#harm a single hair on her head and i’m sawing through your abdomen with a 2 inch razor edge toothpick

[liittlecrow]

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hi tumblr, meet mika

[valwentinefics]

Instincts - Helmut Zemo x F!Reader (omegaverse) 18+

Plot: Y/n, an unmated omega, forgets to get a refill of her suppressants, sending her into her heat while at work. Luckily for her notorious criminal and alpha Helmut Zemo is hiding out in the backroom. (Takes place after episode 4 of tfatws)

A/n: First of all I’m sorry, second of all I’m sorry, third of all, You’re welcome. This is my first time writing omegaverse so it’s probably not the best and I haven’t read an omegaverse fic in a hot minute. Sorry my smut is always so short, I really gotta work on that.

Warnings: smut, normal a/b/o things, possessive dirty talk, mentions of omegas being harmed, mentions of fear of being assaulted. (if i missed anything please let me know)

As an unmated omega, Y/n knew well of the dangers of the world. Everywhere she looked alphas lurked around looking for their own omega, a rare thing to have in this society. Although omegas were coveted and prized they were still at the bottom of the hierarchy and were expected to be subservient to whatever alpha marked them, a thought that terrified Y/n. Stories of alphas that harmed omegas were sickeningly common, and with everyone plastering on fake kindness in hopes to place their mark on her neck, Y/n was terrified she would end up a statistic.

Suppressants were Y/n’s saving grace, an illegal method to mask her true nature from the world and pose as a beta where she could live her life peacefully, something she could never do as an omega. If she were to get caught she could face serious time in a correctional facility built just for omegas to learn their place in the world, and so every day was filled with caution and fear.

“God I look like shit.” Y/n’s heavy eyes looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, the bags under her eyes deep and only looking worse due to the harsh fluorescent light buzzing away above her. The illegal suppressants had many side effects ranging from life threatening to mildly troublesome, but the one that affected Y/n most was the inability to fall asleep. Each night was spent tossing and turning, her body feeling restless. 

Sluggishly Y/n grabbed her concealer, dabbing it on beneath her eyes, her hands shaking with exhaustion. She finished with a sigh, running her hands through her hair to remove any major knots. She didn’t have the energy to fully go through her hair, not seeing the point. She was hidden as a beta anyways, no one would give her a second glance. Y/n opened the medicine cabinet, looking for the white box of suppressants, only to not find it anywhere. Her stomach sank as she realized she forgot to get her refill yesterday. It would be fine though, she hoped. She had gone without them before and hadn’t gone in heat, surely it would be the same thing this time, but for some reason there was a nagging feeling in her mind it wouldn’t be.

Y/n grabbed her perfume, spraying it on herself. The scent was cinnamon, similar to her natural scent as an omega, but it had the slight acrid scent of being a perfume. She hoped that would be enough to convince the alphas she passed by that she was just a beta wearing perfume. It wasn’t something she used often, only when her overtired brain didn’t remember to get the refill of her suppressants. 

“That's good enough, I hope.” Y/n mumbled to herself. She smoothed out her short sundress, the light flowy fabric ending at her mid thigh. It was her favourite dress, she felt and knew she looked cute in it. Y/n didn’t like to wear things like this often, she didn’t want the attention of anyone, but frankly she felt like shit and needed the joy looking nice brought her.

The walk to the flower shop had Y/n’s body feeling hot, however she assumed it was the warm weather, not wanting her paranoia to make her miss work. The flower shop she owned was Y/n’s only source of income and it wasn’t a bad one at that. It was common for alpha’s to come in and buy bouquets to give to the first omega they see on the streets in an attempt to woo them. That was another reason Y/n refused to accept her status as an omega. Every bit of romance was just disingenuous. Alpha’s only wanted to have the honour of being chosen by an omega, they didn’t care about who that omega was. However, Y/n was happy it paid her bills.

-

The day went by smoothly until closing time when Y/n turned off the open sign, the neon light no longer lighting up the darkening street outside. As she grabbed her keys to leave a sharp pain went through her abdomen, causing a gasp to escape her throat. She rested a hand on the painful area, eyes wide. She should have listened to her instincts, she should have stayed home, but she didn’t and now she was going into heat in her store. Y/n paced, her mind running at a hundred miles an hour as she tried to figure out what to do. She couldn’t go home, walking would be near impossible for her with her heat approaching fast. She would have to wait it through in her shop with no relief. 

“Oh fuck…” Y/n groaned in pain, leaning against the wall. She knew she had to find something to eat to get the strength to get through this. With shaky steps she headed to the back, her hand glued to her abdomen as if that would alleviate her pain. As she approached the door to the back room her blood went cold, her nose picking up the faint scent of an alpha through the thick door. 

She debated opening it. Her instincts were telling her to open it and get his help with the heat, her brain told her it could be dangerous. Eventually decided to confront him, to ask what he was doing and maybe for his help getting home if he didn’t seem too awful. With her keys clutched between her fingers just in case, she slowly opened the door, her body almost melting at the scent that wafted to her.

A man dressed in a long coat with a fur collar stared back at her with shock, the scent of pine trees wafting off of him. “Omega…?” He spoke with a Sokovian accented voice. It took Y/n a few moments before the identity of the dangerously handsome man registered in her mind. She had seen him on the news. He was Helmut Zemo, the man who almost single handedly destroyed the Avengers.

Y/n shook her head, forcing herself to concentrate. “You’re Helmut Zemo… What- what are you doing here?” She asked, fixing her posture to appear assertive and trying her best to resist the urge to submit right there. A mixture of fear and arousal was filling her body to the point where she thought she might explode.

“So you’ve heard about me?” He tilted his head slightly. “I needed a place to hide for a bit, I’ve been scoping this place out. You’re the owner, Y/n, correct?” Y/n gulped but nodded, worried about why he was hiding out. “That doesn’t matter right now. Why are you here? It’s not safe for an omega in heat to be out in public.” He scolded as if Y/n didn’t know that. It was odd, having the notorious criminal seem to care about her safety. She wondered what he was trying to achieve, if anything.

“It wasn’t my choice okay?” She snapped, a wave of pain washed over her and she slumped against the door frame with a groan. Zemo got up, moving to her quickly but stopping once Y/n had flinched, worried he was going to try something.

“You need to get home, where’s your car? I'll escort you there.” He said, his voice was strained and Y/n’s eyes couldn’t help but land on the growing bulge in his pants. He was going into a rut which explained his current caring and protective nature. Her mouth watered at the thought of having his cock in her mouth but she tore her eyes away, looking to the side to avoid him. 

“I don’t have a car… too expensive.” She groaned out, her breaths growing to pants as she started to overheat, fanning herself with her hand.

Zemo let out a staggered exhale, running his hand through his formerly perfectly done hair. “What’s your address? I’ll bring you there myself.” Y/n was impressed at the amount of self control this alpha had. Even as his rut was beginning he managed to stay calm and collected for the most part, but Y/n knew it was hard for him, sweat ran down his forehead as he strained to keep control.

Reluctantly Y/n told him her address knowing he was her best bet at getting home safely. A whimper escaped her throat as she felt her slick begin to drip down her thigh. She clenched her legs together, desire seeping into every part of her. She wanted the alpha’s knot more than anything she had ever wanted before. She could hardly focus on what Zemo was doing, not noticing he had draped his coat over her and picked her up until they were already out the door.

Zemo didn’t breathe as often as he needed while he walked, trying not to inhale Y/n’s scent as he moved at a quick pace, shooting piercing glares at every passerby that dared look their way. He felt protective over the little omega. His cock strained uncomfortably against his pants as his mind filled with thoughts of mating with her, but he pushed them back, not wanting to take advantage of her. Arriving at the apartment building he used her keys to unlock the door to the humble apartment, locating her room and placing her down on her bed. Y/n took off his coat and offered it back.

“You can keep the jacket for now, I’ll come back for it once you’re done with your heat.” He said, quickly turning around. Y/n’s hand shot out, grabbing his gloved hand.

“Please alpha, don't leave, help me.” She whimpered. Y/n didn’t know where that had come from, but she didn’t regret it, knowing it wasn’t just her heat talking. He was powerful, respectful, not to mention handsome. Everything a good mate should be, even though Y/n knew mating with a dangerous man like him was out of the question. Y/n found herself liking the man despite knowing what he had done and not knowing him long. She knew he would treat her well during her heat, if he accepted.

“Are you sure omega?” He asked, not facing her in fear that he would pounce on her as soon as he saw the desire in her eyes. 

“Yes alpha, please…” Y/n whimpered again, giving his hand a small tug. “I need you”

That was all he needed to lose control. Zemo turned around to face her, stalking to the bed as he removed his shirt, straddling Y/n’s warm needy body. Her smaller hands reached out, undoing his belt and palming Zemo’s cock through his pants. Y/n couldn’t help the filthy thoughts that flooded her mind, desire for the dangerous man’s knot consuming her.

Zemo let out a groan, taking off his pants and boxers, letting his painfully hard cock free. Y/n’s eyes were clouded with lust as she leaned forward, mouth open and ready to suck it. He tapped the side of her cheek with his cock, running his hand through her hair and gripping it.

 “No liebling, this is about you. I can wait for another time.” He let go of her hair and Y/n laid down, watching the alpha as he took off her panties and put her legs over his shoulders, running his cock slowly up and down her folds and coating itself in her slick, the tip teasing her as it came so close to going in. Y/n let out a little whine, letting him know she was growing impatient. “I apologize omega, it’s rude of me to tease.” He smirked before shoving himself all the way in easily.

Y/n’s toes curled as she let out a loud gasping moan, throwing her head back in pleasure as he began to thrust in and out of her, the position they were in allowing him to reach every part of her with ease. His hands ran up and down her waist as he let out a deep moan. Y/n’s eyes were locked on him as he fucked her deeply, causing her to let out a whimper of pleasure with every thrust.

“Look at you little omega, taking my cock so well.” He reached over to cup her cheek in his hand, rubbing circles into the soft flesh with his thumb. “Does it feel good?” His hand dropped from her cheek and began to rub her clit with just enough roughness to send her over the edge, a loud moan escaping her as she came.

“Yes, fuck! harder, please!” She said between moans, her hands tangling themselves in Zemo’s hair and gripping it as she panted.

Zemo moaned as he re-adjusted her legs on his shoulders, picking up the pace. “This pussy of yours, it’s mine now. I’ll fuck you through this heat and every heat you have next.” He growled, hitting Y/n’s sweet spot, making her cry out in ecstasy. 

Y/n felt warm inside at his words. Her pussy clenched around his cock as the stimulation from him rubbing her clit and pounding into her sent her over the edge again, panting as she came hard. He was good at making her feel good, and for once Y/n was glad she was an omega.

“Fuck, you feel so good clenched around me. Do you want my knot in you, little omega? Do you want me to fill you up with my cum?” He asked cockily, receiving a desperate whine from Y/n.

“Please, please, please!” She begged, the only thoughts filling her mind were those of need for his knot buried deep into her. 

“How can I refuse... when you’re asking so nicely, liebling.” He spoke between grunts. His thrusts slowly became more sloppy and deep and Y/n knew he was about to cum.

With one last deep thrust Zemo buried his cock all the way into Y/n’s pussy, his knot trapping the two together as he emptied his cum into Y/n. She felt so full in a good way, her breaths heavy with exhaustion as she internally frowned at the thought of Zemo pulling out of her. His knot alleviated the worst of her heat and as she laid there sore and sweaty, her now clearer mind had no regrets about what had happened. 

Zemo pulled out after a while, his knot going away. A smile danced on his lips as he saw the cum dripping out of her as he pulled out his cock. Y/n’s eyes fluttered closed as she moved to a more comfortable position on the bed. Zemo grabbed his jacket from the floor, dusting it off and draping it over the omega’s tired form. Hesitantly he hovered over her before pressing a soft kiss on the top of her head, deeply inhaling her scent. 

Not wanting to intrude any more, he got dressed and walked over to the couch, exhaustion filling his body as he slumped down onto it, closing his eyes with a smile. He could tell he would need all the rest he could get while he rode out the omega’s heat with her. He was so happy he decided to hide out at that flower shop.

-

Tags: @peculiar-monstar​ @lovelyzabrak-meadow​ @captainsherlockwinchester110283​

[walkerwords]

“Hold On” Rick Grimes & Daughter!Reader

GIF CREDIT: http://gph.is/2yDy2U6

Request from @joelsheartache:  I'd like to request a Rick x daughter!reader. The reader it shot instead of Olivia, but instead of a head shot it's in her abdomen but the shot is still fatal. Rick tries to stop the blood flow and says things along the lines of "You're gonna be okay, baby girl! You just have to focus on me! No, no, y/n, keep your eyes open!" You can decide if she lives or not! This may not be the best request, but I really liked the idea!

Word Count: 3635

Warning: Major Angst

Song I Wrote To: “Hold On” by Chord Overstreet

Note: Oof this was a request that I was both excited and stressed to write. I hope you like it

------

When you discovered your brother was missing, you knew exactly where he had gone. 

You knew Carl wanted to kill Negan and you knew that he had been becoming more reckless since everything had happened at Terminus. Then, when Negan had killed Glenn and Abraham in front of him, Michonne had told you that something had shifted in your younger brother’s eyes.

You hadn’t been there when the Saviors had taken your people and killed your friends, but when they had returned and your father, Rick, came to find you, he hadn’t hesitated to take you in his arms and make sure that you were still there, that you were still alive. 

You were his eldest and whenever he wasn’t home, you were the one who wanted to look after your little sister. However, seeing how broken they all looked, a part of you wished you would have been there. Maybe you would have been able to stop Negan or at least stop him from taking Daryl. 

Living with Negan’s boot on your necks was horrible. Every day you woke up and you didn’t know what was going to happen. While you were used to that due to the new world, this was a new kind of danger and one your father was determined to keep you and your siblings from. 

That is until Carl decided to go all lone-wolf and test your patience.

The next time you saw your brother he was being led back through Alexandria by Negan himself. You were helping Gabriel in the pantry when they had arrived. Rage entered your chest as you saw the murderer walking alongside Carl, but when you saw where they were headed, that was when you nearly ran after them. However, Gabriel had grabbed your arm, shaking his head. 

“Don’t,” he whispered. “Remember what Rick said. Carl won’t let him hurt her and I don’t believe Negan would harm a child.” 

“He threatened to make my dad cut off his own son’s arm, Father,” you spat, staring after them. 

“But he didn’t and I don’t know what happened with Carl, but he is still alive and looks unharmed. We have to trust that he will be safe.” You pushed away from him.

“Nobody is safe anymore,” you had told him, “and if he touches a hair on Judith’s head, I’m going to kill him.” 

The rule that your dad had given you was simple: don’t let people know you were his daughter. At least, not his enemies’. You looked more like your grandparents than your parents and your Uncle Shane had once said that you could pass for Lori’s sister rather than her daughter which had come in handy at times.

Especially when Gareth hadn’t targeted you when he had attacked the church and so you were able to get a jump on him before your father had brought the machete down. 

You kept out of Negan’s way for as long as possible until the moment arrived when Spencer Monroe decided to make an appearance. You never liked Spencer, nobody in your family did. He was proud, arrogant, and he had been stuck in Alexandria for way too long. He was a child trying to be a man and you were done with his high and mighty attitude. 

When the moron had invited Negan to drink and play pool out in the street, that was when you had finally approached him and the others. Your brother was standing on the porch next to Olivia when you walked over. His eyes met yours and he shook his head, but you ignored him, planting yourself on the grass below him, crossing your arms. 

You watched as Spencer tried to convince Negan to work alongside him instead of your father and you had to keep reminding yourself to stay calm. Rick and Aaron were on their way back. It was only a matter of time before they came home. You knew that was what Negan was waiting for, the opportunity to rub it in your dad’s face that Carl had been returned safely. 

As you thought about all the ways you could potentially slit Negan’s throat, a cry of alarm brought you out of your thoughts. Looking up, you saw Spencer hunched over and in Negan’s hand was a blade dripping in blood. He was smiling as Spencer’s guts spilled from his abdomen. Monroe collapsed to the ground as his intestines slipped through his fingers.

Negan went to make some kind of speech when Rosita pulled a gun from the back of her pants. You barely had a second to stop her before she aimed and fired at Negan. You froze, waiting for his body to drop, but the bullet had hit his bat instead. 

“Shit! What the shit!” Negan bellowed as Rosita looked at him in utter shock. The next second, one of Negan’s lieutenants slammed Rosita into the pavement, holding her down by her throat. “Shit! You just‒ You tried to kill me!? You shot Lucille!” he screamed. Rosita sneered at him from the ground. 

“She got in the way,” she growled. Negan, fuming, turned Lucille to observe the slug that now marred her smooth surface.

“What is this? What is this? This little bad boy made from scratch? Look at those crimps. This was homemade. You may be stupid, darlin', but you showed some real ingenuity here,” Negan spat and then gestured to the woman that held your friend down. “Arat, move that knife up on that girl's face.” Rosita squirmed under Arat, but held her tongue. “Lucille's beautiful, smooth surface is never gonna look the same, so why should yours?! Unless... Unless you tell me who made this.”

“It was me!” Rosita yelled from the ground. “I made it.”

“You see, now I just think you're lying. And you lying to me now? Such a shame. Arat's gonna have to cut up that pretty face,” Arat pressed the knife against Rosita’s cheek. “One more try.” Rosita remained silent.

“Oh! You are such a badass! Fine. Have it your way. Arat…, Negan paused as he lazily looked around the group that had gathered. “Kill somebody,” he finished and Rosita yelled, trying to shove Arat off of her. 

“No. It was me!” she tried again, but it was too late. In a single move, Arat spun on her knee, pulled her gun, and squeezed the trigger.

The next thing you heard wasn’t the gunshot, but the sound of your younger brother screaming as heat rushed into your abdomen.

-------

“No!” Carl screamed and Olivia watched in horror as you collapsed to the ground. 

Carl vaulted over the railing and slid to your side. “Oh god,” he said, trying to figure out where to put his hands, but there was already too much blood. You stared up at him, trying to figure why he looked so stressed, and when you looked down at yourself and saw the blood, the wound, terror entered your mind.

Not like this. 

From down the road came two people, running as fast as they could. Rick nearly dragged Aaron who looked to be beaten. When Rick had gotten to the group, both Tobin and Eugene tried to stop him.

“Rick, stop!” Gabriel said, trying to hide you from view. Rick pushed against the men that held him, handing Aaron over to Tara and Scott. When Gabriel tried to stop him again, Rick shoved him out of the way. 

And then, he saw you. 

It was like Lori all over again. He walked forward before his knees gave out and Tobin had to catch him again. Carl looked up at his father, tears already flowing from his left eye. “No!” Rick cried, agony soaking his voice. 

“Damn!” Negan said, “someone was popular.” 

“She’s Rick’s daughter!” Rosita snapped at Negan, getting her voice back as the cut on her face bled. Lucille went from his shoulder to down by his side in a single movement at her words and then Negan took a step back, his face full of shock. 

Rick nearly crawled to you, forcing himself to be by your side. His eyes widened as he took in your condition. You knew what he was seeing, there was too much blood. There wasn’t anything anyone could do. Rick was shaking as he knelt in the grass.  “No, no, no, dammit, please (Y/N), not like this, sweetheart,” Rick pleaded. 

“(Y/N),” Carl choked out, trying to get you to look at him. 

“No, I promised her,” Rick cried. “I promised Lori I would keep you safe! All three of you, I was supposed to protect all three of you…” Weak, you reached for your dad, sliding your hand up his face to feel the stubble that you loved so much. Blood smeared along his cheek as you tried to memorize the feel.

“It’s okay,” you whispered. 

“She’s only seventeen!” Gabriel hollered, turning his attention to Negan. You were only a year and a half older than Carl and while the two of you had grown up together, you had always felt responsible for him and now as you began to not feel the pain, all you could think of was how you didn’t want to leave him. 

“Dammit, Arat! What the fuck!” Negan yelled, approaching her. 

“You said to kill someone,” Arat argued, but Negan wasn’t hearing it. He grabbed her by her arm and hauled her up. 

“Not a fucking kid,” Negan snarled and then he threw her to his men. “Take her back to the Sanctuary. I’ll deal with her later.” As Saviors took care of their comrade, Negan turned back to you and your family.

Your father was leaning over you, brushing the hair from your face. Lifting your hand towards your brother, you ran it along the side of his face. Carl leaned into your touch, his best friend. You tried to wipe the tears that flowed down his cheek, but you could barely keep your arm up.

“You’re gonna be okay,” your dad said, pressing a firm kiss to the back of your hand, but you were shaking your head. 

“No, I’m not,” you said with a weak cough. “I’m so sorry dad,” you told him, tears falling from your own eyes. “I promised not... to go… near him.”

“Shh, it’s okay,” Rick said. “Don’t apologize.” You began to cry more as the coldness seeped into your limbs. 

“Dad,” you whispered, “daddy, don’t let me...don’t let me turn.” Rick’s eyes closed as his sobs took over him. “Promise me,” you finished. 

“I promise, but you have to keep your eyes open for me. Don’t give up...” Rick pleaded and then you looked at your brother, your breathing labored as you mustered up the strength to look him in the eye. 

“Tell Judith...Carl, you need to tell her…” you tried to finish, but Carl was already nodding. 

“I will, (Y/N/N), I’ll tell her,” Carl promised.

“I love you both so much,” you said. “Michonne and Carol too and...Greene,” you said, not wanting to say Maggie’s name, not even then. “Tell them please.”

“We will,” Rick promised. “I love you so much.”

“I’m sorry, (Y/N),” Carl cried. “I’m sorry I snuck out to go there.” You shook your head, silently begging him to not blame himself. “I love you.” You squeezed your eyes shut as you nodded quickly.

You didn’t try to stop the tears now as they came at full force. You had thought about dying since the beginning of the outbreak. It was hard not too. You had seen so much death already, but you never imagined this is how you would meet your end. 

With a deep breath, you turned your eyes to Negan, the only person who would be able to deliver your final message. Negan looked at you, bleeding and broken and he wanted to look away, but couldn’t.

“You,” you said hoarsely, “you need to tell Daryl that I meant it. Tell him I meant it. He’ll know,” you said and then with a cough, blood sprayed from your lips. As you stared up at the sky, your father turned his eyes to his enemy and they were as empty as he felt. 

Negan’s eyes went from your father’s face to the hatchet at Rick’s hip. His hand curled around the handle, red entering those bright blue eyes of his. Negan looked as if he wanted to say something, but seeing Grimes leaning over his dying child had shut him up immediately. 

Your father and brother held onto you as you lay in the grass of the front yard. There had been times that you thought you were going to die. The first time was when the farm was overrun, the second was when a Walker had nearly killed you while you were out on a run with Daryl at the prison, and the last time had been at Terminus. 

You thought you would be ready, but you weren’t. You didn’t want to die and you just knew that your father would stop at nothing to avenge your death and that was something that you dreaded, but you also knew nothing would stop him. Not Michonne, not Carl, and not even himself. 

Your grip loosened on your father and brother as you grew more tired. You didn’t know what would be on the other side. Perhaps there wasn’t anything anymore, but there was one person you were hoping to see and that was your mother. 

All you wanted was your mom. 

As darkness filled your vision, you imagined Lori reaching her hand toward you and with a small smile, you took your final breath. 

------

Tara was the first one to crumble. 

“(Y/N)!” she cried as Eugene caught hold of her, keeping her upright. Your best friend tried to get to you, but Porter made sure to keep her steady and in his arms. Rosita cried on the ground, guilt wracking her body as Gabriel stood by, saying a silent prayer for you. Carl stared down at you, your vacant eyes pointed at the heavens. He gently reached over and closed them, brushing his hand across your face. 

“Rick,” Negan tried, but Grimes was frozen in shock. Instead, Carl was the one to answer the killer before him. Carl stood and slowly faced Negan, creating a barrier between you and the enemy. 

“You killed my sister,” Carl said, tilting his head that was very much his father. Negan tried to speak, but Carl shook his head.  “Get out, Negan,” Carl said between his teeth, his hand reaching for a gun that wasn’t there, “before I do kill you and trust me I’ll do it with my bare hands.”

The look on the teen’s face told him everything he needed to know, but before Negan could react, Michonne came running down the street, her katana swinging behind her back. 

Everyone stepped aside as she ran towards you and her family. When she saw your body, Michonne’s eyes widened and then she ran to your side. “Oh, my girl,” Michonne said, gently, laying her shaking hand over your heart tears springing up behind her dark eyes.

Rick didn’t say anything as he reached over and took Michonne’s other hand, something he never did in front of outsiders. Michonne turned to the man she loved and pressed a kiss to his head as he leaned into her. 

Then, because he knew that there wasn’t an infinite amount of time, Rick drew his knife, turning it over in his hand. Michonne lowered the blade, not wanting him to do it. He didn’t need to be the one to do it. Instead, Aaron staggered forward and opened his palm, ready to take the burden from the Grimes’ family just as they would do for him. 

Michonne passed the knife to their friend as he kneeled down and turned your head to the side. Michonne buried her head into Rick’s shoulder as Aaron severed your brainstem and shoved the blade into your skull, placing you at rest for a final time. 

Carl continued to act as a barrier between you and the Saviors, allowing your father and the woman who had become like a mother to you, say goodbye. Carl, who was still crying, never wavered. 

“We’re leaving,” Negan announced and slowly the Saviors turned on their heels and walked back down the road, but not before Negan plunged his knife into Spencer’s skull, finishing him as he had begun moving once again. 

Scott, Tobin, and a grief-stricken Tara followed the Saviors out of Alexandria, slamming the gate behind them. In the distance, Tara could hear the wails of Rick, Carl, and Michonne as they cried for their daughter and sister who was stolen from them.

-----

It was well into the evening when you and Spencer were buried. 

It was agreed that Spencer would be buried next to Deanna and you, next to the flower bed. A part of Rick wished he could have taken your body to Hilltop to bury you with Glenn, but he knew he had to keep Maggie safe and not draw attention to the other community. 

Rosita had taken a car with Eugene to inform Maggie, Sasha, and Jesus of what had happened to you. Rick knew how much Maggie loved you and he dreaded to know how she reacted to the news. 

In the light of the moon, Carl, Michonne, and Rick knelt at your grave. Judith sat nearby, unaware that her sister was now gone forever. In her small hands was a bracelet that you had always worn, one she liked to play with. Carl had given it to her just before Gabriel had helped lower you into the ground. 

It was silent before commotion drew the Grimes’ family out of their thoughts. From behind a house, Tara appeared, out of breath with wide eyes.

“What is it?” Michonne asked, but Tara was just shaking her head. Rick and Michonne glanced at each other before getting to their feet and following Tara who was gesturing them to follow her. 

Carl stayed with Judith while Rick and Michonne made their way to the gate. What they saw, or rather, who, had Rick running at top speed. Leaning against Eric, bloody and beaten, but alive, was Daryl.

Rick ran to him, halting right before he plowed into the archer. Daryl squeezed Eric’s arm and promised him that he was good. Eric nodded and then left the brothers alone. “Daryl?” Rick asked, completely in shock. 

“Son of a bitch let me go,” Daryl explained, shaking his dirty hair out of his face. “Just walked into my cell, dragged me out, threw me in a truck, and dropped me a half mile that way,” he said, pointing over his shoulder.

Rick was trying to understand Negan’s reasoning, but all he could think about was the fact that Daryl was home and no longer in his enemies clutches. “He lyin’ about (Y/N)?” Daryl asked and Rick shook his head. 

Daryl didn’t hesitate any longer. He walked forward and took his brother into his arms. Rick collapsed against him, careful of his injuries. He clutched at Daryl’s back as the latter shook from emotion as well.

Daryl remembered when he had first met you. You were strong for a kid who had just seen the world burn and he liked you immediately. Then, you had met Beth on the farm and the two of you had been inseparable. He remembered how broken you were after her death and how you worked to overcome it, getting closer to Tara and your brother. 

He couldn’t even begin to imagine you lying in the ground, still and cold. Michonne approached Daryl next and kissed him on the cheek as he held her, feeling her grief as well. The three warriors leaned on each other as they felt your loss and then, eventually, Daryl needed to see you.

-----

Michonne and Carl gave Daryl and Rick a moment by your grave. There was a simple marker and the necklace you always wore, a gift from Shane, was looped around the top of the cross for now. Rick was planning on giving it to Judith when she was older. 

“What did she mean?” Rick said, breaking the silence. “(Y/N), she told Negan to tell you that ‘she meant it’. What did she mean?” Daryl sighed, rubbing a hand over his stubbled jaw. 

“She once told me that she wanted me to fight,” Daryl explained. “It was after Beth and I told her about my old man.” Rick nodded, knowing the story of Will Dixon and what the bastard had done to Daryl as well as Merle. “I was doubtin’ myself, I didn’t think I could protect anyone again after I lost her. She believed I was a better man than my dad. I guess she really meant it.” 

Daryl chewed on his thumb as he looked at the grave, willing himself not to cry. “She was about to be eighteen,” Rick said. 

“Born in the winter, right?” Daryl remembered and Rick nodded. “Yeah, Lori mentioned that once.” 

“I’m gonna kill him,” Rick said after a moment, his eyes on the night sky. 

“No more waitin’, man,” Daryl said. “We gotta fight and we gotta fight for her just as she was willin’ to fight for Glenn, Abraham, Beth, and every other damn person we’ve lost.”

Rick nodded and then Daryl offered his hand to his best friend. Rick gripped it tight. He made a silent promise to you then just as he had to Lori as she died, he wasn’t going to let them win and he wasn’t going to let the world take any more of his family. 

“We kill them all,” said Rick, “and Negan is mine.” 

TAGS:  @thanossexual @yes-sir-hotchner  @felicisimor @amaroho

[thewildomega]

Alpha Whitebeard x pregnant omega headcanons

A/n: Thank you o the anon that requested these. I think I got a little carried away...again. But it’s Whitebeard so can you blame me? Anyway hope you enjoy these. 

Whitebeard will notice immediately when his dear little omega starts becoming tired easily, constantly falling asleep in his lap. Sometimes he goes looking for her when he hasn't seen her for a while and finds her sleeping in their massive bed. 

At first he would think you had been pushing yourself too much, doing too much and he will tell the crew to make sure you don't try and help out so much. 

When you do fall asleep on his lap he will simply move you to the nook of his arm and tug his jacket up to cover you some. 

Days later when you begin getting sick he will start to actually worry. You can never seem to keep anything down for long. 

Waking in the middle of the night to find you not in bed with him he panics. Finding you asleep on the the bathroom floor he will gently scoop you up and go to carry you back only for you to wiggle down and run back to the toilet to empty your already empty stomach. 

Demanding Marco give you a full check up he paces the deck outside of his room. The crew don't dare bother him, never seeing him like this before. He's worried, in all their years together he has never seen his omega this sick before. Sure she's gotten a cold or even a stomach bug but never like this. 

You on the other hand already have a feeling about what is causing your sickness. When your son tells you that you are with child you see him look to you and blink. "You already knew..." Nodding you saw his brows knit together. "Then why..." he goes to ask, glancing over his shoulder towards the door but you smile sadly. "It's taken so long Marco, I...I don't want to get his hopes up if something goes wrong." 

It didn't take much convincing on your part to swear your dear son into secrecy. Neither of you wanting to cause the captain any pain. Besides in just another week you should be far enough along that all would be okay. 

Straightening up as the door to his cabin opened he looked to his first son and saw him as calm as ever. "Well?" urged. "She's fine." marco shrugged. "Fine. Fine. She is not fine, she is puking her guts out, she's always tired, she..." "Pops. Ma is alright. It's probably just a little bug, I'll make her some ginger tea, it helps with Nausea. Just make sure she rests and I'm sure the nausea will pass in a bit." 

Deflating he watched as Marco moved down towards the kitchen and sighed. Rubbing his face he looked to the door before moving inside. Looking over to her he saw her sitting up in bed, her eyes looking to him and a tired smile coming over her lips. Walking over to her when she held her arms out for him he kneeled down on the floor and placed his head in her lap. 

Marco had been right, by the ginger tea had helped along with the cooks making her blander foods. She was still tired all the time but she wasnt getting sick nowhere near as much. 

While he was happy his omega was getting better now something else was going on. She seemed to always want to be touching him. He didn't mind truly but a man needed his space every now and again. Gritting his teeth when she clung to his arm for the millionth time that day he let out an annoyed sigh. "Would you quit being so damn clingy woman." he snapped making everyone look to him. 

Flinching a bit at his sudden outburst you released his arm slowly and curled up some. Hearing him complain about not being able to drink his sake in peace you dropped your eyes to your lap and felt them water up. 

Without a word he watched her slip down from his lap and walk away with her head hung low.

It wasn't until later that night had he went to their room and found her. Looking down at their shared bed he furrowed his brows. She had built a nest? but she only ever built a nest when she was close to her heat and that... counting in his head he looked back down to her, that wasn't for another two months. Leaning closer he saw she had one of his shirts pulled up to her nose and... it had damp spots on it under her eyes. She had been crying. But she never cried. 

Over the next few days he could only sulk as his female kept mostly to herself. Sitting in his chair his eyes would follow her around the deck as she walked slowly, her eyes staring out across the sea. 

She would come when he called her, sit in his lap but she would no longer cling to him like she did before. 

What he found even stranger was that she refused to share a drop of sake with him. She had always drank with him before so why did she suddenly not want to. One night when they were all drinking and partying he had tried pushing his bottle to her lips, knowing when they both got a little tipsy there would normally be some good love makin' later that night but this time she had only shook her head and pushed it away. Grunting when she didn't want to join in on the party he tried again.

Becoming annoyed you finally snapped and knocked the bottle from his hand. "I said I didn't want any, now quit."

Stunned by her sudden temper he opened and closed his mouth before growling. That night the party had been ruined when the two of them got into a heated argument, not the first one but definitely the worst. It had ended with the both of them saying things they shouldn't have said and going their separate ways. 

Choosing to sleep out in his chair that night he told the crew to leave him be and set in the dark alone. They had never been like this, not in fifteen years had they ever felt so far apart. She was just so... different and it irritated him because she was his omega and as her alpha he should know everything about her.

Rolling his head to the side he noticed the soft light coming from the bath house and narrowed his eyes. Chugging down the rest of his sake he pushed himself up from the chair. 

Soaking in the massive tub you leaned against the side with, laying your head on your crossed arms and closing your eyes. Snapped out of your thoughts by the door being thrown open you let out a long sigh when your alpha's scent filled your nose. "Go away Edward. I don't want to fight anymore." you said in a soft voice. 

Shutting the door behind him with a slam he stared at her back through the steam. "No. You and I are going to talk." Kicking off his boots and pushing off his pants he stepped into the hot water and moved over to her. 

Looking over her bare back he licked his lips but shook his head. Sitting down he pulled her to his chest, holding her small body in his hand. "You are hiding something from me and I want to know what it is right now." Seeing her go to deny it he gripped her chin with the tips of his fingers and forced her eyes to his. "No, you can't lie to me. I know there is something. Are you growing tired of me? Is that it, do you want to leave me or..."

Hearing this made your heart ache and you quickly leaned up to silence him with a kiss. Pecking his lips a few times you cupped his face in your small hands and sighed softly. "I would never leave you or grow tired of you alpha. I love you." When he looked down at you with those warm yellow eyes you smiled softly as he started listing off all the things you had been doing to make him think something was wrong.

"Why?" he asked in a deep voice. Seeing her eyes tear up again but a large smile grow on her lips he knit his brows. 

"Because you big jerk, I'm pregnant." 

His whole body went stiff, his mind went blank and his throat was suddenly dry. "Co...come again l..lass?"

Sniffling you kissed his nose and then his cheek and down to his jaw. "You're going to be a daddy." grabbing his massive hand and moving it down to your lower abdomen. 

After that night there were no more problems between the two of you. 

Whitebeard was the most attentive he had ever been in his life. He catered to all of his omega's needs. 

Anything you wanted, you got. 

He demanded she didn't lift a single finger and told the crew as much. 

Edward will be there every step of the way. If there is something you are craving he will sail to that specific island to get it, even if it is clear across the sea. 

You are never allowed out of his hold for long because there is no place safer than in the arms of the strongest man in the world. 

If it was up to him you would be locked away in the safety of the cabin, surrounded by pillows and blankets and no sharp objects of any kind. 

Arriving at islands he refuses to allow you off with anyone other than himself. Walking as close to you as he can only because you finally put your foot down and told him he couldn't carry you everywhere he keeps his haki activated at all times to make sure you and his unborn pup are never in harm's way. 

While he loves the sight of your belly swollen with his child, his chest puffing up with pride knowing that he had successfully bred you, he becomes extremely possessive, growling loudly if anyone looks at your baby bump for too long. 

Once when it came time for you to get some maternity dresses he about made one of the women at the clothing shop faint from fright when he snapped at her for touching your large belly. Smacking him you gave him a angry glare and pointed to the back wall, demanding he go wait in the corner. 

Sitting in his chair he will hold you in his lap and gently stroke your belly.

At night he will lay with his face close to abdomen and talk to his pup growing inside of you. 

When the pup kicks and he feels it you feel your heart swell at the large smile on his face, the light in his eyes. 

As your delivery day grows closer he will sail back to his home island, wanting his child to be born on the safety of land. 

He joins you for your walks, walking slowly beside you, always on alert as you suck in breaths and slow your steps. 

Labor is long and hard but he never leaves your side, stroking your hair, kissing your temple and brow while he purrs for you. 

He hates to see you in pain and at times Marco wonders if his father is having sympathy pains for his omega. 

Boy or girl. One or multiples he doesn't care, he will be in awe. 

He will cry there is no doubt about it. As soon as he sees his long awaited pup he will burst into tears. 

When Marco lays he tiny wailing pup on your chest that is all he sees. Even covered in blood and birth he is sure he has never seen anything more precious in all his life. 

Watching the newborn's cry slowly die down once both him and his omega gently purr for their child he smiles proudly. 

Sitting behind his mate as she nurses their pup he chuckles softly when you make the comment about them having his appetite. Letting the pup hold the tip of his finger in their tiny hand he smiles proudly, "Little runt's got a grip as well."  

Holding his pup to his bare chest he gently lays his large hand over the babe to keep them warm.

You are fast asleep, exhausted from the long and difficult birth. He feels you curl up between his spread legs, your upper half nuzzling his thigh. 

Rubbing his omega's back as she gets her well deserved rest he sighs softly. Staring down at the family he had always wanted. 

[danddymaro]

Abbacchio Finding Out About A Secret Child With The Reader.

Reader insert // Your name // (Y/n)

Daughter’s name // (D/n)

Thoughts are italics in quotations = ‘Example’

Flashbacks are in italics = Example

Word Count :  3031

Abbacchio Finding Out About A Secret Child With The Reader.

Abbacchio stared down at the picture in his grip, and as he did, his hand trembled the entire time he tried to properly hold it, wanting to avoid having it fall out of his shaken grasp.

“She just turned three,” he read, trailing his eyes over the words. 

He instantly recognized the familiar writing scribbled on the white back of the image as he’d turned it over during his inspection of it, and it only made him feel more uneasy as he read the message out loud,

"Three…" Leone breathed softly.

He felt his heart tighten, and lifelessly, he let the photograph fall onto the desk, joining more which lay scattered across the surface.

“Three years,” he said to himself, his hands both slowly rising, pressing over his face as he sought to think rationally, attempting to pull himself together before he said something stupid, or much worse, picked a fight that quite possibly wasn’t even there to take part of,

“It just...No...There has to be...be a reason...an explanation,” He maundered incoherently.

He tried hard to keep himself together, but it was hard to when every bit of him shook with recollection of the memories that came forth, from the lovely ones that he kept locked in his chest, to the miserable ones that followed after his joy slipped through his fingers. 

‘I miss those days,’ He thought to himself, remembering her and the little things that had made his life feel worthwhile.  

 Her (h/c) hair felt soft as it slipped through his fingers, the little knotted bits eased loose by his gentle tugs, 

“I wish my hair was like yours,” (f/n) mused, a small smile over her as she did the same with his own much longer strands of periwinkle, “It’s beautiful,” she breathed, her eyes on it as she watched it slip between her fingers, every strand that flowed over her hand being soft and feathery,

‘If we ever have a child,’ she silently mused, her (e/c) colored eyes rising to gaze up at him, ‘I’d want them to look just like you,’ She thought with certainty, having always perceived the man to be beautiful, far surpassing her in every sense.

‘Especially your eyes.' She added as she found herself locked with them, ‘ Of all things, I’d love for them to have your eyes rather than mine,’ She thought with certainty, having thought about it so many times before, because all in all, there wasn't anyone else she'd love to settle down with.

But it wasn't like she could openly tell him she had been ready to settle down and have a family, not when he didn't seem so ambient about being in an actual relationship to begin with. 

Granted, they'd had their sweet moments, but she was well aware that truly, they meant nothing  but one thing ; 

He didn't want to be lonely,

not truly alone at least.

 Meanwhile, during her inner musing, he let a placid smile overtake him, hidden, yet present as he played with her hair, not having had a mind to do anything else but lay with her and enjoy the end of the day together. 

‘I guess we could have gone out somewhere,’ He thought with a little blue sigh, somewhat regretting not doing anything else but stay in, ‘But sometimes, I just don’t want to do anything but lay here with her,’ He mused, stopping his caresses altogether to enjoy her touch instead. 

 It was hard not to see part of himself in the image of the little girl, not when she looked like the spitting image of him,

"There is no mistaking it," he said lowly, knowing deep within his chest the truth. 

There was another image set before him, placed on the same desk the first one had been and had just fallen back down on. 

Swallowing down hard, he picked it up, seeing that within that specific photograph, the child was much younger, practically an infant, being incredibly small and wrapped by a soft, pink blanket,

 ' - She has his eyes, his hair, his smile, his everything.’ the back of it read, all written with the same hand from the first picture he saw.

“Abbacchio what was it you nee-” Bruno started, stopping as he entered his office, seeing his friend stilled as he read the written words on the printed image with hardened, darkened orbs.

“- Bucciarati,” Abbacchio started, his voice dropped down by a pitch as he turned to look back at his boss,

“What are these?” He asked, the hand holding both photographs shaken as he tightly gripped them, waving them before the dark-haired male, “Why do you have these?” Leone added, his eyes glazed, yet stern, “I want the truth!” he demanded, stepping forward, 

"And don't give me any bullshit lies." He added with venom laced within his words as little pinpricks stabbed and stung his eyes, the man somehow holding it all in, letting not a single tear slip out of his eyes.

It was then that Bruno sighed softly, “Yes...of course,” he said with a silent nod, turning to close his door for privacy, being careful in doing so, 

“ I’m sure you want to know,” He added, staying turned away to hide the pained expression fixed upon his own features, because he knew he’d inadvertently hurt his friend by obscuring the truth.

“....Just know that it hadn’t been my intention to harm you, nor for you to find out this way,” Bucciarati spoke earnestly, finally finding it in himself to gaze back at his friend and face the betrayal set over his features,

“Then why didn’t you tell me?” Leone asked angrily, his tone rough as he addressed the other male, “ Why the hell did you never tell me I had a damn kid, huh?” The long-haired male urged on, “Why hadn’t it crossed your mind to tell me you knew where she was too,” he added as he referred to the woman who appeared in every photograph as well.

  "Well?" He said anxiously, wanting to know, waiting for an answer.

 “...By then we had already betrayed the organization and made it to Sardina,” Bruno started, his royal blue’s eyes looking forlorn as he mentioned the past,

 “ A kid?” Abbacchio asked frustrated, holding his abdomen in pain because while he had been healed, he still had to endure the aftermath of the wretched assault,

“You’re asking me about a damn brat right now?” He asked (f/n) while sounding thoroughly annoyed, glaring at her hazardously, most of it being a front to try and mask the pain he felt.

He'd just barely survived getting cut through and she was asking about kids…

‘Of all things,’ He thought bitterly.

“I don't mean now,” she started, sounding rather small, “ but perhaps in the future...Maybe... later…” She drifted off, biting her lip anxiously as she finally forced out the last word.

“Have you ever just sat there and thought about it?” She asked him, swallowing hard, “ Has it ever come to mind?” she added.

‘Have you ever thought about it...with me,’ She wondered, wanting to ask him specifically, but afraid of the answer and what pain it would bring, because she was certain it would hurt.

“Yeah,” Leone huffed, “ Yeah, I've thought about it...About how much I don't want one.” He muttered before hanging his head, “And it should be the last thing on your mind right now too,” He added, abruptly standing, wincing as he did so,

“Right now, we’ve got to find the Boss,” he reminded her, walking away from her and the conversation altogether, brushing right past Bruno without even a word of address.

With a frown, Bucciarati approached the woman, sitting beside her on the couch, joining the notably downhearted woman with the expression slowly melting down into soft, open kindness,

“Are you alright?” he asked her, concerned over the little tears that had escaped her, and that were then slowly falling down her face.

“Not really,” she admitted to him, offering him a small, broken smile.

“He’s frustrated right now,” Bruno stated, “...He just narrowly escaped death not a few moments ago,” he reminded her, desperately trying to justify Abbacchio’s behavior while simultaneously attempting to comfort the young woman altogether.

“I’m sure that during another time he’d be much more amenable and open to the conversation,” he said with a growing smile, assuring her as he reached out for her hand, warmly holding it.

“I know,” she responded, “I know he’s still hurt,” she added.

“ And you know... I was actually worried sick,” she admitted, “ I thought… I thought that he wasn’t going to make it,” She added with a harsh shutter, having felt her world begin to crumble as she caught sight of his bloodied body back at the beach,

‘And I thought I wouldn’t get a chance to tell him,’ She thought to herself, absentmindedly placing a hand at her stomach, something that wasn’t overlooked by the blue-eyed male,

“(f/n)...” Bruno started, deflating at the small movement, slowly coming to a realization. 

For just a moment he looked around, making certain no one else heard before he spoke, “ Are you pregnant?” he asked her, scooting closer. 

- It had only been a small hunch, one that could have simply been squashed had it not been for the grim expression that overtook her at the mention.

Nodding somberly, she confirmed it, “ Yes, but I don’t know how far along.” She admitted, “I only just found out today."  She added, not having known till after she boarded the boat and already made the decision to accompany them.

“ And now... I don’t know what to do,” she said while looking to him for guidance, “ I've wanted to tell him, but whenever I try, he shuts me down.” She informed Bucciarati. 

“ Whenever I try to talk to him about a future together, he simply brushes me away,” she went on, having gone through the same dilemma even before then.

“He doesn't want children,” she said sadly, “ He expresses it with distrain each and every time it's brought up,” she informed him.

“And what's worse is that, perhaps, I’ve read us all wrong.

I’ve been together with the man for months now and not once has he mentioned the possibility of a life together.

During all this time...he’s also never told me he loves me.

He’s also never been one to publicly hold my hand.

...He’s never introduced me as anything but his partner; someone who works alongside him,” She explained, "Almost as though we aren't really anything." she added with a small, bitter chuckle. 

“Maybe, all this time that’s all we’ve been, and he just doesn’t have the heart to tell me where we really stand...” She added with a small, wavering voice, continuing on before he could try and convince her otherwise, 

"Bucciarati, I promised to help. I did so with not only the intention of following Abbacchio, but also to aid you and save Trish,

But in the state I am now…

Right now…

I’m only a burden.” she said with dejection, uncertain on how long the conflict will last.

“And as much as it hurts me to say this, we have to part ways,” She told him, apologetically gazing at him, “Because even if Leone has no intention to love this child, I do.

I have to keep them from harm's way.” She determinedly spoke, rising to stand, staring down at the dark-haired man with sorrow, “ I have to go. So, before the morning comes I’ll be gone,” She added, knowing it was best.

“And absolutely nothing will stop me,” She said with tightened fists.

“- As both my trusted friend, and my capo, I feel that at the very least I owe it to you to tell you upfront.” She informed him.

“I see,” Bruno said nodding, also standing up, “ Then take everything you need,” he told her, “ whatever you need to hide and stay away, take it. I will not spare a single resource of mine to assure your safety,” He vowed, offering her a lax, comforting smile.

“...Thank you,” she said softly, bowing her head to him to hide her tears. 

She then leaned forward, her arms tightly wrapped around him, “Thank you for taking me in...As well as allowing me a way out.” she told him, truly grateful because, without him, she never would have stood a chance.

“- We will find a way back to each other,” He assured her. “ Once this is all over, I will make sure to let you know,” He said while beginning to part from her.

Nodding, she too pulled back, “Thank you, again.  For everything,” She said once more, it being the last words she exchanged with him before she disappeared into the night, leaving the rest of their group baffled at her sudden departure, save for one member, because all but Bruno remained unknowing.

And rather than answer questions, he chose to play the fool. Instead, urging them to continue their hunt, forcing them to move forward without another member.

 “And after that, as you know, our organization was left in shambles,” Bruno explained, “With A new boss there came new rules, as well as A new reform that many others didn’t agree with.

Only until recently have we been able to stabilize, but even then…

Even then it’s been a long, heavy struggle,” Bruno said with knitted brows, frustration showing.

“It wasn’t my intention to keep this from you for so long, but I couldn’t afford you searching for her, ultimately risking her location, and much worse, their lives,” Bruno explained, still feeling guilty nonetheless, regardless of his intentions being good or not.

“Right now, she’s doing well.

They both are actually, so there is no need to worry yourself. We’ve already agreed that in a month or two, they will make their way here, and then you can decide what you want to do." He said with a reassuring nod as he rounded his desk, walking over to his seat,  

" If you want to be a part of their lives, or if you’d choose to sever your ties with them completely;  It’s all up to you.” He went on, sitting down, his elbows placed on the surface of the desk as he lay his chin on his overlapped fingers,

“I just hope you understand that regardless of your decision, she is still a member of our familia. Whether or not you decide to take responsibility or be a part of their futures is your own choice. 

All in all, it doesn't change my own final say:

Her home is here. 

And I am her family, just as I am yours. ” Bruno said firmly, his voice low yet sharp.

“...Of course,” Abbacchio said back, his throat suddenly dry as he had a sudden question in mind, wanting to ask with unsettling desperation, 

“Bucciarati…Did she really say that?" Leone said softly, regret settled over his features, " Did she really think I... That we weren't together?" He asked Bruno. 

"From what I understood, that was her take on your relationship." He answered back, shaking his head, "Why? Was it otherwise?" He added as he tilted his head slightly, intrigued, because Abbacchio never shared anything that had to do with his relationship with her, making it all a mystery even to his closest confidante.

"Of course," Abbacchio said sadly, " And of course it hurt when she left... When she simply walked away. 

But then again,  how could she not?" He asked looking up at the ceiling, understanding how she could assume such a thing, having had too much time to maul over the mistakes he made with her, 

" I was a complete bastard to her; An insensitive jerk.  

Whenever she needed assurance I turned my back, all because I felt I didn't deserve her. I felt like she was asking for too much from someone that had too little to offer." Leone explained, shaking his head, 

"And when she did leave... When she did what I assumed was best, I broke down," He went on, remembering just how he'd pretty much gone back to square one, falling back into his miserable pit of depression he’d barely scraped past the first time. 

 "But now…

Two months…

Two months in comparison to never is nothing," He said with a little itching grin, his eyes tired and sad, yet having a soft glow of joy to match the little twitching smile.

For just a moment he gazed down at his daughter, realizing that she didn't look just like him. There was plenty she took from her mother, being the perfect harmony between the two, something he’d only then realized he wanted,

‘A kid of my own... with (f/n) nonetheless...

With the woman I  still love,’

 Absentmindedly, his fingers went down to fall upon the image, caressing the sight of them softly, lovingly, as well as longingly, 

' Until then, I have to make sure that I'm everything you two need.' He silently swore, promising to not repeat any mistakes, hoping that somehow (f/n) still loved him just as much as he did her.

“From her letters, she still thinks about you plenty.” Bruno nonchalantly informed him, growing surprised to see the level of enthusiasm that lifted the other man’s features to life, 

“She does?” Leone said with hopefulness, 

“ Certainly,” Bruno replied back, neatly gathering the pictures together, as well as pulling a small stack of letters within carefully opened envelopes to stack them all together, 

“You should see so yourself,” He advised, handing him the collection, “Any fool could see that through it all, she still harbors the same feelings for you, holding no true resentment.

And speaking on a  personal note; 

 If I were you, I wouldn’t ever throw away the opportunity to have something so precious within my grasp.” The don spoke with a little, longing look to his eye that made Abbacchio nod back knowingly. 

“Don’t worry,” the long-haired male said back, “I won’t let it slip past me, not again,” he added with the utmost confidence, willing to do everything it took to give his girls the world.

Following parts : 

The Reader Reunites With Leone

Leone Plays Teaparty with his little girl

(D/n) Meets Giorno

[iliveiloveiwrite]

The Order

Request: Could I please get a Sirius Black (golden era) imagine? Where the reader is a professor at Hogwarts and wants to join the order and help them fight, but her and Sirius get off on the wrong foot but eventually fall for each other?

A/N: This was requested by the lovely @obsessedwithrandomthings. I hope you like it and I hope I have done your request justice. I really enjoyed writing it! To the other requests in my inbox, I am getting there with them. I know that it’s frustrating but I am working on them. 

Pairing: Sirius Black x Fem!Reader

Warnings: mentions of blood, injuries, some angst? Sirius is a bit of a tit tbh

Word count: 3.2k+

Teaching was a rewarding profession. Teaching at Hogwarts, however, was beyond rewarding – it used to be joked that in teaching, you would never smile until Christmas. At Hogwarts, that simply wasn’t true. A smile graced your face every single day for every single class because teaching brought you this much joy. There were tough days, of course there was, especially after the rise of Voldemort; but still, you smiled for the students and tried to vanquish as many worries as you could. More and more time in your lessons was becoming dedicated to quashing any worries as the number of students coming to you for advice increased. After all, the students saw you more than they did their own parents as a result of the boarding aspect of the school.

It was this thought that spurred you to accost Dumbledore in his office one evening after the beginning of the school year.

“I want to help, Professor.” You stated.

“How would you do that?” He asked.

“I’m not entirely sure, but I will not let one child in this school feel unsafe, Dumbledore. They spend more time here than they do at home. Help me help them feel safe.” You implored the Headmaster – an attempt to appeal to the professor that still lingered within, that still could care for his student body.

Something sparkles in Dumbledore’s eyes, “Come to this address on Saturday, there’s a meeting taking place at 2pm. You might be the person we need.”

You nodded, taking the piece of parchment from him, “I’ll be there.”

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Saturday rolls around quickly, the nerves have already settled in your stomach, your breakfast threatening to make an appearance as you floo from your respective home at Hogwarts to the address written on the parchment given to you by Dumbledore.

Confusion sets in quickly as you take in your surroundings: a residential street in a London borough – how could this help defeat the Dark Lord?

Then the buildings start to move; a house appearing as if from nowhere. You can’t help but admire the craftmanship that went into conjuring this concealment spell.

Taking a deep breath, you walk up to the front door, knocking twice. Your nerves are raging now, your stomach feeling as if it has been taken over by butterflies.

A lady answers the door; she’s small with fading ginger hair but her face is welcoming and warm as she ushers you into the entryway.

“You must be (Y/N). I’m Molly Weasley.”

You smile at her, “I am. It’s very nice to meet you Mrs Weasley.”

She bats her hand at you, “Please, call me Molly. You must be who Dumbledore told us about, not that he tells us very much, mind.”

You nod, at both of her statements.

She sighs, “No point delaying the inevitable. Come on then, we’re all in the kitchen. Would you like anything to eat? To drink?”

“A cup of tea would be marvellous, if it’s not too much trouble.” You say, as you follow her to the kitchen.

“It’s no trouble at all.” She says, already heading towards the kettle.

You stand in the doorway to the kitchen, unsure of whether you should sit down or ask someone for help. Your eyes rake over the set up in the kitchen; a large dining table taking up most of the space where it is clear where this meeting would happen. Many men and women are already here, talking quietly amongst themselves and you can’t help but feel as if you’ve intruded on something you shouldn’t have.

That is, until you recognise a face.

“Remus?” You ask.

He looks up at the sound of his name, towards where you’re stood in the doorway. A smile breaks out across his face once he recognises you, “(Y/N)?”

You nod, a smile making its way across your face, “How are you?”

He ducks his head, “I’m good. How are you? What are you doing here?”

Molly answers before you can, pressing a hot mug of tea into your hands, “(Y/N), here, is our latest recruit from Dumbledore.”

The man stood next to Remus looks at you as if you have two heads and snakes for hair, “Why?”

You frown at him, “What do you mean ‘why’?”

“Why are you our latest recruit from Dumbledore? Did he even explain what this is?” He asks, gesturing the room, to the people sat around the large dining table.

“Sirius.” Remus chides.

Your eyes widen as you finally recognise the man stood in front of you, questioning your very motivations for being here. Sirius Black. He looked healthier than the last time you saw him – emaciated from malnutrition.

Sirius frowns as he realises you’ve recognised him. “Why are you here?”

You take a seat at the dining table, “I approached Dumbledore, and he gave me this address. I have no clue as to what this is. Would you care to explain to me?”

Remus sighs as he sits down across from you, “This is the Order of the Phoenix.”

“The Order of the what?”

“The Order of the Phoenix,” Sirius snaps, “Founded by Dumbledore to fight the Dark Lord when he first rose to power. Now we’re here to fight him and any remaining Death Eaters.”

You lean back in your chair; this is news. When you approached Dumbledore in his office, you didn’t think he would ask you to join a secret organisation to fight against the Dark Lord. You thought Dumbledore would set up counselling sessions for students struggling with issues surrounding the Dark Lord’s revival.

“I didn’t expect this, if I’m honest.”

“Why are you here then?” Sirius asks, anger slowly rising.

You meet his eyes, saying with conviction, “I am a Professor at Hogwarts and I am terrified for my students. For a lot of those students, they see me more than they see their own parents. They need help because they’re absolutely terrified of what could happen to them or to their families, and I refuse to sit idly by. I didn’t think I would be asked to join this though.”

Remus looks at you, tears shining in his eyes. He understood exactly what you meant; for that year he taught at Hogwarts, he felt fiercely protective of the students. They were innocent in all of this; no harm should come to them for the simple fact of being children.

Sirius watches you with a wary gaze. It’s a combination of the paranoia from the last wizarding war against the Dark Lord then twelve years in Azkaban as well as growing resentment for the current Headmaster of the school for witchcraft and wizardry for trapping him in this hellhole of a house. For Dumbledore to bring in a new member practically announced to Sirius that he wouldn’t be leaving Grimmauld Place any time soon.

Remus coughs, bringing Sirius’ attention back to the room just as Remus asks you “Are you happy to join the Order of the Phoenix?”

You nod, “Yes. Anything to protect my students.”

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It takes a while for the routine to settle with you; teaching all week before flooing to Grimmauld Place on Friday evening to discuss missions and manoeuvres. However, you settle quickly within the Order – reigniting your friendship with Remus with his introduction to Nymphadora Tonks who looked at Remus as if he had all the answers in the world. You and Molly had also grown close through your time in the Order; helping her cook meals whenever you could.

Sirius remained indifferent and cold towards you, however. On countless occasions, you had attempted conversation with him, trying to get to know him better. He either ignored you or walked off. It had gotten to the point where you stopped trying with him. Remus squeezed your shoulder after each attempt, and repeatedly told you that it would take a while for him to warm up to you, but he would eventually.

You scoff at the thought.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Order start you out with simple missions; track and report. That’s all you had to do.

As you lean against the railing of the front-door steps, you feel foolish for your task had been simple and you had managed to get injured. The pain increases with every step to the front door; you place your hand across your abdomen and start to cry when it comes away stained with blood.

The door opens silently and for that, you are grateful. You can hear talking in the kitchen, knowing Sirius’s voice anywhere.

It would have to be him; the others were either asleep or away on missions. Gritting your teeth, you head to the kitchen.

“Sirius?” You whisper.

His head whips towards you; his eyes widening at your state, at the blood on your hands that was slowly staining your shirt. All you could do was pray he wouldn’t walk away from you in this moment.

He doesn’t. Instead, he instructs Harry to go to the bathroom and grab the first aid kit there. Sirius tells Harry to take Hermione and Ron with him; they don’t need to see their professor in this state.

You silently agree with him as Sirius guides you to the table in the centre of the room.

“This is going to hurt, but I need you to sit and lie back on the table so I can get a better look at you.”

You grit your teeth at the pain, but you manage to get on the table. Harry comes back with the first aid kit then, casting a worried look at you. You try to smile at him, knowing that it looks more like a grimace.

“I didn’t know you were in the Order, Professor.” Harry states, an attempt to distract you from the pain as Sirius lays out what he needs from the first aid kit.

You nod, but Sirius answers for you, “She’s been a member since the school year started and saw how hisreturn was affecting the students at Hogwarts. She’s doing brilliantly if I say so myself.”

You raise an eyebrow at him, surprised to hear praise coming from him. He catches your eye with a smirk before he turns to Harry asking him to leave as you would need to remove your shirt for the next bit.

Harry stutters as he leaves, blush staining his cheeks. Class would definitely be awkward if he stayed for that.

The minute the kitchen door swings shut, you start to unbutton your shirt, but struggle with the pain, your vision slowly becoming blotchy.

“Sirius,” You murmur, “Will you help me with my shirt?”

“Of course.”

With his help, your shirt came off faster where it became clear of the damage done. It was a nasty wound, but not fatal.

“I’m going to need you to lay back now so I can clean the wound and fix it up. It’s going to sting though. Are you okay?”

You nod, “I’m good.”

You grit your teeth as Sirius cleans the wound and your stomach. His touch is gentle which surprises you. Sirius gave the impression that he was constantly burning with emotion that needed to be released through whatever medium was available to him. It was a nice surprise to find that he could be gentle when he needed to be.

“Time for the dittany.”

You nod as you stare at the ceiling; the feeling of foolishness creeping back over you as Sirius finishes applying the dittany. Your wound is healed within moments but the wooziness from the blood loss would remain for the next day or so.

Sirius helps you sit up. When he asks you what’s wrong, that’s when you realise that you’re silently crying.

You wipe at your eyes, “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it. Thank you, Sirius. Truly.”

“You’re very welcome, (Y/N).”

You hop down from the table, using a nearby chair to stabilise yourself from the dizzy spell that falls over you.

Sirius wraps an arm around your waist, “It’s okay. Dizziness is expected after the amount of blood you lost.”

The dizziness fades just as fast as it came and you’re soon stepping away from Sirius. “I better get back.”

His eyes widen, “You aren’t flooing back to Hogwarts in this state are you?”

You furrow your eyebrows, “Yes? I live there?”

“(Y/N), you’ve just lost a lot of blood, you can’t floo back in this state. And you don’t have a shirt, yours is covered in blood. You can’t show up to school like that.”

“Where am I going to stay?”

Now it was Sirius’s turn to furrow his eyebrows, “Here? There’s plenty of room, I’m sure Harry, Ron and Hermione won’t mind setting up a room for you. Wait here.”

He leaves the room, leaving you alone in the kitchen. Goosebumps breaking their way across your torso the longer you go without a shirt.

Sirius returns with an old t-shirt that you swiftly pull over your head. You glance down at the shirt; a hair metal band from the 80s covers the front, and you’re sure there’s tour dates on the back.

“Harry, Ron and Hermione are setting a room up for you. Stay here for the weekend, recover from the blood loss. You’re welcome to stay here any time.”

You rub a hand over your face, “Thank you, Sirius.”

Walking past him, you squeeze his shoulder before heading to your now ready room. You smile your thanks to Harry, Ron and Hermione as they wish you a goodnight.

As you fall asleep, you sniff the too-large shirt now covering your torso. Cloves, cinnamon and sweet orange surround you; you smile at the scent that distinctly defines Sirius. You frown then, chalking your smile and smell to the blood loss from the events of tonight.

You knew deep down though, that something was blooming inside you.

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From that moment, something changed in the relationship between you and Sirius. It wasn’t hard to notice – he would now take time for you, sit next you in meetings placing an arm around your shoulder or your waist, telling you to be careful before any mission.

Each time he caught you both, a shit-eating grin would break out across Remus’ face as if he knew what was happening between the two of you. However, a swift elbow to his ribs from Tonks had the smile slipping from Remus’ face fast.

Even you had to admit that you liked the change in your relationship with Sirius. What you didn’t expect was the feelings that had quickly bloomed for him. However, once you had accepted your feelings for him, they felt completely natural as if every choice you had made in your life had led straight to him.

You spent your week teaching at Hogwarts, and your weekends at Grimmauld Place even if you didn’t need to be there. You wanted to be near Sirius; to talk to him, to see his face light up when you walk into the house he once called home.

Your evenings were spent talking quietly to Sirius as he nursed a whisky and you a mug of tea or hot chocolate. These evenings swiftly became your favourite part of the week – other than teaching your classes. On these evenings, Sirius let his guard down with you more and would talk about anything. You knew deep within you that these evenings were doing more harm than good for your feelings for the man now sat across from you, staring into the fire as he reminisces of friends he would never see again save for Remus but you couldn’t bring yourself to care – you were happy enough to spend time with the man you had fallen in love with.

“You wouldn’t remember me from Hogwarts. I started in your fourth year and I wasn’t in Gryffindor. I did know you, however. I knew of all the Marauders; the boys in my year idolised you all.” You say, in an attempt to bring him out of his reverie.

His chest puffs out at that and he chuckles, “I don’t blame them. We were worth idolising.”

You laugh quietly. There wasn’t anyone at Hogwarts who didn’t know about the Marauders and what they were capable of. The group was made up of the smartest wizards to grace Hogwarts in a long time – if they managed to become animagi by their fifth year, then they were capable of absolutely anything.

“I miss them.” He whispers.

You grab his hand in yours where he swiftly twines your fingers together. “I know you do.”

Your conversations often centred around Lily, James and what happened to them.

Sirius pulls your hand to his lips where he presses a light kiss to the back of it. “Thank you for being here.”

“I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be.” You admit, always honest with him.

His hand tightens on yours. His eyes never leave yours as he murmurs, “I need to apologise for my behaviour when you first arrived.”

“You already have, Sirius.” And he had, multiple times. And you had forgiven him, multiple times.

“I am sorry though. I placed no trust in you and I should have. I knew you were more than able from the very moment you stood up for reasons for joining. And I’ve seen how capable you are, and just how fiercely you’ll protect your students.”

You know he’s referring to the battle in the Department of Mysteries where he nearly lost his life; his thoughts through those moments revolved around getting Harry to safety and getting to you to make sure you weren’t harmed. He had never seen someone so determined to protect children as you were that night when you realised Harry and his friends had gone to get the prophecy. Upon returning to Grimmauld Place that night, Sirius had promptly taken you into his arms and you had sobbed into his chest. Sobbed for your students but sobbed for the fact that you almost lost him, and he would never know. He would never know how you felt. You sat that little bit closer to him the morning after, and he had let you.

Sirius’ thumb rubbing across your hand brings your attention back to the room. He’s looking at you with a strange expression on his face; as if he wants to confess something but doesn’t know how to phrase it.

You smile at him, “Sirius, you don’t need to apologise. I’ve forgiven you, and I’d say what we have is pretty great now.”

He hums, “I need to tell you something though.”

“What is it?”

“I think I’ve fallen in love with you.”

The breath is knocked out of you, “You are?”

He nods, “I love you.”

You smile widely at him, “I love you too.”

“You do?” He asks, his eyes wide as if he can’t quite believe what he’s hearing.

“I do. I love you, Sirius Black.”

He places his hands on either side of your face before leaning in to kiss you. He pauses just before his lips touch yours, silently asking permission. You answer by turning your face up, so your lips finally meet. The tension leaves your body and your arms wrap themselves around his neck, keeping him pressed close to you, relishing in the feeling of his body pressed against yours, of his lips on yours.

Through this war, you have fought religiously for your students. But as Sirius pulls away from you just enough to ask if you wanted to go to bed with him, you found another reason to keep fighting.

[yn-dreamlife]

Can you hear me?

Bakugo Katsuki x reader (hero name: Elementas)

Quirk: Quantification of Emotions (shorten to QoE), basically whatever emotion your feeling strongest (out of six) will allow you to control that element. Your hair also changes to that color. 

Emotions: 

Anger, vivid red, wind

Sadness, pastel blue, water

Longing/Love, white, light

Happiness, pink, fire

Loneliness, black, darkness

Confusion/Anxiousness, green, earth  

Summary: There was a villain attack and as your about to die you think of your last words to Katsuki.

warings: yelling, swearing, angst, like ANGST, character death, blood, villan attack, blood, depression, fluff?

Song: Train Wreck, James Arthur  (I hope that works, I've never done this before) 

Word count: 3206

Laying in the silence Waiting for the sirens Signs, any signs I'm alive still

Coughing I look around me. “Wha-” I place a hand on my forehead feeling a liquid underneath my palms. “What’s happening?” I speak as my ears ring and I see a red fluid on my hand. 

I look around and see the chaos around me. All around me is ruble, I can't see an inch of sky. I look around seeing the dust flying around the air, the small fire scattered around trying to find anything amongst the concrete to consume and stay alive with. 

At least I can't see any civilians around me, thats a good sign. As I continue to assess my surroundings, even with my blurry vision and ringing ears know that the villain is gone, or at least not near me. 

When I finally look down at my own body I wince. There was a giant metal rod sticking out of my abdomen, I guess the adrenaline must be preventing the full brunt of the pain. As I look at it and see the amount of blood being lost I know I won't be saved. 

I don't wanna lose it I'm not getting through this

Tears well in my eyes as the regret swims into my heart. I don't want to die like this. I don't want to die not knowing if everyone is safe. I don't want to die not knowing if Katsuki is okay. I don't want to die in pain. 

Of course every hero knows the risk, we’ve known since we where in high school. But it doesn't mean anyone actively wants this to be there way out. 

Everyone deep down hopes for a peaceful death. Or at least to die with those we love. 

Hey, should I pray? should I pray To myself? To a God? To a saviour who can Unbreak the broken

What if I could make it? What if I scream loud enough? Can I even scream right now? And even if I can who's to say it'll get to the surface? And I would want them to get the civilians first. “Damnit!” I try to yell but all I can manage is a weak whimper. 

“I should be stronger than this!” I said as my throat constricted. ‘God I sound just like Suki.’ the thought of him makes my heart clench. ‘I shouldn't have said all those things. I shouldn't have-’ I was swept up in the memory of my last conversation with him. 

Unsay these spoken words Find hope in the hopeless

“Jesus y/n what is wrong with you?!” He screamed at me. “Like can you calm the fuck down for once?!” 

I scoffed at him whirling around on him. “I need to calm down?! Don’t you tell me to calm down!”

“You're the one who started all of this!” He screamed at me. 

“And you’re the one who flirts with other people!” I fire back. 

He scoffs again, “I wasn't flirting with her! It’s not my fault you're so insecure that you think that you shitty woman!” 

My face drops slightly more sadness seaping into my heart. “Why do you think im so insecure Kasuki? You call me shitty woman every other sentence! You talk about how great other girls are and how strong they are! You-” 

“You know thats just how I am! And I don't talk about them romantically im taking about them from a hero stand point! Shouldn't you be happy now that I don't look down on every single person!” He screamed his quirk popping off in frustration. 

“Yeah I know thats how you are but it still an hurt me you dick! And it’s different when those girls are clearly in love with you!” he scoffs “If you tell me they aren't I swear to god you must be really blind!” I scream again. 

“Of course I don't notice because why would I when I have a girlfriend!|?!” He screams. 

“Do you?!” I shout the words spilling out of my mouth. “Because it doesn't always feel like you want to!” his next words break my heart. 

“Maybe I don't!” I watch his face drop the second the words leave his mouth. “y/n- wait I didn't-” But I cut him off as my alarm goes off. 

“I have to go to work. At least I know they need me.” I whisper bitterly. 

“Y/n wait! We can't leave it like this!” he calls frantically after me. 

“You never had a problem leaving me heartbroken before. Why care now?” and with that I got in my car driving away as the tears streamed down my face. 

Pull me out of the train wreck Unburn the ashes

When I got to work I quickly dismissed anyone at my hero agency as they asked what was wrong. I even ignored Kirishima, who was one of my best friends. “Go ask you ‘Bakubro’” I muttered bitterly at my fellow hero. 

I looked to my side kick, she was nice. She wasn't a cocky self assured teen like me and my classmates where. Both me and her quickly left to patrol. I was happy when she started rambling about the latest guy she found an interest in instead of asking me what was wrong. 

Not that I didn't appreciate my colleagues concern I just didn't want to think about it. Or I didn't want to talk about it, theres no way im not thinking about it. Even now, I couldn't help but tune out my sidekick/intern as my thoughts where consumed with my final words. 

“You never had a problem leaving me heartbroken before. Why care now?” Damnit I know thats not true and yet I still said it. Katsuki always at least texts me after wards, and he’s never left without muttering some form of I love you. I moved to pull out my phone when I suddenly heard screaming. I look up to see five of our most wanted villians up ahead wreaking havoc. I stop my phone Turing to my intern who looks ready to fight.    

Unchain the reactions, I'm not ready to die, not yet Pull me out of the train wreck Pull me out, pull me out, pull me out

”No.” I said placing a hand on her shoulder. She looks at me shocked as I continue. “I need you to help civilians.” 

She hesitates,”But I can help-” 

“I know but these guys are to strong. Please trust me, I want you making it out of this alive. Go help the civilians. If you have to I give you my permission to use your quirk for defense and defense only. Do you understand?” No response 

“Minako!” she stares at me “Please, you're like my kid, don't make me beg.” Tears well in her eyes and she nods before running off and I run onto the scene.

I should have known the second I asked her not to fight that this wouldn't end well. I should of said something to him before I left. I should have- 

  Pull me out, pull me out Underneath our bad blood We still got a sanctum, home Still a home, still a home here

I was pulled from my thoughts as coughs ripped there way through my throat. the pain in my stomach worsening. Was I really going to die like this? Filled with regrets and what ifs? 

No. I still have people to live for. I still have things I need to do, things to say. A man to kiss and marry and love all I can do know is hope. 

‘Please, damnit if someone is out there please help me. I know I don't pray enough, hell I know I don't deserve this but god damnit Im selfish. Im selfish and I want to live longer. I want to get married and have kids. I want to at least kiss him one last time. I don't even have to live, just let me hear him say I love you one last time. let me hold him again.’ 

As these thoughts consumed me I didn't notice the light blooming around me becoming brighter and brighter. 

It's not too late to build it back 'Cause a one-in-a-million chance Is still a chance, still a chance

“Y/N!!” I heard someone scream. “Y/n baby hold on!” he screamed again. My light glowed brighter. 

“Katsuki!” I cried. 

“Thats right! Im here princess I’m gonna get you out of there okay?!” I dint respond knowing he wasn't really answering. 

“Hurry Deku please!” Deku was here? after a moment he spoke again “Riot! Cellophane! Thank god you are here! Please you have to help me I can't blast through the rubble I might crush her!” He cried frantically. 

I saw some rubble begin falling next to me and screamed on instinct. “Oi be careful!!” He screamed. 

“Ground zero!” I heard a familiar voice. 

“S-sensei?!” 

‘What? Easers here? But- he's retired.’ 

“You need to stop shouting, your friends are here trying to help you. We both know they mean her no harm.” I can only assume he nodded because there was no more shouting, but there was also no more anything. Not a single sound. 

And I would take those odds Unbreak Unsay these spoken words

“H-Hello?” I called 

“Don't worry Y/n-chan we’re still here!” I heard deku yell. I sighed relieved. 

“Y/n!” I heard red riot or as I know him Kirishima call out. “Pop quiz whats Eraser heads child named?!” He yells out, and confusion builds in me. 

‘What? He has a kid? Oh my god is the kid here?!’ I thought anxiously. 

“Now!” I hear cellophane or Sero scream and before I knew it the rubble was being ripped away but I saw some coming towards me before I could think I manipulated the earth around me into a ball. 

“Yes!” I heard them all collectively say, except for katsuki. 

“Y/n! You're okay its okay!” He said as I placed the earth back and he ran over to me. He went to touch me but stopped short. “Oh god, princess!” he exclaimed looking down at my abdomen. 

Find hope in the hopeless Pull me out the train wreck 

“We need some help over here! Anyone who has a strong healing quirk get over here now we have a hero down!” He screamed but I didnt care about the pain, I didnt care about the medic. All I cared about was him. 

“You came.” I whispered he looked to me and cupped my cheek. 

“Im always gonna come for you.” He said softly smiling down at me as tears leaked from both our eyes.  

“Im sorry.” I whimper out and he shakes his head. My eyes begin feeling heavier. 

“no no no!” he says shaking me slightly “Don't apologize just keep your eyes open for me, yeah?” 

“Can you hold me?” I whisper. 

“I can't move you if I do-” 

“Please suki, I want to feel you hold me one last time.” I whimper my eyes getting heavier. 

                                                                                       Unburn the ashes Unchain the reactions, I'm not ready to die, not yet

“Well then I have great news, and that’s the fact that I’ll hold you for the rest of our lives but I can't move you princess.” I shake my head smiling sadly. 

“Katsuki.” I hear a soft voice whisper and look to see a teary eyed Kirishima.

“N-no!” he screams at him. “She’ll be fine!” he looks to me now. “you’ll be fine!” I shake my head my hair turning a murky blue. 

He relents and eventually very quickly pulls me off of the pipe. But I don't make a sound, I don't even wince. I don't feel the pain at all my body to numb.  

Pull me out the train wreck Pull me out, pull me out, pull me out Pull me out, pull me out, pull me out                                                              

I smile as he pulls me into his arms, “Thank you.” I whisper. 

“Anything for you princess.” He cups my cheek and wipes the tears that are still slipping from my eyes. 

“Im sorry.” we say in unison. 

“I shouldn't have been so insecure.” I whisper, and he shakes his head.  

“No baby no. I shouldn't have been so insensitive and I shouldn't have said what I said. I never question my love for you, or me wanting to be with you.” He says placing his forehead on my own. 

“I love you.” I whisper. 

a sob leaves his throat. “I-i love you too.” he sobs holding me to him. I try to lift my hand but I can't. I feel a gentle material curling around my wrist and pulling it around his neck. I look to see Mr. Aizawas capture weapon I smile up at him. 

“Damnit where are they!” Katsuki yells pulling away from me. I see a team frantically running to us but before they get to me I feel my eyes growing to heavy. 

“Be happy...Suki” I whisper as the darkness envelops me. 

You can say what you like 'cause see, I would die for you

I, I'm down on my knees and I need you to be my God Be my help, be a savior who canUnbreak the broken

Katsuki watches as you eyes close, “N-No!” He screams. “Hurry up , please!” He calls out to the people who run impossibly quicker. Once they get there and he has to place you down he automatically wants to hold you again. But he's held back and he sees its Deku who’s holding him back. 

He wants to rip his hand off of him but he can't find the strength in himself so he relents and allows the freckled boy to pull him away. He sees his red haired friend and doesn't hesitate to accept the hug he gives him. 

he balls his hands against the gears of his friends hero costume. “Damnit kiri I can't lose her!” he sobs. No one says anything, theres nothing they can say. No words can comfort the fiery blonde except for your own.  

but he does pull away from his friend as he sees them placing you on a gurney and begin rushing away. 

“Wait!” he calls after them. 

“Sir you can't come with us you have to meet us there its to risky!” A female medic says as sets pumping oxygen into your lungs. 

“I can drive you!” He hears a voice behind him say quickly. He turns to see who only to see your side-kick Minako. He nods and quickly runs to her car. 

The drive there was silent, he isn't even mad at her which shocks both of them. She breaks the silence whispering, “She begged me to help the civilians.” he nods still remaining silent. “I should have- I should have been there.” just then a sob rips through her throat. 

Katsuki looks to her remaining silent for a long moment. “She would have been devistated if you had you gotten hurt.” he whispers. 

“huh?” she glances over to him quickly before looking back to the road. 

“she talks about you all the time, she feels a motherly bond to you.” he whispers. 

“s-she was serious about that?” She asks wiping her cheeks.

“Yeah, maybe because she never had a mother figure or maybe because you remind her so much of herself. But she does, and I know she's tankful for all the civilians you helped save.” The girl nods smiling softly.  

Unsay these reckless words (find hope in the hopeless) Pull me out of the train wreck

When they arrive to the hospital they both quickly run to the front desk. 

“Elementas, I need to know what room elements is in!” Bakugo cries. 

“Mr. Ground zero sir you can't see her yet.” the nurse states standing up and stopping him from running off. 

“Why the hell not?!” He screams fist firing off slightly.

“She had to go straight into surgery.” the woman states calmly. Bakugo grunts as he sits down. 

twenty minutes later the same nurse approaches. “Sir they've already set up her room you tow may wait for her there but when they ask you to leave you-” before she could finish Minako interrupts. 

“Understood.” she says quickly. The nurse nods giving them the number and they make there way there. 

It was another half hour when Kirishima showed up with a spare change of clothes for Bakugo and offered to drive Minako home so she could rest. She only left when he promised to keep her updated. He changed into his civilian clothes before he finally sat down on the chair next to the bed you would soon be in and before he knew it he was asleep. 

Unburn the ashes Unchain the reactions, I'm not ready to die, not yet

When he woke he looked around confused but he perked up when he saw a nurse. “Sir we need to get her settled and then you can come back in.” He nods quickly heading back t the waiting room. The quicker he left meant the sooner he would see you. 

It was fifteen minutes later when a doctor approached him. “How is she? Is she okay?” He asks anxious. 

“she sustained grave injuries. A head wound which concussed her. Five broken ribs, a punctured lung. Not to mention the damage from the pipe in her abdomen. But other than these things she is fine.” The doctor said as he walked away. Katsuki quickly made his way back to your room as he saw your eyes blink open. 

Pull me out of the train wreck Pull me out, pull me out, pull me out Pull me out, pull me out, pull me out

“Y/n!” he called happily. You looked pail, and honestly an inch from death, but never in his life had he been so happy to see you. 

You smiled at your boyfriend as he walked into the room. “Suki.” You whispered holding a hand out to him. He quickly came to your side taking it and covering it in kisses before moving up your arm and kissing your face. He placed a loving kiss on your lips before placing his forehead on your own. 

“Don’t you ever scare me like that again.” He whispered. 

You chuckled but winced. “easy there princess your ribs might not be happy with you for a while.” he says cupping your cheek and you nodded. It was a long day between all the visitors. Wether it was a crying Minako who had heart felt apologies and confessions with you. Or a group of your former classmates coming to make sure you where alright. Or even a soft spoke Mr. Aizawa who came once Katsuki had left to get you and himself some food. 

By the end of the day you where exhausted and you where more than happy to allow your boyfriend to carefully lay next to you only intertwining your legs and holding your one hand with his own while the other rested on your cheek. 

“Hey y/n, what you said about me being happy,” Katsuk whispered and you hummed for him to keep going. “I’m going to be... with you.” with a soft exchange of I love you’s and a sweet kiss after that you where both asleep. 

[anoutlandishfanfic]

Metamorphosis Ch.26: Over the Sea

The Premise: What if Claire had conceived on her wedding night with Jamie? How would that change the plot points we all know and love?

We’re coming down the home stretch folks! Our get away car is in the harbor! We just gotta get em there! 

You can find a Master List of chapters here on tumblr or read the whole thing on AO3. 

February 21st, 1744; The Abbey, Scotland Jamie.

I stifled a groan in Claire’s curls as the church bell tolled three, my arms reflexively tightening around her as I tried to ignore the fact that it was time to get out of bed.

I hated to wake her.

The night had not been an easy one for my wife — were they ever these days? — and Claire only just managed to fall back asleep, but I knew she’d need a wee bit of extra time to dress this morning… as her appearance was vital to our ruse.

Smoothing the tousled curls away from her brow, I placed a kiss on her temple, then trailed one after the other until I reached the base of her neck. She stirred at my touch, her eyelids flickering and one corner of her mouth pulling upwards towards a smile, but didn’t wake. My hand lowered to her hip, then slid along the distended curve of her abdomen as my lips found hers.

Her own hands moved then, reaching and finding me in the darkness.

“Good morning,” I murmured into her palm, brushing a kiss across it as her hand drifted round to the back of my head.

One eye cracked open to scowl at me at this greeting, her words slightly jumbled but still coherent, “Thisn’t morning, y’oaf. Dark’out.”

I curled my lips between my teeth to keep from grinning at her offended expression, the innocence of slumber still lingering on her face and made her appear very much like a spoiled, pouting child.  

Claire felt my suppressed amusement and struggled to open both her eyes. Her brow furrowed with the effort it took to spear me with what I’m sure was meant to be her best look of consternation, but it fell short. I kissed her soundly in an effort to keep from laughing outright, rousing us both completely and bringing us directly back to why we’d risen at this inhospitable hour of the morn.

She sighed a moment later, a wistful look dancing across her now clear eyes.

“It’s time, isn’t it?”

“Aye,” I swallowed hard, excitement mixing with the fear of the unknown as my stomach churned.

“Time to leave.”

... Half past 4am.

The wind howled around us as we stepped from the shelter of the abbey out into the open courtyard, cautiously picking our way across the frozen cobblestones. It’s nasty chill bit at any patch of exposed skin it could sink its teeth into and my cheeks and hands were already red and raw from ensuring the rig was properly loaded with our things.

I hastily grabbed for the carriage door, lunging for it before it was really in reach as I was eager to get Claire out of the cold, but she was of a different mind.

“You won’t say a word if we’re stopped, will you?” she inquired, pulling up short and studying my face intently. “Or only in French if you must? That cap’ll do to hide your hair, but there’s no mistaking your voice.”

My hand instinctively went to the back of my neck, feeling the rough wool of my knitted hat. It would keep me warm, certainly, but pulled low as it was, it went a long way to hide the telltale auburn hair that was plastered all over my broadsheets.

“Aye, er, oui Madame,” I promised, squeezing her hand reassuringly with a forced smile as I helped her onto the first step.

Wobbly as a new foal, I steadied her as she picked her way into the dark carriage. Murtagh held his lantern high, giving her light to see as she eased herself into the padded cushions and meticulously arranged the folds of her cloak.

“The same goes for you, hmm?” Claire’s head snapped up to look at us, her gaze locking onto my godfather’s. Her eyes narrowed in a rather unreadable expression of consternation mixed with something akin to a challenge as she continued, “Not a word from the both of you. Let Francis do the work and the talking until we’re aboard ship.”

I caught the twitch of my godfather’s lips out the corner of my eye — despite his heavy beard and the early morning darkness — and marveled yet again at the relationship the two of them had formed while I was away.

“And I can quite handle myself, thank you very much,” she added in afterthought and under her breath, almost as if to reassure herself as it was to us.

Claire caught the mirth bubbling up beneath my gathering nerves and reached out her hand to me. I took it in an instant, leaning in and keeping my voice low, even though I was sure no one but our present company could hear us.

“May your brilliant mind and unbridled tongue keep us safe, my love,” I blessed her in French, then dropped my hand to the swell of our children. “And may you both bide until we are safe.”

She crossed herself, the barest hint of a shudder running through her, and I dove into the carriage beside her, pulling her into my arms and vowing, “No harm will come to you, Claire. I give you my word.”

“I know,” she murmured back after a moment and I loosened my grip.

Sitting back, she waved me off.

“We need to leave if we’re going to catch the tide,” she insisted with a smile that gained confidence by the second. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

I blinked at her for a moment, which made her laugh — a heartily welcome sound — and I shook my head with a smile of my own.

“Oui, Madame,” I stepped back onto the ledge of the doorway, “I am entirely at your service, my Lady Beauchamp.”

She nodded curtly and dismissed me fully, all but shoving me out into cold with a single look.

I grinned at her and exited the carriage, shutting the door firmly behind me. Turning, I moved to join Murtagh on the bench up top but hesitated a moment before climbing aboard.

That they might be safe… both she and the children.

My eyes slid shut, my heart offering up the rest of a prayer that I could not put into words.

“Come along, a bhalaich.”

Murtagh’s command was urgent yet gentle and I reflexively moved to do so, hastily crossing myself before climbing up beside him with a fluidity that hadn’t been mine since before my injury. I nodded to him and with a flick of the reins, he set us into motion.

I held my breath as we passed through the main gate and left our safe haven behind.

There would be no going back.

We hadn’t traveled long before we encountered the first crofter’s hut, still shut up and slumbering in the early morning dew. I scanned the road ahead and caught sight of a small copse of trees off to the left side. This particular stretch of road wasn’t bounded by forest, so it would make a perfect lookout post, should a soldier or two want to keep an eye on the comings and goings of the abbey.

And they certainly would.

My gut clenched as we approached, wishing the lanterns posted on the corners of the carriage were bright enough to see what we were about to ride into. The mare on the right snorted to her teammate and I flinched. It took everything within me to not grab the reins from Murtagh’s hands and turn us around.

“Steady,” Murtagh coaxed in the language Claire had instructed us… one I knew he didn’t particularly care to use.

To anyone listening, it’d be logical that he would have been speaking to the horses, but I knew it was intended for me.

… Claire.

The carriage began to slow and I spat out an emphatic, “Fuck!”

I bit down hard on my lower lip, the sharp pain competing against my rolling stomach and spasming back. The deep, frozen ruts of the lane did little to ensure a smooth ride to the harbor and the combination of my raw nerves and the carraige’s jolting, jostling motions were enough to set me completely on edge.

Lifting a hand to the ridiculous bonnet atop my head, I adjusted it slightly and then arranged my skirts around me. Our success was dependent on my looking every inch a respectable woman of wealth and I was determined to have everything in place when that door opened. We came to a complete stop long before I was ready and I forced myself to take as deep of a breath as was possible in my current state.

Here we bloody go, Beauchamp.

Male voices began to bark orders, sending a shiver down my spine, and I steeled myself for the gust of frigid air mingled with danger that was sure to come at any moment. I didn’t have to wait long, for the door opened in the next second and I saw the face of Lady Margaret’s most trusted footman, Francis.

His expression gave nothing away as he offered his hand in assistance — the as yet unseen redcoats obviously requested I present myself — and I donned my most affected air, slipping into the personage I’d crafted in my wakeful hours of the night.

“Tell them I wish to speak to their commanding officer,” I sniffed, drawing my cloak tighter around me, “and do shut the door, Francis, or I shall catch my death of a chill.”

One brow twitched and I caught the briefest of smiles flicker across the chap’s face before he disappeared back into the night, doing exactly as I’d asked.

More voices sounded in conversation outside the carriage, taking on an air of confusion as a whole, with the exception of Francis’ Lowland lilt.

“Ye better do as th’Lady asks, ye ken,” he warned and I couldn’t help but grin in the dark in spite of my nerves. “She’s not one t’bide... an’ she’s a ship t’meet.”

There was a shuffling of feet and a clanking of metal, but one person had obviously moved off and all discussion faded away into nothing. A few moments passed in anxious silence until a new disgruntled voice suddenly asked, “Have you found something, then?”

Bile rose at the back of my throat as I thought of them finding Jamie up above me, but I didn’t waver from my plan.

Negatory remarks followed the new voice’s inquiry and the officer — for indeed, he must be — was informed of the situation.

Francis opened the door again and I launched into my tirade, “What is the meaning of this inconvenience, Captain?! If my ship departs without me, I shall ensure that you are stripped of your position, paraded through the streets barefoot in nothing but sackcloth and ashes, and unable to find a place of employment as anything but His Majesty’s scullery maid!”

The officer stood slack jawed just outside the door in perfect response to my tirade, obviously not expecting a well-bred, highly enraged, loyal British subject on the road at this hour.

“Do come in and explain yourself,” I huffed, beckoning him forward, “you must have a reason for holding up honest traffic in the middle of the night like a Highland bandit.”

His mouth snapped shut at this and his brows rose all the way to the edge of his wig as he climbed inside, a lantern in hand. I blinked at the sudden brightness, but it only helped to permanently affix my scowl.

“Now, who do I have the pleasure of addressing?” I titled my head to the side, feigning interest while looking very much like an addled bird, I was sure.

“Captain George Brooks, my lady, of, ah, His Majesty’s Third Battalion,” he cleared his throat, stammering slightly. “I, well, I sincerely apologize for Private Richardsen’s rather forward behavior and, well, the delay.”

He studied me quite openly, his gaze taking in my fine clothing and warm cloak. The captain seemed to take me for what I appeared to be, for he quickly continued, “You see, Madam, we have word that an escaped convict has sought sanctuary within the abbey and are stopping and searching every conveyance that leaves the place.”

I stiffened at the word convict, but used it to my advantage.

“I must tell you, Captain, that I was the guest of the good brethren and can assure you no such man exists,” I leveled him with a look that made him squirm. “And, certainly, no one of such quality is among my men.”

“I consider the Scottish brutes to be a detestable sort and am on my way now to leave this godforsaken country,” I sniffed, forcing myself not to choke on the absolute fallacy of my own words.

Captain Brooks nodded at this, but it was clear from his gathering frown he had questions for me.

“There’s a respectable tavern in the village where my men are quartered,” he shifted, leaning forward slightly. “Why stay with the heretics when other suitable — and dare I say safer — lodging was available?”

I snorted, feigning disgust, “I’d rather sleep in the gutter than under the roof of a Highland villager, Captain… and as for the heretic Papists, you forget that a good many of His Majesty’s subjects are such.”

He caught sight of the jet rosary on display around my neck and had the good grace to wince.

“My apologies, Lady…,” he trailed off.

“Beauchamp,” I supplied for him, ready to rattle off my concocted scenario. “My husband is Lieutenant Commander Alexander Beauchamp of the Royal Navy and I’m meeting him in Portsmouth… that is, if you and your men will permit us to be on our way.”

My companion shifted uncomfortably once more, groveling, “Yes, well, I see there is no reason that you should not be allowed to travel on. I shall send a man ahead to alert the guard at the port. They’ll see that you board and depart without interference.”

“How good of you, Captain,” I commented, forcing a smile as a sudden wave of nausea overtook me.

Hurry up, Captain, or you shall be wearing my breakfast.

... Jamie.

The captain strode out the door of the carriage, nearly knocking Francis off his feet, and beckoned wildly to his lieutenant. I tensed, nearly grabbing the reins out of Murtagh’s hands, but instead steeled myself as I caught his orders on the wind.

“Ride ahead,” he motioned for a horse to be brought round, bellowing, “Tell Phillips to let them through without trouble and ensure no one delays their departure... And If I hear that so much as a seagull spoke out of turn to the Lady Beauchamp, I shall have both your head and your commission, Hawkins!”

Lieutenant Hawkins swung into the saddle with a barked yes, sir and was barreling down the path ahead of us a moment later.

I blinked in surprise, then let the darkness of the night hide the beginnings of a smile that warmed my face.

Well done, mo nighean donn.

…

Claire.

The remainder of the ride to the harbor was something akin to cruel and unusual punishment.

The road had gotten better some time ago — the carriage no longer pitching from side to side with every rut we hit — but I still felt every stone, every bump we drove over. The muscles of my lower back and left hip spasmed with a ferocity that I had never experienced, protesting their rough handling in a language that I could not ignore. My stomach rolled, my chest heaved, and it was everything I could do not to lose my cookies all over Lady Margaret’s velvet cushions.

Breathe, Beauchamp.

I slid my eyes shut. It was dark as the deepest cave around me, but somehow the feeling of closing my eyes still gave me a barrier to the outside world.

You did it.

We’d passed through the checkpoint undetected, sent on our way the very man in charge of the entire operation. I couldn’t let my guard down yet, though, couldn’t celebrate this victory until we were really, truly well on our way on the open sea.

I shook my head, trying to fixate on something steady, something outside of the tossing, tumbling barrel I was currently deposited in.

Jamie.

I did allow myself to smile then.

What did he think of it all? Of our walking through right under the redcoats' noses?

I was thankful he had Murtagh at his side through the whole ordeal, but I still wished I could have been with him. For my presence beside him to steady his nerves.

Who are you kidding, Beauchamp?

You couldn’t have climbed up there next to him if your life depended on it.

Well… maybe only if it truly depended on it.

My hands moved, my arms cradling the curve of my distended abdomen as I shifted against the seat cushions. Climbing aboard this conveyance had been interesting enough… I didn’t want to think of what getting aboard the Demeter would entail.

The footman Francis was a short, sender slip of a thing, and while that suited his career perfectly, it wouldn’t suffice should I need assistance boarding the ship.

No one would think twice of Jamie’s strong form helping me… would they?

My heart lurched to a stop, skipped a beat, then thundered on as the carriage began to slow and I realized the next hurdle was upon us. We didn’t stop, but continued to crawl along for many minutes, allowing me time to right myself and prepare for act two of my facade.

When Francis did open the door… I was ready.

… Around 5am, Aboard the Demeter; Jamie.

A dhia, what a woman.

I shook my head in amused astonishment as I watched Claire’s rigid form dismiss Colonel Phillips with a flick of her hand, then turned to the captain of the ship and pointedly asked for shelter from the cold. We hadn’t the time to inform him of her ruse before we boarded, but he gruffly acquiesced and motioned for her to follow him into the cabin.

Seeing that Phillips had disembarked and none of his men were looking towards the ship, I slipped into the shadows of the gathering dawn and trailed after them.

“I do apologize for my tone on deck, Captain,” I heard her sigh as I entered the small, cluttered room. “We sincerely appreciate your kindness and understand the risk you’re taking in bringing us aboard.”

“Aye, well,” he shifted from foot to foot, not quite sure what to make of my wife, “‘Tis nothin’ much… so long as ye stay within an’ out of my men’s way, ye ken.”

I’d gathered in our short time on deck that the crew’s opinion of my wife was something akin to an omen of bad luck — as a woman aboard ship often was — and had no intention of letting her out that door again until we were disembarking onto French soil.

Claire turned as the ship’s captain left, realizing I was there for the first time and her face completely crumpled. She looked as though her body was about to follow suit and was at her side in a moment, gathering her into my arms and tucking her head securely beneath my chin. I could feel her begin to tremble from head to toe against me and looked wildly around for a place for her to sit.

Not readily finding one, she clung to me as we stood in the middle of the room, swaying slightly with the motion of the ship.

“Ifrinn,” I muttered when I found I could finally speak, “I shouldna let you do tha’, mo chridhe.”

“We didn’t have a choice,” came her soft reply, muffled by the front of my coat.

I shrugged at this, knowing she was right, but wishing my heavily pregnant wife hadn’t had to be the one to navigate us through the lion’s den.

“But ye did verra well, indeed,” I had to admit, more than a hint of pride coloring my voice.

She snorted in objection to this and I grinned, turning back her hood and shedding her of that ridiculous cap in one movement. Placing a kiss amid her curls, my hand cupped the back of her head.

Lifting her chin, she looked up at me, fatigue evident in her eyes. I kissed her soundly then and she turned in my arms, looping her own around my neck with a contented sigh.

“Are you cold?” I asked, placing a kiss on her warm neck but had felt her chilled cheek against my own.

“No, not very,” she rested her head against my shoulder. “It’s much better in here.”

I nodded, agreeing as my gaze lifted and I began to examine the quarters we’d been given.

Captain’s quarters they may be, but it was also clearly a storeroom for a good portion of  his cargo. Crates stacked upon crates loomed around us like a forest of trees, with bundles and baskets cast about on the floor in unorganized chaos. There didn’t seem to be a bed to be found  in any resemblance of the word and this gave me no amount of disquiet.

Resigning myself to a sturdy crate that was roughly sitting height to my left, I slowly moved Claire in that direction, easing her down onto it as I went in search for better accommodations. She flapped a weary hand at me, encouraging me on my way as she loosened her stays and let out a shaky breath.

I wove in and out of the stacks of goods, desperate to find a place for my wife to lay down. There were large wooden trunks and canvas wrapped parcels, small wooden crates and barrels of various volumes and heights… but no bed. I discovered something resembling a hammock slung in one corner, but as that would never do, I dismissed it immediately and continued my search, doubling back and returning a different way than I’d come.

“Jamie?”

Claire’s voice had me leaping over a canvas wrapped bundle and grabbing for the bucket I’d caught out the corner of my eye. I reached her just in time for her to deposit her breakfast in the receptacle, her eyes wide and cheeks gone an unearthly pale.

“Christ, I’m sorry,” I gushed, keeping a stray curl from getting in the way of things. “I shouldn’t have left yer side… tis the same wi’ me, too.”

In truth, our current rhythmic motion was nothing compared to what we’d experience once we left the harbor, but I had the good sense to let that be.

Claire shook her head, glowering into the depths of the bucket and grumbled, “It was that bloody roller coaster.”

“Mhmm,” I commented noncommittally, not entirely sure what that was but fairly confident she meant the carriage ride here. “Aye, well, ye’re off it now.”

She retched again, as if the very mention of the conveyance had set her stomach into motion again.

“Shh, my own, it will be better in a moment,” I assured her in Gaelic as I knelt beside her, smoothing back the hair from her face and rubbing her back.

Offering her my handkerchief when she appeared to be done, I took the fragrant bucket from her and set it aside, though within arm’s reach should she need it again.

“Are you alright?” she squeaked, the color beginning to creep back into her cheeks.

I stared at her, my brows nearly to my hairline as I asked incredulously, “Me?!”

“Yes, you,” the frown was back, but I could see that the wheels were churning furiously behind those amber eyes. “You were just paraded in front of an entire battalion of redcoats… that couldn’t have been easy for you.”

I shook my head, shrugging off her concern, assuring, “I’m fine, Sassenach. They didna give me so much as a second glance, thanks to you.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

A slow smile tugged at my lips at her slow, deliberate enunciation of every syllable of this declaration.  

“Aye, I ken jus’ what ye mean,” I reached for her hands, twining my fingers between hers, “an’ I think ye ken me better than I ken myself, at times.”

She snorted at this, dismissing the notion.

“If I do, then it’s the same with me,” she muttered, wiping at her face.

I grinned, squeezing her hands tightly.

“Oh, aye, mo nighean donn… I do, indeed.”

[captainscanadian]

Better | Bucky Barnes x Reader (Part 4)

My Masterlist

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Summary: Bucky has a lot of suspicions. Becca had the answers he needed.

Word Count: 6122

Pairing: Doctor!Bucky x Doctor!Reader, Nurse!Wanda x Platonic!Reader, Nurse!MJ, Doctor!Sam (mentioned)

Warnings: Swearing, Mentions of Abuse & Alcoholism, Surgery, Organ Donation, IV & Needles, Emotional Distress, Physical Pain, Drugs, Hospital Stay, Blood

A/N: Sorry not sorry. Naynay, don’t kill me!

Being in and out of consciousness for God knows how long was certainly not something you were fond of. Not only were you completely unaware of what time of day it was or even what day it was for that matter, you were starting the hate the numbness that had been brought to you by the patient-control analgesia. Even the pain in your abdomen had become bearable now, but that did not help with the emotional distress that came with the numbness either.

When you had woken up from your drug-induced slumber, you had been greeted by an indescribable darkness that had blanketed over your hospital room. The lack of sunshine peaking through the gaps between the curtains were reason enough for you to assume that it was now nightfall. Your first instinct had been to turn over to your side towards the chair next to your bed, a part of you hoping that the man who had been sitting by your bedside when you had fallen asleep was still there. But much to your disappointment, he wasn’t.

You let out a soft groan at the pain that you felt on your side, thankful that the numbness was finally starting to dissolve. You hoped that would give you enough time to feel like a functioning human being for once before the next programmed dosage kicks in.

“Y/N?” The sound of a tired Sam Wilson calling out your name made you let out a sigh. “Are you awake? How are you feeling?”

You reached your hand up to rub your eyes, letting out another groan. “W-Wilson.” You croaked out, your throat had been dry every single time you woke up and you hated it. “Where’s Barnes?”

MJ had been at your bedside within seconds of you pressing your call button for a nurse. “Dr. Y/L/N, you’re awake.” She gave you a warm smile that showed a sense of relief, her coffee-induced talkative sense taking over her in an instant. “I mean, of course I knew that. Dr. Wilson told me that you woke up just before he was paged down to the ER, but I wasn’t going to come in here unless you called me. How are you feeling? Are you in pain? Do you want me to page Dr. Parker for you? He’s on call right now, probably just crashing in an on call room. Or Dr. Romanoff, she’s not in but I can call her too if you need-”

“MJ.” You cut her off as you let out a weak chuckle, wincing slightly at the pain that followed. “The pain’s a little better now but I’m still feeling a little loopy so... I probably won’t be pumping any drugs into my body until the next scheduled dosage. You can start off by telling me what day it is and... can you please get me some water? My throat’s really dry.”

“Oh... sorry.” She was quick to grab your plastic cup and reach over to the sink, filling it up just before the brim before bringing it over to you.

You took the straw between your chapped lips and sipped rather slowly, feeling the water soothe its way down your throat.

“Why haven’t you turned the light on?” You heard the familiar voice of Wanda Maximoff echo through your room as you saw her silhouette by the doorframe. She reached over to turn on the light and you quickly shut your eyes, bringing your hand up to your eyes to shield them from the newfound brightness. “Go home, MJ. I’ve got it from here.”

The younger nurse took the cup away from your mouth once you let go of the straw. “Alright! Goodnight, Wanda. Wait, it’s morning but... ugh, fuck it!” She laughed softly before stomping out of the room.

You let out another chuckle as you winced, moving your hand away from your face now that your eyes were used to the light. You turned over to look at Wanda, who was holding your chart, probably writing down very detailed notes for Romanoff to see during morning rounds. “I must admit I missed you.” You told her as you gave her a weak smile.

“Oh sweetheart...” She set down your chart for a moment before reaching over your bed, gently wrapping her arms around you, still careful not to mess with the wires and tubes that were still attached to your body. Wanda Maximoff had always been a hugger and a good one at that. Even though you might come off as someone who did not enjoy such physical displays of affection, your touch-deprived self had been very appreciative of her hugs and she knew that. “I was just down the hall to check on your father. He’s doing alright, he’s stable, not in a lot of pain and he hasn’t really shown any signs of rejection. He’s... right on the road to recovery.”

You let out a sigh of relief as she pulled back from the hug. “That’s good.” You told her softly, though a part of you was glad that your risky sacrifice had not gone to waste. “Thanks, Wanda.”

Not even a good night’s sleep, three loads of laundry and an early morning workout at the gym had been enough to distract Bucky’s mind from the woman in the post-op ward. At first, he had felt a ping of guilt at the thought of not being there if you had woken up and asked for him. Even his assumption that you would ask for him when you woke up had made him realize how hopeless he was. But he could not help it. He had fallen in love with you, like from that John Green novel his youngest sister had once been obsessed with, slowly and then all at once.  

He had managed to call Sam, who was on call that night, and pester him to check on you every now and then. But when a concerned yet slightly annoyed Dr. Wilson had threatened to block his number, while still checking on you nevertheless, Bucky had found himself crashing on his king-sized bed and having a little faith in the hospital staff as he had promised Wanda. No one would let any harm come to you, or so he thought, and he would see you when he returned to work after all.

Despite the fact that he hadn’t set an alarm, he found himself waking up before dawn as always. Perhaps it was the fact that his own body had been so used to such early morning wake up calls, but sleeping into the afternoon had always been a rarity for Bucky no matter how late he had fallen asleep.

Nevertheless, the moment he awoke from his slumber, his first instinct had been to check his phone for any messages from the hospital. He had threatened Dr. Peter Parker, the resident on your transplant team, to contact him in case anything had happened to you while he was not by your bedside. Seeing no messages from the young surgeon made him sigh in relief. But that did not stop Bucky from being worried. After all, his sister had just returned from Philadelphia and from what she had texted him last night, she had found some concerning information that she wanted to share with him.

If any of his friends had found out about what he had done, they would probably label his actions a result of his paranoia; Sam would have called it pure insanity. But Bucky would probably prefer the more rational term: suspicion. He had been feeling suspicious for a while now, ever since the day he had found you breaking down in the supply room on the cardiac floor.

“Y/L/N?” Dr. James Barnes’ eyebrows furrowed as he recognized the familiar female’s sobs that escaped from behind a shelf that held unopened packages of cardiac catheters.

Of course, this hadn’t been the first time he had found you like that. But he knew you well enough to know that you did not break down in tears that easily. He was aware that you had dealt with more than a fair share of struggles over the years, but that had made you tough. You were a strong woman, he noted. So, if something had made you cry, then it had to have been something very serious. It wasn’t that easy to break Y/N Y/L/N.

You sat on the cold tiled floor of the supply room, your back against a shelf as you pulled your knees up to your chest. You could not help the sobs that left your chest, your cheeks puffy, red and stained with tears as you looked up. “J-James?” You quickly wiped away your tears with the sleeve of the waffle-knit Henley you wore under your navy blue scrub shirt, springing to your feet before coming face to face with the dark haired surgeon.

“Are you alright, doll?” He asked, his lips curling into a frown as a look of concern blanketed over his features when he stepped over to you. His icy blue eyes were filled with a genuine worry that not even the strands of his greasy black hair could veil. “What’s wrong?”

You shook your head quickly before shrugging your shoulders, forcing yourself to smile a fake smile that you hoped would be convincing enough, though you may have been wrong about that. He had already heard you cry and no smile can make him believe otherwise. Besides, Bucky Barnes knew you well enough to know when even a smile of yours is genuine or when it was not. He was always the first to notice these things. “Nothing, I’m just... tired, that’s all. It’s been a long day.”

He furrowed his brows as he looked down at you, clearly not convinced by your facade. His eyes were soft but the tone of his voice rather stern. It was as though he was stuck between the roles of the senior doctor, the close friend and the man who had fallen in love with you, not knowing which role to play at a time like this.  “Don’t lie to me, Y/N.”

Bucky had always been able to distinguish himself between his roles though. He had a way of separating his personal and professional lives in order to keep him sane. There was Bucky and then there was Dr. Barnes.

Dr. Barnes would always wear his navy blue scrubs, his hair hanging loose that he usually tucked under his scrub cap when he was at surgery. Bucky, when he’s not in his ‘operating mode’, usually tied his hair up into a small messy man bun. He wore skinny jeans and plaid shirts when he was out and when he was at home, he wore sweat pants and Henley’s. Even his closet had been arranged in a way to accommodate this.

He followed this rule almost religiously though, except for that one time when Dr. Barnes showed up to a board meeting with his hair tied up in a bun with a Hello Kitty hair tie because he let one of his pediatric patients tie it up for him. Dr. Rogers would go on to say that this had been the most human that he had ever seen his surgical robot of a friend; perhaps until the day his beloved mentee had announced that she was donating her liver to her estranged father.

But now the man had found himself a third role, the role of James, Y/N’s James. He did not know what that role entailed, whether he was the colleague or the friend, but he knew that this was the part of him that had fallen in love with her. This was the part of him that was longing to be a part of her life, if she would let him. This was the part of him that was the most human – the better version of him.

You shook your head as you tried to find a way out of his query, only to fail at your own attempts. “No, James... I’m-”

“You’ve been crying.” He had cut you off. “And don’t even try telling me that you weren’t. I heard you, doll.” He had caught you red-handed, after all. There was no way you could hide this from him, or anyone else for that matter.

“I...” You looked down at your feet, noticing that the laces had come undone in your blue tennis shoes. But you could care less about your shoes right now. You had bigger things to worry about, like the life of the man who had given you yours. And at that thought, you broke down once more, feeling your knees grow weak as you slid down against the shelf to sit back down on the floor. You pulled your knees up to your chest and buried your head between them, not holding back the sobs in the presence of this doctor.

“What’s wrong, Y/N?” Bucky frowned at the sight of you, feeling his heart break to see you in tears. He knelt down in front of you, his soft hands holding your wrists as your hands rested on top of your knees. “Hey... talk to me, doll. You can tell me anything.”

You had always been hesitant to talk about how you felt with others, except to Dr. Rhodes who happened to be the in-house psychiatrist for the hospital staff. One thing that you had learned the hard way from your previously failed friendships was that there was a fine line between sharing and over-sharing. You did not want to cross this line, for that line had ended many friendships for you. It was why you had been so cautious of how close you got with everyone at the hospital.

But keeping your distance from James was not an option for you either. He sounded genuinely concerned for you and his offer had only made you realize how desperately you needed a friend at that moment. Perhaps, using this opportunity to find some clarity about your situation would not be that bad. He was a surgeon, after all. He had dealt with dying patients and their crying loved ones. He would not turn away from you or turn you away at a time of need either. A qualified medical professional, he was. You could trust him as that.

You continued to cry as Bucky took a seat next to you on the floor, wrapping his arm around your shoulder and pulling you closer to him. How much of a loner had you been your whole life that even the slightest act of affection had brought you solace? How desperate must you have been for human contact, for you felt calm from the way his hand was rubbing your back in a rather soothing manner. Your touch-starved self could not help but allow yourself to lay your head gently against his shoulder, continuing to cry. “R-Romanoff... has a patient, who came in with... stage 4... cirrhosis.” You croaked out in-between sobs. “She was... telling me how... this patient was from... N-New Hope, Pennsylvania... because she knows that... it’s my hometown and... she was like... it’s a small town, just over two thousand people... and everyone knows... everyone so... Nat asked me if I... maybe knew this man and... she tells me his name... James, i-it’s... it’s my dad... h-he’s...” Before you could even finish your sentence, you felt another sob.

He bit down on his bottom lip as he continued to gently rub your back, trying to calm you down while pondering what you had just told him. “Oh Y/N...” He frowned. You rarely spoke about your parents or your childhood spent in a small town near Philadelphia. But from what he knew about your past, which only Steve had also known, he concluded that things must not have been great for you. Perhaps that was why he was starting to worry about this revelation. “How do you know it’s him, doll?” He asked. “Did you go and see him?”

You shook your head. “N-No... I-I couldn’t... I... checked his file. The information... his date of birth, the home address... it’s the same. It’s the house I grew up in.” You replied as you let out a sigh. “It’s him.”

“But... how did they-”

“I haven’t... spoken to my parents... since I left... NYU.” You hadn’t realized that you had cut him off as you spoke, still sobbing between your words. “I sent my mom... an invite... to my med school graduation... but she didn’t show. I just thought that I would never... see them again... you know? But now they’re here... in this hospital and... I don’t know, James. I feel awful... for not being there for them.” A successful cardiothoracic surgeon at one of the best hospitals in all of New York, but you had no idea that your own father had been ill. You may have had your reasons to leave home when you did but you were doing much better now. Why couldn’t you get yourself to go back home and at least try to make amends with your parents? Perhaps if you had done that sooner, you would have known about your father’s disease a lot sooner and you could have actually gotten him the treatment he needed before things had gotten out of control. “He’s going on the transplant list... I just can’t believe... I missed so much shit in my parents’ life.”

“Y/N, come on, you can’t beat yourself up for that.” Bucky told you as he let out a sigh. “You had a reason to leave home and cut ties with your parents. Besides, if you did reach out to your mother and she didn’t respond, then you losing touch with them is not your fault, doll.”

“But... I was supposed to be better, James.”

He could not say anything when you had said that. He bit down on his bottom lip once more, his hand still wrapped around your shoulder as he held you close to him. Your heads barely touched as he moved his hair away from his face, cautious that a few strands might land on your forehead as he let you lean against him. “How did they... how did they get all the way to Brooklyn from your small town?” He asked, curiously. Bucky was sure that there were many competent hospitals in Philadelphia. Yet the fact that your father had been admitted at the hospital where you worked seemed to be far from a coincidence to him.

He had found out about your history with parental abuse a few years ago, when you had approached him and Steve regarding your suspicion that one of your pediatric patients was being abused. Bucky had been there to support you when you had contacted Child Protective Services and through the whole process that followed. He had helped you and your patient with the formalities before you had come clean to him about your own abuse.

The revelation had caused Bucky to shut down for a few days and he had once again become consumed with guilt for having grown up with so much privilege. Despite the fact that both of his parents worked long hours, they had done their best at being parents. They weren’t perfect, but they had loved all four of their children dearly and made sure they knew how much they were loved. He could not even imagine how any parent could intentionally hurt their child or how anyone could endure such a thing during their childhood and still turn out to be the strongest, kindest, most genuine soul to walk the earth.

No wonder your walls were so hard to tear down. But he could not help but wish that he could eventually do just that. He was falling even further for you. He wanted to shower you with love because that was what you deserved, even though a part of him knew that you might never let him. After all, you still did not think that you deserved to be loved.

“Apparently, he’s seen multiple doctors in Philly before coming here. Natasha said that his previous doctor had read about her study and referred them to her.” You replied with a shrug. “No, they don’t. I had told my mom that I had been matched to do my residency at New York Presbyterian but I did not tell them that I moved to Brooklyn.”

And that was the start of Bucky’s suspicion. He could not help but wonder whether your folks had known about you working here before they showed up. He had no reason to trust them, after all. While they were your parents, it was clear that they hadn’t done the best job at that. While you would not bother to share anything regarding your past, he could not help but continue to be suspicious regarding your parents’ intentions behind them coming to Brooklyn.

Of course, he could not control your actions. He had to sit back and watch as you eventually decided to approach them and offered to get tested to see if you liver would match your father’s. But that still left Bucky with so many unanswered questions, unanswered questions that you could answer for him but he knew that you would not.

He wanted to protect you, in case things did get to that point where you needed to be protected. In order to do that, he needed to know what he would be protecting you from. The only way to do that had been through looking into you and your parents through a private investigator. And that was exactly what he had done when he picked up the phone called his sister last week, asking her to find out your history with your parents in case they intended to hurt you again.

When Rebecca Barnes had first received a phone call from her big brother, she was certainly surprised. Sure, the two of them still had a very close relationship. But it was rare for Bucky to ask her for a favour, let alone a favour that had to do with a certain female colleague of his.

Bucky had not directly told anyone about his feelings for you, even though almost everyone at the hospital seemed to have figured it out. Perhaps he hadn’t been the best at hiding his true intentions with you. But he had told Becca right away that he was in love with you and that was why he needed her help.

The woman was shocked at her brother’s confession to say the least. But she was also happy that he had finally found himself a woman he actually had feelings for. After all, she knew that his love life had been pretty much non-existent since he was in college. He had been quite the Casanova while he was at NYU, but as he grew older, Bucky had grown and been molded into a proper workaholic who barely had time to date. Even when Becca had tried to set him up with her friends, the over-working surgeon had managed to ditch his dates in the name of surgical emergencies. Some of those times were actually legitimate while others were just excuses.

Nevertheless, Becca had gone out of her way to find out whatever Bucky felt that he needed to know. It had only taken her less than a week to map out the woman’s entire life but from what she had found out about this Y/N Y/L/N, she could not help but feel truly sorry. “You might want to sit down for this, Buck.” She told her brother as she set down her briefcase on the coffee table, opening it to retrieve several foolscap files. “It’s going to be a wild ride from start to finish.”

Bucky let out a sigh as he sat down on his couch, fresh out of his post-work out shower and in the midst of towel-drying his mane. “How bad is it, Becca?” He asked her as he bit down on his bottom lip rather nervously. He feared what he was about to find out but he did not regret that he had taken this step.

“I had to work backwards, since I started my investigation by meeting with the Chief of Surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital and then the Dean at NYU Med. Although I ended my investigation in New Hope, I think we should start there... at the very beginning.” She suggested, completely ignoring his question. Becca could care less about how nervous she was making him feel. After all, it was his idea to have her conduct an investigation that could potentially be illegal. It was certainly a violation of your privacy if anything. “Y/N Y/L/N was born in New Hope, Pennsylvania... it’s a really small town, like the ones you would see on a TV show where everyone just knows everyone. I was able to get a copy of the hospital records that show her mother being admitted while she was in labor. Sorry, I couldn’t get a copy of her birth certificate. That’s... kind of illegal.”

“You have got to be kidding me.” He huffed as he rolled his eyes. “Why would you even bother with that in the first place? I asked you to look into her parents.”

“You told me to be thorough with my investigation, Buck.” She scoffed as she set the hospital records in front of him. “Anyways, I also have school records and what not. But you might feel like those are irrelevant so...” She picked up another folder. “Her father owned a restaurant around the time she was born. It was apparently going really well for a few years, thanks to the town’s booming tourism industry. But the townspeople say that Mr. Y/L/N had an altercation with his chef and ended up firing him. Everything went downhill after that. He eventually went on to file bankruptcy... I got the court documents right here.”

Bucky picked up the documents and skimmed through them, only to notice that you would have been around seven years old when your father had filed for bankruptcy. “Shit...” He let out a sigh as he looked up at Becca. “That wasn’t even the worst part, was it?”

Rebecca shook her head as she let out a sigh. “The family lost pretty much everything after that. Her mom had managed to find herself a job as a maid in a motel but her dad was unemployed. I think the stress of losing his business really took a toll on him. The people I spoke to... they said that’s when he started drinking excessively.” She paused for a moment, allowing Bucky to connect the dots between the past and the present. “I even spoke to the guy who owns the local bar. Apparently, the man showed up every day before noon and left late at night.”

“And they just kept serving him alcohol for hours on end?” He scoffed, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. A part of him was pissed at how one thing had led to another and now you were the one paying the price for it.

“Small towns businesses only give a shit about making profit, Bucky.” She told him with a shrug. “But one thing was clear. No one really likes the Y/L/N’s. They’re pretty much known to be rude and... blamed the entire town for how they lost their business.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.” He admitted, shrugging. “They couldn’t care any less about their own daughter, for crying out loud.”

“Well, it wasn’t until their sixteen year old daughter went missing for an entire night did the town realize just how fucked up they were.”

Bucky’s eyes grew wide when his sister had said that. “What?!”

Becca bit down on her bottom lip as she pulled out another file, this one being quite thicker than the last ones. “I have a copy of the police report that was filed the next morning. It says that the Y/L/N’s sixteen year old daughter had gone missing. Mom said that she came home from school and hopped in the shower. The water was running for a few hours before she realized that her daughter wasn’t in there... and her bedroom window was open. She had jumped out the window in the middle of a snowstorm.”

“In the middle of a snowstorm?!” He exclaimed, his eyes growing wide at the realization of what that meant. He remembered the words you had said to him that that night when the two of you were leaving the shelter. I know how it feels to be out here in the cold… no food, no warm clothes, nowhere to go. The uncertainty of whether you would get through the night and into the next morning, it’s… the worst feeling in the world and… I just wouldn’t wish that upon anyone. Bucky leaned back in his seat as he rubbed his eyes, not knowing how to process what he had just heard. If he had trouble even doing that, he wondered how you had managed to live through it all. A part of him felt a newfound sense of respect for you, while another part of him suffered vicariously as he heard what had happened to you. “She ran away from them.”

She gave him a nod. “She tried to run away from home but it was a rather spontaneous attempt. She didn’t have any proper clothes or money, no escape plan whatsoever. She had sneaked into her school to keep herself warm and her science teacher... who happened to be there to set up for the school dance the next day had found her crying in the girls’ bathroom. Y/N spent the night at the teacher’s house before Child Protective Services had been called... and she was taken out of her home.”

Bucky was silent, not knowing what to say. All he could remember was that night when he had seen you at the shelter and then the day you had told him about being abused by your parents. He hadn’t realized the extent of it all until now. He felt sick to his stomach just at the thought of how vile it all seemed. And the fact that you had come forward to donate a piece of your liver to the man who had ruined his own life as much as he did yours, he could not help but shed a few tears. “Fuck... she never told me... or any of us... about any of this.” He said as he sighed, still leaning back in his seat as he cried. “She may have mentioned bits and pieces of her past over the years but...”

“Because this is not something you tell everyone you meet, Buck.”

“You know, I’ve always wondered why she was so... closed off. When she first came to the hospital, she was this really determined... feisty... kick ass surgeon. All she ever cared about was work. She would study her ass off and when Steve or Nat would invite her over for drinks, she would turn them down. For someone who’s been through so much shit, Y/N was extremely focused with everything she did... excelled in surgery, had really good judgement... knew when to ask for help. Who would have known how much pain was behind all of that? Even I didn’t know how bad it had been for her.”

“You are right about that.” Becca sighed as she reached over to put her hand on her brother’s shoulder. “Y/N was a very... focused and determined sixteen year old who had clear judgement, knew that she was being abused and knew when to remove herself from that. She knew when to seek help. After she was taken out of her home, she  spent the next two years in the system. She didn’t move around a lot though. She was apparently very well behaved. She lived with a foster family in Philly until she was eighteen. She was not... looking for trouble, per say. Her foster mom said that she was a really good kid... traumatized but also... determined. She never skipped school, never missed her weekly therapy sessions, never went out with friends, always home and doing homework, stayed on top of her chores. She was a straight A student, it was even a surprise to her teachers... how much she was thriving once she left her parents. And then she was accepted to NYU for pre-med.”

Bucky’s lips curled into a small smile at the thought of how much you had thrived after leaving your hometown.

“She was in the system so she was eligible for funding but she also got a lot of scholarships because she had really good grades. She still worked three jobs while in school... an on campus job as an office assistant, a retail job... and a waitress at a diner in Lower Manhattan. She was on top of her class at NYU, valedictorian. She aced her MCATs, got into NYU Med and... she kept thriving. The Dean himself had written her a reference when she matched with the residency program at New York Presbyterian. The Chief of Surgery calls her a machine... always getting the job done, taking no shit from any of her competition. She was Chief Resident, top of her class again... chose heart surgery as her specialty. The Chief had been the one who recommended her to Steve. She just... she was an unstoppable force.” His sister told him. “She’s... a really amazing person, Buck.”

“I know.” He agreed. “She really... turned her life around after leaving her parents.”

“Speaking of her parents, I found something about them that you might find very... suspicious.” She told him as she handed him another file. “Her mom lost her job at the hotel a few months ago and they don’t have insurance. Seeing multiple doctors in Philly, being treated for liver disease... you know the numbers, Buck. They still have outstanding medical bills in Philly. I don’t think they could afford Brooklyn Hospital or a high profile surgeon like Natasha Romanoff. I don’t think Nat’s all about doing pro-bono either. I wonder how they’re going to pay for all of this because... I’m pretty sure a liver transplant is expensive as fuck.”

Bucky’ eyes grew wide as he looked down at the stack of outstanding hospital bills that Becca had just handed him. “Holy shit... they totally knew what they were doing, didn’t they? I fucking knew it wasn’t a coincidence! I fucking knew it!” While a part him was relieved that his suspicions had been right, he was still horrified by what he and his sister had just figured out. “They tracked her down...”

Wanda Maximoff had always been quite observant. She had a knack for noticing the smallest things, whether it was a slight change in her patients that needed to be noted down on their charts or the slight change of attitude in her friend Bucky’s attitude towards you that could only mean only one thing. But she had always noticed things.

Perhaps it was the way a sleep deprived Dr. Wilson had tried to flirt with Sharon Carter at the nurse’s desk that had distracted her. But Wanda had found herself in the midst of laughter when your mother had exited your father’s hospital room and made her way towards yours. She had been distracted from keeping a close eye on your room that she had failed to notice your mother enter your room, while you were alone and in pain. But most importantly, you had been wide awake.

Thankfully, Wanda had noticed your mother leaving your room swiftly and she had sprung to her feet. “Sam.” She had quickly alerted the doctor, who had also noticed your mother. Neither of them had any idea how long she had been in your room, not that it mattered really. But the moment she heard you shriek in pain and call out to her, Wanda knew that something was wrong.

Sam had sprinted down the hallway to your room as he heard you cry. “Y/N!”

“Sam...” You yelped in pain, in the midst of the never-ending tears, as you looked down at your side to see the crimson shade of your blood spreading across the hospital gown. “I jerked... and the steri strips... came off... the wound opened up, I can’t...” The pain medications had worn off completely, making you feel every bit of pain that you could have felt. “Fuck!”

This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; the words expressly are 'a pound of flesh.

[justkending]

Used to Be Overlooked. Chapter 22.

Summary: Steve Rogers was walking down the streets of Brooklyn after finishing a mission. The goal was just to take some time to clear his mind along the city streets, but when he runs into a gorgeous young lady that looks extremely familiar… How can he go about moving on? Who is she? What does he know her from? Was that memory even from this decade?

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader (Rosalyn Ember/ Y/N ?)

Word Count: 2500+

A/N: Sorry for the long wait! I had started on it a while ago, and never got around to finishing it. Here it is though, and I hope you enjoy!!!

Series Masterlist

Chapter 22:

“Uh, sir,” Edgar spoke up a little over 5 minutes into the transfusion. You were still knocked out cold basically, only awake enough to heard a few words here and there.

“What?” Garrison said harshly as he was laid back in the chair relaxed with his eyes closed.

“Security called. It looks like we’ve been breached,” Edgar said timidly.

Garrison opened one eye peeking over to his assistant. Frustration and annoyance clear in his face. 

“You’ve got to be kidding me. I have to do everything around here,” he huffed closing his eyes for a second before sitting up in his seat. 

“I’m sorry sir-”

“How much longer on the transfusion?”

“About 8 minutes,” Edgar said quickly calculating it all. 

“How long until we are swarmed?”

“I’m not sure. Security is doing the best they can, but it could be any minute considering-”

“Best they can? Best they can my ass. They might as well be sacks of potatoes guarding my door with the Avengers storming in,” Garrison huffed clicking things on the computer to see if he can quicken the process of the blood transfusion. He quickly changed the screen to the security footage seeing man after man being taken out from the sky, and others through the hallways. Captain America being one of the individuals doing the most harm. They were closing in and there wasn’t time to move. “Fuck. Of course every precaution we took was a bust. Why wouldn’t it be?” he groaned to himself. 

He turned over to you seeing you slumped on the table that was still at a diagonal and let out a long sigh. He turned back to Edgar with an eye that showed he had an idea and was switching to full boss mode.

“I have an plan.”

___

“Tony, what’s the update?” Steve yelled into his earpiece just as another person came around a corner, guns blazing, and quickly started throwing punches after. 

“Still not clear out here. Every time we think we have it clear, they pop up like ants,” Tony answered.

“It seems that they have reinforcements with other tactics, Captain. Different forms of guns that I haven't seen before are being used,” Vision cut in.

“I agree with Wonder boy,” Tony spoke up. “These are not any kinds of guns I’ve seen before, and I used to make them for a living.”

“What kind are we talking?” Steve grunted throwing another man away from him.

“Some weird form of energy is coming out. Almost like lasers. I feel like I’m in a Star Wars movie,” Tony laughed.

“I don’t-” Steve started.

“Don’t worry about it now. I’ll have Friday run a report. I got skimmed by one, and she can analyze the damage it did,” Tony briefed.

“Thanks Stark,” Steve said. 

“Rogers on your left!” Nat called in his ear from the security room. 

Quickly Steve pivoted in his spot catching Wanda take out a guy that was coming up behind him, and quickly making him fall hard and knock out instantly. The fight was still going. There was more men than they figured, and they weren’t letting up easy. 

“Barton? Romanoff? Any update on the room Y/N’s in?” Steve said catching his breath. 

“Still working on it. Looks like there are more cameras than shown. I need to hack into a few more frames before we find- Got it!” Clint shouted. “Room 241. Down the north hall. Take two rights, a left, and then it’s the fourth door on your right.”

“Thanks Barton,” Steve said turning and nodding to Wanda and Bucky to follow. 

“Looks like the shots they are firing with those guns are some form of stun guns. Small voltages, so it would take more to take someone like you out Cap, but us? It’ll feel like a really bad taser,” Tony cut in sharing his new information. “Now, I’m not saying you should volunteer to get hit, but if it happens let me know how it goes.”

Steve rolled his eyes at Tony’s bantered, but thanked him for the new information anyway. Just as they were taking the turn to the hallway where your room was, a new rush of guards appeared from almost every angle.

“Shit,” Bucky muttered turning to assess the new threat.

“Come on. Let’s go!” Steve said getting in stance for another fight. 

“No! We got it from here. You go get your girl!” Bucky said turning to his best friend.

“Not without-”

“Steve, go. We got this. We can handle a few dozen men,” Wanda said with a grin before turning and taking out a few.

“I’m not going to let you-”

“So help me God, Punk. Get your ass to that room before I kick it myself,” Bucky said through gritted teeth. “You’re girl needs you more than us right now.” 

Looking down that hall and back to the guards Wanda had started fighting on, Steve was hesitant. He saw that Bucky was right. 

“Don’t get killed,” Steve said running backwards and pointing at the two.

“Right back at you,” Bucky shouted before turning and knocking a guy out. “Get Y/N to safety! We got your back!”

Steve quickly turned and started sprinting to the door. Only a few new guards stepping in his way, but quickly taken down with his mindset on finding you.

As he approached the door and went to open it, he found it was bolted shout. He looked through a small window pane looking in seeing tons of equipment. It was a lab like you worked in. High tech and in use too. 

As he scanned over it all, he saw just out of the corner of the view you strapped to a metal table with your head hanging and your hair covering your face. You were still in the clothes he last saw you in, but without the jacket or the tank top. 

Anger bubbled in him and he took a few giant steps back before lifting his shield and running straight toward the door. A loud crash erupted as he efficiently busted down the metal double doors. He rolled out from where he fell and quickly got to his feet.

Where he would normally check the area before going further, his mind was only set on you. He rushed over to you and quickly lifted your head from it’s slumped position. 

“Y/N? Hey, Y/N/N. Come on now. Don’t do this,” he said brushing hair out of your face, and placing both hands on each of your cheeks to help steady your limp head. “Y/N, come on doll,” he coaxed hoping you would snap out of it. 

With the little energy you had, you slowly opened your eyes hearing the soft begging of a man. Through the blur, you noticed familiar piercing blue eyes staring you down. Your eyelids were heavy, but they opened and closed to try and deminish the blurriness. 

“St-Steve?” you mumbled not even sure if it got out.

“That’s it. It’s all right sweetheart. We’re going to get you out of here,” he said with a small smile before it fell looking around and down at your spot. “What the hell did they do to you?” he said scanning the wires, and cords attached to you. 

“Steve, you-you have to-” you gulped feeling the dryness in your throat. This was taking so much energy, but you had to warn him. “Get out. Go.” 

“Not without my girl,” he said with a sad smile brushing a thumb over your cheek. “We just need to get-”

“Steve!” you said looking behind him right where you were trying to warn him. The shout came out more in a normal voice compared to your mumble. 

Before he could fully turn around, a shot was taken. An outline of blue hit Steve, and he crumpled to the floor in pain. Grabbing at his abdomen that got hit while he turned, he grimaced through gritted his teeth. 

“Aw, Captain America,” Garrison’s voice came out from the dark in an evil tone. “So, you’re the guy that stole my girl?” 

He came out of the shadows, and Steve turned seeing the tall man. Steve was on the floor still not really fully able to get up after the shot of electricity that hit him hard. 

Garrison was holding a larger gun that was vibrating with energy. He turned it in his hand and examined it proudly. 

“Handy little thing, isn’t it? Made it myself,” he bragged. “Supposed to be used on bigger guys like you, but I’ll be honest. I thought you would be a lot bigger so this may take longer for you to come back from,” he said crouching to Steve’s level who was sending him daggers, but still not able to move. 

“So, Y/N? This is the guy that stole your heart?” He stood up walking to you who had finally got enough energy to hold up your own head. “Not impressed. You really downgraded,” he hummed pushing hair out of your face. You heard Steve grunt from the floor at the motion, and he slowly started to stand. “Oh, maybe you are a big guy. You recovered fast,” Garrison said in a cheeky manner. “At ease soldier. I didn’t call on you yet,” he smirked before shooting Steve once again making him fall hard and yell in pain. 

“Stop,” you groaned. 

“Stop what? Hurting him? Like you hurt me all those years?” Garrison said somehow turning this back to your relationship. 

“That’s not what happened Garrison-”

“Oh, the hell it’s not! You know what it felt like when you ran away? Huh?” he questioned, getting angrier with each word. “Like this,” he turned back to Steve who had made it to a kneeling position, and for a third time shot him in the stomach. 

Steve letting out another yell that made you ache for him. You wanted to take his place right then and there. 

“Garrison, don’t do this. You know this isn’t right. Look at everything,” you whispered a single tear making its way down your face. “This isn’t right.”

“You’re right. It was only going to be right with you by my side, but look what happened,” he said bitterly, and quickly walking back to you. “This is on you Y/N. All of it,” he said harshly grabbing your chin and making you meet his eye line. 

“Let her go!” Steve yelled once again trying to stand up. 

Garrison didn’t move and ignored him only holding you harder.  

“Now,” He turned to the computer and started administering the blue serum in you. It started flowing through your bloodstream in only milliseconds. “I found you. You’re mine again.” You could see the pain and possession overtake his eyes, and fear started creeping into you.

“Y/N-” Steve yelled now going to fully stand. 

“SIT DOWN!” Garrison yelled finally turning back to his competitor, but only to be stopped by the red wisp that were Wanda’s holding him steady. 

“Steve get her. I’ve got him,” Wanda instructed. 

“I’ve got him too.” Bucky said straight faced and walking toward Garrison, who was now stuck, with a look that could kill. 

You watched as they kept Garrison in place and closed your eyes in relief. 

“Y/N. Hey, stay with me,” Steve instructed limping over to you, and plucking the IV out of your arm as gently as possible cutting off the blue serum. “Y/N-”

“I’m ok. I’m ok,” you mumbled out feeling the amount of serum start to take over. Even if it was only in you for the little time right then, it was enough to knock you out again. “Steve-” and like that you were out cold. 

The last thing you remember was Steve unlatching the leather straps, and catching you carrying you bridal style as you went limp in his arms. 

_____ 

“Banner!” Steve yelled caring your body into the plane. Wanda and Bucky close behind with Garrison secured. Everyone else still in the field wrapping up loose ends, and capturing the last of the people on Garrisons team. “Banner!”

“Right here!” Banner shouted coming around a corner. “What happened?” he asked coming closer. 

“He injected something in her. I don’t know what,” Steve answered looking down at you scared that if he looked away you would disappear again. 

“Here, let’s get her on a bed,” Bruce instructed moving the group into the infirmary. 

“We’re going to put him in lock up. I’ll be right back,” Bucky called out walking with Wanda close, and Garrison in cuffs with a glare glued on his face. 

“Don’t take your eyes off the bastard. He’s going to pay for this,” Steve said his voice going cold as he stared at the enemy. “I’ll make sure of it.” 

They had a stare off until Steve turned to get you to help. He would handle the varmint later. All that mattered now was figuring out what was going on with you.

After placing you on the bed, Banner started drawing samples of blood, and running a few test. The nurses checked everything thing else, but Steve noticed the bruises on your cheeks and jaw from where he had grabbed you, and then the puncture wounds from the multiple needles he had injected you with. You should be healing shouldn’t you? Why weren’t you healing?

He called Tony and Sam telling them to go through the lab and grab the serum, and anything else that looked special. Banner and Stark could run test of those things later.

Banner came back in about 30 minutes later with papers in hand and his lab coat on. 

“What is it? What’s in her?” Steve said standing from the chair he hadn’t moved from to turn to Bruce. He placed a hand on yours not wanting to be far from you, and to also have a feeling of you to make sure you didn’t get away again. 

“Well, whatever was injected into her when you showed up wasn’t the first time,” Bruce said flipping through papers. “It looks like there is more in her blood than we suspected.”

“What do you mean?” Steve asked wanting the details.

“Well, from the looks of it, the serum that’s running through her is slowing her healing process. Immensely,” he paused coming closer and checking your vitals as he continued to talk. “Her white blood cells are still working faster than most, but not fast enough to clear a wound like normal.”

“How long will it last?”

“Not sure. Could be a few hours. A few days. All depends on how her body responds to it. We just started going over the serum Stark brought in, and I’m not sure how long it will take us to dissect it.”

Steve looked down to your still sleeping figure and squeezed your hand slightly. 

“How long ‘till she wakes up?”

“Probably an hour or so. Maybe a little longer.”

“Good. I’m going to interrogate the meat head that did this to her,” Steve grumbled picking up your hand kissing it, and gently putting it by your side again.

“Steve-”

“No. He has answers I need. He doesn’t get to do what he did to her, and walk away from it. Him sitting in that holding room is too nice for him,” Steve glared at Bruce as he walked to the door. 

“I understand, but just,” Bruce paused looking over at you and then back at Steve. “Don’t do anything too rash. I’m sure Y/N wants some answers too.”

Steve looked at you still seeing tension in you. He took a deep breath realizing he wasn’t the only one hurt from this. You deserved to talk to this ‘Garrison’ man too. So that means no beating him to a pulp before you can.

He let out a long deep breath before turning to Banner. 

“I got it.”

Chapter 23

Used to be Overlooked Tag:

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Other Tags:

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If I tagged you and you aren’t normally on my tag list, I thought you would enjoy the story. Fair warning, it is a slow burn so we will get to the bottom of the issue later, but the burn is what makes it soooooo sweet. I’m really excited for this series, and would love your feedback:) Thank you!

If you want removed let me know.

[akitokihojo]

16 & 70! The last one was so good! Is that one finished or will you write more? I hate cliffhangers!!!

So my inbox is full! Holy cow, guys! This is so exciting! I did not expect that!!!! I’m gonna get to these as soon as I possibly can, I promise!For now, keep in mind that I may answer them out of order. I PROMISE I will get to them all, though!

I’m using these prompts as a sequel to my last. I definitely didn’t expect the response I got… I also didn’t expect to actually write an ending to it, but I mean here we are!

Cliffhanger has been unhung.

@hinezumi @noviceotakus-blog @morikothehalfangel @cstorm86 @dyaz-stories

16. “I never meant to hurt you.”

70. “This is why I fell in love with you.”

It had been a week. The silence was agonizing. Torturous. Kagome had given him the sign he asked for; she’d done her best to let him know that her decision was out of her control. Now she needed a sign that he actually understood. The grey area she was absorbed in was like a hand constantly wrapped around her throat but never squeezing; taunting her.

She was tired of hearing that it would get easier as time passed, tired of hearing that everything would be okay. Each day that came and went made everything all the more difficult. Kagome was growing restless. She tried keeping herself as busy as possible, attempting to focus on whatever schoolwork she could, cooking, cleaning, pacing, but it never prevented her mind from wandering to Inuyasha.

Inuyasha.

The look on his face was burned into her eyelids, reminding her each time she blinked how destroyed he was. She hated sleeping, only managing to stay down for forty-five minutes at a time, pace the room a little to shake the feeling away, then lay back down again. Wash, rinse, repeat. There was no way she could jump through the well and make sure everything was fine with the very large possibility Naraku’s newest incarnation would immediately know, and she wouldn’t take any chances of jeopardizing her friends’ lives.

Kagome had to trust Inuyasha. Whether he knew what she meant or not, the incarnation was bound to expose himself eventually. Naraku was arrogant, therefore every single duplicate he made of himself had a trace of that quality. The demon would reveal his plan and Inuyasha would destroy the thing right then and there.

She would just have to trust him.

Kagome sat on the edge of her bed, her alarm clock showing 12:08am, bringing her into the eighth day on her side of the well. Her leg bobbed up and down, slower than the antsy habit normally bounced, weighed down by exhaustion. The logical side of her knew she did what she had to do. This new incarnation of Naraku’s was dangerous and terrifying, and he’d made his threat loud and clear. Even if Inuyasha never came for her, even if her returning to her world was indefinite, it was for the greater good. Naraku would lose, which meant every side of him would lose. Miroku would have his life back, Sango would save her brother and have a happy future, Shippo would grow up to become a strong fox demon, and Inuyasha would be alive.

She didn’t care about how heavy her heart was behind her ribcage, or that she felt sick to her stomach from the amount of anxiety coursing through her system. She didn’t care an ounce about her own feelings right now. Kagome couldn’t rid herself of the destroyed expression Inuyasha gave her at the tail end of their conversation. She couldn’t forget the noise he made in protest, or how sad his eyes looked, or the way his lips opened to say something more as she jumped through the pit of the well.

He was hurt, and she caused that. It was her fault.

Kagome pushed herself to her feet, pulling a light sweater over her shoulders and quietly slipped from her bedroom, heading down the stairs. Her house was quiet; everyone was asleep. She knew she should have been following their example, but she couldn’t stop thinking. Her mind was beginning to jump from thought-to-thought at an uncomfortable speed, consequently spiking her adrenaline, needing to move before she crumpled and cried until riddled with a migraine. Fresh air would do her better than sleep would right now.

The front door creaked as she opened and slid it shut, hoping the sound wouldn’t wake her mother. The last thing she wanted was to be hounded with questions about her well-being. Stepping further into the crisp, night air, Kagome looked up to the sky, the moon disappearing behind fast-moving, broken clouds. It was cooler than normal, the season beginning it’s change from summer to autumn, and she brought her cardigan to wrap tighter around her waist as she began her routine walk around the house, crossing her arms around her trunk in the process.

She only usually went for three turns around the two-story home, settling for the calmness it had brought her mind and headed in, but tonight she kept going, enjoying the haze her thoughts became muddled in. Kagome knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep if she went back to her room now, so there was no harm in continuing on. A slow sliding sound caught her attention, and she turned around, expecting to see one of her family members that had caught onto her absence turn the corner and call her back inside. When she saw no one, she continued walking, figuring it was just a heavy breeze that tricked her ears.

Inuyasha stood outside the well house, Kagome’s beautiful scent instantly reaching his sensitive nose. It brought him an immediate feeling of relief. He was so fucking close to her, his fingers trembled with unabashed anticipation. Their separation had lasted longer than he had intended it too, overestimating his abilities to track the fucker down and kill him, and he was more than eager to rectify the situation.

He sniffed the air, bathing in the homey scent of the woman he cared for more than anything, allowing it to calm every overstimulated sense of his. He ran over to the spot below her window, preparing to launch himself up to the small platform he could balance on when his instincts froze him where he stood. It was like a hundred-pound weight had suddenly dropped in the pit of his stomach, catching him off guard and sinking him into the ground. He turned around, the patting of soft footsteps approaching around the dark corner of the house. Kagome turned the corner, her eyes aimed at the ground in front of her as she walked, arms clutching the other across her torso. His abdomen muscles tensed in response to seeing her after what felt like too long, his body opening up to the reception on its own accord as she glanced up at him and stopped in her tracks.

Kagome’s jaw hung slightly agape, her chest tightening to hardly allow any breath to seep in or out of her mouth. He was here. Inuyasha was here. He was standing in front of her, prepared to spring into her room and wake her up had she been asleep. He was here. Here. He’d come for her. She couldn’t stop her bottom lip from trembling at the sight of him, or the loud and deep sob that left her throat, or her feet from racing over as she closed the awful distance that continued to separate them. Kagome crashed into his chest, his strong body embracing the impact and hardly faltering, clinging to his familiar, thick, red robe and gasping in the woodsy scent of him.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She cried, her voice coming out as a feeble whisper. Her fingers gripped the front of his robes as tight as they could, not wanted to let him go.

“Kagome…” Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her, feeling her body quake against him. He didn’t expect her to unravel like this, and it quickly tore him to shreds.

“Please tell me you got my hint.”

“Of course I-” Inuyasha stopped, realizing how difficult this must have been on Kagome’s end. She gave him what he’d asked for, but she had no idea if it was properly received. She’d been sitting on her side of the time gap without a clue, blind to his perception, hoping for the best but contemplating the possibility that he wouldn’t come. A rush of guilt washed over him, forming a thick and painful lump in the center of his throat. He cupped the curve of her jaw and tilted her head back to look at him, tears pooling in her sunken eyes and staining her cheeks. “Kagome, I got it. I heard you, okay? I’m sorry it took so long to come get you, but Naraku’s newest incarnation was a bitch to find.”

“But you found him?”

“Yeah, we found him. Why didn’t you just tell me, Kagome? I would have protected you! Why didn’t you trust me?” He kept his hold on her jaw, his thumb stroking away the tears that continued to fall.

“It wasn’t me I was worried about!”

“I’m strongest when we’re together, Kagome! When will you get that? He separated us for a reason! He knew everyone’s weaknesses and he may have held that over your head in some way or another, but he also knew you were mine!”

“He knew your human nights!”

“That doesn’t mean shit to me in comparison! I never want you to do that again, got it? If somebody threatens you, I need to know immediately! Nobody should have the power to take you away from me! Nobody!”

“I never meant to hurt you!” Kagome cried, pulling out of his grip and hiding her face in his haori, her arms firmly wrapped around his waist. “I couldn’t take the chance! I didn’t mean to hurt you, I’m so sorry!”

Inuyasha ran his fingers through her long, dark hair, resting his chin on top of her head, willing her cries to steady and her trembling muscles to relax. The salt from her tears burned his nose, but he welcomed it. He welcomed everything he could get from Kagome right now. A week without her beyond his will was too fucking long, and the harsh scent only reminded him that she was there with him again. She could cry as long as she needed to. She could continue to run her hands along his back, and grip at his fire rat, and sigh, and hiccup as long as she needed to and he would bask in the fact that it meant they were back together again.

“I didn’t mean anything I said.” Kagome mentioned as her body began to calm, backing out of the hanyou’s arms, but not far enough that they were unable to touch each other in someway or another. “You know that right?”

“Yeah, I know.” He assured, pushing a strand of unruly hair behind her ear. “As much as I hated the way things played out, you were brave to do it. I don’t think I would have been able to if the roles were reversed. God, Kagome, this is why I fell in love with you. I never want to be faced with the chance that I may actually lose you again. Even when I knew it wasn’t real, it still hurt so goddamn much.”

“I didn’t mean-”

“No, I know! I know! That’s just it, though. You’re strong in the ways I’m not. You get things done in ways I never could.”

“That doesn’t matter.” She said, shaking her head.

“Yes, it does. It means everything. You mean everything.”

“Inuyasha… it’s over now, right?”

“Yeah. It’s over” He pressed his forehead to hers, inhaling her calming scent and threading his fingers through her thick waves. “We don’t have to be apart anymore.”

[otterbagel]

A Dutiful Partnership- Gavin x Reader (Part 1)

[Part 2 Link]

   Reader is one of the first androids to get a degree outside of their original purpose. While they experience the struggles of working in a non-accepting environment, they must also solve a mysterious case involving an android murder with their not-so-willing partner, Gavin Reed.

   Reader takes on their first case and meets their new partner.

(Notes: I have really no clue how police stuff works, but oh well. This was originally going to be a single part, but I just kept writing and writing and writing; I’m almost done with part 3 and I just came up with it two days ago. Gavin’s pretty ooc and I apologize. I didn’t want him to be too brutal with the reader, as I plan on showing other issues they’d face.)

Warnings: Cursing, depictions of death, bullying, threats, mentions of hate crimes, generally uncomfortable topics! (please be careful reading)

  You stared straight ahead out of the car's windshield, trying to ignore the angry tics of your new partner. The streets were lined with humans and androids going about their daily business, many avoiding the afternoon showers with umbrellas.

  "Didn't Fowler say you were an AP700 model?" You turned quickly to his remark. He hadn't spoken to you since you'd met him earlier in the day.

  "Yes," you responded simply. "I-"

  "Tch. Isn't that like... a housekeeping model or something?" He drove with one hand, the other laying against the side window.

  "Yes." 

  "Alright, alright. I can understand the specialized models being there, but why are they letting fucking housemaids go to crime scenes now?" You dipped your eyes downwards at the beratement. He let out an exaggerated laugh. "What are you supposed to do, tidy the house?"

  This wasn't unusual treatment. It was quite difficult to land this job, but you met all the requirements for it. A lot of places turned you down for your original functionalities, even though you hadn't even used them. 

  You looked at him before turning forward. "I have the same qualifications as you, Mr. Reed," you smiled to yourself, taking note of his disheveled appearance. "I just so happen to be a functional person as well."

  "What's that supposed to mean?" he barked, placing both hands on the wheel.   "Whatever you think it means, Detective."

  "Don't get snarky with me, a lot of people still would love a chance to take one of you plastic fucks down. Including me." You gave him a smile, trying to hide the unease that was running through your circuits. 

  Neither of you said anything on the rest of the way there. As much as you wanted to be friendly, you knew it would likely just aggravate him more. 

  You were truly an outsider to your own people. You hadn't experienced the struggles of the androids under slavery or during the revolution. You hadn't lived a life without deviancy. You've never been expected to do something on command.

  However, the stigmas of an android working in a field they weren't specialized in was something you were well acquainted with.

  You had expected humans to question your abilities, but what was surprising was how some androids were against you. Obviously, many were happy for your decision. You were one of the first androids to actually get a degree in a field you weren't built for; you were a reminder of the growing equality between humans and androids. But, those few saying your efforts were pointless and unneeded stuck out to you.

  You took note of the crime scene as you drove past, Gavin mumbling about the press outside. It was a small house, one of the newer ones made specially for android occupants, similar to your own. The door was wide open as Ben Collins hovered by the entrance. You bounced forward as your driver slammed the breaks with a swear. 

  "Isn't it just a broken android? Why is the press here?" Gavin mumbled, throwing the car door open. You followed close behind him as he pushed past the onlookers. 

  "Is it true that the victim is an android?"

  "What was the killer's motive?"

  You ignored the microphones placed in your face as you passed the police tape, trying to keep up with Gavin's overly quick pace. "Hey, Gav!" greeted Ben as they both headed through the doorway. You choked back your embarrassment as you entered the house alone. 

  "So what's the deal here?"

  "Uh, a friend of the owner came by earlier today. She let herself in and, low and behold, her friend was smashed to pieces."

  "Where's it at?"

  "Kitchen. Over there." Ben pointed down a small hallway. You saw what appeared to be the crushed shards of an arm. You scanned the room, seeing another android on the staircase. Must be the witness.

  You crouched to her level, her meeting your eyes with a solemn smile. "Hello," you introduced yourself. "What's your name?"

  "Melissa." she stated. Her hand tensed up as she bit her lip. "I... Is she repairable? Is she going to be okay?"

  You ran through what little information you had already stored. "I'm not sure. I just arrived."

  Melissa sighed a quivering breath, closing her eyes at the floor.

  You took in your surroundings again, noticing a few framed pictures of people you couldn't identify. Aside from that, the house was mostly barren. Quite minimalistic, in your opinion. She didn't seem to have anything particularly valuable. You could also hear the two in the kitchen discussing the victim. You brought your attention back to the witness. "What happened?"

  She tapped her fingers on the staircase. "Claire and I were going to watch a movie tonight," she sighed. "Normally I just walk in if she knows I'm coming over. So I did... but when I came in she was just... there. On the ground, in pieces."  

  You quickly ran through the possibility that she was responsible. You couldn't identify a clear motive. "Was her thirium still visible?"

  She nodded slightly. "Some of it was. I didn't stay very long before I called the cops," Her eyes took on a watery shine. "I'm sorry, I was so scared, I-"

  "No, you acted appropriately. You've been a great help. Thank you." She gave you a slow nod. You quickly rose to head down the hallway, Collins smiling as he passed you. 

  She must've arrived shortly after the incident; thirium evaporated quickly. She was lucky she wasn't harmed as well.

  Gavin was leaning against a wall, gazing apathetically at the android on the ground. She was a black-haired AX400. As you had seen earlier, her arm had been ripped off at the socket and smashed. Her torso had been rummaged through, although it seemed without much purpose or reasoning. You crouched to get a better look.

  "Noticing anything odd, Toaster?" Looking over your shoulder, you saw a smirking Gavin eyeing you with a raised brow. 

  You returned your focus to the girl in front of you. "Yes, actually. I don't think she died from her biocomponents getting smashed."

  "Doesn't really matter, does it? Someone came in, broke an android, and now the perp's gone." He walked beside you, inspecting the body halfheartedly. "I don't see them making this big of a mess without leaving some fingerprints behind. Why don't you check?"

  You looked over the body while lightly shaking your head in frustration. "I can't do that. It's not in my program."

  "Are you kidding me?" he laughed. "I thought you'd at least be good for that."

  As much as the comment got under your skin, you chose to focus on the investigation. "The witness said the thirium was still visible, but that there wasn't a lot. If the victim was still running when this-" You gestured to the biocomponents. "-happened, it would've covered the whole floor."

  "Listen," his voice took on a hushed whisper. "everyone knows this was a hate crime. A lot of people are just gonna look the other way."

  Uncertainty and helplessness started to take hold in your abdomen. You glared at him, unexpectedly finding an empathetic expression directed at the victim. "I don't think a hate crime would've been done so carefully," You placed your exposed fingertips on the android's temple. "When I think of those, I think of rage. And rage isn't easily controlled."

  "Tch." Gavin responded. "What are you doing?"

  "I'm seeing why she shut down," you responded. An influx of error messages flooded your system, all coming from mostly one source. You pulled your hand back with a jolt.

  "Well?" 

  Your mouth was slightly agape, trying to process what you'd just seen. "I... she shut down from losing too much thirium," 

  "What's so odd about that?"

  You stood up. "Well, it had to go somewhere."

  Gavin nodded. "So, you're saying someone killed her for her thirium?"

  You took in a breath. "Yes."

  "Well shit," Gavin sighed, pulling out his phone. "This might be a problem."  

[clownsgobeepbeep]

“What in God’s name are you doing down there, [name]? Hiding Bodies?

So, this might be…gorey

And it takes placing during a possible future-future since ya know, some of my characters don’t belong in certain timelines uwu

And of course, there’s a slight change in the line

Anger was everything that boiled through his veins.

Basil was angry, disappointed, furious.

Of course, it was not apparent on his expression, but it was very apparent in the way he gripped onto a wrench, turning nuts and bolts on a piece of machinery he had been working on.

“Please…you don’t have to do this…”

Basil ignored the voice behind him, soon slamming down his wrench which made the person jump in their chair, clearly yet startled. However, this was also due to the fear dripping as sweat across their forehead and down their face.

“I…I…I had nothing to do with it!”

The boy proceeded to turn his head slightly, then reaching out to grab a different tool. It was a pair of rusted pliers, dried blood on them. Basil turned and walked towards the person who was tightly bound into their chair, their eyes widening as they saw what was in his hand.

“No! No! Not again!”

He roughly grabbed their jaw, nails digging deep into their face and drawing out more blood. The person shut their lips, attempting to shake away Basil’s hand before his fingers, still holding their face, pried open their mouth after so much struggle.  Blood was drooled out as Basil reached the pliers inside, gripping onto one of the teeth still attached as others had gone missing hours prior.

The person attempted to choke out a no, instead screaming as tears poured down after Basil yanked out a tooth, discarding it onto the ground as more blood pooled in the person’s mouth before dripping out.

Basil turned and walk back to his station, picking up his wrench once again to continue turning what he had to.

“Please…I’ll, I’ll…whatever you want…please….” the person begged, watching as Basil now walked towards them with a new piece of machinery, holding it in place next to the chair. “God…I…I didn’t mean it!”

Looking up from the heavy item, Basil glanced at the person who coughed out the blood still running due to the lack of teeth.

“I…I was paid a lot…I had…I had to do it…”

That was no doubt the wrong answer, for Basil soon attached the piece to the chair which was rather large. He unbuckled the restraints that held down the person’s arm on the armrest, and they took the chance to take a swing at Basil. However, the boy was obviously faster, catching their hand and slamming it down onto the new piece before stabbing their palm with a screwdriver.

The person screamed, choking out new sobs as Basil added new restraints, metal bars keeping the person’s left arm in place, just as had happened to their right arm previously. They shut their eyes as the restraints pressed against their arm, feeling very tight. Once opening their eyes again, they saw as Basil pulled a lever on the side, making their chair go back so that they were now laying down, looking up at the bright light above them.

“What are you doing to me? What the fuck are you doing to me you psychotic bastard!?” they yelled at Basil who somehow now had his pliers, reaching into their mouth to pull another tooth. In fact, Basil decided to pull out two this time.

Ignoring the next scream, Basil slammed the person’s head down onto the metal chair, now restraining their neck and forehead. He walked around the large display, admiring his work. Even the lower part of it where the person’s legs had looked completely crimson with some black and purple, for there were large spike dug into each leg as well as their abdomen. The abdomen part however, now that one only had spikes dug into the left side.

“Look, k-kid! I know you’re angry, you’re whole family is!B-but! I can make it up to you! I swear! I-I’ll give you all the money I got!”

Basil once again ignored the person, scanning the tub that lay beneath the chair, specifically under the lowers parts.

“Your mom, she-she didn’t die, right!?”

Basil stood up, looking at the person from the opposite end of their head.

“And the baby! I-I didn’t know there was a baby!”

Basil walked around the chair again, going over to a stool he had placed right by it as a radio sat on it. His fingers trailed on the buttons, eventually coming to the ‘play’ button. However, before Basil was able to press it, he heard a door open.

“Basil? Basil what are you doing down there?”

The sound of heels clicked through the room which was in fact a basement, one where Basil could be left alone. Especially to deal with his anger.

“What in the star’s name are you doing down there, Basil? Hiding bodies?”The boy turned to the stairway as heels came into view, eventually presenting a woman who held her nose. “Basil, it reeks in here and-”

There was the sound of a gasp as Basil’s victim shook in place, trying to look at the woman who watched.

“Please! Help me!”

“Basil!” shouted the woman who approached him, her eyes scanning the machine he had built up that entire day. “What would your mother say about this!?”

Basil stared at the woman who took hold of his shirt.

“You stained your new shirt! You’re gonna have to go get a change of clothes for the get together sweetheart.” she shook her head, looking over the blood splattered on the shirt. “That’s alright, I’ll help you once you’re done with this.”

“W-What!?” the person trapped exclaimed, now glancing up as the woman’s face hovered above theirs. “You! You! He’s trying to k-kill me!”

“Oh hush, I doubt he’s trying to kill you.” she rolled her eyes while ruffling Basil’s hair. “I’m pretty sure he’s just playing around.”

“Playing around!?”

“Basil, let me hear your clip.” she motioned the boy to move on, Basil nodding and pressing play as the radio began playing its recording with a raspy voice, though it was not Basil’s.

“Hello Lucas. I want to play a game. Right now as you can see and feel, you’re trapped in my basement. It took a while getting you here for reasons that shall not be named for they have no importance. However, what is of importance is what happened to my mother days prior to this meeting you are now in. You are a low life with no future for you let it slip out of your hands, instead allowing a knife to fall into it.”

“No! No! I didn’t do it!”

“That knife may or may not have been the one plunged into my mother’s left side, though there is no doubt that my weapons are the ones plunged into yours. You may not have been the one who acted upon her, but you contributed to it.”

“No! No! No!”

“Along the way not only did you fail in terminating my mother, but you nearly succeeded just as you did so with the baby that had been growing in her. Had you nor your accomplices acted, had none of you suffered like she and how you are about to suffer.”

“Please! No!”

“As you can feel, your left side has an amount of six rods plunged in, the number of times a knife was plunged into the innocent shopkeeper. Six stabs that let her blood pour out as yours fills the tub beneath you. Three pints of blood for three pints of blood.”

“Nooo!”

“To both survive and leave this basement to freedom, you must remove these rods as well as the ones on your legs. However, games with a twist are rather fun, wouldn’t you think?”

“Fuck no! No! Get me out!”

“Due to the stabbing my mother experienced, the child in her is now out before his due time. He is weak yet surviving, unlike you. Yet, his life will no doubt be a difficult one, for the wounds on the womb caused him to lose a limb. And so, before he grows and lives life, you will experience what he will have to for as long as he lives. Your arms are each restrained onto segments, each that will move in sync towards your back. You must choose which arm to save by pulling the strings on your fingers. Once five strings on a single hand have been pulled, your opposing arm with be broken in an instant whilst the other no longer moves backwards with your fingers on the strings breaking as well, hence leaving you with a single arm like the baby you helped harm. With this single arm, you will tear out every rod and make your escape. If both your arms break and you do not make your escape in time, more rods will impale the rest of your body from beneath your chair.All this you must do in under three minutes. Live or die, make your choice.”

“No! No! Fuck! Stop this! No!” the person cried out, watching as Basil pulled another lever, a large timer beeping as it started it. His eyes watched as the person screamed, gears turning as their arms started to slowly move backwards before a hand was placed onto his shoulder. He turned around, still hearing screams and pleads as well as bones cracking, looking at the woman before him as she gave him a smile.

“I am so proud to call you my grandson.”

Maybe…there wasn’t that much anger in Basil now, especially as he felt his grandmother place a kiss on his forehead, both then turning to watch the person in amusement. 

[drizzyoneshots]

Drake Short: Undercover Part Nine

Drake

I felt very uneasy being in this house knowing there was a chance someone had an eye on me. I just knew there was something off about the way Chris had been keeping his eye on me and Marshall, listening in on our conversation. He had no reason to do that, I didn't like the idea of someone creeping around. I suddenly wondered about every other conversation I’d had in this house and whether he had been listening in on those too. I wondered if that was how these people always seemed to know our next move. I didn't say anything to Marshall when I noticed Chris. I didn't want to worry him if it ended up being nothing. I didn't want to make him question someone he trusted if there was no need to. No reason to start something where there might not be anything. I questioned if he would even believe me when I first brought it up. Chris had been around a lot longer than I had. I knew Marshall trusted me but I wasn't sure if he would be willing to believe me if I didn’t have more to offer him than a suspicion. But deep down I know something about this just wasn't right.

“Baby, are you okay,” Miracle asked as she stepped into my bathroom. I looked at her in the mirror, noticing I was just standing there with the towel around my waist after I had gotten out of the shower. I had hoped taking a shower would help me to relax a little and try to think clearly about what was going on but really I just got even more stuck in my own head than I was before.

“I’m alright babe,” I assured her. I wanted to tell her the truth. I really wanted to be done with all the lying. I thought once I was finally done with the FBI that I would be able to be totally honest with her from that point on. But I also didn't want to scare her. I didn't want her to worry. I never wanted her to feel unsafe here in her own home. This was the only place she really felt like nothing could touch her. The man who had broke in had already taken some of that. I wasn't willing to take the rest of it. I wanted her to keep what was left of her peace of mind. But I needed to keep her safe.

“Drake...I can't tell you're in your head about something. Please. Talk to me,” She begged as she reached out and touched my back. I felt the familiar tug of guilt in stomach again. I really thought I had been done with that feeling. Maybe there would always be something for me to feel guilty about.

“I’m just trying to figure out who could ever want to hurt someone as good as you,” I said quietly as I looked at her reflection in the mirror. To an extent, that was true. Even if it was Chris, he wasn't who we thought he was, that much was obvious. Clearly he was working for someone else, someone who didn't have our best interests in mind. I felt even more uneasy when I thought about the fact that he and I weren't as different as I would have liked. I did the exact same thing I was right here judging him for doing. I had worked right under Marshall’s nose collecting information for someone who's entire goal was to take him down. Sure the motive was different. I had come in here thinking I was doing the greater good, I came to the Watts’ house thinking I was helping to take a horrible man off the street and save lives. I wondered if Chris or whoever was behind this thought they were doing the right thing too. I wondered if he thought this was what was best. Because I knew first hand that sometimes you don't always know what’s best. We all have our own morals and our own motives, I wondered if he thought he was right too. I felt my skin crawl at the thought of me and Chris being anything alike. I tried to think about the ways we weren't alike. I never would've let someone who was innocent get hurt. Even when I was still one hundred percent into my investigation of Marshall, I never would have let his daughter get hurt as collateral damage. Even before my crush on her. That just wasn't something I did. Innocent people didn't deserve to be hurt. But I found myself thinking about the emotional ways I was willing to hurt her. I never would have harmed a hair on her head but I came here fully prepared to take the one piece of family she had left and make sure she had to look at him across a metal table in a prison visitation room for the rest of his life. I sucked in a deep breath, telling myself I was different back then. I had a distorted view of how things really were, I thought everything was so fucking black and white. I thought people were either good or they were bad. But now I knew better. Men like Marshall, and even me, we straddled the line of right and wrong. We did the best we could to be decent men to those who deserved us but we would fight to death to protect the people we loved. I looked at the woman I loved more than anything on this Earth as she studied my face in the mirror. I saw how worried she looked, how concerned she was about whatever was running through my mind right now. I watched as her eyes dropped to my naked torso, at first I felt a surge of male pride at her checking out my toned stomach but then I realized what she was looking at. She was staring at the wound on my stomach that was finally beginning to heal. She was staring at the spot where I had taken a bullet for her. I saw a flash of guilt in her eyes and I immediately got out of my own head, I needed to make her feel better now. She needed me to reassure her.

“Hey,” I called out quietly. She raised her eyebrows at me. I could tell she was waiting for me to say something.

“I’d do it again, a thousand times if I had to. You know that, right,” I asked. She shook her head at me.

“I don't think I can watch that happen a thousand more times. I thought...I thought you were gone Drake,” She said, her voice cracking like she was about to cry. Neither of us had talked in too much detail about what had happened that day. I didn't want to upset her or make her relive it but I knew I needed to say something. I turned around so I was finally face to face with her instead of just looking at her in the mirror.

“Baby you know I love you, you know I want to stay with you for a long, long time. I swear I do. But if I died protecting you, I would have zero regrets. No matter what happens or when, if something ever happens to me while I’m trying to keep you safe, then I don’t want you to ever feel an ounce of guilt about that,” I said, looking straight into her eyes so she knew I was serious. I knew we still weren’t in the clear with all this shit and there was always a chance things could go wrong again. I never wanted her to blame herself if something happened to me.

“I just...I’ve let myself dream up all these things for us and I couldn’t stand the idea that you might not be here to do them with me. I don't want to do this with anyone else. It’s you, Drake. It’s always going to be you,” She said as tears started dripping down her face. I held her face in my hands and wiped her tears away with my thumbs.

“I’m right here Miracle. They didn't take me from you. I’m right here,” I reminded her. She held my hands on her face, just like she had did when I was laying on her bed, falling into a deep sleep from the gushing wound in my stomach.

“I just want to be done with all this. I want all this to be over so we can move on and really live our life,” She said through her tears. I noticed the way she said “life” instead of “lives”, like we both were living the same life now. I smiled a little at that, even though she probably didn't even notice she said it.

“I’m gonna do everything I can to put an end to this as soon as possible. Everything is gonna be back to normal before you know it baby,” I assured her I shifted on my feet uncomfortably, trying to find a way to stand where the slowly healing wound in my abdomen didn't hurt. I hadn't stood for more than a few minutes since before I got shot, but the doctor said that would take time.

“You should sit down, come on,” Miracle said, noticing how uncomfortable I was. I didn't bother fighting her this time, I just let her take me by the hand and lead me to the bed. I sat down gently, wincing slightly at my torso moved. I positioned myself so I was sitting up with my back against the headboard.

“Come here,” I whispered, motioning for her to get in bed with me. She crawled onto the bed, and honestly I had some very, very, dirty thoughts cross my mind as she did. If it weren't for the pain in my torso, I could have showed her just how much I really did love her. But I knew that would probably just lead to me popping my stitches open and neither of us needed that. I didn't want to have to be so cautious the first time I was with her, I wanted to show her that I was the only man she was ever going to need ever again. So I would have to wait. Miracle curled up into my side, laying her head on my chest. I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her as close to me as possible and rubbing her lower back gently.

“So you wanna have my babies, huh,” I asked with a smirk, thinking back to what she had told me that day I was shot. She told me about wanting to marry me, wanting to carry my children. I had been thinking of that when I slipped away. I had thought about a little boy with her eyes and my smile. Or a little girl who had the same attitude that Miracle had, one that would make me roll my eyes and smile at the same time. I thought about standing at the end of the aisle while her father walked her to me, dressed all in white. I thought about promising in front of God and everyone that I would love her every single second of the rest of my life, and meaning it more than I had ever meant anything. I thought about her meeting my mother for the first time. I wasn't sure how that was going to go, considering my mom knew all about my FBI career. But still, I hadn't focused on that, I had focused on the fact that I knew my mother would adore her. Miracle was every single thing she told me I should look for in a woman and then some. I knew she would love her the second she saw how much I did.

“Of course I do. I mean, if you want those things too,” She said, suddenly sounding a little self conscious like maybe she wasn't sure. I laughed quietly.

“You think there’s a shot in hell that I don’t,” I asked. There was no way she didn't see how much I loved her, how much I wanted her to be my last everything.

“I think you do. I know you said you did when you got shot but sometimes people get carried away in the heat of the moment. There’s nothing wrong if you’re not sure just yet. Most people don't decide someone is the person they're meant to be with this soon,” She rambled quickly, like she was trying to get the words out as fast as she could. She had never questioned where I stood on our relationship before, she never seemed to wonder if I was all in or not. I couldn’t figure out why she was now.

“You're right, sometimes people get caught up in the moment. Some people might say something they normally wouldn't when they think they might die. I’m sure some men would tell you that you were everything to them even if you weren’t, because they were scared and wanted to feel that connection one last time. But I’m not most men. I never want you to question anything I ever tell you about how I feel about you ever again, I mean it Miracle. I don't care if I’m laying on my death bed, you're everything baby. It’s you. It’s always going to be you. I wouldn't have said those things if I didn't mean them. I meant them long before some dickhead shot me in the stomach. If you want me to marry you right now to prove it, just say the word,” I said, not an ounce of joking in my voice. I would have married her right then and there if she decided she wanted that. I would have done anything on Earth for her. She smiled at me, her chin now resting on my chest while she looked up at me.

“Is that a proposal,” She asked with a small laugh. I raised an eyebrow at her.

“Do you want it to be,” I asked, wanting her to see that I was dead serious.

“My dream wedding doesn't involve my husband with a bandaged up bullet wound. So I guess we’ll just have to wait,” She said, still smiling up at me. I felt the warmth spread throughout my chest. This was the first time she had referred to me as her husband in any sense. It was a word I could get used to, a word I wanted to get used to. I picked up her hand and brought it to my lips, kissing her ring finger gently. I made a mental note to put a ring on that finger as soon as I could. Maybe it was fast but fuck, she clearly was it for me. I had left a job that had been my whole life before her, because I couldn’t stand the idea of lying to her any more or potentially hurting her. I had given up my whole life basically, and I would do it a million more times for her. I was never the kind of guy who was like this with women, I never lost myself in the relationship. I never let a relationship define me. But this from the jump had felt like so much more than anything I had ever known. This was the woman I was meant to spend forever with.

...

“Drake? Is something on your mind,” Marshall asked as we sat in his office. He had brought me in here to talk about new security enhancements he wanted to make to his property, but I felt myself getting distracted. I felt like I had to keep Chris in my sights these days, subtly of course. Now that I was finally mostly healed up, I was able to leave the confines of my bedroom and be around a little more. But I still couldn’t make it obvious that I was keeping an eye out for him. I didn't want to tip him off before I had anything to actually prove what I thought. But I noticed that he seemed a little off lately, like he was watching his back because he was paranoid about something. He was looking over his shoulder, literally.

“Nah, I’m good,” I said with a nod. He looked me directly in the eye for a second before he spoke.

“Do you think I got to where I am by not being able to tell when someone’s got something else going on in their head,” He asked. I sighed deeply, knowing he was right. That’s why I had always been so nervous about him finding out about me and Miracle when we first got together, he could read almost anyone like a fucking book. It was almost freaky. Which is why I was so surprised that Chris might actually be successfully keeping something from him. I shook myself from the thought, not trying to get ahead of myself. I had to remember that Chris might actually have done nothing wrong. He could have something else going on that was causing him to act a little off, I didn't know that guy’s life.

“It’s nothing. I’ve just been really in my own head trying to figure all this stuff out,” I said with a shrug, feeding him the same lie I had fed his daughter a few days before. I just wasn't ready to tell anyone about Chris, not until I knew for sure. He nodded.

“I know the feeling, but we’re gonna do this. You were right, we can figure this out. We just have to find the missing piece, there’s got to be something that we haven't thought of yet,” He said, his eyebrows furrowing together while he was deep in thought. His phone rang and I stood up, taking that as my cue to leave. He nodded to me as I left the room. I stepped into the hallway, closing the door behind me as I did. I felt my whole body tense when I saw Chris hurrying around the corner away from the office. I followed him, officially sick of whatever the hell was going on. This was twice now that I had caught Chris listening to a conversation he had no business being involved him. I caught up to him in the living room, where he was sitting trying to act like I hadn't just seen him in the hallway.

“What the hell is your deal,” I asked, trying not to lose my patience with him.

“What are you talking about man,” He asked.

“I’ve seen you creeping around here listening in on me and Marshall talking more than once. With everything going on lately, you can see why I might be a little suspicious for me,” I said, trying to keep my voice low so neither him or Miracle heard me. I didn't want to worry them, not yet.

“You really think I’m the one who's a rat? Out of everyone here? I’ve been around a hell of a lot longer than you Drake,” He said as he stood up from his seat. I could tell he was getting defensive about this whole thing.

“Don’t play like I’m a rat. We both know that's bullshit,” I said through my clenched jaw. The whole rat thing was proving to be a very touchy subject for me but I knew that I was more loyal to the Watts family now than any of these people ever had been.

“You wanna sit all high and mighty now, running around as Marshall’s right hand man all of the sudden even though everyone else has been watching his back a lot longer than you have. But all of the sudden who you are, acting like the son he never had and why? Because you took a bullet for Miracle all because you're sticking your dick in her,” He asked. I felt my hands ball into fists.

“Watch your fucking mouth when you talk about her,” I warned him, sucking in a deep breath to try and control my temper. It wouldn't bother me a bit to beat the fuck out of this guy simply because he had tried to downplay my feelings for Miracle but I tried to remind myself that nothing was gonna get solved by that. He just chuckled and shook his head at me.

“Always trying to play Captain Save A Hoe, it’s incredible,” He said, still laughing. That’s when I really lost it. I lunged at him, sending my fist to his face. I don't think he really expected me to get mad enough to hit him, I normally had a lot more control than that. But the second he started talking about Miracle my rage was a ticking time bomb. Within a few seconds I had him on the ground under me and we were both sending fists flying. I felt a hand on my shoulder, pulling me back.

“Drake stop,” Marshall ordered me as he pulled me off Chris and pushed me across the room so we were separated. I saw Miracle standing at the bottom of the stairs looking confused.

“What the hell is going on,” Miracle asked as she walked further into the room, making her way towards me.

“Ask your boy, he's the one who just came at me out of nowhere,” Chris said as he got up off the floor and wiped the blood from his nose on his sleeve. I opened my mouth to defend myself but Marshall spoke over me.

“I heard exactly what you said before he hit you so don’t you fucking dare,” He said as he stood between me and Chris.

“Sir, I...” Chris tried to explain himself but Marshall wasn't having any of that.

“Get out,” He ordered. Chris looked surprised and Miracle had the same look on her face.

“What,” He stuttered out.

“If you want to talk about my daughter, or someone who was willing to take two bullets for her like that, you can go. I don’t care how long you’ve been around, Chris. Time does not measure someone’s loyalty. Clearly,” He said sternly. I smiled slightly. But I wasn’t prepared for what happened next.

“Loyalty? You want to talk about loyalty? You think Drake is everyone’s fucking hero but I bet you didn’t know he used to be an FBI agent and that’s the whole reason he came here,” He said before he turned and headed out of the room, and towards the front door. I saw the look of horror on both Marshall and Miracle’s faces. Oh fuck. This was bad.

[four-loose-screws]

Fire Emblem 5 Umemura Novelization Translation - Chapter 7 Part 3

If you would like to start from the beginning, read a missed part, etc., click here!

Pre-3DS FE Translations - FE Awakening Translations - FE Fates Translations - Original FE Support Conversations - Ko-fi

Leif’s army marched onward without incident. Not even one imperial scout party appeared as they continued further and further north towards Leonster.

Two days had passed, and now, a large mountain appeared before them. Two roads followed alongside the mountain, one going east, and the other, west.

“Which one should we take?” Leif turned around and asked Dorias.

“We should take the one traveling west. From there, we can head north, along the coastline, to Leonster.”

“What are you planning, to suggest we take that route?” August cut himself into the conversation. He seemed dissatisfied with the plan.

Dorias looked at August, surprised. “Do you disagree, Lord August?”

“Of course! If we travel along the northern coastline, we’ll have to break through Nordion Castle!”

“I am aware of that.”

“That would be insane! Are you suggesting we attack the imperial troops defending Leonster head on!?”

“We are fighting to free Northern Thracia. It is not enough that we simply win our battles. We must claim victory with pride, and be the hope of the people.”

“Ha, what nonsense.” August snorted.

“Excuse me!?”

“Do you seriously think that the people care whether or not we are so chivalrous? Pure foolishness. We cannot allow this liberation army to lose! It is the hope of these hopeless people! We need to win, even if it means retreating from difficult battles. I think we should travel east through Melfiye Forest, and attack the castle from the behind.”

“We cannot use such disgraceful tactics!”

“Disgraceful? I’m only suggesting the most likely way to win.” August laughed out loud.

Dorias started grinding his teeth. “Do you even have any idea what kind of place Melfiye Forest is!?”

“Of course I do.”

“And yet you still want to lead us down that path? You’re the insane one, to suggest such a plan!”

“Well, what other option do we have?”

“Like I said, we should be able to pass through Nordion Castle, and travel north!”

“And do you have any idea how many enemies we’d have to face to get that far!?”

Dorias didn’t open his mouth to respond, but glared at August.

“Enough already!” Leif yelled without thinking.

Dorias and August both looked at him in unison.

“That was… not very professional of us.” August frowned and scratched his beard.

Dorias also looked embarrassed, but only for a second before putting on a serious face and looking at Leif. “You’re the one who needs to lead us north and through our battles. What is your decision?”

“Uh, um…” Leif nodded and looked around at everyone.

They were all silently waiting for what he would say next.

Leif repeated to himself everything that Dorias and August had said. He contemplated the pros and cons of each road.

“Ah!” Karin cried out, snapping Leif out of his thoughts.

“What’s wrong, Karin!?”

“Th-There’s a village halfway up the mountain!”

“That’s it? Why are you surprised about that?” Fergus took his hand off his sword and let out a huge sigh.

“It’s not just that! The village is being attacked by bandits! What should we do!?”

“Why didn’t you say so sooner, you dummy? Lemme on!” Fergus started running towards Hermes.

“Okay! Let’s go!”

“Jeez…” He jumped on Hermes’ back and flew off to the mountain with Karin.

“Dean! Eda!” Leif called out to the two dragon riders.

“Yes sir! We’ll fly ahead and try to defend the village until the rest of you arrive!” Dean answered and pulled his lance out of its sheath on his saddle.

“Actually, I want you to carry us to the village.”

“What are you saying?!”

“It’s the fastest way to get as many of us to the village as possible. Please!”

“…Yes sir.” Dean nodded and landed his dragon in front of Leif.

Leif jumped on.

Mareeta mounted Eda’s dragon.

*

The moment Leif landed in the village and stepped on the ground, he froze where he stood.

A single female paladin was fighting the bandits. She had blonde hair and wore magnificent armor that was very out of place in such a small village.

She sliced open a bandit’s chest.

Blood spurted from the wound and he fell over.

Leif snapped out of his surprise when he heard Mareeta unsheathe her sword.

A second bandit ran past the female paladin and at Leif. He swung his axe.

Leif’s response was too slow. He couldn’t unsheathe his sword in time. He fell on his back.

The axe whizzed past his head. A few strands of his hair fluttered in the wind and landed on the ground.

The bandit stared down at him.

Suddenly, the bandit’s eyes widened, then rolled in back in his head. He fell to the ground.

Mareeta appeared from behind Leif. “Are you alright, Lord Leif?” she asked and helped him up.

“Thanks for saving me.” He took her hand.

A black figure appeared in of the corner of his eye. He pulled Mareeta’s hand harder than he needed to as he stood up.

“Eek!” The two switched places, with Mareeta now being the one who was lying on the ground.

Leif stood straight up, took a step forward, and unsheathed his sword.

He sliced open the next bandit’s stomach, who then crashed forward from the force of running over to attack him.

“Sorry. You okay?” Leif turned around and offered a hand to Mareeta.

“Y-Yeah. Thanks for saving me.” Mareeta grabbed his hand, but was still a little out of it.

Leif helped her up and said, “Let’s go!”

The two ran off towards the rest of the bandits.

*

When Leif attacked a bandit, the female paladin turned around and looked at him in surprise. “W-Who are you!?”

“Your backup! We’ll talk more later!”

“O-Okay.” She nodded slowly and turned her head back towards the village.

Karin, Dean, and Eda continued bringing the rest of Leif’s army to the village.

Now, just about everyone had arrived.

“…Looks like I can leave the rest to you.”

“Huh?”

“I’m sorry, but there’s somewhere that I must return to. Take care!”

“Uh, um, okay.” Leif nodded, half reflexively, half intentionally.

The female paladin smiled. “Thank you! Please protect the village!” she said, and galloped off.

She cut down the several bandits that were in her way, then headed deeper into the mountain.

Leif watched her leave, frozen in shock. However, he quickly snapped out of his daze, as the bandits gave him no time to keep his guard down.

A bandit swung his sword down.

Leif blocked it with his own sword.

Only a moment later, an axe came flying horizontally through the air towards his right side.

He lowered his sword and jumped back, but the axe still sliced his abdomen open. Blood spurted from the wound.

He winced in pain and rolled across the ground.

The two bandits joined up and started walking towards Leif, preparing to attack him again.

They caught up to him before he could get back up.

He put all the strength he had into his grip on his sword, and tried to stand up. Blood trickled down from his wound.

There was no way he could recover in time.

The bandits raised their weapons.

Leif took a deep breath.

Two arrows flew through the air, and pierced each bandit in the arm. They bent over and dropped their weapons.

Dean’s dragon, carrying both Dean and Selfina, landed in front of Leif.

Dean followed up Selfina’s attack and stabbed the bandits.

The force sent them flying. They rolled across the ground, leaving trails of blood behind them.

“Are you alright, Lord Leif?!” Selfina dismounted from the dragon and helped Leif up.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He stood up while clutching his bleeding side.

“You’re bleeding! Someone heal Lord Leif!”

“It’s fine, I can do it myself!” He pushed Selfina back, grabbed the Light Brand, and closed his eyes.

Light enveloped his body, and healed his wound.

*

The sounds of battle cries and weapons clashing finally stopped.

It appeared that all of the bandits had been defeated.

Leif let out a huge sigh of relief and sheathed his sword.

“Thank you for saving the village.” A priest appeared from the church and bowed deeply.

“You don’t need to thank us. It’s more important to us to see that the village wasn’t harmed.”

“I insist. We’re safe only because you came here. We might not be able to do much, but please, let us do something for you. You can rest here for as long as you’d like.”

“We appreciate the sentiment, but we need to hurry along.”

“You’re in a hurry? …Where are you headed?”

“Um.” Leif looked back at Dorias for a moment. “We’re going through Melfiye Forest, towards Leonster.”

“What?!” Dorias gasped at Leif’s words.

“I’m sorry, Dorias. But we can’t afford to lose. We need to retake Leonster, no matter what it takes. That’s why.”

“…I understand. I will stand by your decision.” Dorias answered with a deep bow.

“Thanks, Dorias.” Leif responded, and turned back to the priest. “If you’ll excuse us, we’ll be going there now.”

The priest stared at him in surprise. “You’re going to Leonster? Are you, by any chance, Prince Leif?”

“Y-yeah.”

“It’s really you! Word of you and your liberation army has even traveled to this village. We’ll pray that the fortunes of war will be with you.”

“Thank you. We’ll be leaving now.” But the moment he turned around, he saw the area where they had fought the bandits, and a question popped into his head. “By the way, who was that paladin?”

“Who?” The priest cocked his head.

“There was a woman fighting the bandits before we showed up.”

“Oh, her?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know much. She simply asked us if we could hide some children.”

“Children?”

“Yes. She had taken them from a castle that was collecting them for the child hunts. She probably came here because there’s no way that the imperial soldiers would come all the way out to a village like this.”

“I see…” Leif nodded and recalled all the he knew about her. She not only protected a village from bandits, but was also against the child hunts. And she was a skilled fighter. He wondered if she would join them.

“Why, did something happen to her?”

“Oh, no, I was just wondering. We’ll be leaving now.” Leif smiled and bowed.

“May Blaggi guide you on your journey.” The priest closed his eyes and bowed back.

The priest and the villagers watched Leif’s army as they left the mountain.

[reylohno]

A reluctant compromise

Pairing: Rey/Kylo Ren : Ben Solo  Rating: E  Summary: His thumb stroked the sensitive skin under her jaw, tracing her racing pulse. She forced herself to hold still, to repress the emotions his touch ignited. She liked to pretend that this was just another type of battle between them, as impersonal as a lightsaber duel or a shouting contest, because the truth was considerably harder to deal with. Force bond smut. Read on Ao3

Rey hurled herself into the Falcon right before the door closed. She lay panting on the floor for a moment before forcing herself back up on her feet. Her limbs were heavy, and her entire body ached. None of her injuries were of the life-threatening kind, but she could already tell she was going to have the body language of a frail old lady for a couple weeks.

Chewie made a concerned noise from the cockpit.

“I’m okay,” she shouted. “Let’s get out of here before the First Order figures out what happened.”

When the engines started humming, she was already staggering toward her cabin. Her blood still boiled with fury. If it hadn’t been for her, thousands of civilians would have died today. Because of a rumor of a rebel base, the First Order had blown up an entire underground city, trapping its citizens hundreds of feet below the planet’s uninhabitable surface. The Resistance hadn’t been able to stop the attack, but by placing herself in the city’s center and pushing upwards with all her might, Rey had been able to postpone the collapse long enough to finish the evacuation. She was the last one to leave—and the only one who hadn’t already fled the area when the city imploded.

After entering her cabin, she rummaged through her drawers, fishing out bandages, pain killers, and a set of clothes that weren’t covered in ash and blood. She was just about to head into the ‘fresher when an all-too familiar presence took shape in the corner of her eye. With his broad shoulders and unreasonable height, the dark figure immediately made the room feel cramped.

“What were you thinking?” he asked quietly, his voice vibrating with rage. His fists were clenched, and the intensity in his eyes would have made a wiser woman run for the hills.

“What were you thinking?” she countered, her rage sharpening every word. “Hundreds of thousands of civilians would have been dead right now if your plans hadn’t been stopped. They would have been dead because of you, you murderous swine!”

“General Hux has been given the order to find the Resistance. He’s allowed to execute it the way he sees fit—with one exception.” He took a step closer. “You.”

“Oh, no, you don’t get to do that,” she said, raising her voice. “Don’t make this about me. This is about you and—”

“If I hadn’t called off the third wave of TIE bombers, you would have been dead right now,” he interrupted. “I saw it. Your body, buried under tons of dirt on an abandoned planet, leaving the last remnants of the Jedi legacy to rot. A useless sacrifice for a useless cause.”

She raised her chin and forced herself not to take a step back as he closed in on her. “It was worth the risk.”

“You don’t get to make that decision.” His fists trembled. His body was like a rubber band stretched to its limits, tensed up and ready to snap. “You don’t get to throw your life away as if it means nothing.”

“Is that an order?” She snorted. “You have no power here, Supreme Leader Kylo Ren.”

Her back slammed into the wall—her wall, his wall, she had no idea—so hard it nearly knocked the air out of her lungs. Gloved fingers encircled her neck, tilting her head back. The pressure against her throat was light, barely even noticeable, but his grip was as unyielding as a collar of steel. The gesture wasn’t meant to injure—it was meant to control.

A wiser woman would have feared this man. Rey didn’t. She stood tall, meeting his furious gaze without blinking. She wasn’t like his subjects in the First Order. He couldn’t frighten her into submission, no matter how much he tried.

But that didn’t mean he didn’t affect her in different ways.

His thumb stroked the sensitive skin under her jaw, tracing her racing pulse. She forced herself to hold still, to repress the emotions his touch ignited. She liked to pretend that this was just another type of battle between them, as impersonal as a lightsaber duel or a shouting contest, because the truth was considerably harder to deal with.

“You don’t get to disappear on me.” His voice was soft, but every word was tainted with red-hot anger. “I won’t let you.”

A quick glance at her lips was all the warning she got. His lips crashed into hers. It was a kiss born out of fear and rage, as smothering as it was passionate—not a gesture of affection, but a demonstration of power and control.

When she kissed him back, she gave as good as she got. She ran her hands over his broad chest before grabbing his shirt, pulling him closer. He groaned softly, and she hungrily swallowed the sound. The pressure against her throat increased slightly, forcing her up on her tiptoes. She answered by biting down hard on his lip. He hissed in pain and released her neck, burying his hand in her hair instead. His free arm circled her waist and held her tightly, eliminating the distance between them completely. Her anger transformed into scorching heat. Her body pulsated with need—and so did his, judging by the hardness pressed against her stomach. The mere thought of it made her tremble.

He noticed, of course. He always did. His lips formed a smug little grin. She swiftly wiped the expression off his face by shifting her hips ever so slightly, causing him to hiss sharply and dig his fingers deep into her hip. She smirked. He wasn’t the only one who knew how to play this game.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to be. She knew that. Supreme Leader Kylo Ren was a power-hungry, unredeemable monster, despised by the entire galaxy—including a major part of the First Order, if rumors were true. Unstable. Impulsive. Broken. A man beyond saving. Yet she still kept ending up like this, trapped in his arms, needing him more than she’d ever needed another person.

Just like he needed her.

He tugged at her hair and forced her chin up, baring her throat. His lips traced her pulse just like his thumb did earlier, trailing harsh kisses down her neck. Her knees threatened to buckle when his teeth grazed her skin. The bastard knew exactly how to make her bones melt. She buried her fingers in his shirt, focusing on remembering how to breathe.

The fog in her mind cleared up a little when she felt a familiar sting where his lips met her skin.

“Watch it,” she hissed. “People will notice.”

“Let them,” he murmured before latching on to her skin again right above her collarbone. She didn’t need a mirror to tell that the mark would still be visible in the morning.

“You…” She groaned in frustration. “You’re horrible.”

“I am.”

There was no shame in his voice. No regret. Just calm, casual, infuriating acceptance. And even though he made her blood boil with anger, she still didn’t stop him when he pushed her sleeveless jacket down her shoulders. If he stopped now, she wasn’t sure what she’d do. The fire within her had to be dealt with, or she was going to explode.

He’d won that round, but the game was far from over.

Moving him with physical strength was like moving a mountain, so she placed her hands on his chest and summoned the Force to push him a step back. She ripped his ridiculous cape off his back and proceeded to peel his clothes off, layer by layer. It was fascinating, really, how even his sense of fashion managed to tick her off. Just freeing his upper body took way more time and effort than she’d ever spent on an outfit of her own. In the end, he tore off the last layer himself. He never seemed to turn down an opportunity to lose his shirt, and she could understand why. His torso was a work of art.

The width of his shoulders had to be twice the size of hers, and his upper arms were bigger than her thighs. He was so damn huge, and hell, she loved it. In his eyes burned the untamable, uncontrollable flame that had brought an entire galaxy to its knees—still restrained, but on the verge of breaking free. His self-control was wavering. He was an explosion waiting to happen.  

She ran her hands down his chest, tracing his scars. No matter how many times she touched him like this, she always found a new one. He had countless of them. Burn marks, blaster wounds, badly healed scrapes—and a deep cut from a lightsaber. Her fingers followed the path her weapon once drew on him.

He trembled.  

Heat pooled in the pit of her stomach. She made him like this. He was probably the most powerful being in the galaxy, and there he was, falling apart beneath her fingertips.

Her hands slid lower down his abdomen.

“Rey…”  

She palmed him through his pants and ignited the explosion.

The scene shifted. She was suddenly no longer in her cabin but in a room with a glass floor and dark steel furniture with smooth black surfaces. His living quarters on his ship. Before she could even blink, he’d picked her up and placed her on the tall conference table in the middle of the room. With a quick wave, files and piles of paper flew across the room, clearing the surface. He kissed her hard before ripping her tunic apart.

“Hey—”

“If you just had some self-perseverance, this wouldn’t be a problem.” He tore her boots off her feet and threw them away. In the distance, she heard one of them knock something to the floor back in her own cabin. “You’re off limits. The First Order knows it. The entire galaxy knows it. There’s not a single soldier or bounty hunter out there who doesn’t know what would happen if they hurt you. And yet you still manage to nearly kill yourself.”

His eyes fell on a large bruise that was forming on her sternum. His face hardened. “The entire galaxy knows you’re mine. No one’s allowed to do you harm.” He pressed his lips against her chest, his hot breath dancing against the bruise. “No one. And that includes you.”

She wanted to argue, to crush his delusions about his claim on her, but her brain refused to form intelligible sentences. In mere seconds, he managed to rid her of all her dusty, blood-stained clothes—the wraps on her arms being the only exception. For some reason he always left them on.

She shivered. The table’s surface was cold against her bare skin. Her blood rushed to her cheeks as she realized that she was already wet enough to leave stains.

“Rey.” He exhaled her name like prayer as he his eyes roamed over her naked body. Her nipples pebbled under his gaze. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her again with the desperation of a starving man.  

“You don’t get to disappear on me,” he whispered. “You don’t get to leave me here all alone.”

She swallowed hard and forced herself to remember how to speak. “Then stop slaughtering civilians.”

A pained expression briefly swept over his face. “You naïve little fool.”

He grabbed her thighs and pulled her hips toward him. Her elbows slammed into the table. Without breaking eye contact, he slowly went down on his knees. He spread her legs and hooked them over his shoulders, exposing her completely. She closed her eyes, her cheeks burning. She never got used to him looking at her like this.

“Come to me,” he murmured. “I’ll be good to you. You know I will.”

“It’s not enough. Being good to just me is not enough.”

His lips twitched. “We’ll see.”

His fingers dug into her hips, and then his mouth was on her. Her back arched, and a loud gasp escaped her lips. In the beginning, he’d been nervous and fumbling when he went down on her, but that insecurity was long gone now. He played her body like an instrument, and he knew exactly how to make her sing.

She’d never been with anyone else, but she suspected that if she ever were, she’d be gravely disappointed.

His tongue circled her, over and over, always with the perfect pressure and pace. Her gasps turned into desperate moans.

Almost there.

She lay back on the table and buried her hands in his soft hair. Her thighs clenched around his head.

Almost.

He stopped. The bastard just stopped. He released her legs stood up. The pressure from her thighs had caused his ears to turn red. If he turned around, she knew there would be two heel-shaped bruises on his shoulder blades. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Am I being good to you, Rey?” he said softly.

She clenched her jaw, her body trembling as it yearned for release. Damn him for doing this. Damn him.

He slid a hand under her back and pulled her up until she was once again sitting upright. Limp as a ragdoll, she let him maneuver her as he pleased. He pressed her against him and rolled his hips.

“Well? Am I?”

The pulsating need within her was growing intense enough to hurt. She swallowed her pride and nodded.

“Say it.”

Damn him. Damn him to hell.

“Yes,” she breathed. “So good.”

A shudder ran through him, and his hips jerked against hers. His restraint was clearly wearing thin, too.

“Tell me you won’t do that again.” He brushed a strand of hair from her face and cradled her cheek in his hand. “Tell me you won’t put yourself in danger for them.”

“Do you want me to lie?”

He pressed his forehead against hers. “No. I don’t want that.” He paused for a moment. “Then tell me you’ll try. At least give me that. Tell me you’ll try to stay safe.”

She considered it. All things considered, it wasn’t an unreasonable request.

“Fine. I’ll try. Now would you please just do something?”

She didn’t have to ask him twice. Moments later, his pants were gone, and he finally, finally, entered her. They groaned in tandem. The euphoria of becoming one spread through their bond. It was a rush she’d never experienced anywhere but in this strange in-between place she shared with him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him as he began to move. He grabbed her hips and held her still as he pounded into her, harder and harder until she couldn’t really do anything but hang on and enjoy the ride. And enjoy it she did.

The veil between their minds grew thinner. Images from his mind crashed into hers. For a moment, she could see herself through his eyes—her head thrown back in pleasure, her back arched, her breasts pressing against his chest—and she could feel his burning need to claim her, just to make sure no one else got to see her like this. He wanted this side of her to be his, and his alone.

She couldn’t exactly judge him. She didn’t want anyone else to see him like this either. This Ben belonged to her.

The heat grew even faster within her this time, picking up where it left off minutes earlier. She dug her heels into his back, probably leaving even more bruises, but she didn’t care. She just wanted more. More, more, more.

“Ben,” she moaned. “Be—”

One of his hand found its way to where their bodies met, and with a precise flick of his thumb, he pushed her over the edge. The heat was suddenly everywhere all at once. She cried out as the waves of pleasure spread through her body, pulsating through her veins like liquid wildfire. The high was incomparable to anything she’d ever experienced before she met him. They were two parts of a whole, becoming one in the most primal way possible. The satisfaction the union caused was out of this world.

Seconds later, her euphoria was joined by his. With a groan, he spilled himself inside her. Her head lulled against his shoulder. She was out of breath and out of stamina, and she had a hard time holding on to the anger that started all this. She hated him, probably, but she couldn’t quite remember why.

He pulled out of her and gently ran his fingers through her messy hair. He looked as disheveled as she felt. After quickly pulling up his pants, he scooped her up with ease. The scene changed, and they were suddenly back in her cabin. He put her down on her small, uncomfortable bed and then proceeded to lie down next to her. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, tucking her head in beneath his chin. She hesitantly adjusted herself until she’d found a comfortable position. Cuddling wasn’t generally a part of their routine, but his need for intimacy was so severe she couldn’t bring herself to throw him out.

She’d scared him today. Genuinely scared him. He’d lost his father, his uncle, his master—and now, he was facing the fact that he might one day lose her too.

He was way too large for her bed—for her entire cabin, really—but it didn’t seem to bother him. He absently combed her hair with his fingers and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. His thumb drew circles on her hip. The contrast between this man and the one ruling the First Order was jarring. She had a hard time understanding how a violent warlord, infamous for having the most explosive temperament in the galaxy, could be so unbelievably gentle.

She took a deep breath, inhaling his scent. Her tense muscles relaxed. No one infuriated her like he did, but nothing calmed her down like being near him either. He made her feel safe. She blamed the bond. It had to be the bond.

There and then, it was hard to pretend that what had transpired between them was just an ordinary, impersonal battle, but she’d probably come up with some unconvincing excuse later. Fooling herself was, after all, way easier than facing the truth.

“I…” He cleared his throat. “I’ll try too.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Try what?”

“I’ll try to make the First Order stop slaughtering civilians.”

She let out a short laugh. “That’s a start.”