#it would be safer for the kid + the other students if the kid stayed home

[cannibalisticskittles]

@underlockv

yeah! i might be bruisy tomorrow -- looking more likely the longer the ache lingers, but who can say for sure at this stage -- but the kid who punched me targeted my arms and not my face or head or torso, so that coulda been way worse

just bizarre! bizarre. bizarre! i don't know what set the kid off. i can pinpoint possibilities, but this kid's M.O. is usually to flee situations they don't like, or to threaten people (tho this happened in previous classrooms, before they came to me as part of an intervention, the kid would threaten to stab other teachers with a pencil apparently, and things like that), or to like, give a kid a whack -- singular -- bc they don't like to use their words to communicate that they want to be left alone, even after facing consequences for that specific scenario a few times

but they, at one point, saw me across the campus and screamed my name and fucking BOOKED IT to where i was, then started yelling "back off!! back away from me!!!" while actively pursuing me to wail on me

strange and concerning!

[dr0wnme0ut]

Synopsis: Four university students have been murdered by a Ghostface killer. With the murders getting more vicious and frequent, you and your best friend Jungwon decide to spend the weekend indoors. He insists you stay over at his apartment with him and his two roommates;you would just be safer there.

Pairing: Ghostface!Heeseung x Female!Reader x Ghostface!Sunghoon

Warnings: DARK CONTENT. YANDERE HeeHoon. NONCON. Violence, murder, descriptions of murders, slight knife play, blood, slight blood play, degradation, threesome, unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it), oral (m+f), face fucking, choking, size kink, slapping, spit, breeding kink, angst, kidnapping, drugging, mentions of alcohol

Word Count: 11k+

Author Note: Does this look familiar?! Yes! Have you read this before?! Probably. This was posted on my original blog "HH" (You may know me as "Honey", "little ducklings") This is a new start on a new blog, I'm sorry I left you so abruptly (especially since we had just hit 1k followers!) But, I hope you all find your way to our new home! See you there little ducklings baby bats!

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"There’s always two," Jungwon mumbled, watching the reporters swarm the Dean.

There was another murder Friday night. Still no leads, no clues, just a sighting of someone in a Ghostface mask.

You looked up from your textbook and saw his weary face staring in the direction of the press conference. You were supposed to spend the morning with your best friend Jungwon prepping for an English midterm. But his focus is on the media circus that’s invaded the University campus.

"Two what?" You asked highlighting a sentence from your textbook.

"Two killers. The reporters keep saying the murders have similarities to the Scream movies but no one is talking about how there’s always two Ghostface killers in the end." He sighed, picking at the dry skin around his fingernails.

After 10 years of friendship it was always easy to tell when he was nervous, he always fiddled with his fingers and chewed holes into his bottom lip. You put your highlighter down and gently grabbed his hand to distract him from his nervous picking.

"Not necessarily", you shrugged. "The third movie only had one killer." you smiled trying to joke but his worried expression didn’t falter. He just rolled his eyes and swatted your hand away from his.

Damn, he really is nervous. You had only seen Jungwon this rattled with nerves after his parents divorce when you were kids. That was also around the time your friendship really bloomed into a type of dependency on each other. You hadn’t left each other's side for more than two days at a time, switching classes to match schedules in highschool and now you were at the same University together. Platonic soulmates you two always say. 

"Why are you so worried Won? If this is really like those movies we are safe! The killers always targeted one friend group and not to be super insensitive but the people that have been murdered weren't our friends."

He looked at you while he chewed his bottom lip watching you as you spoke. "Wonnie, we don’t go to those parties and we aren't friends with people that do. We’ll be okay."

You grabbed his hand again, rubbing circles on his palm to help ground his nerves. Skinship always calmed him down. The situation was scary, but you weren’t worried. The first two murders took place at frat parties, the third one was after a football game, and the recent one was at make out point. Places you or Jungwon don’t frequent.

"But isn’t it kind of weird?" he asked, scooting closer to you. He looked around making sure no one was in an ear shot of your conversation. Before bringing his face closer to yours and staring into your eyes.

"Keeho, Mark, Yeji, and Winter were all murdered."

"Yeah and? What’s weird about that? They’re all in the same friend group like I said." You tried to focus your attention back on your textbook ignoring the loud yelling from the reporters signaling the press conference had begun.

"The same friend group that has been tormenting us since day one of university." He said shutting your textbook and turning your body to face him fully. He grabbed your hands and held them in his, he wanted you to take him seriously. 

That was true. Those four were pretty notorious for having a mean streak. But it wasn’t just targeted at you and Won. Lots of people were constantly on the end of their mean words and cruel jokes. They were the typical rich kids who thought their parents' money made them better than everyone else, partying and drinking every weekend, with the mindset that rules didn’t apply to them. 

"They tormented lots of people Won, stop overthinking or you’ll get stress wrinkles." You mused, smoothing his brown hair down and kissing the tip of his nose. He smiled showing off the dimples you loved so much. He bumped his forehead against yours, "I’m just saying,"

He looked back at the reporters as they started to talk about what they knew about the latest murder victim that happened over the weekend, Keeho.

"I hope no one we know is Sydney fucking Prescott in this scenario." 

“Don’t worry Wonnie, no one we know is that exciting.” you joked tapping his knee, “come on cutie, we’ll be late for class.” Standing up from the courtyard table you stuffed your work into your backpack and extended your hand out for Jungwon to take. 

“As if I can focus with all this going on.” He grumbled wrapping his larger hand around yours. 

Walking into the classroom you found your usual seats next to each other and started prepping for the lecture. Out of your peripheral you saw Choi Yeonjun take the empty seat to the right of you. “Hey, bunny” A small smile gracing his pretty face and pouty lips. The cute nickname he had given you the first day you moved into your dorm. You had accidentally knocked into him with a box of your belongings causing your favorite item from home to tumble to the ground. He didn’t tease you, despite Keeho being there and making fun of you for bringing a stuffed animal to college, Yeonjun only smiled and picked up the white plush bunny from the ground and kindly offered to take the box up to your dorm for you. 

“Hey Junnie, how was your weekend?” You smiled, turning your chair to face him.

“Kind of boring actually, did you hear about Keeho?” He asked, adjusting the black rimmed glasses on his face. Such a cute nerd. 

“Of course, everyones talking about it.” They news said they found him hanging from a tree limb in the woods behind the campus at a known make out spot. He was supposedly disemboweled like Drew Barrymore’s character in the first Scream movie. He was a jerk, but no one deserves to die like that. How can someone even stomach doing something like that? 

“Yeah..my little brother Gyu tried to tell him not to go out alone so late at night but he was too egotistical to listen.” He sighed leaning back in chair. Gyu and Keeho were best friends from what you heard, which was odd considering how many times Keeho stole Yeonjun’s glasses and tripped him in the halls.

“He’s always been one to do..whatever he wants.” You say trying not to come off a little bitter at the end. He chuckled softly, knowing what you were trying not to say. “He was an asshole, it's okay to say it.” He mused nudging your arm playfully. You cracked a soft smile, “no comment.”

He smiled and scooted his chair closer to yours. You spent the last few weeks since the ‘bunny’ incident getting closer to Yeonjun. You had a few study sessions together, and texted each other everyday. He was an absolute sweetheart and never made you feel uncomfortable. He was also incredibly shy, the one time his hand accidentally brushed against your thigh he couldn’t even look you in the eye. He was a blushing stuttering mess the rest of the study date. 

“So I was thinking..maybe we could hang out this weekend. How about we go out Friday night?”

Younjun’s cheeks were tinted pink and he was fiddling with his fingers in his lap avoiding looking into your eyes. He was afraid your answer would be no, or even worse you would laugh straight in his face. 

Jungwon scoffed and mumbled something under his breath, his face never leaving his laptop as he overheard the conversation. You mentally reminded yourself to kick him for that later. Jungwon was definitely the protective brother figure in your life, no guy was ever good enough for you according to him. He took care of you after too many loser guys broke your heart, and he didn’t want that happening again. 

“Oh? What would we do?” leaning toward him propping your elbow on the table and resting your chin in the palm of your hand staring at him playfully. “We can keep it classic? Dinner, movie, and see where the night takes us.” He smiled, “but we can do whatever you want. I’d be fine with whatever you decide Bunny.”  

You scooted your chair closer to him and grabbed his fiddling hands the same way you do for Jungwon. You were close enough to smell his cologne and see the cute beauty mark he had under his right eye beneath his glasses, it was making you dizzy. He was so undeniably cute. “Well..”

Professor Jang walked in and started his usual morning greeting. You pulled apart from each other and straightened your chair to put you back facing the front of the classroom.“I get to pick the movie.” you whispered to Junnie keeping your eyes facing to the front of the classroom. You saw the grin spread on his face out of the corner of your eye, “of course bunny.” 

“You shouldn’t be alone with him..” Jungwon whispered as you left class waving bye to Yeonjun. “Why not? Junnie’s a sweetheart, and your bestie is in a dry spell.” You wiggled your eyebrows suggestively. He wrinkled his nose and laughed, “TMI..but seriously. With Ghostface running around killing people, it's not a good idea.” He was shaking his head. “I mean, what if he is the one...”

“Won, don’t finish that sentence. Yeonjun is a sweetheart, he could never do anything like that..” you huff growing slightly annoyed at what he was insinuating. How could he even think that? Yeonjun wouldn’t even step on the flowers outside, much less butcher someone.  He picked up on the shift in your demeanor quickly, he didn’t want to upset you but he doesn’t trust anyone right now, especially with you. 

“I’m sorry babe..I just don’t think it's safe.” He opens the exit door for you letting you walk out first. “I don’t want you mad at me Y/N, it’s just..I couldn’t live without you.” You stop walking at his soft voice and sighed. You wrap your arms around your best friend's waist, “I couldn’t live without you either, Wonnie.”

He rests his chin atop your head and hugs you back. He wasn’t trying to sabotage your potential new relationship, he just didn’t trust your safety in the hands of someone who couldn’t even throw a punch. Jungwon wasn’t a fighter himself but he’s never been afraid to get his knuckles bloody for you. He’s done it four times. 

 “I just want you to be safe.” He whispers in your hairline. You nod understanding his reasoning, you pull away to look up at him, “I’ll take your concerns into consideration Wonnie, but I really like Yeonjun..” He sighed and ruffled your hair, “I know. You have that dopey lovesick grin on your face everytime you see him.”

“I DO NOT!” You very much do. 

Thursday morning was only good for one thing, treating yourself to pastries and lattes before an obnoxiously early history class with Jungwon. Whoever decided to teach history at seven thirty am was a menace. But these early morning meetings with Wonnie at seven am to eat sugary foods and get loaded on caffeine were moments you wouldn’t trade for the world.

When you arrive at the coffee house he’s already sitting at your usual table with his nose buried in his book when you arrive. Your usual latte waiting for you as well as three chocolate chip scones to share. “Good morning sunshine!” He beams as you sit down across from him. “Way too early for all your energy Wonnie..” you grumbled drinking the warm latte. He just smiled knowing this version of you all too well. 

“HE DID IT AGAIN! GHOSTFACE KILLED AGAIN” a loud yell startles you. Looking out the large window, students are running out of the science lab screaming. Panic started filling the coffee house, not knowing what the man that yelled meant, people started to assume Ghostface must be lingering around.

Jungwon stood up quickly and grabbed you by pulling you to him, backing you against the nearest wall, “people are panicking and you could get hurt.” 

He was right, people were running around and knocking into each other to get out of the shop. The small courtyard outside was a mess of students running and crying. Police cars and ambulances were speeding in and the loud sirens only added to the loud chaos. “Do you think he's here..” you asked, watching the scene of chaos unfold in front of you. “I-I don’t know..Let’s get out of here, before it gets worse.”

He wraps his arm around your waist pulling you with him, you both leave the coffee house, “let’s go back to your dorm it's closer.” He’s pulling you tightly against him maneuvering you both around the mass of running students. 

“Y/N!!” 

You snap your head to the familiar voice of your roommate Jen. “Wonnie wait, it’s Jen.” You stop him from walking and point to your roommate running toward you. She stumbles in front of you both, crying as she throws her arms around you. You catch her and look at Won giving him a look signaling you weren’t sure what to do. Jungwon wrapped his other arm around her and moved you both away from the center of the courtyard. He dragged you two behind the coffee house to let her catch her breath. 

She looked at him and cried into his chest, “I saw-I saw the room..there was so mu-much b-blood..who could do this..” she was wailing as Wonnie held her tighter, shushing her softly to try and soothe her. 

“What do you mean..What happened Jen..” You latch onto her side to help comfort her. Jen also had an early class on Thursday, Chemistry. The building everyone was running and screaming out of was the same building your roommate was in.

“The professor found him in the science lab..his throat was slit..they said he was ne-nearly decapitated..and st-stabbed..as if it's not horrible enough to almost decapitate him but to stab him over and over..”She sobbed harder against Jungwon. 

“D-did you see the body Jen..”you asked, rubbing her back. 

“I didn’t see the body..but there was so much blood Y/N..so much of it..it covered the whole room..” Her eyes were frantic and she couldn’t focus, it was as if she was searching for the killer around you three. 

“Do you know who it was?” you ask, brushing the hair stuck to her wet cheeks away from her face. She was quiet and gripped Jungwon’s shirt tighter and tried to ground herself. “Jen?..” Her face was apprehensive and she swallowed hard before grabbing your hand. 

“Yeonjun..” she whispered looking at you knowing the pain it was about to cause you.

Jungwon tenses up and you could see the color leave his face as he looked at you. The tears started to pour out of you before your brain could process what Jen just said. There was a loud ringing in your ears, and it felt like everything around you froze for just a split second. 

Choi Yeonjun..was..dead…?

Your breaths became shallow as you started to sink to the floor unable to hold your weight.

“Whoa, baby breathe..you’re okay. I’m here and you’re safe..breathe baby..” Jungwon gently detached from Jen and caught you in his arms before your knees hit the gravel.

He grabbed your hand and placed it on his chest, “match my breathing baby, come on. You’ll make yourself vomit if you keep crying like this.”

You hadn’t realized how hard you were sobbing, hiccuping as you struggled to breathe. You just saw Junnie yesterday..and now..now he's gone? Just like that? No goodbye..no final hug..no more comforting smells of his cedarwood cologne..he was dead. Someone murdered him..he must have been so scared..Junnie…

You clung harder to Jungwon, he let you break down in his arms. Your loud wailing hitting straight to his heart, he knew how much you liked Yeonjun, it‘s killing him to see you this way. He doesn’t think he’s ever seen you cry this hard before, and it terrifies him. Jen slumped against the wall covering her face with her hands, she couldn’t handle your wails only making her sob harder. 

Jungwon let you both cry for a few more minutes before deciding he needed to get you both away from this mess. Being around here would make it worse, not to mention the large van labeled ‘Coroner’ was just arriving on the scene. He couldn’t let you see Yeonjun get taken away in a body bag. “Come on, let's get you guys back to your dorm. You both need some space away from here.” 

He helped you up and grabbed Jen’s hand and led you away keeping your back turned away from the scene. He supported both of your weights as he walked you to your shared dorm, which thankfully was only half a block away. He watched you struggle to keep your composure for a few minutes before deciding to send Jen ahead to open the room. He lifted you carefully into his arms and carried you the rest of the way back to your room. 

He placed you on your small twin size bed, taking your shoes off and wrapping you in one of your soft blankets. Your sobs died down, but your tears never stopped. You were barely blinking and it scared the fuck out of him. You looked broken. He kissed your forehead. “Take a nap baby, I’ll stay with you..you need to sleep. Your body needs to rest, I’ll be here when you wake up.” He stayed repeating soft words to you, running his fingers through your hair. Your little whines and hiccups dying down as you let the mental exhaustion take over. 

This was a nightmare. 

You heard soft movements and whispers breaking your dream state. Opening your swollen eyes you adjust to your surroundings. You slept the entire day away, seeing the sun starting to set from your window. The reality hitting you again of what happened a few hours prior. This wasn’t a nightmare and Yeonjun really was gone.

You looked around the room and saw Jungwon was packing your duffle bag and Jen was on her side of the room packing a suitcase. “What’s going on?” Your voice is sore and hoarse. You sit up from your bed confused. 

“I can’t..I can’t stay here. I want to see my mom..I need to get away from here for a few days.” Jen whispered, zipping her suitcase shut. She looked at you sadly, she didn’t want to leave you in your state but she couldn’t stay. She couldn’t even take care of herself right now.

You nod understanding, “yeah, you should go.” Even though it pained you. It was selfish of you to want her to stay, you knew she saw the mess of the crime scene and she needed to get far away from this fucking University. 

“I’m not leaving you here alone..you’re staying with me until Jen comes back.” Jungwon smiled softly while packing your favorite sweater. What? You shook your head and frowned. “Won you have roommates, I don’t think they want some girl crashing at their place..”

“Heeseung and Sunghoon are fine with it, I called them while you were sleeping. And you're not some girl, you're my best friend” He cut you off while grabbing your toiletry bag and shoving it in the duffle and zipping it shut. He grabbed your sneakers and sat on the floor at the foot of your bed grabbing your legs to help put your shoes on. 

“I don't want to intrude, Wonnie..”

“You’re not an intrusion, Y/N.” He sighs, tying your shoes tightly. He rests his forehead on your knee and takes a deep breath. “I’m not taking any risks, not with you..you’re not staying here. I’ll throw you over my shoulder if I have to.” He looks up at you and his eyes are glassed over and his bottom lip is quivering. He is trying so hard to keep it together for you, but he’s terrified. 

“Go with him, Y/N..please. It’s not safe here..” Jen sniffled, grabbing her suitcase from the bed. 

You didn’t want to worry either of them unnecessarily. Maybe a change of scenery would be good. You needed space and you needed to heal away from this place. “Are you sure it’s safe?” 

“Y/N,we have an off campus apartment. It's safer than here, baby..” 

“Are you sure they're okay if I stay?”

“Of course, you’re always welcome.” 

“Alright, I’ll go.”

You both walked Jen to her cab, Jungwon insisting on making sure she got into it safely. You hugged her tightly. “Text me when you get there, I love you.” You mumbled into her hair. You were both lucky that housing roomed you two together, you had been inseparable since move-in day. Only having been friends for a few short weeks you had grown to love and care for her. You wanted her safe, and she needed to get out of here.

“I love you too..stay close to Jungwon until I get back.” She whispered and kissed your cheek. She parted from you with a final hand squeeze and got in her cab and shut the door. She rolled down the window, “Keep our girl safe Wonnie.” 

“With my life.” He smiled softly, waving her off. 

You watched her cab drive off and wanted to cry again. A part of you felt like she wouldn’t come back, she packed for way more than a few days. But you couldn’t blame her, you couldn’t imagine what she had seen. You only hoped this wouldn’t be goodbye and you’d be reunited with her eventually. Jungwon grabbed your hand, breaking your thoughts, “come on.”

He tossed your duffle bag into the backseat of his car and opened his passenger door for you, helping you in and even buckling your seatbelt for you. He was treating you like glass, afraid you could break at any moment. You felt like glass, all you needed was one more thing to hit you and you’d break. Maybe you should go home too, but you could never leave Jungwon behind. You were the only family he had, aside from his roommates Heeseung and Sunghoon, and you didn’t know them well.

Jungwon met the two older guys in his computer class the first week of University, all three hitting it off instantly bonding over videogames. They offered their spare room to him after finding out Jungwon was sharing a single dorm room with three guys thanks to a housing mistake.

“It's been a while since you’ve seen Heeseung and Sunghoon. Heeseung is excited, he’s making your favorite for dinner, pasta.” He smiles starting the car. “At least he likes me, Sunghoon hates me..” You murmur leaning your head against the car window. The two times you met him at Jungwon’s apartment he looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but near you. 

Sunghoon was polite, but he didn’t smile at you and he seemed tense the entire time, with his jaw clenched and eyes narrowed. And any time he did look at you he had this unreadable hard expression on his face, it was unsettling. It made you feel like he didn’t want to be around you which is why you made every excuse to not hang out at Won’s place. 

Heeseung on the other hand was a sweetheart, his big bambi like eyes caught your attention first and he had you laughing all night. His infectious smile and dorky humor had you laughing all night. He was warm and inviting to be around. Also, very affectionate like Jungown, hugging you and ruffling your hair, even kissing your cheek goodnight on the way out. 

“He’s just shy, I promise he likes you. He just has to get to know you better is all” Jungwon smiled pulling out of the campus parking lot. You hummed softly and watched the traffic as Wonnie drove. You felt numb, at first you didn’t pay mind to these killings but now it was close to home..Ghostface took Yeonjun from you. It was personal. 

Thankfully, Jungwon’s apartment was only a twenty minute drive from the dorms. He grabbed your duffle and held your hand as you walked up the steps to the door. It was a cute little complex, Jungwon definitely got lucky to live in a place like this as a first year University student. You walked into their shared apartment and nervously smiled at the two tall boys in the living room playing a random video game on their flat screen.

“Hey Y/N! Welcome!” Heeseung stood up, pausing his game to wrap his arms around you tightly, “it’s been a while!” He was much taller than Jungwon, his body engulfed yours with his hug. It was comforting, something about Heeseung and Jungwon’s hugs felt safe. 

“Thanks for having me…” your eyes land on Sungoon who was sitting on the sofa still, manspreading with his phone in his hand texting. “It’s nice to see you Sunghoon..” you try to break the tension with the quiet boy.  “Hey.” his voice was monotone as he shifted his eyes from his screen to you, but only for a split second. 

“I'm glad you’re here. The University dorms aren't safe right now.” Heeseung sighed, rubbing the sides of your arms soothingly, “I’m um..I’m really sorry to hear about your friend..” 

You tensed and met his worried gaze, tears stinging your waterline. “I have to go to the bathroom..sorry..” you mumbled, avoiding his gaze and walking to Jungwon’s room before they could see you cry. You could hear Jungwon talk to Heeseung before you shut the door. Sitting on his bed you covered your mouth with your hand and cried trying to muffle the sound of your sobs. Fuck, this hurts so bad.

You stay like that for a few minutes trying to calm yourself, you knew Heeseung meant well, but hearing it makes it real. You weren’t ready to deal with it. 

The cell phone you keep in your pocket starts to vibrate, Jen must have made it home. Pulling it out you see the UNKNOWN NUMBER flash on your screen. Maybe it’s Jen? She’s notorious for letting her phone die and was always quick to use whoever's phone that’s around her. It could be her parents phone she’s calling from. 

“Hello? Jen?”

There’s a light static sound followed by a deep distorted chuckle, “hello, Bunny.”

The nickname had Yeonjun’s face flash in your brain before feeling the uncomfortable churn in your stomach. You were shaking, you clutched the phone harder in your hand turning your knuckles white.  

“I-I think you have the wrong number.”

“Oh, Bunny, bunny, bunny. What am I going to do with you?”

You felt all the air leave your lungs and your chest felt like it was caving in. Shaking your head, you hang up the phone and throw it on Jungwon’s dresser. No fucking way. This was not happening. Was that..Ghostface? That couldn’t be Ghostface. No way. 

Replaying the distorted voice saying ‘bunny’ over and over in your head was sending you spiraling. The once sweet nickname rolling off the tongue of the boy you wanted so badly was now being tainted by a monster. Choked sobs racked your body, how many more times could you break down before it was enough to kill you? How would he know that nickname? Nobody but Yeonjun ever called you that..was someone stalking you? Why is this happening? Oh, god..were you..next? 

Panic. 

“Wonnie?! Won?!” you yell sprinting out of the bedroom. Sunghoon watches you from the same spot on the couch with furrowed eyebrows as you frantically search the apartment for your best friend. Heeseung emerges from the kitchen in an apron and a mixing bowl full of salad in hand, “are you okay, Y/N?” 

“Yeah, you look like you’ve seen a ghost..” Sunghoon says, cocking his head to the side with a small humorless smile. Wait..what? 

Jungwon walks into the apartment holding an empty laundry basket, "what's going on?" he asks as he sees your worried expression. He must have been in the laundry room. You run to him and wrap your arms around him tightly making him drop the basket, “please don’t leave me alone..” you softly beg still crying.

“Never baby, what’s wrong?” He asks gently, patting your hair and rubbing your back. You shake your head and bury your face in his neck. He doesn’t push it, he knows you’re vulnerable right now. He assumes your tears are for Yeonjun.

“Dinner is almost ready, Y/N. You should try to eat something and you can sleep, you need it.” Heeseung softly says walking back to check on the food he’s cooking. “He’s right baby, you haven’t eaten all day and your body must be exhausted.” Jungwon whispers kissing your temple. How could you eat? After that? After everything? Do you tell Jungwon about the call? 

“I’m not hungry,” you mumble looking up at him. 

“Oh come on, Y/N. You need to eat something,” Sunghoon’s voice startled you. You looked at him walking toward the kitchen, smirking at you, “you’ll need your strength.” 

A loud vibration disturbs your slumber. You groan and try to ignore it, but it keeps going. You reach over to feel for Jungwon but he’s not in bed. Opening your eyes and squinting at his alarm clock, 2:47 a.m. Looking at his side of the bed, it's empty. Where was he? You fell asleep together..

The loud buzzing catching your attention again, it's your phone on his dresser. It stops only for a few seconds before ringing again. Standing on shaky legs to walk to his dresser and pick it up but it stops ringing again. 7 missed calls. You jump when it starts vibrating again.

UNKNOWN NUMBER

It was obvious whoever this was wasn’t going to let up anytime soon. You weren’t going to be a part of this. You powered the phone off and shoved it in the top drawer. You couldn’t deal with this, you were going back home first thing in the morning. Fuck this school, fuck these shitty detectives that couldn’t find this asshole, just fuck everything. 

A harsh vibration startles you, causing you to jump and yelp. “Fuck!” 

Jungwon’s phone on his nightstand lights up and starts ringing. There’s no fucking way..But panic creeps up your neck. Where is Jungwon? Does Ghostface have Jungwon?...Why else would he call both your phones..

UNKNOWN NUMBER

You take a deep breath, you have to find Jungwon.

“Hello..?”

“Hello, Y/N. I want to play a game.” The voice distorted laughs. Your stomach drops, this is real. 

“I’m hanging up..”

“If you hang up, I’ll slit your precious Jungwon’s throat.”

“W-wonnie?!” Your voice came out shaky. Your worst fears become reality, Ghostface had Jungwon. 

Clutching the cell phone, you try to keep it together. You have to be strong. 

“Wh-where is he?”

You step out of the bedroom into the living room in hopes he's there and this is some cruel prank. But, it’s not. The living room is dark, only the street lights giving a warm orange glow around the quiet home. 

“I want to play a game, dumb baby.”

Your eyes land on Heeseung and Sunghoon’s closed bedroom doors, were they in danger too? Stepping forward to Heeseung’s door you reach out to grab the door knob. “If you touch that door I’ll kill your ‘Wonnie’ right now.” The distorted voice spat, making you freeze in place.

The realization that Ghostface could see you made you panic more. Frantically looking around the dark home for any sign of him. Walking in circles in hopes to see something, anything. “What do you want from me!?” You yell into the phone sobbing.  

“I told you dumb baby, I want to play a game.”

There was no getting out of this, but you had to try. Jungwon wouldn’t abandon you and you wouldn’t abandon him. “F-fine. But..but only if Jungown is safe.”

“He’ll be safe, as long as you win the game.”

“What game?” your voice barely whispers as you stand in the center of the living room. A loud creak from Won’s bedroom catches your breath in your throat.“...it's called catch the dumb baby”

Pure fear and adrenaline courses through your body carrying your feet faster than you could think and you run toward the front door. Throwing it open and screaming, there he was, Ghostface stood hovering over you. In his classic black robe and the famous scream mask covered in dirt and speckles of dried blood. His head was tilted to the side, he had a syringe in hand, he shook his head looking at you.

“Dumb baby, you lose.”

Taking a cautious step back, you bump into a hard figure, turning your head only slightly only to see another Ghostface mask out of your peripheral vision. Standing just as tall as the one blocking the front door. 

Fuck

It all happened so fast, before you could blink or open your mouth to scream for help, the one behind you grabbed you, covering your mouth and pinning your arms to your side with one of his long arms. He maneuvered your face upward harshly exposing your neck to the Ghostface with the syringe. You felt the pin prick in your neck and your body slumped against the one holding you. Whatever they gave you was fast acting and you lost all movement in legs and arms. You slump against the Ghostface holding you, unable to stand on your feet. 

I failed you Wonnie..I’m so sorry.

Your sobs are muffled behind his gloved hand, feeling yourself slowly slip away from reality.

Cold, that’s the first thing you felt. Your limbs feel heavy, mouth dry and head full of eye burning pressure. Everything is blurry and the only thing your vision can make out is the mattress on the floor you’ve been placed on, laid on your side. Realizing you’re also fully nude you try to move your limbs to cover your body and give it some warmth but they’re too heavy to move under whatever sedation they gave you. 

“Our pretty girl is finally awake.” 

Snapping your head to the bottom of the mattress your vision can make out the two figures standing at the edge. Their voices are no longer distorted but the masks are still on. 

“Dumb baby made it too easy,” 

Wait..that voice..He took his mask off first, shaking his hair out of his face. Bambi eyes fully drinking you in. It was terrifying how quickly the doe eyes you trusted narrowed darkly. No signs of innocence, just wild, black, and hungry. Heeseung..Heeseung was Ghostface, he’s the one that drugged you.

Looking at the other Ghostface figure, you already knew who it had to be..He took his mask off, throwing it to the side, a wide smile showing his fangs to you. The first time you had actually seen him smile with his teeth. The smile was anything but friendly. It was deranged and held no humor or comfort behind it. Sunghoon.

“What the fuck..” Your voice cracked and raw, it hurt to talk “Why..I trusted you..Won-wonnie trusted you.”

“Why? God, I hate that fucking question.” Sunghoon snorted, removing the black Ghostface robe off his body, leaving him shirtless and in black denim jeans. He really did, it pissed him off. They all sounded the same when he killed them, why me? What did I do? Why are you doing this? Blah, blah, blah. 

“Does there really have to be a reason why?” Heeseung smiled, nose wrinkling. How could someone that looked as sweet as Heeseung do something like this?

“Stop teasing her Heeseung. We had a good reason to kill each one of those assholes, pretty girl, do you really want all the gory details?” Sunghoon smirked, cocking an eyebrow. You shook your head, you were already on the verge of puking. You didn’t want to know. 

“Are you sure? Because...there was a special one in particular.. we had a really good reason why he had to die.” Heeseung said in a sing song voice. 

Sunghoon dropped his smile and glared at Heeseung, they agreed not to bring him up. Not that he cared about him, or regretted it, he just didn’t want to make this harder than it had to be. Heeseung could feel Sunghoon’s glare on him, he didn’t care. It broke his heart when you agreed to that date, Heeseung spent the whole day crying and screaming when he found out. Really? Choi fucking Yeonjun.

You hurt him, and he wanted to hurt you back. 

Heeseung dropped his body on the mattress and crawled down next to where you were laying and caressed your face gently, “you definitely should have turned down that date with that loser Yeonjun.” Heeseung said in a whisper. Despite the soft voice he used he was boiling in anger at saying that fuckers name. Heeseung took great pleasure in slitting that motherfucker's throat. He never liked getting messy, letting Sunghoon take most of the credit when it came to the murders, but when he heard you were going on a date with Choi fucking Yeonjun he wanted that kill. He craved it. You signed that poor bastard's death warrant when you said yes. Dumb baby. 

God, the way his eyes looked when his blade went into his neck sent him on the most euphoric high he had ever been on. He didn’t mean to cut his neck so deep, but fuck, how dare that motherfucker even think he had the slightest chance to have you. Even watching him bleed out and choke on his blood wasn’t enough, he had to suffer. Driving his blade into his chest over and over until Sunghoon had to physically pull him off of that stupid fucker. 

“You killed him..you killed Yeonjun..” you cried. You were the reason he was dead, it was your fault. “Oh god..Junnie..” You wanted to die, you didn’t deserve to live. You wanted to trade places with Yeonjun, he didn’t deserve that..How could Heeseung do something so vile?

His nickname has Heeseung seeing red. You dumb baby, are you really crying in front of me over him?! He grabbed his knife. “Heeseung,” Sunghoon warned. He wasn’t listening. He pushed your body flat down on the mattress and straddled your waist in a matter of seconds. He held his blade against your neck, the same one he used on him, he was shaking with anger. You had never seen this side of him, the snarl on his face, his eyes wild and black, his honey skin turning red, he was terrifying.  

“What the fuck did you call him?” He pressed the knife harder against your skin, you cried out feeling the blade break skin. He watched his knife tear a thin layer into your skin, blood seeping out. Not enough to cause any major damage, just barely tearing through the first layer of skin. “Do I have to carve my name into your fucking skin so you know who you fucking belong to?!” He was screaming at you only inches from your face. 

“Enough, Heeseung! Get off of her.” Sunghoon grabbed him by the back of his neck, shoving him aside. Heeseung always got a little too emotional when it came to you. Sunghoon had to keep him level headed or else any person who even accidentally looked in your direction would end up dead. 

“Forgive him, pretty girl.” He kneeled next to you, “he’s just protective of you” Sunghood smiled wiping your falling tears. His fingers grazed the line Heeseung made on your throat, coating the tips of them with your blood. He brought them to his lips and licked them clean. He couldn’t resist, his body and soul desired to taste every part of you. The scene makes you want to gag in disgust. 

Heeseung rubbed his temples and sighed, he didn’t mean to scare you. He looked at you apologetically. “Sorry sweetheart..I just don’t like you saying his name. You belong to us…and the thought of any guy touching or looking at what’s mine..makes me insane.” He leaned down to your neck and placed soft kisses on the cut he made. “Seungie will kiss it all better.” He mumbled against your skin. 

You laid there emotionless. Had you missed the signs of their obsession? Did you ever say something that gave them the wrong idea? You barely talked to them, why? Why is this happening?

You were trapped here, Yeonjun was dead because of you and Jungwon is missing because of you. It was all your fault.

“You know, pretty girl, I heard from a little bird that you think I hate you,” Sunghoon mused, twirling pieces of your hair around his fingers. He pushed Heeseung’s face off of your neck and climbed on top of you, caging you with his arms on either side of your face. You looked so scared and helpless underneath him and it was only turning him on even more.

“I don’t hate you, pretty girl, in fact I love you. I love you so much it's scary. I crave you. I want every part of you. I want to fucking break every part of you so we’ll be the only ones you’ll ever need.” 

You just stared up at him as he spoke, you had never seen this side of him before. The stone features he always gave you were replaced by lustful eyes and a giddy smile on his face. “Do you know how hard it was to watch you all this time and not act on all of the things I dreamed about doing to you?”

Heeseung was lying next to you on his side, propping his head on his hand while watching Sunghoon stare down at you. Finally, you were here, they had you right where they wanted you. Everything they did was for you, their girl. “It’s true, we’ve talked about this for so long and now you’re finally here. It’s almost like a dream come true.” Heeseung hummed tracing your delicate facial features with his fingers. 

“Wh-what are you going to do to me..” your broken voice going straight to their cocks. 

“Now that..pretty girl..is a good fucking question.” Sunghoon smiled leaning down rubbing the tip of his nose against yours. Their “affectionate” touches felt anything but sweet. “What are we going to do with her Seung?” his voice condescending. 

Heeseung chuckled softly and placed wet open mouth kisses on your shoulder down your arms, “I don’t even know where to start..but I’m growing impatient here..” Heeseungs’s hips grinded against your bare thigh and you could feel his hardening cock in his sweats. Fuck, he needed to calm down or he was going to cum before they even got to the good part. 

“Me too..our pretty girl has kept us waiting long enough.” Sunghoon smirks and kisses the corner of your mouth. Licking the streaks of wet tears on your cheeks. Reality hits you like lightning and your fight or flight finally kicks in at the realization. They’re going to rape you..

There was no way in hell you could take on two grown men, especially in your state, but you couldn’t go down without somewhat of a fight. You couldn't control your limbs, you could only twitch the tips of your fingers but you could roll your head, maybe that would be enough. Maybe.

You jerk your head as hard as you can toward Sunghoon’s face since he was closest to your head, it wasn’t a lot of force. But your forehead made direct contact with his nose, not enough to break but enough that had a few drops of blood trickle out and land on your cheek, he let out a slight groan from his throat. 

Heeseung scoffed a laugh and shook his head. If you thought he was bad when he was mad..you weren’t ready for Sunghoon, “dumb baby, that was stupid of you.”

Sunghoon wiped the blood from his nose on the back of his hand before making eye contact with you again, his gaze was unreadable which made it more scary. His hand shoots out at you and harshly grabs your neck and squeezes, cutting off your air supply abruptly. He brought your your face closer to his, “I was going to be nice and take it slow with you pretty girl, but you fucked that up..” His voice is low and slow as his demeanor shifted.

You couldn’t breathe and your face was turning red from the lack of oxygen, your choking sounds and wet cheeks only turning Sunghoon on more. Wet gurgling sounds, your eyes rolling to the back of your head. You couldn’t even lift your arms to try and pry him off of you. Fuck, he needed to get his cock into you fast. He let your neck go but before you could catch your breath he slapped you, with so much force it jerked your head to the side.

“Hoon, we agreed not her face!” Heeseung scoffed, grabbing your face softly placing soft kisses against the cheek Hoon backhanded you on. Heeseung was all for forceful punishment to keep you in your place, but never on your face. He told Sunghoon that, never your face, any other part of your body was fair game.  

“I didn’t agree to shit Heeseung, if she’s going to act like a fucking brat I’m going to treat her like one.” Sunghoon moved his body up, carefully placing his knees on both sides of your arms hovering over your chest, careful to not drop any of his weight on you. He unbuttoned his jeans and pulled them low enough to release his aching cock from its restraint. 

You turned your head to the side in a panic and squeezed your eyes shut refusing to look at him. “Please..please Hee-Heeseung..don’t let him..don’t let him do this..please..” you sobbed. It was clear Sunghoon was the one in charge and Heeseung would be your only chance at a saving grace. If you could, you wanted to reach any remorseful part of him to help you. 

He smiled softly and stroked your stinging cheek turning your head to face him. You opened your eyes hoping to see him take your cries and begs into consideration. “Dumb baby, you were a bad girl. We don’t want to punish you but you’re going to have to learn the rules. And rule one is to be a good girl for us. You were naughty for hitting Hoonie, after everything he’s done to keep you safe. You're going to have to make it up to him.” Kissing your sore cheek he looks up at Sunghoon with his big doe eyes and nods.

Sunghoon grabs a fistful of your hair and jerks your head straight forcing you to look up at him, “I’m going to train you to be a good obedient girl…you bite me, and I’ll slit Jungwon’s throat in front of you.” Bottom lip trembling you nod. They knew you would do anything for Jungwon’s safety, and they were going to use that to their advantage. Letting go of your hair his hand runs down your face softly taking in every beauty mark, eyelash, and the smear of his blood on your cheek. So fucking pretty.

He taps your bottom lip with his thumb, “open.”

Closing your eyes, you refuse to even look at him while he does this, you obey. He leans forward positioning himself over your open mouth, tapping the head of his cock against your tongue. Steadying himself with his right hand he uses his left to guide himself into your mouth. A long strained groan rumbles in his throat, your mouth felt better than he imagined. He couldn’t hold back anymore. He drags the underside of his cock on your tongue slowly before quickly forcing his full length in your mouth. 

He’s careful to not slam his full weight onto your face with each drag of his cock. The amount of spit and precum forced down your throat made you gag around him struggling to breath, but your noises made him fuck your face faster, salty fat tears pooling into your ears. 

He continued to pull out and thrust his aching cock back in, making sharp painful jabs down your throat. The way your mouth gagged and struggled around him only had his orgasm approaching quicker. His pace grew more unsteady and quick as he felt his high approaching. You tried your best to relax your throat around him, but it was too uncomfortable and the way his stomach hit the tip of your nose with each hard thrust only added to your misery. “O-oh fuck,” he grunted and forced himself even deeper into your throat, your nose completely smushed against his stomach blocking all your airways. 

His cum spilled from his cock and down your throat as you struggled not to choke. You swallowed as much as you could in a panic trying to find a way to breathe. Some of it seeped out of the sides of your mouth and down your chin. His body shuddered at the tight contraction of your throat around him, he stilled himself for a few seconds to catch his breath.

He pulled himself out of your mouth slowly, watching the strings of spit and his seed connect his softening cock to you. What a sight for sore eyes, he can’t imagine an even more perfect vision of you as he watched you cough and choke trying to catch your breath. He climbs off of you and lays beside you to really take a minute to admire how perfect you look right now. Your face is red, spit and cum dribbling from your chin, tears still falling. He wanted to burn this image of you in his head forever. He tapped your mouth with his index finger, “open.” 

You open your mouth. Sunghoon smiles, you’re listening. Maybe breaking you in was going to be easier than he thought. Leaning in he licks his cum and your spit from your chin before sticking his tongue in your mouth, making sure every part of your mouth tastes entirely of him. 

“You did good, pretty girl,” He mumbles, “made me feel so fucking good..”pulling away and pecking your lips softly. He smiles and looks at Heeseng on the opposite side of you. “You can reward her.” 

Heeseung smiles brightly and practically jumps on top of you. Immediately latching his mouth to yours, Sunghoon notices you’re not kissing him back and clicks his teeth. “Pretty girl, don’t be rude, Seungie is trying to reward you. Do you want to be punished again? Or should I go grab Jung-”

You don’t let him finish, squeezing your eyes shut you kiss Heeseung back, you need to. You needed to for Jungwon. You can feel Heeseung smile against your puckered lips. Lightly nipping your bottom lip before he slips his tongue inside and gently massages yours. Unlike Sunghoon, Heeseung was softer and took his time exploring your mouth. Not even caring Sunghoon’s cum was just in there he happily slurped everything his tongue swiped. 

You kissed him back like your life depended on it..because it did..Jungwon was your life.. 

He pulls away with a small hum, a string of spit still connecting your mouths together. “I wonder if every part of you tastes as sweet as your mouth..” He kisses your jaw, your neck, your collarbones. His eyes locked onto yours as he moved lower, his face hovering over your left breast. He lightly traces your nipple with the tip of his tongue and smirks at the way your body shivers underneath him and how your back slightly arches off the mattress, Sunghoon catches it too. 

Heeseung smiles at you sweetly before moving even lower. “I’m going to make you feel so good..” He slots himself between your legs and places your legs over his shoulders. He kisses the inside of your thigh, “I love you..so much..” The “loving” act only adds insult to injury in the situation. If he really loved you, he wouldn’t force you to do this. 

Hesseung dragged his tongue along your folds and you squirmed. His eyes fluttered shut and he hummed against your core. The amount of times he's snuck into your dorm and stolen your dirty panties to shove in his mouth while he jerked off couldn’t have prepared him for the real thing. Only a few seconds in and he was already pussy drunk on your taste and smell.

You bit down on your bottom lip hard as he worked slowly through your folds; teasing you as he flicked his tongue across your clit. Your fingers dug into the mattress, your knuckles turning white. You refuse to make a sound..you won’t give them the satisfaction. Heeseung watches you as he takes your clit  into his mouth and sucks hard. The first moan accidentally slips past your lips at the sensation. You couldn’t withhold the pathetic noise you made and you felt shame. Your breath hitched and your eyelids started to flutter as his tongue skillfully worked its way through your folds licking and sucking every crevice before dipping into your hole. He grounds loudly, as he starts to tongue fuck your hole feeling you clench around him. His hips started grinding against the mattress aching for some relief on his cock. 

Sunghoon studies your face, he knows you're holding back. “It feels good doesn't it pretty girl..let him hear more of those pretty sounds.” You glare at him, but you know your body is betraying you. Your face is flushed, legs shaking around his head, stomach caving in every time he hits that special spot. “Let Seungie…” He grabs a handful of Heeseung’s hair and presses him harder against your cunt, “hear you.”

You screw your eyes shut and moan at the newly applied pressure of Heeseung’s nose on your clit. Heeseung’s hooded eyes watch you as you arch and moan out. He pulls away slightly and spits on your pussy, adding more moisture before running the pads of his fingers through your folds making you shudder harder and throw your head back. He collects his spit and your arousal around his pointer and middle finger before shoving both of them inside of you.

“Ah!”

“Stretch her nice and good Seungie..”Sunghoon smiled, leaning down and capturing your lips in another dirty kiss of tongue and teeth. The room filled with the disgusting squelching sounds of your pussy around Heeseungs fingers. Heeseung’s tongue went back to sucking your clit as continued to finger fuck you at a fast relentless pace. He could feel how close you were by the way you were gripping him. You tried to hold it, you tried to move your hips away, he just held your waist down with his free hand and sucked harder. Against your will, it happened, your stomach concaved and you cried out in Sunghoon’s mouth feeling your forced release gush out of you. Sunghoon pulled away from your mouth so he could watch your face when you cum.

So pretty.

The way you sounded was enough to make Heeseung cum in his pants. “Fuck, I need to be inside of you right now..” Loud sobs rack your body, this was it..”do-don’t do this..” Heeseung stripped quickly, not bothering to wipe your arousal off of his face. “Hee-Heeseung, please..please don’t..”

Sunghoon sighed and kissed your forehead, “pretty girl, Seungie let you cum, don’t be rude. Be a good girl and let him cum too..I don’t want to have to kill Jungwon because of you. This is supposed to be a special night.” 

Jungwon. You had to for Jungwon.

“Not-not inside. Don't cum.. Not inside..please..”

He looked at Heeseung, and they shared an unspoken conversation through their eyes. “Okay, pretty girl. Seungie won’t cum inside of you..tonight.”

Heeseung ran his hand up and down his length, lubricating himself with his precum. He placed his thick cock head at your entrance and you whimpered from sensitivity from your orgasm. He pushed into you sharply. You gasped, screwing your eyes shut as he forced himself all the way to his base, allowing no time for you to adjust his large size. 

“Oh my god…” He panted, closing his eyes. His self control is no longer present, he pulled out of you slowly and slammed back in setting a pace. He was thrusting into you just as violently as he had entered you, his pace was unrelenting as he worked into your tight gummy walls. You whined with each jolt of force from his thrusts. Your back arched in pain, fingernails clawing helplessly at the mattress. You could hear the change in his breathing signaling he was nearing his own release. At least he was fast, this would be over soon. 

Sunghoon rolled his eyes, of course Heeseung was going to cum already, he didn’t know how to pace himself. But more annoying, he was going to finish before you, treating you like some quick random hookup. He was going to have to talk to him about that later. To Sunghoon, your pleasure came before theirs, unless of course you were being punished. He took your nipple into his mouth, sucking on the bud and slipped his hand down to your cunt.

His skillful fingers found your clit and he rubbed the nub tenderly, applying the perfect amount of pressure. The pain from Heeseung’s cock quickly turned into pleasure. Your pained squeaks and whines tuning into soft moans and pants. Heeseung’s hands went to your waist as he held your hips in place rutting against you faster. Your eyes fluttered shut as you started to shake under him, unable to fend off the building orgasm, thanks to Sunghoon. Small grunts escaping his parted lips, the only sound he was capable of making. He was too lost in the feel of your pussy. 

“Cum on Seungie’s cock pretty girl..” Sunghoon smiled, releasing your nipple from his mouth. He rubbed your clit harder causing a loud moan to bubble from you. Your back arched off the mattress as you were suddenly overwhelmed with white hot pleasure, his fingers helping draw forth your second orgasm.

So fucking pretty.

You clenched hard around Heeseung as you came, he snapped his hips forward harshly and a deep whine escaped his lips. He hung his head back and pulled out of you quickly, he hissed wrapping his hand around his red sensitive cock and jerked himself off above you. His cum spurting out of the red tip, strings of his seed coating your stomach, and reaching your breasts. 

His chest rose fast and hard as he collapsed next to you, sweat gathered on his forehead, he smiled softly at you. “Thank you baby..so good..so good for me..” He mumbled kissing your lips in soft little pecks. Sunghoon grabbed one of their discarded Ghostface robes and wiped Heeseung’s cum off of you. “Excuse him, pretty girl, he apparently doesn’t know how to be a gentleman.”

“Fuck you,” Heeseung grumbled. “I couldn’t help it, she’s so tight and warm.” He hummed relishing in the way your sweet little pussy gripped his tongue, fingers, and cock. He wasn’t phased by how quickly he came, he has all the time in the world to learn your body and how to pace himself. All the time in the world. 

You felt disgusting at the way they have your body reacting to their touches. 

Sunghoon discarded the rest of his clothes away and took his position on his knees in between your aching legs. You blinked a few tears away, you already knew he was going to have his turn with you but it didn’t stop the fear. You had to do this. They had Jungwon and you were his only chance at making it out of this alive. 

You made the mistake of looking down at him and let out a shaky breath. He was ready for you; he was fully hard and throbbing, from the way your mouth struggled to accommodate him you knew this was going to hurt. He saw the worried look on your face and cupped your cheek, “it won’t hurt after a while. I’m going to train your little pussy how to take it pretty girl. Hoonie’s going to take care of you.” 

He kissed you tenderly, “I love you.”

He feels your legs twitch around him, and sees your arms twitch at your sides, only meaning the drug will be wearing off soon. He didn’t want you to realize that and start acting out again, he smiled at Heeseung, “Seungie will you hold our girl for me? She’s a little nervous and maybe you can comfort her.” 

Heeseung was more than happy to oblige. He moved to the side of the mattress and sat with his back against the wall. Sunghoon picked your body up and moved you over to Heeseungs awaiting arms. He sits you with your back and head pressed against Heeseung’s firm chest, Heeseung hooks his hands under your knees and spreads your legs open wide for Sunghoon. He bites his bottom lip at the sinful sight of you sprawled out like this waiting for him. Your wet and swollen pussy only looks more appetizing for him when you're being held like this.

“Keep her there Seung,” He smirked watching Heeseung hold you in place for him. He gripped the base of his cock as he moved closer to you. He rubbed the tip along your folds, coating it in your juices. Your body jerks at the sensitivity from your previous two orgasms.

“Be a good girl for Hoonie, he’ll give you a special treat.” Heeseung whispered, kissing the crown of your head. Unless the treat was Jungwon you didn’t care. You wanted this over fast, you prayed he’d be as fast as Heeseung. 

Sunghoon watches you intently as he slides into your tight cunt. A low rumble in his chest feeling you suck him in and tighten. “Fuck....” He bottoms out and it hurts how full you are. More tears spill from your eyes, your mouth dropped in a silent scream. He can see the outline of his cock in your stomach and it fuels his fire.

“Look at that, I'm all the way..” He presses down on the bulge of his cock under your belly button, “in here.” You involuntary moan at the pressure and you clench around him.

He chuckles as he starts to move. Every movement has him deeper inside you. Your walls unwillingly cling to him and you close your eyes not wanting to see him. You want so desperately to mentally check out and forget where you what's happening to you, but you can’t as he brings you back to reality with each burning thrust.

“God, pretty girl, you feel so good..” The sounds of your flesh clapping together, the disgusting sloppy squelching sounds of your pussy only fueling his animalistic desires. He wasn’t gentle with you, each thrust inside of you jerked your entire body and had you sliding up and down on Heeseung’s chest. You were still sore from Heeseung’s assault on you and the pain of Sunghoon’s thick cock ramming into you had your entire pelvic region burning. Whimpering louder each time as he rocked into you.

“Look at me,” He growled. 

You hesitantly open your eyes and look at his sweaty face, he watches you with hooded dark eyes, he has an odd look in his eye. The same one Heeseung sees when Sunghoon has his blade buried in someone. He was gone. 

“Say my name.” 

“W-Wha-”

He slaps you, the action splitting your lip open. You cry out and try to move but Heeseung’s grip on your legs is firm, keeping you open for Sunghoon’s assault. He thrusts into you harder, gripping your hips hard, digging his fingers into your flesh, bruising the skin. “Say my fucking name. NOW!”

“S-Sun-Sungho-hoon..” Blood is dribbling from your wounded lip down your chin.

“Again!”

“Sunghoon!”

“Keep saying it..or else..” He grunts.

Lowering his face to yours he licks the blood from your chin. Watching you shake and write underneath him had his orgasm nearing. He guides your hips up and down on his shaft, impaling you deeper on him with each painful thrust on his thick cock. Groaning at the sight of your creamy essence coating him, he wasn’t going to last long. He gave a particular hard thrust that had you squealing and kicking your legs, a cheshire grin taking over his face.

He found it. 

He keeps hitting that spot with all of his strength and watches the way your eyes cross and roll back helplessly. You’re screaming his name over and over, it was happening again. The band in your belly is ready to snap. “Cum for me..cum for me and I’ll breed you..” He breathes reaching between your bodies and rubbing circles on your clit with the pad of this thumb.

“NO!” you screamed, “you-you said-” 

He laughs breathlessly, throwing his head back. Heeseung gave you the appropriate nickname, you really were just a dumb baby. He rubs your clit harder, “pretty girl, I said Seungie wouldn’t cum in you..I never said I wouldn’t cum inside of you..cum for me..come on baby..let go for us..” 

The tip of his cock hits your spot and you squeak loudly, unable to stop it, throwing your head back on Heeseung’s chest letting your orgasm hit you hard. Your body convulses as you clench around Sunghoon coating the entirety of his cock in your release. He chokes out a moan, thrusting only a few more times before he stills, painting your insides with his thick white cum. Sealing your fate to him, to them. You’re theirs and you weren’t going anywhere. 

Heeseung held your shaking body as you tried to catch your breath. He was whispering sweet praises in your ears and kissing your wet cheeks, “such a good girl for us. So perfect..tell Hoonie thank you for your treat..”

“Th-thank you..Ho-Hoonie..”

Sunghoon smiled widely at the nickname rolling off your tongue, he gently pulled out of your sore cunt and smirked looking at the creamy mess leaking out of your gaping hole, “you’re very welcome pretty girl.” He kissed you tenderly, lightly licking at the remaining blood left on your busted lip.

A few minutes had passed and the post orgasm brain fog was finally clearing and you gasped remembering Jungwon. Lifting your head off of Heeseung’s chest and searching around the dark room panicked. Sunghoon was still kneeling in front of you and Heeseung, he was watching your panicked gaze with an amused smirk. He wasn’t stupid he knew what you remembered.

“Where is he? Wh-where is Jungown? Can I see him..please..” You asked slowly, afraid of the answer. 

A small breathless laugh left Heeseungs lips, Sunghoon moved from his place in front of you and sat next to you and Heeseung. He grabbed your chin forcing you to look to the side of the room at the dark corner. 

“Ah..pretty girl, why don’t you see for yourself.”

The big “finale” was finally being unveiled. He wasn’t lying earlier when he told you he wanted to break so all you would ever need is them. 

What? What was he talking about? Jungwon was here? Squinting your eyes to adjust to the darkness you saw him. Sunghoon smiled widely watching your eyes slowly widen with realization, your mouth dropped open and you screamed. The room was spinning, all the air knocked out of your lungs as you felt the bile rise in your throat as you cried and wailed against Heeseung, but he kept his grip tight on you. 

You wish they would have just killed you, death would have been better than this. 

Jungown sat in a wooden chair smiling in your direction softly, holding a camcorder. His eyes trained on the tiny camcorder screen before finally looking at you. 

“What’s wrong bunny, aren't you happy to see me?”

🦇Every like/comment/reblog gives Jungwon a chocolate covered strawberry!🦇

[yongbokology]

baby daddy! satoru x baby mama! reader

black coded reader <3

warnings; none really, just fluff tbh

wc; 1.1k

an: maybe i’ll write a part where the actual baby making takes place if this doesn’t flop 🤷🏾‍♀️

* baby daddy! satoru who looks at you with wide eyes as you show up to his apartment with a positive pregnancy test. before this situation you both were friends with benefits for a year and some change; having met him during your shift at the bar you currently work at.

* baby daddy! satoru who nearly falls over once you decide that you want to keep it (after all, it’s him we’re talking about)

* baby daddy! satoru who respects your decision after the initial shock and let’s it be known that’s he not going to be a deadbeat… (unlike someone)

“please don’t tell me we have to get married.”

you roll your eyes as you continue to clean the used shot glasses left behind by patrons.

“i’d rather self amputate my arms and legs, satoru.”

* baby daddy! satoru who tries to make it to as much doctors appointments as he can— sometimes even taking off of work for them.

“so, you’re currently at the end of your first trimester. everything is looking good, baby is looking healthy. any questions?” the doctor smiles sweetly at the both of you as she looks through yours and the baby’s charts.

satoru sits up from his chair, eyes perking up in the process “how long until you can tell if it’s going to be the most powerful being in the world?”

“satoru!”

“what… just curious..”

* baby daddy! satoru who secretly buys everything on your registry.

* baby daddy! satoru who watches you marvel at everything he bought, acting surprised with you.

* baby daddy! satoru who poses the idea of the both of you having a place together after a serious talk with shoko.

“don’t you think it would be safer for both her and the baby? y’know cuz you’re practically cursed.” a freshly lit newport hangs off her lips as she eyes her old friend.

“what?! i’m not cursed..”

“think about it— the world shifted off kilter when you were born. people were quite literally planning your murder before you could walk. you don’t think they’ll be rubbing their hands at the chance to get at your offspring?”

satoru breaks his friend’s stare and chooses silence, opting to take another bite out of his onigiri.

* baby mama! reader who accepts the offer because you’re literally just a twenty-something girl trying to navigate this unfair world, living paycheck to paycheck (😪)

— fear not tho because baby daddy! satoru got his baby mama covered!

* baby mama! reader who gets to know satoru more since moving in and he’s honestly such an interesting character.

* baby mama! reader who thinks it’s truly nice seeing him for who he was rather than him being a complete whiny mess after an orgasm for a change.

“do you just starve yourself all day? there’s literally nothing here to eat, toru!” you have your hand placed on six month old pregnant stomach and the other is holding open his stupidly expensive smart fridge that currently has one singular bento box that is half eaten.

“i don’t know how to cook!”

“good lord, what am i going to do with you?”

* baby mama! reader who takes off from the bar after satoru essentially pleads on his knees for you to stay home.

- he eventually convinces you to quit altogether.

* baby mama! reader who learns the truth about satoru’s job after waiting for him at the and seeing a fucking panda just holding a conversation with some weird kid with markings around his mouth, simply replying with “salmon.”

* baby daddy! satoru who thought it would be fine to just have you sit tight for a couple of minutes while he checks up on his students since he’s been off from work but clearly he was wrong when he comes back to see you bug-eyed and pacing back and forth.

you’re already trampling over your own words when satoru walks over to you with a concerned look on his face. “w-why did i just see a fucking talking panda satoru!”

he’s sliding a hand over his face and is pulling you into the nearest room and sliding the door shut behind him. it’s there that he explains the world of jujutsu sorcery and what he does and why you saw a talking panda roaming about.

he decides to kill two birds with one stone that day and introduces you to his students and the both of you are bombarded with a magnitude of questions.

there’s a brunette who hasn’t taken her hands off your stomach since introduction and there’s a pink haired young man who’s enamored with you overall.

“kinda surprising someone would willingly have a child with you.”

the brunette takes her hands off your stomach to pound her fist into the dark-haired kid whose names you learned was megumi.

(you caught a glimpse of a younger version of him tucked into satoru’s wallet after spending the whole day in the grocery store)

“just because we’re all thinking it doesn’t mean you have to say it out loud, fushiguro.”

* baby mama! reader who grows fond of the trio after initial introduction and ends up seeing them more often after that.

* baby daddy! satoru who doesn’t mind one bit and opens up his house so you could spend more time with them.

* baby daddy! satoru who’s in the middle of an intense fight but stops once he hears the specific ringtone he picked out for you.

“give me a minute would you? someone rather important is calling.”

his opponent is stunned and confused at the sheer audacity yet they don’t dare move an inch.

satoru presses his phone to his ear, a soft smile appearing on his lips as he answers you. “what’s going on, pretty girl?”

“baby. coming. now.”

“be right there.”

satoru’s smile drops as he reverts his attention back to his opponent, his arms preparing to conjure a finishing blow.

“sorry to cut our playtime short but someone truly worthy of my time just called.”

* baby daddy! satoru who makes it just in time to see his beautiful son being born.

* baby mama! reader who’s exhausted from giving life to a literal being. you’ve got your arms wrapped around the newborn that finally stopped crying all while sharing glances between you and satoru.

* baby daddy! satoru who has this weird feeling in his stomach after receiving his son in his arms. the expression on his face resembles one of pure bliss as he takes a seat in the chair not too far from your hospital bed.

after much-needed reassurance and satoru helping you to sleep, he’s slowly pacing around the room with your son, whispering sweet nothings and quiet promises.

“not that i doubted it for a second but you’re certainly mine alright.”

he smiles at the piercing blue eyes staring right back at his own.

* baby mama! reader who isn’t actually sleeping and watches the both of them with tired eyes and in that moment knows she made the right decision and is content with the possibility of a domestic life with the strongest sorcerer of the modern age.

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© yongbokology y2k23

feedback is encouraged.

boarder credz @leopardprnt

[qiupachups]

miles.g / wiles

.｡.+*☆ headcannons 👾💭

contents: general hcs, mention of his father’s death, i call 42-miles ‘wiles’, me sorta bullying him

a/n: after a lot of procrastination and harassment gentle encouragement from @vhstown i’m finally posting my hcs. :3c (they’ve been sitting here since july)

Despite his tough guy exterior and criminal career, he's actually a massive nerd geek. Like: gundham, comics, posters all over his room.

Until you bring up those interests, he won't mention them. But once you start a conversation about them, he can tell you all the lore front to back or tell you where and when each collectible is from. Just listening to Wiles and nodding along will make his day.

Accepting help from others is not an option. Ever. He's an overly D.I.Y guy since his father's death and it's staying that way.

... unless you're very close to him. Wiles will begrudgingly accept your help and then be adamant on repaying you. No matter how trivial it was, he'll show his gratitude through service.

Wiles has great memory and knows all the lyrics to his favourite songs. Go through his playlist and pick something at random- he'll recite them flawlessly!

A good memory also helps with remembering those flashes of songs playing on your lock screen. Just a split second glance? He's adding it to his playlist, maybe listening to it as he works on his latest gear.

Would be a straight A student if he were there half the time. The only thing keeping his total grades down is attendance, where he’s often absent.

However, if he’s in a group project with you, Wiles will put more effort into it. Getting a ‘C’ or GPA point lower is fine if it means keeping Brooklyn safer. What’s not fine is him being the reason for your lower marks.

Unlike his counterpart from 1610, Wiles’ art is more realistic. He tries to capture the subjects’ essence quickly and minimally, so colours are an afterthought.

Accuracy was his pride in art until it came to you. He’d be so nervous in getting your smile right, scribbling failed attempts over and over again. Wiles even resorted to a pencil sketch.

Following the passing of Jefferson, Wiles has gotten much closer to Rio. That’s a no brainer; he was fourteen— a kid. And Jefferson never got to see his son in that overpriced Visions uniform.

Wiles makes an effort to speak more Spanish. He lets his mamí braid his hair even if it hurts like hell. Those stupid telenovelas aren’t that bad on the second watch.

Once upon a time, Wiles used to be a choir boy (keyword: used). He’d love singing hymns and doing nativities before he could read; all for his mamí and dad to see.

However, the christmas after Jefferson’s passing felt… empty. Wiles quickly lost his passion for choir and now just attends mass with Rio at most.

After years of experience being a choir boy, Wiles has the voice of an angel. Not that you’d know, of course— he intends to take that to the grave. But there’s also a deeper, darker secret… he can’t rap to save his life.

An extremely personal and harrowing Musically comment told him so. Following that attack, twelve year old Wiles abandoned his account with only a black profile picture left behind.

Like any other middle schooler, Wiles had a hype beast phase (he denies it). When Aaron got a Hype shirt for Wiles’ 12th birthday, words couldn’t describe how he almost knocked Aaron down with a hug.

The shirt’s first stain had Wiles distraught and furiously searching ‘remove paint on shirt hacks’ on Youtube. His heart would probably stop if he misplaced a gift from you.

Wiles isn’t the best cook, but he can definitely make himself a good meal. With Rio working night shifts and Uncle Aaron doing… jobs, he has to be self-sufficient.

A secret lil’ side project: he’s trying and failing to replicate Jefferson’s mac ‘n cheese. It wasn’t the best, but it was his. Something’s always off when Wiles makes it and he’s not quite sure what.

Sure, cooking isn’t that hard, but baking is like wizardry to Wiles. AP Chemistry and it’s endless calculations felt way easier than making pan de agua with his mamí.

But, mamí didn’t raise no quitter! On a particularly busy birthday, Wiles pulled together a modest little cake for Rio. She burst into tears seeing the shaky ‘!Feliz Cumple!’ written in too-sweet icing.

Calling Earth-42 a wreck is a massive understatement. Shit’s like Gotham, only very real and very deadly. Just breathing in that damn city air makes Wiles’ skin crawl.

Luckily, he’s got an outlet: boxing. A fun hobby he picked up from Uncle Aaron became his release. Wiles might never be in the ring, but Brooklyn’s more than enough.

a/n #2: what the fuck. this was supposed to be short and silly and fun. exsqueeze me how did this… erm. disjointed mess.

[everydayyoulovemeless]

HC on a modern fallout. Like same characters just in now times.

Like Obvs Nick would still be a PI but what of the others? Would factions be a thing still or would they all have normal jobs?

What of the synths?

Modern Fo4 Headcanons

➼ Word Count » 3.3k ➼ Warnings » Spoilers for many character arcs ➼ Genre » Modern AU ➼ A/N » This took me WAY too long, but I had so many things I wanted to write down and expand on.

COMPANIONS [ these are how I imagine them before meeting Nate and Nora, a random couple who just happens to enter into everyone's lives ]

MacCready grew up as an orphan in Virginia where the older kids raised him. He never got adopted and, while he was thankful for the teens who raised him, there was always a sense of abandonment and negativity that he'd always attach with the state. So, when he turned 18, he hitchhiked to Boston, hoping to find a happier and more fulfilling life. It didn't happen as soon as he'd wanted, however, and he bounced from place to place looking for a stable job. His rugged exterior and immature attitude forced him out of a lot of areas, but there was a group that didn't mind any of that. MacCready was ecstatic when the Gunners first picked him up. They gave him jobs, sure, but they had also given him a group he could identify with in the same way he did with the kids back at the Orphanage. After a year of working with them, MacCready met Lucy. He'd originally planned on robbing her, but her name reminded her too much of the Lucy he'd grown up with, and offered to walk he home instead. When they had gotten to her door she asked him about why he was wearing army pants. He jokingly told her that he was in the military who was currently on leave, which she ended up believing. It surprised MacCready since his Gunners tattoo was visible on his arm, but he found her gullibility to be endearing. After that, the two spent a lot of time together, but right after Duncan was born, she pieced together his association with the gang, left him, and quickly moved into an apartment located in a safer area. Heartbroken and consumed with guilt, he quit the gang for good and worked to better himself and clean up his act so that he could be a part of his son's life, and maybe try his relationship with Lucy once more. He does a few odd jobs here and there but, so far, none of them have stuck.

Once Nick's testing was over, the students at CIT didn't know what to do with him other than to let him roam the campus, so he stuck with what he knew - police work. He'd wander the college as an officer, looking for any job or event that could require his help. At first, he was treated more as a Protectron than an actual member of the force, but that never really bothered him, as long as he was actively making people safer, then he was content. What did bother him, however, was the amount of jury trials he had to be present at for being the product of unethical testing. It always made him feel guilty that he was an unconsented clone of the real Nick Valentine's mind, and if he could, he would've chosen not to be created at all. Knowing the amount of pain his existence had caused an actual person made him feel awful, but he'd rather put that energy into his community over hating himself for something that was out of his control. He never really got over the confusion and sadness he had when he thought about who he was but, over time, many of the students began to treat him as if he were a real person. They'd greet him in the mornings, buy him ties on special occasions, and every once in a while someone would bring him coffee, forgetting that he couldn't drink it. His life slowly changed from him not understanding what his purpose was, to becoming a well-respected member in his field. Even the real Nick grew to appreciate him after he helped to hunt down Eddie when no one else wanted to. His memories of DiMA were still there (as it had only been a 2 or 3 decades compared to 2 centuries), but his brother didn't stay with the school, instead opting to discover himself elsewhere. As soon as he was allowed, he left for Maine and made a name for himself as the first robotic philosopher and occasionally sending letters to Nick.

Cait ran away from home at 15 in an attempt to escape the abuse she received from her parents. Scared, alone, and incredibly fragile, she was an easy target for many others on the streets and was taken advantage of both emotionally and sexually by almost anyone who saw her. As the years went by, the more hardened and angry she had become. Finally able to adapt to her surroundings, she stole, fought, and threatened anyone she could. This led her to be put in many juvenile detention centers and child reformat camps, both of which never helped change her view on the world. Still living on the streets at 18, she went and bought her first gun. She thought of going to visit her parents for a while, wondering if it would make some of the pain she felt go away. On the day she decided she was finally ready to go kill them, she ran into Tommy, a sleazy businessman who was desperate to strike it big in the corporate world. Seeing the potential and opportunity that a young, angry, mistreated girl could present to him, he offered her a deal. If she focused her rage into wrestling and let him be her manager, he'd help her get off the streets and really make a name for herself. She agreed and very quickly became one of the best and most well-known wrestlers in Boston, although, most of the press that covers her is about her attitude and allegation regarding her addictions. She still holds onto that shotgun she bought. It reminds her of what could've been and helps her feel a sense of security. She knows no one will take advantage of her again because she now has the means to ensure of it. She's still waiting for the day her parents beg her to take them back so she can tell them off, but they never did. It hurts her more to know that, even now that she's found success for herself, her parents still don't want her. So, until it kills her, she'll drink and inject herself with whatever she can get her hands on, desperate to numb as many of her thoughts as she can until she passes.

Danse was also made at CIT, although he's much more advanced than Nick is. Almost immediately after being created, he left to go to DC where he met Cutler. Cutler was on the verge of homelessness and pitched his idea of starting a small business to Danse who agreed quickly (he had no other plans). They sold odd things they either built or found for a few years before they were approached by a general in the US Army. He was only browsing, but Danse felt compelled by his stories from when he was in combat. There was something about serving his country and defending the common man that he found to be incredible, and so he and Cutler quit their gig and signed up for the army. There've been robots who've joined the military before, but none who made the decision on their own volition. All the others are Assaultrons and Mr. Gutsy, so having one who willingly wanted to be a part of the cause was astounding to many. Cutler eventually got mortally wounded and Danse, who was clearly devasted, was then assigned to work with Haylen and Rhys out of fear that he'd go haywire or malfunction due to the impact of his friends death, and that's where he's been ever since. The memories he'd been given were vague and slightly foggy, but the army gave him something to identify with and a cause to work for. He was prideful in the work he did and, although there were others, he served to be one of the first instances of a robot showing a willingness to fight for his country.

Ever since he was young, Preston had looked up to those who did right by people. At first, he joined a police academy to be an officer, but after a bystander got caught up in one of the scenes he'd been sent to, he quit, deciding that this wasn't something he was cut out to do. The guilt of not being able to successfully protect an innocent civilian eats away at him, so, in an attempt to make it up to himself, he went into hospice care. At least here he knows the deaths aren't his fault and that all the people he cares for have lived long, fulfilling lives. Currently, he's caring for the long-time addict, Mama Murphy (who still manages to sneak a few pills into the room every now and again). Preston adores her, but every once in a while she'll tell him about a dream she's had where the world had ended and he played a part in rebuilding it. He can't let her describe it for long, though, otherwise she'll start to panic and he'll have to grab her medication to help calm her down, and he hates having to give her drugs. Luckily he knows that she's just and elderly woman suffering from schizophrenia and none of what she says about a war torn world holds any truth. As much trouble as she causes him, Preston isn't sure what he's going to do when she's gone. He only hopes that it doesn't shatter him as much as the bystander incident did.

Codsworth still operates under Sole's roof in taking care of Shaun and the home. Nothing changes with him, however, when he went to drop Shaun off at college for the first time, he met Nick, and the two got along quite well! Whenever he goes to visit Shaun with the family he always makes sure to stop by to chat with the detective.

Piper runs a very controversial newsstand right in the heart of Boston. There are so many authorities and higher-ups whose reputations have been ruined due to her articles, and even with a mob of protestors against her, she still does whatever she wants. She grew up in a smaller town on the outskirts of Massachusetts before she managed to work up enough cash to get herself and Nat to the city, where she could finally begin to look for work to support them both. However, she quickly found that the 'big city' had many issues on its own and, since then, she was dead set on bringing people's attention to them. She doesn't care about the death threats or riots that sometimes occur outside her home. The police know her well enough by now to keep an eye out in her neighborhood. Especially Nick, who met her once while she set up a debate booth on campus and interviewed students for an article she planned on publishing. She's not rich by any means, but she loves her job. And, to her, there's no better feeling than that. She's just praying Nat isn't as prone to controversy as she is.

Curie was placed in a research facility where she helped to test and study different diseases with a group of other doctors before being places in a hospital. She mainly cares for sick children but is reveled to be one of the best doctors as she doesn't need to sleep or take any breaks. She adores her job and never stops working on cures and medicine for her patients. When she heard about the synths being created at CIT, she asked her supervisors if she could swap bodies so she could better fit in with the rest of her coworkers, as well as be able to hold vials and syringes better. They agreed and got her a custom made body for her to subvert her subconscious into. Eventually, when he's older, Shaun will come into her clinic in hopes of having his cancer fully treated, but that'll be years from now when he's in his 70s.

Even though Strong isn't affected by the FEV in this timeline, he still holds that same barbaric and thuggish aura. He's not affiliated with any gangs, but he's no stranger to violence and lives in the part of town where shootings happen the most often. Despite his intimidating stature and hostile disposition, he still frequents the local libraries. More often than he'd care to admit. He loves old literature and has a bit of a soft spot for anyone who likes it too. He claims she's overexaggerating, but Daisy will usually sit and listen to him ramble for hours about the beauty and symbolism littered throughout Shakespeare's plays or Lovecraft's short stories.

Hancock is a well-known politician who is loved as much as he is hated. Ever since Piper outed him for his drug addiction and put into question his validity and dedication to his cause, he's been somewhat of a controversial figure in the political world. Despite it all, he has no ill feelings toward Piper or Publick Occurrences and is constantly hyping it up as a reliable news source. Although he owns quite a bit of cash, he's constantly pouring it into the slums of Boston. Some think this is just a publicity stunt to make up for his occasional violent outbursts (the drugs do a number on him since he's not a ghoul), he does it because he genuinely believes it's right for him to do. Besides, the people are friendlier there. Now his biggest concern is building up his reputation again so he can beat his brother when they run for mayor against one another. Him and his secretary, Fahrenheit, have a lot planned for the city and they'd like to see those ideas become reality as quickly as they can manage.

No one's really sure who Deacon is, and some are cautious of him for it. One thing that is certain about him is that he's a massive history buff, and is almost always in a museum of some kind. His favorite past time is striking up conversation with strangers who probably just want to be left alone while they browse the artifacts displayed, but he doesn't really care. Eventually, he happens to start a conversation with Nate and Nora in the Museum of Freedom and he quickly integrates himself into the couple lives. Him and Barbara like to show up spontaneously on their doorstep with a pack of beers in their hands and grins on their faces, but surely they don't mind.. even if they still have no idea what he does for a living.

X6-88 is another one who doesn't change much. He works as security for CIT along with Nick, and few other courser's, although none of them are as approachable as the detective seems to be. He's very strict about his job and carries it out very well, however, when Shaun eventually begins to attend the college, they sorta hit it off? Not really because either of them are particularly kind to one another, but more so because they like it when people are straight forward, intelligent, and blunt and they both just so happen to be that.

Dogmeat’s a stray that everyone seems to know. Officially, he’s Mama Murphy’s, but most everyone claims him. He appears whenever someone's in distress or wherever his owner's vision take him. He's a mysterious dog with strange motives.

Old Longfellow lives as a fisherman up in Maine. Nothing particularly changes with him, he's still got the same closed off personality that he'd always had. His wife got sick and died and few years back, but his daughter went and became and engineer in a similar area to DiMA. Longfellow thinks DiMA's a kook but his daughter thinks he's a scientific masterpiece and will often ask him questions about his creation or how his mind was built.

Gage grew up around gang violence and quickly learned to steal, lie, and hurt to get the things he wanted. He never really lived in a stable home and mostly just squatted or camped wherever he could. Despite living in poverty, whenever he and his friends managed to scrap together enough money together, they'd hitch a ride to Nuka World and spend the day there. He grew to have a soft spot for the amusement park as he got older, and took up a maintenance job for them (they don't do background checks.. or any skill checks for that matter, but Gage is a quick learner.)

MAJOR FACTIONS + SYNTHS

The synths operate in society along with the other robots of the fallout universe. But, unlike the Protectrons, they can actually hold conversations. Because of that, they normally take on your regular lower-class to lower-middle-class jobs. They don't tend to be rich at all in their lifetimes due to the stigma around treating them exactly like humans. A lot of those opportunities have been stripped away from them for those exact reason. Some of them still manage to find ways around it, but it's a lot harder than how it'd be if they were a regular human. For instance, synths can't start businesses on their own. Many argue that it's because they're just not meant to do anything on their own and that they were created to help humans, but no one can give an argument on how them doing their own thing would harm them either.

The Railroad is the main group that's actively against the stereotypes and discrimination faced by the synths. Although, they've received a lot of backlash for naming themselves after a former anti-slavery group (many don't think it's fair to compare 1800s racism to whether or not bots can work higher-paying jobs), they've still become a huge relief to many synths who are desperate to be treated the same as any other person would.

The Institute is just a college in the modern age. Despite them receiving some backlash from the public about whether or not the practice of creating human-like bots, arguing that it's too 'Frankenstein-like', the students and professors still continue to build and work to make more and more realistic, artificial creatures and beings. Mr. House helps to fund their research as he finds it useful and because he also went their for school.

The Minutemen don't exist. There's no need when you have the police force, the fire department, and properly operating Protectrons active in the community. Most of hose who were a part of this faction have taken up community-centered jobs like farming or social work.

The Brotherhood of Steel continue to exist as the US Military. They're more focused on defending the country than they are preserving technology and the only places you’ll see one is in military bases or along the coast.

MINOR FACTIONS

The Atom Cats (along with Sturges) are a group of young adults who work at the local Harley Davidson. Tuesdays and Thursdays they host poetry night and generally just open the place up as a garage for anyone interested in mechanics or just hanging out with a bunch of strangers.

Raiders and Gunners are just the Bloods and Crips of the modern world. They stick with their own groups and despise anyone from the opposite side of the tracks. Shoot outs and common between them and it's best to not be associated at all if you can help it.

The Children of Atom are a strange and niche group of zealots that migrated from somewhere in Virginia to spread their gospel. No one’s sure who they are or what they want, but they’re attracted to the pollution cities bring and generally advocate for the betterment of the earth.

Ever since DiMA's arrival, Acadia's national park has turned into a debate ground for different thoughts and philosophies. People from all over the world come to visit to talk and discover other points of views. There's even a Atomite Pastor that frequents the area and promotes the newly found religion with those who are willing to listen. A strange place for stranger people.

[xatsperesso]

I've had an idea that i really like but probably won't write for a while (or maybe never) where iruma is very observant and slightly manipulative but like as a survival method

Like he find out his parents sold him and he doesn't really care about that part. They weren't that great anyways, but he needed a legal gaurdian and didn't know anyone who could forge an identity for him anyways

He sees that he's been sold to a demon, and he feels conflicted. On one hand that is a very bad idea and would be completely reckless of him to agree with this, but on the other hand he's curious. Curious about demons and hell and are there any other creatures there? Do demons have tails and wings and horns? Which mythology was right about hell?

And maybe, maybe this could be another chance? At living a nice life? Maybe he doesn't need to wait until he's an adult to finally start living, maybe he doesn't need to stay in this world that turned it's back on him the minute he started walking. Maybe life could be better there, in hell

And it's not like he has anything to lose anyways. Except maybe for his life, but he's been gambling with it since the tender age of 1, so what's new in that?

And so he agrees, with the very stupid plan of attacking Sullivan and booking it the second they arrive at hell. He can't be that much stronger than a grizzly bear, right?

But then sullivan took him by surprise when he proposed to him that he becomes his, grandson? And oh how convenient is that? He wont have to hunt and build a shelter, or hide and defend against hell creatures. He sees this as an absolute win! (And he pushes down the memory of a gentle smile and graying hair on a nice spring day) (yes i want drama i want the word grandpa to be bitter sweet in this fic i dont want him to just accept sullivan as family i want him to overcome and let go of the things he left behind)

And so he acts nice, he acts sweet and bubbly and just the right character that old people love seeing, and he doesn't expect sullivan to be fooled, but he seems to be playing along with him so iruma will act right. He'll act nice until he finds a safer place to be.

Opera is suspicious of him, but they're just a bodygaurd so as long as sullivan wants him around, they won't do anything about him

And then iruma finds out he's going to school, and he feels both excited and annoyed. Excited because school is the perfect place to learn about this world, and annoyed because kids his age are annoying. They never understood him, never felt comfortable around him. Always whispered behind his back about how he was weird and would sometimes go feral and attack other students (they took his hard earned money and said it's no big deal and we'll pay you back later~)

So, school. The uniform looked interesting, it was different. There is a lot of diversity among demons. No one looked at him for too long, he blended in just fine, everything was going alright

Until his new grandpa put the spotlight on him

And made him say the speech instead of another student (favoritism is never a good thing)

And gave a very dangerous spell to cast without telling him how dangerous it was

And got him into trouble with his new teachers

And the freshmen representative came to fight him

What a wonderful first day

And so they fight, iruma dodges because that's a whole new species who could be extremely durable, too hot for his touch especially qith the fire floating around him, so best not test his luck

He keeps dodging, azz gets nad and iruma saves the girl who i can't remember her name, he german suplex azz and gains azz's loyalty

But Iruma doesn't trust this. No one changes so quickly. Azz is definitely scheming something, lowering his gaurd only to stab him in the back

But calling him out is dangerous, and with azz being so close it'd be dangerous, but easier to keep his eyes on him

And so he doesn't shy from azz's approaches (except he disappears into thin air whenever anyone attempts to put him in the spotlight) he'll play along with azz until he can safely cut him out of his life

He's just playing along

[tulipscomeinallsortsofcolors]

Absolutely enamored by the new piecesverse! I love your world building so much and seeing Sasha have such a good day made me so happy! If you don’t mind I would love to hear more about the student/foster program, if not that’s totally cool! :)

basically, around the time of Sasha's adoption, they are finishing up the renovations started after jospehines death (logan briefly mentions this in the fourth chapter of Kintsukuroi). these renovations converted one entire wing (there are three wings, East West and North, plus the central area of the manor) and part of the central areas into essentially a school/homeless shelter, primarily for queer youth but not limited to them.

This includes both non-noble and noble youth (who are often thrown out for being queer or otherwise disobedient), which logan gets away with by framing it as politically educational (and lowkey implying to adult nobility that its some kind of reeducation deal)

They do have services for homeless adults, but theyre more about rent assistance and such to help them find long-term housing elsewhere, and other such things. Janus and Logan (this whole deal is mostly their brain baby) "own" a couple dozen apartment complexes for this purpose, which are all run democratically by their respective tenants unions. by setting the example, this has led to a LOT of tenants unions in Kenningport, which is great because logan inherited a SERIOUS housing crisis

But the teenagers stay in the manor, and they get regular meals (plus unrestricted access to multiple public kitchens, (though theres almost always a cook or maid in the big one to help them out), options for single or communal dorm space, and a great education with lots of specialty options. they also get an allowance (logan insists on calling it a stipend but the teens call it an allowance among themselves, mostly because it annoys him)

And they have access to legal services, whether that be court costs for either getting custody switched to a foster parent or getting emancipated entirely. most of them just stay, but some of them do choose to be placed with foster families/eventually adopted

that in particular harder for the noble kids, and logan and Janus have to deal with those cases personally - it involves a lot of very careful political machinations, letter correspondence, and occasionally outright subterfuge to get their parents to fully give up custody of the kid, and sometimes they cant manage it without showing their hand and risk the parents showing up and retaking the kid by force.

they always makes sure the kids are aware of the process so they have a choice, but most of them just choose to stay and keep the status quo - safer than making waves and risk having to go back to their unsafe homes.

[spiderman-withgreatpower]

The day had come for Peter 2 and Mary-Jane's gender reveal party for their baby. The child was due in only two months and the two were so overjoyed that they would be parents. MJs stomach had gotten significantly bigger since the last time they saw her.

They were determined to give their child everything they didn't have. Two parents who would put their kid first, who love them unconditionally and whom wanted to give them an as normal life as possible. Also they planned to have enough money to give their child a good education and to eventually live in a safer neighborhood.

Aunt May was the only one who was in trusted to know the gender of the child before the party. Peter and MJ were planning to find out with the others. Aunt May was clearly very excited for her nephew to have a child of his own. The smile never left her face and she stayed at his side, bragging to guests about how much of a good father she thought he would be.

The party wasnt too big and it was in the backyard of their Queens home. MJ had invited a few of the girls she worked with and a handful of her favorite student (along with their parents). Peter had invited some friends he had made at his new job as a detective at the NYPD. He kept his promise to MJ to retire from Spider-Man work and get a more stable job. He had been at his new job for a few weeks now and so far things have been going well.

There were balloons of pink and blue all around the yard. Homemade cookies sat on each table with pink and blue frosting. There was also pink and blue cupcakes on the tables as well. On the screen door, that lead back into the house, was a big sign that read: Spider Girl or Spider Boy? Which most of their guests assumed was a joke relating to the fact that Peter used to take pictures of Spider-Man .

MJ saw the other Peter's and the their girlfriends arriving and ran over to them to greet them. She then hugged them each warmly.

"Thank you for coming!" She exclaimed. "It really means alot to us that you guys came. You guys are really, the only family we got besides Aunt May. So are you team boy or girl? We are giving out these cute pins. Some of my students made them for me in art class."

She said holding a basket of crafts that the guests could put on their outfits.

[rouge-the-bat]

Please tell me more about Kurama (Shuichi Minamino) going to school with Yusuke and Kuwabara.

Personally I don't think he'd be close to either of them prior to Yusuke coming back to life, wherin he would call spirit world shenanigans. If we go with the idea that Hiei would follow Kurama around even prior to his arrest, I would not be shocked if local anime protag who hangs out on roof would find the little hellion once or twice.

Hiei would watch Yusuke beat up Kuwabara on a near daily bases, and when they meet he would give Yusuke a little "nice work, try explaining me to anyone and I will kill you" before blinking away. Or the classic Bill Murray of "no one will ever believe you". Kurama overhears Yusuke yelling to Keiko about some short black blur of a boy on the roof and local fox in disguise has to keep a straight face.

You know, if anything, Keiko and Kurama might know each other best out of all the group. They are both top ranking students, so they were probably teamed up for assignments or class activities.

Just some of my thoughts, love to hear more of yours.

HEHE YEAS U ACTUALLY ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY OF SOME OF MY THOUGHTS ALREADY !!!

i already figured that Kurama wouldnt be close to Yusuke and Kuwabara prior to the actual events of normal canon, he avoids most people to keep a distance from them since hes a demon, aside from Maya who would tag along with him on her own accord (and he ends up making an exception for her since he was lonely prior to meeting Hiei, i also have a little Maya-related thought ill get into later).

and i think hed expressly avoid Kuwabara, not out of dislike for him or anything and hed be rather polite about it, but Kurama would hear the rumors of Kuwabaras spiritual awareness and figured itd be safer to stay away from him so he wouldnt detect his clearly non-human energy. and despite Kurama often being distant to many people, Kuwabara still picks up on how Shuichi seems to avoid him particularly- which ofc Yusuke has to make a joke that Shuichi probably thinks Kuwabara is a freak and that he should stay away, and says his assumption is right [cue another fight between Kuwabara and Yusuke lol].

AND YES YES Hiei absolutely follows Kurama around all the time, and i defintely think at some point when Yusuke goes up to the roof during lunch he ends up finding Kurama sitting with Hiei and sharing his lunch (packed by shiori of course) with him. and catches Kurama being Very Flirty with Hiei, who gets VERY blushy hehe. finally it clicks to Yusuke why Shuichi never goes out with any of the many girls that fawn over him lol (though he also wonders how the hell the kid that doesnt go to their school even got up onto the roof in the first place). i didnt think about Yusuke encountering Hiei up there alone at some point but thatd also be really fun, i love the thought of Hiei not giving a shit and just disappearing into thin air in front of him, which would put Kurama in a bit of a weird spot when Yusuke later sees them together and clearly are close. i definitely have to think more about the weird meetings Hiei can have with Yusuke and Kuwabara more lol. so many possible interactions to make them think "wow Shuichis secret punk boyfriend is weird as fuck" HGJDHFJ

I do think Hiei would find Yusuke and Kuwabaras antics amusing, gives something more interesting going on to witness at the school besides people just going about their usual business (though of course he also enjoys just watching Kurama because hes very pretty :'3 though he doesnt understand why he keeps to playing the part of perfect school boy). at some point Yusuke probably sees Hiei watching Shuichi from a tree or something and thinks hes his stalker until he finds them hanging out together jfksjjfd

and yeah i figured Kurama probably interacts with Keiko the most before the main story! since shes part of the student council, i think theyd sometimes work together for that even though Kurama isnt actually a part of it, since many clubs and stuff tend to ask him for various favors since hes the top student and great at problem solving of all kinds n stuff. and through that Kurama would sometimes interact a bit with Yusuke because hed totally come in to bother Keiko while shes working lmao. and sometimes during their spats one of them- usually Keiko- will try dragging Kurama into it to share his opinion, to which hed usually give a polite smile and laugh and say its not his place- if he DOES tell his stance though Yusuke knows Shuichi is probably gonna give advice that mostly sides with Keiko jgksjfjd

i also think that when Yusuke comes back from the dead, itd get Kuramas attention and hed try prodding Keiko about it, since he figured itd be more natural to find out the situation from her rather than Yusuke directly since he never really had much connection with him. because it wouldnt be likely for spirit world to just bring someone back to life for no reason and it makes him wonder whats up. but when Keiko doesnt really know the specifics of what happened (and fumbles and shyly avoids the part where she essentially kissed Yusuke back to life), Kurama doesnt really pry too much into it in the end though because he doesnt find it worth his time or energy since hes basically depressed around this time because of his mothers illness and is already planning to be sacrificing his life for her.

he quickly puts the pieces together during the artifacts of darkness arc when Yusuke calls himself a spirit detective, but Kurama ultimately doesnt act too much different here compared to the events of canon, because what would it matter if a classmate knows hes a demon criminal if (according to his plan) hes going to be dead soon? i also think that before this while Shiori has been sick, Yusuke and Kuwabara noticed that Shuichi still seems to be acting as he usually does, and still smiles, but his eyes look completely drained of life like a zombie.

i also see that before Kurama had a total personality overhaul because of his mother protecting him, when he was little he was quite a little shit. he wasnt overtly confrontational like Yusuke and Kuwabara were, but he always clearly held himself as above everyone in school- students and teachers alike. he never shared and wasnt so polite about avoiding people back then, especially since he found being surrounded by a bunch of little kids quite annoying, on top of being agitated back then about being stuck in such a tiny weak child body. Kurama also totally pulled pranks all the time, both to appease his boredom and to get revenge on anyone that pissed him off- particularly any teachers that tried to talk down to him. they tended to be of the ~supernatural~ variety, like mushrooms suddenly filling up a teachers desk files like theyd been growing there for a month, so he was never found out.

and Yusuke never personally clashed with Kurama, but he did have a bit of a grudge against him because whenever it seemed like Shuichi was gonna get in trouble for something, he got off the hook because of him being such a model student, while Yusuke never got off easy. He was especially salty about it because he always swore Shuichi was a thief but no one believed him. sure he never actually saw him steal anything, but the day the snack he brought went missing, Shuichi later had that same snack during lunch, and Yusuke swore it wasnt a coincidence (and it wasnt lmao, but he couldnt prove it). anytime some kids brought their gameboys or whatnot and their games went missing, Yusuke always suspected Shuichi (and he was right :p ). Yusuke knew if he confronted Shuichi hed probably get into way worse trouble for punching the lights out of the model student than he does for his roughhousing with Kuwabara. he also figured it probably wouldnt be satisfying to hit Shuichi anyways, because he thought he looked fragile like a doll and would crumple like tinfoil (oh how wrong he was about that though LOL).

then over one summer the situation of Shiori catching Kurama so he doesnt fall on broken glass happens, and he begins to change to how he is now. so when hes back at school, he suddenly seems TOTALLY different and is actually polite to others. he may still be rather quiet and reserved, but he smiles more, and actually helps people out often. he doesnt distance himself quite as much as he used to. the number of pranks and missing items dont stop completely, but they diminish quite a bit. his change was so drastic and sudden that Yusuke and Kuwabara would joke that Shuichi got abducted by aliens, had his brain wiped, and replaced with an alien trying to fit in and gain the humans trust LOL. i think Keiko would also sometimes nag Yusuke about how he should make a change in himself and be nicer to others like Shuichi has, which would make Yusuke a bit irritable around Kurama even though it wasnt really him that was the source of his annoyance

also once they get into junior high, Yusuke and Kuwabara are happy to see the number of pranks around the school have skyrocketed again. because even though Kurama is fake nice to Iwamoto and Akashi, he HATES them because theyre such assholes, even if they tend to be nice to him because of him being the top student. and Yusuke doesnt even particularly care that he tends to be blamed for the pranks by those two teachers, because seeing them being pranked is VERY fun, and theyll pin anything on him and Kuwabara anyways so theres no point hating whatever genius is actually pranking them. im unsure though on if Yusuke has ever found Kurama before in the process of setting up a prank, and thus figures all of the crazy pranks he has no clue how someone could even pull off is from Shuichi, or if he and Kuwabara are totally clueless on whos doing them.

after the events of two shots, i think even though he never really interacted with her before, Kuwabara would notice that Maya suddenly stopped following Shuichi around all the time, and Kuwabara assumes (rather accurately, though of course clueless of the supernatural happenings) that Maya asked him out and was turned down, and feels sympathy for her. Yusuke is like, 'oh what, youre gonna swoop in and be her knight in shining armor?' Kuwabars ofc denies that, saying shes very pretty and if she wanted to date he wouldnt turn her down, but he will not take advantage of her in her time of sorrow! so he tries being nice to her and they become sorta-friends (though Kuwabara is a bit freaked out from her interest in paranormal stuff lol). through this would also be a key moment where Yusuke and Kuwabars start noticing that theres something strange about Shuichi, as from Kurama using his flower of forgetfulness on her so she forgets her feelings for him, so too came a bit of alteration of her memories where she no longer has much memory about him in general, and thus doesnt recall spending much time with him. so when at some point Shuichi becomes a topic of conversation, its clear that she doesnt know him that well and is confused when people are surprised about that, and even more so when people insist that she used to hang around him a lot. her saying that thats not true and never happened puts the idea in Kuwabaras head that theres something Very weird about the situation.

also Yusuke totally does a "your mom" joke to Kurama at some point and is met with a COMPLETE DEATH GLARE and feels a weird threatening energy, while Kurama says with a very flat unemotive voice 'do not make those sorts of jokes about my mother.' Yusukes like 'jeez he looked like he was going to strangle me over a your mom joke' fkdbjgbdjf

THIS GOT REALLY LONG BUT. I JUST THINK THIS IDEA IS REALLY FUN N I WANNA DO SOMETHING WITH IT FKBDJ its fun to think about :'3

[hazelhearts]

You Are In Love

Robin Buckley x Fem!Reader

summary: pauses, then says. you're my best friend. and you knew what it was. she is in love

content/warnings: angst, fluff, homophobia, anxiety

word count: 1.5k

note / request: my first robin fic. this is terrifying. i love it because it reminds me of me. i hope you all love it too <3

masterlist

Robin was looking at you. Again. She couldn't help it. Honestly, who could blame her? You were perfect in every way. You were kind, beautiful, extremely smart, and just overall the ideal girl. What was there not to love?

Robin had had a crush on you since you were in elementary school. She didn't realize it at first, she didn't even realize she was a lesbian at that time. The opinions regarding the LGBTQ community that are held by the large amount of Hawkins' residents pushed the thoughts deeper and deeper into her brain, willing her to ignore them, to be just like everyone else.

But in high school, she couldn't contain the thoughts anymore. She could feel her eyes drifting to you in every room. She could feel herself light up whenever your name was mentioned, automatically inserting herself into the conversation if she wasn't a part of it already. She was a little obsessed.

The problem was, she was positive you were straight. You had never really dated anyone throughout the years she's know you but she just thought you wanted to focus more on academics. You never even really looked in her direction. Why would you? She was the weird band kid that everyone tried not to look at, the one that just happened to be head over heels in love with you. You were the head of the student council, the straight A's student, the girl ever other girl wanted to be. The girl that couldn't be gay. Hawkins' pride and joy.

That made things all that much harder when you started working at Scoops Ahoy. You started about two weeks after her and Steve, flying through ever stage of the hiring process with no difficulty. You met every qualification, even exceeded some of them. She was in awe that one person could be so perfect. The more the learned about you, the deeper she fell.

You started to notice her little tells not even a week after you started. You had noticed them in school, but you had kept your suspicions to yourself in order to protect her from the ignorant assholes in this town.

You had come out to your parents when you were in middle school. They were extremely accepting, which you had had no doubt about. They were extreme activists and campaigned for all types of views that were looked down on in a town such as Hawkins in the 80s. That's why your parents had always preached the idea that people are people, opinions are opinions, and none are ever wrong or lesser than the others unless they are driven by hate. They had been your main supporters most of your life.

Yet, no matter how hard you tried to tune out the words, it wasn't always that easy. Words hurt. And, as far as you could tell, Robin's family didn't seem like a very accepting bunch. They had never been outright disrespectful towards the LGBTQ community, but you don't have to be blatantly rude to be offensive.

That's why you had continued to pretend you never noticed. Maybe Robin was just confused. Or you had the completely wrong idea altogether. Either way, it's too risky for you to pursue anything. So, you kept it platonic with a capital P. No matter how much you wish it could be different, things were better this way. Safer. Maybe, this way, you can shield her from the ugliness of the world. The ugliness you have consistently fallen victim to.

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

Everything changed a few months after you started working at Scoops Ahoy. You, Robin, and Steve had all went out to celebrate the college acceptance letter you had just recently gotten in the mail. You had all gotten a little deeper in the celebration than you planned, staying out until nearly five o'clock in the morning when you all had a shift at eight.

You all started heading towards the car, extremely exhausted from a long work day and a very long night. Robin called shotgun, running to beat Steve to the door because he thought calling shotgun was stupid. She beat him, as always, and Steve reluctantly settled into the back seat as you took your spot as driver.

"Hey Y/N, do you mind if I stay with you tonight? My parents would kill me if they thought I was out this late. If they think I was with you, I'm covered. It's completely okay if not I totally understand...."

"Robin, it's cool. My parents love you. And, I don't really want my best friend to die." You sent her a reassuring smile, hoping to settle the nerves she obviously had. Strict parents and late nights can do that to a person.

"Hey, can I stay too?"

"In your dreams, Harrington." Steve slumped back into his seat, faking disappointment. He tried that bit every time.

The ride to Steve's only took about five minutes. You and Robin both quickly told him goodnight, hoping to leave before his parents came out. You rushed out of there as soon as he got into his window, content that the coast was clear.

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

You and Robin rode about five minutes down the road in complete silence. Usually, silence between you two is pretty comfortable since you both aren't huge talkers. However, this silence felt tense and awkward. It felt like something was different somehow.

"Hey Y/N, I have to ask you something."

"Shoot." You didn't even take your eyes of the road, therefore missing the anxiety in Robin's expression.

"Are you really gonna go to that school?" This time you faced her the slightest bit, attempting to figure out where this was coming from.

"Um... I don't know yet. It's a great school, but it's really far from my parents. And, I don't know if I can just leave you and Steve to run Scoops Ahoy. The place might burn down!." Your attempt at alight-hearted joke in no way lightened the mood. The tension in the car was persistent to say the least.

"What's up Rob? You've seemed off all night. Now you're asking if I really want to take one of the best offers I could've ever received. The offer you have been insisting could be life-changing for me. Are you feeling okay?" Something in Robin snapped right then, sending a whole bunch of words out over the span of a few seconds.

"I don't want you to go to that stupid school, okay? You're my best friend. Well, actually more than that if I'm honest but that's besides the point. You can't leave me all alone with Steve. What am I supposed to do without..."

"Wait wait wait. What do you mean by more than that?" You cut her off. You didn't mean to. You knew that she hated when people did that to her, but you couldn't gloss over what she had just said.

"God, this is not how I imagined this. Not how I imagined this at all. I had it all planned out! A calm movie night, late night talks about that future..."

"Robin..."

"I like you, okay! I like you a lot. God, I might even love you. But you don't see it. I don't know if it's because you don't feel the same way or if it's just plain obliviousness, but I really like you Y/N. Like a lot a lot."

You had to take a moment to catch your breath. You had always liked Robin, ever since you first saw her in Ms. McKinney's class in the first grade. Sure those feelings didn't really develop into anything more than friendship until high school, but they've always been there.

"Oh my god, I've ruined everything! You probably hate me now. Oh my god. I blew it." You're quickly brought back down to earth by Robin's words, grateful for the opening she gave in order to breathe.

"Robin, you didn't ruin anything. I've liked you forever. I've liked you since I first laid eyes on you." Robin's eyes widen to such an extent that you're sure they're going to pop out of her head.

"Really?" You hate that her face looks so doubtful yet longing. You hate that a part of her thinks you would lie about something this big.

"Yes Robin, really. I think I might even love you too."

For the second time during this conversation, something in Robin snaps. She pulls you to her by your neck and connects your lips. Your body goes into shock, forgetting how to respond in this situation.

Robin pulls back, sensing your hesitation. She starts to formulate an apology, but it's then you that pulls her towards you and connects your lips, this time in full control. Your lips move together seamlessly, almost as if they were destined to be together. Almost as if you and Robin were destined to be together.

You both pull away for air, gasping from the intensity of the kiss. Robin looks towards you with her swollen lips and wide eyes, blushing fiercely. You send her a sly smirk, intent on making that look never leave her face.

You start the car without another word, rushing to your house as quickly as your car could go. You're probably speeding, but you honestly couldn't care less.

"You can feel it on the way home"

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

taglist form

@tolkienlockian

[v3nusxsky]

🕊️A hell of my own creation🕊️

—————————————————————————

Prompt~ reader is caught trying to cope with her emotions and expressing them in a creative way as that's what they find most helpful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Slim fingers wrapped around the neck of the wine glass that currently was filled with the most exquisite wine. You were slumped in your chair watching the flames flickering as if they were dancing. The light was radiating from the fire pit as you sat stewing in your own thoughts. For days you'd notice the decline in your mood and behaviours. You slowly separated yourself from everyone and burying yourself in your work. It seemed as if no one noticed. You were kind of glad for that. I mean the thought of someone actually worrying about you? No that was to overwhelming. Alone was safer. You couldn't hurt anyone but yourself if you stayed alone. Of course you had classes to teach which you did. But they lacked the normal level enthusiasm you had for your subject.

Therapy was something you'd been through many times. Your Normie parents desperately wished for you to be helped. Your ability's had developed at the ripe age of eleven. This means for years you've been suffering through feeling every emotion of those around you. It's a lot especially for a child. At the age of fourteen, your parents had given up completely and you were sent to Nevermore academy. A blessing in disguise not that you knew that at the time. During your years at Nevermore you learned to accept your ability, control it and find coping strategies for when it becomes too overwhelming. Without Nevermore you can't help but imagine just how out of control your ability would be.

After graduating, you were offered a teaching position. English, your favourite subject. One you excelled at. You'd built relationships with most of the teachers while you were a student so there wasn't any stress of getting to know new people. One person in particular that you had a good bond with was the principal. Larissa Weems. Her kind, caring and almost motherly nature made her a source of comfort, for not only you but also the students of Nevermore. During your last years as a student you'd developed a friendship with the older women. Being the youngest principle that Nevermore has ever had placed Larissa only a few years above you in age. In fact you and the principle were the closest in age. Yet you admired how the blonde could be a authoritative when it was called for despite being younger than most the teachers. Some of them had been here for decades... literally.

A sudden onslaught of emotions hit you as if it were a tsunami, causing the wine glass to slip from your nimble fingers spilling its contents on the floor. Whoever had passed your quarters was going through something that much was for sure. Normally the empathetic sides of you would wish to comfort that person maybe push out some calming soothing vibes into their aura. However you were drowning in emotions, control over the ability you had processed for years dwindling fast. You sighed as you went to retrieve the items to clean up the split wine. Mindlessly you gave into your urge to vocalise your feelings. After all it was just you here.

"How long have you been smiling ? It seems like it's been too long. Some days I don't feel like trying. So what the f are you on?"

Putting on the facade of a normal you was exhausting. Yet you tried to do your best not wanting your low mood to effect others. You couldn't help but mumble "God damn this empathetic shit!" As you continued to sing out the thoughts whirling in your brain.

"I think too much. I drink too much. Falling apart like it's just nothing. I want to know where do we go when nothings wrong. Cause all the kids are depressed nothing ever makes sense. I'm not feeling alright staying up till sunrise."

The sleepless nights was something you'd grown accustomed to the past few days however it didn't mean you hated them any less. God what you'd do for a reprieve from this hell. The alcohol was definitely not helping the situation but at least it lowed the intensity of the feelings.

“Hoping shit is okay, pretending that we know things. And I don't know what happened. My natural reaction is that I'm scared."

Your voice trailed off as you realised that's what this was. You were scared. Feeling all these emotions, losing your control it terrified you. What if you accidentally projected feelings onto people around you? You couldn't subject them to what you suffer. You wouldn't. So you isolated yourself. God it made so much sense.

Your isolation seemed to be cut short when a sapphire eyes beauty poked her head round your door. When had she arrived? Oddly enough you felt relieved to see her. Maybe company wouldn't be so bad? As long as you could pull the control back.

"Y/n? It's me. I brought wine" she informed you as she entered shutting the door. In her hand was the exact wine you'd just spilt. A tiny smile graced your lips at the thought. Someone cared. She cared.

"Thank you larissa." You took a deep breath standing and putting your cleaning supplies away before getting to glasses assuming she'd drink with you. Of course she would. After all you were friends right.

"Y/n can I ask you something?" Her whispered question made you falter on your way back to the chair you'd originally taken purchase on. All you could do is nod and wait on bated breath for her question. Unknowingly your control faltered and her emotions hit you. Hard. They were so strong a gasp was forced from you. Concern was the strongest. Then there was care and contentment mixed with nervousness? You made her nervous? Your head was spinning at the onslaught as you blinked rapidly attempting to get back in control of this.

"Y/n i - are you struggling dear? I could feel you as I walked past on my rounds. It was so strong it's why I'm checking on you. I thought the wine would cheer you up a little. What's wrong y/n? can I help?" Her questions were rapid fire most seeming to be rhetorical. Yet still you explained everything as she sat in the other chair eyes fixed on yours nodding along in the appropriate places.

"Why didn't you come to me? We are friends right?" She questioned her voice sounding so small and unsure of herself. Dammit this was not how you wanted to cause her to feel. Carefully you pushed reassuring vibes into her aura watching as her shoulders relaxed slightly. This reaction had your lips turning up ever so slightly at the corners.

"I didn't want you to feel what I feel Rissa. It's a lot even for me and I deal with it daily... I didn't want to hurt you or anyone else so I just took myself off to deal with it alone. It's just so overwhelming. I feel so alone. Why do I have to have the ability that feels like a curse? " the next thing you knew you were held in a tight hug which was intended to be comforting. And suddenly everything seemed to be more manageable. You just sat in her arms revealing in the contentment that started to flow from you.

Word count ~ 1274

[samanthaandlife]

I really don’t want to do this but I have to for me and my growth! Breaking up with Aiden was not only violent but my entire world, my life as I knew it, was over! I was ready to leave his authority and demeaning language he used when speaking about me publicly. But our breakup just happened to coincide with the COVID lockdown for which there was some small blessings in the timing. His father booked him a ticket to Cairo as a chance to get away from me and to get an early start on his new job. He believe his flight was one of the last international flights before lockdown. This gave me a guaranteed protection from him for almost a year and boy I needed it. He sent many ugly text and left voicemail that I considered having the police listen to them but never had the courage. I do feel like he would have done physical harm to me, like scared my face and vagina so that nobody else would want me.

With Aiden aside, I had to find a place to live and I was not ever going back to my parent’s house! I burned all of my bridges with friends back home as well, so I found myself homeless at the beginning of the pandemic! Lucky for me, Hank the Yank’s friend had half of a duplex available. Hank was so kind that he covered my rent until I could get my first paycheck, not until the end of August! I got a job at the school where I did my student teaching but with the lockdown and all students being stuck at home, my job’s future seemed in question. Then came the new place in a very ethnic based community, making me the only white woman around. It was pretty scary but I stayed inside all of the time. I tried to do all of my shopping early in the morning when the only activity outside were people going to work. Most of my neighbors were from Mexico to work in the poultry plant near by but a few were definitely in gangs and those boys frightened me! Once I got my first paycheck, I was able to move into a new apartment in a safer neighborhood but that spring and summer were scary.

Living in true isolation for the first time in my life really destroyed part of me. Having lived in such a controlled and sexual environment but now with the lack of direction and purpose coupled with my insatiable sexual lust for male attention; isolation was tough. As many have said, at the time, thank god for Amazon! I got my first programmable vibrator, not to mention the sour dough craze, for a point of reference. Sally and I FaceTime daily which was the only thing keeping me sane. Once school began and learning how to teach virtually, as my first year, ever, as a teacher, that was hard. I did my best but those poor kids and I really struggled the first month of school. We eventually learned a routine and we all started to feel a little more comfortable sharing and having meaningful conversations. What we all saw, behind the student’s faces were their homes and their actual lives! Never before have teachers had that intimate look into other people’s lives, it was voyeurism at its best, if that appeals to you. Appalled, disgusting, funny,sweet, loving, yeah everything, nudity, and of course sexual acts, on occasion. When I met my students for the first time, in person, I just wanted to cry over some, smack a few others, but mostly I was just happy to be in a real classroom, even if we did only meet for 1/2 days with 1/2 of the class and then switch to the other half. Those were some weird times! As restrictions were being lifted, so were my thoughts. I was a long way from where I am now but it was at this point that I started seeing a therapist named Karen. She has been my rock and guiding light through this terrible storm! Slowly, life got easier and as more and more people were able to socialize my spirit lifted again. With Karen’s help, I was first able to overcome my depression but also to help turn my life around and started to develop new life plans and goals, one without the need for men, but one where I make all of the decisions over my body!

It’s been just over four years ago, I am a different woman today. Today I know who I am, what I am, and most importantly what my value is and the strength to not lower my standards. I know there is a man out there who is perfect for me and I for him! Until that day, I celebrate my independence, my life, and my future!

[secretswiftymarvelfan]

The Demigod From Asgard - Steve Rogers x Reader (Part 51)

Summary: There’s a lot to process when an old foe returns from the dead

Word Count: 3.1k

Warnings: Canon Typical Violence! Bit of Angst! Languange!

Dividers by @firefly-graphics​

Series Masterlist / Masterlist

Chapter 51: The Rat That Didn’t Drown

January for most people is the slowest month of the year. Yet for the Avengers it was a different situation. Many of you heading out on missions, and sending teams out to ones you couldn’t cover.

You were walking towards the tactical room to prep for yet another upcoming mission when Tony intercepted you.

“Ah, Elsa just the person I wanted to see,” Tony says turning on his heel to follow you.

“What is it Tony, I’m kinda busy at the moment,” you say tapping away at the tablet you held.

“I have a potential new recruit” he explains making you stop and turn to look at him raising a brow.

“Really? Who?” You ask.

“I don’t know what they call him but he’s strong, web-slinger, spider kinda vibe” Tony explains passing you a smaller tablet which showed a video of a hero stopping a speeding car.

“Interesting, what’s the name?” You say passing the tablet back and beginning to walk again.

“Peter Parker, he’s from Queens, a student at midtown high,” Tony says making you stop and face him again.

“Wait what? How old is this guy?” You ask holding your hand out to make him pause.

“15,” Tony says making you instantly roll your eyes.

“Tony he’s a kid! We can’t recruit him!” You exclaim.

“He’s already out there working though” Tony points out.

“As a friendly neighbour spiderman! He’s not dealing with terrorists and international arms dealers like we are” you argue shaking your head at him.

“What about just training?” Tony offers.

“No, he’s safer away from this, when he’s older we can consider recruiting him but not now,” you tell him firmly.

“If something happened to him it would be on our hands and I can’t have that, as much as it would be handy to have some extra hands you know this is a bad idea deep down” you sigh.

“Yeah you’re right, just wanted to float the idea by you” Tony sighs nodding his head.

“But keep monitoring him through, he might attract unwanted attention and if we can prevent that behind the scenes then let’s do it” you suggest.

“Got it,” Tony says saluting you “good luck on the mission”

“Thanks, stay outta trouble” you warn him playfully as you head back off.

“Sorry I’m late Stark ambushed me,” you say as you join the team in the tactical room.

“What did he want?” Steve asks raising a brow.

“It was nothing, I’ll explain later,” you say waving it off “so what’s the situation?”

“Standard terrorist cell, the word is however they’ve constructed bombs and other forms of weaponised tech” Nat explains pulling up the hologram of the base.

“Well, at least they had the decency to build their base away from everyone else” you mutter as you look down at the map.

“Means it’s more likely to be heavily guarded though” Steve points out.

“Thus more headaches for us” Nat adds.

“So what’s the plan?” Sam asks crossing his arms over his chest.

“Since we have the luxury of space we’re gonna draw them out, we’re gonna launch our main attack on this watch tower here. Rhodey, Vision and Sam attack them at all angles” Steve explains pointing at the hologram.

“When they start sending reinforcements Wanda I want you to use your powers to cause confusion, nothing too bad just disorientate them, make them easy for us to take out” Steve continues looking over at Wanda.

“Then we’re gonna perform a tactical retreat make them think they’re winning, spread them thin, this will allow Nat and Y/N to sneak in, steal the intel and set the bombs. Once they give the signal Sam and Rhodey you will fly in and pick them up. The rest of us should be out of the blast zone at the point ready to trigger the bombs” Steve finishes.

“Sound good?” He asks looking at everyone.

“Good, when do we head out?” Rhodey asks.

“Get what you need and we’ll go,” Steve says everyone nodding in agreement.

Once everyone else had left the room to gear up Steve turned to you putting a hand on your arm.

“Hey you okay, you seemed agitated when you walked in,” Steve says gently.

You let out a deep sigh “yeah, just Tony being his usual self again” you explain.

“What did he do?” Steve asks.

“He’s found this kid who’s got powers and he asked me about recruiting him, but I told him no because this kid is just far too young” you sigh shaking your head.

“Sometimes I just think Tony just acts without thinking things through, I mean look what happened with Ultron,” you say, Steve, nodding his head in agreement.

“I know, like sometimes I feel like Wanda is too young to be doing all this, and she’s in her 20s” Steve sighs in agreement.

“I told him no but to keep tabs on him for the future” you explain.

“Hey you did the right thing, so don’t worry about it, now c’mon let's go beat up some bad guys,” Steve says making you chuckle.

A few hours later you were in the middle of nowhere hiding up a tree waiting to sneak into the base. In the near distance, you could see the rest of the team attacking the watch tower.

“They’re sending more people out towards you guys,” Nat tells the team over the comms.

“Great, you guys head in and we’ll start pulling back” Steve responds.

“Ready Romanoff?” You ask.

“Let's go avatar,” Nat says making you chuckle.

You look down at the guards by the door near you. There were only two of them and no one else around. So you used your powers to make roots grow up and around them pinning them to the wall.

When you landed down beside them you knocked them out to ensure they did raise the alarm. You then snuck into the base utilising the dark corridors to slip past the guards. Any you did encounter were quickly and quietly taken out.

Once you made it to the weapons lab you slipped in. As you took down the first guy you used your powers to restrain the rest. One held a gun out at you, but you froze the barrel causing it to explode in his hand. Once they were disposed of you make quick work downloading the intel and setting the bombs.

“Nat, you done?” You ask into the comms.

“Yeah ready for extraction” Nat responds.

“We’re gonna need you guys to stall, we’re not out of the blast radius yet” you hear Steve say over the comms.

As you curse your turn to spot an agent standing in the doorway. Before you can react, he runs off raising the alarm.

“Shit, we don’t have time we’ve been made” you warn them.

“Rhodey and Sam don’t come for us I’ll get us out, focus on getting you guys clear now” you instruct running through the base “Nat meet me on the roof”

“What about the bombs?” Nat asks once you both get to the roof.

“Set them for a delayed detention,” you say tapping on the small tablet. 

“Ready?” Nat asks.

“Let’s go” you set setting the bombs off.

You then grabbed Nat and took off, flying as fast as you could away from the base. 45 seconds later the bombs detonated, and you could feel the heat of the explosion. Which was soon followed by the blast of air which hit the both of us making you lose control for a moment.

“Shit” you curse as you try and gain control but your landing was still rough. Both of you landed on a heap on the floor.

“You okay?” You ask Nat as you catch your breath.

“Yeah, I’m good just give me a minute” Nat pants, wincing slightly from her spot on the floor.

“You guys okay?” Sam asks as the team runs over to meet you.

“Peachy” you smirk as Steve helps you up.

“Well I’d say that was a success,” Nat says shrugging her shoulders.

“Definitely, now let's head back to the jet we can do a debrief in the morning” Steve nods his head in agreement.

You had just gotten back to the jet when you got an incoming message from one of your teams.

“Agent Gomez, how’d the mission go? Did you get the crossbones gang attacking the police stations?” You ask leaning over the pilot seat where Steve was sitting.

“They were gone before we arrived again, but they left stuff this time” Gomez explained.

“What do you mean they left stuff?” Steve asked confused.

“It’s hard to explain, it’s probably better if you guys came and had a look yourselves,” Gomez says.

“Alright, we’re not too far from your location so we’ll be there as soon as we can,” you say as you look up their coordinates.

The team dropped you off in the small town before making their way back to the compound.

As you approached you could see the cordons in place. Some of the agents kept the crowds back while others talked to the police. There were medics also on the ground tending to the wounded.

“Agent Gomez” you greet when you spot him talking to one of the officers.

“Thank you for coming” Gomez greets shaking both your hands.

“Looks likes they caused a lot of chaos, any fatalities?” Steve asks glancing around.

“No just a few officers were wounded but nothing major” Gomez explains as the three of you walk towards the station.

“So what is it that they left?” Steve asks as you step inside.

“This” Gomez says pointing to the break area.

The entire station was trashed but in the break area, there was Avengers-themed graffiti. The thing that caught your eye though was the dartboard with a picture of Steve pinned to it. Darts sticking out across his face.

“And that wasn’t there before,” Steve asks pointing at the dart board.

“No according to the captain of the station, they locked all the officers up in the holding cell before stealing their weapons and trashing the place” Gomez explains.

You furrow your brows as you looked around at it all. None of it made sense.

“They haven’t trashed any other stations they’ve hit have they?” You ask rubbing your chin in thought.

“No, they’ve been very methodical in the past” Gomez confirms.

“And it was definitely the same people, not a copycat group,” Steve asks hands on his hips.

“All the statements we’ve collected so far match the profile we’ve made,” Gomez says.

“It almost seems like they’re trying to get our attention,” you say thinking out loud.

“You think they’re just trying to make a name for themselves, get themselves caught,” Steve asks looking over at you.

“Maybe, lots of serial killers make conscious mistakes for the same reason” Gomez agrees.

“Let’s continue gathering evidence then see if they’ve given us anything else” Steve instructs. 

A couple of days later you and Steve were sat in his office looking over all the evidence collected related to the crossbones gang. You were getting nowhere, and it was getting frustrating.

“There must be something we’re missing” you huff in annoyance collapsing back onto the couch.

“I know, they seem to have a vendetta against us which doesn’t really narrow it down” Steve sighs running his hand through his hair.

“Well it was you who was on the dartboard, is there anyone you’ve specifically pissed off?” You ask.

“Just the entirety of Hydra, but these guys aren’t affiliated with Hydra so that doesn’t help,” Steve says with a light chuckle.

Your conversation was then interrupted by someone knocking at the door. As you look over you see Sam poking his head in.

“Hey, Sam what’s up?” You ask sitting up.

“I was just watching some of the news coverage from that last police station attack and they showed a clip of the attackers leaving and you can hear them talking,” Sam says walking over.

“Do they say anything useful?” Steve asks sitting up.

“No, but listen to crossbones’ voice” Sam says playing the clip.

As you watch the video of the gang leaving the station you can hear crossbones shouting orders to his men. You realise with a start that you recognise his voice but you couldn’t place where from.

“I recognise that voice,” Steve says his brows furrowed in thought.

“I’ll admit it’s a bit gravelly than it used to be but you’d expect that after a building collapsed on you,” Sam says and you finally put the pieces together.

“Rumlow?” You say not believing it.

“I thought he was dead, his dog tags were in the rubble,” Steve says shocked.

“It was on the records that he did, but I did a little digging and found that they recovered a person who was burnt all over and non-identifiable, John Doe then once recovered enough assaulted his nurse and left the hospital” Sam explains.

“Yeah that sounds like Rumlow” Steve sighs shaking his head.

“And it explains why it was you on the dartboard” you add.

“Well we know who we’re going to be focusing on from this point onwards” Steve sighs leaning back in his chair.

“Do you want me to prep the team?” Sam asks.

“No it’s fine, there seems to be a month or so gap between the attacks so we have time to plan and work out our next steps,” Steve says shaking his head.

As you watched him you could see his mind ticking over as the information sunk in. You knew him well enough to see the emotions bubbling under the surface.

“Thanks, Sam you did a good job,” you say giving him a small smile.

He nods his head glancing over at Steve before heading out. You look back over at Steve to see the nerve in his jaw twitching as he thought.

“Hey, you okay?” You ask reaching over and putting your hand on his knee.

“Hmm yeah I’m fine,” Steve says forcing a smile.

You both knew he was lying but you decided to just leave it for now and not push it. Knowing he needed time to digest the information you’d just learnt.

“Hey, I was thinking of heading to the gym and training for a bit if you want to join,” you say standing up.

“Yeah sounds good I’ll meet you down there,” Steve says nodding his head in agreement.

“Okay well, I’ll see you down there then,” you tell him moving over to wrap your arm around his shoulders and kiss the top of his head.

He gives you another small smile wrapping his arm around you before you step away.

“See you in a bit doll” Steve smiles as you head out.

It was about an hour later when Steve joined you in the compound gym. At which point you were sparing with Nat. He greeted the both of you before wrapping up his hands and moving over to the punching bags. His workout started pretty casually but soon enough he started attacking the bag with more vigour.

“So what’s up with cap?” Nat asks as you took a water break on the other side of the gym.

“Rumlow is alive,” you tell her quietly.

“I thought he got buried under the Triskelion, they found his dog tags,” Nat says furrowing her brows.

“Well somehow he survived whether he lost his dog tags on purpose or not I don’t know, I just can’t believe he’s been out there all this time” you sigh shaking your head.

“And I’m guessing he didn’t take the news well,” Nat says glancing over at Steve.

“I don’t know, he was definitely shocked so I think he’s just processing it all” you sigh shrugging your shoulders.

“Well let’s hope for Stark’s bank account it doesn’t take too long,” Nat says just as Steve rips the bag open.

“Steve pays for them now, Tony refused to pay for anymore,” you tell her making her snort in laughter quieter.

“Anyway let’s get back to training, I have a feeling Rumlow won’t go easy” you sigh heading back over to the sparring mat.

Steve remained quiet the rest of the day, keeping himself busy. When the two of you sat down to eat dinner you watched as he pushed his food around his plate. You knew just how bad his mind must be for him to not to eat at all.

“Steve, what is it?” You ask reaching out over the table to touch his arm.

Steve glances up at you before looking back down with a deep sigh shaking his head slightly.

“This news about Rumlow, it just- its-“ he sighs shaking his head.

“A lot to take in” you finish for him earning a small smile from him.

“Yeah” he sighs in agreement.

“How are you feeling about it all?” You ask him hand moving to hold his.

“I don’t know, so many different things, at first I was angry that he got free, especially when I remembered everything he did, but then I thought that maybe he knows something about Bucky, and what if he’s what finally leads us to Bucky” Steve explains.

You get up from your seat moving to stand beside him wrapping your arm around his shoulder.

“Don’t beat yourself up about him getting away, we knew that lots of rats didn’t go down. And if he does know something about Bucky then we’ll get it from him one way or another because I promise that we will find him. And just remember this, that fact we haven’t found Bucky is a good sign because it means he’s still free” you remind him.

“I just wish he was here, it was bad enough waking up in this century with all my memories, I can’t imagine how it must be with no or broken memories” Steve sighs shaking his head.

“And we’ll help him together, we’ll do everything we can to make his new life free from Hydra and everything they’ve done to him a good one,” you tell him squeezing his shoulder.

Steve smiles up at you before moving you so you were sat across his lap. Wrapping his arms around you tightly, burying his head in the crook of your neck. You smile as you wrap your arms around him, just holding onto him.

“Thank you” he sighs kissing your shoulder.

“It’s nothing I’d do anything for you, wherever you go, I’ll go,” you tell him as he looks up to meet your gaze.

He smiles before cupping your cheek and pulling your lips to his for a sweet kiss.

Sharing is caring so please reblog if you enjoyed this and maybe even leave a comment to make my day!

Series Masterlist / Masterlist

I don’t have a tag list so follow @secretswiftymarvelfanlibrary​ and turn on post notifications for updates!

[pocketramblr]

What If Gentle Criminal got hit with the Dad for One stick?

AfO's got a lot of children and he tries to discourage each of them from being heroes in different ways, trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. It's very annoying that killing some of their friends in front of them makes them quit, but makes some others more dedicated to the field. There's got to be a simple answer. (He isn't taking the slightest chance that Nana's heroic tendencies override his treatment of her grandson, which means he needs to prepare and know what works best.)

In Gentle's case he sent him to a sub par hero school on purpose and occasionally sabotaged his school work or tutoring attempts. He didn't set up the incident with the accidental death, but he did jump on the opportunity and caused about half of the awful reaction to it himself.

He's a bit disappointed Gentle doesn't try to go for revenge against the school or old classmates or anyone, but not surprised. He has a few minions keep an eye on him to make sure he stays alive, keep him from anywhere too dangerous when drunk, that sort of thing.

It's after his injury that he hears Gentle is getting up to... Something. He's not really sure if it's poorly done villainy or how heroic leaning the vigilantism is, but he does know Gentle is talented when he focuses on his quirk, and so offers him a spot in the USJ attacking group. Gentle laughs it off, saying he works alone and would hack into UA himself if he wanted, but good luck with that

At least until AfO is gone, and then Gentle hurries to try and contact and warn UA, because while he would have no qualms about breaking into the school, he wouldn't hurt any of the kids there, but that's not something he thinks he can say of this other terrifying, almost familiar man.

UA doesn't listen to him, and he complains quite a bit about that to La Brava when the news comes on, but she assures him it says more about the school being useless than his tendency of failing what he tries.

And then... There's a knock at the door, and apparently Nedzu is very interested in asking if they would like to try again and work with UA to figure out what's going on, where their attackers are, and how to keep the students and staff safer now

Somewhere, AfO suddenly has a very sharp headache, reminiscent of all the other times a family member has turned on him and is about to make his life harder, but he can't figure out why.

[f4nd0m-fun]

I may have had either the worst or best idea for MHA. I'm not usually in the fandom but...

Truman show training

Hear me out.

The reason the entire city is a hotspot for criminals and heroes is because it's a training city.

It's both considered safer and more dangerous because of it, which is why so many civilians show up as well (No one's actually going to get hurt unless one of the really big bads happens to take note of the city for a little too long and even then they're well compensated for making the city feel 'alive').

Anyone under a certain age is not allowed to know this fact, and it's also considered a good area for heroes to attempt to breed their bloodline essentially because of that safety net (of course this probably lets the heroes get away with some pretty atrocious stuff from time to time).

Most of the criminals are just low rank heroes who never made it and got shunted off to babysit. Maybe some of them actually are criminals and villains in the manner that they do not like this situation one bit and are trying to make it worse for the kids.

And most of the heroes? Things got too boring in their towns and they ended up here, or they were put here for truancy or some other crap. Essentially they're either here because they think it's going to be a fun ride, or they're here because they fucked up somewhere.

The fact that the headmaster? Principal? Whatever he is, he's a talking rat. Like yeah he's intelligent but he's probably 50% a puppet.

Imagine the kids reaching the age limit and getting told all of this and getting the option to stay in the city to train the future heroes, or get shunted off to some other city maybe another country even to be heroes there.

Imagine growing up among all these heroes, and hearing about these other heroes, and wanting to be just like the heroes in your town because you look up to them, only need to find out they're either not here of their own free will or this is basically a vacation for them. Imagine learning that this entire situation was orchestrated to give you and the other students the best hands-on training you could get. It's certainly good training but is it only good in the eyes of the true heroes or is it actually a good method? What do you want to believe? You probably want to just go back to when you are a child looking up to these guys not realizing everything was a sham.

And I'm wondering if any of the young heroes, maybe Deku, would want to try and show other kids the truth in some manner. Just, they don't see why it has to be a secret, and maybe it doesn't have to be, but then again if you know it's all training...

I don't know, it certainly could fill some of the plot holes, not that I've watched it in a while. Let me know your thoughts I suppose.

[the-hinky-panda]

Dustland Fairytale: Part I

Pairing: Javier Peña x Fem!Reader

Summary: You’re a CIA informant that is well acquainted with the reputation of one Javier Peña but your thoughts change when you actually have a chance meeting with him. However you’re not the only one changed by the meeting.

Rating: Mature (Explicit in Part II)

A/N: I have no idea what I’m doing . This is my first reader insert fic so please go easy on me. I want to say a special thank you to @the-ginger-hedge-witch for your inspiration with the fantastic fic “The Crush” (if you haven’t read it, go do so now!). You said you wanted to be tagged and I apologize ahead of time for this!

Long brown hair and foolish eyes

He looks just like you want him to

Some kind of slick chrome American prince

A blue jean serenade

And Moon River what’d you do to me

-The Killers, Dustland Fairytale

You never planned on meeting any of the agents that were responsible for the take down of Pablo Escobar. You had served as a CIA informant but had always managed to stay out of direct contact with the active agents on the Escobar case. It had been safer that way and kept you out of the crossfire, allowing you to carry over to the Cali Cartel after Escobar was shot on that rooftop. No one had been the wiser that the local high school English teacher with a passion for Shakespeare had been a CIA undercover agent.

Now the CIA is shifting its focus to Mexico and you’re being moved. The DEA agents had moved on as well and you thought Bogota was behind you. You certainly never planned on running into any of the former DEA agents in an airport bar in Texas. And yet, here you are nursing your second martini during a layover from DC and trying not to make eye contact with Special Agent Javier Peña. You knew of his reputation, both his observation and his flirtation skills, and should have known that he would eventually make his way over to your side of the bar.

“Is this seat taken?” he asks, a tumbler of whiskey in his hand.

“Only if you sit there,” you answer, hoping this is just going to be a straight pick-up encounter.

He slides onto the barstool next to you and narrows his eyes. “You look familiar.”

Of course it isn’t going to be a straight pick-up encounter which is just your luck. You smile with some chagrin. “Yeah, I was in Bogota.”

He “hms” and takes a sip of the whiskey. “You’re not DEA though.”

“No, I wasn’t.” You finish the martini, trying to get some liquid courage up for this conversation. “I was CIA. Don’t hate me.”

He nods, a brief half smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Informant?”

“Yeah,” you fiddle with the glass. The bar is practically empty and the bartender is on the other side of the room. Talking about your career is safe for the moment. “I was a teacher in the school where the cartel sent most of their kids.” You had seen him and Steve Murphy walk the halls a couple times looking for some of the older students who were running drugs for their parents.

He gives her a scrutinizing look. “High school English. You had your classroom set up like that British theater…”

“The Globe. You’re right.” Okay, that is impressive but you try not to let him see it.

He takes a sip of his drink. “Did we really get a lot of information from the school?”

“More than you think.” You smile over at him. “Let me tell you, no one is more willing to dish the dirt than a sixteen year old girl whose boyfriend cheated on her. Especially when he and the girl he cheated with are the kids of Escobar’s lieutenants.”

He chuckles. “Teenage hormones are good for something at least.” He extends his hand. “Javier Peña.”

You shake his hand and give him your name. “So where are you headed?”

He grimaces. “Murphy’s been trying to get me to visit him and his family in Florida. I’ve reached the end of my excuses so…” he shrugs. “What about you?”

“I’m headed down to Mexico. We’re trying to do the same thing there that we did in Bogota. I pose as a teacher and gather information. It worked well once.”

“Be careful,” he warns as he finishes his drink. “Cartel families like to move so someone trusted is along the pipeline. Someone from Bogota might make the connection between you and people getting busted.”

His advice doesn’t do much to calm your nerves. You had raised the same concerns to your superior but it had fallen on deaf ears. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind. Good luck with the Murphy’s.”

You stand up from the barstool and he reaches into his shirt pocket for something. “Hang on.” He writes down a phone number on the back of a DEA business card. “Take this. If you run into any trouble, give me a call. I live in Laredo, right on the border.”

“I thought you were retired from the DEA.”

He shrugs. “They still call me in for consultations from time to time. Who’s your supervisor?”

“Stechner.”

His mouth pulls off to the side. “Then you really should take this.”

You smile and take the card from him. “I appreciate your concern, Agent Peña. Thank you.”

“Thank you for continuing the fight.”

His voice is almost sad when he says that, his eyes downcast. You understand his situation at that moment. This job, the undercover lies you live, the violence you witness and have to turn blind eyes to, it leaves you changed. Whenever you come back to the States, it’s usually only a week or two before you’re crawling out of your skin with the suburban safety that surrounds you. The brutality changes you and not for the better. Against your better judgment, you grab a cocktail napkin and write your personal phone number, the one only family has, and slide it to him.

“If you ever want to talk. I’m looking to get out soon myself and may need some pointers on how to go back to being a civilian.”

“Not sure I can help with that,” he smiles and it reaches his earth-brown eyes, and folds the napkin, slipping it into his shirt pocket. “Thanks though.”

There’s the announcement that your flight to Mexico City is boarding so you pick up your carry on. “It was nice meeting you, officially, Agent Peña.”

“Likewise,” he responds. “Be safe and good luck.”

***

You honestly didn’t expect him to call. You had thought it had been just an act of politeness so when a month goes by and he calls the private number, you’re surprised. Even more surprising is when he continues to call, once a week and always on a Sunday evening. He asks about the high school, the students you’re teaching and you ask him about the ranch and his father.

Even though you’re not supposed to, you do tell him about the families you’re following, the conversations you’ve been eavesdropping on during class time. He tells you certain phrases to listen for and what codewords the students could be using. There’s almost a relief in his voice when he’s able to provide helpful information for your job.

You find him to be different from the larger than life person you imagined him to be. Stechner’s opinion on him wavered depending on the day so you didn’t tell him about your pseudo-partner. Javier’s still a bit of a flirt but there’s an uneasiness to him and you immediately recognize it as someone who is having difficulty fitting back into civilized society. He misses being in the middle of the action but there’s a weariness to his voice when he speaks about Colombia. You’re always left wondering if this is going to be your fate as well when you leave the CIA. The desire to change the world will still be there but the fortitude to do the job will have eroded away.

After four months of being in Mexico, you find yourself looking forward to the weekly phone call from Javier. It is actually a good motivation. Your lesson plans and grading are done, dinner is made and a glass of wine is poured by the time your personal phone line rings. You also notice that the business part of the calls is getting shorter and personal conversations are making up the majority of the call.

“So,” he says this particular night, and you can hear him take a drag from a cigarette, “have you found yourself a boyfriend there yet?”

You laugh. If only he knew just how much headspace he takes up in your brain everyday. “Oh, my yes. I have so much free time down here, I just date almost every night. Except for Sunday nights.” You take a sip of wine for courage. “Those nights are just for you.”

“I’m flattered you make time for me in such a busy schedule.”

It’s not the first time he’s made a statement that had an undercurrent of self-deprecation. You’ve allowed him to get away with it but tonight, you call him on it. “And why wouldn’t I make time for you?”

The question must surprise him because he’s quiet for longer than normal. “I’m sure you have more than a few possible suitors in your life. Better fitted for you than an ex-DEA agent turned rancher.”

“And what makes you think that? Maybe my retirement dream is to live on a ranch.” It actually does sound nice to you.

He laughs. “Come out and visit. We’ll put you to work and trust me, one week of fixing downed fence lines and inoculating cattle, your little dream bubble of ranch life will burst.”

“I’m not afraid of hard work,” you counter. “Besides, living in the middle of nowhere, away from people, sounds like a dream.”

He makes a thoughtful noise. “You strike me as a city person, like New York or DC.”

“Really?” You had never felt that way. The loudness and brightness of Bogota and now Mexico City have worn your nerves to a frazzle. “So what makes me a city person?”

He sighs. “You’re educated, intelligent, courageous, good-looking-”

“You saw me once in an airport, Javi. No one is at their best in an airport.”

“Considering that I still remember what you looked like then, I would love to see you when you try to look nice.”

“Two more months and I’ll be back stateside.”

“I’ll mark it on my calendar.” He pauses. “It’ll be a date.”

You’re grinning like a lovesick teenager and so very thankful he can’t see you right now. “Looks like I’m going to have let all those suitors down.”

“Don’t break too many hearts now.”

This man has weaseled his way into your heart and under your skin. You find yourself counting down the days and hours to Sunday evenings, you grin like an idiot whenever you get off the phone with him, and you’ve only met him once. You hate to admit it, but the only heart you’re worried about breaking right now, is your own.

***

“So, how’s your cariño?”

Javier opens the can of beer his father hands him and takes a sip. “It’s not like that, Pops.”

“No?” His father gives him a steady gaze. “Every Sunday night you miss dinner to talk to her. Sounds like a cariño to me.”

“Well, it’s not. She’s CIA working in Mexico along the drug pipeline out of Colombia.” He takes another drink. “I’m just helping.”

“Unofficially?”

“Unofficially.”

“Her boss know about your ‘unofficial’ help?”

Javier shrugs. “That’s her business.”

“She coming back to the States?”

“In two months.”

His father nods once. “She stopping here?”

Javier pauses and replays your latest conversation back in his head. It’s a date. And you hadn’t said no to the offer. “Maybe.”

“This cariño of yours, she have a name?”

Javier knows better than to argue with Chucho, especially when the old man gets like this. His face is stoic, always serious, but there’s that twinkle of mirth in his eyes that tells Javier his father is going to tease him about this for as long as he can. So Javier tells him your name.

“Good, strong name,” Chucho responds.

Javier agrees but doesn’t say anything else, hoping Chucho drops the subject.

“You’re happier on Sundays.”

No such luck there. “Oh yeah?”

“Maybe she should call during the week.”

Javier wouldn’t be opposed to talking to you more but he’s certainly not going to admit that to anyone. He met you once, in an airport bar of all places, but for some reason you would not leave his thoughts. Your eyes, your smile, your legs, even the flippant way you said you worked for the CIA and “don’t hate me” with that little ornery grin has been burned in his memory.

That first month was the worst. He had spent his four days with Steve, Connie and Olivia but watched them through a different perspective. Steve was making this civilian life work. His marriage was solid, Olivia was a well-adjusted little girl. Hell, he even had the white picket fence and three bedroom home in the Miami suburbs. And he seemed genuinely happy. Javier wanted to ask him what the secret was, how he had managed to make the adjustment to family life but he left Miami without getting up the balls to asking the question.

He did not leave Miami, however, without trying to exorcize you from his memory. At first, he thought it’s just a simple matter of finding someone who looks enough like you for a quick fuck and you’ll be out of his system. He ended up going to one of the many nightclubs in Miami on his last night there and found a woman with the same height and build as you. But what sold him on this ill-conceived idea was her hair: it was the exact same shade and length as yours.

He tried to ignore the fact that he remembered all these details so perfectly by dragging this stranger off the dance floor and into the bathroom. Under the harsh fluorescent lights though, he saw her eyes were nothing like yours. But she’s writhing against him, tugging his hair and shoving a tequila soaked tongue into his mouth. He closed his eyes and lost himself in the curves of her breasts and the wetness between her legs, trying to remember the exact timber of your voice. Soon, she unbuckled his belt, her hand closing around his hard length and he almost lost his mind in that moment.

“So eager, Cowboy.”

And it immediately broke the spell. Her voice didn’t sound anything like your honeyed tone. He opened his eyes and stared down into the lust blown eyes of this surrogate. He had to get you out of his brain, had to free himself from this grip you have on him. He turned her around and leaned her over the sink, making sure her face was below the mirror and fucked her from behind so he didn’t have to look at her eyes.

He was disappointed that it didn’t do anything to drive you out of his mind.

If anything, it made the itch worse.

That was when he decided to call you. The first couple calls had been just on a whim, chasing what Steve and Connie had, that level of comfortableness with another human being. If he had to fuck faceless women in bar bathrooms or alleyways to sate that need, so be it. But he wanted that connection, that reliability that the Murphy’s had and you were refusing to leave his thoughts alone.

He had been bored on a Sunday night and wondering if you were safe, and if the number you gave him had been real, so he called it. He couldn’t tell who had been more surprised by the first call, you or him. But then the next Sunday came along and curiosity scratched at his brain and fingertips, and he was calling you again. Soon, the Sunday night calls are the only routine that feels remotely normal to him. It’s a touchstone that he’s latched onto with more strength than he’s comfortable admitting.

It’s Tuesday or Wednesday, he’s lousy at keeping track of the days of the week since Sunday is quickly becoming the only day that matters to him, and he’s out repairing one of the fence lines by the river. He’s taking to carrying the satellite phone in the truck with him, just in case something happens. The last two phone calls, you’ve told him stories of a couple students that have sent up some red flags. He hates this feeling, that stone in the pit of his stomach, waiting for the shit to hit the fan and he’s just the clean-up crew.

As soon as he hears the phone ring, he knows something bad has happened. He tears off his gloves and leans through the open window of the truck, grabbing the phone. That familiar jolt of adrenaline hits his system and suddenly he’s back in a familiar zone.

“Agent Peña.”

“Ah, fuck.”

It’s not your voice on the other end and his stomach drops. “Who is this?”

“It’s Chief Stechner,” comes the response.

Fuck is an appropriate reaction.“What’s wrong?”

“You still in Laredo?”

“Yeah.”

“Can you do an extraction for me? If I can get Y/N up to Monterrey, can you take her across the border?”

He’s already climbing into the truck and starting the engine. “Yeah. It’ll take me about three and half hours to get there.”

“I’ll call when we’re there and give you our location.”

“How bad is it?”

“Bad enough I’m calling you, dumbass. This is off the record, underground shit, you understand? I’m trying to keep her out of witness protection but we’ve got Bogota and Mexico City cartels breathing down our necks right now. She has files of information and they’re in code so I need her to be accessible and alive.”

“Got it.”

Stechner snorts. “Of all the people for her to be talking to on this goddamn phone, it’s you. I should have fucking known.”

“Well, you CIA people tend to be a little slow on the uptake,” Javier laughs.

“Just get your ass down here ASAP.”

Javier hangs up the phone and speeds back to the house. He leaves the truck running as he goes into the house to grab a bag of clothes, his gun, and passport. He digs out a first aid kit from the hallway closet just in case. He tosses everything into the front seat of the truck and finds his father coming out of the barn to investigate why he’s back at the house.

“What’s wrong?” Chucho asks him.

“I have to go down to Monterrey to pick up Y/N. Stechner called, said he needs her extracted quietly.”

“So he called you?”

“I can do it quietly, Pops.”

“Is this still unofficial?”

Javier nods. “Yeah, it’s gotta stay quiet.”

Chucho notices the first aid kit in the truck. “She hurt?”

God, he hopes not. “Don’t know. Taking it just in case.”

Javier slides behind the wheel as Chucho closes the door for him. “Be safe, mijo.”

He’s able to make up some time and reaches the city limits of Monterrey in just a little over three hours. Stencher calls him again on the satellite phone and directs him to an abandoned industrial park on the far edge of the city. It’s nightfall by the time he cuts the headlights on the truck and parks next to a shipping container. Stencher appears, Y/N leaning against his shoulder.

“Keep the truck running,” he tells Javier, as he wrenches the passenger side door open and helps Y/N into the cab. “Just turn back around and go.”

“What about you?” Javier asks him.

“I have to do some cleanup down here. Just get her out of Mexico.”

Javier doesn’t hesitate to put the truck in drive and head back to the interstate. He should feel badly about leaving Stechner behind but the man has spent more time double-dealing than Javier has. Stechner’s like a cat, always landing on his feet. Javier glances over at you and almost can’t believe you’re alive, breathing, and sitting in his truck. But the elated feeling doesn’t last for long as he notices you shifting your arm, trying to find a comfortable position.

“You alright?”

You nod tightly. “Yeah. Fine.”

But your face is pinched and pale under highway lights. “You don’t look alright.”

“Such a charmer, Javi.” You grimace. “I got grazed, that’s all. Hurts like hell but it’s minor.”

“What the hell happened?”

You shake your head and laugh humorlessly. “Those teenage hormones will get you every time.”

***

You should have known better.

You had been in this line of work for over ten years, had more than one gun pointed in your direction over those years. But never before had you thought an eleven year old boy would have pulled the trigger. Thankfully, the bullet grazed the outside of your left arm and had done minimal damage. And you couldn’t blame the kid either, he had been convinced he was defending his family.

“You were right,” you end up confessing. “A family in Bogota moved their cousins up to Mexico City to watch the drugs. The girlfriend slipped me a note that they were coming for me that night. Stechner pulled me out at the end of the school day so we didn’t raise any suspicion but the boyfriend and his younger brother were at my apartment when I showed up to grab my things. I didn’t think the eleven year old brother had the balls to shoot me but,” you motion to your arm, “he did.”

Javier looks over and raises his eyebrows at the blood seeping through the cotton bandage. “At least he had bad aim.”

“Thank God for that.”

He leans down and fishes for something under the seat of the truck. He pulls out a half filled bottle of whiskey and hands it to you. “Here, it’ll help with the pain until we can get you properly treated.”

You take the bottle and unscrew the cap, taking three large gulps of the burning liquid and pulling a disgusted face. “How do you drink this stuff? It tastes like lighter fluid.”

“Sorry, I forgot to pick up a bottle of wine on my way to rescue you from the cartels.”

The whiskey does help with the pain. You draw your legs up underneath you and lean your head back on the top of the bench seat. “You remembered I drink wine?”

He tenses his jaw, like you caught him in something he didn’t want you to notice. After a moment’s hesitation though, he shrugs. “Malbec, right?”

You take another shot of the whiskey, the liquor helping you feel boneless and drowsy. “I’m impressed.”

He reaches behind the seat and extracts a cotton blanket. “Probably smells like horses but if you get cold, use it.”

You take the blanket and shake it out. It does faintly smell like horses but the fabric is soft and well-worn. You wrap yourself up in it, take one last sip of whiskey and screw the cap back on, sliding the bottle back under the seat. “Whiskey and a horse blanket, you sure know how to show a girl a good time, Javi.”

He gives you half a grin. “Set the bar low. The only way is up from there.”

“So what’s a second date look like then, moonshine and a campfire?”

“Done the right way, that could make for a nice second date.”

You laugh and curl up under the blanket. You really are having a hard time wrapping your mind around the fact that he’s here, that he came for you. There’s a moment where you allow yourself to think that the phone calls have meant just as much to him as they have to you. For the first time in years, you feel safe, which is not a small feat given your line of work. “In all seriousness, thank you for coming to get me. You didn’t have to do this.”

He nods once, reaching over to tuck the corners of the blanket around you. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll have you pay for the gas.”

You huff a laugh and close your eyes. Between the loss of adrenaline and the whiskey, your mind is starting to shut down. It doesn’t take long for sleep to finally catch up to you. When you wake up, the sun is up and the truck is parked on a dirt road behind a line of trees. Javier isn’t behind the wheel but you can hear his voice in the distance. Your head is pounding, most likely from the whiskey, and your arm is back to throbbing.

There’s a first aid kit tossed on the floor of the truck so you grab it and start rummaging through it. Blood has come through on the cotton bandage but it’s dried now and stuck to the wound. It’s going to be a bitch to get off without opening the wound. You’re reaching for the whiskey to use to wet the bandage when Javier appears at the passenger side door. He sees what you’re about to do and grabs the bottle out of your hand.

“Hey, hey, use water for that! You may not like whiskey, but I do!”

You roll your eyes and lean across the cab and grab the water bottle from the driver’s side door. When you sit back up again, he has the passenger side door open and is rifling through the first aid kit for clean bandages and scissors. You pour the water over the bandage, soaking it just enough to release the fabric from the wound. Javier cuts the bandage and you carefully peel it back. He looks down at the wound and up at you.

“You called that a graze.”

You shrug. “Yeah. What would you call it?”

“More than a graze. There’s a chunk missing.” He takes the water bottle and pour more water across the wound before using the clean part of the bandage to pat it dry. You hand him the bandages and tape and watch him as he rewraps the wound, trying to ignore that uncomfortable flip of your stomach at the feel of his hands on your skin. Once again you’re struck with how different he is from the reputation he had in your corner of the CIA.

“Is that too tight?” he asks, a furrow in his brow from concentration.

You shake your head and fight the urge to touch his forehead and smooth out the furrow. “No, it’s fine.”

He nods in satisfaction and repacks the first aid kit. “If you want to stretch your legs, now’s the time to do it.”

You slide out of the truck and look around at the surrounding area. You really are in the middle of nowhere, just flat fields and sky as far as the eye can see. “Where are we?”

“Around Las Palmas.”

You give him a confused look and he elaborates.

“It’s a speck on the map, population is under 100 people. But it’s across the border.”

“We’re not in Mexico anymore?”

He shakes his head. “Nope. Welcome to Texas.”

You should be relieved but you’re not. The cartels don’t acknowledge borders. Despite being safer in the US, you won’t be completely out of harm’s way. If drugs are able to cross the border, so will the cartels that are transporting them. Stechner is most likely right in his prediction that you will have to go into witness protection to truly be safe. You glance over at Javier, who’s leaning on the hood of the truck, and immediately feel your heart sink. If you go into witness protection, you’ll never be able to see him again. Even your Sunday night phone calls will be halted. It makes you want to cry.

“What’s the matter, Queriña?”

You start to answer when the pet name hits you. Darling. It only makes the idea of going underground seem that much more painful. “Stechner is going to insist on witness protection.”

He leans a little closer to you, his shoulder touching yours. “What will your family think about that?”

You scuff the ground with the toe of your boot. “I don’t really have family. My father left before I was born and my mother is a drug addict. I don’t even know if she’s still alive.” You watch his face closely and see the realization cross his features.

“So the phone number you gave me…”

“You were the only person who ever used it.” It is why Stechner called him; his was the only phone number in the personal phone.

His shoulder presses a little more firmly into yours. “That sounds like a pretty damn lonely existence.”

You look up at him and realize just how close you are to each other. You can see the pulse in his neck and smell the remnant of aftershave from the previous day. “I’m more into quality than quantity.”

He starts to close the space between you and your eyes slip shut in anticipation. His lips connect with yours and everything leaves your mind. All you can feel is him, the warm, solid planes of his chest pressed against yours, his heartbeat under your palm, the ungodly heat he’s giving off despite the chill in the early morning air. Your fingers find their way into the fabric of his shirt and tighten their hold until your knuckles are white. His broad hand splays across your back, pressing you closer to him. You felt safe before but now you feel damn near invincible. There is no way you can go into witness protection and leave this man behind. If you had to run from cartels for the rest of your life, just to stay in his arms, you would. The satellite phone rings and jars you both out of the moment. He releases you with a muttered, “fuck” and picks up the phone, his jaw so tense you worry he’s going to crack a tooth.

“Yeah?” he answers shortly and then pinches the bridge of his nose. “No, everything’s fine.” There’s a pause while the person on the other end says something. “Are you sure? It’s not…okay. You understand that….okay, okay. Alright then. Call me if you change your mind.” He drops the phone back onto the hood of the truck and rubs his face. “Ay Dios mío”

Dread starts to fill your chest and you cross your arms against the feeling. “Who was that?”

“My father. He wants me to bring you to the farm in Laredo, let you stay there until Stechner figures out what to do with you.”

“Does your father know what kind of danger he’s putting himself in by offering that?” You shake your head. “You’ve already stuck your neck on the line for me. I don’t want your father to do it either. We’ll come up with another plan.”

He’s staring at your face intently, trying to find something but you don’t know what. You think he’s going to kiss you again, and you certainly wouldn’t complain, but the intensity is different. He’s planning and you don’t care what he comes up with, as long as you can breathe the same air as him, you’ll agree to it.

“I have an idea,” he starts to say with a measured pace. “But you have to be willing to say no if you don’t want to and we’ll come up with something else.”

“Okay.”

He lifts one of his arms and you slide underneath it, the reassuring weight and warmth of it calming your nerves. God, he is more addicting than the drugs you’ve been trying to stop from being produced. You lay your cheek against his shoulder and feel him run his fingers through your hair. The gentle pressure from his fingertips starts to lull you back to sleep.

“Queriña?”

“Hm?”

“Where did you grow up?”

“Phoenix, Arizona.”

He laughs slightly. “I knew you were a city girl. Have you ever had experience with living in a small town?”

“No.” You’re wondering where he’s going with this line of questioning.

“Small towns are a completely different breed from cities. Everyone knows you and your business; they see it as their right to be involved in your life.”

“And you like this?”

“No, nobody likes that part of it. But, it does create a strong community.” He pauses. “A protective community.”

“They’ll protect you, not me though. I’ll be an outsider.”

He takes a deep breath and his hand stills in your hair. “Here’s the part you can say no to. They’ll protect you if they think you’re part of my family. If the hometown hero shows up saying he’s married, they’ll accept you on principle.”

Your mind is trying to process what he’s saying and you’re certain you’re not hearing him correctly. But his pulse is racing against your forehead and you swear he’s stopped breathing.“You want to fake being married so the community won’t sell me out?”

He sighs and starts to pull away. “It’s a dumb idea-”

“No,” you cut him off, tightening your arm around his waist to keep him pressed to you. “It’s a great idea. You’re willing to do that? For me?”

He shrugs and tries to look nonchalant about it. “You’re doing me a favor actually. Ever since I’ve been back, the parents of single women have been trying to get me to marry their daughters. So this will put a stop to that. And, you’ll be safer in the Laredo community than witness protection.”

You allow yourself a moment to indulge in the dream of being married to this kind, handsome, and heroic man, living in a small town with strong community ties. It’s a life you imagined while sitting in your apartment and listening to gang shootouts in the streets and replacing panes of glass that had bullet holes in them. The picture that Javier has painted of Loredo sounds like a fairytale to be honest. But the reality of the situation dawns on you.

Javier squeezes you lightly, just enough to break you out of your thoughts. “We can come up with another story, Queriña.”

“I’m still worried about your father, and the town. If the cartels come looking-”

“You’ll just have to stay on the farm, out of sight. As for my father,” he reaches behind you and grabs the phone, dialing it with his free hand. He keeps you tucked next to his side and you can hear the tone, not necessarily the words, of the man on the other end of the line.

“Hey, Pops,” Javier greets. “We got a new plan.”

You listen nervously as Javier explains the ruse to his father and informs him of the danger this could potentially pose. The older man laughs and says something in Spanish that you can’t quite make out.

“Eso es lo que le dije.” (That’s what I told her.)

You narrow your eyes up at him but he just winks at you.

“Nos vemos pronto entonces.” (We’ll see you soon then.) There’s another pause. “Voy a decirle.” (I will tell her.)

He hangs up the phone and gives you a self-satisfied grin. “He said he knows the danger and it’s not for you to worry about.”

“That’s what he wanted you to tell me?”

“That, and he’s making enchiladas for dinner.”

Your stomach growls embarrassingly loud at that announcement. He chuckles good naturedly at your grimace and presses his lips to your temple.

“We can grab something to eat in the next town over if you want,” he offers.

“How far away from your home are we?”

“About an hour.”

“I think I can wait.”

His lips trace over the contour of your cheekbones. “Can’t have my father thinking I’m starving my new wife.”

You giggle at the thought. “Don’t worry,” you turn your head and capture his lips with your own for a brief kiss. “I’ll defend your honor as a husband.”

He gives you such a honest look, eyes soft and reflecting the same hopefulness you are feeling. You place your hands on either side of his face and pull him down into a proper kiss. Now that your nerves have been lessened from the first kiss, you’re able to pay closer attention to what you’re doing. You’ve imagined kissing him so many times during your phone conversations but nothing compares to actually being able to do it. He has a way of being everywhere at once, his hands roaming your body while his tongue plunders your mouth. No wonder so many women threw themselves at him in Colombia. Strength and sweetness rarely go together but Javier has mastered the combination.

He pulls away and rests his forehead against yours. “You’re going to be a very busy woman defending me.”

You card your fingers through his hair and keep your injured arm around his waist. “I told you, Javi, I don’t shy away from hard work.”