Tumgik
#if I wasn't head over heels in love with the art in the first place.
bluef00t · 4 months
Note
Do you have any comic recommendations for stories about pulpy-like heroes in fantastical adventures, a la Atomic Robo or Hellboy?
Those ARE my two big recs, which makes this difficult! Golden age pulp's unpredictable spikes of bigotry makes it hard to suggest to strangers as light reading, while modern pulp pastiches can feel overly self-conscious or just hollow to me (while continuing to import all the same old xenophobia.)
With those critiques in mind, though, I can name some more names.
Tom Strong is a 1999 creation by Alan Moore(!) It's not entirely free of... Moore-isms, but it's deeply sincere: no cruel twist awaits his science-action family or their casually fantastical alt-history.
Tintin is still translated and reprinted worldwide for a reason. IMO you won't find a more solid combo of research, jokes, action, and artwork in any other genuine vintage comic series. However, being written in the 30s-60s does show around the edges.
The Spirit, by comics legend Will Eisner, also dates back to the 40s. Post-Eisner, his legacy still pushes creators to get fun and experimental with format and storytelling. The role of racial caricature in the series history is a little harder to work around.
2000s Agents of Atlas is a team of '50s Timely/Marvel heroes. I have frustrations with its yellow peril "deconstruction" but do love the lineup: a secret agent, talking gorilla, Atlantean princess, Greek goddess, humanoid alien, and killer robot walk into a bar...
The Rocketeer is a popular throwback to the 30s that I find too mired in cardboard nostalgia to reach its full potential, but it's had some genuinely fun installments (and a movie!) so it's worth a look.
Sam & Max are mostly known for the point and click games, but they started out as comics parodying pulp adventure and I love their relentless cheesiness so I'm putting them here.
I also, as always, suggest exploring Franco-Belgian comics. (I think Spirou & Fantasio has decent English translations these days). The tone and formatting will be different; I tend to prefer BDs' longer "episode" length, higher density of physical comedy and puns, and more everyman characters.
And I'm always on the lookout for graphic novels which seem cool. Bone (which is honestly a very European series, stylistically), Bad Island, and Rapunzel's Revenge (+ sequel Calamity Jack) are some favorite one-off fantastical adventures I've picked up at my local library. Mostly from the kids or teens section.
13 notes · View notes
argentisbeloved · 3 months
Text
Diluc, Dainsleif & Dan Heng as vampires
Tumblr media
pairings: diluc, dainsleif & dan heng x gender neutral reader
cws: biting and blood drinking, some swearing, them burning in the sunlight, slight suggestiveness in dain’s part (not rlly it’s barely even one moan)
tags: them as vampires, hurt/comfort, modern au (dan heng), kissing, dan heng’s part is dialogue heavy
notes: diluc’s part is also inspired by an art the lovely @/mmmairon as well as a drabble by @/hiraya_rawr. also also i wanna say that dan heng has more of a modern au type of thing going for him, so just keep that in mind!
word count: 3911
Tumblr media
DILUC RAGNVINDR: (1340 words)
•Diluc was turned during a near death experience in Snezhnaya. A passing vampire spotted his body bleeding out on the ground and decided the only way to save him was by turning him.
•Though, Diluc would've rather died on that night.
•After he was turned, and he experienced his first craving for blood, he went on a rampage that he'd quickly come to regret afterwards.
•Out of guilt of realising what he's done, he exiled himself into solitude. Opting to not go back home ever again in case he'd hurt someone in Mondstadt if he did go back. He resided in an abandoned manor that he'd fixed up over a century or two.
•Instead of drinking human blood, he drank animal blood instead. Though he'd never drink enough from them to fatally wound the animal.
•Meaning for a very long time, he'd been suppressing his cravings for human blood.
•And when you came into the picture, it wasn't pretty for him.
•You'd knocked on his door one late night seeking for shelter from a storm that was starting to form. While the logical side of his brain screamed at him to not let you stay, he inevitably let you inside for the night.
•He brewed you a cup of tea, and let you stay in one of the spare rooms. By morning, and after you left, he expected that to be the last time he'd ever see a human for another century or so.
•He was proved wrong when you showed up at his doorstep again late into the afternoon with some food to thank him for letting you stay the night.
•After this, you ended up visiting him more and more. You quickly noticed how he wouldn't answer a lot during the day, but you just assumed he was busy working (in reality, he refused to open the door to not get burned by the sunlight).
•Because of your frequent visits, you ended up befriending Diluc.
•And before he knew it, Diluc was falling completely head over heels for you, to his dismay.
•The thought of loving you terrified him greatly. He was a vampire and you were a human for goodness' sake! It could never work between you two! The thought of losing himself because of you, your scent, and your blood made him so scared. He didn't want to harm you, or worse, he didn't want to accidentally lose control and kill you.
•So, in hopes to drive you away; he decides to reveal himself to you. To reveal the monster he is to you.
A letter from Diluc had you walking to his manor in the middle of a warm spring day, something you wouldn't usually do. You figured that he had a day off from work today and that he wanted to spend it with you. The last part of that thought making your heart throb in your chest.
You soon approached the door to his manor, knocking gently on the door three times. It didn't take long before the dark oak doors opened to let you inside. You entered casually as Diluc held open the door for you, closing and locking it once you had fully entered his estate.
He led you over to the sitting room, placing a pre-made cup of tea in front of you, to which you quickly accepted and drank out of. The two of you conversed together for a little while, with everything being light hearted and fine, as it usually was.
That was until Diluc suddenly questioned you;
"How do you feel about me?"
His question caught you by surprise, your eyes widening and a small blush starting to coat your cheeks. You laugh awkwardly, trying to calm yourself down from how his question startled you.
You open your mouth, planning to say "You're a good friend of mine!" And while that isn't a lie, a friend isn't something only you want to be to him, you want to be something more.
"Please, tell me the truth."
His words catch you off guard for the second time in such a small period. You choke down your words and take a deep breath, before reluctantly saying your true feelings to him.
"I... I'm in love with you, Diluc."
In that moment, the light hearted air in the room had quickly dissipated. With the way Diluc's eyes widened with what looked like disbelief, shock and also fear?
"N-No... no... you can't love me, you shouldn't love me...!"
He says, his voice breaking midway through his declaration.
"Why not?"
You respond. You're nothing but confused right now, you've never seen him like this before. Diluc was a calm and rational man to you, so you'd never seen him like this before.
"Because!”
He shouts, standing up from the couch forcefully. He turns away from you, walking towards the tightly covered window.
"I'm nothing but a monster! You should love someone better than me!"
"Diluc, why are you talking about..!?"
Almost as if to answer your question, he pulls the curtains apart, the tight bindings on them tearing from his abnormal strength. The sun pours into the already dimly lit room.
Diluc winces, resisting the urge to cover his face. He groans in pain and turns around to face you.
Your heart drops at the sight of him. The way his pale skin now glows and crackles from the sunlight, burning his skin.
"He's burning, he's in pain!"
You quickly leap from your seat, pulling the blanket that was draped onto the couch with you. You throw the blanket over his head, shielding him from the sun's piercing light.
Diluc's eyes widen with shock as you pull him away from the window and pull the curtains back to block the sunlight.
You look afraid and worried, as you frantically pace around the room looking for something that's unknown to him. After a few minutes of you tearing through his cabinets, you finally find what you're looking for
A roll of bandages.
You desperately cover the skin that's been burnt with the bandages. Diluc takes note of how heavy you're breathing, how you're almost hyperventilating.
Once you've covered the burns on his face, you search the other uncovered parts of his body for any more injuries. And Diluc finally hears your voice breaking the uncomfortable silence that had formed.
"Why the fuck would you do that...!?"
You try to sound angry, but your voice immediately shakes and falters, turning your tone of voice into a more desperate one.
Diluc begins to feel guilty, hearing the pain in your voice hurts him more than those burns did.
You raise your head to look at him in the eyes, opening your mouth to spit more words at him.
"Why would you hurt yourself like this...!?!?"
You choke on those words, tears beginning to fall down your cheeks at a rapid pace. The sight of you so distraught makes Diluc's barely beating heart ache immensely.
"I..."
Diluc struggles to get what he wants to say out.
"I didn't want to love you, in case I'd hurt you..."
He looks away from you, too ashamed to keep eye contact.
"Do you not see how much this hurts me though!?"
You reply, gritting your teeth.
"I don't care that you're not a human like me! I still love you, and nothing is going to change that!!"
More tears fall down your cheeks, some even hitting and sliding down his own face.
Diluc hesitantly reaches a hand up, pressing his gloved hand against the back of your head and pushing it forward so that your forehead rests against his.
"I'm sorry."
He apologises, being finally able to look you in the eyes again. He's sincere in his words.
You sniffle, closing your eyes and placing your hands on his shoulders. You don't respond to his apology, but he can tell that you've already forgiven him.
Diluc smiles and closes his eyes too, not deciding to start any more conversations, and leaving the two of you to calm in silence.
DAINSLEIF: (1424 words)
•When Khaenri'ah fell, Dainsleif was cursed with both immortality and vampirism. The immortality came with becoming a vampire.
•So he decided to travel Teyvat alone, so as to not let anyone know about his inhumanity.
•At first, Dainsleif struggled with being a vampire. He could only be on the move when the sun was down, but it wasn't like he could get very far with how sluggish he was from repressing his blood cravings.
•Eventually, he managed to figure things out. Every once in a while he'd feed on some poor drunkard walking home in the middle of the night. And he managed to construct a ring that made him immune to the sunlight, meaning he could now travel by day as well.
•The 500 years he's spent travelling alone were incredibly lonely for him. Because he didn't want anyone to know that he was a vampire, he isolated himself from civilisation, only occasionally stepping into the cities to get a drink at a tavern or to buy something he needed.
•He lived completely alone for five centuries, until you came along.
•Dainsleif had spotted you, another traveller, trying your best to fight some slimes that had been attacking you, but you weren't really doing a good job. So, he stepped in to help you out. He planned to just slay the slimes, make sure you were okay, and be on his merry way once again.
•But you had completely ruined his plans, chasing after him as he tried to walk away from you, saying that you'd pay him back with a meal at a nearby restaurant or a drink from one of the taverns he'd been to a few times.
•No matter how many times he'd try to let you down gently, you just kept going, insisting that because he saved your life that you should repay him.
•Once Dainsleif finally came to terms with the fact that you weren't going to let up, he sighed and agreed to your offer (demand)
•So you took him to a tavern for a meal and a few drinks. By the end of it, you were completely drunk and he was still completely sober.
•Regular human food and alcohol don't do much to his system. It wasn't like his body rejected them, but he would never become drunk even if he drank a sea of booze, and he would never become full off of just meats and vegetables.
•Much to Dainsleif's annoyance, he ended up carrying you back to his campsite to let you sleep there. He made sure to keep watch the entire night just in case.
•When you woke up, the first thing you saw through a bleary gaze was a pint of water being held out to you by Dainsleif. He scolded you for drinking too much last night and forced you to drink the water to lessen your hangover.
•And since then, you've somehow become a pest in his side. You both travelled around Teyvat together, soothing Dainsleif's centuries-long loneliness.
•Though, having a human companion by his side wasn't easy for Dainsleif. Especially if he was due for another feeding.
The crackling fire illuminated the campsite that had been darkened by the evening sky. The entrancing flames distracted you as Dainsleif tried his best to calm himself down in your shared tent.
He was due for another feeding, and the smell of your blood was driving him crazy. He was trying his best to hold back on his desperate cravings until you slept, so he could drink from another bumbling drunkard roaming the paths.
But it was getting increasingly harder and harder to hold himself back as the minutes passed by.
Dainsleif refused to drink from you. He didn't want to harm or scare you away. Overtime, he'd come to actually enjoy your company. Driving you away with his monstrous tendencies is the last thing he wants, especially after being alone for far too long.
"Dainsleif?"
Your voice breaks him out of his thoughts, and he looks up to see you, placing a hand on his shoulder. He hadn't even realised you'd moved away from the fire to come to his side.
"Are you alright? You look awfully pale..."
Awfully pale was just how he always looked, though he was probably as white as a ghost by now from how badly he needed to feed.
"I-It's nothing..."
Dainsleif utters with a surprisingly weak voice. He averts his eyes away from you, feeling embarrassed that you have to see him so weak.
"Are you sure? I think you may be ill..."
You respond, holding his chin to keep his head in place while you studied his features for any signs of illness.
Dainsleif's breath became ragged at how close you were to him. He was using all of his self control to not just pounce on you and drink straight from your neck.
In your eyes, you had just thought that he was refusing help because he didn't want to seem weak around you. Though the issue was much bigger than that.
"P-Please, I'm fine..."
He breathes out. He does not look fine in the slightest.
You furrow your eyebrows at him, starting to become annoyed at how he's pushing you away.
"You don't have to pretend, Dain. I can tell something's wrong, you can tell me y’know."
Dainsleif swallows. He wants to resist, to run away and return to you while you're asleep and he's finally been fed. But he cannot.
"H-How much do you know about... inhuman creatures...?"
He finally asks with his voice and breath shaking.
"Hmm... like slimes? Have you been poisoned by one or something?—"
"No, no, it's nothing like that..." He cuts you off, taking a deep breath before speaking again. "I-I meant creatures who appear to be human... but they aren't..."
You think for a few moments, thinking back to all the books you read before you decided to set off on your journey across all of Teyvat. After a few minutes of thinking, you manage to come to a conclusion.
"Like a vampire or something?"
"Yes... a vampire..."
"What about them?"
Dainsleif doesn't even find the energy to tell you. He simply just opens his mouth a little to show off his sharp fangs in his teeth that replaced his canines.
Your eyes widen. You're surprised, and even a little bit scared, but you know Dainsleif won't hurt you.
Not hurting you is what got him to this state in the first place, isn't it?
"Are you hungry?"
You ask him, and he weakly nods in response.
You take a deep breath before undoing the top button on your shirt, pulling your collar down enough to fully expose your neck. You hold his chin against and force him to look up at you.
"Drink from me." You say, and Dainsleif's eyes widen.
"B-But—"
"I don't want to hear it. I know you won't hurt me, so just drink already.”
A bit of anxiety goes through your mind, wanting to back out. But you'd rather be in pain than have your closest companion die of starvation when you could've prevented it.
Dainsleif hesitantly pulls you close to him, pressing his mouth against the side of your neck. He places small kisses on the warm skin, whispering out a bunch of "Thank you's" as he prepares himself to drink from you for the first time.
Right before he drinks from you, he whispers a small "I'm sorry," before taking a bite.
At first, it hurts. Your nails dig into Dainsleif's shoulders as he feeds from you. His thumbs draw comforting circles on your back to try and soothe you.
When the pain finally subsides, it actually starts to feel a little good. You let out a mix between a sigh and a moan as your nails stop digging into his shoulders and instead grip at his shirt.
Once he finishes drinking from you, he licks and kisses the spot he bit into, lapping up any blood that's spilled out from your neck.
The experience left you completely exhausted. You rested your head on Dainsleif's shoulder as he grabbed the first aid kit from your bag, pulling out a small bandaid to put over the bite.
When he's done patching you up, he lays you down gently onto your mat, pulling up the small blanket you had. His gloved hand brushes the hair sticking to your forehead away, and he plants his lips there in a gentle kiss.
"Sleep well..."
He whispers, before your vision fades to black.
DAN HENG: (1137 words)
•Unlike the other two, Dan Heng was actually born as a vampire. Though he's never met his parents before.
•Vampires like him age super slowly. So he's got another few centuries on his belt until he becomes weak enough to die or be killed easily.
•Instead of hiding himself away though, he works as a librarian in a public library.
•While he's very quiet and hard to communicate with, he is actually a very good worker (he plans to go down with the library if that ever happens)
•Nobody actually knows he's a vampire, not even his boss or his coworkers. While his previous bosses had noticed that he barely seemed to age as the years went by, they always felt too intimidated by his quiet and stoic nature to ask him about it.
•Dan Heng, like Dainsleif, also has a daylight ring. Though this is just something he's had with him for as long as he can remember.
•You show up for the first time in his life when you're hired to work in the library with him.
•Unfortunately for him, you just happened to want to strike up a conversation every time you saw him. His boss must've noticed this, because suddenly, majority of your shifts aligned right with his.
•Dan Heng is a bit annoyed that his nice peace and quiet is now being interrupted by you. But he's not a bad guy, so he's not going to get mad at you and push you away or make you feel horrible because of it.
•So, after a bit of trying to get him to talk to you, he caves and replies to you.
•And that started your friendship with him.
•You two remained as good friends for a while. It was until Dan Heng realised that he had started to fall for you that he started to push you away without even realising it.
•He felt bad for falling for you. He felt bad that he'd live on for centuries, while you only had a few decades. It made him feel guilty thinking of how you'd grow old and he'd technically not even be 30 yet.
•So, he started slipping informative books about vampires into your piles of books that you were going to borrow. He didn't know how to tell you outright the truth, so he hoped that this would get his message across.
•It did not.
Dan Heng notices you sigh while you're looking through your stack of books that you had left to the side unattended for only a few minutes. He watches you walk over to him and place the book he had slipped into your pile in front of him on the desk.
"Can you put this back in its original spot?" You sigh again, tapping on the hardcover with your nails.
Dan Heng picks up the book. "Are you not a fan of vampire books?" He asks bluntly, slightly raising an eyebrow.
"It's not that." You reply "They just keep showing up with the books I want to borrow even though. I don't put them there... do you think we're being haunted by a vampire or something?"
Dan Heng shakes his head. "Don't be absurd. Ghosts are the ones that haunt, not vampires."
"Oh? Sounds like you know a lot about vampires. Perhaps you're the one slipping these into my pile behind my back?"
You notice the way Dan Heng's eyes practically pop out of his head with how surprised he looks. It was an odd expression for him.
"Hey, you don't have to look so surprised, I was joking—"
"You're right."
Now you're the one who's surprised, though not to the same extent as he was just merely a few seconds ago.
Dan Heng sighs. "Can we go somewhere private? I have something to tell you."
You nod your head and follow him. The both of you are silent as you walk to a secluded spot in a corner of the library. When you both stop walking, Dan Heng turns to face you with a guilty expression on his face.
"I have two things to tell you..."
He begins, taking a deep breath before looking straight into your curious eyes.
"I have... fallen for you."
A cute red blush appears on his cheeks, and with the way yours had started to burn, you probably looked the exact same as him.
"But... I cannot be with you."
That immediately makes you confused. Your heart starts to pound harder.
"Wh-What do you mean?"
You stutter, your voice raising in a pitch a little too high when you emphasise your question.
Dan Heng sighs again, rubbing his shoulder awkwardly.
"The reason I've been slipping books about vampires into your pile is... well... because I am a vampire."
You cannot tell if you're being played right now.
"...Are you serious?"
"Yes."
With the way Dan Heng continues to look straight into your eyes without faltering makes you believe him more. But you have no reason to not believe him anyway, after all, Dan Heng was a serious person, so what would he get out of lying to you like this?
"So... how does that play into you loving me?"
Dan Heng bites his lip, fiddling with the ring he always wore to calm his anxieties down.
"I'm practically immortal. If we ever end up together in the future, you'll die way before I even reach the age you died at..."
It seems his anxieties only worsened as he explained the reason to you. That thought hadn't crossed your mind, but you understand why he looked so guilty and distressed over it.
You exhale, taking a step closer to him and placing a hand on his shoulder. He looks at you, wondering what you're planning to do.
"I'm sure we can work something out when that inevitably comes around. For now, why don't we just enjoy ourselves without worrying about the future?"
You smile warmly, brushing your thumb over his bottom lip.
Dan Heng doesn't respond for a second, but he finally nods to your statement.
"Alright, let's do that."
He grabs the wrist of your hand that's touching his face, moving it away and intertwining his fingers with you, giving you a small reassuring squeeze.
Dan Heng looks at you and smiles for the first time during your whole conversation. Your heart flutters at the sight of it, and you can't help but lean in and kiss it.
Dan Heng's eyes widen again when you pull away, and you immediately regret doing that.
"I-I'm sorry! I should've asked for permission first!"
"N-No... it's fine."
Dan Heng touches his lips, the blush on his face growing.
"...Can I kiss you again then?"
You ask shyly, playing with his fingers in your linked hands.
"Yes, you may."
And that's exactly what you do.
Tumblr media
418 notes · View notes
navybrat817 · 9 months
Text
What Happens in Vegas
Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader Summary: You get more than you bargained for when you decide to get married in Vegas. Word Count: Over 2.8k Warnings: Drinking, drunk wedding, accidental marriage, supernatural element, dubcon elements, soft!dark vibes, Bucky Barnes (he's a warning, okay?). A/N: I wasn't able to get all 4 birthday stories done, but I hope you lovelies enjoy the ones I plan to share. Here's 1 of 2! ❤️ Beta read by the lovely @whisperlullaby (thank you for spitballing), but any and all mistakes are my own. Thanks to @targaryenvampireslayer as well for letting me scream about this. Divider by the talented @firefly-graphics. Please follow @navybrat817-sideblog for new fics and notifications. Comments, reblogs, feedback are loved and appreciated!
Tumblr media Tumblr media
The fluorescent lights of the strip flashed as you stumbled along the sidewalk. Fast paced and surreal, the city that never sleeps offered a little something for everyone. Entertainment, architecture, adventure. While your intention for the evening was to grab a drink with some friends and nothing more, you decided to do something bolder. Crazier. Because what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right?
“Goin’ to the chapel and we’re… gonna get maaaaaaried,” you sang, squinting as your guy, date, whoever he was, helped steady you. “Who or what was your name again? Randy?”
“That’s not my name. It’s-”
“Randy. ‘Cause you’re a rando,” you declared, making him laugh.
Forgetting the guy’s name should’ve been your first clue to call it a night and go back to your hotel. Randy was cute enough though and bought all of you drinks. When you told him most of your friends were hitched or close to getting married while you were still single, he joked that he’d marry you.
“Fuck it! Let’s get married!”
Which was how you found yourself on his arm heading to a chapel.
Your second clue to go back to your room should’ve been that none of your friends stopped you. Not a single one told you to stay or offered to go with you, which was strange. Not that each of you hadn’t done stupid stuff before. Letting you go off with a stranger though? In an unfamiliar city?
Bitches. All of them. Noooooo. I love my girlfriends. They’re just DRUNK, like me.
You did feel sad for a second. While your friends all had family who would’ve thrown a fit if they eloped or married a stranger, you didn’t. Your dad would never give you away. Your mom wouldn’t wipe her tears as she heard you say your vows. So who cared what you did?
You sure as hell didn’t.
“Here,” Randy said, pulling you toward a door. “This place is supposed to be really nice.”
“OOOOOOOOH. Reeeeeeeally nice,” you said, gasping once you stepped inside.
You expected cheesy decor to smack you in the face, but instead found yourself in a luxurious entryway. Sparkles of gold lined the sleek floor and walls all the way up to the high ceilings. The art depicted landscapes you only had the pleasure of seeing in dreams. The room almost had a glow to it.
Or maybe it's the alcohol blurring my vision.
A voluptuous redhead walked through a set of doors to greet you. Her heels didn’t make a sound as she glided across the floor. Glancing at Randy, you caught him adjusting the front of his pants. Was he drooling? You found it amusing rather than let it upset you.
“Welcome to the Enchanted Valley where all your dreams come true. My name is Natalia. How may I help you this evening?”
“We’re getting married,” Randy answered, though he didn’t glance at you.
“Is that so?” she asked, tilting her head as she turned her attention to you. The gold from the walls sparkled in her eyes as she waited for your confirmation.
Swaying a little, you gave her a two finger salute. “That is so,” you answered before you added, “Do you also do annulments?”
Snorting, she gestured behind her. “Before we get started, you must be at least 18 years old, must not be currently married, must not be kin, and I’ll need to see a government form of identification. As long as that’s clear, you’re free to proceed with your ceremony. Do you have witnesses?"
“No ‘cause my bitchy friends didn’t come here. I don’t even have flowers,” you said, hiccuping a little. “Don’t tell them I call them that. I love them soooooooooo much.”
“That’s just fine. I’ll ask James and Wanda if they wouldn’t mind witnessing this…” Natalia tried to find the word as her eyes darted between you. “Blessed union.”
Randy followed Natalia like a lost puppy into the chapel as he struggled to get his wallet out. “You single?”
Your eyes rolled in the back of your head. “Why am I doing this?” you mumbled, swaying as you dug your wallet out. “Why didn’t I just get a tattoo or something?”
“Because a ring on your finger is easier to remove than ink on your skin.”
“Holy fucking… fuck,” you said as you looked up. “Where did you come from, you… gorgeous specimen?”
You understood why Randy practically eye-fucked Natalia since you were doing the same with the man in front of you. His steel blue eyes reflected the gold of the room the same way the redhead’s had and you were scared you’d fall into an abyss if you stared for too long. His light brown hair had to be the softest you’d ever seen. If you had to guess, he was at least 6’4” with a broad chest and shoulders and didn’t have the audacity to button up his shirt.
Is his left arm made out of gold? Or is it painted gold? How drunk am I? Would Randy object to me giving this god of a man the ride of his life?
“I’m James,” he said, the timbre of his voice causing your knees to wobble as he held up a bouquet of colorful flowers. “I’ll be one of the witnesses for this blessed union.”
“Nothing blessed about it. I don’t even know the guy. But he said he’d marry me and I said ‘fuck it,” you giggled, taking a step forward. Your shoe caught on nothing. Nothing. You just fell forward.
And the beautiful man caught you in his embrace.
“Careful, beautiful,” he said as he helped you stand upright and placed the flowers in your hand. His touch warmed you as he ran his hands along your bare arms. “You would marry a stranger then? With no friends or family here?”
“You smell really good. How do you smell so good?” You said, putting a hand on his chest with a grin. “Friends are busy and I have no family.”
His brows furrowed and you wondered how pathetic you sounded. You weren’t looking for pity. “Did he give you any token of affection?”
“Mmmmm. You know, he didn’t. We don’t have rings or anything.”
James traced a finger along your cheek. “And he dares to call himself a man,” he whispered, tutting when you leaned into his touch. “Doesn’t seem like he's fit to marry such a delectable creature.”
Eat me up, James.
“It’s okay,” you said, hoping the sad feelings of alcohol weren’t about to hit you. It sucked being alone and you knew you’d come to regret this later, but who cared about tonight? “Do you have gold streaks in your hair? Why are you so pretty? It’s like you’re not even REAL.”
“I’m very real, beautiful,” he smiled, flashing his pearly white teeth as your cheeks got hot. “Do I have the pleasure of knowing your full name?”
“My full name? So formal,” you teased, giving it to him without hesitation as you ran your fingers through his hair. You should’ve asked permission before touching his soft hair. You shouldn’t have touched him at all. But logic left your mind the moment you stepped into the city.
James closed his eyes as he repeated your name, making it sound erotic and sensual. You liked hearing it on his tongue. “You will not marry him,” he whispered, opening his eyes. A ring of gold surrounded his pupils before it went away. Maybe one of the girls slipped a little something into your drink to help you relax more.
Whatever it is, I want more of it.
“Tell you what,” you smiled, booping his nose with a giggle. “If you object with good reason, I won’t marry Randy Rando. Deal?”
James smirked after a moment, a darkness clouding his eyes as he stepped back to shake your hand. “Deal.”
Before you shook it, you noticed a gold ring on the floor by his foot. Did he drop it? “Is that yours?” you said, crouching down to grab it. It wasn’t very dignified how your dress rode up, but he didn’t seem to mind. “Here.”
He didn’t take it from you. “It is mine, but do you not wish to keep it?”
You frowned, confused as you glanced at the band. It had some sort of lettering around the solitaire diamond that you didn’t recognize. “This isn’t ‘finders keepers’. It’s yours. It’s nice, but it’s rude of me to take it.”
With a low hum, he accepted the ring back. “There aren’t many who would return something of value,” he said, slipping it on his right pinky finger. “You have a giving heart.”
“Oh, it… It was nothing,” you said, shrugging a little to hide how badly you wanted to preen at his compliment.
I’m really acting like I’ve never seen a good looking guy before.
He kept an intense gaze on you as he slipped a hand into his pants pocket and pulled out a small stone. It would’ve looked like a normal pebble if not for the gold speckles. “I know this may not look special, but would you take this as a token for giving my ring back?”
Whaaaaaaaat?
“Um. Yeah. Sure. Thanks,” you said, tucking the stone into your purse before you selected a flower from your bouquet. “Would you accept this from me?” you asked, wanting to do something nice.
A pleased look crossed his face as he took the flower and inhaled. Your head spun a little. Something felt different, but you couldn’t put your finger on it. “Thank you,” he said, running his teeth along his bottom lip as he fixed the bottom of your dress. “You really are the most beautiful bride.”
“And you, James, you beautiful, gorgeous, sexy, god of a man, will make the hottest groom when you get married.”
“Hey!” Randy shouted from the chapel when James opened his mouth. “We doing this or what?”
Oh, yeah.
“Wish me luck!” you said, giggling as you went through the doors and not looking back to see if he followed. “Wow.”
It was as if you stepped into an enchanted forest. The colors of the room were lush and welcoming, a blend of evergreen and sage. Flickering fairy lights and flowers adorned the dark brown pues. Natalia stood in front of Randy and a slender woman you didn’t recognize sat on his side of the chapel. The lights were playing tricks on you again when she looked at you, her eyes a flash of red as she smiled.
That must be Wanda. And I’m never drinking again.
“Ready?” Randy questioned when you got to the end of the aisle.
How romantic.
“Yeah, I guess,” you shrugged, looping your arm with his as you held your bouquet. “Take it away, Natalia.”
“Dearly beloved,” she began.
Truthfully, you didn’t pay much attention to the ceremony as Natalia spoke. You didn’t question that she hadn’t looked at your identification card or confirmed anything else she named off. It probably wasn’t a real wedding ceremony. You weren’t going to be Mrs. Randy Rando.
Not when James is here. Wait, what?
“If there are no objections,” Natalia spoke, glancing over your shoulder. “Speak now or forever hold your peace.”
“I object,” James announced behind you, making you cover your mouth as you giggled. He did say he’d object with good reason. You wondered what he’d come up with.
“On what grounds?” Natalia asked, smirking as if she expected him to interrupt.
“Because she’s my wife,” he answered.
What the hell did he just say?
“What?!” You laughed louder as you spun around, falling against Randy with wide eyes.
"What's wrong?" He asked, barely holding you upright.
James walked down the aisle toward you, a gold shine covering him from head to toe. Pointy ears stuck out through his hair and his eyes had a hypnotic glow as he smiled at you, his teeth sharper than before. He looked like a beautiful nightmare.
Ready to eat you up.
“You can see me as I really am, beautiful, can’t you?” He asked, a melodic lift in his tone that was both sinister and alluring. “Glamour doesn’t work on mates.”
...the fuck?
“M-Mates? We’re mates? What does that even mean?” You asked, looking at Randy for help. His eyes had a glossy glaze to them, like he wasn’t seeing you. Was he in shock? Did he know what was going on? “Dude, snap out of it. Look at his gold skin! And his pointy ears!”
“She can see you,” Natalia said with pride. “Congratulations, Bucky. You’re finally married.”
“Thank you, Natasha,” James smiled, waving a hand at Randy. His nails looked sharp enough to claw through his skin. “Get rid of him. He’s crowding my bride.”
“I’m… I’m way too drunk for this,” you mumbled, your knees giving out. With unnaturaul speed, he made his way to the end of the aisle and caught you.
“Hey! That’s my…” Randy looked confused as he blinked. “Well, she's not my girlfriend, but. Huh?”
“No, she isn’t your girlfriend. She’s my wife. And when you wake up tomorrow, you won’t remember being here,” he said, nodding over to Wanda. “I’d wipe your memory myself, but I’m not letting my mate go.”
“The fuck are you…” he trailed off when Wanda waved her hand, a ball of red light floating in front of his face.
“You sleep now,” she said as the light touched his forehead, not bothering to brace his fall as he collapsed.
“What the hell?” You slurred as Natalia grabbed his ankles to drag him out of the chapel, Wanda on her heel.
“I wouldn’t worry about him since you accepted my hand in marriage,” James said, touching your cheek with a fond smile. “I’m sorry for not courting you longer, but we didn’t exactly have much time, did we?”
“We’re not married,” you argued.
“By Fae law, we are,” he explained as your eyes nearly bulged out of your head. Did he say Fae? “You returned something of value to me that I dropped, which was you saying ‘yes’ to my marriage proposal.”
“No,” you whispered. That couldn’t be true.
“You accepted my token of my affection, which was me pledging myself as your husband. And you gave me a token of affection in return, which was you pledging yourself as my wife.”
The stone. The flower. No. Fucking. Way.
“I don’t understand,” you whimpered as he propped you up in his arms.
“I wanted a bride, so I came here. You’d be surprised how much of my kind has infiltrated this city. We do love our realm, but your people are so easy to manipulate,” he said, gesturing to the room. “Gambling, drinking, strippers, quick weddings. You just throw your hard-earned money away like it’s meaningless. Your currency goes a long way where I’m from.”
“I want to go home,” you said as he tightened his hold on you, even stronger than he looked.
“You didn’t see me at the bar tonight, but I saw you. I knew you were destined for me,” he continued happily as if you didn’t say anything. “And when he suggested marrying you on a whim, I made sure your friends didn’t try to stop you and that your path led here. Don't worry. They're safe. I wouldn't harm them.”
Who is he? What is he?
You shook your head, surprised that you hadn’t gotten sick from how your stomach turned. “I’m not your wife,” you said, trembling when his entire body began to glow.
“You are not just my wife. You are my queen. Even if you hadn’t accepted my token of affection, I wouldn’t have let you marry someone whose name wasn’t worth remembering. You’re mine,” he said through his teeth, angry at you denying him before he took a breath. “My poor bride. A woman with no family and friends who don’t look out for her. You have me now. And you’ll be happy by my side.”
You bit the inside of your cheek, hoping by some miracle a bit of pain would wake you up. But the creature who called himself your husband wasn’t going away. “This is a bad dream,” you whispered, as if lying to yourself would help.
“Oh, my love,” he said in false comfort. “There are no bad dreams in the Enchanted Valley. And this isn’t the Vegas you know where you can simply write this off as a mistake. There is no divorce in my world. Well, your world now.”
“James, please,” you begged as your heart pounded.
“We’re married now, beautiful. Call me Bucky,” he smiled, smothering your protest with a kiss. Heat spread along your lips and flowed through your veins, wrapping around your heart like a vice. It was enough to suffocate you, but fate wasn’t ready to claim your life yet. “Now sober up. We have a honeymoon to start.”
Tumblr media
I couldn't tag Bucky as "fae" without giving some of the surprise away! This idea was inspired by @adayka's beautiful art here. Maybe we can revisit this new couple down the road. Love and thanks for reading! ❤️
Masterlist ⚓ Bucky Barnes Masterlist ⚓ Ko-Fi
1K notes · View notes
Listen- I had an idea. I was thinking about a Lucien Vanserra and the reader feeking the bond snap? But Lucien feeling like he's not worthy of her but she tells him how pretty his eyes are? Even with the scar? I was thinking of adding the prompt 32 angst and 12 fluff maybe.
Scars and All
Lucien x Archeron!reader, Helion x reader (father, daughter dynamic)
Warnings: angst, swearing, fluff
Prompts: Fluff- “I wish you could see the way I see you,” Angst- “You… why did it have to be you?”
Summary: The youngest Archeron sister has always been ignored and rejected by everyone. When she finally finds her mate in the Day Court who thought her heart could’ve broken more at the rejection of someone who was made to love her?
a/n i legit could not find any good headers for this so i downloaded 6 billion of them from pinterest, my sister had made this dress for herself and i had direct access to it thats why the description is so long 😭 im trying a new thing with describing facial features and stuff like that more lmk if u like it or not. ✨ not edited ✨
Tumblr media
There was a ball in Day Court, almost all high fae were invited, and as the sister in law to the High Lord of Night Court it was compulsory for all of us to be there.
The dress I'm wearing is a masterpiece of intricacy and elegance, designed to captivate and command attention. Crafted from the finest materials, it combines delicate silk and ethereal lace, creating a harmonious blend of softness and sensuality. The color chosen is a rich midnight blue, reminiscent of the starry night sky that blankets the Night Court.
The bodice of the dress is a work of art, adorned with intricate silver and sapphire beadwork that accentuates the curves of the wearer. It plunges low, revealing a hint of the wearer's décolletage, while thin, delicate straps grace the shoulders, adding a touch of allure. The back of the dress dips in a graceful V, teasing a glimpse of smooth, exposed skin.
From the waist, the dress cascades into a flowing skirt, made of layers of diaphanous silk that sways with every step. The fabric is sheer and airy, allowing a tantalizing view of the wearer's legs as she moves, creating an alluring dance between modesty and seduction. The hemline is asymmetrical, with delicate lace trim that adds a touch of whimsy and femininity.
As I move, the dress catches the light, shimmering and sparkling like a constellation in the moonlit sky. It exudes an air of confidence and sophistication, empowering the woman who wears it to embrace her inner strength and beauty.
The dress wasn't my first choice though. My first choice was an indigo dress with a sweetheart neckline, that showed just enough of my cleavage to not be named as slutty. It had a slit that showed my whole right leg, but Elain had liked that dress after she saw it in my wardrobe, so I gave it to her.
She always got what she wanted.
I wasn't a type of feminine beauty like my sisters. They all had graceful features and beautiful dainty blonde hair. Nesta and I were the most similar with our sharp features.
But that's where the similarities ended.
My hair was a lustrous cascade of ebony strands, shimmered like a moonless night sky, reflecting an ethereal sheen with every subtle movement. Its glossy surface captured the light, revealing depths of darkness that held an irresistible allure.
Once I had slipped my heels on, I headed down the stairs where everyone else was waiting for me. My lips curved into a sly smile when everyone's attention was on me, glancing over the room, my eyes stopped at Elain. Her dress (my dress) was falling at all the wrong places.
She wasn't as curvy as me, Nesta and Feyre. I don't get why she would want the dress, it's obviously not fitting her properly. Ignoring Elain's incessant huffing, I head to Nesta and Cassian.
“You look absolutely breathtaking tonight, sister,” I compliment, giggling.
“I love this dress on you,” she gushes.
Nesta was my best friend, my confidant, the sister who cared for me.
“But I would’ve loved to have seen the other dress on you,” she continues. “You shouldn’t have given it to Elain,”.
“Oh it’s fine, look at the absolute beauty I have found instead,” I reassure.
“Elain are you sure you don’t want to change your dress,” Feyre asks.
Nesta and I snicker behind our hands, Elain turns around towards us and I watch in glee as her faces turns into a scowl.
“I’m fine can we leave already” she snaps.
Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today.
Cassian winnows Nesta, Rhysand and Feyre, Azriel and Elain, while Mor winnows me.
Landing outside the day court palace, I mentally take in the beauty of the place. The sandy blocks making the palace and the beautiful candles hung at every corner. There truly is no darkness.
I look down at my dress, skepticism glazes over my face. I shouldn’t have worn such an eye catching dress.
How was I meant to know that there would be lights everywhere?
Cauldron fucking boil me.
After some mindless chatter with Feyre about how excited she is to show me her paintings. We’re escorted inside to see the High Lord of the Day Court lounging on his throne, looking like the childish playboy he is. Even though he was centuries old.
His beauty was otherworldly, the way his onyx locks cascaded down his back like they were paid to do so. Piercing amber orbs stared down at everyone. Clad in only a white fabric that was draped over him, he had an easy going presence to him. The sharp points of his golden crown glinting under the bright lights.
But the vision next to him put the Night Court stars to a shame. He was the sun personified. Tan skin, lighter than his father’s but darker than mine. Auburn red hair, similar to his father’s in length, rested along his back. A scar ran from just above his eyebrow to his jaw. His eyes met mine, maroon and golden. His features picked apart weren’t attractive but somehow together on him, he looked like a god.
My breath caught in my throat as my eyes blurred in and out of focus. Once they went back to normal I saw a single golden thread tugging. My eyes followed the thread back to Lucien.
I ran outside. Mother’s tits, I found my mate.
I gave an experimental tug on the bond revelling in the feeling of being complete. Tugging on it again, I let him know I wanted to see him.
Sitting there on the roof, I waited for five minutes, then ten, soon twenty and as quickly as my hope had been born it had faded away. But still remnants of it remained, maybe he couldn’t get away so soon, after all he was the heir to the Day Court.
Holy shit, he was the heir to the Day Court, what if he wanted nothing to do with me?
My thoughts spiralled one after the other.
A throat cleared behind me. Turning around to look at Lucien, I beckon him over.
“I’m Y/N, I already know who you are so introductions won’t be necessary” My attempt at a joke fails.
Finally taking a closer look at his face, I take in the pained expression. “Are you all right?” concern laces my voice, I stand up and whisper, “Have you had enough to eat you look like you’re about to pass out,”.
I’m about to leave and grab him some food, when he speaks, “You… why did it have to be you?”.
I freeze in place, I don’t dare to turn around. My mind flashes with memories of Feyre not wanting to teach me archery because she was busy, or how the boys at Rita’s never even looked at me, or how Elain took it upon herself to make me hate everything about me, or how everyone had their other half and I had just found mine. But not even a full hour of knowing me he hated me.
And somehow after all those years of rejection, self hatred and jealousy my heart broke one last time.
I assume he could feel it through the bond, as I wasn’t all that used to blocking people out of my mind yet.
I run down the stairs to get off the roof, to get as far away from him as possible.
Finally, finding an unoccupied balcony on the opposite side of the palace, I settled there, sobbing my broken heart out. The kohl from my eyes streaming down my face. My fingers red from rubbing my stinging eyes.
I looked around at the material of the dress pillowing around me. Such a waste of such a breathtaking dress.
Soft crying filled the room, my ears were ringing as I hadn’t heard the High Lord of Day Court enter.
“My dear, may I ask what’s wrong?” He asked, worry evident in his voice.
Gasping I stood up and did a sorry excuse of a curtesy, “High Lord” I bowed my head.
“Helion is fine,”
He sat down right next to the place where I was sitting. His muscled arm gently tapped the spot beside him as an invitation.
I sit down, smoothing my skirts out.
As if he can sense the awkwardness he clears his throat and says “We can stay quiet or we can talk about my son or your mate?”.
My eyes widen in shock. “How do you know me?” I mutter out.
“Sunshine I’m the High Lord of Day Court and unbeknownst to you, Rhysand talks a lot about you during meetings so most of the high lords consider you a little sister, but for me you’re like the daughter I never had,” he confesses.
A man I had not met before today, considered me his daughter, and six other high lords think of me as a little sister. My eyes well up in tears, my father had been one of the only people other than Nesta to ever truely care about me. And I had cried for months when he died.
To have someone think of me as their daughter again brought out a fresh wave of tears.
As if reflex, my head rests against Helion’s shoulder, we gaze into the night sky, in a comfortable silence. A strong hand reaches out and softly taps my head in a soothing rhythm.
“It’s ok sunshine.” he whispers.
After a while my tears stain my cheeks, Helion speaks up “I think you should give your mate another chance, I think you’ve mistaken his intentions,”.
Taking in his advice, I wordlessly stand up and hug the high lord. “Thank you” I breathe out.
Pulling away, I walk through corridors in search of Lucien.
A hand grabs mine and pulls me into a dark corner, while another hand muffles my screams.
I’m about to put the training Cassian gave me into use when I see a familiar pair of mismatched eyes.
“You can’t scream, I just wanted to talk to you,” he pleaded. Once his hand reluctantly leaves my mouth, I nod as a signal for him to keep going.
“When I said what I said before, I didn’t mean it as if you weren’t good enough for me,” he started. “I meant it as I didn’t think I was good enough for you.” My eyes soften at his words. “I mean yes I am devastatingly handsome,” I roll my eyes at his smug words, unable to hide my own smile when his lips twitch upwards.
“But I don’t think I could ever be good enough for you, a thousand lifetimes over,” he whispers, impossibly close to me but at the same time painfully far away.
“I wish you could see yourself the way I see you, Lucien,” I mumble cupping his cheek. “Please have me,” he murmurs.
I grab his face gently and fuse our lips together.
“I’m yours, if you’re mine,”
a/n i’m sorry girl dad!helion is just too good to resist and like imagine being like a little sister to all the high lords (instead of heron it’d be eris), hope you like it anon 🫶🏻
159 notes · View notes
the-fiction-witch · 4 months
Text
Please
Media The Artful Dodger
Character Jack Dawkins
Couple Jack X Reader
Rating Sad
Tumblr media
Requested: Can you make one where jack had been neglecting y/n. Or maybe they had an argument so they've been ignoring each other and jack started hanging out with belle (or other character) and y/n can see that belle has feeling for jack so she just felt heart broken and tried to disappear from the face of the earth (not die ofc, just you know. Didn't come out of the house or left from somewhere and didn't come out for a while to cope). Idk how you'll do it but uhh fix the relationship after? Maybe with a little bit of hard to get but yeah WAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH Angst to fluff😭🙏 i kinda wanna cry today cuz i haven't been processing my emotions like how a normal person should because it the normal way-,anygays so yeah ig. 🥲💕💕💕 Warnings: Cheating mentions/ arguing/ angsts
I had been sitting in this bed for what felt like a year, stuck up in this little room above the hospital listening to the chaos below. I had never intended to be here, I had a house of my own, but I seemed to always be here. At first, it was just visiting, every day once Jack finished his work I'd come up to his room to visit him, He'd tell me of his day and the business in the hospital, perhaps I'd make him dinner and we'd have a cuddle and perhaps more depending on his energy that evening. And I was so very happy, soon enough we were engaged and of course the sweetness and closeness that comes with it, Over time I visited more and more until I ended up as I was now practically living upstairs in his room. But the more time I spent here Ironicly the less I saw him.
It wasn't like that at first, when I was first here all day every day. The very moment Jack had five minutes he'd come up for a cuddle, a kiss and a cup of tea. But I had seen him less and less of these days. I know he's busy so I didn't want to complain, but I still missed him terribly. I missed just the joy of spending time together just cuddling and saying nothing at all for the pure love of being with one another. But now I saw him once a day, when he would come up to sleep, He'd barely give me more than a few grunts and an eye roll before he'd crawl into bed and sleep. Most days I didn't even get that as He'd come crawl into bed after I went to sleep and be gone before I was awake.
I had tried to go down into the hospital but I always got overwhelmed by the madness or just pushed away by the staff, but I know that's best I don't have any medical training or even knew only what Jack had told me second hand over time, so I wasn't any help and my body being wondering around was certainly a hindrance to the important work being done, and I wasn't even allowed to go into the theatre and watch the surgeries so I lived my life up in this little room.
But today, I had had enough. My mind had been racing all day curious of what he was up to, what he was doing, and who he was with, I found myself catastrophizing the worst of everything and I knew the only way to stop myself from doing so was to know. So I put on a nice dress, did my hair and went down into the hospital as usual people bustling about the place so I checked his ward but, he wasn't there. I checked the theatre but no that was empty too. I began to get worried looking around the hospital trying to see him but I couldn't find him. Luckily I spotted Hetty the head nurse.
"Ohh Do excuse me Hetty,"
"Yes, Miss Y/l/n?" She asked stopping with her bucket in hand,
"Do you happen to uhh know where Dr Dawkins is?" I asked,
"Jack's in the morgue Y/n."
"Ohh, thank you." I smiled, turned on my heels and headed down to the morgue, all being said I was excited to see him. But when I got down there I noticed he wasn't alone, and I don't just mean the body.
He stood over a body in the process of some sort of practice, with... a woman. She was beautiful, In a dress likely worth more than everything I owned, they both glanced up at me and she didn't seem interested, he however gave me a look, he knew me and how my mind worked, and he knew he was in trouble. Immediately he put space between them.
"I know, please don't and let me explain." He began,
"Too late," I answered,
"What's going on?" She asked,
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "Belle this is Y/n. Y/n this is Lady Belle Fox the governor's daughter."
"Right," She nodded, "And she's relevant becuase?"
"Becuase I'm his fiancé" I spoke up,
She laughed, "Really?"
"Yes." I snapped a little,
"You can't be serious?" She asked him, "Jack?"
"Jack?!" I asked him too,
"I did tell you I was... kinda engaged," he said sheepishly to her,
"Kinda!" I yelled,
"Engaged! No, you did not!" she complained,
"You never even mentioned me!"
"No, he didn't."
"We've been Engaged two and half years!"
"Well, you neglected to mention that."
I was so so enraged! and to be fair so was she, I'm sure to any outsider this would have been hilarious to have seen both Belle and I gang up on him, leaving him really without a side to choose or anywhere to turn. No matter what he did someone was gonna be mad at him.
"I uhh..."
"I'd choose your next words very carefully." She warned,
"Yeah, listen to the lady," I told him,
And his response, was that he simply just walked out. Refusing to deal with either of us. Leaving her and I alone.
"I am... So sorry Y/n, I had no idea."
"It's Alright Lady Belle,"
"If I'd have known I'd never have-"
"you didn't know I can't fault you for that," I reassured her, "Do you have feelings for him?" I asked even if it shredded my heart to ask, and she simply nodded, "That's all I need to know."
I left heading up to his room, but he wasn't there. So I grabbed a bag packed up everything of mine that was there, and I left.
I made the walk back to my little house, even if the weight of my items and the time since last making this trip it felt far longer than I remembered. I set my bag down and locked the door, my little house was dusty and cold but I slid down the door and began to cry my emotions overflowing as if a river had burst its banks, I cried for hours only interrupted by banging on the door and his voice.
"Y/n! Y/n! Y/n I know you're in there! open the door, Sweetheart!"
I didn't answer,
"Ughhh! Open it!"
I didn't answer,
"Uhhhhh for god sake! Open the bloody door!"
I didn't answer,
"I don't have time for this! Will you at least hear me out!"
I didn't answer,
"Ohh for - Fine!" He yelled and the banging stopped.
I made sure the door was locked and went to my bedroom, I lay on my bed and let my emotions flow, they took over me and I remained in this state all day, only broken by the next day at the same time, banging returned to my door.
"Y/n! Y/n sweetheart it's me! Just open the door."
I didn't answer,
"Y/n Open the door!"
I didn't answer,
"Open it Y/n for god sake!"
I didn't answer and after a while, his banging stopped.
But this continued, day after day, every day at the same time he would come and bang on my door shouting, pleading at me to open it. But I couldn't bear to do so. I barely ate. barely drank. Barely even moved. But I just sealed myself away trying to come to terms with it all. It had been a month and I knew the time and expected the usual pounding on my door but not today. Instead, I heard keys in a lock and footsteps down my hall. I forced myself up as they came to my door but I shut it and leaned against it unable to lock him out.
I heard him sigh and weigh against the other side of the door as he too slid down to the bottom of the door,
"You gonna listen to me now?"
"Get out of my house Jack."
"I will, I'll go. When you listen and not before."
"why are you here?"
"Same reason I've been here every day."
"I meant inside."
"Well... I figured we could chat in private, and if I'm inside you don't have much of a choice but to listen, and I'm not leaving till you do so, listen or not I'm staying."
"How'd you even get in?"
"I still have my spare key."
"I regret ever giving you that damn thing..."
"I don't know, it had its good uses."
"I don't have anything to say to you," I said, "I just want to be left alone..."
"I know you do," He sighed, "Strangely enough after three years of dating and two years of engagement I know you fairly well. I know this is your response when you are upset, you hide. You run and hide yourself away it's your response to stuff like this. You run and hide yourself in a corner and catastrophize yourself into a ball of fear, and tears and god knows what else..."
"I think this is a pretty good reason."
"I never said you weren't justified, Sweetheart." He said, "Not this time." He said, "Will you listen to me? Please."
"Fine." I sighed,
"Are you mad? or are you sad?"
"I was mad. Now I'm sad."
"Alright, I don't blame you... for being angry at me, I completely agree you should be angry at me, you should shout and scream and call me a bastard. I just don't want you to be upset."
"What do you care?"
"Becuase I don't want the woman I love to be upset with me."
"You don't love me..."
"I do. You think I'd come back, every day and bang on your door till my knuckles start bleeding for a month, If I didn't still love you."
I didn't have an answer so I didn't say anything,
"Yeah, I looked like a bloody nutter every day for a month." he chuckled, "I wouldn't have come back every day if I didn't."
"You could have gone to see her."
"I could. But I didn't I'm here with you, not with her." He said, "Besides she's mad at me."
"Can't imagine why."
"Ohh everyone's mad at me. You're mad at me, Belle's mad at me, Hetty's mad at me, Even Rotty at the pub is mad at me." he sighed, "I've managed to piss off every woman in port victory in one day."
"Well done."
"Thank you, I'm not proud of it."
"I take it you're doing the rounds then?"
"No. they can be mad at me I don't care, you're the only person I care about being mad at me."
"I am?"
"Well you and Hetty, but I care less Hetty is mad at me for emotional reasons its more... She's the head nurse. Have you ever tried doing surgery where your nurse is ignoring you, not talking to you, and actively wants you to fail, I don't care she's angry It's more just causing me logistical issues."
"Fair enough,"
"I don't care Belle's mad at me, she can be mad at me. I don't want you to be mad at me." He said, "You don't trust me do you..."
"It's a little hard to when you neglect to mention your engagement to a girl."
"I honestly forgot. It didn't cross my mind to mention it."
"So you don't think of me?"
"I think of you every day Y/n. I think of you as my wife so much I forget to even tell anyone else becuase to me it's just... so automatic I don't even think to tell people becuase I just know." He explained,
"Even if she liked you."
He chuckled, "How long did you like me before we started dating?"
"Two years..."
"Would think you'd have figured out I can't tell. The only time I know if a girl is interested in me is if she comes up, sits on my lap and says 'Hey wanna have sex with me' I'm a lot more oblivious to that sort of thing than you'd think I am." He chuckled, "Plus... I don't pay attention to whether other girls like me or not, I have you. So I don't really pay all that much attention."
"Why were you alone together?"
"She has this... germ theory we needed to cut a body open to check. She didn't know how I was teaching her,"
"Teaching her?"
"We didn't do anything I promise."
"And I'm supposed to just trust you."
"Yeah, If I'm going to be your husband... You have to trust me. and I know it's hard. and I know it hurts. and I know your mind and its catastrophizing make you always believe in disaster. But this is ever going to work, You have to trust me. Please"
For a moment I didn't know what to think,
I questioned whether or not to let my heart rule over my head, or my head rule over my heart,
But I got up and opened the door which surprised him as he had been leaning his back against it and was now lying on the floor looking up at me,
"Hi, Sweetheart."
"Hi, Jack."
"Are you... still angry at me?"
"Yes."
"Alright, but it's a start? right?"
"I will forgive you." I nodded,
"You will?" He asked getting to his feet, "I assume there's a but, or an if."
"There is an if."
"Which is?"
"You move in here, and we get married."
"And you'll forgive me?" He asked questionably,
"Yes,"
"... Okay," he nods slightly confused but clearly not going to argue,
"So you stay here, you come home at night, I always know if you're here or at work, and you wear a ring. That'll solve things." I said and I kissed his cheek as I went to the kitchen to make some tea, He soon followed and stood behind me a moment,
"You're sure?"
"Yes I am, That'll solve things, you live here you have to tell me where you go, I know when you're working or not, you sleep here with me, and you swear a ring, everyone knows you're taken. Besides... Two and a half jeans is a long time to keep a girl waiting about time we dealt with it, That agreeable with you?"
He wrapped his arms around me tightly and kissed my cheek hard, "That's a deal sweetheart." 
128 notes · View notes
unseededtoast · 8 months
Text
Light As A Feather | Spencer Reid x F! Reader
Tumblr media
Summary: The gravity of your job begins getting to you, and you come to realize you've forgotten how beautiful life can be. And one tranquil night, it's like Spencer is able to lift the weight and makes you feel light as a feather. Inspired by Hozier's "I, Carrion (Icarian)"
Cross posted on Wattpad and AO3 and here is my masterlist!
Word Count: 8.7k
Warnings: General violence, angst, pining. Poorly Edited
a/n: howdy folks. I'm still in my spencer reid/hozier brainrot era and so here's another. I hope you all enjoy it and thank you for all of the support I've received, it means the world!!
His presence is enough to make you forget about the horrors of the world, of your job. Right now, it's just you and him, and you've never felt lighter; so unburdened. You're convinced that if he wasn't there, holding onto you with his magnetic pull, that you may just float away in the breeze like a feather. 
You had never been to Colorado before, and now you wish you could be here under different circumstances. It's the beginning of fall and it seems as if the people of Boulder are head over heels in love with the season. Which is understandable, you think you'd love fall this much too if you lived in a place this beautiful. The trees are painted in vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red and the distant mountains stand proudly in the background with their snow capped tops. Your eyes are glued to the lush landscape as the SUV drives through Boulder to reach your destination.
You, along with the rest of your team, were called by the Park Rangers from the Rocky Mountain National Park about a few bodies they had discovered. Your superior, Hotch, decided their case was odd enough for you all to pay a visit. At first you hadn't wanted to come, convinced that there would be something closer to home to tend to, but now you're glad you agreed to come. Fall time in Quantico just isn't as picturesque.
Eventually, the SUV you're crammed into alongside three of your other team members drives up a long winding driveway to a hidden cabin in the woods. Hotch had booked the place, seeing as how close it is to the National Park and how secluded it is from potential people of interest. Once again, you tried to argue that the cellphone reception would be terrible up here and that it might hinder the case, but you were outvoted, and the rest of the team wanted to stay here. You hadn't understood why, but when the venue comes into view your jaw almost drops and you understand.
The cabin isn't at all what you had been expecting. Instead of some run-down, small, stuffy house, you see a large, sprawling log mansion. There are large windows adorning the front, accompanied by a wraparound porch on the second level. It's very reminiscent of a tasteful ski lodge.
"Wow." You breathe out as the car comes to a stop outside the front door.
"Still think it's a bad idea?" Hotch smarts off as he opens the trunk and starts handing people their bags. Fighting the urge to roll your eyes, you grab your bag from him and stare up at your home for the next few days.
The rest of the team wastes no time in going inside to claim their room, but you're happy to meander around for a little bit to familiarize yourself with the layout. You'll let them fight over the rooms and take whatever is left. After all, in a place of this size, even the smallest room is bound to be plentiful.
As you go through the halls admiring the artwork on the wall you spot Spencer doing the same, staring at a particular painting on the wall. You take just a second to appreciate the way he looks, standing there and analyzing art. You've always had an appreciation for Spencer, and not just for his good looks, but also his intelligence and his company.
Since your first day at the FBI you've felt drawn to him, he made you feel important, and heard, when others dismissed you. In fact, he's the reason you're on the BAU team in the first place. He was the only one to recognize your abilities and talents. You try not to hold a grudge about the fact the rest of the team was ready to let you transfer out after your internship. But instead of standing there and gawking at him like some braindead fool, you walk up to him, setting your bag on the floor beside your feet.
You look at the painting that's caught his attention and try to see what he does, try to think about how he interprets it. His mind is an amazing, complex thing, and you hope that one day you'll be able to understand just a small portion of it. It's a painting of the Great Rocky National Park, you can tell from the mountain formation and the river running through it. The painting is almost an identical match, as if it's actually a picture rather than painting. However, there's one small spot on the painting that looks like it's been painted over and over, it sticks out to you.
"What do you think happened there?" You point out the flaw and look up to Spencer, whose eyebrows are drawn closely together as he leans in and looks at the spot. After a few moments of quiet reflection, he stands back to his full height.
"I'm not sure. It looks like maybe the painter had difficulties finding the right shade." He says, still staring at the spot. Your eyes linger on his face before tearing them away before he catches on.
"You're probably right. I'm going to go find what room they left me." You say, grabbing your bag from beside you. Spencer bends over to pick up his as well,
"I should probably do the same." A small smile adorns his face, and the two of you begin walking through the cabin to find the empty rooms the team left you. According to the venue's website there should be one room for each agent, and you're thankful for that. You had never been a fan of sharing room with your coworkers, something about it just feels wrong, but when there's no way to avoid it you endure without much fuss.
The two of you check every room on the first floor only to find that they had all been claimed, meaning you two had to climb the stairs for rooms on the second level. Of course the rest of them would all claim the first floor rooms first, nobody likes to bother with stairs first thing in the morning.
You and Spencer find the empty rooms, side by side with direct access to the porch. You suppose there are worse rooms to have. Eager to step out onto the porch, you toss your bag on the bed and open the sliding door. Colorado's crisp air envelopes you as you step out and you take a deep breath. The air out here feels so clean and refreshing. Great Rocky National Park is directly in front of the porch, giving you an eagle's eye view of a portion of it as you lean onto the banister. Might as well enjoy a little bit of peace before you start working the case.
-----
"Three women were found in the same spot days apart from each other. All bludgeoned and stabbed through the heart." The Park Ranger speaks, indicating to the crime scene that's been barricaded with yellow tape. The Ranger stares at the scene, which is now an inconspicuous patch of dirt and grass, as if there weren't several dead women resting here. The scene is right beside a big body of crystal blue water.
You hang back from the rest of the team, opting to look at the surroundings instead of the immediate scene. The team knows now that finding the tiny details is your forte, and they leave you to your own devices in the beginning of investigations. The cold breeze causes you to hold your too-thin jacket closer to your body as you begin your observations.
"They were all found in the same spot?" Hotch asks the Ranger, who confirms that all of the victims were found in the exact same spot. As you examine the landscape, your eyes narrow in an attempt to find even the subtlest detail. Before too long, you see something out of place in the lush grass and walk over to it while pulling on a pair of gloves.
There's a pamphlet laying in the grass and upon further examination you see that it's been marked up like someone gave the traveler directions. Directions right to this spot. The killer lured at least one victim here. This trail is far off the beaten path, it's not marked by the Rangers. Only someone familiar with the area would know about it.
"Look at this." You call out to your team, and soon a few of them join your side to examine what you found. Spencer and Morgan look over your shoulder at the pamphlet, which is in better condition than you would've thought considering it was laying in grass beside a body of water.
"They're familiar with the area, they had this planned." Spencer speaks up and you nod your head, agreeing with him. Morgan holds out an evidence bag once he's done looking at it and you slip it inside, protecting it from any further damage. Morgan walks off with the pamphlet, leaving you and Spencer together, both deep in thought.
"What have you come up with so far?" You ask softly, curious to see if his theories line up with yours. Spencer shifts his weight and sighs, looking back to the crime scene.
"The killer is organized. They lured at least one victim right to this spot, and I'm assuming they did the same with the others. And they had to have brought the weapons with them. While there are branches to bludgeon people with, there's no evidence of anything nearby being cut down recently. If they used a natural object, it's likely they would've tried to blend it back in with nature." He explains and you nod your head along with what he's saying as you observe the scene and the scenery surrounding you.
"Unless they tossed the weapon into the water. They could have easily used a rock to bludgeon the victims." You counter his explanation. Spencer and you always did this with one another when forming theories. Not as to dissuade, or prove the other wrong, but to make your theories and explanations stronger. It's one of the qualities you most like about him. His eyes drift to the water.
"They could have. But they had to have brought the knife, there's no natural substitute that would leave that precise of a wound." He says, and you relent, agreeing with him.
"I want to question the Rangers, get their work schedules, and see the call logs. I also want to know where the victims were staying and if there's any camera footage of them in the welcome center." You shiver with a gust of wind and hold your arms tighter around your body as you walk off to gather the information you want.
Spencer decides to join you in going to the welcome center, claiming that in a huge national forest that none of us should be traveling alone. He has a good point, but you wouldn't have objected to his company either way. The Ranger from the scene escorts you two to the welcome center in his cruiser, the warm air letting your fingers regain their feeling.
"Who found the bodies?" You ask as you hold your hands in front of the vent emitting warm air. The Ranger looks at you through the rearview mirror before focusing on the road again.
"I found one and Birch found the others during his patrols." He answers and you mentally make a note to find Birch.
"Is that area regularly patrolled?" You push further for more information and the Ranger shakes his head.
"No, it wasn't, until I found the first girl. She had to have been out there for at least three days. After that I sent Birch out to keep an eye on the area. He found victim two a couple days after the first, and found the third a single day after the second." He says and you look to Spencer, both noting the decrease in time between kills. A sinking feeling in your stomach tells you that if you don't find the killer soon, then you may be finding a fourth victim any day now.
Once you reach the welcome center, the Rangers are more than happy to provide you with the security camera footage, work schedules, call logs, and anything else you may need. In fact, it's Ranger Birch that hands over the information himself. He's a young man, maybe mid twenties, with meticulously groomed hair and pressed uniform pants.
"Thank you." You tell him with a warm smile, taking the footage and other information off the counter and into your hands. He nods back with a wide, white-toothed smile and tells you and Spencer to come back if you need anything else. The moment you step out of the welcome center you give Spencer a pointed look with a raised eyebrow.
"What do you think?" He asks you before you can ask him. You lick your lips and glance back into the welcome center, Ranger Birch still looking at you. Your eyes find Spencer's and you motion for him to follow you.
"I think he takes pride in both his appearance and work, and he knows the park well." Hotch pulls up in a black SUV to pick you and Spencer up to return you to the cabin, where the entire team will discuss what's been found so far.
-----
The trip up to the cabin only takes about ten minutes. Your mind works to put pieces of the puzzle together the entire trip back, but there's just not enough known information yet, and it bothers you. You like to have answers quickly because the faster you get answers, the less people will die. Your leg bounces up and down the entire way back, eager to begin deciphering the evidence.
The SUV comes to a stop outside the cabin and before Hotch can turn the car off, you're out and making your way to the entrance. A man dressed in a casual flannel shirt hunched over the flowerbeds stops you in your tracks before you get to the front door. He wipes the dirt from his landscaping gloves onto his worn overalls as he greets you.
"Good afternoon ma'am, I hope you enjoy your stay here. I'm James, I do the landscaping work around here and a few other cabins nearby." He offers you a warm smile, which you try your best to return, but your anticipation is causing you to become short.
"Nice meeting you." You go to walk into the cabin, but James' voice stops you once more. Spencer and Hotch approach, engaged in a conversation likely pertaining to what happened at the welcome center.
"Wait, ma'am. I never caught your name." James smile is reminiscent of an old friend, and he looks at you expectedly. Against your best wishes, you answer him, not wanting to be unnecessarily rude to your host.
"We'll, it's been a pleasure to meet you. Maybe I'll catch you around before you head out. Are you here for work?" He continues his conversation as Spencer and Hotch walk into the cabin undeterred by the landscaper. Maybe if you had just slowed down one of them would've been caught instead. James' eyes linger on the items in your hands.
"Yeah, the whole team is here for work." You answer, shuffling some items around in your grasp. James nods his head and tears his gaze away from the items, the warm smile returning to his face.
"Must be some important work if a whole team is here. By the looks of you all I'd say you're some sort of police." He guesses, eyeing the firearm that's strapped to your thigh. Your eyes narrow at the man, and you nod.
"Yeah, something like that. I really have to get going, they're probably waiting for me in there. Have a nice night, James." You find your exit route out of the conversation with the friendly mannered landscaper. As you step through the door you hear his voice call out to you once more.
"If there's anything I can do to help, number's in the guestbook." The door closes, and the conversation finally ends.
Taking a cleansing breath, you join the rest of the team who are all gathered around the rectangular dining table, which has been designated as the investigation headquarters. On the table are a slew of files, photos, and papers. You add the information gathered from the welcome center to that collection and Hotch starts the conversation.
Hotch reviews the known information and circulates photos of the victims. They're all beautiful young women, and according to Garcia, were staying at nearby resorts and cabins for vacation. The photos get passed to you and you look at them intently, committing to memory every detail you can absorb before you pass them along. It's obvious that these victims were chosen because of their physical appearance, they all share the same basic features such as hair color, eye color, and stature. And eerily, you seem to match the profile as well. 
"The physical appearance of the victim is important to the unsub. Having three victims with similar features is no mistake, nor is it a coincidence." You add to the conversation, seeing your team members look from you to the photos on the table. 
"Maybe the victims represent someone who scorned the unsub? Extracting revenge through them." Spencer suggests, and it's a good theory. You chew on the skin of your bottom lip as your mind races with theories and trying to piece the information together like a puzzle. 
After the general briefing, Hotch assigns Morgan and Prentiss to interview the Park Rangers to establish alibis, JJ and Garcia to continue conducting their online investigation, and Spencer and yourself to go over the welcome center footage. Hotch was going to speak to the people running the cabins the victims were staying at to see if there are any leads there. 
You and Spencer are on the second hour of footage when your eyes start becoming heavy. Reaching for the remote, you pause the footage and stretch, needing to take a break. 
"You want some coffee?" You ask him, needing something to keep yourself awake. He nods his head, 
"Yes, please." You stand from your seat and go to the kitchen to prepare the two of you some coffee. You're sure to put an ungodly amount of sugar in Spencer's, knowing that if you don't you'll hear him complain about it. And most times you enjoy the sound of his voice, but you don't know if you can stand hours of CCTV footage and him complaining about a lack of sugar right now.
You return to the table and place his mug in front of him, steam rising from it. You sip your own and resume your position at the table and reach for the remote. Spencer reaches for it at the same time, your hands brushing one another's. His hand is warm and soft, perfect for the chilly autumn air. 
"Sorry." You say, pulling your hand away and forcing any other thought than the footage from your mind, knowing that there's already a faint pink adorning your cheeks. No matter how long you've worked with him, even just simple touches is enough to send you spiraling if you let it. You try not to delve into what that might mean; you profile people for a living, the last thing you want to do is profile yourself. Without a word, Spencer just smiles back politely and presses play. 
The footage rolls and you two identify the victims who all showed up unaccompanied, which you find odd considering they were on vacation with their families. Your hand jots down quick notes in sloppy handwriting as you critically examine what you do, and don't, see in the footage. Spencer and you replay the footage showing the victims easily five times each, both silently taking notes, knowing you're going to compare soon. After watching the third victim's footage for the last time, you look over to Spencer, who's face is illuminated by the golden glow of the setting sun. 
"Do you want to go first?" He asks and you nod, trying not to stare at how the sunlight reflects the amber color in his warm prismatic eyes. You look down to your notes and try to get your thoughts straight before speaking. 
"I noted that all three victims walked into the welcome center with a pamphlet already in hand. None of them took the ones provided by the park. They all showed up alone. I can only assume that the unsub gave them the pamphlets with instructions on how to find the scene. Only, I'm willing to bet it was framed as a good-intentioned suggestion. There's no way those women would have gone if they didn't trust the unsub to some degree." Your eyes glance from your horribly written notes up to Spencer, who's leaning on the table, clinging to every word you say. He hums in consideration before he speaks up.
"I would agree. And if the victims were all staying at tourist destinations, those pamphlets were likely already there. So now the question is whether or not the unsub talked to them at their cabins or before they walked into the welcome center." He says, and a lightbulb goes off in your mind. 
"Wouldn't it make more sense for the unsub to speak to them at their cabins? I mean, if the unsub caught them in the parking lot there's a chance they might have their families with them. But if the unsub spoke to them at their cabins, the women might be persuaded to leave their families behind for some reason." You say, going with the logical deductions that pop into your mind. Spencer mulls over your words, his eyes narrowing, staring back at you in deep thought. 
"You're right. The unsub likely works for the resorts. It would give them access to the victims and it wouldn't be weird for them to give suggestions to guests." He confirms what you thought and you look back to the screen, seeing the third victim frozen in time. 
"We should let the team know." You say and Spencer nods. The two of you finish off your coffee and wait for the rest of the team to arrive. You're confident that the two of you have a solid lead on this case. You only hope you can find the unsub before there's a fourth victim.
-----
The sun sets on the scenic landscape and you lean against the banister of the wraparound porch. The rest of the team isn't back yet, and the last thing you want to do is stay inside when it's so beautiful out here. The snowcapped mountain in the distance gleams brilliantly, and it's almost blinding, but you can't look away. Sounds of water rushing and birds chirping fill the air and if you let your mind relax enough it's almost like you're not here to solve murders. 
Your head rests atop of your arms on the railing and you breathe in the cool air. The breeze gently blows your hair around, sending a shiver up your spine. You had severely underestimated how cold it would be here, and as a result, you failed to pack adequately because you were basing your packing off of Virginia fall time temperatures, which are noticeably warmer. 
The sliding door opens and you turn to see Spencer walking out of his room. He joins your side and leans forward on the railing, looking out at the breathtaking view. His curly brown hair gets blown into his face, and you have to stop yourself from reaching out and tucking it behind his ear. You're also enjoying the breathtaking view. 
He looks at peace, which is not something you usually see in him. His mind works overtime almost twenty four hours a day, especially on cases. It has to be torturous sometimes, to never get a reprieve from your own thoughts; and that's something you know all too well. There are some nights where you can't sleep because gruesome memories from the job haunt you. 
Noticing that you're staring at him, you turn your gaze back to the colorful trees. The two of you enjoy a moment of tranquility together, a rare moment in the fast-paced career you pursued. A bird flies by, and you can only imagine what that freedom feels like. Most times you feel like your job keeps you cemented in one place, always dealing with death and the most heinous monsters that reside in this world. You often forget just how beautiful and free life can be. 
A particularly crisp breeze comes through and you visibly shiver, which Spencer notices. Without a word, he goes into his room and comes back moments later with the throw blanket that was folded at the bottom of the bed. It's burnt orange in color and is made of faux fur, warm and soothing. Spencer drapes it over your shoulders and you hold onto the ends, keeping it secure around you. If you could stay in this moment forever, you would. 
Spencer stands so closely beside you that you feel his warmth coming through the blanket, and without much thought, or care, you lean into him just slightly. He makes no effort to move, and the two of you stay like that for what seems like an eternity. His warmth and his smell are so comforting and makes you feel safe. Deep down in your heart you know he makes you feel at home.
The two of you enjoy each other's company in a peaceful silence. There's never been the need to fill the silence with him, like there is the others. While you two are quite talkative in the team dynamic, when you find yourselves alone it's often relaxed with no expectations. You two talk when you want, or is needed, but when there's nothing to say you're more than happy to just be around him. And you hope he feels the same about you, and you think he does, but you're never brave enough to ask for fear of ruining whatever relationship it is that you two share.
Sighing, you cuddle yourself further into the blanket as the sun dips lower and lower, the golden hue turning orange. Spencer moves beside you, and you see his fingers twitch, like he was going to reach out for something but doesn't. Your head turns to look at him above you, and his head lowers, so that your eyes meet one another. 
You had always known his eyes were beautiful, but up this close you can truly admire the depth of them. The golden hues remind you of the sunsets, the green in them is like the rich moss that adorns the sides of the rocks; or like the pine needles on the tall trees, and the brown is reminiscent of swirling espresso. Taken aback from his closeness and the heat creeping up your spine, your lips fall open and his eyes glance between them and your eyes. He's so close to you, your bodies practically pressed against one another. You feel yourself being drawn to him, like he has his own magnetic pull. 
But whatever was about to happen is cut short by the rest of the team arriving back to the cabin. You and Spencer seem to come back to reality and step away from one another. Flustered, you unwrap the blanket from your shoulders and hand it back to him, already missing the warmth.
"Thank you." Your voice is soft and tender, and his hand brushes your own as he grabs the blanket from you. 
"Of course." He smiles softly back, and the two of you part ways to join the rest of your team downstairs to catch up on the latest information. But you can barely pay attention to what is being said, for your mind is drowning with flashes of Spencer out on the porch. 
-----
The next morning you wake up as the sun shines in through the windows, illuminating the room beautifully and warmly. Hotch had given everyone the night to mull over the information and said that the investigation will pick right back up in the morning. After you get dressed and ensure your service weapon is properly attached to the harness around your thigh, you make your way down the stairs for a morning cup of coffee. Morgan, Prentiss, and Hotch are already sat at the table, picking at some toast for breakfast as they get the sleep rid from their systems. 
You make a cup for yourself and Spencer, knowing he will be up any moment now. As per usual, too much sugar gets put into his and then you pour your own. The warm drink calms your nerves and you close your eyes, trying to get your mind prepared for whatever the day may bring. You know there may very well be a fourth victim found soon and you need to be on the top of your game to find the unsub.
"Good morning." A raspy voice makes your eyes open, and you see Spencer walking into the kitchen, dressed in a button up and tie. It's quite casual for him, but you like it, it looks nice on him. 
"Good morning, made yours right here." You say and nod over to the mug on the counter. He looks from you to the mug with a smile on his face.
"Thanks." He says, and the two of you stay in the kitchen, sipping on your coffee and waiting for Hotch to give everyone orders. 
"Feeling good about today?" It's something you always ask when an investigation seems to be coming to a close. You think it sets a tone, an expectation that the team will succeed. Spencer sips his drink and nods, 
"I feel good about today." He confirms, flashing his bright white smile. 
Last night, after the team had arrived, Hotch had shown everyone the list of employees from the neighboring resorts and cabins and today the team will be interviewing those employees. You're convinced the unsub has to be on that list and you intend to find out who it is. The questions have already been sorted in your mind, though you're able to adapt to anyone's personality and are prepared to get answers. 
"Same teams as yesterday, we're going to divide and conquer." Hotch says, handing each team a list of names. You look down at the list he handed you and see that there are a total of fifteen employees for the small resort that you and Spencer are covering. It catches your attention that seven of the fifteen are women, and you mentally place them lower on your suspect list. This doesn't seem like a crime women usually commit, no, this seems like the work of a man as evidenced by the brute force used. 
Morgan and Prentiss take off in one car, Hotch takes another, leaving you and Spencer with your own SUV. The two of you gather your needed materials, such as photos and notepads, before you head out. Spencer grabs the keys and tells you that he's going to warm up the car as you finish organizing your things, and you're grateful for that. Sitting in a cold car doesn't really appeal to you right now. 
Once you're content with the items you've chosen to bring along you head out of the cabin. The bright light almost blinds you, and you squint in order to see. From the corner of your eye you see something move, and when you turn to look you see it's the landscaper from the other day, already flagging you down. Resisting the strong urge to just ignore him, you wait for him to reach you on the porch steps. He looks like he's already been hard at work today, he's covered in dirt and sweat. 
"Well good mornin'. Got anything interesting going on today?" He asks, shielding his eyes from the light with his gloved hand. You shift your weight and look to the running SUV, already planning your escape route out of this conversation. 
"Uh, yeah, you could say it'll be an interesting day." You reply as politely as you can. James smiles widely at your response. 
"What sort of thing you have planned?" He asks and you sigh, not wanting to be part of this conversation any longer. 
"I'm not at liberty to say, but I've gotta go, my partner is waiting for me." You excuse yourself from the conversation before he can get another word in. From behind you, you hear him say. 
"Well alright then, I'll be around if you need anything." As you slide into the driver's side of the car and hand your bag to Spencer, you see the man heading back to the tool shed. 
"That's twice now that he's singled me out." You say, keeping your eye on him for a moment longer, watching his moves. The fact that you match the victim profile is not lost on you, and you think it might be making you just slightly paranoid.
"I noticed that too. Could be that you were the first one there the last time, and the last one out this time, but it's definitely something to keep note of." Spencer says as you drive off to the tiny resort the two of you had been assigned. You know he might be right, but the man went out of his way to flag you down this morning and completely ignored everyone else. An uneasy feeling in your stomach tells you that the landscaper should be looked into more thoroughly. 
When you and Spencer reach the resort you waste no time in beginning your investigations. The two of you are laser focused on the task at hand, and agree to split the list equally. Spencer volunteered himself to question the extra person. Luckily, the front desk attendant was more than helpful and secured two rooms for the interviews to be conducted. 
The first four interviews go by without incident, all front desk attendants and kitchen workers who have no indication of manipulative traits and answer your questions openly. You've done this enough times to spot exactly what you're looking for, you know what gets under the skin of unsubs, especially the organized ones who think they have it all figured out. 
A couple other interviewees give you good information about the victim who stayed here. They tell you how they remember seeing her with her family in the hall, and how nothing seemed out of the ordinary in the room when it was cleaned. Hotch had questioned the families last night, and cleared them from the suspects list. 
By the time you reach the end of your list, you know you can safely cross every one of them off. None of them responded to the misinformation you sprinkled in the questions, things the unsub would've been known to be untrue. And none of them had any sort of reaction to you insulting the intelligence of the unsub, something that would have surely set them off in some way. But to your dismay, none of them had any clue of who could be capable of this kind of malice. Typically, there's at least one person who's able to spot something weird about someone, but not this time. 
You group back up with Spencer, the two of you comparing notes in the room he used for his questioning. He had the same results as you and you both were hoping someone else on the team was more successful. 
"We got all of them except for James Hilton. The others said he bounces around to each place and some days he's not even here." Spencer says, pointing out the only uncrossed name from the list. 
"James Hilton. That's the landscaper." You say, barely able to recall his name from yesterday. The uneasy feeling in your stomach grows. 
-----
In the afternoon, the team reconvenes in the cabin around the table to compare findings. Every other agent was able to interview everyone but James Hilton. Granted, his job requires him to go from location to location, but it seems like he's been hanging out around this cabin often. However, he was nowhere to be found when everyone came back. But maybe he went to another location to work on their flowerbeds. 
"We'll need to get his statement today. Anyone up to track him down?" Usually you volunteer to go after someone like this, but something is telling you not to, and you listen to your instincts. Thankfully Morgan offers to track him down, and Prentiss joins him once more. You pick at a piece of paper on the table as your mind works, mulling over what you know about the case and the overly-friendly landscaper. 
Before Morgan and Prentiss leave, Spencer informs the team about the conversations that James has dragged you into. You tell them exactly what happened, and they all agree that it seems suspicious. Hotch goes off to make some calls to JJ and Garcia, leaving you and Spencer at the table. 
"Hey, are you okay?" Spencer asks, leaning forward on the table. His voice snaps you out of your trance and you cease to fiddle with the paper. 
"Me? Yeah I'm fine, why?" You ask, not sure why he's concerned. He looks conflicted, opening and closing his mouth a few times before he answers. 
"Well, it's just that you fit the victim profile and the conversations with the landscaper seem to be suspicious. And you keep playing with the paper which is an indication of anxiety." He says, trying his best to not profile you in front of your face. 
"Spencer, I'm okay, promise. I was just thinking." You tell him, and it's the truth. While James makes you feel uneasy, you're confident that nothing will happen to you. Spencer nods and you stand from the table, wanting to inspect the cabin with finer detail and stretch your legs. 
After going from room to room looking for the tiniest thing that might be relevant to the case, you find yourself staring at the same photo that caught Spencer's eye when you all first arrived. There's something about it, something about the discolored spot, that you just can't let go of. It's bothering you for some reason. Frustrated, you take it off the wall and bring it to where Spencer is in the main living area, nose in a book. He looks up from the page when he hears you coming, his eyebrows scrunching closely together. 
"What are you doing?" He asks, putting the book on a side table. You place the painting on the large coffee table and put your hands on your hips. 
"There's something about this that's driving me insane." You say, eyes drifting from Spencer's face to the painting. It takes Spencer all of ten seconds to analyze the painting again. 
"It's the same place the bodies were found." He says and your eyes widen, taking in the scene again and realizing he's right. 
"Wait. If this is the same place the bodies were found, then that, is the exact spot they were in." You say, pointing to the discolored spot. The discoloration is where the grass meets the water, the mountain in the background. Your eyes drift to the bottom corner of the painting where you see a cursive 'J' painted in white. 
"Do you think the killer is the one who painted this?" Spencer asks you, and you nod. 
"I'm sure of it. There's a J painted in the corner. It has to be Hilton. Can you call Garcia?" You ask, mind feeling like it's running a marathon. Spencer doesn't hesitate to get Garcia on the phone. 
"Hello my beautiful boy genius, what can I do for you today?" Penelope's voice sounds throughout the room and you smirk at her entertaining phone greeting. 
"Hello my beautiful computer genius, can you do me a favor?" You speak first and you can hear her laugh through the phone. 
"Oh my darling anything for you." Her voice is melodic and you shake your head at her antics. You love Garcia, she's one of your closest friends inside and outside of work. 
"Can you find anything on a James Hilton from the Boulder, Colorado area?" You ask her, knowing your answer is about to be served on a silver platter in just a few moments. Garcia's quick typing echoes through the phone. 
"James Hilton, born and raised in Boulder. Has been working as a property manager for the last ten years at the property you all are staying at. Has one traffic record from the nineties, but other than that he's clean." She says, but you were hoping for something more incriminating. 
"Anything about a wife, or a girlfriend? Maybe even a sister or mother?" You ask her, staring down a the painting. 
"It looks like he was in a long term relationship with Valerie Wilson, also of Boulder. But according to her Facebook page, they are over with." She says, Spencer and you looking at each other, knowing you may have just found a potential piece of the puzzle. 
"Perfect. Can you tell me what she looks like and how to contact her?" You ask and write down the details Garcia recites. After you get the needed information, Spencer hangs up and calls Hotch to inform him of what the two of you just found out. Hotch tells us that he's on his way back to the cabin after he's done with the last interview. 
The painting lays in front of you two, and you take a seat on the arm of the chair Spencer is sitting in, your leg brushing up against his and your arm resting behind his head to keep yourself stable. Your eyes are glued to the discoloration, and you know there's just something about it that's more than just not being able to find the right shade. 
"Is there a way to see if something has been painted over?" You ask Spencer rather than Googling it, knowing he can probably get you an answer faster. He clears his throat and nods his head.
"A few years ago it was found that Vincent Van Gogh painted over several of his works due to the cost of canvas. Experts used x-ray to see through the layers, revealing the original painting." His answer is exactly what you were looking for.
"We have to get this thing x-rayed. And someone needs to contact Valerie and ask her about her relationship with James. His tool shed should be examined as well" You jump off the chair's arm, ready to leave immediately, but having to wait for Hotch before you can proceed with anything else. 
-----
Hours later, your leg is bouncing up and down, eagerly awaiting the results of the x-ray. The hospital staff had never encountered something quite like this, but you were thankful that they were cooperative. Spencer had come along with you while Hotch stayed back to get in contact with Valerie. You check your phone every ten seconds to see if you have a new message for him, but your screen is blank.
Thankfully, a few minutes later an x-ray technician comes out and beckons you to a dark room where she clips the x-ray images onto a lightboard. While the images aren't in color, you can still see exactly what you need to. The images show that where the discoloration is, there used to be a woman standing and a man on one knee. A gasp leaves your mouth, the pieces finally fitting together in your mind. Without a doubt, James is the unsub. 
Spencer and you race back to the cabin and spill the findings to the rest of the team. Hotch informs you that Valerie had confirmed that James recently proposed, but she turned him down. All of the victims match her appearance. He must have been killing to fulfill some sort of revenge he felt was necessary. 
The team calls each of the resorts that James is employed at only to find that he's not at any of them. While the others scramble to try and find a way to find him, your eyes land on the guestbook. 
"Guys. I can call him. He told me his number is in the guestbook and we know I fit the profile. He won't be able to help himself." You say, and the others don't have any good reason as to why you shouldn't do it. Your hands shake from the adrenaline as you dial the numbers and the phone rings, your heartbeat resounding in your ears. You're so close to catching this depraved man. 
"Hello?" He answers finally. You let go of a breath you weren't aware you were holding and speak up.
"Hi James, you told me to call you if I needed help with anything. And, um, I think I might have broken one of the outside lights." You quickly come up with a lie, hoping to lure him out here for the arrest. You hear him moving around on the other end and the start of an engine. 
"Of course, I'll be there in just a moment, honey." He says and you hang up the phone, trying not to gag from his pet name. 
It takes James all of fifteen minutes to reach the cabin. When he pulls up, the entire team is waiting for him, but you were the one with cuffs in your hands. As soon as his feet hit the ground, Hotch and Morgan were out the door ordering him to the ground. With smug satisfaction, you step over the man and secure his hands in cuffs behind his back. 
As the local police show up to take him away, he's spitting every expletive in the book at you. Rage and hatred show themselves very clearly on his face, and you see who he really is. You smile sickly sweet at him as he's shoved into the back of the cop car. Another monster off the street, unable to do harm to another woman. It's like a weight gets lifted from your shoulders. 
-----
After the excitement of the arrest, you come down off your adrenaline rush. The rest of the team are packing, getting ready to leave in the morning, but you can't find it within yourself to do it. You're too struck by the beauty in front of you to worry about going back home. You just don't want to part with this yet. So you find yourself out on the wraparound porch once more, the sun retreating far too quickly behind the horizon for your liking. 
Despite the waning sun, the landscape looks brighter, more vibrant now that you know that the killer is in custody. Usually, the team gets only a few hours of celebration before you're saddled with paperwork and the next case. A bird flies past again, and you appreciate its freedom again. Its sweet melodies carry in the breeze and soothes your weary soul. 
You love your job, you can't imagine doing anything else, but it does wear on you. Both physically and mentally. Before you had started working with the team, you never could have imagined the kind of evil lurking everywhere, even in a place as gorgeous as this. But now, it's like wherever you look, no matter how beautiful the surroundings, you can always spot something amiss. You feel weighted by the knowledge of what reality actually is. 
The familiar sound of the sliding door catches your attention, and you see Spencer coming towards you, blanket in hand. A smile finds its way onto your face as he closes the distance between you, securing the blanket around your shoulders. Just like yesterday, he stands right beside you, admiring the view. 
"The others are all leaving tonight, they said they want to get a headstart on the papers. But I told them we'd go back in the morning." His voice is raspy, yet soft.
"But what about the plane?" You ask, eyebrows knitting together. He shrugs his shoulders and looks down at you. 
"I told them we'd fly back in the morning, already have the tickets arranged." He says, easing some of your anxiousness, but not satisfying your curiosity.
"Why?" You search for the answer on his face. 
"Because I saw how much you like it here. You deserve one workless night." He says with sincerity and your heart swells at the sentiment. You fully turn towards him, soft blanket draped lightly across your shoulders. You notice that Spencer has traded his button up for a simple pullover. Something so simple has never looked so good before. 
"Thank you, you really didn't have to-" He cuts you off with a smile, 
"I know, but I wanted to." He admits, pink coloring his cheeks. You stare up at him in awe, not quite sure what you did to deserve his thoughtfulness. Not being able to hold back your affections, you reach out and engulf him in a hug. 
"Thank you, Spencer." You reiterate into his chest, feeling his arms wrap around you. After a few fleeting, precious moments, you let go of him. Staring up into his eyes, you reach a hand up and stroke the soft skin of his cheekbone with your thumb. He doesn't flinch from your touch like he does with others, no, he leans into it as if he's savoring the feeling.
His arm that was around your waist come up to cup your cheek, and he gently brings your face towards his, pressing a tender kiss to your lips. You hold him close, a flurry of warmth spreading from your face down to your body. His other hand finds its way around your waist, securing you to his body. 
You break the kiss as your chest begins burning with the need of oxygen, and he rests his forehead against yours. Your hands come up to gently grasp the sides of his face, keeping him in place so that you can admire his beauty. After minutes pass by in silence as you two appreciate each other, Spencer tilts his head up and kisses your forehead. 
He turns you around so that you're facing away from him, and he grabs the blanket from around your shoulders. Seconds later, you feel him standing behind you, wrapping the soft blanket around the both of you. His chest is behind you, and he hands you the edges of the blanket so that his hands might find the soft curve of your waist. Spencer pulls you in to him so that you're leaning back on his chest. 
His presence is enough to make you forget about the horrors of the world, of your job. Right now, it's just you and him, and you've never felt lighter; so unburdened. You're convinced that if he wasn't there, holding onto you with his magnetic pull, that you may just float away in the breeze like a feather. 
Spencer rests his head atop of yours as the two of you relax your minds and bodies, focusing solely on each other and the scene in front of you. Your hands come down to entwine themselves with his with a soft smile on your face. 
A lone tear falls from the corner of your eye as you're overcome with emotion. You cannot recall a single time in your life that you've felt this serene, where everything just feels perfect. Your soul is well nourished and full from Spencer alone. All of those cases you worked together, the stolen glances across the office, the simple acts of kindness and thoughtfulness for each other has culminated to this one precious moment in time; and you've never felt more content. 
The sun eventually sets behind the horizon, the chilly breeze billowing the blanket around you both. Above you in the sky, the stars shine brightly, and you tip your head back to admire them. You can never admire their true beauty in Quantico, their shine is dulled by light pollution, but you can see them clearly here. You can see everything clearly here.
"You know, scientists estimate that there are about two hundred sextillion stars in the sky within the Milky Way." Spencer whispers in your ear as you two bask in their soft white light. You turn around in his hold and smile up at him, 
"And yet none shine as brilliantly or as beautifully as you." You say, and pull him in for another soft, heartfelt kiss. As you pull away, you watch as his eyes flutter open and he smiles endearingly. You've never seen such a beautiful sight, never felt comfort as warm as him, and you know as you lean into his embrace, that you will not bear the weight of this world or this life alone. 
108 notes · View notes
orcasoul · 7 months
Text
Priceless
Summary: Takes place after Grogu leaves with Luke to train as a Padawan. The Razor Crest wasn't destroyed. Reader is/was Grogu's nanny. Din and reader are in love, although neither one has confessed their feelings at first. When Din leaves to track a bounty she stays at an Inn because the ship is too quiet without Grogu. She is abducted by slavers and of course our hero Din saves the day and makes them pay!
Warnings: Swearing, angst, graphic description of violence and torture, no use of your Y/N.
Italics indicate inward thinking.
Tumblr media
You're jolted out of your dreamless sleep as the Razor Crest leaves the peaceful tranquillity of hyperspace to begin it's decent into Tatooine. Desert planets were you're least favourite to find yourself on. The immense heat, arid air and rough sand of these maker forsaken places were enough to drive even the most hardened survivalist insane. "Strap yourself in. We're descending." Din announced in a monotone voice. You shift to strap in while Din's gloved hands slip methodically over the many control buttons and levers. Watching him you can't help but marvel at the amount of sequences he has to remember just to land the ship. "Of all the planets for the bounty to hide out on he had to choose this dusty shit hole," you half laughed, half grumbled. "I hate sand." "It shouldn't take too long to track him down, a few days at most." Din informed you almost absently. He hadn't been himself since Grogu left to train with Luke.
When you first met him, Din wasn't a great conversationalist. It took a little while for him to warm up to you, and when he did you managed to slowly pull more and more conversations out of him, but you also knew when he needed to be left alone and respected that. But for the past three weeks he's barely uttered a word to you, except when it was absolutely necessary. Technically he'd spent most of those weeks tracking down quarries, but the days he was present were awkwardly silent. Gone were the moments of laughing together at whatever trouble Grogu had caused, gone were the moments where he would call you cyar'ika, cyare and mesh'la. (You'd never asked him what they meant, hoping that they conveyed some form of endearment, and afraid that if you questioned him, he'd abandon the notion altogether). Gone were the times where you would brush past each other and the contact would last a few seconds longer than necessary, gone were the moments of comfortable silence. Now all that remained are short sentences, grunts and nods.
You missed the little guy too and longed for Din to talk to you instead of allowing his grief to fester within. You wished he would ask you how you are feeling after everything that happened. Surely he could see how much you love and miss Grogu. But you also missed Din too and wished there was something you could do to bring him back to you. He was here but he wasn't here. Seeing the man you'd fallen head over heels for determined to suffer alone made you feel useless. All you want to do is comfort him. "I miss him too, Din," you offered again, hoping to get him to open up to you. Din's shoulders tensed at your words and you could feel the tension in the air thickening by the second. Unable to stand the silence you continue, "He's safe with Luke, you know that, right?" Din slowly turned his helmet towards you, lights from the cockpit controls reflecting off his beskar, making him look like a contemporary work of art.
After a few tense moments of silence Din sighed, "I know." You took that as a sign that maybe he was ready to talk. That hope spurred you on, "It hurt so much saying goodbye but we did the right thing, for his sake." You were met with silence. "And I miss you too, Din," You confessed. "You've hardly spoken to me since that day. You can always talk to me about him, I wish you would." "Mhhmm," was the only reply you got as Din turned back to the controls to steady the craft as it touched down onto the landing pad. After shutting the engine down Din abruptly got to his feet and marched out of the cockpit. "Well, that went well," You sighed to yourself as you hugged your legs up to your chest in the chair, leaning your chin on your knees. His angry departure crushed any hope of reaching out to him yet again.
Letting Grogu leave was the hardest thing Din has ever had to do. He missed his foundling every second of every day. The only times he didn't have time to dwell on the loss was when he was hunting. The familiar thrill of the chase and finally obtaining his quarry made him feel more like himself again. And as welcomed as the distraction is, it was always a short relief. The return to the Crest became painful now. He was used to grogu's excitable squeals and the way he would run to him or hold his arms out, and even though you'd still greet him, seeing you standing alone without the little womp rat in your arms made his heart hurt. It hurt so much more than he ever thought possible. Of course Grogu is safe with Luke and he'll be taught how to utilise his abilities with the force, but that knowledge didn't help to ease the longing and heartache he's consumed with every day.
Weather Grogu was here or with Luke, he is his son and always will be. But now he's no longer around and Din isn't sure how to process what he's feeling. He's always been a loner, never had anyone to care for. Then Grogu came into his life and turned it upside down in the best way possible. For the first time in his adult life he felt love. The kind of love only a parent can have for their child. He cherished him, protected him, and always put him first. He thought it couldn't get any better then you came along and taught him about another kind of love. A love so new and alien to him that he struggled to define it in the early days. A love that made him notice every little thing you say and do, committing to his memory every laugh, every sigh, every movement, every touch from you. A love that embedded itself deep into every part of his heart, body and soul. A love that yearned for you to be closer even when you were in the same room.
The bar you'd worked in on Coruscant was a dingy, roudy hole but your cheery disposition always made it seem brighter. Din found himself taking Grogu there for dinner most days while they were staying on coruscant while Din was tracking a bounty. Grogu was always happy to see you and you loved making a fuss of him, sometimes allowing him to sit behind the counter with you, when your boss wasn't around. That's when Din got the idea of asking you to accept a job as Grogu's nanny. He knew he couldn't keep risking the kids' safety on hunts and who better to take care of him than the woman he'd so obviously grown attached to? You'd jumped at the chance to care for the "Green Bean" (as you lovingly called him) and to explore the galaxy, the three of you settling into a comfortable routine over the past several months.
But now you had no one to care for and that frightened Din. He was afraid that you'd leave too. Any day could be his last with you and he couldn't face having to say goodbye to another person he loves. He'd always hidden his feelings beneath his stoic facade and inscrutable helmet, but there were times when he wanted nothing more than to pull you into his arms and profess his unwavering love and appreciation for you. But he was afraid that such a revelation would ruin the dynamic of yours and his stable friendship. He was certain you wouldn't feel the same way about him. How could you when you can't even put a face to him? When he'd done some very questionable things in his line of work. After all, bounty hunters have a reputation of being quite cold and brutal. He could live with harbouring what his heart felt while you were a part of his life, but now he knows it's only a matter of time before you leave him too and after the loss of his son, your departure would be the last nail in the coffin for him. So to make the inevitable easier to bare he kept his distance, tried his best to quash any feelings and lingering thoughts of you and only spoke to you when necessary.
If only he knew that for the past few months you'd been pining for him as much as he has for you. You've never felt a love this deep for any man before and it scared you at first. Sure you'd had a few partners in the past but they were boys that always proved to be just that: Boys. But this man captivated you the more you got know him. For a man hidden in an indestructible shell, he had no problem allowing his care and tender devotion to his child to break through, and over time that care and tenderness had extended to you. And for that and so much more you had fallen hopelessly in love with him. If only he'd known that.
*******
Ascending the ladder to the cargo bay you see Din preparing his weapons, ready for his next hunt. You hated seeing him leave now that Grogu wasn't here, dreading the solitude and emptiness the Razor Crest imposed on you the moment he left. Usually you and grogu would find ways to entertain yourselves around the ship and when on safe planets, you would both explore the towns and countryside. But you'd been alone with only your thoughts to keep you company for the past few weeks and now that the same situation is upon you again, you're not sure you can take it. You need to be around people, you need a distraction. So you'd decided to rent a room at a local Inn instead of remaining cooped up here and losing your mind. While Din is busy inspecting his array of weapons, you grab your backpack and begin to fill it with the necessary items you'll need for a few days; Clothes, toiletries, your data pad and credits.
"What are you doing?" Din asked quizzically as he turned to face you, helmet titled to one side. Without looking at him you reply, "I can't stay here alone right now. It's too quiet without Grogu. Everywhere I turn on this ship I'm reminded of him. I'm going to rent a room in town until you return." Din's heart sank to his stomach at your decision and his mind began to spiral. Maybe this is her way of saying goodbye, maybe she won't want to come back, maybe this is it. He began to feel the hurt he'd been trying so hard to avoid all this time, causing him to react the way he knew best; Put up a wall, act like the cold, stoic Mandalorian he is. "If you want to leave, just leave. You don't have to make excuses," Din snapped. Your eyebrows shot up in surprise at his harsh tone. "I'm not making excuses," You reply in confusion. "I just don't want to be here alone, again. All I do is think about how much I miss the little "Green Bean." Your voice cracked a little when you referred to grogu with the endearing nickname you had given him. "You keep yourself busy but what am I supposed to do?" "You don't have to do anything," Din answered coldly. "Grogu's gone so you don't have to be here anymore."
He regretted the words the moment they slipped past his lips. He didn't mean it, of course he didn't, but in his urgent attempt to regain control of his emotions and to protect his already fragile heart he decided to give you a way out. What he didn't expect in return was the sharp gasp and heart-rending look painted across your face. He could see tears beginning to glisten in your eyes, your bottom lip slightly trembling as you fought to control it. It had dawned on him in that moment that you had in fact stayed here for him and that you cared for him more than he realised and now he'd gone and fucked everything up. "You want me to leave?" you whispered incredulously. "After all this time am I still just a nanny? Do I really mean so little to you?" Your cheeks flush as hot, salty tears begin to fall. Your words cut a fresh wound into Din's heart. He wanted to say something but your clear distress had him frozen to the spot. How could he have been so blind? How could he have treated you so cruelly?
You took his deafening silence as confirmation that you indeed mean nothing to him, shattering your heart and encasing it in sorrow. "I stayed after grogu left because I thought we cared about each other. I thought we were friends, Din. I Guess I Was wrong!" you cried. Turning away from him your hurt began to morph into anger. "Open the ramp!" you demanded balling your fists. You had to get out of here, away from Din, away from the Crest. You'd lost the only two people you cared for and the pain was soul crushing. But as you began to walk away he quickly reached out and grabbed your wrist, stopping you in your tracks. "Wait.... please!." There was a desperation in his voice you'd never heard before. It doused the boiling anger that had been coursing through your core. You look into the T-shaped visor nervously, heart hammering in your chest. "I don't want you to leave." Din voice was almost a whisper.
The normally confident and collected Mandalorian had suddenly become an entirely different entity, unsure and vulnerable. "You don't?" you ask with one eyebrow raised, unsure of where this conversation is going but at the same time filled with an ember of hope that maybe he does care about you after all. Din lowered his head and released your wrist. "No," he sighed. "I never wanted you to leave. We... we are friends, cyar'ika-" "Is this how you treat your friends? Ignore them for weeks and make them feel unwanted?" you press, with your arms crossed over your chest, hurt evident in your voice. Din lifted his visor to look into your eyes and for the first time since you've known him you wished you could see him without the helmet, to see if his face would betray just an inkling of his emotions towards you. Din cautiously lifted his hand to cup your cheek, wiping away your tears.
You could feel your face reddening again, this time from the unexpected show of affection. Your breath hitched in your chest as you waited for him to respond. "I'm sorry," Din lamented. "I'm so sorry for the way I've been treating you. I never wanted you to feel that way. I just..... I thought that with Grogu gone you'd move on too and....." Din's voice shook slightly. He was obviously not used to being so open, so you decided to allow him to continue at his own pace, patiently waiting for him to express himself. "I didn't want to lose you aswell." His sudden and raw honesty struck a chord deep within and before your mind could even catch up you reached up, placing your hand atop his still resting on your cheek, to comfort him. How you wished that you could help him through the grief he's been caging inside himself. "I miss the kid so much," he finally divulged. "Not being able to see him, hear him, be with him, it's like.... like sometimes I can't breath. And I was so sure you'd leave too. That's why.... that's why I pulled away from you, so it would hurt less when you do."
Din's shoulders slumped slightly after confessing to you, as if a weight had been lifted from him. But this feeling of vulnerability was new to him and he loathed it. It made him feel weak, anxious and unsure. He hated exposing this side of himself. If he could have physically gripped these emotions and squeezed the life out of them he would. But worse than how he felt about his "weakness", was seeing how much hurt his actions had caused you. He never wanted to see that heartbreaking look on your face again, never wanted to be the cause of your tears and if that meant bearing his soul to you now, so be it! "Oh Din," you cooed, soothingly, "I was never planning on leaving. I can't imagine my life without you in it. It was hard enough leaving Grogu. The last thing I want is to leave you too." Din breathed a sigh of relief as your reassuring words washed over him, cleansing him of his doubt and filling him with hope. "I'm sorry cyare," Din repeated. "I should have just been honest with you from the beginning." "Well now's your chance," you gently encouraged while bringing his hand down to your side, fingers interwoven with his.
You're right. He knows you're right. It's now or never. Even if you don't feel the same way at least he won't have to live his life wandering "what if?". "I'm in love with you," he professed, suddenly finding his confidence return. "I have been for a while. I love your beauty, your strength, your wit, and I love how you love Grogu." You must be dreaming! Was he really confessing his love for you? This man whom you love unconditionally, who means more to you than the very air you breath. A man whom you never imagined would reciprocate your love. Your head began to swim and you could feel your heart-rate picking up as your emotions overwhelmed you, filling you with joy and elation. A wide smile spread from cheek to cheek as you stared straight into the place where his eyes are behind his visor. You gently place both hands on the helmets' cheeks and tiptoe while bringing Din's head down. You close your eyes and bring his forehead to yours, knowing exactly what this gesture means to him. "I'm in love with you too, Din," you beamed. "You're eveything I've ever wanted."
Din released a breath he didn't realise he'd been holding as your words sank in, warming every nerve, every cell, every inch of his being. He'd often imagined this moment. Imagined he would finally tell you how much he loves you and that you'd tell him you loved him too. But now this moment is here he can see how the fantasy pales in comparison to reality. Here you are accepting his love and giving him yours in return. It's as if his heart has finally began to understand what it had been missing all these decades. Din slowly wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you up to your tiptoes and into his broad, armour plated chest. The cold beskar cannot eclipse the warmth radiating from both his arms and his heart right now and you can feel the intensity of it all in the way he's now holding you. You sigh happily while winding your arms around his shoulders, burying your face in the crook of his clothed neck. Even through the fabric you can smell his unique scent, musk, leather, gunpowder, everything that makes him Din. The universe could end right now and you'd be happy to spend these last moments in his loving embrace.
Several blissful moments pass and Din delicately lowers you back down, Pulling his head back to look into your eyes, which are now glistening with love and adoration for him, his hands softly landing on your hips, while your hands hold onto his upper arms. Maker, how he wants to kiss you, rip his helmet off and kiss you! Maybe one day he'll get to do just that, when he makes you his Riddur. "So, you will be coming back, then?" he asks with a smirk. His helmet can hide it, but his voice can't. "Of course I will," you purred through the smile that seems to have taken up permanent residence on your face. "We have a lot to talk about when you return," you gushed. "And I hope we can talk about Grogu." The words came out almost timidly, afraid to upset him. "He means so much to both of us and I think it would be good for us to open up to each other about how this is really affecting us."
Hearing Grogu's name again brought another ache to Din's heart but now he knows he'll never have to bare this sorrow alone, that you'll be there for him and him for you. Somehow that assurance has already made expressing his grief seem less daunting. "Anything you want, meshla," Din hummed as he brought his thumb to smooth over the apple of your cheek. "Anything for you." You wanted to linger here for eternity, reveling in this intimate moment. But the universe will only give you so much of a good thing. You remember through your delirious haze that there's work to be done, work in order to survive in this galaxy. "Well," you begin while smoothing your hand over his wrist, "The sooner you catch your bounty, the sooner you can come back to me."
For the first time in his life, Din wished he didn't have to hunt down a fugitive. The excitement of the hunt and the satisfaction of the capture seemed insignificant now when all he wanted to do was hold you and tell you everything he'd been concealing for so long. But the logical and practical parts of his mind knew that living required credits, so as much as he hates it he knows he must leave. "Make sure to pack everything you'll need. I'll walk you to the town to find lodgings. Take this com so we can keep in touch." Din passed you a com and turned back to the weapons locker to finish his preparations. "If you need me for anything, contact me, anytime, okay?" "Okay," you reply, sidling up to him and pressing your head on his shoulder. "Please, be careful out there, Din. I love you." "I love you too, cyare," Din smiled under his helmet, leaning it gently on the crown of your head.
*****
The two smouldering suns had begun to rise as you and Din approached Mos Espa. Even though the dawn has just broken on the world the heat was already stifling. As you enter the town Din's soft leather clad hand settled on the small of your back, his head turning from left to right, checking for any signs of danger or unsavoury characters. Always on the alert, you mused while smiling slightly. This place seemed safe enough but the fact he's so protective of you makes your tummy flutter and you can't help but enjoy this new feeling of belonging, of being loved. As you both reach the main market street you see the vendors and traders setting up their stalls for another day of eking a living. "Over there." You point as Din's helmet follows your finger. "That place looks decent." You both stop in front of a small but very well looked after Inn. "The Lothcat Inn," you read while your eyes lit up at the cute picture beneath the words. "I love Lothcats. They're so cute I can't stand it," you chirped, your voice reaching a high pitch which in return earned a chuckle from Din. "After you...." Din gently ushers you inside, his hand not leaving your back.
After being given your keycard and dropping off your bag in your room it's time to say goodbye. You've seen Din off many times before, comforting Grogu and reassuring him that his dad will be back soon, but this time it feels different. So much still needed to be said, so much still needed to be discovered about each other and knowing that has to wait has you missing him already. You automatically squint as you and Din step out into the rising sunshines beating down without mercy, the surrounding Adobe brick and clay buildings bathed in a pinkish glow. The market is beginning to wake up. Street cries from hawkers, haggling and bargaining loudly fills the air, children running around laughing and getting under people's feet while their parents are distracted by the latest bargains, cafes and other businesses opening their doors to welcome customers. It's just what you need to keep your mind occupied for a few days.
"Do you have your com?" Din asks, a slight worry to his tone. "Right here," you responded with a smile, lifting your arm to reveal the com strapped to the inside of your wrist. "Good," Din breathed out in relief. "I'll contact you every morning and night to check in, but remember if you need me, if there's an emergency call me immediately, any time." Din's Voice relays the nervousness that is beginning to creep into his bones at the thought of leaving you here alone. At least on the Razor Crest he knew you were always safe. But he also understands that you need a change of scenery, so for your sake he doesn't object, despite his reservations. Sensing his obvious unease you hold his hands to try to soothe him, smoothing your thumbs over his gloved knuckles, feeling the cracks in the well worn leather. You tiptoe to reach for his forehead and Din brings his head down to meet you half way. Your eyes slip closed and you whisper, "You don't have to worry, Din. I'll be fine here, but if I need you I promise I will call you." The tension in Din's stance seems to alleviate slightly after the reassurance you just gave him.
"I'll be back in about three or four days, if all goes according to plan. I'll let you know when I'm close. I'll take the quarry to the ship, then come and get you." You feel the loss of his departure already and have to fight the lump threatening to form in your throat. "Take care out there, you hear me." It's your turn to worry now. "I will," Din promised "I love you." Your smile returned at hearing those words again. "I love you too," you cooed. Din slowly turns to walk away, your right hand still holding his for a few more precious seconds, fingers brushing against each others before they inevitably part. You smile lovingly as he takes one last look over his shoulder, then he's gone, swallowed by the growing crowd.
Part 2
56 notes · View notes
myspideyboy · 2 months
Text
( darkness and the light )
Tw/warnings: mention of dark thoughts, hinted murder (puzzle it together yall, context clues), dark peter, these thoughts shouldn't be glorified! Or acted on yall, murders not fun. It's not nice. Most likely spelling errors it's 5am here I haven't slept
(Short one shot!)
[ au ]*peter and y/n are 22*
Dark Peter parker x g/n reader
Summary| Peter will never admit to obession. Obession made you sick, and he wasnt sick. He was simply in love, thats it. He had been in love with y/n since he was 16, and love always has justified actions. Because if you wouldn't do absolutely everything for who you love, do you really love them?
(Gif not mine!!)
Tumblr media
Y/n was truly just a work of art to Peter. How couldn't they be? Their hair color was the first to catch his eyes, (given the fact peter was taller) but it's how he was always able to spot them from afar. Their eyes darting around in awe or curiosity when Peter would show something he found cool (like a new lego set he just finished), or how they gave out the loudest laugh at some dumb joke he would make. It was only ever y/n, only ever been them since the two were 16. They were new to the school, brand new to the whole city. It was a strong scent of strawberry pomegranate perfume that greeted peter first, an over powering sweet smell but one that pulled peter straight in. It pulled him straight in to fall head over heels, which he deemed as puppy love at first, then simply a crush. Never an obsession, or unhealthy love. Never that, because that was simply too sick. And peter parker wasn't a sick person, he was a hero! He helped people, it was what he did best, that's what he did for y/n.
Despite how badly he loved them, he would admit they were absolutely clueless for what was good for them. Or who was good for them. He was stuck in the friendzone for years, and even warning the poor lovesick person he fell for having heart eyes for some bastrad that wasn't worth their time.
Peter's arms were always a place for y/n to fall into and cry. Peter's arms were the ones holding them close, whispering sweet nothings, promises of "karma will get them, I'm here" "don't worry about that asshole, okay? They can't do anything to you" and peter was always right.
Being quiet and quick on his feet, being able to sense danger, being so quick in a fight always came in handy to be the karma their exes so deeply deserved. Peter just wanted what was best for y/n, and he always made sure to give it them. It's why they've been dating for a year now, 3 years of chasing after them lead them to be dating for a full year. Of course they had their up and downs, every couple does but peter always made sure it was all okay at the end of the day. It's what he always done.
Peter laid with his head leaning against the couch armrest, with their beloved partner curled up in their chest. Peter paid attention to the movie y/n decided to watch, it was their turn to pick so it was only fair peter paid attention even if it was the fourth time watching Alice in wonderland in a row for their pick.
But peter being peter, he noted their favorite movies.
–horror movies meant y/n was in the mood for excitement, to be on edge for what type of surprise was waiting to be revealed.
–Rom coms were a rare thing in the house hold, but it was when they needed a good cry or they found it on tiktok and think it would be amazing to watch with peter.
–Children movies though...children movies, especially y/n favorite childhood classics meant they were trying to distract themselves from something.
Which peter assumed it was work, it was the busy seasons to be fair. Christmas being right around the corner only made retail shoot up in sales, and despite peter saying he had everything covered (they didn't need to know how he would keep them okay, they never did before, so there wasnt a point now.) He knew how independent their beloved was, so it never was truly a problem.... Well, there was one problem. Of course the problem had a name, a ugly name that sent Peter mind into a dark fog. A fog he hated but knew it was necessary to protect who he loved. But! He rarely did hear this name of that said problem, so it wasn't really ever a problem Peter had to take care of immediately.
"Fucking day off and I can't get rest" a upset mumble seem to follow after a buzz of a phone that was set on vibrate for this movie night.
Before Peter could react he felt the warmth leave his chest and a small light from the phone he was hoping they wouldn't pick up. It lit up their feautres Peter enjoyed seeing so dearly, but not in this way. Never like this.
Irritated, eyebrows furrowed, eyes squinting to read the text message and the one who had decided to send the message. "Is it work again?" Peter asked, his actual concern for this being some type of work emergency was perfect to cover his own upset feeling at who this could possible be. It was like he already knew, because the words to leave their lips sent Peter's mind back into the dark fog he never really got used to showing up so quickly.
"No–..well, kinda? It's Ron, and I think it's some type of emergency since he's the one that closes but it's always asking me for drinks or some stupid shit like that an–" before this annoyed rant could continue, Peter took the screen that killed the perfect mood of the happy couple and set it down back where it laid on the coffee table just moments before. "Don't worry about him, hon..alright?" Peter spoke, his tone always so sweet, so calm and soft when speaking to the person who sat with him. The look in Peter's eyes was always so welcoming as well when looking just innto their eyes. The eyes of who held his heart in their hands, just like how Peter held their face so delicately in his.
It was always so welcoming, that it never alarmed any bells in y/n that should have been screaming "alert!alert!" years ago. It what kept Peter's dark thoughts and acts in the darkness where it belonged. Because y/n was the light, and no light like them deserved the knowledge of how close the darkness was. The heavy sigh that left their lips, they way they leaned their forehead against Peter's while their shoulders gave into the relaxed feeling showed peter, that they were truly his.
Wrapped around his finger just like he was wrapped around theirs.
"You know...I can scare him a little? Who wouldn't be scared of me?" Peter laughed made it seem like a joke, the way he gave a fake angry look just added onto the joke. It was enough to make y/n laugh, their head moving back to see Peter's face fully. "Oh, yeah, for sure. Everyone's scared of you petey, even the boogeyman shivers at your name" y/n teased, giving into this playful act. It was all a joke to them, because of course it was.
Peter was nothing but a sweet heart, a boy who built Lego sets back in high-school and now was currently enrolled in college. A guy who picked up their partner at anytime of day from their job so they can be safe, a guy who kept his spider identity a secret from everyone but the ones closes to him. Because he wasnt the best at keeping secrets he found exciting. An absolute sweetheart.
And that's all peter needed them to believe. As long as they believed this was a joke, the scariest parts of his mind laid in the open as some joke, because Peter was a sweetheart. Not a sick person. Not a bad person like the people he fought to keep others safe.
there wouldn't be questions of peter staying out later in his nightly patrol. No questions on how Ron ended up hurt, maybe even missing. Depends how much time the boy would have, how his mood changed when seeing Ron.
Peter kept everything okay, and if y/n needed to believe peter was a sweetheart who couldn't hurt a fly, to be okay. To be okay in their small studio apartment and in this littlw world peter made for the two of them. Then he'll keep it that way. Because that what peter always did, feed the lies to their fantasy so he can keep his. A win win at the end of it. The darkness kept his light happy, and the light kept blinded at the idea of the scary darkness was the one they woke up to every morning.
——
A/n| heyyy! I haven't posted in like🧍‍♂️ two years, so Jesus christ. And dark peter being my comeback??? Who expected that! This was in my drafts before no way home came out SOOO this was LOOONG ago, and I just fixed it up🙏 my writing was so horrible and I feel like none of yall told me to be nice, but I still love yall <3
27 notes · View notes
Text
I saw a post where someone gave there opinion on Mario ships, and I’m now doing that
Luigi/Bowser- This is my reason to breathe. It is a ship that has something for literally everyone and it has taken over my life. This blog is basically dedicated to it.
Mario/ Princess Peach- Love. They are cute, it gives husband worships wife energy. Peach is taller then Mario. I love it.
Luigi/ Princess Daisy- I prefer them as friends, but also have no problem with the this. If Bowser didn’t exist they would be my main for Luigi.
Luigi/Peasley- Honestly, I know nothing about Prince Peasley. But this ship isn't hurting anyone so go ahead.
Luigi/King Boo- I'm sure if I just read a fic, or looked at art or had someone give me an essay on them, I might fall for it, but for some reason I don't really have an opinion on it. But don't let me stop you from shipping them to your hearts content.
Luigi/Peach- I mean, you're not hurting anyone but that's really what your going with? Really? Okay I guess.
Mario/DK- I honestly thought that I would like fall head over heels for them. I thought that it would be a repeat of Bowuigi where it started as a joke but then I looked up the tag and it wasn't a joke anymore. I looked at the tag. I thought it was cool. I thought is was funny even. I even saw why people shipped them, and it was exactly the type of couple I usually ship. But for some reason, I don't like it as much as Mario/Peach. Maybe someday I'll be shoved into the Dk/Mario hole, but right now I'm just not. But I get why people like them, and I see no problem with you shipping them.
Daisy/Rosalina- I have drawn fanart of them. I have almost cried over the lack of content on them. I am currently working on a fanfic on them. I will probably write many more fics on them. I feel like you very rarely actually see WLW ships in fandoms, and I want to help bring them to light more.
Mario/Luigi- I am judging you. Heavily. I am sharpening a butter knife. When you see me with this knife and are like "You are really gonna kill me with that?" I'll say "No." and that's when the cannon i strategically placed right behind you while you were looking at the butter knife will start to go off. You'll jump away just in time for the cannonball to hit me instead. As you bask in the glow of your victory I will appear. The first me was a clone. I'm holding a gun. You beg for your life and I shoot, but I missed you entirely. You make fun of me but that's when the bullet bounces off metal and cuts a rope that drops a piano on you. I will then take the sharpened butter knife from my clone and have toast.
133 notes · View notes
renren-006 · 2 months
Text
Love Lost | Part 2: Heart Strings
Negan Smith x fem reader
plot: being in Virginia has sent your heart thumping, will you ever figure out why?
word count: 1166
a/n: hey! this is part 2 to Love Lost I hope you enjoy it!
Part 1: Atlanta- Virginia
Tumblr media
Living in Alexandria had set your heart ablaze. You had no idea why your heart would thump away when you walked outside your shared home into the Virginia air. You had never even visited the state let alone DC. Negan always wanted to go to DC together one day and walk around the museums and act like we had never met and meet at a painting. You smiled at the sweet memory of talking about going to DC one day. That's all it was you though, just the idea and memory of him making your heart beat, but even after that it continued to be a problem. 
*
“We should go to DC once you get some time off” Negan has said from his spot on the couch. You turned your head away from the book in your lap. You were only a part time nurse at the hospital in your area, you didn't work too much but you both needed the money so you worked more hours than you should have. While Negan was teaching basketball to the highschool, even he didn't make enough to keep you two afloat. 
“What?”
“Let's go to DC when we both have some time off. Lets go to the museums”
“You want to go to DC? For the Smithsonian?” you asked him, wondering how long he held this obsession.
“Yes! Let's go and look at the art and we can do a little role play” he joked. Him and his role play, he loved when you flirted in a way where you didn't know the other, where you just so happen to fall head over heels for him instantly. 
“You and your roleplay” you laughed, “Okay! Okay! Well go I promise. Only if you take me to the natural history museum” you told him. He smiled and pulled you into his lab holding you close and kissing your cheeks. 
“Whatever you want sweetheart” he told you, kissing you hard and sweet. 
*
Throughout your time at Alexandria it never stopped and only got worse the further you left Alexandria. It wasn't until one day you realized why. 
You did your best to distract yourself from your fast heart beat. You hunted, you helped patch people up in the little hospital they had. They welcomed your help there, learning that your stitches were far neater than theirs. You worked in the hospital for two years before the world ended and then again was trapped with no other option but to patch those cops up even though they trapped you. Within the walls of the alexandria hospital you felt calm, finally being in a place that didn't hold you there and wanted your skills to help the others. You felt at peace for the first time, in a long time. 
With the rest of the group you tagged along with Sasha and with Maggie occasionally. Shasha usually asked for you to watch her back when she went out to shoot at the walkers to get her sorrows and anger out. You worried for her, as the others did, but you let her handle her grief how anyone would. You handled yourself how you see fit, including working long hours in the hospital or even taking calls to houses at night if kids were sick or something happened. 
There was a time where the integrity of Alexandria was compromised and it terrified you. You held up in the hospital watching as walkers poured in from all angles into the community. You saw people running, dying and you saw those things eating. What was worse was when Carl was brought in, the look on Rick's face was something you won't ever forget. 
“Calm down Rick! Calm down” you told him, pushing him back so you could work on Carl's eye. It was nasty and hard but you managed to save his life but not his eye. That night was the first time you charged out behind Rick and Michonne and killed your way through the dead letting yourself feel the anger you felt towards the world. You let those tears fall with no regard to people seeing and when Sasha came up behind you and saw the look of hurt in hers, the two of you continued blazing through the dead.  
The community's life changed around after that. A new group was discovered, the Hilltop. Rick had an idea to the Hilltop with their problem with a whole other group of people, but it backfired. It wasn't for a few weeks before the real repercussions came. Maggie had a problem with her baby and wanted to get to Hilltop. You offered to tag along to keep her company and help her, she smiled and warmed the journey together. Maggie was different and alike to her sister, you took that as a good sign that the two of you could become closer friends.
 This journey was interrupted at every road, blocking your way forward. You were worried for Maggie, with the way she was looking and the pain you saw behind her eyes, you didn't know how much more of this turning around she could handle. When you tried leaving the van and running, even then you were trapped. The van was driven in front of where you kneeled with the others. Your heart like before was beating fast, boom boom boom, you didn't understand, you thought it was the nerves. A man stepped out of the van, leather jacket and bold boots stepped down out of the light. There the man's face became visible to you, although a face hardened by the years of the apocalypse those eyes and those lips were still the same. 
“Negan” you said, whispering your lover's name, he looked at you and froze. The others were all staring at you and the rest of the men gathered didn't so much as move when Negan kneeled down. 
“Y/N. Is that…is that really you?” He asked, the face he had on was instantly broken and the mask fell. There he was the man you loved now looking at you. 
“Yes…”you said not wanting to say more, but desperately craving too. He didn't so much as look at the others in the group. 
“Pack it up boys, we're done here” He said, every man's voice yelled over each other cursing and bargaining to make them pay. They wanted to watch us bleed for their friends' lives that RIck and the others took.
“I said pack it up” Negan snarled, everyone stopped and everyone got in their trucks. “Tonight consider this a blessing” he said turning to Rick who for the most part was terrified and confused. Negan stood a hand outstretched for you to take so you did. You walked with him to his car, the others watching. 
“Y/N!” Maggie called, you turned back, Negans boots stopped as you did, “How..?”
“He's my husband” was all you said before you let him lead you to his car, towards his home.
51 notes · View notes
imsoquarky · 9 months
Text
OKAY IM GONNA TALK ABOUT TMNT MM NOW
WARNING FOR SPOILERS BELOW THE CUT!!! THIS IS A RAMBLE POST, I AINT TIPTOEING AROUND IT!!!
Also, probably gonna start making # for post types. I feel like I reblog so much stuff that it's hard to find my actual content-
♠️ - ♣️ - ♥️ - ♦️
Starting off the bat, everyone who said Rise lovers were gonna love MM were absolutely correct. I adored this movie with every fiber of my being and I really think it could bring new people into the TMNT fandom just as ROTTMNT did.
While I will always be sad that Rise did not get the merch it deserved, I am over the moon that MM is getting it. The toys I've seen and merch I've gotten are already extraordinary. For the most part they are very very well made and most of it doesn't look like they've seen their entire family be brutally ripped limb from limb.
But moving away from my opinions about merch which is a whole other bag of worms being the physical item lover I am. THE MOVIE WAS BEAUTIFUL!!!
The storyline, the characters, the voice acting, the line delivery, the writing, the comedy, and ofc most of all
THE ART!! OMG THE ART!!! I LOVED EVERY SINGLE BIT!!! I see so much dragging on the art of this movie because it's ugly BUT THATS THE WHOLE POINT!!! It's meant to be messy, asymmetrical, even uncomfortable at times. Every character is so vastly different from the last, including every single background character. Some of my favorite overall designs were Splinter, April, Stockman, Superfly, Mondo Gecko, and even that fuckin BEAST Superfly turned into at the end.
This was the first iteration I watched where Splinter started out as a rat, being only into the more modern media, I had no idea that he was originally a pet. I could go on and on about MM Splinter and that is what I am going to do. I LOVED HIM. SO MUCH. He was such a dad, and an absolute badass when he wanted to be. Kicking ass to save his sons and just worried out of his mind about them. Despite his distain for humans, he was willing to take their help when it was offered. Instead of reprimanding his sons right then and there, he'd give them a hug and make sure they were safe beforehand. And when he saved them from getting their blood taken (I'm not calling it milking, please don't make me omg- /lh), he was like "I told you so!" but not in like.. a toxic way?? I never thought Splinter would end up as my favorite of any iteration, yet... here we are.
But y'all probably aren't all that interested in my gushing about Splinter yeah? Let's talk about the turtles, going from my favorite to least favorite (not to say I don't absolutely love them all, I just like some more than others.)
Raphael and Donnie are tied, but I'll start with just Raph. Raphael very much reminded me of when I was younger. Down to the struggled with volume & um... well, anger issues. Deep down, he loves and cares about his brothers, but he wants to branch out and meet new people. It's not that he doesn't want them to be there when he dies, it's that he wants to know other people outside of them. He loves them, but it's only natural to not want to ONLY have them.
Donatello was a silly guy, lots of playful jabs at his brothers and I just loved him. Also, the guy can DRIVE. Technically, being old enough, most places I know you can get a learners permit, so he probably realistically could drive. Despite complaining about having a "giant stick" much like 2012 Donnie, I found myself less annoyed by his complaints. Maybe I'm bias? Who knows. Point is, I loved him.
Leonardo, like Raph, was extremely relatable. With his upbringing and having a very anxious father, it makes sense to have such chronic anxiety. I swear, sometimes I feel like a mix between MM Leo and MM Raph. While ofc, I wasn't a fan of the little crush on April, it's not unrealistic. This is the first girl they've met and he has dreams of getting a girlfriend, obviously a 15 year old like that is gonna fall head over heels for the first girl he sees. Hell, when I first found out girls could like girls I honestly wasn't much different. (Ofc, I'm not a girl anymore, but that's besides the point here). But April shutting him down at prom was a relief, I'm hoping it just stays as a little puppy crush. It was handled SO much better than 2012 ever did, and I'm standing by that.
Now Michelangelo. Mikey was the SWEETEST OMG. Him and Mondo were an adorable duo and I'm hoping in future content we get more of them. Also, what is with Mikey and almost getting hit with cars in this film? I think the mans needs to keep away from the streets because he's like the critters down here in Kansas, very bad luck with cars. Only reason he's probably my least fav here is because I guess I don't have much to say about him, like, specifically?
Anyways. That's a lot of rambling, someone please talk to me about MM.
41 notes · View notes
d1amorph1n3 · 1 year
Text
Xavier x Reader - Maybe a few more lessons. Pt 12
Plot - During second term, you join Nevermore Academy. One of the first things you do is join the archery club, and from there you get to know Xavier Thorpe. At first he seems head over heels for Wednesday, but maybe at some point he'll see something in you? In school, you go through many dilemmas which you need to solve.
Tumblr media
Part 12 finale
────♡────
You stood for what felt like hours, just trying to make sense of what hit you all at once. Xavier looked so relieved to finally get everything off his chest. Maybe this was one of the strange daydreams you had, you shook your head. But Xavier was still standing in front of you. Pursing his lips tightly shut.
"Now... I know you still like him and... whatever. If that's what makes you happy then so be it. But just know (y/n) I love you. More than he could." Xavier had to accept the fact you weren't his. You had your eyes out for another man. Xavier walked away from you, leaving you standing still with no sense of mind. Something inside you hurt to watch him leave, but your feet were chained to the ground unwillingly. You couldn't move and run after him. So you stood, there hopelessly yearning for something so far from you.
If it wasn't for Wednesday that found you still standing in the cold- you'd be standing outside like a gorgon had stoned you. You couldn't say anything, you were just thinking. Thinking of Xavier, what he was to you. What you were to him. You never knew such feelings could manifest in you. Such powerful feelings. But Xavier was wrong, about you and Morte. He was long gone out of the picture when you danced with Xavier. You remember how your heart felt so warm, but you dismissed it. You never had that stupid crush on Morte- you were just trying to avoid falling for a man you couldn't have because of someone you thought was your friend. You spent time and time. Thinking and... nothing. You couldn't make sense of any of it. You had to go talk to Xavier.
You went to his dorm, empty. You went to his art studio, empty. You even went to Ajax to see if he was with him...and what would you know. Nothing, again. 'Come on come on THINK' You yelled at yourself, heart pacing as you forced logical thoughts into your mind. Then you remembered the nightshades. Wednesday told you about their pathetic attempt to interrogate her. That was your very last hope. You stood at the entry, trying to remember what Wednesday told you about this place. How to get in and all their strange books inside. Claps? Clicks? Snaps? Snaps! Snaps! That's what it was, Snaps. Just... how many? It didn't matter, but you raised you'd hand in the air and snapped your fingers against each other. Luckily you went with your gut feeling and went with number two. To your relief, the statue moved back exposing an entry into the darkness. Shady 100% but you had to do this one thing.
With caution you walked down the dark steps, holding tightly to the bannister by your side so you wouldn't go falling head-first down a flight of stairs. It was dark. Duh... it was called nightshades. You mock yourself in your mind as you finally reach the stairs. There was minimal lighting, but that was for the mood I suppose. Your thoughts kept going until you saw a familiar tall figure with a book in hand. Xavier stood against a bookshelf with one in his hand, looking dully at the words with little to no interest. He was sulking. There were towers of books all around you, that stretched as high as the ceiling. It was ominous, dark dim lighting with black and white paintings that were nailed to the walls. Some of which you recognised.
"Yknow, for a secret society. It's not very secret." Xavier spoke up, shutting the book with a loud thud before putting it in a space behind him. His eyes search for you through the room full of darkness. You awkwardly laugh at his small stupid comment. "Well I think you'd be an idiot if you didn't know how to get in..." You shrug your shoulders approaching him. It was just you and him in this echoing room. Xavier chuckles at you, folding his arms over his hoodie as he pushed his back against the sturdy bookshelf that held him up. "Xavier...look what you said." You cut from the lighthearted topic, your voice instantly turning more timid as you spoke through the dusty air filled with centuries of collected dust on unused books. "No, I know what you are going to say. You like morte, yes I get it. I said this earlier. If that's what... makes you happy then. I'll be happy too." Xavier tried to sound like he wasn't bothered by it, but he was disappointed. He looked at you with a sunken expression. Xavier held to the sleeve of his hoodie tightly, his fingertips tips turning white under the pressure of the hold.
"No Xavier. That's the exact opposite of what I have to say." You respond in a calm order, shaking your head. Your hair slightly shaking; following the movement of your head. Xavier's eyes stiffened as you said that. "Xavier, I never liked him. I thought I did. I lied to myself, and you. I couldn't care less about some... vampire posh-boy. I like you. I was just... trying to protect Bianca and myself." You expose yourself, eyes going soft under the small amounts of lights that bounced off your eyes as you walked across the enchanted halls towards Xavier. "After the dance, I felt many things change for me. So I started...lying to myself. Telling myself you're just a friend, a good friend I can't have those feelings for." Xavier looked...shocked. His stern hold loosing as his hands fell limp by his sides while you continued. Small amount of tears collecting in his eyes, he didn't know if it was the happiness, the shock, the sadness or everything all together at once but it didn't matter.
"Xavier, you said you wanted to be a part of my fairytale? Then do so. Be part of it and play the act of a noble artist falling in love with his muse." You stop in front of him, looking into his eyes. The look in his eyes makes you laugh. "That's something, I don't have to act out." Xavier replied shakily while looking at you with love in his eyes. He joined in your laughter, reaching for your hands to pull you in closer to him. "I've fallen in love with my muse a long time ago. When I painted you, I never felt hand my moving so smoothly against the canvas. I've never seen colours blend so beautifully." Xavier held your hand, rubbing his finger across your fingers. Both of your hands were warm against each other's hold. A warmth you both shared. You edge closer to Xavier unknowingly, stepping closer into his embrace that attracted you.
You stared into each other's eyes, it was all silent. Apart from the pounding of both of your hearts that drummed through the air. But your eyes said enough to each other. Xaviers' hand moved to your cheek, carefully brushing your soft warm cheeks with his hand as he admired you. Studying you as if he hadn't studied you this close before. He moved his face closer towards yours, his hand shifting behind your head. Supporting the back of your head as his eyes jumped back and forth from your eyes to your lips. You were so close to him, his body warmed up against yours. You gave in totally to his hold, leaning your chest against his. Resting your rigid body against his, you melted into his warm touch. His warm hands that held you and cupped your frame to his with each moment his face got closer to yours. You shut your eyes, and for once you weren't interrupted by something stupid.
Xavier's lips finally pressed against yours. He leaned down, back moving away from the bookshelf as he moved as close as he could to you. His lips moved against yours so softly. Xavier's kiss tender just as his hold was. You held onto his arms, the fabric of his hoodie captured between your fingers as you nervously held him as the kiss went on. But you pulled away, trying to momentarily catch your breath. Your lips felt so sweet, but they were on fire. The look the two of you shared was filled with love for each other.
"(Y/n) does this mean I get to be your boyfriend?" Xavier laughs as he hugged you close to him and looked at the empty space around you. "No, we'll stay friends." You replied coldly, but you couldn't keep from laughing straight after. "Yes obviously." Sarcasm was something you maybe used a bit too often, but Xavier loved it. "Good, because now Morte will find out that you are mine. Right now, and always." He placed a small kiss on your forehead.
Could you believe it? Those few archery lessons led to this.
───────────────────────
GUYSSSS OMG 🫶🫶 THIS CHATPER MADE ME FEEL SO❗️❗️but....I think this could be the end ☹️☹️ BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT YOUD LIKE TO SEE NEXT ID BE 100% DOWN
Word count :1500
139 notes · View notes
jocelynwus · 1 year
Text
Tumblr media
every noah marshall fanfic
under the cut are all the noah marshall fanfics i could find. all respective authors are credited—and massive thanks for their works <3 (and if you'd like me to take it off this list pls lmk!) ps — lmk if i missed some and feel free to tag me in any new fics !
key [editor’s note]  ★ personal fav (BUT THEY ARE ALL GOOD NOAH STANS ARE FR TALENTED) 
Tumblr media
a promise by @heartofarcanum
It was no one’s fault really. It was this thing that lived in the woods. This force, this power, corrupting souls left and right. It had ruined lives for centuries, but Jamie wasn’t about to let it ruin Noah’s any further.
★ a seed planted by @galpalaven
In that little bit of time before everything came crashing down, they did make a memory or two. Or, alcohol and high school bullies can make for a nice night, once in a blue moon.
after everything by pinkiegladysgutzman
Noah gives an update on how Connor's doing. Takes place after It Lives Beneath. For everyone who chose Connor because Noah wasn't an option.
as orpheus to eurydice by galpalaven
A story fit for the temples of Ancient Greece and the campfires on the battlefields of Rome, Noah Marshall does the impossible for the only person he's ever truly loved. Noah brings his best friend back from the dead, and lives to tell the tale.
★ brown eyes and cheap whiskey by anonymous :( 
Devon still hates whiskey, and always will. It’s just that.. it’s taste is sweeter, somehow, after it’s passed through Noah’s lips.
★ despair by linkysmommy
Noah experiences the emotional aftermath of MC sacrificing herself to save him and Jane.
everything i couldn’t see before by @hold-me-tight-big-boat
This started as a little drabble based on the soulmate au that the world is black and white until you meet your soulmate then quickly turned into something I could imagine as possibly the introduction for It Lives Book Three. I took the idea that it’d take place in the mountains and kinda ran with it. Seeing as it’s possible for both MCs from book one and two to be dead, there’s also a new MC. 
★ green light by @stayfallentasticc
Noah sees a familiar face in art class; a face he knows all so well. 
head over heels for you by @stunningstans
Takes place during the development of Noah and MC’s relationship. Basically, it’s just fluff.
★ i bet you look good on the dancefloor by @cryinginthebackseat
She rolled her eyes. “You heard me the first time, Marshall. Pretty please? Come on, consider this as our way to celebrate Redfield’s defeat!” Jesus, since when did he celebrate something in general? And now to dance? Amongst the crowd and with her no less? Noah’s head said hard no, he already had a myriad of thoughts in his mind right now, he couldn’t afford getting distracted and when there were feelings in the way, he feared if he couldn’t trust himself to keep his emotion in check. Yet his heart said otherwise. This was Zoey, Noah could never deny her. He would never deny her anything, especially when this could be their last moment on good terms together.
if only by stayfallentasticc
(Written in Noah’s Perspective) Noah finds himself falling for his best friend, but finds himself in denial. How will he react when he confirms MC is dating someone else? 
it lives again by a_sprinkle_of_glitter
last year, dollie sacrificed herself for noah and jane marshall in the hopes of putting an end to the terror in westchester. after a year of nightmares and running from his mistakes, noah has come home. haunted by the memory of his sister and the girl he betrayed (or maybe they're actually haunting him. he doesn't know anymore), he's determined to set things right. he wants to find a way to bring her back, but he'll settle for releasing her from whatever power holds her and giving her rest.
ilitw fic by @it-lives-in-westchester
This is how I personally think MC and Redfield!Noah first meeting went.
★ it lives in the woods by machinehead
[retelling with noah as love interest] 
★ it lives in the woods by @lovelahela
[retelling with noah as presumed li]
it lives everywhere (a collection of it lives au fics) by nitelunne
it lives within us: an it lives retelling by nitelunne 
★ juxtaposed with you  by @moonydaydreams
Lighting never strikes in the same place twice, but a second chance does. Even for someone like Noah Marshall.
late nights by @rainesclan
After an argument between the group, Noah stops by late one night to brainstorm with MC (Kayleigh) about the situation with Redfield.
lighthouse by stayfallentasticc
[dan x noah x mc] Stacy gives Noah the advice to tell Her. He figures he will one day, just not today. Soon after, he finds out - he should’ve. 
★ like happiness by @livesbeneath
she assumes that’s what he’s practicing now; recipes he’s perfected a hundred times over. in this respect, good enough will never be good enough for him. he has more drive than most give him credit for, and without that drive, baby jane’s would be nothing more than a thought scribbled down on a notepad.
lost and found by anonymous
"What do you want from me?!" he shouts. "Why can't I just let you go?" You don't want to let her go, the better part of him says. You know what you have to do.
★ once, twice, forever (although nothing ever lasts that long) by @yawninginf
And while the shadows might still be the same, their inhabitant has changed. And this monster can still recognize the gaze piercing through its darkness. Those eyes… They're familiar. aka: time after that fateful night of homecoming barely passed, until mc (female Devon) returned to find what remained of the one left behind
★ percolating gently by @slothgiirl
au in which jane marshall lives and mc and noah and jane run off to live happily ever after a family of three
pricks and needles by stayfallentasticc
Follows immediately after the end of the latest chapter. MC discovers that Redfield was Jane all along. Will Noah succumb to the darkness that beckons him? Or will MC manage to help him?
★ six feet between by livesbeneath
to be caught trespassing in a cemetery is bad enough without a preceding criminal record. he knows visiting westchester is risky, and that being out in the open isn’t the smartest idea, but he finds it somewhat therapeutic, maybe in a sickening way, to occasionally come full circle after his stops at the ruins. 
★ sharp objects by livesbeneath
noah attempts to avoid bringing feelings to light as the gang marches on redfield a final time.
toss your dirty shoes (in my washing machine heart) by slothgiirl
[connor x mc x noah] mc is planning her wedding to connor and things happen. good things.
★ the end of all things by livesbeneath
it’s three am, and her laugh is in his head. it almost makes him want to live.
the night devon died by @pixelberryjungkook
[drabble]  This is a little account of the night Devon died and took Jane's place (from the perspective of Noah).
the time that came between (+part 2) by linkysmommy
What happened to Noah after Jazmyn Park sacrificed herself and he fled Westchester?
the train ride home is invalid by stayfallenstasticc
[dan x mc x noah] Dan and MC have been dating for quite some time. However, after a football game, Noah decides to tell Dan something important (that he has feelings for MC). 
the road that leads to you by stayfallentasticc
[dan x mc x noah // mainly a dan/mc fit but there are some good noah mc crumbs, such as “Noah’s face brightens, a flash of happiness that Dan hasn’t seen before evident in his face.”] The development of Dan and MC’s relationship; a deeper look into how Dan falls for MC and MC as a whole. The green, red lights and stop signs of their relationship. 
someday by nocturnalknight
Jun confesses. Noah runs. Neither of them can escape their demons, or forget about each other. The span of a years-long yearning.
weekends in westchester by @twyrinehaze
Noah and Devon through 3 different Saturdays, and 3 different years.
what if this storm ends (and i don’t see you) by @zekedorian
set in chapter 14, when the gang is on their way to confront redfield for the final time.
you will never walk alone by @noahpologiste
Right after chapter 8, “Breakdown.”
Tumblr media
desperately, desperately by leovaldezismycomfortcharacter
Devon finds it hard to breathe while his friends argue.
friends by @robbiessutcliffe
After Alexei sacrificed himself to take Jane’s place, Noah felt that it was his fault. So a year later, he finds himself going back to the woods. This has been going on for a while, but one day… He's spotted.
forever by @littlebirdofprey
Set before the beginning of It Lives In The Woods during the end of their junior year, Victor wants to reconnect with Noah but doesn't know how.
judas’ kiss by @professor-abeloved
After years of fighting for his life, you finally see him—your best friend, made blood and flesh and bone once more. The reason you've working non-stop for years; the reason your heart beats in anticipation, waiting for the day his own comes to life. The reason the rest of your friends are dead.
of what was everything by littlebirdofprey
Trying anything and everything to help keep Noah as much himself as possible, Victor plays Noah some of his favourite music.
the misfortunes of shadow boy by paperdreams123
Fletcher Blackwood knows that he is still in there, somewhere. And that is all he needs.
the only way is forward by littlebirdofprey
set during ch.19 of It Lives Within. Victor tries to cheer up Noah about food not tasting right since his resurrection
there for you by robbiessutcliffe
Things have been getting harder for Noah at home with everything going on… So who better to go to than his most trusted friend, Alexei?
snowflake kisses by professor-abeloved
Devon's first time in the snow again, was both a familiar memory and a strange dream, realer than anything in the past few months. (It's as if the more things changed, the more they stayed the same.)
run boy run by robbiessutcliffe
This talks about the ending of ILITW, after MC (named Alexei, in this) sacrifices themself.
we lived by dvnlln 
you’re not alone by writerofdoom
Noah attempts to reconcile with the one person he hurt the most.
Tumblr media
a collection of fics written by @julia-highstorms
★ home is six feet under by stayfallentasticc
Noah can sense whenever MC (you) is upset. You find solace in the safety in his arms, but you can’t shake off the feeling in the pit of your stomach.
live. die. repeat. by slothgiirl
★ maybe together we can get somewhere by slothgiirl
the gang finds out noah is alive. he and mc have built a life together while no one was paying attention 
★ nothings going to take you from my side by slothgiirl
in which mc deals with the fallout of redfield/jane all while reconnecting with the boy they thought they’d lost forever.
take a deep breath baby by slothgiirl
Noah figures out how to make things right.
the one where mc communes with her ghost boyfriend noah by @slothgiirl
★ the one where noah marshall saves mc by slothgiirl
things you said with too many miles between us by @shreyamistry
through the trees by stayfallentasticc
Noah and MC have drifted apart, will the confrontation leave both sides with answers. 
realizing you’ve fallen in love by shreymistry
Here I bring to you, Ava, Andy, Stacy, Lucas, Lily, Noah, and Dan x MC mini fics!
★ what could have been us by xclipsx
A collection of Noah X MC draft fanfics, I've been keeping ever since the book ended.  whistle me a silent memory There’s so much you wish you could tell them. How much you wished to hear Jane’s laughter one last time. How much you wished to tell Noah just how you felt about him for 12 years. be my endgame Confessing how you feel about your bestfriend turned stranger is kinda hard. Not to mention you're both tired, depressed and awkward around each other. Damn, when can ya'll have a break? “To lay my life for you in a heartbeat. So, what I’m trying to say is that you, Noah Marshall, are my best friend, my most trusted confidant, my rock, my world, my endgame.” ★ rest and peace Relationship established. Kiss Noah Marshall. Fall asleep. In which you stay at home, down with the sickies and Noah tries to be a good best friend but with kisses. [ps. when you're done, listen to this song. thank me later.]
valentine’s day by shreymistry
How you spend Valentine’s Day together. 
Tumblr media
again by swansongdive
Tunia Vance didn't believe that the boy wandering around in a red beanie was a murderer. Even as she talks to the ghost of his victim, she doesn't believe it.
★ amen, amen by @littlecrookedheart
[psychological fiction] This takes place 14 years after Jane’s death and roughly 5 years after the events in ILITW. Noah is 22 years old.
another memory by andytomoichi
In the woods, the only thing easier than time to lose track of was memory.
dead and gone by @itspixelberrychoicestime
Being the only one alive, Noah has to face everything he caused. So, what did he do? He ran.
deep run by livon
Sometimes small towns are normal and then sometimes, there are vampires.
ghost pizzas by @skyecrandall
[male mc]  Noah believes that they should try and tame Jane. But will it all go according to plan?
ilitw reunion fic by it-lives-in-westchester
ILITW Gang meets Redfield!Noah again after the events of It Lives Beneath. It's awkward as hell but what did everyone expect 
meet me by the woods by forestfire34720 
“Meet me by the woods. One hour. Tell no one. There’s something you all need to see.” In which Andy, Dan, Stacy, Lucas, Ava, and Lily learn that one friend isn’t quite so unforgivable and another friend may be dead but isn’t lost yet.
the thing about grief by @edeanglory
a look into noah marshall’s grief
lame excuses by somethinginwater
[drabble]  “You use, don’t you?”
★ promises by it-lives-in-westchester
Noah gets caught after attempting to vandalize a house when he was 12, and he has to deal with the consequences idk what else to summarize as it is.
★ seven by anonymous 
He sits alone. Thinking. Thinking far too much. He taps his finger on the table. Sighs. Stares into his coffee, an abyss. One year ago today, seven lives were lost. And he has the blood of all seven on his hands.
untitled? by shreyamistry
Stacy beats Noah the fuCK up! And rest the gang is present. Except for Redfield MC who is in the ruins being sad and lonely and well dead.
anymore i may have missed
⤷ https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Noah%20Marshall/works
110 notes · View notes
You'll Find Me Resting Among The Restless... (Sinners Prayer)
Tumblr media
Mafia!Stucky x POC Escort!Reader “Sin”
Wordcount: 5325
Summary:
Not all girls are made of sugar spice and everything nice. Some girls are made of art, lust and misplaced trust. The most loving thing you can do for a man, is to teach him to swallow his own poison.
Warnings:
Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst and Feels, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Betrayal, Infidelity, Past Sharon Carter/Steve Rogers, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate universe - Mafia, Texting, Punishment, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Comfort Sex, Tease, Protective Tony Stark, Tony Stark Has A Heart, Bucky Barnes's Metal Arm, Bisexual Bucky Barnes, Bisexual Steve Rogers, Female Character of Color
Notes:
This story just attacked me and would not let up until I got it out of my system. It's angsty but with a happy/hopeful ending because I'm a sucker for a resolution. Italics are thoughts Photos used do not represent any particular reader features, they are used for reference only. Happy Reading!
Banner by @cafekitsune Divider by @firefly-graphics
Tumblr media Tumblr media
They messed up badly this time. Not only had they fallen for you. They didn't realize it until you were gone. Throwing every “gift” back in their faces and moving out of the penthouse they liked to keep you in. You also went back to some of your old clients. One of which was a particular couple that they were very close to, in business and personally. 
All because Steve let his bitch of an ex Sharon get under his skin and in a lapse of judgement and a whole lot of whiskey he not only fucked her but let you find them together on the couch naked and passed out the morning after. He had the nerve to get pissy with you for just showing up at their place. When he was the one that set up the breakfast date the week prior. 
Asshole.
Poor Bucky, he didn't even do anything and yet because he and his boyfriend are a package deal he got left as well. 
You told him you’d never get between them. That you wouldn't hurt either of them by picking one over the other. If things came to that, you’d just leave them both. They weren’t the only ones who went and fell in love. With tears filling your eyes, begging to be set free, you turned towards the Steel Gray eyes full anguish beside you. 
“I can handle a broken heart Buck. It’s not the first time someone thought that because of my profession and being non monogamous that you can't ACTUALLY cheat on me. I’m going to miss you something fierce though.” You step closer for just a moment and caress his cheek. 
“I wish it wasn't this way, but it is what it is. I can forgive a lot of things. Even this if done properly, but for now I just need to not be here anymore. Please know that I don't blame you for any of this. You're just as much a victim of his choices as I am.” You kiss his cheek. 
“I love you. Please don't hurt him too much and take care of yourself okay. If you need me you know where I’ll be.” You pivot on your heels and head out the door, gently closing it behind you. You make it all the way to the penthouse they provided you before you break down in tears as you pack up all of your belongings. You’ve just gotta get out here.
Tumblr media
That’s how you ended up here, attending a party hosted by Pepper and Tony Stark, as their plus one. In all honesty you knew Tony only threw this event because he wanted to cheer you up and this is the only way he knew how outside of the bedroom. That was his first approach, which was shutdown quickly by Pepper the moment she saw you on their doorstep, clearly heartbroken.
You weren't here only in a work capacity, although they were paying for your time, they just wanted to protect you and let you heal without the added pressure to ‘perform’. So once again, on paper and according to your bank account at least, you were their Sugar Baby. 
You did terminate the contract with Steve and Bucky the same day the incident occurred, so it was good to know you wouldn't have to dip into your savings just yet. Thank goodness Pepper still kept your old apartment in Stark Tower ready for you just in case. 
The relationship you shared with them was not at all conventional, with or without a contract. Frankly they were the only people you knew who you could always count on and that meant the world to you. You truly did love the Starks. Before Steve and Bucky came along they were your favorite clients. They were the ones to introduce you to the powerful couple, at a party just like this one actually. So technically they were to blame for your current heartbreak.
I wonder if they’ll both show their faces here and if Sharon will be on Steve’s arm? I wonder how Bucky is holding up, if the nightmares have come back? Fuck. I told myself I wasn't going to think about them tonight and here I am almost in tears at the thought of Bucky in pain. I need a drink or five.
Tumblr media
It isn’t until you're nursing your third cocktail at the bar, catching up with Wanda that you spot them, the usual entourage of Nat and Sam at their sides, Clint taking up the rear. Ever the intimidating image as always. Other than Tony, who runs Manhattan, they’re the biggest bosses in the room, controlling Brooklyn. Thankfully they brokered a truce years ago and everyone works together peacefully. 
Before you have a chance to escape to a far corner where you can hide away, you make the mistake of glancing over your shoulder and catch the intense blues of Bucky staring straight into your soul. Even tired he looks like a damn Greek god. Tragedy included. 
He breaks the stare off, leaning over to Nat and whispering something in her ear. You watch as she skillfully distracts Steve and moves him towards the center or the party where the Starks are currently holding court. Lost in watching Nat do what she does best, you don't realize Bucky has made his way over to you until it’s too late and you feel the ghost of fingertips trace down your exposed spine in your backless black dress. 
He leans over your shoulder. That sweet baritone you love whispering into your ear. “You look magnificent tonight, Doll. Would you grant a poor mortal the chance to remain in your presence with a dance?”
You lift your glass to your lips, keeping your eyes straight ahead, finishing the remnants of alcohol while you ponder your response. With a steadying breath you respond. “One dance couldn't hurt. But it can't be here, among such prying eyes. I’d rather remain in the shadows tonight.” 
“As you wish.” He proceeds to rest his hand on the small of your back and guide you toward a darkened sitting room off the main hall. You could faintly hear the music over the murmur of voices wafting into the space. 
He pulls you close, wrapping his large arms around your waist as you rest yours around his thick neck. Being in his arms again, after weeks of loneliness, feels like coming home. You place your forehead against the space between his collarbone when he begins to sway to the dull beat. 
“How have you been, Doll? Truthfully. Don’t try to sugarcoat it for my feelings.”
Keeping your face right where it is, to shield you from those steel grays you love so much, you give him your truth. “Surviving. That’s the best way I can describe it. I’ve been licking my wounds and trying to mend this hole I feel in my heart. I keep thinking, I just have to get to tomorrow and the pain will lessen even more. And one day it won’t hurt anymore when I think of them.”
You lift your head to run your eyes over his handsome face. “How about you? How have the Kings of Brooklyn been holding up in their Ivory Tower?”
Looking off into the darkened space, his eyes latching on to a sliver of moonlight coming in through a crack in the curtains. You feel his chest vibrate as he scoffs. “We’re not even sleeping in the same bed right now. I was so upset with him that day that I couldn’t even be bothered to  help him with his hangover. Funny enough, Sharon was kicked out immediately by Steve as soon as you left. Like legit woke her up, threw her clothes at her and screamed at her to get the fuck out. She didn’t leave without spewing a few truths first.”
He just shakes his head, rambling out his thoughts as they come into his mind. “Apparently it was her plan all along to get him drunk and earn her spot back by his side. She’d been talking shit about the both of us and just wanted Steve to herself. She knew just how to get into Steve’s head due to his loyalty to her family. Thought that you’d just latch on to me and I would let him go to keep you. She had no idea that you would drop us both because you couldn't handle breaking us apart.”
You stare at him slack jawed, as he turns to look down at your moonlit face.
“Not gonna lie. I’m drowning without you, Doll. I can’t even look at him after what he did. It was reckless, regardless of his inebriated state. He knows how I feel about her and the things she’s done to him and me in the past.” He shakes his head in disbelief.
“The fucking Golden idiot, due to his loyalty to her Aunt and Uncle, and what he feels he owes them, just keeps letting her back in. I’m done with it. What about the respect I deserve as his partner in business and life? Fuck that, what about the respect and loyalty YOU deserve.” He’s staring straight into your soul again. 
“Your loyalty. Your love. It saved me babygirl. Your light always cuts through the darkness for me. You were the piece we were fucking missing and I cant believe he would even risk that. I’ve tried to let you go. I understand your reasons for leaving us. But I just can't do it. Even seeing the pain he’s trying to hide away, the tough front he’s putting on, isn’t enough to keep me around right now. I miss you baby. I’d give it all up to have you back in my arms for good. All this lavish bullshit isn't worth anything to me without you by my side. I hate that I’m being punished for his fuck up. Again I'm not blaming you for your decision baby. It just hurts and I miss you so fucking much. I can't even sleep at night anymore.”
You can’t resist running your fingers through the hairs on the nape of his neck. “Bucky. I miss you too. So much. I wish it wasn't like this. I never wanted to leave you. You’re right. You never did do anything wrong. You were more than loyal to me. I hate thinking I’m causing you pain because of a stupid decision he made.” Tears begin to well in your eyes. 
He gives your waist a squeeze. “Don’t cry baby. We can figure this out. Where are you staying? I know Tony and Pep took over your contract.”
You sniffle a bit. “They did. But it’s not what you think. Sex is not on the table. Though Tony fought me and Pep on that. He thinks a good dicking is all I need. They just want me to heal in peace. I’m staying here at the Tower in my old apartment.”
He nods his head. “Good. Makes me feel better knowing you're safe.” He grabs your cheeks tenderly. “I wish I could kiss you right now. It’s all I’ve wanted to do these last couple weeks. Just having you in my arms again isn’t enough.”
“Please.” You whisper out.
“Do you mean it, Doll? You're not just telling me what you think I want because you feel guilty for your decision to leave?” He implores.
“I don't regret my decision to leave, Bucky. But I do hate that I had to leave you behind. Like I said that morning. I could forgive almost anything. There’s just not anything you need to apologize for. So why did I let my emotions drag you in with my need for him to be punished? It was stupid of me. If you can forgive me for how I left, I would like to keep you in my life. In whatever way you see fit for that.” You confess.
“Really?” He furrows his brows. Not wanting to get his hopes up.
“Yes. I’ve been miserable without you too.” You smile up at him. 
“You good to get out here or do the Starks still need you tonight? Cus there is nothing I want more than to get you out of this dress and underneath me so I can show just how much I truly missed you.” That devilish smile of his, that means nothing but the good kind of trouble adorns his face as he awaits your answer. 
“I’m not needed here. This whole party was just to get me out of my apartment anyway and for Tony to be Tony and throw his money around. Plus seeing him walk in like nothing happened, act or not, yeah that shit hit deep.” You shrug your shoulders.
“Then let’s head up to your place and make the most of the rest of our night. I’ve got some time to make up for, and I’m all of a sudden ravenous.” The feral look in his eyes has you clenching your thighs together.
Not to be intimidated, you run a hand down his neck until it rests along the waistband of his dress slacks. “Yes, Sir.” 
He lets out a deep growl, pulls you close by the back of your neck and lays the most devastating, soul consuming kiss on your lips. Pouring every emotion into. Conveying without words just how much you mean to him. 
How could I have ever left this man behind?
Tumblr media
You’ve barely made it through your apartment door before Bucky has you pinned against it. 
“I don’t know wether to rip this dress off you and fuck you right here against this door or take my time sweet time and worship every inch of your skin like you deserve.”
“Who says you have to only pick one option? We have the whole night ahead of us, don't we Sir?”
“Fucking minx.” He steals another heated kiss and pulls away from your chasing lips, panting. “Where’s your room babygirl. I’ve decided taking you apart piece by piece on your bed is the best place to start.”
You close your eyes for a moment and suppress a moan. “Promises. Promises. Sir.” 
Throwing him a wink, you lick your lips before turning and heading off down the hall. Sashaying your hips and divesting yourself of your dress right outside your bedroom door. 
Now completely nude, you climb onto your bed. Just as you lie back, resting on your elbows with your knees bent and legs spread wide, drooling pussy on full display, Bucky’s large figure graces your doorway. Shirtless, he stalks over to the bed, unbuckling his pants and losing them along with his boxer briefs along the way.  
He reaches the end of your bed. Eyes zeroed in on your glistening little slit. A feral grin slowly spreads across his face and he pounces. Before you know it your back hits the mattress of your king sized bed and Bucky is pushing your legs apart, resting your knees on his broad shoulders and laying kisses on your thighs. 
“This is the only place I wanted to be for weeks. Couldn't stop thinking about all the little noises you make for me when I feast upon this sweet cunt. How you squirm when I hit the right spot with my tongue. Fuck . Just look at you babygirl, so wet for me you're dripping onto the sheets already.” He swipes his tongue up along your folds from entrance to clit, eliciting a moan from you. You’ve always been sensitive but you haven't even touched yourself in the weeks since you left. Too overcome in your grief. So just that little movement is almost too much already. 
Clearly a man on a mission, he begins to devour you, wasting no time thrusting his tongue inside as deep as he can. The thick muscle massaging your silken walls, giving them something to clamp on to. “ Fuck, Bucky. That feels so good.” 
Your hands are anchored in his hair, pulling on his silken strands, just enjoying the ride on his tongue he is giving you. When he swirls his tongue, pulls it out and then moves it to lightly draw infinity symbols on your clit you lose it. 
A kaleidoscope of stars detonates behind your eyes as the orgasm slams into you. Gripping onto his locks tighter as you writhe beneath him, back arching off the mattress before you go boneless.
Coming back to your senses, you blink open your eyes and peer down at Bucky. His chin is glistening wet. A proud smile gracing his handsome face. Adoration shining in his icy blues. “There she is.” He laughs. “Had me worried for a minute there babygirl. Thought I might have made ya pass out. Looks like it was just one hell of an orgasm.” 
A sweet smile adorns your blissed out face as you caress his damp cheeks. “One hell of an orgasm indeed.” 
He begins to crawl up the bed towards you, leaving a path of kisses in his wake. His massive thighs push your legs further apart as he gives his turgid length a couple of slow strokes. He teases the thick head of his member along your folds, coating himself in your essence. 
You lock eyes with him as you whimper. “Please.”
He leans forward, interlocking his hands in yours, placing a toe curling kiss to your lips as he enters the warmth of your cunt. Splitting you open on his generous girth. Pulling his hips back and leaving you no time to adjust as he begins to grind his hips down on yours with every thrust. 
Foreheads pressed together, completely lost in this carnal dance of love and devotion. The room fills with the sounds of your passion. A symphony of moans and groans, accompanied with the sound of slick flesh meeting slick flesh. 
“Nothing has ever felt as good as your pussy squeezing me so tightly when you lose yourself to your pleasure. I need you to come for me baby. Come around my cock. I’m not going to last much longer and I need to feel you let go for me.” He groans out between brutal thrusts. 
It’s like his words have a direct link to your clit and with another well placed swivel of his hips you feel yourself lose control as your orgasm takes over. A rainbow of colors flash behind your eyes and the world sounds as if you're underwater. 
Everything comes back into focus just as Bucky is reaching his own climax. Burying himself deep inside you as he bites down on your shoulder and paints your womb white with rope after rope of his seed. Panting, he leaves a gentle kiss on the mark his teeth left behind. You run your fingers through his dark tresses and kiss his nose.
“Fuck I missed that.” He blurts out as he comes down from his own high.
“Agreed. Although, I must admit. It’s never felt quite as intense before. Feral yes. But that was something else altogether. I want more.” The confession slips from your lips.
“I’d give you the world babygirl. All you have to do is ask.” He places a soft kiss on your lips. “Let’s make some good use of that large walk in shower I can see from here and get dirty while we get clean. A round two is much needed. I haven't had my fill of you yet tonight.”
You giggle as he rolls over, slides off the bed and proceeds to scoop you up in his arms and into the ensuite. “You weren’t kidding about making up for lost time.”
“Darlin’, I’ll never get enough of you.”
Tumblr media
You awaken slowly, sunlight slipping in through the blinds and a sweet soreness throughout your body. You open your eyes to the beautiful sight of a sleeping Adonis laid beside you, as peaceful as you’ve ever seen him. You take a moment to just watch his chest rise and fall with each breath until a vibration against the nightstand to his right catches your attention.
You reach across Bucky’s prone frame to grab his phone. It seems that Steve has been sending texts and leaving messages for Bucky throughout the night. Having felt you move, he rouses from his slumber and nuzzles into your neck. “Not that I’m complaining about having you draped over me like a blanket, but what has you moving around so much already? I thought I wore you out last night.” 
Turning the device in your hand towards his slowly waking eyes you respond. “Your phone. Apparently Steve needs your attention.” 
He takes his phone from your hand and goes through all the texts and two voicemails left for him. He responds with a picture of the two of you together in bed.
Tumblr media
I'm right where I'm supposed to be Pal. Don’t know when or if I’ll be home though. 
This is how you spend the next week. Lazy days full of fucking, comfort food, dancing, smoking and watching movies. Just enjoying your time together in a little bubble. Bucky taunting Steve with pictures and videos of how you're spending days together. At one point even you get in on the torment, texting him back pics of Bucky cooking shirtless, in the shower, having a smoke or cuddled up on your lap. 
Tumblr media
Looks like breakfast is served.
Tumblr media
Cleanse the skin of its many sins.
Tumblr media
He just can’t seem to quit
Tumblr media
He won’t let me move
Bucky is much more of an ass about it though. Sending provocative pics of you and rubbing in how badly he fucked up.
Tumblr media
I’ll never get enough of kissing the breath out of her
Tumblr media
Best morning view
Tumblr media
Gonna have to thank Tony for this secret little room in her apartment. 
Tumblr media
Having enough of his moping and random fits of anger targeted at whoever was closest, Natasha decides it’s time to take things into her own hands. With some help from her friends of course. Wanting to help move things along, the Starks call a meeting with Steve to be held at the tower in their personal conference room located in their penthouse. They need to figure out if it's even worth letting you back into his life. 
Surprisingly Tony is more than okay with Bucky cohabitating in sin with you here in the tower. The smile is back on your face and your laughter is filling the halls once more. But Steve has a bigger battle to fight, having betrayed your trust and he wants to make sure that he understands that.
The man of the hour walks in with a calm step and an air of malice in his cerulean eyes. The bags beneath them tell the story of a man suffering for his choices. Tony has been there before. That time when Pepper came to her senses and left him high and dry when he refused to commit to her, unwilling to give up his playboy ways. That’s when he first used your services. He needed someone on his arm for events and he just couldn’t handle bringing a new person each time. It would only aid in making what Pepper said about him true.
It was you who listened to him make drunken confessions of his true feelings for his former lover. That he did want to commit but he was afraid that he wasn't cut out for monogamy. That’s when you told him all about your non monogamous status. “Monogamy is great for those who chose to live that way. But for me, I’m just not content with only one lover in my life. I am polyamorous as well though. But don’t be confused. Not every non-mono person is that way. Some only want to play with others and keep emotions out of it and that’s ok. I for one am happy with multiple play partners as well as multiple full fledged relationships. To each their own ya know.” You gave a little shrug. 
“It seems to me that the only amorous relationship you want is with her. You just want the option to play when an opportunity presents itself. And I’m willing to bet that you want her included in those sessions as well.” You can’t help wiggling your brows. 
“That’s the dream isn’t it. Ya know, I think you two would like each other. Too bad I chased her away. The trouble we could all get in together. Mmmm.” He bites his lip and continues drinking his whiskey. 
“Who says you can't win her back? Give me your phone.” He hands it over, unaware that you were going to change his life for the better. 
Snapping out of his memories and giving attention back to the room full of his friends and fellow gangsters, he locks eyes with Steve. “Hello Steven.” He smirks. “You’re looking well.”
“Cut the crap Tony. What did you drag me here for?” He bites out.
“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa Cap. I brought you here for the benefit of your relationships but now I’m thinking I should have left it alone.” He runs his fingers over his goatee. 
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about that icy little boyfriend of yours and everyone's favorite escort. I’m sure you're more than aware of the love den they have been spending their time in. Licking their wounds and mending their heartbreak together.” 
He quirks a brow. “Tony I don't have time for your bullshit. If you didn't bring me here for business then I’m gonna head out that door. I have better things that I could be doing with my time.”
“Like what? Taking out your anger at your colossal fuck up on your subordinates? Spending some more time between that Carter’s legs?” He declares with disdain.
With the quickness of a man half his size, Steve’s hand is wrapped around Tony’s throat. “You need to learn not to speak of things that don’t concern you.”
Pepper and Natasha rush forward. One afraid for her husband's safety, the other worried about the truce being broken due to her boss's emotional outburst. Men. 
“Alright boys. Enough is enough. Steven, please let go of my husband. We really did bring you here to help you out. He’s just a little overprotective of her. We all are.” Pepper implores in her softest tone.
With Natasha’s help and a nudge from Sam he finally gives in and lets Tony’s neck go. “Thank you.” 
He slumps back in his chair and pinches the bridge of his nose. “I know I fucked up. I let my allegiance to the Carter family blind me and allow my toxic ass ex to manipulate her way back into my life. In the process, regardless of my overly intoxicated state, I betrayed the love of my life, my best friend. As well as the only women who has ever truly understood our dynamic and accepted and loved us unconditionally. And I'm the idiot you didn't realize how madly in love with her I was until I watched her leave us that morning. Us. Not me, who deserved her wrath, but us. She couldn't bring herself to choose between us, even in her pain. I don’t fault Buck for leaving me to my misery to go after her.” 
He scoffs. “They’ve been torturing me daily with pictures of their time spent together. I want that. I want back in their good graces but I have no idea how to fix what I broke or even if I can.”
Pepper places her hand on his shoulder. “Of course you can. I can’t speak for James, but I’ve never known her to not at least have an honest conversation. Start there, she’ll appreciate your honesty. Don’t complicate things. Lay all your cards on the table and let them lay down theirs. It’s that simple.”
“I’m willing to go that route. If I even knew where they were.” He sighs.
“Well, lucky for you Cap that Pep here never got rid of the little vixens apartment. And I have it on good authority that they ordered take out that will need to go through security before making it’s way up to them.” Rubbing his neck Tony says with a smirk.
“I’m gonna need you to intercept that order for me.”
Tumblr media
You're cuddled up all cozy in Bucky’s lap, watching Bride Of Chucky, when the doorbell goes off. 
“Must be the food. I’ll grab it, no need to pause. You know I have this memorized.” You lay a quick kiss on his cheek and make your way to the door. 
Grabbing your wallet from the hall table you open the door and let out a gasp. Standing there with your take out in his hand and puppy dog eyes is none other than Steven Grant Rogers.
You have no idea how long you stand there, just staring at him.
“Hey babe, what’s taking so long? Can’t find your wallet again?” Bucky comes up behind and stops in his tracks when his eyes land on Steve. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Bucky.” You admonish.
“No, no, it’s okay. I get it.” He lets out a deep sigh. “I just wanted to talk to both of you. Tony and Pep helped me get up here. Please. I just want to talk. If you don't like what I have to say you can kick me out and I’ll never bother you again. That goes for you too Buck.”
You and Bucky share a look, before you open the door further and step aside. “Come on in, Steve.”
You head back to the living room, and have Steve place the food on the coffee table as you pause the movie and take a seat on the sofa next to Bucky.
Instead of sitting on the loveseat to the left of you, Steve lowers himself to his knees before you. “First and foremost, I’m sorry. I’m not even going to try and make excuses for it. Drunk or not, it shouldn't have happened. And I definitely shouldn’t have yelled at you when I was only angry at myself.”
He reaches for your hands, which you let him take. “You had every right to leave me. I’m an idiot. I love you and I let you slip away.” He turns to Bucky. “I’m sorry I even entertained her baby. I know how she makes you feel. Again, I’m an idiot.” 
“Not gonna argue with you on that one.” Bucky says as he leans back against the couch.
“I can’t promise that I won’t fuck up again in some way. I am stubborn after all. But what I can promise is that I’ll try. I’ll give you both my all and do what is necessary to win your trust back. Just give me a chance. That’s all I’m asking.”
You look at Bucky. “Do you believe him? Do you believe he’s remorseful and truly ready to make amends?”
“Seeing as how I’ve only ever seen him on his knees when he’s servicing me and I placed him there. I’m gonna have to go with yes I think he means it. The decision is up to you though, Doll. From here on out. I go where you go.” He places a kiss on your cheek.
“Thank you for laying this all on my shoulders Buck.” You turn back to Steve and place a hand upon his face. He nuzzles into it. “I’m willing to give you a chance. But just the one. You’re going to have to really work to earn our trust back and we won't take it easy on you. You’re going to need to woo us all over again.” 
“Challenge accepted.” He quickly agrees.
“How about a kiss to seal the deal?” You suggest.
He leans in. “With pleasure, Doll.” He wraps his hand in your hair and proceeds to get you drunk off his love.
Tumblr media
15 notes · View notes
nerves-nebula · 5 months
Note
Are you ever you ever insecure about your art? And could you explain you answer to that?
Venting to you now
Drawing has taken a lot of effort for me, more than usual recently. I started working on something I originally felt really passionate about. It's more common for me to very quickly give up or get bored so I was really excited to be able to post some artwork. But I ended up not liking the result and I'm not sure if I'm willing to try something else. I've given up on trying in a lot of parts of life to try and save energy to do something I thought I was passionate about (art) but I am still lacking the motivation. The reason I reason I really wanted to share it was because I'm terrible with self-motivation. If I can't make at least one person genuinely go 'oh, neat' even for just a second and even if they soon forgot later, I'd feel like I'd have a reason to keep living (to keep making art). If the only people who'd see it end up disappointed I'd want to disappear.
It's not what art should be. I know it's value is like a person's. It's worth more than how someone reacts to it, right? But I can't apply that rule to myself. I should seek support from the people who 'know' and actually care about me, but I don't want their appreciation. I want some imagery status of a 'good artist' because that's what seems to give me dopamine.
I also wanted to mention how much I admire how open you are with your struggles. I want to be the same but I'm scared of people thinking less of me. I know that's dumb but I don't know what I'm good for if I can't make people happy. If I'm not going to be content with myself I want to not be a nuisance at least. I like to think that if I stopped caring about my impression on people, I'd be better off. But I'm scared that I'd have to learn to like myself. I don't like myself and I have no interest in liking myself. I don't see the point.
oh boy, this is gonna be a long one. also, don't take anything i say too seriously, i don't know your situation and I'm barely an adult. anyway, response under the cut
soo lately I'm less insecure about my art and more frustrated when things don't come out well. but i still post that shit !!! I'm still insecure if i'm doing, say, a project for homework, and i don't think i did as well as I could have, but in my personal artistic endeavors it's more about getting it done than it being perfect (for example, my webcomic! my motto is any comic made is better than no comic made and if people don't like that then it wasn't for them in the first place)
the thing about me is that drawing and art and stories is all i've ever had. it's my main form of interacting with the world. these days i make art the same way I live, which is to say in spite of wanting to kill myself. I would LIKE if my art was perfect, and i would LIKE to not be in pain. but i AM in pain and i have to live anyway, and my art ISN'T perfect but i'll make it anyway.
and i like when other people's art isn't perfect either, when it isnt super polished. I think that definitely helped. seeing artists whose work i fell head over heels for when it's never been more than sketches and a bit of shading. it really cemented in my mind that it isn't art being technically perfect that makes it worth while.
i've gotten a lot of people saying kind things to me, saying how much they enjoy my art and my blog in general. and though it doesn't always help, it sometimes inspires me to imagine the number of people who appreciate my stuff who might never mention it to me. I myself am used to lurking and not interacting very much (a habit I'm trying to change since I know artists & creators love feedback most of the time) i know it sucks to not know if anyone gives a shit for sure, but you really can't make that your only reason for doing art, cuz half the time you prolly wont even know if your art deeply affects people or not. it's fine to want that attention but you gotta have something else goin on too, at least I do.
i also know the fear of worrying that you'll lock yourself into something you don't want to do, or something you'll lose passion for. for me, I generally rotate a cast of characters & interests around for years a time before making significant progress. There were spans of times where I'd go years without thinking about loose stitches, but none of that time developing other stories & characters was wasted. it gave loose stitches enough time to properly cook, and the story is still developing under my hands as i draw it, influenced by my other stories and other characters.
it's ok to abandon something and pick it up again years later, or to never pick it up again at all. it's ok to hate the way something turns out but to keep making it anyway because you have to move forward (at least, I do)
moving forward despite not liking the original product is the only way to progress, I think. I don't super like a lot of the first pages of loose stitches but I'm still grateful that past-me posted them because that means present me is at page 76 !!
If I can't make at least one person genuinely go 'oh, neat' even for just a second and even if they soon forgot later, I'd feel like I'd have a reason to keep living (to keep making art). If the only people who'd see it end up disappointed I'd want to disappear.
the problem with this mindset (in my opinion) is that some people aren't going to like your art and that's got nothing to do with the art itself. if you want to find people who go "oh, neat" then you have to keep posting until they see it. trust me, they're out there. like, i don't post for people who can't stand the idea of child abuse, i post to FIND people who want to interact with stories about child abuse the same way i do.
it would be insane to stop trying to find those people because someone else was disappointed or upset by my art. which isn't to say you gotta lock yourself into doing one thing, but that you gotta post what you care about, and people who also care will find it. posting fandom stuff with the same themes as your original art certainly doesn't hurt either, if you REALLY want to find those people faster.
It's not what art should be. I know it's value is like a person's. It's worth more than how someone reacts to it, right? But I can't apply that rule to myself. I should seek support from the people who 'know' and actually care about me, but I don't want their appreciation. I want some imagery status of a 'good artist' because that's what seems to give me dopamine.
art should be literally whatever. it's worth is literally whatever you want, it can be a big deal or not. i'm not sure what part of being a "good artist" gives your brain the Good Feelings juice but I'd investigate that feeling more and try to figure out the roots of it, cuz then you might actually be able to figure out what it is that motivates you. approval is nice, yes, but i like approval for things i enjoyed making even more.
I also wanted to mention how much I admire how open you are with your struggles. I want to be the same but I'm scared of people thinking less of me. I know that's dumb but I don't know what I'm good for if I can't make people happy. If I'm not going to be content with myself I want to not be a nuisance at least. I like to think that if I stopped caring about my impression on people, I'd be better off. But I'm scared that I'd have to learn to like myself. I don't like myself and I have no interest in liking myself. I don't see the point.
i always find it amusing when people refer to my "struggles" if only because I don't really consider them that way. to me it's just like, a thing that happened that sucks. i don't consider myself "struggling" with it, even though I guess that's what's happening. also, let's be real here, it's not like I'm using my real name. this is an anonymous tumblr blog. though, my openess on here has actually lead to me making more art about it IRL so. eh.
anyway, lucky for you, you can stop caring about what other people think without necessarily liking yourself! for me, it's about spite (sort of). I don't like myself much more than I used to, I just decided I hated everyone else more haha. I still care what people think about me, and I'm still scared of what people might do to me, but I'm also not bending over backwards to please people i dislike. I just get annoyed at them instead.
i did this basically just by repeating it until it became true, lol. there's only so many times you can petulantly say "well fuck those guys anyway they suck" before it becomes your true first reaction.
at some point, i decided i needed to pick and choose who i wanted to please, because it can't be everyone. that's just literally not possible. so i looked at the kinds of people i liked and appreciated, and basically disregarded everyone else. it's the whole "don't take criticism from someone you wouldn't take advice from" thing (not sure where that comes from)
obviously you should probably try to internalize the idea that you even HAVE to be "good for something" but that's way easier said than done. i find it more useful to devote yourself to finding a few things (causes, people, philosophies, niche interests) instead of just general usefulness. because then you can form stronger relationships, be useful, AND not burn yourself out trying to please everyone.
take all this advice with a grain of salt though, I definitely need therapy and this Bitter Angry Defensive persona will probably need to be deconstructed soon... idk. i think it's outlived its usefulness to me but i'm not sure what to do next hahah.
sorry if none of this was helpful or the point. im not even sure why i wrote this much, i kind of just ramble sometimes. i hope you figure it out!
10 notes · View notes
lothirielswandc · 11 months
Text
HOMEWRECKER (LOVE + FEAR)
Read on AO3 here!
— E P I L O G U E — 
— L E G I O N   O F   D O O M   H Q —
The ghostly pallor seared his eyes. Holograms hummed around him. They made it easier to pretend Lex wasn't there. 
“You won't let this go, will you?” Lex appeared spectral, bathed in the moonlike shine. An annoying figment of his imagination.
Conner ignored him. He continued to scribble physics formulas across the touchscreen table. That was one of the perks of being Lex’s spawn. The whole brainiac part.
“I can fix everything,” Conner murmured. It was more of a personal assurance than actually talking to Lex.
“Hmph.” Lex stared at the blue text. “I’ll admit, I see the potential. But it’s a total reset. You have to be willing to sacrifice everything to do it.”
Kon kept writing. 
“Not to mention, everyone else would have to start over, too.”
His pen flew across the touchpad, shrieking in protest.
“Which, I suppose, is the point. You and your fixations…you must acquire that from me.”
Conner focused on the hum of the screens. It was doable — with the right technology. It would cost a bajillion dollars, but thankfully Luthor genes were expensive. Kon could make blueprints easy —
Lex’s hand slammed against the table. He leaned over to be eye level with Conner. “Are you listening to me?”
Conner just nodded along. He already knew the warnings that Lex was throwing at him. He didn't care. “I know.” 
Lex looked away with a miffed expression. For a minute there, he almost looked like a father.
Mercy shifted from the shadows of the room. She put a hand on Lex’s arm and he shrugged her off. 
Mercy looked at Conner. Her lips parted like she was about to say something, but then sharply closed them. Her heels clicked as she left the room.
Conner kept writing. He stole a glance every now and then at Lex. Lex stood at the window, looking out. Lots of the headquarters were missing. It was more of a large, abstract art piece of workmen on wooden panels at this point. The drilling sounds from people putting the building back together were annoying. 
They’re still trying to fix the destruction from —
Kon flinched away from the thought. All of his focus went into the small, fluid movements of his hand. 
“I know you were infatuated with my assistant,” Lex said carefully. “But all of this, just for one girl. One dead girl…”
Small snapping sounds caught Conner’s attention. Tiny cracks bloomed across the stylus. Like wounds. Conner laxed his grip. 
That was the lie they sold to lex. Rachel Grey died by the hands of Raven. Ironic. What’s sad was how true it was.
Ray.
The love monster from her head shortly followed whenever Conner thought of her. He shuddered to think of that walking freakshow, but that was all the proof he needed that he was doing the right thing. Love wasn't monstrous. It wasn't supposed to be. 
‘Let’s just stick with being happy for now.’
That was the real lie. How could Conner make her happy at all, with things the way they were? How could Conner make Raven when it wasn't just Raven anymore? It was Raven and Da — 
No. Conner would only cause her pain now. He was sure of that.
Kon set the deformed stylus down and rubbed at his eyes. “If I could go back — even before then. To the minute we met…”
‘Sorry for crashing your party.’
‘Don’t apologize. I don't mind.’
No, even before then. Save Raven from all the timeline heartache. Terra’s betrayal. Trigon’s invasion. Azarath’s demise. 
If it was to preserve the most beautiful thing Conner had ever seen — Raven’s smile — it was worth it.
Lex turned back to him. His face was twisted…in pain. “I know I’m not the best father figure. But this comes from a place of love. Perhaps…it might be best to move on? I know you won't like that. But personality defects aside, you have good looks. You have manners. People like you. You’re…good. It wouldn't be hard to meet someone else.”
Conner shook his head. This wasn't some stupid crush. He owed Raven everything. She was the first to go out of her way and do something nice for him, no ulterior motive. The first to skate down the halls with him and not complain about scuff marks on the floor. Everything about her calmed his senses and made them all go haywire at the same time. 
And now she probably doesn't even want to see me. The way things are…she doesn't deserve that. It’s better this way. To start over. 
“No. It's the right thing to do.” Conner looked up at the blue screen. S.T.A.R. Labs documents were scrawled across every electronic surface. Detailing one theory.
The Flashpoint.
Clear the board. Start again.
THE TITANS WILL RETURN.
33 notes · View notes