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missyasf · 4 years

Text

Game Of Hearts

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↳ Summary: Your life is in monotonous tones of grey, day in, day out. Nothing matters besides your sister, the only thing you remember is seeing fireworks before waking up to Tokyo abandoned . Soon enough you are properly introduced to the deadly Borderlands where you must fight for your life in Games to survive. When things can’t possibly get worse soon division arises and rivalries are made. No matter what though, you are constantly plagued by a blonde who, no matter how hard you try, just can’t seem to go too far without.

↳ Pairing: Chishiya/Reader

↳ Genre: Angst, smut, thriller

Word Count: 11k

___| Next

Trigger Warning: ⚠️ much like the manga/Netflix adaptation this will be a dark fic which includes mentions of prostitution, attempted murder, child ab*se, sexual harassment, heavy grief and attempted suic*de among other things. Additional warnings will be added for chapters when triggers are brought up. Please read with caution if these are triggers for you or just skip all together!

Side mention: This could be considered a prequel to the current Alice In Borderland. I’m writing based off the Manga bc I was a glutton and couldn’t wait no spoilers will be present as of...

Escapism

noun

the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy ♡

You had known all about this during your short lifespan, as a child you’d often play pretend with your sister that you were movie stars living in a five star hotel rather than the shitty busted up apartment on the wrong side of town. Escapism came in, many forms. It was often a way for people to cope psychologically, simply because sometimes, facing the reality of your situation can be too much for one person to handle mentally.

Or at least, that was the topic of your lecture today in class. The human mind always fascinated you. Even at the young tender age when your mom died and you watched your once cozy little family fall apart piece by piece until nothing was left in its wake.

It was your fascination that drove you now for most things, why? Why, why, why? You always wondered what the motive was behind someone’s actions, not only thing but you wanted to understand them better, to try and sympathize. You were already fairly intuitive in nature. It wasn’t difficult to read people. In fact your line of work made it easy, you’d watch a man who would be excited to be with you reach for his left finger as if used to touching something. A wedding band perhaps?

The lowlife cheater was fairly common in a whore house after all. Or the man who had been pissy this morning behind you in line because you had decided to try something new on the menu and you weren’t fast enough, obviously because he was tardy and woke up late, his shirt unbeknownst to him was button the wrong way and his tie loose and even the way his hair fell were all signs of being late to work.

It was the little things you noticed in people’s facial expressions, the way they moved and spoke. You could read people like a book, and sure sometimes it was useful. But you often wished you weren’t so perceptive. It drove you mad knowing when a potential love interest was no longer interested through a simple text or a friend not wanting to talk by their tone. Sometimes you wished you could just blot it all out, still, you lived like this day in and day out, you were used to this kind of thing and honestly. Friends? Love? Your gaze dropped a little to your feet, the pumps you were wearing a jet black and the heel too high for any respectable woman to ever wear.

...It wasn’t like you ever had any of those in your life and you had struggled to come to terms with the fact that you could survive without that kind of support. Still...it made you envious, the couple happily holding hands on the sidewalk. The group of friends all laughing at a table while they studied. Oftentimes these feelings are muted, but when you’re faced with something you’ve always craved, those muted feelings suddenly become hyperactive in your mind.

It’s pathetic, honestly.

“How dare you! You disgusting slut!”

In this moment however, you were brought back to reality at just what was happening, you squeaked loudly as you dodged the shoe the woman had thrown at you. This was all a regular occurrence, you had a lot of regulars who weren’t the most amazing people but hey, money was money. But along with them they also left a trail which their wives and girlfriends always followed. And then they always blamed you instead of their partner for leaving them for a prostitute despite you never having agreed to anything such as that.

It really wasn’t your fault, you were just trying to make a living while juggling with keeping up your own education, paying your fathers debts, rent and still somehow getting food on the table. What part time college job could provide that?

Prostitution wasn’t a job you would’ve gone into willingly but given the past and your trauma that was already laced in it you had been learning that sometimes because of the trauma we experience, sometimes people go back to that same trauma and actively participate in it as a way of feeling like they’re in control.

That whatever happened before, would never happen again if you were in control. You weren’t sure if you qualified under this category, trauma came in many forms but the one most used as an example in your class was that a study showed that women who were assaulted often develop a kink for consensual non consent as a way of coping with what happened, except this time, it’s in a controlled environment where it can end the moment they want it too.

Again, you weren’t sure you fell into this category, but you often wondered if your line of work was intertwined with your earlier memories when you were younger, if anything it brought comfort to you. Much of it, blotted out now simply because your mind couldn’t take it. Trauma expressed through amnesia was also much more common than many thought, and it’s so small, so easy to miss. After all how can you be aware of something if you have no memory of it anymore?

“Security!” Your manager screeched, two of the bodyguards were already between you and the feral woman who was ready to gut you clean as she screamed hysterically, her husband...your regular....at her side trying to get her to calm down only for her to come to her senses and slap him clean across the face. You didn’t condone violence, but he did have it coming...

You weren’t about to justify cheaters, you couldn’t imagine the hurt someone had to feel that not only did their partner cheat on them, but it was with someone...like you...You had been trying not to put down your job occupation, sex workers were just as valid as anyone else...you knew you would’ve thought this way if it was anyone but you in this position.

You sighed as you ran your hands through your hair, watching the couple get dragged out of the tight space of the brothel, “Jesus christ....didn’t you say you stopped using perfume because of this?” Miki, your manager sighed as she crossed her arms. You didn’t want to say your manager was your friend but she was the closest you had as you’d often complain to her about most of your problems. Sex work often attracted broken people, it wasn’t something she wasn’t used to.

“Yeah, but apparently he never got around to washing his clothes…” You wiped your mouth on the back of your hand, “Lipstick stain,” You glanced down at the ruby pink color that stained your skin now, “Fuck...that did hurt.” You rubbed your sore cheek that was still throbbing from where she had first slapped it when she ripped the door open of the room where she got to see with her own eyes you riding her husband.

It had happened so many times now you weren’t even embarrassed about someone walking in let alone a partner. Miki gave you a lopsided smile as she patted your shoulder, “Guess that just pays for being one of the best here. Did you at least get paid.”

You nodded, “Yeah, I always make them pay in advanced but I was hoping to get a tip afterwards...He was a lawyer so you know he had good money.” You sighed, crossing your arms, you were well aware of his partner because a lot of the time he didn’t even come in for sex anymore. It was funny how humans work.

He often felt his wife was overbearing and you had suspected some sort of verbal abuse by the way he talked about her constant screaming. Truthfully, you don’t think he ever intended on cheating with her. He just wanted someone to talk to without being judged, you could relate with sympathy to that, but he unfortunately chose to walk into a brothel instead of a therapy clinic and this truly was the only inevitable outcome. Still, you hope if for anyone’s sake, he gets that divorce for himself.

“Hey I think I’m gonna call it a day. I need to get back to Nanami, she was wanting to talk to me about college applications.” You sighed as you rubbed your neck, ever since she had graduated high school she had been chomping at the bit to start applying for college, maybe to just get out of the house and into a dorm. You couldn’t blame her and if she did that it would lighten your load a little.

Guilt washed over you at the thought as Miki chuckled, “They grow up pretty fast huh? My brother was the same way, except the moment he found out I was a sex worker was the moment he called me a whore and we haven’t talked since. That was probably about five years ago,” She crossed her arms as she sighed, “Crazy how the things we do for the ones we love, never appreciate our effort...I’ll see you tomorrow then?”

“If I’m not bruising.” You offered a weak smile as you nodded at her before going back to your room to get changed. Truthfully, you much like anyone else, often wished you could go to a world where reality wasn’t a concept any longer. Where you could lay out in the sun for the whole day and just soak up it’s rays with no worries or trepidations.

But sooner then later everyone had to face their fears. Even you, you supposed. But no matter how hard you fought your demons, they always came back tenfold. Again, you supposed your story was no different from tens of thousands, and yet you all live on regardless. Maybe it’s you who should be the one seeking therapy. Pulling on your jeans and the cropped top over your head before pulling the jacket over your arms and grabbing your bag.

The walk home was as quiet as ever, your hood over your head and earbuds any unwanted attention, it wasn’t too late at night, only eleven PM and your work had just been getting started but that had ruined the night for you and besides, you had already failed a test today, you could use the sleep tonight.

Occasionally you’d hear the sirens of a cop car passing by or a bystander shout, nothing out of the ordinary in this neighborhood. Walking up to the apartment complex you pulled the key from your bag as you unlocked the door. Quietly stepping insides as you shut the door before locking it once more. Your nose wrinkled at the smell of stale air mixed with rotten...something…

If anything, you were always lacking in something, you had been so busy most of the day that you never had time to clean anything leaving the house in a horrible state. Not that you thought this was much of a house.

Walking down the narrow hallway you opened the rickety door with a missing lock as you gave a brief smile to the small clump of bedsheets. Your sister was curled up and on her phone, eyes darting to the door with a hint of fear before she jumped up, “Y/n! You’re home earlier from night shift already!?”

You offered a smile as you set down your bag and nodded, sitting down on the mattress that laid on the floor as you replied, “Yeah, a coworker needed the extra hours so I let them cover for me tonight. Besides, you wanted to talk about college applications?” Your sister was under the impression your late night job was bartending at some hole in the wall downtown, where in all actuality you just went there to drink a few days and talk to the loud and sometimes obnoxious, but good hearted bartender who loved talking about his nerdy underaged friends that couldn’t do anything beside stay and drink soda.

It wasn’t that you didn’t think your sister would accept you, if she knew what you were actually doing. Fear, most times came in many different forms and this was one of them. You simply didn’t want to be judged, even by her. So nobody in your life truly knew who you were, and therefore, how could you hold the expectation for people to accept you into society if you were already self sabotaging yourself?

All philosophy aside, you were simply a lost soul, looking for your way in the cruel reality called life.

“Yes!” Nanami was chipper as always as she squealed, clapping her hands, “I…! I was thinking about applying to the university you attend! Maybe I'll get a grant and move into the dorms there? I already applied for several jobs, I’m just waiting on a callback!”

You offered a small smile as you hugged your knees to your chest, “I think you’d like it there, there’s lots to do around campus. But what will you go in for? The only advice I can offer is be sure it’s what you want to do.”

Nanami’s face faltered a little as she hummed, “Well...I thought maybe working with animals? I’d love to be an assistant surgeon in veterinarian? I know it’s a pretty...sad job but...I really like the idea of being able to heal such innocent things.” Your smile tugged into a gentle one at your sister. She was too tender for this world.

It had been your goal sense the day your mother died that you took care of your sister, it didn’t matter what happened to you. You could rot for all you cared at the end of the day, all you wanted was to look up and see your sister's smile and her happiness in life blossom. She more than anyone deserved it.

“I think you’ll be great at it.” You encouraged as you rested your chin on your hand, always happy to see her bounce in excitement as you yawned, your body was used to your demanding schedule but it was always more than happy to welcome a few extra hours of sleep.”

Hearing the door loudly slam close caused you both to jump, Nanami hurriedly crawled back in bed, pretending to be asleep as you frowned. Your dad must’ve come back home from wherever he was.

“Y/n! Just stay here! Can’t you talk to him later?” Nanami looked scared, she always did when he was around. But you weren’t about to stand down to the bastard any day of the week, you offered a weak smile as you replied.

“It’s fine Nami, I’ll be just a few minutes.” You replied, you knew that she knew, that was probably a lie. But you’d try your best, for her sake at least. But somebody had to put this guy in his place occasionally and it was always you. It results in a lot of screaming sometimes, other times he’d break down in tears or on a bad occasion you’d get shoved to the ground, a few times hit. Nothing major.

Walking out of the room you leaned against the wall of the entrance of the hallway watching your father stumble around in the living room, “Did you finally talk to the loan company?” You called out as you asked, not in a forgiving mood tonight. He had said he’d do this for two weeks in a row. The company that sank your whole family into the ground. The reason your mother couldn’t take it anymore and put a blade to her wrist.

Your father stood up, looking a little wobbly, obviously drunk, “Now listen here little girl I don’t have shit to own to you or anyone else.” You sighed as you tucked your tongue into your cheek, annoyance flowing inside you as you straightened up. You weren’t going to be bullied into being scared of this guy.

“Actually you do,” Your smile twisted into something more sharp, more bitter and sinister as you walked forward, “See, if you hadn’t of gotten involved in something shady like loan sharks we wouldn’t be drowning in debt and mom wouldn’t have killed herself because of you and both your daughters wouldn’t hate you. I know you drink away all our money in some pathetic attempt to escape from the cold reality that you fucked up your whole life and watched your family slip from your fingers while not even trying to do anything other then put us in further shit,” You closed your eyes as you tilted your head, “But the least you could do, is admit that. You owe us at least that for being a total fuck up.”

You opened your eyes to find pure rage brewing in your fathers eyes as you smiled once more, this time a false sense of sickly sweet tone to it as you shrugged, “Or you could live in denial, at this point, there really isn’t anything you can do to get anyone back ♡ ”

You had turned around, planning to tell Nanami that maybe she should go sleep over at a friends house today but you never got the chance, suddenly being slammed into the wall and flecks of spit hitting your face, “I am your fucking father! I deserve respect from you and your worthless sister! Do you know how much I provide for you both?”

Anger splintered through your veins as you grabbed onto his wrists, his fingers digging into your neck as you squirmed, “Like fucking what!? A shitty broken down apartment that your vacant from because you’re too fucking ashamed of yourself to even look at us sober!?”

Much like years in the past you weren’t surprised to hear Nanami cry as she rushed out of the room at the sound of you both screaming, “Stop!” She cried out, trying to break you both up, “Stop! Don’t fight! Why…! Why can’t we all just get along!” She sobbed only for your dad to shove her down making her curl up in defeat.

Alarm bells were triggered in your head at the sight of Nanami on the ground, she had never actually gotten hurt while in your sight and it was triggering something deep inside you as you watched him stalk up to her. Your hands shaking and rage boiling in your mind as you grabbed the closet thing you could find. An empty beer bottle on the table.

Your vision blurred and you don’t quite remember what happened other than glass shattering over his head and the brute force of you shoving something before blood was stained on your hands.

How did you end up sitting against the wall? Why was there….blood on your hands…? Your fingers trembled at the metallic sticky substance. All you could hear were Nanami’s sobs and cries as she frantically pushed herself away from the body slumped on the ground.

“You…! He…!” Nanami’s eyes brimmed with tears as you heard a loud boom making you jump, your eyes darting to the open window where….fireworks, big and bold crashed and crackled before you felt like you were sucked into a vortex making your whole vision black out.

Your head felt fuzzy and there was ringing in your ears as you groaned, curling up into yourself as the darkness beckoned you closer before you forcibly opened your eyes. You were laying against the hardwood floor. Beams of light streaked through the window and you could see dust particles in the air against the shower of sunshine that streamed in.

...Wait...Light? The thought had perplexed your head enough to make you push up from the ground, memories pulling into your mind as your breath became shallow, suddenly looking to the side where...you slumped against the wall. It must’ve just been a bad dream….your eyes flickered to Nanami’s curled up figure...a really vivid dream…? Something wrenched in your gut as you rubbed your eyes. What happened? “Nami…!” You whispered, forcing your muscles to move despite their protest as she whined.

After another moment she reluctantly opened her eyes, flickering around before she suddenly scrambled up, taking a deep breath as if realizing what had happened before, looking towards where your dad once was she frowned, “...I...What…” She seemed just as perplexed as you and if her face was anything to go by, last night had obviously happened, “Is dad…” She looked at the absent place of the floor.

Leaning against the wall your eyes darted around the room, “I guess so…” You silently felt relief at knowing your dad was still very much alive as you leaned back as you closed your eyes, trying to remember what had happened before everything went dark...oh..! The fireworks...had it been a celebration last night? Your brows pinched together, something felt...off...getting up you opened the door to the apartment walking out.

“Y/n? Y/n! Hey! Where are you going!” Nanami called out, quickly chasing after you as you frowned, cars were parked odd and there was no one out on the street...as in...at all...Something was very wrong and you couldn’t figure out what.

“Wow...it..must be a slow day…” Nanami felt a sense of discomfort at the lack of life as you both walked down the side walk, it didn’t just feel like a slow day it felt, apocalyptic. As if humanity just left on it’s own leaving nothing but an empty city behind. Cars were parked on the curb and a few even left in the street.

“No, it’s like everyone vanished...This is really weird.” You wrapped your arms around yourself as you frowned, looking around as you came closer to where typically it would be a booming part of the downtown but it was empty, just as everything before.

“Well, maybe it’s a national holiday?” Nanami rubbed her head, trying to make sense of the situation just as much as you, surely everyone wasn’t...gone...right? She looked around as she bit her lip, second guessing herself at all the cars that were vacant, “Hey Y/n.”

You paused as you looked at your sister, curving an eyebrow as she offered a weak smile, “What if everyone got raptured away like they talk about in christanity?” Your expression flattened as she giggled, obviously getting a rise out of you as you crossed your arms.

Raptured? Where? To heaven? “Wouldn’t it be fire and brimstone then if that was the case?” Nanami pouted at your words as you shrugged, snickering yourself at her expression, the tables now turned as you sighed, “I don’t think there’s anyone left in Tokyo...I mean, it feels like...we’d have seen someone by now...right?”

“Well…” Nanami frowned once more, a little disturbed at your words as she spoke, “There’s no way everyone could be gone I mean, where would they go? And how could we miss something like that...Maybe the police found us and now we’re under some weird simulation.”

Chills spilled down your spine as you shoved her making her whine, “Don’t say that! That makes me feel all weird…! I didn’t…!” You cut yourself off, you didn’t what? Murder your own dad in cold blood...you looked down at your hands, they were free of any blood but it still felt like something like sin lingered. Like no matter where you went, it would always be stuck to you.

You didn’t like this, not one bit. Briefly you felt the urge to go hunt down your dad, he was a deadbeat but you would never...you’d never kill him....Right?

“Well…” Nanami hummed her eyes scanning ahead before they jumped to the mall that was up ahead, “Hey…! If nobody is here...maybe we could make use of it! Come on! Let's go!” You yelped at her grabbing your arm before dragging you ahead. Cars were all parked and yet not a single person exited through the mall's entrance. Something just felt off! You wrapped your arms around yourself as you warily looked around the empty mall, “Nanami I really don’t like this!” You looked around, concern bubbling inside you as she ran ahead into the store, digging through the section of clothes as she giggled.

“Relax! I doubt any of this is real and even so…! Who’s going to stop us!?” She shrugged as she bounced in excitement, “Oh my god! I had dreamed of something like this happening! Now we can do whatever we want! Go wherever we want! Y/n!” She gasped with a smile, “Now we don’t even have to worry about money!”

“We don’t even know if this is permanent.” You looked around warily, not partaking as she began plucking off the racks, “Regardless of what this is, I don’t like it. I want to go back home, our home. This just doesn’t…” You shook your head, “This just doesn’t feel right.”

“Well you can feel that way!” Nanami clacked her tongue as she gave a childish smile, “But I’m gonna go through this whole store and get a new wardrobe so feel free to sit on the bench and tell me what you think looks good!”

Looking away you sighed, unable to pinch the anxious feeling you had away as you sat down reluctantly as Nanami went into the changing room. Well...at least she was smiling and she was happy...With each outfit Nanami tried out and giggled, you giggled with her and maybe things weren’t so bad after all…

“What a perfect day.” Nanami hugged you close as she sighed, yawning as you looked up at the sky in awe, you had seen a single star while living in Tokyo before, but now it was filled with constellations and millions of stars that stretched for miles. You could stare at it for days and days. The sun had just set a little over half an hour ago and you were ready to retire and find something to eat at the apartment.

You and Nanami had tried going to the food court but much to your dismay everything had been...rotten...soiled and ruined, meaning there was no point in trying to find anything there and you were getting really hungry despite devouring bags of chips you had both got at the convenient store, another thing that stood out to you was that there was no electricity...at all..

Looking back up to the sidewalk something caught your eyes...was that…! Light!? “Hey! Nanami look!” You shook her making her squeak as she looked up ahead, “It’s the hospital! They have electricity there which means there’s other people! Of course! Why didn’t we think to check essential areas!? Come on! Lets go! I wanna figure out what happened.”

“Alright! It sucks that this is already over but at least I can finally charge my phone, the battery is pretty low.” Nanami nodded in agreement as you both made your way up the road.

The walk wasn’t too far and you felt excitement fill you at the sight of the hospital all lit up as you walked into the entrance, a frown slowly setting on your lips once more as you walked past the receptionist desk and…! Oh there’s other people!

You felt relief wash over your as you ran up, there were at least seven other other people here at least! “Hey! Guys oh my god. I thought everyone was gone! What’s going on?” You asked, smiling bright in relief that you and Nanami weren’t the only ones left behind. Was this some kind of evac point or…?

Silence ensued and you slowly began to frown as you felt everyone stare at you as if you were insane, “Um…” You wrapped a hand around your arm, suddenly feeling as if everyone knew something you didn’t, “What’s going on…?” You furrowed your brows as you tilted your head, unsure of why everyone was looking at you like this.

Somebody looked like they were going to talk to you, a guy relatively around your age but a woman stopped him- his girlfriend maybe? “Stop, the less that know the better chance we have.” She said quietly though you still heard just enough. Fear twisted inside you as you took a cautious step back...The...the less you knew?

“Wow, you guys are assholes,” A girl suddenly whistled out, she was sitting in a waiting chair, a cowboy hat on her head paired with distressed jeans and...a bikini top? Strange but you’d roll with it if it meant getting answers. She stood up as she offered a smile, “Akari, nice to meet ya’. You folk must be new to the Borderlands huh?” She jutted her bottom lip a little as you frowned.

“Um I’m Y/n and this is my sister Nanami...?” You introduced yourself despite feeling confused as you raised a brow, “Borderlands…?” You echoed, what was that supposed to be? Other than Tokyo?

Akari gave a nod as she let out a brief chuckle, as if amused by your confusion but you sensed she had no real ill will unlike....your eyes checked to the couple that stood off in the corner on their own, “That’s what they call it here,” She nodded in affirmation as your eyes darted back to her in confusion, “To be frank with ya’, I don’t have a damn clue what's going on. Nobody does. But ever since you crossed the threshold there’s no going back, so I’ll be brief. We’re all considered outsiders here and we participate in games at venues such as this to extend our stay.”

Nanami and you looked at one another confused as Akari waved you over to the table in front of a TV, “Here, you’ll wanna put these on, it’s for the game.” She explained as you carefully picked up the metal bracelet, something about it felt ominous as you reluctantly put it on, jumping at the way it latched together and there was no getting it off now, “Word of advice, just don’t panic and you probably won’t die.”

“What?!” You screeched as Akari smacked your back, panic evident in your voice as you turned around to face her making her laugh again, this girl was insane! She had to be! “You’re…! You’re joking!”

Akari wrinkled her nose as she tilted her head, “Ah shit, I wish I was- Oh…! There’s the last player!” Just on que everyone turned to look at who had arrived, someone heaving breaths with their hands on their knees as if they had sprinted. You were mildly worried at why he seemed so scared but you had a feeling that was the least of your problems right now.

“Y/n what’s going on…?” Nanami frightened grabbed your arm as she hid a little behind you due to all these immensing strangers that looked like they were ready to feed you to the sharks, literally.

The guy walked past you both as he put on his bracelet, your eyes sharp as you watched it latch together automatically, your gaze jumping to everyone's wrists to notice you were all now wearing one. The TV suddenly lit up.

Game

You squinted your eyes a little at the sight of the screen, just what were you about to unwillingly participate in…?

Difficulty: 5♣

“The game you will be participating in is, Monster under the bed.”

A playing card? Monster under the bed? Your brows furrowed as you looked at Nanami who shrugged a little despite her concerned expression, looking just as confused as you. You could’ve made a joke out of this, surely it would’ve been easier. Maybe everyone would bust out laughing and you’d be at the end of a poor joke but...somehow you felt that wasn’t the case. Thus paying very close attention to whatever was on this screen,

“Everyone will be sectioned off into pairs by the number chosen on your bracelet, when the doors to the ward open you will have three rounds ten minutes each to figure out who is the monster under the bed that must be returned to its own, once the ten minutes is up you must hide before you are found. If the selected pair that is the monster is chosen correctly it’s a Game Clear. If the monster is not found by the end of the third round or if the pair fails to hide it’s a Game Over.”

Rules:

Once the doors are open you and your partner must find a hiding spot by the time limit

Both partners must be hidden. If one is exposed to the monster it’s a Game Over for both partners

There will be an X marked on the ground to place the monster of your guess onto.

You will have three rounds of ten minutes each to find the monster.

Any attempt to remove bracelets results in a Game Over

If the monster is not found by the third round a Game Over.

The only Game Clear condition required is for the monster to be returned by the third round.

What…

What!?

“Now the game will commence, you have five minutes to figure out who you have been paired up with before the doors open.”

Your mind was blanking as you watched everyone look down at their bracelet, hurriedly you lifted your arm as your mind blanked 2 looking back at Nanami her lips were already quivering as she sniffled lifting her arm in defeat as your lips dropped open, 5.

“Hey! Guess you’re my partner!” Akari grinned as she wrapped an arm around Nanami who sniffled, “Oh…” She looked between you both, “Oh! Oh don’t worry! We’re not the monster so I’ll make sure your sister lives! You should go find your partner.”

Your hands trembled unsure of what to do before you went to hug Nanami, “Whatever happens just stay calm okay! I need to go find my partner now!” You whispered, kissing her cheek as she sniffled while nodding.

Everybody was shuffling around looking for their partner now, you passed by a few people, 4, 1, 3...did you even have a partner…? You scanned around, your throat tightening a little in panic, there had to be a mistake! There were only 8 people surrounding you- you yelped at the tight grip that suddenly held your arm forcing you to turn around to be met with a white hooded figure, a lollipop handle hanging and earbuds in before sighing, “So it appears I’m stuck with someone useless.” The man concluded as he stood up making you back away a little as your lips parted somewhat indignantly.

How...how rude! You looked up, unable to fully make out his face but you could tell you didn’t like him one bit, “I’ll…! First of all I’m not useless! I’m just trying to understand what's going on! This is insane! We aren’t actually going to die from this, are we!?” Pushing his hood down you were immediately met with a snide gaze and cat eyes that leered at you like you were nothing more then dirt beneath his feet, long blonde hair pushed behind his shoulders and his bangs hanging low, suddenly a viscous side smile appeared on his lips, “Apparently so, otherwise I wouldn’t have watched half my last game get their brains blown out and the other half hung.”

You reeled a little away from the blonde, your face dropped in semi horror, unsure if this was just a sick joke or he was serious. You searched his face a thousand times over, but for the first time in your life, you couldn’t figure out what his goal was. You couldn’t figure out anything about him, except he was exceptionally cold, “Well I don’t suppose I have much choice to doubt you,” He said with an annoying sing song tone as he rattled his wrist that showed the bracelet with a matching 2 on it, “My name is Chishiya, just stay out of my way and we’ll both live.”

How arrogant! You scoffed as he walked past you, not the least bit bothered at your offense as you whipped around, glaring at his back. How come out of everyone you got stuck with the most…! Pompous! Arrogant! Ugh! You crossed your arms as you followed behind him, stilling secretly sending daggers into his back with your eyes as everyone shuffled into the ward.

Hospital beds were scattered around the room, a few closets and one large vent at the bottom right corner of the room ahead.

“Wait, what is this?” The first person to speak was a fair thin older gentleman, he appeared friendly as he observed the room around him, everyone looked around in confusion as you noticed what he meant.

Any possible hiding spot was covered by either sheets of metal or locked tight...How were any of you supposed to hide if…!? The rules mentioned nothing about solving puzzles to gain access to a hiding spot!

“Forget that,” Another man said with a sneer he was broad and a bit older, well into his late twenties at least, perhaps a gym coach? Or maybe a wrestler of some sort? He looked like he could break you and nearly every other person in this room like a twig, “We need to figure out who’s the monster. “ He cracked his knuckles as you leered a little away and nobody spoke for a second.

Of course, who would out themselves as the monster, more importantly, how does one even know they’re the monster? You could immediately feel tension rise as the previous, more patient man spoke, a little more collected, “How about we just check one another's’ watches! If anywhere it would show us on that! One pair should work on solving these puzzles here so everyone has a place to hide”

“Unless the monster is among us and it sabotages us so we all die by the time limit.” The girlfriend crossed her arms as she darted her eyes around. Truthfully you didn’t know what to believe, the wording on the soundbox was rather confusing as to just what were you looking for. Was the monster supposed to be in the group or it’s own entity?

“If that were the case it would’ve showed up on our watches, which it didn’t. So that won’t work.” Chishiya spoke matter of fact, his tone cool as his eyes gazed across the room before he walked away from the group inspecting various hiding spots granted you didn’t think he was about to help anyone but himself, if anything you were at least lucky that him securing a hiding spot meant it was one for you as well.

You looked at everyone in confusion, some arguing while others scattered to look for a hiding spot as the clock ticked down. You breathed in relief at the sight of Nanami and Akari both going for a bed to hide under. Your gaze finally found Chishiya’s form before following him, unsure of what you were supposed to do, if anything outside trying to figure out just what the monster even was.

You glanced up at the digital clock that stood above the entrance you had just come in from, it was already a minute in before you searched the floor where you found a red X in the center of the room, that must’ve been the...what? Offering spot? You cringed a little at the idea. Looking forward you peered behind Chishiya’s shoulder deciding to not think about that, it seemed the metal sheet that had wrapped around the bed and was sealed to the ground was locked by some sort of metal device…? Contraption? Lock?

“Isn’t hiding under a bed a bit obvious…?” You frowned as you crossed your arms, unsure as you looked behind your shoulder once more to where accusations were already being thrown in the group.

“The vent is a decoy to make you waste time, I already checked,” Chishiya replied, his fingers nimble as they rattled the metal, “And even if someone were to accomplish it in the time limit it’s the most obvious spot the monster would first check. Next would be the closet given it’s at eye level and the first thing one is drawn too when they walk into a room.”

Your lips parted a little in surprise at his assessment...obviously he wasn’t just overconfident, “And why this spot?” If he had really thought about all this in less than a minute then...did he have a reason for this spot? You now found yourself, slightly less annoyed and a little more curious as to what was going on in his mind.

“If the monster were to check a bed it would be after his eyes are drawn to the closet. Next in that line of sight would be the vent directly across it, which would be his next place to look if not his first and vice versa. The beds are all staggered throughout the room making them less conspicuous compared to the other hiding places, the bed on the far end of the room would be no good.”

Your brows furrowed in curiosity at his assessment as you watched Chishiya blow a piece of hair from his face, wiggling out one piece of the knotted metal, “It’s too far from the entrance where as the one in the middle is by average the one most people would start with, where as the first? It’s almost too soon in the start to look there thus making it the safest.”

“It’s them! They’re over there conspiring!” You both twisted around to watch the broad man point an accusing finger at you both as your eyes darted from him to the clock on the wall, which read at six minutes. A few other pairs, relievingly so was your sister had started working on a hiding spot while a few others stood around and argued.

Your face coiled a little as you replied, not appreciating the accusation to such a baseless accusation, did they not realize the longer they argued the less time they had to secure a hiding spot? “Someone who’s terrible at playing the minority would often be the first to point fingers. There’s only six minutes left before the first round is over and we need to hide. But if you want to talk about this then sure,”

You stepped closer as you crossed your arms, scanning over him before continuing, “Let’s talk about the chances of you being the monster, ever since you first came in you’ve been all twitchy and acting like something is wrong. Even when we first got paired up, you seemed a little panicked. Anyways,” You turned around as you spoke, “How do we know one pair is a monster and not one single person?”

“Eh,” Akari sat on the bed that her and Nanami chose as Nanami fumbled to work out the puzzle, she had always been good at those! You felt assured as your heart beat frantically at the idea of them not being able to get a hiding spot in time, “Let’s all calm down,” She gave an awkward laugh, “This isn’t a hearts game, we shouldn’t divide our trust. This is a team building after all which means this game should be making us work together, the last thing we need to do is throw that away on our own accord.”

“...Team building?” You frowned as you murmured having not been aware that this was some sort of game category...Hearts? Clubs? The memory of the playing card flashing on the screen appeared in your mind again, right...was that to stand for some kind of game genre? If Clubs stood for team building then...there should be no reason that the monster is any of you. Why would they even suggest that to begin with?

Then...what was the monster?

“One minute remaining.”

The lights suddenly began flickering, “Got it.” Chishiya yanked the last piece of metal undone as he pulled the sheet of metal off, everyone was now scrambling and the few who had not done their puzzle were now panicking. Getting down you crawled under the bed, your back flat to the ground as you inhaled sharply as you noticed the lights beginning to dim, “This is...uncomfortable.” You mumbled, trying to ignore being pressed shoulder to shoulder with a man you didn’t even know besides him having a god complex, “We should’ve went with the vent.”

“By all means, if you want to try and get yourself killed already. Go for it.” You turned to look at him, dark endless cat eyes meeting you as you harshly glared at him, why was he so condescending!?

You were about to snap back something before you realized it was completely dark and the door slammed open causing you to jump. Was your heart always this loud? You could see the heavy boots step against the ground making you unsteadily inhale, swallowing as you closed your eyes. You could only place your trust that Chishiya hadn’t picked a horrible spot.

More importantly your mind was plagued with worry for your sister, you had been so caught up you hadn’t even tried to help her yet...did she even…! You heard a sudden loud scream from two people causing you to stiffen as you looked up at the bed frame lined with wooden planks. You could only cower back down at blood suddenly painting the floor.

Your stomach suddenly churned as you covered your mouth. So he wasn’t lying. Chishiya however looked just as nonpulsed as he did when he first told you himself, his eyes blankly staring up at the bed frame as if this was just a regular game of hide and seek as people screamed as they were torn apart.

Or that’s at least what you assumed it was.

After an agonizing few minutes the doors finally closed and the lights flickered back on making you breath in relief as you waited a moment, could you even bear to face what was waiting on the floor? You winced a little before something caught your eye. What was with all this extra wood stuck in the frame?

Chishiya had already gotten out from under the bed and before you suddenly heard a few girls scream, your sister among them making you puff and breath as you scrambled from beneath the bed.

Standing up your mouth agape at the horrid sight of the female and the broad male that had been too focused on accusing others, they didn’t have...enough time...it looked like they had been completely mutilated, blood pouring on the floor and the smell made you want to gag as you looked away.

“Well, now what do we do.” Akari scratched her head, also not looking phased that two people had just been brutally killed. Your eyes stayed placed on the bodies before they slowly trailed to your hands, the memory of blood staining them still fresh in your mind.

“Well we have to figure out where the monster is?” The girlfriend of the couple spoke up, she looked around somewhat suspiciously, “But I’m not sure where we could find it? Maybe it has to do with the bracelets? Maybe there’s a clue hidden.”

“Oh what about in the cabinets?” The collected man from before offered as he went to search the cabinets, your frown furthered as you glanced around. Everyone was now getting along, still on edge but along at least.

Chishiya only leaned against the wall, his hands in his pocket as he rolled the lollipop in his mouth, his gaze the same steely one it was before as if he had done his job in securing his temporary salvation and was now done.

Or maybe he just didn’t know what to do? It was obvious his strength didn’t lie in teamwork, clearly. But then again, you weren’t sure what was going on, you couldn’t get a read on him. Crossing your arms you stayed beside him, your eyes briefly washing over your sister who was working Akari to dig through a desk together.

“Cabinets and drawers are too obvious.”

Chishiya’s eyes flickered to your figure, his expression just as cold if not...a little smug maybe? He said nothing in return as you continued, “If we’re looking for a monster, it’s obvious it’s a metaphor for something. Inanimate most likely,” Your eyes flickered around the room, inhaling sharply, why did it feel like the answer was right in front of you?

Think…! You glanced at the clock, only six minutes left. The rounds were really short…! “It’d be something small and inconspicuous, something that’s in plain sight….but easy to miss...and the game said it was a pair which means there’s more than likely two.”

“Three,” You glanced at Chishiya as he spoke, pulling the lollipop from his mouth, that permanent smug look on his face as he answered, “Two is what they want you to think and if you spend a round searching for each like they hope it’s game over by three.”

You rubbed your neck as you frowned, “It’s already the second round and we haven’t even found one…” You glanced around before you suddenly perked up, “Wait…!” Getting back down on the floor you laid on your back as you pushed yourself under the bed, “Chishiya! Help me get this thing out!”

Within a moment the blonde appeared as well, his eye sharp and keen as they noticed straight away what you were tugging at, “You think this is the monster?”

You looked at him as you raised a brow, “We have less than four minutes left on our second round, you have a better idea?” Chishiya said no more but helped regardless, successfully with the both of you maneuvering it around from beneath the wooden boards you managed to get it out.

Holding it up you looked at it, “It’s a poppet doll.” You turned to face him as you smiled in accomplishment, “They’re typically used as curses to place upon people in folklore. If anything is a monster, this would be it.”

Excited at your first victory you pulled out from beneath the bed as you waved it up, “Hey guys! We need to start looking for something similar to this! If not a replica.” Everyone huddled around you examining the doll before the microphone sounded, “One minute remaining.”

Everyone had immediately scrambled back to their hiding place as you ran to the red X, placing the poppet on it, that's the reason that had to be there right!? You’d just have to see, hurriedly you ran back to your spot under the bed. Making it just in time as the lights flickered off.

The door slamming open once more as you slowly inhaled, it had to work right? If not...then you were at a loss for what to search for and you were utterly screwed.

The boots stomped against the floor past the bed as you closed your eyes, unable to calm yourself. After a moment you heard a screech and something rip open before screams followed making you jump. Chishiya’s eyes were on the feet that stood by the closet that had been obviously ripped open.

You heard the sound of something wet and a gurgle before a body slumped to the floor and you could hear begging before something got snapped in half causing you to close your eyes once more...Did you make it angry!? Was that not it? Fuck. You had never felt this stressed before as it roamed around, passing in front of your bed as you tensed.

Was this your last moment alive? Truly?

Much to your relief, the door closed once more before the lights followed, flickering on, relaxing a little you sighed as you reluctantly got out from underneath the bed with Chishiya to see what had happened. Much to your horror it was the man who had been so kind this whole game and his partner.

The monster didn’t check anywhere in the first round, yet he did this round? You tried to block out the bodies slumped in the corner as you glanced at the red X, the poppet doll gone.

“Why- why were they killed!” Nanami’s eyes began to water as she grabbed her head, “This makes no sense!”

“If it accepts the doll that means we only need two more. What happened to them is irrelevant.” Chishiya stuffed his hands back into his pocket as you glared at him sideways, not appreciating his careless tone. You could deal with it, but you didn’t want your sister dragged into it.

Grabbing your chin you thought about it for a moment, “Well...the game said to return the monster to its own and…” You glance down at the X, was there some kind of unsaid rule that if you didn’t get all three of them on the first try that it would start hunting down players? “How would a mother feel if they only returned one of its children?”

“This thing doesn’t have feelings,” The girlfriend of the partners replied coldly, her eyes like steel of her own as she clung to her boyfriend, “It’s as he said,” She waved to Chishiya, “It doesn’t matter, we’ll be like them if we don’t figure this out.”

You glanced around the room, “Tell me this, if it doesn’t matter, then why did they give us all these different hiding spots?” Everyone was silent, all eyes on you as if your question didn’t make any sense, your eyes flickered to the clock that was nearing eight minutes, you didn’t have time to monologue, “No think about it. The monster never intended to look for us- that was never stated in the rules. So why did they give us all of these choices if we only needed one per pair? My point being, if we found one poppet in our hiding spot then...You get where I’m going with this? Chishiya.”

He glanced up at you acknowledgement as you curved a brow, your lips threatening to tug into a smile as you tilted your head, “How confident are you in solving that vent?”

He glanced back down and for the first time, you watch a cocky wide smirk twist onto his lips, “You’re lucky to have someone as smart as me here to be able to open it.” You tucked your tongue into your cheek as in annoyance as he sauntered over to the vent already getting to work, “As for everyone else, we need to open up as many of these as possible to find the other two.”

Everyone immediately scrambled to get to work, with only seven minutes on the clock this was...going to be difficult. First Nanami and Akari searched all the opened spots as you worked on another bed. Rubbing your head as muttered, “Shit...I never was good with puzzles.” You awkwardly hung your head in defeat temporarily, briefly letting your eyes shift to Chishiya who was fiddling with several locks, his gaze sharp and you couldn’t even imagine all the calculations going on in his mind. You were somewhat envious of what it would be like to be that perceptive to anything adhering to logic and solution.

“Aha! Found one!” Akari yanked the poppet from the top of the closest as Nanami covered her mouth, looking like she was gonna throw up being so close to so many dead bodies. You ignored the grisly sight at the second victory of the poppet doll. Akari quickly placed it on the X as you began to work on the puzzle once more, looking up at the clock. Oh no...Oh no there was only three minutes left!

“Chishiya! Hows that puzzle coming along.” You called out, trying not to sound alarmed but you could see the clear cut annoyance on his face as he continued working through the locks, “If you’d like to help while struggling on a novice lock feel free.” He replied condescendingly, not appreciating the pressure.

You rolled your eyes with huff as you finally managed to get it undone, feeling triumphant as you searched under the bed but there was no luck, “There’s nothing here!”

“Or here!”

Several people called out as well as you rubbed your head, standing up, “If the only other place that hasn’t been searched is the vent then maybe there’s only two? It did say a pair.” You felt a lump of anxiety well in your chest at the sight of the clock ticking close to a minute and half.

“Should we really take the risk?” The boyfriend asked as he rubbed his neck, concern on his face as he looked around, “If we’re wrong then we’ll all…”

You hadn’t even thought of that…

“...! Hey.” You turned to Chishiya who seemed to be trying to get your attention making you immediately come over, if he was asking for you it’d have to be for something important given there was nearly less then two minute on the clock, “Hold this right here.” He immediately pushed your hand onto the lock right where he wanted it, “This is a two handle mechanism meaning that there needs to be two people unlocking it. Push down and out at the same time.”

“Hide! Everyone needs to hide now!”

The lights were beginning to flicker as everyone scrambled to hide, stress evidently put on your shoulders now more than ever. You could only hope he was right with your life on the line, “Now!” You pushed down on your side, the lock sliding as you pulled out, pulling a piece of metal holding up the lock directly out as Chishiya did the same with his side.

The lock fell off as well as the metal of the gate of the vent, you immediately with no hesitation leaned inside it was dark and hard to make it out anything besides the steep drop off. So he was right, this was a waste of time for a hiding place.

Looking down you caught sight of wood before laughing in relief, “It’s here! Wait shit! Chishiya! It’s too far down in the vent, you’re gonna have to lower me down to reach it. Time?”

“Forty five seconds.” You felt unfamiliar hands on your hips lifting you up as you were lowered down, “We have time.”

You squinted trying to see as you reached down, “Lower me further! I’m not quite in reach,” Your muscles began to ache in your shoulder as you reached harder, growling in frustration, “Time!?” You were lowered a little further, the wooden poppet brushing against your fingers.

“Thirty seconds! Could you go a little faster?”

“Could you lower me a little quicker- Ah! Hey did you almost let go!?” You snarled back, grabbing the poppet doll, giving a good yank as it lodged in between the crevice it was in, “Get me back up! I got it. Time!”

“Twenty seconds.” Chishiya called back, pulling you up as you gasped, pain from the metal jabbing into your stomach evident as you were met with a darkening room. Setting your feet firmly on the floor your eyes flew to the flock fifteen seconds and your spot was all the way across the room….!

“Where are we supposed to hide!? We can’t get all the way there in time!” You hissed out running to the X as you dropped the poppet down. The lights shut off as the final five seconds counted down and before you could do anything you were shoved to the floor as you squeaked. Your body throbbing in pain and your mouth immediately covered as you were met with the coverage of a bed but neither one of you were bold enough to try and scramble beneath it as the doors slammed open.

Fuck.

Your whole body was tense as your eyes squeezed shut, you were just a little ahead of the X here, if this is all the poppet dolls...they’d have no reason to go further into the room...unless...Your hand squeezed tight around the wrist of the hand that covered your mouth as you tried to calm yourself at the loud thudded footsteps.

It was quiet for a moment before you heard more walking before the doors closed.

“Game Cleared”

The lights turned on as you fell limp against the side of the bed, Chishiya’s hand removed from mouth as you pushed your hair from your face, closing your eyes as you breathed in relief, “Holy shit.” Was all you could mutter to yourself, you had never been more grateful to breathe air in your whole life.

“I guess you weren’t that useless after all huh.” Chishiya clacked his tongue as you turned your head to look at him, raising your brows as your face contorted into something between insult and amusement.

You’ve only known this man for a half an hour and yet...something about his words, if you dug down deep past that smug expression of his, was this a compliment? Looking away you pressed your tongue into your cheek, trying to keep from smiling, “Yeah, and you’re still conceited and arrogant but, I guess you have a good reason to be.” You glanced back at him again but you could hardly hold his gaze, something in that brief moment was electrified between you both as you laughed somewhat sheepishly, closing your eyes as you looked away once more.

What the fuck was even wrong with you? If this was back before today you would’ve totally kicked this guy in the balls and went about your day.

“Y/n!” You straightened up at the sound of Nanami’s voice, your expression brightening as you stood up, quickly running to her as you hugged her tight, “I can’t believe that just happened…” She whispered to you as she pressed her face into your neck. You couldn’t either but, you were thankful you had survived this game. Whatever it was.

“Come on, let's get out of this room.” You tugged on her arm, no longer wanting to be in this death room despite knowing it was all over. Pulling her out you paused at the sight of the TV and a...register…? You bracelet unlocked as you took it off, tossing it on the table as you tilted your head.

“Congratulations Game ''Clear ``.''

“...Now issuing visas to those who survived the game…?” You furrowed your brows as you glanced at Nanami who rubbed her head in confusion. You grabbed the receipt as you looked it over with a frown before picking up the 5 of clubs playing card along with it. Odd.

“It’s how many days you’re allowed to stay now! Almost a whole week, that's a good score for a first game!” Akari called out as she patted your back making you jump a little.

Almost a whole week…”Until we have to play again to...continue our stay?” You raised a brow, deciding not to ask what happens if you refused. While you had many questions, you had a feeling you knew the answer to that one.

A part of you couldn’t even believe this had happened, or was it all still a dream.

“Hey…! Sorry for all of that in there,” You turned to see...oh…! It was the boyfriend of the partner, the gifrlfriend stayed behind looking brooding, “I’m Ryu and that’s my girlfriend Hiroko I was...ah…” He faltered a little, rubbing the back of his neck as his gaze flittered to his girlfriend who was glaring him down, “You should stop by the Beach- I...I think you guys would make good additions! Bye!” He hurried not even finishing his original sentence before scurrying off making you furrow your brows at what he even meant.

“The hell?” Akari raised a brow as she watched the guy run off, “Seems to me he wanted to chat more…guess we know who's really pulling balls in that relationship.”

Nanami suddenly snickered, covering her mouth as she giggled, “Hey Akari! Why don’t we stay together! We did really well in the game together!”

“Awh shit, if you guys really want me too!” Akari offered a quirky smile as you laughed, you had no problems with someone staying behind with you. Looking past Akari your smile faded a little at the sight of a white hoodie exiting the entrance.

“Hey- I’ll be right back!” You pushed past the both of them who paid you no mind as you pushed out of the exit and down the stone steps, not sure why your feet were making you chase after such an egotistical man but…!

“Chishiya!” You called out, making the man pause, he turned around, pulling the earbuds out as he glanced up from his hoodie, raising his brows in acknowledgement, “Um…” Why did you even chase after him…? You stepped down the last step as you wrapped your arms around yourself.

It was silent for a moment as you berated yourself internally for why you seemed so speechless all of a sudden. Chishiya however didn’t seem to mind, his eyes absent now as he stared up at the hospital, “I used to do my clinical rotations here.”

You were broken out of your silent thrashing of internal humiliation as you raised your brows, lips parting in curiosity as you asked, “You were a doctor?”

“No,” Chishiya snorted, that amused calico look of his on his face once more as he looked down at you, “I was a medical student. Training to be a doctor but that obviously didn’t happen…” His lips curved into a frown, his eyes cold once more as they looked back up at the building, “I came here tonight to see if anyone I knew would be here.”

“Oh…” You looked away, feeling somewhat awkward and unsure of how to reply to him as silence took over once more beside the occasional rustling of the wind in the tree’s, the urge to speak overtaking you to the point you couldn't resist, “Chishiya...I…” You looked away, feeling somewhat bashful, “We...made a really good team back there.” You forced yourself to look up at him as you offered a bright yet subtly shy smile, “If you want...you could stay with us…?”

Chishiya pulled the lollipop stick from his mouth, letting it drop to the ground as he spoke, “No thanks.” You turned to him in surprise as you frowned a little, you shouldn’t have expected anything less…

“Oh...I understand.” You offered a weak smile as he turned his back on you and began to walk once more, “I just have one more question,” You called out causing him to pause, “...Do you by any chance know about a place called the Beach?”

Note: Whew...! As a lurker in the Alice in borderland fandom I saw a lot of people complaining about the lack of Chishiya fics so I decided to volunteer myself and take on for the team to write a series for this little blonde fucker so PLEASE let me know your thoughts and I hope you enjoy!! Also

#alice in borderland #aib #alice in borderland imagine #alice in borderland x reader #chishiya x reader #chishiya x reader smut #shuntaro chishiya #shuntaro chishiya x reader #aib imagine #aib x reader

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sirthisisa-wendys · 3 years

Text

Sweet Honey and Iced Tea (Part 1): Toji Fushiguro x Fem!Reader

synopsis: prequel to Lemonade. Your first brushes with the Fushiguro clan head aren't so beautiful or elegant. But they do leave some sort of impression.

wc: 2.1k (this got so long, I'll have to make part 2 tomorrow)

tw: drinking, drug use, violence

masterlist

"Get up," you mumble, looking at the little boy whining and clutching his scraped knee. "I said: Get. Up."

"Why did you push me?" he cries out, tears in his emerald eyes. "I didn't even do nothin'!"

"You're a baby, Fushiguro," you answer, placing your chin in the palm of your hand. "You need to grow up."

"You need to stop being a bully," he gripes, and you stand from the sidewalk, rolling your eyes.

"We don't get brownie points for being nice to each other," you retort, kicking your leg out at him but missing. "One day, you'll be the Fushiguro clan head, and I'll be the L/N clan head. We won't be friends." With this, you walk away, stuffing your hands into your overall pockets and mumbling something about eight-year-olds who don't know what's good for them.

_____________________________________________________________

Age 17 (9 Years Later)

"Y/n, a letter from your secret admirer." Your best friend, Gojo Satoru, hands you a folded-up piece of notebook paper, wiggling his white brows. You swiftly toss it at the bottom of your locker, sighing.

"If my boyfriend sees another letter, he's going to break up with me," you mutter. For three weeks, you'd been receiving letters from this "secret admirer" who - at first - claimed to be the better choice of partner, instead of the son of Principal Yaga. But as you slam the black locker closed, you know that these letters won't stop. So, you had to find the source and beat the shit out of them after school. It's the only way you're going to be able to salvage what meager romance you have with one of the five clan's sons.

You and Gojo walk down the hallways in silence, your hands full of your books, and you think of the prime suspects on the list: Nanami Kento, Yu Haibara, and Geto Suguru. But all three men are a class ahead of you, and you don't think any of them would dare to romance the eldest child of a prominent clan leader and not think they would be rebuffed. Especially since you're already preoccupied with--

A shove on your shoulder brings you back to the present, and you look up to see Toji Fushiguro and his friends passing by, some of them eyeing you with disdain. Your rival barely glances at you, but the person who bumped your shoulder - a girl - sneers at you.

"Watch where the fuck you're going, y/n." You stare at Fushiguro's flavor of the month, mouth curling up into a scowl.

"Yo, what the hell," Fushiguro snaps at the girl, pulling her around to face him. "Fuck you think you're doin', talking to L/n like that? Apologize." You look at the future head, and he nods at you, emerald eyes stern.

"Sorry," the girl mutters.

"No worries. I don't expect any less from one of Fushiguro's playthings," you retort, turning on your heel and walking off to class.

The rest of the day passes by in a blur, and you tap your pencil on the backside of your hand, watching the clock tick tick tick until the second-hand reaches the hour and the bells chime. You gather your things quickly, rushing over to your locker and shoving them in before grabbing your purse and beating it to the back of the school. Satoru stands off to the side of the brick building, glasses placed over his sensitive eyes, and Suguru hangs out next to him, smoking a joint.

"We can't smoke on school property," you remind him, but the senior waves you off, rolling his eyes. "Well, at least offer me a hit," you finish, and Suguru hands it to you before offering you a light.

"Satisfied, princess?" he jokes, and you inhale deeply, eyes scanning the blacktop before landing on a group of boys standing around in a huddle.

"What the hell are they doing?" you choke out, coughing as walking closer.

"Uh-uh," Geto stretches out his hand, stopping you. "It's the final step to initiation."

"For who?" No one answers you. As your vision gets a little clearer, you can see the boys fighting - no, jumping - a lone figure in the middle. A bloody face with emerald eyes looks in your direction, and you inhale sharply.

Fucking Fushiguro.

"Why are they beating the shit out of him like that?" Concern laces your tone involuntarily, but you already know the answer. If Fushiguro can stand the beating from his own associates, then he'll be able to withstand anything.

"Ah!" The sound of Toji's cry echoes around the blacktop and you flinch, the joint dropping from your hand. As Suguru leans down to pick it up, you cross your arms defensively, muttering,

"Get up. Get. Up."

But it's not like Toji can hear you now.

Or could he?

The moment he headbutts his nearest opponent, you clench your jaw, bracing yourself for his next move. And within a few minutes, he's beaten them all back, face bloody with a nasty cut decorating the right edge of his lips. Toji pushes past his associates and approaches the three of you slowly. You stiffen as he holds a blood-covered hand out to Geto, observing the minor interaction: the joint is passed to him, and Toji closes his eyes, taking a long drag before handing it back. As he walks past you, he exhales, holding your gaze until he passes directly by you and leaves the three of you behind.

"I wouldn't want to fuck with that kid in a one-on-one fight," Gojo mumbles, and Geto shakes his head, taking a drag of the joint.

"I don't think you'll ever have to."

_____________________________________________________________

The next year, Toji returns from summer break with a new body, a new wardrobe, and a new coldness about him that stuns absolutely no one. Your first encounter with him is towards the end of the year, at lunch in the courtyard. His emerald eyes roll up to your face as you sit next to him.

"You've buffed out," you mention, handing him a rice cake from your bento box. "Steroids?"

"Reality," he grumbles, shoving half of the rice cake in his mouth. You lean back onto the bricks behind you, pursing your lips as he continues to consume the offering. You look at the scar that's formed on his lips, the mark paler than the rest of his skin. But it's healed well.

"It's hard to enjoy life, isn't it?" you whisper, and Toji shrugs, glancing up at the sky.

"I heard you broke up with little Yaga."

"I heard he got his ass beat when everyone found out why," you reply, chuckling.

"Yeah," Toji pipes up, his tongue fishing around his mouth. "Heard about that, too." You sigh, leaning your head back to look at the sky as well. "Why aren't you eating?" he asks, and you look over to see him frowning. "Not hungry?"

"No," you answer, sliding him the box. "Go ahead." Toji takes pieces of your shrimp tempura and eats them greedily, providing you with much-needed peace and quiet.

"You ever find out who your secret admirer was?" The notes come back to your memory, all of them dumped into the trashcan at the end of the year.

"No," you answer again, crossing your arms over your legs. "Thought it was..." you drift off, not sure what to say next.

"Shame," Toji laughs. "Would've loved to make fun of his ass for not just saying it outright."

"I don't blame him." You shrug, looking down at the blades of grass blowing in the wind. "Kind of hard to fess up to a girl who's virtually unapproachable."

"You really think that?"

"I know that." Silence.

"You're wrong," Toji states, just as the bells chime for the end of lunch. He stands, dusting his pants off and walking away from you without another word.

Your second encounter with him is at a house party celebrating the end of the school year.

The music is loud, and you're clad in skimpy clothing and attracting way too much attention. But with your girlfriends by your side and Gojo and Geto back from their first year of college, you feel safe nonetheless. You're standing in the kitchen when you see Toji walking through the house, eyes roaming over the crowd with displeasure.

When they land on you, though, his brows lift a little, then his lips part slightly as he raises a broad hand up to wave at you. You wave back, earning you a coo from a few of your friends, and then turn to see if Gojo and Geto see him. But they seem too wrapped up in getting a couple of senior girls to make out with them, so you turn back around, walking toward the lone Fushiguro and smiling widely.

"No crew?" you wonder, handing him your cup full of vodka. Toji takes it, sniffs it, then chugs it.

"I don't go out with them like that," he answers. "Just want to be alone tonight. What about you, unapproachable girl?" You roll your eyes at the nickname, and he taps the skin on your waist, walking into the kitchen. "What did you have?" You point at the Beluga Noble Gold, and he opens it, flicking off the cap and pouring some in your cup before chugging the rest of it.

"Toji--"

"All I want tonight is just to forget for a minute," he groans, hands running through his hair after he puts the bottle down. You sit your cup on the counter, seeing the stress on Toji's face and cupping it between your hands. You run a thumb over his scar and he flinches, but you don't let go.

"I can help with that," you offer, walking back into the living room where the lights are off and people are dancing to the rhythm of the song. Toji pulls you close in the darkness, his hands resting on your hips as you sway back and forth, still holding his face between your hands.

"Y/n, this year has been fucking hell," he breathes, and you nod, knowing both of you had gone through extensive training on picking up the clan's responsibilities in the light of his father dying and your father's health failing. "I can't sleep."

"I know," you reply, tucking your head into the space between his chest and neck. He brings one of your hands down from his face and onto his chest, where his heart beats rapidly. You both listen to the song in silence, letting the vodka work its magic and strip your senses of the fine-tuning they've been under for over sixteen years.

"I needed this," Toji finally exhales, and you look up at him curiously. "Vodka is really clearing up my head." You're about to reply when he moves your hand off of his chest and kisses your knuckles slowly, one by one.

"You're drunk," you whisper, chuckling and trying to pull your hand away. Toji grips it tighter, looking down at you and biting his bottom lip.

"Nope. Never been clearer-headed." He angles his head down and captures your lips with his, hands moving off your waist to hold your face. You lean into the kiss and finally feel something that you've only heard about but never actually felt: a spark.

"Fushiguro..." you moan into his mouth, and he pulls away, looking around for something. When he spots it, he grabs your hand and takes you up the stairs, throwing open a bedroom door. You see two people already making out on the bed, but Toji flicks on the light and grunts, "Out."

When the two girls see him, they scamper out of the room, and Toji turns to you, eyes roaming your face. "If you say no, I stop. We forget this ever happened."

"I'm not saying no," you retort, hands on your hips.

"Then fucking come here," he murmurs, pulling you into him again and flicking the light off. You close the door with your foot, leaning back onto it and letting Toji press both hands on either side of you while he kisses you deeply, hungrily.

"But it will be my... first time..." you whisper between kisses. Toji stops, pulling back.

"Really?"

"Uh-huh," you reply, staring into his bottomless eyes.

"I need to be super sober for this," he admits, wiping his face. "No, I can't do it. Not right now." You swallow hard, the aftertaste of the vodka now bitter. "We can cuddle if you want, but--" Toji breaks off, running a hand over your cheek. "Your first time is special. I want you to look back on it with no regrets." You nod, understanding his reasoning, then allowing him to lead you to the bed, where he spoons you from behind.

"We'll just sleep it off," you mumble, and Toji buries his face in your neck, encasing you in his strong arms.

"Yeah. We can decide what to do tomorrow. If that is, you still want to do anything."

"I think... I will..."

"We'll see."

#toji fushiguro #toji fluff #toji fushiguro x reader #toji x reader #jjk toji #jujutsu kaisen toji #jujutsu kaisen

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corvus--rex · 3 years

Text

The last one was the prequel to this one, which I actually wrote first. It's not even the beginning of the main story, but it was what I came up with first. Oh well. I wanted to do cyberpunk without it being Leakira (which I do love, I just wanted to do something different), and came up with this. I have played the shit out of Shadowrun tabletop, so a lot of it comes from that. And since it's part of the last post, it's still an Omegaverse :)

~*~*~*~

Lance backed away, raising his hands. “Hey, no need for that. I’m not even armed.”

The mercenary pointed with his weapon.

“Over here?” Lance asked, still playing the game. “Ok.” He walked over to the window of the high-rise. “Might want to watch that draft. Wouldn’t want to come down with something.”

His hard-wired comm picked up everything, making the assassin on the ledge outside chuckle. But he knew that it was his cue, and punched through the window feet first, his tech-enhanced boots forcing through the thick glass easily. The black monofilament blade glowed red with heat, cauterizing the sliced wound to the mercenary’s throat and killing him instantly. Lance pulled out a modified holdout pistol, taking out the overpaid mercenary that followed with perfect aim.

“Red! On your nine!” Lance yelled above incoming fire.

A small knife flew, catching the mercenary in the throat. Keith used his falling body as a springboard, launching himself at the next target. Both he and Lance heard the same thing over their comms.

“Comin’ in hot!” Shiro yelled.

Lance and Keith both knew what that meant. That meant that this semi-stealth mission was turning into a Russian stealth mission, and that it was coming in the form of Hunk’s gatling gun. Soon enough, they both heard the whine of a spinning barrel and the screaming of rapid laser fire. Mercenaries were still pouring in and the teammates knew that they would still have to fight their way out. Lance had already retrieved the files and uploaded Pidge’s traceless virus. All they needed to do was get out.

Keith spun in the air, knives flying, carving a path to the exit. As he turned, he caught sight of a mercenary coming up a little too quickly behind Lance. His violet eyes went wide, launching himself off walls, furniture, and bodies.

“BLUE!” he screamed as the mercenary drew a small pistol and fired.

Lance’s gasp caught in his throat, his free hand going to the exit wound in his chest and dropping to the floor. This was wrong. These were just mercenaries. And the Voltron Pack always wore heavily modified body armor. There was no way something so small should have been able to punch through that. In a blind rage, Keith hit the mercenary hard enough to pin him to the floor, drawing the ultraviolet hard-light blade he kept on his back. Pressing his thumb to a bioscanner on the hilt, the small knife expanded in an instant to the straight-edged ninjato, which he plunged through the mercenary’s chest plate. He turned the blade back, jamming it into its sheath.

“Blue’s down! We need evac! NOW!”

The laser bolt from the pistol meant that Lance’s wound was cauterized and he wouldn’t bleed out, but it didn’t keep him from going into shock. Keith barely had the presence of mind to retrieve both Lance’s and the mercenary’s weapons before returning to the marksman.

“Stay with me. Come on, Blue. Team’s coming. I need you to hold on. You’ll make it.” Keith was rambling, and he knew it. But he couldn’t help himself as he watched the light in his Alpha’s blue eyes dim.

The sound of electricity and the smell of ozone whipped past Keith’s senses, a small blur following. Several mercenaries dropped, the blur that was Pidge spinning, her electrified katar flying through the next throng. A powered whine and sharp crack felled a line of mercenaries, Allura quickly moving on to the next group with her whip. Knowing that backup had arrived, Keith focused on keeping Lance awake. The Alpha was only barely conscious, the bolt having blown straight through his lung.

“Come on, baby. Stay with me. Team’s here. We’re getting you out.”

Keith was desperately trying to keep his scent hopeful, but the fear and panic saturating his mate’s was overwhelming. Lance was afraid of dying, and it was looking like a very real possibility. The Alpha’s hand moved, a brief jerking spasm. Keith took it, pulling the tactical glove off and holding it to his face, softly kissing his mate’s palm.

“You’ll be ok. We’re getting out.”

Pidge came up, putting a gentle hand on the Omega assassin. “All clear. We need you to get him to the extraction point. Allura’s got the body of the one that got him.”

Keith hadn’t even noticed it was gone. But he had a new mission objective. Get his mate to safety. He shoved both weapons – Lance’s and the mercenary’s – into Pidge’s hands, and picked his mate up in a bridal carry, racing to the extraction point. Shiro was in the pilot’s seat of their VTOL, a specially built, modular one the Coalition named Atlas. Hunk and Allura were already onboard, Pidge bringing up the rear behind Keith. Allura rushed to help the Omega assassin. The limited medical supplies on the Atlas wouldn’t save Lance in the long run, but it was enough to get him back to base.

The Coalition Rebellion’s base was hidden within a high-rise owned by shell companies belonging to the financial backers of the rebellion. The three biggest supporters were Olkarion BioTech, owned and run by Claudia Ryner, a thin middle-aged woman who could flip between hard-ass CEO and a gentle maternal figure in a split second, Taujeer Chemicals, owned and run by a man only known as Baujal who never showed his face and always used a voice modulator, and The Garrison, manufacturers of weapons, armor, and vehicles, owned and nominally run by Ellen Sanda and more practically run by Cmdr. Iverson. They all wanted the megacorporation that ran the world, Daibazaal Industries, gone as much as everyone else.

The Atlas landed on the grounds of the Rebellion base, known only to the Coalition as the Castle of Lions. Medics were waiting to rush Lance to the medical floors, leaving Keith on the landing pad feeling like his soul had been ripped from his body. The rest of the Voltron Pack surrounded him protectively, and the worry, panic, and fear he’d kept carefully bottled up overwhelmed him and he dropped to the asphalt.

When the assassin woke, he was in a med floor bed. Pidge had set up a work station in the room, the weapon and punctured armor of the mercenary being run through her meticulous scanners. Hunk tinkered with Shiro’s cybernetic arm while Allura paced like a caged tiger. Keith sat up, a wave of dizziness making him lay down again. It got the attention of everyone in the room. Pidge adjusted the bed’s position remotely, allowing Keith to sit up without falling over. They were all at his side immediately.

“Surgery was successful,” Allura told him, “Lance will make a full recovery. He’s still out, and they want him in a completely neutral environment. The only medics allowed in are Betas.”

“I can’t see him?” Keith asked, worry and panic clouding his scent again.

“Not yet,” Shiro said, “He still needs to heal, and you know that pheromones can interrupt that process. Even a bonded mate’s.”

“I could probably get in, check up on him for you,” Pidge offered. There were few cases like Pidge where, even if the corporate-run nanny state hadn’t mandated sterilization for all Betas, she would most likely have done it anyway. The benefit in this case was that she was less likely to upset Lance’s healing.

“Please?” The Omega couldn’t keep the whining cry for his mate out of his voice.

Pidge nodded, placing a small hand on his arm.

“Oh!” Hunk said, darting over to the other side of the room. He came back with a high stack of blankets and pillows. “The medics don’t want you moving around much yet, but we figured you’d feel better with at least a small nest.” He went back, returning with another blanket in a sealed bag. “I went and got this one from your room.”

Keith didn’t need elaboration. He instinctively snatched the bag from Hunk’s hands, holding it close. They were his pack, and fully understood the state he was in. Pidge queued further processes for her scanners and left to check on Lance. Hunk went with her, as he was the only other Beta in the pack and could back her up when they got there. Shiro and Allura were the pack’s other Alphas, and while they wanted to see their packmate safe, they knew they couldn’t be near Lance. They could, however, ensure the safety of their pack’s Omega, and so stayed with him, only assisting with the nest when it was asked for.

Even with limited nesting materials, Keith still was able to build one that made him feel more secure, the soft fluffy blanket from the nest he shared only with his mate adding to the security. The shrill, distressed trill coming from him died down only when he fell asleep, wrapped in his mate’s scent and knowing that his pack’s two other Alphas were nearby.

When Keith woke next, Hunk and Pidge were back. He shot up in his nest, a soft questioning noise rolling up his throat.

“He’s doing better,” Pidge answered. She turned around. “It’s been about six hours since we left to check on him. They said that you can probably see him tomorrow morning, which is in,” she checked the time, “About four hours.”

“You should eat and rest,” Allura suggested softly. “If you’re exhausted and upset when you see him, it could make things worse.”

Keith knew she was right, but it didn’t make it better. He wanted his mate, his Alpha. He’d had to watch when he was shot, when he fell to the floor, had to watch as his beloved Alpha desperately clung to life. He wanted them to curl up in their nest together, safe in each other’s arms. The memories caused another distressed sound, this one harsher, even more shrill than before. The pack snapped to look at him, knowing that if Keith got any more worked up, he could go feral. It was a state more closely associated with Alphas, but it was certainly possible for Omegas. The kind of trauma he’d experienced that day combined with being separated from his mate was making things dangerous for him. Pidge dropped what she was doing, climbing into the nest. She was a packmate and therefore safe, but she was about as far removed from anything like Lance as possible and, therefore, was the safest person to be close to Keith. He curled up, still upset, but allowed her to hold him, reinforcing that he was safe.

It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep again.

He was woken next by Pidge gently shaking him, breakfast in hand. He accepted it, a soft sound escaping, his Omega brain still in control. After breakfast, that Pidge actually joined him in his nest for, she called for a medic, who came in and checked Keith over, clearing him for release. Pidge stuck close to him, going along to the next floor where Lance was still under medics’ care. But he was awake, and Keith darted inside, Pidge staying by the door.

The Omega curled up on his mate’s bed, softly nuzzling him. Lance ran his fingers through his mate’s hair, a large medical patch monitoring his biorhythms across the back of his hand. After a few minutes when Keith still hadn’t said anything he looked to Pidge, concern and confusion written across his face.

“He nearly went feral last night. Hasn’t spoken a word since then,” she explained.

The medics tried to make Keith leave when they were alerted to Lance’s shifts in his system caused by the sudden fear for his mate, but the Alpha insisted on his Omega staying. Pidge left, knowing Alpha-Omega mate-pairs in general and her packmates in particular. She knew how important their connection was and that if they were separated both would most likely turn feral, attacking anyone who got too close that wasn’t their mate. Shiro and Allura stood guard over the room from the outside, preventing anyone from entering they didn’t approve. One nurse claimed that she was just there to check up on Lance, but her scent told them she was lying and that she was most likely there to try and separate the pair again. Shiro’s tall, broad frame firmly kept her out. Pidge and Hunk had brought the nesting materials from both Keith’s hospital room and their own apartment in the Castle. Lance’s biorhythm readings were calmer than the medics had seen, and they stopped bothering him and his mate.

It wasn’t until the end of the day when Keith finally spoke for the first time. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“For a while, so did I,” Lance admitted, “But you got me out in time. You saved me, mi amor. We’re ok.”

Curled up in their temporary nest, wrapped in his Alpha’s arms, long, elegant fingers carding through his hair, Keith was able to sleep peacefully for the first time since the start of the mission.

~*~*~*~

Links to the rest of the series:

1 | 2 | 3* | 4 | 5* | 6* | 7 | 8 | 9* | 10 | 11 | 12* | 13 | 14 | 15* | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19* | 20* | 21* | 22*

#my writing #abandoned wips #keith kogane #lance mcclain #alpha lance mcclain #omega keith kogane #klance #keith x lance #abo #omegaverse #vld #voltron #voltron legendary defender

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waywardwrestlewritingwaif · 3 years

Text

Raise the Stakes, Part 13

I just had to sneak in one more part before the big showdown tonight. Aside from this, the card for Resurgence looks awesome!

Pairing: David Finlay x OFC x Jay White

Word count: 2,897

Content advisory: sexual content (not as graphic as previous parts, but still more than just mentions), language

Previous sections (and the prequel) available on the Master List

This is completely normal, you tell yourself. He has a big match tomorrow. He needs a clear head and sleep and, as he’s fond of telling you, he doesn’t get either of those things when the two of you are together. It makes sense that he’d want to spend tonight at his own place, by himself.

So why do you feel like something horrible is happening?

You close your eyes but the second you do, you get a vision ofJay lifting David limp body off the mat. You can still hear that awful crack of David’s unprotected skull hitting the chair and immediately you feel sick to your stomach, just as you had when you’d watched the moment unfold. You were as powerless then as you are now to change it. All you could do was follow the assistants who’d come to help him to the medic’s room.

By the time they got him back there, there was already a red welt visible on his forehead. He was barely conscious, growling at anyone who tried to help him until you approached. He hadn’t said anything, just leaned into your body and let his head fall on your shoulder. He wasn’t aware enough to notice that you were crying, even when a few of your tears dripped onto his skin.

You’d held him tight until the doctor arrived, her expression doing nothing to ease your mind. Nevertheless, after a thorough check, she pronounced that he wasn’t concussed and wasn’t injured beyond the obvious bumps and bruises. Not physically at least.

Of course, you’d insisted that he come back to your place where you could keep an eye on him and take care of the wounds he had sustained. Well, you hadn’t really had to insist. He was happy to go along, laughing at the way you tried to do everything for him. It became a rather hilarious tug of war, you trying everything to keep him still and him doing everything to annoy you, getting himself a bottle of water from the fridge, trying to make something for dinner until you’d literally smacked his ass repeatedly with a spatula, which had you both laughing so hard you almost fell down.

Getting him into bed was a battle, too, and once you got him undressed and relaxed, he’d immediately started to get frisky. He kept insisting that he was fine and had ended up spending time both last night and the first part of the day today showing you just how fine he was.

“I can’t wait until this weekend is over,” he hissed into your skin during one intimate moment.

You’d agreed because, despite the fact that there are other shows and other matches coming up, there does seem to be a sense of finality around their showdown this weekend. Sure after this, Jay’s going to calm down or get distracted and he won’t be so determined to screw with your lives.

“Never again,” Jay had fairly shrieked, sitting on David’s chest, clinging on to his belt. “You will never beat me again.”

Sure, his words made perfect sense within the context of their fight for the belt and Jay’s determination to avenge his loss months ago. But you knew that wasn’t it. The animalistic way they’d stared each other down before the fight, the rush to get started. Jay always loved to tease confronting an enemy but backed out at the last seconds toying with them until he was convinced he’d rattled their nerves. Not last night. He and David had gone right after each other, brawling like they were in a bar.

Thinking of that reminds you of a night you haven’t thought about in years, back in their early days, your early days, in the dojo. It’s not a night you should remember at all, given the condition you were in but you remember it, or at least the end of it, perfectly.

The three of you had been out drinking. Drinking a lot. You’d stumbled back to your barracks leaning on one another to form some sort of solid mass that could stay upright. You’d still ended up tumbling a few times, which was hardly surprising. You must have all had some kind of homing instinct because none of you could tell where the hell you were.

You knew that by the time you made it back, the door would be locked but your super power at that time was that you were small enough and flexible enough to get through the window in the kitchen that was stuck open. You’d needed a boost from the guys, which had taken a couple of efforts, but you were eventually able to scramble through and unlock the front door, albeit after crashing into so many things and making so much noise that there was no way anyone slept through it.

Your room was in another area of the building but you’d just headed to their room. You’d passed out on the floor on several occasions, always on the floor even though you’d already started sleeping with Jay by that point. The two of you were half-assed pretending that nothing was happening, even though you’d very quietly fool around before falling asleep.

You’d been keeping things a secret to avoid gossip but also, at least on your part, because you hadn’t wanted to hurt David. It was clear already that he was sweet on you and you’d figured that as long as it wasn’t right there out in the open, you could pretend that there was no reason for him to feel hurt. Later on, you’d confide in him about how miserable Jay was making you, but at that point, things were still fun, still inconsequential.

In retrospect, you realize this period must have been agony for him. Jay was a braggart and had advertised his conquest to his roommate pretty much right away, but from there, you’d all pretended that nothing was happening. It’s only been in the last few weeks that you found out just how much and how early he’d liked you. Going through that must have sucked.

But on that particular night, there was no problem because you were all feeling no pain, either physical or emotional. You’d ended up crawling up the stairs on all fours, basically pulling both of them along with you. Jay had informed you loudly that he needed to take a piss and you and David had somehow made it back to their room.

It was dark, which meant the two of you were stumbling all over the place, but eventually David had flopped down onto his bed and turned on the lamp that stood on the shelf just above it. Unfortunately, as he did so, he’d knocked the lamp backward and left it hanging precariously, wedged between the headboard and the wall.

“David, get the light!” You’d been laughing so hard you could barely get the words out. There were tears streaming down your cheeks.

“It’s ok,” he mumbled, laughing as much as his semi-conscious body would let him.

“It’s not ok, David, you have to get the lamp because it’s going to…” You could not for the life of you remember the word “fall” in that moment.

After a few more seconds, you’d gone over to retrieve the lamp yourself, not that you were particularly graceful at it, balancing yourself as best you could on the edge of David’s bed and placing one hand on the wall to try to keep steady, all while trying not to collapse onto David’s chuckling form.

Out of nowhere, he’d snaked an arm around your leg and pulled you down onto his face, which made you both laugh even harder. You’d been giggling as he clumsily pushed your panties out of the way and started licking you with sloppy enthusiasm.

“Oh my god, David, what the hell,” you laughed. “That tickles!”

Maybe you would have told him to stop, or he just would have passed out in the middle of what he was doing because he was just that loaded, but before either of those things could happen, you’d been interrupted.

“What the fuck?” Jay was standing unsteadily in the doorway.

You’d tried to shush him as you fell back a little, sitting on David’s chest. He was laughing too but Jay decidedly was not.

“What are you, eating her pussy?”

You’d just cracked up laughing. David hadn’t opened his eyes, just grinned in a drunk, goofy way and responded, “I don’t know. Sort of?”

“Turn the light off,” Jay snapped.

“I’m trying to!” Another wave of laughter rolled over you as you’d pondered the ridiculousness of not being able to turn off a light.

“Turn the fucking light off!” Jay yelled.

He gave it a hard kick and shattered the bulb, solving the problem. He’d helped you stand up and although you couldn’t see him well, you’d felt like David was already unconscious as Jay led you over to his bed.

He’d pushed you down and started pulling your clothes away, which was unusual. Part of trying to keep things secret was learning how to fool around without getting naked and being as quiet as possible. But that night, Jay had been insistent about getting you naked. He’d been rough and he’d been loud. And he’d bit and pinched and scratched at you until you were loud as well. If you hadn’t managed to wake everyone in the building up with your arrival, that must have done the trick.

The only person it didn’t disturb was David, whose light snoring you could hear while you were going at it.

Jay had never been one to stare into your eyes and focus intently on you during sex, not back then at least. He’d look at you, then away, like he was thinking of what he could do next, or what he could get you to do. But as you remember the night now, you realize that his eyes flickered repeatedly towards the other bed, vibrant with anger. You knew that Jay had come to see you as one of his belongings during the time that you’d been working for him, but it’s only now that you realize how early that had started. Even then, when he’d been very clear that the two of you were not exclusive, he’d been livid at the idea that someone else would touch what was his.

The son of a bitch would have known that David was hung up on you, too. He’d done his best to make sure that he’d hear him fucking you right there in the room, like David didn’t even exist. David who at that point was still his best friend.

You don’t know if David woke up while all this was happening. You hope he didn’t. Although he’d apologized for what he called “his behavior” the next day, you’ve never been sure how much he remembers. Certainly by this point, it might have faded from his memory entirely. You hope that’s the case. You hope he doesn’t remember it anything like the way you do.

In his position, you don’t know if you’d ever be able to trust you, to believe that your emotions weren’t contaminated or at least inconsistent. You can’t believe that doubts don’t start to creep in the second you’re out of his sight, which is why, although it’s understandable that he’d want to spend the night by himself tonight, you feel worried. The second he starts thinking about how many problems you’re causing and how much he’s had to deal with for years because of you, he’s likely to move to Siberia just to ensure he never sees you again.

And as if you weren’t capable of driving yourself crazy with anxiety on your own, Jay’s trying his best to make it worse. Since you are the talent liaison for New Japan in America and Jay is a New Japan performer currently working in America, you’re no longer allowed to stop him from accessing you and tonight, he’s apparently decided to take full advantage of that.

Your phone lights up to indicate another text message. You check every time because it could be David, or someone actually trying to contact you for work, as opposed to what Jay’s doing, which is trying to drive you right out of your mind. But it seems like no one has anything to say to you except Jay.

Are you alone or do you have to take care of your boy tonight?

I hope you’re not wearing him out. I want him to remember how easy it is for me to beat him even at his best. And I know how you can be.

Try not to think about me when you two are going at it.

If he’s not there, come over. I’ll keep my hands to myself if you do.

You know I can get women whenever I want but I never stop thinking about the filthy things I’d like to do to you.

Play the good girl all you want, I know you’re going to be thinking about that last text for hours. I’ll bet you’ll even touch yourself.

Send pictures when you do. No reason for us not to enjoy ourselves.

Wonder how he’d react if I told him you were coming over. Guess I could find out. Not like he’d know I was lying. Or maybe I’m not lying?

That last one does it. You can’t just ignore that because you don’t know if he’s going to make good on the threat. So you type back the only two words you can think of: STOP IT.

Ha. I knew you weren’t sleeping. And I’ll bet your sweet prince is back at his place because he wants to be focused for tomorrow. Poor boy denying himself his last meal.

You flinch and respond again in all capital letters: I MEAN IT. KNOCK IT OFF.

You’re tense. You should definitely come over. I’ll give you a back rub.

You should have just let him keep texting and gone to sleep, not that you can sleep because you’re so tense about things with David and the fact that Jay’s threatening to ruin them. Now you’re caught in one of his mazes that you can never seem to find your way out of.

Fine, you’re not coming over. Phone sex?

NO.

Come on, it’s probably the one thing we haven’t done before. Call me.

NO. GOD WILL YOU JUST STOP? I’M TRYING TO SLEEP.

I know how to help you calm down. Call.

Ok, seriously, let me help you relax. We don’t have to talk about you putting my dick in your mouth.

You roll your eyes and answer: Nothing with you relaxes me.

Seriously, I have a technique.

NO.

You’re no fun. Think I’ll bug Super Dave for a bit.

You don’t even text him back. You call because at least if he’s on the phone, he can’t be texting David to tell him god knows what.

“Well this is a nice surprise,” he purrs.

“You can’t do this. I need to sleep. Hell, you need to sleep. Just let it go, Jay.”

“I don’t really need to be well rested to beat Finlay. He got lucky the one time. Even you don’t believe he’s good enough to beat me twice.”

“Maybe I don’t care if he wins or not. Maybe I’ll be happy because I get to be with him one way or the other.”

“I’ll bet he cares.”

“I’m hanging up.”

“No, come on, I promised I’d help you sleep and now you’re even more worked up.”

You try to think of a smart comeback but you can’t. He waits a minute before continuing.

“Are you lying down?”

“Not that it’s any of your business but yes.”

“It’s purely professional interest, I promise.” You can hear a dark laugh buried in his voice. “Lay flat on your back and close your eyes.”

You’re not sure why but you do as he says. You do need to sleep and maybe the bastard actually can help with that.

“I want you to breathe all the way in, really slowly, through your nose.”

You give it a shot and he immediately interrupts.

“Don’t do it like you’re angry at me. Soft and slow, until your lungs feel full.”

You comply, fighting to keep from getting angry at him.

“Ok, now exhale very slowly through your mouth. All the way.” When he’s satisfied you’ve done that properly, he continues, “Keep doing that, as slow as you can manage. In through the nose, out through the mouth.”

You can’t deny that you can feel your body start to relax after only a few repetitions.

“Now take your hand and place it over your face, right along the hairline. Just barely let your fingers touch your skin. Then run your hand down your face, all the way to your neck. Keep your touch as light as you can.”

The sensation makes you shiver but as much as you feel like your nerves are being activated, you also feel like you’re pulling the tension out of your body. He tells you to repeat this gesture a few times, always keeping your breathing slow and even.

“Good night princess,” he whispers. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The line goes dead before you can say anything.

#david finlay fanfic #david finlay imagine #jay white fanfic #jay white imagine #njpw fanfic #njpw imagine #impact wrestling fanfic #wrestling imagine #wrestling fanfiction #wayward wrestle writing

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breathings-of-the-heart · 5 years

Text

Imagine Levi Confessing his Love for You

A/N: THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ THE TEXT BELOW BEFORE PROCEEDING THANK YOU :))

HERE IS A TIMELINE / EXPLANATION / BACKGROUND INFORMATION BECAUSE CASE THE TIME SKIPS OF THIS STORY ARE CONFUSING: I’m sorry for that everyone, I know the dates are sloppy and as a whole this fic doesn’t make too much sense; I tried to edit this piece as best I could to make the story as easy to follow as possible, but seeing as I can’t unpublish part 1 or 2, the cleanup still leaves things bit unclear. These imagines were originally chapters of a longer Levi x Reader fic that I decided to discontinue, which is why there are so many loose ends. Here was my original intention for this story, broken down for the few who choose to read the Author’s Notes lol.

We are going to do this in the order of the 3 part fic (I also put attached all the links to the titles)

Part 1: Imagine Relating to Mikasa About Loving Someone in the Military

The scene is set during the events of SEASON 1 of Attack on Titan, BEFORE the Female Titan Arc. (Y/N) was also hand selected by Levi to be part of the original Special Operation Squad; she bit her hand at the dinner table along with Petra, Gunther, Eld, and Oluo to show their dedication and understanding towards Eren wayyy back in the beginning of the series. The Survey Corps is making preparations for their first attempt to go to Shiganshina since the Fall of Wall Maria and not only uncover the mole who killed captive titans Sonny and Bean, but also to get to Eren’s basement.

Part 2: To Love Another

The flashback and opening scene in the beginning of this writing piece (where (Y/N) and Hange are talking to each other) occurs shortly after (Y/N) wakes up in the infirmary room, before anyone breaks the news that she, aside from an injured Levi, is the last surviving member of Squad Levi after Annie killed the others in the Forest of Giant Trees in her female titan form. Hange’s intentions were to bring the (Y/N) and Levi together so they would be able to support each other during this mutual loss. But alas, (Y/N) accepts his rejection and the two suffer the aftermath of this tragic news alone. To read this arc for context/bonus content to get a better understanding of this mini series, see my posts (as a sort of prequel, if you will) Imagine Levi Finding you Injured on an Expedition and Imagine Being the Last Member of Squad Levi To Survive to fill that time gap :)

In real-time, all of Season 2 and Season 3 Part 1 have gone by with limited interaction between (Y/N) and Levi. This part of the story is occurring during Season 3 PART 2, (spoilers) after the Coup D'etat, and after Historia becomes Queen. (Y/N) is no longer an active soldier, having sustained injuries too severe to be reliable in combat. She remains useful to the Corps as a battle strategist, however, which allows her to stay. The Scouting Regiment is currently preparing to go to Eren’s basement in their second attempt, knowing Reiner and Berthold will be waiting for them there.

Part 3: Imagine Levi Confessing his Love for You (YOU ARE HERE)

This part takes place pretty much a week or so after the events of “To Love Another.” It is revealed how much (Y/N) has isolated herself in the months between Parts 1 and 2 from not only Levi, but Hange, the only one besides Mikasa who knew about her feelings for Levi prior to their falling out. (Y/N) confesses her feelings for Levi before the mission to Shiganshina in Season one, and the fic parallels itself and comes full circle once their final interaction occurs before the second and final mission to Shiganshina, for which, (Y/N) is unable to go for her death would be almost certain. She seen to be more valuable inside the walls, where she can carry on the duties of the Survey Corps should the entire regiment collapse during the mission. This is the final part :)

I HOPE THAT CLEARS THINGS UP!

requested by @a-single-uwo @dracq and @little-diva-gurl and a lovely anon who def isn’t the happiest that this took so long. Deepest apologies! Hope this was worth the wait. I also hope this post finds everyone safe and in good health during these crazy times <3

~~~~~

Dread bottled up in the bottom of your stomach, which threatened to fall down to your knees. Even Hange’s eyes brimmed with concern when she informed you that Levi requested your presence in his office; all of which was out of the blue, uncharacteristic, after months of him being accustomed to giving you your space.

Feigning annoyance, you stared at the soldier dummy two paces ahead, dented heavily with the marks of your punches. The sun was beating down on the early autumn day, and heat waves rose from the ground. It illuminated the glistening perspiration sliding down your figure, torso rising and falling in short breaths of exhaustion.

Hange watched you carefully from a distance. She noticed your tense muscles, clad in a sports bra and boxing shorts; the lack of attire made it impossible to hide the sudden tension and stiffness embedded in your lean muscles, a tell tale sign of distress. As a creature of observation and analytics, the Squad Leader could sense your discomfort as if it was written across your forehead.

The brunette watched you wipe the sweat off your forehead and yell in frustration, turning towards her direction and moving to land a kick at her head.

Unfazed and in possession of sharp reflexes, Hange took a step back, only to watch as you twisted mid-air and landed a 360 Crescent kick to the dummy-shaped bag, which broke open on impact under the force of the blow. Sand poured out of its opening and spilled onto the ground in a steady stream that grew less heavy as the seconds passed.

“I’ll have to admit, you are getting better, but (Y/N), don’t get your hopes up,” Hange cautioned. “The problem does not reside in your muscles. No matter how well you learn to fight like you used to, Annie crushed your ribs and threw you to the ground: it's your lungs that will never recover. You can’t come with us to Shiganshina tomorrow like this.”

Hunched over with hands on your knees, you regained a regular breathing pattern and began to feel the explosive pain in your chest. Airways blocked, you began coughing, willing the oxygen to enter your body.

“Let me humor myself, Hange-san. If I don’t try, I might go insane.”

It was almost tragic that such a young soldier was out of commission; you were full of promise, rivalling Mikasa in skill. Hange knew you were itching to do what you trained for your whole life: Coming to Shiganshina and putting it all on the line had always been your number one goal. You didn’t want to be left behind again, to die bitter and alone without the only people you cared about.

“Regardless, (Y/N), you’re stalling,” Hange smoothly shifted the topic of conversation back to what brought her to you in the first place. “He still has that power over you, huh?”

"It'll pass eventually," you sighed, hoping the words were true.

You bowed towards the tall female. She smiled in return, shaking her head softly.

Whilst pacing away, said person stopped you once more.

“(Y/N). For what it’s worth, I stand by what I said before. Don’t look so nervous, okay?”

Her words replayed in your head, a haunting ghost of the not-so-long ago past. Time was strange, that way. It seemed like everything happened yesterday yet in another lifetime, all at once. “He loves you, more than he’s ever loved anyone. Surely you know that.”

Stupid, you thought, how I might have believed it once.

As you made your way down the hall, numbness crept into your body once again. You were too proud to admit you were afraid, especially with the Section Commander’s radiating sympathy, but everyone knew the once friendly dynamic between you and the Captain transformed into one more distant and cold. With each step towards the door, you felt the icy chill grow and that fact alone shook you to the core.

But it didn’t matter, seeing as Levi was of superior authority. There was no way around it.

Your hand shook as it raised to knock.

~~~~~~

“Name and business,” Levi spoke, voice muffled by the closed door.

“It’s (Y/N), sir. I was hoping to speak with you.”

There was a pause, and in that time you considered the option of fleeing back to your room and retreating back to a life of emotional safety, normality. It wasn’t too late to forget.

It had been a week since you spoke to Mikasa on the rooftop, after realizing the deep shit your heart decided to put you in. You didn’t think Levi would notice the distracted nature of your behavior-- tried to make it as subtle as possible whilst you figured out what you felt for him.

But before you could explore other options, Levi muttered a stern “enter.” You knew with the first expedition back to Shiganshina tomorrow, and the prospect of death closer than it has ever been on a mission, it was now or never.

The room was dim, small, warm, and thick with building tension. Shadows danced across the Captain’s face, sharp features lit by an orange flame. Only candlelight, sourced at his desk, assisted your adjusting eyes.

Your nose was hit with the smell of tea and cleaning products upon entry. This fact made you smile despite your bundling nervous energy. It was a familiar place, filled with memories of late night conversations (granted, of mostly you speaking and him listening), witnessed only by the large piles of paperwork. It started here and resulted in a natural, growing fondness kept secret to all except you two and the moon looking in from the window.

This man was your squad leader, your commander, your trusted comrade. There was no need to be afraid-- Not unless of course, you held the potential to shatter such damn a delicate relationship.

And you did.

Was it worth it?

Your gaze gravitated towards the center of the room where the Lance Corporal sat. And in that instant, your smile evaporated instantly. He placed his pen down, gracefully resting his cheek on his fist and lazily tossing the raven locks out of his eyes-- they landed on you, piercing yet drowsy and indifferent upon first glance. He was beautiful, as always. The allure was nearly sickening; unfair to the rest of the world.

Looking closer, however, he was anything but relaxed. The observant eye could see his countenance stirred something different. He seemed sharp and focused, ready to dart out and wrap himself around your heart, squeezing tighter with every breath you took. And you felt it-- the heart palpitations, which got worse at the sight of him.

He seemed… different. Dangerous, like a storm stirring in the distance, and the inevitable downpour that comes with it. The dark circles under his eyes told tales about the insomnia; a fresh cup of caffeinated black tea even rested on his left, steam rising out of it. And whilst attraction was undeniable, your concern always came first.

Levi was never quite good at getting proper rest before a mission.

“(Y/N),” The word was breathy, yet his voice was rough.

You shuffled in your spot, your name on his tongue making your stomach churn with desire.

Levi seemed to pick up on your affliction, getting out of his chair and gliding towards you. Everything happened fast and slow all at once, starting off with a momentaneous rush of air and the collision of your back with the office wall. A small shriek filled the air, out of place against the silence; was that your voice? The pain should’ve been there, but it wasn’t.

Then the seconds dragged out. Levi was a new person, setting your skin aflame as he gripped your wrists and pinned them against the wall. His lips brushed your eartips, which turned red the instant the raven’s breath fanned over them. This normally reserved, disciplined man unleashed something you had never seen before.

“Finally ready to talk to me about why you’ve been acting so strange, brat?” he whispered.

This wasn’t supposed to be so dirty. He was angry, but the mood was established in layers: something more sinister existed beneath.

The scent of fresh pine filled your nostrils until your brain went foggy. Levi was close--so close, and with the fact that you’ve been avoiding him mixed in with the fact that you missed him for it, all bets were off: there was no stopping the words that came out of your mouth next.

“There’s something I need to tell you,” you whispered back, looking him dead in the eyes, no fear this time.

His grip on your wrist slackened.

“Hm?”

You took in a deep breath, ready to leave it all on the line, and spoke.

“I like you a lot, sir. And not in a comradery type of way. I-I just thought I’d tell you before, you know, we leave tomorrow.” Your gaze found the floor again, too timid for your own good. But the statement was said, and it was finite; there was no turning away from it.

The Captain’s eyes went wide and gleamed brightly at you. His chest felt lighter and as he looked down at you in speechless awe, staring at anything but his face in your adorable embarrassment, he realized exactly why your absent look irked him those days ago. Why your lack of enthusiasm and lighthearted-ness gave him a strange sense of frustration.

Levi never felt more awake, more hyper aware of his surroundings.

The feeling of your chest pressed against him, the heat of those rosy cheeks, the pounding within his ribcage, the moon hitting your pretty face. With your figure in his arms, after the blissful seconds passed, everything felt, for once, okay.

Until it wasn’t.

Gaining the courage to look back up at him, you all but tore apart at the scowl on his face as demons flitted through his beautiful brain and polluted the image of happiness. Levi grew more indignant by the second, all but throwing your arms he held back at your sides like they were poison to the touch.

Tears pooled in your eyes as the soft expression you didn’t get to see turned sour, disgusted-- the Captain’s lips curling into a snarl as he imagined what he could lose if he opened up his heart for this girl in front of him to take. The risk and pain of falling for someone, in the world the two of you lived in. And all the stoic man could think was how he allowed this charade to come so far.

No, he wouldn't allow it.

“Get out, (L/N)” he commanded, harsh and unforgiving.

You were trembling, body feeling detached from reality as it moved, convincing itself that it was simply a nightmare. Levi’s cruel demeanor all but shattered you as you looked wide-eyed and his anger grew, the short man pacing behind his desk and bringing a hand over his face. His free one crumpled into a fist, knuckles turning white as he slammed it on the wood, the loud bang making you jump; the fear, grief, confusion coming all at once until it choked you and your vision spotted black.

“I said GET OUT!”

The room stilled and Levi looked up to face you cowering near the door, a single tear rolling down your cheek. He stilled at the sight, the weight of his words dawning upon him.

“I-I’m sorry,” you gasped before racing out of the room.

Had you looked back, you would’ve seen Levi’s outstretched hand betraying his body, desperately reaching out for you, gray eyes filled with pain.

But you knew now you’d never be dumb enough to spare him that second glance-- and maybe that was the right call, seeing as his feet moved in the direction you left, only to shut the door left askew in your wake.

~~~

The Captain’s gaze was on you more than necessary, but it was clear the two of you had the same thought: You focused everything into this discussion, melting into the emotionally-detached soldier your duty commanded, just like Levi did. His words had no ulterior motive, no deeper meaning. They were monotonous and empty.

Or so you thought.

Levi stood up the second you came in, but your gaze fell to the ground in submission.

“Hange said you needed to see me, Captain?” your voice was small and weak; you kicked yourself for it. How pathetic.

“Damn you...”

The man said nothing more, brushing his fingers along your cheekbones and you everything hit you like whiplash, the memories. Levi ran them along your face, down to your chin to lift it gently, so that for once you’d let your eyes meet instead of looking at the ground like a coward.

When they did the man’s breath hitched in his throat, because although your (eye color) orbs were no longer as vibrant, they were still beautiful and entrancing; why hadn’t he ever appreciated them before?

"I missed you, brat," he spoke firmly.

You felt a churn in your abdomen as you watched his eyes study the details of your face and take in every feature, committing it to memory painfully slow. You were paralyzed, his face inches away from yours and forcing buried emotions to resurface as months of restraint came undone. He didn’t speak, holding you delicately after not being this close for far too long and discerning what he’s been missing.

“Um, Captain? What are you...?"

You bit your lip, feeling puzzled and confused as you remembered the hate in Levi's orbs the last time you saw him like this.

All you could see now was how quickly his emotions shifted from serenity to fury that fateful night, and as you recollected the way Levi lashed out, all chaos and fury, he retracted his hand.

And you flinched away.

The Captain froze.

“Don’t-- don’t fucking do that,” he growled, his urgency startling. “I would never hurt you, (Y/N).”

Your eyebrows furrowed, all inhibition thrown out the window the second Levi’s countenance flashed with hurt at your response to his touch. You let your fear go and emotions free at the irony of the raven’s statement. Your mind went into overdrive, recounting every instance you wanted to give up and leave, drown in yourself, give up on finding purpose in the aftermath of rejection and Squad Levi’s death and your permanent injury changing your way of life. Things you faced alone, because instead of rekindling any semblance of a relationship, Levi tossed everything away and berated you for feeling.

The man who resided here cut your heart expertisely like the countless swords he wielded then disposed. He did not have the right to look at you so kindly; did not have to right to fan the flames of false hope. But here he was, procrastinating until the very last day to take initiative regarding those actions.

“Why are you doing this?” you whispered, forgetting your composure.

“I’d advise you not to speak in riddles,” Levi spoke in a low and even voice, no real malice as he addressed you and tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear.

You took a deep breath and fought to remain calm, grabbing Levi's wrist to keep him from touching you.

“Please don’t toy with me, or mock my feelings like this. Why did you call me here? You made it plenty clear how you feel about me, Levi. What else is there to say?" you begged, the lack of closure driving you insane.

This was the first time you used his name, an unprecedented amount of spite and pain expressed through it, because you wanted Levi to remember this moment. It was over: that time of feeling sorry and ashamed of yourself for being nothing other than human. The remorse was gone, and the heartache was fleeting.

“Tell me, dammit!”

His was overflowing.

“You want to know how I really feel about you, (Y/N)!?” the Captain shouted, voice rising because for a man who relied on impulse and action on the battlefield it was fucking frustrating, watching the woman in front of him live this way for the simple reason that he was not good with words. "The thoughts that go through my head when you can't even bear to look at me?!"

"No, that's not what I asked. I already know that you don't--"

"--Fuck this."

Relying on instinct to guide him, Levi leaned forward and kissed you.

The second his lips met yours, you melted on the spot, knees giving out beneath you. Tongue sliding into your mouth, Levi simultaneously lifted you into the air, feeling lightheaded as you moaned into him, eagerly returning the kiss. His hands were everywhere, grasping at your waist, clutching the back of your head, running down your thighs. You were in such a state of euphoria that nothing else existed.

Your own digits threaded through Levi’s raven locks and pulled needily, emitting a growl from his throat as he bit down on your lower lip. He reveled in the feeling of your legs around his waist as your soft lips worked against his own, hungry and relentless. The kiss was passionate and you’d imagined it a million times over, but this-- Levi successfully ruined you for any other man.

The need for oxygen pulled you apart, Levi’s strong arms keeping you in the air as his eyes remained shut; he pecked your lips once, then twice, savoring the moment until it mournfully passed.

He was hesitant to break the silence, but you deserved it. You waited long enough to hear the truth, and he knew his time was running out; you weren’t going to wait for him forever.

“(Y/N)...” he began to speak, forehead resting on yours as he panted softly to catch his breath. “I dreamt of you last night. I have been for days.”

“Levi--”

“--Just listen,” he interrupted, unable to stop himself from kissing you softly once more. “Neither of us are running away this time.”

You fell silent as the man let you down, pulling you into his solid chest as you buried your face in his shirt, patiently listening. His calm heartbeat thrummed soothingly in your ears like a metronome.

“Isabel, Farlan, Oluo, Petra, Gunther, Eld. They all knew that what they meant to me. And I them."

One of the only things that made it easier to say goodbye, you thought with a bittersweet pang in your chest.

"With us, it's different. I died in every dream, (Y/N). Every one. And in every single one, you lived on believing I never loved you. Call me selfish, but I...”

You pulled away from the stoic man, searching his gaze as he trailed off. Shyly, you interlaced your fingers, his larger hand enveloping yours and you prayed to whoever was listening upstairs that all of this was real.

“I just can't leave until you understand...”

He clutched you impossibly tighter, eyes squeezing shut.

"...that you, are everything."

~~~ Extended Ending ~~~

A soft hum filled the air, the tune dreamy and sweet as you repeated the melody once again. You smiled warmly as hands wound around your waist, pulling you closer to a toned and shirtless Captain Levi, silken sheets tossed haphazardly on top of the two of you. His breath sent goosebumps on your neck as he kissed your shoulder gently, warmth deliciously intoxicating.

Giggling now, you turned around to face him, the man’s onyx hair ticking you softly. You captured your lips in his with one smooth movement and snuggled closer, taking in the small slice of heaven that was home in his arms, legs tangled together. Feeling unbelievably content, like your heart might burst, you leaned forward and rubbed your nose against Levi's.

Although he wasn't smiling, the look he was giving you revealed his own sensation of happiness.

“I never thought you’d be the cuddling type,” you remarked devilishly, scrunching up your nose as you teased him.

Though your tone was lighthearted, you were painfully aware that the moment was ending. You internally cursed the sun as it started to set, orange light peeking in through the window shades to signal the coming of night. Levi said nothing, looking deeply into your eyes, and like always, it felt as if he could read the contents of your soul.

But it wasn’t vulnerability you felt: on the contrary, you knew you would never find as safe a place as here. With him. Finally.

“Levi...” you swallowed, humor all but gone. “Now you have to come home.”

To emphasize your point you sat up on the bed, legs tucked neatly underneath you as you stared imperatively at your lover.

“Mhm. We’ve wasted enough time,” he agreed, taking you by the wrist to pull you back on top of him, to bask in this personal paradise if only for another minute.

#levi ackerman x reader #lance corporal levi #LEVI ACKERMAN #snk #shingeki no kyojin #AoT #attack on titan #attack on titan imagines #attack on titan x reader #snk imagines #Captain Levi #snk season 3 #aot x reader #levi x reader #levi ackerman fanfiction #levi ackerman imagine

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whats-rambled-rambled · 4 years

Text

stuck in stories - Nikki

Neil x Reader

summary:

//I see you with her, and it crushes me inside Guess I should stop thinkin' about you all the time Maybe this is what I needed Maybe this is a sign//

+ song: Tori Kelly - All in my head

warnings: language, utter heartbreak I guess?

author’s note: another request! This one-shot is a straight-up prequel to the events happening in Stuck in Reverse series. The tipping point in the history of our favourite chaotic idiots, you may say.

Let me know what you think!

___

The atmosphere in the car was volatile. You were determined not to make a scene in front of Wheeler, but as she pulled over to drop Neil off next to his apartment, he exploded first.

“Enlighten me, since when exactly do you have problems with following simple instructions?”

“For fuck’s sake, this is rich, coming from you-” you snarled at him and reached for the doorknob. “Thanks Wheeler, I’ll walk from here.”

You glared at Neil with a silent plea for keeping his mouth shut until you both leave. He pressed his lips together and nodded.

“You sure? It’s pouring,” your colleague glanced at you in the rear-view mirror. You could say that even though she was concerned about your well-being, she would gladly dump the two of you right there, without having to deal with your bullshit any longer.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine, see you tomorrow.”

You jumped out of the car the second it stopped. It was bucketing down. The city’s lights were reflecting in huge puddles. The smell of wet asphalt was lingering in the air. In different circumstances, it would be quite mesmerizing.

You didn’t want to talk to Neil. Not right then. You were so ashamed of losing your edge and endangering the mission. And your squad. The sole thought about what could have happened made you nauseous. It would have been your own goddamn fault. Again. You forced yourself to inhale. All you had to do was to start walking to your apartment located a few blocks away. Easy, right?

Not quite so, not with fuming Neil blocking your way, staring at you angrily.

His blue eyes were searching for yours, but you weren't ready to meet them.

You were too afraid of what he might see.

The truth was, part of you’d hoped that Neil would have been pissed enough to let you go. But he was still him, no matter what you’d kept telling yourself over the last weeks.

“What’s going on? Because what’s happened today...that wasn’t you.”

He wasn’t wrong. But he wasn’t exactly right either.

Nevertheless, it was enough for you to build another wall around yourself.

You shrugged and spat out, “Seems like there are so many sides to me that you don’t know, then.”

“Even that is unusually dramatic,” he scoffed, the corner of his lips twitching in more of a reflex than an honest attempt to smile.

You were just so fed up.

You finally looked him in the eyes. “Go to hell Neil,” you sighed and tried to walk around him.

But he wasn’t gonna let it slide that easily.

Neil took a step to the side and blocked you one more time.

“Wow, are you just gonna walk away?” he sneered as he crossed his arms, faint notes of disappointment ringing in the question.

“Any better ideas?” you huffed as you tried to go around him again.

And as you almost succeeded, Neil grabbed your wrist. You held your breath and squinted your eyes shut, desperate to keep your emotions at bay.

“Look at me.”

The soft undertones in his voice made a crack in your walls. You sighed heavily and glanced at him over your shoulder.

Neil didn’t waste that short moment of your attention. He pulled your wrist, making you turn his way as reached for the other one. When he looked at you, you noticed that all anger in his expression was replaced by concern. “Talk to me, please.”

“Oh, now you want to talk?” a laugh escaping your mouth was almost hysterical. Better late than never, but you were too hurt to care at that point. You tried to break away from his grasp and the rain was working in your favor; you managed to wriggle out your wrists, only for Neil to catch your hands firmly a second later.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

His calmness was driving you crazy and you snapped.

“I haven’t seen you in weeks!”

The accusation hit him hard. For a moment Neil loosened his hold, but then he squeezed your hands again. His brows furrowed as he opened his mouth to protest, you didn’t want to hear it though.

You winced. “Don’t say anything, I get it.”

You kept seeing each other at work, after all. What else did you need? When he wasn’t on assignments, he spent every moment with his girlfriend. That was understandable. It was also the first year you’d spent your holiday alone. But he’d been busy renovating Nikki’s apartment. What was most important though, he was so happy and you didn’t want to bother him or dump your problems on him. You could handle yourself. Most of the time, anyway.

And now he wanted to talk.

You didn’t even know what could you possibly start with. The sleepless nights? The worrying news from home? Or maybe the toll the Canada missions had taken on your body and your mental health? Or simply the fact that you’d been lonely and you were missing your best friend? Even when he was standing right there in front of you?

Neil’s thumbs were gently stroking your knuckles, his worried eyes never left yours.

Your chest was clenched so hard you could barely breathe.

“It’s just too much,” you started, fighting for every word to make it past the lump in your throat. You chuckled bitterly at the sudden thought. It was quite accurate, doubly so with that bloody weather. “It feels like I’m drowning.”

And like nobody cared.

As if he could hear the last thought, Neil pulled your hands to his chest and smiled sadly.

“I’m right here.”

...but was he really? You bit your lower lip to stop it from trembling and let out a shaky breath.

A hint of pain clouded Neil’s expression as he urged you softly, “Let’s talk it over, okay? Come inside, and-” a sudden frown on your face sparked a slight panic in his mind. “...or not, we can go anywhere, we’ll get some tea or we’ll order drinks and get shitfaced, whatever you need, just please-”

“Babe, what are you doing here? ...Oh, hi Y/N.”

You didn’t know what hurt more. How quickly Neil let go of your hands and took a step back when his girlfriend approached the both of you. Or watching Nikki placing a long kiss on his lips.

Or the way she looked at you after that.

And to think that you used to be friends.

It was hard not to like her though. She was pretty as a doll and insanely charismatic – and she knew how to use both of those to her advantage. She strolled through life as it was one big party, with everyone around her being there to cater to her every need.

But hey, maybe you were just jealous.

Nikki’s eyes were darting between Neil and you from under the umbrella. Finally, she pouted and shot him a disapproving look. “We need to leave in 10 minutes and you look like a disaster.”

Neil smacked his tongue as he flashed his teeth in frustration.

“Jesus, it’s Wednesday already...”

“Yes babe, and we are supposed to be at my parents’ in an hour, so chop chop! Sorry, Y/N.” she grimaced and gestured towards the building’s door.

Neil’s shoulders slumped as he weighed all the choices in his head. You could see how torn he was.

It was more than you could take.

“It’s fine. You shouldn’t be late,” you forced a weak smile on your face, trying to cover the hollowness of your voice. “See you at work.”

You waved your hand and started walking. Soaked to the skin. Shivering, but you weren’t sure if it was from the cold or the exhaustion. Or from the broken heart.

Suddenly, you heard footsteps behind you.

“Wait!”

You stopped, blinking rapidly, so Neil wouldn’t see your tears.

You turned around.

Neil was clearly battling with himself for a moment, but then he placed both hands on your arms.

“Are we okay?” he asked, locking his gaze with yours.

You sighed.

“Neil...”

He shook his head and squeezed your arms slightly.

“I need to know.”

The determination in his blue eyes was tainted with sadness, and it made the pit in your chest grew an inch.

You nodded and gave him a weak smile. “We’re okay.”

Neil exhaled shakily as he brushed a wet strand of hair from your face.

“How about you?” he asked softly, cupping your cheek with his palm.

That gesture brought you on the verge of breaking down. You wanted nothing more but to embrace him, to feel his arms wrapped around you tightly, to hide your face in the crook of his neck, and to forget about the whole world even for just a second.

You caught the sight of Nikki standing in front of their apartment’s door and looking in your direction.

It took all your strength not to choke on the lump in your throat.

You put your hand on his chest. His heart was pounding heavily under your fingers.

“I will be,” you whispered. “Go back to her.”

_____

“Thank you, I didn’t know where else to go.”

“Of course,” said TP as he closed the door. A quick look at your puffy eyes, the pale face, and your trembling hands was enough for him to assess the situation. He took your coat and motioned for you to follow him further into his hotel room. “Towel? G&T? Pizza?”

You chuckled lightly.

“Yes to all, thanks.”

After a few minutes, you were no longer dripping all over the floor. As you rested on an armchair, your boss handed you a drink.

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you anyway,” he said, sitting down on a sofa.

Your heart sank in your chest.

“Am I in trouble?”

“You tell me,” his eyebrow raised at the sight of a puzzled look on your face. “What’s up with you two?”

Oh, that.

You shook your head and tightened your grip on the drink.

“Nothing.”

He scoffed. “This nothing almost cost us a mission today.”

“I’m sorry. It’s not gonna happen again,” you sighed. God, you were so embarrassed.

TP hummed, taking a sip of his drink. “I sure as hell hope so.”

He was still waiting for the answer though.

You fixed your eyes on your glass. You couldn’t bullshit your way out of this one. You trusted him and you knew whatever you were going to say, it would never leave this room. And that thought was enough. “It’s just… I don’t know how much longer I can endure this.”

His dark eyes were scanning your face.

“Is Neil really just a friend?”

Bullseye.

You sighed and closed your eyes.

“I see,” he said, a corner of his lips curling into a knowing smile.

The void in your chest was eating you alive. You knew what you needed to do.

You just had to say it.

“Reassign me.”

TP leaned on his seat. He wasn’t surprised. Just concerned. “Are you sure?”

“No,” you mumbled. You were lightheaded. You hoped that making this decision would lift some weight out of your chest. Quite the opposite, though. “But it hurts… every god awful day it hurts. More and more,” you said quietly as you looked in the dark eyes with determination. “And I can’t risk today’s disaster happening ever again.”

Your boss nodded.

“You gonna tell him?”

Oh god. Even thinking about that was more than you could handle. You shook your head and downed your drink.

“And if he asks?”

“I don’t know,” - you shrugged - “tell him you couldn’t find anybody better for that position?”

TP smirked. “Ah, standard operating procedure, then.”

“Hey now!” you snorted, but a shade of smile appeared on your lips.

And that was enough for him. “I’ll see to it. If that’s really what you want.”

You had no other choice.

“Thank you.”

You just hoped that one day you would be able to forgive yourself.

...And that one day Neil would forgive you, too.

#neil x reader #neil tenet x reader #neil tenet #neil tenet imagine #robert pattinson #stuck in reverse #stuck in stories

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helloprettybb · 4 years

Text

bring me back

My first Steve Rogers fic, so I don’t have very high hopes for this.

prequel

Warnings: one curse word and a whole lotta angst, but good ending

Word count: 3.1k

July Fourth is officially the worst day of the year. You used to enjoy it, but now, you can’t even think of the day without being filled with rage. Years ago, you would be celebrating the love of your life’s birthday, but now, you are alone. He didn’t even say goodbye before leaving for good. You knew that he loved her, but you didn’t realize just how much until the day he chose her over you.

Bucky tried to console you, but he was equally as hurt as you. Neither of you could wrap your heads around why he didn’t come back, but eventually, you had to accept it. As time passed, your sadness evolved to anger and now even the mention of Steve made your blood boil. Every ‘I love you’ was a lie that made you feel so whole only to break you apart when his true love was revealed.

So on every Fourth of July when everyone else is celebrating, you sit under The Tree. The Tree was outside the Compound and has been there for nearly 200 years. You and Steve had your first date there and it eventually became your spot. You shouldn’t be so sentimental, but you couldn’t help the feeling attached to such a simple object.

This Fourth of July is no different. Bucky’s firing up the grill while you stroll over to The Tree. The Tree is as beautiful as it had been on your first date. As you lightly trace your hand over it’s ridge, you notice something. Stepping back, you find a message carved into the bark. It reads, “Bring me back. Brooklyn, 1946.” Shit.

This is a sick joke. You must be imagining something, because this cannot be true. Is it really him? You know that it can’t be anyone else since before the compound, this was just a Stark Industries warehouse. “Bucky!” you shout, loud enough for him to hear you across the yard.

“I’m making burgers! What do you want?” He shouts back, still preoccupied with the grill.

“Come here!” you shout even more urgently, hoping he gets the message. You don’t even have to be near him to know he rolled his eyes. You hear his footsteps followed by his annoyed voice.

“If I burn the burgers because of you, I’m cutting down the tree.” he fake threatens. You’re still in too much shock to throw back a witty remark. He finally reaches you and asks, “What do you want?” All you do is point at the message. Bucky squints a little before his eyes widen with realization. “It can’t be.” is all he says.

You nod and reply, “It has to be him. Who else would write that?” The two of you just stare at the tree in silence until Bucky speaks up.

“So what do we do?” he asks. You sigh and weigh your options. If you ignore the message, you can live the rest of your life as normal. As appealing as that sounds, you know you can’t do that. As angry as Steve Rogers makes you, he is still the love of your life. You couldn’t not see him again if you had the chance.

You look Bucky dead in the eye and say, “We have to bring him back.

Your leg bounces up and down as you wait for him to pick up. Finally you hear him ask, “Hello?”

“Bruce, we need you to come to the Compound.” you state. After the battle, Bruce limited his days here. Now, it’s only you and Bucky with the occasional visit from Sam and others.

“Did something happen?” he asks, voice filled with concern. The last time you asked him here, one of your lab experiments exploded and you needed his help.

“It’s Steve.” you say plainly and before he could ask any questions, you hang up the phone.

The next morning, Bruce arrives at the Compound. “So what is it with Steve?” he asks.

Bucky replies, “Y/n found a message carved in the tree. It looks like he wants us to bring him back.” Bruce doesn’t even attempt to conceal his shock.

He doesn’t say anything so Bucky continues, “Do you think you could fire up that machine?” Bruce nods and leads you to the storage facility where all of Stark’s old inventions are.

“It won’t take me long to fire it up. But you’ll need to call Scott to get the Pym particles.” Bruce states while tinkering with the machine.

You immediately pipe up, “I’ll do it.” You dial your phone as you leave the room. You can’t stand thinking of Steve any longer and are desperate to find something to distract you. After you call Scott, who said he’d be there tomorrow, you invite Bruce to stay over.

While watching television, you feel yourself beginning to doze off. On the brink of sleep, you hear Bucky and Bruce talking at the kitchen table. “How’s she holding up?” Bruce asks. You could feel their eyes on you so you pretend to sleep.

“She seems fine, but I know it’s an act. I mean, he left her for Peggy.” Bucky explains sympathetically.

“He left you too.” Bruce replies. You hear Bucky sigh and hear him get up from the table.

“Yes, but it’s different for her. Bruce, he was going to marry her. You know, before the blip and all.” Bucky confesses. You feel a tear glide down your cheek as you know exactly what he’s talking about. You felt the ring in Steve’s pocket all those years ago.

You knew that the fight over the Accords would not end well, so you begged him to take you if he had to go. After days of arguing, he finally conceded and said he would get you if anything happened. Of course, something did happen, so when you got an anonymous text with coordinates and a time, you knew it was from him. For two years, you lived in hiding with Steve, Sam and Natasha. As Stark’s apprentice, your skills helped all of you stay undetected even by Stark’s state-of-the-are technology.

It was the day before Steve and Natasha found Wanda and Vision that you felt it. You were going through Steve’s pockets while doing laundry when you felt a small box. Out of curiosity, you opened the box and saw a simple, yet beautiful diamond ring. You wondered how he managed to get this, but figured it probably wasn’t in the most moral way. You heard the footsteps out the door and quickly shoved the box in the same pocket before throwing the pants in the pile.

“We have to go to Edinburgh.” Steve states.

“What happened?” you ask, knowing who’s there.

“Wanda and Vision need our help.” he answers curtly, not giving any information. Seeing the concern on your face, he softens and pulls you towards him. Whispering in your ear, “I’ll come back for you, I promise.” He kisses you lightly and leaves. That was the only promise he never kept.

The next day, Scott brings the Pym particles while Bruce finds the old suits. He hands it to you, but you shake your head. “I’m not going.” you state firmly. Luckily he doesn’t argue and passes a suit to Bucky. He leaves to put it on. Bruce asks, “You ready, Buck?” Bucky nods and takes position on the platform. You can’t help but compare this to when Steve left, but this time, you hope that he’ll come back. Bruce counts down as Bucky closes the suits helmet. He pushes the button and Bucky leaves. A couple seconds later, Bruce says, “Coming back in three, two, one.”

When he flips the switch, two figures appear. You instantly know which one is Steve. All the memories come flooding back and it takes everything in you to contain your tears. Before your mind could catch up, your feet lead you away and back to the Compound. You hear a faint call of your name, but continue walking.

You slam the door before collapsing into a sob. You knew seeing him would be difficult but you didn’t think it would be that damn hard. All the emotions that you’ve felt over the past five years hit you like a wave and you couldn’t keep it together. It was also the surreal feeling that he was actually back that you couldn’t come to grips with. As you begin to spiral, you hear an alert go off.

“Y/n, Steve Rogers is walking towards your door,” F.R.I.D.A.Y announces. You mentally thank your past self for programing F.R.I.D.A.Y to alert you whenever someone came towards your room.

“If he tries to come in, tell him that I’m not here.” you tell F.R.I.D.A.Y before using the emergency exit that leads to the garage. You slip out before Steve could even knock on the door.

Hopping into one of Tony’s least expensive cars, you tell F.R.I.D.A.Y, “Don’t let anyone know that I left or where I’m going.”

“Yes, ma’am,” F.R.I.D.A.Y replies, “I don’t mean to pry Miss Y/n, but aren’t you excited to see Captain Rogers?” You know that she’s just pulling at your leg so you chuckle dryly.

“Excited isn’t the word I’d use, F.R.I.D.A.Y,” you half-joke as you pull the car out. Luckily no one is outside and you leave. The drive is peaceful and finally lets you air out your thoughts.

You’re mad at Steve, right? He’s the one that left. You always stayed by his side, no matter what. The two of you were always there for each other, so why did he leave? You know that he loved her, but he said he moved on. He even claimed that he loved you more than he ever loved her. Was all of that a lie?

Before your thoughts could consume you completely, you arrive at your destination. Knocking on the door, you stare at the floorboards awkwardly. The door swings up and Morgan exclaims, “Aunt Y/n!” You smile as she gives you a big hug.

“You’re so big now! What are you, ten?” you ask cheerfully.

“Ten and a half!” She says proudly. You laugh and walk in the cabin. Pepper is in the kitchen and perks up when she sees you.

You apologize, “Sorry for not calling ahead. I just, really wanted to see you two.” Pepper leaves the kitchen to hug you.

“Oh, it’s no problem. I’m just happy to see you!” she replies. You needed a hug after everything that happened and Pepper could probably sense your sadness when she says, “Hey Morgan, don’t you have homework? You can talk to Aunt Y/n during dinner.” Morgan whines a little before scurrying to her room. When she leaves, Pepper sits you down on the couch and asks, “So what happened?”

You see the genuine concern in her eyes and can’t control the watering in your eyes. “Steve’s back,” you respond, voice wavering more than you’d like. Pepper is shocked for a moment before seeing your crumbling resolve.

“Oh sweetie,” she whispers before pulling you into another hug. This time, you can’t stop the tears from falling. You sniffle into Pepper’s shoulder, feeling slightly bad for wetting her nice blouse. You pull away and attempt to regain your composure.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m like this,” you apologize. Sniffling, you continue, “I should be happy that he’s back, right?”

Pepper reasons, “It’s understandable that you’re upset. He really hurt you when he left.”

“Yeah, but I moved on or at least, should have moved on. Ugh, when did I become so weak!” you declare, frustrated at your own feelings.

Pepper lightly grabs your hand and says in a very motherly tone, “You are not weak, Y/n. No one knows what you are going through.”

You sit in silence for a little, thinking over Pepper’s statement. You bite the inside of your cheek and ask, “How did you get over it?”

Pepper sighs a little sadly and responds, “Well, I knew why he did it. Of course, I was upset and even a little mad, but he left for a reason. It helps to put things in perspective. Tony made the ultimate sacrifice to save not only us, but the entire world.”

You stay at Pepper’s for a week before deciding that it’s finally time to leave. The week away from the Compound gave you some perspective and although your feelings toward Steve were messy to say the least, they were at least a little under control. When you were a couple miles away from the compound, you ask F.R.I.D.A.Y, “Who’s at the Compound now?”

“Just Bucky.” she responds. Just Bucky? Why isn’t Steve there? Then you remember that he has a lot of people to see again so it’s not surprising that he isn’t there.

But when you pull up to the Compound, you realize you’ve been lied to. Standing in front of the garage is Steve Rogers himself. You park the car in front of him and step out. Before he could get a word in, you remark flatly, “F.R.I.D.A.Y said that Bucky was the only one here.” It was hard looking him right in the eye. You almost want to run up and hug him, but your boiling anger and resentment stops you.

“I told her to not tell you I’m here.” he responds calmly, tone even and hard to read. You scoff and begin to walk away from him. But before you could walk inside, Steve grabs your wrist, tight enough to stop you but not enough to hurt.

“Y/n, we need to talk.” he says and now that you’re closer, you could see the pain in his eyes. You almost give in but know that his torment is nothing like the kind you feel inside.

“Get your hand off of me, Rogers.” you bite back, not holding any of the bitterness back. Steve doesn’t say anything and lets go of your wrist. While you walk away, you throw the keys at him, which due to his superhuman reflexes, he catches instantly.

“Park the car. I would’ve but someone was standing in my way,” you comment annoyedly before walking inside. You don’t look back, but when you hear the engine rev, a part of you fills with pride.

You stroll into the kitchen to grab some food. Bucky’s there eating a piece of pizza and nods a silent hello. You wave curtly and search the fridge. “Where’d you go? Bucky asks, trying to sound low-key.

“Pepper’s. Had to help Morgan with her homework,” you joke, both of you knowing that’s not the reason. Bucky mutters a quiet okay before returning to his pizza. You hear the door open so you grab an apple and escape to your lab. You knew you couldn’t handle any more confrontation today.

At your lab, or rather Tony’s old one, you go to the security cameras and open to the kitchen. Bucky is still eating, but he’s joined by Steve. You turn the audio on and eavesdrop on their conversation.

“You gotta help me, Buck.” Steve almost begs. You could hear the desperation in his voice.

Bucky just shakes his head and answers, “I’m sorry, but I can’t. You really hurt her.” Steve leans back on the counter and sighs in despair. Bucky reads his body language and walks over to him.

“Look, there’s hope she’ll forgive you.” he assures to a rather hopeless Steve.

“Really?” he asks in a disbelieving tone.

“Yeah, after all. She’s the one who wanted you back.” he comments before leaving the kitchen. You’ve heard enough. Closing the security camera and leaving your lab you finally decide to face the issue head on.

You enter the kitchen and see Steve leaning against the counter. You declare, “Why’d you do it?” Steve perks up and begins to step closer to you. You know the closer he gets to you, the weaker your composure becomes so you take a slight step back. It’s barely noticeable but you could see Steve’s shoulders slump a little at that. You fidget with your hands a bit, feeling your confidence dwindling. You can’t deny the power he has over you and even with five feet between you, it’s almost overwhelming.

“Why’d I leave or why’d I come back?” he asks. You could tell he’s reluctant to explain both reasons, but you need to know.

“Both, Steve. Why did you leave me?” you could feel your anger boiling over and can’t help but continue, “After all those years together, how could you just go back to her. I’m not even mad at Peggy because it wasn’t her fault. I’m mad at you, because you were the one who chose her over me!” There are tears brimming at your eyes and you know Steve can see them. He steps a bit closer, but this time you don’t retreat.

“I’m sorry, doll. It just didn’t feel the same after the snap.” You look through your watery eyes and see Steve’s equally pained face. “You know, I went back for you. But when you weren’t there, I figure you were snapped away.” This time Steve looks away from you. You feel the urge to comfort him and so you hesitantly place your hand on his. You rub the top of his hand soothingly and Steve smiles sadly, “I was devastated when I thought I’d never see you again. But in those five years, something changed. I started to accept that you were gone and that made me think I didn’t need you anymore.” You still can’t meet his eyes, finding it too difficult and too intimate. Steve notices and lightly place a hand under your chin to make eye contact.

“But I was wrong, Y/n. I will always need you.” he confesses and you smile a little. You wanted to be mad at him; you really did. But when you look into his eyes and listen to his words, you can’t help but see the man that you fell in love with.

Teary-eyed and very emotional, you respond, “Oh Steve.” Before pulling him into a searing kiss. You haven’t been with anyone else since Steve left and you’re glad you weren’t. No one could compare to Steve, especially when it came to his lips. They were just as soft as you remembered and equally as intoxicating. You missed everything about Steve, but especially this. When you needed to breathe, you pulled back slightly so that your foreheads were still touching.

“Please don’t leave me again?” you plead desperately, causing a tear to slowly fall from your eye.

Steve wipes it off before assuring, “I promise.” He buries his head into your shoulder and says, “I’ll never leave you ever again.” You pull him even closer and for the first time in years, feel at home. You realize that Steve never broke any promises and decades later, he still hasn’t.

#steve rogers #steve rogers imagine #steve rogers angst #steve rogers fluff #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers x you #avengers #avengers imagines #chris evans #chris evans angst #chris evans x reader #chris evans x you

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dragonturtle2 · 3 years

Text

My greatest apprehensions for the new My Little Pony movie & generation.

Today MLP Generation 5 has been made available on Netflix, and on Saturday I’ll be seeing it with my friends in the Milwaukee Bronies. I’ve had an uneasy feeling about it, and finally putting much of that into words was helpful. It was certainly interesting, and I’d like to share it with other people. I’ve done so with only a few, but I want to put this out there before anyone thinks my opinion is contaminated by either seeing the movie, or something getting spoiled. Tomorrow I may be relieved, let down, or just impressed that I managed to predict so much. Something I’ve definitely kept in mind is that with Generation 4’s premieres, finales, and own movie, the trailers were always cut unimpressively (IMHO). So I tended to be pleasantly surprised with pretty much everything I watch from G4, when I even bothered looking at the trailers. So I’ll be quite happy to be proven wrong this Saturday. Now…

They certainly didn’t intend to be flipping off everything Gen 4 established. No creator ever tries that when they’re brought into a franchise in the payroll of the IP owners. But for their society to regress to this point of segregation? The only thought process I can think of for this bizarre departure are A) The new show staff threw their hands up on matching anything with G4... or B) they came up with a totally fresh setting and timeline, and then some exec or analyst at Hasbro said “Heck no, you are GOING to connect this with our previous money-printing machine. Got it?” And that level of mandated storytelling doesn’t fill me with confidence.

I’ve heard at least one comparison to the Sequel Trilogy, which I expected. True, there’s some notable superficial similarities. It’s decades(?) later, the original heroes are spoken of as myths, for various reasons the world is in trouble, and our protagonist is a disciple-slash-fangirl of what the previous heroes fought for. But this is way more drastic and bizarre of a development.

The conflict in the Sequel Trilogy for the galaxy at large is that the Empire has returned, but rebranded. A new set of new jerks wanted power, teamed up with some of the old jerks, got a bunch of big guns, and held the galaxy hostage. That’s something that just happens in repeated strokes of history. It’s the re-drawing of a bunch of borders. The only moral failing there is being lax with fascists.

Having the Sequel Trilogy retread a plot also isn’t as weird as the My Little Pony franchise. The Force Awakens was made decades after the OT concluded, and the previous Prequel Trilogy took a really different direction and wasn’t received well. Then the franchise got completely new owners. So going back to its roots to start things out was a logical move. It’s only been THREE YEARS between these different shows of MLP, so the repetition doesn’t have much charm. Although repetition may not be the right word, since the setup for this show’s racial dilemma is way more extreme.

Equestria for some reason has gone through a jaw-dropping morale decay. Not only have they embraced division they were fighting against in seasons 8 & 9, they’ve regressed to the level of segregation before Equestria was FOUNDED. The Star Wars equivalent of that would be not only everyone fighting the First Order, they also suddenly don’t allow Wookies and other aliens to drink from the water fountains. Like, how the heck did that turn into a problem?

If the only progress undone from Gen 4 were the relationships with the non-ponies introduced later, that would actually make more sense. Social equality has reactionary backlash, which often occurs immediately after landmark victories. Ponies were the ones that held the most power on the world stage (some kinds more than others in Equestria).

But the WAY bigger issue isn’t internal logic and retcons. I learned long ago to set aside any expectation of a reward or pandering for my years-long commitment to a toy franchise. It’s the potential mishandling of the topic of racism, and I worry we’ve already on shaky ground. The morale of “segregation is bad” feels like bottom of the barrel, kind of copout way of tackling racism. At least, it does for settings that are extremely modern like Generation 5 clearly is. Segregation of people by ethnicity, by rule of law, has fully shifted to obsolesce in the cultural landscape of first world countries. Not even the most deranged lunatics in our government like Boebert or Greene advocate for it (not yet anyway). Stories about segregation can still be done really well of course, but it can’t just be about wiping it off the lawbooks and solving everything. It needs look at why people do this in the first place, who fights for it as the status quo, and what social structures and habits keep the thing in place despite the efforts of good people.

Of course, we still HAVE segregation in society. Not legally, but de facto thanks to economic status and civic planning. And not just physical separation, but grotesque imbalances of power and means. Look at job opportunities, home ownership, insurance evaluations, scrutiny by police, investment in local schools, etc. In G4 it was pretty clear that WAY more unicorns got to live in the lap of luxury or centers of commerce and education. Earth ponies were more spread out, rural, and based on an agrarian existence to feed the country. It’s not that G4 did much with it, but that kind of setup is way closer to modern day inequality, and would be a more fertile bed for those kind of stories. Admittedly, the Pegasi city in the trailer looked absolutely LOADED, so maybe we do have that element in store.

What the trailers and press releases are saying feels weak even as just a segregation story. The ponies separating makes segregation look like a bunch of people moving out like feuding roommates… instead of being put in place by a group of people with WAY more power and money than everyone else. Segregation is portrayed as a mutual agreement, not exploitation. My worry is that they’re going to go to Pocahontas routes, and make the root of racism a select few rich figureheads spreading lies. And undoubtedly, rich people in the private and public sector DO profit off of ignorance and violence, and divert attention from real problems. But when white people in America were treating everyone as subhuman, it wasn’t FEAR that was driving it (at least, not exclusively). For one, it was profit and sheer convenience. Manual labor and the least desirable tasks could be foisted on to ‘lesser’ peoples, and they wouldn’t even require a humane wage. Even if there hadn’t been those empirical benefits, discrimination also brought the sadistic sense of self-importance that comes from standing on someone else’s neck. The imaginary structures of racism let people feel comfortable about their place in the universe.

I wouldn’t call Zecora’s introductory episode all that nuanced, but it was definitely more accurate to real life than the (hopefully hypothetical) scenario I described above. In Bridle Gossip, it’s extremely apparent that the Pony majority of Ponyville are the ones acting like tools, and singling out Zecora for being different. They are the ones obligated to apologize to HER. (Even though it’s of course awkward that they wrote Zecora as a rhyming witch doctor, when she’s meant to represent an African person. It might not be so bad if she wasn’t the ONLY Zebra, and the only creature coded that way.)

Companies and studios will gladly tell their audiences to sympathize with victimized individuals and populations of oppression, and hate the individual acts done upon them. But then they’ll get cagey about making some members of the audience feel any kind of guilt, from distantly benefitting from that system; or maybe even subtlety being part of one. It’s not good for the bottom line to name a civilian population for taking any racist, oppressive or outright murderous actions. No, it’s a single evil dictator (or CEO, or general) and their gaggle of cronies, who just needs to be overthrown. We see this toothless crud play out over and over because corporate entities are either A) that naive, or B) scared of some losers with megaphones losing their minds over the suggestion of self-examination. Some people are SO fragile at the idea of self-examination, or guilt. Because it goes back to having an identity, an innocent and sympathetic self-image.

#My Little Pony #My Litte Pony Friendship is Magic #mlp gen 4 #mlp gen 5 #racism in media

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ad1thi · 4 years

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and then there’s you | Au-gust Day 8: Superheroes/Superpowers AU

AU-gust masterlist

i took a brief hiatus but now im back!! this is possibly one of my favourite things ive written, ever

Steve was never expecting to get along with James. He didn't have the best start with Tony - even though he likes to believe that they've moved past that and have become good friends - and James' protective streak was well known. After all, the man broke records trying to fly back to New York fast enough and managed to show up just as the Hulk picked up Tony from the sky.

He still remembers the way James landed around them with a thud, his faceplate snapping up and shoving all of them to the side so that he could get to Tony. He remembers the way Tony's face softened; the way James reached out with one metal encased hand to awkwardly rub his hair before settling on his shoulder.

He remembers fiercely missing the time in his life when someone looked at him like that, like he was the reason the world continued turning.

In retrospect, Steve honestly should've seen this whole thing coming, but he's still blindsided by the whole thing.

After the last of the Chitauri are felled down, Thor and James raging in the sky until they drop like flies, they regroup back at Stark Tower. It's almost too easy, over in a matter of hours, even though Steve feels like it's taken ages. They lock the Spectre away and clasp chains around Loki's body - and he can release a breath that he didn't know he was holding it.

"Colonel Rhodes," he says, later, when they're all lounging in a beatdown shawarma joint, shamelessly taking advantage of an extremely grateful store-owner, “I just wanted to say thank you for all your help. Having two heavy hitters in the sky really helped us take down the stragglers. We couldn't have done it without you."

James and Tony (from where he's resting on James' shoulder) both turn to him and give him identical looks, the kind that makes Steve want to duck his head and rub the back of his neck.

"No need to thank me Cap," James says finally, "Just doing my civic duty." But he keeps looking at Steve, in a way that stirs feelings inside Steve that he thought had died when he went into the ice.

Guess not.

He nods once and is saved from answering by Tony grabbing the Colonel into another discussion. He takes another bite into his wrap, the food feeling wooden inside his mouth. Tony has one hand in the air, gesticulating wildly, but the other is wound around James, inter-twined with his own. It twists something inside Steve, and he tries to tell himself that it's just him missing his life before the ice. Before he was dropped into the twenty first century.

He looks up to see Thor giving him an all too knowing look for a man who only met him a couple of hours ago. It makes him so uncomfortable that he stands abruptly, pulling both Tony and Rhodey out of their conversation.

"I have to go," he says stiffly, "I have some work to attend to. I'll see you guys at the Helicarrier tomorrow at 0900 for a debrief," he nods at his team, "Colonel, it would good to meet you."

"Call me James," he says, nonplussed, "that’s what everyone who isn't this fella calls me," he thumbs at Tony; who's face twists in mock outrage.

Steve doesn't say anything, spinning on his heel and all but running out of the shawarma joint, lest he dwell too strongly on the fact that James called Tony fella.

Despite their horrendous first meeting, Steve and James actually get on fairly well. He's in New York a lot, despite still being on active duty. Ostensibly, it's because the War Machine - now rebranded as Iron Patriot armour needs regular check-ups and after what Tony and James mysteriously refer to as the Hammer incident - Tony is the only one who fiddles with it.

It makes sense, since Tony designed the damn thing, but Steve knows that James is a genius of his own right. Privately, he thinks that James is equipped to deal with any and all faults in the armour, but he makes it a point to come for Tony. Watching your bestfriend strap a nuke to his back and fly into space with no concrete desire to return tends to do that to someone. Hell, if Bucky had pulled something like that he wouldn't have left him out of his sight.

Besides, now that Steve has been living with him and gotten to know the man behind the mask so to speak, he can see why Tony inspires that kind of loyalty. The way he badly misjudged Tony still digs at him, even though Tony has waved off his apologies multiple times and promises that he harbours no bad feelings.

Steve isn't complaining though. He likes that James visits, even though he frowns everytime James complains about how hard it was to finagle time with his superiors. Clint calls it his Captain America face, says that he makes it every time he thinks there's a fight. Steve doesn't know if he has a specific face, but he does know that it doesn't sit right with him that James has to fight that much to come stateside.

That was the whole point of the War, that they would fight so that future generations don't have to. There's a lot to be said for the twenty first century. His country's proclivity with inserting themselves into every war that side of the Atlantic isn't one of them.

Still, James' regular check-ups mean that Steve has gotten a chance to get to know Tony's bestfriend - since he winds up spending a lot of time in the workshop these days; sketching while Tony putters around. It's like white noise - the sound of a wrench or a blowtorch, interspersed with Tony and JARVIS sniping with each other, and it reminds Steve of the barracks, of the Howlies huddled around a single fire and sniping around each other.

(It reminds him that he's no longer alone)

When James comes however, the entire workshop lights up, and Steve along with it. Despite his best efforts, the smidgen of interest he'd felt in the shawarma joint has buried itself inside him, planted seeds and grown around his heart. It doesn't help that James is one of the most easy-going people he's ever met, the kind of person one gravitates to.

He reminds Steve deeply of Bucky, but then again - Steve was never overcome with the urge to bear Bucky down and kiss him until they both couldn't breathe.

"Steve!" James cries out, as the workshop doors open with the faintest snick, "It's good to see you."

Steve looks up from his sketchbook - where he's been drawing James funnily enough - and gives him a warm smile, "James. Good to see you. How's the Iron Patriot?"

"Don't call it that," Tony wags his wrench at Steve, looking like he's contemplating the merits of lobbing it at him, "You do not call it that in my workshop. This is a sacred space."

"She's handling like a dream," James says over Tony, but he still walks over and pulls Tony in for a small hug before making his way over to Steve. The first time this had happened, Steve was almost jealous, but he's since realised that it's just a part of James' schedule. The need to physically remind himself that Tony is okay.

"There's been a couple of tough missions," he continues with a grimace, after he's done surreptitiously looking Tony over and found his way to the couch where Steve is currently propped up. "I've definitely got some fresh bullet dents. But nothing Tony can't fix, isn't that right Tony?" he calls out to where Tony has turned back to his holo-screens and gets a half-hearted gesture in response that Steve takes to mean that Tony has heard James.

"Enough about me though, not in the least because I could be arrested for going into detail," James reaches out and places his hand over Steve's; and it takes everything in Steve to not react to the touch, "You getting through the list okay?"

A month into his stay at the Tower, Steve was listlessly chewing a banana in the Common Room when James came out for some water and saw him. "They taste weird," he'd said, when James asked if the banana had done something to offend him, "I guess I was just hoping it was something that hadn't changed."

James had regarded him for a second, and then pulled out a napkin from thin air, "You should make a list. It's what I tell most of my rookies, when they're going back after a long tour. Make a list of everything you want to catch up and work through it on your own pace. At the very least, it gives you something to do."

Ever since then, Steve keeps a small black book on his person, filling it with a never-ending list of things. The entire team pitches in, depending on what it is that Steve is about to discover about the twenty-first century. Steve likes it best when James carves out time for him though.

"I'm adding more things than I'm crossing out," Steve admits, and James clucks sympathetically, "but it's good. I've not Star Wars on my list next? And Tony made me promise to wait for you to come back so that both of you could introduce it to me together."

James whistles lowly, but his eyes light up, "Oh I am so happy that you waited for me for this. Never listen to Tony, he thinks the prequels deserve rights," he bends down to whisper at Steve loudly, "we don't recognise the prequels."

"Is that prequels slander I hear in my safe haven?" Tony pipes up, spinning around to face them. He's still got the wrench in his hand, "Don't make me revoke your access honeybear because I will, don't test me."

James holds up his hands in mock surrender. "I'm going to go freshen up," he says with a clap, "but after I'm back, we can discuss Star Wars strategy."

Steve watches him go, until he disappears around the corner. When he looks back at the workshop, he sees Tony looking at him with a look that's half speculative, half sympathetic.

"You know that nothing can happen right?" he says apropos of nothing, but Steve knows exactly what he's talking about, "It's against the law. DADT. If his superiors find out, his career is over. 's why me and him ended in the first place."

Steve found out about Tony and James' history only a month ago, and the sting has faded. Mostly because he knows it was a long time ago, and neither of them harbour those feelings anymore.

"I know," Steve says carefully, because Tony is still James' bestfriend, "and I wouldn't ask him to risk that. Doesn't change how I feel though. And if I have to wait, or hide it, or even ignore it until he's ready to deal with it - I'm ready for all of it."

Tony nods, like it's the answer he's expected, "You'll be good for him Steve. He deserves someone who'll wait." Unlike me, who didn't goes unsaid.

"I don't expect anything from him Tony," Steve says, looking Tony right in the eye, "but I can't just pretend I don't feel the way I do. Especially not if there's the barest possibility that he feels the same."

Steve isn't generally good with these sorts of things, recognising interest. Still, he doesn't think he's imagined the looks he's gotten from James the past couple of times he's been over, over misread the touching, the talking, the borderline flirting.

"He does," Tony confirms, "but like I said - nothing can happen." He says in a careful tone, and it takes Steve a couple seconds to cotton onto what Tony is implying. It leaves a rush through him, reminding him of back-alley trysts, protected by the shadows.

"Nothing can happen," Steve repeats, and Tony pointedly turns his back as Steve leaps up from the couch and follows James out. He thinks about calling ahead, or maybe messaging - but there's a decent chance that James already knows about this conversation, since Tony wouldn't have brought it up unless James had expressly allowed him too.

Steve might not know much about the twenty first century, but bro-code well enough.

He knocks on James' door, thrumming with energy, and his heart stutters when James opens it in a towel; one around his waist, catching the droplets of water falling down his chest, and another around his neck.

"Steve?" he asks, and there's no mistaking the hopeful tone in his voice. It confirms Steve's suspicions, that Tony was talking to him on behalf of James.

Steve doesn't reply, just pulls him for a kiss.

Fin

#my writing #steverhodey #warshield #steve rogers/james rhodes #steve x rhodey #steve rogers x james rhodes #adi does AU-gust #AU-gust #Superheroes/Superpowers AU #post Avengers (2012)#past rhodeytony #pre slash #mutual pining #first kiss #dadt #secret relationship #pov steve rogers

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twdeadfanfic · 5 years

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First and Last Pt.9

Daryl Dixon x Reader

Summary: There’s only one girl that Daryl has ever fallen in love with, the one who had to leave him and break both their hearts, and the one he’d tried his best to erase from his memory so it wouldn’t hurt that bad. There’s no way he could have guessed that he’d find her again, more than seventeen years later, after the world went to shit and the dead began walking, both their lifes different that what they used to be.

Tags: Sequel to my mini-series “The first to blow your mind.” You can find it in my mastelist and read it before this or after it as a prequel. Daryl’s POV. My usual combo of slow-burn, fluff and angst. Some canon divergences.

Chapter: 9/28 Updated on Monday and Thursday.

Thank you to everyone who reads and support this when I feel like giving up.

Daryl wasn’t sure of how long he had been working on that bike, several hours had passed since Eric brought him breakfast, but he hadn’t realized it, focused on the bike that was taking form. Then, a tiny voice brought him back to the real world.

“Hi, Daryl!”

He looked up and found Jane standing outside the garage door. “Hi s-” He bit his tonge, embarrassed, when he was about to call her sunshine again, where in the hell was that coming from all the time. “What’re you doing here?” He looked around but couldn’t see Y/N anywhere.

“Came to see you,” she shrugged, walking into the garage to stand next to him, inspecting the bike.

“Does your mum know that you’re here?” He asked, suspicious.

“Not exactly here, but she knows I’m outside playing.” Jane shrugged.

Daryl had seen kids playing at Alexandria’s green areas and gardens, and sure, the place seemed safe enough with those walls, but still, it made him feel a bit uneasy to see them alone and knowing they didn’t know how to protect themselves. They had thought they were safe at the prison, let their kids play at the yards, and then they had been attacked, their safe home gone, and most of their kids gone too…and their kids had known how to protect themselves, fight even, not like the ones in Alexandria…

“It looks like a bike now,” Jane said, taking him out of his dreadful thoughts.

He hummed a yes, the bike was almost put together by now, tomorrow he’ll work on getting it started, test it, and hopefully in a couple of days he could be riding outside Alexandria. “I’m gonna take you back home.”

“What, no!” Jane frowned at him. “Told you, mum knows I’m out! It’s early and I don’t have to be home yet.”

Daryl looked at her, chewing on his thumb. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know if Y/N really let Jane roam around Alexandria alone and he was worried thinking she might be worried and looking for her kid…but he also didn’t think Jane was lying. Still, he decided to take the kid back home, he didn’t like that Y/N didn’t know where she was.

Before he could drag her home, though, another girl walked into the garage. She was older, thirteen or so, and he was walking hand in hand with a younger girl who Daryl recognized as Dawn, Jane’s neighbor and Nora’s kid. She seemed shy, half-hidden behind the older girl, who must be her sister Lisa, then.

“There you are!” The older kid huffed. “I was supposed to watch over you both and you just disappeared!”

“I told Dawn where I was going!”

“You told her you were going to Aaron’s, but you’re here with this stranger.” Lisa eyed him suspiciously and Daryl thought she liked that kid, she didn’t seem one to trust blindly like most of those Alexandrians. They might trust his family, but him…not that much, though…he knew how he looked, what those people thought. The kid had reasons to look at him like that, and it was good to be suspicious in that world. “Come on, we’re leaving.”

“He’s not a stranger! He’s Daryl and he was my mom’s best friend, and it’s okay that I’m here with him. I’m not leaving.”

“Yes, you are, I am the one looking after you, so come on.”

“I’m not! Daryl, tell her! Tell her it’s true!” Jane looked at him with begging eyes and Daryl couldn’t resist.

“Yeah, it’s true, I’m Y/N’s friends, it’s okay. She can stay if she wants, ain’t not a bother.”

Lisa didn’t seem very impressed. “Look, I know Deanna has taken you all in and you’re one of us now. Welcome and all that, but I’m not leaving Jane with a guy that I don’t know.” Daryl smirked at that…yeah, he thought he liked that kid.

Before he could say anything, Aaron walked into the garage, blinking at the scene. He looked at Daryl, seemed puzzled at what was going on, and then back at the girls. “Hey…hi Lisa…Dawn, Jane. It’s good to see you all here…”

“Aaron! Tell Lisa who Daryl is! Tell him he’s my mom’s friend and that she doesn’t mind I’m here!” Jane quickly asked.

“Uh…” Aaron still seemed a bit confused but he nodded. “Yeah, yeah, he’s Y/N’s friend, and he’s my friend too, it’s okay.”

“See!” Jane rolled her eyes at Lisa. “I want to stay!”

Lisa looked from Aaron to Daryl, still frowning, but she shrugged and shook her head. “Okay, whatever, stay if you want, but you,” she pointed at Aron. “Are responsible for her now.”

“Dawn, you should stay too, Daryl’s putting together a bike! Isn’t that cool!” Jane grinned and Dawn looked at Daryl’s shyly but nodded. “She can stay too, can’t she?” Daryl nodded, he didn’t have the heart to send the little girls away. Dawn let go of her sister’s hand and walked to stay slightly behind Jane.

“Yeah, sure, stay with a stranger you too, why not,” Lisa huffed. “Remember we’re having dinner together today, don’t be late.”

“Hey,” Daryl called after her, half expecting the girl to snap at him. “Can you tell Y/N and your father that the girls are good and here?”

“Sure, if something happens I’m not taking the blame, it’s on you.” She nodded at Aaron before walking away.

Daryl spent another good couple of hours working on the bike, until he decided it was time to return the little girls home. They had been watching him work, Jane asking questions about what he was doing and talking, while Dawn seemed bashful, though slowly she began to relax and Daryl caught her smiling and asking questions a couple of times, and Daryl couldn’t help but feel good about it.

Judging by what he could gather from what the girls talked while they followed him back home, it seemed they were going to dine together and they were planning on having a sleepover, so they needed to convince their parents since tomorrow they had school. It sounded as if they were regular kids in a regular home, as if the world hadn’t ended, as if dangerous monsters and even more dangerous people weren’t outside the walls…Daryl didn’t know how to feel about it.

He knocked on Y/N’s door and she opened, barely giving him a quick smile before looking at the girls. “Well, look at the hour, I thought you were thinking of missing the dinner!” If she was trying to sound annoyed, he wasn’t really managing.

“No! Are we leaving now?” Jane asked.

“Not yet, I’m finishing the cookies for dessert, but you and Dawn can go to her place already if you want.”

“Okay…wait, can Daryl come?”

Daryl looked at Jane, surprised, and then at Y/N.

“Sweetheart, we can’t just bring someone without asking first, and I’m sure Daryl has something to do…” She said, much to Daryl’s relief, who was starting to panic at the idea of being asked to go dining with people he didn’t know and having to say no and maybe upset Y/N.

“Okay…but I’ll see you tomorrow, right?” The girl looked at him hopefully and Daryl nodded, he had the feeling he couldn’t stop Jane from going to watch him work even if he wanted to. Jane grinned and taking Dawn’s hand, they both walked to the other house.

Y/N let out a sigh. “I’m sorry you had to babysit them…probably I should have gone to pick them up, but I didn’t want to dine with two upset kids…” She bit her lip. “I’m sorry.”

“Nah, nah, it’s okay.” Daryl shrugged, it wasn’t like the girls had bothered him. “They’re good kids.” Y/N gave him a smile, though she still seemed a bit embarrassed. “She can be a handful, yeah?” He had thought that about Jane almost since he first met her.

Y/N snorted. “Yeah, yeah she can. But I wouldn’t have it any other way…” She smiled and Daryl nodded, the corner of his mouth lifting up.

“So, you made cookies?” He didn’t mean to sound that surprised, but he did. Y/N didn’t seem annoyed, though, she just snorted.

“No, I’m just reheating them, Carol made them, brought them to me to the pantry.”

“Oh…” Daryl chewed on his lip. Carol was his best friend but he felt a bit uneasy thinking what Y/N and her might have talked about…

“You know…” Y/N looked at him, smiling though she looked shy. “We’re having dinner at Robert’s place, that’s Nora’s husband, I’d ask you to come, Maybe Jane was right… but I know it’s not your thing…”

“I, uh…” Daryl’s stomach closed just thinking about it and Y/N gave him a sweet smile that made his stomach just feel weirder.

“It’s okay, I don’t want you to be uncomfortable or anything like that…it’s just…” Y/N let out a sigh and Daryl frowned.

“You don’t wanna go?”

“I want to, but…Robert has been seeing this woman, Rachel, for the last couple of months…I think that it’s getting serious and it’s the first time we’re having dinner all together…so…I don’t know. She’s nice, I like her, and Robert deserves to have someone and be happy again, and it’s good for the girls too…but I just…can’t help but…” Y/N seemed to struggle for words, blinking quick as if she were going to cry, and Daryl had to stop himself for reaching out for her. “I can’t help but have Nora in my mind all the time every time I see Rachel and Robert so…yeah…

Daryl didn’t know what to do. He hated seeing Y/N like that, he wanted to help her. Part of him wanted to go with her, give her support, anything…but it also made him feel so awkward, so uncomfortable, it made him almost even panic…

“It’s okay, I’ll be fine,” Y/N gave him a smile. “Rachel’s a wood woman. It’s good for Robert, and so it’s for Lisa and Dawn. It’ll be okay.” Daryl just nodded, he didn’t know what to say. “I should go get those cookies before they burn…”

“Okay…” Daryl was still frowning, unsure about Y/N feeling good at that dinner, but he didn’t know what to do.

“Oh, and I…” Y/N looked down, chewing on her lower lip, which just worried Daryl more. “I’m sorry about yesterday…that I reacted like that at Aaron’s…I’m sorry…”

She seemed embarrassed and Daryl hated it. If only she knew how the memories made him feel too, but he couldn’t get himself to tell her…he couldn’t even agree with himself in how they made him feel. “Nah, come on, ain’t nothing to be sorry about…” Despite his words, Y/N still seemed embarrassed, and Daryl tried to speak up. “It…it suck, yeah, that we had to…that we didn’t see each other again. Makes me feel…yeah, it ain’t good…so…” He tried, but Daryl was pretty sure he wasn’t really delivering what he wanted to say, it was just too confusing and embarrassing.

Y/N didn’t seem to mind his awkwardness, as she gave him a sad smile. “Okay.”

“I’m gonna go keep working on that bike…” He murmured, eager to retreat.

“It’s really okay if Jane goes tomorrow again? I know she can be a bit too much sometimes.”

“No, it’s good, let her come.”

“Okay…maybe I could go with her, this time, if it’s not a bother…”

“Ain’t no bother.” Daryl frowned, wondering why she thought that, he hoped she didn’t believe he might be annoyed at how she had reacted yesterday, because the idea was ridiculous. “Come tomorrow, I’m gonna work this night on finishing the bike and tomorrow it’ll be ready for testing.”

“Okay, sounds good.” Y/N smiled.

“Could give you a ride, if you want, if it works…” Daryl shrugged, looking down bashfully.

“I…I’d really like that.” Y/N bit her lip as she smiled, her cheeks blushing red, and Daryl felt all weird again. “I really have to get those cookies…”

“And I have to go back work…”

“Don’t work too hard, okay? You gotta rest for a bit too.”

Daryl just nodded and began walking away, leaving Y/N to tend to the dinner, and making his way back to Aaron’s garage.

It has to be a dream, because it was too perfect to be real, and if it was a dream, Daryl didn’t want to ever wake up.

He was at home, at the prison, still standing. Everyone was alive, even those who he had seen die, they were there and happy, going about with their lives. Y/N was there too, walking around one of the yards with Jane, even though Daryl was pretty sure they had never been at the prison…but it felt normal, it felt as if it should be, as if they had always been there with his family, with him since the beginning, since always. It should have been like that.

Y/N and Jane spotted him, and they waved at him, grinning. Daryl felt overcome by warm feelings, his heart fluttering and twirls dancing in his stomach. Then he saw them…

Walkers were getting into the prison, stumbling towards Y/N and Jane. Daryl tried to run to them, but he couldn’t move, not even to grab his crossbow. He couldn’t speak either, couldn’t shout at them to warn them, he could only watch as they screamed in panic, trying to run away, but the walkers were too many, more and more each passing second, and endless sea of them inundating the prison without Daryl being able to do anything.

Neither Y/N nor Jane had weapons, they didn’t know how to fight, and Daryl saw walkers grabbing them, sinking their teeth into their flesh as they screamed, until they stopped screaming and struggling, walkers devouring them in front of him, but he couldn’t scream, couldn’t move, couldn’t close his eyes…

Daryl woke up with a gasp, a scream stuck in his throat, his heart hammering so fast it seemed it was going to jump out of his chest. He looked around in panic before his brain woke up completely and he realized where he was. It had been a dream…the prison was long gone…he was in Alexandria, he didn’t like the place but it was safe…Y/N and Jane were in there…they were safe…

Were they?

They didn’t know how to fight, that was as real now as it had been in his dream, they didn’t carry weapons with them either. Alexandria was safe, sure, behind walls, but that was no reason to not be ready. Daryl had seen how no place was forever safe, how you had to be ready to fight for your life and for your home, first at the quarry, then at Greene’s farm, then at the prison…he couldn’t let that happen again.

Maybe Rick was right, maybe they should be in charge if the Alexandrians weren’t able to protect the place, they couldn’t let it fall, they couldn’t lose another place, they couldn’t lose more people…

And he couldn’t lose Y/N, couldn’t lose Jane. He couldn’t see anything like his dream becoming real.

Daryl needed them to carry weapons with them, even if it was just knives…no, no, what he needed was them learning to protect themselves, learning how to use weapons… He wasn’t sure how Y/N might react if he suggested it, especially if he asked her to let Jane learn too…but he just couldn’t deal with the idea of them being defenseless.

Carol could train them, he trusted her with that, Maggie too, if she ever was free…he could ask them to train them, he was sure Carol wouldn’t mind, she would help him with this. She had to. He only needed to ask Y/N and convince her, even if it led to an argument, he needed to make her see how she needed it despite Alenxaria’s walls…he’d do it in the morning. Images of the dream kept coming to his mind, making him feel unease. Asking Y/N would be the first thing he did in the morning, even before going to the garage. He needed her to understand why she and the kid needed weapons and needed to know how to use them. He needed them safe.

Daryl turned on the sofa, trying to forget the dream. Everything was dark, and there were still some hours before the sunrise, he’d try to sleep, he had come back home late again after spending half the night finishing the bike.

He couldn’t sleep, couldn’t get the dream out of his mind, couldn’t close his eyes without seeing Y/N and Jane being devoured…

Daryl got up and paced around the dark room.

He knew Y/N and Jane were safe. They were inside their home, behind Alexandria walls. Yet he couldn’t help but feel uneasy, the dream still running through his system.

It was silly. It wasn’t logical. But Daryl couldn’t stop himself.

Taking his crossbow, he silently made his way to Y/N’s home.

The house was dark, as Daryl should have imagined it’d be in the middle of the night, Y/N and Jane were sure asleep, safe at home. Or were Jane at Dawn’s house? They had talked about a sleepover but he wasn’t sure. There wasn’t any noise intside, the windows and doors were closed, he hadn’t seen anything strange on his way there, the walls and door were closed, there were no walkers or people around…

Daryl’s brain knew that everything was safe, he should go back to his own place, and yet his dream was still making him feel uneasy… He didn’t know what to do… he knew that if he knocked on the door, waking Y/N up, she’d think him insane and an idiot, yet he still felt anxious. He couldn’t even get himself to go work on the bike…

Daryl found himself sitting down on the floor of Y/N’s porch. He’d wait for her to wake up, and then he’d talk to her, try to make her see why she and her kid needed to be able to protect themselves. With that in mind, Daryl leaned against the railing of the stairs, looking at the dark window of the house’s living room.

He didn’t mean to, he didn’t even realize it, but as time passed, his eyes closed, his mind going back to uneasy dreams.

“Daryl?” He woke up, startled, at Y/N’s voice. He blinked his eyes awake and saw her at the door, mug on her hand, looking at him confused and worried. “What are you doing here? I saw you through the window…there’s something wrong?”

“No…no, I…” The more he woke up, the more embarrassed he felt, his cheeks burning as he got onto his feet. “I just…I…” He didn’t know how the explain himself. What was he going to tell her? That he had a nightmare and gotten spooked? That a bad dream had made him go to her place and fall asleep on her porch…it was so ridiculous and so silly, beyond embarrassing.

Y/N still seemed confused but she didn’t seem angry, she wasn’t snapping, and she didn’t seem to think he was an idiot either. She just looked worried. “Would you like to come in?”

Daryl didn’t know what to do. He was still feeling utterly ashamed and embarrassed, but he didn’t know what to do, and the idea of running away from her made him even more embarrassed…He nodded. He had gone there to tell her that she should learn to fight and protect herself, to check if she was okay…he couldn’t just leave as nothing because he was embarrassed.

“Okay,” Y/N gave him a soft but worried smile. “Come on, come in.”

Thanks to everyone liking this and leaving comments and reblogs, it means a lot. I was very excited for this story, it got me back into writing and I thought it was one of my bests, but it’s the less read of all I’ve posted, so I’m kind of sad about it, felt like giving up, so your support means a lot.

If you liked this chapter, please let me know your thoughts.

As always, excuse my english, is not my first language.

If you want to be (un)tagged let me know.

@momc95 @jodiereedus22 @osweetdevilo @sapphire1727 @coffeebooksandfandom @crustyrose @checkintoreality @daddys-little-princess67 @sesshomaru-lover @crossbowking @coltcas @feartheendlesssummer @izumi37 @gruffle1 @cutiepiemimi13 @drina365 @kuolematkorjaavat @daeshaunex2 @twdeadlysins @stressed-lasagna @teenyforestfairy @yenne-yen-illustrations @mychemicalimagines @nikkipea @crazycatladyalustriel @miniprz @wolfkg @paybackbarnes @haleypearce @nikki082489 @dotslabyrinth @mtngirlforever @superflannel @blckbuttler @deanervs @linktheloveabledork @sourwolf-sterek32 @iminlokisarmysofi @traveleraroundsworld @deliciousassafrasssandwich @angelontheinside @friendly-black-cat @firehoopinmama @d0ntfitin @lxdyred @a-dlv @elysijin @gabriels-pornstashe @marie-is-in-the-dark @lonewolf471 @hedakylo @wnygirl2012 @j-a-val @gabidarkage @dashesoflipstick @hopplessdreamer @of-storms-and-sadness @angelophany @million-dollar-milkshake @daryldixonandfrogs @easnuppa @art-flirt @snarkandsarcasmwrites @aisling-beatha @theunofficialduke @toxic-ink @fand0m-fiend @theonlyone-meeeee @nickangel13 @summerluciddreams @fanfictionsilove @lilo-1988 @ly-canthropewrites @imaginecrushes @allthingzhiddleston @txladyj-blog @tcnystcrk1985 @my-current-fandom-is @womanup22 @lilred91 @imdixonsangel @fanfictionsilove @glamorizedtrainwreck @okay-rm @nohemi2500 @shameless-pope @aryaarathornson @sapphire-angel @frenziedreadingwriter @collecting-stories @mblaqgi @avengerswon @cutelittlethingsworld-blog @lokilover-39 @buzzybhee @alienemilyyyy @oncemorewithfeelingg @honeymilk-4 @kitkatcronch @princessxpunk @cathwritestragediesnotsins @hells-mistress @justyouraveragefangirl1967 @heda-mikaelson @mel-2a @dixonluvv @brenancampbell @twdeadfanfic @kaitieskidmore1 @hudsonbird

#daryl dixon #daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon/reader #daryl dixon & reader #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon fanfic #daryl dixon fic #dayl dixon imagine

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kareofbears · 4 years

Note

take this as a free card to ramble about the walking dead 👉👈

oh anon, there’s no one i love more than you.

shoving this under the cut because i don't really think a lot of people would care what i have to say about this, since this isn’t really what my blog is about at the moment but wow is the walking dead a brilliant game that's mastered the art of story telling

just throwing this out there, i am currently listening to “Louis’ song” because he is my third favorite character in this whole game and also “Clementine’s suite” because its killer

okay okay so, why am i suddenly so up in arms about this game? let me tell you!

i first became interested in this game right when it came out, sometime in 2012. i was 11 at the time, and my family was pretty poor so i had to rely on YouTubers to watch this game and i absolutely fell in love with it. loved the characters, the twist and turns. but i only watched the first season.

and coming back to it now, as someone who’s consumed a lot of media, who avidly criticizes games and story telling, this game has the absolute best story telling I've seen from any game I've ever seen before.

this isn’t a new statement--people talk about telltale, revere telltale even now that their characters and storytelling is untouchable, and its true. you can tell that its about the story the minute you see the graphics of this game: a comic book. this isn’t about the gameplay at all, or the mechanics of killing walkers, no. its a story. a simple story of a girl who had to grow up in the world of a zombie apocalypse.

season 1 is a prequel to the rest of the game. it introduces us to a man named lee--lee who killed his wife in a fit of rage and was going to prison when hell breaks loose. and season 1 is brilliant because in a typical survival game like this, people go ape shit. they'll kill whoever they need to, steal whatever they need in order to survive. but the fact that they introduce clementine into this, a young girl who thinks the world of you, it holds you back. it reminds you that there’s actions to your consequences, that even in this lawless world, there are still things that we should keep and treasure and preserve in order to want to live in a world like this. and when lee dies? it teaches you, the player, to love clem as he did. because we are now in charge of clem. not lee.

in season 1, i killed lee

season 2 rolls around and honestly its kind of my least favorite season. the characters made me mad and it felt like my choices were weightless. but hold on, i think telltale actually did that on purpose. if season 1 is to show you that you need to preserve good and heart in order to fight in a horrible world, season 2 shows you how to fight in a horrible world--what you need to survive, who you need to be to gain allies, how to be strong. its purpose is to show you the underbelly of this nasty apocalypse, to show you that the world is shit and clementine had no choice but to grow up and catch up to speed with people four times her age. its not a happy season. pretty much everyone dies depending on your choices. as the player, there’s visibly no consequences to your actions: everyone’s an idiot and you’re the only competent one. there's no lee to watch you, no clementine to take care of. and that was done on purpose because that shit, as james put it, breaks you as a person. you don't come back from that. and she didn't.

in season 2, i killed jane and went with kenny and refused to go into wellington without him

season 3 is everyone's least favorite and for that, screw yall because i loved season 3. season 3 introduces the character to the consequences of what we put clem through in season 2. it shows an outside perspective of who clementine has become, who she needed to be in order to survive. it introduces the concept of having a family and a group that stuck with you from the very beginning rather than finding people along the way--this created a new group dynamic that we haven't seen before in this game. it also introduces conflict for the player: as javi, the player has to juggle whats best for his literal blood family and having to earn clementine’s trust. its a hard thing to do. season 3 has incredible characters, concepts, and it does something new by having little to no walkers--if anything, it’s a character study on how people react to an apocalypse without actually being directly affected by the apocalypse in that moment. (id talk about this more--i literally debated whether or not i should talk about what i learned in my English class about pandemics lmfao--but this post would get too long and its one am). season 3 is the cementation of who you chose clementine to be. there's no changing clementine at this point. whats done is done.

in season 3, i went out to look for aj rather than staying in Richmond

season 4 is incredible. characters were the best they've ever been, the plot was amazing (if not a little too grandiose sometimes). season 4 is a direct homage to season one, except instead of having to protect a sweet girl in a zombie apocalypse by teaching her how to survive, its having to teach empathy to a boy who knows nothing but violence and survival. its brilliant, i don't even know what to say about this. aj is obviously an amazing addition to this game and i think its what telltales been leading up to this entire time (even with their shut down). the idea of having no adults for a base is brilliant since these kids don't have the hesitation and beliefs and feuds that adults have from their days of norm. i thought i would hate it but both of clementines love interests have no right being so amazing. honestly i would love to make a separate post about season 4 in order to break it down, but the gist is its amazing. its the perfect end for clementine as a character.

in season 4, clem was romantically involved with and saved Louis

twdg might be my second favorite game of all time? right under p5r.

quick lists i wanted to make because i love making lists

favorite seasons

1. season 4 (but tomorrow this might change, since season 1 is just so brilliantly contained and simple and holds a lot of nostalgia for me)

2. season 1

3. season 3

4. season 4

top four favorite characters

1. clementine (shes probably my favorite female fictional character of all time)

2. lee (truly, he is my second favorite comfort character next to ryuji, so do with that info what you will)

3. my main man louis (god i love him so so so much)

4. javi (look i love him okay)

thank you anon for giving me an outlet to yell about this amazing game!!! i could just talk about this game forever and ever because there is soo much to say about it

#twdg #mine #ask #asks #spoilers for twdg obvs #ily anon

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undercoverwizardninjaturtle · 5 years

Text

I Forgot How To Breath: A Shattered ROTTMNT Fanfiction

Summary: A Shattered Prequel, Donnie’s not the only one who needs help from time to time.

Word count:: 1,424

Pairing:Don’t you know me at this point? Wait you don’t? Oh then none, less then none

It was getting harder to breathe. Not because of some illness catching up to him, or because he was in any sort of distress. Believe it or not, the source of his breathing difficulty came from the Lou Jitsu Analog Watch he had refused to be more than three feet from for the past hour. Instead choosing to pace in front of it, glancing at it every so often

“Leo they’re fine.”

He didn’t have to look over his shoulder to know Donnie was standing behind him, arms crossed with an annoyingly flat look on his face that didn’t’ betray anything other than minor annoyance. “Mikey Dad and Raph left the convention six hours ago. Even if Raph stayed behind to take more selfies with a cosplayer they should have been back by now. And they’re not responding to our texts. Mikey promised me they’d respond no matter how many times I texted them. “

“They’re also with Dad.”

“Dad isn’t perfect, remember when he got into a fight with that Lou Jitsu Impersonator who said Lou Jitsu was straight? He could have gotten arrested. Again.”

His immediate brother gave off a tired sigh, “I don’t suppose you don’t want to sit at the tv at least where’s there’s a rug? You’re going to get dizzy and fall into the toilet again

“I’m not afraid of the toilet” He said with a narrow of his eyes. Turning back to his vigilance. Honestly he would of given the missing family members a call except eh had no reception, usually they had no problem with cell service but in Winter their network always took a nose dive (A problem that kept Donnie up late at night trying to fix for the past eight years now). Truth was that Donnie and Leo should have been with their family except that the two had been unjustly grounded (ok so they had cooked Spaghetti for dinner and slipped Splinters tail in it, so he took a bite out of himself). He looked back to the analog clock for the fifth time in ten seconds

Were they ok?

What if something happened? What if Splinter had been arrested? What if Raph had got stranded alone and went weird again? What if Mikey had an appendix burst and they had to try and get him into a hospital without alerting anyone they were mutants? What if Mikey had fallen into a portal and ended up in a world made entirely of unblemished blank walls and refused to leave unless he painted all the walls

His heart was beating a mile a minute, the seconds of the clock seemed to have come to a complete stop. and squeezed his eyes shut. HE knew he was being childish; he knew he was being stubborn. Every time he thought of walking away that annoying voice return, telling him the same thing every time

That they were gone

They were gone forever. Taken, they were all that was left. Alone, they were all alone, now weren’t they? The only ones of their kind, in an unforgiving city. Splinter was the only one of them who had regular access to money in a way Splinter kept secret, Donnie and Leo had their allowances but that wouldn’t last forever. They’d have to find a way to make a living. Could they move in with April? NO April had her parents who had no idea of their existence. OR worst what if their family needed them and they were still in New Jersey? He KNEW nothing good ever came out of going to Jersey. This was all his fault, pranking Dad had been his idea, fi he and Donnie were there latest they’d all be together-

Every second of the clock was another second part of his family was missing

Every second of the clock was another second of his worst fears becoming reality

Every second of the clock was another second his heartbeat was getting faster

HE was so focused the clock that when something large and flat fell over his head, covering him in darkness. Even though he was only a few months from becoming fourteen he let out the most immature shriek and thrashed around a few moments until he finally poked his head free in pure confusion till he saw Donnie with a bundle of blankets in his arms, he set one stack aside before taking the biggest and thickest one and flapping it out by the corners so it lay flat,” Come on Leo, if we’re sitting here all night we might as well be comfortable.”

Leo looked back to the bundle of blankets, “Don come on- “

“No don’t’ be stupid, I’m not going to sit in the living room all night by myself while you watch the door all night on a cold floor. I’m not heartless. So, stop being a child and make a fort with me.”

At first Leo was content with being a child, but when Donnie pulled out his limited edition glow in the dark Bluetooth Lou Jitsu sheets, he begrudgingly took the other edge and helped him unfold it (while not thinking about how Donnie had never EVER used these sheets, not even when Leo had the Double Grade Rat flu and begged for them on his supposed death bed)

So instead he grabbed a few extra pillows “No one said you were- “but even so he was welcomed with another blanket being thrown over his head. Thankfully without being in a panic, he freed himself intime to see Donnie pull over a beanbag chair and sit by his side in his favorite purple hoodie, “Pick out a movie to watch on the tablet, I’m bored.”

“what about the internet? I thought the last snowstorm knocked it out.”

“I downloaded them ahead of time, so we’d have something to watch. Just pick something, just so long as it’s not Jupiter Jim Sails the Seven Galaxies.”

OF course, Donnie had the worst taste in movies. Even so he turned on Lou Jitsu in ‘Its ok to cry’ (which was a way cooler movie then it sounded)’ “It’s kind of weird, you know?” he said as the credits rolled in, “I get so used making sure you’re ok, it’s kind of weird when the tables are turned right?”

Don had just poked his head back into their pillow fort, but made sure to roll his eyes, “what exactly do you mean by that?”

“You know, I’m usually the one who looks after you bro. I make sure you don’t’ get overwhelmed or flustered or calm you down.” Leo was already enjoying digging into one of the chip bags Don had brought over. He was so into shoving as many chips into his mouth as possible he didn’t see Don’s exasperated face slowly unclench and his intelligent eyes glanced away, looking to his hands. If Leo had been looking at him, if anyone had been looking at him, they would have asked him why he suddenly looked so sad. And if anyone had asked, he would have answered, with a question of his own

‘Am I really such a burden to everyone?’

But instead when Leo finally pulled his head free of the bag, Donnie threw a pillow at his face with a battle cry with all the skill of someone who spent most of their life learning how to mask their feelings. The ensuing pillow fight was full of laughter, and the breaking of lamps (eventually they would all be repaired with all the gum Leo and Donnie could chew) and overall, it was a fun night. IT was enough to finally ease Leo’s anxiety, and he didn’t even remember that Raph Mikey and Splinter were gone till they finally got a text a few hours later saying that they were holed up in a hotel because of the weather. Leo unleased d full smile and cheered nearly tackling Donnie over. They would return by the next day, and only for Donnie and Leo to get grounded again for breaking so many lamps, and time went on. Yet occasionally, Don would get that same sadness in his eyes. After his meltdowns, after he’d get overwhelmed and Leo would help him, when he was sure no one was looking. And it would drive him to ask Sunita about the store just for Yokai. To take a challenge he wasn’t sure he had been ready for. That question that would haunt him

‘Is that all you think I am? ‘

A/n

I dont’ usually do authors notes like this, but i’m making a exception. I know right now the world is scary. I wish i could offer you some sort of comfort that would last more then a few seconds. But in truth? None of us know what tomorrow will be like, but I can promise that this will eventually become a memory as all things do. I’m going to write as much as I can, even if it only helps one person because that one person will be worth it. Even though I’m one of the ‘essential workers’ right now (retail)

And as cliche as it sounds we are all in this together

#rottmnt #Rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt fanfiction #tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #leo #donnie #anxiety #prequel #shattered #undercoverwizardninjaturtle #quarantine art #tmnt fanfiction

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sweetmemories2606 · 4 years

Text

Day 2: Alluring

Took me a while to finish this one, but it was worth it.

By the way, important to note that this is a prequel to my prompt for day 3: perverse, which will be posted tomorrow.

Title: Reflection

Pairings: Gruvia

Summary: Like water, Juvia alluring, clear and dangerous. Though Gray wouldn't admit it yet, he was drowning.

Timeline: Tower of Heaven to Grand Magic Games Arcs

Warnings: Major Plot Twist at the end.

Word Count: 1774

Happy reading! (and Happy Easter too!!)

______________

September X784

After apprehending the guards, Gray took a look around to see how everyone else was faring. Predictably, Natsu had no trouble taking them down and Lucy seemed to be doing well too.

When he turned towards Juvia, the ice mage was speechless. Though he was aware that she was a powerful mage; it never occurred that she might also be cool, collected and patient.

Watching her in action was magnificent. With a single word Juvia managed to trap guards in water locks or knock them down with a water slicer. She made no movement to fight them which Gray found strange but also practical.

It was a contrast to the fighting style he was used to from Fairy Tail members, but he guessed Phantom Lord had a different strategy. Or perhaps this was due to Juvia's ability to turn her body into water thus remaining unaffected by her opponents' attempts to harm her.

In any case, Gray had to admit that she was turning out to be quite a useful ally. Maybe it would be a good idea if Fairy Tail had someone like her on their side. If he had someone like her….Thankfully, his train of thought was interrupted by Lucy's call of his name.

Looking for the celestial mage, he realised that she had Natsu joined in the centre of the cave. Juvia had been approaching them, but had stopped to glance at the ice mage. Her eyes showed worry, so Gray quickly offered a reassuring look.

"I'm coming." He ran towards his friends just as Jellal's familiar voice welcomed them to the Tower of Heaven.

______________

October X784

During the Miss Fairy Tail contest Gray realised another thing about Juvia that he hadn't been expecting. She was gorgeous.

It's not as if he had found her ugly before, but usually her beauty would be hidden behind a heavy coat and large hat. Well, not anymore, for she now stood in a bikini in front of everyone.

Gray was surprised that someone he had deemed shy would expose herself like this. Then again, she was hardly the only participant in this contest or the only one wearing a swimsuit.

Ignoring the loud reactions of his friends, Gray focused his attention solely on her. His eyes roamed over her body; appreciating how flawless her pale skin was and how she had curves in the right places.

As Loki put it, she was hot. However, this wasn't what impressed Gray since Erza, Lucy, Mira and so many other girls also had beautiful bodies.

What amazed him was the fact that Juvia could turn her body into water. She embodied the element so perfectly; with even her hair and eyes matching it.

He admired how deeply connected she was with her magic. She was water; the rain and the sea.

Once his gaze met hers Gray was entrapped by those mesmerising blue eyes. They were so huge; even from a distance. Her gaze was intense but also warm and welcoming. He couldn't look away nor did he want to.

In the end, she was the one to divert her gaze first. Glancing around the crowd, Juvia smiled nervously. "Do you like what you see?"

Many people cheered, but Gray remained silent. He assumed, though, that she didn't need verbal confirmation to know he did.

______________

December X784

Gray learned that Juvia wasn't just beautiful on the outside, but also on the inside. Though it had become clear that she was kind and compassionate, their experience on Tenrou Island taught him that she was selfless too.

Juvia had just surprised them by showing up after their battle against Grimoire Heart was over. He quickly noticed that something was wrong when she didn't stand. Recalling she had mentioned an injury on her leg before, he volunteered to help her get to the tent.

After he and Erza had pretty much carried Juvia there and helped her sit on the mattress, the re-equip mage gave him a pointed look before leaving.

"So, what happened to your leg?" Gray asked while sitting in front of the water mage.

"It was nothing." Juvia replied, conjuring water to clean her injuries.

"Doesn't look like nothing." Gray observed, concerned.

Her face grew somber and he knew that look all too well; it was on his face whenever he thought about his past. "Was it….Meredy?" He struggled to recall the young girl's name.

"No, she...she didn't do this." Juvia barely suppressed a moan of pain upon starting to clean her leg.

Gray moved closer to her. "Can I?" Receiving a nod, he gently pressed a hand against her leg, letting his magic cool it down.

"That feels nice." She smiled, slightly relieved.

A few moments passed in silence. "You know, I'm confused." He frowned. "I thought physical attacks couldn't hurt you."

Juvia avoided his gaze. "Not when someone else uses them."

"Wait..." His eyes widened. "Are you saying that you did this to yourself?" He removed his hand from her leg, inspecting the wound which was quickly blackening.

"I didn't have a choice!" Juvia yelled before the somber look returned. "She was going to kill you."

It took him a while to understand. Thinking back to the strange pink bracelet that had suddenly appeared on his arm, the unwanted emotions he had been overwhelmed by and the immense pain which had crippled him; the truth became clear.

It had been her emotions, her pain. His heart started beating faster once Gray realised this meant that the love she claimed to feel for him was true.

Unwilling to dwell on the repercussions of that, however, he focused instead on her last statement. "That bracelet...it connected us somehow."

"It's Meredy's magic. She linked me to you so that you'd share my pain." Juvia confirmed.

He failed to understand what the young girl might have against him. "But why? What did she have against me?"

Her voice trembled as she finally looked back at him. "She was doing it for Ultear. She said you...you killed her mother."

"Ur." Gray whispered, realisation dawning on him.

"I knew that wasn't true. I remembered Erza told me about your master." Juvia informed.

He offered an apologising look. "I'm sorry you had to become involved in this."

"It's alright." Her gaze fell down to her injured leg before she tried cleaning it again. "I'm just glad I was able to stop Meredy."

Watching her, Gray suddenly felt guilty. "You hurt yourself...to save me. Why?"

"I thought you knew by now that I'd do anything for you." Was her honest response.

Beautiful, strong, kind, clear and selfless. Resisting her was getting harder, but Gray was stubborn and still refused to give in.

The memories of those who lost their lives protecting him were a constant reminder of how dangerous it was to let someone get too close. Death had followed him like a curse but he couldn't allow it to take her away too.

______________

July X791

Gray learned that he wasn't the only one who found Juvia incredible after Lyon seemingly fell in love with her. At first he had assumed it was some sort of prank, a strategy to bother him and reignite the brothers' rivalry.

If that was so, it certainly worked. Though he tried to appear unaffected, Gray couldn't deny that he disliked all the attention Lyon was giving her. Even less so knowing he had no right to tell the other man to leave her alone.

Juvia should've been the one to push Lyon away, but she hadn't. Gray wasn't sure why, but convinced himself it had nothing to do with her actually enjoying being flirted with.

He couldn't phantom that she would have interest in someone else after claiming to be in love with him for so long. He expected her to always be there for him, thus made no move to advance their relationship.

Some people claimed he was taking her for granted and unfairly misleading her to believe that he would someday reciprocate her affections. Others warned that if he kept dismissing her, she would find someone else.

What they didn't know, though, is that Gray had already been reflecting about his feelings for her. Since getting confirmation that she truly loved him on Tenrou Island, he had begun seeing her in a night light.

Yet the answer still evaded him as the conflict between fear and hope remained. His heart was such a mess it was no wonder he couldn't figure out whether he loved her or not.

Meanwhile; Lyon kept flirting with Juvia, asking her on dates and offering gifts. He wasn't backing down and soon Gray realised this wasn't just a prank.

On the second day of the Games, he was dragged to an uncomfortable conversation during which Lyon pressured him to give an answer regarding his feelings for Juvia.

It seemed the older ice mage wanted to prove to her that Gray didn't feel the same way so she might consider accepting to go out with Lyon.

Gray figured this out quickly and escaped without saying anything. Returning to the inn, he came across Erza on the balcony.

Another uncomfortable conversation ensued. She reminded him that Juvia wouldn't wait forever and finished with the words that wouldn't leave his mind for the next two days. "She deserves a straight answer."

______________

Ironically, Juvia would be the one required to give answers soon. For even though it was still unknown to them, Lyon was not the only man who had taken an interest in her.

"You've been staring at her picture for a long time." Agent Doranbolt from the Magic Council finally looked away from the picture of the water mage and towards his partner.

"What is it, Lahar?" He asked with disinterest.

"I've got news from the Council." Lahar answered, approaching the messy desk where files were scattered.

"What did they say?" Doranbolt asked while placing the picture inside an envelope.

"They said we have permission to question her."

He smiled. "Good. It's about time we find out if our theory is true."

"If we're right, she could be dangerous." Lahar warned. "So we must act cautiously."

Doranbolt took another paper which showed the schedule for the Grand Magic Games. "We can take her after the Naval Battle since she'll probably represent Fairy Tail Team B."

Lahar nodded. "That's a good idea. We just have to be discreet about it."

"Not a problem." Doranbolt chuckled as he stood. Quickly gathering the papers and organising them, he picked Juvia's picture again.

"You know, I never would have suspected her of all people to be a spy."

#fanfic #gruvia week #gruvia #fairy tail #plot twist #day 2: alluring #gray fullbuster #juvia lockser #erza scarlet #lyon vastia #mest gryder #grand magic games #tower of heaven #tenrou island #magic council

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virtualpiratementality · 4 years

Text

Avoiding Death is my Specialty

Hi guys! So the blog @incorrectfairytailquotesx on Tumblr has inspired a number of one shots from me. This is one that came to me from a quote they posted from the Percy Jackson series. I’m not too happy with the ending and may post an edited version, but for now, enjoy! :)

5/6/20 update- was going through old stories and wanted to update this one. Can be read separately, or as a prequel to ‘Flowers’ and then ‘Starry Date’. Will also be posted on ff.net

If you like it please share or leave a comment, constructive criticism welcome :)

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“Avoiding death is my specialty.”

Natsu Dragneel(Percy Jackson)

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“Come onn, Natsu,” I groaned, pulling the pink haired boy by the rest of the way off of the train. He collapsed onto the ground and I huffed, crossing my arms. “This is our first S-class mission. Well, officially. We can’t be late!” I said anxiously.

“Relax, Lucy” the puddle that was Natsu groaned. “The guy doesn’t live that far away,” he said before finally starting to push himself off of the ground. “And besides–when have we ever been on time?” He said, his attempt to grin cheekily at me ruined by the still green tint on his cheeks. I rolled my eyes before letting out a calming breath. Natsu was right about him not living too far away, at least.

“Aye!” Happy cried, flying around our heads. He stopped and clung onto me, “please can we eat first!? I haven’t eaten since breakfast!” He pleaded.

I glanced quickly at my watch, we did still have a little less than an hour before we needed to be at the requester’s house. “Yess,” I groaned. “Quickly, though, go fly ahead and find somewhere! We don’t have too long” I warned him.

“Thanks, Lucy!” He chirped before flying off towards the busier looking roads.

“I wish Gray or Erza could have come along with us,” I told Natsu as we slowly followed after, frowning.

“Why would you want Ice brains here!? And I’m just as strong as Erza!” He said, letting out a puff of fire.

“Of course you are,” I said, letting out a light laugh. “But this is our first S class mission, and it would make me more comfortable if we had more people…” I fretted.

“We’re a team!” Natsu exclaimed. “ And you know what that means?” I arched my eyebrow in an invitation. “That we’ll get through it together, Luce. Always.” He finished adamantly.

“You’re right!” I replied, sending him a soft smile. “We’ll finish this mission up and be back home in no time!”

“And anyways, it’s not our first S class quest!” He said, and I rolled my eyes already knowing what he was going to say. “The first was Galuna Island!”

“Yeah, and look at how well that turned out,” I said, letting out an unladylike snort. “Erza and Gray had to come help!”

“Well they did, but we could have done it without them!” He persisted.

“You’re right, of course we could have,” I said in a placating tone.

“NATSU! LUCY!” We looked towards the right where we could hear Happy’s voice and saw him hovering in front of a restaurant decorated with fishing nets and traps and lures. I scrunched up my nose and Natsu laughed at me.

“Are you regretting letting him pick the spot?” He teased, nudging my arm.

“Maybe a little bit…”

Lunch was, as always, a noisy and messy affair. We ended up getting to the contacts house on time, if not slightly out of breath. “See?” Natsu beamed. “Told ya we’d be fine!” I glared at him, gasping, as he knocked on the door.

“Jeez, Luce,” Happy started. “I think you need to get in better shape when we get home!” My growl was cut off as the door opened. I straightened up to greet the man at the door.

“Hello! Are you Jiro?” I questioned with a friendly smile on my face.

“Yes! Are you the team from Fairy Tail I was told would be coming?” He asked politely.

“Sure am!” Natsu replied enthusiastically, both of us presenting our guild marks. “And we’re ready to kick some bandit ass!” My polite smile became strained as Natsu spoke and I did a mental slap to my forehead. Jiro, however, thankfully just laughed and invited us into his house.

“I’m happy you made it here safely,” he said, face grave. “From what I understand they increased the difficulty of my request.” He said, before continuing on to explain at the nods of our head that we were aware of this. “Just a few days ago, I discovered that there were far more bandits than I first believed making their home on my land. It’s far too dangerous for me to go out there anymore, which is a problem for my family. I use that land to feed them, we have a large garden and when there is need, we hunt. With the recent bandit problem, however…” He trailed off.

“You haven’t been able to feed your family,” I responded gently. “We understand. We’ll take care of this problem so you won’t have to worry anymore,” I said assuredly.

“Thank you!” He said gratefully. “Please, go when you are ready and be careful. They’re scattered on the land throughout the day.” We nodded in understanding before heading out the door.

“You ready to get started!?” Natsu asked. “Got your keys, whip?”

“Of course I do,” I responded, scoffing. “Let’s go! I’d like to be done today or tomorrow to head back.” I added, and Natsu nodded, agreeing before we headed towards where Jiro had directed us.

We didn’t talk as we wandered our way through the land, making our way through the wooded area, listening intently to the sounds that surrounded us. We sent Happy ahead to scout, and he came back about ten minutes later beckoning us to follow him. We followed along stealthily, stopping at every twig crack and bush rustle. Soon we found ourselves crouching outside of a huge clearing with a garden in the middle and a large number of tents set up in the fields surrounding the garden.

I felt Natsu’s breath on my ear, and held in a squeak of surprise. “Luce,” he barely whispered, and I felt an involuntary shiver go through me at the feel of his breath on my ear. “I think it would be better to split up right now, go around to the right while I go left, we’ll do a head count and meet up on the other side.” I nodded in agreement.

It’s common for people to think that Natsu isn’t exactly a planner. Normally they would be correct, his impulsivity and love of just jumping in when we’re with our whole team is often the cause of too many of our troubles, but with how many of us there are with the full team, especially with how strong everyone is, it allows for more freedom.

However, when just us, Natsu tended to be much more careful, following a checklist and making a plan, even if he doesn’t always follow it. I used to think that it was because I wasn’t the best fighter, however I had been training with our team for quite some time now and had been getting stronger. I wasn’t going to complain however, I always enjoyed having a plan.

“Sounds good,” I replied. “just please be careful!” He gave me a ‘who, me?’ look that made me roll my eyes before we went our separate ways.

I unhooked my whip as I crept around the edge of the camp, careful for any leaves or twigs that may be on the ground. I was about halfway around with a head count of 14 when I heard heavy footsteps accompanied by a branch snap. I whirled around, crouching lower to the ground, one leg bent under me, the other stretched out. He hadn’t seen me yet and I took the opportunity to hide better as he wandered out of the camp.

I bit my lip, wondering if I should try to take him down now. If I could do it quietly, it would be one less person. If I took too long, it could alert the camp someone was here…I worried my lip between my teeth. Then again, if he woke up before Natsu and I had finished with a plan he could warn the camp and they would be more prepared…I let out a frustrated scream in my mind before pouting and waited for him to leave. Too many ‘what ifs’ for now.

It didn’t take me long to finish my circuit and meet Natsu at the other end. In total, we had a count of about thirty.

“I can cause a distraction on the other side and while their backs are turned we can jump em!” He whispered enthusiastically. I laughed and nodded.

“Seems like the best way to go, hopefully we’ll take a few down before they realize we’re even here!” I agreed. He grinned maniacally and with a barely noticeable flick of the wrist, called a ball of fire to his hand. Taking aim, he shot the fireball towards one of the tents in the middle. The man sitting in front shot up and frantically tried to put his tent out while the others near him started laughing and jeering. Until the fire spread and another tent caught on fire. Then another. More and more people were migrating over to frantically try and help put them out before it continued to spread.

Natsu glanced over and I grinned, giving him a thumbs up. I had equipped my Taurus Star Dress at this point and was ready to go! I felt the familiar feeling of my heartbeat picking up, and the excitement starting to build right before a fight. At my thumbs up, Natsu jumped into the clearing, incapacitating people left and right.

I jumped into the fray, cracking my whip and bringing people down, focusing on trying to keep anyone from sneaking up to Natsu or overwhelming him. My whip wrapped around ankles, wrists and necks, dragging them to the ground. Taurus’ Dress was the best for situations like this, increasing my strength when it was needed. Soon enough, however, the bandits understood what was going on and turned their attention from the burning tents to us and I knew the real thing would help a great deal. Grabbing for my keys, I called Taurus to come help us fight.

I had a few people coming just for me, but it seemed most of the bandits had deemed Natsu as the main threat, which only made things all the more easier for us. Natsu was enjoying himself a bit too much, cackling as he took people out with his flaming fists. Shaking my head and smiling, I kept fighting. We quickly fell into a pattern, me dragging someone away from Natsu when I could and Taurus knocking them out. Things were looking good for us!

Funny how it only takes a split second for things to change.

Out of nowhere, I felt something grab my legs. Looking down, I noticed vines and roots had clung to them and they were firmly holding me in place. I gave a few experimental tugs, but they were quickly climbing up my body, making it impossible to move. Taurus noticed what was happening and stopped swinging at the bandits, turning to help me before being entrapped in his own roots. “Luuuucy!” He called, hacking at his own restraints.

“I’m fine, Taurus! Go back!” I commanded. He looked at me hesitantly. “Go! I can call you again if I need you!” I said urgently, watching the vines quickly wrap up him. He grudgingly nodded.

“Yes, Luuucy. Stay safe!” He said before disappearing, the roots still molded in the position of his legs.

What was this!? No one had reported there being mages in with the bandits! I thought furiously. I couldn’t take the time to dwell on it, however. They were here, and we had to deal with them. I quickly began scanning for them as I switched outfits.

“Star Dress-Cancer!” I called, glancing over to check on Natsu. Natsu also had roots starting to reach towards him. He was throwing fire at his own restraints as well as other people, trying to keep them at bay. Happy was pulling on the back of his vest as he attacked the roots, trying to pull him free.

“Natsuuuu!” He cried.

I unsheathed the swords that came with the Cancer form and started to try and cut the roots away. It didn’t seem to matter how quickly I cut, and the roots were too thick to cut through in a single stroke and when I did manage to cut one more vine, two more seemed to pop up in its place.

Looking around frantically I tried to pinpoint the magic user. The roots were already up to my waist and reaching out to try and grab my wrists. “Natsu!” I cried desperately, pointing to the man who I had found to be controlling the roots. His hands palm down, back against the trees and eyes closed. His long dark hair loosely tied up and he seemed to almost meld with the tree behind him.

He paused his onslaught of fire to look in the direction, giving me a sharp nod. He pulled his arm back and gathered up a ball of fire. I went back to fighting the roots, trying to cut the ones grabbing my hands away. The ones around me were up to my chest now and had immobilized me. They drew around my shoulders before working back down, drawing my arms close to my body and squeezing tight, leaving it much harder for me to breathe as I struggled fruitlessly to get out.

I looked up at a burst of raw red power coming from the opposite direction, and screamed as it headed towards Natsu. Although the roots hadn’t immobilized the top half of his body, he still couldn’t move out of the way. It hit him in the back like an arrow and I watched in horror as his eyes went wide. As his flames died out. The roots quickly disintegrated away as he fell, allowing him to hit the ground, face forward. I saw the blood pouring from the wound in his back. He struggled to his knees but was hit by the magic - formed arrow again. And again and again and again. I couldn’t see anything else as I looked into his eyes and saw the pain there. I didn’t even notice Happy collapsing a few feet away, staring at Natsu in shock.

“NATSU!” I yelled, trying to fight back the tears. “STOP IT!” I screamed desperately at the man who was coming up behind him. His red eyes-the same color as that awful magic-had a strange glow and his face held a manic smile. Not like the one Natsu wore when excited - no this was a twisted manic, eyes holding no passion or warmth. His dark hair was cut short, flying every which way. He stood tall over Natsu, looking down on him. I lost the battle, and tears broke through, also coming from an angry desperation to get to him. He looked up towards me. “Natsu…” I whispered, my voice breaking as I saw the fire start to die out of his eyes, his eyelids slowly closing.

“Natsu!” I cried louder. “Wake up, Natsu, there are still asses to kick!” I yelled desperately, tears continuing to spill. Nothing. There was no movement at all. His back looked like a pincushion and I couldn’t see any of his skin. His blood was dripping down his body, soaking into the dirt on the ground. His eyes, which had just been alight with excitement and determination…then pain, were closed now. “NATSU!” I screamed in agony.

“Awh, how sad,” The red eyed man cooed. “But don’t worry, you’ll soon be joining him.”

“I will get out of here,” I growled to the stranger . “I will and I swear to Mavis it doesn’t matter if you’re gone I’m going to destroy you”

“Oh please,” He sneered. “Do you know how many times I've heard declarations of revenge?” He asked, eyes seeming to grow more wild, a dangerous aura beginning to surround him. “And do you know how many failed? Well...I’m still here, aren’t I?” He asked with a nasty smirk. “Do you even know who I am?” He asked gleefully.

“I don’t need to know who you are!” I spat back. “I don’t give a shit who you are! I’m not them, and I swear you will regret hurting Natsu!” I declared forcefully.

“I guess I’d better just dispose of you as well then,” he sneered, bringing his arm back. I stared defiantly at him even as an arrow formed in between his thumb and first two fingers.

“WAAAAAAAHHHHHHH” it was then that I came back to my senses and noticed Happy dive bombing the red-eyed man. Tears were running down his face and Happy dodged the man’s swats faster than I’d ever seen him move.

“HAPPY! HAPPY GO FIND HELP!” I screamed. “GO GET A DOCTOR! I’ll have them gone by the time you get back.” He seemed to snap out of the red haze he was in and flew up high. He nodded at me and turned to fly off. Before I could even blink he was gone.

The red eyed man made his way towards the mage restraining me and laughed. “My roots aren’t nothin to mess with, girlie.” He smirked at me.

“It’s a good thing I’m not either,” I said, smirking right back. Closing my eyes I took a deep breath as I let my anger, my hatred for these two men who were trying to rip away the heart of Fairy Tail. Rip away the soul of the man who had shown me an adventure I didn’t even know I needed.

In that moment, I felt it. The bright, gentle magic that lived inside of me. I breathed in, concentrating, and funneled my adrenaline, anger and hurt into that well. I then breathed out, relaxing. “Star Dress-Leo” I whispered and the magic took hold. My magic grew, and I felt more powerful. I opened my eyes, staring at them before saying in a louder, clearer voice. “Regulas burst!” My magic burst out in a nova, disintegrating the ties and allowing me to move again. Before they could utter a word I grabbed three keys, slashing them through the air.

“Open! Gates of the Earth! Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo!”

A bright light flashed in the clearing, leaving behind the three spirits.

For the first time, I saw fear entering the eyes of the mages. “Th-three spirits?” A nasty grin spread across my face, and I felt a pang of panic at first about how much I was enjoying their fear.

Capricorn and Taurus immediately attacked the men, striking so fast they didn’t even have time to draw their power. They were hit with an onslaught of fists and feet, giving Virgo time to dig a trap behind them. Already I could feel my adrenaline - fueled power start to recede. I clung on desperately as Taurus and Capricorn fought and tried to knock the men back into the trap. Gripping my whip I joined the fray. With the three of us physically attacking, the red-eyed man and the root manipulator were soon overwhelmed and even with them fighting back, It didn’t take long before the two men were knocked out.

My vision became blurry and I fell to my knees, keeping hold of my magic as my spirits pulled the men into the dirt hole that Virgo had created. They sealed them there, the only things above ground being their heads.

“Virgo, Taurus, go back. I will stay here with Lady Lucy until Happy comes with help. I will use my own power to stay here” Capricorn instructed. They nodded to him, understanding that it had taken a lot of magic to open and keep open the three celestial gates. I didn’t hear much else as the spots went blurry and my vision darkened. I felt the pull on my power lessen and finally relaxed.

When I woke up it was to a room that I didn’t recognize. I could hear murmuring in the background, along with the crackling of a fire. My head pounded and I felt week. I wracked my brain, trying to remember what happened. I slowly opened my eyes, and was thankfully met with dim and took in my surroundings.

I turned to my right and gasped, seeing Natsu on another cot. His eyes were blurry light. I rapidly blinked, trying to rid myself of the blurriness. Another throb of pain hit my head and I groaned, using an insane amount of strength just to bring my heavy arms up to my head.

“...Lucy?” I sucked in a breath and my heart stuttered as I heard the voice and everything came rushing back. Pushing aside my own pain, I looked up to see a sight that filled my heart with warmth.

Natsu was sitting in a bed next to me, Happy clinging to him and crying. Natsu was petting him as he hugged him back.

“Natsu?” I whispered. He looked up and gave me a huge grin, but I could see the relief in his eyes.

“Lucy! Welcome back to the land of the living!” He said teasingly.

“What happened!? I thought you were dead!” I said tearfully, sitting up slowly to assess any damage. I swung my legs off the bed to face him, planting my feet on the floor.

“Oh, Natsu!” I exclaimed, relieved. I flung myself at him, stumbling between the beds and wrapping my arms around him, squishing Happy between us. He hissed and threw one arm back against his bed to brace us, while the other came up around my waist to hug me to him. Tears of relief were making their way down my face as I clung to him.

“Hey!” Happy protested, squished between us.

“And you!” I exclaimed. “I ended up passing out I guess,” I said sheepishly. “what happened?”

Wiggling out from between us, Happy started to explain. “I came back to town to find Jiro and told him to get a doctor and go find you guys in the clearing with the farm. Then I flew as fast as I could to get Wendy and brought her and Carla here! I knew Natsu would need her help. Your goat-man said that you had just fainted from using too much magic. And now Wendy’s sleeping in the other room cuz Carla said she used too much of her magic.” He said. I grabbed him and hugged him tight to my chest, where I was still against Natsu.

“You’re a hero, Happy! Without you we’d probably still be out there, and Natsu could’ve been…” I trailed off, not even wanting to finish the sentence. “Oh, Natsu…” I said, turning back to him. “I was so worried. I thought I’d lost you, and…and I don’t know what I would’ve done. You…you have no idea what that would’ve done to me, “ I choked out, trying to hold back even more tears.

“Oh Luce, didn’t you know?” I looked at him quizzically. Didn’t I know what? Was there some kind of dragon slayer thing he hadn’t told me about? “Avoiding death is my specialty!” He finished cheekily.

I groaned and smacked my forehead onto his chest. I could feel him laugh as he tightened his arm around my waist, his other hand coming up to run through my hair.

“I’m glad you’re okay, Luce. I don’t know what happened out there and you’ll have to fill me in, but i’m just so happy that you’re okay.” He said, voice strained. I froze as I felt him place a kiss on the top of my head. My heart raced and warred with my mind.

He doesn’t think of you like that, he’s just happy you’re okay!

But who kisses their friends!? I’ve been in trouble plenty of times and Gray’s never kissed me!

My thoughts were cut short as the door banged open, and I shot back and quickly stood, blocking Natsu from whoever had burst in. I took a defensive stance, one hand flitting around my waist attempting to find my whip, before remembering my injuries. I swayed on my feet as I fought through a dizzy spell, and tried to focus on who had come through.

“Lucy! Natsu!” A commanding voice rang through the room and I relaxed as I felt Natsu put his feet on the ground and put one arm around my waist, and another grabbing my wrist to steady me.

“I am here to help!” Erza declared, hands on hips and requipped into a nurses outfit. I snorted as she walked over to me, and helped me over to my bed. “Doctor’s orders, you are both to stay in bed until tomorrow.” She lectured strictly.

She was followed in by Gray, “I knew we should have gone with you, flame for brains.” He scoffed, but I could see the underlying worry and rolled my eyes.

“WHAT!?” Natsu yelled. “We handled it just fine, and when I was down Lucy kicked ass! We didn’t need you!” He shot back and I blushed, ducking my head.

“NO FIGHTING” Erza roared, and both boys shrunk away meekly.

I shook my head in exasperation and looked towards Natsu. We shared a smile before I sunk back into my bend, lending half an ear to Erza’s continued lecture as I started to sink back into a sleep.

Even if Natsu doesn’t think of me that way, at least he cares. And as long as I’m with Fairy Tail I'm surrounded by my family and that’s all that matters.

That was my last thought before I gave in to sleep.

#fairytail #nalu #ft nalu

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