

gave me no compasses, gave me no signs

Read on ao3

Summary: It was the one time her hunch had been wrong.

In which Han Joonhwi is acting suspicious, and Kang Sol A intends to find out why.

Rating: T

Word count: 3,848

Notes: Title taken from Taylor Swift’s ‘invisible string’: “Time, curious time, gave me no compasses, gave me no signs; were there clues I didn’t see?”

As promised, here is the Solhwi fic that I had hoped to be up before Episode 7 airs. I went straight to work after receiving positive feedback from an interest check post. As I mentioned there, the story isn’t necessarily dwelling on the current timeline, but is, for the most part, still canon-compliant. I totally made up all the legal jargon, so please bear with me. And, like the show, I decided to do ‘cutscenes’ instead of one unilinear fic.

I had a lot of fun with this little project for the past two days, so I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it :) I’d also love to hear your thoughts, please do send me a message or feel free to comment, it would mean the absolute world to me. Thank you and let’s all look forward to Episodes 7 and 8 this week!

The fic is under the cut. As a sidenote, this fic is un-beta’ed. All mistakes are mine.

Kang Sol A swears she only drifted off for a second.

She had been burning the midnight oil for the past few days, well into the weekend, so much that the tension was radiating into her atmosphere, so much that the heat was starting to get to her head. Her Civil Code paper may not write itself, but neither could she if it took every ounce of her energy just to even sit up. So she plopped down on her bed, head heavy on her pillow, still fighting the urge to doze off.

She blinked, slowly, and as her eyes fluttered at an alarming rate, they eventually closed — just for a moment, I’ll count to ten and then wake up again — and stilled.

Birds were chirping outside her window when her eyes shot open, and that’s how she knew she messed up big-time. She woke with a start, frantically shaking off the books and papers off her person and frisking for her phone, silently praying that she wasn’t too late for her meeting with her project partner Seo Jiho, who she knows absolutely despises latecomers.

Sol A felt something vibrate from behind her, and an incomprehensible sound escaped her lips as she checked her phone. There were mountains of notifications that prevented her from checking the current time: self-set alarms, e-mails from her professors, reminders about today’s meeting with Jiho, and missed calls from a certain Han Joonhwi.

Clearing all of them at once, she finally reads: 9:07 AM. She was supposed to meet Jiho at 9:15. Sol A breathes a sigh of relief, but her momentary celebration is cut short when her phone starts to ring.

Han Joonhwi was calling again.

She didn’t even get a chance to speak yet when the voice on the other end asked, “Breakfast?”

Sol A put him on speaker phone as she packed up her things. “Can’t,” she replied mindlessly. “I have to meet with Seo Jiho and I’m already late. Eat by yourself.”

A few seconds of silence went unnoticed as Kang Sol A zipped up her knapsack and wore it over her shoulder. She finally picked up her phone and switched back to the handset. “Don’t skip breakfast, you hear me?”

Still nothing. “Joonhwi-ah.”

“Walk fast,” was all he said. And then he hung up.

That caught Sol A off guard, but she heeded the advice anyway.

She made it to the study room at exactly 9:13, only stopping by the entrance to catch her breath and tie her hair back into a ponytail. It was silent, so she half-hoped that no one would be there, but half-expected nothing less from Jiho. So she walks in, footsteps heavy, only skidding to a halt when she sees Jiho staring someone down, someone whose back looked all-too-familiar.

“You like her, don’t you?” she overhears from Jiho. “Kang So-”

Jiho suddenly fell silent at the sight of Sol A, and the man opposite him suddenly turned his head towards her. She was right about who it was — it was none other than the person she spoke with on the phone just a few minutes ago.

If Joonhwi was surprised, he didn’t show it.

But Kang Sol A did. She blinked once, and with a hint of dubiousness, she asked, “Who likes who?”

The men shared a look, and she was met with silence again, which was beginning to irk her. But she bit her tongue, took a seat across Seo Jiho, and grinned cheekily at him. “Sorry I’m late.”

“You aren’t...” Jiho replied, trailing off.

“I am by your standards. I know you,” she said matter-of-factly. “For Seo Jiho, ‘on time’ actually means ‘thirty minutes early’. Which means I’m late.”

Sighing wistfully, Sol A added, “I learned that the hard way.”

She locks eyes with Joonhwi momentarily, but he averts his gaze, expression unreadable. Sol A ignores this and tries her luck once more, eyes flitting from Jiho to Joonhwi and back. “Who were you guys talking about?”

This time, almost with no hesitation, Joonhwi finally spoke up. “No one,” he answered. “My roommate was just practicing his cross-examination skills on me.”

He stood up, giving Seo Jiho a final staredown. “They’re very poor at the moment. Help him out, will you?”

Then, without looking Kang Sol A in the eye, he gave her a soft squeeze on the shoulder, and promptly left.

Sol A’s eyes followed Joonhwi’s back, and stayed there even after he left. His touch lingered on her shoulder like a ghost, but instead of comfort, all she felt was fear. Suspicion. Restlessness. That maybe he was hiding something, and whether it involved her or not, she was keen on finding out just exactly what it was.

II.

“I’m telling you, Yeseul-ah,” Sol A insists. “Something’s up with him.”

They link arms, walking past the school entrance and into the lobby. Jeon Yeseul turns to her, hair falling perfectly into place as she lets out an angelic laugh. God, Sol A thinks. Even her laugh is perfect. But past the admiration for her Aphrodite-like features, Sol A feels like she’s being mocked.

She pouts. “You don’t believe me.”

“I do!” Yeseul defends. “You think he likes Kang Sol B.”

Sol A slides her left hand off Yeseul’s arm and holds her friend’s right one lightly. “So why are you laughing at me, then?”

“Unnie.” Yeseul wraps an arm around Sol A’s shoulder. “Has it ever crossed your mind that maybe Joonhwi-oppa likes you?”

Sol A almost choked on her spit. Of course she’s thought about it — after all, she’s a hundred percent certain that it was the name Kang Sol that slipped from Seo Jiho’s mouth a few days ago. But none of the evidence so far points to it being herself. And anyway, it’s not as if he’s shown any interest in Sol A as a woman. In fact, all he does is tease her. And she’s okay with that. And Sol B already likes Joonhwi. And they seem to be a far better fit than Sol A and Joonhwi. And it’s not like she harbors any romantic feelings for him, either.

She pushes the thought away before it could become bigger.

Sol A denies, deflects, and defends. “That can’t be right.”

“Why not?” her friend challenges.

“Why would he be avoiding me if that were true?” Sol A counters.

“People do that when they feel awkward around their crush,” Yeseul rebuts.

This is starting to feel like a game of chess rather than a conversation between best friends. “I think he’s just scared I’ll tell my roommate or something.” Before Yeseul could say anything else, by some stroke of luck, Sol A spots Joonhwi from her peripheral vision, walking past Lady Justice.

Yeseul smiles kindly at Sol A. She doesn’t doubt its genuineness, but she feels like it’s laced with mischief. “Should we test your theory, then?”

What does that mean?

“Joonhwi-oppa!” Yeseul shouts, waving at him from across the room.

She’s not going to ask him, is she?

Yeseul runs to Joonhwi, a light skip in her step. “I have something to ask you.”

Wait.

“Wait,” escaped from Sol A’s lips, barely a whisper before it started registering on her what Yeseul was about to do. And when it does, she finally sprints. “Jeon Yeseul, wait!”

“Oppa.” Yeseul bats her eyelashes at Joonhwi. Sol A was in tow behind her, feeling small but unsure why.

“Oh, Yeseul-ah,” Joonhwi greets. His eyes lit up at the sight of his friend and classmate.

While it pained Sol A to just sit back and watch, knowing that Joonhwi had been purposefully avoiding her, she let the scene unfold, trusting that Yeseul knew what she was doing.

“You haven’t been going to the study group sessions lately,” Yeseul starts.

Sol A hoped it would get a rise out of him, seeing as he was the one who started the group to begin with, but was barely showing up these days. Instead, all he said was, “The pair project in Civil Code has been holding me up.”

Yeah, right, she thinks. A second-round judicial exam passer and a former police academy student having a hard time in Civil Code? Why do I find that hard to believe?

Sol A scoffs, and Yeseul pinches her side. “Sol-unnie and I are meeting the others for lunch. You should come join us.”

“Ah,” Joonhwi drawled out slowly, as if coming up with an excuse to say no. Sol A expects it to be his next move. “I wish I could, but-”

Knew it.

“Kang Sol B will be there,” Sol A blurts out, fully aware that it’s a total lie. Still, she had to try.

Something in Joonhwi’s mood changed, and his face hardened. Still not making eye contact with Sol A, he excuses himself from Yeseul. “I’ll take a rain check today, okay?”

And without another word, he left again, leaving Sol A with the same emptiness that she had felt in the study room the other day.

Yeseul finally turns to Sol A, crossing her arms. “You’re right. He’s being weird.”

III.

A few more days without Joonhwi’s company, and Sol A was starting to feel its ill effects on her. She hadn’t realized just how much she took him for granted until he was no longer around to challenge her ideas, to annoy her over the littlest of things, to calm her down when she’s freaking out, to be her drinking buddy, to be someone she could tell any and every stupid story to, with the utmost confidence that he’ll keep it to himself or that he wouldn’t belittle her for it.

They’d been through too much together now, and even their fateful first meeting all those years ago didn’t faze him from her. In fact, her little scheme, no matter how deceitful at the time, brought him closer not just to her, but to Byeol, her mom, and to an extent, even Dan.

So what changed? What on earth did Seo Jiho say to him, and what on earth did she walk into, that made him close himself off from her? Proximity may not breed familiarity, but right now she wishes nothing more than to be in his orbit again.

Arguably the worst consequence of the lack of Joonhwi in Sol A’s life right now is having no one to eat with.

During one of her all-nighters at the dorm, she found herself with an intense craving for some ramyeon. She removed her earphones, partly to pull herself back to reality, but mostly to ask her roommate to have a meal with her. As if Sol B would say yes, but it was worth a shot.

“I’m going downstairs for a bite. You wanna come?”

No response, as expected from Kang Sol B. Sol A inwardly rolled her eyes, spinning in her chair to tease her roommate, only to find the desk empty.

She scratched her head while walking, wondering where Sol B could be at this time of night. And without a heads up, too… She was getting worried.

But it seems like her concern was all for naught, because Sol B was right where Sol A was headed.

And she was there with Han Joonhwi.

She was laughing. It was the first time that she saw Sol B laugh, maybe ever, and to see that Joonhwi could be someone who could do that for her, made Sol A feel proud. Like knowing Han Joonhwi was a privilege, not only because of the way he could make people comfortable around him, but also because Sol A had once been on the receiving end of it herself.

She should be relieved. In fact, she should be happy. Because it means that her guess was right, which means she doesn’t have to keep digging anymore. She could just tell Joonhwi that his secret’s safe with her, and they could finally go back to the way they were before... Right?

And yet something about witnessing the pair interact as a mere bystander didn’t sit right with Sol A. There’s a pang in her chest that she can’t quite comprehend — maybe she just misses him, or maybe it’s something else completely. Because if Han Joonhwi has feelings for Kang Sol B, and they’re together right now, then that leaves only one explanation: he must be avoiding her, and for a completely different reason.

It was the first time her hunch had been wrong.

Needless to say, Sol A lost her appetite and trudged back upstairs lifelessly, a bitter taste in her mouth and an ache in her stomach that she couldn’t quite place where it even came from.

IV.

Come Friday, Sol A was too exhausted to even think about Han Joonhwi. Between the endless deadlines and papers to write, her job in the copy room, and the Seo Byungju case, her energy had been too depleted and her social battery too worn out to even care that her relationships could be falling apart.

The only thing she has going for her now is the Legal Clinic, the one place where she could bury her nose deep in case digests and law readings and she would absolutely never get tired of it, because it’s the one place where she feels like she’s making a real difference, especially when people’s lives are at stake. It was the remaining part of her life where Sol A felt like she was in control, so these days, all her emotionally-charged passion was focused on this one thing.

But of course that had to fall apart too, when Professor Yang asked for her to stay after class.

He cut right to the chase. “I’ll be meeting with my defense lawyer today so I need you to consult with the client in my stead.”

Count on Yangcrates to always give Sol A a heart attack in under two seconds.

“M-me?” she stuttered.

The professor’s face twitched, ever-so-slightly, which Sol A took as a sign to backtrack and confidently proclaim that she’s up to the task. She knows there’s nothing Yang Jonghoon hates more than a quitter.

“Ah, yes, of course,” she accedes, with a little more verve.

He nods once in her direction. “And take Han Joonhwi with you,” he commanded.

She’s doomed. Not that she wasn’t doomed before, but now that Professor Yang had to drag her personal life into this, she was really in shambles.

Sol A clears her throat. “With all due respect, Sir,” she laughs nervously, “don’t you trust me?”

Professor Yang takes a moment to think about it. Sol A wonders if today’s the day she finally gets a definitive answer. But Yangcrates is as sly as ever. “This is your chance to get back at him for the Bad FaMa case. Make him your assistant this time.”

He walks away, leaving Sol A dumbfounded once again, but not before he adds, “Under my orders, of course.”

Sol A’s knees buckled at the thought. Normally, she would find this predicament to be absolutely funny, a chance to bicker with Joonhwi and learn something from him at the same time. But he’s angry at her, and she doesn’t even know why, and even merely approaching him has turned into a problem.

Everything in Sol A’s life right now is a problem. She wonders if it's getting Joonhwi back that would fix everything.

Upon leaving the classroom, she spots him getting a drink from the vending machine. She has to slap herself twice, just to mentally prepare herself, to muster up the courage to approach him again.

“Come on, Sol,” she whispers to herself. “This isn’t hard.”

Shaking off the nerves, she takes a step forward, but in a momentary state of weakness, takes another step back. “So what if he’s mad? That’s his problem. I’ve never given him a reason to be angry. He should suck it up. Not me. Come on. Just do it.”

A step forward.

“Just do it.”

A step back.

“Goddamn it.”

One final step back to boost herself forward, and she’s running towards him, pretending to be as casual as possible. “Han Joonhwi!” she calls out to him.

His eyes widen at the sight of her, knowing he has nowhere to escape.

“Did you get my text? Professor Yang needs our help at the Legal Clinic.” She smiled at him. “Let’s go.”

Joonhwi scratched the back of his head, and Sol A just knows it’s about to be another lame excuse. “I can’t. I’m meeting Sol B for our Civil Code term paper.”

He can’t even look at her, and Sol A wonders just how bad she had hurt Joonhwi for him to feel like this towards her. But that only lasted for a second, when she realized just exactly what he said. Then, her pity turned into irritation, as she accused, “Liar.”

Sol A crossed her arms, and glared at Joonhwi. “Did you forget that I’m her roommate? She went home today.”

Sol A sat across Joonhwi inside the Legal Clinic, her eyes narrowed to slits. A profound silence enveloped the room, interrupted only by a sharp inhale from her.

“You like Kang Sol B, don’t you?”

The only response she got was Han Joonhwi’s signature smirk, playful and taunting, one that said, ‘You don’t know me, and you never will’.

She hated that.

She slammed a hand on the table, and pointed at him accusingly. “Don’t look at me like that. I would have kept your secret if you just asked. Is that why you were avoiding me? Because you think I’d tell her or something?”

The same smile painted on his face, Joonhwi exhaled defeatedly. “Kang Sol A, I thought I taught you to never make any claims with unfounded bases.”

An eyebrow perched up on Sol A’s end. “It’s not unfounded,” she argues.

“Where’s your evidence, then?” he dared her.

Sol A had been waiting for this. She listed everything he had ever done — or refused to do, which was spend time with her, speak to her, or even look at her, which was absolutely the bare minimum — since the incident with Seo Jiho up to this very moment.

He waves his hand dismissingly. “That’s all speculative.”

If his goal was to rile her up, then it’s definitely working. “Then what about what I heard Seo Jiho tell you that one time? And most importantly, you straight up lied to my face.”

“Circumstantial,” he quips. “That would never hold up in court, especially not when the only witness is yourself. How are you going to be both the defense lawyer and the sole witness?”

Han Joonhwi should be at the edge of the precipice here, and yet he has managed to flip the situation over and turn it into an interrogation for Kang Sol A.

Nothing can hide her frustration anymore. “I would never be the lawyer in my own case. Look, it’s still evidence. You asked, and I gave it. Seriously, Han Joonhwi, what’s with you?”

Instead of a direct answer, he points out, “You rely on your emotions too much.”

Almost immediately, she shoots back, “And you rely on the law too much. This isn’t a courtroom. This is a human conversation.”

He purses his lips, unable to say anything, and Kang Sol A continues. “You’re too stubborn.”

“And you’re too nosy.”

“You’ve benefited from it more than once.” Sol A’s patience is getting thinner by the second. “Can’t you just tell me what I did so that I can either apologize for it or call you out for being wrong?”

“You and Sol B are hardly friends. What reason would I have to be afraid?” Amusement gleamed in Joonhwi’s eyes; Sol A was astounded by how he could stay so nonchalant about this. “Think.”

She glared at him, but still ceded. Damn his tenacity. “Fine, I’ll play along.”

She rolled her eyes, and in a blasé manner, started to think out loud. “I overheard Jiho ask you if you liked Kang Sol, and then you started avoiding me. Yeseul asked you to join us for lunch, and when I said Sol B would be there, even though she really wasn’t, you declined. So I thought it was her that you liked. But it doesn’t make sense, because I saw you two hanging out at the cafeteria that one night-”

His arrogant expression changed to one of shock. “You did?”

“-and then you straight up lied to me about your plans. Unless you two are already dating-”

“We’re not,” he interrupts once more. Sol A eyes him with suspicion. “We’re not,” he repeats indignantly.

“-it could only mean that you do like Kang Sol…”

Joonhwi starts slowly nodding, face a little flushed, but somehow urging her on to continue.

“...just not B. You like-”

“Kang Sol A.” Professor Yang enters the room, calling out her name.

She’s sure her professor asked her to do something, but she was unmoved. At this point, she doesn’t think anything could pull her out of her reverie for the rest of the day.

A veil that covered her eyes was lifted, and she had never been so pitiful of the blindfold that Lady Justice wore. The scales Kang Sol A carried, as heavy as the burdens she was facing, balanced with Han Joonhwi holding them up with her. She wanted nothing more than to take his hand right at that moment, to feel the heaviness in its entirety, and thank him for staying anyway.

They don't talk for the rest of the day, but Kang Sol A is unbothered.

Her questioning attitude may have always gotten her in trouble in school, but this was the one time she was glad to be wrong.

Epilogue

Han Joonhwi fell asleep on his desk again.

He normally finishes up all his revisions early, but because of his agitation, the cold table seemed to be more inviting than the bed, where he simply ends up tossing and turning.

Despite the stiff neck it was bound to cause, he’s been doing it for days, only being woken up by his constant 8:30 alarms. This time, however, it was his gracious roommate Seo Jiho who finally interrupted him from his slumber.

Jiho slammed a sealed instant ramyeon pack on Joonhwi’s desk. He groggily looked up at his friend, whose hair was still disheveled, and asked, “What’s this?”

“It’s from Kang Sol A.” Before walking away, he deadpanned, “Do your own bidding next time. I’m not your messenger.”

Joonhwi took the cup ramyeon, spotting the bright yellow sticky note on it, not unlike the ones he’d put on Sol A’s notebook, or occasionally, her forehead. He smiled to himself as he read the message, walking out to heat up some water for breakfast, but not before carefully displaying the note on his bulletin board for the whole world to see.

Han Joonhwi,

For a second-round judicial exam passer, you can be so dense.

I like you back, you idiot.

Now stop sulking and have breakfast with me.

Idiot.

Send me your thoughts/fic requests here!

248 notes · View notes