#dont let your voice be silenced by those who only want to control and destroy

[wispmun]

It was put in place for a reason, for the safety of women for the health of our people.

The Supreme Court doesn't care of the deaths that will come if its illegal again. They don't care for the babies left in the streets, door steps, rivers and trash if it's illegal again.

They don't care about the people, they are old and dying. They only wish for chaos to be left in the world they are leaving instead of trying to make it better for those after them.

Having a legal safe option is better than the dangers of it being illegal. Abortion will not go away if it becomes illegal, there are always more dangerous means that will be available. Just another war the government is putting on its people. More conflict between us instead of trying to unitify us.

Making it illegal won't make it go away.

[noodlecupcakeswritings]

Bloodlust - Kylo RenxOC (Vampire AU) Halloween Challenge 2021

Cora is offered to Kylo Ren as a gift so he will stop draining the blood of her towns livestock. Kylo Ren has been seeking an eternal bride for centuries and Cora's practically gift wrapped.

Week one of my Halloween challenge. The theme is obviously vampires!

Hope you guys enjoy, please leave kudos, comments and reblogs if you do.

Cora

Lightning illuminated the sky for a few seconds, followed by the deep rumble of thunder, the sound drowning out my screams and pleas. The townspeople had turned on me, now carrying my struggling form up the desolate hill. At the top was where the beast lived, in his dark and dreary manor. Any normal person would have thought such a place would have been uninhabited, but we had learnt the truth that hard way. Every night, the beast would venture out under the cover of darkness and drain our livestock of blood. They were rumours that the beast took the form of a man, but the more people speculated, the more outrageous the descriptions became. Some of them claimed he could take the form of a bat or a huge black dog.

And now the same people I had lived with all my life had turned on me, thinking sacrificing a pure young woman to the beast would sate its hunger for much longer. No matter how much I struggled or pleaded to be let go, nobody would free me or take pity on me. Nobody was going to change their mind. I suppose I had been the easy pick, being an orphan. Nobody would miss me; nobody would fight for me. We came to a stop before the manor, the building silent, which only made it more unnerving. Even the thunder and lightning had stopped. There was a moment’s hesitation as the town’s leaders decided who should knock.

One of them was finally brave enough to step forward. Before he could even reach the doors, however, one of them slowly creaked open to reveal only darkness inside. The door had seemingly opened on its own, which only made the townspeople more fearful. Eventually, the men holding me found their courage and forced me inside before closing the door. I tried the handle, finding it somehow locked before hammering my fists on the wood, pleading for them to let me out, to not leave me here. But the door stayed closed, they had abandoned me. Tears rolled down my cheeks, whether it be from fear, anger or anguish, I couldn’t tell. It was likely a mix of all three.

There was a sound from behind me before the room was suddenly illuminated, the candles now lit, the lamps now burning. Quickly, I turned to face my attacker, my eyes darting around the lavish empty room. Nothing. It was toying with me; it wanted to drag this out for its own amusement. Before me was a grand staircase that led to the next floor, the carpet red, clean and tidy. The interior of the manor did not match the exterior at all. There were a few other doorways that led deeper into the manor, but if I wanted to survive, it would be best to stay put for now.

At the top of the staircase emerged a man, tall and broad. He descended the staircase, all of my instincts telling me to run, but my fear had me rooted to the spot. The man was dressed in all black, his clothes that of a man with a lot of money. He had shoulder length black wavy hair, a large angular nose, a strong jawline, plush pink lips and a sprinkling of freckles and moles across his face. He looked mostly human, nor could I deny he was handsome. Until I met his gaze and noticed his pupils were red. The man stood before me, looking down at me curiously. Bashfully, I glanced down at my feet instead, suddenly more subconscious that I was before a stranger in my nightgown.

“I’ve never had guests this time of night,” he spoke, “although judging by the angry mob outside, I’m guessing you weren’t exactly a willing participant.” This took me off guard. Why hadn’t he killed me yet? Why was he still dragging this out? “They think gifting me a pretty girl will make me leave them alone? How barbaric,” he continued. His eyes raked over my form, making me shrink back further against the door. He chuckled softly at my shyness. “Dont be afraid, I don’t wish to harm you even if draining you dry would be tempting. I think I can find other uses for you, ones that you might even enjoy. What is your name?”

Hesitantly, I met his gaze, “Cora. My name is Cora.” “I am Kylo Ren. Do you know what a vampire is, Cora?” I nodded once, “somewhat. I know you need to blood to survive, and sunlight can hurt you.” “Correct. But there’s much more to it than that. Much for you to learn.” “To learn?” Kylo cupped my cheek, forcing my gaze on him once more. Something about his gaze this time drew me in further, made it so I couldn’t look away. Kylo smiled, his thumb tracing over my lips.

“It’s been centuries since I’ve had female company,” Kylo mused, “and they sent you to me gift wrapped in white, too. A fitting colour for a bride.” I knew I should protest; I should run from him, but my body refused to move. Marrying him would be better than having him kill me. But a lifetime tied to this monster? That I’d only just met? “I sense doubt within you. I understand it’s a big commitment, but once I gift you with eternal life, you will be able to use your newfound strength to seek revenge on those who wronged you. Wouldn’t you want that? To stop them from doing this to another poor girl?” Kylo asked.

Before I had a chance to think about it, I found myself agreeing. It felt as if I wasn’t in control of myself anymore. “Yes,” I replied. Kylo picked me up bridal style and although some distant voice in my head told me to resist and struggle, my body didn’t follow those instructions. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I relaxed into his hold. There was a sense of security and safety with him instead of the fear and uncertainty I had previously felt. Maybe he was telling the truth, maybe he wasn’t just saying these things to lull me into a false sense of security. Kylo carried me upstairs and down the hall to what I assumed was his bedroom.

The bedroom was large, fit for royalty. The bed sat in the centre of the room and was large, round, with plenty of silken sheets and pillows. Tapestries lined the walls and fur rugs littered the floor. Kylo put me down at the foot of the bed, his hands on my hips and his chest pressed against mine. Up this close, he was even more handsome, and I found myself getting lost further in his eyes. Any doubts in my head seemed to be silenced. Kylo leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine. The kiss was slow and passionate, everything I had dreamed of for a first kiss. Heat spread across my cheeks and a new heat spread between my legs.

Kylo pulled me in closer as he deepened the kiss whilst his fingers tangled through my hair. When he pulled away, I only felt more ready to do anything this man asked of me. Kylo kissed his way across my cheek, down my jawline and to my neck. There was a moment of pause before there was something sharp against my neck. The pain I felt passed quickly as Kylo drank from me eagerly. Eventually he pulled away, his gaze hungrier than before. “You taste divine, never have I tasted blood as sweet as yours,” Kylo spoke softly.

Before I could respond, he kissed me again, hungrier this time, almost possessive. His hands travelled to the front of my nightgown, pulling apart the bow at the front. He pulled the bodice open before pushing the white gown down my shoulders. It fell into a pile at my feet, my body now bare and exposed to him. I knew I should protest, covering my body from his greedy gaze, but modesty didn’t seem to matter anymore. He wanted me, and I was powerless to resist. Nor did I want to. Nothing was left for me out there, the people in my town had made that very clear. And yet here was this man who would gift me the power to destroy those who had wronged me, all for a taste of my blood.

Kylo’s hands ghosted down my sides to my hips as his eyes raked over my form. His touch made my skin form goosebumps, he was being so gentle as if I was something delicate, something fragile. “Lay down for me,” he instructed. After making myself comfortable on the bed, I watched as Kylo undressed himself. He really was good to look at. Every part of him was so defined, like he’d been sculpted from marble. I wanted to touch him, feel his skin on mine. I wanted to be his. For eternity. Kylo followed me onto the bed, climbing on top of me. “Someone as beautiful as you deserves to be worshiped,” Kylo murmured.

Kylo kissed me once more before making another trail with his lips, this time going further than my neck. He kissed across the swell of my breasts, pausing to suck my nipples between his plush lips. There was a brief sharpness from his fangs before he drank from me again. This time, it was more pleasurable, forcing a soft moan from me as I threaded my fingers through his long, silky hair. He soon moved on, kissing down my stomach to my hips, where he briefly stopped for more blood.

The heat between my legs had grown to an ache that I was desperate for him to soothe. Ignoring my impatient whines, Kylo moved down to my thighs, kissing across them before sinking his teeth into the supple flesh. My hips bucked and his grip tightened to keep me still. Once finished, he moved to rest between my legs, spreading them further before lapping at my wetness. Never did I imagine I could feel such pleasure from a man. I threw my head back against the pillows, moaning louder as he continued pleasuring me with his tongue.

Kylo groaned at my taste, now focusing his attention on my sensitive bundle of nerves. He seemed hungrier than before, as if my blood hadn’t been enough to sate his hunger. Gently, he slipped a finger into my tightness, working me open before he added a second digit. My moans grew louder, as did my pleasure, my grip on his hair getting tighter. It was all so much at once and yet not enough. Kylo curled his fingers inside me, his name falling from my lips.

Something was quickly building deep in my belly, and after a few more moments, the pleasure became overwhelming. My hips bucked and my free hand fisted the silken sheets as I cried out my release. Kylo worked me through every wave before sucking his fingers clean. “I cannot decide what tastes better, your blood or your cunt,” Kylo mused, “but I would gladly feast on either for hours.” Kylo leaned down to kiss me, letting me taste myself on his tongue. “I’ve tasted you, now it’s your turn to taste me,” he spoke, pulling away from me.

Sitting back on his knees, Kylo bit into his own wrist before offering it to me. Blood slowly seeped from the wound, a drop threatening to be wasted on the sheets. The sight didn’t repulse me; I was instead curious. Taking hold of his wrist, I licked the red trails clean. One taste and I was hooked, I needed more. Wrapping my mouth around the wound, I eagerly drank down every drop of blood he offered me. Kylo murmured words of praise as he stroked my hair with his free hand.

All too soon, Kylo tried to pull his wrist from me, stating I’d had enough. Ignoring him, I refused to let go and continued to drink from him. “Cora, enough!” He declared, raising his voice. Realizing I still wasn’t going to stop, he wrapped his free hand around my neck and pushed me back down against the pillows. The two puncture wounds on his wrist healed quickly, the skin showing no marks of any previous wounds. However, that did nothing to stop my sudden new hunger. “I want more,” I protested.

Smirking, Kylo continued to hold me in place, although his free hand was back between my legs to reawaken another hunger. “More? Such a greedy little thing, aren’t you?” He teased. “Please,” I begged. Although at this point, I wasn’t sure what I was begging for anymore, more pleasure or more blood. I just needed something, some more of him.

Kylo pressed his cock to my wet entrance, coating himself in my juices and teasing both of us more. With a newfound strength, I pulled Kylo down for a heated kiss. He accepted the kiss, slowly pushing into me. My nails dragged across his back as I moaned loud from the new pleasure, from feeling so full. Kylo released his hold on my neck, now gripping my hips as he started a slow pace. He savoured every push and pull, every drag of his cock against my walls as he leaned down to kiss across my neck and collar. The affection and passion from him made me feel like I was made to be worshiped. Never had a man made me feel so desired.

Wrapping my legs around his waist, I pulled him closer, revelling in the feeling of his skin against mine. Kylo’s pace quickened as he groaned against my neck. My nails dug into his biceps, leaving small crescent-shaped indents as I moaned his name. My second orgasm was building quickly, but I needed something more to push me over the edge. Kylo, having quickly learnt how my body worked, reached between us to rub my clit in small circles. Pleasure consumed me, every one of my nerve’s endings singing with ecstasy. I could only moan Kylo’s name over and over as he worked me through every wave until he, too, reached his own climax with a guttural groan.

Kylo lay beside me, stroking my hair with a soft smile across his face. Even though I was tired yet satisfied, I still wanted more. He sensed this, his smile growing a little as he softly chuckled. “Rest. You’ll need it, when you wake up, things will be different,” he explained, “but we have all of eternity together now.”

Taglist: @ficlicious​, @fandomliciousness​

[zuffer-weird-girl]

Can we all get like a scenario or something of kais wife sucker punching his mother in the face like she leans over to her kids and she like don’t do what I’m doing because it’s bad and then just BAM right in the nose

I can just sense that after this one a lot of people are going to ask me to write more things a out Chisaki's s/o beating his biological mother.

"What is that papa?" Kin pointed at the box her father was holding and inspecting before he nodded to himself and placed on the cart, giving you a look for giggling at him.

"Is a romba Kin." The little girl just tilted her head while he looked at you with a unimpressed look, you only shrugging with a smile before he sighed "Is a robot assistant to help us a bit on the house cleaning."

"Don't we already have at least two of those?" Kaito asked innocently while you nodded along with your husband.

"The more we have the less I have to worry about cleaning repeatedly. Specially considering the mess you two do all the time." He growled the last part, remembering the state his kids bedroom was once he and his wife got back from a night out.

He was thankful of his mask to have hides his smirk at feeling your hand carresing his own discretly while he looked at you, but somehow, he knew that you could see his smile even with the mask on or not.

So much that you knew him already.

"Daddy is making a army of roombas." The ten years old boy snickered at the thought before yelping at the flip on his forehead that he received form his father.

You couldn't help but laugh and agree alomg with your son, making your husband send daggers through his glare as he helped Kin back in the cart so she could sit.

"You can't blame him-" you snickered "We just don't have many because we need money for other things, or else you would have by now twelve of those."

"You want to continue cleaning the house like a fool?" He glared at you before you could even respond "No. You don't. So shut it."

You continued walking along with your husband before you felt Kaito tugging on your shirt.

"Mom, dad, can I pick that package of cookies?" The kid looked at you before pointing at the shelf.

Kai scowled at that before returning his monotonous gaze at his son.

"We have no idea if those are safe to eat brat. You can't just trust something like that. Besides, we can order someone to make if you want that badly."

"But those ones I ate once. There is nothing wring with them! Even Kin ate some along!" The girl nodded along with her brother's words while Kai felt a hint of fear and dissapointment to start to grow on him.

"Mind telling me who gave those to both of you?"

"Grandpop." The kids answered simultaneously while you muffled you snorts as Kai's eye twitched a bit before he sighed, burring his face on one of his hands.

"Why. The hell. Am I not surprised?" He muttered in anger before sighing in defeat and following his son along with you to pick those cursed things.

"Aw my devil don't be so harsh. Like once said to me. Parents are meant to educate while grandparents destroy the kids."

"That last sentence is the exact opposite that needs to be done." He growled before extending his hand to grab it and inspects himself "Look at the quantity of sugar on this thing, dear lord." He muttered while his kids looked with hopeful eyes, ot having enough pacience to wait until his dad and mom were out to ask for their grandpop to give them the cookie.

You were simply looking at the three with a smile before you and Kin yelped at the cart being accidentaly hit by another on.

You checked on your daughter first, she only nodding thy she was alright and opting to clim on your lap than being inside the cart and even before you could turn you heard the voice of a old woman.

"Be more careful around where you let your pests Mrs." She scoffed before getting wide eyed at sieng you, while you did the same, widen your eyes in disgust at having to see that woman again.

"Mom? Something wrong?" Kaito came behind you and fisted the material of your pants and looked at the woman with stoic and numb (E/c)'s eyes.

The woman quivered a bit before exchanging her look to both Kin and Kaito, her face falling from surprise to utter disgust.

"I can't believe this." She hissed and before you could retort back a comment a gloved hand was placed on your shoulder.

"I thought my last order was clear enough. What gives you the right of even bumping into my wife this time?" Your husband growled while his eyes darkned, Kaito and Kin looking at their father in surprise since they never heard or saw their dad looking so... scary.

She opted to look at Kaito more instead of answering Chisaki, her eyebrows furrowing at his similiar the kid looked with kai when he was a child. The young boy merely stared back at her, arching one of his eyebrow while you felt his hand fisting more your pant, indicating that he was a bit nervous.

"Which one of those has your curse? I demand answers." She looked at Chisaki with venom while Kai arched a eyebrow.

"You dont have a bit of authority here. Out of our sign." He hissed and went to touch the wall but she quickly took out a camera form her purse, that was recording.

"I won't fall for those tricks again from you pest." She spited the words while you could feel Kaito and Kin's fear growing "Answer me! Which one of them got your curse?!"

"You don't need to yell ma'am." You growled while she looked at you with wide and hateful eyes "Want to get more attention, is that it?"

"Shut your mouth. And you? Explain then yourself since this good for nothing doesn't even have the courage of opening his mouth. Only depending on his cursed power." She looked at him with hate "Without it. He is nothing."

Kai's hand twitched and you caught him secretly slidding his glove off before you stopped him with one hand, receiving a glare from him but quickly vanishing when you shook your head, muttering that she wasn't worth it his time.

"Mom, dad..." your son called as he tugged a bit on your clothing. "Who is that old hack?"

"Ugly too." Kin added nonchantly while the woman's eyes darkned as she scoffed.

"I can see that those brats got something from you cleary. Not respect."

"You don't deserve it." You hissed before letting Kin down before you crouched on your knees to look at your boy and girl.

"Listen you two. What mommy is about to do is very wrong, and you have to swear to me and your daddy that you will not repeat my actions ever without a good reason." Both tilted their heads in confusion but nodded anyway and when you got uo Kai grabbed onto your arm to whisper in your ear.

"What you're thinking you're going to do?" He glared at you but hsi eyes carried more concern than actual annoyance.

"Doing what both me and you wanted to for a very long time to be honest." You whispered back.

"So. Am I wishing for my answers." She vrossed her arms and stuck her nose up in arrogance and you felt one vein of yours popping out form irritation.

"Kids. Cover your ears." You smiled at them while they obligated.

You walked towards her with a forced smile before you patted her shoulder twice, she giving you the most ugly glare before you opened your eyes to look at her.

"For someone that has their arrogance so high you can stick it through your ass ma'am and go to hell." She widened her eyes for a mere of second in pure shook before you wacked her face so hard it almost took one teeth of hers out.

Your kids gasped while Kai's eyes widened in shock while he grabbe dyour arm to push you back to him.

"What the hell (Y/n)?!" He whisper shouted at you while you sighed, a weight of your shoulders completly out of you.

"Sorry. I couldn't control myself." You sighed before looking at the woman, still gasping in horror and disgust at having just being punched like that.

"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO HIT ME LIKE THAT YOU FUCKING BITCH?!"

You shrugged your shoulders while Kai glared at her, bringing you to his chest in a overprotective tive manner.

"Go find something better to do than disturb our lifes like that. If you didn't called my husband and my childs like that maybe, just maybe you could have the chance of meeting your grandchild. But cleary you aren't interested, and I am grateful for it." You hissed while Kin got between yours and Kai's leg whiel Kaito got in front of his sister.

"I'M CALLING THE POLICE ON YOU, ALL OF YOU! THOSE CHILDS NEED TO BE TAKEN AWAY BEFORE THEY COMMIT THE SAME THING THAT BEAST DID TO MY HUSBAND!" She shouted more to others to here while you and kai arched a eyebrow at eachother.

Does... does she know that in this hour almost no one goes in that market? Especially since this one is a bit far form the city.

Although she went silent when a crash was heard and you all looked down at Kaito, bare hand on the ground as he smashed the camera the old woman was holding and let it fall ln the ground when you punched her.

"You should speak less if you want to make the first move." Kaito mumbled before making a tiny wave of concrete, bringing the rest of teh once camera to his hand.

Kai grabbed from his son's hand and patted Kaito's head.

"Again." He showed the rests of the broken camera on his hand "No proof neither anything to take us to the police without reason."

She gaped at it before looking at Kaito with rage.

"So it's you who has it." She took one step closer before a guard appeared and prevented her to get closer.

"What's going on ma'am?"

"Guard! These two!" She pointed at you and Kai "Those need to go to jail! This instant! That woman just PUNCHED me!"

"Officer with all due respect." Your husband said nonchantly bjt caught the man's attention "But this mrs just bumped into us, scared my two childs with her yelling and ugly looks and called my wife in front of us with slang words while we were just minding our own business." He arched his eyebrow while pointing at his biological mother "Who is in the wrong?"

"Shut your-"

"Ma'am. Silence." The guard hissed and the woman was obligated to stay quiet.

"Mister is true!" Kin exclaimed, hugging her daddy's leg close to her "She called my daddy and mommy with bad words!"

"And threatened to attack me." Kaito added while pointing at the woman.

You and Kai shared a look before the man sighed and patted the woman's shoulder.

"I'm sorry Mrs. But disturbing the peace is considered a crime. And if you dont want me to call the actual cops or the heroes in here I highly suggest you to accompany me out form here."

"But this is such a disrespect-!"

"I didn't asked you." The man interrupted her while pushing her out.

"Wait.. isn't he going to question my actions either?" You whisper to Kai as he squeezed a bit your arm in reassurance.

"His dad works for the Hassaikai, and know my place and who we are. She doesn't have any proof to complain, so we just bare with it." He muttered back before you nodded, calling for your kids to get out from that place.

Kaito and kin fell asleep on their seat while you looked at the dark sky from the car's window.

"... I didn't thought you were actually going to do that. Lost your mind?" Your husband muttered while you sighed, looking at his eyes fixed on the road.

"I couldn't just let her speak longer. All of the horrible things she said it wasn't true and I was tired of hearing garbage... which seems like the only thing that gets out of her mouth."

"Indeed. I already told you many things she did when I wasn't taken by Pops." He sighed "But I have to admit, I'm kinda dissapointment that I wasn't the one with the pleasure."

You giggled while he smirked, quickly fading when he stole a glance at you.

"You shouldn't still had done that. Imagine the consequences."

"You would do way worse if it was my case." You smiled while he scoffed, not being able to deny that.

He would torture the people who did only a fraction of what his biological parents did with you.

"I just hope them both forget that. I wouldn't know how to explain to the brats that they are sadly related with that witch..."

"You tell them if you want to. Since she isn't and never was your mother to you, was it?"

He stayed silent, only shooking his head a bit and sighing when he reached the house, stopping by and staring at the wheel of the car before hitting the back of his head on the seat.

"We can't denied it. Part of my blood is on them. Meaning that they are-"

"Kai. Kaito and Kin are our childs, grandchilds of pops and my parents only." You sighed while looking at him. "You know very well that family is not only by blood."

He opened his eyes and blindly grabbed your hand as he stared at the ceiling of the car.

"... let's get inside. I feel disgusting at only getting out from that place and even talking with that woman."

"Agreed." You squeezed his hands to catch his attention "Want to play shogi after we put the deviants to bed?"

You smiled in relief at the nod and the hint of his own half smile growing.

"Sounds fine by me." He got out to pick Kaito up "You always lose anyway."

"Hey!" You whisper shouted as you got kin up "I won at least some times!"

"Because I let you." He smirked at your offended gasp and felt the heaviness of his chest fading away at your presence and just sieng his kids peacefully sleeping.

[woahhiperson]

Making a new au so here we go:

The ‘idk wot to call it yet au’

So Naga and Grima both have religions connected to them, but what if the Cult of Grima disbanded after Grimas defeat by the first exalt? So people stopped believing in Grima. Grima became another myth, another scary story to tell in the woods to unnerve people.

So Robin is born, but he has the same parents as canon. So he ends up with the right lineage and genes to be

The vessel for Grima!

But no one knows that.

Robin grows up as a tiny bean (his mom IS around and validar isnt a meanie because haha no grima to make all those issues and because i need robin to be happy this au might end up really angsty) and then he turns five or somethin and Robin begins to hear a voice in his head. At this age it is very faint, much like a whisper, and he tells someone, but they just tell him ‘thats your thinking voice’. Robin goes with that for quite awhile until he line 9 or 10 and he’s like ‘this aint my thinking voice’, cause 1: he has a thinking voice and this one is very different, and 2: this one doesnt even have his personality. So Robin once again tries to tell everyone and they deny it again (possibly trying to pass it off as an imaginary friend??).

Robin is frusterated but goes along with it. Time passes, and Robin is now a teenager. the voice gets louder and meaner and he still has no idea what it is. Then he turns eighteen. The voice is pretty much equal in volume to his own thinking voice, and its finally able to tell him “I am the Fell Dragon, Grima.” Now of course Robin is just like ‘what???’ So Robin tries to do some research. Robin is able to find one source, in a very old book. Robin reads of how Grima was ‘the god of destruction’ and how ‘he killed many people’. Robin is well, disturbed, and tries to ask the voice if it really is Grima. The voice tells him one thing: “I am the Wings of Despair, I am the Breath of Ruin, I am the Fell Dragon, Grima.” Robin is like: ok this thing might actually be in my head for some reason?? But he is also internally laughing because wile the voice was threatening, it was still quite funny to hear it almost repeat itself. Robin reads the rest of the small amount of information on Grima, and finds out Plegians used to worship him. Robin gets v e r y nervous. He IS plegian afterall. So Robin puts the book away and sits with this information for a while.

Grima continues to say the same thing, it seems only capable of saying that for now even though it used to berate Robin at almost every turn. Robin gets more nervous and tries to tell someone. Whoever it is, they laugh. They tell Robin that Grima is just a myth. ‘Its just a voice in your head. Don’t even worry about it.’ Robin is well, frusterated. He’s even a little bit scared. ‘The voice only keeps getting louder. What if it can take control?’ Robin begins to get paranoid. He tries talking to other people but they all don’t believe him, saying similar lines of ‘its a myth’. Robin feels a need to get to the bottom of this, and he is technically an adult now, so he ventures off with a small amount of gold to go find more information on The Fell Dragon.

He ventures around Plegia, but is unable to find much more information in the places accessible to him. And he even snuck in some places. He finds some buildings with Grima-like markings but they all seem run down and the few markings left were practically unreadable. All the places seemed destroyed on purpose, but destroyed long ago. (They were destroyed by the cult of grima for one reason or another, but robin dont know that) So since Plegia was lacking info, Robin decides to venture to Ylisse, because it seemed that Grima and Naga were connected somehow.

Robin is sttill unable to really find anything, and the people of Ylisse also denied Grima’s existence. Robin thinks there must be information somewhere, so he settles down in a tiny three room shack (he aint got that much money and hes currently more worried about Grima) with a kitchen, bathroom, and empty room. Robin sets up a bedroom in one half of the empty room, and uses the other half for research. He is able to get his hands on quitw a few books and tries to connect the information together. It takes a long time, and he gets little information from it. Robin starts to think that he’s going to need the more valuable history books and scripts for this.

So one day he is on his way the capitol, and is walking through a field. He is almost to the town when he stumbles and falls into the dirt. People find him and one person (yall all know where this is going) offers a hand. Robin takes it and is introduced to Chrom, Lissa, and Frederick. He learns that they are out all patrol and that Chrom and Lissa are royalty. Now this sparks a plan in Robin. He could try to see if they’d let him into the rarest history documents. So he asks and is shot down by Frederick, who is suspicious of someone just wanting access to such important documents. Chrom is like ‘Robin asked nicely so we should let him’ Frederick scolds Chrom for being too trusting. (honestly robin is kinda suspicious rn..) So they part ways.

Robin continues his search, and every once in a while, he’d find another small snippet of information. He begins to gain a reputation of ‘The guy with a weird obsession with Grima who believes the Fell Dragon lives in his mind’ and so people are a l i t t l e reluctant to give information. Robin is able to still get money through small jobs and stuff. Robin gets a little more disheveled as time goes by and Grima only gets louder. He meets Chrom on multiple occasions, and they eventually bechrom friends. Robin gets a ton of information written down and connected. But it still isnt enough.

Chrom can see how Robin is getting more frantic, and begins to worry. Robin brushes him off as he bechroms more secluded. Grima gets louder and is able to once again berate Robin. Grima begins telling Robin how no one will ever believe him and help him, how he’ll never be able to figure it out.

And so Robin goes to Chrom. The thing is, Robin liked having Chrom as a friend, so he never told Chrom about any of it. Chrom only knew he was researching something. So Robin sits him down for a chat. He starts off simple “I think the Fell Dragon, Grima, lives in my mind. Of course, Chrom laughs about it, but he stops upon seeing Robins face fall. Robin tries to tell him about it all, but unfortunately, like everybody else, Chrom was raised to believe Grima was a myth. Chrom is worried, thinking maybe Robin had been alone for too long. Chrom still wants to help, but he doesn’t believe Grima is the issue. Robin gets frusterated and attempts to politely leave, but is a little rude.

Chrom is very worried, and tells Lissa and Frederick. They also worry. Chrom wants to be a helpful bean but this information begins to spread like wildfire. If Robin wasn’t known before, he was now. This ain’t a good thing either. People make fun of Robin, and Robin begins to get more bitter and cold due to bearing constant mockery from Grima and others. Grima is at a shouting volume in Robin’s head, and is able to give Robin a headache everytime he speaks. Things are not going well, but Robin is still too paranoid to go back home.

Then Robin is sitting alone one night, looking over his information. There’s a knock on the door. He gets up to see who it is. Then he collapses. In his head is a low rumble, one that slowly rises in volume until Robin wants to shout at it to go away. His vision blurs, gaining a red tint. In the panic and pain Robin remembers something. It’s his twentieth birthday. He was born some time in the early night. The rumble stops. There’s a dead silence. Then a cold laughter begins to ring in his ears. It morphs into a sentence,”My patience has been tested.. And I won.” Robin is confused as the pain stops, and his eyes focus again. Then its as if a force slams down on him, shoving him down into his own body. His vision blurs again and he goes numb. He tries to turn his head, only to see black. He turns around in every direction. Its all a pitch black void. Everywhere but where his eyes last looked. Then the view changes, as if he’s stood up. A voice comes, slightly muffled,”Robin are you okay in there?!” It was Chrom. The laugh starts again. Its not in his head. Robins hand is brought to his face, sparking with electricity, before being moved away. He ‘walks’ and catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror. Robin reels back as he now has six glowing red eyes, six black wings, and horns on his head. The Robin in the mirror smiles before going to open the door. Robin realizes what has happened. Grima took over. Was there a way to take control again!? Robin is quite frantic, but the void is, well, a void. No end, the only thing in there was the vision. The door is opened and Chrom is obviously taken aback, asking what had happened. Grima laughs and his hand begins to fizzle again. Luckily Chrom notices and backs away before being stabbed with a spear of electricity. Grima begins launching an attack on ‘that wretched Naga spawn’. Robin could now hear Grima’s thoughts. They really had switched places. Robin could only watch as Chrom drew his sword and the two began to fight. Both are hurt, but Robin does live in a town, and people begin to notice. Robin hears multiple gasps of ‘is that really grima??’ And similar lines. Some try to help, but they are kind of useless.

The fight chromtinues. Then Grima charges another spear, and drives it through his stomach. Robin screams. Grima laughs about that. Chrom falls unconscious, but still breathing. Grima rises into the air on his wings and continues to laugh. “You all didn’t believe the vessel, but now you can see, I have returned after so long. I am not a myth, but I am the Fell Dragon, Grima!” And Grima begins to attack the town. After a while he stops and thinks ‘can a revert to my dragon form?’ He tries, only for it to fail. Grima is furious and goes back to end Chrom for good out of rage, only to find the prince gone. Robin by now has found out that Grima cannot hear him unless he actually speaks, so he is able to internally sigh with relief as Chrom might be okay. Grima goes on a rampage and guards try to stop him, only to fail. Grima is not back to full power, but he is still extremely dangerous.

So he goes and begins to try and take over Plegia, and remake his cult. He attacks and stuff and finds Robin’s parents. They are of course freaked out and pained to know that Robin was telling the truth. Grima is able to take about half of Plegia for himself. Soon the Shepherds return and want to defeat Grima. (Haha soon... this is probably like three or four years later) Chrom is luckily alive and is quite angy about Grima taking his ‘friend’. They fight and have to retreat. They join with the Plegians that have been trapped in Grima’s controlled land and use the next 1-2 years to form a full rebellion. Grima has made the dragon’s table his home. He is finally able to conjure his dragon form, but only can keep it for about a day before needing another day’s rest. But his human form is powerful enough gor him to not need the dragon form very often. The rebellion makes its way to the Dragon’s Table, a force of about 2,000 people. Grima has countless Risen guarding and controlling his land, but the rebellion is able to get to Grima.

Grima transforms into his dragon form to end the rebellion for good, but Chrom and a few others are able to make it to him and end up on his back once transformed. They fight the summoned risen and make it to the human form. Chrom once again fights Grima. Robin, still stuck inside his own mind, feels hope. A feeling he truely hadn’t felt in years, but the only way he could think of that would get rid of Grima, was his own death. And he accepted it. Chrom and Grima both were able to go unharmed for quite a long time. Risen kept the others from helping. Then there was a loud hiss from Falchion as it sliced through the palm of his hand. It burned unlike any injury had before. Even the other cuts from Falchion on their first fight hadn’t felt like this. Grima’s vision blurred as he was partially shoved back into Robin’s mind. The dragon almost fell, quickly stabling itself. Robin stood, speechless, as he had regained partial control of his own body. He was distracted, and Falchion was able to leave a deep gash in Robin’s arm as he began to flee. Grima shouts and takes back control. But Robin isn’t completely locked away again. Where he has been cut, his hand and forearm, he could feel a small amount of control. Grima kept trying to fire magic at Chrom, but if it was cast by the right arm, Robin could mess up his aim. Grima figured this out and Robin was rendered almost useless. Robin tried to still help as both Grima and Chrom began to sustain more injuries. Robin was able to mess up Grima’s attacks and dodging. Every wound gave him more control. Soon Grima was barely able to fight, as Robin forced him to be hurt. But Chrom was also starting to struggle, as he has been sustaining multiple injuries as well. Chrom wasn’t aware of Robin’s help. He thought Robin was gone. So he went to try and slash Grima’s neck, convinced that his ‘friend’ was gone forever. Robin had gotten Grima to fall. But Robin couldn’t help but flinch, holding his right hand over his neck. The blade connected and sliced through the glowing mark that stained the hand. A great tremor shook through the dragon. Grima screamed in utter fury and agony as Robin could feel his presence fade away. The numbness turned into a sensation of wind and scales. Grima’s roar died down, his gritty voice gone. Robin felt something he had almost never felt. Emptyness. But.. It was good! Grima was.. completely gone. He couldn’t feel the god’s presence at all. His eyes began to burn. But then he saw a wrathful blade swing at him, and he had to dodge. Finally meeting eyes with Chrom after all these years. Chrom kept trying to attack him but Robin shouted,”It’s me! Grima’s gone!” Chrom only got angrier, believing Grima was just taunting him. Robin kept trying to convince him that Grima was truely gone. Then he decided to tell him,”No one ever believed me before. Please, believe me just this one time..” Chrom stopped and stared at Robin. Stumbling to Robin with wide eyes and dropping Falchion, he focused on his face. Noticing they were brown after being red for so many years. “..Robin...” Robin could only give a smile, as the now dead dragon began to drop from the sky. All the people on the back rushed to the pegasi and flew down. Once making it down to the ground safely, a cloud of dust forming and dieing down from the dragon’s impact, the Risen all fell, dead once more. The rebellion tried to attack Robin, but understood that Grima had no control over him anymore. Chrom once again turned to Robin and enveloped him in a hug as both began to shed tears, but for different reasons. Robin was still in disbelief that he was alive and free from Grima’s grasp, and Chrom could only choke out one whisper into Robin’s ear,”I love you..” Robin froze but nodded, agreeing. “I thought I lost you.” “Me too.”

(Woah that made a big space) And so they go back to Ylisse and make a cross-country announcement about Grima’s defeat and Robin’s return. They get married. But Grima did start another cult. Not everyone who was in Grima’s controlled land was in the rebellion. And upon learning of Grima’s defeat, they wanted him back. So.. is it truely over?

[yandere-society]

can i request a yandere jimin that’s so dependent on the reader that when she goes to work and he stays home (because he’s out of work/works at home), he literally destroys himself and ends up going to her work looking like he was mauled by a bear (not literally but i hope you get the point). it’s totally fine if you don’t do it!!! — 🐹

Labor of Love

word count: 1.7k

author/admin: kimseokmomjins🥀

a/n: this contains extremely graphic depictions of self-harm and mentions of suicide, please read at your own discretion 

The violent vibrations of your cellphone caused you to awake with a startle. You scrambled to silence your phone, knowing Jimin was not fond of his sleep being interrupted by nuisances, but hesitated when you saw your superior’s name illuminating the screen.

Manager Kim never called you, always electing to communicate through e-mail, so his call was a surprise to you, to say the least. Something must’ve gone wrong with the latest project. Carefully sliding out of the sheets so as to not wake Jimin, you scuttled away to your adjoining bathroom and accepted the call. Manager Kim gave you no room to speak, immediately cutting to the chase the second you answered.

“You need to come in now. Our client received your design and he claims it’s not what he asked for. Now the bastard wants something bigger, flashier, and done in 3 hours.” You cupped your hand around the receiver, keeping your voice hushed. “Namjoon, you know I can’t, I have—” 

“Y/N,” he pleaded, “Please. I let you work from home seven days a week, I keep our correspondence solely through e-mail. I don’t ask questions about your lifestyle. I’m only asking you to help just this once.” His desperation pulled at your heartstrings, reminding you a lot of a certain someone. Inhaling, you shut your eyes tightly and acquiesced. “Fine, Namjoon. I’ll come in, but only for an hour or two.” You could practically hear the tension in his voice dissipate as he thanked you for your cooperation. “I knew I could count on you! I’ll see you soon, be prepared for a shitstorm.” Manager Kim ended the call abruptly, leaving you to contemplate your next decision.

There was no way Jimin would let you go into work, much less on such short notice. Some would call him controlling, or even downright insane, but to you, he was just a man with an extremely unhealthy inferiority complex. Jimin was someone who loved fiercely, passionately, but never believed people could reciprocate those same feelings towards him. Not even you, his wife of 3 years, who loved him more than life itself—who held him in her arms after every breakdown, every relapse. 

But being the sole breadwinner of the household meant you had to make the difficult choice: either go to the office or get fired. Either way, you either risked potentially losing Jimin, or losing your house, the car and health insurance. Neither was ideal, but lately, Jimin had been in high spirits. His old scars had finally begun to heal, meaning he hadn’t cut himself in at least three weeks. Maybe he was capable of staying home alone for a few hours. 

You looked at your phone’s digital clock. 6:58 a.m. Jimin seldom got up before noon, so you figured if you left now while he was asleep, you could make it back before he woke up. You rushed to make yourself presentable, trying to take as little time as possible, while also being as quiet as you could. Sneaking back into the bedroom, you knelt down on Jimin’s side of the bed and brushed the hair out of his face. Pressing your lips to his forehead, you gave him a tender kiss, hoping it wouldn’t be your last. “Minnie, baby,” you murmured so as to not stir him. He hummed in response, still deep in REM sleep, but slightly conscious. You continued, “I need to run to the office, okay? I’ll be back soon. I love you.” Jimin mumbled something incoherent and curled into his pillow, looking absolutely serene. 

Collecting your purse, you head past the kitchen, your eyes catching sight of the knife block that sat on the marble countertop. Fearing Jimin might potentially spiral and relapse, you carried the heavy block to the hall closet and hid it behind a stack of quilts, hoping Jimin wouldn’t be desperate enough to tear apart the closet. With a determined nod of your head, you set off to work, saying your silent prayers that everything would be okay.

•·················•·················•

When Namjoon said work would be a shitstorm, he wasn’t exaggerating. Your client, a semi-famous rapper by the name of Agust D, whatever the hell that meant, decided that he didn’t like his promotional advertisements. Three days before his comeback. You were able to get the redesign done, but not without him hovering over your back and micromanaging every minuscule detail, down to the smallest pixel. After hours of edits, you finally had a moment to relax. 

Checking your phone, your eyes widened when you saw that it was currently one in the afternoon. What was even more alarming was that you had over 13 missed calls and 54 unread text messages from Jimin. Fearing the worst, you unlocked your phone and began skimming through his messages, a surge of adrenaline coursing through your veins.

[Minnie 8:21 a.m]: hey baby, where’d you go?

[Minnie 8:23 a.m]: baby?

[Minnie 8:25 a.m]: Y/N?

[Minnie 8:30 a.m]: hello?????

[Minnie 8:34 a.m]: whatever you’re doing isn’t funny baby. please respond.

Your thumb scrolled upwards, towards the newer messages. The more recent, the more incoherent and unstable Jimin’s texts became.

[Minnie 12:41 p.m]: i get hthat u dotn lovve me anymore and im soty for ebeingf stupoid and ugly and uselass im sorry for a being patheic 

[Minnie 12:41 p.m]: i’

[Minnie 12:41 p.m]: i’ll end it all fro u

[Minnie 12:42 p.m]: YOU’RE MY FUCKOING EVERYTHISNG YOU FUCKING DONT UNETRESTAND I FUCKIGN NEED U Y/N

[Minnie 12:43 p.m]: DO I NEEFD TO CARVE YIUR NAME INTWO MY CHEST TO MAKE YOU HAPPY????? 

By now, fat, hot tears were streaming down your face, dotting the screen of your phone. You eyed the last message you had received, an attachment sent at exactly 1 p.m. Sprinting out of the office without a single word to your superior or client, you frantically played the voice message Jimin had sent. His soft voice echoed in the corridor as you dashed down the stairs and towards the parking garage, filling your heart and mind with worry. 

‘Y/N, my love, my life, my everything,’ he began, his voice hoarse and cracking, likely from emotional duress.  ‘You’ve abandoned me, and I don’t blame you. I’m stupid, incompetent and a waste of space. You complete me, I am nothing without you. And now that you’ve left me, I have nothing else to live for.’  Fumbling around in your purse in search for your car keys, you finally found the object of your search and unlocked your car, hurriedly shoving the keys in the ignition and peeling out of the garage. You couldn’t bear listening to more of the voice message, instead choosing to dial Jimin with the assistance of your Bluetooth controls. Each one was immediately redirected to voicemail, but you persisted in the barrage of phone calls. 

What was no more than a 12-minute drive felt like millennia, your heart thumping so hard that you heard your pulse reverberating in your ears. You raced up the stairs of your unit, taking them two at a time, hoping that it wasn’t too late—pleading with any Higher, Holy beings to let Jimin be okay. Your hands trembled so furiously that it was nearly impossible to unlock your door until finally, you were somehow able to enter the threshold of your apartment. Greeted with nothing but an eerie silence, you began to fear the worst. 

Usually, when Jimin had a breakdown, he screamed and destroyed everything in sight, but all of your decor was exactly as how you’d left it in the morning. The only trace your husband’s presence was the shattered picture frame that lay discarded on the dining room table, a chunk of glass missing. Your eyes traced over the worn mahogany surface before they settled on speckles of blood. You scanned the perimeter, looking for any clues that could lead you to Jimin. Following the droplets, you were led to your balcony, which overlooked the Dongdaemun shopping district. The gentle purr of cars wafted through the ajar french doors, and perched on the balcony railing was a defeated, scarred Jimin. He hadn’t noticed you, at least, not yet. But you noticed him and his current state. Arms streaked with blood— staining his pajama shirt and boxers a light pink— legs dangling idly from the metal railing as if he wasn’t four stories above a busy street, ready to plummet to his death. He looked content, serene, even. 

“Jimin, sweetie,” you choked, words catching in your throat at the sight before you. “What are you—” Before you had time to finish your question, Jimin lept off the railing and threw himself at you and into your arms. Violent sobs wracked his body as he clung to you, like a lost child would to his mother. “I th-thought you had l-l-left m-me,” your husband hiccuped. His hold on you was vice-like, and his wounds were, without a doubt, staining your blouse. “Why did you leave me,” he half-shouted, half-pleaded. “I lost control because of you. I almost ended it all for you.”

You found yourself at a loss for words. You didn’t consider your absence would affect Jimin so profoundly— to the point where he thought suicide was the only way to cope. You almost lost him; almost lost the love of your life. And it was all because of your selfish impulsiveness. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders, one hand toying with the baby hairs on the nape of his neck, knowing affection was the best way to calm him down. “Baby, I’m so sorry,” you cooed, tears pricking your eyes. “Please forgive me, I’m so, so sorry. I love you, okay? Don’t ever doubt my feelings for you.” Your husband looked at you with those big, brown eyes that shone so brightly, so innocently. The eyes you loved dearly. 

“Promise?” He asked, his grip around you tightening slightly. “I promise,” you replied with a bittersweet smile. You knew that this would be the turning point of your marriage— you could never trust Jimin to be alone, not even for a few hours. You’d have to sacrifice your freedom, your career, to ensure his safety. But it was worth it just to see him live another day.

“Now, let’s get you cleaned up, alright Minnie?” He nodded meekly, letting you lead him towards the washroom so you could tend to his wounds, just like always. 

Time and time again, you’d be there to repair Jimin when he broke down, disregarding the fact that you yourself were the one that was crumbling under all the stress. After all, loving Park Jimin was an arduous affair.

[ash-axxa]

Immortal’s Flower: One

SMASH!

Those in the living room jumped at the sudden noise. Namjoon rose from his spot in the living room, immediately making his way into the kitchen to check on his mate. His worried eyes scanned Seokjin’s frozen face, seeing him staring forward with a glazed look.

“What happened?” A tired voice asked behind Namjoon as he looked behind him to see Yoongi scratching the back of his head with a yawn. Namjoon pulled him to the side, kissing his lips to help him wake up. “Jin’s seeing something.”

“Mm... What do you think he’s seeing?” Yoongi asked when he broke the kiss. Namjoon looked toward their mate, rubbing his shoulder’s and frowning lightly. “I don’t know...”

“Thanks for letting me have a nice dream.” Yoongi changed the subject with his gummy smile. A smile that made Namjoon coo inside at how cute he was being. “Always.”

“Oh, Namjoon? Yoongi? When did you get in here?” Both looked back at the confused Seokjin, seeing him blinking to rid himself of the drowsy effects of seeing his vision. Seokjin gasped when he saw the now destroyed glass on the floor. He was about to pick it up when he heard Taehyung’s teasing voice, “I don’t think so hyung.”

Seokjin looked up to see the blonde male standing there with his hands in his pockets with his boxy smile on his face. The pieces of glass started lifting on their own, making sure no one got hurt and all the glass was picked up. Taehyung’s now golden eyes moved to the trash can and Seokjin walked over, hugging Taehyung. “My hero.”

“Maybe the hero should get a kiss.” Taehyung teased and Seokjin rolled his eyes playfully, turning his head to kiss Taehyung on the lips. Taehyung smiled against the kiss, wrapping his arms around his waist, bringing him closer. “Okay, you two, that’s enough.”

Namjoon said. Taehyung sighed and Seokjin pecked his lips with smiling before turning to Namjoon. “I saw her.”

“Who?” A curious voice asked above them and they walked out into the living room to see Jungkook laying in the air. His head was tilted back so he was looking at them, even it was upside down, while his hand was holding his sucker in his mouth so it wouldn’t fall out.

“Our mate.” Seokjin answered and Yoongi’s eyes quickly shot over to the older male. The older ones have been trying to find their missing mate for as long as they could remember; the only ones who know of their missing link. Namjoon turned his head, looking at Seokjin seriously, “How long?”

“Soon.” Seokjin said with a smile, remembering exactly what their mate looked like. Her light brown hair, soft chocolate brown eyes, and the smile on her rosy lips. He let out a soft sigh and responded, “Very soon.”

It lightened the two older male’s mood, both happy to hear that they’ll be completed soon. Jungkook was happy with curiosity, wanting to meet whoever they were talking about, even if he didn’t understand what was going on.

Taehyung frowned as he stayed to the back, not caring to listen to the others talking. His mood darkened to himself as he was thinking about of this would cause.

——————

“You were caught again Kana.” The petite girl hung her head, not wanting to look at the male who had his arms crossed on his chest. He was trying to stand big for the wolf in front of him, but just the sight of her ashamed made him want to comfort her; his Alpha instincts. Her voice was spoke as she spoke, “Sorry Alpha Taeyong, but you know I still can’t control it.”

Taeyong sighed, losing his tough facade, and tapped his arms as she shuffled her weight on her feet. Kana was never good with a lot of attention, she didn’t how to act when people stared at her. There was another sigh from Taeyong as he lost, placing a hand on Kana’s shoulder, “Dont worry; WinWin deleted the footage they had of you. Just try to be careful next time, okay?”

“Yes Alpha.” She bowed her head, her eyes looking toward the time as she felt a familiar feeling starting to bubble under her skin. When she saw the evening numbers, her eyes widened as she saw the evening numbers mocking her and Taeyong quickly looked back. He cussed under his breath when he saw the time, mentioning for her to leave.

The door slammed behind her as she took off running for the place she's forced to call home. She hated how she had to force herself so she would make it before dark, but it seems like everything is going against her at the moment. But nothing would stop her, not until she's through the doors of hell.

The door closed behind her as she panted, leaning her head back against the surface of hardwood door. There was thin sheet of sweat covering her body as she finished a full sprint fromthe depths of the country where the farm house resided.

The farm house is a large house, LARGE house, that’s used to fit 18 males in the deep country so they could shift whenever they want to.

“And just where were you?” Kana’s eyes opened sharply at hearing the voice, looking at the woman with sharp features. The woman was glaring at Kana, awaiting her answer. Kana searches her brain for an excuse, stumbling over the words, “T- taking a run?”

The woman narrowed her eyes, making Kana nervous especially when the woman stalking forward. Kana wanted to retreat, but she stayed still. The woman’s bony hand grabbed Kana’s jaw, smushing her cheeks together and hurting her jaw at the same time. “Don’t lie to me. You’ll regret ever living your pathetic life if you do that. Understand me?”

“Y- yes ma’am...” Kana whimpered softly and the woman pushed her away. The woman mentioned for Kana to leave and ordered, “Go await in your room for your mediciation.”

Kana followed her order and left, heading upstairs. As she made her way to her room, she noticed the way that the other kids were staring at her. All of them were wondering the same thing; if she leaves, why does she come back to this miserable place where she’s treated like that?

The answer is because of invisible chains on her, holding her to this place. There was a deal made along time ago; a deal that Kana can’t break. She’s bound to this place.

The attic of this building was no attic at all. It was a level made specifically for creatures like her; those of the unknown. The rest of the children have sadly passed in the testing, but Kana stands today.

There’s her room which is made to hold her; even in her other form, testing rooms, observation rooms, a medical room that holds rows of medications and sedatives.

The door locked as the door shut behind her, trapping her in the white room. Slowly, she laid down on the bed, curling into a tight ball with holding a spare pillow to her chest.

I'm scared.

————————

Kana had no idea where she was. It was all dark, but it wasn’t a scary dark; it was more of a comforting dark. She felt peaceful, curious. “Hello?”

She called out. Silence was the response. There was just something telling her that she wasn’t alone, but she had no idea where to look. Suddenly, she smelt something and turned around, staring into the dark abyss. “Hello? I know you’re there. I won’t hurt you.”

She was silently praying to herself that this wasn’t another nightmare. There was no movement and she took a deep breath before start walking toward where felt like she was being watched. It seemed to get darker and her night vision wasn’t even working for her.

Arms wrapped around her and she jumped, starting to struggle out of the grip. She was scared of being trapped, due to the place that she calls home. A husky voice whispered in her ear, calming her, “Don’t. I’m not going to hurt you.”

For some unknown reason, she trusted this voice and relaxed in his hold. She could tell from the voice that it was a male. Her hands gently grabbed at the arms, giving herself support as let the mysterious man hold her. One she couldn’t see. She asked, “Who are you?”

“All in due time baby.” He whispered in her ear, his head placing on the top of her head. Kana was confused about the pet name he gave her, but decided to say nothing about it. She felt comfortable being held by him and she wanted to continue feeling this way.

But that doesn’t mean luck was her side...

Her body started to feel heavy as everything was starting to get dizzy. The guy’s grip tightened around her as she started to loose balance, leaning on her. He kept her close, scared to lose her. “Shh... It’s okay... I got you... It’s-“

Kana’s head fell forward as she disappeared from his arms.

Namjoon sat up straight, panting as if he had a jumpscared filled nightmare. Seokjin tired lifted his head from his side, looking at the younger in confusion. He was confused on what happened to him to get this type of reaction. “Joonie? What happened?”

“Our mate... I saw her.”

“What? You contacted her?”

“She- she disappeared from me.” Seokjin sat up straight, fully awake at hearing that statement. He hugged Namjoon, gently rubbing his back. Namjoon’s arms wrapped around Seokjin, hugging him. There was a thin layer of tears he was trying to hide in his wide eyes, his anxiety and fear rising.

Disappearing from a dream like that could only mean something happened to physical body. The thought of something happening to her terrified him.

“Joonie, listen to me, it’s gonna be okay. She’s going to be fine. She’s our mate, she’s strong.” Seokjin didn’t want to see his mate crying, it hurt him to see the unshed tears. The door opened and Hoseok walked in, rubbing his eyes and frowned. “I could sense Joonie’s distress from my room. What’s wrong?”

Seokjin looked at his other mate, noticing a half asleep Yoongi right behind him. Yoongi was holding his sleeve, even falling back to sleep while standing up. Hoseok saw Namjoon’s eyes and immediately knew something was wrong; Namjoon’s emotions were too haywire for him to lie.

The two climbed into the large bed. Hoseok hugged Namjoon, trying to calm his emotions as Yoongi crawled to Seokjin, laying on his chest. Seokjin chuckled lovingly at his tired made, running a hand through his black hair to keep him asleep.

Namjoon could feel his body relaxing in Hoseok’s hold, feeling him change Namjoon’s emotions to a calmer state. “We can talk in the morning love, but you need sleep.”

Hoseok told the younger with tiredly kissing his lips. Namjoon smiled and nodded, cuddling Hoseok. Though he wanted to go back to sleep, he couldn’t help but think back to the way their mate disappeared from his arms and if she was okay. “Happy thoughts.”

Hoseok mumbled half asleep and Namjoon chuckled, thinking of how well she fit in his arms and how he couldn’t wait to see her outside of the dreams. These kind of thoughts made Hoseok hum happily, snuggling into his embrace. Slowly, Namjoon fell back asleep surrounded by the love of his mates.

[purge-that-urge-rhackathon]

Prompt 53 from the list; if you dont want to you dont but I'd love Vasquez saying it to Rhys just b4 Jack comes in and saves the day Afterwards sexytime Rhack is always great too ;D

This was like, the best goddamn prompt anon, both in terms of substance and ooey-gooey tropes BLESS YOU. Also, Vasquez doesn’t survive this one folks LOLOL Nothing too horrible happens to Rhys here; ya’ll know my content and I’m not ready to get into total non-con area juuuust yet xD You can check the tags on ao3 if worried tho ^___^

From this prompt list :)  53 was “Do you think you can keep quiet for me?” This labeled as The Executive Treatment. My masterlist archive of bullshit i write can be found linked at the top of the blog or here.  Also found on my ao3 here.  

–

“I know how much you’ve wanted this, Rhys.”

He didn’t want it, though. Maybe that was the whole point. And maybe Vasquez knew that, too.

The blackmail he had over Rhys could destroy him. And it’s what currently had him bound by the wrists over the bigger man’s wide desk in Hyperion-made tech with his pants around his ankles. He couldn’t back out even if he wanted to; both from the manacles and fear of a fate far worse than letting Vasquez do whatever he wanted to him.

“Y’know, men like us shouldn’t have to put up a front for what they want,” he continued on, not at all perturbed by Rhys’ silence or red-faced glares, and why should he be? He was fully clothed after all and not bent over a desk, after all. “You gotta just reach out and take it without shame. That’s what power really is, Rhys. I can appreciate the theater of it, of course; all bark and no bite,” Vasquez said as he stroked down Rhys’ lower back to caress the bare cheeks of his ass. “Never took you for the dramatic type. Though, I’ve gotta say, you’ve got bigger balls than I thought.”

Figuratively, of course, though it was courage bought from fear that had him bent over against his will. Rhys would never be here and never offering up his ass to his hated rival if not for the very real threat of a live-flaying. This was hardly about sex and everything about power. And Vasquez knew that, of course; peppering in reminders of why Rhys was here in case he thought to give Vasquez trouble.

“…Or is it just the circumstances that made you brave? Either way, I win.”

Rhys didn’t answer, and he was pretty sure the other man didn’t expect a response, either.

It didn’t stop him from bringing his hand down on Rhys’ ass, though, wrenching out a surprised yelp that echoed in the large office and brought further shame-red to Rhys’ face. Vasquez did it again, harder this time, that damn golden pinky cutting through the sting of the smack to almost make Rhys jump at the firmer pain as he bit his lip to stay quiet.

His legs he could’ve closed but for the foot Vasquez kicked them apart with, but he couldn’t move much more than that, prone over the desk with Vasquez’ other hand lazily pushing him down. The restraints were well-made by the company after all, and the hard steel didn’t even protest against Rhys’ cybernetic arm as he tried to curl in on himself even the smallest bit. He wondered if this would actually be worth his life, and if just the once would do it. Vasquez had implied that this was his price, after all, but there were no explicitly-stated terms between them; just the threat that the bearded man’s silence came at a high-price, and right now, that price would be paid or else.

“You’re being rude,” Vasquez’ deep voice almost sounded pouty, the hand coming to rest gently above one of Rhys’ asscheeks not lulling the bound man in the slightest. “It’s almost like you don’t want to be here…”

Rhys snorted and turned his head what little he could manage. It was enough to catch the smirk on Vasquez’s face, and the glint in his eye that said he thought he was far better than Rhys even now. Though Rhys was full of shame at the corporate secrets he’d passed along, he still had personal pride, and he was ready with a sarcastic response. “Shouldn’t you be used to this? I’m pretty sure this is the only way you ever get laid.”

Vasquez huffed, the pout on his face turning into a thinking frown. He glared down at the other man, but that confident gleam to his eye remained. “Well, if you don’t like it, Rhys, I can let Handsome Jack know he’s got a spy in his midst…” He chuckled at the genuinely-terrified gasp that Rhys let loose, and the easy smirk on Vasquez’ face came back. “How do you think Handsome Jack would feel to know his personal assistant has been feeding Maliwan information, hmmmm? I’m pretty sure that would be professional suicide. Or at least, that’s how they make it look. Or so I’ve heard.”

Rhys’ whole body went tense at the reminder of how much Vasquez actually knew. The files he’d accidentally sent to an incorrect echo frequency were enough by themselves for him to be airlocked. That the files had been intercepted by Maliwan, however, was a guaranteed painful death if Jack ever found out.

Yeah, Jack liked him as far as bosses liked their personal assistants, but the information had ultimately resulted in a lost negotiation for Hyperion– a direct correlation, Rhys knew, as Maliwan had contacted him to mockingly thank him for the heads’ up on what was to come, and expected continued insights if he didn’t want their CEO getting wind of it.

Jack was still irked by it, enough to mention it even months later, whenever the rival company came up in conversation. Maliwan’s price hadn’t been too steep, actually. Rhys was good with numbers and chose his losses carefully, and so far his paltry offerings of tidbits of information here and there had kept a sort of stalemate going for a miniscule advantage. He hadn’t wanted to get drawn in deeper, but by now he’d handed over multiple pieces of information and had no idea how to get himself out of this mess.

That it had to be Vasquez of all people who picked up on the fact only added insult to injury. Small mining deals he knew he could reassign Jack’s soldiers to enforce for him shouldn’t have taken much notice. And sending a few ‘bonus’ products in trade deals with weapons not yet released to the public gave Malian a heads-up, perhaps, but truly didn’t impact Hyperion’s bottom line. It was little, potentially-harmless things like that that he’d hoped no one would notice, but somehow, Vasquez had.

Rhys had been controlling the situation the best he could, and was managing a happy stalemate while he still tried to figure out his exit-strategy and hide what he’d been doing from Jack.

Vasquez though… As much as he didn’t want to admit it to himself, Vasquez was not someone he could control. Not since he’d beaten the other man out of the very position he now held as Jack’s right hand man; something Vasquez had taken as a mortal offense and personal theft. After all, Jack was the most powerful man in the universe. It was a power that extended to those who worked directly under Jack, making them normally untouchable out of a fearful respect for the CEO.

And it was a power that Rhys was terrified of being turned against him. Maybe he hadn’t been thinking straight when he agreed to this little ‘meeting’, but the bluntly-stated proposition that Vasquez wanted Rhys crying on the end of his cock– or he could cry from the torture Jack would subject him to- had Rhys indignantly dropping his pants and leaning over the desk with as much furious poise as he could muster.

Vasquez demanded he submit to being bound for this exercise in humility; he knew what Hyperion cybernetics were capable of, and he wasn’t going to allow Rhys to fight him on this matter when he was balls-deep inside of him. Rhys would take exactly what Vasquez would give him until he was totally satisfied that Handsome Jack wouldn’t be needing any anonymous info packets the following morning.

“You know, Rhys, I’ve always been fond of your voice, but this office isn’t entirely sound-proof, I’m sure. Do you think you can keep quiet for me? Wouldn’t want anyone walking around at this hour to know why you’re here, would you?”

Rhys refused to dignify that with a response, his whole body tensed while he kept telling himself– begging himself- to relax. For his own good.

Vasquez ironically huffed at being ignored, and his hand came down across Rhys’ ass again, hard, and Rhys’ legs kicked out on reflex. He caught Vasquez across a shin as the bigger man cursed and stepped back, rubbing the area and muttering in pain.

The quick steps towards him told Rhys that Vasquez wouldn’t take that for the accident it was, and he backhanded him across the face. It made Rhys bite his own lip, his tongue immediately searching out the sting to soothe it. He tasted copper and tried to focus on that; remind himself that the alternative to this was being tortured before his body eventually gave out. This was nothing to being experimented on by R&D. Being a traitor was almost worse than embezzling from Handsome Jack himself; he could endure this to save himself from that.

“I was gonna go easy on you at first,” the bigger man said as he grabbed a handful of Rhys’ hair to look at him properly. They glared at one another with open hate. “Regardless of what you might think, I’m actually a considerate lover. But I Get the feeling you wouldn’t much appreciate that, would you?”

“Fuck you,” Rhys muttered pathetically, embarrassed at the strength of his own voice; the helplessness he was definitely feeling in both situation and action.

“That’s the whole point, but still, rude.” Vasquez dropped his hold on Rhys’ hair unexpectedly and Rhys dropped a bit faster than he’d have liked back to the cold of the desk. Vasquez’ hand found its way back to his lower back, and he kicked Rhys’ legs aside again so they were spread enough that he wouldn’t get inadvertently kicked.

Though he was still fully clothed, Vasquez grabbed the smaller man by his naked hips and ground himself against his ass, and Rhys valiantly stayed absolutely silent, not making a nose to the cloth erection being ground against him. Vasquez groaned appreciatively and cocked his head to try and look at Rhys’ face during this particular humiliation. “You know, I’m less inclined to share your secrets if you act a little more enthusiastic, Rhys.”

Rhys felt a lump form in his throat at the combination of fear and the indignity of what Vasquez wanted. As if being fucked by him wasn’t already bad enough, he wanted Rhys to show appreciation for being dry-humped? Rhys wasn’t sure he could pretend that, and he realized as his cybernetic arm tugged in vain on the metal holding his wrists to the desk, that it must’ve been a reinforced alloy of some kind and not steel. He was truly and utterly at Vasquez’ mercy, and furthermore, he had no guarantee that Vasquez wouldn’t just leave him here to go and report him even after he was done.

There were some muted sounds from outside the office doors as Vasquez was really working himself up against dry-humping Rhys’ ass, followed by a kick that was loud enough not to just be passing janitors. Vasquez was mid-stride to see what the hell that was when the locking mechanism was shot out, electric-sizzling and the smell of ozone in the air before the security system was totally disabled, and in strode Rhys’ savior and terror all wrapped up into one gun-toting CEO.

Rhys laid prone where he was, not moving and knowing any attempt at hiding himself was entirely in vain. Vasquez stood where he was halfway between the office doors and the desk, hard-on still protruding from the front of the pants he wore. Jack took one quick sweep of the situation he’d just walked into, lingering on Rhys’ terrified face a moment, and twirled his gun in his hand playfully.

“I have been calling and calling my hot little PA’s number for over an hour now and I just had to track down his comm and see what was so goddamn important he’d ignore me over. And I really gotta say– what’s happening here?- Not super impressed right now.”

“S-sir I can explain… Rhys-” Vasquez started expectantly, looking down at the half-clothed man forcibly bound to his desk with slapped-red asscheeks and his chin stained with a fine line of crimson from his bitten lip.

Rhys knew an opportunity when he saw it, and didn’t speak or come to Vasquez’ defense. Instead, he locked eyes with Jack– very aware of his own defeated body language- and the look in the CEO’s eyes made his heart speed up all the more. He looked away quickly, biting his lip and wincing as the movement made the cut there bleed anew.

Whatever Jack saw in Rhys’ own eyes had worked, because as Vasquez’ stuttered denials turned into pleading and bare accusations, there was a second shot of Jack’s gun, and a shocked inhalation followed by a muted thud some steps away from the desk where the bearded man had tried to quickly flee.

Jack whistled lowly, moving towards Vasquez as the man was in the throes of death, and quickly searched his pockets until he found what he was looking for. He left the still body as he approached the desk once more, and Rhys was still laying there, silent, barely registering the fact that Jack was uncharacteristically silent as well, and he was still strapped down.

Did Jack already know? Was this a coincidence? …were the dirty fantasies on the echonet fanboards actually true?

No, this wasn’t some fantasy. Jack had just killed Rhys’ longtime rival, and he himself had committed base corporate treason and was strapped down half naked at the mercy of the most powerful man in the universe. Any arousal he had at the idea was suddenly drowned in anxious fear.

Rhys felt his heart pounding in multiple areas; the side of his neck that Jack could break so easily; against the desk from within his chest that a bullet could easily pierce.

The rush of blood in his ears, and his vision going in and out, completely distracted from the older man’s approach, and only the smell of the gun discharge in his nostrils finally drew Rhys back enough to his senses to realize that Vasquez was most certainly dead on the floor, and he could very well be next.

Rhys turned his head dumbly towards Jack, dazed and confused and frozen with fear. The frown on Jack’s face wasn’t indicative of anything good. Rhys feared for his life.

“Y’know,” Jack said as he reached into his pocket and leaned against the desk, shooting Rhys’ ass a pointed look the younger man could see, “I’ve had an awful lot of fantasies that have started this way…”

Rhys found his voice, licking his split lip with a wince. “Jack I–” He was struck mute as the restraints binding him clicked with a mechanical whirr, and everything recessed back into the desk without a trace. Jack tossed the unlock mechanism back towards Vasquez’ body but otherwise stayed leaning on the desk right next to Rhys.

Rhys rose up just a little– slowly, as if to test how free he really was- and exhaled shakily as he curled his palms into fists, fighting his renewed fear of the man at his side. Talk about out of the frying pan and into the fire. Just because he’d been freed from Vasquez did not mean he was safe. He was scared to lift himself further, but slowly, slowly stood.

“Buttercup… Not that I don’t think it’s kinky as fuck, but just what the hell do you mean by bending over for that asshole? Ever? I mean, I’m all about hate-sex, but Wallethead himself?”

Rhys could feel his heartbeat pick right back up into a terrified tatoo against his ribs. Could it be possible Jack didn’t know the things he’d done? Was there a way out of this? Jack didn’t suffer traitors easily. He’d seen people dropped down the hatch in Jack’s office for way less.

“Hey…” Jack’s voice turned serious. “Rhysie… Talk to me here, baby.”

If he could just play it cool long enough to get his ass off this space station, maybe he could disappear somewhere… Somewhere beyond the reach of the companies. Though that idea was hardly realistic, unless–

“Fuck. Hey, you freakin’ out in there or what?”

–he could fake his own death? He was good at programming… if he survived this encounter here, then maybe hacking security footage and using an O2 mask–

“Rhys.” Jack’s hands found their way to his shoulders, and Rhys’ eyes finally snapped to his own, widening a bit as if he just remembered where he was, who he was with, and that his pants were still around his ankles. Jack cupped the younger man’s cheek in his hand, stroking with his thumb as he studied the pallor on his face. He gave Rhys’ shoulder a reassuring squeeze with his other hand. “It’s okay, pumpkin. I was just teasing. What the hell did he do to you? I thought I got here in time but maybe I killed him too quickly now,” Jack said with a disappointed look at the still-warm body.

“I-I’m alright,” Rhys stuttered, lifting a shaking hand to Jack’s wrist and holding it there. He couldn’t help it; even terrified of what might be his last few moments, he still wanted Jack; craved the comfort he was offering. Rhys genuinely liked Jack, and they usually got along so well, too. Jack often complained after meetings that Rhys was the only one on this space station he could stand. It was only going to cut that much deeper when Jack found out.

It’s not like it was his choice to betray Hyperion, but he knew the CEO well enough by now to know it didn’t matter. But he wanted what few moments of comfort were given before the final shoe dropped, and relished in the warmth of Jack’s thumb stroking his cheek. “I’m okay.”

Jack huffed a little, lips twitching into an uncertain smile. “How’d he ever get you here, kiddo?” the older man asked with real concern, his question obviously referring to being trapped against a desk. “Why didn’t you call me on your echoeye? …that wasn’t consensual right, Rhysie?”

“He was blackmailing me,” Rhys stated simply, an answer to all Jack’s questions.

“Yeah, yeah I gathered that when he was calling you a traitor moments before I blew his brains out.” Rhys wouldn’t meet his eyes, and Jack correctly guessed the source of his distress. “This about that Maliwan shit, ain’t it, princess? Unless your sordid little life is more interesting than I ever thought.”

Rhys’ jaw dropped and all the blood fled his face. “How did you–”

“First of all, I’m all-knowing,” Jack bragged with a haughty smirk. “And second– you sent those messages from my desk that day, remember? When I took a nap on the couch?”

Rhys would remember that day for the rest of his life as it had ultimately gotten him in the exact situation he was in right now. It had been a Friday, and Jack had taken apart Rhys’ monitor as it kept having compatibility issues with his echoeye and the personal patches Jack had done to help him be more efficient.

Jack had had Rhys do his work from his desk while he customized the younger man’s workspace to better suit him, and Rhys had handled multiple communications that day. It had been in a moment of distraction at a lame ‘data-size’ joke Jack had made that Rhys had sent the detailed plans to the incorrect address, and had only noticed it the next day because that address had contacted him and told him exactly what he’d done and what he’d continue doing to buy their silence.

“We got lunch that day, remember? I sent you home early and I didn’t go back to the office until Monday morning. You left your mail open at my desk, buttercup. I’ve known what’s going on the whole time. You’ve been handling it like a pro, so I’ve only been keeping an eye on things from a distance.”

Rhys was close to hyperventilating, but Jack still stood there as nonchalant as he had, as Rhys tried to meet his eyes. “A-Are you going to kill me?”

“Hey, I saved you, if you don’t recall,” Jack grumbled with a dismissive look at the still-warm body. “Why would I kill you? For fucking that asshole? I mean, I won’t lie, I am jealous as hell, but talk about unne–”

“I never slept with Vasquez….” Rhys trailed off weakly, realizing how stupid he felt saying so as he was still standing there with his whole dick and balls out for anyone to see; though he didn’t want to draw further attention to that fact by pulling his pants back up. It wasn’t like Jack was looking anyways, though that might’ve been because the CEO was preoccupied with the obviously-spooked expression on the younger man’s face, and giving his shoulders reassuring squeezes.

Rhys looked up a moment from his pondering as his brain suddenly processed the fact that Jack said he was jealous over the idea of Vasquez fucking him…. Even with the idea Rhys thought he’d been selling Hyperion out.

The look Jack was giving him was somewhere between the pout the older man liked to pull when asking Rhys to cancel meetings for him, and the playful smirk he usually reserved for poking fun. He clearly wasn’t teasing right now with the way he occupied Rhys’ space. Rhys dumbly repeated his denial of involvement with Vasquez, any other words currently escaping him.

“Then what’s the problem?” Jack’s hands were gentle on him, but Rhys knew what the older man was capable of. Jack’s eyes kept jumping all about him, as if he could see what was making Rhys so cagey if he only looked hard enough.

“I don’t understand… Not that– Don’t take that to mean I want to die,” Rhys quickly got out, afraid to accept that he was possibly going to get out of this alive. “But why aren’t you, like, shooting me? You bring up that deal we lost all the time…”

“Seriously, kiddo? One, I’m brilliant, and that would be a huge waste. And yeah, I like to win so I’m still annoyed at those assholes thinking they won that time, but you’ve given me an opportunity I haven’t gotten anyone to pull in a long time.”

Rhys looked at him blankly, and Jack just smirked and gave him a gentle pat. “You’ve got those idiots to trust you. They think they’ve got you by the balls. Don’t think I haven’t seen the way you cherry-pick what intel to give them.” Jack grinned as if all the information and access Rhys had been giving to business rivals was somehow a good thing. The CEO rolled his eyes as Rhys clearly wasn’t getting it; as if anything about this conversation was normal. “What I’m saying here, princess, is that they know your information’s been good, and they know you haven’t compromised them by telling me. Otherwise ‘Big Bad Handsome Jack’ would have blown you out an airlock already.”

Rhys was still confused how any of this was good news, but Jack still didn’t seem upset with him. If anything, he seemed pleased. Rhys really wanted to pull his pants back up right now, but he didn’t want to break the spell of whatever this benevolent mood was.

He also didn’t want to have Jack let go of him to make such a movement, drawing strength from the hands on his shoulders.

“What I’m sayin’ is, you’ve opened up the perfect opportunity to sabotage them from the inside. Once I’m ready to give the word, we’re going to feed them bad intel and really take ‘em apart. Hoooo that almost gives me a stiffy, I can’t wait for those dickbags to realize what we did.” Jack chuckled to himself with a grin for the younger man.

“You’re… really okay with all of that?” Rhys asked seriously, watching Jack with a hanging hope as the older man smiled at him.

“Not only okay with it, but I want you to keep it up. If you have trouble deciding what info you wanna give those losers, we’ll make something up, okay? I’ve got enough money lying around to throw those idiots a bone if they still think you’re working for them. It’s an investment I’ll collect on when the iron is hot, or however that shit goes.”

It was strike when the iron is hot, Rhys knew, but didn’t want to give Jack any ideas about striking anything while he was still pantsless. “I seriously cannot believe you’re okay with this,” Rhys muttered with something of relieved shock. “The last person who sold company secrets got sent down to R&D, and they still haven’t come back.”

“Yeah, put ‘em in the hybrid breeding program or something, I don’t know. Anyways, pumpkin, even if that wasn’t the case, I still wouldn’t kill you. You are way too damn cute and that would put a huge damper in my chances of someday getting laid,” Jack said with a half-joking tone, though the look in his eyes smoldered a bit as he smiled in implication.

Rhys couldn’t believe things were going completely his way. Jack wanted to… to fuck him? Even after all of this? Jack found him attractive? Like, yeah, he wanted Jack, but who on Helios didn’t? That Jack was genuinely interested… Well.

“I’m just… I am so relieved you found out, actually,” Rhys laughed a little, unhinged at just how perfect everything had gone. His rival was dead, his attractive boss didn’t want to kill him, and apparently, all his jerk-off fantasies were going to come true if Jack was to be believed.

“What, kitten? You think I don’t keep regular tabs on anyone close to me?” Jack purred dangerously into his ear. “What’s that saying? ‘Keep your friends close but hop into bed with your enemies’?”

That made Rhys’ heart give a little fearful lurch, but he couldn’t help the snort it got out of him, either, as he decided he believed the older man. “I don’t think that’s the phrase, Jack,” he said softly with a little smile growing on his face as Jack grinned shamelessly. “And I’m hardly your enemy.”

“Hardly, huh?” the older man teased as he somewhat crowded against him in correctly reading the signals. “Heh, get it Rhysie? ‘Cuz your pants are down, and it’s making me hard.”

It had to be one of the stupidest things to have ever gotten a laugh out of Rhys, but he could blame that on the adrenaline still running through him, and the sheer relief that he wasn’t about to be murdered.

“There’s my little princess,” Jack said with a grin, boxing him in with hands on either side of the desk. Rhys was still chuckling, cheeks red, as Jack wasn’t through. “Or maybe I shouldn’t say little anymore, hm? …Grower, not a show-er, sweetheart? This guy finally getting in the game? What did it? The talk of screwing over Maliwan, or the part where Jack got to play the big hero?” he teased.

“It’s adrenaline,” Rhys discounted quickly with a smile, though he supposed Jack about had it right; who in their right mind would get a boner for their boss when moments before he thought said man would murder him? Let alone get aroused with a body in the room? He wasn’t even ashamed of it to be honest. Chalk it up to the thrill of still being alive. “And my dick size is– Why are we talking about that right now?” Rhys genuinely laughed, about ready to reach down and pull his pants over the semi he had going anyways, but loathe to break the proximity of Jack’s nearness.

Warm puffs of breath went over Rhys as Jack lightly chuckled and moved in just a tad closer; either teasing or testing, Rhys wasn’t sure, but the hand the younger man wrapped about the outside of Jack’s shoulder gave an encouraging squeeze, and Jack’s smile widened.

“You’ve got two choices here, buttercup,” the older man said with a smirk that did nothing to quell the plumping of Rhys’ cock, “And I’ll respect whatever you choose. We can cover that up,” he said with a quick glance down between them so Rhys knew his meaning, “cover that up,” he said with another look in the direction of Vasquez’ useless shell, “and you can go back to being the best damn PA I’ve had in a long, long line of unprofessional idiots, and I won’t press it any further, or,” Jack said with an edge of uncertainty Rhys wouldn’t have caught if he didn’t know the older man so well, “you can let me show you just how irreplaceable you are on a less than professional level, and how very much I don’t wanna kill ya. Whaddya say?”

Rhys’ heart rate picked right back up from where it had been finally calming, but this time he wasn’t afraid. The exact opposite, actually. “You mean–”

“I guess I did cockblock you, right?” Jack joked with an exaggerated roll of his eyes. “Technically, I mean,” he mocked a little, then smirked, emboldened by the squeeze Rhys’ hand gave his arm. “And here you are all… pantless with no dick-being-sucked. It’s a travesty is what I’m saying, kitten; dicks being out, left un-sucked. It’s un-Hyperion. Goes against everything my brand stands for.”

Rhys couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped him, and it was a small movement to lean the top of his head on Jack’s shoulder, shaking with laughter and relief and holding tight to the older man to try to reign it in. Jack himself couldn’t have been more delighted by that, and Rhys could feel the smile against his skin as Jack turned and spoke, lips just barely kissing his jaw.

“Whaddya say, pumpkin? How would you like a little executive treatment, hmm?”

Jack’s lips pressed chastely against Rhys’ jaw as the younger man pressed into the gesture, and Rhys stood back up to smile, allowing Jack to take his chin in his hand and press their lips together. The action stung where he’d bit himself, and Jack licked his own lips as he pulled away, wrapping both large hands around Rhys’ hips and smirking expectantly.

“…Please?” Rhys asked, wanting the comfort, the ironic safety the older man represented, and everything else he had to offer.

Though he’d alluded to it already, Jack still surprised him by dropping to his knees in front of Rhys, hands on the younger man’s thighs as he came face to face with his cock, and wasted no time getting himself quite acquainted.

Rhys was learning a lot about himself today. Namely, that he probably wasn’t as good a person as he thought he was if he was able to get fully hard and enjoy one hell of a blowjob with a body in the room, but also that he’d been willing to go a great distance to protect his own interests– which he was a little proud of- and that his little crush on Jack, along with his hero-worship of the man, was definitely not going to change any time soon… even when potentially fearing for his life.

None of that mattered right now though, because as great and as varied the skills that Jack was rumored to have were, it didn’t prepare Rhys for the reality of the CEO on his knees completely taking him apart with his mouth alone.

That was okay though. He had a feeling that Jack was going to be there to put him back together again, too.

–

kofi | ao3

[nithr]

Revelations

Summary: Post ep 4x08 It Takes a Pillage , What is the reaction of johnny to learning that d'avin didn't leave voluntarily. The look into the love between the two brothers that I wanted but didn't get.

He knew hiding in the lower parts of the ship was absolutely useless. Either dutch or d'avin would find him in no time, would probably be dutch, but after the things he learned that day he wanted some space to think things through. His life was built upon some absolute truths and if one of them was wrong then how many else would change making him lose his foundation.

The sound of the door opening made him reappear from his thoughts. Looking back he found it was dutch that had found him. D'avin may be his brother but dutch was his best friend. It was probably for the best that dutch came , she was the only thing now that he trusted absolutely.

Dutch didn't speak, she just came towards him and sat down near him such that if he wanted to he could touch her. She gave him space that he himself would give her. He continued working on Lucy not turning towards dutch, but she waited patiently. After what appeared to be minutes or an hour he didn't know, he put down the tools he was holding and just leaned into her. Her hands came around him and he found himself encircled by her. Slowly the tension he had been unaware he carried , loosened from him.

'I know meeting your father would have been bad. But I'm here , d'avin is here , talk to me johnny ,are you ok?'

She asked it as if he could say what was in his mind in one word. But it was dutch , if he cant tell it to her he might as well bury his thoughts and carry it to the grave.

'You know dutch , for approximately half my life I've loved d'avin, but the other half , I absolutely hated him. He left me you know , left me in that sad excuse of a planet with a sick mother and an absent father. That day that I learnt he left is still the worst day of my life. I was so angry , so bitter that it festered and festered until it became something ugly inside of me . I loved him but I also hated him. It made me bitter and petty you know. If only he had asked me , if he had asked me to come with him I would have. I used to dream , that d'avin would come back and took my mom and me away from there , away from my father. I used to dream but not for a very long time .

The first time he came here , with us I saw how much you both clicked and how much you liked him and I was jealous. He was was the one who ran off and when I try to form a life for myself he comes back and tries to destroy it anyway. '

Dutch who had until that point been silent opened her mouth as if to protest.

' No let me speak dutch. If I stop I dont know if I can start again. Things are different now but it wasn't then. The bitterness that I felt for him grew. And when d'avin was off the team , I knew you were hurt , I was too, but a small part of me was happy. What kind of brother, a friend am I to feel such things'

'Johnny no, its human to feel those things and I would have been the same too and you know it'

He knew dutch wouldn't keep her silence in some parts. Snorting a little he held her hand a bit tighter to make her quiet again.

'I know Dutch but that doesn't make me feel better.

D'avin had gone through terrible things in his life and sometimes I think that those would not have happened if he hadn't left . But at the same time I wouldn't have met you , so I go round and round with that thought in my head.'

He became silent, lost in the thoughts running through his head .

A had touched his face making him pay attention.

'What happened today johnny?' She asked.

And wasnt that the big question of the day.

'I learnt that I was a naive foolish little boy that was ungrateful. Did you know that our father used to praise us in the outside world and spit on us in our own home. Nothing that we did was enough. Our mom tried her best but well she had herself to take care of and then the disease happened. She wasn't spared even then . But d'avin , he tried . He turned all of our fathers attention on him so that my mother and I could be spared. It didn't always work but he used to get double the beatings for interfearing . He never complained, he would take care of us first and then him at last. It became a regular for us, to be seen with bruises. '

He knew that she had suspected of what happened to him in his Childhood but it was the first time he confirmed it. Turning to see her he found that she was already staring at him . Suddenly closing the space between them she hugged him tightly as if afraid of letting go. He closed his eyes and focused on the feel of her in his arms.

'He didn't leave dutch , he didn't. It was my father who gave him the ultimatum, jail or the military. And you want to know how that situation came to be , it was because he defended me, he lost his carefully restrained control and gave back. And all that happened to him, in the military and now, it all comes back to me doesnt it . No dont argue. Please dont . '

Seeing dutch sit back with a defiant look in her eyes he knew she definitely would argue after he finished made him chuckle a bit.

'Half my life I've been angry with him and now I dont know what to do. Do you know what I said to him when I learnt all this. I said thank you , just a thank you. He sacrificed his life for me and I just kept on reminding him that he left . He didn't even correct me. Just kept on accepting that I have a bad opinion of him. The things I've said to him, again and again , shit dutch , what do I do?' his voice was becoming hysterical at the end.

As involved as he was in what he was saying he didn't notice movement by the opened door, but dutch did. Knowing that there was only one person that could be she came to a decision.

'Jonny you can't take back any of the things you said and d'avin can't go back and inform you of all that had happened. It wasn't only on you, you know that right?'

She could see him shaking his head and she huffed out exasperatedly. She didn't know what she was going to do with these two.

' Ok enough is enough. You have moped enough for a life time . Come on sit straight and look at me. Dont look so confused johnny doesnt suit you. Now imagine that I am d'avin. And tell me everything that you want to tell him and couldn't. Come on try it '

She could see him roll his eyes but sit straighter. Letting him off to collect his thoughts her eyes wandered to the door and she could still see the shadow of him near it. Confirmed that he was there she turned to johnny again. He had his eyes closed but within a few moments opened them and stared at her.

' I'm sorry d'avin, im so sorry for all the times I've insuated that you ran away, for all the times you had to keep quiet , for all the times I was the reason you had to hurt , for all the times I've made you feel unwelcome. I'm sorry big brother, I'm sorry .

And thank you for all the times you've stayed , for all the times you've smiled inspite of the hurt I've caused, for all the times you spared me from getting hurt the same way you were. Thank you for loving me even when I didn't show it. Because yes, I love you d'avin, even when I was angry at you , I've loved you, I'm sorry d'avin, I'm sorry'

He had started to cry half way through his speech and now in the gentle hold of his best friend he threw caution to wind and let himself feel for all the lost time .

He didn't see the shadow that was beyond the door slump down , clutching the alcohol bottle he had brought with him as if it was his life line. He didn't see the tears that ran down that face or the happiest smile that bloomed, he didn't see his big brother mouth back ' I love you too johnny' to him.

He didn't need to. These three , they will be ok . As Blood brothers , best friends , lovers they will be ok.

A03 link

[sometimesrosy]

Wow did you see all that drama with those Rey and Ben shippers and John Boyega who plays Finn? Now I have nothing against them all but some of them took it too far. So what John doesn't like a ship, there is no need to abuse him with vicious racist slurs on social media and he snapped back posting a video of their terrible tweets with everyone to see than they started playing the victim card even though they are the ones who tagged him in their racism publicly, no one to blame but themselves.

Oh rlly? I didn’t see the latest saga, but I saw the part about how they called him sexist for shipping rey and finn, and being vaguely smutty, which I think is hypocritical for a fandom that shipped r/ylo and made a mc heroine’s journey all about a man. And they were not nonsexual either. I saw those conversations. They were mocking him for portraying what they saw as the losing side in a love triangle (but it wasn’t really a love triangle and they didn’t win it if it was.)

I didn’t see his video but I SO believe it. And I believe they attacked him with racist slurs and then played the victim.  I had a very similar experience in fandom on a much smaller level. I’m not famous, and I had nothing to do with the content created, but I also was attacked by a fandom of a “winning” ship in a shipwar whose fave then died. I have been called a lesbophobe... which is a very tricky thing because homophobia is wrong and the claim turns me into the bad guy, whether it’s true or not, the evil person, right? I’m the one who’s the bigot, according to that claim, and anything I do to defend myself is seen as evidence of of it being true, no matter my past history or present actions, and it was, in fact supported by straight up lies and misrepresentations. They did this by erasing my lived experience as a domestic abuse victim which I flat out told them from the very beginning of my critique. I was speaking as a abuse survivor on what I saw. They said no I was lying, that wasn’t real, i hated lesbians. And if it was real, I should be silent because lesbians were more important than abuse victims. And I also deserved my abuse and should die and couldn’t possibly understand the TRAUMA of seeing your fictional representation in fear for her life and having love be equated with pain (while being a DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIM WHO HAD LITERALLY BEEN IN FEAR FOR HER LIFE WHERE LOVE=PAIN.) 

1. not true. 

2. invalidating the trauma and experience of domestic abuse. 

3. Silencing and re-victimizing the victim, not just denying the abuse happened but then adding to the abuse. 

So like they attacked JB for being sexist, and then go after him for what they perceive as his weakness/character flaw. being black. They try to silence him (to which he’s like, no i don’t think so) and destroy his character by making him the villain. Using his race as the weapon. 

@@

I mean. I mean. What could they be thinking? 

Why would they say shit like that? 

So, I don’t have a very good opinion of fandom. Some of fandom is fantastic. There’s no where else I can talk about my super geeky love of literary analysis and symbolism in freaking science fiction and fantasy (my literary nerds don’t get genre stuff and my sff nerds are not really interested in the literary analysis obsession.) It has been a delight and a privilege to be able to con y’all into doing academic literary analysis for fun, like I enjoy. I mean. It’s not a con. I tell you what I’m doing, let’s call it a “seduction.” lol. It’s also great to find people like you especially if you’re in a place where you dont’ have a supportive community. It’s amazing for creativity and fanworks. 

BUT fandom can be like a pack of hyenas. People who want power flock to this world, the internet anonymity, the power to gatekeep, the lack of self freaking reflection, this misapprehension that they can create canon to fit their preferences and fancies and whatever they say is real, and the fandom that shouts the others down the loudest is the one who gets to say what canon means.

To that I say POPPYCOCK!

Canon is canon, bitch. You dont’ get to control it because you have the biggest girl gang with the fastest hot rod. This is not Grease. 

Those people attacking JB, being racist? They may think their ad hominem attacks give them control over him (like they thought calling me demon gave them control over me [hint: it didn’t]) but what it really does is reveal their OWN lack of character. 

First it makes it obvious that they can’t separate fantasy from reality. 

Second it shows their obsessions are out of control. (take a break kids) 

Third it shows that they cannot discuss canon or argue their point with logic or evidence so they resort to non-relevant personal attacks, which means that either their position HAS no evidence to support it or they are not good enough at debating to defend their argument. 

Fourth it shows THAT THEY ARE RACIST!!!! You don’t use a person’s race to drag them unless you think that race is inferior. A person’s race is not a character trait, y’all. This attitude is RACIST. and if you didn’t mean to be racist but went along with the loudest voices who are racist... YOU ARE STILL RACIST. Maybe not in the lynching way. Maybe just in the Nice White Lady (NWL) way, which is STILL RACIST. Those are the kind of people who think black people should stay in their place and sit on the back of the bus and say please and thank you when people are being racist to them, and always consider their NWL feelings when criticizing them because no one should ever make them feel sad for being racist. Not that they want to STOP being racist, just that they don’t want to feel sad about it so please don’t mention their racism, and while we’re at it, don’t disagree with them. Please and thank you, oh aren’t you a nice POC. You’re one of the nice ones.* 

Listen. Fandom may be fun and we may feel like we’ve found a home here, but do not EVER be uncritical of fandom. It IS NOT a safe place. Not only can you be the target of racism and harassment and abuse and targeting, but you can also be the victim of people who are intentionally trying to manipulate you into following them and their agenda. Maybe their agenda is just to have more followers who love them, but maybe their agenda is to spread their toxic ideas and destabilize the very communities that are supportive to people who are marginalized. 

To be truthful, watching the Star Wars fandom become this toxic clusterfuck ever since TFA came out was what made me realized my experience in fandom wasn’t personal or isolated, but was in fact a FEATURE of fandom, not a bug. 

Y’all life does not have to be like that. And neither does fandom.

*this is sarcasm. NWLs expecting niceness when people are racially oppressed IS STILL RACIST.

[personality-slate-blank]

Catradora soulmate au

"I'll keep your little secret from Lord Hordak" the shadowy figure echoed, "Only because I do care about you adora, and dont forget what I can do if you tell anyone. It is a privilege that you have, not a right" it seemed as if the shadow smirked, sending chills down the young girl's spine, the eerie presence eventually left, leaving Adora sat on her bunk, holding back the tears as she had been taught to do, she felt a weight drop onto the bed behind her,

"Hey adora.." the small voice behind her caused her to turn, she could never get used to how vibrant Catra's eyes are. All bright and sparkling, and her hair, so dark compared to her own she grabbed on tight to her, and waited until she could speak, Catra wrapped her little tail around Adora's leg. Breathlessly, Adora whispered "Catra, I was so scared, I thought she was gonna kill me"

"Dont worry you're fine, shadow weaver loves you" Catra answered, remembering all the times she had been punished by the same woman, "I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you"

Adora sat up and laughed, wetly. Grabbing Catra's hand "I can take it. We'll get through this, together! We'll be the best in the hoard now, that's probably why we aren't allowed to tell anyone"

"Yeah, they dont want us to have an advantage, why don't they let everyone see like this?"

"I don't know Catra, but you heard Shadow weaver, we better not talk about it any more"

"Yeah... ok. Are you ok to go back out?"

"Yeah, race you!"

"No fair!"

Since being 6 years old, Adora had seen in colour, a gift none of her other teammates shared, it put her ahead in combat training, but she still worked so hard to attain the ranks and positions she did, after one almost devastating training session, she narrowly beat Catra, who came in at the last second, to win. Dusting herself off, she tried not to linger on Catra's eyes as she walked over to their commander for a brief and progress update, basically a summary of what they had done wrong, Adora got full marks though, so when shadow weaver asked for her, she left and wouldn't miss anything. Not that she had a choice to follow the woman, but better her than Catra getting this talk. So she sighed inwardly before asking what shadow weaver wanted now.

"CATRA! CATRA COME HERE!" the excitement in Adora's voice roused the other girl from her nap so she kicked down the air vent and dropped behind her friend with a shout, "Hey adora!", causing the other girl to jump in fright "That never gets old, so what are you yelling about?"

"Look!" Adora said, pointing to her chest, a bright yellow badge was displayed there with the two great wings of the hoard displayed on it

"Oh wow, congrats, you're officially a force captain, huh? and active dudy, damn, give Brightmoon hell for me"

"Yeah the orientation is tomorrow night, I was assigned last minute, so I'm gonna study up"

"Boring! Don't you wanna do something fun?"

"Fun like stealing a skiff? Our little trek can always be classed as recon, come on, it'll be fun!"

"LETS BLOW SOMETHING UP!... Wait, aren't you concerned about shadow weaver?"

"Didnt you see her this afternoon? she was all weak, her hair was barely floating"

That was normally a sign she wouldn't be around for a few days, locked in with the giant red rock, now would be the best time if they were going to go anywhere, Catra leaped off her perch on the top bunk and walked towards the door, turning back to hold out her hand, Adora smiled, she couldn't resist those eyes, they both wanted an adventure. She grabbed her hand and ran down the stairs.

..........................

She awoke in a cold sweat, Catra barely moved at her feet, that decided it, she needed to go back, into the woods, she needed answers, the sword seemed to pull her towards it and now it haunts her dreams, no thanks. Quietly getting up and pulling on her jacket adora headed out. Concentrating on getting another skiff, she hadn't noticed Catra coming up behind her, "what are you doing?"

Grabbing her and shoving her into the wall as the drone security bot passed Adora quietened the other girl, "shhh.... look Catra, I know I saw something out there, it feels important, I know it"

"Sounds good, let's go!"

"No, you should stay here, shadow weaver will be waking back up soon, and who knows what she'd do to you, please just trust me, I'll be back before anyone knows I'm gone" and with that she ran around the corner, down the stairs

"I would know you've gone"

..........................

It was a lonesome journey, watching out for patrols and then abandoning the skiff just inside the woods, choosing to trek through the underbrush as it is quieter, colour seemed to make no difference in here everything was dark, dark green, dark blue, dark grey, not to mention she had no idea how to find this sword, this was going to be a long night. She sighed and continued crawling, looking out for ethereal blue lights or anything in the woods that might try to kill her, read: everything

Talking to herself, she saw said blue light creeped into the clearing. 'The sword! Wait, what is that? Voices? Getting closer, they clearly dont care about being spotted, maybe guards patrol these woods, damn, I'll just have to grab the sword and run!'

As they spotted her, the smaller one yelled "HOARD SOLDIER!" and they both started war cries, Adora sprinted to the sword and could almost touch it, before a puff of sparkles appeared and the small one with it glaring at her. Adora reached for the sword before the young girl teleported a few feet away, clutching it tightly.

'A princess, right, can I take a princess? Yeah, in training. She can teleport so binding won't work, just need the sword, I dont want to have to hurt her'

She threw the sword to her companion, he dropped his bow to catch it, she could try to take him on, especially unarmed, he ran with it and the princess spawned on top of her back, she shook her off violently, throwing a bola at his legs and sprinting for the sword again

"Stand down, I don't want to hurt you"

"Since when do hoard soldiers not want to hurt anyone?" The princess yelled, now in front of her, throwing a sort of smoke bomb of glitter.

They wrestled for the sword, but just as Adora touched it, a bright flash of light hit and Adora was dragged into her dream, "My name is Lighthope"...

...................

She awoke bound by ropes, the princess staring her in the face, yelling "Hoard spy! How did you get so far into the whispering woods?"

"I... walked in? And I'm not a spy. Who are you?"

"I ask the questions. The whispering woods are rebellion territory, you were lucky to make it as far as you did"

She dragged her comrade off and not-so-subtly whispered about bringing her to Brightmoon, an excellent chance for reconisance, if she survives. That's a big if. They would probably take her for interrogation, she could handle that, after all, it's only a little bit.... of a lot of pain. Well Shadow weaver was no push over, though she could be quite lenient sometimes, oh what would Catra do? She knew how to talk to people

They got up and walked, supposedly back to Brightmoon, though with the way her two captors, bow and glimmer apparently, argued, they may not be going the right way. The boy, bow, tried to make small talk, a big mistake, Adora couldn't stop herself from almost shouting, "You know she's a princess right? Princesses are a dangerous threat to all of Etheria! How can you follow her? It's weird, her hair is literally pink and sparkly, that's not normal"

"Wow, thats what they teach in the hoa- Wait, you can see in colour? You can see the pink?"

"What do you mean that's what they teach?"

"Woah, woah, wait up. You can see in colour?"

"Yes, why?"

"Hoard soldiers have soulmates... GLIMMER! GLIMMER, LISTEN TO THIS!"

"What are soulmates, what are you on about?"

The princess popped over, looking annoyed, "Bow this better be important or so help me"-

"This hoard soldier can see in colour!"

"What?!?"

"I know! This means that myths were true!"

"Nope, no way, they cannot be like us, not with the things they do"

With that Glimmer stormed off, a few seconds later they heard her gasp and Bow dragged her over.

Tents were destroyed, rubble lay strewn, there were no people to be found. A dead bot was abandoned to the side. It had hoard markings, the great wings. Emblazoned red like the blood on the floor. "This is all the hoard ever does, they can't just do this, they just kill and steal and ruin our land"

That's what the hoard does? What about helping and improving the lives of those part of it? Was this a secret rebel base? Is that it? There's no technology to suggest so, but that would mean... no she cant think it. A heavy silence weighed in the group as Glimmer dried her tears, before storming off ahead. Only to quickly return running through the brush, "There's something out there!"...

...............

Everywhere is so beautiful, all the town, the people, the animals, so much joy in one place, from the darkness of the whispering woods to this place of bright colour, it would be a shame to miss this, it's nothing compared to the darkness of the fright zone.

When the hoard attacked this innocent town, Adora was thrown into the chaos, dragging that damn sword with her. It was chaos, bloody chaos, hoard soldiers left and right, blasts and shocks rocking the earth. She stood before the cannons as She-ra, etheral and eternal, glowing as she struck down the weapons, out of control in an ordered way. However upon seeing those eyes though, peering through the smoke, those vibrant, unforgettable eyes, her hands shook and her resolve crumbled. She returned to her original form as soldiers closed in, Catra ran and bowled her over, "Adora? I'm so glad you're safe! Shadow weaver's throwing a fit", smiling as she said it, holding Adora tightly, "Yeah, it'd be funny if she weren't such a horrible person" the last bit fell flat and a shudder ran through them both, "Adora, please, come home"

Adora just looked at her shocked that she could consider it with the devastation around them, "Catra.. I can't, I need to understand myself and I cannot stand what the hoard is doing, dont you see? These are innocent people!"

"That never mattered before, come on Adora"

"I didnt know before! Call me stupid, call me naive, but I wanted to believe what they told us, so I did, but now, its different, we're different, Catra. All these beside you cannot see the blue sky, or the grass or even those that they hurt, I didn't for a long time, I really hurt you, and I know that I can't apologise enough, I'm so sorry. Truely. But I won't go back, they have answers and I need them. I'm going to Brightmoon, for myself, are you coming with me?" Adora offered her hand out to the girl sat opposite with an honest smile, a small circle of hoard soldiers had gathered. It was now or never.

"Please Catra, I need you by my side again"

"...Ok, let's do this!" Catra sprung to her feet, ignoring Adora's offered hand and drew out two weapons, handing one off to Adora, "I think you'll understand this a little better than that oversized beast" Catra said before throwing herself tooth and claw into the fray, Adora followed shortly after. When Adora met up with Bow and Glimmer the hoard threat was eliminated, the two joined arms as Adora explained what had happened, they distrusted Catra, but agreed to give her the answers that she desired.

[antiquechampagne]

Beastly Kingdom Chapter 1 - Let the Games Begin

Gage tentatively tapped on the door that hung partly open, knowing the response he was likely to receive.

“Boss…?” He cautiously opened the wider, the light from the hallway cutting a slice of light into the darkened apartment. A vicious looking knife streaked past his face, embedding in the door next to his yellow eyepatch.

“Damn it, Dixie. Stop that shit.” He snarled.

“The Overboss doesn’t like being disturbed when she is having her private time, darlin’. You know that.” Dixie’s southern drawl had a nearly musical cadence to it, which always unnerved Gage. She appeared from the darkness, skipping cheerily to retrieve her knife. Gage moved aside; weary of getting within striking range of her blade.

“Enough, children.” The Overboss’s gruff voice silenced them. “Gage knows whatever it is has to be pretty important to crash my chem party. Dixie, would you be a doll and get the light?”

Gage thought he saw Dixie give him a once over as she passed by him, but with her face obscured by a half dozen metal straps she called a helmet, he was not sure. With a flick of a switch, a small orange lamp with a red shade sprang to life, eerily filling the room with weak red light. Gage watched the Overboss’s figure rise from her resting positon on a worn couch, propping herself up on one elbow. She waved for him to continue.

“Someone new has entered the Gauntlet.” He could feel the Overboss’s gaze narrow. “Not normally noteworthy, I know. But once I saw who it was, I knew you would want to know right away.”

She motioned to the bank of jury-rigged monitors on the adjacent wall. Gage stood in front of the control panel, struggling to remember which buttons did what.

“Need a little help with that, sugar?” Dixie teased. “I’m sure we could spare a mentat or ten.”

“Shut up. I got it.” Gage hissed back.

After a few more button presses, two of the monitors blinked on. They showed a tall man with dark hair cutting a bloody swath easily through twisting corridors made of plywood and jagged metal. He was trailed by a three armed robot who quickly floating in and out of combat on it’s powerful jet engine. The man turned his back to the camera as he threw a grenade at a swarm of flying ants, flashing bright yellow numbers across the screen.

111

The Overboss got up and moved closer to get a better look. The glow from the monitors highlighted the deep crevasse in her skin. She narrowed her dilated and bloodshot eyes, her mouth contorting into a grimace. Gage hated that face. The Overboss looked too much like a feral ghoul when she did that.

Not that she didn’t always look a little feral. He thought. To him, all ghouls looked feral most of the time. Not that he would say such a thing in front of the Overboss.

“Get my power amour ready.” She ordered. “Looks like we are going to have a bit more fun today then I had planned.”

A short time later, the Overboss strode out into the old Cola Cars arena decked out in her masterfully constructed power armor. She had customized it over the past year, cannibalizing a few space sentrybots to create a truly imposing presence. The white and gold paint playfully reflected back the red neon lights onto the rowdy group gathered to watch the bloodshed.

“READY FOR SOME FUN?” roared the Overseer as she paced the square, hands pumping in the air. The frenzied crowed roared back.

“He’s in the locker room, Boss. I’ll try to time the door to keep the robot out.” Buzzed Gage through her helmet’s communication rig.

“Let’em come! All of’em. Let’s have a barbeque!” she growled. With perfect theatrical timing, she let a blast of fire from her wrist-mounted flamethrowers as the Vault Dweller entered the hallway leading to the arena. The audience was on its feet, salivating for blood, as the blue suited stranger stepped through the door, his face covered with a camouflage bandana. The hovering Mr. Handy followed close behind as the door slammed shut behind them.

The Overseer silenced the crowd with a single hand. Instantaneously, the area was drop dead quiet, save for the buzzing of the Handy’s thruster and the buzzing neon.

“Welcome to Nuka-World, General.” She towered over the man by nearly two feet. “Your reputation precedes you. I’m not sure what kind of reception you thought you’d get, but killing the leader of the Minute Men AND the guy who brought down the Institute… but those gold numbers will look great framed on my wall.”

The Vault Dweller stood up and dropped his gun to his waist, still on guard but offering a non-hostile air. “I’m not here to fight. I have a proposition.”

The Overseer let out a laugh. This was a first. Most people either started firing or shat their pants in the arena. None ever started shooting off at the mouth. The crowd voiced their displeasure with a volley of curses and boos. She held out a hand for silence.

“You got balls, given the path you had to carve to stand before me here and lie straight to my face.”

The Vault Dweller tossed the gun he held nimbly to her.

“I didn’t kill anyone to get in here… at least not on purpose.” He put his hands on his hips as she looked over the firearm. Opening the magazine and removing the ammo, she held a syringe in her hand. She hit her com link to Gage.

“Talk to me.”

“Most of the guys in the Gauntlet are coming around… well, everyone except Dicer. Took one of those to the eye…”

She narrowed her eyes. This guy deserved caution, he was a slippery fucker. “You have one minute before I get bored and start the party.”

Seeing he had her attention spoke. “It seems we have a common enemy. With the Institute gone, the Brotherhood of Steel would sure love to put all the Commonwealth under their thumb, including Nuka-World.”

This fact was something she was well aware of, but teaming up with the Minute Men seemed a bit of a stretch.

He removed his bandana. The Overseer’s jaw dropped. This had to be some kind of cruel joke.

“Nate?” she mumbled. “Nate Smith?”

Now the Vault Dweller looked as confused as the Overseer felt. Not a lot of people knew his reputation knew him by his name… let alone his last name.

“How do you know my full name?”

The Overseer removed her helmet. “I don’t know what fuckery Vault-Tec pulled to let you keep skin on that 200 year old pretty boy face… but not everyone from the old neighborhood was lucky enough to make it on a vault list.”

Old feelings swirled in her chest. She had spent years cursing the names of everyone who had made it into Vault 111… saved from watching the world fall to shit while normal people tried to figure out how to survive. Only she didn’t get to stay normal. Not only had she had to deal with her flesh and hair falling off in chunks as the radiation ravaged her body, she watched it destroy the minds of those around her. Only by pure survival instinct had she kept herself from turning feral over the decades.

She saw that Nate still couldn’t place her. Unexpectedly, the robot piped up.

“Sir, if I may.”

Nate nodded. “Go ahead, Codsworth.”

“My voice recognition algorithms may be a bit rusty and her condition has changed a few parameters, but I believe that we may be talking with Ms. Rosa.”

“Ms. Rosa?” Nate turned back to the ghoul covered head to toe in glistening power armor. “Liz?”

“You are correct Codsworth.” She raised her arm, the chain gun whirring to life. “My regards.”

Nate instinctively dove out of the way as the hail of bullets rained down on the surprised robot, tearing it to pieces.

“If you really want to talk, follow me.” Liz turned to walk away.

“Ssir?” the robot chirped. “I’m so very… sorry.” It’s servos hitched, grinding painfully. Nate ran to pick up its limp eye stalks, stroking it’s pitted chrome body.

Nate turned, furious. “What the fuck was that for? I told you I’m not here to hurt anyone!”

Liz walked right up to him, inches from his red face. “I am.” She unloaded another clip into the scrap pile. “Shall I find something else more pleasing to ventilate?” She turned her chin up at him, goading him to rebuke her.

Nate straightened his back and clenched his teeth, his eyes barely concealing the revulsion aimed at her.

“Very good, soldier-boy.” She headed for the door, making sure to step on the syringer laying on the floor, bending the barrel to a painful angle. The door opened on her command. She gestured grandly for Nate to enter.

“After you, General…”

To Nate it looked like the black gate of hell. He walked stiffly through, leaving Codsworth to be collected for scrap.

[tilltheendwilliwrite]

Qi Flows for Her

Chapter Five

Previous Chapter

Pairing: Steve Rogers x OFC x Bucky Barnes  |  Word Count: 5112 Warnings: Language, angst

Celine made sure she was last onto the jet where she took Bucky’s previous seat in the back, darkened corner, as far away from the others as she could get. She snapped the hair band wrapped around her wrist, using the physical pain to remind herself to breathe. Her hair hung forward, hiding her face. Back to the straight, dark brown of before, she listened as they murmured about the rest of what they found and looked after Peter who had been knocked out for his own good.

God… that had hurt like rejection hadn’t hurt in years.

Hunched over, she leaned her face against the wall, the metal cool against her skin. A tear worked its way down her cheek. She’d known this was going to happen, had been saying so since the beginning. Yet, she’d still chanced to hope this time would be different. This time someone would see her for who she truly was and not react with fear.

Why do I bother to hope? She snapped the elastic at her wrist again.

“Celine…” The whisper of Charles' voice only made her flinch.

“Go away, Charles…”

“Darling, I can feel your pain.”

“Pain you have a part in instigating. Go away, Charles!”

“Celine… please…”

She sighed. “What did you expect? That I’d come here, reveal myself, and everything would be tea and crumpets? Go… the fuck… away!” She gave a mighty push and slammed her shields closed.

Her inner demons were relentless after. The voices of hate and disgust hissed and wailed in her head. The self-loathing caused her to wrap her hands around her middle. She was an abomination. A freak. A thing to be feared and despised. No one wanted her. No one would care if she just walked away.

Disappeared.

Died.

The phone in her pocket vibrated.

She ignored it.

It continued to go off for the next fifteen minutes straight, becoming an annoying vibration against her thigh until she finally dug it free. “What?” she sighed, expecting Charles.

“Little girl, next time you pick the fuckin’ phone up on the first ring!” The snarling voice of Logan had her lip twitching.

“Yes, papa,” she sassed.

“What the fuck happened, Celine?” he demanded.

Sighing, she glanced through her hair at the others speaking quietly away from her. “Can’t, Logan. Not now.”

“You’re on the plane?”

“Yeah.”

“Did they hurt you?” he snarled.

“No.”

“Not physically, you mean. Dammit, Charles! I told you sending her was a bad idea!”

It almost made her smile. The Wolverine was highly protective of those he called family. “I’m a big girl, Logan,” she murmured. “I tie my own shoes and everything. I’ll be fine.”

He huffed a dismissive bark of sound. “You ain’t fine! I can tell you ain’t fine! Do I need to come kick around a few super soldiers again? Cause I fuckin’ will!”

“The way I heard it, it sounded like a draw, though Steve said you’re a heavy son of a gun.”

“He’s one to talk,” Logan grumbled.

Leaning her head back against the wall, Celine smiled slightly. “Put up a bit of a fight, did he?”

He snorted. “Decent enough.”

“Good. You were getting full of yourself again.”

“Tricky little witch,” he scoffed. Silence descended for a few seconds before he murmured, “Celine… you can come home. I can replace you if you want.”

She wiped the tear from her cheek. “Nope. Charles sent me. I’m staying until they kick me out.” No matter how much it hurt.

“Look, if you’re doing this to punish Charles cause you’re pissed, then don’t. He’s already hurt you shut him out.”

This time she snorted. “He deserved it.”

“Yeah, probably,” he chuckled. “Take care of yourself, darlin’. And if you need me?”

“I’ll let you know, Logan. Tell Rogue I miss her.”

He grunted just before the line going dead.

She stuffed the phone back in her pocket and returned to her silent reflection, feeling only slightly better.

When the jet landed what felt like hours later, she was down the ramp and into the tower as if the hounds of hell were nipping her heels. To her mind, it wasn't far from the truth.

***

Steve and Bucky watched her go, neither knowing how to fix what they’d wrought.

Peter was alright, the bullet nothing more than a flesh wound, but the way the boy had reacted to her… they’d quite literally watched her heart break.

She was far more powerful than they’d realized. So much so, she’d plucked a soldier off the mountain and ate him before throwing something, likely his soul, into... hell? The underworld? Somewhere else? They had no idea.

Were they a little disconcerted? Sure. Who wouldn’t the hell be? But were they scared of her? No. The shock had kept them mute though, something they now realized had done a lot of harm.

She’d sat, huddled and silent in the corner, gradually curling in on herself, getting smaller with each passing moment until her phone had rung.

Steve had been about to go over and force her to answer when she’d finally dug it free on her own.

The irate voice of Logan was one he’d never forget, and he’d exchanged an eye roll with Bucky. He was a gruff son of a gun, but intensely loyal and protective, especially of Charles. Clearly, that protection extended to Celine.

Logan’s accusation, the comment about hurting her, had caused both of them to stiffen in offence. Her denial and his rewording had jabbed them both firmly with guilt.

Logan was right. They hadn’t hurt her physically. Emotionally? In her heart?

Yes.

“Shit,” Steve hissed softly once the others had exited.

“More like fuck, punk. We screwed up.” Bucky sighed, making his way toward Celine’s seat where he crouched down and swiped his fingers through the dark droplets on the floor. “She’s been bleeding.”

“What?” Steve jolted, coming quickly to Buck’s side.

“Yeah. We should check on her.”

“Pretty sure she doesn’t want to see us, pal.”

“So? We fucked up. We should fix it before it gets worse.” Bucky got to his feet and headed for the doors.

They walked in silence, both feeling intensely guilty.

She'd done some incredible things tonight, but they hadn’t told her so. Had her force been a little excessive? Sure, but seeing Peter take a bullet had Steve longing to hit the asshole sniper with his shield, so he understood how upset Celine must have been.

When Natasha stepped into the corridor, blocking them from getting on the elevator,  Steve heard Bucky sigh and tried not to echo it.

“Need something, Nat?” Steve asked.

“I hope you get it now. You'll send her on her way?”

Steve frowned and shook his head. “Why? Celine’s part of this team.”

“Really!” she snapped. “After seeing what she did? What she is?”

“What I saw was a powerful woman who was treated like a freak tonight by her own team. Me included. She's still a person. Still Celine. Her powers don't make her anything different.”

“Shit! You've got a hard-on for her too! I knew Barnes was balls deep, but I expected better of you, Cap.”

Bucky’s hand wrapped around her throat and slammed her into the wall. “You're pushing the line, Natalia,” he snarled softly. “Celine may be Styx, she may be ridiculously powerful, but she's bruised, broken, and your snide comments aren't doing anyone any good!”

“She’ll destroy this team!”

“You said the same thing of me when Steve brought me in. The ghost. The Winter Soldier. The HYDRA weapon. Fuck you, Nat! She's no different!”

She blinked at him, stunned. “She's completely different! Did you not watch her kill a man tonight by eating his life force? Was that simply my imagination?”

“And I kill people with a gun or a knife. So what?”

“You're not about to take us all out in our sleep!”

“But I could if I wanted to!” he roared. “So could you, goddamnit, but you don't see any of us trying to shove you out the door!”

Laying a hand on Bucky’s shoulder, Steve urged his friend to let Natasha go. Once he had, Steve rounded on her himself. “You've taken issue with Celine since the moment she arrived. What's the beef, Nat? What's the real problem here?”

“This is the real issue! You're both so blinded by the hot new piece of ass; you can't see the danger she presents.”

“And me, Natasha? Am I also blinded by a hot piece of ass?” Wanda asked, appearing behind them. She looked at him, and Steve felt a clutch around his heart. The red wash of power in her eyes showed how disconcerted she was feeling. “But then, I am also one to be feared, to be treated like a freak. To be caged and collared because of what I am. What Hydra made me.”

“Wanda, no… I…” Natasha shook her head. “You're different.”

“How?” she asked coming closer. “I use similar powers. I can kill nearly as easily. You also locked me up to keep me away from people because I was a danger to society. Because you didn't trust me. Celine has shown me nothing but kindness after I have proved myself untrustworthy three times,” her voice rasped with self-hatred. “I keep telling myself, I cannot control other people's fear, only my own. Tonight… I failed at both.”

She walked away, and Steve's heart cracked. It appeared many of them were regretting what happened tonight.

“Celine is part of this team. She stays part of this team,” Steve said with finality.

“Fine. But my working with her comes as a last resort. I don't trust her to have my back.” Nat spun and headed away from where Wanda had gone.

Bucky waited only until she was out of earshot before muttering, “I'm not sure I trust you'll have hers.”

“Buck,” Steve sighed.

“I ain't ever seen her like this, Steve. She's been confrontational and just…”

“Nasty,” Sam muttered, wandering down the hall. “I'll go talk to her.”

“You alright with what happened tonight?” Steve asked.

“Alright?” He took a deep breath, eyes widening as he shrugged. “Not sure I’d say alright. Am I gonna throw a hissy fit? Nah. I kinda think Scott’s got the right idea. Better with us than against us.” He patted Steve's shoulder. “Am I gonna think twice about pissing her off? Hell yeah!” Chuckling, Sam continued on after Natasha.

“That's four,” Bucky murmured, a smirk twitching his lip. “Let's go poke the bear, see if she'll forgive us.”

“I think you mean the dragon. Damn that was cool,” Steve grinned.

“Now you sound like Parker.” Bucky’s face fell as they got on the elevator. “You think the kid will come round?”

Steve sighed. “Hope so.”

She’d been so happy spending time with Peter. Having the kid look at her in fear had just killed her.

When they stepped off the elevator, they had the answer hit them full force.

“Celine! Please!” Peter was standing outside her room, one hand pressed to his ribs, the other banging on her door. “I'm sorry! Let me explain!”

“Peter? Shouldn't you be in the med wing?” Steve asked sternly.

The kid shook his head. “Not until I apologize. Not until I tell her how sorry…” Pain took his breath, not all of it physical.

“Okay, kid.” Taking Peter by the elbow, Steve held him up. “How long you been here?” he asked.

Seeing as how the kid was still in his suit, he doubted Parker had even been to see Bruce, or if he had, the kid had snuck out.

“A while,” Peter mumbled.

“And she hasn't answered?”

Peter shook his head.

“FRIDAY located Celine.”

“Celine is on the roof. Captain? It appears she's is quite distraught. She is standing on the roof ledge.”

“What?!” Three voices bellowed before all of them scrambled for the elevator. It took them to the glassed-in common room where they barreled out the door to hit the exterior stairs which would take them to the roof.

Steve grabbed Peter's shoulder. “Are you alright to go around? If something goes sideways…” He didn't need to say Peter was the only one capable of catching Celine.

“I'm good, Cap!” Peter turned to go.

Steve dragged him back. “You stay out of sight. Let us talk to her before you do anything; you get me?”

“Yes, sir!” Peter nodded.

“Go.” He gave the kid a small shove and sprinted up the stairs after Bucky. His heart stuttered when she came into view.

Hair blowing back in the wind, balanced on the balls of her feet, she stood, hands relaxed at her sides, staring out over the city.

“Celine?” Bucky called quietly.

“Doll, you want to come down from there?” Steve asked, both of them edging closer.

Her head turned only enough to show them her profile. The tear streaks were impossible to miss. “Not particularly, Captain. I like the view.”

“Sweetheart, we'd really like it if you came down from there,” Bucky muttered, moving slowly forward.

“I am not your sweetheart, Sergeant. I am not your doll, your baby, your darlin’. I am Celine. I am… a vampire. I am Styx. And I am always to be feared.” She turned to walk the narrow edge of the building.

“Celine, please come down.” Steve would beg if he had to.

She paused, looked at him, and sighed. “You believe I do this, walk this ledge because I wish to hurt myself?” A snort of derision escaped her. “I wish to clear my mind, nothing more.” She turned back to face the city, turning her back on them. “I have no wish for company, especially from those who see me as something to be despised.”

Striding forward, Bucky reached for her arm only to have her dance out of his reach. “Celine!”

“What, Sergeant? Are you here to look at me with fear again? Are you going to tell me to leave? Explain how I am too much a freak to be part of the Avengers?” Night seemed to flow into her, swirl around her. It darkened her hair and brightened her eyes. She stepped backward, crouched, and snarled like an angry animal. “Then you tell me now to go, and I will pack my things!”

“No, Celine,” Steve said, holding up his hands. He approached with caution like he would a wounded creature. “Yes, you surprised us with what you did, maybe even spooked us at first, but we're not afraid of you.”

“Yes, you were!” she almost howled. “And after you said…” She shook her head. “I knew you would fear me. Everyone fears me. I should never have hoped for anything different.”

The words were so soft they could barely hear them, but they hit harder than the Hulk.

Bucky walked toward her, hands raised. “Read me, my aura, my emotions. I’m not afraid of you, Celine. Steve’s not afraid. Sam’s not afraid. Peter isn’t afraid. Wanda isn’t afraid. Come down. Talk to us. Let us show you.” He held out his hand.

“No… no, you lie!” She gave a violent shake of her head. “I won't look! I won't! I can't take anymore! Why are you so cruel?”

Peter landed on the ledge a few feet away. “Celine, I am so sorry.”

She whipped to face him, and Bucky lunged.

His arms closed around her, dragged her from the edge and back to the center of the roof. Expecting a struggle, he held her tightly, but she only sagged, eyes wide and staring at Peter.

The curl smoothed from her hair, the colour lightened. Her eyes lost their glow, and her face fell. Instead of struggling, she turned into Bucky, turned away from Peter, as a distressed cry escaped her lips.

“No, no… you were afraid. I made you afraid. You wouldn’t… let me help…” she moaned, clinging to Bucky.

This time it was the devastation on Peter’s face which broke Steve’s heart. “Celine, doll face Peter’s sorry. He, like us, didn’t mean to hurt you. But you were pretty impressive tonight. More than we’d expected. Read us. See for yourself. It's not a joke.”

“Promise,” Bucky murmured and stroked her arm. “No one's gonna be cruel, darlin’. Give us a chance.”

She bit her lip and looked between the two of them. Such pain shadowed her eyes Steve's heart felt like it tore open for her and whatever trauma had forced her to this point, to where she felt the need to wall herself off from everyone.

A moment passed before her amber eyes filled with relief and she sagged against Bucky. “Oh…” the word flew free on a heavy exhale.

“Can you forgive us, baby?” Steve threaded his fingers through her hair, gently pulling her head back so he could see her eyes.

They were wet, as was her face, so he wiped her cheeks dry. A breath shuddered from her, and she gave a slow nod. She looked as shocked, possibly as stunned as he and Bucky had been when she’d thrown a dragon into the sky and plucked a man off the mountain.

“I thought your dragon was incredible, Celine,” Steve said softly.

“And the way you dealt with the guards on the gate, and the people at the warehouse… amazing,” Bucky smiled.

“You were really spectacular, Celine. I'm… sorry I hurt your feelings,” said Peter, coming closer. “You did… kinda startle me, what with you havin’ just, like, eaten a dude. I promise it won't make me spaz out on you next time.”

“Peter,” she whispered, hands tight to her chest.

“Hug?” he asked, holding out the one arm. The other remaining pressed to his wound.

Bucky let her go, but Celine was hesitant to reach out until Parker gave an exasperated sigh and simply dragged her in via a shot of webbing and hugged her.

“You wanna fix me now?” Peter asked. “That is if it's still okay?”

She nodded a small jerk of her head before placing her green glowing fingers on his side.

His eyes widened in surprise when the pain disappeared. “Wow. Celine, you're so awesome!” He laughed as he lifted her off her feet and swung her around.

“Peter!” she squealed in surprise.

Chuckling, he dropped her to her feet and hugged her tight with both arms. “Thanks, doll,” he drawled, bussing her a kiss to the cheek - bold little shit-eating grin on his face - and darted away. “I'll check-in with Bruce. See ya tomorrow!”

She pressed her fingers to her cheek, eyes full of tears, but a smile was twitching her lips. Turning to face them, her smile broke free. “You people are so messed up.”

Bucky grinned while Steve laughed.

“Maybe it's your previous fri-uh-colleagues who were messed up,” Steve said with a sheepish grin.

“Yeah, darlin’,” Bucky smirked, “You just needed a couple’a old guys and a kid to see you for who you really are.”

“Speak for yourself, pal. I ain't old,” Steve snorted.

“Maybe being in the ice that long just froze your self-preservation brain cells,” Celine quipped.

“Then what's Peter’s excuse?” Bucky asked.

“Young and foolish,” she scoffed. “He doesn't know any better.”

Steve shook his head and held out his hand. “C’mon. You were bleeding on the jet. Let’s see it.”

She arched a brow in wry condemnation. “After the last few days, do you honestly think I cannot fix myself?”

He arched one in return, shook his hand and said, “Just give!” It was a fair imitation of what she’d done the day they’d met, causing Bucky to burst out laughing.

Rolling her eyes, Celine stalked forward to hold her hand out palm up. “There, you see? Perfectly fine.”

Steve frowned as he traced his fingers over her palm. “What did you…” he started to ask when it dawned on him what she’d likely done to herself. “Celine…” Heart hurting, guilt filled him for what she’d gone through, those talons of hers digging into her flesh with her anguish. “I am sorry.”

Her eyes softened. “I know, Steve.”

Bucky collected her opposite hand, sighing quietly as he stared at her unmarked flesh. “I promised you I wouldn’t feel any differently and at the first opportunity to prove it, I fucked it up.”

She gave her own sigh, released their hands, and patted both chests. “You are good men, but you are only human. I am,” she shook her head and turned away, “not.”

Steve went after her, grabbing her by the elbow to drag her back against his chest. “You are as human as the two of us. Powerful you may be, but you’re still human, Celine.”

Her eyes brightened, and her hair curled. “I am not. Human’s do not feed off other humans.”

“Your mutation only makes you different, Celine. It doesn’t make you less human.” Bucky’s hand curled around the back of her neck.

Trapped between the two of them again, Steve couldn’t help but notice the heat she radiated like a furnace. People always commented on how hot he or Bucky ran, but Celine seemed to nearly double their temperature. Cupping her chin, he tilted her face up, so her diamond-bright eyes shone for him to see. “You aren’t a freak. You’re an Avenger. We’re all a little… abnormal.” He couldn’t understand how she could’ve grown up in a place like Xavier’s school and view herself so differently from the other mutants. If anything, it should have been a place she fit into fairly well.

“I believe I’m a lot abnormal, Steve,” she chuckled, the curl of her hair growing more prominent as her eyes drifted down to his lips.

Bucky’s hand went from her nape to her throat, pressing up beneath Steve’s to tilt her head back onto his shoulder. “You ain’t the one with the vibranium arm,” he said, smirk growing.

Her eyes watched his lips as well before her tongue darted out, moistening hers.

Steve had never wanted to kiss a woman as badly as he did Celine in that instant. The desire he was trying to contain roared into life.

It sent her eyes darting back to his. They blazed bright, burned into him, filled with distress and sent her jerking away from them both. “Sorry! Sorry. That’s my bad… ha, I should go.” She darted away, down the stairs before either of them could move to stop her.

Groaning, Steve thrust his hand through his hair. “Fuck!”

“No shit,” Bucky muttered, trying to adjust his pants without being overly obvious.

“What the hell keeps happening here?” Steve grumbled.

Sighing, Bucky shook his head. “I don’t know, punk, but…” a wash of red filled his cheeks, “I… kind of like it.”

“What?” he gasped, jerking his head up to look at Bucky.

The metal-armed soldier shrugged. “Feels… good having her between us. I don’t know. She just… fits.”

“Bucky…” Steve shook his head.

“I know, I know. Can’t seduce a recruit,” he huffed. “But Steve, you can’t tell me you don’t feel it. We ain’t talked about it, keep pushin’ it to the side, but we can’t fight what we’re feeling.”

“She won’t even be a friend, Buck. Besides, you just watched her rabbit when she got a hint of something off me. I’m not going to put that pressure on Celine.” Steve stalked toward the stairs. “I don’t even know what the hell is happening! Every time it's just us, you, me, her, it’s….”

“Intense sexual heat?” Bucky chuckled.

“Laugh it up, jackass,” Steve grumbled.

“I’m serious!” he scoffed. Grabbing Steve’s arm, Bucky forced him to stop. “I’m asking this in all seriousness, if she chose me over you, would you be okay with it?”

“Bucky… I… Why are you even going there?”

“It’s a hypothetical, Steve. Just answer the fucking question.”

“I’d have to be, wouldn’t I?”

“But you’d hate it, right?”

Jerking his arm away, Steve snapped, “Yes, damn it! I’d hate it!” and stormed down the stairs.

Bucky simply jumped over the rail to land in front of him. “I’d be the same way!”

Coming to a stop, Steve’s eyes closed in pain. “I know, Buck. I can’t be your rival. I won’t be. I don’t have it in me to go against you, and you know it.”

“Stevie.” Bucky’s hands closed over his shoulders, gripped tight, shook him a little. “You think I could?”

When he looked up, Bucky’s eyes were bright with emotion. The smack which came to Steve’s cheek was anything but light, yet it was full of affection, even as it stung something fierce.  

“You’re my brother, Steve. I wouldn’t ever do that to you. I love you, pal, and we’ve been through too much hell to fight over a girl, even a dame as amazing as Celine. Whatever comes, we’ll figure it out. Besides, she’s skittish as a baby deer,” he sighed. “Doubt it will go anywhere for either of us.”

Both sighed unhappily and continued inside.

***

A little panicked, Celine made her way back to her room, thankful she avoided seeing anyone else. Riding in the elevator, she allowed herself a small amount of hysterical laughter for, sure enough, she’d found herself sandwiched happily - and hornily - between the two soldiers again. Her nature had taken over thanks to her overactive libido, and she’d drawn them in.

And it had felt… good. Too good.

The spike in Steve’s chi had nearly made her moan and beg for a taste. The Captain was potent!

Bucky, too, though slightly more in control, his arousal had shivered through her. It was subtle, like the nip in the air which preceded a snowstorm but it was still delectable.

So intent was she on the near taste she’d had, something she really should be berating herself for, Celine did not notice the aura waiting in her room until her hand was on the doorknob. Steeling her spine, she slowly pushed her door inward.

The lights were on, the one sitting on her couch doing nothing to hide her presence. Natasha smirked smugly at her.

“I do not remember inviting you to my room,” Celine said cautiously, remaining in the doorway.

“You didn’t. Come in, shut the door, and sit down.”

Brow arching, Celine snorted. “I think I will stay where I am.”

Anger flared in her aura before Natasha smoothed it away. “I think… Adeline, you will want to do what I say.”

The use of her real name was so rare, Celine momentarily froze. Closing the door, she moved toward Natasha, growing angrier by the second. “So, you have found my birth name. What of it?”

Picking up a tablet, Nat read, “Born Adeline Evans to one Tammy Evans, drug addict junky, and alcoholic absentee father, Marcus Evans. Ran away from home at thirteen, wanted for questioning in the death of one Franklin Delacore after he was found dead on the floor of your bedroom.”

She refused to flinch, only sat in an armchair and crossed her legs. There was nothing there. Charles had seen to the reports, the heart attack the man had had was ruled as an accident. Her mother’s drugged up ravings were nothing more than the ramblings of a woman out of her mind.

“Lived on the street, it seems from the age of thirteen until fifteen.” Here Nat looked up. “Wouldn’t it be interesting if the police were informed of the mutant Styx whose MO perfectly fits the two cold cases they have from way back when Adeline was a teenage runaway.”

“What do you want, Natasha?” Celine asked, without a hint any of what she’d said had been true.

“Oh, I’m not done yet,” she fairly purred. “There’s also the information about poor Thomas and Jacob. Nasty business that. It really would be a travesty if the new team found out what you’d done to your old team. To your friends.”

“What do you want, Natasha?” Celine asked a second time.

“What I want is for you to leave and never come back, but we can’t always get what we want, so how about what I need?”

Tired of these games, Celine snapped, “Just spit it out, Widow!” Hair curling, nails lengthening, she dug her talons into the cushioned arms of her chair.

Natasha stiffened her entire countenance sharpening. “I’ve safeguards in place, Styx, so think twice about hurting me. Anything happens to me here, or on a mission, you're a part of… all this information goes public.” She smiled, a predatory baring of teeth. “It would be a pity if the Professor's involvement in all your messes came to light.”

The cold weight of fear wrapped around Celine’s heart. “Get to the point, Natasha.”

“I see how you look at them you know. Steve and Bucky. They’re too blinded by the pretty girl to see the monster you really are. You're going to stay away from them; you're going to stay away from all my friends. You'll limit your involvement with the team outside of missions.” She got slowly to her feet, triumph and bravado coating her innate fear of what Celine was. “Isolate yourself, Celine, or I'll do it for you. Permanently.” Striding toward the door, Natasha dropped the tablet in Celine’s lap, the faces of Jacob and Thomas staring up at her from the screen.

Celine spoke softly, “Be careful, Widow. What you try so hard to protect… may not take kindly to your methods.”

“You’ll never tell them. You try so hard to be human, fit in, but you're a monster. I know it. You know it. If they knew what you'd done….” Natasha let the words hang as she shut the door and walked away.

Celine stared down at her lap and lightly touched first one and then the other face.

Natasha may have found the information on the boys, she may know some of Charles involvement, she suspected the Widow had likely bugged her room, but Natasha didn't know everything. She couldn't for there were no records of what Celine was beyond the mental knowledge shared by four people.

But the two smiling faces on the tablet in her lap, the one lost and the one…. She couldn't bear to think about it. The pain it caused was simply too great.

She placed her hand flat on the screen and ignored the tears which fell down her face as she cried for things she could never make right, and for the life she might have possibly had here.

Next Chapter

[vanderwood666]

Could you do a lil drabble of Saeyoung comforting his brother after Saeran had a nightmare? Kinda like the v/mc fic but with the twins (PLEASE DONT MAKE THEIR RELATIONSHIP IN IT ANYTHING OTHER THAN PLATONIC. thought i should specify just in case.) you can have it set in the past or whatever cuz its your story but i just thought it would be a sweet bonding moment to cuddle and reassure each other that they’re safe now after all that shit with mint eye went down.

Sure ^^ Also you don’t need to worry about Choicest here. I think I even wrote in one of my first posts that I won’t write about something like this or smut. So here is a safe place if you don’t like those kind of things ^^ here all you will receive it will be a brotherly love (for the twins at least). I hope you will like it ^^

Possible triggers for some people. Violence and hard language. Please keep scrolling if you are easily triggered.

,,Saeyoung, Saeyoung, come here. Look, a butterfly!”

,,Huh? Oh, I see. It’s beautiful, like you, Saeran.”,,How so? Mom says I am ugly…and the butterfly is free to fly whenever it wants…”

,,Then I will help you become one. Let’s fly away from here. You and me. We only need each other. I will find a job and then we can just go whenever we want. Just wait. I will help you become free like that butterfly. I promise…”

Promise…promise…promis…lie…lies…LIES…LIAR!

Tears were falling down on the hacker’s pale skin. His twin, his other half betrayed him. He freed himself and let the other die in that madhouse named home. Now he knew the secret about Saeyoung’s words. Butterflies were free but their life was so short. There were given so much freedom and yet so little time. So his brother wanted him dead…yes…free from that world, from that weak body. He always was the weak one. This is why their mom always picked on him and not on the other.

,,Just wait ,,brother”, I will make you regret the day you abandoned me. I will destroy everything you love the most. No one mess with me and just live its life. Not anymore. I am  not the same.”

The first months at Mint Eye were the worst. Not even in his home was treated so badly; and this was something. He wished for death every single day but his wishes were always ignored. Whenever he thought this was it someone would come and keep him alive then…then the torture continued. It continued until there was nothing left from the old Saeran. Until he disappeared.

Years of torture and abuse surely left him with some traumas. This is why he had so many nightmares. Sometimes the phantoms of the past were following him in the daylight as well.

,,Hell?” the boy laughed. ,,I live in Hell every single fucking day. And what did you save me from? Nothing…I…can’t forgive you.” Even after he was saved from Mint Eye, he could still not forgive his twin for letting him alone. The wounds were still fresh and bleeding.

Saeyoung tried his best to be around his younger twin more and do whatever he wanted…everything but one thing. To kill him. Saeran wanted to end it all, the pain was too much to bear, but Saeyoung couldn’t lose him like this. After all was his little brother and needed to be protected and this time he will do it right. No one will do it, but him.

It wasn’t easy in the condition Saeran was. Night and day the nightmares were haunting him, making him re-live the past over and over again.

The beatings, the insults, the drugs, the cold floor that served him as a bed, the icy water thrown at him to make him stronger. Everything was so fresh in his mind and the body was too tired to resist anymore. He was trembling every single night in the bed, sweat covering his tensed body. ,Why me?…why didn’t she killed me? It hurts…it hurts so much…please stop it…please…’ But the words didn’t came out. His throat was so dry and it was even harder to breath. He was suffocating. Another panic attack.

,,Look at you! You are so weak and pathetic. This is why I never loved you. This is why I tried to kill you. But you are like an annoying bug. You keep living even in the worst conditions. You are a weirdo. A creep. No one will ever love you. I feel ashamed to be you mother. You are a monster not my child!”

,,What is it, my poor, poor child? Did someone hurt you? I am so sad to see you hurt…but you are weak. The weak ones will always suffer. You are different, aren’t you? You just need someone to push you over the limit. I can do it. I can make you stronger. But you need to suffer more. Without suffering there is no paradise, my child. Remember, I hurt you because I love you. Just trust me and everything will end sooner than you think. You will thank me later. I am the only one that truly loves you. Who else would love a weak freak like you? Yes, inside you is a horrible monster that wants blood and revenge. Just give up, let him out.”

The words were echoing in his mind, making him feel sick, dizzy. But this wasn’t the worst thing. Then were the images, the flashbacks. He could feel those long and cold fingers dragging him, touching him; the fists punching him. The stomach pain from food poisoning or from starving for too long. The pain from the drugs, the ones that were forced down his throat. It hurt for days and he wasn’t even allowed to cry. If he cried they would beat him or drug him more. There was the dark room as well. Whenever he refused to do something he would be thrown there, alone, in the darkness for a week or more. It was hard to say for sure. Who would do that? A monster he thought. But wasn’t he one too? After everything he had done, he knew he became the monster that everyone is afraid of. All but one…Saeyoung. Apparently his stupid brother was not afraid. Or so he said. It was still hard to believe it.

,,Leave me alone…please…I just want to be alone…don’t…don’t touch me! Stay away! Please…Saeyou…why you left…? Please…”

….

,,Saeran?” The red haired male couldn’t finish his work for the agency, not before trying to talk with his brother once again. It was late but maybe he was awake. When he reached to the door to knock on it he heard the other male’s words. He sounded like it was in great pain so without any warning he opened the door to see what was happening. The scene in front of him was heartbreaking. Saeran was on the floor, hugging himself, trembling, with tears rolling down his face. ,,Not again…please…” It never was easy to see his little brother in that condition…so small and vulnerable, so broken. This only remembered him how much he disappointed his twin, how he failed him…how the adults betrayed them both.

He hurried and kneed on the floor, gently stroking the hair of his twin. ,,It alright, Saeran. I am here. Saeyoung is here. Your brother is here…I am here…I am here, little brother. I will never leave you alone again. I won’t. I won’t let anyone touch you ever again. Please, please…I am here…” Tears were falling down on his face now, his voice shaking. It was hard to talk and the only thing he knew to say was to reassure the other that he was there this time.

The hacker continued to caress the other’s hair gently and from time to time repeating he was there. This seemed to calm the younger twin after a while, his body starting to relax. Unfortunately the moment didn’t last. When Saeran opened his eyes, he looked up to see who was there. Saeyou…Seven. The hatred was so deep buried inside him that he just couldn’t control himself. Not after having that nightmare again. ,,YOU! YOU TRAITOR! I HATE YOU! YOU LEFT ME! DIE! JUST GO AND DIE! I FUCKING HATE YOU!!!” With tears rolling down its face, he started throw weak punches at the older male. He was weak. He couldn’t eat, sleep or rest at all. He was tired.

Saeyoung was already broken himself, but seeing his brother hating him so much it was destroying him. ,,I am sorry…I know I failed you. You have the right to hate me…but I do love you. You are my sweet little brother and no one can change this. I would give my life for yours. If I could change the past I would do it. I would happily stay with you and find another solution to escape mom. But this time together. But I can’t. I can only try to regain your trust and give you the life I always wanted to. I am lame, a weirdo, stupid, all you might think of. I know it. I deserve all the hatred, but you don’t deserve to suffer anymore. Please…let me help you…” With hesitation at first, he slowly wrapped his arms around the other male’s small body. God, he was so skinny. ,,I am so sorry…” They both were crying so hard; two messes.

After a few minutes of continuous crying, Saeran was the one that talked first. ,,You destroyed my shirt with your tears…and I hope it was only this…” Saeyoung laughed hearing that, still sniffing. ,,I am sorry, I am sorry. I will buy you a new one.”

,,And ice cream…”

,,Huh?”

,,I said ice cream too! What? Are you deaf now too? Stupid and deaf. What a brother.”

,,Hey! You hurt my feelings, brother. Little Seveny is soooooo saddy now.”

,,Can you please stop talking like this…?…nevermind…just leave me alone…”

Seven could only look confuse. He thought Saeran was feeling better but maybe he crossed the line a bit too much.

,,Look, I am really sorry. I thought…well…I thought you might not want to talk about what happened…this is all. You know, I have nightmares too. My worst nightmare is when I lose you. Since I work as a secret agent I am not allowed to have a family or people close to me. So…in that dream the agency finds about you and…send someone to take you away from me. I struggle but without result. I am captured as well and forced to watch as they torture and then…kill you. The worst part is that I pull the trigger. They drug me and I somehow lose the control over my body. Like I am so kind of robot. But I still have all the memories intact and the feelings…yet I can’t control myself. It’s my worst fear…to lose you…”

For a few moments there was only silence until Saeran decide to break it.

,,You will never do it. I know it…you abandoned me but you never did something to me yourself, with your hands. So…I expect to put someone else to do it. Plus, your are so weird that it will take too much time for them to control you. I think they will just give up.”

,,Haha…you are right…” He tried to laugh it off but his laugh was weird. He knew what his twin was trying to do. And it was admirable. ,,Thank you.”

,,For?” The white haired boy raised an eyebrow to the other male in confuse. He sighed tired of more conversation then forced himself to lift up from the ground but his legs didn’t cooperate. His brother caught him before to injure himself. ,,You okay? Here, let me help.” And without waiting for a reply, he just helped him get on the bed. Saeyoung was looking at his brother. He surely was too skinny.

,,I…thank you, but I could have done it by myself. I just needed some time.”

,,I know. My brother is really strong. You grew up into a strong man. I am so happy. But neglecting yourself won’t help. I am sorry…I will go back to work if you don’t like me here…” He tried to go away for Saeran’s sake, but before to be able to do so, the other male grabbed a part of his jacket. ,,Stay…please…” He wasn’t looking into his eyes, but down, at the bed. The red haired male understood and just nodded, taking a sit beside the other. ,,Okay. I will stay.”

Saeran wasn’t used to open up, but for the first time in so long he felt the need of his twin’s presence. Whenever he was there, he felt safe, at peace. He never hated him for real, but hated himself for being so weak, he blamed himself for being abandoned by his half. Now, he knew the truth. This didn’t erased the pain or the past but helped him heal.

,,Why did you told me about your nightmares?…I didn’t asked for…” His voice was so small, like he was scared to talk too loud.

,,Well…to be honest I thought it will help you feel less alone. I know we didn’t went through the same things but I know how it is to suffer because of the past and how it is to not be able to sleep because of the nightmares, how it is to be scared. You are not alone in this, you don’t need to be.”

,,How did you manage to get over your nightmares?” He just ignored what the other said.

,,I…didn’t. I still have them. But what helps me now is your presence. Whenever I feel anxious I come and check on you. If I can see you then I am okay. Before to find you I had a photo of yours smiling. I always had it on my desk and looked at it. It helped me whenever I felt depressed or like giving up. You made me continue going on. You were my reason to live.”

,,Please don’t tell me you love me now. Don’t transform this into a cheap drama.”

,,Hey, I wouldn’t do that, but I do love you. You are my little brother.”

,,Hmph…I don’t love you. I prefer girls.”

,,Meanie…”

,,Weirdo.” After a small pause he continued. ,,I don’t have a reason to go on. It keeps haunting me…every night is the same. Mom…Rika…you…everyone is laughing at me or hurt me. I want to make it stop but I am too weak. I don’t know what to do. I am just an unwanted, weak little boy. I want to make it stop…but you are never there to help me. I am scared…I want to believe you will be here for me but I can’t. I am scared…that you will disappear again. That you will leave me behind again…”

Saeyoung didn’t let his twin finish the sentence and just hugged him tight. ,,I am so sorry I was a brother like that. But I promise that I will always be here from now on. I will never leave you alone again. If mom or Rika comes back I will fight them and not let them touch you. I will come into your dreams and make them run away. They can’t hurt you anymore.”

This time, Saeran returned the hug. It was nice to be hugged so tight. He could feel the warmth of the other. It was calming. ,,Thank you…Saeyoung. Umm…then can I ask you something?”

,,Sure. Whatever you want, little brother.”

,,Don’t call me little…I am an adult now. But…can you stay here tonight? I don’t want to be alone…”

,,Of course. I will stay here. So please, try to rest, you need some sleep.”

,,You too…you worked the whole week…without rest…” He spoke with pause between some words, tired, his eyes barely staying open. But he wasn’t the only one in that situation. Seven wasn’t far away from passing out too.

Breaking the hug, the males made themselves comfortable on the bed. Good that there was enough space for them. Saeran was the first that fell asleep. Saeyoung patted his head and gave him a kiss on the forehead. This was something he would do as a kid. Saeran was so happy back then…they were inseparable. ,,Goodnight, little brother. Don’t worry. I will be right here so no one will come for you tonight. You sleep and I will protect you.” With these being said, he closed his eyes and fell asleep almost instantly. After so many years apart they were sleeping together again, like when they were kids. They were a family again, and this time no one could separate them again.

[amoristt]

Watching Angels II | Nathan x Reader

disclaimer: i know nathan is not a good person. i am not putting a blanket over his actions in this fic. i, the writer, understand he’s not an innocent character and has made many terrible choices. im just answering people’s requests, please dont put me under the fire for it.

thank you.

Anonymous asked:  Could you write the 2nd part of Watching Angels? It's amazing +  From the Drabble list... Could you write Fluff 5 for Nathan? :D

sorry this one turned out so much shorter than the rest! for some reason i had an issue writing it... i hope you guys enjoy regardless <3 the preview looks kinda bad but i swear this is some sort of fluff!

reblogs + tags and replies will make my entire day as i put a lot of effort into this!

story continues beneath the read more. let me know if you can’t access it!

Warning: language

Nathan’s phone shattered the second it hit the ground, and you watched in silence. He was fuming now, shoulders squared, jaw tensed, hands balled tight into fists. Though you weren’t yet sure what had happened you could guess what it was: his father. Normally you’d refuse to be around someone who’s entire personality could shift in just seconds but with Nathan it was different. He had no grip on his anger and you knew this, but he did too, because when you took a step back he saw the uncertainty in your expression and instead of punching a wall like he so obviously wanted to he roughly sat down on the futon across from his bed. He gripped at his hair and seethed, body nearly quaking in anger.

“Nathan,” You called, voice soft and hesitant. It felt like just a second ago you were both laughing. “Was it your da-”

“Yeah.” He interrupted you. He covered his face with his hands and you could hear him trying to manage his breathing. That’s good, learn to control yourself. You moved to sit on the bed across from him, leaning forward and trying to see any expression you could make out beneath his thin fingers.

“What happened?” You asked. He just shook his head, and you knew he’d rather not talk about it. At this point, though you didn’t even need to know. His father probably bitched at him for getting into trouble, had his sister work as some sort of pacifier to try and get him back inline, and it had backfired.

My entire fucking family hates me, he’d once screamed at you. Kristine thinks dads just some big bully, she doesn’t fucking get it! No one does!

But, you did. Of course you didn’t know every last dark ‘Prescott’ secret, but you’d known enough. You knew his sister was just trying her best to help Nathan, make him feel less traumatized than he was, but in turn it never worked. She talked to him like she was talking to a child who’d gotten into an argument with a friend, but Nathan wasn’t a child, and Sean most certain was not a friend.

Sometimes it made you upset how he was treated. Nathan was troubled, and he needed help, but he wasn’t… Evil. He had his moments, yes, where you’d wonder if there were sides to him that you’d never known but he’d always come back to you, apologize. He was such an angry soul but along with all the hate there was good, he just needed the right person to bring it out. There were so many people that would use Nathan for bad just because he was easy, because he was always looking for some sort of validation, and it was a scary thought to realize that.

“No one understands.” Nathan said into his hands. “Everyone hates me.”

Your brows knit in worry, and before you could stop yourself you were up and bounding for the futon. It would have been easy for him to shove you away, yell at you to get out, but he grew quiet as you sat down beside him. When you ran your hands from his shoulders, down to the small of his back, he leaned to the side against you. It was a great improvement when you compared it to the times he’d refused any help from you. He said it was because he didn’t need anyone’s help, especially not from you, but you knew it was all a ruse. He hated being seen as weak, so you learned to not take his fury-induced words personally.

“I don’t hate you,” You murmured. “I could never hate you.”

“You could,” He argued, though it was a losing war. He was already giving up. “You will.”

“I won’t.” Softly you made circles at the small of his back, watching him carefully. From the minute Nathan had picked up the phone you knew this was coming. It was jarring to see him stand up and whip his phone at the floor, and it was even scarier to see the screen break apart at the blunt force, but you stayed, and you waited for this moment. In his bouts of anger there was always this moment.

It was small and quick, barely there if you blinked twice, but you’d learned to harbor the few seconds when he’d lean against you. Sometimes he would just sit there in silence, and sometimes… Sometimes he would cry. And then you would cry, and you would tell him one day this would all be over, and it would just be the two of you with the big open world. He’d nod, wipe his eyes in frustration, and say he knew, but in some ways you knew these things were just… words.

You wanted nothing more than to ditch Arcadia Bay, and ever since you’d brought it up with him it was a constant thought, but deep in your heart you knew you would likely be tied to Arcadia Bay forever. Plus, even after everything, Nathan still seeked the approval of his father. He could yell, curse, break things and swear up and down that he hated his father's guts, wanted nothing but to break away from the Prescott name, but in the end you knew he wanted to do right by his father. It saddened you to think about how he was chained like that, stuck between hating his father and needing to live up to his expectations. It fucked him up beyond belief.

So, for now, the only thing shoved into a suitcase was the thoughts and plans of leaving the city. You’d leave a note attached to the zipper that read, “For the future”, and you’d shove it into the back of your mind.

Your eyes found their way to the floor, catching on his broken phone. The first time you saw him destroy his cellphone you were worried you wouldn't be able to call or message him anymore, and then it turned out the next day he’d gotten a brand new one. After that you lost count of how many he went through.

“Can we go?” Nathan suddenly spoke, and you looked at the digital clock by the wall. The dorms would be locking up soon but you nodded anyways.

“Yeah,” You said. “Where do you wanna’ go?” Nathan shrugged, and you leaned your head back in thought. “Beach?”

Even though it was cold out, summer still being months away, he agreed.

When you stood up he followed, rolling his shoulders and taking in a much needed deep breath. He inspected the broken phone on the floor and you were scared for a second he would get mad all over again, but instead of restarting his cycle he just shook his head in irritation and grabbed his varsity jacket from the top of his bed. You in turn leaned down, grabbed your shoes and slipped them on before throwing on a light jacket.

Outside was much colder than you’d initially thought it would have been. Your breath was visible every time you breathed out, and even though there was no snow on the ground there was some soft frost lining over the grass. As much as you hated goosebumps and shivering, you were grateful that this was the worst winters could be in Arcadia Bay. You’d rather have this than 3 feet of snow and icy roads.

You tried to maintain yourself in front of Nathan, fingers subconsciously gripping your forearms as you fought the urge to shake. Nathan would give you his jacket rather you’d want it or not if he found out you were cold, and even though you did like wearing it you’d rather he kept it for himself today.

The thought made you smile, though. Big bad Nathan Prescott would totally give you his only jacket in order to make sure that you were feeling okay. People would go nuts if they’d learned that little tidbit, but then again maybe they wouldn’t. They’d ignore anything that could potentially make Nathan seem like he was human.

“Ugh, he’s only doing that because ‘he's got possessive issues,” someone would say. “Yeah, he’s a total freak.” Another would add. You frowned bitterly at knowing how some people treated him.

“What is it?” Nathan suddenly asked, pulling you out of your thoughts. His hands were shoved into his pockets and he was looking down at you, probably wondering why you were looking so crossed for no apparent reason.

You shook your head. “Nothing, I’m just thinking.”

“Whatever you say.”

As he turned his gaze back down the ground, you looked up at him. He obviously wasn’t nearly as upset as he had previously been, but there was still something swimming beneath his skin. You could see it in the way he didn’t shiver in the cold like he normally did. He hated colder temperatures, and whenever it was even slightly chillier out he’d shake even with the aid of his jacket. This time, however, he didn’t, which led you believe his mind was still racing with whatever his father had said to him earlier. How could he think about how cold he was when he was remembering his father's shitty words?

Worried, you wondered if you should try to hold his hand, remind him that you’re there for him. When you two were alone he wasn’t against it, but maybe right now wasn’t the best time. He scared you, but not in a frightening way. You weren’t scared of what he could do to you, no, you were scared of what he could do to himself. Should he blow up at you, cross some sort of line you’d made in the imaginary sand, he’d always mellow out at some point and try to make it up to you. However when it came to himself he owed no apologies. He liked to pretend nothing could cut him, that words were only sticks and stones that would bounce clean off, but you knew better. You knew better than anyone else that words could fuck him up just as easily as a fist could, but those marks were much harder to see than bruises.

He was so reckless with himself, doing all these drugs, getting into trouble. He didn’t care whatsoever what happened to him and it worried you so bad. At one point you’d accidentally started an argument about it with him- and even though you hated fights it turned out pushing your relationship further than it was before.

You can’t do this to yourself, you’d cried at him, and when he asked why you said, It’s not fair to me.

You told him it scared you. You told him with tears in your eyes, a shaky voice, and tight fists that you loved him so much and you couldn’t handle the thought of one day learning you were found dead in some ditch. 

It was in that moment that Nathan learned someone loved him, and he had no idea how to handle it.

At first he was pissed. He stormed away and for the first time you almost gave into your anger and put a hole in your wall.

But then, hours later and without a word, he came back. He pressed you to your mattress and told you he was sorry, and you believed every word.

He’d gotten just a little bitter after that entire ordeal. Finally he started answering you when you called, and along with that he stopped turning his back on you when you tried to help him. It was a hard journey to where you were now but you earned it, and you were going to keep it.

Arriving at the beach and finding a spot in front of the coast, you two sat beside each other but kept some sort of distance. You didn’t force yourself closer, knowing that at first he needed space before gradually making his way closer to you. Even though you wanted nothing more than to grab him, hold him close, you taught yourself to wait. Being patient with him was rewarding.

Thanks to the shorter days the moon was well out by the time he started scooting closer to you. The stars were beautiful, as was the ocean, and feeling his fingers tentatively tug at your arms made it all the better. He found a spot right behind you, holding your back to his chest as his arms wrapped around your waist. He would only cuddle you in the dark but that was okay, you’d accept it. However, outside in the cold, you forgot to stop yourself from shivering when a gust of wind cut through you. Without a word Nathan pulled back for a moment and you sighed knowingly, already about to argue with him to keep his jacket on, but he took it off too quickly and shoved it over the top of your shoulders like a makeshift blanket.

“And they say romance is dead.” You mumbled to yourself in defeat, slumping your shoulders but tugging it closer to you nonetheless. Finally you stopped shivering.

“Be quiet,” He breathed, finding his way back against you. “Are you warm enough?”

A smile found it’s way to your lips. If you ever happened to tell anyone that Nathan, the dangerous, asshole-rich-kid gave you the jacket off his back, affectionately asking if you were warm enough, they’d laugh at you. Even you yourself would have been shaking your head in disbelief at the scene, but now you’d learned enough about him to know that even though he was an asshole he still had some good in him. It all came back around to people not knowing who he truly was, but you stopped yourself from thinking about it all before you got angry again. Right now you were safe with Nathan, and so you were more than content.

“Are you feeling better?” you asked softly. Nathan shrugged behind you, and you bit at your cheek, daring to take a leap. “You know.. You shouldn’t care what he thinks.”

Nathan bristled against you and you almost groaned at your own stupidity. Way to ruin a nice moment.

“I don't.” He managed quietly, but you knew better.

“Nathan I’m serious. If he doesn’t care enough to get to know you then you shouldn’t care enough t-”

“I said I don’t fucking care what he thinks.” He snapped, and you went silent. You heard him give a deep breath before speaking, quieter this time, taking the time to sound calmer. “I don’t care. Not anymore.”

You watched the moon. “What changed your mind?”

His chin rested atop your head, and when no answer came you smiled.

When his anger subsided Nathan was always a tired soul. In the heat of the moment he had enough power to bend the world around him it felt like, and despite knowing him you sometimes feared you would get in the crossfires of his meltdowns. But, it never stopped you. You’d step right into his hurricane, mollify him, ease him into a softer state of mind. It took so much out of him mentally and physically, and often when his fire faded from the edges you could see how burnt out he was. He was a melting candle that hid behind an impressive flame, and in order to stop him from completely falling to pieces you had to douse it.

This, sitting with him at the beach as though it was summer all over again, is how you doused him. The sand was soft beneath your legs, fingers drifting through the particles that fell atop one another. Neither of you cared that sand would be stuck in your clothes for the rest of the evening. Sitting with him, watching the stars and the slowly pulling tide... Sand didn’t matter. 

You looked out to the dark horizon, finding where the water met the sky. Under the moonlight, resting atop buoys, you noticed two ducks perched side by side. You smiled.

“Those birds,.” You started, blinking slowly at the scene in front of you, “They’re us.”

Nathan breathed a laugh and you imagined him rolling his eyes. “Shut up.” He said.

“Wouldn’t it be nice, though?” You ran your fingers through the sand again, sighing. “Not having to worry about anything, just kinda relaxing together.”

For a moment Nathan was quiet, then he spoke again. “Remember what you said, the whole ‘we could run away after Blackwell’ thing?”

His voice was strangely fragile and you swallowed, nodding. “Yeah?”

There was another pause.

“Let’s do it.”

You didn’t turn to look up at him, staring forward at the seemingly endless ocean. In the silence his arms came to wrap tighter around you, squeezing you to him, and you felt your heart pick up. You were so entirely afraid, your stomach was churning, anxiety holding you tight. But, your fingers came up, held gently on his bony arms. Everything seemed to come to a stop, as if the world had ceased turning. The coast didn’t even seem to be moving anymore. The entire world teetered on the edge, waiting for your fateful answer, but Nathan already knew what it was. You said it anyways.

“Okay.”

Beneath the moonlight, the ducks flew away.

[openbookclosedheart]

Living with bipolar

{let me just start by saying that it’s taken me a while to build up the confidence to share this with anybody, let alone a public domain. with that being said I want everyone to understand that these are of my views and experiences and do not in any way reflect bipolar as a whole}

i remember the first time i ever picked up a blade, i was 12 and the only thing i felt inside was emptiness, for some strange and twisted reason i longed for the feeling of pain across my skin because it was really all i had ever known ,pain, and as i took the blade to my thigh i did not cry, i did not flinch, i let the tears fall from my light blue eyes and i smiled at the sight of the blood trickling down my bare leg. i finally felt at peace, i finally felt at home again.

this continued for many years.

at 18 i was diagnosed with bipolar. it all made sense, the random ups and downs the not being able to concentrate. the longing for pain, and  the random out bursts of anger

i think the hardest thing for me at this point was not being able to talk about my issues, for how can you talk to someone who doesn't understand? how can you talk to someone who see’s your mental illness as nothing more than an excuse; a lie. that was my parents and it still is.

i feel like my entire life is one big roller coaster, from wanting to die one day and being in love with the world the next, hating life and then admiring every single atom of the universe. sometimes i would see clouds in my mind and others i would see sunshine. never knowing what to expect, every day a struggle. will i be happy tomorrow or will i try to kill myself again? for bipolar is nothing less than a guessing game with yourself and how you will feel.

I have friends, but lets face it how can you trust someone if you don’t even trust yourself? how can you love someone if all of your emotions go into despising every single part of your life?  how can you make sense of someone’s words if all you can hear is a screaming in your ear?  a little voice begging to be heard even when you try so hard to silence it. how do you escape the memories of the past without reliving them?

The hardest part of living with bipolar is never knowing what to expect, not only from yourself but from the people around you, because even when they try they fail, even when they are doing their best it is never enough because to you nothing is enough, you have so much expectation to make everything better than it was while realistically you are the reason they are always  the same. you subconsciously live in the vicious patterns replaying over and over with no control, its like you’re on the fastest merry go round in the world with no way to get off, and then it stops, it stops because that is just one mood, then when you step off of the merry go round you fall into the deepest darkest hole imaginable, you feel like Alice floating down the rabbit hole, except this hole doesn't come to an end, you fall and fall until finally you land in a pit of hatred and anger, then comes the next stage, the stage where all you want to do is destroy everyone and yourself all at one and the only thing that can stop you is the voices, which is funny because those voices aren't really there, you’re stuck in a state of paranoia with no off switch, its like you’re listening to a radio on full blast yet the off switch doesn't work. and then it does and you are so relieved, but the merry go round starts again, you’re stuck in a cycle you’re whole life with no escape.

and just when things start to go okay they fall apart, you cant have happiness because it ends with sadness, you cant have hello without goodbye, you cant have love without pain and you sure as hell cant have normal because people like you cant catch a break. so they drug you up and throw you into their man made world and hope for the best, but what is the best when all you see are flashing lights passing you by and all you hear are drums banging inside your brain.

you are expected to follow their rules and their norms when you cant even make sense of your own, you’re like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode until you cant take it any more and everything inside of you erupts.

my life, as many other lives are a struggle. people dont see the effects mental illness has on millions of people that are unlucky enough to be born with an incurable illness that affects  not only their lives, but the people around them. i just want everyone to remember that you never know what battle someone else is facing, you never know what goes through other peoples heads so the next time you see a stranger or even a friend, give them a smile. ask how they are, a little kindness goes a long way and it doesn't cost anything to be a decent human being. you have no idea how much impact your simple smile can have on a person struggling.

“we are all human beings, part of the human race, and we need to be compassionate, and kind and giving with one and other.” - Katherine Heigl

[inkstainedfanfics]

Three’s a Crowd

Request: "Can I request a song fic? Newt x reader, and "burn" from Hamilton? Like angst and then maybe a happy ending eventually?? Thank you!"

Word Count: 2,450

Pairing: Newt x Reader

Requested by @charlockeholmes but also tagging @caseoffics @red-roses-and-stories @dont-give-a-bother @myrtus-amongst-the-stars @ly--canthrope @benniesgalaxy @thosefantasticbeast2

You stand at the fracture in the world, a cliff that you can step off or step away from, a chance to go back and change it all or continue forward and destroy everything.

A breath passes between the two of you.

You raise your arm and slam the bottle onto the ground.

“A breathtaking shade.” You finish, goofy grin stretching across your face as you fall onto the bed next to your best friend.

“An adventurer? For you?”

A bit of heat creeps into your face. “Something wrong with that?”

She glances at you, chewing on her lip and eyeing you before replying. “Nothing. Just be careful, okay? You never know what travelers will fall in love with next.”

You shrug at the comment, annoyed with the lack of enthusiasm she’s showing. He just clicked with you. You’d found a simple ease and banter with him, one that no one else ever gave you.

Life finally is offering you a happy ending.

The bottle whirls in circles as it tumbles down, down, down, further from your hand, further from the table, further from the safety of your strong grip. You and Newt watch it. You wonder if time seems to have slowed for him, too.

Newt brushes his hand over your cheek, eyes darting between your lips and your watery eyes. “Come on, love, no need to cry. I’ll be back in no time.”

You wrap him up in a hug, breathing him in. “It’s going to feel like forever, I know it.” Your words are muffled by his neck, but he tightens his grip on you nonetheless.

“Nonsense.”

You step back and wipe at the tears in your eyes. “Maybe you should obliviate me. Then I wouldn’t miss you.”

He smiles at your joke, sending a crash of mourning through you again. Six months without seeing that smile or hearing his voice, the only means of contact letters that take weeks to deliver.

“You wouldn’t love me anymore, either.”

You sniffle. “I’d find my way to you. I always would.”

“And I, you, love.” He presses a kiss to your forehead as the ship’s horn blares across the harbor again. “I need to go now.”

You hold his hand until he’s too far away, rushing to the rail, ignoring the mist of the ocean as it coated your face. You wave at Newt until he’s little more than a dot on the horizon.

As you turn, heart torn the slightest bit, you remind yourself that six months will seem like nothing if you just remain busy.

Still, you wonder what will you distract you from the memory of a sweet man that you can see yourself with in fifty years.

The glass breaks apart as it collides with the wood. It shatters into a storm of amber glass and crinkled blue advertisements. You both watch the explosion; hear the melody of the clattering splinters as they bounce off one another. They still after a few seconds, leaving the room silent.

The room’s a ruckus of laughter and jokes and clinking glasses.

Theseus claps his little brother on the back. “You know that feeling, don’t you?”

“All too well,” he replies, grimacing at the burn on his arm.

“Course, you’re lucky enough to have someone to look after you now.” He gestures at you with his glass of firewhiskey: his fifth or sixth, you’re fairly sure.

Newt’s hand tightens around yours as he nods. “Quite lucky, actually.”

“Yeah,” he nods as the rest of the Scamander family here at the reunion tunes out, “got a catch, there. Don’t forget that there’s only one thing you have to buy a woman.” He points at his ring finger.

Newt shifts from foot to foot. “Theseus.”

“Right, right. Not appropriate talk.” He turns away, earning a sigh of relief from Newt, but turns back moments late. “Speaking of marriage material, I heard from that old friend of yours. What was her name?”

You cock your head at Newt when he immediately tenses.

His voice is quiet, the type of quiet you’ve learned to avoid. “That’s enough, Theseus.”

“No, was it Lily? Laura?”

You listen intently, interested about Newt’s past. He hardly mentions anything aside from a professor he owes and the occasional adventure he and Theseus shared. Never anything about an ex.

He glances at you quickly before loosening his clenched jaw. “Leta.”

“That’s right. An odd girl. Strange name for a strange girl, I suppose.”

Newt attempts to interrupt his older brother, but the man isn’t finished yet.

“She said you’d been in contact, was wondering when you’d be back in the Ukraine.”

Your heart freezes. Newt never mentioned meeting or even speaking with an ex on his travels.

He shifts his weight again, hand clasping yours so tight it nearly hurts. “I’m not planning on going back.”

“Well, you should let her know when you are. She’s anxious to see you again. Said she’ll meet you at your –“

Theseus’s collar suddenly catches fire, ending his sentence as he hops back and swats at it.

Newt sharply tugs his hand away, excusing himself for a drink.

You watch him weave through the crowd and wonder just what you don’t know about his travels.

Newt stares at the shattered pieces in front of your bare toes, lips thinning and cheeks paling. He doesn’t look up, doesn’t say a word.

You want to scream.

“An old friend.” He answers, words clipped, as you question him at home.

“That you wanted to marry once?”

He sighs, setting down the vials he’s holding. “Theseus is a fool who talks too much when he drinks.”

You don’t drop your gaze.

“No, love, I never planned on marrying her.”

“Ever?”

He intertwines his fingers with yours, eyes dropping to your hands. “Ever. Now,” he says, eyes returning to meet your gaze, “how does a break for ice cream sound?”

You agree, relief coursing through you. How silly to believe Newt’s out there falling in love with woman after woman. You’d had enough trouble maintaining his attention in the library that day.

Later that night, you find a stack of letters in a handwriting that isn’t yours.

You don’t move, can’t, as you wait with held breath. Newt does the same. The two of you stand still as the room around you, two pawns in a chess game neither of you control anymore. The world turns, spins as it always does outside the room, but here, you think it has frozen. How could anything continue as you’re falling apart?

You lift the letters, tears stinging your eyes. Letter after letter after letter with long sentences and what seem to be inside jokes and reminiscence of Newt’s old school years. Years you know nothing about and this stranger seems to know everything about.

The letters shake in your trembling hands as you rifle through them, but then they’re no longer shaking but falling, floating and twirling to the ground as you stare at what was under them, what Newt was hiding from you for Merlin knows how long.

You stare at the ring box, a strange feeling you could never name crawling up your throat and demanding attention. You know that were this seven months in the past, you would be ecstatic to find the miniature velvet box, you would have weighed it in your hand and marveled at how such a small thing could hold such a heavy meaning. You would have seen your future without even trying, would have seen the travels together, your easy future of baking Christmas cookies with his mother and joking around with Theseus, your matching rocking chairs at the end of your life.

Now there’s nothing but that strange feeling and a strange pulsing in your ears. No future, no Newt, no image but the look on his face when Theseus mentioned this other woman’s name. A look you thought was reserved for you.

Run. That’s all you hear as the pounding in your ears grows louder and louder and you can’t breathe. You slam the drawer shut and rush from the room, eyes squeezed tight.

Newt clears his throat, finally breaking the silence. You watch him carefully, waiting for the words he needs to say.  Four words and he’ll step back from that cliff.

Four words and your happy ending will be safe.

You stumble back into the office, slipping on one of the cursed letters.

“Love, are you okay?” Newt rushes forward but stops when he sees what surrounds you. “Are those…?”

Tears slide out of your eyes without a second thought. “You love her, Newt. You love her!”

Newt ignores your claim as he reaches for his wand to clean up the mess. “You searched my papers?”

“You fell in love with another woman!” You don’t care that you’re screaming, that anyone in the neighborhood can hear you. They deserve to hear this, to know who Newt really is.

A lying, worthless man that uses his travels to break hearts.

He clenches his jaw, a fury you’ve never before seen grace his face lighting it up. “My office is private. You know that.”

You shove yourself to your feet, hip aching where it hit the ground. “Now I guess I know why.”

“You had no right to be in here.” There it is again, that quiet voice you usually run from, but not now, not after those letters.

“You had no right to be out there with her, not after your past together. What the hell did you expect would happen, Newt? Did you think you’d just reconnect and be happy friends together? Did you think she’d come to our wedding and everything would be okay? What the hell did you expect to come from an ex?”

His knuckles are white from his grip on his wand. “She’s an old friend.”

“That you still love. But you knew that, didn’t you?  You knew that before you went to see her.”

He paces past you to the desk. “You’re being ridiculous.”

“Me?” You turn as he passes you. “What am I supposed to assume when you have a whole stack of letters sent from her?”

He braces himself against the desk. “That we’re friends.”

“Are you, though? Are you honestly just friends? Can you turn around and say that to my face, Newt?”

You wait, hardly breathing, chest aching, for his answer.

He drops his head, the only answer he can give you.

“That’s what I thought.” You say it with all the malice you can muster, but your anger overwhelms you, transforming into a confusing mixture of anger and betrayal and a physical ache from the grief swirling your chest. Two years with the man and he falls in love with someone else.

You sob as he remains with his back to you, hands bracing himself against the desk.

For what seems to be the longest time, you stay like that: two separate people dealing with their grief in two separate ways.

You wonder exactly when this separation started, when he found himself drifting away from you as you waited diligently at home, counting down the days til his return.

You wonder as you wipe away the final tears and step toward him if this is fixable. A part of you thinks it’s not.

You steel yourself as you reach out and tap his shoulder; this has to be fixable, it’s Newt. It’s your happy ending.

He looks at you, eyes bloodshot. “Yes, love?”

You flinch at the pet name; it feels like a lie. “You’re done, then, right?” The words drive the shame you already felt welling up inside you further down. You’d never thought you’d have to beg a man to stick around.

“Excuse me?”

“With… with her. Leta.” The word is bitter on your tongue. “You’re done seeing her now that you know, right?”

You reach out for the bottle of firewhiskey on his desk, staring at the liquid inside as you spin it around, trying to distract yourself from the weight in your chest.

“Newt?” You grip the neck of the bottle tighter. “Newt, come on. You have to be. We have two years. She has… what? A few years ages ago? I’m here for you right now. I have been. Come on, Newt. You’re done, right?”

He doesn’t move, doesn’t answer.

You let your anger flare and burn away the shame and grief building nests in your chest.

Then he answers, and the flames of your anger threaten the happy ending you’ve imagined ever since that day in the library.

“I – I can’t be sure.” He glances at you, face only filled with regret. “I’m sorry. I love you so much but she’s... she’s a past you can’t understand.”

You stiffen at the words. “That’s not… you need to choose. Now.”

His adam’s apple bobs as he swallows, eyes falling to the drawer you slammed shut earlier. “Please just give me some time, love.”

You shut your eyes again when he looks up at you. “Now, Newt. And please,” your voice cracks as you watch your happy ending fade away, “please choose me.”

The tension in the room thickens, rests heavy on your shoulders and back and you can almost feel it as your grip tightens. You know what he’s decided before he says it.

“I can’t. I’m sorry.”

You wait only a beat to let the fire eat everything inside you: your good sense, your rationality, your kindness and forgiveness and every good quality about you.

“Please just... wait. I know I don’t have a right, but wait for me, please.”

Wait for him? The fury swells another time and this time, you let it destroy you. You let it all burn away in a flame as you raise your arm and slam the bottle onto the ground.

“I never meant for this.”

You snort and step away, shaking your head. “Have fun with this other woman, Newt. I hope she was worth it.”

Newt says nothing anymore, shame filling his face as he winces at your words. He opens his mouth, but shuts it as more tears prick your eyes.

You want to say something, want to curse him, want to inflict a pain he’ll remember every time he’s in her arms.

Nodding toward the drawer, toward the ring box, you cross your arms over your chest. “Before all this, I would have said yes.”

The last thing you see before apparating away is Newt, tears in his eyes, anguish plain on his face. The man you love in the greatest pain of his life.

Good. He deserves every bit of it.