#in my defense i did watch the scene but. sobs

[serenescribe]

If the three sentence prompt is still open then would you be able to write that scene from sleeping beauty where Aurora pricks her finger on the spinning wheel? But with overblot Malleus and Silver? (But Malleus still cares for Silver and doesn’t want to straight up kill him like Maleficent did)

[✐meme] three sentence fic meme [✐] ficlet frenzy

At the sight of his precious knight sprawled out against the stone floor in eternal rest, Malleus cannot help but smile.

It had been so easy to twist a meagre sliver of Lilia's dream, to lure away Silver with the drawling whisper of his name, enchantments swaying him along — away from the walls of the castle they're in, down a conjured path of twisting, shadowed corridors that does not actually exist.

And when Malleus conjured the spinning wheel, a curse infused into the prick of the needle, and coaxed Silver to step closer, to touch the tip?

It is a safe way to put the knight out of commission, to remove him from the equation altogether. Malleus does not wish death upon him, but Silver is slippery, his unique magic more trouble than he prefers. But by laying a curse upon him within his domain of dreams, Malleus no longer needs to worry about his unwanted intrusion, his dear knight so hellbent on halting his plans.

With a flick of his wrist, he lifts the slumbering boy up into his arms, cradled close in a princess carry. Silver's head lolls, eyes pressed firmly shut; Malleus cannot held but lean down and press a chaste kiss against the heated skin of his forehead, leaving a bare smudge of blot against his pale complexion.

"SILVER!"

At the sound of a familiar shriek, Malleus turns, greeted with the sight of Lilia, a fire burning in his crimson eyes, the silhouettes of Sebek and the Child of Man behind him. A gloved hand clenches tight around the doorway; "What did you DO to him?!" Lilia screams, anger ripping through his words at the sight of Silver in Malleus' arms.

Malleus only smiles. "I only did what had to be done," he breathes — and says nothing else. No, instead he lets his magic whisk them both away — to his castle in the depths of the abyss, where he shall lay Silver to rest within a silkspun bed draped with veiled canopies, watching over him while stroking a tender finger along his cheek, the boy remaining still and unmoving.

His knight will never wake up for as long as this eternal dream remains, but Malleus shall take care of him for the rest of time.

[thewidowsledger]

Looking Out For Three

© thewidowsledger 2024 - DO NOT REPUBLISH AND PLAGIARISE

Pairing: Avenger Natasha Romanoff x Agent Female Reader

Word count: 5.6k

Warnings: +18, Natasha has a penis (no smut though yet), pregnant reader, kinda gruesome details of organ taking/trafficking, self-destruction if you squint, angst, bad writing

Author's Note: This is a scheduled post; I just recently lost my cousin so I may not be able to be active here for some time but I’ll for sure check in once in a while. Happy reading! I hope you're all having a good time.

MINI SERIES: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

⧗

Natasha's eyes fell upon the woman's lower abdomen. Her stomach is slashed open, and the crimson depths reveal that something has been taken from within…

A baby, she could tell that it was a baby as the skin on the stomach of the woman was slightly stretched out and the umbilical cord splayed out on the bed.

A life that had just begun, now cruelly snuffed out.

Two lives cruelly snuffed out.

⧗

After Natasha had taken care of Strange, her focus immediately returned to you. Seeing your unconscious form, her heart broke as she frantically searched for something to cover your exposed stomach.

She found a blanket and tore it into a small piece and she gently draped it over your stomach, her hands trembling, staring at your wounded stomach. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at you, whispering words of apology.

“I'm sorry,” she murmured, her voice choking with emotion. “I should've listened to you last night, if I knew you wouldn’t…you wouldn't…” Natasha gasped for air but still trying to hold back a sob, she finally looked at your face. She held your hands and pecked a kiss all over it.

“I could've lost you, detka. I can't let that happen…I’ll never forgive myself if I lost you.”

“Everything's going to be okay. You, me, and our baby,” she smiled at the thought, wiping some tears on her face, “We're going to be a happy family.”

Tony landed with a heavy thud, the suit's thrusters kicking up a cloud of dirt and debris. Bucky quickly joined him, eyes wide as he took in the scene before him. A doctor's body lying on the floor, unrecognizable as its face has a lot of holes in it.

He started to move towards you and Natasha, but Natasha's steely glare made him stop in his tracks.

Yelena tried to approach her sister and offered her help but Natasha ignored her as well. The expression on her face was cold and distant, her only priority was getting you to safety. She carried you in a bridal style and the rest of the team watched, unsure of what to do, as Natasha carried out of the room and started heading onto the Quinjet.

⧗

Steve and Tony spoke quietly to each other, trying to make sense of the situation. Tony couldn't provide any concrete answers, but he did share one unsettling detail. He projected a hologram display, showing the scans of the doctor's body. The bullet holes were highlighted in red, showing exactly where each of the 21 shots had landed. The lone bullet in the shoulder was also indicated by a separate red mark.

“Here,” he said, pointing to the tiny screen. “21 bullets to the head and one in the shoulder.”

The team winced as they took in the information, their gazes shifting to Natasha, who was still holding your hand in her lips.

Tony shrugged, holding his hands up in a defensive gesture. “Hey, I'm not judging,” he said. “I've done my fair share of blasting people in the head too.”

The team started to look your way, their gazes shifting towards your unconscious body and Natasha, but then they quickly averted them when they saw Natasha glaring at them. They scrambled to look busy, trying to avoid her disapproving glare.

In an attempt to look as if they weren't just staring at your unconscious body and Natasha sitting close to you, Sam awkwardly broke the silence by pointing at the glassed windows of the Quinjet, “Wow, a bird.”

His words hung awkwardly in the air, only to be met with Natasha's continued glare and the team's collective facepalm at his failed attempt to diffuse the tension.

⧗

When the Quinjet landed on the compound, the team immediately got up and was welcomed by Clint as the door of the Quinjet slowly opened. He already knew what happened and he was on leave since Laura just gave birth to their third child.

He walked towards the bed where your unconscious body was laying.

“Hey Nat.”

She didn't answer, but as soon as Clint touched the bed to help her get you out the Quinjet Natasha swiftly pulled a gun and pointed it towards his head.

“Nat…” Clint called, the team became frozen in place at the sight.

“Don't touch her.” She said her voice was hoarse and shaky.

“Yes, I'm not touching her. I am touching the bed,” he offered a logical argument, his tone gentle as he tried to diffuse the situation. He immediately but slowly moved his hands away from the stretcher you were in and put them in the air where Natasha could see.

The room's tension rose even more as the team started calling her out.

“Romanoff.” Tony called in a warning.

“Natasha.” It sounded more authoritative coming from Maria.

“Natasha, calm down.” Steve’s voice joined the fray, calling out gently.

“Back down! No one gets to touch her!” Natasha furiously exclaimed.

Natasha's grip on her gun tightened further, she pushed the tip of the gun on the back of Clint’s head, her eyes beginning to well up with tears.

A ripple of tension ran through the group everytime Natasha spoke. The atmosphere in the room immediately grew heavy, and the team members instinctively also tightened their grip on their own weapons.

“No one’s gonna hurt Y/N, Nat…please.” Clint reassured pleadingly.

“Shut the fuck up!”

And with that a loud thud echoed through the Quinjet with Natasha’s unconscious body laying on the floor. Yelena, her sister sulking at the corner with her hands clenched into fists pointed towards where Natasha was and her widow's bite smoking.

“Izvini, sestra.” (Sorry, sister)

⧗

Dr. Cho launched into her report, clearly concerned about the oversight. Wanda, Steve and Bruce were in the medbay with you.

“So no one noticed the bleeding on her head?” the doctor repeated incredulously. The room fell silent for a moment, and then Steve spoke up.

“Natasha wouldn’t let us near her.”

“Yeah,” Bruce confirmed, “She came before the team, I prepped the stretcher and she immediately snatched it away from me, not even letting me help her.”

Wanda clenched her jaw in frustration, her eyes narrowing as she listened to the two about what happened. She couldn't help but feel annoyed and frustrated with Natasha's behavior, which had led to your current situation. If Natasha had just been a little more cooperative and let the team help her help you, you would've been fine and awake by now. Instead, you were lying unconscious in the medbay, not sure when you're going to wake up.

“And no one knew that she's pregnant?” Dr. Cho added that made the three wince in guilt, how could they not notice? You live in the same place for god's sake, in the same compound.

Wanda was particularly hard on herself, her face filled with guilt. She’s your best friend and you two had spent so much time together, she felt ashamed that she didn’t notice anything different about you, especially since the two of you are inseparable when Natasha was away for 2 months.

You always had a morning walk together, gets to shop together, you two always watched sitcoms together and trained together. Wanda could only remember a moment when she had accidentally hit you in the abdomen during combat training, and you had collapsed on the floor laughing at the witch. You were for sure pregnant at that time and Wanda could only wince at the memory hoping that hit didn't affect her growing niece at your stomach

And the fact that she covered up for you made her want to let the ground eat her, what if she just let JARVIS figure out that it was you who was pregnant? This wouldn't have happened to you…

“Don't worry, Y/N is stable" the doctor said reassuringly, “and she should wake up at any moment. However, we can't say for sure when that will be.”

She looked around the room, meeting the worried gazes of the team members who's nodding at her words.

“I’ll get her an ultrasound later which should give us more accurate information. For now let's give her body a break. And I need Romanoff here as soon as possible.”

⧗

Natasha tossed and turned in her sleep, distress written all over her face. She rubbed her eyes and slowly sat at the bed, she took the place in where she was; it was your shared bedroom. She can feel her brain pounding inside her skull but still, she immediately got off the bed as the first thing she thought was you, she found herself frantically walking down a dimly lit hallway, approaching a closed door at its end.

As she neared the closed door, she noticed a soft glow and a bed with a woman laid out on it, bathed in a dim light. The sight invoked a pang of uneasiness in her, but she couldn’t shake the compulsion to get closer.

Natasha continued walking, drawn to the woman on the bed like a magnet. Each step seemed to echo loudly in the silent hallway, but she pushed onward until she was near the bed.

With a heavy heart, Natasha makes her way to the bedside of a woman who lies there lifeless and unseeing. Her eyes, hollow sockets staring into nothingness…

Her eyes scanned the woman's body, taking in every detail of the horror.

The ribcage splayed open like a grotesque butterfly…

The heart and lungs are missing, leaving a gaping hole…

Natasha's eyes fell upon the woman's lower abdomen. Her stomach is slashed open, and the crimson depths reveal that something has been taken from within…

A baby, she could tell that it was a baby as the skin on the stomach of the woman was slightly stretched out and the umbilical cord splayed out on the bed.

A life that had just begun, now cruelly snuffed out.

Two lives cruelly snuffed out.

The redhead's gaze lingers on the woman's lifeless hand, before her eyes widen in horror. She recognizes that hand, and with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, she starts to panic.

Her heart pounds in her chest as she spots a manila folder beside the bed, within her grasp. With trembling hands, she snatches it up and flips it open, gasping as she scrolls through the contents.

“Y/N Y/L/N”

Natasha gasped in horror, she flips open the file, page after page of personal information and photographs spill out of the folder, painting a detailed portrait of your face and body. Each page she turns reveals more information about you, and with each turn, her heart drops further into the pit of her stomach.

This body that is lying in front of her with no eyes, ribcage splayed open, heart and lungs missing, stomach slashed open and a baby taken out of it…

Is your body and your child. Her child.

“No…”

“No, no, no,” she gasped, “Fuck no!” She threw the folder away and your body was already gone in the bed.

She immediately shot her head around when she heard a faint cry of a baby, but as soon as she turned she saw a shadow of a woman carrying a baby.

She knows it was you only by its figure…

Your voice reached her ears, filled with desperation as you called out to her.

“Natty, love? Can we talk?”

“Help us, Natasha.”

“Natasha, please talk to me.”

“Natasha!”

“Natasha! Wake up!”

“No!”

Natasha jolted awake, the loud call of her name immediately took her away from the depths of her dream. She panicked as she found herself surrounded by the darkness of your shared bedroom. Clint was holding her and she immediately ripped herself away from him, her movements sharp and agitated.

“Hey,” Clint's voice was gentle, a calming presence amidst the chaos of her thoughts. “Natasha, breathe,” he urged, his hand reaching out to rest on her shoulder but Natasha flinched, “You’re okay, everything is fine.”

“Where's Y/N?” Natasha demanded, her voice husky and rushed as she moved away from the bed ignoring her best friend's concern for her because clearly, nothing is fine.

“Nat,” Clint circled the bed to get to Natasha and she immediately got into defensive form.

“Are we really gonna do this again?” He asked, his hands raised in a placating gesture. And that's when the memories came rushing back, flooding her senses with a torrent of emotions. She remembered the weight of her gun in her hand, the cold metal pressed against the back of her best friend's head and the team trying to calm her down. The last thing she saw was your stretcher above her.

Natasha's breath hitched as the memories overwhelmed her, and she felt her legs buckle under her. She reached out to grab onto the bed, her legs weak and unsteady. She had come dangerously close to losing it.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

Natasha's voice shook as she apologized over and over again, her eyes filling with tears as she felt the weight of her emotions bearing down on her. She felt Clint's arms wrap around her once more, pulling her into a gentle embrace.

He tightened his grip on her, feeling the tremor that ran through her body. “Shh,” he whispered, rubbing small circles on her back with his hand. “It’s okay. You're fine, Nat. You're safe here.”

Natasha nodded, taking a deep shuddering breath as she tried to collect herself. “Where's Y/N?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Clint, where is she? I need to see her.” Her eyes pleaded with him, searching for answers.

Clint could see the desperation in her gaze and knew exactly what she needed, you.

“You'll see her alright?” he said, a small smile playing on his lips. “But right now I need you to rest.”

Natasha was about to refuse, she needs to see you now, but she knew better than to fight with her best friend. She needed to rest, to get her strength back before she gets to see you again. She nodded weakly, allowing Clint to help her up.

“You shower, get some fresh clothes and I’ll have some food over. After that you can see your girlfriend.”

⧗

Natasha worked diligently, her eyes alight with a soft and caring glow as she arranged everything on the bed. She had brought out all of your favorite blankets, each one softer and more comforting than the last. Her eyes landed on the strawberry plush, and her lips curved into a soft smile. She remembered how you had squealed with delight when she had won it for you at the basketball booth at a carnival.

“Hey Nat, you ready to go? Dr. Cho is waiting for you.”

Natasha startled at the sudden interruption, blinking as she tried to shake off her thoughts. “Oh, uh, yeah,” she said, her voice a little softer than usual. “Did she ask me to bring something? Does she want anything? Food? How's Y/N?” Natasha continuously asked as she put the blanket and pillow on a bag.

But Clint only muttered, “C’mon,” not wanting to break the news himself to her best friend. He’ll let Dr. Cho do the job on answering that.

Natasha felt her heart beat faster with each step as she and Clint made their way to the Medbay. She could feel her hands trembling, but she clenched them into fists at her sides, trying to keep her composure. As soon as she entered the medbay, she saw Dr. Cho and Wanda by your bedside. Her eyes immediately went to your unconscious form on the bed, her worry deepening. Why aren't you awake yet?

She felt Wanda's intense gaze on her and Natasha immediately put her face away from her direction, gripping the bag she brought. She couldn't shake off the feeling of discomfort of the witch’s presence.

Dr. Cho, as if reading the room, asked Wanda and Clint to give them privacy.

When the two left the medbay, Natasha finally allowed herself to breathe. The witch's intense gaze had made her uneasy, adding to her worry about you. She let out a long sigh of relief as the doors closed behind them, leaving her alone with Dr. Cho.

“How are you feeling, Romanoff?” Dr. Cho started.

“I’m fine. How is she?” Natasha immediately asked as she put the bag down at the side table of your bed.

Natasha's eyes lingered on your unconscious form, she carefully held your hands and a sudden flash of her dream returned to her mind.

Your body lying in front of her with no eyes, ribcage splayed open, heart and lungs missing, stomach slashed open and your baby taken out of it…

She immediately shut her eyes to remove the thought in her head, the urgency she felt in the dream now mirrored in the real world.

“Romanoff.”

Natasha's gaze snapped to Dr. Cho at the sound of her name, quickly trying to mask her panic with a cool, calm expression. She took a deep breath, her voice coming out steady and collected, “Yeah? H-how is she?” she asked once again.

“Y/N suffered a blow to the head, causing significant trauma. There's no way to predict when she'll regain consciousness...”

Natasha's brow pinched at Dr. Cho's words. The idea of you being unconscious, possibly for an extended period of time, weighed heavily on her. She searched for more information, “Are you saying she's in a coma?”

“A light one.” The doctor pointed out, correcting her.

“And the baby?”

Natasha's gaze shifted from your face and to the printed ultrasound image Dr. Cho handed her, she shakily reached out to get it and her other hand never leaving yours. Her features softened as she took in the small, blurred figure on the paper. “So that's our little one?” she murmurs, a touch of awe in her voice.

Dr. Cho nodded, smiling gently at Natasha's reaction. “Yes, that is your baby at 12 weeks. As you can see, the limbs are well-formed and the baby's major organs have started to develop…”

“Oh look at that! That's your baby Romanoff!”

“Romanoff, your baby is healthy and developing just like it should. All the organs, muscles, limbs and bones are in place.”

Natasha winced as Dr. Cho pointed out the tiny head, spine, and other features of the developing fetus to her, explaining that these details were visible at this stage of pregnancy. Natasha tries her best to listen attentively, but the memories are trying to get back in her head.

“Did you know she was pregnant?”

“You didn't know until now did you?”

“Oh, that's a shame.”

“You are a bad mother.”

“Romanoff, are you sure you're alright?” Dr. Cho asked, worry written all over her face as she noticed Natasha drifting off once again.

“Yeah,” she answered dismissively, “There's uhm uhh…a cut on her stomach—”

“It's all patched up now.” The doctor said reassuringly, not letting her finish.

“Can I uhm…can I have some time with Y/N alone?”

“Of course, whatever you need. I’ll leave you two now.” Dr. Cho tapped Natasha's shoulder for comfort as she retreated to the medbay.

Natasha swallowed thickly, her throat constricting as she finally, finally felt like she could breathe freely. It was just the two of you now and that's what she needed. The machines beeping in the background seemed to fade into the distance as Natasha's gaze locked onto your unconscious form.

She was acutely aware of the soft rise and fall of your chest as you slept, the gentle curve of your belly where your little bean settled.

“Detka, I need you to wake up now…” she said as she gently removed the blanket you had and replaced it with the ones she brought, which is your favorite one. She now pulled the strawberry plush and laid it beside your pillow.

“I need you to wake up so I can make it up to you.” Natasha gently brushed a strand of hair from your forehead.

A single tear slipped down her cheek as Natasha brought your hands to her lips, pressing a tender kiss before resting it gently on her cheek. She closed her eyes, taking in the warmth of your skin against hers before falling into slumber.

⧗

You slowly blinked your eyes open, your senses still groggy from whatever they put or injected in your body. Your left hand was wrapped around by a figure, holding it close as they slept sitting up right next to you on the bed.

Your right hand snatched the nasal cannula out of your nose and the IV lines that are connected to your forearm. Slowly, you pulled your left hand out of the tight hold of the figure sleeping beside your bed. You started to breathe hard, finding some support for you to stand up.

Natasha's eyes snapped open as she felt the bed movements and the warm hand she's holding is now out of her grasp.

“Baby? Hey…”

She felt alarmed hearing the machine beeping continuously and the oxygen out of you. You snatched everything that is connected to your body and now slowly moving away from the bed.

“Detka,” she called again, holding her hands out even though it's your back facing her.

But you didn't hear, there’s this loud thumping in your ears, you can feel as if someone is hammering your head, and the only thing you can see is a blur. Nothing is clear and you’re feeling numb.

You continued to move until your feet felt the cold tiled floor and that's when you lost consciousness for a second. You can only feel a warm body catching you, you locked eyes with the emerald ones before you feel your body taken out from her embrace.

⧗

Natasha paced back and forth outside the medbay, her mind racing as she waited for word about you. She was still reeling from the events that had led to this moment, and she couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness that had settled into her bones.

“You deserve it.” Wanda’s words cutting through the air like a knife. “You're the reason why she's there.”

“Whatever is happening to you right now, you deserve it.” She spat, Natasha now sat outside the medbay, her hands over her head as she faced the floor. “I am one blink away from invading your mind, to see what happened but I respect Y/N so much. You deserve everything that you feel right now, every guilt and shame. You deserve what's happening to you but my best friend doesn't deserve to be there!”

She could only bite her cheek, shutting her eyes as if she's not hearing the witch, but she could feel the heat of Wanda's words as they washed over her, stinging like a slap in the face.

Natasha and Wanda both turned their attention to Bruce as he stepped out of the medbay, the tension between them dissipating in an instant. Wanda took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down and Natasha immediately stood, her heart thumping on her chest wanting to hear about your condition.

“How is she?” The two redheads asked in unison, Wanda can only roll her eyes.

“She's awake now.”

Wanda didn't waste a second moving inside the medbay, walking past Natasha and Bruce.

“She's stable for now,” Dr. Cho informed Natasha who was left outside the medbay, “she just disassociated when she woke up earlier.”

Natasha nodded peeking over the doctor’s shoulder to get a sight of you but she can only see Wanda sitting beside your bed.

“Hey…how are you lyubov?” Wanda asked her fingers grazing yours.

“I feel weak,” you mumbled but gave the witch a soft smile, you managed to hold her hand that made Wanda sob. “Hey, I’m fine Wanda.”

She held your hand tightly and brought it to her cheek, “You should be, you really should be.” You hummed as you wiped the tears that streamed down to her face.

Natasha stood just outside the medbay entrance, her arms crossed over her chest as she watched you and Wanda interact. Your eyes flick towards her and you can read her lips muttering, “Hey,” to you.

“I want to rest for a bit.” You said, immediately avoiding Natasha and the witch noticed the tension between you and your girlfriend.

“Sure.” Wanda was about to stand to leave when you held your hands up, “Stay, Wanda. Please.”

Natasha could read the situation clearly, you didn't want her around. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut because all she wanted to do is to hold you and pepper you with kisses, take care of you. But she did notice what you want and it's not her, so she respectfully stepped back, retreating out of the medbay. The coldness in her chest had deepened into an ache, but she pushed it down as she always did.

For now, she’ll give you what you need but she will never stop trying and making it up to you.

⧗

Dr. Cho informed Natasha that you are now discharged and can leave the medbay anytime soon.

Right now, she's supposed to be sitting right next to you, apologizing or…begging for forgiveness, peppering you with kisses or cuddling you. But instead here she is walking alone to your shared room. Natasha had held back her tears as she walked towards the room, but the moment she stepped inside, the floodgates opened. She couldn't hold back any longer. She let out a choked sob and collapsed onto the floor, burying her face in her hands.

Suddenly, Natasha surged to her feet, fists clenched at her sides. She couldn't contain her anger and frustration to herself any longer. With a roar of rage, she began to pummel the walls of the room, punching it with all her strength.

Eventually, Natasha's frenzy subsided, and she steadied herself against the wall, forehead resting against its cool surface. Natasha took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She closed her eyes and imagined herself in your embrace, feeling your arms wrapped around her, holding her down and keeping her grounded like you always do.

“You cannot be like this,” She whispered to herself. “You have a wife and a baby on the way to look up to. You cannot…you cannot be like this.” She repeated, as if trying to drill the words into her own brain.

Natasha slowly turned back, surveying the room with keen and puffy eyes. Without hesitation, she removed her jacket and top revealing her gray sports bra and started deep cleaning everything. Something that will occupy her for a while besides she doesn't want you to come back here with a messy and dirty room, though you always make sure that your shared bedroom is clean, both of you have tasks on what to do, on who's gonna do this or that, clean this or that. Actually it's you who gave her tasks, Natasha can be careless and a messy person at times but with you, it all changed.

Natasha started to take off the cover of the pillows and replaced them with fresh, clean ones from the closet. She then moved onto the bed sheets, pulling off the used ones.

After that Natasha moved to the bathroom, checking every corner, she pulled out the trash and some stuff scattered at the counter. When she opened the cabinet she was welcomed by a pregnancy test, not just one but three tests with two lines showing in each one.

Natasha picked the three, studying each one carefully before setting it back down again at the counter. She wondered if this was the thing you wanted to talk about before the mission. She clenched her jaw remembering how she treated you that night.

A call on the door pulled Natasha out of her thoughts. She retreated from the bathroom, taking a deep breath before opening it to reveal Clint standing on the other side.

“Hey, here's the flower you asked me to get.”

Natasha smiled as she took in the sight of the beautiful bouquet that Clint had brought for you. “I know you asked me to buy roses, the pink ones which is Y/N’s favorite but I saw these chrysanthemums and carnations. I bought this for Laura when she was pregnant with our Nathaniel. You should avoid-strong smelling flowers. Y/N’s sense of smell might be a little bit sensitive now.” Natasha listened intently as she had seen how Clint handled being a father of three. How he was able to protect her family while being an Avenger so might as well take her best friend’s every advice.

“You might wanna do some research. It's gonna be a lot but I know you two can do it.” She nodded solemnly. “Thanks, Clint.”

“Mood swings, Nat,” Clint chuckled as she warned Natasha, “It's gon’ be a hell of a ride.”

“Oh yeah it is, even though she wasn't pregnant yet it was a rollercoaster already.” She smirked remembering how she handled your mood swings during the course of your relationship.

“Oh Nat, now it's gonna be a whole new level.”

After a few more words of farewell, Natasha went back inside the room, and placed the flowers gently in a vase beside your shared bed. She filled the vase with water from the bathroom sink, letting it flow over each bloom as she arranged them.

Natasha settled on the couch after putting back the vase beside the bed. She put on some headphones as she lost herself to some music. An automatic vacuum hummed quietly in the background, gliding smoothly over the floor and picking up any debris.

Natasha indeed took Clint's advice, she was reading and researching about the changes that were happening to your body and what to expect during the course of the pregnancy. You're now in your 12th week and she read that during week 12 of pregnancy you’re wrapping up your first trimester and the odds of miscarriage are highest in the first trimester.

She took notes and made a mental list of things to expect.

“Your baby is only as big as a passion fruit but is growing and developing.” Natasha read to herself.

“Baby bump’s first appearance depending on the body type, food cravings, weird food cravings,” Natasha murmured, she continued, “Dizziness, mood swings, sore breast, heightened sense of smell,” She hummed, remembering her best friend's advice about sensitivity of your smell.

Natasha did a double-take as she read the last item on the list.

“Spike in sex drive?”

A knock on the door interrupted her researching and reading and she quickly put her headphones down, turning her attention towards the entrance.

She opened the door to see you standing there, a strawberry plush in your hand, and Bruce behind you carrying the bag of blankets she brought in the medbay. Her eyes widened slightly but she quickly composed herself, her expression softening as she took in your face, “Hey.”

You took in the sight of Natasha, your mind being in a haze. She is dressed in a gray sports bra and matching sweatpants, headphones clinging on her neck. Her arms were flexed like always and you could see the details of beads of sweat on her defined abs. Your breath hitched in your throat.

Natasha, noticing your gaze on her, quickly took the bag from Bruce. You walked past her already and went inside the bedroom.

“Dr. Cho will check in on her periodically.” Bruce informed the redhead.

“Thanks, Bruce.”

You sat at the bed slowly, noticing the new sheets of the bed and the flowers, the smell of it invading your nostrils. You caress the softness of the sheet while the strawberry plush sat on your thighs.

“Hey baby, how are you feeling?” Natasha asked as she closed the door. She put the bag down where you put your dirty laundry.

“Baby?” She called again, “You know you can't avoid me forever.”

“Yeah, like you did me the other night?” you replied with a dry tone.

A heavy silence fell between the two of you and Natasha bit her lower lip in contemplation. Without hesitation, she immediately removed the headphones from her neck and walked in your direction. She gently knelt in front of you, placing the plush beside you as she took both of your hands in hers. Her bright green eyes searched for yours.

“Baby,” she began, her voice gentle and soothing. “I'm sorry.” She paused, her thumbs rubbing soothing circles on the back of your hands. “Please, I was out of my mind that night,” her voice is becoming shaky this time. “It was the stupidest thing I ever did,” she continued, the regret evident in her expression. She swallowed hard, squeezing your hands gently. “Please, forgive me detka? I promise it won't happen again. I’ll take care of you, cook for you, buy you gifts, whatever you want baby, just—just forgive me.”

You actually stopped listening when she said “I’m sorry” all you could focus on was her arms untensing and tensing with each movement of her hands gently gripping your own. And the smell of the flowers were now gone as your girlfriend’s cologne, which was your favorite cologne of hers, started to envelop your senses. You don't know why you're being like this.

Natasha watched as you yawned, “I'm sleepy,” you slur.

“I uhh…alright baby,” She immediately let go of your hands and stood up, hesitating for a moment. She gently guides you as you lay down to your shared bed, putting the comforter all over your body and handing you the strawberry plush.

“Sleep tight detka, I’ll be here,” to her surprise, you hummed in response as you snuggled the strawberry plush close to you, a small sound that filled the air between the two of you and it made Natasha's heart jump. She took that as a good sign and she will for sure do anything to earn your forgiveness.

Next

[sourcherryandsprinkles]

Conrad and Belly beach scene but it’s reader instead of Belly. They kiss and it’s emotional and I was really hoping their would kiss! So happy she and Jere didn’t!

The beach scene had me screaming!! They finally used snow on the beach <3

my taglists are here + you can send requests here at any time

—

‘’Leave me alone,’’ you slurred, your back turned to Conrad as you watched the waves crash over your feet. 

Coming to the beach in your intoxicated state was far from wise — an outright perilous choice. However, reason and prudence had abandoned you at this moment, too drunk to properly think.

‘’I can’t,’’ he responded. 

His footfalls reached you, his presence palpable and audible in the water. Without preamble, Conrad hoisted you over his shoulder like a potato sack and took you out of the ocean.  

‘’No! Conrad! Put me down,’’ you demanded the moment your feet left the ground. ‘’Just put me down.’’ 

‘’You’re drunk.’’

‘’Put me down!’’ You hit at his back as he walked up the beach.

‘’I’m not gonna put you down.’’

‘’Conrad, let go!’’ 

He did, letting you down on the sand ungracefully. 

You glared at him and dusted the sand off your shorts. ‘’Just go.’’ 

He extended his hand to help, but you smacked him off. ‘’I’m not leaving you.’’

Those next words would never have come out if you hadn’t drunk so much of the bottle left forgotten in the sand.

‘’But you already did,’’ you let slip, standing up with a little bit of struggle. You felt tears coming as you looked at Conrad, memories of that night coming back in flashes. ‘’Why didn’t you tell me you went to Jeremiah about us? Why?!’’ 

When he showed up to your house in October, all he said was that Jeremiah had moved on and was seeing other people. He didn’t tell you that he asked for his brother’s blessing despite knowing how hurt Jeremiah was about the situation. Coming from someone who never talked to anybody about his feelings, it meant a lot to you that he talked to Jeremiah. He fought for you. He was serious about you.

‘’I don’t know!’’ Conrad blurted in response, genuinely not knowing why he kept this from you. 

‘’If I had known that you had done that, that you cared that much about me and about us— If I had known, then I would have fought for you.’’ Tears blurred your vision, distorting his image.

Conrad looked down at you confusedly. ‘’What do you mean?’’ 

‘’I mean I would have fought for us. At prom, and at the funerals…’’ A tear slipped down your face, but you didn’t wipe it. ‘’And I would have been there for you through everything.’’ A sob left your lips, your heart breaking over the boy you swore you would never cry for again. 

‘’I thought you knew. I thought you knew,’’ Conrad repeated, his deeply buried feelings starting to come through his walls. ‘’From the moment we kissed on the beach I thought you knew.’’

‘’Why did you throw it all away? Why, Connie?’’ You reached for him, then pushed him away, undecided if you wanted him to hold you in his arms or to hit his chest in anger. ‘’I…I thought that we loved each other.’’

‘’We did,’’ he confessed for the first time, swallowing thickly. ‘’I still do.’’ 

Tears welled up in Conrad's eyes as he looked at you, his defenses crumbling under the weight of his emotions. The tension in the salt air was palpable, a mixture of regret, longing, and the weight of unspoken words hung between you.

‘’Then why, Conrad?’’ you choked out, your voice trembling. ‘’Why did you let me end things? Why did you get in your car at my prom? Why didn’t you fight for us?’’

He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to touch your cheek gently. You didn't pull away, torn between the anger you felt and the overwhelming surge of emotions that his confession had stirred within you. 

‘’Because I didn’t want to be a burden to you. I kept disappointing you…’’ 

Conrad did disappoint you on prom night, but not for the reasons he thought. You didn’t care about the corsage or if he wasn’t in the mood to dance all night. You would have settled for just a few dances if that’s all he was able to give you. His head was elsewhere and you understood that. Yours would be too if your mother was terribly sick and approaching her last days.

You wanted to tell him that, but you were drunk and standing way too close to Conrad to make any rational decisions…so you closed the remaining space between you and kissed him.

—

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[leavingsunsets]

Helllloo!!

I would like to request a senkuu x reader if possible! (Preferably some angst + romance but anything works!) Been looking for some inspiration and I love your work!

Also hopefully you're okay if I draw some of your work too

Thank youuuu!! (>u<)/

im okay with you drawing my work! saw some of ur art, and wow! glad ur a fan tehee :33 i see you've given me an angst plot, with romance? yes i will definitely fulfill this. i waaaassss ssupposed to make this action filled with scene wit reader dying in battle of treasure island arc and senku going "WHAT" and head in hands and sobbing and the gang has to go back to the mainland hat on stomach like ":(" but exams and research defense finished and i also jus watched cute little vid of an old couple so this is jussttt hmmm a softer angst set between events ig

"ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴍʏ ᴡᴀʏ."

[ꜱᴇɴᴋᴜ x ɢɴ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ]

It wasn't really a secret. You didn't even try, honestly.

Since the first of times of where you'd glimpsed his face at school, to the latest catch of him swirling fluid in a beaker, you've always been confident in your feelings.

Albeit a bit clumsy in your attempts, you were honest, never mincing them, never embarrassed.

"Senku, I really really like you!"

"Yeah, okay, could you pass me that screwdriver?" he says, both of you 6 years old in his room, as he gestures to the tool beside you.

"Senku, I want to date you. I heard Aimi had a boyfriend recently and I was thinking-" your voice goes interrupted as the loud sound of Senku's machinery overpower yours. 13 years old, another one of his favorite past times.

"Senku, if we were both nobles in medieval fantasy and I had to marry someone in order to get a persistent suitor off my back, I'd go to you. Offer a contract with an eventual divorce, but then we fall in love in a slow burn romance and start rethinking about our agreement."

"Can you- just- HELP ME, DAMN IT." Senku heaves, 16 years old, face turning red as he struggles to hold the boxes of equipment you came to help him with.

All these confessions, all these words, even before everything changed. The clatter of a can hitting the ground.

...

In this new life, surely, you know, Senku's had an absolute goal for this world. To rebuilt it as it was, from his own two hands. In your own way, you've had to learn how to pace your feelings.

Instead of words, as you always did, you decided to translate your affections into a language that matters most in a time like this.

Actions.

For every problem, every step he takes, you take with him. Express your thoughts, concerns, ideas. Any progress, you're there to celebrate with, any process, you're there to assist.

Declarations of love aren't so frequent, though you do like to sneak it in rarely. Announcing it in bursts of passion at the top of your lungs. Quite an antic you do, much to his embarrassment. It's become a well known fact, and often a joke between company.

Though, sometimes you wonder if it's what makes him doubt it. Your overt confessions, cheesy poems and bustling energy that could rival Taiju's. Was it too clumsy? Too obvious that he feels it's an exaggerated farce for show?

To this, you whisper gingerly in the dead of night, in the earliest of mornings,

"Senku. I really really like you."

In the times of uneventful hours, peacefulness in comfortable silence,

"Senku,"

You know, of course you do, of all people.

No one knows him more than you and that fact would've made you happy of such a thing if it couldn't break your heart more. The love of your life, saying everything said in a language that matters most in this time.

An unreadable glance. When the sun beams down brightly and you stare at him lovingly like he's hung the stars in the sky.

Winter strikes mercilessly, days are rough, tensions are high. When everything's all good and done, a bold pinkie inches towards his own. He doesn't pull away, but his hand moves back just as further.

Late at night, behind the tree he leans upon, watching, just watching. His ruby eyes enraptured by the night's celestial pearl.

Gaze too high, to see you.

You close your eyes.

You don't think you can ever stop loving him, despite that. That man doesn't like dragging things out, so you're sure a rejection is soon to come. Whether you approach first or not.

Why he doesn't do it sooner? You know why. As much as he doesn't reciprocate, you know how hesitant he is when it comes to close relationships such as you. Is he scared of breaking your friendship?

It's not the warmth you're looking for, but it's the warmth you can get. Even so, you would never expect him to return just as much as you've given. You love him for him, and not for anything else.

Tragic, how terribly you do.

Maybe one day, you'll learn to forget, to move your heart from where it isn't supposed to be. Maybe one day, you would stop gazing at him with something much more than fondness, waiting for his eyes to find its way back to you.

But until then,

"-I love you."

[milaisreading]

hiiii ! what about a fic where manager is a bit mean ? like she had a bad day so she’s vv blunt with her remarks but even if she’s rough with them the bois just end up simping harder ? in a “step on me pls” kinda way !

thanks drink water and eat good and stay healthy !!!!!

Author: I have a much harder time writing mean reader aus, so I hope u like it�� thanks for the request🩷

Warnings ⚠️: little bit of swearing and reader uses she/her. Mentions of periods. Requests are open

⚽️Blue Lock belongs to:Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura⚽️

'Just two more hours and then I can go to my bedroom for a nap.' (Y/n) thought as her eye kept on twitching from time to time. Yesterday her period started, and thanks to her cramps she barely got any sleep. Ego and Anri made her wake up a little earlier to get some papers done for the JFU and to prepare the practice field for the Blue Lock team.

While she usually didn't mind that work, the cramps and lack of sleep made it hard for her to not lose it just a little bit. (Y/n) was hoping to have a calmer day than it usually was, but of course she was asking for too much. It started off really normal, Chigiri and Aryu asked (Y/n) to braid and comb their hair, which she gladly did, but then it turned into Baro screaming at them to leave her alone.

While she was used to Baro scolding them, today anyone's yelling pisses her off. With a deep breath, (Y/n) shook her head and calmly told Baro that it was fine and that she didn't mind it. Next one to piss her off was Rin, who kept on ignoring her warnings about his hand injury. The night before he had an accident and fell om his hand while practicing. His constant saying that everything was fine and not to worry about him was genuinely getting on her nerves.

'Can't he see I am scared he might injure it more?!' (Y/n) thought as she counted to 3 and nodded her head. Rin was left flabbergasted with how easily she gave up and moved on.

'I... where are my back pats?! She always gives me them before leaving!' Rin sobbed internally as the girl was talking to Kurona and Bachira over their defense.

The third and final straw which made her break loose was an incident that happened 5 minutes before practice for that day ended. (Y/n) smiled tiredly at the pile of towels she had folded and was planning on bringing to the washroom. It all went well until she heard Isagi's yelling to move away. She did that just in time for the football to fly past her and into the towels. (Y/n) felt her breath hitch up as her face turned red in anger, all the while the pile of towels kept mocking her.

"Sorry about that, (Y/n)..." Isagi said quietly, but quickly jumped away as (Y/n) sent him a deathly glare.

"Sorry? You are sorry?" (Y/n) asked as Isagi gulped. Kujigami, Chigiri and Nagi watched the scene nervously and tried to get the rest to calm down.

"Yes-"

"SILENCE!"

The boys felt shivers run down their spines as they heard (Y/n)'s yell and quickly turned to look at the scene.

"The whole morning I have to deal with your shenanigans and all I ask is for you to keep those footballs on the field, Isagi! Look what you did here!" She said while pointing at the towels.

"Uh..."

"Not a word!" (Y/n) put her hand up as the team looked stunned.

"You move your egotistical ass over there, pick those towels up and bring them to the laundry room! I am not doing this today or putting up with anymore bullshit today!" Just as (Y/n) finished that sentence the bell rang, indicating the end of another training day.

"Did I make myself clear?!"

"To-totally clear." Isagi stuttered out and watched as (Y/n) walked off. Once she was gone and out of earshot the team let out a collective sigh of relief and looked at each other.

There was a silence among all of them as Isagi started picking up the towels, face red and heart racing.

'That was... that was so...so hot!' He gulped.

"I like this side of her." Karasu,as usual, spoke up before thinking his words through. The boy expected weirded out looks, but surprisingly only got nods of agreement.

"Y-yeah... it was kinda hot." Hiori agreed as he tried to cool himself down. Chigiri and Kunigami nodded in agreement, both faces red.

"You think she might yell at me if I take of my brace during training?" The redhead wondered.

"We should try, I can pretend that I took it somewhere and forgot where." The orange-haired boy added as his friend nodded his head in agreement. Yukimiya and Otoya were busy stopping their nose from bleeding to even say anything.

'She was so cute with that glare!'

'So hot! I hope she punches me next!'

"Haa~ it was kinda cute seeing her with an irritated look~ the blush was just a bonus." Niko added in as Kurona shyly nodded his head.

"I hope she insults me next."

"You all are so weird." Baro sweatdropped as Aryu shook his head at him.

"Let's not pretend like you didn't enjoy seeing our manager mad. I saw the blush you had while she was yelling."

"You were weirder! You started drooling, Aryu!"

"True, but I am not denying it."

"Isagi is so lucky to get yelled at by her. All I got was being yelled at by Ego-san." Gagamaru grumbled, hoping he might slip up next and get the Isagi treatment.

"Reo? Did you faint?" Nagi asked as he watched the boy sit up.

"Of course I did! Didn't you see the look she had on her face! That was so hot!" The purple-haired boy yelled as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"True... but a slap from her would feel a lot nicer. Can you pay her to slap me?" The albino wondered.

"Nagi, you are a genius! But instead of you, she will slap me!"

"I came up with it, Reo! I call dibs!"

"I am the richer one tho~"

"Damn you, insect. That should have been me. What does she see in you to yell like that?" Rin glared down at Isagi's form as the boy kept shaking in excitement.

"That's not fair! Isagi, we are best friends, I deserved the yelling too!" Bachira pouted

The next day everyone was pretty much waiting for (Y/n) to arrive so that they can provoke her into snapping again.

'Hopefully it's me this time.' They all thought.

"ISAGI!" The boy looked at the door with wide eyes as (Y/n) ran through it, holding a small strawberry cake in her hands.

"(Y-Y/n)?" He mumbled and ignored all the death stares he was receiving. The girl smiled in relief as she saw him and ran to his table.

"D-did I do something wrong again?" He asked, hoping she might yell a 'yes' or something like that, but to his disappointment she shook his head.

"No, not at all. I am here to apologize for yesterday. I shouldn't have let my anger out on you like that." (Y/n) said as she blushed in embarrassment.

"It's alright, I didn't mind."

Yukimiya, Hiori and Kurona facepalmed at his straightforward answer as Rin chuckled.

'Maybe she will think he is weird and not talk to him again.'

"Please don't say that, you have all the right to be mad at me. You are too kind, Isagi." (Y/n) smiled at the boy, causing him to cough nervously.

"Here! I made you this, it's not much but I hope it makes up for the trouble I did! Ego-san is fine with you eating this today." (Y/n) said as she handed the boy the small cake. This caused the tension in the room to rise as they looked at Isagi. He? Receiving a cake? Made by their lovely, kind manager?!

'That should have been me!' Reo thought as Niko pouted.

'I want a cake from (Y/n), too.'

'Why him?! I am the genius here!' Nagi was getting pretty much heated up by this point as Baro scoffed.

'That donkey really getting more attention than me? This won't fly by!'

Kunigami, Bachira and Chigiri tried to stay as calm as possible as they were right in front of her, but all three were pretty much ready to kick Isagi.

"Y-you really shouldn't have! I wasn't upset yesterday." Isagi said with a red face as (Y/n) squealed on the inside.

'He is so adorable and understanding! We as a society don't deserve him!' Internally (Y/n) shed a tear and kissed the boy on the cheek.

"Ah?!" He yelled in shock.

"We really don't deserve you, Isagi! Anyways, I will leave you to your breakfast." (Y/n) smiled at the boy one last time and ran out the dining room. The room was eerily quiet as they all looked at Isagi in shock and anger.

"Isagi, what the fuck?!" Hiori yelled.

"Yeah man, not cool! That was supposed to be my kiss!" Aryu yelled.

"Damn you, blue-eyed freak! What's so great about you?!" Rin yelled, watching in anger as Isagi happily ate his cake.

"That was upposed to be me, damn it..." Reo cried as Nagi laid his head on the table, trying to forget that awful scene.

"My day is ruined."

"So is my appetite." Niko and Gagamaru grumbled

"I wonder what's it like getting a cake from (Y/n)." Kurona raised an eyebrow.

"Forget that! Imagine a kiss! A KISS!" Karasu and Otoya yelled, both evidently jealous of all the attention Isagi was getting.

"I am the king here... why is a peasant getting all that attention."

"It's not fair..."

Meanwhile Isagi was happily munching on the cake as his three friends watched him with forced smiles.

'Isagi...'

'Why him?'

'I have much more kissable cheeks.'

"You know... (Y/n)'s lips are very soft." Isagi blurted out and touched the spot where (Y/n) had kissed him.

"ISAGI!!"

[bedoballoons]

I don't currently but it's on my list of anime's to watch and this scene definitely moved it up the list!! So excited to write this and thank you so much for your request, truly sorry it took so long to get to! @1yokiro1 <3

─⊰⁠⊹ฺ❄️𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕠𝕟𝕤⊰⁠⊹ฺ❄️

Wriothesley x Reader

{༻~A brawl between lovers~༺}

CW: Mentions of being drunk, fighting, reader having children and GN! Reader! Angsty!!

𑁍༄Wriothesley:

Wriothesley took a step back, putting his arms up in defense as you kicked at him mercilessly, your cheeks red and your eyes trying hard to focus on him. His mind was racing, how did you not even seem recognise him? "Stop, what are you doing?!" He yelled at you, glancing in the direction of your child who sat not far away, watching the whole scene unfold with a look of fear in their eyes.

You didn't answer, in fact he wasn't even sure you heard him as you spun around, landing a kick square at his jaw, sending him tumbling backwards. Thankfully he was quick recover, but he didn't dare throw a punch back. He was more than terrified that he'd hurt you, in front of the little one too...no, he'd just have to endure your attacks. "You got me good with that one, but I won't back down! Keep it coming hun!"

You showed no emotion, running towards him as your child yelped and tears ran down their cheeks. Wriothesley braced himself for your attack, but suddenly you fell to the floor in a heap...your breathing erratic and your clothes reeking of alcohol. You looked pale despite the red of your cheeks.

"Daddy! A-are they okay!! Are you okay!!" They ran to your side, soft sobs making their small body shake as Wriothesley hurried to you both...he hadn't laid a hand on you.. so you'd just passed out? Worry filled him as he pulled your child onto his arms, rubbing their back as he tried to calm them down.."They are fine, just needed a nap..., just like you do."

ଘ(੭*ˊᵕˋ)੭* ੈ♡‧₊˚~Have a nice day!~*⁠.⁠✧

[starkskeep]

But if you hold me without hurting me (r. stark)

But if you hold me without hurting me r. stark imagine

Pt. 5 of Oh, all I used to do was pray, Right when I felt the moment stop, And I might be ok, but I'm not fine at all, And the life I gave away

Pairings - Robb Stark x female!Reader

Summary - You have a long-awaited conversation with Robb. It changes things between the two of you.

Word Count - 1,133 words

Warnings - Angst, Possibly unbearable cheesiness

A/N - I broke the Taylor Swift title streak. In my defense, I have been a LDR stan since middle school and Cinnamon Girl makes me sob every time I listen to it.

Songs I listened to while writing: Like Real People Do (Hozier), Cinnamon Girl, Carmen (Lana Del Rey), Me and My Husband (Mitski)

Robb feels his heart start to beat erratically as he watches you and Jon. It is obvious that you care deeply about Jon as he does you. Robb knows that he has walked in on something private, feeling jealous but also wishing that he could be the one to comfort you as such. Your moment with Jon is interrupted when Robb clears his throat in order to make you aware of his entrance into your chambers. The sound startles you and causes you to turn in Robb’s direction. Jon also turns to look at Robb, his expression wary that Robb would misinterpret the scene.

Robb begins to speak slowly but his voice cracks ever so slightly, his heart contracting in his chest due to an onslaught of emotions. “Am I interrupting anything?”

You quickly regain your composure. “No, my lord husband, you are not. I lost a letter earlier today. Jon has calmed me down and agreed to help look for it.” You dismiss Jon from your chambers, assuring him that you will be okay. 

Jon locks eyes with Robb as he leaves. Tensions eased between him and Robb once he saw Robb trying to fix everything. However, Jon still continues to be an advocate for you. His brother looks back at him, eyes filled with questions he knows Jon cannot answer. Robb just needs to know that you are going to be okay, regardless of what happened. 

Your husband takes a step closer to you. He looks into your eyes, searching for the pain that he knows must be there. You are a strong woman but no one should be subjected to the kind of abuse that the letter contained. As he moves closer, you notice the letter crumpled in Robb’s fist. “Ah. It seems as I I do not need to search for the letter.” You say with a sad smile, “I take it that you have seen what my father thinks of me?”

Looking down at the letter once again, Robb scowls. The fury that had been burning inside of him returns to the surface. His head shakes in disgust and he quickly closes his fist tighter around the letter, as if the action would make the item disappear from existence. Robb nods once in acknowledgment of her question. “I did. It is nothing less than disgraceful.” He draws his eyes up to meet yours. Robb’s voice shakes with thinly veiled anger. “Your father is a cruel, cruel man. To say such things to you, his own daughter…well, it is unforgivable.” He says the last word through gritted teeth.

You motion for Robb to sit next to you. In your almost year of marriage, this is the first time that you have actually asked him to be near you. It seems as if he has realized this fact as well if his hesitancy is anything to go off of. Robb’s nervous movements are in stark contrast to your controlled stillness. A couple moments pass between you two before you begin to talk. Long-awaited and much-needed words begin this conversation. “It’s cruel but what he says is true. I have failed in my duty as a wife. I should have given you an heir by now.” 

Completely stunned is how the maesters would describe Robb if they were here to record this meeting. You are still calling him your husband, even after everything he has done, but you are voicing something that Robb would never want to believe. Yes, it is a wife’s and therefore your duty to give him an heir, but he would never, never force you to conceive if you were not yet ready. He turns to face the fireplace, staring into the flickering flames as he realizes how truly damaged you have been from a childhood in the Frey household and the months as his wife. Both of you have tried to do everything that has been expected of you, yet it is you who has suffered the most and continues to endure. Robb is angry at the world. Angry at the cruel words of your father. Angry at himself for the way he has treated you. Sighing deeply, he speaks after gathering his emotions. “Do not let them make you believe that this is your fault. It takes two to make a child. I am just as much to blame for the situation we find ourselves in…” 

Robb’s words trail off when he feels you place your head on his shoulder. It seems to be a night of firsts. Much like you never asked him to be near you, you have never initiated any sort of physical comfort. You both enjoy the feeling until you bring Robb back to reality with your voice breaking the silence. “I don’t blame you for anything. I want you to know that. You were forced to marry me, forced to make me your queen, while you still loved Talisa. Why would you want to leave her side for a Frey, especially when Talisa was carrying your child? I ruined your life.”

Feeling a tear soak into the shoulder of his tunic, Robb tilts your head up so he can see you clearly. “You didn’t ruin my life. I made a deal with your father. I knew what I was agreeing to when I crossed the bridge.” He reaches his thumb to brush the tears off your face. “This is not your burden to bear. It is something we must share. Something we must work through so that we can grow together. Something I should have worked harder on at the beginning of our marriage.” Your husband sighs deeply and shakes his head, trying to accept how much he has just spoken. Robb comes to the startling realization that he has never voiced this sentiment to you before, much less even admitted it to himself. 

“Thank you. I need to hear those words said to me.” You say and place a gentle kiss on Robb’s cheek. A blush spreads across your face as you do so.

He freezes when he feels your lips brush against his skin. A matching pink tint blotches his cheeks like yours did. This is the first time you have shown affection for him and it feels…good. Robb smiles and leans over to place a kiss on your forehead, wanting to continue this newfound physical affection that you have started. “I’m here for you. I know I haven’t been in the past, but from this moment forward, I will always be here for you my queen.” The increased presence of his Northern accent betrays the emotions that are overwhelming him. Staring into your eyes, his gaze reveals nothing but honesty and sincerity in his gaze. Robb meant every word he said to you tonight. 

A/N - Once again, thank you so much for reading. My ask box is always open for requests, comments, or if just want to gush about our lovely Stark boys.

[znerac]

Come Closer

Sorry for my terrible exuses of titles LOL

Pairing: Obi-Wan Kenobi x ftm!Reader

No specific pronouns are used but if i make a part two the reader will be described as ftm

Part 2

Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, No Y/N, Cheating (Readers Bf)

Words: 2.2k

Summary: after finding Kriz with another in bed, reader finds themselves in the arms of the general they've treated many times before.

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Today so far was normal, patients were slow, and once you were off-shift you headed home. Of course, your apartment on coruscant wasn't the best, but you shared it happily with your boyfriend Kriz.

You found it odd how the door was unlocked, but brushed it off. You walk in with a happy 'im home!'. You begin to set your things on the counter, when an odd noise was heard. Of course, you thought nothing of it and called your lovers name. When you got no response, you got curious.

Walking over, your brows furrowed at the continuation of the noise, making your gut twist. Opening your guy's shared bedroom door, the pit in your gut deepened and your heart practically shattered.

The two in your bed jumped and your boyfriend started speaking, but you heard none of it. Walking out and shutting the door with tears welling up in your eyes.

You stood for a second in shock.

And then the tears started streaming.

You let out a choked sob and grabbed your bag, shuffling out just as your boyfriend came out of the bedroom.

Of course, you didn't have time to think, you were overwhelmed and disgusted. Rushing out of the building with a few held in cries.

Your mind was racing, and you didn't know where else to go but work, and so you did. You caught a cab back, and when you arrived you bumped into a few clones, apologizing profusely before you went back into your office.

It was pretty much the only place you could be alone. So you sat in your chair and held yourself, your mind going over the scene over and over. It plagued your mind, and it was too overwhelming, you nearly choked on your breath.

After about ten minutes, you heard a knock on your door. And you jumped, quickly wiping away your tears with a weak 'come in'.

The door opened, and you couldn't look up, staring down and grabbing mindlessly at a few papers, "can i help you?" you ask, thumb sliding over the documents.

"You bumped into one of my recruits, said you were upset. Is something wrong?"

You knew that voice, that voice was from a certain general who had a tendency to getting hurt. You looked up, surprised.

"General Kenobi? I- i uh it's nothing im fine, really" you lie between a smile. Obi-wan frowns, coming to sit down on the seat opposite of your desk. "You know very well i can sense that something is not right. Its better to talk about your feelings, you know. Why don't you tell me whats bothering you?" he says, asking again for you to talk. Your mouth wavers, opening and closing to speak. But you break out in a few more tears.

Obi-wan's eyebrows furrow, "Maybe i can help?" he offers, but you shake your head. "You.. Can't do anything. I just.. I" you pause to breathe. "I found Kriz.. With a girl.. When i went home" you say quietly. You watch as Obi-wan thinks, and it clicks. "Oh, I'm so sorry" he says, tone soft. You sniffle, shrugging. "Its.. Its fine. I'll get over it" you mumble, and he sits up. "But it's not fine, he broke your trust. Thats not just something you can forget." he explains, "i expect you probably don't feel like going back. I could offer you a stay in my quarters?" he offers, tilting his head to the side. You give a faint smile, "i.. I can't. I don't want to be a burden"

Obi-wans face contorts, "You're no Burden, Never" he says in an almost defensive tone. "Please, it would be be my pleasure. Besides, you deserve a break. Some peace" he excuses, standing up. "Come now, I'm not letting you be alone after such an event"

You smile faintly, appreciative of his caring demeanor. You stand up, grabbing your bag and slowly following him.

Obi-wan stays fairly quiet as you two walk, it feels tense. But somehow comforting. Although you don't really know the general all that much, you appreciate how caring he seemed to be.

Once you arrived at his quarters in the Jedi Temple, you step in a little nervously. But the clean and tidy surroundings make you just a little more at ease.

"What kind of tea do you like?" he asks, walking over to the set of counters and puts a kettle on. You follow, standing beside him. "I don't usually drink tea.. Just make anything you like and I'll drink it" you say, and Obi-wan looks over, "Ah.. Well.. I'll just make you one of my regulars. Unless you'd like something else?" he cocks a brow. You shake your head, "no, no its okay, I'll drink your uh, tea" you exuse with your hands up. He smiles, "Relax my friend, Take a seat. You could put on a holo if you'd like. Make yourself at home" he says, patting your shoulder and you nod.

You make it over to the little couch by the holo, taking in a shaky breath. Everything went by so quickly, and it felt a little unreal to even be here. You jump a little when you get a commcall on your wrist, but seeing the name your face scrunches and you quickly reject it. You end up taking off your link and setting it aside.

Obi-wan came back with two mugs, handing you one. "I sure do hope its alright, i just made it how i would usually for myself. But if you don't care for it theres always other options" he says, sitting next to you. You can't help but crack a weak smile, looking down at the drink in your palms. "Thank you"

He smiles over at you, and takes a sip from his mug. "Would you like to talk at all? Or would you prefer to just take your mind off of things?" he asks, tilting his head to the side and looking at you with those beautiful blues.

You think for a moment, looking at your transmitter before back at obi-wan. "Maybe later.. We can talk.. I just, want to relax for a little" you reply, and he gives you a nod. "Fair enough. Here, put a show on." he hands you the holopad, and you grab it. Choosing a random show you liked and throwing it up on the big screen.

You both sit quietly, until you start to talk about the show. Which, felt good. Obi-wan was a great listener. He looked over when you spoke, kept his attention on you, and replied when you asked him a question. It had been awhile since anyone actually gave you their full attention, and you were sure obi-wan could sense how thankful you were.

Eventually, you continued to drink your tea, actually finishing it too. "This was good, maybe your just great at making tea. I've never actually tasted one this good" you compliment, standing up. He furrows his brows, "well thank you, but, where are you going?" he asked, uncrossing his legs and sitting up. You pause, looking down at your mug. You thought he would want you to leave after the drink. "I don't know.. I kind of assumed you'd want me to leave after" you reply, and the other chuckles. "No such thing, I'm not sending you back there unless you choose to go. Please, Stay." he smiles, standing and taking your mug. "Here, I'll take care of this. Now why don't you go have a shower and refresh yourself, i have some clothes that could fit you." he offers.

You bite at your lip before sighing, "a shower does seem nice.." you hum, giving obi-wan a faint smile. He nods you to the refresher and you thank him before going, shedding your clothes almost instantly before hopping into the shower and relaxing against the hot water. You just let yourself stand there, soaking up all the warmth.

About five minutes into it, you hear a soft knock at the door followed with a "I'm just going to place these here, a Towel and something for you to wear" you hear obi-wan say. And you smile softly, thanking him before hearing him leave. You don't know how much longer you spend in there, but it just feels so nice you can't help but soak it up until the water starts to turn cold.

At that point, you get out and wrap yourself in the towel after drying your hair. You spend some time just standing there, going over the scenes once more. And then dry yourself off.

When you picked up the shirt obi-wan left you, you smiled a little. It was definitely his, or at least fit him. It was a plain white tee, and you slipped that on along with the gray sweats he gave you. It felt a little odd to be in another guys clothes, but you decided to savor the feeling. If your boyfriend could savor another person, you could let yourself at least wear these. You walked out, feeling a bit better and definitely more refreshed.

"Enjoy your shower?" you hear obi-wan ask, as he walks over to you from the little kitchen in the quarters. He handed you a plate with a neatly made wrap. "Oh, yeah it was.. Really nice" you say, taking the plate and thanking him for it. "Thats good to hear. Now how about you eat that, and then go take a rest. I'll be here, i just have some paperwork to do" he says, pointing to the plate. You cock a brow, "Rest? Like, sleep?" you ask. He nods. "I'm not taking your bed, obi-wan. I can rest fine on the couch"

"Nonesense. You can sleep in my bed, it's more comfortable I'd say. I'll take the couch, you need a good rest and I've had plenty." he smiles. You huff, thinking for a second. "You're not sleeping on the couch, this is your home, you can rest in the same best as me, we're both adults" you counter, and he raises a brow. "You're okay with that?" he asks, and you nod reassuringly. He gives you a final nod, "well then, please do get some rest. I still have to do some work" he says, giving your shoulder a small squeeze. "And if later when i come back, and you decide you don't want me to rest with you i fully understand" he says reassuringly before wandering off to his office.

You stand there for a second before going to sit, eating slowly and going over todays events again. It made you feel worse, but you couldn't help it. But what did help, was Obi-wan offering help and comfort. Which he seemed good at, and that made you feel a little better. Although, when you looked at your empty plate a few tears shed again. You get up to place the plate in the sink, and wander to obi-wans office. Gently pushing the door open. You watch with teary eyes as he turns his head and frowns. Then he stands, and faces you with open arms.

You don't hesitate for a second to jump into his arms and hug him. Feeling his arms wrap around you carefully, caressing your back to comfort you. You sob a couple times into his robes, leaving a small wet mark where your tears fell. But he says nothing, rubbing your back and letting you release those emotions. You spend a good couple minutes in his arms before pulling away, eyes red and puffy. And he smiles down at you, wiping the tears from your cheeks with his thumbs. "Let’s go lay, i can sense that you're tired" he suggests, and you nod. Turning and letting him follow you to his bed, and you glance at him before crawling in under the blankets. He waits a second, putting a finger up and going to grab a few clothes of his, and heading to the refresher. He comes back in just a simple sweatshirt and loose pajama pants, and asks you again if you're okay with him laying with you. Of course, you say yes and scoot aside so he can get in.

Once he gets comfortable, you wait for a second, biting your inner cheek. "Can we-"

He nods and opens his arms. And you shuffle into his arms, up against his chest with your head tucked into his neck. It’s comforting, and warm. And you feel yourself relax against him as he rests his arms around you.

Obi-wan moves his arm and suddenly you feel his hand in your hair. And you just melt, humming and leaning your head up into it. Of course he continues, and it just feels amazing.

It had been ages since anyone touched your hair, and it just felt special. Especially with how gentle obi-wan had been treating you. It was like he knew what you needed.

"Obi-wan?" you spoke up gently. He hummed in reply. "Thank you, for everything." you say in a somewhat weak tone, and he holds you just a little tighter. "Of course, Dear" he says softly.

You think for a little, feeling a buildup of emotions in your chest.

He kisses the top of your head, holding you closer, "It's going to be alright my dear, now just rest, okay?" he speaks softly, and you just nod.

Sleep was surprisingly easy to find that night.

.

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Thank you for reading! Reblogs are appreciated ❤️

[latoyalestrange]

enough

s. sallow x f!reader

summary: sebastian had gone to far. you didn't have it in you to turn him in, but you also couldn't look him in the eye. the boy learns a lesson of action and consequence, but is it too late?

words: 900

warnings: angst. ya'll i'm so sorry. i literally sobbed during this scene and i wanted to show you guys what the inside of my brain looked like in that moment lol. minors dni pls. not edited!

"sebastian! wait!" your feet were moving as quickly as they could to catch up with him as he weaved through the catacombs, ignoring your calls.

you hadn't really processed what had happened just yet. you'd seen someone die before on your way to hogwarts, but that was different. oslic was ripped out of the carriage by a dragon, for merlin's sake. it happened so quickly and your eyes were shut for most of it. this time is wasn't like that. you watched the life leave solomon's eyes and it was at your best friend's hand. all you knew in that moment was you needed to get to him, to make sure he was okay. in your heart you also knew that there was no possible way he was okay right now. either way, you needed to be there. you couldn't leave him.

"would you stop for a moment? p-please!" you could feel yourself beginning to lose your composure, your voice breaking as you begged him. you could hardly keep up with your feet as you raced after him. you nearly ran into him before you realized he had stopped dead in his tracks, a few feet away from the exit. he was scanning your face, his own twisted with concern and guilt. he saw the tears starting to pool in your eyes and lifted his hand to comfort you. instead of giving you the contact you desired, though, he quickly withdrew it, almost as if it were a painful action.

"don't cry...please?" his head hung low with shame, unable to meet your gaze like a guilty puppy. even if you could try, the wetness persisted down your cheeks, now flushed with both exhaustion and grief.

"how can i not?" his head perked up at your words. the look on his face made you feel like a terrible person.

"i did what i had to do!" his demeanor flipped like a switch. he was suddenly irate and in defense mode. "he attacked us! i had to protect us! i had to protect you--"

okay. no.

after everything you had done for him-- after he pressured you to lie to the keepers, put your education in jeopardy, and treated you like shit the entire time? he would not pretend like this was for you. none of it was for you. most of it wasn't even for anne. it was for him.

"don't you dare try to pretend that any of that was for me." with tears still rolling down your face, you had turned into the physical manifestation of reactive. "i have done everything that you have ever asked of me, sebastian. i have risked my life, my education, and my connection with the keepers for you." he looked petrified as you bore into him, but you weren't done.

"you know, i came here with no one. i thought maybe if i helped you, you would want to be my friend--"

"i am your friend!" it wasn't until he sobbed out those words that you realized he was crying. he was close to incoherent at this point.

"you are the furthest thing from a friend, sebastian. i have endured the way you treat me because i really needed someone. i needed someone, and--" you choked on your words, the lump in your throat becoming too prominent to continue.

"i'm sorry, y/n..." he sounded meek, almost like a whimper. you wiped your face and took a deep breath.

"it's too late for that, seb." his eyes finally met yours as he heard his favorite pet name from you. it broke him just a little bit more knowing that was the last time he'd ever hear you say it. he mirrored you and took a deep breath of his own.

"i know. i know i've treated you terribly and i admit to being blinded by my own desires to not realize what i already have. i understand if you want to turn me in and never see me again." his apology honestly made it worse. him showing remorse for his actions at the last possible second, when you finally show him you're serious, is something that you predicted from miles away. but that didn't make it any easier.

"sebastian, i could never turn you in..." he looked hopeful for a moment, but it was short lived. "but i think it's best if we don't speak." he closed his eyes, looking wounded.

"please," you instinctively turned to walk around him, you couldn't bare to hear his begging. "please, no wait--don't do this!" you almost plugged your ears as you trudged forward, ignoring his pleas.

"i can't do this without you!" deep down, you felt the same. going on without sebastian seemed impossible but you knew it was a necessity. the wizarding world rested in your hands, and at such a young age. you went from being a regular teenager with no responsibilities other than homework to an ancient-magic-wielding sorcerer who was solely responsible for not just one, but multiple repositories full of the most powerful magic known to wizard-kind. not to mention, an entire rebellion regime was after you. they didn't just want you for information or money or some material object. they wanted you dead.

so, you couldn't risk it. you didn't go through everything just to doom an entire world of people. even if your happiness was the price.

[bi-bi-bi-buckley]

I know we've all been talking about the KISS ™️ and rightfully so.

But I want to take some time to discuss Harry and Athena because I sobbed so much this episode because of them.

1. I like that they didn't make it like we haven't seen Harry in so long so he's gotten in with the wrong crowd and did like actually illegal immoral things but it was (as he said no matter how poorly executed) self defense.

2. I just know Harry has felt for years that his mom didn't have his back and was always on the side of the law. I know it had been hurting and had been festering until he blew up on her. And it was such a good scene.

3. The scene at the kitchen table? Deceased. I was sobbing so hard at that scene. Seeing Harry cry. Watch them heal a wound Athena didn't even know was there until it got infected. Besides the certain scene, this is my favorite scene in the episode.

4. When Athena takes him to the police station and I was ugly sobbing as he said she was a great mom

[lucaaazd]

Reibert bus shenanigans part 2. Read part 1 here. Anyways START SCENE

“Stay cool, stay cool,” The blond boy clutched the back of a seat, “All we gotta do is take the bus the other way, right?”

Bertolt was inconsolable. Take the bus the other way? What’s he talking about? He had no money. Why couldn’t Dad have given him a metro card with more than one ride on it? He cussed himself for losing his student pass in a school toilet on Taco Tuesday. He’d had too much beans and rice and was eager to leave the crime scene in case the next person who used the bathroom linked his presence to the radioactive stench. Being caught stinking up the already disgusting boys’ bathroom would be his social death, although to be honest he was getting there without the help of a poopy reputation. There’s no way he’s getting back home. Fluorescent street lights flew past the windows in a bright, ghostly arch, illuminating the run-down, industrial cityscape. Bertolt had only been to Queens twice to visit his family friends, the Galliards’. They lived in a three-story house with an overgrown backyard and chain link fences, and Bertolt had marveled at how much bigger everything was there. The streets were wider, the gas stations enormous, miles of parking garages the size of malls overlooked the highway. The highway. “We’re literally on the highway!” Bertolt sobbed.

“Eh, yeah,” the other boy agreed, “Hm,” he looked down at his feet, any residual pompousness evaporated.

“What’s wrong, darlings?” Squeaked an old woman with a walker. They had caused quite a scene. Bertolt went bright red, “Eh, nothing.”

“Dear me, you lads seem quite young to be taking the bus all by yourselves,” the lady said, “How old are you kids?”

“13,” said the blond kid, puffing up his chest.

“12,” Lied Bertolt. He was turning eleven in a week and a half.

“Oh my,” the woman stood up with difficulty, her shriveled arms shaking like mad above her walker, “Not lost, are you?”

Bertolt looked around quickly and registered the fact that they were the only people on the bus. “No,” both boys said at the same time and looked at each other, flabbergasted. “Hold on,” Bertolt remembered something, “Where’s your phone?”

“Right here,” the boy waved his ginormous iPhone twelve with its Spider-Man case and four cameras.

“Oh,” a hint of resentment flashed through Bertolt, “Can you look up where we are?”

“Eh, no.”

“Why?” Resentment quickly festered into annoyance.

“It’s dead,” said the kid, “Where’s your phone?”

Oh. Duh. “Dead,” said Bertolt bashfully.

“Why didn’t you charge it before you left?” The boy prodded.

“I did,” Bertolt felt defensive, “it’s old.”

“I saw you watching Ice Spice.”

“Hey!” Said Bertolt, “it’s none of your business. Why were you spying?” He bit back.

“You were playing it from your phone really loud. It’s kind of hard to miss.”

“No I wasn’t. I had my headphones in,” gasped Bertolt.

“Guess you didn’t charge your headphones either,” the annoying new boy shrugged.

Bertolt turned scarlet. So the whole bus could hear him. Great. Everyone probably thought he was a little weirdo.

“I don’t blame you. She’s hot,” said the other boy with a longing look. Bertolt’s ears started burning. “Barbie World is a really good song, okay?” he stuttered.

“Sure,” the kid towered over him, waggling his eyebrows, “You totally don’t wanna ‘undress her everywhere’.”

“Ew!” Bertolt protested.

“I wish she had more melons,” his eyes began to cross, “The things I would do to them…”

Bertolt felt extremely uncomfortable, “Please stop. Seriously.”

“I’m Reiner, by the way,” the boy snapped out of his daze with a sheepish smile, “What’s your name?”

“Bertolt,” Bertolt answered reluctantly, bracing for taunts.

“Burger?” Reiner repeated.

“Bertolt,” Bertolt said a little louder.

“Okay Birdsack,” said Reiner, “Let’s get off this fucking bus.”

Bertolt gasped at his audacity. He was disliking the boy more by the minute. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

“So,” Reiner whistled, jumping up and hanging onto the bar with one hand, “let’s - wait.”

“I think,” said Bertolt apprehensively, “We might be waiting for a really long time.”

Before Reiner could respond, bus driver barked, “No swinging!” It caught Reiner off guard and he fell right into a pole. “Ow!”

Bertolt watched with little sympathy as the older boy clutched his right knee, hopping on one foot with a pained expression.

“Easy love,” the nice lady with the walker cooed over Reiner, “Want to get off the bus, you said?”

Bertolt nodded furiously. The lady smiled and pointed at a red button next to her head that spelled “STOP” in all cap. She pushed it and a “ding!” issued from the speaker. “Stop requested,” it announced.

“That’s it?” Bertolt said in disbelief.

“Never took the bus before?” The woman grinned toothlessly.

Bertolt stared around him like he’d never taken a proper look at the inside of a bus before. Now that he’s paying attention, there were indeed red buttons everywhere that said “STOP”. The answer was right in front of him this whole time. Bertolt wanted to slap himself. It’s true that he didn’t take the bus very often. Mom didn’t like them. She said it was a vertigo thing, plus they came rather sporadically. Bertolt’s mother was a career woman with very short patience and had sworn off the bus due to the one time they had to wait an hour for the M4 after her meeting at a partner hotel on the East Side. Bertolt had to listen to her rant about how disorganized and inefficient the MTA was as a company and in a lower voice, how rude the bus driver was when her card kept declining. Bertolt tuned out the rest as usual by thinking about that cute girl in his social studies class. He must have had a faraway look in his eyes because his mom had grabbed him by the ear seconds later, hissing at him to pay attention. “Well, there, that’s your stop, young man,” the old lady pointed at the back door.

The bus had come to a stop, sending Reiner crashing into the seat in front of him. “Come on,” Bertolt thought about lending him a hand but instead tucked both into his pockets.

“Okay,” Reiner grimaced as he followed Bertolt to the door. For a moment, they both stared at the glass screen, unsure of what to do.

“Touch the yellow tape to open door,” the same robotic voice from earlier said. Bertolt pushed the yellow strip and the double doors folded aside. “Thanks, ma’am!” Bertolt muttered before hurrying off the bus.

“Good luck, kids!” Said the woman, waving at them from the window, “The other bus is across the street!”

Indeed, the desolate, dimly lit little bus stop stood twenty feet before them. Bertolt looked both ways to make sure no car was coming before crossing the road in a jog. “Wait up, Borgat,” Reiner called after him, panting. Remembering that he had fucked up his leg earlier, Bertolt felt like an asshole. He turned around and reluctantly lent Reiner a shoulder, which the other boy clung onto for dear life. Together they wobbled to the sad little bench in front of a Viagra ad. Bertolt studied the twin cups with a curious expression. “Those don’t work,” said Reiner expertly, wincing as he eased himself down onto the bench.

“I don’t get why you can’t just get more toothpaste,” said Bertolt.

Reiner looked at him like he’d lost his mind.

“What?” Bertolt shot back.

“Nothing,” said the other boy.

They watched the scarce traffic go by the poorly lit street. “How do we know when the bus is coming?” Bertolt wondered out loud.

“Dunno,” Reiner shrugged, “Oh, I think you can text a number.”

“Great!” Bertolt clapped his hands together, “Let’s text the number.”

Awkward silence hung in the air. “Or,” Reiner coughed into his hand, “We just wait.”

They waited for what felt like fifteen minutes, during which Bertolt adamantly avoided eye contact with the other boy. He distracted himself by thinking about Annie, whose number he acquired last week during recess after half the boys in his class egged him on. They had looked shocked when he came back with ten digits scribbled on the palm of his hand and no bruises anywhere. “No way,” one of them held Bertolt’s hand like it was a piece of important evidence at a crime scene, “it’s probably fake. She’s messing with him. Let’s call it after school.” The same boy’s jaws were slack when she actually picked up later that day, sounding bored as ever. She’s the coolest. She wore her hair down yesterday and Bertolt found himself not so casually staring at her the whole period, earning himself a few extra head smacks from Mrs. Mcleod. For some reason Mrs. Mcleod had decided to dress code Annie as soon as class was over, and she returned from the principle’s office wearing an ugly wrinkly school T-shirt that said “MSC” instead of the blue tank top. She was still cute when she was fuming.

“What’s with that smile?” Reiner’s voice snapped him back into an Annie-less reality, “Thinking about Ice Spice again?”

How dare he make such a vile allegation? “No!” Bertolt bellowed.

“Chill. I have a proposal,” said Reiner.

Bertolt waited for him to continue.

“You see that deli over there?” Reiner gestured behind them at the sketchiest looking deli Bertolt had ever seen, its narrow doorway lit up beneath the man-sized Viagra bottle. “Let’s see if we could charge our phones there.”

“I don’t have a charger. Or money,” Bertolt worried.

“Me neither,” said Reiner in a mock sing-songy voice, “I could use some Taki’s though.” He made to get up and Bertolt had to try and stop him, “But your leg! Plus, I have a feeling we shouldn’t go in there.” Bertolt eyed the men hanging out outside the shop, smoking cigarettes with their backs against the graffitied walls.

“Fine, you wait here then,” Reiner pushed Bertolt’s hand away and strode towards the deli.

“Wait up! Don’t leave me here alone,” Bertolt whined. When Reiner didn’t answer, he gritted his teeth and followed the older boy.

END SCENE

[chialeah]

TCR EPISODE 9

Fuck- this episode was so tense and heartbreaking but so so good! Definitely the toughest episode to watch so far. Masterclass in acting from all the cast involved! Major spoilers below!

1. With minimal dialogue from Danny this episode Tom brilliantly spoke through his eyes/body language to convey Danny’s inner thoughts/emotions. I truly was heartbroken watching Danny watch Candy betray him and stay loyal to Marlin. Also his face during the final scene! I truly couldn’t handle it.

2. The actress playing the DA is eating fr. I will definitely have to check out more of her work! Christopher Abbott has also been giving a wonderful performance these past few episodes. I’m such a big fan of his work and TCR has been a great addition. They truly are the backbone of the trial and have been doing a great job raising bigger issues/questions about Danny’s overall place.

3. Annabelle, Angelo, and Jerome taking the witness stand was a great addition. You could tell that they all were sort of empathetic to the internal struggles Danny has been dealing with(whether or not he deserved it in those specific situations). Jerome-I love you fr! I’ve loved his performances from these past two episodes and am grateful that he has been able to show a more gentle/vulnerable side to Danny and his alters.

4. Candy! I appreciate that the episode established that she was at the receiving end of abuse too. “Guilt or Grief, which one can you bear” is such a banger line and it was interesting to see how Candy reacted to it. I HATE that she did that to her own son but I get why she was so afraid. She wasn’t ready to lose everything so she decided push her own son further away by lying. Truly a shame fr! I hate Marlin so so so much! Appreciate the actor giving this role his all because he’s truly made Marlin such a despicable character lol. The look of heartbreak between Candy and Danny after she took the stand will haunt me.

5. The final scene! I had such a visceral reaction to this scene it was crazy! I knew that the binder clip was going to come back in a dangerous way. The look of solemn terror but also relief after Danny harms himself was so heartbreaking I legit started to sob. I do appreciate the show not showing the action of abuse or self harm but rather the characters reactions to it. I think this is a really smart way to emphasize the emotional/psychological toll it takes. I have a lot of questions about the outcome of Danny’s action in this scene but i guess we’ll find out more next week!

6. Spoilers!- From the set pictures and locations used during the filming of episode 10 it seems that whatever the outcome of the trial is Danny hopefully (eventually) gets sent to a mental facility upstate! Looks like some time has passed and Rya goes to visit Danny. He even has his scars from where he harmed himself! I’ll put some of the set pics below! This is truly saving me from having a full freak out about this episode lol.

Hopeful that we get to have some closure for Ari, Jonny, and the other alters in some capacity in the next episode. Hopefully Candy steps up in some way in the next episode as well. I also am looking forward for Danny’s defense (including Rya) to get a fucking win in the incoming parts of the trial. This show has truly done a great job giving example to the nuanced history mental illness has had within the social/judicial/political systems at play here in the U.S. Can’t believe we’re at the finale already! Looking forward to seeing these storylines get wrapped up. Great job all around! Bravo Tom!

My episode ranking so far:

9-8-7-6-3-5-4-2-1

[tarisilmarwen]

Rebels Rewatch: "Steps Into Shadow"

Everything is all shaken up for Season Three, let's go.

So I know I said I really like it when shows change up the Status Quo but...

Some of the changes took a bit of getting used to in Season Three. I'll admit it.

(It's the hair, Ezra's hair took getting used to, I believe my exact reaction was, "Nooooooo not the cute shaggy shonen protagonist hair!" I'm okay with it now and it's hella easier to draw but it was a bit of a mourning period.)

So! Season Three begins six months after the end of Season Two. Everyone has had a cosmetic upgrade. They're all older. Ezra is seventeen. *cries*

Ezra had his seventeenth birthday offscreen while he and Kanan were not on speaking terms.

*sobbing forever*

Anyway we open In Media Res with the Spectres (minus Kanan) pulling off a jailbreak.

Oh it is absolutely not a coincidence that our first sight of Ezra this season has him bathed in shadow.

Sabine and Ezra casually bantering mid-mission and Ezra being seamlessly badass. <3

That cute little fond smile of Ezra's when he sees Hondo. T_T

Ohhhh I remember when people were freaking out over just how casually Ezra shoots this Stormtrooper with a blaster very obviously not set to stun. It's such a contrast from "Stealth Strike" in which he promises not to hurt any of them. He's taken some parts of Maul's words to heart, sadly, and now he's acting like a proper soldier in a war.

Ouch.

Don't mind me appreciating Ezra and Sabine's brief battle tag-teaming moment here.

As if the Luke parallels were not strong enough, Ezra's new lightsaber--after a harrowing fight against Darth Vader in which he lost his other one--is green. And sue me, I love his green lightsaber, it's my favorite.

Also a big fan of how Ezra demolishes this whole hallway of Stormtroopers by himself. He doesn't even blink.

"Is that really Ezra?" "Most of the time." The meaning behind this exchange is ambiguous and there are plural interpretations. I think Sabine is referring to how utterly serious he is, no stopping, no delays, all-business. We only really saw him banter and smile with the others when on their way in, once the reinforcements arrived it was all go time.

It really isn't Ezra's fault that Terba got killed. But Ezra's Hero Complex, Guilt Complex, and sense of hyper-responsibility are all colliding and making him take the blame on himself for not having complete 100% control of the situation, also why he snaps at Hera later for griping about just that.

Never not gonna love Ezra as leader with Sabine as his competent lieutenant. <3

The Force Theme goes creepily off-tune here. This is NOT a Jedi Mind Trick. This is Force Dominate and yes, it is a Dark Side power.

This scene is deliberately uncomfortable. It's almost like possession, like Ezra using the AT-DP pilot like a meat puppet.

Sabine looking Very Concerned as she watches what Ezra does here. :)

There's just a moment where they hold on the shots of the AT-DP's legs and Ezra's feet, juuuuuuust to give you enough time to comprehend the horror.

"When did Kanan teach you that?" There's just a smidge of discomfort in Sabine's voice here, she knows full well that's not something normal.

Ezra's "I did what I had to do." here is a bit needlessly defensive, Hera didn't offer any commentary in judgement at all, he's just instinctively already verbally flinching about it because he knows it was wrong.

We can already see the effects of Malachor on Ezra, he's angrier than usual and bristles at Hera's criticism.

"Ah the fiery spirit of youth, eh?" "It's not all bad." Hera looks so SAD here. :( There's so much unspoken sorrow. You can hear a certain frustration and helplessness.

Cut to Ezra having the expected angst session in his room. The holocron, sensing his anger, lights up, making his cadet helmet (the one Sabine painted for him, that's supposed to represent a sense of safety) look creepily demonic.

"You can see things clearly your friends cannot." Ohhhhh you absolute bitch, that specific turn of phrase is meant to dig at Ezra's guilt over Kanan's blindness isn't it? Ezra even repeats it. "They can't see..." This scene here, his speech, is the lynchpin of his entire experiment with the Dark Side; his guilt over Malachor is eating him up and like Anakin before him he's resolved to never let it happen again. So he must become stronger, more powerful. His fear of further loss--his attachment--is leading him down the same dangerous path.

It hurts so good, it's such good angst.

THERE SHE IS, MY FAVORITE FABULOUS BITCH.

She's awful. I love her. <3

The entire crew being so Done with Hondo lol.

Heeeeeeey remember how I talked about how a large part of Rebels the show is how the Ghost crew in particular helps put the Alliance together piece by piece, ship by ship?

Yeah these are the Y-wings that take part in the Battle of Yavin.

Sato promoting Ezra, awwwww. The sheer respect these two have now. Sabine and Zeb are very happy for him and Hera says Kanan would be too and ow ow ow the lined hurt in Ezra's face when he points out that Kanan is never around anymore.

The man himself has grown a Sadness!Beard and is in such inner turmoil that it's woken the Bendu, whose voice we hear calling to him.

I really feel for Hera, trying to mediate between her two Jedi, who are both hurting and both avoiding each other, the frustration and anguish she must feel.

Perhaps nudged by her words Kanan does try to pay Ezra a visit to talk... aaaaaaaand immediately discovers the open holocron.

Ohhh this conversation hurts. Ezra's so angry and hurt by Kanan seemingly abandoning him and all Kanan can think about is protecting him from the holocron's influence and he must feel like such a failure as a teacher, especially when Ezra yells about how he doesn't need Kanan.

:((((

Rebels says vehicle registrations and tolls are tyranny lol.

Right so, mistake number one: Running instead of playing cool. The Alliance does have a small amount of funds and they could easily forge a ship registration. Give the Mining Guild fake credentials, pay the fee, and they could have bought enough time to deflect suspicion for an hour maybe.

Yeah the krykna aren't any less creepy.

Hi Bendu!

The Bendu is an interesting addition to the lore. He seems in the vein of the Mortis Gods, an ancient entity in tune with the Force, though the normal rules of such don't apply to him. He's a neutral party, possibly representative of the spirit of nature, which is neither Light nor Dark it just is. His True Neutral alignment would later be challenged by Kanan but for now he seems a helpful ally, offering to assist Kanan learn how to "see" through the Force. (I do like to joke that he's trying to get all the Force noise to calm down so he can go back to sleep.)

Mixed feelings on how Kanan's blindness is handled. Would have liked to see more of a recovery/coping arc, but a lot of the little subtle hints and nods they do in later episodes are really effective at showing how he's adapted. And then there are the odd moments where Rebels writers forget he's blind entirely. So there's some room for improvement.

Also he should have been allowed to make some blind jokes. DON'T @ ME THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN HILARIOUS.

Ezra: "No witnesses! 😠" Sabine: "Dude WTF?" Love how even though his Dark Side tendencies concern and worry her she's not afraid to push back at him.

Kanan assumes the "source of unbalance" he's carrying is the Sith holocron and confesses his fears that it's corrupting Ezra. The Bendu claims, "An object cannot make you good or evil.", explaining how it's one's mindset that determines that.

Which I mean, point, buuuuuuuut this is also a fictional universe in which the traces of Sith ghosts stuck in soul jars can literally possess you sooooo...

Anyway the scenes of Bendu teaching Kanan how to "see" through the Force are amazing. 10/10 no complaints. Will comment on things as I go just to point them out.

For starters, how about the panic and fear in Kanan when Bendu destroys the sensor beacon? And his angry hopeless, "I can't see anything! Not anymore."?

MEANWHILE WITH THE IMPERIAL DOOM SQUAD:

*ANGELIC CHORUS*

Hello my favorite blue bastard.

The first hint of Kallus's changed allegiance is here with this vaguely accusatory comment about civilian deaths outnumbering insurgent deaths at Batonn, which Thrawn was promoted for. Pryce calls them "acceptable margins". Timothy Zahn would later reveal in the first new canon Thrawn book that it was her who detonated the bombs that killed everyone. For the moment I will refrain from commenting on his concerning habit of retconing things to absolve Thrawn of anything bad ever and just respond with the appropriate amount of disgust at Pryce.

Always loved the cool effect where everything except Thrawn's red eyes fade out.

Mistake number two: Not calling Hera to tell her, "Hey the Empire is scrapping the bombers literally as we speak." and asking for advice. Hera probably would have consulted Sato and the combined brainpower could have come up with a better plan than "Charge in recklessly and scoop them up against orders without further observation or research."

Even Rex, who backs Ezra up later, thinks they should tell Hera about it first.

"That's an order!" Ouch, Ezra, that is the most insensitive thing you could have said to a former clone trooper.

Ezra's need for control over every possible variant situation (to prevent himself from suffering further loss) is actively making things worse for the mission, not better. He is showing a distinct lack of trust in the command structure, and an almost possessive need to keep his team safe and under his direction.

No one comments on his bossing them around though, not even Sabine, and into the maelstrom they go.

Hi Brom Titus!

Rex still showing a very slight deathseeker tendency.

Sabine's been taking notes from Hera on flying a ship with no power, clearly, lol.

This cue right here is going to come back later in the climax of the episode. The frantic rapid percussion definitely gives off the feel of "falling".

Love Melch feigning a malfunction he fits right in with Han "slight weapons malfunction" Solo lol.

Sabine sounds tired and exasperated when she points out the fighters won't have any fuel. I can only imagine the kind of impulsive, reckless, rash leadership decisions she's had to put up with from Dark Side Depression!Ezra for the past few months.

Rex is supportive tho. <3

Bendu going through Kanan's other senses methodically to help him relearn how to navigate. <3

Kanan foresensing the danger Ezra's going to be in from across the galaxy and freaking out about it. <3

I'll be honest I don't quite understand this philosophical mumbo-jumbo but whatever it works, Kanan's got his mojo back and is going to go get his padawan.

Ohhhhhh oh I know this cue right here has been used before, dammit where was it used before?

Hang on... I think it's Kanan's theme?

*goes back to check "Stealth Strike"* No, not there. Ugh, this is gonna bug me.

*checks YouTube* It IS Kanan's theme! Holy crap.

Sabine does not have a good time of it against this Dismantler droid. Zeb's prehensile feet save the day, though. Always love when they get to use those.

Worried Ezra be worried. <3

Ezra's strained "Oh shit it's mom." tone here lol.

Recall what I said back in "Fire Across The Galaxy" about how the Rebellion will always pull your fat out of the fire even if you've been stupid? Yeah.

Hera's face when she sees Kanan sitting in the co-pilot chair. <333333

Rex, ah... may not be all mentally here I think the Dismantler droid is bringing up some unpleasant memories.

The subtle symbolism continues!

This exchange is hilarious. "Yeah, get ready for another demotion." Lol Ezra.

Ezra considers the dilemma for half a second and then chooses violence. Mistake three.

Chopper pitches a fit about getting in a Y-wing. Given that he was shot down in one, that's understandable.

This fond smile and headshake at Hondo. <3

Mistake four, not checking to see if the Y-wings had hyperdrives before taking off.

Always love it when one of the kids uses Zeb's "Karabast!" He's a bad influence on them lol.

All of Ezra's previous bad decisions culminate here, he's stranded on a collapsing station, unable to contact help, and the last thing he heard from Sabine was that the Empire was there. It's not any wonder he's practically breaking down in tears.

"This is wrong, it's all gone wrong!" Well, that's what happens when you choose all the Dark Side options, Ezra. Should have kept a save point.

:((((((

Taylor's acting here is amazing, Ezra sounds SO lost and scared and desperate and he just wants Kanan to be there.

A bold and serious "Shenanigans" cue as Phoenix Group blazes in to the rescue. <3

And there's that cue that I told y'all would be coming back. :)

This sequence is perfection. Ezra clinging to the station as it falls, Hera flying with such microprecision she misses all the debris flaking off of it, the rushing wind, the music...

Ezra's shock when he hears Kanan's voice.

KANAN BATHED IN WHITE LIGHT REACHING OUT TO EZRA AS HE AND THE STATION PLUMMET INTO THE ABYSS.

THE RETURN OF THE ARC WORDS, "I'VE GOT YOU."

THE SOUND DROPPING OUT AS THE FORCE THEME PLAYS SOFTLY AND KANAN TELLS EZRA TO LET GO.

EZRA TRUSTING KANAN, LETTING GO, AND LETTING THE WIND CARRY HIM WITHIN REACH.

Cinematic poetry. <333333333

Hera smiled at first when Kanan told her he'd gotten Ezra buuuuut she's pissed now about the Phantom lol.

Pryce's shade at Konstantine, ha ha.

Thrawn sounded so disappointed too, almost sulky. "That's not the Rebel fleet!" 😠

Major "mom grounding her rebellious teenager" vibes. Love that Zeb and Sabine stick up for him.

Dodonna namedrop!

I know some people wanted a bit more out of Ezra's flirtations with the Dark Side but personally I think it's fitting that as soon as Kanan and Ezra bury the hatchet he never touches it again. The major impetus behind his running to the holocron was Kanan's distance from him, reinforcing all the self-negative beliefs Ezra had about the whole situation--that it was his fault Kanan was blind, that Kanan blamed him, that he wasn't a worthy student, that he couldn't rely on anyone but himself to get strong enough to protect the people he cared about, that he needed the holocron and the Dark Side to get that strength.

And you'll notice he doesn't quite swear off the thing entirely, he asks after it both here and in the beginning of the next episode, a bit like an addict antsy for their next fix.

(No, fandom, Kanan's "I'll always come back." here was not secret foreshadowing that the writers failed to follow up on in Season Four, it was a straightforward sentiment in the moment.)

This is a heartwarming sight. <3

This... is my favorite of the season premieres. For obvious reasons.

Once again the main strength is the focus on Kanan and Ezra's fractured relationship as it pieces back together. The action is tightly written and every single element serves its purpose. It's funny, dramatic, heartbreaking...

I don't really have any other words, this episode is just amazing.

[bettyboopdarlin]

Manacled by SenLinYu has taken over my life. After reading it 3 times, I couldn’t get Draco’s perspective of Ch. 31 out of my head. This wrote itself, but would not even be in existence without JK Rowling or the brilliance of SenLinYu. I hope you enjoy. ***I OWN NOTHING

Draco’s POV Ch 31 of Manacled by SenLinYu (written with permission)

Tw-torture, gore, war scenes, language

With a crack, the Death Eater General apparated to a drab town in Surrey. The mark on his left arm twitched and recoiled as a slithering voice echoed in his mind, You will not fail me Draco. He sucked in a hiss, rolled his shoulders, and took in his surroundings. 

What had probably been a quaint, charming town was now a horrorscape (for those with weaker constitutions). As directed by the Death Eater General himself, this peaceful little town was now polluted with terror and anguish. Blood and gore paved the cobblestone paths. Buildings were being reduced to rubble as Death Eaters, werewolves, and vampires made themselves welcome into innocents’ homes. Depraved screams and bargaining cries were intermingled with the howls of wolves and screeches of hags. 

He coolly observed a muggle family being tortured by two Death Eaters. They took turns cursing the youngest, a child perhaps in primary school, with slicing and flesh-flaying hexes, forcing the parents to observe; obviously silenced and immobilised. The child was weeping, sobbing for the help of her parents. They watched her with despair and hopelessness, unable to comprehend the horrors being forced in front of their eyes. Pretty muggles and their pretty lives, completely ignorant to the war playing out over the last five years. 

Draco approached, robes billowing in the wind behind him. Mask in place, he drawled, “Oh get on with it already, there’s more work to be done.” He tsked his tongue and looked to the Death Eaters. Their eyes flashed, indignant, but once they realized it was him–their General–their anger diminished to cowardice. Their eyes widened and Draco recognized the two as Owler and Fenrin. Newer to the cause, desperate to earn their marks. He filed their terrified faces away for future reference. They were still paused, wands cocked, expressions frozen as they tried to respond. He waited, pushing away the feeling of the Muggles’ fear-filled eyes on him. 

“General Malfoy–sir. We was just– we was just having a bit of fun,” Owler stuttered. Fenrin nodded in agreement, apparently too intimidated to speak. 

Draco turned his full attention to the muggle family and spat out, “Two Death Eaters getting off on torturing one muggle girl? While your instructions were to wreak havoc and misery upon this town, I did not intend for your time to be wasted by this pitiful show.” 

He paused, sneering down at them. “I doubt the Dark Lord had this in mind as well.” If possible, even more fear shone in their eyes. Neither one dared speak. “How long have you been standing here while the hags and werewolves do the rest of the work for you?” 

Without giving them a chance to answer, Draco flung three consecutive Killing Curses at the Muggle family and didn’t watch as their bodies doubled over. “Get out of my sight,” his voice was like ice. 

They both nodded and rushed farther into the town. Draco paused, glanced at the dead Muggle family, closed his eyes and inhaled slowly. Chocolate eyes swam before him, and he quickly shoved the image to the deeper recesses of his mind. He was here and had a job to do. Mental walls in place, he sauntered through the town, sparing lives with killing curses as he went. He would not dwell on any of it. 

Ruthless. Unyielding. Unfailing. 

Once Order members began to turn up, magical activity heightened. Curses, hexes, stunners, and defensive magic filled the sky and streets. This attack was such an obvious trick, Draco had mildly wondered if the Order wouldn’t respond. Or at the very least, send in less essential members. When he observed Remus Lupin apparating himself and three muggles away from an approaching hag, he willed away the reflex to roll his eyes. Of course everyone was here. 

Well, not everyone. He couldn’t deny the tightness in his chest as he took in each person who dared come near him. No one with the same chocolate eyes, pinned plaits… He did his best to shove the feelings away and meet the contradicting requirements of his two sets of manacles.

Surreptitiously, he killed as many Muggles as he could; those stuck in endless loops of torture or with animals clawing their way through chest cavities. Muggles with a chance of surviving, he would Imperio them to a nearby Order member. Witnesses were killed immediately. Ruthless, cunning, driven to succeed. 

The skirmish intensified. Bodies littered the pavement. Some covered in boils, others torn to shreds, and more sliced beyond recognition. Draco vaguely recognized Order members with their eyes still open, staring lifelessly into the sky. As the fight drew closer to the center of town, Draco had to showcase his rank. With a flick of his wand, Killing Curses flew in all directions, hitting their marks, Muggles and Order members alike. He didn’t feel it. 

He countered any spell shot at him easily, barely registering it. The Order still had not improved on their offensive strategies, not that they had any to begin with. This was a bloodbath, and would be until they retreated or were captured. 

He came upon a standoff in the square, Death Eaters, hags, and werewolves closing in around a group of Order members. “Expelliarmus!” Of course it was Potter, and of course that meant Weasley was there, too. The Order’s dueling partners were too predictable, and pairing two essential members together was foolish and illuminated the naivete of the Order of the Phoenix, and their pathetic tactic to cling to Light Magic at all cost. More and more Death Eaters converged in the square, realizing the value of their targets. 

Suddenly, the sky darkened, and a cold chill announced the arrival of Dementors. They descended upon those still clinging to life, Kissing them. The despair and terror was inescapable. Draco could feel the screams deep in his bones, but let no emotion escape his expression. 

Potter and his group must have been distracted by the arrival of the Dementors. Their shield faltered, and Draco heard a sharp screech fill the air. Someone was hit. A member cast a patronus, a lynx, and it climbed its way to the sky before erupting into light. One dementor shrieked and moved away, flying closely above the Death Eaters and hags. It was just the distraction the Order had needed, and Draco saw four members racing away, sending stunners and jelly-leg jinxes in their wake. He thought he could make out the scrawny form of Potter and his lanky counterpart, Weasley as they rushed away, but he couldn’t be sure. 

As Death Eater General, he shot a few curses near their retreating bodies and ordered recruits around him to find them. Once they mobilised, he struck the backs of several Death Eaters, werewolves, and vampires down. Ruthless. Unyielding. 

More Order members appeared, firing stunner after stunner at the Death Eaters. One of them, Finnigan, Draco recognized, went head to head with a vampire. Lunging at it quickly and sending stunners rapidly to its head. It dropped to the ground as he whirled around, aiming at the hag sneaking up behind him. There was much happening at once, bodies lunging and lurching, magic exploding and cracking in the fray. Draco had been in countless of these, his attention to detail was driven by habit rather than concern. He was minutely aware of the way the air stank of blood, dust, scorched flesh, and dark magic. He’d seen worse, endured worse.  Spell trails clouded the air, making it difficult to see all the specifics. Draco stood on the outskirts of the square, cursing remaining Muggles or Order Members without a prayer of survival. Taking note of all who attended the battle, trying to suppress the stiffness in his chest. Despite him being used to skirmishes and battlefield depravity, he found himself worried. He refused to let the feeling surface, and drove it away.

Crack. Draco heard someone apparate in the center of the square. As he turned to look, he felt his shield absorb a stunning spell. It came from a Resistance fighter, struggling to get away from a werewolf, as its claws dug into his back. Blood seeped from the child’s nose, into his gasping mouth. Tears and snot coated his face as he used his arms to crawl away. The boy held his wand in hand limply, and shot off another stunning curse toward Draco’s knees. Draco could see the child had accepted his death, and was hoping to stop just one Death Eater before his eyes closed forever. The boy began to scream as the werewolf descended upon him, teeth biting into his left shoulder. Draco held the boy’s eyes and muttered, “Avada kedavra,” shooting a green light to the middle of his forehead. The boy went immediately limp and was gone. The werewolf growled at Draco menacingly, rage glittering in its golden eyes. 

Draco lifted his mask to reveal himself, smirking at the wolf. Upon recognizing the General, the wolf gave an irritated bark and retreated, setting off after another target. 

A loud, guttural roar of anguish suddenly echoed from behind him. He set his eyes back to the square, where magical activity created a dusty haze over everything. He began walking toward the fray when his heart stopped. 

Chocolate eyes, pinned plaits. Sharp cheekbones, and a fiercely determined set of her mouth. She was here. 

How could she be here? 

His bones chilled. He could barely breathe.

She was clutching two bodies to her as four masked Death Eaters closed in around her. Dementors circled above where she stood.  

Draco was sprinting, deflecting spells and shoving bodies out of his way. NO! Every inch in his body seemed to scream.

A Death Eater raised their wand to her and muttered a curse. Green light hit her square in the chest, and she vanished. 

There was no air. She vanished and the world stopped. 

There was a deafening roar–his. He was hurling three killing curses to the Death Eaters, letting the one with his wand out turn and face him. A snarled Sectumsempra and bright red dripped from the Death Eater’s throat. The Death Eater’s eyes were shining with confusion and panic. They were scrambling, fighting to right their wand, and a wandless spell was fracturing all their fingers. One. By. One.

The Death Eater was doubling over, rasping in pain. He met their eyes, gave a cold smile, and struck them in the chest with a biting Engorgio. The Death Eater writhed in immeasurable pain as their heart grew steadily in size, splitting their ribs with an audible crack. They collapsed, chest rising and expanding as their body tried to pointlessly contain the vascular organ. As their lungs were crushed, their eyes began to bulge and their mouth was barely able to emit a low moan. Finally, the sternum splintered and the body erupted. Squelching blood and viscera burst from the chest cavity with a satisfying crunch.

She’s mine. 

Ruthless. Unfailing. Unyielding. Determined to succeed.

He slammed his occlumency walls back up and scoured the scene. All of his fury and panic quickly sheathed behind a crafted expression. He gave no attention to the mangled body beneath him. There was no sign of her. He hoped she had apparated to safety, but he had to be sure. He quickly legilimensed the minds around him, Order members and Death Eaters alike. So many of them did not have proper walls, it was too easy to glide in and out, searching for her in their memories. 

At least no one had their sights on her at this moment. He needed to get away, needed to know she was alright. Worry was growing within him, despite his efforts to shove all the feelings away. All he could see was her anguish as she absorbed the curse in her chest. 

There was screaming again, gut-wrenching wailing. Draco snapped his head up and closed his lips to ensure it wasn’t coming from him. He searched for the source–

“Time to go, NOW!” A voice shook with rage and authority. Hands darted from behind a disintegrating wall, shoving two figures away. Potter. Weasley. 

Something was wrong. 

Potter and Weasley were together, as usual, but Potter was pulling on Weasley. Holding him. Restraining him. The scream from before–it had been Weasley. He was still screaming, clawing away from Harry back to the pile of rubble. What had happened? Was it her? Panic in his chest threatened to breach as Draco ascended, ending the lives of Death Eater after Death Eater to reach them first. 

Almost to where Kingsley had shoved both Potter and Weasley, Draco had to sidestep a body as to not falter. Potter and Weasley were almost to the anti-apparation wards, despite Weasley’s clear objection to Harry pulling him away. Draco could see Potter’s desperation and exhaustion as he moved closer and closer to safety. He appeared to be injured as well. 

Draco frantically took in the scene. He didn’t see her. He didn’t see her.  He inhaled slowly. 

A witch, however, lay immobile some meters from him. Blood spurted from her chest and abdomen. Her blue eyes were unblinking, she was gone. Near her was a deceased Death Eater, who appeared to have been hexed and then beaten to death. Draco could guess what had happened, and couldn’t help but think to himself Impressive, Weasley. Wouldn’t have thought you had such ruthlessness. 

Potter and Weasley were about to apparate when Draco’s eye caught Kingsley Shacklebolt–wounded, wand out in warning against the converging enemies. Draco scanned the demolished room again. She wasn’t there. She wasn’t there. 

He wasn’t relieved yet. He weighed his options, noting the flood of Death Eaters moving in. There was not enough time. Draco took the strategist in; Shacklebolt was perspiring, heaving unsteadily. Black blood spurted from his left shoulder, down his robes. He did not lower his wand to Draco, but held it higher–a warning. 

Draco looked back, the Death Eaters were almost upon them. 

“Where is she,” Draco’s voice was a growl.

Kingsley panted and did not answer. 

“You know the conditions of my service. She is to be kept alive. She is mine.” Pure fire began to fill Draco with every spoken word, his rage blooming closer to the surface. “Yet you allowed her here. I saw.” 

Kingsley slumped down to the ground, propped by a pile of rubble. His wand arm remained steady as he continued to aim it toward Draco. Blood began sliding down his eyes, his nose. His gasps for air became more and more desperate. His right arm clutched his wound, and he angrily stared down Draco. 

Fucking Gryffindors. Draco’s disgust bubbled from his chest into his throat. He heard himself saying, “Pathetic. Do it then, kill me.” He paused, expression vicious. “You won’t. You can’t. Look at you. Look around you, your precious Order is losing. Potter is losing.” He stepped closer to Shacklebolt, and bent down to his ear. Softly, unable to stop himself, he murmured, “None of you deserve her.” Shacklebolt shut his eyes, but made no move to get up or curse Draco. 

Draco turned, dismissing the Order member. There was a beat, and Shacklebolt unexpectedly hissed in response, “And you do? You’re a liar. A murderer. Voldemort’s trained pet.” He spat, blood staining his lips. He sucked in a shaky breath. “She could do so much better than any of us.”

Draco’s vision bled red and he pointed his wand in between Shaklebolt’s eyes. They remained closed, and Shacklebolt did not react. The Killing Curse was on the tip of Draco’s tongue, but he hesitated. He heard her voice, “I will always care for them.” He stood, conflicted for a beat, wand pointed and ready.

The Death Eaters drew closer. Shacklebolt at last met Draco’s gaze. Eyes narrowed, Draco gave him a sharp nod. “Avada kadavra.” A cruel smile took shape on his face as Shacklebolt slumped back and did not move again. Draco lazily sent a spell to topple over the rest of the ruined home, burying Shaklebolt’s body beneath it. 

Draco magnified his voice to the oncoming Death Eaters and Dark Creatures. “Find them all.” Not her. 

The army obeyed, moving swiftly from building to building, ripping out Muggles that remained or the nearly-killed bodies of the Order. This raid, this cheap trick was a slaughter. The Dark Lord would be pleased. Fucking idiotic Gryffindors. So predictable. So pathetic. 

Too much time had passed since she was attacked. Did she get to the safe house? Was she being treated? Was she dying? Fury, rage, and self loathing consumed Draco. This is your fault, you were meant to protect her. You promised. You did this. He held back a scream and fortified his occlumency walls, shoving all the memories, all the thoughts away. He needed to return to the skirmish.

After a moment of cold clarity, an idea occurred to him. 

With his boot, he kicked away a shredded body and in a hard, quiet voice said, “Kreacher, come.”

The house elf appeared next to him in an instant. Draco’s eyes slid around the town, preparing to dodge any oncoming attack. He spoke quickly, “Find her. See if she’s alive. See if she’s injured.”

Kreacher snapped away and Draco moved into the town, kicking more bodies out of his way, leaving bloody boot marks in his wake. 

Kreacher arrived after a few minutes, “Potter’s Mudblood is hurt.” Draco was hexing and cursing everyone around him, rapidly, ruthlessly. He threw an extra shield charm over him and Kreacher, as well as a privacy charm.

“How badly,” Draco’s voice filled with icy rage. His curses shot out faster, harder.

“Kreacher is not knowing. Potter’s Mudblood is not speaking to Kreacher. Potter’s Mudblood is working in the infirmary, with other filth.”

An uncontrollable dancing jinx shot at Draco, and as to not lose his footing, he stepped on Kreacher’s toes. The elf yelped and caught his foot in his hands. Draco whirled around and blasted hexes and curses around him, each one hitting their mark. 

He muttered to Kreacher, “Go. Transport her to Malfoy Manor if she continues to work or her symptoms worsen.” As soon as he gave the order, he marginally regretted it. He felt his possessiveness clawing itself to the surface. His need for her to be safe, to be his, taking over his consciousness. He was so careful. Careful to curb those thoughts, the obsessive tendencies. He watched for years as Lucius went mad with Narcissa. Watched his controlling ways, how it fractured their family. How her death sent him spiraling and now was an uncontrollable animal, a force even the Dark Lord struggled to contain. No. He could not be this way. 

Ruthless, cunning, driven to succeed. He banished the ruinous thoughts from his mind, pausing the onslaught of his magic. He took in his surroundings. Ruined corpses, brain matter, and gore coated the ground around him. Bodies desecrated and dismembered, piled into heaps. It was done. He signaled the end of this battle–although hardly a battle, a mere carnage–and the Death Eaters and Dark Beings jeered, victorious. A roaring victory, the Dark Lord would be so pleased. 

He had to act fast. Draco had no telling how much time he had before he’d be summoned again. He quickly apparated to the Manor, strengthened the wards and quickly readied his bedroom. After carving runes into the floor, a door opened, revealing the same mini-infirmary he had left for her in Whitecroft. He quickly took out dozens of potions, serums, and pastes. He summoned two healers to arrive within minutes. He was running out of time. Ruthless, cunning, driven to succeed. 

There was a crack and Draco felt her enter the room. She was screaming in pain and pitched forward. He caught her by the shoulders instantly and whispered, “Stupefy.”

[demonslayedher]

Things that ran through my head while watching this episode: --Rui recovering his memories and buried feelings of guilt is such a journey. It's so stark that he first has such a vivid memory of wanting to play in the snow with other children and then collapsing, and recalling his mother's concern for his weak health but not remembering her face.

--Muzan pays personal visits to Rui's family home (where he allows him to continue to dwell in the pretty much the same life he had before, as Rui couldn't go outside and play in daytime anyway), and offers him validation once Rui slaughters his own parents in self-defense. The first thing he says is how pitiful Rui is and that he'll save him. Favoritism? Affection? it's so hard to see that from Muzan in how he really does function out of pure self-interest and fools around with Daki by faking her out and cuts off Gyokko head as he feels like it, but we never see him take anything out against Rui, or even have expectations out of him. Rui didn't have ambition, which was why he stayed at Lower Moon 5 even though he had the potential to advance. He had special permission to share his blood--to spread his own personal influence as opposed to every demon being directly Muzan's--and was therefore almost encouraged to just hang out on his mountain to do as he liked. No pressure to go looking for blue spider lilies, no pressure to go out and eat humans to actively become stronger, Muzan just made him a strong demon from the get-go. HOW CAN I NOT READ THIS AS AFFECTION, EVEN THOUGH MUZAN IS SO UNLIKELY TO DISPLAY IT??

--My sense from Tamayo's comment that she wanted to live so as to see her children grow up is that she was also deathly ill when Muzan came to "save" her. He really has a passionate dislike for the sickly having to waste away, his disgust at his own illness continues to intensely bother him all these years later.

--Also, Muzan with straight hair feels so bizarre.

--Rui is making leaps and bounds in these memories, from filling the details, and then his disappointment at how his parents failed to live up to his expectations of what role he felt parents were supposed to fulfill. For as much as it bothers Muzan, Rui really doesn't seem to have any self-pity about how he was plagued with illness.

--And then disappointment and blindly groping through the air is so poignant as he realizes the answer to the question Mother Spider asked him, in what was it he wanted--bonds, yes. But what he wanted most was to apologize for the bonds he had, and which he broke. The way he slowly goes from the hurt of his father trying to kill him and his mother letting it happen to realizing their intention to bear his sins with him all along, and knowing he understood too late makes it all the more satisfying when he regains his humanity and memory of their faces, and the recovering of that bond he was so certain had been cut. Gotouge and Ufotable win a masterful sob story, and Tanjiro wins his playground argument!

--Tanjiro & Giyuu have such a good moment too, with Tanjiro declaring his determination to exterminate demons whilst also recognizing their humanity, and it forces Giyuu to confront his own convictions about demons--convictions which, given a good enough reason, he has always been willing to let be challenged.

--And then he's like, "oh yeah, I did let a demon go once, and there she is right now--OH, THIS IS THE BOY I SENT OFF TO BECOME THE WATER PILLAR, RIGHT"

--And then Shinobu comes in, and I love the flow of this scene and how Giyuu deflects that shot, and how Shinobu recovers her footing, as well as her composure. She truly has the upper hand in every part of this conversation, as she's completely in the right in everything she's saying, but mannnnnnn, Giyuu is making it hard for her to keep the Kanae facade going and it is so much fun to see her breaking.

--They are so much fun to watch together and yes, this whole awkward situation could had been avoided if Giyuu was more conversant. This!! Could had gone!!! So much better!!!!! If any single one point at which Shinobu flippantly says humans and demons should get along and be friends (which she totally doesn't mean) Giyuu had responded, "well, actually--" then she could had gotten this explanation at any point already in the past two years (like in the Gaiden right after Giyuu gets arrested for slaughtering the Kamado family, for instance). I mean, not that she'd be willing to let that slide, but still!! It wouldn't have put them in this situation that almost made Giyuu lose an eye!

--Also, they have chemistry and it hurts a little that they were both so wrapped up in their own problems that it couldn't go anywhere.

--Anyway, Tanjiro being so ready to have to give up on the Corp and his years of effort to enter it says so much about his priorities being straight. At this point, the Corp is still just a means to an end for him, especially since his personal convictions aren't quite in line with the "destroy all evil demons" mindset of the Corp.

--Did it hurt, Tanjiro? Did it hurt when she fell from heaven?

--Marriage is so very, very, very, very far from both Tanjiro's and Kanao's minds in this moment, and it's kind of hilarious that the injury which kept him in recovery longest, his broken chin, does not appear to be an injury he got from fighting a Lower Moon.

--Nezuko's run has become the staple silly run for the current generation of Japanese children, replacing the former Naruto and Arale runs.

--The light pink of Kanao's Nichirin-to is so pretty <3

--I low-key ship Gotou with the Kakushi with the big pretty brown eyes. Gotou canonically wants and girlfriend, and with Kakushi having little to go off of to feel attracted to each other than looking into each others' eyes and bonding through the trials of work, I'd like to think he's always had a crush on her but it never went anywhere because she wants to stay focused on work. That being said, maybe something blossomed on that last fateful battle, when she saw him jump in that car and ram it into Muzan, and she fell for him and his bravery. And then, once they could retire from being Kakushi, they finally started going on. However, it's probably a slow courtship, as she's only ever seen his eyes and the sight of his full face makes her too flustered to be able to look at him. This leads to a date on which Gotou sighs, covers the lower half of his face and asks, "is this better?" and she says yes and bashfully thanks him. It's still going to be a while before they can start kissing at this rate. Hang in there, Gotou-san!

--Speaking of headcanons, I wondered during the previous post what happened to all those other spider siblings. I hereby feel that Kanao has been off-screen cleaning up this whole mountain like her Nichirin-to is a vacuum cleaner.

--Wrapped-up Zenitsu is such a look. I love that there was merch of wrapped-Zenitsu. I kind of regret not buying the pajamas that looked like this.

--The Kakushi discovering Inosuke was great.

--And then we got our first glance of The Pillars. On my first watch, I thought, "Oh no." Not because I was worried for Tanjiro, but because I was certain I was going to hate them all.

--Except Shinobu. I already loved her.

[mellomak22-blog]

An angsty fic with Ethan from scream 6, where the reader is there for the reveal of him being one of the Ghostface's!

I'm sorry this request took so long! I am dealing with ongoing issues with my laptop, and if that wasn't enough, I am running out of Google drive storage and I wasn't able to right any more. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!

Reader is Ethan's s/o. Angst, brief implication of s3x between reader and Ethan.

“Behind you!” Kirby forces out in a scream. Officer Bailey doesn’t say a word or move an inch, firing off his gun and shooting her mercilessly. Shot after shot. The room goes quiet for a minute, but it doesn’t last long. There’s too much terror. Both Ghostfaces slow down and enter the room, one dragging your writhing body along for the ride. Ghostface tosses you over to Sam and Tara; you choke out a sob of both relief and panic as they hold you while you slump back against them on the floor. Bailey puts an arm around both of his little helpers.

“Good job.” He looks at them both. “Both of you.” Tara is the first to break the silence. 

“You?!” He has nothing left to do but smirk a little. He shrugs. “Ehh, o’ course, me. Frankly I expected more from the three of you after what you did to us.” The three of you look at them with quizzical shock. “What do you mean ‘us’?” The ghostfaces pull down their hooded masks and your heart plummets into your stomach like a bowling ball. There in front of you in ghostface attire…stands your beautiful boy. You try to swallow the enormous lump in your throat, but to no avail, it survives. Then suddenly all at once… “NO!” It hits you. You feel like you might be nauseous but also maye you’d faint. It was too much to handle. Officer Bailey takes in the scene before him and chuckles. “Ta-da!” With almost no hope left in your tired body, you watch Ethan speak, a comforting hand from Sam landing on your shoulder.

“Mindy was right. It was easy to juke the room-mate lottery.” He nods. “I mean, all I had to do to meet you? Was room with a condescending alpha- literally named Chad. FUCK, it felt good to kill him!” He shouts victoriously. A few more tears stream down your face and you don’t bother to wipe them away. Tara and Sam stand there defensively as everything unravels. You put a hand to your stomach wound from earlier, the one that matched Mindy’s. There’s nothing left to do but stare as the show unfolds even further. Ethan takes out the mask of Nancy Loomis, mocking Sam. “Really runs in the fucking family, doesn’t it? Speaking of family…” He trails off. “Wait for it. My name’s not Ethan Landry. Is it dad?” He says cheekily. Frustration begins to settle in your stomach instead of pain.

Bailey chuckles, caressing his boy’s hair. Your eyebrows furrow. “Wait… that only leaves…Mindy?”

“Heyyy, roomies. Didn’t see that one coming, did you?” She says to Sam and Tara, but then she turns to you. “Aw I’m sorry about your boyfriend, babe. He must’ve forgotten to tell you he killed people.” Quinn says with mock sympathy. With no words, you just glare daggers into her eyes.

It turned out that Quinn had faked her death, and her father, Bailey, had switched out the bodies so she’d look innocent. She had attacked Gale. Quinn had started the rumors about Sam in Woodsboro. All at once, you snap out of it and join back into the conversation. 

“It’s the perfect alibi! Because like all the best lies, it’s based on a truth- you’re a killer, just like your father was.” He grins ear to ear and Sam’s frustration visibly grows in her face. “I’m not-” Quinn butts in, and it’s like all the veins in her head pop out as she furiously interjects. “Yes, you are, you motherfucker! You killed our brother!”

Your eyebrows knit together. What???

“But your brother died in a car accident-” You blink rapidly as the feeling that you felt in your gut creeps its way up and out and takes the form of a chill down your spine when Ethan laughs. Hysterically, at that. When he can speak, he turns to you, and the same kind eyes that he always gave you- you finally see them transform into someone you don’t know anymore. 

“Oh no, no, no, you sweet, dumb thing! He died in Woodsboro at the hands of your bitch of a friend, here.” There’s a beat of silence, and you and Sam look at each other trying to decide who should speak up. Sam does. “Richie? You’re Richie’s family?” Suddenly, Ethan lunges at you, slashing your arm and drawing blood. You wince and clutch your arm, the blood spilling between your fingers holding the wound. “I always wanted to see you bleed, pretty girl.” He looks at you with a wicked grin. Quinn speaks in a sarcastic snarl. “Ding ding ding! Now she’s finally getting it.” 

Detective Bailey looks between Quinn and Ethan and then to the crowd in front of all of you.

—

“He was pathetic, you know.” Sam grins, Bailey stopping dead in his tracks. “That’s not true-” Detective pouts angrily.

“He was a man-baby who made his girlfriend do almost all the killing-”

Bailey’s face morphs into anger and hurt. Defensiveness. “He was a strong, virile young man!” Sam looks him directly in the eye, challenging him. “He was a limp-dick little fuck who cried before I slit his throat.” Her voice is laced with venom and it doesn’t take much before Quinn charges at them, “SHUT THE FUCK UP!” coming face to face with Tara’s brick. It hits her hard, teeth flying out as the brick collides with the side of her face and sending her collapsing to the floor. Kirby stands, shooting Bailey in the chest with little-to-no time before Ethan runs at her, flashing Charlie’s knife at her. “Recognize this?” He plunges the knife into her stomach, raising it again. You run at him, smacking him with a brick to his head of curls, sending him reeling.

He gets up to run after you, but Sam approaches and stabs him over and over with a knife. He’s down, and Sam climbs up the ladder with Tara onto the balcony above.

You’re trying. Trying so hard to get a grip of what’s happening right now. You don’t have much time. Weapon, weapon… you run to the nearest display, breaking the glass and taking… Jill’s knife. The shot of Bailey’s gun jolts you and you spin around to find Ethan right behind you. You point the knife at him, and his eyes land on it. “See?!” His tongue glazes across his teeth in a bright, unnerving smile. “I knew you had potential somewhere in there, baby. You could joi-” You grimace. “Fuck you!” You roundhouse kick him in the chest, sending him backward into one of the displays. The sound of glass shattering onto the floor ripples through your ears and you run at Bailey from behind, stabbing him multiple times in the shoulder.

Tara dangles off the balcony, blood pooling on her shirt from the new wound in her arm. Ethan is right below her, swinging his knife. She drops down, crying out in pain. She had landed on it. “GOTCHA!” Shit. Was killing your boyfriend really gonna be up to you? You ran over and luckily she had gotten up. The two of you run a few steps backwards, preparing to fight him. Tara looks over to you. “You wanna do this?” You glance over at him, then back to Tara. “I can’t.” Tara nods with gentle, understanding eyes. Ethan runs at the two of you, and it feels like time slows down, viewing everything in slow motion. He cackles, and Tara shoves the knife into his throat.

It pains you. It pains you because his face is frozen in shock and fear, and for the first time in a rough while, you see the eyes of the boy you love. They aren’t crazy, or obsessive. They’re Ethan’s. They are the ones you grew to love when the two of you went on coffee dates and he’d get a foam mustache. How he’d look at you with a twinkle in his eye and ask “Do I have something on my face?” and you’d both laugh. They were the eyes you stared into for hours after you’d slept together. You were laying in bed, admiring each other’s features with the covers pulled up all cozy. They were the eyes that softened as he apologized over and over when you guys had that big fight two months ago and he couldn’t stop crying after hurting your feelings.

They were your boyfriend’s eyes for a moment, frozen in time as he stayed on his knees, Tara’s hand wielding the blade. What you had was real. At least that’s what you’d hoped. Tara twists the knife, and a forced gurgle and cry of pain came out from deep within. You pressed your lips together, fighting to keep your eyes on the scene in front of you but instead you clasped your hand over your mouth and involuntarily screwed your eyes shut, turning your hea

“Now die, you little bitchboy.” Tara yanks the knife out and he drops to the ground with a disheveled thud. Catching her breath, she runs over to you. “Are you okay?” You open your eyes and Tara feels like the only one who cares. Her hand comes up to your shoulder, resting there. “Yeah, I just need a minute alone.” Your eyes flicker down to the stab to her stomach. “Shit, you gonna be okay?” She’s panting from the pain, but she nods and takes her leave. 

You shuffle over to Ethan’s nearly lifeless body, kneeling down by where he lies. The puddle of blood spilling from his mouth is huge; it pools out, getting onto your jeans at the knee. His breathing is so incredibly labored, a death rattle of his last few breaths coming out and everything finally stops. A whirlwind of pain comes your way. Betrayal, sadness, shock, disappointment… you thought you had felt it all, but not like this before. Not all at once and not regarding a dead boyfriend. Ex. That’s what you’d decided on now. It made things easier. That’s what you told yourself in the back of your mind. You could never see yourself dating a murderer. This… this, you didn’t know about. I mean fuck, he hid it so well. 

Had he only been dating me to get closer to the Carpenter’s? 

It’s a sharp pain, a burn at the thought that maybe that’s what it was. Tears prick at your eyes, and you sit there and look at the man who was once yours. You think back to his eyes when the knife was shoved in his throat… They were true. The last little drop of him left when she twisted the knife, and the moment was gone. You rip yourself from your thoughts and see his face against the cold, hard, floor. Tears prick at your eyes, and you decide to give in. You sit there and sob. You sob at what happened in front of you, and you sob at what could’ve been. What you were supposed to be. With a shaking hand, you caressed his face. His cheek still felt just as soft as when you first kissed him:

your hand cupping his face when you planted one on him at a Christmas in July party back at Chad’s house.

Touching his cheek felt like the same boy, and it did you in. You bawled, hunched over his body. “I’m sorry I didn’t get you help sooner…” The tears roll down your cheeks and drop onto his arm while you’re leaning forward. “God, WHY DID IT HAVE TO END LIKE THIS?!” You wail out in despair, turning away so not to look at him. It was only making it worse seeing his corpse in front of you. You stood up, eyes glancing around the room. Bailey was knocked out on the floor, and Sam was gone. Nobody else to be found. 

Your face hardened. You take out Jill’s knife. Perhaps it was time to move on, take revenge on the only Bailey left. After all, he was partially responsible for the making of your madman boyfriend. EX. Boyfriend, that is.