#like 'oh wow I wonder if this hulking man with a black and red color scheme

[silvermoon424]

I love how Lysander being incredibly obviously evil in Pokemon XY is such a meme that ProZD even made a skit about it

Literally his first scene:

Lysandre: "You played a young girl so wonderfully in your debut on the silver screen. Wouldn't you remain young and beautiful forever and always play such roles?" Diantha: "What a strange question... Why would I want to play the same old roles forever? Youth may be beautiful, but it's not all there is to life. Everything changes. I want to live and change like that, too. So I look forward to playing different roles as I get older." Lysandre: "You were chosen to be a movie star, correct? Isn't it your duty to be ever beautiful? Everything beautiful should stay that way forever. I would end the world in an instant so that beauty never fades. I can't stand the thought of the world becoming uglier. Oh hello, PLAYER CHARACTER."

[your-highnessmarvel]

From Bleak to Bright

Requested by Anonymous: the world is in black and white until you meet your soulmate. you’re Bruce’s little sister. you want to go with him during Avengers 2012 because you’re the only one that “can calm the beast” if ever he pops out. so you’re just chilling with the avengers in the flying thing. then they bring Loki in. the world goes to bright, bright colors. you don’t want it to be him. but it is. no one knows. no one knows but him.

AN: IM BACK. YES. AFTER LIKE A WHOLE YEAR. the flying thingy. me too i had to google it, ahaha

Warnings: angst, language

*gif not mine

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MASTERLIST

You spun on the stool, facing your brother with a sigh. He scratched the back of his head, the glow from Loki’s scepter reflecting on his specs in a grey light. 

“One more hour?” he asked with a wince. 

You rolled your eyes. “Okay,” you groaned. “But then we’re off to bed. And I’m putting Celine Dion on the stereo to sleep.”

“Not her again,” he groaned. 

You raised a finger, brows crawling up your forehead. “You made me come here on this ridiculous flying tank with the God damned Avengers, of all people, and we’ve been here for four days listening to sounds of water dripping and Cap’s fifties music.”

Bruce sighed, leaning his forehead into his palm. “Fine.” His hands went up in mock surrender. You could see the tension in his shoulders, straining against the material of his chemise. 

Not that you could see the color of it. You imagined it was blue. Bruce liked blue. Bruce knew colors. Of course he did. He’d met his soulmate such a long time ago, you’d forgotten she even existed. 

But not you. You’d gone through life in the dreary black and white of a world without a soulmate. But now you were curious. You knew the colors by name, but not sight. What does green even look like? Bruce had told you trees and grass were green. Some people’s eyes. Ever since he’d told you that, green became your favorite. Maybe blue could beat it, since Tony Stark had told you the sky was all shades of blue combined. 

An alarmed blared overhead, and your first instinct was to run to your brother’s side. Bruce’s eyes met yours, his mouth tugging up at the corners. 

He’s fine.

Your hand found the curve of his forearm, still. No one really knew what actually triggered the Hulk, and you, being his little sister, were the only human alive able to tame the beast. 

You heard footsteps, many, clambering loudly down the hall. The door to Bruce’s workspace was wide open, and you heard the telltale sound of security making their way down the hall. You frowned. What could they be doing so late at night, and so many all together?

At first, from the windows in the workspace, you only saw the black suits of the security patrol, their reflective masks bright in the hall. They walked in patterned, simultaneous movements, guns held firm in their grasps.

You saw the top of a really - no, seriously, really! - tall head, black hair. White skin. And as the small platoon of security walked passed your door, you saw the man walking in their midst, tied in shackles. 

He turned his head, buzzing in your mind, something deep in your chest tightening. And then you saw the color of his eyes. 

You couldn’t tell at first. Because the world became so vivid, so bright. He went from black and white to stark and bright and whole before your eyes, stealing the breath from your lungs. 

A ringing started in your ears, a burning in your throat. You couldn’t help but stare, watching his eyes drink you in as well, watching his own world turn from ash to bright as the sun. 

No, you thought. No. Not him. 

Anyone but him.

And just before he rounded the corner, his lips stretched into a smirk. 

A cold hand on your arm brought you back. As if slamming back into your body. 

“You okay?” Bruce asked. 

You gulped. Nodded. Felt your cheeks blooming with heat. “Yeah, of course.”

You could see the colors on your brother, now. Albeit, not being able to tell which specific color it was. And yet he was beautiful. Later, after hours of searching online for colors, you’d be able to tell his hair was black, his eyes a warmest brown, his skin a shade of white a few degrees darker than yours. 

But now, it took everything in you not to scream. 

You could finally see the entire world for what it truly was and all because of a demi-God wrought with darkness. 

No. It couldn’t be him.

You separated from your brother, your mouth dry, feeling his eyes on you. He could always tell when you were troubled. But there was just no way, no freaking way, you’d tell him that you’d just met your soulmate. If he knew who it was... No. You wouldn’t tell him. You wouldn’t tell anyone. 

You went to the computer and turned the screen away from Bruce, clearing your throat. Bruce went back to his own computer.

You didn’t even search up colors yet. You searched up the possibility of soulmates being wrong for each other. The computer spat out articles and data from hundreds of years, all proving that the soulmate trigger worked. That the signs of color all proved one had met the person right for them.

You sighed, dropping your head in your hands. 

You rubbed at your eyes, steeling yourself for what you were about to ask. 

“Bruce?”

“Hmm?”

“Did they just bring in Loki?”

His head raised from his computer. “Yeah.” He frowned. “I’m going to go ask why. Does it disturb you that he’s here?”

You scratched your jaw. “No, not at all,” you said quickly, too quickly. You cringed internally, hoping your face didn’t mimic the shame you felt. “Just - why?”

“I’ll go ask,” Bruce said. If he had any inkling as to why you were suddenly intrigued in God of mischief, he didn’t give any clue. 

He left. You took a second to steady yourself. You counted your fingers. Felt the shape of your face. 

Then you took a breath in and all but flew out the door. 

You followed the maze that was the inner organs of the Helicarrier until you reached the “jail”, which was, upon inquiry, meant to hold your brother if ever you weren’t there to calm him in time. 

You watched from outside the doors as Fury talked to Loki. You couldn’t help the fire in your chest as you watched. Loki seemed trapped, looking discreetly around the room, around his glass cage, his green eyes keen on any weakness.

You felt the sweat collecting in the palm of your hands. You waited patiently, praying whatever Bruce was up to would keep him long enough that he wouldn’t come looking for you. You heard broken pieces of the conversation on the other side of the steel enforced doors, but Loki’s voice was even, steady, unafraid. 

He knew he wouldn’t be beat here.

You counted to one hundred the moment Fury walked out. Your heart beat vehemently between your ribs, battering your bones. Your knees were putty when you finally, slowly, opened the doors.

The air ruffled your hair, blowing it out of your face. 

He stood tall, straight, unmoving, statuesque in the middle of his prison. Hands at his sides. Eyes mild. Mouth straight. He gave no indication that his world had finally shifted after millennia of black and white. 

“I didn’t have to wait long.” His voice sent shivers down your spine, your body so reactive to even the sound of his words that you wondered, for just a second, what his touch would do. 

You closed the door, tentatively approaching the control board. You saw a big red button and decided maybe touching random buttons wouldn’t do any of you any good. 

“What’s your name?” he asked, following your movements with his sharp emerald gaze. He still stood there, like cement was poured down the length of his spine. 

You darted your eyes back to his. He was glad in - what you later learned - was a green and gold ensemble, a green cotton cape grazing the floor of his cage. He was beautiful, really. Cut by the finest knife to the most perfect edge. 

He smiled then, creasing his cheeks in what you could only feel as adorable. 

“Didn’t expect it to be moi, did you, princess?”

You tried not to react, but heat bloomed across your cheeks, giving you away. 

“Why?” you asked.

He rolled his eyes, sighing dramatically, breaking his statuesque stance to throw his arms up. “By the Gods,” he groaned, accent thick on his tongue. “You humans are so pathetic. Why this? Why that? Why me? Oh, you want to be so special that you question the straight line of fate as if the entire meaning of the world revolved around you.”

You raised your brows. Wow. He’d been thinking of that for a while.

“Do you know the colors?” you asked, approaching the glass that separated you from your soulmate. 

He took you in, green eyes drinking you in from head to toe. He didn’t seem to think anything negative about his soulmate. “I’ve taken sense-enhancing drugs in my lifetime,” he said. “I’ve known colors briefly. Thor taught them to me.”

You nodded. “Your eyes are green.”

His lips split in a grin. “You’re very perceptive,” he chuckled. “And you’re wearing a powder blue sweater. Childish.”

Something in you shifted and you wanted to say something, something bad. Something along the lines of, “what is your favorite color?” and then run and wear it.

Instead, you approached the glass even more. By this distance, you could see he was significantly taller than you. He eyed you down his nose. 

“A human,” he said with distaste. 

“Maybe that’s your punishment,” you ventured, your heart railing against your ribs. “Maybe that’s your conundrum. You’ve thought nothing of humanity but the possibility to dominate and squander us under your boot like ants. Isn’t it fitting?”

You saw the anger cross his face before his lips spat the vile things he thought in his mind. “You are not worthy of a God, you fleeting, imbecile, nothingness of a human. I will outlive you before I even grow a white hair. Our children will watch you wither before they’ve even gone to school.”

“Our children?”

That seemed to faze him. 

Wow, you thought. Of all the things Loki was, he was traditional. He very well intended to follow through with the soulmate script; to marry you and have children with you.

The thought first amazed you, burning bright in your mind’s eye. Then you thought twice and feigned disgust. 

He laughed. “Oh, please, you’re the luckiest woman in the universe to have been bound to a God.”

“Aren’t you a demi?”

His gaze placated you. “I am, but the fact remains that I am greater than you, greater than anything your pathetic little human brain can conceive.”

You rolled your eyes with audacity you didn’t know you had. “Well,” you sighed, shrugging, hands in your back pockets. “What now?”

He cocked his head. “What do you mean?”

“Are we to start this - thing, or are we to go back to our normal lives and, hoping you don’t obliterate the planet, we never see each other again?”

His jaw clenched, working. “You know it’s physically impossible now for us to be apart.” He said this through clenched teeth, hands in fists. 

You shrugged again. “I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t mind never having to look at your ugly mug ever again.”

He frowned deeply. “Try it, then, you’ll see, mortal.”

You sighed apathetically, turning your back to him. 

“Before you go!” Loki called. You turned slowly on your heel, offering him nothing but your side profile. “Let your brother know I’m hoping to meet him soon.”

The blood in your veins went cold. 

Part 2? Anybody?

[rosesgonerogue]

Just a Friend

Daminette December Day 1

It wasn’t often that Damian had to deal with the Agreste child, but with both their fathers being such big names, it was inevitable. Agreste was preferable to the Bourgeois brat, but he still reeked of a sheltered life. And now Damian was going to have to put up with him for the next several days while Father discussed business with the elder Agreste. 

“Remind me why Drake couldn’t come instead?” Damian demanded once again. 

“You know the reason,” Bruce sighed. “I was specifically asked to come with one of my sons. But if I come, Tim had to stay behind to keep the company running.” 

“Grayson?”

“He’s standing in as Batman.” 

“Why couldn’t Todd do that? Or come here?” 

Bruce fixed him with a flat stare. “We would either have a slew of corpses, or an international incident on our hands.” 

Damian growled, knowing that his father was right. That didn’t mean that he liked this cursed city. 

They came to the Agreste mansion all too soon, and Damian already dreaded the awkward conversations that awaited. It had been a few years since he’d been forced to associate with the boy, and Damian could only hope he was somehow less sheltered.

The mansion was more ostentatious than ever. It had a way of looming over people that felt cold. He never would have admitted it, but he almost wished his brothers were here to cause chaos and bring some life into the dead house.

To complete the aura, the door was opened by Agreste’s stoic assistant, the one with glasses and a harsh bun. Gabriel was standing staunchly inside with Adrien at his side, green eyes dull.

“Thank you for travelling all this way, Bruce,” Gabriel said in perfect English. “We welcome you and your son.”

“It was our pleasure,” Bruce said with a cordial smile. “Damian was curious why you wanted one of my sons to come, though.”

“We’ve found a rather interesting young designer, and if things work out in our deals, we were hoping your son might consider modelling her designs, potentially taking the brand over to America.”

Translation: Gabriel thought his son was too good for this, so Damian was stuck modelling for an amateur.

Bruce’s smile tightened ever so slightly, knowing that this would be a hard sell to Damian. “We’ll see how these negotiations go first.”

“Very well. Adrien, why don’t you entertain young Damian in your room?”

Damian bristled at being dismissed in such a manner, but before he could do anything, Adrien actually spoke up.

“Actually, Father, I was wondering if I could show Damian around Paris, maybe introduce him to a friend or two?”

Wow, the boy had a backbone now, as well as friends. Interesting. His friends were probably just as rich and sheltered as Agreste, but maybe they would distract one another until they forgot about Damian entirely. One could hope, anyway.

At least Agreste had a seemingly competent bodyguard, Damian noted as he followed the blond out to the shiny car. The whole way Adrian yammered on about his friends, but in particular some girl named Marinette. With all the praise he was giving her, it was a wonder that this Marinette hadn’t cured cancer yet.

Adrien paused in his praises of her long enough that, despite himself, Damian found himself asking, “Is this Marinette your girlfriend? You certainly have plenty to say about her.”

The boy laughed. “Oh no, Marinette if just a friend, my first friend, really. You’ll love her, just wait.”

“Tt.” Damian couldn’t help the noise of disbelief as he gazed out the car window. He was expecting and dreading being taken to some tourist attraction, but it appeared that they had arrived at… a bakery?

“Marinette is actually the designer you might be working with. She’s amazing, and this is her family’s bakery.”

Ah, Agreste was likely trying to sell the virtues of the girl so Damian would look more kindly on whatever shoddy designs the girl had come up with. It was a more underhanded tactic than he thought Agreste capable of, and kind of impressive.

The bakery was small, but clearly good quality. Damian had to admit that the food appeared to be comparable with Pennyworth’s cooking. At the counter, they were greeted by a petite Asian woman.

“Oh, Adrien, it’s nice to see you again. Are you and your friend here to see Marinette? She warned us you two might be coming. She’s in her room, you know the way up.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Cheng. We’ll head up there now,” Adrien said, leading Damien deeper into the bakery. Before they made it to the hallway, however, they were intercepted by a hulking bear of a man.

Damian tensed -- he was even carrying a weapon, one of those wooden paddle things that were used to get things out of traditional ovens. This man would be formidable because of his size alone, but--

“It’s nice to see more of Marinette’s friends here. Take this up with you,” he said, setting the paddle down to hand Adrien an entire quiche. “You boys are welcome to have some as well, but make sure Marinette eats a slice. She got a commission, and we’re not sure when she last ate or slept.”

Damian sighed as he accepted a pile of plates and forks. So, she was obsessive like Time as well. This girl already sounded exhausting, but breakfast had been a while ago, and the quiche smelled amazing.

Agreste led them through the bakery and up the stairs as Damian attempted to mentally reconcile what could have resulted in the union of the slight Asian woman and the hulking baker. What he expected, however, was not at all what he got.

“We’re here with food, Marinette,” Adrien called as he stepped into the room.

“I’ll eat in a minute, Mom, I just need to finish this applique,” the girl mumbled. She wasn’t visible yet, hidden behind a massive ball gown.

“Marinette, you have a guest,” Adrien said gently.

“Yes, papa, I’m getting plenty of sleep,” she mumbled.

The dress the girl was working on was quite possibly the most intricate thing Damian had ever seen. The dress appeared to be scarlet silk, the skirt resting on layer upon layer of tulle and crinoline, The body of the dress was patterned with hand-appliqued black lace. Normally the color combination would have been garish, but it was vaguely reminiscent of a ladybug, and definitely worthy of the red carpet.

Suddenly Damian was filled with the need to know more about this girl. He heard her humming to herself before making a noise of satisfaction. “There, I’m officially done, now what did you--”

The girl cut off when she peeked from around the gown, eyes wide as she squeaked, “Adrien, what are you doing here? And who is that?”

He had never had such an absurdly intense reaction before to merely seeing someone’s face and hearing their voice. Her eyes were wide in shock, and they were the bluest eyes Damian had ever seen, complimenting her blue-black hair that looked unbelievably soft. As he contemplated taking that hair out of its pigtails and -- holy infatuation, Batman, Damian was beginning to sound like Grayson. Besides, this girl looked more like a Wayne than Damian himself did.

“Marinette, meet Damian Wayne, one of your potential models,” Adrien said in English, most likely for Damian’s benefit.

“That was today!” the girl exclaimed, in adorably accented English as she scrambled to get off of the ground where she had been kneeling to finish the dress. “I’m so sorry, I got so wrapped up in this commission and lost track of time. I’m Marinette Dupain-Cheng, it’s nice to meet you, Damian.” She finally emerged from behind the dress and held out a hand. It was warm and unexpectedly calloused, but tiny, just like her. She was almost pixie-like, obviously taking more after her mother  than her father.

“It’s a pleasure,” Damian said, shaking her hand longer than was strictly necessary. “This dress is truly a work of art.”

“Oh, you speak French!” Marinette said delightedly. Honestly, he hadn’t noticed he’d switched languages. “My English is okay, but your French sounds amazing!”

“Well clearly your sewing ability surpasses almost anything I’ve ever seen before. Now I can’t wait to see what your fashion line has to offer.” Why was he saying this? Why was Damian smiling in an imitation of Grayson whenever he was near a female?

“Flattery will get you nowhere,” Marinette said, ducking her head to hide her slight blush. “But if you’re going to be my model then I’m going to have to tailor a lot of things to you, so you’re going to have to put up with me for a while.”

“I think I can handle that.”

As Marinette stammered a reply, Adrien awkwardly stood to the side, still holding the quiche. Had… Had Marinette forgotten him? Marinette never forgot him! He was always oddly the center of attention when Marinette was around because they were such good friends! Adrien felt slightly unsettled. He had hoped that Marinette would soften Damian, but he didn’t expect him to smile at her like that.

Throughout the rest of their stay in Paris, Damian found any and every excuse to spend any moment with Marinette. Bruce was curious and slightly suspicious about this turn of events. He expected this kind of thing from Dick, but it was entirely baffling from Damian.

One night when Damian had been out particularly late with Marinette, Bruce decided to wait up. He heard the door opening followed by Damian murmuring lowly in French, and… was that a chuckle? Yes, his son was softly laughing into his phone. The slight smile dropped off of the boy’s face when he met Bruce’s eyes and he murmured, “I’ll talk to you later, Angel.”

Raising an eyebrow, Bruce asked, “Angel?”

He regretted the way Damian instantly snapped into his rigid, emotionless persona. “Is something wrong, Father?”

Bruce was quick to say, “You’re not in trouble, Damian. I’m just worried, you’ve never been in a relationship before, and this all seems--”

“You’re mistaken, Father,” Damian interrupted. “Marinette and I are just friends.”

Bruce nodded and was going to leave the subject there before a small smirk crawled across the boy’s face. “For now, at least.”

Hi! I’m kind of new to this community, but you can call me Rose! Or Rogue, whichever you prefer! I found this pairing just a while ago, and when I saw the prompts for Daminette December, I got so freaking excited! I don’t do a lot of romance writing, so this is kind of an experiment. I want to get better at it, so please, let me know how I’m doing! Unfortunately, not all of the prompts will be this long, I’ve got finals coming up. I’ll try to keep up posting daily, though! 

Taglist: 

@ozmav @daminette-december2019 @maribat-archive

[raidbossmadi]

People Like Us : Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Night Out

Previous Chapter: here

The smell of cologne and weed alerted Sloane to Troy’s presence before the door of the technical could even open. The priest who had opened the door and led her there in the first place bowed and offered her a hand as she stepped up to the technical, these vehicles, aside from Tyreen’s personal technical were not designed with shorter people in mind. She thanked stars above that the ‘fancy’ clothing Iris had delivered to her room for this outing consisted of a mint green blouse and black slacks, she could only imagine making a fool of herself trying to get in and out of Troy’s technical in a skirt.

The God-king gave a short chuckle as she clambered into the seat next to him before he took another drag of the blunt in his hand. He offered it to her as he coughed into the furred collar of his vest.

Sloane took it looking at it rather quizzically, of course she knew Troy smoked, it was hard not to know. She however, had never seen the appeal, she’d read a lot about getting stoned but never could bring herself to do it.

“Go ahead, take a drag.”

“I uh, I’ve never done this before.” She admitted sheepishly.

“What? Really!? Not even to spice up that drab little shack in the woods.”

She shook her head.

“Alright, don’t worry I can teach you Slo, I’ve got plenty of experience.”

He mimed holding the joint and brought his fingers up to his lips and winked at her. She got the hint and took the joint to her lips.

“That’s it, breathe in.”

She did, the new taste and flash of heat as the smoke sucked into her mouth startled her but Troy held up a hand.

“No no, hold it, you gotta let it get in your lungs.”

After fighting the initial desire to spit out the smoke she held it in for as a few seconds longer than she thought she would manage before she doubled over herself coughing.

“See, you did fine? First hits a bit rough yeah, but you’re over that hurdle now. Wasn’t so bad was it?” He placed the joint in the ashtray and offered her a water bottle which she drank from greedily. “Like all things, it just takes practice.”

“Where are we going tonight? The Priest who fetched me didn’t mention anything in particular.” It was peculiar for her not to be briefed on where they were going and the fact that they were dressed down despite this being a date made her wonder what Troy had up his sleeve.

“A place where the sun does not shine. You don’t have to worry about anything tonight, it’ll all stay between us.”

“Oh poetic, but not what I asked.” She snorted as she took a cursory glance out the window. The cathedral was just a small speck on the horizon now and she realized this was the farthest she had been on Pandora. The Cathedrals' ever looming shadow over Temple town seemed so comforting compared to the harsh sunlight that shone over the barren desert.

“We have a settlement in the western desert, it’s picked up the name Scrapburg. It's where the rest of the engineers live when they’re not on assignment at the cathedral or deployed at an outpost. A bunch of my people live there actually. It’s not like Temple town, or the Cathedral, you’ll see. I think you’ll like the place.” Troy explained and patted her knee before awkwardly letting his hand rest on her thigh. She let it stay there, the willing contact with him appreciated.

The rest of the ride was mostly silent save for the sounds of the wheels as they bounced over the uneven surface of the desert. It wasn’t for lack of things to talk about, Sloane was buzzing with things she could say, but given this was a date she figured it better to save that for when they got to their destination. She had however kept her eyes on him for the rest of the drive not even noticing that they’d stopped until the door opened, their driver bowing to his gods before he spoke.

“Meet you here at the arranged pick up time, my liege?”

“That’s right, and don’t make us wait. You know how much of a pain in the ass it is to get through Cathedral gate at peak hours, even for us.”

Troy hooked his arm around Sloane’s waist, he led her away from the technical and through the gate. It was then that she got her first good look at the city proper. It was different from Temple Town in every conceivable way, where Temple Town was ever changing and movable Scrapburg immediately gave off the aura of permanence.

Instead of ramshackle buildings and tent camps,there were well built almost metropolitan buildings. They still had the typical Pandora flare but she had never expected something like this compared to the CoV capital. Solar panels were affixed to roofs and dust shields were installed on the balconies she could see.

The streets were covered by colored tapestries which she presumed were also to keep the sandstorm from buffeting the people who traveled. There were no cars, only carts pulled by large Skags and the occasional Motorbike. A bell tolled in the distance and she watched as people on the street stopped, others coming out onto their balconies and the sound rang through the city. Troy however did not stop instead speeding up his stride.

“Troy you’re gonna trip me, I can’t keep up!” Sloane protested.

“I was hoping we could avoid the attention, guess I should have known better than to send word. Even if that word was explicit, I did not want to be bothered tonight.” She could hear his fangs pressing against each other as he finished speaking, his agitation palpable in the air.

“Lord-Father Troy, how honored we are to be in your presence again.” A red cowled figure stepped out from the alley way, moving far too smoothly for a normal human.

It was only once the man was standing in front of them that his strange movements made sense. In the place of legs the heavily robed figure had four insectoid robotic limbs; two facing the front, two facing back. His right hand was also replaced with a robotic prosthetic that looked more like sleek black bone than the hulking form that hung off Troy.

“High Priest Deimos, I quite remember being very clear in our communication about tonight.” Troy glowered at the man.

“Forgive me for the intrusion Lord-Father. I was hoping I could escort you and the Verdant Lady to your residence.” Deimos said his fingers nervously bounced off each other as he spoke.

“We’re a bit busy for small talk.”

“It’s a ten minute walk my God-King, I won’t be burdensome for long. You can’t deny it’s been a fair while since we’ve spoken face to face, judging mother keeps you away from us.”

The more Sloane watched Deimos the more she realized he was more machine than man, a shift of his robe revealing a pump and tank system where his digestive system ought to be. She supposed that those who worshipped Troy would be more open to body modification but she couldn’t imagine casting away her organs for mechanical replacements.

“Fine.”

Deimos reached for Sloane’s hand only for Troy to swat it away with his prosthetic. The force behind the swipe reminded her just how easily he could crush someone with a flick of his wrist, he didn’t even need a weapon.

“And Sloane stays with me.”

“My apologies Lord-Father. I did not mean any offense.”

“Don’t get me wrong Deimos. I appreciate the hard work you all do, but Sloane and I are on a tight schedule. It was hard enough to convince Tyreen to let us have the night out.”

Troy and Deimos continued their back and forth of annoyance and platitudes as they walked Sloane tuned it out for the most part. She instead watched the street as they walked. She couldn’t recall ever seeing children in Temple Town but here she caught sight of more than one child being ushered to bow their heads like their parents before them as they walked past.

The filtered sunlight gave their procession a more somber feeling, especially as smoke from freshly lit censers wafted into the street. A bell tolled as they approached the steps she assumed belonged to the city hall. Troy released his grip on her hand and took a step forward, obscuring her slightly. Her gaze moved to the crowd that gathered at the foot of the steps.

She noted that those who had gathered seemed to be more calm and relaxed than the crowds that gathered to meet them in the great wandering city. That most of them seemed to have cybernetic parts which made sense, given Troy’s own disability it would make sense that his town would be made of people like him.

So wrapped up in taking in the foreign city’s spectacle she almost didn’t notice the men had stopped walking before she felt the tug of Troy’s grasp as she walked out of range.

“Uhh Pandora to Sloane, didn’t you hear me? We’re here.” Troy said an amused smirk pulled at the corner of his cheeks.

She looked up at the skyscraper that climbed greedily for the heaves. “Wow, sure is big.”

“Only the best for a god am I right?”

She snorted and nudged his arm with his shoulder. “Oh definitely. Totally not letting anyone think you're compensating eh.”

Troy turned red around the cheeks before he turned back to Deimos. “Well go on then you bucket of bolts get out here. And tell Phobos I’m expecting his report on my desk in the morning.”

The priest tapped his mechanical legs against the asphalt nervously before nodding emphatically. “By your will be done.” The priest skittered away back the way he had come before Troy’s temper could flare.

“Compensating, really Sloane? I could have any person in the CoV if I wanted, think I need to compensate to get that?” He was back to his jovial mood like someone had flipped a switch.

“I’m just saying it’s a big tower is all.”

“I like the view. Now, you coming in or shall we spend the night looking at my big tower?”

Sloane playfully rolled her eyes before she took his hand again.

The inside of the building was fairly standard for CoV buildings, the inverted vault symbol hung over the reception desk between two graffitied eyes. On the far wall a copy of Troy’s stained glass window from the Cathedral bathed the lobby in warm tones.

Troy did not acknowledge the receptionist simply strolling on by to the elevator. He placed his hand on a bioscanner located beneath the call button and a soft hum emitted from it before the ding of the lift's arrival cut through the otherwise silent lobby. The moment they stepped into the elevator and the doors clicked shut the atmosphere tangibly changed, Troy relaxing much the way he had been in the technical.

“I’m sorry about all that, I just wanted to get you here without being mobbed by followers who would want to meet you and ask fifty questions a piece. Tonight’s about relaxing and that’s what it’ll be from this moment on.” He smiled one of his warm and genuine smiles, unlike the smirk he used when dealing with followers this one went up to his eyes and softened his features. Sloane had come to relish seeing it in her few months among the twins.

They stepped out of the lift immediately into a fancy penthouse suite. Again it had all the design choices that made it read as Troy’s space, from the organized chaos to the books left turned over to hold their place.

“Are you hungry? Thirsty? Tonight’s about you and I and nobody else so just tell me what you want.” He said hanging his vest over a chair as he went about the steps of removing his prothesthic. If they were going to have a cozy night in he needed to be comfortable.

“Yeah I’m starving, I haven’t eaten since Juniper brought me lunch.” She agreed, they hadn’t been gone from the cathedral more than a few hours yet it felt like ages ago now.

Troy turned to head into the kitchen when something caught Sloane’s eye. A black rectangular shaped box with a pair of controllers sat on top of it.

“Is that a Flaystation?” She asked her head tilted like a curious puppy as she spied it.

“Fuck yeah it is, we can play a game once we eat.” He reassured before he continued his quest to the kitchen.

Sloane made herself at home like Troy had suggested and plopped herself down on the plush sofa in front of the television. She was slightly surprised when a helper droid came out of a hole in the wall much like the ones back at the Cathedral. It pushed her shoes back over by the front door after she took them and returned shortly with a folded blanket on its head offering it to her.

She must have dozed off as the next thing she knew Troy was prodding her side. “Hey, hey! Dinner’s ready, sleepy head.”

She blinked awake and saw him grinning far too widely as he looked down at her curled up on the sofa. The same kind of look he gave when he had something up his sleeve in their game of bunkers and badasses, a genuine Troy smile.

Troy ran through his games library while they ate, pointing out the games he thought she would like. She was pleasantly surprised when he got it right, though they had spent months hanging out, doing their jobs, and sleeping in the same bed it had always felt like something they’d done out of obligation. When Troy had broken down the night of her coronation she had been caught off guard that she was so trusted and even now on an actual date with him it was only just clicking that he saw her for who she really was.

After a few hours of gaming, during which Sloane learned that Troy had taught himself to use a Flaystation controller with his feet which she found very impressive, the nature sire found herself yawning again. She leaned into Troy’s side, her head rested against the curve of his rib cage.

“It’s been a good night.” She sighed a content smile on her face.

“It has, I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. I did too.” He paused and took a deep breath before his hand came up and caught her under the chin, he gently tilted her head up to look him in the face.

“So, you think we can uh, make it official then. I know we’re in a weird situation where like we’ve been doing stuff couples do but it’s just been professional. I’ve really come to care for you these past months Sloane, more than I have anyone else. I would be honored and humbled to call you my girlfriend.”

Sloane’s face went red with blush as he spoke. “I would love to be your girlfriend Troy.”

She stretched up to meet his lips though she only stayed for a moment. As she pulled away she blinked in surprise as a thought registered with her.

“Holy fucking shit that was my first kiss.”

“Wait really?! Well…. it won’t be your last.”

She gave him a playful shove giggling as she did so. Her time away from Eden-4 had in general felt dreamlike and unreal if she thought about it too hard. Now however she found herself hoping that if truly was a dream that she would never wake up.

“So what changes at home? Is there anything I need to avoid doing around other people or something?”

Troy’s face steeled and his eyes darkened. There was an uncomfortably long pause between them before he spoke his voice had a hard edge, the kind that came with experience behind it and frightened her a bit.

“Tyreen cannot know. Not yet. Keep your head down, act like nothing changed unless we’re in private. I’ll handle it when the time comes.”

[icefir-windbreaker]

All-Stars -Story Mode- [CHAPTER 14] Part 2

Part 1 - [YOU’RE HERE] - Part 3

-Meanwhile with Miss Pauling-

Riding back after dropping off Cuphead at the Cave’s Exit on a scooter with both types of normal and wonder weapons in a crate that is heavily strapped to it, Pauling had no time racing over to RED Team at the Helghan Base after hearing a shot from a sniper rifle, this is the role she will take in:

‘Here comes the Calvary!’

She looked at a few dead bodies of Helghan Troops and Soldiers at the entrance as she parked near the viewing porch, she whimsy climbs off of it with a shotgun in hand and studied herself and the helmet she is wearing, she looked at the entrance as the scooter is tipping and then falls down with a clank and a crate opened, dropping a few weapons in the process while she took three steps towards it but stops and then whispering to herself “D-Don’t worry P-Pauling, they will find it as soon as they cycled back to the entrance…” before running to the wall and placing her back against it.

“Alright, ready?” she asked herself before answering with confidence “You’re ready!” before taking a deep breath and cocking the pump of the shot back a bit, ready to take them head on. She is ready to take them head on then she pops out from the wall and aimed the gun at the chest of-

“Ah!”

Pauling opened her one eye and looked at the chest of a man, who is a hulking Caucasian French man wearing blue-stripe long shirt with sleeves, leather-bound in belts on each wrist, blue-black jeans with boots. The same one who Bendy had encountered, it’s Bruno.

“Excusez moi mademoiselle, but you are thinking of this?” Bruno said as he looked at her as she looked at him, still had shotgun pointed at his chest and she really hated to admit but her cheeks are tinted in pink. “Uh….” she said as she pulled the gun away from him and backing up a little with three steps back.

“It’s uh….” She stuttered as she pushed her glasses back to their supposed position and managed to find what it was she was looking for. “It was just an accident, I thought you were one of them.” she said, “One of the Helghan freaks that had-”

“Are they after you?” Shaw’s voice quickly claimed in as he peeked at the flustering- Um…

Confused, yeah, confused.

Confused young lady who is looking over to him, then soon Diego and Scarlett peeked from behind Bruno as well and looked at Miss Pauling.

Diego raised an eyebrow as well with a smile, a charming smile and said “Well, here I thought you’re the only one in the group, Scarlett.” to Scarlett as she rolled her eyes with an un-amused look.

“Amusing Diego,” she said as she had her eyes on Miss Pauling now as she looked back at her, “She really shouldn’t be here while we were.”

“Excuuse me?” she said as she took the gun away from Bruno’s chest as she kept looking at Scarlett, “Well, I don’t see you are allowed to be here though.” she continued as she and Scarlett are going to each other walking and right in to their faces against theirs.

(Background is from worldbuilding.stackexchange.com)

“It was only an expression, there’s no need to-” Scarlett was saying before Miss Pauling said “I was going in there to help the team and other crew in there so we can get the two kids out of there.”

“Very brave of you,” Scarlet said, raising an eyebrow to her and straighten herself upright as she looked to her leaf-green eyes. “Dearie…” Shaw was beginning to say as he was looking at something in the Helghan base but Scarlett was busy with Pauling for a moment, “Much of this but do you realize what is going on right now?” Pauling said as her glasses was sliding to which Scarlett noticed this and said “Your glasses are-” “I know, kinda crooked and I had to often wear them on jobs.” she muttered a reply as she adjusted her glasses to their position once again. “Dearie...” Shaw said again as he is showing an impatient look as he kept looking in the entrance of the base, “Does this happen often?” Bruno asked with concern as Miss Pauling had looked over to him, “Yes, it does.” she answered as she looked around, wanted to avoid eye contact with this man.

“Dearie…”

“I do hope you’d wouldn’t mind me this,” Diego said as he got between the two women, “You had mentioned a team, a crew and two children in there and getting them out of there. Are they all been captured?”

“Just the two kids,” she answered “But don’t worry, as soon as we and the other crew can get them out of this and take care of the problem, we will be out of your hair.” Pauling said as she checked the surrounding area as Scarlett placed her hands on her hips and saying “Out of our hair? I wonder what happened to yours when you did succeed on this mission?”

Miss Pauling gave a “Shut the heck up” look to her and  said “I am not going to say that what it will end, but how about-”

“Dearie…!” Shaw finally yelled. Making everyone look over to him, “Yes, Shaw, what is it?” Scarlett said as she looked over to him and little did she know what her Uncle had saw was something that can kill you in horrible ways.

Shaw said “Well, I would really hate to cut this argument short but: Incoming!” and then pointed at a creature, the creature with three heads.

(Picture from Call of Duty Wiki)

The creature had three heads, ye but it had rows of teeth in each of them that are nearly too impossible to count and it is also bearing tentacles with spikes- not all over them but resting on each side of them! They even had two legs for it to stand its ground.

All three heads roared out a battle cry as the five humans that were standing in shock but able to stand their ground as Miss Pauling yelled “What the hell is that?!”

Then it charged at them, Scarlett got out a pistol and open fire at it as their mouths are opening and snapping shut as its tentacles are curling and whipping, one of the heads had a golden yellow-colored glow is appearing on its mouth.

Scarlett kept shooting until she realized that it’s no use to try to shoot through the chest so she said “Shit…! Bruno-!”

“I’m on it, Miss Rhodes!” he answered as he got out the Hammer of Valhalla as Pauling was watching and was going to say a word until the Frenchman ran for the monster with the hammer reared back over his shoulder, ready to smash it out of existence as it let out another roar.

He yelled as he swings the Hammer of Valhalla at the creature at full force and it was sent through the air and into a car with a crashing noise that came with it, Miss Pauling was impress as if she was going to say “Wow…” but instead, she had kept that thought and that thought of hers had read “Wow, I think Mann. Co would be able to invent a hammer-based weapon like that.”

Scarlett looked at the creature for a moment or too as she wondered if the Order had something to do with this…. Thing before them. She kneeled down to it to look at it further, wanted to be sure that Bruno did what he had to: Killing it.

Miss Pauling looked on with astonishment but scared with a thought, how in the world is she going to get rid that kind of the evidence when it’s that size?! It’s about one size higher than Heavy and how she’s going to chop and then bury the parts??

So many questions running in her mind at this moment, so many of them too impossible to count… finally, she asked “I-Is it dead?”

Scarlett looked back at Miss Pauling and was going to say something but a groan from the creature that made Scarlett turned her head back to before standing up and then took two steps back as others are in shock to see what was happening. “B-But how….!?” Bruno began “I-I had-”

“I think it will take more than that to finish the job…” Shaw say as he readies the potion as Miss Pauling looked over and noticed. “How can-” she began to say but interrupted by the creature growling and getting back on its feet.

“Best to save this conversion for later, alright miss?” Shaw said as he readies for the fight that is gonna go down, Diego looked over to her as he too gotten out of a pistol and said “No time for that now, run!” to which Pauling did as she heard gunfire behind her.

She had ran into the base for what seemed like an hour but then soon realized that she had ran into a group of Helghan Soldiers who were heading for to fight the unwelcome mercenaries, they all turned in surprise but then aimed their weapons at her after they recognized her from three days before this.

“Oh shit…!” she muttered as she aimed the shotgun at them as well as they shouted “Stop right there! Surrender now!” but Pauling had no intention of surrendering and going to fight them for her life like a cornered animal.

But luck had proved to be the one that often had a sense of humor and as well being able to take her side when the Ultimis version of Takeo had suddenly came out of nowhere and diced one of them in half and letting them fall down to the ground as others turned in shock.

That’s when the fight really start; he then looked at them with an intention of slaying them as they aimed the guns away from her and to him instead, the captain took his stand with the sword in hands before dashed towards them with the sword and then blood began flying everywhere. “Fire! Fire now!” One of them yelled before his head of off his shoulders as some of them did shoot but barely got him, the Samurai didn’t stop, he planned to never stop until the last one had been chopped apart.

He panted as he finished the deed before him, holding his head like he had a headache when his eyes had changed back from crimson red to golden brown and then looked around and at the bodies in confusion but then noticed Miss Pauling had just standing there, looking shock after she had witnessed. Then, she finally snapped out of it and said “T-Thanks…” as she shakes her head and adjusting her glasses once again.

Takeo raised an eyebrow at the woman as he lowered the sword but was hesitant when he does noticed when she had a shogun rifle in her hand. “You are welcome,” he said as he looked around more with the sword in his hands, checking the area around him and her.

“You must be Takeo Masaki right, you know,” Miss Pauling began “I had contacted Spy about the mess that we are now in?” as Takeo had gave her a confused look but nodded to correct her answer and his mnd wondering how this woman knew his name.

“Of course,” he said as he walked around the pile of corpses’ pieces while looked around, looking for something useful when he kneeled down to one of them and then searched through it until he found it: an assault rifle and with 4 rounds of ammunition left on him. He then groaned in pain as he placed his hand on the wound of his right forearm. He then gently removed his hand from it to see that he had been shot nearly 3 times but it’s not that bad- okay mayple it’s that bad.

He had sheathed his bloodstained samurai sword back to it’s saya and rummaged through his handbag for a moment until he found what he was looking for, a cyan jar with a red cross on it’s white label. He then twisted the white cap open and then lets the medicine out with several crosses in a orange beam, he let it heal his forearm and saw a bullet popped out of it and onto the ground while it had repaired the damage on his sleeve.

*U!Takeo had used a medkit jar, restored 15% of his HP.

“Ah… Much better.” he said as he rubbed it as if he had rubbed it off, like it had never existed.

“So, how did you get so fast?” she asked but before anyone could answer, they heard the three-headed creature roaring in the area where Miss Piss Pauling had came from, she cursed under her breath and was going to run away but Takeo grabbed her by the arm then pulling her away from where the roar came from.

“Hey what are-??”

“Getting away from the demon.” Takeo quickly answered while he is dragging her by the arm, going to the opposite direction away from the chaos ensuing at the moment.

“Okay, okay fine, we’ll go your way then.” Pauling said as she walked with him to another area base with the rifle in hand.

While that is happening, we have to go back to Chaos Crew with three-head monster will we? Scarlett kept firing at the thing to the best of the gun’s ability as the creature roared before rising the tentacle up high, ready to strike her but Diego had grab her by the hand before pulling her in a dance move as he yelled “Scarlett!” while she yelped in surprise, making the creature miss it’s intended target.

She and the Mexican Spy looked at each with a small smiles on their faces but Scarlett noticed one of the heads is heading right for them and immediately shoots it in the mouth, making it recoil back in pain after.

Scarlett raised an eyebrow as well with Diego, he looked at her and asked “ Did you really aim for that?” with a smile, Scarlett straighten herself out as she looked at the smoke coming from the barrel of the pistol as she answered “You had seen that I did.”

Diego looked at the creature to see that it’s angry and the reason why he had known that is because the way it growled and rising it’s other tentacle into the air. Again, the two had to get out of the way as the tentacle is then brought down and hits the ground instead.

“Scarlett” Shaw called out as he and Bruno ran over to the two, “We’re fine,” she answered as she dusted her arm off, “It only got back from the attack to its open mouth through, should’ve kept it shut when I…” before realizing…. When they had tried attacking it on the body but it had no effect but when Scarlett had open fire in the mouth, it had recoiled in pain and blood poured out of it. That’s it…. Whenever one or three heads had opened their mouths, they will unknowingly exposed it’s weak point.

“Boys,” Scarlett began, “I think that I had found its weak point.” she continued as others looked over to her in both confusion and interest.

“What is it, Dearie?” Stanton asked as she looked over to him, “Wait for one of the heads’ mouth open up.” she said as she doesn’t remove her glaze from it.

“The one that is bleeding?”

“Yes,” she answered, “But do the way you do best, Shaw” she urged and Shaw smiled as he knew it’s time to get another invention of his out: Acid bomb. “Who’s ready for a taste test?” he laughed conveniently as the creature roared again.

It then charged at them again but this time, Shaw didn’t have any intention of getting of the way but he’s staying right where he was, holding the Acid Bomb in hand as the creature is getting closer and closer.

One of the heads- Bleeding one on the left side, opened its mouth and roared again.

Right on cue.

Shaw reared back as he took a step forward and then throwing the bomb at it, the bleeding head then unknowingly ate it as the two other heads noticed. The bleeding head then felt something ticked and then it suddenly exploded, blood was then pouring out of the wound like a geyser as the two remaining heads looked over in surprise before turning over to Shaw with anger and revenge.

He had soon realized this and smiled nervously but was surprised that Bruno stood in front of him, Hammer of Valhalla in his hands and ready to take it on once again and this time with new intention: getting rid of the remaining heads.

Diego and Scarlett soon joined in with Shaw and Bruno as a crew, team even, to take it down.

The creature roared and then begins charging at them with tentacles opened and ready to take down anyone with one hit. The middle head opened up and revealing a three rows of teeth towards Bruno but he had reared back and then swings the hammer towards it, a crack is heard and along with a screech of pain.

He knows, he had broken its lower jaw so that will keep its mouth open for a little while as it moaned in pain but then soon roared again. “Diego,” he said as he held the Hammer tight in his grip before saying “Now!”

“Si, Bruno!” he said as he had gotten out Webley MK IV revolver and quickly open fire at the the middle head as it tried to get it to close again but failed as it was eating more bullets into its mouth.

BOOM!

The middle head exploded like the one on the left, leaving only one head left to take down now as it weakly stumbles a little but is able to stand again on both feet. The head on the right is only one that is screeching now at the crew as all of them stood their ground for what’s gonna come next.

“Be ready!”

“Right Dearie!”

“Si!”

“Right.”

The monster was growling as blood is flowing out of the two necks where the heads once were, tentacles were a little wiggling around with spikes looking broken after slamming them against the ground after missing each crew member. It was more than angry: it was furious more ever than it was originally and now out to break any bones the humans have covering their flesh.

It then roared with rage toned within, it was loud enough that the whole base and even the horde of zombies could be able to hear from a mile radius at where they were. No really, the dead did heard that from a mile radius from where they were in Fallen City, all of them with different injures, different decaying and rotting skin, reddish-brown blood from the lack of air are pouring out from the wounds, all of them perked up to the sky as they all stopped shuffling and stumbling around in different areas of the city; the park, mall, downtown and the neighborhood as crows are flown away in fear upon hearing the roar.

As the roar echoed through the skies, all of the zombies in the ruined streets of Fallen City are looking up before deciding to go to the resource of the roar as they all stumble towards the direction it’d had came from.

Back to the Chaos Crew now, they stood their ground as the monster made a dash towards them with tentacles ready to attack them with, Scarlett prepared the Webley MK IV revolver for the last load of ammo she had left in her pockets.

Then the monster, before it was going to charge at them, a gun fire is heard but no one fired and that was aimed directly at the back of it. Like it was on speeding time clock, it and the crew stopped, the creature then turned around to see P!Richtofen, Sniper, P!Nikolai and Engineer aimed with weapons and luckily came to see what was going as it’d looked back at them.

Sniper looked at the creature with his eyes widen when he first saw it, he babbled “W-What the bloody hell is that?!” as he pointed a finger at it as well.

“It’s a Margwa…” Richtofen answered that for the shaking Austrian man as it’s roared at them, “Aw hell…” Engineer said, “That thing’s bigger than Heavy.”

“Da.” the Russian nodded as he is still looking at it with the Olympia shotgun in his hands. “How do ya’ll kill that son of a gun?” Engineer asked to the doctor as he pumps the Frontier Justice shotgun back and readied for use to fight against this Margwa.

“It’s simple,” Richtofen began as he reload the Ray Gun with the extra butteries he had in his pouch, “Aim for zhe mouth, only vhen it’s open.”

“Go for an open mouth-?” Sniper blurted until was interrupted by Margwa roared a threaten growl and then dashes for the four men. "Start prayin', boy!" Engineer said as he aimed the shotgun at it, ready to take this thing down for good along with Nikolai who is looking at the Margwa with the look he had when he had fought bears long before the incident in Northern France and shouted out “I have fought bears more scary than you!”

It then begins to stomp it’s way to them with a growls that toned with threat, “When its bloody mouth is open or…?” Sniper said but Richtofen immediately answered “It’s open now, shoot it!” and began to shoot it along with Nikolai and Engineer, Sniper shook his senses back and pointed the SMG at it as well and opened fire.

They were watching as this go down, the Margwa had shut its mouth but stupidly opened it again and they then continue to fire it while they had dodged it whenever it’d advancing to attack but finally; its final head exploded with a blood spurting out of the third neck. “Ugh…” Sniper disgusted, "That's some shonky business right there!" as he and three other men along with Chaos Crew watched as the Margwa falls to the ground with a thud.

*Sniper, Richtofen, Engineer, Nikolai and Chaos Crew won! *LOVE has increased. *Reward: Leather Gloves, Margwa Heart, and 20 G.

They looked at the text as they felt their strength had increased to another level, they then looked at each other with weapons ready if they ever try anything out of the blue like Helghans did. But one of them had break the silence was Shaw who said “It’s quite fine job you boys did.”

“Thanks mate.” Sniper replied.

“"Much obliged,” Engineer said, “How did all of ya get here?” he questioned as he lowered his gun down, Scarlett only tilted her head to the side, she had never seen an American with a soft-spoken voice, other than a few of them she had met once are from there so she decided to say “Do mind explaining first? How did you men know we were in trouble?”

“We had heard a roar from where we were while fighting the sons of a gun world-otherly soldiers,” Engineer answered as he carefully walked over to the dead Margwa and with caution he slowly picked up one of the tentacle to examine it, “So, four out of thirteen of us decided to go over here to investigate. And… well, this happened as Ah can tell.” he continued.

“You all alright? Did it hurt you or…?” Nikolai asked but Bruno answered “We are alright Russian, we had recently found out its three points within their mouths.” as he raised an eyebrow at the one that was next to him: Richtofen.

“Good to know, I vas glad zhat ve had gotten here on time.” Richtofen sighed in relief but then looked over to Shaw who had took a couple of steps back as he had a flashback with his last encounter with the Germans with an old friend who had saved his neck. “Are you alright?” he asked as looked at Shaw with concerned but Scarlett only looked at him with the emotion that he can describe: Suspicion.

“We are rather not talk to Germans like you, you were after the Prima Materia when Shaw and my father were captured back in 1911.” Scarlett confronted him with the information but when she looked at Richtofen, he looked… Confused?

“Prima Materia? Don’t you mean Element 115?” Richtofen asked with a confused tone, Shaw soon turned from caution to curiosity when he said that. “115? What is Element 115 you had said?” he asked.

Now it’s even more confusion, Engineer can sensed that so he decided to be the one to say something about it as an answer as he stood between everyone while he said “Alright now, alright. Let’s not get off on a wrong foot here.” as he looked at his teammates and then to the Chaos Crew.

“Now,” he started to say as he put his Frontier Justice away in a case that he had on his back and had a strap to hold onto it. “You had said you were from 1911, right?” he recalled what Scarlett said earlier, Shaw and Diego looked at each other before Bruno corrected “We were from 1912, to be honest.”

Engineer nodded to the Doctor and said “well, Doc and Sergeant along with two friends of theirs are from 1918. Me and Aussie are from 1970’s just far from both of your timelines. Guess the Doc was right about people had been dragged from different planes of existence.”

Scarlett’s eyes widen as she recalled what Bendy told her earlier, “And I thought he was lying.” she thought as she slapped her forehead in disbelief. “Then this German is one of the friendly types, is he?” she asked hestatitly. “I am friendly, madame.” Richtofen said, “Und I am not after zhe “Prima Metaria” element you’ve talked about.” he continued with honestly but also in matter-of-factly.

“Were you four after the 115?” Nikolai questioned, Bruno raised his hammer a little but hesitated for a moment before answering “No. But you had seen what had going on lately?”

“With the bloody zombies running around the city? Yeah.” Sniper concluded as he adjusts his sunglasses a little. Shaw looked at Sniper as he raised an eyebrow but then shrugs “Well, we are now looking for anyone who can help us.”

“Zhen maybe ve can help each other.” Richtofen offered, “as you can see, ve are on a rescue mission from zhe enemy bigger zhan zombies.”

“The Helghans, are you quite sure amigo?”

“We are positive, comrade.” Nikolai answered.

“Well then.” Bruno answered, “After this, you may tell us what is happening here?” he continued while Nikolai looked at him, he had recognized that French accent, other than Spy himself and said “You’d seem strong comrade yet-”

“I rather not talk about it, Russian.” Bruno quickly urged as he had known what the Sergeant is going to say to winch Nikolai knew that whatever happened in his life wasn’t good.

“Mates, I know that we don’t know them well but… Nah.” the Sniper shook his head, he doesn’t want to get them the wrong idea about introducing themselves to a group of strangers that they barely began to know.

Engineer looked to Sniper then shook his head softly, “the Austrian man is Sniper.” Engineer said as he points at his teammate before placing his hand on his chest, “I’m the Engineer but mah team calls me “Engie.””

“I am Nikolai Belinski.”

“My name is Dr. Edward Richtofen.”

“Nice to meet you.” Scarlett greeted but then soon connected the dots: his name and the Wonder Weapon he had invented so she had decided to say something to him.

“Dr. Edward Richtofen? You mean you had own that name?”

“Ja.” he raised an eyebrow at her, being curious again.

“Then you must’ve have invented the Wunderwaffe at some point in your timeline.” she pointed out, Richtofen then realized that she was talking about his Ultimis self’s invention in the late 1940’s during WWII. “But it’s other you in a different timeline of yours if I am wrong.”

*That’s a fine way to start an conversion.

While they are talking about, Nikolai felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Sniper who had questions on his mind while the Russian sergent can tell by his eyes. “What is it comrade?” he asked as he turned to look at the bushman.

“Oi wanted to ask you something, Nik, if it’s okay for me to ask.” Sniper mumbled, Nikolai’s eyebrow raised a little before turning to look at them while they talked and Engineer is checking a Margwa heart along with Shaw.

He then looked back to Sniper and answered “Da.”

“Ya’ll didn’t happened to have an overweight twin brother now, do ya?”

That caught the Russian by surprise, he quickly answered (more likely an-almost yelled) “No, I didn’t have twin.” as he looked around the area while Sniper is looking at him with bewilderment and puzzled in his mind and eyes.

“Are ya quite right about that?” Sniper interrogated as he crossed his arms together while he watched him before Nikolai looked at the Austrian man and insisting “I swear I had no idea who you are talking about, Sniper, just leave it out of this until later.” before walking away from him.

“Crikey, what a bloody weirdo…” he mumbled.

“What do ya think it is, Doc?” Engineer asked as he kept his eyes on the Margwa Heart as Shaw is softly stroking his beard.

“A heart of zhe Margwa ve have killed.” Richtofen answered as he looked over to them along with Scarlett who said “A Margwa Heart?”

“Ja.”

“Senor Richtofen,” Diego chimed in, “How did you know this creature is named “Margwa” and it’s weak point?”

Richtofen looked at the Maxican Spy then sighed, “Zhe word Margwa is made up of two Apothicon words, mar und gwa, und it means Shadow Ability.” he answered briefly as Engineer, Sniper, Shaw and Scarlett looked over to him.

“What’s an Apothicon? I do not remember reading something like that in books.”

“Zhe race of beings zhat had even existed,” Richtofen recounted what his old friend had taught long before these events began, “It vas zhis language zhey had use.”

“Then you had known what they mean by any chance.” Bruno looked over to him, arms crossed as he looked at the German with not only anger but suspicion for him as well.

Richtofen had a feeling that the Frenchman would do that, knowing Nikolai isn’t the only one who remains suspicious of him because of what his old, Ultimis self had done. “Listen I-” he was about say but was interrupted by a roar of the damned.

They all frozen in place, they all looked at the gate where the Chaos Group had gone through with caution as they raised their weapons, ready to face whatever is going to come through as they are.

Coming out of the both corners of the center street were zombies stumbling and falling on top of each other as they were heading towards the base. Everyone opened their eyes in shock as they had appeared and heading towards them after the roar had them right to them, “Aw hell!” Engineer said after snapping out of his shock before running towards the sliding gate with rusted wheels on the ground and trying desperately to pull it to close it as he used both his arms while he grunts “Help me! I need some dog-gung help!”

Bruno and Nikolai looked at each other then deciding they have to help, running over to the Engineer who is pulling desperately on the handles, Nikolai grabbed the first handle that was mid-way over to Engie as Bruno grabbed the one at the end of the door while they heard saying “Good! Good!” before the Texan looked out the gate and see they are going closer, he said “We don’t have time to fool around, help me pull this darn thing!”

“Pull!” the Russian rebuked as three men pulled the handles and a screeching noise is heard from the wheels under them as they pulled together as their feet are catching the ground, “Pull harder boys!” Engineer grunted as he is trying trying very hard, using the amount of strength he had to do so and keep peeking at on the outside and see that they are getting closer.

Sniper and Diego then ran over to them, grabbed the handles and began pulling with them which made the door go faster with progress as they pulled the gate into shutting and closing just in time before they could get in but one of the zombie’s hand had thrusted forward into the base but it was chopped off by the door upon closing.

Sniper groaned in disgust when he saw it on the ground, “Crikey….” he mumbled in disgust as Engineer took notice of it and made a noise of disgust as well. “There might be hundreds of them outside the gate, if we are ever want to gettin’ out of here after the mission is done then we have to find an alternate way out.” Engineer said as he breathing in from all the hard work to get the door close before anyone of the zombies could get in the Helghan Base.

“If it is better than going out the way we came in then we will.” Nikolai stated as he got the Olympia Shotgun out again and cocking it back. Engineer nodded and looking at the Chaos Crew and said “What you fellas here for?” “For Radec,” Scarlett answered, “It’s for our own reasons that are none of your concern.”

“Here for Radec huh?” Engineer shrugged, “We are on a mission of our own.”

“I believe that makes one of us then.” Shaw chuckled, “Just vorry about Mael Radec for now, meet us later vhen you’d have him.” Richtofen said before turning around then heading to the west side as Nikolai watched before turning to face the group, “I am very sorry about this, we could explain what had been going on-

“It’s alright, Nikolai.” Bruno said as he raised his hand a little to halt him, Nikolai nodded as he turned and ran after the Doctor as well, Sniper waved before following suit with the Russian along with Engineer who called out after them as he ran “Don’t die while ya’ll at it!”

Scarlett only waved her hand, letting him know that she heard him as they watched them go around the corner and disappeared. “Well that was strange,” Diego said “First it was the Diabo and now this.”

“There’s little time for that, Diego,” Shaw said as he turned to the gate while he is hearing a bangings from the undead that were making from behind it, “If there is a way out like Engineer said…”

“Then what do we do until then Shaw?” Bruno questioned while Shaw had trailed off into his thoughts, after a moment he then answered “Then we had better go with them in order to get out when we’d had him.”.

“Noted,” Scarlett as she had found parts to make another type of device she and her colleagues can use for the battle before them, “and we need to know what is happening and why we were here.” she concluded before walking ahead, Diego and Shaw followed suit.

Bruno was going to go after them as well but had suddenly gotten a feeling of dread, but not just dread but a feeling, the urge of guilt coming from the presence behind him as he felt it all at once.

*You feel your sins crawling up your back…

Demon who comes by name…

Bruno had felt like something or someone is standing right behind him, watching…. Waiting…. Just waiting for him to do something or…. Or to say something. Fear is running down his spine as well with his breathing, it felt like his heart had just gotten ready to jump out of his chest but that feeling only lasted for a minute when Shaw had called out “Bruno!” and like that, the dreaded sensation disappeared, suddenly like how it began while he shook his head after placing his hand on his forehead.

He turned to face who or whatever it was but there’s nothing, no one. No one but him and his teammates are there, like it had never existed in the first place. His eyebrow rose up but then shrugged, he then turned around and then ran to catch up to them.

[irrelevantwriter]

Simon’s Advent Calendar Challenge Day 5: Christmas Movies

Characters: Simon x OFC

Rating: NSFW, Explicit 

Warnings: Smut (like…a lot), vague mentions of past sexual abuse, mentions of pornography, mentions of bodily fluids, unprotected sex, cursing, degrading Santa’s reputation (???)

Word Count: 7K

Summary: Carmen requested a special Christmas tradition from Simon, but things took a different turn when Simon mistakenly brought some XXX to the holidays. 

This is for the “Simon’s Advent Calendar Challenge” by @simons-thirst-squad. I chose the prompt “Christmas Movies” and I decided to take this down a very dirty path. I’ve never written Simon smut before, but I’ve been wanting to so here ya go. Hope its dirty enough for you coal getting, name on the naughty list, thirsty squad of Simon!

Also, the movie mentioned in this story is very real so I cannot take credit for the heinous title. 

 Happy Holidays!

*******************************************************************************

It was late. The halls of the Sanctuary were empty and silent. She knew if she were anyone else she’d be escorted back to her room for being out after curfew, but she had obtained perks throughout her stay at the Sanctuary. And they were all thanks to a man named Simon.

Carmen turned the last corner and spotted the lone door at the end of the hallway. She was in a secluded part of the factory, but the location was not by accident. Only the best for Negan’s top executive. She made her booted footsteps muted as she slowly walked towards the closed door. There was a soft light emanating from the crack at the bottom. She sucked in a large breath and released it slowly. She was nervous.

She and Simon had become an item recently. When he’d found her out in the shell of what was left of the world she’d been a prisoner. She’d been a hostage among men of the most brutal caliber. Simon had saved her. And perhaps it was the savior complex that tethered her to him at first, but over time her fondness for him never waned. There’d been other suitors who’d approached her, their interest written all over their face and their words dripping with it. She’d never once been tempted to explore those options. She’d only ever felt safe and comfortable with the mustached man who’d bragged about gelato upon their first meeting. She smiled at the memory.

She fidgeted with her dark hair, thankful she had at least had the forethought to check her reflection in one of the mirrors from the communal bathrooms. Her hair ran down her back in natural waves, the frizz apparent after a long day. Her dark eyes were weary, much like everyone’s nowadays, but they shined with anticipation for what was to come. Her complexion was lighter now that the summer months were long gone, but her natural caramel color was still apparent. The dark circles under her eyes were visible, but had faded over time. She’d scrutinized her appearance with a critical eye, wishing she’d spent more of her points on makeup or clothing. Her red plaid button-up was wrinkled and smelled of baby powder. Her black jeans had a poor excuse for a patch over one knee, the shade of black not at all a match to the rest of the fabric. She looked presentable in the context of an apocalyptic world, but not for a meeting with a potential….what? What was Simon to her?

A soft thud sounded from the room just beyond the door and she slammed back into the current moment. She shook her head to rid her mind of anymore self-analytical thoughts and lifted a fist to knock. The knocks sounded small to her ears, but she knew Simon heard them. She could hear him shuffling to get to the door. She shifted back on her feet as the door swept open, revealing a far more relaxed looking Simon than she was used to seeing.

“Hey…” He was smiling wide, his teeth on display as he met her eyes. Carmen couldn’t help but to return the sentiment.

“Hey yourself,” She threw back, her gaze momentarily straying to the extra buttons undone on his grey shirt. His many belts were gone from his waist. His shirt was half untucked, his sleeves still rolled to his elbows. His boots were still on his feet, but she could tell the laces were loosened. He looked at ease and happy to see her.

“Come on in,” He ushered her inside, moving aside to allow her to slip passed him. 

Carmen let her eyes dance over the space. She’d never been to his room before. It was large and surprisingly inviting. There was a large bed, perhaps a queen-sized mattress, with a dark tan comforter and chocolate-colored sheets. The pillows were large and looked extremely fluffy. The bed was simply made, with a soft cream knit throw blanket at the end of the bed. It was unexpectedly warm and domestic for the man who was near the same level of dangerous as Negan. There was a small kitchenette with various cooking utensils and refrigerator. There was even a small dining table for two. A brown leather couch sat alongside one wall with a dresser and television set positioned across from it. A door in the far-left corner had Carmen deducing it was a bathroom. His set up was nice…a palace compared to what most had.

“Wow…this is amazing.” She stated in slight awe. She felt a pull towards his bed, but kept her feet firmly planted in the center of the room. It’d been far too long since she’d felt the plushness of a mattress. She slept on a cot in a room with two other women.

“Oh uh, thanks.” He sounded sheepish as he shut the door and turned to face her. His hands were shoved into his pockets and Carmen couldn’t help but notice how boyish he looked standing there. He had to be at least ten years older than her, but he looked remarkably juvenile…in a positive way. That was one thing she had liked about Simon from the beginning. He made her laugh, and he did so by projecting a child-like quality that was robbed from this world years earlier. She was sure his charm would’ve been anything but appealing before the turn, but now it reminded her that there was a world beyond the dead…one with human emotion still summering at the surface.

“You want something to drink?” He asked as he scratched at the back of his neck. He was nervous and the realization calmed Carmen’s own nerves. It’d been so long since she’d entertained the idea of being with a man. It’d been even longer since she’d acted on it. She was never good at projecting her interest to the opposite sex.

“Sure. Whatcha got?” She watched as he moved towards his refrigerator, his hulking frame looking ten times larger in the semi-confined space.

“I got beer. Home brew.” 

He was talking into the fridge as he bent down to pull two bottles from the shelves. Carmen unabashedly zeroed in on his ass. She’d glimpsed the sight a time or two before and was not disappointed. He straightened up and turned to face her, an eyebrow raised at her in question. She belatedly realized he had asked her a question and she had failed to supply an answer.

“Oh yeah, that’d be great.” She said with a slight laugh. He smiled and popped the two tops with ease only a master drinker could accomplish. His biceps were straining against his shirt and she once again tried to keep from staring too long. He made it to her in three large steps and she took the outstretched bottle from his calloused hand. Their skin met for the briefest of moments and she noted how much warmth he seemed to radiate.

“Cheers to the most wonderful time of the year,” Simon deadpanned. Carmen laughed, raising her bottle to clink with his. The liquid was bitter, but the aftertaste was pleasant. It reminded her of hot summer days and football games. It reminded her of her family. A twinge of sadness accompanied the memories, but she quickly pushed them away. That was another life, another time.

“Its good, right?” Simon asked, his boyish grin back on his mustached face. She nodded in agreement, wiping some of the brew from her lips. She belatedly noticed the table-top Christmas tree on his dresser. It was a cheap, plastic structure with colored lights and a hideous looking gold star on top. It was the kind you’d see inside of a dollar store before the turn. But in Simon’s room it looked almost delicate. 

“Feeling the Christmas spirit?” Carmen asked, her head tilting in the direction of the miniature aluminum tree. Simon’s gaze followed her movements and he smirked.

“What can I say? I’m a sucker for the old man in red.” He joked, arms outstretched in confession.

Carmen laughed, the sound not unfamiliar to her ears when in his presence. Their eyes locked for a few seconds longer than necessary and she could feel her cheeks heat at the gesture. She thought about his visit to her earlier that day. She’d been cleaning up the makeshift school room after all the children had gone when he’d stopped by. He’d promised her a gift, though he wouldn’t say what it was. He’d asked her to come by later in the evening and she’d agreed without hesitation. She trusted him. And if she was being honest, she was hoping they’d take whatever they were doing to a more physical level.  

She cleared her throat, adverting her gaze to the only window in the space. The moon was full and its luminescent light bled into the room. “So…where’s my gift?” She teased. He laughed in response and she felt her body start to tingle at the sound.

“Ah, I see. Only here for the promise of free shit.” He feigned hurt as he placed a hand to his chest.

“You can’t promise a girl a gift and expect her to think about anything else.” She fired back, her eyebrow raised in challenge.

“Touché.” He smirked, nodding his head in defeat. She watched as he took a pull from his beer and turned away from her and towards the dresser. His shoulders were wide and they stretched the material of his already tight shirt as he moved.

“So, you remember what you asked me to find a few weeks ago?” He asked with his back still to her. He was rummaging through the top drawer and Carmen tried to peek over his shoulder, though the gesture was useless. He was much taller than her five-foot-two frame.  

“Ummm….” She trailed off, trying to place the conversation he’d been referring to. It clicked for her when she thought back to the interaction they’d had right after “Thanksgiving”. There was no way to be sure if they were correct on their timeline of celebrations, but the weather provided enough clues. Carmen had been making a list of things she needed for the classroom when Simon stopped by. They’d chatted and flirted with ease, a dance they were familiar with. He’d happily taken the list from her and assured her he’d try his hardest to collect the supplies. At the last item on the list he’d raised a questioning eyebrow at her. She’d hesitantly written down “Christmas movies” in delicate cursive. She’d been on the hunt for any kind of Christmas loot so that she could dress up the room for the kids and give them a piece of what they used to have or never did have. It was a frivolous request and she’d told Simon not to worry about it, but he was adamant he would try.

The memory was gone in an instant when a slamming of a drawer brought her back to the present. Simon turned back to her, a stack of DVDs and VHS tapes clutched in both of his large hands. Carmen could feel a wetness trying to reach her eyes, but she quickly banished the emotion. She didn’t know why the gesture had made her emotional, but she had a feeling it had everything to do with the man before her. 

“I told you I’d come through. I’m a man of my word.” Simon presented the tattered and beat up movies to her and Carmen set down her beer to inspect his finds. She knew her mouth was hanging open slightly and her already large eyes were widened in disbelief. It was a small favor, but nowadays a small favor could get someone killed. Simon didn’t have to do what he did, he didn’t have to put his life on the line for her, but he did…more than once.

“I can’t believe you actually found some.” She said in awe as she read each title, nostalgia hitting her like an ocean wave. Some of her favorites were among the stack. A Christmas Story, Rudolph, Miracle on 34th Street. There were a few she’d never heard of before but she was sure the children would love them. Carmen tore her gaze from the items and met Simon’s warm eyes. He was looking at her with an emotion she couldn’t define, but that she didn’t to want to look away from.

“Wasn’t hard to find. Just hope they still work.” He said as he grabbed a few from her hands to fiddle with. Carmen bit her lip, trying to contain the smile that was threatening to burst off her face. Her eyes zeroed in on a black box atop the dresser behind him and her eyes lit up. 

“Let’s find out.” She exclaimed excitedly as she blindly reached for a DVD from his hand and walked to the DVD/VHS combo on his dresser. “This thing works, right?” She belatedly asked as she searched for the power button. She heard Simon chuckle behind her and then felt his warmth as he walked up and stopped just short of pressing his front into her back. His hand came out to press the button she’d been searching for, his arm nearly locking her in against his hard body and the piece of furniture. His scent filled her nostrils. He smelled like the wind, beer, and a hint of something spicy, cologne most likely. She struggled not to her push her backside into him. The temptation was there and she could feel herself ready to topple over the edge.

The once black screen of the television came to life and she realized Simon had turned it on. They both stepped back, waiting as the machines came to life. Carmen grabbed the DVD case of the movie she’d chosen and furrowed her brows. The cover was badly weathered, the title not clearly visible. She looked closer and could see the faded picture of a man dressed as Santa Clause and what looked like a girl sitting in his lap. Suddenly, music pierced the silence and a grainy image of a snowy New York skyline appeared on screen. 

“I don’t think I know this one.” Carmen said as she and Simon looked on. He was nursing his beer, his arms cross across his wide chest. He looked deep in thought, as if he was trying to place the movie as well.

 “Yeah, me either.” He finally said. Carmen startled abruptly as a loud and exaggerated moan filled the air, the image of a busy street replaced with a busty blonde being thoroughly ravaged by a man dressed as Santa, equipped with white beard and glasses. The image was unexpected and disturbing. The sounds of two people fucking echoed off the walls and seemed to magnify by the second. Simon started to cough and sputter, and Carmen realized he had choked on a swig of his beer. They both seemed paralyzed, unable to make a move to end the debauchery. A title in bold gold letters swept across the screen as Santa continued to fuck his “naughty girl”.

Miracle on 69th Street

Clever, Carmen thought. Simon hurried to shut the movie off, first muting the television and then stopping the movie altogether. The room was filled with only the sound of their breathing as they struggled to find their bearings. It seemed neither one of them knew what to say or do. Carmen tentatively met Simon’s eyes and she was surprised by her reaction. She laughed. It started as a giggle, but continued until she was clutching her stomach. Simon joined in, unable to dismiss the complete ridiculousness of the situation.

“I cannot believe that just happened.” Carmen managed to say between bouts of laughter. Her eyes had overflowed with tears and this time she didn’t stop them from falling. She wiped at the moisture as Simon clutched his stomach in amusement.

“What the fuck did we just witness?” He asked, running a hand over his moustache to smooth down the wayward whiskers. His smile was displayed brightly, his teeth impeccably white for the end of the world.

Carmen shook her head as her laughter turned to giggles. “I think my childhood is ruined.” She stated ruefully. Her cheeks hurt from the laughter and she could feel that they were pink with embarrassment. She had watched porn on occasion before the turn, but she’d never taken part in watching with a boyfriend. The act always felt too intrusive. That especially felt true in that moment. With Simon. Alone in his room. But there was an undertone of lust beneath the surface. She couldn’t deny she felt it. And she had a feeling he did too.

They had both stopped laughing and were now trying not to stare at the other, but failing miserably. They caught each other’s eyes and the instant they met, Carmen made a decision. She took a step towards him and he seemed to read her mind. He matched her movements and soon they were so close she couldn’t tell where his breath began and hers ended.

“Simon,” She breathed out. She could feel his heated gaze on her full lips and she licked them in response. The warm cocoa of his eyes had shifted to black. The change made her shiver.

“Carmen,” He responded. His voice low and gravelly with desire. The air around them was brimming with sexual tension. It had never been this intense with them before, but Carmen knew it had always been there; just waiting to show itself and combust. She stepped closer to him, if at all possible. It made it difficult for them to meet gazes, but she didn’t care. She leaned forward onto her tiptoes and brought her mouth to his ear.

“Kiss me.” She demanded and she swore she heard him growl. The sound fanned the already ravenous fire inside her. Simon wasted no time and pulled her flush against him as he attacked her waiting mouth. They clashed in a mass of lips, tongues, and hands. Carmen clung to his shirt as his lips dominated hers, his tongue gliding with hers in the most erotic fashion. The man could fucking kiss. He tasted like beer and citrus. His moustache tickled her skin, but she paid no mind to the delicious burn it left behind. His hands gripped at her waist, but she needed more. She pushed her chest up and into his, hoping he picked up on her hint. His mouth left hers and trailed down her neck, his teeth nibbling gently at the flesh. She allowed him more access as she leaned away to expose more of her skin to his hungry mouth. His hands still remained at her hips and she impatiently grabbed his left hand and placed it near her breast.

“Carmen, wait…” Simon rasped. His hands were back on her hips and he took a step back to allow space between their overheated bodies. Both of their chests were rising with rapid breaths, their lips swollen and red from their previous activities.

“What’s wrong?” She asked, her voice no longer as confident as it had been. She watched as Simon ran a hand over his graying hair. He seemed to be struggling with something. Doubt crept into Carmen’s mind and she immediately started to feel self-conscious.

“Are you sure about this?” He asked, the gentleness in his tone surprising her.

“Sure about what?”

“This.” He gestured to the space between the two of them but she was still confused. He took notice and elaborated with a sigh. “You and I.” He clarified.

Carmen closed the gap between them, her hands now back on his chest. She felt his own hands encircle her waist and she relished the comfort it brought her. She met his stare from beneath her dark lashes and she smiled softly up at him. Simon had always been gentle with her. She’d seen it the minute he’d saved her from hell. As a high-ranking official in the Sanctuary, Simon was someone to take notice of. He was someone to either impress or stay out of his way. He was a severe man with an air about him that demanded respect. He was like Negan in that way. He could be just as intimidating as the man himself. Many feared Simon about as much as they feared the Sanctuary’s leader. But Carmen had never been the target of such behavior. Simon had seen what she’d been through. She’d never explained in detail, but he had an idea. The pieces weren’t hard to put together. And because of that he’d been softer with her. He’d gone out of his way to make her comfortable. And for a while she thought it was all out of pity, but the more time they spent together and the more she observed how he acted around everyone else had her believing otherwise.

“Simon,” She started, the confidence in her voice slowly creeping back in. She rubbed against him as she lifted herself to his lips. She could feel his fingers digging in to the flesh of her hips as she nibbled at his chin and neck. He was tense beneath her, but he wasn’t stopping her either. “I want this.” She whispered against his mouth. “I want you.” She added as her hands started to travel to the button of his pants.

She knew he wanted her. She’d felt his erection pressing into her while they’d been making out like teenagers. Carmen knew he was trying to show some restrain and be a gentleman. She knew he was trying to show compassion for what she’d experienced, and while she was grateful for that, she was also a grown woman. A grown woman with grown woman needs.

“Fuck, Carmen…” He trailed off as she sucked hungrily at his neck, leaving a mark. Her fingers untucked the rest of his shirt and hungrily groped at his chiseled stomach and chest. She hadn’t realized how starved she’d been for human touch, but now that she’d had a taste she didn’t think she’d ever get enough.

Simon finally responded to her ministrations and moved his hands under her flannel. His hands felt delicious along the curve of her back. They traveled up to her bra and stopped, leaving goosebumps in their wake. Their lips met again and a certainness was there that wasn’t present before. His hands finally gave her what she craved and skimmed along her ribs to grope her soft breasts. She whimpered into his mouth as he moved the cup of her bra away and made contact with her nipple. It immediately puckered at his touch. His hands felt so good, but she knew it could feel better.

“Too many clothes.” She pouted once they’d taken a breath for air. He seemed to agree and chuckled as he removed his hands from her shirt and helped her unbutton it. The garment was quickly discarded to the floor once all the buttons had been undone. Her breasts were heaving in the black bra they were encased in. Simon’s eyes devoured her and she fought not to cover herself. He seemed to sense her anxiousness and started working on the buttons of his own shirt. She watched as more and more of his tanned and toned skin was revealed. She’d felt his abs under her fingertips but seeing them was something completely different. He looked like he was carved out of stone. He threw his shirt to the ground and reached out for her. She obliged and stepped back into his embrace. The skin on skin contact felt heavenly. They tasted each other again as Simon’s hands moved to the clasp on the back of her bra. The material loosened beneath his touch and she allowed it to fall away from her body.

“God, you are gorgeous.”

 His words and the way he was looking at her made a blush color her cheeks and her thighs clench together in want. She could feel her arousal seep into her underwear, the feeling uncomfortable but welcomed. Carmen felt her lust skyrocket at the look in his eye. She gazed downward and noticed the obvious bulge beneath his pants. She didn’t want to go slow anymore. She needed to feel all of him and soon. She moved her fingers to the button of her jeans and undid them while simultaneously kicking off her boots. She shimmied the denim over her shapely hips and down her thighs until they were low enough that she could kick them off. Simon watched her curiously, but copied her actions and undressed down to his black boxer briefs. Carmen pulled him to her and all but attacked him with her mouth. They explored each other as hands groped and squeezed in the name of desire. She felt Simon start to shift them back towards his bed and Carmen allowed him to do so. They stopped once her legs met the edge of the mattress.

Carmen’s bare back met the softness of his comforter as Simon held himself above her. He pressed his clothed cock into her damp center, making her moan out wantonly. He did it again and she awarded him with a similar response. Her nails bit into the muscles of his back and shoulders as he shifted down her body, his moustache providing a stimulating friction she wanted more of. His fingers hooked into the delicate lace of her black panties, but he didn’t remove them immediately. Her eyes found his and she could see the silent question in them. She nodded, biting her lip and squeezing her thighs together. He grinned at the invitation and her blatant display of enticement. She lifted her hips for him as he began to move the material away from her body, her desperation for him now on full display. She watched as he brought her panties to his nose and breathed in. The action immediately made her legs close and her hips swivel against the mattress.

“No, baby…keep those magnificent thighs open.” Simon chided, prying her legs back open with his hands. He knelt on the floor and pulled her closer to the edge by her ankles, causing a small yelp to escape her lips. She giggled as he licked his lips and inched his way closer to her aching pussy. He was eyeing her like prey and she ate it up. She felt a thick finger glide across her swollen lips, gathering the wetness that had spilled over. Carmen briefly felt embarrassed by her body’s reaction, but Simon’s words halted those feelings immediately.

“I cannot wait to taste that sweet syrup.”

Carmen moaned and gripped the bedding as he teased her entrance. Her hips pushed against his finger, but he placed a palm against her stomach to halt her movements. She was growing frustrated with his teasing and she was about to tell him such when he licked a long strip against her flesh. He left no area untouched as he feasted on her. Carmen writhed and moaned, lights flashing behind her eyelids as she gave herself over to the sensations. His mouth felt delicious on her bare skin and the coarseness of his facial hair stung her flesh in the most erotic way possible.

“Shit,” She cursed as the coil within her started to unravel. Simon’s pace increased and she squeezed his head between her thighs when he thrust his finger inside her. She unabashedly grabbed his head and moved against him as her orgasm started to rip through her. Her whole body contracted and she felt suspended in space. She had no idea what sounds were leaving her mouth, but she didn’t care. She felt a rush of arousal seep out of her and right into Simon’s eager mouth. Her pussy continued to spasm as Simon relentlessly consumed her. She whimpered and gently pushed him away as all feeling came back to her body and the sensation of him became too much. He laughed, but relented. She watched with heavily lidded eyes as he wiped his glistening mouth and moustache with the back of his hand. He winked at her as he moved a hand into his briefs and began to touch himself. Carmen nearly rolled her eyes at the sight and her thighs immediately clenched. She thought her body couldn’t take anymore, but Simon’s actions were revving her up for more.

She sat up on her knees, her inner thighs slick with saliva and her own juices. She reached out for him and he obliged, moving closer to her. Carmen licked and nibbled at his solid chest, her small hands moving to the waistband of his briefs and pulling them down and over his cock. He was long and thick and pulsating with need. Her eyes took in the image before her. Simon had his head thrown back, eyes closed in pleasure while his hands tangled themselves in her dark tresses. Carmen let her lips trail down his body until she was able to take him into her mouth. The grip on her hair tightened as she suctioned her lips around him, forgoing any teasing.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck…” He chanted above her as she used one of her hands to pump him in time with her mouth and tongue. She almost couldn’t fit him all the way in, but she relaxed her throat and swallowed him. Simon growled above her and she instantly felt his body go rigid. She mimicked her movements, wanting to taste more of him. A hint of salt touched her tongue and she knew he was getting close. She pulled away from him to catch her breath and was rewarded with a bead of precum at his tip. She licked at it hungrily.

“Carmen…you have to stop…I’m gonna cum.” His words were breathy and tense, warning her of his impending orgasm. As much as she wanted him to come undone in her mouth, she needed him inside her.

She released him and he hungrily kissed her, both of his hands encasing her face as he moved her onto her back. His solid form covered her softer one as they lay in a mass of limbs. Without the barrier of clothes, they rutted against each other in animalistic passion. Carmen widened her legs to accommodate Simon’s large form. She could feel his dick at her entrance and she thrusted her hips upward to welcome him. Simon pulled himself away from her neck and held himself above her while he lined himself up with her slit.

“Ready?” He asked, breathless and with a touch of tenderness. Carmen rolled her hips against his and smirked at the grimace that painted his features. “That a yes?” He chuckled as he moved a hand between their bodies to grasp ahold of himself.

“That’s a hell yes…” She whispered, voice thick with lust. Carmen gasped as he finally plunged inside her. The sensation was all consuming. There was a slight burn, the fullness she felt bordering on uncomfortable. But she didn’t tell him to stop. Her whole body tensed and she knew Simon could feel it. He cursed above her, his chest heaving against her own.

“Do you want me to stop?” He asked, though she could tell it would take everything in him to do so, but he would if she said. He would stop in an instant if he knew she didn’t want to continue. But despite the slight pain, Carmen wanted it…and then some.

“No, don’t stop…” She gasped out as he shifted above her. Her body was starting to accommodate him and the burn was ebbing. She was vaguely aware of her tense limbs and she forced herself to go lax.

“You gotta relax, baby…” Simon softly whispered as he began to pull out and dive back in. Carmen nodded and focused on the pleasure, the warmth of Simon’s body, and his voice. “You feel so good, Carmen…so tight and wet.” His words were doing the trick and her legs widened as he picked up his pace. Carmen moaned as he started to go faster, his rough hand massaging one of her breasts. She wrapped her legs around his lower back, encouraging him. His mouth was on her neck, sucking and licking her flesh until it was sore and bruised. She craved more. Carmen clenched her inner walls around him, nearly suffocating his girth. Simon’s hips stuttered and his head fell into the crook of her neck at the action. “Fuck…” He growled against her. “Do that again.” He requested breathlessly. Carmen happily obliged, pushing her hips up to meet his as she locked him inside her depths. “Goddamn, that feels heavenly…”

Carmen bit her bottom lip and moaned directly into Simon’s ear as he stayed unmoving above her. She began to fuck herself on his dick, thrusting her hips so that he slid against her slick walls. Simon’s teeth bit into her shoulder at the action and she relished the power she held in that moment. The room was filled with their heavy breathing and the vulgar sounds of their bodies meeting. There wasn’t a headboard to bang against the wall, but if there was Carmen was sure it’d alert others of their activities. 

Simon’s hips came down on hers to halt her movements and she whimpered as he hit a particularly sensitive spot. Her fingers tangled in his hair as he took over. “Harder.” She moaned out and he wasted no time in giving in to her request. His hips thrusted with a brutal force, one that made her stomach start to tingle with the familiar sensation. Whimpers and moans of mindless pleasure started to pour from her lips as he pounded her into his mattress. Her nails dug into his back and she could hear him hiss above her at the gesture. Carmen was on the cusp of falling into oblivion. “On top…I wanna be on top.” She breathed out. Her voice sounded foreign to her own ears, the lust evident.

Simon stopped and looked down at her, his forehead shimmering with a sheen of sweat. His brow was furrowed in concentration, but when he met her dark eyes the lines smoothed out. He smiled down at her with a hint of surprise in her brazenness. “Your wish is my command.”

Unexpectedly, he rolled them so that he was on his back and she was straddling his hips, all while he was still encased inside her. Carmen moaned long and slow at the shift in positions, testing the new feelings of pleasure by rotating her hips slowly. She felt Simon’s hands on her hips and ass, the contrast of his rough skin against her soft flesh made her spine tingle. She threw her head back and let Simon have full access to her breasts as they bounced above him. He twisted her nipples with his fingers and then grasped at the fleshy mounds hungrily. Carmen grasped both of his wrists in her hands, not stopping him but urging him to continue.

“Shit, you look fucking amazing like this.” Simon growled as she continued to ride him. Her pace increased and she felt him shift below her. She suddenly felt his chest against hers and realized he’d moved upright to lean against the wall so that they were nearly face to face. His hands grasped her ass, encouraging her movements. Carmen surrendered to the sensations, moaning Simon’s name as he attacked her breasts with is mouth.

“I’m close…so close.” Carmen warned, hips now rutting in a frantic manner. He captured her lips with his own while his hand ventured down her body and to the place they were joined. He found her clit and massaged the bundle of nerves in an unforgiving manner. Carmen cried out and felt her body tense around him. Her eyes squeezed shut as she pulled Simon against her in what she was sure was a painfully tight embrace as she came undone. Her body rocked and shivered with tremors, the blood rushing to her ears. She could feel her release coating Simon’s cock and their thighs, the surge of pleasure crashing over her like a wave. It was intense and almost too powerful for her body. She could feel Simon’s hands all over. From her hips to her naked back, she could feel his fingertips dance across her sweaty skin. He tangled them into the ends of her hair as reality came back into the forefront and the fog started to clear.

They stayed like that for a moment. Her with her arms entangled in his hair and him mirroring her embrace, not an inch of space available between them. She could still feel him pulsing inside her and she couldn’t help but to squeeze him in response. He groaned into her ear and took that as his cue to start moving. He switched their positions so that Carmen now lay spread out below him. She still felt the aftershocks of her orgasm, the haze still clearing from her mind as Simon began to thrust into her now flooded pussy. He remained upright, watching his dick disappear into her body. He was coated with a mixture of their juices and Carmen could see the hunger in his eyes as his pace increased. His muscles flexed and the vein in his neck protruded as he thrust, his hands holding her legs open at an obscene angle.

“Fuck, I’m gonna cum.” He panted as he jackhammered into her. Carmen moaned at the statement, wanting to see and feel him lose control. She let him do as he pleased, her limbs feeling too heavy to move. She could feel the already unraveled coil ready to release again and she shook her head at the realization. Her body was too sensitive. She couldn’t do another. But Simon could read her body and he doubled his efforts. A finger landed on her clit and she whimpered in response. “Cum with me, baby…I wanna see you.” Simon demanded and she found herself doing as he said.

She felt his body go rigid as his hands gripped her thighs painfully. He went still as he emptied hot streams of cum inside her quaking walls. Carmen cried out at the smaller orgasm his own triggered. Her hands knotted into the bedsheets above her while her back arched off the bed. He pulled out of her mid-release and let the remaining streaks of his cum fall onto her pussy and stomach. Carmen welcomed the blatant display of marking his territory. He collapsed on top of her, uncaring about the mess between them. She cradled him, letting her fingertips stroke his back as they both caught their breaths.

“Holy shit, that was fucking amazing.”

Carmen couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled from her throat. As a result, their bodies shook with the movement and his now flaccid dick rubbed against her thoroughly fucked sex. They both groaned at the contact, but reveled in the pleasure it still provided to their overused bodies. Simon lifted himself up and onto his forearms so that he could look down at her. She met his gaze through heavy lids and despite everything, she felt a blush heat her cheeks. His fingers moved strands of hair from her face and gently caressed her neck, and she knew those were the places his mouth had marked her. 

“You okay?” He asked, the gentleness back in his voice. Carmen smiled and captured his hand in her own against her neck.

“Better than okay.” She answered, wrapping her leg around his back to bring him towards her awaiting lips. He smiled and met her lips in a lazy, post-coital kiss.

Ten minutes later they had finally had enough strength to move and clean themselves up before getting situated under the covers. Carmen sat nestled into the crook of Simon’s arm as he sat against the wall, spooning gelato from a carton into her mouth and his.

 “We should probably check the other movies before we let the kids watch them.” He quipped, letting her lips wrap around the spoon he’d held in front of her.

Carmen giggled and nodded as the cold dessert slid down her throat. “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.” She sat up and turned to face him, holding the sheet to her chest in unnecessary modesty. She found his eyes and let her face turn serious. Simon immediately noticed and sobered. “Thank you.” At his confused gaze, she elaborated. “For everything…for saving me, for looking out for me, for getting those movies, for the mind-blowing sex…” At the last part, Simon almost looked sheepish and she grinned.

“It was my pleasure.” He said with a knowing smirk and a comical wag of his thick brows. She laughed and made a grab for the spoon sitting in the melting carton of gelato. “But really Carmen,” At the sound of his voice she met his eyes and found he was back to being serious. “I did those things because I care about you…have for a while.”

“Me too.” Carmen smiled shyly and grabbed the spoon again, scooping some of the sweet mixture onto the utensil. She brought it to Simon’s lips this time and he smiled before taking it into his mouth. His moustache had remnants of the gelato and she leaned forward to kiss it away. His hand cradled the back of her head as they got lost in each other.

When they finally pulled apart, Carmen placed herself into his lap and took over the feeding.  She could feel him harden beneath her and she rubbed herself against him. His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Already?” He asked mischievously.

Carmen leaned forward to smear gelato on Simon’s neck and then let her tongue clean it away. She felt more than heard his breathing hitch as his hands gripped her hips. “I should ask you the same question.” She teased as she let his cock slip between her wet lips. 

“I told you, I gotta soft spot for the man in red.” He retorted with a smirk and she burst into a fit of giggles. The gelato was long forgotten as they set out to prove that it was in fact the most wonderful time of the year.